Pay equity SaaS startup Syndio appoints new CEO and closes $5.2 million seed round
Maria Colacurcio has been named chief executive officer of Syndio.
photo: PRNEWS
(PRNEWS) NEW YORK, November 22, 2018 - Syndio Solutions, Inc., today announces Maria Colacurcio has been named chief executive officer and the closing of a $5.2 million seed round. Syndio which offers an enterprise SaaS solution for addressing fair compensation, empowers organizations to find and fix pay equity issues and stay in compliance over time.
Colacurcio formerly co-founded Smartsheet, a Bellevue, Washington based company that went public last April. At Smartsheet, she served as the vice president of marketing & communications. She is also a former Starbucks Corporation director, who focused on enterprise-wide operations in Finance.
"Fair pay is a crucial workplace issue," said Colacurcio. "Women and other disadvantaged groups continue to be paid less than comparable men. I'm joining Syndio because I've been on the receiving end of pay equity disparities and I want to help employers address these problems for people of every race and gender." Syndio raised $5.2 million in a seed round with major investors Sirius Partners, Contour Venture Partners and Frontier Venture Capital.
"Syndio is the first SaaS company to specifically focus on pay equity," said Brad Beatty, CEO, Sirius Partners. "Companies need a way to ensure they are paying employees fairly, regardless of race or gender. Our firm is very bullish on the economic potential of Syndio, but more than that, its potential to alter fundamentally how companies address the idea of equitable compensation."
Syndio helps organizations find pay equity issues, fix them with both non-economic and economic adjustments identified by the application, and stay in compliance over time as organizations promote and hire people.
"Syndio makes the analytics accessible and presents dynamically updating results and insights in a way that helps companies pay people fairly," says Zev Eigen, Syndio founder and chief science officer. "The statistical methods under the hood have been reviewed and validated by agencies, experts, and used to prosecute as well as defend claims."
Syndio is leading the way in fair pay. Syndio is the only SaaS solution that offers companies a way to find pay issues based on race or gender (or any other category), fix those issues and stay in compliance over time. Syndio offers a suite of tools and services to help companies pay fairly, including a staffing feature that calculates a safe range for new hires in order to maintain overall equity.
Although still an early stage startup, Syndio already has over 20 corporate customers including Match Group and Slack. Syndio is a distributed company with employees in New York, California and Washington.
Comcast NBCUniversal Contributes $1.1 million in cash and in-kind support for California fire relief efforts
Los Angeles Fire Department battling fires which have take the lives of 66 people.
photo: LFDPIO
Cash and in-kind donations provide support for the residents and communities throughout fire-impacted areas across the state
(BUSINESSWIRE) PHILADELPHIA, November 16, 2018 - Comcast NBCUniversal will donate $1.1 million in cash and in-kind support for the communities impacted by California’s devastating fires.
A cash contribution of $850,000 will go to the CDF Firefighters Benevolent Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of North Valley, the Butte County Schools Fire Relief Fund, the Camp Fire Evacuation Relief Fund, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Comcast will also donate $250,000 worth of in-kind support to the North Valley Community Foundation.
As part of the in-kind funding, Comcast will donate advertising time on its cable systems to build awareness and encourage donations to the North Valley Community Foundation, which administers the Camp Fire Evacuation Relief Fund and the Butte County Schools Fire Relief Fund. The Funds were established to support the short-term relief and long-term recovery of the individuals in the impacted areas of Butte County.
“The entire state of California continues to be impacted by devastating fires, and it is absolutely heart wrenching to see the destruction,” said David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President of Comcast NBCUniversal.
“With these cash and in-kind contributions, Comcast will provide aid to those directly impacted, while working hand-in-hand with our community partners as they strive to recover from this tragedy.”
In addition to opening 51,000 XFINITY WiFi hotspots for free use, Comcast is providing a range of services to evacuation/community support centers and CAL Fire command centers throughout the impacted areas of Northern California.
“Comcast NBCUniversal has deep ties to these communities. This is where we live and work – where our families are, where our kids go to school. Like the community at large, many of our employees have been evacuated and some have lost their homes entirely,” said John Gauder, Region Vice President, Comcast Cable California.
“Since the fire first broke out, we have done and continue to do everything we can to help our employees, our customers and our communities. We will continue that work, and our efforts will be further extended, amplified and supported by these important community donations.”
For more information about Comcast’s response and support in Northern California during the fire, visit http://california.comcast.com.
A behind-the-scenes look at Scott Pruitt's dysfunctional EPA
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, talks to a reporter after speaking at Whayne Supply in Hazard, Ky, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Pruitt says the Trump administration will abandon the Obama-era Clean Power Plan, aimed at reducing global warming. photo: adam beam/AP
(CFPI) November 9, 2017- Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt doesn’t hide his contempt for how the agency has been run, but does profess to care about one of its key programs: Superfund, which oversees the cleanup of the nation’s worst toxic-waste sites. In April, he toured a site in East Chicago, Indiana, contaminated with lead and arsenic, and told residents, “We are going to get this right.”
The following month, Pruitt — Oklahoma’s attorney general before he joined the EPA — tapped one of his former donors, banker Albert “Kell” Kelly, to find ways to accelerate and improve Superfund cleanups. Kelly started by consulting career staff members — often-knowledgeable officials who work at the agency regardless of who holds the White House. But then Kelly closed off the process, conferring with Pruitt to produce a final plan that altered or excluded many of the staffers’ suggestions.
Gone, for example, was the idea that EPA officials be identified early on to lead discussions with communities on how contaminated land should be used after cleanup.
Read more
Maria Colacurcio has been named chief executive officer of Syndio.
photo: PRNEWS
(PRNEWS) NEW YORK, November 22, 2018 - Syndio Solutions, Inc., today announces Maria Colacurcio has been named chief executive officer and the closing of a $5.2 million seed round. Syndio which offers an enterprise SaaS solution for addressing fair compensation, empowers organizations to find and fix pay equity issues and stay in compliance over time.
Colacurcio formerly co-founded Smartsheet, a Bellevue, Washington based company that went public last April. At Smartsheet, she served as the vice president of marketing & communications. She is also a former Starbucks Corporation director, who focused on enterprise-wide operations in Finance.
