VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 4
EDITION
COMPLIMENTARY
NOVEMBER 2018
Unapologetically Delivering News To Communities Of Color in Westchester & Surrounding Areas
MBK YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
BLACK WESTCHESTER
BY AJ WOODSON PAGES 14-15
FEATURES
O
ver 800 young men of color from Westchester, Rockland and Dutchess counties came together on October 25 to celebrate their brotherhood and learn new leadership skills from an array of distinguished presenters including actor/ comedian Mike Epps and the celebrated Bishop W. Darrin Moore. The MBK Youth Leadership Summit at the Westchester County Center was the first regional My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) gathering in New York State, according to state officials. “The collaboration among all the districts in the Lower Hudson is one that set the bar high and provides the opportunity for other parts of the state to do the same,” said Dr. Don-Lee Applyrs, the New York State Education Department’s Director of the Office of Family and Community Engagement. “Ultimately our goal is the same – to improve outcomes in boys and young men of color.” (Continued on page 14)
COUNCILMAN ANDRE WALLACE THROWS HAT IN 2019 MOUNT VERNON MAYORAL RACE
BY AJ WOODSON
PURGED VOTERS’ “PROVISIONAL” BALLOTS COULD DECIDE GEORGIA GOVERNOR RACE
BY GREG PALAST TRUTHOUT
PAGE 26
PAGES 18-19
BLACK WESTCHESTER
16 BIG FIRSTS
AND HISTORIC WINS IN THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS
PAGE 23
EDITION PAGES 22-25 PAGES 21-24
PAGE 11
SEN. STEWART-COUSINS MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST REMEMBERING BLACK FEMALE MAJORITY LEADER KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR BY AJ WOODSON
PAGE 9
BLACK WESTCHESTER IN THE ATL PAGES 10-12 & 26
PAGE 24
GHANA OFFERS AFRICAN-AMERICANS & CARIBBEAN PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO RETURN & RIGHT OF ABODE IN 2019 PAGE 20 12 PAGE
THE NEW COLOR OF CONGRESS PAGE 25
BLACK WESTCHESTER WCDOC DEP. COMMISH LOUIS MOLINA IN THE ATL HONORED BY WHLEA MOREHOUSE HOMECOMING BY AJ WOODSON BY AJ WOODSON PAGE 11
PAGE 13
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2 BLACK WESTCHESTER
NOVEMBER 2018
2018 MIDTERM ELECTION EDITION
“Coming soon” Queen City Lofts 178 Main Street Poughkeepsie NY 12601
WE ARE OFFERING BEAUTIFUL NEW DESIGN
Loft Style Apartments One & Two Bedroom Loft Apartments
“Now accepting applications” 16ft Ceilings, Oversized Windows Onsite Management Gallery Space
Queen City Lofts consists of 69 Apartments. Fifty (50) of the 69 apartments have preference for those who are involved in artistic or literary activities and are/will be certified by Queen City Loft’s Artist Certification Committee. Applications must be received by mail by December 31, 2018 Call or email for an application 845-306-7705 ext. 107 QCLPoughkeepsie@aol.com INCOME LIMITS APPLY 1 PERSON UP TO $39,780 Income limits apply 2 PEOPLE UP TO $45,420 A Lottery will be held on 01/09/2019 3 PEOPLE UP TO $51,120 4 PEOPLE UP TO $56,760
For more information
Apartment Count
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Apartment Rent
4
1
$716
30
1
$879
2
2
$851
14
2
$1047
You may also visit www.QueenCityLoftsNY.com
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NOVEMBER 2018
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
BLACK WESTCHESTER 3
Vote Democratic November 6
Re-elect Eliot Engel our Congressman. He is on our side and making a difference for us in Congress. A
s our Congressman, Eliot Engel will continue his fight for equal rights for all; for affordable, quality health care; to protect and improve Social Security and Medicare; for strong gun control laws; to reduce prescription prices; and for campaign finance reform. Eliot Engel will also continue to act against the destructive Trump Agenda. Trump’s attempts to weaken and repeal Obamacare, end our environmental protection laws, cut funds for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and so much more must be forcefully opposed, and that is exactly what Eliot Engel will continue to do as our Congressman. #
Eliot Engel’s work in Congress earned him being named the 1 most effective Democratic Congress Member by the Center for Effective Lawmaking.*
Always fighting for us. Re-elect Congressman
➧
➧ADD Eliot Engel SPACE VOTE DEMOCRATIC · NOVEMBER 6
Paid for by Engel for Congress
*https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2017/09/26/center-for-effective-lawmaking-announces-highest-scoring-members-of-congress/
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4 BLACK WESTCHESTER
2018 MIDTERM ELECTION EDITION
NOVEMBER 2018
CHARTER SCHOOL OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE A FREE REGIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS Kindergarten to 9th Grade We welcome English Language Learners and Special Education Students
260 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10701 914-476-5070 Visit our website at www.charterschoolofeducationalexcellence.org
Designated as a REWARD SCHOOL FOR 2014-2018 by the New York State Department of Education
We are accepting new student applications for Grades K-9
Estamos aceptando solicitudes para los grados K-9
INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS: NOVEMBER 15, 2018 AT 9AM DECEMBER 12, 2018 AT 2PM JANUARY 9, 2019 AT 5PM FEBRUARY 12, 2019 AT 9AM MARCH 6, 2019 AT 5PM
SESIONES INFORMATIVAS: noviembre 15 del 2018 a las 9:00AM diciembre 12 del 2018 a las 2:00PM enero 9 del 2019 a las 5:00PM febrero 12 del 2019 a las 9:00AM marzo 6 del 2019 a las 5:00PM
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 26, 2019 at 4:00PM LOTTERY DATE: April 9, 2019 For an application or more information please call 914-476-5070 Ext. 4
LA FECHA LIMITE PARA ENTREGAR LA SOLICITUD DEL SORTEO ES EL DIA 26 DE MARZO A LAS 4:00PM LA LOTERIA SE LLEVARA A CABO: 9 DE ABRIL DEL 2019
Para obtener informacion llame al 914-476-5070 Ext. 4
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NOVEMBER 2018
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
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 Instagram: @BlackWestchester Facebook: /BlackWestchesterMagazine
Publisher DAMON K. JONES @DamonKJones
Editor-In-Chief AJ WOODSON
@BWEditorInChief
News Reporters/ Writers AJ Woodson Damon K. Jones Tasha D. Young A’tif K. Coleman Paul Feiner André Wallace Donatella Montrone Louis A. Molina Greg Palast Dennis Richmond Photographers AJ Woodson Shane Samuels Reginald McKie Carla Morrison
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 Welcome to the November 2018 Midterm Election Edition of Black Westchester! First let me say thank you for your patience, we delayed this issue to cover the Midterm Election, one of the most important elections in our lifetime. For those of you that say you do not vote, because you feel your vote doesn’t count, the Dems taking over the House so they can stop the president from doing anything he wants with impunity, that alone should be evidence just how much your vote does count. In the same respects some of the close races around the country with recounts and possible runoffs, EVERY SINGLE VOTE will count. We choose to put the My Brother’s Keeper Summit at the top of the Front Cover, because we think it’s important to spotlight this historic event. The election and all the historic victories and first, while we do showcase them, you can read and see them covered by almost every other media outlet. But who else is going to show our community and others this great event where just less than 1000 young black and brown men from the Hudson Valley came together for this first ever rite-of-passage type event. We proudly choose that as our Cover Story and gave it top billing. We like to welcome Time Bestselling author Greg Palast who allowed us to repost one of his stories on voter supression in Georgia and Donalisa Montrone an American Journalist who resides in London for her submission of her second article in Black Westchester. Lastly I would like to thank Reginald McKie, M.A.J.O.R.S. and Carla Morrison of Chit Chat Communication and many others who took me to Morehouse Homecoming, showed me a good time in the ATL and for their picture submissions. As always we would like to thank all the readers and advertisers for believing in us and all who contributed to make this issue possible, we appreciate all of you! Happy Reading! Send us your feedback and let us know what you think of this issue and let us know subjects you would like to see us cover in the future by sending an email to BlackWestchesterMag@ gmail.com. Peace and Blessings AJ Woodson Editor-In-Chief
Graphic Designers AJ Woodson Paula S. Woodson For Advertising Rates AdvertiseWithBW@gmail.com Letters To The Editor BWEditorInChief@gmail.com
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6 BLACK WESTCHESTER
AROUND WESTCHESTER
NOVEMBER 2018
THE MOUNT VERNON REVIEW WITH COUNCILMAN ANDRÉ WALLACE WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A POLITICIAN AND A LEADER? INTEGRITY.
W e teach our children to be honest, to say what you mean, and to mean what you say. We tell ourselves that we are truthful and that our word is our bond.
We say that a person’s handshake is more powerful than any words written on a piece of paper. Furthermore, that the commitments we share between one another should bear the strength of steel and shall not bend or break. So why do we accept our politicians’ untruthful behavior, yet we punish our children for far less? Why is that behavior rewarded and even defended in a way that normalizes it? When did our wrongs become right and this overwhelming urge to kneel to deception be deemed acceptable? I remember my father mentioning to me as a child “fear causes people to lie because they are afraid of an unfavorable outcome, so they create a false perception to avoid true reality.” It’s been over 40 years since we had that conversation. It was the first time I was taught about the importance of integrity and keeping my word. So why are so many elected official granted a free pass on integrity or keeping their word? The question is simple. When we remain silent or turn a blind eye to untruthful or lawless behavior, we actually grant our politicians permission to continue with business as usual. We accept their excuses so why should they keep their word. To avoid keeping their word, politicians are allowed to blame it on politics as an excuse to disregard every one of those concepts mentioned. If that doesn’t work, they blame the voters, saying they should just vote the politicians who fail them out of office. However, that task is never that simple. Voters are busy living their lives and providing for their families. Many of them have larger problems to deal with, and they don’t have time to take on a second (or third) job of babysitting their political officials at every turn. Nonetheless, residents still have every right to expect the service of an elected official that values integrity and honesty.
This is why the blame should fall on the politicians who all ran for office with a promise to do the people’s business. If they betray that promise and pursue their own self-interest at the expense of the citizens, those politicians should be held accountable. So, it’s important to distinguish between a politician and an elected leader. Politicians exist to feed off the system only by taking what they can from the public, while telling them what they think they want to hear. A politician’s moral compass always faces toward his or her own self-interest; to be blunt, a politician is a lot like a shark – always moving, never retreating, and constantly looking for its next opportunity. You can always spot a politician by his or her inability to say one simple word: “no!” No polished politician would ever be caught dead telling a would-be voter no. They will dodge, dip, duck, and deflect, but they’ll never deny a voter anything to his face, even when the answer should be “no.” Elected leaders come to office to be in service to the public. Their mission is far more meaningful because they are engaged in a larger purpose. They strive to create a system(s) that will change people’s lives. The best-elected leaders have thought hard about their positions on issues, have an abiding sense of right and wrong, and do not need to resort to cheap theatrics to look relevant. They read the legislation they are expected to vote on and focus on the details. A leader will tell you what they think, how they’re going to vote, and then follow through on that vote. That’s what having integrity means. Unlike politicians, the office inhabited does not define who they are because their credibility and integrity means more than the office they hold. So, why do we find ourselves up to our elbows in politicians? Why are leaders so few and far between? It’s because being a leader is the harder path, and politicians just don’t want to do the work. Leadership requires effort, consistency and grit. A leader understands the enormous challenges facing them and agrees to take it head on, while a politician will only admire the challenge from afar, never really engaging the challenge. A politician will, however, tell you who’s to blame for it as long as someone is there to listen. Once the audience is gone, they retreat into irrelevance. If you want to see if you’ve elected a politician or a leader, ask them about their record on one issue: term limits. It’s a great topic because it requires a politician to do the one thing they never want to do: give up office. A politician will usually be against it outright, although they may never come right out and admit it. Term limits mean an end to a politician’s existence. Do you really follow up on a politician after they’ve been elected to see if they are keeping their word? The more sinister brand of politician will tell you everything you want to hear while running for office, and then vote against everything they have told you once they are elected. This happens because politicians know voters will not remember their campaign position and if pressed about it later will just deflect and move on to another issue. This is why voters must remain involved long after the election is over and hold politicians’ feet to the fire. We must let politicians know that their behavior is not acceptable by no longer accepting it. If we are going to change the culture, we must choose leaders who keep their word. We must make them know when they are not fulfilling their duties. And, most importantly, if we are going to change what we get from our elected leader then we must choose based upon the content of their character and not on image, slogans, or relationships. We’re just a few weeks from another election; I encourage you to pay attention to those looking for your vote this November. See if they place more importance on themselves or the issues voters are facing. Above all, ask yourself if you see any leaders there. Or, just more sharks circling. If you have thoughts or comments about this issue or any other, reach out to me at ADWCMV@gmail.com.
BLACK WESTCHESTER - MOUNT VERNON
MOUNT VERNON ACTS AS A “DUMPING GROUND” FOR SEX OFFENDERS BY BW COLUMNIST A’TIF K. COLEMAN
Unfortunately, the population of high and moderate risk sex offenders in Mount Vernon has risen by nearly 40 percent over the past several years. Just recently, The NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services issued an alert (required by law) regarding the location of 50-year-old Robert Harper. Mr. Harper is reported to be on the move from Valhalla to a home located on East 4th Street in Mount Vernon. Mr. Harper is a registered Level 3 “sexually violent” sex offender convicted of raping a 5-year-old girl back in August 1999. He was convicted of first-degree rape in May in 2000 and sentenced to one day and five years in a state prison. He is out now under the jurisdiction of the Mount Vernon Police Department. The Division of Criminal Justice Services has assigned Harper as a Level 3 threat, which means he is a high-risk repeat offender who can’t stop grabbing and fondling little girls and a possible threat to public safety. He has also been designated as a sexually violent sex offender. Its also been reported that the MVPD was faulted for not acting on notifications from the state when photos of these offenders were overdue. In one case, its been since 2007 a sex offender photo was updated. Back in 2014, an audit was done by the state and the state comptroller who found that Mount Vernon (amongst other municipalities) failed to follow up on notifications by DCJS that offenders’ photographs were not updated. According to the Journal News, the MVPD claimed they were unaware they had access to the database. This database is set up to regularly alerted law enforcement officials about offenders who needed to be photographed and/or have their photographs updated. Retired Detective, now Police Commissioner Shawn Harris told the Journal News in a statement that his department “vigilantly” monitors sex offenders. But, no mention on how they do it. Mayor Richard Thomas also said in a statement that the city’s high number of offenders are high because so many have committed their crimes elsewhere. But he too thinks the city is over its limits while “affluent communities are virtually immune.” In Yonkers, they have more than 190 offenders, but only five Level 2 and 3 sex offenders are overdue on their photos. Unlike New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, Yonkers police department has a team of four officers who only keep tabs on sex offenders and track the registered sex offenders. They
conduct home visits to ensure they live where they say they do. DCJS statistics show - Mount Vernon has the most Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders per capita in Westchester County. Its been a few years since local communities have enacted a residency ordinance which has push sex offenders out of the surrounding communities and into Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon is inundated with rooming houses and shelters which has become a magnet for sex offenders when they are released from prison or forced into the area by other municipalities because of residency ordinances. Mt. Vernon does not have such an ordinance, but residents of affected neighborhoods have begun arguing it’s time for the city to take a hard look at correcting the imbalance in offender locations. There is one home, a Rooming house on Stevens Avenue in Mount Vernon where six high and moderate risk sex offenders live. One resident feels this arraignment can’t last forever. Mount Vernon needs an ordinance of its own. The resident who did not want to be identified said, “I got nothing against sex offenders living in Mount Vernon, just not ALL of them” The increase in homeless sex offenders could put the city at a greater risk. Studies have shown that without a permanent home, the lives of offenders become more unstable, increasing the chance they will re-offend. Residents are concern that by not doing nothing these offenders will re-offend, and everybody will be pointing fingers after some kid gets hurt. Some say they are utterly disgusted with what’s going on in the city. It’s unbelievable that Mount Vernon has become the dumping grounds for sexually violent offenders. This is more of a state issue, not a city issue, although the city does need to improve how they monitor these offenders. The state regulates sex offenders not the localities. You can log on to DCJS Sex Offender Registry list at http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/SomsSUBDirectory/search_index.jsp MVPD is responsible for managing the sex offenders in the Mount Vernon community and it requires a balance of protecting the community by establishing rules and supervision for the offenders, while not violating the constitutional rights of the offenders.
