TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1397-PS

1933 REICHSGESETZBLATT, PAGE 175, Art 1-18, 7 April 1933.

Law for the Reestablishment of the Professional Civil Service 7 April 1933

The Reichsgovernment has enacted the following law, which is hereby proclaimed:

Art. 1

1. For the reestablishment of a national professional civil service and for the simplification of administration, officials may be discharged from office according to the following regulations, even when the necessary conditions according to the appropriate law do not exist.

2. Officials, as used in this law, means immediate [unmittelbare] and mediate [mittlebare] officials of the Reich, immediate and mediate officials of the federal states [Laender], officials of communes [Gemeinde] and communal associations, officials of public legal corporations as well as institutions and undertakings placed upon the same status as these public legal corporations (Third decree of the Reichspresident for the safeguarding of business and finance of 6 October 1931-RGBl. I P. 537, 3rd part, Chapter V, Section I, Art. 15, subparagraph 1). The stipulations apply also to employees of agencies supplying social insurance, who have the rights and duties of officials.

3. Officials as used in this law also includes officials in temporary retirement.

4. The Reichsbank and the German State Railway Co. are empowered to make corresponding regulations.

Art. 2

1. Officials who since 9 November 1918 have attained the status of officials without possessing the required or usual preparation or other qualifications are to be dismissed from service. Their former salaries will be accorded them for a period of 3 months after their dismissal.

2. A right to waiting allowances, pensions, or survivors pension and to the continuance of the official designation, the title, the official uniform and the official insignia is not possessed by them.

3. In case of need a pension, revocable at any time, equivalent to a third of the usual base pay of the last position held by them may be granted them, especially when they are caring for dependent relatives; reinsurance according to the provisions of the Reich's social insurance law will not take place.

4. The stipulations of Section 2 and 3 will receive corresponding application in the case of persons of the type designated in Sec. 1, who already before this law became effective had been retired.

Art. 3

1. Officials, who are of non-aryan descent, are to be retired; insofar as honorary officials are concerned, they are to be removed from official status.

2. Section 1 is not in effect for officials who were already officials since 1 August 1914, or who fought during the World War at the front for the German Reichs or who fought for its allies or whose fathers or sons were killed in the World War. The Reichsminister of the Interior can permit further exceptions in understanding with the appropriate special minister or the highest authorities of the federal states in the case of officials abroad.

Art. 4

Officials, whose former political activity does not offer a guarantee that they at all times without reservation act in the interest of the national state can be dismissed from service. For a period of 3 months after dismissal they are accorded their former salary. From this time on they receive 3/4 of their pension and corresponding survivor's benefits.

Art. 5

1. Every official must allow himself to be transferred to another office of the same or equivalent career, even into such a one having less rank or regular salary—reimbursement for the prescribed costs of transfer taking place, if the needs of the service require it. In case of transferment to an office of lower rank and regular salary the official retains his previous official title and the official income of his former position.

2. The official can, in place of transfer to an office of lesser rank and regular income (section 11) demand to be retired.

Art. 6

For the simplification of administration officials can be retired, even if they are not yet unfit for service. If officials are retired for this reason, their places may not be filled again.

Art. 7

1. Dismissal from office, transfer to another office and retirement will be ordered by the highest Reichs or federal state agency which will render final decision without right of appeal.

2. The dispositions according to Art 2 to 6 must be made known at the latest by 30 Sept 1933 to those affected. The time can be shortened by agreement with the Reichsminister of the Interior, if the appropriate Reichs or federal state agency declares that the measures authorized in this law have been carried out.

Art. 8

A pension will not be granted to the officials dismissed or retired in accordance with Art 3 and 4, if they have not completed a term of service of at least 10 years; this applies also in the cases in which according to the existing stipulation a pension is already accorded after a shorter term of service. Articles 36, 47 and 49 of the Reichs officials' law, the law of 4 July 1921 on increased computation of time in service accomplished during the war (RGBl p. 825) and the corresponding provisions of federal state laws remained unchanged.

Art. 9

1. In the calculation of length of service valid for pension purposes, excepting time of service accrued in their last employment, only a term served in the Reichs, Federal State, or communal service according to the existing regulations may be credited to officials dismissed or retired according to Articles 3 and 4. Also accrediting of this length of service is only permissible, if it bears some relationship in preparation or career to the position last held; such a relationship of lower career to a higher one is to be regarded as an orderly promotion. If the official would have obtained a higher pension by the addition of later years of service to time served in an earlier position regularly obtained by qualifications and preparation, the ruling more favorable to him takes precedence.

2. The implementative regulations govern the calculation of time served with public corporations and with institutions and undertakings placed upon the same basis as these public corporations.

