VOLUME 3 / ISSUE 4
COMPLIMENTARY
Unapologetically Delivering News To Communities Of Color in Westchester & Surrounding Areas
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
BLACK WESTCHESTER
FEATURES
MV’S LILLIAN C . JONES TURNS 100
REMEMBERING ELIJAH
PAGE 6
On Thursday, October 17, 2019 the world lost a giant when U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, 68, died. Known for his commitment to justice, equality and helping marginalized people, the Baltimore Democrat lived with power and now he is resting in it.... (continues on page 14)
2019 ELECTION RESULTS PAGE 7
A DAY OF UNITY – ONE GOD, ONE PEOPLE, ONE VOICE
REV. DR. JEFFREY WHEELER THE DEFINITION OF A MIRACLE PAGES 16 - 17
MUSLIMS & CHRISTIANS WORSHIP TOGETHER AT MT CALVARY CME “THE PROMISE CHURCH”
A Day of Unity – One God, One People, One Voice with two servants of God – I have come to have a whole lot of respect for Rev. Dr. Jeffrey R. Wheeler, Pastor of Mount Calvary CME “The Promise Church,” and Minister Abdul Hafeez Muhammad, East Coast Representative of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Student Minister of Muhammad’s Mosque #7 in Harlem – two individuals I have come to call my brothers and I have frequently worshipped at both of their Houses of Worship... (continues on page 13)
MARILYN J. MOSBY JUSTIN WALTERS A TORCHLIGHT FOR JUSTICE IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY DAMON K. JONES
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GETS 2 NEW JOBS AFTER FIOS1 NEWS SHUTDOWN PAGE 23
RACISM BY ZIP CODE PART 3: IMPEACHMENT THE CULTURAL CONDITIONING OF MT VER- MEDIA GUIDE NON BY OUR BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS BY CHARLES STERN BY DAMON K JONES
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
NEWS WITH THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW
BLACK WESTCHESTER 5
FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK Founded in 2014 by DAMON K. JONES AJ WOODSON Published by URBANSOUL MEDIA GROUP 455 Tarrytown Rd., Suite 1318 White Plains, NY 10607 (914) 979-2093 www.BlackWestchester.com
Email:
BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: @BlkWestchesterM and @PBPRadio Instagram: @BlackWestchester Facebook: /BlackWestchesterMagazine
Publisher DAMON K. JONES @DamonKJones
Editor-In-Chief AJ WOODSON
@BWEditorInChief
Mistress Of Information Brenda L. Crump News Reporters/ Writers AJ Woodson Damon K. Jones Charles Stern (RedBlueTalk)
As Publisher of Black Westchester Magazine (BW), I would like to thank everyone for their support of our efforts to bring information to the people of Westchester County. As we embark on a new chapter for BW, we hope to continue to empower the reader on issues in their communities. Independent media like BW has become more than a mere institution; instead, the independent media acts as a direct participant in the traditional three-branch system of governance. What many fail to realize is that independent media serves a fundamental role in making democracies run efficiently, even though there are frequent clashes. Independent media system thus often “reflects the political philosophy in which Democracy indeed functions”. This being said, BW will not be disregarded as a trivial player in the responsibilities of being a check and balance system in the political process of the Black Communities of Westchester. BW’s purpose is not only to address the political process that affects the everyday lives of communities of colour in Westchester County. BW’s mission has also been to shine a light on the brilliant culture, morals, values and elegant lifestyle of Black people. It’s time to change the narrative on how Black people are perceived in media. As Publisher of BW, our doors are open to the public. From the publication, the website, our radio show and now the newspaper; our doors are open to the people. We do not do this for any grander position or status; we do it for the people.
A FEW WORDS FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF W elcome to our November 15, 2019 issue of Black Westchester, a few days late but there is so much going on, so many events to cover this time of year. As you can see from the cover we celebrate the life of Elijah Cummings (page 14) and well as John Conyers and John Witherspoon (page 15). Also we spotlight Rev. Dr. Jeffrey R. Wheeler (pages 16-17) and covered the Unity Day service at his church (page 13) where Muslims and Christians were worshipping together. Shout out to our brother Sports Director/ Anchor Justin Walters who found not just one job but two jobs after Fios1 News shut its doors (page 23). Check out the 2019 Election Results (pages 7 and 18). Also check out the editorial from our Publisher Damon K. Jones - Racism By Zip Code Part 3 (page 9) and Charles Stern of RedBlueTalk’s Impeachment Media Guide (page 20). We also celebrate Mount Vernon’s Lillian C. Jones who just turned 100 years old (page 6) and much much more. Thank you to all our supporters, advertisers and everyone who had a hand in bringing you this issue. We wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving, may it be filled with fun, football, food, fellowship and family. Send us your feedback and let us know what you think of this issue and let us know subjects/ topics you would like to see us cover in the future by sending an email to BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com. Peace and Blessings
Photographers AJ Woodson Damon K. Jones Graphic Designers AJ Woodson Paula S. Woodson/ PS Visually Speakin’ For Advertising Rates AdvertiseWithBW@gmail.com Letters To The Editor BWEditorInChief@gmail.com
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6 BLACK WESTCHESTER
CHRIS WASHINGTON IS NEWEST HOWARD UNIVERSITY TRUSTEE
Howard University announced the election of new members to the board of trustees: Hilary Rosen, general trustee; Chris Washington, alumni trustee; Travis Randle, graduate student trustee; and Marquis Taylor, undergraduate student trustee, on Wednesday, November 13th. Chris Washington is a veteran entertainment and marketing specialist with more than 25 years of experience and an emphasis in grassroots brand marketing. Creating and executing marketing and social media initiatives for target constituents in key markets, Washington has worked on platinum campaigns for artists such as Brandy, Sean Paul, T.I. and Craig David. Working with senior management at Atlantic Records, VP and Capitol Records on strategy, positioning, identity and messaging, he helped build brand loyalty and integrated marketing projects. A 360-degree collegiate marketing strategist, Washington developed and implemented a college rep program by recruiting, managing and mentoring over 150 nationwide youth influencers. Washington has been featured as a guest speaker, lecturer and panelist on a variety of subjects. As a professional DJ, “the Legendary Chris Washington” is a worldwide brand. His Legend’s Lounge Radio Show can be heard Monday – Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. on www.rhythmandsoulradio. com and on Cumulus Radio New York imprint, Radio 103.9FM. A former master mixer on New York City’s WBLS-FM, he has been a fixture in the entertainment scene for the last 25 years, playing for a variety of events and clients. Chris Washington has been profiled in The Washington Post (October 2010) and the New York Amsterdam News (July 2008); appeared as a guest DJ on Fox 5 Good Day New York (October 2009); and was featured in the PBS (New York) series Baseball: A New York Love Story, which aired in September 2010. Washington is a 1992 graduate of Howard Univ’s School of Communications (Broadcast Journalism). A faithful son of Howard, he is the former (continues on page 7)
BLACK WESTCHESTER NEWS
THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN THE MOVIE WINS AT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. is STILL fighting for justice for his father’s senseless killing 8-years-ago by White Plains Police, and his work has made others take notice. The tireless pursuit of justice has not been for nothing. While those responsible may think the story has been swept under the rug, the world will now see the story in living color on the big screen. “I refuse to stray from my course until I have finished what I’ve been commanded to do!” Chamberlain Jr shared with Black Westchester.
Not only was the Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain selected to premiere at the Austin Film Festival, in Autin Texas, but it also won the Jury Award and Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. “This means the audiences gave our film higher scores than any other narrative features at the festival,” Chamberlain Jr shared with Black Westchester. The film stars Frankie Faison stars as Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. Faison is known for powerful performances in The Silence Of The Lambs, The Wire, and Marvel’s Luke Cage. He portrays Kenneth Chamberlain, a veteran with bipolar disorder who fatally shot on November 19, 2011 by members of the White Plains Police Department who were sent to his home on a wellness check. “What an honor to have WON the Jury and Audience Awards for Narrative Features at Austin Film Festival!!!,” shares David Midell, the film’s writer and director. “Thank you to the amazing cast and crew for investing so much heart and soul into this project, and especially Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. for your incredible eloquence, passion, and support.” This is a testament to the family that this film will be seen by more people now than ever. “Kenneth what you have done over these past 8 years to move our awareness about police killings of unarmed men… is remarkable,” Sandy Bernabei, a Liberation psychotherapist, white antiracist community organizer and educator, shares with Black Westchester. “I know that your father and daughter look down upon you with pride and a deep support for your work. The name Chamberlain goes down in the police brutality archives as it’s embedded in the minds of Americans of conscious. Thank you for living your life as an example of what makes a difference. Congratulations to you and to the movement for police reform in the documenting of this movie.” Come out to the community vigil in rememberence of Mr Chamberlain on Nov. 8th (flyer page 8). Black Westchester congratulates our brother Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. whose film about the killing of his father “The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain” premiered at the Austin Film and Festival won this year’s Jury Award and Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. #TheWorldWillKnow #Justice4KennethChamberlainSr #KillingofKCFilm #AustinFilmFestival.
