May 30 in history: Ground Zero clean, Patriot Act seen
BY CHARLES SNIDER
.....One year ago today on May 30, workers completed clean up and excavation of Ground Zero in New York City. The end of the aftermath was marked by a silent ceremony.
..... On the same day ... More.
The current local media ownership landscape
BY CHRIS SAMPSON
.....As the FCC prepares to vote on whether or not to redraw the ownership lines for radio, print and television, the domination of companies like Clear Channel, Univision and Viacom are already evident in Houston. In some cases, stations that seem to compete with each other for listeners are in fact drinking from the same trough.
.....Current regulations limit companies from owning multiple media formats in the same market, but the new rule changes could give them free reign over any media outlet in which they wish to invest. In a city with only one major newspaper, many people turn to radio and television for their news and entertainment.
.....Currently there are 50 radio stations and 28 television stations in the Houston metropolitan area.
..... The breakdown of current corporate ownership is as follows: ... More.
No reform of the death penalty this time in lege'
BY ERIC THOMPSON
.....As this session of the Texas Legislature draws to a close, some death penalty reformers are referring to the 2003 Legislative Session as one of "missed opportunity." Staff attorney for the Texas Defender Service Andrea Keiland has closely monitored legislation involving the Texas death penalty system from the state capital. Earlier today, KPFT reporter Eric Thompson spoke with Ms. Keiland from Austin.
.....Thompson: With respect to politics and the Texas death penalty, can you give me a recap with what has happened during this legislative session?
.....Keiland: "This legislative session has been about missed opportunities. The Texas Legislature failed to enact a life without parole option, despite overwhelming public support for that option for jurors. They failed to move a moratorium bill, they even turned down a bill that would just study the death penalty in Texas and see if it's applied in a fair and reliable manner. They also failed to enact legislation which would put our state in compliance with the Supreme Court's decision regarding executing the mentally retarded." More.
Students must now say two pledges
BY KAREM SAID
.....As the school year draws to a close, Governor Rick Perry ushered in a new law that will take effect once school resumes in September. At that time, all public school students will be required to recite the Texas pledge in addition to the national pledge of allegiance. Afterward they will be asked to observe a one-minute period of silence when students may reflect, pray or meditate. With more on the story is Karem Said:
.....Senate Bill 83 was signed-off by the Governor on Thursday. Students can get out of saying the pledges if they provide an excusatory letter from their parents. The law suggests no penalties if students refuse to comply. A couple of administrators at Stratford High School of Spring Branch voiced enthusiasm at the new law. But not everyone welcomes the pledge requirements with such zeal. Susan Thompson teaches history and sociology at Stratford:
....."I think it's marvelously appropriate for us to pledge alliance to the United States everyday. ... More.
Republicans pass 'dream legislative package'
BY JACKSON ALLERS
.....In the last legislative round up with the Austin-based progressive magazine, The Texas Observer, KPFT reporter Jackson Allers talks with the Observer's legislative correspondent Dave Mann about what he thought was important as the 78th legislative session wraps up on June 2.
..... Allers: The legislature is closing session, apparently on June 2. Dave, could you give us a round up of sort of highlights of this session?
..... Mann: "If you're progressive minded, there weren't a lot of highlights this session." More.
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Victoria immigrant tragedy may spur change
BY ROBERT CARDENAS
.....Often financially desperate, Mexicans immigrants migrate to the United States to work at any jobs they can find, sending hard-won savings to families back home. Economic hardships in Mexico lead many to attempt illegal entry, though frequently to disastrous ends. For those who are caught or accused of smuggling, immigration services must continually make decisions that affect individual lives and families in profound ways. Robert Cardenas explains:
.....At last count, roughly 4.5 million undocumented workers from Mexico live in the United States. The recent tragedy in Victoria poses immediate problems for attorneys and policy makers alike.
.....Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Herrera informed KPFT that with seven people in custody and three others still at large, the cases are open and the investigation is on-going.
.....According to Assistant Federal Public Defender Chris Jenkins, defending these cases is difficult:
....."They're very difficult to defend. In the transporting cases, what the government has to show is pretty simple. I mean, they have to show that the person was transporting someone. That the people who were being transported were illegal aliens, which is pretty simple to show. They have to show that the driver knew they were illegal aliens, and generally given the circumstances that they were found that can be shown pretty easily.".
..... One-half of Mr. Jenkin's case load involves individuals accused of immigrant smuggling.
..... Nancy Herrera says that the 54 survivors of the Victoria tragedy are currently in an undisclosed location in Texas, where they will remain temporarily as material witnesses until the criminal cases are resolved.
..... The 54 were also granted personal recognizance bonds, but not all the defendants have been so fortunate. More.
Bush's tax cut won't help all small businesses
BY BRANDON MOELLER
.....On Wednesday, President George W. Bush signed into law what's called the "Jobs and Growth Package of 2003." It's the nation's third largest tax cut ever. According to Bush and many high-level Republicans in Congress, the $350 billion package is intended to stimulate the economy through tax cuts. A main rallying-cry from supporters has been how the plan will help small business owners.
..... Craig MacDonald is a small landscape architecture business owner who only has one employee - himself.
..... MacDonald recently got a phone call from the offices of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, which tried to solicit his support for the stimulus package in exchange for an advisory role to Congress as a "small business leader." MacDonald is a KPFT News listener who is skeptical, to say the least, about Republican DeLay's motives:
..... "The only thing that I want to see Tom DeLay is out of office and in jail. And that kind of ended our conversation."
