The Hurricane Sandy Story (Final Project)

Jon Kest, Advocate for Low-Wage Workers in New York, Dies at 57

John Kest, a founder of the Working Families Party, organized the recent strike by the city’s fast-food workers, among many other initiatives. He recently died on Wednesday at his home in Brooklyn because of cancer. He was involved in many community services in New York that helped bring balance to the community and job opportunity to the low-income people. He founded the Working Families Party, which begun in 1998. The organization planned on organizing new labor unions and other advocacy groups in New York. “The party, which has chapters throughout New York State and in Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon and South Carolina, seeks to advance a liberal agenda on a range of issues.” Jonathan Lee Kest was born on June 17, 1955, in Mount Vernon, N.Y., He went to school at Oberlin College, and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. One of the events he organized, which is greatly recognized is the “squatting drive” in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn, in which neighborhood residents took over hundreds of apartments in abandoned buildings. As a result, the city agreed to convert the buildings into low-income housing. He also helped stop Mr. Giuliani’s plan to privatize the city’s public schools. Mr. Kest was involved in the continuing effort to unionize workers in the city’s carwashes. He was a great man and will be recognized for his had work in the community. 

What’s fair – tax the wealthy or tax small businesses?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a tax system that was fair, simple, and generated economic growth? Is it fair to raise taxes only on the wealthiest Americans? These were the questions in a recent article about the tax dilemma going on in our country. Many people believe that tax should be increased to have a balance in the economy. Others believe that taxes are too high already and needs to be decreased. For many, big businesses need to pay more for taxes. Big businesses believe they should have taxes waivered because they provide most of the jobs for the country. President Obama debate on taxes showed which side he was supporting. “President Obama believes that the wealthiest Americans should contribute more than their less wealthy counterparts to solving the federal government’s fiscal crisis.” According to Obama, “taxes should only increase for the wealthiest taxpayers, in part because they benefited the most from the temporary tax cuts that were first enacted under President George W. Bush.”

The question is now: is it fair?

I believe an increase in taxes, is not the solution for anybody. I think as an economy we should limit the need of spending more money. I feel big business should have an increase in taxes because most of their taxes are waivered and government should have more control of their spending and cost. At this day in age, we should focus on how we can save our economy by saving our money rather than increase in taxes. Increasing taxes is only going arise complaints and arguments. I feel the government and Obama should work on a plan that will help small businesses and the middle class. The middle class is the majority of the income for the United States and constantly taxing the majority holder will result in extreme consequences. 

Dozens Arrested in Prescription Drug Crackdown

There was a huge crackdown on prescription drugs like, meth, extasy, and other drugs. Over 100 people were arrested for being involved. They were charged in New York City and Long Island. Many which were nurses, doctor’s nurse practitioners and drug dealers were accused. Many of these cases have been starting to arise. It feels like many doctors are satisfied with distributing drugs to adults and young adults to sell. I am glad that the government has decided to crackdown. Many of the drug dealers went to doctors for prescriptions to sell for up to $4,000 dollars worth of prescription drugs. Investigators said, “one doctor who wrote prescriptions linked to the suspects in the Medford pharmacy massacre on Long Island last year is among those charged.”

It is great to hear this. I can't believe the stories I hear from kids on Staten Island about this. The sellers target them. People not only get addicted, but beg, borrow and steal to purchase it. The federal, state and local law is planning to continue to combat the growing threat of prescription drug trafficking and abuse. U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said “the approach involves criminal investigation and prosecution but also the use of civil enforcement, regulatory action and community outreach.”

Benefit’s Producers Condemn Scalpers

        Many music fans complained Friday because of the tickets from the Benefit Concert for Hurricane Sandy victims. Many scalpers bought a good percentage of the tickets in attempt to resell the tickets at a higher value than their original value. The profits from the tickets were going to charities like the Robin Hood Foundation, who plan on helping rebuild homes for victims in New York and New Jersey. It is unfortunate that people take advantage of something that was meant to be a beneficial project, and turn it to something that is ugly and money hungry.

