In this week’s address, President Obama urges Congress to take action now to put our teachers back to work in classrooms, because the best predictor of individual and American success in this economy is a good education.More
Daily Archives: 06/13/2012
New York has a police problem … Emma Ruby-Sachs – Avaaz.org
Dear friends across the US,
 After being “stopped and frisked” by the NYPD more times than he can count, Avaaz member Tyquan started a petition calling on Mayor Bloomberg to end the racially charged policy. Stand with Tyquan and the over 200,000 people stopped this year alone – sign the petition now:  |
Tyquan, a recent high school graduate and Avaaz member from Brooklyn, has been stopped, handcuffed, and violently thrown to the ground by NYC police more times than he can count, often with no explanation. Now he’s started a petition asking Mayor Bloomberg to end the police “stop and frisk” policy that is fueling this harassment.
Crime is at a record low, but the practice of “stopping and frisking” primarily black and Latino New Yorkers has exploded by 600% in the last decade. NYC’s Public Advocate recently called for a halt to “stop and frisk” and now a Federal Judge has called the policy a broad abuse of fundamental constitutional rights, allowing a massive class action lawsuit against the city.
But the Mayor has dug in his heels, refusing to fold in spite of the legal ruling. Massive public opinion is the only thing that can end this police policy for good. Let’s stand with Tyquan and bring a national call for justice to Mayor Bloomberg’s front door:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Mayor_Bloomberg_End_Stop_and_Frisk_Now/?vl
Tyquan’s story is hardly unique, in fact, it’s standard operating procedure for the NYPD who have stopped and frisked over 200,000 people just like Tyquan this year alone. Worse, the stops are almost completely arbitrary. Officers cited vague sounding justifications for over half the stops made last year, including “furtive movements” and “inappropriate attire off season.” There’s also no evidence the policy is cutting down on crime – in over 90% of these stops the NYPD makes no arrests, or even issues a ticket. And white men accounted for only 4% of those stops last year.
If enough of us stand with Tyquan we can show Mayor Bloomberg that a growing national outcry demands better of him – and New York. Sign and share now, when our call reaches 100,000 strong, we’ll deliver this petition directly to Mayor Bloomberg at City Hall urging him to do the right thing and halt this reckless policy:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Mayor_Bloomberg_End_Stop_and_Frisk_Now/?vl
As a member, Tyquan has been inspired by the Avaaz community’s work to stop Internet censorship, end deforestation and prevent attacks on women’s rights around the world – now its our chance to stand with Tyquan and lend people-power to the fight against racial injustice and police abuse in New York.
With hope and determination,
Emma, Joseph, Ricken, Andrew, Brant, Kya and the whole Avaaz team
PS: Have you been harassed by law enforcement where you live? Click here to start a petition like Tyquan’s: http://avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?ps14480
MORE INFORMATION
Public Advocate to Call for Audit of Stop-and-Frisk Tactic (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/nyregion/new-york-public-advocate-to-call-for-an-audit-of-police-stop-and-frisk-tactic.html
NYPD stop-and-frisk lawsuit now class action in victory for civil rights groups (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/16/new-york-stop-and-frisk-lawsuit
In 2011, NYPD Made More Stops Of Young Black Men Than The Total Number Of Young Black Men In New York (ThinkProgress) http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/05/10/481589/nypd-stop-and-frisk-young-black-men/
New NYCLU Report Finds NYPD Stop-and-Frisk Practices Ineffective, Reveals Depth of Racial Disparities (NYCLU) http://www.nyclu.org/news/new-nyclu-report-finds-nypd-stop-and-frisk-practices-ineffective-reveals-depth-of-racial-dispar
NYPD Stop And Frisks: 15 Shocking Facts About A Controversial Program (Huffington Post) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/13/nypd-stop-and-frisks-15-shocking-facts_n_1513362.html?ref=new-york&ref=new-york
Why is the NYPD after me? (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/opinion/sunday/young-black-and-frisked-by-the-nypd.html?pagewanted=all
‘Quotas exist’: Former NYPD Officers discuss the data driven department http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/05/5837828/quotas-exist-former-nypd-officers-discuss-data-driven-department?politics-bucket-headline
Crime is at a record low, but the practice of “stopping and frisking” primarily black and Latino New Yorkers has exploded by 600% in the last decade. NYC’s Public Advocate recently called for a halt to “stop and frisk” and now a Federal Judge has called the policy a broad abuse of fundamental constitutional rights, allowing a massive class action lawsuit against the city.
