New York Amsterdam News Issue #26 June 30 - July 6, 2022

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Vol. 113 No. 26 | June 29, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW BLACK VIEW

©2022 The Amsterdam News | $1.00 New York City

CITY REELING AS ROE V. WADE OVERTURNED (See story on page 6)

People gather in Manhattan's Union Square to protest against the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v Jackson (Photo of woman by Ron Adar / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images) (Background photo by Ariama C. Long)

Big winners and losers in governor’s race (See story on page 3)

New evidence in the lynching of Emmett Till (See story on page 4)

‘Abortion is a healthcare issue’—Attorney General Letitia James (See story on page 6)

(Ariama C. Long photo)

Missing warrant discovered in Emmett Till case

AG Letittia James

2 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Spanish PM blames traffickers, migrants for deaths in Melilla USPS 382-600/ISSN#00287121 2340 Frederick Douglass Boulevard New York, New York 10027 (212) 932-7400 FAX (212) 222-3842

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INDEX Arts & Entertainment ���������������� Page 17 » Astro/Numerology �������������������Page 20 » Trends ����������������������������������������Page 22 » Jazz ��������������������������������������������Page 23 Caribbean Update ���������������������� Page 14 Career/Business ������������������������� Page 31 Classified �������������������������������������� Page 41 Editorial/Opinion ��������������������Pages 12,13 Education ������������������������������������ Page 26 Go with the Flo ����������������������������Page 8 Health �������������������������������������������� Page 16 In the Classroom ������������������������Page 24 Nightlife ������������������������������������������Page 9 Religion & Spirituality ������������������Page 28 Sports �������������������������������������������Page 40 Union Matters ������������������������������� Page 10 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS INFORMATION U.S. Territories & Canada weekly subscriptions: 1 year $49.99 2 Years $79.99 6 months $30.00 Foreign subscriptions: 1 year $59.99 2 Years $89.99 6 Months $40.00

By JOSEPH WILSON and ARITZ PARRA (AP Photo/Javier Bernardo, File) MADRID (AP)—Spain’s prime minister has defended the way Moroccan and Spanish police repelled migrants last week as they tried to cross the shared border into the north African enclave of Melilla, depicting the attempt in which at least 23 people died as “an attack on Spain’s borders.”

“We must remember that many of these migrants attacked Spain’s borders with axes and hooks,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said during an interview Monday, June 27 with The Associated Press. “We are talking about an attempt to assault the fence that was evidently carried out in an aggressive way, and therefore what Spain’s state security forces and Moroccan guards did was defend Spain’s borders.”

Authorities in Morocco have blamed the deaths on a “stampede” of people that formed early Friday as hundreds attempted to scale or break through the 12-meter (29-feet) iron double fence.

The barrier surrounds Melilla, a town of 85,000 separated from the Spanish mainland by the Strait of Gibraltar.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “shocked” at

the images of violence, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York.

Dujarric said the use of “excessive force” by authorities on both sides of the border “needs to be investigated because it is unacceptable.”

“States have obligations under international law, and international human rights law and refugee law” which “must be upheld,” he said.

Nonprofits working in northern Africa and human rights organizations have deplored the treatment the migrants received from police on both sides. But they have also directed their blame at Spanish and European Union officials who they say have essentially outsourced border controls to Morocco and other states.

Sánchez, whose left-to-center government is trying to improve ties with Morocco following an acrimonious diplomatic dispute over Western Sahara, has refused to criticize the crackdown.

Speaking at the palace on the outskirts of Madrid that hosts his office and residence, Sánchez told AP that his thoughts were with the families of those who died. But he blamed the tragedy on “international human trafficking rings who are profiting from the suffering of human beings who only want to seek a better life.”

“I insist, these are internation-

al mafia groups that are not only damaging the territorial integrity of Spain but also that of Morocco, which is a country suffering from irregular migration.”

Sánchez spoke to AP on the eve of hosting NATO leaders in a summit that aims to redraw the defense alliance’s strategy for the next decade.

While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will take center stage at the Wednesday and Thursday meeting, the group will also debate its posture on Africa, where Russian mercenaries are adding to concerns about migration, extremism and the impacts of poverty and climate change.

Footage uploaded to social media shows how a large number of migrants approached a section of the fence and began scaling it. Some of the migrants hurled rocks at Moroccan anti-riot police trying to stop them. At one point, the fence collapses, sending many of the migrants to the ground from a height of several meters.

In at least one video released by Spanish online news website eldiario.es, Spanish guards can also be seen escorting migrants back to the Moroccan side, a practice that human rights activists say denies the right of refugees to apply for asylum on European soil.

More gruesome videos and photos

International AFRICAN ABORTION RIGHTS BASED ON ROE V WADE NOW AT RISK AFTER SUPREME COURT DECISION (GIN)—In Africa, where the risk of dying from an unsafe abortion is the highest in the world, Roe v. Wade has long been an important weapon in the arsenal of those fighting to liberalize abortion laws and make the procedure safer for women and girls despite it rarely being invoked by name.

Human rights lawyer Stephanie Musho, a Kenyan, pointed to the case of Tunisia which liberalized their law limiting abortions just nine months after the Roe v.Wade ruling, allowing women to access the service on demand.

Cape Verde allowed for abortion on request prior to 12 weeks gestation which aligns with the Roe v. Wade holding of the same.

“U.S. policies on abortion,” she wrote in Al Jazeera, “whether we like it or not, significantly influence how seriously governments around the world take the issue of unsafe abortions.”

A surprising number of decisions reveal African courts referencing the Roe v. Wade ruling. In a recent deci-

sion by the High Court of Kenya in Malindi, abortion care was called a fundamental right under the Kenyan Constitution and arbitrary arrests and prosecution of patients and healthcare providers for seeking or offering such services were outlawed.

The court relied upon the principles set out in previous SCOTUS decisions including Roe v. Wade; Griswold v.

Connecticut; Eisenstadt v. Baird; and Rochin v. California among others.

“Thus the move by SCOTUS overturning Roe v. Wade will also put the right to abortion in further jeopardy in my own country,” warned Musho.

Still, Kenya’s High Court’s ruling was greeted with applause from Evelyn Opondo, senior regional director for Africa at the Center for Reproductive Rights, who called it “a victory for all women, girls, and healthcare providers who have been treated as criminals for seeking and providing abortion care…

The Court has vindicated our position by affirming that forcing a woman to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term or to seek out an unsafe abortion is a gross violation of her rights to privacy

posted online appear to show the aftermath of the crossing attempt, with scores of young men, some of them motionless and others barely moving and bleeding as Moroccan security forces stood over them.

At least 76 civilians and 140 security officers on the Moroccan side, and 60 National Police and Civil Guard officers on the Spanish side, were injured, according to their respective governments. A small group of African men who did make it across the fence were taken to a migrant holding center in Melilla.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of the continent’s largest grouping of countries, the African Union, has called for an investigation into the deaths. In a tweet, Mahamat said he wanted to “express my deep shock and concern at the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants,” adding that all countries have “obligations under international law to treat all migrants with dignity and to prioritize their safety and human rights while refraining from the use of excessive force.”

While Moroccan authorities say 23 people died in addition to scores of injuries both among the migrants and border guards, activists claim that the death toll is higher and denounce the EU’s policy of striking See MELILLA on page 27

News

and bodily autonomy.”

Now, some 30 years after Roe v.

Wade, the African Union has finally adopted the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, known as the Maputo Protocol, Musho wrote in the CommonDreams news site.

The protocol explicitly requires countries to authorize medical abortions in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest, or where the continued pregnancy endangers the health of the mother—a provision that draws from the U.N.’s Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women which based its argument on access to safe abortion on Roe v. Wade.

Today, of the 55 member countries in the AU, 49 have signed the protocol and 43 have ratified it.

Since South Africa’s legalization of abortion on demand there has been a decrease in deaths from clandestine abortions (those provided outside of designated facilities), but the number of deaths following abortions are still

quite high according to statistics gathered in Gauteng province—5% of maternal deaths following childbirth are abortion related, and 57% of these are related to illegal abortions.

WORLD HEALTH BODY WANTS NEW NAME FOR ‘MONKEYPOX’ VIRUS, CALLING IT ‘DISCRIMINATORY AND STIGMATIZING’ (GIN)—The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced plans to find a new name for the viral disease informally known as ‘monkeypox’ which, says the world body, is “discriminatory and stigmatizing.”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a briefing on the matter, said the virus is no longer behaving as it did in the past and therefore should be renamed.

But a public narrative persists in suggesting the current outbreak is linked to Africa, West Africa or Nigeria, noted a group of 29 biologists and other researchers. That builds on an existing stigma, although the virus has been detected without a clear link to Africa.

See INTERNATIONAL on page 27

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Big winners and losers in governor’s race

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Governor Kathy Hochul and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado are ahead in the polls and Election Night’s unofficial winners with over 50% of the votes in the gubernatorial and lieutenant governor’s race. Hochul and Delgado celebrated their projected win in Manhattan while losing opponents, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Ana Maria Archila, partied at their gathering in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

The June primary determines the Democratic and Republican nominees for governor and lieutenant gov-

ernor in November’s general election later this year.

Hochul scored 66.48 % of the votes, according to the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE), and will be reelected as the first female governor of New York after 10 months as an interim governor. Her running mate and former upstate congressmember, Delgado, got 57.10 % of the votes.

In New York City specifically, Hochul got about 60% of the votes and Delgado won about 55% of the votes, said the NYC BOE. Just ahead of the election Hochul was endorsed

by Mayor Eric Adams over Williams for governor.

In her speech on Election Night,

Hochul thanked Williams for his passion and dedication to the city.

She also vowed to protect abortion rights and gun laws in the face of fierce “right wing extremist” opposition. She said that the Democratic party would prevail.

“Two days from now, we will respond to the Supreme Court’s assault on my right as the governor of New York to protect New Yorkers from concealed weapons,” said Hochul on Tuesday night, “and we’ve gone on offense to protect abortion rights, increasing protection for providers, increased our funding, expanding our capacity.

And making the world know that See GOV RACE on page 31

Bronx DA Darcel Clark holds inaugural mental health and criminal justice summit

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Last Tuesday, more than 70 attendees from prominent nonprofits and local agencies gathered at the Bronx Zoo to talk with District Attorney Darcel Clark about solutions to the mental health and criminal justice issues affecting the city’s northernmost borough.

“Since I’ve become DA, and even before that in my judicial career, mental illness and mental health in this community has been a priority,” said Clark. “And it’s also one of the areas of resources that have been lacking so much in the Bronx. New York City and New York State [are] always talking to do more to help communities of color to bridge that gap. But nothing has ever happened, so I have decided that I cannot wait for others.”

At the summit, panels discussed challenges they were facing while addressing mental health in the Bronx.

Many organizations found ways to collaborate and cover the gaps in each other’s work. Groups represented included the Bronx Psychiatric Center, Montefiore Medical Center and the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health.

Housing was the top issue discussed. Advocates highlighted the traumas unhoused individuals face from the constant fears of personal safety. To them, not only was there a need for affordable housing but supportive housing—Clark mentioned the limitations of shelters, saying they only offered a place to sleep but lacked counseling, job training and other forms of enrichment.

To Clark, the summit’s focus was to prevent trips to Rikers Island, which the district attorney called the “biggest mental health facility we have”

due to the lack of primary care. So alternatives begin outside of the criminal justice system. Beyond social workers and therapists, Clark believes those with firsthand experience with mental health issues and incarceration should be leading the charge.

“You’re going to listen to somebody who’s been there, as opposed to somebody who you feel is like just wagging their finger to say ‘you better do this, and you got to do that,’” she said. “And I think that in order for this to really work, we need real credible messengers.”

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

New Yorkers turn in 78 guns at Harlem buyback program

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member By the time doors closed at 4 p.m. at Soul Saving Station church in Harlem this past Saturday, 78 firearms ranging from peashooters to semi-automatics were collected from Cash for Guns, a buyback event hosted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.

Those who handed in a gun (or imitation gun) received an “untraceable” prepaid Visa gift card from the Oyate Group, a local antipoverty nonprofit running its third

buyback program. Operable guns or assault rifles were swapped for $500 certificates while rifles and shotguns were exchanged for $150 and BB guns and imitation guns netted $50. Anyone could turn in a firearm, with the process entirely anonymous and confidential. The collected weapons are set to be melted down by the NYPD at an undisclosed location. “[The guns] will never see the light of day again,” said Jason Autar, the chief operating officer of Oyate Group. “These guns are not inspected, they’re not busted. The serial numbers are not investigat-

ed upon it. Once they’re turned in, that’s it, it’s done.”

According to Autar, Saturday’s event was the most successful one yet. He credits outreach from credible messengers, advocates who employ their personal experiences with incarceration and gang-violence towards mentoring youngsters most dramatically affected by those issues. Additionally, organizers believe hosting the event at a church such as Soul Saving Station rather than at a police station helped put those looking to turn in a gun at ease. Given the amount See BUYBACK on page 31

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 3

MetroBriefs Metro Briefs State Education Department and State Library encourage summer reading for youth The New York State Education Department and New York State Library are again partnering with 1,100 public libraries and neighborhood branches statewide to launch the 2022 Summer Reading at New York Libraries program, Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced this week.

This year’s slogan, “Oceans of Possibilities,” is meant to connect students of all ages to the theme of oceanography and water resources. New York’s public libraries will host exciting activities, events, and fun and enriching programs like reading challenges throughout the summer.

Research shows summer reading habits can combat summer learning loss and provide a foundation for academic success. Studies found that, on average, students lose two months of grade-level mathematical computation skills over the summer, and low-income students can lose up to two months of reading achievement. In addition to program support and resources, the State Library provides a fun online app called READsquared. Using the app, students and families can track their favorite books and activities during the summer and all year.

Hochul signs legislation expanding protections for transit workers against assault Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation to protect roughly 11,000 more transit workers against assault and harassment. The bill will expand current law that charges individuals who attack or harass transit workers with second degree assault.

It will extend criminal charges to individuals who assault station customer assistants, ticket or revenue collectors, maintenance workers, repairers, cleaners, and their supervisors, who are not protected by existing law. The governor signed the bill alongside State Sen. Leroy Comrie, Assemblymember Vivian Cook, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, and Mark Henry, president, ATU local 1056.

Transit employees are vulnerable to harassment or assault by any individual using transit or transit facilities, and this bill will toughen laws to protect additional transit employees from attacks.

Environmental factors predict risk of death Along with high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking, environmental factors such as air pollution are highly predictive of people’s chances of dying, especially from heart attack and stroke, a new study shows.

Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the study showed that exposure to above average levels of outdoor air pollution increased risk of death by 20%, and risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 17%.

Using wood- or kerosene-burning stoves, not properly ventilated through a chimney, to cook food or heat the home also increased overall risk of death (by 23% and 9%) and cardiovascular death risk (by 36% and 19%). Living far from specialty medical clinics and near busy roads also increased risk of death.

By contrast, the study showed that other environmental factors included in the analysis—low neighborhood income levels, increased population density, and too much nighttime light exposure—were not independent predictors of risk of death, despite previous research in mostly urban settings suggesting otherwise.

State Comptroller DiNapoli hosts Caribbean Heritage event in Brooklyn New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli hosted an event in honor of Caribbean Heritage Month in Brooklyn Monday night at Suede Restaurant. The event celebrated the rich and diverse history and culture of the Caribbean, while honoring Caribbeans and Caribbean-Americans who have contributed greatly to the state and nation.

Event honorees included Roxanne Persaud, New York state senator; Michele Voltaire Marcelin, poet, painter, actress; Angela Yee, host of Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club; and the Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival.

The event was emceed by curator and producer, Jodine Dorcé, with music provided by Andre White.

—Compiled by Cyril Josh Barker

4 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

New report introduces police reform strategy NewJerseyNews NJ State Senate committee based on Ithaca NY model approves gun safety bills

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Earlier this month, prominent progressive nonprofit People For the American Way released “All Safe: Transforming Public Safety,” a 156 page game plan for how cities can retool their police departments by replacing armed responses to nonviolent crime with civilian employees like social workers.

The document employs the Ithaca Public Safety Model as a blueprint, pulling from the successful reform measures implemented by Svante Myrick, the former mayor of the New York town who now serves as the executive director of People For the American Way. “As the former mayor of Ithaca, New York, I know that

small cities are truly laboratories of democracy in our country,” said Myrick. “In Ithaca, we voted to replace our antique police force with a Department of Public Safety made up of both unarmed and armed responders. We believe wholeheartedly that this will make everyone safer, because so many 911 calls do not require an armed response.”

According to Dr. Niaz Kasravi, founder of the Avalan Institute and one of the architects of the report, the goal of the project is to lay out policy options for officials interested in law enforcement accountability and eliminating police violence. It starts with reducing armed responses to nonviolent crimes and unarmed suspects. Less guns on the scene mean less police shootings, allowing residents to feel safer when con-

tacting authorities for issues like mental health episodes, welfare checks and traffic stops that require a nonviolent touch. And it’s beneficial to the cops as well.

“You’re reducing the stress on police officers who are called to respond to these a large range of issues for which they are not best suited to,” said Kasravi. “Officers are best suited to respond to violence and try to prevent situations that have a tendency to turn into violent situations.”

“This isn’t about reducing the police force, it’ll still have officers,” said Myrick. “They’d be more focused on serious crimes, as opposed to going to less serious calls. They’ll be focused on getting illegal guns off the street, and solving murders and preventing murders before they happen.”

Additionally, the report advises cities to hold police depart-

ments accountable through using police union contract negotiations as opportunities to weed out demands that can be exploited for misconduct such as a 2014 Chicago clause that allowed the officer who killed 17-year-old Laquon McDonald to retain his job and fight lawsuits with taxpayer money. The state trio of New Jersey, Rhode Island and Hawaii, along with Washington D.C. openly lack procedures to decertify unfit police officers, while many more impose barriers that make such processes equally as difficult.

Lastly, the report wants police departments to focus on recruiting community-oriented prospects rather than those drawn to violence. Ben Jealous, the president of People For the American Way, said in a recent call that studies show police with auSee REFORM on page 29

Missing college student TiJae Baker found alive and safe thanks to ‘shero’ mother

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member After missing for almost two months, 23-year-old East New Yorker TiJae Baker is now home safely due to the tireless efforts of her mother, Toquanna, who announced the news at a press conference from Councilwoman Darlene Mealy’s office this past Friday, June 24.

Baker disappeared on May 1 after taking a bus to Washing-

ton, D.C. The soon-to-graduate art major planned to meet a “client” she was making posters for. Her mother says she was lured to the nation’s capital. Police told Toquanna Baker that her daughter might be a runaway when she reported her missing. Not satisfied with the sidelines, she began making posters of her own and plastered them throughout her neighborhood.

“The police department has their own copy of their missing persons report, but the detective

only came up there one time and only saw one poster out of the whole mall,” said Toquanna Baker. “I’ve already been [there] five times and every store had a poster because of me.”

Tips soon came pouring in and a terrified TiJae Baker called her mom on June 1 from a Maryland nail salon. While Toquanna Baker arrived too late at the time, she was soon able to narrow her daughter’s location to Prince George’s County, where she was seen sleeping in bus stations. A store reached out

New evidence in the lynching of Emmett Till

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

If Deborah Watts and family, Jaribu Hill, and Keith Beauchamp have their way and say, the case of the brutal lynching of Emmett Till will never be closed until justice is done. Last year, for the second time, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it was closing the case on one of the most horrific acts of racial violence in American history. But Watts, Till’s cousin and a co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation; Hill, counsel to the family, and Beauchamp, a filmmaker

and documentarian, have kept a foot in the door, and they refuse to accept the DOJ’s decision to close the case.

During a phone call and subsequent email, Watts explained that the search for the warrant was conducted by a devoted team, including her daughter, Teri, Khali Rasheed, Melissa Earnest, and Mr. Beauchamp. “This effort began with Till’s mother, Mamie Till Mobley, and we intensified our families efforts after the DOJ reopened the investigation in 2017,” she said.

“After receiving no updates, we launched the Justice for Emmett Till campaign in 2020 to request

charges be brought against the only known living accomplice, Carolyn Bryant-Donham.”

Their resolve and diligence was recently rewarded when they were able to find a warrant issued 67 years ago for the arrest of Roy Bryant, J.W. Milam, Bryant’s half-brother, and Carolyn Bryant in the kidnapping of Till, who was a 14-year-old from Chicago visiting relatives in Money, Mississippi. “A warrant never expires,” said attorney Hill, in a telephone interview Monday afternoon, “and they never arrested her because they said she was a young woman with children.”

after they saw a young woman looking for food that matched Baker’s description on one of her mother’s posters. Then a security guard came forward and soon after, a bus driver identified TiJae Baker as one of the passengers in her vehicle. Toquanna Baker rushed down and found her daughter nearby the bus stop, shaken and hurt, but otherwise safe.

Councilmembers Darlene Mealy and Charles Barron, who both assisted with outreach on See BAKER on page 29

The two men cited on the warrant are dead, but the woman, now Carolyn BryantDonham, is still alive, in her 80s, and rumored to be living somewhere in North Carolina. Both Bryant and Milam were acquitted by an all-white male jury and later confessed they murdered Till to author William Bradford Huie for a payment of $4,000. The story was published in Look magazine in January 1956.

“That lay people were able to find the warrant in the archives of the Leflore County Courthouse is a testament of their deSee NEW EVIDENCE on page 29

By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff The New Jersey State Senate’s Law and Public Safety Committee approved seven key gun safety bills that will help prevent gun violence in the Garden State.

Sponsored by Senate President Nick Scutari, Sen. Joe Cryan, Sen. Richard Codey and Sen. Andrew Zwicker, the bills would prohibit .50 caliber rifles, crack down on ghost guns, strictly control the use of body armor, require microstamping, require firearms training, regulate the sale of handgun ammunition, and have new residents register firearms from other states.

“The surge in gun violence has been horribly tragic, with lives lost, victims wounded and loved ones suffering heartbreak,” said Cryan, the former Union County Sheriff. “We have to continue to do all we can to keep deadly firearms out of the hands of those who pose a danger, off the streets, away from schools and out of our communities.”

“As we have all seen recently, gun violence is a real and scary risk in our country and we must act now to reduce the frequency at which it occurs,” said Codey.

“We must ensure that gun owners are aware of how to safely handle and store a firearm to better protect our residents from unnecessary harm. Additionally, by incorporating microstamping technology, law enforcement would have a critical aid that would assist them in tracking down weapons used in crimes. We have to do all that we can on God’s green Earth to stop these shootings from occurring. Everyone needs to be held accountable, and if you misuse a firearm, you shouldn’t be able to get away with it.”

