Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 10 augusT 2017
640,000 NYC warrants for old summonses tossed in 1 day

ficials’ efforts to promote did Bronx DA Darcel Clark
what they see as a more fair and Manhattan DA Cyrus
and workable approach to R. Vance Jr. Queens DA
low-level offenses. But one Richard Brown’s office also
of the city’s five district at- participated.
torneys said the dismissals But Staten Island DA Mi-
sent a problematic signal chael McMahon steered
about law-breaking. clear.
Applause broke out among “I believe that issuing blan-
politicians, clergy members ket amnesty for these of-
and others gathered in fenses is unfair to those
a Brooklyn courtroom af- citizens who responsibly
ter 143,532 warrants there appear in court and sends
were cleared in no longer the wrong message about
than it took Criminal Court the importance of respect-
Judge Frederick Arriaga to ing our community and our
say: “The court will grant laws,” he said in a state-
the motion to dismiss each ment, noting that he’s sup-
case for the furtherance ported initiatives that invite
of justice.” “Someone who people to appear in person
owes a $25 fine should not to clear their records. All
Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, second left, discusses during a news conference, be arrested and brought five DAs are Democrats.
his office’s request to dismiss about 143,000 arrest warrants for people who didn’t pay tickets down to central booking The warrants date back
for minor offenses years ago, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Wednesday Aug. 9, 2017. He is flanked by New and spend 20 or 24 hours a decade or longer and
York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, left, and New York City Public Advocate Letitia in a cell next to a hard- stem from summonses for
James, third left. ened criminal. That’s not nonviolent, small-scale of-
(AP Photo/Jennifer Peltz)
fair, and that’s not justice,” fenses such as littering,
By JENNIFER PELTZ Wednesday threw out The move — requested acting Brooklyn District At- open-container drinking,
Associated Press more than 640,000 warrants by prosecutors and hailed torney Eric Gonzalez said being in a park after hours
NEW YORK (AP) — In a for New Yorkers ticketed for by the mayor — marks a after going to court himself or walking an unleashed
single morning, courts on minor offenses years ago. sweeping step in city of- to make the request, as dog. q
Utah’s $1.9 billion claim from mine spill reveals no details

By DAN ELLIOTT Protection Agency for a but it offers no specifics. ated Press Wednesday. from the inactive Gold King
Associated Press multi-state mine waste spill The Utah Attorney Gener- The claim stems from the re- Mine in southwestern Colo-
Utah’s $1.9 billion claim says Utah’s water, soil and al’s Office provided a copy lease of 3 million gallons (11 rado in August 2015. An
against the Environmental wildlife were damaged, of the claim to The Associ- million liters) of wastewater EPA-led contractor crew
inadvertently triggered the
spill.
The spill polluted rivers in
Colorado, New Mexico
and Utah and turned some
waterways an orange-yel-
low color.
Indian lands were also af-
fected.
Farmers and utilities tem-
porarily stopped drawing
water from the rivers, and
rafting companies had to
suspend operations. The
EPA said water quality
quickly returned to pre-spill
levels.
Utah’s claim from the spill is
believed to be the largest
of 144 filed under the Fed-
eral Tort Claims Act, which
allows people to seek gov-
ernment compensation
without a lawsuit.
The claims seek payment
for lost crops, livestock,
wages and income and
other damages.
The Navajo Nation filed a
claim for $162 million and
the state of New Mexico
for $130 million.
Both have also filed law-
suits against the federal
government.q