The Indian Panorama

Tag: American Politics

  • UNDER MAYOR DE BLASIO, CITY INVESTING IN M/WBES AT RECORD LEVELS

    UNDER MAYOR DE BLASIO, CITY INVESTING IN M/WBES AT RECORD LEVELS

    More than 600 Businesses Attend Event to do Business with City, 20 Percent Increase from Last Year

    NEW YORK CITY(TIP): Under Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City is investing in minority and women-owned businesses at record levels, including connecting more minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) to public and private contracting opportunities than ever before. On Wednesday, June 27th, the de Blasio Administration hosted the 12th Annual M/WBE Procurement Fair, attended by more than 600 City-certified minority- and women-owned businesses; and nearly 90 City and State agencies, public authorities, and private-sector companies – making this a record-breaking year for both MWBE and agency attendees.

    “The Annual M/WBE Procurement Fair helps minority and women entrepreneurs access City resources and build long-lasting networks that will grow these businesses for years to come,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “These events are key to creating a fairer city where every business owner – regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity – has the chance to participate and succeed in our economy.”

    The Annual M/WBE Procurement Fair helps put in practice the results of the Mayor’s commitment to using the City’s purchasing power to support M/WBEs. In May, the City announced it is two years ahead of schedule to meet his OneNYC goal, which aims to award $16 billion to M/WBEs by the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The City has awarded approximately $7.8 billion to M/WBEs since the goal was established in 2015 – $1.8 billion more than initial projections. As a result, the Mayor will increase his OneNYC goal to award $20 billion to M/WBEs by the end of FY 2025.

    In May, the City increased the loan cap on the City’s Contract Financing Loan Fund, a program that allows M/WBEs and small businesses to access affordable loans. Currently, M/WBEs and small businesses have access to loans totaling $500,000. Beginning this summer, they will be able to access loans totaling up to $1 million per year at a low three-percent interest rate.

    “Communities of color and women are the future economic engine of New York City. That’s why Mayor de Blasio is investing in them more than the city ever has before. Since 2015, the City has awarded approximately $7.8 billion to minority and women-owned business, nearly $2 billion dollars more than initial projections. Now, we’re doubling down, awarding $20 billion to minority and women businesses by 2025 and making it easier to access loans for expansion,” said Deputy Mayor Phil Thompson. “When we invest in communities of color, our city prospers.”

    “The procurement fair, with its unprecedented turnout, represents the City’s focus on improving access to real opportunities for its M/WBE’s. From the opening discussion with lenders on how M/WBEs and small businesses can access low-interest loans funds totaling $70 million, to the many workshops designed for M/WBEs to engage with agencies, the event was the most successful yet”, said Jonnel Doris, Senior Advisor and Director of the Mayor’s Office of M/WBEs.

    “The City’s annual Procurement Fair directly connects City agency procurement needs with the diversity of local businesses, forging strong connections and opportunities to grow these businesses and put them in a stronger position” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services.

    The Procurement Fair offered networking opportunities with purchasing staff as well as access to an Opportunity Room where participants learned about available or upcoming contracting opportunities. The Procurement Fair also featured a panel on accessing capital.

    The Fair is part of Mayor de Blasio’s larger commitment to increase the pipeline of M/WBEs, impact policy and improve performance. The Administration is taking aggressive steps to strengthen M/WBEs and ensure the City’s procurement reflects the diversity of NYC businesses by:

    Awarding $20 Billion to M/WBEs by end of FY 2025

    Certifying 9,000 M/WBEs by end of FY 2019

    Awarding 30% of the value of all City contracts by end of FY 2021

    The City is continuing to certify available firms, to meet the Mayor’s goal of City-certifying 9,000 M/WBEs by end of FY 2019. Currently, the City boasts nearly 6,000 certified M/WBEs in its program, a roughly 60-percent increase since the beginning of the Administration.

    “As chair of the Committee on Women, it is clear to me that supporting our M/WBE and small city contractors are critical to the economic empowerment of women and minorities. This administration has shown a real commitment to creating innovative and effective new tools for us to do exactly that. I want to congratulate NYC Small Business Services on hosting its 12th Annual Procurement Fair. Thank you to the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, and Commissioner Bishop for their ongoing leadership and partnership on this issue and best wishes to everyone participating in the Fair,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal (Manhattan, District 6).

    Free services are available to help strengthen certified M/WBEs, including access to technical assistance, bonding, financing, teaming and mentorship. M/WBEs are also eligible to participate in the City’s Corporate Alliance Program, which trains and connects City-certified firms with private sector contracting opportunities, as well as Strategic Steps for Growth, a nine-month business management course for M/WBEs offered by the City in partnership with New York University.

    Firms interested in starting the M/WBE certification process or participating in M/WBE programming can learn more by calling 311, visiting nyc.gov/getcertified or meeting with a client manager at one of the City’s seven NYC Business Solutions Centers located in all five boroughs.

    About the Department of Small Business Services (SBS)

    SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building vibrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information, visit nyc.gov/sbs or call 311.

  • Manhattan Borough President Brewer invites public schools, nonprofits to apply for Manhattan Community Award Program

    Manhattan Borough President Brewer invites public schools, nonprofits to apply for Manhattan Community Award Program

    NEW YORK CITY(TIP): Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer announced July 2 that applications are open for her office’s Manhattan Community Award Program (MCAP).

    The program provides small funding awards—typically between $3,500 and $5,000—to nonprofit organizations and public schools to help support programming or operational expenses. Each award is contracted through one of four City agencies – Department for the Aging (DFTA), Department of Corrections (DOC), Department of Education (DOE), or Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Proposals must relate to the specific agency’s overall mission and goals.

    “Community awards enhance the work of local nonprofits and schools every year,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “They make unique events and programs possible that support our students, enrich our seniors’ lives, and improve our neighborhoods.”

    Applicants must complete an online application with questions related to their organization’s operations and how the awarded funds would be used. A review panel made up of the Borough President’s Office budget staff will assess applications.

    More information on MCAP funding and how to apply can be found here.

    General information on all opportunities for funding through Brewer’s office is available here.

    The Borough President’s Office Grant Portal can be accessed here.

    The deadline for MCAP submissions via the Grants Portal is August 10, 2018.

    Representatives of public schools and local nonprofits are strongly encouraged to reach out directly with questions or requests for more information. The Borough President’s budget staff can be reached by email to budget@manhattanbp.nyc.gov.

  • Indian American Seema Nanda appointed as the new CEO of Democratic National Committee

    Indian American Seema Nanda appointed as the new CEO of Democratic National Committee

    WASHINGTON D.C.(TIP): Indian American Seema Nanda has been appointed as the new CEO of the Democratic National Committee. Announcing the appointment, DNC said in a press release that Nanda, who served on​ the transition team of DNC Chair Tom​ Perez, will manage the organization’s day-to-day operations.

    “This position is the opportunity of a lifetime, for which I am incredibly honored and humbled,” Nanda said in a statement issued by the DNC. “People are hurting all across our country. And I believe that Democrats are offering the positive solutions so desperately-needed right now – solutions forged by the strength of our diversity, the rigor of our ideas, and the decency of our values. I am grateful to Chairman Perez and Mary Beth for selecting me, and I look forward to joining my new DNC colleagues in the fight for our nation’s values and future.”

    The selection of Nanda is significant because it comes in a mid-term cycle that is seen by Democrats as a make-or-break election. Women have been playing a highly visible role in the party’s efforts to snatch at least one chamber of Congress, which will enable Democrats to block parts of the agenda of President Trump.

     “I’m beyond excited that Seema is bringing her talent and brilliance to the DNC,” said Perez said in a statement. “I’ve seen firsthand Seema’s exceptional ability to lead. She is a seasoned manager who has a proven track record of success and a well-documented history of fighting for our Democratic values, whether it’s on immigration, civil rights or leveling the playing field for our workers.”

    Besides serving on the transition team, which reviewed DNC’s operations after the disastrous 2016 presidential elections, Nanda also worked as Perez’s chief of staff to while he was the Secretary of the US Department of Labor. At the department, she also served as Deputy Solicitor.

