I am looking forward to my upcoming trip to Cuba in November. It is extremely important for me as I have been blessed to line up interviews with two pre-eminent scholars on topics I am covering, then Tillerson announces this!
No doubt, when traveling to another country, as citizens we rely on our State department to look out for our best interest.
I know folk who get sick drinking the water next door, or the person who loses their passport in another country!! yikes, or the person petrified to leave the neighborhood, let alone city or even the United States.
Thank god, I’m a little more calculating or willing to take measured risk. The State department’s memorandum is quite clear, then again it is a bit nebulous depending on one’s perspective.
Even prior to the announcement, within a trip already scheduled to be in DC, I had planned to visit the Cuba Embassy/Consulate. My primary purpose is to get specifics on obtaining my travel visa which is needed for entry into Cuba. My concern is the disparity in pricing of the tourist visa as if the true or only cost is $100 (from LAX) then, that is what it will be!!! Period. But, I need to justify the why, from a legitimate authority.
Now for those like me who are traveling to Cuba and also may be concerned about today’s State department announcement my suggestion is to do like I did. Step back and think rationally, then since it is tough to contact the State Department for a real conversation, you are better off contacting your CONGRESSIONAL representative. Mine was extremely knowledgeable and pleasant. And yes, I received the information I am seeking.
Today’s State Department announcement is not a mandate or a directive but more of an alert. So, while some may in fact cancel their trip, given my planning and familiarity of where I will be visiting, I am willing to take my chances and keep my schedule in place. So, as of today I have a green light.
Listed below is the announcement by the State Department in response to the issues affecting the United States Embassy in Cuba.
Actions Taken in Response to Attacks on U.S. Government Personnel in Cuba
Remarks
Rex W. Tillerson Secretary of State
Washington, DC
September 29, 2017
Over the past several months, 21 U.S. Embassy employees have suffered a variety of injuries from attacks of an unknown nature. The affected individuals have exhibited a range of physical symptoms, including ear complaints, hearing loss, dizziness, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues, and difficulty sleeping. Investigators have been unable to determine who is responsible or what is causing these attacks.
United States Embassy in Havana, Photo courtesy of Fred Thomas, III
On September 29, the Department ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Havana, as well as all family members. Until the Government of Cuba can ensure the safety of our diplomats in Cuba, our Embassy will be reduced to emergency personnel in order to minimize the number of diplomats at risk of exposure to harm.
In conjunction with the ordered departure of our diplomatic personnel, the Department has issued a Travel Warning advising U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Cuba and informing them of our decision to draw down our diplomatic staff. We have no reports that private U.S. citizens have been affected, but the attacks are known to have occurred in U.S. diplomatic residences and hotels frequented by U.S. citizens. The Department does not have definitive answers on the cause or source of the attacks and is unable to recommend a means to mitigate exposure.
The decision to reduce our diplomatic presence in Havana was made to ensure the safety of our personnel. We maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba, and our work in Cuba continues to be guided by the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States. Cuba has told us it will continue to investigate these attacks and we will continue to cooperate with them in this effort.
The health, safety, and well-being of our Embassy community is our greatest concern. We will continue to aggressively investigate these attacks until the matter is resolved.
Students attending school are required to take United States history in the eighth grade. The basic curriculum is intended to provide the fundamentals of how our government was created and how it has transitioned through the years. Sadly, not everyone who took the class received a passing grade. Or, perhaps they did at the time but as years have gone by they may have forgotten the basic tenets of what they learned, especially the facts of the United States constitution?
Protesting is a basic and fundamental privilege of citizenship.
Protesting is a basic right covered in the first amendment. It is very clear. There is never a right time to protest. The primary intent of protest is to raise awareness. In doing so, some may feel institutions, symbols or things they view as sacred are being disrespected. That is a false premise, especially with the Colin Kaepernik and the current NFL’s reaction.
Protest is meant to be disruptive. Protesting is often non-violent, but it is not to be confused as a courteous gesture or something where the protestor’s say “excuse me.”
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” First Amendment of the United States Constitution
Is Trump allowing Puerto Rico to be his “Katrina”?
The Colin Kaepernick protest started over a year ago. Just this past week it picked up steam as Donald Trump felt it was his duty to admonish the NFL teams for showing support for Kaepernick and disrespecting the flag, the anthem and anything else determined by him to be patriotic.
In doing so, sadly Trump demonstrated his sheer ignorance of the first amendment. His public outcry was done and played out while Puerto Rico and victims of the recent hurricanes are in desperate need for government intervention. He has been stubborn to understand the genesis of the protest and instead has insisted the narrative he created is the truth; the protest disrespects the flag, the anthem and the military.
Worse, this week he and his administration have taken to the airwaves to report how well the recovery is going, specifically in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, reporters on the ground and spread over the island have been in stark contradiction to the administration’s assessment.
