​
Re:
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Over the past year and a half, following my complaint to the EEOC, I have continuously been subjected to harassment and retaliation by my former employer. The situation escalated when I came across an audiotape revealing the company's VP of Finance discussing financial fraud. I have attached my EEOC complaint and rebuttal to provide you with a better understanding of this situation. The company has embarked on a campaign of retaliation and attempts to cover up the truth. Recently, I discovered that my phone was under surveillance by private investigators hired by my previous employer, Socure Inc. As mentioned earlier, this harassment began at my local YMCA, where multiple individuals were instructed to participate in a planned campaign targeting me. Socure extended their actions beyond the YMCA by continuously tracking my cellphone's location wherever I went. Initially, I suspected I was being followed, but I later realized that my phone had been compromised. My messages and calls were being monitored, and even my home internet seemed to be tapped into. Furthermore, I have reason to believe that my bank transactions were being monitored as well. I am being targeted because I disclosed illegal activities involving the VP of Finance, which he was afraid to share. I’m one hundred percent certain that Socure hacked into my cellphone to eavesdrop on all conversations. Any and all things that I discuss with my wife would later be discussed amongst gym goers, at multiple Mosque, and random places I often visit. I have attached my EEOC compliant for further assessment of this situation.
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The following individuals, whom I suspect were compensated, were involved in collecting information about me and fabricating false allegations:
* Sonia Atherly, the Director of the YMCA
* Stephin Roberts, a YMCA member who became a friend
* Ade A. (last name unknown), a YMCA member who became a friend
* Andre Nelson, a friend from Downtown YMCA Brooklyn whom I haven't spoken to in two years
* Austin Hill, a YMCA member who accompanied Andre Nelson
* Ethan, a YMCA member (last name unknown)
* Torell Taylor, a YMCA member
* Multiple neighbors: units 5A, 5F, and 2X PHE
* Serdar Cam, former neighbor and new neighbor at 322 Gates Ave
* Trevor (last name unknown), a YMCA member
* Justin (last name unknown), a YMCA member
* An unidentified female YMCA member who unexpectedly appeared at a restaurant where my wife and I were in Puerto Rico
* Gavin Tseng, a former friend who orchestrated a scheme involving real estate and a startup concept
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Retaliations took place at the following locations:
* Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA: 1121 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
* Brooklyn Mosque Khalifa: 120 Madison St, Brooklyn, NY
* Islamic Mission of America/Dawood Mosque: 143 State St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
* Airport Travels: JFK AirTrain
* Puerto Rico Vacation: Hilton Hotel
* Trip to Milwaukee: Airbnb rental at 1028 East Juneau Avenue, Unit 416, Milwaukee, WI 53202
* Supermarket in Brooklyn: 1420 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216
* Multiple Banking Institutions: Chase at 1380 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216 & TD Bank at 957 Marcy Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
* Multiple NYC Train Platforms: Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets station & 125th Street Station
* Apartment Building: 322 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
​
Types of framing and allegations being built against me:
* Resume fraud
* Real estate fraud
* Influencing people to file lawsuits
* Influencing neighbors to complain
* False restaurant reporting
* False robbery attempt
* And more...
​
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Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA Director, Sonia Atherly - Staged Office Phone Video Recording:
Sonia Atherly, the director of the Bedstuy YMCA, participated in a retaliatory campaign. On September 29, 2022, she requested a meeting with me in her office. During our conversation, she pulled out her phone and began recording from her work monitor, alleging that a masked individual had entered the gym. She even asked me to view the video footage. While I complied, her phone continued recording, capturing my voice in the process. This action appears to be an attempt to counter the accusations made by the VP of Finance regarding fraudulent activities and manipulate my voice recordings to paint a negative picture of my behavior. In response to my concerns, the YMCA director provided the following reply: "Hi Lou. I believe that it was on Tuesday, and I was actually taking photos, so no, your voice would not have been captured in any way. To be clear, we do not record conversations at the Y in any way, shape, or form unless we have signed event waivers. I hope this clarifies the matter for you." On September 30, 2022, Sonia orchestrated an incident where the same individual showed up at the front desk as I was leaving, hoping to provoke a response from me and involve me in their investigation. For months, non-members of the YMCA were allowed to come into the facility and harass me while surveillance cameras were purposely turned off to destroy any possible evidence.
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Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA Program Coordinator, Jeff (Damian Best):
Upon my arrival at the basketball gym, Jeff, the program coordinator, and a parent with her child were already present. After requesting Jeff to wait a few more minutes, the parent engaged in a heated argument with him, demanding to know why her child couldn't participate since no one else was there. I reassured her that while I didn't mind, Jeff was responsible for setting the rules. She eventually left the gym in an angry state. Their intention was to have me report the incident to management and portray me as someone who constantly complains. On October 4, 2022, I sent an email to myself for record-keeping purposes.
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Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA Member, Ade (last name starting with "A"):
On Saturday, October 8, 2022, Ade and I agreed to meet for a late lunch at "The Green Place" in Brooklyn. I noticed that he kept referencing financial figures related to specific people he worked with. I suspect he has also been recruited to participate in Socure's retaliation against me. Their goal is to capture recordings of me to use them against me, claiming that I habitually record people. Ade also expressed dissatisfaction with the YMCA's adult open gym times during Saturday's basketball hours. He mentioned having discussed it with the front desk. On October 9, 2022, Ade sent me a screenshot of the YMCA's response to his request. It's important to note that I never made any complaints. As someone who lives near the YMCA and often wakes up early, I told him, "I don't want to play." Once again, Socure is attempting to build a case portraying me as someone who incessantly complains and records people to divert attention from their own misconduct. Multiple members were instructed to complain to me so that my name can be implicated. I believe that individuals are being compensated to assist them. In early May 2023, both Ade and Stephin Roberts repeatedly interrupted my workout in an attempt to initiate a conversation with me.
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Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA member, Stephin Roberts - Staged information gathering:
Stephin Roberts, a fellow YMCA member, unexpectedly called me after we crossed paths at the gym, which was an unusual occurrence. We exchanged brief greetings, and I proceeded with my workout. I suspect that his intention in calling me was to record our conversation and use it against me, falsely claiming that I frequently record people, which is entirely untrue. Given that my cellphone was being tracked, it seemed that whenever I left my home, I would coincidentally encounter Mr. Roberts. He had been instructed to fabricate a false DUI incident to elicit personal information from me regarding a case on my record that had been expunged. During our conversation, I shared a past experience of mine involving a car accident I had when I was younger while dating someone, as well as my advice on expungement, recounting a personal incident that happened to me. At the time, I thought Mr. Roberts was a genuine person with good intentions. I believe Socure will be attempting to coordinate and get me arrested for theft or burglary based on the previous expunged records, trying to paint a negative image of who I am. I believe Stephin Roberts has been recording me as a tactic instructed by Socure's private investigator.
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Friend from Downtown YMCA Brooklyn whom I haven't spoken with in two years, Andre Nelson at Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA:
I haven't had any communication with Andre Nelson for more than two years. However, he unexpectedly appeared at the gym I regularly attend on a Wednesday evening, despite it not being in close proximity to his residence. Subsequently, Mr. Nelson started frequenting the gym with his friend Austin Hill. Together, they began coordinating with YMCA members, informing them about my situation with Socure. Within one week, one of Austin Hill's Facebook friends reached out to me, mentioning a potential collaboration with someone they knew, namely Austin Hill. As I stated, I've never met Mr. Hill nor had any connection with people he knew outside of Mr. Nelson. When I encountered Mr. Hill during the following open gym session, he acted as though nothing had transpired, and I played along. Additionally, Austin requested certain documents from me for his business, but I never fulfilled his request. To confirm my suspicions that Austin was attempting to set me up, I orchestrated an event by telling him, "Yeah, man, girls don't care if you have a ring on. They will approach you. Come to this bar tonight." Upon my arrival at the bar a few minutes later, a woman wearing a wedding band tried to get my attention. However, I sensed that it was a staged occurrence. When Andre Nelson and Austin Hill arrived, they infiltrated the group of members, instructing them to provoke me during the basketball game while secretly recording my reactions. At one point, a member named Justin threw a water bottle, and the situation escalated.
