The 11 5 - Communications Workers of America 1105

The 11 5
Second Quarter 2011 | Volume 75 | Number 2
It’s Time to End Welfare
As We Know It
In 1976 Ronald Reagan cited the “Chicago welfare queen” who drove a Cadillac
to the welfare office to pick up her welfare
checks as an example of how the system was
out of control and in need of reform. Reagan
described how this “welfare queen” used 80
aliases, 30 addresses and several non-existent
or deceased husbands to defraud the government of over $150,000. Although the media
tried to identify this serial scam artist, the closest they got was a woman who had been convicted of using two names to collect $8,000 in
welfare payments to which she was not entitled. Despite Reagan’s exaggeration, the myth
took hold and the drive for reform was on.
Twenty years later President Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, otherwise known as the Welfare Reform Act of
1996. The act required a recipient to work for
benefits and capped benefits at five years. At
the signing Clinton proclaimed, “Today, we
are ending welfare as we know it.” Despite this
welfare reform two groups have escaped the
crackdown and continue to be a drain on the
Treasury, corporations and the very wealthy.
When you file a tax return, even if
you’re due a refund, the amount Uncle Sam
keeps can be depressing. This is not true for
corporations like G.E.; for tax year 2010 G.E.
paid no taxes on profits in excess of $15 billion. In fact, they are due a $3.2 billion refund.
G.E. is not alone; Bank of America received a
$1.9 billion tax refund from the IRS last year
on profits of $4.4 billion and Exxon-Mobil received a refund of $156 million on $19 Billion in profits. Some corporations set up subsidiaries so they can pay themselves for parts
or goods they manufacture overseas to keep
their profits away from the reach of the IRS.
According to Forbes.com, U.S. corporations
avoid over $28 billion in taxes through these
transfer pricing schemes alone.
Much like Reagan’s example of the
“welfare queen”, top earners who abuse the
system are more likely perpetrating fraud rather than receiving legal benefits. You’ve heard
of the iPhone and iPad, but have you heard of
an iBob? According to the U.S. Accountability Office (GAO), an iBob is a tax avoidance
strategy employed by wealthy Americans.
Here’s how it works: Person “A” sets up a
corporation that is wholly owned by him. He
uses that corporation to buy a property valued at $180. If he were to sell that property
for $200, he would owe capital gains on $20,
the difference between the original price paid
and the higher selling price. In an iBob, or an
“instant sale bogus optional basis transaction”,
person “A” sets up a second corporation that
he also wholly owns and has that corporation
buy the $180 property for $200 from the first
corporation, agreeing to make installment payments over time. In an iBob, the second corporation takes possession of the property but
continued on page 14
Presidents
Column
3
ACP Update
5
CWA Local 1105
Scholarship
Application
6&7
Our Man in
City Hall
8
Mobilization
10 & 11
Domestic
Violence
13
Do Buy List
15
Executive office: 3223 E. Tremont Ave., Bronx, N.Y., 10461
Published quarterly by and for CWA Local 1105
Reprint permission granted to all union publications.
Subscription rate $2.00 per year. Of the amount paid as annual dues to CWA,
$2.00 is paid as a year’s subscription to Local 1105.
Postmaster, please forward address changes to CWA Local 1105,
3223 E. Tremont Ave., Bronx, N.Y., 10461
A Message
from
Keith Edwards
Keith Edwards���������������������������������������������President
Denise Hawley................................. Central Division
Paula Lopez����������������������� Executive Vice-President
Debbie Fazzolari.............................. Central Division
Beatrice Braun-Zapata................................ Secretary
Lillian V. Denker..............................Eastern Division
Roberto Perez�������������������������������������������� Treasurer
Desiree Williams..............................Eastern Division
Frank J. Paxton .....................Vice President, Central
Patti Egan-Walters........................ Northern Division
Nelson Zapata ...................... Vice President, Eastern
Maureen Sydnor............................ Northern Division
Robert P. Shannon...............Vice President, Northern
Paul Sapienza......................................Editor
at Stevens Avenue in Valhalla when
he was run over and killed by a scab
crossing the line with her car. Ray
Borella died during the same strike
of a heart attack.