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NOVEMBER 2018
BLACK WESTCHESTER7
AROUND WESTCHESTER
THE GREENBURGH REPORT BY PAUL FEINER
YOU ARE INVITED TO A PARTY IF YOU ARE A NEW RESIDENT OF GREENBURGH OR ARE CONSIDERING MOVING TO GREENBURGH—PARTY TO BE HELD AT THEODORE YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER You are invited to a party on Thursday, November 15th 7 To 9 PM - Theodore D. Young Community Center, 32 Manhattan Avenue, White Plains, NY 10607. This party is for new residents who would like info about the town and others who are considering moving here. Terrific information about your town’s programs and services, delicious food, and great company. Interact with department heads and elected officials. Learn about the many programs and services your town government offers you. While visiting the Community Center, check out our indoor pool…learn about parent/tot swim instruction…water wellness and exercise programs, lifeguard training courses. Get info about the Evergreen Club (Asian American and of Asian descent), bingo, senior and youth programs, yoga, karate, aqua zumba, and much more. For info e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com ARE YOU AN ARTIST WHO WANTS TO SHOW OFF YOUR ART WORK? The Town Hall has some amazing galleries inside Town Hall. If you would like to exhibit original work, photography, drawings, paintings, computer art - email Sarah Bracey White at bracey0114@aol.com. Send me a copy of your email. Check out the arts and culture website: www.greenburghartsandculture.org. BALLET, HIP HOP DANCE, JAZZ, KIDS’ SALSA, KARATE CLASSES, CHILDREN’S ROLLER SKATING ARE OFFERED AT THE THEODORE D. YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER. The TDYCC offers some great program for children. Call 989-3600 for more information. LEARN HOW TO SWIM AT OUR INDOOR POOL. If you or your child doesn’t know how to swim take a swim instruction class at the Theodore D. Young Community Center. There is even a parent/ tot swim instruction class for children 6 months old to 3 years of age. (page 17 of the activities brochure). WE EVEN HAVE AEROBIC WATER EXERCISE CLASSES and water wellness classes at our indoor pool. Great for people with arthritis and other ailments. IF YOU ARE A SENIOR…we have great senior programs; yoga, bridge, water wellness, bingo, senior fitness, tai chi and much more. Check out our programs. THE GREENBURGH LIBRARY- MORE THAN BOOKS! Concerts, lectures… VETERAN’S DAY CEREMONY. Our Annual Veteran’s Day ceremony will be held on 11/11/18 at DeSanti Plaza at 2 PM across from the Hartsdale Train Station. DID YOU KNOW…THAT THE GREENBURGH LIBRARY OFFERS FREE PASSES TO MUSEUMS IF YOU LIVE IN UNINCORPORATED GREENBURGH? Many residents are not aware of this fantastic service. Could save your family some $$. Many of the libraries in the villages offer village residents similar benefits. Hope you enjoy the museums. http://greenburghlibrary.org/museumpasses. Go to the online calendar to reserve your pass online. The Greenburgh Public Library is delighted to offer museum passes to our patrons in
support of lifelong learning. Currently, we have passes available for the following venues: Libraries in many of the villages offer similar programs. Children’s Museum of Manhattan - The Children’s Museum pass is good for 2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children. Additional guests must pay regular admission. Cooper Hewitt - This pass is good for two adults. Children 18 and under are admitted free. The Frick Collection - Each reservation includes 2 admission passes. Children under 11 are not admitted to the Frick Collection. The Museum is closed on Mondays. The Guggenheim Museum - Each Guggenheim pass will admit 4 adults and all children under the age of 11 years. Additional guests can purchase tickets for half-price. The Guggenheim Museum is closed on Thursdays. Hudson River Museum - This pass admits 2 adults and up to 6 children to the museum and the planetarium. The Hudson River Museum is open Wednesday-Sunday. Planetarium shows are on Saturdays and Sundays. The Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum The Intrepid pass will admit 6 people (any age) general admission. Admission to the Space Shuttle Pavilion is not included, but can be purchased separately ($7 per adult, $5 per child). Museum of Modern Art - The GPL MoMA pass admits 5 people. Museum of the City of New York - The MCNY pass is good for 2 adults and up to 4 children. JOBS CLUB. Are you out of work? I have a jobs club and have been helping people find employment by sharing job info with them on a regular basis. I have helped hundreds of people find employment. Let me know if you’d like to join the club. We periodically hold forums with helpful job related tips. 2018/19 FALL WINTER TOWN ACTIVITIES BROCHURE ON THE WEB! The town sponsors some fantastic programs each fall and winter. You can access the town’s fall/winter activities guide on the town website: www.greenburghny.com. Enjoy all we have to offer. SUBSCRIBE TO TOWN’S E-LIST. Get daily updates. If interested, e-mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com Alan Kassay and Nick DeSantis -the town’s auditors (PKF O’Connor Davies) met with the Town Board about the financial health of the town. The link is below and a summary of their findings is attached. They said that the financial health of the town is excellent and provided us with an analysis and recommendations. Some highlights (if you’d like the power point presentation e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com) • General fund (A budget): a $740,000 positive variance compared to final budget in revenues. Budget to actual expenditures: overall positive budget variance of $4.8 million. Total budget, revenues & expenditures: positive budgetary variance of $5.5 million. • Town outside villages (B budgetonly unincorporated): Overall negative variance of $2.5 million in revenues. Sales tax and hotel tax: Positive: $1.4 million: Building permits: $3.5 million negative. EXPENDITURES: a positive variance of $4.1 million. Overall the negative variance from over estimating building permit fees was offset by expenditure savings in public safety ($674,000), culture and recreation $427,000) and home and community services: $481,000. A positive variance of $3.7 million. We were praised for achieving the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 25 consecutive years. The town has maintained a Aaa rating from Moody’s since 2010 “Obligations are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.” AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s since 2008. “Has the highest rating assigned by S & P Global Ratings. Obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.” Received a “No designation” fiscal stress rating from the NYS Comptroller’s Office. Issued Report to Those Charged With Governance: Management Letter, no material weaknesses noted. h t t p : / / g r e e n b u r g h n y. s w a g i t . c o m / play/10092018-1608
For those facing charges while detained or sentenced in local jails, as well as persons incarcerated in prison, education can make a significant difference in the life they experience following their release. Understanding the relationship between incarceration and education can help emphasize the importance of providing more equalized opportunities for education in both the jail and prison systems; it is a vital social responsibility. For an incarcerated individual, receiving an education can redirect the course of their life beyond the adverse effects of poverty, familial incarceration, meaningless jobs and other mental and medical health issues that shorten a person’s lifespan.
Relationship between Education & Incarceration
In 2003, 65% of incarcerated American citizens lacked a high school diploma, and only 23% of these individuals had obtained a GED. Of these individuals, 41% had dropped out of high school prior to graduation. Learning disabilities & financial instability result in an incomplete educational experience, and because of these factors and the lack of education, incarceration is more common among those who are disadvantaged, impoverished, and have experienced educational neglect. Dropping out of school has entirely negative effects; lacking the life skills and education necessary to participate and contribute to society, many individuals who do not complete high school or higher education often find themselves unemployed due to a lack of knowledge and credentials. Access to education is largely dependent on class as well as other factors, so those who are impoverished or financially struggling have fewer opportunities to acquire the skills necessary to survive. The relationship between a lack of education and poverty is clear, and these factors directly relate to incarceration, as well. One 2015 prison study found that those who were imprisoned had a median income that was 40% lower than that of their non-incarcerated peers.
Reintegration & Rehabilitation
Because so many incarcerated individuals are negatively affected by poverty and a lack of education, providing education to those that are incarcerated is necessary for rehabilitation and lowering their chances of recidivating. Not only will the number of capable, qualified working adults increase following their release, but the crime rate will decrease. Providing education for incarcerated individuals allows them to gain skills and knowledge that they can use once they are released, and they will have a better chance of securing a job and participating in the economy. Prioritizing education in the jail and prison systems will promote better longterm results, such as reduced crime, lower costs on mass incarceration, and a stronger economy. Allowing and encouraging incarcerated individuals to receive education and credentials like GEDs or other certificates can give them a better chance of finding employment following their release; given that securing and maintaining a job is necessary for an American citizen, having a steady income and better education reduces the likelihood of re-incarceration. Education is a gift to our entire society, because it is the single factor that is proven to significantly reduce recidivism and improve outcomes from one generation to the next. Louis Molina is a decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and currently serves as the First Deputy Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Correction, the highest ranking Latino in Law Enforcement in Westchester County. With over twenty years of experience in the public and private sector, namely in the criminal justice arena having uniquely worked in policing, the District Attorney’s office and corrections, which complemented his work in the field of human services assisting the homeless population. Louis is an expert in facilitating change, managing initiatives and has a one-of-a-kind perspective having served all areas of the criminal justice system.
111 E. SANDFORD BLVD, MOUNT VERNON, NY
914-663-1400 or
914-523-7455 ASK FOR TROY - WE TEACH CLASS-
CHESS TOURNAMENTS FOR CASH PRIZES
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8BLACK WESTCHESTER
REAL TALK FOR THE COMMUNITY
If there was ever a time for some REAL TALK, it’s now, following the aftermath of the 2018 Midterm Election, with the new color of Congress, all the voters suppression in the Georgia Governor race where Brian Kemp sits over the Board of Elections, playing both participant and referee in a race he is running in and his opponent, Stacey Abrams who attempts to make history as the first African-American Female Governor in the country, which is still too close to call and has pending legislation ongoing as we speak and then there’s something about Florida, races not being decided of election day have become the status quo from the hanging chad controversy in the contentious presidential race between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush which led to a divided Supreme Court ruled that the state of Florida’s court-ordered manual recount of vote ballots in the 2000 presidential election Senate and Governor’s races in 2018. We do not need to look nationally for corruption and controversy, we have enough of that locally with the federal corruption case of the arrested, arraigned and indicted Mayor of Mount Vernon Richard W. Thomas who is now on his third set of lawyers, the extension of term limits passing in the city of Yonkers, the questionable departure of the Assistant Superintendent of the Mount Vernon City Board of Education, the stalking of Peekskill Mayor Andre Rainey, the city’s youngest elected mayor and that’s just off top of the head...
