New York Amsterdam News October, 19. 2023 by AmsterdamNews

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Vol. 114 No. 42 | October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW BLACK VIEW

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM HOW BAIL REFORM IS CHANGING JUSTICE

(See story starting on page 24)

Battle over rightto-shelter law: Hochul backs Adams (See story on page 3)

MisID leads to attack on Black Staten Islander

(See story on page 3)

(Illustration by Thais Silva)

2 October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

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NEW MUSEUM HEAD TROUBLED BY HUMAN REMAINS TAKEN FROM GRAVES Sean M. Decatur (GIN photo)

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INDEX Arts & Entertainment ��Page 17 » Astro ��Page 20 » Jazz ��Page 23 » Theater ��Page 17 Caribbean Update ��Page 14 Classified ��Page 39 Editorial/Opinion ��Pages 12,13 Education ��Page 36 Go with the Flo ��Page 8 Health ��Page 16 In the Classroom ��Page 34 Community ��Page 9 Religion & Spirituality ��Page 38 Sports ��Page 47 Union Matters ��Page 10 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS INFORMATION U.S. Territories & Canada weekly subscriptions:

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(GIN)—Sean M. Decatur, recently appointed to head the American Museum of Natural History, is well aware of the obstacles that await him in his new job. This is clear from an essay he wrote for the Chronicle of Higher Education titled “The Cost of Leading While Black.” “If you are a Black person in America, you can measure with an egg timer how long it takes for an intense disagreement to lead to the invocation of racist tropes,” he wrote. “The dynamics of race in America are fractal: They can be observed at all scales, from the

paths of power in Washington to the gravel paths of bucolic Gambier, Ohio.” His current challenge will be to quickly move forward on the returning of skeletons of indigenous and enslaved people taken from their graves and the bodies of New Yorkers who died as recently as the 1940s. The museum is facing questions about the legality and the ethics of its acquisitions. “Figuring out exactly what we have here is something that is important to do moving forward,” Decatur said. “Human remains collections were made possible by extreme imbalances of power,” Decatur wrote in a letter sent to staff members this week. “Moreover, many researchers in the 19th and 20th centuries then used such collections to advance deeply flawed scientific agendas rooted in white supremacy—namely the identification of physical differences that could reinforce models of racial hierarchy.” Currently, the museum has three

people involved in the repatriation of remains, although Decatur said part of his mission is to focus more resources in this area. Decatur discussed the desecration of the cemetery for enslaved people in his letter to the staff. The cemetery most likely dated back to colonial times and was excavated during construction in the Upper Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood. A photo from that time displays the skeletons that had been pulled from the ground. Workers formed a pyramid with the skulls. In an interview, Decatur called the treatment of the bodies, “disturbing.” In his staff letter, the museum president said of the remains, “Identifying a restorative, respectful action in consultation with local communities must be part of our commitment.” Recently, John Jay College professor Erin Thompson learned about the New York museum’s “medical collection” while conducting research into the ethical and legal questions that

surround its holdings of remains. She was surprised to see the collection included New Yorkers who had died as recently as the 1940s. Efforts to more fully research those remains were stymied by the museum, she said, which denied her access to its catalog. Human remains currently on display in the museum range from skeletons and instruments, to beads made from, or incorporating, human bones. “None of the items on display,” Decatur said in his letter, “are so essential to the goals and narrative of the exhibition as to counterbalance the ethical dilemmas presented by the fact that human remains are in some instances exhibited alongside and on the same plane as objects. “These are ancestors and are in some cases victims of violent tragedies or representatives of groups who were abused and exploited, and the act of public exhibition extends that exploitation.” See INTERNATIONAL on page 37

Home of Claudia Jones memorialized in London By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff One of the former homes of the Harlem-bred radical intellectual Claudia Jones was recently honored with an English Heritage blue plaque. The plaque was mounted on the façade of 6 Meadow Road in the Vauxhall district of London on October 5. English Heritage blue plaques have been placed on more than 400 historic buildings and sites throughout England to mark locations where important events have taken place. The organization has noted that only 4.6% of their plaques in London commemorate places where Black or Asian people have made history. The installation of the blue plaque in Vauxhall took place during Britain’s annual Black History Month celebrations. It was meant to commemorate the location where Jones, a mid-20th century journalist and community organizer, lived for nearly four years while in England. It’s the place where, in 1958, she established the West Indian Gazette and AfroAsian Caribbean News, the first major Black newspaper in Britain. Vauxhall was also where Jones thought of establishing a Caribbean Carnival in London. After a series of incidents culminated in a race riot that saw working class British people attacking African and Caribbean immigrants, Jones thought to feature a celebration of Caribbean culture in the heart of London. “A people’s art is the genesis of their freedom,” she wrote as a slogan for her first Caribbean Carnival celebration, in January 1959. Jones’s carnivals had no direct relation to what later

became known as Notting Hill Carnival (NHC), the activist group TAOBQ (The African Or Black Question) has pointed out, but were among the first to herald Caribbean culture in Britain—something that is now the norm at NHC. “Culture––whether music, art, or dance–– will always provide opportunity to open minds and drive change, and Claudia saw this better than anyone,” Afro British cultural historian and Blue Plaques Panel member Gus CaselyHayford said in a press statement. The Trinidad and Tobago-born, Harlemreared Jones had been a prominent member of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) and for years authored the Daily Worker newspaper’s “Half the World” column, where she wrote about African American and English Heritage London Blue other working-class Plaque is unveiled on the former women’s issues. home of Claudia Jones (English Jones’s links to the Heritage photos) CPUSA led to her being arrested several times. Government authorities questioned her loyalty to the United States and ultimately deported her to England in 1955 rather than to Trinidad, which was still a colony at the time. Her work in England has led to her being acknowledged as one of the 100 Great Black Britons.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 3

Battle over right-to-shelter law: Hochul backs Adams By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Governor Kathy Hochul announced last week her official backing of Mayor Eric Adams’ move to legally suspend the city’s right-to-shelter law. In opposition, housing advocates rallied for a statewide right-to-shelter law, investments in rental assistance and tenant protections, and social housing for all. New York City’s right-to-shelter law was enacted 44 years ago during the Callahan v. Carey case. This lawsuit was initiated in 1979 when homelessness in the city was at an all time high, said the Coalition For the Homeless (CFH). Lawyer Robert Hayes, who co-founded the CFH, sued the city on behalf of homeless men in New York State

Supreme Court. Robert Callahan, who was a houseless in Manhattan with chronic alcoholism at the time, was a lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Hayes argued that there was already a right-to-shelter responsibility in the state constitution. The courts ruled in his favor, then in 1981, the case was officially settled under a consent decree. It said that the city and state had to provide single-night placement, safety, shelter, basic health services, and board for all homeless adult men. Homeless single women were added in 1982 during the Eldredge v. Koch case, and homeless families with children were added to the decree years later during the McCain v. Koch case that technically ended in 2008. CFH said that sadly during litigation, Callahan died while sleeping on the streets on

the Lower East Side. As of now, the city said it has received about 126,700 asylum seekers since last year with about 64,100 migrants still here. City officials started sending 30-day notices to adults in the shelter and emergency shelter system recently, and declared this month it will begin sending 60-day notices to families with children seeking asylum shelters. “For over a year, New York City has led the response to this national crisis, but significant additional resources, coordination, and support are needed from all levels of government,” said Adams in a statement. “With over 64,100 asylum seekers still in the city’s care, and thousands more migrants arriving every week, expanding this policy to all asylum seekers in our care is the only way to help migrants take the next steps on their journeys.”

Adams has also been prying away at the established right-to-shelter law since May. He filed an application on behalf of the city asking for a “modification” and “relief” from the law because of the asylum seeker crisis. This is not the first time a mayor has tried to modify the law. Under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 1999, said the CFH, the city attempted to modify the Callahan consent decree to allow denying shelter to homeless adults who wouldn’t comply with social service plans and rules. And in 2011, under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City tried to propose new shelter eligibility rules for homeless single adults. Adams has finally swayed the state to at least back his play to suspend the law since See SHELTER on page 35

Black Staten Islander attacked on video by deli employee who allegedly misidentified her as transgender By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member More than two months after filing a police report over an allegedly transphobia-laced assault at a Staten Island deli, cisgender bisexual Black woman Jasmine Adams is still waiting for the employee who attacked her to be arrested and publicly identified. The incident’s latter half was captured on video, depicting a man dragging the 35-year-old by her hair, subsequently dumping her onto the street, and kicking her. Adams promptly reported the incident

as an assault on July 28 and an NYPD spokesperson has said the investigation remains ongoing. Now Adams is filing a civil lawsuit against the West Brighton Grocery Deli & Grill to “find the guy who did it.” “For the most part, I’m still trying to process what transpired, but I’m trying to be okay [and] come to terms with it— that it happened,” Adams said to the Amsterdam News. “We brought the lawsuit for a few different reasons,” added her lawyer, Robert Brown. “Number one, to bring it to light just for the transphobic element…and this day and age, with the video, you

really see how she was treated. It’s just despicable. “We may never see money in this case, but part of it was to bring it to light so that the public would see, and hopefully the police department wakes up and does what they’re supposed to do.” Brown, a retired NYPD captain, added that attempts to reach the deli about the incident were unsuccessful and the identity of her attacker remains unknown despite the video footage. He said there is “no excuse” for why the employee remains unnamed. The establishment’s listed phone number was not in service for comment at press time.

According to Adams, the encounter stems from purchasing marijuana for a friend at the deli, which she says doubles as an unlicensed dispensary. She was on the phone during the transaction, which she said probably contributed to a misunderstanding over price between her and the employee. Adams, who doesn’t smoke, asked for clarification for what she was buying, which set off an argument. She said the employee threw the cannabis onto the ground, claimed she was attempting to get him fired, and threatened to call police while Adams refused to leave without a refund. See ATTACK on page 43

PA Williams, electeds finally hold groundbreaking for long-awaited Shirley Chisholm Recreational Center in East Flatbush By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Monday marked the groundbreaking of the new $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center at the Nostrand Playground in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. The rec center, the brainchild of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams during his days as a councilmember, is a project that has been about 14 years in the making. A host of elected officials and community members were present at the groundbreaking ceremony, including Mayor Eric Adams, Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley, Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue, Councilmember Farah Louis, Assemblymembers Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn

and Monique Chandler-Waterman, Senator Kevin Parker, and Williams himself. Members of the center’s newly appointed Community Advisory Board, comprising neighborhood advocates dedicated to keeping the community’s needs at the forefront, also attended. Williams had the vision for a rec center after the shooting of 16-year-old Kimani Gray. Gray was shot seven times by police officers while coming home from a party in March 2013 in East Flatbush. NYPD claimed Gray had flashed a gun and no officers were indicted. “Kimani Gray was shot and killed on Church Avenue, and there was a proverbial fire. Our young people were expressing themselves in not the most constructive way, so a bunch of us went out there,” said Williams. “One of the things that the young people said, [when] we were telling them

‘Don’t be out in the streets right now,’ [was] ‘Well, where do you want us to go?’ And we said, ‘Well, that’s a good point.’” The 26,000-square-foot rec center is the first to be built in the city in the last eight years. It’s set to be finished by 2025. Funding began for the project under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said Williams, despite serious tensions between him and the then-mayor. Back in 2017, Bloomberg allocated $400,000 in city money for a feasibility study and then a starter $50 million toward construction of the rec center, reported PoliticsNY. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio and current Mayor Adams have added to the pot of funding since then. Earnest Skinner, who was Williams’s community liaison, said that back in 2009, during Williams’s campaign for office, there was feedback from the community about

a need for more recreational facilities in the district. He never felt defeated that the rec center took so long to come to fruition, but was “saddened” that some community members opposed it. Initially, Williams pitched the rec center to be located near Tilden Park, but received immense pushback from homeowners and residents. Parker added that even though there were huge fights among community members, people were passionate about coming together to see it done in the end. Bernadina Simon, who has lived in the community for about 50 years and was against the center being in Tilden, said she felt it just wasn’t the right space to encompass everything officials wanted to do. That prompted her to get involved. The DDC is managing the construction with Design/Builder Lendlease, Studio See CENTER on page 43

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Biden stands firmly behind Israel By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

press conference in Tel Aviv that, based on information compiled by U.S. defense sources, Hamas unleashed the rocket As complex and terrible the situation is and is responsible for the explosion. He in Israel/Palestine and ongoing military said he was “outraged by the explosion of conflict with Hamas, President Biden’s the hospital in Gaza yesterday.” visit was exacerbated by an explosion “And based on what I’ve seen, it apthat damaged a hospital and, according pears as though it was done by the to Palestinian sources, killed at least 471 other team [Hamas] not you [Israel], people and injured countless others. but there’s a lot of people out there not While both sides have blamed the other sure, so we’ve got a lot—we’ve got a lot for the tragic incident, Biden said in a to overcome. A lot of things,” Biden said.

Biden did not present the evidence that brought him to this conclusion, but it coincides with the findings of several experts at the BBC who believe the rocket misfired, consistent with the Israeli view. Key to this analysis, the experts asserted, was the trajectory of the rocket and the fact that it wasn’t destroyed by Israel’s Iron Dome. But as Biden noted, there’s a lot to investigate, which may take years. If there’s any good news from this bat-

tlefield of carnage, Biden said that Israel agreed to allow humanitarian aid to begin flowing in from Egypt. Such aid is critically needed, with people suffering from wounds and hospitalization, including a desperate need for medical supplies, food, water, and a resumption of electricity. Even so, a multitude of issues besets these beleaguered Gazans. Troubling, too, is the danger of the war expanding, particularly to Lebanon.

Newark’s guaranteed income program set for review By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff Newark, N.J., is part of a growing push to establish a guaranteed basic income for people who need financial support during desperate times. The city established an experimental guaranteed basic income program for its residents in 2021. Under the auspices of the Newark Movement for Economic Equity (NMEE), some 400 residents have each received $500 a month over the past two years. The cash payments, which came with no preconditions about how they had to be spent, were designed to aid Newark families who faced housing or other financial problems. Mayor Ras J. Baraka will host an event designed to look at NMEE’s impact this coming Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s (NJPAC’s) Victoria Theater. The event will feature a roundtable discussion with NMEE

recipients and Marc Levin, director of the documentary film “It’s Basic,” which features profiles of mayors from cities across the nation who have implemented guaranteed income policies. The evening will include a screening of the documentary film and a discussion about the group Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), which is behind the nationwide push for steady cash payments for people in need. The progressive nonprofit Economic Security Project reported that there are currently more than 100 guaranteed basic income programs in operation in cities across the United States. Newark has joined the MGI movement alongside cities like Trenton, Paterson, and Hoboken; Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minn.; Birmingham, Montgomery, and Little Rock, Ala.; Los Angeles, Oakland, Compton, San Diego, Palm Springs, and San Francisco, Calif.; Atlanta, Ga.; Baltimore, Md.; and the New York-

based cities of Hempstead, Rochester, Mount Vernon, and Ithaca. “The idea behind a guaranteed income is that while most of the folks [who] are in the movement would also support raising the minimum wage and increasing folks’ salaries to match the cost of inflation, …[it] is recognizing that a lot of folks are just experiencing poverty,” said Sukhi Samra, executive director of MGI. “Most of the folks who can work, do work. But there are also folks who are experiencing poverty, who are unable to work––whether those are folks who are disabled, the elderly, and the retired, or people who are doing the unseen labor of eldercare or childcare. We’re wanting to use guaranteed income as a tool to recognize the care work that folks do, which is most often done by women, but these are folks who don’t have an income floor. We think of this as supplementing rather than replacing; this would be one more way to add to the social safety net.”

Mayor Eric Adams joins Rev. Al Sharpton at the 2023 NAN Triumph Awards

See story on page 9

Rev. Al Sharpton (at podium) with Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Director Jonathan Greenblatt (left center) and Mayor Adams (far right). (Ariama C. Long photo)

Funds for necessities More than 1,200 Newark residents had applied to take part in the NMEE program when it was initiated in 2021. To qualify, participants had to be housing-insecure and earn an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. Participants were randomly chosen. In September 2022, Newark released statistics showing how NMEE basic income fund recipients were spending their cash infusions. The report said, “The majority of the funds were spent on necessities like food, household goods, and transportation”: • 40% at retailers and discount superstores for things like food, clothes, household goods, and hygiene products.

• 26% at grocery stores. • 10% on transportation costs like gas and car repair. • 12% for housing and utilities • Other expenses included loan repayments, medical expenses, and tuition. Particpant profiles included: • 77.75% of participants are women, 21.25% men, and 0.5% non-binary. • 82% of participants are single. • Two-thirds of participants have children in the household. • The average participant household size is three, with an average of two children. • 81.50% of participants are nonHispanic, a majority of whom are African American. • 18.50% of participants identify as Hispanic. • The average household income for participants is $8,749. The “It’s Basic” documentary reminds viewers that, during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, the Black Panther Party had called for “…the federal government… to give every man employment or a guaranteed income” in its Ten-Point Program to empower the Black community, and Martin Luther King Jr. was a strong advocate of a basic income to combat economic insecurity. “We do know, anecdotally, that more often than not, people are using the guaranteed income to set themselves up for positions of future success,” Samra told the AmNews. “They know that the program is time-limited, so they use the funds to do things that will set them up for success in the long term. Whether that’s putting a down payment on a house or paying down credit card debt or using that income floor to sign up for an internship that will help them get a better-paying job in the future, we’ve seen folks using that money to invest in themselves so that when the program is over, they’re in a better position than they were when the program started.” The October 24 “Guaranteed Income Works” event is free and open to the public. To attend, register at https://www.njpac.org/event/its-basic-documentary-premiere-with-mayor-ras-jbaraka/ or call 888-696-5722.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 5

Long-time NYC Parks employee LeRoy Temple is assistant commissioner, cancer survivor, and superdad By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

LeRoy Temple’s work is no walk in the park. At least not figuratively. His career, spanning four decades with NYC Parks, was capped off with a promotion to assistant commissioner for citywide services this past August. Not bad for someone who got his start scraping gum off Astoria Pool as a 14-year-old seasonal worker. “You think you know how to clean the bathroom growing up in a household here in New York City—especially with my mother and my grandmother— [but] you [really] get to learn how to clean a public bathroom once you’re maintaining one of the city’s largest pools,” said Temple. “[I] started out working at Astoria Pool and worked my way into a full-time job as a park service worker—that title was broadbanded to city park worker. And then I became a tractor driver and learned how to drive the regular grass-cutting tractor [and] the larger equipment to maintain lawns, and started going from there.” Born in the Bronx but made in Queens, Temple best explains his rise through the ranks with the lyrics from Drake’s “Started from the Bottom.” Along the way, he handled numerous departmental responsibilities, ranging from managing Rockaway Beach to overseeing Brooklyn’s recreational program-

CMY

LeRoy Temple (right) speaks with NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue (Courtesy of the NYC Parks Department photo)

Black New Yorker ming. By email, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue called Temple a “community leader” and said his “personal story is just as inspirational as his professional career.” “In his four decades at NYC Parks, LeRoy has excelled at a variety of roles across the city, moving quickly from park service worker into supervisory roles and managing several districts, including Rockaway Beach—the largest urban beach in the country,” Donoghue said. “His wealth of knowledge, positive leadership style, and tenacious attitude make him the

perfect fit for his latest promotion, to assistant commissioner for citywide services.” The department’s mission is certainly a calling for Temple—it’s hard to imagine anyone staying 40 years with the same employer otherwise. After all, the grass is only greener on the other side thanks to “parkies.” Temple pointed to the job’s impact on young people, witnessing boys he worked with at the Roy Wilkins Recreation Center in Queens who now thrive “in the community as men.” The work isn’t always easy. Temple frequent-

ly led efforts with blood-borne pathogen messes in his district and recalls once cleaning a shooting victim’s brain matter off a handball court while the body was still present. But he always showed up, even after a serious cancer diagnosis, which he still recalls vividly. “I’m working in Brooklyn as chief of [recreation] and we’re looking to do an event, so I have to go to Lowe’s to get materials—I remember walking in and I remember some man whispering in my ear, ‘Don’t worry, I got you,’” said Temple. “He basically laid me down on the ground because I fainted. Fastforward to that Saturday afternoon [and] I’m finding out that I have stage IV colon cancer… but I was still coming to work. I refuse to allow something like that to stop me. “I have what I call the ‘three F’s’: faith, family, and friends. It helped me get through anything. My mantra became ‘Every day above ground is a blessing.’” The mantra was regularly repeated whenever anyone acknowledged Temple’s “fancy fanny pack”—the nickname his team assigned to his chemotherapy medical port holder. Now that he’s “beat the monsters,” Temple enjoys every moment with his five grandchildren, from watching them play football to creating art. And speaking of youngsters, he’s a prolific foster parent. Temple and his ex-wife See TEMPLE on page 37

6 • October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

CM Stevens addresses citywide child care staffing and safety issues By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

In the wake of a fatal fentanyl operation at a daycare center in the Bronx, that left a 1-year-old boy dead and three other children hospitalized, the city’s childcare system is being heavily scrutinized by elected officials. Committee on Youth Services Chair and Councilmember Althea Stevens reviewed the ongoing safety and staffing shortages in child care centers in a joint oversight hearing with youth services and the health department on October 12. They found that months-long backlogs in comprehensive background checks for essential early childhood services employees has led to high turnover in employment, closures, staffing shortages, limited enrollment, and as of late, deeply concerning safety issues. Stevens said that the tragic death of 1-year-old Nicholas Dominici was “every parent’s worst nightmare.” The Divino Niño Daycare in the Bronx, where Dominici lost his life, was reportedly properly registered, licensed and operated by Grei Mendez. Her husband’s cousin, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, was renting a room for $200 inside the daycare/one-bedroom apartment on Morris Avenue. The pair face federal murder and drug charges after a one-kilogram brick of fentanyl was found inside the home. “As a former youth services provider who has direct experience with this complicated background checks process, I am passionate

In this Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 photo, Oumou Balde, 4, left, chews on a plastic strawberry at the Sheltering Arms Learning Center in New York. Balde participated in a program that was produced in conjunction with Sesame Street to educate children about nutrition and health. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig photo)

about how the city can update and simplify their outdated systems to address solvable problems,” said Stevens. “The importance of this is timely, [and] background checks and inspections have renewed significance.” Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, who

represents the district where Dominici died, added that this is especially painful for the Kingsbridge area. She said that there needs to be a conversation for more thorough inspections that look for drug substances. “These children should have been

Councilmember Althea Stevens attending a Summer Rising Site Tour at PS040Q. (NYC Council Media Unit photo)

safe at daycare. Their parents did everything right,” said Sanchez. “We believe that government protocol failed.” The city testified that inspections are usually conducted unannounced at least once annually. The Divino Niño Daycare had a routine inspection that it passed this year, reported NPR. Two councilmembers proposed bills to ensure access to affordable and safe childcare citywide. Councilmember Shaun Abreu introduced Int 1159-2023, which would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to coordinate with the Department of Education (DOE) to complete background checks for current or prospective child care providers, employees, and volunteers. His other bill, Int 1160-2023, would demand DOHMH fast track and complete background checks within 14 days as opposed to the standard 45 days. The city testified that they are working on improving completion times for some 50,000 background checks a year with a better online forum and more staff to handle more volume. In terms of the bills proposed, the city said that a mandate to check with the DOE for every application could slow down completion times since they already consult the DOE database when information is available. Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 7

With congestion pricing, my ability to earn is in danger. Rideshare already pays a congestion fee. Asking us to pay more is simply unfair. Alfred Hill, TLC Driver

RIDESHARE DRIVERS DESERVE

FAIRNESS.

8 • October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

Go With The Flo FLO

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS W I T H T H E F L O

City reups ‘Trick-or-Streets’ program for Halloween 2023

ANTHONY

The Daily Mail reports that “Little Mermaid” star Halle Bailey attended the Glamour Women of the Year Awards on October 17 at One Marylebone in London with her boyfriend, rapper DDG. The actress/songstress wore a Nicole + Felicia Couture dress and Anabela Chan jewelry to the event. Bailey and DDG held hands as they posed for the cameras. Last month, Bailey told reporters that her relationship with the emcee is the first time she has ever genuinely been in love. The annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards celebrates some of the biggest names in television, music, sports, media, and film....... On October 16, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, Caesar’s Palace and SL Green Realty, hoping to win the bid to put a glamorous casino in Times Square, hosted an eight-hour free lunch and dinner buffet at The Purple Tongue for residents who live and work in the neighborhood, reports ABC7 News. Bronx native Fat Joe was at the event meeting and greeting the attendees. “When you have Black and brown ownership, then you are going to have a reflection of you,” Fat Joe said. “The true diverse New York City is gonna be in the casino representing you and in the community.”........ One year after an angel donor’s family gave Al B. Sure! a new lease on life by way of a liver transplant, the legendary musician and New Jack Swing ambassador, will lead the #WalkwithAlBSure, as he kicks off a new role as Houston ambassador for the American Liver Foundation’s Liver Life Walk in association with Houston Methodist Hospital. The Liver Life Walk will take place at MacGregor Park, 5225 Calhoun Rd., located at the Texas Medical Center. Al B. will be joined by the supportive population of Houston with the medical professionals, and family and friends who were instrumental in saving his life. According to the crooner, “My life’s work is now that of being a global ambassador for health and wellness.” ....... Jazz at Lincoln Center and the organization’s in-house recording label, Blue Engine Records, celebrated the birthday and legacy of the late great Roy Hargrove. The Grammy Award-winning musician was named “the most impactful trumpeter of his generation” by The New York Times, with a special concert and dinner event on October 16 at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club in the Big Apple. The exclusive birthday celebration, featuring a performance by the Roy Hargrove Big Band, also marked the release of a posthumous live album, “The Love Suite: In Mahogany.”......

Mayor Eric Adams attends Robinhood/Harlem DREAM’s Trick-or-Treat Street Party in Manhattan on October 31, 2022 (Ed Reed/ Mayoral Photography Office photo)

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member The city’s wildly successful “trick-ortreat during Open Streets” initiative, or “Trick-or-Streets,” is making a comeback this year, turning this cute holiday program into a festive tradition. Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced their intention to expand the initiative to create safe, car-free pedestrian zones for kids and parents citywide. “‘Trick-or-Streets’ was a hit last year, and we’re excited to bring it back so New York City youth can safely enjoy Halloween,” said Adams in a statement. “Our administration has been relentless in our efforts to be creative in maximizing and utilizing the city’s public space, allowing communities to come together in ways they never could before. We encourage anyone interested in hosting a Trick-or-Streets event to apply to join the program, and we look forward to working with you to deliver the safest and most fun Halloween the city has ever seen.” Last year, the major location for Trickor-Streets was the recently redesigned

34th Avenue plaza in Jackson Heights, in addition to nearly 100 Open Streets areas. The hours to close streets to cars were expanded into Halloween night. For its second installment, the city will have Open Streets in 15 major locations in all five boroughs throughout October to celebrate Halloween. “After a remarkably successful inaugural Trick-or-Streets last Halloween, we are proud to bring this event back this year with even more holiday spirit,” said Rodriguez in a statement. “Open Streets has led to many great programs, ranging from the transitioning of temporary open spaces to permanent plazas, bike boulevards, and now to the annual Halloween tradition of Trick-or-Streets. This event gives New Yorkers the opportunity to safely enjoy the holiday along a wide variety of safer, shared community spaces, and I wish all of New York’s ghouls and goblins a wonderful and safe night of tricks and treats!” Programming will include special performances, festive activities, and expanded public space for trick or treating. Community-based organizations can apply for a Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) permit to join the Trick or Streets program online by October 18, according to the city.

John Lynch, co-president of the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance (FDBA), is set to participate in this year’s Trick-or-Streets activities in Harlem. “For three summers, FDBA has sponsored one of the city’s largest Open Streets programs on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, which is known as ‘the Gateway to Harlem’ and ‘Harlem’s Restaurant Row.’ The corridor is home to many minority-owned and small businesses that drive the neighborhood’s economy and employ numerous community residents,” said Lynch in a statement. “Halloween provides an opportunity to bring together people of all ages from all over New York—costumed or not!” The city is also throwing a Día De Los Muertos celebration in early November in Times Square Plaza. For more info about Trick-or-Streets locations and various dates, check out: www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pedestrians/trickorstreets.shtml. Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS O U T & A B O U T

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 9

Total Equity Now’s Literacy Across Harlem March It may have rained on the parade during Total Equity Now’s (TEN’s) 11th Annual Literacy Across Harlem March on Saturday, Oct. 7, but more than 60 intergenerational, literacy-loving community members carried Ziploc-bag-covered books through the streets of Harlem to promote reading and writing, show their enthusiasm for Black and Brown literature, and share TEN’s vision of universal literacy. The event began with separate premarch rallies hosted by El Museo del Barrio on the East Side and Sister’s Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center on the West Side. El Museo del Barrio educator Edwin Gonzalez highlighted the museum’s origins and its longstanding commitment to educational programming as an accessible vehicle for visual and literary arts. Sister’s Uptown president and founder Janifer Wilson, who opened her bookstore 23 years ago, spoke about her vision for her store and the significance of the march. “We are a people, Black and Brown people in particular, of stories. Some of those stories we share in the written word and some of them we have shared through our oral traditions, “ said TEN Founder and Executive Director Joe Rogers, who kicked off the event with a livestream from Marcus Garvey Park’s amphitheater. “Each one of these raindrops, to me, represents a powerful story of

our history, of our culture, of our future, of our vision for what we know and anticipate our community will become and what we are building here today through Participants in this year's Total Equity Now’s (TEN’s) Annual Literacy Across Harlem March, which seeks to promote the the Literacy organization's vision of universal literacy (Bill Moore photos) Across Harlem March.” TEN dedicates each year’s march to the ilar Library, where Belpré worked; and the homeless shelters. TEN volunteer and educamemory of Harlem literary superstars First Spanish United Methodist Church, tor Oceana James poured libations as she enPura Belpré, an Afro-Puerto Rican author also known as “the People’s Church,” a couraged participants to call out the names and storyteller who served as the New York historical landmark featured in The Rev- of Black and brown literary ancestors. Public Library’s first Latina librarian, and olution of Evelyn Serrano, the East HarlemCommunity members enjoyed listening New York Times bestselling author Walter centered coming-of-age novel by Sonia to three poets: 16-year-old Chassidy Lucas Dean Myers, raised in Harlem and known Manzano, who was known for playing the of the Brotherhood Sister Sol; filmmaker, for penning more than 100 children’s and role of “Maria” on Sesame Street. author, and media entrepreneur Kimberyoung-adult books, many set in Harlem. The march also included special stops ly Singleton, who read an excerpt from her TEN leaders guided two groups of march- at the Schomburg Center for Research in 2023 book-length poem I Love My People; ers—one on the East Side and one on the Black Culture and the Center for Puerto and nine-year old New York State poet lauWest Side—to inspiring literary landmarks, Rican Studies. reate Kayden Hern, the youngest member including writer and social activist LangsThe event culminated with the marching of the Harlem Bomb Shelter. Participants ton Hughes’s house on 127th Street; P.S. groups entering Marcus Garvey Park from also played literacy trivia games and broke 24, the elementary school attended by opposite sides, harmonizing their read- into intergenerational reading circles to writer James Baldwin, which today houses ing-related chants, and carrying gift-quality read to each other from the books they carHarlem Renaissance High School; the Agu- books to donate to children in Harlem-based ried along the march route.

