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  1. This thread will portray the life and times of Frank R. Buntz, a 52-year old sleazy criminal defense attorney in Los Santos. CHAPTER 1: "That's All?" - START | END CHAPTER 2: "The Devil's Lawyer" - START | END CHAPTER 3: "Hell in a Handbasket!" - START | END CHAPTER 4: "Sinner Street Blues" - START | END CHAPTER 5: "Heart of Darkness" - START | END CHAPTER 6: "Ishmael" - START | END CHAPTER 7: "A Simple Death" - START | END CHAPTER 8: "Natural Mystic" - START | END CHAPTER 9: "Rubicon" - START | END CHAPTER 10: "Venus In Furs" - START
  2. LSN Election Guide: City Council 2024 2/2/2024 Compiled by Delia Celeste Urbana-Champaign The Los Santos Network is dedicated to bringing you the most up to date information on the issues that impact your lives. This Election Guide seeks to serve as a font of information to give you the low-down on the candidates and to give you the information you need to make informed choices. We're going to kick off with some basic information on when the voting period begins and ends, how to figure out which District you live under and where to vote. Finally we'll round out with information packets sent to us by the candidates. Some candidates did not respond when asked to contribute to this guide, but rest assured the Los Santos Network will continue to try to get their take before election day so you can make the most informed decision possible. When to Vote Which District Do I Live In? Find your Primary Residence on the map below to figure out your District: Where Do I Vote? Voting will be conducted Online through the following City Government Web Portal, the Web Portal becomes active on February 10th until the 11th, and individuals naturally may only vote Once. Meet the Candidates Candidates are presented in the order by which they completed and submitted their Election Guide Information Packet. Northern District Race Josély Martínez (R) vs. David Wu (D) Campaign Theme Song Detailed Candidate Overview Campaign Theme Song Detailed Candidate Overview Western District Race Sophie Wu (D) vs. Daniel Park (I) Campaign Theme Song Detailed Candidate Overview Daniel Park (I) did not respond to contribution requests for this Election Guide. Central District Race Olivia Zhao (D) vs. Garrett Baker (R) Campaign Theme Song Detailed Candidate Overview Garrett Baker (R) did not respond to contribution requests for this Election Guide. He has however contributed this comment. Southern District Race Frank Buntz (R) vs. Eduardo Vargas (I) Campaign Theme Song Detailed Candidate Overview Eduardo Vargas (I) did not respond to contribution requests for this Election Guide. Los Santos County (Blaine) District Race Ted Cook (R) vs. Colton Reed (I) Neither Ted Cook (R) nor Colton Reed (I) responded to contribution requests for this Election Guide. Wrap Up All candidates were reached out to multiple times to contribute to the Election Guide and we'd like to thank them those that did contribute. We'll note that all candidates who contributed committed themselves to active involvement in the City Government and to attend a majority of City Council hearings. Finally, all those asked have committed themselves to working across party lines in order to best represent the needs of constituents. For further information on each of these candidates, see the links to their platform to see how you might get involved with their campaigns or to reach out to them directly with any questions. The Los Santos Network will continue to provide you up-to-date on all pressing City Council race updates. >Comments are enabled!
  3. A Vixen's Guide to LS Politics Hey babes, here's that transcript of my exclusive interview with Northern Candidate, Democrat David Wu, on LS Vixen Live. Thank you so much to everyone who tuned in and to those who didn't, you'll have to imagine me saying these questions with an eerily calm voice and killer timing and delivery. Politics Guide: David-Wu Inter-view, it rhymes! Transcript DISCLAIMER >Comments are enabled!
  4. A Vixen's Guide to LS Politics Hey babes, what do you do when a candidate refuses to do an interview with you? You come to him. Here's my coverage on Garret Baker, Republican Candidate for the Central District's big Q & A event held only hours before voting time. Politics Guide: Garret Baker's Big Q & A (Baker pictured above speaks to the crowd, including a member of LSN, his wife, and daughter.) Transcript DISCLAIMER >Comments are enabled!
  5. *A Clickable Banner Ad* ------------------------------ (Welcome to the LS Vixen Blog Mainpage <3) What is the LS Vixen? The LS Vixen is a registered media and entertainment blog that focuses on political satire, social commentary, and also reviews various businesses throughout Los Santos all the way up to Paleto Bay. In Los Santos, everyone has secrets. Sometimes those secrets are innocuous and hurt nobody. Other times, they are major breaches of the public's trust and controversial to the point of public interest. The LS Vixen is on the pulse of every rumour and hunts down the truth relentlessly delivering it to her audience with sharp wit, quick delivery, and well-sourced research. Satire has the societal function of taking the egotistic, the prideful, and the 'untouchable' back down to ground level. It keeps people honest, self-aware, and human. The LS Vixen is a non-partisan, equal-opportunity destroyer, and her focus is on both giving people an accurate and fun understanding of political realities, the nightlife and business landscape, and the cutting edge of social commentary. LS Vixen on Face Browser Click Here to Add the LS Vixen on Face Browser. LS Vixen in Other Media Purchase the Vixen's latest fiction Poetry Anthology Connecticut: Read an exclusive interview with the Los Santos Vixen herself in Diversify Vol. 7: Purchase the Vixen's fiction novel Ersatz (A Science Fiction Romance): LS Vixen Article Archive Los Santos Vixen Podcast A Vixen's Guide To Forgiveness and Letting Go To Communicating Clearly Without Fucking Up To Being Less Horny- Mad Media Review Vixen's Choice for LS Movie of the Year goes to C'est La Vie (2023) E01 'Fischer', the Los Santos Sitcom I Didn't Know I Needed Survey Says Can Popularity be Bought? A Face Browser Deep Dive Minors are Literally Dying in the Streets According to LEOs & Medical Responders. Is a Solution in Sight? Ask Vixen 'Halloween Hangover': How to Handle Exes, Nazis, and the Party Drought! Dining Reviews Marvelous Pastries & Toasty Coffee at "Vespaio Cafe" (4/5) Hyped UP & Hopped UP on "Vespucci Cool Beans" (5/5) Seaside Slurpin' on Beefy "Meatballs By The Sea" (4/5) Doing Lines and Eating Saltfish at "Morgue Hall Bar & Grill" (3/5) Club Reviews Chaotic Crowds and Vibrant Vertigo at 'Cloud Nine' (3/5) Biting the Bank Fee and Leaping Into 'The Vault' (4/5) Rave Perfection in the Underworld at 'The Crypt' (5/5) Shop Reviews Summoning the Season of the Witch at 'Seekers' (4/5) Bar Reviews Snagging a Street-Style Sugar Rush at "Lola's" (4/5) 'Pork Whistle' Liquored Me Up & Stole My Heart (5/5) Real Underground Cocktail Hours at 'The Republic' (4/5) Diving into Games at 'The Diving Board Pub' (3/5) Spiked Coffee, Flying Chairs, and Hot Dads at 'The Big Puffa' (4/5) Politics Guide Coleman Fund Donors Ranked by Susness Who the Hell are the Party Chairmen? Noah Wade's Shadow Senate Fails Vote in Actual Senate Which Senator is most likely to have six mistresses on rotation? A Street Interview with Jonathan Spencer Rumour Has It Hank Preston is on a Moral Crusade! Partygoer Drugged with Embalming Fluid at Diamond Resort Halloween Bash! Historical Archives 2020 2020 Mayoral Election Flash Coverage! Low Standards 2020: Your Guide to the Local Let-downs Post-Erection: The 'Winners'- Where are they now? Election Guide: What the Fuck is a Manjot Singh? In My Sights: Cover Charges Grapeseed Graphic Design Fail! Club Review: The Malibu fucking owns (5/5) Club Review: Hi-Five for 'Hi-Men' (5/5) Club Review: The Holy 'Trinity': Drinks, Dicks, and Diabetes. (4/5) Dining Review: Exclusively Packed, Noisy, and Sweaty Dining at "Nobu" [2/5] Dining Review: Vegetarian Glee at 'Lettuce Be' (4/5) Store Review: 'Pharaoh' didn't burn my fucking face off! (4/5)
  6. A Vixen's Guide to LS Politics Show me the Money! Hey babes, today on the blog we'll be talking about The Coleman Fund a little. For those of you who don't know, the Deputy Mayor Frederick Coleman decided to start a fund dedicated to helping marginalized people and those who have been neglected by the actual government he Deputy Mayors over. Now, I'm a shady lady, sunshines, but I'm not so shady that I'll look a gift horse in the mouth. I think we can all agree that funding the underfunded parts of the city is objectively a good thing. however, with the way this charity manages to connect and link the major power players in the city? That is too tasty to ignore, baby-dolls! When extremely wealthy people give to a charity run by someone invested with major political power, they are making themselves known to them. They begin to foster feelings of mutual goodwill between them. They get an acknowledgement and a sense of respect in return. All acts of giving provide a kick-back of feel-good PR and there's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but my job as the LS Vixen is to poke around the people who are currying favor with our Deputy Mayor and sniffing out where they got their millions and what else do they get out of it? Politics Guide: Coleman Fund Gala Donors Ranked by Susness #4: Andrew Brandenburg - $1,000,000 (Andy Brandy back in the Vix!) Bottoming out at number four is Andrew Brandenburg whose donation to the Coleman Fund while substantial is the least sus of all. Andy Brandy is a State Senator and has made past donations to Davis High and other causes. He likes to hold press releases to gain delicious, delicious clout from his very high dollar donations, but honestly babes, if being an attention whore is shady then you can call my ass an Oak Tree with the amount of shade I generate on a daily basis. At best, this is a genuine act of touching altruism and, at worst, it's him simply supporting his own prominent party member's extra-curricular activities. I did my digging and didn't really find anything to suggest weird vibes or quid