March 2023 - LEGAL S.O.S

31Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price

Legal Aid of Arkansas awarded $425K federal grant to address housing discrimination

The nonprofit group Legal Aid of Arkansas has been awarded $425,000 by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of an initiative that supports organizations working to address housing discrimination.Legal Aid is considered a second-year grantee under the Private Enforcement Initiative, which "funds non-profit fair housing organizations to carry out testing and enforcement activities to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices," according to a Housing and Urban Development news release issued on Wednesday.The $425,000 grant was the only award to an organization based in Arkansas out of a total of approximately $54 million awarded to 182 groups nationwide as part of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, which encompasses the Private Enforcement Initiative as well as other programs.According to Jason Auer, the Fair Housing Project director for Legal…

30Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price

Larger state investment in civil legal aid is needed

LEGAL

The BDN Editorial Board operates independently from the newsroom, and does not set policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com. Maine's chronic shortage of attorneys for low-income criminal defendants has rightly gotten a lot of attention. The US and state constitutions guarantee those accused of crimes a right to a speedy trial, a pledge that Maine is in danger of not fulfilling as the state's program struggles to recruit and retain lawyers. Maine also faces a critical shortage of lawyers to represent low-income Mainers in civil cases, such as those involving evictions, protection from abuse and discrimination. In Maine, there are more than 360,000 low-income people who are eligible for free legal services, and most of them will face at least one…

28Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price

Our View: Civil legal aid is falling short, hurting all of us

LEGAL

Too many Maine residents aren't able to get the legal representation they need. No, we're not talking about those charged with crimes — though we absolutely could be. Instead, we're talking about people who need civil legal aid to help them entangle a variety of messy problems with the potential to upset their lives. Legislators are struggling to fix an indigent criminal defense program that they've been allowed to fall apart. Filling the gaps in aid for civil complaints, however, is much easier. A bill before the Legislature is asking for $11.2 million over the next two years to be distributed through the Civil Legal Defense Fund, which supports the work of providers of civil legal services in Maine. Unlike the criminal side, there is no constitutional right to representation…

25Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price

Public defenders, legal aid providers rally to demand fair funding in NYC’s 2024 budget

LEGAL

March 20, 2023, 9:10pmUpdated 4d agoPublic defenders and legal aid providers rallied at City Hall on Monday to demand fair funding in New York City's upcoming 2024 budget. The two groups say not enough funding is being allocated to support their numerous services that help residents. They add they're dealing with a humanitarian crisis on the job that continues to get worse each year. Several of the lawyers' claims of low pay, a high volume of cases and a lack of city funding are forcing many out of their chosen profession. “This must end, and it must end now,” added one attendee.Both groups are calling on the city for an investment of $300 million in the upcoming fiscal budget. Public defender Eugene Toussaint said he fears that the lack of…

21Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price

Public Defenders and legal service providers rallied for increased city funding

LEGAL

Nonprofit organizations providing legal services to low income New Yorkers rallied today at City Hall to call on the mayor to increase funding in the fiscal year 2024 budget. The Legal Aid Society, the Bronx Defenders, Neighborhood Defender Services, New York County Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem and many other organizations providing civil and family legal services are seeking a $125 million from the city for criminal defense and at least a $300 million boost to civil legal services. They're also looking for $80 million for family legal services, up from the current $50 million.“By underfunding public defenders, Governor (Kathy) Hochul and Mayor Adams are tipping the scales of justice, one already weighted against the Black and Brown people disproportionately represented in our criminal and…

18Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price

NYC legal aid group forced to apologize, pay $170K over anti-Semitism claim

LEGAL

A New York City taxpayer-funded legal aid group condemned for a 2014 “kill the NYPD” rap video and a 2021 director's email blasting Israel and cops have now been forced to issue an apology and a $170,000 settlement for alleged discrimination against a Jewish staffer, The Post has learned. “You may remember that I was called a racist, a colonizer and a karen [slang for entitled white person]and I was told that I was worse than the dirt under your feet and that my children were murderers,” former Bronx Defenders staffer Debbie Jonas said in an email Wednesday to the politically charged legal assistance group's employees informing them about the settlement. Jonas, a Zionist Jew, has children with dual citizenship in Israel and the US who have served in Israel's…

17Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price

Examples of 2023 SNBT English Literacy Questions, Complete with Answer Keys and Discussion

INSURANCE

TRIBUN-MEDAN.COM - The literacy test is one of the materials in the 2023 National Selection Based on Tests (SNBT). This literacy test aims to measure a person's ability to contribute productively to society by understanding, using, evaluating and reflecting on various types of texts to solve problems and develop personal capacities as citizens of Indonesia and the world. This literacy test consists of an Indonesian literacy test and an English literacy test. The following is an example of the SNBT 2023 English literacy test questions, complete with answers and discussion. TEXT 1 You've been working and saving for decades for just this moment: retirement. Even though you may be ready to stop working full-time, now comes the hard part: letting yourself use your savings, since you will no longer be…

17Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price

603 Legal Aid Executive Director Sonya Bellafant resigns

LEGAL

Departure comes after two years with the organization, Attorney Steven Scudder to become interim exec. dir. Sonya Bellafant was Executive Director of 603 Legal Aid for nearly two years. She has worked hard to increase the visibility of the organization through various efforts, including branding that evokes feelings of brightness and hope. (Photo by Tom Jarvis)On March 2, 2023, Sonya Bellafant departed her role as executive director of 603 Legal Aid. Bellafant says she plans to take some time for self-care and re-centering. “It has been an incredible opportunity here, but it has also been a very heavy lift,” Bellafant says. “It's taken more of a toll on me physically and mentally than I had expected. So, I think it's time for me to be recenter and refocus before I…

16Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price

Record Sales of 331 Thousand Units, Toyota Dominates the Automotive Market

INSURANCE

Jakarta, IDN Times - PT Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) managed to close 2022 well, after recording a sales volume of 331,410 units as a whole sales. This figure has increased by 12.1 percent compared to 2021, which is at the level of 295 thousand units.With this achievement, Toyota claims to lead the national automotive market with a market share of 31.6 percent.1. The composition of sales is dominated by MPVThe TSS feature is tested on the road (Doc. TAM) Judging from its composition, Toyota's sales in 2022 will still be dominated by the MPV segment which contributes 57.6 percent overall. Several Toyota MPV and SUV lines such as Avanza, Kijang Innova and Zenix, and Rush are still the people's top choices. All three are Toyota's best-selling products this year."In line with…

15Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price

Rate Cap Clapback: IBC says Alberta auto insurance rate cap ‘does nothing to improve affordability’

INSURANCE

Edmonton, Alberta — If there are two things the insurance industry and the “Real Housewives” series have in common, it is a stupefening propensity for drama and scandal, as has unfolded Thursday when the Alberta government announced an immediate cap on auto insurance rates through to the end of the year. Announced in a joint release from the province's ministry of finance and affordability and utilities, the Alberta government says it will be “taking action on insurance” through this rate cap, as well as a mandate for insurance companies to allow customers to pay premiums through payment plans. "Affordability is a primary challenge facing many Albertans as rising inflation makes it challenging for many to afford necessities, including auto insurance," said minister of affordability and utilities, Matt Jones. "We are…

Month: March 2023