NEWS:people leaving their political parties

During my days at The Black Reign News I would on occasionally write an op-ed column.
It was basically a Centrist piece called On the Fence and it ran opposite of our conservative piece On the Right Side, written by CJ Anderson.

Anderson would call me a liberal, primarily in person, because I never agreed with much he stood for.  I am actually in fact a moderate Democrat, only because there is no Independent Party in New York.  But I have more centrist views.  I am not a liberal.

Anderson and I would often discuss why a person should commit being republican OR democrat.  I basically feel that you should vote for the PERSON who closely feels the way you do
 about issues.  You may be a republican but as president or senator you still represent people who are not affiliated with your party.  We would argue that life is not about politics, but about people. CJ felt life was all about politics and that it is issues that matter and not people.  He would get irritated when I connected the rise in the homeless during the 1980s to Ronald Reagan.  To him if you cannot make it then whatever happens happens.  I would call Anderson an idiot.   I still do.

I read part of an article today from USA Today telling how people are leaving BOTH the republican and democratic parties for independent parties.  The idiot (who doesn't have the Internet OR a computer OR television for that matter) was obviously wrong (as I suspected years ago) and people are capable of thinking on their feet independently.

courtesy of USA Today:

WASHINGTON – More than 2.5 million voters have left the Democratic and Republican parties since the 2008 elections, while the number of independent voters continues to grow.

A USA TODAY analysis of state voter registration statistics shows registered Democrats declined in 25 of the 28 states that register voters by party. Republicans dipped in 21 states, while independents increased in 18 states.

The trend is acute in states that are key to next year's presidential race. In the eight swing states that register voters by party, Democrats' registration is down by 800,000 and Republicans' by 350,000. Independents have gained 325,000.

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The pattern continues a decades-long trend that has seen a diminution in the power of political parties, giving rise to independents as Ross Perot and Ralph Nader and the popularity this year of libertarian Republican Ron Paul.

"The strident voices of both the left and the right have sort of soured people from saying willingly that they belong to one party or the other," says Doug Lewis, who represents state elections officials. "If both sides call each other scurrilous dogs, then the public believes that both sides are probably scurrilous dogs."

Registered Democrats still dominate the political playing field with more than 42 million voters, compared to 30 million Republicans and 24 million independents. But Democrats have lost the most — 1.7 million, or 3.9%, from 2008.

Democratic registration has fared worse than Republicans in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — the eight swing states with party registration. Republican losses are biggest in Nevada, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.

The decline is due to a variety of factors. People move, people die, people revolt in disgust. Many are stripped from registration rolls by states seeking to remove inactive voters.

By contrast, the number of independents has grown for years and is up more than 400,000 since 2008, or 1.7%. States with big gains: Colorado, Florida, North Carolina — and Arizona, a possible target for President Obama in 2012.

The 2012 winner, says North Carolina elections director Gary Bartlett, will be "whoever is attractive to the unaffiliated voter."

Crime and the death penalty

I just finished a research paper for my Civil Rights class that was harder than I expected and I chose the topic.  I wrote it on "Civil Rights and the death penalty" and if the death penalty in fact violates our civil rights.  Hard ass topic to write on especially in 10-12 pages.  To sum it up I actually feel that the death penalty is a violation of our civil rights especially when you consider the disproportionate amount of people of color and poor people who die from it.  If you have money chances are you can avoid being sentenced to death.

Additionally I think in general the death penalty is the wrong approach to punishment.  It is more of a tool of revenge.  If our system is a system of laws and justice then it should be about incarcerating the offender for an appropriate amount of time.  When you consider the fact that as humans we make mistakes that can take away a life it is more the reason why we should choose incarceration as the method of punishment.  At least this way you can amend the mistake. 

Currently I am in Florida on parent business (my parents) and I came across an article regarding a hideous crime in New York that comes right after I did my paper.  Apparently a lady was torched to death in the elevator in her building by a 47 year old man with no apparent criminal past.  The guy allegedly accused the victim of owing her money so he lit her up with lighter fluid and set her on fire, then according to other reports set his brother's apartment ablaze.  He was allegedly caught on camera doing this.

On first thought I wanted to say that this guy deserves the death penalty.  And in all honesty if he is convicted he deserves to die.  However after giving the situation some thought, something the family of the victim generally has no time to do, I realize that at this early stage of just reading the information and limited amount of the facts, this guy has no criminal past on record.  Not that history matters but this sounds like a very evil act and the act of a person not in their right mind.  Similar to the case a half year ago in Borough Park where a Jewish man allegedly killed a seven year old and dismembered him. 
In this case the guy also supposedly burned the left side of his face either during the act of burning his victim or while torching his brother's apartment.  If I am on the jury that so far sounds like an unstable man who probably shouldn't even be on trial.  However if he is on camera he validates an argument I had where the only time a person should actually face the death penalty is if he is caught on camera.  It should be a case where the evidence cannot be questioned.  This would be the only situation where I might consider the death penalty.  But, a sane person would not torch another human being over a few dollars.  So I have to question this man's sanity.  And since he should face a punishment for his actions I would say that he should be institutionalized for the rest of his life if found guilty.  He should never be allowed to walk the streets again.

Below is an article courtesy of TIME:




Crime

A Particularly Cruel Crime in Brooklyn Leaves Neighbors Cringing

By Madison Gray | @madisonjgray | December 20, 2011 | 10

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/12/20/a-particularly-cruel-crime-in-brooklyn-leaves-neighbors-cringing/#ixzz1hSqpV4S6

New York Police Department / AP

A day after the arraignment of a man in Brooklyn deliberately set a fire that killed a 73-year-old woman who he said owed him money, people are asking who would do something this heinous, particularly to a woman who never harmed anyone.

Police say Jerome Isaac, 47, was caught on surveillance video waiting for Deloris Gillespie to step off of the elevator to her apartment in the borough’s Prospect Heights neighborhood. Disguised as an exterminator, he doused her with flammable liquid, used a barbecue lighter to set her aflame, then threw a Molotov cocktail at her. Finally, he sprayed more of the liquid on the suffering woman to complete his barbarous crime.

