#Velasquez & Associates

[kp777]

Once-endangered Apache trout species has been restored

ABC15 - KNXV

Associated Press

Sep 04, 2024

MESA, AZ — U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced Wednesday that the Apache trout — Arizona's state fish — has been removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened species following more than five decades of recovery efforts.

Haaland traveled to Arizona for the announcement, which is considered an important conservation success marking the first sportfish and the first trout to be removed from the list.

“This recovery is a testament to the importance of the Endangered Species Act and its tools and resources that are allowing the Interior Department and the federal government to protect vital species in every corner of America,” said Haaland.

She credited joint efforts by federal, state and tribal officials along with $5.1 million from the Biden administration's Investing in America program. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Kasey Velasquez, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Director Siva Sundaresan joined Haaland.

The Apache trout is found only in the streams of eastern Arizona's White Mountains. It is one of just two trout species native to the state and is sacred to the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (November 3)

St. Martin de Porres was born on 9 December 1579 in Lima, Peru, as the son of Spaniard Juan de Porres and a freed colored-woman from Panama, Ana Velasquez.

Being of mixed race, Martin was of a lower social caste, though his father looked out for him and made sure the boy was apprenticed in a good trade.

Martin studied to be a barber, which, at that time, meant that he also learned medicine.

He became very well known for his compassion and skill as a barber, and cared for many people as well as animals.

Eventually, he became a third order Dominican, which meant he was a lay man associated with the order, living at the monastery.

Though he longed to be a missionary, he was never afforded the opportunity.

Martin's prayer life was intense, and he practiced many mortifications. He was known to levitate in ecstasy in front of the altar, but he also subjected himself to many severe penances.

He was considered to be very wise. Many sought out his advice and intercession.

He died on 3 November 1639, and though the investigation of his life proceeded rapidly after his death, his candidacy for canonization was delayed over 300 years due to a series of delays, natural disasters, and shipwrecks.

He was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI on 29 October 1837. He was canonized by Pope John XXIII on 6 May 1962.

He is the patron saint of mixed-race people, barbers, innkeepers, public health workers, animals, and all those seeking racial harmony.

[nobility-art]

The Five Eldest Children of Charles I

Artist: Anthony van Dyck (Flemish, 1599-1641)

Date: 1637

Medium: OIl on Canvas

Collection: Royal Trust Collection, Queen's Gallery, Windsor Castle

Description

Van Dyck’s masterful painting acknowledges both the youth and the status of its royal subjects, breaking with the earlier tradition of presenting royal children as miniature adults. The picture was commissioned by Charles I but left the Royal Collection twice, during the Commonwealth and under James II, before being repurchased by George III in 1765 and hung (by 1774) in the King’s Apartments at Buckingham House. The synthesis that Van Dyck achieved in the portrait was described by the nineteenth-century artist Sir David Wilkie: ‘the simplicity of inexperience shows them in most engaging contrast with the power of their rank and station, and like the infantas of Velasquez, unite all the demure stateliness of the court, with the perfect artlessness of childhood.

George III’s admiration for the early Stuarts and the aesthetic of Charles I’s court was reflected in this purchase and he hung many of his finest Van Dycks in Buckingham House. However, eighteenth-century attitudes towards childhood, which was increasingly regarded as a distinct, innocent phase of life, are reflected in many of the portraits of George III’s children.

George III’s taste for Van Dyck might have been sparked by that of his father, Frederick, Prince of Wales, who had a high regard for the collection of Charles I and had purchased Van Dyck’s double portrait of Thomas Killigrew and William, Lord Crofts, in 1748. Similarly, George IV’s interest in the later Stuarts, and his attempts to reclaim items associated with the exiled dynasty, may equally have been inspired by his father.

[dankusner]

OTD: 2015 Garland, TX Hate Crime — FBI

Two gunmen were shot and killed by a police officer in Garland after they opened fire outside a purposely provocative contest for cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad.

3.6 Religious Bias and Associated Terms Religious Bias–A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons who share the same religious beliefs regarding the origin and purpose of the universe and the existence or nonexistence of a supreme being, e.g., Catholics, Jews, Protestants, atheists. Note 1: The following list of religions represents most of the major religions in the United States. A general explanation is provided for each religion. Neither this list of religions nor the definitions provided are all-inclusive. Note 2: In many instances, a law enforcement officer will become aware of a victim’s religious affiliation by information provided by the victim (i.e., self-reporting) or by people who have a personal relationship with the victim.