“We have to take the actions we can to keep our communities safe,” said Zwicker. “Making sure that owners of firearms follow the laws and procedures for gun safety is important. We have some of the strongest gun laws in the country— we want every resident to follow them.”

Bill to establish Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advances in NJ

By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee today advanced legislation sponsored by Sen. Troy Singleton that would establish the Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DDEI) within the executive branch.

The bill, S-841, would establish the new DDEI as a principal department within the executive branch to expand procurement by the state and its subdivisions, assist on efforts to use underrepresented businesses to provide brokerage and investment management services, and oversee the allocation of loans and grants for business formation and

low interest loans and down payment assistance for homeowners.

“This proposal holds true the notion that affirmatively advancing equity and equal opportunity is a responsibility of our government,” said Singleton. “This legislation brings both attention and intention to this ideal by taking our aspirational words of inclusion and turning it into a state department focused on bringing those words to fruition.”

The bill would also require the New Jersey Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Small Business Registration and Minority and WomenOwned Business Enterprise Certification Services Unit and the Division on Civil Rights to transfer responsibilities to the DDEI.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 5

Sarah Telson empowers LGBTQ+ community through passion and advocacy

By ZOË ROSE Special to the AmNews Sarah Telson advocates and empowers as she uses her voice to give back to her community in some of the most powerful and rewarding ways. She works to be the voice of low-income Black and Brown queer people as the deputy director of legal services for the City Anti Violence Project (AVP), which essentially provides counseling, advocacy and legal services to LGBTQ+ and HIV affected New Yorkers who are victims of any type of violence.

As well as dedicating the past eight years as an attorney advocating on behalf of low income Black and Brown people, her time spent in these roles has allowed her to find passion in the work of giving back to her community.

Sarah Telson is a first-generation Haitian American who grew up in Brooklyn. Her time growing up always reminded her of the future she could pave for herself. “I’m a child of immigrants, I’m a first-generation New Yorker, and I’m a queer Black woman, so I always wanted to give back to my community, and try and make New York and the world a better place for queer Black and Brown people,” said Telson.

Telson shared that the wonderful work she continues to embark upon today has much to do with her background. Prior to the work she does now, Telson attended Prep4Prep which is a program that offers promising students of color access to private education within New York City before she attended University of Pennsylvania for Law School.

Telson explained how essentially her experiences within these school settings were rather eye-opening after coming from her background and being exposed to that new way of life. Telson explained, “It was an eye-opening experience, I was a person coming from a low-income background going to this elite Ivy League school, it was different, and honestly if I could do it over, I might’ve.”

She further then went on to explain how being a first-generation Hatian American had its impact on who she is now, and ultimately led her to become very familiar with the field of becoming an attorney. She shares how she was able to see what it was really like to be underrepresented. “Everyone else in my family was born in Haiti, so I kind of saw firsthand the experiences of people who are non-native English speakers, who are immigrants, and people who

don’t necessarily have money, so that really impacted my interest and want to become an attorney.”

The future is boundless for Sarah Telson and so is her vision of how her legacy will continue to pan out.

Telson plans on continuing to speak up and representing those who no longer have the privilege to do so. She concluded by stating: “With everything that’s happening in the country, the continuous eroding of the rights of women and queer and trans people of color, I hope I can do what I can to try and stop the aggressive white supremacy that is ultimately causing not all of us to be able to be free and determine our destinies.”

Black

New Yorker

6 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

City reeling as Roe v. Wade overturned

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member A deluge of protesters hit the streets in outrage last Friday, June 24 after learning that five members of the Supreme Court had ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, a pivotal court case that established a woman’s right to an abortion 50 years ago. Advocates and electeds alike joined in demonstrations, some sharing their personal experiences.

In a conference at City Hall, Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom, who runs Health and Human Services, said that she is proud to be a mom of two daughters but when she was younger she made the decision to get a safe, legal abortion.

“When I was 18 years old, I was not ready to be a mom.

So if I didn’t have access to a safe, affordable abortion, I would not be here with you all today,” said WilliamsIsom. “I wouldn’t have the life that I wanted to have. I wouldn’t be able to be the mother that I want to be. At 18, I wasn’t financially ready, socially ready, emotionally

ready. So, today is so important for all of those people throughout this country that do not and are not as safe as they need to be.”

Williams-Isom spoke about how her 91-yearold mother in Trinidad was deeply confused at the state of affairs in the U.S. and how they could deny women’s access to safe care.

Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer added while at the conference that the real fight is about social issues that impact a woman’s ability to be economically stable, to continue her education, and to plan for her future.

“I know this firsthand. I had an abortion. It was the right decision for me and my husband. And so today, I share your anger. I share your disappointment. I share your frustration, and I share your outrage,” said Torres-Springer.

According to Planned Parenthood, the original case was filed by Jane Roe, an unmarried and pregnant Texas woman who wanted to end her pregnancy. The Texas law at the time made it a crime to perform an abortion unless a woman’s life was at stake, but the Su-

preme Court sided with her and on January 22, 1973, recognized for the first time “the constitutional right to privacy ‘is broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.’”

It set the legal precedent for cases to come, including cases where a married couple given birth control was criminalized.

In 1965, said Planned Parenthood, “Abortion was so unsafe that 17% of all deaths due to pregnancy and childbirth were because of illegal abortions.”

Immediately following the Supreme Court’s ruling in the current Dobbs v. Jackson case that overturned Roe, Gov. Kathy Hochul and a slew of entities started donating funds and building public education campaigns about where to get safe, legal, and accessible abortions, like in New York State.

“We feared this dark day— but New York did not hesitate to prepare for it,” said Hochul in a statement. “The Supreme Court has dealt a crushing blow to all who value the ability to make decisions about their own bodies. Let me be clear: the

Supreme Court has failed us, but New York State will not. Our Abortion Access Always campaign builds on efforts to ensure that everyone knows that abortions remain safe, legal, and accessible here. As long as I am governor, this state will protect you.”

When the overturn ruling was leaked last month, Hochul took steps to protect and strengthen reproductive rights and abortion access across the state. A $25 million dollar Abortion Provider Support Fund was created and a six-bill package was passed for those who need help with payment or travel costs and to address a variety of legal concerns that may crop up in the future.

Even giant companies, such as Microsoft and Disney, are putting in money for employees forced to travel across red state lines to get an abortion, reported CNN. Legal abortion has transformed one in four women’s lives in the United States, reduced Black maternal mortality by 40%, and created economic opportunities for women over the

last half century, said Torres-Springer. Planned Parenthood concurred that body autonomy and access to care has enabled women to pursue educational and employment opportunities that were “often unthinkable prior to Roe,” which was noted by the Supreme Court in 1992.

Since the 1970s, the ruling for Roe v. Wade has been under attack with restrictions to the law adding limits on low-income women and young women, said Planned Parenthood.

President, CEO, and founder of Choices Women’s Medical Center Merle Hoffman is an internationally known leader in the struggle for women’s rights.

Choices is a women’s center that provides abortion services, birth control, gynecology, pre-natal care, behavioral health counseling, LGBTQ programs and extensive educational outreach to schools, prisons and women’s organizations.

She founded her clinics in the city two years before Roe v. Wade in 1971. As a women’s and reproductive rights activist, her work spans 50 years and continues today.

Hoffman said that the country is dangerously moving towards a “theocracy” that is determined to undue fundamental rights like abortion or gay marriage as Judge Clarence Thomas alluded to. Her clinics will continue to see patients from other states.

She said many women will be looking for places to stay or need access to funding.

When she began her clinic in 1971 she was seeing patients from New Jersey, but nowadays people come as far as Texas, said Hoffman.

“We had a patient who came from Texas a couple of weeks ago and she thought she was 11 weeks pregnant and she had her ticket for Friday. One night, roundtrip. She had no money, didn’t bring food. And no place to stay.

She didn’t know nobody in New York,” said Hoffman.

“Scared, pregnant, with very little resources.”

Hoffman said that the patient from Texas ended up being 15 weeks after she did an ultrasound. She told the patient that she would have to stay for a two-day procedure. “A counselor sits her See ROE V. WADE on page 36

‘Abortion is a healthcare issue’—Attorney General Letitia James

By NAYABA ARINDE Amsterdam News Editor Attorney General Letitia James is on an abortion healthcare crusade. Young girls and women with unwanted pregnancies who live in the New York area, or can travel to the Big Apple, will have access to health care and wraparound services.

“It’s a five-alarm situation in the nation,” James told the Amsterdam News. “The last 72 hours have been completely devastating and it’s a hard turn to the right.”

She also stated that the nation “knew this was coming, it doesn’t come as any surprise. The Republicans have been preparing for this for a very, very long time, but nonetheless I am disappointed, but more im-

portantly, I am concerned about health care, women, and individuals who may find themselves pregnant.”

On June 24, 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe versus Wade, the day that everyone knew was coming still sent shock waves through some—and exhilaration through others.

The almost 50 year federal protection of women’s healthcare rights to seek an abortion if wanted, was struck down in a 6 to 3 decision from the conservative Supreme Court.

One of the six Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. stated, “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start.”

Former president Donald Trump appointees justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney

Barrett were joined by Clarence Thomas in the landmark ruling.

Dissenting justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer stated that the rights of women and the reputation of the court were irrevocably damaged by this “new and bare majority of this court.”

In a joint statement they added that it was sorrow for the Supreme Court, “but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection—we dissent.”

That same day, James slammed the court for denying the fundamental federal right to abortion, saying that the “ruling is a vicious, dangerous, and deliberate attack on our most basic freedom as humans. Every

single person in this country should have the right to make their own decisions about their own bodies. But make no mistake: we will not go back to the inhumane and restrictive preRoe era. Regardless of the situation at the national level, New York will always be a safe haven for anyone seeking an abortion. I will work tirelessly to ensure that low-income New Yorkers and people from hostile states have access to the care they need and deserve.

I will always fight to protect our right to make decisions about our own bodies and expand access to this critical and lifesaving care.”

On Monday, June 27, Attorney General James joined a national coalition of 22 attorneys general to issue a joint statement “reaffirm-

ing their commitment to supporting and expanding access to abortion care.

Despite the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, access to safe and legal abortion remains robustly protected in numerous states across the country, including in New York and the coalition states.

As highlighted by the multistate coalition’s efforts in the amicus brief in Dobbs, the attorneys general will continue to fight to support the rights of pregnant people nationwide.”

Their statement declared, “While this is a perilous moment for our nation, it is a moment that calls for action. Our promise to our residents is simple: we’ll never stop defending your rights. Regardless of the

decision in Dobbs, broad access to abortion remains protected in states that recognize reproductive freedom, such as ours.”

In their joint statement Attorney General James joined attorneys general of states including: New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

They stated, “People across the nation are now confronted with the prospect of having to travel from their homes to our states to seek access to the fundamental health care to which they should be entitled. For those unable to make the journey, laws banning abortion in their home states will lead to poorer health outcomes and reduced socioeconomic opportunities. Those See ABORTION on page 36

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Isn’t the best time to continue building your legacy right now?

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 7

Through our Community Homeownership Commitment,1 we’ve helped over 34,000 people and families get an affordable loan to buy a home. Here’s how it can help you secure your family’s future: Down payment help up to $10,000 or 3% of the purchase price, whichever is less. Product availability and income restrictions apply.2 Closing costs help up to $7,500 as a lender credit.3 Down payment as low as 3% down.

Income limits apply.4 Learn more at bankofamerica.com/homeowner

What would you like the power to do?® You are invited to apply. Your receipt of this material does not mean you have been prequalified or pre-approved for any product or service we offer. This is not a commitment to lend; you must submit additional information for review and approval.

1.

Down Payment program and America’s Home Grant program: Qualified borrowers must meet eligibility requirements such as being owner-occupants and purchasing a home within a certain geographical area. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply.

Minimum combined loan-to-value must be greater than or equal to 80%. The home loan must fund with Bank of America. Bank of America may change or discontinue the Bank of America Down Payment Grant program or America’s Home Grant program or any portion of either without notice. Not available with all loan products, please ask for details.

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Additional information about the Down Payment program: Down Payment program is available with one mortgage product. Program funds can be applied toward down payment only. Borrowers cannot receive program funds as cash back in excess of earnest money deposits. Down Payment Grant program may be considered taxable income, a 1099-MISC will be issued, consult with your tax advisor. May be combined with other offers. The Bank of America Down Payment Grant program may only be applied once to an eligible mortgage/property, regardless of the number of applicants. Homebuyer education is required.

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Additional information about the America’s Home Grant program: The America’s Home Grant program is a lender credit. Program funds can only be used for nonrecurring closing costs including title insurance, recording fees, and in certain situations, discount points may be used to lower the interest rate. The grant cannot be applied toward down payment, prepaid items or recurring costs, such as property taxes and insurance. Borrowers cannot receive program funds as cash back.

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Maximum income and loan amount limits apply. Fixed-rate mortgages (no cash out refinances), primary residences only. Certain property types are ineligible. Maximum loan-to-value (“LTV”) is 97%, and maximum combined LTV is 105%. For LTV >95%, any secondary financing must be from an approved Community Second Program. Homebuyer education may be required. Other restrictions apply.

Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. © 2022 Bank of America Corporation. America’s Home Grant, Bank of America Community Homeownership Commitment, Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. MAP4697912 | BAAM9333000 | 06/2022

8 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS G O W I T H T H

Go With The Flo FLO

ANTHONY As Sean “Diddy” Combs received the Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on June 26 at the 2022 BET Awards in Los Angeles, the rap mogul paid tribute to the late Kim Porter, the mother of three of his children, Christian, D’Lila Star and Jessie James Combs, and his stepson, Quincy Brown.

Diddy gave several shout-outs to the model, who died unexpectedly of lobar pneumonia in 2018 at age 47. After several starstudded performances that paid homage to his career, Puffy played an old video clip of Porter telling him, “Congratulations Puffy, you’re a star. I can’t tell you how proud I am.

From Harlem to Hollywood, that’s a long journey…you work so hard and I’ve watched you, your blood sweat and tears, and you’ve arrived.” Diddy ended his speech with, “I love you Kim.” Combs also donated $1 million to his alma mater Howard University and another $1 million to former NFL/MLB player Deion Sanders’ Jackson State University, where he is currently the coach of the football team.

Speaking of the BET Awards, three months after Will Smith’s fiasco at the Academy Awards, the self-disgraced Oscar winner is still picking up awards.

At the BET Awards, Smith once again won Best Actor for his role as Serena and Venus Williams’ father, Richard Williams, in the film “King Richard.”

However, Smith chose

to stay out of the limelight and was not in attendance.

Meanwhile, the evening’s host, Taraji P. Henson’s “Empire” castmate, Jussie Smollett, did opt to attend the ceremony, which caused a stir on social media.

Word on the curb is Usher celebrated his friend and mentor, L.A. Reid, turning 66 years old, by giving him a new Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet. This gesture was truly monumental because the music mogul gave Usher a Porsche when the crooner released his hit, “You Make Me Wanna” in 1997, on his and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds’ La Face Record label. Held June 25, the birthday party, which was called “Bel Air Backyard Barbecue,” included guests such as T.I. and Jeezy.

Celebrate good times this summer as Robert Kool Bell, founder of the Grammy Award winning Kool and the Gang, will host the third annual Kool Kids Foundation Golf Tournament. The event will take place on Tuesday, July 12, at the Cedar Hill Golf & Country Club, in Livingston, New Jersey. Celebrities, athletes and entertainers attending this star-studded golf outing include former NY Giants O.J. Anderson (co-chair of the event) and Rodney Hampton, Rev Run, former NY Knicks Charles Oakley and John Starks, Chris Tucker, Ja Rule and Ken Griffey Sr.

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Welcome to the International African Arts Festival 2022

By OLAYEMI ODESANYA Special to the AmNews

As the Fourth of July comes back around, so does the 51-year-old International African Arts Festival (IAAFestival) Tagged “Eddembe,” meaning ‘Freedom,’ in the Luganda language of the Buganda People in Uganda.

“It is the oldest, longest-running multi-day celebration of African culture in this country,” said Según Shabaka, board chair and festival coordinator, on InceptionFM.com’s Back to Basics radio show.

This year again the inspiration is having the community celebrate African culture, music, clothing, arts, song and dance.

“It is a celebration of the best of African culture, Pan-African culture—that means continental, diasporian culture, and you’ll see it in many areas of artistic expression—music, dance, poetry fashion, just a whole array of different presentations,” said Shabaka.

The International African Arts Festival, founded in 1971, will take place at Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn from Friday, July 1 to Monday, July 4, 2022, rain or shine (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.).Thandiswa, the popular double platinum South African musician, is headlining this year’s festival, along with Trinidadian AfroSoca artist Olatunji; The Jazz of a Tribe Called

Quest featuring Dashill Smith and Malcolm-Jamal Warner; R&B sensation Lyfe Jennings; and Oshun. Other headliners are saxophonist Mike Phillips,

siRa, The Shaka Tonge Experience, and others. Thandiswa, Olatunji, ADH, and MKSAD will also perform at LIBATION, the kick-off performance for

(Nayaba Arinde photos)

dancers from the legendary Maimouna Keita School of African Dance (MKSAD), and ADH. Other performers include the groups Alura, Taifa Bartz, Nubian Messengers, Pit-

the festival. LIBATION is Saturday, June 4, 2022 (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) at NYC College of Technology (300 Jay Street, downtown Brooklyn).

Economic and political power

go hand in hand, said Shabaka. There will be more than 200 vendors from all over Africa, the Caribbean, America, and Europe. “We have to really think about our economic state. Most of the institutions we work in today are pretty much modern slave plantations. We are enriching and empowering other people. Festivals, Amsterdam News—these are African-controlled/inspired institutions, so we have to support them. Our vendors, they are African inspired, creative artists, producers of things that we need to support them.”

Shakaba quoted the cultural nationalist theory of the Kawaida philosophy of creativity as a weapon harnessing the collective consciousness in order to “move in the same direction as a people and a community.”

“The total African experience,” Shabaka said, “the festival is a healing, a reuniting of family, reunion of African people…We need those healthy experiences in our own space.”

From the “psychological to the cultural, to the political to the economic, and the spiritual order.”

“We need each other like we need our next breath,” said the world traveler Dr. Segun Shabaka.

Details: www.IAAFfestival.org

Go Africa Carnival 2022

By NOSAYABA ODESANYA Special to the AmNews

(Dr. Samuel Jones and Kenny Beach photo)

Need plans for the summer of 2022, where you can enjoy the weather, mingle with colleagues and share traditional aspects of Black culture? Well look no further, Go Africa Carnival is the highlight of the summer. On July 16, 2022, Go Africa Carnival will take place on 116th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (7th Avenue) and Frederick Douglass Boulevard (8th Avenue) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Go Africa Carnival will be celebrating

African, African American and Caribbean cultures in the form of fashion, dance, art and music. The themes for this year’s carnival are modern, original, unique and free.

From the creator of Go African Carnival, this upcoming event is now in its sixth year and is continuously growing. The Go Africa Network Inc is a 501(C)(3) which is a non-profit organization that focuses on development, education, cultural and trade initiatives for Africa. In celebration of African and African diaspora culture, the Spirit

of New York City and the USA presents this year’s Go Africa Carnival 2022.

Drinks will be served so remember to bring your ID, and don’t forget your wallet at home. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to be able to try all of the different cuisine that will be available at once.

This event will feature more than 60 vendors selling cuisine, fashion and art. This is truly an event you would not want to miss. For more information about registration to be a vendor or an artist, please visit GoAfricaCarnival.org.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS O U T & A B

Harlem co-names West 122nd Street as ‘Bishop James P. Roberts Sr. Way’ Harlem recently held a street co-naming of West 122nd Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Mount Morris Park West as “Bishop James P. Roberts Sr. Way.” James P. Roberts Sr. was born on the island of Antigua on Dec. 21, 1901. During James’ early years, his father migrated to Panama to work on the construction of the Panama Canal, like many British West Indian migrant workers at the time, and never returned to his homeland of Antigua.

Margaret Roberts, James’ mother, raised him and his sister as a single parent, instilling in them a commitment to serving.

Young James Roberts immigrated to the United States and settled in Harlem, New York, where he worked as an elevator operator in a commercial building. He became a member of the Holy

Cross Cathedral Orthodox Church and at night pursued a degree in theological studies. He later became a postulant in the Endich Theological Seminary under the tutelage of his Eminence Georg Alexander McGuire. Upon completion of his theological training, he was admitted to the Holy Orders as a bishop. A campaign began to honor the popular bishop. “Therefore be it resolved that Manhattan Community Board 10 wishes to remember Bishop James P. Roberts Sr. by formally requesting that the New York City Council and the Mayor of New York City enact legislation to support the co-naming of West 122nd Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Mount Morris Park West to ‘Bishop James P. Roberts Sr. Way’ on March 4, 2020 by a vote of 24 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions, and 0 recusals.

Grandsons James and William Roberts hold street sign at corner (Bill Moore photos)

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Nightlife

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 9

Written by David Goodson

BET ON GREAT ENTERTAINMENT The Weeknd

BEST NEW ARTIST Latto BEST GROUP Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST Megan Thee Stallion BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST Kendrick Lamar

When you’re around the area of L.A Live you get a definitive affirmation of not just where you are but also who runs the show there. Those statues appear larger than life to those that are paying the town a visit, but if you’re a native nahh, they’re accurate, as they stood that tall above all others. You can’t really argue against their assessments, however. There’s the silhouette logo of the NBA itself, Jerry West; Elgin Baylor soaring to the hole; Shaq, with the knees to the chest, swinging from the rim after a power slam; the majestical sky hook of Kareem; and finally the rock in one hand, while the other assigning spots on the court traffic director Irving “MAGIC” Johnson. Legends all.

All that history and still not satisfied.

Having Anthony Davis and LeBron James two years removed from a championship run, they have their sights set on a superstar on one of our local teams. “Nahh dawg, you’re not getting Kyrie, my dude,” we declare with all the bravado we can muster, hoping that no one notices the inner turmoil. Seconds later we get the announcement of the next celebrity about to walk the red carpet: Kyrie Irving. If this was any other night, that would be a telling sign, but for Sunday, June 26, any and everybody that has impact on the culture would be here at the Microsoft Center for the 2022 BET Awards; back live in a packed auditorium!