In keeping with the tradition
that all CWA members are part of the
Dear Brother Keith,
On behalf of our Local, the same family, we participate in events
Horgan and Borella Families wish to like the Horgan/Borella outing to
thank you, your Executive Board and support the loved ones left behind.
the members of CWA Local 1105 for
your contribution of sponsoring Hole
In Gratitude,
at our upcoming Horgan/Borella Golf
Outing. It is Locals like CWA 1105
Anna Maria Alimossy
that make our effort a success year
Anna Maria was an 1105 Rep after year.
who transferred to Pennsylvania
In Solidarity,
under
the
company
transfer program. These types of transfers
Joey Barca Jr.
are non-retreatable. After working President CWA Local 1103
for a relatively short period of time in Pennsylvania she realized she had
Gerry Horgan was a Chief
made a mistake. Anna Maria reached Gerry Horgan
out to CWA Local 1105 to see if there Steward for CWA Local 1103. During
was anything that could be done to the 1989 four month strike over
1955-1989
bring her back. With a lot of effort health care Gerry joined Cwa Local
President Edwards and his team were 1105 members on their picket line
page 2
Dear Keith,
Thank you so much for all
your help with my return back home to
1105. I am so glad to be back in New
York at 140 West St. I really appreciate
all you did to get me Back Home!
Thank Beatrice (Zapata) too
for me for all she did with phone calls
and e-mails.
Your the Best!
able to bring Anna Maria’s saga to a
happy ending. They always say the
grass is greener on the other side...
till you get there. Welcome home
Anna Maria.
Our contract expires August
6th at midnight and bargaining for
our new contract officially begins on
June 23, 2011. This bargaining session will be one of the toughest sessions we will face since 1989 when
we were on strike for 17 weeks.
In 2008, Verizon requested
CWA to begin early bargaining and
they were going to have one (1) issue on the table. The issue they presented was medical and they want
to reduce the expense by having the
members pay towards the premium.
We all know how that turned out!
Unfortunately, Verizon has not spoken to us about their issues or even
given us any indication of what they
are looking for at this time.
We believe there are many issues Verizon will raise but the three
(3) major items on their agenda will
be:
■ Job Security
■ Medical
■ Absence
Even with all the surpluses declared and the Enhance
Income Protection Plan (EIPP)
payments for those members
that have voluntarily left, Verizon still wants the ability to lay
members off. They want to show
“WALL STREET” they can because we all know Wall Street
strives on the despair of others.
We all know Verizon wants
to shift the health care costs to all
employees. We have in the past
worked with the Company on trying
to contain costs by recommending
Well Care initiatives.
Absences are a sore subject
with Verizon. In every meeting we
have with the different organizations, absences becomes part of their
discussion.
These three (3) issues combined with the New Leadership
Team of Verizon and the anti-union
mentality nationwide is a serious
problem.
Members need to be more involved, more vocal and more militant. We need a true show of unity
with participation at rallies and other
events to show Verizon that we will
do whatever it takes to achieve a fair
and equitable contract:
Be prepared, be mobilized
and be angry.
This Company wants not
only to take from you but also your
families. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
REMEMBER IN UNITY
THERE IS STRENGTH!!
In Unity,
page 3
From
the Desk of
Paula Lopez
All too often many people
trying to beat the clock take short cuts
that can endanger their safety or even
their loved ones safety. Safety should
be a priority in all areas of our life.
With that in mind, I’d like to reprint
the article I had originally written on
safety. We have Child Safety, Home
Safety, Work Place Safety, Travel and
Vacation Safety, Traffic Safety, Play
Safety, Holiday Safety and of course,
First Aid for when the unexpected
occurs. As much as we try to conduct
ourselves at all times in a safe manner,
we may fall victim to illnesses or
accidents. We spend more of our
waking hours at work and not at home.
For that reason, I’d like to focus on
Work Place Safety.
At work you have the right to
be in a safe environment. The company
you work for should make sure that you
are safe while at work. It wasn’t always
like that and unfortunately in many
places, it still isn’t safe for workers.
Our local has fought for many years to
protect our members’ safety on the job.
We have put many safety and training
programs in place, focusing on the
page 4
prevention of ergonomic hazards in the
workplace for our inside members, as
well as addressing safety concerns for
our outside members.
These hazards are caused by
repetitive motion, poorly designed
work stations and heavy lifting.
Ergonomic hazards cause a type
of injury called musculoskeletal
disorders. They are the biggest safety
and health problem in the workplace
today, accounting for nearly one third
of all serious job related injuries.
