St. Paul man who threatened to kill woman after attending domestic assault class gets 5-year prison sentence

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A St. Paul man with a decade-long history of domestic violence-related convictions was sentenced to five years in prison Monday after charges say he ordered his son to get an AR-15 rifle, threatened to shoot a woman and himself in front of six kids and then fired a round into a living room wall.

Greg Vang, 37, was on probation for a prior domestic assault conviction at the time of the June incident, which began shortly after he arrived at the family’s East Side home following a domestic abuse class, the charges say. He surrendered after a standoff with SWAT officers.

Greg Vang (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)

Vang reached a plea agreement with the Ramsey County attorney’s office in December, admitting to being in possession of a firearm after conviction of a crime of violence. Two other charges filed in connection with the case were dismissed at sentencing: second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, and possessing a firearm with an altered serial number.

Judge DeAnne Hilgers denied Vang’s request for a downward departure to probation and sentenced him to the five-year prison term, which was the mandatory minimum on the charge.

Hour-long standoff

Officers responded to a shots-fired call at the home in the 900 block of Sims Avenue about 5:15 p.m. June 19, 2023.

A woman was reluctant to speak to officers, who learned later that the suspect, identified as Vang, threatened to harm her if she talked to police, according to the criminal complaint. She said he got home angry after attending a domestic abuse class for a prior incident between the two of them. He started breaking things in the living room, then told his 10-year-old son to get his AR-15 rifle from upstairs.

Once Vang had the rifle, he pointed it at the woman and said, “I’m going to kill us in front of the kids” and “I’m going to kill you if you call the police,” the complaint says. Vang broke her phone so she couldn’t call the police, and blamed her for him going to jail.

Vang then shot one round into the living room wall, while the children — between the ages of 13 years to one-month old — were in the room with him.

Officers spoke to Vang while he barricaded himself in the garage for more than an hour, during which time he said he would not come out and would rather die, the complaint says. He was eventually taken into custody by the SWAT team. An AR-15 rifle with no serial number was found hidden in the garage.

A search of the home turned up a handgun in a bedroom, a gun scope, gun magazines and a large amount of ammunition.

Officers found a spent casing in the living room and “fresh” bullet holes in the garage.

In an interview with police, Vang said he got upset when the woman looked through his phone. He admitted the guns in the home belonged to him, but denied handling one in the house, the complaint says. He claimed the loud sound came from him throwing an ammo case.

Court records show Vang was convicted of misdemeanor domestic assault in 2014, felony domestic assault, felony terroristic threats and felony drug possession in 2017, felony domestic assault in 2019, felony threats of violence in 2021 and gross misdemeanor domestic assault last year.

Vang was convicted of violating a domestic abuse no-contact order in 2014 and 2015 and a domestic abuse order for protection in 2016.

‘Risk to public safety’

Vang’s public defender, Tyler Dehaven, told Hilgers on Monday that the latest “series of events” has been “something of a wake-up call for Vang in terms of an opportunity for him to really turn things around.”

Vang has recently completed his GED and the initial phase of a drug treatment program through Minnesota Teen Challenge, which Dehaven said are steps that show he is amenable to probation.

Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Cory Tennison disagreed, noting how Vang violated probation in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2023. “Your honor has to weigh the last six weeks in treatment versus the last 10 years violating probation,” he said.

Tennison asked the judge to hand down the five-year prison term, saying: “The risk to public safety warrants prison here, and the punishment should fit the gravity of what he did.”

Hilgers mentioned the seriousness of Vang’s offense, including how it happened in front of children, as well as his prior criminal history.

“I do not have faith that you would complete (probation) successfully,” she said. “You haven’t demonstrated that in the past.”

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Biden’s budget proposal for a second term offers tax breaks for families and lower health care costs

posted in: Politics | 0

MANCHESTER, N.H. — President Joe Biden on Monday released a budget proposal aimed at getting voters’ attention: It would offer tax breaks for families, lower health care costs, smaller deficits and higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

Unlikely to pass the House and Senate to become law, the proposal for fiscal 2025 is an election year blueprint about what the future could hold if Biden and enough of his fellow Democrats win in November. The president and his aides previewed parts of his budget going into last week’s State of the Union address, and they provided the fine print on Monday.

If the Biden budget became law, deficits could be pruned $3 trillion over a decade. It would raise tax revenues by a total of $4.9 trillion over that period and use roughly $1.9 trillion to fund various programs, with the rest going to deficit reduction.

The president traveled Monday to Manchester, New Hampshire, where he called on Congress to apply his $2,000 cap on drug costs and $35 insulin to everyone, not just people who have Medicare. He also advocated for making permanent some protections in the Affordable Care Act that are set to expire next year.

“I’m here in New Hampshire to talk about the budget I released today that would, I think, help in a big way,” Biden said.

Biden aides said their budget was realistic and detailed while rival measures from Republicans were not financially viable.

“Congressional Republicans don’t tell you what they cut, who they harm,” White House budget director Shalanda Young said. “The president is transparent, details every way he shows he values the America people.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued a joint statement with other GOP leaders calling the Biden proposal a “glaring reminder of this Administration’s insatiable appetite for reckless spending.”