Mayor Eric Adams joins Rev. Al Sharpton at the 2023 NAN Triumph Awards By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Rev. Al Sharpton held his swanky annual 2023 National Action Network (NAN) Triumph Awards at Jazz at Lincoln Center this Monday, honoring other leaders in arts, business, sports, and social justice. “The Triumph Awards recognize cultural influencers who utilize their platform to drive social change,” said Sharpton. “As we continue building momentum from the March on Washington and take a stand

against those seeking to undo our civil rights, it is paramount to celebrate those who employ their celebrity to engage people in social issues.” Sharpton and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Jonathan Greenblatt spoke at length about the Israeli-Hamas war and the role of Jewish activists in the Civil Rights movement in the U.S. “The gratitude that I feel at this moment is immense and humbling to be here, but even more so when I think about the work that’s yet to come,” said Greenblatt. “At the same time while I feel uplifted, really en-

Mayor Adams daps Broadway star Leslie Odom Jr. with Sharpton in the background. (Ariama C. Long. photos)

Founder and President of NAN Rev. Al Sharpton (center) stands with Fearless Fund CoFounders Arian Simone (left center) and Ayana Parsons (right center), Tony Award-winning actor Leslie Odom Jr. (middle left), CEO of USA Track and Field Max Siegel (far left), and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (far right) at the Jazz at Lincoln Center on October 16.

ergized, I also have a heavy heart as I look upon the world and as I think about where we are right now. I feel shattered. This last week [was] probably one of the toughest weeks of my adult life.” Mayor Eric Adams presented Greenblatt with this year’s President’s Award for Service and Humanitarian Efforts. “I’m proud today to give this amazing award to my brother,” said Adams. “He has been a consistent warrior in ADL and they have been focused on [coming together].” Other honorees recognized for their outstanding contributions was Tony Awardwinning actor Leslie Odom Jr. and the

cast and producers of Ossie Davis’ Broadway revival play ”Purlie Victorious,” Fearless Fund Co-Founders Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons, CEO of USA Track & Field Max Siegel, and Co-Founders of the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival Stephanie and Floyd Rance. Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

10 October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Union Matters Welcoming migrants to New York for the benefit of all

GEORGE

GRESHAM New York is a city of immigrants. Indeed, we would not be a global center of culture, trade, healthcare, and education without the melting pot of communities that defines our city. At a time when the number of migrants and refugees coming here is growing, we must see this not as a burden, but as an opportunity to strengthen our city for the benefit of all. We must resolutely reject the racism, xenophobia, and division that many anti-immigrant voices seek to sow and instead build solidarity among all families in New York who are building their lives here—no matter when or from where they came. Today, migrants are coming to New York for many complex and often interrelated reasons. This includes ongoing economic and political turmoil in Central and South America (driven in part by decades of U.S. interventionism); environmental catastrophes. including recent earthquakes and the impact of climate change; and violence linked to gangs, poverty, and desperation. The situation in New York has been complicated by the egregious and inhumane treatment of migrants by rightwing governors in other states, including Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis, who have been busing migrant families to sanctuary cities like NYC as a political stunt. Blaming immigrants for a country’s social and economic ills is a tale as old as time. Immigrants are accused of “stealing our jobs,” of causing crime, and of straining our social safety net. Yet these assumptions are simply untrue. Numerous studies have found that undocumented immigrants are significantly less likely to be arrested for violent crimes than U.S. citizens. On average, immigrants contribute more in taxes than they get back in the form of public benefits—a net positive for public services and safety net programs. And in terms of employment, immigrants are vital to the wellbeing of our economy, our food security, and our healthcare system. Take healthcare, as an example. New York is presently facing an acute caregiver shortage after three years of an unprecedented public health crisis during which 20% of healthcare workers left the field. Ensuring that migrants are eligible for employment in the healthcare industry can go a long way to resolving labor shortages and improving care for vulnerable and elderly New Yorkers. In New York’s nursing home industry, over 40% of direct care workers are immigrants. In home healthcare, two-thirds are immigrants. Immigrants are a backbone of our healthcare system, and by providing the newest New Yorkers with the means to seek employment, we can improve care for all. It is simply wrong to suggest, as Mayor Eric Adams has done, that migrants are a threat to New York’s future. We are a proud sanctuary city, and we have the responsibility to look after those who come here in search of a better life, eager to contribute to the community. From the days of Ellis Island, we have long been a city that has shown compassion to those new to this country. And let us not forget that, like today’s migrant families, many of our own ancestors came to New York fleeing persecution, violence, and poverty. Except for those of us who are descendants of the Lenape people or of those who were taken to New York as slaves, we are all immigrants, in one form or another. George Gresham is president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest union of healthcare workers in the United States.

U.N. discusses increasing protections for elders during international #OlderPersonsDay By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff The world’s growing population of older people need to be recognized, and their needs must be better addressed, said Fabián Oddone, Argentina’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, at the U.N.’s 33rd International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) on Oct. 2. The day’s events were centered around the theme of “Fulfilling the promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations.” Argentina currently chairs the OpenEnded Working Group on Ageing (OEWG), the only U.N. organization created to explicitly deal with protecting the rights of older people. The OEWG has been meeting for the past 13 years to work on issues like ageism; age discrimination; violence, abuse, and neglect against older persons; social protections and social security; long-term care and palliative care; autonomy; independent living; access to healthcare; lifelong learning; and the rights to employment. “The current international legal framework provides a fragmented and inconsistent coverage of the human rights of older persons in law and practice,” Oddone said. “Hence, Argentina is convinced that it’s necessary to move towards an international, legally binding instrument to fully protect their human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Argentina is one of many nations now pushing for an international agreement regarding older people’s rights. Several ageist comments that blamed older people for nationwide lockdowns during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic have put more fervor behind the idea for such an agreement. The world’s population of people over age 60 is expected to reach 2.1 billion by the year 2050, the World Health Organization says. In countries like Brazil, the “population pyramid is transitioning,” one representative said. By the year 2060, one third of Brazil’s population is expected to be 60 years or older. Meanwhile, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that “By 2060, nearly one in four Americans will be 65 years and older, the number of 85-plus will triple, and the country will add a half million centenarians. … If the trends continue, the U.S. is fast heading towards a demographic first. It will become grayer than ever before as older adults outnumber kids.” “Seventy-five years ago, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Edith Francisco, a fellow church member, greeted World War II veteran Lawrence Brooks as he celebrated his 110th birthday at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. Brooks was born Sept. 12, 1909, and served in the predominantly African American 91st Engineer Battalion, which was stationed in New Guinea and then the Philippines during World War II. Lawrence Brooks passed on January 5, 2022, he lived to age 112. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

was adopted, one in 20 people in the world, or around 128 million people, were aged 65 years or older,” Volker Türk, the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights said in a taped message played at the conference. “By 2050, it is projected that those over 65 will number 1.6 billion people. In other words, one in six people on this planet will be an older person. “The fact that we are living a longer life is [an] immense cause for celebration: older persons and their leadership, knowledge and experience are essential to inclusive and sustainable societies and to decision making and governance that is informed by the past. While looking to the future now, at the same time, laws and policies need to be adopted to meet the needs and respond to the challenges of aging populations. This means strengthening and investing in social protection systems in healthcare and community-based services. As we saw particularly in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic. All of us, across generations, need to work together to address ageism and age discrimination, which remains—unfortunately––pervasive.” U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres also sent a commemorative message to the conference, pointing out that “Ageism is rampant in societies, from the COVID-19 pandemic to poverty and climate emergencies. Older persons are often among the first victims of crises. Addressing these and other issues is a human rights imperative that will benefit everyone.” The Bahá'í International Community’s U.N. representative, Liliane Nkunzimana, spoke about the differences between older and younger generations and the ways they can recognize one another’s importance. “Young people today are coming of age in the midst of deeply unsettled transitions: much that was assumed to be certain and settled is now being questioned, and there’s widespread acknowledgement that present

day structures are often ill prepared to address the needs of the future.” Bridging the gaps between youth culture and older people is vital, Nkunzimana said. “This occasion is a moment for all of us––across generations––to consult and strategize on how to salvage a culture of trust amongst rising generations; to think about how to commit to finding more refined and enduring approaches to human rights that focus on building consensus and mutual understanding,” she added. Stephanie Firestone, who leads AARP’s global Equity by Design initiative, spoke about how older people are not always secure in their housing. And, often, even if they remain housed, their homes are not outfitted to support them. “The environment that we live in directly impacts our level of functioning and our well-being,” Firestone said. “If it's overly demanding, people struggle. And if it’s under-demanding, people don’t have opportunities to function within their abilities, which then often atrophy. This costs individuals and it also costs society because of the need for supportive services to bridge those gaps.” Dr. Ernest Gonzales, New York University’s James Weldon Johnson Professor of Social Work and director of the Center for Health and Aging Innovation (CHAI), told the conference that paying attention to the way people age and the ways they maintain their societal bonds will be fundamental if we want to promote healthy aging. Most countries have not established policies tailored toward older people, he added, and there aren’t many laws guaranteeing them a right to civic engagement, to non-discrimination, or to the ability to both be supportive caregivers and potentially receive caregiving as they themselves age. “May I even dare say how do we live a long, loving life in community?” said Dr. Gonzales. “That is the question before us today. That is the challenge for us in the 21st century.”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 11

The AFT has launched a yearlong $5 million campaign, Real Solutions for Kids and Communities, that rejects the toxic attacks against public education in favor of working to strengthen public schools, making real solutions for kids a national priority. We are addressing learning loss, loneliness and literacy through transformative strategies that can be sustained, integrated and scaled to help children recover and thrive: •

Create joyful and confident readers by partnering with Reading Universe, First Book, WETA and the Barksdale Institute to help teachers access the best evidence-based reading instructional practices and by continuing to give books away. So while others ban books, we will give away 2.5 million books by July 2024.

•

Expand community schools, which wrap services around schools and make them hubs for kids and families, tackling mental health challenges, hunger, language barriers, healthcare and career supports for families.

•

Provide all children the opportunity to learn by doing. Experiential learning, including career and technical education, engages them in deeper learning, provides them with real-world, real-life skills, and boosts academic achievement. Career and technical education is experiential learning at its best, and it prepares students not only for traditional trades programs but also for in-demand careers in healthcare, information technology, skilled manufacturing and more.

•

Further care for children’s mental health and well-being by demanding that social media companies protect, not prey on, children. The report “Likes vs. Learning: The Real Cost of Social Media for Schools” outlines a series of recommendations tech companies must use to keep kids safe and protect learning environments.

•

Fight for investments schools need, so they can recruit, retain and respect the educators and school staff who help kids thrive, offer a well-rounded curriculum, and provide safe, welcoming and well-maintained school buildings.

These strategies will strengthen and improve public education. Together, they are transformative for kids, regardless of their ZIP code. As extremists try to divide Americans, we know that public schools unite us. The parents of 90 percent of American children send their kids to public schools. And national polls show that parents overwhelmingly support and trust teachers, and want schools strengthened, not politicized or privatized. Extremists don’t offer a single idea that will improve public schools, because they don’t want to strengthen public education; they want to end it—by inserting political divisions, cutting resources, and diverting funding from already underfunded public schools through vouchers, despite evidence that vouchers do not improve achievement. Public schools are the vehicle that anchors our democracy and creates opportunity for our children. The Real Solutions for Kids and Communities campaign is about strengthening those opportunities and helping kids prepare for college, career and life. Join us in our mission to have a positive impact on children’s lives. Explore AFT.org/RealSolutions to discover various ways to get involved, share and learn from success stories about effective programs in communities nationwide, and find more information on great things happening in public schools. Randi Weingarten president

Fedrick C. Ingram secretary-treasurer

Evelyn DeJesus executive vice president

12 October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Opinion Why bail reform is needed EDITORIAL

Like the research he did on qualified immunity, Damaso Reyes now provides deep insight and analysis of the need for bail reform. As he notes, so much of our legal system can be traced back to the Constitution, and bail reform is no exception. “The 8th Amendment,” he writes, states “that excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” That is de jure; de facto is another story where a terrible injustice cries out for bail reform, and Reyes pursues this matter thoroughly in a 3-part series, including an engrossing segment on those caught in the throes of pretrial detention and unable to afford bail. Eileen Maher’s situation is endemic of those locked up and detained because the payment of bail could not be raised. She described her incarceration at Rikers as “absolutely dehumanizing.” Even after she explained to potential employers that she was a “criminalized survivor of domestic violence” her plea fell on deaf ears. Reyes, through an array of interviews with experts and data, has amassed a compelling history of the long fight for bail reform that was finally passed in 2019, a veritable revolution, he contends, “in the bail system in New York.” This editorial is but a truncated version of Reyes’ rigorous chronicling of the bumpy road to bail reform and once again he demonstrates the need for investigative journalism, particularly as it pertains to the seemingly impervious injustices in our legal system.

Member

Alliance for Audited Media

Criminalizing poverty: Cash bail as a public health emergency By COLETTE KIRKPATRICK

physical violence to economic burdens, the cash bail system harms the health of our communities. The bail system reinforces cycles of violence against Black people, who are already disproportionately policed and incarcerated. On average, Black people are more likely to be assigned cash bail for the same crime than white counterparts, and bail

To fully understand the story of 18-yearold Djibril Niyomugabo, retrace the facts of his case. Djibril was arrested for allegedly breaking into a car and stealing a bottle of wine. His bail was set at $200, a price that Djibril and his family could not afford. After three nights in jail, he committed suicide—he was found hanged in his jail cell on January 11, 2016, and died two days later on January 13, 2016. Djibril’s family and attorney say that what ultimately cost Djibril his life was their inability to afford bail. Unfortunately, Djibril’s story is one that is common in our current cash bail system. Since the invention of cash bail, a person’s life and liberty in the pretrial system has been based on their wealth. This policy disproportionately affects poor Black people, and the inability to pay is often a death sentence. It is of the utmost importance that we institute national bail reform that eliminates the cash bail system. Originally, cash bail was supposed to ensure that those who were charged with a crime could remain free until their trial, with bail “Money Rules” (Illustration by Felipe Galindo) used as an incentive to show up for trial. Underpinning this original idea amounts for Black people are 35% higher is the notion that those who were out on than for white people. Once incarcerated, bail were still presumed innocent. they face a myriad of threats to health, beThe concept works well for those who cause imprisonment dramatically heightare wealthy, because they pay their col- ens likelihood of sexual assault, chronic lateral and are set free. Poor people who and infectious diseases, and suicide. are unable to pay bail face a different set The cash bail system also poses a threat of consequences, because cash bail is a to Black families and their communities. major threat to the Because it is often paid for with the assishealth of marginalized tance of friends and family, bail drains the communities. resources from a community. It further disPretrial incarceration rupts a family’s economic stability by afcan cause severe mental fecting a person’s ability to retain jobs and Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher health distress, as in the gain employment in the future. and Editor in Chief case of Djibril, as well as Pretrial imprisonment can also cause irjob loss and immediate reparable damage to children who suffer Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor social isolation, because from family separation. Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor those who remain in jail All these factors accumulate to ensure Damaso Reyes: Investigative Editor during pretrial are crim- that families are locked into a cycle of ecoSiobhan "Sam" Bennett: inalized and presumed nomic turmoil and emotional distress, all Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Advertising guilty before having before going to trial. Wilbert A. Tatum (1984-2009): their day in court. From Proponents of cash bail argue that bail Chairman of the Board, CEO and Publisher Emeritus mental health stress to reform is a threat to public safety by allow-

ing dangerous criminals to roam the streets before trial. However, attempts to demonize bail reform are typically thinly veiled racist attempts to maintain white power structures. Conservative fear-mongering, as well as rising crime rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, have shifted public perceptions about bail reform, but there is no evidence to suggest that bail reform leads to an increase in crime. New York, which eliminated cash bail in misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies, found no association between bail reform and crime increases. In fact, bail may actually increase crime: One study found that cash bail was linked to a 6–9% increase in recidivism. Among those in support of cash bail are prosecutors, who often exploit the system and coerce those who are incarcerated into taking plea deals. They frame bail reform as a threat to public safety while lining their pockets and padding their report cards, when the real threat to public safety is the harm that cash bail inflicts on the health of our most vulnerable. Cash bail is a violent system that functions to reinforce cycles of poverty and incarceration for Black people. Efforts to shut down bail reform are rooted in the desire to maintain the status quo—not public safety. An equitable approach to community health would ensure that communities of color do not continue to suffer at the hands of the legal system. To truly protect the health and well-being of our communities, we must demand national bail reform. Campaigning for and electing local leaders who support the abolition of cash bail is exceedingly important, because local politics can reflect the issues that are important to our communities. We must continue to remind our elected officials that the cash bail system is a public health issue that deteriorates the lives of the most vulnerable. Breaking the cycles of poverty and incarceration is the only path forward to thriving, healthy communities and justice. Colette Kirkpatrick is a master’s in public health candidate at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Her research interests include refugee human rights, food justice, and the health of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS O P I N I O N

President Biden shows remarkable moral clarity on Israel

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 13

So many books to read … CHRISTINA

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

ARMSTRONG

WILLIAMS

President Joe Biden and the United States have been forceful in their support for Israel in the aftermath of last weekend’s terrorist attacks by Hamas. Biden’s remarks were powerful and unequivocal. His condemnation of Hamas was clear-sighted and forthright. There was no moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas. His message was spot-on. Biden called the Hamas attacks “pure, unadulterated evil” and stated that Hamas is “a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews.” He did not flinch from describing the atrocities that Israelis had suffered: “Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children. Stomach-turning reports of…babies being killed. Entire families slain. Young people massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace…Women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies. Families [hiding] their fear for hours and hours, desperately trying to keep their children quiet to avoid drawing attention.” The “bloodthirstiness” of Hamas is reminiscent of “the worst rampages of ISIS.” He warned other parties (i.e., Iran and Hezbollah) to stay out of it. Biden displayed remarkable leadership in the moment. “[W]e must be crystal clear,” he said. “We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack.” He backed up his words with action, sending a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean and delivering munitions and military equipment to Israel, including interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome missile defense system. The U.S. Department of Defense has warned Iran and Hez-

bollah to back off; otherwise, the U.S. is prepared to come to Israel’s defense. The contrast with the radical ideologues of the Black Lives Matter movement and leftist student groups on campuses throughout the United States, among others, could not be more clear. BLM’s Chicago chapter posted a graphic of a paragliding Hamas terrorist with the words “I Stand with Palestine” emblazoned under the image. The group also shared an infographic in which supporters of Hamas “educate” those who say Hamas’s hostage-taking was a bad thing: “The few Israeli ‘hostages’ are in fact Israeli soldiers and Israeli army generals who are responsible for keeping Palestinians hostage in the world’s largest open air prison, Gaza. The 2.4 million Palestinians held hostage are all civilians.” The pro-Hamas character in the graphic, who represents BLM’s position, continues, “There is a lot of disinformation being spread about what Hamas are doing based in racist and Islamophobic tropes of Muslims and Arabs…Such disinformation is being used to dehumanise [sic] the Palestinian civilians that Israel has declared genocide upon in Gaza.” BLM’s Los Angeles chapter also chimed in: “When a people have been subject to decades of apartheid and unimaginable violence, their resistance must not be condemned, but understood as a desperate act of selfdefense…May the borders, checkpoints, prisons, police, and watchlists that terrorize our communities crumble and may the world we build from their ashes honor those who have fallen in struggle.” Student groups at American universities have also expressed support for

Hamas’s atrocities. Dozens of student organizations at Harvard blamed Israel exclusively: “the apartheid regime is the only one to blame.” Students for Justice in Palestine at Swarthmore called the terrorist attacks “valiant,” adding that the group supports “the right of the Palestinian people to resist the Zionist regime by any means necessary and honors the martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for liberation.” These are but two examples of the moral rot that is being exhibited on American campuses. Meanwhile, Hamas supporters in Times Square held up swastikas. Let’s run down what BLM, these student organizations, and these protesters support: an invasion of Israel in which Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,200 people (including babies in their cribs) on the deadliest day for the Jews since the Holocaust; abducted civilians (including a Holocaust survivor); videotaped themselves mocking kidnapped children; raped women next to the bodies of their dead friends; paraded corpses; burned people alive; and killed family pets, all while expressing glee amid desperate screams for mercy. The American government, and the overwhelming majority of the American people, are another matter. President Biden could not have been clearer on Tuesday: “Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination. Its stated purpose is the annihilation of the State of Israel and the murder of Jewish people.” President Biden is to be commended for his moral leadership and his decisive action in support of America’s ally Israel during a time of true horror for the Jewish people.

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GREER, PH.D. There are so many great books to read that I sometimes feel like I’ll never have time to get through them all. What makes matters even more busy for me is the number of new book releases by friends and colleagues. I am drowning in an abundance of great literature, memoir, and nonfiction. First, Michael Harriot has just published his New York Times bestselling book “Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America,” which is a brilliant and more accurate account of American history. If anyone has listened to his The Grio Daily Podcast, you know that Harriot is one of the sharpest political minds of this moment. His mix of wit, humor, and deep knowledge of American politics and history make this book essential for anyone interested in better understanding how the past affects our present circumstances and our tenuous future. Second, Leslie Jones’s new memoir “Leslie F*cking Jones” is a touching and thoughtful memoir that gave me a new level of respect and appreciation for Jones as a comedian, storyteller, and Black woman. Her perseverance and knowledge of self serve as a reminder that we are in control … even when things seem uncertain and unfair. After reading about Jones’s journey to comedy, I absolutely cannot wait to see her expand into dramatic roles and more writing. Third, Mitch Jackson’s new and incredibly beautiful book, “Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion,” is a necessary addition for every coffee table. If you love basketball, fashion, Black people, or histo-

ry, this book is for you. The photographs and Jackson’s attention to detail create a memorable walk down sports and fashion memory lane. The NBA is such an iconic institution and Jackson captures its evolution beautifully. Fourth, “Obvious in Hindsight” is the new work of fiction by Bradley Tusk, venture capitalist and political strategist turned novelist. It’s a page-turning futuristic debut novel that has me thinking about the future of cities, the various types of people and industries that make cities work, and how we make alliances to advance our wants and needs. I love a book that’s hard to put down and Tusk definitely delivered. Lastly, Dr. Tanisha Ford’s new work, “Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement,” is a thorough book that gives us yet another lens through which to better understand the Civil Rights Movement, the role of Black women, and the nuances of class diversity in this important time period. I am so thankful for historians like Ford who give so much attention to detail when retelling the stories of Blacks in America. I hope you find time to enjoy these books and all of the other great literature out there. Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio; and a 2023–24 Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at CCNY.

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Caribbean Update

Caricom condemns savage nature of Middle East conflict BY BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews Caribbean Community governments this week condemned what they termed the savage nature of the Israel–Hamas war in the Middle East, calling for an immediate ceasefire while restating the region’s position that a two-state solution is the way to go. “The savage nature of the attacks and counterattacks are the antithesis of civilized life and living. Innocent lives are being lost amidst the fervor and violence of the actual combatants,” the 15-nation grouping said. “Caricom thus joins the responsible members of the international community in calling for an immediate ceasefire and end of hostilities by all parties. The recent round of hostilities reflects the pain and suffering of ancient quarrels. A two-state solution is the best way to achieve comprehensive peace, security, and tranquility between Israel and Palestine,” the governments argued. As governments appealed for peace, antiIsrael demonstrations and protest actions are beginning to emerge not only among the region’s Islamic population, but in the general population as well. At the weekend, protest marches were staged in Guyana and Trinidad, each with a Muslim population of around 6-7%. The current Guyanese president is Muslim. On Sunday, about 300 Guyanese Muslims and Christians took part in a protest walk

“Caricom thus joins the responsible members of the international community in calling for an immediate ceasefire and end of hostilities by all parties.” in Georgetown, the capital, where former President Donald Ramotar also addressed the crowd. In neighboring Trinidad, about 500 people marched down city streets to protest Israel’s overwhelming response to attacks by Hamas militants. The Islamic Missionaries Guild organized the march with spokesperson Imtiaz Mohammed recalling the history of the conflict as he called for support for Palestinians. “Do you support the actions of Hamas? Do you recognize Hamas? Those are the kind of questions that you get from the media. Let me answer that question: One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent said a solution has to be found quickly as war crimes are being committed in this conflict.

“Indeed, Israel has imposed a veritable colonialism, including a harsh settler-colonialism and a forceful, illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, which has given rise to intense Palestinian resistance and a brutal Israeli response. Sadly, innocent lives are being lost, needlessly. Successive governments of Israel, more particularly those headed, or unduly influenced, by rightwing and ultra-nationalist forces, including the current government, have refused repeatedly to ensure the practical implementation of ‘a just and lasting peace,’” Gonsalves said. “War crimes, contrary to international law, are evidently being committed with impunity. A day of reckoning on these crimes surely must come. We call for a cessation of hostilities on all sides and the embarkation of a quest for a just and lasting peace in accordance with the principles and provisions of the UNSCR 242.” As the conflict rages on, senior diplomatic

and government officials across the region are beginning to make their views known. Ronald Sanders, Antigua’s ambassador to the U.S., said in a brief history of the decades-old situation that Israel has used the opportunity of every flare-up to grab more Palestinian land. “Whatever the purposes—and there were many—behind a slaughter of 1,200 persons, including children, Hamas gave the perfect cover to the Benjamin Netanyahu government in Israel to try to carry out a long-desired objective by many Israelis. And that is to annex Gaza and cleanse it of Palestinians who are either refugees or descendants of refugees who were forced to flee from Palestine in 1948 when Israel announced its independence and a bitter war ensued between the nascent Israeli State and surrounding Arab countries,” he wrote in a weekend column. “What built even greater resentment was that after the war, Israel destroyed hundreds of Palestinian villages and adopted an ‘Absentees’ Property Law’ by which the government confiscated land and houses that Palestinians were forced to abandon. Over the years, there have been several attempts to negotiate a two-state solution to the problem, but with no success. Meanwhile, with each war, Israel has secured more territory, both occupying and settling it with Jewish people.” He said that now is not the time to take sides and governments around the world need to stop the escalating violence and carnage from which nothing good will result.

The about-face of Caribbean immigrant Karine Jean-Pierre FELICIA PERSAUD

IMMIGRATION KORNER During her tenure as a senior advisor to and national spokesperson for MoveOn, a political advocacy group, Caribbean immigrant Karine Jean-Pierre, born in Martinique to Haitian parents, was accused by AIPAC, the largest pro-Israel PAC in America, of being “severely racist.” This was mainly due to a 2019 op-ed JeanPierre wrote in which she said, “You cannot call yourself a progressive while continuing to associate yourself with an organization like AIPAC that has often been the antithesis of what it means to be progressive.” The pro-Israel lobbying group has “become known for trafficking in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab rhetoric while lifting up Islamophobic voices and attitudes.” In fact, Senator Bernie Sanders, while running for president, accused the

group of providing a platform for “bigotry.” AIPAC has also run a number of attack advertisements against Democratic lawmakers, including Somali immigrant Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Congresswoman Betty McCollum, who have spoken critically of Israel. But on October 12, Jean-Pierre had a complete about-face as the now-press secretary for the Joe Biden White House. The Black, immigrant, Haitian American, LGBTQ White House spokesperson turned on progressive lawmakers in a way that smacked of hypocrisy. Asked by Real Clear Politics reporter Philip Wegmann about calls from Progressive Representatives Omar (MN) and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (NY), who have issued statements calling for a ceasefire and de-escalation of the situation in the Middle East, Jean-Pierre stated: “I’ve seen some of those statements this weekend. And we’re gonna continue to be very clear. We believe they’re wrong. We believe they’re repugnant and we believe

they’re disgraceful.” She added: “Our condemnation belongs squarely with terrorists who have brutally murdered, raped, kidnapped, hundreds, hundreds of Israelis. There can be no equivocation about that. There are not two sides here. There are not two sides.” Talk about “repugnant” and “disgraceful”? What is repugnant and disgraceful, Ms. Jean-Pierre, is your sudden about-face as the new squealer of hypocrisy of America. What Hamas did was wrong, very wrong, but so is the murder of innocent Palestinians by Israel. Why would America support a genocide of an entire group with our tax dollars while the world watches, instead of calling for finding the people who perpetrated the crimes and the hostages, as well as an end to aerial bombings of innocent people in Gaza and the cutting off of all supplies, including humanitarian aid? Are we saying that all Palestinians are responsible for the murder of 1,300 Israelis and the abduction of 150 others?

Should all Israelis be held accountable for the killing of over 1,800 Palestinians in two days, including a Palestinian man and his son who were shot and killed when Israeli settlers in the West Bank opened fire on a funeral? Should they all be held accountable for the injury to thousands and the displacement of more than a million, and the use of white phosphorus in military operations in Gaza and Lebanon and the attempt to starve them to death? As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday, Oct. 13: “Even wars have rules. International humanitarian law and human rights law must be respected and upheld; civilians must be protected and never used as shields.” America and Ms. Jean-Pierre should be reiterating this, not supporting wholesale slaughter in the name of politics and political donations. The entire situation has to be deescalated or the consequences will be dire, even for us in America. The writer is publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, the Black Immigrant Daily News.

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October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 15

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16 October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

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Health PrEP, a key HIV prevention tool, isn’t reaching Black women By SAM WHITEHEAD Alexis Perkins thought her OB-GYN’s office in Atlanta would be just the place to get a prescription for the type of drug that reduces a person’s risk of contracting HIV, but during a recent visit, the medical assistant who greeted her had not heard of the medicines known as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and seemed uncomfortable discussing it, Perkins said. Her provider had heard of it but didn’t feel confident about prescribing it. “She was at least honest enough to say that she was interested in it, but she didn’t really know that much about it,” said Perkins, a 25-year-old nurse, who decided to get on PrEP after participating in a sexual health education class and thinking more about her own risk. She’s still trying to find a provider to write her a prescription. “If I wasn’t really confident in myself, this could have been a very discouraging experience,” Perkins said. PrEP is a crucial tool in the fight against the ongoing HIV epidemic and, when taken as prescribed, is highly effective at preventing infection from sexual contact or injection drug use. However, more than a decade after the first PrEP drug was approved for the U.S. market, one of the groups that would benefit most from the medications isn’t taking them: Black women, such as Perkins, whose gender identities align with their sex assigned at birth. Doctors, public health researchers, and those who provide HIV treatment and prevention services say long-standing systemic factors, such as stigma and racism, are major barriers to PrEP uptake among cisgender Black women. Transgender Black women face obstacles to PrEP uptake as well, especially discrimination related to their gender identity, but many researchers focus on cisgender Black women, who, they say, are often overlooked by the healthcare system and face obstacles like noninclusive marketing leading to a lack of awareness about who would benefit, fewer treatment options for women than for men, and medical professionals wary about prescribing it. These challenges are even more apparent across the South, which has the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses in the country. Women had about a fifth of new HIV infections in 2021, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And cisgender Black women made up an outsize share. “If we don’t figure out how we can change the system, we’re just going to continue to keep failing Black women,” said Tiara Willie, an assistant professor of mental health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. The FDA has approved three drugs for use as PrEP: the pills Descovy and Truvada,

Alexis Perkins, a nurse, decided to get on PrEP after participating in a sexual health education class and thinking more about her own risk. The drug is a crucial tool in the fight against the ongoing HIV epidemic (Sam Whitehead/KFF Health News)

which also have a generic version, and the injectable Apretude. Descovy is newer and comes in a smaller tablet than Truvada, which can make it more desirable. It was approved for men and transgender women who have sex with men, but wasn’t tested on people assigned female at birth. That decision frustrated HIV researchers and advocates, including Rochelle Walensky, who worked at the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research before leading the CDC. In a 2019 editorial, Walensky and her colleague Robert H. Goldstein criticized this “two-tier system,” in which men can get the medication knowing it’s safe for them and with insurance approval, but women can’t. Gilead Sciences, the company that makes Descovy, later announced it would conduct a trial focused on the drug’s use among cisgender women. The company said that study is ongoing, with data expected in late 2024. The CDC, for its part, earlier this year announced an $8 million grant to fund studies on strategies to increase PrEP uptake among Black cisgender women. Black women face the same obstacles as other populations when it comes to PrEP, researchers said, but many do so with fewer resources. Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows Black Americans disproportionately live in poverty and women are more likely than men to live in poverty. Taking PrEP requires regular testing and doctor visits to check for HIV infection, which can present a “tremendous barrier” to access because of cost and logistics, said Michael Fordham, a program manager at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s 1917 Clinic, the largest HIV care facility in the state.

