May 17, 2021

A desperately needed Constitutional Amendment

In light of the news that the Supreme Court is taking up a case involving a Missouri law that would effectively ban all abortions after 15 weeks, and which may enable the conservative majority to overturn Roe, I am beginning to think we need a constitutional amendment that reads something like:

Why do I think this is necessary? Because it messes with people's lives to say, under one Supreme Court majority, that citizens have a particular right, and under another Supreme Court majority, that they don't. One thing I worry about, besides the effort to ban abortion, is the gay marriage decision, now that Anthony Kennedy is no longer on the Court. I wouldn't put it past this court to take a case challenging the gay marriage ruling, and the conservative majority to reverse it. And what would that do to the millions of LGBTQ+ couples who have already been married? When it comes to Constitutional rights, there simply must be some kind of reliable stability.

If we are true to our founding documents, we have no business restricting or rescinding rights, but only extending them. Something as fundamental as a Constitutional right should not be subject to the vicissitudes of changing Supreme Court majorities!

May 14, 2021

Best one-liner I've seen all year!

This was a Facebook comment made by someone I don't know. Wish I had written it!

May 4, 2021

A responsive state legislator's office --- now that's what I like to see!

I have had difficulty in getting unemployment benefits. My job ended on 12/31, and I had 14 weeks of severance that carried me through the first week of April. In anticipation of that, I filed my unemployment claim in late March. I got a letter within about 10 days saying that, yes, I was eligible, and that I would receive a second letter once they had made a determination of benefit. But that second letter never arrived, and no benefits have been paid.

I have had to take two early withdrawals from my 401(k) to meet expenses.

I have tried dozens of times to contact the NYS Dept. of Labor. Each time, after wading through countless voice menus, I get a recording saying they are busy with other callers, and instructing me to call again (no option to have them call me back).
So last night, out of desperation, I sent emails to my state Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, my state Senator Brad Hoylman, and Governor Cuomo's office. I got an immediate automated response from Gottfried, but have yet to receive any follow-up. Likewise, the governor's office sent an automated reply. I got no automated reply from Senator Hoylman's office, which concerned me a bit; until, that is, I checked my email today, and found a response from Senator Hoylman's office manager, saying she would be happy to help and requesting some additional information. Guess which one inspires my loyalty!

So I"m posting this public Thank You to Senator Brad Hoylman for his office's prompt attention and responsiveness!