Paterson approves noise measure that protects Islamic call to prayer, other religious announcements

After extensive debate, the City Council on Tuesday night voted 5-4 to approve changes in Paterson’s noise control ordinance that supporters say will allow mosques to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer five times a day. The vote drew an impassioned standing room only crowd of more than 120 to City Hall, including some Christian pastors who opposed the measure, saying it would create a nuisance for people who live near mosques, as well as members of Paterson’s Muslim community, who praised the ordinance as a victory for religious inclusion.

About 30 people spoke during the public hearing, a group that included almost equal numbers of opponents and supporters. “When it comes to religion, we are not equal,” asserted resident Aleya Khan, urging the council to support the noise ordinance. But another resident, Steve Bauer, said mosques’ loudspeakers would be “blaring” in neighborhoods. During his comments, Bauer mentioned Islamic terrorists, including the man who was living in Paterson in October 2017 when he killed nine people at a Hudson River bike path in Manhattan. City officials quickly interrupted Bauer to tell him he could only comment about the noise ordinance. “With all due respect, this is a religious issue,” Bauer responded. Some mosques in Paterson already broadcast the call to prayer, while others do not'. Officials said they have never heard of any instance in the city in which a mosque received a noise summons for broadcasting the call to prayer. Officials who supported the changes in the noise ordinance said they were designed to prevent overzealous enforcement that could target a mosque’s call to prayer.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/paterson-press/2020/03/11/paterson-nj-noise-ordinance-measure-allows-islamic-call-prayer-adhan/5020113002/

First commemorative pens now these commemorative toilet paper earrings. She must be drunk.

https://twitter.com/Octomemes1/status/1239723228425306117

"'For Real???"'

Republican Lawmakers Call for Chinese Communist Party to Be Banned From Twitter for Misinformation and Propaganda

Senator Ben Sasse and Rep. Mike Gallagher are calling on Twitter to ban accounts belonging to the Chinese Communist Party, following massive propaganda efforts regarding the coronavirus coming from China.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/03/republican-lawmakers-call-for-chinese-communist-party-to-be-banned-from-twitter-for-misinformation-and-propaganda/

https://www.sasse.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/830e7a6f-dc96-4987-b4e1-7d1d2a2f4908/03.20.20-sasse-gallagher-twitter-letter.pdf

https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2020/An-update-on-our-continuity-strategy-during-COVID-19.html

Staffer for Vice President Mike Pence tests positive for the coronavirus

Pence's office said the staffer has not been in "close contact" with either the vice president or President Donald Trump.

A member of Vice President Mike Pence's staff has tested positive for the coronavirus, Pence's office said Friday night. The staffer's name and exact position was not released, but Pence's press secretary, Katie Miller, said, "Neither President Trump nor Vice President Pence had close contact with the individual. "Further contact tracing is being conducted in accordance with CDC guidelines,” Miller said.

Pence, who was placed in charge of the White House coronavirus task force in late February, said earlier this week he had not been tested for the virus himself. "I'm in regular consultation with the White House physician and he said I've not been exposed to anyone for any period of time who has the coronavirus," he told reporters on Monday. "My wife and I have no symptoms, but we’re checking our temperature regularly every day and will continue to follow guidance."

Trump tested negative for the virus last week, after he was in close contact with multiple people at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida who had been exposed to the coronavirus.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/staffer-vice-president-mike-pence-tests-positive-coronavirus-n1165371

>>8497145

Indeed..we need to keep an eye on this..for the others.

Biden staff wearing masks and gloves around him

Joe Biden revealed that his campaign staff and other visitors wear masks and gloves around him to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Most Biden campaign staff are working from home, but, when people meet with him in person, Biden said on a press call Friday, "We’re following CDC guidelines. People are coming in with masks on, wearing gloves." "I'm having constant telephone conferences,” the former vice president and likely Democratic presidential nominee said, adding that he is on the phone "probably an average seven hours a day."

At 77, Biden is part of the age group that is considered at a higher risk of death should he contract the coronavirus. Medical records released for the former vice president reveal that he receives treatment for an irregular heartbeat and high cholesterol. The records also said that he deals with acid reflux and seasonal allergies. Decades ago, Biden suffered two life-threatening brain aneurysms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend the general public wear face masks or respirators. "Instead, CDC recommends following everyday preventive actions, such as washing your hands, covering your cough, and staying home when you are sick," the agency said.

Most loose-fitting masks "do not effectively filter small particles from the air and do not prevent leakage around the edge of the mask when the user inhales," the CDC said, adding that the special N95 filtering respirator design can filter out 95% of very small bacterial and viral particles. Hospitals and medical professionals are facing a shortage of N95 masks, and the CDC has recommended that medical professionals substitute bandannas or scarves as a last resort.

Earlier in the call, Biden called on President Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act but could not answer which industries or businesses he would put to work if he was in the same position. In a tweet on Thursday, Biden called for the use of the Defense Production Act to create more medical equipment such as face masks.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/biden-staff-wearing-masks-and-gloves-around-him