CAW Issue 64 - Trump Scapegoats Immigrants with Creation of VOICE by Caribbean American Weekly

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ISSUE 64 VOLUME 16

Trump Scapegoats Immigrants with Creation of VOICE VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.CAWNYC.COM

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BY MICHELE WASLIN

resident Donald Trump stated that he has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American victims during his Joint Address to Congress. The office is called VOICE: Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement. Any victim of crime deserves acknowledgement and sympathy, and crime is an issue that must be taken seriously. continued on page 10

Why Don’t They Just Get In Line? ... see page 8

National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica Celebrates 55th Anniversary

he National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) of Jamaica is a voluntary group of dancers, singers, musicians and creative technicians who are dedicated to the view that their work in dance can help to bring discipline, a sense of process and cultural awareness to the awesome task of nation-building. The search for a definitive Caribbean dance theater linked a varied and versatile group together to make this goal a reality. During its more than five decades of existence, NDTC has achieved a reputation for artistic excellence, developing much of its repertoire from authentic folk material. The entirely

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Are You in Denial about Leaving Your Relationship ... see page 19

Sie Frank Worrell’s Legacy ... see page 2

WOE:Melinda Alexis-Hayes ...see page 12

VIolence Against Women and Children in Jamaica ...see page 2

about President Trump’s Immigration Plans?

Call 855-768-8845

Photo: Bryan Robinson

Comptroller Stringer: How to Beat Trump in NYC ...see page 6

WOE: Pamela Lindsay ... see page 12

Legal Rights Available to Immigrants of Domestic Violence ...see page 18

Assemblywoman Bichotte Speaks on Equality for Women ...see page 4

WOE: Nicole Brown-Jones ... see page 12

5 Great Things About Being a Paralegal ... see page 13

Caribbean Consulates

Anguilla 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200

Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street, Suite 6A New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel: 212-541-4117

The Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-421-6420

Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-551-4325

Belize 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-593-0999

Dominica 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400H New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-949-0853

Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-599-8478

Grenada 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400K New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-599-0301

Guyana 308 West 38th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 Tel: 212-947-5119

Haiti 815 Second Avenue,6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9767

Jamaica 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-935-9000

Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-838-6887

Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200

Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-840-2450

St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel: 212-535-5521

St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel: 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 800-786-2278

St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Tel: 212-682-7272

For more Consulate information go to www.cawnyc.com/directory

Violence against Women and Children in Jamaica

BY MARCIA PARKER PRESIDENT, JAICC

amaica is one of the most beautiful Islands in the Caribbean and the home of the world’s fastest men and women. Jamaica is also the home of reggae and dance hall and produces icons such as Bob Marley, Shaba Ranks, Lady Saw and Patra, just to name a few. The island has an estimated population of 2.7 million people and is 4,411 square miles in size. Some call the island paradise, but in recent months violence has raised its ugly head and has become an epidemic of cancer that plagues women and children to the point where fear is eating away at the nation’s women living in paradise. Women are jumping from taxis, arming themselves with knives and machetes; some are even sleeping with knives under their pillows afraid of being attacked by their spouses. Alleged taxi drivers have been pulled from their vehicles and beaten, pictures are being posted on Facebook of alleged persons who may or may not be killers and much more. The fear is growing and has crippled the nation. In fact, police statistics state that 1,192 people were murdered up to December 26, 2016. The report also states that while guns are most prevalent in committing murders, offenders are using other means to kill people. Like the young lady whose throat was slashed in St Thomas; the Burger King employee who was strangled, tied and stuffed in a barrel; the teenager who was kidnapped, raped and killed after attending a friend’s funeral; and a woman stabbed by her ex-lover and the list goes on. This should not be the morning’s papers or internet’s headline or breaking news on radio/TV. I must agree that violence is violence, but when women and children have become the targets of violence especially domestic violence, we have reached a new low. A low where person/persons who commit these gruesome and horrendous acts should be punished. The big question is: are we going to stand by and allow our women and children to be taken away from us? Are we going to continue to live in a not my business culture

IMF In Guyana nder Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) usually holds bilateral discussions with members every year. During those consultations, the mission reviews the overall economic developments in the country, as well as its policy measures aimed at maintaining economic stability, ensuring a sustainable external balance and further liberalizing foreign trade. The last Article IV Executive Board Consultation was on May 9, 2016. In the IMF’s 2016 report, the relatively young APNU+AFC administration received high praise for steering Guyana’s economy unto the path of sustainable growth. The Directors, in their evaluation of Guyana’s financial system last year, commended the resilience of the economy, which continues to grow despite global headwinds.

and watch families destroyed by acts of violence? Will we stand by and watch these acts of violence filter into society destroying families, communities and the country we love so much. Truth is, we cannot sit around as a people and wait for violence to reach our doorsteps before we act. We must stand in unison to destroy those elements before they destroy our people and our country. The blame game cannot be our name. We must start now; start here; start in your corner; use the available platforms to help eradicate this cancer that is ripping through the nation. Churches, non-governmental organizations, schools, families, artists, policy makers, let’s create a movement so our voices can echo throughout Jamaica. Our paradise! Our heaven on earth! Together we can stop violence! Together we can stop violence against women! Together we can change lives! Together we can make Jamaica great again. As a society, we should be embracing our women who have invigorated our families and communities, accomplishing much and standing as the backbone of most homes. March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day and Jamaicans have planned several activities directed at violence against women: marches, seminars, etc. and it’s all good, but we shouldn’t stop there. It must be a continuation; we must acquire the perseverance to move forward to a future free of violence. A future where our women and children are not consumed with fear.l JAICC is the Jamaican-American International Chamber of Commerce. Send an email to jaicc@chambercoalition.org

They noted, however, that challenges and risks remain, and encouraged the authorities to build up fiscal buffers, implement structural reforms, and strengthen the financial sector. The Directors noted that Guyana remains vulnerable to changes in commodity prices due to its dependence on imported oil and the concentration of exports on a few commodities. The Directors also stressed the importance of fiscal consolidation in order to safeguard debt sustainability and preserve fiscal and external buffers while maintaining growth momentum. They recommended that fiscal consolidation efforts focus on moderating the growth of current expenditures, in particular transfers to public enterprises, so as to preserve space for public investment while protecting social spending.l

IN THE NEWS Sir Frank Worrell’s Legacy Honored

Worrell

ORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The legacy of one of the world’s greatest cricketers and exemplary human beings, Sir Frank Worrell of Barbados, was recently honored in Trinidad and Tobago. Launched by the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Committee, the year of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the former West Indies cricket captain’s passing, will be centered around a lecture by legendary Trinidadian broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, who was himself knighted in 1999 for his services to journalism. Sir Worrell, who died aged 42 in 1967, is remembered as more than a worldclass cricketer. He was intelligent, welleducated and possessed diplomatic skills, all of which he used effectively to promote the spirit of regionalism in the game of cricket and in wider elements of Caribbean society. Sir Worrell’s helmsmanship was captured by Trinidadian historian Cyril Lionel Robert James in a 1967 article in The Cricketer, entitled Sir Frank Worrell: The Man Whose Leadership Made History.. He wrote: “If his reserve permitted it, this remarkable intelligence could be seen in his views of West Indian society. To us who were concerned he seemed poised for applying his powers to the cohesion and self-realization of the West Indian people. Not a man whom one slapped on the shoulder, he was nevertheless to the West Indian population an authentic national hero.” The article asserted Sir Worrell’s “reputation for strong sympathies with the populace did him no harm and his firm adherence to what he thought was right fitted him to exercise that leadership and gift for popularity which he had displayed so notably in the sphere of cricket. He had shown the West Indian mastery of what Western civilization had to teach. His wide experience, reputation, his audacity of perspective and the years which seemed to stretch before him fitted him to be one of those destined to help the West Indies to make their own West Indian way.” The Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Committee was formed in Trinidad and Tobago 10 years ago to honor the legendary West Indies captain at a time when there was deepening public disenchantment with West Indies cricket.l

