hotair--2020-06-11--Trump: Seattle authorities must regain control of the "autonomous zone"

Part of me wants the cops and National Guard to go in there today and start rounding up hippies .
But another part of me wants to sit back and let this nascent retelling of “ Animal Farm ” play out a bit longer .
Some lessons need to be learned the hard way .
It shouldn ’ t take long .
At the rate we ’ re going they ’ ll be at the “ some animals are more equal than others ” stage by this weekend , with purges to begin shortly thereafter .
I ’ m doubling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s post : It remains difficult to tell whether the “ Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone ” is essentially an elaborate drum circle or the beginning of a large-scale hostage situation .
It ’ s equally unclear if the city and state think they ’ ll have difficulty clearing out the area or if they ’ re just holding off for the time being to avoid the optics of cops advancing on young wokesters because they won ’ t leave when asked .
There *are* sinister elements developing .
Last night John posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new warlord , Raz Simone , enforcing law and order .
Long live Secretary-General Raz : Seattle cops admitted at a press conference that they ’ ve heard reports of extortion inside the area ( I reproduced one such report myself yesterday ) : She said police are receiving reports of armed people manning the check points intimidating people trying to enter .
“ While Washington is an open carry state , there is no legal right for those arms to be used intimidate community members , ” Nolette said .
Nolette said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street is illegal .
“ We have heard anecdotally of citizens and businesses being asked to pay a fee to operate within this area ; this is crime of extortion , ” Nolette said .
The city ’ s fire chief was on the scene yesterday in hopes of closing two large metal gates to the now-abandoned police precinct ’ s garage .
The “ occupiers ” helped him do it .
“ [ W ] e got a team , we are working through this and there is some trust built and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trust , ” said the chief when asked afterward about the … unusual arrangement .
The NYT ’ s read on it , while astonishing , is correct : “ The protest zone has increasingly functioned with the tacit blessing of the city.
” They ’ ve even got their own street signs , for cripes sake : On the other hand : That ’ s from our Townhall cousin , Julio Rosas , who ’ s on the scene .
The Times also noticed the block-party atmosphere , calling the CHAZ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hundreds have gathered to hear speeches , poetry and music .
On Tuesday night , dozens of people sat in the middle of an intersection to watch ’ 13th , ’ the Ava DuVernay film about the criminal justice system ’ s impact on African-Americans .
On Wednesday , children made chalk drawings in the middle of the street.
” It sounds like the equivalent of a campus sit-in , except possibly a bit more chill .
But it can ’ t go on forever .
Real life isn ’ t campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newsroom ) , no matter how much the left wishes it was .
Christopher Rufo of City Journal asked one Seattle cop what the plan is here .
Answer : No plan right now .
According to one Seattle police officer with knowledge of internal deliberations , the city ’ s “ leadership is in chaos ” and “ the mayor has made the decision to let a mob of 1,000 people dictate public safety policy for a city of 750,000.
” The officer said that Chief Best had dispatched high-ranking police officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line of communication , but the officials were immediately sent away by armed paramilitaries at the barricades .
“ The tide of public opinion is on the side of the activists and they ’ re pushing the envelope as far as they can , ” said the officer .
“ It ’ s not hyperbolic to say the endgame is anarchy.
” Amazingly , Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee hadn ’ t even heard that Seattle had lost control of part of its Capitol Hill district to protesters until yesterday afternoon , 48 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That ’ s news to me , ” he said at a news conference when asked about it .
The president , still smarting over his recent lost opportunity to look tough by deploying troops to American streets , sees a new one : It ’ s the Insurrection Act debate all over again .
Rather than wait for evidence that local cops and the National Guard can ’ t deal with the problem themselves , he ’ s trying to bigfoot local officials by inserting the military into the situation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ force against Americans to underline his “ law and order ” message .
It says a lot about the country in 2020 that both the governor and the mayor thought there ’ d be more political benefit from goofing on him and his demands than from siding with him against an armed occupation of several city blocks : Click to view Durkan ’ s full tweet and you ’ ll see that it contains some raised-fist emojis — at a moment that part of her own city has been declared off limits to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Trump should skip the tough-guy chatter and instead calmly emphasize that a Democratic-run city can ’ t be trusted to protect its own citizens from woke thugs .
Turn up the heat politically on Inslee and Durkan by focusing on their complicity in the takeover , minus any threats .
Let voters draw their own conclusions about whether to empower Democrats at the national level this fall .

Part of me wants the cops and National Guard to go in there today and start rounding up hippies.
But another part of me wants to sit back and let this nascent retelling of “Animal Farm” play out a bit longer. Some lessons need to be learned the hard way.
It shouldn’t take long. At the rate we’re going they’ll be at the “some animals are more equal than others” stage by this weekend, with purges to begin shortly thereafter.
I’m doubling down on what I said in yesterday’s post: It remains difficult to tell whether the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” is essentially an elaborate drum circle or the beginning of a large-scale hostage situation. It’s equally unclear if the city and state think they’ll have difficulty clearing out the area or if they’re just holding off for the time being to avoid the optics of cops advancing on young wokesters because they won’t leave when asked.
There *are* sinister elements developing. Last night John posted this clip of the CHAZ’s new warlord, Raz Simone, enforcing law and order. Long live Secretary-General Raz:
The #SeattleAutonomousZone is devolving into warlordism. Rapper Raz Simone, who has been patrolling the barricades with an AK-47 and a handgun, has begun assaulting residents who disobey him. "We are the police now," says his crew. "We are the leaders."pic.twitter.com/IJXYpyyYsy — Christopher F. Rufo ⚔ (@realchrisrufo) June 10, 2020
Seattle cops admitted at a press conference that they’ve heard reports of extortion inside the area (I reproduced one such report myself yesterday):
She said police are receiving reports of armed people manning the check points intimidating people trying to enter. “While Washington is an open carry state, there is no legal right for those arms to be used intimidate community members,” Nolette said. Nolette said operating a citizen checkpoint on a public street is illegal. “We have heard anecdotally of citizens and businesses being asked to pay a fee to operate within this area; this is crime of extortion,” Nolette said.
The city’s fire chief was on the scene yesterday in hopes of closing two large metal gates to the now-abandoned police precinct’s garage. The “occupiers” helped him do it. “[W]e got a team, we are working through this and there is some trust built and I don’t want to compromise the trust,” said the chief when asked afterward about the … unusual arrangement. The NYT’s read on it, while astonishing, is correct: “The protest zone has increasingly functioned with the tacit blessing of the city.”
They’ve even got their own street signs, for cripes sake:
They planned ahead enough to have a sign made? 🤔 Wakeup people!https://t.co/iduMaVhaIN — Amy Noelle (@NoelleTMD) June 10, 2020
On the other hand:
The “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” basically turns into a block party in the evening. pic.twitter.com/iD8y8a8QuH — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) June 11, 2020
That’s from our Townhall cousin, Julio Rosas, who’s on the scene. The Times also noticed the block-party atmosphere, calling the CHAZ “part street festival, part commune. Hundreds have gathered to hear speeches, poetry and music. On Tuesday night, dozens of people sat in the middle of an intersection to watch ’13th,’ the Ava DuVernay film about the criminal justice system’s impact on African-Americans. On Wednesday, children made chalk drawings in the middle of the street.” It sounds like the equivalent of a campus sit-in, except possibly a bit more chill.
But it can’t go on forever. Real life isn’t campus (except inside the New York Times newsroom), no matter how much the left wishes it was. Christopher Rufo of City Journal asked one Seattle cop what the plan is here. Answer: No plan right now.
According to one Seattle police officer with knowledge of internal deliberations, the city’s “leadership is in chaos” and “the mayor has made the decision to let a mob of 1,000 people dictate public safety policy for a city of 750,000.” The officer said that Chief Best had dispatched high-ranking police officials to the autonomous zone to establish a line of communication, but the officials were immediately sent away by armed paramilitaries at the barricades. “The tide of public opinion is on the side of the activists and they’re pushing the envelope as far as they can,” said the officer. “It’s not hyperbolic to say the endgame is anarchy.”
Amazingly, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee hadn’t even heard that Seattle had lost control of part of its Capitol Hill district to protesters until yesterday afternoon, 48 hours after the CHAZ was born. “That’s news to me,” he said at a news conference when asked about it.
The president, still smarting over his recent lost opportunity to look tough by deploying troops to American streets, sees a new one:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1270914092295950337
It’s the Insurrection Act debate all over again. Rather than wait for evidence that local cops and the National Guard can’t deal with the problem themselves, he’s trying to bigfoot local officials by inserting the military into the situation. He really wants a presidential show of force against Americans to underline his “law and order” message.
It says a lot about the country in 2020 that both the governor and the mayor thought there’d be more political benefit from goofing on him and his demands than from siding with him against an armed occupation of several city blocks:
A man who is totally incapable of governing should stay out of Washington state’s business. “Stoop” tweeting. https://t.co/O6i04qmZ9v — Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) June 11, 2020
Make us all safe. Go back to your bunker. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/H3TXduhlY4 — Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020
Click to view Durkan’s full tweet and you’ll see that it contains some raised-fist emojis — at a moment that part of her own city has been declared off limits to police by “armed paramilitaries.” What?
Trump should skip the tough-guy chatter and instead calmly emphasize that a Democratic-run city can’t be trusted to protect its own citizens from woke thugs. Turn up the heat politically on Inslee and Durkan by focusing on their complicity in the takeover, minus any threats. Let voters draw their own conclusions about whether to empower Democrats at the national level this fall.


