New York Amsterdam News Issue #39 Sept. 29 - Oct. 5,2022

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, along with a New York City delegation visited the Hurricane Fiona damaged town of La Romana, Dominican Republic on Monday, September 26, 2022. (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

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International News

Conference, Kerry urged every country to bear the burden of its impacts. Kerry acknowledged that the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa emit only 0.55% of global harmful emissions but said that every nation had to pull together in the face of crisis. “And is there a disparity in that? Yes, there is. Is there an unfairness built into that? Yes, there is,” Kerry said.

KENYAN YOUTH SEEK COMPENSATION FROM RICH COUNTRIES RESPONSIBLE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

(GIN)—Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Nairobi over the weekend to demand that wealthy countries pay more in the fight against cli mate change. “We need the Global North to pay for the damages they are causing,” said Duncan Omwami, an activist who joined the protest.

“Ninety-six percent of the emissions are being emitted by the Global North,” he said, “while 4% is emitted by the Global South. We are not able to make any great contribution to these emis sions, so we are demanding that the Global North pay for the loss and damage.”

The march was part of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), a youth-based move ment that holds street marches and protests as it highlights the need for wealthier countries to pay for the huge damage done to lands of small holder farmers and pastoralists across Africa.

PACJA climate activists point to the ongo ing drought which has been described by locals as the “worst in 40 years.”

“It is unimaginable that communities can lose livelihoods due to the climate crisis and yet gov ernments are too incapacitated to intervene,” said Mithika Mwenda, executive director of PACJA.

Protestor Elizabeth Wathuti commented: “These disasters and these challenges are not just happening in Kenya, they are happen

ing across the African continent. And this is a continent that has done the least to cause the climate crisis but still continues to bear the biggest brunt.

“So we are asking that countries which have contributed the most to this crisis should defi nitely not abandon these communities on the frontline to their fate but they should step up and fulfill the pledges they have made on cli mate finance,” she said in a press interview.

In September 2021 almost 3.5 million Ke nyans became victims of extreme weather with the government declaring it a national disas ter. In the same period, around 200,000 people were displaced by flooding.

Meanwhile, at the African Ministerial Confer ence on Environment (AMCEN) taking place in Dakar, Senegal, African climate activists ex pressed disappointment with the presentation of John Kerry, President Joe Biden’s special cli mate envoy, accusing him of a lack of compre hension of the magnitude of climate change.

“John Kerry came to AMCEN without coming out strongly to deliver a bold com mitment that would offer hope to families in the Horn of Africa, Sahel, and the rest of Africa whose livelihoods have been turned upside down by a problem they have very little to do with,” said Mithika. In his speech during the African Ministerial

“Mother Nature does not measure where the emissions come from,” he said. “They don’t have a label of one country or another on them. And it’s important for all of us to now come together to figure out how we’re going to compensate for that and deal with it.

“The challenge of the climate crisis comes from the crisis of emissions in every country.”

Mithika said African community-based orga nizations consider it a mockery to the people on the continent when a top U.S. diplomat spews out what Africans have heard over the years without telling them why his country continues to churn out tons of carbon emissions across the Atlantic or speaking on its failure to honor its commitments on climate finance.

“Kerry’s mere recognition of the ‘climate crisis facing the African continent’ is just a tired rheto ric which we hardly want to hear.”

POPE FRANCIS APPEALS FOR RELEASE OF CATHOLICS KIDNAPPED IN CAMEROON

(GIN)—Pope Francis has added his voice to calls by the bishops of Cameroon for the re lease of five priests, a religious sister, a cook, a catechist, and a 15-year-old girl kidnapped in southwest Cameroon where a civil war has been raging between the French and Eng lish-speaking communities for years.

At a mass on Sept. 25, the pope said he was praying for peace in Cameroon. “I join in the appeal of the bishops of Cameroon for the

See INTERNATIONAL on page 38

Africa and New York business in Manhattan

By NOSAYABA ODESANYA Special to the AmNews

Film maker, director, publish er and business visionary An thony Abulu planned his NYC African Expo at the Marriott Marquis for a year. He wanted to bring together African and African American business people to build stronger con nections and discuss answers to long time problems.

“Our Africa Expo USA was a resounding success,” he told the Amsterdam News . Even though some attendees were not able to secure American visas in time, “The distinguished partici pants from Wall Street, U.S. Af rican American media and the cultural community discussed

ideas on how to promote stron ger comprehensive African and African American relationships. A new dawn emerged, especial ly as we were able to present our new digital monetization platform blazechannel.com—a symbiotic relationship between the African creative industry and Diaspora Remittances. Afri ca’s most widespread Bank Eco bank was also in attendance as an event sponsor, poised to ben efit from the massive opportuni ties created through HBCU rich membership support, and the critical role the African diaspora is prepared to play to actualize the strategy in America.”

The first annual Africa Expo,

See

AFRICAN EXPO on

Tony Abulu with Mayor John Linder Chester Pennsylvania, leading 100 top African American investors to Africa (Melvin Best photo)

Kenyan climate protest (GIN photo)

Overgrown Ivy?: Columbia University’s encroachment on Harlem sparks campus protest

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

Protesters gathered at Columbia University’s Low Plaza last Thurs day evening to denounce the school’s gentrification of nearby Harlem. Hosted by grassroots or ganization United Front Against Displacement (UFAD) along with campus organizations Student Worker Solidarity and Columbia Housing Equity Project, students and outside activists demanded hands off of the majority Black and brown Upper Manhattan neighborhood.

“The basic thing people have seen in Harlem or across New York City is that a lot of neighborhoods are changing quickly,” said UFAD member Ryan Costello. “I don’t think I’m so alone in saying this, changing for the worse not for the better: skyrocketing rents, destruc tion and displacement of pillars of the community in terms of individ uals, groups, establishments, res

taurants, cultural spaces, etc. A real fraying of the basic, social fabric.

“And when people are displaced in this way, there’s no plan for the city for where they go. People are forced out, some people double up with family, many of them become homeless or semi-homeless, some move down south, upstate, etc. And the city is remade to be largely in a space increasingly, exclusively for the wealthy.”

Mentioned throughout the pro test was Columbia’s Manhat tanville satellite campus, which the university fought up to the New York State Court of Appeals a decade ago to expand into the West Harlem section through the pressure of eminent domain. Ad ditionally, the speakers highlighted the scheduled 2023 closure of Red Balloon Early Childhood Learning Center, a popular, low-cost Harlem preschool. The space was provid ed by Columbia University back in 1972, free of charge.

“This is our 50th year, iron ically—we are 60% people of

color whose children attend this preschool,” said parent board president Annapurna Potlu ri Schreiber. “We’re the only Co lumbia-affiliated preschool that takes vouchers from the Admin istration for Children’s Services, which are vouchers that they give to low income families who need childcare. It doesn’t feel random. Let me just say it that way.”

She says the students are a mix of local Harlem youngsters and chil dren of university staff.

“This was a decision based on our expectations for Columbia affiliated early learning centers and came after years of working with the center,” said a universi ty spokesperson. “To give plenty of time for families to find alter nate care for next academic year, we informed Red Balloon this summer that we are extending their lease and affiliation through August 2023. We will be offering information resources to all fam ilies engaging in a search for a

See COLUMBIA on page 35

Women & Black FDNY firefighters, fire inspectors, EMS clap back at discrimination in the department

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Speaker Adrienne Adams and the City Council are set to push a package of bills that hope to im prove the diversity, equity and inclusion practices at the Fire De partment of the City of New York (FDNY), known for its white “boy’s club” working environment.

The FDNY has historically lacked gender and racial diversity among its firefighters, though Black men have been firefighters since the 1920s and Black women since the 1980s. According to the Council’s Committee on Fire and Emer gency Management committee report, currently 76% of the depart ment’s firefighters are white, 8% are Black, 13% are Hispanic, and 2% are Asian. Less than 1% of the de partment’s firefighters are women.

“No one can doubt the incred ible work that New York City fire fighters undertake every day. In

addition to fires, our heroic FDNY firefighters respond to vehicle col lisions, downed wires and floods,” said Adams. “Unfortunately, the makeup of the FDNY is still not representative of our great city.”

The bills take aim at the issues around recruitment and retention of diverse firefighters, confront ex clusionary practices, and increase transparency at the FDNY. Among other things, the bills would re quire a public report on com plaints filed with the Department’s Equal Employment Opportunities Office (EEO), which Black firefight ers say are routinely ignored.

“We inherently go towards danger while everyone’s going the other way and to have some one commit to saving lives at the risk of their own, you don’t want somebody coming to work worry ing about how they’re being treat ed by someone wearing the same uniform and performing the same task and duties,” said Captain Dellon Morgan of the 1st Division

and Black Vulcan Firefighter Soci ety President. “It’s just too much.”

In 2007, the Black Vulcan Fire fighter Society filed and won a lawsuit against the FDNY for con tinued discrimination in the exam process towards Black and Latino applicants. The lawsuit wasn’t set tled until 2014.

Morgan said that his authority is often challenged and while he can correct “bad behavior” point ing out instances of discrimination is almost “not worth it” because there’s hardly visible justice and consequences.

Firefighter Regina Wilson has been with the FDNY for 23 years. She said that female firefighters like her have to deal with sexual assault, harassment, and racism in the workplace.

“We’ve had these horrific George Floyd memes that went around, people taking pictures of the white power sign, pictures of Trump in the firehouse in a

See

Metro Briefs

Rally calls for end to solitary confinement ahead of hearing

On Wednesday, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Criminal Justice Commit tee Chair Carlina Rivera, other City Council members, Melania Brown (sister of Layleen Polanco), Akeem Browder (brother of Kalief Browder), survivors of soli tary confinement, other family members, and allies rallied to urge the City Coun cil to pass, and the mayor to sign, Intro. 549, the bill from the public advocate to finally and fully end solitary confinement.

Prior to a City Council hearing on the bill, participants will condemn the con tinued infliction of torture and urge the City Council to pass Intro. 549 to end soli tary confinement immediately and instead utilize alternative forms of separation proven to better enhance people’s health, well-being, and safety.

The bill has veto-proof supermajority support and the backing of the Coun cil Speaker.

Adams, Banks announce launch of inaugural Chefs Council

Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Education Chancellor David C. Banks announced the launch of New York City’s first-ever Chefs Council in partnership with Wellness in the Schools (WITS). The Council is chaired by Rachael Ray and includes celebrated chefs, culinary industry professionals, and food activists.

The Chefs Council will develop scratch-cooked, plant-based, and culturally rel evant recipes and provide hands-on training for the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS) chefs. They will create over 100 recipes that will be tested in schools across all five boroughs during the 2022-2023 school year in partnership with the new OFNS Cook Ambassadors. After feedback from students and parents, the recipes will be introduced as a monthly seasonal menu and the chefs will then train school cooks on implement ing the new recipes onsite in all public school locations.

In partnership with local education departments, WITS programs have served more than 86,000 children in nearly 200 schools nationwide during the 2021-2022 school year. In New York City, programs are currently implemented in 38 schools across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens. The launch of the Chefs Coun cil will expand the programming presence to all DOE schools for the 2023-2024 school year.

Families of incarcerated New Yorkers hold rallies calling for end to prison package ban

More than 100 families of incarcerated people from across New York State held a series of concurrent rallies in six regions—Long Island, New York City, Westchester, Albany, Syracuse, and Buffalo—to call for an immediate end to the cruel Depart ment of Corrections and Community Supervision package ban.

Originally announced earlier this year, the change in policy prohibits people from sending food packages to incarcerated family members, and limits the number of personal (non-food) packages one can receive to two per year. All food packages must now go through approved vendors, which has dramatically in creased costs for families.

As a result of the ban, families will be forced to use vendors to send any food to loved ones. The availability of food items is extremely limited and cannot accom modate dietary, religious, and cultural needs. Fresh foods are liable to spoil during transit, denying incarcerated individuals access to healthy food. Vendors do not accept EBT cards as payment for those living below the poverty line who rely on this supplement to send food to their loved ones.

Rent payment reporting program aims to help renters build credit

Fannie Mae announced the launch of its Multifamily Positive Rent Payment Re porting pilot program, aimed at helping renters build their credit history and im prove their credit score.

Beginning Sept. 27, 2022, eligible multifamily property owners can share timely rent payment data through a vendor network to the three major credit bureaus for incorporation in the renter’s credit profile. This pilot program aims to bolster eq uitable access to credit and remove unnecessary obstacles in a consumer’s hous ing journey, whether they choose to rent or aspire to own a home.

More diplomacy less military aid to Ukraine, a poll suggests

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

Echoing President Biden’s resolve on the war in Ukraine and Russia’s threat to use nuclear weapons, Na tional Security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Russia that such an action would bring “catastrophic conse quences.” On Sunday’s ABC News show, Sullivan said, “We have com municated directly privately to the Russians at very high levels that there will be catastrophic consequences for Russia if they use nuclear weap ons in Ukraine.”

This assertion comes in the wake of several developments in the war, and nothing more dramatic than the up surge of resistance in Russia against the war. Countless number of young Russians, having received conscrip tion notices, are fleeing the country.

Meanwhile, a recent poll con ducted by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and Data for Progress indicate that 57% of likely voters strongly or somewhat support the U.S. pursuing diplo matic negotiations as soon as pos sible to end the war in Ukraine, “even if it requires Ukraine making compromises with Russia,” ac cording to a new account. The poll said that just 32% were strongly or somewhat opposed to this.

Nearly half of the respondents or 47% said they only support the continuation of U.S. military aid to Ukraine if the U.S. is involved in on going diplomacy to end the war, while 41% said they support the continuation of U.S. military aid to Ukraine whether the U.S. is involved in ongoing diplomacy or not.

Along with a growing concern that

diplomatic efforts are lagging, those polled note that the expenditure on the war is beginning to have an impact on domestic financial affairs. President Biden has expressed this concern on several occasions clearly aware that defending Ukraine would be a costly involvement.

Back in the spring, he said, “Every day, Ukrainians pay with their lives, and they fight along— and the atrocities that the Russians are engaging in are just beyond the pale. And the cost of the fight is not cheap, but caving to aggression is even more costly…That’s why we’re staying in this.”

To date, the U.S. has provided over $15 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, along with numerous weap ons, but a new hue and cry is gaining resonance demanding more diplo macy and less munitions.

Back to the redistricting drawing board

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

The city’s Districting Commis sion voted down the revised maps that were going to be submitted to the City Council last week. It was a bit of a “surprise” considering an initial review of the maps shows that the commissioners had man aged to address some communi ty concerns.

The process of redistricting was triggered by the decennial census count. The districting commission is redrawing the city’s 51 council districts based on the changing population sizes and demograph ics of each neighborhood in every

borough. The ideal size in each district has to be within the “5% deviation” state law, which is ba sically wiggle room in a range of 168,560 to 177,204 persons per council district, said the commis sion.

Maps are then produced and voted on. The maps are meant to be drawn in the interest of pro tecting racial and political minor ities’ voting rights with adequate representation and not diluting any group’s political power. The challenge in drawing these plans this year was the city’s “explosive population growth” since 2010, especially among Asian and His panic groups, said the commis sion.

Since the commission released their first draft of the City Coun cil district maps in July, over 9,600 submissions from New York resi dents have offered feedback on the proposed district lines. The latest maps left Harlem in Dis trict 9 and Western Queens in Dis trict 26 largely whole and reunited the Sunset Park and Red Hook in District 38 in Brooklyn, while dragging parts of Staten Island’s districts 49 and 50 into Brook lyn and creating a new majority Asian-American district in District 43 in South Brooklyn that cut deep into District 47.

The vote was a close 8-7 for re jecting the maps. The friction

Speaker Adams, City Council on pay equity disparities

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

New York City’s recent coun cil report on pay equity finds that women, Black and Latino city em ployees are still the most chroni cally underpaid.

“Pay disparities for women and people of color remain a persistent issue in our city and country, hampering econom ic opportunities,” said Speaker

Adrienne Adams. “The inequities for Black women are particularly striking, with our making 58 cents for every dollar earned by a white man. These disparities are not just unfair, but also harmful to our economy and communities.”

The 2022 pay equity report found that there’s still a large pay gap between Black, Latino, and white employees as well as be tween male and female employ ees, which was highlighted in the 2021 pay equity report.

The data shows that ‘non-white employees’ and women predom inantly occupy civil service roles with the lowest salaries. Fewer of either group are in higher posi tions to be paid more, contribut ing to “occupational segregation.” In fact, as the proportion of female employees increases, the salary generally decreases, said the report.

Women on average make $.73 to every dollar men make, Black

NewJersey News

Newark360 Master Plan gets approval

By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff

The Newark Planning Board unanimously approved the Newark360 Master Plan, the blueprint that will shape the eq uitable physical development of Newark for the next 10 years.

Rooted in Mayor Ras Bara ka’s core principles of creat ing a more equitable, healthy, and resilient city, Newark360 provides key actions to better connect Newarkers to their neighborhoods and job centers, create more affordable housing, strengthen Newark’s historical and cultural fabric, and address environmental injustices. These actions are complemented by recommendations for updat ing the underlying land use and zoning codes that will provide the legal framework for imple menting the proposed actions.

“Newark360 encompass es the ideas, visions, dreams, and aspirations of Newark ers themselves, not academ ic or bureaucratic planners. It was created through nearly two years of community engage ment, the most wide-ranging and inclusive outreach the City has ever undertaken. We are grateful for people from every neighborhood and walk of life who participated, because

Newark360 could not exist with out the voices and priorities of Newarkers,” Baraka said.

Last December, the city launched an interactive web site—www.newark360.org—to give residents the opportunity to share their opinions and pri orities about a wide range of issues such as affordable hous ing, jobs and economic develop ment, transportation, parks and open space, the environment, infrastructure and more. Web site users were be able to share what they like about their neigh borhoods, what they want to change, and how they envision their neighborhoods 10 years from now.

Community engagement in cluded more than 10,000 touch points—from a highly interactive website where people could give their ideas and review docu ments, Facebook Live discus sions, two in-person community workshops in every ward, focus groups, statistically valid sur veys, and the Newark Story Bus—to gather the thinking of Newark’s youth.

The name “Newark360” was coined to describe how the Master Plan will encompass a 360-degree view of the city and its future. Newark 360 is an imag inative re-thinking of many of Newark’s physical features.

NJ Human Services launches redesigned online portal application for food, cash assistance and expands SNAP navigators

By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff

The New Jersey Department Human Services launched a modernized benefits portal and online application for residents to apply for the state’s Supple mental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) program and has expanded SNAP Navi gators across the state.

Individuals can check their eligibility for food assistance, cash assistance and health care by visiting NJHelps.gov. Those who choose to apply for SNAP and/or WFNJ will be redirected to the new application.

“No one should go hungry or without health care. At Human

Services we want to make it as easy as possible to navigate our programs and access the ser vices and benefits available for you and your family,” said Com missioner Sarah Adelman. “This new modernized application is streamlined, easier to complete and is designed to work better for you. We have also expanded the number of SNAP Navigators available to assist individuals who would like help completing their applications. If you would benefit from food assistance, cash assistance or health care, please visit NJHelps.gov to check your eligibility and apply.”

The new application is mobile friendly, making it more ac cessible and reachable. When

From the catwalk to the catering table, Norma Jean Darden is a trailblazer

THE URBAN AGENDA

By David R. Jones, Esq

Reforms Prime FDNY to Abandon Its Legacy of Hiring Bias

We can only hope that City Hall will finally put the New York City Fire Department on a fasttrack to end its legacy of bigotry and racism in employment.

The New York City Council last week introduced a package of legislation aimed at transforming the FDNY to reflect the racial, ethnic and gender makeup of the city’s population. This elusive goal has not been achieved, despite countless broken promises, protests, racial scandals, lawsuits, consent decrees and settlements.

It is more overwhelmingly white than its police counterpart: 47 percent of city police officers are white, the council said.

Black New Yorker

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

Norma Jean Darden never cooked during her supermodel days. And she certainly wasn’t fed Southern staples like short ribs or Louisiana catfish in between Europe an runway gigs during the early-mid ’70s. She needed to stay thin. Plus-sized models weren’t a thing back then. In fact, just being a Black woman on the catwalk was ground breaking at the time.

“[When] I came along it was a very seg regated market,” said Darden. “It was very hard for Black women to get a foot hold in any facet of fashion, and that means runway, commercials, and editori als. There was a big breakthrough at Harp er’s Bazaar that was spurred on by Audrey Smaltz who gathered some of us together and had us picket Harper’s Bazaar maga zine and brought attention to the fact that we weren’t there.

“They always told us ‘well, the white people in the South won’t buy our prod uct if we use you.’ I said well ‘you’re in the North, and it’s time to break that taboo.’”

She famously participated in The Battle of Versailles Fashion Show in 1973, a his toric head-to-head between French and American designers. Darden was one of 11 Black models involved, and instrumen tal in introducing New York sportswear to all of Europe. And in front of Andy Warhol and Elizabeth Taylor, she helped the Amer ican side dominate the night, putting the global fashion industry on notice for the red, white and blue.

But Darden knew modeling was a “rain bow” career. So when she was asked to bring refreshments by the designer she was working for, Darden found a new way to steal the show—through her cooking. Soon, she crossed paths with another trail

blazer, David Dinkins. New York City’s first Black mayor introduced Darden to the beau monde around town, not as a famous supermodel, but as a prolific caterer. She served up meals at The Met and Whitney, places where Black New Yorkers never ca tered before. And bringing her soul food recipes to the scene, no less.

Since then, Darden’s catered for nu merous world leaders including Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela and even an em peror of Japan. She co-runs restaurant Miss Mamie’s Spoonbread Too with her sister Carole. And they even wrote an oral his tory cookbook, “Spoonbread & Strawber ry Wine: Recipes and Reminiscences of a Family” together, which later became an off-Broadway play.

