Breaking News: Arizona governor vetoes bill allowing guns in state buildings. В Аризоне запретили приносить оружие в государственные и правительственные учреждения.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on Tuesday vetoed a controversial bill that would have allowed people to tote guns into state government buildings that previously had been off-limits.

By David Schwartz

PHOENIX | Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:00pm EDT

(Reuters) - For the second consecutive year, Brewer rejected the measure backed by gun rights advocates to allow guns in public buildings, except where security personnel were posted at the entrances and metal detectors or X-ray machines were present.

Under current Arizona law, state authorities can ban guns from being carried into public buildings such as libraries, senior centers and city halls by posting a sign at their entrances.

The Republican governor said a "more thorough and collaborative discussion" is needed before such legislation could be signed into law.

"The decision to permit or prohibit guns in these extremely sensitive locations ... should be cooperatively reached and supported by a large coalition of stakeholders," said Brewer, in her veto message.

Arizona would have become the 10th state in the nation to pass such legislation, according to several news reports.

Charles Heller, co-founder and spokesman of Arizona Citizens Defense League, said the group "expected better from someone who was rumored to be an ally of freedom."

"We wish she would show more respect for Arizona's constitutional provision about the right to keep and bear arms," he told Reuters, moments after learning of the veto.

But opponents of the bill called the veto a "common sense approach" to the often explosive issues surrounding guns in public places.

"We need multiple conversations with all the parties," said Dale Wiebusch, legislative associate for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. "We need to be able to sit down and hash things out. That's the only way we are going to come up with answers," he added.

In her veto message, Brewer also said she was concerned that governments would be forced to bear the financial costs of providing for security measures to restrict guns being brought into public buildings.

Maricopa County, the state's largest, estimated that it alone would have to spend $11.3 million for equipment and $19.5 million annually.

HOUSE BILL 2729

Jan Brewer's letter to the Speaker of the Arizona House of representatives Andy Tobin

Русская версия

Губернатор Аризоны Джен Брюэр (Jan Brewer) наложила вето на законопроект, который позволил бы проносить оружие в государственные и правительственные учреждения, в том числе в библиотеки. Соответствующее обращение Брюэр к спикеру Палаты представителей штата Энди Тобину (Andy Tobin) размещено на сайте губернатора.

Как поясняется в публикации Reuters, законопроект (HOUSE BILL 2729)  предусматривал, что оружие можно будет проносить в здания, в которых нет рамок металлоискателей или просвечивающих аппаратов, а также охраны. В настоящее время в Аризоне для запрета проноса оружия в общественные здания достаточно поместить у входа соответствующее предупреждение. Сторонники отклоненного губернатором законопроекта полагают, что нынешняя ситуация ставит законопослушных жителей штата и преступников в неравное положение - преступник может пронести оружие, а законопослушный американец - нет. Новый закон, обеспечив надлежащую проверку при входе в здание, поставил бы всех посетителей в равное положение.

В своем обращении Брюэр подчеркнула, что оснащение всех общественных зданий необходимым оборудованием будет стоить слишком дорого. По ее мнению, предложенный документ нуждается в доработке.

На похожий законопроект губернатор уже накладывала вето в 2011 году. Согласно данным, которые приводит Reuters, Аризона могла стать десятым штатом, где действует такой закон.

Arizona Crime Prevention: How to prevent our vehicles from being stolen.

Yefim Toybin
October 13, 2011
Phoenix, Arizona

Benjamin Franklin was quoted as saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Seems like good advice, easy to follow.

Out of 100% of all crimes committed in Arizona, 91% relates to a property crime.
One of the most common types of property crimes is vehicles theft. Living in Arizona, in the state with developing public transportation system, we heavily rely on our individual means of transportation, at least to get to and from work.
Therefore, we fully realize what possible, absolutely horrible, consequences we will face if our car gets stolen.

Arizona is no longer the state with the most vehicle thefts, as was the case in 2001. There were 54,849 vehicles stolen in Arizona in 2006. In 2007 the Phoenix metro area was ranked as the city with the 8th highest rate of vehicle thefts on a per capita basis. In 2010 that number decreased dramatically to a rank of 56th with 13,566 stolen vehicles. That's quite an improvement, but it doesn't mean that we can be less than diligent about preventing our vehicles from being stolen.
Top 10 Most Commonly Stolen

Vehicles for 2009 - Arizona

1. 1994 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
4. 1997 Ford F150 Pickup
5. 2003 Ford F250 Pickup
6. 1997 Chevrolet Pickup
7. 2006 Ford F350 Pickup
8. 1998 Nissan Sentra
9. 1997 Nissan Altima
10. 1991 Toyota Camry
Source: National Insurance Crime
Bureau (NICB) - Sept. 22, 2010

There are several things can be done in order to protect our vehicles. There is one program that many people don't even know about. it's called: THE WATCH YOUR CAR PROGRAM

THE WATCH YOUR CAR PROGRAM

The Watch Your Car decal program is a free, voluntary program whereby Arizona vehicle owners enroll their vehicles with the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority. The vehicle is then entered into the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) database; participants receive decals for their front and rear windows. By displaying the decals, vehicle owners convey to law enforcement officials that their vehicle is not usually driven between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM, when the majority of auto thefts occur.

In addition, by enrolling in the Watch Your Car Program, vehicle owners also authorize law enforcement officials to stop their vehicle at any time during the day or night within one mile of the border, if there is a suspicion that the vehicle is being illegally operated.
If a police officer witnesses the vehicle in operation between these hours, they have the right to stop the vehicle and verify it is being legally operated by the rightful owner.

Click here for Watch Your Car application to print, complete and mail or ENROLL ONLINE - quick, easy and no postage required!

Auto Theft Prevention Tips

The "Layered Approach" to Protection

Professional thieves can steal any car, but make them work for yours. To prevent thefts, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recommends "Layered Protection." The more layers of protection on your vehicle, the more difficult it is to steal.
The number of layers your vehicle needs varies depending on your vehicle and geographic location. Your budget and personal preferences should determine which anti-theft device is best for you.
Layer #1 -- Common Sense
An unlocked vehicle with a key in the ignition is an open invitation to any thief, regardless of which anti-theft device you use. The common sense approach to protection is the simplest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves.

Lock your car - half of all vehicles stolen are left unlocked

Take your keys - nearly 20% of all vehicles stolen have the keys in them

Park in well-lit areas - car thefts occur at night more than half the time

Park in attended lots - car thieves do not like witnesses

Do not leave your vehicle running and unattended

Completely close your car windows

Do not leave valuables in plain view

Do not hide a spare set of keys in the car - the pros know where to look

Park with your wheels turned toward the curb

Always use your emergency brake when parking

If you have a garage, use it - when you do, lock both the vehicle and the garage door

Layer #2 -- Warning Device

The second layer of protection is a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected. Popular second layer devices include:

Audible alarms

Steering wheel locks

Steering column locks

Brake locks

Tire locks

Watch Your Car decals

Identification markers in or on vehicle

Protective Window Laminate

Microdots applied to various surfaces on vehicle, which are imprinted with identification information.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching on vehicle windows.

Layer #3 -- Immobilizing Device

This third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle.
Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity of fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated.
Popular third layer devices include:

Smart keys

High security locks & keys

Fuse cut-offs

Kill switches

Starter, ignition and fuel disablers

Layer #4 -- Tracking Device

The final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to a police or monitoring station when the vehicle is reported stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles.

