The Weekend Desk Report

1. Audio TrackNotes: Peak Preakness.

The Cavs fatten up the bankroll; six horses to look at. Plus: The Streets of Baltimore.

2. The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #51: Bulloney.

WTF was that? Plus: Here Come The Mighty Ducks; The Mighty Cubs; The Mighty Ramblers; The Chicago Fire Did Something This Week; and The Mighty Ramblers.

3. NSA Whistleblower William Binney: Seeking Blackmail Power, U.S. Officials Enabled 9/11.

"William Binney, a 31-year NSA veteran, blew the whistle on the agency when he realized technology that he had developed to protect Americans was being used to spy on them.

"In a wide-ranging, 45-minute discussion (produced by Josh Scheer with support from KPFK Radio), he and Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer discussed who's responsible for the surveillance, how authorities' desire for blackmail power was a factor in their failure to stop the 9/11 attacks, and more."

4. Zip Code Kids.

"Youth violence, [new U.S. attorney general Loretta] Lynch said efforts to prevent youth violence must be intensified and continue 'until a child's ZIP code does not dictate that child's future.'"

Just like school "reformers" say that a child's ZIP code should not decide a child's future.

And so on. Just fill in the blank.

But ZIP codes largely do decide kids' futures.

So maybe let's reform that, instead of trying to reform the effects of that through all manner of problematic schemes.

5. Black Hole Homan.

It's absolutely bizarre that the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin doesn't mention Homan Square in this story.

*

"In 2013, the Chicago Police Department made 143,398 arrests, according to data that FDLA acquired from CPD via the Freedom of Information Act.

"Only 302 had an attorney at any point while they were in police custody, a total of 0.2 percent."

*

"In efforts to increase the number of arrestees who have counsel upon their arrest, [First Defense Legal Aid] is involved in ongoing discussions with CPD regarding signs in police stations that inform people of their rights upon arrest.

At a meeting April 23 that was attended by representatives of CPD, FDLA, the Cook County public defender's office, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Chicago Coalition for Police Accountability, representatives of the police department agreed to conduct an internal audit by the end of May to ensure that the signs are visible.

"We are moving to get into full compliance," said Chief Juan Rivera of CPD's bureau of internal affairs. "We have discovered some signage that needs to be updated and other areas that need additional signage."

So the CPD is clearly not in compliance.

*

"But, he said, the '0.2 percent' figure is misleading.

Rivera said CPD ensures that arrestees have access to a phone call, which they receive once they are in lockup. In his experience, many people use their phone call not to call an attorney but to call family for bond money.

"Most people realize that in most cases, they are going to be bonded out," he said. "So what do they achieve by bringing an attorney to the facility unless the attorney is bonding them out?"

First, it's not up to the police to decide if anything will be achieved by bringing an attorney to the station. Second, most people probably don't have the number of a lawyer handy; calling a family member is akin to calling an attorney because the family can, you know, find one. I know that in my one phone call, I would call family or a friend and ask that they find me an attorney.

*

Irony Alert:

"Earlier this month we were made aware that the FBI was conducting an investigation into past police involved shootings. The investigation came to light after reports that FBI agents were approaching Officers at their homes unannounced. The Officers properly declined to answer any questions without an attorney present, and contacted the Lodge immediately."

6. From our very own Tim Willette:

I was really bummed to read this story - from the headline I assumed they're planning to build an Ed Debevic's Tower!

7. Also from our very own Tim Willette, re: Jeb Bush:

"I thought she said 'Chiraq.'"

8. Yay! We Got The Obama Library!

"(President Barack Obama's) national security beliefs are closer to Bush than he ever let on in the campaign," Risen said. "As I've said before, he is the greatest enemy of press freedom we've had since Richard Nixon."

-

Programming Note
The Beachwood Radio Hour is in pre-production.

-

The Sound Opinions Weekend Listening Report: "The legend of Joy Division continues to grow decades after the death of frontman Ian Curtis. Peter Hook, founding bassist for both Joy Division and its successor New Order, joins Jim and Greg to set the record straight on the mythology surrounding his influential bands. Later, a review of the new release from indietronica artist Passion Pit."

-

TweetWood
A sampling.

@tanehisicoates @VoxPVoxD If I can look back on my life and know I said fuck you to an unjust world I'll be alright with that.

— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) May 15, 2015

*

How I live my life has actual meaning. As much meaning--perhaps more meaning--than convincing other people.

— Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) May 15, 2015

*

To take on his next fake opponent RT @ILCampaignCash: A1: $27,000.00 in 10 contribs to Friends of Michael J Madigan. http://t.co/1YSTq4Q6ut

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) May 15, 2015

-

The Weekend Desk Tip Line: Mean it.

© 2006 - 2022, The Beachwood Media Company