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CONVERSATIONS

Here’s How Immigrant Women Are Essential to Our Labor Force

BY WALTER EWING

nternational Women’s Day is an appropriate time to take stock of the many ways in which immigrant women contribute to the labor force of the United States. Some of these contributions are often overlooked, but all of the work that immigrant women do adds value to the economy—and to U.S. society as well. Immigrant women workers are found across the educational and occupational spectrum, meaning that they fill a wide variety of jobs from high-skilled to lessskilled. They play especially important roles in healthcare as nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides and as registered nurses. They are also a crucial component of the labor force in a number of service and light industrial jobs ranging from housekeeper to sewing machine operator. Many of the immigrant women who work for the lowest wages are unauthorized, which severely limits their opportunities for upward mobility. But that doesn’t negate the value of the work they perform. The power, as well as the diversity, of immigrant women workers is illustrated well by data from the 2015 American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS data reveal that: •The 11.8 million immigrant women workers in the United States account for more than 7 percent of the total U.S. labor force •The labor force participation rate of immigrant women (55.6 percent) is nearly equal to that of native-born women (58.6 percent). •Just over half (50.8 percent) of immigrant women workers are from Latin America, and nearly one-third (31.3 percent) are from Asia. •Among all immigrant women workers, those from Africa have the highest rate of labor-force participation (65.6 percent). •The largest numbers of immigrant women workers are from Mexico (2.8 million, or 23.8 percent), the Philippines (752,648, or 6.4 percent), and China (570,378, or 4.8 percent). •More than one-third (33.6 percent) of immigrant women workers have a bach-

elor’s degree or more, 23.7 percent have some college education short of a bachelor’s degree, and 42.8 percent have a high-school diploma or less. •Two-fifths of immigrant women workers (42.2 percent) fill low-wage jobs earning $20,000 per year or less, while 15.2 percent earn more than $60,000 per year. •The largest numbers of immigrant women workers are maids and housekeepers (882,663), nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (501,740), cashiers (480,391), registered nurses (454,057), and janitors and building cleaners (364,494). •Immigrant women comprise more than half (51.5 percent) of all workers in the grading and sorting of agricultural products, 47.1 percent of personal appearance workers, 42 percent of maids and housekeepers, 39.5 percent of textile and garment pressers, and 39.5 percent of sewing machine operators.

Among low-wage immigrant women workers, a full 40 percent lack a highschool diploma, while another 34.5 percent have a diploma, but no further education. Nevertheless, these women work essential jobs as maids and housekeepers; cashiers; personal care aides; cooks; nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides; janitors; and childcare workers. These are the kinds of jobs upon which countless other people depend to do their jobs and live their daily lives. However, because these jobs tend to be poorly paid, they are often devalued. The United States needs policies that lift up and build upon the contributions that immigrant women make to our workforce. One such policy would be the creation of a path to legal status for unauthorized immigrants, which would not only boost the U.S. economy, but would allow many immigrant women to realize their full potential to all of our benefit.l

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My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6 Publisher I.Q. INC.

Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman

Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Lana Delgadillo Contributors Michele Waslin Walter Ewing Jennine Estes Ginita Wall Chad Marlow Marcia Parker Scott Stringer Rodneyse Bichotte Leslie Dellon

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CIVIL RIGHTS

Women's History Month Reminds Us We Must Work Together for Full Equality

BY HON. RODNEYSE BICHOTTE ASSEMBLYWOMAN - 42ND DISTRICT

ew York has had the privilege of being home to fearless women trailblazers, such as Susan B. Anthony and Shirley Chisholm, who refused to accept the restrictions placed on them and tore down barriers to equality. As we celebrate Women's History this month, let's applaud those who fought to extend rights to women, fought valiantly for opportunity and helped make New York the progressive leader it is today. As our nation enters an era that threatens the progress we've made, we must recommit ourselves to full equality — no matter how difficult that may be. Our predecessors demonstrated their commitment to change fearlessly; they often risked their lives for others. Leading abolitionist Harriet Tubman, refused to allow the mistreatment of others. While a slave, she protected another field worker and suffered a substantial head injury that would affect her for the rest of her life. After escaping slavery, she returned to slave territory more than a dozen times to lead hundreds of others to freedom. Tubman went on to purchase land in Auburn, NY, in 1859 and lived

there until her death in 1913. Other New Yorkers paved the way for millions of women to enroll in school, enter the workforce, keep their wages and vote in elections. The first American woman to work as an architect was Louise Blanchard Bethune. She designed Buffalo's historic Hotel Lafayette which is still standing more than a century later. Her legacy is still standing too —40 percent of those earning architecture degrees are now women. Gertrude B. Elion, of Manhattan, developed treatments for malaria and leukemia and earned a Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1988. But when she started out, she had trouble finding a job because almost no one would hire a female chemist. By 2015, women made

up more than half of medical scientists and over 35 percent of chemists. Even more recently, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Brooklyn native who cofounded the Women's Rights Project, became the second woman to sit on the Supreme Court. Also in the justice realm are Bronx native, Sonia Sotomayor, who became the third woman, and first Hispanic, to sit on the Supreme Court, as well as Manhattan native Elena Kagan, who became the Court's fourth female justice in 2010. Many of these successes can trace back to the suffrage movement launched by New Yorkers Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who organized the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. But

even while fighting for women's rights, other suffragettes such as Sojourner Truth, who delivered her "Ain't I A Woman Speech," and Ida B. Wells, journalist and anti-lynching crusader, could not march with them. Their work and the courage of countless other women paid off. The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. The undercurrents of sexism, racism and bigotry that New York has fought against for centuries could frighteningly become mainstream again, though. New Yorkers must renew our resolve to be the standard bearers of decency and equality. It's a fight that we are familiar with. The Assembly Majority will continue pushing to make full women's equality a reality. From ensuring equal pay for equal work, to safeguarding women's reproductive health rights and strengthening protections for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, the fight goes on. I also know how important it is that each and every New Yorker has access to a quality education and goodpaying jobs and a chance at economic security. I will not sit by as our progress is eroded — I will take action.l

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DIASPORA CONCERNS

Halt to Premium Processing of H-1B Visa Petitions Hurts Workers, Business and USCIS