..... Among other things, the new tax law gives small businesses what is being called a "depreciation break." This break will enable them to write off on their taxes fixed assets - i.e. equipment - that they buy for work at a more accelerated rate as it ages. Assistant Regional Director for UH Small Business Development Center James Evans explains depreciation:
..... "Depreciation allows companies to write down the value of their fixed assets at an accelerated rate. And of course the higher your expenses, then that reduces your net income, and that in turn reduces your tax liability." More.
Fighting prostitution, police gain powers
BY PHIL JACKSON
.....On Tuesday, the City Council passed a new ordinance against street prostitution that will give police officers greater freedom to deal with a problem that has grown to crisis proportions in some Houston neighborhoods.
.....The ordinance allows police to arrest known prostitutes for "loitering with intent to commit prostitution" while allowing officers wide latitude to determine what constitutes "intent." The City's legal department warned council members that the ordinance was probably unconstitutional and might not survive a challenge by civil liberty groups.
.....Councilwoman at large, Anise Parker, is a supporter of the ordinance and expressed her opinion that even though imperfect it is a tool the police need to have at their disposal.
..... "This is a possible tool. I don't think it's a magic bullet. I don't think it's going to make a huge difference on the street. But it has the potential of being one more thing that police can use in areas of heavy concentration of prostitution and related crimes."
..... As to the problem of its questionable constitutionality, Ms. Parker said that that issue was the responsibility of the courts to settle.
..... "Well, you know, I'm a member of the ACLU and that's why I send them their money so they can sort out things like this." More.
Students organize fundraiser for UNICEF
BY KAREM SAID
.....Last night the student activist group PISH organized a punk benefit concert to raise money for women and children in Iraq. They will contribute the money to UNICEF. PISH, the Politically Involved Students of Houston, was founded one week before the war against Iraq began. PISH founder Farrah Uzmani explains what drove her to create the group:
..... "Actually we started it a week before the first attack on Iraq. And I was concerned with how it seemed like everybody I knew weren't paying attention and really didn't care. Its like we're about to go to war - but you know - everybody was acting like - you know - just going on with their everyday life, not thinking twice about it. So I visited the Houston IndyMedia site and saw a post by a girl named Taylor, who I found out went to my high school. And she was talking about how frustrated she was like me. So me and her got together and we decided we were going to start meetings for other kids our age at the First Colony library to talk about the issues going on in Iraq."
..... PISH now comprises one representative from eight Fort Bend schools , two HISD schools, two Alief schools, and the [magnet] High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Some of PISH's graduating members will begin chapters at their colleges, such as the University of St. Thomas. The group currently meets every Thursday night at the First Colony Library. PISH has launched protests in the past. But now that global protesting has died down, Uzmani feels more creative activities will keep students involved. Uzmani has attended punk shows since she was 12 years old, so organizing the event wasn't difficult. News of the benefit spread by word of mouth. Three of the bands actually contacted her and asked to participate.
..... Last night, 140 people filled the ghoulish-looking venue Cardi's. The line-up included bands such as Emerging Culture and Persephone. Although most acts were punk and metal, folksinger Sally Tawfiq also performed. Tawfiq wrote a song called "Peace" especially for the event, which dealt with her opposition to the War against Iraq. She described why PISH is important to Houston youth:
..... [ambient sounds of concert in background]
..... "I actually didn't think that so many people were involved, but once I got involved with PISH, I realized how many people feel the exact same way and want to get out there and speak. But they just don't have a means of getting the word out and they're feelings out." More.
Locals protest N. Ireland's election stalling
BY MIKE HORNES
.....After much controversy the British Government canceled yesterday's elections in Northern Ireland. Much of the country was in an uproar and demonstrations and protests were held worldwide, including in Houston. Mike Hornes has more:
..... "It would be tantamount to say Clinton, in his last term, saying that, 'Well you know, I bet those Republicans are going to get in next time' so November 7, the usual election day, but I'm going to go ahead and call it off, until such time as I think the Democrats might win.' That's what it's tantamount to doing. And they're engaged of course with the Untied States in Iraq to bring about free elections, and he cancelled the free elections in Northern Ireland today."
..... That was protestor Jim Cavanaugh with the Irish Northern Aid Committee outside Houston's British Consulate yesterday.
..... As British Prime Minister Tony Blair was in Basra on Thursday promoting democracy, Cavanaugh was showing his solidarity with the people of Northern Ireland who demanded that their election be rescheduled. Consul for Northern Irish Affairs Paul Johnson had this to say:
..... "I don't believe that democracy is weakened by this time after the Prime Minister's call. To the contrary, I believe over the summer we can put together a deal to which both communities can subscribe, and have elections, that will reflect the true desire of all the people in Ireland."
..... Johnson's enthusiasm over the election process is not shared by all. Irish Northern Aid Spokesperson Jay Dooling criticizes Blair's readiness to promote democracy abroad while stifling it so close to home:
..... "The United States and Britain have theoretically been at war in Iraq to bring democracy, to bring free elections to the people of Iraq. And here, Northern Ireland, which is less than an hour plane ride away across the sea there, is ... they canceled the free elections at the same time they're fighting for free elections, theoretically, in Iraq."
..... Of the six political parties in Northern Ireland, only the Blair-backed Ulster Unionist Party supports the indefinite postponement of the election. According to a Phoblact journalist Jim Gibney, the leader of the Ulster party David Trimble was most likely to be voted out of office were elections to occur. More.
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