Wednesday, December 02, 2020

LIVE: Powell, Mnuchin Testify Before Senate Banking Committee on CARES Act

Tuesday, December 01, 2020

Stealing-The-Spotlight: Oops! Look Who's Calling

It was an almost perfect time to stage a disruption at Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's press conference yesterday when local and national media - and the world was watching.

Just a few seconds into the press conference, Ducey is seen pulling a cellphone from his coat pocket. He then appears to ignore the call that was reportedly from the White House

President Donald Trump lashed out at Arizona Gov Doug Ducey Monday night for 'rushing to put a Democrat in office' as a video appeared to show him ignore a call from the White House during a press conference where he certified the state's vote for Joe Biden.

Just a few seconds into the press conference, Ducey is seen pulling a cellphone from his coat pocket.

He then appears to ignore the call that was reportedly from the White House . . .

Trump then retweeted a claim that Ducey had 'betrayed the people of Arizona,' and commented: 'TRUE!'

He also shared a post that asked: 'Who needs Democrats when you have Republicans like (Georgia Gov) Brian Kemp and Doug Ducey?'

Earlier on Monday, Trump dialed into an Arizona 'hearing' on election fraud that went on for more than eight hours, claiming the election was 'rigged' and bashing Ducey for certifying the state's vote for Biden.

'The 2020 election was rigged it was a scam and the whole world is watching and they're laughing at our country,' Trump said, phoning into the hearing-style event after 7pm.

'We got 74 million [votes] and we didn't win. But I know that we won Arizona and we won Michigan and we won Georgia and we won Pennsylvania and we won Wisconsin. But what they did is they played games,' he said. . . .

Arizona Gov Doug Ducey appeared to ignore call from White House Monday
Video showed him receiving a call while trying to certify state's vote for Biden
Trump later lashed out at Ducey for 'rushing to put a Democrat in office'
Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis appeared at a hearing-style event in Arizona on Monday as the state certified its election results that favored Biden
Trump called into the event about 7pm, saying: 'The 2020 election was rigged it was a scam and the whole world is watching and they're laughing at our country'
Giuliani said thousands of illegal immigrants voted in Arizona without evidence

By Valerie Edwards and Geoff Earle, Deputy U.s. Political Editor For Dailymail.com

Published: 00:46 EST, 1 December 2020 | Updated: 03:08 EST, 1 December 2020

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trump issues warning to Arizona governor over siding with Biden

President: Republicans 'will long remember'

By Dave Boyer - The Washington Times
Monday, November 30, 2020

President Trump on Monday accused Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, of “rushing” to certify the state’s election for presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden.

“Why is he rushing to put a Democrat in office, especially when so many horrible things concerning voter fraud are being revealed at the hearing going on right now,” the president tweeted after Mr. Ducey signed the state certification of Mr. Biden’s win

PARTNERING: Plausible Deniability > The New LexiCON Loop-Hole To Escape Being Held Accountable

When it comes to the relationship between governments and the truth, that's a tough nut to crack open when answers are provided by insiders in-the-chain-command that are vague and carefully-crafted or evasive. Push, shove back - Learn to use the right words to ask the right questions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today's feature post is taken from a report in Techdirt yesterday that exposes sensitive and controversial issues: INVASIONS OF PRIVACY and the USE OF TECHNOLOGY . . .and there's an additional wrinkle at the end

State Proxies & Plausible Deniability: Challenging Conventional Wisdom

Plausible deniability is a term coined by the CIA during the Kennedy administration to describe the withholding of information from senior officials in order to protect them from repercussions in the event that illegal or unpopular activities by the CIA became public knowledge.

The term most often refers to the denial of blame in chains of command, where senior figures assign responsibility to the lower ranks, and records of instructions given do not exist or are inaccessible, meaning independent confirmation of responsibility for the action is nearly impossible.

In the case that illegal or otherwise disreputable and unpopular activities become public, high-ranking officials may deny any awareness of such act or any connection to the agents used to carry out such acts.

The lack of evidence to the contrary ostensibly makes the denial plausible, that is, credible.