Islamic (Muslim)–A person who follows the monotheistic religion of Muslims, which includes belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhamad as his prophet. Practitioners of the Islamic faith follow the teachings of the Koran and practice the Five Pillars of Islam: praying, fasting during Ramadan, almsgiving, pilgrimage, and declaration of faith. (Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary [Eleventh Edition, 2003]; the Encyclopedia Britannica Micropedia Ready Reference [15th Edition, 2010])

5.2 Data Element 8A, Bias Motivation This data element, required at the end of the Offense Segment, indicates whether the offender was motivated, in whole or in part, to commit the offense because of their bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.

Due to the difficulty of ascertaining the offender’s subjective motivation, bias is to be reported only if investigation reveals sufficient objective facts to lead a reasonable and prudent person to conclude that the offender’s actions were motivated, in whole or in part, by bias. Refer to Table 1 for the list of bias motivations collected within the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics Collection.

Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines And Training Manual

dallasnews.com

Texas man sentenced to 5 years in prison for threat to attack Turning Point USA convention

The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO — A Texas man who made an online threat of a mass attack on a convention of young conservative activists in Florida in 2022 was sentenced to five years in federal prison.

Federal prosecutors said Alejandro Richard Velasquez Gomez, 20, of San Antonio posted a threat on social media to attack the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa.

Turning Point is a Donald Trump-aligned group that organizes young people on college campuses into conservative activism.

Velasquez pleaded guilty in 2023 to a charge of interstate threatening communication and was sentenced Wednesday.

Investigators said Velasquez posted on Instagram that the first day of the convention would be “the day of retribution the day I will have revenge against all of humanity.”

Velasquez had bought a plane ticket to fly from Austin to Tampa on July 22 but canceled the ticket the night before his flight.

In court documents, investigators said they they believed Velasquez had planned an attack similar to a violent rampage in 2014 in which Elliot Rodger, 22, killed six students and wounded more than a dozen others near the University of California, Santa Barbara, before killing himself.

In a statement announcing the sentence, federal prosecutors said Velasquez tried to obstruct the FBI investigation by using a group of minor girls to help him delete information from his online accounts, and contacting witnesses to hide evidence and influence testimony.

“This man used social media to broadcast the message that he intended to travel across the country and carry out a violent act at an event catering to young political activists,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Fortunately, his post was reported to officials who intervened.”

[recentlyheardcom]

Warner Bros. Pictures has just recently released the official trailer for their new horror flick, The Curse of La Llorona. The film is based on a ‘weeping woman’, as one character calls her in the trailer, La Llorona, who haunts small children. And the trailer does succeed in giving you shivers on some moments. And for those who are thinking otherwise, this movie is not related to The Conjuring universe. Just because it’s distributed by Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema and produced by James Wan. But still, nothing official has been revealed regarding its association with James Wan’s The Conjuring series. It may or may not be connected. But its timeline and story setting are very similar to that of other Conjuring films, like Annabelle. The Curse of La Llorona is based in the year 1973, in Log Angeles. Must Read: Movie Review: Batti Gul Meter Chalu starts low at Box-Office Who knows if later on, it’s revealed that this one is, in fact, another entry into the blockbuster franchise established by Wan, since 2013. There have been 5 movies in total so far in the horror series, with the last one being The Nun, which was released last month, in September, and became the biggest grossing film in Conjuring universe ever-despite not being very good at reviews. It was all purely due to the tag of being a part of that franchise. Well, The Curse of La Llorona movie is directed by Michael Chaves and stars Linda Cardellini, Patricia Velasquez, Tony Amendola, Marisol Ramirez, Sean Patrick, and Raymond Cruz in crucial roles. The film will be releasing next year, on April 19 2019. Must READ: WATCH: Dark Phoenix Trailer officially arrives after big leaks!

[yespat49]

Cambriolages incessants à proximité d’un centre pour migrants et d’un squat à Saint-Martin-du-Touch (31) : « il faudrait plus de dialogue avec les associations, à la place on a reçu un tract nous accusant quasiment de fascisme »

Des habitants de Saint-Martin-du-Touch au bord de la crise de nerfs. Dans le secteur de la rue Velasquez, les cambriolages se multiplient depuis quatre mois. En cause selon plusieurs riverains : un squat à proximité et un hôtel abritant des demandeurs d’asile. La situation est dégradée et la population ne se sent plus en sécurité dans ce secteur réputé chic de l’ouest toulousain. […] « dimanche…

[akaraboonline]