“We’re actually seeing PrEP patients more frequently than we see our patients living with HIV that are stable,” he said. The CDC updated its PrEP guidelines in 2021 to reflect the latest science and drug approvals, but the agency has heard complaints from providers that they’re still too onerous, said Robyn Neblett Fanfair, acting director of the agency’s Division of HIV Prevention. She added the CDC is “moving toward” guidelines that are more “timely and nimble.” Fanfair said her division is also focused on reducing the costs associated with taking PrEP, which can be significant. Just starting on PrEP can cost more than $2,000. For now, the federal government mandates that private insurance plans cover PrEP, even as that rule faces a legal challenge. Still, in a recent study, CDC scientists found some 50,000 people had uncovered PrEP costs in 2018. “Policies that increase access to health insurance, such as Medicaid expansion, can improve access to PrEP,” the study said. “This may be especially impactful for the southern U.S.,” where many states have yet to expand the state-federal insurance program for low-income people under the Affordable Care Act. But paying for PrEP isn’t the only barrier to access, especially in the South. HIV and other sexually transmitted infections can still be uncomfortable for physicians and nurse-practitioners to talk about in the “Bible Belt,” despite their prevalence, said Anitra Walker, vice president of operations at Mercy Care, an Atlanta-area health clinic that gets federal funding. Social stigma not only can prevent Black

women from talking about PrEP with their friends, neighbors, and doctors, but can seep into their domestic relationships, said Mauda Monger, an assistant professor at the School of Population Health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “If their partner is the person providing their housing, their food, and resources for their children, saying ‘I’m on PrEP’ openly may actually put her livelihood in jeopardy,” said Monger, noting further that broaching the subject can put women at risk of physical harm. Increasing PrEP uptake requires expanding access to good jobs, affordable health care, and stable housing, Monger said, to allow Black women to feel more empowered to take control of their health. Researchers also said messaging about PrEP and how it’s marketed has to change. Willie, from Johns Hopkins, conducted focus groups in 2019 in Jackson, Mississippi, with Black cisgender women, who said they felt their experiences weren’t reflected in advertising campaigns for PrEP. If “it wasn’t just gay men or transgender people who are in the ads,” one participant said, “then it would make everybody feel like…it’s not just for specific people.” Researchers have to “work upstream” to undo those perceptions once they take hold, said Jessica Sales, an associate professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. Sales is partnering with Atlanta sexual health nonprofit SisterLove to train a small fleet of “influencers” to host informal conversations with community members and study their effectiveness in increasing PrEP knowledge, interest, and uptake among cisgender women. Perkins, the nurse who was unable to get a PrEP prescription from her OB-GYN, is part of the cohort. SisterLove’s Healthy Love curriculum, backed by the CDC, gives Black women and their social groups the “freedom to hold conversations differently” than they would with medical providers, said the group’s founder, Dázon Dixon Diallo. Failing to ensure cisgender Black women have access to—and are actually interested in taking—PrEP will undermine the fight to bring the HIV epidemic under control, Diallo warned. There’s “damage that has to be undone,” she said. “If we’re not centering Black women in this epidemic, we are getting nowhere to the end.” KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

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Arts & Entertainment Theater pg 17 | Dance pg 21 | Film/TV pg 19 | Jazz pg 23

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Pg. 20 Your Stars

A tribute fit for our ‘King’! By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews A tribute fit for our “King” happened on October 2 at the Edison Ballroom (W. 47th Street) as the New Federal Theatre celebrated its 53rd anniversary and honored founder Woodie King Jr. For decades, King has demonstrated his passion, love, and dedication to theater. He created an organization that has continuously given a voice to playwrights of color, a mission he has taken very seriously. King is someone I personally feel a great deal of love and admiration for, because this is a man who has theater in his heart and whose hearty laughter is a signature at productions, whether he’s producing them or supporting Black actors on a Broadway stage. His laughter is deep and loud, and lets the actors know they have a great friend and theater father in the audience. King is wise and down-to-earth, and has walked with our kings and queens, like Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Ntozake Shange, Ed Bullins, Ron Milner, August Wilson, and Amiri Baraka, to name only a few. He has given career beginnings to actors like Samuel L. Jackson, Chadwick Boseman, Denzel Washington, Phylicia Rashad, Lynn Whitfield, Count Stovall, and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. King has worked with all the greats and continues to do so, and many were at the Edison Ballroom to salute the King, along with fellow honorees Gabrielle Kurlander of the All Stars Project and Sade Lythcott of the National Black Theatre. King was praised on and off stage, and I’m so glad to share it with everyone. Kenny Leon, one of the evening’s hosts, said, “When I think about the career I’ve been blessed to have, I think about three folks: Lloyd Richards, Douglas Turner Ward, and the King, Woodie King Jr., because when I was running those theaters, I didn’t know anybody who looked like me that I could trust. But I went to the feet of Woodie King.” Leon recalled that when he was going to be given a $15-million theater to run, he turned to Woodie because he knew how to direct and how to reach the people, but didn’t know how to run a theater. “Woodie King gave me confidence to run the theater, as did Lloyd Richards and Douglas Turner Ward. I know that my success is our success. I know that I could not do anything—anytime there’s a Tony Award or any award, I know that I could not do anything. Every time I [go] to the podium, I’m taking Woodie King Jr. with me. Woodie, you are

Woodie King Jr. (bottom center) surrounded with love and admiration by director Kenny Leon, documentary filmmaker Juney Smith, back row: actor Ron Hines; playwright, actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson; and actor Tommy Hicks. (Linda Armstrong photos)

Woodie King Jr. with Linda Armstrong.

the inspiration for my career. The stage, the television, the film work is because of you! And I thank you for it. I love you for it! Before there was True Colors Theater Company, there was New Federal. Before I had a chance to do ‘A Soldier’s Play’ on Broadway, there was the work that you and Doug were doing. Woodie, I love you and it’s an honor to stand here and host your gala.” Co-host Lynn Whitfield echoed those sentiments as she said, “This is absolutely stunning, this evening is stunning, this place is stunning, my co-host is stunning. I want to start my comments with the word love. We

are all here to honor a place and institution and a man who has walked every day with an enthusiastic love of storytelling and theater. I think it’s palpable. Woodie’s laugh is full of love and full of celebration. He loves the theater and through his love of the theater, he has brought generations of people who love the theater. At this time in our world, when people are trying to erase our stories, it’s the Woodie Kings of the world who are keeping our truths alive, because if they’re going to take the books, we have our oral history and we have our plays and we have our stages, and Woodie has always wanted to tell our stories for us and people who wanted to partake of us and our culture.” Whitfield shared a story about when she was at Howard University and King was doing “for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf.” “That’s where it started,” she said. “I got to do the show and travel the country and see what it was like to be on the road. I got to go to Australia and see that part of the world. I got to go to London and do that play there. We were there with Alfre Woodard, Trazana Beverley, and Mary Alice. “Woodie King gave me an opportunity to work on all the things that I had been studying. The work was full of love, and Woodie has the greatest respect for artists and love for artists that I have ever seen. I love you, Woodie.” Whitfield added a call for action. “Woodie has kept us connected in his own personal way to theater and this must be sustained,” she said. “We can figure out how we can help to sustain it.

“I thank you for all the love you’ve given all of us and for Ron Milner and all the playwrights, all the directors, all the choreographers, all the costumers—he gave us this playground to learn to be wonderful and to learn to entertain you, so it all starts with love. Let’s enjoy this evening in love and figure out how we will sustain our theater and Woodie King’s love of our people and love of our stories.” Leon encouraged everyone to give what they could to support the institution. “The institutions are the homes for the artists. When they have no place to go, they can come home.” The New Federal Theater has been a home for women playwrights and playwrights of color, including Amiri Baraka, Ron Milner, J.e. Franklin, Ruby Dee, PJ Gibson, Laurence Holder, Ntozake Shange, Charles White, Shauneille Perry…the list goes on. Actors who have come from New Federal have included Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad, Laurence Fishburne, Dick Anthony Williams, Glynn Turman, Debbie Morgan, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Ella Joyce, Leslie Uggams, Samuel L. Jackson, S. Epatha Merkerson, Chadwick Boseman, and so many more. The theater has presented more than 400 productions. Another honoree that evening was actor and theater director Gabrielle Kurlander, founder of the All Stars Project (ASP), who has taken the organization from a small nonprofit to the national level over 30 years. The works of the All-Star Projects strive to combat racial injustice and encourage diversity. Kurlander created ASP’s Council of Grassroots Organizers to look at issues including racism, identity, poverty, and justice. ASP has always embraced LGBTQIA youth and given them a place to be themselves and thrive. Actress Daphne Rubin-Vega sent a video message thanking Kurlander for providing a place for her to feel comfortable and grow. Elizabeth Van Dyke, producer and artistic director of NFT, and John Rankin presented Kurlander with the Humanitarian and Social Justice Advocacy Award. “Gabrielle is a woman of great courage, stature and I so admire her,” said Van Dyke. “She is devoting her life to social justice, to correcting inequities, correcting injustices, inequalities for Black, BIPOC underserved communities, and sometimes she does that to a great sacrifice to her art because she is a brilliant director…This award

See TRIBUTE on page 18

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Tribute Continued from page 17

is in recognition of her social justice work and advocacy to make the lives of poor, underprivileged, and Black and brown youth better, through engagement in the performing arts, through internships with major corporations, through special projects created to promote healing and trust, by expanding the All Stars organization to several states, impacting communities in major ways, by your generous support of other like-minded organizations and devoting your life to changing the world with so much grace.” In thanking New Federal for the award, Kurlander talked about the choices that people make as artists, the impact they want to have on social justice, and the need for more humanitarian ways of life: “NFT has been making its choices for 53 years. Woodie and Elizabeth make choices every day to make the world better, [more] inclusive, and more socially conscious. As an artist, I continue to be inspired by NFT.” Kurlander said that as a young actress in the 1970s she had success on Broadway, but was frustrated that young people had to grow up in poverty and angry that race hatred was an underlying feature of American life. “I became political and when I came to the Castillo Theatre, I knew I had found my theater home, because I chose to do political theater, because that’s where most of the transformation work is done. I was able to bring young people to it through the All Stars Project…I am honored to receive this award tonight.” The final honoree was Sade Lythcott, CEO of the National Black Theatre (NBT), the first national revenue-generating Black arts complex and one of the longest running theaters by a woman of color. It was founded by Lythcott’s mother, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer. Lythcott is chair of the Coalition of Theaters of Color, on the BAM board of directors, and on the advisory board of the Black Genius Foundation, Art in a Changing America, and the HueArts NYC. Actress Kara Young, currently starring on Broadway in “Purlie Victorious,” presented the honor to Lythcott. “Sade, you are a spirit worker, a leader, you are a heartbeat of Harlem, you are a string of the off-Broadway that’s happening,” Young said. She called Lythcott a Tony-nominated producer and said that what “is moving everything forward is her activism for social justice in the arts. She is working with a developer to create a new complex at 125th and 5th Avenue that will provide theater, affordable housing for artists, and a hub for the people and small-business owners of Harlem. She has a passion for the arts. “All this and more distinguishes you…You are the seed of one of the great spirit workers, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer. I am honored to be asked to present this award to you.” Lythcott said that Woodie King Jr. got her

Roscoe Orman came to celebrate Woodie King Jr. (Linda Armstrong photos)

to come to New York to star in a play he was doing. She didn’t want to be in theater because theater robbed her of her mother’s time, but King told her he had a role, Gail in Ron Milner’s “Urban Transitions,” and he wanted her to come to New York from Italy and do the role. She did because it was a starring role with Woodie King Jr. “This play starred Jerome Preston Bates and would have her with an unknown named Chadwick Boseman,” Lythcott recalled. “I showed up…I was terrible, but it is a testament to Woodie’s vision, it is a testament to someone who sees something in us before we can see it and then he works tirelessly to advocate for that. Woodie is a truth-sayer, a truth-seeker, especially for women of color. New Federal Theater is built on the truth of our lives.” Lythcott said King was the first chair of the Coalition of Theaters of Color and passed that role to her 10 years ago. He shocked her by making her the chair. She also said that Elizabeth Van Dyke was one of her godmothers and “was the most divine of all. She has always been fearless.” Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who presented King with the National Treasure Award, recalled the first time he met King. “I was in Michigan touring with the play ‘Home.’ I was playing Cephas Miles and in the middle of the play, I heard this laughter that threw me off just a little bit. When I went to my dressing room, Ron Milner comes in with this gentleman with that same laugh. He said, ‘This is Woodie King Jr.’ I said, ‘Hello, Mr. King, I heard about you, you’re a legend.’ He said, ‘Do you want to come to New York?’ I said, ‘If you have a job for me.’ He said, ‘I have a job for you with the touring company of ‘Home.’” So Woodie King is the reason that Ruben Santiago-Hudson is in New York!” Santiago-Hudson said that when he came to New York, he got a role in “Boogie Woogie and Booker T” instead of “Home.” “But every time I do something, I hear that laugh out there and I realize that Woodie is here. When I hear that laugh, I know I’m safe, I’m loved, and my path was

led here through God, through my Mama and Woodie King. We are all links in a chain. That link adds to another link and that link is power. We are all here because of that one master lock and that’s Woodie. Don’t forget that. Remember where you’re from…People talk about Broadway, Woodie it’s your way!” King was greeted by a standing ovation and cheers. King thanked everyone for being there, the NFT board of directors and Van Dyke, and Leon for being co-chair of NFT’s Gala. King talked about Leon’s stunning performance in “A Raisin In the Sun.” “I said, this guy is going to go into theater acting and he’s going to be very successful at it and to my surprise, that knowledge overtook him and he went beyond and into directing. I find a way to get to all of his stuff: ‘A Raisin In The Sun,’ ‘Purlie Victorious,’ ‘Top Dog/Underdog,’ and many others.” King also discussed the evolution of Rome Neal from actor to a man who creates his own style with Banana

Jackie Jeffries, President of AUDELCO with Woodie King Jr.

Puddin’ Jazz. He praised Carl Clay and other Black theater creatives, such as Lloyd Richards, Glynn Turman, Ed Bullins, Elaine Jackson, Charles Fuller, Trazana Beverley, Amiri Baraka, and Ntozake Shange. King gave a history of NFT and its mission. “New Federal Theatre is valuable to people, [and] to the world,” he said. Many people off-stage at this event also shared why they had to be there. “It was important because Woodie means so much to all of us, but in particular for me. Before I came to New York, I knew Woodie King—I picked up an edition of ‘Black Fire’ and I read it from page to page, and the foreword was by Woodie King Jr.,” said Jerome Preston Bates, currently on Broadway in “The Refuge Plays.” “I got my first play with Woodie King Jr., ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,’ then with Chadwick Boseman and ‘Urban Transitions,’ written by Ron Milner, and so many other plays. I’ve done seven productions with Woodie King. I admire him and I

know he is a blessing for our community. Anytime I can come to something honoring Woodie King, I’m there.” Roscoe Orman called King the premier producer of Black theater for 53 years. “He has just maintained his focus and his love of the arts, and this room has proven that he has done the right thing for so many years,” Orman said. “There’s no one else like him…I’ve done many shows with NFT. He was such an incredible producer, [a] thoughtful, deeply felt artist. He’s still here with us. We are blessed to have him.” Stovall said that “Woodie is the ‘King’ of stage and a foundation of American theater and if you’re part of American theater, you want to honor and celebrate one of its founders.” According to Neal, “Woodie King is an icon. I wouldn’t be who I am and have done what I’ve done if I didn’t have someone like Woodie King to look at and say, ‘I’d like to do the type of theater that he does and be that type of environment.’ I started my own theater company back in the ’70s because I went to the New Federal Theatre.” Lizan Mitchell, currently on Broadway in “The Refuge Plays,” said, “I have to always celebrate No. 1 the shoulders on which I stand. A lot of times with me, it’s actors [who] have influenced me and broken down doors, but Woodie King has established an institution and that is the way that we really proceed from generation to generation. And he is such a wonderful human being. That smile, that laugh. And this man’s intellect is stunning. How could I not be here.” The entertainment featured Nora Cole and Horace Rogers, who sang beautifully. “Support New Federal Theatre, protect New Federal Theatre,” Van Dyke proclaimed. She named many of the actors, theater companies, and creatives in the audience and ended by declaring her love for King. To support NFT or find out more about what it does, visit www.newfederaltheatre.com. Count Stovall was thrilled to be there for Woodie King Jr.

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October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 19

Young stars of ‘A Bronx Tale’ look back on the iconic film’s 30th anniversary By NADINE MATTHEWS Special to the AmNews It’s been 30 years since the release of the groundbreaking film “A Bronx Tale.” To mark that anniversary, a new edition of the film was recently released in newly restored Ultra HighDefinition Dolby Vision and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound. The film will be available onVOD on AppleTV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, Microsoft Store/Xbox, Redbox On Demand, Kaleidescape and cable and satellite platforms in the U.S. and Canada. The new edition will include brand-new exclusive interviews with director and star Robert De Niro and writer and star Chazz Palminteri. At its heart, “A Bronx Tale” is a family drama where main character Calogero (Lillo Brancato) struggles between idolizing his salt-ofthe-earth bus driver father (De Niro) and the slick neighborhood mob boss and wannabe mentor, Sonny (Palminteri). It was also an ode to the Bronx, a crime drama, and a film that delved into New York’s racial dynamics, using Italian American Calogero and his Black love interest Jane (Taral Hicks), as a focal point. Touching, funny, and at times searing, “A Bronx Tale” was DeNiro’s directorial debut, and has cemented itself as a fixture of American popular film since its original release. Both 16 when they acted in “A Bronx Tale,” Hicks and Brancato remain friends to this day. They spoke to the AmNews about their experience. Brancato, then a non-actor who was discovered hanging out at the beach, said, “Doing that film, so many years ago, no one knew that it would be what it is today. But people love it. I’m really touched by that and I’m just really thankful to have been part of that.” Hicks, who was a seasoned theater performer, having appeared off-Broadway in “Mama, I Want to Sing!” for many years, knew nothing about film at the time its casting call went out. “My sister heard about an audition on ‘Video Music Box’ and told me to try,” the actress and singer recalled. Hicks went to the audition, but lost her nerve when she arrived. “When my Mom pulled up, the line for the audition was around the corner. I was like, I’m absolutely not going to get this!” Her mother encouraged her to try anyway. After 10 callbacks, Hicks’s confidence grew exponentially. She laughed as she remembered. “Those last auditions, I went in there with all the confidence that God gives me and I said those lines like I felt they were mine. I looked those people in the face and let them know, ‘I’m your girl for this role!’” “A Bronx Tale” was ahead of its time as one of the first films, particularly as a largescale motion picture production, to feature a young adult interracial relationship (“Zebrahead,” starring N’Bushe Wright, preceded it by about a year). Hicks, who has been married for 24 years and

(L-R) Actress and singer Taral Hicks and actor Lillo Brancato in promotional still from “A Bronx Tale” (Tribeca Film Festival Press photo)

is the mother of two sons, said the characters in “A Bronx Tale “ filled a definite need. “I feel the characters Jane and Calogero were something that the world was waiting to see. There were a lot of interracial couples that were afraid to show who they were because of judgment, because of what the world would say about them, so I think the world was ready to see a teenage couple like that. They embraced us so well. At the end of the day, we demonstrated that love is love despite color. The fact that we could be the poster children for that represents something so positive.” For Brancato, who grew up in Yonkers, being part of “A Bronx Tale” enlightened him. “Growing up, I was closed off to a lot of things. My world revolved around [ItalianAmericans]. Seeing the way this film was accepted by so many different types of people, and being approached by so many who told me how much they appreciated the film, really expanded my horizons.” The actor has been open, most notably in the 2018 documentary “Wasted Talent,” about his subsequent struggles with drugs and crime for a number of years, which led to an eight-year stint in prison. Hicks, who is also an accomplished singer, has performed steadily in films since “A Bronx Tale.” She said De Niro and Palminteri gave her lessons in acting she takes with her today. “They were my first acting coaches. They were my introduction into how to carry myself as an actress, how to give it my all, how to be focused, how to project my lines in such a way that they’re unforgettable.” Hicks is also proud of advancing representation at that time. “I’m happy to see so much melanin on the screen today. I was one of the first to open that door to young girls accepting our dark complexions and not being ashamed or feeling that we’re not pretty.” Hicks’s latest film, “The Agnostic,” will be released in December 2023. As for what makes “A Bronx Tale” a timeless film, Brancato said it was the film’s willingness to go against the grain while retaining its verisimilitude. “In real life, a street guy mafioso-type like Sonny wouldn’t tell Calogero, ‘This girl puts wind in your sails? That’s what matters.’ But we did it in a way that was real, that worked, that was authentic. The bottom line is the film worked, and whatever it was about my performance, it really resonated with people even 30 years later.”

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20 • October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 A

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HOROSCOPES BY KNOWYOURNUMB3RS

By SUPREME GODDESS KYA WWW.KYAFRENCH.COM | CONSULTATIONS 866-331-5088 OCTOBER 19, 2023—OCTOBER 25, 2023

Rebirth of A New Nation: Pluto in Capricorn stations direct from a nice run that started on May 1, 2023 when Pluto previewed—in the sign of Aquarius at 0 degrees from May 1, 2023 until June 11, 2023— what’s to come in 2025. For the remainder of the retrograde on June 11, 2023, Pluto transited back into Capricorn until October 10 at 27 degrees. Now, since Pluto in Capricorn is stationed directly at 27 degrees, this is “The big payback,” as James Brown said in his song, before Pluto fully moves into Aquarius. I will sit it there and let you, the people, put the pieces of the puzzle together. Hint: Investigate the U.S.’ natal chart. “I don’t like to call it revenge. Returning the favor sounds much better.” Author Unknown

Being grounded in silence is key while the 411 is en route on the way to

Well Cancer, change is inevitable for your growth, and you are on a new accord. When things are new, you learn the operation of the functions or at least try them out. As evolution progresses, so do the people transitionDec 22 June 22 the investment and prize; as tough lessons and experiences occur, it’s all for ing into the new, just like learning how to walk, skip, hop, jump, drive etc. Jan 21 July 23 your growth to strengthen up from within and know how to assess the situaLet go of those old habits that fit a certain timeline in your life. This is a tion. The resources you need will fall right in your lap and a little patience is new timeline consisting of new alliances, places, and things to do and required. From October 19 around 9:55 p.m. until October 22 around 2:00 a.m., it’s a cycle learn. From October 24 around 4:33 a.m. until October 26 around 5 a.m., you have been to build on your dreams and terminate/let go of anything that doesn’t bring you value. nurtured long enough. It’s time to get off the breast milk and nurture yourself with all the tools and resources you gained from being nurtured. When you feel overwhelmed emotionally, physically, and spiritually, you are drained. Mentally check yourself as you review what is on your plate. The lion is the King/Queen of the jungle that will protect its cubs What can you delegate to relieve some weight off you? Decide what you at all costs and rise every day with the sun. The song “In the Air ToAquarius need to do that allows you to operate in your gifts and in what you do best. night” by Phil Collins is the feeling you know something huge is inJan 22 Revelations of all sorts are coming to you; no need to gossip, you received coming. You will receive a weird tug, nudge, jerk, sudden emotions, Leo Feb 19 July 24 the message and now the movie will follow suit. From October 22 around or behavior change, demanding of the universe why things are hapAug 23 2:06 am until October 24 around 4:00 a.m., focus on the things that build pening in such a way. Then the universe answers your call, guiding your self-esteem to become more confident in all aspects of your life. you to a location, an incoming phone call, a conversation, a sign, etc to show you. In the days leading up to October 26 around 6:02 a.m., take note, listen, It’s all personal/ business relationships, home, finance, responsibility, and and have patience. Do not get stuck into something that feels like a familiar pattern. everyone calling on you to help. Wait, take a deep sigh, yes you are being pulled, and are questioning why you are doing the things you do. Do not The universe is showing up for you in the darndest way, especially Pisces leave things up in the air in the wind, just cruising away until they blow on the mental and emotional plane. You can feel great one moment Feb 20 far away. Handle your business and respond back within two days, not a then sad wondering what’s going on with you. That is the universe’s Mar 20 week. It’s a cycle to nourish your temple from head to toe and take a minute way of getting your attention. Remember you are experiencing life, Virgo Aug 24 to yourself. A vacation is overdue so start planning one. From October 24 and you may feel like you are in the matrix on some days at a certain Sept 23 around 4:33 a.m. until October 26 around 5 a.m., wise women and men will advise you, so time. All depends on what the universe needs to reveal to you. From listen carefully. October 19 around 9:55 p.m. until October 22 around 2:00 a.m., this cycle week keep applying yourself as your rewards are soon to be redeemed. Finances are looking bright and promising for the time being towards the end of the month. Keep applying the necessary footwork while moving Make the change, like in Michael Jackson’s song “Man in the across the board. The song “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” by McFadden & Mirror.” Libra, you got this, just as you brought that cool breeze to Whitehead is your theme. Mentally and physically, get ready like a step rouinform the people summer has ended. A new leaf is turning as the Aries Libra Mar 21 tine where everyone is in coordination. It’s a cycle to ask what you need and tree leaves are transforming, preparing for rebirth. What decision or Apr 21 Sept 24 want. Disregard gossip if you didn’t see or hear it with your own ears and adjustments do you need to make for your rebirth? You can decide to Oct 23 eyes. In the days leading up to October 26 around 6:02 a.m. leave no time switch gears. You choose what gear to accelerate to your route leadfor distractions, just steady movement towards your progress. ing you to a destination. From October 22 around 2:06 am until October 24 around 4:00 a.m., the route is the preparation, and what you will experience Everybody wants a slice of the pie/cake. What folks don’t innerstand is are your tools and resources to advance yourself. that it takes a special kind of ingredient for a delightful taste, and presentation to make it stick. As time goes on things don’t last, they transform, enWho said you couldn’t do it? You are like the little engine that could hancing and improving on what already is established. There’s a burning and did accomplish the task at hand. Although certain missions are Taurus Apr 22 desire to follow your passion and not everyone can go with you. Allow bydelayed, it’s undeniable that you needed the intel before proceedMay 21 gones to be bygones. You learned what you needed to learn. From October ing to the next level. This cycle week, lay it on thick, heavy, hot, lukeScorpio Oct 24 19 around 9:55 p.m. until October 22 around 2:00 a.m. the things you do warm, cold, just right, because folks can relate to certain stages in Nov 22 in private within the four walls of your home are not for the public to know, and what you their life when things happen for them. From October 24 around make public is like the song “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” by The Dramatics—except you 4:33 a.m. until October 26 around 5 a.m., setbacks prepare you for don’t need to be dramatic. what you are about to experience like an airplane takeoff. Before the airplane takeoff there is slow motion, preparation, and progress and then lights, camera, action. All right Gemini, pulling your bra straps up, tightening your bootstraps, belting your hips and undergarments is required like in the old-school Sag it’s about time the newsflash begins to broadcast. This week days. Yes, roll up those sleeves, you came to play this week, leaving nothfeels like that Kanye West and Rihanna song “All of the Lights”. ing on the table or floor, all business is handled. Follow your first thought Things are heating up and people are showing their true colors. Gemini May 22 when planning, making boss moves with the bosses, and yes, show off You have been receiving clues since January 2023 then in July until Sagitarius June 21 Nov 23 your skillset. From October 22 around 2:06 am until October 24 around now. Wow what a puzzle you have been piecing together. Days Dec 21 4:00 a.m., you have bases loaded, grace upon you assisting you to walk leading up to October 26 around 6:02 a.m., now you have the facts, your team home and advance the company in a higher position. It can be your compafigures, data to make it a finished project or create a story. Folks ny or what you are investing in. will show their appreciation.

 you. The focus is on partnerships, legal transactions, contracts, scheduling Capricorn time in solitude, and listening before responding. Pour into you. You are

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

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 21

‘Broken Chord’ comes to BAM By CHARMAINE PATRICIA WARREN Special to the AmNews The South African collaborators choreographer Gregory Maqoma and composer Thuthuka Sibisi, premieres “Broken Chord,” their reimagination of the first South African Choir’s journey across the U.S. and the UK as part of BAM’s Next Wave. Near the end of the 19th century, the troupe toured under the stage name “The African (Native) Choir” hoping to raise funds to build a school in the city of Kimberley. And although “…the tour was profitable (and even included an audience with Queen Victoria), proof of the Choir’s performances was thought forever lost—until glass plates of the singers emerged in 2014, 125 years later,” notes the release. Maqoma and Sibisi bring the journey to life with a cast of performers from South Africa and the U.S., mixing traditional Xhosa, contemporary dance, and delving into complex themes of colonialism and racism, to create their unique blend of movement and storytelling. This production marks the second collaboration between Maqoma and Sibisi, and the farewell performance for Maqoma as a dancer. I corresponded with Maqoma and Sibisi through email with a few questions about their collaboration and the process of making “Broken Chord.” AmNews: This is the last performance for you Gregory, correct? Maqoma: Yes, it’s been great touring this work as my last offering as a performer on stage. AmNews: Thuthuka, how long have you collaborated with Gregory? Sibisi: Greg and I collaborated on “The Head and The Load” at the Park Avenue Armory in 2018. That was the beginning of our collaborative relationship. With a work of this nature, we consistently tried to avoid the roles of ‘composer’ and ‘choreographer.’ AmNews: How has it been to tour “Broken Chord”? Maqoma: It is a work that takes me to spaces I have always wanted to present. Sibisi: I’m thrilled that we finally get to see this work on American shores and to experience how they hear and make sense of it. AmNews: “Broken Chord” weighs heavily on migration, dispossession, borders, and paths of forced closure. Are you aware that these issues are happening in the U.S. now? Maqoma: The issues are universal and are heightened in some places like in the U.S. and the greater part of Europe. Hence it is important to amplify and highlight this phenomenon for humanity to prevail. Sibisi: I am aware of the current global rhetoric toward the policing and punishing of bodies through legislature and policy. I think this is part of the excavation “Broken Chord” was trying to get into. The story of the 1891 African Choir may be about 16 Black, educated, 2nd generation elite singers from the outskirts of South Africa, but it’s also about violations against difference, dreams deferred and the

