OcasioCortez.com - Double standards

One thing is clear: the DCCC has a double standard for how they talk about moderate, Blue Dog Dems and progressive candidates for Congress.

Blue Dogs in Congress have spent years attacking progressive values, breaking the party line, and sinking progressive legislation.

Many of them have refused to pay their dues to the DCCC.

But the moment that AOC says she’s not going to hand over your contributions to help protect corporate Democrats? The head of the DCCC goes on national television to criticize us.

But their words won’t deter us. This week we founded a new PAC, Courage to Change, to build infrastructure for progressive candidates who need our help.

The DCCC’s bias against progressives hurts our party. It’s bad enough that they use pour millions of dollars into campaigns to help protect anti-choice, pro-corporate, pro-Trump incumbents who don’t listen to Democratic voters.

But they also have an on-the-books policy of blacklisting teams that work with progressive challengers — even if the people they’re primarying vote with Trump, advocate for the end of Roe v. Wade, or side with the NRA.

Here’s a promise: we’ll never hand over your small-dollar contributions to organizations like the DCCC as long as they support conservative, corporate Democrats.

We’ll directly support red-to-blue progressives, political newcomers, and working-class candidates — because someone has to.

In solidarity,

Team AOC

Our Bronx Revolution/Carlos Suarez - Electing Bernie Sanders the Democratic Nominee

OUR BRONX REVOLUTION (OBR)

We have finished collecting petitions for Bernie Sanders and his delegates in the Bronx. Thanks to so many volunteers, we have gathered more than enough signatures to put a champion on the ballot (Bernie Sanders). Next stage in the campaign is promoting the candidate and mobilize voters. Soon we’ll announce future events to take place in the Bronx.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark Town Hall Meeting on the New Criminal Justice Reform

South Bronx Unite - Sat, Jan 18, 1-3 pm, SBX Confronts Asthma Epidemic Head On

  

SBX Confronts Asthma Epidemic Head On Sat, Jan 18, 1-3 pm BronxArtSpace - 305 East 140th Street (at Alexander Avenue)

Join South Bronx Unite and Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory for the release of the findings on FreshDirect's impact on levels of black carbon, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and noise in our community. Then help us: CONSTRUCT mobile air quality monitors as citizen scientists (with Columbia);  BUILD the case for community education and action for/towards environmental mitigation; and  UTILIZE grassroots healing efforts for health and well-being   *LUNCH, TRANSLATION, AND CHILDCARE PROVIDED*

RSVP THE RESULTS ARE IN: FOR 2 1/2 YEARS, WE HAVE SCIENTIFICALLY STUDIED AND RECORDED THE IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY OF FRESHDIRECT’S SUBSIDIZED MOVE TO THE SOUTH BRONX.  For the first time ever in the Mott Haven-Port Morris neighborhood, air quality, traffic counting and noise monitoring has occurred in one combined study. Since May 2017, South Bronx Unite has been collaborating with Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory* to measure black carbon, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and noise before and after the opening of the $150 million city- and state-subsidized relocation of FreshDirect and its diesel trucking operation to Mott Haven. We now have the results! Join us to discuss the summary of our findings and the launching of a new citizen scientist pilot project to build and operate mobile air quality monitoring devices. BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST, BUILD A MOBILE DEVICE AND DOCUMENT AIR QUALITY IN MOTT HAVEN. Join us in the next phase of documenting our air quality crisis to demand active and aggressive mitigation efforts in the South Bronx. We are continuing our collaboration with Columbia researcher to organize - for the first time ever -  an effort that enables our local community to build and operate mobile air quality monitors. Five community members will be the first to participate and record in real time air quality standards that they live and breathe every day.  HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SUBSIDIZE ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN MOTT HAVEN-PORT MORRIS - NOT $1 GOES TOWARDS IMPROVING OUR AIR QUALITY! HELP US USE DATA TO ADVOCATE FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER CREATIVE MITIGATION MEASURES! There are more than 3,000 linear miles of noise barriers built along US highways to divert noise. Not one inch is in Mott Haven-Port Morris. And cities all over the world are building green infrastructure - green walls, green roofs, vegetation barriers and street trees -  as one important part of improving air quality. Not one of these efforts have taken place in Mott Haven. Join us to brainstorm these and other outside-the-box solutions to the environmental crisis that exists in the South Bronx.  LEARN OTHER TECHNIQUES FOR HEALTH AND HEALING THROUGH ACUPUNCTURE AND ACUPRESSURE Learn about efforts to build a SAPP Healing in Community/Sanando en Comunidad in the South Bronx (see background here.) Also learn about and receive magnetic bead acupressure from Jo Ann Lenney - the very simple but profound technique of using a magnetic bead on each ear to help with trauma recovery and healing, the quieting of stress and anxiety (which trigger asthma attacks,) and relieving migraines and helping with wellness.  * Full academic collaborators included: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Area of Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk, Institute for Biomedical Research INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain; Department of Statistics and Operational Research, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. ASTHMA ALLEY - Why we fight! ASTHMA ALLEY

