CITY CIGAR LIFE on FREE BOY GEORGE MOVEMENT

In the 1980s a man name George Rivera aka Boy George, was convicted of Tax Evasion and Heroin distribution. During the times of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Which basically gave-out harsh jail sentences. Requiring judges to impose a sentence of 15-years to life for anyone convicted of selling two (2) ounces, or possessing four ounces of "narcotic drug" (typically cocaine or heroin). You can argue the fact, yes let them rot in jail for violating the law. The George Rivera story can be googled or by reading the book RANDOM FAMILY by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, or by http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/971/876/71834/ . But lets take a look at the Bronx.



FALSAS PROMESAS - BROKEN PROMISES

 

 

 

The Bronx during the 1980s was a war zone. Just from the three images you can see the abandon buildings, and the messages on the wall that say FALSAS PROMESAS - BROKEN PROMISES. I clearly remember the Bronx nickname was, THE BURNT DOWN BRONX. On every street/block was either an abandon or burnt down building. So what is a young man to do when he is faced with so much suffrage. Team CITY CIGAR LIFE is not here to justify the actions that Mr. Rivera took. But, don't we say; we are a product of over environment, or that only refers to when an individual (s) that are successful that comes out from the hood. This was a time where there was no or little social programs available in the communities. There was nothing to look forward to during these days. Try waking up everyday to go to school and all you see is dirt yards, drug dealers in your park where it supposed to be a safe haven.

George Rivera was convicted and served 22 years out of a 25 to life sentence. And was sent to a maxium security federal prison. But the real story is that Mr. Rivera is serving his time in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. Meaning that he is locked in his cell for 23 hours a day, and is given 1 hour for recreation - that 1 hour is spent in another cell, and its been like this for the entire 22 years. The federal justice system maintains that Mr. Rivera is a danger to society. Which society, because the one he knew is long gone and lots of advances have taken place since his incarceration. For example, social, technological, environmental, economical, all have advanced since 1980s. Mr. Rivera don't know how to use a cell phone, Twitter, Facebook, email, even the MTA has improved since the 1980s. The Rockefeller Drug Laws was enacted to fight the drug wars targeted at a specific group of people.

 

According to the Partnership for Responsible Drug Information (PRDI), the Rockefeller Drug Laws was supposed to deter anyone from using or selling drugs. By invoking such a law that anyone convicted would face severe punishment. As stated earlier in this blog, judges were required to impose a 15year to life sentence if convicted of selling 2 ounces or possessing 4 ounces cocaine/heroin. In 1979 legislature increased the amount of drugs needed to trigger the 15year to life sentence. Then came 1988 a Major concern for Crack, they lowered the amount of weight to arrest and prosecute people.

• Between 1980 and 1992, New York's prison population has tripled from about 20,000 to almost 62,000 (in 1973 the state's prison population was approximately 10,000).

• The State Assembly's Ways and Means Committee projects that the State prison population will grow to 71,300 by the end of the 1998-99 fiscal year, and to 73,100 by the end of 2001-02.
• As a consequence, the NYS prison population has changed from one in which 9% were serving time for drug felonies (1980) to 32.2% (1997).
• As of December 31, 1997, there were 8,880 drug offenders in NYS prisons under the Rockefeller Drug Laws. According the Correctional Association of New York, it costs an estimated $265 million dollars to pay for these prisoners to be incarcerated.
• In 1997, whites constituted 5.3 percent of the total population of drug felons currently in prison in New York; blacks and Latinos constituted 94.2 percent.
• Among whites committed to prison in 1994, 16% were convicted of a drug offense, among blacks 45% were committed for a drug offense, and among Latinos 59% were committed for a drug offense.
• As of 1996, Blacks and Latinos made up 23% of the state's general population, but constituted over 85% of the people indicted for drug felonies, and 85% of its overall prison population.

For more information on the FREE BOY GEORGE MOVEMENT, follow @Boy007George on Twitter. The Rockefeller Drug Laws are unjust and so is SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

Affectionately
CITY CIGAR LIFE
Life Is Good, Life Is Great.



CITY CIGAR LIFE Brings you the XIKAR FAMILY

We at CITY CIGAR LIFE want to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and a prosperous one filled with good health, and lots of good fortune.

 

Cigar brands and lovers of the cigar culture, as we embark in a new year, new journey, take a few minutes and think about how was Business in 2012. Many of you may think of sales, but aside from sales. What connections did you make in 2012 that the outcome was a win - win situation. We all righteously believe that our brand (s) is better than the next, and rightfully so to believe that. But there is a human interaction that we must respect and follow. We are in a culture that the phrase "six degrees of separation" is very true. The idea that everyone is approximately six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction is powerful, and with that power this lucrative cigar culture too can WIN.

 

Team CITY CIGAR LIFE reached out to XIKAR INC. and explained what this blog was about and what we are trying to accomplish. XIKAR gladly said "we love it, we on board". You might say, you are promoting their product (s). The answer is YES. THIS IS A WIN - WIN SITUATION.

 

XIKAR INC. can be followed on Twitter: @XIKARinc, there website: www.xikar.com. You can also follow on Twitter: Mike @XikarMike; Kurt Van keppel @XIKARVK; Chris Geisert @XikarChris; Alan Gold @XikarAlan.

 

 

Affectionately,

CITY CIGAR LIFE

Life Is Good, Life Is Great.

 

 

 

 

TECH FAMILY

 

Following the success of the single flame Tech lighter, featuring a clear body, large fuel tank and over sized adjustment wheel, XIKAR expanded this collection and now offers this lighter in double and triple jet flame styles.  Now cigar aficionados can get the same dependable performance in multiple flames.

The Tech Lighter is know for its large, transparent fuel tank in blue, black or clear. This makes it extremely easy to see when you need to refill your lighter, which will be a lot less often due to its size.

VITARA & PULSAR

 XIKAR has also expanded its lighter collection with the sleek double flame Vitara and the powerful Pulsar triple flame lighter. The Vitara is a solid double jet flame with a slide action trigger and built-in 7mm punch.  The Pulsar is a sophisticated triple jet flame lighter with a side squeeze ignition and a built-in 7mm punch. Both new lighters are available in a wide array of finishes including the new G2. G2 is XIKAR’s new finish that is dark, sleek and completely gunmetal.