New York Amsterdam News: Issue August 31-Sept. 6, 2023

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Vol. 114 No. 35 | August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

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HOT & FATAL HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS INCREASING SHOOTINGS (See story on page 6)

Facing Migrant Crisis, Governor Should Secure $2B in Federal Health-Care Funds for NY Urban Agenda by Clinton Lacey, Director of the District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services - See page 5

)

2 August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

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INDEX Arts & Entertainment �������������������Page 17 » Astro ��������������������������������������������Page 20 » Jazz ����������������������������������������������Page 24 » Theater ���������������������������������� Page 22,23 Caribbean Update �������������������������Page 14 Classified ����������������������������������������Page 30 Editorial/Opinion �����������������������Pages 12,13 Education ���������������������������������������Page 28 Go with the Flo ������������������������������Page 8 Health �����������������������������������������������Page 16 In the Classroom ��������������������������Page 26 Nightlife ��������������������������������������������Page 9 Religion & Spirituality ��������������������� Page 15 Sports ����������������������������������������������Page 39 Union Matters ����������������������������������Page 10 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS INFORMATION U.S. Territories & Canada weekly subscriptions:

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EX-FRENCH PRESIDENT CHARGED AS INFLUENCE PEDDLER HELD RACIST VIEWS TOWARD AFRICA (GIN)—Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has had anything but a stellar record since stepping down from office more than a decade ago.

The former leader will be tried in 2025 to hear evidence that he, along with 12 co-defendants, accepted millions of euros in cash from the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 bid for the presidency.

The 68-year-old has already been convicted twice, once for corruption and influence-peddling involving attempts to influence a judge and another time for breaking campaign

spending limits during his 2012 reelection attempt.

But what Africans may remember most about the one-term official are his speeches that left them dismayed, if not horrified, at his colonial views of the continent.

During his first visit to Africa after winning power, Sarkozy outraged public opinion in Senegal with allusions to colonialism and the suggestion that Africa had failed to embrace progress.

Speaking at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar in what became known as the Dakar Address, he said, “The African peasant only knew the eternal renewal of time, marked by the endless repetition of the same gestures and the same words. In this realm of fancy...there is neither room for human endeavor nor the idea of progress.

“The colonizer took, used, exploited, plundered resources […]. They

were wrong […] They were wrong but some were sincere.” He added, “Your heartbreak and your suffering are ours and are therefore mine.”

Sarkozy also invited Africa to make its own self-criticism—the present failures of the continent counterbalancing the wrongs of the colonizers.

“Africa has its share of responsibility in its own misfortune: Colonization is not responsible for the bloody wars that the Africans waged among themselves, the genocides, dictators, fanaticism, corruption and prevarication,” he said.

In the most controversial passage, Sarkozy suggested that the obstacles to the development of the continent should be sought within an African identity: “The tragedy of Africa is that the African has not fully entered into history...They have never really launched themselves into the future.”

Cameroonian scholar Achille Mbembe, a professor at South Africa’s Witwatersrand University, said the attitudes reflected in Sarkozy’s speech were worthy of the 19th century.

“Who gave him the right to talk

about Africa and Africans in a manner of a master who has the habit of illtreating his slave?” Mbembe said in an open letter to Sarkozy.

Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the 53-nation African Union Commission, labeled Sarkozy’s speech a “declaration of a bygone era.”

The speech drew criticism from politicians and intellectuals across Africa who denounced it as unacceptable and based on long-discredited stereotypes. For many, it was a throwback to France’s murky colonial past.

The Paris Court of Appeals has already upheld a three-year prison sentence against Sarkozy, but ruled that two years would be suspended and Sarkozy would wear an electronic bracelet instead of going to jail for the remaining year.

His predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was also convicted in a criminal trial for corruption but received a twoyear suspended sentence in 2011.

Sarkozy, who has faced a litany of legal problems since his one term in office, has denied the Libyan allegations—the most serious he faces.

Protesters converge on France UN mission for ‘Hands Off Niger!’

By AMADI AJAMU Special to the AmNews

French diplomats darted past the throng of protesters at the front door of the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations during the after-work rush hour on Tuesday when “ready at a moment’s notice” demonstrators, armed with bullhorns and posters, were on the march, demanding “France Out of Africa!” and “Hands Off Niger!”

Roger Wareham, spokesperson for the sponsors, said, “We are the December 12th Movement, we’re a human rights organization, and there is one simple fact which explains what is going on in Niger and how it can be resolved: France is in Africa and must get out. While France was forced to grant political independence to its African colonies in the late 1960s, it never gave up economic control of these countries. In 2023, while these former French colonies remain among the poorest in the world, they continue to provide money and boundless resources that keep France and its allies, including the United States, among the world’s wealthiest nations. The coup in Niger is a declaration that ‘we have had enough.’ Western countries have condemned the coup in Niger and threatened military intervention through ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). Despite this demand from the West, many countries oppose intervention and some, i.e., Burkina Faso, Mali, and Algeria, have offered Niger support in resisting any armed invasion.”

Representatives of several organizations participated in the protest, including Sylvestre Kouadio, an activist from Cote d’Ivoire; Dahoud

(Bill Moore photo)

Andre of Committee to Mobilize Against Dictatorship in Haiti (KOMOKODA); HRM Queen Mother Dr. Dowoti Desir, Benin Republic; Steve Millies, Struggle/LaLuche; Jason Corley, Cuba Si!; Dr. Prince A.Z.K. Adekoya, African Diaspora for Justice; Krystal Cerisier, Black Agenda for Peace; and many others.

Dowoti Desir, representing a coalition from Benin and Martinique, began, “We want to let the people of Niger know that we stand in solidarity with them…This is about our vision, our

narrative, our future. Some of us know the history of France all too well. It’s a history that is based in slavery and colonization, that has been camouflaged in the twin spaces of being children of Joan of Arc and the patron of human rights. And we know that France has been far from that. We are tired of having our resources pillaged. We know that this proxy war is being set up to force us to finish the dirty business that they have started—the work of genocide and extraction, of humiliation and dehumanization. This is intolerable and we’re not having it. Get your asses out of our country.” “...Today, August 22, 1791, was the night our ancestors started burning the French colony of Saint Domingue,” said Andre. “On the night of August 14, our ancestors held a meeting and a ceremony. And they decided that slavery was over. They decided, and they understood that for slavery to be over, they were not going to send a petition to the King of France. We’re going to burn this place down, and we’re going to kill every white man in this place. And it started today, August 22, 1791.”

Andre noted that the well-known Creole saying folks had been chanting all day meant “Chop off their heads!” and “Burn down their houses!”

“There is no other formula,” he said. “Power to the people of Niger. Power to the people of Burkina Faso. Power to the people of Mali. It’s not just France. It’s all of them. They have not stopped what they have done for 500 to 600 years. And there is no other way to get them to stop.”

Adekoya, who hails from Nigeria, said, “I want all of us here tonight to understand one thing See NIGER on page 29

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 3

Deep ties to Israel: Adams on the hunt for antisemitic tech

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Following in the tradition of New York City mayors, Mayor Eric Adams took a 3-day pilgrimage of sorts to two cities in Israel this month to learn about public safety technology and discuss how to best combat antisemitism.

“As mayor of the city, I’m proud to spend the time with Israel leaders from across the political spectrum. Just like New York, there’s just so many opinions and thoughts that are here, and it’s good to hear as they engage in what I consider to be healthy dialogue,” said Adams in a media briefing.

Statistically, New York State has the highest Jewish population in the country and “one of the largest Jewish populations outside of Israel.” And New York City has so far elected three Jewish mayors: Abraham D. Beame, Edward Koch, and Michael Bloomberg.

Adams, while not of a Jewish background or faith, has had ties to the ultraOrthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn going back to his senator days in 2012.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, a community leader from Crown Heights, was among the first to support Adams for his mayoral run, kicking off a slew of Orthodox Jewish voters following his lead. Adams also had Jewish community leaders named in his administration, on various committees,

New York City Mayor Eric Adams tours the National Police Academy in Israel on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

and on his transition team.

On a personal note, Adams said he was deeply touched by his visit to the Western Wall, one of the most religious sites in the world for Jewish people. “I think of my mother, who always wanted to come to Israel. My mom never was able to do so, and just had a special thought for her while I was there,” said Adams.

Considering his history, it makes sense that his trip to Israel would focus on public safety and Israeli security technology as well as soaking up the local culture.

Adams kept a jam-packed schedule with stops in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The trip was sponsored by UJA-Federation of New York in partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

In media briefs during the trip, Adams

discussed his visits with the National Police Academy, the Israeli Security Agency/Shabak, and the Security Technology Showcase. He said he’s been looking for how to appropriately use drones, motorcycles to get to incidents fast during traffic delays, artificial intelligence, security cameras, early detection of criminal behavior, and tech that “specifically takes aim at balancing public safety and justice.” He has vowed “to strongly prosecute, arrest and apprehend those who carry out antisemitic acts.”

Hassan Naveed, who is the executive director of the Mayor’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, added that the city has been running the Breaking Bread, Building Bonds program in an See ISRAEL on page 25

From homes with solar panels to greener streets. East New York gets ready for 5K

By NAYABA ARINDE Amsterdam News Editor Last year, more than 450 people participated in the Annual 5K of the East New York Restoration Local Development Corporation (ENYRLDC). This week, hundreds are in training, getting ready to lace up and run to make a real difference again for the 9th ENYRLDC’s Annual 5K. The community-centered organization has people promoting healthy living as they prepare to hit the city streets for a cause on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Spring Creek Park.

“We always have wonderful community support for our annual run/walk,” Colette Pean, executive director of ENYRLDC, told the Amsterdam News. “It is always a family-friendly event, which has been endorsed by JASA, Black Men Who Run, We Run Brownsville, Community Board 5, [and] Man Up Inc., and supported by Fusion East, MetroPlus Health Plan, Con Ed, and One Brooklyn Health, to name just a few.”

ENYRLDC is a one-stop-shop for the local community about a variety of issues, where resources can be provided or links

MetroBriefs Metro Briefs Training program for deaf/disabled actors Queens Theatre’s sixth annual “Theatre for All Professional Training Program for Deaf/Disabled actors” aged 18 or older is returning with two workshops. Part I will run virtually on Zoom for two weeks from Monday, Nov. 6, through Friday, Nov. 17.

Students who complete Part I can audition for Part II, an in-person training and performance intensive at Queens Theatre, in spring 2024.

According to the program description, “Through inclusive intensive workshops, students will participate in universitylevel training to prepare them for acting on the stage and screen. The intensive will focus on auditioning, acting, improvisation, musical theater, voice, and movement. The program will have two tracks, designed for actors of varying levels of experience: Early Career and Working Actor. The application review committee will place accepted students into the tracks.”

In addition to the group workshops, every student will receive a 30-minute oneon-one mentoring session with disabled professional actors from Broadway and screen, including Gregg Mozgala (Broadway, “Cost of Living”), Katy Sullivan (Tony nominee for “Cost of Living,” “Dexter”), and others.

The program is free for students. Applications will be accepted through September 23, 2023. Applications are available online at https://queenstheatre.org/ tfa-2023/. For application support, contact Queens Theatre at TFAapplication@ queenstheatre.org or call 718-971-5839.

New York to pay homeowners up to $125k to build backyard ADUs

low-income communities most vulnerable to climate change.”

ENYRLDC works to “increase career and business opportunities in the Brooklyn neighborhood of East New York. The organization’s goal is to foster a solid foundation for economic development by supporting small businesses, job development, and efforts to keep communities clean, green, and environmentally informed.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to tackle New York’s housing crisis by increasing the state’s housing inventory. One of the newer proposals is to support homeowners who want to construct accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or tiny homes, in their backyards.

Under the Plus ONE ADU Program, a qualified homeowner can work with local program administrators (LPAs) like Bedford’s Habitat for Humanity of NYC & Westchester, Brookhaven’s Long Island Housing Partnership, Brooklyn’s Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, and New York City’s Neighborhood Restore to build a new ADU on their property or improve an existing ADU that has to be brought into compliance with local and state code requirements.

For more information about the program, check out the Homes and Community Renewal website at https://hcr. ny.gov/adu.

See EAST NEW YORK on page 25

See METRO NEWS on page 25

Former Assemblywoman Annette Robinson, ENYLDC Executive Director Colette Pean, Olympian John Carols, NFL great Dr. Walter Beach, and former Assemblyman Roger Green (East New York Restoration Local Development Organization photo)

provided. Community members can visit the office at 1159 Elton Street in East New York to get information about everything from housing with solar panels to community gardens with micro solar grids, healthcare, educational needs, and business plans; and seek all manner of advice.

Part of their mission, as the Opportunity Finance Network cites, is the “development of cleaner, greener, and more environmentally informed neighborhoods in

4 • August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Biden’s plan will lower price of some critical drugs

NewJerseyNews

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

Free menstrual products in schools

That “wowee” you hear from the nation’s older adults, especially indigent African Americans, comes as a result of hearing the news that the Biden administration has unveiled a list of 10 medicines slated for price reduction. On Tuesday, the long-awaited plan received a fresh boost, although it won’t become a reality until 2026.

Several of the 10 medications on the list are probably seen advertised nightly on television by older Americans—Eliquis, Jardiance, Januvia, Farxiga—and are earmarked for citizens with diabe-

tes, heart conditions, or cancer. Others on the list from major pharmaceutical companies are Xarelto, Entresto, Enbreal, Imbruvica, Stelara, Fiasp, and Novolog insulin products.

“This is a long time in coming,” Biden declared after being introduced by a 71-year-old North Carolina man who has diabetes and a rare blood cancer. Biden assailed the pharmaceutical industry over the cost of drugs, saying, “We’re going to keep standing up to Big Pharma, and we’re not going to back down.”

Lowering the cost of prescription drugs has long been a key concern on Biden’s agenda and should bolster his campaign message. For a better understanding of

this measure, consider Eliquis, a blood thinner used by nearly 4 million beneficiaries that costs $600 monthly.

When Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act last year, it gave Medicare the authority to negotiate the price of some medicines. Biden’s announcement provides the initiative with a decisive step in accomplishing that goal.

Many elderly citizens needing insulin to deal with their diabetes once had to fork over $400 a month or more, and now pay $35.

There is every indication that Biden’s plan will make it even better for those troubled by high out-of-pocket payments for medications.

The Jacksonville shooter killed a devoted dad, a beloved mom and a teen helping support his family

By RUSS BYNUM Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A.J. Laguerre worked at a Dollar General store after finishing high school to help support the grandmother who raised him. Angela Michelle Carr was an Uber driver and beloved mother. Jerrald Gallion relished weekends with his 4-yearold daughter.

All three were slain Saturday when a gunman with swastikas painted on his rifle opened fire at the Dollar General where Laguerre worked in Jacksonville.

The sheriff said writings left by the killer, a 21-year-old white man, made clear that he was motivated by racism. Each victim was Black.

“I never thought I’d have to bury my baby brother,” Quan Laguerre said Monday outside the family’s house not far from the store.

“They say don’t question God,” he said.

“But I just want to know why.”

A.J. Laguerre, 19, was the youngest of five siblings, all raised by their grandmother after their mother died in 2009, his brother said. The family celebrated in 2022 when A.J., like his older siblings before him, graduated from high school.

As he looked into going to college to study cybersecurity, he got a job at the Dollar General store several months ago to help their grandmother pay the bills.

When he was off the clock, A.J. played Fortnite and other videogames on the live-streaming platform Twitch, his brother said, using the gamer tag galaxysoul. His goal was to build a large online following.

“He had dreams and aspirations of being a professional streamer,” Quan Laguerre said. “So after he would get off work, he’d just stay up until 3 or 4 in the morning just grinding, you know, trying to get that stance and have followers.”

A.J. Laguerre was shot inside the store

Residents gather for a prayer near the scene of a mass shooting at a Dollar General store, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

while trying to flee the gunman, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters told reporters.

Carr, 52, was killed in the parking lot when the shooter fired bullets into her car.

“My mother, she was a good woman,” son Chayvaughn Payne said in a brief phone interview Monday.

See JACKSONVILLE on page 25

Hochul addresses asylum-seeker crisis, NYC agrees–mostly

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, Gov. Kathy Hochul directly asked for more federal resources to deal with the asylum-seekers crisis in New York, and addressed criticisms of her handling of the matter for the past year.

Her requests included expedited work authorizations for asylum-seekers, financial assistance for New York City, and the use of federal land for temporary shelter sites.

“The reality is we’ve managed this far without substantive support from Washington, despite the fact that this is a national and inherently federal issue, but New York has shouldered this

burden for far too long,” Hochul said at a press conference.

In the past year, New York City has seen the arrival of more than 100,000 asylum-seekers and migrants. A central issue of their entry process is that many can’t work legally in the U.S. yet, forcing them to seek under-the-table cash jobs or street hustles to get by.

Hochul confirmed that the state has a serious labor shortage in various industries. She said that the state Department of Labor (DOL) can help connect asylum-seekers to gain lawful employment quickly, but they need expedited work visas to do so. She demanded that Biden allow eligible individuals permits to work legally asap. Most local immigration activists in the city and Mayor Eric Adams have been screaming the same

demand since the crisis began.

Hochul’s letter said the federal government could speed up such work permits through executive actions, such as granting and extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and using the humanitarian parole program for individuals from other countries. She said funds would go to four main areas: healthcare and human services for migrants with illnesses or who have COVID-19, free Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) transportation for asylum-seekers, housing subsidy programs and Section 8 housing vouchers for eligible homeless families and individuals to free up space in city shelters, and school districts seeing dramatic increases in their student populations as a direct result of this crisis.

See HOCUL on page 27

New Jersey school districts are now required to offer free menstrual products for students in grades six through 12. A new law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy requires that school districts provide free menstrual products in at least half of all their female and gender-neutral bathrooms.

The new legislation is heralded in light of the State of The Period 2021 study, which found that “[a]lmost half of Black and Latinx students feel they are not able to do their best school work because of lack of access to period products, compared to 28% among white students.

“Students do not think schools foster an environment in which they feel comfortable discussing periods or even attending class while they are on their periods,” the study reported. “This stigma and lack of access can have a very real impact on a student’s education, especially for students of color and lower-income students who tend to be more impacted by lack of access to products.

New Jersey will do occasional surveys to determine whether the provision of these products is meeting the needs of menstruating students; and the state will pay any costs incurred by schools for the menstrual products.”

“Gov. Murphy’s visionary initiative to make menstrual products freely available in our middle and high schools is monumental progress toward achieving menstrual equity in our education system,” said Dr. Angelica AllenMcMillan, acting commissioner of education.

“Menstrual hygiene should never hinder a student’s ability to fully engage and thrive in the classroom. By providing free access to these essential products, we are not only promoting health and well-being but also erasing a potential source of discomfort and stigma. This step underscores our dedication to fostering an environment where all students can focus on their education without the burden of unmet basic needs. It is a stride towards a more just and inclusive educational experience.”

Downtown Somerville Alliance to celebrate Paul Robeson with life-size sculpture The Downtown Somerville Alliance (DSA) is asking qualified artists to submit proposals for the creation of a life-size sculpture of Paul Robeson. Robeson, who became a world-renowned activist, actor, and singer, graduated from Somerville High School, and his father, William Drew Robeson, was a pastor at the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church in Princeton, and often preached at Somerville’s Wallace Chapel AME Zion Church.

With a grant of $34,000 from the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission, the DSA wants to place a statue of Paul Robeson on Division Street in the Downtown Somerville Special Improvement District.

See NEW JERSEY on page 25

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Mr P’s Homemade Ice Cream is a family affair

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Veteran ice cream maker Patrick ‘Mr. P’ Victor, along with his two sons, Dwayne Regrello and Shaquille Victor, run the popular ice cream shop called Mr P’s Homemade Ice Cream.

It’s located at 1397 Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean.

Mr. P’s opened this January with fascinating custard-based and vegan flavors like soursop, sorrel ginger, charcoal, coconut, avocado, butter pecan, coffee, and grapenut.

The family is originally from Trinidad and settled in New York decades ago. As a teenager, Victor learned to make ice cream in his hometown back on the island from an elder. He and his friends soon started their own ice cream business in Trinidad. Victor immigrated to New York City and began working as an adult, but he never forgot his first passionate business venture. When Victor, now in his 60s, got an opportunity last year to scout a space for a shop, he wasted no time.

Regrello, 31, immigrated to the States after his father in 1999. He lives in Long Island but works fulltime with his father. He said initially he didn’t know that his father was making ice cream, but the taste reminded him of his native country. He and his brother help out with social media, deliveries, and running the family business.

“I’ve always had a passion for being an entrepreneur and I always had lots of ideas,” said Regrello.

“I also have a passion for just seeing people happy, being around that type of energy, and seeing people try the ice cream and being blown away.”

Regrello said that Brooklyn’s large community of Caribbean business owners reminds him of

Photo of ice cream maker Patrick ‘Mr. P’ Victor (center) and his sons Shaquille Victor (right) and Dwayne Regrello (left). (Contributed by Dwayne Regrello)

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 5

THE URBAN AGENDA

By David R. Jones, Esq

Facing Migrant Crisis, Governor Should Secure $2B in Federal Health-Care Funds for NY Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams face intense pressure to pay for the cost of housing, feeding and caring for thousands of asylum-seekers newly moving into New York City. The crisis has created a series of tough choices for state and city leaders, with no simple solutions. Many of these immigrants have entered the country lawfully, but may lose this status due to immigration processing delays while others may not have any status at all.

Immigrants are an essential part of New York’s heritage and tradition. Ultimately, our communities in the five boroughs and the surrounding area are interconnected. We influence each other’s health and families.

For everyone’s well-being, migrants deserve the ability to visit a doctor’s office just like other New Yorkers.

New York has an opportunity to provide more than 200,000 undocumented people with health coverage at no cost to the state. There is a pot of as much as $2 billion in surplus federal money to cover the cost. The governor need only amend her Section 1332 Affordable Care waiver submission in order to cover the cost of providing health insurance to immigrant adults, ages 19 to 64 years old.

However, instead of amending the waiver request to cover immigrants, the state amended its waiver request to direct $59 million in surplus funds to insurance companies so that they can be “made whole.”

But the insurance companies are already being paid a reasonable premium for the coverage, while immigrant New Yorkers go without access to health care. The state should make our communities whole by offering immigrant community members quality affordable coverage.

Black New Yorker home as well.

In honor of Brooklyn’s Labor Day weekend, which usually means joyous and colorful celebrations of Caribbean heritage and a yearly parade, Regrello said that they have special flavors available for discount up until September 9. The shop is featuring ice cream flavors like Little Caribbean

lemon ginger and mango.

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.

This is an easy solution to part of a multifaceted crisis, which has tensions running high.

Homeless shelters and food kitchens are bursting at the seams, and advocates for the poor are struggling to keep pace. Protesters are gathering outside migrant housing. With schools poised to reopen, NYC Department of Education officials expect a huge influx of migrant children. Further complicating matters is the threat of a school bus strike that would affect 150,000 kids in the Big Apple.