Texas mass shooting suspect captured, officials say

An long manhunt ended with the capture of a suspect in a mass shooting that occurred last week near Cleveland, Texas, and left five people dead, including a 9-year-old boy. Francisco Oropesa, 38, was apprehended at a property near Cut and Shoot, Texas, at around 7 p.m. local time after a multi-day manhunt, according to a tip from the public, Montgomery County Sheriff Greg Capers announced at a news conference on Tuesday night. Capers stated, "He was found hiding in a closet, underneath some laundry. According to Capers, he was arrested and lodged in the Montgomery County Jail on five murder charges. His bond was set at $5 million. Capers noted that he will be moved to the San Jacinto County Jail in Coldspring. According to the San Jacinto County District Attorney's Office, the apprehension was assisted by the FBI, Border Patrol, and U.S. Marshals. The suspect was located as a result of a public tip, according to Jimmy Paul, the Houston division's lead associate special agent for the FBI. Paul said, "We're overjoyed that the individual had the confidence and bravery to call in that tip. Authorities declined to say whether the house where Oropesa was discovered belonged to the suspect's acquaintances or family. According to Capers' previous statements, the suspect shot his neighbors on Friday night after they requested that he cease firing into his yard. North of Houston, in the vicinity of the town of Cleveland, the attack took place. Location of Cut and Shoot: 17 miles west of Cleveland. The victims, who ranged in age from 9 to 31, were earlier described as being from Honduras and being between the ages of 9 and 31. "From the neck up," he claimed, all of them were shot. They were Sonia Guzman, 28, Jonathan Caceres, 18, Diana Velasquez, 21, Obdulia Molina, 31, and Daniel Enrique Lazo, 9. Ten persons were present at the house at the time of the shooting, but only four were harmed. Despite being found in the house covered in blood, three kids were unharmed, according to Capers. According to Capers, police found the AR-15-style rifle that Oropesa was thought to have used in the shootings on Saturday. Additionally, investigators discovered some clothing and a cellphone they believe to be the suspect's. Oropesa, a citizen of Mexico, was deported from the United States in 2009 after an immigration judge in Houston issued a removal order. Over the following seven years, after re-entering the nation, he was detained and expelled multiple times, CBS News has learned. Oropesa was previously found guilty of drunk driving in Montgomery County and received a jail sentence as punishment. A warrant was issued for Oropesa last year after his wife requested a protective order against him, Capers added in a statement Tuesday night. To the best of my knowledge, Capers said, "we got a warrant for him." "The constable departed this county and was unable to reach the subject, so he went to serve him in another county. A few days later, the victim "went to the San Jacinto County district attorney's office and filed a non-prosecution statement." Read the full article

[caution-signs]

Meet the Band!

Name: Kipper “Kip” Rosenthal Born: September 1st, 1998 (24 years old) Gender: Male (he/him) Position in band: Lead Guitarist Associated color: Red Years active: 2020- 

Name: Icarus Nikolau Born: February 14, 1997 (25 years old)  Gender: Male (he/him) Position in band: Ex-Lead Guitarist Associated color: Orange Years active: 2014-2019, 2028 Associated acts: Flightless (Singer, Guitarist) Years active: 2019-

Name: Yasha Kanzo Born: April 6th, 1999 (23 years old)  Gender: Nonbinary (he/she/they) Position in band: Bassist Associated color: Yellow Years active: 2014- 

Name: Blake Velasquez Born: May 30th, 1998 (24 years old) Gender: Demidude (he/they) Position in band: Rhythm Guitarist Associated color: Green Years active: 2014-

Name: Calix Emerson Born: March 27th, 1999 (23 years old) Gender: Male (he/him) Position in band: Drummer Associated color: Blue Years active: 2014-

Name: Fallon Torres Born: May 16th, 1998 (24 years old) Gender: Male (he/him) Position in band: Lead Singer Associated color: Purple Years active: 2014-

Name: Sterling Hernandez Born: October 6th, 1996 (26 years old) Gender: Male (he/him) Position in band: Keyboardist Associated color: Grey  Years active: 2014-

[raduchits]

plume of light from plume.tv on Vimeo.

plume of light

directed & produced by plume.tv

The film Plume of Light is loosely inspired by the experience of a Kundalini awakening. Where energy rises through the body. From the base of the spine to the top of the crown, up to the universe and spirit.

The film used the five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Spirit) to take the audience on an emotional and spiritual journey from the depth of the earth through an inner journey towards light.