Sibisi: This is have been very deliberate about is creating a the macro ques- safe space for everybody. There has to be an tion for this work. understanding that we are creating this work We thought a lot together to speak on sometimes difficult subabout how the jects. We are all responsible to each other; I casting will speak deeply believe in the politics of (positive) care. directly to differAmNews: Thuthuka, how has it been to ences (or similar- tour the work and what are your thoughts ities) between the as it comes to a close? global south and Sibisi: I was just speaking to a friend about the West. Africa the future of things and the potential anxiety has been labeled that comes with such thoughts. By the end we the “Dark Conti- agreed that the only thing that matters is the nent” and, with present moment. I’d like to think about this the “European En- work in the same vein. There are many parts to lightenment,” only come before I can think about “Broken Chord” having a roster coming to a close, but I’m excited to see the of white faces, it work come to life in the Harvey. In my heart seemed both nat- I’m still very much at the beginning of things. ural and organic to AmNews: Gregory, U.S. audiences are lookrepresent this on ing forward to seeing this work, seeing you stage. The chorus and, sadly, to saying goodbye to you. Are you and the quartet [of looking forward to coming back to NYC and quiet violences that persist and transmute. Black performers] represent different sides of this BAM debut? We ask the audience to be more than a pas- the conversation on identity politics, and the Maqoma: I have had the pleasure of persive viewer of the artist’s talents and virtuosity, global rhetoric on difference also made for a forming in the U.S. and I am looking forward but perhaps more. more nuanced approach. to this return to reconnect with audiences. I AmNews: Gregory, is there a personal conWe cast the choir to represent the West in will always make work that I’m sure will make nection to this global situation? every city that we perform. It’s been an inter- a return. Maqoma: I am a citizen of the world and esting process to go through because as much “Broken Chord” runs Oct. 9-21 at BAM/ therefore I am connected and affected by the as we are making theater, we are dealing with Harvey. For more info visit https://www.bam. global situation of a Black body constantly real human emotions and stories. One thing I org/broken-chord fighting against the pushback by the West. AmNews: What are some discussions that both of you have had with the cast of Black vocalists, and with each other about the research that led to this retelling? Maqoma: Thuthuka has been involved with the work way longer as he curated an exhibition of the choir which I connected to and got interested by the thought of an African Choir touring England in a period when the colonizer was taking over our country. The discussion with the team was around issues of Blackness and representation. Sibisi: There was never a single conversation, or one single way of having it. On a practical level I have rewritten the musical score 17 times, this may be the 18th version because my thoughts on the subject keeps evolving. The beauty of being a living composer and making ephemeral art means that the end is never quite written. When we started working CHRIS PIERCE KAIA KATER ELIZABETH LUBIN on this, we afforded everyone in the room to feel a certain way but also understand that that position may change. Because there was no NOV 09–11 | 2023 recording of the original 1891 choir, we spent Black Opry is a home for Black artists working in country, a lot of time creating a story around the singers through research, myths, fabulations and Americana, blues, and folk music—genres pioneered by Black sometimes personal sonic imaginings. artists and being reclaimed by some of the best up-and-coming AmNews: The choir is a cast of white singmusicians of today. Join us for three distinct concerts featuring ers, correct? Maqoma: The choir of white singers repreChris Pierce, Kaia Kater, and Elizabeth Lubin. sents the West. The work is about the tension that exists between races and the constant TICKETS ON SALE NOW! pushback and closing of borders. It is through SYMPHONYSPACE.ORG | 95TH & BROADWAY | 212.864.5400 music that we unleash the characters that continue to perpetuate the ideology of divide and All artists and programs subject to change. Kaia Kater © Raez Argulla rule. Gregory Maqoma’s “Broken Chord” (Lolo Vasco photos)

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IN RESIDENCE

22 • October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 A

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

‘The Refuge Plays’ is a spiritual journey Cast of “The Refuge Plays” (l–r): JJ Wynder, Ngozi Anyanwu, Mallori Taylor Johnson, Nicole Ari Parker, Daniel J. Watts, Jon Michael Hill, Jessica Frances Dukes, Lizan Mitchell, Jerome Preston Baes, and Lance Coadie Williams (Photo by Jeremy Daniel)

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews In “The Refuge Plays,” Nathan Alan Davis has delivered a gem to Broadway that looks at the connection shared by family members over generations; a haunting connection that allows our passed-on relatives to visit us, warn us, guide and advise us about positive, helpful things we can do to improve our lives. I love that they can also give you a few bucks. The world that Davis creates in “The Refuge Plays” will touch you on different levels. Deep down, we all want to believe that our loved ones who have gone on are able to be around us and help us with this journey called life. In Davis’s work, the family of Grandma Early shares a special connection. This Roundabout Theater production at the Laura Pels Theatre Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (W. 46th Street) gives the story of this family in a reverse order. We first see members of the family in the present time and they are struggling, living in a home that Grand-

ma Early and Grandpa Eddie built in the middle of the woods in Southern Illinois; a house that needs wood to have heat, where water comes from the creek, and with an old truck that belonged to Grandpa Eddie. The family members who live in this onelevel home are Gail, her daughter Joy, her grandson Ha-Ha, and her mother-in-law Grandma Early. Gail is a recent widow; her husband Walking Man was killed in a freak accident. Elderly Grandma Early has nothing but contempt for Gail and speaks to her harshly all the time (and has her reasons for resenting Gail). She has a soft spot for Joy and Ha-ha, however. Everyone in this family has experienced seeing and speaking with Walking Man. What he tells Gail is shocking. There are a lot of spiritual aspects in this production. As the scenes change, you are taken into detailed moments of the backstory of the matriarch of this family. You learn about her parents, get to know what Walking Man was like as a young man, and see when he first met Gail. Finally, we see where Grandma Early’s story began. There is something very poignant about

watching a story told backward, in a manner of speaking. The play is 3½ hours with two intermissions, but it is worth it. You walk out feeling a connection to your own family tree. The cast is terrific. Early is played by Nicole Ari Parker, who delivers every metamorphosis of this character with distinction and vitality. She has a marvelous presence on stage that will grip your attention. Jessica Frances Dukes is extraordinary as Gail. Her emotions are so raw and so real, and her reactions to her mother-in-law, Grandma Early, are so understandable. You truly sympathize with this character on many levels, but you also understand her sudden change of spirit. Ngozi Anyanwu is wonderful as Joy. She is trying to balance her love and respect for her grandmother with her need to defend her mother. She is also someone who is being thrust into responsibility. JJ Wynder as Ha-Ha, Joy’s son, is charming. He has been sheltered a lot from the outside world and he seems fine with the simple existence he has with his family in the woods. He buys into the ways of his

family, which is very interesting. Crazy Eddie, Early’s husband, is magnificently played by Daniel J. Watts. He delivers this character with a lot of compassion, understanding, and gentleness. Lance Coadie Williams is completely funny, delightful, and engaging as Dax, Crazy Eddie’s younger gay brother. Mallori Taylor Johnson is quite lovely as Symphony, a love interest for Ha-Ha and someone who has a mysterious connection with the family. Lizan Mitchell is stunning as Clydette, the mother of Early and grandmother of Walking Man. She delivers her role with grace, tenderness, and love. She is joined in this gorgeous delivery by Jerome Preston Bates as he plays Reginald, Early’s father and Walking Man’s grandfather. These spirits walk the earth to assist their living generations on their journeys in life. The spirits also facilitate what needs to happen to continue a very spiritual journey for this family. What do I mean? You’ll have to go to see it to find out. For more info about “The Refuge Plays,” visit roundabouttheatre.org.

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Tongues of Fire, Glasper residency, Jazzmobile (L-R): Danny Mixon, Robin Bell-Stevens, Mark Fransman (Ron Scott photo)

Harlem Stage (130 Convent Avenue) is celebrating its 40th anniversary and remains at the forefront of revolutionary thought, music as a mind stimulus, poetic words that motivate action, and dance to invigorate the soul. On October 20–21, Harlem Stage will feature renowned trombonist, didgeridoo player, and composer Craig Harris presenting Tongues of Fire (in a Harlem state of mind). It’s a concert of music featuring musicians bassist Calvin Jones, keyboardist Henry Jeria, and drummer Damon DueWhite; four poets, including nine-yearold Kayden Hern, Luther Isler aka Anubis, Cordell “Ngoma” Hill, and Naomi Extra; and four vocalists and one dancer, plus visuals. It’s a concert of music, poetry, and movement that explores the evolution of the Harlem community from the mid-1970s to the present day. “We need to document what went on during that period or that part of our history could be misinterpreted or eliminated altogether,” said Harris. “During the 1970s, poets had a stage presence and could sit in with bands. This performance is dedicated to Harlem native Sekou Sundiata, who I worked with on many occasions. He often performed with his own band, like Amiri Baraka, the Last Poets, Gil Scott-Heron, Ntozake Shange, Sonia Sanchez, and Imhotep Gary Byrd.” These poets had a stage presence—they became part of the band, like Babs Gonzales. Poets and music date back to the collaboration of Charles Mingus and Langston Hughes on “The Weary Blues,” and his poetry collaboration with Randy Weston. At the time, poetry was so hip in Harem that the popular night club that graced 125th Street often had poetry readings. “Tongues of Fire” relates to having a fiery tongue, being very direct, a boldness of speech. “This production is a balance of stage and the page and dance. I call it TAI, Total Art Integration,” said Harris during our phone interview. One show each night 7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. For tickets, visit the website harlemstage.org. Pianist, arranger, composer, and songwriter Robert Glasper premiered at the Blue Note Jazz Club in 2018, which has become his annual month-long residency. These residencies have consistently been sold out. If a music lover goes through October without going to see Glasper at least once, they are missing out on an incredible musical experience. The night I attended, it was wall-to-wall people from the deep crevasses behind the bar to the door. Most astonishing was the clientele: an abundance of

young folks in their 20s, which is amazing to see in any jazz club, and older jazz fans, all in attendance to hear great music despite the mixed genres. Glasper’s residency is a uniquely curated improvisation of twists and turns; a testimony to the extensiveness of his musical kaleidoscope. His bandmate collective always adds another perspective to the music, such as the band with Yaslin Bey and a trio with Esperanza Spalding. But most of all, it’s the element of surprise guests who show up, who have ranged from Black Thought to Angela Davis and Ilyasah Shabazz, Dave Chappelle, and Tiffany Haddish, many of whom have performed with Glasper as well as watching the show. The exciting residency of Glasper continues now through October 29 at the storied Blue Note jazz club (131 West 3rd Street). October 19 will feature Robert Glasper X with multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Amber Navran (of the alternative R&B band based in L.A.), the configuration will include bassist Burniss Travis, drummer Justin Tyson, and DJ Jahi Sundance (a multi-instrumentalist who’s created a sonic experience, drawing from a number of sources such as samples of songs, YouTube clips, and his vast knowledge of breaks and music history).

On October 20–21, Glasper X presents his super group (formed in 2020) Dinner Party, featuring rapper and singer Terrace Martin and saxophonist/composer Kamasi Washington. On October 22, Dinner Party returns with their fourth group member, 9th Wonder, a DJ and hip hop record producer. On October 25–26, Glasper pays tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Glasper closes out his residency on October 27–29 with D Smoke (a rapper and songwriter from CA, whose debut album Black Habits earned him nominations for Best Rap Album). For more information and reservations, visit the website at bluenotejazz.com or call 212-475-8592. Jazzmobile has become a New York City staple, with its principal locations— Marcus Garvey Park and Grant’s Tomb— becoming weekly jazz shrines during their annual Summerfest. Robin Bell-Stevens, Jazzmobile director and executive producer, also has access to Harlem’s InterChurch Center and Aaron Davis Hall during fall and winter months. Most recently, Jazzmobile debuted “Sessions in the Gallery” at a new venue that is much smaller than what Jazzmobile fans are accustomed to. This fine-looking Artful Walls Gallery (246 Lenox Avenue) presents

an intimate cozy ambience, as if you were experiencing this live music in the comfort of your own living room. The one-hour introduction featured pianist and composer Danny Mixon and his Trio, bassist Bryce Sebastien, and drummer Chuck Ferruggio. The trio took the audience on a jazz journey, playing such standards as Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island,” Wayne Shorter’s beautiful “Infant Eyes,” and Duke’s “Take the A Train” with a little Mixon soul. Every time Mixon performs, it’s easy to see what an exceptional pianist he is. For me, he has that Count Basie flair and as a native Harlemite, he adds a deep soulness to anything he plays, a bluesy tone with a bit of stride piano chords. The rainy evening quickly became sunny with Mixon’s music that was accented with his stage invitation to visiting South African multi-instrumentalist Mark Fransman, who joined the trio in a rousing version of Sonny Rollins’s “Blue Seven.” They all stretched out on this one, with Fransman getting an opportunity to show off his stuff. His long solo demonstrated his chops, great phrasing, and daring improvisational skills. Ironically, just last week, Fransman had the pleasure of playing the great Sonny Rollins tenor saxophone during a visit to Hartsford, CT, where he met with his former music professor, the prominent saxophonist/flautist and composer Rene McLean. The saxophone was given to McLean by his godfather Sonny Rollins. “It was awesome to see and hear Mark play on this side of the Atlantic as the first recipient of the Transatlantic Jazz Exchange after many years having taught and mentored him during my sojourn in South Africa teaching at UCT (1993-99),” said McLean. “It’s a wonderful feeling to see the fruits of your labor and the seeds you’ve sowed in the Motherland come to fruition.” Fransman, aka “Sonik Citizen,” is enjoying his first visit to the States and most specifically to Harlem and greater Manhattan. He is visiting as a residency recipient of the Transatlantic Jazz Exchange. The embryonic nonprofit organization aims to foster artistic growth, share crosscultural music and history, and forge lasting bonds between musicians from South Africa (Cape Town) and the African Diaspora and Chicago and New York City. The organization was 10 years in the making and is the brainchild of South African bank executive Nasia Seria and jazz writer Ronald Scott. “We are delighted to introduce our pilot artist, Mark, who embodies the spirit of this extraordinary initiative,” said Seria. “Join us for an unforgettable experience as we launch the Transatlantic Jazz Exchange. It’s not just about the music—it’s about cultural connections, celebrating diversity, and embracing the universal language we call jazz.”

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BEYOND THE OF THE

I N V E S T I G A T I O N

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM: P A R T

HOW BAIL BECAME A WAY TO JAIL THE POOR

By DAMASO REYES Blacklight Investigative Editor

Sitting like a sentinel at the throat of the East River, Rikers Island has had many lives since it was first purchased by Dutch immigrant Abraham Rycken in the 1600s. After New York City bought the island, which was then less than 90 acres, it served as training grounds for the 9th New York Infantry during the Civil War and later became a dumping ground for the city’s ashes and garbage. Only in the 1930s did it start the transformation to become the jail that today houses more than 5,000 people, 90% of whom are being held in pre-trial detention, meaning that they have not been convicted of any crime and are awaiting trial. Nearly 20% of those held at Rikers have been there between six months and one year; 14% have been held one to two years, and 8% (or nearly 500 people), have been detained at Rikers for more than two years. But who gets held at Rikers and other jails around the country and why? For many less serious charges for alleged crimes, which the system classifies as misdemeanors, it comes down to cold, hard cash—or the lack of it. In the U.S., when someone is charged with a crime, judges often have the power to set them free while they await trial or have them held if they fear they will not return to court. But for centuries a third option has existed: bail. Instead of simply promising to come back to court, the accused, or someone on their behalf, can put up money as a way to incentivize their return. If the accused fails to appear, the money may be forfeited. So, if the accused is wealthy, or can find someone to post bail, the ac-

cused goes free. But if you don’t have the money to bail yourself out, you can be held until you have been convicted or found innocent—a process that can take years in some cases. And the fact that those with means go free and those without are held in jail has prompted activists and advocates to push for bail reform for years. “People have been advocating for reform for two reasons. One, it feels unfair when [there’s] someone who can pay their bail and another person can't. It's unfair that there's a wealth-based component to it,” said Jullian Harris-Calvin of the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit that advocates for changes to the carceral system. Harris-Calvin said that she and her colleagues “saw that the racial disparities that existed in our pretrial justice system when it comes to pretrial incarceration were dramatic.” According to a report from the Center for Justice Innovation, in 2019 “in violent felony cases, judges set bail or remand for 66% of Black, 64% of Hispanic/Latinx, and 55% of white defendants.” In 2019, after years of struggle, bail reform was passed in New York State, but in the lead up to the bill’s passage, and immediately afterward, bail reform was blamed for the increasing amount of crime in some categories. In January 2019 the AmNews reported: “They did not ask a single judge, a single district attorney, a single police chief in the state to comment on this most significant criminal justice reform in the history of New York,” said former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton on “The Cats Roundtable” radio show with

John Catsimatidis on AM 970 this Sunday. “And now we are left to pick up the debris that it’s going to create.” Bratton called the new bail reform law a “disgrace” and asked, “What the hell were they thinking about in Albany when they crafted this mind-boggling set of limitations on the criminal justice system?” The mayor said that he and the City Council should take a look at revisions to the legislation. After a meeting with members of the city’s Jewish community regarding recent anti-Semitic hate crimes, de Blasio agreed that changes should be made. “They did some very good reforms, but there’s also things that need to be done, particularly empowering judges to determine if someone poses a threat to the surrounding community and giving judges the power to act on that,” said de Blasio to reporters. Several years later, the data, which we will explore in detail in part three of our series, show that far from increasing crime, those who remain free through bail reform are actually less likely to be arrested again than those who remained in jail. But how did America even get to a system that rewards the affluent and punishes the poor? The roots of bail are older than the American legal system itself.

Illustration by Thais Silva

barons, and other rich folk through various improper means,” said Jed Rakoff, a sitting U.S. district judge in the Southern District of New York, in an interview with the AmNews. Rakoff, a legal scholar, is also the author of “Why the Innocent Plead Guilty and the Guilty Go Free: And Other Paradoxes of Our Broken Legal System.” More thoughtful professor than stern federal jurist, Rakoff said that the tradition of English kings ripping off the nobility led to the creation of the Magna Carta, which for the first time set forth actual laws even bound to by royalty, and upon which our own legal tradition rests. “But the Kings didn't give up,” he continued. “They tried other ways Cash Rules Everything to get money and one way was by Around Thee having barons and others arrestThe history of cash bail “like a ed, and then setting a very, very great deal in our Constitution, goes high bail, an excessive amount back to English history. And there of money, which they could then was a long history of English kings, forfeit to the crown under certain in effect, extorting money from circumstances.”

So, bail began as a form of coercion by the state, and many advocates argue that it still is. By the time the American Revolution was building up steam, the British crown had perfected bail as a form of punishment. “In the years just before the American Revolution, there was a practice of locking up people who were revolutionaries by setting excessive bail,” Rakoff said. The crown would set excessive bail “even if the underlying charges were ultimately dropped ... In the meantime, the poor guy would be stuck in jail because he couldn't afford the bail. Or if he could afford the bail, it was because he was a rich guy, and then the king would take that money.” The inclusion of bail in the Bill of Rights is a clear reaction to the perceived mistreatment by the crown. The Eighth Amendment states: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

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F R E E D O M here,” she said, describing the mentality of someone held in Rikers. “It plays into bail in the sense that you incarcerate somebody, and they’re in shock and after weeks or months, [they say] ‘OK, you want me to plead guilty, I’ll say I did it. I’ll plead guilty. I’m not guilty, but I gotta move on.’ And they plead guilty. Just to get out of pretrial detention.” Scheindlin added, “From what I understand, being thrown into Rikers, if you're 18 years old, is a hellhole and [there’s] a great risk of being beaten up by other prisoners [or] being beaten up by guards. There’s a lot of abuse there. So, of course, you’re gonna do anything, anything to stop that, including pleading guilty when you're innocent.” This is something that defense attorneys say prosecutors are well aware of when they ask for bail. “Pretrial detention is supposed to be a method where someone may not come back to court to keep them in custody of the government. It doesn’t have to be a place where people are tortured and people are raped, people are stabbed and people are murdered,” said Brooklyn-based defense attorney Masai Lord. “And, so, if someone says, ‘Well, I don’t want to be sexually assaulted, so I’m going to plead guilty.’ How am I supposed to say, ‘No’?” He went on to add, “The best way to get people to plead guilty is to put them in a place like Rikers Island. And I think everyone involved understands that.”

Out of Tragedy Comes Reform But like so much in the Constitution, the understanding of “excessive” has both changed over time and, from the perspective of those advocating for bail reform, seemingly been ignored by the courts altogether.

Staying Put and Pleading Guilty

“The excessive bail clause has not received clear interpretation by the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Duke University law professor and legal scholar Brandon L. Garrett in an interview. “And in practice bonds that people cannot afford [are] routinely used as a tool for detaining people. And so the entire goal of setting bonds in many situations is to set an unaffordable bond, precisely to detain a person,” he added. Prosecutors, like every other member of our legal system, are sworn to uphold justice, not simply seek convictions. But if prosecutors

were truly interested in justice, advocates say, they wouldn’t use unaffordable bail to influence the outcome of a case. “When you're held pretrial, you are more likely to actually plead guilty because of the inherent coercive effect of incarceration [and] you are more likely to have a higher sentence,” said the Vera Institute’s Harris-Calvin. “Also, there are other consequences, such as loss of employment, loss of education, loss of custody of your children, [and] loss of housing, which are all things that folks who are poorer Americans are more susceptible to anyway—but particularly once you are incarcerated pretrial.” When someone has been locked up for days, weeks or months, the need to escape the horrific conditions in a place like Rikers can trump the desire to go to trial to prove the person’s innocence. “Someone gets arrested. They

can’t make bail. They’re in jail for a week or two, or maybe a couple of months or even longer. A prosecutor comes along and says, ‘Look, if you’ll just plead guilty we’ll take the conviction, and you can get out today.’ Every criminal defense attorney I’ve talked to says that every single client I’ve ever represented takes that deal whether they’re guilty or innocent,” Cato Institute senior vice president for legal studies Clark Neily told the AmNews. “We don't know what percentage of people who have been induced to plead guilty were in fact innocent. We know it’s greater than zero,” he added. Retired U.S. District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin presided over the trial that determined the unconstitutionality of NYPD’s stop and frisk policy, and spoke about why an innocent person held in jail would plead guilty to a crime the person did not commit. “Whatever it takes, I want out of

It was against this backdrop that advocates of bail reform toiled for years. In 2019, reform began to move forward in Albany, four years after the death of Kalief Brower. He committed suicide after he was held at Rikers for more three years, much of the time in solitary confinement, because his family could not pay the $3,000 bail required, though he was eventually released after the charges against him were dropped. After the publicity around his death, the city banned solitary confinement for those under 21, and in 2019 reached a $3.3 million settlement with his family. “I think his story really helped people who aren’t already attuned to this see exactly how oppressive and harmful our pretrial justice system is, particularly when it comes to bail. And so having that story and people empathizing with that, and then marrying that with the data that supports the need to reform bail helped get this movement kind of over the line, and get

our bail reform passed in 2019,” said Harris-Calvin. Not without controversy, the reforms faced an uphill struggle in Albany but finally passed in April 2019. The reforms were in many ways a revolution in the cash bail system in New York. “Almost all misdemeanors became ineligible for bail, meaning the judge could not hold that person pretrial. The judge could give that person what is called conditions of release, so they might have to report to a pretrial services officer, have to do drug treatment, mental health screening and treatment curfew, electronic monitoring,” and other conditions, Harris-Calvin said. Bail reform also included provisions that encouraged judges to set conditions other than bail to ensure that the accused is getting the needed services that will help ensure that the person returns to court. The reforms coincided with the COVID pandemic, which had a dramatic impact in lowering the numbers of those held in New York’s jails. An early report from the Center for Justice Innovation examining the impact of bail reform said that in 2020 “ resulting from new restrictions on the use of bail and pretrial detention, judges ordered bail or remand significantly less often for all racial/ethnic groups.” “Statewide, our jail population fell by over 30% within a year,” said Harris-Calvin. “When we look at racial disparities, that meant thousands more Black and brown New Yorkers were not being held pretrial simply because they were too poor to pay their way out.” But these advances were soon overshadowed by a spike in crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. Opponents of bail reform used the increase to claim that this reform was at the heart of a threat to public safety, a claim the data would later refute. In part two of our series we will explore the stories of those held in pretrial detention because they could not afford bail as well as how this form of incarceration can actually lead to more crime. In part three we will dive deep into the data that shows the success of bail reform in New York as well as in Houston, where bail reform happened even earlier. This series was made possible with the support of a grant from Columbia University’s Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with Arnold Ventures. Editing support was provided by Type Investigations.

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Why Bail Reform Was Needed P A R T

By DAMASO REYES Blacklight Investigative Editor In early December 1975, the Amsterdam News published a front page story about a “revolt” on Rikers Island that ended peacefully after hours of negotiations involving a federal judge, the Bronx district attorney, and the corrections commissioner, among other officials. “Inmates in the House of Detention for Men [HDM] on Rikers Island seized control of their cell area protesting the inhumane treatment received at the correction facility,” the article began, going to explain that after the 17-hour revolt came to an end, 200 correction officers engaged in a four-hour wildcat strike. “Both inmates and guards agree that conditions at HDM are unbearable ... Overcrowding [and] poor living conditions and treatment touched off the uprising among the 1,816 inmates. Overwork and understaffing caused the guards to stage their protest,” the article continued. Jam-packed facilities, lack of timely

“No one should be pleading guilty simply because they want to go home” —Scott Hechinger, founder and director of Zealous, a nonprofit that supports state and local public defenders. advocates to champion bail reform. Bail, and pretrial detention for those who could not afford it, has often been presented by public safety hawks as a way to keep the public safe, but the statistics tell a different story. For the low-level misdemeanor and nonviolent felony crimes that would be covered by the 2019 bail reform law in New York, those that Safety at Any Price were held in pretrial detention beIt was this dichotomy—those of cause they could not make bail means were often released and spent relatively little time behind those who were poor mostly re- bars—just 60.8 days, according mained locked up—that pushed to experts at the John Jay College medical care, and violence and deaths have all been part of what has for decades made Rikers Island a destination to be avoided at any cost. But as horrific as Rikers and other jails are, the need for such facilities exists in part because so many people are held in pretrial detention unable to afford bail—sometimes set at just a few hundred dollars.

of Criminal Justice. This is mainly because their cases were almost always resolved quickly, after which they were then released. So before bail reform was enacted, these allegedly dangerous criminals were, in fact, often back on the street quickly; but the impact of their time behind bars could be profound. “Say, for example, somebody’s detained pretrial. As a result, they miss some shifts at work, and their boss fires them. So, now they’re released, even if it’s just a few days later, from pretrial detention, and they have no charge and while they were in

Drill instructor Monserrate Ponce demonstrates his use of military discipline with inmate Benjamin Brooks at the Mateo Institute of Training at Rikers Island in May of 1992. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

jail, they may or may not have met someone who told them, ‘There’s other streams of income; I can help you with that’,” said René Ropac, a senior research associate at the Data Collaborative for Justice (DCJ). He spoke about the “criminogenic effect” that being in jail or prison has: that simply being in jail, even for a short amount of time, can lead to a measurable increase in the likelihood that you will commit future crimes. His colleague Michael Rempel, director of the DCJ, expanded on this idea. “It is not as though setting bail incapacitates people for extremely long periods of time. The average was still only two months, which in a lot of these cases, is enough experience in jail to have harmful effects once they are released. But it’s not really enough time to take them off the streets and prevent the arrest simply by virtue of incarcerating them,” he said. D’juan Collins is a leader of Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders (VOCAL-NY), a grassroots, com-

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munity-based organization which advocates for those impacted by mass incarceration among other issues. Over 15 years ago, he experienced the impact of pretrial detention in New York first hand. “I lost my son Isaiah to the foster care system as a result of [my] 2007 arrest for an alleged drug sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance ... while I was a single parent,” he told the AmNews. He could not afford the bail that was set and as a result lost custody of his son. If bail reform had been in place at the time, he said, “I would have been able to care for my son and make arrangements to place him with his family in Chicago while my criminal case was pending in Manhattan.” The impact of his pretrial detention, and how it fosters crime, is now multigenerational, continuing to impact his son. “Well, to my knowledge, he’s now in a gang. He doesn't want anything to do with me. He believes that his family abandoned him, because

the foster parent ... brainwashed my son to believe that his family didn’t love him. And the system helped with that,” Collins said, holding back tears. Eileen Maher spent more than a year on Rikers Island in pretrial detention because she could not afford bail. She ended up losing her dog-walking business as well as her apartment while in custody. “I knew that if I had gotten out on bail that I would have had a better chance of fighting my case,” she said, describing her time at Rikers as “absolutely dehumanizing… The longer I was there, the more I felt I was gonna become unhinged soon. I really did need to go home. And no one was helping me. So the only way I could get out of that situation was to take a plea and get home myself.” That plea agreement and the criminal record that follows her continue to impact her life. After finding a job, she said she was let go after just a year when she says her employer learned of her time in jail. “I was fired because of my crimi-

nal record. When I explained to them what happened, that I had been a criminalized survivor of domestic violence, that I had been stuck on the island ... they said, ‘Innocent people don’t go to prison. They don’t take pleas, if you really didn’t do it, you wouldn't have pled guilty.’”

Without a Chance

“If you are locked up awaiting trial, you have much less access to your attorney, you are dealing with the horrors of prison life, you often have medical problems that are not being addressed. It makes you very cynical about the whole system,” said Jed Rakoff, a sitting U.S. district judge in the Southern District of New York. “Of the 2 million people [held across America in detention], several hundred thousand are people who are awaiting trial. And almost all of them are going to wind up pleading guilty, even those that are innocent. So [while] bail is an aspect of that, the bigger problem is mass incarceration,” he added. See REFORM continued on page 31

Dismal Conditions

In December of 1975 the Amsterdam News covered a revolt at Rikers Island by inmates in which guards also held a wildcat strike to protest conditions at the jail. For decades the conditions on Rikers Island have been the subject of scrutiny.

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Freedom from Fear of Crime P A R T

Illustration by Thais Silva

INVESTIGATION

BEYOND THE OF THE

By DAMASO REYES Blacklight Investigative Editor Room 130 of the New York County Criminal Court is about the size of a middle school auditorium, but lacks the splendor of Surrogate’s Court and other monuments to justice in Manhattan. The prewar art deco building at 100 Centre St. is showing its age. Old murals line some of its walls and the solid wooden doors are heavy enough to allow a regular visitor to give up a gym membership. Room 130, and rooms like it throughout the city, are the defendant’s first stop after getting arrested. It is here that a defendant is formally charged and then one of two things happens. The first pathway is that the accused is released. This can happen because bail has been set and the defendant can pay it, or in rare instances, because the judge throws out the case. The alleged crime may also be ineligible for bail under the 2019 bail reform law—though the judge may set other parameters for release, such as attending a treatment program. The second pathway is that the accused is remanded. This could be because the judge fears the person will not return to court. It could also be because bail has been set in the case but the defendant cannot pay the amount set. As a result, the accused—who has not yet been convicted of a crime—must wait in jail, often on Rikers Island, until the person pleads guilty, the case is dismissed, or until the person goes to trial and is found not guilty, a process that can take years. Before bail reform passed in 2019, tens of thousands of New Yorkers each year fell into this last group, often after being accused of misdemeanor crimes like stealing food from a bodega or buying, selling or being in possession of small amounts of drugs including marijuana, until it

was decriminalized in New York. In New York, which does not allow judges to factor in how dangerous someone might be if released, the only consideration allowed when deciding to set bail is the likelihood that the accused will return to court. The amount set is designed to encourage the defendant to return because if the defendant does not, the entire amount may be forfeited. But the Eighth Amendment also requires that the amount set not be excessive, meaning that the accused can actually afford it. For decades in New York and around the country, bail was routinely set in amounts that people could not afford, leading them to languish in jail for months or even years until more often than not, they pled guilty simply in order to be released, not because they were, in fact, guilty. “These decisions are made very fast,” Brooklyn defense attorney Masai Lord told the AmNews. “A whole bail application will take maybe three minutes, and [if] it goes for a long time, maybe 10 minutes.” In those few minutes, a defendant’s life may change radically: If bail is waived or set at an afford-

able level, the defendant will be released and will be much better able to fight the case. If no bail is set or set at a level the defendant can’t pay, the defendant goes to jail and may lose a job, housing and even custody of children, all before the defendant is found guilty.