Passive and Active Anti-Theft Systems

Passive and active anti-theft devices are the two options available when considering an anti-theft system. Passive devices automatically arm themselves when the vehicle is turned off, the ignition key removed, or a door is shut. No additional action is required. Active devices require some independent physical action before they are set, such as pushing a button, or placing a "lock" over a vehicle component part. This physical action must be repeated every time the anti-theft devices is set or it will not function.

While you may not be able to prevent your vehicle from being stolen, despite every precaution, you can take many of the following steps in advance. Being prepared may ultimately help law enforcement recover your vehicle more quickly and reduce your expenses.

If you discover that your vehicle has been stolen, notify law enforcement immediately. Speed is essential in recovering stolen cars; any delay in reporting only helps the thieves. Be prepared to provide the vehicle's make, model, color, license plate number, and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

Keep a photocopy of your vehicle registration and insurance card in your wallet or at home. This will enable you to provide information quickly to law enforcement and your insurance claims agent.

Make your vehicle easier to identify. One way is to write your initials on an index card and drop it in the window slot, or carefully engrave your initials inside the trunk, hood, or even the dashboard near the VIN number.

Etch the VIN number on all window glass of the vehicle.

Review your insurance policy annually. Don't wait until after your vehicle is stolen to find out you don't have the coverage you think you have. Owners are advised to review their auto insurance policies once a year, including coverage you must have, coverage you'll probably need, and additional types of coverage, including roadside assistance and rental reimbursement.

Exercise caution if you see someone tampering with your car. Call 911 as quickly as possible.

Don't Purchase a Stolen Vehicle

Use Common Sense. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!

Don't meet the seller in an unsafe location. Meet at a permanent location of the seller and avoid situations where you can only meet the seller by pager.

Let the seller know you will not be bringing cash, but will pay by personal or cashier's check if you decide to purchase the vehicle.

Ask the seller for valid picture I.D. and compare the information to the vehicle registration and title.

Be leery of pre-signed ownership documents, or sellers who are not both the registered and legal owners. The documents may be forged, or a lender may have a lien that prevents transfer of title.

If the ownership documents are recently issued or duplicate, the vehicle may have changed hands recently or the title lost. Inquire why!

Check the ownership documents for an indication that the vehicle is a salvage and be very cautious if it is. Many salvage vehicles are rebuilt with stolen parts or are unsafe. Also be alert to these issues if any vehicle appears to have been extensively damaged or rebuilt.

Be sure all numbers match. Look at the numbers on both the Vehicle Identification Number plate and the license plate. They should be the same on both the vehicle registration and title.

Before you pay, be sure documentation is adequate to obtain registration and legal title. Check with the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) first if there is any doubt.
Be Careful! Cashier's Checks and Money Orders
Are Not Always What They Appear to Be!

Local law enforcement agencies have had numerous cases where counterfeit cashiers checks and money orders are being used to commit forgeries and/or frauds when purchasing a vehicle.
Here is a scenario that will hopefully prevent you from becoming the next victim.

SCENARIO:

The victim (YOU), advertises his car for sale in the local media. The victim is contacted by a suspect over the phone who offers to buy the car for full price and asked the victim for the spelling of his name. The suspect then shows up in an expensive car with other suspects and buys the car with a counterfeit cashiers check or money order. The sale usually occurs after the banks are closed - especially on weekends.
After three days, when the suspects are long gone, the bank notifies the victim (YOU) that the cashiers check or money order is a fake and the victim is out the money AND the car. The suspect usually sells the car to an innocent third party the same day of the theft.

SELLERS WOULD BE WELL ADVISED NOT TO ACCEPT PAYMENT UNLESS THEY ARE AT A BANK AND THE FUNDS CAN BE VERIFIED!!

PS Free and valuable advices from me.
Remember: most of the vehicles are stolen at parking lots (at work, grocery stores, etc). Don't place anything in a trunk of your car (such as a purse) on a parking lot; someone could watch you do that.
Be smart, Be safe!

Sources: books, pamphlets, Internet, conferences.

Shocking News from Arizona : В тюрьмах Аризоны ввели плату за посещение заключенных. Inmate Visits Now Carry Added Cost in Arizona

Заключенные женской тюрьмы в штате Аризона. Фото ©AFP

05.09.2011, 16:43:59 Lenta.ru
Власти Аризоны ввели плату за свидания с заключенными тюрем штата, сообщает The New York Times. За встречу с преступниками их друзьям и близким придется заплатить 25 долларов. Эта сумма пойдет на оплату проверки в отношении посетителей, а также ремонт и благоустройство тюрьмы. Заплатить ее будет необходимо только один раз, перед первым визитом. По данным газеты, плата будет взиматься только со взрослых.

По новым правилам, посетителям придется заранее отправлять в тюрьму запрос с просьбой разрешить свидание, а также специальную форму с указанием личных данных. Те, кто намерен говорить с заключенным по телефону, тоже будут вынуждены отправить запрос, но платить за разговоры им не придется. Нововведения начали действовать в тюрьмах Аризоны в конце июля.

Подобная инициатива властей, которая стала первой в своем роде на территории США, вызвала негодование родственников заключенных и правозащитных организаций. По их словам, родные и без того вынуждены тратить крупную сумму на дорогу до тюрьмы: места заключения в Аризоне, как правило, находятся в малонаселенных районах, куда довольно трудно добраться.

Кроме того, по мнению защитников прав заключенных, такая мера негативно скажется на общей безопасности штата, так как для исправления преступников им необходим постоянный контакт с семьей, которого они во многих случаях могут лишиться из-за нововведения.

ENGLISH VERSION:
The New York Times, 04.09.11
By ERICA GOODE
Published: September 4, 2011
Inmate Visits Now Carry Added Cost in Arizona

For the Arizona Department of Corrections, crime has finally started to pay.

New legislation allows the department to impose a $25 fee on adults who wish to visit inmates at any of the 15 prison complexes that house state prisoners. The one-time “background check fee” for visitors, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, has angered prisoner advocacy groups and family members of inmates, who in many cases already shoulder the expense of traveling long distances to the remote areas where many prisons are located.

David C. Fathi, director of the National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, called the fee “mind-boggling” and said that while it was ostensibly intended to help the state — the money will be used to repair and maintain the prisons — it could ultimately have a negative effect on public safety.

“We know that one of the best things you can do if you want people to go straight and lead a law-abiding life when they get out of prison is to continue family contact while they’re in prison,” he said. “Talk about penny-wise and pound-foolish.”

One woman, whose brother is a prisoner at the Eyman complex in Florence, said that most of her family lives out of state, so the fee is an additional burden on top of the travel costs.

“What will happen is that people will just stop visiting,” said the woman, adding that most prisoners “live for” visits from relatives. Because some friends of the family still do not know of her brother’s incarceration, she asked to be identified only by her first name, Shauna. She was one of several dozen family members of inmates who complained to Middle Ground Prison Reform, a group based in Tempe, about the fee.

In a lawsuit filed last month against the Corrections Department, Middle Ground said the fee was simply a pretext for raising money “for general public purposes” and as such was unconstitutional because it amounted to a special tax on a single group.

Middle Ground has also filed suit over another provision of the law, which imposes a 1 percent charge on deposits made to a prisoner’s spending account.

Donna Leone Hamm, executive director of Middle Ground, said she thought that state legislators created the background check fee “out of sheer financial desperation” at a time when the state faces huge budget shortfalls.

“This was a scheme — in my mind, a harebrained scheme — to try to come up with the money,” she said.

Wendy Baldo, chief of staff for the Arizona Senate, confirmed that the fees were intended to help make up the $1.6 billion deficit the state faced at the beginning of the year.

“We were trying to cut the budget and think of ways that could help get some services for the Department of Corrections,” Ms. Baldo said. She added that the department “needed about $150 million in building renewal and maintenance and prior to this year, it just wasn’t getting done and it wasn’t a safe environment for the people who were in prison and certainly for the people who worked there.”

