Black Mayoral Candidate denied Run elects to sue

[Bringthetruth]

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local/local_story_264232106.html


ELECTION: Douglas elects to sue
By Rick Forgione/forgioner@gnnewspaper.com
Niagara Gazette


— Former mayoral candidate Norton Douglas is suing the Niagara County Board of Elections, its commissioners and Niagara Falls Democratic Party Chairman Michael Rimmen for an alleged violation of his civil rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Douglas’ attorney Robert Ross Fogg has filed a lawsuit in federal court that claims his client’s due process was denied and his rights were deprived as a result of the election board removing him from the Democratic primary ballot. The action requests a ruling that would hold a new Democratic primary and include Douglas’ name on the ballot or allow him to run on an independent line in November’s general election. Reimbursement of monetary costs associated with the lawsuit also is requested.
A federal court date has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 4 in Buffalo in front of Judge Richard Arcara.
“Mr. Douglas is holding up to what his promise was to the people and that was to fight,” Fogg said.
Douglas was one of five Democratic candidates to file petitions to run in Tuesday’s mayoral primary. However, a large number of his 1,077 signatures were immediately challenged by Rimmen, resulting in a ruling from election commissioners that 294 signatures were invalid, leaving him eight shy of the minimum 791 needed to appear on the ballot.
Candidates knocked off the ballot have the option of challenging the board’s ruling in State Supreme Court. Despite beginning that process, Douglas never had the opportunity to show evidence in court why the board’s ruling was incorrect.
Instead, the appeal was denied on a technicality by State Supreme Court Justice Frank Caruso earlier this month because Douglas never served Rimmen with legal notice for his appeal.
In his federal lawsuit, Douglas accuses election commissioners Nancy Smith and Scott Kiedrowski of failing to give him notice and an opportunity to be heard prior to making their determination to exclude him from the ballot. They also didn’t afford him an opportunity to be heard on the objections.
Both Rimmen and Smith confirmed Friday they have been served with the federal lawsuit. Rimmen declined comment and Smith referred questions to County Attorney Claude Joerg.
Joerg did not return calls seeking comment.
Douglas’ complaint said he was able to prove 12 of the signatures removed from his petitions were “erroneously deemed invalid,” but he wasn’t afforded the opportunity to do so.
“It’s undisputed the 12 signatures would’ve put him back on the ballot,” Fogg said.
The commissioners also are accused of not notifying Douglas of their ruling in a timely manner for him to investigate and clarify the invalid signatures within a three-day deadline required to file a State Supreme Court appeal.
“There’s truly tainted oil flowing through the gears of this political machine,” Fogg said.
The lawsuit refers to Douglas being the first African-American candidate to run for Niagara Falls mayor, but Fogg said the case is not based on whether Douglas was discriminated against because of his race.
“We don’t know truly the reason for it,” Fogg said.
However, he did say Rimmen’s actions of challenging the petitions was a form of discrimination because his role as Democratic chairman encouraged him to go after any non-endorsed candidate in danger of “opposing the status quo.” Rimmen must be included in the lawsuit because he filed the challenges against Douglas’ petitions.

[Dr Funky]

dang......

[WNYresident]

violation of his civil rights under the U.S. Constitution.



Douglas’ attorney Robert Ross Fogg has filed a lawsuit in federal court that claims his client’s due process was denied and his rights were deprived as a result of the election board removing him from the Democratic primary ballot.



Douglas’ complaint said he was able to prove 12 of the signatures removed from his petitions were “erroneously deemed invalid,” but he wasn’t afforded the opportunity to do so.
“It’s undisputed the 12 signatures would’ve put him back on the ballot,” Fogg said.


Is Jim Ostrowski stepping up to the plate to help this poor guy?

[SundayNiagara]

Is this called, "playing the race card?"

[Ragin]

Is Jim Ostrowski stepping up to the plate to help this poor guy?

