VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 11
COMPLIMENTARY
JUNE 15, 2019
Unapologetically Delivering News To Communities Of Color in Westchester & Surrounding Areas
BLACK WESTCHESTER
BILLIONAIRE ROBERT F. SMITH
TO PAY OFF MOREHOUSE CLASS OF 2019’S STUDENT LOANS PAGE 14
FEATURES
THE BLACK WESTCHESTER 2019 SUMMER READING LIST FOR KIDS
PAGE 11
ROBERT SMITH CHANGED NEW ROCHELLE’S WHO IS ROBERT F. SMITH? HOW JOHN JACOB BURNS’ LIFE BY RASHAD BILAL
BW POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT YADIRA RAMOS-HERBERT
PAGE 20
PAGE 14
PAGE 13
BW AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT MAXINE N. CAMPBELL PAGE 17
BARBER RAISES
MONEY TO PAY
DEBTS OF 14 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PAGE 8
Movies were made about notorious drug dealers like Alpo and Rich Porter, songs were made about wanting to be Big Meech and Larry Hoover, but neither was made about the richest black person in American history... (continues on page 14)
You heard how billionaire Robert F. Smith promised to pay off the Morehouse College Class of 2019’s students loans, hear from New Rochelle’s John Jacob Burns what graduating debt free means to him and his family. (continues on page 15)
SERENA OBAMA SURPRISES KIDS AT MOUNT VERNON WILLIAMS D.C. AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM MAYORAL RACE WITH PEP TALK & SOFTBALL PAGE 21 PAGE 8
PAGE 7
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
2 BLACK WESTCHESTER
NEWS WITH THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW
JUNE 15, 2019
The Alzheimer’s Association presents a free symposium
Racial and Ethnic Disparities of Alzheimer’s Disease: Exploring a Genetic Link 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1 Gateway Center Davis Auditorium, Westchester Community College 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla A panel of experts will discuss Alzheimer’s disease and the higher risk of developing the disease faced by African Americans and Hispanics as well as the latest genetic research, treatment options and community resources. Call 800.272.3900 to RSVP for this free symposium.
Hudson Valley Chapter
24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900 • www.alz.org/hudsonvalley This advertisement is supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
BLACK WESTCHESTER 3
THE BALLOT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE! WRITE HER IN, SHE WILL WIN!
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
4 BLACK WESTCHESTER
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
JUNE 15, 2019 Paid for by Shanae Williams for City Council
@ShanaeVWilliams @ShanaeForYonkers /ShanaeVWilliams01
OUR COUNCILWOMAN
DEMOCRAT
SHANAE WILLIAMS. OUR NEXT GENERATION LEADER, FIGHTING FOR OUR SCHOOLS, OUR SENIORS, CLEANER STREETS, AND AFFORDABLE, WELL-MAINTAINED HOUSING.
VOTE TUES., JUNE 25
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
NEWS WITH THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW
BLACK WESTCHESTER 5
FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK Founded in 2014 by DAMON K. JONES AJ WOODSON Published by URBANSOUL MEDIA GROUP 455 Tarrytown Rd., Suite 1318 White Plains, NY 10607 (914) 979-2093 www.BlackWestchester.com
Email:
BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: @BlkWestchesterM Instagram: @BlackWestchester Facebook: /BlackWestchesterMagazine
Publisher DAMON K. JONES @DamonKJones
Editor-In-Chief AJ WOODSON
@BWEditorInChief
Mistress Of Information Brenda L. Crump News Reporters/ Writers AJ Woodson Damon K. Jones Rashad Bilal Lorraine Lopez Marvin Church Jacqulin King Cynthia Turnquest-Jones
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 June 15, 2019 Issue of Black Westchester. By now everyone has heard about Billionaire Robert F. Smith pledge to pay the student loans of Morehouse College’s Class of 2019, will in addition to reporting that incredible news (page 14) we caught up to one of the graduates John Jacob Burns of New Rochelle and discussed how that changed his life and the blessing of leaving school debt free (page 15). It’s the time again for the Black Westchester 2019 Summer Reading List for the youth. We publish this every year in our effort to promote literacy in our young brothers and sisters (page 11) and we spotlight a new Black Author Maxine Campbell (page 17) and spotlight three great documentaries we feel all our readers must see (page 25). Of course, you expect the News With The Black Point Of View (pages 6-9) and a couple of political spotlights in our Latino Empowerment section (page 20) Thank you to all our supporters, advertisers, distributors, writers, photographers, editors and everyone who had a hand in us bringing you another edition on Black Westchester. Send us your feedback and let us know what you think of this issue and let us know subjects / topics you would like to see us cover in the future by sending an email to BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com. Peace and Blessings
Photographers AJ Woodson Graphic Designers AJ Woodson Paula S. Woodson/ PS Visually Speakin’ For Advertising Rates AdvertiseWithBW@gmail.com Letters To The Editor BWEditorInChief@gmail.com
Get BlackGet Westchester Black Westchester DeliveredDelivered To Your Home for $25 For a year $25 awww.BlackWestchster.com/subscribe year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
6 BLACK WESTCHESTER
BW NEWS
JUNE 15, 2019
AG JAMES & COMPTROLLER DINAPOLI ANNOUNCE ARREST AND INDICTMENT OF MT VERNON CORPORATION COUNSEL IN $365,000 CORRUPTION SCHEME
PUBLIC FUNDS WERE ALLEGEDLY USED UNLAWFULLY TO PAY FOR CRIMINAL DEFENSE OF MT VERNON MAYOR RICHARD THOMAS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM
WESTCHESTER – New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the arrest and indictment of the City of Mount Vernon Corporation Counsel Lawrence Porcari for abusing his position as a public official by engaging in a scheme that defrauded the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply of $365,000 to pay the personal legal expenses of the Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas and a public relations firm. “New York has zero tolerance for those who cheat taxpayers, commit fraud, or violate the public trust,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “My office is committed to rooting out corruption and bringing bad actors to justice at every
level of government and in every corner of this state. Working closely with Comptroller DiNapoli, we will continue to diligently pursue public integrity issues so that the people of New York get the good government that they deserve.” “Mr. Porcari allegedly violated both his duty as a public servant and as an attorney by diverting public money and falsifying records” said State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “I will continue to partner with Attorney General Letitia James to expose corruption and protect taxpayer funds.” Porcari is charged with one count of Corrupting the Government in the First Degree and one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree as a crime of Public Corruption, both class B felonies, as well as one count of Defrauding the Government and four counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, all class E felonies. According to documents filed with the Westchester County Court, Porcari allegedly misappropriated funds from the City of Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply to pay law firms for the personal defense of Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas in criminal proceedings, as well as a public relations firm hired at the time of Thomas’s arrest in March 2018. Approval for the rate of payment for one of the law firms and the public relations firm was sought from the City’s Board of Estimate and Contract on multiple dates in April and May of 2018 but was never obtained. Instead, Porcari allegedly arranged for payments from the funds from the Board of Water Supply, which consists of money paid by customers for their use of water and whose use is limited by state and local law to Board of Water Supply purposes. The scheme allegedly continued into the fall of 2018 with payments from the Board of Water Supply to a second firm later retained for Thomas’s defense. To further the scheme, Porcari allegedly submitted memorandums to the Board of Water Supply for “emergency” payments to the law firms, including memorandums containing false statements. Porcari was arraigned in Westchester County Court in White Plains, New York, before Judge David Zuckerman on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. The Defendant was ordered to surrender his passport and was released on his own recognizance. The case was adjourned to June 5, 2019. If convicted on the top charge, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of eight and a third to twenty-five years in state prison.
MOUNT VERNON CORPORATION COUNSEL 83 OFFICERS GRADUATE FROM LAWRENCE PORCARI ARRESTED & ARRAIGNED WESTCHESTER POLICEBYACADEMY BY AJ WOODSON AJ WOODSON
Mount Vernon - Lawrence A. Porcari, Jr., Esq. Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon turned himself in Wednesday, May 29th after being indicted in the state attorney general’s probe of the misuse of city funds. Porcari, a resident of Yonkers was arraigned on felony charges of offering a false instrument. Porcari was spotted being escorted by his attorney and members of the NYS Attorney General’s office to court in White Plains to be arraigned. He pled not guilty at his arraignment this morning in Westchester County Court. Porcari was represented by Joseph Spiezio’s Florida lawyers who are also handling Mayor Richard W. Thomas‘s corruption case. Mayor Thomas defended the city’s top lawyer saying he believes Porcari is innocent. “I have the highest confidence in Corporation Counsel Porcari’s legal judgment as he has served with distinction since joining my administration in 2016,” Mayor Thomas said in a statement issued by his pr firm CDG Agency. “Larry is innocent and everyone must remember that an indictment is simply an accusation based on allegations that must be proven in court... These allegations are part of the false narrative that was presented to the same grand jury that voted not to indict me.” This is the latest development in the NYS Attorney General’s corruption case against Mayor Thomas and follows an announcement the grand jury declined to indict Mayor Richard W. Thomas in the case of the use of Mt. Vernon Water Department funds for Mayor Thomas’ personal legal bills according to Thomas’s lawyers. Thomas and his lawyers maintained that the mayor “received sound counsel from the Mount Vernon Corporation Council in connection with the water department payments at issue. Council President André Wallace who led the council’s call for an investigation on September 25, 2018 after claiming Mayor Thomas is using the Water Department as a slush fund operation stated Mr. Porcari’s allegedly improper use of funds from the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply, one of the Mayor’s “black box” agencies (like the Urban Renewal Agency and the Mount Vernon Industrial Development Agency, on which Mr. Porcari serves as ViceChairman), calls into question the failure of leadership and “culture of corruption” “This administration has lost its way, clearly, and they have repeatedly acted like the rules don’t apply to them,” Councilman Wallace shares with Black Westchester. “That’s $365,000 that belongs to the people of this City, that could have been used to fix the sewers, clean up Memorial Field, maintain the sanitation trucks, and fill the holes on the streets and in the City’s budget. I’m going to go after that money.” Mayor Thomas who is running for re-election in a heated Democratic primary also rejected a final plea offer – on May 17th – that would have allowed him to avoid incarceration if he pleaded to a misdemeanor and one of the six felony charges he is facing and stepped down as mayor. He also could have had the felony conviction expunged if he successfully completed a period of probation. Porcari was at one time a Yonkers Corporation Counsel alleged to have have been conflicted because he was also a confidante/stooge of Joseph Spiezio, III, reported the Yonkers Tribune. “It is great that the [state] Comptroller’s office and the Attorney General’s office is moving to protect the public trust in Mount Vernon,” Councilwoman Delia Farquharson who is also running for Mayor of Mount Vernon as a write-in candidate tells Black Westchester. Councilman Wallace sent a letter to Mayor Thomas calling for the removal of Porcari as Corporation Council, Wednesday afternoon.