hotair--2020-06-11--U.S. Soccer votes to make kneeling great again

The protests over racial injustice have brought back the hot button issue of athletes taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem .
It seems like this should have been put to rest a long time ago , but no , it ’ s back .
It ’ s an issue again .
First , NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized for speaking out against Colin Kaepernick kneeling on football fields as a protest to racial inequality .
He now encourages football players to speak out and protest peacefully .
Women ’ s soccer star Megan Rapinoe has exploited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ id and turned herself into a celebrity with the help of her social justice warrior skills .
Rapinoe plays in the National Women ’ s Soccer League and on the United States national team .
When she began kneeling at the start of a couple of national team games in 2016 , the league had to make a decision over the controversial issue – do they allow players to kneel or not ?
The board decided against it .
Policy 604-1 went into effect in February 2017 .
That was then and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board of directors voted to repeal their own policy .
It happened during a conference call and the process of how the vote came about is less than transparent .
Fingers are being pointed at U.S. Soccer ’ s new president , Cindy Parlow Cone .
A person with knowledge of the discussions regarding the policy said new President Cindy Parlow Cone first broached repealing the rule last week , calling for the special meeting of the board .
The person asked to remain anonymous because the process was not made public .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to share their opinions .
“ We have not done enough to listen — especially to our players — to understand and acknowledge the very real and meaningful experiences of Black and other minority communities in our country .
We apologize to our players — especially our Black players — staff , fans , and all who support eradicating racism , ” U.S. Soccer said in a statement Wednesday .
“ Sports are a powerful platform for good , and we have not used our platform as effectively as we should have .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues and we will.
” However , once a board of directors wobbles , activists rush in and the demands for more actions happen .
That happened here , too .
A general acknowledgment of the need to do more to understand grievances and a basic apology wasn ’ t enough .
Unable to just take the win that the no-kneeling policy was being taken away , some players are demanding more .
The U.S. Soccer Athletes ’ Council , which includes current national team players Alex Morgan and Ali Krieger , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , called on U.S. Soccer to also apologize for the policy to foster a “ positive relationship to exist going forward.
” “ Then and only then do we feel a new chapter between the USSF and its athletes can begin .
Additionally , we urge US Soccer to develop a plan with action items focused on anti-racism that will be shared publicly with its athletes , key stakeholders , and fans , ” the council said in a statement earlier this week .
The U.S. Women ’ s National Team Players Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soccer and a plan to substantively address racial inequality .
“ Until USSF does so , the mere existence of the policy will continue to perpetuate the misconceptions and fear that clouded the true meaning and significance of Colin Kaepernick , Megan Rapinoe and other athletes taking a knee — that Black people in America have not been and continue to not be afforded the same liberties and freedoms as white people and that police brutality and systemic racism exist in this country , ” the players said in a statement .
George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cops has brought the peaceful protest gesture back into the forefront .
The fallout has been predictable from President Trump , who strongly opposes kneeling during sports games , as he feels it is an affront to America ’ s most recognizable patriotic symbol , the American flag .
Those who kneel claim that this isn ’ t the case , they kneel to bring attention to a social issue , not to disgrace the flag .
Peaceful protests via physical gestures aren ’ t anything new .
Remember the black Olympians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anthem played during their award ceremony ?
That was in 1968 .
It ’ s hard not to think of that turbulent year now that protests are taking over the news cycle every day .
Boomer Marxists of the 60s produced the socialists and anarchists now looking to change our fundamental way of life .
Taking a knee on a football field or a soccer field seems pretty tame when its compared to burning down a city , doesn ’ t it ?
Protesters are being jailed and then released without charges being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be penalized ?
That ’ s what the soccer players are thinking anyway .
And , it looks like the new U.S. Soccer president agrees .
The repeal of Policy 604-1 goes into effect immediately .
It still has to be voted on at the next annual general meeting , scheduled to take place in February or March .
The National Council could either back the repeal or vote to keep the policy in place .
I fully expect the council to back the repeal .

The protests over racial injustice have brought back the hot button issue of athletes taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem. It seems like this should have been put to rest a long time ago, but no, it’s back. It’s an issue again.
First, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized for speaking out against Colin Kaepernick kneeling on football fields as a protest to racial inequality. He now encourages football players to speak out and protest peacefully.
Women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe has exploited the issue perfectly to boost her name id and turned herself into a celebrity with the help of her social justice warrior skills. Rapinoe plays in the National Women’s Soccer League and on the United States national team. When she began kneeling at the start of a couple of national team games in 2016, the league had to make a decision over the controversial issue – do they allow players to kneel or not? The board decided against it. Policy 604-1 went into effect in February 2017.
Policy 604-1 states: “All persons representing a Federation national team shall stand respectfully during the playing of national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented.” The board passed the rule on Feb. 9, 2017.
That was then and this is now. Wednesday the U.S. Soccer board of directors voted to repeal their own policy. It happened during a conference call and the process of how the vote came about is less than transparent. Fingers are being pointed at U.S. Soccer’s new president, Cindy Parlow Cone.
A person with knowledge of the discussions regarding the policy said new President Cindy Parlow Cone first broached repealing the rule last week, calling for the special meeting of the board. The person asked to remain anonymous because the process was not made public. Three players were invited on the call to share their opinions. “We have not done enough to listen — especially to our players — to understand and acknowledge the very real and meaningful experiences of Black and other minority communities in our country. We apologize to our players — especially our Black players — staff, fans, and all who support eradicating racism,” U.S. Soccer said in a statement Wednesday. “Sports are a powerful platform for good, and we have not used our platform as effectively as we should have. We can do more on these specific issues and we will.”
However, once a board of directors wobbles, activists rush in and the demands for more actions happen. That happened here, too. A general acknowledgment of the need to do more to understand grievances and a basic apology wasn’t enough. Unable to just take the win that the no-kneeling policy was being taken away, some players are demanding more.
The U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, which includes current national team players Alex Morgan and Ali Krieger, as well as former players like Landon Donovan, called on U.S. Soccer to also apologize for the policy to foster a “positive relationship to exist going forward.” “Then and only then do we feel a new chapter between the USSF and its athletes can begin. Additionally, we urge US Soccer to develop a plan with action items focused on anti-racism that will be shared publicly with its athletes, key stakeholders, and fans,” the council said in a statement earlier this week. The U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association also called for an apology from U.S. Soccer and a plan to substantively address racial inequality. “Until USSF does so, the mere existence of the policy will continue to perpetuate the misconceptions and fear that clouded the true meaning and significance of Colin Kaepernick, Megan Rapinoe and other athletes taking a knee — that Black people in America have not been and continue to not be afforded the same liberties and freedoms as white people and that police brutality and systemic racism exist in this country,” the players said in a statement.
George Floyd’s death at the hands of cops has brought the peaceful protest gesture back into the forefront. The fallout has been predictable from President Trump, who strongly opposes kneeling during sports games, as he feels it is an affront to America’s most recognizable patriotic symbol, the American flag. Those who kneel claim that this isn’t the case, they kneel to bring attention to a social issue, not to disgrace the flag.
Peaceful protests via physical gestures aren’t anything new. Remember the black Olympians who raised clenched fists as the national anthem played during their award ceremony? That was in 1968. It’s hard not to think of that turbulent year now that protests are taking over the news cycle every day. Boomer Marxists of the 60s produced the socialists and anarchists now looking to change our fundamental way of life. Taking a knee on a football field or a soccer field seems pretty tame when its compared to burning down a city, doesn’t it? Protesters are being jailed and then released without charges being pressed, so why should kneeling athletes be penalized? That’s what the soccer players are thinking anyway. And, it looks like the new U.S. Soccer president agrees.
The repeal of Policy 604-1 goes into effect immediately. It still has to be voted on at the next annual general meeting, scheduled to take place in February or March. The National Council could either back the repeal or vote to keep the policy in place. I fully expect the council to back the repeal.


hotair--2020-06-11--Now we're supposed to pull the police out of schools?

The Democrats are still fighting each other over whether we ’ re supposed to defund the police , abolish them or just lock them all up preemptively .
( Okay… nobody has actually suggested that last option… yet . )
This general uproar against the members of our thin blue line have long since gotten out of control .
The next chapter in this saga comes to us from Massachusettes , where protesters are not only calling for removing funding from law enforcement agencies , but they want school security officers to be removed from the state ’ s campuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your crime situation so well under control that the only thing you need to worry about is the cops , eh ?
( Boston Globe ) Hundreds of youths marched from Nubian Square in Roxbury to City Hall Plaza Wednesday , demanding that the city remove police officers from public schools and reallocate 10 percent of the police budget to community and educational needs .
The march offered a powerful display of the energy and purpose taking shape among young Black and brown activists in Boston following nearly two weeks of daily protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and as the City Council debated major changes in the Police Department ’ s budget .
Wednesday ’ s event started coming together just days earlier , on a Friday evening conference call among about 20 organizers , some of whom didn ’ t know one another .
All wanted to see a transformation in Boston ’ s approach to public safety , said Vikiana Petit-Homme , 18 , an organizer .
The “ reasonable protesters ” making these demands were filmed marching down the street chanting “ FTP , ” which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for … a denouncement of police first popularized by the rap group N.W.A.
” ( It stands for F*** The Police , in case you really need it spelled out for you . )
They were also carrying posters showing a smashed piggy bank with the pig wearing a police cap .
This is apparently who the municipal government of Boston is supposed to have as a negotiating partner .
This is a campaign of convenience and opportunism , similarly to what we ’ re seeing all over the country right now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are using the unrest in Minneapolis as an excuse to go after cops everywhere , regardless of what their own experiences with law enforcement have been .
I went back through the archives looking for instances of claims of excessive use of force by the police in the greater Boston area and it ’ s pretty slim pickings .
There were a couple of examples from 2019 , including claims that a cop punched a suspect in the face during a fight in an apartment complex parking lot .
There was also an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2014 .
I did find a couple of recent police shootings , but they involved suspects who were either armed and attacking the cops or in a vehicle trying to ram them .
These calls to pull the funding for security officers in schools also ignore everything that was said after a spate of school shootings gripped the nation .
Weren ’ t we all supposed to be outraged over that ?
But now it ’ s apparently not a problem anymore , at least if an excuse can be found to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bows to these social justice warriors ’ demands , I await the howls of despair the next time some student decides to shoot up a school and it takes the municipal police more than five minutes to arrive on the scene .

