Act for Public Policy

Black and Brown Lives Matter!

2014-12-05T16:26:00.000-05:00

Black and brown lives matter! I can't breath!" are the new rallying cries of outraged Americans. I recently saw a meme that read "you mean to tell me that I can't whip my kids, but the police can kill them?" with impunity, I add. The mayor of the City of New York is piloting a program using body cameras on a small number of "NYC Finest"; however, in the wake of a Staten Island Jury's refusal to indict the chokehold officer, Daniel Pantaleo, caught on camera delivering NYC style justice to Mr. Eric Garner, for the heinous act of selling cigarettes on a NYC street--honestly--ask yourself, what good will the program really do? Even with video evidence law enforcement officers appear to be above the law.

Akai Gurley, and 28 year old unarmed, totally innocent, African American male who just happened to be walking down a stairwell with his girlfriend in Brooklyn--at the same time that a scared, gun toting rooky happened to be--lost his life; was labeled an "unfortunate tragedy." Nevertheless, it has been reported that P. O. Peter Liang, allegedly called his union rep before calling for help.

Eighteen year old Michael Brown's murderer, P.O. Darren Wilson also emerges unscathed when a Ferguson grand jury refuses to indict. He retires from his job with a 1 million dollar “war chest” from online fund raisers and supporter. After the decision not to indict, Wilson gave an interview painting a shocking portrait of Michael Brown, the like of which those who knew him were in shock and disbelief (content can be see here). It is said that dead men tell no tales.

Twelve year old Tamir Rice, shot twice while caring a toy gun, something that many children in the United States and abroad have played with for generations. Thirteen Year old Andy Lopez, of Santa Rosa California, killed by police while walking to his friend’s house holding a replica AK-47 pellet gun which was mistaken for a real weapon.

There are so many of these stories that it is virtually impossible to keep count. Young men of color have historically been disproportionately incarcerated, and now we must add murdered—at the hands of those charged with the job of protecting and serving—the list. Society has been preconditioned to view blackness as a threat, something that is dangerous, needs to be controlled, curtailed, and suppressed in order to protect the status quo.

America’s legacy on race and class has far too often been one of “justice delay and justice denied” that the decry of contempt from her ethnically diverse citizenry should not come as a surprise.

Brownsville Natives Speak Out on New Police Policy Called "Omnipresence"

2014-09-22T15:18:00.000-04:00

According to sources at the NYC Department of City Planning, Brooklyn and the Bronx are targeted for extensive development AKA gentrification. You can learn about the plans for East New York, Brooklyn here and you can find information on the plans for the Bronx here .

Creating the opportunity for these plans to take shape requires restructuring of community, and in some cases that means "making it more safe." There are new police framework that has taken shape, or perhaps they are the same policies, only under a different nomenclature.

Omnipresence--VS--Stop-and-Frisk.
Check out what community residents have to say (watch video) here .

Where Have All The Flowers Gone? The Displacement of Minorities In The Process Of Gentrification

2014-07-02T15:06:00.001-04:00

My book has just made it to the virtual shelves at Amazon and other distribution channels! It will soon be available for electronic devices. After hard work, a couple of years of dedicated research, my labor of love is completed.

Get your copy here: https://www.createspace.com/4341136
Full color version can be purchased here https://www.createspace.com/4333770

This book is a dynamic and insightful read, featuring ethnographic interviews with business owners, longtime residents and gentrifiers. Do be sure to pick up your copy to read all about "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?"

How Gentrification Affects Those on Fixed Incomes and Has Public Policy Done Enough to Address this Issue?

2014-04-30T09:17:00.001-04:00

According to a recent NYT article "The city’s older population is now its fastest growing. By 2030, New York for the first time will have as many residents 65 and older as those of school age — 15.5 percent of city residents, compared with 12 percent now, city planners say. By then, the city will have 300,000 more older people than the one million it has today. By 2040, it will have over 400,000 more than it does today." The widening income gap between rents and incomes with hit them the hardest, even in rent stabilized dwellings. Here's an interesting article which explains how public policy has affected this demographic.

Gentrification: It's Happening in a City Near You!

2014-04-29T12:35:00.003-04:00

My intention, at this point, is to create a series of post on gentrification and the attendant consequences of the process of urban development/neighborhood change or any other euphemism one uses to describe this phenomenon.

