Showing posts with label Monuments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monuments. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Donovan to City: Staten Island Will Take Columbus Statue If You Don’t Want It

Charlie Daniels recently tweeted that he didn't know what Columbus had to do with the Confederacy, but after Charlottesville, someone vandalized the statue.

By House Representative Daniel Donovan (R-NY, 11th)

Staten Island, NY - August 30, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Amid calls to remove the Christopher Columbus statue in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle, Congressman Dan Donovan (NY-11) today asked Mayor de Blasio to resolve the matter by donating the statue to the National Parks Service, which controls Great Kills Park on Staten Island.

Donovan said, “Christopher Columbus is a permanent fixture of our national history. Rarely can we trace the wheels of progress over 500 years back to the actions of a single person. If a radical group bent on sanitizing history doesn’t want the statue at Columbus Circle anymore, Staten Island will gladly accept it.”

Donovan represents Staten Island and South Brooklyn in the U.S. House of Representatives. Approximately one-third of Staten Island residents are of Italian descent, among the largest concentrations in the country, and South Brooklyn also has a high density of Italian-Americans.

Donovan continued, “Columbus is a symbol of Italian-American culture. He discovered our land, and generations of Italian-Americans helped build New York. I will fight tooth and nail to see to it that his statue remains a fixture in our city.”

Donovan and his office spoke with senior Department of Interior officials on Thursday afternoon about the matter.

Friday, August 25, 2017

News about: Nazi Deportation, Charlottesville, Censure, Monuments, Prisons, Racial Profiling, Right to Work, Pardon, Praying

  • Camping World CEO has told Trump supporters that they can take their business elsewhere, he doesn't want it. Doesn't he realize that Trump supporters are people who hunt and fish the most? Click HERE to read more about it...

  • Members of the New York Congressional Delegation wrote a letter urging Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to personally seek the deportation of a Nazi prison guard living in Queens. Led by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY), and Congressman Dan Donovan (R-NY), the lawmakers asked Secretary Tillerson to use his influence to ensure that Jakiw Palij—a convicted Nazi guard—is deported, so New Yorkers and Americans are not forced to live besides “a painful reminder for Americans who fought against the Nazis or lost loved ones in the Holocaust.” Read more about it by clicking here...

  • The following Members have signed on as cosponsors of H.Res.496 censuring President Trump for his Charlottesville comments:

    Alma Adams (D-NC)
    Nannette Barragan (D-CA)
    Ami Bera (D-CA)
    Karen Bass (D-CA)
    Don Beyer (D-VA)
    Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
    Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
    Anthony Brown (D-MD)
    Julia Brownley (D-CA)
    Michael Capuano (D-MA)
    Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
    Tony Cardenas (D-CA)
    David Cicilline (D-RI)
    Katherine Clark (D-MA)
    Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
    William Lacy Clay (D-MO)
    Steve Cohen (D-TN)
    Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA)
    John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI)
    Joe Courtney (D-CT)
    Joe Crowley (D-NY)
    Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
    Diana DeGette (D-CO)
    Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
    Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)
    Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
    Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
    Eliot Engel (D-NY)
    Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
    Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
    Elizabeth Esty (D-CT)
    Dwight Evans (D-PA)
    Bill Foster (D-IL)
    Lois Frankel (D-FL)
    Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
    John Garamendi (D-CA)
    Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)
    Al Green (D-TX)
    Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
    Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
    Denny Heck (D-WA)
    Brian Higgins (D-NY)
    Jim Himes (D-CT)
    Jared Huffman (D-CA)
    Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX)
    Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
    Hank Johnson (D-GA)
    Robin Kelly (D-IL)
    Joe Kennedy (D-MA)
    Rohit Khanna (D-CA)
    Ruben Kihuen (D-NV)
    Dan Kildee (D-MI)
    Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
    Ann Kuster (D-NH)
    James Langevin (D-RI)
    Rick Larsen (D-WA)
    John Larson (D-CT)
    Brenda Lawrence (D-MI)
    Al Lawson (D-FL)
    Barbara Lee (D-CA)
    Sander Levin (D-MI)
    Ted Lieu (D-CA)
    Dan Lipinski (D-IL)
    David Loebsack (D-IA)
    Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
    Alan Lowenthal (D-CA)
    Nita Lowey (D-NY)
    Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM)
    Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM)
    Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
    Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
    Doris Matsui (D-CA)
    Betty McCollum (D-MN)
    Donald McEachin (D-VA)
    Jim McGovern (D-MA)
    Greg Meeks (D-NY)
    Grace Meng (D-NY)
    Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
    Richard Neal (D-MA)
    Donald Norcross (D-NJ)
    Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
    Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ)
    Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ)
    Scott Peters (D-CA)
    Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
    Mark Pocan (D-WI)
    Jared Polis (D-CO)
    David Price (D-NC)
    Mike Quigley (D-IL)
    Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
    Cedric Richmond (D-LA)
    Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
    Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
    Brad Schneider (D-IL)
    David A. Scott (D-GA)
    Jose Serrano (D-NY)
    Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
    Brad Sherman (D-CA)
    Albio Sires (D-NJ)
    Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
    Adam Smith (D-WA)
    Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
    Mark Takano (D-CA)
    Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
    Paul Tonko (D-NY)
    Norma Torres (D-CA)
    Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
    Tim Walz (D-MN)
    Maxine Waters (D-CA)
    Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
    Peter Welch (D-VT)