This allowed Plume to experiment with many different elements and looks, and showcase how we could combine strong animation within a world of realism and design. Finding beauty in every element through a inner visual journey.

see more at plume.tv | contact us at info@plume.tv _________________________

executive creative director: denis bodart lead creatives: denis bodart, renaud futterer lead cg artist: thomas ramboz

producer: daniela hornskov sun executive producer: ryan goodwin-smith associate producer: kiri haggart

cg artists: denis bodart, gianmarco colalongo, kris cook, simon duclos, ryno eksteen, renaud futterer, olivier pirard, natalia velasquez

animation: marlene beaube, denis bodart, simon duclos, aurelien duhayon, thomas ramboz, paul tempelman

rigging: simon duclos, ludovic habas

compositing: olivier pirard, thomas ramboz

motivators: charlie bodart, kiri haggart

sound by: fonic @fonicpost

made possible with the support of Feed Me Light @feedmelight & plume.tv @plume.tv

[noirapocalypto]

Profile - Info - Trivia

The Basics

Name: Paola Velasquez

Age: 27

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Bisexual

Gender: Female

Birthday: November 7

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Ethnicity: Latina (Mexican/Spanish)

Languages spoken: English and Spanish

Born in: Heywood, Night City

Resides in: Japantown, Westbrook

Lifepath: Street Kid

Occupation: Mercenary

Appearance

Hair Color: Naturally brown, dyed blue

Eye Color: Naturally brown, uses gold/amber optics

Notable Features: Has a splash of freckles across her cheekbones and nose. She has faint cyberware lines at her temples and more obvious cyberware lines on her chest--implying she has had some internal work done.

Height: 5′10″ (177 cm)

Weight: 189 lb (85 kg) - cyberware included

Tattoos: Paola has two colorful, full coverage sleeves done in Irezumi style, a gift from her late partner. Along with this, she has a serpent that wraps around her upper torso (both her chest and back).

Personality

Positive Traits: Loyal, affectionate, lively, outgoing, self-reliant

Negative Traits: Impatient, hot-headed, spiteful, unforgiving, confrontational

Description: Sarcastic, snarky and bold, there is not a shy bone in her body. She's fun-loving, always looking to crack a joke or a wisecrack, sometimes to the annoyance of others. She can be very approachable, charming almost anyone with a flash of a smile and her easy-going nature. Though, despite her relatively good-nature, Paola is not immune to anger and has be known to verbally lash out to those that have angered her. If someone has hurt her or broken her trust, she will retaliate and harshly sever the bond. The same applies to those she loves. If someone has wronged them in any way, Paola will make it her problem and will take it upon herself to send a message to the offending party that her people are not to be messed with. Due to past associations, she harbors a bit of a gray morality when it comes to certain illegal activities and sometimes turns a blind eye to them. Paola is the definition of a true ‘ride or die’ friend/partner. As soon as the foundation of trust is built and a relationship is built, there is nothing Paola won’t do for that person. Whatever favor needs to be taken care of, she will gladly offer her assistance, no questions asked. Paola is fiercely protective of her brother. Neither can survive without the other, and should one of them meet their unfortunate end, the surviving twin will follow without hesitation.

Relationships

Family: Paolo Velasquez (Younger Twin Brother)

Affiliations: A few Tyger Claws are familiar with her, or at least by name due to her relationship with Shohei. Some meet her with neutral feelings, others with mocking hostility.

Friends: Renato Ventura, Embry Ellis, others vary within AU

Enemies/Rivals: Judah DuBois

Significant Other: Arai Shohei ( † late ex-boyfriend), others vary via AU

Background

Born in the slums of Vista del Rey, Heywood, Paola is the oldest of twins--born a few minutes before Paolo. Their parents were working class, often juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet and keep a roof over their heads. At times, they lacked material possessions, but their parents always made sure to keep the house filled with warmth and love. The children grew up with relatively normal, happy lives until tragedy before upon the small family.

Their father had contracted an illness and passed not long after, leaving the grieving widow left to raise her young twins alone. She worked herself to the bone to feed her children, something the twins didn't fail to notice and acknowledge. Their mother was different now--hollow and sad, no longer the ray of light she used to be. But she held strong, for her beloved twins.

Unfortunately, the cruel hand of fate was not done with the Velasquez twins. Overworked to the point of exhaustion, their mother collapse one day, her heart giving out. She, too, had passed.

At the young age of thirteen, Paola and Paolo were now orphans, their family broken beyond repair. From then on, they became children of the streets, doing whatever they could to fend for themselves. They began to pick up a few skills, learning how to pickpocket targets and becoming experts at pocketing items they couldn't afford to buy. By the time they were sixteen, the twins had become very well versed in thievery, either for themselves or doing the odd favor here and there for extra cash. The two eventually ventured into the world of mercenaries.

Around the age of twenty, Paola met a charismatic Tyger Claw named Shohei Arai. The attraction was instant and the passion was immediate. It didn't take long for the two to fall into a relationship, despite the troubling lifestyles. However, boundaries were set immediately--she was not to ask about his gang life and he was not to meddle in her mercenary affairs. Surprisingly, it worked for them and the two happily settled into their new life together.

