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Rockefeller Drug Laws

Obama and Paterson Get Love For Recent Drug Policy Reforms

Tony Newman | Posted 10.22.2009 | New York

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Drug Policy Alliance, Governor David Paterson, Marijuana, President Obama, Medical Marijuana, War on Drugs, Criminal Justice, New York News
Tony Newman

For as long as I can remember, the conventional political wisdom had been that elected officials, especially Democrats, can't touch drug policy reform with a ten foot pole.

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David Paterson Does the Right Thing and Drops the Rock

Anthony Papa | Posted 10.07.2009 | New York

Read More: Breaking Politics News, Rockefeller Drug Laws, Governor David Paterson, Prison, Cocaine, Drug Reform, Drug War, Criminal Justice, New York News
Anthony Papa

Having felt the sting of the Rockefeller laws firsthand -- serving 12 years under a 15-years-to-life sentence -- I understand the full meaning of the reforms that went into effect today.

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Rockefeller Drug Law Reforms Go Into Effect

Eric T. Schneiderman | Posted 10.07.2009 | New York

Read More: Rockefeller, Rockefeller Drug Laws, Judicial Discretion, Criminal Justice, Drug Sentencing, Drug Reform, War on Drugs, New York News
Eric T. Schneiderman

For all the (fair) criticism of Albany's dysfunction, our state government did get something right this year. The drug law reforms go into effect today.

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Make Them Work for a Living

David Jones | Posted 10.01.2009 | New York

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Formerly Incarcerated, Inmates, Recidivism, Prison, Felons, David Paterson, New York News
David Jones

It's time to be really tough on criminals. Let's make it so they have to get a job when they get out of jail -- so they can suffer like the rest of us.

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The Rare Political Party That Is a Movement

David Sirota | Posted 09.23.2009 | New York

Read More: Working Families Party, Rockefeller Drug Laws, New York, Political Parties, Openleft, Firedoglake, Liberals, Connecticut, Act Blue, Progressive Movement, Democrats, Democracy Alliance, New York News
David Sirota

Despite flying under the radar, the Working Families Party is perhaps today's most encouraging model for achieving progressive results over the long haul.

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Being Tough on Crime: Not a Winner in New York City DA's Race

Anthony Papa | Posted 09.21.2009 | New York

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Cy Vance Jr., Death Penalty, Leslie Crocker Snyder, Manhattan District Attorney, Jim Webb, Drug Reform, New York News
Anthony Papa

If Cy Vance adopts a balanced approach to justice that incorporates compassion, he will go a long way. As for Judge Snyder, I bid her farewell and I wish her ride on a slow boat to China is a good one.

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Leslie Crocker Snyder Exposed

Anthony Papa | Posted 11.10.2009 | New York

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Leslie Crocker Snyder, Manhattan District Attorney, Terrance Stevens, Cy Vance, New York News
Anthony Papa

Here is a powerful and poignant video of Terrance Stevens slamming Leslie Crocker Snyder, who is running for Manhattan District Attorney.

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Leslie Crocker Snyder Should Not Be NYC's Next District Attorney

Anthony Papa | Posted 10.20.2009 | New York

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Manhattan Da Race, Leslie Crocker Snyder, Manhattan District Attorney, War on Drugs, Race, New York News
Anthony Papa

Crocker was a "hang em' high" judge who was infamous for handing out stiff drug sentences under the Rockefeller Drug Laws. I served a 15 to life sentence under those laws.

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Candidates Drug Use Not A Deal Breaker, But Hypocrisy On Issue Should Be!

Tony Newman | Posted 10.19.2009 | New York

Read More: Cy Vance Jr., Rockefeller Drug Laws, Drug Policy Alliance, District Attorney, Marijauna, David Paterson, Richard Aborn, President Obama, Hypocrisy, Treatment, Marijuana Arrests, Cocaine, Manhattan District Attorney, New York City, New York News
Tony Newman

We have two candidates running for District Attorney of Manhattan, one the of the most powerful law enforcement jobs in the country, admitting to cocaine use.

