Category Archives: Politics & Public Affairs

Vision Zero? A Whole Lot of Nothing

Posted on October 28, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

On October 27, 2014, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a law to lower speed limit in NYC to 25 mph. Granted, New Yorkers drive too fast and there are far too many injuries and fatalities caused by speeding drivers. … Continue reading →

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Parole, higher education, felony-murder and more

Posted on July 22, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

CPR has been in the forefront, advocating for fair parole practices in New York since it was founded in 1999.  Since then, other advocates and people who care about justice have looked at the issue of parole.  Right now, the … Continue reading →

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Waiting for Parole — Between Hope and Despair

Posted on July 19, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

One of the most powerful forces is hope, oftentimes counterbalanced by despair.  In the criminal justice system, nothing inspires more hope than the possibility of being granted and being released to parole supervision.  On the other hand, nothing drops one … Continue reading →

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Andrew the Ambitious

Posted on April 3, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Nearly two months ago, when Andrew Cuomo, New York’s Governor, announced that he would use public money to finance higher education in prison, in some quarters people thought that the state was finally wising up and was going to be … Continue reading →

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No Right More Basic Than the Right to Vote

Posted on April 3, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on political campaign contributions, McCutcheon V. FEC, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote, “There is no right in our democracy more basic than the right to participate in electing our political leaders.” … Continue reading →

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The King is Dead!

Posted on January 20, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

The King is dead! I was 7 years young when Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Growing up in the ‘60s, what one historian called the Decisive Decade, there was death all around. At 7, I didn’t understand the impact … Continue reading →

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Even a Black Poet is Considered Armed and Extremely Dangerous

Posted on January 20, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

(For Henry Dumas) It was a time when a president, a presidential candidate, a Prince of Peace, a Black knight in shining armor, and Black Panthers, were gunned down. Assassinations with political ramifications. But who’d think that a poet would … Continue reading →

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Voting in NYC — for District Attorney of Kings County

Posted on November 5, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

No excuse not to vote, especially for Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney. Let Charles Hynes know that he can’t jump from the Democratic to the Republican and Conservative parties because he lost the Democratic primary to Ken Thompson. He had … Continue reading →

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“Memories”

Posted on June 2, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

“Memories,” by Barbara Streisand, is one my favorite songs. I love the lyrics: Memories Light the corners of my mind Misty watercolor memories Of the way we were Scattered pictures Of the times we left behind Smiles we gave to … Continue reading →

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