    Is it any surprise that all of them are Democrats?

  • Rep. Grace F. Napolitano slammed the U.S. Department of Interior for lack of transparency after releasing only a summary of the report on the Trump Administration’s review of certain National Monuments, including the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, issuing the following statement:

    “This administration and Secretary Zinke have shut out the voices of the public, turning a review of some of our precious monuments into one of the least transparent and most complicated federal processes. The review was announced on April 26 of this year through an Executive Order by President Trump, yet we in the San Gabriel Valley have still not heard from the Secretary. I placed several requests to Secretary Zinke’s office, inviting him to come to California, visit our monument, and to speak with local residents, businesses, and city officials. I never received a response. I additionally sent a detailed letter describing the history and importance of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument to our community. If the Secretary is not taking the time to meet with nearby locals nor sharing details of proposed changes to these monuments, then who really controls this process? How can the Secretary make a decision behind closed doors in Washington, DC without stepping foot in Southern California? It looks as though no monuments will be fully eliminated as a result of this review, but we sincerely hope Secretary Zinke publicly releases his recommendations and changes to existing monuments he sent to the White House today. The public, including 2.4 million Americans who submitted comments on the process, has every right to know. As we await details relating to the future of our national monuments, I will continue to fight to protect our limited green space in Los Angeles County and across the country."

    Typical Democrat: pretending to care about monuments while destroying them.

    However, the Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association were encouraged by the Department of the Interior’s report on National Monuments released today. The final report comes after an extensive review of Antiquities Act designations, ordered by President Trump, which included listening sessions in the field and a public comment period.

    Ethan Lane, Executive Director of the Public Lands Council, stated:

    “It is clear Presidents have repeatedly abused their authority under the Antiquities Act locking up over 250 million acres of land and water without local input or economic analysis. We are grateful to Secretary Zinke and his team for soliciting feedback from those most affected by executive land-grabs, and look forward to swift action from the White House in response to the recommendations that aligns with the original intent of the Antiquities Act.”

  • Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) filed an amendment to the fiscal year 2018 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill to prohibit the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) from carrying out the law that requires individuals in halfway houses and on home confinement to pay a subsistence fee to offset the cost of being housed or supervised. Currently, BOP charges residents at BOP halfway houses a subsistence fee of 25 percent of their gross income, but in August 2016 stopped charging any fee for home confinement. Norton has taken special interest in eliminating BOP-imposed subsistence fees because District of Columbia Code felons are the only local felons housed by BOP and are subject to the fee when in halfway houses. Norton introduced a stand-alone bill to eliminate the subsistence fees and wrote BOP Acting Director Thomas R. Kane calling on BOP to eliminate or significantly reduce subsistence fees. She states:

    “Imposing costly subsistence fees on those living at federal halfway houses puts a heavy financial burden on returning citizens who are trying to save money and prepare to make the already difficult transition back to society. Eliminating these counterproductive subsistence fees would help returning citizens meet their financial obligations and secure employment and housing.”

  • Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) also filed an amendment to the fiscal year 2018 Transportation, Housing And Urban Development Appropriations bill to prohibit states that receive federal transportation funding from engaging in unconstitutional profiling based on physical characteristics. Norton said the Supreme Court has stated that racial profiling violates both equal protection and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and therefore her amendment states that none of the funds in the transportation title could be used in contravention of the Fifth or Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution or Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Norton’s amendment previously unanimously passed by voice vote on the House floor and was included in the fiscal year 2015 omnibus appropriations bill, which was signed into law in December 2014. She states:

    “Despite heightened awareness of racial profiling throughout the country, we continue to see disproportionate stops of African Americans and other people of color by law enforcement officials. My amendment is a straightforward attempt to reduce racial profiling by local law enforcement by holding them accountable and putting their federal funding on the line if they engage in unconstitutional profiling.”

  • A Chicago worker, assisted by National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation staff attorneys, has appealed the dismissal of federal unfair labor practice charges against the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) and UWUA Local 18007. Gerald Howard is employed by Peoples Gas in Chicago, Illinois. UWUA Local 18007 union officials have a monopoly bargaining contract in place with Peoples Gas that includes a requirement that workers can be fired for refusing to pay dues or fees to the union.

    Under federal law, no worker can be forced to formally join a union. However, because Illinois is not a Right to Work state, workers can be forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment. Under the National Right to Work Foundation-won Supreme Court case Communication Workers v. Beck, nonmember workers cannot be legally compelled to pay union dues used for union politics and member-only activities. Workers can also demand a breakdown of the dues and fees paid to see which fees are used for which purpose.

    In a letter sent to UWUA Local 18007 on February 18, Howard formally resigned his membership in the UWUA and objected to paying full dues, as is his right under the Beck precedent, but UWUA Local 18007 union officials failed to acknowledge his resignation. A month later on March 15, Howard sent another letter, this time to officials at the UWUA International headquarters in Washington, DC.

    In a letter dated April 3, Washington-based UWUA officials finally acknowledged Howard’s resignation and objection to paying full dues as of his February 18 letter. The UWUA official’s letter also claimed that Howard would be required to pay 90% of full union dues, but did not provide any explanation for how it arrived at that figure.

    Although the UWUA later provided Howard a breakdown attempting to justify that non-chargeable activities like union political and lobbying activities only make up ten percent of full dues, further evidence suggests the figure is not accurate. In required disclosure reports filed with the U.S. Department of Labor under threat of perjury, UWUA officials do not categorize political spending but their report shows multiple examples of political spending that contradict the figures in the breakdown provided to Howard after he filed his unfair labor practice charges.

    “UWUA union bosses are ignoring clear Supreme Court precedent, compelling payment for union political and lobbying activities and violating the rights of a worker they claim to ‘represent’ in their grab for more forced union dues,” said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Foundation. “This type of disregard for the rights of rank-and-file workers highlights why Illinois desperately needs a Right to Work law making union affiliation and dues payments strictly voluntary.”

  • The National Urban League has condemned the pardoning of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Click HERE to read about it.

  • A Washington state high school football coach who was punished for taking a knee at the 50-yard line for a post-game prayer violated the U.S. Constitution, according to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Read about it...

  • And, Finally, according to Truthfeed,

    "A federal judge has denied Democratic Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) from casting any senate votes until his case is closed. Menendez has been indicted on corruption charges and will heading to court next month."

    Read more about it by clicking here

  • Maxine Waters:

    "I'm afraid if North Korea nukes us, that man is gonna get us into a war!"

    and

    "If you come after me...I'm coming after you!"

    And she says the President doesn't make any sense...??????????
  • Thursday, August 24, 2017

    President Signs Manchin, Ernst Bipartisan Effort to Authorize Global War on Terrorism War Memorial

    Washington, D.C. - August 24, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Last week, bipartisan legislation championed by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), known as the Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act, was signed into law by the President. The legislation authorizes the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, a private foundation, to begin the process of pursuing the construction of a memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The memorial will honor our men and women in uniform, the fallen servicemembers, their families, and all those who are impacted by our nation’s longest war.