3. Accreditation and certification of time served valid for pension purposes, which conflict with the carrying out of the provisions of Section 1, are nullified.

4. In the case of officials of the Reich and of public corporations, institutions, and agencies under the supervision of the Reich, the Reichsminister of the Interior in agreement with the Reichsminister of Finance can mitigate hardships; the highest federal state authorities can do the same in the case of other officials.

5. Sections 1 to 4 as well as Article 8 will also be applied to such officials who already, before this law came into effect, were retired either permanently or temporarily upon whom Articles 2 to 4 would have been applied if the officials had been still in service at the time this law came into effect. The new accrediting of time of service valid in the calculation of pensions and the accrediting of pensions and of waiting allowances must, at the latest, take place on 30 Sept 1933 with effect as of 1 Oct 1933.

Art. 10

1. Guiding principles, which are established for the amount of pay for officials will be based upon the calculation of service remunerations and pension. In case decisions by the competent authorities on the applying of the guiding principles do not yet exist, they are to be issued without delay.

2. After decisions by the competent authorities concerning the application of the guiding principle have been made, if officials are found to have received higher remunerations than are due them according to the decisions, they then have to reimburse the surplus amounts received since 1 April 1932 at the pay office where the payments were given out. The argument of no longer existing enrichment (Articles 812vBGB and subs) is excluded.

3. Subsections 1 and 2 are valid also for persons who have been retired inside of one year before this law became effective.

Art. 11.

1. If, in the accrediting of pay-seniority of officials who leave the service on account of Articles 3 and 4, employment outside of the Reichs, Federal State, or communal service has been calculated, then the pay-seniority is to be newly calculated. Therein only an employment in the Reichs, Federal State, or communal service, or according to the implementative regulations, in the service of public corporations and institutions and undertakings equivalent to the former may be accredited. Exceptions can be permitted by the Reichsminister of the Interior in agreement with the Reichsminister of Finance for Reichs officials; for other officials, by the highest federal state authorities.

2. If a new accrediting of pay-seniority according to Section 1 comes into consideration, then in the case of officials retired or dismissed according to Articles 3 and 4, the new determination of pay-seniority will be carried out in conjunction with the determination of the pension amount.

3. The same is valid for the persons named in Article 9, Section 5.

Art. 12.

1. The salaries of Reichsministers appointed since 9 Nov 1918, which are not calculated according to the provisions of Articles 16 to 24 of the Reichsminister law of 27 March 1930 (RGBl I P. 96) are to be newly calculated. In the new calculation, the above-mentioned provisions of the Reichsminister law are to be applied as if they had been already in effect at the time of the Reichsminister's dismissal from office. According to this law, excess payments received since 1 April 1933 are to be paid back. The argument of no longer existing enrichment (Article 812 and subs BGB) is inadmissible.

2. Section 1 will receive application upon the members of the federal state government appointed since 9 Nov 1918 with the provision that in place of the Reichsminister law the corresponding provisions of the federal state law will be in effect; however, payments may only be made to the amount which results from the application of the fundamental principles of Articles 16 to 24 of the Reichsminister law.

3. The new calculation of payments must take place before 31 December 1933.

4. Retroactive payments will not take place.

Art. 13.

The survivors payments will be calculated with corresponding application of Articles 8 to 12.

Art. 14.

1. Against the officials who have been dismissed or transferred upon the authority of this law, the institution of civil service punishment proceedings on account of misdemeanors committed while in office with the object of cancellation of pension, survivors benefits, designation of office, title, official uniform and insignia. The institution of the proceedings must take place on 31 December 1933 at the latest.

2. Section 1 is also valid for persons who within one year of the date that this law becomes effective have been retired and upon whom the Articles 2 and 4 would have been applied, if these persons had still been in service when this law came into effect.

Art. 15.

The provisions concerning officials will be applied in an appropriate manner to employees and workers. The implementative regulations govern detailed application.

Art. 16.

If unreasonable hardships occur in the carrying out of this law, then higher payments or transition money may be granted in accordance with the general regulations. The decisions in this matter will be made by the Reichsminister of the Interior in agreement with the Reichsminister of Finance in the case of Reichs officials, in other cases by the highest federal state authorities.

Art. 17.

1. The Richsminister of the interior will issue in agreement with the Reichsminister of Finance, the necessary regulations for the execution and carrying through of this law and the general administrative provisions.

2. If necessary the highest federal state authorities will issue supplementary regulations. In this matter they must confine themselves to the framework of the Reichs regulations.

Art. 18.

With the expiration of the periods established in this law, the general provisions valid for the professional civil services will be again completely valid, without prejudice to the measures taken on the basis of this law.

