NYC Heat Requirements For Dwellings

According to The City of New York's Department of Housing Preservation & Development, the annual heat requirements between October 1st and May 31st, are as follows: Between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, if it is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside must be 68 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, if it is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside must be 55 degrees Fahrenheit or above.

There are no heating requirements for June 1st through September 30th, no matter what the temperature is outside.

Also, the hot water requirements for all dwellings that are 3 or more stories high and were built after April 18,1929; and, all dwellings that were built after January 1, 1951 is as follows: There must be a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. For all other multiple and private dwellings that aren't included in the description above, the hot water must be at a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit between the hours of 6:00 AM and Midnight, on a daily basis.

If you are not being properly provided with heat or hot water, call 3-1-1.

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

Black's Law Dictionary defines, "Contraband" as: "In general, any property which is unlawful to produce or possess. Goods exported from or imported into a country against its laws. Articles, the importation or exportation of which is prohibited by law. Smuggled goods."

Quote Of The Day

"The greatest gift is not being afraid to question." -Ruby Dee

Sunday's Op-Ed: The Importance Of History

When people don't know the truth, they aren't prepared. It is easy to be blind-sided and manipulated when you are ignorant of the facts of a situation.

It is no coincidence that masses of people are constantly keep in the dark when it comes to their history. Without historical knowledge, people are rendered powerless to create long-term change in a pointed and purposeful way.

If we examine the modus operandi of colonists, one of the first things that they do after implementing colonial rule is to forge the history of the people they have conquered. For example, history has painted Native Americans as "weak" and "gullible" for not defending their land. However, what history has failed to proclaim is that the spiritual beliefs and good-natured ethos of the Native Americans made them adverse to participating in any type of war. The Pilgrims' belief system allowed them to violently ravage a peaceful and generous people- despite those very people welcoming them, and helping them to survive in a new land. Therefore, one must ask oneself, why Native Americans are the ones branded with the label of "savage" in the annals of history. A forged history clearly plays on perception, and can make killers seem like heroes, and victims look like imbecilic non-entities.

In these times when everyone is talking about "change," the importance of having a strong historical perspective is further highlighted. Change, in a beneficial direction, can not be directed and navigated without a real knowledge of history. Novelist, John O. Killens, stated that: "A people must face its history squarely, in order to transcend it." This is true; for we can only recognize the pattern of history repeating itself, if we know what to look for. If we can honestly analyze and recognize the direction that we are going in, we can determine what the repercussions of our movements will be based on our knowledge of what those repercussions and cycles have been in the past. This gives us the priceless benefit of learning from the actions of others.

We must seek to know the truth of our history. We should not do so in order to dwell on the past, or be distracted by it. We should do so in order to honor our history, and evoke change that will do justice for ourselves and our ancestors.

[SIDEBAR: This is the first installment of a new blog feature- my weekly opinion-editorial piece, that will appear on Sundays.]

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

According to "The Criminal Law Handbook," the difference between a search and a frisk is that "a search is more extensive. An officer conducting a full search can probe extensively for any type of contraband or evidence. A frisk allows officers only to conduct a cursory pat-down and to seize weapons, such as guns and knives or objects that the officer can tell from a plain feel are contraband."

Quote Of The Day

"For those of you who are tired of hearing about racism, imagine how much more tired WE are of constantly experiencing it." -Barbara Smith

The Legal Eagles Legal Brief: The Case Of Being Read Your Rights

Miranda v. Arizona, is the landmark 1966 case that determined "that information obtained by police officers through the questioning of a suspect in police custody may be admitted as evidence at trial only if the questioning was preceded by certain cautions known collectively as a 'Miranda warning.' Accordingly, police officers usually begin their questioning of a person in custody by first making the following statement: 'You have the right to remain silent. If you do say anything, what you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult with a lawyer and have that lawyer present during any questioning. If you can not afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you if you so desire. If you choose to talk to the police officer, you have the right to stop the interview at any time.'" -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"People reasonably expect their telephone conversations to be private whether made from home or a public telephone booth. Police need a search warrant before recording or listening in to telephone conversations. Federal laws enacted in 1996 extend the general privacy to electronic devices like cell phones and e-mail.

