25 minute read
Union Matters
Hochul and Williams start the year with new union/progressive endorsements
By STEPHON JOHNSON
Amsterdam News Staff
New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul and party challenger, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, began the new year with endorsements from labor unions and progressive groups.
The Retail, Wholesale and Development Store Union (RWDSU) endorsed Jumaane Williams for New York State governor. RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum stated that Hochul’s proven, during her short time in office, that she’s more than capable of keeping her job.
“Upon taking office in late August, Governor Hochul acted swiftly to implement profound safety protections for our members under the NY Hero Act,” said Appelbaum. “She has a proven track record as a strong and smart leader with a steady hand. She has taken on the unemployment crisis many of our members face and created funds to help our members in the tourism industry, which include our members who work in airline catering. She has looked to support workers seeking to unionize in both new and emerging industries like adult-use cannabis and historically excluded farmworkers.” Hochul said that she was “humbled” by the union’s endorsement. “The RWDSU has been a strong advocate for the needs and rights of its members. RWDSU members provide critical services to us as we continue to weather the pandemic, from retail, grocery and pharmacy workers, to health aids and social workers at non-profits and in nursing homes, to food processing workers that produce the food on our dinner tables—they are there,” stated Hochul. “New York is at its best when organized labor has a seat at the table and when we ensure our workers are treated fairly and with dignity and respect.”
(Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul) (Bill Moore photo) Not to be outdone, Williams was endorsed by Progressive Coalition of NYC Council Members who perceive Williams to be a true liberal compared to the “moderate” Hochul. Coalition member New York City Council Member Tiffany Cabán said she was honored to endorse Williams. “In his years in public service, Jumaane has been a leader on public safety, environmental justice, and education equity, authoring legislation to curb stop-and-frisk and create more police oversight, fighting for safe schools and workplaces during the COVID pandemic, investing in cure violence programs to combat gun violence, and demanding public power for New York City,” stated Cabán. Williams has publicly declared his stance in favor of policies addressThe Williams and Hochul endorsement race for governor has begun. ing climate science, COVID vaccines and outside intervention in monitoring Rikers’ Island. Williams has also been arrested in Albany at protests for rent regulation and outside of Trump Tower in Manhattan at protests against then U.S. Supreme Court
See ENDORSEMENTS on page 29
Unions & activists celebrating, GOP palpitating over new voting bill
By STEPHON JOHNSON
Amsterdam News Staff
New York City’s bill allowing non-citizens to vote is in effect and opinions are expectedly based on political affiliation.
Pro-immigration/undocumented activists and labor unions praised the new law (Into. 1867 ) passed by the New York City Council in December while conservative politicians have vowed to kill the bill before it leaves its mark on city politics.
What will New York City Mayor Eric Adams do with the bill? Keep it.
In a statement released last Saturday, the mayor said, “I believe that New Yorkers should have a say in their government, which is why I have and will continue to support this important legislation. While I initially had some concerns about one aspect of the bill, I had a productive dialogue with my colleagues in government that put those concerns at ease. I believe allowing the legislation to be enacted is by far the best choice, and look forward to bringing millions more into the democratic process.”
Intro. 1867 would, according to the bill, “provide a process for individuals in New York City who are lawful permanent residents or are authorized to work in the United States to vote in municipal elections.” It would essentially allow noncitizens to vote.
Adams’ comments on the bill, which went into effect Jan. 9, have ruffled a few feathers.
The head of the NY GOP isn’t happy with the bill. This week, the New York State Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy and several other GOP elected officials filed a lawsuit in Richmond County to block noncitizens from voting. According to Langworthy, this is only the beginning.
“We vowed to use every legal tool in our arsenal to block this unconstitutional and un-American law, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” stated Langworthy in an emailed statement. “The law is clear and the ethics are even clearer: we shouldn’t be allowing citizens of other nations to vote in our elections, full stop. We are only two weeks into the Adams administration and he is already kowtowing to the radical City Council. This lawsuit is the only thing that will stop them from their ultimate goal of eradicating all the lines between citizens and non-citizens.”
Not to be outdone, Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella said that voting is a privilege and an obligation and the undocumented should not have that privilege.
“The right to vote is one of our most sacred privileges and obligations,” stated Fossella in an email. “Last night, legislation became law that makes a total mockery of the concept of American citizenship. Allowing 800,000 non-citizens, including those who have been here for less than 30 days, to vote in local elections is a slap in the face of every single American citizen, whether born or naturalized. This unconstitutional act cheapens what it means to be a citizen and is an insult to every immigrant who has followed the law, taken citizenship classes and swore an oath to our nation. That is why, as promised, today we are filing suit to challenge this law.”