I'm a Brooklynite, and by extension, a native New Yorker. One of my greatest concerns is that I will eventually be priced out of the city that I have called home, all my life. Gentrification is the process by which this tragedy will happen, not only to me, but to anyone who cannot afford the rising rents in urban neighborhood. I plan to explore this topic of gentrification to see what it is, how it manifest, and what--if anything--can be done to prevent mass displacement of those who are in the lower strata of the socio economic ladder.

So what is gentrification?

Here's a working definition of gentrification:

Since the term gentrification first appeared in the 1950s and 1960s--coined by Ruth Glass--the debate over its meaning and impact has only intensified. The definitions range from the purely economic: such as new high-income households, housing investment, or transition from renter-to owner occupancy, to the demographic: influx of white households, college-educated residents, non-family households, to some combination thereof. Another important aspect of gentrification is the appropriation of economic value by one class from another.

Green gentrification happens when cultural institutions and environmental amenities are upgraded, restored, and/or created, signify a second front of the gentrification process; and they contribute to each other.

Sometimes the reverse happens where historical sites are demolished to make way for luxury housing and boutique hotels. This effectively erases the spatial significance and history of the former residents.

For example, historical sites, such as the Fox Savoy Theater--1515 Bedford Avenue--are being destroyed to make way for Luxury Housing. This building, with its rich history and architectural significance could have had the opportunity to gain landmark status; however, was sold by the Charity Neighborhood Baptist Church for $575,000, as a result of financial difficulty. Demolition has already begun on the interior, and it’s not clear whether the outside with be demolished as well.

Related article: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6069

What are some things that we, as residents of Crown Heights, can do to preserve our spatial environment and to stave off development that does not provide for affordable housing opportunities?

The NRA Speaks Out

2012-12-21T12:55:00.001-05:00

Wayne LaPierre, the Executive Vice President of the NRA, offered these words of "wisdom." He suggested that the answer is to further extend the right to bear arms to all. "The only thing that stops a bad guys with a gun, is a good guy with a gun." And if that was not bad enough, he proposes that we "militarize" every school in the nation. That "Congress should appropriate what ever is necessary to put armed police officers in every single school in this Nation." and proposes that a former prosecutor Asa Hutchinson, lead and NRA effort for that program. He holds up "thousands of music videos, and you all know this, portray life as a joke and portray murder as a way of life, and they have the nerve to call this entertainment, but is that what it really is?" as the real reason why people commit senseless violence, and says that "Isn't fantasizing about killing people as a way to get your kicks really the filthiest form of pornography?"

As Irin Carmon of Salon.Com said on Now w/Alex Wagner that LaPierre effectively "Spit in the faces of the families of the victim of Sandy Hook Elementary." Sam Stein pointed out that gun violence doesn't only happens in schools so by LaPierre's logic, we need armed guards in Sikh Temples, shopping malls and movie theaters . . . and what he's advocating is incredibly anti massive expansion of government."

LaPierre offered nothing near to a reasonable suggestion, as an answer to the gun violence, love of gun culture in America, or an assault weapons ban, but reverted to the blame game, and the dig in deeper position that the NRA consistently takes after a tragedy occurs as a result of gun use.

What do you say?

Is This The New Reality?

2012-12-19T11:10:00.001-05:00

Mother Jones reports that since Friday's massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary, sales of bulletproof backpacks are up. Derek Williams, president of Amendment II told Tim Murphy that sales of the "carbon nanotube armor" lined backpacks tripled in volume over what they typically do in a month.

At the same time, gun sales have surged across the country. Discount Gun Sales LLC reported on their website that "Due to the overwhelming increase in sales, beginning 12/18/12 we will only be doing local in store sales. Out of state order[s] over the phone are temporarily suspended."

Perhaps the answer is in tougher regulation? Maybe discussions surrounding mental health issues needs to be addressed on the national stage? Perhaps the answer is in technology? Can classrooms be equip with panic buttons that would effectively lock bullet resistant doors that have bullet resistant windows, thereby sending out a signal to local law enforcement that will effectively reduce the response time? We need innovative solutions to complex human driven crisis's.

Is this the new reality?