[However,] under the Patriot Act as reenacted in 2006, the National Security Administration claims the power to listen in to private conversations that may involve domestic terrorism. Any phone call placed to or received from a non-U.S. exchange is currently subject to a warrantless search. How widespread the domestic surveillance is, and the legality of such surveillance, is a subject of furious debate." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Quote Of The Day

"Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely." -Karen Kaiser Clark

Book Excerpt Of The Week: "Lockdown America" By: Christian Parenti

"The crisis of the seventies was finally dealt with in 1979 when Carter appointed Paul Volcker as Chairman of the Federal Reserve; it was the opening salvo of a 'new class war.' Late in 1979 Volcker dramatically tightened the money supply by boosting interest rates, thus cutting borrowing power and buying power, and diminishing economic activity in general. This monetarist squeeze accelerated when Regan took office, until interest rates, which had been 7.9 percent in 1979, reached 16.4 percent in 1981. As a direct result, the U.S. economy plunged into its most severe recession since the Great Depression.

In the eyes of Paul Volcker this was a good thing. For the economic stagnation and low profits of the seventies to be vanquished the American people would have to learn how to work harder for less; Regan's plan was to cut taxes on the rich, gut welfare, and attack labor. As Volcker told the New York Times: 'The standard of living of the average American has to decline...I don't think you can escape that.'

In 1981, as the recession was reaching new depths and many in Congress were calling for relief, Volcker again explained the utility of his artificial economic disaster: 'in an economy like ours with wages and salaries accounting for two-thirds of all costs, sustaining progress [in price reduction] will need to be reflected in moderation o growth of nominal wages. The general indexes of worker compensation still show relatively little improvement, and prices of many services with high labor content continue to show high rates of increase.' The chairman's goal was labor discipline. The recession- though hard on many businesses, particularly small firms- had not yet achieved its purpose: wages were still rising.

Not until the behemoth First Illinois Bank collapsed under the weight of its bad loans and Mexico seriously threatened a default on its $90 billion foreign debt did Volcker relent and open the Fed's spigots, easing interest rates and making credit available throughout the economy, thus stimulating economic activity.

But according to Harrison and Bluestone, 'The deep recession did what it was designed to. With more than ten million people unemployed in 1982 it was impossible for organized labor to maintain wage standards let alone raise them. Reductions in wages rippled from one industry to the next and from the center of the country outward. The real average weekly wage fell more than 8 percent between 1979 and 1982, and failed to recover at all in the next five years. Essentially, with wage growth arrested by unemployment, what growth occurred during the Reagan period rebounded mostly to the profits side of the capital-labor ledger.'" -From, "Lockdown America" By: Christian Parenti

[SIDEBAR: Draw any parallels??? Do you see why I wrote in a previous post that, "We are NOT in a recession?"]

TODAY IS...

PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.

The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.

As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.

The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.

The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”

BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:

Option #1: Spend $0 on Friday
Option #2: Spend no more than $10 on Friday
Option #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday
[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].

To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.

ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.

I thank you in advance for your effort and dedication.

-Elsie Law AKA Starface

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"QUESTION: Doesn't a police officer always have to read me my "Miranda rights" before questioning me?"

ANSWER: No. A "Miranda warning" is required only if a suspect is in custody and the police intend to interrogate the suspect. In other words, both "custody" and "interrogation" have to occur for Miranda rights to kick in. A statement by a person who is not in custody, or a statement made voluntarily rather than in response to police interrogation, is admissible in evidence at trial even though no Miranda warning was given." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Quote Of The Day

"I will never say that progress is being made. If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there's no progress. You pull it all the way out, that's not progress. The progress is healing the wound that's below." -Malcolm X

The Eerie Connection Between Gandhi & Martin Luther King Jr.

In addition to having the similar philosophies regarding social change, there are other similarities between Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. For example, they were both assassinated. Also, eerily, on the same day that Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi, Martin Luther King's life, and the life of his family, was also endangered.

In his book, "Let The Trumpet Sound," Stephen Oates, states: "On the night of January 30, the date Gandhi was assassinated, [Martin Luther] King was speaking at a mass meeting, when he received dreadful news. His house had been bombed. He sped home in a strange calm... [A] bomb had exploded on [his] porch, breaking it in two and showering the living room with broken glass."

New York Passes The Safe Harbor For Exploited Youth Act

New York Governor David Paterson recently signed The Safe Harbor For Exploited Youth Act into law. The Governor's website describes the act as one that, "requires local [New York] districts to provide crisis intervention services and community based programming for exploited youth. Currently, individuals under the age of 18 who are arrested for prostitution or other illegal activities of a sexual nature enter the criminal justice system with the legal presumption that they are juvenile delinquents. This bill would decriminalize child prostitution, recognizing these children as victims, not criminals, and provide them with necessary social services."