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Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA member, Trevor - Staged information gathering:
Trevor started asking and mentioning multiple work-related questions. On October 7, 2023, he mentioned having a quarterly review and asked for suggestions. Within weeks later, Trevor asked me if I knew any lawyers as he was dealing with a housemaid who was suing him. This same situation happened with more than two other members (Stephin Roberts, Kadeem Kirsten) in which they asked me attorney-related questions. I believe he was instructed to record our conversations.
Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA member, Torrell Taylor:
As previously mentioned, I believe that the YMCA's Director is monitoring my interactions with other gym members in order to collaborate with them. Their objective is to falsely claim that "Lou is influencing people to document incidents," all with the intention of tarnishing my reputation. Additionally, Socure allegedly requested Torrell to open a restaurant in downtown Brooklyn as part of their scheme to build a case against me. YMCA member Justin repeatedly approached me, informing me that Torrell had opened a restaurant with poor-quality food and suggested I visit. Upon receiving this information from Torrell himself, I decided to pay the restaurant a visit. However, Torrell was not present during my first visit. I attempted a second visit, only to discover that the restaurant was closed. When I texted Torrell to inquire about the closure, he responded that there had been an issue with the owner's licensing. It is apparent to me that this was a staged event orchestrated by Socure to fabricate a case against me by falsely claiming that I reported violations against Torrell's restaurant. As mentioned earlier, I strongly believe that my phone was being tracked, and it is possible that a separate line was used to make false reports under my information.
Furthermore, my emails were also subjected to hacking.
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Wireless Earbuds Planned at the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA open gym by Kadeem Kirsten - early 2022:
To ensure my privacy and personal space during the YMCA open gym sessions, I started choosing a spot away from others. I made sure to thoroughly clean the area where I sat, removing any bottles, wipes, or other items. After finishing my workout, I briefly went to the bathroom, and upon my return, I noticed a wireless earbud near the window close to my chair. I suspect that Khadim Kirsten intentionally placed the earbud there as he kept watching me closely. Mr. Kirsten also asked me for legal advice as well as a UX Designer, the same exact topic that Gavin Tseng asked me. Mr. Kirsten is one of those new members who never came to the YMCA. Upon rejecting Socure's settlement offer in January 2023, that's when all of these new members started coming to open basketball nights.
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Mosque Khalifa on Bedford Ave: Sept 2, 2022, at 120 Madison St, Brooklyn, NY, United States, New York:
During the service at Mosque Khalifa on Bedford Ave, the preacher persistently addressed a specific topic related to my case. He made references to "a brother within this community, one of our own, who made a recording" in an apparent attempt to divert attention to the tape I had recorded. Following my complaint to the EEOC through email, the recording was promptly deleted on the same day, which I later submitted to the EEOC. I started attending Islamic Mission of America/Dawood Mosque at 143 State St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, and immediately, I was followed by an individual who repeatedly tried to have a conversation with me. I was also followed to a Mosque in Harlem, NY.
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T-Mobile Visit Tracking / Unauthorized new number added at 574 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217:
Concerned about the security of my internet connection with Verizon, I visited T-Mobile to add a new line specifically for internet access. To my surprise, shortly after arriving at the store, a male approached the same register I was standing at and started asking questions. A few days after leaving the store, I discovered that a new phone line had been added to my T-Mobile account without my knowledge or consent. I promptly contacted T-Mobile customer service to inquire about the data usage associated with that particular number, but unfortunately, I did not receive the requested information. I believe Socure hacked my home network, such as my laptop, tablet, Television and home camera. For the past year and a half, Socure has managed to view all of my browsing history. I believe they kept contacting lawyers that I reached out to after every visit I made on their website to avoid me from being represented. In additional, after noticing that my email accounts were hacked, I wrote a statement indicating that my emails were hacked in which I got notarized at TD Bank.
​
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Grocery Shopping Brooklyn:
During my visit to the local supermarket, I noticed several individuals following me closely, paying particular attention to the food items I was selecting and the card I used for payment. I believe I was being followed long before I started to notice.
* May 8, 2023, at 1420 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216
* May 1, 2023, at 1420 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216
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Online Job Targeting:
I have been repeatedly targeted for specific jobs and companies, which I believe are staged by Socure, just as they did by involving me in a company backed by their investors to stage multiple events against me while interfering with my employment. I was lured into Plural, formerly known as Civic Eagle, where multiple African American candidates who did not qualify were being hired without my knowledge. All whom I’ve never spoke with. I suspect that Socure somehow gained access to my T-Mobile account and requested my entire call history to monitor my communications. Furthermore, I believe that when I sought legal counsel after receiving the EEOC's authorization to file a lawsuit, Socure clandestinely intervened in my calls to every law firm I contacted.
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Puerto Rico Vacation on Dec 23, 2022:
Upon our arrival at our room in Puerto Rico, we noticed a black male who entered a room adjacent to ours shortly after us. However, after a couple of days, we did not see him again.
During a visit to a restaurant in Puerto Rico, I recognized the hostess as the same woman I had encountered multiple times at the YMCA. She had her head covered with a white scarf. As I was seated facing the entrance, she deliberately made eye contact with me, seemingly aware that I recognized her. After finishing lunch, this same woman followed us to the waterfront and watched us closely.
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Neighbor Tracking Movement at 322 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216:
Every time I left my building, I noticed a consistent pattern where the neighbor from 5F would coincidentally head towards the elevator, wait in the lobby, and enter the building exactly at the same time. This behavior raised suspicions and led me to believe that individuals from 5A were strategically positioned next door, potentially tapping our walls to eavesdrop on our conversations. The neighbor in 5A, whom I knew through the YMCA, repeatedly complained about the building while urging me to submit a work order. I also suspect that Socure assisted one of my former neighbors, Serdar Cam, in moving into the building after they discovered my text messages about potentially moving there. Immediately after moving in, Serdar started complaining as well. I believe Socure was involved in placing a previous female tenant in the building, who also complained to me on multiple occasions about the building.
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Uber License Training:
Once again, Socure monitored the location of my phone and deployed individuals to the classroom where I was attending classes in Long Island City in early March 2023. After completing the classes, I became too afraid of potentially facing false rider allegations.
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New Open Gym Invitation by Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA member Ethan, Andre Nelson was present on March 2, 2023, at 300 Adelphi, Brooklyn, NY 11205:
Ethan, a fellow YMCA member, invited me to join him at a nearby gym. To my surprise, Andre Nelson was also in attendance. While playing on the court, I noticed one of the players guarding me had a conspicuous microphone attached to them, and an Asian woman diligently captured footage from different angles with a video camera. I believe they were recording my voice and actions on the court. Additionally, it seems that after complaining about what happened at the YMCA, members are being instructed to engage me outside the YMCA to diffuse the situation. This incident further raised my suspicion that our apartment might be under surveillance, as I had previously mentioned Andre Nelson's presence at the open gym to my wife. Moreover, during the open run, I noticed the unexpected presence of multiple YMCA members from the Downtown Brooklyn location, whom I hadn't encountered in the past four years. I firmly believe that Andre Nelson orchestrated their participation and that they were strategically placed as collaborators by Socure.