I was just asking myself the same thing. :D

[Bringthetruth]

Is this called, "playing the race card?"



Do you know how many decades white people has used the "race card" to their advantage in America? This is why we had to create a black history month a miss black america contest...etc
(if all men were looked upon and treated as being equal these wouldn't exist)

When the constitution was written, black people weren't looked upon as being equal with white people.


Get a clue!

[SundayNiagara]

Do you know how many decades white people has used the "race card" to their advantage in America? This is why we had to create a black history month a miss black america contest...etc
(if all men were looked upon and treated as being equal these wouldn't exist)

When the constitution was written, black people weren't looked upon as being equal with white people.


Get a clue!

You're entitled to your opinion.

[Bringthetruth]

Thank you for allowing me that.

[Sock Puppet]

Do you know how many decades white people has used the "race card" to their advantage in America? This is why we had to create a black history month a miss black america contest...etc
(if all men were looked upon and treated as being equal these wouldn't exist)

When the constitution was written, black people weren't looked upon as being equal with white people.


Get a clue!
I see your morality allows you to make right from two wrongs. This sounds less like justice, and more like revenge. Your post is typical victim pimp rhetoric pushing indentured guilt on ALL European Americans. All I can say is, myself and many more like me are ready to fight your brand of racism.

[Bringthetruth]

I see your morality allows you to make right from two wrongs. This sounds less like justice, and more like revenge. Your post is typical victim pimp rhetoric pushing indentured guilt on ALL European Americans. All I can say is, myself and many more like me are ready to fight your brand of racism.

No, you seem to not understand what decades of injustice can do to a people in america that's not based upon their dignity and character they possess, but because of the color of their skin.:rolleyes:

[Sock Puppet]

No, you seem to not understand what decades of injustice can do to a people in america that's not based upon their dignity and character they possess, but because of the color of their skin.:rolleyes:
I understand perfectly, I just don't care.

[Dr Funky]

I understand perfectly, I just don't care.

And you wonder why blacks get so pissed off........

[Sock Puppet]

And you wonder why blacks get so pissed off........
I don't wonder and I don't care.

[Dr Funky]

I don't wonder and I don't care.

:rolleyes:

[Timmy]

No, you seem to not understand what decades of injustice can do to a people in america that's not based upon their dignity and character they possess, but because of the color of their skin.:rolleyes:

are we to create a special class of law just for african americans because of past injustices?

[Timmy]

is this using the race card for free publicity ... dont know anyone who knows of him

if so, I dont think people in Niagara County really has much of an african american underclass that their really concerned with race (fortunately)

Niagara County has alot of poverty but there is such a large presence of caucasion poverty...blackmail and using the race card there rings kinda hollow.

I think it would just be easier for Erie and Niagara County to just merge into a single county....New York State would just be so much better if that were allowed to happen.

[Sock Puppet]

are we to create a special class of law just for african americans because of past injustices?
It's all ready be done. Although black on white interracial violence occurs with a frequency of 9:1 to the reverse, 70% of hate crime convictions punish whites. The murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Channon_Christian_and_Christopher_Newsom ) are not being tried as a hate crime, but putting nooses in trees is being reported as one. Any moron can see the disparity.

[Timmy]

If whites are to be tried for hate crimes....should blacks be tried for hate crimes when their crimes are against non-african americans?

I can honestly say....that thought never entered my mind. I think its both insightful and profound. Deserving of serious thought in our balkanized society which races downward in competition to be the ultimate victim.

[Dr Funky]

are we to create a special class of law just for african americans because of past injustices?

They're already created.

They're called CIVIL RIGHTS.

[Dr Funky]

if so, I dont think people in Niagara County really has much of an african american underclass that their really concerned with race (fortunately)

Niagara County has alot of poverty but there is such a large presence of caucasion poverty...blackmail and using the race card there rings kinda hollow.

Obviously youve never been to Niagara Falls before.....

[Dr Funky]

LOL @ You saying theres no blacks here....

