Wednesday 23 May 2012
When the news leaked last Sunday that Representative Edolphus Towns was retiring, everyone was caught by surprise. “After months of long family discussions, I have decided not to seek reelection for my seat in the United State House of Representatives,” Rep. Towns said Monday. Towns served in the House for 30 years representing parts...
Mrs. Adeline Bunche was recently recognized for her years of loving service to her community. Family, friends, fellow church members, and community activists came together to pay tribute to Mrs. Bunche. “This is the first time that my office has honored anyone,” said Assembly woman Inez Barron. “We’ve given citations and proclamations, but this...
A federal judge has ordered New York City to pay $128 million in back wages to minority candidates who were not hired after taking the fire department test. The ruling is a final decision on a four-year-old class action lawsuit brought by the Vulcan Society. Up to 2,200 applicants who took the test in...
This week Honorable Roanne L. Mann, United States Magistrate Judge Eastern District of New York, released her draft redistricting plan for NYS. Judge Mann was appointed by the federal three judge court, led by federal appellate Judge Raggi, to undertake the enormous task of drawing long awaited and delayed congressional lines. Judge Mann hired...
The NYS Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR) has issued its proposed NYS Assembly and Senate maps. The maps, widely viewed as contorted, have joined criticism from all across the state. The shapes of some districts, the elimination of others, a 63rd Senate district, and the placement of sitting legislators in...
For all the good that they do, occasionally, local elected officials do something that makes you want to say, “Hmmm?” Last Sunday, State Senator Eric Adams teamed with Assemblymen Hakeem Jeffries and Karim Camara to call “Foul” over “Failure of Barclay Arena Developer to Score on Community Givebacks.” Claiming that “many of the community...
The Center for Law and Social Justice (CLSJ)is scrutinizing the decision by the NYS Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR) to increase the number of New York State Senate seats to 63 based on methodology used in 2002 after the 2000 census. The average number represented by State Senators will increase...
Maria Antonellis found herself transferred to a “punishment shelter” after a series of mishaps at the BRC Women’s Shelter at 85 Lexington Ave. Each week she was required to see her case manager to sign an Independent Living Plan (ILP). Because her case worker did not keep regularly scheduled appointments, Maria was issued an...
Judge Eugene P. Devine issued a major blow to Senate Republicans who wished to usurp state law and continue present gerrymandering to their upstate benefit. In a decision issued last Friday, Judge Devine decided New York State’s prisoner allocation law must stand. State law required that “prisoners be identified and counted, for the purposes...
Rain did not deter 500 “Occupy Our Homes” protesters who marched the streets of East New York on Tuesday. The group took a tour of foreclosed homes in the area and supported one family who “liberated” a foreclosed home on Vermont Avenue. Chants ranged from, “All day, all week, Occupy East New York,” “We...