The next four years of their lives had several hurdles, but nothing they couldn't manage. Shohei began to rise in the ranks of his gang, while Paola along with her brother, began to solidify their place within the mercenary career. Though, things began to become difficult when encounters with rival gangs began to become more frequent, as well as infighting within the Claws.

Outings between the two began to become much more dangerous, with both of them having to look over their shoulders. Things eventually escalated when Paola began to be targeted, using her as a pawn to threaten and intimidate Shohei.

This was where the line was drawn.

Despite the love shared between the two, Paola and Shohei mutually agreed to end their four year relationship, for both their safety. Paola was heartbroken, as was Shohei. Within the next couple of months, the two tried their best to keep their distance from one another but could not deny that the urge to be together was still strong. They both agreed to work things out, even speaking of the possibility of fleeing Night City together.

Unfortunately, Shohei's gang life finally caught up to him before they could elope. At the age of twenty-four, Paola's life was shattered once again when Shohei was killed. She never knew what exactly happened, but word spread quick of the demise of Shohei Arai.

Paola mourned deeply for the next couple of years, until the pain eventually numbed itself into a sad memory she would keep buried within. She never allowed herself to love someone as much as she loved Shohei, not wishing to feel the pain of losing another loved one. Paola considered herself cursed and would never dare risk the tragedy of allowing another person to mark themselves for dead by loving her.

Miscellaneous

Trivia:

Paola originally started out as a V, but is now being written as an OC.

Pinterest Boards: [Paola] - [Corpo!Paola]

[ info subject to be added, removed and tweaked randomly, she’s constantly growing and evolving ]

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (November 3)

St. Martin de Porres was born on 9 December 1579 in Lima, Peru, as the son of Spaniard Juan de Porres and a freed colored-woman from Panama, Ana Velasquez.

Being of mixed race, Martin was of a lower social caste, though his father looked out for him and made sure the boy was apprenticed in a good trade.

Martin studied to be a barber, which, at that time, meant that he also learned medicine. He became very well known for his compassion and skill as a barber. He cared for many people as well as animals.

Eventually, he became a third order Dominican, which meant he was a lay man associated with the order, living at the monastery. Though he longed to be a missionary, he was never afforded the opportunity.

Martin's prayer life was intense and he practiced many mortifications.

He was known to levitate in ecstasy in front of the altar, but he also subjected himself to many severe penances.

He was considered to be very wise, and many sought out his advice and intercession.

He died on 3 November 1639, and though the investigation of his life proceeded rapidly after his death, his candidacy for canonization was delayed over 300 years due to a series of delays, natural disasters and shipwrecks.

He was beatified on 29 October 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized on 6 May 1962 by Pope John XXIII.

He is the patron saint of mixed-race people, barbers, innkeepers, public health workers, and all those seeking racial harmony.

[loveforbobandeliza]

‘The 100’ Stars Eliza Taylor & Bob Morley Set For Sci-Fi Thriller ‘I’ll Be Watching’ — EFM

The 100 leads Eliza Taylor and Bob Morley have been set to star in sci-fi thriller I’ll Be Watching, which Iuvit Media Sales is launching for the virtual EFM.

Currently shooting in Atlanta, Georgia, Taylor will play a woman trapped in her isolated new home who becomes caught in a fight for survival. Morley will play her tech expert husband.

Supporting cast includes David Keith (An Officer And A Gentleman), Bryan Batt (12 Years A Slave) and Hannah Fierman (VHS).

Produced by Benacus Entertainment in association with RNF Productions, the project is being directed by Erik Bernard (Free Dead Or Alive).

Script was penned by Sara Sometti Michaels (St. Agatha) and Elisa Manzini (Angel Baby). Eliza Taylor and David Keith (An Officer And A Gentleman) serve as executive producers.

Seth Michaels, co-head of Atlanta-based Benacus Entertainment, commented: “We are thrilled to have such talented stars as Eliza and Bob leading the cast, and a great supporting cast. Filming has been an adventure so far and we can’t wait to bring this story to audiences around the world.”

Upcoming for Benacus is feature Southern Gothic, written and directed by Oscar winner Tom Schulman (Dead Poets Society).

Iuvit’s slate includes Unto The Son, starring Harvey Keitel and Abbie Cornish; Free Dead or Alive, featuring Patricia Velasquez, Edy Ganem, Seth Michaels and Robert LaSardo; and Chance, starring Matthew Modine, Tanner Buchanan and Amanda Leighton.

Eliza Taylor is represented by Verve Talent and Literary Agency, Active Artists Management and Fourward. Bob Morley is represented by Morrissey Management, The Gersh Agency and Brave Artists Management. Erik Bernard is represented by Espada PR.