Photos retrieved from Bullet Blocker website Dec. 18, 2012, from http://www.bulletblocker.com/bulletproof-school-safety-protection.html

Guns, Violence, and Mental Illness

2012-12-19T00:13:00.001-05:00

Another senseless tragedy facilitated by the use of guns. Twenty-seven people were murdered, and countless lives shattered when on December 14, 2012, 20 year Adam Lanza, went on a deadly rampage in Newtown, Connecticut killing his mother, and then traveling to Sandy Hook Elementary where he gunned down 20 innocent children, and 7 adults (including the gunmans mother), and afterwards turned the weapon on himself (making the total adult casualty number 8). Authorities say Lanza was well prepared to carry out this massacre wearing a black fatigues and military vest and toting three registered automatic weapons: a semi-automatic AR-15, assault rifle made by Bushmaster, and a pistol made by Glock and Sig Sauer.

On The National Rifle Association's website, the organization chose to suspend comment and state "We are shocked, saddened, and heartbroken by the news of the horrific and senseless murders in Newtown. Out of respect for the families, and as a matter of common decency we have given time for mourning, prayer and a full investigation of the facts before commenting."

The country mourns with the community of Newtown, as all are touched and shaken by such an unfathomable horror, and we must ask the question; are we doing enough to balance our constitutional right to bear arms, with our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as set forth in the Declaration of Independence? Are we as a country doing enough to keep semi-automatic weapons out of the homes of the mentally unstable? Can we as a nation actually find a happy medium between these seemingly competing concepts? Will this tragedy lead to tighter gun control? Let's see where the national dialogues takes us.

A Successful Charity Benefit!

2012-06-23T09:53:00.003-04:00

"An Evening of Poetry, Spoken Word, and Socially Conscience Reggae Music" was a great success! On May 8, 2012, I, in association with the Center for Ethnic, Racial, and Religious Understanding, hosted a Charity Benefit to educate, raise awareness, and funds to purchase Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (LLITB) for the Malaria No More Organization, and the people of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The event featured luminaries such as: Poet Danny Simmons, Co-Creator of Def Poetry Jam, Reggae Artist Lion Melta,, Poet Ereke Talli, Spoken Word Artist Beverly Chavies William, Bob McNeil, Harrison Young, Derick Cross, Visual Artist and Entertainer LaRonz Murry, and Queens College Students in an Open MIC session. They all shared a part of their soul at this glorious event. I believes that through activism we engage and empathize to inform positive social change. It was held in the Queens College Patio Room on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, and through my fundraising efforts, I was able to supply over 90 families in Sub-Saharan Africa with LLITB.

These nets will not only help to prevent the transmission of the malaria disease from the anopheles mosquito to individuals, but will very instrumental in reducing the number of work days loss due to malaria illness, thereby playing a role in the economic stability of the family. Malaria has the added notoriety of leaving some people it infects in a debilitated state, and for expectant mothers, can cause physical and mental defects to their unborn children.

Once again, you can weigh in on this now by making your $10.00 text contribution to the Malaria No More, by texting the word NET to 85944.

Cuomo's 2016 Path to the White House: Kill The Middle Class

2012-04-01T14:35:00.002-04:00

I recently read a very telling article by Jonathan Tasini, of the Working Life, and found his argument so compelling that I was so move to share it with you all. Anyone who is expecting to receive a pension ought to be aware and concerned.

Cuomo's 2016 Path to the White House: Kill The Middle Class

Poetry, Spoken Word, and Reggae Music -vs- Malaria

2012-03-15T15:39:00.002-04:00

I have coordinated an event for Tuesday May 8, 2012 at 7pm, and will be hosting this event at Queens College which all are welcome to attend. This benefit is An Evening of Poetry, Spoken Word, and Reggae Music that has been planned in an effort to raise awareness, concern, money and action to help fight Malaria. Here are a couple of facts that might motivate everyone to join me, by taking a stand against the scourge of Malaria:

Every year, 781,000 people die of malaria
Every 45 seconds , a child dies of malaria
Malaria is preventable and treatable
Children under 5 account for 85% of malaria deaths
Almost 2000 people die in Africa daily from malaria
In Africa 40% of health resources are used to treat malaria
Malaria cost Africa $12 billion annually.
World Malaria Day is April 25th

If you can not be present at the event, you can take weigh in by taking our your cell phone RIGHT NOW, and TEXT: NET to 85944
Each call will cost $10.00 and will purchase one net for a needy family (standard messaging rates do apply).