“They require policy guidance from the president on what he wants them to do,” Honore said while reacting to the administration’s slow response time. “I think that’s where the gap is. Should have been moving the military last Saturday, the president was out playing golf and twittering.” Lt.Colonel (retired) Russell Honoree
The question begs for many? With human life at stake, why in the world is Trump so focused on the NFL and the player protest? Yet, while he claims such patriotism, he has never served in the military and has taken glee in criticizing and making derogatory comments about those who indeed have served or who have lost loved ones while in military service!
Is this a diversion? Has Trump found yet another wedge issue where people lose focus on his lack of legislative success? Is it a coincidence that the majority of NFL players are African-American and the obvious factor of race is quite clear? Football is a game. The current situation in Puerto Rico is real life. People have short memories but they tend to remember who was in office during natural disasters. They remember their actions, as well as their inactions.
After hours of careful consideration, and even a visit from Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret and former NFL player, we came to the conclusion that we should kneel, rather than sit, the next day during the anthem as a peaceful protest. We chose to kneel because it’s a respectful gesture. I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy. Colin Kaepernik, August 29, 2016
Facts get in the way
Whatever motivation Trump felt to unleash his tirade against the NFL players or his insistence to go on twitter spewing irritation of the protestor’s actions, history will be the ultimate judge. The United States is replete with examples of those who staged protest and at the time suffered tremendous public scorn. Yet, as time elapsed and their actions were better understood they took on martyrdom status and many are in the annals of historic figures.
The notion of Kaepernick disrespecting the flag might be a plausible conclusion or might make sense and convince the most patriotic person he is subject to treason.? This becomes truer for those who support Trump and his ideology. They refuse to accept anything contrary to what they believe, or have been told by Trump that it is the truth. The problem and this is where so many who blindly follow others leave you shaking your head; Kaepernick got the suggestion to kneel and continue his protest from a decorated Green Beret, Nate Boyer!!!! Now how patriotic can that be? Kaepernick headed his advice and to the chagrin of many, to this day, they have a very positive relationship. Why is this important? Because Boyer has a better understanding of the privileges of the first amendment better than Trump or those like him who feel it is okay to dismiss this basic fact. Why do they dismiss this fact? It appears the narrative does not jive with the way they see things.
“Until that flag represents what it is meant to represent, ” Colin Kaepernick, August 29, 2016
Homework assignment
For Trump and those who support his position I would plead they do some homework and understand what and why was Colin Kaepernick protesting in the first place? To be generous they will be given one week to turn in their assignment. LOL. Second, they must study protest movements and get a handle of the strategies used in protest movements? Again, protest is not meant to be comfortable. However, as mentioned many are very peaceful.
Who qualifies as the protest police?
Who among us can claim to be the authority on acceptable protest? Donald Trump? The Military? Further, who can dictate which symbols we allegedly treasure within our society that are off-limits to protest?
While there are many traditions within our society that we treasure, over the years and surely with the Kaepernick incident those on the opposite side of whichever issue is being protest swear outright disrespect and crying foul by interpreting the actions as unacceptable.
The genesis of the Kaepernik protest
What is ironic is it appears the very people claiming the flag, the anthem or even the military is being trampled care very little of why Kaepernick protest in the first place. If they did care, surely their position may be changed as why they still may have a problem with what they view as a sacred symbol, in the final analysis they would have to conclude Kaepernick and all those who took a knee or didn’t take a knee, stood or didn’t stand, clap or didn’t clap are well within the protections of our constitution.
Donald Trump takes great pride as a successful businessperson. Some might conclude he is a master manipulator. He appears to relish in the notion of speaking for “the America people.” Perhaps, but over the past several years it has been documented his commentary is strategic in creating a divide. Oftentimes the divide is on racial lines or to stoke discontent among various groups. Yet, as mentioned those who support his ideology are swayed by the rhetoric being fomented and have been conditioned to marginalize any other perspective.
The Bottom-line
All you have to know is a person has the right to protest and does not require approval or permission!
It is also your right or reaction to dismiss or despise the method of a person’s protest. Just because you don’t approve of the method of protest, does not mean you are right and the protestor is wrong. The first amendment gives protection for both positions.
It can’t be stressed enough, assuming you are truly seeking an objective analysis on protest that it you feel the person is protesting something you hold sacred, it is your right to not support them. Period! But, you must be very careful in maligning them as in the end, you wind up trying to dictate behavior. So, you can’t claim allegiance to the Constitution while refusing the basic core of protest.
[Los Angeles, CA] On September 13th KCET in partnership with The California Endowment hosted the premiere screening of CITY RISING. The theme of the documentary is gentrification. An overflow crowd of nearly 700 was on hand to see the “Director’s Cut” which was 90 minutes. Coincidently, on the same evening KCET showed the regular 60-minute screening on their channel.
If you’re black, get back!
If you’re brown, stick around!