Berlin, 7 April 1933

The Reichschancellor Adolf Hitler

The Reichsminister of the Interior Frick

The Reichsminister of Finance Count Schwerin von Krosigk

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1398-PS

1933 REICHSGESETZBLATT, PART I, PAGE 433

Law to Supplement the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service of 20 July 1933

The Reich government has enacted the following law, which is hereby promulgated:

The Law for the Restoration of Civil Service from 7 April 1933 (RGBl I, page 175) is supplemented as follows:

1. The following is added to Article 2:

Article 2a

1. Officials, who have belonged to the communist party or to communistic auxiliary or collateral organizations, or otherwise have been active in furthering the aims of Communism, are to be discharged. Discharge is not necessary for (a) officials, who before 30 January 1933 joined a party or an organization, which has placed itself behind the government of the national revolution, and (b) officials, who have distinguished themselves exceptionally in the national movement.

2. Officials, who in the future are active for Marxism (Communism or Social-Democracy) are to be discharged.

3. The following are the bases on which officials are discharged: Sec. 1,—Sec. 2,—Art. 2, Sec. 1, sentence 2—Secs. 2 and 3.

Berchtesgaden, 20 July 1933

The Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler

For the Minister of the Interior: The Reich Minister of Finance Count Schwerin von Krosigk

The Reich Minister of Finance Count Schwerin von Krosigk

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1397-PS

1933 REICHSGESETZBLATT, PAGE 175, Art 1-18, 7 April 1933.

Law for the Reestablishment of the Professional Civil Service 7 April 1933

The Reichsgovernment has enacted the following law, which is hereby proclaimed:

Art. 1

1. For the reestablishment of a national professional civil service and for the simplification of administration, officials may be discharged from office according to the following regulations, even when the necessary conditions according to the appropriate law do not exist.

2. Officials, as used in this law, means immediate [unmittelbare] and mediate [mittlebare] officials of the Reich, immediate and mediate officials of the federal states [Laender], officials of communes [Gemeinde] and communal associations, officials of public legal corporations as well as institutions and undertakings placed upon the same status as these public legal corporations (Third decree of the Reichspresident for the safeguarding of business and finance of 6 October 1931-RGBl. I P. 537, 3rd part, Chapter V, Section I, Art. 15, subparagraph 1). The stipulations apply also to employees of agencies supplying social insurance, who have the rights and duties of officials.

3. Officials as used in this law also includes officials in temporary retirement.

4. The Reichsbank and the German State Railway Co. are empowered to make corresponding regulations.

Art. 2

1. Officials who since 9 November 1918 have attained the status of officials without possessing the required or usual preparation or other qualifications are to be dismissed from service. Their former salaries will be accorded them for a period of 3 months after their dismissal.

2. A right to waiting allowances, pensions, or survivors pension and to the continuance of the official designation, the title, the official uniform and the official insignia is not possessed by them.

3. In case of need a pension, revocable at any time, equivalent to a third of the usual base pay of the last position held by them may be granted them, especially when they are caring for dependent relatives; reinsurance according to the provisions of the Reich's social insurance law will not take place.

4. The stipulations of Section 2 and 3 will receive corresponding application in the case of persons of the type designated in Sec. 1, who already before this law became effective had been retired.

Art. 3

1. Officials, who are of non-aryan descent, are to be retired; insofar as honorary officials are concerned, they are to be removed from official status.

2. Section 1 is not in effect for officials who were already officials since 1 August 1914, or who fought during the World War at the front for the German Reichs or who fought for its allies or whose fathers or sons were killed in the World War. The Reichsminister of the Interior can permit further exceptions in understanding with the appropriate special minister or the highest authorities of the federal states in the case of officials abroad.

Art. 4

Officials, whose former political activity does not offer a guarantee that they at all times without reservation act in the interest of the national state can be dismissed from service. For a period of 3 months after dismissal they are accorded their former salary. From this time on they receive 3/4 of their pension and corresponding survivor's benefits.

Art. 5

1. Every official must allow himself to be transferred to another office of the same or equivalent career, even into such a one having less rank or regular salary—reimbursement for the prescribed costs of transfer taking place, if the needs of the service require it. In case of transferment to an office of lower rank and regular salary the official retains his previous official title and the official income of his former position.

2. The official can, in place of transfer to an office of lesser rank and regular income (section 11) demand to be retired.

Art. 6

For the simplification of administration officials can be retired, even if they are not yet unfit for service. If officials are retired for this reason, their places may not be filled again.

Art. 7

1. Dismissal from office, transfer to another office and retirement will be ordered by the highest Reichs or federal state agency which will render final decision without right of appeal.

