tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835853632680783422024-02-19T05:48:36.168-05:00Lost in the Ozone......An eclectic mix of local Politics, Education, Community Affairs, Environment, History, Birding,Jamaica Bay, Ridgewood Reservoir, Forest Park, and other assorted items of interest...
Concentrating on the Borough of Queens in New York City...and the neighborhoods of Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park...and Community Boards 5, 6, 9 and 10...David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comBlogger5342125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-82932513048128692622011-10-12T16:49:00.001-04:002011-10-12T17:09:41.946-04:00Elizabeth Warren Announces Her Bid for Senate<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lu61aU4N8mM?fs=1" width="400"></iframe><br />
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This is hilarious..!<br />
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Elizabeth Warren talks about why she's running for the United States Senate.<br />
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Starring: Molly Erdman<br />
Directed by: Brian Shortall<br />
Written/Produced by: Eddie Geller<br />
Edited by: Richard KlopfensteinDavid M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-30494772590484464122011-08-02T01:12:00.001-04:002011-08-02T01:14:39.089-04:00Happy Birthday to Jerry Garcia (1942-1995) - Grateful Dead - Sugar Magnolia<iframe width="400" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ei5EmN2HmVI?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br />
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Birthday wishes to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Garcia">Jerry Garcia</a> (1942-1995) - RIPDavid M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comOzone Park, NY 11417, USA40.6727785 -73.83896570000001740.662707 -73.857802200000023 40.68285 -73.820129200000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-91433557793835346012011-06-27T22:57:00.001-04:002011-06-27T22:58:48.123-04:00The 2011 Tour de Queens is Sunday July 10th - Tour de Queens Trailer<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The 2011 Tour de Queens is Sunday July 10th</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For more info: </span><a href="http://www.tourdequeens.org/">www.tourdequeens.org</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Wt_Ue8r9voU?fs=1" width="400"></iframe><br />
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Footage courtesy of Streetfilms.org from the 2009 Tour de Queens.David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-51216373587787819712011-06-25T22:40:00.000-04:002011-06-25T22:40:45.542-04:00Deal Reached to Avert New York Teacher Layoffs by Fernanda Santos - NYTimes.com<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/25/nyregion/deal-reached-to-avert-new-york-teacher-layoffs.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=quinn&st=cse"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Read original...</span></a><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><nyt_byline style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><h6 class="byline" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></h6><h6 class="byline" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The threatened layoffs of 4,100 teachers in New York’s public schools were averted under a deal that the Bloomberg administration, the <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/c/city_council_new_york_city/index.html?inline=nyt-org" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: underline;" title="More articles about City Council (NYC)">City Council</a></span> and the teachers’ union reached on Friday night.</span></h6></span></nyt_byline><div class="articleBody" style="line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; margin-top: 1.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><nyt_text></nyt_text></span><br />
<div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Details were still being worked out, but the agreement calls for concessions from the United Federation of Teachers and money from the Council.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Under the deal, the union would agree to suspend teacher sabbaticals for a year and permit teachers without a permanent assignment to be used more regularly as classroom substitutes. In addition, the Bloomberg administration would concede that 2,600 teachers would be lost to attrition, 600 more than estimated, saving additional jobs. On one hand, the resolution spares Mr. Bloomberg from becoming the first mayor in nearly 40 years to impose mass teacher layoffs. On the other hand, though, it threatens to undermine his credibility, given that he has declared for two consecutive years that layoffs were inevitable, only to see them averted in a budget deal.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The budget plan also allows the Council to keep open 20 fire companies that the mayor had ordered closed, and it may be able to restore at least some of the cuts he planned for day care services and librarians.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Still, it appeared that up to 1,000 city workers — many of them in health care jobs — would be laid off.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In a news conference at the Education Department headquarters in Lower Manhattan on Friday night, Mr. Bloomberg said he was disappointed he could not avoid all layoffs. Still, he said, “this is a budget that will keep our city strong, but it is also a budget that faces fiscal reality.”</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Asked whether he thought his credibility had been hurt, the mayor defended his approach, saying the city faced extremely bleak and unpredictable economic circumstances.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, standing by the mayor’s side, praised the deal. “New Yorkers can rest easy tonight knowing that our children will still have great teachers,” she said.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Mr. Bloomberg had taken an aggressive posture during the negotiations, emboldened over the past days by the victories scored in Albany and Trenton against public-sector unions and becoming more emphatic about his demands. But in the end, he and the teachers’ union, one of his most vociferous opponents, had to reach an agreement, helping to balance a $66 billion budget that had a $4.6 billion gap.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A different rescue proposal fell apart on Thursday, after the city rejected an offer from the Municipal Labor Committee, a group representing roughly 100 municipal unions, for $262 million to be taken from a health care reserve fund they jointly manage. By then, Ms. Quinn and the teachers’ union president, Michael Mulgrew, had been secretly meeting for days.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Once the other deal collapsed, talks between Ms. Quinn and Mr. Mulgrew moved into overdrive.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On Friday morning, officials of the city’s Education Department made their way to the union’s headquarters to determine what would and would not be on the table. By late afternoon, the two sides had come to an agreement.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ms. Quinn, meanwhile, worked to sell the plan to Mr. Bloomberg, emerging as the crucial figure in the process.</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The budget must be approved by the full Council by Thursday.</span></div><nyt_author_id><div class="authorIdentification" style="margin-bottom: 2.8em;"><div style="color: black; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Javier C. Hernandez contributed reporting</span><br />