The Democrats are still fighting each other over whether we’re supposed to defund the police, abolish them or just lock them all up preemptively. (Okay… nobody has actually suggested that last option… yet.) This general uproar against the members of our thin blue line have long since gotten out of control. The next chapter in this saga comes to us from Massachusettes, where protesters are not only calling for removing funding from law enforcement agencies, but they want school security officers to be removed from the state’s campuses. If must be nice to have your crime situation so well under control that the only thing you need to worry about is the cops, eh? (Boston Globe)
Hundreds of youths marched from Nubian Square in Roxbury to City Hall Plaza Wednesday, demanding that the city remove police officers from public schools and reallocate 10 percent of the police budget to community and educational needs. The march offered a powerful display of the energy and purpose taking shape among young Black and brown activists in Boston following nearly two weeks of daily protests against police brutality and structural racism — and as the City Council debated major changes in the Police Department’s budget. Wednesday’s event started coming together just days earlier, on a Friday evening conference call among about 20 organizers, some of whom didn’t know one another. All wanted to see a transformation in Boston’s approach to public safety, said Vikiana Petit-Homme, 18, an organizer.
The “reasonable protesters” making these demands were filmed marching down the street chanting “FTP,” which the Globe generously describes as “an acronym for … a denouncement of police first popularized by the rap group N.W.A.” (It stands for F*** The Police, in case you really need it spelled out for you.) They were also carrying posters showing a smashed piggy bank with the pig wearing a police cap. This is apparently who the municipal government of Boston is supposed to have as a negotiating partner.
This is a campaign of convenience and opportunism, similarly to what we’re seeing all over the country right now. People with a grudge against the police are using the unrest in Minneapolis as an excuse to go after cops everywhere, regardless of what their own experiences with law enforcement have been. I went back through the archives looking for instances of claims of excessive use of force by the police in the greater Boston area and it’s pretty slim pickings. There were a couple of examples from 2019, including claims that a cop punched a suspect in the face during a fight in an apartment complex parking lot. There was also an accusation of false arrest using excessive force in 2014. I did find a couple of recent police shootings, but they involved suspects who were either armed and attacking the cops or in a vehicle trying to ram them.
These calls to pull the funding for security officers in schools also ignore everything that was said after a spate of school shootings gripped the nation. Weren’t we all supposed to be outraged over that? But now it’s apparently not a problem anymore, at least if an excuse can be found to slash the police budget. If Boston bows to these social justice warriors’ demands, I await the howls of despair the next time some student decides to shoot up a school and it takes the municipal police more than five minutes to arrive on the scene.


hotair--2020-06-11--Walmart: Okay, we won't lock up our "multicultural items" any more

The next target of the woke patrol during all of the “ racial realignment ” discussions going on is apparently Walmart .
As NBC News reported this week , complaints were lodged against the retail giant in Denver recently when a local news reporter highlighted the fact that the local Walmart had a policy of keeping “ multicultural hair care and beauty products ” in locked cabinets .
Those specialty products are primarily purchased by Black shoppers , so the implication was that the store didn ’ t trust people of color and made them ask a clerk to unlock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost immediately said they would discontinue the practice in all of their outlets .
Walmart will no longer place “ multicultural hair care and beauty products ” in locked cases in any of its stores , the company confirmed Wednesday .
The practice , which Walmart says was only in place “ in about a dozen ” of its 4,700 U.S. stores , has received criticism for the implication that the customers who buy these products , largely people of color , can ’ t be trusted .
The cases must be unlocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products are usually then taken to the front of the store for purchase .
CBS Denver reporter Tori Mason was the first to disclose the change , after receiving an email from Walmart in response to her story highlighting a situation that people of color have long faced .
Having had to cover a variety of topics related to retail sales practices over the years , I can tell you with certainty that Walmart is far from the only chain of stores that does this .
You can go to the Target in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ big box ” outlets at the mall and find the same thing .
While it ’ s understandable how someone could look at this situation and conclude there might be some sort of racially motivated assumptions driving those policies , it ’ s actually something far more basic .
In order to compete in that market space , all of the major retailers have moved increasingly to “ Big Data ” solutions to maximize their profitability and competitive stance .
As technology in the retail sales field has advanced , virtually every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UPC bars and , in some cases , RF chips embedded in packaging .
The number of any given items entering the store , being sold or being returned is tallied and reported up the management chain .
That data is used for all sorts of decisions the stores make .
For example , if they find that customers who purchase beer are also significantly more likely to purchase diapers , they will move the diapers closer to the beer aisle .
( That ’ s a real-world example , by the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of products going on the shelves and the number of sales recorded is generally attributed to either damage during handling or theft .
The items that are most commonly stolen are the ones that will be moved into locked cases requiring a sales clerk with a key to access them , assuming the cost of taking those steps is less than what they ’ re losing to theft .
At the Target store near us , for example , the razors are in such a case .
And that ’ s all razors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , assuming there is such a thing .
Why ?
Because most razors are small , they come in packaging that can be quickly ripped open and they fit nicely into a pocket .
They ’ re easy to steal .
The algorithm doesn ’ t know or care what color your skin is , which gender you are , or anything else .
It ’ s measuring dollars and cents and determining where theft aversion strategies need to be employed .
I ’ m assuming that the hair care products reference in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often in the stolen column and Walmart was losing money on them .
But since they were accused of implied racial bias in the current national climate , they were quickly cowed into submission and forced to change their policy .
Now they ’ ll probably have to suck it up and lose money until they come up with a different strategy to combat theft .
But they will come up with another method , probably either involving cameras or simply moving those products to a location closer to the checkout lines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ business .

The next target of the woke patrol during all of the “racial realignment” discussions going on is apparently Walmart. As NBC News reported this week, complaints were lodged against the retail giant in Denver recently when a local news reporter highlighted the fact that the local Walmart had a policy of keeping “multicultural hair care and beauty products” in locked cabinets. Those specialty products are primarily purchased by Black shoppers, so the implication was that the store didn’t trust people of color and made them ask a clerk to unlock the case. In response, Walmart almost immediately said they would discontinue the practice in all of their outlets.
Walmart will no longer place “multicultural hair care and beauty products” in locked cases in any of its stores, the company confirmed Wednesday. The practice, which Walmart says was only in place “in about a dozen” of its 4,700 U.S. stores, has received criticism for the implication that the customers who buy these products, largely people of color, can’t be trusted. The cases must be unlocked by a store associate, and the products are usually then taken to the front of the store for purchase. CBS Denver reporter Tori Mason was the first to disclose the change, after receiving an email from Walmart in response to her story highlighting a situation that people of color have long faced.
Having had to cover a variety of topics related to retail sales practices over the years, I can tell you with certainty that Walmart is far from the only chain of stores that does this. You can go to the Target in my neighborhood and any number of the “big box” outlets at the mall and find the same thing.
While it’s understandable how someone could look at this situation and conclude there might be some sort of racially motivated assumptions driving those policies, it’s actually something far more basic. In order to compete in that market space, all of the major retailers have moved increasingly to “Big Data” solutions to maximize their profitability and competitive stance.
As technology in the retail sales field has advanced, virtually every product in every store is tracked through UPC bars and, in some cases, RF chips embedded in packaging. The number of any given items entering the store, being sold or being returned is tallied and reported up the management chain. That data is used for all sorts of decisions the stores make. For example, if they find that customers who purchase beer are also significantly more likely to purchase diapers, they will move the diapers closer to the beer aisle. (That’s a real-world example, by the way.)
The difference between the number of products going on the shelves and the number of sales recorded is generally attributed to either damage during handling or theft. The items that are most commonly stolen are the ones that will be moved into locked cases requiring a sales clerk with a key to access them, assuming the cost of taking those steps is less than what they’re losing to theft. At the Target store near us, for example, the razors are in such a case. And that’s all razors, not just “multicultural” ones, assuming there is such a thing. Why? Because most razors are small, they come in packaging that can be quickly ripped open and they fit nicely into a pocket. They’re easy to steal.
The algorithm doesn’t know or care what color your skin is, which gender you are, or anything else. It’s measuring dollars and cents and determining where theft aversion strategies need to be employed.
I’m assuming that the hair care products reference in the linked article were showing up too often in the stolen column and Walmart was losing money on them. But since they were accused of implied racial bias in the current national climate, they were quickly cowed into submission and forced to change their policy. Now they’ll probably have to suck it up and lose money until they come up with a different strategy to combat theft. But they will come up with another method, probably either involving cameras or simply moving those products to a location closer to the checkout lines. It’s the nature of the business.


