SCAM ALERT: Have YOU received this job offer? |
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Written by Scott Katz
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Thursday, 17 March 2011 07:40 |
Online scams have been around since the dawn of the World Wide Web, but if the feedback we have been getting is any indication, such scams have only seemed to proliferate in the last few years due to the worldwide economic downturn.
With millions of people out of work, and with millions more worried that their job security is less than rock solid, anxiety levels seem to be at an all-time high. This has left people feeling desperate, and in that desperation, they have become more vulnerable to online scammers and predators who promise a job, but are only perpetrating a moneymaking scheme with you as their intended targets.
One of the more popular scams is the phony job offer. Here's how it works: after responding to what seems like a legitimate job listing, the scammer will contact you by e-mail and tell you that you have been hired or "provisionally hired" for employment for a work-at-home position where you will have to perform certain minor tasks in order to receive your weekly paycheck. However, before employment can begin, you have to provide the scammer with certain personal information.
Because the information is not anything that a legitimate employer wouldn't ask – at least not at first – you may be tempted to respond even if you are somewhat suspicious. Our advice: do not respond at all. These e-mails do not come from valid businesses. They do not have an office or even a way to meet with the employer face-to-face. Often, these e-mails will try to get around your suspicions by saying that the employer is out of the country for a few weeks, but you would be able to begin working for him or her right away and that he or she will meet with you upon return. No legitimate company will conduct business in this manner. Would you? Of course not. These ads prey on the desperate, but one should never let desperation override good common sense. Answering these ads or following up on a suspicious e-mail could leave you in worse shape than you started – financially, emotionally, and even legally.
This is because while some scams are simple identity theft operations that exist just to clean out your bank account or make fraudulent purchases on your credit card, others may require you to act as a shipper of goods on your employer's behalf. However, these goods can be stolen property or goods that have been purchased with stolen credit card information. Since your address is the first point of contact, you could find yourself facing criminal charges or at least caught up in a criminal investigation.
Another popular job scam is one in which you are required to receive checks, deposit them in your bank account, and then forward a portion of the money to your employer while keeping the rest. However, since you are required to forward the money before the checks clear your account, you will lose the money you forwarded when you discover that the checks you deposited have bounced.
Scammers are growing ever more sophisticated in their sales pitches, and they know that people will have a natural amount of suspicion when interacting with someone online or by phone, but they get around that by drawing you into their scheme slowly. They do not ask for all of your personal information right off the bat, but over time, they will get whatever information they need in order to operate their schemes. This is why it is best not to answer any ad or respond to any e-mail that sounds even a little bit suspicious.
It bears emphasizing that no legitimate company will hire you – even for a telecommuting job – without meeting you first. There are legitimate telecommuting, personal assistant, and startup company positions out there, but the prospective employer will want to meet you and arrange a meeting at a public location during regular business hours if they do not have an office.
Some tips on recognizing job scams:
• Ads that have misspellings of common words
• Ads that have awkward phrasing, broken English, or bad grammar
• E-mail responses, such as the one reprinted below, which give you the job – even "provisionally" – without ever having met you in person
• Requests for personal information beyond what you have already given them on your résumé
• An Internet search that does not turn up a legitimate website for the company
• The most basic rule always applies: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Below, we reprint a common e-mail response that people have gotten after they responded to an ad for an Executive/Administrative/Personal Assistant on Craigslist. Be aware that these fraudulent ads and responses can appear anywhere on the Internet, in newspapers, or on television.
You will notice that the e-mail contains many of the warning signs outlined above. The scammer tries to allay any suspicions or concerns that you might have by providing a lot of information about his own company and even includes his "real" name.
A simple Internet search told us that the Dun & Bradstreet number provided below has been used to identify other companies besides "New York Insurance Company" such as "Adorama Inc.," "Adorama Camera Inc," "XLM Group," and "CJDouglas Financial Advisors." The same Dun & Bradstreet number will not be given to multiple unrelated companies.
The website mentioned in the e-mail below navigates to a generic-looking insurance rate comparison form, while the e-mail address that the response came from leads to a domain that has a simple placeholder website with a message from Google Sites requesting that the domain administrator begin setting up a home page. Because the e-mail below is using a real person's name, we have changed its spelling.
We contacted Dun & Bradstreet about New York Insurance Company, and we were told by a representative that in order to get information about a company using a Dun & Bradstreet number, we would have to buy a report about the company for $179 or purchase access to the D&B database. Further, D&B told us that they do not maintain any listing of companies that have previously been shown to be fraudulent or that have received consumer complaints.
