Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 18:36:02 +0000 From: villagechoice@manhattanlp.org (Manhattan Libertarian Party) Subject: THE VILLAGE CHOICE - Volume 1, Issue 16 To: villagechoice@topica.com Reply-To: villagechoice@manhattanlp.org
THE VILLAGE CHOICE A Weekly Rundown of News, Views and Events Affecting Freedom in NYC Volume 1, Issue 16 * August 23, 2002
THE VILLAGE CHOICE is brought to you by the Manhattan Libertarian Party. http://www.manhattanlp.org
In this issue: * Reparations madness overcomes councilmember! * Bloombergs war on restaurant and bar owners! * Sacco and Vanzetti remembered! * Your calendar of upcoming pro-freedom events! * Much more!
* News Bites *
No, Its a Racist Idiot Thing I want to go up to the closest white person and say, You can't understand this, it's a black thing, and then slap him, just for my mental health, New York City Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) told a few thousand of his fellow fools who were gathered in D.C. last weekend for the so-called Millions for Reparations March. The demonstrators chanted Black power! Reparations! and Start the Revolution! Apologize White America, said a sign carried by one demonstrator. Barron, a self-proclaimed elected revolutionary, said if the government did not act swiftly, he personally would storm the Treasury and take the money for reparations. Imagine the surprise on Barrons face when he gets inside the vault and finds nothing but IOUs. http://www.nydailynews.com/08-18-2002/news/story/11811p-11185c.html
Restaurant Owners Get Fired Up Over Smoking Ban A group of fuming mad restaurant and bar owners held an emergency meeting in a Midtown pub to plan ways to combat Mayor Bloomberg's proposed butt ban. Some 70 of them unanimously agreed to contribute $25,000 to launch a public relations campaign reaching out to City Council members and other politicians. We will continue to fight this bill with every ounce of energy that we have - as a group and as individuals, said Jack Cooke, president of the United Restaurant and Liquor Dealers of Manhattan, an organization of bar and restaurant owners. The city's current smoking ban exempts restaurants with less than 35 seats and/or bar areas with entirely separation ventilation. Mayor Bloomberg said three weeks ago that he wants to remove those exemptions, meaning that some 13,000 establishments where smoking is now allowed would become smoke-free. Cooke also dismissed colleagues who favor the bill. There are some restaurant people who talk about creating a level playing field with this law, he said. They are a small minority. http://www.nypost.com/business/55302.htm
Drug Reformers Wait Til Next Year Again Every winter, when the state legislature convenes in Albany, activists think this is the year. Buoyed by press accounts and pronouncements by politicians, they believe that the state's harsh drug law will finally be reformed. And every year they get a little closer. But months later, when the legislature goes home, te Rockefeller drug laws and their long mandatory sentences remain on the books. And thousands of New York City residents continue to serve time in upstate jails for selling or possessing a few ounces of a drug. Governor George Pataki, state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have all endorsed changes in the law. Almost every community organization that has taken a position on the laws opposes them. But in an election year, even with public support for change, politicans, particularly those from upstate or rural districts, fear the consequence of voting for reform and then being attacked as "soft on crime." And, so once again the Rockefeller drug laws seem likely to survive to face possible reform by the new legislature next year. http://www.gothamgazette.org/iotw/prisons/szalavitz.shtml
New Yorkers Mark Anniversary of Sacco & Vanzetti Seventy-five years ago today, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were put to death. Despite the dedication of people from Emma Goldman to Albert Einstein and demonstrations from Paris to Portugal, the worldwide fight to save the two Italian immigrants had failed. Accused of a 1920 robbery, the anarchists were tried amidst the xenophobic and anti-leftist sentiments of Palmer-raid America. They sat before an admittedly biased judge and were convicted contrary to evidence of their innocence. In the years following, the Sacco-Vanzetti trial became the best example of radicals being railroaded for their political beliefs. New Yorkers will mark the anniversary with a memorial in Union Square this afternoon. http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=30322&group=webcast
* Rant of the Week *
Greek Torture
By Jak Karako Chairman of the Manhattan Libertarian Party
What was that in the rant of the week, referring to the Turkish torture? :) Well here is my rant of the week: Greek Torture...
As a grassroots organization, the Manhattan Libertarian Party relies heavily upon our friends. Due to our lack of esources, we don't have backups or secondary plans.
We also encourage everyone to participate all the time. Here's an exception: Do not promise if you KNOW you cannot keep your promise. All the effort some of us put in is being wasted when you say you will do something and don't do it. And if it is just a phone call, an email or a signature, no excuses -- just do it. Anything else qualifies as Greek torture.
* Upcoming Events *
Friday, August 23, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Rally to Remember Murdered Anarchists Honor Sacco & Vanzetti on the 75th anniversary of their judicial murder. Union Square South Plaza at 14th Street http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=30322&group=webcast
Sunday, August 25, 2:00 p.m. Surveillance Camera Outdoor Walking Tour of the Lower East Side Intro to emerging surveillance society & selection of cameras surveying public space. Meet at the northeast corner of Houston and Avenue D http://www.notbored.org/the-scp.html
Thursday, August 29, 6:00 p.m 9:00 p.m. Libertarian candidates ballot victory party Join our merry band of NY Libertarians and friends as we celebrate the hard-won ballot status of our candidates. Gemini Lounge, 221 Second Avenue RSVP: rsvp@grecolawfirm.com http://www.votejeffrey.com
Thursday, September 5, 7:00 p.m. Junto monthly meeting Guest speaker: Ed Hudgins, Director of the Washington D.C. Center of the Objectivist Center The topic is "Can Ayn Rand Conquer Washington?" Princeton Club, 15 West 43rd Street http://www.free-market.net/partners/j/junto.html
Wednesday, September 18, 7:00 p.m. Manhattan Libertarian Party monthly meeting Guest speaker: Joseph Strasberg of the Rent Stabilization Association ( http://www.rsanyc.com ) Free admission; optional buffet and cash bar Kennedy's Restaurant, 327 West 57th Street http://www.manhattanlp.org
* News tips, rants and events wanted! *
Help us improve THE VILLAGE CHOICE. Send news bites, rants and event announcements to villagechoice@manhattanlp.org. Please include a web link whenever possible.
THE VILLAGE CHOICE is edited by Jim Lesczynski.
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If you're offended by anything in this newsletter, you're obviously a humorless socialist of either the right-wing or left-wing variety.
Your overworked editor will be on vacation next week. Jak Karako will be guest-editing next Fridays issue of THE VILLAGE CHOICE. Be nice to the substitute!
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