    Perez said he was “one hundred percent certain that Seema’s leadership will help the DNC capitalize on the unprecedented grassroots energy and enthusiasm surging throughout the country.”

    Nanda, a graduate of Boston College Law School and Brown University, succeeds the current CEO Mary Beth Cahill, who will continue to serve through the transition.

    Nanda’s appointment came after a five-month search.

    “If there’s anything I’ve learned during my search for a permanent CEO, there’s no shortage of qualified and passionate leaders in our party. Seema undoubtedly fits the bill,” said Cahill. “With Seema joining our senior leadership team, I know that the DNC will be in good hands. Working alongside Chairman Perez and the team has been an honor and a privilege. Though I’m leaving my role in the building, I’ll never stop working to make sure Democrats everywhere continue to win from the school board to the Oval Office.”

  • Indian American Top Lawyer Appointed Acting Head of Drug Enforcement Agency

    Indian American Top Lawyer Appointed Acting Head of Drug Enforcement Agency

     WASHINGTON(TIP): Indian American White House top lawyer, Uttam Dhillon, has been appointed as the new Acting Administrator of the crucial Drug Enforcement Agency that combats the smuggling and use of narcotics in the US.

    Mr. Dhillon replaces Robert Patterson, who has retired after 30 years of service.

    Mr. Dhillon, who till recently worked in the White House as deputy counsel and deputy assistant to President Donald Trump, took up the role of Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on July 3.

    “With one American dying of a drug overdose every nine minutes, there can be no doubt that we are facing the deadliest drug epidemic in our history,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said announcing his appointment.

    The work of the Drug Enforcement Administration is critical to fighting this crisis, and President Donald Trump and he are committed to continuing to give it the strong leadership it deserves, Sessions said.

    Mr. Dhillon is a dedicated public servant who has served with distinction in the White House, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, Congress, and as a career federal prosecutor taking on drug traffickers at the highest levels.

    Having a long career battling drug traffickers and violent crime in 2006, Mr. Dhillon was confirmed by the Senate as the first Director of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

    In that role, he served as the primary policy advisor on counternarcotics issues, focused on combating the connections between illegal drug trafficking and terrorism and developed regional counternarcotics strategies for DHS.

    Prior to DHS, Mr. Dhillon served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the Department of Justice, where he chaired the Attorney General’s Anti-Gang Coordination Committee and led efforts to formulate and implement Department of Justice policies and programs to combat violent crime and criminal gangs.

    Earlier in his career, Mr. Dhillon worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California for six and a half years.

    During that period, he was appointed to the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and worked with federal and local law enforcement agencies to direct complex investigations of violent gangs and major narcotics trafficking organizations.

    More recently, he has served as Deputy Counsel and Deputy Assistant to the President.

    Mr. Dhillon received his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, an MA from the University of California, San Diego, and a BA from California State University, Sacramento.

  • EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Resigns in the face of ethics issues

    EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Resigns in the face of ethics issues

    WASHINGTON(TIP): Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency who was key to implementing President Trump’s conservative agenda but came under intense scrutiny for a series of questionable ethical decisions, resigned Thursday, July 5 afternoon. Pruitt’s deputy at the EPA, Andrew Wheeler, will serve as the agency’s acting administrator starting Monday, President Trump said in a tweet.

    “I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda,” Mr. Trump tweeted. “We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright!” 

    Donald J. Trump

    ✔@realDonaldTrump

     I have accepted the resignation of Scott Pruitt as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Within the Agency Scott has done an outstanding job, and I will always be thankful to him for this. The Senate confirmed Deputy at EPA, Andrew Wheeler, will…

    3:37 PM – Jul 5, 2018

    Pruitt had been the subject of a seemingly endless deluge of stories about his behavior and spending practices. It began earlier this year when it was revealed that Pruitt had rented a room at a favorable rate from a well-connected energy lobbyist. Pruitt’s lavish spending on his own security then came under scrutiny, as did his decision to install a $43,00 private phone booth in his office. There were also allegations that Pruitt had created a toxic professional atmosphere at the EPA that penalized his critics.

    Pruitt said his decision to leave the EPA was a hard one in his resignation letter to Mr. Trump.

    “It is extremely difficult for me to cease serving you in this role first because I count it a blessing to be serving you in any capacity, but also, because of the transformative work that is occurring,” Pruitt wrote. “However, the unrelenting attacks on me personally, my family, are unprecedented and have taken a sizable toll on all of us.”

    Mr. Trump defended Pruitt Thursday evening while speaking to reporters on Air Force One. He said there was “no final straw” and that he had not requested Pruitt’s resignation.

    “Scott Pruitt did an outstanding job inside of the EPA,” the president said. “We’ve gotten rid of record breaking regulations and it’s been really. You know, obviously, the controversies with Scott — but within the agency we were extremely happy. His deputy has been with me actually a long time. He was very much an early Trump supporter. He was with us on the campaign. He is a very environmental person. He’s a big believer, and he’s going to do a fantastic job.”

    The government had launched numerous investigations and probes into Pruitt’s behavior, although he continued to insist that he had done nothing wrong. At the time of Pruitt’s resignation, the EPA inspector general was looking into his protective service detail, his traveling at taxpayer expense, and the allegedly excessive raises he gave to some members of his staff. Swamped by requests and stretched thin by the sheer number of audits into Pruitt, the EPA inspector general had also agreed to look into his housing arrangements and allegations that he had staff members perform his personal errands, among other issues.

    Pruitt is the fifth member of Mr. Trump’s cabinet to resign or be fired since he took office. The others were former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, former Health and Human Services secretary Tom Price, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and former Veterans Affairs secretary David Shulkin.

    (Source: CBS News)

  • Consuls in NYC Team Up to Call for Family Reunification

    Consuls in NYC Team Up to Call for Family Reunification

    NEW YORK(TIP): On Tuesday, the New York-based consuls of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica joined Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in demanding the Trump administration provide “complete and transparent” information on the migrant children who have been separated from their parents at the border and sent to New York.

    The Central American diplomats created a common front to protect the children and analyze the tools with which they hope to be able to access the federal data but warned that a prompt reunification will be difficult if Washington continues to refuse to release the information.

    “This goes beyond policies and countries; it is about human dignity, and what we need to do is ask the government to clarify the information and promote reunification,” said Juan Diego Zelaya, consul of Honduras, adding that so far, they know there are 449 minors from his country in New York City.

    The diplomat said that he has already met with a number of children who are under the care of the Cayuga Center in Manhattan. There, he was told that the center has information on each one of the minors but is prevented from sharing it without federal authorization.

    “[They said that] when a child is detained at the border and has been separated from their father and mother, there is a special file detailing where the parent and the child were sent, and we requested access to that information to be able to help,” added Zelaya.

    Similarly, Guatemala’s consul Pedro Tzunún said that there are 692 Guatemalan minors in New York, 500 of them male and mostly teenagers. He added that it is painful to know that they are away from their families.

    “It is hard to see that the kids don’t even know or understand what is happening. The youngest is a 5-year-old girl. She does not talk much, but you can see the sadness in her, and it hurts to see that they will end up traumatized,” said the consul, who also asked to have access to the children’s data.

    Mexican Consul Diego Gómez Pickering said that there are three minors from his country in New York and that the joint effort of the diplomatic delegations is meant to create channels of cooperation to help the minors.

    For his part, José Vicente Chinchilla, consul of El Salvador, mentioned that the information his office has received is so vague that they only have an estimate of between 100 and 150 Salvadoran children separated from their parents in the country, with no specific information on how many of them are in New York.

    “Without that information, we cannot operate. We believe that, ideally, the children should travel with their parents. We intend to have the families reunited, but we want to make it clear that we respect the laws of this country, even when we do not share this decision to separate them,” said the Salvadoran diplomat.

    The consul of Costa Rica, Rolando Madrigal, said that he only knows of one minor from his country in the city.

    While the consuls agreed that everything is uncertain at the moment due to the federal administration’s refusal to share the children’s data in a “transparent and clear” manner, Council member Carlos Menchaca warned that many of the children – particularly the youngest – may get lost in the system and never see their parents again unless swift action is taken.