BY LESLIE DELLON

nited States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced it will halt premium processing of H-1B visa petitions on April 3, for up to six months. Through the H-1B visa category, employers can petition for highly educated professionals to work in “specialty occupations” that require at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent. This decision will not only disrupt the plans of thousands of foreign nationals who are recent graduates of U.S. universities, workers and businesses, but also could have a significant impact on the fee-funded agency’s revenue. Employers frequently request premium processing of H-1B petitions to ensure that USCIS will review (but not always decide) the petition within 15 days at a cost of $1,225—although USCIS will refund this fee if it misses the 15-day deadline. This fee is in addition to standard fees that exceed $1,700 for certain employers with 25 or fewer employees that sponsor an individual for his or her first H-1B status with that employer and may be higher for other types of employers. The premium processing fees go into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account and cover not only the costs of faster pro-

cessing, but also help defray other expenses including refugee processing. USCIS does not generally receive Congressional appropriations to cover its costs and relies on the fees it collects from employers petitioning for H-1B workers and others. Most types of H-1B petitions are currently averaging six to eight months for nonpremium processing, depending on where the petition is pending. But as of April 3, USCIS will be suspending the premium processing of all H-1B petitions—including requests filed before that date, but which USCIS has not yet touched. The timing couldn’t be worse. Given last year’s demand, USCIS will be expecting more than 200,000 H-1B petitions starting April 3, from employers subject to the annual limit (“cap”) on H-1B visa numbers, for employment beginning October 1. If, as expected, demand will far exceed supply, USCIS again will need to conduct a “lottery.” This is a radical departure from past years, where USCIS allowed all H-1B petitioners to continue requesting premium processing, but then delayed premium processing only for cap-subject employers for several weeks while USCIS conducted the lottery. If premium processing is suspended for six months, the following disruptions could result:

•Employers whose petitions were selected in the H-1B lottery will not have approval in time for the foreign nationals to start work on October 1. •Graduates of U.S. colleges and universities who had received extensions of their student work authorization because their prospective employer’s H-1B petition was selected in the lottery will not be able to work after September 30, if the petition is still pending. •Employers not subject to the H-1B cap, such as universities, may be unable to hire the people they need because foreign nationals who need H-1B status to begin work could have to wait months for petition approval. •When an employer timely files an H-1B petition with an extension for a current H1B employee, that H-1B worker receives an automatic extension of work authorization up to 240 days after his or her current H-1B status expires. But in many states, the H-1B worker’s driver’s license expires with the H-1B status and cannot be renewed until USCIS approves the H-1B extension. These H-1B workers also will be unable to travel outside the U.S. because without visas, which they are not yet eligible to renew, they cannot return to the U.S. to work. If the H-1B petition remains pending beyond 240 days, these

employees cannot continue to work. •Certain physicians may be unable to meet deadlines to begin work in medically underserved areas and certain medical residents and fellows may be unable to begin their programs if their H-1B petitions are not adjudicated by certain dates. •Without premium processing, the only option for H-1B employers is to qualify for “expedited” processing by meeting USCIS’ expedite criteria, which include such concerns as “severe financial loss,” “emergency situation” or “humanitarian reasons.” This is not a satisfactory alternative, as the process is not streamlined and strictly within USCIS’ discretion. To reduce the potential harm to H-1B employers and workers, USCIS should follow its past practice of allowing capsubject employers to request premium processing when they submit their H-1B petitions and then suspend premium processing only for cap-subject petitions; reallocate resources that would have been committed to premium processing those petitions solely to adjudicating H-1B petitions; establish an “expedite” adjudication deadline of no more than 14 days and identify certain categories, such as the physicians, medical residents and fellows described above as meeting the expedite criteria based on their circumstances, to permit faster adjudication.l

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HOT TOPIC

How to Beat President Trump in NYC

ilies. We can send a real message by passing these bills on Tax Day and then joining rallies across New York demanding President Trump release his returns.

BY HON. SCOTT STRINGER COMPTROLLER, NYC

oll back. Repeal. Revoke. It’s the new, bombs-away language that seems to rain down from Washington D.C., every day. Obliterating practical reform is the goal. Rolling back decades of progress — on everything from workers’ rights, to commonsense financial regulation, to immigrant protections, and a woman’s right to make her own healthcare choices — is the mission. As the directives from Washington grow more and more offensive, major cities and states will have to stand as a bulwark against the backwards and regressive policies coming from the White House. That’s why every New York policymaker — at all levels of government — must ask what our city and state can do to protect our residents and provide a progressive and inclusive contrast to Trump’s reactionary agenda. We need a concerted effort to push back against the relentless attacks on our core values through both direct action and policy. As we take to the streets to make our voices heard, we need to be armed with a plan for real reform. We need to take the fight to the White House — with words, legislation, and action.

President Donald Trump

And in New York, we can do just that by enacting concrete, forward-thinking laws that protect the progress we’ve won, even as President Trump’s White House tries to move us in the other direction.

Taxes It’s no secret that the wealth gap in our country is growing dramatically — and that President Trump will only make it worse with new tax cuts that benefit the wealthy. Here in New York, we can focus our attention at the other end of the economic spectrum — supporting our lowestincome residents. We can resist Trump’s tax cuts by lifting up those he’s leaving behind.

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The way to do that is by expanding New York State’s and City’s earned income tax credit (EITC). This program has been praised for decades by Republicans and Democrats alike as one of the nation’s most effective anti-poverty initiatives — it’s a tax cut for the people who need it most. Right now there is legislation in Albany that would raise the state’s match of the federal tax break from 30% to 35%, and another bill sponsored by Assemblymember Francisco Moya and Senator Jose Serrano that would triple the City’s match to 15%. My office found that changing just the City’s EITC contribution would put hundreds of dollars extra a year directly into the pockets of low-income working fam-

Choice With just more than a month under his belt, President Trump has already nominated an ultra-conservative justice to the Supreme Court, and he’s made no secret of his desire to take away a woman’s right to make important healthcare decisions. The White House might want to make it harder for Americans to safely access abortions and contraceptives, but we don’t have to stand for that in New York. Both chambers in Albany need to pass the Reproductive Healthcare Act, which would forever codify the protections of Roe v. Wade in state law. If the Federal government isn’t going to protect this right, New York must. And we can’t sit idly by as President Trump prepares to scrap the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Albany must pass the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, which — like the ACA — would require insurance companies to provide cost-free coverage for at least one version of all FDA-approved contraception methods. continued on the next page

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HOT TOPIC

How to Beat Trump/ continued from previous page

Financial Regulation We also have to make sure President Trump doesn’t let his friends on Wall Street take advantage of Main Street. The President is looking to stymie an Obama-era reform that required all financial advisors to follow something called the “fiduciary standard.” That means they — legally — had to put their client’s interest above their own when advising on retirement investments. But now, thanks to President Trump, that basic consumer protection is under threat. Consider this. Right now, many brokers are legally allowed push investments that reward them with high fees, but provide low returns for their unsuspecting clients. It’s lunacy. We should make deceptive practices like this all but impossible in New York by requiring every investment advisor to state — in plain language — whether they follow the fiduciary standard or not. why I worked with That’s Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz on legislation that would make every broker who doesn’t follow the fiduciary standard look their clients in the eye and tell them their retirement isn’t as important as the broker’s profit.

Immigration President Trump has done so much damage to our nation’s proud immigrant history so quickly, it’s hard to know where to start. He’s tried to ban refugees and green card holders. He’s announced the creation of deportation task forces. And he’s promised to build a wall on our southern border. All of these plans are offensive to our values as New Yorkers and Americans. It will take a lot of work to turn back this tide of anti-immigrant policies, but across the country, those efforts have already begun. After President Trump signed his “Muslim ban” Executive Order, Americans stood up to speak out. From LAX to JFK to Kansas City International Airport to Battery Park City and Brooklyn Borough Hall, we made our voices heard. These rallies sent a powerful message. So can our laws. One meaningful way New York can step up is by giving undocumented immigrants the right to driver’s licenses.

This isn’t a radical proposal — a dozen states already do it, and New York is falling behind. This plan works — largely because it’s a commonsense reform. My office released a report — in collaboration with the New York Immigration Coalition and the Fiscal Policy Institute — which estimates issuing these licenses would raise more than $50 million in revenues for the state, cities, and counties. At the same time, it would lower insurance premiums for all drivers and expand job opportunities for immigrants. With the Trump Administration stalling progress on the national level, it’s time to hit the gas in New York and support Assemblymember Francisco Moya’s bill to provide these licenses.