Why is NY Turning Down Free Federal Funding?

Federally funded health care is low-hanging fruit for the Hochul administration, which is beseeching President Joe Biden to expedite work authorization permits for migrants and offer New York more financial help in response to the crisis. But her 2024 budget excluded immigrants from her request seeking ACA waiver authority, which means migrant adults cannot go to the

doctor. The budget simply gave authority to expand insurance coverage to about 20,000 individuals who earn 200 percent to 250 percent of the federal poverty line -just a fraction of the 1 million New Yorkers without coverage.

It is unclear why the governor took this “skinny coverage” approach to a moral and humanitarian problem. Politics could well be a factor here, with the governor concerned about attacks from the right that she’s too soft on migrants. But free federal money is still free. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has already granted permission to other states to redirect federal funds to provide coverage for undocumented people.

New York should follow suit.

Mayor Adams supports New York joining California, Colorado, Illinois and Washington in using 1332 waivers or Medicaid programs to cover immigrants. To not seek the waiver, the mayor said in a March letter to Gov. Hochul, “deepens longstanding inequities based on immigration status by relegating the health needs of undocumented people – the single largest population of remaining uninsured New Yorkers.”

By not authorizing a broad-based waiver, the state is passing up an opportunity to save more than a half billion dollars annually in emergency Medicaid funds spent on immigrant emergency care. New York City and its critical safety net hospitals would also save an estimated $100 million on the NYC Cares program because the target population would be covered by the 1332 ACA waiver.

Opting to fund immigrant coverage through a federal waiver would support our distressed hospital system by yielding relatively rich Essential Plan reimbursement rates and defraying their uncompensated care costs ($1,174 per person covered each year) since more New Yorkers would have insurance.

Federal health care would certainly help ease the crisis, fomented by busloads of migrants mostly from Texas, Florida and Arizona.

Since spring, more than 93,000 migrants have entered New York City, according to the mayor’s office.

New York should be a leader on progressive health-care initiatives. Indeed, when Gov. Hochul signed legislation last year protecting New Yorkers from medical debt, which disproportionately impacts low-income Black and brown people in the state, her action perfectly exemplified that vision.

This is another leadership moment. It’s time for the governor to show her mettle and amend her 1332 Waiver. It’s the right thing to do. It’s economically sound. But moreover, it’s morally correct.

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

6 • August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

The Heat Is Killing Us: Climate change and rising temps are increasing gun violence

By HELINA SELEMON Blacklight Science Reporter

As our planet grapples with the consequences of man-made climate change and the excessive summer heat it is causing, a lesser-known repercussion is coming to light: its correlation with the uptick in gunrelated incidents in America’s cities. But how exactly are rising temperatures and gun violence intertwined, and could addressing the effects of climate change in cities hold the key to curbing this alarming trend?

Near the end of July 2022, the city was in a heat wave. On Tuesday, July 19, a series of oppressively hot 90-degree days began with the humidity hovering above 70% in some places. The air was thick and heavy, the kind of heat that sent streams of sweat down your spine in minutes and made clothes cling to skin like a damp blanket. On some days, the air barely felt like it was moving.

In Central Park that Wednesday, it was 95 degrees. In Tremont and Brownsville, it was about 100 and felt like 105 degrees. In that week and before the following Tuesday was done, shots rang out in 47 different places in the city, leaving six people dead.

According to a recent study by researchers at the University of Washington and Boston University looking at heat and shootings in 100 U.S. cities from 2015 to 2020, nearly 7% of gun violence incidents could be directly attributed to above-average seasonal temperatures. In New York City, that percentage doubles to around 15%.

That means that in New York in 2020, a pandemic year with the highest number of shooting incidents in the city’s recent history, an estimated 286 shooting incidents wouldn’t have occurred if it wasn’t exceptionally hot outside, according to the researchers. That’s one of the highest of the 100 cities studied, said Jonathan Jay, a Boston University researcher and a co-author of the paper.

“In general, the Northeast and the Midwest had shown the most dramatic heat effects,” Jay said.

Aiming to better understand how day-to-day fluctuations in temperatures affect the number of gun violence incidents, the researchers analyzed U.S. shooting data from the Gun Violence Archive from 2015 to 2020. To more accurately demonstrate the impact of daily tempera-

A man uses a wet towel to cool off in July of 2020 in New York. The city opened more than 300 fire hydrants with sprinkler caps to help residents cool off during a heat wave.

(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

ture changes, they made sure to factor in specific tendencies that take place in different seasons like holidays, more kids being out of school —what scientists call “seasonality” —in their analyses.

“On a day-to-day basis, we don’t have any control over the weather,” Jay said. “But it’s unlikely that daily heat is just kind of off to the side in terms of contributors to gun violence.”

But how does the weather impact an individual’s decision to resort to violence?

What happens between someone experiencing exceptionally hot temperatures and

the drawing of a firearm isn’t really well understood, though theories about how heat impacts gun violence have surfaced in academic research. One theory suggests that heat raises stress levels, increasing the likelihood of aggression. Another posits that warmer days increase the number of interpersonal interactions, creating more opportunities for conflict. It’s possible, Jay said, that it’s a combination of both.

What we do know is that summers are getting hotter: We’re experiencing recordbreaking heat in summer that’s worse than

years before. 2023 has already broken records for the most excessive heat warnings and July was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth. These more frequent days of moderate to extreme heat aren’t the main cause for gun violence, but having more hot days at higher temperatures contributes to its rise.

How inequity creates heat islands and adds to gun violence This is not just about understanding the weather: It’s about how heat exacerbates existing social and environmental disparities. Jay said that daily heat puts further stress on Black and brown communities that are disproportionately impacted by climate change and gun violence. Many of these communities reside in urban heat islands—cities and neighborhoods that trap heat because buildings and dark asphalt roads are reflecting heat and have too little foliage and green space to absorb it.

“The motivation [of the study] was… to understand heat exposure as one of the factors in the physical environment that influence the social environment in ways that produce these huge inequities and gun violence exposure,” he added.

But there are ways to combat this rise.

Climate mitigation strategies that lower temperatures in cities can potentially help reduce shootings, the study states.

A growing number of researchers and advocates are championing community revitalization efforts, often referred to as “cleaning and greening,” as a way to reduce violence and heat, all the while reinvesting in Black and brown neighborhoods, enhancing green spaces and overall quality of life.

“There’s a whole range of things that cities are doing and thinking about to reduce heat,” said Daniel Webster, director of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Gun Violence Solutions in Baltimore. Webster adds that cities may not know that their heat reduction efforts may also be supporting the reduction of gun violence, but there is data that “certainly support[s] that [their efforts do],” he said.

The City of Brotherly Love: Fighting violence with greening In Philadelphia, the Urban Health Lab at the University of Pennsylvania is spearheading the “cleaning and greening” approach. Their Deeply Rooted project, a collaborative between researchers, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and mostly-Black and brown communities in west and southwest Philly, cleans and transforms vacant lots into lush green spaces.

See HEAT on page 7

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS Continued from page 6

Series of before-and-after photos from a cleaned and greened site in Philadelphia (Source: PNAS study 2018)

A few years ago, Urban Health Lab researchers randomly sampled and selected 541 vacant lots across the city to monitor for three years and assigned a service to them: no treatment, cleaning, or cleaning and greening treatment. They also randomly selected 445 people in the community to survey about the changes experienced over 38 months.

The results were striking: Areas around vacant lots receiving the full “cleaning and greening” treatment witnessed up to a 29% reduction in gun violence and a 28% decrease in nuisance calls. Beyond the numbers, community members surveyed reported feeling safer and more connected in their transformed neighborhoods.

“Those around the green spaces really felt that they could go out and enjoy their porch, their stoops, their neighbors, in a different way,” said Nicole Thomas, the director of the Urban Health Lab. What’s more, the violence didn’t seem to shift to other areas.

“We’ve had a sort of a nice decline [of gun violence] since the 80s, but [we] really are seeing an increase in recent years,” Michelle Kondo, a research scientist for the U.S. Forest Service and coauthor on the study, said of the city. “So to see this evidence that [not only] crime overall, but gun violence in particular, reduced around and nearby the landcare, the cleaned and greened lots relative to what was happening at the controls, was a real significant finding.”

Kondo says that they also observed that vacant lots had more narcotics trade and stashed guns in their vicinity. Ethnographers involved in the study noted that cars carrying these guns or drugs were intentionally parked in front of vacant lots.

So cleaning and greening these lots “disrupts those things,” she said.

Another benefit for cities and taxpayers that Kondo saw coming out of this work was the return on investment: in the first year after remediation, there was a $333 return for every dollar spent on preventing firearm assaults by greening a vacant lot.

This initiative didn’t record any reduction

of heat, but Veronica Pear, social epidemiologist and assistant professor at the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program, says it’s a green solution that does contribute to the reduction of violence.

“Cleaning and greening initiatives address some features of the built environment (like vacant and neglected lots) that can give rise to violence and they play a legitimate role in prevention,” Pear told the Amsterdam News.

Thomas said that making sure community leaders and members are involved in the decision-making, research, and implementation stages was crucial to their approach.

A lifelong Philadelphia resident herself, she said that she understands the skepticism towards greening efforts in neighborhoods like hers.

She recalls about 15 years ago when her mother and neighbors cut down trees in their neighborhood that were causing damage to their residential property. She later learned the trees planted were ill-fitted for the area and said that going out and talking to community members should be a crucial part of their approach.

The Urban Health Lab earmarked funds to maintain the vacant lots for a few more years and Thomas said that this year, they received two $3 million grants from Penn Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The group also has set their

eyes on increasing tree canopy across west and southwest Philly.

“We have the goal of planting trees, greening vacant lives, supporting community projects, micro grants, and creating mini parks,” Thomas said.

They’ve had a track record of success, but the work of maintaining the vacant lots to reduce violence and increase safety have yet to be taken up by city agencies. Thomas hopes that more places around the country embrace this approach.

“The science shows that having trees, cleaning and greening and stabilizing vacant lots and all sorts of communitybuilding activities really go a long way to improve health,” she adds. “So we’re hoping that this will be a model that other health systems could use.”

In the meantime they are working on bolstering community participation in the maintenance and care of the spaces and trees.

“All of those pieces of green infrastructure are not amenities, they’re pieces of the basic infrastructure of any neighborhood,” Thomas said. “If anyone’s developing neighborhood plans or community plans… green spaces [should be] included in those plans.”

Cooling temps – and heads – in New York New York has a number of community programs aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change or gun violence, but rarely both. That said, some organizations are taking the approach of using green methods to get at some important community needs: youth training and economic opportunity.

NYC CoolRoofs, a program launched in 2009 through a collaboration between the NYC Department of Small Business Services, The HOPE Program, and the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, is one of the enduring examples of these programs.

Their approach addresses heat by painting rooftops with special white paint to reduce temperatures of buildings in the Bronx. This strategy of painting roofs with light colors allows them to reflect solar energy, rather than absorb it, creating a cooling effect for buildings and reducing energy bills.

For young participants of the CoolRoofs program, most of whom are under 30 years

Community garden clean-up at Marge Matthews Garden in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn. (Courtesy of Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI)).

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 7

NYC CoolRoofs participants painting a roof in the south Bronx. (Courtesy of The HOPE Program)

Intervine participants gardening in Soundview, Bronx. (Courtesy of The HOPE Program)

old, it’s a paid opportunity to learn about the environment and get some foundational training that could open the door for work, including green jobs, said Ana Chapman, chief program officer for The HOPE Program, a nonprofit providing work training. Their green programs include NYC CoolRoofs, Sustainable South Bronx, and Intervine, a horticulture program that trains and pays participants to do green infrastructure and maintenance work around the city. Chapman envisions these programs as opportunities for young participants to be active contributors to transformative environmental changes within their communities.

“You go out on jobs, you’re doing the hands-on [work], you’re learning [about] the ‘why’ behind this work,” she says.

CoolRoofs trainees, who are recruited twice a year, will be out on rooftops in the Bronx painting until mid-October, when they complete the program and begin job searching. In 2021, The HOPE Program received funding for youth gun violence prevention work to support their job readiness programs. The organization has gone where it has been welcomed but hasn’t measured the temperature reduction impact of the roofs they’ve painted.

“When you’re in the program, you’re not out on the street,” Chapman said.

“And so on a hot Tuesday afternoon, perhaps you might have been hanging out and now because you’re in the program, maybe you’re removed from an incident that may happen.”

In Brooklyn, gun violence prevention groups like Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI) in East Flatbush, have incorporated some cleaning up community spaces as part of their approach. “We recognize that [the] environment plays a huge role,” See HEAT on page 11

8 • August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

Go with the Flo

FLO

ANTHONY After his recent trip to Israel, Mayor Eric Adams had a full day of fundraising combined with socializing in Southampton, NY, on August 26. Philanthropist/author Jean Shafiroff was one of the cohosts of a reception in support of Adams at Capri Hotel Southampton. “The Good Doctor” actor Hill Harper, who is running for Congress in Michigan, was also at the reception. Adams’s other stops included 75 Main restaurant and the Blue Dream Summer Gala at the Dominion of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, which honored the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and Project Purple…

Radio host Angela Yee is giving back in a huge way. She recently purchased a 30-unit building in the midtown section of Detroit to help women who have been incarcerated, according to CBS Detroit News. Yee partnered with Dr. Topeka K. Sam, who founded Ladies of Hope Ministries. Sam had been incarcerated and now runs an organization that helps thousands of women throughout the U.S. Said Yee, “We’re providing housing for people who really need it. It’s a real struggle for people once they get incarcerated to find adequate housing.”...

On August 22, WETV gathered Atlanta VIPs for an advanced screening of its all-new reality series, “Toya & Reginae,” at IPIC Theaters in Atlanta. After the screening, invited guests joined the cast and crew at the Blue Room for a celebratory cocktail reception. “Toya & Reginae” premiered August 24, with new episodes available on the AMC Networks streaming service ALLBLK every Monday…

The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame (ACBHOF) teams up with Hard Hitting Promotions (HHP) for a Fight Night extravaganza at Bally’s Atlantic City in its sixthfloor Grand Ballroom for a live professional boxing event on September 29. Headlining the show in the Main Event will be Brandon Pizarro of Philadelphia vs. Esteban Garcia of Brawley, California.

The ACBHOF’s 7th Annual Awards & Induction Weekend, a threeday multi-tiered event, is slated to be unparalleled and reflective of the rich boxing history of Atlantic City…

G

O

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

I AM THE DREAM: NAN Harlemites organize bus rides to DC for 60th anniversary of March on Washington

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member The official 60th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was on August 28. Since the anniversary fell on a Monday this year, a coalition of marchers headed down in buses over the weekend to celebrate an enduring part of Black history.

In 1963, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King led the historic march, delivering the iconic and impromptu ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.

The demonstration was organized by legendary Bayard Rustin, A. Phillip Randolph, and their fellow civil rights and labor figures known then as “The Big Six.” It was held at a pivotal time for the Civil Rights Movement, as it came two months after the murder of Medgar Evers and just weeks before the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that killed four Black girls in Birmingham, Alabama.

The march also became a catalyst for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

A record 250,000 activists packed the National Mall in front of the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington back in 1963.

On the Saturday preceding the 60th anniversary, hundreds in Harlem rose before dawn to catch one of the 15 free buses stationed outside of National Action Network (NAN) headquarters on 145th Street. Elderly men and women, families, youth activists, and local civic leaders all piled in to checkin lines looking for their seat information in the wee hours of the morning. There was an air of comradery, which was likely only tempered by genuine tiredness.

As the day pressed on, marchers were more lively and excited at the chance to be a part of the March on Washington legacy– some for the first time and others as part of their own tradition.

Young National Action Network (NAN) members from Morehouse College, Fubenuh Sama, 20 (right) and Emmanuel Deen, 21 (left). (Ariama C. Long photos)

“I am approaching 80 years old, so I very much remember 1963,” said Harlem native Melba D. “I watched it [on TV]. I can’t even begin to tell you. That was the first time I had seen so many people gather for a cause, especially Black people for a cause. It’s a hard feeling to explain.”

An avid marcher throughout her time in school, D had just matriculated from graduate school at the time of King’s march and wasn’t able to attend. She joked that she needed to work and was worried about paying back student loans at the time. Tearfully, she recounted watching the event on television. To a degree, she said she felt helpless then and is glad that the community has more legal rights today.

Growing up in Harlem, she said that she never thought about it being segregated until she left for college to attend Spelman, a historically Black college (also known as an HBCU) in Atlanta. “Everything we had was

Three generations of women attend the march on the National Mall on Sat, Aug 26.

above 125th Street,” said D. “The only time we were allowed anything beyond that was when people went to work.”

She remembers in her youth how involved she and her classmates were with the movement. She said that her grandparents and parents were much more “quiet” at the time.

“I would definitely say they were not against it. They really had other things. Having to go to work to make a living to pay the rent, put food on the table, [and] take care of kids,” she said.

Mikell Green-grand, 60, is a member of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and an elected officer of the archives. He took the bus ride down to the march for the first time to document the anniversary for his church.

He said that his family has always been involved in marching, but now he worries that there aren’t as many iconic Black voices like Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. “We’re still marching for jobs and freedoms and voting rights and women’s reproductive rights for women’s bodies, housing,” said Green-grand on the bus. “There’s so many things. So it’s a continuation.”

A horde of HBCUs, Black fraternities and sororities, and civic groups of diverse backgrounds and faiths attended the rally and short march on Saturday afternoon. There were large Jewish, Chinese, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI), Muslim, Latino, and LGBTQIA+ groups present, standing in solidarity with the continuation of the Civil Rights Movement. It was a tremendously hot and sticky environment, so people took to the shade of the trees that lined the National Mall to keep cool and hydrated. The estimate of attendees was in the low thousands.

“We are the largest coalition fighting from the frontline for equal treatment. Chinese Americans are having a very tough time with anti-Chinese hate. We stand with Sharpton See HARLEMITES on page 27

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

Marcus Garvey honored in Harlem The Marcus Garvey Parade in Harlem was held on Garvey’s birthday, Aug. 17.

Marchers came from New Jersey, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Philadelphia, Connecticut, and Long Island—a mixed demographic, with the Black Power mantra reverberating as they marched to honor

(Bill Moore photos)

Marcus Mosiah Garvey on his special day. Keynote speaker Tariq Nasheed addressed an evening gathering at the Alhambra Ballroom. Michael Duncan, president of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA, the Black nationalist frater-

nal organization founded by Garvey with Amy Ashwood Garvey), and First Assistant President General Raymond Dugue welcomed honored guests Drs. Leonard and Rosalind Jeffries to the UNIA community with the historic “One God, One Aim, One Destiny” refrain.

Nightlife

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 9

Written by David Goodson

The ‘Sweetest Thing’—Lauryn Hill scheduled to hit NY and NJ stages While there’s no such thing as a sure thing in the music industry, when we heard how Lauryn Hill was coming with that “Sweetest Thing” piece from the “Love Jones” soundtrack, we could place our last bet that her solo project was going to be one of “them ones.” When that thing dropped, we were not ready. Artistically, the album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” seamlessly exceeded its lofty expectations. Now that the album has begun to perform commercially to the levels of multi-platinum, Lauryn Hill (Dave Goodson photo) an absolute monster was created. In retrospect, that project propelled cial, the Fugees will reunite for their Hill from superstardom to icon. first tour in years to co-headline on Forget the days, months, and all U.S. and Canadian dates. years. It was as if with each hour that In explaining her thoughts about passed, the thought of ever seeing the album and its lasting impact, a third Fugee album grew fainter. Hill said, “‘The Miseducation of Those sentiments took a more se- Lauryn Hill’ is and was a love song to rious turn when it appeared that my parents, my family, my people, the group reuniting for any reason my musical and cultural forebears, was unlikely. my teachers, my loves, [and] my But time heals and situations Creator. I wrote love songs and prochange. After a few prominent ap- test songs—still love songs—about pearances over the past few months, the subjects and interests that inHill made a surprise appearance at spired and moved me. I was confithe Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary in the dent that what inspired me would boogie-down Bronx (at Yankee Sta- resonate with an audience that had dium, to be precise), performing a been led to believe that songs of medley of her and Fugees’ hits with that kind could only live in the past. fellow legendary collaborator Nas. “I loved music, I loved people, This was after she headlined the I truly felt grateful to God for my Roots Picnic festival this past June, life, and genuinely blessed to have reuniting with her Fugees band- a platform where I could share mates Wyclef and Pras for the first wisdom and perspective through time since 2021. music. I felt a charge to challenge Here we sit 25 years later and the idea that certain kinds of expresthe five-time Grammy winner an- sion and/or certain kinds of people nounced “The Miseducation of didn’t belong in certain places. I Lauryn Hill” 25th anniversary tour loved showing what could work or to commemorate her massively in- happen, provided there was imagfluential 1998 debut solo album. ination, creativity, and LOVE leadThe 17-date tour will hit arenas ing the way.” around the world, including in front Tickets are available via Ticketof home team fans in Newark at the master.com.

Prudential Center Oct. 17 and stopReady or not, I’m over and out. ping at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center Holla next week. ’Til then, enjoy Oct. 1. Making the nights more spe- the nightlife.

10 • August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Union Matters Skip the greeting card, no presents needed: Labor Day is a holiday like no other whose importance lasts beyond a single day

AFL-CIO’s ‘State of the Unions’ set to be new Labor Day tradition

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

It’s not easy to find a holiday that crosses so many boundaries: racial, religious, ethnic, generational, and gender lines. Your political party, favorite color, married or single, homeowner or renter, blue collar or white collar workers, years of education, driving an SVU or compact car—all matter very little. For sure, it’s not easy to find a holiday that most Americans celebrate in similar ways, usually involving a hot dog or two…whether it’s all-beef or tofu. Yes—Labor Day is a rarity: A holiday we can agree on.

Congress created Labor Day in 1894 by making the first Monday in September a national holiday. But it only did so in response to the death of 34 striking Pullman workers from the American Railway Union at the hands of U.S. Army soldiers and marshals.

Then there’s the Labor Day Parade. It’s not held on Labor Day. That’s usually when so many of us are sad about summer’s end and reserve the day to get in those last rays of summer sun, a swim at the beach, flipping burgers on the BBQ, watching the U.S. Open tennis match on TV, or hunting for “Back to School” sales. Instead, the parade is held a week later.

New York City’s Labor Day has some major distinctions: It’s not only the largest one in the nation, but also the oldest. The parade was originally organized by the New York City Central Labor Council in 1882, when an unheard of number of workers—25,000—took off from their jobs in celebration of worker solidarity and pride, and marched from Union Square to City Hall. Through the years, Labor Day and the parade have come to symbolize the long-lasting presence and indestructible power of the labor movement, despite the efforts by many in corporate America who decry unions as contributing to driving up production and service costs—and affecting their bottom line. They, and some others in power who fear the power of our unity, are simply trying to do us in.

