JOURNEYS Soh Young Lee and Friends

NEW DATE: Sunday, November 18, 2012, 4:00 PM
Charles B. Wang Center Theatre

50% of all ticket sales benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Soh Young Lee in Performance

Soprano Soh Young Lee takes a musical journey around the globe, with an eclectic repertoire of opera, art song, folk music, and pop. With her crystalline voice and warm stage presence, Lee performs Native American, Korean, Chinese, Indian, Filipino, and Russian songs, sounding out her solidarity with the global village.Joining Soh Young Lee are saxophonist T.K. Blue and Korean Opera (Pansori) singer Oak Joo Moon.

Praised for his “personal, clear, and incisive” instrumental voice, T.K. Blue has recorded and performed with legendary artists including Abdullah Ibrahim, Dizzy Gillespie, Regina Carter, and Bobby McFerrin.

Recognized as a prodigy of Pansori, Oak Joo Moon has had a stellar career, including numerous international performances. She is a winner of the Korean Presidential Award (1998) and is the only official recognized National Korean Human Cultural Asset living outside of Korea.

Also featuring Keyth Hart (Piano/Voice),
and Ann Zarkind (Piano).

We are pleased to welcome all ticket holders to a reception following the performance. Meet the artists and enjoy some light refreshments!

Sunday, November 18, 2012, 4:00 PM
Charles B. Wang Center Theatre

Tickets: $35 (VIP Priority Seating) / $20 (General) / $15 (Seniors) / $10 (Students). Discount of 20% for groups of 5 or more. Reserve by telephone (632-4400), email ([email protected]), or online at www.stonybrook.edu/wang.

50% of all ticket sales benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy Flier »Email now to reserve »

Positions Open with the AABANY Law Review

AABANY Law Review

The AABANY Law Review (ALR) is an annual journal published by attorneys and law students that seeks to inspire discussion and debate on matters of concern to the Asian Pacific American community while providing law students with valuable journal experience. ALR published its inaugural issue in February 2012. More recently, ALR published a special edition containing annotated re-enactment scripts of historic cases involving Asian Americans written by prominent members of the Asian American legal community.

ALR is currently seeking practitioners, law students, and graduates who are interested in contributing to the journal for the upcoming year. We are aiming to publish our second issue in September 2013, which will contain a mix of original content and republications. ALR also has plans to launch its First Annual Student Note competition in early 2013. ALR will provide opportunities for its members to develop and hone their own research, writing, and editing skills.

Whether or not you have ever participated on a journal, we encourage you to apply for one of the open positions:

Executive Managing Editor: Responsibilities include but are not limited to organizing the student note competition, laying the groundwork for an eventual ALR blog, and managing the ALR staff.

Executive Articles Editor:
Responsibilities include but are not limited to soliciting original content from law professors and practitioners, recommending articles for re-publication, and coordinating the cite-checking and Bluebooking of all content going into the journal.

Associate Articles Editor: Responsibilities include but are not limited to reviewing article and note submissions, cite-checking, and Bluebooking.

Online Editor: Responsible for uploading content onto the ALR website and improving the design of the website. Must have web experience.

TO APPLY: Please submit the applicant information form (next page), a resume, and a short writing sample (no more than 5 pages) to [email protected] by NOVEMBER 26, 2012.

Post-Sandy Recovery Efforts – Volunteers Needed For Friday’s Pro Bono Clinic

From KALAGNY:

We know this has been a difficult time for many of you. We hope you and your family are safe and are recovering post Sandy.

KALAGNY invites volunteer attorneys to make a difference in the lives of those adversely affected by Sandy.  Along with other social service providers, we will hold a pro bono “clinic” this Friday, November 9, 2012, from 1-6 p.m. at the Korean American Association of Greater New York (149 West 24th Street, 6th Fl. in Manhattan) (map). No specialized legal experience is necessary. A training session and lunch will be served at noon at the same location prior to the clinic.

At the clinic, KALAGNY and its partner organizations will provide legal support to individuals and businesses that may be facing homelessness, unemployment, medical exigencies, business interruption, or a combination of the foregoing. We are seeking 1-2 bilingual (i.e., Korean) volunteers for an information table at the Clinic.  Please e-mail [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering by Wednesday November 7, 2012.