    “That might happen if nothing is done,” said the chair of the City Council’s Committee on Immigration. He added that he is especially concerned about the fate of a 9-month-old baby who is currently in New York City.

    “It is so jarring that this is happening now, and we need to focus on that child – who is 9 months old and can’t even talk – and bring justice. We need to reunite [the baby] with the parents immediately because they have rights, and not even the government can take those rights away,” said Menchaca.

    The politicians also said that if the federal government fails to promptly provide the data the group is requesting, they may consider taking legal action.

    “We are going to explore every option to stop this administration, which is creating a humanitarian crisis with these children, and we are going to use the courts, but our priority right now is to get a hold of the information because at the moment, we don’t even know how many children there are or where their parents are,” said Menchaca.

    (Source: El Diario)

  • Indian Origin Amul Thapar among Potential Supreme Court nominees to replace Justice Kennedy

    Indian Origin Amul Thapar among Potential Supreme Court nominees to replace Justice Kennedy

    WASHINGTON(TIP): Indian Origin Amul Thapar, 49 is one of the potential Supreme Court nominees to replace Justice Kennedy.

     Amul Thapar, 49, a McConnell favorite, was handpicked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to serve as the US attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. In 2006, he went on to a seat on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

    Trump nominated Thapar to the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017. He was born in Michigan and served in government as well as private practice. In 2007, Thapar was the first American of South Asian descent to be named to an Article III federal judgeship.

    Justice Anthony Kennedy, a longtime member of the Supreme Court and frequent swing vote, announced Wednesday that he will retire, giving President Donald Trump the chance to fill his seat.

    The opportunity will allow Trump to make a major, lasting mark on the nation’s highest court by putting in place a second justice, after his choice to elevate Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court last year following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016.

    Trump, reacting to the news at the White House, said he had spoken with Kennedy earlier Wednesday and asked the outgoing justice about possible contenders to replace him.

    “(We) had a very deep discussion. I got his ideas on things,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “I asked him if he had certain people he had great respect for that could potentially take his seat.”

    During his remarks, Trump pointed to a list of potential picks for the court that he had maintained during the campaign and updated last fall.

    Here are a few names of possible contenders for the vacancy.  Brett Kavanaugh, former Kennedy clerk; Amy Coney Barrett, former Notre Dame professor; Raymond Kethledge, former Kennedy clerk; Mike Lee, Utah senator; and Thomas Hardiman, runner-up for Gorsuch seat.

     

     

  • Indian American Aruna Miller loses Democratic primary in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District

    Indian American Aruna Miller loses Democratic primary in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District

    MARYLAND (TIP): Indian American Aruna Miller lost the Democratic primary for the state’s open sixth congressional district on June 26.

    Miller finished second with 17,315 votes, roughly 5,000 fewer than the winner, businessman David Trone.

    Only 55,000 registered voters cast their votes in the Democratic primary. The presence of two Asian Americans — pediatrician and author Nadia Hashimi and State Sen. Roger Manno — did not help Miller’s cause.

    Hashimi received 4,764 votes, Manno got 4,245 votes.

    Trone, founder of Total Wine & More, reportedly spent $12 million of his own money for the campaign, vastly outspending Miller, who raised $1.5 million.

    Trone had spent more than $10 million in the Democratic primary from the neighboring 8th district in 2016, when he finished second behind Jamie Raskin, who now represents the district in Congress.

    Speaking to roughly 200 of her friends and supporters at a Gaithersburg, MD, restaurant, the candidate vowed to continue to fight for the issues she ran on.

    “When I first started out this journey to run for Congress people said to me… ‘Aruna look you really want to give up a safe seat in the House of Delegates and take on this role of running for Congress?’ I said you know what you better believe it. I do, and the reason why is because our democracy, our future and our liberties for every one of the kids that are here today, it’s worth fighting for and risking everything for and I don’t regret it one bit.”

    She said the campaign was about “what we fight together, what we’re seeking together,” she said. “Tomorrow, we’re gonna get up and we’re gonna fight for democracy. We never take our eye off that. It is something worth fighting for. People have marched for and died for so we, you and I, could have the liberties and the freedoms and all the things that we have today. And that’s our responsibility to do that for the future generation.”

    Miller also thanked the Indian American community for its support.

    “They’ve been incredibly supportive and I’m grateful for that support,” she said. “I think the Indian American community, along with the nation, has woken up from their political slumber after the presidential election and are beginning to understand now why it’s important to be politically engaged.”

    Miller further added in her speech the way forward.

    I’m sure most of you know the story — and every immigrant knows his story — that my mom and dad risked it all came to the United States, stepped out of their comfort zone in order to give greater opportunities for their children. And I’m thankful for that. … They taught me a lesson in that that you should always step out of your comfort zone. That’s when life really begins. Get comfortable with the jagged edges, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. That’s what my mom and dad and every immigrant that comes to this nation has taught me and that’s something that I hope you can take away no matter what you do in life.

    I just want to say: Look, it isn’t over [tonight] … Life is full of disappointments. This is only one data point in that we’re gonna get up tomorrow, we’re gonna fight for democracy, we’re gonna make sure, as we move forward, that it’s about an inclusive America that we want to create. You know I spent my entire life, and I’m sure some of you have also been in this space, trying to fit into a space that didn’t have me in mind right and that’s not what America is about. We’re about expanding that space, so everyone belongs and that’s what I want to work towards.

    She went ahead and congratulated all.

    I want to congratulate every one of the people that ran in [the 6th] congressional district, to all the candidates who gave up their self, their time, their energy and gave the best of themselves to share with the voters. And the voters you know made a decision and they elected an individual and you know we’re gonna have to get up tomorrow morning, we’re gonna have to get up again to work towards something bigger than ourselves, something more important just than our campaign. It’s about moving the ball forward. It’s about moving that needle more towards progress. Progress comes in incremental steps. It’s never over. There is no final destination, but it’s about moving towards it little at a time. And I hope that you will all join us in making sure that we do this.

     

  • Hoboken Mayor censured for ‘unethical’ conduct by N.J. Supreme Court

    Hoboken Mayor censured for ‘unethical’ conduct by N.J. Supreme Court

    HOBOKEN, NJ (TIP): Mayor Ravi Bhalla was censured by the New Jersey Supreme Court last week after a disciplinary board chided him for not setting aside over $6,000 for a former employee’s retirement account between 2008 and 2009.

    The June 13 action came six months after the board said the facts of the case “clearly and convincingly” establish that Bhalla acted unethically and violated three rules of professional conduct. The board voted 4-3 to recommend censure instead of a three-month suspension of Bhalla’s law license.

    The disciplinary board said that Bhalla’s actions would have warranted a reprimand had he not been admonished in 2010 for record-keeping violations and for paying a client and himself from a check that had not cleared, actions deemed “improper,” according to its 15-page December decision. The board found that a censure was due because of Bhalla’s “nonchalance” regarding the employee’s missing retirement contributions, the decision says.

    “This matter amounts to an oversight by a small business owner that was immediately rectified once made aware of it,” Bhalla told The Jersey Journal.

    The timing is not optimal for Bhalla, who is the subject of a critical vote at Wednesday’s Hoboken council meeting. The nine-member council, which has been hostile to the mayor, is scheduled to adopt an ordinance that would require Bhalla offer extensive and regular details about his part-time gig working for law firm Lavery, Selvaggi, Abromitis & Cohen.

    The censure stems from a dispute involving the private practice Bhalla, a Democrat, ran before he joined the council in 2009. The details are spelled out in the disciplinary board’s December decision.

    Attorney Alexander Bentsen worked for Bhalla in 2008 and 2009. Bentsen, who made a $60,000 salary, asked Bhalla to withhold 10 percent of his gross income to be deposited in an IRA account at UBS Financial Services, with Bhalla matching Bentsen’s contributions by up to 3 percent, the decision says.

    But Bhalla did not make the required deposits, leaving Bentsen’s IRA underfunded by $6,208 for the two years, according to the December decision. Bhalla also failed to remit Bentsen’s 2008 Social Security withholding taxes, totaling $4,000, until 2013 or 2014, the decision says.