“[Critic] Rex Reed said the most amaz ing thing—he said I was one playwright who could eat my words,” said Darden. “I thought that was so funny because I was one of the first to do a play, where you ate food in intermission and then discuss foods in the second half.”

This week, she will be feeding folks at the 8th NY Amsterdam News Labor Awards Breakfast. On the menu will be grits, shrimp creole and biscuits, with fresh ber ries, granola and yogurt for those who can’t eat the seafood. As for her secret recipes? There are none, says Darden.

“My secrets are all published in the cook book, so anybody can cook our food,” she said. “No, it’s not a secret, it’s that most people don’t want to cook these days. And that’s what keeps us in business.”

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 writ ing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visit ing: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

The five bills deserve quick passage. They represent the most concerted effort by city government in generations to provide equal opportunities at the FDNY. They focus on the essentials: recruitment and retention, diversity training, improved workplace environment, monitoring and public reporting.

Standing up for righteousness at the FDNY gives all of us a chance to feel proud, and it says something more about the hope of rejuvenating our city — its fragile working class, its politics, its schools, its neighborhoods and its culture.

With the blessing of Mayor Eric Adams, the new laws take the fight directly to the FDNY firefighters’ unions and other critics of diversifying the department. The unions have acted as a blockade over the years that may have been embarrassed at times, but never ashamed of supporting a system of inaction, nepotism and unfairness.

The legislation proposed by City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus (BLAC) calls for extensive recruitment campaigns, a fulltime outreach office to target recruitment and retention of minorities, and requires the FDNY annually to publicly report diversity recruitment figures. It also calls for firehouse renovations that encourage a mixed-gender workforce.

These laws are exactly what the FDNY needs. They mirror the yearslong demands of the Vulcan Society, the Black firefighter organization, and live up to the provisions of the 2014 discrimination case settlement. We also recommend restoration of the Cadet Corps program aimed at minority recruits, started by the late David Dinkins and cancelled by Rudolph Giuliani.

There are more than 11,000 firefighters and fire officers in the New York Fire Department, making it the nation’s largest. Who comes to mind when you picture a typical firefighter? If you say a white man, that’s understandable. The FDNY’s uniformed firefighting division is 77 percent white, 12 percent Latino, 8 percent Black and 2 percent Asian, according to a 2020 report released by the New York City Council.

Like New York, other major fire departments have struggled with minority recruitment, particularly African Americans. This month, a federal judge in Chicago terminated a 42-year-old court order because minority representation has increased significantly in every promotional title. While the overall department has become more racially diverse, Black firefighters complain their numbers have, in fact, declined. Today, the Chicago Fire Department’s nearly 4,800 members has 422 Blacks in uniform, who represent 15 percent of the department, down from 16.5 percent in 2016. That compares to Latinos, who accounted for 13.5 percent of Chicago firefighters in 2016, but today are the second largest group at 18 percent.

On the other hand, there are success stories like Memphis. The department started with 12 Black firefighters in 1955 and the number has now grown to 800, who make up 48 percent of Memphis’ uniformed firefighters. Over the years, they overcame racial barriers like pay and rank disparities, white residents refusing to admit them into their homes, and segregation within firehouse living quarters.

Mayor Adams, a retired police captain, understands better than most the reputation of the FDNY and the gravity of this moment. He is well aware that no worthwhile policy objective is attainable without the mayor’s passionate backing. He’s already sent a loud and clear message that he brings a new agenda to the FDNY with the appointment of Laura Kavanagh, the first woman acting fire commissioner.

The mayor and Kavanagh, who last week appointed a new diversity officer, have set the stage to put systems in place that root out the FDNY’s deeply entrenched racism once and for all. You can bet they will focus on the key elements of recruitment: who gets invited to take the physical assessment after passing the firefighter examination; and improper manipulation of the waiting list.

Just talk of the five City Council bills certainly has the attention of rank-and-file members and the firefighters’ unions, which have been willing to fight change tooth and nail, while laughing cruelly at exhausted minority firefighters who protest their untenable position.

Adams’ policies and appointments have gone a long way in declaring a new day. In taking on the FDNY, we will learn the practical impact of the new mayor’s vision on what New York is and what it’s becoming.

David R. Jones, Esq., is President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), the leading voice on behalf of low-income New Yorkers for more than 175 years. The views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer. The Urban Agenda is available on CSS’s website: www.cssny.org.

‘Big Brother’ in the Big Apple: Hidden cameras coming to all MTA subway cars

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

If the camera adds 10 pounds, then New York City subways are about to become freight trains—a pair will be installed on each MTA car, announced Gov. Kathy Hochul last week.

“We’re having two security cameras that’ll cover the widths of the train, installed on each one of the [6,355] subway trains,” she said at a Queens press conference. “I’m op timistic and I believe they will also be a de terrent to people. You’re going to be caught, if you conduct any activity—whether an ag gressive act or violent crime.”

Hochul’s office forecasts installation of highresolution cameras on the city’s entire 6,500plus subway fleet will finish sometime in 2025. 200 train cars are planned to be retrofitted each month when the project begins, with incom ing R211 subway cars arriving pre-equipped. But Dorothy Schulz, professor emerita at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, says the process isn’t as simple as putting together a Ring Home Security system.

Schulz, the MTA-Metro North Railroad Po lice’s first female captain, also doubts the cam eras will be effective crime-fighting tools. From her experience, footage is used for retroactive investigation—tape is pulled and used to iden tify a person after something happens.

And then there’s the matter of privacy. Hochul says the feeling of “Big Brother” watching over commuters is intentional, and offers New York ers a “peace of mind.” Well, as long as they don’t commit crimes. But the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) disagrees.

“New York City is already home to tens of thousands surveillance cameras and there’s no evidence this massive expansion of subway cameras will improve safety,” said NYCLU tech nology and privacy strategist Daniel Schwarz.

“Gov. Hochul’s announcement is even more worrying given that the MTA has been com pletely secretive and has not disclosed any in formation, policies, or audits about its camera and software systems: the scope of information that is collected and analyzed, how long it is re

“These are old, old subway cars,” she said. “They have to be taken out of service, there has to be electrical work. There are also lighting issues, will these cameras even be able to see anything? What about between stations, some times when the cars go dark—will the cameras operate in low light?”

tained for, how law enforcement uses the in formation, who the information is shared with, and whether any of the deployed technologies show discriminatory impact or threaten peo ple’s fundamental rights.

“Living in a sweeping surveillance state shouldn’t be the price we pay to be safe. Real public safety comes from investing in our communities, not from omnipresent government surveillance.”

NYC-based privacy group Surveillance Tech nology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.) calls the move nothing more than “security theater.”

“New Yorkers want safety, not surveillance,” said S.T.O.P. executive director Albert Fox Cahn in a statement. “As the governor admitted, subway crime is down this summer, not up. Big Brother’s spying never prevented crime before, and it won’t start now. This tech has failed us too many times to count.”

Both Cahn and Schulz cite the Sunset Park R Train shooting this past April as an example of cameras’ inefficacy—video recording at the 36th Street station malfunctioned during the attack, although other subway surveil lance footage did help retrace and identify the shooter.

Grant money from the United States Depart

ment of Homeland Security covers most costs for the cameras via the Urban Area Security Ini tiative. Additional funding will come from exGov. Andrew Cuomo’s Subway Action Plan. And 3,800 more train station cameras will also be installed thanks to the federal funding. Mayor Eric Adams is a fan. He believes positive chang es from the new cameras are “inevitable.”

“Public safety is my top priority and this new security initiative will further work to ensure that all New Yorkers can get to where they need to go safely,” said Adams. “Public transpor tation is the backbone of New York City, and when commuters feel protected the entire system stands upright.”

His former professor, Schulz, is less op timistic.

“I don’t think that savvy New Yorkers are going to think that these cameras are going to make them substantially safer,” she said.

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 writ ing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visit ing: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

History repeats: PR & DR in crisis in aftermath of Hurricane Fiona

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

New York State and New York City, home to the largest Puerto Rican and Dominican populations outside of the Caribbean, are all hands on deck in the wake of Hurricane Fiona that hit last week. Every level of government is advocating that more federal and local aid be sent for people currently without electric ity, food, water, gas, and medical assistance.

Mayor Eric Adams took a trip to Puerto Rico (PR) and the Dominican Republic (DR) to sup port relief efforts this weekend. In a media de briefing upon his return, elected officials, faith leaders, and city agency officials committed to serving and assisting both islands in recovery.

“New York City is a cross section of the world and that comes with a lot of responsibility, and that means when things happen in other places it affects us deeply,” said Public Advocate Ju maane Williams at the briefing. “People forget that these are Americans. These are Americans. What other state would this happen in that the entire country wouldn’t galvanize everything that they can to make sure it’s okay?”

Hurricane Fiona (Category 1) has left at least 21 Puerto Rican people dead and thousands with out power or running water since Monday. There was mainly flooding in PR with over 30 inches of rain in some parts and heavy winds in DR.

As of this Tuesday, Sept. 27, the territory has had about 69% of its power restored, 88% have access to wifi/communications, and 87% have access to potable water again, according to PR’s emergency department data. Some 1,250

school social workers have been activated, to gether with 502 professional counselors, 775 school psychologists and 888 nurses to reach out to local shelters, students, and their fam ilies while work is being done to clean debris and provide drinking water, said the data.

Similar in destruction, Hurricane Maria (Category 5) in 2017 devastated the island and surrounding islands. It was reported that 64 people had died directly from the storm and about 3,000 died in the aftermath.

At a rally in Manhattan’s Foley Square, New Yorkers who have lost family members during both storms as well as immigrant rights advocates grieved for their extended communities and are livid about the historic “colonialism” that plagues the relations between the island and the U.S.

Lerner Rodriguez said she lost her uncle, 61-year-old Ovidio Sanchez. “I just got off the phone with one of my cousins and I asked what we could possibly do, and in typical San chez family form they made a joke,” said Ro driguez, who was somewhat emotional while speaking. “They said we’re alive, we’re breath ing, yeah it hurts, but think of the time it takes to make pasteles. Everyone takes their turn.”

Activist Mili Bonilla said she lost her 83-yearold father Jose “Pepe” Bonilla in one of the im pacted hospitals in Bayamón running on a generator during the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. She said prior to the hurricane he was in great health, but he ended up needing a ventila tor and passed shortly after. She said the “inept” U.S. and PR government were responsible.

Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana Coordinator Jonathan Soto spoke about the brazen “imprint of injustice” on the initial FEMA maps, which

indicate flood zones in need of aid, that left out some 22 central and west coast towns in PR sig nificantly damaged by the hurricane.

“The individual assistance is critical for an ti-displacement,” said Soto about an inevita ble land grab in PR’s tax-free real estate after the storm. “Anybody knows that Rincón is the epi center of gentrification manufacturing that is displacing our people and it’s going to spread— that’s why you saw the west coast excluded.”

President Joe Biden has since quickly granted the Major Disaster Declaration requested by PR for 78 municipalities on the island so they qual ify for access to public assistance and the Indi vidual Assistance program. Meanwhile, city and state lawmakers are busy with legislation cen tered around recovery and relief efforts.

On the city council level, said Councilmem ber Alexa Avilés, a letter was sent to congress and Biden urging a waiver of the Jones Act or the Mer chant Marine Act of 1920 that regulates shipping between U.S. ports. The act is impeding a fuel ship carrying much needed diesel from Texas.

“I was a signatory on that letter,” said Avilés. “We need a waiver so that humanitarian aid can come in, but the truth of the matter is that the Jones Act is an unjust policy that needs to end. It’s a colonial relic from the shipping sector in the U.S.”

Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs, who repre sents a primarily Latino community in Man hattan, said on Friday that he is focused on getting his bill that creates a federal PR relief and recovery account passed. Bill A9420 is cur rently in committee in the assembly. He initial ly introduced the bill months prior to the storm because PR’s infrastructure had never fully re covered from Hurricane Maria, he said. He

is joined in this endeavor to get the PR Relief bill passed expeditiously by Assemblymem ber Brian Cunningham, who said he is a huge proponent of climate change and believes in doing everything he can to assist Caribbean communities.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as U.S. Reps Nydia Velázquez and Gregory Meeks, equally called for billions in federal relief for the island this week. They urged congress to provide emer gency funding as well as $1 billion in nutrition al aid for PR, DR, Turks and Caicos, Guadeloupe, and other Caribbean nations impacted by Hur ricane Fiona. Gillibrand’s bill is the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act of 2022

“Over the past few years, Puerto Rico has faced crisis after crisis,” said Gillibrand. “In 2017, Hur ricane Maria killed thousands of people and flattened entire neighborhoods. Supply chain dis ruptions from COVID and rising prices have left too many Puerto Ricans without enough to eat.”

Frankie Miranda, president and CEO of His panic Federation, said that PR is “excluded” from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Pro gram (SNAP) and other essential federal pro grams like Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This freezing out affects the econom ic stability and progress of children, families, and individuals residing on the island, he said.

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 consid er making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM MONKEYPOX

Monkeypox is a disease that can cause painful rashes and sores on your body. It is a virus that can easily spread through direct contact with a rash or sores of someone who has monkeypox. It can also spread through shared clothing, bedding, and other items, and prolonged face-to-face contact.

Do not have sex or other intimate contact if you or your partners have a new rash or sores, feel sick, or were recently exposed to monkeypox.

Talk to a health care provider about testing, pain management or treatment if you have monkeypox symptoms.

Frequently wash your hands, bedding, towels and other shared items.

Get vaccinated if you may have been recently exposed to monkeypox.

For more information, including about vaccine eligibility, visit nyc.gov/monkeypox or scan the QR code. Text “MONKEYPOX” to 692-692 for the most up-to-date information.

Go With The Flo

FLO

Rihanna will be the 2023 Halftime Show headliner for Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The superstar bil lionairess announced the news with a photo of her hand holding up an NFL football! The official NFL Instagram ac count confirmed the news by posting the same photo with the caption: “Let’s Go!” On Sept. 24, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky exited the Rolling Loud Festi val after party at 42 D’OR Nightclub on 42nd Street hand-in-hand. Rocky hosted the event.

Todd Bridges tied the knot with fash ion designer Bettijo B. Hirschi in front of 70 guests on Sept. 21 at Greystone Mansion & Gardens in Beverly Hills, Calif., reports People. The former “Dif ferent Strokes” star told the outlet: the couple wanted to get married in a small ceremony with “just our closest friends and family.” The “Celebrity Big Brother” alumni added it was special to marry “somebody that he is madly in love with.” The new Mrs. Bridges walked down the aisle in a dress she designed herself. The ceremony was followed by a reception at the Italian restaurant, Il Cielo. The newlyweds met through a mutual friend this past March.

On Sept. 22, ALL BLK released the season finale of the new dramedy series “Send Help.” The show features a spe cial guest appearance by Emmy-nomi nated actress, producer and co-creator of “Insecure,” Issa Rae. This half-hour dramedy follows Fritz Jean-Baptiste (Jean Elie), a first-generation Haitian American actor, who is on top of the world since landing a starring role on the fictional hit TV show, “This Can’t Be Us”.... all while being the sole support system for his incredibly demanding Haitian family, and also reeling from a recent tragedy.

The Apollo Theater in Harlem kicks off Apollo Comedy Club and Apollo Music Cafe shows starting Thursday, Oct. 6. The Apollo Comedy Club celebrates the theater’s rich comedic roots with the best up-and-coming talent today. Presented in partnership with the leg endary Bob Sumner (producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of Laff Mobb on Aspire). The Oct. 6 line-up includes Saya Meads, Kenney Woo, Dylan Tucker and (host) Derrick Eason. The Apollo Music Cafe presents independent artists to a unique audience. For October, the soul ful sounds of George Lovett (Oct. 7) and soulful powerhouse Stout (Oct. 8) will perform in front of a live audience.

Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E. conduct 7th annual walk for homicide victims

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Special to the AmNews

“Stop the gun violence, put the guns down,” a crowd of 30 people chanted as they stopped traffic and marched down Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue on Sunday, Sept. 25.

“Save our children!” they shouted: “Save our children now! Education up—put the guns down!”

In a demonstration orchestrated by the nonprofit Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E. (Stop Another Violent End) and NYPD Youth Strategies, marchers paraded through Downtown Brooklyn and then made their way to McLaughlin Park, right at the foot of the entrance to the Manhattan Bridge.

The marchers were commemorating

Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E.’s 7th annual “Na tional Day of Remembrance Walk for Ho micide Victims” by making a stop at the McLaughlin Park playground—the site where Unique Smith, a student at Brook lyn Laboratory Charter Schools, was fatal ly shot on Sep. 8 after he’d gotten into an argument and fistfight with two boys. One of the boys—dressed in a black hoodie, black pants, and a ski mask—shot Smith in the chest and although EMS was able to transport him to Methodist Hospital, Smith was pronounced dead a short while after arriving.

Officers from the NYPD’s 84th Precinct had escorted marchers to the park. After the crowd passed through the area where Unique Smith was killed, a march leader took the mic to speak about the day’s

event. “We are here joining the other bor oughs going down to City Hall from Brook lyn—there are those who are walking all the way from the Bronx. This is a nation al day and today we’ve chosen this spot as one of the locations of a child murdered. Because a 15-year-old who went to school that day and was in the park––as a normal child should be––lost his life in that space over there.

“So, with that being said, we’re asking you to join us in a moment of silence to commemorate his life and then afterwards to always know that we have to fight for our children’s futures.”

In 2007, Congress designated Sep tember 25th as the National Day of Re membrance for Murder Victims in the United States.

Marchers stopped traffic in Downtown Brooklyn to call attention to homicide victims. (Karen Juanita Carrillo photos)

Family and friends gather with Harlem’s psychologist Phyllis Otera Thomas

Popular Harlem-based psychol ogist Phyllis Otera Thomas was warmly celebrated by family and

friends at Dallas BBQ in Washing ton Heights. A clinical therapist and social worker, Otera Thomas

was honored on a BIG birthday, as folk regaled her, brought gifts, cakes and reminisced about good times.

African American Day Parade awards AmNews photog Bill Moore

The Amsterdam News ’ very own veteran photographer was recognized and awarded at this year’s Harlem African American Day Parade. A com munity photographer and former sports writer with the paper for over 40 years, Bill Moore was acknowledged for his dedication to capturing the community with his mag nificent photo-journalism.

‘Coffee with Congressman’ Adriano Espaillat with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity

Nightlife

NEWARK’S SHAKUR STEVEN GOING POUND FOR POUND

PRESSURE!! It can burst pipes or make diamonds, right? It’s a relative condition, however. For instance, one would think that an Olympic silver medalist, cur rent undisputed boxing champi on and currently recognized as one of the ten best fighters in the world, wouldn’t have a care in the world. However, when a home coming is thrown in the mix, a heightened addition of anxiety would be understandable and perhaps expected. Such was the case for Shakur Stevenson, who Friday, Sept. 23 returned to his hometown of Newark to defend his WBC, WBO and Ring Maga zine championship belt against former Brazilian gold medalist Robson Conceição.

“Coffee with the Congress man”—Cong. Adriano Espail lat in collaboration with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Ep silon Sigma Chapter held an event speaking to issues of the upper Manhattan commu nity (Harlem). The Hon. Inez Dickens and the Hon. Eddy Gibbs listened to comments about a range of community issues. The event was held at Common Good Harlem owned by Domingo Mejia on Freder ick Douglass Blvd. Here Chap ter President Anthony Sanford and Steve Miller Chapter VP stand with the congressman.

This was the first time Ste venson would fight in his city as a champion and Newark was there in full throttle to show support. The Mayor’s Office of the City of Newark presented Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) with a proclamation declaring Sep tember 21, 2022, as Shakur Ste venson Day in the city. That was followed up by a special plaque from Quitman Street School students; Stevenson attended Quitman Street for elementa ry school, and the building sits less than a mile from Prudential Center. Additionally, Stevenson hosted a community event at Boylan Street Recreation Center where he hosted 100-150 inner city children to teach them a few boxing basics and talk about the path it took to grow in Newark to becoming a World Champion. While appreciative of the outpouring of appreci ation, Shakur had to maintain balance of what the purpose of the weekend really was. “Hon estly, I’m just ready to fight. I’m not really focused on the pres sure. I don’t care about all that. I’m really focused on putting in the work on Friday night. I’m just ready to fight at the end of the day. All I can think about is fighting and performing. That’s everything that’s on my mind,” he said.

The results were for the new standards for Stevenson a mixed bag. He entered the city as a Champion and left without his

titles, which he lost on the scale Thursday afternoon. At 25 years of age, his body is still maturing so making the 130-pound limit of Jr. Lightweight is no longer an option. In his farewell to the di vision fight, Stevenson bested Conceição by 12-round unani mous decision (117-109 2x and 118-108) in front of 10,107 fans Friday evening at Prudential Center, the largest crowd ever to attend a boxing event at the arena. Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) dominated, landing a careerhigh 199 punches, including a body shot knockdown in the fourth round. He stunned Con ceição (17-2, 8 KOs) again in the sixth, but the Brazilian chal lenger hung tough. Stevenson had a point deducted by refer ee David Fields for hip tossing Conceição in the ninth round. After the inauspicious ninth, Stevenson closed the show in pound-for-pound form, win ning the final three rounds on all three judges’ cards. After missing weight by 1.6 pounds the previous day, Stevenson will now begin his lightweight journey.