Will go to work for 23 law enforcement agencies Purchase, NY – Eighty-three police recruits graduated Friday from the Westchester County Police Academy and are headed off to work at 22 law enforcement agencies in Westchester and one in Putnam. The new officers, who completed 20 weeks of training at the police academy in Valhalla, received their diplomas during a ceremony at Westchester Community College. County Executive George Latimer, Public Safety Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason, and Westchester District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. addressed the graduates of the 147th Session Basic Police Recruit Class and congratulated them for mastering the physical and academic demands of the Academy. “Congratulations to the 83 men and women from the 147th Session, and their families, for their hard work over the past four months that brought them successfully to graduation today,” County Executive Latimer tells Black Westchester. “Police work is a challenging profession and the work is often demanding and stressful. Thanks to Commissioner Gleason, Chief Inspector Martin McGlynn, Lt. Nicholas Alongi and the staff and instructors at the Academy, all can be confident these graduates have the knowledge, skills, tactics, and training to help them handle whatever comes their way.” THE NEW OFFICERS AND THEIR DEPARTMENTS ARE: Westchester County: Rachel Santiago and John Severi. Bedford: David Friedman. Eastchester: Nicholas Todino. Elmsford: John Barrett. Greenburgh: Justin Flynn, Paul Kandilou, Robert Martin and Vitaily Tarshentsev. Harrison: Michael Forgione, Robert Longo, Alexandra Menniti and David Tolve. Mamaroneck Town: Jennifer Guski and John Na. Mount Pleasant: Brian Givney and Andrew Texeira. Mount Vernon: Wendell Barbour, Samantha Betty-McLeggon, Christopher Cartwright, Robert Francis, William Guevara, Guillermo Lizarzaburu and Francisco Medina. New Rochelle: Alex Arias, Kari Bird, Matthew Moskalik, Wayne Nelson II, Jesse Pugliese, Alessandra Ricigliano, Anthony Sabatino, Marlon Stewart and Liam Wynne. North Castle: Julia DeCrenza and William Young. Peekskill: Angelo Cintron, Jr., Ramon Santos and Russell Schum. Pelham: Robert DiNapoli and Vincent RiPulone. Pelham Manor: Edward Fattorini and Nicholas Manias. Pleasantville: Jesus Bangurra. Port Chester: Andy Polanco. Putnam Sheriff’s Office: Connor Carroll, Robert Loprieno and Elizabeth Sangalli. Rye: Joao Anjo, Joshua Belloise, Jesse Calcagni and Robert Jones. Scarsdale: Anthony Mery and Aidan Sullivan. SUNY Purchase: Matthew Alto and Dina Chakides. Tuckahoe: Peter Costa. White Plains: Shawna Amato, Winston McCormack, Anthony Rudovic, Sierra Vitolo. Yonkers: Edward Byrne, Dean Campana, Marc Caro, Frank Cimadomo, Christopher Cooney, Kevin Dempsey, Filipe Fernandes, Max Gonzalez, Thomas Gray, Kaitlin Hold, Luke Kusick, Adam Leddy, Joel Lozada, Katerine Mata, Paul Meara, Michael Olijarczyk, Joseph Pasciotty, Dana Pierdiluca, Rachelle Sainten, Johnathan Soto, Dylan Thomas, Juan Vasquez and John Wilt.
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 A Year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
BW NEWS
BLACK WESTCHESTER
7
MOUNT VERNON MAYORAL RACE BECOMES HOTLY CONTESTED
BY AJ WOODSON
Mayor Richard W. Thomas
Council President André Wallace
MOUNT VERNON -- The City of Mount Vernon is no stranger to hotly contested mayoral races and the summer of 2015 was one of the hottest and ugliest Mayor races the city had ever seen. The 2019 race doesn’t show signs of being anymore civil, but shared one thing in common with its predecessor, this upcoming primary vote will be the most important decisions the resident of Mount Vernon will have to make. As Mount Vernonites head to the polls for the Democratic Primary - two and a half months earlier than previous primaries - where three candidates to challenge much-maligned Mayor Richard W. Thomas who is running for reelection - 13 days before the beginning of his corruption case. Just weeks after passing up on a plea deal that would have spared him any jail time but called for him to step down from office - Council President André Wallace, former Planning Commissioner Shawyn Patterson-Howard (2016-2017) and Former Mount Vernon Police Commissioner (1991-1994), each intention to replace the embattled mayor. If the United Black Clergy (UBC) sponsored mayoral debate at Grace Baptist Church, Monday, June 3rd was any indication the 2019 race could possibly get uglier than the 2015 race. Mayor Thomas and Patterson-Howard shared blows on her tenure as planning commissioner and how it ended, the mayor and council president shared a few blows as well, with the mayor accusing Wallace of setting him up referring to his current corruption case. Even Isley who drew first blood hit the mayor with a low blow in his opening statement. It became obvious why each candidate was running because they felt the city deserve better than what they are getting from the current mayor and feels they are the candidate that can bring Mount Vernon back on track. While that was obvious, the first debate of the race and the current activity on social media was also evident that the city that was already divided is getting more so every day as the primary approached. It’s not just the candidates attacking each other but the supporters - most who were friends or close associated drawing battle lines and making permanent enemies over a temporary situation. No matter who prevails on June 25th the wound inflicted on the road to the primary will take much longer to heal - some may never fully heal. No matter who wins, if the residents dont find a way to work together everyone loses
THE CANDIDATES Shawyn Patterson-Howard, a powerful public speaker and the current and former President and CEO on the Yonkers YMCA has a lot of leadership experience and is more than qualified but according to some residents we spoke to cannot shake her affiliation with the Thomas Administration and Mayor Thomas major campaign donor Joseph Spiezio a former board member of the YMCA and - according to a letter from Patterson-Howard he posted the day after the UBC debate - someone who was very active at the YMCA despite Patterson-Howard denial she barely knew him. It led many to believe she is either lying now or lied when she wrote the glowing letter of recommendation for Spiezio on YMCA letterhead. If she can shake the Spiezio connection and not speaking up while part of the Thomas Administration from the sounds of the rousing applause she could be the next Mayor of Mount Vernon. The Former Police Commissioner - Clyde A. Isley has years of leadership experience as former commissioner of both the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Westchester County Department of Correction both jobs he was fired from. While he stated as an example of integrity and
NEW YORK STREETS ARENA FOOTBALL TEAM TO HOLD A YOUTH FOOTBALL CLINIC IN YONKERS
On Wednesday, June 5th a press conference was held to announce a partnership between the New York Streets National Arena Football team, Yonkers Public Schools and Yonkers My Brother’s Keeper that will provide mentoring, literacy support for emerging readers and an empowerment program that will benefit several hundred students in grades one through twelve. As part of the agreement, there will also be a youth football clinic for about 100 high school football players that will be held on Wednesday June 12th at Roosevelt High School from 3pm to 5pm. The clinic will be led by the Streets’ coaches with support from Yonkers football coaches. “I’m really excited for the opportunity to get our staff and players out in the community,” said Streets Head Coach Rick Marsilio. “Anytime our staff and players can help local communities and neighborhoods is a win-win.” The clinic, as well as the other components of the agreement that will also include a town hall community discussion on Wednesday July 17th, is designed to introduce the Streets and the sport of Arena Football to young players and fans in the community. With an opportunity to learn fundamentals of the game from the Streets’ coaches and players and to be able to meet their local heroes, the clinic is an important part of the franchise’s mission statement. “The youth is so important to how we change the world we live in,” said Streets Owner Corey Galloway. “Our goals have always been to be in the community and make indoor football accessible to those who can’t afford to witness NFL football.”
Shawyn Patterson-Howard
Clyde A. Isley
honesty - two of the seven qualities highlighted by the UBC as a must for the new mayor, he was the Police Commissioner during one of the most corrupt period of the department which led to FBI arresting three Mount Vernon police officers who stole $10,000 from a gym bag filled with cash and the incident was captured on videotape in 1994, shortly before he was dismissed by Mayor Blackwood. He said as proof of his integrity he co-operated with the federal investigation - something everyone is required to do during a federal investigation. A much better of example would have been that he was the one who called for the investigation from the feds. That being said he gave as good as he got during the debate and if voters can overlook that and some incident with finances 29 years ago that was brought up, he appears to be a candidate that the UBC were trying to influence the residents they should vote for. The latest poll had Isley in second place. The City Council President - André Wallace. One thing that many praise him for - being the only one to stand up to the corruption - is his blessing and his curse. While many feel he is the only one fighting for the people, there are many who feel he too is part of the problem because of his frequent appearances on the local news fighting with the mayor. The problem is with so many spins of every story, every incident, some of the people do not know who to believe. Mayor Thomas and his administration have accused Wallace of everything under the sun, the problem with the Mayor’s very effective media machine, many believe what is said about Wallace is true. If he can overcome those obstacles in the public’s eyes he could be the next Mayor. Wallace has been the frontrunner in all the polls but he will still have to fight to the end if he is to prevail. The Mayor - Richard W. Thomas, the youngest City Councilman in Mt. Vernon history who became the city’s youngest mayor four years later after unseating four-term mayor Ernest D. Davis. Also on his impressive resume are the words Arrested, Arraigned and Indicted. Three words that may haunt the millennial Mayor whose corruption case takes place right after the primary, if residents are uncertain if they vote for him, will he be able to serve the term. During the UBC debate, he was the one all the candidates took the most shots at, but that is expected for any incumbent from those who want to replace him. But his media oversaturation often covers many of what can be considered his misdeeds. From his association with Speizio - campaign donor turned Deputy Police Commissioner - to his highly publicized corruption case to the arrest of his appointees - Building Commissioner Dan Jones (DWI, Driving With A Suspended License, etc), Corporation Council Lawrence A. Porcari, Jr., Esq., who was arrested, arraigned and indicted for engaging in a scheme that defrauded the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply of $365,000 to pay the personal legal expenses of the Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas and a public relations firm - just to name a few. With four candidates in the race, one would be a fool to count Mayor Thomas out and think he doesn’t stand a chance, they said that in 2015 as well and we see how that went. Despite the bad press, the corruption case, the association with Spiezio, etc, there are still some that think the mayor is doing a great job and should be re-elected. I cannot predict the winner but from everything we’ve seen, from everyone we spoke to I can tell you this - this will be a hotly contested race down to the very last minute and the residents have a very big decision to make that will dictate the future of Mount Vernon a city in crisis. I encourage every registered voter to watch and/or attend the remaining debates and make an informed decision on June 25th. Mount Vernonites need to vote like their future, their life depends on it because it just might! Since Arena Football first arrived on the sports scene in 1987, millions of fans across the country have been able to experience the high-scoring and fastpaced excitement of the fifty yard indoor war. New York has had other Arena Football teams in the past and those clubs, especially the New York Dragons, took part in many community outreach efforts The Streets are back in action when they return home to the Westchester County Center in White Plains on Saturday afternoon June 8th to battle the defending NAL champion Carolina Cobras in a 3pm kickoff. If you can’t make it out to the game, join me along with Will Holder for all of the play by play on the MSG Network as well as on the National Arena League’s YouTube channel. New York Streets individual game tickets are available at ticketmaster.com. For season and group ticket information, call 1-833-697-8733 and choose extension one.