If you’re white, it’s all right!
from an anonymous social scientist
Gentrification, a working understanding
Not every white person is rich and not every black person or those of color is poor! One legacy of the history of the United States is the construct of racism or using race as a controlling factor. On basic quality of life issues; from economic or the ability to earn money, to health, to housing and other areas whites were granted privilege over other groups. Even today many attempt to dismiss this very basic fact of not understanding or accepting the issue in a historical context.
“He who gets behind in a race must forever stay behind or run faster than the man ahead of him, that is our dilemma” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. January 1961
That privilege buffered by legal discrimination, including specific land covenants of who could buy land or live in certain communities which set in motion the premise of defining the American Dream as being able to afford a home. Unfortunately, the dream dismissed the reality of certain groups being blocked based on race.
In addition to basic shelter, the more important benefit of home ownership is wealth accumulation or a legitimate asset which has generational benefits. The lack of it, is one reason for the marginalization.
Inner cities, the target of gentrification
Following the great depression and leading up to the industrial revolution, cities throughout the U.S. witnessed an economic boon. Labor was the fuel that fed the boon and many ethnic groups relocated and the result was financial uplift. As the majority group or whites were enjoying the lions-share of the boon, they created the strategy in developing suburbs which allowed them to flee the urban core. They were able to transfer their properties (through sale or renting) to the minority groups who remained. Thus, the term “white flight” was coined. More important and critical to the gentrification discussion is the reality that as whites moved out of the urban core, critical resources were stripped and went with them. Employment stability left. Stores left. Services left. Resources which are necessary for a community to thrive slowly disappeared. The result was communities were disseminated and succumbed to blight and other negative forces. As bad as that may appear the groups who remained didn’t die off. Instead they created their own identity based on their culture to create a vibrancy which allowed them to thrive and redefine the space they occupied.
Reclamation
City Rising focuses on several communities in California. They are Santa Ana, Long Beach, Sacramento, Oakland, Boyle Heights and South-Central Los Angeles.
One poignant part of the documentary is discussing the issue of racial covenants which made it illegal to sell property to certain groups. Many people are ignorant to this reality and dismiss it as being made up or something which happened lifetimes ago. The sad reality; it is current history regarding real estate ownership. Assemblyman Hector De La Torre lives in South Gate, CA. The discussion centered around him showing the covenant as part of the land title documentation which years earlier would have prevented him from purchasing the very home where he was being interviewed. Even though the practice was outlawed through fair housing legislation, it remained as permanent language within the documentation. Using his activism as a political leader he created a law which would have required title companies to remove the language from the report. Unfortunately, even though the law passed, then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it and the language remained as a reminder of the discrimination meted out against certain groups.
The documentary does a good job in highlighting the effects of gentrification. Even though race plays a huge role in its impact, the subtle reality is the class divide or the “haves versus the have nots.”
Cities that were once thought of as “dead” have sprung to life through various forms of reinvestment. Interestingly many of the families who fled the urban core, see their offspring take on a renewed pioneering spirit to reclaim areas. With their economic status, they are able to pick up properties, many on the cheap and with modest investment, transform what was unthinkable into havens of a new lifestyle. Through this process and focus on redevelopment they are able to attract stores and services which provide a great opportunity, assuming one has the money to operate.
People can only buy your property if you agree to sell
Who doesn’t want to live in a “nice” neighborhood? The problem with gentrification and this is where CITY RISING shines is as new people reclaim or move back into neighborhoods, the issue is what happens to the current occupants? Do they just disappear? Do they escape in the middle of the night? For many it’s pure economic, especially the vast majority who are renters. Those who reclaim properties and invest in the restoration are not motivated by some benevolent gesture, but from an economic perspective so it boils down to return on investment. The result is the rise of home prices as well as the rise of rents. Many occupants simply become priced out and that is the ire of those who oppose gentrification. The community they thought they knew……no longer exist, so they must rebuild their lives or try to coexist with their “new neighbors.” Some do it very successfully, most don’t because they do not have the leverage of home ownership.
There is much more to this topic. The causes and effects are worthy of examination. This documentary does an excellent job in creating a foundation for you to move forward.
Like a “Raisin in the Sun” or a “Phoenix Rising from the ashes”, out of all the darkness in a place called Sandtown, there is light!! That light is in the form of residents and leaders from the greater West Baltimore community who are determined to demonstrate what engagement is all about.
new home development in Sandtown. photo (c) Fredyt123
This past week as part of my annual EastCoast trek, I needed to revisit the Fannie Lou Hamer community agriculture garden. Luckily several leaders were present and I was warmly greeted by Durreshahwar Smith who affectionately goes by “Durre.” I was at ground zero and witnessed first-hand how the group embraces basic self-awareness principles to reclaim a sacred portion of the Sandtown community.