(LIST: Top 10 News Stories of 2011)

Running from the scene, having charred his own face in the process, he tried to burn a nearby apartment where he once lived with his brother, but only managed to set the doorway aflame. Eventually, after hiding out, he went to the local police precinct and turned himself in, telling them he killed the woman because she owed him $2,000 for work he had done for her.

The crime horrified Gillespie’s neighbors, two of whom work for the local media, and wrote of their shock and dismay at what happened to the woman who was popular among the people in the building. “The suspect, Jerome Isaac, is someone I’ve seen many times. He did work for Delores. She was petite and needed help moving furniture. We talked about the weather. He didn’t seem like a psycho who would later murder her in our elevator,” said Lauren Johnston, a deputy editor for the New York Daily News.

“…When I was permitted to re-enter my Prospect Heights building, I was overwhelmed by the weight and horror of the events and I sobbed in the vestibule.”

(PHOTOS: Crime in Middle America)

Jaime Holguin, a news development manager at the Associated Press

But Isaac does not necessarily fit the profile of a murderer. He has no jail record and no prior arrests. Despite his clean background, prosecutors are making it clear that this crime is unique in its cruelty. “I know this is the defendant’s first offense, but the depravity of this one single act is beyond my description,” Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Taub said as Issac was being charged.

Isaac was charged with murder and arson and is being held without bail. His lawyer has not requested psychiatric evaluation.


Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/12/20/a-particularly-cruel-crime-in-brooklyn-leaves-neighbors-cringing/#ixzz1hSoTydhL

Repost

This is the interview I did with my friend Daisy. Still on the topic of homelessness she and Mike spent time on the streets of New York and even had to sleep in Prospect Park.  This is part of the interview. 

REPOST: Lisa

This is one of my first videos done about a year ago.  I interviewed my friend Lisa for my class assignment.  She had been homeless for a while since she moved back to New York from Maryland.  She recently moved into a room ($240 a week!!!!!).  Since I revamped the blog (the previous one can be found in my profile) I thought I would repost the original interview.  It was about 25 degrees when we did this.  I still thank her for talking t me as it opened my eyes a bit more to a huge problem in America that is getting immense.  The Occupy people may be annoying to some (not me)  but they are tackling a problem that needs to be addressed.

I am 47 years old and I have been aware of the homeless situation since the early 1980s.  I thought it was odd that since Reagan took office there were more people living in the street.  Worse, politicians take light of the situation.  My personal feelings on homelessness is that it is every one's responsibility to look out for those less fortunate.  I personally don't trust a lot of people who ask for money claiming to advocate for the homeless and I am cautious of folks who panhandle.  I will buy a person food in a heartbeat though.  I also think that the government has a responsibility to look out for those who cannot look out for themselves.  They take care of other countries that despise the United States so why not take care of the folks in this country.  I don't buy into the theory that people living on the streets are lazy or on drugs.  Granted ,some are, but that doesn't mean they should not be helped.  You will hear in the interview what Lisa had to endure just to get food stamps.  In a nation that bails out companies that then grant themselves thousand dollar bonuses, giving a person $200 in food stamps should not take an act of congress

Personal rant: 12/7/2011

I've been tied up for a while so I haven't been able to do any blog entries.  Add to the mix that I just had oral surgery I hardly feel like writing. I had a toothache off and on for the past few weeks.  The pain was centered at my lower left molar.  The pain would come at night, but not every night and even Ambesol wouldn't help.  So I went to the dentist last Friday thinking that I had insurance.  Come to find out I didn't  Since I am going to Florida this weekend I knew I had to get that tooth taken care of.  The dentist told me the thing had to come out along with the wisdom tooth so this past Monday I paid over $600 and got two teeth extracted.  I still don't feel quite correct but at least I am not on the 600 mg Motrin like I was the day I had the surgery.  I had the surgery Monday at 4PM and used three Mortin tablets.  The doctor also prescribed Vicadin.  I have not used the high dose Motrin or the Vicadin from yesterday (Tuesday) on.  I have used regular strength Motrin sparingly.  Just the same I am prepared to switch from the plane to the train this Sunday if necessary.

I lied when I said that this surgery had me not feeling like writing.  I am going through another depression.  December 20 will be the day that I call the beginning of the end.  That's the day Dad fell and broke his arm and that started his downfall.  He never went home after that.  Granted he did make a slight recovery and wasn't as out of it mentally but ultimately he died in a nursing home.  I haven't stopped missing him.

WTF NEWS

courtesy http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57328653-504083/cops-fake-doc-injected-womans-buttocks-with-cement/?tag=cbsContent;carouselBar

 

November 21, 2011 10:21 AM

Cops: Fake doc injected woman's buttocks with cement

By

Crimesider Staff

Oneal Ron Morris is accused of posing as a doctor and performing a dangerous buttocks enhancement procedure, which she also had herself

(Credit: CBSMiami/Miami Gardens Police Department)

(CBS/AP) MIAMI - A transgendered woman was arrested Friday for allegedly posing as a doctor and injecting cement, mineral oil and flat-tire sealant into the buttocks of a woman who had wanted a fuller figure. Police say she also performed similar work on herself.
Oneal Ron Morris, 30, who police say was born a man but identifies as a woman, was charged with practicing medicine without a license and serious bodily injury. She was released on bond.
The victim, who is not being identified, was reportedly referred to Morris by a friend for a series of injections costing $700 in May 2010. Police said Morris injected tubes in several places around her bottom and pumped them full of toxic substances.
Miami Gardens Police Sgt. Bill Bamford said that when the pain became severe Morris told the patient, "'Oh don't worry, you'll be fine. We just keep injecting you with the stuff and it all works itself out.'"
Soon after the procedure, the victim reportedly went to the hospital several times with sores, flu like symptoms and severe pain. But each time, she left, too embarrassed to tell the doctors what had happened to her.
Eventually, the woman's mother took her to the hospital where doctors questioned her and finally called the Department of Health.
"The doctors knew no licensed physician in his right mind would ever do this," Bamford said.
The victim is still recovering from surgery and in too much pain to work. Police believe Morris has performed this procedure on other people who may be too embarrassed to come forward.

NEWS: Herman Cain

courtesy of the LA Times....