The term typically implies forethought, such as intentionally setting up the conditions to plausibly avoid responsibility for one's actions or knowledge.

In politics and espionage, deniability refers to the ability of a "powerful player" or intelligence agency to avoid "blowback" by secretly arranging for an action to be taken on their behalf by a third party ostensibly unconnected with the major player.

In political campaigns, plausible deniability enables candidates to stay "clean" and denounce third-party advertisements that use unethical approaches or potentially libellous innuendo.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CASE IN POINT + THE SPOILER ALERT: As an article published by OneZero put it, “the NOPD has back-channel access to the state’s facial recognition program.” According to the report, the police department relied on technology operated by the Louisiana State Police after local investigators sent a wanted poster with a photo of the suspect to the state fusion center.

And that's how the NOPD is going to pretend its previous denials weren't misleading. Here's how it responded to The Lens when contacted about its apparent years of misdirection.

In a statement to The Lens last week, a department spokesperson said that although it didn’t own facial recognition software itself, it was granted access to the technology through “state and federal partners.”

New Orleans PD Finally Admits It Uses Facial Recognition Tech After Denying It For Years

(Mis)Uses of Technology

from the cracks-open-COP-TO-ENGLISH-dictionary dept

Mon, Nov 30th 2020 3:35pm — Tim Cushing

Another large American law enforcement organization has belatedly admitted it uses facial recognition tech after spending years denying it.

Last month, it was the Los Angeles Police Department, which had denied using the tech all the way up until 2019. But records obtained by the Los Angeles Times showed the department had used it 30,000 times over the past decade.

When confronted, the LAPD's assistant chief claimed the last two denials issued by him and his department were "mistakes."

Welcome to the "I guess we'll come clean" club, New Orleans.

The New Orleans Police Department has confirmed that it is utilizing facial recognition for its investigations, despite years of assurances that the city wasn’t employing the technology.

That runs contrary to what's been stated publicly and what's been told to public records requester. This 2016 report notes the NOPD's response to a request for records was a flat denial: "no responsive records." This 2019 Appeal report contains yet another denial from city officials. . .

It also contains a "but…" -- one that was followed by a refusal to discuss the issue any further.

Norton, the mayor’s spokesperson, told The Appeal that the Real Time Crime Center does not use facial recognition technology. However, Norton said that “relevant video can be shared with public safety agencies as requested for a legitimate public safety purpose.” When asked if the city is aware of any other law enforcement agencies running the footage through facial recognition technology, Norton declined to answer.

And this report by The Tenth Amendment Center makes the NOPD's relationship with the tech more explicit. The NOPD may not have the tech, but it certainly makes use of it.

The City of New Orleans adamantly insists it “does not use facial recognition software.” It even has a line in the privacy policy of its Real-Time Crime Center surveillance hub claiming, “Facial recognition is not utilized by the System.”

. . . And there's an additional wrinkle.

The city is considering a facial recognition ban. But this admission the PD outsources its facial recognition work means it won't be enough to simply forbid the PD from buying and utilizing its own tech. The proposal would need to be rewritten to prevent the PD from sending its photos to state or federal agencies for proxy searching.

The vote on the proposed ban has been delayed as city council members process the NOPD's lies about its facial recognition use and decide what to do with this new information.

Clearly the NOPD would like some of this tech for itself but has recognized it might be tough to sell that idea in this surveillance-weary economy. So it has done the next best thing: it has its friends hook it up. But now the city knows it can't trust its own police department to be honest with it. And this dishonesty should factor heavily into any future agreements the city makes with the NOPD.