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Michael Douglas' Son Should Not Go to Prison

Anthony Papa | Posted 09.06.2009 | Entertainment

Read More: Addiction, Treatment, Criminal Justice, Methamphetamine, Michael Douglas, Rockefeller Drug Laws, Cameron Douglas Drug Bust, Governor Pataki, Entertainment News
Anthony Papa

The role of drugs and drug addiction loom large in our society, but instead of demonizing addicted individuals, we need an alternative approach: treatment, not imprisonment.

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My Return to Sing Sing Prison: The Agony and The Ecstasy

Anthony Papa | Posted 08.15.2009 | Entertainment

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Prisons, Entertainment News, Film, Crime, Drug War, Entertainment News
Anthony Papa

I swore to myself I would never return. But over a decade later, here I was, back at the maximum security prison where I served a 15 years for a non-violent drug crime under the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

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Leave Rockefeller Drug Law Reforms Alone

Anthony Papa | Posted 07.03.2009 | Politics

Read More: Gov. Paterson, Rockefeller Drug Laws, Criminal Justice, War on Drugs, Prison, Politics News
Anthony Papa

District Attorneys and Republican Senators, who were the main opponents of the reforms, have struck back. They are now seeking to mount a campaign to repeal the reforms.

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Governor David Paterson Does the Right Thing

Anthony Papa | Posted 06.07.2009 | Politics

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, War on Drugs, Cocaine, Mandatory Minimums, Drug Policy, Politics News
Anthony Papa

The Rockefeller Drug Laws had evolved to become a racist entity that was a complete failure in balancing the scales of justice with the needs of protecting our communities.

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Embrace the Possible: A New Direction in New York

Richard Aborn | Posted 06.04.2009 | Politics

Read More: Minimum Sentencing, Reform, Rockefeller Drug Laws, Politics News
Richard Aborn

Treatment of drug users is the most effective use of tax dollars to reduce illicit drug use and related crime, while mandatory sentencing is the least effective.

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Dear Governor Paterson (An Open Letter)

Russell Simmons | Posted 05.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Newyork, Governor David Paterson, Gay Marriage, Russell Simmons, Paterson, David Paterson Gay Marriage Bill, Politics News
Russell Simmons

As the first African-American Governor of New York, you have already made history. We now want to help you create a legacy.

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Time to Dream Big

Benjamin Todd Jealous | Posted 05.12.2009 | Politics

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Prison, David Paterson, Drug War, Drug Laws, Naacp, Politics News
Benjamin Todd Jealous

Repeal of New York state's Rockefeller drug laws signals a perfect storm for changing our expensive, ineffective, and discriminatory drug laws.

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Taxing THC: Turning Old New York into New New Amsterdam

Warren Holstein | Posted 05.09.2009 | Comedy

Read More: New Orleans, Rockefeller Drug Laws, Marijuana, Drugs, Amsterdam, California, Military Industrial Complex, Glaucoma, Norml, David Paterson, Drug War, Medical Marijuana, Blue Laws Repealed, Decriminalization, Budget Deficit, New York, Tom Ammiano, Politics, Cannabis, Intractable Pain, Federal Budget Deficit, Marijuana Amsterdam, Blue Laws, Neoconservatives, Weed, Legalize Marijuana, Ground Zero, Law Enforcement, Economy, Comedy News
Warren Holstein

Bollocks! How is that California, the crossroads of implants, spray tans and superficiality, has a leg up on the Empire State, on the possible legalization and taxation of Cannabis sativa?

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Rockefeller Drug Laws In New York To Be Repealed

New York Times | JEREMY W. PETERS | Posted 04.26.2009 | Home

Read More: Governor Paterson Drug Laws, Rockefeller Drug Laws, Rockefeller Laws, Repeal Drug Laws, Rockefeller Laws Scrapped, Home News

ALBANY -- Gov. David A. Paterson and New York legislative leaders have reached an agreement to dismantle much of what remains of the state's strict 19...