The BET Awards 2022 celebrated the absolute best in entertainment and culture with performances and appearances by an inspiring lineup of artists, entertainers and cultural icons. The BET Awards, which has become synonymous with powerful Black artistry and social commentary, continued to spotlight and celebrate the artists and creators of tomorrow, making the ceremony one of the most news-provoking and talked-about broadcasts year after year. An array of artists de-

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/ INSPIRATIONAL AWARD Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin – “We Win”

livered unforgettable and sensational surprise performances, including Latto with YDB and Mariah Carey, Jack Harlow BET HER AWARD with Brandy, and Lil Wayne. Many artists Mary J. Blige – “Good Morning Goralso spoke out about the repeal of Roe v. geous” Wade and gun control. The heaviest performance was the star-studded tribute BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT to Sean “Diddy” Combs who was honTems (Nigeria) ored with the BET Lifetime Achievement Award, making the show once again the VIDEO OF THE YEAR #1 trending topic on Twitter. In fact, the Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar – LIVE award show was the best perform- “Family Ties” ing cable award show with viewership this year. “We couldn’t be more thrilled about VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR this year’s ratings! Every year, we strive to Anderson .Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak have the BET Awards celebrate and reflect that which is best and most important to BEST MOVIE our community and culture in our hope King Richard to inspire them to dream big and take action. I salute my colleagues for deliverBEST ACTRESS ing an event that has so profoundly resoZendaya nated,” said Scott Mills, CEO of BET. “We always knew we had a very speBEST ACTOR cial show, but now the ratings conWill Smith firmed we are truly culture’s biggest night! We are grateful to our audience YOUNGSTARS AWARD for tuning in live and on social media, Marsai Martin all who stepped on stage, from the artists who delivered show-stopping perSPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR formances and their teams, to our Naomi Osaka nominees and presenters. We could not be more proud,” said Connie Orlando, SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR BET EVP, Specials, Music Programming Stephen Curry & Music Strategy.

Over and out. Holla next week. Til The complete list of winners are then, enjoy the nightlife. as follows: ALBUM OF THE YEAR “An Evening with Silk Sonic” – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic BEST COLLABORATION Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber & Tems – “Essence” BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST Jazmine Sullivan BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

(David Goodson photos)

10 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Union Matters

NLRB’s top prosecutor seeks big changes, faces uphill battle

By HALELUYA HADERO AP Business Writer As workers at major companies increasingly move to unionize, the political environment for labor couldn’t be more ripe.

Perhaps nowhere is that more accurate than at the National Labor Relations Board, the agency that enforces the country’s labor laws and oversees union elections.

In the past year, the Biden-appointed top prosecutor Jennifer Abruzzo has been seeking to overturn precedent and revive decades-old labor policies that supporters say would make it easier for workers to form a union. To get her wish, Abruzzo must have buy-in from the fivemember board, whose Democratic majority is expected to be sympathetic to her proposed changes. As for President Joe Biden, he has vowed to be ”the most pro-union president” in American history.

“In the past, there has been a focus on employer rights or employer interests. And I do not believe that comports with our congressional mandate,” Abruzzo said in an interview with The

Associated Press.

The changes Abruzzo seeks come as workers at major companies, including Starbucks, Amazon and most recently, Apple, clinch union victories. But any shifts in the agency’s enforcement of labor law are likely to be reversed under a Republican administration and met with fierce resistance from employers in the federal courts.

Currently, the agency is in the crosshairs of Amazon, which has been arguing in an NLRB hearing that began earlier this month that the union victory at one of its warehouses on Staten Island, New York, should be tossed out. The e-commerce giant claims labor organizers and the agency acted in a way that tainted the vote.

In one of its 25 objections, the company zeroed in on a lawsuit filed in March by the NLRB’s Brooklyn office seeking to rein-

state a fired Amazon worker who was involved in the union drive.

Abruzzo has said she would “aggressively” seek such remedies during her tenure, and

Tuesday when it asked a court to reinstate seven employees in Buffalo, New York that it says were illegally fired for trying to form a union. Abruzzo says she’s also been asking field offices to be on the lookout for other threats to workers.

John Logan, the director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University, said some of the changes Abruzzo is seeking include policy shifts labor scholars have wanted for years.

“We have a general counsel prepared to do things that have not been done in the past,” Logan said. “And also doing it in the context of a period of labor organizing that we haven’t seen for decades and decades.”

A career NLRB attorney for more than two decades, Abruzzo rose through the ranks of

“[T]op prosecutor Jennifer Abruzzo has been seeking to overturn precedent and revive decades-old labor policies that supporters say would make it easier for workers to form a union.” could even pursue cases when an employer has only levied threats against workers. The agency has repeatedly taken Starbucks to federal court since December, most recently on

the agency to serve as deputy general counsel under former President Barack Obama. She briefly served as the acting general counsel and left the agency during the Trump administration for a stint at Communications Workers of America, one of the largest labor unions in the U.S. Last year, she was confirmed to her current role in the U.S. Senate along party lines.

Arguably, her most significant move since then has come in an NLRB case filed in April, where she asked the labor board to reinstate Joy Silk, an arcane legal doctrine that could dramatically change how unions typically form in the U.S. Joy Silk, which was abandoned nearly 50 years ago, would compel companies to bargain with a union that secures majority support from workers through authorization cards rather than going through a protracted election process. Logan noted that Joy Silk essentially curtails an employers’ ability to wage long anti-union campaigns in the leadup to an election, when unions tend to lose support from workers.

See NLRB on page 32

Pilots in line for big raises amid global travel disruptions

By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer

DALLAS (AP)—The largest pilots union has approved a contract that would boost the pay of pilots at United Airlines by more than 14% over the next 18 months, potentially clearing the way for similar wage hikes throughout the industry.

The deal reflects the leverage currently held by unions, with the industry facing a pilot shortage that has resulted in cancellations worldwide and fewer flights.

The Air Line Pilots Association said Friday that the council overseeing relations with United approved a tentative two-year agreement that covers about 14,000 of the airline’s pilots.

The contract would need to be ratified by rank-and-file pilots to take effect. Voting will run through July 15.

United CEO Scott Kirby called the deal an industry-leading contract that would help both the union and the airline.

United, based in Chicago, is the first major U.S. airline

to reach an agreement with its pilots since negotiations across the industry were put on hold because of the pandemic. Union groups at other big airlines have been watching the United contract talks closely as a potential guide in their own negotiations.

Federal law creates a long and difficult process before airline workers can legally go on strike, but pilots at the big airlines have picketed airports and other locations to pressure management into bigger pay hikes. Pilots have complained

that thinly staffed airlines are asking them to work too many flights, with more pilots reporting fatigue.

The United contract, which the union valued at $1.3 billion over two years, would be retroactive to the start of 2022 and give three pay raises totaling more than 14.5% through the end of next year. The union said it includes better overtime and premium pay, a new retirement plan, a new 8-week paid maternity leave benefit and improved scheduling provisions.

The deal is likely to raise

concern on Wall Street about rising expenses. Airlines have already seen their costs per seat rise more sharply as travel has rebounded from the worst of the pandemic.

JPMorgan airline analyst Jamie Baker said the deal probably exceeds United’s previous expectations for rising costs.

He said pilots at Alaska, American, Delta and Southwest will use the United tentative agreement in their negotiations, and that other work groups at United will seek similar increases to those of the pilots.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 11

NYC Public Schools Speak Your Language

Request language services from your child’s school!

For more information or to provide feedback about language services: Department of Education

schools.nyc.gov/Hello

Translation and Interpretation Unit

12 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Opinion Trump’s lies destroyed lives

By BEN JEALOUS

election worker in Georgia during the 2020 election. She and her “Do you know how it feels to daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss have the president of the United were falsely accused by Rudy GiStates target you?” uliani of rigging the election Those are the words of Ruby against Donald Trump. Their lives Freeman, a Black woman and were virtually destroyed by the

‘Abort the Court!’

EDITORIAL

One sign among protesters who disapproved of the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v.

Wade was emblazoned with “Abort the Court.”

It was a clear indication of the increasing outrage that six justices in the highest court could make a decision that severely impacts millions of women, ending their rights to have jurisdiction over their bodies.

Of course getting rid of the Supreme Court is out of the realm of possibility, just like eliminating the Electoral College.

We stand firmly with the broad public disapproval of the court’s ruling, thereby placing our support with a recent poll of nearly 60% of Americans and two-thirds of women.

A chorus of Black women are voicing their disgust with the ruling, noting that if white women can be denied their reproductive rights, “what does it mean for us?”

Looming beyond a decision that President Biden said was a “treacherous path,” and one that Justice Alito said was “egregiously wrong” from the start, are a number of other devastating setbacks, including the possibility of ending

same sex marriage, right to contraception, and, heaven forbid, the right to exercise our franchise, which in many ways is already being abrogated.

The abortion question is sure to be a paramount issue in many of the primaries as we move toward the midterm elections, and like Democrats, we are in the throes of anxiety, wondering how things will play out since even during ordinary times (whatever that means) the party in power tends to lose political advantages.

No matter, we cannot take this lying down or take the Trump lies as a truth, which each day at the select House proceedings is revealing the extent to which he is complicit in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

Yes, each day seems to bring a new predicament to overcome, a new overturn to reverse, and in the past, which in many instances is prologue, we must be as steadfast and resilient to beat back what appears to be the heavy shadows of oppression. Put a little more steel in the spine, a little more resolve in your resistance, and join us on the ramparts to withstand and defeat the tide of reaction.

Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher Member

Alliance for Audited Media

and Editor in Chief

Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor Nayaba Arinde: Editor Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor Damaso Reyes: Investigative Editor Siobhan "Sam" Bennett: Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Advertising

Wilbert A. Tatum (1984-2009): Chairman of the Board, CEO and Publisher Emeritus

Trump team’s lies.

Thanks to the public hearings being held by the House committee investigating Trump’s effort to overturn the election, Americans got to hear about the racist threats that rained down on the two women after they were falsely accused. Trump supporters drove Freeman out of her home in fear for her life—and invaded the home of Moss’s grandmother.

They testified that they still avoid even going to the grocery store for fear of being harassed by Trump supporters.

These are just some of the harms done by Donald Trump’s endless lying about the election he lost.

In the case of Freeman and Moss, two people performing an essential public service had their privacy shredded and their lives turned upside down. Other election workers were singled out, lied about, and harassed.

The hearing reminded us of the alarm sounded by Gabriel Sterling, an election official in Georgia,

against Trump supporters’ “Stop the Steal” frenzy. A young computer technician was getting death threats based on false claims circulating among Trump’s supporters. “Someone’s going to get hurt, someone’s going to get shot, someone’s going to get killed,” he warned.

“It has to stop,” Sterling demanded. But it did not stop.

Trump has never stopped lying about losing the election.

Others who testified about the consequences of Trump’s lies were high-ranking Republican officeholders. By now, most of us knew about the phone call Trump made to demand that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger “find” the number of votes needed to throw the election to Trump. At the public hearing, we learned more about the threats and harassment experienced

by Raffensperger and his family when he refused to break the law on Trump’s behalf. Some Trump supporters broke into his widowed daughter-in-law’s house.

Rusty Bowers, speaker of the Arizona House, testified that Trump and Trump’s attorneys urged him to abuse the power of his office to overthrow the election, while failing to provide him with any evidence of widespread voter fraud.

Giuliani appealed to the fact that they were both Republicans. But Bowers refused to violate his oath to the Constitution.

In return for his courage and integrity, Bowers and his neighbors were harassed outside his home by Trump supporters, including at least one carrying a gun, while Bowers’ dying daughter was inside.

During his powerful testimony, Bowers cited his faith and read a passage from his personal journal in which he had written, “I do not want to be a winner by cheating.” Trump, of course, was desperate to be a “winner” and was trying to bully election officials into cheating on his behalf.

The Jan. 6 committee’s public See TRUMP'S LIES on page 32

Housing is a human right—it’s time for New York’s leaders to take that right seriously

By JUMAANE WILLIAMS and ANA MARIA ARCHILA New York State is facing two intertwined crises: housing affordability and homelessness. While COVID has exacerbated these crises, they’ve been an emergency in New York for well over a decade.

Prior to the pandemic, about one-quarter of New York State renters were already spending at least half of their income on rent; in New York City, that figure was one-third. Meanwhile, the number of homeless people in New York had reached record levels. Between 2007 and 2020, the state’s homeless population increased by 46%. As of January 2020, on any given day, roughly 92,000 New Yorkers were sleeping on the street or in shelters, or were unsustainably “doubled-up” with relatives or friends.

The economic chaos of the last two years made the situation much worse: 600,000 New York households are now behind on rent, and rental prices are skyrock-

eting across the state. If New York’s leaders do not take swift, substantial action, New York’s homelessness rate will significantly increase.

When Gov. Kathy Hochul replaced Andrew Cuomo, she indicated that she’d make keeping New Yorkers in their homes, and housing affordability more broadly, a priority. Unfortunately, she’s failed to do so.

Amid the Omicron wave, Gov. Hochul allowed the eviction moratorium to expire, leaving hundreds of thousands of people still struggling from the upheaval and uncertainty of the pandemic in danger of losing their homes. That and subsequent decisions suggest that either she doesn’t understand the acuteness of the housing crisis or she does not have the capability or courage to address it in the short- or long-term.

The eviction moratorium should have been extended until New York was further along in its recovery from the pandemic, but it was never intended to serve as a permanent fix to the housing crisis.

To both mitigate the effects of the moratorium’s premature end and create a long-term solution to the housing crisis, New York needs Good Cause Eviction legislation, which would provide millions of renters with the security they need. Good Cause Eviction legislation would give renters living in non-rent-stabilized units the right to a lease renewal and prevent landlords from evicting tenants without a good reason, such as nonpayment of rent. And it would protect tenants from the type of unreasonable, unaffordable rent hikes we are now seeing across New York, capping annual rent increases at 3% or 1.5 times the rate of local inflation. Owner-occupied units with fewer than four units would be exempted.

Just as she allowed the eviction moratorium to expire, the governor allowed the legislative session to end without supporting and enacting Good Cause. Her new Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado was one of only a few Democratic memSee HOUSING on page 32

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS O P I N I O

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 13 N

The left won the abortion debate. They just don’t realize it yet.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the New York Amsterdam News. We continue to publish a variety of viewpoints so that we may know the opinions of others that may differ from our own.

ARMSTRONG

WILLIAMS

A decades-long struggle for the preservation of our country’s dignity and for the sanctity of life has finally come to an end. The Supreme Court has finally—and correctly—determined that the right to an abortion is not found in the Constitution. Rather, the Court ruled, it is the right of the people of the states to vote on the issue and decide for themselves.

The judgement was based on an evaluation of the decisions in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v.

Casey, the historical context that backed those decisions and gave birth to the purported Constitutional right to an abortion, and a determination of whether overruling that precedent should occur.

With this ruling, the Supreme Court has returned absolute authority to the people to decide whether abortion should be prohibited, permitted, or a mixture or both.

Clearly, this decision has generated fury amongst pro-life advocates—but this fury is exactly what the Constitution demands. It is the debate, the passionate discourse that often leads to wrath, that should drive our laws, not the opinions of five unelected judges.

When the Roe decision was first announced, more than half of the states had abortion-protective laws on the books. That indicates that popular opinion supported the notion that women should have access to abortions. All of that changed, though, when the Supreme Court removed the public from the debate

and resolved it in a flimsy judicial decision.

It is decisions like Roe v. Wade that have eroded the public’s perception of the Supreme Court’s legitimacy. When judges make sweeping policy-laden decisions on weak grounds, the public views them as policymakers, and appropriately so. And when there are policymakers masquerading as judges on one side of the ideological spectrum, people will invariably view their opponents on the other side as policymakers as well—despite their intentions otherwise. This is precisely why this one impartial branch’s credibility is in shambles.

In spite of the left’s protests that the overturning of Roe would set us back 50 years, it appears much more plausible that the Roe decision itself is at the source of this perceived setback. Suppose abortion were prohibited in 20 states following this ruling.

It is apparent that the subject of abortion is of paramount concern to so many Americans, to the extent that it is the principal topic of inquiry at the confirmation hearings for prospective Supreme Court Justices

by Democrat lawmakers.

As a result of Roe, however, there could be no policy debate between lawmakers and the general public on the matter, and certainly no lobbying or voting for elected officials who support the legalization of abortion (since they were previously unable to do much about it). Roe removed this topic from the public sphere, and as a result, it stifled policy

debates for 50 years.

Roe eliminated ongoing, horrific tales of women being forced to undergo barbaric and dangerous methods of abortion using unsanitary equipment— the communities in which those women lived and the families of them were not hit close to home by these stories—and the rallying cries that would ensure in their wake. Roe misled the public into pressing the wrong people on their support of abortion. It deprived the public of the ability to press prospective lawmakers on their support of abortion— lawmakers who are continuously answerable to the public under threat of being removed from office. Instead, lawmakers were forced to press Justices who serve practically unanswerable life terms and whose opinions can change over time.

In sum, Roe removed abortion from the public discourse for 50 years— it made its ban an existential threat as opposed to an ongoing one. Roe made people complacent with that threat, not fearful of undergoing an illegal abortion.

The opinions of others must be respected. I empathize with people who fear their rights are in danger due to this ruling, however mistaken they may be. Yet, whereas one problem is significant to a number of individuals, so are a number of other concerns to a variety of other individuals.

This is how our Republic works. The majority elects representatives to represent them on matters that are important to them, while the minority must contend with the ramifications of these policies. And if it turns out that the majority is wrong, opinions

will likely change. Now that the fate of abortion is in the hands of the people of the states, it is likely that abortion will find more solid ground throughout the years as millions are poured into lobbying and persuading lawmakers to take—at the very least— a measured approach to abortion.

Unfortunately, there will be many pro-abortion advocates who will stifle their ability to create this change due to their perception that they are unable to effect meaningful change in the manner defined by our institutions. These people will seek to undermine our institutions and effect change in deceptive ways that weaken the power of the people to persuade lawmakers and plot their own destiny.

This malevolent type of behavior is not unique to abortion advocates or detractors. It will endure forever among the many issues that we encounter.

Consequently, it is the responsibility of every believer in the institutions that govern them, regardless of whether they agree with the majority’s beliefs, to ensure that power shifts in a principled manner.

The left has been handed a permanent solution to abortion rights. Now, abortion is in the hands of policymakers who can actually be influenced by the public.

It is in their hands now, and if they play their cards right, they will find an easy road to the absolute legalization of abortion.

Armstrong Williams (@ ARightSide) is manager / sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast Owner of the year. www. armstrongwilliams.co | www. howardstirkholdings.com

Summer is upon us CHRISTINA

GREER PH.D. The summer season has finally arrived. The kids are out of school. Pools and beaches are opening. The weather is getting warmer. And the city has an energy to it that you can feel. As Stevie Wonder said, “Hotter than July”!

It also seems like the world is going utterly mad all around us. The Supreme Court has decided to take away civil rights and civil liberties for women.

They’ve decided to make it easier for New Yorkers to carry guns mere weeks after the Buffalo massacre and Uvalde, Texas school mass shooting. It seems like everyone I talk to is worried about inflation or the price of groceries or their wages. And as the days get hotter, we must wonder and worry about what we’ve done to our environment and if we will be able to sustain this heat in years to come since our polar ice caps are melting by the minute.

There’s a lot to be worried about, but as always, there is a lot to celebrate and give thanks for. Hopefully those who could, voted last week to help secure and strengthen our democracy. Hopefully those of you who can get out of the city for a short spell are planning a brief respite somewhere.

And for those of you who cannot, it is my sincere hope that you will be able to take advantage of the many beaches around Queens and Brooklyn.

Until recently, I did not take advantage of all of New York City’s beautiful beaches. Many are expansive with soft sand and/or

lots of beautiful seashells, staffed with clean bathrooms, and most have active lifeguards on duty during dedicated hours.

There is definitely a lifeguard shortage thus far this season, so if you are not a strong swimmer or fully comfortable in the ocean, only swim when a lifeguard is present and respect the ocean. That is, only go in knee or waist deep. The rip tides and undercurrents this season have been particularly tricky and sadly there have already been more than a handful of drownings. It is possible to enjoy the sun and sand without risking your life. I for one only enjoy going into the water during the daylight hours when a lifeguard is present somewhere on the beach.

The fantastic website www.nycgovparks.org/ facilities/beaches has a wealth of information about beaches (and pools) and even a quiz to find out the best beach for you.

There are even resources for swim lessons and programs for every age group.

It is my sincere wish that we all have a safe and rest filled summer. Some of us are still working and may not have the mental and physical luxury to take off like school kids, but during this season hopefully we can find a way to slow down just a bit.

Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream,” and the co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.

14 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Caribbean Update

First election in Caricom this year brings change

By BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews Grenadians this week began living under a new government following general elections late last week that saw a government which had won all 15 seats in the previous two elections suffer an electoral meltdown, losing nine of those parliamentary slots as the New National Party (NNP) heads into the opposition.

The Caribbean Community’s first major elections for this year mean that attorney Dickon Mitchell, 44, has been sworn in as Grenada’s new prime minister replacing long-serving Keith Mitchell—no known relation—after becoming party leader just last October.

Clearly tired and worn out

by Mitchell and the NNP, Grenadians decided to give the fresh-faced attorney and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) a chance

“Clearly tired and worn out by Mitchell and the NNP, Grenadians decided to give the fresh-faced attorney and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) a chance to run the mini archipelago that also includes Carriacou and Petite Martinique for the next five years.” to run the mini archipelago that also includes Carriacou and Petite Martinique for the next five years.

Keith Mitchell and Mia Mottley of nearby Barbados were the only two leaders in the 15-nation bloc whose governing parties had held every single parliamentary seat and had run their countries largely without any opposition in an atmosphere of peace. In the case of Grenada, Mitchell had done it three times in the past 20 years but voters say they

have had enough of nepotism, corruption, a weak economy and other problems besetting the country.

Dickon Mitchell was sworn in at the weekend as the nation’s ninth prime minister and immediately warned about a possible purge of the public service of hundreds of political appointees.

“Under my leadership I intend to break that vicious cycle of nepotism.

The key criteria will be merit in particular as it re-

lates to the government service in all aspects including the police, nurses, teachers and doctors. We need to run our country based on merit, hard work, the desire and willingness to overcome and to find solutions to the challenges that face us. We will not move forward or prosper as a people on the sole basis for job selection, promotion, for the award of contracts on party loyalty or personal loyalty,” he told a weekend forum.

A new NDC cabinet is ex-

pected to be appointed by mid-week and he urged citizens who had previously shied away from serving on state boards and other statutory organizations to be prepared to do so now.