[dankusner]

Pappy Kusner

patrolman-julius-kusner-standing-in-deep-snow-as-motions-drive-slowly-warnings-to-motorists

Before removing statues, mayor wants more study

The relief by sculptor Henry Hering on the southwest bridge house of the DuSable Bridge depicts the Aug. 15, 1812, Fort Dearborn Massacre. Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune 

By Gregory Pratt Chicago Tribune

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot will set up a “working group” to review recommendations for taking down problematic monuments, she said Tuesday.

In the mayor’s first public comments since her special commission on monuments issued its final report last week, Lightfoot said she disagrees with some of the recommendations and will set up a group to study the issue further. Among the commission’s most controversial proposals is to keep statues of Christopher Columbus that were removed amid public unrest in 2020 out of their old spots in public areas.

“I want to make sure that we understand kind of the provenance of those particular monuments, meaning not just who’s the artist or so forth, but why were they created, who commissioned them, and frankly who in the city has a vested interest in those monuments standing?” Lightfoot said at a news conference.

“I think it’s really important that we understand that for each of them and then of course, as the mayor, I’ve got to be very fiscally prudent. I want to understand, what is that going to mean in terms of dollars and cents in getting them removed?”

Lightfoot declined to say which monuments should be taken down.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I agree with everything that was recommended, I don’t, and I’ve been very clear about that. But it’s easier to say, ‘This should go, that should go,’ than make it happen,” Lightfoot said. She gave the example of reliefs depicting the Battle of Fort Dearborn on the DuSable Bridge.

It’s “easier to say, ‘Let’s remove these because they don’t accurately reflect the true experience of Native Americans in our country and in our city,’ but just the mechanics of doing that are very complicated,” she said.

She did not offer a timeline.

For context, Lightfoot appointed a task force to review Chicago monuments in the summer of 2020 that was supposed to release its report by the end of that year. They did not finish their work until this month, two years later.

Lightfoot on Tuesday also cast doubt on the possibility of returning the Columbus statue that she ordered removed from Grant Park. Lightfoot has said the statue was taken down temporarily and she “fully” expects it to be restored to its former pedestal, a prospect that some aldermen have scoffed at due to the likelihood of further conflict over the statue.

Lightfoot alluded to those concerns Tuesday when asked about the statue, saying there has to be a “safety plan that doesn’t put anybody at risk” but she hasn’t heard one yet.

“If you go back and look at the videotape from when that monument and the police officers were under siege, there were so many things that could have gone wrong from a safety standpoint,” Lightfoot said. “We had people trying to scale the thing. Imagine if that statue had tumbled over with people trying to scale it. We had our police officers under siege. I’m never going to put them in a situation where they’re literally risking their lives over a statue. That’s never going to happen.

“ So, until I see a plan, and I have been talking to lots of folks about what can we do, how can we do it, I have not seen or heard of a single plan that could allow these monuments to go back outside and keep everybody associated with them safe.”

Editorial misses the mark on public art argument

The Balbo Monument in Chicago in 2017. The monument was a gift to Chicago from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1933. José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune 

By Mark Kelly, John N. Low and Bonnie McDonald

Reading the Chicago Tribune’s recent editorial, (“We’re smart enough as a city to leave Christopher Columbus alone,” Aug. 24) one would think that the Chicago Monuments Project’s report calls for the “ripping down” of Chicago monuments and “taking a hammer to all of that.” This oversimplifies and demeans our work, leaving us to set the record straight about our approach and recommendations.

We take exception to the exaggerated characterizations that paint this necessary project as a radical exercise. Creating public spaces that welcome all is not radical, it is the city’s responsibility.

We are very proud of our report, available at chicagomonuments.org, and encourage reading it in full. The Chicago Monuments Project Advisory Committee, a group of community leaders, artists, architects, scholars, curators and city officials, dedicated two years of their time and expertise to developing these measured recommendations, which are the beginning of a comprehensive look at public space. This coalition led one of the most engaging processes among any city grappling with problematic monuments.

In this period, scores of Confederate monuments and a number of Columbus statues have been removed. Military bases have been renamed and even the U. S. Congress has removed statues of Confederate leaders and military figures. Removing a monument does not erase history. We live with the generational consequences of historical acts. They underpin our structures and systems, cultures and identities. We do not need to glorify inaccurate representations to remember the past.

The editorial’s logic suggests all these decisions are wrong, and that monuments, regardless of the false history they portray or the harm they inflict in the present, are immutable and should never change. We disagree. Our recommendations are modest in scope. Of the 41 monuments under review (from a collection of over 500), the majority remain intact with the addition of new and more accurate interpretive signage.

