« Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday December 14, 2005 | Main | Erie PA News and Events for Friday December 16, 2005 »
Erie PA News and Events for Thursday December 15, 2005
Posted by Dennis on December 15, 2005
United States District Judge Sean J McLaughlin of the Western District of Pennsylvania found that the City of Erie, Pa, violated federal law with the police agility test because it was unfair to women and that its passing standards were set too high. What f’n crap. Back when the city was hiring police officers, candidates had to complete an obstacle course which consisted of jumping over a fence and do a couple of push-ups and sit ups. More women than men failed the test. Hence the problem in the eyes of the old judge who sits on his fat ass all day. Shouldn’t female officers be able to chase down a suspect and make an arrest too? The judge and the US Department of Justice want a fund of millions of $ set up to pay the women that failed the test. Here is the complete press release by the Justice Department.
The December edition of the Drug Information News Letter edited by Larry Sasich, PharmD, Assistant Professor in the LECOM School of Pharmacy in Erie, is now available. In this issue is info on the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Process and a review of Risperidone (Risperdal Consta) for Schizophrenia.
Congrats go out to the editors at CNET News.com for correcting the spelling of our fair city of Erie PA. In RIP, iPod Mini? No way, fans say they had a quote from Patrick McHenry of Eerie, Pa. Amanda at Lifeinbeta pointed out their mistake. I think that they took action because of the email sent by Eden at So Anyways.
Senior plastics engineering technology students in a rapid commercialization elective at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College teamed up with sixth-graders to create concept cars. A semester-long project culminated Tuesday with a race of seven Matchbox-sized cars designed by teams of sixth-graders from two Erie-area elementary schools. “Because (sixth-graders) have no engineering background, they had no limitations,” said student Laura Stuart. “They let their imaginations run wild, and it was up to us to make it happen.” In Stuart’s case that meant analyzing, prototyping, machining and molding a car called Convert-a-Fish out of high-impact polystyrene — and explaining to her sixth-grade clients that they didn’t have the tooling budget to mold a convertible or add the gills and scale-shaped seats they originally envisioned. Still, Convert-a-Fish sailed to a second-place finish. “We designed it for looks,” Samantha Twaroski said of her team’s bulging-eyed vehicle as it sat regally on a draped, rotating display before the race. “The college students did the aerodynamics.”
The Northwest Commission is offering Internet Access Grants, and new this year, Website Development Grants to local governments that require a broadband Internet connection or a new website for your local government. They are offering Internet Access Grants of $500 and Website Development Grants of $500. If you are interested in these grants, please contact Robert Nurss at the Northwest Commission at 814-677-4800 x122. The deadline for Internet Access and Website Development Grant applications is January 27, 2006.
Elaine Lehman was named the new fitness center director at Sun City Roseville outside of Sacramento, CA. The Erie, PA, native earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Penn State and a master’s in adult fitness from the University of Wisconsin.
This is the 47th year the Lake Erie Ballet will present the holiday favorite “The Nutcracker.” Performances will be held at the Warner Theatre December 16th at 7 pm, 17th at 7 pm and 18th at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $15 to $30.
Bob Learn Jr finished in 26th place of the PBA Tour Qualifying Round of the Empire State Classic. The top 7 advanced to the Round of 64 that starts today.
The Odessa Roughnecks and first-year head coach Mike Esposito announced the signing of kicker Garry “JR” Cipra. Cipra, 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, played for Esposito and the Erie Freeze last year and was an AIFL pro bowl selection. I had wondered if any players would follow Esposito down to Texas.
The Mets agreed to a minor league contract with INF Juan Tejada. Tejada, 23, batted .291 for the Erie SeaWolves of the Double-A Eastern League last season.
Posted by Dennis at December 15, 2005 7:04 AM
Comments
Very interesting, especially since the suit was brought by the justice department and not by a "discriminated" femaol applicant. No doubt this will be appealed but not sure the 3d circuit appelate court will take it.
Posted by: RichardZ.com at December 15, 2005 1:49 PM
Now that I've been thinking about it, maybe the feds had to bring the lawsuit since it was a federal statute that created action against a State entity. Also as a side note, I notice that the press release discusses a "disparate impact" otherwise known as discriminatory impact. Normally under Equal Protection jurisprudence, you need to show not only impact but also "discriminatory purpose". It doesn't matter that Erie didn't intend to discriminate just that it allowed such an apparent result in discrimination to occur (actual lawyers out there are welcome to comment/correct this). I'll have to spend some time over the winter break doing some reading on the CRA...
Posted by: RichardZ.com at December 15, 2005 2:19 PM
Whatever your view of the case or the Judge's opinion, I think you should watch your tone a bit. Cases come to court because they are not usually as simple as you make them sound. And, as far as I know, Judge McLaughlin is neither fat nor sits around all day. I'd refrain from the name calling and personal characterizations when discussing a judge's opinion on an issue or case.
Posted by: anonymous at December 15, 2005 3:17 PM
Because you should never make fun of a judge, you know. Once they're elected or hired by their buddy, no one should EVER ridicule them. Because they're a judge! I mean, they're the epitomy of respect for the law, and would NEVER accept a bribe or be involved in illegal activities. Right? And I'd bet they'd never put their personal views above the letter of the law either, huh? It just doesn't happen.
I mean, if we start ridiculing judges, people might start making fun of the President! Or other elected officials! Hell, they might even make fun of YOU!
"Watch your tone?" Hah, or what? I'm sure the Justice Department is going to put a big index image on the site tomorrow because Dennis badmouthed a judge. It'll probably go like this:
HAXOR3D BY USDOJ - WHO'S GOT TEH FAT ASS NOW LAM3R?
Posted by: Ron at December 15, 2005 5:41 PM
I think that the 'anonymous' poster has a point. We often do not see what's behind the scenes such as evidence presented, the actual law (hence my curiosity to research the CRA), and so on. From a lay person's vantage point it's difficult to comprehend how something so (apparently) neutral can be found discriminatory.
Posted by: RichardZ.com at December 16, 2005 8:59 AM
RichardZ - post about it once you read aboout it. I wonder if they just looked at the percentages.
I see a liberal judge appointed by a liberal (Clinton) saying that the federal government knows whats best for us. I wonder if McLaughlin was interpreting the law or trying to write the law. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act outlaws employment criteria that have a "disparate impact" on persons of different races or sexes. But what about the physical attributes needed to do a job?
Posted by: Dennis at December 16, 2005 9:28 AM
Unfortunately I'm in the middle of finals right now so an analysis won't come (if ever) until after Christmas. I'm definitely curious to find out. The Erie police force is definitely almost all male which has not only an apparent but obvious disparate impact. As far as physical attributes needed to do a job I agree that they are pretty important for a position like law enforcement. However, I've seen me plenty an Erie cop who look like they couldn't walk a mile, let alone run it. Inconsistencies like that tend to diminish the import of having such as high 'initial' standard which never comes into play again throughout a cops career (which it should but it doesn't). Also, I have to wonder if Pittsburgh and Phili have any problem with their number of women (since they have something like 20%)? I would guess they probably don't. At the very most the Erie police force should be instructed to change their standard, not penalize them (and tax payers) with having to pay a monetary damage and unduly enrich a few lucky others.
Posted by: RichardZ.com at December 16, 2005 6:41 PM
Add a
link and graphic to your site to show that you're from Erie. Meet new peeps, share you thoughts on our fair city, do whatever you like.