“I had a long week. I killed myself to make weight. All I want to do is come in here and perform. I did everything I could to do that,” Stevenson said. “I’m just a dominating in dividual. With me versus him, the ref, I did everything I could to try and beat [Conceição] up as much as I could. He held me the whole night, but I did every thing I could,” said Stevenson, realizing a few of his ardent fans left a little disappointed feeling that the outcome was anticli mactic, but Hall of Fame pro moter, Bob Arum offered of the performance, “Shakur was marvelous as always, and he was in there tonight against a tough fighter in Robson Con ceição. There are so many great fights for Shakur at lightweight. The Newark crowd was spec tacular, and we look forward to many more great fight nights in this arena.”

Boxing looks like it’s about to get fun again!! We’re here for it! Over and out, holla next week. Til then, enjoy the nightlife.

Written by David Goodson

(Bill Moore photo)

African American Day Parade 2022 awardee Slyvia Alston; Adeyemi Oyeilumi, parade founder; Yusuf Hassan, AAD parade chairman; Bill Moore, AmNews photo-journalist (Isseu Diouf-Campbell photo)

(Bill Moore photo)

Falling leaves, rising membership

Union Matters

U.S. now has its first unionized congressional office

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Special to the AmNews

Fall marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new season. For some of us, the change is met with a little sadness, while for others, fall is greeted with en thusiasm: it ushers in the start of the new school year; the excitement of Hallow een and Christmas looming ahead, and the annual holidays that salute labor and regale the discovery of the “New World.” Local 237 would like to thank our mem bers and other public sector employees for their tireless efforts on behalf of so many New Yorkers, whose lives and liveli hoods depend on municipal agencies op erating seamlessly despite the challenges. As former President Barack Obama said: “When times are tough, we don’t give up. We get up.” That’s precisely what public employees did and continue to do. During the height of the pandemic, at a time of unimaginable grief, when a sudden, highly contagious virus rocked the entire globe and our own personal world, union mem bers—and especially public sector work ers—didn’t give up; they got up and went to work. During a time that immersed us in dread and paralyzed so many with fear— an unnerving time that, for some, meant there would be no final hug, goodbye or sacraments to meet our maker—these es sential municipal workers were on the job. Now, as we are trying to revive the City and the State, public workers remain an essen tial element in New York’s recovery.

Union membership across the nation has declined from its peak of 35% in 1954 to only 10.8% currently. With New York among the states with the largest number of union workers—roughly 22%—about 70% of the union workforce is in the public sector—consistent with the national per centage of public sector union member ship being approximately five times that of the private sector—with African Ameri cans making up the largest component of that group.

But today, after a decades-old hiatus, union membership in both the public and private sectors is on the rise. The remark able win by Amazon workers in Staten Island to unionize was no small feat. Just two years ago, this newly formed “Amazon Labor Union” did not exist. A Staten Island Amazon warehouse worker, Christian

“The results are in! Staff in @RepAn dyLevin’s office unanimously voted to form a union, making it the FIRST con gressional office union in the history of the U.S. Congress.” the Congressio nal Workers Union (CWU) declared in a celebratory tweet on Sep. 26.

The CWU has been organizing Wash ington, D.C.’s congressional staff since July. Legislative workers had come to gether this past February to create the CWU—and they asked Rep. Andy Levin (D-Michigan) to draft a bill that would grant Capitol Hill staffers the right to unionize and collectively bargain.

That bill, H.Res. 1096 , passed the House on May 10, 2022 and, after a 60-day probationary period, on July 18 staffers were permitted to begin orga nizing.

And now it’s the staff in Rep. Levin’s office who have formed the nation’s first unionized congressional office. Staff voted electronically in the Levin office union election and the next elections are set to take place in the offices of Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) on Sept. 28

and Sept. 29.

“It is with great pride we announce the landslide union election victory in Con gressman Andy Levin’s office,” the CWU said in a press release. “While exercising

their right to vote, the workers clearly and emphatically expressed their desire to bargain collectively and have a seat at the table to determine workplace con ditions and benefits. CWU is ecstatic to support these workers as we move to the bargaining table and negotiate a contract representative of workers’ needs for the first time in congressio nal history.”

Legislative workers have been speak ing out about the drudgery of the work their members have had to put up with: they are often tasked with helping pol iticians create legislative proposals, write speeches, and assist politicians as they provide services to people in their districts. Many legislative staffers say that a job whose profile promotes positive public service too often leads to their being stuck with low pay, long work hours, and occasionally abusive bosses.

House and Senate staff workers re ceived raises this Sept. 1 after lawmak ers increased their office budgets, but people of color and women claim they still are being paid less than their white counterparts.

Trader Joe’s in Williamsburg wants a union

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Special to the AmNews

Employees at the Trader Joe’s grocery store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn are plan ning to form a union.

The Williamsburg store, located at 200 Kent Avenue in northern Brooklyn, has only been open since December 10, 2021. Yet store employees filed with the Nation al Labor Relations Board to unionize its 185 workers last Friday, Sept. 23.

Staffers at the store claim they’ve faced poor working conditions and have had to deal with racism and union busting.

Jaz W., a 29-year-old Black worker who was trying to unionize at the store, was summarily fired once management found out about her efforts and appeals to have her reinstated have been ignored. In an interview with the magazine Jaco bin, Jaz W. spoke about some of the prob lems she encountered while working at Trader Joe’s: “They’re always telling us that Trader Joe’s doesn’t believe in hier archy and bureaucracy. That’s why they have this lingo where general managers are called ‘captains,’ assistant managers are called ‘mates,’ and we’re called ‘crew

members.’ But even though the compa ny uses this lingo, the same hierarchy— the same power structure—is still there.

“At our store, there’s a particular mis treatment of workers of color. Lots of the people they’ve been recently letting go or punishing are people of color. And now I’m part of that list.”

After Jaz W. was let go, other TJ’s work ers demonstrated in front of the store and handed out fliers to customers and anyone passing by.

The flier they passed out stated:

“This store, Trader Joe’s Williams burg-548, has a pattern of inappropriately targeting workers of color for discipline. We say NO MORE. That’s why we’re orga nizing for our rights and dignity at work by forming a union to fight for an NYC living wage, better access to healthcare and paid time off, clear and fairly applied disciplinary processes, and much more.

“We’re asking you to stand with our crew as we work together for the protec tions and fair working conditions we de serve.”

If the Williamsburg store unionizes, they will affiliate with Trader Joe’s United, and will be TJ’s third store in the United

States to win official union recognition. The other two Trader Joe’s locations to unionize are in Massachusetts and Min nesota—the Williamsburg location would be the first one in New York City.

Trader Joe’s Wine Shop, store #541, was reportedly attempting to unionize when it abruptly closed last month, on Aug. 11, after having been open at 138 East 14th St. in Manhattan’s Union Square for 15 years.

Gregory Floyd

President, Teamsters Local 237 and Vice President at-Large on the General Board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters

See CONGRESS on

Graphics on the cover of a Trader Joe’s grocery bag (Karen Juanita Carrillo photo)

“Disparate pay for some, and low pay overall, makes for unhappy workers, legislative staff say. ‘Fairly compensating congressional staff, especially junior-level staffers, will help Congress attract and retain a diverse and capable workforce.’”

Jazzmeia

Opinion

Zeldin is a zero!

Our endorsement of Kathy Hochul for governor is a rebuke of Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate, mainly for his stance on abortion and the ad he ran that included Saheed Vassell, a Black man killed by the police in April 2018.

Zeldin, who currently represents part of Long Island’s Suffolk County in the House, has consistently opposed abor tion and his position was made more emphat ic as he applauded the overturning of Roe V. Wade.

More disturbing is the clip of Vassell posted on Zeldin’s Twitter account with a voiceover citing that “actual violent crimes caught on camera in Kathy Hochul’s New York” in which Vassell allegedly points a pipe at a person’s head in Crown Heights. Vassell’s father, Eric, outraged at the depiction issued a statement stating that the image of his son in the ad is akin “to trampling on Saheed’s grave.” His death, which aroused protesters who charged that shooting him was unnecessary since he was mentally ill and presented no danger, occurred three years before Hochul became governor.

Mr. Vassell has demanded that Zeldin remove the ad and offer an apology for de meaning his son. We have no indication if the ad is no longer running, though a recent view ing may have been a truncated version.

Whether it’s been removed or not, usage of the ad has already been done and to associ ate Hochul with the incident has not been disavowed by the Zeldin campaign, which comes as no surprise for a candidate who has welcomed Trump into his camp.

We should get a better understanding of these two issues when the candidates debate later this month—and at this point only one debate seems to be guaranteed. Over the past several years, and certainly during Trump’s campaign, all’s fair in love and politics, and Zeldin has taken his attack on Hochul to a false and disrespectful edge to make a case that she is soft on crime.

Once more, it should be clear that Zeldin is a zero, and our vote is for Kathy Hochul for governor.

Kathy Hochul for Governor

Giving our endorsement to Gov. Hochul in the race against Republican candidate Lee Zeldin for us is a nobrainer. Not only has Hochul grown into her position at the helm of the state, one of the things we were con cerned about during the primaries, she has demonstrated keen insight on managing the gubernatorial office. And she certainly got our attention back in the summer when she announced the commitment of $8 million for im provements to the Schomburg Center

AMNEWS READERS WRITE

for Research in Black Culture. Even before this initiative, she had shown great compassion in allocating $3.8 million for Choose Healthy Life to ad dress health inequities and to admin ister preventative wellness programs run by 20 churches, a plan she an nounced at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem. It was at this event that she revealed her understanding of the healthcare disparities in the Black community as a result of the pandem ic, and promised to make sure concrete

action was applied to remedy the sit uation. In short, we join the 35 labor unions, including 1199SEIU, in our en dorsement of Kathy Hochul for gover nor. She has made some tremendous strides toward serving the diverse sec tions of the state, and we have every expectation that this growth will con tinue and become even more effective in reaching and improving our margin alized communities.

For these reasons and many more, we endorse Kathy Hochul for Governor.

Arrogance and self-adulation have the former president backed in a corner and the optics don’t look good

By JAMES B. EWERS JR. ED.D.

The political landscape is ripe for com ment and critique. Almost every day, something happens to make you pause and wonder if it will ever stop.

It is my thinking that these rumblings will always be with us.

One of the political occurrences that keeps on giving is what is happening with the former president of the United States of America.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another with him.

His ascent to the presidency has only brought more attention to his checkered past and now his questionable future.

Money and power or maybe I should say the quest for it have caused him problems galore.

Like many in America, Mr. Trump is in the fourth quarter of his life and the 2-minute warning is approaching.

I just wonder how he sleeps at night given what is hanging over his head.

I listened to him on Fox News recently and he’s in a totally different reality.

Contrary to popular opinion, he believes he is above the law.

against Donald Trump and the Trump orga nization for financial fraud.

They inflated their profits to gain cer tain economic advantages and benefits.

It appears that he wasn’t as rich as he said he was.

Attorney General James said, “The state ments of financial condition were great ly exaggerated, grossly inflated, objectively false and therefore fraudulent and illegal.”

She added, “And as a result of that we are seeking relief, and Mr. Trump, the Trump Organization, his family, they should all be held accountable.”

Will this result in the former president being convicted and going to prison?

Carl Tobias, law professor at the University of Richmond said, “Even for Trump, people don’t like him, but do they want to put him away? What kind of punishment would be appropri ate? So, it’s just all around more difficult.”

Can we imagine Mr. Trump spending time in a federal prison and ordering a diet soda from his room?

That is almost laughable and full of satire.

Because he is self-serving and a narcis sist, there are people who want to see him do some time.

to dictate the outcome of my recommen dations to Judge Cannon.”

Aileen Cannon is the U.S. District Court judge who chose Judge Dearie as the spe cial master.

The former president believes in my opinion that because he lies that he can get his lawyers to do the same.

Not so. The lawyers representing him will not perjure themselves.

That will result in them losing their li cense to practice law.

The Department of Justice is continuing its probe of what many believe was an il legal activity.

Mr. Trump is tied up and tangled up and the truth is not in him.

His troubles are going downhill faster than a skier.

Don’t forget the January 6th hearings which will resume in the coming weeks.

It is widely speculated that the former presi dent is the reason for the attack on the Capitol.

It is my thinking that Mr. Trump has hit a ground zero political trifecta.

His money is wrong, his judgment is wrong, and his tampering is wrong.

Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher 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

Donald Trump thinks that the rule of law does not apply to him.

The state of New York has come after him.

New York State Attorney Gener al Letitia James has filed a lawsuit

He has hired lawyers to defend his posi tions which many believe are frail and puny.

Will he win this court battle? We will just have to wait and see.

On another Trump-infused problem, the classified documents taken by him to his home are causing a problem for him.

Of course, his lawyers are saying that he de classified them but have offered no proof.

Senior Federal Judge Raymond Dearie said, “My view of it is you can’t have your cake and eat it. I can’t allow litigation strategy

Do you remember the television show, “Cops”?

The theme song was “Bad Boys” written by Ian Lewis.

Some of the lyrics were, “Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Watcha gonna do when they come for you.”

Is that a fitting song for what is happen ing now?

James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D., is a youth advocate, consultant, author and president emeritus of the Teen Mentoring Committee (TMC) of Ohio.

The Second Amendment puts safety first

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 opin ions of others that may differ from our own.

Immigration debates

CHRISTINA GREER PH.D.

ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS

The Second Amendment address ing the right of American citizens to bear arms, is a touchy subject these days, but its effect on our daily lives cannot be overstated. Being able to protect ourselves in a world that is becoming more dangerous by the day is essential to survival. The right to arm oneself, whether the weapon is concealed or not, has become more important than ever.

Take a stroll through any big city and you’re likely to see a replay of what I witnessed recently in New York City: rampant homelessness, burgeoning crime and a prolif eration of drug use. Feeling safe should be an inalienable right. But today that’s no longer a given in this country.

Instead, our cities are in a dan gerous downward spiral. They are increasingly filthy and crime rates are skyrocketing. Make no mistake about it, America and its people are at risk. Cities that used to be barom eters for the American experience are now bastions of hellish disarray.

Go to San Francisco and you will see precisely what I mean. Shoe less drug addicts roam the streets like zombies in a trance, treat ing the streets like public toilets. Droves of homeless people shoot up heroin not in trash-littered back alleys, but in plain sight on major roads. The gutters are filled with discarded syringes.

What we need to rectify this situ ation is more policing and enforce ment of the rule of law. Until then, we are going the wrong direction by focusing upon gun control. We need to be increasing funding to the police, not “defunding” them. And we need to ensure that law-abiding citizens are afforded their consti tutionally guaranteed right to bear arms. It’s an essential way for men and women to protect themselves.

People kill people. Guns do not. And it is obvious that over-regulat ing gun ownership will have zero effect on the estimated 400 million guns that are already in private cir

culation. Gun control simply cannot stop violence in this country, which is being caused by a crime-ridden society that is out of control.

Imagine that you are a small busi nessman in a big city rife with crime and short on cops. Imagine how you might react if an armed robber burst into your store, pulled a gun and demanded cash. You could meekly hand the money over and put your fate in the hands of an armed crimi nal, hoping he doesn’t just decide to orphan your children. Or you could up the odds in your favor by defend ing yourself with a legally purchased and properly registered firearm.

In San Francisco, the former dis trict attorney decided that the city would not be prosecuting thieves who stole, as long as their thievery fell beneath a certain price point. The initiative was announced pub licly. The result of that ridiculous ness? Gangs of criminals breaking into stores.

Talk about throwing gasoline on a fire. We saw the videos of these shocking crime sprees posted online.

In this era of lawlessness, the best life insurance policy is one tucked into a holster. Should we be forced to choose a thug’s life or our own, we should have the means to make the right decision.

Gun control advocates like to point to the mayhem wreaked by mass shootings, especially in schools, which are a truly terrify ing reality. But we know that the perpetrators of those horrors are often mentally ill people. I am not opposed to sensible steps to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of the insane and the criminal—but I am opposed to over-reach by the government to prevent law-abiding and rational Americans from securing the fire arms of their choice.

Gun violence deaths detailed by Giffords Law Center hype the num bers but fail to look at the hard truth: gun deaths are caused by people who

misuse guns and stricter gun legisla tion would do little to stop those in dividuals who are compelled to use guns to commit crimes.

The sooner we recognize this truth and the sooner we recognize where our country is headed, the quicker we will come to the real ization that we truly must protect ourselves at all costs. Responsible gun owners know how to proper ly secure their weapons away from children, and often train with pro fessionals and carry with care.

Gun ownership by good people deters crime. Criminals may think twice about committing their at tacks if they are forced to wonder if their victims are packing heat. As the saying goes, “if guns are outlawed, then only outlaws will have them.” What’s more, stricter gun laws make it more difficult for people to pro tect their homes and families, a growing concern in a day and age where fewer and fewer people want to become police officers.

In addition, consider the reali ty. Police simply cannot protect ev eryone all the time. Response times may be short, but the window for self-preservation often occurs in mere moments.

A Pew Foundation report found that 79% of male gun owners and 80% of female gun owners said owning a gun made them feel safer. Another 64% of people living in a home in which someone else owns a gun also said they felt safer.

Safety in a land without allow ing people to exercise their Second Amendment will become even harder to find. But good people can make America safer with a permit in their pockets, and a holstered gun on their hips.

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

Recently Republican governors and lawmakers have been playing politi cal football with people’s lives. They have been load ing recently arrived im migrants—men, women, children, and even new borns—on buses and planes and shipping them to “liberal” cities to prove a point to Democratic law makers. As a nation of im migrants, both voluntary and involuntary, the recent behavior of Republican politicians is disgraceful and cruel.

Many of the recently ar rived immigrants are arriv ing with little to no English and have been promised the prospect of jobs and hous ing. Many are desperate and are looking to establish roots in order to take care of themselves and their fam ilies. Like Irish, Italian, and German immigrants sought to do just a century ago, these new immigrants from Mexico and Central America are literally seeking the same thing as the grandparents of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and current Flori da governor Ron DeSantis.

Republican lawmakers are dropping off the newly ar rived immigrants in sanctu ary cities, communities with formal and informal policies that limit and/or discourage cooperation with local law enforcement from using one’s immigration status against individuals unless a serious crime is reported.

The governors of Texas and Florida, Abbott and DeSantis respectively, have made the lives of vulner able people their politi cal game. They argue that cities like Washington, D.C. (in front of Vice President Kamala Harris’ home), New York City, and even the small island of Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachu setts should have newly ar rived immigrants dropped at their doorsteps. Part of

their strategy is the belief that Democratic cities will be as cruel and unwelcom ing as other places have been. In many ways their strategy has backfired. Dem ocratic mayors have rallied resources and are thinking of ways to expedite paper work so these individuals can get jobs and job training as well as housing.

Communities and neigh bors are figuring out ways to donate food and clothing and rally to accommodate some of the city’s most vul nerable. It is apparent that Republican lawmakers will continue these antics in the weeks leading up to the No vember 8th election since Republicans tend to make “caravans of illegal immi grants invading your towns” a central and steady argu ment to their election strat egy every election season.

It is imperative we as a city and a nation do not fall for this divisive and hateful rhetoric. Yes, it will be diffi cult at times to accommo date newly arrived groups, but this is what this coun try has done for centuries, literally. As waves of immi grants came from European nations, they were treated with hateful imagery, dis crimination, and exclusion ary practices. Sadly, some of their descendants have now taken up the mantle of ex clusion and are attempting to do the same.

Do not fall for the alarm ist rhetoric of Republicans. America has the resources and we should pressure our electeds to make sure they are distributed equitably.

Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Ford ham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Im migration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream,” and the co-host of the pod cast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions pod cast at TheGrio.

Caribbean Update

Republicanism spreads in Caricom

By BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews

There is little doubt that Barbados’ move to become a republic last November appears to have motivated a slew of fellow Caribbean Com munity nations to follow suit with the latest indi cations coming from the St. Kitts Nevis federation in the Eastern Caribbean.

Its government says that the time has come when the federation of about 60,000 people should complete its full circle of independence by ditching the British monarch as its head of state, appoint a local as its president and become a republic like Guyana, Trinidad, Domi nica and Barbados in the coming months. Guyana was the first back in 1970.

New Prime Minister Ter rence Drew used a 39th in dependence day address at the weekend to tell the nation that it needs to become truly independent by becoming a republic.

“The debates are robust and lively in our barber shops, village bars and shops and even in our homes among friends and relatives. I will confess, we are not totally free yet. As a small island nation, we depend on many part ners, internationally and regionally. But we are on a path of continuous im provement for our people and our country. And as your fourth prime minis ter of this land, I am hon ored to lead our country along this path. Our nation is much closer to true independence than not,” the Cuba trained medical doctor said.

Drew’s St. Kitts Nevis Labor Party won a land slide victory in general elections in early August, taking advantage of the public breakup of the pre vious multi party coali tion government that was in its second consecutive term.

The switch to a repub lic was not a main cam paign issue in the run

up to the Aug. 5 polls but the PM has now placed it on the political front burner saying authori ties are eyeing a defini tive move by next year’s 40th independence anni versary. Barbados made the switch on its 55 anni versary.

Since then, a seeming ly jealous Jamaica which often prides itself as a leader of things Carib bean, has begun a fren zied campaign to become

a republic but its efforts to make the transition in time for its 60th inde pendence celebrations in August were stymied by the need to follow some serious constitutional steps including the hold ing of a referendum to achieve this.

Antigua, Belize, The Ba hamas, Grenada as well as Jamaica and St. Kitts have all made clear statements about becoming repub lics. Bahamian Prime

Minister Phillips Davis recently talked about al lowing locals to decide even as he indicated that he was not against it. Ja maican PM Andrew Hol ness was even more pellucid and blunt when he told a visiting Prince Williams and wife, Kate, earlier this year that Ja maica was “moving on” to become a republic, an announcement that had clearly caught the royals off guard.