Bills allowing non-citizens to vote have received pushback nationally by conservatives. At the same time that the law passed through the New York City Council, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a bill (the Protecting Our Democracy by Preventing Foreign Citizens from Voting Act) that would prohibit all non-citizens from voting and federal funds for cities that allow them to do so. In a statement, he referred to New York and other states’ laws that are pro noncitizens voting as “ridiculous.” But activists and local council members praised the bill and praised the council in its fight for immigrant rights. They said they would not be deterred by conservative efforts to kill the law. While the AmNews couldn’t contact those involved, members of the Our City, Our Vote coalition, a group of activists and local politicians who collectively pushed for the bill, the New York Immigration Coalition, United Neighborhood Homes and labor activists like UNITE HERE Local 100 and One Fair Wage made their voices heard after the legislation was passed and signed by former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio.
Council Member Carlos Menchaca, chair of the Committee on Immigration, celebrated the bill’s passing in late December. He said that opponents of the bill are spreading misinformation and are engaging in fear-mongering.
“They are wrong. Under our legislation, only those who have work authorization and have some immigration status under federal law can vote in our local elections,” stated Menchaca. “These are individuals like Dreamers under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program who worked as essential healthcare workers during the pandemic or Haitian New Yorkers with
New noncitizen voting bill has angered local GOPers. (Photo courtesy of jorgeantonio via iStock)
By STACY M. BROWN
NNPA Senior Correspondent
Famous author and noted civil rights leader Maya Angelou became the first African American woman featured on the 25-cent coin.
The U.S. Mint began shipping the quarters on Jan. 10.
Reportedly, the Angelou coin is the first in a series designed to celebrate the accomplishments of American women.
“Each time we redesign our currency, we have the chance to say something about our country—what we value, and how we’ve progressed as a society,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said in a statement. “I’m very proud that these coins celebrate the contributions of some of America’s most remarkable women, including Maya Angelou.”
Angelou, whose works include such classics as “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” “And Still I Rise,” and “The Heart of a Woman,” died in 2014.
She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Barack Obama.
The commemorative new coin features Angelou with her arms uplifted like a bird in flight and a rising sun behind her.
“They are images inspired by her poetry and symbolic of the way she lived,” officials at the U.S. Mint said in the statement.
To the right are the words “e pluribus Unum,” Latin for “out of many, one,” a phrase also on the national seal. The flip side features a portrait of George Washington.
“Excited to announce that Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to appear on a U.S. quarter,” California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee wrote on Twitter.
“The phenomenal women who shaped American history have gone unrecognized for too long—especially women of color,” Rep. Lee wrote. “Proud to have led this bill to honor their legacies.”
MLK family asks for no celebration until lawmakers pass voting rights legislation
By STACY M. BROWN
NNPA Senior Correspondent
Prayer breakfasts, marches, parades, and an uptick in volunteer efforts to support the annual Day of Service have remained staples of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But the family of the late civil rights icon has asked that observers strike a different tune in 2022.
King’s family has requested no celebration unless federal lawmakers pass voting rights legislation, a task that appears out of reach as President Joe Biden and several Democrats have faced stiff Republican opposition.
Democrats have also been hampered by members of their own party, notably West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, whose vote is crucial in an evenly split chamber.
“President Biden and Congress used their political muscle to deliver a vital infrastructure deal, and now we are calling on them to do the same to restore the very voting rights protections my father and countless other civil rights leaders bled to secure,” Martin Luther King III said in a statement.
“We will not accept empty promises in pursuit of my father’s dream for a more equal and just America,” King III, the oldest son and oldest living child of King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
King III, his wife Arndrea Waters King, and their daughter Yolanda King said they plan to mobilize activists on MLK weekend—Jan. 14-16—to demand a voting rights bill.
In numerous Republican-led states like Texas, Florida, and Georgia, lawmakers have passed or are attempting to pass tight voter suppression laws that would disenfranchise many voters of color and the elderly.
Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) promised that the U.S. Senate would vote by Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 17) on whether the chamber would adopt new rules to circumvent the draconian filibuster to enable the passage of voting rights and social justice bills.
“We must ask ourselves: if the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, then how can we in good conscience allow for a situation in which the Republican Party can debate and pass voter suppression laws at the State level with only a simple majority vote, but not allow the United States Senate to do the same? We must adapt,” Sen. Schumer demanded.
“The Senate must evolve like it has many times before. The Senate was designed to evolve and has evolved many times in our history.”