</div></div></nyt_author_id><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 10px;"></div></div></span></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-43661150604359042242011-06-25T00:14:00.001-04:002011-06-25T00:16:36.733-04:00Statement from William C. Thompson, On The Passage of New York’s Marriage Equality Legislation<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi110Y-KL1_iG4zYXL-XOTDcNSc0DC9QGuQzUhK4RlWe30Ca4h7qOrJLF8Y1qFBCdNUZaXQD-Rt9IjumAsdgPz3c65E63LRaljmWssMkgKR1y-ktX07hSp1mm2mAQtXfmtKhR3l3LNdVGT4/s1600/BillThompson_5011small_reasonably_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi110Y-KL1_iG4zYXL-XOTDcNSc0DC9QGuQzUhK4RlWe30Ca4h7qOrJLF8Y1qFBCdNUZaXQD-Rt9IjumAsdgPz3c65E63LRaljmWssMkgKR1y-ktX07hSp1mm2mAQtXfmtKhR3l3LNdVGT4/s200/BillThompson_5011small_reasonably_small.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“History will define today as a pivotal moment in the fight for equal rights for all.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I applaud Governor Cuomo, the State Senators and Assembly Members who recognized the tenor of the times and heard their constituents' voices, and the LGBT advocates and activists and supporters who served on the front lines of this long-fought battle to ensure equality for all.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is long overdue. The passage of time since marriage equality was unsuccessfully introduced a year ago has yielded more open minds and open hearts. I commend our leaders for employing not only common sense but courage, and a conviction to do what simply is right.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On this day, we all should reflect not just on our own lives and the privileges and rights we have, but those of our sisters and brothers, colleagues and friends, and realize that the playing field doesn't favor everyone. There are still challenges ahead. All too often we hear about anti-gay attacks in our city, state and nation. Changing the law does not necessarily change all minds.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My true hope is that today's action will create a wave of acceptance and a recognition that where you love should not be determined by where you live.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a longtime supporter of marriage equality, I shared the pain endured by my colleagues and friends who could not get married in New York, and now share the joy of progress.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am proud that as a New Yorker I live in a State that acknowledges that the people you love should not define the limits of your rights. Instead, through today's vote, our State leaders have shown that love and the law can go hand in hand.”</span></span></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-68221709289685590232011-06-25T00:07:00.000-04:002011-06-25T00:07:04.600-04:00Tonight New York Made History - Bill de Blasio<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLW-o8Vt0Uqp9EqERVhEZLuYE6kKAm5IvcvS6JieDdHARCRqAlJT4wqpS6mkXZc-GMIMKhz9FNnQBbrGZvsYIze52DKitNXMcayEA1M9g-Z_Chb4rpMJQk3TyMlUyUGFI1xLmQTMVKKCcQ/s1600/BdB+marriage+equality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLW-o8Vt0Uqp9EqERVhEZLuYE6kKAm5IvcvS6JieDdHARCRqAlJT4wqpS6mkXZc-GMIMKhz9FNnQBbrGZvsYIze52DKitNXMcayEA1M9g-Z_Chb4rpMJQk3TyMlUyUGFI1xLmQTMVKKCcQ/s200/BdB+marriage+equality.jpg" width="188" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Forty-two years ago at a small bar in Greenwich Village, New Yorkers took a stand against discrimination and the gay rights movement was born. Tonight, New York made history once again, becoming the largest state in the country to pass marriage equality. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">This victory was only made possible because of the tireless dedication and advocacy of millions of New Yorkers, some gay, some straight, all fighting to ensure that every person in our state is guaranteed the same rights and privileges.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This historic day is also due in large part to the leadership of Governor Cuomo. I congratulate the Governor, the State Assembly and the State Senate for this historic step forward. I applaud those legislators who have fought on the front lines for years and also those legislators who courageously found it within themselves and in the voices of their constituents to vote 'yes' for the first time.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sincerely,<br />
<img alt="" src="http://advocate.nyc.gov/sites/advocate.nyc.gov/files/image008.png" style="float: left; min-height: 34px; width: 205px;" /><br />
<br />
<br />
Bill de Blasio<br />
NYC Public Advocate</span></span>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-71670429256660332052011-06-24T23:56:00.001-04:002011-06-24T23:57:50.533-04:00Statement from Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer & Dan Hendrick on Marriage Equality<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYJZpUPi5NDQwijpegDsNge6P3U-tkYpyp6ZqN-7tFFllHK9fVAeplus2MMsahkVA7PrXV5XtGSjRLiywLnp-XW3_TGpvBvD1Rf3VPvNPjt6CEK3jEZu4CfNZpRJuE6BfstSp5IdUWCXX/s1600/Photo%2528MarriageEquality.Dan_and_Jimmy%2529_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYJZpUPi5NDQwijpegDsNge6P3U-tkYpyp6ZqN-7tFFllHK9fVAeplus2MMsahkVA7PrXV5XtGSjRLiywLnp-XW3_TGpvBvD1Rf3VPvNPjt6CEK3jEZu4CfNZpRJuE6BfstSp5IdUWCXX/s400/Photo%2528MarriageEquality.Dan_and_Jimmy%2529_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Today, New York made history. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"By lifting this barrier to equal rights, our state has made a clear and forceful declaration that there must be no second-class New Yorkers. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Today has been a day when our greatest ideals were on display – ideals like 'liberty and justice for all' and the unshakable belief that 'all men are created equal.’ </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"This struggle has been long, and change is always difficult. We are proud that New York has debated this issue in an atmosphere of respect. But as evidenced today, the march toward greater freedom and fairness, toward true equality under the law, cannot be stopped until all of us are truly free. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"There was another kind of history made today as well – the kind recorded not in history books, but in family photographs and genealogies. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"For too long, gay and lesbian couples like us were forced to live in the shadows. No matter how long we lived together, no matter how much we loved each other, no matter how committed we were to one another, gay and lesbian relationships rested on a legal house of cards under New York law. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Today, at last, our state government has caught up with the truth that our families, colleagues and neighbors have long known: GLBT citizens deserve the same rights, recognition and respect as every other New Yorker. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"This historic moment may never have arrived in New York if it weren’t for the leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo. History will recall his courage and determined support, along with that of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and those Assembly Members and Senators who stood up for what is right, particularly Senator Tom Duane and Assembly Members Danny O’Donnell and Deborah Glick. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"With today’s vote, New York has reclaimed its proper role as a beacon for civil rights and equality – a proud example that we hope may inspire our federal government and state governments around the country to follow suit." </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">--Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer & Dan Hendrick, Sunnyside, NY</span></span></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-85218428474239766402011-06-24T23:46:00.000-04:002011-06-24T23:46:30.801-04:00Senator Gillibrand Statement on New York State Achieving Marriage Equality<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 8px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><u></u> <u></u></b></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Praises Democrats And Republicans For Coming Together To Uphold American Values Of Equality, Justice</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><u></u><u></u></span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div></div></div></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement tonight after the New York State Senate voted in favor of marriage equality for all New Yorkers:</span><br />
<blockquote type="cite"><div style="margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 8px;"><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></span></span></div></div></div></blockquote><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“New York has always led the way for equal rights – from leading the suffrage movement, to Abraham Lincoln’s remarkable speech opposing slavery at Cooper Union - and we have done it again. I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to marriage equality which brought home this great victory. I also want to thank the committed advocates who worked day in and day out, and all of the New York State lawmakers - Democrats and Republicans - who came together to uphold the fundamental American values of equality and justice for all.</span></i><br />
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</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“New York State has sent a powerful message to the rest of the nation. The right to get married and start a family is a basic, human right that must be shared by all Americans. Every loving, committed couple in America deserves this right. And no politician should stand in the way of this fact.</span></i><br />