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
8 BLACK WESTCHESTER
NEWS ACROSS THE NATION
JUNE 15, 2019
OBAMA SURPRISES KIDS AT D.C. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM WITH PEP TALKS AND SOFTBALL
memoir (and so far staying mostly out of the 2020 primary), he’s visited with D.C. kids at McKinley Technology High School and the Jelleff Boys & Girls Club. Tal Alter, the academy’s executive director, said the former president’s visit was a “validation” of the kids’ efforts. “There was a feeling of excitement and happiness to be seen and recognized by President Obama, and to feel like he’s acknowledging the hard work they’ve put in on and off the field,” he said. The highlight-reel moment? For Alter, it was when the former president threw a pass for a touchdown during a game of touch football, and the kids went wild — not for Obama, but for their fellow student who caught it. “That for me is an indication that the staff is doing something right, that they celebrated the young man and not the president,” he said. Obama has never been accused of being a guy who can’t multitask: The visit on May 22nd doubled as an errand run, too, when Obama picked up a bag of groceries at the academy’s on-site farmers market. Even out of office he is still more presidential than the current Colluder-In-Chief, that replaced him, can you picture Trump taking time out his day to spend with the youth?
Washington D.C. - OUR President Barak Obama shocked local students attending after-school programs at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Southeast D.C. on Wednesday, May 22nd, when he dropped by for a visit, during which he played softball (he hit a double on the first pitch, despite claiming his game was “raggedy”), tossed a football around and shared some encouraging words. “If you work hard and listen to your coaches . . . I’m going be on the lookout for you,” Obama said. “You’re going to do something important. You’re going to make a real difference, and we’re going to be proud of you.” The facility, which is affiliated with the city’s baseball team, provides academic support and baseball and softball for D.C. kids. Obama’s postWhite House schedule has been a busy one — in addition to writing his
JUMAANE WILLIAMS ARRESTED DURING RENT BARBER RAISES MONEY TO PAY REGULATION DEMONSTRATION IN ALBANY DEBTS OF 14 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams was arrested on Tuesday, June 4th in the state capitol during a protest demanding the passage of a package of reforms to the state’s rent regulations before they expire on June 15th. Williams was fighting for universal rent control, among other tenant protections, during a HousingJustice4All
protest outside Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office. These laws, he said, would shield tenants across the state from frivolous eviction. Landlords, however, say if the bills are passed, they will no longer be able to maintain their apartment stock. “Earlier today I joined 60 other housing advocates from across the state who were arrested during a protest at the New York State Capitol demanding the passage of comprehensive reforms to our state’s rent regulations— something that would provide much needed relief for countless New York tenants,” Jumaane shared with Black Westchester Tuesday afternoon. “We made our voices heard loud and clear: people are demanding #UniversalRentControl and time is running out for Albany to get this done. We gained momentum today support, but now we just need state lawmakers to get it done and put in on Governor Cuomo’s desk at the New York State Capitol.” This is not the first time Williams has been arrested for a political act. He was arrested in 2015 for the same political cause — a sit-in for rent control in front of the governor’s office. He was also arrested in 2018 for protesting the detention by ICE of immigrant-rights activist Ravi Ragbir. He was arrested as well in 2018 for protesting President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, and in 2010 for protesting Arizona’s immigration law. In a press conference broadcasted on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon following his release, Williams said, “When I was running for public advocate, a lot of people asked if I would continue doing disobedience. And I said, ‘Certainly, if it makes sense.’” Williams said he was proud to have joined the demonstrators from the tenants’ advocate group Housing Justice. “We want all these nine bills before June 15,” he said.
Charlotte, N.C. - Even though she may never grace the cover of Forbes as one of the richest Black Americans, a North Carolina barbershop owner raised enough money to erase the debts of more than a dozen high school seniors who risked not graduating if they didn’t pay them off. When Season Bennett heard that investor Robert F. Smith had pledged to pay off the debts of the 400 students graduating from Morehouse College this year, to the tune of $40 million, she immediately understood how much an impact the charitable act was going to have on these young people with dreams of changing the world. “I thought, ‘Wow, that is just such a powerful thing for anybody,’” Bennett, who owns Headlines Barbershop in Charlotte, told CBS affiliate WBTV. “So many students go into so much debt just trying to get an education.” “It just seems like that’s just the basic in our culture,” Bennett said. “You need to get at least your high school diploma.” Inspired by Smith’s generosity, Bennett contacted East Mecklenburg High School and inquired about the debts of any seniors that could keep them from graduating. That’s when she found out 14 students owed money to the school and were not going to receive their diploma until it was paid in full, in accordance with the district’s policy, the outlet said. “We called the school to find out if there were any graduating seniors that wouldn’t be able to graduate because they owe fees,” Bennett wrote in the description of a GoFundMe page she started to pay off the student’s debt, which totaled $4,500. “We were told that there are 14 seniors at East Mecklenburg High School who can’t walk at graduation or receive their diploma because they owe money.”
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
BW NATIONAL NEWS
BLACK WESTCHESTER 9
GOVERNOR CALLS FOR SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON GUN CONTROL IN WAKE OF VIRGINIA BEACH MASSACRE
BY AJ WOODSON
Shortly after 4:00 pm on Friday, May 31st, a longtime employee of the Public Utilities Department who Virginia Beach officials identified as Dewayne Craddock, 40, entered the building and began shooting indiscriminately at all the victims. Saying it’s time for “votes and laws, not thoughts and prayers,” Gov. Northam said. “Once more hearts are broken, lives are shattered and families are crushed,” Northam, flanked by government leaders, said during a speech in Richmond, the state’s capital. “Once more a community is in shock and pain and grief. And once more we will hear folks offer their thoughts and prayers,” he said. “We must do more than our thoughts and prayers. We must give Virginians action.” The governor exercised his authorities under the state constitution to call the legislature into special session to tackle the issues, saying the state cannot afford to put off the challenge of protecting its citizens from gun violence. “There are already those who say it’s too soon after the tragedy to talk about responses. I would say to those people: ‘when is the right time?’” “I want this to be the last time,” said Northam, a Democrat elected governor in 2018. Northam, a former U.S. Army doctor, said that a lot of the proposals he has in mind were recommended after a gunman killed 33 people at Virginia Tech University in April of 2007. The recommendations he will make now, he said, will include banning assault weapons and ammunition magazines that can hold 10 rounds or more, requiring universal background checks and limiting purchases to one gun a
Laquita C. Brown, Tara Welch Gallagher, Mary Louise Gayle, Alexander Mikhail Gusev, Katherine A. Nixon, Richard H. Nettleton, Christopher Kelly Rapp, Ryan Keith Cox, Joshua O. Hardy, Robert “Bobby” Williams, Michelle “Missy” Langer, and Herbert “Bert” Snelling. Say their names, they join a long list of victims of sensless gun violence in the United States. “Time and time again, members of the Virginia legislature have chosen to put profits over people, siding with the corporate gun lobby over keeping people safe from gun violence. Now, they have an opportunity to make this right,” Kris Brown, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said in a statement. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam called for an emergency special session of the state legislature on Tuesday to take action on gun control in the wake of a mass shooting at a government building in Virginia Beach that left 12 people dead.
month. “None of these ideas are radical, none of them violate the Second Amendment,” Northam said. The National Rifle Association said the governor is “following the gun control playbook by exploiting a tragedy to push his failed political agenda.” “The fact is none of the governor’s gun control proposals would have prevented the horrible tragedy at Virginia Beach,” Jennifer Baker, director of public affairs for the NRA Institute of Legislative Action, said in a statement. “If Gov. Northam is genuinely interested in pursuing policies that will save lives, he should focus on prosecuting violent criminals and fixing our broken mental health system, instead of blaming Virginia’s law-abiding gun owners for the act of a deranged murderer.” Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights organization, called the governor’s demands for a special session “political theater” designed to deflect attention from “his recent foibles” over photos that appeared on his 1984 medical school yearbook page of an individual wearing blackface and another dress in a Ku Klux Klan hood and robe. Northam has denied the photos are of him and says he does not know how they ended up published on his yearbook page. On Friday afternoon, the suspect -- identified by authorities as city public utilities engineer DeWayne Craddock, 40 -- allegedly went on a shooting rampage in Building 2 of the Municipal Center in Virginia Beach. Just hours before the rampage, Craddock resigned from his job in an email, citing “personal reasons” that he did not elaborate on.