            James Dolanm, producer at Madison Square Garden, and Harvey Weinstein, producer of Clear Channel television urged people “to stop buying tickets from secondary ticket websites.” “It’s despicable,” Mr. Weinstein said. “Don’t buy them.” Every dollar should be contributed to the charity that would go in rebuilding lives for victims. The tickets sold out on Ticketmaster.com shortly after it was posted on Monday. The tickets from the floor in front of the stage jumped from $550 to almost $48,000 while those in the upper level went from $225 to $3,000.The concert is said to be the largest rock band in a long time. It will be featuring artist like Kanye West, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Dave Grohl, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Eddie Vedder, Roger Waters, the Who and Paul McCartney, among others.  

       It is sad that big businesses are taking advantage of music fans. I believe that what they are doing is unmoral. The concert will be televised over 100 national and global stations. They encourage people to donate from their homes as well. I believe the event will be successful and the people that got the tickets will enjoy the show. Unfortunately for the other people who tried to get the tickets weren’t able to get them because of the scalpers. 

Bus Driver Found Not Guilty of Manslaughter in I-95 Crash

A former bus driver was acquitted from all charges after being so tired that he caused one of the deadliest crashes in New York City. The man was found not guilty of manslaughter and negligent homicide on Friday. The bus driver was unstable while driving the vehicle and was later found to be under sleep deprivation for three days before taking control of the vehicle. Ophadell Williams, the driver, was coming from an overnight trip in Connecticut when he loss control of the wheel and killed 15 passengers. The article stated, “his bus struck a guardrail on Interstate 95 in the Bronx, flipped over and ripped open. One of the victims’ arms was torn off. They presented evidence that Mr. Williams was speeding and driving erratically before the bus flipped over.

 Mr. William’s lawyers’ claims,  “driving without a full night’s sleep is a common practice.” Can a driver be too tired to responsibly get behind the wheel?” Mr. William’s lawyer centered their whole case surrounding this questionable argument. Mr. William’s sleep deprivation was the cause of this misfortune accident.

The Bronx Supreme Court found the defendant Ophadell Williams, guilty on only one misdemeanor charge of unpaid tickets.

 The victims did not take the verdict well. Many of them are taking Mr.William to civil court to dispute their case there.

I believe that Mr.William was completely guilty and shouldn’t have been acquitted for any of the charges. He was aware that he was tired and unable to operate a vehicle. It was his own free will that he decided to get behind the wheel to drive. He was incapable of performing any kind of operation system because of his sleep deprivation. The courts should have definitely accused him of all the charges. My heart and soul goes out to all the victims that loss somebody in that deadly accident.

White House makes request for federal aid funds for Hurricane Sandy victims

President Obama and the White House officials plan on requesting 60.4 billions dollars to go to a federal aid package to help the victims from Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy has destroyed millions of homes in New York and New Jersey and the cost to repair all that was lost is very expensive. The victims of Hurricane Sandy have been struggling and the money from the federal aid would help restore damaged homes and lives in each state. The need for the federal aid is still being debated amongst government officials. President Obama recent visit to New Jersey after the storm shows a great deal of support he has for the victims from Hurricane Sandy. Obama signed an executive order establishing a Sandy recovery task force that will bring together officials from more than 20 federal agencies and offices to coordinate the government's ongoing response to the storm. Obama’s plan adds significant flexibility on how the states can spend the money. Committee Chairman Rogers said his committee would consider the request “very thoroughly, with an eye towards prioritizing urgently needed recovery efforts that will have the most benefits to the victims of this storm.”

I believe the federal aid money will benefit the states that have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. I live in Long Island, and I have seen different parts of Long Island that have been destroyed by Hurricane Sandy like Long Beach, Fire Island, and Breezy Point. These areas of Long Island have the most damages because they were alongside the water. Many people lost their homes and others have had no power. The federal aid package can start a new life for many of these victims. I believe these times of agony, the government should help fund the people that need it most.