hotair--2020-06-11--Cincy mayor: Democrats' responsibility for urban police issues? "Great question" -- and watch me dod

Cincy mayor: Democrats' responsibility for urban police issues? "Great question" -- and watch me dodge it

You bet it ’ s a great question , but John Cranley goes far out of his way to avoid it .
Jake Tapper posed the challenge near the end of this CNN interview last night about the true responsibility for policing issues in cities Democrats have controlled for decades , which the mayor of Cincinnati called a “ great question.
” Did Cranley give a “ great answer ” ?
He didn ’ t give any answer at all , actually : TAPPER : Mr. Mayor , let me ask you .
Democrats on Capitol Hill are calling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where these troubling incidents of police brutality have happened are cities run by Democrats .
Now , I know you personally found your local Innocence Project .
You have been active for years in trying to right injustices caused by the judicial system .
But where have other Democratic mayors been on this problem that ’ s been going on for decades , if not centuries ?
CRANLEY : Well , Jake , it ’ s a great question , and I appreciate your acknowledgment of The Innocence Project , where we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio , over 30 people .
Look , Cincinnati was helped enormously by a Justice Department that took civil rights seriously .
And this was not a left-wing group .
It was John Ashcroft who was the attorney when we negotiated our group — when we negotiated changes in 2002 , when I was a young city councilman .
And I happen to believe that , if you look at the long history of civil rights , it has already required a strong federal role for protection of the constitutional rights guaranteed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights , et cetera .
And it would be nice if the Justice Department would again look to work — and we call ours the collaborative agreement .
And it was endorsed by our Fraternal Order of Police when it was adopted , and it is still supported .
And so it was a collaborative process .
But having the Justice Department actively involved made a really big difference .
Going forward , I think , candidly , it would help a lot of Democratic mayors around the country .
To the extent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s nonsense .
The Department of Justice does not have responsibility or authority over local police departments , except in consent-decree settlements over lawsuits stemming from abuses — and those are also a failure of local government and mayors .
Mayors and city councils have primary authority over local law enforcement .
It ’ s one of their most basic functions .
The reason Cranley won ’ t answer Tapper ’ s exact question is because there is no answer other than an admission of failure.Democrats have controlled almost all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for decades , and have produced failure in policing — and education , and service delivery , and so on .
What they have produced are massive public-employee-union contracts and a perpetual-motion re-election system that have left cities bankrupt and services unaccountable .
Tapper also hits on that topic as well , at least in terms of police unions , throughout the interview with Baltimore police commissioner Michael Harrison : TAPPER : And , Commissioner , let me ask you .
Obviously , police have collective bargaining rights , like any other group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whether it ’ s teachers or anyone .
Do you think police unions do more harm than good ?
HARRISON : Well , I don ’ t know that ( AUDIO GAP ) the answer it that they do more harm than good .
But there are certainly agreements in those contracts that prohibit police chiefs from taking swift , certain and decisive action when certain things come to our attention in the form of bad behavior by police officers .
Okay , but who negotiated those contracts ?
The cities negotiated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run the cities cut those deals .
They gave unions what they wanted in order to secure their own political power .
And it worked out well … for Democratic politicians .
Cranley ’ s right about one thing .
This is a “ great question , ” and Tapper shouldn ’ t be the only journalist asking it .

You bet it’s a great question, but John Cranley goes far out of his way to avoid it. Jake Tapper posed the challenge near the end of this CNN interview last night about the true responsibility for policing issues in cities Democrats have controlled for decades, which the mayor of Cincinnati called a “great question.”
Did Cranley give a “great answer”? He didn’t give any answer at all, actually:
Mayor of Cincinnati @JohnCranley and Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison discuss changes that are being considered by a national police reform and racial justice working group. Both are part of the initiative which was launched by city mayors and police chiefs. pic.twitter.com/IaavGbxH0j — The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) June 10, 2020
TAPPER: Mr. Mayor, let me ask you. Democrats on Capitol Hill are calling for reforms. But most of the cities where these troubling incidents of police brutality have happened are cities run by Democrats. Now, I know you personally found your local Innocence Project. You have been active for years in trying to right injustices caused by the judicial system. But where have other Democratic mayors been on this problem that’s been going on for decades, if not centuries? CRANLEY: Well, Jake, it’s a great question, and I appreciate your acknowledgment of The Innocence Project, where we have gotten innocent people out of prison in Ohio, over 30 people. Look, Cincinnati was helped enormously by a Justice Department that took civil rights seriously. And this was not a left-wing group. It was John Ashcroft who was the attorney when we negotiated our group — when we negotiated changes in 2002, when I was a young city councilman. And I happen to believe that, if you look at the long history of civil rights, it has already required a strong federal role for protection of the constitutional rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment and the Bill of Rights, et cetera. And it would be nice if the Justice Department would again look to work — and we call ours the collaborative agreement. And it was endorsed by our Fraternal Order of Police when it was adopted, and it is still supported. And so it was a collaborative process. But having the Justice Department actively involved made a really big difference. Going forward, I think, candidly, it would help a lot of Democratic mayors around the country.
To the extent that this is even an answer, it’s nonsense. The Department of Justice does not have responsibility or authority over local police departments, except in consent-decree settlements over lawsuits stemming from abuses — and those are also a failure of local government and mayors. Mayors and city councils have primary authority over local law enforcement. It’s one of their most basic functions.
The reason Cranley won’t answer Tapper’s exact question is because there is no answer other than an admission of failure.Democrats have controlled almost all of America’s big and medium-sized cities for decades, and have produced failure in policing — and education, and service delivery, and so on. What they have produced are massive public-employee-union contracts and a perpetual-motion re-election system that have left cities bankrupt and services unaccountable.
Tapper also hits on that topic as well, at least in terms of police unions, throughout the interview with Baltimore police commissioner Michael Harrison:
TAPPER: And, Commissioner, let me ask you. Obviously, police have collective bargaining rights, like any other group of people who work for the government, whether it’s teachers or anyone. Do you think police unions do more harm than good? HARRISON: Well, I don’t know that (AUDIO GAP) the answer it that they do more harm than good. But there are certainly agreements in those contracts that prohibit police chiefs from taking swift, certain and decisive action when certain things come to our attention in the form of bad behavior by police officers.
Okay, but who negotiated those contracts? The cities negotiated those contracts, meaning that Democrats who run the cities cut those deals. They gave unions what they wanted in order to secure their own political power. And it worked out well … for Democratic politicians.
Cranley’s right about one thing. This is a “great question,” and Tapper shouldn’t be the only journalist asking it.


hotair--2020-06-11--Hickenlooper: My ethics convictions were clearly a GOP plot

Last week we looked at former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper ’ s conviction on ethics violations and how that might impact his chances of securing the Democratic nomination in the upcoming Senate race .
Hickenlooper is an experienced politician with plenty of years in this game under his belt .
How did he manage to mess up badly enough to have the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission find him guilty on multiple ethics charges ?
The press has been pestering him for an answer on this issue , and now we have it .
It ’ s all the fault of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper characterized his conviction on ethics violations as Republican “ smear attacks ” during a primary debate Tuesday night .
Hickenlooper was found guilty by the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission last Friday of twice accepting free luxury travel from business interests while he was governor .
The five-member panel also voted unanimously to hold him in contempt for initially defying a subpoena to appear at the hearing .
“ These allegations were waged by a dark-money Republican group and they ’ re going to lay attacks and millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic candidate is , ” said Hickenlooper said… Hickenlooper , who once had to explain why he took his mom to see Deep Throat in an x-rated movie theater , has been called on by his primary opponent to drop out of the race .
He is thus far resisting such demands , but his path forward has certainly been muddied by the recent findings from the ethics commission .
But what about his “ explanation ” for how this happened ?
The lavish trips he took and the plush accommodations he enjoyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had dealings with the state government are a matter of record .
If he wants to argue that their generosity didn ’ t influence his decisions as Governor , that ’ s one thing .
But it ’ s hardly a “ dark money smear campaign ” to simply point out the facts .
Former state House speaker Andrew Romanoff is Hickenlooper ’ s main opponent in the primary and the fact that he ’ s looking to take advantage of this ethics scandal is no surprise .
But he ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats ’ chances in November with an ethically challenged candidate on the ballot .
The editorial board of the Colorado Springs Gazette put out a blistering condemnation of the former Governor on Tuesday , also calling for him to drop out .
The described him as “ a politician proven susceptible to inappropriate gifts by corporations ” and said that was “ the last thing ” Colorado needs in Washington .
Colorado ’ s delayed primary is coming up in less than three weeks , on June 30th .
Thus far , Hickenlooper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the nomination as well as leading Cory Gardner for the general election .
But this ethics fiasco really hasn ’ t had time to gell with the public and allow the polling to catch up with the story .
Gardner is still considered among the most vulnerable members of the Senate during this cycle and the Democrats ’ best shot at flipping a seat in the upper chamber .
But that could all change once this news sinks in .
Hickenlooper is scheduled for sentencing tomorrow , promising yet another round of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s just possible that Gardner ’ s seat may not be entirely lost yet .