David Paterson made the following statement, regarding why he thinks this law is so important: “As a society we must do everything in our power to prevent sexual exploitation, but when it does occur we must be prepared to assist our youth with appropriate outreach services. For too long we have been disciplining young children who are the victims of brutal sexual exploitation instead of providing them with the necessary services to reintegrate them into society and ensure they receive adequate crisis intervention. This law establishes a Safe Harbor Act which will ensure that sexually exploited youth receive counseling and emergency services as well as long term housing solutions.”

Anecdote Of The Week: Are You Aware That The Universal Law Of Karma Is Always In Effect?

"A lion was awakened from sleep by a mouse running across his face. With a terrible roar, the lion seized the mouse with his paw and was about to kill him.

'Oh please,' the mouse begged. 'Spare my life! I will be sure to repay your kindness.'

The King of Beasts was so amused at the thought of a mouse being able to help him that he let the frightened creature go.

Shortly afterward the lion fell into a trap set by some hunters and was hopelessly caught in a net of strong ropes. In his misery the lion roared so loudly that all the beasts in the forest heard him.

The mouse recognized the roar of his former captor and ran th the place where the lion lay trapped. At once the mouse began to gnaw the ropes with his teeth. He gnawed rope after rope until at last the lion was free.

'Thank you,' said the grateful lion.'" -From ,"Aesop's Fables"

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"An arrest warrant is an official document, signed by a judge (or magistrate), authorizing a police officer to arrest the person or persons named in the warrant. Warrants typically identify the crime for which an arrest has been authorized, and may restrict the manner in which an arrest be made.

Finally, some warrants also specify the bail that a defendant must post to regain freedom following arrest. If the warrant is for a previous failure of the suspect to appear in court- called a bench warrant- it will probably specify that the arrested person may not be released at all (sometimes termed a "no-bail warrant." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Quote Of The Day

"I want American history taught. Unless I'm in the book, you're not in it either. History is not a procession of illustrious people. It's about what happens to a people. Millions of anonymous people is what history is about." -James Baldwin

Check Out Britain's New ID Card

Britain has a new ID card that will be dispersed to foreign nationals, starting next month. The ID card usage will then be expanded and issued to anyone working in airports and high security positions, and anyone over the age of 16 who applies for a passport.

The new high-tech ID will contain a computer chip that reveals the identification subject's: Date of birth, fingerprints, and other very sensitive personal data.

Britain's officials say that the card will help national security. However, opponents are crying loss of liberty, and a gain of vulnerability. Britain's citizens have been consistently feeling the lost of their privacy. The UK is already flanked by an inordinate amount of public surveillance cameras.

Is this what we have to look forward to across the border?

On His Way Out Of Office, President George Bush Creates A New Position: "Copyright Czar"

On Monday, George Bush approved a law that will create a new cabinet-level position- that of "Copyright Czar."

The Copyright Czar's position will be comparable to copyrights, to what the drug czar is to the war on drugs. The Copyright Czar will be responsible for implementing a plan to stop piracy in America.

There is no word yet on who will be the first person to hold this position. However, the public should be ready to gear up for a "War On Bootlegs & Unauthorized Downloads."

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Pic Of The Week

Tomorrow is the 13th anniversary of The Million Man March.

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"Federal criminal prosecutions are handled by U.S. attorneys, who are appointed by and are ultimately responsible to the U.S. Attorney General. State prosecutors, many of whom are elected on a countywide basis, carry a variety of titles; common ones are district attorney, state's attorney, and city attorney." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook"

Quote Of The Day

"To spiritually regulate oneself is another form of the higher education that fits man for a nobler place in life." -Marcus Garvey

Then & Now: Modern Day African American Presidential Hopefuls

THEN...Remember when people thought that Colin Powell was the first and only chance for there to be an acknowledged African American President in America?
NOW...
[SIDEBAR: What ever happens in the upcoming election, keep your wits about you. Also, always remember that God & you are your own personal, best leadership option!

Video Of The Week

The credibly incredible Dr. Joy Leary gives an important analysis on the relationship of the police department and the Black community...
[SIDEBAR: I'm not even going to get in to the way I saw certain police officers act INSIDE of a community council meeting in Brooklyn last night. I'll save that for a later post.]

I also appreciate the way Dr. Leary addresses how the Black community can weld their power...and yes, we have that in droves! We just need to activate it, and focus it a little more efficiently- and we're good!
[SIDEBAR: BUY BLACK FRIDAYS!]

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

A judge has the right to exercise discretion when it comes to allowing television cameras, and news media to be present in the courtroom. The defendant can also have tv cameras and media barred from the courtroom, if the defendant can show that their coverage will violate his or her right to have a fair trial.