The older Mitchell, 75, had begged voters for one more term to serve and then retire even though he had been in power at different times for more than 20 years. Disappointed but accepting of the results, Keith Mitchell has not signaled whether he would retire as he easily won his seat unlike colleagues such as former Finance Minister Greg Bowen as well as Minister of Legal Affairs Kindra MathurinStewart, Alvin Da Breo of Fisheries and Pamela Moses of Information and Techno.

The elections in Grenada could soon be followed by one in St. Kitts and Nevis where the coalition government has all but collapsed in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Timothy

Harris recently fired most of his cabinet in the midst of a simmering internal row over leadership styles and poor in-cabinet consultations, replacing them with stand-ins until he names a date for general elections by early August.

Parliament has already been dissolved even as voters await an announcement date from Harris.

Voters in Antigua and Barbuda are also awaiting a date even though Prime Minister Gaston Browne has until next year to do so. He is the one who had hinted about possible snap polls but the governing party appears to have deliberately thrown a proverbial ‘wet blanket’ on such expectations as the COVID-hit economy struggles to recover from events of the past three years.

Mitchell is expected to attend his first leaders summit early next week in Suriname where he will be the newest face at the table.

U.S. courts stacked with Republican-appointed judges vs ‘lame duck’ Biden FELICIA PERSAUD

IMMIGRATION KORNER Across the country and the world, many are still shell-shocked by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that has overturned Roe v Wade and now placed a very personal and often painful decision over whether it’s the right time to have a child or not, in the hands of mostly old white men in state houses who know nothing of periods or pregnancy.

Yes, I know this is the Immigration Korner but I promise it is relevant, especially as it relates to the Biden presidency. The reality is that given the reversal

by the Republican-stacked Supreme Court justices, poor, immigrant women are the ones who will be hardest hit by this decision. I can write 500 words easy on the many ways how, as I shudder at the stories heard of back door abortions. But again, I digress.

While the Roe v. Wade ruling has taken the headlines, another court ruling, this time by a Republicanappointed federal judge in Texas, got lost in the fray and proves that more and more, President Joe Biden is beginning to look like a ‘lame duck’ already in the presidency.

The ruling, which also occurred on Friday, June 24, relates to the arrest of undocumented immi-

grants and their subsequent deportation. The Joe Biden administration had moved late last year to prioritize the arrest of undocumented immigrants who are considered a threat to public safety and national security, instead of widespread arrest of any undocumented immigrant as was the case under the Trump administration.

In a policy memo to immigration agents last year, the Homeland Security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, had directed agents not only to prioritize immigrants involved in crimes and security threats, but to take into consideration other factors in deciding whether to apprehend them—such as whether

they had lived in the United States for many years, were of advanced age or had U.S.-born children.

However, on the afternoon of June 24—hours after the shocking SCOTUS ruling and as protests broke out across the country, a ruling by Judge Drew B. Tipton, a Trump appointee, based on a lawsuit filed by Texas and Louisiana, concluded that the Homeland Security secretary’s decision to adopt priorities was “arbitrary and capricious.”

He ruled that federal law required a series of procedures before such a policy change, including a public comment period.

The ruling forced the DHS to suspend as of Saturday,

June 25, 2022, their order, which now has left millions of undocumented people vulnerable to deportation.

Between the SCOTUS ruling and the Texas ruling, it is extremely obvious why the Republicans and Trumpeto were so focused on stacking the courts all across the country, including the highest in the land.

While Democrats have been given power in the Executive branch as well as in the Legislative branch, the courts have essentially stripped Biden of power, making him a lame duck president early on in his presidency.

With Democrats divided in the Senate and unable to pass any policy

without Republican help, the power voters handed Biden, Harris and Democrats have left them all looking like lame ducks.

The Republicans have outmaneuvered them and shown them how real power is used. Democrats now look as stupid as their own party symbol, and they have none but Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Lea Sinema to thank for it. It is time for a stronger Independent Party to stop the madness in this country.

Enough with Democrats and Republicans. Let’s get a Party that truly represents the majority of Americans.

The writer is publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com – The Black Immigrant Daily News.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 15

Avoid Fires!

Lithium-ion Batteries in Electronic Bikes and Scooters Can Cause Serious Fires Safe Usage

Safe Charging

Safe Storage

• Check that devices meet fire safety standards—look for the (UL) trademark.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Do not place devices in direct sunlight—keep at room temperature.

• Do not block doorways and windows with devices.

• Do not charge near beds and couches, or charge overnight or unattended.

• Do not store near anything flammable or combustible.

Safe Disposal • It is illegal to discard rechargeable batteries in the trash or recycling.

• Visit nyc.gov/batteries for disposal options.

• If you notice changes in the batteries of your electroninc bikes, scooters, or hoverboards (odor, change in shape/color, leaking or odd noises), call 911 immediately.

In Case of Explosion or Fire 1. Evacuate immediately 2. Close the door behind you 3. Call 911

nyc.gov/batteries | call 311 NYCsanitation • NYCzerowaste

BFAD-0622: BATTERY FIRES AD 8.75X11.5-AMD

sanitation

16 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Health The mental health crisis of moms: What you need to know (Photo credit: (c) Westend61 / Getty Images)

A new survey reveals that the mental health of American moms is going largely unattended, with many living under a near-constant state of stress and few seeking support to ease the burden.

The research, commissioned by MDLIVE, an Evernorth company and leading provider of virtual care services in the United States, finds that 33% of mothers feel stressed or overwhelmed by their responsibilities as a mom at least five days a week. Drivers of their stress and anxiety may include financial concerns, ripple effects of the pandemic, including the mental health crisis among teens, work responsibilities and being a caregiver simultaneously to both children and aging parents.

Yet, for many moms, the prospect of managing their mental health has become a source of stress in and of itself. For 37% of

moms, concerns about their own mental health are among their biggest stressors, second only to finances (40%).

Possibly even more concerning is that 70% of moms admit to holding back their feelings and not telling their partner or family when they’re stressed, and 61% feel that they have no one to turn to or confide in for help.

“Our research shows that many moms are suffering in silence and not getting the support they need,” says Dr. Shakira EspadaCampos, who brings more than two decades of direct practice experience to her role as behavioral health medical director at MDLIVE. “I cannot stress enough how important it is for them to prioritize their own well-being.”

To help moms manage their mental health, MDLIVE offers the following tips:

“Possibly even more concerning is that 70% of moms admit to holding back their feelings and not telling their partner or family when they’re stressed, and 61% feel that they have no one to turn to or confide in for help.”

1. Prioritize self-care: Recognize that practicing self-care is not selfish. In addition to things like eating well, exercising, practicing good hygiene, getting enough sleep, and seeing a health care professional routinely for preventive screenings and

other care, self-care also means taking time to pursue hobbies or personal interests that bring you pleasure or fulfillment or offer you a way to relax and unwind— activities you may have abandoned after having kids because it would mean time away from

family responsibilities. Practicing self-care puts one in a better position to help care for others because your own well-being is in check.

2. Make time to cultivate relationships: Connecting with people who are important to you is essential to mental health.

Make it a priority to spend time with partners, family, friends, colleagues, or anyone else who may be important to you, away from the house and kids, even if it’s just for a short period of time.

3. Seek help when struggling to manage stress and anxiety: If your emotional state is interfering with your daily life—if you’re having difficulty controlling your mood, withdrawing from loved ones, feeling fatigued, having trouble sleeping, lacking motivation, or frequently “zoning out”—it’s definitely time to seek professional help.

Acknowledging the importance of mental health care, many health plans and employers have expanded the resources available to their members and employers in recent years.

New options include digital tools that can help with tracking mood, support meditation, help build life skills, and provide self-care advice. Additionally, telehealth visits with behavioral health professionals offer private, convenient, quality care quickly. For example, MDLIVE’s platform makes it easy to search for providers and schedule appointments with one of their psychiatrists or licensed therapists. MDLIVE is a covered benefit for more than 60 million Americans through health insurers such as Cigna, Aetna, certain Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, and many regional and local plans.

To learn more or to register, visit www.mdlive.com “Although it’s natural to feel like you need to be a superhero, it takes a toll. You should never feel like you’re alone in your mental health journey or that you need to suffer in silence,” says Dr. Espada-Campos.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Arts & Entertainment Film/TV pg 17 | Theater pg 18 | Travel pg 21 | Jazz pg 23

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 17

Pg. 20 Your Stars

James Earl Hardy’s ‘B-Boy Blues’ film shines

By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff Author James Earl Hardy debuted his bestselling novel “B-Boy Blues” in 1993. Nearly 30 years later, his dream of bringing the Black gay literary masterpeice to the big screen is now a reality.

“B-Boy Blues” is an urban love story set in the backdrop of New York City about young Black journalist Mitchell Crawford and street lion bike messenger Raheim Rivers who, despite coming from different worlds, fall in love. Crawford is attracted to Rivers’ “thug” personality as the novel explores their friendships, families, tragedies and triumphs.

The book has been considered a must-read for decades about the Black same-gender loving experience often ignored by the mainstream. Fans have praised the novel for providing an inside look at Black gay urban life which many refuse to acknowledge even exsist.

In a recent interview with the AmNews, Hardy said he’s feeling better than “jood” (a term coined in the novel by character Rahiem).

A former journalist himself, Hardy’s background includes degrees from St. John’s University and Columbia University and a celebrated career in media that started as an AmNews freelancer in the mid-1980s.

“In the summer of 1993 I started working at Newsweek as a research fellow,” he said. “One of my tasks was to read books sent to the staff editor and if something caught my eye, they might do a review. After a couple of weeks of zipping through those books, I was really depressed because I wasn’t coming across anything that reminded me of me or the world that I lived in. If you want to see something on a bookshelf that reminds you of yourself and the brothers you know, you’re gonna have to write it yourself.

Three or four months later, ‘B-Boy Blues’ was born.”

The independent film adaptation of “B-Boy Blues” premiered at the American Black Film Festival in 2021 and stars Timothy Richardson as Mitchell and Thomas Mackie as Rahiem. The film also stars Grammy-winning

“When I wrote it I wanted to space and that folks were always see something on a bookshelf but wearing masks and following projust judging from the many con- tocols. Everyone was very attenversations I had with brothers at tive when it came to that.” the time, many of us did, too. And Since the film’s release, Hardy some of us just didn’t want it, we said he’s received positive feedneeded it,” Hardy said. “It actually back. Hardy has also authored saved some of our lives. I never get several other novels in the “B-Boy tired of hearing that even today.” Blues” series. He hopes the film Getting “B-Boy Blues” will spawn a sequel or a to the big screen possible streaming or began with Smollet television series. coming to Hardy While Hardy years prior with said the “B-Boy the idea of proBlues” film ducing it. Fast “happened forward to when it was 2020, Smolsupposed to,” lett wanted to the film’s Pride not only proMonth offering duce but also on BET+ is giving James Earl Hardy direct the film. Iniviewers the option (It’s All Jood, Inc. photo) tial shooting began of seeing a story that in October 2020 during the so many live that would COVID-19 pandemic. have otherwise been silenced.

“It was actually a little scary “Pride is freedom for me,” he because there was so much un- said. “The freedom to breathe, to known,” Hardy said. “You’re film- bloom, to be. The root of Pride ing with a crew so there’s always was a rebellion, demanding that going to be more than a few we have the inalienable right to people in the same space. We defi- own and not just occupy spaces nitely had to be very careful about in the world. Keep taking up that how many people were in the space and live your truth.”

A solemn moment with Raheim (Thomas Mackie) and Mitchell (Timothy Richardson) in “B-Boy Blues” (@artbyalyx photo)

singer Ledisi, who plays Mitchell’s mother and NAACP Image Award nominee Brandee Evans. The film was directed by Jussie Smollet, former star of the Fox primetime drama “Empire.” “B-Boy Blues” is currently streaming on BET+ in celebration of Pride Month.

“The story is an extension of the world I lived in at the time,” Hardy said. “It wasn’t the story that I went through but I grew up with many ‘Rahiems.’ The corner boys, the block boys and all of them were not heterosexual. That’s where my journalistic background came in handy. Not only listening to people but absorbing what they say. I was able to transfer that to my work as a novelist with the

characters.”

Prior to the film’s creation, “B-Boy Blues” has been a live-action stage play since 2013. The play is wrapping up a monthlong run at Theater Row in Midtown. While waiting for the film to become a reality, Hardy decided to take the initial step and turn the beloved book into a play.

Hardy said he prayed ‘“B-Boy Blues” would serve a deeper purpose beyond the characters and the story but as an outlet to tell the experience of so many Black same gender-loving people. Over the years Hardy initially received countless hand-written letters by mail from fans and today gets numerous messages via social media and email.

18 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 A

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS R T S & E N T E R T A

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Black winners abound at 66th annual Drama Desk Awards!

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews The Drama Desk Awards, which recognizes both Broadway and OffBroadway excellence, held its 66th annual Drama Desk Awards, in-person, at Sardi’s, and it was fabulous.

Black winners abounded and it was rewarding to witness. Drama Desk has always been an inclusive organization and that tradition continues. The event, hosted by Renee Elise Goldsberry, held a sense of theatrical community and love in the intimate setting at Sardi’s.

Anyone who had the privilege to see Ruben Santiago-Hudson in his autobiographical play “Lackawanna Blues” was as thrilled as I was to see him win outstanding actor in a play. His play has so much humanity, and he shared, “I just wanted to say thank you to Nanny and all the women of color who are the foundation of our communities and never get acknowledged. I don’t want everybody to forget her and I wanted to remind people of that person in their lives, because everybody’s got somebody that just gives everything they have and asks for nothing in return. We seemed to have forgotten, in the darkest times that I saw with this crazy president that we had and people just hating, I said let me show some love and the people needed it.

I offered this play to say, people, let’s come together, let’s help each other.”

Phylicia Rashad received the award for outstanding actress in a play for “Skeleton Crew” and it was very much deserved. Her lovely daughter Condola was on hand to accept this honor for her mother.

Jaquel Spivey won outstanding actor in a musical for “A Strange Loop.” Appreciative of this honor, he said, “I have to thank my creator and God. I have to thank Michael R. Jackson for changing my life.”

Joaquina Kalukango won outstanding actress in a Musical for “Paradise Square.” An emotional Kalukango said, “For as long as I can remember I loved to tell stories. This was my first time leading a musical and I was terrified.” She thanked her amazing cast, her 5-year-old son and the audiences.

Veteran actor Ron Cephas Jones won outstanding featured actor in a play for “Clyde’s.”

Outstanding adaptation was won

by Jocelyn Bioh, for the Public Theater Delacorte production of “Merry Wives.” Reflecting on how she was able to create the hilarious new approach to Shakespeare’s play, Bioh said, “It was with the collaboration

The cast of SIX received an Ensemble Award.

(Linda Armstrong photos)

of Saheem [the director]. He’s one of the most brilliant directors of Shakespeare and he was able to guide me through the process of what this play is and we were able to pull everything out. I wanted to make it fresh and fun. I wanted them to feel they had experienced the joy.” Talking about the process, Bioh shared that you usually have 18 months, “I had eight weeks to write ‘Merry Wives’ so that was incredibly terrifying. I had to just dive in. I’m glad it came to me at a time in my career that I wasn’t afraid to do it. After working on ‘School Girls’ and in TV where you have to turn things around quickly, it got me ready. My goal is to center our people in my work, especially Black women,” Bioh added.

The award for outstanding choreography went to the team of “Paradise Square”—Bill T. Jones, Garrett Coleman, Jason Oremus, Gelan Lambert and Chloe Davis. On hand to accept were Coleman, Lambert and Davis. “We’re adamant about honoring our ancestors, echoing the movements and sounds of our people.

Sharing the truths and vulnerability, sharing the truths of living. We dance because we celebrate our greatness and inspire others to celebrate their greatness as well,” said Davis.

Jason Michael Webb was on hand to accept the award for outstanding orchestration for “MJ,” which he won with David Holcenberg. Webb was happy to comment, “Getting this award is such an encouragement and so necessary after being in a lockdown for a few years, just to celebrate each other is awesome.” Doing the orchestration, Webb said, “It was very high stakes, especially for me being such a Michael Jackson fan. It was making sure that we were taking

awesome care of that legacy. I know the joy and healing I received from Michael’s music growing up. I would love for future generations to be able to experience that joy and healing, so it wasn’t difficult to do this work, it just meant so much.

“People who come to that show have a reconnection to their joy and it’s beautiful,” he said.

Outstanding music in a play was given posthumously to Bill Sims Jr. for “Lackawanna Blues,” and Santiago-Hudson was touching and giving as he shared how supportive Sims was of the show going to Broadway.

The late Alice Childress was presented with the Harold S. Prince Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in the theater. I personally had the honor of presenting this award. This season she had “Trouble in Mind” on Broadway and “Wedding Band: A Love Story in Black and White” in Brooklyn.

The production of “SIX” received a special Ensemble Award and that original cast of six divas includes three African Americans—Adrianna Hicks, Brittney Mack and Anna Uzele, along with Andrea Macasaet, Abby Mueller and Samantha Pauly.

Mack, who plays the role of Queen Anne of Cleaves, was the first to sit down and talk about this honor. The cast shares this strong bond on stage; talking about that Mack said, “We started this process in 2019 at Chicago’s Shakespeare Theater. I said I would love it if we could agree to see each other as human beings first and then women and then women of different backgrounds, colors, age, but then artists and then these characters that we’re about to play. From then on the Band-Aid ripped off and we said let’s just start here…What-

Linda Armstrong and Ruben Santiago-Hudson, winner of outstanding actor in a play for “Lackawanna Blues”

ever mood you’re in, we will respect it…That’s where the bonding first started.” Talking about being one of the first musicals back on Broadway she said, “It was an honor and a privilege because so many shows didn’t come back. It was a blessing to have the type of story we’re telling, because it is the one that puts it all in your face. Our show is about comparison—who has had the most

Jason Michael Webb won for orchestration for “MJ.”

trauma.” Talking about there being three Black Queens, Mack said, “Yes, it’s important.” Hicks, Catherine of Aragon remarked about how she rejuvenates after every show. “It’s important to rejuvenate by connecting with the things you are excited about outside of theater. Going home, cooking a good meal and just watching Netflix or the simple mundane things of life. That helps you to have the stamina.” Uzele talking

about being in “SIX” and her experience said, “The show taught me how to trust my own body and have confidence in my own body. I was raised in an evangelical world where I was taught your body was sinful…

There’s a point when I’m on the stage alone and I didn’t think I could handle it. I used to cry my eyes out.

This show allowed me to embrace myself, you have to love your whole body. This show helped me step into a new chapter of womanhood.”

Director Saheem Ali presented the Special Award to Costume Designer Dede Ayite, whose work was recently seen at the Delacorte Theatre production of “Merry Wives,” on Broadway in “Chicken and Biscuits,” “Slave Play,” “American Buffalo,” and “How I Learned To Drive.” Speaking of Ayite he shared, “My friend is one of the most sought-after costume designers in our field. She works on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off OffBroadway, she works regionally in Opera houses large and small. Dede will go where the work calls her. She cares about the work and the collaborators. She engages in the finer detail of any play, she leans on the dramaturgy, the backstory, she’ll ask questions about the script for me to ask the playwright…In ‘American Buffalo’ every cut and every color tells you something about the character before they have uttered a word.

Her work is always meticulous.” Ayite humbly shared that she’s been a costume designer for 14 years. To build her confidence she said, “As an artist it’s a daily question of why and what moves me and of access and when I first started the window of access to work felt very small. I just wanted the opportunity to create art and I didn’t know if I would have that opportunity. Sitting here today and looking back it was one small opportunity that led to another and allowed me to build up and it’s quite overwhelming to look through the years and see how I was able to build. To be able to do this for a living is extraordinary.”

Ayite shared that in her acceptance speech she broke down and cried because, “It’s a lot. There are so many emotions that I feel. I feel extremely grateful. I’m able to have conversations with such high esteem people who are the best in their craft. To be a costume designer and have the support to do what I want to do is a gift, a true blessing from above.”

It is wonderful to see how inclusive theater was this season, with the productions by and featuring African Americans. Go out and see a play today. Theater is back, make sure to give it your support!

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Statue of Lorraine Hansberry unveiled in Duffy Square, NYC A statue of Lorraine Hansberry, created by sculptor Alison Saar, was unveiled in Duffy Square earlier this month. The unveiling ceremony featured a performance from Tony Award-winner LaChanze, remarks from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage; other writers, composers and lyricists were also honored. Hansberry’s grand-niece Taye Hansberry also spoke at the unveiling.

LaChanze

(Bill Moore photos)

Lorraine Hansberry’s grand-niece Taye Hansberry

Playwright Lynn Nottage with the newly unveiled statue by sculptor Alison Saar

Nat’l Jazz Museum holds summer celebration (Bill Moore photos)

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem recently celebrated Juneteenth and Black Music Month at The Jackie Robinson Bandshell in Harlem. Featured performers included Sekou McMiller dancers, the Afro Cuban band Los Hacheros, and the phenomenal Wunmi with her band.

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HOROSCOPES BY KNOWYOURNUMB3RS

By GODDESS KYA June 30, 2022 — July 6, 2022 Rebirth of a New Nation: Circumstances this month come with a serendipitous prosperity and added resources for your benefit. This month, the pressure is applied with a bit of a scuffle to claim what’s yours. Not a physical

fight; the battle is within to take control of your destiny and change the narrative in your approach. The U.S.A’s birth return is here with a plan of action. This year is like a spin-off to a new foundation formed from the prior 7 years. Gemini, Cancer, Capricorn, Leo, Virgo seasons are highlighted, and where the U.S.A. works its hardest to plan new laws, structures, codes of ethics, to influence the progression of the agenda. Let’s not forget Aries season Vinateria in the U.S.A.’s chart puts the emphasis on the woman, mother, roots, ancestors, trace of records, identity, and where you come from. Questions: Do you know your history and not the one presented to you? It’s about the one you seek in search of knowledge for a better understanding of you. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

July is a green light month to fulfill anything you believe you July is your season, will feel some form of restrictions or can do. Themes such as self-empowerment, community outlimitations? Ask yourself: have you paid off your obligareach, growth within your development, business meetings, tions or handled your business in a way for obstacles to Capricorn and making bold and adventurous moves are in the forecast.