Durre, Vice President of The Tubman Organization showcasing cherry (small) tomatoes. photo (c) Fredyt123Durre, Vice President of The Tubman House, showcasing carrots ready for harvesting. photo (c) Fredyt123
Empowerment
Durre is Vice President of The Tubman House organization also known as “1619”, a fledging group of community activist dedicated to cobbling together resources to benefit the residents. It is of consequence the group formed around the time of the Freddie Gray take down and one of their primary plots of land (the other is on Mount and North Calhoun Streets) is directly across the street on the corner of Presbury and North Mount streets. The mural provides a powerful image that is worthy of reflection.
“Our leadership understood the importance of building relationships with the residents. This was critically important for those who operate on the other side of the law. An agreement was reached where our projects were labeled as safe havens or areas where the youth would feel free of danger.” Durre
Fannie Lou Hamer garden across the street from the iconic Freddie Gray mural. photo (c) Fredyt123
A critical strategy of the organization is to leverage the expertise of adult leadership while focusing on creating opportunities for the youth of Sandtown to take a direct role to participate in a variety of projects.
photo (c) Fredyt123
Perspective
Sandtown is a community in West Baltimore that full of blight and neglect. It is not the type of place you venture into with naivety, gullibility or lacking common sense. In other words, it is not a place for those considered “weak or feeble.” Typical to many communities in what is known as urban or inner city, you see failed public policy, drug infestation, crime, high unemployment, apathy among residents, lack of personal accountability and other negative attributes all which lead to very deplorable conditions.
As bad as the conditions may be, it’s the type of environment where it is easy to offer assumptions or make stereotypical comments with very little basis of facts. As an example, when Donald Trump boasts about the “Inner City” with a very condescending and ignorant voice suggesting it is a place where ONLY blacks live, places like Sandtown come to mind. No doubt places like Sandtown have generational effects where segregation and the lack of positive public policy have helped to perpetuate a sense of despair. To the point, I have friends who are black who would be a nervous wreck or scared for their lives if they were forced to venture down the many streets in places like Sandtown. That is because so many have been conditioned to be fearful of those considered poor or “less-than” That is not to say because you are black you should have some type of immunity to poverty or crime as that is where people like Trump get it wrong, as blacks live in all types of environments and many of them enjoy thriving lifestyles. However, to deal or understand the urban core and feel comfortable in engaging the people you simply need inner courage and humanity so that you can deal with them at a basic level.
When asked a question to a Baltimore Policeman who knows Sandtown well as to why there appears so many young people just hanging out or otherwise appearing to be loitering his response was, “you gotta understand Baltimore is a city where after 15 years of age youth are allowed to emancipate or otherwise drop out of school. So those without options are easy prey to the streets.”
April 12, 2015
Civil unrest or riots is not a new phenomenon. Oftentimes you will be able to document conditions which have festered for years and like lighting a match, it takes only a flame to allow all that pent-up frustration felt by local residents to explode in the form of outrage. During that April day in 2015 many who unleashed their emotion against a system they deemed to marginalize or keep them mired in the negative position didn’t personally know Freddie Gray. What they did know is his death was the spark plug that ignited the riots. That is a fact for most uprisings. The person or focal point of the issue may have some controversy, right or wrong but like the Freddie Gray incident, it is a metaphor and justification of a reaction.
Power to the People. Photo (c) Fredyt123
You don’t want to go there!!
I first visited Sandtown in August 2015, just four months after the day of destiny on April 12,2015. I recall many insisting I should not go to Sandtown, let alone by myself!! As a matter of fact, I was in the Inner Harbor section of the city and needed to jump on the Marc subway so I could get to Sandtown. At the Shot Tower Marc station, I asked the transit worker, who happened to be an African-American female which stop I should exit to get to Sandtown? Her look was one of bewilderment, “oh! You really don’t want to go down there – it’s very dangerous.” All while shaking her head as to admonish me for asking what she felt was a question that could result in great peril for me. Being the hard-headed, if not determined person I claim to be I finally made it to the Penn North Station and once I came up to the street level, you could still smell the effects of the CVS store which was looted and destroyed during the riots.
I walked a good majority to Sandtown by foot, going street to street and it took most of the afternoon. The reason this was necessary was so I could get a feel of the community. I do not profess to be some bold, Shaft like character who is fearless but it’s a sense you develop. Either you are not afraid to venture into harsh urban areas or you are? I knew for me to be able to accurately offer a perspective of Sandtown, it was necessary to brave the elements and soak in as much information in the form of sounds, smells, or something as simple as hearing the chatter from people talking, etc.
“This work is not easy but it is something we felt needed to be done”. Durre
2016
With a better idea of Sandtown I looked forward to visiting in 2016. Joining me was Judith and my aunt, Maryum. A figure across the street caught my eye. As dangerous as we were told venturing into Sandtown might be, I assured them everything would be alright. Again, Sandtown is the type of community where there are many people who congregate outside their homes or at various spots on the streets. Some, not knowing any better might define it as basic loitering. I approached the figure who caught my attention and he introduced himself as “Soldier.” He was tending the lot across the street from the Freddie Gray mural and proudly stated a group he was affiliated with was reclaiming parts of the community by starting basic farming projects on lots which were abandoned. Like the scene I witnessed during my first visit, adjacent the lot Soldier and I found ourselves were many row homes (typical housing stock in that region) which appeared to be in disrepair or ready for demolition. It was an incredible sight. Soldier confessed to me, but not apologetically that he had been incarcerated for a very long time and how he took pride in the agriculture project because it gave him a sense of purpose. I was impressed the group had the vision to name the plot of land after one of my heroines, Fannie Lou Hamer. Soldier agreed to pose for a picture with Judith and my aunt and proudly spoke about the determination the group had in being a positive force in what is good about Sandtown.
