I will be posting worthwhile events from the daily Gothamist events email:

PROTEST: Hip hop trailblazer Russell Simmons will join the families of those in prison for drug offenses, the formerly incarcerated, and a motivated crowd of activists for a rally outside Governor Paterson’s Manhattan office to demand an end to the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Lawmakers in Albany are close to finalizing a bill that would reform the laws, which mandate heavy mandatory sentencing even for first-time, low-level offenders. But though Paterson has long been an ally of the movement, some are worried that his proposed compromise bill doesn’t go far enough. Today they’ll make some noise outside his office to give him some extra motivation. More info here.

1 p.m. // Governor Paterson’s office [633 3rd Ave, btwn 40th and 41st]

LECTURE: As part of its “Uncommon Ground” Lecture Series, tonight the Parks & Recreation Department presents a discussion about the Harlem River Valley. Sidney Horenstein, a geologist and environmental educator emeritus at the American Museum of Natural History, will lead a talk about the “past, present, and future recreational uses of the river and its shores. From picnicking and boating to ferris wheels, from horse-drawn carriages to hybrid bicycles, the Harlem River Valley’s heyday will be remembered and its newest features previewed.”

6 p.m. // Central Park, The Arsenal Gallery [64th St & Fifth Ave] // Free

EVENT: The NY Society for Ethical Culture is hosting an “Obama and the Future of the Imperial Presidency” discussion tonight. The evening’s program will focus on abuses of power and violations of civil liberties during the Bush administration and what needs to be done by the Obama White House to redress these transgressions. Panelists include Elizabeth Holtzman, former member of Congress and author of The Impeachment of George W. Bush.

7 p.m. // NYSEC [2 W 64th St] // Free