Cops Acquitted in Sean Bell Shooting

Police acquitted over NY shooting

A judge in New York has acquitted three police officers who shot dead an unarmed man hours before his wedding.

Sean Bell, 23, was shot after a bachelor party at a strip club in the suburb of Queens in November 2006.

Two undercover detectives faced charges of manslaughter, while a third was accused of reckless endangerment.

The judge, Justice Arthur Cooperman, found the detectives Michael Oliver, Gescard Isnora and Marc Cooper innocent of all charges. Source

How in God's name do you justify 50 rounds? How in God's name do you justify emptying and reloading? It's sad to say but the defense was weak cuz of Trent Benefield's inconsistent accounts of the shooting. Was he on sedatives when gave his first account?

I feel horribly for Bell's family. Damn. An unarmed man killed on his wedding day. Why the fuck is it OK to play target practice with people's lives? *SMFH* May God give them strength.

Are All The Skeletons Outta Paterson's Closet Already?

Paterson Admits Past Cocaine Use
by Azi Paybarah

David Paterson is still adding to his string of confessions.

“I tried it a couple of times,” he said in an interview with NY1 News, when asked if he had ever used cocaine.

It was his first television interview since he became governor last week.

Host Dominic Carter asked Paterson a number of questions about past drug use. The governor also admitted he has used marijuana, but added that he has not touched illegal drugs since his early twenties.

Carter asked a similar series of questions during the 2006 gubernatorial campaign. Both Eliot Spitzer and Tom Suozzi said they had tried marijuana.

Paterson told Carter he spoke publicly about past drug use when he was Spitzer's running mate in 2006.

UPDATE: Here's the exchange:

Dominic Carter: You have?

David Paterson: Yes

Dominic Carter: Marijuana?

David Paterson: Yes

Dominic Carter: Cocaine?

David Paterson: Yes

Dominic Carter: You used cocaine governor?

David Paterson: I'd say I was 22 or 23, I tried it a couple of times, yes.

Dominic Carter: When is the last time that -- is that the only time you've tried cocaine, governor?

David Paterson: Yeah, around that time, a couple of times and marijuana, probably, when I was about 20. I don't think I've touched marijuana since the late 70s.

Source

Dude's stepped out on his wife, she stepped out him, now he used to do coke and weed. What else is there? I can appreciate honesty but dag...

Spitz Quits, Paterson's In

Scandal-hit NY governor resigns

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has resigned, after being linked to a prostitution ring.
Flanked by his wife Silda, Mr Spitzer, a leading Democrat, told a news conference: "I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people's work."

He once again apologised for failing to live up to the standards he demanded of others - but he gave no details.

Mr Spitzer had allegedly been identified arranging to meet a prostitute in a Washington hotel.

Mr Spitzer made his name as an investigator of organised crime, financial crime and prostitution.

At one point he was known as the "Sheriff of Wall Street", and his fall from political grace is being seen as one of the biggest New York has known.

In a brief resignation statement, he said: "Over the course of my public life I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people regardless of their position or power take responsibility for their conduct.

Source

He spent $80Gs over a course of 10 years and may have placed his affairs on taxpayers' tabs. SMH.



Lt. Gov. David Paterson Becomes First Black Governor of New York (and the first legally blind governor in the nation)

New York Lieutenant Governor David Paterson becomes the first Black governor of New York after Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned Wednesday.

Paterson will assume the position on Mar. 17 and will remain governor until the special election in Nov. 2010.

Paterson is also legally blind, which would make him the first blind governor in the country and only the fourth African-American to run a state in US history.

Paterson was elected to the state Senate in 1985, representing the 29th District in the New York State Senate that included Manhattan's Harlem and Upper West Side. He then rose to become New York's highest-ranking black legislator.

Paterson is the son of former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson, who the first African American NYC Deputy Mayor, the first to run for statewide office in New York, and the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1970.

The younger Paterson gained the post of Senate minority leader in 2002. In 2004, he became the first blind person to address the Democratic National Convention.

Source

Eliot "Ethics King" Sptizer Admits to Smutting Around But Hasn't Resigned

What's taking him so long to quit?

From the New York Times:

Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring
By DANNY HAKIM and WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM

ALBANY - Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who gained national prominence relentlessly pursuing Wall Street wrongdoing, has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a law enforcement official and a person briefed on the investigation.

The wiretap captured a man identified as Client 9 on a telephone call confirming plans to have a woman travel from New York to Washington, where he had reserved a hotel room, according to an affidavit filed in federal court in Manhattan. The person briefed on the case and the law enforcement official identified Mr. Spitzer as Client 9.

Mr. Spitzer, a first term Democrat, today made a brief public appearance during which he apologized for his behavior, and described it as a “private matter.” He did not address his political future.

“I have acted in a way that violates my obligation to my family and violates my or any sense of right or wrong,” said Mr. Spitzer, who appeared with his wife Silda at his Manhattan office. “I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public to whom I promised better.”

“I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.”

Before speaking, Mr. Spitzer stood with his arm around his wife; the two nodded and then strode forward together to face more than 100 reporters. Both had glassy, tear-filled eyes, but they did not cry.

As he went to leave, three reporters called out, "Are you resigning? Are you resigning?", and Mr. Spitzer charged out of the room, slamming the door.

Source

Mrs. Spitzer reminds me of Dina Matos-Greevey but minus the crazed look.

New Yorkers Told to "Get Some" on Valentine's

NYC Unveils Official Condom Wrapper, Says: 'Get Some'

NEW YORK (AP) -- The official New York City condom has a different look and a sexy new slogan: New Yorkers are being encouraged to "get some'' on Valentine's Day.

1010 WINS AUDIO: Carol D'Auria Reports

Street teams will be handing out the free condoms at busy hubs around the city on Thursday, including Times Square, Wall Street and near City Hall.

And an ad campaign on television, radio and subways and buses will soon begin, featuring the "Get some'' catchphrase.

"We want to give away as many condoms as people will use because we're trying to make New York City an even safer place to have sex, and this is a powerful way to do it,'' said Monica Sweeney, the Health Department's assistant commissioner for HIV prevention and control.

The city has made free condoms available for years, but last year revamped the package with a distinct look to encourage usage.

The first design was a black wrapper stamped with the letters "NYC CONDOM'' in the same font and bright colors used on city subway maps and signs.

Since it was launched a year ago, the Health Department has handed out more than 36 million condoms, or an average of 3 million each month.

Source