Cancer be removed? Examine yourself as you reap the benefits this Dec 22 June 22 You’re in the spotlight, networking, collaborating, and electrifymonth. The slow approach is necessar y for your own underJan 21 July 23 ing meetups. Ask and you shall receive. This month utilize your standing of the information, and the lessons where you have skills to build your empire, as word of mouth travels faster than ah-ha moments. Now pick up on the hints and put the piece the internet. Detach yourself from gossip and do what's in your best interest of the puzzle together. Finances, romance, separations, duty are all callnow. Short distance travel is in your forecast. Be bold! ing your name. Order is necessar y to free up space now.

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Pressure may be applied as a result of the process to comShine bright like a diamond now. The pace is picking up plete projects, changes of circumstances, power moves, appreciand ever yone wants a piece of the pie. Do you have enough ation, and fulfilling prior obligations. Cancel your subscription slices to pass out? Apply a cover fee of sorts to keep the Aquarius on people, places, things, items that are no longer needed to social activities consistent and in high gear. This is about Leo Jan 22 July 24 evolve yourself. Learn how to nurture yourself, to create your action, short distance travels, sudden meetings/discussions Feb 19 Aug 23 space, and how people address you. Be assertive in your apas a turning point in a direction to make an impactful deciproach as this month is a death and rebirth process of your resources, prosion. Soar like a bird and be the lion that shines its golden, fession, and decision-making adjustments in your life. Discipline is key. attractive color in its Queendom/Kingdom. Power moves with major results suggest you stay ready and guard your throne.

New adventures attract new experiences, and opportunities for your mental growth. Take care of your physical needs and New adventures are up for grabs for a new learning exgather your strength by reconstructing and reorganizing all asperience. Like being a lover of knowledge, and the wisdom Pisces pects of your home and personal life. This cycle week be ready to empower yourself of what you’ve been programmed to Feb 20 Virgo for sudden endings as new doors are opening. Be the specialist think, eat and live. Out with the old and in with the new way Mar 20 Aug 24 in your field to showcase your talents, or new development at of life to live. Your attitude has reached new heights as to Sept 23 the board meeting. Think big and positive on your agenda as you’re climbing be aligned with your higher self. Provide a pop-up class to to the top of the mountain. learn new techniques and to share with others. Any form of networking and communication will excel.

In a blink of an eye, and right before your very eyes, swift changes are occurring like the forceful winds that blow your It’s time to make a move and build your own foundation, hat off. Catch up with the pace of things as you’ll seem to be spinning off in a new direction. You have the information, Aries popping up here and there. Word of mouth is a tasteful surknowledge, and resources and now it’s time to act. New terms Mar 21 Libra Apr 21 prise; you never know who you may bump into again. Even and conditions offer you a new lease on life to explore and Sept 24 with the tug-of-war of feelings taking you on a new excursion, create your version of reality. The program must continue to Oct 23 the detour you experience only shows you different routes to take to free a new episode or movie. Finalize your game plan, apply the your mind. Reread all contracts as one word can be a deal breaker, or no footwork, and get it done. No talking! It’s time to be about it. deal at all.

When the wind blows, it blows in all four directions with A new journey waits for you to come aboard and collaborate the mist of a cool breeze, integrating a new agenda for better with a new class of folks. This month is showtime, and you’re clarity. The foundation needs the tools and the requireScorpio well prepared like a salesman. You can capture the audience ments to complete its transformation to build upon. WithTaurus Oct 24 Apr 22 with your intelligence, products, or services to assist humanity out setting the tone of a sturdy bedrock, or giving shape, Nov 22 May 21 on new levels. Set the tone, the foundation and you’re on your substance, or structure, then no foundation has been built. way like in 1, 2, 3: lights, camera, action. It’s like you’re the Pull yourself together and develop a plan where the focus is world traveler, and the voice of logic and reason. You make it make sense. on getting the results.

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The lover in you can be very pushy at times also with your words.

The purple Barney sings a long song, “I love you.” It simply July brings a whole new chapter in your life for endings, separameans you have a lot of love to give and share knowledge tions, nurturing yourself for self-growth, and emotional develwith people to better themselves. After all, love makes the Gemini opment. Your creative nature is ready to express itself in ways it Sagitarius world go round. You’re the humanitarian sign seemingly of May 22 hasn’t been before like the beast in “Beauty and the Beast”—the world knowledge, wisdom, and in return is rewarded just for Nov 23 June 21 Dec 21 beast woke up to self-love and changed the game. When you inthat. When you help someone it’s like making them laugh. teract with others you see what others see in you and your faith It brings joyful memories to reflect on when the times are is now reawakened. Be the natural light you are and lead the way. tough. Smile and shine like the sun.

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WWW.KYAFRENCH.COM | CONSULTATIONS 866-331-5088

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Travel & Resort

Best all-inclusives in Aruba Arikok National Park

Conchi Natural Pool

Downtown Oranjestad (Photos courtesy of Aruba Tourism)

By SHERYL NANCE-NASH Special to the AmNews There’s a reason Aruba is called the “Happy Island.” For one thing it’s tough to be sad in this sun-drenched Dutch West Indies locale that is one of the Lesser Antilles islands in the Southern Caribbean Sea. For sure water worshippers will smile; for them, the sea is the answer to all that soothes the soul. There are more than a dozen beaches in Aruba. The sea takes center stage, whether you want to soak up the sun perfecting your tan, swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, windsurfing, canoeing, paddle boarding, sailing, or deep-sea fishing, maybe you’ll get lucky and catch Mahi, Barracuda or Marlin.

Or, simply chill on a sunset cruise. Divers will think they’ve died and gone to heaven with the many dive sites and shipwrecks, especially the 400-foot Antilla, a WWII casualty. Thrill seekers can also parasail, hop on a jet ski or try a JetLev, a water-propelled jet pack that powers you to fly above the water. No worries if you’re not a snorkeler or diver, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the splendors of the sea.

You can still go deep. Take an underwater narrated tour via a semi-submarine or a real submarine via De Palm Tours. But for a bigger thrill go for a Sea Trek. You’ll never forget descending to the ocean floor and glimpsing the underwater world of sea life, the stunning colors of the coral reefs and more. You can get the experience of diving or snorkeling without all the work. During a Sea Trek you walk the ocean floor on a custom walkway, 20 feet below the surface, wearing special diving helmets where you can breathe normally. This can be done by people who are not swimmers.

Land lovers won’t be disappointed though.

Hop on a motorcycle or take an e-bike tour.

Arikok National Park takes up nearly 20% of Aruba’s landmass. It’s the backdrop for 20 miles of rugged and wild, desert-like terrain

waiting to be explored on an ATV, UTV, Jeep Safari, horseback or on foot. Nestled among the cactus on the northern shore, Arikok National Park not only has hidden beaches, natural bridges, and pools, but historical cave paintings, indigenous flora and fauna, rattlesnakes, owls and blue whiptail lizards. There’s plenty of hiking on the island. But two rock formations that must be climbed and explored are Ayo and Casibari. Ayo Rock Formation’s huge boulders definitely have the wow factor. You’ll likely understand why the ancient site with its thousands of years old rock drawings was believed to be a sacred site. Casibari’s big boulders are off the main road to Santa Cruz. There are walking trails and steps through the boulders that make it possible to get to the top and exhale and take in 360-degree views. For quieter land adventures, there’s birdwatching. Aruba has more than 200 species of birds. Do check out Palm Beach’s Bubali Plas Bird Sanctuary, with its birdwatching tower that overlooks marsh areas.

You’ve got your to-do list sorted out, on to the matter of where to stay. Keep it simple and go with an all inclusive resort. You have outstanding options. Here’s a look at some of the best all-inclusives in Aruba.

Tamarijn Aruba & Divi Aruba This is a sweet deal for sure. Stay at one resort and play at the other. Divi Aruba and adjacent sister property Tamarijn are both on Druif Beach. Take your pick of 10 dining options and eight bars. Cool off with a cocktail at one of the four freshwater pools. Water sports like snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, catamarans and floats are included. Also included are e-mountain bikes, including group and private tours to Boca Catalina and the Lighthouse. For children ages 4-12 there’s The Sea Turtle Club. The fun includes beach scavenger hunts, sandcastle building contests, kite building and flying and more. There’s also pool basketball, tennis and golf for kids, an

oceanfront fitness center and a 30’ beachside rock-climbing wall. Want more? Go for water aerobics, Pilates, Hatha yoga, Zumba and classes on casino games, billiards, basketball, soccer games and darts. For an extra fee, play golf on the 9-hole course, The Links at Divi Aruba. To wind down, head to the Indulgence by the Sea Spa. Your day is not complete until you’ve experienced the night life, which could be a live jazz show, salsa dancing, an Aruban steel drum set, theme parties, fire eating, karaoke, or movie nights.

Barceló Aruba The 5-star resort is on the much beloved Palm Beach. But just as stunning is the lagoon-shaped swimming pool with rocks and palm trees creating the ambience of being in the heart of nature. Flop into a hammock to sunbathe and if you like, take a dip in one of two hydromassage pools. If you’re in the mood for action, there’s kayaking, water polo, darts, windsurfing, kite surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, tennis courts (you can also get private lessons if you want to step up your game) and fitness studio decked out with the latest equipment. You can request scuba diving classes in the pool and golf is nearby.

The Kids Club will keep those ages 4-12 wishing they didn’t have to go home. Feast at seven restaurants and drink up at three bars. For sure you’ll want to take in the live music at the Lobby Bar. Feeling lucky? The newly refurbished casino awaits. Your big decision will be whether you would prefer to be pampered by a masseuse in your room or the spa. If you

have the urge to splurge, go for the Royal Level Service, the upper three floors of the North Tower are an elegant boutique hotel where you’ll enjoy the All-Inclusive Premium experience, that includes the all-inclusive plan plus access to exclusive amenities and services just for VIPs. Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort Everyone in the family can choose a favorite among the four freshwater pools. The kids will go for the waterslides and the grownups the swimup bar and quiet adult area. Prefer the beach? It’s directly across from the resort. Dive, snorkel, kayak, go rafting, join a game of beach volleyball. Golf fans can get their fill at The Links at Divi Aruba, and if you’re a beginner, no worries there’s a golf course, as well as a tennis learning center. Dining options include restaurants by the pool as well as the golf course’s gourmet offerings, Windows on Aruba and Mulligan’s Golf Café, Bar & Restaurant. Relax at Indulgence by the Sea Spa.

Hotel Riu Palace Aruba You can do as much or as little as you like at this slice of paradise on Palm Beach. Start your morning with a walk on the beach or time in the gym. Later standup paddle surf, dive, take a scuba diving lesson in the pool, kayak or kick back poolside. Relax further at Renova Spa. How does a hot stone massage sound? Finish off your spa time with a whirlpool bath. For kids ages 4-12 there are activities at the Mini Club and playground.

The littlest ones aren’t forgotten, there’s also an infant’s pool. When you’re ready to dance the night away and party like it’s 1999, do it at Riu Palace Antillas disco.

Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa For a walk on the quieter side, consider Eagle Beach where you’ll find the Manchebo Beach Resort. It’s not for naught that the 72-room boutique hotel has been around 50 years. It’s one of Aruba’s top wellness resorts. The Oceanfront Spa del Sol is an intimate, open-air center for respite. There are yoga and Pilates classes. Personal training is available, as are wellness workshops. The Fitness Studio with tropical garden views has cardio and strength training equipment to maintain your mojo going while on vacation. Four restaurants feature healthconscious cuisine with an abundance of vegan and gluten free options. Do dine at The Chophouse, where you can tickle your palate with the finest cuts of meat and freshcaught Caribbean fish, local delicacies and international dishes paired with fine wines.

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Trends

Luxury fashion & ‘Follow the Thread’

By RENEE MINUS WHITE Fashion & Beauty Editor

“Follow the Thread,” a film series about fashion designers and their muses, will air on Turner Classic Movies (TMC) on Saturday, July 2, 2022. Host Alicia Malone praised TCM’s programming department for curating the list of films and pairing them with designers, fashion historians and commentators. “For example, American designer B Michael had a great collaboration with Cicely Tyson throughout her career. They also talked about the collaboration between Audrey Hepburn and Hubert de Givenchy and Catherine Deneuve and Yves Saint Laurent.

It was fun for me as a host to see how their work paralleled the films that they were talking about.” Be sure to tune into “The Stars and Their Designers” with special guest B Michael airing July 2 on TMC. You know fashion icon B Michael, co-founder, fashion designer and the creative director of B Michael Global. Presently, he is the chief designer for the brand’s couture and readyto-wear designer collections. B Michael received acclaim for designing the costumes for Whitney Houston’s collaboration with Ruth Carter for Whitney’s last film, “Sparkle.” He also created costumes for the Joffrey Ballet’s premiere of “Windy Sands” and has received numerous commissions to design for film and television. B Michael started his early career as a millinery designer for the hit TV show “Dynasty.” Later he worked as a millinery designer for Louis Feraud of Paris and Oscar de la Renta. B Michael is a member of the Council of the Fashion Designers of America and serves on the board of the Youth America Grand Prix. In 2016, he was awarded the prestigious Design Visionary Award by the Lighthouse Guild.

B Michael’s collections have garnered appreciation from other famous stars, actresses and fans including socialites and personalities such as longtime dear friend and muse Valerie Simpson, Phylicia Rashad, Brandy, Beyonce, Nancy Wilson,

Adolophine Lukabu Sheeley during a recent visit to Africa

American designer B Michael with host on TMC’s “Follow the Thread” (Courtesy photos)

Susan Fales-Hill, poet laureate Elizabeth Alexander, and Lena Horne. His collections are sold in Beijing, Shanghai and Korea.

B Michael’s designer ready-towear collection will be available on the brand’s Ecommerce website launching 2023.

Just back from Africa, Adolophine Lukabu Sheeley’s luxury line offers an international collection of leather handbags, fine jewelry, coasters with designs inspired by Picasso, and facemasks. Lukabu Sheeley’s products are sold worldwide and are made in Africa by Kuba artisans.

She shares the profits with these artisans, giving them additional income to help them support their families.

LAMG (Les Amis de Mulunda et Georgette or Friends of Mulunda & Georgette), a non-profit organization, was launched during the pandemic. It seeks to assist in the development of the Congo (RDC). Today, Lukabu Sheeley celebrates LAMG’s dedication to the redevelopment and renewal of this African nation.

Her company services the Congo’s political elite, top musicians and business leaders, Petroliere officials, executive directors of organizations, and members of

Kinshasa’s society elite. She is a native of the Congo, Kinshasa. Her fabrics come from Benin, Senegal, Dakar and other African cities. The handbag line includes yoga bags and handmade tote bags from Rwanda, with prices starting at $300.

Lukabu Sheeley’s work with LAMG helps provides several Kinshasa orphanages with food, health care, and educational services.

The organization also operates a farm just outside the city, gifts women with land for cultivation, imparts life and vocational skills to promote self-sufficiency, and supports elders in the community with food, medicine, and companionship. Funding for this essential work comes via

Adolophine Lukabu Sheeley’s handbags

Lukabu Sheeley, whose sales allow LAMG’s life-giving activities to continue from day to day.

Lukabu Sheeley visits with the organization’s three operating orphanages, senior assisted living facility, and surveys new farmland locations closer to Kinshasa. She searches locations to

establish an intermediate health facility to function between local clinics and the hospital emergency room.

Along the way, Lukabu Sheeley looked for new office space, and enjoyed exploring the cities of Kinshasa, Brazzaville, and Pointe Noire.

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MEGHAN STABILE, FOUNDER OF REVIVE MUSIC, DIES AT 39 Meghan Stabile, performing onstage during Winter Jazzfest 2020 (Jonathan Chimene/WBGO photo)

Meghan Stabile, who creatively bridged the gap between young jazz musicians and hip hop artists by bringing them together to perform in nontraditional venues, with the goal of creating younger audiences with a new interest in jazz, died on Sunday, June 12 in Valrico, Fla. She was 39.

Bikbaye Inejnema, her counselor, told NPR that the cause was suicide. Inejnema spoke on behalf of Maureen Stabile, Meghan’s maternal grandmother. “She knows she didn’t meet any of Meghan’s community. But she does want Meghan’s memory to be h onored in the way that reflects who she really was, not what she went through.”

Stabile, the founder, CEO of Revive Music and young concert impresario, stepped away from the hectic music scene in recent See JAZZ NOTES on page 24

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Jazz Notes Continued from page 23

years, partly to focus on her own wellness. In 2020, under her company Revive Music, she embarked on yet another important mission; she described it by stating, “We now look to focus on another extremely important and vital part of advocacy and that is the health and wellbeing of each member and musician in our community.”

During that year’s Winter Jazzfest, along with its founder Brice Rosenbloom, she coordinated a benefit show entitled ‘Revive Yo Feelings’ to benefit Jazz Foundation of America and MusiCares, that featured Robert Glasper.

The initiative was organized to address the music industry’s surrounding issues of mental health, addiction and recovery (just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic).

“Meghan possessed a rare combination of intuitive wit, coupled with when to time a strike to present her artistic vision for success, and she miraculously accomplished it tenaciously!” said trumpeter and friend Charles Tolliver.

Stabile collaborated with trumpeter and composer Igmar Tomas to form The Revive Big Band which he leads and is now in the process of completing its debut album. For approximately 13 years Revive Music Group promoted and produced live shows while maintaining an online publication, The Revivalist, in association with Okayplayer.

“There is a lack of exposure to live jazz for the younger generation. A lot of young musicians were influenced by hip hop music and many hip hop artists sampled jazz music,” said Stabile during an interview with this writer in 2009. “We’ve

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Da Live concerts in unorthodox venues like Webster Hall, Le Poisson Rouge and little unknown spots on the Lower East Side that become a link that brings to- proved to be neutral territory for gether jazz and hip hop art- young jazz fans and the hip hop ists that don’t necessarily know crew. The admission was very reaeach other but have respect for sonable, no quiet rules, dancing each other’s creativity.” and talking permitted. Her conStabile presented her debut certs were packed and it was my concert series Revive Da Live first time seeing young jazz muin 2009 which featured Jeru the sicians and fans mixing it up with Damaja, Large Professor (pro- hip hop lovers and here I was the ducer for Common and A Tribe oldest in the place giving me hope

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another side of hip hop other than the stereotypical bling, bling, money and women lyrics.”

Meghan Erin Stabile was born July 26, 1982, in Corpus Christi, Texas and grew up in Dover, N.H. She was raised mainly by her grandmother and an aunt, and had no relationship with her father. She was estranged from her mother, Gina Marie Skidds, who died last year.

“I got kicked out of four schools—three high schools

out venues.”

When she moved to New York in 2006, Stabile brought her new business acumen and a desire to bring live shows to the people.

She started on a shoestring budget while waiting tables in the East Village. She developed her Revive Music into an institution, a New York Hang that brought musicians together for the greater good. Which wasn’t easy for a young woman navigating in a world of older men who weren’t looking for any changes in the system.

Don Was, president of Blue Note Records, took notice of her accomplishments and partnered with the organization to release an album, “REVIVE Music Presents: Supreme Sonacy (Vol. 1),” in 2015. “I think Revive has a keen understanding of the basic nature of the music, which is that it’s got to keep moving forward,” Was said in press materials. “Not decade by decade, or year by year, but every day.”

Others affiliated with Stabile’s mission were keyboardMeghan Stabile, photographed onstage with Robert Glasper during Winter Jazzfest 2020 (Jonathan Chimene/WBGO photo) ists Ray Angry, harpist Brandee Called Quest), and Daru Jones. that jazz was reaching younger and a middle school,” Stabile Younger, trumpeter Keyon HarThey were teamed with young people crossing genres. At the end told John Leland. “For fighting. rold, rapper producer Thunderjazz musicians like bassist/vo- of her concerts it wasn’t jazz or hip I went through a lot, and I made Cat, drummer Justin Brown and calist Esperanza Spalding, sax- hop it was good music. Stabile un- it through. It didn’t break me. So producer Raydar Ellis. ophonist Marcus Strickland, derstood Duke Ellington’s state- always having that strength has “…The music community, drummer Chris “Daddy” Dave, ment “there is only good music been able to pull me through any known for its power to uplift, must alto sax Jaleel Shaw, and pia- and bad music.” She combined the type of situation.” unite to combat all stigma and nist Aaron Parks. Over the years Black music tradition with today’s She attended Berklee, in Boston, misinformation related to mental Stabile continued to work with music for digestion by larger audi- as a guitarist and a singer, but health by promoting messages these artists which developed ences that included many races of eventually decided on music busi- of wellness through music,” said into a friendship that grew until various ages and circumstances. ness courses. The seeds for con- Stabile in 2009, extracted from a her untimely passing. cert promotion and producing larger statement. “Our message “I’m so honored to have been During an interview with The came from her experiences at the not only serves our communipart of many of the projects you New York Times in 2013, she noted, local hangout spot Wally’s Cafe, ty of musical innovators but also presented. They were always “We have a strategic plan to get where jazz musicians played reg- the audiences receiving the music so much fun and you brought both hip hop and jazz fans togeth- ularly. Stabile told “Jazz Night in and thus humanity as a whole.” so many people of all ages and er. The show is a vehicle to educate America.” She began to wonder In addition to her grandraces together with those shows,” the audience about hip hop and “why this music isn’t readily avail- mother, she is survived by a stated Shaw. jazz, some have never seen a live able, or why this music isn’t on the sister, Caitlin Chaloux, and a Stabile presented her Revive jazz performance. It also shows radio, why this band isn’t selling brother, Michael Skidds.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

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LaWanda Page, comedic genius and evangelist

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews One recent evening while surfing the television cable networks, I saw where “Sanford and Son” was scheduled show after show.

As in the past when the show starring Redd Foxx was popular from the late ’70s to the early ’80s, the temptation to check them out again was too good to ignore, particularly when LaWanda Page, as Aunt Esther, appeared and exchanged insults with Foxx. When she didn’t excoriate the irascible Foxx, she at least held her own in verbal standoffs.

Page was born Alberta Peal on Oct. 19, 1920, in Cleveland, Ohio.

From an early age Page’s ambition was to work in show business, and she claimed she was born “talented” and never had one singing, dancing or acting lesson. She nourished her dream to entertain at the Friendly Inn Settlement in Cleveland, a community center founded by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. When the family moved to St. Louis, she attended Banneker Elementary School and fortuitously met Redd Foxx who was two years her junior.

Both pursued their dreams of the stage on the Chitlin Circuit, and on occasion worked together in a variety of comedy skits and shows. At the beginning of her career, she was mainly a dancer and as a teenager performed as a fire dancer, where she walked over flames and often was scorched.

She became so proficient that she was billed as “The Bronze Goddess of Fire” or “LaWanda, the Flame Goddess.” The clubs where she displayed her unique skills were often beset with dangerous shootouts and knife fights. She told a reporter that if you weren’t home by 9 o’clock at night “you can be declared legally dead.”