Is Jim Crow Really A Thing Of The Past?

2012-03-11T15:13:00.001-04:00

Is Jim Crow really in the past? Or are the current policies being proposed an attack on our liberties and freedoms? The NYS Governor wishes the legislature to pass a bill that will enable the collection of DNA for anyone convicted of a misdemeanor. If passed, this will effectively give the police the authority to continue a pattern of racial profiling and harassment of of those whom are already disenfranchised and without political power. Please take the time to read the petition which can be accessed through the link below, and sign the petition to ask the legislature not to approve the proposed bill that will take us down back down the path of Jim Crow.

http://signon.org/sign/do-not-approve-the-nys

The Movement Marches On

2011-11-29T16:19:00.001-05:00

It's been a minute since my last post, and so many things have occurred in relationship to the Occupy Wall Street movement. Grass roots Occupy movements have been developing not only within the nation, but world wide. Republican politicians are doing their infamous "side step shuffle" by first denouncing the movement and condemning the occupier for exercising their I Amendment right to freedom of speech, then upon realizing that the 99% are people from all walks of life, some of whom are their own constituents, they subtly begin to change their tune by recognizing the legitimacy of their, only to flop back to their original posture when the audience they're addressing expects that type of rhetoric, and the movement marches on.

Mayors of some cities seem to act in a collaborative effort to remove occupiers using various levels of force, and attempt to justify their actions by saying "freedom of speech does not include the right to pitch tents and sleep in public/private parks." This appears that these actions serve to strengthen the resolve of the 99%, and the movement marches on.

Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) Foreign Affairs CMTE; MIDDLE EAST SUBCMTE. introduced an Occupied Amendment in an attempt to deal with the corrupt nature of government and dependence of fundraising in the election process. There is ample evidence that corporate influence in our government has essentially hijacked our democracy, turning our system of government into an oligarchy. Let's see what kind of welcome this Amendment receives, as the movement marches on.

Money is speech, and legal bribery has been shown to produce powerful results in the policies our nation chooses to implement, and the movement marches on.

American Jobs Act Bill

2011-10-06T12:08:00.001-04:00

It is prudent that we educate ourselves and families on the American Jobs Act Bill in order to effect change. If we agree that something must be done immediately to increase employment opportunities in this country, then must must respond by urging Congress to stop playing politics and ACT for the benefit of the American people. The goal of the Republican Party should not be to beat President Obama at all cost, but rather to improve conditions in America, at all cost. Watch the President's speech made today (and view archived speeches), and read the Bill here.

Resource Guide For the Occupy Protest.

2011-10-05T23:58:00.004-04:00

Below is an email that I received from the editor at Thinkprogress.org. Read more here and here.

Dear Maria,
As you have undoubtedly been witnessing, the Occupy Wall Street protests have spawned a nationwide movement for progressive change. Thousands of inspiring protesters are gathering in cities across America – in New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and more – to call attention to a political system that unfairly and unjustly rewards the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. ThinkProgress has put together a resource guide to arm you with the key facts as we work together for economic justice:
Why They're Protesting
What started with about 1,000 people in New York City is a civil disobedience campaign to draw attention to economic inequality and the need for structural economic reforms. In the true spirit of the Boston Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street protesters are practicing civil disobedience for many of the same reasons. They demonstrating in opposition corporate greed; demanding that government support education, infrastructure, and jobs; getting rid of corporate tax loopholes; and strengthening democracy. Read more here.
How Unequal are We?
Protesters call themselves the 99 percent – meaning the portion of the nation pushing back against the top 1 percent of the most wealthy Americans. Here is an explanation of exactly how economically unequal we are:
1. The top 1 percent of Americans owns 40 percent of the nation’s wealth.
2. The top 1 percent of Americans takes home 24 percent of national income.
3. The top 1 percent of Americans owns half of the country’s stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
4. The top 1 percent of Americans has only 5 percent of the nation’s personal debt.
5. The top 1 percent is taking in more of the nation’s income than at any other time since the 1920s.
Read more here.
Who's Involved
The number of people behind Occupy Wall Street has grown from that first group who started the demonstrations in New York. Now, people ranging from labor unions to celebrities and veterans are protesting in the streets across the country. Here's an Iraq veteran who joined the protest in Boston because the future is at stake and "it's not going to fix itself":

But of course not everyone has been giving the Occupy Wall Street protesters fair coverage. After Fox News had mocked and tried to "prank" protesters in its coverage, the news channel did not air this interview with Jesse LaGreca in which the protesters clearly explains why he's there protesting and what he thinks of Fox's coverage, even scolding the Fox staffer for his network’s role as a far-right “propaganda machine." Watch the unaired interview:

Read more here and here.
If you found this content useful, please consider forwarding it to your friends.