pro quo energy leaking from this. The most uncharitable view I could see this donation in is that with both a fully fledged State Senator and the Deputy Mayor making efforts outside of government to throw money at problems the government is not fixing, it simply raises the question of why these issues could not be addressed using the tax money we already provide them and accomplish these fantastic initiatives during their work hours. But I'm sure we'll get a fucking parade of excuses during election season so we'll sit on our thumbs till then! Moving on! #3: Edward Ulf - $1,000,000 (A broken man surrounded by cozy servers. Aww.) Here we have the wild Edward Ulf in his natural habitat which consists of a mess of desert-bound server rooms and online comment sections that he simply cannot pry himself from. Former Senator Ulf was a Democratic State Senator for a period of time and the grapevine generously informed me that he was a genuine change agent and an idealist desiring to right the wrongs of this city, one piece of legislation at a time. Unfortunately the interaction with the realities of Los Santos politics left him a broken and bitter man. The sour end of the grapevine also spoke in hushed whispers of a crypto-farm slash IT Company whose day-to-day operations were run in some capacity by an eighteen-year old lover and would send young employees making only commission into dangerous neighborhoods unguarded. Lovers and computers aside, those things just simply add an air of sus, but are at their core nothing terribly substantial. His donation to the fund could well have likely been an act of altruism consistent with his past as an idealist. What is curious is the deep faith he is putting into members of the opposing party to use that money appropriately and fairly. Either Edward Ulf has come a long way since the days of battling with the likes of the ill-mannered and tacky Raul Munoz or he's making nice with some new friends and cozying up for a potential grand re-entrance to the scene. Time will tell all. #2: Lucien Berjouhie - $3,000,000 (Lucien resting upon more money than any human could require) Lucien, oh, Lucien. Where do we begin? Lucien Berjouhie is a rather bearded Eastern-European businessman who scraped up from the smaller communities and built a gambling empire under Euro Corp. Frankly, this guy is as private as you'd actually expect the insanely wealthy to be up until this donation. There's a couple of angles we can examine here. First and foremost, the gambling angle. The gambling laws on the books haven't really been enforced by the government so it's not like he and his business are suffering deeply, but the structure does technically exist so that it could be enforced in the future. By dishing a substantial sum to the Deputy Mayor's pet project, he puts his name and interest in the mind of all the charming, wealthy, and powerful guests who hold political power and who might hold political power in the future. This could lower chances of those laws ever being put into effect or even inspire some legislators to weaken or dismantle them altogether. But let's say that's not the angle. Well, Euro Corp also does some construction work. When the Coleman Fund requires some contractors to build ping-pong game rooms over the ruins of demolished mosques, I'm going to be watching who they call on for that kind of work. If it's Euro Corp, there's a good shot our charming friend Lucien will receive his money back and then some. Finally, I'd be remiss not to add into the susness the fact that the Diamond Casino which is in part run by Lucien is rumoured to have some general involvement with some players in the criminal underworld. Of course these are just rumours and as I very much enjoy not being stuffed into a barrel and dropped in the ocean, I'll leave that there and we'll move onwards! #1: MINOTAUR - Thiago Athanas & Vaughn Karagiannis - $3,000,000 (Thiago Athanas prepares a fine meal at Minotaur; Vaughn Karagiannis pondering existence.) The entire reason this list exists is because the luxury restaurant Minotaur run by Thiago "Tavros" Athanas and whose money is managed by Vaughn Karagiannis was the first big money donor to the Coleman Fund and presented some... let's say... curiosities. Thiago went on a cozy mountain-top hike with Tamara Sage, the Director of Health and Human Services, and Frederick Coleman a couple of months ago. The hike was solid enough for him to come down the mountain with a million dollar check in hand for a charity that had a total of $145,000 bucks in the bank at the time. But hey, charity pitches have happened in weirder places, who am I to judge? Well, when the money is coming from a restaurant that has never opened, it makes a girl curious. I review dining establishments, darlings, so when I saw that the major donor was a restaurant that I nor anyone I know has ever eaten at, I grew curious and hungry! So I went to the website and found they are only open on Wednesdays and that Reservations are Closed. I continued to ask around if anyone had eaten there and all I received were blank stares. I bit the bullet and asked Thiago flat out and he confirmed the restaurant hasn't opened yet. So how does a restaurant with zero dollars in revenue make enough to donate $3,000,000 dollars? The answer is they don't. It was confirmed by both men that they were just filtering their personal funds through the restaurant. On the more optimistic side of the equation, I'd say they're angling for good advertising for their new restaurant. Given the money shuffle, I grew curious on where these men's personal fortunes came from and why the routing number dance. I asked Mr. Athanas if he'd explain a little on how his past work as a fusion restaurant chef and caterer earned him such a magnificent fortune. At first he indicated he'd rather not have the discussion via Face Browser chat (which is entirely fair). When I asked if he'd like to schedule an in person meeting he flat out said that unless I was an IRS Agent, it wasn't happening. Alas and alack, dear readers, I am not a member of the IRS (I do have a soul somewhere in this body of mine) and so my hunt had to end there. His finances linger as a dark forest for us to look at and simply wonder. Vaughn was far more transparent, indicating a series of ventures that culminated in lording over a nightclub. I think it's fair to say it's more or less clear where his contributions came from. We can cast a small side glance noting that Nightclubs and criminality aren't two mutually exclusive concepts in our city, however it would be uncharitable to forge that link in iron with Mr. Karagiannis at this time. Despite the money shuffle, I'm still technically still excited to try their food, provided this article doesn't earn me a perma-ban. Fingers crossed, babes. Honorable Mentions Josély María Rosélis Martínez - $25,000 (The former First Lady of Los Santos gazes lovingly at her best friends.) This honorable mention goes to Josély for hosting the event at her country club known as the GWC (short for Great Wealthy Circlejerk). She managed to host an event that on the surface focused on charitable works but served in large part to charitably brand her as Los Santos' own Mother-Theresa-in-Louboutins all without her ever having to actually interact with a poor person. You have to admire the finesse, babes! I'll also add that her Fundraiser was the key to the Coleman Fund being now at over 10 million in the green. If you ask me the Deputy Mayor and perhaps even the Republican Party could be seen as owing her a strong debt of gratitude. I'll be watching to see how she cashes that in. Gabe Stone & LSI - $250,000 (Gabe without the comfort blanket that is his bullet proof vest.) Look, I could goof on Gabe for wearing bulletproof vests to Church Bake Sales or I could just point at the big glaring issue. The Los Santos Insider attended the rich people circle jerk to cover the story of the Gala. Gabe even wrote an article about it that you can find using your own internet skills. The problem is Gabe and LSI decided to then financially involve themselves with the charity and thus placed themselves into this story. When people donate to a charity, as you can see above, their reputations become linked to the reputation of the charity. Now you might think, "But Vixen, surely this donation will not change the way they cover Coleman Fund related news stories?" Babe, it already has. Nowhere in their gala article where they spoke of its many donors did Gabe disclose his own and LSI's own financial link. We're not asking him to disclose whether or not he's tried to apply for membership at GWC and utterly failed. While that would explain some incentive to breach journalistic objectivity in order to impress a room full of people who decreed him 'not wealthy enough', it's ultimately beside the point. This honorable mention simply and concisely calls for transparency in media reporting and asks him to provide readers a clear understanding of vested interests. Easy peas. All in All Phew. That was a doozy, darlings. I am so glad you read this far. It makes me proud to have such a kind and easy-going audience. Even those I write about have been surprisingly great sports about me calling them douchebags or laughing at them for this and that. I really do want to thank every person who goes into making these articles possible. From my many informants, to my tried and true friends. and last but certainly not least, to those I write about, because if I didn't see their many many flaws, I would have nothing to write about. With respect to the Coleman Fund, while this article did focus on its use as a mechanism for linking high powered politicians with rich folks with mysterious interests and possibly ulterior motives, I do hope the money continues to be spent where people need it most. As of the writing of this article they've spent about a million dollars with a bulk of it going to a publically funded high school. My only worry is that throwing money at problems isn't necessarily the same as solving them and I want to see how these high powered politicians and private sector nerds actually leverage their power to address the root causes of poverty, of drug abuse, and of inequality. Till next time, DISCLAIMER >Comments are enabled!