Sen. Schumer continued: “The fight for the ballot is as old as the Republic. Over the coming weeks, the Senate will once again consider how to perfect this union and confront the historic challenges facing our democracy. We hope our Republican colleagues change course and work with us.
See MLK on page 25
“The time is always right to do what’s right.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s own words remind us of the importance of leadership, hope and service. And at AARP, we believe your experience, skills and passion have the power to inspire others to make a difference.
We encourage everyone to continue his legacy by lending a helping hand in their community. And we can help.
Join us in making a difference on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and every day.
Go to createthegood.org to find ways you can volunteer in your community
Open letter to Governor Murphy: Veto the ‘bad’ bodycam bill
Dear Gov. Murphy,
We expressly insist that you veto S3939/A5864, a bill that allows police officers to view bodycam footage before coming forward with their reports.
This bill undermines the entire point of the implementing body cameras...to provide a material instrument of transparency!
We also say that this bill, no matter the legislature’s theater of agreement, where critical community engagement was curtailed and expert criticism was derided, takes us backwards on the question of police reform when we sorely need to go forward.
Most offensive to New Jersey’s African American community is that this bill was fast-tracked through the legislature on the heels of the anniversary of the Emmanuel 9 Massacre in Charleston in June. Why is that important to us? It should not be forgotten that the principal target of that massacre was the late State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who also happened to be the pastor of that historic church. Sen. Pinckney helped marshal a united strategy in the statehouse of one of this country’s historically most violently racist states and got BodyCamera requirements passed through both branches and did so almost unanimously!
Only one representative, whose name history will gladly forget, would not join in the making of that historic moment. Tragically, Sen. Pinckney would be dead less than two weeks later.
This bill is a slap in the face of what all of that meant!
We salute the handful of legislators who understood that and voted against that, and I am proud to name them: in the assembly, Britnee Timberlake, in the senate, Nia Gill, Ron Rice and Loretta Weinberg, because they embody what true leadership means...commitment to principle!
Since that initial push through the assembly, we only were further infuriated by your office’s ‘touches’ to the bill. We do not want to see ‘touches’ on the legitimizing of a bad bill to appease the intimidating police unions. We want to see a united effort to stand up to such intimidation and stand up for what’s right and what’s really needed, and it is NOT THIS BILL!
We say what should happen, instead, is that you would veto the bill and challenge the legislature to unite on the package of strong police reform bills that are already developed that would round out the strengths and limits of the bodycam bills that you already signed.
Tell the legislature that the time has come to pass the following bills... -The Police Transparency Bill S2656 (D-Weinberg); A5301 (Verlina Reynolds-Jackson) -The Civilian Review Board with its key authorities intact S2963 (D-Rice); A4656 (McKnight) -Limiting The Use of Deadly Force S3825 (DTurner);A4526 (D-Tucker) -Ending Qualifying Immunity S3730 (D-Gill);A4578(DWimberly) -Ban of Chokeholds S2617 (D-Turner); A4284 (Wimberly)... Challenge the legislature, just as we all have been doing and will continue to do. The time to do this is now. The best way to do this is to do this together. That would be profoundly historic! That would be profoundly principled! That would be a genuinely profound step forward that would engender the trust and accountability that we all need to see!... We can and must do so much better than the bad political theater that is S3939/A5864. VETO S3939/A5864 now!... He is Biden, hear him roar Zayid Muhammad is an organizer with N-CAP
It may be a considerable stretch to evoke Helen Reddy’s “I Am (Newark Communities for Accountable Policing). Woman,” alongside President Biden’s speech on Tuesday, Jan. EDITORIAL 11, in Atlanta, but his declaration that he will no longer be quiet roars like Reddy’s manifesto of song. To hear him take a forceful, aggressive stance on voter suppression, the fraudulent Trump and his acolytes, and the demand to eliminate the filibuster should remove some of the charges about his reluctance to deal with these pressing issues. And these comments speak volumes to those who have called him “Sleepy Joe.” He NYC’s vaccine requirements keep Kyrie off the court, but let unvaxxed visiting team play By RICKY CLEMONS Brooklyn Nets superstar point guard Kyrie Irving embarked this week on one of the most quixotic and is “woke” now in both senses of the word. impractical playing schedules since former 76er and
Many of the accusations about his being slow to act are not Net Eric Money played for the two teams during the accurate. It’s not that he has been exactly quiet, his words failed same game in 1978. to out shout the right wing media and swell of criticisms from While Money’s quagmire was caused by a lot of techhis own league of supporters. nical fouls and some questionable officiating, Irving’s
Okay, you’ve heard from Biden but these are just words, just dilemma is rooted in New York City’s regulations on pleasing rhetoric full of sound and fury that will soon recede COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace. As of Dec. 27, into the echo chamber of half-remembered phrases. 2021, workers in New York City who perform in-person