Changing the Rules of the Game

Bail reform in New York “eliminated the use of cash bail and pretrial detention for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies, and kept cash bail and pretrial detention as an option for violent felony offenses,” said Krystal Rodriguez, a policy director at the Data Collaborative for Justice at John Jay. “The other thing that the 2019 reform did is that it created provisions requiring the court to consider affordability of bail. So even for those violent felony offenses, most of which remained eligible for cash bail, when the judge was setting bail, they still had to consider whether or not someone would face an undue hardship to post that bail and whether or not they can afford it,” she added.

The 2019 reform also gave judges the ability to set non-monetary conditions on the release of a suspect, including monitored or supervised release. The reform additionally required the courts to gather data to measure how bail reform was working. Before and after the passage of bail reform, tough-on-crime pundits and politicians, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is a former NYPD captain, said that these reforms would lead to a spike in crime. And during the pandemic, when there was indeed a spike in many crimes, the mayor was quick to assign blame. “Under the current law, judges are not allowed to consider whether someone is a threat to public safety when deciding whether or not to hold them in custody. This is a big mistake,” the mayor said at a 2022 press conference. “As a result of this insane, broken system, our recidivism rates have skyrocketed and those who say that the predicted wave of recidivism wouldn’t happen and the studies that claim to show that the rate of arrests for violent felonies has not changed since the reforms were passed, [I] have one word for you: wrong.”

Critics like the mayor often cherry pick or conflate numbers. But what is the truth about the impact of bail reform? Has it unleashed a wave of crime, especially gun crime, upon New York City streets or has it liberated thousands of people who would otherwise be suffering the horrors of Rikers Island and jails like it? The Amsterdam News spoke to experts and social scientists about bail reform both in New York and also in Harris County, Texas, where it was implemented even earlier and a federally appointed court monitor has been collecting and analyzing data on what happens to those who are released for several years.

Deep in the Heart of Texas

“There is deep, deep damage that is done from even just a few days of pretrial detention,” Cody Cutting, an attorney for the Civil Rights Corps, told the AmNews. “People are not only separated from their families and their loved ones, but they suffer consequences, like losing their jobs, falling behind on rent and potentially losing their homes. They can suffer

T H E custody ramifications for their kids, they can be separated from critical medical care or medicine that they need. And these effects can actually last quite a long time even if somebody is eventually released.” The Civil Rights Corps was one of several organizations that sued Harris County, which encompasses Houston, over the way that it set bail. Before bail reform, someone arrested in Harris County would go before a magistrate who would conduct a probable cause hearing, to see if the arrest was, in fact, justified. If so, a bail hearing would follow. A single judge could conduct dozens of these a day and they would usually last only a few minutes. “What usually would happen in those situations is the magistrate is going to consult a grid—a bail schedule—which would assign either release on their own recognizance for some folks, but for many folks there will be a scheduled amount of bail between $[500] and $5000 for those charged with misdemeanors,” said Paul Heaton, a legal scholar and professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Law who analyzed how bail reform played out in Harris County. If a defendant could pay 10% of the amount set they would go free, if not, they would remain in jail. “You could see, particularly with respect to misdemeanor cases, how a system like that could inadvertently create wrongful convictions,” Heaton said. “Let’s imagine I’m arrested for a misdemeanor, I go through this process. My bail is set at $1,000. I don't have 100 bucks. So I’m there in pretrial detention for a few days. “A district attorney gets my packet, they look at it. ‘Oh, hey, Paul was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. He’s been in custody for four days, that kind of seems like enough punishment. I’m just gonna go to his attorney and say plead out. We’ll have you home today. Time served, done.’ “A defense attorney comes to me, ‘Hey, we've got this pretty good offer from the DA, right? I know that you’ve been here for four days now, if you plead out.’ But wait, it wasn’t me. The police arrested the wrong person in the bar fight. So, in that situation, I have this difficult choice. If I want to actually fight my case and assert my innocence, then my detention is prolonged? Maybe the next court date is a week or two weeks from then. Whereas if I plead guilty right away, I’m actually reducing the amount of time I spend in custody.” It is this dynamic, which advocates and defense attorneys say plays out around the country, that leads to

many innocent people to plead guilty to crimes they did not commit. Eventually, Harris County agreed to a consent decree to alter how and when it set bail, doing away with the bail schedule as well as limiting the number of crimes for

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Defense attorneys have long argued that the setting of excessive bail, and the pretrial detention that often results, has been used by prosecutors to leverage guilty pleas and the data from the Harris County federal monitor seems to support that

that these are people who do not need to be in jail. At best, maybe they need some supervision. At worst, the cases were actually meritless or not worthy of prosecution,” Garrett, the federal monitor, said. “But either way, we’re seeing

The then "new" Rikers Island prison in May of 1935 was "said to be the last word in penal institutions." (AP Photo/John Rooney)

which bail could be set. “We’ve described in our reports how there have been some real notable successes of these bail reforms, both in terms of people’s liberty— tens of thousands of people who would have been jailed under the old system who are not now—but also for public safety,” said Brandon Garrett a professor at Duke University School of Law who was appointed as federal monitor to ensure the consent decree was being properly implemented.

conclusion. Once bail reform was implemented and more defendants were released instead of jailed, fewer people were found guilty and more of their cases were dismissed. Perhaps most dramatically, the data show that between 2015 and 2021 an astonishing 60% fewer misdemeanor cases in Harris County result in a criminal conviction and the number of these cases that end in dismissal rose from 31% to 56%. “There’s something deeply wrong with what was happening before,

ended up in jail under the old misdemeanor system and those disappeared pretty quickly under these reforms,” he said.

Big Reforms in the Big Apple

In New York, the implementation of bail reform coincided with two other big events: the decriminalization of marijuana and the start of the coronavirus pandemic that led authorities to try and decrease the numbers of people in jail for public health reasons. Both events made it more difficult to understand the impact of bail reform but with time the data, and the impact on public safety, became more clear. “The overall effect was that the ban of cash bail and pretrial detention reduced recidivism in New York City for people who were affected by judge’s release decisions,” said René Ropac, a senior research associate at the Data Collaborative for Justice (DCJ), John Jay College of Criminal Justice, who co-authored a recently released study on the impact of bail reform. The report notes that eliminating bail for most misdemeanor and nonviolent felony charges reduced recidivism. There were reductions for any rearrest (44% vs. 50%) and felony rearrest (24% vs. 27%) over two years. For all the claims by bail reform critics linking the legislation to a pandemic-era spike in gun violence, the report shows that those released due to bail reform during the period studied were actually slightly less likely to be rearrested on a gun charge. “We compared people who were bailed or detained pre-reform in the first half of 2019, with similar people who were released without bail mandatorily after reform passed in 2020, and we found that people who were released had lower recidivism rates than people who were bailed or detained pre-reform,” Ropac added. Ropac expanded on the impact of the 2019 reforms. “Critics of bail reform basically claimed ... that bail reform was detrimental to public safety, because people who are accused of certain charges cannot have bail set and therefore cannot be detained. ... And, therefore, they’re not prevented from committing further crimes in the pre-trial period. And that is fair enough—people who are in jail cannot commit crimes out on the streets. That is true,” Ropac said. “However, what our study shows is that once they’re out, once they’re

many tens of thousands of cases where the ultimate result is now a dismissal, which clearly would not have been dismissed under the old system,” he added. He also noted that there was a measurable impact on public safety: arrests and crime went down. “We’ve seen that misdemeanor arrests and rearrests have gone down over time, and a lot of other ways that this system has produced real positive effects. There had been racial disparities in who See FREEDOM continued on page 30

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A demonstrator holds an image of Kalief Browder at a protest near City Hall in New York City, NY, USA to demand that it close the longcontroversial Rikers Island. Browder commited suicide after being held for years on Rikers Island without being convicted of a crime (Photo by Albin Lohr-Jones/ Sipa via AP Images)

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released from jail, and again, that’s about only two months, on average, after they were first detained, they are actually more likely to recidivate than they would be otherwise, because of that criminogenic effect” from incarceration. The criminogenic effect, backed by data, that being in prison makes it more likely that you will commit future crimes, is something that bail reform opponents rarely speak about. “The rise in violence is completely separate from bail reform and blaming bail for the safety problems we have makes us less safe, because it makes us less likely to confront the actual causes of this increase in violence,” said Tess Cohen, a former prosecutor in New York City’s Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, who recently waged an unsuccessful bid to unseat the current Bronx district attorney. “We’ve seen that setting bail actually, especially sending someone to a place like Rikers, makes them more likely to commit another crime in the future,” she added. Recent citywide crime statistics from the NYPD put rest to the idea that bail reform was fueling a rampant increase in crime. While felony assaults did increase by 6.6% from the year before, murders are down 10.1% from a year ago; rapes are down 12.8%, robberies are down 5.6%, and burglaries are down 13% from 2022. Shootings are also down 25.8% year to date.

Liberty and Safety

Since 2019, two sets of legislation changed the scope of bail reform but didn’t manage to scuttle the progress of advocates fighting to ensure that fewer New Yorkers languished behind bars solely because they could not afford bail. But it’s an open question as to whether bail reform in New York will survive the continued onslaught from tough-on-crime Democrats with aspirations for higher office, as well as Republicans and police unions trying to use crime as a wedge issue. “Bail has become a scapegoat for law enforcement, politicians, [and] prosecutors who want something to blame for the rise that we’re seeing in violent crime last year. And bail is a convenient source of blame. But the reality is that the data doesn't bear it out at all,” said former prosecutor Cohen. “The rise in violence is completely separate from bail reform and

blaming bail for the safety problems we have makes us less safe, because it makes us less likely to confront the actual causes of this increase in violence.” With all the focus on statistics, it is also vital to not lose sight of the people who are most impacted by bail reform. “This bail system that we currently have is based on wealth. And unfortunately, it’s mostly working class or poor people who are held

pretrial,” said Darren Mack, cofounder and co-director of Freedom Agenda, a nonprofit that organizes communities impacted by mass incarceration. Mack was arrested in 1992 for being an accomplice in a robbery and given a $4,000 bail that he could not pay. He spent 19 months on Rikers Island before going to trial and being convicted for his first offense. He spent a total of 20 years behind bars.

“I think we can have criminal justice, social justice, economic justice and public safety simultaneously. It’s not two opposing issues, and if we look to other states and other cities and other countries we see that we can have both. It's not either/or; we can have both and,” Mack said. For decades, America has ignored Ben Franklin’s admonition: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little

temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." The Amsterdam News; Report for America corps member Tandy Lau contributed reporting for this story. This series was made possible with the support of a grant from Columbia University’s Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with Arnold Ventures. Editing support was provided by Type Investigations.

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Defense attorney Masai Lord puts it in equally stark terms: “When you have people with no criminal records ... of course, they’re terrified of going to jail, they’re going to plead guilty to something very often that can have life-altering consequences. And they get a few minutes to decide. “And they're doing it because they’re terrified of going to Rikers and bail being set. And at least the one thing that bail reform did was to remove that… I don’t have to plead guilty to something I didn’t do as a way of avoiding going to Rikers Island and being in jail the entire time while I’m trying to fight my case,” he added. Masai said that he has had clients who were innocent but pleaded guilty simply to avoid, or get out of, Rikers. He also had two clients who remained on the island and maintained their innocence, going to trial. “We won both the trials, both of them were found not guilty and acquitted. And then you get this question where people spend five, six, seven, months in jail, on false charges and they can’t get anything for that, because they say, ‘Oh, there was probable cause for the arrest.’ So, therefore, we just took away six months of your life, seven months of your life, for a crime you said that you didn’t commit. And there’s no recourse, you get nothing. And the system’s allowed to do that and repeat that,” he said.

Tilting the Scales of Justice

“No one should be pleading guilty simply because they want to go home,” said Scott Hechinger, founder and director of Zealous, a nonprofit that supports state and local public defenders. “And simply because they’re fearing the violence that they’re facing on the inside of jail, because they can't afford to pay their bail." He also noted the profound impact that pretrial detention has on our society. “It doesn’t just hurt people, it actually silences truth and forces guilty pleas,” he said. “95% of convictions in the United States come from guilty pleas and a major reason for that is pleading guilty to go home or to get less time, to plead down from a more serious offense, whether or not the person is innocent or guilty, whether or not the person has been stopped and frisked or unconstitutionally

or subjected to other police misconduct,” he added. “Pretrial detention perverts a system of justice. So when people are incarcerated pretrial, they are far more likely to take a guilty plea. And you can understand why that, particularly in lowerlevel cases, prosecutors will often come to people and say, ‘If you take this plea, I’ll give you time served and you can go home tomorrow,’ and then people end up with permanent records, and it ends up fueling this system that is not interested in truth, but is instead a sort of conveyor belt of convictions,” Katie Schaffer, director of advocacy and organizing at the Center for Community Alternatives, said in an interview. “98 % of convictions in New York state come through guilty pleas, not through trial. And that’s because of a constellation of laws and policies. But an important part of that is about pretrial incarceration,” she added. “There’s no real cost to judges and prosecutors for locking people up pretrial. So, let's say you’ve got 100 people, statistically speaking, only five of them are going to reoffend. From the judges standpoint, there’s no cost and [they] say, ‘Well, I’m just gonna, you know, all 100 of you are gonna stay locked up. And then that way, none of you will reoffend and I won’t look bad’,” said Clark Neily, Cato Institute senior vice president for legal studies. “But then you’ve got 95 people

who were no risk to the community and no particular flight risk being locked up before trial for no reason, simply because we couldn’t figure out ... which subset of those people would actually have run off, or would have victimized somebody if they were allowed to be released pretrial,” he added. This is an idea that retired U.S. District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin rejects.

“I think each case that comes before you stands alone. I don’t think you’re looking at the big picture and assessing the risks on the one hand of detaining a person who shouldn’t be detained versus the risk of releasing somebody and then having them commit a crime and feeling terribly responsible,” she said of the way that judges consider whether to set bail. “I think you look at each case, all by itself, one at a time. And if you’re honest, you do your very best

Illustration by Thais Silva

to make the right call.” Despite what the Constitution might say or what the foundations of our legal system might indicate, America has for decades been increasing the percentage of citizens it detains before they are convicted of a crime. “When I was practicing as a public defender, something close to 90% of the people who I represented weren’t able to afford the bail that was actually set,” said Hechinger. “So, the result of this is that in the United States, in addition to [this being] the most incarcerated society in the history of the world, but also a quarter of those who are currently incarcerated are there pretrial, presumed innocent on unaffordable bail, incarcerated solely because they don’t have enough money to buy their freedom.” This is what bail reform in New York was supposed to address. But that argument about presumption of freedom ran headlong into a pandemic increase in crime for which bail reform became a scapegoat. Nearly as soon as it was passed, efforts were made to roll back those reforms. This series was made possible with the support of a grant from Columbia University’s Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with Arnold Ventures. Editing support was provided by Type Investigations.

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The Hamlet at Carmel The Hamlet at Carmel Hamlet Image of Avenue at Carmel 73 Units at 650The Stoneleigh TheAvenue Hamlet at Carmel 73 at 650 Stoneleigh Avenue 73 Units 650 Stoneleigh Carmel, NY Putnam CountyatUnits

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BR 2 date. 28 $101,700 - $127,080 90% 2 BRby this $67,800 - $84,720 Must be postmarked or2submitted online Sending more than$2,633.00 1$1,680.00 application may disqualify you. 90% 2 BR 2 Application $101,700 - $127,080 Due$2,633.00 Date: November 16, 2023 – Lottery Date: November $76,260 30, 2023 How to Apply: 3 BR 14 $1,934.00 $98,280 3 BR 1 $3,036.00 $114,390 - $147,420 Must be postmarked or submittedoronline by this date. Sending more than 1 application may disqualify you. Request Application By80% Phone or Email: 845-306-7705 info@kearneyrealtyroup.com hamletatcarmel@gmail.com 3 BR 1 How $3,036.00 2 BR 5 $2,316.00 $90,400$114,390 - $112,960- $147,420 to Apply: By Mail or In-Person: Kearney Realty Group 57 Route 6 suite 207 Baldwin Place, NY 10505 3and BR address 1Removal $101,680 - $131,040 *Rent includes Water, and Trash Removal Income guidelines & permitted household sizesize are are subject to Request Application By$2,669.00 Phone Email: 845-306-7705 info@kearneyrealtyroup.com orchange. hamletatcarmel@gmail.com *Rent includes Water, Sewer and Trash Income guidelines & permitted household subject to change. Include your address & theSewer name of the building where you want toorapply. By Mail or In-Person: Kearney Realty Group 57 Route 6 suite 207 Baldwin Place, NY 10505 **Minimum income listed may not apply to applicants with Section 8 or other qualifying rental subsidies. Asset limits apply. Lottery Date & Location: November 2023,not at 11 am2atto 57applicants Rt. 6, Suite 207 Baldwin Place, NY.other Link toqualifying livestream will be posted on $101,700 90% 2 may BR $2,633.00 - also $127,080 **Minimum income listed30, apply with Section 8 or rental subsidies. Asset limits also apply. Include your address & the name and address of the building where you want to apply. [WWW.TheHamletAtCarmel.com]3for wish attend this lottery virtually. BRthose whoLottery 1 toDate $3,036.00 $114,390 $147,420 & Location: November 30, 2023, at 11 am at 57 Rt. 6, Suite 207 Baldwin Place, NY. Link to livestream will be posted on Due Date: November 16, 2023 – Lottery Date: 2023 Application Due Date: November 16, – Lottery Date: November 30, *Rent includes Water, Sewer Trash Removal Income guidelines & November permitted size 2023 are change. [WWW.TheHamletAtCarmel.com] for those whohousehold wish30, to attend thissubject lottery to virtually. TheApplication lottery will determine which applications will beand reviewed for2023 tenancy **Minimum income listed may not apply to applicants with Section 8 or other qualifying rental subsidies. Asset limits also apply. Must be be postmarked or submitted online by this date. Sending more thanthan 1 application maymay disqualify you.you. Must postmarked or submitted online by this date. Sending more 1 application disqualify The lottery will determine which applications will be reviewed for tenancy

YOU RIGHTS! ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION How toHAVE Apply: How to Apply: Application Due Date: November 16, 2023 – Lottery Date: November 30, 2023

• IfRequest youRequest have experienced housing • HAVE 3 units are adapted for mobility impairment Application Bydiscrimination: Phone or Email: 845-306-7705 info@kearneyrealtyroup.com or hamletatcarmel@gmail.com YOU RIGHTS! Application Phone ororEmail: 845-306-7705 or hamletatcarmel@gmail.com Must beBy postmarked submitted online by this info@kearneyrealtyroup.com date. Sending more than 1 application may disqualify you. ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION https://dhr.ny.gov/journey-fair-housing • 8 units are adapted for hearing/vision impairment By Mail or In-Person: Kearney Realty Group 57 Route 6 suite 207 Baldwin Place, NY 10505 By Mail or In-Person: Kearney Realty Group 57have Route 6 suite 207 Baldwin Place, NY 10505 • 3 units are adapted for mobility impairment • If you discrimination: or call 844-862-8703How to Apply: •experienced Reasonablehousing accommodation and modifications may be requested Include your address & the name and address of the building where you want to apply. Include your address & the name and address of the building where you want to apply. Request Application By Phone or Email: 845-306-7705 info@kearneyrealtyroup.com or hamletatcarmel@gmail.com https://dhr.ny.gov/journey-fair-housing • 8 units are adapted for hearing/vision impairment • Learn about how your credit and background check will be By Mail or In-Person: Kearney Realty Group 57 Route 6 suite 207 Baldwin Place, NY 10505 or call 844-862-8703 Lottery Date & Location: November 2023, at am 11 am at Rt. 57 Rt. 6, Suite Baldwin Place, NY. to livestream will be posted onbe requested • NY. Reasonable and modifications individually reviewed: https://on.ny.gov/3uLNLw4 Lottery Date & Location: November 30, 30, 2023, at 11 at 57 6, Suite 207207 Baldwin Place, LinkLink to accommodation livestream will be posted onmay [WWW.TheInclude your address & the nameabout and address of credit the building where you wantwill to be apply. • Learn how your and background check HamletAtCarmel.com] for those who wish tothose attend this lottery virtually. [WWW.TheHamletAtCarmel.com] for who wish to attend this lottery virtually. Lottery Date中&文Location: 30, 2023, 11anam at국57 Suite 207 Baldwin Place, Link to livestream will be posted on individually reviewed: https://on.ny.gov/3uLNLw4 ESPAÑOL siguiente página 下一页 November KREYÒL AYISYEN paj kapatvini 한 어Rt. 다음6,페이지 [বাাংলা] - পরবর্তী পৃষ্ঠNY. া РУССКИЙ The lottery will [WWW.TheHamletAtCarmel.com] determine which applications will be reviewed for tenancy for those who wish to attend this lottery virtually. Следующая страница POLSZCZYZNA następna strona ‫ اگال صفحہ‬- ‫ اردو‬ITALIANO pagina successiva FRANÇAIS page suivante ‫ אידיש‬-

The lottery will determine which applications will be reviewed for tenancy ESPAÑOL siguiente página 中文下一页 KREYÒL AYISYEN paj kap vini an 한국어다음 페이지 [বাাংলা] - পরবর্তী পৃষ্ঠা ‫ווייַטער בלאַ ט‬

РУССКИЙ

The lottery will determine which applications willстраница be reviewed for tenancynastępna strona ‫ اگال صفحہ‬- ‫ اردو‬ITALIANO pagina successiva FRANÇAIS page suivante ‫ אידיש‬Следующая POLSZCZYZNA __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ‫ווייַטער בלאַ ט‬

YOU HAVE RIGHTS! YOU HAVE RIGHTS

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION

Governor Kathy Hochul HCR Visnauskas www.hcr.gov/lotteries NYHousingSearch.gov YOUCommissioner HAVE RIGHTS!RuthAnne__________________________________________________________________________________________________ ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION • If you have experienced housing discrimination: • 3 units are adapted for mobility impairment • If you have experienced housing discrimination: 3 units are adapted Governor Kathy Hochul HCR •Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas www.hcr.gov/lotteries NYHousingSearch.gov • If you have experienced housing discrimination: https://dhr.ny.gov/journey-fair-housing • for3 mobility units areimpairment adapted for mobility impairment https://dhr.ny.gov/journey-fair-housing • 8 units are adapted for hearing/vision impairment https://dhr.ny.gov/journey-fair-housing • 8 units are adapted impairment or call 844-862-8703 • for8 hearing/vision units are adapted for hearing/vision impairment or call 844-862-8703 call credit 844-862-8703 •• Reasonable accommodation and modifications may be requested Reasonable accommodation and modifications mayand be requested • Learn about howoryour and background check will be individually reviewed: • Reasonable accommodation modifications may be requested • Learn yourand credit and background check https://on.ny.gov/3uLNLw4 • Learn about howabout yourhow credit background check willwill bebe https://on.ny.gov/3uLNLw4 individually individually reviewed:reviewed: https://on.ny.gov/3uLNLw4 ESPAÑOL siguiente página 中文下一页 KREYÒL AYISYEN paj kap vini an 한국어다음 페이지 [বাাংলা] - পরবর্তী পৃষ্ঠা

РУССКИЙ

ESPAÑOL siguiente página 中文下一页 KREYÒL AYISYEN paj kap vini an 한국어다음 페이지 [বাাংলা] - পরবর্তী পৃষ্ঠা РУССКИЙ Следующая страница POLSZCZYZNA następna strona ‫ اگال صفحہ‬- ‫ اردو‬ITALIANO pagina successiva FRANÇAIS page suivante ‫ אידיש‬‫ט‬ ַ‫בלא‬ ‫ַטער‬ ‫י‬ ‫ווי‬ Следующая страница POLSZCZYZNA następna strona ‫ اگال صفحہ‬- ‫ اردو‬ITALIANO pagina successiva FRANÇAIS page suivante ‫ אידיש‬‫ווייַטער בלאַ ט‬ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Governor Kathy Hochul HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas www.hcr.gov/lotteries NYHousingSearch.gov __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Governor Kathy Hochul HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas www.hcr.gov/lotteries NYHousingSearch.gov

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

virtually.

.‫די לאטערי באשטימט וועלכע אפליקאציעס וועלן ווערן איבערגעקוקט פאר טענענסי‬

ITALIANO (Italian) 中中文文 (Simplifed (Simplifed Chinese) Chinese)

Español Español (Spanish) (Spanish)

ALLOGGIO CONVENIENTE DISPONIBILE 可可提提供供經經濟濟適適用用房房

Vivienda Vivienda asequible asequible disponible disponible

Para Para obtener obtener la solicitud la solicitud info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com PorPor telefono telefono o email: o email: 845-306-7705 845-306-7705 info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com PorPor correo correo postal postal o en o en persona: persona: Kearney Kearney Realty Realty Group Group 57 57 us us 6 suite 6 suite 207207 Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NYNY 10505 10505 Incluya su su dirección y lay dirección deldel edificio en en el que quiere presentar la la Incluya dirección la dirección edificio el que quiere presentar solicitud. solicitud. Fecha y lugar de de la loteria: November 30,30, 2023, at 11 amam at 57 Rt.Rt. 6, Suite Fecha y lugar la loteria: November 2023, at 11 at 57 6, Suite 207, 207, Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NY.NY. Link Link to to livestream livestream Will Will be be poste poste don don www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com those who wish attend lottery www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forfor those who wish to to attend thisthis lottery virtually. virtually. La La lotería determinará cuáles aplicaciones se se analizarán para el alquiler lotería determinará cuáles aplicaciones analizarán para el alquiler

KREYÒL KREYÒL AYISYEN AYISYEN (Haitian (Haitian Creole) Creole) Lojman Lojman PriPri Abòdab Abòdab Disponib Disponib

DatDat Delè Delè Aplikasyon Aplikasyon an:an: November November 16,16, 2023 2023 Dwe Dwe soumèt soumèt sousou entènèt entènèt oswa oswa nannan lapòs lapòs nannan datdat sa sa a. Voye a. Voye plisplis pase pase 1 1 aplikasyon aplikasyon ka ka diskalifye diskalifye ou.ou.

ToTo Get Get Application: Application:

SouSou entènèt: entènèt: info@kearneryealtygroup.com info@kearneryealtygroup.com Nan Nan Telefòn Telefòn oswa oswa Imel: Imel: 845-306-7705 845-306-7705 info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com Pa Pa Lapòs Lapòs oswa oswa An-pèsòn: An-pèsòn: Kearney Kearney Realty Realty Group Group 57 57 us us 6 suite 6 suite 207207 Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NYNY 10505 10505 Mete Mete adrès adrès ouou & adrès & adrès bilding bilding kote kote ouou vlevle aplike aplike a a DatDat lotri lotri & Andwa & Andwa November November 30,30, 2023, 2023, at 11 at 11 amam at 57 at 57 Rt.Rt. 6, Suite 6, Suite 207, 207, Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NY.NY. Link Link to to livestream livestream Will Will be be poste poste don don www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forfor those those who who wish wish to to attend attend thisthis lottery lottery virtually. virtually. Lotri Lotri a ap a ap detèmine detèmine ki aplikasyon ki aplikasyon yo yo pral pral revize revize pou pou lokasyon lokasyon

[বাাংলা] [বাাংলা] Bengal Bengal i i

‫لیا جا ے‬ Loteria virtually.określa, które wnioski zostaną rozpatrzone pod kątem najmu. ‫ئگا۔‬

Français (French) Loteria określa, które wnioski zostaną rozpatrzone pod kątem najmu. LOGEMENT ABORDABLE DISPONIBLE

virtually. virtually. - 將透過抽籤決定對哪些租賃申請進行審核 - 將透過抽籤決定對哪些租賃申請進行審核

Baldwin Place, NY. Link towho livestream be poste don www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com for those wish toWill attend this lottery virtually. www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com for those who wish to attend this virtually. lottery C’est la loterie qui détermine les demandes qui seront étudiées en virtually. .‫לאטערי באשטימט וועלכע אפליקאציעס וועלן ווערן איבערגעקוקט פאר טענענסי‬ ‫די‬

vue de la‫פאר‬ location. .‫טענענסי‬ ‫די לאטערי באשטימט וועלכע אפליקאציעס וועלן ווערן איבערגעקוקט‬

한한 국국 어어 (Korean) (Korean) ह िंदी (Hindi)

ITALIANO (Italian) ITALIANO (Italian)

임임 대대 주주 택택 이이 용용 가가 능능

ALLOGGIO CONVENIENTE DISPONIBILE ALLOGGIO CONVENIENTE DISPONIBILE

신청서 접수온라인: in info@kearneyrealtygroup.com 신청서 접수온라인: in info@kearneyrealtygroup.com 전화 전화 또는 또는 이메일: 이메일: 845-306-7705 845-306-7705 info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com 우편 또는 내방: Kearney Kearney Realty Realty Group Group 57 57 us 6ussuite 6 suite 207207 Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NY NY 10505 10505 우편 또는 내방: 신청자 신청자 주소 주소 및및 신청하려는 신청하려는 건물 건물 주소를 주소를 포함시키십시오 포함시키십시오 추첨일 및및 추첨 장소: November 30,30, 2023, at 11 amam at 57 Rt.Rt. 6, Suite 207, 추첨일 추첨 장소: November 2023, at 11 at 57 6, Suite 207, Baldwin Place, NY.NY. Link to to livestream Will be be poste don Baldwin Place, Link livestream Will poste don www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forfor those who wish to to attend thisthis lottery www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com those who wish attend lottery virtually. virtually. 추첨을 통해 입주 심사 대상이 될될 신청서를 결정하게 됩니다 추첨을 통해 입주 심사 대상이 신청서를 결정하게 됩니다

Русский Русский язык язык (Russian) (Russian)

POLSKI POLSKI (Polish) (Polish)

‫زبان‬ ‫زبان‬ ‫اردو‬ ‫اردو‬ (URDU) (URDU)

Termin Termin składania składania wniosków: wniosków: November November 1616 , 2023 , 2023 Wniosek Wniosek należy należy złożyć złożyć online. online. WW przypadku przypadku wysyłki wysyłki pocztą, pocztą, z datą z datą stempla stempla pocztowego pocztowego dodo tego tego dnia. dnia. Wysłanie Wysłanie więcej więcej niżniż 1 wniosku 1 wniosku może może spowodować spowodować dyskwalifikację. dyskwalifikację. Wniosek Wniosek otrzymasz: otrzymasz: Online: Online: info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com Przez Przez telefon telefon lublub e-mail: e-mail: 845-306-7705 845-306-7705 info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com Drogą Drogą pocztową pocztową lublub osobiście: osobiście: Kearney Kearney Realty Realty Group Group 57 57 us us 6 suite 6 suite 207207 Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NYNY 10505 10505

Podaj Podaj swój swój adres adres oraz oraz adres adres budynku, budynku, którego którego dotyczy dotyczy wniosek wniosek Data Data i miejsce i miejsce loterii loterii November November 30,30, 2023, 2023, at 11 at 11 amam at 57 at 57 Rt.Rt. 6, Suite 6, Suite 207, 207,

‫ہےہے‬ ‫دستیاب‬ ‫دستیاب‬ ‫رہائش‬ ‫رہائش‬ ‫سستی‬ ‫سستی‬

November November 16,16, 2023 2023 ‫درخواست یک‬ ‫درخواست یک‬ ‫ئجا ے‬ ‫جا ے‬ ‫کیاکیا‬ ‫مارک‬ ‫مارک‬ ‫پوسٹ‬ ‫پوسٹ‬ ‫تکتک‬ ‫اسریتاخری خ‬ ‫اس تا‬ ‫ئ تو‬ ‫تو‬ ‫کیاکیا‬ ‫میلمیل‬ ‫اگراگر‬ ،‫ یا‬،‫یا‬ ‫ہ ےہ‬ ‫وری‬ ‫ض رض‬ ‫انار رانا‬ ‫جمعر ک‬ ‫جمع ک‬ ‫الئنالئن‬ ‫آن آن‬ ‫وری ے‬ ‫جا ے‬ ‫جا ے‬ ‫ہ۔ ےہ۔‬ ‫سکتا‬ ‫ےدے‬ ‫نااہلرارقردار‬ ‫نااہل ق‬ ‫کوکو‬ ‫آپآپ‬ ‫بھیجنا‬ ‫بھیجنا‬ ‫درخواست‬ ‫درخواست‬ ‫یادہیادہ‬ ‫ےس ز‬ ‫ےس ز‬ 1 ‫۔‬1‫ئ‬ ‫ئ۔‬ ‫سکتا ے‬ ‫کرن ے‬ ‫حاصل ے‬ :‫ ےلی‬:‫لی‬ ‫حاصل‬ ‫درخواست‬ ‫ےک‬ ‫کرن‬ ‫درخواست‬ ‫ےک ے‬ :‫الئن‬ :‫الئن‬ info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com ‫آن آن‬ :‫ےس‬:‫ےس‬ 845845 -306 -306 -7705 -7705 info@kearneyealtygroup info@kearneyealtygroup .com .com ‫میلمیل‬ ‫ای ای‬ ‫فون یا‬ ‫فون یا‬ :‫کر‬:‫کر‬ Kearney Kearney Realty Realty Group Group 5757 us us 6 Suite 6 Suite 207 207 ‫جا جا‬ ‫آفس‬ ‫آفس‬ ‫خودخود‬ ‫ےس یا‬ ‫ےس یا‬ ‫ڈاکڈاک‬ Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NYNY 10505 10505 ‫چاہت ے‬ ‫دینادینا ے‬ ‫ہیہی‬ ‫چاہت‬ ‫درخواست‬ ‫درخواست‬ ‫آپآپ‬ ‫جہاں‬ ‫جہاں‬ ‫کریں‬ ‫کریں‬ ‫شامل‬ ‫شامل‬ ‫پتہپتہ‬ ‫عمارت کا‬ ‫عمارت کا‬ ‫اوراور‬ ‫پتہپتہ‬ ‫اپنااپنا‬ :‫مقام‬ :‫مقام‬ November November 30,30, 2023, 2023, at 11 at 11 amam at 57 at 57 Rt.Rt. 6, Suite 6, Suite 207, 207, ‫اوراور‬ ‫تاری خ‬ ‫تاری خ‬ ‫الٹری یک‬ ‫الٹری یک‬ Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NY.NY. Link Link to to livestream livestream Will Will be be poste poste don don www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com those who wish attend lottery www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forfor those who wish to to attend thisthis lottery virtually. virtually.

Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NY.NY. Link Link to to livestream livestream Will Will be be poste poste don don www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forfor those those who who wish wish to to attend attend thisthis lottery lottery virtually. virtually.

‫ئجا ے‬ ‫تعی ے ے‬ ‫جا ے‬ ‫تعی ر‬ ‫بات کا ر‬ ‫ئگا۔‬ ‫گا۔‬ ‫لیا لیا‬ ‫جائزہ‬ ‫جائزہ‬ ‫درخواستوں کا‬ ‫درخواستوں کا‬ ‫کنکن‬ ‫لی لی‬ ‫ےک ےک‬ ‫داری‬ ‫داری‬ ‫ایہرایہ‬ ‫کہر ک‬ ‫کہ ک‬ ‫ہ ےہ‬ ‫کرت‬ ‫بات کا‬ ‫اساس‬ ‫الٹری‬ ‫الٹری‬ ‫کرت ے‬

‫אידיש‬ ‫(אידיש‬Hebrew) (Hebrew)

َ ‫الع َر‬ َ (Arabic) (Arabic) ‫الع ِ َبر ِب‬

Loteria Loteria określa, określa, które które wnioski wnioski zostaną zostaną rozpatrzone rozpatrzone pod pod kątem kątem najmu. najmu.

‫אוועילעבל‬ ‫אוועילעבל‬ ‫איזאיז‬ ‫האוזינג‬ ‫האוזינג‬ ‫צוגענגליכע‬ ‫צוגענגליכע‬

‫التكلفة‬ ‫التكلفة‬ ‫ميسور‬ ‫ميسور‬ ‫السكن‬ ‫السكن‬ ‫يتوفر‬ ‫يتوفر‬

November November 16,16, 2023 2023 :‫דאטום‬ :‫דאטום‬ ‫דיודיו‬ ‫אפליקאציע‬ ‫אפליקאציע‬ November November 16,16, 2023 2023 :‫التقديم‬ :‫التقديم‬ ‫لطلب‬ ‫لطلب‬ ‫التاريخ ُمحالد ُمَّدحدَّد‬ ‫التاريخ ال‬ ,‫פאסט‬ ,‫פאסט‬ ‫דורך די‬ ‫דורך די‬ ‫געשיקט‬ ‫געשיקט‬ ‫ווערט‬ ‫ווערט‬ ‫עס עס‬ ‫אויב‬ ‫אויב‬ ‫אדער‬ ‫אדער‬ ,‫אנליין‬ ,‫אנליין‬ ‫אריינגעגעבן‬ ‫אריינגעגעבן‬ ‫ווערן‬ ‫ווערן‬ ‫بحلول מוזמוז‬ ‫بحلول‬ ‫البريد‬ ‫البريد‬ ‫ختمختم‬ ‫يتم يتم‬ ،‫العادي‬ ،‫العادي‬ ‫بالبريد‬ ‫بالبريد‬ ‫إرساله‬ ‫إرساله‬ ‫حالةحالة‬ ‫وفيوفي‬ ،‫اإلنترنت‬ ،‫اإلنترنت‬ ‫عبرعبر‬ ‫تقديمه‬ ‫تقديمه‬ ‫يتم يتم‬ ‫أن أن‬ ‫يجب‬ ‫يجب‬ ‫אייך‬ ‫אייך‬ ‫עס עס‬ ‫קעןקען‬ ‫אפליקאציע‬ ‫אפליקאציע‬ 1 ‫פון‬ 1 ‫פון‬ ‫מערמער‬ ‫שיקט‬ ‫שיקט‬ ‫איראיר‬ ‫אויב‬ ‫אויב‬ .‫דאטום‬ .‫דאטום‬ ‫דעםדעם‬ ‫ביזביז‬ ‫געפאסטמארק'ד‬ ‫געפאסטמארק'ד‬ .‫أهليتك‬ .‫أهليتك‬ ‫إلغاءإلغاء‬ ‫إلىإلى‬ ‫واحد‬ ‫واحد‬ ‫تقديمتقديم‬ ‫طلب‬ ‫طلب‬ ‫من من‬ ‫ألكثر‬ ‫ألكثر‬ ‫إرسالك‬ ‫إرسالك‬ ‫يؤدي‬ ‫يؤدي‬ ‫ قد‬.‫التاريخ‬ ‫ قد‬.‫التاريخ‬ ‫هذاهذا‬ .‫דיסקוואליפיצירן‬ .‫דיסקוואליפיצירן‬ :‫التقديم‬ :‫التقديم‬ ‫طلبطلب‬ ‫علىعلى‬ ‫للحصول‬ ‫للحصول‬ info@kearneyrealtygroup.com ,:‫אפליקאציע‬ ‫באקומען‬ info@kearneyrealtygroup.com ,:‫אפליקאציע‬ ‫די די‬ ‫באקומען‬ ‫צו צו‬ 845845 -306 -306 -7705 -7705 kearneyrealtygroup kearneyrealtygroup .com .com :‫اإللكتروني‬ :‫اإللكتروني‬ ‫البريد‬ ‫البريد‬ ‫الهاتف أو‬ ‫الهاتف أو‬ ‫عبرعبر‬ :‫אימעיל‬ ‫אדער‬ ‫טעלעפאן‬ ‫דורך די‬ 845845 -306 -306 -7705 -7705 kearneyrealtygroup kearneyrealtygroup .com .com :‫אימעיל‬ ‫אדער‬ ‫טעלעפאן‬ ‫ דורך די‬Kearney Kearney Relaty Relaty Group Group 57 57 USUS 6 Su 6 ite Suite 207207 :‫شخصي‬ :‫شخصي‬ ‫بشك ٍل‬ ‫بشك ٍل‬ ‫العادي أو‬ ‫العادي أو‬ ‫البريد‬ ‫البريد‬ ‫عبرعبر‬ Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NYNY 10505 10505 Kearney Kearney Realty Realty Group Group 5757 USUS 6 Suite 6 Suite 207 207 :‫פערזענליך‬ :‫פערזענליך‬ ‫אדער‬ ‫אדער‬ ‫פאסט‬ ‫פאסט‬ ‫דורך די‬ ‫דורך די‬ ‫فيه فيه‬ ‫للسكن‬ ‫للسكن‬ ‫التقديم‬ ‫التقديم‬ ‫تريدتريد‬ ‫الذيالذي‬ ‫المبنى‬ ‫المبنى‬ ‫وعنوان‬ ‫وعنوان‬ ‫عنوانك‬ ‫عنوانك‬ ‫تضمين‬ ‫تضمين‬ ‫عليك‬ ‫عليك‬ Baldin Baldin Place, Place, NYNY 10505 10505 November 30,30, 2023, 2023, at 11 at 11 amam at 57 at 57 Rt.Rt. 6, Suite 6, Suite :‫ومكانها‬ :‫ومكانها‬ ‫القرعة‬ ‫القرعة‬ ‫انعقاد‬ ‫انعقاد‬ ‫تاريخ‬ ‫تاريخ‬ ‫איינגעבן‬ ‫איינגעבן‬ ‫זיךזיך‬ ‫ווילט‬ ‫ווילט‬ ‫איראיר‬ ‫וואווא‬ ‫געביידע‬ ‫געביידע‬ ‫פון די‬ ‫פון די‬ ‫אדרעס‬ ‫אדרעס‬ ‫און די‬ ‫און די‬ ‫אדרעס‬ ‫אדרעס‬ ‫אייער‬ ‫אייער‬ ‫אריין‬ ‫אריין‬ ‫רעכנט‬ ‫ רעכנט‬November 207, 207, Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NY.NY. Link Link to to livestream livestream Will Will be be poste poste don don November November 30,30, 2023, 2023, at 11 at 11 amam at 57 at 57 Rt.Rt. 6, Suite 6, Suite 207, 207,‫לאקאציע‬ ‫לאקאציע‬ ‫אוןאון‬ ‫דאטום‬ ‫דאטום‬ Baldwin Place, NY.NY. Link to to livestream Will be be poste don Baldwin Place, Link livestream Will poste don www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forfor those who wish to to attend thisthis lottery www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com those who wish attend lottery virtually. virtually.

.‫טענענסי‬ .‫טענענסי‬ ‫פארפאר‬ ‫איבערגעקוקט‬ ‫איבערגעקוקט‬ ‫ווערן‬ ‫ווערן‬ ‫וועלן‬ ‫וועלן‬ ‫אפליקאציעס‬ ‫אפליקאציעס‬ ‫וועלכע‬ ‫וועלכע‬ ‫באשטימט‬ ‫באשטימט‬ ‫לאטערי‬ ‫לאטערי‬ ‫די די‬

Franç França

LOGE LOGEM

data. L'invio di più di 1 domanda potrebbe portarti alla squalifica. Per l'applicazione: November November30, 30,2023 2023 Per ottenere ottenere l'applicazione: Per o e-mail: e-mail: 845-306-7705 845-306-7705kearneyrealtygroup.com kearneyrealtygroup.com Per telefono telefono o Per persona: Kearney KearneyRealty RealtyGroup Group57 57usus6 6suite suite207 207Baldwin Baldwin Per posta posta o o di di persona:

cachet d être d être disq Pour Pour pop Par té Par télép Place, Par co Place, NY NY 10505 10505 Par cour Includi indirizzo ee l'indirizzo l'indirizzodell'edificio dell'edificioper percui cuidesideri desidericandidarti candidartiBaldwin BaldwiP Includi ilil tuo tuo indirizzo Data della lotteria: lotteria:November November30, 30,2023, 2023,atat1111am amatat5757Rt.Rt. Suite Indiquez Indiqu Data ee luogo luogo della 6,6, Suite 207, NY. Link Linkto tolivestream livestreamWill Willbe beposte postedon don dépos 207, Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NY. déposez www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forthose thosewho whowish wishtotoattend attendthis thislottery lottery Date www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com for Date ete virtually. virtually.

207, Ba 207, Bald

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Срок Срок подачи подачи заявления: заявления: November November 16,16, 2023 2023 আবেদন আবেদনজমাজমাদদওয়ার দদওয়ারদেষদেষতাররখ তাররখ November November 16,16, 2023 2023 Заявление Заявление должна должна быть быть подана подана онлайн онлайн илиили попо почте почте к этой к этой дате. дате. Отправка Отправка এইএইতাররবখর তাররবখরমবযে মবযেঅেেেই অেেেইঅনলাইবন অনলাইবনঅথো অথোদমল-এর দমল-এরমাযেবম মাযেবমজমাজমারদবত রদবতহবে। হবে।1 এর 1 এর более более 1 заявления 1 заявления может может дисквалифицировать дисквалифицировать вас. вас. অরযক অরযকআবেদন আবেদনজমাজমাকরবল করবলআপনাবক আপনাবকঅব অবাগ্োগ্েরহবেবে রহবেবেযবরযবরদনওয়া দনওয়াহবে। হবে। ГдеГде получить получить бланк бланк заявления заявления Онлайн: Онлайн: info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com আরও তথ্য পাওয়ার জন্য অনলাইন: info@kearneyrealtygroup.com আরও তথ্য পাওয়ার জন্য অনলাইন: info@kearneyrealtygroup.com ПоПо телефону телефону или или электронной электронной почте: почте: 845-306-7705 845-306-7705 দ ান দ ানঅথো অথোইবমবলর ইবমবলরমাযেবম: মাযেবম: 845-306-7705 845-306-7705 info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com info@kearneyrealtygroup.com একজন Kearney Realty Group 57 57 us us 6 suite 207207 ПоПо একজনেেরির েেরিরঅথো অথোদমল-এর দমল-এরমাযেবম মাযেবম Kearney Realty Group 6 suite почте почте илиили лично: лично: Kearney Kearney Realty Realty Group Group 57 57 us us 6 suite 6 suite 207207 Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, Baldwin Place, NYNY 10505 Baldwin Place, 10505 NYNY 10505 10505 আপরন আপরনদ খাবন দ খাবনআবেদন আবেদনকরবত করবতচানচানদেখানকার দেখানকারঠিকানা ঠিকানাএেংএেংআপনার আপনাররেরডংবয়র রেরডংবয়র Включите Включите ваш ваш адрес адрес и адрес и адрес здания, здания, на на которое которое вывы хотите хотите подать подать ঠিকানা ঠিকানাঅন্তর্ভ অন্তর্ভ ু ি ু িকরুন। করুন। заявку. заявку. Дата и место и место проведения проведения лотереи: лотереи: November November 30,30, 2023, 2023, at 11 at 11 amam at 57 at 57 Rt.Rt. লটাররর তাররখ এবং অবস্থান্: November 30,30, 2023, at 11 amam at 57 Rt.Rt. 6, Suite লটাররর তাররখ এবং অবস্থান্: November 2023, at 11 at 57 6, Suite Дата 6, Suite 6, Suite 207, 207, Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NY.NY. Link Link to to livestream livestream Will Will be be poste poste don don 207, Baldwin Place, NY.NY. Link to to livestream Will be be poste don 207, Baldwin Place, Link livestream Will poste don www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forfor those those who who wish wish to to attend attend thisthis lottery lottery www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com those who wish attend lottery www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forfor those who wish to to attend thisthis lottery virtually. virtually. virtually. virtually. Лотерея Лотерея определит, определит, какие какие заявки заявки будут будут рассмотрены рассмотрены на на предмет предмет লটাররর ারণারণকরাকরাহবেহবেদ দ দকান লটারররমাযেবম মাযেবমরনযুরনযু দকানঅোরিবকেনগুবলা অোরিবকেনগুবলার্াডাবটর র্াডাবটরজনেজনে аренды. аренды. প পুাবলাচনা ুাবলাচনাকরাকরাহবে। হবে।

DOSTĘPNE DOSTĘPNE MIESZKANIA MIESZKANIA WW PRZYSTĘPNEJ PRZYSTĘPNEJ CENIE CENIE

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신청서 신청서 제출 제출 기한: 기한: November November 16,16, 2023 2023 Data di scadenza della domanda: November 16, 2023 Date l Data di scadenza della domanda: November 16, 2023 Date lim 날짜까지 온라인 또는 우편으로 제출해야 합니다. 1건 이상의 신청서 이이 날짜까지 온라인 또는 우편으로 제출해야 합니다. 1건 이상의 신청서 제출 제출 Deve essere inviato online o, se spedito, con timbro postale entro tale À soum Deve essere inviato online o, se spedito, con timbro postale entro tale À soume 시시 실격 실격 처리 처리 됩니다 됩니다 data. L'invio di più di 1 domanda potrebbe portarti alla squalifica. cache

Доступное Доступное жилье жилье в наличии в наличии

সাশ্রয়ী সাশ্রয়ী মূল্মূ যের ল্যের হাউজ হাউজিং িং

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‫لع َر ِب‬ Date limite(Hebrew) de dépôt des demandes: November 16, 2023 ‫אידיש‬ ‫الع َر ِب‬ À‫אידיש‬ soumettre en ligne ou, si envoyée par courrier,‫איז‬ doit porter‫צוגענגליכע‬ un (Hebrew) ‫אוועילעבל‬ ‫האוזינג‬ cachet de la poste ne dépassant pas ‫אוועילעבל‬ la date Vous pourriez November 16, limite. 2023 ‫דיו‬ ‫אפליקאציע‬ ‫ איז‬:‫דאטום‬ ‫האוזינג‬ ‫צוגענגליכע‬ Per être disqualifié vous‫געשיקט‬ envoyez plus demande. ,‫די פאסט‬si‫דורך‬ ‫ווערט‬ ‫ עס‬d’une ‫אויב‬16, ‫אדער‬ ,‫אנליין‬ ‫אריינגעגעבן‬ ‫מוז ווערן‬ ‫بحلول‬ November 2023 :‫דאטום‬ ‫אפליקאציע דיו‬ 申申请请 ottenere l'applicazione: November 30, 2023 Pour : ‫געשיקט דורך‬ Per telefono o e-mail: 845-306-7705 kearneyrealtygroup.com ‫די‬ ‫ווערט‬ ‫אויב עס‬ ‫אדער‬.‫דאטום‬ ,‫דעם אנליין‬ ‫אריינגעגעבן‬ ‫מוז ווערן‬ ‫ אייך‬postuler ‫ עס‬,‫פאסט‬ ‫אפליקאציע קען‬ 1 ‫מער פון‬ ‫שיקט‬ ‫אויב איר‬ ‫געפאסטמארק'ד ביז‬ ‫يد بحلول‬ 欲獲得申請線上: 欲獲得申請線上: info@kearneryealtygroup.com info@kearneryealtygroup.com ‫אייך‬ ‫אפליקאציע קען עס‬ 1 ‫פון‬845-306-7705 ‫ איר שיקט מער‬info@kearneryealtygroup.com ‫ אויב‬.‫ ביז דעם דאטום‬.‫דיסקוואליפיצירן‬ ‫געפאסטמארק'ד‬ Par téléphone ou e-mail: Per posta o di persona: Kearney Realty Group 57 us 6 suite 207 Baldwin 透過電話或電子郵件: 透過電話或電子郵件: 845-306-7705 845-306-7705 Place, NY 10505 info@kearneyrealtygroup.com ,:‫אפליקאציע‬ ‫באקומען די‬ ‫צו‬ Par courrier ou en personne: Kearney Realty Group 57 us .‫דיסקוואליפיצירן‬ 6 suite 207 透過郵寄或當面索取: 透過郵寄或當面索取: Kearney Kearney Realty Realty Group Group 57 57 us us 6 suite 6 suite 207207 Baldwin Baldwin info@kearneyrealtygroup.com ,:‫אפליקאציע‬ ‫באקומען די‬ ‫צו‬ Includi il tuo indirizzo e l'indirizzo dell'edificio per cui desideri candidarti Baldwin Place, 845-306 kearneyrealtygroup.com :‫אימעיל‬ ‫טעלעפאן אדער‬ ‫דורך די‬ NY-7705 10505 Kea Place, Place, NYNY 10505 10505 845 -Realty 306adresse -7705 kearneyrealtygroup .com ‫טעלעפאן‬ Kearney Group USde6 l’immeuble Suite 207:‫אימעיל‬ :‫פערזענליך‬ ‫אדער‬ ‫דורךדידיפאסט‬ ‫ דורך‬Kearn Data e luogo della lotteria: November 30, 2023, at 11 am at 57 Rt. 6, Suite Indiquez votre et 57 celle pour‫אדער‬ lequel vous 請提供您的地址和您想要申請的建築物地址請提供您的地址和您想要申請的建築物地址 Kearney Group 57 US 6 Suite 207:‫פערזענליך‬ ‫פאסט‬ ‫ די‬10505 ‫דורך‬ Baldin‫אדער‬ Place, NY 207, Baldwin Place, NY. Link to livestream Will be poste don déposez uneRealty demande 抽籤日期和地點: 抽籤日期和地點: November November 30,30, 2023, 2023, at 11 at 11 amam at 57 at 57 Rt.Rt. 6, Suite 6, Suite 207, 207, NY No www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com for those who wish to attend this lottery ‫איינגעבן‬ ‫ זיך‬de ‫ווילט‬la‫איר‬ ‫געביידע ווא‬ ‫פון די‬30, ‫אדרעס‬ ‫און‬ ‫אריין‬ ‫רעכנט‬ Date et lieu loterie November 2023,‫די‬atBaldin 11‫אדרעס‬ am Place, at ‫אייער‬ 57 Rt. 6, 10505 Suite Baldwin Baldwin Place, Place, NY.NY. Link Link to to livestream livestream Will Will be be poste poste don don Nove ‫איינגעבן‬ ‫ זיך‬Place, ‫ווילט‬ ‫ווא‬ ‫געביידע‬ ‫די‬ ‫און‬ ‫אדרעס‬ ‫אריין אייער‬ virtually. November 30,‫איר‬ 2023, at 11livestream am‫די‬at‫פון‬57‫אדרעס‬ Rt. 6, be Suite 207,don ‫לאקאציע‬ ‫רעכנטאון‬ ‫דאטום‬ 207, Baldwin NY. Link to Will poste www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forfor those those who who wish wish to to attend attend thisthis lottery lottery November 30, 2023, at 11 am at 57 Rt. 6, Suite 207, ‫לאקאציע‬ ‫און‬poste ‫דאטום‬ ww Baldwin Place, NY. Link to livestream Will don La lotteria determina quali domande verranno esaminate per l'affitto. www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com for those who wish to attend thisbe lottery

Data di scadenza della domanda: Fecha Fecha limite limite de de entrega entrega de de la solicitud: la solicitud: November November 16,16, 2023 2023 申請截止日期: 申請截止日期: November November 16,16, 2023 2023 November 16, 2023 Debe Debe entregarse entregarse porpor internet internet o por o por correo correo postal postal a más a más tardar tardar en en esta esta fecha. fecha. 請務必在此日期前線上提交申請或透過郵寄提交申請。提交超過 Deve essere inviato online o, se spedito, con timbro postale1entro 請務必在此日期前線上提交申請或透過郵寄提交申請。提交超過份 1 份 tale Si envía más de de 1 solicitud podría quedar descalificado. Si envía más 1 solicitud podría quedar descalificado. data. L'invio di più di 1 domanda potrebbe portarti alla squalifica. 申請將使您失去資格. 申請將使您失去資格. Para Para Obtender Obtender La La Solicitud: Solicitud:

www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com for those who wish to attend this lottery www Baldwin Place, NY. Link.‫اإليجار‬ to livestream be poste ‫جا ے‬ ‫أجل‬October ‫ من‬Will ‫مراجعتها‬ ‫ ستتم‬don ‫التقديم التي‬ ‫القرعة طلبات‬ ‫تُحدِّد‬ - October •‫ئ‬ 33 virtually. www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com for those who19, wish2023 to attend this lottery25, 2023‫گا۔‬

www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com forfor those those who who wish wish to to attend attend thisthis lottery lottery virtually. virtually.

.‫اإليجار‬ .‫اإليجار‬ ‫أجلأجل‬ ‫من من‬ ‫مراجعتها‬ ‫مراجعتها‬ ‫ستتمستتم‬ ‫التيالتي‬ ‫التقديم‬ ‫التقديم‬ ‫طلبات‬ ‫طلبات‬ ‫القرعة‬ ‫القرعة‬ ‫تُحدتُِّدحدِّد‬

िंदी (Hindi) हह िंद

किफायती आवास उपलब्ध है

आवेदन िरने िी अंततम ततथि: 18 मई, 2023

ऑनलाइन सबमिट करने के मलए या, यदि िेल द्वारा भेजा जाता है, तो सिय सीिा से बाि िें पोस्टिाकक ककया जाना चादहए। यदि आप एक से

अधिक आवेिन जिा करते हैं तो आपको अयोग्य घोषित ककया जा सकता है।

आवेदन िरने िे ललए: November 16, 2023

ऑनलाइन: info@kearneyrealtygroup.com फोन या ईिेल द्वारा:

845-306-7705 coppercitylofts@gmail.comिेल द्वारा या व्यक्ततगत रूप

से

: Kearney Realty Group 57 us 6 suite 207 Baldwin Place, NY 10505 अपना पता और उस इिारत का पता इंधगत करें क्जसके मलए आप आवेिन

कर रहे हैं Date et lieu de la loterie November 30, 2023, at 11 am at 57 Rt. 6, Suite 207, Baldwin Place, NY. Link to livestream Will be poste don www.TheHamletAtCarmel.com for those who wish to attend this lottery virtually.

यह लॉटरी है जो उन आवेिनों को ननिाकररत करती है क्जन्हें ककराये के मलए

िाना जाएगा।

C’est C’est la l vue vue dede l

34 October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

THE

CLASSROOM

Ralph W. Tyler, trailblazing journalist ACTIVITIES and civic organizer By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews It is hard to ignore the devastating conflict now taking place in Israel/Palestine, the death and destruction. We are reminded of the time when the origins of this current violence erupted. A few years before World War I began, Ralph Waldo Tyler, an African American journalist and war correspondent, was actively involved in the National Colored Soldiers’ Comfort Committee, which was founded by Booker T. Washington. In 1917, when the Balfour Declaration was issued and a Jewish state was created, Tyler became the secretary of the organization, which provided financial support for Black soldiers and their families. Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1860, Tyler began his career as a journalist in the 1880s. Among his activities were being the editor of the Afro-American; co-founding the Free American, a short-lived African American newspaper; and contributing to other publications. A year before his appointment to Washington’s Comfort Committee, Tyler campaigned to be the U.S. Consul to Brazil, a quest that possibly brought him to the attention of Washington. His position there undoubtedly enhanced President Theodore Roosevelt’s appointing him to be the next auditor of the Department of the Navy, a post he would hold until 1913, four years before the U.S. officially entered World War I. Tyler’s criticism of Woodrow Wilson’s administration, particularly his segregationist policies, ended his tenure as auditor. Tyler, apparently still favored by Washington, was next recommended, mainly by Emmett J. Scott, Washington’s secretary, to be the national organizer of the National Negro Business League (NNBL). In this capacity, he traveled extensively to better understand the social and political conditions troubling Black Americans. Key to these ventures was his contact with the various local branches of the NNBL. Out of these contacts, he wrote a report that put the Great Migration in context throughout the nation.

Ralph W. Tyler circa 1918

His reports were published in a number of newspapers, journals, and magazines. With the war fully engaged, Tyler was selected as the only Black journalist stationed overseas to report on the conditions of Black troops on the front. His coverage was very important since the mainstream press generally overlooked the issues confronting the thousands of soldiers and laborers fighting and working in France. His story was critical in forging a committee of Black journalists, under the direction of Scott, to develop a sweeping account of the problems

endured by the Black troops and workers. Scott had been assigned to the Secretary of War, Newton Baker, as the special assistant for race relations, which, of course, facilitated Tyler’s appointment. Tyler’s coverage of the Black troops included their treatment by both U.S. commanders and the enemy, but before his reports could be circulated to the press, they had to be thoroughly read and approved by Scott and Baker. Tyler agreed to accept the position without pay because he did not want to be encumbered and have his reports minimized or censored. His re-

ports, many of which he did from the trenches of the battleground, were also screened by the U.S. Committee on Public Information before being disseminated to the press, a procedure that was not favorable to Tyler. The reports later formed the basis of Scott’s Official History of the American Negro in the World War (1919). In one of the significant books about Black American troops in WWI, The Unknown Soldiers by Arthur Barbeau and Florette Henri, there is this quote from Tyler: “The only discrimination a colored man from the states, or any country, encounters in this land of liberty is at the hands of the YMCA, and most regretfully, Colored soldiers who have been at the fighting front, who have wounds to prove they have been in battle, and whose Croix de Guerre, decorating their breast[,] was the proof that they had performed some act of valor for their country[,] are the victims of the YMCA’s undemocratic discrimination....Too many YMCA people over here accord Colored soldiers treatment due a pariah rather than a patriot....” According to an account in The Unknown Soldiers, Scott advised Tyler to tone down his comments about the YMCA and the association of Black troops with French women. “I very much hope that you will preserve as much equanimity of spirit as possible. There is so much for all of us to do that you cannot for a minute permit yourself to be overcome by the injustices which surround us. In other words, it is possible, I sometimes fear, for most, or all of us to permit our indignation to eat into our vitals,” Scott wrote. It probably unnerved Scott that Tyler had contrasted the relatively unbiased treatment by the French with the bias of American organizations. When the war was over, Tyler returned to Ohio and to journalism, becoming the editor of the Cleveland Advocate in 1919 while contributing articles to other publications. His letters and other memorabilia can be found at the Schomburg Center.

FIND OUT MORE

Bits and pieces of Tyler’s life can be found in various Black encyclopedias, particularly where World War I and Booker T. Washington are cited. DISCUSSION If there is more information about Tyler’s early years, much more time and research are required. PLACE IN CONTEXT Tyler was born during the Reconstruction era and died just after World War I ended; even so, he found several ways to distinguish himself.