Filed Under: facial recognition, new orleans, new orleans police department, police, privacy, surveillance

Monday, November 30, 2020

CONTRACTS, RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES THAT "FLY UNDER-THE-RADAR" > Let's Go There! Especially "MARIJUANA PROHIBITIONS"

Let's take a look:

There's almost always a sweet contract award to the Fleet Services Department: $375,000

7-Month Term Contract with 4 Years of Renewal Options

That's Item *4-g

File #:

20-1179

Type:

Contract

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

12/1/2020

Title:

Seven-Month Term Contract with Four Years of Renewal Options for Automatic Transmission Repairs and Services for the Fleet Services and Mesa Fire and Medical Departments (Citywide)

This contract will provide automotive transmission parts, repairs, and replacement services for the City’s heavy-duty vehicles (fire apparatus, refuse trucks, and heavy-duty trucks) and light-duty vehicles (medium trucks and passenger cars). The Fleet Services Department and Purchasing recommend authorizing the purchase using the Mesa Public Schools cooperative contract with RWC International, dba, RWC Group; The WW Williams Company LLC; Don Sanderson Ford, Inc.; AAMCO Transmissions Total Car Care Mesa, aka AZ Transmissions Systems; Courtesy Chevrolet; Jasper Engines & Transmissions; and Sun Devil Auto; at $375,000 annually, with an annual increase allowance of up to 5%, or the adjusted Consumer Price Index.

Attachments:

1. Council Report

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM *4-a IS A WHOPPER : $1,600,000

An 8-month renewal + Dollar-Limit Increase by $500,000 from $400,000 > $900,000

TOTAL = $1,600,000

NOTE: [From the Council Report]

Background / Discussion
This contract provides for the City’s PC Cycle Replacement program and provides supplemental purchases of computer equipment.

Supplemental purchases are made for customer departments to meet their current and future technology needs both known and unknown.
On June 4, 2018, Council approved the annual contract amount of $400,000 for supplemental purchases of computer equipment and $1,600,000 for PC Cycle Replacement program.
The Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) requests a dollar limit increase of $500,000 for supplemental purchases. The amount for the supplemental purchases is based off spending from the previous two years and annual purchases have increased compared to those years. This estimated amount should meet the on-going technology needs of the City.
The DoIT also requests that the contract amount of $1,600,000 be approved for the PC Cycle Replacement Program and that Microsoft Corporation be added to the contract to account for cycle replacement of Surface Pro devices in use throughout the City.

File #:

20-1173

Type:

Contract

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

12/1/2020

Title:

Eight-Month Renewal to the Term Contract for PC Cycle Replacement and Dollar-Limit Increase for Supplemental Computers, Ruggedized Laptops and Tablets for various City Departments as requested by the Department of Innovation and Technology (Citywide) This contract provides for the City’s PC Cycle Replacement Program and provides supplemental purchases of computer equipment. Supplemental computer purchases are made for departments to meet their current and future technology needs. The Department of Innovation and Technology and Purchasing recommend renewing the PC Cycle contract through July 31, 2021 using the State of Arizona cooperative contracts with Dell Marketing LP; Apple Computer, Inc.; Panasonic Solutions; and adding Microsoft Corporation; at $1,600,000, based on projected usage for scheduled device replacement; and increasing the dollar-limit for supplemental computer purchases by $500,000, from $400,000 to $900,000, to be used by Citywide departments, with the above listed ...

Attachments:

1. Council Report

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM *4-l IS ALSO A BIG WHOPPER > $1,300,000

1-Year Renewal with aa 1-Year Renewal Option to the Term Contract

for Residential Refuse & Recycling Containers

File #:

20-1175

Type:

Contract

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

12/1/2020

Title:

One-Year Renewal with a One-Year Renewal Option to the Term Contract for Residential Refuse and Recycling Containers for the Environmental Management and Sustainability Department (Citywide) This contract provides a supply of 35, 65, and 95-gallon plastic refuse and recycling containers for residential and commercial use on an as-needed basis. The Environmental Management and Sustainability Department and Purchasing recommend authorizing the renewal with Otto Environmental Systems North America, Inc. (Primary); and Schaefer Systems International, Inc. (Secondary); at $1,300,000 annually, with an annual increase allowance of up to 5%, or the adjusted Consumer Price Index. In addition, Rotational Molding, Inc. is a third vendor award for the 300-gallon containers to be used by the municipal partner agencies.