    “The President’s recent announcement of increased troop levels in Afghanistan is a somber reminder that there are Americans serving in harm’s way. For the thousands of Americans who perished protecting our freedom, and the million more who were wounded or fought in the global war on terror, this memorial will forever honor their sacrifice to our great country,” Senator Manchin said. “I’m proud of the work done by my colleagues in approving the first step towards building a memorial that commemorates our sons and daughters who answered the call to fight. I thank the President for seeing to it that this memorial was quickly approved. In the coming weeks, there will be much debate on the President’s plans for Afghanistan; however, there is no debate that we have the greatest military in the world and we are indebted to their service.”

    “I am thrilled the President has signed into law this important legislation authorizing the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation to begin creating a place of remembrance for those who served, their loved ones, and all impacted by this war,” said Senator Ernst, a combat veteran. “I am thankful this years-long process can now begin so the veterans of this war may have the opportunity to visit the tribute to their selfless service.”

    This authorization is the first step in a process that will culminate with the design and construction of a Global War on Terror Memorial on the National Mall without using any federal funds.

    The bill, sponsored by Congressmen Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Seth Moulton (D-MA), is a companion measure to S. 926 which Manchin and Ernst introduced in April. Additionally, this legislation has received support from The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US (VFW), Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Of America (IAVA), Wounded Warrior Project, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, American Veterans (AMVETS), American Goldstar Mothers, Student Veterans of America, The Green Beret Foundation, Team Rubicon, The Mission Continues, Team Red White and Blue, Travis Manion Foundation, Got Your Six, Warrior Expeditions, Union Veteran Council of the AFL-CIO, and Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS).

    I wonder how long it will be before the "peaceful" Islamists start tearing this one down...

    Thursday, August 17, 2017

    African American Attorney on Removal of Confederate Statues: Only Way to Say ‘Never Again’ Is When You Remember

    Breitbart

    Marc Little came to Washington, D.C. recently in his capacity as the vice president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) think tank to talk to reporters and the public about supporting President Donald Trump’s agenda of helping inner cities through job creation, school choice, and public safety.
    But the tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia, changed his plans. Little — who is also a pastor, attorney, and author who lives in Los Angeles — joined his colleagues at the National Press Club on Monday to defend Trump against attacks by the left, who blamed the president for the violent protest and counter-protest on Saturday over the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

    A protester and two law enforcement officers died on Saturday, the former after the woman was hit by a car driven deliberately into the crowd, and the police after the helicopter they were riding in crashed.

    “This whole idea now of pulling down statues and changing the names of schools and cities as if we can bury the cemetery of our past,” Little told Breitbart News. “You can’t.”

    In fact, Little said, the past is what makes America what she is today.

    Read more...

    Confederate monuments removed overnight in Baltimore

    Gadsden Times

    Confederate monuments in Baltimore were quietly removed and hauled away on trucks in darkness early Wednesday, days after a violent white nationalist rally in Virginia that was sparked by plans to take down a similar statue there.

    Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh told The Baltimore Sun that crews began removing the city’s four Confederate monuments late Tuesday and finished around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

    “It’s done,” Pugh told the newspaper. “They needed to come down. My concern is for the safety and security of our people. We moved as quickly as we could.”

    Read more...



    Who gave the Mayor permission to remove what belonged to the citizens of Baltimore? Someone needs to sue him for vandalism.

    Virginia Governor Calls for Removal of Confederate Monuments,

    The Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe has called for the removal of all Confederate Monuments in the State of Virginia.

    In a statement released on Wednesday, he said, “The discussion regarding whether to relocate Confederate statues is an important and legitimate conversation that should take place in each community that contains one. Monuments should serve as unifiers, to inspire us collectively and to venerate our greatest citizens. Unfortunately, the recent events in Charlottesville demonstrate that monuments celebrating the leadership of the Confederacy have become flashpoints for hatred, division and violence.

    “As we attempt to heal and learn from the tragic events in Charlottesville, I encourage Virginia's localities and the General Assembly – which are vested with the legal authority – to take down these monuments and relocate them to museums or more appropriate settings. I hope we can all now agree that these symbols are a barrier to progress, inclusion and equality in Virginia and, while the decision may not be mine to make, I believe the path forward is clear.”

    Next, we may see the removal of the Washington Monument, since Washington owned slaves.

    Many other cities have decided to also remove their monuments that commemorate the Civil War.