Ms. Baldo said the money would not actually pay for background checks but would go into a fund for maintenance and repairs to the prisons.

Barrett Marson, a spokesman for the Corrections Department, said in an e-mail that it was the department’s policy not to comment on pending litigation.

Although there have been some calls and letters from potential visitors inquiring about the fee and how to pay it, no complaints had been reported from inmates, Mr. Marson said. The department has not determined whether the number of visitors to the prisons has changed since the charge went into effect, he added.

“Maintenance funds for our buildings are scarce in this difficult economic time,” he said. “A $25 visitation fee helps to ensure our prisons remain safe environments for staff, inmates and visitors.”

Ms. Hamm, the Middle Ground director who is also a retired lower court judge and married to a former inmate, said that an earlier proposal presented to a legislative committee would have imposed the background check fee on everyone who visited inmates, including babies and children. But in the end, the Legislature limited the fees to people over 18.

The law also allows the Corrections Department to waive all or part of the background check fee in certain circumstances — for example, when an applicant just wants permission to telephone an inmate.

Ms. Hamm said that research by her organization could not find any other example of a state prison system imposing a fee on visitors.

The Arizona Corrections Department, Ms. Hamm said, has run perfunctory checks on visitors for years. In its application form, the department requires visitors to provide their name, date of birth and a driver’s license or other photo identification number. Providing a Social Security number on the application is optional, and no fingerprints are required.

Another state agency, the Department of Public Safety, conducts free background checks for people who want to review their own records and who provide fingerprints, said Carrick Cook, a spokesman.

The Public Safety Department charges $20 for criminal background checks of people who are hired as volunteers for state agencies, and $24 for checks on paid state workers, both of which involve fingerprinting. A fingerprint clearance card, required for child care and foster care workers in Arizona, costs $65 for volunteers and $69 for paid employees.

Shauna, whose brother is at the Eyman complex, said she learned about the fee after she filed applications for her brother’s son, a Mormon missionary in Kentucky who wanted to visit his father, along with a friend and two other relatives.

She was told that the best way to pay the fee was electronically, through Western Union, but was unable to get the system to work, she said.

She was then advised to send a money order. Despite confirmation by United Parcel Service that the package had been delivered, the Corrections Department told her that the $100 payment — four $25 money orders for four visitors — had not been received, she said.

Another $100 payment was sent, and on Friday — months after she began the application process — she finally got confirmation of the payment from the department.

“I have now spent $200 of my own money to get family in,” she said, adding that it could take up to 60 days for the department to approve the applications.

В восточной Аризоне бушует один из сильнейших пожаров в истории штата: эвакуированы более 2 тысяч человек

Ефим Тойбин
Финикс, Аризона
6 Июня, 2011 г. @ 16:50

Американские пожарные и спасатели борются с одним из крупнейших лесных пожаров в штате Аризона (Arizona) за всю его историю. К воскресенью, 5 июня, огнем было охвачено около тысячи квадратных километров. Крупнейший очаг возгорания зафиксирован в восточной части Аризоны. Справиться с огнем там пожарные не могут до сих пор и он продолжает быстро распространяться по направлению к штату Нью Мексико (New Mexico).

Создана защитная зону длиной в 48 км, чтобы обезопасить от стихии населенные пункты штата; однако, сильные ветра способствуют распространению пожаров.
Начиная с 29 мая, местные власти эвакуировали в безопасные районы более 2,2 тыс. жителей. Накануне официальные лица отдали распоряжение об эвакуации жителей ряда районов на востоке Аризоны.

Между тем метеорологи сообщают, что ситуация с лесными пожарами может ухудшиться в понедельник из-за усиления ветров.
По прогнозам метеорологической службы США, скорость ветра на востоке штата будет достигать 48 км в час. Кроме того, объявлена тревога в северных районах Аризоны, где ухудшающиеся погодные условия могут привести к возникновению пожаров.
В федеральном лесном управлении США напомнили, что это третий крупнейший пожар в истории Аризоны.
Не спадает пламя и на юго-востоке штата. Там с начала мая уже выгорело 405 квадратных километров.

На борьбу с огнем брошено более тысячи пожарных и спасателей.

Используемые ресурсы: Интерфакс, CNN, Lenta.ru, USA Today,denverpost.com

В Аризоне казнили педофила-убийцу. Arizona executes convicted child killer

Donald Beaty is seen in an undated prison photo.
Reuters/Arizona Department of Corrections

В США в среду, 25 мая 2011 г., казнили бывшего консьержа жилого комплекса из Аризоны, признанного виновным в изнасиловании и убийстве 13-летней девочки в 1984 году. Об этом сообщает Reuters.

Согласно записям суда, в мае 1984 года Дональд Эдвард Бити (Donald Edward Beaty) похитил развозчицу газет Кристи Энн Форнофф (Christy Ann Fornoff), изнасиловал ее, а затем задушил. В течение двух дней он хранил ее тело в своей квартире, потом завернул в простыню и спрятал за мусорным контейнером около дома.

Адвокаты педофила пытались обжаловать решение суда, заявляя, что их подзащитного надо помиловать, так как в ходе разбирательства по делу он был лишен достойной юридической поддержки.

В своих последних словах Бити попросил прощения у родителей жертвы. 56-летнего американца казнили введением смертельной инъекции в одной из тюрем Аризоны.

Дональд Эдвард Бити стал вторым преступником, казненным в Аризоне с начала 2011 года. До этого с момента восстановления смертной казни в штате в 1992 году к высшей мере наказания были приговорены 25 человек.

Всего, по данным некоммерческой организации Death Penalty Information Center, с начала 2011 года в США казнили 19 человек.
Источникинформации - Lenta.ru.

English version:
Arizona executes convicted child killer

By David Schwartz
PHOENIX | Thu May 26, 2011 10:19am EDT

(Reuters) - An Arizona apartment complex custodian was put to death by lethal injection on Wednesday for the 1984 rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl, after a flurry of last-minute court appeals failed, prison officials said.

Donald Edward Beaty, 56, died at 7:38 p.m. local time at a state prison in Florence, Arizona, officials said, in an execution delayed for more than nine hours by a legal dispute over one of the drugs used to kill him.

Beaty, convicted of killing newspaper carrier Christy Ann Fornoff, had won a temporary stay from the Arizona Supreme Court after his lawyers objected to the last-minute substitution of a drug to be used in the lethal-injection mix.

But the court lifted the stay after conducting a special hearing on Wednesday morning, rejecting arguments that the state breached Beaty's constitutional due process rights and protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

Petitions to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court were unsuccessful.

With his last words, Beaty apologized to the murder victim's parents. He told them "God will let you see her again," Barrett Marson, an Arizona Department of Corrections spokesman said

Marson added that Beaty was "very emotional" and difficult to understand.

Beaty's final meal included a double cheeseburger, a shredded beef chimichanga and rocky road ice cream.

Arizona switched the sedative in the three-drug "cocktail" it planned to administer to Beaty from sodium thiopental to pentobarbital on Tuesday after federal officials said the state failed to fill out a required form to bring the substitute drug into the country.

Sodium thiopental, which renders the prisoner unconscious, has been at the center of a debate over appropriate execution drugs. Supplies have become scarce in the United States, and efforts to buy stocks overseas have stirred controversy and been turned down flat by some manufacturers.

Beaty was convicted of snatching Fornoff from her newspaper route in Tempe, Arizona, in May 1984. He sexually assaulted her, then suffocated her in what was then one of the state's more sensational criminal cases.