DR. ASHLEY ROXANNE PETERSON IS THE YOUNGEST BLACK OSTEOPATHIC DOCTOR EVER
BY AJ WOODSON
future endeavors. At just 15, Peterson enrolled at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte to study Anthropology and minor in Sociology. In addition to medicine, Peterson is also a fashion enthusiast, participating in the extracurricular Finding Yourself in Fashion during her four years on campus. Of course, she endured periods where many doubted her abilities based on her age. In spite of that, Peterson prevailed and admits she would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Everyone has reasons why they decide to pursue their chosen career path. After watching her parents serve in the military and various educational sectors, Peterson knew a future helping people, specifically in medicine was the best decision for her upon graduation from high school. Time spent in undergrad shadowing doctors and volunteering only strengthened her interests. As far as giving words of wisdom to those who have their sights on medicine or any other job for that matter, Peterson’s primary piece of encouragement is to never give up.
Dr Rox is dedicated to using her platform to bring more attention to minority health. Dr. Ashley Peterson is well aware the sacrifices it takes in order to reach your goals. After all, the is the youngest Black Osteopathic doctor ever, according to Black News. At 24, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduate is set to embark on a new journey with a Family Medicine residency at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. In an exclusive interview with Black News, the California native spoke candidly about her undergrad years, choosing medicine as a career and her
“If you fall nine times, stand up ten,” she advises.
Secondly, Peterson says to remain grounded, remember why you embarked on your career path and to use that as a catalyst for remaining motivated. “I went into medicine knowing that I want to help underserved and minority communities and I am continuing those passions as I continue into residency,” she said. “I chose my residency based off their mission statement, current leadership, and how they give back to the community.” Peterson plans to use her degree to help struggling communities in her neighborhood. From there, she’ll expand her reach to global medicine, preventative care and minority well-being. She currently blogs at www.drashleyroxanne.com and posts at https:// www.instagram.com/drashleyroxanne/ where you can continue to follow her story as she continues residency in Atlanta, Georgia. We are excited to see where her passions lead her next. BW salutes Dr. Ashley Roxanne Peterson!
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
10 BLACK WESTCHESTER
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
JUNE 15, 2019
Opportunity – Marketing The Wall Street Journal called WVOX and WVIP "America's Great Community Stations!" And now as the last remaining, true community stations in Westchester ... we're adding to our Marketing and Advertising Departments with Immediate Openings for highly-motivated and dynamic Advertising Account Executives ... perfect opportunities for personable, confident and articulate individuals who know and love Westchester as we do ... where you make your own hours ... as a full or part time Advertising and Marketing Executive. Call our station President David O'Shaughnessy and come in for a tour of our modern studios in New Rochelle. Hudson Westchester Radio Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. David O’Shaughnessy 914-636-1460 David@WVOX.com
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home
JUNE 15, 2019
BW YOUTH LITERACY
BLACK WESTCHESTER11
THE 2019 BLACK WESTCHESTER
SUMMER READING LIST FOR CHILDREN BY CYNTHIA TURNQUEST-JONES EDUCATOR M.S. ED
T
here is no cheaper education than a book. Books are a fountain of ideas and stories for writers. Setting aside a regular time during the day that is dedicated to only reading is essential. Traveling with books is a healthy reading habit. Always having a book means you are ready to read wherever you go. Reading is life changing and Children who dive into books reach levels of richness. Summer reading is an awesome opportunity to continue building your vocabulary and travel with an author. Dancers, athletes, musicians and other experts practice daily. Without practicing they believe that they will become rusty. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Summer Reading Defeats Summer Learning Loss Exercise the Brain Over Summer Increase Knowledge Encourage Summer Reading
Here are some books you can dive into this summer: EARLY CHAPTER BOOK SERIES AGES 5 TO 9
MIDDLE CHAPTER BOOKS AGES 9 TO 14
Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne. The Magic Tree House books have a solid track record of hooking kids. In this series, a brother and sister team, Jack and Annie, travel through time and space in their magic tree house to go on a variety of missions.
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. Set during one of the most tumultuous years in recent American history, One Crazy Summer is the heartbreaking, funny tale of three girls who travel to Oakland, California, in 1968 in search of the mother who abandoned them.
Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke. A truly unique early chapter book series about a girl named Anna Hibiscus who lives in “Africa, Amazing Africa.” Anna Hibiscus is a delightfully curious character who lives with her Canadian mother, African father, twin baby brothers Double and Trouble and close-knit extended family.
Darnell Rock Reportingby Walter Dean Myers, Walter D. Meyers. DARNELL ROCK IS not the kind of kid who volunteers to write for the newspaper—it sounds too much like homework. But this is Darnell’s last chance to pull himself together and make a positive contribution to his school. At first, Darnell would rather be hanging out with his sister and his friends. But soon he gets interested in the Oakdale Gazette.
Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires. A humorous series of short graphic novels about an imaginative cat named Binky. In the first book in the series, Binky plans a mission to outer space.
Maizon at Blue Hill by Jacqueline Woodson. Maizon takes the biggest step in her life when she accepts a scholarship to boarding school and says good-bye to her grandmother and her best friend, Margaret. Blue Hill is beautiful, and challenging-but there are only five black students, and the other four are from wealthy families. Does Maizon belong at Blue Hill after all? “Simply told and finely crafted.”
Judy Moody Was in a Mood and Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid by Megan McDonald and Peter Reynolds. The Judy Moody series stars a third grader who, as her name implies, experiences moods. The Judy Moody books generate mixed reactions among adults; while some think Judy Moody’s moody behavior is a bad influence on their kids, others think this series accurately captures the emotional roller coaster that many third graders experience. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look. Alvin Ho is a scared of everything: the dark, camping, punctuation… In the first book in this series, Alvin Ho faces his fear of school. The Alvin Ho books are not graphic novels, but LeUyen Pham’s fantastic graphic novel-esque illustrations may entice young graphic novel fans to try reading this series. Ivy & Bean by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall. A series about the creative adventures of two friends, Ivy and Bean. Ivy is a wellbehavied, independent thinker, while Bean is a bit of a trouble maker.
The Van Gogh Cafe by Cynthia Rylant. At the Van Gogh Cafe, anything can happen. Clara’s dad owns the cafe, and she’s seen it all—from food that cooks by itself to poems that foretell the future. This award-winning collection of vignettes by Newbery medalist Cynthia Rylant is a treat to be relished. So bring your appetite for the unexpected, because at the Van Gogh Cafe, your order of tea and toast comes with a side of magic! The Van Gogh Cafe is located in Flowers, Kansas. Schooled by Gordon Korman. Capricorn Cap Anderson has been homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Rain. When Rain is injured in a fall, Cap is forced to attend the local middle school. Although he knows a lot about Zen Buddhism, nothing has prepared him for the politics of public school. Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead. Seventh grader Georges moves into a Brooklyn apartment building and meets Safer, a twelve-year-old self-appointed spy. Georges becomes Safer’s first spy recruit. His assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Patricia Castelao Costa (Illustrator). Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all. Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows hes seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango. Wonder by R. J. Palacio. This powerful novel about a fifth grade boy born with a jarring facial deformity who insists on going to school tells us as much about his sister and classmates as it does about him. A subtle lesson on the meanings and possibilities of kindness. Without reading your power is limited, your access is limited, and conversations are limited. Ludwig Wittgenstein shared that, “The limits of my language mean the limit of my world.”
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
12 BLACK WESTCHESTER
NEWS WITH THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW
JUNE 15, 2019
I’m here for you, Yonkers. Yonkers is my home. Yonkers residents have a lot at stake this election, and no one knows more than I do how we can move Yonkers forward. It has been my mission to be a leader for my community and I will work day and night to give you the government you deserve.”
Tasha Diaz JUNE 25 TASHA DIAZ FOR COUNCIL
Paid for by Friends of Tasha Diaz
VOTE | JUNE 25 Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
BLACK WESTCHESTER13
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
14 BLACK WESTCHESTER
BLACK EXCELLENCE
JUNE 15, 2019
COVER STORIES BW COVER STORY
BILLIONAIRE PROMISES TO PAY MOREHOUSE CLASS OF 2019’S STUDENT LOANS
Robert F. Smith, the billionaire who vowed to eliminate the student debt of Morehouse College’s Class of 2019, is still in the giving spirit. He now has plans to help 1,000 students score paid internships. The entrepreneur created intern X, a sector of his Fund II Foundation. The program is helping “rising sophomores with at least a 2.8 GPA from ethnically underrepresented groups” land an eight-week summer internship in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. AT&T, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Deloitte, Citi and Vista Equity Partners are reportedly among the companies that have pledged to take on internX candidates. Smith, who received an honorary doctorate at Morehouse College’s Sunday, May 19th graduation exercises, had already announced a $1.5 million gift to the school. But during his remarks in front of the nearly 400 graduating seniors, the technology investor and philanthropist surprised nearly everyone by announcing that his family was providing a grant to eliminate the student debt of the entire Class of 2019. The gift has been estimated to be worth up to $40 million. “On behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we’re going to put a little fuel in your bus,” Smith told the 396 graduates in a surprise announcement. Pointing out the alumni seated in the audience, Smith said, “This is my class, 2019,” and challenged them to follow his lead. “My family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans,” Smith said. The announcement came as a surprise to Smith’s staff and to the staff at Morehouse, and elicited the biggest cheers of the morning. Reginald McKie, a Moorehouse alum whose son Jabari McKie is a member of the Class of 2019, says Smith’s gift will propel a generation of young men forward. “As an alum and father of a new Morehouse Man, the pride that I feel is indescribable,” Mr. McKie tells Black Westchester. “Our son overcame challenges that many would say were insurmountable; yet he persevered and EXCELLED to obtain his degree. To cap off such an achievement with a DEBT FREE gift from Robert F. Smith is amazing. This is something that will propel a GENERATION of young men forward without the weight of student loans. Class warfare is real, and our sons were just given a battleship.” The pronouncement prompted a jaw-dropping standing ovation from the graduates and their families, and chants of “MVP! MVP!” But Smith, ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the richest people in America with an estimated net worth of $4.4 billion, said he had one request from the beneficiaries of his generosity. “Now, I know my class will make sure they pay this forward,” Smith said. “I want my class to look at these alumni, these beautiful Morehouse brothers, and let’s make sure every class has the same opportunity going forward.” Morehouse President David Anthony Thomas told reporters after the graduation that the average Morehouse student leaves school $30,000 or more in debt. He said he was stunned by Smith’s announcement. He added that he had spoken to Smith on Saturday night about student debt being one of the biggest challenges graduates of Morehouse faced, but he had no idea what Smith was going to do a few hours later. “To remove that burden allows them to start this phase of their lives with so much more potential than they ever had when they sat down this morning because they can now do anything they want to do and nothing because they have to pay that debt,” Thomas said. He said that in his 30-plus years in academia, “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
WHO IS ROBERT F. SMITH
BY RASHAD BILAL
BEFORE THE MOREHOUSE GRADUATION DID YOU KNOW THE RICHEST BLACK PERSON IN AMERICA?