NYS Bar Association Sets Up Legal Hotline to Assist Storm Victims

From the NYSBA website:

1-800-699-5636 Toll-free Number for Legal Questions

New Yorkers with legal problems related to Superstorm Sandy can receive free advice from volunteer lawyers through a program sponsored by the New York State Bar Association, President Seymour W. James, Jr. announced today.

“We know there will be a great need for legal assistance in the coming weeks,” said James (The Legal Aid Society in New York City). “We are grateful to attorneys who go above and beyond to serve their communities.”

Volunteer attorneys will answer storm-related questions about insurance, real estate issues (landlord-tenant and other property disputes) and general legal matters, such as replacing missing wills and other documents.

Storm victims seeking legal advice can call a toll-free hotline: 1-800-699-5636. They will receive the name and phone number of a volunteer attorney. Callers will be eligible for a free legal consultation of up to 30 minutes, either by phone or in person.

Individuals whose applications for emergency assistance are rejected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be able to speak with an attorney about how to appeal the decision.

The Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) is coordinating the program in partnership with the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. They are working closely with local bar associations, legal assistance providers, community programs and local officials in storm-battered areas of the state.

Attorneys wishing to volunteer can visit  www.nysba.org/DisasterVolunteerSandy or call 518-463-3200.    

Hurricane Sandy Legal Relief Efforts from probono.net

Thanks to Yomi Ajaiyeoba, President of the Nigerian Lawyers Association, for passing this along:

As the process of recovery begins in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, at Pro Bono Net we express our deepest sympathy for those affected by this devastating natural disaster in New York, and beyond. Pro Bono Net stands ready to support the legal relief efforts that will come together over the next several weeks, and will keep you apprised of the latest developments. Several initiatives are already underway, including:

  • For Long Island-based lawyers: The Touro Law School in Central Islip is opening a Storm Help Center to provide referrals, assistance and legal advice for local residents and small businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Thomas Maligno, Executive Director, Touro Law School Public Interest Center at [email protected].
  • The New York State Bar Association is recruiting volunteer attorneys to provide free telephone consultations to individuals affected by Sandy. If you are able to help, please visit www.nysba.org/DisasterVolunteerSandy and complete a volunteer form.
  • In New York City, New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) has mobilized a legal aid disaster relief program to help victims of the storm deal with a range of legal issues. To volunteer to provide pro bono legal assistance, please email [email protected].
  • LawHelp/NY is compiling a current list of disaster relief resources and information for New Yorkers at http://www.lawhelp.org/link.cfm?3607.
  • Pro Bono Net is collaborating with the American Bar Association, Legal Services Corporation, and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association on the National Disaster Legal Aid website (http://www.disasterlegalaid.org/), where Hurricane Sandy resources and information are being posted regularly.
  • Pro Bono Net is participating in a gathering at the City Bar of New York City legal services and pro bono leaders this coming Monday, November 5, 2012, to discuss coordination of relief efforts. Please join the NYC Pro Bono Center (http://www.probono.net/ny/nyc/jointhisarea/) to keep apprised of pro bono efforts as we move forward.

We would like to hear from you about other ways that we can serve the pro bono community and strengthen your efforts in this time of recovery – please contact me with your news and ideas at [email protected].

We look forward to your participation in this dynamic recovery process, and thank you for your commitment to helping the individuals, families, and institutions shaken by Hurricane Sandy.

Sincerely,

Adam Friedl
Pro Bono Coordinator | Pro Bono Net
212.760.2554 x 490 | [email protected]
probono.net | lawhelp.org
lawyers serving the public good

Voters in affected counties can vote affidavit in any county / polling place

Thanks to James Hong at MinKwon for forwarding this timely update.

Governor Cuomo is signing an Executive Order which provides for a voter who is a resident in the federally-declared disaster counties of Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester and of New York City (which includes Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens and Richmond) who have been displaced by Hurricane Sandy:

1.   To vote an affidavit ballot at any poll site in New York State, other than their regular poll site;

2.   Every Board of Elections in the State shall transmit the completed affidavit ballot of any voter who resides in one of the above counties to the Board of Elections where such voter is registered to vote to be canvassed;

3.   The affidavit ballot can only be canvassed for such contests for which the person was entitled to vote at such election.

 County Boards of Elections are directed to use all available means to:

  1. Provide notice to election inspectors and post the provisions of  the Executive Order conspicuously at poll sites in New York State giving  instruction on how to implement such Order;
  2. Instruct poll workers to provide affidavit ballots and guidance to voters; and 
  3. Provide notice and guidance to voters in accordance with this Executive Order that indicates that voters who reside in the counties of Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, or Westchester, or in New York City may receive and complete an affidavit ballot at any polling place in New York State, and that the board of elections of the voter’s residence will count such voter’s vote for any office on such affidavit ballot for which the voter is entitled to vote. 