Quote Of The Day

"The problems that we face as a nation are indeed, at the root, spiritual." -Minister Louis Farrakhan

Instead Of Christopher Columbus Day, Shouldn't We Have An Atonement Day In Honor Of Native Americans

This is like the E True Hollywood Story of Christopher Columbus...

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

A negative covenant is "a provision in an employment agreement or a contract of sale of a business which prohibits the employee or seller from competing in the same area or market. Such restriction must be reasonable in scope and duration." -From, "Black's Law Dictionary"

Quote Of The Day

"It takes a deep commitment to change and an even deeper commitment to grow." -Ralph Ellison

Book Excerpt Of The Week: "Success Never Smelled So Sweet" By: Lisa Price

"Here's what my experience has taught me: When you take responsibility for your choices and always strive to do the right thing, little miracles take place in your life. They happen every day, so keep your eyes and heart open to them. Over time, they build on each other and create momentum in your world. If your short on resources, over your head financially, and/or feeling hopeless for whatever reasons, I encourage you to pray for guidance and never lose sight of your dreams. God can- and as I have learned, does- move mountains. The contribution our creator put you on this planet to make is between you and Him. Humans are not powerful enough to stand in your way; that is, unless you let them." -"Success Never Smelled So Sweet" By: Lisa Price

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

According to Black's Law Dictionary, The Voting Rights Act is a "federal act (1965) which suspended all literacy and character tests for voting rights in all states and counties where less than half the adult population were registered, and which provided for federal registration of voters where the Attorney General considered it necessary to enforce rights under the 15th amendment."

TODAY IS...

PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.

The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.

As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.

The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.

The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”

BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:

Option #1: Spend $0 on Friday
Option #2: Spend no more than $10 on Friday
Option #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday
[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].

To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.

ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.

I thank you in advance for your effort and dedication.

-Elsie Law AKA Starface

Quote Of The Day

"Jails and prisons are designed to break human beings, to convert our population into specimens in a zoo- obedient to our keepers, but dangerous to each other." -Angela Davis

Anecdote Of The Week: Do You Know When To Use Force, and When To Use Intellect- Or A Combination Thereof?

"A crow, who was almost dying of thirst, came upon a pitcher which had once been filled with water. But to his dismay, the crow found that the water was so low he could not reach it. He tried with all his might to knock the pitcher over, but it was too heavy.

Then he saw a pile of pebbles nearby. He took one pebble in his beak and dropped it into the pitcher. The water rose a tiny bit. Then he took another pebble and dropped that in. The water rose a tiny bit more. One by one he dropped in a hundred pebbles, the water at last rose to the top.

As the crow drank deeply of the cool water, he said to himself, 'Where force fails, patience will often succeed.'" -From, Aesop's Fables

Cops Gone Wild Part 19: The Shoot Up An ATM Edition

According to The Gothamist, a NYPD police sergeant was recently " suspended from the force and arrested on charges of of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and prohibited use of a weapon" after allegedly shooting up an ATM machine in a drunken rage. The sergeant reportedly fired at the machine after carousing several bars, and attending a retirement party with the police commissioner.

The main irony of this situation is that the sergeant received a greater punishment for shooting an inanimate object than most police officers get for killing, shooting, or otherwise attacking unarmed human beings.

Video Of The Week

R.I.P. to an extraordinarily influential and graceful person, who spread the message of the grit, enthusiasm, and joy of living life to the fullest.

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

For the most part, small claims court is used to settle cases that involve nominal monetary disputes. The allowable limit on the amount that is in dispute varies by state. However, it is usually within the $3,000 to $10,000 range. In New York, the maximum amount of monetary damages that can be disputed or awarded in small claims court is $5,000.

According to www.nolo.com, "Assuming the other party lives or does business in your state, rules normally require that you sue in the small claims court district closest to that person's residence or headquarters. In some instances, you also may be able to sue in the location (court district) where a contract was signed or a personal injury occurred (such as an auto accident). Check with your small claims clerk for detailed rules."

Quote Of The Day

"When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that it is still an evil." -Max Lerner

New York City Schools Are Over-Extended

The New York City public school system, which is reportedly the largest in the country, is busting at the seams with students. WNYC states that, "According to the mayor's management report, 20% of New York City elementary schools and 59% of high schools exceed capacity." Teachers are also complaining about the over-regulation class sizes. Some classes have an excess of thirty-something students per room. Having too many pupils in one room slows down the learning process, and decreases classroom manageability.

