Majikthise

In NY, a grassroots push to repeal Rockefeller Drug Laws

Community activists in New York are gathering signatures on a petition urging State lawmakers to reform the Rockefeller Drug laws.

With their stiff manadatory minimum sentences, these laws are among the harshest in the nation, even after the partial reforms of 2005:

Amendments to the laws had reduced the minimum sentences, Mr. Gangi said. Now, for defendants convicted of selling two ounces or possessing eight ounces of heroin or cocaine, judges are given a sentencing range of 8 to 20 years, he said. But he said the sentences were still mandatory.

“Eight to 20 years is still a very long sentence for a relatively minor offense,” Mr. Gangi said, adding that judges do not have the option to order alternatives to jail, like drug treatment. [NYT]

Organizers hope to collect 35,000 signatures before the end of the year.

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society Joins NewAm Roster

Big news: Darcy James Argue's Secret Society signs with NewAm Records.

28-year-old Squadron defeats 30-year incumbent Connor

Daniel Squadron unseated Marty Connor in yesterday's New York State Senate primary with 54% of the vote.

Connor represented the 25th district for 30 years, two years longer than Squadron has been alive.

I voted for Squadron, in part because any campaign that can organize five door-knock visits in the last week must be doing something right.

DJA tells me that while I was away at the RNC, Squadron people dropped by almost every day.

"Because I'm an influential political blogger?" I asked.

"No, because you're a registered Democrat."

Squadron's first act should be to disclose his financial holdings, as the ethics rules require him to do.

NYC Council passes construction safety measures

Good news:

NEW YORK - After a spike in construction accidents throughout New York City in recent months, the City Council has passed several measures intended to increase safety on building sites.

The package of bills passed Wednesday includes one that would allow buildings inspectors to classify maintenance violations as immediately hazardous. Those violations include problems such as loose material and debris, unsafe storage of combustible materials and falling hazards.

Another bill requires regular structural inspections on buildings that have been weakened by fire or other damaging elements.

A third bill requires better monitoring of retaining walls, mandating structural inspections every five years. [AP]

Pigeons property of New York State

Pigeons are property of New York State, and we are legally required to put up with them:

Pigeons may be reviled by many and adored by a few. Love them or hate them, those plump gray and white cooing birds are considered property of the state, and it is illegal to harm them.

Thus pigeon-napping is considered a crime (though giving them birth control is not). Two months ago, a formerly homeless street sweeper tipped off law enforcement officials about a pigeon poacher, Isaac Gonzalez, who was spreading vast amounts of seed on the Upper East Side.

Mr. Gonzalez was convicted last week in Criminal Court in Manhattan, and the street sweeper, Desi Stewart, is poised to receive a $2,500 reward offered by an animal advocacy group, In Defense of Animals.

Pigeon poaching has become a big New York problem, as pigeons are netted and taken over the state border to be used for sport and food. In Defense of Animals says it has received more calls about pigeon poaching than any other issue. [NYT]

If we were to divide through the number of New Yorkers by the number of pigeons, I wonder how many flying rats each of us would own.

Pride

So true.

I wish I had original photos to share, but given the torrential rain punctuating the heat wave, I had second thoughts about taking the camera outdoors, or myself for that matter. Justifiably so, as it turned out.

Happy Pride 2008, everyone!

HT: Jill.

Hip hop activists arrested in NYC for questioning NYPD tactics

Another under-reported incident involving alleged NYPD retaliation against non-violent concerned citizens, from Vivir Latino:

Last Thursday, independent, radical, revolutionary, activist Hip Hoppers Rodstarz and G1, two brothers known musically and in the movement as Rebel Diaz [along with MC/vocalist La Tere], were walking in the Bronx, NYC when they witnessed an all too common occurrence. Police officers from the 41st Precinct were in the middle of a sting against street vendors, aggressively confiscating the fruit and vegetables of a street vendor. What happened next was a mix of the sadly uncommon and the everyday threat that is faced in many of our communities. Rodstarz and G1 didn’t walk by quickly or quietly, watching their extended community being attacked. They approached the officers to ask why the vendor was being treated in that manner and asked for their badge numbers. The police, who aren’t exactly keen on the idea of being monitored by the very same community they allegedly serve, turned their aggressions on the duo. After beating them and arresting them in front of over a dozen witnesses, they were taken to the 41st Precinct.

Within hours, over 75 friends, community members and activists gathered outside the precinct (1035 Longwood Avenue at Southern Blvd.) to sing, chant, drum and march for over 4 hours, demanding that all charges be dropped and that Rodstarz and G1 be immediately released.

The following morning more than 25 people gathered at the Bronx County Criminal Court for their arraignment. The men are charged with two misdemeanors: obstruction of justice and resisting arrest, and are scheduled for court on September 3rd, 2008.

Check out video of the arrests and the subsequent protests.

[HT: Jack.]

Bork settles lawsuit over fall at Yale Club

NEW YORK - One-time U.S. Supreme Court nominee Robert H. Bork settled a $1 million lawsuit Friday against the Yale Club after he fell stepping onto a platform to speak.

His lawyer, Randy Mastro, said terms of the deal were confidential and he had no comment.

Bork, 81, sued in Manhattan federal court last year, saying he injured himself so badly at the June 2006 event sponsored by the New Criterion magazine that he needed surgery and was left with a limp. He faulted the club for not having stairs or a handrail leading up to the platform.

Lawyers for the New York City chapter blamed Bork, saying any injuries he sustained were at least partially his fault for not recognizing potential risks, which the club said were "open, obvious and apparent." [AP]

Conservative icon Robert H. Bork settled his lawsuit over injuries he sustained when he fell off the platform at the Yale Club. Because tort reform is for the little people.... 

I shot an event at the Yale Club a couple months ago. I didn't see any obvious platform hazards in our room, but you never know.

Created Equal: Sean Bell Protest

Arrestees, originally uploaded by Lindsay Beyerstein.

Two demonstrators arrested for blocking traffic near the Brooklyn Bridge, Wednesday.

More pictures.

Al Sharpton Getting Arrested: Sean Bell Protest

Al Sharpton Getting Arrested, originally uploaded by Lindsay Beyerstein.

The money shot!

Rev. Al Sharpton being arrested to protest the acquittal of the NYPD officers who fatally shot the unarmed Sean Bell on his wedding day.

More photos.