It wasn’t the best environment for an aspiring en-

tertainer and at some point in the early ’50s she moved to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, she continued to earn a living as a fire dancer at clubs across the globe, from Canada to Japan. After the flames simmered down, she turned to stand-up comedy. This pursuit may have been a product of her early days on the Chitlin Circuit where she cultivated the performances in tandem with Foxx. Whatever the case, she was soon no longer dousing flames or walking on hot coals but dealing with hecklers as a comedian.

After several years tossing barbs back and forth with loudmouthed members of the audiences, she joined the Skillet, Leroy & Company comedy troupe.

Soon, her nightly performances and several recordings earned her a new title—“The Queen of Standup Comedy.” It should be noted that many of her albums were classified as “blue”

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much in the manner of some of Redd Foxx’s initial ventures on vinyl. “Watch it, Sucker!” was the title of one of her albums, taking the name from one of her catchphrases often spewed on “Sanford and Son.” Her guest appearances on the television show spread her fame and popularity, and her snappy retorts were soon summoned on shows hosted by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Betty White. In many ways, her style and delivery were in the tradition of Moms Mabley—with a dash of color in her remarks.

So, from a phone call from Foxx in 1972, Page, who thought the call to appear on his show was a joke, auditioned and won the role hands down, and once again was back performing with her childhood friend. The two friends and actors were often in confrontation on the show, her churchgoing, biblequoting, ho-

lier-than-thou demeanor was often in combat with Foxx’s whiskeydrinking, cussing, loutish behavior. During one episode that was a good example of their name-calling, Foxx compared her to a gorilla, and she countered with a series of comments we can’t print here.

At one time, the producers were opposed to Page being a regular on the show, but Foxx let it be known that if she wasn’t hired, he was no longer available. They won out, at least for a few years, before a contract dispute by the late ’70s put an end to the show.

There were a couple attempts to revise the show under different names but none of the spinoffs gained traction. When “Sanford,” the new show, was launched in 1981, with Page reunited with Foxx but without Demond Wilson, it didn’t last a year before it was canceled by NBC. No longer part of an ongoing series, Page made guest appearances and agreed to a number of commercial ads, including one with Church’s Chicken, spouting her “Gotta Live it” phrase.

She appeared in a number of films such as “My Blue Heaven” with Steve Martin as well as numerous cameo roles where her one liners often stole a scene. And stealing scenes were just a portion of her skills when it came to show business. She was an avowed fighter for the rights of actors and actresses, demanding equal pay and treatment.

Page was married and widowed three times but vowed that the third marriage was the last. She was a very religious woman, a trait consistent with her character of Aunt Esther, and later became an evangelist. Her daughter, Clara, was also an evangelist preacher.

The phenomenal actress died of a heart attack on Sept. 14, 2002, following complications of diabetes.

ACTIVITIES FIND OUT MORE Several online platforms that deal with comedians and their legacies include a profile on Page, and Jet Magazine did an extensive obit on her.

DISCUSSION She knew Redd Foxx from an early age, but I wish I could have included more about their professional relationship.

PLACE IN CONTEXT Her days on the Chitlin Circuit and into television marked the scope of her life and career.

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY June 26, 1974: Yankee great, Derek Jeter, was born in New Jersey.

June 27, 1872: Esteemed poet Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio.

June 28, 1964: Malcolm X formed the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU).

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‘Restore the education cuts!’ said UFT and City Council

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member New York City serves roughly 1.1 million students, making it the largest public school district in the U.S. with 31 community school districts. That number is expected to drop as enrollments fluctuate this fall and budget cuts to schools strain classrooms.

City Council convened a joint hearing on education and oversight due to the expected city budget cuts to schools.

The teachers union that rallied outside of City Hall during the hearings demanded that Mayor Eric Adams ‘restore the cuts.’

It’s not likely to happen though as the deadline hits on June 30.

“My name is Healy and I’m a D75 student. I have autism,” said Lucas Healy, an Asian American high school student who was with his mom, Paulette Healy, on the way to testify at City Hall. He said that he just wants to protect all teachers.

His mother is a part of the Parents for Responsive, Equitable, and Safe Schools organization.

“We are so angry because we’ve

Outside City Hall's education rally against budget cuts last Friday. (Photo by Ariama C Long)

told the mayor and the chancellor already that their FSF needed to be reformed,” said Paulette Healy. “This is exactly why mayoral control needs to end.”

The Fair Student Funding for-

mula (FSF) was developed in 2006 and implemented in 2007 under former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, replacing the methods previous DOE administrations used. It uses a ‘weighted per pupil’ funding

model, meaning it’s an extra complicated way for the state and city to give money to schools based on how many kids they have. When a school’s enrollment is projected to go up, funding is increased,

and when the school’s enrollment is projected to go down, funding is decreased, said Education Chair and Councilmember Rita Joseph.

It’s important to note that the City Council does not have the power to cut schools’ funding. Individual schools’ funding is determined by the state and the mayor using “a deeply flawed funding mechanism” in the FSF, said Joseph in a newsletter to constituents.

According to the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools at NYU, since 2008 most of the city’s schools have “received less funding than their FSF allocations called for” and for many “underfunding o was severe.” In a study about s race and schools from Barnard c College, it’s shown that schools aren’t funded equally or eq- m uitably though it was regard- e ed as “progressive” years ago. i Often underfunded schools in l low income Black and Brown t neighborhoods are left behind l wealthier ones, creating segre- t gation among students.

P The $215 million slash to a See EDUCATION on page 30 c s

Public swimming programs take another summer break

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member The NYC Parks and Recreation is canceling public swimming programs this summer due to a nationwide lifeguard shortage, the city department announced over Twitter earlier this month.

“Safety is our top priority,” said NYC Parks Assistant Commissioner Crystal Hudson in a statement. “It’s because of this that we prioritize access to the millions who visit our pools annually rather than redirecting resources to ancillary programming.”

With public pools opening up this week, the limited ranks of lifeguards will be largely deployed to the 51 locations across the city.

But their jobs are now harder with the absence of free courses like “Learn to Swim,” which teach the basics of water safety.

This month, a pair of 13-year-old boys drowned in Jamaica Bay and two other separate drownings occurred at the Rockaways. The deaths occurred in areas restricted by NYC Parks.

The void of free swimming courses also threatens to expand inequities in water safety—Black people drown at 1.5 times the rate of white people according to the CDC. And it opens the door for private businesses to enter communities of color and charge exorbitantly for classes. The City reported last year that Imagine Swimming charged Crown Heights residents $50 for half hour courses at the former city-owned armory.

“Nobody’s immune [to drowning] but clearly there’s going to be children who are at higher risk based on race, ethnicity and the availability of swim lessons and appropriate pools with appropriate supervision,” said Dr. Terri McFadden, professor of Pedi-

atrics at Emory University Given drowning is the leading cause of death for toddlers ages 1-4 and one of the leading causes of death for teens, how can parents keep their kids safe this summer without access to free or affordable swimming classes? According to McFadden, there’s no way to “completely drown-proof a child” but steps can be taken to mitigate chances of drowning. Supplying Coast Guard-approved lifejackets, securing bathtubs and learning CPR are all significant layers of protection parents can apply this summer. And keeping youngsters in sight is essential.

“There needs to be somebody who’s constantly got their eyes on those children,” said McFadden. “One of those strategies is to have a designated ‘water watcher,’ somebody who puts their phone down, puts their summer novel down, puts their drink down,

put whatever they’re doing down so that they can focus exclusively on keeping an eye on the children in the pool…a lifeguard cannot keep an eye on every single child in a pool, especially on a really crowded day.”

To address the statewide shortage, Gov. Kathy Hochul is bumping up New York City lifeguard hourly pay to $22, a 21% increase.

At a press conference last week, Mayor Eric Adams jokingly offered another solution.

“I would love to go to the Jersey Shore and steal their lifeguards,” said Adams. “But they [also] have a shortage.”

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

The majority—84%—of confirmed cases are from the European region, followed by the Americas, Africa, Eastern Mediterranean region and Western Pacific region.

“The most obvious manifestation of this is the use of photos of African patients to depict the pox lesions in mainstream media in the global north,” the researchers said.

Ahmed Ogwell, deputy director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than a dozen infectious disease experts in the U.S. and Europe are soliciting suggestions for a new name using the website virological.org.

“We are removing the distinction between endemic and non-endemic countries, reporting on countries together where possible, to reflect the unified response that is needed,” the WHO said in its outbreak situation update dated June 17 but sent to the media on Saturday.

As for what the virus should be called, the scientists suggest starting with hMPXV, to denote the human version of the monkeypox virus. Rather than geographic locations, they say, letters and numbers should be used, based on order of discovery. In that system, the lineage behind the current international outbreak would be dubbed B.1.

The Geneva-based U.N. health agency is due to hold an emergency meeting on June 23 to determine whether to classify the global monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern—the highest alarm the UN agency can sound.

It has been reported in 39 countries so far in 2022, and most of them are having their firstever cases of the disease, according to the WHO. Worldwide, it says, there are around 3,100 confirmed or suspected cases, including 72 deaths. The normal initial symptoms include a high fever, swollen lymph nodes and a blistery chickenpox-like rash.

Between January 1 and June 15, 2,103 confirmed cases, a probable case and one death have been reported to theWHO in 42 countries, it said.

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deals with Morocco and other states like Turkey to control migration flows.

A group of 51 human rights groups said Monday in a joint statement distributed by Spanish NGO Walking Borders that the deaths “are the tragic example of the European Union’s policies of externalizing its borders, with the complicity of a southern country, Morocco.”

“The death of these young Africans at the borders of ‘Fortress Europe’ is a warning of the deadly nature of the security cooperation on immigration between Morocco and Spain,” the statement added.

Spanish authorities in Melilla, meanwhile, are using the most recent attempt by migrants to cross over in mass numbers to make an appeal for even greater guarantees on their territorial security. Last year, when relations between Spain and Morocco were frayed, Moroccan border guards let thousands of people cross in a few hours in Ceuta, Spain’s other enclave city in Africa.

Since then, the Spanish media has been rife with debate about whether NATO would help Spain out if its hold of Melilla and Ceuta was ever in jeopardy.

“Melilla is Europe’s southern frontier, and that is why Europe must look to the south,” Melilla chief Eduardo de Castro said Monday.

Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

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EX-PRESIDENT OF OIL-RICH ANGOLA REPORTED IN INTENSIVE CARE (GIN)—Colonial powers from east to west all played a role in subjugating the southern African nation of Angola over a stretch of 500 years until independence was achieved on Nov. 5, 1975. Agostinho Neto, a politician, physician and poet, was first to hold the presidency. After his death in 1979, Jose Eduardo dos Santos assumed the post.

Dos Santos ruled Africa’s second biggest oil producer for nearly four decades. He received many international awards for his commit-

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KENYAN FRONTRUNNER IN UPCOMING POLL TAPS WOMAN JUSTICE AS RUNNING MATE (GIN)—The former prime minister and a frontrunner in the Aug. 9 presidential election, Raila Odinga, has tapped Martha Wangari Karua, a former justice and constitutional affairs minister, as his running mate—making her the first woman in Kenya to run on a major political party’s presidential ticket.

It is believed she can pull in a decisive number of votes among her Kikuyu people, the country’s largest ethnic group.

In her acceptance speech, Karua called her selection “a moment for the women of Kenya,” and a change that generations of women have fought for.

As a founder of organizations such as the League of Kenyan Women Voters and the Federation of Women Lawyers, Karua actively lobbied for the increased representation of women in political positions. A lawyer by training and a social justice advocate with over 30 years rooted in law, she was a critic of the auto-

ment to anti-colonialism and for negotiating with rebel groups but he was also criticized as a dictator, accused of creating one of the most corrupt regimes in Africa with a deeply-entrenched patronage network.

His rule was marked by a brutal civil war lasting nearly three decades against the U.S.-backed UNITA rebels, who were defeated in 2002.

Dos Santos stepped down five years ago.

News reports from the Portuguese agency Lusa now place the so-called “African Machiavelli” in intensive care at a clinic in Barcelona. The former leader, age 79, has been receiving treatment since 2019.

Under President dos Santos, the economy of the war-scarred nation soared between 2002 and 2014. Prices boomed and Angola’s economy expanded tenfold, from $12.4 billion to $126 billion. But little of that wealth trickled down to the poor, while those closest to dos Santos became super-rich—including his daughter, Isabel, whom Forbes labeled Africa’s richest woman and youngest billionaire, worth about $3 billion.

Last month a Dutch court ruled that a halfbillion-dollar stake in the Portuguese oil company Galp linked to Isabel must be handed over to Angola, since its acquisition was “tainted by illegality.”

Dos Santos was replaced in 2017 by President Joao Lourenco who swiftly moved to probe allegations of multi-billion dollar corruption during the dos Santos era, targeting the former leader’s children. Dos Santos, meanwhile, has managed to escape prosecution over his government’s many corruption crimes.

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cratic Daniel Arap Moi regime when he sought to make Kenya a one party state. Karua entered mainstream politics in the early 1990s, becoming a member of parliament. If elected, she said her priority would be to stamp out corruption, which is estimated to cost the government a third of its budget every year, about 800 billion shillings ($6.83 billion).

The funds lost each year would be enough to fund her coalition’s plan to offer direct monthly support to two million of Kenya’s poorest people.

Kenyans call her “Iron Lady”—a moniker she rejects as a sexist trope directed at tough women leaders. “Strong leadership in women is seen as an exception and not the norm because I haven’t heard of an ‘iron man,’” the 64-year-old former justice minister told Reuters in an interview.

Currently, four candidates, whittled down from 55, are angling to succeed incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta who is constitutionally barred from continuing in office after serving two five-year terms.

The two main challengers are opposition leader Raila Odinga, 77, for whom Kenyatta has publicly declared his support, and William Ruto, 55, the president’s deputy. A former political prisoner, Odinga’s center-left campaign agenda is focused on tackling corruption and fixing the loopholes which he says are denying Kenyans basic services. He has also promised national reconciliation to unite the country, judiciary reforms and social welfare for poor households. In Odinga’s last three campaigns for office in 2007, 2013, and 2017, he challenged the outcomes, saying his victories were stolen. Deadly clashes followed the 2007 and 2017 votes.

Ruto, 55, has been deputy president since 2013. He founded a “youth front” (YK92) which propelled his political career during President Daniel Arap Moi’s era. His running mate is first-time lawmaker Rigathi Gachagua, described by Ruto as “a fantastic grassroots mobilizer who rose from the hardship of the aftermath of our freedom struggle to the pinnacle of professional business and political success.”

Kenya is East Africa’s most well-off and stable nation and a close Western ally that hosts the regional headquarters of international firms like Alphabet Inc. But public debt has more than tripled by $61.32 billion since Kenyatta assumed office in 2013, pushing against the nation’s debt ceiling.

“Our intention is to renegotiate the debt and make them long-term so that we are able to meet our obligations,” Karua said.

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Religion & Spirituality First Baptist Church of Crown Heights celebrates 69th anniversary

Minister Vernon Robinson, Rev Buleah Smith, Rev Dr. Christine Caton, Rev. Dr. Ava Jolley, Rev. Shaun Lee, Rev. Rashad Raymond Moore

Known as the “Friendly church on the hill,” this past Sunday, Brooklyn’s First Baptist Church of Crown Heights celebrated its 69th anniversary with the Rev. Rashad Raymond Moore. Sixty-nine years ago the church was founded by the late Rev. Clarence Norman Sr. and 20 members. The celebrations were held on Friday and Sunday, June 24 and 26, 2022.

There was mighty praise song, followed by a health and jazz fair.

In March 1953 20 men and women birthed the “First Baptist Mission of Williamsburg.” Sis. Ethel Brown hosted the first prayer service at her home, with Clarence Norman presiding. In April 1953 the New Hope Baptist Association voted to recognize the First Baptist Mission of Williamsburg as a Missionary Baptist Church.

That day, the First Baptist Mission became the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg.

Clarence Norman was ordained and appointed its pastor.

Under the leadership of the Rev. Clarence Norman Sr., the church continued to grow. In April of 1962, the church se-

cured the title to a building located on Monroe Street in Brooklyn. However, two days before Christmas in 1962, tragedy struck. A fire destroyed a large portion of this new church building on Monroe Street, leaving only the gym and Sunday School rooms intact. The First Baptist Church of Williamsburg soon resumed its worship in those spaces, but the search for a new worship space lasted nearly five years.

On July 1, 1967, The First Baptist Church of Williamsburg moved into its new and current location at 450 Eastern Parkway and changed its name officially to The First Baptist Church of Crown Heights.

Understanding its call to do both ministry and justice, the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights has addressed community issues such as job training, housing development, as well as services for the homeless and the elderly since its inception.

Under Pastor Norman’s anointed leadership, numerous ministers also accepted the call to preach the gospel and were ordained, including Reverends Karim

Members of Mass Choir (Lem Peterkin photos)

Camara, Beaulah Smith, Christine Caton, Ava Jolley, and Iana Ryan. Additionally, various ministries were launched, the community was transformed, and innumerable lives were changed.

In preparation to pass the mantle of pastoral leadership, Pastor Norman installed the Rev. Daryl G. Bloodsaw as the assistant pastor in 2011. The Rev. Bloodsaw worked closely with Pastor Norman in the years to follow to implement new programs, as well as prepare the church for ministry in the 21st century.

After 62 years of service as the undershepherd of First Baptist, Pastor Norman passed away in 2015. After its mourning period, the church gathered and voted overwhelmingly to elevate the Rev. Bloodsaw to the position of pastor, a position in which he served until September 2019.

In August 2019, the church again gathered to select its next leader. Accordingly, on Jan. 19, 2020, the Rev. Rashad Raymond Moore, a young minister from Brooklyn who had served at The Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem for many

years, was installed as the third pastor in the 66-year history of The First Baptist Church of Crown Heights.

Building on the legacy of Pastors Clarence Norman and Daryl Bloodsaw, the Rev. Moore continues to lead the First Baptist Church with vigor. Under his prophetic guidance, Rev. Moore has deftly navigated our church family through the current health crisis of COVID-19, establishing an online presence that has kept us connected, encouraged, and charged to be a light for our community while in crises.

The church says, “Over the last three months we have seen transition and loss all around the world, and our church family was no exception. In recent months, we have lost long-time members of our congregation—men and women whose prayers and tireless efforts helped to sustain our ministry over the past 67 years. Though they have joined the ancestors in that great cloud of witnesses, we are so grateful for all of their efforts which were devoted to ministry at First Baptist, and for everything they did while they were here.”

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New Evidence

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behalf of the Baker family, were present. Both were harshly critical of how police handle missing Black people.

“She did the police work, Ms. Baker should get the salary of all of those police officers that are supposed to be looking for her daughter in Washington, D.C. and here in New York,” said Barron. “I want to publicly criticize the police here in New York, and especially in D.C. If this was a white person, it would have been all-points bulletin out. They did not treat this case like that.”

“It’s sad that the police department did not do half as much as what Miss Baker did to find her daughter,” said Mealy.

“It’s sad that the city of New York with all the resources, all these cameras, all these listening devices they have and they didn’t do what they were supposed to: find her daughter.”

The councilwoman also called Baker’s mother a “shero.” The NYPD says her return was not reported to police and is not investigating this case as a kidnapping. Another press statement will be made this week due to a time conflict with the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade.

As for TiJae Baker, she’s currently recovering from the wounds, both physically and emotionally. Her mother says she was kidnapped, and showed pictures of large abrasions on her daughter’s feet and ankles.

“She’s very frightened, she wants to go into hiding,” said Toquanna Baker. “I will have to deal with the after effects when I get my daughter and her life will never be the same. My life will never be the same. This wasn’t something that she went out and did and [sought] for herself. This was done to her.”

For parents of other missing children, Toquanna Baker’s story offers hope and agency.

“I want mothers and fathers who have missing girls and boys that are missing [to know] please do not give up because she could have easily given up and turned it over to the police and let them do their work,” said Mealy. “She didn’t. She kept the fire burning, [wanting] her child to come home. And her child is home.”

termination to keep this case alive,” said Hill, who at the request of Beauchamp was retained by the late Simeon Wright to represent the family.

Wright was sleeping in the bed with Till when he was abducted. “It also underscores the failure of the law enforcement agencies to do what they should have been doing.” She was perturbed that even after the family presented a copy of the warrant and a letter to District Attorney DeWayne Richardson and the Department of Justice, “They have not given us the courtesy of a response. But that’s no surprise.”

If a determined team of citizens and relatives of Till can do a deep dive and find incriminating evidence, Watts said: “What other kind of evidence might be buried in LeFlore County where no one had searched before?” The AmNews’ calls to the DA and the DOJ were not answered.

District Attorney Richardson, according to Beauchamp whose documentary “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till” (2005) intensified interest in the case that was renewed in 2004 “just passed the information on to the DOJ. He continues to pass the buck to the Feds and not do

the job he needs to be doing.

All we are asking the DA to do is…to convene a new grand jury to hear the case.”

Dale Killinger, a retired former FBI agent who has worked on the case for years, said he concurs with the family, Beauchamp and attorney Hill, “That any and all new evidence should be afforded the routine process of being presented to a Grand Jury. The fact that law enforcement had probable cause in 1955 to believe that Carolyn Bryant was involved in Till’s kidnapping, a kidnapping which led to his murder, is new information.”

Moreover, Killinger added in an email, “This is not the only new information which has surfaced since I presented the results of the FBI’s 20042006 investigation to a Mississippi Grand Jury in 2007, and they returned a No Bill.

We also now know that Carolyn Bryant admitted to her attorneys in 1955 that Emmett Till was brought to her in the night—which corroborates information presented to the Grand Jury in 2007.

“The kidnapping occurred,” he continued, “and Donham was likely with the kidnappers or assisted the kidnappers, as the newly discovered warrant indi-

Reform

boom, you’re hired. We added this extra layer and 75% of them were [now] disqualified.”

But before the Ithaca Public Safety Model makes its way down to the “Big Apple,” Kasravi believes modifications need to be made.

“It’s not a copy paste thing, you have to tailor it to every city’s needs,” she said. “We’re not under the illusion that you can just take what Ithica is doing or what Berkeley is hopefully doing and just implement it across the country.

But it provides a roadmap on a framework to work with.”

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thoritarian attitudes are just as dangerous as those with racial biases. And the two often intersect. So more screenings can vet those potential bad apples out and offering more educational opportunities through the department can attract less violent officers. Myrick recalls the number of “unfit” candidates a simple psychological evaluation from the Ithaca Police Department would identify.