However, there is something you can do. To file a complaint about a company with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), click here: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
Sample scam e-mail with all spelling and grammatical errors left in:
Hello , I got your resume and it has been reviewed, I did appreciate it, So I will give this a GO ! I am happy to inform you that after close consideration with your resume, you have been accepted and given provisional appointment. Below are our company details and personal data for you review. Business Name:New York Insurance Company . Dun and Bradstreet # 08-740-3499 Type of Entity: CORPORATION Registration ID: 453033 I'm looking for someone that can be trusted and reliable to work very well with good understanding.This position is home-based and flexible, working with me is basically about instructions and following them, my only fear is that I may come at you impromptu sometimes, so I need someone who can be able to meet up with my irregular timings.As my Personal Assistant,your activities amongst other things will include; *Running personal errands, supervisions and monitoring. Scheduling programmes, flights and keeping me up to date with them. Acting as an alternative telephone correspondence while I'm away. Making regular contacts and drop-offs on my behalf. Handling and monitoring some of my financial activities.. Basic wage is $400 Weekly excluding Gas expenses and compensations. I'm sure you'll understand I tend to have a very busy schedule at this point,as I am presently in the Greece, I will be back in three Weeks. We will set up a formal interview as soon as i am back in the states.My company is opening a new office in your state which i will be heading and relocating as well and thats one of the reasons i need a personal assistant there Please note that this position is not office based for now because of my frequent travels and tight schedules, it's a part-time work from home for now and the flexibility means that there will be busier weeks than others. I have been checking my files and i'll need you to run some errands for me this week. I will have some funds sent to you to complete the assignment, i will get you more information on that, I will like you to get back to me with your Contact Details such as: Personal Information First Name: Last Name: Address: City: State: Age: Zip Code: Sex: Residential Phone Number: Mobile: The employee,acknowledged the Detailed Job Description and signed___________ _____________________ (First Name and Last Name of Employee) Kindly respond with requested details .. Once I have received your contact information, I will get back to you with the task for this week. Thanks in anticipation of your prompt response. Best regards, Financial Services, Jason Maxxxx NYIC www.quotenewyorkinsurance.com |
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Election 2010: New York State |
Written by US Townhall staff
|
Saturday, 18 September 2010 21:33 |
Below are two charts that show the political races in New York State. Every two years, every seat in the New York Legislature – the 62 seats of the State Senate and the 150 seats of the State Assembly – are up for grabs, which gives New Yorkers an opportunity to reward the incumbent candidates whom they feel have done a good job as well as vote in new blood where they feel it is necessary.
Note that in both tables, the symbol, ♦, denotes the incumbent candidate.
New York STATE SENATE Races - November 2, 2010
|
District |
DEMOCRATIC candidate
(includes Independence, Working Family, Green Party, Reform,
Lower Taxes, Change Albany Now, Fix Albany, Cut Taxes/Add Jobs)
|
REPUBLICAN candidate