2. The dispositions according to Art 2 to 6 must be made known at the latest by 30 Sept 1933 to those affected. The time can be shortened by agreement with the Reichsminister of the Interior, if the appropriate Reichs or federal state agency declares that the measures authorized in this law have been carried out.

Art. 8

A pension will not be granted to the officials dismissed or retired in accordance with Art 3 and 4, if they have not completed a term of service of at least 10 years; this applies also in the cases in which according to the existing stipulation a pension is already accorded after a shorter term of service. Articles 36, 47 and 49 of the Reichs officials' law, the law of 4 July 1921 on increased computation of time in service accomplished during the war (RGBl p. 825) and the corresponding provisions of federal state laws remained unchanged.

Art. 9

1. In the calculation of length of service valid for pension purposes, excepting time of service accrued in their last employment, only a term served in the Reichs, Federal State, or communal service according to the existing regulations may be credited to officials dismissed or retired according to Articles 3 and 4. Also accrediting of this length of service is only permissible, if it bears some relationship in preparation or career to the position last held; such a relationship of lower career to a higher one is to be regarded as an orderly promotion. If the official would have obtained a higher pension by the addition of later years of service to time served in an earlier position regularly obtained by qualifications and preparation, the ruling more favorable to him takes precedence.

2. The implementative regulations govern the calculation of time served with public corporations and with institutions and undertakings placed upon the same basis as these public corporations.

3. Accreditation and certification of time served valid for pension purposes, which conflict with the carrying out of the provisions of Section 1, are nullified.

4. In the case of officials of the Reich and of public corporations, institutions, and agencies under the supervision of the Reich, the Reichsminister of the Interior in agreement with the Reichsminister of Finance can mitigate hardships; the highest federal state authorities can do the same in the case of other officials.

5. Sections 1 to 4 as well as Article 8 will also be applied to such officials who already, before this law came into effect, were retired either permanently or temporarily upon whom Articles 2 to 4 would have been applied if the officials had been still in service at the time this law came into effect. The new accrediting of time of service valid in the calculation of pensions and the accrediting of pensions and of waiting allowances must, at the latest, take place on 30 Sept 1933 with effect as of 1 Oct 1933.

Art. 10

1. Guiding principles, which are established for the amount of pay for officials will be based upon the calculation of service remunerations and pension. In case decisions by the competent authorities on the applying of the guiding principles do not yet exist, they are to be issued without delay.

2. After decisions by the competent authorities concerning the application of the guiding principle have been made, if officials are found to have received higher remunerations than are due them according to the decisions, they then have to reimburse the surplus amounts received since 1 April 1932 at the pay office where the payments were given out. The argument of no longer existing enrichment (Articles 812vBGB and subs) is excluded.

3. Subsections 1 and 2 are valid also for persons who have been retired inside of one year before this law became effective.

Art. 11.

1. If, in the accrediting of pay-seniority of officials who leave the service on account of Articles 3 and 4, employment outside of the Reichs, Federal State, or communal service has been calculated, then the pay-seniority is to be newly calculated. Therein only an employment in the Reichs, Federal State, or communal service, or according to the implementative regulations, in the service of public corporations and institutions and undertakings equivalent to the former may be accredited. Exceptions can be permitted by the Reichsminister of the Interior in agreement with the Reichsminister of Finance for Reichs officials; for other officials, by the highest federal state authorities.

2. If a new accrediting of pay-seniority according to Section 1 comes into consideration, then in the case of officials retired or dismissed according to Articles 3 and 4, the new determination of pay-seniority will be carried out in conjunction with the determination of the pension amount.

3. The same is valid for the persons named in Article 9, Section 5.

Art. 12.

1. The salaries of Reichsministers appointed since 9 Nov 1918, which are not calculated according to the provisions of Articles 16 to 24 of the Reichsminister law of 27 March 1930 (RGBl I P. 96) are to be newly calculated. In the new calculation, the above-mentioned provisions of the Reichsminister law are to be applied as if they had been already in effect at the time of the Reichsminister's dismissal from office. According to this law, excess payments received since 1 April 1933 are to be paid back. The argument of no longer existing enrichment (Article 812 and subs BGB) is inadmissible.

2. Section 1 will receive application upon the members of the federal state government appointed since 9 Nov 1918 with the provision that in place of the Reichsminister law the corresponding provisions of the federal state law will be in effect; however, payments may only be made to the amount which results from the application of the fundamental principles of Articles 16 to 24 of the Reichsminister law.

3. The new calculation of payments must take place before 31 December 1933.

4. Retroactive payments will not take place.

Art. 13.

The survivors payments will be calculated with corresponding application of Articles 8 to 12.

Art. 14.