I recently asked a group of kids who Robert F. Smith was and they had no clue. Odds are you’ve probably never heard of him either. For those that are not familiar with him, here’s a brief overview: He grew up in Denver, is 55-years-old and is worth 4.4 billion dollars (more than Oprah). He gave $20,000,000 to the African American National Museum, is helping pretrial detainees that can’t afford bail, he gave $2,500,000 to prostate cancer research for African-American men, his charity has committed $50,000,000 to improve the representation of women and people of color in scientific research at Cornell University and he is the first Black American to sign the giving pledge, vowing to give away half of his net worth in his life time to causes focused on helping African-Americans and women. He did not get rich by way of sports or entertainment. He amassed his fortune from being the CEO of a private equity fund. Movies were made about notorious drug dealers like Alpo and Rich Porter, Songs were made about wanting to be Big Meech and Larry Hoover. But neither was made about the richest black person in American history (who’s still alive). In fact, he’s pretty much unknown. He’s been invisible in plain sight for 20 years. Pretty disturbing if you think about it. We immortalize people that made a million dollars on the streets, that’s either dead or doing 100 years in jail but are clueless about someone that made billions in the corporate world and is still living. That’s not by accident though, the latter is way more dangerous to the status quo than the former. It’s not a mystery why one is promoted over the other, but he’s on the cover of the 2018 Forbes’s annual billionaire edition; so obviously he’s not in hiding. So, we have to ask, who’s fault is it really that he’s not championed by the culture…
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
BLACK WESTCHESTER 15
BW COVER STORY
NEW ROCHELLE’S JOHN JACOB BURNS GRADUATED DEBT FREE, THANKS TO BILLIONAIRE ROBERT F. SMITH
BY AJ WOODSON
Class of 2019 Moorehouse graduate John Jacob Burns of New Rochelle on graduation day
We caught up with John Jacob Burns when he arrived back home in New Rochelle and asked him a few questions about the incredible experience. BW: When Robert F. Smith was speaking at your graduation did you have any idea he was going to make that announcement and what went through your mind as you heard the words come out of his mouth (describe how you felt in as many words as you like) JJB: No, I had no idea. We were all surprised and didn’t realize if he head serious. Then, when we realized hat he was we all just started celebrating it was a great moment. BW: Talk about what that means to not have to worry about paying back student loans, what that means to you and your family JJB: It’s a surreal feeling. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulder. It’s funny because I didn’t even realize that it was there, but now I feel more free to follow my passions. I think from this a lot more people will be helped. I am very handful for Me. Smith’s gift. BW: Future plans JJB: I studied philosophy undergrad and now I am going to the university of Chicago to pursue my Master’s of Divinity degree. I ultimately want to be a professor of philosophy and religion while preaching, doing community engagement, and educational administration work. BW: Did you know who Robert F. Smith was before he spoke at your graduation? JJB: Yeah, I knew of him only because he was doing the commencement at Morehouse. I did a bit of research prior to his coming. He has had an amazing career. The media is always trying to depict our people in a demeaning image, but I think the gesture that he made is troubling that in a powerful way. He made goodness fashionable by powerfully supporting the welfare of black lives. BW: The ABC News article states - Smith’s pledge came a month after a Wall Street Journal report showed that the student debt crisis was hitting historically black colleges like Morehouse the hardest. JJB: Yeah, this country has a huge problem with student debt right now. I think Robert Smiths gesture confronts this in at least two ways. Of course first, it alleviates the college debt of 400 collegians student. However, secondly, I think this will be a gift that continues to grow. Because if his investment in us we will have more access to being a part of the teams that work to solve this more broad reaching problem. It really was an amazing demonstration. BW: Speak about the importance of going to an HBCU, how has the experience been, how was it being a second generation Morehouse Man (was it a lot to live up to, lots of expectations) Why should Black Students consider going to an HBCU? JJB: Going to Morehouse College was the best decision of my life. I finally had space to explore the possibilities of who i can be as a human. This is an invaluable pursuit — the ability to access your potential amidst a social atmosphere that desires to see this not occur. Coming from Westchester, I was discouraged to attend an HBCU in the south. However, I would encourage as many people as possible to look into the mission and history of Morehouse — it is a transformational place.
I first heard this story while picking up the remainder of the May 15th issue of Black Westchester newspaper on the Karen Hunter Show on Sirius satellite radio. She was reading an ABC News article and all of a sudden I heard the words; “Graduate John Jacob Burns of New Rochelle, New York, was “amazed” by Smith’s grant, and said he has $35,000 in student loans.” I look over to Damon and said that’s are angle to give it a local feel. I looked up John Jacob Burns on Facebook and sent him a message and he called me 5 minutes later and we set up the interview. We also invited him and his parent to appear on our WVOX radio show The Black Westchester Power Hour. Karen Hunter continued reading... “Even graduating from Morehouse was a tremendous blessing,” Burns told ABC News. “To get all my debt paid off after that ... that was like something I couldn’t even imagine.“Throughout his speech, he talked about a commitment to black people and he obviously demonstrated it at the end of the speech,” Burns, who plans to go to graduate school at the University of Chicago on a full scholarship, said of Smith. Burns’ father, Carney Burns, who graduated from Morehouse in 1988, said that initially he couldn’t believe what he heard Smith say, and had to ask people all around him if it was true. “After each person confirmed to me, yes, in fact, what he said was true, it was elation...” BW: What does Generational Wealth mean to you JJB: generational wealth, I think, is an important step in the development of Black communities. While I think spiritual, intellectual, and moral components are similarly valuable to our growth, I think that Robert Smith’s gift now allows us to explore both. Not prioritizing commodity over humanness, we can be more at ease to further explore things like the arts or our education. But, now we can do this without being financially restrained. I think this puts us in a position where we can have a great deal of agency.
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
16 BLACK WESTCHESTER
JUNE 15, 2019
POLITICALLY SPEAKING
New Rochelle City Council District 3 Primary
June 25 Vote for David Peters Educator, Innovator, Motivator, Problem Solver, Team Builder, Policy Maker, Decision Maker, Leader!
A Record You Can Count On
Protecting Our Legacy, Building Our Future!
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY: TUESDAY, JUNE 25TH This time, go to the polls knowing which judge to elect
@JudgeMichaelTawil
www.JudgeTawil.com
ENDORSEMENTS
County Executive Deputy Executive County Legislator
Hispanic Democrats of Westchetser
George Latimer
Ken Jenkins
Peekskill Mayor
Catherine Borgia Andre Rainey
Assemblywoman County Legislator County Legislator Yonkers Councilwoman Sandy Galef Chris Johnson Terry Clements Corazon Piñeda Isaac
PAID FOR BY JUDGE TAWIL FOR COUNTY COURT 2019
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
BW AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
BLACK WESTCHESTER 17
MAXINE N. CAMPBELL - CONFESSIONS OF A BROKEN HEART BY AJ WOODSON
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted... Psalm 34:18” Mount Vernon native and first-time author Maxine N. Campbell stopped by the People Before Politics Radio Show, Sunday, May 26th to discuss the release of her upcoming book, ‘Confessions Of A Broken Heart,’ a story of healing through brokenness. Sometimes the situations we go through have nothing to do with us but so the testimony we share afterwards can bless and inspire others. That’s exactly what this author did in her book, share her testimony, tell how God blessed her in some of the worst moments of her life. Share a moment of brokenness and the healing that follows. Sometimes God uses our hurt to heal others that are hurting. Giving your personal testimony is a way to share the gospel with others by explaining your personal salvation experience. It gives other an example of how God changes lives. Maxine who was raised in Mount Vernon, almost lost my life there as well on November 18, 2006 at approximately 8:30 p.m. as well in a horrific shooting when another young lady fired a gun into her abdomen. This event is one of the things that’s told in the book. “The book is a true story of where my life was before, during and after being shot while pregnant,” Maxine shares with Black Westchester. “It’s a story of God’s grace, protection, and love for me although I had been broken in so many areas of my life. It’s a story of His miraculous saving power as He saved my son and I from death. We were inches and seconds away from death. A bullet that was supposed to go through my son’s head took a different direction and is lodged to this very day in my back. If it wasn’t for God’s love for me I would have bled to death. I lost everything (job, apartment, confidence, etc). Would have rather died, BUT GOD. Been through hell and back about ten times since then BUT GOD! You name it, I’ve been through it all. The message is to let people know that there is truly nothing impossible for God. And great things Maxine N. Campbell is a mother, educator, and most of all a woman servant-leader of God. She graduated Cum Laude from the City University of New York-Lehman College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Africana & Africana American Studies. She was the 2017 recipient of the Jean Harris honors award and scholarship. She is currently a New York City Teaching Fellow and is a graduate student of the Pace Univ. School of Education. Maxine will be receiving a dual Masters Degree in Childhood Education & Students With Disabilities in the fall of 2019. Upon graduation, she plans on earning her Doctor of Education degree. Maxine desires to enhance the current state of the educational system so that people of color can have equal opportunities to those of their peers. She plans to write policies and sit on organizational boards in order to change the current state of the educational culture. Maxine’s life journey has been and continues to be a true testament of the love, grace, favor, and power of God. Maxine N. Campbell is a mother, educator, and most of all a woman servant-leader of God. She graduated Cum Laude from the City University of New YorkLehman College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Africana & Africana American Studies. She was the 2017 recipient of the Jean Harris honors award and scholarship. She is currently a New York City Teaching Fellow and is a graduate student of the Pace University School of Education. Maxine will be receiving a dual Masters Degree
in Childhood Education & Students With Disabilities in the fall of 2019. Upon graduation, she plans on earning her Doctor of Education degree. Maxine desires to enhance the current state of the educational system so that people of color can have equal opportunities to those of their peers. She plans to write policies and sit on organizational boards in order to change the current state of the educational culture. The life alter incident that happen to Maxine was almost 13 years ago, but before she could write this book, she had to all God to help her process all she had been through and she had to forgive a few people and herself. “Alot of people ask me why the book now,” Maxine shared on PBP Radio, “I first begin to say that is was something that was long overdue, because the incident happened almost 13 years ago. But I think, I’m a woman of faith and I think that God hd to process me, I had to forgive a lot of people, I had to forgive myself, just going through processing and preperation and now it was just the time, it was just the time.” Maxine’s life journey has been and continues to be a true testament of the love, grace, favor, and power of God. The book is available at www. healingthrubrokenness.com
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
18BLACK WESTCHESTER
NEWS WITH THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW
JUNE 15, 2019
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
BW EDITORIALS
BLACK WESTCHESTER19
IS KELLYANNE CONWAY THE NEW MICHAEL COHEN? BY JACQULIN KING Michael Cohen stood by Donald Trump (the President of the United States of America) for more than a decade. Initially, Mr. Cohen was Treasurer on the Board of TRUMP TOWER New York. Later, he was Trump’s personal lawyer, “fixer”, and closest confidant. Mr. Cohen told Vanity Fair, September 7, 2017: ” I’m the guy who would take a bullet for President Trump.” Like Michael Cohen did, Kellyanne Conway presently stands by Donald Trump. Kellyanne is Donald Trump’s Senior White House Counselor. A job which is making her take not just one bullet, but an array of bullets; for the President. One recent example of Kellyanne ‘standing by the President’… On May 22, 2019, President Trump stormed out of a meeting with Congressional Democratic leaders in the White House; leaving Speaker of the House Pelosi to say, “the President’s family or his administration or his staff should stage an intervention for the good of the country.” Kellyanne, not one to have ANYONE speak ill of her boss, asked, “respectfully, Madam Speaker, do you have a direct response to the President?” Kellyanne remarked. Speaker Pelosi fired back: “When I have a direct response to the President, I will speak directly to the President, not members of his staff.” “Really great,” Kellyanne whimpered, taking the bullet. “That’s really pro-woman of you.” Kellyanne not only took a bullet from the Speaker of the House, earlier in March of this year, she defended Trump, instead of her own husband (George Conway). GEORGE CONWAY: (twitter) “Deranged Donald is back at it again. Deranged Donald can do things like this and it’s not even the top of the news, because it gets lost beneath all of the other deranged things that Deranged Donald does.”