"Fair pay is a crucial workplace issue," said Colacurcio. "Women and other disadvantaged groups continue to be paid less than comparable men. I'm joining Syndio because I've been on the receiving end of pay equity disparities and I want to help employers address these problems for people of every race and gender." Syndio raised $5.2 million in a seed round with major investors Sirius Partners, Contour Venture Partners and Frontier Venture Capital.
"Syndio is the first SaaS company to specifically focus on pay equity," said Brad Beatty, CEO, Sirius Partners. "Companies need a way to ensure they are paying employees fairly, regardless of race or gender. Our firm is very bullish on the economic potential of Syndio, but more than that, its potential to alter fundamentally how companies address the idea of equitable compensation."
Syndio helps organizations find pay equity issues, fix them with both non-economic and economic adjustments identified by the application, and stay in compliance over time as organizations promote and hire people.
"Syndio makes the analytics accessible and presents dynamically updating results and insights in a way that helps companies pay people fairly," says Zev Eigen, Syndio founder and chief science officer. "The statistical methods under the hood have been reviewed and validated by agencies, experts, and used to prosecute as well as defend claims."
Syndio is leading the way in fair pay. Syndio is the only SaaS solution that offers companies a way to find pay issues based on race or gender (or any other category), fix those issues and stay in compliance over time. Syndio offers a suite of tools and services to help companies pay fairly, including a staffing feature that calculates a safe range for new hires in order to maintain overall equity.
Although still an early stage startup, Syndio already has over 20 corporate customers including Match Group and Slack. Syndio is a distributed company with employees in New York, California and Washington.
Comcast NBCUniversal Contributes $1.1 million in cash and in-kind support for California fire relief efforts
Los Angeles Fire Department battling fires which have take the lives of 66 people.
photo: LFDPIO
Cash and in-kind donations provide support for the residents and communities throughout fire-impacted areas across the state
(BUSINESSWIRE) PHILADELPHIA, November 16, 2018 - Comcast NBCUniversal will donate $1.1 million in cash and in-kind support for the communities impacted by California’s devastating fires.
A cash contribution of $850,000 will go to the CDF Firefighters Benevolent Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of North Valley, the Butte County Schools Fire Relief Fund, the Camp Fire Evacuation Relief Fund, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Comcast will also donate $250,000 worth of in-kind support to the North Valley Community Foundation.
As part of the in-kind funding, Comcast will donate advertising time on its cable systems to build awareness and encourage donations to the North Valley Community Foundation, which administers the Camp Fire Evacuation Relief Fund and the Butte County Schools Fire Relief Fund. The Funds were established to support the short-term relief and long-term recovery of the individuals in the impacted areas of Butte County.
“The entire state of California continues to be impacted by devastating fires, and it is absolutely heart wrenching to see the destruction,” said David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President of Comcast NBCUniversal.
“With these cash and in-kind contributions, Comcast will provide aid to those directly impacted, while working hand-in-hand with our community partners as they strive to recover from this tragedy.”
In addition to opening 51,000 XFINITY WiFi hotspots for free use, Comcast is providing a range of services to evacuation/community support centers and CAL Fire command centers throughout the impacted areas of Northern California.
“Comcast NBCUniversal has deep ties to these communities. This is where we live and work – where our families are, where our kids go to school. Like the community at large, many of our employees have been evacuated and some have lost their homes entirely,” said John Gauder, Region Vice President, Comcast Cable California.
“Since the fire first broke out, we have done and continue to do everything we can to help our employees, our customers and our communities. We will continue that work, and our efforts will be further extended, amplified and supported by these important community donations.”
For more information about Comcast’s response and support in Northern California during the fire, visit http://california.comcast.com.
A behind-the-scenes look at Scott Pruitt's dysfunctional EPA
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, talks to a reporter after speaking at Whayne Supply in Hazard, Ky, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Pruitt says the Trump administration will abandon the Obama-era Clean Power Plan, aimed at reducing global warming. photo: adam beam/AP
The following month, Pruitt — Oklahoma’s attorney general before he joined the EPA — tapped one of his former donors, banker Albert “Kell” Kelly, to find ways to accelerate and improve Superfund cleanups. Kelly started by consulting career staff members — often-knowledgeable officials who work at the agency regardless of who holds the White House. But then Kelly closed off the process, conferring with Pruitt to produce a final plan that altered or excluded many of the staffers’ suggestions.
Gone, for example, was the idea that EPA officials be identified early on to lead discussions with communities on how contaminated land should be used after cleanup.
Read more
19 Websites that will make you smarter
Group of college students pictured sharing a laptop.
photo: university of salford press office/flickr
by maggie zhang
(BUSINESS INSIDER) August 8, 2015 - Tired of wasting your time watching cat videos or scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed?
Want to be more productive next time you go online?
Here's a list of websites that will actually make you smarter:
Read more
Expedia 2014 road rage report: Americans rank "texters"
ahead of "tailgaters" on list of most infuriating driver behaviors
(PRN) BELLEVUE, Wash., May
20, 2014 - Today, Expedia.com®, the world's largest full service online
travel site*, released the results of the 2014 Road Rage Report, conducted on
Expedia's behalf by Northstar. Northstar surveyed 1,001 adult Americans to identify
the behaviors that are likeliest to elicit road rage, from texting to swerving
to speeding and beyond.
This Memorial Day weekend more than 30 million Americans are likely to take to the roads, putting a premium on courteous and respectful driving behavior.
On the whole, distraction is the most infuriating feature of the American driver. People who text while driving incur the most anger. 69% of Americans rate "The Texter" as the most aggravating driving behavior, followed by "The Tailgater" (60%), "The Multi-tasker" (54%), "The Drifter" (43%) and "The Crawler" (39%). Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) report having been "flipped off" by a fellow motorist, while only 17% have admitted to doing so themselves.
"As the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day sees a huge spike in the number of drivers on the road," said John Morrey, Vice President and General Manager, Expedia.com. "Expedia rents millions of cars to Americans, so we set out to learn what behaviors on the open road are most welcome, and what behaviors most aggravating. The rule, as with airplanes and hotels, is that shared spaces demand decorum and attentiveness."