    The mayor told the disciplinary board that he thought the payroll company he had hired took care of the funds intended for the employee’s IRA account, according to the decision.

    Bhalla did not take any steps to remedy Bentsen’s financial situation until he was interviewed by the Office of Attorney Ethics seven years after the issue arose, the decision says.

    Lawyers in New Jersey can be punished in five ways. The least serious action is admonition, followed by reprimand, censure, suspension and disbarment.

    “Ravi Bhalla accepts, but respectfully disagrees with the ruling,” said Bhalla spokesman Rob Horowitz. “This was an inadvertent payroll mistake, resulting in the underpayment of an employer match on an IRA retirement program more than 10 years ago when Mr. Bhalla operated his own small law firm. The employee never informed Mr. Bhalla and then waited seven years and filed an ethics complaint. As soon as Mr. Bhalla realized there was an underpayment, he immediately paid the amount due.”

    Bentsen made “numerous requests” to rectify the matter, according to the December decision.

    Wednesday’s council action involves a proposed rewrite of the city code that would require the mayor to submit quarterly reports on any outside employment listing all income and a list of all clients and or contracts. Brian J. Aloia, Hoboken’s corporation counsel, recommended to the council in a six-page memo that it not adopt the ordinance, calling the change “invalid and unenforceable.”

    Bhalla’s critics on the council — there are seven — have said they believe the mayor’s part-time job with the Lavery firm raises potential conflict-of-interest issues.

    (Courtesy The Jersey Journal / Terrence T. McDonald)

  • Indian American Techie Shubham Goel is California’s youngest Governor Candidate

    Indian American Techie Shubham Goel is California’s youngest Governor Candidate

    SACRAMENTO(TIP): Indian American Shubham Goel, who has his roots in Uttar Pradesh is the youngest candidate running for governor of California, Mr. Goel calls for “fresh voices to change the state government”. He was born and raised in California and campaigns for need for practical solutions to problems that the state faces.

    A virtual reality manager by profession, the 22-year-old has been using social media platforms to reach out to the public. His campaigns show him on the streets of California with a megaphone in hand, advocating transparency in the political system.

    In a video he posted on Twitter, the young techie in a dark blue t-shirt is seen asking people at a carnival to support him, while one of his aides is standing beside him holding a big, white placard to pitch his candidacy for California governor.

    Mr. Goel will contest alongside 27 other candidates, according to a two-page state governor contest list that shows he does not have a party preference.

    Another video posted on his Twitter profile shows him campaigning on virtual reality or VR platforms. “Technology has been able to fix a lot of issues. I want to run for governor just to implement technologically feasible platforms,” he said.

    Shubham Goel recently graduated from the University of California or UCLA and holds a degree in economics and film studies. Calling himself an “everyday person,” soon after he announced his candidacy, he tweeted, “California is struggling and this is the moment for change!”

    According to Mr. Goel, the primary reason for running for office is that one needs no political backing or funding to bring about change. “I wanted to run to show that in state-wide offices, it is presumed that to run for office, you need loads of money and fame and loads of political backing. I want to show that all you need is efficiency, platforms and conviction,” he said.

    If elected, Mr. Goel hopes to take California back to its Gold Rush period, arguably one of the most significant events to shape American history.

    Mr. Goel campaigns on a seven-point platform that includes a handbook for the governor that talks of creating centralized and digitalized profiles on social media for office-holders. The profiles will show their economic interactions for the past 10 years with regards to money and donations they have received from any source.

     

     

  • Preet Bharara for NY State Attorney General?

    Preet Bharara for NY State Attorney General?

    NEW YORK(TIP): Preet Bharara, the former United States attorney in Manhattan who was fired by President Trump, has registered as a Democratic voter in New York for the first time in more than a decade amid speculation that he might run for attorney general, New York Times says.

    Mr. Bharara’s registration in Westchester County occurred during the window for candidates to gather signatures to qualify for the Democratic primary in September. A candidate needs thousands of signatures across half the congressional districts by mid-July — meaning time is short for Mr. Bharara to jump in.

    The Democratic primary for attorney general is already crowded. It includes Letitia James, the New York City public advocate, who was nominated at the state party convention; Representative Sean Patrick Maloney of the Hudson Valley; Zephyr Teachout, a law professor and former candidate for governor; and Leecia Eve, a former adviser to Hillary Clinton and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

    They are running to replace Eric Schneiderman, who resigned suddenly last month after multiple women accused him of physical abuse. Barbara D. Underwood, who was chosen last month to replace Mr. Schneiderman, has said she would not seek election in November.

    Mr. Bharara, who has become an outspoken commentator since Mr. Trump fired him last year, has built a liberal following. He addressed the idea of running for attorney general last month on his podcast.

    “I think politics is not really for me, but it’s an important job, it’s an important time so we’ll see,” said Mr. Bharara, who is also a former aide to the Senate minority leader, Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York.

     

  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reveals plan to make schools safer

    Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reveals plan to make schools safer

    DALLAS(TIP):  An Associated Press report says Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday, May 30, called for schools to have more armed personnel and said they should put greater focus on spotting student mental health problems but he proposed only a few small restrictions on guns following a shooting at a high school near Houston that left 10 people dead.

    The Republican and staunch gun-rights supporter released a 43-page report following three days of mostly closed-door meetings last week organized with school district officials, shooting survivors and groups on both sides of the gun-control debate, among others.

    The recommendations are voluntary, and some would require changes to state laws that would need approval from the Legislature, which doesn’t come back into session until 2019. School districts wishing to make some of the changes could begin doing so, such as sending staff for free gun training this summer.

    The lack of major gun control measures is not surprising in a state that embraces its gun-friendly reputation and has more than 1.2 million people licensed to carry handguns.

    The only significant gun-related proposal was a possible “red flag” law, although Abbott gave it a tepid endorsement, asking leaders of the Legislature to “consider the merits.” Eight states have red flag laws that allow family, law enforcement and others to file a petition to remove firearms from a potentially dangerous person. Florida, Vermont and Maryland passed such laws after the mass school shooting in Florida in February.

    Abbott’s report does not appear to depart much from the playbook of the powerful National Rifle Association following school shootings.

    Alice Tripp, legislative director for the NRA-affiliated Texas State Rifle Association said Abbott’s proposals wouldn’t lead to weapons being seized without some protections for gun owners. “Gov. Abbott has pledged due process. He’s a gun owner himself,” Tripp said.

    Abbott is proposing a change to the state law that says guns can’t be accessible to children under 17, with exceptions such as hunting or parent supervision. He’s encouraging the Legislature to consider making the law also apply to 17-year-olds. Authorities have charged a 17-year-old student, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, with capital murder in the May 18 attack at Santa Fe High School. Pagourtzis is accused of using a shotgun and .38 revolver that belonged to his father.

    Abbott also wants a new law that would require gun owners to report a lost or stolen firearm within 10 days.

    The report says the state will have access to nearly $70 million through federal funding and state grants for the proposals. The state also expects to compete for an additional $40 million from federal programs, and Abbott says he’ll ask state lawmakers for a further $30 million.

    “We all share a common bond: And that is we want action to prevent another shooting like what happened at Santa Fe High School,” Abbott, who is campaigning for re-election, said during a news conference at Dallas school district headquarters.

    Abbott’s Democratic opponent for governor, Lupe Valdez, said it’s “astounding” how few of the proposals directly address gun violence.

    So far, the governor has not been enthusiastic about calls for a special legislative session on gun laws – a sharp contrast to the response in Florida following the February high school shooting there that killed 17 people. Florida lawmakers, who were already in session, passed a gun-control package three weeks later, thanks in part to a lobbying campaign led by student survivors of the attack.

    In Texas, any attempts to create a mechanism to seize weapons is likely to be met with skepticism in a Republican-controlled Legislature that has expanded the rights of gun owners in recent years and made it easier and cheaper to be licensed to carry a handgun.

    Also, unlike the students in Florida, several students at Santa Fe High School have been vocal opponents of increased gun control, including some who were invited to meet with Abbott last week.