Cain compares himself to Clarence Thomas

The Republican has relished his role as racial contrarian. With the emergence of sexual harassment allegations, however, he suggests that his race may be to blame for the controversy.

November 04, 2011|By Robin Abcarian, Los Angeles Times

Like many high-profile black conservatives, Herman Cain has relished his role as a racial contrarian. Cain grew up in the segregated South and came of age during the struggles of the civil rights movement. Yet he bridles at the notion that because he is black, he should be a Democrat, or that he is some kind of race traitor because of his ultraconservative ideology.

"I have been called 'Uncle Tom,' 'sellout,' 'Oreo,' 'shameless," Cain often tells his overwhelmingly white audiences as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination. "In the words of my grandfather," he said last spring in Iowa Falls, "I does not care. I does not care."
When singer Harry Belafonte, a liberal activist, recently called Cain a "bad apple," Cain reveled in the insult. Belafonte, said Cain, "was referring to the fact that I wouldn't stay on the Democrat plantation because I ran away and I ain't going back!"
But now that his campaign is floundering due to the emergence of sexual harassment allegations made when he ran the National Restaurant Assn. in the 1990s, Cain has advanced the idea that his race may be to blame for the controversy. Specifically, he has tied his situation to that of Clarence Thomas, who when accused of past sexual harassment in his 1991 Supreme Court confirmation hearings, attacked opponents for what he called a "high-tech lynching."
Cain sat for an interview Thursday with Thomas' wife, Virginia, a conservative activist, and later pleaded his case to Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Liberals, he said, "are trying to attack me to intimidate other black conservatives to not go public or to not think about looking at other ideas on the other side of the spectrum."
Some of Cain's high-profile defenders — notably Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh — revived the "high-tech lynching" metaphor. Americans for Herman Cain, an independent super PAC, used the phrase in a fundraising appeal that went out Tuesday in which it blamed "the left-wing media" for Cain's woes.
Politico reported Sunday night that two women had received settlements in the late 1990s after complaining of inappropriate behavior by Cain. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that one of two women involved received a $35,000 settlement, equal to a year's salary. A third woman surfaced in an Associated Press report Wednesday. Cain has said he never harassed anyone, though he left open the possibility that remarks had been misconstrued.
Many of Cain's defenders say the racial implications of the accusations are inescapable.
"The 'oversexed black man' is one of the most powerful negative charges," said Niger Innis, a friend of Cain's who runs the Congress for Racial Equality, a conservative group. "It has had a traumatic effect on the American psyche for 200 years."
Cain has certainly benefited from his rare status as a black corporate executive with presidential aspirations. He pleases tea party conservatives who, while appreciating his politics, also are sickened that others repeatedly accuse them of racism. His shoot-from-the-hip style and business background appealed to others fed up with traditional politicians.
Cain's is an all-American story: The child of a chauffeur and a domestic, he rose through the corporate ranks in the food industry at Pillsbury and Burger King, eventually becoming chief executive of the Godfather's Pizza chain. A cancer survivor who beat long odds to regain his health, he has been invited to sit on numerous corporate boards of directors, where he has diversified their ranks.
Born in Memphis and raised in Atlanta, Cain struggled in his early years to overcome racial barriers. He once drank at a "whites only" fountain to see how the water tasted. He has said he believes he was denied admission to two state universities, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, because of racial quotas; he attended the historically black Morehouse College, where he majored in math.
As a young adult in the late 1960s, he did not participate in the civil rights movement, heeding the advice of his father: "Dad always said, 'Stay out of trouble,' and we did," wrote Cain in his memoir. "We decided to move to the back of the bus to avoid trouble when the bus driver told us to."
Although Cain insists that race is not a factor in his candidacy, he barrels forthrightly into the topic in every speech. That is a stark contrast to candidate Barack Obama, who often treated the subject gingerly.
To liberals, Cain's formula is simple: "Cain is trying to use his race as an advantage with the extreme right wing," said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who ran for president in 2004 and now works for MSNBC. "The irony is that a lot of blacks say the president doesn't bring up race enough. Rarely does Cain not bring it up, and he's not even talking to blacks."
Sharpton thinks Cain's story is disingenuous. "A lot of blacks didn't get involved and a lot of black families naturally were afraid. But he was in college, not in grade school. Don't act like you were a kid who had to listen to your daddy."
Toure, a liberal black writer and commentator, accused Cain of exploiting his race to appreciative white audiences, calling it this "constant minstrelsy aspect."
"He's the one who says he wants the Secret Service to call him 'Cornbread.'" Toure said. "He's the one who says things like 'Aw, shucky ducky'.... This is deep black slang that he's using."
Such criticism offends conservative blacks like Innis. "What hypocrisy," he said. "Herman Cain is a son of the South who has great-grandparents who were slaves. Obama is truly the minstrel when he goes into his phony black cadence when he is in front of a black audience. That boy is from Hawaii."
Cain stirred a discussion of race politics in September, when he said on CNN that African Americans had been "brainwashed" into "not even considering a conservative point of view."
But much of black allegiance to the Democratic Party stems from its championing of civil rights and Republican efforts to appeal to white voters, said one expert on politics and race.
"Given the racial rhetoric periodically from the Republican Party going back to Nixon, where the 'Southern strategy' was used explicitly to fire up white racial resentment, it's understandable that blacks have been solidly in the Democratic camp since 1964," said Michael Dawson, director of the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture at the University of Chicago.
Dawson said that throwing around a racially explosive term like "high-tech lynching" has the effect of clouding the real discussion that should be taking place: "Were women sexually harassed? What were the charges? What were the settlements? What really did happen?"
robin.abcarian@latimes.com

 

MLK Memorial

Not many words. Just photos of my October trip to Washington DC and the newly dedicated Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

HOMELESS NEWS: Nevada

HOMELESS NEWS:

couurtesy Huffingtonpost.com

New York City Homelessness And Statewide Food Stamp Usage On The Rise

First Posted: 11/9/11 01:16 PM ET Updated: 11/9/11 01:16 PM ET

According to a new report by the Coalition For The Homeless, New York City's homeless shelter population rose to 41,000 at the end of October, making it the first time the city has exceeded the 40,000 mark.
The report, which was released on Wednesday, shows that the number of homeless children sleeping in shelters also reached an all-time record with 17,000 children needing to stay in shelters each night.
The coalition condemned Mayor Bloomberg's policies concerning the homeless, citing the dramatic increase in the city's homeless rate since the Bloomberg administration ended housing assistance programs such as Advantage, which aimed to assist homeless families transfer to more permanent housing. The report states:

They [Bloomberg administration] said that the shelter population would not increase significantly, and predicted that fewer homeless families would seek shelter. In fact, the Mayor proposed a homeless services budget more than one fifth lower than the last fiscal year’s actual expenditures. But only a few short months later, the verdict on Mayor Bloomberg's latest disastrous homeless policy shift is in. And the result is a new all-time record homeless population in New York City - more than 41,000 people for the first time ever - with even further increases expected in the coming months.