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
914 SPOTLIGHT MOUNT VERNON’S LILLIAN C. JONES TURNS 100 YEARS OLD
BY AJ WOODSON
My mother always told me and my
sister before she passed that she wanted us to give her flowers while she was still alive. Most of the time we celebrate people we love after they have passed. Black Westchester wanted to honor one of Mount Vernon’s oldest living residents while she is still with us. On Thursday, November 14, 2019, Lillian C. Jones turned 100 years old. We are so blessed to have her still with us. Lillian is a lifelong resident of Mount Vernon attending Mount Vernon schools and graduating from A.B. Davis High School. On Thursday night friends and family members gathered at Lillian’s grandson’s establishment, The Spot located at 168 Gramatan Avenue to celebrate her 100th birthday. Lillian retired from the Board of Elections in White Plains, NY as a Supervising Clerk after 34 years. She is a member of the Macedonia Baptist Church and was a member of the Gospel Chorus and the Westchester Gospel Chorus Guild. She is also a longtime member of the NAACP. Lillian is the daughter of the late Irving and Clara Higgins; her mother was a Gold Star Mother. She had three brothers; Irving Higgins, Jr. who was killed in World War II, Henry Higgins a World War II Veteran and Clarence Higgins. She was married to the late Clarence Jones who was also a World War II Veteran. Lillian is a life member of the Aaron A. Lewis Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary to Post #6396 for over 60 years. She is still an active member currently serving as Conductress for over 25 years. In the auxiliary, she served as secretary for 8 years, and after going through the chairs she served as President for 2 years. She served as Color Bearer in Westchester County Auxiliary & District #2 Auxiliary. She is a life member of the V.F.W. National Home. Her favorite saying in the auxiliary is “Anything for the Good of the Order”. “NANA” as she is most commonly known has five generations in her family, one daughter Sylvia; two grandchildren Dwayne & Katrina; four great-grandchildren, Donte’, Dwayne Jr., Briana & DeAndre; two great-great-grandchildren, Camryn & Elijah. Black Westchester proudly spotlights one of Mount Vernon’s oldest living residents, Lillian C. Jones, her years of service and celebrating her 100th birthday. Happy Birthday!
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
914 POLITICS
BLACK WESTCHESTER
7
WESTCHESTER 2019 ELECTION RESULTS
BY AJ WOODSON
After an early primary for the first, many are pleased that the 2019 Westchester County elections are finally over. We are now less than a year away from the 2020 Presidential Election and we have rounds of Democratic debates, presidential primaries and caucuses from Febraury to June. We have seventeen major candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, which will probably peek at about 12. But before we jump the gun and talk about all that let’s take a minute to go over the results of the 2019 Westchester County election. There were very few surprises in the 2019 Westchester election. The Westchester County Democratic Party did exceptional well, Reggie Lafayette should be proud. If 2014 was a Blue Wave, 2019 was a Blue Sunami. The Dems who already had the majority in the County Board of Legislators, not only keep all their seats but pick up two more giving them a 15-2 super advantage. The major story was the Mount Vernon Mayoral race. We had three mayors in as many weeks, twice with a fight or which of the two claiming to be mayor was actually in charge. The underdog of the June primary, former Mount Vernon Planning Commissioner Shawyn Patterson-Howard made history as the first woman to be elected as Mayor of Mount Vernon. As expected, SPH overwhelming defeated Mayor Andre Wallace – a Democrat who lost the primary and ran on the Republican Line (who had 18% of the vote) - and Mount Vernon Conservative Party Chairwoman Rosemarie M. Larosz (who garnered a mere 2% of the vote.) SPH won with 81% of the vote per Westchester County Board of Election results. Starting out as the underdog and just beating Richard Thomas be just over 200 votes in the primary, she gave her victory speech just before 10:30pm with 43% of the vote in, thanking all her supporters and all who believed in her. With her husband Marvin standing proudly behind her, Shawyn spoke of unifying the city and being an agent of change. The city of Mount Vernon has been marred by highly-publicized political infighting, a Civil War in City Hall and weathered a number of controversies in recent years. Mount Vernon voters have chosen a different mayor in each election since 2007, showing residents are still seeking a spark. Shawyn Patterson-Howard pledged to be the proponent of change they have been seeking. Dems dominated in the races for Westchester’s largest cities, with few surpises in the races for mayors of Yonkers, New Rochelle and Mount Vernon. The other major mayoral races throughout the county pretty much went as expected with the incumbents retaining their seat. Mayor Mike Spano celebrated an overturning of term limits and won a third term, whooping Republican candidate Mario De Giorgio 75-25%. Spano took home 18,371 votes, or 75% of the total, according to unofficial results from the Westchester County Board of Elections. The two-term limit on elected officials was extended to three terms, paving the way for Spano to run again for re-election. Yonkers is the largest city in Westchester County and the fourth largest in the state. Rebupican challenger, Mario De Giorgio was among critics of the term-limit extension. De Giorgio said the public should have been allowed to vote on the change, when he appeared on People Before Politics Radio, Sunday, November 3rd. New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson held off Republican challenger Brendan M. Conroy to serve a fourth term. Mayor Bramson who also ran on the Working Families Party got 63% of the vote garnering 8,478 votes. Democrats added a seat to the New Rochelle City Council majority with Martha Lopez knocking out longtime incumbent Republican Lou Trangucci with 6733% of the vote. Democrats now have a 6-1 majority on the council, which includes the mayor. Peekskill Mayor Andre Rainey – the youngest to be elected in 2017 (Peekskill mayors serve twoyear terms – survived his Republican challenger, Vinnie Vesce, who ran on having more experience to take the city of Peekskill in the direction it needed to go and ran on a Bi-partisan ticket. But Mayor Rainey survived to serve a second term, 59-41%. Even Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner who has been in office for 28 years and has run unopposed for the last 12 years, survived the challenge from Greenburgh Party Lucas Cioffi and residents who were unhappy with him about the Tarryhill Apts situation. Feiner won 68-32%. And if former Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas did not have a corruption case against him to
which he pleads guilty and was forced to step down, it is this writer’s belief he too would have won re-election. Let’s not forget Thomas only came up just slightly over 200 votes short of winning the primary with a corruption case looming over his head and a court date 13 days after the primary, scheduled. One of the surprises of the night was Ruth Walter unseating County Legislator and Minority Whip Gordon A. Burrows in the 15th District which consists Bronxville and parts of Yonkers. Walter’s narrow 5149% victory turned one of the remaining four Republican Legislator seats blue. I believe in her People Before Politics Radio pre-election interview, Ruth Walter told us she would be the first woman to ever hold the seat, making this another history-making victory and continuing the trend or woman elected official winning from the 2014 Midterm Election around the state and country. Walter appeal to the voters that Burrows had become complacent and they needed some fresh blood in the seat was evidently received and she comes away with the victory. She Flipped The 15th. Out of 17 races for Westchester County legislators, six were contested Tuesday. There are currently 13 Democrats and four Republican or Conservative legislators. Another legislator seat that turned blue was won by Democrat Colin Smith who won District 1, which is comprised of Cortlandt, Peekskill and Yorktown, over Republican Frank Catalina. The seat was up for grabs when Republican John Testa, the minority leader, chose not to run for another term. The two victories give Democrats a 15-2 advantage leaving only Margret A. Cunzio (R, C, I) who ran unopposed in the 3rd Legislative District (Mount Pleasant, North Castle, Pleasantville and parts of Briarcliff Manor, Sleepy Hollow and Greenburgh) and will go on to serve a second term and David J. Tubliolo (R,C,G,I, SAM) also ran unopposed to retain his seat in the 14th Legislative District the consists of parts of Yonkers and Mount Vernon. The four Democratic Supreme Court Judge candidates Judge Gina C. Capone (25% – 141,273 votes), Lewis J. Lubell (24% – 138,124 votes), Judge Steven I Milligram (24% – 137,926 votes) and Judge Nancy Quinn Koba (17% – 98,065 votes), the two Democratic County Court Judge candidates Robert J. Prisco (42% – 114,252 votes) and Peekskill Court Judge Melissa A. Loehr (35% – 95,656 votes, and the two Family Court Judges who went unopposed all won, Tuesday. The good news for the Democrats is they control the State Senate, the Assembly, County Board of Legislators, have a Dem Governor and Count Executive and control many of the local municipalities. The bad news is if they do not deliver they have no one to blame. GOP defend a few remaining strongholds Despite continued losses in the county government, the party appeared to have defended a few of its remaining strongholds. Eastchester government remains solidly Republican, Mount Pleasant Republicans appear to have swept and Republican Ron Belmont appears to have kept his seat as Harrison town supervisor after a hard fought race. In Yorktown, Republican Matt Slater seemed poised to unseat Democrat Ilan Gilbert in the race for town supervisor with 53% of the vote, according to unofficial tallies. Flipping that seat would be the largest victory for county Republicans in several years. Despite continued losses in the county government, the party appeared to have defended a few of its remaining
strongholds. Eastchester government remains solidly Republican, Mount Pleasant Republicans appear to have swept and Republican Ron Belmont appears to have kept his seat as Harrison town supervisor after a hard fought race. In Yorktown, Republican Matt Slater seemed poised to unseat Democrat Ilan Gilbert in the race for town supervisor with 53% of the vote, according to unofficial tallies. Flipping that seat would be the largest victory for county Republicans in several years. Also in Pelham, Republican Dan McLaughlin won an unopposed race for Town Supervisor. Incumbent Peter DiPaola didn’t seek reelection. Editor’s Note: All of the election results contained in this article were obtained from the Westchester County Board of Elections web site and are the unofficial tally of election results prepared in accordance with Section 9-126 of the New York State Election Law. Due to multiple transcriptions of voting machine numbers involved in preparing the unofficial tally, all results are subject to error. Furthermore, in accordance with Section 8-142 of the New York State Election Law, some of the absentee votes may not be available for inclusion in the unofficial tally. On election night, one or more election districts may not report their results. In addition, some reports may include errors which cannot be resolved election night. Official election results will be compiled and made available by the Westchester County Board of Elections in accordance with Section 9-214 of the New York State Election Law no later than twenty-five (25) days after the election.
CHRIS WASHINGTON con’t from page 6 president of the Howard University Alumni Association (2012-2016). He also served as the HUAA vice president of membership (2010-2012), overseeing a 29 percent increase in membership, and as the Region I chair (Northeast United States, Africa and Europe) (2008-2010), where he won the 2010 HUAA award for Region of The Year. As president of the Howard University Alumni Club of New York City, he led HUAC NYC to win the HUAA Outstanding Club of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009. In 2011, he was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Distinguished Alumni Award Winner for Howard University. In April 2013, the Bronx Chapter of the NAACP presented Washington with a Community Leader Award. In spring 2016, he was hired as the baseball coach at La Salle Academy in New York City. Under his leadership, he has led the varsity team to the CHSAA (Catholic High School Athletic Association) 2017 “A” division championship and the junior varsity team won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. In the process, he has produced four CHSAA All-Stars and two Mayor’s Cup Selections. In August 2017, he was named head coach of the La Salle Varsity soccer team and currently serves as the school’s assistant athletics director and the director of academic support. The native New Yorker currently resides in Mt. Vernon, New York, with his wife, Mitzi Ambrose-Washington (B.A. ’93), and he has two children, Caleb, 28, and Morgan Christina, 7.