Although we have made great strides
with Verizon, not all workers in our
country have a safe work place. So
apparent that each year on April 28th
Workers Memorial Day (established 15
years ago) workers around the nation
honor those workers who were killed
or injured on the job. (Remember the
terrible tragedies at the coal mines.)
In this day and age, it is hard to
believe that according to government
statistics, every year more than 60,000
workers die from job related injuries
or illnesses and another 4.7 million
are injured. How is this possible? We
have the knowledge, the tools needed
to prevent death and injury on the job
but not the corporation’s financial
commitment to supply what is needed
to create a safe environment. Many
major corporations would rather pour
millions into supporting politicians or
upcoming candidates that will promote
their corporate agenda. They purchase
the guarantee to block or stop new
legislature or tear down and weaken
existing laws designed to protect the
worker.
Work Place Safety should be
a priority for every man and woman.
CWA continues today to fight and win
job safety protections that improve
the quality of life at work. This fight
continues not only in the workplace
or across bargaining tables but also in
the legislature where laws are passed
and must be enforced by government
regulators.
It is everyone’s responsibility
to get involved so that our children may
have better work environments, safe
work places and not to become another
government statistic that is honored on
April 28th, Workers Memorial Day!
Stay Safe!
Absence Control Plan
Arbitration Update
An update on the Absence Control
Arbitration Case: As you may be
aware from reading my past columns
CWA has grieved and now arbitrated
the company’s unilateral decision
to change the Absence Control Plan
(ACP). CWA has maintained all along
the company was wrong to implement
any changes to the plan without
first bargaining with the union. Each
local filed grievances to challenge the
changes and the plant department’s
grievance was selected as the lead case
to be presented to an arbitrator. While
each local’s collective bargaining
agreement (CBA) includes the same
ACP related language, each local’s
CBA is formatted differently as to
Article numbers and pages where
certain provisions appear. When the
arbitrator references CBA article
numbers and contract pages he is
referencing the plant agreement. While
the arbitrator’s decision specifically
refers to the plant agreement, his
decision applies equally to all other
bargaining units and their respective
CBA provisions. On May 22, 2011,
Arbitrator Pohl rendered his decision
as follows:
1. “The grievance is sustained in
part, and denied in part.”
2a. “the company did not violate the
just cause provision of Article 10 of
the Collective Bargaining Agreement
when it implemented the Modified
ACP on or about November 5, 2006;”
2b. “the Company did violate the
“1983 Freije letter” at page 172 of
the Collective Bargaining Agreement,
to the extent that it eliminated the
7th. Step of the ACP for employees
with 25 or more years of net credited
service with the Company, when it
implemented the Modified ACP on or
about November 5, 2006;”
2c. “the Company did violate Article
44.02 of the Collective Bargaining
Agreement, to the extent that it changed
the mutually understood definition
of “satisfactory in attendance”
by unilaterally implementing the
Modified ACP on or about November
5, 2006;”
2d. “the Company did not violate
Section 8(a)(1) or 8(a)(5) of the
National Labor Relations Act by
unilaterally
implementing
the
provisions of the Modified ACP,
without bargaining with the Union,
except to the extent that it violated
the NLRA by unilaterally changing
conditions of employment described
in 2b and 2c, above, during the term
of the CBA.”
3. “the Company is directed to meet
with the Union within thirty (30) days
of this Award to jointly develop a plan
to remedy any harm inflicted on unit
employees as a result of the violations
specified in 2b, 2c, and 2d, herein.
Should the parties be unable to agree
upon a remedy for said violations,
they shall submit individual remedial
plans to the arbitrator, within ninety
(90) days of their failure to agree
upon a joint remedial plan. I will
thereafter fashion an appropriate
remedy, and hereby retain jurisdiction
over the remedy issue for that limited
purpose.”
We will update you further on
the outcome of the mandated meeting.
Correction
In the last issue of the Express my column regarding Black
History Month listed Halle Berry as the First Black Female Oscar
Winner. In fact Hattie McDaniel was the First Black Female Oscar
Winner in 1939 for Best Supporting Actress and Berry was the First
Black Female Oscar Winner in 2001 for Best Actress. Thanks to Venus
for bringing it to my attention.
page 5
CWA Local 1105
Scholarship Fund
Scholarship Fund Application
2011 - 2012
CWA Local 1105 has established the Scholarship Award Program for all members in good standing and their
immediate families (spouses and children). There are 12 $1105 scholarships available, four (4) for each division
(Central, Eastern and Northern).
