Last night, the New York State Senate approved Governor Andrew Cuomo’s bill, and Cuomo signed it into law just before midnight. Provided nothing gets in the way, LGBT couples will be able to get hitched starting in late July, making us the sixth state to legalize marriage equality.

Want your state to get on board too? Wear a White Knot in support of marriage equality and tell people why you’re wearing it when they ask. Explain why you believe in marriage equality if you have the time and they’re willing to listen. Tell them why it matters to us even if it doesn’t matter to them.

The more they do, the more confused I get about their choice of occupation. I mean, why would you be a cabby in the ghetto if you hate black people? What could possibly make you consider a profession that forces you to spend a good amount of time in a rolling box with the very people you hate? In some cases, it’s gotta be that they really just can’t do anything else. Because Jesus, these people are stupid.

For example, did you know all the violent criminals in the US, and especially in Schenectady, are either drug dealers or drug addicts? No one has ever been arrested for beating, raping, stabbing, shooting, mutilating, or killing another human being who wasn’t involved with drugs in some way. And the second they arrest one young blood drug dealer (who’s black, by the way), another one takes his place, and starts hurting people again.

Yeah… that’s what yesterday’s cabby said in response to my comment on New York’s police force seeming to be more interested in drug busts than murders and assaults. “That’s because the murderers and assaulters are all drug dealers and drug addicts. It’s all over money and drugs.”

o.O

But Rayne! My cousin’s sister’s aunt’s best friend’s uncle tried meth just one time, and he was hooked, and started stealing and stuff to get money for it. And someone caught him stealing their stuff, and he went nuts, and killed them.

I hear ya! Drugs do bad things to good people, and some violent criminals were on drugs when they were picked up. But “some” is not “all”, and just as many armed robberies are about the person being flat broke and having to feed their family as they are about drug money. Desperate times, and all that.

For that matter, I’d venture to say that your cousin’s sister’s aunt’s best friend’s uncle is more to blame than the meth. Being a former addict, I can tell you there’s a moment where you go, “Hmm… I wonder if I’m just a little too into this. Maybe I should quit.” I don’t know that I met any addicts at rehab who didn’t say they had similar thoughts. Many say they make a conscious decision not to care before spiraling out of control. I mean, no one really thinks it can happen to them, you know?

“Oh, whatever. I can stop whenever I want. It’ll take a lot more than a couple lines here, a few more there, to get me addicted.”

Not to mention the conscious decision the addict makes to try the drug in the first place. There are very few people who aren’t subjected to some form of drug abuse prevention therapy at some age in these great United States.

The thing about a drug dealer is, usually, the hustler on the street, or behind the door at the knock spot, is just a cog in the wheel. The cashier at the grocery store. A dude trying to make a buck to feed himself and his family. Half of them only own weapons because of who they have to deal with, and the dangers surrounding being a drug dealer, not because they actively seek to use it. The vast majority of the ones I’ve known intentionally keep their weapons in a place only they know, out of reach, and never look at it again unless they’re cleaning it, or find themselves in a position where they have to use it.

I’ve known a couple who had never been in a fight. I’ve known a couple who only fight in defense of themselves or those around them. I’ve known a couple who found themselves in a position to defend a stranger on the street in a situation they knew nothing about, or just walk on by, and they stopped and saved the stranger.

And I’ve known a couple who would just as soon kill you as look at you. But they are in the minority, by far, and usually didn’t come up right to begin with, so they were gonna go bad whether they got involved with drugs or not.

And, naturally, you’ve got the psychotic, power hungry thug often portrayed on television, or the big screen. They’re even fewer and farther between, and they’re easily deflated. Just plop someone in front of them who is completely unfazed by their abuse, and isn’t really afraid to die. They become completely confused, retreat to a dark room to try and figure out how to hurt the person, and finally just wither and die.

Okay, maybe that last is wishful thinking. The psychotic thugs seem to have nine lives. So maybe use nine people who are unfazed?

Let’s say there’s no need to point out that some drug dealers are the equivalent of a WalMart cashier. Let’s, instead, point out to these ignoramuses the fact that most serial killers are white males, and plenty of white people have been arrested for and convicted of armed robbery, assault, possession of drugs with intent to sell. Hell, the chief of police up here was arrested for heading a drug ring, and he’s white!

While the cabby is correct in his belief that in order to do away with the drug-related violence, we have to go after the people involved, he’s completely wrong about which people we should be going after.