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New Gym Invites
After fully understanding that I knew about all of the plans in place at the YMCA, with the help of the YMCA Director, Sonia Atherly, multiple members were told to invite me to other gyms to built a campaign of “ this is Lou everywhere he goes”. Over six plus individuals were asked to invite me to new open gyms and men’s league to play in. This is all to avoid further problems at the gym.
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Real Estate / Startup Venture Inquiry by Gavin Tseng:
Due to ongoing targeting, I decided to distance myself from everyone for months. However, my friend Gavin Tseng, whom I knew while living in Downtown Brooklyn, repeatedly invited me to his upstate home and wanted me to see properties he was interested in purchasing. It was quite unusual that Mr. Tseng would frequently text me, asking about my availability on specific days. I suspect that Mr. Tseng was recording our conversations during the trips and multiple phone calls, where he sought my help with UX Designing for his apartment rental car service. I believe Socure conducted research on my past work history, including my involvement in a Delegate campaign in Maryland for a real estate professional. I suspect that Socure fabricated false accusations against this individual and used my information to create misleading claims, leveraging my network and devices.
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Subways / Stores Staged Evidence Building:
Regardless of the subway station I find myself in, I consistently experience being followed by random individuals who are instructed to approach me closely while holding their cellphones up to my face and posing questions. On multiple occasions, I recall three females approaching me seeking guidance regarding subway directions, and I willingly offered my assistance. However, I have recently become aware that individuals, including camera operators, have been capturing these interactions on film as part of what appears to be a deliberate campaign to discredit me.
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March 28, 2023 - Travel to Milwaukee:
While traveling to Milwaukee for a getaway from my wife after several disputes, I noticed that I was being followed at the airport. The surveillance continued throughout my stay at the Airbnb located at 1028 East Juneau Avenue, Unit 416, Milwaukee, WI 53202, from March 28, 2023, to April 11, 2023. I also experienced being followed at the Hertz car rental at 804 Vel R. Phillips Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203, on April 6, 2023, and at the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlet at 11211 120th Ave, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158, on the same day.
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April 12, 2023 - Returning back from Milwaukee:
Immediately after arriving back in New York City from my two-week vacation, at around 3:45 pm ET, just two minutes after landing, I received a text message from a YMCA member whom I hadn't communicated with in over three weeks. The message mentioned something along the lines of "See you tonight," which I promptly deleted. This unmistakable occurrence served as a clear indication that my phone was under surveillance and being tracked.
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April 21, 2023 & May 7, 2023 - Vitamin Shoppe at 12 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217:
As I entered the Vitamin Shoppe in Downtown Brooklyn on Atlantic Ave, I noticed that I was being followed. While at the checkout counter, an African American gentleman positioned himself next to me, seemingly eavesdropping on my account information and the items I was purchasing. I strongly suspect that a similar incident occurred during my previous visit on April 21, 2023, although I was not actively observing at that time.
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On May 6, 2023, between 11:30 am - 12:45 pm - JFK AirTrain:
Once again, I became aware that my phone was being tracked. I accompanied my wife to the airport as she was departing for Milwaukee. Upon arriving at the station, an assertive African American woman in her late 30s hurriedly approached us, despite the presence of multiple station operators. She aggressively stopped us and began asking for directions. Sensing something amiss, I promptly distanced myself from the situation while my wife attempted to assist her with the directions.
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Friday, May 11, 2023 at Costco Eyewear at 517 E 117th St, New York, NY 10035: While I was sharing my information, a woman in her late 50s approached the counter and closely observed my personal details. I have come to believe that Socure has someone at Chase informing them of my location whenever I use my Chase bank card. The day before, I made purchases with my Chase card at Costco.
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Friday, May 11, 2023 at Costco at 517 E 117th St, New York, NY 10035: While conversing with a product representative at Costco, a young female employee in her late teens or early twenties approached with an older Senegalese gentleman in his late 60s. The gentleman sought assistance with a product due to his limited English proficiency. As he showed me his phone up close, I noticed someone recording our interaction from a distance. Once again, I felt as though I was being followed. It seems that a private investigator was aware of my recent purchase of fish oil at Vitamin Shoppe on May 7, 2023, as well as my pursuit of becoming a personal trainer. They orchestrated the scenario with the gentleman asking me specific questions about fish oil. It's worth noting that the material I was studying for personal training explicitly states that trainers should not recommend any medication to individuals.
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Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Hoyt Station in Brooklyn: Once more, I found myself being followed into the train station. While I was waiting there, a woman approached me once again, seeking directions. Without hesitation, I gestured towards someone else nearby and firmly replied, "No, ask her." Interestingly, there was a man across the platform holding two cameras, capturing the entire interaction between us. Following the unsuccessful attempt, the woman conversed with the man briefly before they both boarded the train.
Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Bedford and Quincy in Brooklyn: As I neared my apartment building, I noticed two cameramen once again attempting to record me. Sensing their presence and their intention to cross the street, I quickly changed course and crossed over to the other side, putting some distance between us.
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Saturday, May 13, 2023 - TD Bank at 957 Marcy Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216: While I was withdrawing cash from the ATM, a white male in his late 20s, accompanied by a dog, was recording me from outside. I also believe Socure did some digging into all of my transactions at my local banks, such as Chase and TD Bank.
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Saturday, May 13, 2023 - Credit Card information altered: When I logged into my Discover Credit Card account, I observed that my information had been modified.
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Monday, May 14, 2023 - Best Buy Brooklyn at 625 Atlantic Ave Ste A7, Brooklyn, NY 11217: Upon reaching the printing department at 12:14 pm ET, I was harassed by an African American woman in her late 60s. I ignored her and left through the opposite side, but she continued to follow me and tried to engage in a conversation.
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Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Target 517 E 117th St Suite 201, New York, NY 10035, at 10:46 am ET: Upon realizing that I was aware of the cover-up occurring, where individuals were tailing me and inquiring with their phones in hand, Socure strategically positioned an African gentleman near the entrance of the targeted bathroom. They had been closely observing my actions. Remarkably, this man was dressed identically to me during the incident that unfolded on Friday, May 11, 2023
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While waiting in line, I believe a Senegalese couple were instructed to chat about illegal activities intentionally while I was behind them and they absurdly moved to another line.
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Tuesday, May 16, 2023 - Cohen’s Fashion Optical at 86 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027: While retrieving my reading glasses from Costco, I discovered that the prescription was stronger than what was indicated in the eye examination. The lenses ended up negatively impacting my vision. I requested to review the physician's notes from the exam, but despite waiting for over 30 minutes, they were unable to provide any documentation as the physician was acting very strange. Instead, they gave me evasive responses, leading me to ultimately leave without a resolution.
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May 18, 2023 - Chase Bank at 1380 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216 @ 12 PM ET: Around 12 PM ET on May 18, 2023, at Chase Bank on Fulton Ave in Brooklyn, I experienced another incident I believe involves Socure. An individual was sent to tail me, and it began at TD Bank where this person approached the teller in an ostentatious manner, loudly expressing their intentions. I suspect this encounter was being recorded in an attempt to frame a robbery on me. It seems that Socure is continuously monitoring my activities, possibly as a diversion from the fact that their former CFO was untrustworthy. Regardless of where I go, I am constantly being followed, with new tactics being devised every time I step outside my home.
I’m writing to put a stop to this targeting and ongoing harassment.