Going more in-depth during his broadcast in St. Kitts, Drew says the big move could occur for the 40th anniversary next year as we also set our eyes on transition ing into a republic. “We trod on towards that goal. That goal of self-determi nation and self-actual ization is where we truly encapsulate our sover eignty. That is why each time I get the opportuni ty to speak to our nation’s young people, I challenge them to be innovative, to be creative and to envi

sion a better St. Kitts and Nevis and use their im mense skills to help get us there.”

From all appearanc es, most of the regional governments plan to use major national upcoming milestones to either make a case for republican ism or to actually make a switch.

For example, The Baha mas would have been 50 years as an independent nation next year so the talk about being a repub lic is on the rise. Prince William had also stopped over there on his region al swing where protestors had called on the admin istration to dump then Queen Elizabeth as its head of state and become a republic.

For its part as well, Ja maica’s government has even created a special ministry of legal and con stitutional affairs to over haul laws and prepare for the switch. The refer endum is expected to be held this year.

Who cares about Black and brown immigrants? This billionaire wants U.S. to open up to Russian migrants

FELICIA

IMMIGRATION KORNER

Here’s someone not afraid to at least tell the truth about America’s socalled immigration “crisis.” Let’s give white billionaire, William Albert Ackman, a.k.a. Bill Ackman, some applause this week for at least not being hypocriti cal and speaking his truth.

While Republican gover nors of Texas, Florida and Arizona are piling brown and Black immigrants onto buses and planes

and shipping them north as the GOP screams of the “crisis” at the border and the millions coming in, Ackman, the billionaire investor, hedge fund man ager and founder and CEO of Pershing Square Cap ital, says the U.S. should be opening up to more immigrants—but not brown and Black ones of course—but Russians.

In other words, screw the Black and brown Central and South Americans, let’s roll out the red carpet to the white immigrants.

“Doesn’t it make more sense to moderate wage in flation with increased im

migration than by raising rates, destroying demand, putting people out of work, and causing a recession?” the billionaire investor and Pershing Square boss asked in a Twitter thread on Sept. 22.

Well, he got my atten tion—at first—because I made this point backed by facts on a lack of farm labor just two columns back.

But this is when Ackman lost me and made me livid.

Here’s the tweet:

“Let’s remove the bar riers for Russia’s bright est. The most talented Russians must leave now before they become fodder

in an unjust war. Doing so saves our economy and de stroys Russia’s future.”

I did not hear Ackman make that case for any Black or brown immigrant. But here he is making the case for white migration. Is it that he believes there are no bright immigrants from Central and South America or Africa and Haiti?

Reminds me of the al leged comment from El Trumpeto on being open to immigrants from Norway versus ‘s-hole’ nations, and much like we saw the red carpet rolled out for Ukrai nian immigrants over Hai tians and even Afghans.

As of 2022, Ackman’s net worth was estimated at $2.8 billion by Forbes. Yet despite his supposed intellect as a hedge fund manager, Ackman seems to have missed an obvi ous fact that is driving the United States’ current in flation crisis—a lack of im migrant labor to do jobs that the best and brightest will not do.

The U.S. has, by some es timates, 2 million fewer immigrants than it would have if the pace had stayed the same, helping power a desperate scramble for workers in many sec tors, from meatpacking to

homebuilding, that is also contributing to supply shortages and price in creases.

Those are jobs Americans don’t want and certain ly bright Russians will not either, Mr. Ackman. The so lution lies with those same Central and South Amer ican immigrants who are being treated like “aliens.” That’s the only real immi gration solution to rising inflation and recession. It’s time to look beyond the pale and face reality.

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

“From all appearances, most of the regional governments plan to use major national upcoming milestones to either make a case for republicanism or to actually make a switch.”

Little Amal dances with pigeons at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Little Amal, the 12-foot puppet who has been visiting various neighbor hoods throughout the five boroughs

this past month, visited Brooklyn Bridge Park on Sept. 24. Little Amal is a representation of a 10-year-old

war refugee from Syria. She came to Brooklyn and delighted hundreds of children and their families as she

danced to music and played with puppet pigeons at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge.

(Karen Juanita Carrillo photos)

Health

Undocumented New Yorkers can safely access COVID-19 vaccines without endangering their status

stitutionalized care, Medicaid, housing assistance, and food stamps were added as public charges. The intensity of the 2019 rule still radiates fear among immigrant communi ties, according to Mansoor.

It is important to note that the 2019 public charge rule is no longer in effect.

“There are very different soundbites in this administra tion. They are trying to rebuild trust with the immigrant com munities.” Mansoor explained the differences in the nature of public charge under the Trump administration versus the Biden administration. Under the cur rent public charge rule, only public cash assistance and long-term institutional care are considered a public charge.

By ROSHNI SALEEM CHAGAN and SANA LALANI, MPH candidates at Columbia University

For the approximately 476,000 undocu mented immigrants living in NYC, multiple barriers are creating gaps in vaccination rates among undocumented immigrants. The lack of accommodation for undocumented immi grants in the U.S. health system furthers the narrative that undocumented immigrants are ineligible to receive a vaccination for free and will risk deportation. Many fear that if they are vaccinated the healthcare system will notify immigration authorities and trig ger the public charge rule, meaning they have become or are likely to become dependent on the federal government for subsistence.

Based on data and available informa tion, getting vaccinated does not trig ger a public charge and, in fact, may be necessary to apply for documentation in the United States.

“Public charge in simple words is when an immigrant becomes, or is likely to become, primarily dependent on the fed eral government for subsistence. The benefits that usually trigger that determi nation is the public cash assistance, Sup plemental Security Income (SSI), or long term institutional care,” explained Sonia Mansoor, senior manager of public bene fits at Sanctuary for Families (SFF).

Marc Valinoti, coordinating immigration attorney of the Northern Manhattan Im provement Corporation (NMIC) explained that “if you are bringing someone into the country like a relative or spouse and legaliz ing them here, you would have to show that

as the person who is here with status, you have the income and resources that at least for a several year period, the person you are bringing in would not become reliant on government resources. That they would not become a public charge.”

However, public charge does not apply to all immigrants. Congress has created certain exemptions to the public charge ground of inadmissibility including refugees, asylees, some nonimmigrant visa applicants in cluding victims of domestic violence and/ or human trafficking, and self-petition ers under the Violence Against Women Act (gender-based violence survivors).

“Public charge is a concept that is very old,” explained Valinoti. According to the USCIS website, public charge has been a part of U.S. immigration law for more than 100 years. However, a lot of the fear about triggering public charge came under the Trump administration, according to Man soor. “This is why politics are important when it comes to health care, because every time there is a Draconian law like the 2019 Public Charge Rule, it sends chilling effects within the immigrant community and it takes a lot of time and effort to undo those chilling effects.” Dr. Goleen Samari, assistant professor of public health at Co lumbia University, explained that the dras tic shift between the 2019 rule and the “current rule has caused lots of damage in trust for undocumented individuals, as well as understanding what version of the rule is currently instituted.”

Under the 2019 Public Charge Rule that was instituted under Trump, in addition to cash-based benefits such as SSI and in

The USCIS released informa tion about public charge and COVID-19, clearly stating that receiving a COVID-19 vaccination does not impact an individu al’s immigration status. The agency actually encourages vaccination, regardless of im migration status. “You can continue to re ceive the care you and your family need to protect your health and limit the spread of COVID-19. We do not consider vaccinations when making public charge inadmissibility determinations. In fact, we encourage ev eryone, regardless of immigration status, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.”

Michelle Molina, deputy director at El Centro Del Inmigrante, spoke to the AmNews and provided insight on how the organization’s clients, who are undocu mented, perceive the public charge issue. Molina explained that her clients’ willing ness to get the COVID-19 vaccine was im pacted by public charge because it was still a concern. “Clients were impacted to the point that they refused to access certain ser vices because of the fear,” she said.

Molina further explained that because El Centro initiatives aided in creating a sense of trust through word of mouth, the effect that the organization and its work had within the undocumented community was felt through the number of undocumented people that went to the vaccination clinic that El Centro hosted. Since vaccines became available in late 2020, the organization has vaccinated over 5,000 people at their on site clinic.

To explore the threats of deportation for seeking health services the AmNews spoke with Pooja Asnani, director of immigration project for Sanctuary for Families, a non profit service provider, who explained a prin

ciple of law, known as reliance, and its impact on public charge. “Reliance dictates that if you were given information by a reliable source, and you relied on that, you cannot be then penalized at a later point.”

Given existing barriers and misinfor mation, it is understandable that vaccine hesitancy exists, but the COVID-19 vac cine is essential to staying healthy. The COVID-19 vaccine protects your health by creating an antibody response without you having to potentially experience the severe illness or post-COVID conditions.

Valinoti explained that people in the ser vice industry, an industry disproportionate ly made up by undocumented immigrants, were being laid off when businesses were forced to close during the pandemic. As soon as businesses started to reopen, vaccines were required to return to work, but be cause of existing fears and hesitancy, many undocumented individuals feared getting the vaccine. The inability to return to work made many undocumented immigrants food insecure and financially unstable.

In addition to the health benefits, the COVID-19 vaccine is required to apply for a green card or permanent residency. “The last step of the process is always to have a doctor do a physical exam which includes vaccina tion history, which includes the COVID-19 vaccine. This is then submitted as a sealed document to USCIS,” Valinoti explained.

To promote trust-building and combating fear, the NYC Health Department has mul tiple resources in place to facilitate vaccina tions among undocumented immigrants.

Dr. Olusimbo Ige, assistant commissioner in the Center for Health Equity and Commu nity Wellness at the New York City Depart ment of Health, explained that none of the NYC sites are allowed to ask for immigration status. Also, to further secure privacy and in formation, medical providers are prohibited from sharing any personal identifying-infor mation about an individual who gets vacci nated. While aggregate data on the number of vaccinations is shared, personal informa tion about people receiving the vaccine is not.

The New York City Department of Health provides accessible transportation to and from vaccination sites for people with disabilities and those who are 65+ years of age. There is also an at-home vac cination option, which can be arranged by calling 877-829-4692. Lastly, to answer any questions and concerns about the vaccine, the DOH has a hotline (212-2684319) available in several languages.

COVID-19 testing and vaccination re sources can also be accessed on the AmNews COVID-19 page: www.amsterd amnews.com/covid/

A sign at the entrance to a FEMA COVID-19 vaccination site at Valencia College advises that federal authorities will not detain undocumented people at the site (Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via AP)

Arts

Pharoah Sanders, spirited tenor saxophonist, dies at 81

By RON SCOTT Special to the AmNews

Pharoah Sanders, the tenor saxophonist who progressed the spiritual jazzness of John Coltrane and influenced a string of aspiring saxophonists along the way, died on Sep tember 24. He was 81.

Sanders’ record label, Luaka Bop, shared the news on social media. “We are devastated to share that Pharoah Sanders has passed away. He died peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends in Los Angeles earlier this morning.” The cause of death was not shared.

Of the many times I was fortunate enough to see Sanders perform, the most memorable will always be that night in 1966, in the east Bronx at the Mon terey Bar, a small neighbor hood spot on Bronxwood Avenue.

My friend and I couldn’t believe it: what was he doing playing at this little joint on a summer’s night? Maybe it was another Phar oah, maybe he wouldn’t show but no, there he was standing near the bar. We quickly paid our five dol lars and took a table two feet from the tiny stage.

The joint was empty but then again, it was basically a bar that presented local talent on the weekends, R&B funk groups or reggae bands. For the entire eve ning not more than ten people were in the audi ence. For us it was a dream come true sitting two feet from “Pharoah” as his tenor hawked, screamed, hollered, he extended the boundaries of normal tenor notes going up and beyond, that was some powerful soul.

As the years scurried on and my jazz palate ad vanced, no one can ever tell me on that summer’s

night, Pharoah played the best show ever. I mean we could hear him breath ing through his horn and see steam appear, we were that close. No, that was more than a performance, it was a galactical mes merizing experience, it was a blessing.

My unforgettable experi ence took place during the period Sanders was record ing with John Coltrane from 1965’s ”Ascension!” to 1967’s ”Expression.” Fol lowing Coltrane’s death in 1967, Sanders brief ly performed with his widow Alice Coltrane (in cluding her classic album “Journey in Satchidanan da” and “The El Daoud”) before moving on to create his own path. He released his now renowned master piece “Karma” in 1969, on the Impulse! label, which was home to Coltrane’s groundbreaking releases. The album featured one of his most famous composi tions (that even today fans can name after two notes), “The Creator Has a Master Plan.” Even today its lyrics are extremely relevant: “The creator has a work ing plan/Peace and happi ness for every man,” sings vocalist Leon Thomas, just before he begins yodeling. His other albums on Im pulse! are “Black Unity,” an album of roaring improvi sation, and “Thembi.”

“Many great things must come to an end and I spent the first few days on my first tour with Pharaoh dreading the day my days of playing with him would come to an end. One night in Hamburg, Germany we played a show that was so amazing I forgot about the audience—the energy went beyond the venue,” said drummer and com poser Will Calhoun. “Pha raoh was smiling after that show and gave me a very noticeable nod of affir

mation. I went to bed that night thinking it’s best I cel ebrate every moment with Pharaoh rather than waste time thinking about the last time we’ll play together.”

During the 1970s and ’80s Sanders contin ued his steady output of music, both as a leader and sideman for fellow jazz musicians like McCoy Tyner, Sonny Sharrock, Idris Muhammad, Kenny Garrett, Ornette Cole man and Will Calhoun.

The NEA Jazz Master won a Grammy Award in 1989 for best jazz instrumental performance for the col laborative album “Blues for Coltrane: A Tribute to John Coltrane.”

Last year, Impulse! re leased the definitive jazz invocation recording “A Love Supreme: Live in Seat tle,” recorded a few months after “Ascension.” It fea tures Sanders as a crucial addition to Coltrane’s quar tet, expanding on his mu sical statement. (“Live in Seattle,” a separate album recorded during the same engagement). Albert Ay ler’s famous formulation went like this: “Trane was the Father, Pharoah was the Son, I am the Holy Ghost.”

Sanders was an organic musician. We can call him an avant garde warrior or a spiritual source, or a performer of the African diaspora. He played all of that but his music, like Coltrane’s, flowed from a spiritual force, a Black experience that reflects the Black church, cotton fields plantations, the call and response, the shou tin’ moanin’ wailin’ from the ancestors, who Randy Weston always referenced with pride.

The saxophonist did become a spiritual elder which was reflected in his music and way of life. His natural force of expressive ness surely influenced a

younger generation of mu sicians like Kamasi Wash ington and Nubya Garcia, who are transforming his music into yet another con text of the diaspora.

In 2021, he returned to the studio to record what would be his final album, “Promises” (Luaka Bop label), in collaboration with the electronic musi cian Sam Shepherd, who records as Floating Points, and the London Sympho ny Orchestra, that was in stantly hailed as one of the year’s best.

Pharoah was born Ferrell Sanders on Oct. 13, 1940, in Little Rock, Ark. His love of music was inspired by his grandfather, who led the church choir. After high school, he switched from the clarinet to the alto sax ophone, before finally deciding on the tenor sax ophone. Sanders moved to the West Coast around 1959, attending Oakland Junior College, where he often sat in with saxo phonists like Sonny Sim mons and Dewey Redman. While there, Sanders first met and befriended John Coltrane, though they wouldn’t work together until many years later.

In 1962, Sanders relocat ed to New York, looking to join the city’s fertile jazz scene, where Coltrane was a reigning figure. Sanders’ landing in New York was rocky, however, resulting in intermittent homeless ness as he practiced, spo radically, with Sun Ra and his Arkestra. (Sun Ra, it’s said, was the one who en couraged him to take the name Pharoah). In 1965, he joined Coltrane’s band. “I couldn’t figure out why he wanted me to play with him, because I didn’t feel like, at the time, that I was ready to play with John Coltrane,” Sanders said. “He always told me, ‘Play.’ That’s what I did.”

Pharoah

Reopening of Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall

kicks off with ‘San Juan Hill: A New York Story’

By NADINE MATTHEWS

Special to the AmNews

On Oct. 8, the new David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center will open with the premiere of “San Juan Hill: A New York Story.” A mix of music and strong visuals come together to tell the story of the dynamic neighborhood of old where Lincoln Center now sits. Lead ing up to the premiere is a series of programs at the David Rubenstein Atrium that dig deep into the soul of San Juan Hill, a melting pot of In digenous, Caribbean, and Europe an denizens out of which grew a rich cultural music legacy that includes such greats as Thelonious Monk and Benny Carter that has until now, been hidden. See below for the program ming schedule and details.

San Juan Hill Day; Connecting at the Seams

Thu, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

David Rubenstein Atrium

FREE

Once home to the largest Black community in New York City and later a significant Puerto Rican popu lation, San Juan Hill was demolished between the 1940s and 1950s as part of the “urban renewal” plan that cre ated the Lincoln Center campus and other major developments. While many families were displaced to other neighborhoods in New York City and beyond, a sizable number of residents moved to the nearby Amsterdam Houses. This multi-part celebration of the inheritors of San Juan Hill’s history brings Amsterdam Houses’ elder residents to the Atrium to publicly build creative oral histo ries in collaboration with Sydnie L. Mosley Dances. Following an after noon brainstorming session, SLM Dances will perform these new works with emcee support from Lincoln Center’s inaugural poet-in-residence, Mahogany L. Browne.

(Presented in collaboration with

Sydnie L. Mosley Dances)

DJ Logic

Fri, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

David Rubenstein Atrium

FREE

Bronx-born champion of the city’s musical memory, DJ Logic is a specialist in connecting the threads between NYC’s rock, jazz and rap traditions. He is currently collabo rating with the trumpeter and com poser Etienne Charles on a Lincoln Center-commissioned work in spired by the San Juan Hill story that will reopen the David Geffen Hall when it is premiered in October in collaboration with the New York Philhar monic. At this celebratory dance party,

DJ Logic will continue tying art to location for a nonstop hip hop jam with selected music from New York artists only. Come out and dance to hits and deep cuts from emcees and DJs representing all five boroughs to the fullest!

Is This Land Our Land?

Sat, Oct. 1 at Weeksville Heritage Center & Mon, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. David Rubenstein Atrium

FREE

The Unanswered Questions is a conversation series presented in collaboration with the New York Philharmonic and John Jay Col lege of Criminal Justice exploring complex social topics raised by the Orchestra’s programming. The series’ season begins with Is This Land Our Land? —a discussion on the history of the San Juan Hill

and Weeksville neighborhoods, NYC communities of color that thrived with culture and tradition but were systematically disman tled, leaving behind a heritage of displacement and erasure that echoes to the present day. Weeks ville Heritage Center’s President Dr. Raymond Codrington mod erates a conversation with SUNY Binghamton professor and schol ar Dr. Jennifer Lynn Stoever, and Etienne Charles—the perform er and composer whose Lincoln Center-commissioned work in spired by the San Juan Hill story will reopen David Geffen Hall when it is premiered in October in collaboration with the New York Philharmonic.

Visit www.lincolncenter.org/ venue/david-geffen-hall/san-juanhill-773 for more info.

The reimagination of David Geffen Hall will welcome all who visit with generosity, warmth and fun. Vivid colors, patterns and textures that mirror the spirit and vibrancy of performance will enrich its public spaces. (Images courtesy of Lincoln Center)

Tyler Perry’s ‘A Jazzman’s Blues’ has heart and soul

and Bayou and Leanne revive their forbidden romance. Willie returns home with his talent manager, but all is not well. As tensions be tween the brothers grow and the manager dis covers Bayou’s beautiful singing voice, Leanne’s mother finds out about the clandestine ro mance. Bayou escapes with Willie and his man ager to Chicago, saved from being lynched by the sheriff and his racist mob. In a reversal of fortunes, Bayou’s singing voice is discovered, and he becomes the star attraction at a swanky jazz and blues club in Chicago, while Willie is left in the shadows. When Bayou decides to go back home to see his mother and hopes to see Leanne again, a secret is exposed, putting Bay ou’s life in danger and ultimately killing him.

By SUNIL SADARANGANI Special to the AmNews

Set in the late 1930s into the 1940s, the story of “A Jazzman’s Blues” unfolds through a series of letters exchanged between two lovers, Bayou (Joshua Boon) and Leanne (Solea Pfei ffer), doomed from the moment they meet in a small town in the deep South. Bayou and his family are gifted blues singers and jazz musi cians but live in poverty, with Bayou’s mother, Hattie Mae (Amirah Vann), running a clotheswashing business. When Bayou’s father Buster (E. Roger Mitchell) and brother Willie (Austin

Scott)—who both ridicule a more talent ed Bayou—suddenly leave for Chicago to try their luck in the blues club circuit, the road gets bumpy. Add to the boiling pot, Leanne’s mother finds out about her and Bayou and whisks Leanne away to a better life. Leanne is born light-skinned, and her mother has plans for her. Bayou enlists to join the war, and though he and Leanne keep writing let ters to each other, they never receive them because Leanne’s mother intervenes. Postwar, when Bayou returns home, he discovers Leanne has married the sheriff’s brother—who is to be mayor of the town. Passions re-ignite,

For Tyler Perry, “A Jazzman’s Blues” is a per sonal and all-heart creation. Speaking to the audience at the special screening of the film at the Netflix Tudum Theater in Hollywood last weekend, Perry said: “Twenty-seven years ago, I snuck in to see the August Wilson play, ‘Two Trains Running,’ mid-way, because I couldn’t afford to go to the theater. Completely blown away by the second half because I didn’t see the first half, I met Wilson after the play, who en couraged me to write what I felt from my heart, as I was unsure about my writing ability. So as I sat down (in a public space) and began to write, I heard someone say, ‘my name is Bayou’—and that’s where ‘A Jazzman’s Blues’ was born.”