The full list of driving behaviors ranked as "most annoying or offensive" includes (percentage identifies behaviors ranked in the top five):
Additional Findings
Expedia.com is the world's largest full service travel site*, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com, 1-800-EXPEDIA aims to provide the latest technology and the widest selection of top vacation destinations, cheap tickets, hotel deals, car rentals, destination weddings, cruise deals and in-destination activities, attractions, services and travel apps. With the Expedia Best Price Guarantee, Expedia.com customers can get the best rates available online for all types of travel.
NORTHSTAR is a strategic marketing insights and consulting firm that aligns leading edge, customized research techniques and cultural context with proprietary and proven strategic marketing frameworks and models to drive insights to impact. Northstar's suite of services relate to the most critical elements of brand, customer and marketing strategy, with sector expertise in travel and tourism, retail, automotive, CPG, food & beverage, financial services, pharma / health care, transportation and fashion / luxury. For more information, please go to www.northstarhub.com.
This Memorial Day weekend more than 30 million Americans are likely to take to the roads, putting a premium on courteous and respectful driving behavior.
On the whole, distraction is the most infuriating feature of the American driver. People who text while driving incur the most anger. 69% of Americans rate "The Texter" as the most aggravating driving behavior, followed by "The Tailgater" (60%), "The Multi-tasker" (54%), "The Drifter" (43%) and "The Crawler" (39%). Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) report having been "flipped off" by a fellow motorist, while only 17% have admitted to doing so themselves.
"As the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day sees a huge spike in the number of drivers on the road," said John Morrey, Vice President and General Manager, Expedia.com. "Expedia rents millions of cars to Americans, so we set out to learn what behaviors on the open road are most welcome, and what behaviors most aggravating. The rule, as with airplanes and hotels, is that shared spaces demand decorum and attentiveness."
The full list of driving behaviors ranked as "most annoying or offensive" includes (percentage identifies behaviors ranked in the top five):
The Texter (drivers who text,
email or talk on a phone while driving):
|
69%
|
The Tailgater (drivers who
follow others far too closely):
|
60%
|
The Multi-tasker (applying
makeup, eating, reading, etc.):
|
54%
|
The Drifter (either straddling
two lanes or weaving between them):
|
43%
|
The Crawler (driving well
below the speed limit):
|
39%
|
The Swerver (failing to signal
before changing lanes or turning):
|
38%
|
The Left-Lane Hog (drivers who
occupy the passing lane without moving):
|
32%
|
The Inconsiderate (those who
do not let others merge):
|
30%
|
The Speeder (driving well past
the speed limit at length):
|
27%
|
The Honker (drivers who slam
the horn at will):
|
18%
|
The Unappreciative (drivers
who do not give a wave or gesture of thanks):
|
13%
|
The Red Light Racer (drivers
who inch ever closer to the light when red):
|
12%
|
Additional Findings
- Despite the fact that
Americans identify texting as the most offensive driving violator, 55% of
Americans do admit to using their mobile phone at least some of the time
while driving. In addition, 70% of Americans also admit to having been
guilty of aggressive driving behavior, including speeding (58%),
tailgating (28%) and yelling and/or swearing at fellow drivers (28%). Men
are only slightly more likely to admit to aggressive driving than women
(74% to 67%).
- The rudest drivers are
found in the largest cities. 33% of Americans name New York City
as home to the least courteous/most rage-inducing drivers. 71% of
Americans put New York among the top
five rudest driving cities. Los
Angeles (22%) ranked second, while Atlanta
(9%) came in third. Only 5% of Americans believe Boston features the country's rudest
drivers, but 27% of Americans place Boston in the top five.
- American drivers do regularly
demonstrate courtesy and helpfulness. 55% of American drivers report
that they have stopped to help a fellow motorist – one they did not know –
in distress. That behavior grows likelier with age: 42% of Americans aged
18-34 report having done so, versus 59% of those aged 35-54, and 64% of
those 55 and older.
- Gas Price Pessimism vs. Open Road
Optimism
Americans are generally pessimistic as it relates to gas prices. 96% of Americans believe gas prices will rise this summer. Even so, 56% of Americans define a road trip as an "ideal" way to spend a vacation. 30% of Americans have taken an overnight road trip in the past 12 months. More than a third of Americans (36%) have rented a car in the past 12 months, with most of them (70%) renting for leisure.
- The Expedia 2014 Road Rage
Report found that 61% of Americans claim to treat their rental cars better
than they treat their own cars. 19% claim to treat rentals worse. And
92% of Americans say they "always" refill the gas tank before
returning a rental.
Price is the most important feature in a rental car, with 62% ranking it as most important. Size is the second most important feature, followed by rental type (convertible, SUV, sedan or other), style (standard versus premium/luxury) and brand. 42% of Americans claim that they "always" rent the same type of car. When Americans invest in rental car upgrades, they are likelier to do so when they are renting a car for business (52%) than for leisure (42%).
- Mobile apps have replaced
printed maps. The Road Rage Report revealed that mobile phone maps –
Google / Apple maps among them – are the most popular source of driving
directions, with 40% of Americans using them regularly. 35% of Americans
rely on dashboard GPS systems, while 22% still use printed maps.
Among the 76% of Americans who own and regularly use an app-enabled mobile device, more than 4 in 10 (42%) have downloaded an app specifically to use while in the car. Among road-trip-related apps, Americans place the most value on maps (63%), traffic notification (47%) and weather alert / driving conditions (44%). Mobile devices are also popular for accommodations, with 23% of U.S. drivers using their mobile device to search for a hotel.
