Folks: I thought the meeting was tonight and I was eager to bring you more YouTubes like the series I will post here but last night and there was a bus ride today with community members I could not make to attend a court date on eminent domain abuse which in my opinion has run rampant here in New York.
Now on to the the abuse of eminent domain which under the mayorship of Mike Bloomberg and his administration has gone wild. King mayor Mike is the developer's mayor. To developers there is no abuse of eminent domain but when you watch my YouTube interview with Norman Siegel, famed Civil Rights lawyer on the Columbia University campus on eminent domain, he spells it out clearly and simply and there is no doubt in my mind Columbia University abused eminent domain to simply clear out an entire neighborhood called Manhattanville. Norman Siegel has won the first round against Columbia University representing his client. Here is the report from last night's meeting at St. Mary's which I am sad to say I missed this heavily attended meeting. I heard Norman Siegel along with many owners that had their businesses displaced and community members made a powerful case for Columbia University's abuse of power, the displacement of an entire neighborhood abusing eminent domain. I have heard The New York Times building abused eminent domain and it is ironic because small businesses were forced to move and because the paper aka "The Old Grey Lady" was having a problem turning a profit, they became a landlord as well which adds insult to injury. Everyone has heard about the Ratner development for a sports arena in Brooklyn, future home of the Nets and again eminent domain abuse. Willets Point in Queens is also a battle of eminent domain that New Yorkers have protested as abuse of eminent domain. Welcome to Mike Bloomberg's New York! When Mike Bloomberg says progress it means get your moving van. Mike Bloomberg and his real estate magnate friends including the owner of "The Old Grey Lady" loves eminent domain....abuse but if someone knocks at your door and tells you, you have to move you most likely will not like it but the one thing these cases all appear to have in common in my opinion they are breaking the law or should I say abusing the laws of the land. Question: Do you think the fact The New York Times is such a lover of the abuse of eminent domain as in that is how they got their prime real estate for the new building that may in some way impact how the paper reports or does not report all the shady real estate dealings and community crushing development under Mike Bloomberg and socialite mega millionaire City Planner, Amanda the people's Burden? I would have to say yes! Powerful interview with Norman Siegel at Columbia University with Suzannah Troy and the Columbia U. students showed up to protest in support of the community chanting "Not in our name!". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPvIP6N-AP4&feature=related Ramon with his son speaking at protest on Columbia U. campus Floridita (Cuban Soul Food) owner Ramon interviewed by Suzannah on Columbia U. abuse of eminent domain at Floridita Francy Batista in spanish talking on eminent domain and giving mayor Bloomberg hell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-vGH2ZT9Kg&feature=related Tony Avella speaking up for the community against eminent domain abuse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sGibLbAHec&feature=related
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Staten Island Ferry Crash injuries post by Suzannah B. Troy
1010 Wins reports there was a Staten Island ferry crash and there were injuries but nothing as horrific as the previous one from seven years ago. There is one serious injury and two police officers on duty were injured as well as a dozen or so people but again I repeat nothing like the last ferry crash which was horrifying.
The Andrew J. Barberi hit the pier at 9:20am this morning and just seemed to be approaching too fast and for some reason they could not slow the ferry down. It is said the throttle failed.
Same boat, same terminal, a far more devastating crash that took the lives of 11 people and severely injured some survivors happened October 15, 2003. It was like deja vu but not as bad thankfully.
Here is the Wikipedia page for the Staten Island Ferry boat crash that resembled a terror attack and even made people think of Sept. 11. There were many law suits and pay-outs. Also deeply heartbreaking and a moving story of the young man that had to have both his legs amputated. His name is Paul Esposito and he considers every day a blessing. He settled for $8.9 million dollars.
Of course as usual I have major praise for our 1st responders rushing to rescue the people on this ferry and prayers and healing wishes to all injured. It does make me think of the Ferry crash from 2003 where so many people died or were injured and that crash did make me think of Sept. 11.
Staten Island was NYC's "heart" -- this little Island -- like a powerful heart keeping the downtown area alive and going after the horrific day. So many rescue workers rushed to the WTC after 9-11 and for those that survived many made the trip to the WTC every day digging in the rubble hoping to find bodies or even a small piece of DNA so Staten Island holds a special place in my heart.
Friday, May 07, 2010
Iron Man 3 could go to consumer: FCC poised to kill movie theaters
 |
| Scarlett Johansson in Iron Man |
In a shocking report, Deadline.com explains The Federal Trade Commission has been asked to let movie studios completely bypass movie theaters and transmit flicks directly to the consumer. Here's the posting that was on Deadline.com's site last year:
Washington, D.C. - In a filing today with the Federal Communications Commission, the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) reinforced the benefits of allowing studios the option of sending movies fresh from the box office to tens of millions of American households.