You can sense Tyler Perry’s heart and pas sion written throughout the film. As a direc

tor, Perry extracts bravura performances from the cast, especially Joshua Boon and Amirah Vann. Special mention to Milauna Jackson, who plays Sissy, Bayou’s childhood friend. With lush visuals, Perry transports you back to ’40s America, where racism was the fabric of soci ety and molded and shaped African American lives. Amplifying the ’40s era of jazz and blues music and dance, Perry gives the film its soul and is the most substantial aspect of the movie. A New Orleans native, Perry is deeply rooted in Black Southern culture, and he creates a vivid palette of love, yearning, ecstasy, and pain— all tied to music. The soundtrack vibrates and includes performances of jazz standards like “Rocks in My Bed,” “Pallet on the Floor,” and “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” These old favorites are synced with a new song from Terence Blanchard, “Paper Airplanes,” which is sung as a jazz ballad by Bayou in the film, and then at the end, during the credits, as a deep soul-stirring tune sung by the brilliant Toronto-based singer Ruth B. Both are intri cately and cleverly mixed by Blanchard, who also arranges the jazz standards in the film.

Although the narrative has a few impedi ments and is a tad long at 127 minutes, this is a Tyler Perry film long-in-the-making, a young man’s first ever story he wrote. This young man’s spirit came alive again as he mingled and connected with every guest, from his heart, at the pre-screening reception of his film—finally made for the screen 27 years later.

Scene from “A Jazzman’s Blues” (Netflix photo)

HOROSCOPES

BY KNOWYOURNUMB3RS

By GODDESS KYA

September 29, 2022 — October 5, 2022

Rebirth of A New Nation: Mercury stations direct on Oct. 2 at 24-degree Virgo. Mercury retrograde is a time to learn, investigate, study, teach, participate in meditation, take a course, reevaluate your agenda, revise to recreate a new program, products, etc. Opportunities present themselves to you, and those who applied for a job, and pitch their agenda, will receive feedback or another suitable professional opening. In October humanity is entering the unknown: think of it as the unknown similar to you moving to a different state, country, community, or city that’s unfamiliar to you and you are a new student. Faith and competence in what you know are required. Revelation in October through dreams, natural earth cycles, divine encounters with people, sudden departures; something magical is in the air. The soul meets its physical counterpart through streams of channeling, be it telepathically, mediumship, or clairaudience; some may speak to you or catch you off guard. A beautiful moment to witness what’s occurring right before your very eyes. What is meant for you to hear and see is meant for you to hear and see. “You can’t have a physical transformation until you have a spiritual transformation.” Cory Booker

A doozy kind of week when you put in the work to make it happen all month. Keep steady progress this month even through the rough pain, scuffles, chal lenges, or obstacles, and continue with your plan. Rewards show up when you do. You are building a legacy. You made a decision last October; this September is your progress’s results and rewards. October may seem like a monkey wrench thrown in, but your plan is another assignment to receive rewards and results upon finishing. Your journey is proof of building blocks to a higher level. Octo ber 2-3, you see the value in what you have accomplished thus far.

Capricorn

You learned a valuable lesson and achieved many things to evolve yourself. What is your perspective, what did you gain to create a new service or product, and most importantly, how did it affect you? Did it turn a light switch on in your brain? The self-talk that includes the five Ws of what, where, when, why, and who is pulling you in a direction to see the hidden gems and clues. These are the unanticipated messages that give you meaning to the five Ws. Listen care fully and see it with your own eyes. October 4-5 includes travel obligations, quick errands, infor mation channeling in from all directions, making a decision, and listening to your inner guide to hear the messages for you or be the messenger to somebody.

New seeds are planted in the garden of your brain. New concepts and ideas are flourishing in your mind. Grab your pen, paper and pocket notebook to write it down. What are the resources needed to develop your vision? Start with what you have in your possession and do your research. During this weekly cycle, the people in your environment will play an important role in gaining insight into your endeavors.

An epiphany about something, someone, a circumstance, and a change within your perspective. The people in the background behind the scenes are working and planning on your behalf. This weekly cycle is the end, completion, and be ginning of something occurring in your life. You know what you need to improve yourself to produce results. Roll up your sleeves to get involved investing your time, energy, and sweat in the game. September 30-October 1 you are over the hump, now what’s your ambition, agenda, or elevation. Start the next phase of the blueprint.

A plan is written down and put in place. Prepare to do the legwork to make the necessary connection as part of the blueprint. Your foundation is key. It’s the origin of your WHY and passion that has wheels to drive to arrive at your desti nation. After the commitment, consistency is key for your flowers to blossom. Plan ahead, be prepared, and remember if you stay ready you don’t have to get ready when the unanticipated occurs. October 2-3 suddenly, the light switches on in your brain. Listen carefully and pay attention.

Everything is working in divine order. Wait, take a deeper look at or into something to make sure you understand what you read or agreed to. Ask when you don’t know and don’t assume anything, instead find out and follow your intuition. Check in with your emotions, clear your thoughts, and take a deep breath and release. Remember it’s all a process and through the experience is how you advance adding value to yourself. October 4-6 de cision, change, and navigating through learning new skills for self-development is a bonus. October is enjoyable. Stay on duty.

Cancer

An emotional breakthrough happens as you release and are excited about your accomplishments. You are off to a new start and a physical, mental, emotional, financial, spiritual, upgraded version of self. During this upgrade, shedding is part of the transformation which allows things to occur organi cally without any force or manipulation. The power of your mind is the drive you need to implement, strategies from the past 8 years to manifest your re ality. Take it to a higher level and rise tune into the vibration of that frequen cy. September 29 and October 6, you will know it’s right when it feels right.

When the traffic jam clears it’s a go and during the traffic jam there is always another route to take with awareness. Understand the principle of the assignment this year and the wholeness you received from them once completed. As you proceed with this weekly cycle, reflect on what you learn and the experiences you encounter on your journey. September 30-Octo ber 1: to reach peace, joy, and happiness is the willpower to fight, be prac tical, educated, consistent, and disengage the mindless distraction. Through perseverance, you gain incentives, compensation, rewards, etc. Keep pushing.

There are patterns, sequences, sections, boundaries, and restrictions when you are navigating through life. From a bird’s eye view, you receive a differ ent perspective on life to put things into practical use. You see everything is a puzzle within this vortex. A pull here, a tug here, and a bit of deja vu is happening. There is a major theme, plot, setting, and characters of the story playing out and you are the narrator taking steps into the unknown. Octo ber 2-3 things may seem awkward only to discover something new to explore. Divine inter vention at its finest like finding hidden gems, gold, etc.

The wind blows differently in the Libra season and rubs against your neck briskly. Think of ancient items, old-fashioned cars, jewelry, houses, and buildings: they are built differently down to the material, layout, and design. The original can’t be copied, only duplicated. You have that same originality within you to develop and design in your artistic way. October 4-5 roll up your sleeves and take a stand, October is preparation granny and big momma style. Back to the roots, drawing board with updates.

Health, structure, organizing, planning, and tidying up the home is on the to-do list. Although rest is an excellent source to reboot and regenerate the mind, body, and soul to regain focus, exercising helps fight out infections and boost your energy level. Create a workout schedule, something fun, ask a partner to join you, or put on a 5-minute workout video on TV. A revelation, dream of some kind is making you aware of something forthcoming. September 27 & October 6, what is your specialty? Get ready for the download and transformation this year.

October sets the tone for adventure in new directions and connecting from all walks of life. Meeting noble leaders, prominent people, and gurus and most importantly investing in your self-development shaping your skillset. Creating life-changing relationships through the information you share, be it in a book, a course, a meeting, or having a discussion, etc. Your words are effective. Utilize what you have in your possession to create another meal, book, product, etc. September 30 & October 1 brand new is brand new; it hasn’t even hit the market yet due to the private buyers who want first dibs.

Vinateria

CLUW

The Only National Organization for Union Women, Is honored to be recognized by 8th NY Amsterdam News Labor Breakfast 2022

Congratulations to our President Elise A. Bryant CWA

And our Treasurer Judy Beard APWU

The Women Leaders of Color from our National Officers Council Carolyn Burton, TWU; Adriana De La Cruz, IATSE; Tarn Goelling, IBEW; Jennifer L. Grigsby, AFGE; Crystal Herrera, IBEW; Angela W. Johnson, UFCW; Shyla La ‘Sha, SAG-AFTRA; Ashley Lewis, UAW; Karen Bellamy Lewis, IFPTE; Audrey Medley, UMWA; Silvia J. Ramos, CWA; Rachel Walthall, AFWU; Angel Savoy ATU; Shelvy Young Abrams, AFT; Lisa C. Blake, OPEIU

Most important meal of the day: Amsterdam News

Labor Breakfast honorees offer food for thought

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

The 8th New York Amsterdam News Labor Awards Breakfast will go down this Thursday, Sept. 29 at the 1199SEIU Funds Headquarters in midtown Manhattan. This year’s event is cel ebrating unionized women of color and honors members of Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) and its National Officer Council Women Leaders of Color.

“Coalition of Labor Union Women was founded in 1974,” said pres ident Elise Bryant. “And that first conference in Chicago, they had over 3000 people, women from all over the country, and all different unions and jobs. And we continue to this day, doing the work of giving them the training and skills and support they need to take on lead ership roles in their union.”

Bryant, one of the honorees, men tions large wage disparities between white men and women of color. But the gap closes significantly for those in unions. Additionally, she high lights the role they play in bargain ing for maternity leave, childcare and reproductive rights. Accord ing to Bryant, CLUW chapters were formed throughout the country as a response to the Dobbs decision and the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

For fellow honoree, CLUW Ex ecutive Director Virginia Rodino, Thursday’s breakfast highlights the importance of unions in human progress.

“Women hold an important place in helping to drive that change,” she said. “CLUW has done anti-rac ist work in the past—the work that we’ve done leading up to this break fast has allowed [us] to showcase the work that we’ve done in build ing up social movements that fight for racial justice.”

Rodino also maintains the im portance of solidarity beyond just the workplace. She recalls the most successful strikes in CLUW’s history included workers in the communi ty beyond the particular factory and often involved support on an inter national level.

Thursday’s breakfast will fea ture Southern-style catering from Norma Jean Darden’s Spoonbread Inc. So what are the honorees excit ed to eat?

“Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so I’m not discriminatory,” said Rodino. “I am vegetarian. But

beyond that, I love breakfast. So [I’m] happy to gamble.”

Bryant is also vegetarian, and firmly distinguishes herself from vegans.

“If there’s cheese, bread, eggs… anything without a face, I’m eating,” she said.

Tandy Lau is a Report for Ameri ca 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 con sider making a tax-deductible gift

today by visiting: https://tinyurl. com/fcszwj8w

The Labor Breakfast through the years (Bill Moore photos)

www.1199SEIU.org

WE FIGHT FOR QUALITY HEALTHCARE AND GOOD JOBS FOR ALL

MEMBERS,

ARE

HEALTHCARE UNION IN THE NATION

Proud to be a Co-Chair of the 8th NY Amsterdam News Labor Awards Breakfast September 29, 2022 At our headquarters in NYC

“Unionized Women of Color Built That! Recognizing Union’s Critical Role in the Advancement of Women, Especially Women of Color”

We are honored to congratulate the leadership of The Coalition of Labor Union Women CLUW

CLUW President Elise Bryant of CWA & CLUW Treasurer Judy Beard of APWU &

The Women Leaders of Color of CLUW’s National Officers Council:

Lisa C. Blake, OPEIU , Carolyn Burton, TWU, Adriana De La Cruz, IATSE, Tarn Goelling, IBEW, Jennifer L. Grigsby, AFGE, Crystal Herrera, IBEW, Angela W. Johnson, UFCW, Shyla La ‘Sha, SAG-AFTRA, Ashley Lewis, UAW, Karen Bellamy Lewis, IFPTE, Audrey Medley, UMWA, Silvia J. Ramos, CWA, Rachel Walthall, AFWU, Angel Savoy ATU, Shelvy Young Abrams, AFT

Anti-violence activist Erica Ford to speak at Labor Awards breakfast

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

The New York Amsterdam News’ 8th annual Labor Awards Breakfast is set to kick off Thursday, Sept. 29, with renowned human rights ac tivist and anti-violence leader Erica Ford honoring women lead ers of color and speak ing on the state of gun violence in the city.

Ford found ed LIFE Camp Inc., a violence interrupt er and youth non-profit or ganization, in 2002. The organi zation works to give young adults intensive case management, men torship, access to education, and employment opportunities. They also have the famed Peace Mobile, which is a giant bus with trickedout amenities to reduce violence in impacted areas and that provides unconventional therapeutic ser vices to community members ex periencing cumulative stress from gun violence.

“Real recognize real and real people is who we bring with us,” said Ford in a radio interview with Angie Martinez. Ford was one of the originators of the city’s Crisis Management System (CMS), which is community-based solu tions to public safety. Ford in the interview said that the concept for redirection and crisis manage ment came from a group that met in her living room with a young Tupac Shakur in the early ’90s. Ford said that meeting built the “Thug Life” code.

She helped grow the first five pilot CMS sites funded by the mayor’s office. The program has since evolved to 34 locations throughout the boroughs and 17 police precincts. She has received countless awards over her 30+ years of service to ending gun vi olence in the South East Queens and New York City.

“That’s why it’s important what we do at Life Camp and all the other members of the crisis man agement systems, to go before 911 is called. And to be there to inter

vene and intercede with violence incidents,” said Ford.

Ford will be introducing Elinor Tatum, the publisher at the New York Amsterdam News. Tatum and the editorial team here created the Beyond the Barrel of the Gun proj ect earlier this year as a method of addressing gun violence in Black & brown communities through journalistic so lutions. The project pools information and coverage on mass shoot ings as well as daily inci dents of gun violence, but more impor tantly, follows up on impacted com munities like East New York, Harlem, or the South Bronx.

“Violence is erupting in our communities. Our children are dying. We see it every day, we live it every day. And we at the Amster dam News do our best to cover it every week, but we know we must do more,” said Tatum.

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 sto ries like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting: https://ti nyurl.com/fcszwj8w

Anti-violence activist Erica Ford (Contributed photo)

Erica Ford at City Hall Peace Week rally 2020 (Nayaba Arinde photos)

Erica Ford, AT Mitchell and Eric Adams at City Hall Peace Week rally 2020 (Nayaba Arinde photos)

32BJ Is Your Union

With more than 175,000 members

We are the largest union of property service workers in the U.S.

Making the world a better place by being an organized voice for all working people — Black, brown, white – in pursuit of a more just society for present and future generations.

Honored to support

The 8th NY Amsterdam News Labor Breakfast 2022 Recognizing Union’s Critical Role in the Advancement of Women, Especially Women of Color &

Honoring the Coalition of Labor Union Women CLUW and its Women Leaders of Color

Amsterdam News (1962-1993); Feb 8, 1969;

Amsterdam News (1962-1993); Feb 8, 1969;

Historical Newspapers: New

Historical Newspapers: New

Trends

iBrain’s All Glam NYFW Show

By RENEE MINUS WHITE Fashion & Beauty Editor

Kicking off New York Fashion Week (NYFW), iBrain presented their first annual I CAN Do Anything fundraising fashion show at NYC’s Gotham Hall for students with brain injuries. The show highlighted uniquely designed clothing and costumes by Charles Henry Joseph. When you see these beautiful young models with individual assistants coming down the runway posing, smiling, and dancing to Katy Perry’s “Firebird,” it gives you hope! Proceeds from the event will go to support research for special educa tion and related services for students with brain injury and brain disorders.

The show was extraordinary. I really didn't know what to expect, but it was one of the most moving fashion shows to date. The children were so happy to be on the runway while the audience called out their names as they each

received applause. Master Burgess pushed Jonna Burgess, his sister, down the runway in her wheelchair, with their father and grandmother looking on from the audience. It was a beauti ful family moment.

“Our children are uniquely different and gifts to all of us,” said Linda Cohen, whose son Marco participated in the show. “At iBrain,” she continued, “our kids are not only educated, but they are also celebrated, and that was clear ly evident at the show for all the world to see. I could not be prouder of Marco and the entire iBRAIN organization.”

Back in 2007, Patrick Donahue, found er and chairman of iBrain, was inspired to establish the Sarah Jane Brain Foun dation, named after his daughter who was also in the show. Donohue created a non-profit law firm, Brain Injury Rights Group, to provide national civil rights advocacy for the brain injury commu nity. “Tonight’s show was a spectacular

Celebrating Coltrane

one. Creative fashion, edu cated compassion, and cre ativity of our students came together for a priceless eve ning. This event was more than entertainment; it was essential in allowing us to continue our passionate, de tailed, and specialized work in brain injury research and student support,” he shared.

iBRAIN is one of the largest brain injury special educa tion programs in the United States. Located on the Upper East Side and in Brook lyn, it aims to ensure chil dren with disabilities have a free appropriate education (FAPE). They serve children from ages 3-21 years of age. Based on a child’s individu al needs, tailored programs are provided.

New York State Sen. Cordell Cleare recently partnered with Jazzmobile’s Robin Bell-Stevens and the New Amsterdam Mu sical Association for the first annual John Coltrane Festival in Marcus Garvey Park. More than 10 acts performed at the well at tended inaugural festival.

Photo from iBRAIN’s I CAN Do Anything show (Renee Minus White/A Time To Style photo)

Bill Saxton, T.K. Blue (Bill Moore photos)

Sweet Lee Odem

Omar Edward

Sista Zock Modeste

Robin Bell-Stevens with Sen. Cordell Cleare

AmNews Food

Slutty Vegan offers more than just a ‘One Night Stand’ in BK

By BRENIKA BANKS Special to the AmNews

Brooklyn has officially been “Sluttified,” a term that means one has experienced at least one burger from Slutty Vegan, the Black-owned vegan burger chain founded in Atlanta, Geor gia. The provocatively named establishment had its grand opening in Brooklyn, N.Y. earli er this month. The Atlanta business, now worth $100 million, is owned by Pinky Cole who start ed this vegan fast-food spot on Aug. 6, 2018.

“One Night Stand” is the name of a popular burger served by the restaurant, which uses fresh Beyond Beef and Impossible Beef patties.

“My wildest dreams have come true,” Cole said, holding back tears as the crowd cheered her on. Cole, 34, is a Maryland-born, Jamaican descendant who loves food. She was inspired to create Slutty Vegan based on her own vegan junk food cravings. Her plant-based burger business started from food trucks before she was able to open her first physical restaurant in January 2019. Cole once had a restaurant in NYC called Pinky’s Jamaican and Ameri can restaurant. The business was successful with, “lines down the block” Cole once said. She lost this food place to a grease fire in 2015.

“I lost everything,” Cole said about her first official food business. “Although it hurt to get

stung by the bee, that was time for me, for the uni verse, to provide me with a barrel of prosperity,” she said at the Brook lyn location.

Slutty Vegan Brooklyn’s grand opening in Fort Greene helps provide healthi er options in the neighborhood.

The spot was previously occupied by The Broccoli Bar, another vegan food establish ment. This new Brooklyn location is Cole’s seventh restaurant, with five in Georgia and one in Birmingham, Alabama which opened in early September 2022.

According to www1.nyc.gov and nycfuture. org, the Black community currently makes up 22% of New York City's population, yet only 3.5% of NYC businesses are owned by Black en trepreneurs. Cole is contributing to the growth of Black-owned vegan options in communities.

During the recent ribbon-cutting, Council woman Farah Louis was present on behalf of the mayor’s office to proclaim Sept. 18, 2022 as “Slutty Vegan Brooklyn Day in the city of New York.” During Cole’s speech, she ex pressed the full circle moment she was having with the opening of this Brooklyn location.

Cole spoke to the large crowd of support ers and onlookers about her gratitude for all ethnicities supporting her establish ment. Cole dedicated the Brooklyn location to her employees, who she credited as the ones who helped take her business to the next level during the past two years.

Long-Island native Nyola Marsh, 26, is ap preciative of Slutty Vegan because it shows the positive representation of a Black woman in business. “We need more representation of

the Black woman and not even just entrepre neurship or restaurant business, but just out here in business regardless,” Marsh said.

Marsh described the eye-catching on the corner of Fulton Street and S. Portland Avenue as a perfect representation of Black culture in Brooklyn. As a non-vegan eater, Marsh is willing to expand her taste palate with healthier food choices as she has cut back on eating meat.

Black communities continue to struggle from environmental racism, including un healthy food options. These unhealthy food options led many Black Americans to deal with health issues such as hypertension, cho lesterol, and obesity. As of March 2022, heart. org reported that about 55% Black Ameri cans have hypertension. As of February 2022, verywellheath.com reported that 44.8% of Black men and 42.1% of Black women have high or borderline high cholesterol levels. And, CDC reported non-Hispanic Black adults have the highest rate of obesity at 49.9%. Slutty Vegan is now added to the list of Black-owned vegan restaurants in the city, including Seasoned Vegan and Greedi Kitchen, according to onegreenplanet.org.

“I’m about to get Sluttified,” food photogra pher Andrew Scrivani said before experienc ing his first taste of a Slutty Vegan burger. “It’s delicious, it’s fresh and light,” Scrivani said about their One Night Stand burger. The food photographer, who shoots for The New York Times, foresees the business doing well and points out how hard-working and accom modating the staff were despite being very busy. “That staff in there is energetic and wonderful,” he said. “Between the people and the food, you can’t lose.”