1. Against the officials who have been dismissed or transferred upon the authority of this law, the institution of civil service punishment proceedings on account of misdemeanors committed while in office with the object of cancellation of pension, survivors benefits, designation of office, title, official uniform and insignia. The institution of the proceedings must take place on 31 December 1933 at the latest.

2. Section 1 is also valid for persons who within one year of the date that this law becomes effective have been retired and upon whom the Articles 2 and 4 would have been applied, if these persons had still been in service when this law came into effect.

Art. 15.

The provisions concerning officials will be applied in an appropriate manner to employees and workers. The implementative regulations govern detailed application.

Art. 16.

If unreasonable hardships occur in the carrying out of this law, then higher payments or transition money may be granted in accordance with the general regulations. The decisions in this matter will be made by the Reichsminister of the Interior in agreement with the Reichsminister of Finance in the case of Reichs officials, in other cases by the highest federal state authorities.

Art. 17.

1. The Richsminister of the interior will issue in agreement with the Reichsminister of Finance, the necessary regulations for the execution and carrying through of this law and the general administrative provisions.

2. If necessary the highest federal state authorities will issue supplementary regulations. In this matter they must confine themselves to the framework of the Reichs regulations.

Art. 18.

With the expiration of the periods established in this law, the general provisions valid for the professional civil services will be again completely valid, without prejudice to the measures taken on the basis of this law.

Berlin, 7 April 1933

The Reichschancellor Adolf Hitler

The Reichsminister of the Interior Frick

The Reichsminister of Finance Count Schwerin von Krosigk

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1398-PS

1933 REICHSGESETZBLATT, PART I, PAGE 433

Law to Supplement the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service of 20 July 1933

The Reich government has enacted the following law, which is hereby promulgated:

The Law for the Restoration of Civil Service from 7 April 1933 (RGBl I, page 175) is supplemented as follows:

1. The following is added to Article 2:

Article 2a

1. Officials, who have belonged to the communist party or to communistic auxiliary or collateral organizations, or otherwise have been active in furthering the aims of Communism, are to be discharged. Discharge is not necessary for (a) officials, who before 30 January 1933 joined a party or an organization, which has placed itself behind the government of the national revolution, and (b) officials, who have distinguished themselves exceptionally in the national movement.

2. Officials, who in the future are active for Marxism (Communism or Social-Democracy) are to be discharged.

3. The following are the bases on which officials are discharged: Sec. 1,—Sec. 2,—Art. 2, Sec. 1, sentence 2—Secs. 2 and 3.

Berchtesgaden, 20 July 1933

The Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler

For the Minister of the Interior: The Reich Minister of Finance Count Schwerin von Krosigk

The Reich Minister of Finance Count Schwerin von Krosigk

T.F. Green head of security resigns abruptly

by: Tim White

Posted: Jan 28, 2025 / 04:11 PM EST

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) – R.I. Airport Corp. head of security Joseph Perkins abruptly resigned Tuesday after sending an alarming message to colleagues, accusing airport management of seeking “to eliminate the police department.”

Perkins outlined the allegations against airport management in a message he sent to members of the airport police department before handing in his resignation to State Police Col. Darnell Weaver, who oversees law enforcement at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport.

“Unfortunately everything you suspect about RIAC management is true,” Perkins wrote in the message, claiming management wanted to get rid of the police department and “most of all the union.”

Airport spokesperson Bill Fischer denied the allegations, downplaying Perkins’ authority at the airport and noting he’d only joined in September. He also said the airport never received a letter of resignation from Perkins and that he’d never raised his concerns to airport leadership.

“There are no plans to eliminate the RIAC police department and the airport is properly staffed and able to fulfill its mission,” Fischer said. “We have had the same staffing levels over the last decade. The department has been and will continue to be led by senior vice president of operations, Duc Nguyen.”

Lt. Col. Robert Creamer said Perkins does not report to the Department of Public Safety and directed all questions to the airport corporation.

In an email to Target 12, Perkins confirmed his resignation and said he immediately notified the airport police department about his decision, “encouraging them to stay strong and committed to their duty of serving and protecting the airport and the citizens who utilize it.”

“To the astonishment of most people I speak with outside the airport, the leadership must be changed,” Perkins wrote. “I am sorry I was not able to make that change happen. I am sorry I was not able to become what I and most of you expected when I took this job.”

He advised the staff to “fight” and “do not let them win.”

Perkins confirmed the authenticity of the internal message via text message.

Perkins came to RIAC with 35 years of law enforcement experience, most recently serving 10 years as chief of the Middleboro Police Department in Massachusetts.