But the Mayor has dug in his heels, refusing to fold in spite of the legal ruling. Massive public opinion is the only thing that can end this police policy for good. Let’s stand with Tyquan and bring a national call for justice to Mayor Bloomberg’s front door:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Mayor_Bloomberg_End_Stop_and_Frisk_Now/?vl
Tyquan’s story is hardly unique, in fact, it’s standard operating procedure for the NYPD who have stopped and frisked over 200,000 people just like Tyquan this year alone. Worse, the stops are almost completely arbitrary. Officers cited vague sounding justifications for over half the stops made last year, including “furtive movements” and “inappropriate attire off season.” There’s also no evidence the policy is cutting down on crime – in over 90% of these stops the NYPD makes no arrests, or even issues a ticket. And white men accounted for only 4% of those stops last year.
If enough of us stand with Tyquan we can show Mayor Bloomberg that a growing national outcry demands better of him – and New York. Sign and share now, when our call reaches 100,000 strong, we’ll deliver this petition directly to Mayor Bloomberg at City Hall urging him to do the right thing and halt this reckless policy:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Mayor_Bloomberg_End_Stop_and_Frisk_Now/?vl
As a member, Tyquan has been inspired by the Avaaz community’s work to stop Internet censorship, end deforestation and prevent attacks on women’s rights around the world – now its our chance to stand with Tyquan and lend people-power to the fight against racial injustice and police abuse in New York.
With hope and determination,
Emma, Joseph, Ricken, Andrew, Brant, Kya and the whole Avaaz team
PS: Have you been harassed by law enforcement where you live? Click here to start a petition like Tyquan’s: http://avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?ps14480
MORE INFORMATION
Public Advocate to Call for Audit of Stop-and-Frisk Tactic (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/nyregion/new-york-public-advocate-to-call-for-an-audit-of-police-stop-and-frisk-tactic.html
NYPD stop-and-frisk lawsuit now class action in victory for civil rights groups (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/16/new-york-stop-and-frisk-lawsuit
In 2011, NYPD Made More Stops Of Young Black Men Than The Total Number Of Young Black Men In New York (ThinkProgress) http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/05/10/481589/nypd-stop-and-frisk-young-black-men/
New NYCLU Report Finds NYPD Stop-and-Frisk Practices Ineffective, Reveals Depth of Racial Disparities (NYCLU) http://www.nyclu.org/news/new-nyclu-report-finds-nypd-stop-and-frisk-practices-ineffective-reveals-depth-of-racial-dispar
NYPD Stop And Frisks: 15 Shocking Facts About A Controversial Program (Huffington Post) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/13/nypd-stop-and-frisks-15-shocking-facts_n_1513362.html?ref=new-york&ref=new-york
Why is the NYPD after me? (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/opinion/sunday/young-black-and-frisked-by-the-nypd.html?pagewanted=all
‘Quotas exist’: Former NYPD Officers discuss the data driven department http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/05/5837828/quotas-exist-former-nypd-officers-discuss-data-driven-department?politics-bucket-headline
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Politics … caught on tape
President Obama’s Export Council meets to discuss increasing U.S. exports and creating American jobs. June 6, 2012.More
President Obama calls on Congress to pass the bipartisan, paid-for ideas that he proposed last year to put construction workers back to work upgrading our roads and bridges, teachers back in the classroom educating our kids and police and firefighters back on the job keeping our communities safe, and addresses the state of the economy, including the situation in Europe, which continues to pose headwinds to our recovery here at home. June 8, 2012.More
The White House Office of Public Engagement hosts a briefing for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. June 11, 2012.More
The White House holds a town hall to discuss the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for seniors and caregivers. June 11, 2012.More
President Obama is urging Congress to take up his proposal to cut through the red tape that prevents so many homeowners from refinancing their mortgages and saving hundreds of dollars each month. On June 6th, 2012 we asked Americans what they thought of the President’s proposal. On June 8th, 2012, we held a conference call with a group of people who responded to answer their questions. http://www.whitehouse.gov/More
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Another fossil fuel industry attack … Union of Concerned Scientists
Here We Go Again—Another Fossil Fuel Industry Attack on Science
Tell your member of Congress: Don’t block standards that protect our health and environment—vote no on the Gasoline Regulations Act.
The House of Representatives will soon vote on yet another fossil fuel industry-backed bill, attacking clean air and public health. It is critical that we stand up for strong standards based on independent science, not false economic claims from big polluters.
The Gasoline Regulations Act (H.R. 4771) is an all-out attack on our clean air and public health. The bill would force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to give undo weight to the industry’s economic claims when setting what should be, first and foremost, science-based standards that protect our health and environment.