And it’s working. Currently, union membership is at an all-time low of only around 10.7% nationwide (equaling one in 10 workers) compared with peak years of the mid-1950s, when See LABOR DAY on page 29

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond speaks at inaugural ‘State of the Unions’ event (Photo via YouTube)

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) kicked off what it’s designating as a new Labor Day tradition by holding a “State of the Unions” event in Washington, D.C., this week.

“Every year, we’re going to come together and talk about where working people stand in this country,” AFLCIO President Liz Shuler promised those attending the inaugural event.

“For a long time, working people in this country have felt powerless; they’ve been powerless. But here is the truth that we’re going to talk about today: Working people are reclaiming our power. Working people are taking on the companies that have exploited us for a long time now. The State of the Unions is on the rise. We are on the rise with every strike, every picket line, every win we deliver for workers all over this country.”

The State of the Unions event touted the strength of union membership and is promoting labor union organizing with the idea that #ItsBetterInAUnion. Shuler pointed to a new poll conducted by the political research firm GBAO that found support for unions is at an all-time high.

Democrats, Independents, and Republicans all look favorably upon unions, according to poll results. In fact, among those surveyed, GBAO found “the want and need for unions is greatest among those” who are under 30.

“Across every metric tested, voters under 30 show wide support for labor unions with near universal approval

(88%) and support for strikes (90%).

Yet this group is also more likely to say it’s hard to join a union and should be easier.”

The poll also found that, “[u]nions are seen as more needed than before, and most believe having more workers in unions would be a boon for society. Compared to the past, twice as many voters say labor unions are more needed (57%) today than less needed (30%). Voters also believe more workers in unions would benefit society at large, with a majority (51%) saying society would be better off compared to just a third (34%) saying it would not be better off.”

The day before the AFL-CIO’s inaugural State of the Unions event, the BidenHarris White House issued its own analytical report about union power.

The Treasury Department and the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, which is chaired

by Vice President Kamala Harris, argue in their “Labor Unions and the Middle Class” report that strong union membership buttresses the economy.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen explained in a press call that “[u]nions raise the wages of their members by around 10 to 15%. We also observe that union workers have greater access to critical fringe benefits, such as retirement benefits, medical benefits, and life insurance. Unions also impact personnel practices, bringing about better workplace grievance systems and improved workplace safety…

“Importantly,” she added, “our research also finds that unions fuel equality. Today’s unions benefit all demographic groups. Unions reduce race and gender wage gaps by encouraging explicit anti-discrimination measures

and egalitarian wage practices. Working parents, including mothers, benefit from more scheduling predictability, which is more likely in unionized workplaces. And Black men, who have the highest union membership rates of any demographic groups, have also been particularly hit by the trends experienced by the middle class as a whole.

They therefore may be particularly poised to benefit from unionization.”

The revived labor movement is a welcome sign for members of the AFLCIO, which is a compilation of 56 affiliated unions.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond pointed to the way unions have historically been able to change the lives of its members across the United States. He deemed Labor Day “a day that’s rooted in resistance.”

“It’s a day when we’re forced to remember that it was the labor movement that marched and sacrificed to end child labor,” Redmond said. “We challenged inhumane working conditions. It was the labor movement that created safety standards. Think about it: We transformed grim, dangerous jobs into good, family-sustaining careers. Industry by industry, unions helped build the middle class and we should never forget that––we should never forget that!”

“The idea of a union may sound complicated, but in reality, unions are just a group of people coming together,” Shuler said. “They are about each of us becoming the most powerful version of ourselves that we possibly can.

And there is nothing better than finding that power alongside the people we work with and being a part of something bigger than ourselves. That’s all a union is. It’s that simple.”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 11

(Amanda Ulloa art)

15% OF SHOOTINGS IN NYC CAN BE TIED TO ABOVE-AVERAGE SEASONAL TEMPS.

Heat Continued from page 7

in preventing gun violence said Ramik Williams, co-executive director at KAVI. The youth development organization has recently cleaned a park and community garden in central Brooklyn, and Williams said that some of the teens have shared how the state of their neighborhoods make them feel.

“Young people have a lot to say, in terms of what their neighborhood looks like, and what their neighborhood could look like,” he said.

Williams says that scaffolding that has been up for too long, unusable park benches at playgrounds, “or any of the things that deter people from using public spaces…. wear down on someone’s psyche over a matter of time.”

Neighborhood neglect is felt, said Webster at Johns Hopkins, and some research suggests that even changing facades of homes has bore out positive results for communities.

An Uphill Battle to Create Lasting Change While these endeavors hold promise, there’s a significant obstacle in the way: funding.

Those spearheading these organizations say that their work is possible primarily through grant funding. To ensure the enduring impact of “cleaning and greening” approaches, more public dollars need to be allocated to support these initiatives.

“Long-term funding for effective preventive efforts is key to their enduring impact,” Pear said.

Last year, New York City Council resolved to make June “Gun Violence Awareness Month,” as part of a slew of actions recommended by the office of the NYC Public Advocate.

But gun violence prevention funding has to catch up to the staggering upward trend in gun-related deaths: Between 2019 and 2020, it has become the leading cause of death among children and teens, surpassing car accidents. Black Americans also experienced the largest increase in fatal homicides of any race or ethnicity.

“There’s not as much research on gun violence in the health literature as there ought to be,” Jay said. “Gun violence is one of the most under-studied, under-resourced topics, for political reasons.”

Gun violence legislation in place since 1996 effectively prevented the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from

funding research into gun violence prevention and gun control in the United States for more than two decades. The Dickey Amendment was a provision lobbied for by the National Rifle Association, and while there are federal efforts to fund gun violence prevention programs in states, the field of gun violence prevention research is far behind other causes of death and injury.

Jay hopes their study would help leapfrog research in this lane. “There’s no way we’ll be able to understand violence exclusively in terms of heat,” Jay said. “But I think that it’s unlikely that we’re going to find that heat is just this one factor that’s totally independent of all the rest.”

What researchers and community organizations understand is that our environment and climate plays a role in exacerbating an already difficult problem, and that any important solution will have to take this into account.

“Firearm violence is a complex, multifaceted problem that can only be addressed by complex, multifaceted solutions,” Pear said.

Funding towards these programs are a drop in the bucket compared to funds earmarked for other climate change mitigation or gun violence prevention initiatives, and cleaning and greening and planting trees “doesn’t address the root causes of climate change and violence,” Kondo said. “These are systemic, worldwide, nationwide structural issues that are contributing to these things.”

But Kondo says that not doing this work— cleaning and greening vacant lots and planting trees and the like—have a downstream impact on real estate values, sanitation, safety, and criminal activity. “It’s a negative spiral,” she said.

Producing a physically and mentally healthy and safe environment with green measures is also about bringing communities together and helping people feel connected and in control of their neighborhoods. According to Kondo, “It’s a building block and can contribute to civic engagement and, ultimately, democracy.”

The average number of days per year above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) could be as high as 69 days per year by the 2050s, approximately four times the average from 1981 to 2010.

(Source: PlaNYC Report)

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12 August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Opinion Race and gender disparities continue

EDITORIAL

Sometimes it takes a sports event to remind us of milestones in American history, and two momentous moments were invoked at the U.S. Open this week when former First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on Monday evening to pay tribute to Billie Jean King and mark the anniversary of the U.S. Open becoming the first Grand Slam tennis tournament to pay women equal prize money.

King, who won the U.S. Open in 1972, earned $10,000 for the victory—$15,000 less than the men’s champion. When she threatened not to play the next year, it sparked the movement for equal pay in the World Tennis Association (WTA).

This happened nine years after the Equal Pay Act was signed into law, protecting workers from pay discrimination on the basis of race.

“Billie Jean teaches us that when things lie in the balance, we all have a choice to make. We can either wait around and accept what we’re given. We can sit silently and hope someone else fights our battles. Or we can make our own stand,” Obama said. “We can use whatever platforms we have to speak out and fight to protect the progress we’ve made, and level the playing field for all of our daughters and their daughters.”

But Obama said of the champion’s paycheck: “This is about how women are seen and valued in the world.”

In her speech, King referred to the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, and it wasn’t difficult to see how the 60th anniversary of one event converged with the other.

Race and gender disparities have not dramatically improved over this long stretch of history, and much more pressure is necessary to bring about the dream for equity that both Kings, Martin and Billie Jean, championed.

Let’s not allow the “love” on the tennis court—the zero—to be the same as we struggle to attain equality in the workplace.

Member

Alliance for Audited Media

The more things change, the more they stay the same or not

By H. JEAN WRIGHT II, PSY.D.

White supremacist philosophy embedded in institutional and systemic structures carried out through racist thought and human action, historically and presently create disparities in access to services and resources that support a thriving life, for African American, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).

Marcus Garvey, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Angela Davis, John Lewis, Katie Cannon, and bell hooks, along with countless others have since the “abolishment” of enslavement fought for equitable access to resources and services, which the constitution “guarantees” for all Americans.

Yet here we are in 2023, still beating the drum for equitable access to a quality of life that African American, and BIPOC Americans continue to be systematically denied.

Thus, the more things change the more they stay the same. Even though a small percentage of BIPOC people have climbed the economic ladder, most persons in these communities still struggle with the essentials of life. Two categories which measure a person’s and/or community's wellness are social and health determinants. The social determinants of health are the conditions under which people are born, grow, live, and age. There are twelve factors which are measured as a basis for positive social determinants, e.g., education, income level, gender, and environment. Additionally, there are five health determinants which include: genetics, behaviors, social circumstances, environment, and access to equitable and responsive medical care.

A social determinant which has the most powerful negative impact is poverty. Poverty has been shown to have a direct correlation to the other health and social determinants.

When you intersect class, gender, and race, African American women are the hardest hit when they live in poverty. Hence, the way forward must be more than just hastily throwing more dollars in creating yet another non-cross functional, culturally unresponsive, tone deaf, “community” initiative. Make no mistake, funding for wellthought-out legitimate initiatives are a necessary ingredient to change the landscape; however, if we are not Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher providing practical servicand Editor in Chief es for those served, then we Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor compound the problem.

Nayaba Arinde: Editor For the remainder of this Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor article, we will home in on Damaso Reyes: Investigative Editor the lack of access to equiSiobhan "Sam" Bennett: table, culturally responsive, Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Advertising and effective mental health Wilbert A. Tatum (1984-2009): and wellness services and Chairman of the Board, CEO and Publisher Emeritus resources—particularly for

those living in or below the poverty line.

As a Licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with a focus on the injustice of the prison system, known as the “New Jim Crow” and a Licensed Psychotherapist with a specialty in couples and families with a combined 50 years of experience, we have bore witness to the pervasive effects of systemic and institutional racism at the hands of humans with racist philosophies and embedded biases.

This has created a history of traumatized African American and BIPOC individuals, families, and communities, which has created an intergenerational transference of trauma and mistrust toward the healthcare system and produced maladaptive behaviors because of the disparities in access to health care resources, especially those resources that support mental health and emotional wellbeing.

This trauma has led to a distrust for the establishment and continues to be a huge barrier for marginalized communities, especially for African American and BIPOC persons to receive and access effective and equitable services for their mental wellness. Specifically, we should note a few concerns: • Only 1 in 3 Black adults who need mental health care receives it.

• Black adults with mental illness disproportionately receive treatment in emergency and hospital settings and are at a higher risk of incarceration.

• Research has shown there are many reasons Black Americans often do not seek mental health services, including facing prejudice and discrimination, cost and insurance, and structural barriers, like lack of transportation or lack of information on how to access services, implicated by racism.

• Black adults in the United States who are seeking mental health care or living with serious mental illness (SMI) disproportionately lack access to culturally responsive care.

• When treated, Black adults are more likely to receive poorer quality care due to systemic racial disparities.

An additional barrier is the number of African American and BIPOC mental health professionals available and paucity of researchers doing clinical trials with African American and BIPOC individuals and communities. 2% of psychiatrists are Black, 4% of psychologists are Black, and it should be noted that women represent over 70% of therapists.

Therapists by ethnicity: • Asian, 10.6% which potentially adds an additional barrier for BIPOC males seeking support.

• Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% • Black and/or African American, 4.1%

• Unknown, 2.2% • American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% As stated, historically research has done minimal work, mostly as an afterthought, within African American and/or BIPOC communities. One glaring reason for a small number of marginalized members is the mistrust in those communities due to blatant racism and inappropriate experimentation on African American and Indigenous persons.

This lack of inclusion in clinical trials and research studies exacerbates the troubling outcomes highlighted in this article. If BIPOC persons, especially Black and Latinx communities, are not included in research and clinical trials, we miss the opportunities to learn from them regarding their “real-world” experiences with health care systems, and providers that have not sought their input on how to best serve BIPOC communities, and/or, take into consideration the individual, as well as community needs of BIPOC in especially underserved populations.

One organization to finally acknowledge and outline with a memorandum for reparations is the American Psychological Association (APA). In 2021 the APA wrote an apology for the racist ideology which historically pathologized African Americans as inferior, aggressive, and unstable, which created barriers to African Americans seeking careers in mental health. The APA have now instituted programs to help address the inequities, such as mentorships, scholarships, and intentional recruitment through career fairs for African American and BIPOC individuals. Lastly, the APA dedicated its 2021 annual conference to equity.

In addition to the APA’s acknowledgement and action steps to correct past indiscretions toward BIPOC persons and communities, Janssen Neuroscience, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has stepped up to address the paucity of research and clinical trials geared toward African American and BIPOC persons, by developing a comprehensive plan as part of their Community Health Equity Alliance initiative.

A major driver of the Community Health Equity Alliance was the formation of a Steering Committee of diverse health equity experts in the fields of advocacy, SMI clinical care, population health, faith, healthcare professionals, and academia to inform strategy and Alliance priorities.

The Community Health Equity Alliance prioritizes community-informed solutions that address SMI care at the state and local level. Its aim is to improve the trusted delivery and pursuit of equitable mental health care for Black adults in the United States.

See CHANGE on page 29

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

Labor Day insights: Navigating the inflation challenge 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

As the approaching Labor Day beckons us to delve beyond the surface and uncover the stark realities that shape our labor landscape, this annual occasion, steeped in the tradition of honoring the dedication of hardworking individuals, offers a chance to dissect the contemporary economic tapestry, one intricately woven with the looming specter of inflation.

While triumphalism abounds over economic growth and burgeoning job figures, it is our solemn duty to look beneath the façade and unearth the authentic status of our workforce. Inflation, a silent saboteur, has stealthily eroded the purchasing power of everyday Americans, rendering the rising costs of essential goods and services an undeniable impediment. Its weight is most acutely felt by those diligently striving to make ends meet in the face of this unrelenting fiscal pressure.

Yet, the observation must transcend the mere availability of employment, directing our attention to the grim reality of wage stagnation amid an inflation surge.

This forthcoming Labor Day serves as more than a tribute; it becomes a clarion call to acknowledge that gainful employment loses its resonance when wages fail to mirror the relentless climb of living expenses. The occasion, deeply rooted in the celebration of labor’s contributions, mandates that we vociferously advocate for equitable remuneration that befits the unwavering dedication of our workforce.

In the contemporary climate, where economic uncertainty casts its shadow and the precarious balance between escalating prices and financial stability hangs in the balance, the significance of Labor Day amplifies. This is a day not merely for repose, but a moment to rally in defense of the American workers, to honor their tenacity, and to demand recompense commensurate with

their intrinsic value.

We need to champion policies that fortify the position of American labor. We must galvanize support for fiscally judicious strategies and pragmatic economic policies, aimed squarely at taming the inflation beast and resurrecting the flagging worth of wages. Our duty extends beyond the realm of rhetoric: to ensuring that the labor force is not merely functional but empowered by the justice of just compensation.

And so, as we stand on the cusp of another Labor Day, let us rekindle our commitment to addressing the economic enigmas confronting us. The battle against inflation and for equitable wages encapsulates the very essence of this day—a celebration of the American spirit’s enduring vigor, a recognition of the enduring commitment to diligent labor, and an unwavering vision for an enriched future for all.

Too many Americans are falling behind, struggling to make ends meet. The idea of work and gainful employment seems illusory to many Americans. In a nation built on the ideals of opportunity and hard work, the disheartening reality is that a significant portion of our population faces the harsh truth of stagnant wages and the ever-increasing cost of living. As the cost of essentials such as housing, healthcare, and education continues to rise, the gap between wages and expenses widens, making the pursuit of the American dream appear to be slipping from the grasp of far too many.

The narrative of prosperity often touted in political speeches and economic reports rings hollow for those who find themselves trapped in a cycle of financial instability. This disillusionment is particularly stark in the face of inflation, which further erodes the purchasing power of individuals already grappling with meager wage growth. The result is a

disenchanted workforce that questions the value of their toil, as they watch their hard-earned dollars buy less and less. It’s a predicament that chips away at the foundation of our society, breeding resentment and sowing seeds of disillusionment that threaten the very fabric of our social compact.

The erosion of faith in the promise of work isn’t just an economic concern—it’s a social issue with farreaching consequences. When a significant portion of the population feels excluded from the potential for financial stability and upward mobility, social cohesion and community bonds are strained. The fundamental belief in the power of work to provide a better life, to enable families to thrive and children to succeed, is a cornerstone of American identity. When this belief is shaken, it has cascading effects, manifesting as frustration, mistrust, and even societal unrest.

As we commemorate Labor Day, it’s a moment to not only reflect on the contributions of our workforce but also to confront the stark realities that challenge the dignity and promise of work for so many.

This is not a time for complacency.

Rather, it’s a call to action—to advocate for policies that bridge the gap between wages and living expenses, safeguard the interests of our labor force, and restore the belief in the transformative power of honest labor. If we are to uphold the principles that have made this nation great, we must ensure that the notion of work as a path to prosperity remains attainable for all Americans, not just a privileged few.

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

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 13

Police Surveillance CHRISTINA

GREER, PH.D. I am quite concerned about the growing presence of police surveillance in New York City and across the country. There seems to be a growing interest in the NYPD to collect data and information about the residents of NYC and come to conclusions about levels of threat from particular individuals and neighborhoods.

I think this hyper-surveillance and data collection further endangers marginalized groups and communities of color, particularly Black and Latino neighborhoods.

I have been following some of the debates about congestion pricing in midtown Manhattan. I originally thought the enforcement of congestion pricing would be similar to using one’s EasyPass. That is, as you entered particular zones in the city during particular times of day, your account would be charged and you would go about your day.

Indeed, there are implications and possible excessive fees for those coming into Manhattan from the outer boroughs and New Jersey. However, I thought the architects of this proposal would assess those concerns and attempt to make the new fees and fines as equitable as possible. I had no idea of the additional layer of concern.

The new congestion pricing will not be as simple as EasyPass. Instead, the data collection from someone’s license plate will essentially serve as a way for the NYPD to access all different types of information about individuals and their vehicles. This, of course, is a slippery slope since so many of the NYPD interactions and enforcements disproportionately affect poor people and communities of color.

Preliminary reports have

shown that police enforcement of vehicles from predominantly Black and marginalized communities are 10 times more likely to be stopped. Thus, the increased interactions with the NYPD can have unwanted interactions, as well as increased and disproportionate fines levied on communities of color…increasing the psychological and economic toll on these groups.

It appears the horse has already left the barn. The implementation of congestion pricing in conjunction with the NYPD and their detailed data collection efforts is already underway. Certain lawmakers in Albany are attempting to curb the tide of what I argue is an overreach of police enforcement.

Therefore, we must continue to put pressure on our elected officials to create and support legislation that will protect some of our personal information.

We have already entered an era where technology is used to track our needs and wants, monitor our spending proclivities, and determine even health outcomes based on activity habits.

However, as interwoven as technology may already be in our lives, we must continue to speak out about overreaches by the state and law enforcement. Not all data is collected and used in an equitable way. Therefore, spend a little time finding out what your elected official is doing to protect your rights. And as always, be safe when on the road.

Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio.

14 • August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Caribbean Update

Caribbean reparations movement gets welcome boost

BY BERT WILKINSON Special to AmNews Late last week, the decade-old effort by the 15-nation Caribbean Community to force European nations to apologize for the transatlantic slave trade and pay reparations received an interesting boost when descendants of one of the United Kingdom’s largest slave- and plantationowning families formally apologized for the sins of their ancestors and pledged to push the Britain’s royal family and government to commence reparations talks with the region.

Charles Gladstone, representing 19thcentury Scottish planter and slave trader John Gladstone, flew to Guyana, the headquarters nation of Caricom, to say that today’s generation of Gladstones regrets the involvement of their ancestors in the brutal and genocidal slave trade, pledging to collaborate with the regional reparations movement to effect change back in the U.K. in the near future. He was accompanied by five other younger family members as well as former BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan, whose family had earlier this year apologized to Grenada for a similar role held by her ancestors. One hundred and four family members signed the family petition saying they regretted slavery.

“It is with deep shame and regret that we acknowledge our ancestor’s involvement in this crime, and with heartfelt sincerity, we apologize to the descendants of the enslaved in Guyana. In doing so, we acknowl-

“The Gladstone apology came almost nine months after the Dutch government apologized for slavery in the Republic of Suriname and Dutch colonies like St. Maarten in the Caribbean. Dutch King WillemAlexander has also offered regrets.” edge slavery’s continuing impact on the daily lives of many. In apologizing for the actions of our ancestors, we hope to work towards a better future,” Charles Gladstone told a University of Guyana ceremony that was boycotted by senior representatives of Guyana’s Indo-dominated government.

“Slavery was a crime against humanity, and its damaging impact continues to be felt across the world today. We understand that we cannot change history, but we believe that we can have an impact on the world in which we live. In apologizing for the actions of our ancestors, we hope to work towards a better future,” he said.

On Saturday, local African organizations exposed the Gladstones to a ceremony to apologize to African ancestors and beg for their forgiveness. Some speakers urged the visitors to seriously consider giving up some of their wealth to organizations in Guyana.

John Gladstone was an absentee planter who had never set foot in Guyana or the Caribbean but had owned more than 2,500 enslaved people in Guyana on a number of sugar and coffee plantations, not the least being one at Success Village on Guyana’s east coast. There, slaves rose in a freedom revolt back in August of 1823, but planters

brutally crushed the two-day effort. Dozens of those enslaved were killed; others fled to the bushes while the severed heads of many were planted on poles all the way to the city, about seven miles away, as a lesson to others with similar ideas.

Local organizers showed the Gladstones what remains of plantation success Saturday, showing them the large village nameplate sign that identifies the village on the coast, now dominated by private homes and mom-and-pop shops.

The Gladstone apology came almost nine months after the Dutch government apologized for slavery in the Republic of Suriname and Dutch colonies like St. Maarten in the Caribbean. Dutch King Willem-Alexander has also offered regrets.

As the struggle continues, authorities in Barbados are engaging British lawmaker Richard Drax and family members on their role in slavery and plantation cruelties on the Eastern Caribbean island centuries ago.

In fact, the Drax family still owns a plantation and other lands in Barbados, so theirs could be the next big thing in the reparations movement, officials say.