Bronx Man Charged With 2015 Murder

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Dermot F. Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the Indictment of BRYANT BROWN, a/k/a “Trigga,” for the murder of Albendris Nunez, 21, in the Bronx, New York, on December 20, 2015.  BROWN was taken into federal custody earlier today and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine H. Parker.  This case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.    

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Albendris Nunez was 21 years old when he was murdered in Devoe Park.  As alleged in the Indictment, Bryant Brown was responsible for that murder.  Thanks to our outstanding partners at the NYPD, Brown now faces federal charges for this terrible crime.”

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “Early on a Sunday, Albendris Nunez was fatally shot on the street outside a Bronx park.  Four years later, our police officers and detectives, working with our law enforcement partners, have brought justice and proven the effectiveness of our unrelenting focus on fighting violent crime."

According to the allegations in the Indictment[1]:

On or about December 20, 2015, BROWN attempted to rob Nunez in vicinity of Devoe Park in the Bronx, New York, and in the course of that robbery Nunez was murdered.

BROWN, 25, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of attempted robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and one count of using a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.  The maximum and minimum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of the NYPD..

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Entrepreneur And Pharmaceutical Company Executive Convicted At Trial For Role In International Insider Trading Scheme

  Audrey Strauss, Attorney for the United States acting under authority conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, announced today that TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS was convicted after a one-week trial of illegally tipping his best friend and co-defendant Georgios Nikas with inside information he obtained from his father, a member of the board of directors of a pharmaceutical company. 

Deputy U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As the jury concluded, Telemaque Lavidas was a key player in a long-running international insider trading scheme.  Three times he received insider information from his father about Ariad Pharmaceuticals and passed it on to his friend Georgios Nikas, a criminal pipeline that earned its participants more than $15 million in illicit profits.  Lavidas now awaits sentencing for his crimes.”  

According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment and evidence presented at trial:

Athanase Lavidas, the father of TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS, was a prominent Greek businessman and was a member of the board of directors of Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Ariad”), a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that developed and marketed a leukemia medication named Iclusig.  In violation of his duties of confidentiality to Ariad, Athanase Lavidas provided TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS with tips about three major corporate developments at Ariad.  On each of those occasions, TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS provided that inside information to his best friend Georgios Nikas (“Nikas”) so that Nikas could make timely, profitable trades ahead of Ariad’s public announcements.

The first tip was in October 2013, when Athanase Lavidas learned that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) was concerned about potential adverse health issues for patients from Iclusig.  Athanase Lavidas contacted TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS to pass this secret information, and TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS passed that tip to Nikas, who had previously amassed a large long position in Ariad securities.  After receiving the inside information from TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS, Nikas sold his Ariad securities and took a substantial short position.  When Ariad publicly announced the patient safety issues, its stock declined by over 65% and Nikas made over $3.2 million in profits and avoided almost $800,000 in losses.  Ariad discontinued sales of Iclusig later in October.