THE PRESIDENT VS THE PRESS W
hat really made me feel the need to jot down my thoughts here in this column this month is Trump’s continuous contentious relationship and verbal sparring with the press at his post-midterm presser, followed by the pulling of the press pass of CNN’s Jim Acosta by the Trump White House. I don’t think there has ever been a press pass pulled for holding a sitting president’s feet to the fire. To quote the lyrics of Randy Newman’s song, “It’s A Jungle Out There,” that played in the intro of one of my favorite TV Drama’s MONK, “I could be wrong, but I don’t think so...” Trump is not the first president to be highly criticized by the media, but none of his predecessors ever stripped reporters of the press pass. Franklin Roosevelt had big problems with newspaper publishers, who were conservative Republicans opposed to his liberal democratic reforms, Ronald Reagan never threw out Sam Donaldson, who was his biggest critic and denied him White House access, Barack Obama never threw out any members of the press who were particularly adversarial. If Trump didn’t want to hear from Acosta he could have chosen to ignore him as has been done previously, I mean Nixon was actually the first to set up a White House communications office that would stage events especially for television, with hand-picked audiences of people who would be favorable to what he was saying didn’t revoke press passes, he just surrounded himself and called on those who were favorable to him. The relationship between Bill Clinton and the press was rocky from the very beginning and that was largely because The Clintons had a penchant for secrecy, and the more they tried to hide things, the more aggressive the press became. Once Republicans took control of Congress, aggressive investigations by the media turned into aggressive investigations by the Republican Congress, which led to the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the impeachment hearings against President Clinton. When George W Bush (2001-2009) was elected, increasing amounts of information were being kept secret from the media and the public and the list goes on, I think you see where I’m going. But President Donald Trump’s approach to the media has been open warfare, Trump is like Nixon on steroids. Nixon went after the press but it took months and years to develop. There has never been anything like this in terms of a president waging war from day one on the entire news media as an institution even going so far as claiming there are “Fake News” and “Enemies Of The People.” Political scientist Justin Buchler, from Case Western Reserve University, says accusing journalists of being shills is “one of the easiest things for politicians to do”. “That makes it very difficult for watchdog journalism to function in the current media environment,” he says. “If a news consumer hears Donald Trump say that the press are enemies of the people and the most dishonest human beings ever, and hears the press say that Donald Trump is a liar ... well, what are they to conclude?” When NBC’s Peter Alexander stood up to defend Jim Acosta as a very credible reporter he has worked with for years, Trump went on to do what he does best, began to attack Alexander and his credibility. Trump didn’t stop there he told the PBS NewsHour’s Yamiche Alcindor, an African-American female reporter that asked a question about Trump’s nationalist remark, “That’s such a racist question.” Alcindor asked Trump about his rhetoric ahead of the midterm elections along with his claim that he was a “nationalist,” and whether those were contributing to a perception that the Republican Party supported white nationalists. “What you just said is so insulting to me,” he added. “Why do I have my highest poll numbers ever with African-Americans?” Trump asked three times. In the post-midterm presser he didn’t just refer to the CNN correspondent as “very rude,” he oppressively told several reporters to “sit down,” and at one point stepped away from his lectern, suggesting that he was prepared to cut off the session — a rare formal East Room news conference — because of queries he disliked. In a stunning break with protocol, the White House said that it’s suspending the press pass of CNN’s Jim Acosta “until further notice.” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced in a statement that Acosta would be stripped of what’s known as a “hard pass,” which gives him access to the White House grounds. CNN said in a statement that Acosta has the network’s full support. The revocation of his pass “was done in retaliation for his challenging questions at today’s press conference,” the statement said. “In an explanation, Press Secretary
NOVEMBER 2018
Sarah Sanders lied. She provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better. Jim Acosta has our full support.” “President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration,” Sarah Sanders said. “We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable.” CNN producer Allie Malloy responded to Sanders via Twitter: “This is a complete lie. The woman grabbed Jim’s arm repeatedly. He never once touched her. In fact at one point Acosta tells her politely ‘pardon me, mam’ as she’s yanking on his arm.” Acosta also tweeted that Sanders’ description of the incident was a “lie.” In the 7 p.m. hour on Wednesday, November 7th, Acosta was stopped at the White House’s Pennsylvania Avenue gate where reporters usually enter. He was heading back to the White House for a live shot on “Anderson Cooper 360.” “I’ve just been denied entrance to the WH,” Acosta tweeted. “Secret Service just informed me I cannot enter the WH grounds for my 8pm hit.” Acosta posted a video of a Secret Service officer removing his pass. “I was just told to do it,” the officer said on the recording. “I am now giving my hard pass to the Secret Service,” Acosta said. Reporters who regularly cover the White House are routinely granted “hard passes” to ease entry and exit to the grounds. It is unclear whether Acosta will be granted some other sort of entry pass for his work. But on Wednesday night, he was turned away at the gate. The removal of his pass is a sharp escalation of tensions between the Trump administration and CNN. It immediately stirred concerns within the White House press corps. Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, said on Twitter: “This is something I’ve never seen since I started covering the White House in 1996. Other presidents did not fear tough questioning.” The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which advocates for the press corps, issued a statement soon after Acosta was denied entry, calling the revocation of his access “unacceptable.” “Journalists may use a range of approaches to carry out their jobs and the WHCA does not police the tone or frequency of the questions its members ask of powerful senior government officials, including the President,” the association said. “Such interactions, however uncomfortable they may appear to be, help define the strength of our national institutions. We urge the White House to immediately reverse this weak and misguided action.” Elisabeth Bumiller, the Washington bureau chief for The New York Times, said that “the president should not pick and choose who covers him, and he should certainly not force out a representative of one of the country’s leading news organizations, one that tens of millions of Americans depend on for their news.” This is far from Trump’s first public attack on the media and the free press, In the wake of the threatening mailbomb deliveries to CNN’s New York office and several prominent Democratic politicians where all the intended recipients all had something in common: They were frequent targets of right-wing criticism, at a rally in Wisconsin, Trump paired his remarks decrying political violence with fresh criticism of the media. “The media also has a responsibility to set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostility and constant negative and oftentimes false attacks and stories. Have to do it,” Trump touted. CNN, senior political analyst David Gergen said that Trump “hasn’t taken an ounce of responsibility or accountability” for his own rhetoric. “Trump unleashed the dogs of hatred in this country from the day he declared he was running for president, and they’ve been snarling and barking at each other ever since,” Gergen said. “It’s just inevitable there are going to be acts of violence that grow out of that.” Dan Shelley, the head of Radio Television Digital News Association, pointed out the irony in Trump’s recent statements. “those words were uttered by the same person who has used harsh rhetoric targeting journalists and political opponents during campaign rallies in an extremely tense and divisive political environment.” Shelley repeated a line he has used recently: “Don’t succumb to intimidation and fear,” he said to fellow journalists. “Watch your backs, but don’t back down.” In July, at a meeting with Trump, at the White House, A. G. Sulzberger, the publisher of the Times, warned Trump that his “inflammatory language is contributing to a rise in threats against journalists and will lead to violence.” Sulzberger also told Trump that some newspapers were hiring armed guards because of a rise in threats against their journalists. According to Sulzberger, Trump responded by expressing surprise that they hadn’t previously employed armed guards. “Some of Trump’s associates are open about the fact that his effort to discredit the media, which in recent days has expanded to attacking tech companies like Google, is now central to his survival strategy. But political expediency provides no excuse whatsoever for demonizing journalists and describing them as the public enemy. That is the language of dictators and despots. One of these days, God forbid, it is likely to produce more than threats,” Staff writer John Cassidy wrote in his political column in The New Yorker. Hundreds of news outlets including Black Westchester joined a nationwide effort in August publishing editorial pieces calling on President Trump to stop his attacks on the press. “The greatness of America is dependent on the role of a free press to speak the truth to the powerful,” the Boston Globe wrote in its editorial. Black Westchester is also proud to stand and make our presence known, as we are looked at by the community we serve as a watchdog of government abuses. Under a traditional watchdog role, Black Westchester “keeps the government accountable for its actions or inactions and what role their decisions play in the democratic system” by informing the public through our reporting. Black Westchester will continue to be an advocate for Justice with FACTS and will not be bullied by any elected official, person in power, president or Illegitimate Deputy Police Commissioner!
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NOVEMBER 2018
REMEMBERING KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR
BLACK WESTCHESTER 9
THOUGHTS OF A MAN FIGHTING TO GET JUSTICE! BY KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN JR
KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN
Iingt has been 7 years since the extrajudicial killand summary execution of my father Kenneth
Chamberlain Sr. I guess it’s true when they say that one moment in time can change your entire life because since this tragic event took place my entire world has been turned upside down. What I wouldn’t give to hear his voice, to be able to sit with him, to get his advice or perspective on life, or just to hear him laugh; but I can never do that because on November 19, 2011 members of the White Plains Police Department had no regard for the sanctity of life when it came to a then 68 year old Black Man with a heart condition. Is there a positive to this tragedy, I don’t know but what I do know is that the shooting of unarmed individuals at the hands of law enforcement is not an isolated incident so while it is personal for myself and other families who are dealing with this we also know that it is bigger than our loved ones, which is why we need fearless men and fearless women on the front lines making it very clear that extrajudicial killings and summary executions of our loved ones will no longer be tolerated. We have a moral obligation to respond to injustice, I consider myself to be an agent for positive change and part of that change means to reevaluate and reexamine how we are dealing with issues that directly affect us. It is going to require discipline and integrity; it is going to take a commitment from our community leaders as well as our elected officials and part of that means holding those accountable that do not have the best interest at heart of the communities they claim to serve even if they look like us. However in order for us to hold others accountable we must first hold ourselves accountable and
[Editor’s Note: November 19th marks the seven year anniversary of the summerary execution of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr, at the hands of the White Plains Police Department. While many may have forgotten, his son who has been fighting for justice, police reform and better police / community relations ever since, will never forget and neither will Black Westchester. We will never stop paying tribute to this Black Man, a retired Marine, a 20-year veteran of the Westchester County Department of Corrections, who served his country, his community and his family. He was tased, shot and executed. His only crime was inadvertently triggering his medical alert necklace while Black. As BW remembers this hero, we asked JR his son to say a few words!] that means standing up for ourselves but more importantly standing up for those who cannot or are unable to stand up for themselves. We cannot continue to have a system in place that places no value on Black or Brown life. We need an oversight body, independent prosecutors particularly in questionable police shootings, not an executive order but something permanent on the books because it is very clear that a police department cannot and should not investigate its own officers nor should you have a district attorney’s office that works so close with them on a day to day basis overseeing that investigation. This is not a bashing of law enforcement and yes my father was murdered by law enforcement officers but I AM NOT anti-law enforcement, I am anti individuals who feel they can do whatever they want to whomever they want with impunity. We need law enforcement, but the law must apply to all of the people and not some of the people and that includes those who enforce it. So if the greatest purpose in life is to truly be of benefit to others, and if we truly want and equally functioning society then the community and law enforcement must stand and speak out against injustice even if others are too afraid to stand with us. No more covering up injustice or using official channels to give an appearance of justice. No more lying and blaming the victim, making them look as if he or she is a suspect when we know they were not. We must lead by example we must be unafraid to speak truth to power, we cannot allow the perpetrators of injustice to minimize our outrage. We must aspire to inspire, live what we speak and remember the fight against injustice isn’t a race it’s a marathon and we have a long way to go…….
MODERN DAY LYNCHING: DA & FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISS USE OF THE WORD NIGGER BY POLICE IN CHAMBERLAIN KILLING OBVIOUSLY BLACK LIVES STILL DO NOT MATTER IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY!
BY DAMON K JONES
Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. was fatally shot on November 19, 2011, in White Plains, New York. Mr. Chamberlain wore the medical alert bracelet due to a chronic heart problem. After his LifeAid medical alert necklace was inadvertently triggered, White Plains Police came to his home and demanded that he open his front door, despite his objections and statements that he did not need help. The police called him Nigger, broke down Mr. Chamberlain’s door, tasered him, and then shot him dead in was suppose to be a call for medical assistance, not a criminal matter. Mr. Chamberlain was a 68-year-old, Black Man, who was a father, retired Marine and a 20-year veteran of the Westchester County Department of Corrections, was a victim of a governmental sponsored Lynching by racist white White Plains Police Officers and one scared black cop who stood by and allowed this ungodly act to happen. The LifeAid recorder, recorded the full encounter between Mr. Chamberlain and the White Plains Police Officers. What is heard on the recording, from a law enforcement professional perspective, was unprofessional and criminal. The gang-like mentality of this band of officers had no regard for any training or departmental policy and lacked the capacity to see Mr. Chamberlain as a human being. Why do I say that? As a representative of a national law enforcement organization, the actions of these police officers are no less than a gang in blue. This gang in blue repeatedly called this retired Correction Officer and Military Veteran a Nigger. In a telephone conversation recorded by the medical alert company, taped the entire encounter from the time the police arrived at his home, officers are heard banging on Chamberlain’s window.
“Do not do that. I’m telling you all; I’m telling you all I’m OK,” Chamberlain is heard firmly saying in response to the pounding on the door. A voice of the WPPD then responds to Chamberlain: “I don’t give a fuck, nigger.” Seven years later the family of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. is still seeking justice but finding that even in the halls of federal court, the value of a black life doesn’t matter. The Chamberlain family has looked to the Justice System to no avail when Judge Cathy Siebel has chosen to dismiss any responsibility for the racial actions of the officers as a response team in calling Mr. Chamberlain a racial slur. Mr. Anthony Carelli was a part of that group.
RESPONDING TO A MEDICAL CALL THEY MOCKED HIM, KILLED HIM AND CALLED HIM NIGGER BY AJ WOODSON
“We stand defenseless, at the mercy of American racists who murder us at will” Malcolm X
I am remindd of a speech Malcolm X delivered in July 1964, and could not help but see how his words still rang true today with all the recent acts of police criminality. …all of these inhuman atrocities have been inflicted upon us by the American governmental authorities, the police themselves, for no reason other than that we seek the recognition and respect granted other human beings in America. The American Government is either unable or unwilling to protect the lives and property of your 22 million African-American brothers and sisters. We stand defenseless, at the mercy of American racists who murder us at will for no reason other than we are black and of African descent… We have lived for over three hundred years in that American den of racist wolves in constant fear of losing life and limb. Recently, three students from Kenya were mistaken for American Negroes and were brutally beaten by the New York police. Shortly after that two diplomats from Uganda were also beaten by the New York City police, who mistook them for American Negroes. If Africans are brutally beaten while only visiting in America, imagine the physical and psychological suffering received by your brothers and sisters who have lived there for over three hundred years. – Malcolm X speaking at Organization of African Unity meeting in Cairo, Egypt July 17, 1964
Some of you reading this may be saying to yourself, we have come a long way baby, we had a black president. Ok so we are not marching for the right to vote or to sit where we want on a public bus, but in 2011, a Black Man who served his country and community can be shot down, killed and called a NIGGER at his home, when his only crime was was inadvertently triggering his medical alert necklace while Black, and in 2018 his son can still be fighting for justice! Hanging us from trees, spraying us with water hoses and releasing dogs to tear us apart with their teeth has been replaced with death by chokehold (Eric Garner), and the illegal killing of blacks in their homes by the police (Kenneth Chamberlain and Ramarley Graham) and killing us for DWB (Driving While Black), remember the words of Cobb County police Lt. Greg Abbott in Georgia, “We only kill Black People.” With the atmosphere created by the current president proudly proclaiming himself as a nationalist and tweets of exceptance by David Duke, we are living in troubled times in the urban, low income communities where blatant acts of police criminality are committed upon us by the very police officers hired to protect and serve us. The very words spoken by our slain leader, Malcolm X; “We stand defenseless, at the mercy of American racists who murder us at will for no reason other than we are black and of African descent…” could not be more appropriate for ‘we the people who are darker than blue’ as brother Curtis Mayfield put it, especially in the Trump Era. We are still defenseless against those in blue who terrorize our community with no malice or fear of being punished, even when caught in video tape. Not all but we re talking about the ones who kill with impunity. You wonder why we wont stand for paid Patriotism. before you call me antilaw enforcement or anti-military, Im standing for a man who was murdered and represented both the military and law enforcement. So tell me have things really changed since Brother Malcolm uttered those words 54 years ago? Just ask our brother Kenneth Chamberlerlain Jr., and others still fighting for justice.
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10 BLACK WESTCHESTER
NATIONAL NEWS - ATLANTA
NOVEMBER 2018
BLACK WESTCHESTER IN THE ATL F
The 58th Mayor of Atlanta, Shirley Franklin formally endorses Democrat Stacey Abrams in the Georgia Governor’s Race.
I29thcame to Atlanta to spend some time with my dad, chill with my daughter, Paula for her birthday and get a much needed rest, atleast that’s what I thought. I did however
get a much needed break from Westchester political circles, but not politics altogether, the Voter Supression down in Georgia was REAL! You had a Governor’s race that has captured the whole nation’s attention, so Black Westchester couldn’t just be in town and chill and continue to claim to be the voice of the Black Community. So while I did get some quality time in with my dad while I was down there and my daughter for her birthday, I couldn’t just sit by while history was being made around me and not cover as much of it as possible! I did no less then 10 Facebook live videos to educate ATLiens that voter suppression was REAL and that they were under attack. The politricks continued right up to and even after the results came in on Election night. The unsettled race for Georgia governor tightened the weekend after the election as Democrat Stacey Abrams prepared litigation to force the counting of more provisional ballots, while Republican Brian Kemp’s campaign said her refusal to concede was “a disgrace to democracy.” The clash heightened as a cache of 5,500 provisional and mail-in ballots were reported that showed Kemp’s lead over Abrams shrinking slightly to about 59,000 votes. Some came from counties that days earlier reported all votes had been tallied. The newly-reported votes overwhelmingly tilted to Abrams and triggered a wave of celebration for Abrams’ supporters. But she still needed to net about 22,000 votes to force a December 4th runoff, and there aren’t many votes that have yet to be reported. Despite the massive media coverage, it is still unclear just how many votes are still outstanding. Kemp’s campaign said there are so few remaining that it’s mathematically impossible for Abrams to win, but the Democrat said there’s a larger cache of votes still unreported. No major media outlet has yet called the race as of press time, and with a margin this tight they are likely awaiting the certification of the votes this week. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not call election contests. Abrams’ hopes rest largely on provisional ballots cast by voters whose information often could not be immediately verified at polling places. Not all the ballots will be counted, but the Democrat hopes there are enough to gain ground on Kemp. Brian Kemp resigned as Georgia’s 27th Secretary of State of from 2010 to 2018 on Thursday, November 8, a day after declaring victory in his tight race for governor against Democrat Stacey Abrams, who has not conceded the race. Kemp said he was resigning to focus on the transition process.