This is a situation that highlights the importance of how the city's budget is allocated. Instead of building more jails and courthouses, we need more schools.

Ironically, a swanky new courthouse has just been built in the downtown Brooklyn area. Meanwhile, the dilapidated, old Brooklyn family court building has been designated as a schoolhouse. What does that say about the city's priorities?

And The Nobel Prize Goes To...

Today a few Nobel Prizes were awarded.

Three scientists were given the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Japanese scientist, Osamu Shimomura, and American Scientists, Martin Chalfie and Roger Tsien, were honored for their discovery of GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein). GFP has helped to make scientific research much more precise. According to The Independent, the florescent protein- which is extracted from a jellyfish- is "a widely used laboratory tool that illuminates processes in living organisms; such as the development of brain cells, or the spread of cancer cells."

The Nobel Prize for medicine was also merited to three scientists. French scientists, Luc Montagnier and Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, were given the award for their discovery of the AIDS virus. German scientist, Harald zur Hausen, was given the award for his discovery of the virus that causes cervical cancer.

These are the first set of Nobel prizes to be awarded in 2008.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Pic Of The Week

The sophisticated woman pictured above is Jane Bolin, the first African American female judge.

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

Jane M. Bolin, a New York native, was the first African American female judge. She was also the first Black graduate of Williams College to practice law in Poughkeepsie, and the first Black woman to attend Yale Law School.

She was appointed to the bench in 1939, and served for ten years.

[Source: African American Registry.]

Quote Of The Day

"To laugh is to risk appearing a fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk disappointment. But risks must be taken, because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, sees nothing, has nothing, and is nothing. They cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, and live." -Author Unknown

With 2/3rds Of The City Council Reaching Their Term Limits By 2009, They Have A Motive To Support Bloomberg's New Term-Limit Expansion Bill

In August, I posted a blog entry stating that: In 2009, "The mayor, the comptroller, and the public advocate have all used up their turns at the dance...two thirds of the city council and four out of five borough presidents will also be ousted due to term limits." I also stated that, "With all of the mandatory changes on the horizon, now is as good a time as any for New Yorkers to start wielding their political power." However, the game has now changed.

After making repetitive bold-faced denials to the press concerning seeking an unprecedented third-term, Mayor Bloomberg has done an about face and has introduced a new legislative bill requesting to increase New York City politicians' term limits from two terms to three terms.

The modus operandi that Bloomberg has used to slip the bill to the city council has been very Machiavellian. His initial denials, ate up the time that dissenters of the bill could have had to organize and protest it. [SIDEBAR: How's that for democracy at work?] According to the New York Daily News, this bill could come to a vote in the city council in as early as two weeks. With 35 city council members soon to be ousted due to term limits, it is no mystery as to how many of them will vote. However, I implore the elected officials who have the power of the ballot on this issue to put the people first. Their first and last loyalties should be to the constituents that they serve.

After seeing eminent domain, and other economic and social perils, proliferate in the city during Bloomberg's terms as mayor, I am personally not looking forward to him serving a third term.

The mayor who serves the city for the upcoming term should be one who has the interest of the average New Yorker at heart. During these perilous times, the last thing we need is another politician at the helm who will bailout corporations with "the people's money," while "the people suffer."

Make sure your voice is heard by your city council representative!

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

In the U.S. Supreme Court, when you want the court to hear an appeal, you must petition for a writ of certiorari. Writ of Certiorari, is a latin term which means literally, "to be informed."

Quote Of The Day

"The only time you run out of chances is when you stop taking them." -Patti LaBelle.

Play Your Position: The Politics Edition- The City Council

According to the official New York City Council website, the role of the NYC city council is as follows:
"The New York City Council is the law-making body of the City of New York. It is comprised of 51 members from 51 different Council Districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council monitors the operation and performance of city agencies, makes land use decisions and has sole responsibility for approving the city's budget. It also legislates on a wide range of other subjects. The Council is an equal partner with the Mayor in the governing of New York City."

The Website also details, the role of the city council when it comes to the city budget, as follows: "The Council establishes priorities, allocates resources and sets the policy agenda for the year. It is the single most important municipal document that affects the lives of New Yorkers. While the mayor proposes the city's spending priorities for the upcoming year, the Council has final budget approval powers. During the budget process, the Council may change budget priorities and add special 'terms and conditions' requiring city agencies to report to the Council on how specific monies are being spent throughout the year."