Meanwhile, Charles Gladstone says the family will create a fund for various unnamed projects in Guyana as part of a “meaningful and long-term relationship between our family and the people of Guyana. In writing this heartfelt apology, we also acknowledge Sir John Gladstone’s role in bringing indentured laborers to Guyana and apologize for the clear and manifold injustices of this.”

I’m an immigrant, but what’s happening in NYC is madness FELICIA PERSAUD

IMMIGRATION KORNER Last week, a rally in Queens Village, my old stomping ground that I covered as an assistant news editor for the Queens Chronicle newspaper, drew thousands of protesters angry at the city’s plan to move migrants into tents set up in the parking lot adjacent to the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center.

I know the area well. I once got an award from the Creedmor Snap Center for my coverage of the area years ago. It’s a middle-class community of schools and playgrounds, that is home to many seniors and families, including young children.

Normally, as an immigrant who spent several years undocumented as I waited on the backlog of processing to be cleared on my skilled immigrant application, I would

be mad at the protestors.

I would call them “anti-immigrant” and “racist,” “xenophobic” and simply “hateful” for carrying such signs as ““No Tent City” and “Americans Over Migrants.”

But last week I had no such words. Last week I, an independent immigrant voter, who is as liberal as they come, understood what these protestors were saying and their strong feelings about what is happening in New York City— my now second home.

It is absolute madness! There are no other words that suffice to describe this. As an immigrant, I completely understand why people around the world, especially the vulnerable, want to risk their lives to come to America.

Globally, America represents promise, a land of hope, options, opportunities, and a land where you can reinvent yourself and dream the impossible. But while America should remain open for immigrants and immigration, what is happen-

ing currently, cannot be allowed to persist or be sustained.

This has become first and foremost, a burden to taxpayers in New York City, including many immigrants who have been living in the U.S. undocumented for more than a decade, are paying taxes, are not a burden to the city or the state, and yet can find no way to a path of legalization.

However, here are individuals, filing in across the border, applying for asylum, getting taxpayer support and stepping in line ahead of Dreamers and other immigrants, and on to a path to legalization. It is unfair and it is insane!

The city has already indicated that it spends an average of $383 per night on migrants. With more than 57,300 individuals currently in the care of NYC to date, that total is now $9.8 million a day, almost $300 million a month, and nearly $3.6 billion a year.

Now the state is stepping in to foot the bill

as the federal government, including the country’s immigration czar Kamala Harris, remains MIA on the issue.

How long can this go on? That money should go to the homeless, the old and vulnerable families who have called New York home for years and now are being forced out because of sky high rents or forced to endure moldy and roach infested apartments because that is all they can afford to keep a roof over their heads.

What New York needs to declare is “enough,” “suficiente,” “assez.” The city and state must put a stop to this. Let›s address the existing backlog and assist those already within the city and state instead of admitting more on a daily basis. Let›s halt the madness under the guise of being proimmigration.

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

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 15

Religion & Spirituality First Corinthian Baptist and DC9 painters union hold NYC block party The First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) and District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) held their annual Hope for Harlem block party and community service event over the August 26 weekend.

The groups donated thousands of groceries, hygiene products, and back-to-school supplies, as well as offered employment opportunities and health resources to members of the local community. New York State Senator Cordell Cleare and Democratic nominee for City Council Yusef Salaam attended and supported the efforts.

The Hope for Harlem initiative takes a holistic approach to serving the community, focusing on the mind, body, and soul of Harlem’s residents. Beginning during the

COVID-19 pandemic, this annual event has become a hallmark for the neighborhood and stands as a testament to the power of community.

“Community service is a value at the core of our union,” said Joseph Azzopardi, BM/ST of District Council 9. “Every year, our members are proud to lend a hand at the Hope for Harlem event and help their neighbors get ready for school or work this fall. Thank you to First Corinthian Baptist Church for partnering with us on this event once again.”

“At FCBC, we believe we are commissioned by God to serve,” said Desiree Elder, associate pastor. “That service extends past the four walls and into the community and the world. We believe we must

First Corinthian Baptist (DC9 painters union photo)

HAVE YOUR LOVED ONES MEMORIALIZED IN THE AMSTERDAM NEWS’ OBITUARY SECTION. FOR MORE INFO EMAIL: William.Atkins@amsterdamNews.com

be architects of change. To put on an event of this magnitude for those who need it most, in collaboration with so many other organizations and sponsors, is a testament to our ability to work together to benefit the whole.”

About First Corinthian Baptist Church FCBC was first organized in 1933 and is an ever-evolving community of visionaries, dreamers, and doers who are on a mission to live the lives they were created to live, love beyond the limits of prejudices, and honor the commission to serve.

FCBC has a strong footprint in supporting the Harlem community through initiatives like its food pantry, clothing drives, and annual public events. FCBC is focused

on providing a sanctuary for Harlem’s residents in the forms of the arts, theater, and music, as well as resources for leadership development, economic empowerment, and mental health support.

About DC 9 District Council 9 is a chapter of the IUPAT, an organization of painters, decorators, wall coverers, drywall finishers, sign painters, metal polishers, bridge and structural steel painters, civil service painters, lead abatement workers, glaziers and architectural metal glassworkers, paint makers, and allied trades. The IUPAT is dedicated to securing and improving wages, benefits, and overall working conditions for its members.

16 August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Health What women need to know about stroke risks It may not be widely known that women face unique risk factors for stroke throughout their lifetime. Things like pregnancy, preeclampsia, and chronic stress can increase the risk for high blood pressure—a leading cause of stroke.

Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death among women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 1 in 5 women will have a stroke . However, a large majority of strokes can be prevented.

Caring for yourself by understanding your risk factors can help reduce your risk for stroke and provide a better quality of life. Start managing your stroke risk with these tips from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association: Monitor Your Blood Pressure The first step you can take in reducing your risk for stroke is knowing your blood pressure and keeping it in a healthy range. High blood pressure is the No. 1 preventable cause of stroke, according to the American Heart Association.

The best way to know your blood pressure is to have it measured at least once per year by a health care professional and then regularly monitor it at home and discuss the numbers with a doctor.

For most people, a normal blood pressure should be 120/80 mm HG or less.

In addition to properly monitoring blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, eating healthfully, and reducing or eliminating alcohol and tobacco usage can help control blood pressure. If you do develop high blood pressure, work with a healthcare professional on a plan to help manage it.

Plan for Pregnancy In the United States, high blood pressure during pregnancy is becoming more common, according to the CDC, and medical conditions including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and blood clots during pregnancy all increase stroke risk during and immediately following a pregnancy.

Managing conditions like high blood pressure before getting pregnant helps keep you and your baby healthy during pregnancy and beyond. In addition, your health during and immediately after a pregnancy can shape the lifelong health of you and your child. If you're planning to become pregnant or are currently pregnant, it's important to regularly monitor your blood pressure.

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

⚠ Learn the Warning Signs A stroke can happen to anyone at any point in life. Immediate treatment may help minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. Learn how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T:

F A S

ace drooping - Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven? rm weakness - Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

peech difficulty - Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like "The sky is blue."

T

ime to call 911 - If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get to a hospital immediately.

Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Take Care of Your Mental Health Some stress is unavoidable but constant stress is not healthy.

Chronic or constant stress may lead to high blood pressure and other unhealthy behavior choices, which can increase risk for stroke.

Based on findings in a Stress in America 2020 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, the top sources of stress are money, work, family responsibilities, and health concerns. Managing your stress and blood pressure can improve your overall health and well-being. Reclaim control of your schedule and build in time to invest in your health. Find 10 minutes every day to do something for you, like listening to music, meditating, or going for a walk.

Talk to your doctor about ways to improve your well-being and help prevent stroke. Find more wellness tips at stroke.org.

(Family Features)

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Arts & Entertainment Music pg 17 | Trends pg 21 | Theater pg 22 | Jazz pg 24

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 17

Pg. 20 Your Stars

Afropunk returns home to woo Brooklyn with circus flair

(Brenika Banks photos)

By BRENIKA BANKS Special to the AmNews Afropunk blossomed from its Brooklyn seedling back when the festivities were free and reserved for society’s outcasts. 2023’s Afropunk Brooklyn: Circus of Soul was held Aug. 26 and Aug. 27 at Greenpoint Terminal Park. Attendees showed off their best festival-meets-punk outfits with floral, gold, and pastel colors everywhere. Sunday’s big night brought out performances from Brooklyn’s own Joey Bada$$ and Harlem’s Teyana Taylor.

Afropunk, which began in 2005, is an organization that celebrates Black culture and diversity through art, food, fashion, music, and community. The unity of Black alternatives, now owned by Essence, has become a global success. Essence CEO Caroline A. Wanga was in attendance sporting a unique circus ringleader outfit, fitting for the occasion. The festival’s DJ played Brooklyn hits, including songs from Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige and the crowd was very responsive as they sang and danced along. This celebration of Black people and culture provided a space for local art galleries, like Calabar Gallery, and restaurants like Bushwick Grind Café. Bushwick Grind Café, a Blackowned specialty coffee business, opened eight years ago, only selling coffee before in-

creasing the menu.

“After we were in our space for a year, [we noticed] there was a lack of healthy food options [in the area],” said Kymme Williams-Davis, the owner. She said the overplacement of fast-food restaurants gave her and her husband the idea to have healthy, specialty options. “We had a responsibility to do something.” Bushwick Grind Café became an alternative to the usual unhealthy food choices. The business now does catering from One World Trade to the Brooklyn Museum, according to WilliamsDavis. The company is also actively feeding those in need by hosting community fridges.

Bushwick Grind Café actively showed Black culture at Afropunk with their popular vegan specialty toast, including spicy ackee and jackfruit. “Coming to Afropunk, we had to diversify,” said the owner. All their toast specialties are made daily with fresh hard dough bread, thanks to the baker they partnered with. Williams-Davis also brought the restaurant’s most popular drink, the Yoncé, to the festival. The drink is a watermelon hibiscus lemonade the business created during Beyoncé’s 2016 Lemonade era.

Attendees enjoyed the food vendors, art, and fashion until musical artists hit the stage. Rapper and singer Baby Tate hit the main stage as well as violinist and singer Sudan Archives. One artist excited about

his time at Afropunk Brooklyn was Houston, Texas, singer and songwriter Jack Freeman. The R&B singer enjoys making love songs and helping people fall in love. He described his set as “dope” and “a lot” of fun.

Freeman shared that he is used to crowds due to highly stressful football situations in his younger days. “But when you get on that stage, it’s just fun for me,” he said. “Go out there and sing some songs that you wrote for people that may or may not have heard it before.”

Freeman performed his original songs “My Love” and “Nobody” and a new song, “Shine.” He has plenty of records new and old fans can enjoy, and his new project, “Nina,” will be available in a few weeks.

Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Bryan-Michael Cox will executive produce Freeman’s upcoming project. Cox was on stage with Freeman during his afternoon set. He was happy to be a part of Afropunk this year and welcomes opportunities for his music to reach more people.

“You have to reach out to Black people if you’re making Black music,” said Freeman.

“I love Black people, I love Black women, I love Black everything.”

“I’m into Black [stuff],” said Cox, sharing similar sentiments. Freeman understands the importance of Black people’s unity for this event to highlight great things happen-

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ing in the culture. Freeman said he wants his legacy to be one that is led by the truth.

“I want make the music that feels good to me—I want to tell the truth,” he said. Aside from music, he also anticipates leaving his mark in business. “[I want to] help as many people as possible along the way.”

The crowd was very excited and receptive to Joey Bada$$, who wore a Bed-Stuy shirt, representing his neighborhood. Sunday night was his very first Afropunk Fest. He See AFROPUNK on page 18

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Continued from page 17

performed fan favorites like “Survival Tactics,” “Show Me,” and “Where I Belong.”

He told the audience that performing in Brooklyn is like a reunion. “Brooklyn, I [freaking] love you,” he said, wishing the crowd peace, happiness and success before departing the stage.

Bada$$ thanked everyone for enjoying his show, especially new fans. “Pay close attention to what’s going to happen next,” he said. “I will keep expanding my sound, expressing myself through these different outlets of music, TV and film.” He hopes he can leave a legacy behind “to be inspired” and help people “follow their dreams.” The rapper also aspires for younger people to, “lean into their fears and creativity…. That’s a big part of life. The best thing in life is on the opposite side of fear,” said Bada$$.

Teyana Taylor concluded Afropunk with her performance representing Harlem.

She wooed the crowd with Erykah Badu’s “Next Lifetime,” as well as her songs “Rose in Harlem” and “Hold On.” She performed a sexy rendition of “Morning.” Taylor jumped off the stage into the crowd at one point, much to the audience’s pleasure. She even brought her children and husband, Iman Shumpert, on stage to spread love the Brooklyn way.

For more info, visit www.afropunk.com.

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Photo captions (Brenika Banks photos) 1 – Singer Jack Freeman performing on Afropunk’s main stage.

2 – Afropunk Sunday crowd enjoying the live performances.

3 – Teyana Taylor on stage performing.

4 – Joey Bada$$ performing on stage 5 – Violinist and singer Sudan Archives in the crowd.

6 – Circus performer.

7- Vendors at the festival selling art, clothing, jewelry and more.

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Hip hop journalist John Morrison talks past & present Music journalist John Morrison (Joe Del Tufo photo)

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH Special to the AmNews Music journalist John Morrison is a knowledgeable source of information regarding hip hop’s past and present, bringing intelligence and insight to the foundation of one of the fastestgrowing cultures in Western history. His award-winning podcast on iHeartRadio with Josh Indi Leidy, “Serious Rap Sh*t,” is hilarious and full of gems, along with his understanding of hip hop electronic equipment that shapes the sound of music across eras. Morrison talked to us about hip hop’s resilience and deep relevance.

going to sing—they’re going to talk rhythmically over music.

And they’re going to re-purpose grooves and melodies from preexisting records. That sorta thing required a conceptual leap. It was really like an avant-garde kinda stance to do all that and violate these musical rules. The fact that hip hop music and culture has— for better or for worse—infiltrated into the mainstream, I think about the innovation required.

The innovation to make that leap. And then the resilience to keep it evolving.

It’s kinda mind-blowing.

AmNews: Do you think hip hop is more emotionally clear than AmNews: What do you think rock and other genres? when you hear “50 years of hip Morrison: I don’t look at it as hop”? one is more expressive than the Morrison: I’m elated hip hop other. I think that rap, in particculture has been this resilient. I ular, didn’t come out of nowhere. think about the conceptual leap The genre emerged post-civrequired to make rap music. You il rights, post-Black Power movehave young people who aren’t ment. Black folk in general were

working, struggling really, to carve out more-expressive space.

We had been locked up with what we could express, ways we could express ourselves, and I think rap music was the children of the generation that opened up some of that space.

I think rap music, by its nature, is very honest and direct. That’s a hard-fought directness that our parents, grandparents, fought for rap music to become. Rap allows a different kind of honesty for Black people. It’s a tool that we can use to express ourselves in a way we weren’t allowed to in [past] generations.

AmNews: What do you think were the factors that caused that freedom?

Morrison: I think because of the political struggles of the late ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, that Black folks in general started to look at society and think we can express ourselves in a different way. We don’t

think that these artists don’t get stamped out like, say, the Panthers did because there was a business and voyeurism from white rap fans that put [today’s artists] in a different place. It’s different when you’re Black and outraged but also a pop star.

AmNews: What are some of the shining moments that you consider to be a celebration, or a landmark accomplishment, of the genre?

Morrison: For me, one of the gifts hip hop has given us is DJ and sampling culture, specifically hip hop DJ. The way the hip hop DJ has taken music from the past and re-introduced and reformed it for contemporary audiences; the way sampling culture has pushed music and technology— it’s been a beautiful thing to see.

Now young people have a clear, tangible link to the past.

I was DJing at a party last month and there was a little group of Black girls; the oldest one was 8.

And they were singing “Get Down on It.” I’m like, Why do y’all know that song? Because a young artist sampled it, and it’s all over TikTok. Sampling and hip hop have allowed Black folks in particular— really the world—to have this tangible link to the music of our have to adhere to this respecta- parents, our grandparents. And bility idea, or things like that. It it’s a beautiful thing. That, to me, all happened on a continuum— is the most significant contribuBlack folks had been engaged in tion [of] hip hop. a Black freedom struggle since we got here and before. The Black AmNews: What do you see, enviliberation struggle in the ’60s and sion, hope for the future of hip hop? ’70s cleared a pathway for what Morrison: I saw Drew Dixon would happen later. tweet something about how women, in particular, had to fight AmNews: How do you think art- extra hard for credit and decenists like NWA survived, regarding cy within the rap music indussaying “F**k the Police”? try [and] hip hop culture, and she Morrison: I think that rap music said my hope is that in the next 50 exists in a strange and contradic- years, it’ll be easier for women. I tory space, particularly gangster would extend that to people who rap. Gangster rap is a legitimate are not cis, not heterosexual. My expression of Black folks’ out- hope is that all of this beauty that rage—it’s inherently anti-author- hip hop culture creates can be exitarian, but it also exists in this tended to other people, in a more dynamic of white voyeurism and meaningful way. I’ve seen how the record industry. Ice T (with women and queer people have Body Count) had a song called been made to feel excluded in this “Cop Killer” and then went on to thing, and it’s a f—in’ beautiful culplay a cop on TV on “Law & Order” ture, but we could do a lot more to for 20-something years. open it up. That’s really my hope: The expression is genuine, and be kinder to the people it hasn’t the sentiment is genuine. But I always been kind to in the past.

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HOROSCOPES BY KNOWYOURNUMB3RS

By SUPREME GODDESS KYA WWW.KYAFRENCH.COM | CONSULTATIONS 866-331-5088 AUGUST 24, 2023—AUGUST 30, 2023

Rebirth of A New Nation: Uranus is honored to join the current retrograde season to add more emphasis and texture with a splash of color vision to your eyesight in an old-fashioned way. Jupiter will play its role in joining the retrograde on September 4, 2023, a time to reflect, reorganize, and reinvent yourself in areas of personal, business, financial, spiritual, and personal appearance. Uranus will trigger your memory and emotions. A lot of what you didn’t see is revealed to better gain knowledge of self, both within your environment and on a global level. “While we revel in the passion of the ‘moment’ braving the whirlpool of time, a flow of vibrations may surprise us and reveal unsuspected power in our inner self, giving us muscle and confidence.” — Erik Pevernagie

Get ready for September to be an eye-opener full of amazing progress, ex- 5 around 4:07 p.m. until September 8 around midnight, when you do your best you feel great. periences, lessons, abundance, and grace. You’ve got to keep your eyes peeled A whirlwind of emotions is building up in the process of purging, meanCapricorn and ears open for the things the divine has put in place and in sight for you.

A graceful revelation of things unknown will express itself to you. Continue to ing it’s time to reinvent yourself to rise to the occasion. This week feels like Dec 22 Jan 21 follow your spirit and allow your heart to guide you, and remember: you give a one-stop shop; once you let go, new opportunities are showing up. It’s a Cancer your brain the command to make it a reality. From September 3 around 11 cycle to rediscover your talents and utilize them differently to gain resourcJune 22 a.m. until September 5 around 4 p.m., you are not in the driver’s seat, so just watch how things es and be a resource to others. Be mindful of sharp instruments, such as July 23 unfold in slow flow motion. Take a backseat and watch the movie play out. knives, as you may be a bit clumsy this week and an accident of any kind can happen. From August 30 around 9:56 a.m. until September 1 around 9 a.m., with all that talent, what’s your story behind the scenes?

It’s time to tidy up in September; nothing personal, it’s all business, even your existence. No time for what-ifs; it’s all about utilizing your imaginaSeptember is “WOW, Woah, I’m so grateful, I’m so thankful.” When you tion and seeing yourself having it, and then the reality will occur. Not push purpose on a mission to see your vision, the help, resources, and Aquarius everything you hear is true. Go to the main source to get the correct inforpeople will show up. Sometimes in life, it’s about catching up, which means Jan 22 Feb 19 mation. When something isn’t feeling right, ask yourself what, who, where, stop idling and get to work toward your passion and drive. Once you are Leo July 24 when, and where to recall data for the answer you need. From September driven to make a vision come true through all the obstacles, trials, errors, Aug 23 5 around 4:07 p.m. until September 8 around midnight, your establishment, along with and great times, remembering the experience is the step to success. It’s in your reputation, are key focuses to continue to elevate. It’s not always green on the other the process. From August 30 around 9:56 a.m. until September 1 around 9 side of the world, it might just be orange, red, and gold. a.m., the soul is aligning you with a date with destiny. Unfolding all the details, you’ll find this is not a dream, it’s real.

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It’s time to make big boss moves to complete a vision you’ve been workGet in position for September to set off the remaining three months of ing on. Do not drag your feet; feel your creative spark to see your project the year for the growth and expansion of your business and plans/projects. through. When you decide to do something, your brain and the universe Build up your confidence, process, systems, strategies, team, and curricuPisces are working on catering to your needs when you apply the footwork. What lum for the next upcoming project debut. It’s been a minute since you’ve Feb 20 Virgo Mar 20 Aug 24 is the fuel that drives you to your passion to manifest your dream? This been on the scene with new stuff. The planet Mercury is in retrograde in Sept 23 week, be a bit selfish of your time and space, but not egotistically, and your sign, passing you the ball to get your feet in the game. From Septemlisten with an open heart. From August 30 around 9:56 a.m. until September 1 around 9 ber 3 around 11 a.m. until September 5 around 4 p.m., take notes, follow a.m., when you observe, you receive more, so stay in the flow like water. up on homework assignments, and outline personal and business expenses. Apply for resources within your community for what you need to make progress.

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When you are driving, there are constantly signs and symbols around you.

September is coming strong, similar to when Libra season kicks in: the Like the red, yellow, and green lights, each has a meaning. What other signs air rubs against your neck differently than in the summertime. This month, do you see, feel, hear, and sometimes touch that are sending you messages? get into a structured routine that you will commit to for a length of time. Do Aries Mar 21 What you seek, you will find. When the messages, signs, and symbols appear, not allow anyone to distract you from your course. When it seems that all Libra Apr 21 Sept 24 do not misinterpret them; it is what it is. It’s up to you to do your part, which odds are against you and the work is getting tougher, do not break or fold; Oct 23 is to follow your gut and not overreact. From September 1 around 9:25 a.m. just continue the mission. From September 5 around 4:07 p.m. until Sepuntil September 3 around 10:30 a.m., operate in a different approach to receive a different tember 8 around midnight, work through the process to pass the test from outcome. Invest in yourself and do what feels right in your heart to do. the universe that puts you on the spot.

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Can you say, “Do you remember?” September is a flashback moment Enough is enough. If you are not following your heart mission, then change of things revealed. Wait for it. How far do the rabbit and beavers’ burthe direction of your course. That sounds like a Jupiter retrograde after being rows go? Well, there is always light at the top and at the end of the in direct motion to see if you stay on the mission.