The second tip was in November and December 2013, when Athanase Lavidas learned that Ariad and the FDA were making significant progress toward returning Iclusig to the market.  Athanase Lavidas passed this secret information to TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS, who in turn passed the tips to Nikas.  Nikas bought Ariad securities based on these tips, and when Ariad publicly announced at the end of December that Iclusig was returning to the market, its stock rose and Nikas made over $1.3 million in profits.

The third tip was in July and August 2015, when Ariad received an unsolicited takeover offer from another pharmaceutical company.  Again, Athanase Lavidas learned of the offer in his capacity as a board member, and informed TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS, who in turn passed the tip to Nikas.  Nikas again bought Ariad securities based on this tip, and when a news article was published in late August reporting on the takeover offer, Ariad’s stock rose and Nikas made over $2 million in profits.

Nikas also passed the tips he received from TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS to a series of stock traders.  In total, Nikas and the traders he tipped earned over $15 million in profits from the inside information that TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS provided.

TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS, 39, of New York, New York, and Greece, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud, three counts of substantive securities fraud under Title 15, United States Code, Sections 78j(b) and 78ff, one count of substantive wire fraud, and one count of substantive securities fraud under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1348.  The conspiracy counts carry maximum prison terms of five and 20 years, respectively; the substantive wire fraud and Title 15 securities fraud counts each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years.  The substantive Title 18 securities fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the Court.

TELEMAQUE LAVIDAS is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Cote on April 17, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.

Ms. Strauss praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and also thanked the SEC.

Manhattan Man Pleads Guilty To Child Pornography, Enticing A Minor To Have Sex

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOEL DAVIS pled guilty to enticing a child to engage in illegal sexual activity, possession of child pornography, and distribution and receipt of child pornography.  DAVIS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison.  DAVIS pled guilty today before United States District Judge George B. Daniels.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As he admitted today, Joel Davis arranged to meet a 15-year-old boy for sex, and engaged in illegal sexual activity with the 15-year-old.  He also possessed child pornography that included children under the age of 12.  Davis rightly faces a lengthy prison sentence for victimizing children.”

According to the Information and other documents filed in the case to which DAVIS pled, as well as statements made during the plea proceeding:

In or about June 2018, DAVIS used a cellphone to arrange a meeting to engage in sexual activity with a 15-year-old boy and in fact met with the 15-year-old boy and engaged in illegal sexual activity.  In addition, between at least in or about May 2018 and June 2018, DAVIS possessed images and videos of child pornography, including images of prepubescent minors who were not yet 12 years old, and received and distributed material containing child pornography using a cellphone.

DAVIS, 24, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of enticement of a minor under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity, which carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison; one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison; and one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

DAVIS is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Daniels on May 7, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of the FBI in this investigation.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FATALLY STABBING ESTRANGED WIFE ON BRONX STREET

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to First-Degree Manslaughter

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to Manslaughter for stabbing his estranged wife near a middle school in Morrisania. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant stabbed his estranged wife, with whom he shared two children, a dozen times near a middle school as students on their way to class watched in horror. He attacked her two weeks after she decided to leave him after enduring years of abuse.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Victor Garo, 48, of 1585 Townsend Avenue, was sentenced today to 17 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Bahaati Pitt. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree Manslaughter on November 20, 2019.

 According to the investigation, on the morning of September 25, 2017, the victim, Adalgisa Garo, 44, walked her son to school and as she returned home alone Garo jumped out of a car and yelled at her. The victim ran and the defendant chased her and stabbed her 12 times. The attack happened near a school as 12 and 13-year-old children were passing by. The defendant fled the scene and was arrested later that day in Hunts Point. The victim was stabbed in the chest and abdomen. She also had defensive wounds. The victim was taken to Lincoln Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Allan Offley of the 42nd Precinct, and NYPD Detective Patrick Flatley of Bronx Homicide for their assistance in the investigation.