We shouldn’t be arresting the weed dealer on the street because the crack dealer behind the window killed a crackhead for looking at him funny. We shouldn’t be putting nonviolent criminals behind bars for the majority of their lives because other people who choose their illegal line of work think they have the right to go around hurting people who piss them off. That’s like hating all bus drivers because one of them intentionally splashed water out of the gutter on your brand new thousand dollar suit. Or deciding to put down all the pit bulls in the world because a few that weren’t properly cared for hurt children. Or executing all the AIDS patients because a few assholes are going around intentionally infecting people.

I’d love to see stories in the news about the dealers I knew who were constantly trying to find and hold down a legitimate job, and barely covering their bills with the money they made selling drugs. I’d love to see an exposé on the ones who try really hard to hold their families together, and don’t go to work till their kids are in bed, and make sure to be there when they wake up, and keep it completely separate from their families. Or even the ones who are heavily involved in the community, and not the way the mafia was–or is, depending on who you ask.

But you might not even see that if pot is legalized. I think even if that happens, it’ll be demonized. Just like alcohol, and cigarettes, and now carbs, and trans fat, and gluten, and high fructose corn syrup.

Anyway… That’s all I’ve got to say about that.

One of my dreams, since I was a little girl, has been to see “the city that never sleeps”.  I would imagine the bright lights and tall buildings and constant sirens and hustle and bustle…

But the one thing that never touched my dream world was the complete lack of humanity New Yorkers display on occasion.

I’m not sure I want to go to New York City anymore.  I’ll certainly be calling 911 from a distance, rather than aiding someone in trouble if I do go, now.

Hugo Alfredo Tale-Yax, a homeless man in Queens, was victim to New York’s lack of humanity after saving a woman who was attacked with a knife.  Hugo fell to the ground and lie dying on the sidewalk as more than twenty people walked around him, staring as they passed, and never lifting a finger to help him.  Two people stood beside him chatting.  A man came out of the store to take a picture with his cell phone.  Another person bent and shook him, but continued walking when he didn’t wake.

What’s confusing me the most is police were called to the area and claim to have seen nothing.  While I realize seeing a homeless man lying on the side of the road isn’t an unusual occurrence in New York City, do the police not even ask them to move along anymore?

Maybe the people who weren’t there when it happened can excuse it away by assuming someone called someone already.  Or that he was just passed out drunk.  Maybe.  I mean, he wasn’t moving at all, and he was laid on his face.

But the people who were there when it happened? The girl he saved?! Why did no one call anyone?

Is this what we’re coming to, America? A country so apathetic we don’t even care about the diamonds in the rough anymore?

I cried for Hugo, this morning.  And I cried for our humanity.  I hope you did, too.

Do you live in or around Schenectady, New York? Have you used one of our parks or bike trails or playgrounds? Then you’re darn right I’m talking to you.  So I ask you again, what are you doing Saturday, May 22nd?

This morning we stopped down to the Muddy Cup to grab some coffee, and I noticed a flier taped to the wall for Project SKIP (Schenectady Kids Imagine and Play).  They’re still looking for volunteers.  So far, they’ve got around 150 people getting involved. 

If you live in or around Schenectady, you’ve probably heard of Hamilton Hill and Vale.  Chances are, unless you live there, you avoid these neighborhoods like the plague.  But some of us, here in Schenectady, still see the beauty this city has to offer and are trying to clean it up.

To this end, on Saturday, May 22nd, citizens will gather to revitalize and rebuild Jerry Burrell Park and the spirit of the community.

Here’s what you’ll find in the pamphlet:

The Vision of Project SKIP

The ultimate goal of Project SKIP is to construct, trough the community build model, a new playground in Jerry Burrell Park.

What makes a community-built playground special is that the success of this project relies on the involvement of the local community.

Local citizens, like you, are assisting in designing, fundraising, and will even be constructing (usually in one day) the new play structure.

With its emphasis on community involvement, Project SKIP provides an opportunity to not only revitalize Jerry Burrell Park, but the spirit of the community itself.

Origin of Project SKIP

In December of 2007, several Union College students traveled to New Orleans to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.  While there, one of the projects they worked on was a community-built playground.

Struck by how the playground brought the community together to really help better their own community, they thought, “Why not Schenectady?”