It was his first-time taking photos of Slutty Vegan and meeting Cole today. “She’s an in spiration, I feel inspired today. I’ve been around food my entire career, and this is one of the more exciting things I’ve done in terms of covering an opening/community event.” Scrivani strongly believes celebrating

Black excellence should be embraced more in Brooklyn. “This kind of achievement is a modeling behavior, modeling for everybody else around possibilities and hope.” This type of possibility provides Cole with the chance to not only expand her business, but to create more Black-owned vegan businesses in NYC.

Actress and singer Naturi Naughton was pres ent to support Cole. The actress was involved with a social media marketing advertisement for Slutty Vegan’s Brooklyn arrival. Hip hop pi oneer Doug E. Fresh came later in the evening and performed for the crowd and customers who waited in line for up to five hours to get their hands on one of the popular burgers. Ac cording to the restaurant’s Instagram page, they sold out their food around 7 p.m.

Slutty Vegan employees exhibited high energy and were very attentive as well as entertaining for the duration of the Brook lyn opening day. There were countless mo ments of her crew dancing and having a fun time while working. Cole’s team of 30 plus staff included her Slutty Vegan restaurant staff she brought with her from Atlanta.

“Now we’re back, bigger and better and we’re here to take over,” said Nakita Simon, an Atlanta native and Slutty Vegan employ ee. “We here, we lit, we live and we’re going to do it the slutty way,” Simon said with her energetic and fun vibes present in the 80degree sunny weather. Most of Cole’s team wore “Spread love, it’s the SLUTTY way!” shirts to pay homage to legendary Brook lyn rapper the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way” mantra.

We can expect the next Slutty Vegan loca tion in St. Louis, Missouri by the end of Sep tember according to their official Instagram page. A second New York City Slutty Vegan location will open in Harlem sometime this fall according to one of her Slutty Vegan staff members at the Brooklyn opening.

Visit www.sluttyveganatl.com/brooklyn for more info.

Outside of Slutty Vegan on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022 afternoon

Pinky Cole in between interviews

Andrew Scrivani with his “One Night Stand” burger

Slutty Vegan staff at merchandise stand with Brooklyn supporter

(Brenika Banks photos)

Literary society honors wedding of Anna Murray and Frederick Douglass

To honor Anna Murray Douglass who helped Frederick (then Bailey) escape from slavery, and continued to support his abolitionist work for the rest of her life, The Literary Society, a New York City book discussion group based in Harlem, presented “The Wedding Reception,” a public celebration of Frederick and Anna’s marriage on September 15, 1838 and what event creator Lana Turner calls “an artful re-creation honoring the wed ding, featuring an idea of Anna’s stunning plum silk wedding dress created by artist, maker and designer Cassandra Brumfeld.”

The Wedding Reception will include a procession of Literary Society members and friends carrying bouquets of white flowers and a string quartet to celebrate and call attention to, 184 years later, Dou glass’ flight to freedom with the complic it aid of Murray. The Wedding Reception took place at 4 p.m. on Sept. 15 at the orig inal site of their nuptials, now 36 Lispe nard St. in Tribeca.

Frederick Douglass, who would become the most renowned and influential Black leader of the 20th century as orator, aboli tionist, writer and statesman, escaped slav

ery leaving Baltimore, Maryland to arrive in lower Manhattan, New York, on Sept. 4, 1838. After two days without money, food or shelter, Douglass was offered assistance and introduced to Black abolitionist David Ruggles who harbored the fugitive for a little more than a week until Douglass’ fi ancée Anna Murray, a free woman, (whom he met in Baltimore) arrived.

Frederick and Anna married on Sept. 15, 1838. With the streets of New York rife with slave-catchers, the Douglass’s (using the name ‘Johnson’ in New York, which was changed to ‘Douglass’ in Massachusetts) immediately departed for New Bedford, Massachusetts following their vows.

The Literary Society’s co-founder Lana Turner conceived of the event. Turner, a Harlem native, is a reader, writer, think er and researcher with a keen interest in the elements of art and style in Black cul

ture who also works as a real estate profes sional, archivist, and producer of chamber music salons and literary events.

The Literary Society is a New York City book discussion group based in Harlem. Organized in January 1982, the society is a membership of 60 men and women whose interests revolve around literature—both fiction and non-fic tion—primarily by authors of the Afri can diaspora. In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Society elected to make the life and work of Frederick Douglass a centerpiece of its discussions this year.

Further, on the 25th of September, the society will discuss Pulitzer-prize histo rian, David Blight’s, “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom,” dedicated to Walter and Linda Evans.

For more information on The Literary Society, contact summertea@aol.com

(Bill Moore photos)

HARLEM NOON JAZZ, MITCHELL & WEBBER, SAN JUAN, BILL SAX

a Grammy perform ing with vibraphonist Lionel Hampton and was Grammy-nomi nated for his work with R&B vocalist/song writer Babyface. He has performed with The Bergen and Brook lyn Philharmonic Or chestras and the Ohio Chamber Orchestra.

When not leading his own bands, Pitt man often performs with the Allman Broth ers drummer, Jaimoe in his Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band. As a multi-in strumentalist, he plays piano and sings, while remaining true to his trumpet. “Music is my life. I had a burning desire to share this gift with others, through performing and teach ing,” said Pittman.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church is located at 204 West 134th Street (between ACP & Fred erick Douglass Boule vards). Food and wine will be available. Tick ets are $30; for more information call 917301-6512.

On Oct. 5, The Jazz Gallery known for pre senting and nurturing young musicians, as well as established mu sicians, who play on the outer limits of so-called jazz boundaries, will present Roscoe Mitch ell & Anna Webber—

Lester Bowie on trumpet. Mitch ell later formed the Creative Arts Collective in 1974, followed by the Sound Ensemble; he also began working with computers in improvisation.

The saxophonist, flutist, and composer Anna Webber is an active member of the avant garde progression. Webber’s co-led Webber/Morris Big Band debut was included in The New York Times’ Best Jazz Albums of 2020; her release “Rectangles” appeared in the DownBeat Best Albums of 2020 list.

The Margaret Whitton Award is given once a year to a mid-career female musician to further her career development. The award ee studies with a seasoned jazz musician and further develops their craft (the awardee Whit ton working with Mitchell). The Jazz Gallery was gifted a mone tary donation to promote women in jazz. The late actress Whitton championed the cause of women in the arts.

Individually Mitchell & Webber are experimental souls; together they will explore extended forms of composition and improvisa tion. It will be interesting to see what the student Webber has learned from her teacher and what they will perform as a duo is even more exciting.

The Jazz Gallery is located at 1158 Broadway (5th fl). For reser vations visit the website jazzgal lery.org.

neighborhood was like prior to Lincoln Center and directly after its construction,” explained Charles. “Once I have the picture in my head everything strangely falls into place.”

In addition to his band, Charles is working with a range of artists and academics on this commission, including spe cial guests Carl Hancock Rux, Elena Pinderhughes, DJ Logic, and collaborating with play wright Eljon Wardally, video artist Maya Cozier, graffiti/ visual artist Wicked GF (Gary Fritz), visual artist Bayete Ross Smith, and historian Julia Foul kes, among others. Aside from hearing good music, Charles says, “I hope the audience gets a different take on the neigh borhood with more insight into the community and its history.”

“San Juan Hill: A New York Story,” an immersive multime dia work transports the audience via music (ragtime, jazz, stride piano, swing, blues, mambo, paseo, Antillean waltz, calypso, funk), visuals, and original firstperson accounts of the history of the San Juan Hill neighborhood and the indigenous and immi grant communities that populat ed the land in and around where Lincoln Center resides.

There will be two shows on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. David Geffen Hall is lo cated inside Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (10 Lincoln Plaza, at 66th Street).

On Oct. 2, the Cultural Com mittee of St. Philip’s Church will renew its long-running presen tations of Harlem Jazz After noon at the Undercroft (1 p.m. - 4 p.m.). The kickoff will feature the Reggie Pittman Quartet with pi anist/vocals Mala Waldron, bass ist Beldon Bullock and drummer Jonathan Peretz.

For this performance Pittman says, “We will be playing straight-

ahead jazz and some composi tions by Jimmy Heath and Hugh Masekela, who both performed here at St. Philip’s.”

The Grammy-award winning trumpeter and composer Pit tman has been recording and performing in the New York City area for over 30 years. His open ness to all types of music allows him to jump across genre bound aries to perform with an eclectic group of musicians such as Sarah Vaughan, Lester Bowie, Branford Marsalis, Queen Latifa, Eddie Palmieri, Aretha Franklin, and The Allman Brothers. He won

The Margaret Whitton Award Culminating Concert, two shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

The saxophonist and composer Mitchell is one of the main forces in avant garde music. His music flows with a rhythmic complex ity extracted from world music, funk, classical and rock. His cre ativity led him to becoming one of the original members of the As sociation for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). He is the founder of the Art Ensemble of Chicago (late 1960s) which in cluded bassist Malachi Favors, saxophonist Joseph Jarman, and

The anticipated reopening of David Geffen Hall kicks off on Oct. 8 with two concerts featur ing trumpeter, percussionist, and composer Etienne Charles’ new work, “San Juan Hill: A New York Story”—performed by Eti enne Charles & Creole Soul, and the New York Philharmonic, con ducted by Music Director Jaap van Zweden.

Charles’ ensemble Creole Soul includes pianist Sullivan Fort ner, piano; bassist Ben Williams, drummer John Davis, guitarist Alex Wintz, saxophonist Godwin Louis, flutist Elena Pinderhughes, and DJ Logic on Turntables. Jazz fans will recognize these musi cians and acknowledge this is an all-star cast. “I did a signifi cant amount of research on this project to understand what the

For ticket information visit the website lincolncen ter.org/venue/davidgeffen

Recently Bill’s Place (one of the few real jazz clubs in Harlem) featured renowned saxophon ist George Coleman (age 87), who hadn’t performed in Harlem in 40 years. He played before a packed house accompanied by keyboardist Keith Brown, bass ist Zaid Shakuri and drum mer Darryl Green. The NEA Jazz Master known for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock was presented with the Jazz Icon Award by the Harlem Swing Street Art organization.

Point of reference: The Smoke Jazz & Supper Club does have a chef; her name is Amanda Hallowell.

Etienne Charles (Photo by Lawrence Sumulong, © Lincoln Center)

CLASSROOMIN THE

Multitalented artist Valerie Maynard

(1971); Howard Universi ty, Washington, D.C. (1973); University of Massachusetts Amherst (1974); Riksutställ ningar National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden (trav eling) (1975); Reichhold Center for the Arts, Universi ty of the Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas (1983); New Visions Gallery, Millersville Univer sity, Lancaster, Pennsylvania (1988); Caribbean Cultur al Center, New York (1988); Hammonds House Gal lery, Atlanta, Georgia (1989); Roadworks, Dorsey Gallery, Brooklyn, New York (1990); Towne Art Gallery, Whee lock College, Boston (1991); Compton Gallery, Massa chusetts Institute of Technol ogy, Cambridge (1992); Roots Through the Heart, Hartnett Gallery, University of Roch ester, New York (1994),” is a slice of these endeavors Getty presents.

ACTIVITIES

FIND OUT MORE

It’s hard to surpass the research completed by Karen Berisford Getty on Valerie Maynard, but there are articles in several publications about Black artists that are valuable.

DISCUSSION

Even though Getty does a phenomenal job disclos ing the life of Maynard, so much remains to be done on her early years.

PLACE IN CONTEXT

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

When one of my more astute comrades alerted me that Valerie Maynard had joined the ancestors on Sept. 19, I wasn’t exactly sure who she was, though the name rang a long time ago. Then she became clearer in memory from her days at the Studio Museum where I was a spectator at many of the exhibits and that’s where I remembered the name. Then there was memory of her work “Send the Message Clearly,” in the catalogue “Black New York Art ists of the 20th Century” from the Schomburg Collection.

Still I was not absolutely sure who she was and what her claim to mention in many volumes was attributed to. Researching her life led me to a resourceful essay by Karen Berisford Getty that was published in scholarscompas.vcu. edu at Virginia Commonwealth University in December 2017. Getty’s article was titled “Search ing for the Transatlantic Freedom: The Art of Valerie Maynard: Black Artists of the New Generation.”

Like me, Getty was searching and she disclosed biographical in formation that was not available about Ms. Maynard in other places, other than the fact she was born in Harlem in 1937. Getty adds, almost definitively, Maynard’s early years after graduating from high school and taking classes at the Museum of Modern Art in New York for a year beginning in 1954. “She then went on to study at the Elaine Jour ney Art School, New York (19551960), and the New School, New York (1968-1969). She received her Masters of Fine Arts from Goddard College, Vermont (1977). She was an instructor at the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York (1969-1974),” Getty cites meticulously.

There follows a long list of ac ademic stints from Howard Uni versity in 1974 to the University of Rochester in 1994, where she either lectured, exhibited or was the re cipient of an award. “She has been a visiting professor, artist-in-res idence, and Rockefeller Humani ties fellow at the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women’s Studies, Univer sity of Rochester, New York (19921994). She has been the recipient

of the Riksututallningar National Museum purchase/travel/lecture grant, Stockholm, Sweden (1975); Virgin Islands Humanities Council research grant (1986- 1987); Atlan ta Life Insurance Sculpture Award (1990); New York Foundation for the Arts grant for printmaking (1990); New Forms Regional Initiative grant, New England Foundation for the Visual Arts grant (1992); Artist of the Year, MacDowell Colony, Pe terborough, New Hampshire grant (1992); MacDowell Colony Fellow ship (1992-1993); Rockefeller Hu manities Fellowship (1992-1994). Maynard has had individual exhibi tions at the American International College, Springfield, Massachusetts

“When I was director of education at the Studio Museum in Harlem,” said Bill Burger III in an email, “Valerie was one of our pi oneering artists in our Art ists in Residence Program with Carole Byard, Leroi Clarke, and James Phillips. She was a major sculptor and printmaker artist and forceful advocate in the Black Arts Movement of the 1970’s. She will be missed. All praises due!”

While most of her cre ations focused on social and political equality, none resonated more personally than her sculpture “We are Tied to the Very Beginning,” dedicated to her brother who was wrongful ly convicted and served six years in prison for a murder he did not commit. He was eventually vin dicated. More recently, she was part of a group exhibition “Labor, Love, Live Collection in Context,” held between 2007 and 2008 at the Studio Museum.

Travelers not caught in the rush at the 125th Street subway sta tion should take a moment and see her work “Polyrhythmics of Consciousness and Light.” This is a forever landmark of Maynard’s connection to Harlem and global Harlem, past, present, and future.

Born as the Great De pression swept across the globe, Maynard was not undone by the econom ic or social ravages and found her place in the ar tistic world, particularly during the halcyon 1960s.

THIS WEEK

IN BLACK HISTORY

Sept. 26, 1981: Tennis great Serena Williams was born in Saginaw, Mich.

Sept. 27, 1827: Hiram Revels, the first African American U.S. senator, was born in Fayetteville, N.C. He died in 1901.

Sept. 28, 1991: Jazz legend Miles Davis died in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 65.

Valerie Maynard image from a video interview

Maynard’s work in the 125th Street Subway station

Education

Study finds Black student enrollment at community colleges has steadily declined

debt, and distributing $636 mil lion in federal emergency grants and nearly $10 million through the Chancellor’s Emergency Fund.

The report also finds that the average Black community col lege graduate earns $20,000 less yearly than their peers, and white households with just high school diploma holders earn $2,000 more than Black community col lege graduates.

Camardelle said that by ad dressing basic student needs, such as childcare, tuition costs, and better transfer policies, com munity colleges can work to pro duce more equitable outcomes for Black students.

“And the biggest takeaway of all—making community colleg es tuition-free will benefit Black students the most,” said Ca mardelle.

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

A recent report on the state of Black students in community col leges highlights a decline in en rollment since the pandemic and the everpresent inequitable poli cies that create barriers to higher education.

The report was published by the Joint Center for Political and Eco nomic Studies. Director of Work force Policy at the Joint Center Dr. Alex Camardelle said that for many Black Americans commu nity colleges hold the promise of getting a job and access to higher education. Camardelle is con cerned that current policies are creating alarming racial dispari ties at these institutions.

“Black workers are struggling to make ends meet during this health and economic crisis. Com munity colleges provide a path forward to ensure workforce read iness for all, but there are barriers holding back Black students from

reaching their full potential,” said Camardelle.

The report found that Black stu dent enrollment at community colleges has steadily declined over time and has dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. From fall 2019 to fall 2021, enrollment fell 18% for all Black students who also experienced the lowest grad uation rates when compared to their peers.

“In fact, findings from a recent Joint Center report show that Black students at community col leges experience lower graduation rates and earn tens of thousands of dollars less after graduation, while having to take on more debt than their peers to pay for school,” said Camardelle. “But, it doesn’t have to be this way.”

Unfortunately, some of these enrollment trends are reflected in New York City’s institutions as well.

Jesse F. Kane is the senior vice president for student success and enrollment management at Medgar Evers College. Although

Medgar Evers is a prestigious fouryear undergraduate college that offers associate degree programs rather than a community college, Kane noted a decline in 2-year de grees.

“Following the national trend, we have seen our largest de cline in our enrollment has been in our 2-year degree programs,” said Kane. “This decline has been exacerbated by the pan demic, during which we experi enced a more than 15% decline. We are implementing strategies to restore this population of stu dents by continuing to leverage our Accelerated Studies in Associ ate Program (ASAP), which is de signed to eliminate barriers that associate students face.”

According to a City University of New York (CUNY) spokesperson, the percentage of Black students enrolled at CUNY community colleges has not declined since 2019 although enrollment has de creased across the board during the pandemic, which is consis tent with national trends. CUNY’s

community colleges are Guttman Community, Queensborough, Kingsborough, Bronx Communi ty, Hostos, Manhattan Commu nity, and LaGuardia Community.

“CUNY has taken many steps to help students who paused their education to re-enroll and creat ed more workforce development programs to attract new students, including those who want to up skill in high-demand fields but not seek a formal degree,” said the spokesperson. “The road to recovery in New York City runs through CUNY and we are work ing with our partners in govern ment and the private sector to get more students the education and skills they need to succeed in the workplace and improve their eco nomic mobility.”

The spokesperson said that CUNY has taken multiple steps to help students during the pandem ic, including pardoning over $100 million in debt to over 57,000 stu dents through The CUNY Come back program, not withholding the transcript of students with

Free college might be a touch ambitious, but at least the Biden-Harris administration seems to be making progress on their promise of student debt relief. The plan is projected to help borrowers and families re cover from the pandemic and prepare to resume student loan payments in January 2023.

By targeting student debt relief, Biden hopes to at least narrow the racial wealth gap since almost 71% of Black un dergraduate borrowers are Pell Grant recipients, and 65% of Latino undergraduate borrow ers are Pell Grant recipients.

Governor Kathy Hochul also greenlit the Part-Time TAP pro gram in August 2022. The program is an $150 million expansion of New York State’s popular Tuition Assistance Program. It will now include students who are pursu ing their degree part-time.

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 con sider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

Pexel free stock photo. (Ron Lach photo)

Continued from page 3

new program, regardless of their af filiation with Columbia.”

Recently, a viral social media thread by Twitter user @AchmatX accused Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs course of offering curricu lum on “designing a better Harlem” alongside city agencies like the

FDNY

Continued from page 3

general costume,” said Wilson. “We had firefighters down there on Jan. 6th and we’ve had captains call ci vilians niggers. We’ve had a whole host of things that we’ve had to remove ourselves from in order to work for this agency.”

It was ruled in federal court that the FDNY discriminated against racial minorities in its written test in 1973 and again against women in 1982.

Firefighter Anita Daniel said that she’s had to file numerous com plaints with EEO, which come back unsubstantiated, and she is “emo tionally drained” from her experi

Mayor’s Office, which could not be reached after multiple attempts. However, the Amsterdam News is able to confirm other city offices were invited to speak in the class. According to the university, the said course is named “Co-Design ing Smart Cities.”

“Being adaptive and responsive to community needs is an important part of public policy, and students work alongside the Harlem commu nity as partners and collaborators,”

ence in the department. In the most recent incident, Daniel said that Cap tain Chris Livolsi allegedly “slapped her behind” in the FDNY auditorium in July. She no longer trusts EEO and resorted to filing a police report for forcible touching instead of keeping the complaint in house. She provid ed a copy of the report to the Amster dam News.

Race and gender are not the only areas of discrimination at the FDNY, there’s a sizable pay gap around uniformed and non-uni formed officers.

Fire inspectors, who operate as safety and fire prevention officers, and EMS are making headway in their racial pay discrimination law suit against the FDNY. Their claim is that their salaries are not compa

said the university spokesperson. “We think this direct engagement is mu tually beneficial to both our students and the Harlem community.

“Part of this engagement includes a course, Co-Designing Smart Cities, in which students work with the 125th Street Business Improvement Dis trict to research challenges identified by community members, identify po tential strategies to help address these challenges, and suggest recommen dations to stakeholders as part of the

rable to other agencies that do sim ilar work because their workforce has been over 70% Black, people of color, and women since 2000. There is no pathway for advance ment in title or being a firefighter from an inspector position.

Darryl Chalmers, FDNY deputy chief inspector, and President of Local 2507 Oren Barzilay said that even though fire inspectors have “uniformed status” they are still regarded as civilians and paid less.

Chalmers explained that uni formed status was given to the fire fighters back in the 1960s. Prior to that they were on the same bar gaining certificate for city con tracts as the teachers and other city employees. In 2005 fire inspectors were added to that list.

educational process.”

In an online statement, the UFAD demanded the university imme diately cancel the class and apolo gize to the people of Harlem, saying the curriculum furthers policies that “expand surveillance, police brutali ty and mass incarceration.”

