NEW YORK CITY ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAW RESENTENCINGS URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEER MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS
September 15, 2009

* Volunteer Contact: Shreya Mandal, JD, LMSW, Mitigation Specialist, The Legal Aid Society *Phone: (212) 577-3664* E-mail: SJMandal@legal-aid.org

Approximately 700 people are expected to be re-sentenced under the most recent Rockefeller Drug Law Reform, allowing them to return to New York City. But first, much work must be done to ensure that former prisoners qualify for early release and comprehensive reentry planning. Public Defenders and private lawyers are responsible for filing timely re-sentencing petitions to the courts. We anticipate this process to start in early October.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
The Need for Mitigation Assessment
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Change We Can Believe In: NY's Rockefeller Drug Law Reform is in Effect
By, Gabriel Sayegh, Drug Policy Alliance

This week, two essential components of Rockefeller Drug Law reform go into effect: restoration of judicial discretion and resentencing eligibility for some people currently incarcerated under the failed laws. The enactment of these hard-won reforms signals a major shift in New York's approach to drug abuse and dependency.

By restoring discretion, incarceration for drug offenses is no longer mandatory: judges once more have the ability to send individuals suffering from addiction into a range of programs, such as treatment and mental health services. In addition, nearly 1,500 people currently incarcerated under the old laws for low-level, nonviolent drug offenses can now petition the court for resentencing. If approved by a judge, many of these people will finally be released.
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Shit
Piss
Fuck
Cunt
Cocksucker
Mothterfucker
Tits

An amazingly simple legacy of free speech, civil disobedience, philosophy of language and culture criticism all wrapped up in the guise of stand up comedy.

New York City to me has rarely been to me the voice of Woody Allen or Seinfeld. New York City has always been the voice, the "tawk" and the raunchy wit of George Carlin.

Shit
Piss
Fuck
Cunt
Cocksucker
Mothterfucker
Tits
Fart
Turd
Twat

To celebrate George Carlin as a champion our civil rights and the integrity of the US Constitution I give you thee the original stand up skit that went into the Supreme Court Decision of FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION v. PACIFICA FOUNDATION, 438 U.S. 726, 98 S.Ct. 3026 (1978).
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I got our letter late last night saying that we finally got credentialed for the 2008 DNCC in Denver. It's a convention that promises to be historic and I want to be there front and center.

You can read the press release and check out the whole list of bloggers at the DNCC's blog.

UNFORTUNATELY the DNCC messed up when they went ahead and decided to pick a blog in New York that not only is not only NOT from the grassroots, but that is owned by people working in corporate media.

It's the reason why I got interviewed by Wired.com on the matter :

"What's amazing is that we've raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local candidates along with the other state blogs," says Liza Sabater, publisher of The Daily Gotham, one of the New York state blogs that got the cold shoulder from the DNC officials. "Why would you give (the credentials) to a blog ... owned by a journalist? You're supposed to be supporting independent bootstrapped bloggers, not people who are coming in with influence and access. You're supposed to be giving it to people who are helping you to get candidates elected."
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Norm Siegel, candidate for Public Advocate, has a new website and a new Youtube video:

For those who aren't familiar with Norman Siegel, he has been defending the Civil Liberties of Americans decades. From his website:

Norman Siegel, raised in Brooklyn, has been an advocate for New Yorkers throughout his 40 year career. He has been a leader in the fight for freedom, justice, and equality for all, issues that have pulled at our city’s fabric for too many generations.

Norman Siegel began his career as a civil rights/civil liberties lawyer when, following his graduation from Brooklyn College and New York University Law School, he joined the American Civil Liberties Union's Southern Justice & Voter Law Project in 1968. There, he was co-counsel in numerous lawsuits challenging the systemic exclusion of blacks and women from juries in various counties in South Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Alabama. Two voting rights cases in which he was involved are :

Hadnott v. Amos (U.S. Supreme Court case allowing 89 mainly black candidates to run for political office in Alabama), and
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House Party for Steve Harrison for Congress
I am helping host this one along with Joy Romanski and Marjorie and Alan Gersten.
Sun., Apr. 27, 2008, 4:00 PM
Suggested Donation $50
Location: Willow Street, Apt 1, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Steve Harrison is against the war in Iraq, supporting a plan for withdrawal similar to those proposed by Bill Richardson and John Edwards. He supports strengthening port security as a better way of fighting terrorism than getting mired in Iraq.

NY Times Editorial Board endorsing Steve on his 2006 run:

"Mr. Harrison...is an attractive alternative to Mr. Fossella in his own right. Mr. Harrison has a presence in both sides of the district; he resides in Brooklyn, while his mother and sister live on Staten Island.

As chair of Community Board 10 in Brooklyn, he demonstrated leadership as he oversaw one of the city's largest efforts to contain overdevelopment through rezoning. He has a good command of the issues, and a feel for the concerns of the district. Mr. Harrison surprised many with his passion and keen intelligence in a series of debates with Mr. Fossella. The distinctions could not be clearer. We endorse Mr. Harrison for Congress."

Hosts: Alan and Marjorie Gersten, David Michaelson, Joy Romanski ~ and Jacob.

Sunday, April 27, 2008
From 3PM to 6PM
50 Willow Street, #1
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