BY AJ WOODSON
ormer Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard and local Atlanta business leaders formally endorsed Stacey Abrams Monday, October 29th at the steps of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Franklin says Kemp is bad for Georgia businesses and dangerous for the State. “Georgia needs a governor that needs with the leadership, qualifications, commitment, and vision to continue to move us forward,” Franklin said. “For me, Stacey Abrams will be that governor.” In the press conference, Franklin referenced the attack ad that showed Kemp pointing a shotgun at a teenager in May. “In Brian Kemp, we see a person that would take our economy and state backwards,” Franklin said. “His eagerness to sign a law that would be against the LGBTQ community that would also be against the vibrant hospitality and film industries. It is not the kind of leadership that Georgia needs.” Woolard says Kemp also panders to white supremacists, known racists and will work to turn back the progress Georgia has made in commerce. All of the business leaders assembled said
they value inclusion and tolerance.
A federal lawsuit readied by the Abrams campaign could change the dynamic. It asks the court to require absentee ballots rejected for “arbitrary” reasons, such as a mistake in a birth date or missing information, to be counted. As many as 2,000 ballots were dismissed because of such problems. And it would require counties to accept provisional ballots that were rejected because the voters live in a different county. Abrams’ campaign said this could affect thousands of additional votes. After the lawsuit was filed Sunday, November 4, the State Election Board convened a special called meeting and voted unanimously to send a letter to all county election offices about how to count absentee and provisional ballots. Gwinnett County rejected 1,587 mailed ballots, often because they were missing birth dates, according to public records from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. Across the entire state, election officials rejected a total of 5,147 mailed ballots. To give counties time to process these changes, the lawsuit seeks to block counties from certifying results of the election until Wednesday. November 14. The deadline is now Monday, November 12, though because of the federal holiday many counties plan to certify on Tuesday, November 13. “This race is not over. It’s still too close to call,” said Abrams’ campaign manager, Lauren Groh-Wargo. “And we cannot have confidence in the secretary of state’s numbers.” The secretary of state’s office – recently vacated by Kemp – reports 21,190 provisional ballots, many of them yet untallied. The Abrams campaign offered a higher figure it said was compiled through a canvass of county data. One of the biggest gaps is in Gwinnett County, where Abrams’ campaign reported there were an additional 3,500 provisional ballots that the state figures don’t account. State and local officials said that Abrams’ number is incorrect. On Saturday, November 10, Kemp’s campaign accused Abrams of ignoring the will of the people and “making up numbers” to keep the race alive. Kemp, who headed the state’s election office, contends at most 17,495 provisional and military ballots remain, which would leave Kemp the clear winner. But civil right activists are urging Abrams, who could become Georgia’s first black governor, to stay in the race and continue pushing for every ballot to be counted. Activists, including the Atlanta-based Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, held a rally Saturday to urge Abrams to continue her fight. “That is a promise she made,” Ben Williams, president of the Cobb County branch of the SCLC, told the Associated Press. Erick Allen, a black Democrat newly elected to the Georgia House, told the AP allegations of voter suppression and questions about Election Day problems could dog Kemp as governor if he eventually prevails.
A BLACK WESTCHESTER EDITORIAL
THE NEW YORK CITY HBCU SPEAKING TOUR BY DENNIS RICHMOND JR
My name is Dennis Richmond, Jr. and I am the Founder and Director of The New YorkNew Jersey Historically Black College and University Initiative. The NYNJ HBCU Initiative prepares students throughout New York for the college process by exposing them to opportunities available at HBCUs. Students across New York need to know about Historically Black Colleges and Universities for three reasons. First, not all students know about these institutions. Students are done a disservice when they are not fully aware of all of their college options. Second, these institutions produce the best and the brightest. People such as Thurgood Marshall, Diddy, Taraji P. Henson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Erykah Badu, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, and Oprah Winfrey have all attended HBCUs and have all helped change Black culture. Third, since a lot of students in New York are unfamiliar with HBCUs, they usually end up going to a community college or predominately white institution. Not all, but a significant amount of PWI students have shown racism towards students of color. Not to mention the number of nooses that were hung and racial slurs that were blurted out on these campuses. Some may argue that an HBCUs does not represent the, “real world” and that they do not prepare Black students. My counter to that argument is that not only do HBCUs prepare Black students; they allow them to network with an
unprecedented number of people of color before they enter the, “real world” and once they begin their career in the, “real world.” No matter which one of the over 100 HBCUs you attend, there is a sense of family amongst HBCU students. With going to an HBCU, comes the notion of being, “on the yard.” Eating soul food on campus, watching fraternities and sororities step, learning from Black educators who hold doctoral degrees, and having a sense of pride are only some of the things that take place on an HBCU campus. Not to mention the homecomings and the bands. Some may also argue that New York students should not hear about HBCUs because a lot of them cannot afford to go to school out of state My counter to that argument is that schools offer scholarships. With the amount of financial aid assistance, scholarships, grants, and fellowships out there, many New York students can afford to go to an HBCU. Surely some HBCUs cost more than others, but the fact of the matter is that students should not be dissuaded from applying to an HBCU, simply because of someone else’s ignorance about these institutions. My NYC HBCU Speaking Tour starts on November 5, 2018, in Mount Vernon, New York. Be sure to add me on Facebook at Dennis Richmond, Jr. or follow me on Instagram or Twitter at NewYorkStakz. Watch me, as I continue to beat the drum for HBCUs. Dennis Richmond, Jr. is the Founder and Director of the New York- New Jersey HBCU Initiative and a Black Westchester Black College Columnist.
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NOVEMBER 2018
BLACK WESTCHESTER11
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
BLACK WESTCHESTER IN THE ATL - MOREHOUSE HOMECOMING
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, ATLANTA GA
PICTURES BY AJ WOODSON, REGINALD MCKIE & CHIT CHAT COMMUNICATIONS
THE HALFTIME SHOW PHOTOS BY REGINALD MCKIE
Chillin’ with my boy Reginald McKie & some Morehouse and Spellman Alum
THE TENTS
ENTOURAGE HOMECOMING PARADE @ WESTVIEW DRIVE
WITH DJ SKENNY KRAVITZ
DJ Mars & Taiye ‘The Wild Afrikan’ DJing and hosting the Ford tent
NY natives Myris White & her Track & Field Olympian husband, Morehouse Alum Edwin C. Moses (Morehouse named their track after him.) Dr. White #BlackLove
PHOTOS BY CARLA MORRISON @CHITCHATCOMM
Chillin’ With Carla Morrison
Carla with Morehouse Alum Carla Morrison and Lance Robertson Dr. Rod Edmond, Esq. Founder of the National Black & Latino Council.
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12 BLACK WESTCHESTER
SPORTS TALK WITH AJ WOODSON
NOVEMBER 2018
BLACK WESTCHESTER IN THE ATL - ATLANTA UNITED
THE FUTURE OF ATLANTA SPORTS
When I say Atlanta, or even Atlanta United for most readers the last thing that will come to mind is MLS Soccer in Atlanta, yes you heard me correctly, a professional American soccer team in the ATL. Ok so with many disappointments Atlanta sports fans have experienced with their other pro teams, the Falcons, Hawks and Braves, the Atlanta United is drawing bigger crowds - 53,002 average per game attendance - and more excitement than the other pro teams in the city have in a long time. Some have considered the two-year-old expansion team the last hope for a championship, which is a lot of pressure for a new team and a new sport in the capital of Da Dirty South. With the expectation of another chance at glory for Atlanta sports seemed to be another major let down when Atlanta United went into Decision Day with a one-point lead in the Supporters’ Shield race, only to get hammered by Toronto FC and finish 2nd in the regular season title race. But all is not lost because Atlanta United already had clinched a first-round playoff bye. Whatever happened Sunday, October 28th was not going to affect its path to the trophy that really matters in the league, the MLS Cup. Can ATLUTD remove the City of Atlanta from the list of The 7 Cities With the Longest Sports Championship Droughts, - Cleveland 51 years, Milwaukee 45 years, Cincinnati, 26 years, Minneapolis-St. Paul 25 years, Washington 24 years, Toronto 23 years and Atlanta 20 years - only time will tell? Before ATLUTD, Atlanta had teams in all four big leagues, but had won few championships. The Falcons have never won a Super Bowl, the Hawks have never won the NBA title (in Atlanta; they did when they were based in St. Louis), and the NHL’s Thrashers moved to Winnipeg in 2011 after seven uneventful seasons. The Atlanta Braves, however, won the World Series in 1995. Now you see why Atlanta residents that were not attending any of the other 4 major sports teams’ game, are so excited by the newest sports sensation in the ATL. On any given Sunday, you can see Hip-Hop artists like the legendary WuTang Clan, The King of the South, Mega superstar and SW Atlanta native, Clifford “T.I.” Harris, rapper/ songwriter/ businessman, Young Jeezy, former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, Olympic Medalist Elana Meyers Taylor, Atlanta Dream Forward Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce and rapper, actor, and activist Killer Mike to name a few. As you can tell the traditional soccer moms & dads are not their target audience.
PICS BY CAPO REGINALD MCKIE
Wu-Tang (DJ Mathematics & Masta Killa ), Jiho Choi, Joel Diaz (back), Reginald McKie, Cornelius Woods, Josh Airy, and Nermin Sakonjic (kneeling) [Atlanta United]
The King Of The South, T.I. at the game [Atlanta United]
Capo Reginald McKie leading the chants
“Speaking of entire stadiums. One of my dreams as a capo was to get the entire stadium to do a song/chant. We made Archie Eversole's song into an Atlanta United anthem,” Reginald McKie tells Black Westchester.
From left: Steven Allwood, Mike Bell, Reginald McKie, Carl Dukes of “Dukes & Bell Show” on 92-9 The Game
Capo Reginald McKie and Olympic Medalist Elana Meyers Taylor
On Sunday, October 21st, Mike Conti (@MikeConti929) the Managing Editor of Sports Radio 92.9 The Game tweeted “Including all Atlanta United MLS matches, the MLS All Star Game, the United-Chicago Fire US Open Cup match, 1,014.362 people have watched a soccer match at Mercedes benz Statium so far this year.” While this new love of American Soccer is not exclusive to Atlanta, the New York Red Bulls outlasted Atlanta United in Supporters’ Shield race, setting an MLS record for points in the process.
Rapper/ Actor/ Activist Killer Mike
That was the third Supporters’ Shield for the New York Red Bulls (2103, 2015 & 2018). Both the Red Bulls lost to ATLUTD in the playoff vying for the MLS Cup. Playoffs began on October 31, 2018. While they had more letdowns than luck in championships, Atlanta sports fans still prove that no one supports their teams like the ATL. Based on attendance, Atlanta United FC is the best supported club in MLS. I could not cover Atlanta without writing about Atlanta United - the future and hope of Atlanta sports!
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NOVEMBER 2018
LATINO EMPOWERMENT
BLACK WESTCHESTER 13
WCDOC DEPUTY COMMISH LOUIS MOLINA & NEWS 12 LISA REYES HONORED BY WHLEA WESTCHESTER HISPANIC LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION’S (WHLEA) 22ND ANNUAL DINNER GALA - OCTOBER 12, 2018 - WESTCHESTER MANOR, HASTINGS ON HUDSON BY AJ WOODSON
T
he Westchester Hispanic Law Enforcement Association, (WHLEA), held its 22nd annual Dinner Gala on Friday, October 12 at Westchester Manor, located at 140 Saw Mill River Rd, Hastings-On-Hudson. WHLEA President Sgt. Hector Lopez welcomed everyone and thanked them for their support. This year’s honoree was Westchester County Dept. of Corrections First Deputy Commissioner Louis A. Molina. Commissioner Molina was appointed by County Executive George Latimer and is currently the Highest Ranking Hispanic Law Enforcement Officer in Westchester County. Also honored is Trailblazer Award Recipient, News 12 Reporter and Anchor Lisa Reyes, Life Saving Award Recipient Hastings Police Officer Jessie Ferriera-Cavallo, and the Community Service Award Recipient was Yonkers Police Officer Vionett “Vee” Martinez. The event was attended by Senators, Congressmen, Judges, County Legislators, Mayors, PBA Organizations, Local, State and Federal Law Enforcement members, Local WHLEA Board members and honorees including 1st Deputy Dept. Commissioner of Corrections Louis Molina, News 12 Reporter/Anchor Lisa Reyes, politicians, and community Hastings Police Officer Jessie Ferriera-Cavallo, and Yonkers Police Officer Vionett Martinez, with WHLEA President Sgt. Hector Lopez [Black Westchester] leaders just to name a few.
WCDOC 1st Deputy Louis A. Molina (honoree) and WHLEA President Sgt. Hector Lopez
Commissioner Molina & wife (top) and Molina accepting his award (bottom)
“It’s amazing to be here at the Westchester Hispanic Law Enforcement Association (WHLEA) 22 annual dinner gala,” Commissioner Molina told Black Westchester. “It was an honor to speak to the members and guests; being selected as the 2018 WHLEA Honoree is News 12 Reporter and Anchor Lisa Reyes a moment my family and I will treasure. My Westchester County DOC family, my former colleagues from the City of New York and the various Law Enforcement agencies from the “Being recognized by WHLEA was such a thrill and honor,” Lisa Reyes tells State of New York, Westchester County, Rockland County, and our brothers and sisters with Black Westchester. “I love telling stories in Westchester and it’s truly a privilege the Feds, I am very thank you for your support and truly blessed to have them all in my life.” to represent the Latino community.”