The City Council also has a lot of power when it comes to land use. Http://council.nyc.gov states that: "Under the 1990 Charter revision, the Council acquired the power to review land use issues and approve zoning changes, housing and urban renewal plans, community development plans and the disposition of city-owned property. This power gives the Council the most significant voice in the growth and development of our city."

The City Council also has the obligation to regulate city agencies to make sure that they are running properly, following the rules, and adhering to the budget.

Also, importantly: "As the legislative body, the Council makes and passes the laws governing the city. The Council has passed landmark legislation on designated smoking areas in public places, campaign finance, anti-apartheid, solid-waste recycling and restrictions on assault weapons. Legislation pending in the Council is called an Introduction, often abbreviated to "Intro" or "Int", and is assigned a number. When an Introduction is signed by the Mayor it becomes a Local Law and is assigned a new number."

By the above stated descriptions of the City Council's responsibilities and powers, you can see how important it is for citizens to constantly have their voices in the ears of council members.

Here is how the city council operates as a committee (according to its website):
"Most of the Council's legislative work is done in committee. It is there that proposed legislation is initially debated and the members of other government branches and the public are given a chance to comment.
Each Council Member serves on at least three of the Council's standing committees, sub- and select committees and panels. The standing committees must meet at least once a month unless the Charter mandates otherwise. Committee assignments are made by the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Elections and voted on by the entire Council.
Most Council hearings are held in the Council Chambers or the adjoining Committee Room in City Hall [NYC City Hall Pictured Above]. Hearings are also held in the Hearing Room on the 16th Floor of 250 Broadway [FOR THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL- CHECK THE CITY HALL ADDRESS FOR YOUR CITY ON GOOGLE]. Meetings of the entire Council, referred to as Stated Meetings, are held twice a month at City Hall. A weekly schedule of Council hearings is available in the Council's Office of Communications in City Hall."

Contact Information For Your New York City Council Member

If you are a New York City resident, and you would like to have demand that your voice be heard by your councilperson, about the mayor having a third term- or any other issue, CLICK HERE to find out who your councilperson is, and how to contact them.

The Self-Serving Crusade Of Our Billionaire Mayor

After repeatedly denying that he would seek an unorthodox third-term as mayor, Michael Bloomberg has changed his tune.

The Billionaire New York Mayor is now aggressively on a crusade to secure four more years in office. To do this, the long-standing law of allowing a mayor only two-terms at the helm, will have to be amended.

When Bloomberg was first elected Mayor of New York, I hopefully predicted that he would be of great service to the city. After reading his rags-to-riches autobiography, I thought that the current mayor would be able to relate to the average New Yorker, and their aspirations. [SIDEBAR: This was before I was wise about the ways of the world, and the smoke & mirrors/puppet show that is politics.] However, in my opinion, his mayoralty has been weak, and detrimental to the working-class New Yorker.

I have more than a sneaky suspicion that Bloomberg, and his flushed with cash friends, have swooped down on the New York real estate market (among other New York markets) in stealth; making the city close to unlivable for average-waged workers.

Also, the mayor has been virtually mute on important going-ons in the city. He has rarely given more than evasive comments, if that, when various crises have occurred.

Currently, there seems to be a debate going on over whether or not New York City Council members, or New Yorkers (in a special spring-time vote) will decide whether or not the current mayor will have the privilege of having a third term. I feel like this type of decision should be in the hands of people, if it is to be entertained at all. However, a lot of indicators are pointing to the city's council members having the final say. Therefore, it is imperative that you voice your opinion concerning this matter with your council person, ASAP!

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

Calling itself, "A directory of official, state, county, and city government websites, www.statelocalgov.net, is a good internet source for researching various state and local laws.

Quote Of The Day

"That first peak is the best place to pause and look back, to see if you took the easiest route, to learn the lessons from the first climb. And it is the best place to examine the terrain ahead, to change your plans and goals, to take a deep breath and begin climbing again." -Michael Johnson

October Is Black History Month In The UK

Book Excerpt Of The Week: "Who Moved My Cheese?" By: Spencer Johnson

"He knew he had learned something useful about moving on from his mice friends, Sniff and Scurry. They kept life simple. They didn't over analyze or over complicate things. When the situation changed and the cheese had been moved, they changed and moved with the cheese.

He would remember that Haw had also used his wonderful brain to do what little people do better than mice. He envisioned himself- in realistic detail- finding something better- much better. He reflected on the mistakes he had made in the past and used then to plan for his future.

He knew that you could learn to deal with change: You could be more aware of the need to keep things simple, be flexible, and move quickly. You did not need to over complicate matters or confuse yourself with fearful beliefs. You could notice when the little changes began so that you would be better prepared for the big change that night be coming.