In response to the new report, the WSJ reports that Bloomberg officials defended the mayor's approach on Tuesday, but acknowledged the need for action and continued attention.
Earlier this year, officials from both the Bloomberg and Cuomo administrations blamed each other for the controversial cutbacks, which many viewed as an inevitable cause for the 15,000 people who were enrolled in Advantage to be forced back onto the streets.
In 2004, Mayor Bloomberg promised to reduce the homeless population number by two-thirds over a five year period and instituted various efforts including the preventive program HomeBase. However, Wednesday's shocking number proves that little has been solved.
New York state has also seen a 70 percent increase in the number of individuals receiving food stamps in year with an unprecedented 3 million people recorded this summer. Back in 2007, 1.8 million people applied for the assistance program.

HOMELESS NEWS:

courtesy http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Homeless-Policy-Must-Prove-Homeless-DHS-City-Council-133555323.html

Council Angered By City's New Homeless Policy

The Department of Homeless Services is changing its policy later this month.

By Melissa Russo

|  Wednesday, Nov 9, 2011  |  Updated 3:08 PM EST

After NBC New York reported last week that the Bloomberg administration will require people seeking space in homeless shelters to prove they have no other options, city councilmembers are blasting the policy as "arrogant."

The change goes into effect later this month.

A hearing was called for Wednesday following NBC New York's exclusive story. Department of Homeless Services officials say the policy will save $4 million a year, reserving shelter space for people who truly need it.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who chooses her battles with Mayor Bloomberg carefully, said the new policy "amounts to harassment."

Quinn said she was angry that she found out about this major policy shift, and said the Bloomberg administration never consulted the council.

DHS Commissioner Seth Diamond said 60 percent of the people coming into the single-adult shelters have been living with someone else.

"People who have another housing option are not homeless," Diamond said.

He said the city's shelter system is compassionate and will only turn people away who have a safe place to go, but he did not rule out sending people back to where they came from, including out of state or out of the country.

Diamond insisted the shift is not a cost-cutting move, but admitted it will save money.

"Precious resources need to be reserved for the neediest people," Diamond said.

During a rally on the City Hall steps before the hearing, the Legal Aid Society announced it will ask a State Supreme Court judge on Thursday to block the change.

Quinn and Diamond argued during the hearing about whether the city had obtained "state permission" to move forward with the change next  week.

While a New York state office advised the city in writing last week that the policy change does not violate state regulations, aides to Gov. Cuomo deny that Cuomo has endorsed it. 

Posted Wednesday, Nov 9, 2011 - 3:08 PM EST

NEWS: 4 year old shot in botched robbery

The following is more of a reason I back STOP AND FRISK.  I don't have children but I can imagine being with a younger loved one and some thug walks up to me with the balls to rob me only because he is packing a piece.  In this sad story a man was with his four year old son when they approached by would be robbers.  the details are sketchy depending on the news source but a gun the alleged robbers was carrying went off either intentionally or unintentionally, hitting the four year old and leaving him in critical condition.  According to reports the father, now enraged, got a hold of the gun and chased the assailants shooting one in the back of the head.  As of this writing the father is not arrested but is in police custody answering questions and may face arrest.

courtesyNY Daily News

Bronx

Bronx boy battles for life after robbery, shooting outside homeless shelter 

Assailant also shot in the head

BY Larry Mcshane , Joe Kemp & Erik Badia
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Wednesday, November 9 2011, 10:17 AM

Ron Koeberer/Getty Images/Aurora Creative

The mother of a 4-year-old boy stood screaming for his life after the helpless child took a bullet in the face during a botched Bronx robbery, witnesses said.

“Keep breathing, baby! Keep breathing!” cried the boy’s desperate mother after the Tuesday night gunfire on a dark Bronx street.

Two eyewitnesses said the woman was also screaming “Call 911!” in the minutes after the shooting that also left his 17-year-old assailant critically injured from a gunshot to the head.

The child and his father were confronted by two would-be robbers — one of them armed — at Grand Ave. and Evelyn Place in University Heights about 10:15 p.m., cops and neighbors said.

The toddler, who neighbors said lives in a domestic violence shelter on the corner, collapsed after he was shot in the face.

The teen bandit took a bullet to the head, then rolled beneath a parked car as his cohort fled. The wounded bandit was possibly shot in a struggle for the weapon with the child’s dad, sources told the Daily News.

Police hoped the security cameras on every corner of the intersection will provide an explanation of exactly what happened.

One witness said she heard two gunshots before looking out her apartment window at the carnage below.

The wounded child’s mother and sister were putting up groceries in the homeless shelter where they live when the shooting started, while the boy and his dad were standing outside.

Both the 4-year-old and the shooting suspect were listed Wednesday in critical condition at St. Barnabas Hospital. No arrests were immediately made.

The shooting took place just a block from the June 10 shooting of a 5-year-old boy.

The child was munching on Chicken McNuggets on Grand Ave. near W. 184th St. when a gunman fired into a crowd — hitting the child and two adults. All three of those victims survived.

jkemp@nydailynews.com

RANT: Political News

This was incredibly sad.  Before I left for work this morning I got to watch Michele Bachmann on the Today Show.  She was being interviewed by Matt Lauer and he asked her a simple question regarding Herman Cain sexual harassment allegations and she wouldn't answer the question.   The really sad thing was not her dodging the question because we all have seen politicians do this.  However there was no style or grace to Bachmann as she claimed no t to have any comment because she didn't have any inside information on the case.

