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THE VILLAGE CHOICE - Volume 4, Issue 37
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Manhattan Libertarian Party
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Sep 23, 2005 14:11 PDT
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THE VILLAGE CHOICE
A Weekly Rundown of News, Views and Events Affecting Freedom in NYC
Volume 4, Issue 37 * September 23, 2005
THE VILLAGE CHOICE is brought to you by the Manhattan Libertarian Party.
http://www.manhattanlp.org
In this issue:
* NYPD pulls plug on grieving mother!
* Welcome to Maximum Security High!
* Homeowners brace for 4.3% tax hike!
* Your calendar of pro-freedom events!
* Much more!
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* News Bites *
Cindy Sheehan Unplugged
Cindy Sheehan may be the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement. But that
didn't stop members of the New York Police Department from marching into
the crowd of about 150 people gathered in Union Square Monday to hear
her speak and yanking away the microphone. The NYPD pulled the plug just
as Sheehan was calling on the audience not to lose heart in the fight to
end the war in Iraq. "We get up every morning, and every morning we see
this enormous mountain in front of us," said Sheehan, speaking on behalf
of the other parents and family members of fallen soldiers who have
taken up the crusade to bring the troops home. "We can't go through it,
we can't go under it, so we have to go over it," she continued, just as
the cops rushed the makeshift podium.
http://villagevoice.com/news/0538,fergusonshee,67983,2.html
Prisoners or Pupils?
Griping that new metal detectors and lunchtime lockdowns make them feel
like jailbirds, angry DeWitt Clinton High School students took to the
Bronx streets in a protest this week. "We felt institutionalized. It's
like a prison," said Anthony Stafford, 17, a senior who helped organize
the demonstration. School officials and Mayor Bloomberg decided the
metal detectors were necessary after a rash of weapons-related incidents
during the 2003-04 school year. Records show 13 major crimes were
tallied at the school that year, well above the average of 8.3 major
crimes for a school of similar size. But students said the detectors
delayed them from getting into the school, and a new rule keeping
students inside at lunch caused dangerous overcrowding in the cafeteria.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/348073p-297031c.html
Higher Taxes Ahead
City homeowners should reportedly brace for one of the biggest property
tax increases in recent years. According to the New York Times, the tax
rates for one-, two- and three-family houses will go up 4.3 percent for
bills due in January. The paper says the hike is required by state law,
due to rising home values. Property taxes on condos, co-ops, and rental
buildings would reportedly rise by 1.5 percent, while taxes on office
buildings would go down about 2 percent. The city's finance commissioner
tells the Times her staff's objective is to assess property values
accurately, not to raise tax revenue. In 2002, the Bloomberg
administration hiked property taxes 18.5 percent to help close the
city's budget gap.
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=53615
Must Be a Different New York State
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in a Connecticut case on eminent
domain should not change how the city seizes private land for public
use, according to a top city lawyer. "What happened in Connecticut is
not authorized by the legislature at this moment in New York State,"
attorney Lisa Bova-Hiatt told Queens neighborhood leaders Monday night
at Borough Hall. The advice came as Queens neighborhoods brace for the
use of eminent domain to redevelop Willets Point and other areas. Those
attending had few questions, and Willets Point was mentioned only once.
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/nyc-land0921,0,5821323.story
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* Rant of the Week *
No rant this week. Send your rants to village-@manhattanlp.org.
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* Upcoming Events *
Monday, September 26, 10:30 p.m.
"The Libertarian Alternative"
A Libertarian political talk show
Time Warner Cable Ch. 34, RCN Cable Ch. 110, MNN Ch. 1
http://www.libertarianalternative.org
Tuesday, September 27, 8:30 p.m.
“Hardfire”
A Libertarian political talk show focusing on NYC
Time Warner Cable Ch. 56
http://hardfire.net
Friday, September 30, 6:15 p.m.
Still We Speak rally
Demonstration for free speech and free assembly
Jim Lesczynski, Libertarian for Public Advocate, will be a featured
speaker.
Union Square Park, South Plaza
http://www.stillwespeak.org
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* Manhattan Libertarian Party Honor Roll *
Benefactors (have given at least $1,000 to the MLP in 2005)
Ron Moore
Victor Niederhoffer
Founders (have given at least $500 to the MLP in 2005)
Your Name Here?
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* News tips, rants and events wanted! *
Help us improve THE VILLAGE CHOICE. Send news bites, rants and event
announcements to village-@manhattanlp.org. Please include a web
link whenever possible. We will occasionally consider broader topics,
but our strong preference is for items pertaining to freedom (or the
lack thereof) in New York City.
THE VILLAGE CHOICE is edited by Jim Lesczynski.
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If you're offended by anything in this newsletter, you're obviously a
humorless socialist of either the right-wing or left-wing variety.
See you next week!
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