ConsentAwareness.net

Ask Harvey Wienstein’s defense attorney, Jacob Kaplan, and he’ll tell you, unequivocally, it does, just has he portrayed to jurors in the current criminal Weinstein case. This bizarre manipulation of common sense and personal autonomy is at the heart of the problem with our current system of injustice. In NY State, only a “NO” categorizes rape as a crime. If the victim is too stunned or…

While Consent is often treated as a checkbox, in reality, it’s the cornerstone of personal autonomy, human rights, and ethical governance. Two frameworks frequently cited in discussions of consent—GDPR and FGKIA— use several of the same words but from different perspectives and with different outcomes. GDPR was created by the EU in 2018 to protect personal data on the internet. FGKIA greatly…

Roosevelt Landings has many names. Folks who’ve lived in the building from its inception know it as Eastwood. Our last landlord called it Roosevelt Landings, and then The Landings. Our present landlord refers to it as North Town Roosevelt LLC. The Public Service Commission (PSC) identifies it as Case #08-E-0838 for submetering purposes. Several years ago, your Roosevelt Landings Residents…

Band-aid fixes to sexual assault laws are failing society! The Adult Survivors Act (ASA), NY State’s short-lived solution for providing survivors with justice- which expired Thanksgiving Day- proved that survivors have suppressed their struggles for decades! But ASA was limited to one year which only gave a window of relief to 2,700 survivors out of the countless victims across the sexual…

On July 22, 2023, The NY Times published an in-depth article, What People Misunderstand about Rape, by Jen Percy, addressing tonic immobility. She had interviewed CAN’s CEO, Joyce Short, in her research, who had written a post on this issue in 2014, and included a brief statement regarding her individual case. Ms. Percy’s insight laid bare the flagrant and direct conflict between the science of…

You can help fight for change! Read "Your Consent - Revised Edition http://bit.ly/ConsentRevised Sing petition at http://bit.ly/BillPetition

Arkansas is ranked the 2nd worst state in the US, per capita, for incidents of rape. CAN is fighting to change their statistic and battling deeply embedded “dark ages” concepts to do so. Two bills, one defining consent and the other abolishing the Statute of Limitations for the most egregious, Y Felony rape cases, is set for a hearing by the “Judiciary Committee,” next week. Both bills were…

Redistricting is back with a vengeance!

Just as Roosevelt Islanders felt comfortably secure in Manhattan, the State of NY has thrown us a curveball! Roosevelt Island’s Assembly Member, Rebecca Seawright The redistricting map which was approved for the recent Assembly election was vetoed by NY State’s appellate court. While, for now, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright remains our representative, if the new map prevails, she will be…

Consent Pledge for Candidates

Here are four candidates who are fighting to define consent in our laws: Left to Right top: NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, New Hampshire Congresswoman Annie Kuster. Left to Right bottom: Arkansas Representative Robin Lundstrum, NY State Senator James Sanders Jr. Defining consent will turn our unenumerated human right of consent into an enumerated civil right backed by law! Yet NO…

NYC Mayor Eric Adams wants to know what’s on your mind!

On August 24th, His Honor, thanks to the advocacy of Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, visited Roosevelt Island and got an earful on the issues the community faces – not the least of which was redistricting. Blogger Rick O’Connor posted the video on his YouTube channel. His ask…… “I’m a list person; make me a list!” Main St. Dems will do exactly that! We’re looking for input from you to tell…

Redistricting- It’s not over yet!

Lynne Shinozaki and Roosevelt Island Supporters at 8/22 NYC District Commission Hearing We still need letters! The NYC Districting Commission is tasked with dividing NYC’s population of 8.8 million into 51 districts of 172,882 residents. They have shifted Roosevelt Island’s Council Representation from District 5 in Manhattan to District 26 in Queens. To see more on the problems this creates for…

Redistricting – Next Steps

Community Board 8’s redistricting proposal supported by Lynne Shinozaki, Co-Chair Roosevelt Island Committee of CB8,, and Joyce Short, Founder, Main St Democratic Club All Roosevelt Islanders, no matter what age, political party, or even immigration status, are eligible to speak up about their redistricting concerns. The Districting Commission of NY City has proposed new district lines for City…

Don't let becoming a mother slip back into the Dark Ages!

Roe v. Wade established that no one had the right to force a woman into carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term. As a Baby Boomer, I have vivid memories of the days before abortions were legalized. I recall my mother’s screams as she lay on the kitchen table undergoing the at-home procedure that terminated the pregnancy she and my father did not want. No hospital provided a medicated…

Elections are coming. Elect leaders who lead!

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Today, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and Senator Cordell Cleare announced the intro of Bills #S8722 and #S8723 in the NY State Senate. They are intended to prosecute against sex trafficking children and mentally disabled victims. They eliminate the statute of limitations on this B-Felony crime, extend the statute of limitations for civil cases, and add mentally…

You – Yes YOU – Can be the cure for Sexual Assault!

Photo Credit: Robin Worrall @robin_rednine Calling your legislators to demand change will make all the difference in the world! The first Tuesday of every April is the DAY of ACTION for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Exactly one year ago, the very first bill to define CONSENT was publicly introduced at a news conference in New York City. NYC Press Conference – SAAM Day of Action 2021 Since…

Indiana Proves How Regressive They Are on Rape

Bill 1079 which just passed in both the Indiana House and Senate is utter, complete ignorance masquerading as progress! The sponsors claim they are defining consent without even mentioning the word consent in their statute! Representative Sharon Negele Sue Errington Representative Donna Schaibley Representative Robin Shackleford What’s more, HB1079 embeds the antiquated concept that “No…

Re: For One Bill Cosby Juror, the Work Did Not End With the Trial

Andrea Constand gave NY Times reporter, Graham Bowley my contact information after actively helping to support CAN’s efforts for 2 years. She’s contributed to several CAN Zoom calls to the legislators in PA, supported the distribution of “Your Consent – The Key to Conquering Sexual Assault,” and provided needed support for the consent bills that are currently pending in New York. Bowley and I…

Talking the Talk Is Not Enough!

Andrew Cuomo. New York State Governor for the next 3 hours and 10 mInutes There was a time, all too recently, when politicians got to hide their immorality behind a cloak of positive gains for their constituents. New York State’s Governor Andrew Cuomo’s downfall exemplifies the sea change society is experiencing, where rising to public office demands walking the walk as well as talking the…