"Many of us love movies, but we just can't make it to the theater as often as we'd like. That is especially true for parents of young children, rural Americans who live far from the multiplex and people with disabilities that keep them close to home," MPAA Chairman and CEO Dan Glickman said. "Having the added option to enjoy movies in a more timely fashion at home would be a liberating new choice."
In its filing, which was in response to letters of opposition filed by the group Public Knowledge, the MPAA said: "grant of the waiver would for the first time allow millions of consumers to view high-value, high-definition theatrical films during an early release window that is not available today. MPAA has explained that release of this high-value content as part of an earlier window, especially with respect to movies released for home viewing close to or even during their initial theatrical run, necessarily requires the highest level of protection possible through use of SOC."
SOC, or selectable output control technology, would allow televisions with digitally secure interfaces to receive first-run, high-definition content from a cable or satellite provider. Using SOC protects content because it essentially disables non-secure, analog outputs to avoid illegal circumvention and distribution of copyrighted material. These outputs would be disabled ONLY with respect to the proposed new content, and this technology would NOT have any impact whatsoever on the ability of existing devices to receive all of the content that they get today. Consumers will continue to have access to everything they have today, including DVDs, Netflix, etc.
The MPAA filing noted: "By Public Knowledge’s odd reckoning, however, no consumer-oriented technological breakthrough ever could be introduced to American homes unless and until every single American home had access to the same opportunity at the same moment in time. That is a recipe for holding every innovation hostage until the last consumer adopts a new technology.
"Under Public Knowledge’s approach, the Commission would have taken decades to permit television stations to broadcast in color, since millions of American homes already had purchased black-and-white sets when color broadcasts were introduced in the 1950s. Indeed, whenever innovative technologies bring consumers new and better opportunities to media content, there is always a lag between when early adopters take advantage of these opportunities and when they become ubiquitous."
Glickman added: "I, like most movie-goers believe the best way to enjoy a movie is to go to the theater with friends and share a communal laugh or adventure together. But I also believe there is ample room for additional choices that satisfy consumer demand to enjoy movies in diverse new ways. If allowed by the FCC, I believe this new choice will be just one of many exciting innovations to come that benefit consumers and sustain the future of this unique creative medium."
The FCC has allowed this now, so forget about many theaters surviving past the first three years of the FCC action. I hope the FCC realizes that just because a technology can be done is no reason to do it. Movies like Iron Man should be seen in the theater with people. But it seems too late now.
Obama to the rescue?
Stay tuned.
Amy Victoria Beck: teacher arrested for sex with teen student
In the "How many times has this happened" department, we have the very, very sad news of Amy Victoria Beck, a teacher who was arrested for having one count of unlawful sex and committing a leud act on a child, with a 14-year old student. The 33-year-old mother of three walked into Burbank, California Police Headquarters and confessed to the affair when started in March 2009 according to The Huffington Post.
Amy Beck has been sentenced to two years in jail and bail was set at $175,000 (she did not post it), but has served six months already because she gave herself up rather than police arresting her. She could get out earlier with good behavior plus the fact that her husband's an LA police officer.
Amy Beck and her husband remain married and he's standing by her.
Frankly, it seems that this does happen a lot. So much so that are websites devoted to coverage of such news like Hott For Teacher and Bad Bad Teacher, which reports another recent sex scandal where 30-year old Jennifer Gardel, a teacher at Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas, allegedly had sex with a 17-year-old student in her home and even in her classroom. She confessed and was in jail as recently as May 5th, but released.
Sexual Misconduct is such a large problem that the website KSL.com claims its the number one reason why teachers are forced to surrender their licenses. The website reports...
In 2005, The Associated Press conducted a survey that revealed 2,500 sexual incidents in just five years and "across all types of school districts," according to MSNBC.
Contrary to the media's pattern of reporting female teachers, nine of ten cases involve men. And the survey states that the teachers involved generally receive awards for excellence in education and are popular with students.
A copy of the Associated Press report can be downloaded here: AP STUDY.
The study is more report than data-laden case study. Moreover, the missing part is what role the students have in this. All of us remember one particular teacher we thought was "hot" when we were in middle school and high school. Some guys thought it would prove they were a man if they could make a pass at a teacher, but frankly that was very rare as I recall.
But what I remember most is that when I was "little" the teachers were generally much older than the students; in their 40s and 50s. The teachers reported here seems to be younger today, especially the women.