Hey all!
Came here to share a weekend of film screenings I've booked in New York City in tribute to the lives of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi. If you live in the area, would be great to see you!
Theater: Film Noir Cinema, 122 Meserole Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222 Tickets: https://linktr.ee/yellowmagicweekend
June 2nd, 7PM YMO: Propaganda (+ YMO Trivia!) Combining a surrealist narrative starring the members of YMO with their live 1983 concert at Budokan, YMO: Propaganda is considered by most to be the pinnacle of YMO's creation in the visual arts. There will be a YMO trivia contest before this screening, with a YMO goodie bag for the winner!
June 3rd, 7PM April Fish Yukihiro Takahashi stars in this wild rom-com by Japanese B-Movie Maestro Nobuhiko Obayashi (Dir. of House, 1977) A Francophile filmmaker in a creative rut tries to pass off a free-spirited young actress as his movie-star wife in order to fool a chief from the South Seas.
June 4th, 4PM Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA From techno-pop stardom to Oscar-winning film composer, the evolution of Ryuichi Sakamoto's music has coincided with his life journeys. Following Fukushima, Sakamoto became an iconic figure in Japan's social movement against nuclear power. As Sakamoto returns to music following a cancer diagnosis, his haunting awareness of life crises leads to a resounding new masterpiece. Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA is an intimate portrait of both the artist and the man.
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/965482891241512/?ref=newsfeed