[Dr Funky]

I mean seriously...

Al Sharptons WIFE is from Niagara Falls.


The freakin NAACP started here... (technically the canadian side)

[Timmy]

LOL @ You saying theres no blacks here....

I said/inferred that there is enough white poverty that poverty is not solely an african american issue and cannot be used as an african american issue.

when poverty is spread across demographic lines of race, ethnicity, religion, etc.....then no one can claim it as uniquely their issue. Thats my point.

In Buffalo very little attention is paid to the african american wealthy and the african american middle class....and thats a shame because it perpetuates the stereotypes of the african american underclass and robs many of the role models needed to break out which is why I loath low income and municipal housing.....and I loath the public school system....I loath anything that segregates people by income groups.

You can argue race all you want....but we are a society separated by income and education.....and the last statistics I read there has been a collapse of the african american family since the 1940s, out of wedlock pregnancies and after the Arkansas school integration.....we have found a repulsion for education in the african american community especially in technology and science.

You cannot compare the black role models like Nat King Cole, Bill Cosby, Diane Carroll, Smokey Robinson, Ella Fitzgerald...these were role models of the highest calibre.

yet the entire american culture seems to be following the trend established by african americans 60+ years ago away from marriage, away from two parent families, away from a wedded pregnancy, away from education, etc.

Its very scary.....because the above reasons explain why...the poor get poorer and the rich continue to get richer.

[Bringthetruth]

[QUOTE=Timmy]I said/inferred that there is enough white poverty that poverty is not solely an african american issue and cannot be used as an african american issue.

QUOTE]

based on blacks making up of only about 12-13 % of the american popualation in america. In niagara falls blacks compared to whites I wonder what the percentage is of whites impoverished compared to blacks.

[Sock Puppet]

based on blacks making up of only about 12-13 % of the american popualation in america. In niagara falls blacks compared to whites I wonder what the percentage is of whites impoverished compared to blacks.

Darwin works in mysterious ways.

[Dr Funky]

It's all ready be done. Although black on white interracial violence occurs with a frequency of 9:1 to the reverse, 70% of hate crime convictions punish whites. The murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Channon_Christian_and_Christopher_Newsom ) are not being tried as a hate crime, but putting nooses in trees is being reported as one. Any moron can see the disparity.

there is no epidemic of anti white hate crimes.

Most crimes are intra racial. (same race)

[Dr Funky]

I said/inferred that there is enough white poverty that poverty is not solely an african american issue and cannot be used as an african american issue.



based on blacks making up of only about 12-13 % of the american popualation in america. In niagara falls blacks compared to whites I wonder what the percentage is of whites impoverished compared to blacks.

Niagara Falls has a large amount of poor whites no doubt, but the majority of whites in Niagara Falls are at average income.

However the majority of blacks are under the poverty line.

You can drive through and see the disparity.

Devoux/majority white/very wealthy

then literally on the other side of the train tracks.......

Highland Ave Community/100% black/extremely poor.

[SundayNiagara]

"Devoux/majority white/very wealthy

then literally on the other side of the train tracks.......

Highland Ave Community/100% black/extremely poor."

Nothing new here.

[Timmy]

there is no epidemic of anti white hate crimes.

Most crimes are intra racial. (same race)

Wanna make a bet....anyway thats not the point

the point was that if a white perpetrates a crime on a nonwhite then it can automatically be inferred and charged as a hate crime

however the same inference and charge is not automatically when its a black on non-black crime.

[Dr Funky]

the point was that if a white perpetrates a crime on a nonwhite then it can automatically be inferred and charged as a hate crime

however the same inference and charge is not automatically when its a black on non-black crime.

because its not

[SundayNiagara]

"because its not"

Why?

[Bringthetruth]

Bottom line is the powers that be don't want the douglas guy to even have a chance to take away votes of another candidate.

This is how corruption consistently raises it's ugly head in the politics in Niagara.