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</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Marriage under the law is the foundation for strong families. I will continue to help lead the fight in Washington to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act so that all loving and committed marriages in New York are recognized by the federal government.”</span></i><br />
<blockquote type="cite"></blockquote>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-64571156920096182702011-06-24T23:32:00.000-04:002011-06-24T23:32:01.637-04:00New York State Lawmakers Approve Gay Marriage By Dan Wiessner - Reuters<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="336" id="+id+" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://embed.crooksandliars.com/v/MjA5OTctNDc0OTY?color=003366" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://embed.crooksandliars.com/v/MjA5OTctNDc0OTY?color=003366" quality="high" wmode="transparent" width="400" height="336" allowfullscreen="true" name="clembedMjA5OTctNDc0OTY" align="middle" quality="high" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br />
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h/t to: <a href="http://crooksandliars.com/">CrooksandLiars.com</a> for the video<br />
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New York will become the sixth state to allow gay marriage after lawmakers passed the measure on Friday, a key victory for gay rights ahead of the 2012 presidential and congressional elections.<br />
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New York state senators voted 33 to 29 to approve marriage equality legislation introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat in his first year of office. New York will now be the most populous state where lawmakers approved gay marriage.<br />
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"New York has finally torn down the barrier that prevented same-sex couples from exercising the freedom to marry and from receiving the fundamental protections that so many couples and families take for granted," Cuomo said in a statement.<br />
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After Cuomo signs the bill same-sex weddings can start taking place in New York in 30 days and religious institutions and nonprofit groups with religious affiliations are not compelled to officiate.<br />
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"I have to define doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality and that equality includes within the definition of marriage," said Republican Senator Stephen Saland, speaking before the bill was passed.<br />
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Cheers erupted in the Senate gallery in the state capital Albany and among a crowd of several hundred people who gathered outside New York City's Stonewall Inn, where riots following a police raid in 1969 sparked the modern gay rights movement.<br />
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"It's about time. I want to get married. I want the same rights as anyone else," Caroline Jaeger, 36, a student, who was outside the Stonewall Inn.<br />
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But New York Bishops said in a statement that they were "deeply disappointed and troubled" by the passage of the bill.<br />
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"We always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect, dignity and love. But we just as strongly affirm that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman," they said.<br />
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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an advocate for gay marriage who lobbied state lawmakers in recent weeks, said the vote was an "historic triumph for equality and freedom."<br />
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"Together, we have taken the next big step on our national journey toward a more perfect union," he said in a statement.<br />
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ELECTION ISSUE<br />
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President Barack Obama, who attended a fundraiser in New York on Thursday for Gay Pride Week, has a nuanced stance of gay issues and could risk alienating large swathes of the electorate if he came out strongly in favor of such matters as gay marriage before the 2012 polls, experts say.<br />
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During the 2008 election Obama picked up important support from Evangelicals, African Americans, and socially conservative Latinos and Catholics -- who all oppose gay marriage, which has become a contentious social issue being fought state-by-state.<br />
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In California a judge last year overturned a ban on gay marriage, but no weddings can take place while the decision is being appealed. It could set national policy if the case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court.<br />
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Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage, and Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois and New Jersey approved civil unions. The first legal same-sex marriages in the United States took place in Massachusetts in 2004.<br />
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But gay marriage is banned in 39 states, according to the The National Conference of State Legislatures.<br />
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In New York a recent Siena poll found 58 percent of New Yorkers support gay marriage, while nationally the U.S. public is nearly evenly split with 45 percent in favor and 46 percent opposed, according to a Pew Research poll released last month.<br />
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New York's Democrat-dominated Assembly voted 80 to 63 in favor of gay marriage last week and again passed the amended legislation on Friday 82 to 47.<br />
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A key sticking point had been over an exemption that would allow religious officials to refuse to perform services or lend space for same-sex weddings. Most Republicans were concerned the legal protection was not strong enough, so legislative leaders worked with Cuomo to amend his original bill.<br />
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"God, not Albany, settled the definition of marriage a long time ago," said Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., a Pentecostal minister and the only Democrat to vote against the measure.<br />
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However fears of a slew of litigation arising from a possible religious exemption to New York's proposed same-sex marriage law are not borne out by experience with similar laws in other states, legal experts say.<br />
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(Additional reporting by Phil Wahba, writing by Michelle Nichols)David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-43600774572297714682011-06-22T23:56:00.000-04:002011-06-22T23:56:26.237-04:00NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli Fracking Proposal Gets Strong Investor Support<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Risk Disclosure Resolution Garners Solid Vote From Carrizo</b> <b>Shareholders </b> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br />
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s shareholder resolution seeking greater disclosure of the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) garnered support from investors at Carrizo Oil’s annual meeting last week. The resolution received 43.7 percent of the vote, according to a company filing released today. DiNapoli filed the resolution as trustee of the $140.6 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund), which owns 324,994 Carrizo shares worth an estimated $11.1 million.<br />
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“We’ve seen what happens when companies sacrifice safety for short-term profits,” DiNapoli said. “This vote was a call for safer, sustainable earnings from our investments. Natural gas is a crucial part of the nation’s energy supply, but it has to be extracted the right way.”<br />
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“Hydraulic fracturing can potentially poison local water supplies, pollute the air and leave us with a waste management nightmare. Shareholders and the public need to be assured that Carrizo and other companies fully appreciate the regulatory, legal, environmental and reputational risks at stake. We can’t have a repeat of the BP disaster in New York.”<br />
