In a 2 paragraph letter, the U.S. Dept. of Justice ruled that NYC's term limit extension can move forward. 

Despite the urging of Comptroller Thompson, Congressman Ed Towns, former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, and NYC Council member Letitia James, other elected officials and community groups, the DOJ declined to “interpose any objection” to Local Law 51, that allows Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other term limited city officials to run for a third consecutive time. 

In response to the decision, Comptroller Thompson said, “By overturning the will of the voters on term limits and creating a new set of rules for himself, Mayor Bloomberg said our votes don't count. I am disappointed that the Federal government has declined to intervene and require the Mayor to give the voters a chance to decide the term limits issue.”

After almost 4 years in office, Council woman Darlene Mealy gave her first State of the District Address. Brownsville  Academy High School, a state-of-the-art transfer high school in the 41st Council District, hosted the event.

Ms. Mealy said there are many challenges in her district. Topping her list: education, crime, and affordable housing.

On the education front, Mealy said when she was first elected, no one took time to guide her on the workings of the council. By accident, she found out about the member item process – almost too late for her to address district needs that year. She sent out a flurry of messages, asking schools and non-profits for their wish lists. She received plenty of responses; many were amazed. According to Mealy, some respondents said, 'No one asked us ever asked us what we need.' Ms. Mealy said she was proud to announce that as of this year, “95% of the wish list is completed.” All schools in her district have computers, smart boards, science labs, and libraries. In addition, she has provided special support for Episcopal Beacon, a program that keeps 2 district schools open until 8pm.

Dear Rich People:

On a recent radio broadcast, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said “We love the rich people,” blatantly encouraging you to come to NY. Hard working New Yorkers also want you to come here. Come. Enjoy yourself. Paint the town red. Just don't forget your money. We are happy to clean your $400 a night hotel rooms. We'll sell you tickets to the hottest show in town, both on and off-Broadway.We will graciously wait on you in any of our fine dining establishments – from the Four Seasons to Mickie D's. Our unionized sanitation workers will remove your trash. NYPD, NY's Finest, will keep you safe while you stop in the middle of dense sidewalk traffic, gawking at half-empty, soon to be foreclosed commercial real estate (aka skyscrapers). 

Think of Boyz ll Men's acappella cover of “It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday”:

How do they say goodbye to what they had?

Hard core scams that made them rich

Caused worldwide crash

They thought they'd get to keep that airplane

Obama's taking it away

It's so hard to say goodbye to Citibank

OCC blocked NY State AG inquiry

Of their mortgage race-based fraud

Hope SCOTUS throws the case 

Parson's econ transition team seat

Was supposed to give them grease

It's so sad to waste black-face on yesterday

Tax payers who file their returns in January are seeing what everyone else will confront  in coming months: paying exorbitant fees to H&R Block and other tax preparers for processing Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) is now virtually worthless. Functionally insolvent banks are refusing to lend against tax refunds – even at usury interest rates.

H&R Block, a national leader in processing RALs through tax preparation for filers expecting refunds, has been critically scrutinized for years for preying on low income individuals. Yet cash strapped filers saw benefit in paying excessive filing fees in exchange for receiving refunds on the same day, or in 1 or 2 days, instead of several weeks when filing directly with IRS. That minimal benefit is basically gone.

Is it official?  Barack Obama has been wearing a flag pin on his lapel since the primaries. He wore it during the general election. He wore it as President elect (except while on vacation, frolicking in Hawaiian surf. No place to pin it on that buff torso.)  He wore it on his overcoat when he swore to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” He even wore it on his brand new tuxedo while attending all 10 inauguration balls. 

If flag pins are proof of citizenship or loyalty to country, everyone would be required to wear one. When will the 44th President of the United States be allowed to stop wearing that flag pin?

Former Congresswoman and 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney will appear at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on Jan 13.  Ms. McKinney is expected to tell in her own words what she experienced during the week of Dec. 29, 2008, while attempting to deliver relief aid and three tons of hospital supplies to Gaza. She was accompanied by one pediatrician, two surgeons, and professional journalists from CNN and Al Jazeera.

In daily emails during the incident, Ms. McKinney described what happened: “We were rammed and rammed again and rammed again the last one throwing me off the couch, sending all our food up in the air; and all the plastic bags and tubs--evidence of sea sicknesses among the crew and passengers--flew all over the cabin and all over us. We'd been rammed by the Israelis. How did we know? Because they called us on the phone afterwards to tell us that we were engaging in subversive, terroristic activity. And if that if we didn't turn around right then and return to Larnaca, Cyprus, we would be fired upon.”

City news cameras and beat reporters were conspicuously absent when a contingent of local leaders and community groups blocked Brooklyn's Rockaway Ave. for hours, calling for an end to a rash of shootings that took place between Christmas and New Year's. Also missing in action was Tracy Boyland, rumored to be preparing a run for her old council seat. Boyland works for a HMO located steps from where three brazen daytime shootings took place. 