Court records said he kept the body inside his apartment for two days. She was later found wrapped in a sheet behind a dumpster there.

A jury deadlocked in Beaty's first trial. He was convicted of murder and sexual assault when a psychologist testified that he confessed to the killing in a group therapy session.

In last-ditch appeals, Beaty's lawyers unsuccessfully maintained his life should be spared because he did not have effective legal representation.

He is the second inmate executed in Arizona this year, and the 26th since the death penalty was reinstated there in 1992.

Nineteen people have been executed in the United States so far this year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Arizona: HIGH POLLUTION ADVISORY - OZONE

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a
HIGH POLLUTION ADVISORY - OZONE

Effective:
Thursday, May 26

This advisory has been issued because air pollution is forecast to be at
elevated levels.

That means ozone levels are expected to exceed federal health standards. Typically, the highest ozone levels occur during the late afternoon and evening hours.

More advisories may be issued this week. Please monitor local news and
weather reports and check ADEQ or call Valley Metro at 602-262-RIDE.

Visit ValleyMetro.org for transit routes and schedules.


What is Ozone?
Ozone is a colorless gas that is in the air. Ozone exists naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere, where it shields the Earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays. When ozone is also found close to the Earth's surface it is referred to as ground-level ozone. At this level it is a harmful air pollutant.

Why is Ozone a Problem?
Repeated exposure to unhealthful levels of ground-level ozone affects lung tissue. Ozone is an irritant that can cause choking, coughing and stinging eyes. Ozone damages lung tissue, it may exacerbate respiratory disease, and ozone makes people more susceptible to respiratory infections.

While anyone who is active or works outdoors is affected by unhealthful ozone levels, children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to ozone.

What Can You Do to Help Reduce Dangerous Ozone Levels?
Valley residents are encouraged to:

Reduce their driving.
Limit engine idling.
Carpool, bus, telework.
Refuel after dark.
Refrain from using gasoline powered garden equipment or charcoal BBQs.
Schedule painting projects during the cooler months, and when painting, use water-based products.

Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center: Reporting Suspicious Activity.

We have been living in a quite problematic and dangerous world. There have been many threats to us, our communities, our regions, and our nations. We have to be alerted and stay vigilant; yet, we have to help our local and national law enforcement agencies to fight a war on terror by reporting suspicious activities. Thus, we may better protect our kids and loved ones. Below is an advisory having been issued by The Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center.

Reporting Suspicious Activity
On Sunday, May 1, 2011, President Obama announced that Usama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. military forces. Based on this event, all Citizens are requested to increase vigilance and maintain a heightened awareness of suspicious activities. Though there are no known specific threats and the current threat level has not changed, citizens are asked to maintain situational awareness of themselves and their surroundings.

The Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center is a joint effort between the Department of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local Police and Fire Departments. ACTIC is requesting any suspicious activity be forwarded to the ACTIC Watch Center. Information can be forwarded via telephone at 1-877-2SAVE-AZ (1-877-272-8329) or emailed to actic@azdps.gov.

Please keep yourself and other citizens apprised of current events and possible threats that may be prevalent. A video outlining eight possible signs of terrorism is available on the ACTIC website Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center. You can also go to www.8signs.org to view the video.

Again, Citizens are reminded to stay vigilant and maintain awareness of their surroundings. To report suspicious activity, please contact the ACTIC Watch Center at 1-877-2SAVE-AZ (1-877-272-8329), on the website at Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center or via email at actic@azdps.gov

Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center

Arizona's summer is approaching: Be on the lookout and protect yourself from the Arizona Sun.

• In March and April, rattlesnakes become more active and move to areas where they can soak up the sun.

• During summer months, they are more active at night. After the monsoon begins, rattlesnakes are at their most active.

• The shaking of the rattle can serve as a warning, but not always. Rattlesnakes can strike without warning.

• Babies are typically born at the end of July and are capable of biting from birth.

SYMPTOMS

• Immediate pain or a burning sensation occurs at the site of the bite; fang marks are usually visible.

• Victims may experience a metallic or rubbery taste.

• Significant swelling usually occurs within minutes, and symptoms may progress to weakness, sweating and/or chills, nausea and vomiting.

• Venom can cause severe tissue damage, blood thinning and other effects.

TREATMENT

• Seek emergency medical attention immediately.

• If you are far from your car or other help, move slowly to get help.

If bitten

• Stay as calm as possible. If bitten on the hand, remove all jewelry before swelling begins.

• Don't apply ice to the bite site or immerse the bite in a bucket of ice.

• Do not restrict blood flow in any manner.

• Leave the bite site alone.

• Don't try to capture the snake.

• Physicians treat the symptoms as they occur and modify the antivenin/treatment as needed. Treatment is not snake specific.

Source: Banner Good Samaritan Poison & Drug Information Center.


Arizona Bark Scorpion: Prevent Stings

Most scorpion stings in Arizona occur on the hands or feet. The hands get stung easily because they reach for things in places where an Arizona Bark Scorpion may be hiding. The feet often get stung, because either someone puts on a shoe where a scorpion is hiding or they step on a scorpion with unprotected feet.

Here are some tips that we followed:

* Never walk around barefoot at night. At about dusk, the scorpions start to come out and look for food.
* Always check your shoes before putting them on in the morning. We kept our shoes on a shoe rack. It seems like scorpions would have to make more of an effort to get inside of them.
* Carry a blacklight around with you at night if it’s dark in the house and you have to get up. You’ll be able to see scorpions, because they glow green under a blacklight.
* If you are worried about scorpions getting into your baby’s or child’s bed, put each leg of the bed inside a smooth, glass mason jar. Scorpions cannot climb up glass.
* Be very careful with clothes you have lying on the floor. I have heard countless stories of people getting stung because a scorpion was in their clothing. It is the perfect place for them to hide. Make sure you shake the clothes out well before you put them on.
* Be cautious when putting your hands into a dark space, like a kitchen cabinet. Try to look before you reach.
* Scorpions love wet, damp places. Be careful in the bathroom or the kitchen areas. One time, there was a scorpion curled up on the inside of the shower curtain while I took a shower.

These tips should help you to improve your odds of not getting stung by the Arizona Bark Scorpion.

Sun Protection Tips

* Practice sun protection all year. UV rays can cause skin damage no matter what the season, even on cloudy or hazy days.

* Wear sun protection clothing: loose-fitting long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and a wide-brimmed hat made of special sun protective fibers which have SPF ratings. For regular clothing, tightly woven fabrics work best.

* Always wear a broad-spectrum sunblock or sunscreen of at least SPF 15. The higher the SPF the better.

* Many doctors recommend using a sunblock instead of "sunscreen." A sunblock has the added protection of zinc oxide or titanium oxide and is gentler on the skin.

* Choose a sunblock or sunscreen that provides "broad spectrum protection" against both UVA and UVB radiation.

* Apply sunblocks and sunscreens at least 20 minutes before you go outside.

* How much sunblock or sunscreen should you put on? Doctors recommend one ounce of sunblock, which is about a shot glass-size amount. It takes aboutthat much sunblock to cover your body at the pool.

* If you will be using bug spray too, do not apply it at the same time as the sunblock, as the products lose their efficacy. Put on the sunblock first, then apply the bug spray 20 minutes later. Use the products separately. Two-in-one sunscreen/bug spray products are not as effective.

* Check the sunblock’s expiration date. If expired or more than 3 years old, discard and purchase a new sunscreen.

* Always wear a broad-spectrum lipscreen of at least SPF 15.

* Remember to reapply your sunblock and lipscreen, especially if you’re swimming or sweating, and during peak sun hours.