?????  WTF!

I guess she didn't have video tape of the alleged incident.  In any case Lauer tried to get her to at least address the question to which Bachmann refused and went on her rant about taxes.

This isn't the first time I have seen this.  A few weeks ago in Washington DC I saw Bachmann on CNN one Sunday morning and the hot topic was Mitt Romney and his being a Mormon.  Bachmann was asked about her views and about the accusations of Romney not being a Christian. Bachmann might as well been asked about life on Mars.  She ducked and dodged the question and said that the voters were not interested in the religious aspect of this.  They were all asking her about taxes and Obama Care.

Now, on one hand I commend her for not getting into the mud slinging and gossip.  However, answer the damn question.  Had she simply said in the Cain situation that sexual harassment in general is bad but I don't have enough facts to make a good statement or that she would rather not comment until all the facts are out then I would respect her.  Instead Bachmann was on camera looking like a Barbi doll's deranged step mother and answering questions not asked of .  She basically babbled and made herself look like a nitwit.

Thankfully she only has 8% of the vote so far in Iowa.  Good chance she won't be my president this year.  Article below..

courtesy HuffingtonPost.com

Michele Bachmann On Herman Cain Sexual Harassment Allegations:
'I Don't Have Any Comment'

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) repeatedly dodged questions in a Friday interview on NBC's "Today Show" when asked about sexual harassment allegations surrounding fellow Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain.

"Well, I don't have any comment on this particular issue. I don't have any inside information," she said when asked about her perspective, especially as the only woman in the Republican primary. She repeated her comments alluding to the Cain story from earlier this week, saying there would not be "any surprises" with her. She repeated twice more that she had no comment on the issue when pressed by NBC's Matt Lauer.

Two women received financial payouts of $45,000 and $35,000, respectively, in the 1990s over allegations that Herman Cain sexually harassed them. A third woman told the Associate Press that Cain behaved inappropriately toward her and she considered filing a workplace complaint. Since the allegations broke on Sunday, Cain has shifted his story on what he knew about the payments. He has, however, maintained that he has never sexually harassed anyone.

While Bachmann declined to talk about the allegations, she did take a shot at Herman Cain's 9-9-9 tax plan. "Taxes are extremely complicated. They can't be reduced just to a sound bite," she said. She added that she wanted all Americans to pay federal income tax, "even if it's only $10."

Bachmann rolled out her tax plan Thursday in Iowa. She declined to offer a flat tax

rant: In defense of Stop and Frisk part 2

The following is from The Gothamist.  I was following the Tayshana Murphy murder from time to time since it happened in September.  It was one of those senseless murders that happened during a time when there were a lot of senseless shootings.
There isn't a lot you can say regarding this murder.  It was senseless and hopefully the cops got the right guys and they spend the rest of their lives in prison.  Miss. Murphy had a bright future ahead of her and did not deserve to be shot.  This case though makes me think again about the Stop and Frisk Program people are desperately fighting to abolish.
I am probably the only Black male in favor of Stop and Frisk.  It basically gives the NYPD the green light to stop young Black and Hispanic males under a blanket excuse of suspicious activity.  Unfortunately because there are racist police officers out there this is a possibility.  But, if Stop and Frisk was legal would Tayshana Murphy still be alive?  You have to wonder.
According to a report I put out in a previous blog young Black males between the ages of 18-24 are accused of committing most of the murders in New York.  Black males between 25-33 make up the next highest figure.  Latino males are not too far behind in the statistics for the same ages.  Now of course the majority of young Blacks and Latino male don't commit murder, but there is a scary significant amount that do. Black leadership is calling for an end to the violence and having vigils and marches and the perpetrators are sitting back laughing, probably while attending one of the protests.   Add to the problem the "no snitch" policy our people have I doubt if we will ever see an end to the violence.  The only way to end the madness is through the police.  Let them stop kids under a particular age and ask questions and unfortunately if they don't have identification they have to get into the system.  Only with the threat of being stopped by the cops will all these mindless shootings end.

courtesy Gothamist.com

http://gothamist.com/2011/10/18/accused_killers_of_high_school_bask.php

Accused Killers Of H.S. Basketball Star Tayshana Murphy Plead Not Guilty

Two men accused of murdering high school basketball star Tayshana “Chicken” Murphy in her Harlem apartment building last month pleaded not guilty today in an emotionally-charged courtroom. During the proceedings, prosecutors recommended a sentence of 22 years to life for Tyshawn Brockington, 21, and Robert Cartagena, 20, who allegedly shot Murphy as she pleaded for her life on September 11th. And after hearing prosecutors recommend the sentence, an incredulous friend of the two young men shouted out in the courtroom, "What?" This prompted retorts from Murphy's loved ones, one of whom fired back, "That's right," the Daily News reports.

"Folks in the audience, a case of this nature involves high levels of emotions," Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Thomas Farber warned those in the gallery, according to DNAinfo. "It is important to me for both sides of this fence so to speak to remain quiet and maintain the dignity of the court." A dozen extra court officers were reportedly called in to maintain security in the courtroom, and after it was over, Murphy's family was escorted out first to avoid a confrontation with Brockington and Cartagena's supporters.

The two men were arrested in South Carolina ten days after Murphy's murder, which investigators believe had to do with an ongoing feud between residents of the Manhattanville Houses and those living in the nearby Grant Houses. Murphy's cousin says that one of Murphy's brothers, Bam-Bam, was involved in the long-running dispute with his sister's assailants. "They shot her because that was her brother," he told the Daily News. "It was no mistake. They knew." An alleged gun runner, Terique Collins, 24, is also being held on $100,000 bail; he's accused of providing the gun.

Murphy was being recruited by a number of colleges, and was determined to use her talents on the basketball court to get her mother out of the projects. "We're holding it together to let the kids know you've got to stop reacting," her former coach, Chez Williams, told DNAinfo, adding he hopes her death will end "some of the nonsense that goes on."

