Tasha Demsky-Lazzaro

Gateway Resident Database: Non-Expressive

File #16 Jan 2023 05:08

Summary

Name Natasha Demsky-Lazzaro Aliases Natasha Renard, Tasha Oliver, Natasha Renard-Lazzaro Status Registered Non-Expressive Gender Female Birthdate November 5, 1991 Age 60 Height 5'2" Build Slim Eyes Brown Hair Brown Residence Gateway Arcology, Sector 1-7 Employment Gateway Judiciary System, Director Parents Vincent Lazzaro, deceased Joanna Renard, deceased Siblings None Marital Status Married, Colette Demsky Children Hugo Demsky First Scene Last Scene Profile Tasha was a civil rights attorney before entering the Gateway. Within its walls, she worked to form the Gateway Justice System and oversees its operations in order to ensure that all members of the community get their due process. It's not an easy battle, but it's the fight she's chosen for herself.

portrayed by Alessandra Mastronardi

Background

When the doors shut in the Gateway, Tasha was at a bit of a loss for what to do – she didn’t have the skills necessary to help provide the essentials for people. While life with Colette and Hugo was meaningful, she struggled to feel like she had a purpose without her legal practice. She worked for some time as a teacher of history, law, and civic at the high school levels, but then even the remnants of the US government as they’d known it were destroyed. Teaching about those things felt more and more futile.

It soon became clear to her that the lack of a defined justice system was going to be a problem. The community needed a system that was fair and equitable, and one that was separate from the Civil Defense Union. Many on the council didn’t agree it was necessary, especially in regards to criminal cases, saying the decision to handle the worst of those should still fall under their purview. Tasha fought back. She held public meetings and canvassed for petitions, speaking on the matter until public opinion was strongly in favor of the new justice department under the Human Resources – not a place that Tasha feels it belongs.

Now Tasha is the director of the Gateway Judiciary System that oversees both criminal and civil cases and ensures due process is served, with all of the trappings — Miranda rights, juries, warrants, appeals, etc. With the number of experienced lawyers dwindling due to retirement or worse, Tasha has created a legal certification as a post-high-school program that uses DREAM lectures, internships, and independent study to ensure that all citizens of the Gateway have access to a lawyer if they need it. While all lawyers can and do take paid cases, they are required to do pro bono work to keep the system afloat. After a few years, lawyers work as judges on a rotating schedule so as to limit corruption.

With support from the public, she’s been pushing to separate her department from Human Resources. Many people feel she should have a spot on the council — she wouldn’t say no, but her main goal is to have the Judicial System autonomous.

On a personal level, Tasha’s a proud wife and a proud mother, always in awe of what Colette and Hugo both risk to try to make their world a better place. The world is smaller, but their fight for survival is bigger. With that awe is the fear she’ll lose them.

Psych Profile

Tasha is still determined to help those who need it. Her stubborn nature allows her to dig in her heels and get to work for those who need her advocacy. When she has a cause, she’s a dog with a bone, and won’t let go unless pushed. Her upbeat optimism and cheerfulness have taken a little bit of a hit since the solar flares began. It’s hard to say everything will be all right when it’s clearly not, after all. She doesn’t malinger on the bleak outlook of the future, but instead focuses on what she can do in the here and now to make life better – for however long it lasts.

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