He knew he needed to adapt faster, for if you do not adapt in time, you might as well not adapt at all.

He had to admit that the biggest inhibitor to change lies within yourself, and that nothing gets better until you change.

Perhaps most importantly, he realized that there is always new cheese out there whether you recognize it at the time, or not. And that you are rewarded with it when you go past your fear and enjoy the adventure.

He knew some fear should be respected, as it can keep you out of real danger. But he realized most of his fears were irrational and had kept him from changing when he needed to.

He didn't like it at the time, but he knew that the change had turned our to be a blessing in disguise as it led him to find better cheese." -From, "Who Moved My Cheese?" By: Spencer Johnson

TODAY IS...

PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.

The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.

As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.

The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.

The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”

BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:

Option #1: Spend $0 on Friday
Option #2: Spend no more than $10 on Friday
Option #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday
[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].

To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.

ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.

I thank you in advance for your effort and dedication.

-Elsie Law AKA Starface

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

A bench trial is a trial without a jury. It is held before a judge.

Quote Of The Day

"Find the good, and praise it." -Betty Shabazz

Slavery After Emancipation: A Morning In The Life Of A Prisoner Of The Convict Leasing System

In his book, "Slavery By Another Name," Douglas A. Blackmon, describes what an early part of the day was like for Black men who were prisoners of the convict leasing system.

These men were basically kidnapped, and charged with crimes that they didn't commit. They were then shipped off to be free labor for corporations. Read the aforementioned description below:

"[They] spent every day but one in a vast labyrinth of black rock tunnels. shared only by dozens of mules and squadrons of desperate men, all slick with sweat and coated in pulverized coal. The absence of sunlight, vegetation, or any prospect for the touch of a not venal human hand had to tear at [their] soul.

Long before sunrise each morning, two White men swung open the doors from the entryway at the center of the wooden prison barrack and pushed into the rancid wooden cavern where two hundred Black men, chained to one another, lay wrapped in coarse blankets. Running the fifty-foot length of the room, a continual series of bunk beds dangling on pipes attached to the ceiling were piled with bodies. Where there was no space on a surface, men draped themselves in suspended contortions across canvas hammocks stretched between the bunks on either side of a marrow aisle down the center. A single potbellied stove, long gone cold, stood at the center of the room.

The sudden opening of the door ushered in a blast of crisp spring air, cutting with swift relief through the musty wet stink of the men, still sheathed in the black detritus of the mine waiting for them outside. As the guards moved toward the opposite end of the room, releasing the men's irons from chains looped through their beds and barking for reluctant prisoners to wake, the men responded in an awkward collective undulation. As each awakened and moved, a succession of pairs of legs and irons slid wearily toward the keys held in the hands of the guard, each time pulling the legs of the next man toward the guard as well, and then the next, all of them spilling gradually off the bunks in a long, groggy metallic jungle.

Once on their feet and refastened to their chains, the column of prisoners filed out through the front stoop, down the wooden steps and into a plain kitchen. Each man stuffed a biscuit and a cut of cold bacon into his mouth and shuffled out the door. At the point of shotguns, they tramped into the deep darkness, across the bare yard, past the pen of bloodhounds trained to track 'Negro scent,' past the barrel across which men were stretched naked almost nightly to be whipped with a leather strap, out the mammoth gate of the stockade, and up to the orifice where they would enter the earth." -From, "Slavery By Another Name" By: Douglas A. Blackmon

Anecdote Of The Week: Do You Forfeit Reality To Grasp At Illusions?

"A dog with a piece of meat in his mouth was crossing a bridge over a stream. Looking down, the dog saw his own shadow in the water. Thinking that the reflection was a bigger dog with a piece of meat twice the size of his own, the greedy dog meant to have that, too.

Snarling, he opened his mouth to attack the enemy. At that moment his own meat fell onto the stream and floated away.

Now the dog realized at last that what he had seen was nothing but a shadow. Sadly, he said to himself, 'Grasp at the shadow and lose the substance.'" -From, "Aesop's Fables"

Some Words Of Wisdom From One Of The Most Renowned Attorneys Of Our Time...