(Robert Cartagena, 20, and Tyshawn Brockington, 21)

RANT: IN DEFENSE OF STOP AND FRISK

Let's look at the statistics supporting an END to New York's Stop and Frisk program: 

1)  According to the New York Civil Liberties Union, in 2006 the New York City Police Department stopped, questioned and/or frisked over 508,540 people.  This was an increase from 97, 296 four years prior in 2002.  Ten percent of the stops led to summonses or arrests.

2)  Of the 508,540 stopped, 55% were Black and 30% were Latino.  Eleven percent of those stopped were white.

3)  According to the NYCLU study Brownsville's 73rd Precinct and the 28th Precinct in Harlem had a 30-36 percent chance of being stopped and questioned by the police in 2006.

4)  In 2006, 21.5 Blacks were stopped for each arrest of a Black person compared to 18.2 whites stopped for each white arrest.

5)  Cops found guns, drugs and stolen property on whites about twice as often as they did on Black suspects.  Whites were also stopped on suspicion of possessing a weapon at a rate lower than their weapon possession arrest rate.  Blacks were stopped on suspicion of possessing a weapon at a rate greater than their weapon possession arrest rate.  These findings indicate that cops were more unjustified in stopping Black people on suspicion of having weapons.

According to epic.org in February  2010 the NYPD released data on stop and frisks for 2009.  In 2009, 575,304 stop, question and frisk reports were made, which were an increase of 8% from 2008.  Fifty-seven percent of the stops resulted in pat downs or frisks and 9 percent in searches.  Six percent of the stops resulted in arrests.

With statistics like that and knowing, if not on paper but in your heart that there are a lot of racist police officers who are looking to arrest a Black or Latino it is no wonder why there is distrust in the Black community when it comes to the police department.

Recently in my Black Studies class on Civil  Rights a representative spoke regarding joining a group trying to abolish the stop and search program in New York, and they presented similar details to what I just gave.  Trust me there are more stats to support ending this practice and originally I was one of the supporters for it. 

So what changed?

A recent New York Times report helped change my mind.  An interesting study http://projects.nytimes.com/crime/homicides/map  found that there were 4161 homicides in New york City between 2003-2011.  Of those 4161 killings 329 occurred in 2010 and 209 so far this year.

The murder of an elderly man in Bed-Stuy helped to change my mind.  Last month a 79 year old man named Andy Burke was shot to death outside a barber shop at 5:30 in the afternoon.  The shooting was caught on Surveillance video and showed two men chasing after another guy.  Mr. Burke was caught in the crossfire and took a bullet to the neck.

While researching that story the police just arrested suspects in the shooting death of Zurana Horton.  As Ms. Horton was the mother of 13 who was gunned down last week.  She was the unintended target of rival gangs and died after being shot in the chest.  An 11-year-old girl was injured.   Zurana Horton, 34, was picking up a child from P.S. 298 in Brownsville, at

Pitkin Avenue

and

Watkins Street. 

The Labor Day shootings where 67 people were shot, including two police officers and a 56 year old bystander who died from her wounds also made me change my mind.

None of the suspects in any of the crimes were reported to be white.

I am a Black male and though I have never been stopped by the police I know full well of the consequence of being a Black male in this city.  However, I am becoming of a particular age where I am painfully aware of what my own people, particularly the young, can do.  Would "stop and frisk" have saved any of the people who were killed or were even just shot?  Granted with the amount of times the NYPD gets it wrong it is doubtful, but you have to wonder if stop and frisk could make a difference.  Yes, there is the argument for civil rights of young Black and Latinos, mostly male, but what about the rights of the potential victims?  Recent history has shown police error but it also has shown senseless deaths.

There is a little selfishness with this.  As a 46 year old I am less likely to be stopped by the cops than let's say, a 20 year old.  Sadly, according to the NY Times homicide study, most of the homicides from 2003 to 2011 were committed by Black males between 18-24 years of age.  Most of the people in the cases I mentioned were around that age bracket.

The old school argument use to be to protect our youth  from the cops.  And while history shows a disproportionate amount of violence against Blacks and Latinos by the police, who is the greater enemy?  Would more people benefit from the police being more aggressive rather than having rallies to promote non-violence from a group that obviously could care less about it?

WTF News courtesy of NY Daily News

Mom of woman who died shielding kids from bullets IDs daughter's body, struck with grief

BY Matthew Lysiak, Sarah Armaghan and Rich Schapiro
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

Originally Published:Sunday, October 23rd 2011, 4:00 AM
Updated: Sunday, October 23rd 2011, 1:05 PM

Debbie Egan-Chin/News

Denise Peace grieves for her slain daughter Zurana, who was shot to death on Friday.

Zurana Horton

Related News

• $15,000 reward for rooftop gunman

The anguished mother of the Brooklyn woman killed by a stray bullet while protecting several kids made a teary trip to the morgue Saturday to see her daughter's lifeless body.
"That's my baby! My baby is gone!" Denise Peace wailed before leaving her courageous daughter's apartment.
"I can't believe it. I can't believe it."
Zurana Horton, 34, was hailed as a hero Friday after she was shot in the chest while shielding a group of children from bullets fired from a Brownsville rooftop.
Also wounded were 11-year-old Cheanne McKnight, who suffered a grazed right cheek, and Unique Armstead, 31, a Brooklyn mother who was shot in the left arm after picking up her son from Public School 298.
Cops were still hunting for the gunman and a second suspect. The shooting is believed to be gang-related.
By the afternoon, a makeshift memorial honoring Horton had formed at the scene outside Lucky Supermarket on Watkins St., consisting of 14 candles, three stuffed animals and a few cards with handwritten notes inside.
"From a mother to a mother, thank you," one of them read.

