October 16th
Yesterday, the City Council discussed legislation to prevent the police from secretly collecting DNA from minors in what one of the bill’s sponsors called “genetic stop-and-frisk.” Under the current law, it is legal for cops to collect DNA covertly “from a used straw or a bag of chips — items offered to young detainees.” Lisa Freeman of the Legal Aid Society testified that “the NYPD has engaged in secretive methods to take DNA from children without even securing consent from their parent.” The city now has a database of DNA profiles that includes DNA from about 1500 children. Contact your City Council member and ask them to support legislation to outlaw all surreptitious DNA collection and delete DNA profiles of children from the city’s index.
On Staten Island Ron Castorina Jr., Republican candidate for a Civil Court judge slot, gave a speech at the “largest pro-Trump, pro-Republican, pro-law-and-order rally in New York City this year.” A spokesperson for Castorina’s Democratic rival pointed out that this was a blatant violation of the most important rule in the Judicial Campaign Ethics Handbook, which prohibits partisan political activity. Go ahead and support Allyn Crawford in his bid for the job of civil court judge.
Here’s a little slice of good news: Juneteenth is now an official NYS holiday.
Have a good weekend!
with love,
L