Tag Archives: democrats

DNAinfo / Gothamist shut down by CEO : Union busting or Free Enterprise?

On November 6, 2017, the staff of DNAinfo and the Gothamist rallied in NY City Hall Park, in the name of independent journalism. This was after the abrupt shutdown by the owner, founder and CEO, Joe Ricketts. (Ricketts was not only chief executive officer of DNAInfo and Gothamist but also the founder of TD Ameritrade) 

Mayor de Blasio and several city officials expressed support for WGAE’s organizing drive … de Blasio called Ricketts a “coward” for shutting the sites down.

Ricketts shut down all DNAInfo and Gothamist affiliated websites (including DCist and SFist) a week after the National Labor Relations Board conducted a formal vote that resulted in DNAInfo New York and Gothamist employees joining the Writers Guild of America East. The Workers voted to join the union in April, but Ricketts didn’t recognize the union. The NLRB required management to begin collective bargaining with the union. Ricketts shut the sites down instead.” [amsterdam news]”

In September of 2017, Ricketts blogged about why he doesn’t like unions,  “I believe unions promote a corrosive us-against-them dynamic that destroys the esprit de corps businesses need to succeed” which might explain why he would choose to close these businesses before they might fail.”

“Staffers of the now-defunct DNAinfo and Gothamist news sites joined union members, elected officials and others at City Hall Park Monday to call out their owner  (CEO, Joe Ricketts) for the company’s sudden shuttering.

The 30 reporters and editors… proudly wearing their NYPD press badges, said the move was devastating to the New York City communities they covered. “This is an attack on the millions of people who depend on our reporting.” …  Ricketts shut down both news outlets — costing 116 reporters and editors around the country their jobs.” [amny]

Brief Flickr slide show (much more to see in the youtube playlist)

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Is Joe Rickett’s guilty of Union-Busting? Does a business owner have the right to CHOOSE how he spends his capital? Should union thuggery be legal?

Arrived early, so I decided to cover a community center presser that was in process on the steps of City Hall.

This was the birthday of the late Armando Perez, co-founder of Charas/El Bohio.

Today the LES/EV Community celebrated Mayor de Blasio’s announcement to “re-acquire” this building.  deBlasio came through for this community, ‘giving back’ a building (once a school/community center) sold by Giuliani over ten years ago.

“For too long, the old PSD 64/Charas-El Bohio set empty, abandoned, left to rot by an unscrupulous developer only interested in … seeing this beloved landmark destroyed. de Blasio needs to put deeds behind his words; bring this treasured community resource back to its rightful place serving the people of the Lower East Side (LES) and the City of New York.” (Andrew Berman, Exec Dir East Village Community Coalition)

This was a familiar Leftist presser. Home-grown activism. Colorful signs. Handmade (by someone). A papier mache mask (that does not appear to be ‘factory made’). A celebration told through community activism – an out-reach meant for the immigrant community – making them loyal (democrat) party voters.

Flicker Slide show

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But, WHERE was the writer guild protest? Oops. It was City Hall PARK, not City Hall steps.

And there they were. The Writers Guild East pro-union presser behind impenetrable barricades. Had to take a walk around the park to join them.

This woman was our HINT: Protest INSIDE Park – HERE.

Once there, i found a sea of press-badges shilling for a “Free Press”.

Surrounded by writers and editors pushing, jockeying for the best spot to film, take pictures, to cheer each other on.

“When the employees unionized around a week ago, DNAinfo reporter Katie Honan told The New York Times that, “No one’s trying to bankrupt anybody.” She added, “We just want to have an ability to negotiate things and not necessarily money.” [Mashable]

Down with rich, greedy capitalists. Union-Busting must be stopped!

YouTube play list of speakers, their names precede the videos:

Lowell Peterson, Exec Dir Writers Guild America East
Scott Stringer , NYC Comptroller

Stringer impressed some with the “novel” idea that the “workers take control”. Run the shop. Create jobs. The greedy business owner has NO RIGHTS. No right to close “their” business. To open their business? Nor run their business. And definitely NO right to CHOOSE to be a non-union shop. On and On…and ON.

Letitia “Tish “James, NYC Public Advocate
Brendan O’Connor (Warning Profanity) Gizmodo (aka Gawker) Media Group

“FUCK Ricketts,” said a writers guild rep Brendan O’Connor. “If you are not organized in your workplace, get organizing. The workers have the power apart from the union, apart from our elected officials. It’s the worker that decides what happens in this town and this country if we use our power. What happened last week is a single event in a decades long war against workers. It is class warfare.”

Ben Fractenberg, DNAinfo & Emma Whitford, the Gothamist
Vincent Alvarez, President NYC Central Labor Council
Gabrielle Carteris, SAG.AFTRA President
Helen Rosenthal, NYC Councilwoman
Hector Figueroa, 32BJ
Donovan Richards, NYC Councilman
Michael Gianaris, NY State Senator
Writers Guild NYC Union Protest – the crowd

Video playlist begins here:

As I left, pushing my way through this tight mob of FREE press aficionados, I emerged to see those on the perimeter, mainly Fast Food union members.