A teary O'Niel Vaughn, ex-boyfriend of Zurana Horton and father of eight of her children. (Debbie Egan-Chin/News)
Horton's loved ones said the devoted mother of 13 lived for her children. They ranged in age from 1 to 18.
"She gave her life for those kids, and she would have done it all again because that's just the kind of person she was," said Horton's ex-boyfriend, O'Niel Vaughn, 43, the father of eight of the children, three of whom are disabled.
Vaughn said his children's mother had long talked about moving her family out of the crime-infested neighborhood. She had 14 kids, but lost one to pneumonia three years ago.
"She was worried about the violence," Vaughn said. "She said she wanted to move and buy a house for her kids. Those kids were her life."
Many of Horton's kids still didn't know late yesterday that their mother was dead, Vaughn said.
"I didn't tell the younger kids yet," said Vaughn, who lives with the three disabled kids, while the rest lived with Horton. "The older ones know. They're devastated."
The city medical examiner struck down early reports saying Horton was pregnant when she was killed.
Outside another shrine, set up in front of Horton's home, her pal Wanda Mack recalled how much her friend had doted over her children.
"Every hour on the hour, she came out of her apartment to check on the kids," Mack said.
Horton's cousin Denessa Temple paid tribute to the slain mother, saying she had made the ultimate sacrifice.
"She lived a hero dedicating herself to her children, and she died a hero giving her life to protect children," said Temple, 35. "She was afraid of gun violence. We all are."
Reached at her home last night, Armstead said she was in good spirits and asked for privacy.
"I just want to let everyone know that I'm okay, and I thank everyone for the well wishes," said Armstead, who had a white bandage wrapped around her left arm.
Anyone with information on the shooting should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. There's a $12,000 reward for tips leading to the gunman's arrest.
With Bob Kappstatterand Alex Christodoulides

information on food programs in the Bronx (not verified)

Bronx Meal Programs

Bread of Life Mission, 2176 Grand Concourse, 347-723-0280. Monday, Wednesday and Friday Dinner 5-6:30 p.m.

Come World Ministries, 1034 Prospect Avenue, 718-617-3744, Saturday lunch 12- 2 p.m.

Creston Avenue Baptist Church, 114 East 188th Street, 718-367-1754, Saturday lunch 12-2 p.m.

East 233rd Street Senior Center, 732 East 233rd Street, 718-652-2573, Monday, Wednesday, Friday breakfast: 9:30-10:45 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday lunch: 12-1:30 p.m.

Eastchester Presbyterian Church, 3154 Fish Avenue, 718-320-9568/718-798-9177, Thursday dinner 5-6 p.m.

Give Them To Eat, 800 East 156th Street, 718-993-8961, Satur­day children’s breakfast 8:30-9:30 a.m., Monday-Wednesday elderly lunch 1-4 p.m.

Grace Episcopal Church, 1909 Vyse Avenue, 718-542-1946, Tuesday and Saturday lunch 12-1 p.m.

Grand Concourse SDA Church, 1275 Grand Concourse, 718-681-2232, Tuesday lunch 12-2 p.m.

Greater Universal Baptist Church, 253 East 153rd Street, 718-292-8640/718-585-6998, Wednesday and Friday lunch 12:30-2 p.m.

Holy Tabernacle Church Inc., 3780 Third Avenue, 718-379-1484, Tuesday dinner 4-5:30 p.m. Free computer class Tues­day 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday 5-6:30 p.m. followed by meal.

Immaculate Conception Church, 754 East Gun Hill Road, 718-653-2200, Monday-Friday lunch 1-2 p.m.

Loyal Baptist Church, 881 East 167th Street, 718-409-3160, Thursday lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Montefiore Women’s Center, 3320 Rochambeau Avenue, 718-920-4901, Monday-Friday breakfast 9-11 a.m., Monday-Friday lunch 12-2 p.m.

Part of the Solution, 2763 Webster Avenue, 718-220-4892, Daily lunch 12-3 p.m., Monday-Friday dinner 4-5 p.m.

Salvation Army Bronx Citadel, 425 East 159th Street, 718-665-8473, Monday, Wednesday, Friday lunch 2:15-3 p.m.

Shiloh Temple Pentecostal Church, 719 East 223rd Street, 718-653-6419, Tuesday-Thursday lunch: 12-1 p.m.

Bronx Meal Programs cont’d.

St. Ann’s Church of Morrisania, 295 St. Ann’s Avenue, 718-585-5632, Sunday lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction, 310 Walton Avenue Ste. #201, 718-585-5544 x13, Tuesday-Friday lunch 1-3 p.m.

St. Anthony’s Soup Kitchen, 1496 Commonwealth Avenue, 718-931-4040, Saturday lunch 11 a.m.-12 noon.

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1343 Fulton Avenue, 646-359-6734, Saturday dinner 5-6 p.m.

St. Margaret’s Food Pantry, 940 East 156th Street, 718-589-4430, Sunday breakfast 8-10 a.m., Wednesday dinner 5-7 p.m.

St. Peter’s Church in the Bronx, 427 East 140th Street, 718-402-5510, Saturday lunch 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

United Bronx Parents, 966 Prospect Avenue, 718-991-7100, Daily dinner 3-4 p.m. Tickets distributed at 1:30 p.m.

We Care Community Outreach, 1624 East 172nd Street, 917-447-9506, Monday-Wednesday lunch 12-2 p.m.

Bronx Pantries

Abraham House, Inc., 342 Willis Avenue ,646-431-7337, Sat­urday 6:30-7 a.m. Need ID and proof of head of household.

Abrigo Del Altisimo, 2009 Monterey Avenue, 718-299-5796, Tuesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Picture ID required.

Abundant Life Tabernacle Inc., 2692 3rd Avenue , 718-292-8734. Tuesday-Thursday 12-2 p.m. Call 10:30 a.m. Need picture ID.

Benedict Avenue Community Food Pantry, 2044 Benedict Avenue, 718-518-1460, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8-11 a.m.

Bethel Prayer Ministries, 4262 Third Avenue, 718-329-3189, Monday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Bethel Second Christian Church, 459 Thieriot Avenue, 718-893-3271, Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Black Forum of Co-op City, Inc., 177 Dreiser Loop Room# 20, 718-320-8035, Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Bread of Life Mission, 2176 Grand Concourse, 347-723-0280, Monday, Wednesday and Friday 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Bright Temple A.M.E. Church, 812 Faile Street, 914-329-4890, Every other Thursday, 12 noon until finished. Will also provide on an emergency basis. Call ahead. Bring ID.

Bronx Bible Church, 1326 Morrison Avenue, 212-222-0901, Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Bronx Full Gospel Tabernacle, Inc., 4221 Park Avenue, 718-731-6444, Saturday 8-11 a.m.