 The following information may help you implement the Governor’s Executive Order:

  • The ballot will be sorted out when suitcases are returned to boards after the close of polls, and those belonging in any of the declared disaster counties shall be transmit to those county boards.  It may be helpful to photocopy/scan for the board’s election files, the affidavit envelopes of voters casting ballots pursuant to this executive order prior to sending the ballots themselves on to the voter’s home county board.
  • Before counting such ballots, the county receiving same shall check to ensure the voter did not vote in person or via absentee ballot.  The county board shall then cast such ballot with other affidavit and emergency ballots, counting only those votes for contests and questions  for which the voter was eligible to vote in their own county

For example, a voter staying with family in Orange County who was displaced from Westchester, would be entitled to vote for statewide contests and Supreme Court (because those 2 counties share a judicial district) and possibly a congressional or state senate contest.  A voter who sought refuge further upstate might only be eligible to vote in the statewide contests, as they would share no other offices/contests.

– 
Maurice Mitchell 
New York Civic Engagement Table, Coordinator
40 Worth St.
Suite 802
Manhattan, NY 10013
Office: 212-523-0180 ext. 28
Mobile: 516-425-1272
[email protected]

AAFE Emergency Loan Programs

In response to Hurricane Sandy, AAFE has initiated two emergency loan programs to help homeowners and small businesses throughout the five boroughs :

1) The Renaissance Economic Development Corporation will be offering an emergency loan fund up to $30,000 with 4% interest rate loans to affected small businesses in all 5 boroughs of NYC and special relief at 3% interest rate to businesses located south of 40th Street. Renaissance will provide expedited processing to ensure timely impact relief.  Download more information here.

2) AAFE Community Development Fund will be offering Emergency Repair Loan for Homeowners up to $20,000 with 4% interest rate; 3% interest rate for Seniors and Disabled or repairs conducted by certified green specialist.  Download more information here.

Please feel free to distribute and forward these programs information to your clients and constituents.


Christopher Kui, Executive Director
Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE)
108 Norfolk Street
New York, NY 10002
[email protected]
Tel. (212) 979-8381 ext. 107
Fax (212) 979-8386

888-API-VOTE Hotline

APIAVoteheader   November 5, 2012  

888-API-VOTE Hotline
Phone lines are open now
 
While enthusiasm for voting is high, voting can be a complicated process, even more so if your first language is not English.  So, it is important for Asian Americans to learn about voting – what type of ID is accepted at the polls, what rights you have when voting – especially the right to language assistance, and what to do if you encounter any problems at the polls.
 
To help Asian Americans vote, AAJC and APIAVote will be running an Asian-language Election Protection hotline, 1-888-API-VOTE (274-8683). on Election Day and the day before Election Day. The hotline will be live from 7:00am -7:00pm on Monday, November 5, and from 5:30am – 7:30pm on Tuesday, November 6.  We will provide assistance in Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Thai, and Vietnamese.
 
Voters can call in with any questions they have about voting, or to report any problems at the polls.  Questions such as, “where is my polling place?” and “what type of ID should I bring?” can be easily answered by our staff.  Trained staff is also on hand to address any problems that may arise.  For example, if you have difficulty with English, you have the right to bring a friend or family member into the voting booth to help you vote, but not all poll workers may know about this right (as provided by Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act) and may wrongly turn people away.  

If a poll worker wrongly turns you away from the polls because of this or refuses to allow you to vote with the assistance of your choice, call 1-888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) and we can help you address the issue so that you can vote.  In fact, if anyone calls your eligibility to vote into question or tries to hinder your ability to vote for any reason, call 1-888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) and someone will be able to assist you. 

 

Remember to Vote Tomorrow!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 is Election Day.  Please remember to Vote!

New Yorkers seeking information about where to vote on Election Day will be able to locate their poll site by visiting this website or via text message. While Hurricane Sandy has forced last-minute changes to many planned poll sites in Tuesday’s election, up-to-date information on voting locations is now only a text message away.  Text “NYCVOTES” to 877-877Message and data rates may still apply. Customers can text ‘STOP’ to opt out of further messages.  (This information is from the NYC Campaign Finance Board.)