Retirement Security In February, Republican leaders in Congress began the formal process of repealing two Obama Administration rules that allowed states and cities to help private sector workers who don’t have access to retirement savings plans through their jobs. Last year, I put forward a proposal that would take advantage of President Obama’s reforms and give every New Yorker the ability to save for retirement. But Congressional Republicans want to stop this work in its tracks. The GOP would rather side with Wall Street than give millions of New Yorkers the chance to build their retirement savings. It simply doesn’t make sense — and New Yorkers should make sure President Trump understands that. He must veto these repeal bills, and give state and local governments across the country the flexibility they need to help their residents grow their nest eggs. We’ve all seen the chaos President Trump can create with the stroke of a pen — or the turmoil that follows each of his tweets. Cast against the upheaval the President can cause, these are admittedly limited steps. But when you take these reforms together — taxes, choice, regulation, immigration, and retirement — they have the potential to impact the lives of millions of New Yorkers in real and measurable ways. Beyond the direct impact, these programs would loudly and boldly say that we are going to stand strong in the face of an intolerant, extremist White House. We’re New Yorkers — and this is how we resist.l

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AMERICAN DREAM

Why Don’t They Just Get In Line? There Is No Line for Many Unauthorized Immigrants

any Americans wonder why all immigrants do not just come to the United States legally or simply “get in line” if they are unauthorized. These suggestions miss the point: There is no line available for unauthorized immigrants and the “regular channels” do not include them. No “line” is available for the vast majority of unauthorized immigrants. Immigration to the United States on a temporary or permanent basis is generally limited to three different routes: employment, family reunification, or humanitarian protection. While the U.S. immigration system is generous, each of these possibilities is highly regulated and subject to numerical limitations and eligibility requirements. Most unauthorized immigrants do not have the necessary family or employment relationships and often cannot access humanitarian protection, such as refugee or asylum status.

Employment-based immigration requires a U.S. employer to request specific foreign workers. To come to the United States for employment purposes—either temporarily or permanently—foreign workers must generally have a job lined up with an eli-

are limited forms of temporary humanitarian protection available, but these are rare.

gible employer who will sponsor them. An employer can request permission to bring in specific qualified foreign workers, but only if they meet the requirements, such as job skills and education level, and if the employer cannot find a qualified U.S. worker to take the job first. Most of the qualifying professions for permanent immigration require high levels of education and professional experience, such as scientists, professors,

and multinational executives. There is a limited number of temporary visas for highly skilled or internationally recognized workers. There are also temporary, seasonal opportunities for agricultural workers and certain other “less skilled” workers. In most of these cases, an employer must petition for the worker.

Family-based immigration is limited to certain close family relationships and is numerically restricted. Qualified family members in the United States can seek permission to bring in certain eligible foreign-born family members. U.S. citizens can petition for their spouses, parents, children, and siblings. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs, or “green card” holders) can petition for their spouses and unmarried children. There are always visas available for the spouses, parents, and minor children of U.S. citizens, but for all other family categories there are annual numerical limits. In all cases, the petitioning family member in the United States must demonstrate an income level above the poverty line and must commit to support the family member they are seeking to bring to the United States. The foreignborn persons wishing to immigrate must meet eligibility requirements as well.

Most people fleeing their home countries cannot access humanitarian protection. Each year the United States sets a numerical limit on how many refugees will be admitted for humanitarian reasons. To be admitted as refugees, individuals must be screened by multiple international and U.S. agencies and prove that they have a “well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, membership in a particular social group, political opinion, or national origin.” Asylum seekers are individuals already in the United States who fear returning to their home countries, and they must prove they meet the definition of a refugee. An immigrant does not qualify as a refugee or an asylee because of poverty or difficult economic conditions in their home country. There

Even those who can get in line are subject to long backlogs and waits. The demand from both family members and workers who want to immigrate to the United States is typically higher than the number of slots available each year. In addition, there is a maximum number of employment-based and family-sponsored preference visas that can be issued to citizens of any one country in a single fiscal year. No country can receive more than seven percent of the visas available for the year. This results in significant backlogs for most family members and some workers hoping to enter the United States legally, with some immigrants from certain countries waiting decades. As of May 2016, for most countries, unmarried children of U.S. citizens must wait more than five years and siblings of U.S. citizens must wait more than 10 years. People from countries with high levels of immigration to the United States—Mexico, China, India, and the Philippines—generally have longer waiting times. For example, married children of U.S. citizens from Mexico must wait more than 20 years for a visa to become available, and Filipino siblings of U.S. citizens currently wait about 25 years. There is a limited lottery for certain countries. If a person who wishes to immigrate to the United States does not qualify under the family, employment, or humanitarian systems, there may be one more legal path. The annual Diversity Visa program makes 55,000 green cards available to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. People from Mexico, China, the Philippines, India, and other countries with higher levels of immigration to the United States are not eligible. To qualify, applicants must have a high school education and two years of job experience. Since millions of people around the world apply each year, the chances of obtaining a visa through the lottery are extremely low.

Conclusion Unauthorized immigrants who want to regularize their status in this country cannot just “get in line.” There are lines, but a large number of aspiring immigrants are not eligible to be in any of them. Even if a prospective immigrant does meet the formal requirements to immigrate, the wait can be very long if she or he is applying from countries that are currently oversubscribed.l Source: American Immigration Council

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FAMILY MATTERS

Can I Claim Head of Household Status After a Divorce? BY GINITA WALL, CPA, CFP®

Divorce is expensive, so anything you can save on your taxes can help you rebuild your new post-divorce life. If your divorce was completed by December 31st of the prior year, then you may be able to take advantage of big tax savings if you meet the IRS’s qualifications as a “head of household.” By using the head of household status, you can lower the amount of your taxable income, which can lead to a lower tax bill or a bigger refund. To be able to claim head of household status (which is different than claiming dependents), you must meet three qualifications. You must: nBe “unmarried” by the end of the prior year nPay over half of your household expenses nHave a “qualifying dependent”

There is flexibility within each of these categories, so let’s review them each in more detail.

Unmarried Status As long as you are officially divorced by the end of the prior year, you will meet this qualification. However, even if you

are still legally married to your spouse, you may still meet the IRS’s definition of “unmarried” for the purposes of claiming head of household status. If your spouse did not live with you for at least six months of the past year, you may be able to meet the unmarried status requirement. Since many couples separate before getting divorced, it is worth working with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to see if you might still meet this qualification.