Let us hope that his intentions have some resonance and work or interact with the public in the course of business meaning for members of Congress, especially the two senators must show proof they have received at least one dose of a in cahoots with the recalcitrant Republicans. As we know so COVID-19 vaccine and unvaccinated people are barred well, hell is paved with good intentions; it’s the action that puts from entering their place of work. the rubber on the road, to mix the metaphors. These regulations have forced the unvaccinated
Yes, Mr. President, your roar continues to echo among your Irving, a seven-time NBA All-Star known for his pinconstituents—and may have even reached some of those who point passing and mind-boggling drives to the hoop, raged at the Capitol a year ago—but if it does not elicit a pas- to sit out home games at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center— sionate and determined response from voters and a corps of along with games across the East River in Madison elected officials, it will die aborning. Square Garden. Irving, however, can play in road
He is Biden, hear him roar, and even with a clinging cough the games in cities without a vaccination requirement. other day in Atlanta, his words had a welcomed power, and we (Except in Toronto versus the rival Raptors because hope they have the results it brought to so many women who vaccination is a requisite for entering Canada.) heard Reddy’s call to arms, her roar. What is most frustrating about this situation—besides that Irving, along with forward Kevin Durant and guard James Harden, form the backbone of a team that could win the Nets’ first NBA championship—is that New York’s vaccination requirements do not prevent unvaccinated players from other teams from taking to the hardwood when they come to town. This means that the Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac would be able to play in games in New York City despite his open stance against taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Or when the Denver Nuggets come to Brooklyn later this month, Michael Porter Jr.—who has said that he doesn’t feel comfortable taking the vaccine—would be eligible to play (if his back heals). New York City’s vaccine requirements were implemented in good faith and meant to keep workers safe, something that is especially important as the city deals with a major surge in cases due to the Omicron variant. But allowing unvaccinated players from visiting teams to play while keeping a crucial member of a championship caliber team at home forced to sit out is not coherent governance nor does it make any sense from a public health perspective. The city needs to offer Irving and the Nets a workaround to this draconian and yet contradictory requirement. For example, it could require professional athletes who are unvaccinated to be tested a certain number of times before each game that is played within the five boroughs. This would not only ensure that a player is COVID-free, which is especially important with the drastic rise in breakthrough infections caused by Omicron, but also guarantee that all athletes taking the hardwood, the diamond, the ice, or the mound in New York City are not infectious. This tactic would take a high level of coordination between the city and major sports leagues, but the logistics of this tactic are scalable and pale in comparison to the degree of synchronization the NBA needed when operating the league in their bubble. One key aspect of all great basketball teams is the cohesion that comes from playing together game in and game out. It’s knowing that your teammate will be in the exact spot where you send that no-look pass, that they will crash the boards when an opponent drives into the paint, or that they’ll find the open man for a corner three when being double-teamed. These are just some of the moments in the game where Kyrie Irving excels, but even a player of his ability can’t form that continuity with his teammates playing only away games. There is a better way to resolve this issue with Irving—one that works for the team, the city, the public’s health. Mayor Adams, there’s only one question that remains. That is, are you game? Ricky Clemons is a lecturer of sports management at Howard University. He is also author of the book, “INBOUNDS: The Evolution of Black College Players in Professional Football.”
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
Studies show that an empire survives, on average, a mere, 250 years. Did you know that? To put that into context, the world’s oldest person recently died at 124 years old, so she lived nearly half as long as most empires do. Most Americans are unaware of this small but crucial statistic, which may suggest much about our country’s future. It is past time for Americans to confront the painful reality that our time as a world superpower may be limited, and it is time to explore how to slow down what, frankly, is an inevitability at some point—that the United States’ global domination will not persist indefinitely. This may be difficult to grasp and accept, but it has never been true for any civilization in the past, and it will never be true for any society in the future.
As we consider historical empires, it is worth noting that the vast majority of Americans do not regard the United States as an empire in the classical sense despite the fact that many people throughout the world do. However, for the purposes of this column, the United States, although being modern in every meaning of the word, does indeed qualify as an empire.
Since World War II, the United States has been primarily concerned with spreading democracy and freedom across the world, seeing itself as a sort of global liberator. In reality, the U.S. maintains over 800 military outposts and special operations groups spread around the globe. This is a critical consideration in determining where the United States belongs in the pantheon of former empires, since, like those before it, it has been primarily interested in extending influence and power. This is not something that I mean as a criticism, but rather as a contextual point. However, it is this overreach in the pursuit of continuous power and influence that frequently leads to empires withering, albeit slowly.