The organization typically focus es on tenants’ rights, with chapters across the country. In New York City, UFAD fights against the privatiza tion of NYCHA, but initially came

“They see only firefighters as uniformed personnel,” said Bar zilay. “That in itself is discrimina tory in our eyes.”

Furthermore, the 2022 city coun cil pay equity report found that the FDNY firefighter title is still held almost entirely by male employ ees while non-uniformed titles are 57% female.

When considering the staggering racial and ethnic pay disparity within the city’s municipal workforce, the high percentage of white uniformed employees stands out, said the report.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for Amer ica corps member and writes about culture and politics in New York City for The Amsterdam News. Your do nation to match our RFA grant helps

into contact with Columbia campus organizers during graduate student worker protests and unionization ef forts last year.

Tandy Lau is a Report for Ameri ca 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

keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deduct ible gift of any amount today by visit ing: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

Metro Briefs

Continued from page 3

On-time rent payments are rarely included in credit reports and therefore usually do not con tribute to a consumer’s credit score, putting many renters at a disadvantage. The program will will benefit renters who pay on time each month, including his torically underserved groups who disproportionately have lower or no credit scores

Religion & Spirituality

Gospel musical combating gang and gun violence

Dietra Kelsey of Kelsey Productions pre sented excerpts of “Whose Side Are You

On?” the hip-hop gospel musical combat ing gang and gun violence during Harlem

Week at the first annual National Senior Citizens Day in Harlem, sponsored by State

Sen. Cordell Cleare. The performers were Diamond Pearl Jones and Nicolson Pierre.

(Bill Moore photos)

Teamster

Smalls, led a walkout in protest of deplor able, COVID-related workplace conditions. Amazon general counsel’s meeting notes said of Smalls: “He’s not smart, or articulate, and to the extent to which the press wants to focus on him versus us, we will be in a much stronger PR position.” WOW! They not only dismissed Smalls as insignificant, but arrogantly condescended that an un polished, tattooed young Black man could be used to unionize. Amazon fired him, but their strategy backfired, and the repercus sions have been felt throughout the nation. In fact, recent surveys show that union membership is on the rise. Many well-es

tablished unions, such as the Teamsters, have seized upon the opportunity and are making the most of the momentum, using their organizing skills and resources to help enroll workers into a union.

Even though Ralph Chaplin wrote the song “Solidarity Forever” in 1915 for the Industrial Workers of World War I, its re frain is as relevant and important today as it was more than 100 years ago: “When the union’s inspiration thru the worker’s blood shall run, there can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun, yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one, but the union makes us strong. Sol idarity forever, solidarity forever, solidari ty forever, for the union makes us strong.”

The formal acknowledgment of the impor tance of workers came in 1894 when Con

gress created Labor Day by making the first Monday in September a national holiday. But it only did so in response to the death of 34 striking Pullman workers from the American Railway Union at the hands of U.S. Army soldiers and Marshals. Labor Day is very unique. It’s not so easy to find a hol iday that crosses all religious, racial, ethnic and gender lines. Your political party, favor ite color and years of education matter little. For sure, it’s not easy to find a holiday which most Americans celebrate in similar ways, parade or not—usually involving a hot dog or two. Yes, Labor Day is a rarity: A holiday we can all agree upon. And, here’s where labor unions shine their brightest. Just like our role in helping to build the middle class in America, we are both the ramrod and equalizer…and the bridge to the “American

Dream.” We fight for the rights of workers while helping to create a level playing field where the “American Dream” is not the sole property of the corporate 1%.

That’s why recognizing the efforts of work ers—especially those in the public sector— is important. Certainly, it’s well-deserved recognition, but also a message to our elect ed leaders, political wannabes, big business and to the public at-large: You can bash us. You can try to bust us. But you need us. And, when you see the words “Union Made,” they also mean “Union Strong”—a movement not just a moment.

Gregory Floyd is president, Teamsters Local 237 and vice president at-large on the general board of the International Brother hood of Teamsters

Disparate pay for some, and low pay overall, makes for unhappy workers, leg islative staff say. “Fairly compensating congressional staff, especially junior-lev el staffers, will help Congress attract and retain a diverse and capable workforce,” notes the cross-partisan political reform group Issue One. “Giving staff both the financial incentive and ability to stay in their roles and advance upward means that members of Congress won’t need to

keep retraining employees and that valu able institutional knowledge will be re tained. In these ways, better financial compensation for staff will both help curb the brain drain from Capitol Hill to K Street and guard against the undue in fluence of special-interest lobbyists.”

A recent survey by the Congressio nal Progressive Staff Association found that Capitol Hill staffers continue to find themselves underpaid for the work they do:

“• 47% of respondents reported that they find themselves struggling to pay bills or make ends meet. This statistic

was higher among non-management staff, reporting 50% struggling to pay bills compared to only 36% of manage ment staff.

“• Over a quarter, 27%, of non-manage ment staff, 109 participants, reported not having at least one month’s rent in sav ings in case of emergency.

“• 39% of all respondents reported that they currently or previously have taken out debt to make ends meet.

“• 31% of non-management staff re ported they have had a second job to supplement their income. 30% of nonmanagement staff reported that the

demand of working hours in their cur rent role don’t allow them to have a second job.”

The CWU has so far only been able to organize staff in the offices of congres sional Democrats, all members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Staff in the offices of Representatives Cori Bush (Missouri), Alexandria Ocasio-Cor tez (New York), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), Jesús “Chuy” García (Illinois), Ro Khanna (California), Andy Levin (D-Michigan), Ted Lieu (California), and Melanie Stans bury (New Mexico) all agreed to hold union elections.

International

from

liberation of people kidnapped in the dio cese of Mamfe,” according to the Catholic News Agency.

In addition to the kidnappings on Sept. 16, gunmen set fire to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nchang, Cameroon, according to Vatican News.

Catholic bishops in Cameroon strong ly condemned the attack in a statement that called for the immediate release of

NYC Africa Expo

Continued from page 2

USA, was held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, Astor Ballroom, in New York City.

Africa Expo USA Associate Producer and Director of Protocol Nigeria Con sulate New York Sumonu Bello-Osa gie, and on the Diaspora Remittances structure panel: Dr. Jana Woodhouse, Wall Street icon, and Tony Rogers, di rector of Tourism Harlem USA and cofounder of Harlem Week.

Also present was Mayor John Linder Chester Pennsylvania, leading 100 top African American investors to Africa.

Panelists on “American support for Af rican Creative Industry” were Margaret Olele, CEO American Business Coun cil and Soul City Television Network, and Matt McCoy, coordinating 1 million Historical Black Colleges and Universi ty alumni to support Ecobank accounts.

An economic visionary and creative himself, Nigerian-born Abulu, who lives in Harlem, is also the publisher of Black Ivory magazine, and creator of the Dr. Bello movies: “Doctor Bello,” “Crazy like a Fox,” “Back to Africa,” “American Dream,” “Superstar,” and “Spellbound.”

“With Ecobank sponsoring our inter national event, we pushed forward the notion that this serious topic of build ing focused African and African Amer ican business, cultural and economic interactions,” said Abulu, who is already

the kidnapped Christians. “We insist on this because this act has now crossed the red line and we must say that ‘enough is enough,’” they said in the statement.

The roots of the current Anglophone prob lem can be traced back to the First World War when the British and French occupied the “German Kamerun Protectorate” and divided its territory into two parts. This partition gave rise to the development of a different cultural heritage and identity in the British and French regions, a development that would create problems for future attempts at reunification.

In 1961, the U.N. held talks to determine

whether the British territory should be an nexed to Nigeria or Cameroon. Critics la beled the talks “false negotiations” involving parties with asymmetrical powers. “As the British Southern Cameroons’ nationalist con flict continues to wax and wane, the people of former British Cameroons live with a sense of deception in the present-day République du Cameroon,” wrote scholar Fonkem Achan keng in the Journal of Global Initiatives.

The proportion of Anglophone Camer oonians to French speakers is currently at around 16%, down from 21% in 1976.

Attacks on the church were also de

nounced by the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa—an indepen dent, non-governmental, apolitical, and non-profit making organization dedicat ed to the protection and advancement of human rights.

In a related development, the rights watch dog Human Rights Watch reports the re-ar rest of prominent Cameroonian Anglophone peace activist Abdul Karim Ali. He is accused of possessing a video on his phone showing alleged human rights abuses committed by a Cameroonian soldier against civilians in the country’s English-speaking regions.

planning next year’s expo. “We have the solutions to any obstacles, but we have to raise money and work intricately to gether to understand how we use our different skills and experiences. At this Africa Expo we highlighted the impor tance of the creative industry, and its place in building economies worldwide.”

The START Treatment and Recovery Centers – clinic located at 1149 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11206 will provide Hill-Burton uncompensated (free) services to all eligible persons who are unable to pay and who request those services from October 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023. All services of the clinic will be available as uncompensated services. Eligibility for uncompensated services is available to persons whose family income is less than double the current poverty income guidelines (Category B) established by the Department of Health and Human Services. This notice is published in accordance with 42CFR 124 504 Notice of Availability of Uncompensated Services. We invite interested parties to comment on the allocation plan and contact the clinic at 718-574-1801.

Africa Expo USA Associate Producer and Director of Protocol Nigeria Consulate New York Sumonu Bello-Osagie, Expo Founder/ Producer Tony Abulu; and on the Diaspora Remittances structure panel: Dr. Jana Woodhouse, Wall Street icon, and Tony Rogers, director of Tourism Harlem USA and co-founder of Harlem Week (Melvin Best photos)

Panel on American support for African Creative Industry: Margaret Olele, CEO American Business Council, and Matt McCoy, President of Soul City Television Network, and, coordinating 1 million Historical Black Colleges and University alumni to support Ecobank accounts

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SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST SERIES 2016 -CTT, Plaintiff, vs JAMES S. COHEN A/K/A JAMES STERLING COHEN AS CO-EXECUTOR OF THE ES TATE OF CYNTHIA PRICE COHEN A/K/A CYNTHIA P. CO HEN A/K/A CYNTHIA COHEN, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision and Order on Motion duly entered on May 11, 2022, I, the under signed Referee will sell at public auction at the portico of the New York County Co urthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on November 2, 2022 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 35 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 100 24 All that certain plot, piece or parce l of land, with the build ings and improvements th ereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Boro ugh of Manha ttan, County, City and State of New York, Block 1 197 and Lot 18. Approximate amount of judgment is $2,460,113.41 plus intere st and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 850141/2015. Cash will not be acce pted. COVID-19 sa fety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale

Paul R. Sklar, Esq., Refe ree

Knuckles, Komo sinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 1 0523, Attorneys for Plaintiff

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE 200 CHAMBERS STREET CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiff -against- ERIC R. BRAVERMAN, DARYA BRAVERMAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sa le dated Febr uary 24, 2022 and entered on March 21, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on th e portico at 60 Centre Street, New York on Octo ber 26, 2022 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, Co unty and State of New York, Unit being designated and described as Unit No 26C in the condomin ium known as "The 200 Chamber s Street Condominium" toge ther with an undivided 0.8256% interest in the common elements. Block: 14 2 Lot: 11 83

ALSO, Unit be ing designated and descr ib ed as Unit No. ST14 in the condominium known as "The 200 Ch ambers Street Condominium" toge ther with an undivided 0.0103% interest in the common elements.

Block: 142 Lot: 1375

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and so cial distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times.

Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or th e so cial distancing mandat e will be removed from the auction.

Said premises known as 200 CHAMBERS STREET, UNIT 26C, NEW YORK, NY and UNIT ST14 (a storage un it), 200 CHAMBERS STREET, NEW YORK NY Approximate amount of lien $702,840 07 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be so ld subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale

Index Number 162556/2015

MARK MCKEW, ESQ., Referee Armstrong Teasdale LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

7 Times Squar e, 44th Floor, New York, NY 10036

COVID CO2 Tracker, LLC

SUPREME COUR T OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK

Index #: 154442/2022

Summons

The Plaintif f de signates New York County as the basi s of Venue due to Defendant's resi dence and where cause of action arose.

_______________________________________X

BIG YUK CHIU, Plaint iff, -against CLAUDE LOUZON , Defendant(s), _______________________________________X

TO: THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S)

YOU ARE HEREBY SU MMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with th is summons, to serve a no tice of appearance, on the Plaintiffs' attorney within twenty (20) days af ter the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (o r with in thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this summons is not pe rsonally de livered to you within the State of New Yo rk); and in ca se of your failure to ap pear or an swer, judgment will be ta ken a gainst you by default for the relief de manded herein.

Da ted: May 23, 2022 New Rochelle, NY

Yours etc. Todd Rothenberg, Esq. Atto rney for Plaintiff 271 North Avenue, Suite 115 New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801 (914) 235-7234 to dd@trothenbergesq.com

To: Claude Louzon 90 Prince Street, Apt. 8-S a/k/a 8 B-S New York, NY 10012

Claude Lo uzon 184 Thompson Stree t, Apt. 4-J New York, NY 10012

Claude Lo uzon 350 West 14th Street, Apt. 7-C New York, NY 10014

This action arises from a breach of a personal guaran tee of a commercial lease. Plaintiff seeks a money judgment from De fendant in sum of $654,64 2.20.

DC TERRA VILLAGE LLC

No tice of Qualification of MONDAY MORNING MANAGEMENT, LLC Appl for Auth filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/31/22.

Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/13/22. Princ. office of LLC: 41 Madison Ave., 40th Fl., NY, NY 10010. SSNY de signated 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.

Ce rt of Form filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Do ver, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity

Arts of Org. file d with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/6/2022. Office lo cation: NY Co un ty SSNY designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 315 E 69th St., Apt. 9JK, NY, NY 10021.

Purpose: any lawful activity

DAVIDSON CAPITAL LLC Arts of Org. filed with SSNY on 05/27/2022 Office Location: NY County. SSNY des ignat ed as agent up on wh om process may be served against LLC to: 91 Leonard St., 6G, New York, NY 11228. Re g. Agent: US Corp Ag ents Inc., 7 014 13th Ave., Ste. 202, Bklyn, NY 11228. Purpo se: any lawful act.

No tice of Formation of 54 GREENE HOLDER, LLC Arts of Org. file d with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/05/22. Office lo cation: NY Co un ty Prin c. office of LLC: 60 East 42nd St., Ste. 1300, NY, NY 10165. SSNY desig nated as agent of LLC upon wh om process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Al bany, NY 12207-2543. Purpo se: Any lawful activity

No tice of Formation of JL De sign Studio LLC Arts of Org. filed with th e Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/29/2022. Office location: NY County. SSNY has be en designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is: United States Corporation Agents, Inc., 7014 13th Ave., Ste 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. The principal business address of the LLC is: 169 East 91st St, Apt 2B, New York, NY 10128. Purpose: any lawful act.

No tice of Formation of SUANNE MANAGING LLC Arts of Org. file d with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/15/22. Office lo cation: NY Co un ty Prin c. office of LLC: 680 Fifth Ave., 23rd Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon wh om process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Winter Management Co rp., Attn: Benjamin J. Winter at the princ. office of the LLC Pu rpose: Any lawful ac tivity

No tice of Formation of 170 JAVA HOLDER, LLC Arts of Org. filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/05/22. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 60 East 42nd St., Ste. 1300, NY, NY 10165. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co ., 80 State St., Alban y, NY 12207-2543 Purpose: Any lawful activity

Arts of Org. filed with SSNY on 05/27/2022 Office Location: NY County. SSNY des ignat ed as agent up on wh om process may be served against LLC to: 91 Leonard St., 6G, NY, NY 10013. Reg. Agent: US Corp. Agents Inc., 7014 13th Ave., Ste. 202, Bklyn, NY 11 228. Purpose: an y lawful act.

PATTY O'BRIEN LLC Arts of Org. filed with SSNY on 5/2/2022. Office location : NY Co un ty SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 13 Longworth Ct., West Brook, NJ 08092.

Purpose: Any lawful act.

MCMLXXXVIII LLC. Arts of Org. filed with SSNY on 09/6/2022. Office Location: NY County. SSNY designat ed as agent upon whom process may be served against LLC to: 200 E. 36 th Street, 4A, NY, NY 10016. Purpose: an y lawful act.

Articles of Organization (DOM-PROF.LLC). Jennifer Toh, MD, PL LC filed with the Secy of State of NY (SSNY) 9/8/2022. Office loc.: NY

Co un ty SSNY is designated as agent of DOM-PROF LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The addr ess SSNY shall mail copy of process to 105 W. 86th St., #501, New York, NY 10024

Purpose: The practice of Medicine.

No tice of Formation of JOSHUA PERLMAN & AS SOCIATES LLP Art. Of Org. filed with SSNY on 4/12/22. Office Location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LL C upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 20 W 64th Street, Apt 12N, New York, New York, 10023. Purpo se: Any lawful purpose.

CARALEX PROPERTIES LLC filed Arts of Org. with the Se ct'y of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/10/2022. Office: Ne w York County. SSNY has been designated as agen t of the LL C upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: The LLC, 440 E. 57th St., #4A, Ne w York, NY, 100 22 Purpo se: any lawful act.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff -againstMICHAEL C. ROGERS, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated April 5, 2022 and entered on April 19, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse lo cated on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York on November 2nd, 2022 at 2:15 p.m. an undivided ownership interest a s tenantin-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an undivided .009864% interest in the c ommon elements. This a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use ba sis every year, in accordance with and subject to declaration s. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions date d October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lots 37 and 39.

REFEREE WILL NOT ACCEPT CASH AS A DEPOSIT OR PAYMENT, ONLY BANK OR CERTIFIED FUNDS WILL BE ACCEPTED

The Foreclosure Sale will be conducted in accordance with 1st Judicial Districts COVID-19 Policies and Foreclosure Auction Rules.

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.

Said premises known as undivided ownership interest as tenant-in-common with other owners in the Timeshare Un it at 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY

Approximate amount of lien $29,976.06 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850105/2020.

BRUCE N. LEDERMAN, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

101 LEGAL NOTICES

RMR Solutions Arts of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/3/2022. Office location: NY County. SSNY de signated as an agent upon wh om process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 496 W 133 rd St, Apt. 2E, Ne w York, NY 10027. Purpo se: any lawful activity

110 SERVICES

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR OPTION ONE MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-5, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-5, V.

DONNA FERRATO, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated May 10, 2022, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR OPTION ONE MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-5, ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-5 is the Plaintiff and DONNA FERRATO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE, at the PORTICO OF THE CIVIL SUPREME COURTHOUSE, LOCATED AT 60 CENTRE STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10007, on November 2, 2022 at 2:15PM, premises known as 25 LEONARD ST APT 3, NEW YORK, NY 10013: Block 179, L ot 1003:

THE CONDOMINIUM UNIT (HEREINAFTERE REFERRED TO AS THE UNIT) KNOWN AS RESIDENTIAL UNIT NO. 3 IN THE BUILDING (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE BUILDING) KNOWN AS THE SIMON & MILLS BUILDINGS CONDOMINIUM AND THE STREET NUMBER 25 LEONARD STREET, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 850294/2017. Ronald Zezima, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

Prevail The Label LLC Arts of Org. filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/15/2022. Office loca tion: NY County. SSNY designat ed as an agent u pon wh om process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 40 Wall St., Ste. #2859 Ne w York, NY 10005. Purp ose: providing professional consulting services to clients.

RitzyDitz LLC Arts of Org. filed with SSNY on 06/2/2022. Office Location: 1216 Bdwy, Fl 2, PMB 1031, NY, NY 10001. SSNY desig nated as agent upon wh om process may be served against LLC to: US Corp Agents Inc., 7014 13th Ave., Ste. 202, Bklyn, NY 11228 Purpose: any lawful act.

NY

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Redistricting

Continued from page

between the commissioners is reminiscent of the fallout of state redistricting commissioners who failed to agree on or submit con gruent assembly, senate, and congressional maps.

Chair Commissioner Dennis Walcott voted yes to the maps and doubled down that despite the challenge the commission has done its job. In a later inter view with WNYC, Walcott said that it was mostly expected that the maps would be voted through and denied that Mayor Eric Adams

had reached out to sway his appointed commissioners. He also said that the re ality of drawing the lines may not please everyone.

“I think the substance and the process has been adhered to,” said Walcott in the meeting. Com missioner Mike Schnall, who’s been adamant about keeping the three city council districts in Staten Island wholly on the island, was displeased in his com ments before voting down the maps. “I took the position that if I wasn’t intimately familiar with a neighborhood, I would listen, observe, but not inject my unin

formed viewpoint,” said Schnall in the meeting, “and what I saw in the mapping was a little upsetting and frankly unfair. A few individu als undid some of the work of the many, often at the last minutes of a mapping session.”

In addition to the perceived slight against Staten Island, The New York Immigration Coali tion (NYIC) Action Executive Di rector Murad Awawdeh said in a statement that historically Black, Indo-Caribbean, South Asian, Dominican and other immigrant communities in Southeast Queens and in the Northwest Bronx were also not given fair representation in the proposed maps.

“I think it’s going to mean a growing stronger voice in our city government, more politi cal power ultimately,” said NYIC Action Senior Strategist Asher Ross. “As we continue to have a more and more diverse city and we have certain groups that are growing quickly. These groups are really organizing and making their voices heard.”

Ross floated the idea that there should be more than 51 city coun cil districts to adequately repre sent the city’s diverse population.

Citizens Union’s Ben Weinberg said that there’s better laws gov erning the city council redistrict ing process as opposed to the state.

There was little public input in the state process and it was also the first time the state redistricting commis sion had been convened, said Wein berg. This is the fourth city council redistricting process and it has al ready managed to get more com munity engagement early on.

“At least it’s not deadlocked,” said Weinberg.