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14BLACK WESTCHESTER
2018 MIDTERM ELECTION EDITION
NOVEMBER 2018
COVER STORIES BW COVER STORY
MY BROTHER’S KEEPER YO INAUGURAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT ORGANIZED BY A COALITION OF MY BROTHER’S KEEPER COMMUNITIES FROM WESTCHESTER, ROCKLAND AND DUTCHESS COUNTIES A FIRST FOR NEW YORK STATE BY AJ WOODSON
HISTORIC EVENT DRAWS OVER 800 STUDENTS FROM 12 LOWER HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITIES Greenburgh, NY – Over 800 young men of color from Westchester, Rockland and Dutchess counties came together on October 25 to celebrate their brotherhood and learn new leadership skills from an array of distinguished presenters including actor/ comedian Mike Epps and the celebrated Bishop W. Darrin Moore. The MBK Youth Leadership Summit at the Westchester County Center was the first regional My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) gathering in New York State, according to state officials. “The collaboration among all the districts in the Lower Hudson is one that set the bar high and provides the opportunity for other parts of the state to do the same,” said Dr. Don-Lee Applyrs, the New York State Education Department’s Director of the Office of Family and Community Engagement. “Ultimately our goal is the same – to improve outcomes in boys and young men of color.” Hosted by the Lower Hudson Valley MBK Alliance, in partnership with the Westchester County Youth Bureau, the event was attended by middle school and high school students from 12 school districts: East Ramapo, Elmsford, Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant Cottage, Mount Vernon, Newburgh, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Poughkeepsie, Ossining, White Plains, Yonkers and Southern Westchester BOCES. The day was filled with emotion, inspiration, humor and a shared vision of “propelling young people as far as their dreams and hard work will take them,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. In addition to Mr. Latimer, state education and elected officials and community leaders addressed the energized crowd including New York State Board of Regent’s At-Large Member Dr. Lester Young, Jr., White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach and Lower Hudson Valley MBK Alliance Co-Chair Rev. Dr. Jim Bostic. Dignitaries including six school district superintendents attended the inspirational sessions aligned with the Summit’s theme “Educate. Empower. Engage.” “The imagery of the summit was mind blowing,” said Dr. Jim Bostic, Executive Director of the Nepperhan Community Center and Executive Director of the Lower Hudson Valley My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. “Our goal is to ensure that these young men know that someone cares about them and that we are committed to making an investment in their future,” said Andre G. Early, Commissioner of the Theodore D. Young Community Center and Co-Chair of the Summit. “Our guest speakers helped empower our young men to manage real world experiences as they transition into adulthood,” said Dr. Tahira A. DuPree Chase, Greenburgh Central School District Superintendent and Co-Chair of the Summit. Actor/comedian Mike Epps shared his some of his harrowing yet entertaining personal story that included poverty, a short career as a thief and drug dealer, jail and finally stand-up comedy as an entrée to a better life and success. “If I had MBK when I was young, I might not have made some of the mistakes I did,” he told one of the students who had lined up to ask him questions. Bishop W. Darrin Moore, Presiding Bishop of the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District in Washington, D.C. and Board Chair of the National Council of Churches, spoke to students about empowerment. “What would I say to a 15-year-old me? Know your power. You are more powerful than you realize.”
“The MBK Youth Leadership Summit was a monumental event for our young men of color in the Lower Hudson Region,” Dr. Tahira DupreeChase (pictured above) shared with Black Westchester. “We are fully committed to implementing the milestones embedded in the My Brother’s Keeper philosophy. The Youth Leadership Summit was just the beginning of the work we must do for our young men so that they may have opportunities in the future that far exceeds their own expectations”. Sherman Browne, Founder of AIMHigh Empowerment Institute delivered a message of positivity and motivation in addition to a spontaneous spoken word performance that had students cheering. “You’ll never find a hater who’s doing better than you,” he said and cautioned students not to “let your egos write checks your character can’t cash.” The afternoon included four workshops: Anthony Gaines, Social Worker, Greenburgh Central School District – Dispelling the Myth of Mental Health Concerns Mandel Holland, Educator, Greenburgh Central School District – Time Management: Making the Most of Everyday. Brother Arthur Muhammed, District Youth Development Specialist, Mount Vernon City School District – Time and Money John R. Reed, Motivational Speaker – Bad Moments Do Not Equal Bad Days “I thought it was a phenomenal event,” said Dr. Applyrs. “To see hundreds of young men in attendances and fully engaged was definitely a special moment.” “Kudos to the Chairs of the Summit and way they came together. The saw a vision and brought it through to fruition. I congratulate them.” The Chairs of the Youth Leadership Summit are Andre G. Early, Commissioner of the Theodore D. Young Community Center and Dr. Tahira A. DuPree Chase, Superintendent of the Greenburgh Central School District. The Lower Hudson Valley My Brother’s Keeper Alliance is a consortium of cities, local governmental bodies, local educational agencies and non-profit organizations that have accepted former President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Community MBK Challenge. “It was an honor to work alongside so many fabulous leaders from the other MBK communities,” New Rochelle Councilman Jared Rice shares with Black Westchester. “When we work together, anything is possible. There is a bright future for our boys and young men of color.” Former President Barack Obama launched the national MBK initiative in February 2014 to actively address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color. Today, more than 250 MBK communities exist throughout all 50 states. The New York State MBK Community Network includes more than 20 municipalities; more than half are part of the Lower Hudson Valley MBK Alliance. “Westchester County was proud to cosponsor through it’s Youth Bureau in the inaugural My Brother’s Keeper Youth Leadership Summit,” Deputy County Exec. Ken Jenkins shared with Black Westchester. “The MBK initiative and this summit is extremely important as our young men of color had the opportunity to hear from thought leaders and network with each other. Undestanding the great power they have as leaders in our community, demonstrating they are truly my brothers keeper.”
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BW COVER STORY
OUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
“Watching these young men walk in the County Center in their ties and
nice apparel, was more than an inspiration,” Peekskill Mayor Andre Rainey shared with Black Westchester. “It was a reminder of how powerful one thought can be to improve the world. This initiative is going to have an impact on so many lives and I can only imagine what MBK will inspire these young men to do for the next generation.”
“I felt honored to be in a position to expose our young men from the Mount Vernon City School District to some powerful information,” Brother Arthur Muhammad shares with Black Westchester. “From the keynote speeches to the breakout sessions, to the overall spirit of brotherhood that was in the air, our young men were positively impacted. It was important for them to see their peers from the neighboring MBK COMMUNITIES participate, because it communicated that My Brother’s Keeper is a movement.”
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16 BLACK WESTCHESTER
BW CULTURE & ARTS
NOVEMBER 2018
THE CELEBRATION THE WORK OF ARTIST
ELIZABETH CATLETT THE MACKEY TWINS ART GALLERY
The setting for one of the rare exhibitions of graphic artist/sculptor Elizabeth Catlett’s work took place recently at the Mackey Twins Art Gallery, located at 457 E. Sidney Avenue in Mount Vernon, New York. Curated by twin sisters Karen and Sharon, the two-day exhibition drew a sizeable crowd of art enthusiasts, and was described by those in attendance as “an intimate event”. This was perhaps the only exhibition of Catlett’s artwork held in the Westchester County area that featured such a broad selection of her work. The staging of the show was complemented by the fall foliage colors and perfect weather, which served as a prime backdrop. Among the selection of work on exhibit, were some rarely seen pieces that included the gorgeous sculpture, El Abrazo (The Embrace), carved from one piece of Guatemalan red mahogany. As guests moved from one room of the exhibition to the next, the warm sound of live jazz from keyboardist Danny Mixon floated through the gallery adding just the right accent, as patrons viewed, studied and purchased many of the works on display. The artist’s oldest son, Francisco Mora Catlett, an established jazz drummer, was on hand for the opening of the exhibition with his wife Danys Perez Mora, founder and artistic director of Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble and their daughter Mahalia. Joining them as well, was one of Francisco’s twin daughters, Naima, from a previous relationship. Francisco and Danys were especially thrilled to be celebrating their 22nd wedding anniversary at an event that celebrated the genius that was Elizabeth Catlett. Danys was Catlett’s Muse for a number of the pieces in the collection including, Danys Y Liethes, a beautiful representation of mother and infant, in a Madonna-like pose. Catlett, who died in April of 2012, was a uniquely gifted African-American graphic artist and sculptor, best known for using her art, to advocate for social change both in the U.S. and in her adopted country of Mexico, where she lived, studied and worked. The granddaughter of slaves, she grew up in Washington, D.C. When her application to attend Carnegie Institute of Technology was turned down because of race, she enrolled at Howard University. The granddaughter of slaves, she grew up in Washington, D.C. When her application to attend Carnegie Institute of Technology was turned down because of race, she enrolled at Howard University. She would later become the first individual, to receive a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa. Elizabeth Catlett was never one to hold back her political views and opinions, they were thoroughly intertwined in the art she produced, which became social commentary on the struggles of Black people in America and the indigenous folks of Mexico during her lifetime. The dignity of workers, the simple beauty of a well aged face, the bond of love between mother and child are all prominent fixtures in her art. Over the years, her artwork has been curated by some of the most prestigious Museums and Galleries, among them The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the SmithKaren Mackey with Elizabeth Catlett’s son and daughter-in-law, Francisco Mora Catlett and Denys Prez Mora (standing before sonian, Museo de Arte Moderno in the painting she inspired). [Photo credit - SM Communications] Mexico City and many others.
MOUNT VERNON, NY
BY SAM MATTINGLY
Karen and Sharon Mackey (owners of the Mackey Twins Art Gallery) [Photo credit - SM Communications] However, only recently has Elizabeth Catlett been given the kind of critical attention and recognition deserving of her talent. By popular demand, the collection currently curated at the Mackey Twins Art Gallery, will remain up for a limited time. Those interested in viewing the collection and purchasing can contact the Gallery. Karen and Sharon Mackey have been curating art shows at their Gallery for well over a decade. They represent a growing list of exceptional artists of color. The Gallery’s doors are opened to all visitors – whether established collectors, neophyte collectors, and art enthusiasts on most weekends and by appointment. The sisters also schedule private and group showings. For more information visit www.mackeytwinsartgallery.com or call to make an appointment, (917) 796-5895 or (914) 643-8266.
One of Elizabeth Catlett’s granddaughter, Naima at the exhibition of her grandmother’s art work. The painting next to her is titled Black Girl and the sculpture is Triangular Woman, a Bronze on Wood Base [Photo credit - SM Communications]
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NOVEMBER 2018
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18 BLACK WESTCHESTER
AROUND WESTCHESTER
NOVEMBER 2018
COUNCILMAN ANDRE WALLACE FUNDRAISER & BDAY BASH
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018 WORDS BY AJ WOODSON
KANOPI @ RITZ-CARLTON
Friday, October 19, 2018 will forever be a memorable day for Mount Vernon City Councilman
WHITE PLAINS, NY
PICTURES BY SHANE SAMUELS
André Wallace as hundreds of supporters, friends, local politicians and family members joined Wallace to celebrate his 52nd birthday, where he official announced he is running for Mayor of Mount Vernon next year. Councilman Wallace topped off the evening by proposing to Raquel Rodriquez, the mother of their latest addition to the family, Mason Benjamin Wallace. It was a joyous occasion all the way around and Black Westchester was in the house to celebrate with Councilman Wallace. Here is a pictorial review of the event, by BW staff photographer Shane Samuels.
THE PROPOSAL
WITH BW PUBLISHER DAMON K. JONES
COUNCILMAN WALLACE & HIS BEAUTIFUL FIANCÉE, RAQUEL
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NOVEMBER 2018
AROUND WESTCHESTER
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MV COUNCILMAN ANDRÉ WALLACE
THROWS HAT IN RING FOR 2019 MAYORAL RACE BY AJ WOODSON M ount Vernon City Councilman André Wallace announced he will be officially throwing his hat in the
ring of - what is expected to be a very crowded and very heated 2019 Mayoral race - Friday, October 19th at the Kanopi, Westchester’s rooftop private restaurant located atop the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in White Plains. During the exclusive fundraiser and birthday celebration, Councilman Wallace made his intentions known in front of hundreds of his supporters, friends, local elected officials and family members, that included Democratic Chairman Reginald Lafayette who played emcee of the event as he has at previous events and fundraisers by the councilman. The fact that he had intentions of running was probably one of the worst kept secrets in Mount Vernon or Westchester political circles, but while many people expected it, some called for it and others anticipated it, the very outspoken councilman made it official. The announcement was met with overwhelming applause. BW columnist A’tif K. Coleman described the scene as those in attendance being “overloaded with joy and happiness from the announcement and the wedding
proposal. Black Westchester caught to Councilman Wallace a week or so after the announcement to ask him exactly why he decided to run and announce it now? “I’m running for Mayor of Mount Vernon because I feel I can do more for the people then in my present position,” the councilman replied to BW. “As it stands now our community deserves better than what we’ve been getting over the past decades. Mount Vernon needs real leadership they can count on. Only then will we believe again.” We asked the contractor turned councilman can he unite the people and work with everyone especially with an almost tribalism mood in the air in recent years? “I truly believe Mount Vernon’s greatest days are just ahead, but we have to work together to get there,” Councilman Wallace offered. “We must understand the honor, responsibility and extraordinary privilege it is to participate in the transformation of our city that will impact the lives of so many. The opportunity to make a difference should never be taken lightly, nor shall it be forsaken for one’s own agenda. We must be committed to conducting ourselves from the fundamental values that are at the heart of who we truly are, such as truth, integrity and responsibility.”
LUTHER V. GARRISON SR. MASONIC FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON
HONORING REV. FRANK E. COLEMAN JR. AND DR. ANDREA CODDETT (MAN &WOMAN OF THE YEAR) WITH GUEST SPEAKER COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE DR. ROBERT BASKERVILLE BY AJ WOODSON
“THE MORE PEOPLE YOU HELP TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL YOU WILL BECOME” The Luther V. Garrison Sr. Masonic Foundation will be holding their annual scholarship luncheon on Saturday, November 24, 2018, at the Nepperhan Community Center, 342 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701, from 12noon to 4pm. They will present our 2018 scholarship awards at the luncheon. Throughout the City of Yonkers and Westchester County, there are many young people living in poverty and single family households. Despite the many obstacles in their lives, these young people managed to graduate from high school. Sadly, few if any of these students receive scholarships of any kind. Considering the increase in tuition, books, lab fees, supplies, etc, these students often fall short of the financial means to attend college, even with financial aid. Many of them fail to have the confidence to enroll or they quit due to financial hardships. Our scholarship program is designed to assist with these necessities and instill the confidence to stay in school. For the past nine (9) years, they have been able to award 60 scholarships in the amount of
$1,000.00 each to inner city students. During this period, we received more than 250 applications. These students are enrolled in schools such as: Howard University, Hofstra University, Morgan State University, New York University, Claflin University, John Jay College St. Johns University, Yale University, Westchester Community College and many others. This year the foundation honors Dr. Andrea Coddett, Deputy Superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools “Woman of the Year 2018” and Rev. Frank E. Coleman Jr, Pastor of Messiah Baptist Church, Community Advocate and Community Supporter as “Man of the Year for 2018.” Dr. Robert Baskerville, College Professor and Community Advocate will serve as the Guest Speaker. Dr. Baskerville is a political correspondent for Black Westchester and co-host of the weekly talk radio show, People Before Politics Radio. In 2017 as a result of generous donations they were able to award 10 scholarships in the amount of $1,000.00 each. These scholarships
are to be used for education related items such as books, fees, supplies, etc. The goal for year 2018 is to award 15 scholarships in the amount of $1,000.00 each. The major service that they provide is their scholarship program. In the past, they have relied on contributions from the membership. However, due to a decrease in member donations and a decrease in the amount donated, their ability to give scholarships has been drastically limited. In addition to offering college scholarships to inner city youth the foundation proves needed services and assistance to the community, such as Christmas Programs, Thanksgiving Programs, Easter Programs, Feeding the Less Fortunate and their new “Job Readiness Program” all free of charge for the community. Donations for the scholarship luncheon are $40.00, all donations are tax deductible. For more information on the foundation and to make additional donations to their scholarship program, please contact Harold S. McKoy, Chairman at 914-309-2466.