China’s Pharmaceutical Distributors (aka, U.S. primary opioids suppliers) and their Net Worth: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Sun Piaoyang -- $7.1Billion Ye Chenghai & Family -- $4Billion Cao Longxiang & Family $3.82Billion ZHAO TAO -- $3.74Billion (Trump Campaign Donor) Xu Jingren -- $3.45Billion Wang Jian -- $$3.3Billion Ma Xingtian -- $3.1Billion Chen Bang -- $3.03Billion Li Li -- $2.6Billion Lei Jufang -- $2.41Billion Zhu Baoguo & Family -- $1.99Billion An Kang -- $1.93Billion Dong Wei -- $1.89Billion Hu Kaijun -- $1.89Billion Chen Xueli -- $1.7Billion Wu Yulan -- $1.69Billion Lia Baolin -- $1.63Billion Jiang West -- $1.59Billion Che Fengsheng -- $1.57Billion Cheng Xianfeng -- $1.57Billion Tse Ping -- $1.57Billion Zhu Wenchen -- $1.56Billion Hu Baifan -- $1.54Billion Shuai Fangwen -- $1.5Billion Wu Yiling & Family -- $1.49Billion Li Zongsong & Family -- $1.46Billion Yu Rong -- $1.43Billion Que Wenbin & Family -- $1.38Billion Xiu Laiqui $1.17Billion Yan Xijun & Family -- $1.16Billion Fang Tonghua & Family -- $1.13Billion
DONALD TRUMP: (twitter) “George Conway, often referred to as Mr. Kellyanne Conway by those who know him, is VERY jealous of his wife’s success & angry that QUESTIONS: I, with her help, didn’t give him the job he desperately wanted. I barely know him but 1. IF China is responsible for 90% of the world’s supply of opioids, and IF 30 of just look at him, he’s a stone-cold LOSER & husband from hell.” the billionaires (listed above) in China are in the pharmaceutical business, and IF Zhao Tao (a Trump Campaign Donor) is among the 30 billionaires; doesn’t it stand KELLYANNE: (to POLITICO in a brief telephone interview) “You think the President to reason that Zhao Tao is amassing his billions by importing opioids to the United shouldn’t respond when somebody, like my husband, a non-medical professional States? accuses him of having a mental disorder? You think the President of the United States 2. How does Zhao Tao (Chinese Pharmaceutical Giant and Trump Campaign Donor) should just take my husband’s comments sitting down? The President was obviously who heads a pharmaceutical operation which produces much of the opioids just defending me. The President left it alone for months out of respect for me.” imported into the U.S., get permission from Kellyanne to have his photo taken with President Donald J. Trump? ONE YEAR EARLIER, during a March 22, 2018 interview, Kellyanne proclaimed 3. Obviously, this photo op would need to be run by the United States Opioids Czar, proudly: “This Nation could not be more blessed than to have President Donald Trump Kellyanne; would it not? on the front lines of this Opioid Crisis. Lending his considerable heft, and his considerable platform to informing us and educating us, and to making all Americans a part of And lastly, GEORGE PAPADOPOULUS (former Trump campaign policy adviser) PAUL the solution to this crisis.” MANAFORT (former campaign chairman) RICK GATES (former Trump campaign aide) Well folks, allow me to digress and list some truth, and reality; regarding, this National MICHAEL FLYNN (Trump’s former National Security Adviser) ROGER STONE (longtime Trump Adviser); and MICHAEL COHEN (Trump former lawyer and “fixer”)…all Opioid Crisis that is causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. have been indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Team. Michael Cohen (now OPIOIDS ALERT!!!: Even more disturbing than the list below, is the notion that facing 3 years in prison) says, “I pray that those who now work for the Trump AdminChina’s goal is to become the world’s pharmacy. This goal is a part of its “Made in istration do not make the same mistakes that I have made or pay the heavy price that my family and I are paying. For I promise you that, people who blindly follow Mr. Trump China 2025” industry plan. will eventually suffer the same consequences that I am now facing. Just like Kellyanne America is China’s biggest spending customer, since America is the consumer of far Conway (and others) I did work for Mr. Trump’s campaign. So, how come I’m the one more opioids than any other country in the world. U.S. law enforcement and investiga- who’s going to prison? I’m not the one who slept with the porn star.” tors consider China the primary source of opioids flooding the United States. In fact, “Kelly-girl are you listening?” China is responsible for as much as 90% of the world’s supply of opioids.
JUNE 15TH LOOK OUT FOR
WESTCHESTER'S first bilingual magazine about business Culture & politics.
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
20 BLACK WESTCHESTER
LATINO EMPOWERMENT
JUNE 15, 2019
BW POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT: YADIRA RAMOS-HERBERT
BY LORRAINE LOPEZ
Yadira Ramos-Herbert is a candidate
running for New Rochelle City Council District 3 the June 25th Democratic primary. Yadira has been endorsed by the Working Families Party, the New Rochelle Democratic Committee and Vote Mama. Yadira received her B.A. in History from St. Francis College, a J.D. from the State Univ. of New York at Buffalo Law School and a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University. Yadira is a licensed attorney and professionally is the dean of students at Columbia Law School. Along with her husband, Yadira is raising her children in New Rochelle in the heart of the Lincoln Avenue Corridor. She has always been committed to working with youth as a volunteer in her churches and through various organizations committed to ensuring a diverse pipeline of students to law school. As a mom of young children and as president of her homeowner’s association she began to focus her time on ensuring the creation of green space and parks in her community and ensuring pedestrian crosswalks in her neighborhood were of equal quality and condition as parks and crosswalks in other parts of the city. What started as speaking at a community meeting led to the foundation of relationships with various stakeholders throughout New Rochelle and Westchester County who were able to help her meet her early goals. In 2016 she helped lead a community clean-up effort and was elected to become a member of the New Rochelle Public Library Board of Trustees. In 2018 she was selected to serve on the New Rochelle Task Force on Reducing Violence in the Lives of Children and Youth and served on the Lincoln Avenue Task Force which was the basis of the successful application for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant. The DRI is a $10 million grant will allow for stronger physical, economic, and social links between the Lincoln Avenue Corridor and the burgeoning downtown in New Rochelle. As a result of her experience both as an attorney, advocate and homeowner in her community she was selected to serve as a voting member on the local planning commission which was the
group that prioritized the projects to fulfill the mandate of the grant. The projects submitted will provide enhanced and equitable access to job opportunities, green space, human services, and multi-modal transportation, including safe and attractive pedestrian connections between the Lincoln Avenue Corridor and the downtown. Serving on the local planning commission also afforded her opportunity to work closely with key stakeholders in various levels of state government and deepened her relationships with stakeholders in city and county government. The decision to run for City Council came as the result of successfully advocating for her community as a constituent. On the Council, she will fight for affordable housing, the creation of local jobs and businesses, enhanced infrastructure in District 3 and greater access to city government. Learn more about her candidacy on www.VoteYadira.com or follow her on Facebook @yadira4newrocitycouncil page to keep up-to-date.