Last week we looked at former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s conviction on ethics violations and how that might impact his chances of securing the Democratic nomination in the upcoming Senate race. Hickenlooper is an experienced politician with plenty of years in this game under his belt. How did he manage to mess up badly enough to have the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission find him guilty on multiple ethics charges? The press has been pestering him for an answer on this issue, and now we have it. It’s all the fault of the Republicans. (Free Beacon)
Former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper characterized his conviction on ethics violations as Republican “smear attacks” during a primary debate Tuesday night. Hickenlooper was found guilty by the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission last Friday of twice accepting free luxury travel from business interests while he was governor. The five-member panel also voted unanimously to hold him in contempt for initially defying a subpoena to appear at the hearing. “These allegations were waged by a dark-money Republican group and they’re going to lay attacks and millions of dollars of smear ads against whoever the Democratic candidate is,” said Hickenlooper said…
Hickenlooper, who once had to explain why he took his mom to see Deep Throat in an x-rated movie theater, has been called on by his primary opponent to drop out of the race. He is thus far resisting such demands, but his path forward has certainly been muddied by the recent findings from the ethics commission.
But what about his “explanation” for how this happened? The lavish trips he took and the plush accommodations he enjoyed on the dime of business interests that had dealings with the state government are a matter of record. If he wants to argue that their generosity didn’t influence his decisions as Governor, that’s one thing. But it’s hardly a “dark money smear campaign” to simply point out the facts.
Former state House speaker Andrew Romanoff is Hickenlooper’s main opponent in the primary and the fact that he’s looking to take advantage of this ethics scandal is no surprise. But he’s not the only person getting nervous about the Democrats’ chances in November with an ethically challenged candidate on the ballot. The editorial board of the Colorado Springs Gazette put out a blistering condemnation of the former Governor on Tuesday, also calling for him to drop out. The described him as “a politician proven susceptible to inappropriate gifts by corporations” and said that was “the last thing” Colorado needs in Washington.
Colorado’s delayed primary is coming up in less than three weeks, on June 30th. Thus far, Hickenlooper has been polling solidly ahead of Romanoff for the nomination as well as leading Cory Gardner for the general election. But this ethics fiasco really hasn’t had time to gell with the public and allow the polling to catch up with the story. Gardner is still considered among the most vulnerable members of the Senate during this cycle and the Democrats’ best shot at flipping a seat in the upper chamber. But that could all change once this news sinks in. Hickenlooper is scheduled for sentencing tomorrow, promising yet another round of bad headlines for him. So it’s just possible that Gardner’s seat may not be entirely lost yet.


hotair--2020-06-11--UCLA professor suspended, receives death threats for not canceling exams

The social justice mob has come for Gordon Klein , an accounting professor at UCLA .
What outrageous act did he commit ?
He refused to cancel his course ’ s final exams on the basis of a student ’ s race , in light of the protests over the death of George Floyd .
Professor Gordon Klein has been suspended from his job for three weeks for refusing to cancel final exams for black students because of the protests .
He responded to an email from students who identified themselves as “ nonblack allies of their black peers.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that final exams be canceled for black students .
In light of recent “ traumas , we have been placed in a position where we much choose between actively supporting our black classmates or focusing on finishing up our spring quarter , ” the students wrote .
“ We believe that remaining neutral in times of injustice brings power to the oppressor and therefore staying silent is not an option.
” Theirs was “ not a joint effort to get finals canceled for non-black students , ” the self-identified allies wrote , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compassion and leniency with black students in our major.
” Professor Klein ’ s response offended the students , though , when he questioned exactly how he would go about determining for whom finals should be canceled – all black students , bi-racial students , only those from Minneapolis , and so on .
And a very important question – since the final exam grade is the only course grade , how could it be a “ no-harm ” exam ?
Thanks for your suggestion in your email below that I give black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Minnesota .
Do you know the names of the classmates that are black ?
How can I identify them since we ’ ve been having online classes only ?
Are there any students that may be of mixed parentage , such as half black-half Asian ?
What do you suggest I do with respect to them ?
A full concession or just half ?
Also , do you have any idea if any students are from Minneapolis ?
I assume that they probably are especially devastated as well .
I am thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be possibly even more devastated by this , especially because some might think that they ’ re racist even if they are not .
My TA is from Minneapolis , so if you don ’ t know , I can probably ask her .
Can you guide me on how you think I should achieve a “ no-harm ” outcome since our sole course grade is from a final exam only ?
One last thing strikes me : Remember that MLK famously said that people should not be evaluated based on the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that your request would run afoul of MLK ’ s admonition ?
Thanks , G. Klein The classes have been conducted online , as Klein points out , so his relationship with the students is a virtual one .
His response to the students brought about an online petition calling for his termination .
It ’ s 2020 and that is what college students do – they demand those with a different point of view just be eliminated from campus .
And , they feel entitled to make the rules , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning , as I write this , over 20,000 people have signed the petition and the stated goal is 25,000 .
Tuesday UCLA ’ s Anderson School of Management said Klein ’ s “ classes have been reassigned to other faculty ” while the claims against him are investigated .
Klein says he was following orders from his direct supervisor when he refused to agree to a lenient exam model .
In the past , he has extended or even eliminated final exams due to extraordinary circumstances .
Mostly the students seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutal frankness used in his response .
I found his questions to be relevant .
The students should have thought their request through instead of making it a general one for those they assume are most aggrieved during the protests , riots , and public upheaval .
Was it on the snarky side ?
Yes .
So what ?
Did they expect that black students should just receive a passing grade without taking the exam ?
These aren ’ t kindergarten children .
These are college students , budding social justice warriors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , Anderson School of Management dean Antonio Bernardo sent an email to students announcing an investigation into Klein ’ s “ troubling ” behavior .
The dean apologized to students for the “ added stress ” a substitution of an instructor may cause .
The message also announced that Klein ’ s classes would be transferred to Professors Brett Trueman and Judson Caskey , who also serves as the Anderson school ’ s diversity committee chairman .
An email obtained exclusively by the Washington Free Beacon shows that Caskey urged professors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face of student demands .
“ If students ask for accommodations such as assignment delays or exam cancellations , I strongly encourage you to follow the normal procedures ( accommodations from the [ Center for Accessible Education ] office , death/illness in the family , religious observance , etc . )
, ” Caskey wrote in a June 1 email .
It sure looks like Klein was following procedures put in place by his supervisor , doesn ’ t it ?
The school has the back of the students , not the professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking into the matter .
A spokesperson from the Anderson School of Management said via email , “ Respect and equality for all are core principles at UCLA Anderson .
It is deeply disturbing to learn of this email , which we are investigating .
We apologize to the student who received it and to all those who have been as upset and offended by it as we are ourselves.
” One professional is speaking up for Professor Klein .
Professor Klein is now living under police protection due to multiple threats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The time students have to complete their final exam has increased , given the “ difficult circumstances ” .

The social justice mob has come for Gordon Klein, an accounting professor at UCLA. What outrageous act did he commit? He refused to cancel his course’s final exams on the basis of a student’s race, in light of the protests over the death of George Floyd.
Professor Gordon Klein has been suspended from his job for three weeks for refusing to cancel final exams for black students because of the protests. He responded to an email from students who identified themselves as “nonblack allies of their black peers.” They took it upon themselves to ask that final exams be canceled for black students.
In light of recent “traumas, we have been placed in a position where we much choose between actively supporting our black classmates or focusing on finishing up our spring quarter,” the students wrote. “We believe that remaining neutral in times of injustice brings power to the oppressor and therefore staying silent is not an option.” Theirs was “not a joint effort to get finals canceled for non-black students,” the self-identified allies wrote, “but rather an ask that you exercise compassion and leniency with black students in our major.”
Professor Klein’s response offended the students, though, when he questioned exactly how he would go about determining for whom finals should be canceled – all black students, bi-racial students, only those from Minneapolis, and so on. And a very important question – since the final exam grade is the only course grade, how could it be a “no-harm” exam?
Thanks for your suggestion in your email below that I give black students special treatment, given the tragedy in Minnesota. Do you know the names of the classmates that are black? How can I identify them since we’ve been having online classes only? Are there any students that may be of mixed parentage, such as half black-half Asian? What do you suggest I do with respect to them? A full concession or just half? Also, do you have any idea if any students are from Minneapolis? I assume that they probably are especially devastated as well. I am thinking that a white student from there might be possibly even more devastated by this, especially because some might think that they’re racist even if they are not. My TA is from Minneapolis, so if you don’t know, I can probably ask her. Can you guide me on how you think I should achieve a “no-harm” outcome since our sole course grade is from a final exam only? One last thing strikes me: Remember that MLK famously said that people should not be evaluated based on the “color of their skin.” Do you think that your request would run afoul of MLK’s admonition? Thanks, G. Klein
The classes have been conducted online, as Klein points out, so his relationship with the students is a virtual one. His response to the students brought about an online petition calling for his termination. It’s 2020 and that is what college students do – they demand those with a different point of view just be eliminated from campus. And, they feel entitled to make the rules, not the administration and the professors. Thursday morning, as I write this, over 20,000 people have signed the petition and the stated goal is 25,000.
Tuesday UCLA’s Anderson School of Management said Klein’s “classes have been reassigned to other faculty” while the claims against him are investigated. Klein says he was following orders from his direct supervisor when he refused to agree to a lenient exam model. In the past, he has extended or even eliminated final exams due to extraordinary circumstances. Mostly the students seem to be offended by the professor’s brutal frankness used in his response. I found his questions to be relevant. The students should have thought their request through instead of making it a general one for those they assume are most aggrieved during the protests, riots, and public upheaval. Was it on the snarky side? Yes. So what? Did they expect that black students should just receive a passing grade without taking the exam? These aren’t kindergarten children. These are college students, budding social justice warriors. Criticism comes with the territory.
On Monday, Anderson School of Management dean Antonio Bernardo sent an email to students announcing an investigation into Klein’s “troubling” behavior. The dean apologized to students for the “added stress” a substitution of an instructor may cause. The message also announced that Klein’s classes would be transferred to Professors Brett Trueman and Judson Caskey, who also serves as the Anderson school’s diversity committee chairman. An email obtained exclusively by the Washington Free Beacon shows that Caskey urged professors to avoid changing final exam plans in the face of student demands. “If students ask for accommodations such as assignment delays or exam cancellations, I strongly encourage you to follow the normal procedures (accommodations from the [Center for Accessible Education] office, death/illness in the family, religious observance, etc.),” Caskey wrote in a June 1 email.
It sure looks like Klein was following procedures put in place by his supervisor, doesn’t it? The school has the back of the students, not the professor, which often happens.
UCLA is looking into the matter. A spokesperson from the Anderson School of Management said via email, “Respect and equality for all are core principles at UCLA Anderson. It is deeply disturbing to learn of this email, which we are investigating. We apologize to the student who received it and to all those who have been as upset and offended by it as we are ourselves.”
One professional is speaking up for Professor Klein.
Peter Wood, president of the National Association of Scholars, called UCLA’s suspension of Klein “disturbing.” “Professor Klein is right. Treating students on the basis of equality is morally, ethically, and legally sound,” Wood said. “The fact that his complaining student has gotten traction with her complaint is disturbing.”
Professor Klein is now living under police protection due to multiple threats. And, the students have won concessions. The time students have to complete their final exam has increased, given the “difficult circumstances”.