Household Maintenance Next, you have to be able to prove that you pay for more than half of all of your household expenses. This doesn’t just include paying more than half of your mortgage or rent. It also means paying for more than half of your grocery bills, utility bills, and general repairs around the house. If you receive some financial help from your ex or even your parents, this is fine as long as you are still paying for the majority of the expenses from your own income or alimony. Qualifying Dependent The qualifying dependent is probably the most flexible category. If you have at least one child under the age of 19 (or

who is under 24 but is a full-time student) and who lived with you for more than half of the year in the prior year, you meet this qualification. That means that only one parent can claim head of household status, because a child can’t live over half of the year with both parents when they are separated. The definition of a child is flexible. This can mean a biological child, adopted child, step-child, foster child, grandchild, great-grandchild, sibling, or half sibling as long as the child meets the age requirements, is younger than you, and is not paying for more than half of his or her own living expenses. Having a child living in your home isn’t the only way you can qualify as a head of household. A “qualifying person,” can also be a family member who lives with you and depends on you for support. For example, if your mother moved in with you last year, she may be a qualifying person. Just as with a child, the qualifying person must have lived in your home for over half the year, and you must pay for more than half of their expenses. So, if your mother moves in but pays you rent and buys all of her own groceries, clothes, etc., then she will likely not meet

the definition of a qualifying person. Almost any family member can potentially be a qualifying person, including your mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, motherin-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, etc. If you think that you might qualify as a head of household, then we encourage you to consult with a CPA to be sure. This is a good idea anyway, especially if this is the first year you will be filing as a single individual after your divorce, since you may qualify for other new deductions. You’ll also want to discuss with your CPA whether or not your children or the family members living with you, can qualify as dependents to help you save even more on your tax bill. If you are still considering a divorce, then this knowledge can help you begin arranging your life so that you have a better chance of meeting the head of household qualification next year. l Reprinted with permission. Ginita Wall, CPA, CFP® is a co-founder of WIFE.org, a nonprofit that aims to teach females how to take financial control of their lives after major life transitions — like divorce.

Family Law Practice Summarized

NEW YORK IS NOW A NO-FAULT DIVORCE STATE

nDIVORCE nSEPARATION nSUPPORT nCUSTODY The lawyer you hire, does make a difference!

uContested &

Uncontested Divorces

uSeparation & Prenuptial Agreements

Has your spouse disappeared? We can find your spouse!

Matrimonial Investigations

u Business & Degree Evaluations

u Spousal Maintenance

u Custody/Visitation

uBank & Asset Searches

u Paternity

uWire Transfers

uRelocation

uAlimony Reduction

uChild Support

uCo-habitation

uAbuse/Neglect

Investigation

uRestraining &

uDivorce/Dating/Fraud

uInternet Dating/Fraud

Protective Orders

uModification of Previous Orders & Awards

LAW OFFICES OF FIGEROUX & ASSOCIATES

uVideo Surveillance

BROOKLYN: 26 Court Street, Suite 701. Tel: 718-834-0190 VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION, FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS AND A CHANCE TO WIN A TV!

10 Trump Scapegoats # with VOICE/ Immigrants

IMMIGRATION

deportation. Police authorities have stated that enforcing immigration laws makes it harder for them to maintain good community relations and steers scare resources away from crime fighting.

continued from page 1

However, the emphasis on victims of immigrant crimes is problematic. It only serves to scapegoat and demonize immigrants even though the data clearly shows that immigrants, including unauthorized immigrants, are less likely than native-born Americans to commit crimes. The creation of this office had been included in the interior enforcement Executive Order that was signed in January, and in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo implementing the Executive Order. According to the memo, this office is to be a “programmatic liaison between ICE and the known victims of crime committed by removable aliens,” and will ensure that victims are provided with information about the offender such as immigration status and custody status. In addition to creating the VOICE office, the administration has ordered monthly public reports on immigrants who have committed crimes and any local jurisdictions that release them from custody.

VOICE raises many concerns: 1. Efforts like VOICE may create a climate of discrimination, suspicion, and hatred against all immigrants, and will embolden anti-immigrant groups. “It will lead to more harassment, more hate crimes, more bullying, and more

discrimination against anybody who looks like he may be an immigrant,” stated Frank Sharry of America’s Voice. The last year has seen an increase in hate groups, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, and very recently, several likely hate crimes have made headlines. In February, an Indian immigrant was killed by an American man who thought he was of Middle Eastern descent and told him to “get out of my country.” Even more recently, a Sikh man was shot in Washington State after being told “Go back to your own country.” 2. The money going to VOICE could be better spent to help victims. In response to the President’s announcement, the National Center for the Victims

of Crime said that VOICE is a “poor use of scarce resources for crime victims and may actually block victims from exercising their rights.” They rightly point out that Trump has promised severe funding cuts to existing offices within the Department of Justice (DOJ) – like the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office on Violence Against Women – both with proven records of helping victims.

3. This administration’s policies interfere with the ability of local police to fight crime. Trump has threated to take DOJ funding away from law enforcement agencies that have “sanctuary” policies intended to allow immigrant victims to come forward and report crimes without fear of

4. Trump’s anti-immigrant polices may interfere with efforts to prosecute criminals and hold them accountable. For example, U visas are for victims of crime who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse and are willing to assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. Since the election, immigrants and advocates have been concerned about the future of the U visa. While eliminating the visa category would be difficult, the Trump administration could slow processing or issue far fewer visas. Regardless, immigrant victims may be far more hesitant to come forward and report crimes. Immigrants contribute a great deal to this country. The fact that some have committed serious crimes is reprehensible, but it is one small piece of a complex story. To counter VOICE, Rep. Jared Polis launched a database intended to tell positive stories about immigrants called SAIN–Saved by American Immigrants National Taskforce. The purpose is to collect stories of immigrants who have performed heroic or lifesaving acts. In this environment, telling positive stories about immigrant contributions is more important than ever.l

WE HELP IMMIGRANTS!

lGET THE FACTS

lBE SMART

lMAKE THE RIGHT DECISION

lBEWARE OF IMMIGRATION FRAUD

uHealth Care (RN/OT/PT/TSHH/SLP’S & IT Cases) uExtension of Status & Visa Renewals uWork Authorization uH-IB Professional Workers uF-1 Student Visas uJ-1 Exchange Visitor Trainees uO-1 Extraordinary Ability uR-1 Religious Workers uU.S. Citizenship uFamily-based Petitions & Fiancée Visas uGreen Cards/Labor Certification (RIR) uImmigration Visa Petitions:Employment Based uTemporary Work Visas uU.S. Citizenship & Derivative Petitions uLabor Certifications uU Visa - Crime Victims uApplication for Asylum uPetitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus uAppeals to the Board of Immigration Appeal uLawsuits involving Eligibility & Processing for Citizenship uDACA, DAPA & Provisional Waivers uDeportation Defense, 601 Waivers, etc.

LAW OFFICES OF FIGEROUX & ASSOCIATES

CALL 718-834-0190 26 Court Street, Suite 701 Brooklyn, NY 11242

lPERSONAL INJURY lACCIDENTS lFAMILY LAW lPOLICE BRUTALITY lCRIMINAL LAW lCIVIL LITIGATION lBANKRUPTCY lREAL ESTATE

Visit our website at: www.311immigration.com

BROOKLYN: 26 Court Street, Suite 701. Tel: 718-834-0190 VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION, FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS AND A CHANCE TO WIN A TV!

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CELEBRATING WOMEN

Women of Excellence Award Recipients

rooklynite Shirley Chisholm was a true catalyst of change. She made history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to Congress. Because of her values Barack Obama became the first AfricanAmerican President in 2008. Senator Jesee Hamilton will continue her legacy by recognizing the achievements of iconic Brooklyn women. Here, we feature three of them: EXCELLENCE IN LEGAL SERVICES & COMMUNITY RELATIONS AWARD: Melinda Alexis-Hayes, Special Counsel for Public Engagement Company, District Attorney, Kings County Alexis-Hayes is the daughter of Calvin

Alexis-Hayes

Lindsay

and Doris Alexis, former educators. Her parents instilled in her the importance of putting God first, getting a good education and pride in her Caribbean heritage. She is proud of her Grenadian and Jamaican roots. Melinda was educated in Brooklyn's well-regarded public education system. She received her Bachelor’s of Arts cum laude from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and her Juris Doctorate from St. John's University School of Law, where she was a scholarship recipient and President of the Civil Rights Law Association. She is married with two daughters and is a member of the the Church of St. Mark Episcopal.

EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD: Pamela Lindsay, Trinbago Express Shipping Pamela Lindsay is as fine an example as one could find of what independence and assertiveness in the female species is all about. Her path to ownership of the thriving Trinbago Express Shipping facility in Brooklyn reflects a determination she has manifested from quite young to always reach for higher ground, where perhaps convention might deem such heights unattainable. Passive acceptance of the status quo isn’t, and has never been, where Pamela is coming from. Born in Trinidad, Pamela discovered at an early age the importance of self-sufficiency, when circumstances caused her to work, after a fashion, even before she was in her teens. By the time she had completed her primary and secondary schooling, including secretarial school, she already had a pretty good orientation to the world of business and what it demanded by way of dedication and discipline. So much so that she came to appreciate that “success tastes so much sweeter when you work hard for it”.

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES AWARD Nicole Brown-Jones, Manager, Healthcare Solutions, EmblemHealth Nicole Browne-Jones manages the EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care location in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. She is a native of East Flatbush with a strong passion for keeping our communities healthier. With a strong commitment to community, Nicole has worked with EmblemHealth to improve the health and welfare of her neighbors by spearheading programs in Crown Heights geared towards raising awareness on key health concerns like diabetes, hypertension, and nutrition.

Brown-Jones

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JOBS &â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;EMPOWERMENT

5 Great Things about Being a Paralegal

career as a paralegal (also known as a legal assistant) can be a wonderfully fulfilling profession. Paralegals perform legal, regulatory and business-related research for lawyers working at their organization. Most of the time paralegals work for law offices, corporations' legal departments or courts. These professionals also provide legal support services to attorneys. They assist lawyers in filing materials such as motions, memoranda, pleadings and briefs in various court systems, as well as accompany lawyers to see clients and/or to go to court. Here are 5 great things about being a paralegal:

1. Rise In Pay Paralegal compensation has risen steadily in the past decade, despite a bump in the road in the depths of the 2009-2010 recession. As paralegals perform a broader and more complex range of tasks (paralegals even represent clients in court in certain countries and administrative tribunals), paralegal earnings continue to rise. The average paralegal salary hovers at around $50,000 per year but paralegals often make more through bonuses. Overtime hours can also add significant

cash to a paralegal's paycheck.

2. Explosive Employment Outlook The paralegal field is one of the fastestgrowing professions on the globe. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the employment of paralegals and legal assistants to grow 28 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Among the factors driving this growth is client demand for cheaper, more efficient delivery of legal services. Since hourly rates charged by attorneys are typically double or triple the rates of paralegals for the same task, law firm economics mandates the increased use of paralegals to minimize costs. As a result, a paralegal career is one of the hottest non-lawyer jobs in the legal industry.

3. Easy Career Entry Unlike lawyers who must complete seven years of formal education and pass the bar exam to practice law, you can become a paralegal in as little as a few months of study. 4. Intellectual Challenge Paralegal work is intellectually challeng-

and developments while interfacing with attorneys, opposing counsel, vendors, staff members, clients and others. The work is varied and each day brings new challenges.

5. Rising Prestige As paralegals perform more complex and challenging work, paralegal prestige is rising. Paralegals are no longer simply lawyer's assistants; they are assuming management roles in corporations, leadership roles in law firms and entrepreneurial roles in independent paralegal businesses. Over the years, paralegals have transcended the image of glorified legal secretary to become respected members of the legal team.

ing and involves a range of high-level skills. The most successful paralegals are problem-solvers and innovative thinkers. Paralegals must become subject matter experts in their specialty area and master legal procedure, research, drafting and other skills. They must stay on top of ever-changing laws and new legal trends

A career as a paralegal can be rewarding professionally and personally. It offers a unique opportunity to help others. These opportunities vary, depending on the paralegal's practice area.Paralegals in the public interest sector help poor and disadvantaged segments of the population with legal issues ranging from protection from domestic abuse to assistance preparing wills Ready to take the leap? l

Next Track: Sat, April 1/17 @10am

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JOBS & EMPOWERMENT

Nanny Training Certificate Program

BY MARILYN SILVERMAN

n today’s economic landscape, twoincome families are increasingly the norm as parents struggle to put food on the table and pay rent. They don’t just need someone to sit in their apartment and watch their children while they are at work. Nannies are now required to possess a degree of training in child care and in some instances, must be certified or even have a formal academic degree in the field of child development. So, as you can see, there is more to childcare than playing games, baking cupcakes and watching TV together

Make a Difference Interestingly, a nanny may spend more time with her charges than their parents. As a nanny, you have the ability to shape their small minds and allow parents to focus on their jobs comforted that their children are safe and happy at home. Very often, in addition to taking care of the child, nannies are now mandated to sit next to the children at their desks and lend a helping hand with their homework assignments as well as prepare nutritious meals for both the children and their families and perform housekeeping duties.

As a nanny, you have the ability to shape

their small minds and establish lifelong habits, such as manners and

organizational skills, that will aid them in

Vocation If you feel your mission in life is to work with children, working as a nanny gives you the ability to do just that. But the bonus of working as a nanny as opposed to a temporary babysitter or a childcare worker in a day care center, is that you truly get to know them. Like school, children in a daycare center move from teacher to teacher until they enter elementary school when they leave their daycare days behind them. You may stay with the same family for years and watch your charges grow from babies to young adults and recognize your contribution via your role as nanny. Being a Bridge Beyond caring for the children, you are responsible for acting as a liaison

Are you and your workforce ready to save lives?

succeeding as adults.

between the children and their teachers and parents. For example, as a nanny you may work with the parents to establish a routine for the children and you will have to keep track of the children’s after school activities, scheduled television time and medication schedule if any. You will be responsible for observing any abnormal developmental delays, health issues or the achievement of milestones.

Training If you have experience working with children, a career as a nanny may be a good match for the skills you already possess. Then combine this with patience, maturity, exceptional organizational skills and a sense of humor. It must be emphasized that some families will

also require a background check before they will hire you since you will be entrusted with their most valuable commodity--their children. They want to ascertain that when they insert that key into their homes in the morning before going to work, that they can have peace of mind knowing they can trust you. Nannies provide a valuable service in the nurturing, care, social, emotional and academic development of their charges. Understanding cognitive as well as emotional development empowers nannies to understand the rationalization behind choices, behavior and actions even when the child does not fully grasp their full import. A good place to start is with the New American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) Nanny Training Certificate Program. The Chamber’s mission is to empower nannies to start nanny businesses utilizing the skills developed, from our Nanny Training Certificate Program and our Small Business Boot Camp (Starting a Daycare Edition). We establish through our Nanny Training Certificate Program, knowledgeable, nurturing and loving nannies, who are dedicating their careers to challenging children to achieve greatness. Call us at 718-722-9217.l

CPR TRAINING

This class covers CPR for the BLS Healthcare Provider taught to the guidelines set by the American Heart Association (AHA). The class is taught by a New York EMT with several years EMS experience. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a CPR card that is valid for two years. The skills covered in the class include: * CPR/AED for Adult, Child and Infant patients * Choking * Rescue Breathing

Course fee: $100. Includes instructor time, manual, CPR card fee and CPR mouthpiece fee. Recertification Those looking to recertify a current BLS for Healthcare Provider certification should also take this class. There is no separate recertification track for BLS in 2017.

In addition to CPR, you'll learn choking prevention (including the Heimlich maneuver), vital information on poisoning/drowning, SIDS prevention, falls, head injuries, bleeding, safety, baby-proofing and allergies.