“We started using this test, we ended up screening out 75% of people who would otherwise have been hired,” he said. “I’m not even talking about 75% of people who applied—these folks already passed the written test, the physical, the interview, [those were] the three big steps you have to pass just on the surface. If you do that, then

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visiting: https://tinyurl. com/fcszwj8w

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 29

Courtesy of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation.

cates there was probable cause to believe so. She admitted to her attorneys thatTill was brought to the store, she admitted to the FBI that Roy Bryant, J.W. Milam and Elmer Kimbell brought him to the store. The only purpose for bringing EmmettTill to the store, or for her being with the kidnappers, would have been for her to identify him. He was subsequently murdered.”

But the discovery of new information, as in the past, is no guarantee that the Till case will be put on the docket. Even after Bryant allegedly confessed to Timothy Tyson, the author of “The Blood of Emmett Till,” that Till had not assaulted

her and what she said during the trial was not the truth and then later told the FBI she never recanted her testimony, the case was never reopened.

“She was lying then and probably lying now,” Hill said. “You have a woman sleeping with a man who was a racist, and it’s hard to believe that she wasn’t just as racist as he was.” No evidence was ever revealed about Bryant-Donham’s recantation.

Keith Beauchamp, who has expended many years researching the Till murder case, elaborated on it, noting that the FBI had done a thorough investigation, “but they were always fighting over jurisdic-

tion [which may be a dual one since the Feds are involved]… and we were so focused on the murder that we didn’t spend a lot of time looking closer into the kidnapping.” Even so, he added, “It’s going to be interesting to see how he [the DA] wiggles his way out of executing a warrant which is still active.

They’re going to come up with everything and the kitchen sink, not to serve it.”

Since the kidnapping that is at the core of a warrant that never expires a number of legal options are still on the table, most importantly the arrest of Mrs. Bryant-Donham who remains a fugitive from justice.

“Our family, without malice, hate or vengeance, remains focused and hopeful that at the very least this physical warrant is considered as evidence, is executed legally and finally served in 2022. Carolyn Bryant-Donham or the former Mrs. Roy Bryant is alive and well. We have done our job as a family including justice advocates and ambassadors, now we expect the State of Mississippi, with the help of the DOJ to do theirs…no excuses,” Watts concluded.

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30 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

Education Continued from page 26

schools’ budgets, because of the FSF and projected decreases in enrollment, have been described as devastating by teachers and principals on the ground.

Joseph said in her newsletter that the current FSF model also “fails to account” for the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent federal dollars that elected officials knew would run out.

As a result of the enrollmentbased funding losses, teachers are being excessed or put in funded vacancies in whichever school district needs them.

“Parents and teachers are incredibly frustrated, and understandably so. My Council Colleagues and I worked to strengthen city investments for young people and schools, and instead, many schools are getting hurt in ways that are deeply unfair,” said Joseph. “The Council did its part to stand up for New York’s students. Now, it’s time for the administration to do their part.”

Joseph said she was hoping for transparency on the DOE’s part in

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS the hearing and highlighting that the FSF was outdated.

Speaker Adrienne Adams and Councilmembers Gayle Brewer, Shekar Krishnan and Lincoln Restler, among others, got into heated exchanges with the DOE during the public hearings.

More than one person who testified demanded to know why the DOE couldn’t find money for schools with $4.5 billion still left in unspent stimulus monies that got allocated to the city’s reserves. The DOE’s total budget is $37.6 billion, the schools’ cuts of $215 million is less than 1% of that budget, said Krishnan.

The DOE said that it was a “bad idea” to change the current funding allocation or restore the cuts.

They acknowledged that the FSF the way it is was not a great process for budgeting. They promised that they prioritized protecting Black and Brown, low income, special education students or those living in shelters and going to school from cuts.

The DOE claimed that Chancellor David Banks was in the process of forming a commission taskforce to reform the FSF formula with the intention of fixing the process before the

school year starts. DOE reps in the hearing said that schools still have time to appeal the budgeting process and that other sources of funding will technically be made available after.

Renee Freeman is a paraprofessional at the Academy of Medical Technology in Far Rockaway Queens. She joined the United Teachers Federation (UFT) in loudly rallying outside City Hall during the public hearings on the education budget.

“I’m not happy,” said Freeman. “Simply because being in the classroom every day we have seen what goes on these past two years with the social emotional issues and how the children need the support. With the budget cuts, it’s going to take people out of the classroom. It’s going to raise our class size to pre-pandemic limits, thus hurting our children, and not giving us the funding for the programs. At this point, we need our mayor to listen to us to understand us and not listen to us just to respond to us.”

Freeman said there was a 12% cut to her school in Far Rockaway. She said basically that means the school could lose

teachers, but definitely lose programs like art and music.

“Normally, that’s the first thing to go, music and the art programs. Those things go first because, for whatever reason we don’t see the necessity in them, but I can say that those programs are very much needed because when you’re dealing with children who have SELs, the social emotional learning issues,” said Freeman.

Freeman said the arts postpandemic are even more important in helping students cope.

“They’ll draw it. They may not talk about it but they may draw it. They may write a rap about it and put it to music to get it out of them,” said Freeman, “because it has helped them, it is a release DOE is taking away.”

Freeman said that the FSF “doesn’t work.” On the topic of reforms, the teachers said that their input should be included in whatever commission the DOE creates.

Greg Monte is a Special Education social studies teacher at FDR High School in Brooklyn. “The devil’s always in the details and we want to be able to work with the mayor’s office and the DOE so that you actu-

Photo of Renee Freeman, paraprofessional at a school in Far Rockaway, Queens, protesting. (Photo by Ariama C Long)

ally have the right amount of equitable funding. That’s the bottom line,” said Monte about potential reforms to the FSF. In reality, the city’s budget has a $700 million increase in funding allocation for school resources and programming under the Department of Education for fiscal year 2023 as opposed to 2022. This included $277 million for Summer Rising, $79 million for the expansion of the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) with 100,000 slots annually, and $30 million for the Fair Futures program that serves young people in the city’s foster care system.

The majority of city council voted yes early to the adopted budget. But, that hasn’t soothed the direct impacts to schools or the ire of advocates.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about culture and politics in New York City for The Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a taxdeductible gift of any amount today by visiting: https://tinyurl. com/fcszwj8w

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Gov Race Continued from page 3

New York State is a safe harbor for America’s women.”

One Prospect Heights voter, who cast her ballot at the Brooklyn Museum, said that she voted to reelect Hochul because she seems like “a strong leader” based on her 2 track • May 26, 2022 -so June 2022 voter record far.1, The

declined to give her name, ty-backed campaign was “an but she said that she is origi- uphill battle” from jump, but nally from Washington State was jokingly excited that he and has lived in Brooklyn for scored more than 6% of the the past year after attending votes. He was joined by his college in upstate New York. family on stage, including his Meanwhile, in an eclec- mother, his wife who is now tic gathering of progressives cancer-free, and his newand supporters in Brooklyn, born daughter. He congratuWilliams and Archila were lated Hochul on her win and surprisingly celebratory. Wil- thanked all the elected offiliams said it was no secret cials that supported him.

THE NEW AMSTERDAM NEWS that the Working Families Par-YORKElecteds such as Comp-

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 31

troller Brad Lander, U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, and Councilmember Crystal Hudson were in attendance.

Williams has 19.02 % of the votes, said NYSBOE. His running mate and former councilmember, Archila, got 23.35 % of the votes.

“I’m honored to have had the opportunity to share my vision and hear New Yorkers share their stories from Brooklyn to

Buffalo,” said Williams in his speech after the polls closed.

“The office I hold, I never take for granted. The people who have helped me to get there, I never take for granted, who put their faith and their love and their time and their effort into changing New York for the better. I never take it for granted. I can’t thank you enough for this privilege to be a voice and vessel for change through

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public service.”

Williams said in his speech that the path to progress and change is always difficult but worth it. He also said that as Democrats the party needs to redefine what they represent. He implored Democrats to be proactive in their causes and hold people of all parties accountable.

“While we didn’t win tonight for New York State governor, New York City you still have a badass public advocate,” said his wife, India Sneed-Williams.

In other news, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin trumped opponent Andrew Guiliani in the Republican nominee race for governor. Zeldin was trailing behind early right after the polls closed, but eventually surpassed Guiliani with 43.53 % of the Republican vote, said NYSBOE. Guiliani had 22.63 % of the votes at the close of Election Night on Tuesday.

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of firepower surrendered, the NYPD was present, but largely blended in with the wallpaper for most of the event.

As Bragg looks to prosecute the city’s most prolific weapons traffickers, Saturday’s program reminds him of the importance of addressing gun violence before it reaches a courtroom.

“We also want to be on the prevention side,” said Bragg.

“So with [the] gun buyback today, getting about 70 guns off the street makes Manhattan safer…makes Harlem safer.”

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News.Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

32 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS leased, calling it “a hyper-partisan love letter to unions.”

“Should the NLRB choose to overturn decades of precedent and silence job creators, the consequences will be disastrous,” Foxx said in a statement at the time.

But field offices are following suit. About a month after Abruzzo’s memo was issued, the NLRB office in Brooklyn said it found merit in a charge filed by the Amazon Labor Union that accused Amazon of violating labor law at one of its warehouses on Staten Island, New York, by holding mandatory meetings to persuade workers to reject the union, adding further bad blood between the company and the agency.

Mark Nix, the president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, said it’s difficult to take Abruzzo’s quest for more workers’ rights seriously because she’s attempting to overturn a Trump labor board decision that made it easier for employers to suspend bargaining on a future contract when they know a union no longer has majority support.

Abruzzo has signaled it’s one of the many decisions she intends to undo from the Trump era, when cases were spearheaded by her predecessor Peter Robb, who was widely seen by organized labor and Democrats as favoring employers. Biden later fired Robb.

“The hypocrisy is off the

charts when you think about the employee rights,” Nix said.

“When she gets done with the job, she ought to apply for the lobbyist job at the AFL-CIO, because she’s going even farther than union officials have even imagined.”

Experts say it’s too early to know how successful Abruzzo might be in her efforts because the changes she’s seeking are still winding their way through the NLRB’s process. Logan, the labor expert, said she has been more aggressive than her Democrat-appointed predecessors, but still faces a steep challenge since changes she’s seeking are likely to be heavily litigated.

“Unfortunately, it’s not going to help workers right now,” he said.

larized times, I believe it has been a gift to the country to highlight the Continued from page 12 testimony of so many Republicans.

These were people who voted for and worked for Trump, but whose hearings are proving to be an in- were false. But he kept lying and commitment to the country and valuable public service. Getting inflaming his supporters to anger Constitution were more important the truth is the first step in hold- and violence without any regard to them than their desire to keep ing people responsible for the for the country or the people he Trump in power. attack on our country—includ- was hurting.

Their example is a reminder ing Trump—accountable. Trump There’s another benefit to the to all of us that we can and must was repeatedly told that his claims hearings. In our partisan and po- find ways to work with our politi-

cal opponents for the good of the country. I may have very different views on most political issues than Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice chair of the Jan. 6 committee, but I admire her willingness to withstand the intense pressure being brought against her by less courageous and less principled Republican leaders.

In our deeply polarized country, when common ground seems increasingly difficult to find, a com-

mitment to the peaceful transfer of power to the president elected by the voters is a good place to start.

NLRB

Continued from page 10

A formal move towards Joy Silk is expected to be hotly contested by businesses and right-to-work groups who want private-ballot elections. Some experts say elections better capture how workers feel about a union. And the leadup to a vote typically gives companies time to make their case to workers as to why they should reject unionization, which is legal as long as employers follow labor law.

However, labor activists and pro-union experts argue some employers use the time to fend off organizing by any means necessary, including mandato-

ry meetings in which they lay out all the reasons why workers should reject unionization.

Though the labor board has allowed employers to mandate such meetings for decades, Abruzzo argued in an April memo that it was based on a misunderstanding of employers’ speech rights and should be outlawed. She’s seeking to make the meetings voluntary for workers.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, the Republican leader of the House Committee on Education and Labor, slammed Abruzzo’s memo soon after it was re-

Trump's lies

Housing Continued from page 12

bers of Congress who refused to sign on to a letter supporting the bill. This is no surprise, as real estate interests have donated millions to their collective campaigns.

A recent study showed that New York will have to build 560,000 new housing units by 2030 to keep up with population growth, yet there are currently only 79,500 homes in development, or about 14% of what is needed.

Gov. Hochul has failed to acknowledge, much less address this need— calling for the

building or preservation of only 100,000 homes statewide over the next five years—a far cry from the volume of construction required to meet demand. She has also failed to provide sufficient relief for homeowners seeking to avoid foreclosure.

It does not have to be this way.

We can both keep people in their homes and create the additional housing we need. Our current leadership is simply choosing not to—and so we have a chance to choose new leadership.

If elected, we would push forcefully to pass Good Cause legislation to keep tenants in their homes. And our plan goes further: we would redirect the economic development infrastructure of the state—which has too often been used for giveaways to billionaires and corporations—to focus on building affordable housing. With major public investment, we would build and preserve 1 million units of truly affordable housing over the next decade.

Stable, affordable housing is one

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and professor of the Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. A New York Times best-selling author, his next book “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free” will be published by Harper Collins in December 2022. of the basic things people need to ensure their own safety and that of their loved ones, to maintain mental and emotional well-being, to work productively, to attend school consistently—to build and sustain a life. Housing insecurity and evictions don’t just upend the lives of those who lose their homes—they reverberate throughout communities, contributing to rising crime, mental health crises, substance abuse, job loss, decreased school attendance, and, with COVID still circulating, additional outbreaks.

New York cannot recover from the pandemic, move forward, and achieve its potential without addressing the housing crisis. Passing Good Cause Eviction legislation is not a cure-all, but it will provide necessary stability to millions of New Yorkers and put this state on a path to affordability for all.

After they failed to support and enact these protections, New Yorkers have good cause to evict Gov. Hochul and her lieutenant at the ballot box on June 28th.

NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is a candidate for New York State governor and Ana Maria Archila is a candidate for lieutenant governor.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 33

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SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF MFRA TRUST 2016-1, Plaintiff, vs. JOHN FARACCO, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on February 22, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the portico of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on July 20, 2022 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 411 E. 53rd Street, Apt. 6G, New York, NY 10022. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough, County, City and State of New York, Block 1365 and Lot 1060 together with an undivided 0.4011 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $512,695.95 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #110188/2009. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale.

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Said premises may also be known as 551 West 183 Street a/k/a 362 Audobon Avenue, New York, NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $9,960.78 plus interest and costs.

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NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION OF BRIDGES INVITATION FOR BIDS Reconstruction of 5th Avenue Bridge over LIRR and Sea Beach Borough of Brooklyn Contract No. HBK1205 Federal Aid Project No. X774.07.321, X774.07.322; NYSPIN: X774.07 NYCPIN: 84122BKBR506; EPIN: 84122B0021 84122B0021-84122BKBR506 Reconstruction of 5th Avenue Bridge over LIRR and Sea Beach in the Borough of Brooklyn: This Competitive Sealed Bid is released through PASSPort, New York City’s online procurement portal.

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LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 05/04/22. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION of FSRNY 22-22, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/28/2021.

Office location: New York County. Secretary of State is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SOS shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her to: CSC; 80 State Street Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose of LLC: For any lawful activity.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS Notice of Qualification of REBEL GAIL, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/26/22.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in New Jersey (NJ) on 10/13/15. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, Attn: Nancy Caravetta, 153 W. 27th St., #202, NY, NY 10001. NJ addr. of LLC: 466 Ridgewood Rd., Maplewood, NJ 07040. Cert. of Form. filed with Elizabeth Maher Muoio, State Treasurer, 125 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of ACI VI CLARKSON LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/07/22.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 01/11/22. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Big Rosie BK LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/16/20. Office location: New York county.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to c/o PO Box 20169, New York, NY 10001. Purpose: Architecture services.

Notice of formation of MPQ 1800 Broadway, LLC . Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/29/2020. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, Corporation Service Company, 80 State St., New York, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of ModernFi Advisers LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/21/22. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/14/22.

Princ. office of LLC: 135 W 50th St., 2nd Fl., Ste. 200, NY, NY 10020. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543.

DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of State of DE, Div. of Corps., Office of the Secy., 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of NU WORK LLC Art. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 10/06/21. Office Location: Bronx County.

SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 1522 E. 172nd Street, Ste 2F, Bronx, NY 10472. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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Notice of Qualification of ModernFi Advisers LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/21/22. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/14/22.

Princ. office of LLC: 135 W 50th St., 2nd Fl., Ste. 200, NY, NY 10020. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail 110toSERVICES process c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, 12207-2543.

The GeneracNY PWRcell, a soDE plus addr.battery of LLC: CSC, sys251 lar storage Little SAVE Falls Dr., Wilmington, tem. money, reduce DE 19808.

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Notice of Qualification of SKYDECK CAPITAL LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/10/22. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 05/26/22.

Princ. office of LLC: 1 Soldiers Field Park, Apt. 313, Boston, MA 02163. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Stacked Software, LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/1/2021. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 3 Hanover Sq, New York, NY 10004. Purpose: any lawful act.

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Notice of formation of Audacity Enterprises, LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/22/2022.

Office location: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 99 Wall Street, Ste. 1818, New York, NY 10005. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of SUZANNE BINGHAM DENNEY LLC Art. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 4/19/22.

Office Location: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: United States Corporation Agents Inc 7014 13th Ave Suite 202 Brooklyn, NY 11228.

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Notice of Formation of JJR Property Management, LLC Art. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 10/04/21. Office Location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 1395 South Platte River Drive, Denver, CO 80323. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of STR8LINE INSURANCE ENTERPRISES, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/27/22.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in Idaho (ID) on 04/22/16. Princ. office of LLC: 2005 Vista Pkwy., Ste. 200, W. Palm Beach, FL 33411.

NYS fictitious name: STR8LINE INSURANCE AGENCY LLC. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Cert. of Form. filed with ID Secy. of State, 700 W. Jefferson St., Rm. E205, Boise, ID 83702.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Social Skills in Motion LCSW PLLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/22/2021. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 25 Vermilyea Ave, Apt #46, New York, NY 10034.

Purpose: any lawful act.

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Formation of 11 EAST 29TH STREET APT 32C, LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/28/2022. Office loc.: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

The address SSNY shall mail process to Jane Liu, 101 Tournament Dr., Monroe Twp., NJ 08831.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of STONOVER MEDIA, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/26/22. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Anthony Bonsignore, 200 Park Ave. S, Fl. 8, NY, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

SWEET PLANTASY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 5/09/2022. Office location: New York county. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o United States Corporation Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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Notice of Qualification of ALPHAMETIC FUND 2022 GP LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/09/22. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/08/22.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 379 W. Broadway, NY, NY 10012. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, DE Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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36 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Roe V. Wade Abortion Continued from page 6

Continued from page 6

down and tells her that, ‘you know, you’re going to have to stay overnight.’ And she panics.

She panics,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman said in this instance the center reached out to the Brigid Alliance, a referral-based service that provides travel, food, and other logistical support for people seeking abortions. The Brigid Alliance was able to arrange food, lodgings, and move the woman’s ticket a day so that she could get the procedure done.

Men and LGBTQ individuals also joined in the protests and demonstrations citywide, and nationwide, to support women who have felt abandoned by the country.

Mayor Eric Adams revealed at the City Hall conference that when he was 15 years old, his then girlfriend decided to get an abortion.

“And she made the decision that was smart for both of us. She made the right call because she was empowered. She was in control,” said Adams. “And some years later when Jordan’s mom was pregnant, she made the determination she wanted to have her son. She made the determination because she was empowered to make that determination. Don’t kid ourselves. This is the erosion and destruction of the ability of women to have and be empowered.”

Adams said that this is not only a “direct attack at women” but a dismantling of American rights by the far-right. He cautioned New Yorkers and Americans to “be very afraid.”

“When it comes to our bodies, we have no rights, but when it comes to their guns, they have every right. This is not wise jurisprudence or reasonable argument. This is a power grab,” said Adams.

harms will fall disproportionately on people of color and people with fewer resources, further perpetuating our nation’s historical inequities.”

There’s a question rattling around, Why did the democrats not codify Roe versus Wade since 1973?

“I can’t answer that question, I don’t represent the Democratic Party,” James replied, “and I cannot give you an answer to something that I’ve not been involved in deciding. There’s days where I question the politics of the Democratic Party and their strategy. In the State of New York I do know that we passed it into law, hopefully they will codify it in the Constitution, hopefully they will pass this Thursday the equality amendment so it will codify in the New York State constitution.”

“Abortion care is health care,” James told the Amsterdam News on Tuesday, June 28. “Overturning the Dobbs decision, Roe versus Wade is going to have a disproportionate impact on people of color, especially Black women and low income women all across this nation, and particularly in those Republican States where they will be criminalizing a woman’s right to choose; where they will be turning neighbors into bounty hunters and vigilantes; where individuals who assist, aid and abet a woman who seeks to have an abortion, those individuals will be prosecuted.”

As rallies and protests for both sides of the argument take place all over the country, James added, “It’s unfortunate that in the last 96 hours that we have lost our rights, and some governments are not bound to respect the rights of women. We woke up the next day post Roe recognizing that individuals who get can pregnant and/or who are seeking abortions have lost fundamental rights, which we’ve relied upon for over 50 years, based upon the politics and the radical right of this Supreme Court.

“It’s unfortunate, but the Republicans had a game plan and we didn’t.”

The previous administration made it quite clear what their agenda was. Then president Donald Trump put those three justices—Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh—in place so they could do just this, and they have done it. So they’re happy, and opponents are now behind the eightball trying to play catch up.

James answered, “That’s right.

But, it was less Donald Trump, it

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about culture and politics in New York City for The Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

was more Mitch McConnell. He has shaped the Supreme Court, and he has no regrets whatsoever.

They have no idea, and this one religious radical who is on the Supreme Court, the consequences and the harm that it will cause to low income women, to Black women and to Latino women all across this country, who may resort to engaging in self-abortion or visiting or frequenting individuals who are unlicensed medical professionals.”

There are those who purport that these mostly radical white men claim to have a love for fetuses, but not so much for children or the women who produce them.

“No, not at all,” James agreed.