  7. This thread follows the life and exploits of Joseph Gazzaro. Sit back and enjoy the show.
  8. A Vixen's Guide to LS Politics This shit makes me deeply nauseous, but I do it for you all. I'm goddamned Mother Theresa. Woah, you actually clicked on an article regarding politics. Weird. You must be on either a self-torture kick or on a whooole lot of weed. Either way, I'll try to make this painless and help you through this difficult time. So I'm acclimating to the vibe here in Los Santos. Sunny, beautiful San Andreas has so much to offer. Big beaches, big bitches, beautiful bars with beautiful people, an endless array of fun activities and new friends to meet. And it also has political parties where grown adults form a circle and take turns doing eachother. Sometimes in full view of the public, sometimes in board rooms. Good for them, as long as they aren't killing anyone, dismembering the bodies, and spreading it strategically throughout Los Santos many dumpsters. Recently, there was a schism between some senile man and the Republican Party. Go figure. One dark and stormy night, I spoke with my million-dollar AI executive, Gertrude, and she told me exactly where to find the man himself for a juicy juicy interview. Here is the transcript. Enjoy babes. A Street Interview with Jonathan Spencer (Jonathan Spencer, a normal and okay guy.) And there you have it, folks. Some say the LS Vixen is all about scathing reviews of nightclubs and bars, but we're actually super deep and totally care about politics. Keep it cute, babes. DISCLAIMER >Comments are enabled!
  9. This thread follows the life of Freddy "Tell" Teller, an Independent, washed-up political & social journalist.
  10. michelle tran healing conscience The following thread follows the story of Michelle Hien Tran, as she come to terms with retiring from crime. I aim to showcase her struggles to adjust to a life in politics while running a nonprofit organization, Heart and Seoul Foundation for the betterment of Little Seoul. "I'd rather be in a room full of people who want to kill me than politicians. At least with criminals, I know what to expect." Huge thank you to the people who helped me shape the character up to this point.
  11. Hank Preston Elected Mayor of Los Santos, Inauguration Sept. 10th Written by Scarlett Remington, 09/09/2023 On September 9th, the final votes were counted. Citizens had a chance to vote for the future of their city, and surrounding Counties, starting September 5th; where both candidates Danielle Bordeaux (Democratic) and Hank Preston (Republican) campaigned vigorously. They spoke to not only media outlets such as the Los Santos Insider but hosted a variety of public events such as the BBQ in Mirror Park (Preston), and the Dinner at the LGBT Center (Bordeaux). Citizens got a chance to speak to their candidates, and allow the public to become more educated on local issues while also getting to know the Mayoral Elects more personally; rather than be a face on Social Media or a News Feed. The final results were broadcasted live on air, the LSI's first ever Election Coverage, by Gabriel Stone. Our studio was accompanied by Hank Preston, and Frederick Coleman to discuss and comment on the results, although Democratic Candidate Bordeaux declined to attend - which we respect, and wish her good luck in changing the City the best way she can. POLL RESULTS - H. PRESTON (REP.) v D. BORDEAUX (DEM.) 503 61.64% (PRESTON) 313 38.36% (BORDEAUX) (source: Gabriel Stone, from Hank Preston's Facebrowser) The Los Santos Insider would like to congratulate Mr. Hank Preston, and Mr. Frederick Coleman (Deputy Mayor) for their victory in the election. In addition, we would also like to extend our congratulations to Mayoral Candidate Danielle Bordeaux for their courage, motivation, and for standing up to issues they also believe are main factors within the City. It was a anticipated time, and one of the most historic elections in all of San Andreas's history. Our outlet is an independently owned and private outlet that focuses on a variety of issues. Being funded by the private sector, we believe being an important & reliable source in this Election was critical; and we hope by being an independent source from outside the political sphere, you chose to vote for your own reasons. We will stay and stand committed to providing fair, reliable, and unbiased coverage as we progress into this new stage in our City's future. Join us on Sunday, September 10th, for the Official Inauguration Ceremony located at City Hall @ 20:00.
  12. Wade Empowerment Foundation Elevating Lives, Inspiring Change (( Click on the image )) A short political analysis, authored by the Wade Empowerment Foundation. Discover the essence of democracy in Los Santos! (( As realistically this is simply an academic thesis, likely found online on a web-library of similar essays, comments are disabled. Website requires a few seconds before it fully loads!))
  13. Dave Jackson 48-year-old from Bohan, Liberty City Back in the day, he started a political party, but the party failed in his mayoral campaign. Due to the accumulation of campaign debt and a conflict of interests, they failed to get votes. He came to Los Santos with his friend to start a new move called "Let's make it right."