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DiNapoli has </span><a href="http://osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/mar10/030410a.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u>requested reports</u></span></a><span style="font-style: normal;"> on the potential consequences of fracking from seven companies: Chesapeake Energy Corp., SM Energy, XTO Energy Inc., Range Resources Corp., Hess Corp., and Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. Four firms—SM Energy, Range, Hess and Cabot—have agreed to provide disclosures on the potential consequences of drilling activities in response to DiNapoli’s requests. These agreements do not relieve the company of their legal or regulatory duties. The Fund has also voted in favor of disclosure resolutions filed by other investors at Chevron, ExxonMobil, Ultra Petroleum and Energen Corporation.<br />
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New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation is expected to release new gas drilling rules next month.</span></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-19981964990521810062011-06-22T23:48:00.000-04:002011-06-22T23:48:28.782-04:00Public Advocate de Blasio Walks in Shoes of Childcare Provider<div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the midst of Mayor Bloomberg’s threats to drastically cut funding for childcare services, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio spent yesterday morning walking in the shoes of Linnette Ebanks, a daycare provider who educates and cares for pre-school children at Little People's Retreat Group Day Care in Brooklyn.</span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><u><a href="http://advocate.nyc.gov/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=330&qid=299701" style="color: #5797b0;" target="_blank">Watch the video here:</a></u></strong></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qmquFzfqWLg?rel=0" width="400"></iframe></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">“Seeing firsthand how childcare providers help our children learn and grow is all the evidence you need that the Mayor’s budget has the wrong priorities,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. “Today I was proud to spend a morning walking in the shoes of Linnette Ebanks and tomorrow I will continue to fight for her and the thousands of working families that depend on child care.”<br />
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The Mayor’s Executive Budget would slash $57 million from childcare services and close 110 daycare centers city-wide—including 55 in Brooklyn alone. A map of these daycare centers is <a href="http://advocate.nyc.gov/daycare">here</a>.</span></b></span></span>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-42021370881870151922011-06-21T23:46:00.001-04:002011-06-21T23:47:07.070-04:00Gillibrand Blasts Ruling on Wal-mart Discrimination Case - Canandaigua, NY by Julie Sherwood- MPNnow<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.mpnnow.com/regional/x536837066/Gillibrand-blasts-ruling-on-Walmart-discrimination-case">Read original...</a> </span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today to overturn the lower court’s ruling that would have allowed more than one million women to proceed with a class-action discrimination lawsuit against Wal-mart.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> “I am deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the lower court’s decision and deny the largest civil rights class action suit in our history from moving forward. Pay discrimination in the workplace is unacceptable and all too real. Women in this country will continue to face an uphill battle until Congress fulfills its obligation to level the playing field and close existing loopholes by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act. The time to end discrimination is now and I will continue to work with my colleagues to end this economic injustice"</span></span></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-68578261996782228022011-06-21T23:36:00.000-04:002011-06-21T23:36:58.336-04:00Rep. Joe Crowley: Cuts to Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Programs Are "Penny-Wise & Pound-Foolish"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><i>Congressman Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), released the following statement in opposition to the Republicans’ proposed cuts to nutrition programs for families, seniors and children in the 2012 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2112). This legislation includes a devastating cut of $650 million to one of our nation’s most important anti-hunger programs – the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). In New York State, this could mean almost 20,000 participants could be kicked off the WIC program.</i> <i>In addition, the bill slashes food aid for low-income seniors through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and help for food banks through the Emergency Food Assistance Program at a time when seniors, families and anti-hunger organizations are all struggling to get by. Congressman Crowley voted against the bill, which ultimately passed by a vote of 217-203.</i><u></u><u></u></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">“At a time when families, seniors and children in New York and around the country are relying on food assistance more than ever, the Republicans’ legislation would slash access to nutritious food, counseling on healthy eating and health care referrals for those who are struggling.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">“This bill is penny-wise and pound-foolish. Republicans claim they are making these cuts to reduce the deficit and get our fiscal house in order, but this bill is not the way to make that happen. What will the costs be down the road as children grow up without a healthy start because they have a hungry stomach? <u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">“Despite not being willing to end tax breaks for oil companies making tens of billions in profits and corporations taking advantage of overseas tax loopholes, Republicans are more than ready to cut programs on the backs of those who are struggling to survive in this economy. Our priorities should be about helping working families and those in need – not eliminating benefits that are already stretched thin.”</span></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-8647442538944293312011-06-21T23:24:00.000-04:002011-06-21T23:24:22.761-04:00New & Notes from NYS Senator Joe Addabbo - 15th District<div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>ADDABBO CO-SPONSORS BILL TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GET VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDING</b></span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: normal;">NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.,</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> (D-Queens) is pleased to announce that he is a co-sponsor of legislation (</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>S.5587</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">) introduced in the Senate by Senator James Alesi (R-Rochester) that would amend the state’s tax law to authorize the state to license six certified capital companies to raise $150 million in private venture capital from insurance companies in order to assist New York businesses that require funds not available from traditional commercial banks through all stages of development: pre-startup, start-up, expansion, or survival. In exchange for investing in qualified businesses, the insurance companies would get premium tax credits, with such issuance to be delayed four years. While the economic benefits of the program begin almost immediately, the delayed tax credits would have no fiscal impact to New York State until 2015.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: normal;"></span>In order to qualify for the tax credits, each certified capital company mustsatisfy a number of requirements in its investment portfolio, including:</div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Two-thirds of its investment of certified capital must go towards qualified businesses located in under-served areas.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Ten percent of its investment must be directed towards qualified seed funds, certified as such by the Superintendent of Financial Services.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Fifty percent of its investments must go towards businesses focused on emerging technology products and services.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">No more than $15 million can be invested towards one individual company.</li>
</ul><br />