(includes Independence, Conservative, School Tax Relief, Tax Revolt, Taxpayers)
|
1 |
Jennifer Maertz |
Kenneth LaValle ♦ |
2 |
Ira Bernstein |
John J. Flanagan ♦ |
3 |
Brian X. Foley ♦ |
Lee Zeldin |
4 |
Maeghan Lollo |
Owen H. Johnson ♦ |
5 |
Lawrence Silverman |
Carl Marcellino ♦ |
6 |
Francesca Carlow
David Mejias (Working Families)
|
Kemp Hannon ♦ |
7 |
Craig Johnson ♦ |
Jack Martins |
8 |
Carol Gordon |
Charles Fuschillo ♦ |
9 |
George Sava |
Dean Skelos ♦ |
10 |
Shirley Huntley ♦
|
none
|
11 |
Tony Avella |
Frank Padavan ♦ |
12 |
Michael Gianaris |
Jerome Tina |
13 |
José Peralta ♦
|
Richard La Salle |
14 |
Malcom Smith ♦ |
Samuel Benoit |
15 |
Joseph Addabbo, Jr. ♦ |
Anthony Como |
16 |
Toby Ann Stavisky ♦
|
Robert Schwartz |
17 |
Martin Malave Dilan ♦ |
Michael Freeman-Saulsberre |
18 |
Velmanette Montgomery ♦
|
Laquan Word |
19 |
John Sampson ♦ |
Rose Laney |
20 |
Eric Adams ♦ |
Allan Romaguera |
21 |
Kevin Parker ♦
|
Jeffrey Lodge
Brian Kelly (Conservative)
|
22 |
Michael DiSanto |
Martin Golden ♦ |
23 |
Diane Savino ♦ |
none |
24 |
none |
Andrew Lanza ♦ |
25 |
Daniel Squadron ♦ |
Joseph Nardiello |
26 |
Liz Krueger ♦ |
Saul Farber |
27 |
Carl Kruger ♦ |
Avrahom Rosenberg |
28 |
José M. Serrano ♦
|
Jon Girodes
Keesha Weiner (Conservative)
|
29 |
Thomas Duane ♦ |
Joseph Mendola |
30 |
Bill Perkins ♦
|
Donal Yarbrough |
31 |
Adriano Espaillat
Ann Roos (Green Party)
|
Stylo Sapaskis
Raphael Klapper (Conservative)
|
32 |
Rubén Díaz ♦
|
Michael Walters |
33 |
Gustavo Rivera
John Reynolds (Green Party)
|
John McCarthy |
34 |
Jeffrey Klein ♦ |
Frank Vernuccio |
35 |
Andrea Stewart-Cousins ♦ |
Liam McLaughlin |
36 |
Ruth Hassell-Thompson ♦
|
Robert Diamond |
37 |
Suzi Oppenheimer ♦ |
Bob Cohen |
38 |
David Carlucci
|
C. Scott Vanderhoef |
39 |
Harley Doles |
William Larkin ♦ |
40 |
Michael Kaplowitz |
Gregory Ball
Mary Murphy (Conservative)
|
41 |
Didi Barrett |
Stephen Saland ♦ |
42 |
David Sager |
John Bonacic ♦ |
43 |
Joanne Yepsen |
Roy McDonald ♦ |
44 |
Susan Savage |
Hugh Farley ♦ |
45 |
none |
Elizabeth Little ♦ |
46 |
Neil Breslin ♦
Michael Carey (Reform)
|
Robert Domenici |
47 |
Michael Hennessy
|
Joseph Griffo ♦ |
48 |
Darrel Aubertine ♦ |
Patricia Ritchie |
49 |
David Valesky ♦ |
Andrew Russo
|
50 |
Kathleen Joy |
John DeFrancisco ♦ |
51 |
none |
James Seward ♦ |
52 |
John Orzel |
Thomas W. Libous ♦ |
53 |
Pamela Mackesey |
Thomas O'Mara
|
54 |
Edward O'Shea |
Michael Nozzolio ♦ |
55 |
Mary Wilmot |
James Alesi ♦ |
56 |
Richard Wilt |
Joseph Robach ♦ |
57 |
Michael McCormick |
Catharine Young ♦ |
58 |
William Stachowski ♦ (Independence, Working Families)
Timothy Kennedy (Conservative)
|
Jack Quinn |
59 |
Cynthia Appleton |
Patrick Gallivan
David DiPietro (Tea Party)
James Domagalski (Conservative, Independence)
|
60 |
Antoine Thompson ♦
|
Mark Grisanti |
61 |
Marc Coppola
|
Michael Ranzenhofer ♦ |
62 |
Amy Witryol |
George D. Maziarz ♦ |
New York STATE ASSEMBLY Races - November 2, 2010 |
District |
DEMOCRATIC candidate
(includes Independence, Working Families, Lower Taxes, Had Enough, Ax the Tax, Change Albany Now)
|
REPUBLICAN candidate
(includes Independence, Conservative, School Tax Relief,
We The People, Tax Revolt, School Choice, Right to Life, Taxpayers, Libertarian, Cut My Taxes, Change Albany)
|
1 |
Marc Alessi ♦ |
Daniel Losquadro |
2 |
Fred Thiele ♦ |
Richard Blumenthal |
3 |
Robert Calarco |
L. Dean Murray ♦ |
4 |
Steven Englebright ♦ |
Deborah McKee |
5 |
Kenneth Mangan
Ginny Fields (Independence, Working Families)
|
Alfred Graf |
6 |
Philip Ramos ♦ |
Mohsen Elsayed |
7 |
Richard Macellaro |
Michael J. Fitzpatrick ♦ |
8 |
Janice Sweet |
Philip Boyle ♦ |
9 |
Christopher Dempsey |
Andrew Raia ♦ |
10 |
