New York
Appeals court grants stay in challenge to state’s gun law
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court Tuesday issued a temporary stay on a lower court judge’s order that pared back enforcement of New York’s new gun law.
The stay from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes eight days after U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby declared multiple portions of the law unconstitutional, including rules that restrict carrying firearms in public parks and some licensing requirements.
New York lawmakers rewrote the state’s handgun laws this summer after a Supreme Court ruling invalidated New York’s old system for granting permits to carry handguns outside the home.
The new law broadly expanded who could get a handgun license, but it increased training requirements for applicants and required them to turn over more private information. The state also created a long list of places where firearms would be banned.
Suddaby last week issued a preliminary injunction halting the state police and local officials named in the lawsuit from enforcing some provisions of the law. On Tuesday, the appeals court issued a stay while it considers a motion from government officials opposing the injunction.
Among the new licensing rules Suddaby found constitutionally flawed was a provision requiring applicants to be of “good moral character,” and another that made applicants turn over information about their social media accounts.
California
Judge delays LA County’s proposal to settle homeless lawsuit
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge overseeing a sweeping lawsuit about the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles has delayed his decision on a settlement proposed by LA County and called a hearing to discuss it further.
Judge David O. Carter on Monday told lawyers for the county and the plaintiff in the lawsuit, the LA Alliance for Human Rights, that their proposed deal fell short of providing an adequate number of beds for homeless residents suffering from mental health and substance abuse problems.
Carter did not outline any changes he expected, but said he would detail them at a hearing scheduled for the third week of January. The judge said he intended to also invite the newly elected mayor and a member of the LA County Board of Supervisors.
The suit was brought in 2020 by the LA Alliance, a coalition that includes businesses, residents, landlords, homeless people and others who allege that inaction by the city and county has created a dangerous environment.
The alliance said in a statement that it was encouraged by the judge’s decision to delay approval.
“While we stand by the deal that we negotiated with the city and the county, we are pleased that Judge Carter shares our desire to see that the people of Los Angeles — both unhoused and housed — receive the greatest possible benefit from this settlement,” the statement said.
Skip Miller, a lawyer for LA County, called the decision to delay disappointing.
Miller said in a statement that “the County is eager to take this major step forward” toward implementing the “landmark agreement that exemplifies the cooperation between the City of LA and County of LA in addressing homelessness.”
LA County announced in September a settlement agreement that commits hundreds of millions of dollars to expand outreach and supportive services for homeless residents.
The city of Los Angeles committed to sheltering thousands of homeless residents as part of its settlement in the lawsuit reached in April. Carter approved the city’s proposal in June.
Massachusetts
Former tribal leader gets 3 years in casino bribery case
BOSTON (AP) — The former leader of a Massachusetts Native American tribe convicted of accepting bribes including exercise equipment and a weekend stay at a luxury hotel from an architectural firm working with the tribe to build a casino has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Cedric Cromwell, former chair of the Mashpee Wampanoags, was also sentenced in U.S. District Court in Boston on Tuesday to a year of probation and was fined $25,000, according to prosecutors.
David DeQuattro, 56, the owner of the Rhode Island architecture and design firm, was sentenced to a year of probation under home confinement and fined $50,000.
The Cape Cod-based tribe, which currently has about 2,600 enrolled citizens, in an impact statement signed by current Chair Brian Weeden said it has been “irreparably harmed” by Cromwell’s conduct.
“For over 400 years, the Tribe has fought to preserve its culture, lands and protect its people from constant exploitation and oppression,” Weeden wrote. “And yet, we are now facing the ultimate betrayal by one elected and entrusted to lead and act in the best interests of our Tribal Nation and future seven generations.”
He noted that while Cromwell was enriching himself, tribal members “struggled under the pressures of increased homelessness, unemployment, alcohol and opioid addiction, and other traumas.”
Cromwell, 57, apologized in court.
“I will spend the rest of my life seeking redemption,” he said, The Boston Globe reported.
DeQuattro’s attorney called his client’s actions an “aberration.”
Cromwell, who also was the president of the tribe’s five-member gaming authority, received $10,000 from DeQuattro in November 2015 that was deposited into an account for a company called One Nation Development LLC, which Cromwell founded to help Native tribes with economic development, prosecutors said.
But One Nation Development had no employees and Cromwell spent the money on personal expenses, prosecutors said.
He asked for, and received from DeQuattro and his business partner, a $1,700 home gym in August 2016, prosecutors said.
Cromwell also asked DeQuattro to pay for a three-night stay at a luxury Boston hotel in May 2017 so he could celebrate his birthday with someone he described as a “special guest.” The stay cost $1,800, prosecutors said.
Cromwell was convicted in May of bribery and extortion charges. DeQuattro was convicted of a bribery charge. Cromwell still faces multiple counts of filing a false tax return.
Meanwhile, plans for the proposed $1 billion casino in Taunton remain on hold.