<div style="background: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">In addition, a certified capital company under CAPCO-6 would be required to return 15 percent of its net profits on qualified investments to the Department of Financial Services. This legislation also adds to the reporting requirements already present in previous CAPCO programs to ensure compliance with the requirements set forth above. </span> </span></div><div style="background: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">New York State last renewed its CAPCO program in 2005. The NY CAPCO was created by the Assembly over a decade ago to utilize a premium tax credit incentive to increase investment in venture capital funds focused exclusively on New York businesses. New York insurance companies can earn tax credits by making investments in small companies that have difficulty accessing traditional funding sources. Since 1998, five CAPCO programs have been certified. Through these five programs, $400 million of private capital has been raised, and the investment from these funds has created or retained over 2,000 jobs and will generate $412 million in tax revenue by 2016. Says Addabbo, “It’s a win-win for both small business owners and investors. Our current economic climate makes getting risk capital for small businesses extremely challenging. As elected officials, we must make every effort to help our small businesses.”</span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The bill has been sent for review to the Senate’s Committee on Investigations and Government Operations. After passage and signature by the Governor, the bill would take effect immediately.</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="background: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><b>ADDABBO SUPPORTS BILL THAT WOULD MAKE HOME INVASION ROBBERY NEW CRIMINAL OFFENSES </b></span> </span></div><div style="background: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., announced that the Senate has passed a bill (<b>S.3205</b>) that would amend the penal law in order to establish the new criminal offenses of home invasion robbery, which takes place when a robbery occurs, and offenders threaten physical force. </span> </span></div><div style="background: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The bill elevates the crime of robbery if the robbery occurs in someone's home, and</span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1) a person is guilty of home invasion robbery in the 2nd degree (a class C felony) and is aided by another perpetrator; and</span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2) a person is guilty of home invasion robbery in the 1st degree (a class B felony) when he or she, in the course of such a robbery: a) causes physical injury upon an occupant of the home; b) is armed with a deadly weapon; c) uses or threatens to use a dangerous instrument; or d) displays or appears to display an actual firearm capable of producing death or serious injury.</span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Explains Addabbo, "Incidents of home invasion robbery have been increasing in New York State and could happen in any community. They are not to be mistaken for burglaries, which usually occur when the homeowner is away. Home invasion robberies feature confronting homeowners as key elements of the perpetrator’s attacks, directly with force, false pretense or impersonation, then restrain the victims to steal the home's contents. This kind of crime needs an increased penalty and enforcement to assist in ensuring the safety of our residents."</span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0.23in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This bill is currently being reviewed in the Codes Committee.</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>ADDABBO STATEMENT ON ETHICS REFORM BILL: THE PUBLIC INTEGRITY REFORM ACT OF 2011</b></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">NYS Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr., (D-Queens) released the following statement on the ethics reform bill passed yesterday:</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011 is a step in the right direction for ethics reform in Albany and towards restoring faith and public trust in our government. After advocating for ethics and campaign reform ever since I was elected to the Senate, I believe this is a good initial bill, but I know we can do more in the state legislature. Since the ethics issue is one that has traditionally plagued our state government, I will continue to promote the need for improved campaign finance reform and independent redistricting to create a more transparent and equitable government for the people of this state.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This ethics reform bill only allows for penalizing the state pensions for future elected officials convicted of crimes related to their government role. This bill should have included current elected officials in this category.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did the desperate need for ethics reform set the standard so low that any bill, no matter how mediocre, would have been an improvement? Only time will tell with the implementation of the this Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011.</span></span></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comOzone Park, NY 11417, USA40.6727785 -73.83896570000001740.662707 -73.857802200000023 40.68285 -73.820129200000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-27503169241476047112011-06-20T23:00:00.000-04:002011-06-20T23:00:55.618-04:00Wal-mart Continues To Try and Buy New York’s Love<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>Rather Than Coming Before The City Council or Community Board, Walmart Resorts To The Only Strategy It Knows, Spend $$$$</b></span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><b></b>As Walmart continues to avoid answering hard questions to New Yorkers, the company has been spending significant amounts of money in political contributions and political-style advertising to try to buy New Yorkers’ love. Today, the company announced a charitable contribution in another attempt to buy their way into New York City.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">An analysis of Walmart’s New York State lobbying<b> </b><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">data from the New York State Commission on Public Integrity</span></strong><b> </b>shows it spent $1.85 million on lobbying (including political-style advertisements) in the first four months of 2011. In 2007 through 2010, the company spent $335,385.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">A similar shift has occurred in political contributions. <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">An analysis of data from the National Institute on Money in State Politics</span></strong>, shows that between 2003 and 2010, Wal-Mart contributed $562,877 to statewide candidates in New York. Overall contributions have grown dramatically each election cycle in advance of the company’s efforts to expand into New York City, beginning with a mere $4,020 in 2004 and reaching $273,000 by 2010.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">The mega-retailer can’t boost its flagging U.S. sales unless it expands into the nation’s largest cities, so it’s trying to break its way into New York with new store formats and new products, and most importantly-- a new image.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">“Walmart can’t be trusted. The company is embracing progressive values in its public relations campaign to avoid tough questions about its history of alleged discrimination and putting local mom and pops out business.,” said <b>Stephanie Yazgi, spokesperson for Walmart Free NYC</b>. “Walmart’s convenient contribution won’t distract New Yorkers from its track record: the company is facing the largest gender bias class-action lawsuit in U.S. history, it has sold more guns than any company in the United States, and it failed The Human Right Campaign’s national LGBT scorecard.”