John Capobianco |
James Conte ♦ |
11 |
Robert Sweeney ♦ |
Brett Robinson |
12 |
Kevin Gorman |
Joseph Saladino ♦ |
13 |
Charles Lavine ♦ |
Robert Germino |
14 |
Dermond Thomas |
Brian Curran |
15 |
Leon Hart |
Michael Montesano ♦ |
16 |
Michelle Schimel ♦ |
Scott Diamond |
17 |
Thomas Devaney |
Thomas McKevitt ♦ |
18 |
Earlene Hooper ♦ |
Derek Partee |
19 |
John Brooks |
David McDonough ♦ |
20 |
Harvey Weisenberg ♦ |
Joshua Wanderer |
21 |
Patrick Nicolosi
Hermione Pierre Johnson (Working Families)
|
Edward Ra |
22 |
Grace Meng ♦ |
none |
23 |
Audrey Pheffer ♦ |
Harold Paez |
24 |
David Weprin ♦ |
Timothy Furey
Bob Friedrich (Conservative)
|
25 |
Rory Lancman ♦ |
none |
26 |
Edward Braunstein
Beth Schiffman
|
Vincent Tabone |
27 |
Nettie Mayersohn ♦ |
none |
28 |
Andrew Hevesi ♦
Joseph Tiraco (Independence)
|
Aleksander Powletrzynski
|
29 |
William Scarborough ♦ |
none |
30 |
Margaret Markey ♦ |
Anthony Nunziato |
31 |
Michele Titus ♦ |
none |
32 |
Vivian Cook ♦ |
none |
33 |
Barbara Clark ♦ |
none |
34 |
Michael DenDekker ♦ |
none |
35 |
Jeffrion Aubry ♦ |
none |
36 |
Arvalla Simotas |
none |
37 |
Catherine Nolan ♦ |
John Wilson |
38 |
Michael G. Miller ♦ |
Donna Caltabiano |
39 |
Francisco Moya |
Humberto Suarezmotta |
40 |
Inez Barron ♦ |
Kenneth Waluyn |
41 |
Helene Weinstein ♦ |
Alan Bellone |
42 |
Rhoda Jacobs ♦ |
Alan Kesler |
43 |
Karim Camara ♦ |
Menachem Raitport |
44 |
James F. Brennan ♦ |
Alfred Caccamo |
45 |
Steven Cymbrowitz ♦ |
Joseph Hayon |
46 |
Alec Brook-Krasny ♦ |
Jerry Amalfitano |
47 |
William Colton ♦ |
Phyllis Carbo |
48 |
Dov Hikind ♦ |
Brian Doherty |
49 |
Peter Abbate ♦ |
Peter Cipriano |
50 |
Joseph Lentol ♦ |
Jacqueline Haro |
51 |
Felix Ortiz ♦ |
Henry Lallave |
52 |
Joan Millman ♦ |
John Jasilli |
53 |
Vito Lopez ♦ |
Bryon Orozco |
54 |
Darryl Towns ♦ |
Khorshed Chowdhury |
55 |
William Boyland, Jr. ♦ |
Robert Marshall |
56 |
Annette Robinson ♦ |
Garnsey Alston |
57 |
Hakeem Jeffries ♦ |
Francis Voyticky |
58 |
N. Nick Perry ♦ |
none |
59 |
Alan Maisel ♦ |
Robert Maresca |
60 |
Janele Hyer-Spencer ♦ |
Nicole Malliotakis
Marietta Canning (Right to Life)
|
61 |
Matthew Titone ♦ |
Dave Narby (Libertarian) |
62 |
Albert Albanese |
Louis Tobacco ♦ |
63 |
Michael Cusick ♦ |
Danny Panzella (Libertarian) |
64 |
Sheldon Silver ♦ |
none |
65 |
Micah Kellner ♦ |
none |
66 |
Deborah Glick ♦ |
William Buran |
67 |
Linda Rosenthal ♦ |
none |
68 |
Robert Rodriguez
John Ruiz (Working Families)
Carlton Berkley (100 People for Chuck)
|
none |
69 |
Daniel O'Donnell ♦ |
none |
70 |
Keith L. T. Wright ♦ |
Dexter Davis |
71 |
Herman D. Farrell ♦ |
Glenda Allen |
72 |
Guillermo Linares |
Dan Russo |
73 |
Jonathan Bing ♦
Gregory Lundahl (Working Families)
|
Paul Niehaus |
74 |
Brian Kavanagh ♦ |
Dena Winokur |
75 |
Richard Gottfried ♦ |
Michael Chan |
76 |
Peter Rivera ♦
Walter Nestler (Green Party)
|
Steven Stern |
77 |
Vanessa Gibson ♦ |
Tanya Carmichael
Robert Marrero (Conservative)
|
78 |
Jose Rivera ♦ |
William Sullivan |
79 |
Eric Stevenson |
Deborah Benbow
Henry Bonet (Conservative)
|
80 |
Naomi Rivera ♦ |
Joseph DeLuna
Robert Goodman (Conservative)
|
81 |
Jeffrey Dinowitz ♦ |
Joseph McLaughlin |
82 |
Michael Benedetto ♦ |
Michael Rendino |
83 |
Carl Heastie ♦
Trevor Archer (Green Party)
|
Patrick McManus |
84 |
Carmen E. Arroyo ♦ |
Roseline Nieves |
85 |
Marcos Crespo ♦ |
Leopold Paul
Arturo Santiago (Conservative)
|
86 |
Nelson Castro ♦
Hector Ramirez (Working Families)
|
Rene Santos
Lisa Marie Campbell (Conservative)
|
87 |
James Gary Pretlow ♦ |
Samuel Rivers |
88 |
Amy Paulin ♦ |
Rene Atayan |
89 |
Thomas Roach |
Robert Castelli ♦ |
90 |
Sandra Galef ♦ |
William Gouldman |
91 |
George Latimer ♦ |
Bill Reed |
92 |