Tour threads are for anything and everything relating to the relevant show. Discussion, videos, pictures, tweets - anything! This thread is also to collect everything in one place, so that we and future fans can look back at each show, so if you have anything relevant to the show, be sure to post it here!
Schedule:
11:00 AM – Parking
12:00 PM – Gates
3:05 PM – BAND-MAID (Point Black Stage)
Timetable
Venue: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, St Louis, MO, Ticket
Bag policy:

• "CLEAR plastic/vinyl tote bags no larger than 12” x 6” x 12” and/or small clutch bags (6” x 9”). The small clutch bags do not need to be clear."
  
• "No other bags of any type will be allowed."
  
• "If you bring a bag that does not meet the venue requirements, you can purchase an approved clear bag for $10 at our bag check building near the main entrance, and we will hold your original bag during the show. Otherwise, any bags that do not meet our guidelines must be returned to your vehicle."
  

Setlist:

1. Domination
   
2. Glory
   
3. Secret My Lips
   
4. Endless Story
   
5. Screaming
   
6. Influencer
   
7. No God
   

Setlists Compared
Future Dates/Previous Threads

2023

Date	Place	Venue	Thread
May 14	Houston, TX	Bayou Music Center	Link
May 15	Austin, TX	Emo's	Link
May 18	Daytona, FL	Rockville Festival	Link
May 19	Atlanta, GA	Buckhead	Link
May 21	Nashville, TN	Brooklyn Bowl	Link
May 22	Charlotte, NC	Underground	Link
May 24	Detroit, MI	St Andrews Hall	Link
May 26	Columbus, OH	Sonic Temple Festival	Link
May 27	St Louis, MO	Pointfest Radio Show	[Link]()
August 4	Chicago, IL	Lollapalooza	[Link]()
August 6	Minneapolis, MN	Varsity Theater	[Link]()
August 8	Denver, CO	Summit	[Link]()
August 9	Salt Lake City, UT	The Depot	[Link]()
August 11	Portland, OR	Crystal Ballroom	[Link]()
August 12	Spokane, WA	Bing Crosby Theater	[Link]()
August 14	Sacramento, CA	Ace of Spades	[Link]()
August 15	Anaheim, CA	House of Blues	[Link]()
August 18	Mexico City, MX	Pabellon Oeste	[Link]()

2022

Date	Place	Venue	Thread
October 9	Sacramento, CA	Aftershock Festival	N/A
October 12	Seattle, WA	Neptune	Link
October 14	San Francisco, CA	August Hall	Link
October 15	Los Angeles, CA	Belasco	Link
October 17	San Diego, CA	House of Blues	Link
October 19	Phoenix, AZ	Crescent Ballroom	Link
October 21	Dallas, TX	House of Blues	Link
October 22	Houston, TX	House of Blues	Link
October 25	Washington, DC	The Fillmore	Link
October 26	Philadelphia, PA	Theatre of Living Arts	Link
October 28	New York, NY	Irving Plaza	Link
October 29	Boston, MA	Paradise Rock Club	Link
October 30	East Rutherford, NJ	American Dream	Link
November 1	Chicago, IL	House of Blues	Link