We recommend that the Columbus statues, the DuSable Bridge bas-reliefs, and four additional monuments be removed because they present false history of Western expansion, represent Indigenous Americans in a demeaning manner, and have become symbols for conquest, exploitation and genocide. We also call for the removal of the Balbo monument, and the bust of Melville Fuller, who enshrined Jim Crow segregation into American law. For each of these artworks, we recommend a plan wherever possible to loan or donate the artwork to a private organization.

The editorial also calls for more monuments, and by omission, suggested that we overlooked this approach. One of the most important features of our report is the call for a dramatic increase in new public art and monuments.

The public overwhelmingly supports the creation of new monuments that memorialize Chicago’s true and complete history. As a result, Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is supporting the creation of eight new works each with a $50,000 planning grant, in addition to ongoing programs and investments to help diversify the collection. Only 3% of our monuments represent women and representation of civil rights, immigration and labor stories are also absent from our collection.

Surely, our Italian community in Chicago needs new monuments representing their history and accomplishments, as do all groups of people who have called Chicago home. Many of them have no monuments to their contributions. The report also calls for a set of ongoing investments that will enhance the collection and how the public experiences them.

Chicago’s public art collection is one of the greatest in the world. We believe our recommendations strengthen that collection and set forth an exciting path for the future of public artworks that bring us together, not divide us. We urge the city not to delay, but to move forward with implementation.

Mark Kelly is the former commissioner of DCASE and the Chicago Monuments Project co-chair. John N. Low, is a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Low is also an associate professor at Ohio State University and an advisory committee member of the Chicago Monuments Project. Bonnie McDonald is president and CEO of Landmarks Illinois and co-chair of the Chicago Monuments Project.

[mikeruiz1]

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[crqstalite]

For the past, present, and future thing: once again for the Shepard-Velasquez siblings (any of Kodee, Citlali, or Mason for any question) I request Past 3, Past 12, Present 5 & 6, and Future 4. Also I'd like to ask a twist on Future 4 with what's something they didn't expect would happen but actually did.

Finally getting cracking on this one after sitting on it for a month. Why? I don't know.

(An extra edit two weeks after that one, finally I'm finishing this)

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3. Describe their family. Who raised them, and who had the most impact on them? Did they have any siblings? Who were they closest to? What were the family dynamics like?

The Shepard-Velasquez siblings were primarily raised by their parents, Hannah and Joaquin. Easily described as a strict but ultimately loving mother and an easy-going Alliance contractor. I'd argue that impact depends on the child, as Hannah had the largest impact on Kodelyn and Citlali, but Joaquin probably had the most impact on his son. Family dynamics were messy, between Hannah's unresolved generational trauma and the upheaval that Citlali's biotics caused, the easiest way to describe it would be "too little, too late". Everything went wrong because so many little mistakes built up and brought the whole house down. No one lives at home anymore, even though they talk about it all the time.

5. What kind of people do they usually interact with? Who are their friends, the people they look up to/trust, and who are their “associates”?

The Normandy crew and the siblings they interact with most:

Kodelyn: Kaidan, Miranda, Liara, Garrus, Grunt

Citlali: Joker, Tali, Jack, Kasumi, Mordin.

Mason: Thane, Samara, James, Jacob.

(Mason I think is interesting only because he tends to gravitate towards those that are both more introverted, but also ones with significant years on them compared to him. With the exemption of James, he does appreciate the wisdom they have. In the case of James, he can sort of relate to him, and the other takes Mason under his wing once they meet.)

6. What is their current relationship with their family?

Current relationships are likely something Revival will attempt to expound upon, but its focused heavily on healing. Not quite forgiveness (there are some things sorry just can't fix), instead repairing what they can and trying to be better in the future. There's some stubbornness on both Citlali and Hannah's parts (after all, both think they did the best with the situation they were dealt) and Mason hesitates a lot on trying to be vulnerable with his family again after they hurt him. Koda is being pulled in thirty different directions at once, and inadvertently uses it to avoid harder conversations and situations. Relying on each other is a little too much of a request and they stumble around a lot around certain subjects, but when asked, they do say they care about each other in their own ways. Whether that's still knowing the others favorite flavor of cake or just knowing instinctively how they take their coffee. Somehow. After a whole decade.

4. What’s something they were sure would happen in their future but didn’t?

Koda was pretty sure she'd end up right where her mother is, a Rear Admiral commanding a ship. Likely unmarried, considering how she tended not to keep many ties when she was younger, without children. While she remains with the Alliance, she doesn't end up an Admiral. She's content enough with promotion to Captain a few years later, and her relationship with Kaidan progresses to marriage eventually. Maggie joins them a handful of years later.