<u></u><u></u></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></b><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Walmart Lobbyist Spending</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><u></u></span></span></b></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Lobbyist<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">2007<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">2008<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">2009<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">2010<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">2007-10<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="top" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">2011<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Law Offices of Claudia Wagner LLC<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$32,000<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">-<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">-<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$22,500<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$54,500<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Patricia Lynch Associates<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$65,000<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$65,000<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$62,834<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$61,752<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$254,586<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Manatt, Phelps and Phillips LLP<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> <u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> <u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> <u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$22,500<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$22,500 <u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$30,000<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Philip Serghini<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$620<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$203<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$2,976<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">-<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$3,799<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="top" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Walmart Stores</span><u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="top" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="top" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="top" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="top" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="top" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$1,756,853<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The Wright Group<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$24,000<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Hodes and Landy<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$30,000<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">York Group Associates<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$16,000<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Total<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$97,620<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$65,203<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$65,810<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$84,252<u></u><u></u></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">$335,385<u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 0.95in;" valign="bottom" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">$1,856,853</span><u></u><u></u></span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <u></u><u></u></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">###</span></i></div></span>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-55625505859905579432011-06-20T15:06:00.000-04:002011-06-20T15:06:05.768-04:00NYC Comptroller John C. Liu Statement on CITYTIME...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In response to questions about today’s additional criminal charges relating to CityTime, New York City Comptroller John C. Liu issued the following statement:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Today’s announcement unfortunately sheds more light on just how flawed the management of the CityTime project was,” said Comptroller John C. Liu. “According to the indictment ‘virtually the entirety of the more than $600 million that was paid to SAIC was tainted directly or indirectly, by fraud.’ New Yorker’s can hope that this will eventually lead to restitution for the hundreds of millions of dollars paid on an out-of-control project, years overdue and, ten-fold over budget.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Comptroller John C. Liu’s Record on CityTime</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div align="center"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 86.15pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jan. 1, 2010</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 378.25pt;" valign="top" width="504"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Comptroller John C. Liu takes office, and makes the elimination of fraud, waste and abuse his top priority.</span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 86.15pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Feb. 9, 2010</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 378.25pt;" valign="top" width="504"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rejected additional contract related to CityTime.</span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 86.15pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Feb. 25, 2010</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 378.25pt;" valign="top" width="504"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Initiates audit of CityTime Project Oversight.</span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 86.15pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mar. 3, 2010</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 378.25pt;" valign="top" width="504"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Liu calls on Mayor to freeze all payments associated with CityTime; appoints new representative from the Comptroller’s Office to OPA.</span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 86.15pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sept. 28, 2010</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 378.25pt;" valign="top" width="504"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Liu and mayor Bloomberg announce agreement to finish installation of CityTime at no additional cost.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-47183911240580220362011-06-19T17:05:00.000-04:002011-06-19T17:05:02.368-04:00Immigrants For Sale - Brave New Foundation - YouTube<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vuGE1VxVsYo?fs=1" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Find out more: <a href="http://immigrantsforsale.org/">http://immigrantsforsale.org</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Discuss: <a href="http://facebook.com/cuentame">http://facebook.com/cuentame</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">En Español: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pIy06BN4hk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pIy06BN4hk</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Immigrants are for sale in this country. Sold to private prison corporations who are locking them up for obscene profits!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here are the top 3 things YOU need to know about the Private Prison money scheme:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The victims: Private prisons don't care about who they lock up. At a rate of $200 per immigrant a night at their prisons, this is a money making scheme that destroys families and lives.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The players: CCA (Corrections Corporation of America), The Geo Group and Management and Training corporations—combined these private prisons currently profit more than $5 billion a year.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The money: These private prisons have spent over $20 million lobbying state legislators to make sure they get state anti-immigrant laws approved and ensure access to more immigrant inmates.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Be a part of the movement to follow the players, the money and the victims of this money making scheme @ <a href="http://immigrantsforsale.org/">immigrantsforsale.org</a></span>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-19947067907910415472011-06-19T16:59:00.001-04:002011-06-19T17:00:28.932-04:00Gardening in East New York by TandLRadio - YouTube<blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>A video sent by a friend, Rey Pinder...</b></span></div></blockquote><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/o380hXvI2zs?fs=1" width="400"></iframe></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-52003240298864654842011-06-18T22:32:00.001-04:002011-06-18T22:34:17.359-04:00Chief Promises Police Around Racino by Stephen Geffon - Queens Chronicle: South Queens News<a href="http://www.qchron.com/news/south/article_17a9cc14-d3c2-59ad-bd32-225b24c69f1b.html#user-comment-area">Read original...