* Do not use sunscreens on babies younger than 6 months. Cover them up with a hat and clothing and keep them shaded from the sun.

* Protect your eyes from the sun: wear wraparound sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection (for both UVA and UVB rays).

* Avoid outdoor activity between the peak sun hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. whenever possible. This timeframe is when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

* If you must be outside during peak sun hours, seek shade whenever possible.

* UV rays can reflect off of any surface and can reach you in the shade. Always wear protective clothing, sunblock and lipscreen even if you’re in the shade.


Sources: American Academy of Dermatology; the Skin Cancer Foundation; Mayo Clinic; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Information collected and edited by Yefim Toybin
Photos are from the Internet
April 20, 2011 @ 20:35
Phoenix, Arizona

USA, Arizona: Court upholds judge's ban on Arizona immigration law. Суд оставил Аризонский закон о нелегалах частично заблокированным.

04.12.2011, 13:08:30
Апелляционная комиссия из трех судей оставила в силе решение судьи штата Аризона, заблокировавшего некоторые статьи местного закона об иммиграции, сообщает Los Angeles Times. Комиссия подтвердила, что вопросы, касающиеся нелегальных мигрантов, должны решаться федеральным правительством.

Как стало известно, решение коллегии не было единогласным. Один из судей посчитал, что разрешение полиции требовать документы у "подозрительных лиц" не противоречит конституции США. Тем не менее, остальные судьи придерживались другого мнения.

Губернатор Аризоны Джен Брюэр (Jan Brewer) уже выпустила официальное сообщение, в котором подвергла решение суда критике.

Закон об иммиграции, вызвавший неоднозначную реакцию в американском обществе, был принят аризонскими властями в апреле 2010 года. В соответствии с этим законом, в частности, полицейские штата получили право проверять документы у всех лиц, которых они подозревают в нелегальном нахождении на территории Аризоны. В случае если подозреваемый не может подтвердить законность своего пребывания в США, полиция имеет право задержать и впоследствии депортировать нарушителя.

Иммиграционная реформа вызвала волну протестов по всей стране. Некоторые города, например, Сан-Франциско и Лос-Анджелес, объявили Аризоне бойкот. Президент США Барак Обама также не одобрил решение властей штата, в то время как первые лица Мексики назвали закон "расистским".

В июле правительство США обратилось в суд, посчитав новый закон неконституционным. По мнению Вашингтона, иммиграционные вопросы государства находятся исключительно в компетенции федеральных властей. Суд первой инстанции признал незаконными и заблокировал ряд положений закона, после чего власти Аризоны подали апелляцию. Теперь, после отклонения этой апелляции, разбирательство может быть продолжено в Верховном Суде.

A federal appellate panel agrees that parts of SB 1070 intrude on immigration and foreign policy, which should be left to the federal government. A showdown before the U.S. Supreme Court may be next.

By Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times

April 12, 2011
Reporting from Denver—
A federal appellate court Monday upheld a judge's ban on the most controversial parts of a tough new Arizona immigration law, setting the stage for a showdown before the Supreme Court on how far a state can go in trying to expel illegal immigrants.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a federal judge in Arizona who found that provisions of the law, known as SB 1070, were an unconstitutional intrusion into immigration and foreign policy, which is the prerogative of the federal government. The law was signed last year by Gov. Jan Brewer, who argued that her state was overrun by dangerous illegal immigrants. Critics contended it would lead to racial profiling.

In a partial dissent, one judge argued that a key provision, which requires police to determine the status of people involved in traffic stops whom they suspect are in the country illegally, was constitutional. But that stance did not sway the majority, making the ruling a victory for the Obama administration, which challenged Arizona's law in court last year.

The administration "couldn't have asked for more in the results of the ruling or the reasoning of the ruling," said Peter Spiro, a law professor at Temple University who has closely followed the case.

Brewer and Arizona Atty. Gen. Tom Horne issued a statement criticizing the ruling. They did not say, however, whether they would appeal it to a full panel of the 9th Circuit or straight to the Supreme Court. The top court is already considering a challenge to another Arizona law that dissolves businesses that repeatedly hire illegal immigrants.

"I remain steadfast in my belief that Arizona and other states have a sovereign right and obligation to protect their citizens and enforce immigration law in accordance with federal statute," Brewer said.

Civil rights groups and immigration advocates were jubilant.

"We're really glad to see the side of civil rights and the Constitution have prevailed," said Phoenix activist Lydia Guzman, who helped organize protests against the law before it was largely suspended in July.

All the judges — two appointed by Republican presidents and one by a Democrat — agreed that the state went too far in making it a crime to lack immigration papers in Arizona or to work there while being in the country illegally. They agreed that Congress and the courts have historically reserved the ability to penalize illegal immigrants for the federal government.

Judge Richard Paez, who was appointed by President Clinton and wrote the majority opinion, argued that requiring police to perform immigration enforcement makes it impossible for the federal government to regulate immigration.

"By imposing mandatory obligations on state and local officers, Arizona interferes with the federal government's authority to implement its priorities and strategies in law enforcement, turning Arizona officers into state-directed [immigration] agents," Paez wrote.

Judge John T. Noonan, an appointee of President Reagan, wrote a separate concurring opinion emphasizing that Arizona had clearly tried to create its own immigration — and, therefore, foreign — policy. He noted that a number of countries protested the law, which begins by stating that "attrition through enforcement" is now the state's policy.

"It would be difficult to set out more explicitly the policy of a state in regard to aliens unlawfully present," Noonan wrote. "Without qualification, Arizona establishes its policy on immigration."

But Judge Carlos T. Bea, an appointee of President George W. Bush, contended in his partial dissent that Arizona had a right to tell its police to check immigration status because Congress had clearly authorized local police to aid in immigration enforcement. Bea, a native of Spain who was nearly deported from the United States before winning his citizenship, also warned against giving foreign governments a "heckler's veto" by citing their objections.

Gabriel "Jack" Chin, a law professor at the University of Arizona, said the dispute between Bea and the other two judges on what a state can tell its police to do set the stage for a Supreme Court challenge. He said the finding that police need permission from the federal government to enforce immigration laws conflicts with rulings from some other appellate courts.

"This is a diffuse law with lots of bits and pieces that were thrown against the wall to see what sticks," Chin said. "Maybe they found a way to get that issue, which is near and dear to their hearts, to the Supreme Court."

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Russian Orginized Crime and Crime Gangs.

Yefim Toybin
Phoenix, Arizona
February 28, 2011 @ 18:30


I have already written several articles about so called "Russian Mafia or Russian Organized Crime" particularly in the USA.
It's been noted the growing interest to the theme since more articles have been posted and more ethnic groups and individuals have been arrested. People think most of the times of some horribly looking guys and gels, violent in nature and committing brutal crimes only against their own country men and or women. It has also been known that so called "the Russians" are good in perpetrating white-collar crimes and thus bring a huge detriment to innocent people and society itself.
It is, perhaps, easy to apprehend a criminal group that is deeply involved in high profile crimes and a typical question, "where is the money?" can be answered with out any difficulty.
What about individuals who are committing crimes, very detrimental to people, very costly to society, but they are criminally smart, extremely manipulative, well connected to important people and organizations because of their false but good sounding legend and fraudulently created positive community image and, more importantly, are directly or indirectly protected by authorities?