Citlali is pretty firm on how she'd believed she would've ended up on the Citadel working a dead end job or doing party tricks for as long as she could hold out. Didn't think she'd see the Reaper invasion, didn't think her sister would die, didn't think she'd end up living on a warship for nearly a year or becoming a secondary pilot to said warship. She did all of that and ended up marrying the other pilot. And had a kid. She's seen exciting times and would really prefer if they'd stop.

And Mason? Mason's just pleased he lives to see thirty after the Reapers touch down. He never really thought he'd have as solid of a relationship with his sisters as he eventually does, nor that he'd have anyone who really cared about him emotionally like Priana does. He never really thought he could be pleased with his life, but he is.

Thank you for asking!! <3

[cihrp]

Lycanthrope Packs 

There are techncically two packs in Salem. However, the Atwood Pack are the only pack known to the High Witch Council. This means these lycans are often asked to work alongside the witches when they are called upon, and are often used to scout for illegal activity, such as out of control werewolves and seeking out hunters.

The High Witch Council does not tolerate any in-fighting amongst the lycanthrope and insists that the alpha is voted in via a democratic way. Above all, the alpha is a leader and looks after the wellbeing of their pack. It is their duty to report back on any unruly lycans who may not be ‘fit’ for society. The alpha is expected to be firm but fair and above all, ensure their pack is representing them as a person. 

The Atwood Pack

Being used to do the witches’ bidding, and beckoned upon at random certainly makes the pack grumble. However, they do fear what may happen if the witches turn against them.

 As a reward for their good behaviour, they have been awarded their own land, which includes a section of the Salem Woods, which they have named Atwood Forest.  This is undisturbed by residential homes and is an empty, open space, free for the Atwood pack to run. 

However, as of late, werewolves have began to trespass on this land. For a werewolf, this is a safe space, free of humans who they could accidentally hurt. This is causing lots of tension between the Atwood lycans and the werewolves, who want absolutely nothing to do with them. As a result, the Atwood lycans have struck out and become very territorial to anybody trespassing on their land. The alpha has ordered frequent patrols of the area to ensure that their forest remains protected.

The Alpha (Influential Role): OPEN Highly-strung, mostly stressed and because they didn’t want to lead this pack but it was inherited from their father and they took the mantle after his recent passing. The Alpha, as per tradition, is the leader of the pack. They can be of any gender. The Atwood alpha rules with a strict regime, and at the moment is highly-strung due to the trespassers on their land.

The Second: OPEN  The alpha’s right-hand, they are responsible for stepping up when the alpha is not around and must be capable of bearing the burden of the pack when needed. They will look out for the pack’s best interest and also speak up when they believe the alpha may be taking the pack in the wrong direction.

The Pack Witch: Reserved for Fever -  potentially also an Eye Traditionally, each pack will have a witch within it who they will turn to for healing, help with protective wards and general well-being of their pack. It’s often suspected that these are more to keep an eye on what the lycans are up to and so sometimes these relationships can be quite strained.

Scouts: OPEN Members: OPEN

Location: Atwood Forest and surrounding areas 

The Reynard Pack

The Reynard pack are unknown to the witches and their alpha wants to keep it that way, so they are not forced to do their bidding at any given moment. The alpha of this pack is part of the rebellion and overall, the pack is very anti-witch. They view the witches as a force of evil in the world in the way they reign supreme. 

The alpha has created a safe space for other lycanthropes who feel the same and they have created a sense of community. Whilst these lycans have the same sense of not wanting to be associated with werewolves, they are gentler in their approach and the alpha has been known to offer out support to any werewolf experiencing loneliness or grief over who they are. 

The Reynard lycans are a strong believer in family and inclusion and try to be an ally to all.

The Alpha (Influential Role) : OPEN This alpha is charismatic, charming and believes very much in a ‘leaders eat last’ mentality. They guide the pack with a gentle hand and is very much there as a person of support and acceptance. 

The Second: Reserved for Krista -  AJ Velasquez The alpha’s right-hand, they are responsible for stepping up when the alpha is not around and must be capable of bearing the burden of the pack when needed. They will look out for the pack’s best interest and also speak up when they believe the alpha may be taking the pack in the wrong direction. 

Members: OPEN Location: [Up for Pack Alpha decision]

If you would like to reserve an open spot in this canon, please send us a message on here with your reserve (claim + character name + alias) and we will make updates! Reserves are first come, first serve. Once your canon is reserved, we will update this post and our reserves list, and you will have two (2) weeks after the soft open to finish your character before the hold on that position is released.