You do not need permission burrow, if you dig to get out. What you see is what you get. The quesScorpio Taurus from anyone but yourself to follow your dreams and the gift that the divine intion is, what is your response, and what angle of approach are you Oct 24 Apr 22 Nov 22 May 21 stalls in you. Beyoncé sings a song called “Listen” — it’s time to listen to yourcoming from? This weekly adventure is spiritual and divine on purself and not the people who claim they know what is best for you. That ah-ha pose for you to see your potential and what you possess inside rather moment is fast approaching, and you are about to make bull moves no one saw coming. than outside. From August 30 around 9:56 a.m. until September 1 around 9 a.m., withFrom September 3 around 11 a.m. until September 5 around 4 p.m., once a bull’s mind is out the details, you are missing both the point and the other side of the story. made up, it’s on a mission, so folks need to step aside and get out of the way.

This is a soul contract mission to put you in a position to network and create a new program of your choice. It’s all about the choices What’s on your mind while your ruling planet Mercury is in retrograde? we make in our lives that will lead us on different paths. With experiHaving conversations and doing things differently than normal — for examSagitarius ence, you make better decisions and position yourself differently. This Nov 23 ple, checking to see if you did the work and are not just talking. It’s time to show week, it is meeting with the bosses and those in higher positions. What Gemini Dec 21 and prove when Mercury stations direct motion.

What do you have to lose?

Give boss moves are you making? What pieces are you moving on the chess May 22 June 21 it your best and forget the rest. Address any concerns or matters of the heart to board, and what game pieces are you playing as yourself in Monopoprogress forward in your life. Contradiction can play a role only if you doubt ly, or are you the game? From August 30 around 9:56 a.m. until September 1 around your potential. Say and do what’s in your heart, and the results will follow suit. From September 9 a.m., when you decide, miracles happen.

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Fall ’23: A very Brooklyn fashion show Designer Adeleke Sijuwade shows his gown backstage for Brooklyn Made Store (Renee Minus White/A Time to Style photo)

Designs by Adeleke Sijuwade at recent Te Brooklyn Made Store’s fashion show in Industry CIty, BK (Brooklyn Made photos)

By RENEE MINUS WHITE Fashion & Beauty Editor A first-of-its-kind fashion show event was held last week at Brooklyn’s Industry City, featuring top Brooklyn designers whose clothes are sold at the Brooklyn Made Store (l51 31st Street, Brooklyn, NY).

While it rained heavily off and on at times, there was a tremendous turnout. The looks were funky, functional, and fashionably fly.

Presented in collaboration with the Brooklyn Made Store, Rick Davy of BK Style Foundation and Fashion Week Brooklyn, and Catherine Schuller of Brooklyn Style, the show was divided into three segments.

The looks were inclusive of various ages, genders, and sizes.

The AmNews caught up with Nigerian designer Adeleke Sijuwade, who was featured in the show. “When designing, I think of the characters I used to watch on TV and in movies as a child. My clothes are cut generously so that the woman’s body shapes the clothes,” said Sijuwade. “I also like vintage

clothes, and I refurbish these pieces into new looks. For design ideas, I usually go to Harlem.

Yves Saint Laurent used to visit Harlem for ideas, too,” he said with a smile.

Sijuwade also favors vintage looks, which helps with a sustainability factor. “‘Where are you going?’ is one question designers must ask themselves today. COVID has changed all of our lives and there’s less of a need to purchase new clothes to work at home or for social events. Most folks have clothes in

their closets they hardly wear and have never worn, so comfortable clothes are key. The environment must also be considered. Many designers are recycling materials, and they use technology to create new items.”

In the show, clothes were well-constructed in traditional shapes. For women, traditional skirts were tapered, often with back splits, and featured fringe at the bottom, leather patches, or print pockets in color-coordinated patterns. For day or evening, long dress-

es popped in dual-fabric styles and eccentric cuts with a mix of patterns including leather, plaids, prints, and beaded short cape-let sleeves. For men, classic sports coats or waistlength jackets and pants suited up in prints and patterns. Denim is also back in the mix.

Tip: Today’s fashions are not dictated. Hemlines vary, as well as sizes, according to a person’s shape and preference of style. What’s “in” is what looks good on you. Accessories, like hats, head-wraps, jewelry, belts, bags, and footwear, are all essential to pull off your look.

Other featured designers included Hollander & Lexer, Tailored Industry, Sixty by Vernice, Melissa Lockwood, Virginia Catney Collections, Nixx Pain, FREE, and Monique Glover.

The Brooklyn Made Store represents the diversity of Brooklyn. “Brooklyn Made” reflects the intricacies of the borough, and the different populations and cultures that have found their way to Brooklyn for more than 300 years. Their mission is to promote designers, makers, and entrepreneurs, mostly from communities of color, and their unique products.

The Brooklyn Made Store’s hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday–Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday.

For more info, visit www.brooklynmadestore.com and follow them on InstaGram at @bklynmadestore.

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Children of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee talk about ‘Purlie,’ growing up

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews Ossie Davis’s masterpiece, “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch,” is returning to Broadway after 62 years! The show will begin previews at the Music Box Theatre (239 W. 45 Street) on September 7, open on September 27, and star Leslie Odom Jr. in the title role as Purlie Victorious Judson and Kara Young in the role of Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins, roles originally performed by Davis and his wife Ruby Dee. (A 1970 musical version, “Purlie on Broadway,” featured Melba Moore and Cleavon Little, among others; Patti Jo and Robert Guillaume were in a 1972 revival of the musical.)

Additional cast members will include Vanessa Bell Calloway, Billy Eugene Jones, Heather Alicia Simms, Jay O. Sanders, Noah Robbins, Noah Pyzik, and Bill Timoney, with direction by Kenny Leon.

While this play is full of humor and wit, it also makes strong statements about Black people fighting for what is theirs and not letting racism get in their way. To present this play, producers had to get permission from the Dee Davis family, which was granted by their three adult children: Nora Davis Day, Hasna Muhammad, and Guy Davis. I was recently honored to interview these individuals and have them share what it was like to grow up with parents who were playwrights, actors, and activists. Theirs was an incredible household.

There is something quite heartwarming about having a family where the parents are still parents and can be hard on their children, but do it with love. They raise their children to appreciate the blessings they have and realize that they should try to be a blessing to their people in any way they can.

Dee and Davis were blessings to their people through creating and equipping Black actors with a vehicle to work in on Broadway, which is what “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp In The Cotton Patch” was in the 1960s when there were no roles for Black people, especially on Broadway.

Dee and Davis meant so much in so many ways; whether you’re a theater lover or an activist, they represented all the positive things that we as a people can be for each other.

Only knowing from the outside what Ruby Dee was like from several previous interviews with her and public moments of speaking with Ossie Davis, I wanted to get to know what they were like on the inside, and who better to share that than their adult children.

They talked about what “Purlie Victorious” meant to their family and reflected on Davis’a creative process, and what this play meant back then and means today. They spoke fondly of “Purlie Victorious…,” a play that took their dad five years to write, usually going to their basement to work.

Nora Davis Day, Guy Davis, and Hasna Muhammad at press event for “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch,” coming to Music Box Theatre September 7 (Marcus Middleton photo)

When asked how they felt about the play being revived on Broadway after 62 years, each of them was happy to share their feelings. Davis proclaimed, “It makes me feel very proud and closer to my sisters in a symbolic way. It brings me back to a time when we were all quite little, living together in our home, which is where my parents did most of their work.”

Day recalled, “I remember being a little girl and knowing when it got late at night, Dad would be downstairs with a legal pad—that’s how he wrote, and he wrote in pencil and he would tape his pinky finger because when he was writing, if he wasn’t careful, he would get a callus or a blister on his pinky. When we had the opportunity to bring the play back, there was no question that we would respond to Jeffrey and others for this opportunity to get Dad’s poetic play back on Broadway.”

Muhammad said, “I was turning 5 at the time when the play was first launched on Broadway, so my memory of that time is quite different from Nora and Guy’s. One of the things it makes me feel now is certainly proud, but also another connection to my dad. My dad and I were writing buddies and we talked about writing a lot and being a playwright. This gives me that opportunity to have

that conversation with him again, in being in contact with those characters, with what he himself wrote about the characters and the play. It makes me feel proud and it makes me feel closer to my dad, and it brings him back as my writing buddy, because I lost my writing buddy. It brings it all back.”

Dee and Davis starred in the original production, which played at the Cort Theatre, now the James Earl Jones Theatre. When asked what it meant to them that their father created this work and then used it as a vehicle to showcase his talent and that of his wife, each of them had an interesting response.

Davos credited family together as the main reason his father wrote himself and Dee into the production. “I think it was a way for the family to stick together in their professional capacity. You see, Mom and Dad valued the family more than they did just running off on some quick junket. Of course, they had to go on the road to make money, but it was an opportunity for them to work together and to grow together. It was something that was ahead of its time in terms of women getting important roles. But I think that Dad’s motive was more love than politics.”

Muhammad credited the need for Blacks

to have more opportunities: “Mom and Dad always talked with us about the significance of having African American writers, producers, and directors and people behind the scenes, people owning the studios. And the fact that they were in a play where they were working actors was always something to be celebrated and they were glad for it and we felt happy for them, but they never lost sight that there were so many other Black actors who weren’t working. Some of them weren’t working just because they were Black and because there were no roles for Black folk.

“I think that the fact that Dad was able to write something that both he and Mom were able to perform in, but not only perform in, but perform on Broadway—this was incredible. He always told us there was a need for Black stories and roles that were meaty for Blacks. Black actors who work on Broadway and bring attention to the genre are lucky, and they never took that for granted, so they were putting their mouths where their money was when they did this play; they wrote, they performed in it, and they were telling an African story that would put Black actors to work, and that’s what they were all about.”

Day shared a surprising fact about her father: “Dad didn’t think of himself as an actor—he did it by necessity; he was a writer.

Mom was 100% an actor. At the center of their relationship and the center of our family was the struggle for civil rights and human rights, and certainly our people and the love of our people and the need to bring our stories forward, be it from the cotton patch or wherever.”

Reflecting on the legacy of “Purlie Victorious,” Muhammad said, “An African American playwright has had a play on Broadway and a play that is considered a classic. The number of African American playwrights we’ve had on Broadway [is] only enough to count, and he is one of those African American playwrights who had the good fortune to have a play launched on Broadway. For the character of Purlie Victorious, the legacy speaks about manhood, about finding oneself acceptable and beautiful without needing the white gaze, and being able to use wit and the Constitution to fight segregation, to use humor to fight segregation. It’s another tool in our toolbox for the liberation of our people.

“There’s all types of art that bring different perspectives on what resistance looks and feels like …Dad…adds to those tools the value of laughter and humor and our ability to resist. And he also leaves a legacy of…the piece helped other actors launch their career like Godfrey Cambridge. It also launched the musical that launched the careers of Melba Moore and Cleavon Little. The most important thing to remember is that ‘Purlie Victorious,’ through his semantics, his story, claims his manhood and protects his properSee PURLIE continued on next page

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Cast of “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch” (Marcus Middleton photo) Continued from previous page

ty in terms of the church and uses the voices of strong women in decision-making, and I think that would be an important thing for him to leave behind for us.”

David added, “Another little piece of legacy is that Dad, in this play, mentioned the importance of voting and the fact that he brought up the Constitution, which is the crux of much news today and 2016 in particular. The whole strategy of the Civil Rights Movement had to do with making America recognize that the Constitution is for all Americans. With the Black Power movement, things changed, things evolved. I think that play was part of the legacy of important change and growth.”

Day connected her parents’ legacy to the benediction speech from the play. “I think Dad and Mom’s legacy is incredible in so many ways. We are all so grateful for that, but they have left us work to do. I just feel like that benediction, until the day I die, will always be the legacy he left us. The words in that thing— the first time I heard them was when I was 11.

I was mesmerized with the rhyme. Just the brilliance, the genius of the use of the language, in that piece in the benediction, he says so much that’s not just a legacy for us— it’s a legacy for Black people in particular: Be loyal to yourself, your skin, your hair. He talks about the Constitution and the things we are entitled to. It was like a kiss and a hug to those downtrodden and oppressed, trying and struggling every day. It was a piece of writing that just says it all. And now that we have matured and evolved as people in some ways, it

applies to more than Black people. His goodbye as ‘Purlie Victorious’ sticks with me as his goodbye as Dad. It stays with me. It’s a work of genius and a work of love.”

To avoid any confusion, Muhammad pointed out, “One of things we find ourselves having to do is make people realize they are going to experience the original character of Purlie Victorious in this straight play. This play is the original, the classic, the roots; it is not the musical ‘Purlie.’ ‘Gone Are The Days’ was a film spin-off.

For us to come back to the original story and characters is something needed now.”

Day, Muhammad, and Davis explained aspects of their past that I’m sure are not widely known. “Dad had an encyclopedic memory and I truly think that was his genius,” Day said. “He didn’t have books—he couldn’t afford them, so he would visit the Library of Congress and he would recite things; these poems and so many things. He would pull everything in and help us gain perspective on who and why, and who and when, and that things we thought were new were not new. He was such a storyteller and ‘Purlie Victorious’ was part of that story.

“We were a family, so we had all the issues that families have. It's not like we were on a precious cloud somewhere. They were quite down to earth, quite serious. Mom did not play—we knew how to clean behind the toilet. There was no such thing as chauffeurdriven anything—my daddy told me one time, ‘Your chauffeur is leather and tied up at the bottom of your ankles.’ They were wonderful; they didn’t want to be idealized. They wanted their love, light, and activism [to be]

accessible, honest even in strife and struggle and human relationships.”

Day, Muhammad, and Davis have fond memories of their parents’ friends visiting, including Maya Angelu, Paul Robeson, and so many others. They recalled how so many famous people came to visit their parents before they were famous, to have something to eat, or maybe to get help with paying the rent, and how the house was full of performers and creativity.

“I remember when people would come over and we didn’t have furniture and people would sit on boxes. The piano was in the basement; they’d be singing down there. Piano was in the living room; there’d be singing there, doing lines, studying scripts, comparing notes. They’d bring their kids over—the Poitiers could come, W.E.B. Dubois, and Dad would explain who they were.”

Reflecting on their civil rights activities, Muhammad remembered finding a man sleeping in her sister’s bed before she went to school, then seeing a Black man in her brother’s bed, then coming downstairs and seeing a large group of Black men sleeping on the floor. She found out later this was Huey P. Newton and members of the Black Panthers party to whom her parents were giving safe haven. They recalled growing up with the FBI taping their phones, a part of their lives that was not easy. They also fondly remember going to protests with their parents as children and they have the pictures to prove it.

“It was ordinary and extraordinary,” said Day. “We were exposed to the art world, the dance and performance world, as children, so the

love of those things was a part of our upbringing. There were times that we got to dress up, there were limousines and special parties. I had to shine Mommy’s shoes and the windows. We had our chores. We didn’t have a TV until there were enough Black people to watch. We would watch when their friends were on TV, but we could only watch TV on the weekend—we couldn’t watch during the school week.”

They each are carrying on their parents’ work and instilling the spirit of their parents in the seven children they have between them.

Davis is an artist. “Music is my religion, but blues is the door of the church I go into,” he said. “I sing songs that have a consciousness, songs that are beautiful, songs that are painful, songs that are sexy. I consider myself a writer and a creative artist.”

Muhammad is an educator, consultant, and photographer, and Day teaches English as a second language. Explaining her role in the family, Day said, “I’m the matriarch of the Dee-Davis family, which I take great pride in.

Love is the center of this family. We are here for each other. Part of my love and my life is to keep that eternal flame lit to keep us together—keep the strand that keeps us together so that our children can continue with it.”

“Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch” will have quite a producing team: It will be led by Jeffrey Richards, Hunter Arnold, Irene Gandy, Willette and Manny Klausner, Kayla Greenspan, and Leslie Odom, Jr., who will be making his Broadway producing debut; the National Black Theatre is co-producing. For more info, visit www.purlievictorious.com/.

24 August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

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InGardens, White Plains Fest, ‘The Conductor’ While summer comes to a misty close as pleasurable shouts of children splashing at the beach turn to schoolbooks and birds instinctively journey south, don’t fret: Outdoor summer jazz festivals will linger longer than that pesky unwritten fashion formality of not wearing white shoes after Labor Day. The InGardens’ annual free outdoor concert series every weekend spreads its wings from September 4–October 9, at two locations on the Lower Eastside: Children’s Magical Garden (129 Stanton Street, near Essex Street) on September 4, 9, 10, 23, and 24, and First Street Green Culture Park (33 East 1st Street) on September 16, 17 & October 1, 7, 8, and 9.

On September 4, the InGardens series kicks off with three noteworthy trios pushing the edges of jazz into avant garde flexibility: the Warren Smith Trio with bassist Hilliard Greene, pianist Rod Williams, and drummer/leader Smith, who was a founding member of Max Roach’s percussion ensemble M’Boom. During the 1970s and ’80s, Smith had a loft called Studio Wis that functioned as a popular performing and recording space for many young New York jazz musicians. His percussive, abundant colors of sound rendered him as a first-call drummer for such musicians as Muhal Richard Abrams, Quincy Jones, Henry Threadgill, and Carmen McRae. The afternoon will also include TA Thompson’s Sonic Matters with bassist Ken Filiano and bassoonist Sara Schoenbeck. This instrumentation is another side of jazz vocabulary with the inclusion of the bassoon, but drummer/composer Michael T.A. Thompson is no stranger to being on the opposite side of regular, having performed with Charles Gayle, Matthew Shipp, Fay Victor, Oliver Lake, and William Parker.

For a complete schedule of one of New York City’s most inventive free jazz festivals, visit artsforart.org/ingardens-2023.html.

pending photo

Cecile McLorin Salvant (Jonathan Chimene photo)

er Doug Munro and his spirited octet, the La Pompe Attack; and Lynette Washington, born and raised in Brooklyn. She will present an evening of song, crossing genres between jazz to r&b and gospel (Columbia House Restaurant, 175 Main Street).

Ongoing performances will include NEA Jazz Master drummer Louis Hayes Quartet (featuring keyboardist David Hazeltine, bassist Dezron Douglas, saxophonist Abraham Burton); the guitarist John Scofield and saxophonist Joe Lovano Quartet; exhilarating vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant & Sullivan Fortner, one of this generation’s most important pianists; saxophonist Mike PhilFor some crazy territorial inclination, Man- lips, known on the contemporary smooth hattanites have never felt Westchester, par- jazz scene; the exciting bassist Richie Goods ticularly White Plains, was ever an enclave & Chien Chien Lu, a vibraphonist, whose pasof jazz hipness. But be informed as JazzFest sion for classical music and r&b brings a fresh White Plains returns for its 12th year, with as- sound to the forefront; and Endea Owens and piring and established jazz musicians per- The Cookout after a recent rousing performeating the air with engrossing sounds from mance at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.

September 6–10, playing at various venues For a complete schedule, admission prices, around White Plains. The five-day festival will and free concerts, visit artswestchester.org/ feature free and affordable events. programs/jazz-fest-2/.

JazzFest opens on September 6 with pianist and composer Helen Sung presenting Ishmael Reed’s stellar reputation is built on PUSH, a solo piano program that celebrates his burning wit, penetrating humor, and satire the music and artistry of landmark women in to reveal the brutal truth of racial hardships jazz. This free event will be held (12–1 p.m.), perpetrated by America’s social structured the Downtown Music at Grace (33 Church doctrines in such plays as “The Haunting of Street). Sung’s multi-layers of colored harmo- Lin-Manuel Miranda,” “The Slave Who Loved nies like the rainbow will captivate listeners. Caviar,” and “Life Among the Aryans.”

The day will also include guitarist, compos“The Conductor,” Reed’s 11th play, re-

turns to Theater for the New City now through September 10. It premiered at the theater last spring to enthusiastic audiences. “The Conductor,” in its satirical backdrop, responds to the 2021–22 events that led to the recall of members of the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education. Well-schooled in the art of “divide and conquer,” the backers of the SF Recall movement used some minority faces to front the Recall. The character’s face as the Recall leader is Shashi Parmar (Sri Chilukuri). But his role is threatened when the downing of a U.S. spy plane over Indian airspace occurs, coupled with other nationalist Indian tensions. This leads to an anti-Indian sentiment on the West Coast. Indian Americans must hide or leave the country. A 21st-century Underground Railroad is established to get Indian Americans to Canada for passage to their homeland. Ironically, the Conductor of this Underground Railroad is a Black journalist named Warren Chipp (Brian Anthony Simmons), Shashi’s rival. Simmons puts on a tour-de-force performance—if he doesn’t make it to Broadway or Hollywood in a big way, this writer will be surprised.

The scenes that take place in the home of the Chipp are quite poignant and combative between the two protagonists, trading a war of words with some ignorant comments from Shashi, who thinks he understands Black life but is confused by propaganda.

His role, along with Simmons eloquently spouting Black and European history, are the cornerstones of this engrossing play.

Reed is brilliant when it comes to importing Black history into the present when it comes to making a point in the now, but as the Conductor Chipp points out, “Black history is American history.” In this return engagement, Reed took time to infuse some important facts into the conversation, which he calls “A Living Newspaper,” from the Supreme Court reversing the ruling on Roe v.

Wade to Moms for Liberty, the foolish new rising star in the Republican Party Vivek Ramaswamy, as well as the missing Asian American voice at Harvard University during and after the Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action programs.

The entire cast, who bring this reimagined Underground Railroad speeding down the tracks with its twists and turns, are all outstanding: Laura Robards as (Hedda “Buttermilk” Duckbill), Kenya Wilson (Melody), Monisha Shiva (Kala Parmar), Emil Guillermo (Gabriel Noitallde, Lester Bright, Ed Blum).

The play was directed by Carla Blank, with music composed by Ishmael Reed.

Humor, factual research, and satire are the combustive elements that make “The Conductor” this year’s masterpiece!

Now playing at the Theater for the New City (155 First Avenue, Manhattan’s Lower Eastside). For ticket information, call 212254-1109 or visit theaterforthenewcity.net.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Israel Continued from page 3

effort to safely reduce hate crimes and unite communities of differing backgrounds. Adams originally began the program boroughwide in 2020 while in office as Brooklyn borough president.

“We’ve noticed the course of many of these gatherings is that these people that are sitting with folks they’ve never sat with before,” said Naveed. “They’re engaging with neighbors that they live with on the streets for quite a while, but they haven’t had the opportunity to be able to really say anything more than hi and hello. And so to be able to have a conversation with someone who lives on the same street as you after many years, and being able to build a relationship, understand where they’re coming from, also learn from each other, itself really seeks to end up strengthening our community’s needs collectively.”

While Adams seemingly has solidified his relationships with the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in the states and overseas, Palestinian New Yorkers were less than pleased about his trip.

“I listened. I didn’t weigh in. As I stated, I think the people of Israel will determine their destiny,” said Adams.