Thomas Abinanti
|
Thomas Bock |
93 |
Mike Spano ♦
Jodi Mosiello (Independence)
|
Mike Ramondelli |
94 |
Kenneth Zebrowski, Jr. ♦ |
Frank Sparaco |
95 |
Ellen C. Jaffee ♦ |
Thomas Morr |
96 |
Roxanne Donnery |
Nancy Calhoun ♦ |
97 |
Myrna Kemnitz |
Ann Rabbitt ♦ |
98 |
Aileen Gunther ♦ |
none |
99 |
Brendan Tully |
Jim Borkowski
Stephen Katz
|
100 |
Frank Skartados ♦ |
Thomas Kirwan |
101 |
Kevin Cahill ♦ |
Peter Rooney |
102 |
Alyssa Kogon |
Joel Miller ♦ |
103 |
Susan Tooker |
Marcus Molinaro ♦ |
104 |
John McEneny ♦ |
Deborah Busch |
105 |
Angelo Santabarbara |
George Amedore ♦ |
106 |
Ronald Canestrari ♦ |
none |
107 |
none |
Clifford Crouch ♦ |
108 |
Timothy P. Gordon ♦ |
Steven McLaughlin |
109 |
Robert Reilly ♦ |
Jennifer Whalen |
110 |
BK Keramati
Mark Little (The Little)
|
James Tedisco ♦ |
111 |
William Magee ♦ |
Richard Bargabos
Shawn Skeele (Conservative)
|
112 |
none |
Tony Jordan ♦ |
113 |
none |
Teresa Sayward ♦ |
114 |
Rudy Johnson |
Janet Duprey ♦
David Kimmel
|
115 |
none |
Claudia Tenney |
116 |
RoAnn Destito ♦ |
Gregory Johnson |
117 |
none |
Marc Butler ♦ |
118 |
Addie Jenne Russell ♦ |
Dave Forsythe |
119 |
Sam Roberts
Michael Donnelly (Green Party)
|
John Sharon
Christina Fitch (Conservative)
|
120 |
William Magnarelli ♦ |
Rick Guy |
121 |
Albert A. Stirpe, Jr. ♦ |
Donald Miller |
122 |
Brian McGrath |
Kenneth Blankenbush |
123 |
none |
Gary Finch ♦ |
124 |
none |
William A. Barclay ♦ |
125 |
Barbara Lifton ♦ |
Thomas Reynolds |
126 |
Donna Lupardo ♦ |
Arthur Garrison
Jason Stokes (Our Founding Fathers)
|
127 |
none |
Peter Lopez ♦ |
128 |
none |
Robert Oaks ♦ |
129 |
none |
Brian Kolb ♦ |
130 |
David Nachbar |
Sean Hanna |
131 |
Harry Bronson |
Kenneth Kraus |
132 |
Joseph Morelle ♦ |
Mark Scuderi |
133 |
David Gantt ♦ |
none |
134 |
David Zimmerman |
Bill Reilich ♦ |
135 |
David Koon ♦ |
Mark Johns |
136 |
Jason Jordan (Common Sense) |
Philip Palmesano |
137 |
James Hare |
Christopher Friend
Paul Marcellus (Conservative)
|
138 |
John Accardo
Francine DelMonte (Working Families)
|
John Ceretto |
139 |
Christopher Barons |
Stephen Hawley ♦ |
140 |
Robin Schimminger ♦ |
Kevin Stocker |
141 |
Crystal Peoples-Stokes ♦ |
none |
142 |
none |
Jane Corwin ♦ |
143 |
Dennis H. Gabryszak ♦ |
Patrick Mandia |
144 |
William Hoyt ♦ |
Brian Biggie |
145 |
Mark J.F. Schroeder ♦ |
none |
146 |
Brad Rybczynski |
Kevin Smardz
Daniel Kozub (Conservative)
|
147 |
none |
Daniel Burling ♦ |
148 |
Gregory Vinal |
James Hayes ♦ |
149 |
Travis Lecceadone |
Joseph Giglio ♦ |
150 |
Nancy Bargar |
Andrew Goodell |
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POLITICS: US Townhall RealStories presents KEVIN PETER CARROLL & RALPH PERFETTO |
Written by Scott Katz
|
Tuesday, 07 September 2010 20:00 |
With election season underway and Primary Day next week on Tuesday September 14, USTownhall.com begins its coverage of this year's political scene in earnest. On Tuesday, September 7, we spoke to Kevin Peter Carroll, who is running for one of the Democratic seats in the position of Democratic District Leader for the Brooklyn, New York section of the 60th Assembly District. He challenges longtime incumbent, Ralph Perfetto for the position that Perfetto has held for the last 18 years. We spoke to Mr. Perfetto on Friday, September 10. Mr. Carroll has been a resident of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn since the age of 10 and has a lengthy background in public service and membership in community organizations. Mr. Perfetto has decades of experience in public service. Do you think Mr. Carroll has what it takes to unseat Mr. Perfetto? Listen to our exclusive interviews with both Mr. Carroll and Mr. Perfetto and judge for yourself.