Course date: Saturday, April 1, 2017 from 10am-2pm Location: 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Downtown Brooklyn

Great for nannies!

**REFUND / RESCHEDULE POLICY** No refunds. If you wish to reschedule to the next class the instructor is teaching, your payment will be forwarded to the next class.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION, FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS AND A CHANCE TO WIN A TV!

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Proving Fault in Personal Injury Accidents: General Rules

etermining legal responsibility for an accident (often called "liability") can be complicated, but often rests on whether someone was careless or "negligent." It's easy enough to say that the person or business that caused an accident must pay for your injuries. But before you get to that point, you must determine who was legally at fault. Determining legal responsibility for an accident or injury (often called "liability") can be complicated, but often rests on whether someone was careless or "negligent." It's easy enough to say that the person or business that caused an accident must pay for your injuries. But before you get to that point, you must determine who was legally at fault.

Determining Legal Liability Most accidents happen because someone was careless. The basic rule is: If one person involved in an accident was less careful than another, the less careful one must pay for at least a portion of the damages suffered by the more careful one. Legal liability for almost all accidents is determined by this rule of carelessness, and by one or more of the following sim-

ble for the accident.

nIf an accident is caused on property that is dangerous because it is poorly built or maintained, the owner of the property is liable for being careless in maintaining the property, regardless of whether he or she actually created the dangerous condition.

ple propositions:

nIf the injured person was where he or she was not supposed to be, or somewhere he or she should have expected the kind of activity which caused the accident, the person who caused the accident might not be liable because that person had no "duty" to be careful toward the injured person. nIf the injured person was also careless, his or her compensation may be reduced by the extent such carelessness was also responsible for the accident. This is known as comparative negligence.

nIf a negligent person causes an accident while working for someone else, the employer may also be legally responsi-

nIf an accident is caused by a defective product, the manufacturer and seller of the product are both liable even if the injured person doesn't know which one was careless in creating or allowing the defect, or exactly how the defect happened.

When More Than One Person Is at Fault When there is more than one person responsible for an accidentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; for example, if several careless drivers cause a wreck â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the law in most states provides that any one of the careless parties is responsible for compensating you fully for your injuries. The responsible parties must then decide between themselves whether one should reimburse the others. This rule about collecting from any responsible person provides you with a

NEWS 15#

couple of important advantages. If one liable person is insured and the other is not, you can make your claim against the insured person for the full amount. And even if both are insured, you will have to settle your claim with only one insurance company. Initially, consider everyone you think might be responsible and notify each of them that you may file a claim for damages. How Your Own Carelessness Affects Your Claim Even if you were careless and partly caused an accident, in most states you can still get at least some compensation from anyone else who was also careless and partly responsible for the accident. The amount of the other person's liability for the accident is determined by comparing his or her carelessness with your own. The percentage of liability determines the percentage of the resulting damages he or she must pay. This rule is referred to as comparative negligence.l Source: nolo.com

This article is not a subsitute for legal advice.

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SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

7 Inspiring Home Business Ideas for Stay-at-Home Moms (or Dads)

BY CARON BEESLE, SBA.GOV

re you a stay-at-home mom (or dad)? Hoping to kick start an entrepreneurial dream or simply looking to bring in some extra income? Starting a home-based business is a great way to do this. In fact, 52 percent of U.S. companies operate as home businesses and many of today’s biggest brand names were established by stay-at-home moms —(Dorothy) Gerber, Mrs. (Debbi) Fields, and Julie Aigner-Clark (Baby Einstein), to name but a few. But what types of businesses can grow and thrive in the home environment? Here are some business ideas and considerations for stay-at-home moms: Freelancing Perhaps the easiest form of business to delve into and operate is freelancing. Whatever your skill—writing, web design, marketing, tax advisor, or photograph—freelancing affords an enormous amount of flexibility and freedom, and can be started with little cost or paperwork. Many freelancers get their start by approaching a former employer or customer who could benefit from their services, then branch out as their body of work and reputation grows.

Become a Virtual Assistant Virtual assistants (VAs) provide a wide variety of “virtual” services to other businesses including administrative, marketing and technical support from a home office. My local window cleaner, for example, uses a VA to answer his calls and manage his calendar while he’s busy onsite. VAs are growing in popularity, too, as firms look to cut costs and outsource administrative functions. If you are organized and have an administrative background, this might be for you.

Make Money from Blogging Yes, you can make money by blogging. I follow several stay-at-home moms who happen to be fashion and style bloggers – and it’s their business. If you can write and have a passion for a specific topic or hobby that you know will garner some attention, then this might be for you. Income generation opportunities can come in the form of affiliate marketing and advertising on your website or from companies who ask you to review and blog about their products. Look for ways to get traffic to your website through social media, search engine optimization and by getting involved in the wider blogosphere (networking with and commenting on the blogs of others in your niche).

GET MONEY FOR YOUR BUSINESS!

Start a Creative Business Whether it’s making gift baskets or offering interior design consultation services, if you have a creative streak and the room to store and create, then why not consider making money out of your talents? Get to know the market and do some planning to identify an untapped niche.

Start a Home-Based Bakery or Food Business Food production from a home is heavily regulated but it’s not impossible. Take Martha Stewart, for example—she famously entered the food service business with a basement-based catering company in 1976. Before you start a homebased food business you will need to understand the rules and regulations that govern the production of food for public consumption in an at-home environment.

Child Day Care Home childcare businesses offer a potentially lucrative and long-lasting business opportunity. Of course, this is another regulated business and you’ll need to ensure you comply with state and local regulations that govern issues such as the provision of meals, minimum space requirements per child, and the number of licensed care workers per child.

Start an Online Marketplace Store If you have clutter that you want to get rid of and like the idea of selling products to an established worldwide network of consumers, consider starting a business on eBay, Etsy or Amazon. You can source products to sell from junk/yard sales or charity shops. If you want to get a bit more sophisticated, then consider buying wholesale or adopting a drop-shipping model. The goal is to find products that are in high-demand and not readily available. More Ideas Other business ideas including a dog walking/pet care business, a travel agent, start a home-based franchise business, event planning, architectural design, or tutoring students! Whatever your idea, make sure you start, structure and operate your business according to legal and regulatory requirements. Check out the Chamber Coalition’s calendar at www.chambercoaltion.org for lots of great seminars and workshops to assist you.l Source: www.sba.gov

Why Join Our Chamber?

Because membership in the local chamber offers numerous benefits and keeps business owners on top of important, ever-changing issues and trends within their community and local marketplace.

reasons to join: lBrings credibility to your business lIncreases your visibility in the community lCreates networking opportunities lGain a voice in government lMake business contacts lReceive Chamber newsletters lAcquire customer referrals lAttend Chamber events and programs lBenefit from promotion and publicity lFree small business consultations

Become a Chamber member today. Call 718-722-9217 or visit www.chambercoalition.org

Time to take your business to the next level!

Victoria Falk CEO, Passionate Travel VP, AAICC

Ready to join our Chamber? Keep in mind, however, that you can’t just be a member of the Chamber to reap the benefits of chamber membership. Paying your annual dues just isn’t enough. You must also make an investment of time and effort in Chamber activities and become involved. Simply put, what you get out of Chamber membership is directly relative to what you put in.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION, FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS AND A CHANCE TO WIN A TV!