hotair--2020-06-11--Trump campaign website warns Tulsa rally attendees: If you get COVID from attending, you can't sue u

Trump campaign website warns Tulsa rally attendees: If you get COVID from attending, you can't sue us

If there ’ s enough of a risk that attendees will contract a deadly plague at your event that you need a liability waiver to address it , you probably shouldn ’ t be holding that event .
But I don ’ t blame Trumpers for refusing to play by the new rule that social distancing should be strictly enforced except in cases where mass gatherings are needed to advance the left ’ s agenda .
There ’ s a piece at the Atlantic today by two woke epidemiologists making the case that not all mass gatherings are created equal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not going to quote it because it ’ s an insult to my intelligence and yours .
I say that as someone who condoned the lockdowns , still believes they were justified as an emergency brake on an exploding epidemic , and regards anyone who attends a mass gathering right now as having garbage for brains .
If you do read it , though , bear three points in mind .
1 .
One of the authors recently accused Trump of de facto genocide for incompetently responding to a crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s how urgent it was to him to contain COVID-19 .
Until it wasn ’ t .
2 .
There ’ s another piece today at the same publication detailing the mental-health crisis that Millennials will suffer and are already suffering due to the economic collapse .
They had their career prospects wrecked by the Great Recession ; now they ’ re facing a second massive economic storm at a time when they should be building job security .
Scientists who support the anti-racism protests while denouncing all other breaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s nothing so grubby as politics that ’ s being given priority over containing COVID .
Racism is itself a public-health issue , they say , and it ’ s always fair — even necessary — for scientists to prioritize among different aspects of health .
Think of it as a form of triage .
But it ’ s never explained why demonstrating against racism should be prioritized right now over containing a once-in-a-century pandemic that could kill millions globally in the near-term .
( Epidemiologists , usually overflowing with data , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-protest position . )
And it ’ s never squarely addressed why the enormous and perfectly foreseeable public-health consequences from a lockdown-driven recession weren ’ t similarly prioritized over containing COVID at the start of the epidemic .
The piece about Millennials and suicide makes that starkly clear : It wasn ’ t the “ economy versus public health ” in March , it was “ public health versus public health.
” If Trump was a genocidaire for worrying more about the public-health consequences of lockdown than a COVID epidemic , why aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlantic mass murderers for worrying more about the public-health consequences of racism than a COVID epidemic ?
3 .
Is there any reason to believe that the demonstrations will meaningfully reduce race-related public-health disparities ?
Even in a best-case scenario where they do reduce them , is there any reason to believe that the offsetting spread of COVID won ’ t do more harm to black communities than good ?
David Bernstein made this point in a post the other day .
We have epidemiologists engaged in almost pure speculation about the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( mass protests ) and weighing that against lots of hard data about the health risks of the same behavior — and somehow coming out in support of that behavior .
Bernstein : Will the protests raise public consciousness about the pernicious effects of racism ?
Surely , and that will likely have positive effects .
But beyond that , things are very uncertain .
Will violence/rioting continue and cause a “ reactionary ” backlash ?
Will reforms advocated by protesters , such as those encompassed by the slogan “ Defund the Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enacted , will they have positive effects on public health , or will they lead to a surge in violent criminal activity , itself a huge threat to public health and wellbeing ?
–it wasn ’ t that long ago that violent crime rates were triple what they are now , with tens of thousands more people killed and injured each year .
What will be the effect of social disorder on the economic health of big cities in general , and the poorer neighborhoods within them in particular , and what effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wellbeing ?
The public health folks who are comparing the negative Covid-related health effects of the rallies to the health effects of racism and police violence are committing a fundamental methodological error .
On the one side , there is a real public health problem of coronavirus , and we know , based on what the experts have been telling us since March , that large public gatherings will likely kill a large but indeterminate number of people .
On the other side , racism harms people ’ s well-being , and state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and this is key , no one has any idea what overall effect the protests ( and any attendant violence ) will have on racism and state violence , even whether it will be positive or negative .
I repeat the point I made in a post a few days ago : Is there literally any aspect of public-health apart from demonstrating against racism which epidemiologists would insist justifies mass gatherings right now ?
Cancer research ?
HIV prevention ?
What cause is so important that scientists would say of it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to agitate on its behalf while we ’ re fighting a novel virus ” ?
Around 650,000 Americans die each year of heart disease , which is ( probably ) more than we ’ ll lose to COVID-19 .
Why aren ’ t woke researchers encouraging a million-man march on Washington to fight heart disease right now ?
According to an expert at Harvard , we ’ re possibly looking at 200,000 Americans dead *before* the second wave begins this fall and despite the shattering economic pain we endured to hold down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nice if the president did his part to minimize the spread by canceling his rallies , but it ’ d be nice if the protesters did their part by not congregating and that ’ s not happening either .