How to Accomplish This Dream

Design: Local residents who are mothers, daycare providers, and people just like you worked with a qualified playground vendor to design the new playground.

Fundraising: This project will cost approximately $80,000.  In order to raise the necessary funds, fundraisers will be held throughout the community.

The Build Team: In the months leading up to the build, we will be recruiting volunteers to come out to help construct the playground.

Build Day: The build day will bring together all corners of the city to construct our dream playground.

Why Jerry Burrell Park?

Not only is Jerry burrell Park the most utilized park in the city, but the playground equipment is approximately 15 years old, which is the average lifespan of the type of playground currently installed.

In addition to aging, the play structures in place are increasingly difficult to maintain.

By coming together to build a new playground in Jerry Burrell Park, we will be continuing the current efforts to improve both the park and the neighborhood.

How to Get Involved

On May 22, 2010, the build team made up of over 150 residents from all oer Schenectady, will come together to build the playground of our dreams.  Our volunteers will be doing everything from building to serving food to watching over children.

To get involved call: (518)374-2683 -or- Email: prjctskip (at) gmail (dot) com

If you have a community project you’d like to get the word out about (There is no charge.), please contact the webmaster using this form.

I say “used to” because, folks, it seems like times, they be a changin’.  I just got off the phone after having the most pleasant conversation I’ve ever had with a National Grid employee.

Here’s the deal.  Their billing schedule is the exact opposite of M’s payroll schedule.  So we’re always a couple weeks behind.  Which means there’s always a disconnect in my mailbox.

Once upon a time, this was a ginormous cause of worry for me.  NiMo (short for Niagara Mohawk, which was the monster before it became National Grid) hired Satan’s children to work in their customer service offices.  Then they locked them in a room and subjected them to hours of stuffed animals and puppies and kitties.  Then they released them on the general public without a thought or a care as to who might be slain in the process.

Christ himself was afraid.  He told me in a dream.

Okay, I made that up.

Last month, I called National Grid’s customer service line, which, by the way, has improved slightly, in spite of the annoying voice-activated menu.  You can now be transferred via the automated menu to collections, and don’t have to deal with the snotty, “Uh… You have to calllll thhhis numbuh.  I can’t help you heunh.  Okaaaay? Buh-bai.”  You can just hear the bitch’s eye-roll.  And did she actually just suck her teeth at you? Did she miss the “service” part of “customer service” or is she confused as to who the customer is?

The phone was answered by a pleasant sounding man, when I finally got through the annoying menu, which didn’t once stutter on what I told it I wanted.  So either I spoke more clearly than I usually do, or they’ve tweaked it some.  And he proceeded to joyfully extend my disconnection date three days, and then reinstate my payment arrangement pending payment.  Because they don’t actually do business on weekends or holidays (It’s true.  Though their payment arrangements center is open from 8am-1pm on Saturday, they don’t actually disconnect on weekends or holidays.  So if your disconnect or payment arrangement passes on one of these days, you’re safe until the next business day.  For now.  Who knows if they’ll change that in the future.), I had a couple extra days tacked on and ended up with five extra days to pay the bill.  I didn’t actually need five days and paid when I had the money.  But having it was nice. 

As usual, there was a disconnect in my mailbox this month, too.  You’d think they’d notice M’s payment schedule and change the billing cycle, but whatever.  This way probably gets them more money with late fees or interest or something.  (Hint, hint, M.)  M doesn’t get paid till Tuesday and money’s tight.  So I called to see if maybe they’d push it back again.

Another excruciatingly pleasant gentleman answered the phone, calling me “ma’am” and saying “No problem!” a lot.

Quick sidetrack: My bird is absolutely nuts.  Keeps flying laps around the ceiling, screeching as if someone’s trying to kill him, for no apparent reason at all.  Annoying fucker.

Oh… Ghetto squirrel is trying to get in the window again.  Wth?

And he, once again, pushed my disconnect date back.  And once again, I ended up with a day more than I needed because of the weekend.

So far, they haven’t tried to make me pay more than the most recent past due bill to keep my service on.  I’ve not spoken with a single snide, snippy or sarcastic CSR.  And where as I used to be crying two minutes into the phone call, I don’t even consider shedding a tear on the phone with National Grid these days.

I wonder what happened.

Or maybe I’ve just been lucky.

I dunno.  Anyone else have a pleasant experience with them, lately?