UTF BRONX PARENT SUMMIT AND FAFSA EVENT
This year's Bronx parent summit planning committee. Over 400 parents, grandparents, guardians and education activists joined the United Federation of Teachers at the Bronx borough office for a great day of workshops, exhibitors and networking, Saturday November 3. “I want to thank those of you who came out to the Bronx parent summit last weekend!” Nicholas Cruz, UFT Parent-Community Liaison shares. “I especially want to thank the planning committee, who worked tirelessly for months to put together this wonderful event.” The UTF also hosted a free event for college-bound students and their families to get hands-on assistance filling out the Free Application for
Parents picked up information about immigration law in the exhibitor hall. Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA completion event hosted by College Goal New York, Saturday, November 10, at Fordham University’s Hughes Hall on the Rose Hill Campus, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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20 BLACK WESTCHESTER
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NOVEMBER 2018
GHANA OFFERS AFRICAN-AMERICANS
AND CARIBBEAN PEOPLE THE RIGHT OF RETURN AND THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN 2019 GHANA IS THE FIRST AFRICAN COUNTRY TO OPEN ITS DOORS TO PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
BY AJ WOODSON
What Claudette Chamberlain wants, like many others with residency or work permits that are renewable every year or two, is a more permanent arrangement. She says: “I just feel I am coming home. So why should I be going through all this?” Ms. Chamberlain, a former dentist, says while her native Jamaica is more beautiful, it is not as peaceful as Ghana. Currently, there are around 200 million people in the Americas identifying themselves as of African descent, according to the United Nations. Millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent, and in most cases they experience racism and discrimination. To promote the respect for and protection of their human rights, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2015–2024 as the “The International Decade for the People of African Descent”, to be marked annually on 25 March.
The logo of the International Decade for People of African Descent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Friday, September 28th officially proclaimed 2019 as the Year of Return for all Diasporan descendants of Africans who were captured and transported into the Americas as slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Ghana, from whose shores the majority of 15 million Africans passed into slavery, has invited its descendants in the diaspora to return home. The country has had a long history, from the days of its first president, Kwame Nkrumah, of encouraging the return of persons of African descent to help with the continent’s development. In 2000, the country passed a law on the ‘Right of Abode’, which allows a person of African descent to apply and be granted the right to stay in Ghana indefinitely. And recently, the country set up a Diaspora Affairs Bureau under the foreign affairs ministry to provide a sustainable link between the Ghanaian diaspora and various government agencies to achieve development and investment goals. Whatever their motives, Ghana, the first sub-Saharan Africa country to shake off colonial rule 58 years ago, has become the destination of choice for diasporans looking for a spiritual home and an ancestral connection in Africa. While some returnees have gone through the emotional journey of tracing their families through DNA testing, the majority just come to visit, or to settle.
Titled, ‘Year of Return, Ghana 2019’, the proclamation was read at a ceremony at the United States National Press Club in Washington DC to formally launch a programme of activities marking the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans to English North America in 1619. The launch, attended by the cream of African-American community, including members of the United States Congress, civil rights groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Black clergymen and the business community, was organized by the Ghana Tourism Authority, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Office of Diasporan Affairs at the Office of the President, the PANAFEST Foundation and the Adinkra Group, an event group based in the US. ‘The Year of Return’ seeks to make Ghana the focus for millions of African descendants reacting to their marginalization by tracing their ancestry and identity. By this, Ghana becomes the beacon for African people living on the continent and the diaspora. The proclamation recognizes Ghana’s unique position as the location for 75 percent of the slave dungeons built on the West coast of Africa and the current President’s policy making it a national priority to extend a hand of welcome back home to Africans in the diaspora. As well as taking note of the fact that “Ghana has more African-Americans living in the country than any other African country,” it also expressed happiness about Ghana’s Right of Abode immigration law that grants freedom to persons with this right “to live and to come and go into and from the country without let or hindrance”. Another factor influencing the Proclamation is the 115th US Congress Resolution (HR 1242) establishing the 400 Years African-American History Commission to commemorate the anniversary. The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku, assured all Africans in the Diaspora that her ministry was working tirelessly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure their smooth passage back to continental Africa. “Back home in Ghana, as you go through the slave dungeons, you will know that you are the Josephs and Josephines who were sold into slavery and have come back home,” she declared. The Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Akwasi Agyemang, situated the ‘Right of Return’ within the context of the Christian Bible in which the people of biblical Israel were promised a return to their rightful land after 400 years in exile. According to 2014 estimates, more than 3,000 African-Americans and people of Caribbean descent live in Ghana, a country of about 26 million people.
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NOVEMBER 2018
REAL TALK FOR THE COMMUNITY
BLACK WESTCHESTER21
FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK
HAS LAW ENFORCEMENT FAILED THE BASIC 9 PRINCIPLES OF POLICING IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY?
A LOOK AT ROBERT PEELS PEELIAN PRINCIPLES AS IT RELATES TO POLICING BLACK COMMUNITIES
BY DAMON K. JONES
As a Black Law Enforcement Professional has stated time and time again the basis of policing in the Black community has never been one of service always a mindset of containing and controlling since the conception of the enforcement of the Slaves Codes and Black Codes. This basic racial fundamental of policing was long before the accepted starting point of policing in the United States 1838 (Boston) and 1845 (New York). Many Law Enforcement historians love to quote Robert Peel as the father of modern policing negating the historical racial aspects of American Policing as it relates to enslaved and free Africans. Some even try to credit him as the originator of what is called today as Community Policing. Peel created what is referred to as the Peelian Principles Robert Peel that was supposed to create professionalism within the law enforcement profession. It is reported and taught that Peel’s model of policing, police officers are regarded as citizens in uniform. The Officer exercise their powers to police their fellow citizens with the implicit consent of those fellow citizens. “Policing by consent” indicates that the legitimacy of policing in the eyes of the public is based upon a consensus of support that follows from transparency about their powers, their integrity in exercising those powers and their accountability for doing so. If you walk in many Black communities today, you will see those police departments are far from Peel’s model. For the purpose of this writing, we will use Peels Peelian Principles to continue the need conversation that every law enforcement has fallen away even from the basic principles that many police management of scholars claim as their foundation.
PRINCIPLE 1 “The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.”
There has been a misconception that many in the black and poor communities do not want police to stop crime and violence. This is an entirely false conclusion. What Black communities now see is a style of over policing and a warrior mindset in police where the perceptions of Black people, especially that black male is a constant threat.
PRINCIPLE 2 “The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.”
This is clearly not the case in many black communities throughout the nation. The mindset of the many police officers and police management is that they don’t need the approval of the community. Many Black communities do not have a say in how their communities are policed. Even when districts are represented by Black elected officials the influence on policy and procedures that affect the community they serve are minimal and fails to change the reality of the community when it comes to policing.
Many law enforcement agencies claimed they follow President Barack Obama’s 21st Century Policing but in reality, it was just symbolism without substance and a bunch of police nonsense with police departments doing the running man. The first steps of President Obama’s 21st Century Police Model are legitimacy, transparency, and accountability. Unfortunately, the many police departments throughout the nation that claim the new policing model have yet to produce policies and procedures that address the new view of being legitimate, transparent and accountable to the citizenry of the community they claim to serve. What we saw was feel-good moments and funding for hamburgers and hotdogs, along with officers on social media dancing. The reality is; you can feed them, dance for them all you want. Those types of activities will not change the perception of law enforcement in the minds of black and poor people because four days after President Obama’s Townhall meeting on Police and Community Relations another unarmed black man, Charles Kinsey, who had his hands in the air, was shot by a white police officer in Miami. With the emergence of #45, the good recommendations have fallen to the wayside. PRINCIPLE 3 “Police must secure the willing cooperation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to obtain and maintain the respect of the public.” In many Black communities, cooperation with the police is nonexistent. This is also the case when some departments have a high number of Black Officers. Many Black communities do not feel that police do not have actual observance of the law when their own violate policies procedure and training. Black communities never see Black Officers or what is referred to as “Good Officers” address the bad officers for the sake of the community they serve.
PRINCIPLE 4 “The degree of cooperation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.” Because of weak accountability of police officers abusing the use of force and deadly force policies has long been a problem in the Black and poor communities throughout the nation. Police management and elected officials have failed miserably to address the need to create more stringent legislation on violations of Use of Force and Deadly Force policies.
PRINCIPLE 5 “Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to the public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.”
Police always have opportunities to correct public opinion, but they fail when good cops stay silent amongst the bad ones. A good officers silence is confirmation of the “Us against them Them” culture and the “Blue Wall” that is mentioned nowhere in Peel’s nine principles of policing.
PRINCIPLE 6 “Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient.” The unfortunate relationship with the police and the black community is historical when it comes to the use of force especially deadly force. In many cases, persuasion, advice, and a warning are not used. The new warrior mindset fails to accommodate deescalating situations. Officers have been faster to shoot and ask questions later. Many studies have shown that “Racial Bias” conscious or unconscious plays a role in an officer decided to kill a subject, but yet, elected officials and police management have failed to address this issue critically.
action strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.”
Because of the failed accountability of Officers that have violated policies procedures and training and the complicit silence of good officers, it does give an appearance that officers usurp the powers of the judiciary.
PRINCIPLE 9 “The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.”
Principle 9 is essential because policing technics and philosophy have not stopped crime in violence in black communities across the nation. If we use #9 as a guide or a report card then policing as it is today is insufficient and has failed miserably to the needs of black people to keep us safe and make us feel protected like other communities. Is too much to ask to raise the bar on accountability on what Peel calls “Citizens in Uniform”? Raising the bar especially in Use of Force policies will not only make us exceed the standard, but it will save innocent lives and rebuild integrity in our communities. Damon K. Jones is the Publisher and Co-Owner of Urban Soul Media Group, the parent company of BlackWestchester.com. Damon K. Jones is also the New York Representative of Blacks in Law Enforcement of America. Damon has been a guest commentator on New York radio stations WBLS (107.5 FM), WLIB (1190 am) WRKS (98.7 FM), WBAI (99.5 FM) and Westchester’s WVOX (1460 am). Mr. Jones has appeared on local television broadcasts including Westchester News 12 “News Makers” and Public Television “Winbrook Pride. You can now hear Damon every Sunday 6-8PM on People Before Politics Radio Show and the first Monday of the month at 11AM- 12 Noon on WVOX 1460 AM on The Black Westchester Power Hour Radio Show
PRINCIPLE 7 “Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.”
Every police academy has failed this principle. The Us against Them attitude in many of the police academies across the nation. Many officers do not live in the community that they work so police being members of the public is nonexistent. The current police culture has failed to recognize that they are servants of the public and paid by the public.
PRINCIPLE 8 “Police should always direct their
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22 BLACK WESTCHESTER
2018 MIDTERM ELECTION EDITION
NOVEMBER 2018
ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR SOME D
DON'T CROW TOO LOUDLY JUST YET, LIBERAL AMERICA
emocrats have some cause for celebration; not only did the party pick up enough Congressional seats to remedy the imbalance, but a record number of women were elected. Oregon voted in an openly bisexual woman; New Mexico and Kansas both elected an Indigenous woman, which is itself astonishing given that Indigenous Americans are among the most marginalised and voter-suppressed groups in the contiguous states; and two Muslim women from the Midwest will join the House. Liberal Americans are right to feel relieved, for these results better reflect the America of Barack Obama – one that does not judge the value of a person by the colour of their skin, or the God in their heart, but by their character and actions. But equally, Trump is right to gloat, for the Democrats lost some Senate seats and, importantly, failed to win in key states. Beto O’Rourke and his impassioned pleas for unity and decency in Texas did not resound as loudly as his F-Rating from the NRA. It was clearly no match for Ted Cruz’s A-Rating – Senator Ted, the good God-loving Republican featured in that horrifying machine-gun bacon video. The world watched the queues of teens walking to the polls peacefully in Florida, full of hope and promise and innocence, challenging the very legislators who have failed them, demanding protection against mass slaughter in their schoolhouses. Andrew Gillum, despite his heartfelt campaign defined by decency and honour, was pipped by Ron DeSantis, a good God-loving Republican, who will be remembered for that cringeworthy video of himself indoctrinating his children into Trump’s cult of hate. And Georgia’s Stacey Abrams, a formidable woman of colour, a champion of equality and integrity, as yet to concede to Brian Kemp, also a good God-loving Republican who over the years has purged the records of more than one million voters, mostly PoC, and who was thankfully blocked by a Federal court from introducing a law that would make it even harder for them to vote.
BY DONATELLA MONTRONE
America, “One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.” To coin a British expression, “it’s a load of bollocks.” The truth is, the US has an ideological attachment to notions of democracy and equality, but its actions and legislation have always undermined this, and while the midterm Democratic wins better reflect this ideology, the current Republican government embodies the fallacy of it. In these past two years, as the world watched Trump’s Republican administration cage children, there were cries of horror from many in the US: “This Is Not Who We Are!” When the good God-loving Lindsey Graham exploded with rage during Brett Kavanaugh’s hearing, calling Dr Blasey Ford’s allegations of attempted rape an “unethical sham,” we watched – incredulous. The cries of “This Is Not Who We Are!” reverberated around the world. When the Tiki-torch racists goose-stepped through Charlottesville chanting “Jews will not replace us,” the world was aghast, the cries of “This Is Not Who We Are!” deafening. I despair when white Americans howl “This Is Not Who We Are!” every time the Trump administration commits yet another act of inhumanity. Where exactly do they think they live – in the Promised Land, where children of all races and religions are afforded “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness?” Are they really unaware that school segregation is still practiced in America? Have they conveniently turned a blind eye to the decades of black voter suppression, the latest of which took place in Georgia, where power cables were – inexplicably – missing from voting machines? Did they not notice when the cop who slaughtered Philando Castile was acquitted? What were they thinking when Michael Brown was executed by a cop while on his knees? And Stephon Clark, shot in his own back garden while on the phone? Eric Garner? Were they not haunted by the recording of him begging for mercy, whispering, “I can’t breathe?” Did they not notice when the National Guard tazed and pepper-sprayed Lakota during the Dakota pipeline pro
tests, then caged them in chain-link cells, their forearms numbered? The Office of the UN High Commissionerfor Human Rights issued a statement saying the response of America’s law enforcement was disproportionate and inhumane. Hubris, it seems, keeps white Americans from taking on board the world’s condemnation of its actions. “America is the Greatest Country in the World.” It is a truth universally acknowledged, and pity the poor sod who challenges it. The mere suggestion that America is anything but the single greatest place on earth, superior in every way to all other peoples and nations, will be met with fierce accusations of anti-Americanism. It’s blasphemy of the highest order. If Americans ever accepted that they are not uniquely the greatest beings to walk this earth, then what are they? Second best? Third? Would they even make the top five? Accepting this reality would crush them; besides, privilege is comforting. So it begs the question: “Who is America?” Racism permeates the very fabric of American society – the judiciary, law enforcement, the workforce, education, and where it is most rife, among white conservatives who claim to live according to the word of Christ. It’s an existential question that needs urgent addressing. Tragically, Trump and his bile-fuelled Republican accomplices are busy writing the doctrine. Trump is repellent, for sure, but he did not invent racist America. He is a shameful, pitiful, destructive product of it, and as POTUS he has validated it, praised it, courted it. But Trump was never the anti-establishment vote. He was never the grassroots vote. He was never the blue-collar vote. He was always, and he remains, the racist vote. So when we reflect on how it’s possible that the hope, equality and charity promised by Beto, Andrew and Stacey did not inspire a sufficient number of voters, the answer is RACISM. Unless white liberal Americans truly understand this, there will be only ruination.