Soldier proudly proclaiming the determination and strength of the project. Photo (c) Fredyt123
He spoke to me about “The Tubman House” and gracefully invited me inside. Once inside he directed me to the spot where there was a remarkable mural which one of the members had painted. It was an outstanding sight and tribute to Harriet Tubman.
The famous mural of Harriet Tubman inside the Tubman House. Photo (c) Fredyt123
The Freddie Gray connection
Urban blight is not new. Sandown’s are scattered all across the United States. You don’t have to be a social-scientist or social worker to see how generational behavior crisscross with public policy, or the lack thereof which leads to a stark and dangerous environment. Better stated, some define it as “life in the hood!”
Last Friday we were fortunate to gain access to a Baltimore City policeman who happens to be African-American. His name will remain anonymous as his remarks were unfiltered. He was very quick to state Sandtown is a very dangerous place. “There are pockets in the city, particularly in Sandtown where they hate the police.” Part of that sentiment could be because they are viewed as a disruptive force to the elements which thrive in a criminal environment where selling drugs and other substances is a lifestyle.
He went on to state it was then Councilman Nick Mosby who responded to pleas from Sandtown residents to crack down on all the illegal activity which held them hostage to those who benefited from the condition. Thus, more law enforcement was put in place with the goal of weeding out the negative forces.
His contention is the public did not have all of the facts regarding Gray’s capture and subsequent death.
“Freddie Gray was one of those who was known as a petty drug seller. One of the drugs he sold was heroin.” The officer offered the viewpoint that as Freddie Gray was being chased down North Mount he swallowed the product in his possession, rather than being caught “red-handed.” He further mentioned the officer’s capture and subsequent removal of Gray was done in a routine process. Additionally, he mentioned Gray was recently involved in an auto accident and was recovering from his injuries. Therefore, he offered the opinion that it was swallowing the heroin combined with a flair up of his injuries which caused him to mysterious die, not the behavior of the officers who took him into custody.
Gray is gone. Sandtown still has a dangerous feel and in some parts, you are at ground zero but people are people. In any community, you have the good and the bad. Sandtown did not get into the condition it is in overnight. As mentioned, it is generational and indicative of crime and unemployment. At the same time, you see streets being reclaimed as the standard row houses are rehabilitated or rebuilt designed to give hope to the residents.
The same is true for what is going on at the Tubman House. To see the youth taking pride in the project is encouraging. To see the tangible result of their work in the agriculture garden is inspiring. The notion the food they grow is donated to the local residents is not viewed as a hand-out but more of a gesture to motivate the community to embrace the project. The sight of having passerby’s stop by to see what is going on and to see watermelons that came from the garden which could easily be sold for a handsome profit as some of the more trendier markets is incredible.
The youth grew them, now time to sell them! Fresh melons. Photo (c) Fredyt123Youth take a break to sample what they grew. Photos (c) Fredyt123
Sandtown needs a lot of work. The Tubman House is just one group staying in their lane to provide uplift. As big as the area is, I am sure there are more groups with the goal of empowerment but they are just basic workers who quietly go about their business of doing their part.
In meeting Soldier, Durre and other adult workers as well as the youth there is no doubt they embrace the philosophy of Harriet Tubman, Fannie Lou Hamer, Marcus Garvey and others to demonstrate to the community, bringing light out of the darkness starts with their passion, commitment, dedication and faith in each other.
Fannie Lou Hamer garden. Photos (c) Fredyt123Group’s second parcel on North Mount and North Calhoun Street. Photos (c) Fredyt123
Photos (c) Fredyt123
More information on the Tubman House can be found here
For the first reporting week of August, mortgage rates were basically unchanged and came in at 3.930% or up one basis point in week over week reporting. Unemployment numbers for July were released and they reached the lowest level in years as they came in at 4.3%.
Both numbers are critically important to consumers and is also closely monitored by economist and policy makers.
The mortgage numbers were projected as rates have held steady for the past several months. Affordability is also an important issue as those seeking to purchase a property have seen prices increase due to supply. The 3.930 is for the benchmark 30-year mortgage. The popular 15-year mortgage also held steady and sits at 3.180% Both numbers are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Rate survey which is an industry standard in gauging mortgage rates on a national basis. For more information on mortgage data please see here.