Adams purposely avoided making

East New York Continued from page 3

The organization holds many events year-round that encompass a range of community development, from helping homeowners obtain solar panels to helping local residents obtain employment in Gateway Center stores, community mobilizing with resident associations, and supporting small businesses. Keep ENY Clean & Green Campaign involves community clean-ups, building micro solar

Jacksonville Continued from page 4

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Carr family, said at a news conference later Monday that Carr had just dropped off a customer and was waiting for the person to get back in the car.

Carr joined St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jacksonville when she was 3 and still attended services there.

The pastor said the church community has rallied behind her family.

“She was just a loving, caring mother,” the Rev. David Green said.

Gallion, 29, was shot while entering the store’s front door with his girlfriend, who

any declarative statement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the reported move away from reforms to a far-right government or about the centuries-long bloody feud between the Israeli government and Palestinian groups. He said that he refrained from offering any of his own opinions during the visit.

“I would like to point out it’s essential to clarify that these discussions do not translate into any kind of definitive stance on the complex geopolitical issues surrounding Israel or the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said Communications Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy in a media briefing, “And this administration believes in promoting dialogue, understanding cooperation on mutual areas of interest, while also acknowledging the complexities and sensitivities inherent to global affairs.”

However, Levy said in a social media post that Adams did meet with Palestinians, Ethiopian Jews, organizers in the protest movement, and other diverse voices.

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.

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 25

Metro Briefs

New Jersey

Continued from page 3

Continued from page 4

Noel Pointer Foundation open house Sept. 7 The Noel Pointer Foundation (NPF) will hold an open house on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for families to learn about its music classes for kids. Attendance at the open house can be virtual via Zoom or in person at the foundation (247 Herkimer Street, Brooklyn, NY). Online registration is available at https://www.noelpointer.org/ about-us.

East NY’s 2nd annual Black Inventors Youth Parade Councilmember Charles Barron and Superintendent Tamra Collins will host East New York’s 2nd annual Black Inventors Youth Parade on Saturday, Sept. 16.

To join in as participants march in unity to celebrate Black intelligence and take part in this showcase for the community’s youth, assemble at 3 p.m. sharp at Linden (Sonny Carson) Park Linden Boulevard & Vermont Street in Brooklyn.

For more information, contact parade coordinator Keron Alleyne at 917-565-3052.

––Compiled by Karen Juanita Carrillo

grids in 10 community gardens, and training community residents in renewable energy.

“East New York Restoration is one of our gleaming shining stars in the neighborhood,” said Brooklyn City Councilmember Charles Barron. “They help so many people in a variety of ways, from real affordable housing to supporting small businesses, to hosting community rallies, to defending and promoting my beloved neighborhood.”

With just over a month to go before the 5K race, the nonprofit is now encouraging everyday people to “Come to walk,

run, and enjoy music, fitness demonstrations, gametruck, face painting, and information tables. All registrants get a T-shirt and race bib.” And as if any more enticing factors were necessary, Pean added, “If you complete the race, you get a medal.”

The ENYRLDC’s 5K is on Saturday, October 7, 2023, with check-in at 8 a.m. and the race starting at 9:20 a.m., at Spring Creek Park, across the street from BJ’s in the Gateway Mall.

To register and/or make a donation to support ENYRLDC’s community fitness initiatives, go to bit.ly/2023ENY5K.

escaped.

“My brother shouldn’t have lost his life,” his sister, Latiffany Gallion, said. “A simple day of going to the store, and he’s taken away from us forever.”

Relatives recalled Gallion’s sense of humor and work ethic. He worked two to three jobs, including as a restaurant manager, to provide for his daughter, Je Asia Gallion.

Je Asia’s fifth birthday is approaching, and the family had planned a big party, said Sabrina Rozier, the child’s maternal grandmother. Gallion was looking forward to a father-daughter dance in February.

“He was so excited about it, talking about the colors they would wear,” Rozier said as Je Asia played with the microphones during Monday’s news conference. “Now

she’s asking, ‘Who shot my daddy?’”

Although Gallion’s relationship with the child’s mother didn’t last, they worked together to raise Je Asia. That earned him lasting affection from Rozier.

“He never missed a beat,” Rozier said. “He got her every weekend. As a matter of fact, he was supposed to have her (Saturday).”

Gallion never made it to pick up his daughter. Now the pastor of the church he attended is preparing to bury him.

“In two weeks, I have to preach a funeral of a man who should still be alive,” the Rev. John Guns of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church said during the vigil. “He was not a gangster, he was not a thug — he was a father who gave his life to Jesus and was trying to get it together.”

Proposals are due by September 15, 2023.

The call for artists is at https://downtownsomerville.org/call-to-artists-remembering-robeson-sculpture-project/.

For more information, contact Downtown Somerville Alliance, 50 Division Street, Suite 501, Somerville, NJ 08876; phone: 908-5240104; email npineiro@somervillenj.org.

East Orange hosting back-to-school immunization clinic, giveaways East Orange Mayor Ted R. Green, the East Orange City Council, and the Department of Public Safety, in partnership with the East Orange Bronze Shields, will host a Back-toSchool Giveaway and Community Resource Fair on Friday, Sept. 1, at East Orange City Hall Plaza between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Free bookbags, school supplies, and haircuts will be given on a first-come, firstserved basis. Food, music, bouncy houses, a gaming truck, and youth activities will also be on site. For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services at 973-266-5151 or constituentservices@eastorange-nj.gov.

The city is also hosting a back-to-school immunization clinic for East Orange students in pre-K–12th grade every Friday between 9 a.m. and 12 noon at the Enrollment Center (135 Glenwood Avenue in East Orange).

All school-required immunizations will be administered free of charge to children who have Medicaid Part A or are uninsured. All children must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian. You must bring: - Birth certificate - Prior immunization records - Insurance card (if applicable) For more information, call 973-255-5480.

Montclair Jazz Festival For the third year, the Montclair Jazz Festival will take to the streets of downtown Montclair on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 1–9 p.m., to support the main business district. Get ready for five downtown stages and 150 food and artisan vendors at Lackawanna Plaza and on a half-mile stretch of Bloomfield Ave. and expanded Family Jazz Discovery Zone! The artisan and craft food vendors are co-curated by Marketspace Vendor Events.

The Montclair Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival in the NYC region. Beach and lawn chairs are welcome, but pop-up tents and beach umbrellas are prohibited.

For more information, go to https:// www.montclairjazzfestival.org/eventdetails/2023-downtown-jamboree, call 973744-2273 or email info@jazzhousekids.org.

––Compiled by Karen Juanita Carrillo

26 August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

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Dr. Marie Maynard Daly, the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews Nothing thrills a writer more than a letter from a reader, especially when the reader offers suggestions about another unsung person to be celebrated. Such a notice came recently from Dr. Sibrina Collins, an inorganic chemist and a STEM administrator, who thought Dr. Marie Maynard Daly deserved a profile. As with so many of the people I discovered or brought to my attention, Dr. Daly was new to me, and as Dr. Collins states in her email, she is more than worthy of a column.

Along with her email, Dr. Collins forwarded an eight-minute documentary, a very well-done video, featuring Dr. Daly's granddaughter, Carly Reid. "While she was obviously a serious scientist, there was another side to her that was witty and funny. She was incredibly charismatic," Reid said.

Marie Maynard Daly was born on April 16, 1921, in Corona, Queens, New York, and attended Hunter College High School, a laboratory high school for girls conducted by faculty members of Hunter College. Backed by her scienceminded father and encouragement by her teachers, she enrolled at Queens College, which was near her home and allowed her to save money. An outstanding student, she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1942. As one of the top graduates, she was named a Queens College Scholar.

With World War ll underway, there was a need for scientists to support the war effort and this opened opportunities for her to receive scholarships for graduate study at New York University and Columbia University, where she earned her master's and Ph.D. degrees, respectively. These degrees were completed while she was working as a lab assistant and tutor at Queens College. "And she didn't stop here," said Dr. Collins in the brief film.

"She was hired at Howard University and later joined Alfred Mirsky's group at the Rockefeller Institute in the study of cell nuclei."

This began seven-year venture

ACTIVITIES

Dr. Marie Maynard Daly,

FIND OUT MORE A number of scholarly journals where her articles appear include biographical information on her.

DISCUSSION More about her early years and her relationship with her father was sought but not found.

PLACE IN CONTEXT She came of age just as the Harlem Renaissance was blooming and lived to see the dawn of the 21st century.

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY where she examined how proteins are constructed in the body, at a time when the structure and function of DNA was still a mystery. Subsequently, by 1960, in collaboration with Quentin Deming, she became an assistant professor of biochemistry and of medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University. She held this position while she was an investigator for the American Heart Association.

Her scientific endeavors did not preclude her from assuring that more minority students would be enrolled in professional and graduate academic programs, which made her an indispensable force in conceiving and running a program for their inclusion. She was promoted to associate professor in 1971. Four years later, Dr. Daly

was one of 30 minority women to attend a conference studying the challenges facing women of color in STEM fields hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. From this activity came a report "The Double Bind: The Price of Being a Minority Woman in Science."

Among her several roles beyond the laboratory was her membership on the board of governors of the New York Academy of Sciences, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Cancer Society. She was honored as a career scientist by the Health Research Council of the City of New York.

Dr. Daly retired in 1986 from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and in 1988 established a

scholarship for African-American chemistry and physics majors at Queens College in memory of her father. In 1999, she was recognized by the National Technical Association as one of the top 50 women in Science, Engineering, and Technology.

There is no way one article will suffice in capturing her scientific research that touched on such areas as histones, protein synthesis, muscle cells, hypertension, cancer, and cholesterol.

Of her personal life, very little information is available, though we do know her father, Ivan, migrated from the British West Indies, worked as a postal clerk, and married Helen Page. They lived in New York City, probably Queens, where Dr. Daly was born.

She died on Oct. 28, 2003.

Aug. 27, 1963: The eminent scholar and author W.E.B. Du Bois died in Accra, Ghana. He was 95.

Aug. 28, 1963: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech during the historic March on Washington.

Aug. 29, 1920: The immortal jazz musician Charlie "Yardbird" Parker was born in Kansas City, Mo. He died in 1955.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Hochul Continued from page 4

At Battery Park in Manhattan Aug. 25, a coalition of activist groups at the forefront of the crisis gathered to echo Hochul’s demand that the federal government and Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas expand TPS and work authorizations for asylum-seekers. Groups included Make the Road New York, SEIU 1199, 32BJ SEIU, the NYC Employment & Training Coalition, Mixteca, 86 the Barrier, La Colmena, and Part of the Solution.

“The Biden administration has an obligation to redesignate and expedite TPS applications,” said Murad Awawdeh, executive director of New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), in a statement. “Federal policy requires asylum-seekers to wait months, sometimes years, to receive work authorization, forcing too many of them into an underground economy of unreliable jobs that are exploitative if not dangerous. Thousands of asylum-seekers want to work so they can work toward cementing themselves into their new communities.”

The groups advocated for countries that meet the TPS statutory requirements, such as Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Nepal, Sudan, South Sudan, and Cameroon, as well as Guatemala, Mauritania, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Senegal, Haiti, and Nigeria.

Harlemites Continued from page 8

because we recognize that this is the Civil Rights Movement of our generation,” said United Chinese Americans (UCA) President Haipei Shue at the rally.

At the podium, others spoke at length about the current attack and erasure of Black history from public schools, the persistence of gun violence in Black and brown communities, and the need for more unity across all communities. Founder and President of NAN Rev. Al Sharpton, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and King’s surviving family were among Saturday’s incredible speakers.

“We will not let the clock turn back. We will not go back to what we’ve been,” said NAN Chairman Rev. W. Franklyn Richardson. “We’ll go forward.”

Quite a few people said that the original impetus for the march had not yet been realized sixty years later for Black Americans. The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) released an analysis looking at racial disparities across housing, education, employment, wages, and voting rights since 1963.

“Sixty years ago, hundreds of thousands marched on Washington demanding civic and economic equality. Today, millions of Americans remain disenfranchised and denied access to the most basic freedoms taken for granted by others — simply because of their race,” said FPWA CEO and Ex-

“We urge the Biden administration to expand Temporary Protected Status and expedite work authorization, so people can start working without subjecting themselves to the abuses of underground workforce labor,” said Lorena Kourousias, executive director of Mixteca, in a statement. “Granting employment authorization to asylumseekers is pivotal not only to take steps to address the humanitarian crisis but to decrease financial pressure in the city. This is a large group of skilled people ready to contribute to the local economy. It’s not just about giving them the opportunity to work, but taking a significant step to manage overcrowded shelters, prevent abuses, and invest in self-sufficiency.”

Local elected officials also chimed in with a call for more federal aid. “I’m grateful that Gov. Hochul is joining New York City’s calls for federal aid, but we still have a lot of work to do at home in New York,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I’m very disappointed to see the governor’s unwillingness to compel jurisdictions outside NYC to do the right thing by housing asylum-seekers.”

Adams and upward of 30 upstate Republican-led counties have been in heated litigation over sharing the burden of housing individuals since May, declaring “states of emergency” blocking Adams’s plan to send asylum-seekers out of the city to those counties. Hochul, in her address, said that New York City has the only right-to-shelter law, and she would not “force” the rest of the state to help

Gov. Kathy Hochul addresses New Yorkers on asylum-seeker crisis from Red Room at state Capitol in Albany Aug. 24 (Mike Groll/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

house asylum-seekers in other counties.

“The city would provide shelter to anyone who seeks it. This is an agreement that does not apply to the state’s other 57 counties, which is one of the reasons we cannot and will not force other parts of our state to shelter migrants,” said Hochul. “Nor will we ask these migrants to move to other parts of the state against their will.”

Adams said in a statement that he appreciated Hochul’s acknowledgment of the work that the city has done to manage the influx of asylum-seekers and the call for immediate federal action. He reiterated the need for the federal government to allow asylum-seekers to work and emphasized the city’s cost estimates of over $12

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 27 billion over three fiscal years if more financial support is not provided.

However, Adams said he was “disappointed” with Hochul’s decision to minimize the counties’ role in responding to the crisis.

The response speaks to speculation about underlying tensions between the governor and mayor over the crisis that they have not publicly wanted to display as administrations in the past famously have.

“Whatever differences we all may have about how to handle this crisis, we believe what is crystal-clear is that whatever obligations apply under state law to the City of New York apply with equal force to every county across New York state,” said Adams, “Leaving New York City alone to manage this crisis—and abdicating the state’s responsibility to coordinate a statewide response—is unfair to New York City residents who also didn’t ask to be left almost entirely on their own in the middle of a national crisis.”

Adams said that Biden should also declare a state of emergency to open up more resources for the city, and Hochul should stop state counties from issuing exclusionary emergency orders against asylum-seekers.

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.

Smith is now a mentor to college students at North Carolina A&T State University. “I feel like the youth are always forgotten,” said Smith at the rally. “They have the tools and the resources and I want to be able to make their lives impactful the way they make my life impactful as a teacher.”

The march itself on Saturday was kept short because of the stifling heat and hourslong rally.

On Monday, Sharpton as well as Chairman of the Board of the Drum Major Institute Martin Luther King III. and President of the Drum Major Institute Arndrea Waters King met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House to mark the 60th anniversary.

Additionally, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Harlem’s Senator Cordell Cleare unveiled a historical marker to commemoAttendees gather under trees to avoid the heat and sun during rallying speeches. (Ariama rate the building in the city where the march C. Long photo) was organized in honor of the anniversary.

“Sixty years later is significant because it is ecutive Director Jennifer Jones Austin in a out of seventeen for their white peers. saying something. The grandest of ideas do statement. “Deep inequalities persist across Though the statistics are disparaging at not take place in the grandest of places. It nearly all measures of wellbeing.” times, the youthful energy of the move- takes place in the basements, in the hall, and Austin said that Black Americans earn 20% ment is still alive and well. small church environments. That’s how it’s less than their white counterparts, even with “I feel energized. I feel excited. I’m here done,” said Adams. identical college degrees, creating a racial every single year. This is probably like my wealth gap that has long-term detrimental 16th since I was a kid,” said Queens activAriama C. Long is a Report for Ameriimpacts on families. She added that 1-in-3 ist Larry ‘IAMQUEENS’ Malcom Smith Jr, ca corps member and writes about politics Black children live in poverty, compared to 24. “I have dedicated my life and my whole for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to less than 1-in-10 white children. For incar- blood, sweat, and tears to this movement. match our RFA grant helps keep her writing ceration rates, she said that one out of three And it just feels good to take essential rest.” stories like this one; please consider making Black boys born today can expect to be senSmith is from southside Jamaica, Queens. a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by tenced to prison in their lifetime, versus one Once a passionate youth advocate himself, visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

28 • August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Education Educators deep dive into city’s NYC Reads Initiative

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member The New York City (NYC) Reads school initiative is a major undertaking that Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor David Banks promised would be transformational in terms of literacy, reading, and basic algebra instruction. Most teachers seemed to agree, but are a little unsure about the rollout so far.

“The most basic thing we can do at our schools is ensure that all our students learn how to read and have the resources to thrive, but with more than half of our city’s public-school students reading below grade level, now is the time to act—and that is exactly what we are doing today,” said Adams in a statement.

This year, 15 selected ‘phase one’ school districts will begin implementing the new curriculum and the remaining 17 school districts of ‘phase two’ will start next year.

Deputy Chancellor of Teaching and Learning at the Department of Education (DOE) Carolyne Quintana is confident that the NYC Reads program will be a singular city-wide curriculum that’s research-based curricula, supported by intensive coaching and professional learning for educators, and culturally responsive. Quintana said, at a recent town hall with NYC educators, that this spring teachers were offered training and there were make-up trainings held this summer for those that missed out or were new hires. Every teacher should have at least eight coaching sessions in addition to several professional hours of training on NYC Reads programming and materials before and during the school year.

There will be a set reading curriculum for

every grade level, said Quintana.

Early childhood programs will use the ‘Creative Curriculum’ alongside ‘Teaching Strategies GOLD’ and ‘Ages & Stages’––a developmental “screener” that’s tailored to each child’s strengths, interests, and needs.

Elementary English Language Arts (ELA) classes will have a choice between three curricula options: ‘Wit and Wisdom’, ‘Into Reading’, and ‘Expeditionary Learning.’

Kate Gutwillig is an elementary ELA teacher in Manhattan. She has been teaching for over 20 years. Previously, she said, city schools were using a theory-based approach to teaching reading designed by Lucy Calkins, a leading literacy expert at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University. Calkins created this “balanced literacy” curriculum with independent study components decades ago, which city public schools chose to adopt in 2003.

“If you were really lucky and learned to read on your own and didn’t need any extra help and it just came to you, then this curriculum would work for you,” said Gutwillig. “But many, many children are not like that, especially working class in New York City. Their parents are working many jobs.

Maybe there’s trauma. Maybe there’s a learning disability. Maybe you just immigrated here. There’s so many unique populations.”

Gutwillig said that people were too “enamored” with Calkins to realize that the curriculum wasn’t inclusive enough.

“What would happen is that certain children would get stuck and there was no assistance in the curriculum,” said Gutwillig.

The new curriculum options will be more about the “science” of reading and phonics-based, she said, speaking from her experience teaching both styles.

Schools will also increase their focus on

Speaker Adrienne Adams Speaks At A Special Screening of Right To Read (Emil Cohen/ NYC Council Media Unit photo)

Mayor Eric Adams visits United Activities Unlimited after school program at PS 18, 221 Broadway on Staten Island Staten Island on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office photo)

algebra with illustrative math, center students with disabilities and multilingual learners, and aim to incorporate more culturally diverse learning materials under the ‘Hidden Voices’ initiative. Hidden Voices spotlights narratives within the Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders (AAPI), LGBTQIA+, African diaspora, and Black American communities, said Quintana.

“Reading is a social justice and racial equity issue,” said Quintana.

About two-thirds of Black and brown students in NYC schools are not reading at grade level, she said.

According to national trends in a survey conducted by Educators for Excellence (E4E-NY), schools have “significant” staffing shortages across all positions, a constant need for teachers to give up their planning periods to cover classes, report having little say in selecting curriculum, and find curriculum doesn’t meet the academic or social-emotional needs of their students. Teachers of color, in particular, are far less likely to stay in education.

Teachers polled in the town hall by E4E-NY said that they thought the NYC Reads curriculum was critical. However, they also said that the implementation of the program could use more collaboration with teachers, timely data releases, year round coaching, more transparency, and a clearer timeline.

Gutwillig pointed out that the NYC Reads materials she’s seen could also be more culturally responsive and carefully include more figures and narratives of color that reflect students in the city.

April Rose is an elementary ELA teacher in Queens with over 20 years of experience.

Her school pivoted during COVID to adopt a new reading curriculum. The school pi-

loted the program in two classrooms and saw improvements in students. Rose said that the texts were insightful and rich, and cut down on the need for supplemental materials.

“The only thorn, which goes to the fact that no curriculum is perfect and that you have to do what’s in the best interest for students, is that we had to try out the writing part and found that it was a little too disjointed,” said Rose.

Jeta Donovan is a partner at The New Teacher Project (TNTP) and a former educator in New York City. She oversaw the implementation of a new reading and instruction curriculum statewide in Tennessee in 2019. Despite challenges with such a massive undertaking, Donovan said after a few years of staying the course and shifting mindsets, students showed marked improvements. She advised that new course materials are not enough and that teachers would need immense support from DOE. “I think New York City is making a really historic investment in teacher professional learning and coaching as a part of this initiative and I can’t understate how important that will be to the success of this project,” said Donovan. “And I say this as a former DOE teacher myself, I know it’s important that teachers not only feel supported but will see the impact on student learning as a result of that ongoing professional coaching.”

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

Niger

Continued from page 2

clear. When we are sending a message to France, we are sending a message to the western world.”

Cerisier noted, “Imperialist powers like the U.S. and France feel empowered to take our resources because of white supremacist ideological thinking.

They feel like it is their right to take our land and our resources. We cannot stand to maintain and justify their empowerment

to come into our land and continue to extract our resources.

We must deny, must reject, and we must resist every act of imperialism and colonization that the U.S. and Europe have been continuing to perpetuate on African soil and African people. It is times like this [when] Black solidarity is most important.”

In closing, Omowale Clay of the December 12th Movement said, “We must be focused. One enemy at a time. When France falls, all their puppets will fall with them.

Change

Continued from page 12

The Alliance has established state coalitions that have launched tailored resources created in areas of importance to Black communities, such as systems of navigation, peer support, and faith-based community engagement.

Coalitions were established in California, Coalitions were established in California, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas based on Georgia,needs North and Texas basedcare on unmet atCarolina, the state level impacting unmet needs at the state level impacting care for diverse patient communities, including: for patient including: • diverse Prevalence of communities, SMI Prevalence of SMI • Rates of access to care for Black adults • living Rates with of access SMI to care for Black adults

Labor Day Continued from page 10

membership was 40% of all American workers (or four out of every 10 workers). New York State leads the nation with the highest percentage of union workers, nearly 24%. Of that number, nearly 70% are public sector workers, with African Americans making up the largest component of that group.

