New York public defender Tiffany Cabán offered hope for political reform. Had she been elected as Queens District Attorney, her win would have represented success for an electoral strategy toward Government reform. Her loss, however, deals a blow to long-needed prosecutorial and judicial reform. Cabán for Queens/Fair Use

In New York, movements for reform meet barriers of entrenched machine politics, and élites survive — for now

Machine politics determined each of the outcome of the Queens District Attorney’s race, the staff of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and rulings by Court systems, giving New York élites power to withstand demands for reform by social and economic justice movements.

Continue reading
Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara was remarkable for making numerous speeches, only some of which were public addresses. An open records request seeking his speech records has been being undermined by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney's Office he formerly headed, and a Federal judge, John Koeltl. Photo Archive/Progress Queens

To undermine open records request for Preet Bharara’s speech records, DOJ relying on U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal judge to thwart FOIA Request

The U.S. Department of Justice and a Federal judge are engaging in misconduct to thwart a FOIA Request for Preet Bharara’s speech records.

Continue reading