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
VEGAN MAN SUES BURGER KING SAYS IMPOSSIBLE WHOPPERS CONTAMINATED BY MEAT
ATLANTA - Burger King was sued on Monday, November 18th by a vegan customer who accused the fast-food chain of contaminating its meatless “Impossible” Whoppers by cooking them on the same grills as its traditional meat burgers. In a proposed class action, Phillip Williams said he bought an Impossible Whopper, a plant-based alternative to Burger King’s regular Whopper, at an Atlanta drive-through, and would not have paid a premium price had he known the cooking would leave it “coated in meat by-products.” The lawsuit filed in Miami federal court seeks damages for all U.S. purchasers of the Impossible Whopper, and an injunction requiring Burger King to “plainly disclose” that Impossible Whoppers and regular burgers are cooked on the same grills. Burger King, a unit of Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International Inc, declined to comment, saying it does not discuss pending litigation. Its website describes the Impossible Burger as “100% Whopper, 0% Beef,” and adds that “for guests looking for a meat-free option, a non-broiler method of preparation is available upon request.”
SPRING VALLEY STREET NAMED ON VETERANS ARTSWESTCHESTER DISTRIBUTES $35,000 IN DAY FOR FALLEN NAVY SEAMAN FROM ROCKLAND GRANTS TO MT VERNON ARTISTS & ARTS ORGANIZATIONS Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm veteran, U.S. Navy seaman Gilbert Fontaine had a Spiring Valley Street dedicated in his name by the American Legion Post 199 on Veterans Day. The African-American Navy aviation storekeeper during the Gulf War, was the first New Yorker killed during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, nearly 30 years ago at the age of 22. Fontaine’s sister, Carline Gordon, says she’s proud of her little brother, and that she and her family will always be a part of the military community. “When you have someone that close to you that’s taking a part of defending our country, you’re invested. I mean we’re still invested. Every time we hear someone passing, you know serving their country, we feel the pain of that family. We kind of want to hug them and just kind of let them know we know what you’re going through,” she says. African-Amercans have served and died for this county in every war, starting with Crispus Attucks (c.1723 – March 5, 1770) widely regarded as the first person killed in the Boston Massacre and thus the first American killed in the American Revolution. Attucks became an icon of the anti-slavery movement in the mid-19th century. Supporters of the abolition movement lauded him for playing a heroic role in the history of the United States. Locally in Mount Vernon, John Howard Griffith - Panel: 04E – Row: 128 on the Memorial Wall - was a Black Veteran one of the first to die in the Vietnam War. He died on February 01, 1966 at the age of 19. The Third Street Firehouse was named after Griffith and Anthony Robert Valentino who also died in the Vietnam War.
White Plains, N.Y. -- ArtsWestchester has announced a total of 14 grants as part of the Mount Vernon Cultural Arts Initiative totaling $35,000. Seven cultural organizations and seven artists received grants ranging from $1000 to $5000. The Mount Vernon Arts Initiative is designed to help Mount Vernon’s community-based cultural organizations and artists enhance the cultural programs and services that they provide to city residents, while also enhancing the neighborhoods and venues where the arts events occur. Janet Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester explains, “With support from the Westchester County Board of Legislators and the City of Mount Vernon, ArtsWestchester is pleased to award these grants to assist artists and arts groups to build their capacity to positively contribute to Mount Vernon’s overall community and economic development efforts.” “Mount Vernon is known as a community of arts and culture,” explains Westchester County Legislator Lyndon Williams. He continues, “This partnership with ArtsWestchester, through initiatives funded by the Westchester County Board, continues the tradition of appreciation for the many talented artists and arts programs as well as the promotion of creative collaborations that enrich the lives of residents.” The 14 Mount Vernon grantees received arts grants through this program to support events ranging from summer concerts to art-making workshops to dance performances.
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FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK
BLACK WESTCHESTER 9
RACISM BY ZIP CODE PT. 3 - THE CULTURAL CONDITIONING OF MOUNT VERNON BY OUR BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS
BY DAMON K JONES
BLACK LIVES MUST MATTER TO BLACK PEOPLE BEFORE IT MATTERS TO BLACK POLITICIANS IN A RACIST POLITICAL STRUCTURE In Racism by Zip code Parts 1 and 2, we covered the implicit racism in policies, practices in decision making on how resources are used in healthcare in Black communities. It is a hard reality to swallow; unfortunately, we have been sleeping at the wheel. Many fear the discussion of racism in Westchester County. How can there be? Westchester is the home county to our New York State Governor Cuomo. Many A list superstars, entertainers, athletes, and Fortune 500 CEOs live here, how can racism exist. We can somewhat agree that institutional and structural racism exists. As Black people in Westchester, we have seen the cultural conditioning of implicit racism firsthand in our education, in how we’re policed, including inequality and widening the economic gap. Now the most populated Black city in the County is losing its Hospital. Cultural Conditioning is the social process in which authority figures such as parents, professors, politicians, religious leaders, peers, and the media define our cultural values, beliefs, ethical systems, and ultimately, the way we perceive ourselves in the world. It seems like every year, Black folk in Westchester are lulled to sleep by community leaders, politicians, or clergy members that what we are experiencing is not implicit racism. Nor do they take any responsibility; the closing Mount Vernon Hospital is a prime example. As I stated many times, it wasn’t any secret the Hospital was closing. So instead of being emotional, the people must ask the question of the most senior elected officials; what was the plan? It is one thing to say your working for us but it is another to see services and institution disappear before our eyes. Instead of being honest with their constituency about the problem, our elected officials have played politics. Our elected officials and community leaders and organizations play a significant role in the cultural conditioning of our people by misdirecting the blame. Mount Vernon is a prime example when a city of 70 thousand people loses a hospital, and the leadership cries foul ball AFTER the fact. It was no secret that the Hospital was closing since 2013. What were our elected officials doing since then? There is significant justification for many members of the Black Community to disconnect themselves from the idea of any existence of effective Black Leadership today. President Theodore Roosevelt, on October 31, 1936, at Madison Square Garden, said, “Government as an Organized economy is as dangerous as government as an organized mob.” Our leaders act no different than the gangs that our leaders claim to despise or use as an excuse for their ineffectiveness to address real solutions to enhance the quality of life of our people. So, the Bloods and Crips are just little gangs imitating their more prominent counterparts; the churches, the democrats, the republicans. Many of the leadership that only show up in the “Hood” for parades and elections, but when there is a crisis, like losing a hospital, all the Black community gets are tasty sound bites and quotes. Still, no real solutions to solve the dilemma. I have seen so many times how our elected officials have handled the same situations differently in a town that is majority white compared to a city that is majority Black. The elected officials have dropped the ball to ensure the people of Mt. Vernon would have the proper services of a medical facility. So now those same elected officials that are now crying foul ball like Lyndon Williams, Congressman Engel, Senator Schumer, Assemblyman Pretlow have yet to explain what they have done to keep the Hospital from closing since 2013. Not one of them have talked about the process of closing a hospital in New York State. Not one of them informed the people of Mount Vernon that is was in the hands of the New York State Board of Health and Governor Andrew Cuomo. Not one of them directed the disdain of the residents to call on the need for the assistance of the Governor who appoints the Commissioner of the New York State Board of Health. Our Politicians have intentionally misdirected the people’s anger for political reasons and have sacrificed medical services all for the candidate they support to get in office. The vast majority of Black or people of color are Culturally Conditioned to accept these institutional inequalities in Westchester. Unfortunately, there should be a louder voice to what is going on to the people of Mount Vernon. But the majority of Black people are under an illusion of inclusion just because a small percentage of us have college degrees, a home, and a Mercedes Benz. Black leaders fail to have an honest discussion about implicit racism in Westchester. I don’t know why, because White people who understand implicit racism speak freely against it every chance they get. The fact of the matter is, many of our Black leaders are culturally conditioned by outside forces that give money, donations, and fundraisers. On any given day, look at the campaign contributions of any Black Politician. You will not see the average person who’s making minimum wage or the single mother who’s trying to make ends meet. You will not see Pookie or Ray-Ray making $2,5000 donation to any campaign. What you will see is the most fortunate, the business people, contractors, and builders. People that don’t look like Pookie or Ray-Ray and don’t have the same interests as them either. In 1992, the African-American Advisory Board summated a report to thenCounty Executive Andrew O’Rourke. The report detailed how minorities, especially those on social services was purposely moved to cities like Mt. Vernon, Yonkers, Peekskill, Portchester, and New Rochelle. Other cities have changed the process around and are beginning to thrive. But that same zeal that other cities have is not in Mt Vernon. As a result, Mt. Vernon houses 30% of all families in Westchester that receive social services. The lack of supported services to these families has become a burden to taxpayers. Ironically, the Hospital is collateral damage of failed support, policy, governance, and failed Black Leadership. Instead of fighting for the interest of the people, it has been politically convenient to blame the Acting Mayor Andre Wallace, who has only been the Mayor for six weeks when the county, state, and federal elected officials were aware that the Hospital was closing since 2013. Six weeks to six years, you do the math. Do we think any company will invest in a city that has no credit rating, has no hospital, no trauma center? In the latest news article by Lohud.com, Disparities in counts of homeless kids