    Kris Brown, the co-president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said: “The answer to preventing school shootings isn’t some deep-seated secret. It’s guns. It’s the fact that it’s frighteningly easy for dangerous people to get access to a gun, and this proposal does little to stop that.”

    Texas State Teachers Association President Noel Candelaria said he “strongly objects” to arming more teachers. “Teachers are trained to teach and to nurture, not double up as security guards,” Candelaria said.

    Abbott’s recommendations include measures to “harden” campuses such as creating vestibules where doors must by remotely unlocked before visitors enter, installing metal detectors and having an alarm that would signal there’s an active shooter.

    Abbott is also recommending an expansion of a program that identifies students at risk of committing violence and provides help for them. He also wants to increase the number of people trained to identify signs of mental illness and increase awareness of a state system that allows people to report people who may be a threat and suspicious activity.

  • Trump imposes steel and aluminum tariffs on the E.U., Canada and Mexico

    Trump imposes steel and aluminum tariffs on the E.U., Canada and Mexico

    Tensions rise over potential Trade War-US Allies Retaliate, American Businesses and Farmers Upset

    WASHINGTON(TIP): President Trump on Thursday, May 31 imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from the European Union, Canada and Mexico, triggering immediate retaliation from U.S. allies and protests from American businesses and farmers.

    The tariffs — 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum — take effect at midnight Thursday, May 31, giving rise to fears of a major escalation of the trade war between the United States and its top trading partners.

    The White House has said the U.S. tariffs — 25 percent duties on steel and 10 percent on aluminum shipments from Canada, EU member states and Mexico — are necessary to safeguard U.S. national security.

    Stung by the U.S. action, the allies quickly hit back.

    In announcing his country’s response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was “inconceivable” that Canada “could be considered a national security threat to the United States,” noting that U.S. fighter planes and tanks contain Canadian steel.

    “These tariffs will harm industries and workers on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border and will disrupt supply chains that have made steel and aluminum from North America more competitive across the whole world,” he said in a press conference in Ottawa.

    Effective July 1, Canada will impose tariffs of 25 percent on shipments of U.S. steel and 10 percent on aluminum, as well as on other products, such as playing cards, inflatable boats and yogurt. Canada’s finance ministry estimated the value of the U.S. goods subject to those tariffs at up to C$16.6 billion ($12.8 billion),

    Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, said the European Union also will apply news tariffs on American goods, with the trading bloc signaling it would target products made in states represented by key Republican leaders. The EU has said it would respond with tariffs on $3.3 billion in American imports as early as June 20.

    “The U.S. now leaves us with no choice but to proceed with a [World Trade Organization] dispute settlement case and with the imposition of additional duties on a number of imports from the U.S. We will defend the Union’s interests, in full compliance with international trade law,” Juncker said in a statement.

    The E.U. said it would impose import taxes on politically sensitive items like bourbon from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s home state of Kentucky. Mexico said it would levy tariffs on American farm products, while Canada zeroed in on the same metals that Trump has targeted.

    The Mexican government said it would levy import taxes on U.S. exports of pork bellies, apples, cranberries, grapes, certain cheeses and various types of steel.

    Thursday’s action was driven by the president’s conviction that allies and adversaries routinely take advantage of the United States and that efforts to resolve trade disputes are doomed unless he wields a big tariff stick.

    “The United States has been taken advantage of for many decades on trade,” Trump said in a statement. “Those days are over. Earlier today, this message was conveyed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada: The United State[s] will agree to a fair deal, or there will be no deal at all.”

    Officials from the three trading partners — among Washington’s closest allies for decades — have dismissed the idea that their shipments to American customers endanger the United States — and some prominent Republicans attacked the tariffs as wrongheaded.

    At home, some have expressed doubts about the position Trump has taken.

    Sen. Ben Sasse was blunter in criticizing the tariffs.

    “This is dumb. Europe, Canada and Mexico are not China, and you don’t treat allies the same way you treat opponents,” the Nebraska Republican said in a statement. “We’ve been down this road before — blanket protectionism is a big part of why America had a Great Depression. ‘Make America Great Again’ shouldn’t mean ‘Make America 1929 Again.’ “

  • A bang and a whimper- Trump scraps Kim summit, citing NK’s ‘open hostility’

    A bang and a whimper- Trump scraps Kim summit, citing NK’s ‘open hostility’

    Trump’s announcement came hours after North Korea carried out what it said is the demolition of its nuclear test site.

    WASHINGTON(TIP): US President Donald Trump on Thursday, May 24, called off a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un scheduled for next month, even after North Korea followed through on a pledge to blow up tunnels at its nuclear test site.

    Trump announced his abrupt withdrawal from what would have been a first-ever meeting between a serving US President and a North Korean leader in Singapore on June 12 in a letter to Kim.

    A White House official said a North Korean official’s condemnation of US Vice-President Mike Pence as a “political dummy” was “the last straw” that led to cancelling the summit.

    “Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it would be inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting,” Trump wrote to Kim.

    “Please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place.” Trump called it “a missed opportunity” and said he still hoped to meet Kim someday. However, the chances for a quick rescheduling appear remote and cancellation of the summit will renew fears of a return to conflict on the Korean peninsula.

    Earlier on Thursday, North Korea had repeated a threat to pull out of the summit with Trump next month and warned it was prepared for a nuclear showdown with Washington if necessary.

    South Korea’s presidential Blue House appeared taken off guard by Trump’s letter and an official said it was “trying to figure out what President Trump exactly meant.” South Korean President Moon Jae-in had met with Trump at the White House on Tuesday, May 22, to urge him to follow through on the summit and not let a rare opportunity with reclusive North Korea slip away.

    A few hours before Trump announced the cancellation, a small group of international media selected by North Korea witnessed the demolition of tunnels at the Punggye-ri site on Thursday, May 24, which Pyongyang said was proof of its commitment to end nuclear testing.

    Meanwhile, alarm bells began to ring at the world body. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General said, “I am deeply concerned by the cancellation of the planned meeting in Singapore between the President of the United States and the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Both the parties must continue their dialogue so as to find a path to the peaceful and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula”.

  • Indian Americans Appointed By New York Mayor To Board Of Advisors

    Indian Americans Appointed By New York Mayor To Board Of Advisors

    NEW YORK (TIP):  Two Indian American executives are among 19 people appointed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as members to an organization that addresses the city’s most pressing challenges, with a particular focus on improving the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers.

    Hotel Association of New York City President and CEO Vijay Dandapani and Insight Venture Partners Managing Director Deven Parekh, along with 17 other individuals have been appointed members to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City Board of Advisors.

    Mr. Dandapani is a hotel industry veteran, recognized in 1998 as one of Crain’s New York Business top 100 minority business leaders in New York City.

    In 2002, the Asian American Business Development Center, New York selected him as one of 50 outstanding Asian Americans in Business. He is an alumnus of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

    According to its website, the Hotel Association of New York City is one of the oldest professional trade associations in the nation. Currently it represents 280 hotels, 80,000 rooms and about 50,000 employees.

    Mr. Parekh manages investments in vertical and horizontal software and consumer internet companies globally. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Economic Club of NY and the Greater NY Partnership.

    He was nominated by former president Barack Obama, and confirmed by the US Senate to serve on the Overseas Private Investment Corporation Board. In addition, he is chairman emeritus of Publicolor, a New York City based non-profit organization that focuses on inner city schools.

    During the period 2010 2012, he served as a Member of the Advisory Board of the US Export-Import Bank which is the official export credit agent of the United States. Mr. Parekh is regularly featured on Forbes’ list of the world’s top venture capitalists.

    For over 20 years, the Board of Advisors has provided expertise and critical support for the Fund as it pursues its goal of creating innovative and evidence-based approaches to address the City’s most pressing challenges, a press statement issued yesterday said.

    “To address the challenges facing our city, we need all New Yorkers pushing for progress together including those in our robust private sector,” de Blasio said.

    First Lady Chirlane McCray, Chair of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City said the administration depends on New York City’s civic leaders to partner with government to make the city more vibrant and equitable.

    Founded in 1994, the Mayor’s Fund is a not-for-profit organization which annually works with an average of over 80 City programs, projects and initiatives; over 300 institutional funders; and more than 100 community-based organizations.