-"Silence doesn't frighten me. A believer knows that silence is not an absence, but a presence- a cloud out of which, since time immemorial, God has spoken to those who will listen." -Johnnie Cochran

-"I remember [my father] telling my sisters and me that 'good and evil can never, ever live peacefully together.' The apparent success of evil depends on the refusal of the forces of good to engage in battle to overcome evil with good." -Johnnie Cochran

-"In one of its most inspiring moral injunctions the Talmud tells us, 'If you save one life, it is as if you had saved the entire world.' The wisdom of that saying is, of course, its recognition of the generative potential inherent in each man and woman. When you save a single life, you protect for all humanity all that person will accomplish and all that his or her children may do for the world ahead. Conversely, when you snuff out a life, you also deny all humanity, for all time, all the good and constructive things that he- and all his descendants- might have accomplished." -Johnnie Cochran

The above quotes are from Johnnie Cochran's book, "Journey To Justice"

Today would have been Johnnie Cochran's 71st birthday.

The Times In Which We Live...

These are the times that require us to be smart in a whole other way. We must be smart, not necessarily in what we know, but in what we do.

This is the era of reaping. We will be accountable for what we do, and what we feed into. We must not allow ourselves to fall victim to illusions. We can not allow ourselves to bolster negativity that feeds off of our naivete or our conjured up emotions of panic.

Here's to peace and balance on earth.

Stay calm and positive.

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

Black's Law Dictionary defines, the "Consumer Credit Protection Act," as: A "Federal Act (commonly referred to as the Truth-in-Lending Act) enacted to safeguard the consumer in connection with the utilization of credit by requiring full disclosure of the terms and conditions of finance charges in credit transactions or in offers to extend credit, by restricting the garnishment of wages, and by regulating the use of credit cards. In addition to federal and state Truth-in-Lending Acts, several states also require by statute that consumer-loan agreements be written in plain, simplified language."

Quote Of The Day

"There are years that ask questions and years that answer." -Zora Neale Hurston

Is This Good Sense Or Paranoia?

Psychiatrists have pegged a new type of psychosis that is linked to the prevalence of high-tech surveillance in our modern day society. The psychosis, which has been branded "Truman Show Delusion," is identified as a paranoia that a person experiences when they believe that they are being watched by cameras, or that their personal life is being intruded upon by high-tech monitoring devices.

Many can see how it would be difficult to determine where the lines are drawn when it comes to the diagnosis of Truman Show Delusion. Delusions fail to be based on reality. However, this psychosis is based on actual facts. People are constantly being filmed by surveillance cameras. The presence of high-tech surveillance devices are at an all time high.

Therefore, I must ask: Is this "delusion" really a "delusion" at all? Is this "delusion" the trait of a psychotic, or is it just a person with good sense who is astute about what is going on in our post 9-11/Patriot Act-Enacted world?

I wonder if the people who decided to implement all of this extreme-level of "security" surveillance, considered that extreme acts often provoke extreme responses from people who might not have the self-control not to be swept up in all of the insanity.

[SIDEBAR: How many people saw Blockbuster Will's (aka Will Smith) movie, "Enemy of The State?"]

How Many Of These Have You Seen In Your Neighborhood?...

The above pictured highly invasive, police surveillance camera has become a staple on New York City streets.

The cameras have a price tag of $20,000 a-piece, and have reportedly been funded via federal grants (aka taxpayers' money).

The eyes of the wireless video cameras are contained in two globes. According to research conducted by The Associated Press, the cameras can "swivel round 360 degrees, look beneath themselves and zoom-in so well that they can read a cigarette pack from as far as 1,000 feet away." They are affixed on poles, and are placed approximately 30 feet from the ground. This strategic placement gives them a view into standard height tenement buildings.

The high tech surveillance devices that populate numerous city blocks in NYC's boroughs, also allegedly constantly emit microwave radiation. [<-SIDEBAR STATING THE OBVIOUS: That can't be safe.]

I'm more than curious to hear an "official" word on the purpose of these cameras. I would also like to know the health dangers associated with living so close to them.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Pic Of The Week

Front row: Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Kareem Abdul Jabar
Back row: Carl Stokes, Walter Beach, Bobby Mitchell, Sid Williams, Curtis McClinton, Willie Davis, Jim Shorter, and John Wooten.

This photograph was taken at a press conference given on June 4, 1967. The top African American athletes of that time, gathered together as a show of unity for Muhammad Ali, as he publicly proclaimed his reasons for rejecting the Vietnam War draft.

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

A "constituent" is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as: "He who gives authority to another to act for him.

The term is used as a correlative to 'attorney,' to denote one who constitutes another his agent or invests the other with authority to act for him.

It is also used in the language of politics as a correlative to 'representative,' the constituents of a legislator being those whom he represents and whose interests he is to care for in public affairs; usually the electors of his district."

Quote Of The Day

"We must use time creatively, and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right." -Martin Luther King Jr.