“These individuals, these Republicans who say they are pro-life are not pro-life because as soon as these children are born, they oppose child care, they oppose prenatal care, they oppose food stamps, they oppose universal school lunch, they oppose the expansion of medicaid, they oppose all types of assistance to living children. So for them to say that they are pro-life is a complete lie, they are very hypocritical.They are not supportive of expanding the safety net for children in this country.”

There are 13 states where their trigger laws meant the abortion ban almost became law immediately after the Supreme Court decision was announced, including Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and North and South Dakota. Then there are 13 others about to enact the ban, including Alabama, Georgia, Arizona and South Carolina.

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have announced that there is no ban coming to those states.

“New York is a state that respects a woman’s right to choose. We welcome individuals to come to New York. We’ve established a fund in the State of New York that will go to not-for-profit providers to provide abortions and to assist individuals to travel to New York to provide them with care. So individuals can go to abortionfinder.org to get further information.

“There is also a bill pending in Albany to expand it to provide even additional resources to the fund to assist individuals who seek to have abortions in the State of New York, and we are also looking to see what we can do to expand the use of medical abortion here in the State of New York. You know that if you go online individuals can basically get pills and medication from out of the country, but I urge everyone to be very, very careful of that. We are urging the federal government to relax some of the

requirements so that one can get medication to have an abortion, it’s a two-step process, plus it requires that one go to a doctor to and what we’re trying to relax the requirements so that individuals can basically exercise full autonomy over their bodies.”

Ways that can happen James told the paper, is, “One, come to New York or any other state that affirms a woman’s right to choose, a woman’s right to have an abortion, who recognizes abortion as health care; or two, medical abortion making that readily available to individuals.”

James has been very open about her own personal experience. Back in May, when it was revealed that the Supreme Court was seriously contemplating overturning the federally protected right to abortion, she spoke at a press conference about her own experience.

“Yes, I was a city council member, and I had an abortion.

It was a decision between me and my doctor and my God, and no one else. I make no apologies for it. It was the right decision for me at that time, and had I not made that decision I would probably not be the attorney general of the State of New York.”

In addition she said, “A number of young girls would come to my office in Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, young girls who didn’t know where to turn who needed advice, and I would oftentimes refer them to Planned Parenthood. That’s why I will always support Planned Parenthood and urge [they] be expanded all throughout the United States.”

The one-time Brooklyn council member, turned public advocate, turned New York State’s attorney general declared, “But, given where we are right now, at this moment in time in history, given this place, what we can do, because that decision was nothing more than a political decision, we’ve got to respond with a political response.

“We’ve got to vote. We’ve got to urge the United States Senate to remove the filibuster. We’ve got to vote to make sure that we codify this in the United States constitution, that they pass the equal rights amendment, and that we can do that is we’ve got to hold on to the majority in the United States senate, and get rid of some Democrats who act like Republicans.

And so in Pennsylvania we have an opportunity to elect a Pennsylvania Democrat as a United States senator. And in Nevada we have the opportunity to do that,

that is really critically important, and in Wisconsin we have an opportunity to do that. We need to pick up three United States senators, hold on to what we have, and then vote against them, vote to repeal the filibuster, and then vote to codify Roe versus Wade to protect all individuals. And then lastly we’ve got to hold onto the House of Representatives.

“So New York is good, we just need to reach out to our friends and allies. We need to volunteer, we need to get on freedom buses and go to states in the South and in the Northwest, and vote for pro choice Democrats, vote for individuals who want responsible gun laws; vote for individuals who recognize that our country has turned a radical right turn. We have got to shift that pendulum back towards justice and equality for all.”

As of now, James declared that the Supreme Court is changing standards, and not for the better.

“If you read the decisions they go back to the 1900s, the 1800s,” she determined. “The gun regulations that they overturned—Justice [Clarence] Thomas—who’s an embarrassment and a disgrace to Thurgood Marshall, he went back to the beginning of time when Black people were considered three-fifths of a person. He did not take into consideration what is happening on the ground…in New York, and all across the nation with these mass shootings, every day in urban centers. He wants to open up the discussion with respects to unenumerated rights, which not only applies to the right to have an abortion, but the right to privacy, the right to contraception, the right to marry what you wanna marry. So his decisions, his concurrent decisions, his majority decisions are dangerous, dangerous, dangerous.

The justice that never said a word, and now he is in full control, and he is causing more harm to this country, and he is dividing us. We are a country right now that it is at war with itself. All of our freedoms are being restricted.”

In the joint statement the 22 state attorneys general assured that in their jurisdiction, “If you seek access to abortion and reproductive health care, we’re committed to using the full force of the law to support you.

We will continue to use all legal tools at our disposal to fight for your rights and stand up for our laws. We will support our partners and service providers. We will take on those who seek to control your bodies and leverage our collective resources— thousands of lawyers and dedicated public servants across our states.”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 37

The lasting impact of Title IX on the WNBA

By CHRISTOPHER PERSLEY and PEPPER PERSLEY Special to the AmNews June 23rd marked the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX. Although the law was not specifically created to address inequities in athletics, Title IX has, in fact, had a major impact on women’s sports over the last five decades. From massive increases in girls’ participation in youth sports to the creation of leagues like the WNBA and NWSL, it’s hard to imagine a world without Title IX. It seemed only appropriate to hear the perspectives of players from the longest tenured women’s professional sports league, the WNBA. “The fact that we’re talking about it means there’s still work that needs to be done, but it’s important that we uphold the legacy of those that came before us. There’s

still so much we can do, but I’m proud to be part of the legacy,” said 2016 WNBA MVP and current president of the WNBPA (players’ association), Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks.

Olympic gold medalist and 2021 WNBA Champion Stefanie Dolson of the New York Liberty, shared, “It’s the reason we’re able to play the sport that we love, right? To be able to kind of continue that. Every day, we wake up, and we get to play basketball and that’s our job.

I’m really happy that happens.”

The league leader in assists and 2019 WNBA Champion Natasha Cloud of the Washington Mystics said, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Title IX. Whether it was high school or college, being able to get a degree and the same opportunities and resources that the men got, or coming into the W. This is what we’re still fighting for. It’s equality

and equity across the board.

I’m super thankful for not only Title IX, but the women that pushed for it that came before me.”

One of those women is sports icon Ann Meyers Drysdale, who was the first woman to receive an athletic scholarship to UCLA and receive a contract from an NBA team, the Indiana Pacers. She also commentated the very first WNBA game.

Currently, she is the vice president of the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury as well as a Mercury broadcaster.

Meyers Drysdale offered advice for the next generation of girls in sport. “Like anything, you’ve got to continue to enjoy what you do and have fun. It’s always about having fun whether it’s sports or anything else. Don’t look back, and say what if, woulda, coulda, shoulda. … Success is not final. Failure is not fatal.

It’s courage that counts.”

Natasha Cloud of the Washington Mystics is grateful for the opportunities that Title IX provided (Photo credit: WNBA)

Mayor Adams and Chancellor Banks team up with Planet Fitness

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor In their commitment to physical fitness, positive mental health, and the social-emotional development of youth, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and DOE Chancellor David Banks, lifelong Mets fans, have partnered with Planet Fitness to create the program High School Summer Pass, which provides New York City teens ages 14-19 free access to Planet Fitness clubs through August 31 in each of the five boroughs.

Those interested in joining can sign up at PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass. Teens under 18 must register with a parent or guardian online or in-club. Mayor Adams and Chancellor Banks promoted High School Summer Pass with 15 students from Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn last Thursday.

“As teenagers gear up for the summer, it is important to provide activities and recreation to keep them busy and out of harm’s way,” said Mayor Adams. “We are thrilled

to announce this partnership with Planet mental health in a judgment-free space, afford the cost of a health club memberFitness, which will allow our young New free of charge.” ship for teenagers seeking to maintain Yorkers to focus on their physical and With many parents and youth unable to and improve their health and wellness, High School Summer Pass offers a Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor David Banks (Nayaba Arinde photo) first-time experience for a plethora of the city’s youngsters.

“The health and wellbeing of our students goes beyond the classroom, lunchroom, and school gymnasium,” said Chancellor Banks.

“It’s important that we provide our students with tools and opportunities to make healthy choices and to build a healthier lifestyle no matter how much your family makes—and the High School Summer Pass initiative does just that. Thank you to Planet Fitness for giving our teenagers a free, safe environment to practice and build life-long healthy habits this summer.”

James Innocenti, chief operating officer of PF Supreme LLC, a Planet Fitness franchise, noted the program can be a foundational beginning for youth’s long-term commitment to their physical well-being.

“By encouraging teens to start working out now, they can start to build healthy habits that will last a lifetime.”

38 • June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

Black Women in Sport Foundation celebrates 30 Years

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews “We had a chance to see each other after a long drought,” said Dr. Alpha Alexander, co-founder of the Black Women in Sport Foundation (BWSF). The hashtag was #BWSF30&COUNTING as the foundation celebrated 30 years with a sneaker ball. Everyone was happy to dress up and grateful not to wear high heels.

The Temple University Aramark STAR Complex was transformed into a ballroom and the evening concluded with dancing.

BWSF was founded by Alexander, Dr. Nikki Franke, Tina Sloan Green and Linda Greene. Franke and Green were coaches and professors at Temple University, where Franke is still teaching and coaching fencing. The event commemorated BWSF’s commitment to increase the involvement of Black girls and women in all aspects of sport.

“I think the foundation is needed even more today,” said Alexander, who in 1978 wrote her master’s thesis on the status of women of color in AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, at that time the national governing body for women’s college sports).

“Today, I think it really points out that we need a seat at the table where major decisions are made and also in terms of where the finances are allocated.”

The evening’s honorees were legendary basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer (Living Legend Award), journalist Jemele Hill (Trailblazer Award), executive Michael Horsey, Temple University head women’s lacrosse coach Bonnie Rosen, and Temple associate head women’s lacrosse coach Jennifer Wong (Community Builder Award).

Some years ago, BWSF created a program for the NCAA called the Next Step targeted toward athletic administrators at HBCU

institutions. Today, the conference commissioners of three of the five HBCU athletic conferences are women.

Torrie Browning, a tennis coach, joined the BWSF board last year. “It’s great to have this organization as a support group, with Black women who have been doing this longer than I have,” said Browning.

“It’s been really great to hear their stories and to get mentorship from them. … I want to help anyway that I can in growing this organization and keep it moving ahead for future generations.”

Being at her first gala was exciting for Browning. “Having those in-person interactions was the highlight for me,” she said. “Paying tribute to the founders and people in the Philadelphia community…who’ve done things for Black girls in sport was a great evening.”

The founders of the Black Women in Sport Foundation, Dr. Nikki Franke, Dr. Alpha Alexander and Tina Sloan Green with Trailblazer Award recipient and keynote speaker Jemele Hill (Photo credit: Courtesy of BWSF)

WNBA players’ journey is chronicled in ‘We Are the W’ The Liberty’s DiDi Richard’s WNBA career is profiled in the documentary “We Are the W” (Photo credit: WNBA Photos)

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews This WNBA season has brought several documentaries chronicling aspects of the league’s history. Second-year New York Liberty guard DiDi Richards appears in “We Are the W,” a film directed by Shibon Kennedy and Katie McCurdy featuring three players at different stages of their careers: veteran Angel McCoughtry, mid-career player Isabelle Harrison, and Richards. Each reflects on basketball and her pro experiences.

“As a rookie it’s more so being able to sit and learn,” said Richards, a member of the 2021 WNBA All-Rookie team. “You’re so used to being the leader of your college that when you get here it’s almost culture shock. I tried to make that really known in the rookie aspect of the film because it was a hard thing for me to adapt to understanding that I need to be willing to be led.”

Richards, 23, grew up in a world where the WNBA always existed.

She realized previous generations of female basketball players faced

uncertain futures after college, but she had the promise of a pro career. It made her determination to overcome a serious injury suffered early in senior year at Baylor that much stronger.

Seeing Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie when she was growing up sparked her excitement for the game, in part because they not only played hard, but also seemed to share her love of glamor and style. “Now being in the league is kind of surreal for me,” said Richards, who started this season with an injury, but is

now back in action.

During the off-season, Richards decided to stay in Brooklyn and make appearances on behalf of the Liberty. She was also tapped to be one of the WNBA players appearing in this year’s Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, in which she proudly displayed her “kiss my behind” lips tattoo on her rear end. “That’s my favorite tattoo,” she said.

Richards and her Liberty teammates recently attended the world premiere of “Unfinished Business,” a film about the inception of

the WNBA and the Liberty’s place in league history. “[Filmmaker] Alison Klayman did an amazing job,” said Richards. “The fact that we got to watch T-Spoon (Teresa Weatherspoon), Crystal [Robinson] and Rebecca [Lobo] and hear how they feel about how they didn’t win [a championship].

“They got to the finals so many times (1997, 1999-2000 and 2002), but never had a chance to win it all, so them kind of living through us is empowering,” she added. “It’s something I want to give them and give New York.”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 39

The Mets lose Megill as Scherzer’s and de Grom’s return moves closer Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill was placed on the 60-day injured list on Monday due to a strained right shoulder (Photo credit: MLB.com)

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor The Mets opened a short twogame series with the Houston Astros on Tuesday night at Citi Field maintaining the best record in the National League at 47-27. The 54-20 Yankees were the only team in all of Major League Baseball with a better mark. The Mets welcomed the return of second baseman Jeff McNeil, who had missed the previous five games with hamstring tightness.

Just as they are seemingly close to having their two aces, Jacob de Grom and Max Scherzer, back in rotation from injuries, another starter has been subtracted until at least mid-August when the team announced on Monday that Tylor Megill was placed on the 60-day injured list.

The 26-year-old righty hasn’t pitched since June 16 due to

a strained right shoulder. He was also on the IL in May with a strained right biceps.

Megill is 4-2 with a 5.01 ERA over nine starts this season but had a 2.43 ERA in his first six starts before shoulder and arm trouble set him back. Scherzer, who last pitched for the Mets’ big league team on May 18 when he removed himself from a start against the St. Louis Cardinals with an oblique strain, had a rehab start for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies on June 21 and was scheduled for another minor league outing on Tuesday.

However, on Monday, the Mets decided to delay Scherzer’s appearance until Wednesday. “There’s no reason to rush it,” said Mets manager Buck Showalter on Tuesday. “We’re not going to make that mistake.” The 37-year-old Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner who has pitched for

five teams since making his MLB debut in 2008, had been stellar before his season was interrupted. He is 5-1 with a 2.54 ERA in eight starts.

Two-time Cy Young recipient de Grom is still working towards his 2022 season debut as he recovers from a stress reaction in his right scapula. The 34-year-old two-time NL strikeout leader (2019, 2020), hasn’t pitched in a Major League game since last July after being shut down because of forearm tightness and elbow inflammation.

The Mets optimistically hope to have de Grom make his first start close before or soon after the All-Star Game break, which will be from July 18-21.

The Mets will host the Texas Rangers in Queens for a three-game series beginning tomorrow, then travel to Cincinnati to face the Reds three games next Monday through Wednesday.

The Yankees’ Judge continues to make the fans all rise

The Yankees and their All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge avoided a scheduled arbitration hearing last Friday by agreeing on a one-year, $19 million contract (Photo credit: MLB.com)

By VINCENT DAVIS Special to the AmNews Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is indisputably being underpaid this season. He has been the best player in Major League Baseball through June, leading in home runs with 28 and fourth in RBIs with 57 for a team that has the best overall record. The Yankees were 55-20 before facing the Oakland A’s yesterday afternoon in the Bronx in the final game of a three-game series.

Judge and the Yankees didn’t have to go through with a scheduled arbitration hearing last Friday when the two sides agreed on a one-year, $19 million contract for this season. The Yankees had offered $17 million while Judge was seeking $21 million. The 30-year-old, who was named All MLB First Team last season, will become a free-agent at the conclusion of this season.

Judge can make an additional $250,000 if he’s voted the American League MVP and another $250,000 for being World Series MVP. The way him and the Yankees are playing now, both are strong possibilities.

Negotiations for a long-term deal between Judge and the Yankees ceased on Opening Day after Judge rejected the Yankees’ eight-year, $230-plus million dollar offer.

Judge proposed a nine-year deal exceeding $37 million annually, similar to that of Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout. He and the Yanks have not resumed contract talks.

“That’s for when the season’s done,” said Judge, who added he is satisfied they “were able to agree on a number, and settle this thing and not have to go into court.”

Two days later, Judge’s 10th inning, three-run walk-off home run gave the Yankees

a 6-3 win at home on Sunday versus the Houston Astros, giving them a split of a four-game series. They play the Astros again on the road this evening in a makeup game from an early season postponement.

The Astros were 46-27, first in the AL West, and had the second best record in the American League behind the Yankees heading into yesterday afternoon’s game in Queens versus the Mets.

After the Astros, the Yankees will have a 10game road trip through July 10. They begin a three-game series tomorrow against the Cleveland Guardians, then a two-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates and will take on the Boston Red Sox in four games.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

June 30, 2022 - July 6, 2022 • 40

Sports Kyrie Irving chooses his best option and returns to the Nets

By VINCENT DAVIS Special to the AmNews The Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving will move off the tabloid headlines for now with Irving’s decision earlier this week to opt into his 2022-23, $36.9 million dollar contract with the franchise.

“Normal people keep the world going, but those who dare to be different lead us into tomorrow,” stated Irving according to a report

by The Athletic’s Shams Charania. “I’ve made my decision to opt in. See you in the fall,” Irving informed followers of the NBA. One of the league’s most prolific scorers, Irving had presented the Nets with a list of teams to which he would accept a trade if the two sides could not come to an agreement. But after the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly were

the only team that was a possible destination, the 30-year-old seven-time All-Star made the best choice by staying with the Nets for the time being.

If he had decided to opt out of his 2022-23 contract, Irving would have become an unrestricted free agent. But there were only a handful of teams with the salary cap space to offer him a contract comparable to what he will be making next season. Also, Irving’s history of stepping away from the Nets for personal reasons and missing most of last season as he remains unvaccinated, gave Brooklyn and AM NEWS other teams valid reasons for not 04/07/22 wanting to sign him to0 a long74470 term deal.

Hopes were high for the Nets and their fan base in the summer of 2019 when team general manager Sean Marks announced

the free-agent signings of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. They were expected to lead the franchise to a championship as Irving previously did with the Cleveland Cavaliers (one title) and Durant did with the Golden State Warriors (two rings). Thus far they have come up empty.

With Irving and Ben Simmons, whom the team acquired in a trade for James Harden last season, healthy and engaged for a full season in a lineup with Durant, the Nets are as talented as any team in the league. Simmons did not suit up for the Nets 01154 due to a back injury AM andNEWS dealing with mental health issues.

04/07/22 7 22784 The Nets were swept 4-0 in the first round of the playoffs this past season by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics.

AM NEWS 06/02/22

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74470 22784

7

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After weeks of rumors and negotiations, Nets GM Sean Marks and guard Kyrie Irving both had a win after Irving exercised his 2022-23 contract option with the team (Photo credit: Bill Moore)

The Knicks take a calculated risk in free agent targets AM NEWS 04/14/22

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AM NEWS

AM NEWS 06/09/22 04/14/22 0 7 74470 22784

By JAIME C. HARRIS and the optimistic feelings are mutual.

AmNews Sports Editor Several news outlets have put Brunson’s anticipated deal at four years and $100 milAlthough NBA teams and free agents can lion. Given their reactions on social media begin negotiating at 6 p.m. today, one would platforms, it is somewhat gut-wrenching be naive to believe that discussions haven’t for many Knicks fans to accept their team’s already begun through back channels. seeming desperation to sign a player who AM NEWS AM NEWS 01174hasn’t had All-Star consideration If the letter of the rule regarding free in his AM NEWS agency was being adhered to, then the four years in the league or been viewed 04/21/22 06/16/22as 04/21/22 0 be intently and strategi7 Knicks would not a top 10 player at his position.

In fact, Luka 74470 22784 cally clearing salary cap space, uncertain Doncic was the Mavericks’ primary ball that a player or players they’re targeting handler for the past three seasons. will sign with them when contracts can However unreasonable fans may view the become official on July 6.

Knicks’ coveting of Brunson, evidently, their Beginning in 2008, under the direction of key decision makers, headed by team presthen general manager Donnie Walsh, the ident Leon Rose, see him as a critical piece to them being competitive for a playoff AM Knicks NEWSbegan the purging of big contracts AM NEWS 01184spot and not just the play-in tournament. from their roster and achieved the objecAM NEWS tive of having cap space by the summer of The counter argument is that Brunson, 04/28/22 06/23/22 at 0 max players. Their7hearts 25, 04/28/22 2010 to sign two the 2018 National College Player of the 74470 22784 were rightly desirous of LeBron James, the Year and two-time NCAA champion at Vilgem of the free agency class. Instead, they lanova, is just beginning his prime playsettled for Amar’e Stoudemire. ing years, and should provide stability and The rest is history. steady production at the point. Alleviating Fast forward and the Knicks traded Kemba much of the playmaking responsibilities Walker to the Detroit Pistons last week, and in setting up teammates that fell on Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett last season, a skill AM Nerlens NEWS Noel and Alec Burks to the Pistons AM NEWS 01194 this week to once again clear cap space to thatAM is not among their strengths.

NEWS Free agent center Mitchell Robinson, who 05/05/22 06/30/22 sign free agents.

Brunson 05/05/22 had an impressive postseason 0 There are no transforma7 was drafted by the Knicks with the 36th pick 74470 22784in this free with the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 21.6 tive players like James available in 2018, is expected to re-sign and remain agency cycle, but it is apparent the Knicks points, 3.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds for a with the Knicks (Photo credit: Bill Moore) have targeted point guard Jalen Brunson team that lost to the Golden State Warriors

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AM NE 06/09/ 74470 22784 in the Western Conference Finals in May. His father, former Knick Rick Brunson, was hired earlier this month by the organization to join head coach Tom Thibodeau’s staff. Brunson was on Thibodeau’s staffs with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves, and was Rose’s first client when Rose was an agent.

01254agent so Rose’s son Sam is Jalen Brunson’s AM NE the connections are long-standing.

0 7 Yet it is 74470 unlikely22784 that Brunson alone,06/16/ or in conjunction with the re-signing of center Mitch Robinson, who is reportedly inking a four year deal for $60 million, will lift the Knicks beyond being a challenger for seeds 7 to 10 in the formidable and rugged Eastern Conference landscape. The Knicks finished 37-45 last season, 11th in the East.

01264 So perhaps the Knicks have what will AM NE amount to basketball’s version of an 06/23/ 0 7 October74470 surprise and will land a major 22784 player who no one saw coming. Probably not, but such a player is needed to make them significantly better.

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