​
https://preview.redd.it/nwydf0rx4u1b1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f956b54391a75851d29a42311c5bfd19e41c4bda

Race Information

• Name: RBC Brooklyn Half 2023
• Date: May 20, 2023
• Distance: 13.1 miles
• Location: Brooklyn, NY
• Website: https://www.nyrr.org/races/rbcbrooklynhalf
• Time: 1:41:16

Goals

Goal	Description	Completed?
A	1:40	No
B	1:43	Yes
C	1:45	Yes
D	PR (1:49:39)	Yes

Splits

Mile	Time
1	7:47
2	7:48
3	7:51
4	7:47
5	7:43
6	7:30
7	7:30
8	7:21
9	7:32
10	7:36
11	7:37
12	7:45
13	7:37
0.1	0:40 (6:27 pace)

Training

I used the BAA half marathon level two training plan and tweaked it with a few races that I would be running for NYRR's 9+1 program. This included a virtual half in the first week, which I deliberately ran/walked due to lower running fitness from ski season. My plan's mileage started at 23 and peaked at 32.
I liked the plan because it has higher mileage than Hal Higdon and puts a workout inside the long run, but I didn't like the fact that the long run alternates between Saturday and Sunday.

Pre-race

In the weeks leading up to the race, I obsessively looked at the weather and rode an emotional rollercoaster as temperatures modulated and the chance of rain came and went. I'm going to try to avoid this next time as it was just unnecessary stress over something I had absolutely no control over. The weather turned out ok.
I was in Wave 1 and NYRR suggested showing up at 5:40am for those not checking a bag. My girlfriend, who was pacing me, and I decided that we would pay for a little extra sleep and Uber a few blocks away. I consistently experience race-induced insomnia, and this race was no different. I only got 2 hours of sleep and I hoped that the sleep I had leading up to the race would carry me through.
We left later than planned at 5:25am, which was a slight mistake as traffic got worse and worse as race time neared, starting with a long line on the exit off 278. We made a few audibles to the driver to avoid the line of cars on Washington Ave and jogged to the start, arriving around 6:10am. The security lines were long, but we made it through in about 15 minutes.
As others have noted, the porta potties are IN the corrals, and I never really thought about what that would look like. Imagine smashing together the long lines outside of porta potties with a bunch of people normally waiting in corrals. Convenient, but a little confusing. Another strange consequence of this was that the waves had a large gap in between by the porta potty entrances and anyone can jump waves really easily, making the enforcement at the corral gates moot.
Kit consisted of a singlet, shorts, running cap, 3 gels (1 pre-race), and a stretch belt for the phone. Edit: Shoes were Saucony Endorphin Speed 2.

Race

Mile 1 to 4 (Race Start)

The initial plan was to have my girlfriend pace me, but three friends joined in, two of whom were racing and aiming for 1:45. Unsurprisingly, the first few miles were crowded and if you've ever had trouble weaving solo, imagine having five people do it! The streets outside of Prospect Park aren't in the best condition, and there were a few sections that could trip an inattentive individual.
I wanted to have the chance to negative split to a 1:40, even though Garmin said I was in 1:43 fitness. Though we weren't going to sprint the hills of Prospect Park, we did go a little faster than was comfortable. My HR normally spends the first 3 miles of a half marathon sitting in the 150s, but by the end of the first mile it was already at 165, and I was mildly concerned that I was screwing myself by reaching beyond my limit.
I was hoping the downhill and the flats of miles 2 to 4 would bring my HR back down, but alas, I rounded the corner and entered the slow climb up Prospect Park at 167.

Mile 4 to 6 (Battle Hill)

Battle Hill is a special kind of hell in that it is a sharp (for a road race) uphill with a bunch of winding curves and short-lived flat sections that trick you into thinking the hill is over, then it rewards you with one mile of rolling hills. I had the sense to preview the first 7 miles of the course a week before the race, so I had gotten the heartbreak out of the way, but it didn't make the climbing much easier.
We eased off to 8:20 on this section, but my heart was still racing. It had climbed up to 178 after we crested the hill and stubbornly remained there as we went through the rolling hills. I waited until after the top of Battle Hill to take my first race gel.
The weather was unpleasantly humid and at this point I started carrying my cap in my hand to cool off my head.

Mile 7 to 8 (Descent to Ocean Parkway)

The two other friends racing with us had began pushing the pace through the flats of miles 3 and 4, and my girlfriend wisely did not follow. If there's one piece of advice to give on this race, it's to conserve energy on that section because you'll need it for Battle Hill.
As we sped down the towards the exit of Prospect Park, we caught up with them, which was great timing as we had friends cheering at the bottom of that hill and they caught us all on video as if we had actually ran as a group up to this point. After that, we separated again as my girlfriend and I picked up the pace into Ocean Parkway.
To have a chance at 1:40, we would have to start running around 7:20, but by this point, my heart rate had reached 180 and I knew that pressing down to 7:20 would be dangerous. After exiting Prospect Park, you expect it to be a straight ride downhill, but my fatigue made mountains out of the small minor uphills that followed, particularly the one that followed the onramp into the Parkway.
I asked my girlfriend that we cut it back to 7:30 and give up pushing for my A goal.