Is this fare? Is this just? Is this how it shall be in an open and democratic state? What about number of the their victims? What about moral, physical and emotional damage they have inflicted on innocent people? What it is seen quite often is that some of the "dirty" people from the Russian communities across the nation have become CRI. They now think that because of their new status they are above the LAW and can commit crimes and will be protected. The reality is, they are quite right.
The biggest problem with that is that so many good and hard working naturalized citizens see that and loose confidence in government and law enforcement community. In addition, because of the cultural characteristics some of the unstable community members provide a lot of support and help to those people thinking in old Soviet way, if they are protected by authorities it is better to be with them and get their piece of pie rather than to be against them and, possibly, get in trouble. This anti-societal, irregular and immoral behaviors deeply erode foundational American values and corrupt newly arrived immigrants. It's been said many times that crime has no nationality; however, it is always disappointing and painful to read, hear or see the reports about new "the Russian Mafia" crimes.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cur." Don't let these crimes grow and pay attention to an early stage of illegally growing activities of some individuals/groups when concerned citizens attempt to notify proper authorities.

Shame on people who knowingly help and/or support suspected criminals in the state of Arizona.

Below are the two recently written articles on the Russian Organized Crimes/criminals.


Feb 6, 2011
Russian Crime Gangs Discussed During Asia-Pacific Summit
by Jim Kouri

A delegation from the Russian government are taking part in a conference of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, which opened this week in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. It brings together parliamentarians from 27 countries of that region. The session will discuss issues of politics and security in the region, as well as economic cooperation and integration.
The Russian delegation intends to prepare and propose a resolution relating to combating terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.
In the two decades since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the world has become the target of a growing global crime threat from criminal organizations and criminal activities that have poured over the borders of Russia and other former Soviet republics such as Ukraine. The nature and variety of the crimes being committed seem unlimited - trafficking in women and children, drugs, arms trafficking, stolen automobiles, and money laundering are among the most prevalent.

The spillover is particularly troubling to Europe because of its geographical proximity to Russia, and to Israel, because of its large number of Russian immigrants. But no area of the world seems immune to this menace, especially not the United States. America is the land of opportunity for unloading criminal goods and laundering dirty money. For that reason - and because, unfortunately, much of the examination of Russian organized crime (the so-called "Russian Mafia") to date has been rather hyperbolic and sketchy - many in law enforcement believe it is important to step back and take an objective look at this growing phenomenon.

As in the United States, there is no universally accepted definition of organized crime in Russia, in major part because Russian law provides no legal definition of organized crime. Analysis of criminological sources, however, enables one to identify some of its basic characteristics. These include organizational features that make Russian organized crime unique in the degree to which it is embedded in the post-Soviet political system.

At the same time, however, it has certain features in common with such other well-known varieties of organized crime as the Italian Mafia. The latter has a complicated history that includes both cooperation and conflict with the Italian state. Much more than was ever the case with the Italian Mafia, however, Russian organized crime is uniquely a descendant of the Soviet state.

Russian organized crime has come to plague many areas of the globe since the demise of the Soviet Union just more than a decade ago. The transnational character of Russian organized crime, when coupled with its high degree of sophistication and ruthlessness, has attracted the world's attention and concern to what has become known as a global Russian Mafia. Along with this concern, however, has come a fair amount of misunderstanding and stereotyping with respect to Russian organized crime.

Trafficking is almost always a form of organized crime and should be dealt with using criminal powers to investigate and prosecute offenders for trafficking and any other criminal activities in which they engage. Trafficked persons should also be seen as victims of crime. Support and protection of victims is a humanitarian objective and an important means of ensuring that victims are willing and able to assist in criminal cases. As with other forms of organized crime, trafficking has globalized.

Groups formerly active in specific routes or regions have expanded the geographical scope of their activities to explore new markets. Some have merged or formed cooperative relationships, expanding their geographical reach and range of criminal activities. Illegal migrants and trafficking victims have become another commodity in a larger realm of criminal commerce involving other commodities, such as narcotic drugs and firearms or weapons and money laundering, that generate illicit revenues or seek to reduce risks for traffickers.

With respect to organized crime, certain geographical or infrastructure characteristics, such as the presence of seaports, international airports, strategic border locations, rich natural resources, and so on, provide special criminal opportunities that can best be exploited by criminals who are organized. More so than common crime, organized crime is fed by the presence of ethnic minorities who furnish a ready supply of both victims and the offenders to victimize them. Organized crime also thrives in environments characterized by a relatively high tolerance of deviance and a romanticization of crime figures, especially where government and law enforcement are weak or corrupt (the history of the Sicilian Mafia illustrates this).
THE RUSSIAN MOB

Russia is one of those unfortunate countries that has the receptive environment in which organized crime thrives. Organized crime is deeply rooted in the 400-year history of Russia's peculiar administrative bureaucracy, but it was especially shaped into its current form during the seven decades of Soviet hegemony that ended in 1991. This ancestry helps to explain the pervasiveness of organized crime in today's Russia and its close merger with the political system. Organized crime in Russia is an institutionalized part of the political and economic environment. It cannot, therefore, be fully understood without first understanding its place in the context of the Russian political and economic system.

Unlike Colombian, Italian, Mexican, or other well-known forms of organized crime, Soviet organized crime was not primarily based on ethnic or family structures. To help understand the difference, we can look to the history of organized crime in the United States for a contrasting portrait. As a number of scholars have pointed out, organized crime provided a "crooked ladder of upward mobility" for some immigrants to the United States. Certain immigrants - sharing a common ethnicity, culture, and language, and, being on the bottom rung of the socioeconomic ladder, either having legitimate opportunities for advancement closed to them or rejecting the opportunities that were available - have turned to crime, and specifically organized crime, to get ahead.

Because organized crime is made up of criminals who conspire to carry out illegal acts, a degree of trust is necessary among those criminals. Co-conspirators must be able to trust that their collaborators will not talk to the police or to anyone who might talk to the police, and that they will not cheat them out of their money. A shared ethnicity, with its common language, background, and culture, has historically been a foundation for trust among organized crime figures.

Yet ethnicity did not play the significant role in Soviet organized crime that it played in the United States. Instead, the Soviet prison system, in many ways, fulfilled functions that were satisfied by shared ethnicity in the United States. In the Soviet Union, a professional criminal class developed in Soviet prisons during the Stalinist period that began in 1924 - the era of the gulag. These criminals adopted behaviors, rules, values, and sanctions that bound them together in what was called the thieves' world, led by the elite criminals who lived according to the "thieves' law." This thieves' world created and maintained the bonds and climate of trust necessary for carrying out organized crime.

Organized crime in the Soviet era consists of illegal enterprises with both legal and black-market connections that were based on the misuse of state property and funds. It is most important to recognize that the blurring of the distinction between the licit and the illicit is also a trademark of post-Soviet organized crime that shows its ancestry with the old Soviet state and its command-economy system. This, in turn, has direct political implications. The historical symbiosis with the state makes Russian organized crime virtually an inalienable part of the state. As this has continued into the present, some would say it has become an engine of the state that works at all levels of the Russian government.

Contemporary Russian organized crime grew out of the Soviet "nomenklatura" system (the government's organizational structure and high-level officials) in which some individual "apparatchiks" (government bureaucrats) developed mutually beneficial personal relationships with the thieves' world. The top of the pyramid of organized crime during the Soviet period was made up of the Communist Party and state officials who abused their positions of power and authority. Economic activities ranged across a spectrum of markets - white, gray, black, and criminal. These markets were roughly defined by whether the goods and services being provided were legal, legal but regulated, or illegal, and by whether the system for providing them was likewise legal, legal but regulated, or illegal. The criminals operated on the illegal end of this spectrum. Tribute gained from black markets and criminal activities was passed up a three-tiered pyramid to the nomenklatura, and the nomenklatura itself (some 1.5 million people) had a vast internal system of rewards and punishments. The giant state apparatus thus not only allowed criminal activity, but encouraged, facilitated, and protected it, because the apparatus itself benefited from crime.