“Biden’s budget doesn’t just miss the mark — it is a roadmap to accelerate America’s decline,” the House Republican leaders said.

Under the proposal, the government would spend $7.3 trillion next fiscal year and borrow $1.8 trillion to cover the shortfall from tax receipts. Biden’s 188-page plan covers a decade’s worth of spending, taxes and debt.

Parents could get an increased child tax credit in 2025, as payments would return briefly to the 2021 level funded by Biden’s coronavirus pandemic relief package. Homebuyers could get a tax credit worth up to $10,000 and $10 billion in down payment aid for first-generation buyers. Corporate taxes would jump upward, while billionaires would be charged a minimum tax of 25%.

Biden said in his State of the Union that Medicare should have the ability to negotiate prices on 500 prescription drugs, which could save $200 billion over 10 years. Aides said his budget does not specify how many drug prices would be subject to negotiations.

Biden’s plan would permanently keep Medicare solvent, according to aides, but as noted by Maya MacGuineas, president of the fiscal group Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, it does not appear to fix Social Security, which projections say will be unable to pay full benefits starting in 2033.

The proposal would provide about $900 billion for defense in fiscal 2025, about $16 billion more than the baseline.

The Biden administration is still seeking money to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia and aid for Israel. His budget plan reiterates the supplemental funding request made last October for Ukraine, Israel and humanitarian relief for Palestinians

It’s also requesting funding to expand personnel and resources at the U.S. southern border. Still, military spending over 10 years would decline $146 billion to $9.57 trillion.

One key theme in the budget plan is an effort to help families afford their basic needs, as the impact of inflation hitting a four-decade high in 2022 continues to leave many voters feeling as though they’re worse off under Biden.

The budget proposal includes $258 billion to help build or preserve 2 million homes, helping to address a national shortage that has kept housing prices high. Parents making under $200,000 annually would have access to child care, with most eligible families paying no more than $10 a day.

It would eliminate origination fees on government student loans, possibly saving borrowers $1,000 over the life of the debt. It also includes $12 billion to help universities develop strategies for reducing their costs.

All of this is a chance for Biden to try to define the race on his preferred terms, just as the all-but-certain Republican nominee, Donald Trump, wants to rally voters around his agenda.

Trump, for his part, would like to increase tariffs and pump out gushers of oil. He called for a “second phase” of tax cuts as parts of his 2017 overhaul of the income tax code would expire after 2025. The Republican has also said he would slash government regulations. He has also pledged to pay down the national debt, though it’s unclear how without him detailing severe spending cuts.

In a Monday interview with CNBC, Trump indicated that he would be willing to reduce spending for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, though he did not offer a full policy.

“There is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting,” Trump said.

The interview drew Biden’s attention, prompting him to tell the audience in New Hampshire that cuts were off the table: “The bottom line is he’s still at it. I’m never going to allow that to happen.”

House Republicans on Thursday voted their own budget resolution for the next fiscal year out of committee, saying it would trim deficits by $14 trillion over 10 years. But their measure would depend on rosy economic forecasts and sharp spending cuts, reducing $8.7 trillion in Medicare and Medicaid expenditures. Biden has pledged to stop any cuts to Medicare.

Meanwhile, Congress is still working on a budget for the current fiscal year. On Saturday, Biden signed into law a $460 billion package to avoid a shutdown of several federal agencies, but lawmakers are only about halfway through addressing spending for this fiscal year.

___

Boak reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Colleen Long in Washington also contributed to this report.

 

NAACP urges student-athletes to reconsider Florida colleges after state eliminates DEI programs

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By MARK LONG (AP Sports Writer)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Black student-athletes should reconsider attending public colleges and universities in Florida, the NAACP said in a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker on Monday.

The letter was in response to the University of Florida and other state schools that have eliminated their diversity, equity and inclusion programs. It was also addressed to current and prospective student-athletes.

“This is not about politics,” the letter read. “It’s about the protection of our community, the progression of our culture, and most of all, it’s about your education and your future.”

The letter was signed by NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Leon W. Russell and NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson.

Last year, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill prohibiting the use of state funds for any DEI programs. The University of Florida responded in March by closing the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, eliminating 13 full-time DEI positions and 15 administrative appointments, and ending DEI-focused contracts with outside vendors.

Other state schools like North Florida and Florida International also have shut down DEI programs.

“While it is our duty to spread awareness and encourage action around these egregious assaults, we also recognize that protest can come at a price,” the letter read. “The sad reality is, for many Black student-athletes, collegiate sports may be their sole opportunity at achieving the upward mobility necessary to propel them into their rightful places in society.”

NFL Hall of Famer and Florida legend Emmitt Smith asked minority athletes at his alma mater to “be aware and vocal” about the decision.

Johnson took it a step further Monday.

“Florida’s rampant anti-Black policies are a direct threat to the advancement of our young people and their ability to compete in a global economy,” Johnson said in a statement. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount (to) ensuring equitable and effective educational outcomes.