At Teamsters Local 237, we understand the value of unity, and our commitment to it is both practical and moral. We know, for example, that non-union workers earn an average of 20% less than union members. We know, too, that the 40-hour work week, health benefits, paid vacation and family leave, and $17 an-hour minimum wage are just some of the hard-fought—and won—battles. We also know that workers’ rights and civil rights are unquestionably intertwined. Let’snot forget that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis when he joined striking sanitation workers—men who made $1.65 an-hour and were treated by their bosses like the garbage they collected.

Dr. King believed that “[t]he labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation but enlarged it. By raising the living standard of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production.

Those who attack labor forget these simple truths, but history remembers.”

It seems that many average Americans are starting to agree—again. In fact, the approval rating of labor unions has recently been on the rise. Some have speculated that the COVID crisis helped with this current trend. Too many

When France leaves Africa, all the puppets are gone, too, because they will be kicked out with France.

We want to make sure we stay focused…Keep your ears to the ground. The word is in the street, I see it everywhere! Remember one single slogan. What is it?”

The crowd roared in response, “France out of Africa!

Plans were for a forum on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at Sistas Place (456 Nostrand Avenue). For information, call 718-398-1766 or email to D12M@aol.com; www.D12M.com.

living with SMI considerations that • Social justice • impact Social mental justice health considerations that care, delivery, impact mental health care, delivery, and services and services • Diverse mental health professional • shortage Diverse areas mental health professional shortage areas The examples of transformational leaderThethat examples of transformational leadership the American Psychological Associship that theand American Psychological Association (APA) Janssen Neuroscience have ation (APA) Janssenreminders Neuroscience have displayed areand wonderful that orgadisplayed are wonderful that organizations/institutions arereminders made up of people, nizations/institutions are made upcan of people, and just like people/institutions create just like people/institutions can create and maintain a status quo of racism, discrimand maintain a status quo of racism, discrimination, and culturally insensitive responses ination, culturally responses to BIPOCand persons and insensitive communities, the reto BIPOC persons and communities, thecan reverse is also true that people/institutions

verse also true people/institutions can be theischange wethat want to see. beIfthe want toneedle see. wechange are to we move the for diversiwe areand to inclusion move theinneedle for clinical diversity,Ifequity, research, ty, equity, and inclusion in research, clinical trials, treatment, and access to resources in trials, treatment, andwe access resources in mental health care, musttotake seriously mental health care, we must take seriously the the mantra that those we hope to provide mantra that those weactive hopeparticipant to provide servicservices must be an in dees must bemodels an active in developing veloping forparticipant mental wellness based models for mental wellness based on culturon culturally informed, culturally sensitive, ally-informed, culturally-sensitive, andcliniculand culturally responsive researchers, turally-responsive cians, and serviceresearchers, providers. clinicians, and service Thus,providers. it is our recommendation that more Thus, it is our recommendation that more multi-dimensional and cross-functional multi-dimensional and cross-functional community, corporate, and nonprofitcomcolmunity, corporate, and non-profit collaboralaborations are developed.

Only then can we tions are developed.

Only then wequo move move assertively away from thecan status of

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 29 (Bill Moore photo)

assertively away from the status quo racial racial discrimination in access andofservice discrimination in access service delivery delivery of mental healthand care supports and of mental health care supports and resources. resources. information It is our sincere hope that the information readers provided in inthis thisarticle articleresonates resonateswith with readandand each willwill do their partpart in dismantling the ers each do their in dismantling systems which the systems thatprohibit prohibitall all Americans Americans from access to equitable resources and mental Soso that a change achealth care careand andwellness. wellness, that a change tually does come! actually does come!

Psy.D., Clinical andand ForenH. Jean JeanWright WrightII,II, Psy.D., clinical fosic Psychologist andand Population Health Adrensic psychologist population health ministrator; andand Ann12 L. Colley, LMFT,LMFT, MBA, administrator; Ann12 L. Colley, M.Div.,M.Div., Psychotherapist and Diversity, Equity, MBA, psychotherapist and diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Consultant equity, inclusion, and belonging consultant.

Americans learned the hard way that many of Labor Day Parade to send a strong message us. We are not going away. We’re labor strong, our government institutions and leaders were to our elected leaders and to the public at- celebrating our solidarity and pride on a day ill-prepared for the catastrophes so many en- large: “You can bash us. You can try to bust unlike any other.” dured. They came to rely on their unions to distribute the face masks, provide health benefits, and lend them and their families a sympathetic, compassionate ear.

This increase may also have a link to the elusive quest of achieving the “American Dream.”

Coined by historian James Truslow Adams during the Great Depression, the phrase symbolizes the desire for a better future that could be obtained in this country through hard work. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his 1933 inaugural address, famously declared about the challenges of troubling times: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, ” and continued to emphasize the spiritual qualities underlying the American Dream by saying, “Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement.”

However it is defined, for some, the American Dream remains just a dream; for others, especially many new immigrants in the current surge of migration, the Dream has Amsterdam News Honoring visionary leadership in growing become a nightmare. Interestingly, in 1997, Black and minority inclusion in the skilled trades 72% of Americans thought the American Dream was possible. More recently, studies indicate, “not so much.”

Here’s where labor unions come in. Just like our role in helping to build the middle class in America, we are both the ramrod and equal8 kids a day are accidentally killed izer…and the bridge to the American Dream. or injured by FAMILY FIRE. We fight for the rights of workers while helpFAMILY FIRE is a shooting involving an ing to create a level playing field where the improperly stored gun, often found in the home.

American Dream is not the sole property of 1199SEIU headquarters midtown 8:00 am THURS ENDFAMILYFIRE.org the corporate 1%. We help give everyone a 498 7th Ave NYC, NY 10018 9:45 am Sept 28 chance. We help give everyone hope.

This is why we march. We will join our union brothers and sisters in the upcoming

30 • August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

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101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF NEW YORK INDEX # 158597/22 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND AMENDED NOTICE Plaintiffs designate New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the liened premises is situated. Tax Lien Foreclosure of: 310 West 52nd Street, SU 104, New York, NY 10019 (Block: 01042, Lot: 1419).

NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST and The Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian, Plaintiffs, against Wen Deng, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the verified complaint herein; Lu Tang, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the verified complaint herein; Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.; CitiMortgage, Inc.; The Board of Managers of 310 W. 52nd St. Condominium; Forte Express Plumbing & Heating Inc.; CCG Construction LLC; DNJ Industries Inc.; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; United States of America; and "JOHN DOE #1" through "JOHN DOE #100", inclusive the last 100 names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiffs, it being intended to designate fee owners, tenants or occupants of the liened premises and/or persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the liened premises described in the complaint, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint herein. 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 attorney for the Plaintiffs 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 is made in any other manner than personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. 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 to foreclose on a Tax Lien pursuant to: (1) a Tax Lien pursuant to a Certificate recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York on August 23, 2018 in CRFN: 2018000284174; and (2) a Tax Lien pursuant to a Certificate recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York on March 4, 2022, in CRFN: 2022000097158, both liens covering premises known as 310 West 52nd Street, SU 104, New York, NY 10019 (Block: 01042, Lot: 1419). The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the tax lien described above. 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 ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS 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 WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT To the above named defendants: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, J.S.C. of the State of New York, and filed along with the supporting papers in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York on 7/20/2023. This is an action to foreclose on a Tax Lien. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of the New York, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 01042 and Lot 1419, said premises known as 310 West 52nd Street, SU 104, New York, NY 10019. THE DELLO-IACONO LAW GROUP, P.C., Attorney for Plaintiffs, 312 Larkfield Road, Lower Level, East Northport, NY 11731, 631-861-3001. Our File # 20-000140

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK INDEX NO: 850257/2022 D/O/F: 12/02/2022 & 01/18/2023 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Premises Address: 61 West 126th Street, New York, NY 10027 Plaintiff designates New York County as the place of trial.

Venue is based upon the County in which the property is situated.

USALLIANCE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION BY MERGER WITH NEW YORK METRO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, -againstUnknown heirs at law of JAMES MCCASKILL a/k/a JAMES MC CASKILL, his next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained; KAMILAH MCCASKILL AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF JAMES MCCASKILL A/K/A JAMES MC CASKILL; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; EDNA MCCASKILL AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF JAMES MCCASKILL A/K/A JAMES MC CASKILL; EDNA MCCASKILL AS NATURAL GUARDIAN OF JAMES MCCASKILL AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF JAMES MCCASKILL A/K/A JAMES MC CASKILL; “JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises, Defendant(s).

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 Attorneys within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn, III, a Justice of the Supreme Court, New York County, entered July 20, 2023 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the New York County Clerk’s Office.

THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a mortgage recorded in the New York County Clerk’s Office on Jan. 20, 2006 in CRFN: 2006000037104, covering premises k/a 61 West 126th Street, New York, NY 10027 a/k/a Block 1724, Lot 11.

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. The following notice is intended only for the defendants who are owners of the premises sought to be foreclosed or who are liable upon the debt for which the mortgage stands as security.

YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE BE AWARE: TO THE DEFENDANTS, except The Estate of James McCaskill a/k/a James MC Caskill: The Plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action.

TO THE DEFENDANTS: The Estate of James McCaskill a/k/a James MC Caskill: If you have obtained an order of discharge from the Bankruptcy court, which includes this debt, and you have not reaffirmed your liability for this debt, this law firm is not alleging that you have any personal liability for this debt and does not seek a money judgment against you. Even if a discharge has been obtained, this lawsuit to foreclose the mortgage will continue and we will seek a judgment authorizing the sale of the mortgaged premises.

Dated: Sandy J. Stolar, Esq. Margolin, Weinreb & Nierer, LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 165 Eileen Way, Suite 101 Syosset, New York 11791 516-921-3838 #100634

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK USC 171 BOWERY LLC, Plaintiff -against- 171 BOWERY PROPERTY OWNER LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Consent Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 21, 2023 and entered on March 28, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 13, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the easterly side of Bowery, distant 20 feet 1 inch southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the southerly side of Delancy Street with the easterly side of the Bowery, which said point is opposite the center of a party wall, standing party on the premises herein described and the premises adjoining on the north; being a plot 127 feet 1 1/2 inches by 20 feet 6 inches by 125 feet 10 1/2 inches by 20 feet 6 inches. Block: 424 Lot: 11. All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 171 BOWERY, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $9,602,236.05 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850125/2022.

CLARK WHITSETT, ESQ., Referee KRISS & FEUERSTEIN LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 360 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10017

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK LOANCORE CAPITAL CREDIT REIT LLC, Plaintiff -against- 111 E. 59TH STREET JV SUB LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated March 31, 2023, as amended on July 31, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 20, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the northerly side of East 59th Street, distant 105 feet easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the northerly side of East 59th Street with the easterly side of Park Avenue; RUNNING THENCE northerly and parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue a distance of 100 feet 5 inches to a point on the center line of the block between East 59th Street and East 60th Street; THENCE westerly along the center line of the block between East 59th Street and East 60th Street a distance of 5 feet to a point; THENCE northerly and parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue a distance of 100 feet 5 inches to a point on the southerly side of East 60th Street; THENCE easterly along the southerly side of East 60th Street a distance of 60 feet to a point; THENCE southerly and parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue a distance of 100 feet 5 inches to a point on the center line of the block between East 59th Street and East 60th Street; THENCE southerly and parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue a distance of 100 feet 5 inches to a point on the northerly side of East 59th Street; THENCE westerly along the northerly side of East 59th Street a distance of 60 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 111 E. 59TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $256,425,133.24 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850195/2022.

HAYLEY GREENBERG, ESQ., Referee Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 250 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK HNY CLUB SUITES OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff -against- ELAINE BAIRD, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 21, 2023 and entered on February 23, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 13th, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises 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 0.0381% in 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 # 2003000442512 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. The Foreclosure Sale will be conducted in accordance with 1st Judicial District’s COVID-19 Policies and Foreclosure Auction Rules.

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 1335 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK. Approximate amount of lien $19,657.96 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850240/2018.

THOMAS KLEINBERGER, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

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Supreme Court – New York County – Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. v. Any unknown heirs to the Estate of JAMES A. SCOTT, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, creditors, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest, as well as the respective heirs at law, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest of the aforesaid classes of persons, if they or any of them be dead, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff, et al., Deft. – Index # 850073/23.

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 19th day of July 2023 and duly entered the 24th day of July 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 6,000/16,783,800 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 March 6, 2015, executed by James A. Scott to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $37,161.60, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on December 4, 2015 in CRFN 2015000430738. 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 OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff -against- JANELLE L. PARRIS AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF MYRA E. PARRIS, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated April 25, 2023 and entered on May 3, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on October 4, 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 1.4182% 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 1303. Said premises known as 1335 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, UNIT HU2, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $36,539.61 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850054/2022.

MATTHEW D. HUNTER, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

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SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK VALLEY NATIONAL BANK, AS SUCCESOR BY MERGER TO ORITANI BANK, Plaintiff -against- WEBRO 2067 LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated April 19, 2023 and entered on April 26, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on October 4, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of Broadway, 72 feet 3 and 3/4 inches north from the corner termed by the intersection of the north side of West 71st Street and the west side of Broadway; RUNNING THENCE west of Broadway at an angle of 67 degrees 56 minutes, 57 feet 2 inches; THENCE North at right angles to the last mentioned course, 5 feet 3 inches; THENCE West at right angle to the last mentioned course, 42 feet 9 inches; THENCE North at right angles to the last mentioned course, 34 feet 4 and 3/4 inches; THENCE East at an angle of 84 degrees 01 minutes 40 seconds to the last mentioned course 88 feet and 1/2 inch to the west side of Broadway; THENCE South along said west side of Broadway at an angle of 118 degrees 02 minutes 20 seconds to the last mentioned course 32 feet 11 inches to the point or place of BEGINNING. Block: 1163 Lot: 32. Said premises known as 2067 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $12,482,338.39 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850181/2022.

JERRY MEROLA, ESQ., Referee Zeichner Ellman & Krause LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 1211 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10036 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK HNY CLUB SUITES OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff -against- ANGELA N. STEMLER AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF HILMA W. NOONAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated April 4, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on October 4, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises 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 0.0381% in 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 # 2003000442512 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 $21,676.41 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850079/2018.

MATTHEW D. HUNTER, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff -against- TREVOR C. MORAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated April 22, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 13th, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. The Unit known as Residential Unit No. 10A in the building known as The Heritage at Trump Place, 240 Riverside Boulevard, in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, Together with an undivided 0.7911% interest in the common elements.

Block: 1171 Tax Lot: 2111. All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 240 RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD, UNIT 10A, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $5,673,292.89 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney.

Index Number 850110/2019.

THOMAS KLEINBERGER, ESQ., Referee David A. Gallo & Associates LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030 File# 5025.1930 SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. ROBERT J. GODING, JR. and LATRICIA L. GODING, Defts. - Index # 850225/2022. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 9, 2023, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 5,000/16,783,800 tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase 2 HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $18,853.56 plus costs and interest as of February 24, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Tom Kleinberger, Esq., Referee.

Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF NEW YORK INDEX # 157000/22 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND AMENDED NOTICE Plaintiffs designate New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the liened premises is situated. Tax Lien Foreclosure of: 1 Irving Place, Unit 17A, New York, NY 10003. (Block: 00870, Lot: 1347).

NYCTL 2021-A TRUST and The Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian, Plaintiffs, against Alvin Wong, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the verified complaint herein; Board of Managers of the One Union Square East Condominium;; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; United States of America; and "JOHN DOE #1" through "JOHN DOE #100", inclusive the last 100 names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiffs, it being intended to designate fee owners, tenants or occupants of the liened premises and/or persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the liened premises described in the complaint, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint herein, Defendants. 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 attorney for the Plaintiffs 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 is made in any other manner than personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. 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 to foreclose on a Tax Lien pursuant to a Certificate recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York on March 4, 2022, in CRFN: 2022000097156, covering premises known as 1 Irving Place, Unit 17A, New York, NY 10003 (Block: 00870, Lot: 1347).

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the tax lien described above. 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 ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS 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 WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT To the above named defendants: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, J.S.C. of the State of New York, and filed along with the supporting papers in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York on 7/3/2023. This is an action to foreclose on a Tax Lien. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of the New York, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 00870 and Lot 1347, said premises known as 1 Irving Place, Unit 17A, New York, NY 10003. THE DELLO-IACONO LAW GROUP, P.C., Attorney for Plaintiffs, 312 Larkfield Road, Lower Level, East Northport, NY 11731, 631-861-3001. Our File # 20-000009 SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. JACQUELINE M. TILLAR and BARBARA ANN WYNN, Defts. - Index # 850029/2023. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 9, 2023, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 14,000/16,783,800 tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase 2 HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $100,534.95 plus costs and interest as of March 27, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Georgia Papazis, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

Notice is hereby given that a license number 1365328 for a beer, wine, liquor, and cider license has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine, liquor and cider at retail in a Vessel under the Alcoholic Beverage Control law at Pier 78 W38th & 12th Ave, New York, NY 10018, for on-premises consumption. Three Brothers Baking Inc D/B/A Franklin D. Roosevelt.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. NESTOR I. CHAVEZ, Defts. - Index # 850268/2022. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 8, 2023, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0,00986400000% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 57th STREET VACATION SUITES located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $16,870.38 plus costs and interest as of March 27, 2023.

Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Allison M. Furman, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

Bomber Jacket Productions LLC filed with the SSNY on 7/05/2023. Office Location: NY County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 119 Waverly Place, Apt 1, New York, NY, 10011. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Bomber Jacket Productions LLC is an independently run film/television and media company, with particular focus on documentary and nonfiction projects.

Notice of Formation of YES WE DID! LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 02/01/2023. Office location: New York County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to YES WE DID! LLC, 130 Jane Street, Suite 5J, New York, NY, 10014. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

ARWA PROPERTIES GROUP NY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/21/2023. 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 237 Eldridge St., Apt 2, NY, NY 10002. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of 625 MADISON REO JV SUB 2 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/13/23. Princ. office of LLC: One Vanderbilt Ave., 28th Fl., 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: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Real estate.

Notice of Qualification of 625 MADISON REO JV LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/13/23. Princ. office of LLC: One Vanderbilt Ave., 28th Fl., 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: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Real estate.

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Plaintiff, -againstArnold Quismorio Bengco a/k/a Arnold Bengco if living and if any be dead, any and all persons who are spouses, widows, grantees, mortgagees, lienor, heirs, devisees, distributees, or successors in interest of such of the above as may be dead, and their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residences are unknown to Plaintiff, Rachelle Bengco if living and if any be dead, any and all persons who are spouses, widows, grantees, mortgagees, lienor, heirs, devisees, distributees, or successors in interest of such of the above as may be dead, and their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residences are unknown to Plaintiff , Board of Managers of The 322 West 57th Street Condominium, United States of America-Internal Revenue Service, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, John Doe (Refused Name), John Doe (Refused Name), Defendants, Index No. 850260/2019 Filed May 4, 2023 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Plaintiff designates New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the Mortgage premises is situated.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S): 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 attorneys for the plaintiff within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after service is complete if this 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.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $870,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the County of NEW YORK on June 16, 2011, in CRFN 2011000213816, covering premises known as 322 West 57th Street, Unit 41K1, New York, NY 10019.

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

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: Bayshore, New York May 4, 2023 /s/By: Linda P. Manfredi, Esq. Frenkel, Lambert, Weiss, Weisman & Gordon, LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 53 Gibson Street, Bay Shore, New York 11706 (631) 969-3100 Our File No.:01-092596-F00

Notice of Qualification of 109Co MGMT, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/24/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/21/23.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 79 Laight St., Apt. 2F, NY, NY 10013. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 260 SS BROOME LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/18/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 260 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NORTH 43rd, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/04/01. Latest date to dissolve: 12/31/2099. 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, 147 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Tea Teasse L.L.C.. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on July 26th, 2023.

Office Location:New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process may be served. The Post Office the address to which shall mail a copy of any process against the L.L.C. served upon him/her is 7014 15th Avenue,Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228.The principle business address of the L.L.C. is 212 East Broadway, G1507, New York, NY 10002 Notice of Formation of Jacquelyn Trimlett LLC filed with SSNY on 202308-9. Office: New York County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC.: 7014 13TH AVENUE SUITE 202 BROOKLYN, NY 11228. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of formation of HUDSON YARDS 5701 LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/10/2023. Office located in NEW YORK. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 5 Half Moon Isle, Jersey City, NJ 07305. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of KEPPEL US MANAGEMENT LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/11/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/27/22. 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, 401 Federal St., Ste. 3, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of ANORAK100 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/16/23.

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. 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 of the State of DE, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of ALCLEAR KYC, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/18/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/16/23. Princ. office of LLC: 85 10th Ave., 9th Fl, NY, NY 10011. 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.

Notice of Qualification of TILLMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/17/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/01/13. Princ. office of LLC: 152 W. 57th St., 27th 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. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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Holistic Flavors LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/29/2022.

Office Location: NY County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 150 W. 140th St., #2E, NY, NY 10030. Purpose: Any lawful act.

NOTICE OF FORMATION of FASHION BY SABINE LLC, Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 06/12/2023. Office location: New York County. Principal office of LLC: 548 West 28th Street, Suite 645, New York, New York 10001. The New York Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail process to Fashion

By Sabine LLC c/o Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, PC, 21 Main Street Ste. 200, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

PUBLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT NOTICE of FORMATION of a DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP Name of LLP: ZAHN LAW GROUP LLP. Date of filing of Notice of Registration with the NY Dept of State: 11/20/2019.

Office of the LLP: NY County.

The NY Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom process may be served. NYSS may mail a copy of any process to the LLP at: 757 Third Ave., 20th Floor, New York, NY 10017. Purpose of LLP: Any lawful purpose. The LLP will have a perpetual existence.

Coeus Digital Media LLC. Filed 12/22/22. Office: NY Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: C/O Firstbase Agent LLC, 447 Broadway 2nd Fl #187, New York, NY 10013.

Purpose: General.

L.A. Opulence LLC Arts. of Org. filed 10/20/20. Office: NY County. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 1074 East 73rd Street, Apt. 1, Bklyn, NY 11234. Purpose: General.

Goat Getters Entertainment LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 7/11/2023. Office location: NY County. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 228 Park Ave S #573402, New York, NY 10003.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of GREYSTONE SSG 3 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/28/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/17/21. Princ. office of LLC: 152 W. 57th St., 60th 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 DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

SVG Plan Trucking LLC. Arts. of Org. filed on 03/23/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to 228 Park Ave S #536671, NY, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

THE CLARK STANDARD LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/18/2023. Office loc: Bronx County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 1988 Newbold Ave, Apt 2B, Bronx, NY 10472. Reg Agent: Nelson M Clark Jr, 1988 Newbold Ave, Apt 2B, Bronx, NY 10472. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Lounge Kat Studios LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/09/2023. Office: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: Lounge Kat Studios LLC, 1412 Broadway, 21st Fl., Ste. 21V, NY, NY 10018.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of TUNGSTEN HEALTH HOLDINGS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/19/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/25/23. 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., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of SCOPUS GROUP, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/26/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/17/23. 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 122072543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of MGHE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/23/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 65 E. 55th St., 31st Fl., 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 12207-2543.