[BorderBob]

Bottom line is the powers that be don't want the douglas guy to even have a chance to take away votes of another candidate.

This is how corruption consistently raises it's ugly head in the politics in Niagara.

Not for nothing, but if Douglas were so popular, couldn't he have just come up with more signatures?

b.b.

[Timmy]

because its not

its not because it serves you racial agenda for descrimination and victimization which allows you to blame, bully, guilt, protest etc into things that cannot be achieved otherwise

its the same racial agenda/victimization that let OJ kill two people and get acquitted making a laughing stock of the judicial system.

[Bringthetruth]

Not for nothing, but if Douglas were so popular, couldn't he have just come up with more signatures?

b.b.

Douglas’ complaint said he was able to prove 12 of the signatures removed from his petitions were “erroneously deemed invalid,” but he wasn’t afforded the opportunity to do so.
“It’s undisputed the 12 signatures would’ve put him back on the ballot,” Fogg said.
The commissioners also are accused of not notifying Douglas of their ruling in a timely manner for him to investigate and clarify the invalid signatures within a three-day deadline required to file a State Supreme Court appeal.
“There’s truly tainted oil flowing through the gears of this political machine,” Fogg said.
The lawsuit refers to Douglas being the first African-American candidate to run for Niagara Falls mayor, but Fogg said the case is not based on whether Douglas was discriminated against because of his race.
“We don’t know truly the reason for it,” Fogg said.
However, he did say Rimmen’s actions of challenging the petitions was a form of discrimination because his role as Democratic chairman encouraged him to go after any non-endorsed candidate in danger of “opposing the status quo.” Rimmen must be included in the lawsuit because he filed the challenges against Douglas’ petitions.

Cmon Border Bob this is Niagara Falls NY POLITICS, not Bismark North Dakota !

[BorderBob]

Cmon Border Bob this is Niagara Falls NY POLITICS, not Bismark North Dakota !

I understand that to a point, and maybe I expose what little I really know about political campaigns. But it seems to me that if I were running for office and out getting signatures, I would try to build in a margin of error, maybe 10 to 15 percent, to insure that all my applications would hold up.


b.b.

[Dr Funky]

its not because it serves you racial agenda for descrimination and victimization which allows you to blame, bully, guilt, protest etc into things that cannot be achieved otherwise

its the same racial agenda/victimization that let OJ kill two people and get acquitted making a laughing stock of the judicial system.

Theres a difference between someone hurting someone else over drug territory, versus someone hurting someone strictly because of their race....

[Timmy]

Theres a difference between someone hurting someone else over drug territory, versus someone hurting someone strictly because of their race....

so your saying that african american & hispanic drug dealers dont have a hatred for non-african americans and non-hispanics .... and seek out whites for more severe retribution.....or shall we say....easy targets...to intimidate and expand their territory...to set examples...etc.

once again....I think its convenient to say that white crime on blacks is racially motivated but black crime on whites IS NOT.

Ive had the opportunity to be around african american gangs and thugs and drug dealers and street kids etc and let me tell you....if they see someone white.....they view it as an easy assault, an easy robbery, an easy rape, an easy murder....stupid whites in their nice neighborhoods dont understand the street or how to avoid trouble or how to fight back.

once again...you prove your bias to perpetuate black prejudice and black victimization in so far as it furthers your power and your politics

[SundayNiagara]

"once again....I think its convenient to say that white crime on blacks is racially motivated but black crime on whites IS NOT."

Amen!

"once again...you prove your bias to perpetuate black prejudice and black victimization in so far as it furthers your power and your politics"

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Bringthetruth]

I understand that to a point, and maybe I expose what little I really know about political campaigns. But it seems to me that if I were running for office and out getting signatures, I would try to build in a margin of error, maybe 10 to 15 percent, to insure that all my applications would hold up.


b.b.