The legislation delays standards that would save lives and save money by reducing sulfur in gasoline.
The bill also attacks standards that would limit ozone and other harmful air pollutants from power plants and global warming emissions from oil refineries. Some members of Congress may even attempt to amend the bill to prevent the EPA from moving forward with their historic draft standard to limit global warming pollution from new power plants.
Fossil fuel lobbyists and their allies in Congress are attacking the EPA with false claims about the impact that these proposed standards might have on gas prices. But we know that this bill will have no effect on fuel prices, but would have a lasting, negative impact on public health.
Congress needs to hear from Americans like you who support the EPA’s efforts to protect our health from dirty energy and dirty fuels.
Tell your member of Congress: Don’t block vital standards for our health and environment—vote no on the Gasoline Regulations Act.
Take Action Today!
Sincerely,
Chrissy Elles
Outreach Associate
UCS Climate & Energy Program
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wicked Wednesday …&some News
just another rant …
The spectacle that is the Republican Party is … also like Debord‘s book,” La Société du spectacle“and suggests among other things …
“With the term spectacle, Debord defines the system that is a confluence of advanced capitalism, the mass media, and the types of governments who favor those phenomena: “the spectacle, taken in the limited sense of ‘mass media’ which are its most glaring superficial manifestation”.[4] The spectacle is the inverted image of society in which relations between commodities have supplanted relations between people, in which “passive identification with the spectacle supplants genuine activity”.
The book by Debord is worth reading and perfect for what I am ranting about … change, misleading, misquotes, ugly images coming from the media and Republican Capitalism taking over in Congress
In 2009, We were all listening and hearing various folks in the msm, interest groups and others make comments and complain about Obama having taken a great first step toward change but hasn’t gone far enough to sedate or fulfill the promises he made during his campaign. No President is going to make all their constituents happy but the Negative comments became bold, louder and more frequent. The unfortunate part of this was that the media gave too much PR to Republican rhetoric and some in the “professional left” followed, taking part of that 53% believing that we are tilting over the edge of an abyss. It pissed me off then and now after 3.5yrs I cannot say that the “professional left has been paying attention. I don’t know about you but I know that change takes time. In the case of America, it takes a Congress that is able and willing to put political differences aside for the greater good, we all learned about in school. It also takes a Congress that will accept the First Black President was elected by 53% of the population and that the word compromise is not dirty or bad but an action used in their daily lives with friends family and co-workers. However, Teapublicans/Republicans like Speaker Boehner Mitch McConnell made back room deals in those quiet rooms while listening to organizations that lobby and give money to politicians like Grover Norquist ending that old saying one-person one vote.
The list below gives the reader a sense of those professional left who kept whining right on through the 2010 elections. I have no idea why the professional left thought the campaign agenda should be placed above correcting what the last guy left him to fix. All I know is that the comments and the whining gave me the distinct impression some of these folks probably did not understand, care and did absolutely nothing to help push shove or throw things at Republicans in order for them to do the People’s Business. The fight for 2012 should include without a doubt the people listed below or we will all suffer. Well, I will admit the lame duck session was not bad but why wait for a lame duck session.
We need everyone to step up and speak out about what accomplishments and progresses President Obama has made since
**Environmentalist… like Phil Radford stated among other things,” Obama is missing in action” as it, relates to global warming …in an article written by Bryan Walsh from Time Magazine…
**Gay/Lesbian leaders… are starting to make comments about Obama not going far enough on don’t ask/don’t tell but today he announced he will enact federal benefits for same sex couples …moving too slow stating their needs have been set aside. Come on… People of colour know what being impatient means …
**Health-care liberals… are impatient and talking about how they put Obama in office and threatening a change in 2012 …
**Wall Street … flexed their muscles to show Obama who really is in charge of the market …
Change will happen, but President Obama cannot do it all himself, we need to call, write and March to let Congress know that, “We the People” 53% voted but the Party of NO is cancelling each vote with filibusters while obstructing our Economy and Democracy in both Chambers of Congress.
“The spectacle is not a collection of images,” Debord writes, “rather; it is a social relationship between people that is mediated by images.”
In Other News …
Atty. Gen. Holder Back on Capitol Hill
Defense Secretary, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Testify on Defense Budget
Secretary Geithner Prepares for Upcoming G20 Summit
Chamber of Commerce Releases Nation-wide Job Growth Study
Mitt Romney Addresses Business Roundtable in Washington, DC
Sen. Finance Cmte. Examines Tax Reform & U.S. Energy Policy
Be a Seed for Change 
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