</a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmaClY5yNJ5V9B1OTi-owBcnr8jrSyrQBOrHsbtBxAYxpJZ1933oj19AO_sGk57NRerbH_A2ld4bbq9a-8QvP1UAPLKjlEG56jQYi8Trp0wqjLRU-INgoOhcXKpJE5zmbBvn5Rsl6k90F/s1600/secreto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmaClY5yNJ5V9B1OTi-owBcnr8jrSyrQBOrHsbtBxAYxpJZ1933oj19AO_sGk57NRerbH_A2ld4bbq9a-8QvP1UAPLKjlEG56jQYi8Trp0wqjLRU-INgoOhcXKpJE5zmbBvn5Rsl6k90F/s320/secreto.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As the September opening day for the Resorts World New York casino in South Ozone Park edges closer, nervous neighborhood residents concerned about their safety were assured by Patrol Borough Queens South Assistant Chief James Secreto that the police manpower necessary to protect them will be provided.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Secreto told the members of the 106th Precinct Community Council at their meeting last week that if top police officials don’t give him the additional officers he has requested, he will provide them from the borough’s resources.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“One way or another we are going to have cops there,” said Secreto.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Residents fear that the influx of an estimated 8.4 million people a year into the neighborhood will add traffic and increase the risk of crimes and quality of life issues. Some expressed concern that prostitutes may be drawn into the area.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) has also voiced the concerns of his constituents and recently asked for additional police officers for the 106th Precinct in advance of the casino’s opening.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“While the new racino is scheduled to open later this summer, many of my constituents are still concerned about the level of police protection the community will receive from the NYPD,” Ulrich wrote in a recent letter to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. “Despite the fact that vehicular and foot traffic will increase, it still remains unclear if and when the local precinct will receive additional police personnel. Undoubtedly, more police officers will be needed to patrol the residential neighborhoods surrounding the facility.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">David Quintana of Ozone Park told Secreto that he saw a large contingent of police officers standing around the New York Stock Exchange building in Manhattan. He said that in light of the expected 30,000 visitors a day coming into the neighborhood surrounding the casino, “we could use some of those officers out here.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On the noise abatement front, the precinct’s ongoing effort to quiet troublemakers resulted in the issuance of 26 noise summonses during the period from May 30 to June 5, according to Community Affairs officer Ken Zorn.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He added that 32 noise summonses were issued the week before.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A Lindenwood resident complained that cars are still speeding through area stop signs without stopping. Capt. Thomas Pascale told him officers would be made aware of this problem.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">With the Fourth of July approaching, 106th Precinct police officers will be taking a zero-tolerance stance on fireworks use.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“For children’s safety and the safety of all residents, we are going to make sure that we prevent the discharge of fireworks,” said a police department official.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Fireworks burn at an extremely high temperature and can quickly burn through clothing and skin, causing serious injuries. Items such as sparklers are mistakenly thought to be safe, when even they can be very dangerous, the officers said, adding that fireworks should only be handled by trained professionals.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Pascale said that 40 additional police officers will be assigned to the precinct’s fireworks detail on July 4.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He also said that a police command post will be set up in front of the Starbucks store on Crossbay Boulevard.</span></div></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-69394376905088604832011-06-17T08:30:00.000-04:002011-06-17T08:30:19.034-04:00Bloomzilla Shows No Remorse! - nycisnot4sale.com<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pgJyRs5EeM&feature=player_embedded">Watch original...</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5pgJyRs5EeM?rel=0" width="400"></iframe></div></div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.nycisnot4sale.com/">NYCisNotForSale.com</a></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-55125909097668765922011-06-17T08:01:00.001-04:002011-06-17T08:07:15.983-04:00Goldfeder Has Inside Track to Fill Pheffer's Vacant Seat by Howard Koplowitz -YourNabe.com<a href="http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2011/06/16/queens/qns_goldfeder_in_20110616.txt">Read original...</a><br />
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</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2Cf7HKwXDM9Ok6G5P7yVTWv1WJbDznG170TahUjtTYDyt_cn6NuwGQq91t_QVWftCDTuH9sd3C-o5OFl5v7_TARL2Uq_Dk4JLdvhtE4TiPXuHgtGkkiwfX8SN5nZdFnuXv-LK7WjuRs_/s1600/qns_goldfeder_in_20110616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2Cf7HKwXDM9Ok6G5P7yVTWv1WJbDznG170TahUjtTYDyt_cn6NuwGQq91t_QVWftCDTuH9sd3C-o5OFl5v7_TARL2Uq_Dk4JLdvhtE4TiPXuHgtGkkiwfX8SN5nZdFnuXv-LK7WjuRs_/s320/qns_goldfeder_in_20110616.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Y. Philip Goldfeder, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) director of intergovernmental affairs, is expected to run for the seat vacated by former state Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach) and has the inside track to become the Democratic nominee in the yet-to-be announced race, a source close to Goldfeder told TimesLedger Newspapers.<br />
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Goldfeder, who declined to comment, has been Schumer’s director of intergovernmental affairs for 2 1/2 years and previously worked as the Queens director of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Community Assistance Unit.<br />
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Pheffer’s seat became vacant after she accepted the position of Queens county clerk last month.<br />
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Political insiders say Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants the special election to replace Pheffer to take place on Primary Day, Sept. 13, which means he is expected to announce the contest June 24 at the earliest.<br />
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Under previous law, special elections had to be held within 30 to 40 days of the governor’s announcement, but the law was tweaked to 70 to 80 days in order to accommodate ballots from overseas.<br />
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Before his position with Bloomberg, Goldfeder, a Rockaway resident, worked for City Councilmen James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows).<br />
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Democratic district leaders in the Assembly district decide who makes it on the ballot as a Democrat, with two of the leaders — Lew Simon and Geraldine Chapey — expected to run in the race.<br />
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But the source close to Goldfeder said he is expected to be supported by the other two district leaders — Jo Ann Shapiro and Frank Gulluscio — which would be enough backing for Goldfeder to make the ballot on the Democratic line.<br />
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Jo Ann Shapiro, who was Pheffer’s chief of staff, declined to run and Gulluscio is also not expected to be a candidate.<br />
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The source said Goldfeder is close to Shapiro and noted he worked on Gulluscio’s failed Council campaigns and the two district leaders are said to be backing him.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On the Republican side, district leader Jane Deacy is a candidate for the seat and she has the backing of Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park).<br />
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The source said Ulrich’s criticism of Goldfeder — he said Goldfeder is virtually unknown outside of Rockaway — was a “silly statement,” pointing to Goldfeder’s career working for two councilmen, Bloomberg and Schumer.<br />
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“Phil has spent his entire career working from within the diverse borough of Queens,” the source said.</span><br />