The Expedia 2014 Road Rage Report also found that:
- 62% of Americans believe 16 is too young to drive
- 17% of U.S. drivers have driven in a foreign country on the opposite side of the road
- 66% would do so while 34% would not
- 91% of American men and 57% of American women claim to know how to change a tire
- 85% of American drivers are "always pleasantly surprised" to receive a wave of thanks from a fellow driver
- The two most popular reasons to honk at a fellow motorist are "if a driver starts to drift into my lane or is about to cut in front of me" (78%) and "when another driver cuts me off" (52%)
- 62% of Americans prefer "the scenic route" to the fastest route when driving on vacation
- "Spouse/partner" is the favored road trip companion for 68% of Americans, followed by best friend (31%), children (29%) and dog (14%)
- "Chips" are the top road trip snack for 36% of Americans, followed by:
- "Fast food" (31%)
- "Nuts or dried fruit" (31%)
- "Candy" (29%)
- "Beef jerky / pepperoni sticks" (25%)
- The Pacific Coast Highway is the preferred scenic route for 41% of American road trippers, followed by:
- Route 66 (33% listed in the top 3)
- Overseas Highway / Florida Keys (28%)
- Hawaii Belt (27%)
- Blue Ridge Parkway (26%)
- Classic rock is the preferred road trip music for 40% of Americans, followed by:
- Country (28%)
- Golden Oldies (25%)
- Top Hits (24%)
- Pop (23%)
- Easy Listening (22%)
- Hip Hop (15%)
- Heavy Metal (10%)
Expedia.com is the world's largest full service travel site*, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com, 1-800-EXPEDIA aims to provide the latest technology and the widest selection of top vacation destinations, cheap tickets, hotel deals, car rentals, destination weddings, cruise deals and in-destination activities, attractions, services and travel apps. With the Expedia Best Price Guarantee, Expedia.com customers can get the best rates available online for all types of travel.
NORTHSTAR is a strategic marketing insights and consulting firm that aligns leading edge, customized research techniques and cultural context with proprietary and proven strategic marketing frameworks and models to drive insights to impact. Northstar's suite of services relate to the most critical elements of brand, customer and marketing strategy, with sector expertise in travel and tourism, retail, automotive, CPG, food & beverage, financial services, pharma / health care, transportation and fashion / luxury. For more information, please go to www.northstarhub.com.
Statement by Ambassador Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on UN Sanction Designations for the Central African Republic
(BMLTV) May 11, 2014 - The United States welcomes the decision by the United Nations Security Council’s Central African Republic (CAR) Sanctions Committee to impose sanctions on three individuals in CAR.
The Committee has designated CAR’s former president Francois Bozize, Nourredine Adam, and Levy Yakete for their roles in furthering the crisis that has pushed the Central African Republic to the brink of catastrophe. We will continue to review additional designations of those responsible for undermining stability and tormenting the people of CAR.
Throughout the crisis in CAR, the Security Council has been united both in its repeated condemnations of the horrific violence that has seized the country as well as in its efforts to assist the transitional government courageously led by Catherine Samba-Panza.
In three resolutions, the Security Council has worked to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, authorize the French and African-led MISCA stabilization forces currently in the country, stand up a UN peacekeeping operation, and impose sanctions.
Those who orchestrate violence and foment instability in CAR must be held accountable for their actions. These designations are a small step in the right direction.
by admin
Pennsylvania Governors Corbett, Ridge issue statement on President Obama's nomination of former Mumia Abu-Jamal advocate to U.S. Justice Department post
Mumia Abu-Jamal/ photo: sankawan moaanbessa
(PRN/USN) HARRISBURG, Pa., February. 6, 2014 - Governor Tom Corbett and former Governor Tom Ridge today issued a joint statement in response to President Barack Obama's nomination of Debo Adegbile to lead the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
"Mr. Adegbile pushed the boundaries of appropriate advocacy in supporting the cause of a convicted murderer," Corbett said. "This nomination is an insult to the family and memory of Officer Daniel Faulkner."
Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted on July 2, 1982 for the brutal murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Abu-Jamal was sentenced to death the following day. Adegbile was a lead attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund who later represented Abu-Jamal in getting his death sentence overturned.
Scores of public officials have condemned the Adegbile nomination as a result of, among other things, his involvement in the Abu-Jamal case, including U.S. Representative Mike Fitzpatrick, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey and Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams.
"The President's nomination of Mr. Adegbile raises serious concerns given his previous affiliation with Mumia Abu-Jamal, convicted of the murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner," Ridge said. "Despite already being capably represented by a well-funded legal team, Mr. Adegbile chose to get involved in the defense of Abu-Jamal, whose death penalty conviction was later overturned."
"Police officers put their lives on the line every day," Ridge said. "Officer Faulkner, only 25 years old at the time of his death, made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the city he loved. I urge a thoughtful and comprehensive review by the Judiciary Committee of Mr. Adegbile's past associations with Abu-Jamal before approving his nomination."
"I call on the Senate to take a long look at Mr. Adegbile's track record of radical positions in the legal arena and reject this nomination," Corbett said.
President Obama announced his nomination of Adegbile to head the U.S. Civil Rights Division in November of last year and confirmation hearings have taken place in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
A final vote on Adegbile's confirmation is expected to take place Thursday.
Deputy Secretary William Burns travels to Seoul, Beijing, and Tokyo January 19-24
Tokyo: photo: global conference/eu
(BMLTV) January 17, 2014 - Deputy Secretary of State William Burns will depart Washington, DC on January 19 for a trip to the Republic of Korea, China, and Japan.
In Seoul, he will meet with senior government officials to discuss a broad range of issues that reflect the breadth and depth of our bilateral alliance. The visit will provide an opportunity to follow up on last month’s U.S.-R.O.K. Strategic Dialogue and to continue to coordinate closely on our shared goal of the denuclearization of North Korea.
The Deputy Secretary will then travel to Beijing for meetings with senior Chinese officials on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.
The Deputy Secretary will conclude his travel in Tokyo, where he will meet with senior Japanese officials to discuss regional economic and security issues and joint U.S.-Japanese cooperation on matters of global concern.
admin
National Hockey League becomes first with all-team support for gay athletes and fans through “You Can Play”
(PRN/USN) DENVER, January 8,
2014 - Colorado Avalanche team captain
Gabriel Landeskog today became the latest professional athlete to speak on
behalf of the You Can Play Project, and in doing so, the National Hockey
League has become the first professional sports league in North America to
have each of its member teams represented by players voicing support for LGBT
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) athletes and fans.
"Having full and, more
importantly, ongoing participation from the NHL, is a milestone for acceptance
of all athletes at every level of play and sport," said You Can Play
executive director Wade Davis.
"Every major men's
sports league has been represented in a You Can Play video and now every team
in one of the world's premier sports leagues has actively participated.
This support from professional leagues has a positive impact in locker rooms
and anywhere sports are played."
"Young athletes everywhere look
up to National Hockey League players as leaders on inclusion," NHL
Commissioner Gary Bettman said.