BB you are sounding like a monday morning qb on WGR after the bills lost to denver 15-14 on last second fg as the clock ran out:)

[Dr Funky]

so your saying that african american & hispanic drug dealers dont have a hatred for non-african americans and non-hispanics .... and seek out whites for more severe retribution.....or shall we say....easy targets...to intimidate and expand their territory...to set examples...etc.

once again....I think its convenient to say that white crime on blacks is racially motivated but black crime on whites IS NOT.

Ive had the opportunity to be around african american gangs and thugs and drug dealers and street kids etc and let me tell you....if they see someone white.....they view it as an easy assault, an easy robbery, an easy rape, an easy murder....stupid whites in their nice neighborhoods dont understand the street or how to avoid trouble or how to fight back.

once again...you prove your bias to perpetuate black prejudice and black victimization in so far as it furthers your power and your politics

The mass majority of crimes are intra racial.

What you said is a lie.

[Timmy]

The mass majority of crimes are intra racial.

What you said is a lie.

if thats the case then you shouldnt have a problem with charging them with a hate crime when its inter-racial or inter-ethnic crime.

I think your the one being the hypocrit here....Im not debating the higher percentage of crime....Im stating that there is alot of racial hatred when blacks commit crimes against whites.

[SundayNiagara]

"I think your the one being the hypocrit here...."

Another Amen!

[Dr Funky]

if thats the case then you shouldnt have a problem with charging them with a hate crime when its inter-racial or inter-ethnic crime.

I think your the one being the hypocrit here....Im not debating the higher percentage of crime....Im stating that there is alot of racial hatred when blacks commit crimes against whites.

You like making stuff up as you go?

What about fighting over something like a female or territory has anything to do with a hate crime?

And by hate crime I mean a racism involved hate crime?

[Timmy]

You like making stuff up as you go?

What about fighting over something like a female or territory has anything to do with a hate crime?

And by hate crime I mean a racism involved hate crime?

if the boyfriend is white...then it may very well be that the african american committed an act of violence because of hate and a perception that whites would be a weak victim

if their fighting over territory then the only legal territory is property rights which can be settled in court....otherwise its gang related fighting and both should be charged with a hate crime...but then I think if your in a gang police should do society a favor and shoot to kill just take one of their semi automatics and spray the entire gang down. Gangs are little more than roaches, rats and vermin. They contribute nothing.

[Dr Funky]

if the boyfriend is white...then it may very well be that the african american committed an act of violence because of hate and a perception that whites would be a weak victim

if their fighting over territory then the only legal territory is property rights which can be settled in court....otherwise its gang related fighting and both should be charged with a hate crime...but then I think if your in a gang police should do society a favor and shoot to kill just take one of their semi automatics and spray the entire gang down. Gangs are little more than roaches, rats and vermin. They contribute nothing.

if the boyfriend is either white or black and if the assaulter is an opposite race then it's not a "Hate crime" it's a domestic fight

[SundayNiagara]

"then it's not a "Hate crime" it's a domestic fight"

Then I suppose this is ok?

[Dr Funky]

"then it's not a "Hate crime" it's a domestic fight"

Then I suppose this is ok?

Shouldn't you be busy dodging some tornadoes right now?

[SundayNiagara]

Shouldn't you be busy dodging some tornadoes right now?

S'matter, no answer?

[Dr Funky]

S'matter, no answer?

I never said it was ok, I said it wasn't a hate crime.

Do you have comprehension skills issues or something?

[SundayNiagara]

"I never said it was ok"

You didn't say it wasn't.

[Dr Funky]

"I never said it was ok"

You didn't say it wasn't.

...........................

[SundayNiagara]

...........................


Well?

[Dr Funky]

Well?

you are an idiot

[Dr Funky]

Well?


It impossible to answer a question like that due to the level of stupidity it emits...

[SundayNiagara]

"It impossible to answer a question like that due to the level of stupidity it emits..."

So it's ok to beat up your wife/girlfriend?