Section A:
Applicant Information
The scholarship applications are only available to members in good standing, convicted scabs and nonmembers need not apply as they are not eligible.
Home Address ____________________________________________________________________________________
After all applications have been reviewed by the Scholarship Committee three winners will be selected at
random from all eligible applications received for each division.
Your Relationship to Member ________________________________________________________________________
Divisional Jurisdiction
Central Eastern Northern Manhattan
Brooklyn, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk
Bronx, Queens, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Ulster, and Connecticut
Eligibility
To be eligible you must meet the following requirements:
1. Must be an active member in good standing in Local 1105 or
2. The Spouse or child of a member in good standing in Local 1105.
3. A full-time college student working towards a degree (matriculating) at an accredited college or
university, or
4. A high school student or graduate who has been accepted at an accredited college or university.
Application Instructions
1. Fill out application answering all questions in Section A.
2. Send the application along with a copy of the letter of acceptance or any other documentary proof of
acceptance or attendance at a college or university and mail to:
CWA Local 1105
Attention Roberto Perez, Treasurer
3223 E. Tremont Ave.
Bronx, N.Y. 10461-5707
Final determination of eligibility will be made by the Scholarship Committee.
Winners will be notified by mail and announced in a later edition of the
All applications must be received in the CWA Local 1105 office by 5 P.M., September 9, 2011.
All checks will be made payable to the college or university applied for or attending.
Name of Applicant _____________________________________________ SS #
(last)
(first)
(street)
(middle)
(Social Security Number)
(city)
(state)
(zip)
Date of Birth _________________________________________________ Sex __________________________________
(month)
(day)
(year)
(self / spouse / child)
Are You Attending or been Accepted to a College or University _____________________________________________
(yes / no)
Name of College or University ________________________________________________________________________
Address of College or University
(street)
(city)
(state)
(zip)
Do you fully intend to obtain a degree _____________________ If no explain ______________________________
(yes/ no)
If selected for this scholarship award, I fully agree to adhere to the rules and decisions that are made by the CWA local
1105 Scholar­ship Committee
(signature of applicant)
(date)
Section B:
CWA Local 1105 Member Information
Name of Member __________________________________________________ SS#
(last)
(first)
(middle)
(social security number)
Home Address of Member ___________________________________________________________________________
(street)
Members Home Telephone
(area code)
Members Work Location
(city)
(number)
(state)
(area code)
(zip)
(number)
I am a Member in Good Standing _____________________________________________________________________
(signature)
(date)
Section C
To Be Completed by Local Officer
This is to certify that _____________________________________________________________________ is:
(applicant’s name)
_____________
A member in good standing of CWA Local 1105
Is the spouse or child of a member in good standing of CWA Local 1105
Section D
To Be Completed by The Scholarship Committee
Application
ApprovedApplication Disapproved
If disapproved, reason: __________________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Scholarship Committee Member _______________________________________ Date
page 6
page 7
Our Man in City Hall
Jimmy Vacca is a New York City Councilman representing
the 13th Council District which includes the CWA Local 1105
headquarters office at 3223 E. Tremont Ave. in the Bronx.
Perched in his 17th floor office
he is able to survey sweeping vistas
of “Metropolis,” from City Hall to
the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. City
Councilman Jimmy Vacca isn’t faster
than a speeding bullet or able to leap tall
buildings with a single bound, but he is
mild mannered and that can sometimes
mask his true abilities.
Born and raised in the Pelham
Bay section of the Bronx, Vacca had
different dreams than other children.
Instead of wanting to be a policeman,
fireman, astronaut or cowboy, Vacca
dreamed of being a public servant. His
early childhood memories were of his
Aunt Florence who was very active in
local civic affairs. “I remember people
would come to her from all over the
neighborhood for help with things like
fixing potholes,” said Vacca with a
smile and a nostalgic glance one might
give when remembering the smell
of a freshly baked pie coming out of
grandma’s oven. The admiration and
respect the neighborhood had for his
aunt was like a warm glowing aura
that Vacca knew he had to experience
for himself. Even when discussing
his accomplishments, Vacca doesn’t
come off as a braggart, but rather a
humble man who takes great joy and
satisfaction in knowing he has helped
make his community a better place to
live.
page 8
A product of the New York serving as the Chair from 1977 to 1979.