    The Mayor’s Fund and its partners work on a diverse set of initiatives that address needs across the city’s five boroughs, with a particular focus on improving the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers and New Yorkers in need.

    The Fund has made strategic investments to promote mental health services for all New Yorkers, increase workforce development opportunities for young New Yorkers, and meet the needs of New York City’s diverse immigrant community.

    Recently, the Mayor’s Fund has supported relief work in response to the unprecedented natural disasters that hit Puerto Rico, Texas and the Caribbean, including collecting USD 1.7 million in aid for residents displaced by Hurricane Maria.

     

     

     

  • Indian American Aruna Miller Marlyland Democrat received another big endorsement courtesy the Former Obama Chief of Staff Denis McDonough

    Indian American Aruna Miller Marlyland Democrat received another big endorsement courtesy the Former Obama Chief of Staff Denis McDonough

    MARYLAND (TIP): Indian American Maryland Democrat Aruna Miller received another big endorsement on May 22nd courtesy Denis McDonough, former Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama.

    “I know first-hand what it takes to get things done in Washington,” McDonough, who served as chief of staff during Obama’s second term from 2013 to 2017. “Right now, we need experienced leaders who will stand up and fight for our values. Aruna came to this country as an immigrant and benefited from the American dream. I admire how she is giving back.” said Denis McDonough.

    “Denis McDonough led President Obama’s team defending the Affordable Care Act and protecting our environment,” Miller said. “I’m delighted to have his support. In Congress, I won’t let Donald Trump undo the progress we’ve made.”

    Last week, Montgomery County Council Vice President Nancy Navarro had endorsed Miller, who has bagged a series of high-profile endorsements.

    Among Democrats who have so far endorsed her include Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY; US Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-WA,  Ami Bera, D-CA, Ro Khanna, D-CA, and  Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi; Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett; former Maryland Lieutenant Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend; and Maryland Del. Kumar Barve.

    The primary is on June 26.

    One of Miller’s primary rivals is millionaire David Trone, who spent more than $13 million of his money when he ran unsuccessfully from the 8th congressional district two years ago.

    Trone has so far raised more than $5.6 million and spent $4 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

    Miller has remained competitive by doing well in a series of debates and also raising nearly $1.2 million, which is more than the combined amount raised by the five other candidates in the Democratic primary.

  • Indian Americans Sri Kulkarni and Chintan Desai win Democratic congressional primaries in two different states

    Indian Americans Sri Kulkarni and Chintan Desai win Democratic congressional primaries in two different states

    TEXAS & ARKANSAS (TIP): Indian Americans Sri Kulkarni and Chintan Desai have won Democratic party primaries held on May 22ndin Texas and Arkansas respectively.

    Sri Preston Kulkarni, a former US diplomat, won the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District defeating Letitia Plummer, his only rival.

    In Arkansas, Chintan Desai, a school teacher, won the state’s first congressional district unopposed.

    In the 22nd dirstrict runoff on May 22nd, Kulkarni received 62.1 percent of the total votes polled, while Plummer got 37.88 percent votes.

    The runoff was required after no candidate was able to secure the 50 percent threshold in the primary held in March.

    Kulkarni and Plummer finished first and second in the primary with 31.81 percent and 24.30 percent votes respectively, resulting in a run-off to decide the Democratic nominee for the November election.

    Now Kulkarni will face Republican incumbent Pete Olson in November.

    Earlier, Olson had won the Republican primary in March defeating three candidates.

    “On May 22nd, we made history in District 22. Our movement, uniting diverse communities through shared values, took us across the finish line and helped me become your Democratic nominee for US Congress,” Kulkarni.

    “None of this would have been possible without our hundreds of volunteers, from middle schoolers to senior citizens, and, of course, the thousands of voters who participated in this election,” he thanked his volunteers for the unflinching support they provided, adding that” I am beyond thankful to be in this fight with you. I look forward to working with y’all to make sure our communities and our families get the representation they deserve in Congress.”

    Kulkarni, a former US diplomat, quit his State Department job to run for Congress.

    “According to media reports, Texas 22nd is a Republican leaning district. Olson, a four-term incumbent, has a 10-point advantage in the district. However, Democrats see the district as a pick-up opportunity.

    Arkansas 1st is a heavily Republican seat, which was carried by Trump by 35 points in the last presidential election. Desai’s November opponent, Rep. Rick Crawford has been representing the district since 2011.

  • Trump lists Michael Cohen payment on federal form, raising legal concerns about Stormy Daniels payoff

    Trump lists Michael Cohen payment on federal form, raising legal concerns about Stormy Daniels payoff

    WASHINGTON(TIP): President Trump should have disclosed Michael Cohen’s hush payment to porn star Stormy Daniels as a financial liability last year, the government’s top ethics watchdog concluded Wednesday, potentially opening the President up to legal complications.

    David Apol, acting director of the Government Ethics Office, said in a letter appended to Trump’s 2018 financial disclosure form that a payment Cohen made to “a third party” on behalf of the President during the 2016 election meets the requirements for a reportable “loan.”

    The letter does not explicitly state what Cohen’s payment was for, but the President’s legal team and Cohen himself have previously acknowledged he paid Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about allegedly having sex with Trump in 2006. Cohen has also admitted the hush payment was issued 11 days before Trump’s election.

    While Apol didn’t say so in his letter, the revelations mean Trump could have committed a crime by not disclosing the liability in his financial disclosure report last year. Apol referred his findings to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for any “inquiry” the Justice Department may pursue into the matter.

    Trump acknowledged in the disclosure form for the first time that he fully reimbursed Cohen last year for “expenses” ranging between $100,001 and $250,000.

    Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani insisted Trump disclosed the repayments to Cohen in this year’s report out of “an abundance of caution.”

    “It’s not a loan, but he reported it anyway,” Giuliani, the latest addition to Trump’s legal team, told the Daily News, directly contradicting Apol’s findings. “It was in fact an expense, like paying a doctor. If you owe a doctor $2,000 and you pay him back, that’s not a liability.”

    Giuliani claimed Trump didn’t list Cohen’s payment to Daniels in last year’s form because he didn’t need to.

    “There’s nothing to report,” Giuliani said.

    Asked if Trump is worried, Giuliani delivered a one-word rebuke: “Nope.”

    Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a legal watchdog group that first flagged Trump’s disclosure omission in March, welcomed Apol’s findings and swiftly filed a criminal complaint against the President. They called on the Justice Department to look into whether he “knowingly and willfully” failed to report required information — an offense punishable by up to one year behind bars.

    “There is substantial evidence that President Trump had knowledge of the loan when he filed his public financial disclosures last year,” Noah Bookbinder, the watchdog’s executive director, said in a statement. “If the department is not already investigating the President’s failure to disclose the loan last year, it should open an investigation immediately.”

    A spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined to comment.

    Attorney Michael Avenatti, who represents Daniels in a civil lawsuit seeking to void her nondisclosure agreement with Cohen, said the financial form “conclusively proves” that Trump, Cohen, Giuliani and the White House deceived the “American people.”

    “This was NOT an accident and it was not isolated,” Avenatti tweeted. “Coverups should always matter.”

    Cohen, Trump’s longtime attorney and personal fixer, had his Manhattan office, home and hotel room raided by FBI agents last month as part of a criminal investigation launched by federal prosecutors in New York. The agents seized a cache of records, including communications between Cohen and his clients.

    Michael Cohen arrives at Manhattan Federal Court on April 16.

    Michael Cohen arrives at Manhattan Federal Court on April 16. (Alec Tabak)

    Whether Trump committed a crime by not disclosing the Cohen payments last year is a matter of whether or not he knowingly omitted them, according to experts.

    “Trump may be wondering today whether the information DOJ seized from Cohen’s office included any emails or other documents showing he knew of the debt when he filed last year’s report,” former Government Ethics Director Walter Shaub tweeted.

    Shaub, who served as the ethics czar between 2013 and 2017, noted that Apol’s letter to Rosenstein is tantamount to a “criminal referral.”

    Shaub also recalled that, while serving as ethics director, Trump attorney Sheri Dillon asked him if the President could submit his 2017 disclosure without certifying its contents as true.