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"The Jim Crow Laws of the 21st Century": Will New York Change?

Odile Weissenborn | Posted 04.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, California Prison System, Drug Sentencing, Governor Paterson, Prison System, Economy, Prison Legal News, Drugs, Solomon Moore, War on Drugs, DOJ Prosecutor, Deficit, Death Penalty Information Center, Alternative to Incarceration, Low-Level Drug Offenders, Partnership for Responsible Drug Information, Paul Butler, Taxpayer Money, Bernard Madoff, Budget Deficit, Prison Reform, Prison Population, Drug Treatment, Incarceration, Crime, Budget, Incarceration Rates, Paul Wright, George Washington University Law School, Punishment, Sentencing, Jim Crow, New York Senate, Prison, California Commission on Fair Administration of Justice, Drug Offenders, New York Times, New York Budget, Nelson Rockefeller, Death Penalty, New York State Assembly, Richard Deiter, Madoff Jail, Errol Louis, Alternative Treatment Drug Offenders, Palladia, Politics News
Odile Weissenborn

In New York, the 36-year-old Rockefeller Drug Laws may be massively overhauled.

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Time to Show the World

Russell Simmons | Posted 04.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Nyc, Russell Simmons, Protest, Governor David Paterson, New York, Drugs, War on Drugs, Celebrities Talk Politics, Politics News
Russell Simmons

The nation is watching to see if we will do the right thing in New York by repealing the Rockefeller Drug Laws. And if we do the right thing, the nation will follow in our footsteps.

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Dumping the Rockefeller Drug Laws for a New Direction in New York

Russell Simmons | Posted 04.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Andrew Cuomo, War on Drugs, David Paterson, New York, Russell Simmons, Politics News
Russell Simmons

Today, there are approximately 12,000 people in New York prisons under the Rockefeller Drug Laws, more than 90 percent of who are Black and Latino. There is no excuse for this disparity.

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Happy To See My Mug Shot on the Home Page of the NY Times

Anthony Papa | Posted 04.05.2009 | Politics

Read More: War on Drugs, Treatment, Breaking Politics News, Rockefeller Drug Laws, Prison, Politics News
Anthony Papa

The reason my mugshot was on the New York Times site is because they featured me in a video on the New York Assembly passing legislation yesterday to overhaul the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

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Strange Bedfellows: Bush Bids Farewell to Ex-Con

Anthony Papa | Posted 02.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, War on Drugs, President Bush, Faith-Based Initiatives, Bush Last Press Conference, George Bush, Speech, Presidential Pardons, Bush Last Speech, Bush Pardons, Politics News
Anthony Papa

Former drug-war prisoner Julio Medina opened Exodus Transitional Community in East Harlem, New York, to assist formerly incarcerated men and women as they integrated back into the community.

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It Will Take a Cuomo to Carry on Kennedy Legacy

Randy Credico | Posted 01.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Rockefeller Drug Laws, Andrew Cuomo, Charles Schumer, David Paterson, New York Senate Seat, Hillary Clinton, Caroline Kennedy, Senator Kennedy, Politics News
Randy Credico

Governor Paterson should resist Bloomberg's arrogant meddling and appoint Andrew Cuomo. He is the best suited, and has the demonstrated record to carry on the legacy of Robert F. Kennedy.

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American Injustice -- Anthony Williams and New York's Drug Laws

Randy Credico | Posted 12.20.2008 | Politics

Read More: Anthony Williams, Rockefeller Drug Laws, Prison, Drug Laws, Sentencing Reform, Politics News
Randy Credico

Williams' woeful tale reads like an Americanized version of a Russian novel -- a tome written in four full boxes of records concerning his arrest, interrogation, trial, incarceration and appeals.

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