Wednesday, September 12, 2018

ENGEL AND TRI-CAUCUS CHAIRS DEMAND ANSWERS ON STATE DEPARTMENT POLICY ON HATE SPEECH


  Today, Rep. Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. Judy Chu, Chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; Reps. Karen Bass and Marc Veasey, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus Foreign Affairs and National Security Task Force; Rep. Cedric L. Richmond, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; and Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, decried disturbing reports detailing the Administration’s policy to refrain from condemning hate speech in the international community. Recent reporting revealed that State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration Andrew Veprek disputed the idea that leaders have a “duty to condemn hate speech or incitement.” In a letter, the Members expressed outrage and demanded an explanation of this position.

“This is dangerous policy. The United States Holocaust Museum notes that genocide is often preceded and accompanied by widespread hate speech. Ensuring that hate speech is condemned is not just basic decency—it’s also a tool for preventing atrocities. Ultimately, this latest blunder amplifies the increasingly widespread belief that some officials in the Trump administration are racist and support an anti-foreigner, anti-Muslim discriminatory agenda and further erodes our national credibility on the world stage,” the Members wrote.

Full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We are extremely alarmed by the Trump Administration’s policy of remaining silent in international fora about racism and xenophobia and declining to condemn hate speech and incitement. It’s outrageous that any administration, regardless of political ideology, would refuse to stand for these basic American ideals.

Documents revealed in the press show that State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration Andrew Veprek disputed the idea that leaders have a “duty to condemn hate speech or incitement” and tried to strike an entire section of a United Nations document that links fighting racism with building a diverse democratic society.

This is dangerous policy. The United States Holocaust Museum notes that genocide is often preceded and accompanied by widespread hate speech. Ensuring that hate speech is condemned is not just basic decency—it’s also a tool for preventing atrocities.  

The Trump administration’s retreat from the world has directly undermined our long held global leadership role. His racist and xenophobic policies have slammed America’s door on some of the world’s most desperate people. Ultimately, this latest blunder amplifies the increasingly widespread perception that some officials in the Trump administration are racist and support an anti-foreigner, anti-Muslim discriminatory agenda and further erodes our national credibility on the world stage.

We demand an explanation and expect that DAS Veprek will be made available to meet with our staffs to explain these baffling actions and the policies behind them. Please contact Sajit Gandhi of the Foreign Affairs Committee staff at (202) 226 8467 by the end of the week to schedule this meeting without delay.
                                                   
Sincerely,

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW By Councilman, Rubén Díaz Sr. District 18 Bronx County, New York


MAYOR OF SAN JUAN CARMEN YULIN CRUZ AND FORMER NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER MELISSA MARK VIVERITO ARE DEAD WRONG

 
You should know that when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20th, 2017, we in Bronx County, executed a humanitarian relief effort that lasted 24 hours.
 

It is important for you to know that on Saturday, September 30th, 2017 together with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization, we coordinated a relief effort to help Puerto Rico in their time of need.
 
This activity was supposed to begin at 12 noon and end at 5 pm, but the response was so large that the activity continued up until the following Sunday, September 31stat 12 noon.
 
We were able to to fill 6 large containers for Puerto Rico and one for Mexico, but we ran into a problem. We were expecting to fill only 1 or 2 containers, but the response was so big we filled out 7 containers and by 9pm we still had extra goods, foods, water, and clothes that we had no idea what to do with.
 
Thanks to a call placed to Governor Andrew Cuomo by my son Ruben Diaz, Jr., that night 21 National Guard trucks arrived (see video attached) to help us move the rest of goods and to help clear the street.
 
I, as a Puerto Rican, and the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization have no way to thank the Governor for coming to the rescue and giving us a big hand. The Bronx executed a huge Puerto Rican relief effort and we owe our gratitude to Governor Andrew Cuomo. 
 
That is why I can’t understand, with all Governor Cuomo has done for Puerto Rico, the Mayor of San Juan Puerto Rico Carmen Yulin Cruz and former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, both Puerto Rican women, have rejected the Governor and thrown their support to a person who refused to march in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade and has done nothing for the people of Puerto Rico.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, they both are dead wrong in this decision not to support a person who has given so much to help Puerto Rico and our Puerto Rican brothers & sisters on the island. 
 
I hope most Puerto Ricans are not so ungrateful, and that other Hispanics help us show our gratitude to the Governor.                                                                          
 
This is Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz, and this is what you should know.


South Bronx Unite - Bronx Residents Denounce Majora Carter's Displacement Efforts


  South Bronx Unite stands in support of our activists sisters and brothers from Take Back the Bronx in denouncing efforts to displace long time residents from the South Bronx. Specifically, we take issue with strategies on behalf of for profit developers trying to act and serve as a Community Land Trust (CLT). 