hinder assistance efforts. The article states that: Mount Vernon counted nearly 900 homeless students out of 2,799 in the county in 2018, according to the federal Education Department, by far the largest number in Westchester. County Legislator, Lyndon Williams had the unmitigated gall to post building work permits obtained by Montefiore to accuse an Administration that has only been operating for six weeks. But he failed to explain what he done since 2013 when he had a press conference about the hospital closing six years ago. As our county legislator you would think it would be on his radar since he was well aware of the dilemma. In 2010 former County Exec. Robert Astorino changed the contract for the County Inmates to be seen at Mount Vernon Hospital instead of the Westchester Medical Center. It was known then it was a financial move for the hospital to gain revenue. Legislator Willams and other Mount Vernon electeds attacked Astorino for the move but never addressed the hospital’s need for revenue. If Astorino didn’t make the move to Mount Vernon Hospital, because of the lack of revenue, the hospital might of close many years earlier. These elected officials had no forums, no press release, no information to the public that the hospital was in need of revenue to operate. Where is a solid agenda for Black people from our Black elected officials and Black Clergy? Shouldn’t we have an agenda? Every other ethnic group does. Where is the collective commitment of Black men in Westchester to stand firm against institutional racism and the need for better education, vocational training, and economic development in our communities? Black families have the most significant proportion of female-headed households than any other subgroup. More than 44% of black families are female-headed and are raising a household at or below the poverty level. Black folks couldn’t even govern to Memorial Field built. Are we serious? Ten years and the field is not built. They have built a New Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, and even a new Tappan Zee Bridge. All projects started after the announcement of the renovation of the field and all projects finished before Black people can even start a field. Unfortunately, instead of accepting collective responsibility they rather play politics with the quality of life with those they represent. Unfortunately, there some Black County’s political leaders have always maintained that the segregation that exists in Westchester County is not about race, it’s all about class, basically, the haves and the have nots. Many Blacks and Latinos cannot afford to live in towns like Scarsdale, one of the nation’s wealthiest suburbs is the excuse. But this is the Cultural Conditioning of an entire... (continues on page 21)
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10 BLACK WESTCHESTER
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
NEWS WITH THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW
BLACK WESTCHESTER 11
NY ASSOC OF BLACK JOURNALISTS AWARDS GALA NOVEMBER 14, 2019 - ALHAMBRA BALLROOM 2116 ADAM CLAYTON POWELL JR. BLVD, HARLEM BY AJ WOODSON
With Maurice DuBois and Jericka Duncan of CBS News at the New York Association of Black Journalists Awards Gala, Thursday, November 14th at Alhambra Ballroom, 2116 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd, Harlem, New York Harlem, NY - Hundreds gathered at the New York Association Of Black Journalists Awards Gala to celebrate the best in Black Journalism in NY. Held at the legendary Alhambra Ballroom (2116 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd) that once played host to legendary performers such as Bessie Smith Jelly Roll Morton, Frank Manning and Billie Holiday. The event was hosted by Maurice DuBois (co-anchor of CBS - 2 News at 5 and 11) and the lovely Jericka Duncan (New Yorkbased national correspondent for CBS This Morning). “This event is a celebration of the best in journalism coverage of Black communities, issues and newsmakers,” shared Tory N. Parrish, Regional I Director of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). “It is a priveilege to honor journalists who use their platform to give a voice to the voiceless or shine a light on important subjects that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Black Westchester has been a member of both the NYAJB and the NABJ for a few years but this was the first event we attended and I have to say it was a pleasure to see us celebrating us. This was the place to be for African-Americans in journalism. “We are thrilled to honor our fellow journalists whose work represents a commitment to telling the stories of people of color and issues affecting the African and African-American Diaspora with passion, dedication and creativity,” Julia Walker, NYABJ president and AP Correspondent. The three honorees of the evening included Michael Harriot, who recieved the NYABJ’s Trailblazer Award. Michael is a senior writer at TheRoot. com where he covers the intersection of race, economics and politics. He is one of the most read black journalists writing today. The next honoree was Sunny Hostin, ESQ,
who recieved the NYABJ’s President’s Award. Sunny is a journalist who has generated a distinquished body of work with exceptional significance of the African Diapora. She is the Emmy-nominated co-host of The View, and Emmy-winng senior legal correspondent for ABC News. From 2007-2016 she was a host and legal analyst for CNN. Last but certainly not least Bevy Smith who recieved the NYABJ’s Ida B. Wells Award. Bevy Smith is the host of Sirius XM’s Bevelations on Radio Andy. She has been a headlining contributor for Page Six TV. part of Wendy’s Style Squad on Black Entertainment Television and has also moderated Bravo TV’s Fashion Queen. 13 other awards that were given out includued Online Media - General Features, TV/Online Video General Features, Print Media Spot/General News, Investigative Journalism and Sports Journalism.
CE LATIMER HONORS CUPCAKE CUTIE BOUTIQUE FOR FOUR YEARS OF SELFLESSLY SERVING THE COMMUNITY BY AJ WOODSON
Westchester County Executive George Latimer presented Miesha Stokley and Montika Jones of Cupcake Cutie Boutique with a proclamation in celebration of their Four-Year Anniversary, on Friday, November 1st. “Thank you to George Latimer, the County Executive and the Westchester County Government for recognizing Cupcake Cutie Boutique as a selfless organization that serves the community!,” Cupcake Cutie Boutique founder, Miesha Stokely shared with Black Westchester. “This is special to us considering all of the obstacles we pushed through over the last year! Cupcake Cutie Boutique, located at 8 South 6th Avenue in Mount Vernon had its grand opening Saturday, October 10, 2015. Cars were double-parked and lines were coming out the door and down the street on South Sixth Avenue. Offering over 30 varieties of gourmet Cupcakes and Sweet Treats, the mother-daughter bakery located at 8 South Sixth Avenue, had a steady flow of traffic from 7am to 7pm, selling over 700 cupcakes and selling out just before 5pm. DJ Tri-State Jericko, known to many as the Voice of Westchester entertained customers on the ones and twos, throughout the afternoon. Cupcake Cutie Boutique has been the picture of perseverance, surviving illegal attempted shut-downs, repeated inspections from the Mount Vernon Building Department and the city withholding their permanent certificate of
Occupancy. Miesha – owner, and daughter of Damon and Montika Jones never wavered, never gave up and refused to allow the unprovoked attacks from the previous administration to stop her from being a positive role model for young ladies and the selfless work and service she does for the community. Stokley’s victory was a victory for every business that was being illegal targeted by local government. Her story of perseverance, standing up for herself and speaking truth to power. While that is what kept the doors opening, it is the great quality, incredibly delicious treats and excellent customer service the keeps customers walking through the doors. “As always I’m proud of Montika S. Jones and
Miesha Sarah for their accomplishments as Black Women and Black Business Owners,” Black Westchester Publisher Damon K. Jones shares. “Today they’ve received a Proclamation for Westchester Country Executive George Latimer for their hard work and community service.” Black Westchester proudly spotlights Cupcake Cutie Boutique, a great example of following your dreams and making them a reality!
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12 BLACK WESTCHESTER
BLACK WESTCHESTER SPOTLIGHT
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
BLACK WESTCHESTER CONGRATULATES LAUREN RAYSOR FOR 25 YEARS OF PRACTICING LAW
BY AJ WOODSON
N ew York Attorney Lauren P. Raysor celebrated 25 years of practicing law at a star-studded event at the Embassy on First (28 East First Street, Mount
Vernon), Friday, November 1, 2019 with performances from R&B singers Alyson Williams (Just Call My Name, I Need Your Lovin’) and Jeff Redd (I Found Loving, You Called & Told Me) and and a theatrical re-enactment from actress Phyllis Yvonne Stickney (Women of Brewster Place, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Whats Love Got To Do WIth It, New Jack City, Malcolm X, Jungle Fever), with Brother Arthur aka DJ I-Slam on the ones and twos and hosted by myself. Over a hundred friends, family members, fellow attorneys and former and current clients fulled the third floor of the Embassy for the festive event. Afterwards a handful joined Lauren for an afterparty at The Spot located at 168 Gramatan Avenue. New York Attorney Lauren P. Raysor is an experienced litigator whose practice focuses on the defense and prosecution of Negligence Claims and Police Misconduct Cases. She has litigated numerous cases over the years taking over 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph vs Universal Music Group. Ms. Raysor has served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon where she was in charge of the City’s Law Department. Lawyer Lauren P. Raysor has also served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region where she prosecuted Consumer Fraud. Further, Ms. Raysor was the former Assistant Deputy Chief of the Tort Division where she supervised 12 attorneys, managed the City’s motion practice and litigated numerous high exposure civil cases through to verdict. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the NYS Dormitory Authority, former outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and former counsel at a Wall Street Law Firm. Black Westchester congratulates Ms. Lauren P. Raysor for her 25 years in practicing law and work in the crimianl justice system.
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
SPIRITUAL MINDED
BLACK WESTCHESTER13
A DAY OF UNITY – ONE GOD, ONE PEOPLE, ONE VOICE MUSLIMS & CHRISTIANS WORSHIP TOGETHER AT MT CALVARY CME “THE PROMISE CHURCH” BY AJ WOODSON From the days of slavery, there has always been division of Afrikans in American, from the Field Negro and the House Negro. Some of it was systematic by design and some of it is we as Black People continue to find ways to divide ourselves. In 2019 we know race is still an issue in the United States, but what’s even more of a shame is that Black people are still finding ways to tear each other down, ridicule each other, and find ways to separate us, based on skin color, our neighborhoods, and our familial backgrounds. From the separation of light skin and dark skin Blacks to East Coast and West Coast Rappers, we are still finding ways to separate ourselves as Black people, and it was no difference when it came to religion. The division between Black Christians and the Nation of Islam has been and still is very real. “How good and pleasant it is when my brothers and sisters live together in unity! – Psalm 133:1
The service was full of both Christian and Islamic prayers and musically
Sunday, November 10th, I was blessed to attend a church service that was aimed to address just that and attempt to unity us. A Day of Unity – One God, One People, One Voice with two servants of God – I have come to have a whole lot of respect for Rev. Dr. Jeffrey R. Wheeler, Pastor of Mount Calvary CME “The Promise Church,” and Minister Abdul Hafeez Muhammad, East Coast Representative of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Student Minister of Muhammad’s Mosque #7 in Harlem – two individuals I have come to call my brothers and I have frequently worshipped at both of their Houses of Worship. Also in attendance was Iman Musa Abdul Ali of the Yusef Shah Islamic Center.