In 2026, the United States of America, founded in 1776, will celebrate its 250th anniversary. We’re rapidly nearing the 250th anniversary of the fall of most previous civilizations. With ongoing internal turmoil ranging from race to financial disparity to political tribalism, and other countries gradually pulling away from the orbit of U.S. led supremacy, it appears that the tides are turning against us. I fear that this mere statistic may soon become a reality that alters the course of our lives. After all, many citizens and politicians would celebrate our downfall, not realizing the perilous impact it would have on the freedoms they believe they do not have. I am not sure if it will be a huge international conflict, a financial catastrophe, or a civil war that causes the United States to fall apart, but I do believe that learning from the past is critical if we are to slow down the inevitable.
As odd as it may seem, perhaps Chinese history and culture might teach our country something. Why has China survived for 5,000 years? What have they discovered that the rest of the world’s great empires haven’t? They have seen empires like the United States rise and fall, and they have seen other dynasties come and go. If we are to defend our nation, I believe we must learn from our adversaries.
Being a part of an ancient civilization brings a number of benefits. The main thing I’ve noticed about China is that it has a distinct and complicated cultural value system that is embedded in the individuals that make up the country. The value system that defines what it is to be Chinese and what a Chinese society looks like has had an unusually long period of time to form. Their desire for knowledge and skill, as well as a cautious commitment to not overextending militarily, have proven crucial to their persistence as a country.
China is clearly interested in expanding its worldwide domination, but more so in terms of economics and finance than in terms of actual resources. They look to be primarily focused militarily on their own backyard while gradually advancing through technology the capacity to have global military reach if required. This is in stark contrast to the United States, which has endeavored to expand itself over the globe to as many places as it possibly can with raw manpower. All past empires seem to have struggled because of their exclusive concentration on worldwide military superiority. However, I think we need to rethink this. I think we need an ultra advanced military that’s not spread thin with the capabilities to be worldwide whenever needed. Additionally, we should focus on financial and economic dominance through trade, global finance, and other monetary measures.
There are important lessons for the United States to learn, including the fact that it is not too late to save our republic. It has been demonstrated that if we learn from history, a great nation can endure and outlive others; the critical issue is whether we will do so before it is too late.
What are you watching and reading?
CHRISTINA GREER PH.D.
It’s a new year and I’m sure folks have set various resolutions. You may have decided to work out more, eat more healthy foods, spend more time reaching out to loved ones, or read more. Others may have decided to drink and smoke less, remove toxic people from their lives, or spend more time working on their spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
This year I am hoping to put Netflix on pause and read more fiction. I realize during these past 22 months of lockdown and quarantine, I have read very few fiction books and have spent lots of time watching new shows and rewatching shows from years past. Like millions of others, I became obsessed watching “Succession” and discussing the horrible Roy family portrayed in the HBO show. The acting is brilliant and the cinematography is breathtaking.
When I wasn’t watching this drama, I watched “SouthSide,” also on HBO. This hilarious show is finally getting the recognition it deserves. It is an homage to working class African American Chicagoans, and the comedic talent has had me literally in tears laughing during each episode. The creators, Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin, also star in the show alongside Salahuddin’s siblings and an all-star talented cast. I truly hope the show gets renewed for a third season.
I am trying to move away from watching television just a bit in the new year and have a few books I’d like to read. First on my list is “Monster in the Middle” by Tiphanie Yanique. I read her first novel “Land of Love and Drowning” years ago and could not put the book down. The way Yanique weaves in characters over time and space is almost poetic. Her books are so well researched and her use of language makes you feel like you are a character in the book—I absolutely cannot wait to explore this new book.
I also just ordered “From Staircase to Stage: The Story of Raekwon and the Wu-Tang Clan” by the famed Wu-Tang member Raekwon. I find the genre of hip hop biographies so fascinating. With each memoir the detailed understanding of race and class and the music industry sheds new light on the trials and triumphs of these young men who have become cultural icons.
Whether you choose to read more or double down and watch more television during this pandemic, enjoy! There is a quote attributed to the author E.B. White, “We read to know we are not alone.” I hope that whatever book (or television show) you find this year brings you a level of joy and a greater understanding of yourself and the world around you.
Are there any books or television shows that you want to recommend to Amsterdam News readers? If so, please tweet us at @NYAmNews and let us know your recommendations.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream,” and the co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.