Thanks,
Faiz
---
Faiz Shakir
Editor, ThinkProgress.org

Occupy Wall Street: Violence erupts as protesters attempt to cross Broadway

2011-10-05T23:10:00.002-04:00

The organization that Ben Bernanke referred to in his address on Capital Hill address, Occupy Wall Street.Org, is in their 18th day of protest down in the financial district in NYC. This evening the protest got violent with police brass, and uniformed officers beating protesters with clubs, and spraying pepper spray as they attempt to clear Broadway in an effort to prevent protesters form crossing their barricades. See video here. Protesters consist of recent college graduate who have been unable to find employment, as well as labor union members who are facing layoffs due to budget cuts. As protest numbers swell, protesters vow that they are in it for the long haul.

Federal Reserve Chief Warns Congress That Economic Recovery Is Close to Faltering

2011-10-04T23:52:00.003-04:00

Ben Bernanke warns Congress the economic recovery as is now is close to faltering. Europe has a debt crisis, America has a job crisis, and the world finance Markets are fermenting. When asked about the 18 days of protest that is happening in Wall Street and cities all over the country, Bernanke responded "I think people are quite unhappy with the state of the economy and what is happening. They blame, with some justification, the problems n the financial sector for getting us into this mess and they're dissatisfied with the policy response here in Washington. And, at some level, I can't blame them."

Republicans and the few Democrats who oppose the $447 billion job-creation bill must do something to stave off a double dip recession. At the rate things are going, the 9% unemployment rate will remain well into 2013
You can read more on the issue here.

Trader's Banking Confessions Appear To Not Be a Hoax.

2011-09-29T18:56:00.007-04:00

According to reputable sources, at "The Guardian co,uk", independent trader Alessio Rastani, was not posturing for the Yes Men. Although "The Guardian" referred to Rastani as "small potatoes", he is a real trader and said nothing to suggest otherwise. He was simply being more candid than other insiders would be. You can read the article in its entirety here. The reason why what happens in Europe is important to America is that all markets are tethered to one another.

"Governments Don't Rule the World, Goldman Sachs Rules the World" says Alessio Rastani in an interview with BBC News

2011-09-28T13:28:00.004-04:00

An interesting interview appeared on BBC News where trader, (view video here) Alessio Rastani--whom some say is also a prankster, and member of the yes men--made a strong prediction that the Eurozone market is going to crash with the next twelve (12) months, and that people need to prepare themselves. He says "there's money to be made if you know what to do." Was it a hoax or not?

The United States' Free Trade Agreements

2011-09-25T18:40:00.011-04:00

What is NAFTA? NAFTA is an acronym for the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement which exists between three countries: Canada, the United States, and Mexico. This trade agreement is the world's largest free trade area in terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and was launched 15 years ago to reduce trading cost, increase business investment, and help North America be more competitive in the global market place.
Has it worked, and if so, for whom?
Over time, we will begin to develop an answer to this question by considering the pros, and cons of Neoliberalism, and how its policies and practices effect our lives.

As of January 1, 2008, all tariffs between the three countries were eliminate. Between 1993-2009, trade tripled from $297 billion to $1.6 trillion.
(Source: USTR, NAFTA)
In addition to NAFTA, the United States has signed free trade agreements with 17 countries. These countries are:
Australia;Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic,
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Mexico, Morocco,
Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, and Singapore.
The United States has signed free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea, and Panama, but Congress must enact legislation to approve and implement each individual agreement in order for them to go into effect.

The United States is also in negotiations as a regional, Asia-Pacific trade agreement, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) Agreement which the objective of shaping a high-standard, broad based regional pact.
Related Links
World Trade Organization (WTO) & Multilateral Affairs
Trade & Investment Framework Agreements
Bilateral Investment Treaties
Other Initiatives