    “The strangest moment in my entire career,” Shaub said.

    Wednesday’s financial disclosure dump also revealed First Lady Melania Trump raked in as much as $1 million last year in royalties from photos of her owned by Getty Images.

    It’s not clear what photos in particular she received royalties for, but her spokeswoman told The News the payments pertained to images taken before Trump took office.

  • Indian American Susheela Jayapal elected as Oregon’s Multnomah County Commissioner

    Indian American Susheela Jayapal elected as Oregon’s Multnomah County Commissioner

    OREGON(TIP): Susheela Jayapal was elected as the Multnomah County Commissioner in Oregon on May 15th. Jayapal defeated construction contractor Sharon Maxwell, non-profit administrator Bruce Broussard and Maria Garcia.

    Fighting her first major election, Jayapal won a four-way race with 54 percent votes. She replaced the current commissioner Loretta Smith.

    Jayapal is an experienced attorney and advocate and is a long-time community volunteer.

    She was expected to win the election after her strongest opponent, Black Parent Initiative CEO Charles McGee, decided to end his campaign mid-way following a sexual harassment allegation.

    Congratulating her sister, Pramila Jayapal tweeted, “My sister, @SusheelaJayapal, just became the first #SouthAsian American elected in Oregon!!! #DiversityMatters”

    Jayapal was endorsed by the Indian American Impact Fund.

    “Tonight’s win by @SusheelaJayapal is our second big win of the cycle, following @RamForSenate’s sweeping primary victory which positions him to be the first Indian American to serve in the Illinois state legislature. This is what progress and history look like!” the Impact Fund tweeted.

    Susheela Jayapal holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Swarthmore College and a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.

    She worked as a litigator at law firms in San Francisco and Portland. She also served as the General Counsel at Adidas America, serving as a member of the senior executive team responsible for the legal affairs of what was then a $1 billion company.

    As an attorney, Jayapal represented the government in taking on corrupt and negligent bank officers during the fiscal crisis of the 1980s; provided free legal services to people seeking political asylum in the U.S.; and worked on improving labor conditions at factories in Southeast Asia, developing and implementing adidas’ first set of labor standards.

  • Indian American women lawmakers introduce a new bill to monitor the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in the United States

    Indian American women lawmakers introduce a new bill to monitor the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in the United States

    WASHINGTON(TIP): Indian American women lawmakers Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Sen. Kamala Harris on May 15thintroduced a new bill titled Detention Oversight Not Expansion (DONE) Act to monitor the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in the United States.

    The bill is meant to keep a close watch of the ICE detention centers and proposes to halt the funding for any new construction, and expansion of such facilities.

    According to the two Democrats, over the last two decades, the number of non-citizens held at ICE detention centers in the United States has increased by 400 percent and the inmates of these centers include women, children and pregnant women.

    The bill’s text also says that these inmates are often mistreated by the ICE agents and are forced to live in deplorable conditions, in violation of their basic rights.

    “Even though the U.S. already houses the largest immigrant detention system in the world, the Trump Administration wants more detention beds without any oversight,” said Jayapal in an official release posted on her website.

    “The countless number of horrific assaults, senseless abuses and needless deaths of immigrants in detention prove that ICE isn’t able to police itself. Our bill demands a higher accountability of ICE and a stop to detention expansion because our nation doesn’t need more violence and further militarization – what we need is comprehensive and humane reform and real accountability,” she added.

    “ICE’s indiscriminate approach to immigration enforcement continues to sow fear and anxiety in communities across the nation and strict oversight is long overdue,” said Harris.

    “It is unconscionable to subject detainees to inhumane conditions that include cases of unchecked sexual abuse, outright medical negligence, lack of access to counsel, and in some cases, even death. It’s time to end the expansion of these facilities that divert these resources to address true public safety threats,” she added.

    The new bill proposed by Jayapal and Harris require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress that includes a plan to decrease the number of detention beds by 50 percent of the number available as of the date of the enactment of this Act by using alternatives to detention that are less costly to the taxpayer and have been shown to be successful.

    It also proposes restoring and expanding the Family Case Management Program and calls for DHS’ Office of Inspector General to conduct unannounced inspections of all immigration detention facilities to ensure compliance with national standards, focusing on the health, safety and care of detainees, especially as it relates to pregnant women. The DHS OIG will be required to submit a report of its findings to Congress.

    Jayapal and Harris also recommend the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to conduct similar investigations and submit a report of its findings to Congress.

     

  • Senate Confirms Gina Haspel as First Female director of CIA

    Senate Confirms Gina Haspel as First Female director of CIA

    WASHINGTON(TIP): History was made on May 17   when US Senate confirmed Gina Haspel as the first female director of CIA.

    After a protracted confirmation battle that resurrected a nationwide debate about the agency’s post-9/11 use of enhanced interrogation techniques — thought by many to have constituted torture — Gina Haspel will officially become director of the Central Intelligence Agency. She is the first operations officer in more than five decades – and the first-ever woman – to be named to the role. On Thursday, May 17, the Senate voted, 54-45, to confirm Haspel, one day after the Senate Intelligence Committee, in a 10-5 vote, reported her nomination favorably. Overall, six Democrats voted in support of her candidacy; two Republicans, Sens. Flake and Paul opposed it.

    President Trump nominated Haspel to the post in March, in a tweet, while announcing that her predecessor, former CIA director Mike Pompeo, was being tapped to lead the State Department.

    Much of Haspel’s 30-year career at CIA was spent in the clandestine service and remains classified. Her reported oversight, in 2002, of a secret “black site” in Thailand — where detainees were subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques, including waterboarding — generated widespread controversy and ardent condemnation from civil rights groups. Her involvement in ordering the destruction, in 2005, of 92 videotapes – some of which documented the interrogations — while serving as chief of staff to then-Director of the clandestine service Jose Rodriguez was also roundly criticized.

    Among those opposed was Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, who survived years of torture as a POW in Vietnam, and who, as he undergoes treatment for brain cancer, was not present for the floor vote. Last week McCain issued a powerful statement opposing Haspel’s candidacy, calling her role in overseeing the use of torture by Americans “disturbing.”

  • Himesh Gandhi Formally Claims Sugar Land Council Seat in Texas

    Himesh Gandhi Formally Claims Sugar Land Council Seat in Texas

    HOUSTON(TIP): A well-known Indian American community leader and a politician, Himesh Gandhi, formally won council seat in Sugar Land, Texas on May 5.

    The win is Gandhi’s fourth and final term. He received 100 percent of the 4,353 votes.

    “Thank you to the citizens of Sugar Land for your trust and confidence as I serve my fourth and final term. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve!” Gandhi wrote on Facebook.

    Gandhi was first elected in 2012, when he was 35, the youngest councilman to be elected in a citywide vote.

    He has served on numerous city council committees and was also a member of the task force that spearheaded development of the Smart Financial Center at Sugar Land—an iconic concert and performance hall that opened last year.

    Other successes and projects launched by the city during Gandhi’s previous term include the successful annexations of Greatwood and New Territory, the acquisition of a former prison site for redevelopment, the completion of drainage projects, and the return to normal operations after the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey.

    In 2015, Gandhi was honored by the Houston Business Journal as one of the region’s 40 under 40 young leaders. The Indian Panorama had carried the news then.

    Gandhi earned a B.B.A. from Houston Baptist University and his law degree from the South Texas College of Law Houston. He, his wife Farrah and their son Jaiden live in the Telfair neighborhood.

  • New York’s attorney general Eric Schneiderman who was pursuing Donald Trump, resigns in the face of a scandal

    New York’s attorney general Eric Schneiderman who was pursuing Donald Trump, resigns in the face of a scandal

    NEW YORK(TIP): New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman abruptly resigned on Monday, May 7 night just hours after the New Yorker published a bombshell report about his personal life alleging he was violent toward four different women. Schneiderman, who did not respond to a request for comment on this story, issued a statement saying he had merely engaged in sexual “role-playing.”

    Schneiderman, who was elected in 2010, had been pursuing Trump on several fronts — his personal business, the special counsel investigation into the 2016 election and on behalf of New York state against actions taken by the Trump administration.