His departure comes at a time of internal turbulence at the quasi-government agency, which oversees Rhode Island airports. In October, RIAC President and CEO Iftikhar Ahmad announced he was launching an internal investigation after a series of anonymous emails and letters circulated criticizing his leadership.

ALSO READ: TF Green fire lieutenant fired over alleged misconduct, excess overtime

The administration has denied the allegations in the anonymous letters and has raised the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the author if they are revealed.

More than 160 employees at the airport — including its police officers — are currently negotiating a new contract with RIAC leadership. Council 94, the union that represents the workers, has repeatedly raised concerns about Ahmed’s leadership.

“We have been raising an alarm about RIAC’s ill treatment of both union and nonunion employees,” said Jim Cenerini of Council 94. “This is our minds shows a continued pattern of disregard for their employees.”

Despite the tensions, passenger numbers have grown at T.F. Green. A news release by the agency touted the airport as the “fastest-growing hub airport in New England.” The release said the airport saw 27% increase in passengers from 2023 to 2024, passing 4 million travelers.

Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.

O'Brien has been paying Optimum $111.20 a month for broadband—$89.99 for the broadband service, $14 in equipment rental fees, a $6 "Network Enhancement Fee," and $1.21 in tax. He was due for a big discount under the New York Affordable Broadband Act (ABA), which says that any ISP with over 20,000 customers must offer either a $15 plan with download speeds of at least 25Mbps or a $20 plan with at least 200Mbps speeds, and that the price must include "any recurring taxes and fees such as recurring rental fees for service provider equipment required to obtain broadband service and usage fees."

Despite qualifying for a low-income plan under the law's criteria, O'Brien's request was denied by Optimum. He reached out to Ars, just like many other people who have read our articles about bad telecom customer service. Usually, these problems are fixed quickly after we reach out to an Internet provider's public relations department on the customer's behalf.

That seemed to be the way it was going, as Optimum's PR team admitted the mistake and told us that a customer relations specialist would reach out to O'Brien and get him on the right plan. But O'Brien was rejected again after that.

We followed up with Optimum's PR team, and they had to intervene a second time to make sure the company gave O'Brien what he's entitled to under the law. The company also updated its marketing materials after we pointed out that its Optimum Advantage Internet webpage still said the low-income plan wasn't available to current customers, former users who disconnected less than 60 days ago, and former customers whose accounts were "not in good standing." The New York law doesn't allow for those kinds of exceptions.

O'Brien is now on a $14.99 plan with 50Mbps download and 5Mbps upload speeds. He was previously on a 100Mbps download plan and had faster upload speeds, but from now on he'll be paying nearly $100 less a month.

Obviously, telecom customers shouldn't ever have to contact a news organization just to get a basic problem solved. But the specter of media coverage usually causes an ISP to take quick action, so it was surprising when O'Brien was rejected a second time. Here's what happened.

“We don’t have that plan”

O'Brien contacted Optimum (which used to be called Cablevision and is now owned by Altice USA) after learning about the New York law from an Ars article. "I immediately got on Optimum's website to chat with live support but they refused to comply with the act," O'Brien told us on January 15, the day the law took effect.

A transcript of O'Brien's January 15 chat with Optimum shows that the customer service agent told him, "I did check on that and according to the policy we don't have that credit offer in Optimum right now." O'Brien provided the agent a link to the Ars article, which described the New York law and mentioned that Optimum offers a low-income plan for $15.

"After careful review, I did check on that, it is not officially from Optimum and in Optimum we don't have that plan," the agent replied.

O'Brien provided Ars with documents showing that he is in SNAP and thus qualifies for the low-income plan. We provided this information to the Optimum PR department on the morning of January 17.

"We have escalated this exchange with our teams internally to ensure this issue is rectified and will be reaching out to the customer directly today to assist in getting him on the right plan," an Optimum spokesperson told us that afternoon.

A specialist from Optimum's executive customer relations squad reached out to O'Brien later on Friday. He missed the call, but they connected on Tuesday, January 21. She told O'Brien that Optimum doesn't offer the low-income plan to existing customers.

"She said their position is that they offer the required service but only for new customers and since I already have service I'm disqualified," O'Brien told us. "I told her that I'm currently on food stamps and that I used to receive the $30 a month COVID credit but this did not matter. She claimed that since Optimum offers a $15, 50Mbps service... that they are in compliance with the law."

Shortly after the call, the specialist sent O'Brien an email reiterating that he wasn't eligible, which he shared with Ars. "As discussed prior to this notification, Optimum offers a low-income service for $15.00. However, we were unable to change the account to that service because it is an active account with the service," she wrote.

Second try

We contacted Optimum's PR team again after getting this update from O'Brien. On Tuesday evening, the specialist from executive customer relations emailed O'Brien to say, "The matter was reviewed, and I was advised that I could upgrade the account."