Mile 9 to 12 (Ocean Parkway)

Fatigue really started to set in as we ran the long and quiet straightaway and my heart rate continued climbing. I took my second race gel around mile 10, hoping that it would kick in early enough to carry me through the last 3 miles. Looking back, I was really glad to have had a personal pacer at this point, because the mental fortitude she gave me was crucial. My pace was relatively even around 7:40 throughout this segment, but you better believe I would have eased up all the way to 8:00 or even slower without my girlfriend to hold me accountable.
I read warnings about not counting down the avenue letters, which climb up from H to Z on the run, but I had forgotten the slight bend in the Parkway at Avenue W. From afar, it looks as if a brown building marked the end of the Parkway, which I realize now is pretty silly. Dear reader, there is no building between Ocean Parkway and the sea.

Mile 13.1 (Coney Island)

By the last mile, my HR had crosssed into 190 and I was at my limit. The end was near, but it did not feel like it. I got what might generously be called a second wind from the gel, but in return I experienced a mild stitch in my stomach, and I could not tell whether it was worth the gel after all.
I would occasionally ask my girlfriend if we could slow down to a jog for a little while, and she would indulge me by slowing down only slightly to 8:00 and quickly counting down from 10. She would also coax me by asking me to keep up the pace until certain landmarks (that weird street lamp, that second streetlight, those people cheering on). These tricks proved successful as we maintained the pace despite the constant "breaks."
By 800 meters out, the growing crowds had instilled new life into me, and as my girlfriend granted me another 10-second reprieve, I said, "No, let's run the rest." I mustered up what little energy I had and pushed towards the boardwalk.
We ascended the infamous ramp with minimal crowding and my legs surprisingly did not complain more for the minor elevation. Once on the boardwalk, I sprinted towards the finish, making sure to run on the nails where there would be the least bounce, and waved my hands up and down at the crowd to give me that final push.

Post-race

Everything hurt, but I was able to slowly waddle my way through to the recovery area with all the water, snacks, and medals. Once we collected all our bounty and found the porta potties, we waited for all our friends and headed towards Nathan's as the rain began to pour. Few things are as delicious as a chili dog after a race where you gave it your all.
Made with a new race report generator created by herumph.

As I wrapped up May’s "Things to Do" post, I told myself, “Okay, that was fun. I’m done now.”
And I was done. But then u/Beautiful_Ad_ asked for June. It always amazes me how tiny interactions can grow into full-blown undertakings. Apparently one brief message at the right time was the motivation I needed for one more month. So to you, internet stranger: I hope these help you plan your trip. What can I say; these are fun for me to make.
Every time I compile these lists, I wind up with a bunch of events that don't make the final cut. So for this month, I offer a few honorable mentions, separate from my list where I match exactly one event per day of the month:

• Tuesday, June 6 - Pageboy with Elliot Page (In-person book discussion, 7:00 pm, $52 includes signed book, The Town Hall, 123 W 43rd St, Manhattan)
• Thursday, June 8 - Uptown Night Market (Cuisine festival, 4:00 pm, Free entry, West 133rd St & 12th Ave, Manhattan)
• Saturday, June 17 - Tarja Turunen Living the Dream Tour (Finnish vocal heavy metal concert, 7:00 pm, $29+, Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Plaza, Manhattan)
• Saturday, June 17 - The 41st Annual Mermaid Parade (Art parade, 1:00 pm, Free, 1208 Surf Ave, Brooklyn)
• Friday, June 23 - New York Yankees vs, Texas Rangers Marvel Superhero Night (Major league baseball game with Derek Jeter Captain America bobblehead giveaway, 7:05pm, currently $26+ on SeatGeek, 1 E 161st St, The Bronx)

Before going anywhere, please confirm the date, time, and location using the listed website. Any event is at risk of being rescheduled, relocated, canceled, sold out, or at capacity. I try to vet quality, but I may misjudge, and heaven knows all events are not for all people. Some events require advance registration, and if you are visiting NYC, you should double-check how long it will take to get to the venue. Now on to the list!
​
Thursday, June 1

• Picnic Performances: New York City Opera La Bohème
• 7:00 pm, outdoor opera performance
• Free
• Bryant Park
• Between 40th and 42nd St, Manhattan

Friday, June 2

• Turn the World Around: A Tribute to Harry Belafonte
• 7:30 pm, public conversation
• Free
• The Great Hall, in the Foundation Building (Cooper Union)
• 7 East 7th St (between 3rd & 4th Aves), Manhattan

Saturday, June 3

• People Power Party for Climate Action
• 5:00 pm, grassroots environmental activism gathering
• Free entry, includes music and drinks
• Terraza 7
• 40-19 Gleane St, Queens (Elmhurst)

Sunday, June 4

• NYC Home Decor & Accessories Bazaar
• 10:00 am, home decor-themed flea market; themed flea market every Sunday
• Free entry
• Grand Bazaar NYC
• 100 W 77th St (at Columbus Ave), Manhattan

Monday, June 5

• Ilusha & Gocha Tsinadze
• 7:00 pm, Georgia [the country]-influenced experimental music (2022 concert footage)
• $15 suggested
• Barbès
• 376 9th St, Brooklyn

Tuesday, June 6

• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Brooklyn Bonds
• 7:30 pm, modern dance performance, June 6–11
• $44–$155
• Howard Gilman Opera House, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
• 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn

Wednesday, June 7

• Javier Fuentes + Bill Goldstein: Countries of Origin
• 7:00pm, Spanish American author conversation
• $8 (admission only) or $34 (includes signed book)
• Strand Book Store’s 3rd floor Rare Book Room
• 828 Broadway (at 12th St), Manhattan

