Structural Patterns

If there’s one thing that the last four years of Trump have taught us, it is that we can generally do whatever the hell we want, unless of course it’s visibly criminal (police aside). And through the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have even become more brazen.

This morning, the first day of early voting for NYC – October 24th 2020 – when I saw a bunch of Caribbeans in line to vote at our usual voting site at Caton & Rugby, I told them that early voting is at Queens Theater but they all looked at me suspiciously. I repeated it loudly due to mask and physical distance three times and finally one lady engaged me, repeated what I had just old her and thanked me. However, when I walked away they remained in line. So clearly a sign was necessary. Back home, I pulled out my largest drawing paper and a fat sharpie. First I lettered in with pencil findmypoll.vote.nyc – which is wrong and I need to fix as it is findmypollsite.vote.nyc and then went over it with sharpie. And with it I retuned to the school entrance leading to the gym where voting will occur on November 3rd.

While placing a sign a man with his Caribbean accent approached me “Excuse me sir, where can I vote?” I told him Queens Theater on Flatbush and he asked “is it open tomorrow?” Not sure, I pulled out my phone searched voting site with him went to findmypollsite.vote.nyc, he gave me his address without hesitation and we saw Queens Theater come up, I was slightly relieved I had told him the right place and that it’s open tomorrow. He was grateful. And I didn’t even need to concoct a uniform!

Everyone needs to mobolize!

On the California 2020 ballot is Proposition 24, Consumer Personal Information Law and Agency Initiative (2020):

A “yes” vote supports this ballot initiative to expand the state’s consumer data privacy laws, including provisions to allow consumers to direct businesses to not share their personal information; remove the time period in which businesses can fix violations before being penalized; and create the Privacy Protection Agency to enforce the state’s consumer data privacy laws.

Just as California is leading the United States toward a cleaner environment, California will lead the charge toward a more just internet, one in which corporations such as FaceBook do not profiteer on our personal data. Let’s hope that this proposition moves us toward laws akin to what is in place in Europe. If anyone should monetize on ones personal data is the individual themself. VOTE YES ON PROP 24