Bronx Pentecostal Deliverance Church, 1755 Watson Avenue, 718-822-6929, Tuesday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Community Food Pantry at Highbridge, 1272 Ogden Avenue, 718-960-2262, Tuesday and Thursday: 9–11 a.m., Wednesday: 4–6 p.m.

Bronx Pantries cont’d.

Bronx SDA Church, 1695 Washington Avenue, 718-378-4262, Thursday 4-7 p.m.

CAB-Morris Senior Center, 80 East 181st Street, 718-933-5300, Two Fridays a month, first Friday for the seniors, the other Friday is for the community. Call ahead. 1:30-2 p.m.

Cardinal McCloskey, 953 Southern Blvd 3rd Floor, 718-542-0255, Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m.-12 p.m. First 30 people.

Casa De Esperanza, 717 Southern Blvd, 646-224-9310, Monday-Friday 9-10 a.m.

Christ Apostolic Church WOSEM, 1274 Bronx River Avenue, 516-330-1146. Wednesday 7-9 p.m.

Christ Jesus Baptist Church, 870 Bronx Park South, 718-329-1322, Wednesday 12-3 p.m.

Christ The King Church, 141 Marcy Place, 718-538-5546, Saturday 10 a.m.

Church of St. Frances of Rome, 4307 Barnes Avenue, 718-324-5361, Registration on Wednesday required for Friday pick up 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

City of Faith Church of God, 3453 White Plains Road, 718-798-3052, Tuesday 2-5 p.m.

City of Light Christian Center, 105 Rockwood Street, 917-957-4960, Monday 2-4 p.m.

Come World Ministries, 1034 Prospect Avenue, 718-617-3744, Wednesday 9-11 a.m.

Comprehensive Family, 1525 Blondell Avenue, 718-405-8530, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.,

Congregation Yeshiva Telshe Al, 4904 Independence Avenue, 718-601-1681, Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Creston Avenue Baptist Church, 114 East 188th Street, 718-367-1754, Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1-3 p.m. Bring Photo ID, proof of address.

Davidson Community Center, 2038 Davidson Avenue, 718-731-6360, Wednesday-Friday 10 a.m.-12 noon

Deeper Life Charities Inc., 213 East 144th Street, 646-710-0207, Saturday 8-11 a.m. Photo ID preferred.

Door of Salvation Ministries, 460 East 134th Street, 718-993-5532, Wednesday and Saturday 12-2 p.m.

El Amanecer De La Esperanza, 1769 East 172nd Street, 718-829-4516, Friday 9 a.m.- 12 noon

Emanuel Pentecostal Faith Church, 1310 Elder Avenue, 718-842-4092, Wednesday 12-2 p.m.

Evangelical Garifuna Church, 344 Brook Avenue, 718-585-6818, Wednesday 9-11 a.m.,

Evangelistic Outreach, Inc., 755 Home Street, 646-327-6254, Saturday 8-9:30 a.m.

Family Worship Center Church of God of Prophecy, 701 E. 212th Street, 914-633-2603, Wednesday 12-1 p.m.

Garden of Prayer, 1874 Washington Avenue, 718-294-3401, Daily 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Gethsemane Baptist Church, 771 Fairmount Place, 718-409-2621, Thursday 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Give Them To Eat, 800 East 156th Street, 718-993-8961, Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ID preferred.

Bronx Pantries cont’d.

Grace Episcopal Church, 1909 Vyse Avenue, 718-542-1946, Tuesday 12-2 p.m. Bring picture I.D.

Grand Concourse SDA Church, 1275 Grand Concourse, 718-681-2232, Tuesday 2:15-4 p.m. Call in the morning for 12:30 to 3 p.m. pickup. Call in case of food emergency.

HANDS Community Center, 330 East 138th Street, 718-402-7866, Wednesday 4-5 p.m. Open weekly, but can only be used monthly. ID per family member required.

Heavenly Vision Christian Center, 2868 Jerome Avenue, 718-220-8124, Tuesday 9-11 a.m.

Holy Cross Church, 600 Soundview Avenue, 718-893-5550, Thursday 9 a.m.-12 noon

Holy Tabernacle Church, 3780 Third Avenue, 718-379-1484, Tuesday 4-5:30 p.m. Bring ID and referral on first visit.

Hope Line, 421 East 155th Street, 718-402-1212, Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m.-12 noon

Housing Options & Geriatric Association Resources, 732 East 152 Street, 718-292-6710, daily 9 a.m.-12 noon

Iglesia Arca De Salvaccion Acym, 1983 Jerome Avenue, 718-294-4237, Saturday 12-4 p.m.

Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal, 3801 Dyre Avenue, 718-653-5085, Daily 12-2:30 p.m. First and fourth week of the month.

Immaculate Conception Church, 754 East Gun Hill Road, 718-653-2200, Every third Saturday. ID required. Call ahead.

Jewish Comm. Council of Pelham Parkway, 2157 Holland Avenue, 718-792-4744, Pantry: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Photo ID preferred; ID for all household members required.

Living Faith International, Inc, 4551 White Plains Road, 347-275-4905, Saturday 10 a.m.-12 noon

Los Redimidos Por La Sangre De Jesus, 609 East 182nd Street, 718-563-7585, Wednesday 1-3 p.m.

Love Gospel Assembly, 2315 Grand Concourse, 718-295-6366, Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Arrive by 9:30 am. First 75 in line are served. Need Photo ID and IDs for children if more than two. Each client may visit once a month.

Missionary Church of Christ, 937 Teller Avenue, 718-588-4545, Wednesday 9-11 a.m.

Montefiore Women’s Center, 3320 Rochambeau Avenue, 718-920-4901, Pantry: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Mosaic Beacon Alianza Dominican, 1257 Ogden Avenue, 718-590-0101, Pantry: Every other Tuesday and Thursday: 4-6 p.m.

Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, 1682 Morris Avenue, 718-294-8580, Every other Thursday: 1-3 p.m.

New Covenant Faith and Miracle Arena, 1175 Boston Road, 718-328-6072, Thursday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

New Pilgrim Community Baptist Church, 490 East 165th Street, 347-835-9803, Wednesday 1:30-3:30 p.