Why it happens? Who really knows. But it seems like one side of the story is being told and not the whole story.
Amy Beck has been sentenced to two years in jail and bail was set at $175,000 (she did not post it), but has served six months already because she gave herself up rather than police arresting her. She could get out earlier with good behavior plus the fact that her husband's an LA police officer.
Amy Beck and her husband remain married and he's standing by her.
Frankly, it seems that this does happen a lot. So much so that are websites devoted to coverage of such news like Hott For Teacher and Bad Bad Teacher, which reports another recent sex scandal where 30-year old Jennifer Gardel, a teacher at Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas, allegedly had sex with a 17-year-old student in her home and even in her classroom. She confessed and was in jail as recently as May 5th, but released.
Sexual Misconduct is such a large problem that the website KSL.com claims its the number one reason why teachers are forced to surrender their licenses. The website reports...
Records shows Utah has nearly 20,000 licensed educators. Since 1992, the State Board of Education has suspended or revoked 313 teacher licenses -- 208 of them for sexual misconduct. That number excludes 10 cases still being investigated by the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission.
In 2005, The Associated Press conducted a survey that revealed 2,500 sexual incidents in just five years and "across all types of school districts," according to MSNBC.
Contrary to the media's pattern of reporting female teachers, nine of ten cases involve men. And the survey states that the teachers involved generally receive awards for excellence in education and are popular with students.
A copy of the Associated Press report can be downloaded here: AP STUDY.
The study is more report than data-laden case study. Moreover, the missing part is what role the students have in this. All of us remember one particular teacher we thought was "hot" when we were in middle school and high school. Some guys thought it would prove they were a man if they could make a pass at a teacher, but frankly that was very rare as I recall.
But what I remember most is that when I was "little" the teachers were generally much older than the students; in their 40s and 50s. The teachers reported here seems to be younger today, especially the women.
Why it happens? Who really knows. But it seems like one side of the story is being told and not the whole story.
Chevron-Ecuador filmaker of Crude ordered to turn over footage
As the Smith's would ask What Difference Does it Make? Plenty to Chevron and apparently to the filmmaker Joseph Berlinger and Steve Donziger who filed the lawsuit against Chevron and that Ecuador's a party to. They reportedly fear it will harm their case against Chevron. But how?
They claim the decision will harm "journalist's privilege" and investigative reporting activities. But according to Chevron's Kent Robertson, as told to the Wall Street Journal, a version of Crude that's available via Netflix has evidence of improper involvement by Ecuador operatives.
That version of Crude was systemically removed from view and the DVD version altered to eliminate any scenes that have Ecuador officials in them in such a way that the country is acting as a party to the lawsuit.
I've long said that Ecuador was very much involved in the lawsuit and has stated that they would collect the award monies from a court decision should Chevron lose the case. Indeed, there are clear signs that even Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has been an involved observer in the case.
Stay tuned.
Times Square evacuation again: green cooler found
Just days after New York City's Times Square was evacuated after a car bomb was discovered, Times Square was evacuated again today. A suspicious package was found near 45th Street and Broadway and outside the the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
According to CNN.com, the package turned out to be a cooler, and the whole deal a false alarm. But New Yorkers are clearly on edge after the first Times Square bomb threat and that was a real one.
That bomb was left by Faisal Shahzad, an American citizen who is originally from Pakistan. He's still in custody and said to be cooperating with authorities.
According to CNN.com, the package turned out to be a cooler, and the whole deal a false alarm. But New Yorkers are clearly on edge after the first Times Square bomb threat and that was a real one.
That bomb was left by Faisal Shahzad, an American citizen who is originally from Pakistan. He's still in custody and said to be cooperating with authorities.
Lawrence Taylor arrested: condom found in hotel room
 |
| Lawrence Taylor on "Dancing" |
While Taylor says he is innocent and vows to fight the charges vigorously, today's new news doesn't put the image of the NFL's Best Defensive Player Ever in a good light.
A condom was found in the Suburban Ramapo, New York hotel room Taylor was said to have stayed in. According to TMZ.com, the condom along with other physical evidence was removed from the Holiday Inn Hotel Room Taylor was sleeping in when police took him into custody.
The police also assert the girl was "under the control" of a pimp and that she had a "fresh" black eye, but it wasn't clear who attacked her.
The condom alone is a massive problem. Of course it will be analyzed to see if there's a match with Taylor's DNA. If so, he's in big, big trouble.
Meanwhile Rasheed Davis, the Bronx man charged with pimping the girl, was formally charged with child trafficking according to ABC News.
Stay tuned.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)