"Our players, our Clubs and
every member of the NHL family will strive to support important initiatives
such as You Can Play in our local communities and around the world."
Landeskog, the Avalanche's
21-year-old team captain was named to the Swedish Olympic hockey team this
week. He appears in a video filmed with players from Mountain Vista
High School (Highlands Ranch) and Regis Jesuit
High School (Aurora )
as part of the Colorado High School Activities Association's (CHSAA) "You
Can Play, Colorado !"
initiative.
"You Can Play, Colorado !" is part of CHSAA's Positive
Leadership program, designed to promote diversity and inclusion while lessening
bullying in sports and student activities.
The Landeskog video marks the first
time a pro player has teamed with high school athletes in a You Can Play
video.
Dozens of players representing the
NHL, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, Major League
Baseball, National Football League and a number of minor leagues and college
teams have made You Can Play videos in support of LGBT inclusion in sports.
"Change is taking place at a
grassroots level," said You Can Play president Patrick Burke.
"High school student-athletes are now partners with professional players
in making important social change both on and off the field, the ice and the
court."
You Can Play is a Denver-based
non-profit organization dedicated to changing the culture of locker rooms and
sports venues to include all athletes and fans regardless of sexual orientation
or gender identity.
The project honors the life of the
late Brendan Burke, an openly gay student manager of the Miami University (Ohio ) hockey team. You
Can Play has formal partnerships with the NHL, MLS, CWHL and a number of
Canadian, minor league and NCAA conferences and teams.
New York City Council's vote to include E-Cigarettes in smoke-free law preserves public's right to breathe clean air
(PRN/USN) WASHINGTON, Dececember 23, 2013 The following is a statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids:
We applaud the New York City Council for voting on December 19 to include electronic cigarettes in the city's Smoke-Free Air Act and prohibit their use in the same workplaces and public places where cigarette smoking is prohibited.
New York City's smoke-free law has worked for more than 10 years to protect the right of all New Yorkers to breathe clean air. Today's vote will prevent e-cigarettes from undermining this important public health protection.
The long-term health risks posed by e-cigarettes and their emissions are still unknown. This legislation will ensure that children and other non-smokers in New York do not needlessly become human guinea pigs while that information is collected.
E-cigarettes currently are not regulated; manufacturers are not required to disclose what is in them or in their emissions; and there are important gaps in our knowledge of their impact on the health of users and non-users.
Nicotine and other toxic substances have been found in exhaled e-cigarette vapor. Several of the products include warnings that inhaled nicotine is "very toxic."
Given the uncertainties about the health impact of e-cigarettes, it is prudent to prevent exposure by non-users in workplaces and public places.
Including e-cigarettes in the Smoke-Free Air Act will also simplify enforcement of the law and avoid confusion about where smoking is and isn't allowed.
Businesses and city officials will not have to distinguish between e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes. Those wishing to use e-cigarettes will simply have to step outside, just as cigarette smokers do.
Smoke-free laws also create an environment that encourages smokers to quit and discourages kids from smoking. Today's action will preserve these benefits.
This new law builds on New York City's strong and innovative efforts to fight tobacco use, which is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States and around the world.
We applaud the City Council for approving this legislation and urge other cities and states to follow New York City's lead, including Chicago and Los Angeles, which are currently considering similar legislation. We thank Councilman James Gennaro for sponsoring this legislation.
We also applaud Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn for their unparalleled leadership that has made New York City a global leader in the fight against tobacco.
A healthier city is one of their many legacies. We urge Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio and the new City Council and Speaker to continue this fight to protect children from tobacco addiction and save lives.
American Humane Association offers tips to help children deal with concerns following the school shootings in Colorado
(PRN/USN) WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2013 - ¬Following the shootings at Arapahoe High School in Colorado, American Humane Association issued these tips for parents and other caregivers to help children cope with the fear and uncertainty caused by this tragedy:
- Keep an eye on children's emotional reactions. Talk to children – and just as important – listen to them. Encourage kids to express how they feel and ask if anything is worrying them.
- Regardless of age, reassure them frequently of their safety and security, and reinforce that you, local officials, and their communities are working to keep them safe. Older children may seem more capable, but can also be affected.
- Keep your descriptions to children simple and limit their exposure to graphic information. Keep to the basic facts that something bad happened but that they are safe. Use words they can understand and avoid technical details and terms.
- Limit their access to television and radio news reports since young children may have trouble processing the enormity of the experience, and sometimes believe that each news report may be a new attack.
- Be prepared for children to ask if such violence can occur to them. Do not lie but repeat that it is very unlikely and that you are there to keep them safe.
- Watch for symptoms of stress, including clinginess, stomachaches, headaches, nightmares, trouble eating or sleeping, or changes in behavior. If you are concerned about the way your children are responding, consult your doctor, school counselor or local mental health professional.
"Parents, teachers, and other caregivers need to be especially sensitive to how children are reacting and help them cope with their fears and feelings.
The best thing is to talk to children now and in the weeks to come to ensure they receive the attention they need in dealing with this tragedy."
American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals.
Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect.
Today they are also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses.
You can help make a difference, too by the visiting American Humane Association at:
www.americanhumane.org today.
Serious Intimate Partner Violence Against Females Declined 72 percent from 1994 to 2011
Percentage involving physical attacks, weapons and injury showed little change
(PRN/USN) WASHINGTON, November 21, 2013 - From 1994 to 2011, the rate of serious intimate partner violence, such as rape, sexual assault, robbery or aggravated assault, declined 72 percent for females, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) announced today. During the same time, the percentage of female intimate partner victims who were physically attacked, attacked with a weapon, injured or required medical treatment remained relatively stable.
Nonfatal intimate partner violence includes serious violence and simple assault committed by an offender who is the victim's current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend. The severity of intimate partner violence is measured by the type of violent crime, type of physical attack, whether the victim was threatened before the attack, presence of a weapon, victim injury and medical treatment. Estimates of nonfatal violence are based on data from the National Crime Victimization Survey, which collects self-reported information from victims of crime.
During the most recent 10-year period (2002–11), the offender physically attacked the victim in more than two-thirds of intimate partner victimizations against females (67 percent). In about half of female victimizations (52 percent), the intimate partner threatened to harm the victim prior to the physical attack. In addition, about 5 percent of female victims were hit by an object their intimate partner held or threw at them, 36 percent were grabbed, held, tripped, jumped on or pushed, and 8 percent suffered sexual violence.
