Times Square 'Weed Man' files lawsuit for his right to beg for marijuana money

BY Scott Shifrel

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

The "Weed Man" of Times Square demands his constitutional right to beg.

Joshua Long - who carries a sign saying "Help! I need money for weed" - filed a federal suit Tuesday complaining that his First, Fourth and 14th Amendment rights have been violated by repeated arrests.

"Though the First Amendment protects Mr. Long's right to stand on the sidewalk with his sign, he has been, and continues to be, regularly and wrongfully, arrested, charged and harassed by police officers," the suit says.

"These arrests and other harassment have diminished Mr. Long's ability to lawfully beg in Times Square."

Long, 30, has been issued multiple summonses, arrested at least six times, pepper sprayed and harassed by cops, according to court papers in Manhattan Federal Court.

"He certainly has the right to stand on the sidewalk and ask for money," said Long's lawyer, Matthew Brinckerhoff. "I can only conclude that the police don't like his message."

Long is seeking a court order protecting Long's right to beg and unspecified damages and lawyer fees.

City officials declined comment pending receipt of the suit.

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Program won't cover 9/11 responders for cancer

This is sad being that I am a WTC Rescuer myself. - Dj Tecnine

New York (CNN) -- Workers who were involved in the response to the World Trade Center attack will not have their cancer treatments compensated under a program set up after September 11, according to a controversial decision released Tuesday by the World Trade Center Health Program.

There is inadequate "published scientific and medical findings" that a causal link exists between September 11 exposures and the occurrence of cancer in responders and survivors, program Administrator John Howard said in a statement.

The decision forms part of the first periodic review of what the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act will provide.

After a lengthy battle, President Obama signed the $4.2 billion legislation in January to provide health care for those who helped clear the rubble and search for human remains at the World Trade Center site in New York.

"As new research and findings are released, we will continue to do periodic reviews of cancer" for the program, Howard said, with the next review expected in early to mid-2012.

Some of the New York lawmakers who originally hailed the legislation are now speaking out against the exclusion of cancer.

"As the sponsors of the Zadroga Act, we are disappointed that Dr. Howard has not yet found sufficient evidence to support covering cancers," Democratic Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler and Republican Rep. Peter King, who wrote the act, said in a joint statement.

"This is disappointing news for 9/11 responders and survivors who tragically have been diagnosed with cancer since the attacks and are suffering day to day and awaiting help," they said.

"So many people have gotten such rare cancers -- and at such young ages -- that it seems obvious there must be a link," Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer said in a statement.

He labeled the report "premature" and said revision will "demonstrate that those who were exposed to the witches' brew of toxins at ground zero have developed serious illnesses, including cancer, and deserve justice."

Many survivors are similarly disheartened.

"It's very disappointing, very heartbreaking," said Reggie Hillaire, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer in 2005.

Doctors told the New York police officer, who's 34, that developing such a cancer was "really, really rare so young."

"I've met so many people who were police officers at the same time who have these cancers, and we're all about the same age."

Hillaire, who worked at the site for 11 days and then at the Staten Island Landfill for 63 days, has also been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Cancer treatment being covered by the program "would have brought some closure. ... It feels like it's never going to end," he said.

"It's very unfortunate. My doctors think (the cancer's) directly linked" to the September 11 exposure, said Al Schille, a New York Police Department detective who also suffers from multiple myeloma cancer.

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Back 2 Life - Soul II Soul
Sucker MC's - RUN DMC
Children's Story - Slick Rick
I'm The Magnificent - Special Ed
You Know I Got Soul - Eric B and Rakim
Peter Piper - RUN DMC
Something For The Radio (Inst) - Biz Markie
Mona Lisa - Slick Rick
900 Number - 45 King
It Takes Two - Rob Base
Mary, Mary - RUN DMC

Old School Reggae
Traffic Blocking - General Degree
Ease Off - Lady G
Heads High - Mr Vegas
Who Am I - Beenie Man
Infiltrate - Sean Paul
Bounce Me - Tanya Stephens
Ya Nice - Red Rat
Strategy - Sean Paul
Baby Boy - Sean Paul & Beyonce
Make it Clap - Busta Rhymes feat Sean Paul
Tight Up Skirt - Red Rat
Hice it Up - Mash Up
No Blight - Sean Paul
Ay Ay Ay - Sean Paul
Chi Chi Man - T.O.K.
Sexy Ladies - Shaggy feat Sean Paul
Get Busy - Sean Paul
No Letting Go - Wayne Wonder
Turn Me On - Kevin Little
Tempted To Touch - Rupee feat Daddy Yankee
Too Close - Rehka
Don't Test Me - Mr Easy.
Uh Oh Remix - Lumidee feat Busta Rhymes