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY Oct. 16, 1833: Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett, the first Black American diplomat, was born in Connecticut. He died in 1908. Oct. 16, 1901: Booker T. Washington became the first Black man invited by President Theodore Roosevelt to dine at the White House. Oct. 17, 1956: Mae Jemison, the first Black female astronaut to travel in space, was born in Decatur, Alabama.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 35

The ripple effect of ensuring Black authors get published By helping Black writers navigate publishing, We Need Diverse Books ensures readers nationwide see themselves reflected in the stories told. By JOSEPH WILLIAMS Billed as a one-of-a-kind mash-up of publishing and pop culture, with A-list participants from both worlds, the inaugural BookCon in May 2014 looked unique and exciting—including what promoters called a “blockbuster” panel of superstar authors. But when authors Ellen Oh and Malinda Lo got a look at the advance lineup for the panel shortly before BookCon opened, they saw the same old thing: four white men. Insult followed injury when BookCon released its roster for a panel of children’s authors. Every author on that list was white, too, with the exception of Grumpy Cat, who was promoting a book of internet memes. Frustrated, Oh and Lo vented about it on Twitter, and the dialogue snowballed, catching the attention of BookCon organizers. Together with fellow authors Lamar Giles, Aisha Saeed, and other writers of color, Oh and Lo formed a new organization named after their hashtag: We Need Diverse Books (WNDB). While the mission of We Need Diverse Books is spelled out in name, its goal extends beyond putting more Black, Asian, and Latino authors on bookstore and library shelves, and ultimately aims to create a world where every reader can see themselves in a book while “promot[ing] literacy, build[ing] empathy, and reduc[ing] bias,” according to the group’s website. “A group of writers formed WNDB’s origi-

Shelter Continued from page 3

Hochul refused to institute a statewide right-to-shelter order to help. Hochul’s attorney reportedly filed with the Manhattan Supreme Court last Wednesday and, in a letter, said that the state agreed with the city’s argument for “flexibility” when it comes to the migrant crisis. Hochul also plans to expand inpatient psychiatric beds at state-operated psychiatric centers. The city’s advocates have been in a huge uproar ever since. Rob Robinson is a formerly homeless community organizer with Partners for Dignity and Rights and a teacher at the New School. He was homeless on the streets of Miami for about 2 years and spent 10 months at the now closed Open Door shelter in New York City. He’s proposed that homeless individuals and newly arrived migrants form a coalition as opposed to fighting over resources, and has circulated a petition to keep the rightto-shelter law. “I believe our constitution doesn’t look at me as a human being. It values proper-

nal executive committee, including Oh, Giles, Saeed, along with authors Marieke Nijkamp, Miranda Paul, Karen Sandler, and Ilene Wong,” Caroline Richmond, WNDB’s executive director, explained in an email interview. The organization “got its start focusing on diversifying children’s literature, but we’ve since branched into the adult fiction world as well,” Richmond says. To promote the inclusion of BIPOC writers, she says, WNDB mentors a diverse cohort of writers and illustrators, supports diverse publishing professionals, and provides books to classrooms nationwide. “We do this because we take a holistic approach to address the lack of diversity in publishing,” she says. “If we want our bookshelves to be more inclusive and equitable, then we need to diversify the publishing industry from start to finish: from supporting the diverse creators who write and illustrate these books [and] providing resources [for] the diverse publishing professionals who acquire these titles, to sending the finished works to the students who need them.” Part of promoting diversity involves giving writers of color the support they need to craft a book, Richmond says. “We established our Black Creatives Fund in 2020 to offer direct support to Black writers, both published and aspiring,” she says. “We wanted to create a space where Black voices can be nurtured within an industry that has long marginalized them. Thus far,

we’ve served nearly 100 Black writers via our workshops and mentorships. While Richmond says the ultimate goal of WNDB is to help transform the publishing industry “top to bottom,” racial healing is an important part of the equation, as well. “The act of creating art—like writing and illustrating—can help us work through painful experiences and address past traumas,” she says. “WNDB helps diverse writers and illustrators tell their stories via our mentorships, grants, and workshops; these programs also help them to get published so readers nationwide can learn from their works and, ultimately, see their own selves represented.” But timing is another key factor. Because books take an average of two

years to go from acquisition by a publishing house to a bookshelf, “we are only now seeing the impact of the social justice work done in 2020 on the 2022 [diversity] numbers,” Richmond says. “We have yet to see the impact that book bans and censorship will have, though the loose data WNDB has begun to gather from Publisher’s Marketplace indicates that the market for diversity is cooling—and quickly.” Ultimately, “publishing, among many other industries, must not treat diversity like a fad or a trend,” she says, “but rather a needed systemic change that will lead to a more just, equitable, and empathetic world.”

ty rights over people and that’s problematic. I do think we need to band together in humanity and support one another,” said Robinson. “Everybody deserves a decent place, a dignified place, an affordable place to live with security and tenure. I don’t care if you’re just migrated here or you didn’t.” Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who was at a rally last week with Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes as well as housing and immigrant activists, was appalled. “Right to Shelter is a statewide obligation. The governor has not only failed to uphold that right, she’s refused to acknowledge it exists,” said Williams in a statement. “Meanwhile, the mayor has been steadily trying to strip away the right to shelter since before the first bus arrived. New Yorkers have a right to shelter. It’s been a moral right throughout our city’s history, and a legal right for over four decades—it doesn’t disappear in the face of a crisis. The right to shelter isn’t failing, our leaders are.” VOCAL-NY’s Housing Campaigns Director Adolfo Abreu said in a statement that the suspension of the right-to-shelter law will have “devastating consequences” in

the long-term.“We need leadership that stops fighting, resisting, gaslighting, lying, and ignoring homelessness prevention initiatives that have broad support from New Yorkers,” said Abreu. “True leadership would ground their policies in permanently rehousing all New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.” Additionally, President of 1199SEIU Union George Gresham said that he found the new 60-day notice rule to homeless families in shelters “deeply alarming” and especially “cruel and inhumane” to do as winter approaches. He said that the union is vehemently opposed to attempts to blame migrants for the city’s financial problems. “There is another way to respond to the current humanitarian crisis: working together with all levels of government and community-based organizations to assist both newcomers and others in need to exit the shelter system, find jobs and affordable housing, and get back on their feet,” said Gresham. “The resources currently being dedicated to this effort can be spent much more efficiently and effectively on both emergency aid and longterm solutions, and we join in the call for

additional support, especially from our federal government.” Meanwhile, the Legal Aid Society almost immediately filed a response to the city and state’s filings to suspend the right-toshelter law, arguing that not only is winter coming but life-sustaining shelter protects the most vulnerable New Yorkers. In their letter, Legal Aid predicts that if the mayor and governor are successful, there will be an epidemic of homeless encampments, deaths, and bodily harm to homeless individuals. “Modification of Callahan, as proposed by the city defendants, would set a dangerous precedent,” said Legal Aid in the letter, adding that it would “call into question similar decrees that offer protection from the elements to especially vulnerable populations, such as families with minor children.”

Street art depicting Toni Morrison in Vitoria, Spain. (Zarateman, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

This story was produced in partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

36 • October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Education Nominations open for FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence

2021 FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence recipient Penelope Smetters-Jacono (center), Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music, with school community members while holding her prize award (FLAG Foundation photo)

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff The search is on for nominations for this year’s FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence. New York City’s newest award is a chance to celebrate local public school teachers who use creativity to enhance their teaching. The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence aims to recognize New York City’s Pre-K through elementary public school teachers. To date, the award has recognized 122 teachers and conferred $1.13 million in cash prizes. This year’s award will present $25,000 cash prizes to six outstanding elementary school educators, and there will be one grand-prize winner in each NYC borough plus one winning PreK-5th grade teacher. Glenn Fuhrman, co-founder of the private investment firm MSD Capital, funds the FLAG Award through his philanthropic organization, the Fuhrman Family Foundation. Fuhrman and his wife, Amanda, created the FLAG

Award because they have had family members who were teachers and they felt today’s teachers weren’t being as appreciated as they should be. FLAG Award winners can choose how to use their awards, and will also receive $10,000 for their schools. Finalists will receive $10,000 each for personal use, and their schools will get $5,000 to establish an arts-based initiative. Semi-finalists will receive $1,000, as will their schools. “The money that goes to the teacher is totally unrestricted,” said Risa Daniels, co-president of the FLAG Foundation for Excellence in Education. “Teachers can use it to…pay for their kids’ college. They can go on vacation. They can do whatever they want. The money to the school—the idea behind that is that it should be used in some kind of creative way, with some kind of arts focus, with input from the winning teacher, so if the winning teacher is an art teacher, they can use it to buy art supplies. If the win-

nate-your-teacher. Nominations are open until November 23, 2023. The qualifications of award nominees will be measured by an independent panel of judges, including Dr. Betty Rosa, commissioner of education and president of the University of the State of New York; Michael Driskill, chief operating officer, Math for America; Bob Hughes, director of K-12 Education, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Nisa Mackie, deputy director of learning and engagement the Museum of Modern Art; and Jessica Abrams, a previous FLAG Award winner. Nominees are assessed “based on their ability to challenge and inspire students, impact the school and community positively, embrace their role as educators, acknowlning teacher is a science teachFull-time New York City public edge the full spectrum of student er, maybe they use the funds to school teachers of grades PreK potential, act as role models, and create some kind of science proj- through 12 can be nominated for engage in self-improvement.” ect that uses clay or paint, or they a FLAG award by students, parSemi-finalists for the FLAG create dioramas. It’s pretty broad: ents, school staff, and commu- Award will be announced in JanuThe whole idea is just that there is nity members. The online form ary 2024, and the six winners will some kind of creativity infused in for nominations is available be named before the end of the the use of the award money.” at https://flagaward.org/nomi- academic year.

FLAG Award nominees are assessed “based on their ability to challenge and inspire students, impact the school and community positively, embrace their role as educators, acknowledge the full spectrum of student potential, act as role models, and engage in self-improvement.”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Temple

International

initially wanted to raise a daughter after having three biological sons, but they struggled to conceive, so they turned their baby fever toward fostering. One thing led to another and ultimately around 80 youngsters went through their home, according to Temple. “Despite constantly trying, we weren’t able to get pregnant, so a better option was, okay, let’s be foster parents to see where we are and how we can actually contribute to help other kids,” he said. “For a while, it was very fulfilling. You see that you’re effecting change in a child’s life for a while. But it does take a toll on you, because you’re dealing with kids and trying to give them a stable household, but then they’re put back in situations that aren’t always the best situation. “From those efforts, we adopted a brother and sister…having them join our family was probably one of the best moments in our life. You know, I’m a father of seven kids and five grandchildren. Watching my grandkids now is just watching my kids all over [again]—so I’m getting a second shot at living with them and living through them by watching my grandkids do the things that they do.”

U.N. PEACEKEEPERS IN THE DRC SUSPENDED OVER MISCONDUCT CHARGES

Continued from page 5

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a taxdeductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/ amnews1.

Continued from page 2

(GIN photo)

(GIN)—South Africa’s military has ordered home a group of soldiers, accused of operating a system of mass prostitution in front of their base in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Some nine South Africans, part of a U.N. peacekeeping mission, were confined to their barracks in the eastern city of Beni earlier this month. The soldiers were said to be fraternizing after curfew hours at a bar where transactional sex is known to occur, according to a U.N. spokesman. Sexual violence has become a defining feature of this conflict-heavy region. Descriptions that dub DRC the “rape capital of the world” and “the worst place in the world to be a woman” reflect how the conflict-related violence has normalized rape and sexual exploitation by civilian perpetrators, humanitarian workers and U.N. peacekeepers. Fatherless children are now speaking for the first time about the pain of being abandoned. “I feel hurt when I see U,N. agents passing by,” said 13-year-old Emma*, “because other children have their fathers, but I don’t have mine. I would like to tell my father to think about me, wherever he is. He should know that I don’t have a family. If

my mother dies, who will raise me?” Her story corroborates previous interviews with the mothers of peacekeeper children in Haiti. In both countries, U.N. personnel left impregnated women and young girls to raise children in deplorable conditions, with most receiving no financial assistance. Soldiers assigned to U.N. peacekeeping have been involved in a number of instances of sex trafficking and other crimes against women and children, according to records of Amnesty International and by news agencies including Associated Press. Over the previous 12 years, there were almost 2,000 allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers and other U.N. personnel around the world. The Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, established in 2016, has received $4.8 million in contributions from Member States and from payments withheld from personnel against whom sexual exploitation and abuse cases have been substantiated. The Fund’s latest annual report can be seen online at https://conduct. unmissions.org/. It covers the DRC, Haiti, Liberia, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. The Fund has received 426 submissions for the year 2023, only 12 were shortlisted. They include the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Haiti, Iran, Myanmar, Somalia and South Sudan. All these projects will be reported on in 2024.

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 37

The Volta River Authority (VRA) initiated controlled spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on Sept. 15 due to a consistent rise in water levels upstream of the Akosombo Dam, primarily caused by heavy rainfall. In recent days, this controlled spillage has intensified to address the persistently rising water levels, which posed a significant threat to the dams. Tragically, this spillage has led to catastrophic flooding in numerous fishing communities, displacing hundreds of residents. Many homes are submerged and roads cut off in parts of the Volta and Eastern regions, according to the National Disaster Management Organization, while essential services have been disrupted, leaving some areas without access to water and electricity. The Ghanaian government confirmed that Comboni Hospital staff had to evacuate their quarters, while patients were discharged with only 10 in critical condition remaining. Some 400 bodies had to be removed by family members when power was suspended. The Akosombo Dam was completed in 1965 as part of the Volta River Project. Its construction was jointly financed by the government of Ghana, the World Bank, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Its primary purpose was to provide electricity for the U.S. aluminum industry and was called the largest single investment in the DEVASTATING DESTRUCTION IN GHANA economic development plans of AFTER AKOSOMBO DAM OVERFLOWS Ghana. (GIN)—Widespread spillage Some 80,000 people were disfrom Ghana’s Akosombo Dam placed during the construction of on the Volta River has forced over the dam, leaving thousands with4,000 people to abandon their out livelihoods. homes due to flooding. The Akosombo Dam was

(GIN photo)

Kwame Nkrumah's dream project to develop Ghana as a leading industrial nation but seismic activity led to coastal erosion. The dam also was impacted by microclimatic changes with less rain and higher temperatures. The soil surrounding the lake is less fertile than the soil under it, and heavy agricultural use has required the use of fertilizers, which in turn has caused the explosive growth of an invasive weed that renders water navigation and transportation difficult, and forms a habitat for water-borne illnesses such as bilharzia, river blindness, and malaria. Resettlement of the displaced inhabitants proved complex and in some cases unsuccessful; traditional farming practices disappeared and poverty increased. MP Abla Dzifa Gomashie, representing Ketu South constituency in the Volta Region, voiced her frustration with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for failing to respond to the flooding of several communities. She pointed out that while the president and his government have seemingly disregarded the plight of the affected people, he was quick to tweet his condolences to the King of Morocco regarding an earthquake in that country. Affected communities in the vicinity were not adequately informed about the spillage, she said, leaving them unprepared for the deluge.

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38 • October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Religion & Spirituality California governor vetoes bill that would have banned caste discrimination By DEEPA BHARATH Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP)—California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Saturday that would have made California the first U.S. state to outlaw caste-based discrimination. Caste is a division of people related to birth or descent. Those at the lowest strata of the caste system, known as Dalits, have been pushing for legal protections in California and beyond. They say it is necessary to protect them from bias in housing, education and the tech sector—where they hold key roles. Earlier this year, Seattle became the first U.S. city to add caste to its anti-discrimination laws. On September 28, Fresno became the second U.S. city and the first in California to prohibit discrimination based on caste by adding caste and indigeneity to its municipal code. In his message Newsom called the bill “unnecessary,” explaining that California “already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed.” “Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary,” he said in the statement. A United Nations report in 2016 said at least 250 million people worldwide still face caste discrimination in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Pacific regions, as well as in various diaspora communities. Caste systems are found among Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Muslims, and Sikhs. Proponents of the bill launched a hunger strike in early September pushing for the law’s passage. During their campaign, many Californians have come forward with stories of discrimination in the workplace, housing, and education. Opponents, including some Hindu groups, called the proposed legislation “unconstitutional” and have said it would unfairly target Hindus and people of Indian descent. The issue has caused deep divisions in the Indian American community. Hundreds on both sides came to Sacramento to testify at commit-

tee hearings in the state senate and assembly. Thenmozhi Soundararajan, executive director of Equality Labs, the Oakland-based Dalit rights group that has been leading the movement to end caste discrimination nationwide, said she still views this moment as a victory for caste-oppressed people who have “organized and built amazing power and awareness on California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Sacramento (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas, File) this issue.” “We made history conducting the first advocacy days, March. The California law would have in“We don’t have a caste system in America caravans, and hunger strike for caste equity,” cluded caste as a sub-category under eth- or California, so why would we reference it she said. “We made the world aware that nicity—a protected category under the in law, especially if caste and ancestry are caste exists in the U.S. and our people need state’s anti-discrimination laws. already illegal?” he said in a statement. a remedy from this violence. A testament to Nirmal Singh, a Bakersfield resident and Grove said the law could potentially open our organizing is in Newsom’s veto, where he member of Californians for Caste Equity, up businesses to unnecessary or frivolous acknowledges that caste is currently covered, said the introduction of this bill “repre- lawsuits. so while we wipe our tears and grieve, know sents a shifting tide in California to underIn a 2016 Equality Labs survey of 1,500 that we are not defeated.” stand caste-based discrimination.” Singh South Asians in the U.S., 67% of Dalits who The Hindu American Foundation and Co- also represents the Ravidassia communi- responded reported being treated unfairly alition of Hindus of North America claimed ty, many of whom are Dalits with roots in because of their caste. Newsom’s veto as a victory for their advo- Punjab, India. A 2020 survey of Indian Americans by cacy efforts. “The fact that caste-oppressed people the Carnegie Endowment for Internation“With the stroke of his pen, Governor were given a platform to stand up for our al Peace found caste discrimination was reNewsom has averted a civil rights and con- basic human rights is a huge win in and of ported by 5% of survey respondents. While stitutional disaster that would have put a itself,” he said. 53% of foreign-born Hindu Indian Ameritarget on hundreds of thousands of CaliEarlier this week, Republican state Sens. cans said they affiliate with a caste group, fornians simply because of their ethnicity Brian Jones and Shannon Grove called on only 34% of U.S.-born Hindu Indian Ameror their religious identity, as well as create Newsom to veto the bill, which they said will icans said they do the same. a slippery slope of facially discriminatory “not only target and racially profile South ___ laws,” said Samir Kalra, the Hindu Ameri- Asian Californians, but will put other CaliAssociated Press religion coverage receives can Foundation’s managing director. fornia residents and businesses at risk and support through the AP’s collaboration with State Sen. Aisha Wahab, the first Muslim jeopardize our state’s (innovation) edge.” the Conversation US, with funding from the and Afghan American elected to the CaliJones said he has received numerous calls Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely refornia Legislature, introduced the bill in from Californians in opposition. sponsible for this content.

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October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 39

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101 LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NEW YORK COUNTY

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

WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF CSMC 2019RPL11 TRUST,

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR DEUTSCHE ALT-A SECURITIES INC. MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005-3,

Plaintiff against UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW OF HYUNJEONG HAN, AND IF THEY BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS UNKONOWN TO PLAINTIFF, CLAIMING, OR WHO MAY CLAIM TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN, OR GENERALLY OR SPECIFIC LIEN UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THIS ACTION, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered May 17, 2023, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at the Portico of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre St, New York, NY 10007 on November 1, 2023 at 2:15 PM. Premises known as 70 Little West Street, Unit 22G, New York, NY 10004 aka 70 Battery Place, Unit 22G, New York, NY 10280. Block 16 Lot 1878. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in Battery Park City South, in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County, and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $665,379.10 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 850044/2021. Cash will not be accepted at the sale. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 1st Judicial District's Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. Referee will only accept a certified bank check made payable to the referee. Thomas R. Kleinberger, Esq., Referee 2267-003898 Notice of Qualification of 570 WASHINGTON STREET LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/06/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/04/23. Princ. office of LLC: 40 W. 57th St., 29th Fl., NY, NY 10019. 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., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

101 LEGAL NOTICES

V. ROBERT A. DEL VENTO, ET. AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated May 09, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York, wherein HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR DEUTSCHE ALT-A SECURITIES INC. MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005-3 is the Plaintiff and ROBERT A. DEL VENTO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the PORTICO OF THE NEW YORK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 60 CENTRE STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10007, on November 08, 2023 at 2:15PM, premises known as 335 EAST 51ST STREET, APARTMENT 9D, NEW YORK, NY 10022: Block 1344, Lot 1074: THE CONDOMINIUM UNIT (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE "UNIT") KNOWN AS UNIT NO, 9D IN THE BUILDING (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE "BUILDING") KNOWN AS THE SENATE EAST CONDOMINIUM AND BY THE STREET NUMBER 335 EAST 51ST, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, CITY. COUNTY AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 850055/2019. Mark McKew, 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. Supreme Court - New York County - Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. v. Jean B. Dubois and Marie H. Dubois, Defts. Index # 850087/2021. The foregoing supplemental summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable FRANCIS KAHN, III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, dated the 27th day of September 2023 and duly entered the 28th day of September 2023 in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, State of New York. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY, 5165868513. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff's attorney, within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State) In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of: An undivided 10,000/16,783,800 tenants in common interest in Phase 2 of HNY Club Suites located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas NY, NY. Section: 4 Block: 1006 Lot: 1303. Mortgage bearing the date of April 4, 2015, executed by Jean B. Dubois and Marie H. Dubois to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $71,257.12, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on September 25, 2015 in CRFN: 2015000342332. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises as described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Notice is hereby given that license number 1370691 for liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer and wine at retail in a theater under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at The Duke on 42nd Street located at 229 West 42nd Street, New York in New York County for on-premises consumption. The New 42nd Street Inc. at 229 W 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Notice is hereby given that license number 1359070 for liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and liquor at retail in a hotel under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at the Tempo by Hilton Times Square located at 1568 Broadway, New York in New York County for on-premises consumption. Times Square Hotel Operating Lessee, LLC and Tempo Hotel Management LLC.

101 LEGAL NOTICES

SUMMONS Index No. 850268/2023 STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT – COUNTY OF NEW YORK U.S. BANK NA, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE CHASE MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION MULTICLASS MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-S1 Plaintiff, -vs- THE HEIRS AT LARGE OF BALKRISHENA KAUL, deceased, and all persons who are spouses, widows, grantees, mortgagees, lienors, heirs, devisees, distributees, successors in interest of such of them as may be dead, and their husbands and wives, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors of interest of all of whom and whose names and places are unknown to Plaintiff; SARITA KAUL A/K/A SARITKA S. KAUL; PRASHANT KAUL; AKASH KAUL; ASHEESH KAUL; BOARD OF MANAGERS OF 555W23 CONDOMINIUM; JOHN DOE, individual who refused to provide their name; JANE DOE, individual who refused to provide their name; Defendants. Mortgaged Premises: 555 West 23rd Street, Unit S12L, New York, NY 10011 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S): YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. Your failure to appear or answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you, unless the Defendant obtained a bankruptcy discharge and such other or further relief as may be just and equitable. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer to the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. NEW YORK County is designated as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the location of the mortgaged premises. Dated: April 5, 2023 Mark K. Broyles, Esq. FEIN SUCH & CRANE, LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff Office and P.O. Address 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800 Rochester, New York 14614 Telephone No. (585) 232-7400 Block: 695 Lot: 1602 NATURE AND OBJECT OF ACTION The object of the above action is to foreclose a mortgage held by the Plaintiff recorded in the County of NEW YORK, State of New York as more particularly described in the Complaint herein. TO THE DEFENDANT, the plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action. To the above named defendants: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of HON. FRANCIS A. KAHN, III Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated September 27, 2023 and filed along with the supporting papers in the NEW YORK County Clerk’s Office. This is an action to foreclose a Mortgage. Parcel 1 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land together with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the County, City and State of New York Parcel 2 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land together with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the County, City and State of New York Parcel 3 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land together with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the County, City and State of New York Parcel 4 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land together with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the County, City and State of New York Mortgaged Premises: 555 West 23rd Street, Unit S12L, New York, NY 10011 Tax Map/Parcel ID No.: Block: 695 Lot: 1602 of the Borough of Manhattan, NY 10011 78130 Notice of Qualification of WILLIAMSBURG 157-159 WYTHE AVENUE, L.L.C. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/31/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/24/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of SRU MANAGEMENT, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/23/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/28/10. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Blue Haven Initiative, One Mifflin Pl., Ste. 400, Cambridge, MA 02138. 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., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

40 • October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

101 LEGAL NOTICES

The Paull Group LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/21/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 301 E. 81st St., NY, NY 10028. R/A: U.S. Corp. Agents, Inc., 7014 13th Ave. #202, Bklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice is hereby given that license number 1356621 for liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and liquor at retail in a Hotel under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at the Hilton New York Fashion District located at 152 W. 26th Street, New York in New York County for on-premises consumption. Fashion 26th Street LLC; Interstate Management Company, LLC and 152 W. 26th Street Rest, LLC, 152 W. 26th Street, New York, NY 10001.

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK AVANT CAPITAL 52 EAST 64TH STREET LLC, Plaintiff -against- 52 EAST 64TH STREET LLC., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to the Consent Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated June 16, 2023 and entered on June 20, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on November 22, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York; known and designated as Block 1378 Lot 41. Said premises known as 52 EAST 64TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $17,978,720.88 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850134/2020. SCOTT SILLER, ESQ., Referee KRISS & FEUERSTEIN LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 360 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10017

Notice of Qualification of WILLIAMSBURG 161 WYTHE AVENUE, L.L.C. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/05/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/24/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice is hereby given that a license number 1369367 for restaurant wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, cider and wine at the retail in a Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 11 Sushi Kai Inc. 11 Barrow St, New York, NY 10014 for on premises consumption.

Notice of Qualification of ZIMMER SPC LP Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/23/23. Office location: NY County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/12/23. Princ. office of LP: 9 W. 57th St., 33rd Fl., NY, NY 10019. NYS fictitious name: ZIMMER SPC L.P. Duration of LP is Perpetual. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the L.P. at the princ. office of the LP. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State of DE, Dept. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of CHAPTER 33, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/14/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/10/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 2 HORATIO STREET LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/29/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 55 Fifth Ave., 15th Fl., NY, NY 10003. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Time Equities Inc. at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action Supreme Court Of The State Of New York County Of New York Action to Foreclose a Mortgage Index #: 850197/2022 Mortgage Assets Management, LLC Plaintiff, vs Bonnie Wiener As Heir To The Estate Of Linda Orlin, Unknown Heirs Of Linda Orlin If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, United States Of America Acting Through The Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development, United States Of America Acting Through The IRS, People Of The State Of New York, The Board Of Managers Of 220 East 60th Street Condominium, City Register Of The City Of New York, County Of New York “John Doe #1” Through “John Doe #12,” The Last Twelve Names Being Fictitious And Unknown To Plaintiff, The Persons Or Parties Intended Being The Tenants, Occupants, Persons Or Corporations, If Any, Having Or Claiming An Interest In Or Lien Upon The Subject Property Described In The Complaint, Defendant(s). Mortgaged Premises: 220 East 60th Street Unit 5M New York, NY 10022 To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of New York. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Unknown Heirs of Linda Orlin Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Francis A Kahn of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Twenty-Eighth day of September, 2023 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York, in the City of New York. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, dated November 21, 2008, executed by Linda Orlin (who died on October 31, 2019, a resident of the county of New York, State of New York) to secure the sum of $625,500.00. The Mortgage was recorded at CRFN 2008000487819 in the City Register of the City of New York, New York County on December 26, 2008. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed November 14, 2012 and recorded on November 27, 2012, in the City Register of the City of New York, New York County at CRFN 2012000464586. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed August 8, 2022 and recorded on August 26, 2022, in the City Register of the City of New York, New York County at CRFN 2022000335785; The property in question is described as follows: 220 East 60th Street Unit 5M, New York, NY 10022 NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: October 9, 2023 Gross Polowy LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law firm of Gross Polowy, LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 78222

Notice of Qualification of BRIDGETON 396 BROADWAY F&B MANAGEMENT LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/06/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/17/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 820 N. French St., 4th Fl., Wilmington, DE 19801. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Qualification of KDS MANAGEMENT LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/06/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/21/23. Princ. office of LLC: Unit 15-138, 575 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10017. NYS fictitious name: KEROGEN DIGITAL MANAGEMENT LLC. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Glow Up Enterprises, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/04/2023. Office: NEW YORK County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: Northwest Registered Agent LLC, 418 Broadway, Suite N, Albany, NY, 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NY Trout Squad LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/26/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 228 Park Ave S #258207, NY, NY, 10003. R/A: U.S. Corp Agents Inc., 7014 13th Ave. #202, Bklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Sweetsandthings LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/30/2018. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy to: 135-30 127th St., South Ozone Park, NY, 11420. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Stone Way Trucking LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/10/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 30 Broad St., 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004. Purpose: Any lawful activity. HIDDEN BRIDGES NYC, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/05/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 515 E 88th St, Apt 3H, NY, NY 10128. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Rodney Cobcobo LLC. Art. of Org. filed w/Secy. Of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/3/23. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent for service of process. SSNY shall mail process to 123 E.102nd St., Apt. 6E, New York, NY 10029. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

101 LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff -against- JOHN M. DAGNON, PATRICIA DAGNON, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated January 27, 2023 and entered on January 29, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on November 22, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, being an undivided ownership interest as tenantin-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY; known as The NYH Condominium. Together with an appurtenant undivided 1.4182% common interest percentage. This a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit HU2, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 27, 2003 and November 3, 2003 as CFRN # 2003000442513 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1006 and Lot 1303. Said premises known as 1335 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, UNIT HU2, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $72,457.30 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850033/2017. SCOTT H. SILLER, ESQ., Referee, DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC, Attorney(s) for Plaintiff, 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff -against- AYODELE ANIMASHAUN, ABISOLA AYOANIMASHAUN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated June 27, 2023 and entered on June 29, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on November 22, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, being an undivided ownership interest as tenant-in-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY; known as The NYH Condominium. Together with an appurtenant undivided 3.1810% common interest percentage. This a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 27, 2003 and November 3, 2003 as CFRN # 2003000442513 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1006 and Lot 1302. Said premises known as 1335 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $86,295.18 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850110/2020. SCOTT H. SILLER, ESQ., Referee, DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff, 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 Notice of Qualification of 4160 MAIN STREET OWNER LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/06/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/05/23. Princ. office of LLC: 520 Madison Ave., Ste. 3501, NY, NY 10022. 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., Albany, NY 122072543, regd. agent upon whom and at which process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Real estate investment. Notice of Formation of DKH METS, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/19/20. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Cohen & Cohen, LLP, 767 Third Ave., 31st Fl., NY, NY 10017. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Trueveteran Consulting LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/19/2023. Office: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 425 Williams Drive 1231, Marietta, GA 30066. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of PLATINUM PLUS AUTO GLASS LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/08/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/22/22. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secy. of State, Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Qualification of VERIS GROUP, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/24/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Virginia (VA) on 01/27/05. 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., Albany, NY 12207-2543. VA addr. of LLC: 13800 Coppermine Rd., Ste. 177, Herndon, VA 20171. Cert. of Form. filed with VA State Corp. Commission, 1300 E. Main St., Richmond, VA 23219. Purpose: Any lawful activity. ROMchip LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/24/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 769 Broadway #1102, NY, NY, 10003. Purpose: Any lawful act.

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October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 41

101 LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NEW YORK COUNTY JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff against NERA PROPERTY HOLDING LLC, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Parker Ibrahim & Berg LLP, 5 Penn Plaza, Suite 2371, New York, NY 10001. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered June 3, 2022, and Amended on June 30, 2022 I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at Room 130 at the Supreme Court, New York County, 60 Centre Street, New York, New York on November 15, 2023 at 2:15 PM. Premises known as 531 West 162nd Street, New York, NY 10032. Block 2122 Lot 13. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $829,409.72 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 850232/2018. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 1st Judicial District's Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. Referee will only accept a certified bank check made payable to the referee. Elaine Shay, Esq., Referee File # 850232/2018

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST FARHAD M. BOUKANI, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 19, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse in Room 130, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on November 22, 2023 at 2:15PM, premises known as 467 WEST CENTRAL PARK, UNIT NO. 1D, NEW YORK, NY 10025. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, Block 1842, Lot 1003. Approximate amount of judgment $332,718.76 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850053/2019. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NEW YORK County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Roberta Ashkin, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-003391 77790

Notice is hereby given that license number 1360255 for liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and liquor at retail in a Hotel under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at the Courtyard New York Manhattan-Times Square located at 307 West 37th Street, New York in New York County for on-premises consumption. 365 Management Company LLC and West 37th Street Hotel LLC, 307 West 37th Street, New York, NY 10018.