One of the most beautiful things was Coach Mack bringing the Razorbacks to the service to experience the unity that took place. Young Black Boys need to see more unity from the strong Black Men working together. Coach Mack and the Razorbacks presented the trophy from winning their super bowl to Rev Wheeler and got a powerful word and encouragement from Min Hafeez. The media often displays what divides us, but Black Westchester wanted to share this event that united us. Much respect to both Minister Abdul Hafeez Muhammad for the Word and Rev. Dr. Jeffrey R. Wheeler for opening his doors to host this monumental worship service. I pray that we as a people will be more open to learning more about each other, respecting our differences and celebrating our commonalities. I believe those in attendance Sunday, learned we have more in common than we were lead to believe. And it is in our coming together in unity that makes us stronger as a people. To my Muslim Brothers and Sisters Assalam Alaikum and to my Christian Brothers and Sisters Peace Be unto you. “Today was an amazing morning!,” Iman Musa Abdul Ali shared. “I had the honor and pleasure to stand with two AMAZING MEN of G-D Pastor Jeffrey R. Wheeler and Student Minister Abdul Hafeez Muhammad of the NOI. In the spirit of UNITY!!!! There is a movie named Drum Line and the high point of the Movie is when the Conductor of the Band said we are One Band One Sound. Three different Congregation with the Conductor is G-D and we all have the same sound. Love G-D and serve Humanity” Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity – Psalms 133:1 “So, what does Psalm 133 teach us about living together in Unity?” Rev. Wheeler asked. “Living together in unity is good, it is pleasant, and it is appropriate for us as sons and daughters of God.” One Sunday service will not end all the division between Black Christians and The Nation of Islam but this Sunday at Mt. Calvary in Mount Vernon was a bridge builder moving us closer in that direction. I was blessed to be in the house and experience it. “Dwelling together in UNITY,” Min. Abdul Hafeez Muhammad shared. “Thanks to my Brother and Servant Rev. Dr. Jeffrey R. Wheeler! A wonderful day for Muslims and Christians in the county of Westchester, NY‼️ To God Be The Glory” For far too long we have let our differences divide us instead of allowing our commonalities to unity us. Although there are many things about which Muslims and Christians disagree, there are also a good number of things about which both faiths agree. When building a relationship between Muslims and Christians, it’s often wise to begin talking about spiritual matters by bringing up beliefs Muslims and Christians have in common, rather than by discussing points of disagreement. I’m sure many in attendance did not know what to expect but I felt most left with a better understanding of one another, which is the first step to building the bridge between us.
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14 BLACK WESTCHESTER
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
COVER STORY
COVER STORIES BW COVER STORY
REMEMBERING THE HONORABLE CONGRESSMAN ELIJAH CUMMINGS BY AJ WOODSON
Thursday, October 17, 2019 the world lost a giant when U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, 68, died. Known for his commitment to justice, equality and helping marginalized people, the Baltimore Democrat lived with power and now he is resting in it. As chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Cummings was not just one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress, but one of the most powerful politicians in Washington DC. He was also a central figure in the impeachment investigation of President Trump. In a statement his wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, remembered her husband as “an honorable man who proudly served his district and the nation with dignity, integrity, compassion and humility.” She added that he “worked until his last breath.” The son of sharecroppers, Cummings was a civil rights advocate and champion of the “the least of these.” At the core of his political career was his desire to help people in poor, urban areas. He also took seriously the role he and others played in creating a better world for future generations.
The longtime Democratic representative from Maryland’s 7th Congressional District, died
at the age of 68 on October 17, 2019, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He died of complications from a long battle with health problems, his wife said. “It is with great sadness and a heavy collective heart that we announce the passing of Chairman Elijah Eugene Cummings. He was a father, a husband, a son of Baltimore, and a Statesman who served Maryland’s 7th Congressional District for more than 20 years, and served 16 years prior to that as a Delegate in the Maryland General Assembly,” the Maryland Democratic Party said in a statement announcing Cummings’ death. “Chairman Cummings will always be remembered for dedicating his life’s work to improving the lives of others, standing up for his community, and protecting our Democracy.” Very inspired by his parents... Cummings talked about being inspired by his mother after she died in 2018 at age 92. She worked as a housekeeper before founding Victory Prayer Chapel in Baltimore. “On my mother’s dying bed, 92 years old, former sharecropper, her last words were, ‘Do not let them take our votes away from us,’” Cummings said at a February 2019 hearing. “She had fought and seen people harmed, beaten, trying to vote. Talk about inalienable rights. Voting is crucial. And I don’t give a damn how you look at it: There are efforts to stop people from voting. That’s not right. This is not Russia. This is the United States of America.” Cummings’ father worked as a laborer for a chemical company for 42 years and died in 2000 at the age of 74. After his death, Cummings told The Baltimore Sun, “My father was a great inspiration to me. He taught us nothing was impossible, despite his limited education. He spent his life believing in education and emphasized that we had to be in school every day.” Cummings, who was a member of the New Psalmist Baptist Church, told The Sun that his parents made religion an important part of his life. He graduated from Baltimore City College high school in 1969 and went on to study at Howard University in Washington D.C. After completing his undergraduate studies in political science in 1973, Cummings entered the University of Maryland Law School. He earned his law degree in 1976. Cummings practiced law as a private attorney for 19 years before being elected to Congress in 1996. He entered politics in 1980 as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates. From 1995 to 1996, Cummings was the Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland House, becoming the first African-American in the state’s history to hold that position. He took a prominent role in the Democratic Party over the past two years as he helped lead the investigations into President Donald Trump through his role as the chair of the House Oversight Committee. He was often a target of Trump’s attacks as a result. Cummings gave a powerful speech at the end of Michael Cohen’s February 2019 testimony about Trump before the Oversight Committee. He said, “When we’re dancing with the angels, the question we’ll be asked: In 2019, what did we do to make sure we kept our democracy intact? Did we stand on the sidelines and say nothing?” Whether it be the grace he showed during Michael Cohen’s testimony, or his ability to reach out to a fellow congressman, Republican Rep. Mark Meadows, and defend him in the face of being called a racist. (Elijah never complained when Meadows refused to return the favor later.) In both cases, Elijah found the good in each of those men and expressed it with such empathy and kindness that it was as if he had prepared those words for months. Empathy moved the man, which is in sharp contrast to our commander-in-chief. Elijah saw the humanity in every person who crossed his path. You could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. Whether I was watching him on television, chatting privately with Joe in the halls of Congress, or listening to him to speak at our wedding dinner, I was always moved to be a better person by what he said.
Cummings married his second wife, Maya Rockeymoore, in 2008. She is a political consultant originally from Texas who worked in Congress for many years and became the leader of the Maryland Democratic Party in December 2018. She made a bid earlier in 2018 for governor of Maryland, but dropped out of the race after her husband was hospitalized. Cummings was previously married to Joyce Matthews Cummings. He has three children. He is survived by two daughters, Jennifer and Aria, and a son. Black Westchester celebrates the life and work of Elijah Cumming, a man who proudly served with dignity, integrity, compassion and humility and encouraged us to stick to our principles.
ELIJAH CUMMINGS CALLED ON US TO STICK TO OUR PRINCIPLES
BY DAMON K JONES
One of the most excellent speeches on the service of community and politics was Elijah Cummings’s speech at Harvard University’s Black Policy Conference. Congressman Cummings’s speech should be required reading for all who desire to run for office or community service. I play this speech at least once every two weeks. It keeps me grounded and serves as a standard on what Black leadership - especially Black leadership that deals in laws, legislation and policy - should be doing. In the age that Black politics
has been lost to Identity Politics on a national level and Plantation Politics on a local level. Cummings’s speech redirects the purpose of young Blacks to get involved in politics. Cummings makes it plain that the need for service for the community should grow out of the pain that is in our communities. The pain of seeing unjust killings, the pain of seeing how the elderly are treated, the pain of seeing how our communities are treated. That type of plain he explains should give us our purpose to run for elected positions. But then Cummings explains that your pain and purpose for you to be elected must turn into policy when you get elected into office. It is the Black elected official’s purpose to create a policy that will allow people to be all they can be in society. Elijah Cummings also understood the need for bipartisan communication and participation to move policy forward that benefits his people. Today many Black politicians are more concerned with positions, titles, photo ops and have not created policies that will stop the suffering of their people. Cummings begged the crowd NOT to do what many politicians do now; talk, talk, talk with no results. In this day of Black Social Media politics, Cummings’s speech and his example as a Congressman, Community Leader, Family Man, and a Black Man, gives an everlasting example of where Black Politics should be, can be and must be. We can only get there by sticking to our principles.
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
BLACK WESTCHESTER 15
BW COVER STORY
JOHN CONYERS, LONGEST- VETERAN COMMEDIAN AND ACTOR SERVING BLACK MEMBER OF JOHN ‘POPS’ WITHERSPOON CONGRESS IN HISTORY, DIES DIES AT THE AGE OF 77
The son of a Detroit labor leader, John Conyers Jr. served in the Korean War as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - who was the longest serving AfricanAmerican member of Congress in U.S. history - died Sunday, October 27, 2019 at age 90. Conyers - who represented Michigan in Congress for more than five decades - was the longest-serving African American lawmaker in congressional history, a cofounder of the Congressional Black Caucus and a fierce champion for civil rights. Conyers was first elected to the House in 1964. Among his signature efforts in Congress was his battle for reparations for African Americans. Beginning in 1989, Conyers would introduce a bill at the beginning of each session of Congress that called for a “congressional study of slavery and its lingering effects as well as recommendations for ‘appropriate remedies.’ “ Conyers also helped lead the charge for the creation of a federal holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Four days after King was assassinated in 1968, Conyers introduced a bill to establish the holiday. It would take another 15 years of trying until the legislation was eventually signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. Famed civil rights activist Rosa Parks worked in his Detroit office from 1965 until she retired in 1988. His time in office earned Conyers the title “dean of the House of Representatives,”
THE ANTI- RACIST ALLIANCE OF WESTCHESTER
John Witherspoon, veteran actor and comedian, who known for everything from his stand-up comedian days on the Def Comedy Jam, who starred in films such as Hollywood Shuffle (1987), Boomerang (1992), The Five Heartbeats (1991), and Vampire in Brooklyn (1995), to TV appearances The Tracy Morgan Show (2003), Barnaby Jones (1973), The Boondocks (2005–2014), and Black Jesus (2014) and is best known for his role as Ice Cube’s father in the “Friday” franchise as well as Pops on “The Wayans Bros.” (1995–99) and voicing Gramps on The Boondocks, died on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. He was 77. Born in Detroit on January 27, 1942, Witherspoon’s career in comedy got started in the late 1970s, appearing on The Richard Prior Show, and other TV series such as The Incredible Hulk, What’s Happening!!! and Good Times. Witherspoon booked his first film role in 1980, in the movie The Jazz Singer, and continued to work steadily in both TV and film. The only actor other than Ice Cube to appear in every Friday film, he also kept working on the screen. In addition to the fourth sequel to Friday, he had just finished filming for the movie Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen and was a series regular on the TV Show, Black Jesus. We will all miss the often colorful comedic icon!