NEWS 17

NEWS

nHEALTH

nENTERTAINMENT

nRELATIONSHIPS

NDTC Celebrates 55th Anniversary/continued from Jamaican ensemble has performed in Europe, N o r t h , Central and S o u t h America, Australia and the wider Caribbean meeting with Rex Nettleford unqualified success and establishing for itself a laudable international reputation. A biennial visitor to the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College for more than two decades, NDTC celebrates its 55th anniversary

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nRECIPES

with a program combining evocative new works with favorites from their extensive repertoire. The residency includes three New York premieres, including “Mountain Climbing,” created by choreographer Chris Walker in tribute to NDTC’s Founding Artistic Director, Rex Nettleford, who passed away in 2010. Co-founded by Rex Nettleford and Eddy Thomas in 1962, at the time of Jamaica’s Independence, NDTC ventures to provide an atmosphere in which dancers could create and perform works of high standards, to encourage the Jamaican public to better appreciate the art of dance, and to research and utilize indigenous dance-forms and movement pattern from Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.l

nSPORTS

nHOROSCOPE

Kitchen Corner

Honeysuckle Pineapple

Pineapple wedges marinated in honey, brandy and lemon juice and grilled. A hot, sweet island-flavor treat! This recipe is from The WEBB Cooks, articles and recipes by Robyn Webb, courtesy of the American Diabetes Association.

Ingredients • 4 slices fresh pineapple •1 1/2 tablespoons honey •2 tablespoons cherry brandy •1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions To marinate: Combine honey, brandy and lemon juice in a nonporous glass dish or bowl. Mix together and add pineapple; coat

well with marinade mixture. Cover dish and marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour. Preheat grill to medium heat and lightly oil grate.

Remove pineapple from dish or bowl, discarding any leftover marinade. Place pineapple wedges directly on rack or in a basket and grill for about 10 minutes, turning, until pineapple is hot and caramelized.l

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SOCIAL CONCERNS

Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence

mmigrants are particularly vulnerable because many may not speak English, are often separated from family and friends, and may not understand the laws of the United States. For these reasons, immigrants are often afraid to report acts of domestic violence to the police or to seek other forms of assistance. Such fear causes many immigrants to remain in abusive relationships. This article will explain domestic violence and inform you of your legal rights in the United States. The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA) requires that the U.S. government provide foreign fiancé(e)s and spouses immigrating to the United States information about their legal rights as well as criminal or domestic violence histories of their U.S. citizen fiancé(e)s and spouses. Any victim of domestic violence — regardless of immigration or citizenship status — can seek help. An immigrant victim of domestic violence may also be eligible for immigration-related protections. If you are experiencing domestic violence in your home, you are not alone. This article is intended to help you understand U.S. laws and know how to

get help if you need it.

What are the legal rights for victims of domestic violence in the United States? All people in the United States, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, are guaranteed basic protections under both civil and criminal law. Laws governing families provide you with: nThe right to obtain a protection order for you and your child(ren). nThe right to legal separation or divorce without the consent of your spouse. nThe right to share certain marital property. In cases of divorce, the court will divide any property or financial assets you and your spouse have together. nThe right to ask for custody of your child(ren) and financial support. Parents of children under the age of 21 often are required to pay child support for any child not living with them.

What to do? Consult a family lawyer who works with immigrants to discuss how any of these family law options may affect or assist you. Under U.S. law, any crime victim, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, can call the police for help or

obtain a protection order. Call the police at 911 if you or your child(ren) are in danger. The police may arrest your fiancé(e), spouse, partner, or another person if they believe that person has committed a crime. You should tell the police about any abuse that has happened, even in the past, and show any injuries. Anyone, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, may report a crime. Likewise, if you are a victim of domestic violence you can apply to a court for a protection order. A court-issued protection order or restraining order may tell your abuser not to call, contact or hurt you, your child(ren) or other family members. If your abuser violates the protection order, you can call the police. Applications for protection orders are available at most courthouses, police stations, women’s shelters and legal service offices. If your abuser accuses you of a crime, you have basic rights, regardless of your immigration or citizenship status, including: the right to talk to a lawyer; the right to not answer questions without a lawyer present; the right to speak in your defense. It is important to talk with both an immigration lawyer and a criminal

lawyer.

If I am a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or other crime, what immigration options are available to me? There are three ways immigrants who become victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and some other specific crimes may apply for legal immigration status for themselves and their child(ren). A victim’s application is confidential and no one, including an abuser, crime perpetrator or family member, will be told that you applied.

Benefits nSelf-petitions for legal status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) nCancellation of removal under VAWA nU-nonimmigrant status (crime victims)

These immigration benefits each have specific requirements that must be established. Consult an immigration lawyer who works with victims of domestic violence to discuss how any of these immigration benefits may affect or assist you.l Source: uscis.gov

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# LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

Are You in Denial About Leaving Your Relationship?

BY JENNINE ESTES, MFT

ometimes you might find yourself in a relationship that is not totally healthy anymore, or where you’re no longer happy. Instead of taking the necessary steps to begin to leave your relationship, you stick around and just hope things will be better. When you’re stuck in a rut and your partner isn’t really trying to work with you, you might just be in denial about what you need to do. On the other hand, if you do still have strong feelings for your partner and hope that things could improve, it might just be time to step up and fight for your relationship.

What Percentage of You is Ready to Go? Are you 50% invested in the relationship, and 50% ready to go? Or are you 99.9% ready to leave the relationship but you’re just afraid? On the one hand, even if you only have a very small percentage that is not ready to leave, you should put leaving on the shelf and talk to your partner about how to make the relationship better. This is the only way to give saving the relationship a fighting chance. But, if you have tried to put leaving on the shelf and the percentage of you that wants to go keeps growing — you may just be in denial about what your true feelings are.

This 3-hour New York Notary Public Training course is designed to educate individuals with the legal terminology, concepts and clauses contained in the framework of the New York State Notary booklet.

fight for the relationship but your partner isn’t, you can’t fully recover as a couple. Whether it’s past relationship wounds, or just burn out, you must both be willing to truly invest. Are you making excuses for your partner? Pretending he has an excuse for why he isn’t trying, or telling others that he is making strides when you don’t really see any signs of effort? If your partner is not really making an effort but you continue to hold out hope for years, you might be in denial about the fact that your spouse just isn’t willing to work for the relationship.

How Long Have You Thought about Leaving Your Relationship? Are your thoughts about leaving fairly new, or have you been considering this action for a long time? If you have been on the fence for a long time, you need to

$399 Divorces

How Is Your Partner Reacting? It takes two to tango. If you are willing to

Notary Public Training Course

think about what is really keeping you in the relationship. Do you really still see hope for making it work, or are you just afraid of the unknown? If you are only staying because you are afraid to be alone, it’s time to step out of denial and take the jump. Your partner can definitely sense that you’re not truly happy, and you are wasting your time and his.l Jennine Estes, MFT, is a Marriage and Family Therapist in San Diego, CA., certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples. She write relationship and self-growth advice for her column, Relationships in the Raw. She is also the creator of #BeingLOVEDIs campaign. MFC#47653

Cost includes materials and information on: lSupplemental Study Guide lNotary Fact Sheet lPractical Exam lSample Forms lNotary Public Application and Oath of Office lNY State License Law Booklet lNY State Exam Schedule lExpert Training and Assistance

Fee: $50 covers course materials. For more information: call 718-722-9217

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We also handle contested divorce matters such as child custody and support, alimony and distribution of assets.

Schedule your appointment today. Call 855-768-8845

FIGEROUX & ASSOCIATES, Attorneys at Law 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Toll Free: 855-768-8845 Online www.311divorce.com

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