Thursday, June 8

• Venezuela Art Fair - 3rd Edition
• 6:00 pm, art fair specific to Venezuelan culture, through June 11
• Free
• One Art Space
• 23 Warren St, Manhattan

Friday, June 9

• Q&A with Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis)
• 7:00 pm, documentary about rock album covers with Q&A afterwards
• $15
• Film Forum
• 209 W Houston St, Manhattan

Saturday, June 10

• Blac Rabbit
• 7:00 pm, psychedelic rock concert (Spotify)
• $21 (ages 16+)
• Elsewhere - Zone One
• 599 Johnson Ave, Brooklyn

Sunday, June 11

• Wonderville Karaoke
• 8:00 pm, arcade bar with karaoke on the second Sunday of every month
• No cover (ages 21+)
• Wonderville
• 1186 Broadway, Brooklyn

Monday, June 12

• Once Upon a One More Time
• 8:00 pm, Broadway musical featuring the music of Britney Spears; started open-ended run in May (rehearsal sneak peek)
• $59–$270
• Marquis Theatre
• 210 W 46th St, Manhattan

Tuesday, June 13

• Steve Byrne vs. New York City
• 10:00 pm, stand-up comedy (YouTube clips)
• $20
• The Stand, Main Room
• 116 E 16th St, Manhattan

Wednesday, June 14

• Abigail Deville: Bronx Heavens
• 1:00 pm, art exhibit, through June 18
• Free
• The Bronx Museum
• 1040 Grand Concourse, The Bronx

Thursday, June 15

• Ensemble Dal Niente: el río murmura
• 7:00 pm, South American chamber music (ensemble Spotify)
• Free
• Americas Society
• 680 Park Ave, Manhattan

Friday, June 16

• Reggae Love Fest featuring Shabba Ranks, Capleton, Barrington Levy & many more
• 8:00 pm, reggae music concert (Shabba Ranks Spotify)
• $109–$213
• Barclays Center
• 620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn

Saturday, June 17

• Soul of Food: A Juneteenth Jubilee
• 1:00 pm, food workshop in honor of Juneteenth
• Free
• Phoenix Community Garden
• Corner of Fulton and Somers Street, Brooklyn

Sunday, June 18

• I Just Want to Tell Somebody
• 3:00 pm, off-off-Broadway play, runs June 1–18
• $18 ($15 students and seniors)
• Theater for the New City
• 155 First Ave (between 9th and 10th Streets), Manhattan

Monday, June 19

• The Function 2.0: A Queer Centered Juneteenth Concert Celebration
• Variety show with music and comedy
• $26–$47
• The Green Room 42
• 570 10th Ave, Manhattan

Tuesday, June 20

• Rooftop Films Feature Film Program - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• 8:30 pm, outdoor film screening
• Free (RSVP required)
• Helen Marshall Playground
• 100 St & 24th Ave, Queens (East Elmhurst)

Wednesday, June 21

• Kojima Kenichiro, Piano
• 8:00 pm, solo piano recital (YouTube video of pianist)
• $39–$59
• Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall
• 881 7th Ave, Manhattan

Thursday, June 22

• The Blaze Live
• 8:00 pm, French-based ambient electronic dance music (Spotify)
• $71
• The Brooklyn Mirage at Avant Gardner
• 140 Stewart Ave, Brooklyn

Friday, June 23

• Screening: Casa Susanna
• 6:30 pm, documentary on 1950s refuge for transgender women
• Free with pay-as-you-wish admission
• The Robert H. Smith Auditorium at the New-York Historical Society
• 170 Central Park W, Manhattan

Saturday, June 24

• Prospect Park Soiree
• 6:00 pm, outdoor dinner and dance party
• $55 entry (bring your own food and drink)
• Peninsula in Prospect Park
• Enter at Prospect Park SW + Vanderbilt St entrance, Brooklyn

Sunday, June 25

• NYC Pride March
• 12:00 pm, LGBTQ+ civil rights parade
• Free
• Near and around Stonewall National Monument
• Full parade path: 25th St. & 5th Ave. then west to 8th St., down Christopher St. and north on 7th Ave. to 16th St., Manhattan (map with same route from 2022)

Monday, June 26

• Rodrigo y Gabriela: In Between Thoughts…A New World Tour
• 7:30 pm, Mexican acoustic guitar duo (Spotify)
• $55–$106
• Kings Theatre
• 1027 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn

Tuesday, June 27

• Like Water for Chocolate - ABT
• 7:30 pm, ballet performance, runs June 23–July 1 (trailer)
• $33–$200
• Metropolitan Opera House
• 30 Lincoln Center Plaza, Manhattan

Wednesday, June 28

• Sunset Soirées at Le Bain
• 5:00 pm, social dance party with French DJs, June 7 & 28
• Free entry, 21+ only, food and drinks available for purchase
• Le Bain at The Standard Hotel
• 848 Washington St, Manhattan

Thursday, June 29

• Summer Jazz Series: Risberg Stenmark Duo
• 7:00 pm, Swedish-influenced jazz
• $15
• Scandinavia House
• 58 Park Ave, Manhattan

Friday, June 30

• Litton Duo: Andrew Litton and Katharina Kang
• 7:00 pm, viola and piano chamber music (video of duo)
• $39
• Bargemusic
• 1 Water St (Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1), Brooklyn