    Trump allies — including his son Donald Trump Jr. and counselor Kellyanne Conway — celebrated the news of Schneiderman’s downfall.

    “Gotcha,” Conway tweeted.

    Schneiderman’s perch in the Empire State gave him jurisdiction over Trump’s company. He first took on Donald Trump in August 2013 when he sued Trump for fraud in conjunction with Trump University, a seminar series that the former attorney general called a “sham.”  Trump agreed to pay a $25 million settlement to students of the program who had brought their own lawsuit, claiming they had been misled with false claims that the costly courses would guarantee success in the real estate business.

    Since Trump took office, Schneiderman has been cooperating with Robert Mueller’s probe into Russia’s role in Trump’s election. That was a threat to Trump because the president could pardon anyone indicted by Mueller but has no pardon power over state charges. In Albany, N.Y., Schneiderman had been pushing to change New York law to close a double-jeopardy loophole that might have prevented him from bringing charges in that situation.

    Along with his work with Mueller, Schneiderman has filed a flurry of lawsuits against the Trump administration. This blitz included suits against each iteration of Trump’s travel ban, the repeal of DACA and rollbacks in emissions standards. Schneiderman’s office filed amicus briefs with the Supreme Court in cases involving the travel ban and LGBT discrimination. Other states also joined many of these suits, but Schneiderman often led the coalitions.

    It’s not known if Schneiderman has been conducting its own investigations into Trump’s affairs. His office has not commented.

    With Schneiderman stepping down, the solicitor general, Barbara Underwood, becomes acting attorney general. A new attorney general could be chosen by the state Legislature, with both houses meeting in joint session. Democrats, led by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, have the majority and would be able to pick Schneiderman’s replacement. Multiple sources have told Yahoo News that the leading contenders include New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Kathleen Rice, state Sen. Michael Gianaris and state Sen. Jeffrey Klein. Heastie did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

    On Tuesday, the political buzz centered on James, who is known to be interested in the office and previously worked as an assistant attorney general. As public advocate, a nebulous position, she is New York City’s second-highest elected official and one of the state’s most prominent African-American women in office. A source familiar with the workings of the attorney general’s office predicted James would be a vocal opponent of Trump if she’s tapped for the job.

    “I think she would be aggressive and political in terms of going after Trump,” the source said.

    But any replacement picked by the Legislature will serve out only the remainder of Schneiderman’s term, which ends in December, unless that replacement runs for a full four-year term in November. Party primaries are on Sept. 13.

    A well-connected New York politico said legislators may forego naming a temporary replacement, leaving Underwood in the job and allowing voters to decide who should fill the office. Although there is already political pressure for the Legislature to choose this option, it would deprive legislators of the opportunity to reward a favorite and affect the shape of multiple upcoming races.

    The source familiar with the workings of the attorney general’s office predicted that, if Underwood remains in place, she would continue Schneiderman’s existing work.

    “If it’s Barbara Underwood, she’s like a lawyer’s lawyer,” the source said, noting she has argued before the Supreme Court.

    “I imagine she would continue all the Supreme Court actions, but I don’t know how aggressive she’d be in terms of going after new actions,” the source said.

    As for the election, New York’s statewide races generally lean Democratic, but Republicans are hoping Schneiderman’s woes could give them an opening. Republican Manny Alicandro, a corporate lawyer, launched a campaign shortly before the news broke. With Schneiderman out of the picture, more high-profile GOP candidates could also enter the fray. A Republican victory would be a major boon to Trump. Alicandro has criticized Schneiderman’s attacks on the White House as attention-seeking gamesmanship.

    There are at least two Democratic prospects eyeing that race who aren’t on the Legislature’s shortlist — former gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout and ex-U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

    Teachout gained notoriety in the state by mounting a surprisingly successful progressive challenge to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2014. In a tweet on Tuesday, Teachout said she is “seriously considering running for Attorney General.” Bharara was fired by Trump last year and has since emerged as a major critic of the White House on Twitter and in a popular podcast.

    If Schneiderman’s successor takes on Trump, that person may have the advantage of putting in a full day at the office. The report detailing the abuse allegations also claimed Schneiderman drank heavily and used prescription drugs. Although all of the insiders who spoke to Yahoo News said they were stunned by the allegations, multiple sources who worked with Schneiderman said he regularly showed up to work several hours late.

    “We just thought he was lazy,” a source said.

    (Source: Yahoo)

  • Indian American Aakash Patel received endorsement of Florida lawmaker Burgess

    Indian American Aakash Patel received endorsement of Florida lawmaker Burgess

    FLORIDA (TIP): Indian American Aakash Patel, a Republican running for Hillsborough County Commission, received the endorsement of Danny Burgess, a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

    “I am honored to offer my support and endorsement to Aakash,” Burgess said. “He is a very successful businessman and I know he will take his strong drive and dedication to our community to the County Commission.  I am certain he will apply his conservative ideals and objectives to important issues in Hillsborough County and I look forward to working with him in that capacity.”

    Last week, Patel had received the endorsement of District 2 Commissioner Victor Crest.

    Last month, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Will Weatherford endorsed him.

    The election is being held for the District 1 seat, which is being vacated by Sandy Murman, who is running for a four-year term from District 7.

    Patel said, “I am honored to have Rep. Burgess support and endorse me in this county commission race. I have known Danny for a long time and I truly respect the work he has done to bring conservative policies to all levels of government he has served. From Zephyrhills City Hall to the Florida State Capitol, I appreciate all that he does, and I look forward to working with him on important conservative issues when I am elected to the county commission.”

    Patel, who earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and English Literature from Florida State University, worked at The Tampa Bay Times’ Tallahassee Bureau.

    He is also a graduate of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Tampa (2012), FBI Citizen’s Academy (2012), Tampa Police Citizen’s Academy (2012), Tampa Bay Public Leadership Institute (2013) Leadership Tampa Bay (2011), and Tampa Connection (2010), and College Leadership Florida (2005).

    He is enrolled in City of Tampa’s Mayor’s Neighborhood University, according to his LinkedIn profile.

     

     

     

  • Indian American Aruna Miller wins Kennedy Townsend’s endorsement

    Indian American Aruna Miller wins Kennedy Townsend’s endorsement

    MARYLAND(TIP): Indian American Aruna Miller, who is running for Congress from Maryland’s open 6th district, has won a key endorsement from Former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

     “Aruna Miller devotes her enormous energies and talents to her constituents, rising early, staying up late, all the while focused on results,” Kennedy Townsend said in a statement. “She has strong values and is able to work across the aisle. She is just the leader we need right now in Congress. I am proud to endorse her.”

    Miller replied in gratitude to the former lieutenant governor.

    “I am honored to have the endorsement of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, an outstanding public servant who left an indelible mark as Maryland’s first woman Lieutenant Governor,” she said. “Kathleen is one of my heroes and role models, and I am excited to have her support. Following her example, I will never stop trying to make Maryland, and the world, a better place.”

    Kennedy Townsend is the daughter of Sen. Robert Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy.

    Earlier on Saturday, Miller won a Western Maryland straw poll by securing 140 votes against 76 gained by her Democratic primary rival David Trone. Last month, she had won “Our Revolution” candidate forum straw poll.

    She wrote on her Facebook page: “A deep gratitude to Western Marylanders, the voters, the Gubernatorial and Congressional candidates, and to the organizers of the Summit.”

    She added that the straw poll results have been accurately predicting the primary winner for the last 14 years and the victory margin for the 6th Congressional District straw polls have never been this large.

    “Thank you to the miracles in my life; my family, friends, the priceless volunteers, and the dedicated staff who poured their heart and soul into the exciting day,” she wrote on the post.

    The primary is scheduled for June 26.

    Miller has raised more than $1 million campaign donations so far. Her campaign said more than 97 percent of the contributions have come from individuals and it has “far outpaced her rivals in both the number of contributions (1,723) and individual donors (1,402).”

    Miller, who came to the United States from India at age 7, is a civil engineer by profession. The issues she has focused include women’s rights, children’s safety, environmental protection, and transportation.