City school system, Vacca went on to Community Boards are the most basic,
earn a B.A. in Political Science from grass root, level of New York City
the State University of New York and government. Comprised of volunteers
a Master’s in Urban Studies from the appointed by the Borough Presidents,
City University of New York. It was with the recommendation of a member
during his high school days he would of the City Council, board members
get his first taste of that feeling he are the voice of the local community in
longed for after observing his aunt City government.
during his early childhood. Vacca Tip O’Neill, a former Speaker
ran successfully for class president at of the House, once said, “All politics is
Columbus High School. “I think being local,” and nothing is more local than
student president during my senior year garbage; everyone has it, everyone
was an awakening for me, I really found wants to get rid of it and no one wants
out I had a niche, I could change things, it in their backyard. The City of New
have an impact on things,” said Vacca. York was operating one of several
He said students would often come to municipal garbage dumps at Ferry Point
him with issues they thought no else in the Bronx, which sits in the shadow
cared about, and he was able to make of the Whitestone Bridge. With the
a difference. When asked what was bridge soon to serve as one of the major
attractive about that,
actually making a
difference or having
people appreciate you
making a difference,
he said both. “I get
a reward out of the
appreciation,” said
Vacca.
Va c c a ’s
first
foray
into
public service was
as a member of
Community Board
10 in the Bronx,
Councilman Vacca in his office accross from City Hall.
gateways to the 1964-65 Worlds fair,
the Ferry point dump was closed and
moved to a site in Pelham Bay in 1963.
From almost its inception, Pelham Bay
residents complained of the terrible
odors and expressed concerns about
the environmental impact of the dump.
At the age of 22, and newly elected by
his peers to chair Community Board
10, Vacca was ready to take on City
Hall. After exploring various ways to
convince the city to close the dump,
Vacca happened upon section 360 of
the NYS Department of Environmental
Conservation law, which required
garbage dumps to have a New York
State permit; Pelham Bay landfill didn’t
have such a permit. Vacca enlisted two
local attorneys, State Senator and Bronx
Republican Chairman, John Calandra
and Guy Velella, to represent him pro
bono in state court. The lawyers were
successful, Vacca prevailed and the
courts ordered the dump closed.
Vacca resigned his position
as Chair of Community Board 10 in
1979 to work in the Community Affairs
Office for Bronx Borough President
Stanley Simon. His time there was
brief, less than a year, when the position
of District Manager of Community
Board 10 became available; Vacca was
encouraged to accept the job. Despite
his early victories and the admiration
of his community, Vacca’s youth would
sometimes stand between him and the
respect he would eventually earn. While
still in his early 20’s the Board voted
to give him a small raise and people
would stop his mother on the street and
tell her that her son doesn’t deserve a
raise because he still lives at home. The
District Manager is the highest paid
position working on behalf of and at
the pleasure of the Board. Vacca must
have pleased the Board as he remained
there for 25 years. Asked if he thought
he would last so long at the District
Manager job he said, “I never even
bought into my pension plan for seven
years, I never thought I would be at the
Board for seven years.”
Politics is sometime referred
to as a blood sport. The consummate
political warrior in New York City in
the 1970’s and 80’s was Mayor Edward
I. Koch. To someone like Mayor Koch,
defeat was simply an opportunity
for retaliation. It was at Board 10 as
District Manager that Vacca would feel
the sting of revenge from the Mayor.
On the heels of Vacca’s successful suit
to get the Pelham Bay landfill closed,
Mayor Koch said the garbage has to
go somewhere, and because the City
already had a New York State permit for
the old Ferry Point site, that’s where he
would put it. Vacca needed a new angle
if he was going to prevent the return of
garbage at Ferry Point. Realizing that
there had been a shift from general
aviation to commercial aviation at
LaGuardia since Ferry Point had closed
in the early 60’s, Vacca thought he might
find an ally at the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA). Thinking long
term, he thought the rising mound
of garbage in the airport’s flight path
might one day lead to problems. When
he contacted the FAA, they too thought
the dump a bad idea but for a different
reason. It seems the FAA was very
concerned birds, particularly seagulls,
would be attracted to the garbage dump
and would pose a serious hazard to
navigation. Mayor Koch yielded and
moved the garbage to Staten Island.
