Page 12 The Legislative Gazette February 9, 2010
Immigrant rights
group protesting
Ford appearance
By LENINA MORTIMER
Gazette staff writer
I
mmigration advocates are voicing concern
about Harold Ford Jr., who is considering
a U.S. Senate run against incumbent
Kirsten Gilibrand, and who is scheduled to
speak at the New York State Association
of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators gala
dinner this weekend.
In a letter to the caucus
chair, Assemblyman
Nick Perry, the Executive
Director of the New York
Immigration Coalition,
Chung-Wha Hong said
“Mr. Ford, whose positions
Ford
are inconsistent at best, deeply troubling
at worst, brings a track record that is
inconsistent with the mission of the caucus
Gazette file photo to be a voice that advances the interests
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says the practices of some online discount clubs are deceiving to consumers and reform is needed.
of communities of color, immigrants, and
low- and middle-income communities.”
Hong is asking that Perry “reconsider
Retailers’ discount clubs are deceiving, Cuomo says
having Ford as the keynote speaker” and
to reassess if he is the right fit to speak
before an audience of immigrants and
By MARCY L. VELTE is a charge to become a member and The 22 companies subpoenaed have
people of color the dinner attracts.
Gazette staff writer take customers’ credit card information deals with three well-known corporations
As a congressman representing Tennessee,
A
ttorney General Andrew from stored data of their last purchase, that offer the discount programs,
Ford voted for the Sensenbrenner bill
Cuomo recently announced an Cuomo’s office said. Webloyalty, Affinion/Trilegiant and
(H.R.-4437) which came to be known as
investigation into 22 popular “This online scheme has impacted the Verture.
the Border Protection, Antiterrorism and
retailers for deceiving customers into finances and tried the patience of tens Cuomo’s office said information about
Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005.
joining online discount clubs for a fee. of millions of consumers nationwide,” joining the membership program and its
The bill sparked controversy and was
Cuomo says an estimated $1 billion said Cuomo. “Well-known companies ramifications is buried in fine print and
the catalyst for immigration reform
in revenue was taken collectively by are tricking customers into accepting cluttered text. Customers may not take
protests across the country in 2006.
sites that charge customers to become offers from third-party vendors, which notice of these small charges because
The Sensenbrenner bill is named
members in order to earn discounts and then siphon money from consumers’
rewards. The sites do not indicate there accounts.”
See Clubs on page 23 See Ford on page 25
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