Purpose: Hospitality.

Skin Therapy By Susan LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/17/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 1123 Bdwy, Ste 712, NY, NY, 10010.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Rpbm LLC filed Arts. of Org. with the Sect'y of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/9/2023. Office: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 143 E 47th St, NY, NY 10017. Purpose: any lawful act.

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 33

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

199 Bowery 10C LLC Arts of Org filed with the SSNY on 7/27/2023. Office: Albany County. NW Registered Agent LLC designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to NW Registered Agent LLC, 90 State St.,Ste 700, Off 40, Albany NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of BAUDELAIRE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 445 Park Ave., Ste. 1401, NY, NY 10012. 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 Qualification of GV MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.L.C. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/05/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/01/09. Princ. office of LLC: 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy., Mountain View, CA 94043. NYS fictitious name: GOOGLE VENTURES MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.L.C. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of E. CASCADE VENTURE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/04/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 780 3rd Ave., Ste. 4203, NY, NY 10017.

The regd. agent of the company upon whom and at which process against the company can be served is Brian Conroy, 780 3rd Ave., Ste. 4203, NY, NY 10017. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

ADAE HOLDINGS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/07/23. 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, 121 West 17th Street, 2B, New York, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of S + B READE STREET, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/04/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Maryland (MD) on 07/12/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 1000W, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Cert. of Form. filed with Michael L. Higgins, Jr., Director, Dept. of Assessments and Taxation, 301 W. Preston St., Rm. 801, Baltimore, MD 21201. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of RGNMCA AMHERST II, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/03/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/28/23. 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: Operate an executive suite business center.

Notice of Qualification of EDIFICE PARTNERS LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/28/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/20/23. Princ. office of LLC: 1 Rockefeller Plaza, 11th Fl., NY, NY 10020. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Management of real estate.

Notice of Formation of 302 BEACH 149TH STREET LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 22 W. 66th St., Apt. #13, NY, NY 10023. 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. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of GERHARD PRODUCTIONS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/03/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 207 W. 25th St. - 6th Fl., NY, NY 10001. 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. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Human Creative Services LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/27/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to 251 West 117th St, Apt 6I, NY, NY 10163.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Open Concept NYC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/23/2023. Office: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to 408 E. 83rd St., 5A, NY, NY, 10028. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of RP ZEREGA NY, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/23/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/20/23. Princ. office of LLC: 423 W. 55th St., 7th 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. (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, 401 Federal State St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: All lawful activities related to renewable energy generation in the state of New York.

Notice of Qualification of FRIEZE US HOLDINGS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/07/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/21/15. 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, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Lobo Creations LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 5/20/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail copy to: 165 West 91st Street, #11A, NY, NY, 10024. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Thomas V. Lopez, PLLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on July 25, 2023. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the PLLC served upon him/her is C/O the PLLC: 207 East 120th Street, PH, New York, NY 10035. The principal business address of the PLLC is: 207 East 120th Street, PH, New York, NY 10035. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff -against- ADEWALE GEORGE, ENATA GEORGE, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated May 5, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 27, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises being an undivided ownership interest as tenant-in-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an undivided 0.00986400000% interest in the common elements. 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 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37. Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $38,780.17 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850060/2022.

PAUL R. SKLAR, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

Notice of formation of IMENNOV LEGAL CONSULTING PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/14/2023. Office located in New York. SSNY is designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to 99 Wall Street, Suite 4455 New York, NY, 10005, USA. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

CJDW Limited Liability Company Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/27/2023. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to 11559 Mexico Street, St. Albans, NY, 11412. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

MBSSM, LLC filed Articles of Organization with the NY Department of State on August 3, 2023. Its office is located in NY County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the Company upon whom process against it may be served, and a copy of any process shall be mailed to 767 Third Ave., 38th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The purpose of the Company is any lawful business.

Notice of Qualification of RELATED 418 11TH AVENUE OWNER LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/16/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/16/23.

Princ. office of LLC: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. 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 of DE, John G. Townsend Bldg., Federal and Duke of York St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of GREYSTONE SSG 2 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/28/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/01/21. Princ. office of LLC: 152 W. 57th St., 60th 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 DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

34 • August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

Notice of Qualification of GREYSTONE SSG 1 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/27/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 11/13/17. Princ. office of LLC: 152 W. 57th St., 60th 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 DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of 625 MADISON REO JV SUB 1 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/13/23. Princ. office of LLC: One Vanderbilt Ave., 28th Fl., 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: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Real estate.

Notice of Formation of BRODAR LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/27/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 13-14 W. 54th St., 1st Fl., NY, NY 10019. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

23RD & 8TH, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/17/01. Latest date to dissolve: 12/31/2099. 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, 261 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Broadway & 166th, L.L.C. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/08/00. 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, 3956 Broadway, New York, NY 10032. Registered agent address c/o Herbert Wetanson, c/o The BBQ Restaurant, 27 W. 72nd Steet, New York, NY 10023. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Pros & Cones LLC filed Articles of Organization with the NY Department of State on August 3, 2023. Its office is located in NY County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the Company upon whom process against it may be served, and a copy of any process shall be mailed to 767 Third Ave., 38th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The purpose of the Company is any lawful business.

FOSTER AGENCY SERVICES LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/19/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to 228 Park Ave S #675149, NY, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 142 LAWRENCE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/21/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 73 Spring St., 6th Fl., NY, NY 10012. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o United American Land LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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36 August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

Black baseball executives as rare as they were 30 years ago

By DAVID GRUBB, MLBbro Special to the AmNews After more than a quarter century with the franchise as a player, scout, and executive, Kenny Williams was fired as executive vice president of the Chicago White Sox last week.

With the White Sox preparing for their 12th losing season in the last 19 years, some may try to diminish his legacy. But Williams’ role in building one of the most successful runs in White Sox history cannot be forgotten.

Kenny Williams is a baseball pioneer Williams takes his place among pioneers like Bill Lucas, Bob Watson, and Bill White in baseball history and remains one of only two Black general managers to assemble a World Series champion.

Kenny Williams held every job imaginable as he climbed the leadership ladder with Chicago. Following a less than notable career as a player that ended in 1991, Williams rejoined the White Sox as a scout in 1992 before becoming a special assistant to the team’s chairman, Jerry Reinsdorf, in 1994.

Williams showed a talent for identifying players, and in 1997 he was promoted to vice president of player development.

(L) Kenny Williams was recently fired by the Chicago White Sox to end his tenure as the franchise’s executive vice president (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Kenny Williams builds Chicago White Sox World Series winner In 2000, Williams replaced Ron Schueler as general manager of the Sox following the team’s first playoff appearance in seven years. With Frank Thomas’ career winding down, Williams made the choice to hire another White Sox legend to push the team over the hump.

By bringing in the fiery personality of Ozzie Guillén, and com-

mitting to aggressive moves in acquiring talent, Williams was able to completely rebuild the lineup in just over two years.

In 2005, his vision would be realized.

The White Sox finished 99–63, capturing the AL Central title before defeating the defending champion Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Houston Astros to win the World Series for the first time in 88 years.

Over the next seven years, Chicago would remain competitive but failed to match the success of that magical run of ‘05. However, Williams’ loyalty and success were rewarded by Reinsdorf as he was promoted to executive vice president.

And now, that historic tenure has come to an end.

Ken Williams endured and won during his two decades in charge of the White Sox. He dealt with

racism, low expectations, and the notoriously tight budget of Reinsdorf over the years.

He accomplished what few have in his sport. Making the successful transition from the field to the front office has been rare enough, but even more rare for Black players.

History will not forget Kenny Williams, and as long as that World Series banner flies, his legacy lives on the South Side.

Micheal A. Taylor helps the Twins stay atop of the AL East Outfielder Michael A. Taylor has had an impactful season for the AL Central leading Minnesota Twins (MLB.com photo)

By KEVIN MOORE, MLBbro Special to the AmNews Michael A. Taylor has been on fire for the Minnesota Twins lately as they fight to stay atop of the American League Central Division. The Twins will have to win the division if they want a shot at postseason play and that is something that Taylor knows.

The 32-year-old Taylor has been one of the Twins’ best hitters during the last week and a half. On August 24, he had one of his best performances of the season, going 2-for-3 with two solo home runs as the Twins defeated the Texas Rangers 7–5.

He has provided great production at the bottom of the lineup for the Twins.

Taylor’s seven-game hitting streak came to an end on Sunday against the Rangers, but his 19 home runs tie a ca-

reer-best set back in 2017 with the Washington Nationals. In his first year with Minnesota, Taylor has been a versatile addition, filling various needs for the team.

The 10-year MLB veteran has been an efficient player throughout his career and has valuable postseason experience, notably as a member of the Washington Nationals World Series team in 2019.

Taylor’s defense has been a critical aspect of his all-around play. He has been a lockdown defender winning a Gold Glove Award in 2021. Going into the Twins’ matchup with the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday through 112 games this season playing centerfield, Taylor has a .989 fielding percentage with one assist. Minnesota was 69–63 and led the American League Central Division by

seven games over the Guardians, which were 62–70.

At the plate, Taylor is not known as a power hitter, but this season, he’s displayed some pop. His 19 home runs as of Tuesday tie a career high.

Despite dealing a with slight hamstring discomfort, he has remained a consistent presence in the lineup. With fellow MLBbro Byron Buxton out of the lineup recovering from a right hamstring strain, Taylor’s contribution has been critical to the Twins’ success.

If Minnesota continues on its current path to the playoffs, it will be Taylor’s fourth time making it to the postseason.

The previous three all came with the Nationals. His last appearance was back in 2019, when Taylor hit .333 through eight games, including two home runs.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 37

Liberty wins keep coming along with new benchmarks

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews This is what it’s like to have a WNBA team filled with All-Stars. While the New York Liberty had very talented players and winning records in past seasons, nothing has compared to this season as Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney, Courtney Vandersloot, and Jonquel Jones win the toughest of games—all the while setting records for points, wins, and personal milestones.

This past week has featured three big Liberty victories. Last Thursday, the Liberty defeated the Connecticut Sun 95–90 in overtime in Connecticut. From there, the team headed to Minneapolis, where they drubbed the Minnesota Lynx 111–76, increasing New York’s record of most games with over 100 points.

On Monday, the Liberty returned home for the team’s second regular season victory over the defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces (the Liberty also defeated the Aces in the Commissioner’s Cup). The game marked yet another sellout crowd, words that haven’t been uttered in more than a decade.

“Obviously, we wanted to tighten up things and continue to be the best New York Liberty team that we can be,” said Ionescu, the team’s top scorer against the Aces with 25 points. This was the fourth

time this month the Liberty and Aces have faced off, with the Liberty prevailing three times. Ionescu likened it to a playoff series in-season. “It was nice to be able to see how we’ve been able to come out every single game and make those adjustments in real time and continue to get better through these games,” she said.

Vandersloot, who contributed 17 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, said she felt confident throughout the game that the Liberty had control. “After our slow start, we came back and we really picked it up defensively. I think we were making things hard for them.

We were scoring in transition,” she said.

Head coach Sandy Brondello again noted the depth of the team. When Jones got into foul trouble, Stefanie Dolson was able to step in. She also said the team has gelled over the course of the season. “The chemistry is there,” Brondello said. “The more time we spend together, we can work out how we want to execute.”

The Liberty return to Barclays Center tomorrow night to face the Connecticut Sun and then have a very busy final stretch of regular season play before heading into the playoffs. They face the Sun tomorrow in Brooklyn, the Chicago Sky (Sunday) and Dallas Wings (Tuesday) on the road, and then finish with the Los Angeles Sparks (next Thursday) and Washington Mystics (September 10) at home.

New York Liberty All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu had a team high 25 points in her team’s 94–85 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Monday night at the Barclays Center (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty photo)

With preseason over, the Jets and Giants look ahead to Week 1

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

last season. They weren’t cred- on the field after taking a direct MVP Aaron Rodgers resolving the ited with playing 17 games be- hit to his chest.

Jets’ seemingly perpetual quartercause their contest against the The Jets did get through the full back issues, they enter this season The Jets and Giants complet- Cincinnati Bengals on January 2 17-game slate and were last in the as one of the favorites to win the ed their preseason schedule was canceled after safety Damar division at 7–10. This season, with Super Bowl. facing each other last Saturday at Hamlin went into cardiac arrest the addition of four-time league The oddsmakers don’t foresee MetLife, their shared home staJets third-year head coach (L) Robert Saleh and quarterback (R) Aaron Rodgers will lead the team into the dium. The Jets earned the win by 2023 season in which they are one of the top Super Bowl favorites. (Jets.com photo) 32–24, to finish 2–2 and the Giants ended 1–2. The Jets had an additional game as they opened the NFL preseason schedule playing the Cleveland Browns in the league’s annual Hall of Fame game on August 3.

Preseason is essentially immaterial now to the men who survived final cuts and the coaching staff. While sympathetic feelings may linger for those that grinded through the dog days of training camp and strived to make the teams’ 53-man roster but did not survive final cuts, preseason is immaterial now. The remaining players and coach staffs must now look ahead to Week 1.

The Jets open the regular season on a Monday night, September 11, at home against the Buffalo Bills, the defending AFC East winners. The Bills were 13–3

the Giants having similar prospects as the Jets, but they have the necessities to be a playoff contender and perhaps go deeper into the postseason than they did last January, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round. It was the Giants’ first playoff appearance since 2016.

After going 9–7–1 last season, holding third place in the NFC East and securing a wildcard spot, the Giants will have a difficult schedule as it stands today and two of the league’s leading Super Bowl contenders in their own division to deal with in the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys.

Five of the Giants first six games are versus teams that all made the playoffs last season. The exception is the Arizona Cardinals, who they face in Week 2.

The Giants open the regular season at MetLife on September 10 in the NFL’s Sunday night (8:20 p.m.) primetime game hosting the Cowboys. They will play the Jets Week 8 (October 29) in a game the Giants are designated as the home team.

38 August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

A new era begins for Manhattan College athletics Corrine Jackson, junior forward on Manhattan’s women’s soccer team (Manhattan College Athletics photos)

Junior Ananda Burgos, in action for Jaspers volleyball

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews It has been a time of change for Manhattan College athletics. Last spring, the college announced that certain issues within the athletic department had been reviewed for NCAA infractions. After reaching a resolution, information was released. Over a four-year period from 2018–2022, the college did not maintain an academic certification system that incorporated the appropriate checks

Dr. Seun Adigun works with Parity to raise awareness around financial literacy (Special Olympics photo)

and balances from both athletics and academic affairs personnel.

With the matter now addressed, the Jaspers are moving forward, and interim director of athletics Irma Garcia is excited to see the fall sports in action. It has also been a time of change for Garcia, the first-ever Hispanic woman to lead a Division I athletic program. Last spring, St. Francis College in Brooklyn, for which Garcia served as director of athletics for 16 years, disbanded its athletic program.

“I love Manhattan College and I’m ex-

cited to be here,” said Garcia. “There are a lot of things I can help with. Most of it is just bringing everyone together and believing that we can move on, win, and be successful. The kids are great. The coaches are great. I love being in the grind, being creative, and making this a really special place.”

Garcia has always been a high energy and creative leader. She’s focusing on the present and future. “Success here doesn’t only mean wins and losses,” she said. “You’ve got to win in the classroom and do community service. I love working with the community. Giving back to each other, [and] helping each other get through some tough times.”

All sports continue. Compliance is now a top priority. “Everybody understands what their role is in order to move the college forward,” said Garcia. “It’s going to work as long as we work together, are transparent and communicate.”

The volleyball team began its season last week at the Wildcat Invitational in Utah. Although the Jaspers did not prevail in their matches, there was tenacious play. This weekend, the team heads to the Red Flash Classic in Pennsylvania. The women’s soccer team has played its first two games of the season, winning one.

Tonight, the team is on the road playing Loyola University Maryland.

“We’re here to show people that we care and every program is going to feel the energy,” Garcia said. “I see student-athletes ready to compete at a Division I level.”

Digital education program helps athletes achieve greater financial savvy

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews With student-athletes in high school readily availing themselves of name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities, Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment (GSE) has launched a new financial education program, Money in the Making™, designed specifically for young athletes and entertainers. The free program provides information that helps young athletes build and manage their assets as well as make wise financial decisions.

Over 44% of student-athletes have expressed a desire to strengthen their financial literacy, and about 49% want tax information. Topics include budgeting, saving, investing, and credit. A high-profile partner for Money in the Making is 17-year NFL veteran Larry Fitzgerald Jr., who shares the keys to his post-football financial successes. Another partner is

Parity, a brand sponsorship platform focused on closing the gender income and opportunity gap in professional sports.

History-making bobsledder Dr. Seun Adigun, the force behind Nigeria's 2018 debut at the Olympic Winter Games, has been working with Parity for a couple of years. “I’m one of the athletes who has benefitted,” said Adigun, who noted that Parity has developed high-impact collaborations for female athletes. “They match us with brands to get visibility as well as being appreciated for being women in sports.”

Adigun, a chiropractor and biomechanist, said financial literacy and awareness are crucial parts of success for female athletes. Also, “understanding what it means to be a brand,” said Adigun, a track athlete before taking up bobsled. “I want to be able to help other women to understand that life is about that balance—how to do your life as an athlete and also how to live your life as a

financially healthy individual,” she said.

How to finance her professional education and how to finance the improbable bobsled project was something Adigun learned through trial and error.

Helping other young athletes not have to face the same challenges is deeply satisfying for her.

“You can be a professional athlete but also understand that you’re a business and you are a personal brand,” she said.

“That’s so much more relevant now in the age of social media.”

“Given NIL, there has been an influx of requests to host financial education sessions,” said Sandra L. Richards, managing director, head of GSE and Segment Sales & Engagement, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. “Money in the Making as a digital financial education platform allows us to scale the resource to reach as many student-athletes, their parents, and anybody else in their ecosystem where they are.”

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 39

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Sports Coco Gauff overcomes opponent’s stall tactics to start U.S. Open

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor Coco Gauff rallied back from a first set 3–6 deficit to beat German qualifier Laura Siegemund Monday night in the first round of the U.S. Open. After winning a marathon 30-point, 25-plus minute game to start the second set, Gauff took the second and third sets 6–2 and 6–4 respectively to advance to the second round at Flushing Meadows.

Once Gauff took the lead in the second set, however, she had to contend with Siegemund’s stall tactics, which seemed designed to slow down play and rattle Gauff.

Siegemund repeatedly took her time with her serve and leisurely went to the towel between points on Gauff’s serve, forcing the 19-yearold to wait to play the next point.

Although the chair umpire, Marijana Veljovic, warned Siege-

mund early in the third set, the behavior continued. Gauff finally lost her patience and called Veljovic out in a heated exchange.

“She’s never ready when I’m serving, she went over the clock like four times, you gave her a time violation once, how is this fair?…I’m going at a normal speed. Ask any ref here—I go at medium-paced speed…I’ve been quiet the whole match…Now it’s ridiculous. I don’t care what she’s doing on her serve, but on my serve, she has to be ready.”

The encounter appeared to temporarily fluster Gauff, who was leading the set serving 3–0 but wound up dropping that game.

Gauff later double-faulted three times while serving for the match at 5–2—her only double faults of the entire match. Gauff held on in the final set to take the match, beating Siegemund 3–6, 6–2, 6–4 in 2-hours and 51 minutes.

When asked during her post-

match on-court interview to describe what it was like to play the match, Gauff wryly replied: “Slow.”

The No. 6 seed Gauff was scheduled to face unranked Mira Andreeva of Russia yesterday (Wednesday) if the weather permitted as rain was an impediment for matches in Queens.

In other pairings on the woman’s side, former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams was ousted from the Open in the first round on Tuesday by qualifier Greet Minnen of Belgium, 6–1, 6–1. It was the 43-year-old Williams’s most onesided defeat in her illustrious career of playing in Grand Slam matches.

Williams is a two-time U.S. Open singles winner (2000, 2001) and two-time doubles titlist (1999, 2009), the latter playing with her younger sister Serena, who retired from competitive professional play after last year’s Open.

No. 6 seed Coco Gauff advanced to round of 64 in U.S. Open after winning her first round match versus Laura Siegemund on Monday (Margot Jordan photo)

The US Open commences with appropriate fanfare

By B.L. OLIVER Special to the AmNews Monday was the first official day of the 2023 US Open and a record-breaking single-day total of 72,957 spectators passed through the gates of the spectacular USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens.

The night session attendance totaled 30,429, the highest in one single night.

The evening featured a ceremony honoring tennis great and pioneer Billie Jean King and the 50th Anniversary of the US Open becoming the first sporting event to offer equal prize money to male and female competitors. Grammy-Award-winning singer Sara Bareilles sang her hit song, "Brave," to an approving audience.

Other celebrities in attendance on opening night included Danny DeVito, Rosie Perez, therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Mike Tyson, Alec Baldwin, Gayle King, fashion designer Vera Wang, playwright and actor LinManuel Miranda, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who also spoke at the opening ceremony.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle were in attendance to watch 19-year-old Coco Gauff's defeat Laura Siegemund 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in her firstround match. After Gauff’s victory, Michelle

Former First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the US Open crowd and gathers with USTA Chairman & President Brian Hainline, singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, tennis legend Billie Jean King and 15-yearold tennis player Gabbie Bell from Brooklyn. (Margot Jordan photos)

Obama made her way down to the court to participate in a tribute to honor King.

"Billie Jean teaches us that when things lie in the balance, we all have a choice to make.

We can either wait around and accept what we're given, we can sit silently and hope someone fights our battles. Or we can make our own stand," Obama said.

"Fifty years ago, everything was hanging in the balance. Billie Jean had a choice.

She could put her head down, keep winning tournament after tournament and

just accept whatever check she was given, or she could dig deep and break serve, she could make a stand.

“If you know Billie Jean, you know what she chose...and thankfully, the US Open had the guts to listen."

In 1972, Billie Jean earned $10,000 for winning the singles title at the US Open compared to the men's champion earning $25,000.

"Thank you, Billie Jean, for always fighting for women's equality," Gauff said.

"I appreciate you...so that I can live the life that I live today, in women's tennis and around the world in general."

Earlier on opening day, Frances Tiafoe won his first round match defeating Learner Tien in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, 6-1. He played his second match on Wednesday against Sebastian Ofner. Christopher Eubanks also advanced to the second round defeating Kwon Soon-woo in four sets, 6-3, 6-4, 0-6, 6-4. He played his second-round match Wednesday)against Benjamin Bonzi.

August 31, 2023 - September 6, 2023 • 40

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

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