Then, head to the polls on Primary Day, Tuesday, September 14, and cast your vote for all the offices being contested. Whether Democrat or Republican, please be sure to vote on Primary Day as this is your chance to select from among the largest number of choices and your only chance to bring in new blood to the positions where you feel it is needed or ensure that the incumbent remains in office.
Click on the triangular "play" buttons below to listen to each interview.
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Before Rosa Parks, There Was Lizzie Jennings |
Written by William Joseph Reynolds with Scott Katz
|
Monday, 08 February 2010 20:02 |
Americans are all familiar with the story of Rosa Parks, who, on Thursday, December 1, 1955, refused to yield her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Similar acts of civil disobedience had taken place prior to that including Irene Morgan in 1944, Sarah Louise Keys in 1953, and young Claudette Colvin earlier in 1955 on the very same bus system as Rosa Parks.
But, did you know that a full century before Rosa Parks' courageous stand, another African-American woman took a similar stand when she was ejected from a privately owned streetcar in downtown Manhattan on the corner of Pearl and Chatham streets? Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jennings brought a civil suit against the streetcar company and was represented by a future president. Her attorney successfully argued the case that was the beginning of the desegregation of public transportation in New York City.
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Above: Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Jennings |
Lizzie Jennings was born in 1830. Her father was a businessman, and Lizzie grew up to become a schoolteacher. In the mid-1800's, the most widely used method of public transportation in the city was the horse-drawn streetcar. They were owned and operated by private companies, and the owners or drivers could refuse to serve any passengers they wished to. That being the case, many refused to allow black passengers to get on board.
Jennings' minister, the Reverend J.W.C. Pennington, had been speaking from the pulpit against these practices. Lizzie took it upon herself to see what would happen if she dared to board a streetcar that was not designated as "Colored Persons Allowed."
On a midsummer's day in 1854, July 16, Miss Jennings waited at the aforementioned corner to board a horse-drawn bus to take her to Sunday worship services where she was the organist for her church. In Pre-Civil War New York City, although slavery had been abolished there by 1799, elements of segregation still existed, and black residents could generally only ride buses bearing big "Colored Persons Allowed" signs. Black people could only ride a bus without such a sign at the discretion of the driver. Drivers on those unmarked buses often carried whips to keep off anyone they deemed undesirable.
The New York Tribune reported the Jennings incident in a February 1855 article: "She got upon one of the [Third Avenue Railway] Company's cars last summer, on the Sabbath, to ride to church. The conductor undertook to get her off, first alleging the car was full; when that was shown to be false, he pretended the other passengers were displeased at her presence; but when she insisted on her rights, he took hold of her by force to expel her. She resisted. The conductor got her down on the platform, jammed her bonnet, soiled her dress and injured her person. Quite a crowd gathered, but she effectually resisted. Finally, after the car had gone on further, with the aid of a policeman they succeeded in removing her."
The next day, Jennings told her story to the members of her church, who immediately held a large demonstration denouncing the actions of the bus driver. It should be noted that Jennings came from a relatively well-off family where her father was an important community leader and, as a tailor who owned his own shop, held a patent on a method for renovating garments.
Jennings secured the services of the law firm of Culver, Parker & Arthur to argue her case in court. Chester A. Arthur, the then-25-year-old junior partner who argued the case for Miss Jennings, would go on to become the 21st President of the United States in 1881, finishing out the term of the assassinated James Garfield.
In 1855, the year following the incident, in a decision rendered by Judge William Rockwell of the Brooklyn Circuit Court, Lizzie Jennings won her case against the Third Avenue Railway Company. The judge stated that, "Colored persons if sober, well behaved and free from disease, had the same rights as others and could neither be excluded by any rules of the Company, nor by force or violence." Miss Jennings was awarded $22.50 in court costs, and an additional $225 in damages (out of the $500 that she claimed). The following day, the railway company ordered all their drivers to allow black passengers on their buses. Within five years of Jennings' celebrated lawsuit, all streetcars in the city were desegregated.
In July 1863, Lizzie Jennings, by then Lizzie Graham, suffered a tragic loss when, during the rioting and chaos caused by an angry white mob following a resolution that allowed wealthy New Yorkers to buy their way out of the Civil War draft, her young son was among 70 black people lynched.
Lizzie Jennings Graham lived to be over 70 years old and died in 1901. Almost exactly 100 years after the Jennings incident, Rosa Parks stood up for her rights in Montgomery, Alabama in much the same way. We salute Lizzie Jennings and Rosa Parks as we celebrate Black History Month.
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Understanding New York State Government |
Written by US Townhall staff
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Thursday, 03 December 2009 00:29 |
Law-making power in New York State is held in two distinct bodies of government: the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, which somewhat mirror the construction of the United States Federal Government where legislative power lies with the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. The meeting place of the New York State government is in Albany at the New York State Capitol building, which is located on State Street in Capitol Park.