Employment Data
The employment data exceeded projections and represented good news for the Trump administration. For them, this week has been another roller-coaster ride and their lack of communicating honest information, instead of having to retract one issue after another has made the public less confident in their ability achieve some of the basic issues they campaigned on.
Job gains occurred in food services and drinking places, professional and business services, and health care.
For those in the workforce the big issue remains flat wages. For more information on the employment data please see here.
If you will recall the unrealistic timeline to have something in place within 30 days of the announcement was missed. The key to today’s update is guidelines have been FRAMED but until adopted/approved, it is business as usual. However, if in doubt those traveling to Cuba should check OFAC or their congressional representative for any questions.
UPDATED JULY 25, 2017
Department of the Treasury
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
Frequently Asked Questions on President Trump’s Cuba Announcement
1. How will OFAC implement the changes to the Cuba sanctions program announced by the President on June 16, 2017? Are the changes effective immediately? OFAC will implement the Treasury-specific changes via amendments to its Cuban Assets Control Regulations. The Department of Commerce will implement any necessary changes via amendments to its Export Administration Regulations. OFAC expects to issue its regulatory amendments in the coming months. The announced changes do not take effect until the new regulations are issued.
2. What is individual people-to-people travel, and how does the President’s announcement impact this travel authorization? Individual people-to-people travel is educational travel that: (i) does not involve academic study pursuant to a degree program; and (ii) does not take place under the auspices of an organization that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction that sponsors such exchanges to promote people-to-people contact. The President instructed Treasury to issue regulations that will end individual people-to-people travel. The announced changes do not take effect until the new regulations are issued.
3. Will group people-to-people travel still be authorized? Yes. Group people-to-people travel is educational travel not involving academic study pursuant to a degree program that takes place under the auspices of an organization that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction that sponsors such exchanges to promote people-to-people contact. Travelers utilizing this travel authorization must: (i) maintain a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities that are intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities, and that will result in meaningful interaction between the traveler and individuals in Cuba; and (ii) be accompanied by an employee, consultant, or agent of the sponsoring organization, who will ensure that each traveler maintains a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities. In addition, the predominant portion of the activities engaged in by individual travelers must not be with prohibited officials of the Government of Cuba or prohibited members of the Cuban Communist Party (as defined in the regulations). Once OFAC issues the new regulations, new individual people-to-people travel will not be authorized.
4. Will organizations subject to U.S. jurisdiction that sponsor exchanges to promote people-to-people contact be required to apply to OFAC for a specific license? No. To the extent that proposed travel falls within the scope of an existing general license, including group people-to-people educational travel, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction may proceed with sponsoring such travel without applying to OFAC for a Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) 2 specific license. It is OFAC’s policy not to grant applications for a specific license authorizing transactions where a general license is applicable. Once the State Department publishes its list of entities and subentities with which direct transactions will not be authorized and OFAC issues its regulations, no new transactions, including travel-related transactions, may be initiated with these identified entities and subentities. Prior travel arrangements that may involve these entities or subentities will still be authorized. See FAQ 8.
5. How do the changes announced by the President on June 16, 2017 affect individual people-to-people travelers who have already begun making their travel arrangements (such as purchasing flights, hotels, or rental cars)? The announced changes do not take effect until OFAC issues new regulations. Provided that the traveler has already completed at least one travel-related transaction (such as purchasing a flight or reserving accommodation) prior to the President’s announcement on June 16, 2017, all additional travel-related transactions for that trip would also be authorized, including if the trip occurs after OFAC issues new regulations, provided the travel-related transactions are consistent with OFAC’s regulations as of June 16, 2017. Once the State Department publishes its list of entities and subentities with which direct transactions will not be authorized and OFAC issues its regulations, no new transactions may be initiated with these identified entities and subentities. Prior travel arrangements that may involve these entities or subentities will still be authorized. See FAQ 8.
6. How does the new policy impact other authorized travel to Cuba by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction? The new policy will also impact certain categories of educational travel as well as travel under support for the Cuban people, as set forth in the National Security Presidential Memorandum signed by the President on June 16, 2017. In addition, following the issuance of OFAC’s regulatory changes, travel-related transactions with prohibited entities identified by the State Department will not be permitted, unless otherwise authorized by OFAC. Guidance will accompany the issuance of the new regulations.
7. Will persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be required to apply to OFAC for a specific license to engage in Cuba-related travel and transactions consistent with the other authorized categories of travel? To the extent that proposed travel falls within the scope of an existing general license, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction may proceed with such travel without applying to OFAC for a specific license. It is OFAC’s policy not to grant applications for a specific license authorizing transactions where a general license is applicable. Once the State Department publishes its list of entities and subentities with which direct transactions will not be authorized and OFAC issues its regulations, no new transactions may be initiated with these identified entities and subentities. Prior travel arrangements that may involve these entities or subentities will still be authorized. See FAQ 8. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) 3
8. How do the changes announced by the President on June 16, 2017 affect authorized travelers to Cuba whose travel arrangements may include direct transactions with entities related to the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services that may be implicated by the new Cuba policy? The announced changes do not take effect until OFAC issues new regulations. Consistent with the Administration’s interest to avoid negatively impacting Americans for arranging lawful travel to Cuba, any travel-related arrangements that include direct transactions with entities related to the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services that may be implicated by the new Cuba policy will be permitted provided that those travel arrangements were initiated prior to the State Department listing of the entity or subentity. Once the State Department adds an entity or subentity to the list, new direct financial transactions with the entity or subentity will not be permitted, unless authorized by OFAC.