  14. May 19, 2023 | NEWS Former Senator's Staffer denies conspiracy allegations and explains her story This Wednesday, in the early hours of the morning, Luca Giraldi released a recording that highlights a vocal exchange. In the written post, he recites an elaborate explanation of the events, in which he dons good graces, noble intent, and embellishes himself as a man of the people. The story invariably provoked the readers, and it evokes a gnawing curiosity about it - how would this story be told by the accused woman from the recording? As made apparent today, Luca Giraldi resigned on his own accord to prevent his incoming impeachment. The aforementioned recording was released two days ago in an open letter - and here, the accused young woman elaborates on the story. We established contact with the woman, and she explained the story in-depth; from the beginning of the night, to the very end of it, and the consequential aftermath. She will be referred to as Ellen. "The threats against me... Were subtle to say the least; I'm sure he'd deny the accusation, but... I just wanted to bring some context to why I hadn't reached out. I thought about getting a lawyer. For defamation. Especially now. Well, he outright said, if I was to do anything that pushed him further, he'd make sure to make my life rather difficult. " Told us Ellen when our journalists inquired; according to her words, Luca Giraldi warned her that if she were to speak about the events on any legal, social or media platform, consequences would follow. "Well... After he had met with Senator Rossi, which... Seemed to be more of an act of desperation? Senator Giraldi had made it clear to me. He would fold on his stance, against the death penalty, if Rossi was to consider abstaining from the vote." Ellen continued to enlighten us - during her time alongside Luca Gilradi, she told us that she felt as if handling his impeachment was solely placed on her, and her only - she shared how Luca Giraldi schemed, and that he tried to "bargain" to earn votes in his favor. Next, we asked about the night in which all of it occurred. "It started with him telling me that I need to "learn how to drive." And that, even if I was a "woman staffer", I could do a "decent job". He had mentioned as we started driving, that if I was a "yes woman", he'd have me fired, immediately." Ellen explained, as they set out for a drive - this was after Luca Giraldi had shown her his recently acquired property in the hills, which he renovates. During this whole night, Luca had been incredibly affected by the recent course of events - tension was rapidly brewing, and he was prone to outbursts. Ellen was trying to maintain a sense of dignity around him, but she found it hard - he was armed with a firearm. The evening continued, and Luca Gilradi would endlessly ramble about distinct members of the Senate being traitors, claiming that the entire city is after him, and how the rules aren't a guideline that he follows during the ride. Ellen had initially asked him if he would like to be driven and left at home, but he refused. During the ride, Ellen also told us how Senator Luca labeled her as part of a "lower hierarchy" - comments along the lines of her being "beneath him", as he worded them, were often thrown around. Following this drive, Luca Giraldi had taken himself and Ellen to his home - a beach apartment, where he would show her a rich collection of art. Once inside, she was told to be barefoot and was provided with a substantially strong drink. Ellen shared the depth of Luca's character; how he was demanding, assertive, and sometimes, violent. She felt obliged to do her job, and if that would entail tolerating his behavior - so be it, even if she didn't know she would be subjected to continuous abuse. "I was off-put. And I'm not so easily moved to be awkward. The man does have his ways of making one feel uncomfortable. Pressured. And— I suppose I felt... Obligated, to some extent, to satisfy his needs." And the story comes to a halt - here plays the recording, and it twists the event - the situation escalates, and Giraldi kicks her out, and fires her; a reasonable assumption would be that the story ends here, but it gradually progresses into more. After being fired on the spot, she gets employed anew, and pawned off to Senator Isabel Garcia, who according to Ellen, was also subjected to Giraldi's maniacal and psychotic outbursts and deceit. On the following day, Ellen is brought into Senator Garcia's office, where Giraldi shows the well-known recording, and he accuses her of being a "spy" for a political rivalry, or as she told us, "he told me he knew my game". After pleading that she was no spy, and that she's entertaining no plot, Luca refused to believe such - still, he remained adamant and convinced that this was a "ruse". Once again, Ellen was fired, screamed at, and continuously called a "lying bitch", and told that she would never again set foot in the Senate. Since then, Ellen hasn't been working as a Staffer - but she comes forward, as she believes it is the rightful thing to do, to expose a man that hides beneath a cloak of false righteousness, good morals, and wears a veil over his true face. The story of Ellen aligns with Luca Giraldi's recording - she does not deny it. But she openly denies his allegations and conspiracies - he claims that this is all a plot, a theatre in which she is an undercover envoy, a spy sent by his political rivalries. Ellen describes herself as a professional, and that she was striving to do good work for the Senators - it was a demanding workplace, and she ought to be able to meet certain expectations. Repetitively called a spy, Ellen continuously denies such an allegation - Luca claimed she had ulterior motives, a web of deceit to serve her own interests, but the former Staffer denies all of it. "I didn't understand. My interests were to do good work. To consult. To be a staffer, for the Democratic Party, to all extent. And I was. I was a damn good worker... I was prompt. Timely. And loyal." This chapter has come to an end - earlier this morning, shortly after the hearing that took place in the Capitol, which lasted more than five hours, Luca Giraldi forwarded his resignment. He is no longer a representative of District 33, and the Chairwoman of the Democratic party Diana Jones announced the end of his tenure. If you have a story or concern, get in touch at [email protected] ((@starcaller)) 1870 is a product of LSN > Comments are enabled Username: Comment:
  15. May 17, 2023 | NEWS Heated politics; Giraldi accuses Lt. Governor of a threat, Noah Wade denies; Brandenburg calls Giraldi confused Andrew Brandenburg, Carry Saunders, and Luca Giraldi LSN hosted a talk show earliear in the afternoon, where Carry Saunders invited two very prominent political figures; Republican Senator Andrew Brandenburg, and Democratic Senator Luca Giraldi. Topics that were tackled in the show were the controversies surrounding the budget affair with the DA's Office, the quarrels between the two representatives, accusations stretching out to Lt. Governor Noah Wade, and the most recent event; the confession of Senator Luca Giraldi, which cut a written-form in an open letter earlier this morning. Senator Giraldi shedded light on some affairs that took place behind closed doors during the DA's Appropriations Metting - as it took place, Luca Giraldi felt opressed by Noah Wade, claiming that he was threatened to vote accordingly in a certain way, as the Lt. Governor dictated. The District 33 representative also said that Wade threatened to circumvent those who did not comply with him and his suggestion, whilst five Senators attended the meeting. Senator Brandenburg immediately denied the aforementioned accusation, and said the following; 1870 came in contact with Lt. Governor Noah Wade immediately after the show concluded to issue an official statement to regard the allegations made that the President did in fact, threaten the senators to vote accordingly with his bidding. Noah Wade denied the allegations made that he threatened the Senators with circumvention, and he provided us with the following statement; In the early hours of the morning, Senator Giraldi published an Open Letter that canvassed a sensitive matter; he came forward on his own, painting himself with innocence before a potentially ill-willed peer could label him with ignominy. It comes off as an earnest confession, which is entirely unrelated to the recent political affairs that have held the spotlight - but many readers and commentators are convinced that it is entirely fabricated, and only serves the purpose to beseech sympathy during the hardships that he has undergone. There is no evidence at hand to shed truth to either alternative - and even his political rivalry, Andrew Brandenburg, finds the scenario do be prone to suspicion. The original post by Senator Giraldi includes a plethora of hateful comments, hashtags that support his impeachment, and a handful of images that mock his image - which wont be included, but are broadly circulating the social platforms. Source; FaceBrowser Watch the talkshow here! Carry Saunders live: Senators Brandenburg and Giraldi in debate over the former's attempt to impeach the latter If you have a story or concern, get in touch at [email protected] ((@starcaller)) 1870 is a product of LSN > Comments are enabled Username: Comment:
  16. May 15, 2023 | NEWS Senator Brandenburg addresses the DA Office's budget controversy and the call to impeach Senator Giraldi Republican Senator Andrew Brandenburg Republican Senator Andrew Brandenburg discusses and addresses the recent events that have taken place in an interview with 1870; the budget denial of the District Attorney's Office, the impeachment of Democratic Senator Luca Giraldi, and the political feuds. In the last weeks of April, Senator Brandenburg introduced a bill that sought to appropriate funds for the Office of the Los Santos District Attorney for the period of Q2, otherwise known as LSDA Q2 APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 2023. Following shortly, Senator Luca Giraldi submitted an edited act that severely cut the DA Office's budget and according to him, it was shortened by seventy percent. As of today, Senator Andrew Brandenburg addressed the matter publicly; following the Lt. Governor Noah Wade's call for the removal of Luca Giraldi, whom he refers to as the "conspiracy theorist of District 33", Brandenburg brought to attention his thoughts on the matter, along with a Senate Resolution, referred to as S.R. 37 - Resolution to investigate and impeach Senator Luca Giraldi. Source; FaceBrowser For the following interview, Senator Andrew Brandenburg will be referred to with the initials A.B, respectfully, and the journalist will refer to herself as V.A. V.A: I'm so glad you agreed to come today. Let's talk politics. I believe you know why I have called you in today - tension has been rapidly brewing lately, and it began escalating to newer heights as of today. Let's talk about one of your peers at the Senate, Luca Giraldi. As we've seen before, Democrats and Republicans have always contended to maintain a common ground; and in this case, the correspondence seems far more convoluted. What do you think of Luca Giraldi? A.B: I believe that Senator Giraldi joined a game that he did not understand at all, or he just had a flawed understanding of what being a Senator means. I can safely say that Senator Giraldi put on a hat too big for him, and, to this day, he fails to understand that making a lot of noise just to fill up your political agenda isn't a good long-term way of maintaining the faux image of being a hero. While he raises a lot of ruckus, claiming he does so in the interest of the people, we can clearly see that his actions actually cause the contrary. Constantly picking up fights, nitpicking and gnawing, does nothing but harm the Senate's workflow, ergo, leading to prolonged sessions for a simple majority which, eventually, leads to a blockage. Once the blockage comes, budgets are put on hold, bills are stalled because of constant nitpicking, what does he do? He blames the Republicans. When the Republicans defend themselves and put him in his place he calls them fascists. Because he has no logical argument left. Let's not forget that Luca Giraldi is the one Senator that voted against a bill sponsored by his own party, just because they probably had some internal strife. So, apart from acting immature during Senate meetings, Senator Giraldi also puts his own ego higher than important things, higher than the people, higher than the State. V.A: In an interview with the ‘LS Insider’, Senator Giraldi admitted to defunding law enforcement agencies, and that he cut seventy percent of the DA Office’s budget. Why do you think that is? A.B: That night I realized how the Democrats really play. A few weeks prior, Diana Jones came to me to ask for a bipartisan effort on a bill. I was open for discussion, but did not give her an answer straight away.. That night, with the DA Office's budget, I realized that they're doing foul play. It was the only night the Democrats had a majority over the Republicans, and their attitude was absolutely different from how it was prior to that. They wanted no compromise, no middle ground. That made me realize that the bipartisanship was just a mask that they were wearing in order to get us to help them. Once they didn't need us, they had no intent to show bipartisanship or compromise. Other than that, that whole DA Office budget thing was clear foul play. As you can see on the Senate's public platform, a few minutes after the session ended, Senator Giraldi sponsored a bill to fund the remaining seventy percent that he cut. So, that can mean only two things. They either just wanted to stall everything and nitpick at the DA's Office, or they wanted to submit the bill themselves to pose as heroes. Anyway, whatever that was, it did nothing but hinder the prosecution in this State and, of course, to destroy any chance of bipartisanship until the day Giraldi resigns or is impeached. So, yes, in short, they stalled everything and created a ruse, just to fill up the political agenda, not giving a damn about the damage they caused. V.A: Let's move on to the most recent events. First the Governor called for Luca's impeachment, and now you officially push the resolution. Elaborate on the motive with a few words. A.B: Lieutenant Governor Wade called for Giraldi's impeachment due to Giraldi having no respect for the State Executives and because he said absurd things, accusing Noah Wade of authoritarian attitude, when, in fact, Wade issued an Executive Order for budgets, because the Senate was unable to meet in that month. So, basically, Noah Wade saved the State budgets and Giraldi comes and calls him a dictator. Also, probably the most dangerous thing, Giraldi wants to amend the Constitution. Basically, he says that the Constitution is not good enough. Modifying the Constitution, the fundamental act that guarantees our freedoms, can create a very dangerous precedent. If you modify it now to cut from the Lieutenant Governor's rights, you might as well modify it next time to cut fundamental rights from the people. And, of course, Noah Wade knows this and realizes how absurd and how dangerous Giraldi's plans can be. Add that to the circus he created in the Senate, and, of course, he called for Giraldi's impeachment. However, their personal strife does not concern me. The decision to work on this impeachment resolution was mine alone, and I also discussed it with my colleagues, presenting them both sides of the coin. After Giraldi's interview, when he started lying again, I decided it was time to put a stop to his nonsense. V.A: We witness a constant feud on the social media platforms, and I must ask - are the interactions with Senator Geraldi just as tense when you're corresponding in the Senate? A.B: Well, I can say that Senator Giraldi is one man, and Luca Giraldi is another. Those things you see in the Senate? Just a ruse. Circus made to impress his voters and make it look like he's actually doing something. V.A: When and if Senator Giraldi gets impeached, what future does the Democratic caucus have, in your opinion? They are already a minority, and losing a representative might prove to be crucial for them. A.B: Well, if Giraldi gets impeached, I believe it will be a great time for Diana Jones to reflect on the people she chooses for her team. Giraldi was never an elected Senator, as I am, or as Senator Rossi is. He was appointed. He never passed through the most important filter, and that is the people. The vote of the people, their decision, is the most important factor that validates a Senator. Anyway, without Giraldi, probably the Democrats will want to parley again and they will again seek "bipartisanship". V.A: Is there anything you'd like to tell the citizens of Los Santos? A.B: All I can say to the people of San Andreas is that we'll always be in their service. Whatever we do, we do in the greater interest of the people. Political games, circus like Giraldi creates, do nothing but put the welfare of the people at risk. And that is why we will stop this. If you have a story or concern, get in touch at [email protected] ((@starcaller)) 1870 is a product of LSN > Comments are enabled Username: Comment:
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  18. NEWS • Politics Written by Yunisa DELGADO-FLORES • May 19th, 2022 9:35AM Abortion and religion, thoughts by Edward Ulf, Senator Lu and GOP's Jonathan Spencer The debate surrounding abortion in the state of San Andreas rages strong. Democrat Senator Jackie Lu, SAGOP Chairman Jonathan Spencer and former senator Edward Ulf shares their thoughts about religion, while Spencer and Lu gives details as to their plans for future legislation. Edward Ulf (left), Senator Jackie Lu, (middle) and SAGOP Chairman Jonathan Spencer (right) - courtesy of Edward Ulf, the office of Jackie Lu, and Jonathan Spencer respectively. Edward Ulf, back in late 2021, proposed a bill dubbed the Woman's Health Act of 2021. The act served as a piece of legislation that aimed to protect women's access to abortion clinics; enshrining the Roe vs. Wade ruling into law. Roe vs. Wade is a US Supreme Court case which ruling still is felt to this day. The ruling deemed state legislation that forbade abortion without regard to a fetus’ development, a woman’s health or to be unconstitutional. This, in addition to a ruling made in Planned Parenthood vs. Casey which strengthened the case, meant states cannot give a blanket ban abortion nor make legislature or institutional policies to create any 'undue burden' for women who wish to carry out an abortion. However, due to a leaked opinion draft which shown that the majority of Justices intend to reverse it, many worry for its future. The Women’s Health Act of 2021, if passed, would have locked the Roe vs. Wade ruling into the San Andreas legislature. Since the act did not pass, there is no legislation currently within San Andreas that either protects or, if Roe vs. Wade were to be overturned, restricts abortion. The bill failed to reach the floor. Senator Adrian Rossi, majority leader of the Senate (R), reported that the reason for this was due to the existing ruling still withstanding. “The Women's Health Act of 2021 did technically fail though it wasn't voted on the floor.”, Sen. Rossi shared in a previous written statement to the Daily News. “This is because the case-law of Roe vs. Wade exists, and that was simply a restatement. Therefore, other bills were given priority as there were many important pieces that we focused on.” Edward Ulf however alleges that the reason for the bill’s failure was due to alleged negligence from a state attorney, as well as alleging due to his fellow senators neglecting to remember. “It was ignored and put away on the shelf despite it getting voted out of the committee and into the floor but stopped there because the state attorney ‘wanted to review’ it.” Edward Ulf told the Los Santos Daily News. “She did. Did not tell anyone about it. Then when attempts [were] taken to get it voted on, it was again shelved because ‘nobody remembers that it was voted to the floor’.” The Daily News has reached out to the office of the State Attorney for a comment on May the 16th. ADDED 05/22/22 10:15PM by Chief Editor Yunisa Delgado-Flores The State Attorney's office issued a response to Edward Ulf the following week to this article being published. The response denied the claims that the bill was left indefinitely in review. "In regards to the Women's Health Act of 2021, the bill was merely put on hold for 24 hours to be reviewed by the State Attorney's Office, which consisted of my staff reviewing it to ensure it had all it needed to continue. It was released back to the committee to continue onto the Senate floor with full knowledge of both the Democratic and Republican parties, and their respective leadership." The State Attorney's office further distanced itself from Ulf's claims, saying that his allegations are "complete hearsay". "If Senator Ulf wished for the Women's Health Act of 2021 to be taken back onto the State Senate floor, he should've brought it back up on behalf of his constituents." Senators and leaders from both parties have announced an intent to submit legislature surrounding abortion, however the contents of either drafts remain unknown. In a prior statement from SAGOP Chairman Jonathan Spencer to the Daily News, he stated that he and his party will submit a bill that includes ‘bipartisan points’ and says they are “seeking to make it as fair as possible to men and women across San Andreas” “I'm unable to comment on it at the moment due it being unfinished currently, and would prefer to comment on it in its fullness at a later date once it's complete. However, I would like to make clear we are indeed including bipartisan points in our draft and are seeking to make it as fair as possible to men and women across San Andreas.” Sen. Rossi, when asked about the SAGOP's plans for future bills in a previously written statement, noted how the SAGOP's legislation for abortion would only be submitted if Roe vs. Wade were to be reversed. "To further answer your question, the GOP does plan to submit a bill regarding abortion should the Court overturn Roe v. Wade." In an interview with Senator Jackie Lu (D), when asked if there are any plans for any bills to be introduced surrounding abortion, she stated that she “intends to do something about it.” “Women should assert their rightful place in society.”, wrote Sen. Jackie Lu. “And I have not and will not forget about them; We will not be denied the authority to make choices about our own bodies. I will not stop working until everyone, and I mean everyone, regardless of poverty, zip code, or race, has access to safe, legal, and accessible abortions. “If [women] are not prepared. How can you maintain a child if you are still in education with over more than $50,000's in student debt? The correct response is no; you cannot.” When reached out for a comment regarding what he believes the senate should do in regards to abortion legislature, Edward Ulf was highly critical of the current make-up. "I suggest they, both sides, actually bothers to talk to the people they are supposed to represent instead of going to bars, clubs, yachts or hang out in their Mansions in Vinewood." Ulf wrote in their statement to the Daily News. "I suggest they worry less about the stakeholders and what people will think about them and work towards a better future for the entire state." Edward Ulf currently serves as the CEO for a local web-hosting company named Dot IT Hosting. Dot IT Hosting’s and Ulf's stance on the topic of abortion was shared through a public post on its Facebrowser page on May the 5th, two days after the leak. A screengrab of the post by Dot IT Hosting and Edward Ulf from Dot IT's Facebrowser page, May the 19th 2022 One of the core issues surrounding abortion is the religious ramifications where differing religious views - both within Christianity, between religions, and between theists and atheists - debate at what point a fetus is considered to have life, and whether or not abortion is equal to the act of killing. SAGOP Chairman Spencer equates abortion to “murder”, citing the federal legislature Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and explains how his religious beliefs has shaped this opinion. "Even though the victim is yet to be born, it is unethical to kill an innocent human being. Unborn babies are considered human beings by the US government." Spencer detailed how exactly the Unborn Victims of Violence Act operates. "Under federal law, anyone intentionally killing or attempting to kill an unborn child should 'be punished... for intentionally killing or attempting to kill a human being', according to the federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which was enacted 'to protect unborn children from assault and murder.' The act also states that an unborn child is a 'member of the species homo sapiens.' Multiple states have passed similar fetal homicide laws." In accordance of Roe vs. Wade, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act specifically excludes abortion. It notes that the legislature cannot be used to prosecute either the woman undergoing the procedure or the medical practicioner performing it. Spencer’s argument for abortion equaling murder also derives from a biblical standpoint, where he notes how the language used in the bible doesn’t distinguish between a fetus and an infant. “The killing of a human being contradicts God's word; the Bible does not distinguish between fetuses and babies, using the Greek word brephos to refer to both an unborn child and an infant. God recognizes a newborn by the time he or she is conceived, as Jeremiah 1:5 demonstrates: ‘Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee.’” Spencer explained to the Daily News in a written statement last week. “The Sixth Commandment of the Bible’s Old Testament, ‘Thou shalt not kill’ (Exodus 20:13), applies to all human beings, including unborn babies.” Democrat Sen. Jackie Lu however, a fellow Christian, holds a different perspective. They believe that God would be understanding as to the reasons a woman would want and need to get an abortion. “I am a religious person, but I am confident that God understands why we think this is a good idea” Lu shares. “Having children is a life-altering decision, not a simple choice. And when you can't even say anything about it, the situation gets quite nightmare-like. It will make your life 10 times more difficult, so I think it's a fantastic idea for women to be able to remove it. "I believe that rituals and customs contribute to local culture and are an integral part of who we are, but we must abandon those that are obstructive and demeaning." Pillbox Medical Center, Alan Kim. May the 15th 2022 Former Senator Edward Ulf stands with an atheistic viewpoint, where he dismisses the notion that religion should be regarded in abortion legislature. “Personally? I follow the consensus of the scientific community, when there is a heartbeat.”, Edward Ulf shared when questioned about what point he believes a fetus has life. In an ultrasound, a heartbeat can be discovered as early as five and a half weeks after gestation, but is usually found six and a half to seven weeks in. He ended with “I do not believe religion should have any say in this.” Sen. Rossi’s resolution to condemn the US Supreme Court leaker, Resolution 28, is set to take the floor towards the end of this week. Editor's Note: 22/05/2022. 10:15pm At the time of this article being released, the state's attorney's office was unable to provide a comment regarding allegations of negligence from Edward Ulf. This evening, at 6:00:AM, the state's attorney's office issued the following response. The article has been amended to include these comments, read as the following: Comments are enabled: Username: Comment: ((monster is the GOAT))