We recognize CLTs as a community lead grassroots effort to oppose the forces of real estate speculation. The fundamentals of Community Land Trusts fights to preserve the right of low-income people to live in the city by supporting Community Land Trusts and other community-led housing and neighborhood development efforts. We believe that land is a common good, and that housing is a human right. Housing should be for people, not profit. Decisions about land and housing should include all community members, and prioritize people with extremely low incomes, who are homeless or otherwise in dire need of housing or in threat of displacement, and not served by the private market or for profit developers.

NEW YORK TASK FORCE 1 URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM DEPLOYS TO NORTH CAROLINA IN SUPPORT OF HURRICANE FLORENCE


  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has activated the Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) New York Task Force 1 (NY TF-1) team to deploy to North Carolina in support of Hurricane Florence. The US&R NY TF-1 team is managed by the New York City Emergency Management Department and is made up of specially trained personnel from FDNY and NYPD.

New York Task Force 1 specializes in urban search and rescue, disaster recovery, and emergency triage and medicine. The eighty-three member team, along with six canines, departed from New York City Emergency Management’s Brooklyn facility to Kinston, North Carolina, where they will pre-stage ahead of potential assignments. The team is deploying with various equipment and tools to support its operations, including eight water rescue boats, motors, items to support rescues from collapsed structures and confined spaces, as well as a compilation of hazardous materials response equipment. The team is expected to arrive in North Carolina on Tuesday night. There are 28 FEMA US&R teams strategically located throughout the United States that can be deployed within six hours of activation.

The FEMA US&R program originated as a response system for natural disasters. Since the program’s inception, the task forces have broadened the scope of US&R’s work. Two early activations of the US&R system occurred in response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and the 1994 Northridge Earthquake in California. FEMA US&R teams also activated in response to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. NY TF-1 deployments include Hurricanes Ike and Gustav in 2008, the Haiti Earthquake and Hurricane Earl in 2010, Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, in 2017.

Primary Predictions 34th State Senate and 87th Assembly District


100 PERCENT
By Robert Press

Primary Day Predictions 2018

  Having predicted Mark Gjonaj's victory last year on the head with a prediction of 39 percent here are my predictions for Thursday's Democratic Primary 2018.

Re-election for Governor Cuomo and Lt. Governor Hochul, but in the Attorney General race I predict that Zephyr Teachout to be the winner. 

In the 34th State Senate race it should not be determined on election night as I believe that the race maybe that close, and to close to call. So good luck to both candidates when it comes to counting the absentee ballots which may determine the winner.

In the 87th Assembly District Sergeant John Perez should win with 51 Percent of the vote, Karines Reyes second with 41 Percent of the vote, and Farah Despeignes third with 8 Percent of the vote. 

Finally in the 84th Assembly District Incumbent Carmen Arroyo may be the only incumbent Bronx state legislator who wins on primary day 2018. 

There are also some small party position races also in the Bronx. 

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ - JOHN PEREZ



  It was a ceremony for 9/11/2001 at the Parkchester Oval Memorial, as Sergeant John Perez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came together in unity. 

 White roses were laid at the base of the memorial by the people who included Community Board 11 District Manager Jeremy Warneke a veteran from Operation Desert Storm. Sergeant John Perez and  CB 11 District Manager were both serving at the same time there. Sergeant Perez's unit was in command while CB 11 DM Warneke's unit was supporting Sergeant Perez's unit. Both Army veterans were not in uniform as a show of respect to the civilians who were killed on 9/11/2001. 

 The 9/11 Memorial service was sponsored by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 14th Congressional District. Sergeant John Perez is running in Thursday's Democratic Primary for the 87th Assembly District. 


  White roses were placed at the foot of the Parkchester Oval during the memorial services sponsored by the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 14th Congressional District Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 

If You Can't change the Petition Change The Campaign Finance Disclosure Statement


We found not only not only two addresses for Amanda Farais - but two different addresses for Nanette Alvarado. 


Amanda Farias on the Karines Reyes petition is listed as living at 1500 Thieriot Avenue, but was given a check from the Friends of Karines Reyes for 769 Arnow Avenue as listed below. 


AUG-24-18 07:26 PM FRIENDS OF KARINES REYES Page 1

NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT

Filer ID: A22224 2018 32 DAY PRE PRIMARY (A) SCHEDULE: F EXPENDITURES/PAYMENTS

07/14/18 AMANDA FARIAS 769 ARNOW AVENUE BRONX NY 10467 CHK1004 $11.00 REIMB AUG-13-18 03:24 PM

07/14/18 H & H HARDWARE 1171 CASTLE HILL AVENUE BRONX NY 10462 1004R $0.00 R-DET MEMO: $11 AUG-13-18 03:24 PM

The Karines Reyes campaign then resubmitted the disclosure statement to correct what we were told was an error. However we were told that Ms. Farias did live at 769 Arnow Ave.