After another conversation with the specialist on Wednesday, O'Brien had the $15 plan. O'Brien told us that he "asked why I had to fight tooth and nail for this" and why he had to contact a news organization to get it resolved. "I claimed that it's almost like no one there has read the legislation, and it was complete silence," he told us.

On Wednesday this week, the Optimum spokesperson told us that "it seems that there has been some confusion among our care teams on the implementation of the ABA over the last week and how it should be correctly applied to our existing low-cost offers."

Optimum has offered its low-cost plan for several years, with the previously mentioned restrictions that limit it to new customers. The plan website wasn't updated in time for the New York law, but now says that "new and existing residential Internet customers in New York" qualify. The new-customer restriction still applies elsewhere.

"Our materials have been updated, including all internal documents and trainings, in addition to our external website," Optimum told us on Wednesday this week.

Law was in the works for years

Broadband lobby groups convinced a federal judge to block the New York affordability law in 2021, but a US appeals court reversed the ruling in April 2024. The Supreme Court decided not to hear the case in mid-December, allowing the law to take effect.

New York had agreed to delay enforcement until 30 days after the case's final resolution, which meant that it took effect on January 15. The state issued an order on January 9 reminding ISPs that they had to comply.

"We have been working as fast as we can to update all of our internal and external materials since the ABA was implemented only last week—there was quite a fast turnaround between state officials notifying us of the intended implementation date and pushing this live," Optimum told Ars.

AT&T decided to completely stop offering its 5G home Internet service in New York instead of complying with the state law. The law doesn't affect smartphone service, and AT&T doesn't offer wired home Internet in New York.

Optimum told us it plans to market its low-income plan "more broadly and conduct additional outreach in low-income areas to educate customers and prospects of this offer. We want to make sure that those eligible for this plan know about it and sign up."

O'Brien was disappointed that he couldn't get a faster service plan. As noted earlier, the New York law lets ISPs comply with either a $15 plan with download speeds of at least 25Mbps or a $20 plan with at least 200Mbps speeds. ISPs don't have to offer both.

"I did ask about 200Mbps service, but they said they are not offering that," he said. Optimum offers a $25 plan with 100Mbps speeds for low-income users. But even in New York, that one still isn't available to customers who were already subscribed to any other plan.

Failure to comply with the New York law can be punished with civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. The state attorney general can sue Internet providers to enforce the law. O'Brien said he intended to file a complaint against Optimum with the AG and is still hoping to get a 200Mbps plan.

We contacted Attorney General Letitia James' office on Wednesday to ask about plans for enforcing the law and whether the office has received any complaints so far, but we haven't gotten a response.

When Luigi Mangione Came to Our Prison

A dispatch from SCI Huntingdon in Pennsylvania, which was briefly part of the biggest crime story in the nation.

by Vaughn Wright January 23, 2025

This story is a Kite, a special category dedicated to first-person reports that rely heavily on a writer’s first-hand observations and experiences. Read more about why PJP uses this category here__.

Well before Luigi Mangione became a temporary resident here at State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, he and the crime he is alleged to have committed were topics of speculation among the prison population.

Through the prison grapevine, I learned that Mangione was being held in D-Rear, or the rear of D Block, a part of the prison where death row prisoners used to be housed.

Rather than the orange jumpsuit that is standard issue in here, he was wearing a “turtle suit,” a blue padded getup used primarily for prisoners vulnerable to committing self-harm. 

Every time he was escorted from his cell, D Block got locked down. During lockdowns, all prisoner movement is prohibited.

Within 48 hours of Mangione’s arrival here, cable and broadcast news had set up shop outside the prison. That evening, Ashleigh Banfield, the host of NewsNation’s “Banfield” show, placed a curious kind of spotlight on this prison. 

During that nighttime interview, Banfield realized the prisoners on E Block were watching her show when they shouted and blinked their ceiling lights in response to the conversation she was having from the studio with Alex Caprariello, her reporting colleague in the field. So she started posing questions directly to the prisoners, who responded both vocally out of their windows and visually with their cell lights.

I haven’t heard voices here raised in such raucous unison since 2018, when the Philadelphia Eagles won the 2017 Super Bowl. Though it was hard for Caprariello to hear anyone shouting from C Block, where I live, I suppose people relished the moment to have a voice. 

The day after the NewsNation “interview” with E Block aired, the prison’s deputy superintendent threatened everyone in the unit, particularly the guys on the street-facing side, with time in the hole if they yelled from their cell or blinked their lights for the media again.