BW POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT: LONDON REYES L
BY LORRAINE LOPEZ
ondon Reyes is a highly respected community activist in Yonkers running for Westchester County Legislator in District 17. He and his wife are the founders of the popular AAA All-Star Program, a 501(c)3 organization, which works with the youth from Yonkers. For over 16 years without compensation, Reyes has faithfully served his community. Due to his success, neighborhoods and many young professionals encouraged him to run for public office. This would be the only way to bring effective change by supporting a community person with a proven record of improving the quality of life in Yonkers. He believes in putting Community before Politics. Reyes who is the President of the Puerto Rican Hispanic Cultural Parade of Yonkers, District Leader of Ward 2 and the Director of Entertainment for Nike Pro City for the past 17 years. He is the co-founder of the Hispanic Coalition and past President of the Yonkers Puerto Rican Hispanic Parade and Festival and Board Member of the Salvation Army. Reyes has the amazing ability to bring people together; he organized the S.O.S. rallies that helped acquire $25 million dollars in funding to the Yonkers Public School District, he created free park events call Unity in the Community, and he with his AAA All-Star organization, continue to provide over 5,000 Yonkers residents free services while helping to provide over 500 scholarships for college bound high school seniors. He has rallied in Albany for education, Paid Sick Leave and Immigration, which passed legislation. Once Reyes is in office, he wants to restore services and programs to the community which were cut due to county budget constraints. These include mental and health services, after school programs, senior activities, child care subsidies and find solutions to the affordable housing and homeless crisis. Reyes states, “The bare minimum or lack of services affect many of the issues we have in our community today. They are interconnected and must be addressed holistically in order to create change and solutions.” Reyes, who was featured in the Hip-Hop Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has made a career out of being a megaphone for those without a voice. He seeks to alter the meaning of politics by bridging the gap between the community’s needs and the services the government provides. He has been a champion of the youth and understands the needs of seniors. London has bridged the gap between police and community as demonstrated when a video of him as the MC and DJ of a Double Dutch Expo went viral. His growing popularity is due to his willingness to go the extra mile in order to get results, proving his commitment to Yonkers. London Reyes’ name will appear in row 6A for the Democratic Primary Election on Tuesday, June 25, 2019. Reyes states, “When I’m in office, I will give the people a seat at the table. Let your voices be heard and vote for change. We deserve better, more importantly, you deserve better.”
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
SPORTS NEWS
BLACK WESTCHESTER
21
SERENA WILLIAMS JUST BECAME THE FIRST ATHLETE TO MAKE FORBES’ RICHEST SELF-MADE WOMEN LIST
BY AJ WOODSON
Tennis Superstar Serena Williams continues winning on and off the court. The 23-time Grand Slam champion became the first-ever athlete to make it on the Forbes’ Richest Self-Made Women list behind big endorsements, including Nike, JPMorgan Chase and Gatorade, investing in startups — Williams has put money into 34 over the past five years — and her recently launched company, Serena Ventures, which focuses on companies founded by women and minorities.
“In 2014, (yes I know I can keep a secret) I launched Serena Ventures with the mission of giving opportunities to founders across an array of industries,” she announced on Instagram back in April. “Serena Ventures invests in companies that embrace diverse leadership, individual empowerment, creativity and opportunity.” Williams shared that she has no interest in merely being a silent partner or the face of her venture capitalist firm. She intends to play an active role. Forbes released the list Tuesday which also featured Oprah Winfrey (No. 10), Rihanna (37), Vera Wang (45) and Ellen DeGeneres (63), among many others. Williams, 37, ranked 80th overall with a net worth of $225 million. “It’s fun to get in there. I don’t gamble. I don’t jump off buildings,” she told Forbes. “I’m the most non-taking-a-chance kind of a person, but I felt like seed (investing) was where we wanted to be.” Athletes are richer than ever, thanks to the explosion in TV rights fees for live sporting events, which trickle down to players. The 50 highest-paid athletes in the world made $2.6 billion last year, versus $1 billion 15 years ago. And Williams is hardly the first to put newfound disposable income to active work—in the NBA alone, LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have all launched media companies, and Durant, Andre Iguodala and Carmelo Anthony are active venture capital investors. But she is one of the few specifically gearing investments around a single north star: herself. “I want to be a part of it,” she told the business magazine. “I want to be in the infrastructure. I want to be the brand, instead of just being the face.” Given her longtime background in style and design, that means overweighting on fashion lines, jewelry and beauty products. Yes, she’ll keep competing at tennis—her resilient comeback last year after giving birth burnished her as a cultural icon who transcends sports. And sure, she’ll happily continue to rake in easy endorsement money from the likes of Nike and JPMorgan Chase—her $29 million total income over the past 12 months is the highest of her career. With all this commerce, Williams says she’ll continue to abbreviate her on-the-court schedule, prioritizing the Grand Slam events that burnish her brand. Serena at 37, says she figures she has two or maybe even three years left. “I am in no rush to get out of this sport,” she says. But in Serena Ventures, she’s laid the foundation to keep playing the game her entire life. “I want to create a brand that has longevity, kind of like my career,” she says.
YONKERS INSIDER REPORT
PUBLIC ACCESS SHOW IN YONKERS YONKERS INSIDER REPORT - ONLINE NEWSPAPER SERVING THE YONKERS AND WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY FOR 16 YEARS DELFIM HEUSLER, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF YONKERS INSIDER REPORT
WWW.YONKERSINSIDER.BLOGSPOT.COM CONTACT US 914-751-4805 OR DELFIMHEUSLER@GMAIL.COM
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
22 BLACK WESTCHESTER
NEWS WITH THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW
Once again it’s that time of year, where everyone seems to lose their mind and puts politics over friends and family. Where folks focus on trivial or frivolous matters over facts. I’m talking about election time, known to political professionals as Silly Season, – a brief era of crazy behavior. It starts with candidates gathering signatures. Names being placed on ballots – and – gimmicks by one candidate trying to knock the other out before the voters get their shot. Where destroying the opponent is more important than honest debates and proving you are the better candidate. With the Democratic Primary three weeks away at the time of this column, we have entered the period of immense political spin aimed at swaying momentum, media, and support. Where candidates, their campaign team and their supporters seek every opportunity to color our thinking on the outcomes. Where it’s more important to make your opponent or the opposing campaign look bad instead of proving to the voters you are the best candidate. Where false accusations are thrown around and civility falls faster than panties on prom night. Where much, if not all things said and written on social media, should be ignored. In the last few elections, we have covered I’ve seen family members throw dirt and lie on their relatives, candidates and their supporters lie and just make up whatever they can, letting no facts get in the way of a good rumor or fabrication of another candidate. Candidates accusing others of the very things they are guilty of themselves and what the growth of social media it has become commonplace for everyone to get in on the fun and see who can outdo the other, with rhetoric and propaganda. In the 4.2 square miles of the city of Mount Vernon battlelines are being drawn and everyone that was you cool with each other you are now making permanent enemies or temporary situations. The candidates going after each other has become the new normal but now you have supporters of the candidates fighting like Bloods and Crips. Doing whatever, saying whatever to discredit the opposing team. People who wouldn’t bust a grape in a fruit fight, become gangstas behind keyboards disrespecting their neighbors, friends and yes even family members because they support someone who is running against the person you support. Yes, once again it on. Problem with that mentality is you have to live with and co-exist with the same people after the primary. The silly season is usually a period from early summer until the first or second Tuesday in September and the general election was about weight weeks afterward in November. But thanks to New Rules the primary is in June, and the General Election is now months not weeks away, but the damage has already been done. After the elections, residents need to find a way to unite, come back together and work on a common goal to support the winner and hold their feet to the fire. But from what I see this year, what I fear is the silly season, wont end at the close of the polls and like the Blood and Crips the battle lines that had been drawn, the stupidity, the trivialness and frivolousness, and foolish behavior or both candidates and supporters will make it almost impossible to come back together.
JUNE 15, 2019
While the aforementioned behavior is by no means limited to Mount Vernon, races and Peekskill, Yonkers and many other municipalities of Westchester get ugly, but Mount Vernon, the smallest of most of the others in size and square mileage leads the way and is one of the most publicized and hotly contested races in the County. Let’s face the primary less than three weeks away, the 2019 Mount Vernon Mayoral race has officially gotten tumultuous, rambunctious and downright unruly. Citizens of Mount Vernon aren’t concerned about the issues anymore, it’s all about smear tactics, name calling, and pointing fingers. How can we work together after being disrespectful, ignorant, rude and posting tasteless and degrading comments on social media? And to the candidate how can you convince us you can lead the city when you cannot or refuse to control your supporters who are committing these egregious acts in your name? Everyone has the right to support and vote for who they choose. Supporting someone other than who you support should not make someone who was close to or cool with you a mortal enemy. And candidates just because someone expressing their dissatisfaction for you or doesn’t support you does not make them your enemy. If you are blessed enough to be elected you must become the leader to all the residents, not just the ones who voted for you. You must be able to unite the city that has becomes more and more divided by the day. At the debate the candidates tried to convince the voters they had honest and integrity while using smear tactics, name calling and pointing fingers at each other. Each saying the other is to blame for the condition of the city of Mount Vernon when the truth is everyone is responsible, EVERYONE. And to the residents, yo we need to do better. We have to stop voting for people because they are our friends, because we are cool with them, because they promised you a job, because they are a woman because they are black. When we fail to appreciate and respect the responsibility of picking the best candidate, even if they are not our favorite person, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. You get the government you deserve. In a democracy, people get the leaders they deserve. The government you elect is the government you deserve. The city of Mount Vernon is in crisis! Face it, folks, if we get this one wrong, there may be no coming back. Facts over Feelings folks. Its time to put the people before the politics. We need to figure this out or trust me outsiders will figure it out for us. The saying is United We Stand, Divided We Fall!!! I do not have to like the person who I believe will be the best candidate, I do not have to invite them over for dinner or ever break bread with them. They do not have to be or pretend to be my friend, they just have to do right by the city. It’s time to make informed decisions the ballot box and take all the emotions out of it. It’s time to step up and save our city! it’s time to respect each other’s difference and come together on our common ground. Mount Vernon is a majority BLACK city, we cannot blame the WHITE man for our condition, that we have ourselves to blame. I know this will fall on deaf ears, but where we go from here is up to you, REAL TALK!!!
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
REAL TALK FOR THE COMMUNITY
BLACK WESTCHESTER 23
About Black Westchester: BlackWestchester.com is a magazine (website) and print newspaper for people of color for Westchester and the Tri-State area of New York at every economic level. Black Westchester is committed to being a platform to profile life, culture, economics, politics, sports and entertainment and those who are representing vision in these marketplaces and who can both encourage and provide role models to other men and women. Black Westchester, through its online magazine, print newspaper, weekly talk radio show, and editorial content, will be a vessel of community information throughout Westchester and the Tri-State area of New York. Our mission is to promote the concept of “community” through media. The Black Westchester Newspaper is a monthly newspaper, 25,000 distributed monthly throughout Westchester and Surrounding areas with a heavy concentration in Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Yonkers, Elmsford, White Plains, Greenburgh, Peekskill, Tarrytown, NE Bronx, Harlem, Stamford, CT with a slightly smaller presence elsewhere in the county and surrounding areas. Black Westchester is the best vehicle to reach communities of color throughout the county, but not limited to just communities of color, we have a large non-African-American readership as well.