In New York State, elections for both bodies of state government are held in November of every even-numbered year. Both State Senators and Assembly members are up for reelection after each two-year term. To qualify to hold office in the New York State legislature, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of New York State for at least five years, and a resident of the district one wishes to represent for at least one year prior to election. There are no term limits for members of either the State Senate or the State Assembly.
The New York State Assembly has 150 members, while the membership of the New York State Senate varies, but currently has 62 members. In general, the New York State Senate has been controlled by the Republicans, while the NYS Assembly has historically been controlled by the Democrats. Currently, however, the New York State Senate is also in the hands of the Democrats with 32 of the 62 seats.
The leader of the State Senate is referred to as the "President" (of the Senate); the leader of the State Assembly is known as the "Speaker." In much the same way as the Vice President of the United States also holds the position of President of the Senate, the Lieutenant Governor of New York is also the President of the New York State Senate. In both cases, the President of the Senate has the tie-breaking vote, but does not vote otherwise. On a day-to-day basis, the New York State Senate is typically presided over by a Temporary President or by a Senator chosen by the majority leader.
The Assembly Speaker, the Senate Majority leader, and the Governor of New York are the three most powerful leaders in New York State and together they control most of the agenda of state business.
Just as the United States Congress creates bills that the President signs into law, laws in New York State are created as bills from the State Senate and the State Assembly and go to the Governor for signing into law or for veto. To override a gubernatorial veto, there must be a two-thirds majority to override in each house. The Assembly and Senate also have the power to propose amendments to the New York State Constitution, which would become valid if voted for by a majority of New Yorkers at a referendum ballot measure.
NEW YORK STATE SENATE as of JANUARY 1, 2010
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District | Name | Party | Elected | Contact Info |
1 |
Kenneth LaValle |
Republican |
1976 |
Phone: (631) 696-6900 (518) 455-3121
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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2 |
John J. Flanagan |
Republican |
2002 |
Phone: (631) 361-2154 (518) 455-2071
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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3 |
Brian X. Foley |
Democrat |
2008 |
Phone: (631) 360-3356 (518) 455-2303
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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4 |
Owen H. Johnson |
Republican |
1972 |
Phone: (631) 669-9200 (518) 455-3411
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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5 |
Carl Marcellino |
Republican |
1995 |
Phone: (516) 922-1811 (518) 455-2390
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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6 |
Kemp Hannon |
Republican |
1989 |
Phone: (516) 739-1700 (518) 455-2200
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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7 |
Craig Johnson |
Democrat |
2007 |
Phone: (516) 746-5923 (518) 455-2622
Email:
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8 |
Charles Fuschillo |
Republican |
1989 |
Phone: (516) 882-0630 (518) 455-3341
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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9 |
Dean Skelos |
Republican |
1984 |
Phone: (516) 766-8383 (518) 455-3171
Email:
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10 |
Shirley Huntley |
Democrat |
2006 |
Phone: (718) 523-3069 (518) 455-3531
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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11 |
Frank Padavan |
Republican |
1972 |
Phone: (718) 343-0255 (518) 455-3381
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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12 |
George Onarato |
Democrat |
1983 |
Phone: (718) 545-9706 (518) 455-3486
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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13 |
Jose Peralta
(won a special election on March 16, 2010)
|
Democrat |
2010 |
|
14 |
Malcom Smith |
Democrat |
2000 |
Phone: (718) 528-4290 (518) 455-2701
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
15 |
Joseph Addabbo, Jr. |
Democrat |
2008 |
Phone: (718) 738-1111 (518) 455-2322
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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16 |
Toby Ann Stavisky |
Democrat |
1999 |
Phone: (718) 445-0004 (518) 455-3461
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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17 |
Martin Malave Dilan |
Democrat |
2002 |
Phone: (718) 573-1726 (518) 455-2177
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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18 |
Velmanette Montgomery |
Democrat |
1984 |
Phone: (718) 643-6140 (518) 455-3451
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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19 |
John Sampson |
Democrat |
1996 |
Phone: (718) 649-7653 (518) 455-2788
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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20 |
Eric Adams |
Democrat |
2006 |
Phone: (718) 284-4700 (518) 455-2431
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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21 |
Kevin Parker |
Democrat |
2002 |
Phone: (718) 629-6401 (518) 455-2580
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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22 |
Martin Golden |
Republican |
2002 |
Phone: (718) 238-6044 (518) 455-2730