These sorts of relationships provided the original nexus between organized crime and the government. From these beginnings, organized crime in Russia evolved to its present ambiguous position of being both in direct collaboration with the state and, at the same time, in conflict with it.

Sources:
US Department of Justice
United Nations Protocols
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
National Association of Chiefs of Police
Department of Homeland Security


Wednesday, January 12, 2011
ERINGER: RUSSIAN ORGANIZED CRIME IN MONACO: DIMITROS SKIGIN

Meet Vladimir SKIGIN, St. Petersburg-based baby brother of the late Dimitros SKIGIN.

In August, we linked Dimitros SKIGIN, founder of the Monaco-based Sotrama S.A.M., to Russian organized crime.



Brother Vladimir controls a casino gambling network in Russia known as Vulkan.

Russian casinos are controlled by criminals.

Two years ago gambling was outlawed in Russia.

Operating illegally, Vulkan is the largest gambling network in Russia's northwest.

Vladimir SKIGIN has reportedly just purchased a home in Monte Carlo.


Will Monaco police chief Andre MUHLBERGER have something to say about that?

Силовые структуры в США разгромили уличную банду выходцев из СССР «Armenian Power» в Калифорнии. А что в Аризоне?

Yefim Toybin
Phoenix, Arizona
February 16, 2011 @ 23:00

B среду, 02/16/11, мировые средства массовой информации пестрят сообщениями об успешно проведенной, грандиозной по своим масштабам и количеству участников , спец. операции по разгрому этнической преступной группировки из бывшего СССР. Привожу только ряд из аншлагов: «Силовые структуры и Спецслужбы в Калифорнии разгромили уличную банду выходцев из СССР», «Armenian Power», «Десятки задержанных», Arrests of Armenian Group in Calif., Armenian gang fraud cost victims at least $20 million, authorities say», «Nearly 100 charged, dozens arrested in operation targeting Armenian organized crime»и т.д.
В последнее время все чаще появляются подобные сообщения и постоянно под этими громкими делами подразумевают «Русскую мафию». Даже если об этом, из-за полит. корректности прямо не упоминают, все понимают о чем идет речь.
Я уже раньше высказывал свое личное отношение к своим бывшим соотечественникам, которые занимаясь грязной, противоправной и преступной деятельностью наносят колоссальный и непоправимый ущерб святому понятию – иммиграция.
Я собрал большое количество материалов о всех волнах иммиграции из Российской империи, СССР, Российской федерации и других стран СНГ. В первые волны иммиграции, даже исключительно воспитанные и с высоким уровнем образования люди, выполняли трудоемкие, тяжелые и малооплачиваемые работы, НО НЕ СОВЕРШАЛИ аморальных проступков и, тем более, преступлений. А, со временем занимали те посты и положение, которым они полностью соответствовали своим образованием, воспитаниеми навыками.
А нынешняя волна хочет жить только здорово, богато, купаясь в ваннах из шампанского, и беззаботно. Зачем много и долго тяжело работать, когда есть другие средства устройства жизни. Подумаешь, состряпала фальшивое уголовное дело на мужа- он в тюрьму,а все его имущество ко мне. А что за проблема дать липовую информацию на заявление в органы Соц. Опеки - главное результат: талоны на питание, бесплатныая страховка и другие финансовая помощь. Состряпано дело о физическом насилии или "жестком сексе" с законным мужем без "письменного разрешения" - раз и грин карта в кармане, да еще возможно с приданным. А что за проблема группой пойти в суд и дать лживые и клеветнические показания на честного человека, WHO CARES? А использовать связи с коррумпированными гос. служащими для запугивания и наказания непослушных? Пусть знают наших, а чужие будут бояться, а значит «уважать». Логика иезуитов понятна и проста: Цель оправдывает средства. Стыд и позор тем, кто использует иммиграцию для достижения своих гряхных, одиозных и коррупционных целей.
В свете происходящих событий, можно предположить, что зачистка-этнических преступных групп не ограничется Калифорнией или Нью-Йорком.
А все ли у нас хорошо и гладко на этом фронте в Аризоне?
Я лично, на протяжение многих лет, втянут в настоящую войну с группировкой, которую однозначно могу охарактеризовать как ОПГ. Я сражаюсь за хороший и добрый имидж Русской Америки, за поруганную честь и оскорбленное человеческое достоинство как Русских, так и Американцев. Эта разветвленная структура пустила очень глубокие и сильные корни в штате, а может быть и за его пределами, например в Сан Диего или других городах. Они совершали и продолжает совершать многочисленные преступления в различных областях , начиная с подготовки лже-свидетелей для организованного выступления в судах и до подачи заведомо лживых заявлений в полицию с целью расправы с неугодными им людьми. Прямо как в 37! Заявление в полицию и глядишь посадят, а не посадят, так испортят репутацию и запугают. Что мало не покажется.
Вес сложность и драмма этой итуации заключается в том, что они ничего не-боятся и чувствуют себя очень комфортабельно, потому, что некоторые службы и ведомства штата, правоохранительные структуры и отдельные, наделенные властью, личности прямо или косвенно им помогают, а главное защищают и прикрывают. Я твердо верю, что этому беспределу придет законный-конец. Проблема в том, как долго это форменное безобразие будет продолжаться, сколько еще пострадают невинных людей, сколько денег потеряют казна и налогоплательщики, и сколько людей будут коррумпированы этой группой.
Люди! Как говорил Юлиус Фучек, Будьте бдительны, не помогайте и не поддерживайте всякого рода мошенников и махинаторов, которые, да, могут вам помочь, но в нарушение закона и морали. Преступность не имеет национальности, но всегда имеет питательную почву на которой преступность и растет.
Один украл машину, чтобы помочь своему другу и был уверен, что совершил геройский поступок. А одинокая женщина и мать не смогла ездить на работу, не имела средств на новую машину, и потеряла работу. А в суде, подозреваемому, судья объяснил, что он совершил преступление и получит за это срок.
Ниже привожу статьи о проведении беспрецедентной анти-криминальной операции в Калифорнии.
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Спецслужбы в США в среду в результате операции, в которой принимали участие около тысячи агентов, арестовали десятки членов «могущественной» уличной банды «Armenian Power», сообщает Los Angeles Times.
Группировка выходцев из СССР действовала в районе западного Голливуда, однако задержания проходили по всей территории США.
Около сотни человек, по данным издания, были обвинены в вымогательстве, похищениях, отмывании денег и торговле наркотиками.
В группу из около 1000 агентов!!! входили сотрудники ФБР, налоговой службы, агентства национальной безопасности и местные полицейские.
«Armenian Power» берет свои корни в среде армянских иммигрантов, прибывших в Лос Анджелес в конце 1980-х годов.
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February 16, 2011 | 1:01 pm
At least 74 reputed members of the Armenian Power organized crime gang were charged Wednesday in a fraud scheme that cost Southern California victims at least $20 million, law enforcement officials said.
Authorities said members of Armenian Power, or AP, face criminal charges with potential sentences ranging from a few years to life in prison.
A total of 99 members have been charged in two federal indictments and by the Los Angeles County district attorney with crimes including racketeering, extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking and identity theft.
Some of the defendants are accused of secretly installing sophisticated skimming devices that allowed them to steal customer account information at a dozen 99-Cent Only stores across the region, according to a 212-page federal indictment unsealed Wednesday in U.S. District Court.
Armenian Power members allegedly caused more than $2 million in losses when they used the skimmed information to create counterfeit debit and credit cards, the indictment alleges.
In addition, authorities allege Armenian Power worked in conjunction with African American street gangs to gather information that allowed them to take over bank accounts, often of older victims, that led to financial losses of $10 million.
Andre Birotte Jr., U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said members of the gang used violence to maintain their fraudulent activities.
[Updated at 1:53 p.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly identified Birotte as an assistant U.S. attorney]
“The common denominator among these defendants and their criminal enterprises is their willingness to commit any crime for profit and to use any means of violence and intimidation to further their goals,” Birotte said.
Birotte cited the kidnapping of a Glendale businessman who was held for $500,000 ransom and threatened with death as an example of the lengths the gang would go to to strike fear in the community.
The culmination of a two-year investigation, Operation Power Outage involved nearly 1,000 officers focused primarily on suspects who live in heavily Armenian neighborhoods in Burbank, Glendale and East Hollywood, but authorities said arrests and indictments also were made in other parts of the country, including Denver and Miami.
The syndicate had global reach, according to law enforcement officials. The indictment described a transnational network that tied Armenian Power to the Mexican Mafia and organized crime gangs in the former Soviet-bloc regions, including Armenia, Georgia and Russia.
Participating law enforcement agencies included the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Secret Service, Immigration Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' office of the inspector general. Also participating was the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Burbank, Glendale and Los Angeles police departments.
The bulk of the arrests and search warrants were served without any major incidents. But officials stressed they continued to search for about 24 suspects.
Armenian Power is a small but virulent gang that took root among Armenian immigrants who arrived in Los Angeles in the 1980s and early 1990s, authorities said. The gang has about 200 members.
Law enforcement officials described Armenian Power as having an "extensive portfolio" that combined ruthlessness with opportunism, focusing on white-collar crime that included identity theft crimes such as credit-card skimming.
-- Kate Linthicum and Andrew Blankstein
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In all, 102 defendants faced charges in federal and state courts, capping a nationwide, two-year probe into the Armenian Power gang that was formed in East Hollywood in the 1980s as young men sought to protect themselves from Hispanic street gangs.
Authorities say the gang is violent but has coupled its aggression with a willingness to work with other crime groups and become more tech-savvy.
"Armenian Power members are considered to be exceedingly resourceful and have seized opportunities to collaborate," said Steven Martinez, assistant director in charge of the FBI in Los Angeles.
The gang has grown to include more than 200 members and is now based in Glendale and nearby areas of the San Fernando Valley. Officials said the number of arrests Wednesday suggests the gang, for now, will have difficulty operating.