Donatella Montrone. She is an American journalist living in London, she is a Freelance sub-editor | production editor | features contributor to The Art Newspaper | Black+White Photography | British Journal of Photography
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NOVEMBER 2018
2018 MIDTERM ELECTION EDITION
BLACK WESTCHESTER 23
16 BIG FIRSTS & HISTORIC WINS IN THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS NIGHT OF FIRSTS WITH HISTORIC WINS FOR MUSLIMS, NATIVE AMERICANS, WOMEN AND LGBT CANDIDATES BY AJ WOODSON
Election Night 2018 turned out to be a night of firsts — with groundbreaking victories for Native American, Muslim, black, gay and female candidates. The midterms seemed poised to shake things up even before results came in: A record number of women were on the ballot, and there were races across the country that looked likely to diversify the faces in Congress and statehouses. Here are just some the winners who ended up making history: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) the youngest woman elected to Congress.
In one of the earlier victories of the night, 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez was elected to represent New York’s 14th Congressional District, which includes parts of The Bronx and Queens. The progressive candidate will also be the youngest member of Congress at this time. “We made history tonight,” she said in her victory speech.
Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) the first Muslim women elected to Congress.
Tlaib, a Democrat, will represent Michigan in Congress, taking a seat formerly occupied by Democratic Rep. John Conyers, according to CNN. Omar, a DemocraticFarmer-Labor Party’s nominee, will represent Minnesota. She’ll also be the first Somali-American member of Congress; she first came to the U.S. over 20 years ago as a refugee. She’ll take a position formerly held by Rep. Keith Ellison, who is also Muslim. Both candidates had subtle ties to New York’s Ocasio-Cortez. Tlaib was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, of which Ocasio-Cortez is a member, and Omar was also backed by the Bronx-born congresswoman during her race, per CNN. Tlaib actually campaigned with Omar ahead of the Minnesota primary this year.
Letitia James became the first black attorney general of New York.
Pressley, a Democrat, will officially represent the 7th Congressional District in Massachusetts. She ran unopposed in the midterms (her district is heavily Democratic), following her shocking victory in the primaries, when she defeated 10-term incumbent Michael Capuano, The Boston Globe reports.
Tish James is making history in several ways: she’s the first woman elected attorney general of New York, the first black woman to hold statewide office, and the first black person to serve as attorney general, the New York Times reports. James has “dozens of cases” against President Trump to look forward to, including an investigation into his charity and lawsuits to stop immigrant families from being separated at the border, and a corruption case against Mount Vernon Mayor Richard W. Thomas.
Juliana Stratton, the first black woman to be elected Illinois’ Lt. Governor.
Lauren Underwood (D-IL), first black woman to win her Illinois district.
Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) the first black congresswoman for Massachusetts.
Democrat J.B. Pritzker, who was elected governor of Illinois, will name Stratton as his second-in-command, making her the first black lieutenant governor in the state’s history. A strong advocate for prison reform, Stratton will spearhead a new Office of Criminal Justice Reform and Economic Opportunity, according to The Chicago Reporter.
Underwood is a registered nurse and former senior advisor in the Department of Health and Human Services under the Obama administration, ELLE.com reports. The first-time candidate is now the first black woman to win in Illinois’ 14th Congressional district, defeating Republican candidate Randy Hultgren for the slot.
Jahana Hayes, the first black congresswoman representing Connecticut.
Michelle Lujan Grisham, the first Latinx woman Democratic governor.
Sylvia Garcia and Veronica Escobar became the first Latinx women elected into Congress from Texas.
All 19 black women running for judge in a local Texas race won.
Before being elected as the first black woman representing Connecticut in Congress, Hayes was an acclaimed history teacher at Kennedy High School in Waterbury, CT and was even named National Teacher of the Year in 2016 by President Obama, according to the Hartford Courant. The first-time candidate beat Republican Manny Santos for the historic win.
Democrats Garcia and Escobar will be the first Latinx women serving for Texas, a state whose population is 40 percent Latinxs, in the House of Representatives, NBC reports. Escobar, a former judge, is slated to take Beto O’Rourke’s place representing Texas’ 16th congressional district. Meanwhile, Garcia, a former Houston city controller, will rep Texas’ 29th congressional district. Sharice Davids (D-KS) & Debra Haaland (D-NM) the first Native American women elected to Congress. Davids is also the first openly-gay representative of Kansas. Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, will replace Republican representative Kevin Yoder, who was up for re-election. The former MMA fighter will also be the first openlygay Native American woman in Congress. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, was elected to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District.
Lujan Grisham was elected governor of New Mexico last night. She succeeds Governor Susana Martinez, a Republican, who became the first Latinx woman governor elected in the U.S., Vox reports. She’s currently a member of the House of Representatives, head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and is one of Trump’s most vocal critics on immigration, per Vox. On the local level, 19 black women running for judicial seats in Harris County, Houston (the third largest county in the country) won their races, marking the biggest win for black women in the county’s history, Cosmopolitan.com reports.
Kalan Haywood is likely the youngest lawmaker in the country.
The 19-year-old from Wisconsin was victorious in the state primary in August and ran uncontested to represent Milwaukee’s 16th District, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He’s the youngest state legislator in Wisconsin, and possibly the United State altogether.
Angie Craig became the first LGBTQ mom elected to Congress.
Craig, a Democrat, won in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, unseating Republican Rep. Jason Lewis, who came under fire for controversial sexist and racist comments, according to Huffington Post.
DEMS WIN, WILL WE FINALLY GET CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM? BY TASHA D YOUNG
Well all of our hard work in Westchester culminated in resounding victories in our state legislature. Grassroots organizations of mostly white women, and union volunteers mobilized to support candidates for the New York State Senate who aimed to flip their red districts blue, and they did it! Jen Metzger, James Skoufis, and Peter Harkam, all Democrats, all won, assisting the New York blue wave and giving the Democrats the majority in the Senate. I am extremely happy that our/my Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins current Democratic leader will now be the Senate Democratic Majority leader! More about that in a more celebratory article. However, true to the Democratic model, all of these candidates have nothing in their platform about racial justice, racial equity, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, or the legalization of marijuana, which is a racial justice issue. Why? because they know their constituency includes those who benefit from oppressing others, people of color, yes let’s call it what it is. New York state is not the progressive beacon it can be because more politicians do not stand up against special social interest groups for racial justice, and we let them get away with it, time and time again. This is why I don’t run to get on any car pool, bus, etc., to canvass for anyone who doesn’t represent my interests. According to FreeNY, Just Leadership On any given day, 25,000 New Yorkers are caged in county jails across our state. The abuse that occurs in these jails is rampant. Human rights violations, racial disparity, violence, and medical neglect are commonplace. Our jails are unjust, unsafe and inhumane. Despite a steady decrease in crime, numerous county jails have grown – some even doubling in size, Westchester (Harkam), and Dutchess (Skoufis) are not exception. Shockingly, 70% of the people held in our jails have not been convicted. They are legally innocent but denied their freedom because of New York’s broken bail, speedy trial and discovery laws. This is a mockery of justice, and New Yorkers deserve better. Although the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a fair and speedy trial, these rights are consistently violated in New York State. Thousands languish in jail for months or years, and even short jail stays can have devastating impacts for individuals, families, and communities. Mass incarceration affects every county and every corner of New York State. 63% of jailed New Yorkers are incarcerated outside of New York City. The failure of our criminal justice system is a statewide problem that requires bold, state-level action, but there is a vast disconnect between upstate New York where these candidates hail from and downstate New York where the majority of incarcerated New Yorks originate from.
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24BLACK WESTCHESTER
POLITICALLY SPEAKING - 2018 MIDTERM ELECTION
NOVEMBER 2018
SENATOR ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS
MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST BLACK FEMALE MAJORITY LEADER BY AJ WOODSON as I look forward to working with them. New York always leads by example. Now is the time we show what change looks like.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano
“I congratulate Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins on becoming State Senate Majority Leader. Throughout her time in the State Senate, Andrea StewartCousins has been a true champion for the City of Yonkers and its residents. We need strong leaders in the State Capitol who will fight for working families, increase aid for education and continue to protect our environment. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and look forward to continuing our hard work for the residents of Yonkers.”
Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner
Democrats took commanding control of the state Senate in the Midterm Election, wresting power from Republicans for the first time in a decade. Democratic candidates had leads in Republican-controlled seats on Long Island, Brooklyn, and the Hudson Valley. Democrats successfully defended their only vulnerable member, and just needed to win one seat for a majority in the 63-seat chamber. “The voters of New York State have spoken and they have elected a clear Democratic majority to the State Senate,” Senator Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins shares with Black Westchester, shortly after the polls closed. “While the results of some elections are still being determined, at least 32 Senate Democratic Conference members have already won election tonight. I am confident our majority will grow even larger after all results are counted, and we will finally give New Yorkers the progressive leadership they have been demanding.” In the last half century, Democrats have only controlled the Senate chamber in 2009 and 2010. After the two years of chaotic rule, Republicans regained control and have stayed in power by forming alliances with wayward Democrats. On Long Island, Democrats toppled veteran Republican Carl Marcellino in a rematch from 2016, won at least two other seats and had a strong lead in another. Democrat Monica R. Martinez defeated Republican Dean Murray, the local assemblyman, in the 3rd Senate District; James Gaughran beat veteran Republican Sen. Carl Marcellino of Syosset in the 5th Senate District; Democrat Kevin Thomas beat veteran Republican Sen. Kemp Hannon of Garden City in the 6th District; and Democrat Anna Kaplan defeated Republican Sen. Elaine Phillips of Flower Hill in the 7th District, according to unofficial results. In the Hudson Valley, they picked up two seats and were likely heading to a third victory. In Brooklyn, embattled GOP incumbent Marty Golden was narrowly trailing his Democratic challenger. “Albany has never seen this scale of turnover,” said Joe Dinkin, campaign director of the liberal Working Families Party that drove much of the Democratic effort. “The old ways of doing things are over.” A now-disbanded faction of breakaway Democrats will no longer split the Democratic caucus in the Senate. The Independent Democratic Conference, formed in 2011, allied with Republicans beginning in 2013 but folded last spring under pressure from liberal-leaning voters and in light of party primary challenges against all eight of the faction’s members. In the Sept. 13 Democratic Party primaries, challengers beat six of eight IDC members, including the group’s former leader, Bronx Sen. Jeff Klein who was defeated by Allesandra Biaggi.. Stewart-Cousins’ clear path to re-election came after she faced a primary challenge of her own from Virginia Perez, a sitting Westchester County legislator. Stewart-Cousins won in a landslide, with 81 percent of the vote. As majority leader, the senator would have influence over state budgets and legislation. Sen. Stewart-Cousins represents the Senate’s 35th District, which includes part of Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle and the Hudson River towns up to Tarrytown. Democrats already control the Assembly, the state Legislature’s lower house. Black Westchester reached to several local elected officials and community leaders for reactions to Sen. Stewart-Cousins finally crashing through the glass ceiling and making history by becoming the Senate’s first female majority leader, predicted the party could hold as many as 40 seats in the 63-seat chamber once all votes are counted.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer
“History is being made before our eyes as Senator Stewart-Cousins will soon be the first female to hold the position of Senate Majority Leader. This is a tremendous accomplishment for her, and a tremendous victory for the people of New York. Under her leadership, New York will thrive in a way the state hasn’t experienced before. I am confident, her influence will move New York in the right direction. I congratulate her for this well deserved victory.”
Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins
Senator Stewart-Cousins is a trailblazer poised to become the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate. Senator Stewart-Cousins inclusive leadership style is well-suited to this specific time in NY State and our Nation’s history. Senator Stewart-Cousins is a tremendous leader who has earned the support of her Senate colleagues because of her hard work, vision and focus on the issues that are important to all New Yorkers.
County Legislator Catherine Borgia
Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins! What a lovely and overdue turn of events!
County Legislator Christopher A. Johnson
For over a decade Sen. Stewart-Cousins has fought for Westchester communities in Albany and despite being in the minority for most of her tenure we have seen results. Now with her shattering glass ceilings, Westchester has unprecedented access to the halls of power in Albany, with 2 of the three people in the room coming from our County. I congratulate the next Senate Majority Leader and her Democratic colleagues, but most of all congratulations to the people of Westchester!
Peekskill Mayor Andre Rainey
I want to personally extend a warm congratulations to the Honorable Andrea S-Cousins as our majority leader, on a successful win November 6th 2018. We have heard many glowing reports of the work she’s already put in for her constituents in New York and we are confident her influence and leadership will continue to encourage our proud tradition of involvement in worthwhile political causes. I’d also like to congratulate all of the other winners and extend my hand of support
I am beyond thrilled that Senator Cousins will become the next Senate Majority Leader. In addition to making history—serving as the first African American Woman to serve in this prestigious position, Senator Cousins is highly qualified for the job. She is accessible, hard working, easy to work with. When local governments like Greenburgh need the help of Albany – it should be much easier to get the attention and help. We have an ambitious legislative agenda ahead of us: hope to revitalize the 4 corners in Hartsdale, will be seeking help from Albany for flood control and traffic safety improvements, hope to get the 9A bypass built (after decades of trying) and the schools within Greenburgh are also hoping to get additional state financial help. It’s very exciting.
Mount Vernon Councilman André Wallace
Senator Stewart-Cousins is making history becoming the first woman to hold the position of Senate Majority Leader. This is a major accomplishment for her as well as women all over the State of New York and beyond. Her vision and leadership is inspiring to New Yorkers and Very welcoming. This is an exciting time for our state. Congratulations on a victory well deserved!
