Stirring it up in stir: Activist John Penley reports on Facebook that he recently received a long letter from “Inmate Stanley Cohen” from federal prison. Cohen, who pleaded guilty to tax obstruction and got 18 months, is currently working in the prison library and hopes to begin teaching GED classes soon. “The funniest line,” Penley relayed, “was that Stanley requested that he be allowed to teach a class on prison uprisings in America, and of course the warden said no f—— way. … He also talks about overcrowded conditions and the food, and since he is a nonmeat eater I know it must be hard to get enough food.” The radical attorney, who has defended Hamas members and Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law, is at Canaan U.S. Penitentiary Satellite Camp, in Waymart, Penn. The prison’s Web site describes it as “minimum security.”
Eviction is too damn soon: The Rent Is Too Damn High’s Jimmy McMillan tells us that, according to the Human Resources Administration’s Adult Protective Services, his eviction from his rent-regulated E. Seventh St. apartment has been pushed back just a bit, but only till March 3. The Vietnam vet, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, said only three elected officials have offered to help him, Councilmember Inez Barron, Assemblymember Charles Barron and Public Advocate Letitia James. A spokesperson from Councilmember Barron’s office confirmed that she has reached out to McMillan. McMillan’s landlord maintains that the vet-turned-political candidate has another apartment in Brooklyn that is his primary residence. McMillan’s last-ditch try for an injunction to block his eviction was quashed in court.
Vindication: That was the subject line of Trudy Silver’s recent e-mail about her finally having “received the check in the mail” for being arrested while protesting with the War Resisters League and then held in jail for three days during the Republican National Convention in 2004. She and her cohorts had staged a die-in near Madison Square Garden, where the G.O.P’ers were holding their conservo confab. “Ten years ago, decked head to toe in white shrouds, heartened by the balmy August weather, we marched up Broadway toward the Republicans garrisoned in their fortress,” she recalled. “Two by two, some 50 strong, we planned a ghostly assault upon the world’s richest and most powerful assembly. Symbolizing Iraqi war dead, we lay in the streets and blocked access to the convention site.” Ultimately, the city paid out $17.6 million to demonstrators jailed during the convention, many of whom were held — notably at the Hudson River Park’s Pier 57 — without being charged for more than 24 hours, in excess of the norm. “The authorities seem to take the position that law-breaking motivated by conscience poses a greater threat to the body politic than simple criminal activity,” Silver scoffed. “The authorities had years to plan for this event. Did ‘Guantanamo on the Hudson’ [Pier 57] and the Tombs constitute the city’s best efforts?” Asked what the payout was, Silver told us, “I got $1,000. Legal Aid lawyers deservedly got most of the money.” As for her 5C cafe, Silver said, “We found two Jamaican brothers from Brooklyn, master barbers who do plumbing, electrical, carpentry. They are paying the bills and we hope to open a coffeehouse during the day. We have had three memorials for musicians and a couple of fundraisers recently. Hopefully we’ll have regularly scheduled events soon. The renovation from Sandy is finally done.”
Hell, yeah! Rosen done good: The L.E.S. Dwellers’ Diem Boyd and Sara Romanoski don’t say it unless they mean it. They recently issued an e-mail press release from awash-with-alcohol Hell Square praising Dennis Rosen, the departing chairperson of the State Liquor Authority, while also expressing concern that his good work will be continued by his successor. Rosen has been tapped by Governor Andrew Cuomo to become New York State’s Medicaid inspector general, but will remain at the S.L.A. until a replacement is appointed. “Unlike his predecessors,” they said, “Chairman Rosen has allowed residents throughout the city to establish a rapport with the S.L.A. by encouraging them to file complaints and raise concerns directly with the authority. Previously, residents felt disenfranchised given that their valid complaints registered to 311, local community boards and police precincts were not always given the attention they deserved. After inheriting a dysfunctional, inefficient agency plagued by a history of corruption — an agency that was unable to properly regulate the city’s liquor license holders — Chairman Rosen leaves behind a more functional, accessible and accountable agency. We hope Chairman Rosen’s replacement will continue his vision and commitment to improving the agency, moving it forward with modern technology tools, while maintaining his senior staff, all of whom have been instrumental in the recent successes at the New York State Liquor Authority.”
Truce or consequences: The East Village’s Elizabeth Ruf-Maldonado will be directing a new musical, “Truce,” coming up at Theater for the New City April 9 to 19. A work by Barney Griffin and Gene Ruffini, it’s inspired by the W.W. I “Christmas Truce,” when, 100 years ago, the British and Germans called a ceasefire and left their trenches to exchange gifts and talk, sing carols, even play soccer together. “Truce,” however, is set in the middle of the 21st century “after a U.S. invasion of Brazil… The action opens on soldiers from both sides celebrating a Christmas Truce with soccer and Brazilian dance.” The musical is still casting for talent, and it’s a plus if potential performers can play Latin percussion instruments and do Capoeira. If you can do a bicycle kick, you’re definitely in! Sounds cool! But why, we wondered and we asked, does the U.S. wind up attacking Brazil? Ruf-Maldonado responded: “Reasons: Natural resources? Spread of left-leaning politics and economic policies in Latin America? The play should leave audiences asking questions, finding out more and taking action.” Send head shots and résumés to nyartist123@gmail.com .