You’ll notice in subsequent NewsNation interviews outside E Block that guys were still vocal, just not so much with the lights, to avoid being traced back to a particular cell. The deputy superintendent’s threat was all the act-right motivation they needed. Freedom of speech suppressed? Check.

Mangione’s notoriety likely softened the amount of oppression the guards here would usually dispense because they wanted something from him. They wanted stories to share with coworkers and friends and family. Everyone wanted a piece of the biggest crime story in the nation.

Now, nearly 2,000 of us are part of that story. No matter what, Mangione is and will forever be an SCI Huntingdon alumnus. His brothers here will intently follow his case as it moves forward through the criminal justice system, all the while telling anyone who’ll listen, if it had been them, what they would have done to keep from getting arrested in the first place.

MEMORANDUM

TO: Heads and Acting Heads of Departments and Agencies

FROM: Charles Ezell, Acting Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management

DATE: January 21, 2025

RE: Initial Guidance Regarding DEIA Executive Orders

Pursuant to its authority under 5 U.S.C. § 1103(a)(1) and (a)(5), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) is providing the following initial guidance to agencies regarding the President’s executive orders titled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions, which repeals Executive Order 14035, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce.

Steps to Close Agency DEIA Offices: In light of the above Executive Orders, each should take prompt actions regarding the offices and agency sub-units focusing exclusively on DEIA initiatives and programs (the “DEIA offices”). Specifically, agency heads should take the following steps:

1. No later than 5:00 pm EST on Wednesday, January 22, 2025

a. Send an agency-wide notice to employees informing them of the closure and asking employees if they know of any efforts to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language a template agency-wide notice is attached as Appendix 1.

b. Send a notification to all employees of DEIA offices that they are being placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately as the agency takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs.^1^ A template employee letter is attached as Appendix 2.

[footnote] 1: The authority for placing these employees on paid administrative leave is set forth in the OPM memorandum entitled “Guidance on Probationary Periods, Administrative Leave and Details” issued January 20, 2025.

c. Take down all outward facing media (websites, social media accounts, etc.) of DEIA offices.

d. Withdraw any final or pending documents, directives, orders, materials, and equity plans issued by the agency in response to now-repealed Executive Order 14035, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) in the Federal Workforce (June 25, 2021).

e. Cancel any DEIA-related trainings, and terminate any DEIA-related contractors.

2. No later than 12:00 pm EST on Thursday, January 23, 2025, report to OPM on all steps taken to implement this memorandum, including:

a. a complete list of DEIA offices and any employees who in those offices as of November 5, 2024,

b. a complete list of all DEIA-related agency contracts as of November 5, 2024, and

c. any agency plans to fully comply with the above Executive Orders and this memorandum.

3. No later than 5:00 pm EST on Friday, January 31, 2025, submit to OPM:

a. a written plan for executing a reduction-in-force action regarding the employees who work in a DEIA office. Agencies should coordinate with OPM in preparing these plans,

b. a list of all contract descriptions or personnel position descriptions that were changed since November 5, 2024 to obscure their connection to DEIA programs.

Please contact Amanda Scales at amanda.scales@opm.gov if you have any questions regarding this memorandum. Please send any reports requested by this guidance memo to DEIAreports@opm.gov, with a copy to amanda.scales@opm.gov.

cc: Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCOs), Deputy CHCOs, Human Resources Directors, and Chiefs of Staff

Appendix 1

Template Email - Agency Head to Employees

Dear agency employees,

We are taking steps to close all agency DEIA offices and end all DEIA-related contracts in accordance with President Trump’s executive orders titled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.

These programs divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.

We are aware of efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language. If you are aware of a change in any contract description or personnel position description since November 5, 2024 to obscure the connection between the contract and DEIA or similar ideologies, please report all facts and circumstances to DEIAtruth@opm.gov within 10 days.

There will be no adverse consequences for timely reporting this information. However, failure to report this information within 10 days may result in adverse consequences.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Appendix 2

Template Email - Administrative Leave Notice (Sent to Employees)

Dear [Employee],

This email provides important information regarding your employment status. Effective January 2[_], 2025 at [__] [_]m EST, all employees within [ODEIA] will be placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits. This administrative leave is not being done for any disciplinary purpose.

Please note the following:

• Pay and Benefits: You will continue to receive your full salary and benefits during the entirety of this administrative leave period.
• Work Responsibilities: You are not required or expected to perform any work-related tasks during this period of administrative leave.
• Office Attendance: You are not required or expected to come to the office during this time.
• Email Access: Your email access will be suspended. Please make sure that your address of record and contact information are current with your agency.

We will provide you with updates as soon as they are available. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact [Designated Contact Person] at [Email].

Respectfully,

[Name/Title of Authorizing Official]

[Office/Agency]