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THE PEOPLE‘S INSTITUTE FOR SURVIVAL AND BEYOND
SUPPORTS
FOR TRUTH IN REPORTING AND IT’S STAND FOR A WESTCHESTER THAT WORKS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY www.antiracistalliance.com
GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF RACIAL INEQUITIES
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16 BLACK WESTCHESTER
BW COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
REV. DR. JEFFREY WHEELER BY AJ WOODSON Family, friends and community leaders filled Mt Calvary CME ‘The Promise Church,” Sunday, October 27th to celebrate the church’s pastor Rev. Dr. Jeffrey R. Wheeler. It was the church’s Pastor’s Appreciation celebration nine years Rev. Wheeler served as Senior Pastor. Rev. Dr. Paul L. Brown, Dean and President of The Phillips School of Theology was the preacher of the service and he preached a powerful sermon from John Chapter 5, titled ‘The Definition Of A Miracle.” The sermon title was very appropiate, because a year ago that week, Rev, Wheeler was in the hospital, given three weeks to live as colon cancer ravished his body. That’s what made this Pastor’s Appreciation Celebration even more meaningful because he is still here. Last year he couldn’t sing, that Sunday morning in late October he sang. His congragation and all in attendance celebrated like never before, thankful their sheppard was still among them, leading and teaching them. I too was blessed to be in attendance to celebrate a man I have come to call, my friend and my brother. The service, the celebration, the sermon was a reminder to never give up, never let your faith falter, to never stop believing. Rev. Wheeler did not give up when he got the disturbing news, like most
Rev. Wheeler gave it over to God. Sunday, October 27th you could see feel the joy in this annointed man of God who devied the odds of his doctor’s report and it still teaching and preaching. He has been appointed as the Mount Vernon Police Department Chaplain “We Celebrated GOD, His Favor, His Promises & His Miracles,” Rev. Wheeler shared with Black Westchester, “the way Dr Paul Brown, Preached Us Crazy, the Message: “The Definition Of A Miracle” (John 5), was Life Changing & Transforming‼️” The sermon was life changing and tranforming and aptly titled. Black Westchester celebrates the man who blesses the lives of everyone he comes in contact with incuding me, Rev. Dr. Jeffrey R. Wheeler. For those not familar with John chapter 5 it is the story of the healing at the pool. Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, John 5: 1-9 (NIV) John’s Gospel is different from the others in that his primary goal is not to give men a historical treatment of the life of Jesus. John’s purpose is to exalt the person of Jesus so that men believe on Him and be saved. The one thing that can be said is Rev. Wheeler beliieves in the God he serves and his healing is a testimony of his faith. So on the morning of Sunday, October 27th, Rev. Wheeler praised and sang and danced and rejoiced and could not stop talking about what God has done for him. His joy was infectious throughout his congragation and everyone in attendence. two weeks later, Sunday, November 10th, Rev Wheeler was still celebrating during the Day of Unity service (see page 13), where Minister Abdul Hafeez Muhammad, East Coast Representative of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Student Minister of Muhammad’s Mosque #7 in Harlem was the guest speaker and Christians and Muslims worshipped together. “It was great to know that my two brother in faith Abdul Hafeez Muhammad and Rev. Dr. Jeffrey R. Wheeler would come together in a day of unity,” Black Westchester Publisher Damon K. Jones shared. “As a people we cannot afford to let barriers divide us.” A day of Unity was evidence God has much more work for Rev. Wheeler to do. Rev Wheeler’s Mt Calvary often works with the Yusef Shah Islamic Center located down the street at 10 South Second Avenue. “On Sunday [October 27th] we recognized the Man, the mission and works of Pastor Jeffery Wheeler,” Imam Musa Abdul Ali shared with Black Westchester. “He is a man that I’ve met a very short point of time. And in this time he has left a powerful impression on me. Our hearts connected because of our Love for our Creator and love for our community. This is an unbreakable bond sealed by Our Creator. May G-D continue to Bless him and his work. I appreciate him and I see no difference in him as I see in a Muslim because of his Love for G-D and Humanity.” Black Westchester salute Rev. Dr. Jeffrey R. Wheeler, a Black Preacher who is not afraid to speak truth to power or speak up against injustice. When we were being retaliated against from City Hall because of the stories we wrote explosing corruption, he was one of the few who had our back, and personally had my back and we will forever be thankful. Here are a few words from his friends, family, members of his congregation and a colleague or two.
He always thought he was in charge of the whole family. So we didn’t want to burst his bubblle, so we let him. And just the thought of losing him was devastating. God heard, listened and answered our prayers, therefore we are eternally grateful. His nickname, my mom gave him is Jethro, LOL. - His Aunts Adell, Minnie, Ella and Francis Pastor Jeffrey R. Wheeler or “Pops” as I’ve called him for so many years, has been the epitome of a father figure and a role model. Not just for yself, but for so many other young men and women in the community. He’s shown unconditional love and true support to so many of us, it makes easy to consider him a father to us all. - Marsielle Fountain, his Godson. Pop makes everyone he comes into contact with feel special. He’s kind and caring and he listens. If I tell him I’m not feeling well the first thing he asks is if I need something. Pop is always there when I need him. - Tracy Cates Jeremiah 3:15 RSV And I will give yo shepherds after my own A walking Miracle. A living Legend. A Man well loved and holds many heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” There are few leaders like Pastor Jeffery R. Wheeler. He is a man of integrity. A walking miracle. A Living Legend. A man well loved and holds many titles. Yet, he won’t let you fall. He believe in the One who he stands and preaches about. With conviction believes the same anointing over his life is over yours. The same Favor is over yours. Because God loves you and His Son Jesus came to save the lost and the sick. There isn’t anything you can do to make Him stop loving you. Pastor. Reverend Dr. Pop or Unc. He is always the same. He loves God and loves His people. If it wasn’t for him helping me who God is, I wouldn’t been able to see Him in me, and how God is actually working in my life and in the life of my Family. I love Pastor Reverend Dr. Jeffery R. Wheeler, no words can truly express how much he is appreciated. God kept to His word in Jeremiah 3:15 when he sent Pastor Wheeler back to us. - Kimberly Mitchell Congratulations Pastor, Friend, Rev. Dr. Jeffery R Wheeler. May God continue to bless you always. You are a walking Testimony of what God will do. First you were my Pastor, now you are a dear friend. Love and blessing always - Lewis & Cynthia Crawford. Rev. Dr. Jeffrey R. Wheeler is a true man of God who goes above and beyond to be a blessing to his congregation and community. He has overcome obstacles with honor and integrity. - Pastor Stephen Pogue, Greater Centennial AME Zion Church I appreciate Rev, Wheeler. He came to the hospital to pray over me before surgery and took the time to come to visit me afterwards to make sure I was good while I was in ICU. - Tammy Cates I appreciate my favorite pastor in the world because of his friendship, generosity, kindness, and the uncondidtional love he has for not only his friends and his congregation but for everyone in his community, even those he doesnt really know. I love the way he’s so passionate about children and family. The way he can focus on one person and their needs in a room full of people. Dr. Reverend Jeffery R. Wheeler is my favorite Pastor in the world. I love you Pastor Wheeler! - Patty Coombs
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
BLACK WESTCHESTER 17
THE DEFINITION OF A MIRACLE
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18BLACK WESTCHESTER
914 POLITICS
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
BLACK WESTCHESTER CONGRATULATES SHAWYN PATTERSON-HOWARD FOR MAKING HISTORY
SHAWYN PATTERSON-HOWARD MAKES HISTORY AS MOUNT VERNON’S FIRST FEMALE ELECTED MAYOR
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
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About Black Westchester: BlackWestchester.com is a magazine (website) and print newspaper for people of color for Westchester and the Tri-State area of New York at every economic level. Black Westchester is committed to being a platform to profile life, culture, economics, politics, sports and entertainment and those who are representing vision in these marketplaces and who can both encourage and provide role models to other men and women. Black Westchester, through its online magazine, print newspaper, weekly talk radio show, and editorial content, will be a vessel of community information throughout Westchester and the Tri-State area of New York. Our mission is to promote the concept of “community” through media. The Black Westchester Newspaper is a monthly newspaper, 10,000 distributed monthly throughout Westchester and Surrounding areas with a heavy concentration in Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Yonkers, Elmsford, White Plains, Greenburgh, Peekskill, Tarrytown, NE Bronx, Harlem, Stamford, CT with a slightly smaller presence elsewhere in the county and surrounding areas. Black Westchester is the best vehicle to reach communities of color throughout the county, but not limited to just communities of color, we have a large non-African-American readership as well. Black Westchester and the People Before Politics Radio Show started in July and August of 2014 respectively and the print edition started on our three year anniversary in August 2017. In such a small amount of time, Black Westchester has heavily influenced the county, public policy, and the elected officials while informing the public in a way that was missing, filling a necessary void.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS Employed, Working Full-Time- 46.24% Employed, Working Part-Time - 5.45% Self Employed - 15.05% Unemployed - 5.38% Retired - 18.28% Disabled, Unable To Work - 8.60% RELATIONSHIP STATUS Married- 33.68% Widowed - 3.16% Divorce - 14.74% Separated - 1.05% Domestic Partner or Civil Union - 2.11% Single but Cohabiting - 8.42% Single, Never Married - 36.84% HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION Graduated from High School- 9.72% GED - 2.78% Some College - 23.61% Graduated College - 37.50% Some Graduate School - 8.33% Completed Graduate School - 18.06% POLITICAL AFFILIATION Republican- 5.26% Democrat - 50.53% Independent - 25.26% Something Else - 18.95%
Larger news outlets such as The Journal News (Lohud), News 12 Westchester and Fios1 News, The New York Post, ABC News and others also follow us and have quoted us for breaking stories that they, in turn, did follow up stories on. Black Westchester is the voice of the voiceless and has covered many stories that other news outlets often overlooked and in turn followed our lead and reported later. Black Enterprise Magazine reported, “Black buying power currently stands at over $1.1 Trillion dollars annually and is on the road to hit about $1.5 Trillion by 2021. These figures have also been documented by the Huffington Post, The Atlantic, MediaPost.com, Fortune Magazine, and many other respected media outlets. This collective buying power means that nearly $2 Trillion dollars will be flowing through Black American annually very soon, making us a centerpiece for various researchers, marketers, advertisers and other campaigns designed to influence black spending patterns. With that said, for businesses who do business and want to do businesses with communities of color in the Westchester County and surrounding areas, advertising with Black Westchester, not only makes dollars but also makes perfect sense. We are the voice of the Black Community. Sponsorship and advertising are also available of our weekly talk radio show People Before Politics Radio, where we have been bringing you Real Talk For The Community since 2014.
