Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Stephanie LaTour

@stephanielatour.bsky.social

1K followers 480 following 430 posts

32 years as a federal labor lawyer, now retired. Aghast at obscene inequality, which the current plutocracy is only going to worsen. CREDIT: "So what did you think would happen?" was made by Brooklyn artist and carpenter Shawn Gargagliano.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · 6d

I seriously doubt that Liz Cheney said this. Please don't circulate fake crap like this.

1 1

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · 16d

Thank you for reporting on this, Claudia I.A.

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 26

Anyway, that's my unsolicited advice for the Mamdani campaign, going into the November election. I want him to win! And I don't want any such "unforced errors" to turn reasonable Jewish voters against him.

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 26

So, my point is: Mamdani would do well to retract his defense of "intifada" loudly and clearly. Even assuming he's not anti-semitic, he MUST understand that defending such a violence- tinged word was, at the very least, insensitive.

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 26

You wouldn't believe how quickly Mamdani's defense of "intifada" spread among Jewish voters here in NYC, who were genuinely alarmed. Realistically, most voters are not going to go back and listen to the whole interview and become "comfortable" with it.

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 26

Yes, Blake, I've read the whole interview, and I (like you) am personally "comfortable" with Mamdani's response. But that's not how politics works! Very few people are going to listen to his whole defense of "intifada" in context.

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 26

Another win for AFGE! Let's go!!

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 26

I don't think Mamdani is anti-semitic. BUT he needs to stop doing tone-deaf things like defending the phrase "globalize the intifada." Comes across as insensitive to legitimate fears of violence against Jews, Hamas attacks against Israeli citizens, etc.

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 26

Yes, absolutely. I believe that's probably why so many municipal unions endorsed him. Didn't want to be on his bad side if he won.

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 25

Isn't "deputy mayor" a thing?

1 3

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 24

TODAY IS THE DAY! Rank Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani as #1 and #2. And DON'T RANK CUOMO at all!

Brad Lander @bradlander.bsky.social · Jun 24

Good morning, New York City. Happy Election Day!

If you haven’t voted yet, check your polling site and get to the ballot box from 6:00 AM-9:00 PM! And make sure to bring water—we’re in for record-breaking heat.

findmypollsite.vote.nyc

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 23

Bless these 1199 members for speaking out against their union's endorsement of Cuomo for mayor! I hope it's not too late.

Amir Khafagy @amirkhafagy.bsky.social · Jun 23

Exclusive 🚨

Rank-and-File Members Push Their Union to Rescind Cuomo Endorsement

Ahead of the NYC Democratic mayoral primary election, members of 1199SEIU say union leadership endorsed Cuomo without member input

My latest for @documentedny.bsky.social
documentedny.com/2025/06/23/r...

Rank-and-File Members Push Their Union to Rescind Cuomo Endorsement - Documented

Ahead of the NYC Democratic primary election, members of 1199SEIU say union leadership endorsed Cuomo without member input.

documentedny.com

1 3

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 23

Thanks for reporting on this, Amir Khafagy!

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 21

Really, shockingly bad, even as just a legal argument. The U.S. Constitution, even as originally drafted by "the founders," contained a mechanism for amending it! And the Constitution WAS amended to give non-white people equality and voting rights.

1 1

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 21

I remember every sordid detail from back then. I wish more NYC voters remembered them!

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 19

Yes, you're right. I stand corrected.

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 19

I'll never get over the Dem. Senators voting to confirm shitheads like Noem and RFK Jr. And I'll never forgive Schumer for failing to do everything in his power to block the votes! We NYers *begged* but he refused to listen!!

1 1

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 19

No, Bloomberg always wanted rich guys to control the world.

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 19

I don't think a PAC can donate millions directly to a campaign. But a PAC can spend millions on supposedly-independent campaign ads. We NYC voters are being FLOODED with mailers, TV ads, etc. funded by such PACs right now.

1 3

Reposted by Stephanie LaTour

Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · Jun 18

The individual maximum a person can donate to a NYC mayoral candidate is $2100.

Mike Bloomberg just donated $8.3 million to Andrew Cuomo through a super PAC.

This is what a rigged campaign finance system, designed to let the wealthy buy elections, looks like.

110 1K 2.1K

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 16

I happen to live 2 blocks from where Sammy Cohen was killed by a car in Brooklyn several years ago. (Sammy was the same age as my twin sons, and they were all on the same soccer team.) His parents also became devoted street-safety advocates.

1 1

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 16

Jay, new follower here. I'm so unbelievably sorry about the loss of your daughter. Thank you for everything you do for street safety, and for the world in general.

1 1

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 14

TODAY!

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 13

I learned that the India Point protest was organized by Indivisible RI. A separate "50501" group organized a protest / picnic / food drive at the State House. The 2 events seem to have slightly different emphases: traditional protest with signs, speeches, etc. vs. community-building?

Stephanie LaTour @stephanielatour.bsky.social · Jun 12

To clarify, there are two different "No Kings" events in PVD. I'm going to the 1:00 - 3:00 protest in India Point park, organized by Indivisible. (A separate group of people affiliated with 50501 organized a community event / picnic / food drive at the R.I. State House, 12:00 - 2:00.)