Vacca wasn’t in favor of the garbage
going to Staten Island either, but he saw
that as someone else’s fight.
Several years later a homeless
shelter was proposed for a middle
class residential area in the heart of
Community Board 10. Vacca once again
sought support in challenging the Koch
administration’s plan. He reached
out to United States Senator Alfonse
D’Amato’s office for help. Although
a Republican, D’Amato was a close
ally of Mayor Koch. D’Amato’s office
responded that the Senator was aware
of this situation and had already written
letters on the subject; Vacca asked for
copies. When received, Vacca was
continued on page 16
page 9
n
a
tc
a
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Mobilization training is going on
throughout the local in preparation
for bargaining. These are just a
few pictures from the Long Island
training session.
?
o
Id
There are only three words for these questions;
Patti Egan (r), Business Agent leading the group.
As we approach the
expiration of our contract
members often ask, will we go
on strike? The simple answer
to that question is that it is up
to the members. While it is
true that only the membership
can authorize a strike, the
true meaning of “it’s up to the
membership” is a bit more
complicated. When you consider
the word union it quite literally
means a joining or coming
together. The purpose of a union
is for workers to join together
and collectively communicate
with their employer work issues
such as wages, benefits and
work rules that are important to
them. How effectively workers
can communicate their desires
and what they are willing to do
to secure them is the difference
between success and failure.
page 10
Beginning in the mid80’s CWA developed a strategy
to optimize the membership’s
collective voice and to maximize
success at the bargaining table;
that strategy is Mobilization. The
key to Mobilization is education;
when the membership knows
the issues it makes for a more
effective collective voice.
To achieve the goal of a
fully mobilized workforce CWA
recruits and trains volunteers,
referred to as Mobilization
Coordinators. In the months
preceding
bargaining
we
conduct training seminars so that
Mobilization Coordinators who
work every day side by side with
the membership can bring back
their knowledge to the worksite.
In addition to sharing vital
information with the membership
the Mobilization Coordinator
organizes local mobilization
activities intended to let the
employer know we understand
the issues and that when our
leadership speaks they speak for
all of us.
T her e is one last
assignment Mobilization
Coordinators are trained for,
Picket Captain, a task we hope
they are not called on to perform.
Striking is a last option, one that
everyone hopes can be avoided.
The best way to avoid a strike is to
be prepared for one. Attend union
meetings, get information from
your Mobilization Coordinator
and participate in all mobilization
activities. If we let our employer,
Verizon, know we are speaking
with one voice we maximize our
success at the bargaining table
while minimizing the possibility
of a strike.
Mobilization Coordinators discussing issues during
breakout sessions. (left and below)
Ricky Morrison, Assistant to the
President, takes a question.
Bob Perez, Treasurer, addresses
the group about the history of
bargaining and the local.
Vice-President Nelson Zapata with
Patti Egan and Ricky Morrison
page 11
Work and Family Corner
with
Beatrice Zapata
What’s New
about efforts to combat
Domestic Violence?
Law enforcement agencies
across Upstate and on Long Island
respond to approximately 175,000
domestic incidents annually, using
a paper Domestic Incident Report
(DIR) to document each call, regardless of whether an arrest was made.
The DIR has been used to document domestic violence in New York
State since 1994. Police are mandated to complete a DIR when responding to domestic incidents, whether or
not an arrest is made. When filled out
properly, DIR’s serve as a vital tool
for responders in domestic violence
cases. DIR’s are used by prosecutors to build cases against abusers; by
the police to ensure they have a complete history available to them when
responding to domestic incidents and
by judges and advocates in assessing
risks to victims.
While DIR’s
contain
a
wealth of information, typically they
have only been available to responders within the jurisdiction in which
they were completed. This limitation was problematic since we know
that given the reality of people’s
everyday lives, domestic violence
often crosses city, town and county
lines. Starting this spring, the NYS
Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is making it possible for
DIR’s to be shared within the criminal justice community statewide
and in electronic format through the
creation of a DIR repository. This
new tool will help to enhance the response to domestic violence in New
York State by providing responders with more complete information
with which to approach their cases.
