A2IM's CEO Richard James Burgess Speaks Out
On FCC Net Neutrality Vote
"A2IM (American Association of Independent Music) is extremely disappointed in the FCC's decision today to repeal net neutrality rules.
This decision will disadvantage all the small and medium-sized enterprises, including the ones that make up our membership, and will negatively affect innovation.
This is a fundamentally anti-democratic action that will have unintended consequences for the American economy for decades to come." - Richard James Burgess, CEO A2IM
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About A2IM:
A2IM is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit trade organization headquartered in New York City that exists to support and strengthen the independent recorded music sector. Membership currently includes a broad coalition of more than 500 Independently-owned American music labels. A2IM represents these independently owned small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. In doing so, it supports a key segment of America's creative class that represents America's diverse musical cultural heritage. Billboard Magazine identified the Independent music label sector as 37.32 percent of the music industry's U.S. recorded music sales market in 2016 based on copyright ownership, making Independent labels collectively the largest music industry sector.
The organization's board of directors consists of the following: ATO Vice President Stephanie Alexa, President of Concord Music Group Glen Barros, Redeye Co-Owner Glenn Dicker, INgrooves EVP & General Manager Amy Dietz, Co-President of Mom+Pop Music Thaddeus Rudd, Big Machine COO Andrew Kautz, Beggars Group Founder/CEO Martin Mills, Hopeless Records Owner Louis Posen, Kill Rock Stars President Portia Sabin, Secretly Label Group Co-Owner Darius Van Arman and Razor & Tie President Vic Zaraya.
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Santaquin death row dog case dismissed
Dog sentenced to death in Santaquin, Utah charges dropped Dec. 14, 2017
The Humane Society of Utah (HSU) announced that a settlement was reached between Santaquin City and dog owner Lindsy Bray regarding a sentence requiring the Bray family dog, Dexter, a 5-year-old Australian Shepherd, to be euthanized for allegedly biting a 12-year-old girl Oct. 20, 2016. Attorney and President of HSU, Craig S. Cook and Santaquin City attorney, Brett Rich attended a hearing Thursday morning, Dec. 14 before the Honorable Jared Eldridge to finalize an agreement. Bray pleaded guilty to Dexter running at large, not having current rabies shots, and not having a city license tag in exchange for the city dropping the vicious dog charge and court-ordered euthanasia of Dexter.
On Oct. 21, 2017, Cook filed a motion on behalf of Lindsy Bray to dismiss the charges against her, contending that the Santaquin City ordinance violated both state and federal constitutional protections.
“We’re pleased with the agreement,” said Cook. “We are very happy that the Bray family can enjoy the upcoming holidays together as a family and not worry about Dexter being taken from them.”
Santaquin City filed charges against Lindsy Bray January 2017. According to the Oct. 20, 2016 police report, the dog did not "break any skin," but Santaquin's ordinance defines a vicious dog as "a dog that has bitten, clawed, attacked, chased, harassed, pursued or worried a person without provocation."
Bray contested the charge in the Santaquin Justice Court but was found guilty by the judge. Mandatory euthanasia of Dexter was the only option available to the court under the existing Santaquin City ordinance. In order to save Dexter from death, Bray filed an appeal to the 4th District Court located in Spanish Fork, Utah.
“We’re so relieved that this nightmare is over,” said Lindsy Bray. “We’ve lived in fear of losing our family member for the past year and can finally relax knowing his life is no longer in danger.”
HSU hopes that the new Santaquin City Council will amend the city ordinance regarding dogs in order to eliminate the necessity of further legal action being taken in 2018.
The Humane Society of Utah submitted proposed amendments to the existing ordinance based on other animal control ordinance language from cities similar in size to Santaquin City. The changes included definitions for a “dangerous dog,” a “vicious dog,” an “attack” and “serious bodily injury.” The proposed ordinance also allowed better protection for the city and working dogs. On Sept. 6, 2017, the Santaquin City Council rejected any changes to the existing ordinance by a vote of three to two in favor of maintain the mandatory death penalty for a “vicious dog.”
Dexter was poisoned in the Bray’s backyard Nov. 1, 2017. The Humane Society of Utah offered a reward of $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. No suspect has been charged at this time.
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About the Humane Society of Utah
The Humane Society of Utah is dedicated to the elimination of pain, fear and suffering in all animals. Since 1960, the HSU has been sheltering homeless animals, fighting cruelty and neglect, and creating an environment of respect, responsibility, and compassion for all animals across the state of Utah. HSU is the largest open-admissions shelter in the state and welcomes any companion animal that can legally be admitted. As a member of the No-Kill Utah (NKUT) Coalition, the HSU works hard to ensure that every healthy and treatable pet that enters the facility will be placed into a loving home. The Humane Society of Utah is a local, private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that does not receive any state tax dollars or government funding. HSU is funded by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses and foundations. Read more about the HSU online at www.utahhumane.org.
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Judicial Watch Sues FBI for Records About Removal of Former Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok From Mueller Operation
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch today filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for records about the removal and reassignment of Peter Strzok, a former deputy to the assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, from the special counsel’s investigative team led by former FBI director Robert Mueller. Strzok also was the FBI’s second in command of counterintelligence and chief of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s illicit email server, interviewing Hillary Clinton himself on July 2, 2016.
The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia after the FBI failed to respond to an August 17, 2017, FOIA request (Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Federal Bureau of Investigation (No. 1:17-cv-02682)). Judicial Watch seeks:
According to reports (here and here) Strzok was reportedly removed from the Mueller investigative team in August and reassigned to a human resources position after it was discovered that he and another FBI lawyer, Lisa Page, who worked for FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and with whom Strzok was carrying on an extramarital affair, “exchanged text messages during the Clinton investigation and campaign season in which they expressed anti-Trump sentiments and other comments that appeared to favor Clinton.”
Strzok reportedly oversaw the FBI’s interviews of former National Security Adviser, General Michael Flynn; changed former FBI Director James Comey’s language about Hillary Clinton’s actions regarding her illicit email server from “grossly negligent” to “extremely careless;” played a lead role in the FBI’s interview of Clinton and is suspected of being responsible for using the unverified dossier to obtain a FISA warrant in order to spy on President Trump’s campaign.
“It is disturbing the FBI has stonewalled our request about the Mr. Strzok demotion for four months,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “One can only conclude the FBI and Justice Department (including Mr. Mueller’s operation) wanted to hide the truth about how Strzok’s and Page’s political biases and misconduct have compromised both the Clinton email and Russia collusion investigations.”
Agent Strzok’s texts about Hillary Clinton and President Trump are responsive to another Judicial Watch FOIA lawsuit, but have not yet been produced by the FBI.
