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Proposition One Has Serious Ramifications1

There is great controversy over the meaning and scope of Proposition One to amend the State Constitution. The ballot summary states that the amendment would “protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, as well as reproductive healthcare and autonomy. The amendment allows laws to prevent or undo past discrimination.” Supporters claim that the amendment is needed to expand the existing equal rights amendment, prohibit discrimination against ...

‘Rendezvous With Destiny’ Continues

What became known as “The Speech” took place 60 years ago this week. The Speech was on behalf of a major-party-American-presidential candidate shortly before Election Day. Years later, the candidate recalled that supporters had proposed he give The Speech himself. The candidate, however, said it didn’t sound like him, so it wasn’t a speech for him to give. Instead, he suggested supporters get someone more “professionally trained.” So they recruited a speaker. Although the candidate didn’t win the presidency, the speaker later did. The speaker’s conclusion ...

A Land of Many Colors

There is one thing that I really don’t like about fall…it is an announcement that winter is coming. However, the one thing that I do look forward to are the colors of fall foliage. Right across from my office window is a “burning bush” bush. As I write this, it is bright red. I don’t mean a little bit red or a faded red…, but a really fiery red! It almost looks as though someone with a spray gun came along and painted it red. Most colors in the fall are a bit more muted…but some maple trees can also make you think of the burning bush…a bright and pure red. On ...

Election 2024 Could Stir Up Another Witch’s Brew

Eight years ago, Hillary R. Clinton seemed certain to derail Donald J. Trump’s barely begun political career. Instead, a witch’s brew of misogyny, mistakes and the Electoral College gave us our second minority-vote President of the early 21st century. Eight years later, here we are in the final days of a second presidential matchup with an equally possible stark and dark outcome, Trump versus Kamala Harris. Demented Donald would turn America into His Own Special Hell (HOSH, not MAGA). Harris would not lead us to heaven, but she’d take us to a better place and spare us from any ...

Proposition 1 Is A Looming Disaster

This year’s New York state ballot contains the well-hidden and deceptively named “Proposition 1: Equal Rights Amendment.” Upon reading this proposition, you should immediately ask yourself: What do they mean by equal rights? The language of Proposition 1 (Prop-1) brings to mind the scene in Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” where the leaders of the socialist collective (the Pigs) declare that “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” Well, folks, the Pigs are at it again, making themselves just a little more equal than you. Welcome to Orwell’s ...

DA: Appeals Court Takes Important Tool From Counties

I write to clarify and correct the public record created by recent reporting and editorial comment on my efforts to obtain “Sexually Violent Offender” designations for certain convicted sex offenders under New York’s Sex Offender Registration Act (“SORA”). In my view, your coverage loses sight of what is and must always be my number one priority here, to do everything and anything I can under the law to protect our community and its residents from the obvious risks and concerns associated with convicted sex offenders living among us. Part and parcel of this responsibility is to ...