In 2011, 18 percent of intimate partner victimizations against females involved a weapon, similar to the percentage observed in 1994. In 2002–11, about 4 percent of nonfatal female intimate partner victims were shot at, stabbed or hit with a weapon. About half of intimate partner victimizations against females resulted in physical injury, with 13 percent suffering serious physical injury such as gun shot or knife wounds, internal injuries, unconsciousness or broken bones.
Between 2002 and 2011, about 18 percent of female intimate partner victimizations resulted in medical treatment for victim injuries.
In addition to estimates for nonfatal female victimizations, the report includes for comparison the number of homicides committed by intimates, estimates of nonfatal male intimate partner violence and nonintimate partner violence.
Estimates of male intimate partner violence include:
- From 1994 to 2011, the rate of serious violence (rape, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault) committed by an intimate partner declined 64 percent for males.
- During the most recent 10-year period (2002–11), nonfatal serious violence accounted for more than a third of intimate partner violence against males (39 percent).
- Aggravated assault (22 percent) accounted for the largest percentage of serious intimate partner violence against males, followed by robbery (16 percent).
- Rape or sexual assault (1 percent) accounted for the smallest percentage of intimate violence experienced by males.
- Sixty-five percent of male victims of intimate partner violence were physically attacked by the offender, and in almost a third of male victimizations (31 percent) the intimate partner threatened to harm the victim before the physical attack.
- A weapon was present in 27 percent of male intimate partner victimizations, and about 8 percent of males victimized by an intimate partner were shot at, stabbed, or hit with a weapon.
The report, Intimate Partner Violence: Attributes of Victimization, 1993 –2011 (NCJ 243300), was written by BJS statistician Shannan Catalano. The report, related documents and additional information about BJS statistical publications and programs can be found on the BJS website at http://www.bjs.gov/.
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at http://www.ojp.gov.
DSOS William J. Burns honors Hanadi Zahlout as a human rights defender
(BMLTV) WASHINGTON ,
November 15, 2013 - Thank you very much, Uzra. Good morning. It is a privilege
to be with all of you to honor a truly remarkable, courageous, and
inspirational defender of human rights, Ms. Hanadi Zahlout.
Every year we recognize those who protect and promote human
rights in the face of extreme adversity. Every year we are humbled anew by
their audacity to stand up to injustice and stand on the frontlines of the
march of human dignity. And every year we reflect on our own obligations, both
as heirs to the struggles and sacrifices of prior generations, and also as
stewards of what they have achieved.
Hanadi Zahlout’s courage reminds us of those solemn
responsibilities.
In the spring of 2011, after suffering too many indignities
and too many lost hopes for too many years, the Syrian people took to the
streets. They were met by an iron fist.
In the face of the Syrian regime’s efforts to conceal its crackdown on peaceful demonstrations, Ms. Zahlout documented the regime’s abuses, using social media to bring them to the attention of the Syrian people and the world.
Hanadi’s images and testimonies from the frontlines of the
Syrian Revolution shocked the world’s conscience and rallied international
condemnation of the Assad regime.
Despite multiple arrests, the detention and torture of her
fellow activists, and repeated threats to her life, Ms. Zahlout was not
deterred. Working with Local Coordination Committees across the country, she
continuously risked her life to expose the regime’s brutality and promote
reconciliation and peace.
Ms. Zahlout’s irrepressible spirit gained her the admiration
and respect of fellow grassroots activists, leaders of the Syrian opposition,
and human rights activists all over the world.
While in jail, Hanadi took up the cause of political
prisoners, demanding improved conditions and the provision of medicine in the
women’s section of the prison. In exile, she continues to link grassroots
activists inside Syria
with international media, promote dialogue among the opposition, and mentor
young Syrian journalists.
As a woman, as a proud Syrian, and as a member of the
minority Alawite community, Ms. Zahlout serves as a powerful symbol of both
what is possible and what is necessary for Syria ’s future. She did not suffer
or sacrifice for sect or tribe, but for a Syrian nation where the rights of all
-- Sunni and Shia, Alawite and Druze, Muslim and Christian -- are protected. So
while the regime and extremists work to tear Syria
apart, Ms. Zahlout and her peers work to repair its social fabric and build a
new, democratic, and tolerant Syria .
We recognize Hanadi today knowing that her vision of a new Syria seems
distant and at times out of reach. But we know from her own story, and from the
stories of the Human Rights Defenders recognized in years past, that a just
cause is ultimately a winning cause.
Nearly three decades ago today, when the workers in Brasov,
Romania walked out of their factories in protest, they never imagined that
their uprising would lead to the fall of a dictator and the end of their
country’s decades-long isolation.
And when the students in Daraa led peaceful vigils nearly
three years ago, they too did not imagine that their actions would inspire a
revolution. I am confident that when their dream of a new Syria is
ultimately realized, they will recognize the role of Ms. Zahlout and her peers.
And they will recommit – as generations did before them – to do their part to
accelerate the march of human dignity.
And so on behalf of Secretary Kerry and the American people,
it is my great privilege to present Ms. Zahlout with the Human Rights Defender
Award for “her tireless commitment to a peaceful democratic transition in Syria , at great
personal cost. The creativity, determination, and bravery demonstrated in her
work are critical to the reconstruction of Syria ’s social fabric and process
of reconciliation.”
Community fights for its life on the gulf coast of
(GRIST) November 5, 2013 - It’s
something of a miracle that Turkey Creek, Miss., exists at all. The small
community of fewer than residents was
founded by emancipated African Americans after the Civil War. Hundreds of other
Reconstruction-era communities like it across the South simply didn’t survive,
many of them burned to the ground by white supremacists the moment they began
to show signs of growth or prestige.
The risks to the thin blue line
Latest law enforcement officers killed and assaulted report released
(FBI ) October 28, 2013 - A Florida detective was shot and
killed while investigating a residence believed to house a meth lab. An Arizona deputy sheriff
lost his life responding to a burglary alarm at a business. A Washington state park ranger was shot and
killed after she attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
These three law enforcement officers were among the 48
officers around the nation who died in 2012 as a result of felonious incidents
in the line of duty, according to the FBI’s latest Law
Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) report. All 48
officers would have undoubtedly considered their actions a part of the job. But
the duties performed by these brave men and women—and others just like them—are
far from routine, and this latest report continues to highlight the risks law
enforcement officers face on a daily basis.