RATES Full page – $650.00 (10 1/3″ x 13 1/4″) – inside covers (front and back) $750 – outside Back cover $850 Half page – $375.00′ -horizontal 10 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ -vertical 5 1/8″ x 13 1/4″ Quarter page $250.00 -horizontal 10 1/2 x 3 1/4″ -vertical 5 1/8″ x 6 1/2″ 1/8 page $175.00 -horizontal 5 1/8 x 3″ -vertical 2 3/8 x 6 1/2″ Business Card $75 – Double Business Card Ad $125 ***Multiple Month Discount*** For 3,6 and 12 months Send PDF or JPEG of your business card to AdvertiseWithBW@gmail.com
Black Westchester and the People Before Politics Radio Show started in July and August of 2014 respectively and the print edition started on our three year anniversary in August 2017. In such a small amount of time, Black Westchester has heavily influenced the county, public policy, and the elected officials while informing the public in a way that was missing, filling a necessary void. Larger news outlets such as The Journal News (Lohud), News 12 Westchester and Fios1 News, The New York Post and others also follow us and have quoted us for breaking stories that they, in turn, did follow up stories on. Black Westchester is the voice of the voiceless and has covered many stories that other news outlets often overlooked and in turn followed our lead and reported later. Black Enterprise Magazine reported, “Black buying power currently stands at over $1.1 Trillion dollars annually and is on the road to hit about $1.5 Trillion by 2021. These figures have also been documented by the Huffington Post, The Atlantic, MediaPost.com, Fortune Magazine, and many other respected media outlets. This collective buying power means that nearly $2 Trillion dollars will be flowing through Black American annually very soon, making us a centerpiece for various researchers, marketers, advertisers and other campaigns designed to influence black spending patterns. With that said, for businesses who do business and want to do businesses with communities of color in the Westchester County and surrounding areas, advertising with Black Westchester, not only makes dollars but also makes perfect sense. We are the voice of the Black Community. Sponsorship and advertising are also available of our weekly talk radio show People Before Politics Radio, where we have been bringing you Real Talk For The Community since 2014.
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
24 BLACK WESTCHESTER
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
JUNE 15, 2019
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
ON THE SMALL SCREEN - HOT DOCS
BLACK WESTCHESTER
25
GET YOUR EDUTAINMENT ON WITH THE LATEST DOCUMENTARIES
BLACK WESTCHESTER’S LIST OF MUST SEE DOCUMENTARIES AND DOCU-SERIES Here is a list of must see documentary movies, docu-series and the latest real-life stories on Netflix and cable television that we recommend to all our readers as must-see TV.
‘WHEN THEY SEE US’ (AVA DUVERNAY) - NETFLIX BY AJ WOODSON
ONE OF THE MOST SHAMEFUL MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE IN NEW YORK STATE
In ‘When They See Us’, Ava DuVernay makes sure we really see Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana Jr. and Korey Wise - five men who were boys, ages 14, 15 and 16, when they were robbed of their childhoods, of their innocence, of a fair trial - in her gut-wrenching four-part series on Netflix.
Who can forget the case that further polarized an already tense and divided New York City. On the evening of April 19, 1989, a wave of young boys entered New York’s Central Park at 110th Street and Fifth Avenue, about 30 in all. Those boys included the Black and Latino teens who would eventually become known as the Central Park Five. Around the same time, Trisha Meili, a 28-year-old white woman, entered the park at 84th Street and Fifth Avenue for a run. That night, police received a report that some boys were harassing and assaulting a male passerby. Police arrested several boys, including Richardson and Santana. Later that night, Meili was brutally beaten and raped on the 102nd Street Cross Drive path where she was jogging. After Meili was found, alive but badly injured, police connected her attack to the Black and Latino teens in the park and brought in more boys for questioning, including McCray, Wise and Salaam. Using scare tactics, threats and manipulation, detectives coerced confessions from the five teens, which they would later recant in court. But before they could get to trial, the court of public opinion tried to eat them alive, labeling the boys rapists, misconstruing a hip-hop slang “wildin’” to mean something sinister and brushing aside the fact that they were, essentially, children. Donald Trump bought ads in several New York City newspapers calling for the teens to receive the death penalty. The actors are all top-notch — but expect special recognition come Emmy-time for Jerome, who dominates the fourth hour, Farmiga and Ellis. “When They See Us” is a tough watch, but viewers will be moved and sickened at the prevalence of racism even in our so-called sophisticated cities. A must see!!!
WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN WHAT’S MY NAME: MUHAMMAD ALI ANTOINE FUQUA HBO
BY AJ WOODSON
Ali, who died at 74 in 2016, remains endlessly fascinating, and this new, two-part HBO documentary, What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali, comes as close as any film yet made to capturing that vast complexity of the man. Director Antoine Fuqua, 53, best known for his fine 2001 Denzel Washington film Training Day, has assembled footage of Ali’s fights and interviews in a way that tells the boxer’s story with no need for voiceover narration — in effect, Ali tells the story in his own words. Early on, we get to admire the way the young man — then known by his Christian name, Cassius Clay — was able to carry his dashing handsomeness into the boxing ring, a place where attractiveness had previously been something fleeting and rare. Never burly, but fitfully glowering, Clay was a superb athlete who carried his Olympics gold-medal success into professional boxing. Nimble and, by his own term, “pretty,” he brought a rare grace to the sport and steadily revealed something else: a verbal facility that matched his physical gifts, something so unusual in sports, it remains startling to see old interviews in which this youth can explain his strategy and toss out jokes with meticulous detail and wit. Brought to you by LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Entertainment, What’s My Name will explore Ali’s greatest triumphs and comebacks, painting an intimate portrait of a man who, against all odds, dreamed and achieved the impossible. Ali may have been known as a big mouth, but he also used his fame to call out racism and injustice. He lived through the civil-rights era and, famously, refused to go to Vietnam to fight. He met such leaders as Martin Luther King Jr, but, Fuqua says, his conversion to Islam and the change of his name from Clay to Ali was only one of his “several fights”. “In the ring, spiritually, outside of the ring and with Parkinson’s,” Fuqua told the Hollywood Reporter. “There’s all these fights. That was his life.” “This film is a lot about sports being a metaphor for something greater,” says Fuqua. “It’s all about getting knocked down, getting back up. Winning some games. Losing some games. Trying to find greatness within yourself.” - A MUST SEE!!!
DIRECTED BY SACHA JENKINS - SHOWTIME BY AJ WOODSON
One of the best new documentaries out today is Showtime’s four-part docuseries on lengendary nine emcee hip-hop group, the Wu-Tang Clan that premiered Friday, May 10th, and can be seen on Showtime On Demand. It follows founding members RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface, Method Man, Masta Killa and Cappadonna – many of whom were childhood friends in the hardscrabble world of ’70s and ’80s Staten Island and Brooklyn. No matter how much you think you know about The Wu, legendary journalist Sacha Jenkins - cofounder of Beatdown Newspaper and Ego Trip Magazine - gives you a gritty behind-the-scenes, backstage past to the hip-hop collective that changed the game. Even as a hip-hop journlaist myself who has been one of the only to interview all nine members in one room at the same time, there was a few things I learned from watching. While there is plenty of celebration and triumph in Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men—the multi-part, four-hour examination of the legendary Staten Island rap crew give a certain realness that covers the ugliness that crafted the group and the scars that continued to show even as the success rolled in, from playing local talent shows and self-distributing white labels to becoming music business pioneers and global superstars, all while nearly killing each other over money, ego and fame. Needless to say this is a MUST SEE for any REAL HIP HOP HEAD, but this is one of the best music documentaries that all can enjoy. Jenkins explores how - as Spin Magazine put it - ingrained PTSD, racialized violence, and poverty were in the group’s music, and as a result they play a major role in the series where they could have instead been an afterthought. It serves a reminder that as chaotic as the WuTang Clan’s success might seem, chaos is quite literally what they come from. They were built to rise above it. The documentary offers up a bittersweet nostalgia, the tug of looking back on Wu-Tang’s youth but still showing wounds from those days of struggling to survive. That dissonance is powerful and the documentary is at its best when it grapples with that as much as their rise.
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
26BLACK WESTCHESTER
JUNE 15, 2019
NEWS WITH THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW
111 E. SANDFORD BLVD, MOUNT VERNON, NY
914-663-1400 or
914-523-7455 ASK FOR TROY - WE TEACH CLASSES -
CHESS TOURNAMENTS FOR CASH PRIZES
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019
BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM
BLACK WESTCHESTER 27
21 WILDEY STREET, TARRYTOWN FAIR & AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING FEATURING 12 - 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
21 Wildey Street, Tarrytown Westchester County, New York
For ApplicaƟon or InformaƟon: 914‐332‐4144
On‐site Parking
Shopping/ Metro North/ I‐87/I‐287 Nearby
Rents: $1,230 and $1,405 (including u�li�es)
Maximum Household Income $50,550 to $77,950 (depending on household size)
hac@affordablehomes.org www.housingac�oncouncil.org
Application Deadline: JUNE 17, 2019
With your support, The Mount Vernon Public Library continues to respond to the needs of the community. We invite you to come and witness the progress.
and coming soon:
Please support our growth. Donate to the library. Visit us online at: https://tinyurl.com/yyyudp83 Mount Vernon Public Library -The Central Library of Westchester County MOUNT VERNON PUBLIC LIBRARY 28 SOUTH FIRST AVENUE MOUNT VERNON, NY 10550 WWW.MTVPL.ORG Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER SINCE 2014
COMPLIMENTARY
Unapologetically Delivering News To Communities Of Color in Westchester & Surrounding Areas
12A
Get Black Westchester Delivered To Your Home For $25 a year - www.BlackWestchester.com/subscribe
JUNE 15, 2019