9. How do the changes announced by the President on June 16, 2017 affect companies subject to U.S. jurisdiction that are already engaged in the Cuban market and that may undertake direct transactions with entities related to the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services that may be implicated by the new Cuba policy? The announced changes do not take effect until OFAC issues new regulations. Consistent with the Administration’s interest in not negatively impacting American businesses for engaging in lawful commercial opportunities, Cuba-related commercial engagement that includes direct transactions with entities and subentities related to the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services that may be implicated by the new Cuba policy will be permitted after the issuance of new regulations by OFAC, provided that those commercial engagements were in place prior to the issuance of the forthcoming regulations. For example, businesses will be permitted to continue with transactions outlined in contingent or other types of contractual arrangements agreed to prior to the issuance of the new regulations, consistent with other CACR authorizations.
10. Does the new policy affect the means by which persons subject to U.S jurisdiction may purchase airline tickets for authorized travel to Cuba? No. The new policy will not change the means by which persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction traveling to Cuba pursuant to the 12 categories of authorized travel may purchase their airline tickets.
11. Can I continue to send authorized remittances to Cuba? Yes. The announced policy changes will not change the authorizations for sending remittances to Cuba. Additionally, the announced changes include an exception that will allow for transactions incidental to the sending, processing, and receipt of authorized remittances to the extent they would otherwise be restricted by the new policy limiting transactions with certain identified Cuban military, intelligence, or security Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) 4 services. However, consistent with the President’s policy announcement, changes will be made to the definition of prohibited members of Government of Cuba that may exclude certain persons from receipt of such remittances.
12. How will the new policy impact existing OFAC specific licenses? The forthcoming regulations will be prospective and thus will not affect authorized transactions under existing specific licenses, unless explicitly noted.
13. How will U.S. companies know if a Cuban counterpart is affiliated with a prohibited entity or subentity in Cuba? The State Department will be publishing a list of entities and subentities with which direct transactions generally will not be permitted. Guidance will accompany the issuance of the new regulations. The announced changes do not take effect until the new regulations are issued.
14. Is authorized travel by cruise ship or passenger vessel to Cuba impacted by the new Cuba policy? Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction will still be able to engage in authorized travel to Cuba by cruise ship or passenger vessel. Following the issuance of OFAC’s regulatory changes, travel-related transactions with prohibited entities and subentities identified by the State Department generally will not be permitted. Guidance will accompany the issuance of the new regulations.
O.J.(Orenthal James Simpson) was granted parole following today’s hearing held by the Nevada Correctional Board. In a unanimous 4 to 0 decision, following approximately 45 minutes of various testimony, the board deliberated for about another hour before acknowledging in their opinion Simpson had earned to right for parole, thus they were granting his petition.
Yet, all these years later and for whatever the reason there remains a polarizing divide among people discussing the Simpson issue? As the announcement was made, I tuned into cable news and was surprised at the vitriol of “professional” commentators who still show disdain for Simpson and refuse the separate the murder case from the property case?
As for the acquittal that Simpson won, the Supreme Court has been clear that in murder cases guilt can only be achieved when there is no doubt…….BASED ON THE EVIDENCE presented by the prosecution. It’s not good enough for people to say “they know O.J. committed the murders and he is guilty!!” The jurors saw it differently and to be quite frank their decision did not affirm Simpson guilty or not, they simply communicated that based on the evidence there was reasonable doubt, therefore OJ was not held guilty for the murders.
I know some remain furious, such as CNN’s Jeffrey Tobin and his panel of “expert” lawyers, but the parole hearing was about Simpson’s behavior since being held in custody by the Nevada Correctional System, not a re-letigation of the trial of which he was acquitted.
So for now, in a couple of months, the Juice will be loose again.
Some of you may have seen this hour clip from David Axelrod’s latest venture; “The AXE files.” It featured a great interview with the iconic John Lewis, who is the Congressman from Atlanta.
The interview was conducted at the King Center in Atlanta, GA and gives you an idea of how Lewis got involved in the civil rights movement as well as his admonishment of Donald Trump’s behavior. Interestingly, it also covers how he and George W. Bush developed a positive relationship which led to the opening of the National Museum of African-American History and Culture.