Veterans Benefits Administration employee joins Senate Press Conference on shutdown's impact on Veterans services
Former military veteran and his wife sit at local bus shelter waiting for bus to arrive.
photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©
(PRN/USN)WASHINGTON, October 9, 2013 - American Federation of Government Employees Local 940 Vice President Eleanor Davis Wescott, today joined Senate leaders for a news conference that highlighted the effect the government shutdown is having on the benefits and services provided to the nation's veterans.
Wescott has been a ratings specialist at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for 22 years and represents employees at the Philadelphia Regional Office. "As a veteran I take great pride in the services my colleagues and I provide for America's heroes," said Wescott. "Unfortunately, because of the shutdown, more than one third of the workforce has been sent home. Our folks in public contact cannot provide in person customer service to our veterans who call or walk in the door.
Our quality review team, which provides oversight to ensure claims are processed accurately, is not at work. Many others who develop and rate claims are also not on the job." The news conference, organized by Sen. Bernie Sanders, also featured remarks from Sens. Jon Tester, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono, Mark Begich and Sherrod Brown. This week 7,000 VBA employees have been furloughed because of a lack of agency funding triggered by the government shutdown.
"Nearly 52% of VBA workers are veterans themselves," said Wescott. "We come to work with mission specific efforts to reduce the backlog for our fellow veterans. With this furlough, we cannot meet our mission. It is very disheartening when I cannot give back to those who have sacrificed for our country."
VBA has stated that veterans will stop receiving their benefits if the shutdown continues into late October. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. AFGE's National Veterans Affairs Council represents 208,000 employees within the Department of Veterans Affairs. For the latest AFGE news and information, follow them on Facebook and Twitter . You can visit their web site at:
www.afge.org
Numbers tell the story during National Runaway Prevention month in November
The National Runaway Switchboard and its Partners Bring Awareness to the Youth Runaway Issue
(PRN/USN) CHICAGO, October 29, 2012 - National Runaway Prevention Month , a public education campaign spearheaded by the National Runaway Switchboard and the National Network for Youth, raises awareness about the youth runaway crisis in America and educates people about prevention and solutions.
Numbers help put the youth runaway crisis into perspective this year. For example, between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away in a year, and 15 national partners and 81 community partners in 29 states are participating in NRPM this November.
"From runaway statistics to the number of organizations that can help, numbers tell the story of this silent crisis," said Maureen Blaha, NRS executive director. "We encourage all Americans to pause this November to talk about the issue and realize that prevention is possible."
To bring greater understanding of this problem, individuals and organizations throughout the country are planning activities during November, including:
-
Green Light Project: Green is the symbol of NRPM. Americans
can show support of runaway, homeless and at-risk youth by shining a
green light on their front porches, wearing a green lapel pin, or
participating in Green Sock Day. This year, Wrigley Field in Chicago is getting involved by promoting a NRPM message on its marquee on Nov. 8.
- Social Media Day of Action: On Nov. 1, NRS will share photos of NRPM activities and statistics and facts on the runaway issue via social media. Organizations nationwide can participate any day in November by wearing green socks, uploading photos of it to Facebook, and tweeting those photos while using the hashtag #NRPM2012.
-
Spirit of Youth Benefit: This Chicago event on Nov. 2
is NRS' annual fundraiser to recognize individuals and organizations
that help to keep America's runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and
off the street. Maree Bullock and Jimmie Alford
will receive the 2012 Spirit of Youth award. They are long-time NRS
supporters who have been extraordinarily generous in their gifts of time
and resources to NRS and the youth who depend on the organization.
This year's gold sponsors are Allstate, Carlton Technologies, Chicago
Tribune, Greyhound Lines, Radio Flyer and United Airlines.
Confidence in Congress stays at lowest point in almost fifty years
"Confidence in the military and small business still at the top"
(PRN) NEW YORK, May 22, 2012 - The Harris Poll has been measuring the confidence of the American public in the leaders of major institutions since 1966. After seeing drops in confidence in almost all institutions last year, there is some stability this year as well as some small upward levels of confidence. However, some institutions are still at all time lows. Again this year, only 6% of all adults have a great deal of confidence in the leaders of Congress. Only one in ten Americans (11%) again this year say they have a great deal of confidence in the press.
Based on all the responses to this poll we calculate the Harris Confidence Index. This year, the Index has gone up to 49 after falling to 48 last year, but still down from 53 in 2010 and 54 in 2009.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,060 adults surveyed by telephone and online between April 9 and 17, 2012 by Harris Interactive.
Some of the main findings of this Harris Poll are:
At the top of the list, i.e. the largest numbers of people have a great deal of confidence in them, are the leaders of the military (55%) and small business (50%), far ahead of any of the other leaders on the list. These numbers have not changed significantly over the last three years;
Also high on the list, but substantially lower, are the leaders of medicine (34%), and colleges and universities (30%);
Not quite at the bottom of the list, but below the top institutions are the U.S. Supreme Court (27%, which is up from 24% last year), organized religion (23%), the White House (22% which is up from 19% last year), and public schools (21%); and,
At the bottom of the list, leaders in whom the public has the least confidence are Congress (6%), Wall Street (7%), the press (11%), law firms (11%), major companies (15%), organized labor (16%) television news (17%) and the courts and the justice system (19%).
While the confidence index rose one point and a couple of institutions saw small gains, very little has changed from last year. "The American public continues to be disgusted with the shenanigans of Congress and Wall Street," says Robert Fronk, EVP Reputation Management at Harris Interactive. "Forgiveness and respect will not return easily for these two entities." The stabilization in confidence is clearly a better outcome than the slide seen in the previous 3 years, but many of the institutions that form the backbone of our nation continue to be perceived as lacking in leadership, which does not bode well in the short term for our nation.