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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23 |
Diane Savino |
Democrat |
2004 |
Phone: (718) 727-9406 (518) 455-2437
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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24 |
Andrew Lanza |
Republican |
2006 |
Phone: (718) 984-4073 (518) 455-3215
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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25 |
Dan Squadron |
Democrat |
2008 |
Phone: (212) 298-5565 (518) 455-2625
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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26 |
Liz Krueger |
Democrat |
2002 |
Phone: (212) 490-9535 (518) 455-2297
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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27 |
Carl Kruger |
Democrat |
1994 |
Phone: (718) 743-8610 (518) 455-2460
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
28 |
José M. Serrano |
Democrat |
2004 |
Phone: (212) 828-5829 (518) 455-2795
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
29 |
Thomas Duane |
Democrat |
1998 |
Phone: (212) 633-8052 (518) 455-2451
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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30 |
Bill Perkins |
Democrat |
2006 |
Phone: (212) 222-7315 (518) 455-2441
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
31 |
Eric Schneiderman |
Democrat |
1998 |
Phone: (212) 544-0173 (518) 455-2041
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
32 |
Rubén Díaz |
Democrat |
2002 |
Phone: (718) 991-3161 (518) 455-2511
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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33 |
Pedro Espada |
Democrat |
2008 |
Phone: (718) 652-4329 (518) 455-3395
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
34 |
Jeffrey Klein |
Democrat |
2004 |
Phone: (718) 822-2049 (518) 455-3595 (800) 718-2039
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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35 |
Andrea Stewart-Cousins |
Democrat |
2006 |
Phone: (914) 423-4031 (518) 455-2585
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
36 |
Ruth Hassell-Thompson |
Democrat |
2000 |
Phone: (718) 547-8854 (518) 455-2061
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
37 |
Suzi Oppenheimer |
Democrat |
1984 |
Phone: (914) 934-5250 (518) 455-2031
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
38 |
Thomas Morahan |
Republican |
1989 |
Phone: (845) 425-1818 (518) 455-3261
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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39 |
Bill Larkin |
Republican |
1990 |
Phone: (845) 567-1270 (518) 455-2770
Email:
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|
40 |
Vincent Leibell |
Republican |
1994 |
Phone: (845) 279-3773 (518) 455-3111
Email:
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|
41 |
Stephen Saland |
Republican |
1990 |
Phone: (845) 463-0840 (518) 455-2411
Email:
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|
42 |
John Bonacic |
Republican |
1998 |
Phone: (845) 344 3311 (518) 455-3181
Email:
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|
43 |
Roy McDonald |
Republican |
2008 |
Phone: (518) 274-4616 (518) 455-2381
Email:
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|
44 |
Hugh Farley |
Republican |
1976 |
Phone: (518) 843-2188 (518) 762-3733 (518) 455-2181
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
45 |
Betty Little |
Republican |
2002 |
Phone: (518) 743-0968 (518) 455-2811
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
46 |
Neil Breslin |
Democrat |
1996 |
Phone: (518) 455-2225
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
47 |
Joseph Griffo |
Republican |
2006 |
Phone: (315) 793-9072 (518) 455-3334
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
48 |
Darrel Aubertine |
Democrat |
2008 |
Phone: (315) 782-3418 (315) 312-3106 (518) 455-2761
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
49 |
David Valesky |
Democrat |
2004 |
Phone: (315) 478-8745 (518) 455-2838
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
50 |
John DeFrancisco |
Republican |
1992 |
Phone: (315) 428-7632 (518) 455-3511
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
51 |
James Seward |
Republican |
1986 |
Phone: (607) 432-5524 (518) 455-3131
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
52 |
Thomas W. Libous |
Republican |
1988 |
Phone: (607) 773-8771 (607) 687-3399 (607) 336-3401 (518) 455-2677
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
53 |
George H. Winner, Jr. |
Republican |
2004 |
Phone: (607) 732-2765 (607) 776-3201 (518) 455-2091
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
54 |
Michael Nozzolio |
Republican |
1992 |
Phone: (315) 568-9816 (518) 455-2366
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
55 |
James Alesi |
Republican |
1996 |
Phone: (585) 223-1800 (518) 455-2015
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
56 |
Joseph Robach |
Republican |
2002 |
Phone: (585) 225-3650 (518) 455-2909
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
57 |
Catharine Young |
Republican |
2005 |
Phone: (716) 372-4901 (716) 664-4603 (800) 707-0058 (518) 455-3563
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
58 |
William Stachowski |
Democrat |
1981 |
Phone: (716)-826-3344 (518) 455-2426
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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59 |
Dale Volker |
Republican |
1975 |
Phone: (716) 656-8544 (585) 786-5048 (518) 455-3471
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
60 |
Antoine Thompson |
Democrat |
2006 |
Phone: (716) 854-8705 (716) 284-5789 (518) 455-3371
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
61 |
Michael Ranzenhofer |
Republican |
2008 |
Phone: (716) 631-8695 (518) 455-3161
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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62 |
George D. Maziarz |
Republican |
1995 |
Phone: (716) 731-8740 (585) 637-5800 (518) 455-2024
Email:
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