Led by A.T. Mitchell, founder of Man Up!, the march began at the Nobel Drew Ali Houses, stopping at every location where holiday shootings occurred. Followed by a caravan of SUV clubs, the march grew, blocking Rockaway Ave. bus and car traffic. Shoppers expressed solidarity with the marchers chant, “Less bullets! More books!” Children and adults leaned out apartment windows, shouting and waving in agreement. 

Year's end saw a highly unusual press conference during which Illinois Governor Blagojevich announced his appointment of Roland Burris, the first African-American elected to statewide office in Illinois, to the vacant U.S. Senate seat of Barack Obama. Blagojevich said “As governor, I am required to make this appointment. If I don't, then the people of Illinois will be deprived of their voice and vote in the Senate.” By using his authority as governor to name Obama's replacement,  Blagojevich did what the Illinois General Assembly did  not do – move to fill Obama's seat via special election. 

That “little blue pill” is the latest tool of U.S. military operatives in Afghanistan, according to an article in the Washington Post. “Little Blue Pills Among the Ways CIA Wins Friends in Afghanistan” describes how well Viagra obtains cooperation of aging Afghan chieftains.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/25/AR2008122500931_pf.html

From the article:

“Take one of these. You will love it,” the officer said. Compliments of Uncle Sam. The enticement worked. The officer, who described the encounter, returned four days later to an enthusiastic reception. The grinning chief offered up a bonanza of information about Taliban movements and supply routes – followed by a request for more pills.”

NYC's Administration for Children's Services has not paid $27 million in federally mandated wages earmarked for family day care providers received from the state. Comptroller Thompson called for ACS to pay the City’s 28,000 home child daycare providers the wages they deserve as mandated by the State or risk losing State and Federal subsidies. The subsidies at risk total $40 million a month.

Thompson released a letter sent to ACS Commissioner John Mattingly from William Gettman, Executive Deputy Commissioner  of NYS Office of Children and Family Services. In the letter dated Dec. 8, 2008, Gettman requested ACS comply “with certain federal and state child care program mandates, including implementing the new child care market rates effective October 1, 2007.”

In 2006, Dr. Fulani filed an Exploratory Committee with the Campaign Finance Board. She said she “has been meeting with individuals and various groups throughout the city in order to assess the viability of a campaign.” Dr. Fulani has not yet made a decision, but said if she did run, it would be on the Independence Party line.

The possibility of Dr. Fulani running for Mayor adds to those already in contention: NYC Comptroller William Thompson, who continued his candidacy even after Mayor Bloomberg signed a repeal of term limits; Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, whose name is being floated to join the Obama administration; State Senator Eric Adams, who has suggested he might run for the office if Thompson decided not to; and NYC Council member Tony Avella, who has advocated a variety of reforms within the Council.

On Friday, the Illinois based Republic Windows and Doors abruptly closed. Outraged and in shock, the company's 250 workers held a sit-in, supported by their union and elected officials. President- elect Barack Obama spoke in support of the suddenly laid off plant workers.

Gov. Rod R Blagojevich said the State of Illinois was suspending its business with the Bank of America. 

Illinois Threatens Bank Over Sit-In due to Bank of America cutting off Republic Windows and Doors' line of credit, which the company could have used to retain the jobs, or  distribute severance and vacation pay to the  workers.

Assembly member Inez Barron has selected  Viola Plummer to join her staff. Ms. Barron made the announcement during her judicial swearing-in ceremony at the House of the Lord Church. Ms. Plummer, who served as Chief of Staff with Council member Charles Barron, will work in Assembly member Inez Barron's 40th AD district office. Ms. Barron has also selected Mel Faulkner to staff the district office. Mr. Faulkner has worked in Council member Barron's district office.

The announcement was made during the first of 2 consecutive ceremonies celebrating Ms. Barron's new position. Judge Sylvia Ash gave Assembly member Barron the Oath of Office at both events - first at the House of the Lord Church, then later that evening at St. Paul's Community Baptist Church. Rev. Herbert Daughtry gave a historical perspective of community activism and electoral politics. Councilman Charles Barron spoke of his love and support for his wife.

American males seem to love the Dynamic Duo. For shallow, celebrity loving Americans, the post-Republican Convention bounce is as high as 10% over Obama/ Biden. Sarahcuda is the VP pick most males would love to boink. Go ahead and vote for them. Pit bulls, even ones wearing lipstick, bite. Hard. You (and your 'little friend') will be sorry.

There are lots of real men who discipline their zippers and get married before they have, and raise, children. But the statistics of American males who get women pregnant irresponsibly, creating welfare babies in trailer parks and housing projects across this country, belie the norm. The thousands of women annually, who make the retching decision to abort unsupported babies, were impregnated by men.