You may ask why the repository was created. Hard-copy DIR’s are
not conducive to cross-referencing or
data mining. The reports are typically filed chronologically at DCJS and
within each agency that filed the reports. The reports are not cross-referenced by victim, offender or address
and an officer from one jurisdiction
often has no idea that another jurisdiction may be investigating the same
individual. In the so-called “information age,” this not only ridiculous, but
has the potential to be very dangerous. The DIR repository will change
that, providing a far more complete
look at the incidence of domestic violence across Upstate and on Long Island, allowing law enforcement and
advocates to develop policies and
coordinated strategies that will better
help them combat domestic violence
in their communities.
1
The Domestic Incident Report (DIR) repository was created
using approximately $1.5 million in
funds available through the American Reinvestment and Recovery
Act; the repository will be a secure
electronic database for law enforcement of all DIR’s filed by police
departments and sheriff’s offices
across the 57 counties in New York
State outside of the five that comprise New York City.
The repository will capture
all of the incidents details recorded
on those paper documents, giving
police and prosecutors cross-jurisdictional, electronic access to information that is crucial to victims and
officer safety and effective prosecution of domestic violence cases.
Department of Criminal Justice Services receives a copy of each
paper DIR. The agency is now scanning those hard-copy reports and
extracting specific identifiers such
as address of incident locations and
document numbers that will be verified and then compiled to create the
repository. The repository is scheduled to “go live” this spring.
To learn more about the DIR
repository go the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence at: http://www.opdv.state.ny.us
OPDV Bulletin/Spring 2011.
Information regarding The
Domestic Incident Report Repository in this article was obtained
from the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, OPDV
Bulletin, Spring 2011.
1
It’s Time to End Welfare
As We Know It
continued from 1
never makes the payments. The first
corporation has no profit to declare,
as it is never paid, and the second
corporation resells the property to the
original intended buyer for $200. Because the second corporation sells the
property for the same price it paid, it
has no capital gains. These multiple
corporations owned by an individual
are known as networks. According to
the GAO, there were over one million networks involving partnerships
and similar entities in tax year 2008.
page 14
Transactions in an iBob scenario are
often spread over multiple corporations spanning several years and are
difficult for the IRS to detect and unravel.
The Republican led Congress
recently passed a budget bill that cut
$600 million from the IRS. According
to IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, these cuts would result in $4
billion less in revenue due to reduced
enforcement. At that rate of return,
closing the transfer pricing loop-hole
and diverting it to tax enforcement
would result in an additional $200
billion in taxes collected annually. If
we were to enact a five percent alternative minimum tax on corporations,
we would have collected almost $5
billion more from just G.E., ExxonMobil and Bank of America alone.
With all the screaming over deficits
and demands for budget cuts that will
hit working America the hardest, its
time to end corporate welfare as we
know it.
page 15
Our Man in City Hall
continued from page 9
shocked to learn that D’Amato’s letters
were actually in support of Koch’s plan.
Vacca reached out to Guy Velella, the
then current State Senator and Bronx
Republican Chair, and told him the
neighborhood would flip if they learned
D’Amato was supporting the homeless
shelter. Velella insisted the letters
must have been sent in error and asked
Vacca to call for a rally of residents
in opposition. Vacca agreed, and over
3000 angry local residents turned out.
Senator D’Amato attended the rally and
vowed to support the community and
oppose the shelter. Vacca worked with
other political figures of the time like
City Council President Andrew Stein
page 16
and Bronx Borough President Howard
Golden; both members of the Board
of Estimate. At that time the Board of
Estimate had ultimate authority on the
budget and land use issues. Once again,
Vacca prevailed and the shelter was
blocked.
Vacca entered a five way
primary race for New York City
Council in 2005 besting his
opponents, even the Democratic
Party backed former Assemblyman
Steven Kaufman. He went on to win
the general election. Vacca’s nonpartisan approach in relentlessly
advocating for his constituents
resulted in him being endorsed by
both the Democratic and Republican
Parties for re-election four years later.
Due to a term limit extension Vacca is
among a small group of Councilmen
eligible to run for re-election in the
next cycle.
In his current position as
the Chairman of the Council’s
Transportation Committee, Vacca
co-sponsored, and was instrumental
in passing, a comprehensive snow
removal bill this April, in direct
response to the City’s dismal
performance following this past
winter’s blizzards. Earlier this year
he was able to secure $2 million
additional funding for pothole repair.
He might not be Superman, but his
aunt Florence would be proud.