The bureau of labor statistics (BLS) released its monthly employment report this morning. The Trump administration is all smiles as over 222,000 new jobs were reported for the month of June. In comparison to the Obama administration at the same time (June 2009), 467,000 jobs were lost. Some may have forgotten the details as there is always comparisons of the two leaders? The big difference is despite being hounded for not moving the economy at a faster pace, even those subjected to a confessional would admit or remember the comparison of the Obama administration is like apples and oranges! In June 2009, the country was reeling from a severe economic collapse.
Interestingly, once the Obama administration “pulled the car from the ditch” and got the economy moving forward, there was blistering criticism from the right that he was influencing or fudging the numbers.
Rev. Jesse Jackson once quipped about the obstruction and lack of support Obama had to endure as the United States of America was going through very perilous times,
“They (GOP) would rather sink the ship just to get the Captain!!”
The BLS is a non-partisan government agency who has been providing employment data for decades. Yet, during the Obama administration tenure as the economy stabilized, it became regular political fodder to marginalize the BLS reporting and label it some type of hocus-pocus or unbelievable data. Even then citizen, Donald Trump quickly jumped on the bandwagon to dismiss the authenticity of the report. Instead the spin because verbal combat of stating the only reason the numbers were improving was because able body workers simply grew to frustration and stopped looking for work.
Fast forward to today, the numbers are the numbers and the Trump administration earned the positive report and the word to the wise is to “be careful what you criticize today, as tomorrow it may be an attribute which allows you to be viewed in a positive manner.
Also as the health care debate rages forward regarding how bad the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how it was the worse law anybody could pass. The rhetoric about the “job killer” that it is, on and on is almost as laughable as those who are demanding health care remain in place, not knowing it is called “Obama care,” or perhaps they too have come to accept the reality?
It will be interesting to see how the spin of the employment report is communicated. Not surprising is one of the tenants of the ACA was the revolution of job growth. So, it is no secret that, health care was the leading industry of the 222,000 new jobs?
If you’re one of the residents in Paducah, KY who realized the “Affordable Care Act” could help cure the ailment which has bothered you for the past 10 years or one of the workers at the Indianapolis Carrier plant who attended the celebration featuring President Donald Trump along with Vice President Mike Pence as they announced the plant was not moving to Mexico but instead would remain open and new jobs would be immediately added, you just knew better days were ahead. Yet despite promises, to the contrary you now find your health coverage is in serious jeopardy as the party you have supported for all of these years is trying to convince you their version the” American Health Care Act” is better or you now find yourself out of work, as instead the plant is reducing jobs? You sit at the kitchen table and wonder what happened?
Along with millions of others you ponder when will the President stop tweeting on issues that have nothing to do with helping you achieve “the American Dream” and start paying attention to the things he promised in exchange for your support and your vote?
Trump’s latest out lash has been towards the media, specifically host of the Joe Scarborough show; Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. Six months into his presidency some are starting to be more vocal in their frustration and are asking what happened to all those promises Trump swore would be resolved on Day 1????? The best health care you could imagine! Jobs you could only dream about would be the reality! Instead, precious time seems to be spent responding to foes or issues that have all but paralyzed any movement on executing a practical “agenda.”
Just this morning Trump sent another missive toward Scarborough and Brzezinski,
“Crazy Joe Scarborough and dumb as a rock Mika are not bad people, but their low rated show is dominated by their NBC bosses. Too bad!”
It is understood nobody likes to be attacked but while the circumstances of the latest spat appear to be yet another self-inflicted distraction, one thing is certain as the people in Paducah, Indianapolis and other parts of the United States are starting to realize their issues are secondary when Trump feels he has been attacked.
This past Thursday during the daily news briefing, staffer Sarah Hucklebee-Sanders was forced to conjure a viable response in trying defend Trump’s position against Scarborough and Brzezinski. To her credit and based on Trump’s behavior, she anticipated he was watching the briefing and would be critiquing her every word and every move.
“Look, the American people elected a fighter. They didn’t elect somebody to sit back and do nothing.” “He fights fire with fire.”
and here is more foder,
“I think the American people elected somebody who’s tough, who’s smart, and who is a fighter.”
Noted Washington journalist, who recently started “The Point”, Chris Cilliza summed the reaction up this way “Fighters fight when they have to. Punching every person on the street who says something to you doesn’t prove what a good fighter you are.”
In the meantime, Trump has signed many executive orders, but if you had told those in Paducah or Indianapolis that after six months in office and with control of all legislative arms; the Presidency, the House of Representatives as well as the Senate, at best……it’s the tweets which get all that attention, not issues that will improve their lives, nobody would believe you!
Not one legislative item has been signed into law. To his credit Neil Gorsuch was elevated to the Supreme Court but the dearth of any legislative accomplishments is shocking!
Of course, Trump, those staffers who took a blood oath to always AFFIRM his antics, as well as his most ardent supporters claim it is people like Scarborough and Brzezinski, the rest of the negative media, the dastardly democrats and others who are standing in the way of accomplishing anything worthy of legislative progress. Continue reading “Trump’s insatiable appetite to tweet”→
Thomas Reports 