Notice of Qualification of 1S REO OPPORTUNITY 1, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/02/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 01/09/19. Princ. office of LLC: 370 Highland Ave., Ste. 200, Piedmont, CA 94611. 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., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Is to own real estate in the State.

Notice is hereby given that license number 1357210 for liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and liquor at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 425 Park F&B LLC and JG Midtown LLC located at 425 Park Avenue, New York in New York County for on-premises consumption. 425 Park F&B LLC and JG Midtown LLC, 425 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

Notice of Qualification of JAIN GLOBAL LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/11/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/03/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 510 Madison Ave., NY, NY 10022. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, State of DE, Dept. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of JANDS 1 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/12/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/11/23. Princ. office of LLC: 100 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck, NY 10543. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of HABYT PROPERTIES US LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/12/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 05/17/23. Princ. office of LLC: 335 Madison Ave., Ste. 6F-2, NY, NY 10017. 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., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 850 New Burton Rd., Ste. 201, Dover, DE 19904. Cert. of Form. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secy. of State of the State of DE, Dover Office, 401 Federal St., Ste. 3, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity. NOTICE OF FORMATION OF New York ADR LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/27/23. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Fensterstock, P.C., 200 Vesey Street, 24th Fl., NY, NY 10281. Principal business address of the LLC is 200 Vesey Street, 24th Fl., NY, NY 10281. Purpose(s): any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Formation of BLUE REEF LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/25/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 138 Cucumber Creek Rd., Breckenridge, CO 80424. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of GRIFFITH SUTTON TOWER 38A LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/10/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Steven J. Sedereas, Esq., c/o Mandelbaum Barrett PC, 570 Lexington Ave., 21st Fl., NY, NY 10022. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Brooklyn Bread Apparel, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/30/2022. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 1740 Broadway Ave., Fl. 15, NY, NY 10019. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice is hereby given that license number 1359342 for liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and liquor at retail in a Movie Theater and Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at LOOK Dine-In Cinemas located at 657 West 57th Street, New York in New York County for on-premises consumption. LOOK Cinemas V LLC, 657 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019. Notice is hereby given that license number 1360806 for liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and liquor at retail in a Bar/Tavern under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 750 Eighth LH LLC and Distilled LLC located at 750 Eighth Avenue, New York in New York County for on-premises consumption. 750 Eighth LH LLC and Distilled LLC, 750 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10036. HOLISTIC AFFAIRS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/29/2023. Office: Bronx County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 828 E. 149 St., Apt. 405, Bronx, NY 10455. Purpose: Any lawful act. ELEVATE CONSTRUCTION GROUP LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/02/23. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, c/o Joel Kipnis, 137 Duane Street, #2E, New York, NY 10013. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Read 108, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/01/2023. Office: NEW YORK County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy to: 86 Jane Street, New York, NY 10014. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Dream Concept Multiservices, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/30/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: The Limited Liability Company, 228 Park Ave. S #34823, NY, NY, 10003. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. CHART INDUSTRIES II, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/14/23. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, c/o Hyman & Gilbert, Esqs., 1843 Palmer Avenue, Larchmont, NY 10538. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of SOM IW HOLDINGS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/23/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/17/22. Princ. office of LLC: 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich St., NY, NY 10007. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of 2 HORATIO STREET LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/29/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 55 Fifth Ave., 15th Fl., NY, NY 10003. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Time Equities Inc. at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Qualification of CHAPTER 33, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/14/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/10/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice is hereby given that license number 1356621 for liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and liquor at retail in a Hotel under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at the Hilton New York Fashion District located at 152 W. 26th Street, New York in New York County for on-premises consumption. Fashion 26th Street LLC; Interstate Management Company, LLC and 152 W. 26th Street Rest, LLC, 152 W. 26th Street, New York, NY 10001. TNTSERVICE23 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/09/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy to: 156 West 141 St, Apt 3G, NY, NY, 10030. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of AD XXIII Consulting LLC. Arts of Org Filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/16/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 160 Riverside Blvd, Apt 22A, NY, NY 10069, R/A: US Corp Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Ave, #202, BL, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful act. Notice is hereby given that license number 1356328 for liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and liquor at retail in a Hotel under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at the Hampton Inn/Home2 Suites located at 150 West 48th Street, New York in New York County for on-premises consumption. Haley Point OpCo, LLC and 365 Management Company, LLC, 150 West 48th Street, New York, NY 10036. Notice of Formation: RADIANT LIFE RESOURCES LLC. Arts of Org filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/12/2023. Office location: NY COUNTY. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail a copy of process against the LLC to R/A at US Corp Agnt, Inc, 7014 13th Ave, #202, Bklyn, NY, 11228. Purpose: any lawful act. Notice of Formation of CPG STEVENSON B4 GP LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/06/23. Office location: NY County. 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., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Real estate investment/development. Andrea Sullivan, LCSW PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/06/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 315 W 57th St., Ste. 203, NY, NY 10019. Purpose: Any lawful act. The Paull Group LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/21/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 301 E. 81st St., NY, NY 10028. R/A: U.S. Corp. Agents, Inc., 7014 13th Ave. #202, Bklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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101 LEGAL NOTICES

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Attack Transportation Planner FHI Studio is seeking a Transportation Planner. Responsibilities include conducting technical analyses, interpreting a variety of data to assess, identifying transportation needs, and developing interim and final reports. Candidates must have strong technical skills to summarize data and create visualizations. The candidate must also possess excellent oral and written communication skills. Preferred candidates will have experience in ArcGIS, Adobe Creative Suite, MS Office, including proficiency in spreadsheets and database management. Minimum degree: Bachelor's degree in urban planning, civil engineering, geography, or related field. Candidates with a valid driver's license preferred. Salary commensurate with level of experience. Submit your cover letter and resume at https://fhistudio. isolvedhire.com/jobs/. FHI Studio is an EEO/AA /VEV/ Disabled employer.

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Continued from page 3

The argument escalated, as recounted in the civil lawsuit complaint, to the employee calling Adams a “transvestite,” an anachronistic term for a male cross-dresser sometimes misused as a transphobic slur. Also noted in the filing was the pride flag-themed Apple Watch band on her wrist, which the employee allegedly observed. As mentioned, identifies as LGBTQ+ due to her bisexuality, but is not transgender. She said this is the first time she has experienced this level of discrimination over her queerness. After a back-and-forth about her gender identity, Adams said the employee pepper-sprayed her, which was detailed in the police report. She recalled hitting him with a coffee pot in self-defense. The next thing she remembers is opening her eyes and finding herself outside. The gaps are filled by the footage, which Adams discovered after recounting the incident to a co-worker who saw it on social media and sent it to her. A screen-grabbed version of the Facebook video provided by Brown’s law office shows a man wearing a powder-blue Denver Nuggets jersey dragging a woman—presumably Adams—out of the deli by her braids, across the sidewalk, and onto the street. He then proceeds to kick her while she lies prone next to a black car. Bystanders are overheard in the footage admonishing the man, telling him he “didn’t have to do all that.” The attacker is seen dusting off his hands and returning to the deli. Adams said she did not initially view the video. “First thing I did with the video was send it to my mom,” said Adams. “I didn’t watch the video until maybe two days before I did the [recent] interview with the Daily News. And my mom was like, ‘That’s definitely you.’ And I cried.” She identified the man who dragged and kicked her in the video as the same employee who had been arguing with her. Adams recounted trying to drive home afterward while her eyes were still burning and praying she wouldn’t hit anyone. When she ultimately felt she wasn’t safe behind the wheel, she flagged down passersby for help. Adams said a Good Samaritan couple gave her water and the wife subsequently drove her home in her vehicle while the husband followed in theirs. Brown was critical of how the NYPD handled Adams’s subsequent police report. He said she was called back to the scene to file it, which the police department reportedly disputed as

voluntary to the Daily News. “Those police officers were supposed to take the report and then refer the report to the other precinct, not send her back,” said Brown. Adams, who does not live near the deli, returned with friends and spoke with the officers, but did not go inside. She said she did not want to go back to the scene and felt ashamed. Both Brown and Adams said police took roughly four hours to respond. She said an NYPD detective called her in August about the video. While cannabis retail is legal in New York City, only a handful of stores are licensed and most are in Manhattan. Last month, a City Council oversight hearing was held addressing unregulated smoke shops. A proposed local law mandating a public awareness campaign against such businesses currently has 35 sponsors. Dr. Rich Blint, a James Baldwin scholar and visiting assistant professor of African and African American Studies at Dartmouth College, said he believes the incident belies the “long-articulated problems” of violence Black women historically face stemming from “concrete abstractions of human categorization,” which similarly influence anti-transgender attacks. “We know that, across the world, attacks on Black trans bodies and trans bodies generally have increased exponentially, but we also know that…the least-protected people on this planet and certainly in the United States have always been Black women,” said Blint. Brown said the ethnic identity of the deli employee is also unknown. Adams said she believes her race played a role in her treatment at the deli and with how police are handling her case. Citywide anti-LGBTQ+ violence remains in the news over the past few months, including the Brooklyn killing of gay Black dancer O’Shae Sibley in August. Just over a week ago, three teenagers were arrested and charged for hate crime assault for allegedly attacking a 72-year-old man in Manhattan while making anti-gay remarks, according to the NYPD. Adams said she has close family members who also belong in the LGBTQ+ community. “If I don’t stand up for myself, how can I teach them to stand up?” she asked. Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit. ly/amnews1.

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 43

Center Continued from page 3

Gang, McKissack and Mickissack, 40 Six Four Architecture, and Elizabeth Kennedy Landscape Architect, PLLC. Under the state’s new “progressive design-build,” which allows for the city to select a project team to work with quickly, the rec center should be completed two years faster than average. The “green” facility should have features such as a media lab named in honor of Dr. Roy A. Hastick, a gym, track, teaching kitchen, and an indoor swimming pool. Electeds were told some of these elements wouldn’t be possible for years, said Williams. Williams said that the process was “draining at times,” and he assumed the rec center wouldn’t be done in his time on the City Council, but he wasn’t exactly disappointed. He credited Louis for picking up the mantle and negotiating for more amenities and features than he dreamed of. “I stand by that vision— a vision that started many, many years ago with Public Advocate Williams. It is the vision of this community, advocates, and community members. I stand on your shoulders,” said Louis. The new center is named after Brooklyn native Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to serve in Congress, who also made a legendary run for president of the U.S. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said in a statement that he is thrilled that the borough will continue to honor Chisholm’s contributions to Black excellence and the strength of democracy with the new rec center. “Shirley Chisholm inspired millions of young girls to pursue dreams they never thought possible, and when the Shirley Chisholm Recreational Center opens, her name will once again inspire another generation, while providing the residents of East Flatbush with a stateof-the-art recreational center that honors the rich history and heritage of this vibrant community,” said Adams. “I am especially pleased to see that the media lab will bear the name of a personal friend and mentor, Dr. Roy Hastick,

who was a true champion of the Caribbean community in East Flatbush. With this project, our administration is using all the tools at our disposal to deliver amenities for New Yorkers more quickly and efficiently than ever before.” Earlier this year, Adams’s Capital Process Reform Task Force made recommendations to enhance the city’s capital projects, seeking projects that meet or exceed 30% minority- and women-owned business enterprise (M/ WBEs) participation goals for all aspects of contracting. Bichotte-Hermelyn, who chairs the subcommittee on oversight of M/WBEs in the assembly, was especially proud of the rec center’s M/WBE component. “We have been continuing to encourage and uplift M/WBEs and the whole community through vast contracting opportunities,” she said. “As the chair of the subcommittee, it was valuable for me, important for me, to make sure there was equity; that we had job creation and that this community would be participating in this.” Adams and Chandler-Waterman both noted that the rec center will be a great opportunity for community-based solutions to ongoing gun violence among youth and to invest in public safety and public health in the district. Although trending down, year-to-date police statistics for Precinct 67 indicate that there were 40 shooting victims in the area in 2022 and 34 so far this year. “Let’s not miss the crisis management team,” said Adams. “You can build beautiful structures that will remain empty if someone isn’t [there] to give [young people] [comfort] to come inside and participate. We need those crisis management teams to go out there and nurture young people and tell them they don’t have to just stand on the corner.”

44 October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

Knicks and Nets conclude preseason ahead of next week’s opening night Knicks forward Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves KarlAnthony Towns battled at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night while Nets forward Mikal Bridges tunes up for the regular season opener (Bill Moore photos) Karl-Anthony Towns

Julius Randle

Mikal Bridges

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor The Knicks and Nets played their final preseason games last night (Wednesday) and will continue their preparation for next week’s opening night when play takes on greater significance. The Knicks hosted the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden and the Nets were in Miami to take on the defending Eastern Conference champion Heat. The Knicks and Nets were both 1-2 before their final games. The Knicks lost twice to the Boston Celtics, including a 123110 defeat on Tuesday night on the road and the Nets fell to the Philadelphia 76ers 127-119 on Monday evening at the Barclays Center. Nets star forward Mikal Bridges did not play but the team’s potential X-factor, Ben Simmons, logged 29 minutes, while posting 8 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds. The glaring flaw was the 27-yearold Simmons’ eight turnovers playing his usual point-forward role. An encouraging sign for the Nets

is that he appears to be healthy after dealing with back injuries for the past several seasons. He was limited to 42 games last season with a nerve issue in his back and since being drafted No. 1 overall by the 76ers in 2016, he has played in only 317 regular season games out of a possible 574. At highest level of play, Simmons has earned three All-Star game selections (2019-2021), AllNBA Third Team honors (2020), two NBA All-Defensive First Team spots (2020, 2021) and was named the 2018 Rookie of the Year after missing the entire the 2016-17 season due to a broken right foot. Along with Simmons, the Nets as a whole were careless with the basketball versus Philadelphia, committing 27 turnovers to the Sixers 10. Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn was also disturbed by what he viewed as a lack of collective sustained intensity. “I said to some assistant coaches earlier today is I really want this team to be known for playing hard, and that starts now,” said Vaughn. “It doesn’t start versus Cleveland

the first game of the year…I should never have to go into one of our huddles, timeouts, talk about effort and playing hard.” The Nets will start the regular season at home next Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks will also be at home next Wednesday to begin the regular season when they’ll face the Celtics. Three of their four preseason games have been at the Garden. Last Saturday at MSG, the Knicks took a 121-112 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. RJ Barrett, who like Simmons could be the difference in the Knicks taking a step up and becoming a serious threat to the East’s top teams—currently the Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks– or being stagnant, led them in points and minutes played with 23 and 26 respectively. In Tuesday’s loss to the Celtics, Quentin Grimes was the Knicks’ top scorer with 22. He and Robinson were the only two regular starters that saw time. Barrett, Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson were held out by head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Fordham men’s basketball looks to build on strong 2022–23 season By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

Fordham University men’s basketball head coach (R) Keith Urgo and senior (L) Kyle Rose (Derrel Johnson photo)

Last season, after leading the Fordham Rams men’s basketball team to a 25-8 campaign, including a 12-6 record in the Atlantic 10 Conference, then-first-year head coach Keith Urgo signed a long-term contract extension with the university to continue leading the program. The contract for the 43-year-old native of Washington, D.C., who was named the 2023 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, has been extended through the 2027–28 season. Urgo came to Fordham from Penn State, where he was the associate head coach for the 2021–22 season. At the Atlantic 10’s annual men’s basketball media day, held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday, explained his mindset as he looks to level up after a successful rookie year. “Well, because of the contract extension, no, I don’t feel pressure,” he said to laughter from the assembled reporters. “...there’s no pressure, honestly. You know, we put in a lot of work. We have a tremendous staff. We have great young kids [who] are working as hard as they can.

“And for us, it’s just to continue to try to get better each and every day; build young men. I think our staff and our institution have done a tremendous job [of] bringing in the right student-athletes [who] are working, again, every day to become the best team they can be

by the end of the year. That’s our goal, whatever that is. “Last year, the best team we could be was playing in the semifinals (of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament). That remains to be seen, right? For us, it’s just trying to show up and get 1% better each

and every day. If we continue to do that, I think we’re gonna like the outcome come March.” Urgo discussed his roster, which lost guard Darius Quisenberry, the Rams’ leading scorer, as a graduate student last season and Second Team All-Atlantic 10 performer.

Quisenberry is continuing his basketball career playing professionally in the Netherlands. “Guys like Angel Montas coming off an injury can play multiple positions,” said Urgo. ”Transfer Josh Rivera out of Lafayette—really explosive power forward. Will Richardson, as a sophomore, has the opportunity to take another step and become an all-conference player. Abdou Tsimbila has been working as hard as I’ve ever seen him work. He’s healthy again, playing off of both legs and really making an impact. “Young guys like Romad Dean had a tremendous summer. The light switched on for him—his level of effort and energy. Elijah Gray at 6'8, 6'9—his ability to put it on the floor, you know, grab it off the rim and push it in transition. Noah Best, who’s a red-shirt freshman, really coming along with his long length, great at the top of a press. “Transfers like Japhet Medor, who arguably could be one of the fastest guys I’ve ever had on the court. “We got a lot of versatility, guys who could switch on defense and get out and transition, so it should be exciting.”

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 45

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

Mookie Betts leads Third Annual All-MLBbro team By JR GAMBLE, MLBbro Special to the AmNews With the regular season completed and the playoffs heating up, it’s time for MLBbro. com to honor the very best Black and brown players of 2023. The All-Bro Team features one selection at each of the infield positions, three outfielders, a designated hitter, starting pitcher, closer, and manager. All players were chosen based solely on their regular season statistics. The third annual All-Bro Team represents excellence at the plate, in the field, and as a leader. It was selected by a panel led by Editor-in-chief Rob Parker. 2023 All-Bro Team—C: Bo Naylor, Guardians; 1B: Josh Bell, Marlins; 2B: Marcus Semien, Rangers; SS: J.P. Crawford, Mariners; 3B: Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pirates; OF: Mookie Betts, Dodgers; OF: Michael Harris II, Braves; OF: Aaron Judge, Yankees; DH: Jordan Walker, Cardinals; SP: Taijuan Walker, Phillies; CP: Devin Williams, Brewers; Manager, GR: Dave Roberts, Dodgers Here is a look at some of the honorees.

Let’s keep it real, there aren’t a lot of catchers who qualify for All-Bro recognition. However, that doesn’t mean that Bo Naylor didn’t have a positive impact on the Guardians this season. He appeared in 67 games this season, with 55 starts. In those games, Cleveland was 30-25 (.545) compared to their overall winning percentage of just under 47%. Naylor’s 11 home runs were tied for fourth-best and his 32 RBI were eighthbest on the Guardians’ roster. Even with his limited at-bats, Naylor ranked in the top 10 among American League catchers in both OPS and slugging percentage. Ideally, the 2023 season is just the beginning of a long career as a backstop for Naylor.

Mookie Betts Season stats: .307 AVG, 39 HRs, 40 doubles, 107 RBI, 126 runs, .987 OPS It’s hard to overstate just how good Mookie Betts was this season for the Dodgers. The last time he was this good, he won the American League MVP with the Boston Red Sox. His performance this season puts him in the race for NL MVP. If he were to pull that off, he would become only the Bo Naylor second player (after Frank Robinson) to do Season stats: .237 AVG, 11 HRs, 32 RBI, so in major league history. .809 OPS For the second consecutive season, Betts

set a career high in home runs and set a new major league record for RBI for a leadoff hitter. He hit at least 40 doubles for the seventh time in the past nine seasons, and finished just one behind his career high in walks with 96. In the field, he played wherever he was needed. Right field? 77 starts. Second base? 62 starts. Shortstop? 16 starts. The only thing he didn’t do this season was pitch. But there’s already another guy in LA who does that.

Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor was named to 2023 MLBbro All-Bro team (MLBbro.com photo)

Michael Harris II Season stats: .293 AVG, 18 HRs, 33 doubles, 57 RBI, 76 runs Last season’s National League Rookie of the Year struggled to avoid the sophomore slump to start the season, but turned it around as a key component for the 104-win Braves. Over the final two months of the season, as Atlanta went 37-19, Harris was at his best. In those 56 games, he batted .319 with nine home runs, 29 RBI, and 38 runs scored.

That represented half of his totals in those categories. He missed out on the Braves’ World Championship in 2021, but if Atlanta is going to win one this season, Michael Harris II will be a major reason why.

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones makes MSG debut at UFC 295 By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones will defend his title against former champion Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden on November 11 (Esther Lin photo)

The UFC returns to Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 11, 2023, as UFC world heavyweight champion Jon Jones makes his Madison Square Garden debut to defend his title against former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. Jones made his heavyweight debut at UFC 285, where he made short work of Ciryl Gane, earning a submission victory to win the title in just two minutes and four seconds. Jones should have a much tougher challenge in Miocic, who will make his octagon return after losing the heavyweight title in March 2021 to Francis Ngannou. The UFC holds the Madison Square Garden record with the two highest-grossing events in the building’s history: UFC 205, the first UFC event in New York City, and UFC 281, grossing over $11.5 million in November 2022. Two-time super middleweight world champion and interim WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) will battle two-division champi-

on Demetrius Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs) Thanksgiving weekend on Saturday, November 25 in a compelling matchup. Benavidez, who we last saw dominate Caleb Plant for 12 rounds in March, discussed the matchup. “This is definitely the biggest fight of my career,” he said. “I give De-

metrius a lot of props. He’s a great fighter and a lot of people have been ducking him for a long time. Nobody wanted to give him the opportunity but now we came together and we have the opportunity to make a great fight happen.” Andrade, who we last saw in a dominant win against Demond

Nicholson, added his thoughts. “This is a great opportunity for myself and for David Benavidez to put on a show. I’m excited. This is a great matchup and David is giving me an opportunity to become a three-division world champion. I’m looking forward to it. We’re ready to rumble,” Andrade said.

Stephen Espinoza, Showtime Sports president, also discussed the fight. “[Andrade] likes to say he’s the most avoided fighter in boxing but I think both of these guys can make that claim,” Espinoza said. “What do you do when you have two avoided fighters in the sport and you’ve got one mega-fight lurking?” You make the fight, and that’s what both fighters did. WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will battle former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou next Saturday, October 28 on ESPN+ PPV from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. But the biggest news for Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) is that a match against WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) was signed. The winner will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. No date has been announced for the fight, but one is certain to be set following Fury’s bout against Ngannou. Shakur Stevenson (20-0, 10 KOs) and Edwin De Los Santos (16-1, 14 KOs) will battle for the WBC lightweight title on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

46 October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

Josanne Lewis is leading John Jay volleyball to new heights By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews Currently 5–0 in City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) play, the women’s volleyball team at John Jay College of Criminal Justice is poised for a shot at a trip to the NCAA Division III Women’s College Volleyball Tournament later this year. Much credit can be given to sophomore Josanne Lewis, an outside hitter who joined the Bloodhounds this year after leading Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) to its first CUNYAC championship in 16 years. “I came in with a mindset of winning. I think I brought that to my team. I have the mindset of working hard and achieving what you work for,” said Lewis, who last year was named CUNYAC Community College Player of the Year and has already earned CUNYAC Player of the Week honors at John Jay. The Bloodhounds have enjoyed an unprecedented winning streak. As a student, Lewis is thriving in John Jay’s psychology pro-

Josanne Lewis is propelling excellence at John Jay (Carlisle Stockton, Inc. photo)

gram and particularly appreciates the inclusion of forensics. “I love the school,” she said. “Someday, I want to play at a higher level. That’s my goal. For right now, I

think I’m where I should be.” Lewis said she brings a winning mindset to John Jay. “We want to win and be the best,” she said. “I’m the type of player where I’m de-

termined and I’m always going to push hard. I always push myself whether it’s practice or competition. I find people around me wanting to do what I’m doing. That gives

people motivation. … On this team, everyone wants to work hard.” Among her goals is representing her home country of Antigua in the Olympics. Over the summer, she traveled with the national team to compete in two beach volleyball tournaments with impressive results. During college season, she remains with her collegiate team, but she has an international tournament on her schedule for 2024 in the hopes of qualifying Antigua for next summer’s Olympics. “That’s always my goal; I like to win,” she said. She promises that she will elevate her game even more if given the chance. While she’s loving the curriculum at John Jay, she is open to Division I and II opportunities because her ultimate goal is to play volleyball professionally. Right now, her sights are set on a CUNYAC championship for the Bloodhounds. “Everyone’s happy, hardworking and motivated to win every single game,” she said. “Everyone’s on the same page.”

Goalkeeper Serena Mensah has her eye on the ball for Fordham By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews As Fordham University women’s soccer takes on its final conference games of the season, the goal of earning a spot in the Atlantic 10 playoffs is urgent for senior Serena Mensah. “My class hasn’t been able to experience going to [the playoffs], so it would be a great opportunity,” she said. Mensah, a biological sciences major, selected Fordham for college because she appreciated the dynamic on the soccer team. She also loves the beautiful campus and its proximity to Manhattan. “I visited other schools and they had nice academics and a nice campus, but Fordham and the kind of people they had on the team made it a program I wanted to be a part of and create a legacy,” she said. Being a student-athlete while majoring in a demanding STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field has caused her to fine-tune her time management skills, but she’s grateful she’s been to pursue two

Serena Mensah of Fordham women’s soccer (Fordham Athletics photo)

things she loves. “My ambition and the drive that I have is what motivated me to stay on track with my schoolwork while being a student-athlete,” said Mensah.

Her long-term goal is to attend medical school and become a neonatologist, but she is leaning toward taking her fifth year of eligibility (granted by the

Fordham is currently 4-8-4 after a 2-1 loss to Saint Joseph’s on Senior Day on Sunday. Mensah said the team had high hopes heading into the season. After a disappointing period, the team gained fresh inspiration. Early in the season, Mensah was waiting patiently to see time at goal and giving her utmost in practice and from the sidelines. “Once I had my opportunity, I knew that I needed to capitalize on it,” she said. “I wanted to have the ability to impact the team in a positive way. I’m grateful to have done so. It also plays into how supportive and positive my goalkeeper coach Dave has instilled in me and my other training partner.” Mensah became a goalkeeper right from her days in youth soccer. She initially played on a boys’ team. Since no one was sharing the ball with her, she decided to become the goalkeeper and realized she was drawn to NCAA to all student-athletes that position. Fordham takes on VCU tonight who were in school during the 2020–21 academic year) and and finishes Atlantic 10 play at utilizing that to pursue a mas- home on Sunday versus University of Massachusetts Amherst. ter’s degree in public health.

October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023 • 47

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Sports In Week 6, the Jets display fortitude while the Giants continue to falter By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor It was the most unlikely of victories for the Jets but one which gifted them renewed hope. Their 20-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday prevented them from falling three games behind the 5-1 AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins after just six games. Going into last Sunday’s NFL Week 6 game against the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles at home at MetLife Stadium, the Jets, now 3-3 going into their bye week, were 2-3 and feeling better about themselves after a much needed 31-21 win over the Denver Broncos on the road the previous Sunday that ended a three-game losing streak. However, the Eagles were 5-0, and after the San Francisco 49ers 19-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns earlier in the day, the only remaining undefeated team in the league. The struggling Jets’ offense, which entered the game versus the Eagles averaging just 18.6 points per game, would be

playing without its best offensive lineman, Alijah Vera-Tucker, who suffered a season ending achilles tear against the Broncos. It is the second straight season-ending injury for Tucker that both eerily occurred at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver versus the Broncos. The talented 24-year-old Vera-Tucker, who possesses All-Pro potential, tore a triceps tendon in Week 7 on October 23 last year. So the Jets’ Super Bowl caliber defense, with injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who tore an achilles in Week 1 on the sidelines for the first time since the injury, took up the slack, forcing Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, last season’s league MVP runner up to Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, into three interceptions. The most costly was an ill-advised pass on third-and-9 at the Eagles 46-yard line with his team leading 14-12 with 1:50 left in the game. Jets safety Tony Adams picked Hurts and returned the ball to the Eagles 8-yard line. From there, running back Breece Hall

ran for a touchdown on the next play and the Jets converted a two-point play on a pass from quarterback Zach Wilson to wide receiver Randall Cobb for a 20-14 lead, which would be the final score as the Eagles failed to execute a game winning drive after getting the ball back at 1:46. It was the Jets’ first ever win in 13 games against the Eagles. ”Outstanding, per the usual,” said Jets head coach Robert Saleh of his defensive unit, which played without All-Pro secondyear cornerback Sauce Gardner, who was listed as having a concussion and illness. The Jets’ other starting corner, D.J. Reed was also unavailable, missing his second straight game due to a concussion. “Through these first six weeks,” added Saleh, “we’ve played a gauntlet of quarterbacks. I know we haven't won them all, but we’ve embarrassed all of them. I'm just really, really proud of the defense and their resolve." The Giants also showed admirable will on Monday night against

The Jets’ defense pressured Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts into throwing three interceptions in Sunday’s 20-14 win Giants.com photo)

the Buffalo Bills on the road with quarterback Tyrod Taylor piloting the offense as regular starter Daniel Jones watched from the sideline with a neck injury. But they came up short 14-9 after failing to score any points to end the first half and the game with the ball on the 1-yard line on both final plays.

“ …I mean you don't get trophies for trying so I appreciate their efforts,” said Giants head coach Brian Daboll after the loss that left his team 1-5 moving towards Sunday’s home game at MetLife against their 3-3 NFC East rival Washington Commanders. “Came down to one yard and just missed it. Didn't get it.”

The Liberty and Aces WNBA Finals elevates the leagues brand By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor When the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces formed what have been characterized as super teams by close followers of the WNBA, featuring this season’s league MVP, Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, who has won the award twice, and Aces forward A’ja Wilson, also a two-time MVP (2020, 2022), as well as back-toback Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023), it was almost a foregone conclusion the two franchises would meet in the Finals. The Aces finished the regular season with the best record at 34-6 and the Liberty with the second best mark at 32-8. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds played Game 4 of the best-of-five Finals last night (Wednesday) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with the Liberty trying to push the series to a decisive Game 5 back in Las Vegas

The New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces set a new WNBA viewership record for Game 1 of the league finals. (WNBA.com photo)

tomorrow. The Aces led 2-1 and were looking to claim their second consecutive title with a win. No matter what the outcome, the Finals have already been a victory for women’s basketball. Heading into last night’s match up, the series has generated impressive television ratings. Game 1 on Sunday, October 8, held at

the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, had an average viewership of 729,000 and peaked at 885,000 people watching on ABC. Game 3 at the Barclays Center this past Sunday set a league attendance record as 17,143 tickets were collected—the most ever for a WNBA contest. Heading into last night’s meeting between the two

magnetic teams, the 673,000 average viewers for Games 1, 2 and 3, broadcast on ABC and ESPN and streamed on Youtube TV, made this year’s Finals the highest rated through the first three games in the league’s history dating back to its inaugural 1997 season. Additionally, Game 3 had an average viewership of 659,000, peak-

ing at 945,000. It was the most watched WNBA Game 3 in 18 years and a 14% increase from last season’s Game 3 played by the Aces and Seattle Storm. Game 4, aired on ESPN, was expected to continue the trend as the Liberty were facing elimination. They showed urgency and resilience in defeating the Aces 87-73 in Game 3 after getting steamrolled in Game 1 (99-82) and Game 2 (104-76). The outcomes in headto-head competition between the Liberty and Aces this season have been counterintuitive. Going into last night, the supremely talented squads had played only one game in seven against each other that ended in a single digit win—a 94-85 Liberty victory on August 28 in Brooklyn. The average point differential in the Liberty’s and Aces four regular season games was 19—ironically, the exact same number through Game 3 of the Finals.

48 October 19, 2023 - October 25, 2023

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