Police arrest 28 protesters in front of the White House
Protesters outside the White House demanding the full release of radical journalist and political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©
Hundreds of protester gather outside the White House. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©
Protester seen being taken away by police from in front of the White House. The protester was charged with interfering with agency function. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©
(BMLTV) WASHINGTON, April 25, 2012 - As hundreds protested in front of the White House, 28, some in orange jumpsuits are arrested for failure to obey a lawful order. That order by officers was to disperse and not stop on the walk way in front of the White House. The protest came on the very birthday of radical journalist and political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. protesters demanded the full release of radical journalist and political prisoner Mumia. In 1982, during a time still under the influence of the corrupt and violent police regime of Mayor Frank Rizzo, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office headed by Ed Rendell (now, Governor of Pennsylvania) secured a conviction and death sentence in a jury trial, which lasted only three weeks, claiming that Mumia had murdered Philadelphia police officer, Daniel Faulkner, on December 9, 1981.
by abhi ahmadadeen
NAACP statement on the American Legislative Council annoncement
(BMLTV) April 17, 2012 - NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous made the following statement on the decision by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to discontinue their Public Safety and Elections Task Force:
“We are encouraged that the nationwide campaign by civil rights advocates has forced ALEC to rethink its voter suppression and criminal protection work, but we know that for so many Americans, the damage has already been done,” said Jealous. “This year, because of ALEC, millions of voters who had been eligible to vote in 2008 will be denied access to the ballot box. We may never know how many families will be denied justice because of the ‘stand your ground’ laws that continue to put communities in danger, or how many families will torn apart under repressive anti-immigrant laws.”
ALEC has drafted hundreds of model bills, resolutions, and policy statements, disseminating them in state legislatures around the country. Their model bills formed the basis of the Voter-ID laws enacted in several states and the stand-your-ground legislation that gained national notoriety in the wake of the Trayvon Martin murder, in addition to anti-immigrant legislation like Alabama’s HB 56.
Jealous continued, “ALEC came to this decision after enough of their corporate sponsors, many of whom have been strong advocates of civil rights and public safety in the past, were made aware of their anti-democratic activities and dropped their support. The NAACP has been working with many of these courageous companies, and we will continue to monitor ALEC and make sure this move is more than just window dressing.”
Last December, the NAACP published a groundbreaking report, Defending Democracy: Confronting Modern Barriers to Voting Rights in America, that exposed the role ALEC played in propagating voter ID laws. Later that month, the Association led a rally of 25,000 people in front of the New York headquarters of the ALEC-funders David & Charles Koch to protest the voter suppression measures.
Community group offers advice for Neighborhood Watch Programs
photos: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©
(PRN/USN) FALLS CHURCH, VA., March 28, 2012 - The death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old high school student in Sanford, Fla., is a vivid reminder that neighborhood watch programs, even with the best intentions, can trigger tragic results for families, residents and entire communities.
"We know neighborhood watch programs can reduce crime and ease the fears of residents, but they also pose major risks when appropriate procedures aren't followed," says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, chief executive officer of Community Associations Institute (CAI). "It's essential that those who organize and lead watch programs work with local law enforcement authorities to ensure that all volunteers understand and accept the extent and limitations of their responsibilities."
Skiba said it's not CAI's place to pass judgment on the criminality of the events in Florida or the state's stand-your-ground law. "But the horrible fact remains that family and friends now grieve for a young man," he says. "As the father of a 17-year-old son, I can't begin to imagine the horror facing Trayvon's family. If nothing else, the regrettable confrontation that night reminds us that such programs must be carefully implemented and rigorously monitored."
Skiba urges all community associations—even when a watch program isn't managed by the association—to review procedures and to do everything possible to prevent confrontations that should be handled by police.
For communities considering neighborhood watch programs, Skiba offers the following advice:
• Contact the local police department for start-up support, guidance and training. Volunteers who skip this critical step can find themselves on the wrong side of the law—or worse.
• Seek the advice of an attorney with expertise in community association law.
• Create processes for recruiting only responsible volunteers who will follow all procedures.
• Develop methods, such as websites and e-mail, to keep volunteers and residents informed.
• Continuously reinforce all procedures—including do-not-engage rules for resident volunteers.
"Community associations should proceed very carefully before they decide to create or manage a neighborhood watch program or before they even formally endorse a watch program organized by residents," Skiba says.
He says association boards considering this issue need to ask three fundamental questions:
• What is the extent of the association's powers under its governing documents?
• Does the association have the authority to establish a community watch?
• What are the legal and ethical liabilities of an association-sponsored watch program?
"These questions should be answered—definitively—before board members take formal action to establish a watch program or even lend support to such an initiative," Skiba concludes. "Communities that can't or won't answer these questions should drop the idea altogether."
With more than 31,000 members dedicated to building better communities, CAI works in partnership with 60 chapters—including eight in Florida—and housing leaders in a number of other countries. CAI provides information, education and resources to homeowners, community association boards and the professionals who support them. Visit www.caionline.org or call (888) 224-4321.
52 Shot, 8 Dead and Mayor Daley Still Resists Self-Defense
BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON, June 21, 2010 - Fifty-two people shot, eight of them fatally in a single Chicago weekend, yet Mayor Richard Daley appears poised to go down screaming in his opposition to the Second Amendment Foundation's lawsuit to overturn his city's handgun ban.
The U.S. Supreme Court could rule any day on the case of McDonald v. City of Chicago, filed by SAF, the Illinois State Rifle Association and four Chicago residents. That ruling will likely strike down the handgun ban, thus opening the door to legal self-defense by Windy City residents.
"Year after year the statistics have piled up," he continued, "yet Mayor Daley has stubbornly defended the city's ban. While he has luxuriated at his vacation home with the safety of armed bodyguards, the bodies of Chicago crime victims have stacked up like cordwood.
"Within days," Gottlieb observed, "we should have a ruling from the Supreme Court that puts an end to this insanity, and gives the citizens of Chicago back their right to defend themselves. Daley thinks his constituents should be content to call 911 and wait for help to arrive while they're being shot, stabbed, raped, robbed or beaten. Those crimes happen fast, and when seconds count, Chicago police are minutes away.
"We took Daley to court because we trust his citizens more than he does with their self-defense rights," Gottlieb concluded. "Chicago residents have endured the terror of public disarmament for almost three decades, and all they have to show for it is a body count. Mayor Daley should be ashamed."
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, the Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
photo: mickey johnson