White Plains Council Woman Nadine Hunt-Robinson
“We have fought long and hard for progress. No longer will New York’s budget and policy decisions be made by “three men in a room.” Another glass ceiling has been shattered and a new perspective will be heard. Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins is smart and dedicated to improving the lives of New Yorkers, and thus, we look forward to her expanding influence as Senate Majority Leader.”
Ossining Town Trustee Quantel Bazemore
Congratulations Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins on becoming the Senate majority leader. Her win is a win for all New Yorkers now that we have Democratic control government in both chambers, a Democratic Governor. All the pieces can work together, since the IDC has been eliminated and the Democrats have won previously Republican and or IDC seats. This was truly a blue wave. And we have to share credit with the working family party for they efforts to push the blue wave.
New Rochelle Councilman Jared Rice
“We now have a true Democratic majority leading the State Senate and we are fortunate to have Senator Stewart-Cousins at the helm. I look forward to working with her and her colleagues so that we may bring about real progressive reform”.
Mount Vernon Councilwoman Delia Farquharson
Congratulations to Senator Stewart-Cousins. I hope we see meaningful change that will impact the lives of the many people in the lower hudson valley. I’m particularly concerned strengthening housing laws, protection of the undocumented who have no identification and passing of legislation on standard driver’s license.
Former Yonkers Councilwoman Lorraine Lopez She is the hope, New York State has been waiting for.
Rev. Doris K. Dalton, Exec. Dir. of MLK Institute for Nonviolence
I was delighted to find out last night that Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins will now be recognized as the New York State Senate Majority leader. In her role, I anticipate she will lead the Senate in discussing legislation that will help New York State became more equitable and build stronger communities for all state residents, regardless of race, gender, religion, ability, gender identity, national origin, language or age. I welcome the paradigm shift her leadership will bring to the state.
Dr. Tahira Dupree-Chase, Greenburgh Central School District Superintendent Congratulations to Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins on your historic victory on becoming the majority leader of the New York State Senate. I look forward to our continued work together for the advancement of Greenburgh Central School District and its community.
Barry McGoey, IAFF Local 628 Yonkers Fire Fighters President
The Yonkers Firefighters of Local 628 are extremely happy and proud that our very own Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins will be the first African American, the first woman and the first Yonkers native to become Majority Leader of the NYS Senate.
Kisha Skipper - Vice President and PAC Chairperson, Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, Inc.-Yonkers Chapter
For more than 40 years, the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, Inc. has been instrumental in promoting African-Americans; particularly women, in all phases of the political process and could not be more proud of our efforts in this year’s elections. It today’s political climate we, the Yonkers Chapter heard and answered the call leading up to what many considered the “most important election of our time”. As a non-partisan organization, we collectively understood the importance of our participation in voter education and registration efforts throughout the state and partnered with several political, social and labor organizations in canvassing and phone banking. We are especially proud NYS Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins is the first black woman to become the Senate Majority Leader and our endorsed candidate Leticia “Tish” James is the first black woman to become the New York State Attorney General. This is just the beginning and we look forward to having more black women lead our county, state and country on to greatness.
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NOVEMBER 2018
2018 MIDTERM ELECTION EDITION
BLACK WESTCHESTER
25
THE NEW COLOR OF CONGRESS IT’S A DIFFERENT WORLD, THEN WHERE YOU COME FROM
BY AJ WOODSON
After watching the election results, seeing all the Women of color, Muslim, Native American and LGBTQ candidates who won, I realized winning the midterms wasn’t a ‘silver lining’—it was the main event. The first thing that came to mind was the theme song from TV Show, A Different World. The voters sent a clear message to the old guard. They were tired of the status quo and wanted something different. Trump and the GOP touted they were going to Make America Great Again, while it’s not exactly what they had in mind, the voters took us one step closer to the true meaning of that phrase. Diversity, and it scares them. The percentage of candidates who are white men is the lowest it’s been in the last four elections, according to data available to The Times. To all of them I say Welcome to a New America, get used to it, cause “It’s a different world then where you come from, then where you come from...”
A record year for diversity in American politics
LETITIA ‘TISH’ JAMES FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN ELECTED NYS ATTORNEY GENERAL
Letitia “Tish” James becomes chief legal officer of NY State
“Thank you New York. Tonight we made history. This is a night for justice, a night for our future. I am proud to be a New Yorker who knows it’s our diversity, strength, courage and determination that makes us great. As your Attorney General I promise to fight for all of us,” NYS AG Elect Tish James tweeted at 8:27pm, Tuesday, Novomber 6th. Letitia A. James known to many simply as Tish, a 60-year-old born & bred Brooklynite, who proudly served as the NYC Public Advocate since 2014 and ran to defend our rights, fight corruption & take on Trump made history as the First Black Woman and First Woman Elected as the New York State Attorney General. We spoke to local Law Enforcement for reactions to this historic victory and what it means going forward to people of color and criminal justice reform in Westchester County. “Tish James’ win for NYS Attorney General is historic for women, people of color and for criminal justice reform,” Westchester County Dept. of Corrections First Deputy Commission Louis A. Molina tells Black Westchester. “NYS AG Elect Tish James has been advocating for people her entire professional life; Tish truly will be the people’s Attorney General. The State of New York is fortunate that the people have chosen Tish; we in the City of New York always knew she was great.” Congratulations to our new Attorney General Tish James. What can I say? Such an accomplishment to be the first black Attorney General,” Brooke Jones - Westchester Corrections Association President shares with Black Westchester. “ An inspiration to myself as a black woman. I’m confident she will do great work in Albany.” BW Salute Tish James on her historic victory!
The results of the midterm elections will install a new wave of diverse, progressive, first-time candidates in congress. A record number of women were elected to the House in the 2018 Midterm Election, nearly two years after women spilled out into the streets of Washington and in cities across the country in defiance of the inauguration of President Donald Trump. The incoming class of lawmakers - the new faces of Congress! Top Row (L>R) Deb Haaland, Rashida Tlaib, Judge Veronica Escobar, Jahana Hayes, Bottom Row (L>R) Ayanna Pressley, Sharice Davids, Ilhan Omar and Alexandria OcasioCortez - could have a stark impact on politics in the nation’s capital, particularly within the Democratic Party, after a midterm election that was widely seen as a referendum on Trump’s first term. As of early Wednesday, November 7th, voters were on track to send at least 99 women to the House, surpassing the previous record of 84. According to data compiled by The Associated Press, 237 women ran for the House as major-party candidates this year. Among the candidates that won, there were many historic firsts for women of color and queer candidates (see page 23). The efforts of these candidates and others like them point to a major shift in the kinds of Americans choosing to pursue public service through elected office. Their candidacies are likely to have long-lasting impacts on political representation in the United States, though they are unlikely to radically change the overall composition of the House, Senate and governorships. There were more new faces than incumbents in this diverse cohort of candidates. More than a quarter of all the candidates that ran this year were female, including 84 women of color — a 42 percent increase from just two years ago. There were at least 216 candidates of color and a record 26 openly L.G.B.T. candidates, more than five times the number in 2010. The identities of the candidates are playing out against the backdrop of an election fueled by issues of race and gender. A weekend massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue, a Supreme Court confirmation hearing roiled by accusations of sexual assault and a caravan of South American migrants have thrust these issues into the forefront of a charged election. The diversity is not uniform. Among Democratic candidates, white men are actually a minority, making up just 41 percent of candidates for Congress and governor this year. The other side of the aisle looks a lot different: Three in four Republican candidates are white men. In governor’s races this year, there were no black or Hispanic Republican candidates. Currently, white men make up a third of the United States population, but 69 percent of all governors and members of Congress. That disconnect looks particularly stark in districts where a majority of residents are people of color. Democratic challengers in those areas, like Ayanna Pressley in Massachusetts, found primary success this year by stressing the importance of identity. Pressley will now hold the seat once held by former President John F Kennedy and speaker of the House Tip O’Neill. Her upset victory reflects the changing face of the Democratic Party - younger, more progressive and more diverse. Whether the white men who have traditional ran the country and their supporter like it or not, the face of US Politics just got a few shades darker and a touch more diverseand it’a different world then where they come from, but they better get used to it.
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26BLACK WESTCHESTER
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BLACK WESTCHESTER IN THE ATL
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BY AJ WOODSON
OPRAH CAMPAIGNS OBAMA HAS GEORGIA VOTERS FIRED UP! FOR STACEY ABRAMS RESIDENTS STAND IN LONG LINES TO GET TICKETS RALLY IN ATLANTA GEORGIA TO SEE HIM AT STACEY ABRAMS’ Obama has some familiarity with the Atlanta college, he gave the 2013 commencement address at Morehouse.
Oprah Winfrey and Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams greeted a crowd gathered for a town hall conversation at the Cobb Civic Center's Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta, Ga., Thursday, Nov. 1st at 12:30PM. Winfrey visited Georgia on Thursday to canvass neighborhoods in Metro Atlanta and show her support for gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. The media mogul also made an apprearence with Abrams at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center, in Decatur, GA later in the day at 4:00 PM.
When Atanta residents heard that President Barack Obama was coming to Atlanta on Friday, November 2, 2018, appearing at Morehouse College for a campaign rally for Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for governor of Georgia, they stood on long lines through out the metro Atlnat area to get a ticket. Black Westchester was live at a few of the locations, Wednesday, October 31, as tickets were made available to the public. The rally is scheduled at Morehouse’s Forbes Arena, starting at 5 p.m.
And, while Kemp may believe that the tidal wave of purges may overcome a Democratic Blue Wave, there is another possibility: When a voter turning up to the polling station discovers his/her registration is missing or cancelled, the voter has the right, under federal law, to cast a “provisional” ballot. However, the man who decides whether these “provisional” ballots will be counted is... Brian Kemp. But Kemp should stop grinning. “Federal judges may feel differently about Kemp’s right not to count these provisional ballots,” says Jeanne Mirer, lead attorney on the lawsuit filed against Kemp in October. If the court determines that Kemp misused his power as Georgia’s “Purge’n General” it could order that those provisional votes be counted.
PURGED VOTERS’ “PROVISIONAL” BALLOTS COULD DECIDE GEORGIA GOVERNOR RACE BY GREG PALAST TRUTHOUT
[Macon, Georgia.] On Sunday, November 4th, I watched President Donald Trump warn a rally in Macon, Georgia, that Stacey Abrams, running to become the first Black female governor in US history, “is one of the most extreme far left politicians in the entire country,” adding, “you know that! You put Stacey in there, you’re going to have Georgia turn into Venezuela. I don’t think the people of Georgia like that.” Trump’s rant against Abrams has not driven away her many supporters. But voters like Atlanta filmmaker Rahiem Shabazz are being driven away from the ballot box. “I want to vote for Stacey Abrams.” Shabazz told me, but, “I won’t be able to vote in the November 6 election.” Shabazz’ voter registration, his right to vote, has been cancelled by Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brian Kemp. Notably, Kemp, while running the election for the state of Georgia, is also running in the election for governor of Georgia-against Democrat Stacey Abrams. Rahiem is just one of more than 340,134 Georgians Kemp has purged from the voter rolls based on dead-wrong evidence they’d moved from the state or from their home county.. It took a federal lawsuit - which I filed jointly with voting rights advocate Helen Butler - to force Kemp to divulge the names and addresses of those whose registration he cancelled in a single year, 2017.
NO NOTICE FOR PURGED VOTERS Rahiem Shabazz, like hundreds of thousands of others, had no idea he’d been flushed from the rolls, and assumed he was still registered. Kemp sent out no notice to voters after cancelling their registrations. Then Rahiem heard on radio that the Palast Investigative Fund had posted every purged voter’s name. “And lo and behold, my name is there and it’s telling me that I have to re-register to vote!” Then Rahiem heard on radio that the Palast Investigative Fund had posted every purged voter’s name. “And lo and behold, my name is there and it’s telling me that I have to re-register to vote!” He did attempt to re-register for the election, but Kemp’s office informed him it would take at least three weeks to verify his registration information. Conveniently for Kemp, that would be a week past Election Day. Federal law permits Kemp to cancel the registrations of voters who move out of state or out of their home county. But Rahiem, like every one of 340,134 others, never moved from his home county, let alone the state. “I never left the state of Georgia. I never left the county. My license has me in the same county. So all they had to do is look at my DMV records and they will see that I live in the same county.” Shabazz noted that the government has no trouble finding him to pay a parking ticket, or pay his taxes. But when purging voters, Kemp does not check his own state’s DMV nor tax records nor even the post office to see if voters have moved. Rather, Kemp looks at voting records. Miss two elections and Kemp takes that as evidence the voter has moved away. That infuriates Shabazz who skipped two elections because he didn’t like his choices. And, he says, “you have a Constitutional right to vote and a Constitutional right not to vote, right?” A CLEAR VIOLATION OF VOTING RIGHTS Scholars are debating whether the right to vote is implicit in the Constitution, but there’s no doubt that voting rights are explicit in federal law. The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote is a fundamental right.”
And there’s more: “It is the duty of the Federal, State, and local governments to promote the exercise of that right.” Furthermore, says attorney Jeanne Mirer, the National Voter Registration Act explicitly prohibits state voting officials from purging voters simply for not voting. Kemp - and two dozen other GOP Secretaries of State - claim they don’t use non-voting as grounds for taking away a person’s vote. They claim non-voting is merely evidence, when combined with failure to return a postcard to the secretary of state, that a voter moved away. But this “evidence” is clearly faulty. Data experts from CohereOne found, reviewing the DMV, postal records and dozens of other records, that not one of these 340,134 Georgians has moved. Kemp’s odd reliance on postcards to verify addresses has a serious built-in racial bias. The US Census reports that renters, young people, and Americans of color - i.e. Democrats - do not get nor return government cards and letters anywhere near the response rates of white, suburban, older homeowners - i.e. Republicans. The National Voter Registration Act does require Kemp and other Secretaries of State “to ensure that accurate and current voter registration rolls are maintained.” GOP officials call it voter list “cleansing.” Shabazz says, “I wouldn’t call it cleansing the voting roll. I would call it ethniccleansing.” It is a cruel irony that Kemp cites the National Voter Registration Act as the excuse for the purge-by-postcard trick, because using voting history and postcards makes the list monstrously inaccurate. PURGED VOTERS GET OUT THE VOTE During Trump’s Georgia rally, assorted right-wing and white supremacist attendants took selfies in front of Air Force 1, while fanatics sported Qanon, Three Percenter and Oath Keepers T-shirts. Proud Boys flashed “white power” signs. One Trumper thought Abrams’ supporters should stop complaining, telling me, “We all have rules to vote. Just follow the rules.” Still, Kemp’s wrongful purging frenzy may, in the end, backfire, even if it does not come down to a court fight over the provisional ballots. Shabazz warns Kemp, “You took one vote away, but Stacey Abrams is going to get ten more because I’m going to bring ten more people out to vote.” Greg Palast (Rolling Stone, Guardian, BBC) is the author of The New York Times bestsellers, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy and Billionaires & Ballot Bandits, now out as major motion non-fiction movie: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy: The Case of the Stolen Election, now available on Amazon and Amazon Prime.
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