Once their Union Shakedown accomplished its goal, more money in the union coffers, predictably they created FEWER jobs for the workers.

But, this was NOT greed, so say the union bosses. Only business OWNERS are capable of GREED.

Familiar Commie/Socialist rally-mongers were also hanging on the perimeter.

The “red flags” of shakedown cronyism spewed from mouth to ear: Communism, SI! Free Market Capitalism, NO!

UNIONS claim to be “the Davids” fighting the Capitalist Goliath. (ya think?) Power To The People! WORKERS UNITE!

In conclusion, from the pen of Oleg Atbasian, “Shakedown Socialism”.


The six contradictions of socialism in the USA

  1. America is capitalist and greedy – yet half of the population is subsidized.
  2. Half of the population is subsidized – yet they think they are victims.
  3. They think they are victims – yet their representatives run the government.
  4. Their representatives run the government – yet the poor keep getting poorer.
  5. The poor keep getting poorer – yet they have things that people in other countries only dream about.
  6. They have things that people in other countries only dream about – yet they want America to be more like those other countries.

The TRUTH impedes what the complicit, naive “enemedia” desires: “Shakedown Communism“. We have been warned.

[Pictures and videos property of Pamela Hall]

NOT My President Day Leftists return to Columbus Circle NYC

Presidents’ Day. NYC.  Feb. 20, 2017. RENAMED (by the rabid Left) NOT MY PRESIDENT DAY


Location: Start at Columbus Circle. Assemble outside Trump International Hotel. 61st St & Central Park West. Time: 12pm – 4pm


This was announced as a peaceful demonstration. A rally, not a march (though plenty of Leftards marched up Broadway)

There was a congressional recess on February 20th that aligned with President’s Day. SO, “Let’s rally while our federal representatives are back in town and remind them who they represent.”


But, today was NOT just any Presidents Day.

Officially, the holiday is called Washington’s Birthday, to honor the first American president, George Washington. The date was established by Congress with the Monday Holidays Act, which went into effect in 1971.

But,  just say “President Trump” and watch the temper tantrums from the Left begin.

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That’s all they needed to “gather like children”, screaming , “Trump is NOT my President.”  Pathetic.

                                                   (click to enlarge)
AMERICA , however, did not remain silent. There were pockets of confident patriots scattered from 60th to 65th st.


Not just ‘white’ America the Left loves to smear with cries of racism.


People of color. Diversity. THIS is what democracy looks like.

Polite (mostly). FIRM in their convictions that Donald  Trump IS our President. YOU LOST. Get over it!


Heading towards the subway, I felt weary from yet another YUGE temper tantrum. So much snarky ill-will.


Yet, the civilized street debates offered up by those brave patriotic Americans, also left me encouraged.


Kudos to the patriots who had the courage to stand amongst so many smug Fools and Tools and retained their composure. Bravo.


For the Leftards, who suck the life out of everything, while preaching hatred for all things Republican: a major Razzie award to you all.


Where is MOM when you need her.


“Time out.” “Go To your Room.” (if only that would work)

Video Playlist: 7 short vids – 4  are the patriot street debates

Pictures Flickr slide show:

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After the Rally, the Leftists filled their Face book and Twitter feeds with the expected self congratulation. BUT so did the Patriots!!

Thank you to EVERYONE that came out. We made a stand and it was great. The Spirit of ’76 was alive yesterday and we totally messed up the libs day. So proud of everyone!

By the way, the next event will be on March 4th – I believe at Trump Tower. It’s called “March 4 Trump” and they will be happening in several cities. Thanks again.

The LEFT says they’re winning. Yet, after reading their “mission statement”, methinks hubris may sink their ship (Hoping)

Face book statement on WHY they rallied for NOT MY PRESIDENT Day:

Donald Trump is literally our President, but figuratively, he has attacked every value New Yorkers embody and does not represent our interests. We will be staging a rally at Columbus Circle to protest the un-American policies of the current White House:

– He plans to cut federal funding to our state in an attempt to turn us against our immigrant population, funneling money away from important public institutions.

– He wants to use our tax money to build a wall that no one wants.

– He attacked our Muslim communities and instituted an Islamophobic religious ban.

– He approved a pipeline that threatens to destroy sacred lands.

– His administration opposes a woman’s right to choose and purged the White House website of information pertaining to police brutality and LGBTQ rights.

– His party doesn’t take climate change seriously and undermines our state’s efforts to combat it.

Donald Trump stands against the progress we have worked hard to enact. He does not represent our interests. He was voted in by a minority of the American public but governs as if there’s no resistance. But there is — and on February 20th, we will honor previous presidents by exercising our constitutional right to assemble and peacefully protest everything Donald Trump stands for.

++ Pictures and video property of Pamela Hall ++

Links to  other media reports:

NBC News

Gothamist.com

DNAinfo.com

PIX11

Keyt.com

++