</span></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comOzone Park, NY 11417, USA40.6727785 -73.83896570000001740.662707 -73.857802200000023 40.68285 -73.820129200000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-46306753583846557782011-06-17T00:24:00.002-04:002011-06-17T08:16:36.559-04:00Bill Aims to Save Shelter Animals by Stephen Geffon - Queens Chronicle<a href="http://www.qchron.com/news/south/article_2e652934-20fd-5e2c-bfc6-0c84b32e3b5f.html">Read original...</a><br />
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Queens organizations have thrown support behind state legislation that would permit rescue groups to recover animals that are scheduled to be killed at shelters, saying it would help to save many adoptable pets set to be euthanized in the borough and throughout the state.<br />
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State Assemblyman Micah Kellner (D-Manhattan) recently proposed the Companion Animal Access and Rescue Act, an identical version of which is being sponsored by state Sen. Joseph Robach (R-Rochester), which he said would allow groups to find homes for animals set to be killed. Current law only allows individuals, not groups, to save the animals.<br />
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“We wholeheartedly support Assemblyman Kellner’s bill,” said Nancy Fahnestock, treasurer of CSM Stray Foundation, a Kew Gardens-based animal protection group. “This would save so many adoptable animals that are now being euthanized. In addition it would put a checks and balance system to assure that shelters are humanely treating animals by allowing rescue groups open access in visitations to select animals for adoption. This is a great step in the right direction,”<br />
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Kellner said there are now tens of thousands of animals in shelters statewide, many of which are healthy and well behaved.<br />
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“Unfortunately, shelters oftentimes don’t have the room or resources to care for these or other animals,” Kellner said. “Even worse, current law does not protect or grant access to the qualified rescue groups that are working to save these loving and loyal animals.”<br />
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A statewide survey found that 71 percent of all New York rescue groups have been turned away by a shelter, which then killed the animals they offered to save.<br />
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“When a humane organization volunteers to take these animals, they should not be denied,” Kellner said.<br />
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The act also sets qualifications and guidelines for both shelters and rescue groups.<br />
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“Outlining the responsibilities of those who work directly with the animals will help ensure that the animals receive the proper care,” said Kellner. “These provisions ensure that animals are given fresh food and water on a daily basis, exercise and socialization with other animals, clean living environments and prompt veterinary care.”<br />
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To ensure compliance, routine inspections of the facilities would be mandated.<br />
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Kellner’s bill was named in memory of Oreo, a pit bull mix, who, in June, 2009 survived being thrown off a six-story building in Brooklyn, from which she suffered two broken legs, a cracked rib and severe internal injuries. Her owner was arrested on cruelty charges, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took her in and brought her back to good physical health.<br />
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But that November, the ASPCA announced that Oreo was untreatably aggressive and that she would be euthanized. A nonprofit animal rescue group, Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary, offered to take her in, but the request was refused and Oreo was put down. The ASPCA and the Humane Society have not taken a stance on this bill.<br />
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CAARA is supported by a number of animal welfare groups, including Best Friends Animal Society, Alley Cat Allies, the No-Kill Advocacy Center and the League of Humane Voters of New York.<br />
<div></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-65077383754132986952011-06-16T21:44:00.002-04:002011-06-16T21:46:37.951-04:00Holding Our Breath - Editorial on Marriage Equality Bill - Queens Tribune<a href="http://www.queenstribune.com/inour/Our%20Opinion_061611.html">Read original...</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.queenstribune.com/inour/Our%20Opinion_061611.html"></a>First and foremost – we thank and congratulate Sens. Shirley Huntley and Joe Addabbo for changing their position on gay marriage. The two were the only remaining Queens Democrats who had previously voted against gay marriage; this week they said they changed their minds. Yes, we recognize that they perceived the issue to be in opposition of their constituents, and we are glad to see that the people they represent spoke up in great numbers to convince them to change their position.<br />
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We certainly realize that this is not a fait accompli. As of printing, there were only 31 Senators committed to voting in favor of granting members of the LGBT community the right to marry one another; 32 are needed, and a vote was expected by Friday.<br />
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This newspaper has taken great pride in championing what we feel is the basic equality of civil rights for all New Yorkers. If, indeed, the measure does pass, it will be a historic day in New York – and one of celebration here in Queens, home to one of the largest organized gay communities on the East Coast.<br />
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We patiently await the vote of the Senate. Do the right thing. We all should be equal.<br />
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<div><div><div></div></div></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-49163946600032295092011-06-16T17:17:00.000-04:002011-06-16T17:17:12.265-04:00Senator Tony Avella Speaks on S.4792 - The Millionaires Tax - YouTube<blockquote style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>Go Tony..!!</b></span></blockquote><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/doo7kwo8F5o?fs=1" width="425"></iframe></div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183585363268078342.post-61007253997466829482011-06-16T16:11:00.000-04:002011-06-16T16:11:23.775-04:00Statements on Congressman Anthony Weiner's Announcement of his Resignation from New York Congressional Colleagues<div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b>Statement from Rep. Joe Crowley on Weiner Resignation</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“<span style="font-style: normal;">Anthony has been a strong advocate for his community and an influential legislator. Although I was deeply disappointed in his behavior, this is a sad way to end his congressional service. I know Anthony and Huma well and I know brighter days are ahead for them and their family. I wish them the best during what is surely a difficult time in their lives.”</span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b>Statement from Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns on Weiner Resignation</b></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Despite his personal problems, Congressman Weiner was an extremely effective lawmaker who had a positive impact on his constituents and the nation as a whole. He championed many causes, and was tireless in his efforts to make life better for all Americans. His voice will be missed. My heart goes out to Anthony Weiner and his family at this difficult time and I hope forgiveness and reconciliation rules the day. I wish them only the best”.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 0.32in; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b>Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Statement on Congressman Anthony Weiner Resignation</b></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6), Senior Member of the House Financial Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement in regards to Congressman Anthony Weiner’s announcement of his resignation:</span></div><div style="line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“<span style="font-style: normal;">This is a sad day, but Anthony has made the right decision for himself, his family and the Democratic Party. He will be sorely missed by me and his constituents. I wish him the best.</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>David M. Quintanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08177269865683156100noreply@blogger.com