Sources: Internet

Family of slain in Phoenix Taxi Driver needs help and support.

Yefim Toybin
Phoenix, Arizona
January 26, 2011 @ 21:25

An awful crime was committed in Phoenix on January 7, 2011 that has claimed a life of a member of Bulgarian community who got shot while working as a cab driver.
The news has deeply stunned the Bulgarian community and people around the state. Mass murder in Tuscon and killing of a working man is, perhaps, too much for us.
I want, on behalf of all the people of good will, to express my deepest condolences to the family over the death of Svetoslav Yordanov. This is a true tragedy and our sympathies and thoughts go to the family, relatives and friends. Unfortunately, the tragedy brings people together. Lets provide moral and financial support to Svetoslav's family. Every single $$ donated to the family will make a difference.
Donations can be made at any branches of Chase bank.
The account # is 929873636, routing # 122100024.

Petya, Svetoslav's wife and now a widow, has a four year old child and is on ninth month of pregnancy.

Please show our sensitivity, kindness, charity and help the family of a slain TAXI DRIVER.
BE ALL SAFE.

Below is the article from the Arizona Republic.

===================================================
Phoenix dumped body was slain cabdriver

by Amy B Wang - Jan. 8, 2011 08:48 AM
The Arizona Republic

Phoenix police are still seeking suspects who they say may have been involved in killing a driver for Yellow Cab Friday.

At about 2 p.m. Friday, Phoenix police and fire crews responded to a call about an unconscious person in the 17400 block of North 29th Avenue, according to Phoenix spokesman Sgt. Steve Martos.

A security guard told police he saw the occupants of a Yellow Cab toss a body out of the car in an alley behind a vacant business building, then drive away, Martos said.

Police pronounced the man dead upon their arrival and said he may have suffered some trauma before his death.

The victim was identified as Svetoslav Yordanov, 33, Martos said.

Police do not have a motive or description of the suspects. The missing Yellow Cab was reported found early Saturday morning.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to call Phoenix police at 602-262-6141. To report tips anonymously, call 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/08/20110108phoenix-cabbie-homicide-body-dumped-brk.html#ixzz1C79133Ly

Arizona Russian Festival: Objective and Critical review, Assessment and Analysis.

Yefim Toybin
Phoenix, AZ
January 18, 2011 @ 21:00

If you don’t firmly believe that moral and ethics nowadays are important as well as a person’s integrity and dignity, you shall not read this article.

CHAPTER I.
Summary

The article below in any ways is directed against the volunteers, artists, performers and other staff members involving in the festival. They had contributed their own time, effort, possibly money, and talent to this important action.
I am saying, thank you to them.
Arizona is one of many states in the nation where the Russian speaking community is quite small, very diverse, and absolutely uncoordinated. For the past several years it has grown mainly due to new settlers from other states and the fifth wave of immigration from former Soviet Union, predominately from the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
In general, the Russian Americans in Arizona are not spoiled by the number of the Russian cultural functions; therefore, any new event, external or internal, becomes hot news and gets a lot of attention. I firmly believe that my summary, facts, and analysis will be very helpful to people who may or will organize the next festival. People are looking for clean, credible and reputable organizers who will realize that their personalities as well as their actions are to be moral, ethical, legal and transparent.

On November 20th, 2010 the Arizona Russian Festival took place on the premises of Glendale Community College. It appeared to be a big, significant and resonant act. Of course, to plan on, organize and carry out such a huge cultural project you need finances; to attract people, you have to advertise your event.

At first, the information about the Arizona Russian Festival was posted on notoriously known website “RUSSIANAZ.ORG”, site that is run by a volunteer (prominent member) of Shield Foundation. Shield Foundation (AKA-Arizona Russian Center) is well known to many people in Arizona and around the nation. The “Russianaz.org”, a cyber puppet and powerful weapon of the Shield Foundation (coincidently the two sites have the same IP) has been often used to cyber bullying people. The most intriguing fact about this site is that it is run by Mr. Incognito and all the defamatory, slanderous, and hate-related articles are anonymous. To many of us it shall remind the old Soviet’s methods of purging its own citizens just because some one could write an “anonimky.”
PS In my e-mail I had asked Julia about her relationship with the site named above. I received silence in return.

In addition, the “RUSSIANAZ.ORG” in conjunction with another former (may be current) volunteer for the Shield had become main sponsors of the Festival. Only after the Festival, the name of the “RUSSIANAZ.ORG” has been removed from the festival’s sponsor's. This fact speaks for itself.

Furthermore, the chief organizer, disclosed to the public only two things: her first name and e-mail address. Very unusual and strange for a person, who became a public figure and was looking for community support. Most of the festival leaders provide very detailed information about themselves because credibility and reputation are critically important in order to gain public support. Just recently, as of December 27, 2010 (after the festival) Julia has posted her full name (Julia Stepanova)along with her picture and short bio on the Net).

Only one name for the festival’s chief, scandalous website, very doubtful sponsors, unclear goals and objectives, and etc. prompted me to address my reasonable questions to the primary source of information - Julia. She “respectfully” declined meeting with me for an interview, so I e-mailed her my inquires. She never replied to me. She has left me no other options rather to collect all the info I was seeking from the public sources and other people.

Much more to come. Stay connected To be continued.