“The value Black and other college athletes bring to large universities is unmatched. If these institutions are unable to completely invest in those athletes, it’s time they take their talents elsewhere.”

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Opinion: Putting NYC Voucher Holders on Equal Footing

posted in: Society | 0

“Instead of being treated equally, too many voucher holders are not placed on a level playing field with other renters due to numerous issues created by the requirements of the voucher programs.”

Adi Talwar

Windows to the first-floor apartment where two sisters, Ibanez Ambrose, 2, and Scylee Vayoh Ambrose, 1, died after a radiator spewed scalding hot steam into their room on Dec. 7, 2016.

CityViews are readers’ opinions, not those of City Limits. Add your voice today!

Fair housing laws play a vital role in our society. No one should ever be denied the right to shelter due to any personal characteristics.

In New York City, where two-thirds of residents are renters, it is especially important to prevent “source of income” discrimination. No tenant should be denied access simply because they require a rental subsidy—such as Section 8, HASA, or CityFHEPS vouchers—to secure the housing they need.

It’s simple. If a New Yorker applies to rent an apartment using a housing voucher, they should be treated the same as any other New Yorker. And when voucher programs are administered correctly, they can be a lifeline for tenants, particularly those transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing.

Unfortunately, voucher programs often fail to achieve that simple goal. Instead of being treated equally, too many voucher holders are not placed on a level playing field with other renters due to numerous issues created by the requirements of the voucher programs.

At the root of this failure is a broken system that policymakers have ignored for far too long. The city programs used to administer housing vouchers are deeply flawed and in dire need of repair.

Accordingly, I would propose three solutions as the starting point for systematic restructuring of voucher programs.

Solution #1: Create a standard form of voucher that all programs can use.

Every voucher is different. The lack of consistency on the details of each individual voucher leads to significant confusion by voucher holders, landlords and real estate brokers.

In New York City today, when a voucher holder applies for an apartment, they and their broker, in many instances, do not know exactly what the voucher covers (for example, does the voucher cover the full amount of the rent or  is the voucher holder required to pay a portion of the rent?). It may or may not cover utility payments or security deposit in addition to rent. It may or may not cover a fee for the real estate broker who helped them find and apply for the apartment.

This leads to unwarranted delays. If the landlord asks questions about the voucher that the prospective tenant is unable to answer due to lack of information and understanding, the landlord must try to contact a caseworker for support, often resulting in continued confusion and long wait times.

Officials and policy makers can fix this by creating a universal voucher that voucher holders, landlords and real estate brokers can easily understand. Each voucher should pay one month’s security deposit and include a set rate for covering a portion of utilities. It should cover a standard, competitive real estate broker fee to address the support required from a broker.

Solution #2: Streamline the inspection process and reduce the red tape.

In addition to a lack of clear information around the vouchers themselves, there is an absurdly complex bureaucratic process that sets voucher holders up for failure.

To start, many New Yorkers who need vouchers are waiting too long to receive them. According to the 2024 Mayor’s Management Report (MMR), the median time between completion of a Section 8 voucher application and issuance of the voucher increased by almost 120 percent between fiscal year 22 and fiscal year 2023.

After they receive their voucher and find an apartment to apply for, the renter must then deal with an unnecessary, mandated inspection process that results in further delays. It can take several weeks just to schedule the inspections, which are sometimes cancelled at the last minute. Even after that, many apartments fail the inspection for no good reason, setting the process back again.

The result is unfairness. The move-in process for a renter (who does not have a voucher) can sometimes take just a few days. They don’t need to wait for any unnecessary inspections! But for a voucher holder, it can take up to five months. By that time, the voucher holder’s chosen apartment is likely no longer available.

Policymakers and officials can fix this by tearing down the red tape. Pass legislation to end the delay-ridden inspection process. Hold agencies accountable and require them to report data on any delays that take place.

Solution #3: Modernize the system and create a digital portal.

Throughout the ordeal of navigating this process, voucher holders are forced to use a woefully outdated system for submitting documents.

For example, most renters in New York City have used digital portals to submit documentation to apply for an apartment and make payments. But that doesn’t exist for voucher holders.

Instead, they must work with the caseworker, real estate broker and landlord to fill out and compile reams of physical paperwork that must be sent to the city for review. This leads to more delays that can be held up by minor issues in the paperwork.

City officials can fix this by creating a digital portal for processing documents and payments for voucher holders, just like every other tenant in New York City has come to expect. The portal would allow all parties to communicate clearly and either avoid or quickly remedy any issues that could hold up the application or approval process.

In a city that struggles with a widely acknowledged housing supply crisis, it is unacceptable to foster an environment where the requirements of the programs that are intended to help voucher holders are actually the main cause of the harm they experience.  This significantly prevents voucher holders from fairly accessing the housing they need.

It’s time for policymakers to stop ignoring the flaws in this broken system and fix them now!

Neil Garfinkel is managing partner of Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP (AGMB) and is also broker counsel for the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY). He has been teaching and training the brokerage community on fair housing obligations and compliance for 15 years.