  19. The topic will follow Tucker Meier's life.
  20. SAN ANDREAS STATE GOVERNMENT "Eureka!" History of San Andreas Spanish Rule The first Europeans to explore the San Andreas coast were the members of a Spanish sailing expedition led by Portuguese captain Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo; they entered San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542, and reached at least as far north as San Miguel Island. Privateer and explorer Francis Drake explored and claimed an undefined portion of the San Andreas coast in 1579, landing north of the future city of San Fierro. The first Asians to set foot on what would be the United States occurred in 1587, when Filipino sailors arrived in Spanish ships at Morro Bay. Sebastián Vizcaíno explored and mapped the coast of San Andreas in 1602 for New Spain, sailing as far north as Cape Mendocino. After the Portolà expedition of 1769–70, Spanish missionaries led by Junipero Serra began setting up 21 San Andreas Missions on or near the coast of Alta (Upper) San Andreas, beginning in San Diego. During the same period, Spanish military forces built several forts (presidios) and three small towns (pueblos). The San Fierro Mission grew into the city of San Fierro, and two of the pueblos grew into the cities of Los Santos and San Jose. Several other smaller cities and towns also sprang up surrounding the various Spanish missions and pueblos, which remain to this day. Mexican Rule In 1821, the Mexican War of Independence gave Mexico (including San Andreas) independence from Spain. For the next 25 years, Alta San Andreas remained as remote, sparsely populated, northwestern administrative district of the newly independent country of Mexico. The missions, which controlled most of the best land in the state, were secularized by 1834 and became the property of the Mexican government. The governor granted many square leagues of land to others with political influence. These huge ranchos or cattle ranches emerged as the dominant institutions of Mexican San Andreas. San Andreas Republic and conquest In 1846, a group of American settlers in and around Sonoma rebelled against Mexican rule during the Beaver Flag Revolt. Afterwards, rebels raised the Beaver Flag (featuring a beaver, a star, a blue stripe and the words "San Andreas Republic") at Sonoma. The Republic's only president was William B. Ide, who played a pivotal role during the Beaver Flag Revolt. This revolt by American settlers served as a prelude to the later American military invasion of San Andreas and was closely coordinated with nearby American military commanders. The San Andreas Republic was short lived; the same year marked the outbreak of the Mexican–American War (1846–48). When Commodore John D. Sloat of the United States Navy sailed into Monterey Bay and began the military occupation of San Andreas by the United States, Northern San Andreas capitulated in less than a month to the United States forces. After a series of defensive battles in Southern San Andreas, the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed on January 13, 1847, securing American control in San Andreas. Early American Period - the Gold Rush In 1848, only one week before the official American annexation of the area, gold was discovered in San Andreas, this being an event which was to forever alter both the state's demographics and its finances. Soon afterward, a massive influx of immigration into the area resulted, as prospectors and miners arrived by the thousands. The population burgeoned with San Andreas citizens, Europeans, Chinese and other immigrants during the great San Andreas Gold Rush. By the time of San Andreas' application for statehood in 1850, the settler population of San Andreas had multiplied to 100,000. By 1854, more than 300,000 settlers had come. Between 1847 and 1870, the population of San Fierro increased from 500 to 150,000. San Andreas was suddenly no longer a sparsely populated backwater, but seemingly overnight it had grown into a major population center. Government and politics San Andreas State Government - Overview The capital of San Andreas is located within Los Santos. The state is organized into three branches of government—the executive branch consisting of the governor and the other constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the Senate; and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of San Andreas and lower courts. The state also allows ballot propositions: direct participation of the electorate by initiative, referendum, recall, and ratification. Executive branch The San Andreas executive branch consists of the governor and five other constitutional officers: lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, and state superintendent of public instruction. Agencies under the direction of a secretary that report directly to the governor are cabinet-level agencies. Some agencies such as the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and State Treasurer are headed by independent appointed officials. The vast majority of state government agencies and departments are headquartered in Los Santos or in parts of Los Santos County near the city of Los Santos; in turn, the larger agencies and departments also have local offices around the state which report to headquarters in Los Santos. Legislative branch The San Andreas State Legislature is a unicameral legislature composed of the San Andreas State Senate. The State Senate convenes at the San Andreas State Capitol in Los Santos. The San Andreas State Senate consists of a 40-member Senate. Senators serve four-month terms. Members of the Senate are not subject to term limits. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate, and may only cast a vote to break a tie. The President pro tempore is elected by the majority party caucus, followed by confirmation of the full Senate. Other leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses according to each party's strength in the chamber. Judicial branch San Andreas' judiciary system is the largest in the United States with a total of 1,600 judges (the federal system has only about 840). At the apex is the three-member Supreme Court of San Andreas, while the San Andreas Courts of Appeal serve as the primary appellate courts and the San Andreas Superior Courts serve as the primary trial courts. (( The Judicial Branch is managed by the JSA faction. )) ((Out of Character)) Our goal is to create a realistic portrayal of a US State Government heavily influenced by the California Government and bring many elements of government that was handled OOC to its associated IC institutions. If you have any questions about this faction or looking for ways to get involved feel free to contact us anytime IC or OOC. Join us on discord!
  21. NEWS • Politics Written by Yunisa DELGADO-FLORES • July 3rd, 2022 — 8:10PM Sun rises on Little Tokyo, committee passes bill to recognize district The Designation of Little Tokyo Act, an act that would give the community-dubbed “Little Tokyo” district in South Rockford Drive it’s name officially, passes the senate committee. The Hinomaru, the Japanese Flag, flying high in the morning following the passing. — Alan Kim, July 3rd 2022 On July the 2nd, the committee of public safety of the San Andreas Senate held a hearing regarding the Designation of Little Tokyo Act of 2022; the act that would make the name “Little Tokyo” official. South Rockford Drive, from Invention Court to Dutch London Street, is home to the highest proportion of Japanese migrants and Japanese-Americans within the city of Los Santos. Los Santos County, according to the findings listed in the act, is home to more than 60,000 Japanese residents. The bill, introduced by Senator Adrian Rossi (R), aims to help a community that he described as having “historically suffered” during the hearing. On the west coast, around 110,000 to 120,000 Japanese Americans, which 70 percent of which were born within the U.S., were sent to camps by Executive Order 9066 in 1941. Those who were sent to camps faced economic struggle on release. Japanese-Americans were sent across the country to different camps, where different camps neighbored both wealthy and deprived areas of the country. Many of those who were relocated to these deprived areas found themselves receiving less education opportunities, had worse housing, and earned less money, reported the Harvard Gazette. Those who found themselves relocated to camps located within San Andreas often migrated to Los Santos on their release. Many found themselves moving to the section of South Rockford Drive that is commonly known as Little Tokyo While efforts have been made to rectify and to support the Japanese-American population nationwide following the internment camps, Japanese-Americans and other Asian-Americans face harassment day-to-day. NBC reported how, in 2021, hate crimes against Asians and Asian-Americans increased 339 percent with cities such as Los Santos, San Fierro and New York hitting record highs. Daichi Saejima, the founder and head of the Japanese American Association (JAA), a non-profit that serves to assist Japanese-Americans within Los Santos, described how he and his community faced issues with police harassment in the past in an interview with the Daily News. He expressed his gratitude to this bill passing the committee and hopes it’s a sign of thing to come. “It means our pleas have finally been heard by the higher powers.” Saejima shared in a response to asking about his opinions on the bill. “We've wanted change, and finally, after our trials and tribulations, we're making steady progress. Us as the Japanese-Americans, we're being treated as equals. Given the rights and acknowledgement we deserve.” During the hearing, Sen Tsujihara and Ian Ichiro Inoue, the niece and nephew of Saejima and fellow members of the JAA, were present as witnesses during the hearing. Tsujihara testified to the struggles Japanese-Americans face in the present day, noting a “systemic oppression” that their community faces and how Little Tokyo and the JAA serves as a hub for support. “Before the internment in the forties, our Japantown was the most prosperous of its kind anywhere in the country.” Inoue said in regards to Little Tokyo and it’s past. “Despite our struggles that we've faced in the years following executive orders and other such issues, Little Tokyo provides not only a vast spread of amenities in the way of corner stores, apartment housing, and any such need that a new family could possibly hope for.” “Formal recognition of our historic district would pave the way to ending the decades long damage done.”, Tsujihara said in the hearing. Senator Kaoru King-Yagami (D), who originally came from Japan, expressed their support for the bill by stating “I hope my heritage, and that of all Japanese-Americans may be able to be proudly displayed into the future with this act.” The bill passed the committee hearing unanimously with Senators Lu (D), Jones (D), Meier (D) and Benson (R) not being present. It now will face a hearing from the senate as a whole, where they will vote to pass it into law. Comments are enabled: Username: Comment:
  22. NEWS • Politics Written by Yunisa DELGADO-FLORES • June 30th, 2022 — 6:20AM San Andreans' stances on the Roe v. Wade repeal Following Roe v. Wade's repeal, along with the responses to Senator Adrian Rossi's Preservation of Life Act, Minority Leader Senator Diana Jones and the SADEMs reveal their alternative; a constitutional amendment. Senator Adrian Rossi (R) and Senator Diana Jones (D), the authors of the two combating bills — image edited by Harold Kim, LSDN, June 30th 2022 Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case held in the Supreme Court that guaranteed access to abortions nation wide, was repealed on Friday, June the 24th, following the ruling of Dobbs v. Jackson in a ruling of 6-to-3. Justices Kavanaugh, Barret, Gorsuch, Alito, Thomas and Roberts voted to repeal the ruling whereas Justices Sotomayor, Kagan and Breyer voted against. Now, senators and citizens of San Andreas must decide on how our state should treat abortions. The Republican Party of San Andreas’ Senator Adrian Rossi submitted their bill to the senate, the Preservation of Life Act 2022, on the 23rd of May. A month prior to the repeal of Roe v. Wade. If the bill were to pass and were to come into effect, citizens would be able to sue women who undergo the procedure as well as the medical practitioners who perform abortions for a minimum of $10,000 as well as any legal costs incurred. A person would be liable to pay $10,000 for each abortion performed or induced Abortions, under this law, would only be available without the threat of civil action if a fetal heartbeat isn’t detected or if the physician believes that an abortion is necessary due to a medical emergency. The act also provided exemptions when the patient was impregnated through rape, sexual assault, incest, or through another traumatic sexual crime. A fetal heartbeat is most commonly found via ultrasound within six weeks into pregnancy, however it can be found as early as five weeks, Medical News Today reported. In a study conducted by Amy M. Braum and Katherine A. Ahrens for Matern Child Health, published in 2018, they found that women remain unaware of their pregnancies until between 5 and 6 weeks gestation. A total of six states have introduced and passed laws that limit abortions to six weeks since last menstrual period. However, only three of them are currently enforced. The rest are facing either temporary or permanent freezes from court orders. The three states that have passed such bills are Texas, Ohio and South Carolina. South Carolina’s abortion restriction notably includes exceptions for abortions caused by rape, incest, and lethal fetal anomalies regardless of a fetal heartbeat. During the initial hearing for the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee (HELP) within the San Andreas Senate, held on June the 5th, SADEM’s Minority Leader Diana Jones expressed her concerns surrounding using a “fetal heartbeat” as a cutoff point. The Preservation of Life Act of 2022 is similar to a law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2021; the Texas Heartbeat Act. The Texas Heartbeat Act likewise enables citizens to sue medical practitioners for carrying out abortions once a fetal heartbeat is found. The Texas Heartbeat Act was the first act of its kind where citizens were able to sue others for abortions, essentially deputizing them, which led to more Senators from states like Oklohoma, Idaho, and now San Andreas to model their own acts after it. Much like with the Texas Heartbeat Bill, citizens of other states may levy suits against those in this bill. The first case brought to the courts in Texas suing a medical practitioner for carrying out an abortion was by an Arkansas man. Criticism has been levied against the Republican Party and Senator Rossi for the Preservation of Life Act. One person who made their grievances known was the Los Santos County District Attorney Terentiy Schwetz. DA Schwetz released a press statement condemning the act and dubbed the discussions surrounding the act in the senate chamber as “ludicrous.” “My office steadfastly stands against any legislation that purports to 'preserve life' by taking away freedoms which exist under Roe v. Wade - and frankly, even if Roe v. Wade were overturned, my office would STILL support the right of women to have access to abortions.”, wrote Schwetz on June the 10th. “I took office with an oath to preserve the constitutional rights of San Andreas citizens, and I hold that if this bill passes it will be a terrible day for our beautiful state and a grave violation of our State's constitution.” While the bill makes no note of any criminal action being taken against the women nor practitioners who either perform or induce abortion, Schwetz acknowledged that, if that were to change, his office wouldn’t prosecute. He wrote that “We certainly would never prevent women from exercising their rights as it concerns decisions regarding their own bodies” The Chairman of the Republican Party, Jonathan Spencer, later condemned the District Attorney through a party press release. The party contested Schwetz’s claim that victims of violent sexual crimes were vulnerable under the Preservation of Life Act, citing section V (e) of the act. Section V (e) aims to nullify the law in cases where violent sexual crimes were committed. "I find it very amusing that the District Attorney's office is clearly commenting on a bill that they haven't bothered reading, which begs the question, did the District Attorney read the bill?”, wrote Chairman Spencer. DA Schwets listed victims of violent crimes as one of two noted reasons why abortions shouldn’t be restricted. He wrote in his press release that “we have women who cannot afford the burden of being a mother, we have victims of violent sex crimes, we have people who could not support children who seek this process in order to ensure that if they make the decision to have a baby, they can eventually properly support them.” Criticism also came from Senator Rudy Benson (R). Senator Benson initially supported the bill as a co-sponsor, however, as criticism grew against the bill, his office released a statement deeming the bill unconstitutional and expressed his intent to vote against the bill. “While I am a proud Republican, I have always made clear that I am a moderate and will not give into political extremes.”, Senator Benson wrote. “I have a duty to my constituents and cannot in good consciousness endorse such a draconian and unconstitutional proposal. Let me be clear. I, Senator Benson, will not be the vote that gets this terrible proposal passed.” Chairman Spencer and the SAGOP later released a press statement condemning Benson following his statement, where Spencer claimed that Benson expressed support to them in private. Spencer dismissed the claims that the law itself is unconstitutional due to the difficulties of it being challenged in a court of law. Spencer wrote that "Senator Benson, of all people, should know the most, having called the bill unconstitutional when I know very well that the law will be extremely difficult to challenge in court due to its unique enforcement mechanism, which prohibits state officials from enforcing the law and instead authorizes private individuals to sue anyone who performs or assists in an abortion.” The Texas Heartbeat Act has faced numerous challenges in court from pro-choice groups, however the courts in Texas has allowed the act to stand. One of the difficulties that this challenged against this act faces, as well as the difficulties that challenges against the Preservation of Life Act would face if passed, is that, due to state officials not enforcing the bill and enforcement is placed upon private citizens, court justices and attorneys cannot be sued on the grounds that the act isn’t constitutional. The SAGOP's bill is currently awaiting a hearing from the senate’s HELP committee. The hearing remains unscheduled, and the senate is seeking healthcare professionals to weigh in with expert advice during the hearing. During the first hearing on the Preservation of Life Act, which was held on June the 9th, Senator Jackie Lu expressed her support for the bill where she said “as long a fetus has a heartbeat, it's alive.” In a previous statement written for the Daily News however, given on May the 15th, Lu cited socioeconomic reasons as to why a woman may wish to seek abortion and expressed her desire to keep abortions accessible for these reasons. She wrote that “We will not be denied the authority to make choices about our own bodies. I will not stop working until everyone, and I mean everyone, regardless of poverty, zip code, or race, has access to safe, legal, and accessible abortions. If [women] are not prepared. How can you maintain a child if you are still in education with over more than $50,000's in student debt? The correct response is no; you cannot.” The San Andreas Democratic Party as a whole expressed their stance against the bill on June the 24th, where they shared and supported Democrat Senator Kaoru King-Yagami’s (D) post on Facebrowser. The SADEM’s social media page wrote “Every woman has the right to choose” as well as a brief sentence reaffirming the party's pro-choice stance alongside King-Yagami’s post. Senator King-Yagami wrote from his Facebrowser account that he will “fight to the bitter end” to ensure a woman has access to abortions. He wrote “I would like to make it abundantly clear; I believe in a woman's right to choose. I will fight to the bitter end for a woman's right to make the choices about anything to do with her bodily autonomy.” SADEM’s Minority Leader in the Senate, Diana Jones, called upon other republican senators to vote against the Preservation of Life Act in a press release on the repeal of the Roe v. Wade ruling. “The San Andreas State Senate currently faces a Republican majority, and while Republican Chairman Jonathan Spencer and President Pro Tempore Adrian Rossi have made their stances clear, I have faith the other Republican senators of the senate to block their attempts at taking women's rights away. “ In the same press release, Minority Leader Jones announced her and the party’s intent to submit a bill to amend the San Andreas Constitution to include provisions to secure abortions; intending to give the same securities provided from the ruling from Roe v. Wade. “I will move to enshrine women's rights to have an abortion in our own state's constitution. Abortion has been a constitutional right for half a decade, and I will fight to keep it that way. My office stands with women. We believe abortion care is health care and we will not stop working to defend these most basic, and truly personal freedoms.” For a law to pass in the San Andreas senate, it would need a majority of senators to rule in favor. There are currently six republican and four democrat senators. If senators vote according to party lines, where Republicans vote in favor and Democrats vote against, the Republican's Preservation of Life act will most likely pass through the senate and the Democrat's bill to amend the San Andreas Constitution would be expected to fail. However, with Senator Benson (R) expressing their intent to vote against, and Senator Lu (D) stating their support for the republican's bill on the 5th, the bills' future remain uncertain. Comments are enabled: Username: Comment:
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