If there’s enough of a risk that attendees will contract a deadly plague at your event that you need a liability waiver to address it, you probably shouldn’t be holding that event.
If you're looking to attend President Trump's rally in Tulsa next Friday, you must first agree not to sue him if you get coronavirus pic.twitter.com/4LJp9od3wx — Kevin Liptak (@Kevinliptakcnn) June 11, 2020
But I don’t blame Trumpers for refusing to play by the new rule that social distancing should be strictly enforced except in cases where mass gatherings are needed to advance the left’s agenda.
The president’s plan to hold mass rallies in Florida and elsewhere as we experience a resurgence in COVID cases is irresponsible and selfish. https://t.co/G6tdqua70c — Rep. Val Demings (@RepValDemings) June 11, 2020
I joined a 'Healing and Hope' rally last night to speak with our community as America grieves. pic.twitter.com/s5oQKkVYOZ — Rep. Val Demings (@RepValDemings) June 8, 2020
There’s a piece at the Atlantic today by two woke epidemiologists making the case that not all mass gatherings are created equal. You can read it here; I’m not going to quote it because it’s an insult to my intelligence and yours. I say that as someone who condoned the lockdowns, still believes they were justified as an emergency brake on an exploding epidemic, and regards anyone who attends a mass gathering right now as having garbage for brains. If you do read it, though, bear three points in mind.
1. One of the authors recently accused Trump of de facto genocide for incompetently responding to a crisis that’s hit minorities especially hard. That’s how urgent it was to him to contain COVID-19. Until it wasn’t.
2. There’s another piece today at the same publication detailing the mental-health crisis that Millennials will suffer and are already suffering due to the economic collapse. They had their career prospects wrecked by the Great Recession; now they’re facing a second massive economic storm at a time when they should be building job security. Scientists who support the anti-racism protests while denouncing all other breaks with social distancing insist that it’s nothing so grubby as politics that’s being given priority over containing COVID. Racism is itself a public-health issue, they say, and it’s always fair — even necessary — for scientists to prioritize among different aspects of health. Think of it as a form of triage.
But it’s never explained why demonstrating against racism should be prioritized right now over containing a once-in-a-century pandemic that could kill millions globally in the near-term. (Epidemiologists, usually overflowing with data, are conspicuously short on numerical support for their pro-protest position.) And it’s never squarely addressed why the enormous and perfectly foreseeable public-health consequences from a lockdown-driven recession weren’t similarly prioritized over containing COVID at the start of the epidemic. The piece about Millennials and suicide makes that starkly clear: It wasn’t the “economy versus public health” in March, it was “public health versus public health.” If Trump was a genocidaire for worrying more about the public-health consequences of lockdown than a COVID epidemic, why aren’t the woke epidemiologists at the Atlantic mass murderers for worrying more about the public-health consequences of racism than a COVID epidemic?
3. Is there any reason to believe that the demonstrations will meaningfully reduce race-related public-health disparities? Even in a best-case scenario where they do reduce them, is there any reason to believe that the offsetting spread of COVID won’t do more harm to black communities than good? David Bernstein made this point in a post the other day. We have epidemiologists engaged in almost pure speculation about the health benefits of a certain form of behavior (mass protests) and weighing that against lots of hard data about the health risks of the same behavior — and somehow coming out in support of that behavior. Bernstein:
Will the protests raise public consciousness about the pernicious effects of racism? Surely, and that will likely have positive effects. But beyond that, things are very uncertain. Will violence/rioting continue and cause a “reactionary” backlash? Will reforms advocated by protesters, such as those encompassed by the slogan “Defund the Police,” actually be enacted? If enacted, will they have positive effects on public health, or will they lead to a surge in violent criminal activity, itself a huge threat to public health and wellbeing?–it wasn’t that long ago that violent crime rates were triple what they are now, with tens of thousands more people killed and injured each year. What will be the effect of social disorder on the economic health of big cities in general, and the poorer neighborhoods within them in particular, and what effect will that have on public health and wellbeing? The public health folks who are comparing the negative Covid-related health effects of the rallies to the health effects of racism and police violence are committing a fundamental methodological error. On the one side, there is a real public health problem of coronavirus, and we know, based on what the experts have been telling us since March, that large public gatherings will likely kill a large but indeterminate number of people. On the other side, racism harms people’s well-being, and state violence directly harms their health. However, and this is key, no one has any idea what overall effect the protests (and any attendant violence) will have on racism and state violence, even whether it will be positive or negative.
I repeat the point I made in a post a few days ago: Is there literally any aspect of public-health apart from demonstrating against racism which epidemiologists would insist justifies mass gatherings right now? Cancer research? HIV prevention? What cause is so important that scientists would say of it, “Sure, throw 250,000 people together to agitate on its behalf while we’re fighting a novel virus”? Around 650,000 Americans die each year of heart disease, which is (probably) more than we’ll lose to COVID-19. Why aren’t woke researchers encouraging a million-man march on Washington to fight heart disease right now?
According to an expert at Harvard, we’re possibly looking at 200,000 Americans dead *before* the second wave begins this fall and despite the shattering economic pain we endured to hold down the death toll. It’d be nice if the president did his part to minimize the spread by canceling his rallies, but it’d be nice if the protesters did their part by not congregating and that’s not happening either.


hotair--2020-06-12--Starbucks: On second thought, BLM shirts won't incite violence after all

The outrage mob on social media strikes again .
This time it was against Starbucks and the corporation ’ s decision to stop baristas from wearing Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) attire or accessories .
On Wednesday the decision was reported to have been made because of the possibility that the message might be misunderstood or incite violence .
Starbucks posted its deep thoughts about social justice on Twitter like every other corporation , large and small , did once the protests and rioting began over the death of George Floyd .
No company wants to be left behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change ” movement .
However , “ stand in solidarity with our Black partners , customers and communities ” didn ’ t include employees wearing t-shirts or pins and other accessories that mention Black Live Matter .
Starbucks said to do so would violate company dress code policy , which prohibits religious or political clothing or accessories .
According to an internal bulletin obtained by BuzzFeed News , store managers had been contacting senior leadership on behalf of employees who wanted to wear BLM-related attire as protests continued to sweep major cities and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response , management , according to the memo from last week , argued that wearing clothing and accessories highlighting Black Lives Matter could be misunderstood and potentially incite violence .
The bulletin pointed employees to a video , which has now been removed , in which its VP of inclusion and diversity explained that “ agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles ” of the movement and could use them to “ amplify divisiveness.
” The outrage mob sprang into action .
The twist is that employees and others noted that Starbucks hands out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage equality .
So , what ’ s good for one group is good for another , right ?
Ah , yes , identity politics .
It ’ s bit Starbucks on the butt .
A Starbucks spokesperson said the company is committed to ending “ systemic racism ” but the dress code is in place “ to create a safe and welcoming ” environment for customers and staff .
It looks like the company just planned to post tweets and write a big check to organizations promoting racial equality .
They did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a T-shirt from its approved “ Black Partner Network.
” The Black Partner Network ’ s mission is to “ spark conversation around the African diaspora , ” which sounds very woke .
Not all Starbucks employees are so woke , though .
Some agreed with the dress code and expressed their opinions .
Some employees , however , agree with the company ’ s position .
On an internal portal with links and information on how to stand up for racial justice , including links to support different organizations like the NAACP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the resources , but also for its commitment to not allowing partners to wear BLM gear , noting that for some it represents anti-police sentiment and unrest .
“ Think of the families that have also have hurt emotional [ sic ] and physically from violence and threats from those that associate with BLM that are not peaceful , ” they wrote , talking specifically about police officers .
That ’ s the thing – BLM is often associated with violence and agitation , whether its supporters want to acknowledge that or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by violent agitators , including Antifa and bad things happen .
Today , Starbucks is publicly changing its mind .
Because of the kerfuffle over the company ’ s history of distributing LGBTQ accessories and attire , it will do the same for BLM .
Starbucks will even make a batch of t-shirts for its employees .
Until they arrive , employees can wear pins and shirts to support BLM .
That cave didn ’ t take long at all , did it ?
Starbucks has a checkered history over race and police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inferior coffee anyway .
( Except the Christmas Blend , which I buy every season . )
You ’ re better off making your own coffee at home .
Let them try to maneuver the social justice warriors .

The outrage mob on social media strikes again. This time it was against Starbucks and the corporation’s decision to stop baristas from wearing Black Lives Matter (BLM) attire or accessories. On Wednesday the decision was reported to have been made because of the possibility that the message might be misunderstood or incite violence.
Starbucks posted its deep thoughts about social justice on Twitter like every other corporation, large and small, did once the protests and rioting began over the death of George Floyd. No company wants to be left behind in the “being a part of change” movement. However, “stand in solidarity with our Black partners, customers and communities” didn’t include employees wearing t-shirts or pins and other accessories that mention Black Live Matter. Starbucks said to do so would violate company dress code policy, which prohibits religious or political clothing or accessories.
Black lives matter. We are committed to being a part of change. You can find educational resources at https://t.co/xSXwaw2vQA. pic.twitter.com/ZxifsW7oeO — Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) June 4, 2020
According to an internal bulletin obtained by BuzzFeed News, store managers had been contacting senior leadership on behalf of employees who wanted to wear BLM-related attire as protests continued to sweep major cities and small towns across the country. In response, management, according to the memo from last week, argued that wearing clothing and accessories highlighting Black Lives Matter could be misunderstood and potentially incite violence. The bulletin pointed employees to a video, which has now been removed, in which its VP of inclusion and diversity explained that “agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles” of the movement and could use them to “amplify divisiveness.”
The outrage mob sprang into action. The twist is that employees and others noted that Starbucks hands out buttons and attire celebrating LGBTQ rights and marriage equality. So, what’s good for one group is good for another, right? Ah, yes, identity politics. It’s bit Starbucks on the butt. A Starbucks spokesperson said the company is committed to ending “systemic racism” but the dress code is in place “to create a safe and welcoming” environment for customers and staff.
It looks like the company just planned to post tweets and write a big check to organizations promoting racial equality. They did give Starbucks employees the option to buy a T-shirt from its approved “Black Partner Network.” The Black Partner Network’s mission is to “spark conversation around the African diaspora,” which sounds very woke.
The path forward requires open and honest conversations about racial injustices. On Saturday, Starbucks partners came together in an open forum to listen and support one another. It’s going to take each of us to drive necessary change. https://t.co/ZUlBV9MgFF — Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) June 2, 2020
Not all Starbucks employees are so woke, though. Some agreed with the dress code and expressed their opinions.
Some employees, however, agree with the company’s position. On an internal portal with links and information on how to stand up for racial justice, including links to support different organizations like the NAACP, one worker thanked Starbucks for sharing the resources, but also for its commitment to not allowing partners to wear BLM gear, noting that for some it represents anti-police sentiment and unrest. “Think of the families that have also have hurt emotional [sic] and physically from violence and threats from those that associate with BLM that are not peaceful,” they wrote, talking specifically about police officers.
That’s the thing – BLM is often associated with violence and agitation, whether its supporters want to acknowledge that or not. Often BLM protests are taken over by violent agitators, including Antifa and bad things happen.
Today, Starbucks is publicly changing its mind. Because of the kerfuffle over the company’s history of distributing LGBTQ accessories and attire, it will do the same for BLM. Starbucks will even make a batch of t-shirts for its employees. Until they arrive, employees can wear pins and shirts to support BLM. That cave didn’t take long at all, did it?
Now, Starbucks will be doing the same for Black Lives Matter. The chain will make 250,000 shirts with a design that includes “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No Peace” available to workers in its company-owned cafes in the United States and Canada. The company said that it began planning to provide shirts for employees last week.
Starbucks has a checkered history over race and police, too. It’s over-priced inferior coffee anyway. (Except the Christmas Blend, which I buy every season.) You’re better off making your own coffee at home. Let them try to maneuver the social justice warriors.