The commission hopes to re convene to vote on the re-revised maps by Oct. 6 to give to the city council enough time to review them. There’s concern there won’t be time for more public input if the commission can’t meet its final deadline on Dec. 7.

The commission is holding de liberation meetings via Zoom on the proposed maps this Thurs day, Sept. 29, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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 sto ries like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting: https:// tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

Jersey

Continued from page 4

applying for SNAP/WFNJ, in dividuals can upload required documents online through the new portal to confirm their el igibility and check the status of their application. A video tuto rial in English and Spanish on how to apply can also be found online at https://www.nj.gov/ humanservices/njsnap/apply/ app/

Adams

Continued from page

employees make $.71 to every dollar white employees make, Hispanic or Latino employees make $.75 to every dollar white employees make, and Asian em ployees make $.85 to every dollar white employees make, said the report.

“The facts speak for them selves and prove what we have known all along, which was con firmed by our successful lawsuit against the City of New York for

pay discrimination,” said CWA Local 1180 President Gloria Mid dleton in a statement. “Women and minorities are severe ly short-changed in New York City when it comes to both sala ries and paths for advancement. Gender and race have absolute ly no place in the promotional or salary determination processes.”

Middleton said it is incumbent upon the city to take the bold steps necessary to create equality for all in the workforce, especially con sidering many women and minor ities are heads of their households.

The city council proposed three new bills that would require city

agencies to report data on pay disparity, occupational segre gation, recruitment, and reten tion efforts. It also amends and expands parts of Pay Equity Law 18 of 2019 to provide new cate gories of information and data on employment year-round.

“The fight for gender and racial pay equity is a global di lemma that has persisted for far too long, and our women-major ity City Council is continuing to push progress to close the gap in our city,” said Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa. “Effectively addressing the roots of these dis parities begins with data, which

was the aim of the Pay Equity Law. Despite the great strides and attempts to mitigate the gap, the second round of find ings demonstrates that dispari ties remain.”

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about culture and poli tics in New York City for The Am sterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-de ductible gift of any amount today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fc szwj8w

“We have been working to improve the online tools available for SNAP, and make it easier for applicants and enrollees to apply for and manage their SNAP bene fits. This latest upgrade helps make applying simpler, but of course, if an applicant has questions or needs assistance, help is available,” said Deputy Commissioner for Social Ser vices Elisa Neira.

The Department launched SNAP online purchasing during the height of the pandemic, and last year made available the ConnectEBT mobile applica tion allowing SNAP beneficia ries to manage their accounts on the go.

New York Districting Commission publicly met about new City Council maps, voted no on Sept. 22. (Contributed Photo from IRC Staff Jabaran Akram)

Seton Hall’s Park-Lane inspired by Big East’s Transition Game

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

Heading into her senior year at Seton Hall University, guard Lauren Park-Lane is excit ed to see what the Pirates can do this year. “I have really big dreams, aspirations and goals for our team this year,” she said. “I feel like the amount of talent we have this year, there’s no reason for us not to fulfill all of those dreams.”

Park-Lane is also thinking about her future. While she hopes that includes playing professional basketball, she’s also excited by other possibili ties and deeply appreciated the opportunity to hear about other people’s post-college careers at the Big East Conference’s Tran sition Game program, held Sept. 17-18 in New York City.

“I didn’t know what to expect going into it,” said Park-Lane. “It was a really good experience for me hearing from a lot of the panel ists who were players in the Big East what their journeys were after play ing basketball. Most of them on the panel, especially the younger ones who graduated recently, spoke on how coming out of college they didn’t…have a set-in-stone plan but were open to opportunities.”

Of course, Park-Lane wants to keep playing basketball for as long as she can after completing her collegiate ex perience, but she also has an interest in coaching, which she has discussed with Seton Hall coach Anthony Boz zella. “I’m a realistic person,” she said. “I know jobs don’t just become avail able as soon as I graduate.”

She’s also into fashion and has made some contacts in the fashion industry. “I like styling,” she said. “Recently, I got the opportunity to

style Jordin Canada, she plays for the Los Angeles Sparks. This was my first gig styling. I was nervous, but it was a good learning experience for me. I was thankful for her giving me the opportunity. I got to go shop ping with her and pick out outfits. That’s something I can see myself doing—styling, personal shopping, things of that nature.”

Park-Lane was moved by Tran sition Game’s closing session with Dr. Alfiee M. Breland-Noble, a sought-after speaker and expert in teen, young adult and family mental health. “She talked to us about mental health,” said ParkLane. “Then, she told us about her own story. Seeing an African American woman, and she’s very well put together and she was pas sionate about what she was talking about, really stood out to me. She was probably my favorite speaker. It was cool to hear from her.”

Figure skater Alexa Gasparotto has high aspirations

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

Figure skater Alexa Gasp arotto is focused on making her mark this season. She finished fourth at the recent Middle Atlantic Figure Skat ing Championships at Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers and now is training with the goal of earning a spot in the senior ladies division at the 2023 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Gasparotto, 19, grew up in Michigan and began skating at age four at one of the state’s well known training facili ties. In 2020, she met prom inent coach/choreographer Rohene Ward at a Diversify Ice exhibition. The mission of the Diversify Ice Founda tion is to increase access and diversity in the sport. Gasp arotto and Ward are both ambassadors.

“I ran into him the follow ing year at a competition and he wanted to work with me, and I was super honored and surprised,” Gasparotto said. “I was already a big fan of his. Fast forward to now, I’ve been working with him for about a year.”

Following high school grad

uation, Gasparotto moved to the Chicago area to work with Ward. This year, she has a singular focus to succeed. Over her 15 years in the sport, she hasn’t seen many Black skaters, but early on she was im pressed with Surya Bonaly, the European Champion and Olympian from France.

“That was because of her power and character on the ice,” said Gasparotto. “As I developed my skating career I real ized power was my strong suit. The fact that Surya looked like me made it that much more special.”

Jumping has always been Gasparotto’s strength. As she’s matured, she loves learning new things, such as musical in terpretation. “I’m starting to love each character that I can develop into with my music,” she said. Her short program music is “Please Don’t Let Me Be Mis understood,” which she said energiz es an audience. She’s created an alter ego, and she’s totally in character when she steps on the ice. For the free skate, she’s chosen cuts from the “Dreamgirls” soundtrack, which she hopes will make people ask, “Who is this girl? Why have we not heard of her?”

Gasparotto plans on starting online college in December. She took her trip to New York as a learning experience, and she enjoyed meeting new people and seeing the city. To keep building momentum for her next competition in November, she’ll be performing sever al exhibitions, which will serve as dress rehearsals. “Not feel the pressure, but feel the same as competition,” she said.

Alexa Gasparotto is aiming for a spot at the U.S. Championships (Rohene Ward photos)

Seton Hall senior guard Lauren Park-Lane listened intently at the Transition Game (Big East photo)

The Knicks and Nets open training camp with varying expectations

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

The Knicks opened training camp this week in relative quiet compared to the Brooklyn Nets’ first day. The most con troversial story being addressed by the Knicks was the hiring of Rick Brunson as an assistant coach on head coach Tom Thibodeau’s staff.

Brunson was previously an assistant under Thibodeau when the latter was the head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Min nesota Timberwolves, the father of Jalen Brunson, the former Dallas Mavericks point guard who was the Knicks’ most prominent acquisition this summer, and current team president Leon Rose’s first NBA client. He also had two stints with the Knicks as a player, appearing in 54 games with the team from 1998-2000 and 15 in the 2000-01 season.

In 2018 Brunson resigned from the Tim berwolves after alleged misconduct with several women, including a member of the media. In 2014 he was was arrested, indict ed but subsequently acquitted on several charges including sexual abuse of a mas sage therapist at a fitness club in Vernon Hills, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

On Tuesday, Thibodeau strongly vouched for Brusnon. “I’ve known Rick a long time. I’m very comfortable with who he is,” he maintained. “He’s been on my

staff. I’ve known him since he was in col lege. I feel strongly about him.”

So the focus will be on significantly im proving on last season’s 37-45 record, 11th seed in the Eastern Conference and making the playoffs, which they failed to do after being the East’s No. 4 seed at 41-31 in the abbreviated 2020-21 cam paign. They hope the addition of the steady 26-year-old Brunson, who was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and is just entering his prime, will alleviate much of the weight shouldered by Julius Randle the past three seasons and accel erate the development of RJ Barrett as a franchise cornerstone.

While just making it to the postsea son would be an accomplishment for the Knicks, the expectations are substantial ly higher for the Nets, a team that was rife with dysfunction and drama last season that carried over far into the summer. Anything short of making it to the East ern Conference Finals, and for many the NBA Finals given they arguably have the most talented roster in the league, will be viewed as an abject disappointment.

The fractured Nets were swept by the Boston Celtics 4-0 in the first round of the playoffs last season under first-year head coach Steve Nash after finishing 44-38, 7th in the East. But now Kevin Durant (12), Kyrie Irving (7) and Ben Simmons (3), who have a combined 22 All-Star se

lections, all appear to be in a good space physically and mentally, and form a trio whose skills and strengths perfectly complement each other.

“I want to be in a place that’s stable and trying to build a championship culture,” said Durant at the Nets’ media day, ex plaining why he requested a trade from the Nets in June that never materialized, “and I had some doubts about that and I voiced them to [team owner] Joe [Tsai] and we moved forward from there.”

The U.S. team advances to World Cup quarterfinals on history-making win

By LOIS ELFMAN

Special to the AmNews

Putting together the U.S. team for this year’s FIBA Women’s World Cup, which is currently taking place in Australia, took thoughtful effort. Although it has been just over 13 months since the U.S. Na tional Team won its seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal, this team is different.

The returnees from the Olympic team are Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Ariel Atkins and Chelsea Gray. There are new faces, including the New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu and Bet nijah Laney, making their debuts on this exalted stage. This is also the National Team head coaching debut for Cheryl Reeve, coach of the Minnesota Lynx.

Laney played a significant role in Team USA’s historic 145–69 victory over Korea, which advanced the U.S. team to the quarterfinals. The final score by the U.S. was the most-ever scored in a Women’s World Cup game (previous record was 143 scored by Brazil in 1990), and it also broke the record for largest margin of victory, which the U.S. achieved in 2014. With 13 points, Laney was one of eight U.S. players to score in double figures.

“I thought we got off to a little bit slower start than what we wanted. We had a group that came in there and really changed things for us,” said Reeve after the game. “We got a little more pressure, little things that we’ve been doing that the first group wasn’t necessarily able to do in their min utes. Our size, our ability to be in the paint…was a problem for them.”

This World Cup is a time of redefining the U.S. presence in the paint. At last year’s Olympic Games, Brittney Griner was a huge factor, particularly in the gold medal game. She continues to be incarcerated in Russia. Also gone is four-time Olympic gold medalist Sylvia Fowles, who retired at the end of this WNBA season. There are also new people running the point, as five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird retired.

“Personally, I’m getting acclimated to Cheryl’s system,” said Wilson. “She’s really wanted us to play up and down with a lot of pace, and I think that’s perfect for the players that we have here.

“When it comes to USA Basketball, it’s all about knowing your role,” she added. “We push a lot of things aside and make a lot of sacrifices to be here because we’re playing for something that’s bigger than us.”

The quarterfinals begin today.

The Knicks’ Julius Randle, and the Nets’ Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are looking to elevate their teams as NBA training camps opened this week (Bill Moore photos)

The Liberty’s Betnijah Laney is standing out at the World Cup (WNBA photos)

Kelsey Plum, representing Team USA, is riding the energy from the Aces’ WNBA title

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving

Julius Randle

Yankees march toward the playoffs as Judge steps into history

By VINCENT DAVIS

Special to the AmNews

Aaron Judge’s historic season is being closely followed as both a baseball and news story by fans and media across the country. He was still on 60 homers when the Yankees took the field against the To ronto Blue Jays in Canada on Tuesday night with anticipation high for his next blast.

The Bronx home crowd was hoping Judge would tie and pass Yankees legend Roger Maris over their team’s four-game series against the Boston Red Sox that began last Thursday and ended on Sunday, but he stayed stuck on 60. Maris set the American League and Yankees record of 61 homers in 1961, breaking Babe Ruth’s 60 hits in 1927. Judge has a limited amount of time to climb up Major League Baseball’s all-time single season list.

The Yankees, who were 94-59 and in first place in the AL East, 7.5 games ahead of Toronto before Tuesday’s game, only have seven more regular season games remaining starting tomorrow hosting the Baltimore Orioles for threegames. It’ll take an incredible power dis play by Judge to catch Barry Bonds, who is No. 1 at 73 achieved in 2001.

But Mark McGuire (70) and Sammy Sosa (66) who reached their marks in 1998 are much more possible. Judge tied Ruth’s 60 against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Tues day, a 9-8 Yankee win. Leading off the ninth inning with the Yanks down by four runs, Judge blasted his homer 430 feet into Yankee Stadium’s left field bleachers.

Fast forward, Yanks down by three, bases loaded, Giancarlo Stanton hit a walkoff grand. “I kind of lost my mind,”

said Judge, more excited about Stan ton’s homer and the Yankees’ win than his milestone.

“That’s a signature Giancarlo Stan ton 10-foot laser to the outfield. I had a good front-row seat for that one. I think the whole team lost its mind, and the stadium erupted.”

Judge, appearing selfless through all of the well deserved attention, is putting the team and his teammates first, at least for now, as he will be in line for one of the largest contracts in baseball history when he becomes a free-agent this off-season.

“We have some big games coming up,” noted Judge after jacking his 58th and 59th homers against the Milwaukee Brewers last week. “That’s really the only thing on my mind right now. My focus is to go out there and win a game.” Accord ing to Judge, jacking homers isn’t his goal when he’s at the plate.

“I focus on doing what I can to be a good teammate, help the team win. If that means hitting a homer, then it means hitting a homer, but it’s never been my focus, never been my main objective.”

Judge could also win the triple crown as he began Tuesday leading the AL home runs, batting average (.314) and RBIs (128).

It’s time for the Mets to show and prove in the NL East race

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

As the regular season comes to dramatic close for the Mets, it’s time for them to reveal if they have championship DNA.

No doubt the Mets are a bona fide World Series contender. At 97-58 before facing the Miami Marlins last night (Wednesday) at CitiField, they were tied for the third best record in Major League Baseball. That’s a better record than 26 of MLB’s 30 teams, includ ing the Yankees, who were 95-59, the St. Louis Cardinals (90-65) and the Cleveland Guardians (86-68).

All of those teams had already clinched the American League East, National League Central and American League Central division titles respectively. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers (106-48) and the Houston Astros (102-53) had better marks. The Mets’ un settled circumstances are in part self-inflicted and a result of them being in the same division as the Atlanta Braves, the defending

World Series champion and their longtime nemesis.

By losing to the Miami Marlins at home 6-4 on Tuesday night, coupled with an 8-2 Braves win over the Washington Na tionals, the Mets fell into a tie with the Braves in the NL East and will begin a critically im portant three-game series with them in Atlanta tomorrow night.

The Mets will conclude the reg ular season playing the Wash ington Nationals three games in Queens scheduled for next Monday, Tuesday and Wednes day. The Braves end with three road games versus the Marlins.

Both the Mets and the Braves have clinched wild card play off spots. But the gem is the di vision title. More than being an emotional and optics accom plishment, it will provide the winner a first round bye and much needed rest. Going into Tuesday, the Mets had held sole possession of first place for all but four days since the season opened in early April. That’s

over 5 1/2 months of sitting atop the NL East.

But stumbling blocks such as getting swept three games at Citi Field by the lowly Chicago Cubs Sept. 12-14 gave the relentless Braves an opportunity to close the gap, on which they capital ized. Although manager Buck Showalter’s crew was a solid 8-3 in their previous 11 games before playing the Marlins last night, they were 2-2 since last Friday while the Braves, chip ping away at the lead, were 4-0 since Saturday.

“This is really, really fun being in a race like this,” said Mets first baseman Pete Alonso on Tuesday. “…We just want to continue play ing the great baseball we’ve been playing all year.”

Alonso hit his 40th home run of the season on Tuesday, making him the first player in Mets fran chise history to achieve two sea sons of 40 or more homers. In 2019, Alonso hit 53, breaking MLB’s rookie record, previously 52 held by the Yankees’ Aaron Judge.

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and his teammates will begin a critically important three-game road series with their AL East division rival Atlanta Braves on Friday (Wikipedia/All Pro Reel photo)

The Yankees’ Aaron Judge says winning games is his focus in the midst of his historic home run hitting season (MLB.com photo)

Sports

The Giants lose the game and Sterling Shepard against the Cowboys

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

The hopeful feelings the Giants en gendered among themselves and their fanbase was momentarily suspended late Monday night at MetLife Stadium. As they were heading toward an even tual 23-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, wide receiver Sterling Shepard, the lon gest tenured Giants player who has been with the team since they drafted him in the second round from the University of Oklahoma in the 2016 NFL Draft, tore the ACL in his left knee in what was a non-contact cause.

With 1:09 remaining in the game and on the Giants’ final offensive play, Shepard was running slowly between the yard line numbers and sideline, looking back at the action unfolding behind him when he suddenly grabbed his left knee and crumbled to the turf. The 29-yearold, who returned this season from a torn left Achilles tendon that ironical ly happened playing against the Cow boys in Week 15 last December, will be out the remainder of this season.

He also was sidelined for six games in the 2019 season with injuries, which included a concussion, and was out four games in 2020 dealing with turf toe among other ail ments. One of the most well respected and popular Giants, Shepard was surrounded by his teammates and Cowboys players, all attempting to uplift the resilient 5-10, 195 pass catcher when he was placed on a cart to be taken for medical evaluation.

Shepard ended his season in Week 3 leading the 2-1 Giants with 24 targets by quarterback Daniel Jones and 154 receiving yards.

“To reiterate what I said yesterday, he’s a tremendous person,” offered Giants head coach Brian Daboll on Monday as reported on the team’s official website.

“He worked so diligently to get back, and [I] feel terrible for him that he had that injury. He’s a big part of our team, and we’ll miss him out on the field.”

The Giants’ attempt to hold a 3-0 record for the first time since 2009 fell short as they lost to the Cowboys for the ninth time in the teams last 10 meet ings. The score was tied 13-13 to start the fourth quarter. The Cowboys took

the lead on a one-yard, onehanded touchdown catch by wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in the corner of the end zone from quarterback Cooper Rush with 8:30 left that concluded an 11-play, 89-yard drive.

Up 20-13 afterwards, they added a 44-yard field goal by Brett Maher with 5:58 re maining, countered by a 51yard field goal by the Giants’ Graham Gano at 3:37 to make it 23-16. With the Giants’ shaky offensive line unable to effec tively protect Jones, as the QB was under siege by the Cow boys defense that recorded five sacks—three by defensive line man Demarcus Lawrence— and 12 quarterback hits, there would be no comeback.

The Giants will host the 2-1 Chicago Bears in New Jersey this Sunday and travel to London to play the Green Bay Packers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 5 on Oct. 9.

The seasoned Tomlin and sophomore Saleh have similar concerns at QB

By VINCENT DAVIS

Special to the AmNews

With a 1-2 record to start this season, the New York Jets will be on the road to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, also 1-2, on Sunday. The Jets were thoroughly out played by the Cincinnati Bengals at home at MetLife Stadium this past Sunday, losing 27-12.

“It is frustrating as hell,” said Jets head coach Robert Saleh after the defeat.

Quarterback Joe Flacco has been filling in for Zach Wilson, who hasn’t played since suffering a torn meniscus and bone bruise in his right knee on Aug. 12 in the Jets’ preseason opener. But the 37-year-old veteran may return to backup status this weekend as the 23-year-old Wilson, the No. 2 over all selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, could be ready for the Steelers.

“Maybe you guys know more than I do,” Flacco expressed to the media after going 28-52 for 285 yards, throwing two interceptions and

losing two fumbles versus the Ben gals. “I’m going to keep my head down and keep working and keep doing all I can for this team…”

Saleh did not give any certain ties on Wilson. “I’m expecting him back, but until the doctors say so, I’m just going to say he’s being evaluated.”

The 43-year-old Saleh, in just his second year as a head coach, would sign up right now for a career like the 50-year-old Tomlin has built. Since taking over as the Steelers’ leading man on the sidelines in 2007, Tomlin has never had a losing season and led Pittsburgh to a Super Bowl XLIII victory, ten playoff runs, seven division titles, three AFC championship games, two AFC championship wins and two Super Bowl appearanc es. He holds the NFL record for most consecutive non-losing seasons (15) to start a career.

That streak could end this year. The Jets will take on one of the more flawed Steelers

teams longtime head coach Mike Tomlin has led. They have dropped their last two games and haven’t had steady play at the quarterback position. Gone is 18-year veteran Ben Roethlisberger, who retired at the end of last season. His re placement, Mitch Trubisky, the second overall pick by the Chi cago Bears in the 2017 draft, has yet to lift the Steelers’ of fense. They are averaging just 272.7 yards per game, next to last in the league, and only 18 points per game.

Trubisky didn’t hold onto the Bears’ QB spot and wound up as a back-up last season with the Buf falo Bills. He was signed by the Steelers in March. The Steelers drafted quarterback Kenny Pickett from Ocean Township, New Jersey and the University of Pittsburgh with the No. 20 pick in the first round last April as their poten tial franchise quarterback. Many Steelers fans are already calling for the rookie to unseat Trubisky.

The Jets’ Robert Saleh, who is only in his second year as an NFL head coach, will match up with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin, one of football’s most successful coaches, this Sunday (Bill Moore photos)

Sterling Shepard, the longest tenured Giants player, tore the ACL in his left knee on Monday night in the Giants’ 23-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys (Bill Moore photo)

Robert Saleh Mike Tomlin

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