Attachments:

1. Council Report

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are also 2 Resolutions to accept funds ITEM 5

Item 5-a Embedding Clinicians in Police Department Crisis Response Unit $476,527

File #:

20-1146

Type:

Resolution

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

12/1/2020

Title:

Approving and authorizing the City Manager to accept a $476,527 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, Embedding Clinicians in Law Enforcement Agencies, for the Police Department’s Crisis Response Team. (Citywide)

Attachments:

1. Council Report, 2. Resolution, 3. Agreement

Item 5-b

File #:

20-1161

Type:

Resolution

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

12/1/2020

Title:

Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Office of Justice Programs to accept $250,025 in grant funds for personnel services and software for the Police Department’s Forensic Services Division for DNA capacity enhancement and backlog reduction. (Citywide)

Attachments:

1. Council Report, 2. Resolution, 3. Agreement

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM 6-b "MARIJUANA PROHIBITIONS" ....... Nothing original here that shows any input from the public, or any significant amount of time by city officials, city staff, or any independent review or independent analysis.

20-1212

Type:

Ordinance

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

12/1/2020

Title:

Amending Title 6 of the Mesa City Code (Police Regulations) by adding a new Chapter 25 entitled “Marijuana Prohibitions” prohibiting certain activities and facilities related to marijuana including: recreational marijuana retail establishments, except for retail sales by a state dual licensee at a shared location; marijuana testing facilities; delivery of marijuana unless delivered by a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary in accordance with state regulations; and the consumption of marijuana on City property, certain prohibited property, and in vehicles/transportation. (Citywide)

Attachments:

1. Presentation, 2. Council Report, 3. Ordinance

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE: PUBLIC SAFETY HEALTH AND WELFARE
Presented by Assistant Chief Lee Rankin Mesa Police Department

Page 5 Why present only one Snapshot of one City?

DENVER A SNAPSHOT

• In 2019, burglary or attempted burglary accounted for 57% of marijuana industry-related offenses. Theft accounted for another 10% of all marijuana industryrelated offenses.

• There were 22 violent offenses related to the marijuana industry for every 244 violent offenses overall.

• Marijuana business make up less than 1% off all businesses in Denver, but account for approximately 10% of all reported business burglaries.

Page 7

PROPOSED ORDINANCE: TITLE 6, CHAPTER 25
Prohibits recreational marijuana retail establishments except those who hold both a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary registration and a recreational marijuana retail license at a shared location. MCC 6-25-4 

Prohibits marijuana testing facilities. MCC 6-25-5 

Prohibits marijuana use, sale, possession on City property. MCC 6-25-3 

Prohibits recreational marijuana delivery. MCC 6-25-6 

Prohibits consuming marijuana on private property where notice has been provided. MCC 6-25-7 

Prohibits consuming marijuana in vehicles. MCC 6-25-8 

Penalty:  A violation of this chapter is a petty offense (fine only) to be adjudicated in the Mesa Municipal Court

The “Smart and Safe Arizona Act,” certified as Proposition 207, was passed by Arizona voters at the November 3, 2020 General Election. Proposition 207 declared that “the responsible adult use of marijuana should be legal for persons twenty one years of age or older, subject to state regulation, taxation, and local ordinance.” The Ordinance is consistent with and substantially similar to Gilbert’s adopted ordinance and draft versions of Chandler, Scottsdale, and Avondale ordinances that will soon be considered.

Proposition 207 authorizes marijuana establishments and testing facilities to use chemical extraction or chemical synthesis, including butane and other flammable gases, to extract marijuana concentrate, which poses a threat to the health, safety and security of the community and increases the responsibilities of law enforcement and other City departments to respond to violations of state and local laws, including building, electrical, plumbing, and fire codes.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marijuana Dispensaries in Mesa

https://potguide.com/arizona/marijuana-dispensaries/mesa/

Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona with a population of over 450,000 residents, and the 38^th largest city in the United States. Mesa is home to Arizona State University and is located approximately 20 miles east of Phoenix. Additionally, the city is considered the center of Arizona’s population and contains several medical marijuana dispensaries.