The government and National Grid will tell you that’s not true.  They will tell you that there are a number of other energy suppliers in upstate New York.  That you’re more than welcome to take your business elsewhere.  That you can now deal with any number of suppliers and don’t have to deal with National Grid anymore.  They’ve even got a handy-dandy list for both gas and electric customers that you can refer to to find an energy supplier you’d rather deal with.

When citizens got fed up with the constant rise in price and utter disregard for an already impoverished people, New York started a program called “Your Energy… Your Choice” which, they said, would allow other energy suppliers access to the power lines in upstate New York and give citizens the option to stop using (and, by default, supporting) National Grid.  I looked into switching recently but found out that National Grid still owns the power lines.  And instead of the other energy suppliers renting the lines from National Grid, customers have to pay a monthly fee to National Grid to use the lines.

You don’t even get a bill from the actual energy provider you decide to go with.  All of the billing is done through National Grid.  So even if you’re getting your energy from someone else, you have to pay National Grid for service.  The only way to avoid dealing with National Grid in upstate New York is to live in an area covered by NYSEG, which, from what I understand, isn’t much better than National Grid.

As if all that isn’t enough, let me tell you about the bull shit we’re dealing with right now.

I’m currently on a payment agreement with National Grid.  I owe a lot of friggin money.  At least half of which is my ex’s fault, but that’s neither here nor there.  I owe them money and I’m trying to pay it off as best I can.

But the economy sucks.  Prices on food, electricity, natural gas, gasoline, housing are all going up and pay rates are staying the same.  We’ve managed to cut a lot of unnecessary stuff out of our budget but shit happens.  Emergencies come up.  And sometimes the budget’s still pretty tight.  Like now.

I had to sign a paper and send it back to confirm that we were agreeing to the arrangement.  Because our finances are what they are and we don’t have access to a fax machine, I had to wait till the day before the paper was supposed to be in to mail it out so I got it in just under the wire.  Which means their system had already sent us a disconnection notice that I received on or around June 7th.

On June 8th, I spoke to someone at National Grid about our payment arrangement.  I asked if they received the payment arrangement paper and if I still had a disconnection on my account.  The person I spoke to quoted me a bill due on June 19th (today) for the amount of $134.01.  With our payment arrangement, that meant we owed $144.01 due today.

Over the past few days, we’ve received three envelopes from National Grid, all with different amounts paid and due.  We were utterly confused.  One invoice said $1700 had been added to my account and I owed $0.  Another said that I owe $395.37 by July 5th.

The final notice we received said this:

We recently confirmed that you have been billed for usage on the wrong gas and electric meters from 10/24/08 to 05/20/09.  This situation has been corrected.  Your account was not debited for the usage you were under-billed for your electric service prior to 05/20/09.  We have re-billed the gas portion of your account for your actual usage resulting in a credit in the amount of $633.76.  The adjustments made are based upon actual readings off your correct meter and are in accordance with Public Service Commission Regulations.

They sum it up by apologizing for any inconvenience this might have caused me.  Which, yeah.  It’s a little inconvenient.  I now owe more than I used to.  But no biggie, right?  Tack it onto the end and I’ll pay it off gradually with the rest, right?

Wrong.

They want $400 of it right effing now.  They cancelled my bill of $134.01 and reissued a bill of $395.37 due by July 5th.

I’m not really understanding their logic, here.  I’m already on a payment arrangement.  The lowest payment arrangement possible according to the rules their collections agents have to follow.  The one they reserve for people in poverty.

So how does it make sense to bill me for 119 days of service – that I would have already paid for if they hadn’t screwed up – all at once?  And how is it even remotely fair?  And how the fuck am I supposed to come up with that kind of money on the 5th when rent is due on the 1st?

So I called.  And the first agent was convinced there was nothing she could do.  So she transferred me to someone else.  Who understood completely and transferred me to her supervisor.

It’s still not fixed.  I’m going to have to call back again.  Instead of lowering the amount they want to charge me right freaking now, they pushed it back a pay cycle.  Which is fine for now.  But then we’ll be at an even larger impass.  How am I going to pay $395.37 + whatever my current bill is?

Doesn’t it make more sense to… tack it on the back and let me pay it off with the rest?  Since it was, in fact, their mistake?  They’re treating it like a past due balance… a bill I just didn’t pay.  But it’s a balance they only just discovered.  So why am I being penalized?