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20 BLACK WESTCHESTER
RED BLUE TALK
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
THE IMPEACHMENT MEDIA GUIDE BY CHARLES STERN
BACKGROUND Impeachment is rare, and it should be so. As a result, hardly anybody understands it very well. To further confuse matters, there are thousands of sources, some authoritative, some biased, and some are flat out fake news. This article is intended to provide suggestions on how to consume the impeachment process. A few good pointers will help to keep it all straight as the complex details unfold over the months ahead. When President Johnson was impeached in 1868, you might have learned about it days or weeks later in a newspaper, if your town or city even had one. Radio news wasn’t in existence until 50 years later. In 1974, people watched the Nixon impeachment as it happened on one of four networks - ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS. President Nixon quit, and spared us the spectacle of an almost certain conviction in the US Senate. By the time the sordid details of President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky became central facts in the impeachment proceeding in 1998, we were watching the action on live TV and also reading about it on the Internet. Social media was not a thing yet, but websites like drudgereport.com were on the scene. In Clinton’s case, the House decided affirmatively to impeach, but the President was acquitted in the Senate trial. The information explosion, post-Clinton, including the advent of social media, is unlike anything that preceded it. Today, 3 in 10 internet users follow news or media organizations via social media, consistently, across age groups. We’re consuming news on social media “by the gigabyte,” meaning A LOT. 43% of Facebook users have read a news story in the past month. Make that 50% for Twitter users, and 29% of YouTubers have viewed a news clip or story. (Source: globalwebindex Flagship Report on the latest trends in social media, 2018) This means it’s highly likely that we’ll be finding out about President Trump’s impeachment progress on a device we didn’t own in 1998, and on a platform that didn’t exist then either. It’s possible that your go-to news gathering agency has been around for a while, but chances are you’re not looking at their original publication, and instead you are seeing it on Facebook.
Quiz there, to test your knowledge.
NY TIMES - nytimes.com This list would be incomplete without The New York Times, of course. However, they don’t seem to have a separate section for impeachment, like some of the others, which makes it harder to access. Tip: In the Times, look for articles that have Maggie Haberman in the byline. She’s been covering Trump since his divorce from Ivana, and seems to have an inside track. Also, the Times opinion pages are among the best anywhere.
POLITIFACT - politifact.com/impeachment Politifact’s truth-o-meter keeps it real. Twitter will pull you under the covers of the story unlike anything else. Also, these journalists have an eye for excellent articles in places we might not find otherwise.
@abbydphillip
CNN Political Correspondent, former @washingtonpost @abcnews @politico.
@AprilDRyan
Author, Mother, White House Correspondent & Washington Bureau Chief- American Urban Radio Networks, CNN Political Analyst
@CharlesMBlow
NYT columnist. Among the very best opinion writers.
BASIC FACTS
@maggieNYT
The heart of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump is whether presidential powers were used to pressure the country of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. The allegation is that Trump had a deal in which Ukraine would receive aid from the US Government if and only if Ukraine agreed to dig up dirt to hurt Biden’s candidacy in the 2020 Presidential election. Aid for dirt. That’s it.
@SaraCarterDC
HOW TO CONSUME THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT Here are a few suggestions, but you should lean on the news mix that suits you. I have found these resources to be among the very best, and there are certainly more. These are some of the best of the explainers, fact-checks, timelines, Q/A’s, newsletters, podcasts and article collections available. Every resource listed here is free, not behind a paywall.
WASHINGTON POST - washingtonpost.com/impeachment/ The Washington Post, predictably, has more depth than any other news source about impeachment, and it’s all organized in one tight web site. There’s Latest News, Timeline, an explainer video, opinion pieces and podcasts. If you go to only one source, this is the right one. Tips: Sign up for the 5-Minute Fix newsletter, and you’ll get an update in your email inbox every day. Also, Washington Post has a podcast called “Can He Do That?” that is an excellent round-up of the impeachment process. You could listen to the first two minutes of this podcast, and you’ll be ready for a dinner conversation, no problem.
White House correspondent for NYTimes, analyst for CNN.
FoxNews Contributor, award winning National Security/War Correspondent. Editor’s Note: This article was written days before the beginning of the public Impeachment Hearings that started Wednesday, November 13th. Two State Department officials who expressed concerns about President Donald Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate a potential political opponent are testifying before a House committee Wednesday morning. William Taylor, chargé d’affaires for Ukraine, and George Kent, deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, answered questions before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.
Charles Stern is the Executive Producer of RedBlueTalk, weekly video content that discusses how politics and government impact everyday life. Follow Charles on Facebook and Twitter @redbluetalk
VOX - vox.com/impeachment Vox has the best explainer articles I’ve ever seen, and I would recommend this as a first stop if you just need to look up the names and sequence of events. The impeachment story is hard to follow and it changes fast. This will really help hold it together, and it’s presented in an easy to read way. Tip: Vox has an article called “Cast of Characters” that spells out the role of each key player in the scandal along with a photo. Major time saver here.
C -SPAN - c-span-org/impeachment If you have cable TV, figure out what channel carries C-SPAN. If you don’t have cable, their website has live feeds plus tons of clips and there’s little to no editorial content. Just the facts, ma’am. Tip: C-SPAN’s web site also has a feed of the latest tweets from members of Congress, and the President, that you can sort by House, Senate, President or Committee Leaders.
CNN - cnn.com/impeachment This address will take you to another warchest of resources - timeline of who did what and when, podcasts, a “Trump Impeachment Tracker”, an archive with key documents and plenty of explainer documents. Tip: CNN’s site and app are heavy on news analysis. They have an interesting
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
REAL TALK FOR THE COMMUNITY
BLACK WESTCHESTER
21
BALTIMORE STATE ATTORNEY MARILYN J. MOSBY A TORCHLIGHT FOR JUSTICE IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
BY DAMON K JONES
BLACK DISTRICT ATTORNEYS NEED TO TAKE NOTE
B altimore State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby spoke out against the flawed
American criminal justice system as the single most significant civil rights issue facing black residents in Maryland. “Black people are six times more likely to be arrested and become a part of the criminal justice system [than] whites,” Mosby said at the fall symposium of the University of Baltimore Law Review, which was headlined, “400 Years: Slavery and the Criminal Justice System.” Mosby shocked the criminal justice world when she announced the indictment of the six Baltimore police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray’s case. Mosby did not win the case against the Police Officers but her effort created a national conversation on the issue of Police Officers violating departmental policies and procedures and how it relates to state criminal statutes. Mosby said prosecutors like her have an obligation to reduce disparities by providing opportunities for young people before they come into contact with the system, alternatives for returning felons who are too often sidelined economically because of their criminal records, and means for seeking redress for those wrongfully accused or convicted. In New York, our elected officials have been playing political Hollywood shuffle when it comes to proper oversight and accountability of the Law Enforcement or bringing indictments of police officers in deaths of black men. A Daily News investigation found that on-duty NYPD officers killed at least 179 people over the past 15 years. Just three of the deaths have led to an indictment in state court. In another case, a judge threw out the charge on technical grounds, and it was not reinstated. Moreover, acts of police brutality are not only crimes against the individual victim, but also are attacks on the communities in which they occur. Therefore, local prosecutors who are elected to enforce the laws in those communities should not be robbed of their ability to faithfully and fairly do so in cases where police officers shoot, kill or injure someone unjustly. In Westchester County, black men can be shot, shot at, or killed and never an indictment; instead the District Attorney has his behind the curtain of the Grand Jury. In the killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, former District Attorney, Janet Difiore said the police officers using the word “Nigger” was a tactic to distract and never considered it to be a “Hate Crime.” In Governor Cuomo’s history, even as states Attorney General, he has never intervened as an independent body or brought any indictments of police officers as States Attorney General. Even at the request of victim’s families, law enforcement reform groups, Criminal Justice experts, and many New York taxpayers, the demand for an Independent Special Prosecutor have fallen on death ears of the state legislator. In a weak effort, our Governer gave the people an Executive Order for the state’s Attorney General to play the role of the Special Prosecutor. But there was no need in that executive order, according to the Attorney Generals website the office already had the power to investigate. Unfortunately, even when municipalities do recognize the need for transparency, the call has fallen to death ears by Governor Cuomo and our State Legislators. A letter, dated May 29 and signed by the entire City Council of Newburgh N.Y., came at the response to the death of Michael Lembhard, a 22-year-old killed in 2012, during a confrontation with police. The council’s letter claims a close working relationship between police and prosecutors undermines the credibility of the district attorney’s investigation. “It does not matter that the DA’s office does an outstanding job of investigation; the results will not be trusted. By definition, the relationship causes a conflict of interest,” the letter said. Gov. Andrew Cuomo denied the council’s request for a special prosecutor. Unfortunately for Black people, the NYS Attorney General has never investigated and prosecuted on behalf of a victim of police criminality. The Attorney Generals mission; As the “People’s Lawyer,” the Attorney General serves as the guardian of the legal rights of the citizens of New York, its organizations, and its natural resources. The Attorney General’s Office is charged with the statutory and common law powers to protect consumers and investors, charitable donors, the public health and environment, civil rights, and the rights of wage-earners and businesses across the State. In New York, many District Attorneys are fighting against the new criminal justice reform laws. Lady Justice is supposed to be blind and fair. For our District Attorneys to fight against fair rules of the discovery of behalf of Defendants. Prosecutors did not have to turn over evidence until a person went to trial. This means
that people were often asked to take plea deals without even the basic facts of the case. The people have requested a model of real justice for our District Attorneys, not career conviction or plea stats so the District Attorney can be ranked like a sports athlete. Carl Dix, in an earlier Op-Ed for Black Westchester wrote, “We’ve gone through this for decades—those in power telling us to wait for the results of investigations, investigations that almost always let the murdering pigs walk free. We went through it with Obama, sometimes shedding crocodile tears over the deaths of Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice. And still, the murdering pigs walked free. This is what played out with the murder of Alton Sterling, and the same thing will continue to play out unless people rise up mightily—joining with those who are courageously standing up and taking this even further.” Our system of government is based on checks and balances, each possessing the power to curtail the activities of the other. Elected officials must ensure those who represent the interest of protecting the people do so in accordance with the law and not abuse the authority they have been granted. If our local District Attorney’s and our state Attorney is incapable or unwilling to investigate police crimes in New York properly then it is necessary for our state legislators to create proper oversight legislation to help positively influence behavior patterns in a law enforcement organization and build a better relationship with the communities that law enforcement claims to serve.