hotair--2020-06-12--Trump: The concept of police chokeholds sounds "so innocent, so perfect," but I support banning them

Trump: The concept of police chokeholds sounds "so innocent, so perfect," but I support banning them generally

The awkward phrasing here has attracted some attention on political Twitter this afternoon , especially given the president ’ s penchant for defending police and his occasional half-joking encouragement to them to be a little rougher with suspects than they need to be .
But he ’ s getting a bad rap .
In context it ’ s clear enough what he means .
Watch the clip below .
I think Benjy Sarlin has it exactly right : Trump ’ s saying ( or trying to say ) that banning chokeholds sounds simple and straightforward until you consider a scenario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a suspect into custody who ’ s resisting arrest and maybe too large to overpower .
If there are multiple cops available to help subdue him then there ’ s no excuse for trying to choke the man out .
But if it ’ s one on one , the rules might bend a bit .
What he ’ s doing here is distinguishing what happened to George Floyd , who was choked to death despite being handcuffed and surrounded by four officers , from a hypothetical in which a solo arrest has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be rare , Trump seems to allow .
It ’ ll be interesting to see what the final federal bill on banning chokeholds looks like , whether it contains some sort of exception for the scenario Trump describes .
But his support for a ban is broadly popular : This exchange from the same interview with Fox News ’ s Harris Faulkner also raised some eyebrows .
It ’ s … not quite as clear what he ’ s going for here : “ Well , we are free , Mr. President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to puncture the balloon he was trying to blow up .
What did he mean , though , by the “ end result ” being “ questionable ” ?
Lefties are of course putting the worst possible spin on it but I think he was referring to Lincoln ’ s assassination .
He ’ s saying that freeing the slaves was righteous but controversial ( i.e .
“ questionable ” ) , enough so that ol ’ Abe paid the ultimate price for doing it .
So maybe he ’ s saying , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for black Americans that a president can reasonably do without getting shot ” ?
I don ’ t know .

The awkward phrasing here has attracted some attention on political Twitter this afternoon, especially given the president’s penchant for defending police and his occasional half-joking encouragement to them to be a little rougher with suspects than they need to be. But he’s getting a bad rap. In context it’s clear enough what he means.
Trump: "I think the concept of chokehold sounds so innocent, so perfect" (?), but "generally speaking, it should be ended," but if it's a serious fight against a tough person, you might need it. — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) June 12, 2020
Watch the clip below. I think Benjy Sarlin has it exactly right:
As has often been the case, this was confusing to follow but I think he was suggesting the concept of a chokehold *ban* sounds innocent and perfect until you think about hypothetical fights with suspects https://t.co/nn1GdG60RU — Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) June 12, 2020
Trump’s saying (or trying to say) that banning chokeholds sounds simple and straightforward until you consider a scenario in which a cop has to take a suspect into custody who’s resisting arrest and maybe too large to overpower. If there are multiple cops available to help subdue him then there’s no excuse for trying to choke the man out. But if it’s one on one, the rules might bend a bit. What he’s doing here is distinguishing what happened to George Floyd, who was choked to death despite being handcuffed and surrounded by four officers, from a hypothetical in which a solo arrest has to be made. Although those situations would be rare, Trump seems to allow.
“Sometimes if you’re alone and you’re fighting somebody, it’s tough … we have some real bad people” — Trump defends police chokeholds pic.twitter.com/DZfjT5isFU — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 12, 2020
It’ll be interesting to see what the final federal bill on banning chokeholds looks like, whether it contains some sort of exception for the scenario Trump describes. But his support for a ban is broadly popular:
This exchange from the same interview with Fox News’s Harris Faulkner also raised some eyebrows. It’s … not quite as clear what he’s going for here:
Trump: I think I’ve done more for the black community than any other President and let’s take a pass on Abraham Lincoln because he did good but although it’s always questionable, you know in other words the end result
Harris: Well we are free Mr. President pic.twitter.com/advWPuSKwv — Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2020
“Well, we are free, Mr. President” is a great little understated way to puncture the balloon he was trying to blow up.
What did he mean, though, by the “end result” being “questionable”? Lefties are of course putting the worst possible spin on it but I think he was referring to Lincoln’s assassination. He’s saying that freeing the slaves was righteous but controversial (i.e. “questionable”), enough so that ol’ Abe paid the ultimate price for doing it. So maybe he’s saying, “I’ve done the most for black Americans that a president can reasonably do without getting shot”? I don’t know.


hotair--2020-06-12--NY Times: Black supporters are abandoning Mayor de Blasio

As Jazz pointed out last weekend , Mayor de Blasio has been desperately trying to keep up with the demands made by activists .
The short version is that after signaling some initial opposition to defunding the NYPD , de Blasio reversed course and announced plans to shift funds to other priorities .
But de Blasio ’ s flat-footed response to the demands has apparently worn out some of his black supporters .
Today the NY Times reports many are choosing to abandon him .
The change in tone was evident at George Floyd memorial in Brooklyn last week : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sea of protesters at a memorial with George Floyd ’ s brother in Brooklyn last week and delivered a bold promise : He would transform the New York Police Department .
“ Change that you can see and believe , because you will see it with your own eyes , ” he declared .
The response from many of the black protesters was withering .
Obscenities and chants of “ resign ” and “ I can ’ t breathe ” filled the air , drowning out Mr. de Blasio .
Some demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke .
After 90 seconds , he turned the microphone over… [ Rev .
Kevin ] McCall futilely pleaded with the crowd to show the mayor some respect .
The problem , he said , was that the mayor had lost his credibility with New Yorkers , especially in the black community .
The AP has posted video of this and it really is brutal .
You almost feel sorry for the guy .
Almost : But according to the Times it goes beyond that one tough crowd : “ You can no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , not anymore , ” Jumaane Williams , the city ’ s public advocate , said last week during an online news conference .
“ You ’ re exposed now.
” Mr. Williams , who is black , added , “ We are at a time when we are asking you to do the things you said you were going to do.
” … Mr. de Blasio has spent the last few days consulting with black leaders to try to salvage a relationship that has buttressed his political career .
Last Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gwen Carr , the mother of Eric Garner ; Mr. McCall ; and Iesha Sekou , the founder of the Harlem anti-violence group Street Corner Resources , among others .
The mayor is now said to be re-calibrating his message .
The about face on defunding the NYPD was part of that .
I would say that de Blasio is in deep trouble but let ’ s face it , Ralph Northam is still Governor of Virginia .
If he can turn around a blackface scandal , Mayor de Blasio can probably recover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this may be about the national mood .
Would Northam still be in office if the blackface photo surface this week ?
I don ’ t think so .
Addendum : Here ’ s a CBS New York report on de Blasio ’ s vague plan to cut funding to the NYPD .
That ’ s going to be a real challenge in the midst of a spike in crime compared to last year .
The only thing you can be sure of is that whatever cuts de Blasio announces , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the activists .

As Jazz pointed out last weekend, Mayor de Blasio has been desperately trying to keep up with the demands made by activists. The short version is that after signaling some initial opposition to defunding the NYPD, de Blasio reversed course and announced plans to shift funds to other priorities. But de Blasio’s flat-footed response to the demands has apparently worn out some of his black supporters. Today the NY Times reports many are choosing to abandon him. The change in tone was evident at George Floyd memorial in Brooklyn last week:
Mayor Bill de Blasio looked out into a sea of protesters at a memorial with George Floyd’s brother in Brooklyn last week and delivered a bold promise: He would transform the New York Police Department. “Change that you can see and believe, because you will see it with your own eyes,” he declared. The response from many of the black protesters was withering. Obscenities and chants of “resign” and “I can’t breathe” filled the air, drowning out Mr. de Blasio. Some demonstrators turned their backs on him as he spoke. After 90 seconds, he turned the microphone over… [Rev. Kevin] McCall futilely pleaded with the crowd to show the mayor some respect. The problem, he said, was that the mayor had lost his credibility with New Yorkers, especially in the black community.
The AP has posted video of this and it really is brutal. You almost feel sorry for the guy. Almost:
But according to the Times it goes beyond that one tough crowd:
“You can no longer hide behind your black wife and children, not anymore,” Jumaane Williams, the city’s public advocate, said last week during an online news conference. “You’re exposed now.” Mr. Williams, who is black, added, “We are at a time when we are asking you to do the things you said you were going to do.”… Mr. de Blasio has spent the last few days consulting with black leaders to try to salvage a relationship that has buttressed his political career. Last Sunday, he met at Gracie Mansion with Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner; Mr. McCall; and Iesha Sekou, the founder of the Harlem anti-violence group Street Corner Resources, among others.
The mayor is now said to be re-calibrating his message. The about face on defunding the NYPD was part of that.
I would say that de Blasio is in deep trouble but let’s face it, Ralph Northam is still Governor of Virginia. If he can turn around a blackface scandal, Mayor de Blasio can probably recover from this. Then again, part of this may be about the national mood. Would Northam still be in office if the blackface photo surface this week? I don’t think so.
Addendum: Here’s a CBS New York report on de Blasio’s vague plan to cut funding to the NYPD. That’s going to be a real challenge in the midst of a spike in crime compared to last year. The only thing you can be sure of is that whatever cuts de Blasio announces, they won’t be nearly enough for the activists.