Next we find that Nanette Alvarado was paid at 11187 41st Avenue Corona Queens days before she signed several witness statements of the Karines Reyes petition at an address of 18-43 120th Street College Point NY 11356

Below is from the Karines Reyes Financial Disclosure Statement dated September 10th 2018.

SEP-10-18 07:14 PM Page 2 Filer ID: A22224 2018 K SCHEDULE: F FRIENDS OF KARINES REYES

NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT

Filer ID: A22224 2018 SCHEDULE: F EXPENDITURES/PAYMENTS

06/23/18 NANETTE ALVARADO 11187 41ST AVENUE CORONA NY 11368 CHK1054 $500.00 WAGES JUL-16-18 04:40 PM

07/01/18 NANETTE ALVARADO 11187 41ST AVENUE CORONA NY 11368 CHK1055 $500.00
WAGES JUL-16-18 04:40 PM

07/09/18 NANETTE ALVARADO 11187 41ST AVENUE CORONA NY 11368 CHK1056 $500.00
WAGES JUL-16-18 04:40 

Now we find the following on the Karines Reyes Financial Disclosure Statement dated September 11th 2018.

SEP-12-18 09:26 AM Page 2 Filer ID: A22224 2018 K SCHEDULE: F FRIENDS OF KARINES REYES

NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT

Filer ID: A22224 2018 SCHEDULE: F EXPENDITURES/PAYMENTS

06/23/18 NANETTE ALVARADO 18-43 120TH STREET COLLEGE POINT NY 11356 CHK1054 $500.00 WAGES SEP-11-18 12:56 PM

Our Question to the New York State Board of Elections is how do you have one address on the Reyes petition, but a different address on a check from the Reyes Campaign Committee to not one person, but two people?

We also Question the address that was placed on the Reyes petition for Nanette Alvarado since the Reyes campaign check is dated before the dates that Nanette Alvarado signed on the Reyes petition, and it was not changed until we found it.

There is one more item that we found, and it will not be published until it can not be changed.

Monday, September 10, 2018

Another Mistaken Address of a Karines Reyes Petition Collector, or is it More Fraud?


Where does Nanette Alvarado really live?





















 

As you Can plainly see the address on Nanette Alvarado's petition pages for Karines Reyes dated on June 26, 2018 states 18-43 120th Street College Point NY 11356. you can click on a photo to enlarge it.

So why do we see checks made out for wages to Nanette Alvarado beginning with June 23, 2018 with the address of 11187 41ST AVENUE CORONA NY 11368 on Karines Reyes's financial disclosure statements?


SEP-10-18 07:14 PM Page 2 Filer ID: A22224 2018 K SCHEDULE: F FRIENDS OF KARINES REYES

NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT

Filer ID: A22224 2018 SCHEDULE: F EXPENDITURES/PAYMENTS

06/23/18 NANETTE ALVARADO 11187 41ST AVENUE CORONA NY 11368 CHK1054 $500.00 WAGES JUL-16-18 04:40 PM

07/01/18 NANETTE ALVARADO 11187 41ST AVENUE CORONA NY 11368 CHK1055 $500.00
WAGES JUL-16-18 04:40 PM

07/09/18 NANETTE ALVARADO 11187 41ST AVENUE CORONA NY 11368 CHK1056 $500.00
WAGES JUL-16-18 04:40 PM

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --  - - - - - - - 

SEP-10-18 07:26 PM Page 1 Filer ID: A22224 2018 A SCHEDULE: F FRIENDS OF KARINES REYES

NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT

Filer ID: A22224 2018 32 DAY PRE PRIMARY (A) SCHEDULE: F EXPENDITURES/PAYMENTS

07/14/18 NANETTE ALVARADO 11187 41ST AVENUE CORONA NY 11368 CHK1003 $500.00
WAGES AUG-27-18 12:37 PM

07/22/18 NANETTE ALVARADO 11187 41ST AVENUE CORONA NY 11368 CHK1005 $500.00
WAGES AUG-27-18 12:37 PM


SEP-10-18 07:26 PM Page 2 Filer ID: A22224 2018 A SCHEDULE: F FRIENDS OF KARINES REYES
07/29/18 NANETTE ALVARADO 11187 41ST AVENUE CORONA NY 11368 CHK1010 $500.00
WAGES AUG-27-18 12:37 PM


The first check to Nanette Alvarado predates the Reyes petition, and is dated June 23, 2018. The date on two pages of signatures collected by Nanette Alvarado for the Reyes petition above is June 26, 2018. The second check is dated eight days before the Reyes petition was handed in, and the third check dated the day the Reyes petition was handed in to the Board of Elections. This time the address on the check to Ms. Alvarado predates the date on the petition, and also predate the date the Reyes petition was handed in on July 9, 2018. This time it would have to be the petition that would have be changed, and that can not happen.

At least the date on the Amanda Farias check which had an address different from the address on the Reyes petition was dated after the Reyes petition was handed in.