RACISM BY ZIP CODE PT. 3
(cont’d from page 9)
group of people to accept abnormal as usual. Why does Mt. Vernon have so much crime and violence? Because it is designed that way! For the most part, Black and Latino people have been conditioned to live a certain way by an unseen hand of White Supremacy in Westchester County. The only way for us to defeat it, we must recognize it, talk about it, and pass proactive policies and legislation to change it. We cannot continually accept politicians that look like us only to use racism to protect themselves but refuse to recognize racism to address policy in their elective positions. If we genuinely believe we are a Westchester County that welcomes all races and economic status without prejudice, then we need more action and less rhetoric that is more symbolism than substance. Now that Shawyn Patterson Howard, the newly elected Mayor of Mount Vernon, along with a list of inspiring new Black leadership throughout Westchester, has been elected into office. Maybe they can turn the tide around for Black politics and Black communities in Westchester County. The need is tremendous, but the resources are small. The people need truth, fairness, justice, and leadership that is not afraid to stand in the gap, speak truth to power, and stick to their principals! I write this with no malice, bad intent in my heart, just love for my people. When will we accept the greater responsibility of our leadership for all Black people? Mount Vernon is in the position to be the Mecca or the Wakanda for Black people. It is not much to ask.
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22 BLACK WESTCHESTER
BW NATIONAL NEWS
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
CHRIS FRYE MAKES HISTORY
AS THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF NEW CASTLE, PA
BY AJ WOODSON
NEW CASTLE, PA. - History has been made in New Castle, Lawrence County. The city has elected its first African-American mayor, who crossed racial and party lines for the win. A grassroots campaign ended in the historic win for Chris Frye. The Republican is now mayor-elect of New Castle, which is a city where a Democrat has held that title for more than a decade. Frye is also one of youngest mayors to be elected in the city. Republican Chris Frye defeated Democrat Mark Elisco by a vote of 2,869 to 1,913. Frye replaces Anthony Mastrangelo, who had been mayor for the last 12 years. Chris Frye is a Slippery Rock University instructor of public health and social work. In addition to serving as an adjunct professor at SRU, Frye works for Lawrence County Social Services and serves on the board of directors at the New Castle Community YMCA. Frye’s plan to bring more revenue into the city lies in attracting more businesses. Frye hopes his background in social work and nonprofits will help to make New Castle a successful city through addressing social issues and increasing revenue.
Frye said, “It’s definitely historic and the best part of it, is it shows change. It shows that we are really committed to change.” Frye said it took a lot of hard work and he listened to all types of people about what the city needs. Frye said, “A lot of racial lines, age lines, class lines.” To the people in New Castle, Frye breaking through barriers is a huge leap into the future. Frye said, “We want to get New Castle back on the map. We don’t want to see it fail.” Fyre said it was a rough campaign. He says he wants people who voted for him and his opponent to come together and make the city the best place it can be.
“Chris has that quality and leadership ability that you don’t find in many other men or young women around this area,” resident David Ward told WTEA Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “I would have never thought we would see our first black President back in 2008 and now we are in 2019 and 2020 and New Castle, Pa. got its first black mayor.” Fyre said he wants to streamline the budget, bring business and jobs back, tackle the blight problem and modernize technology. “I think one of our niches will be agriculture, looking at our green spaces, our landscape, how to utilize it more and make it a healthier environment. We are still operating on a level like we’re in an industrial community,” said Frye. Fyre says in four years, he plans to focus on his goals and make the people of New Castle proud.
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NOVEMBER 15, 2019
BW ENTERTAINMENT/ TV NEWS
BLACK WESTCHESTER 23
SPORTS REPORTER JUSTIN WALTERS GETS TWO NEW JOBS AFTER FIOS1 NEWS SHUTDOWN Fios1 News shut down on Saturday, November 16, after Verizon declined to renew a 10-year contract with Rye Brook-based Regional News Network (RNN), which produces Fios1 content. 150 people who worked for the hyperlocal news network thats recently celebrated its 10th anniversary on the air, lost their jobs. There is a saying that when God closes one door he opens another. Nothing could be truer for former Fios1 News Sports Director/ Anchor Justin Walters. The Mount Vernon native has recieved and accepted not only one but two new positions. Starting in December, he will be a sideline reporter for CBS Sports and a reporter for WPIX in New York City.
“I’m so excited for this next chapter of my career,” Justin shared with Black Westchester. “These past three months have tested my faith. I went from being laid off to securing two new jobs. That’s all God! I guess it’s true that sometimes good things fall apart so better things could fall together. My sideline reporter with CBS Sports Network has been in the works for a while. I had several meetings with executives
BY AJ WOODSON
at NABJ and their headquarters in New York City. The PIX 11 opportunity was all about timing. An opportunity presented itself because I was actively searching due to the imminent Fios1 closure. The PIX11 staff was familiar with my work already and offered me a role to join their sports team.” The Fios1 News employees first heard of the shut down when Peter Kramer, of the Rockland/Westchester Journal News, broke the news Sunday, August 18th. “Barring a change in direction from Verizon, RNN News will cease providing news programming for Verizon’s Fios1 News network at 12:01 a.m. on November 16, 2019,” RNN’s President of News Richard French III wrote in a letter to employees that was obtained by the Journal News. “This means your employment will permanently end on November 15, 2019.” The last broadcast, was Wednesday, November 13th at 11:00pm and Fios1 News officially shutdown Saturday, Novemeber 16th as announced. What started off as the worst news you could recieve, the ending of a chapter, ended up being the beginning of a whole new chapter, a bigger and better chapter. Justin Walters was the Sports Director/Anchor for WRNN-TV/Fios1 News in the Greater New York City area. Originally from Mount Vernon, NY, Justin has always had a passion for story telling. Most of his elementary teachers would characterize him as a chatterbox, but Justin prefers “opinionated” as a better description. No matter the sport, player or topic, Justin had an opinion on everything (still does). After being officially introduced to journalism in high school, Justin knew he wouldn’t need a back-up plan for his future endeavors. Justin graduated from La Salle University with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism. While in school, he was eager to learn everything in journalism from print and digital to broadcast. This desire led him to obtain both an Executive Producer/Anchor position for a television show (Sportsline) and sports editor role for the school newspaper (The Collegian). In addition, Justin had successful internships with the Philadelphia Eagles, CBS Sports Network and WABC-TV in New York. Upon graduation, he was offered a dream opportunity to work for NBC as an affiliate producer during the 2012 London Olympics. Justin used those skills along with a short stint with Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia to land a Sports Director/Reporter position with WBBJ-TV in Jackson, TN. His leap of faith to venture down South in 2013 paid off nearly three years later. Justin was offered a Sports Anchor position with WRNN/FiOS1 in the No. 1 television market (New York City). Justin is elated to remain back home, as a sideline reporter for CBS Sports and a reporter for WPIX in New York City.. His family and friends don’t have to check their email for clips or recaps. They can continue see him in real time. “I need to stop asking God — why me? It’s WHY NOT ME. Thanks to everyone for your support on this journey,” he wrote on Twitter, Friday, Novemember 15th. Black Westchester and People Beofore Politics Radio would like to congratulate our brother in media, Justin Walters and wish him well in this new chapter in his life and career. When God closes one door, he can open two more.
MFM CONTRACTING CORP. is currently soliciting quotes from qualified New York State certified MBE/WBE and SDVOB subcontractors and vendors for the upcoming project: Construction Service for the Construction of the Harlem River Lift Bridge Waterside Protection, Pier Rehabilitation, Miscellaneous and Seismic Retrofits, and North Approach Span Repairs.
Contract No. 1000130342 Engineers Estimate $10 million. Because of the types of the work, this contract requires that all of the work for this contract be performed from barges.
All equipment and material must arrive to the jobsite by marine methods. All personnel must arrive on site by crew boat. BID DATE: DECEMBER 5, 2019 AT 3PM For a timely response to any additional information concerning this project, please email our estimating department at engineering@mfmcontracting.com
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