The New York Amsterdam News the new Black view Issue # 39 September 30, 2021 Issue

WWW.AMSTERDAMNEWS.COM

Vol. 112 No. 39 | September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW BLACK VIEW

JAB OR JOB

©2021 The Amsterdam News | $1.00 New York City

AMSTERDAM NEWS ANNUAL LABOR BREAKFAST GEORGE GRESHAM, 1199SEIU LT. GOV BRIAN BENJAMIN

See STORY on page 10

BIG WINS AT THE TONYS

(Kaliris Salas-Ramirez photo)

Teachers stay strong on fight over vaccine mandates

By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff

mandates, the controversy is a rollercoaster, with the courts, city officials, and workers along Several teachers and school for the wild ride. staffers could be out of a job if This week, the saga took anthey don’t get at least the first other turn when the federal apjab of the COVID-19 vaccine. peals court blocked the city’s Like other sectors with vaccine vaccine mandate for teachers

followed by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan dismissing the temporary hold.

As of Wednesday, all city public school teachers and staff must be vaccinated by Friday, Oct. 1.

“Vaccinations are our strongest See TEACHERS on page 6

See STORY on page 15

Let’s Get More New Yorkers Enrolled in Fair Fares!

Urban Agenda by David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York - See page 5

2 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS USPS 382-600/ISSN#00287121 2340 Frederick Douglass Boulevard New York, New York 10027 (212) 932-7400 FAX (212) 222-3842

DIRECTORY DISPLAY ADVERTISING William.Atkins@AmsterdamNews.com (212) 932-7429 CLASSIFED ADVERTISING Ali.Milliner@AmsterdamNews.com (212) 932-7435 ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT Sam.Bennett@AmsterdamNews.com (212) 932-7498 EDITORIAL News@AmsterdamNews.com Arts@AmsterdamNews.com Josh.Barker@AmsterdamNews.com (212) 932-7462

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

International Africa Ghana comes to Brooklyn Ghana came to Brooklyn on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2021, courtesy of Jerr y Kwabena Adinkra, the ambassador and executive director of the Ghanaian/African Heritage Affairs Committee; and Bed Stuy BID’s Lynette Battle. With a schedule that included a local city scene tour, visiting Weeksville in Crown Heights, and Spike L ee in Fort Greene, the day began with a breakfast meeting at Restoration Plaza, on Bed Stuy’s Fulton Street.

Amongst distinguished dignitaries, the very special guests were the Honorable Dr. Honorable I. Awal, minister for Tourism Arts and Culture, Ghana; and Akwasi Agyeman, CEO—Ghana Tourism Authority.

Greetings and inspirational words encouraging increased cultural and economic collaborations between Brooklyn and the nation of Ghana came from invited guests such as Assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman, City Councilman Robert Cornegy, Prof. Leonard Jeffries, and (Harry Knowles photo)

(212) 932-7466 CIRCULATION / SUBSCRIPTION Benita.Darby@AmsterdamNews.com (212) 932-7453

INDEX Arts & Entertainment Page 15 » Astro/Numerology Page 18 » Travel Page 19 » Jazz Page 20 Caribbean Update Page 14 Career/Business Page 28 Classified Page 29 Editorial/Opinion Pages 12,13 Education Page 23 In the Classroom Page 22 Out & About Pages 8,9 Religion & Spirituality Page 26 Sports Page 36 Union Matters Page 10 Your Health Page 24 Mail subscriptions U.S. Territories Weekly subscription: 1 year $49.99 6 months $34.99 Foreign Subscription: 1 year $45.00

News (GIN photo)

By NAYABA ARINDE Amsterdam News Editor

Stephon.Johnson@AmsterdamNews.com

The Amsterdam News assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

Photographs and manuscripts become the property of The Amsterdam News.

Published weekly. Periodicals Class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to NY Amsterdam News, 2340 Frederick Douglass Blvd., New York, NY 10027.

International

acclaimed African art collector Eric Edwards.

2019 was designated ‘The Year of Return’ where thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people worldwide visited Ghana.

Now, even in this pandemic era, folk are traveling again. Adinkra said, “The ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, Ghana Tourism Authority, (GTA), Beyond the Return Project in collaboration with Destination Ghana Management, (African Heritage Affairs Committee), hosted Destination Ghana (Doing Business in Ghana), which seeks to rekindle and market the Beyond the Return existence initiatives, forge for potential business partnership and promote Ghana as the top tourism destination in Africa.”

The breakfast meeting and afternoon session themes with power point presentations and videos encompassed ‘Tourism/Business Investment Networking.’

Also at the breakfast CMC Global Products promoted their PPE products and pushed business possibilities.

“People are still talking about how their visit to Ghana in 2019 definitely changed their lives,” Adinkra told the Amsterdam News. “We are talking about ‘Beyond the Year of Return.’ We really want people to consider making Ghana their home, first or second, and to look into having Ghanan citizenship.”

For more information contact Jerrykans@yahoo.com. www.kentefestny.com.

RWANDA HANDS DOWN 25 YEAR SENTENCE TO FILM HERO FROM MOVIE ‘HOTEL RWANDA’ (GIN)—“Hotel Rwanda” hero Paul Rusesabagina has been sentenced to 25 years in prison on terror charges despite pleas from human rights watchdogs and other critics of Rwanda’s repressive government to lessen the judgement or cancel it.

Rusesabagina was credited with sheltering more than a thousand ethnic Tutsis during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and was a recipient of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. He boycotted the announcement of the verdict after calling the trial a “sham.”

A court found the 67-year-old Rusesabagina guilty of backing a rebel group behind deadly attacks in 2018 and 2019. His family has called the trial a sham, saying he was taken to Rwanda, from exile, by force.

The U.S. resident and Belgian citizen was convicted on eight charges including membership in a terrorist group, murder and abduction. He was charged along with 20 other people. The U.S., where Rusesabagina is a resident, said it was concerned by the conviction.

Rusesabagina, who remains in custody, has asserted that his arrest was in response to his criticism of longtime Rwandan President Paul Kagame over alleged human rights abuses.

Kagame’s government has repeatedly denied targeting dissenting voices with arrests and extrajudicial killings.

About a year ago, Rusesabagina disappeared during a visit to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs, accused of supporting the armed wing of his opposition political platform, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change.

The armed group claimed

some responsibility for attacks in 2018 and 2019 in southern Rwanda in which nine Rwandans died. Rusesabagina testified at trial that he helped to form the armed group to help refugees but said he never supported violence—and sought to distance himself from its deadly attacks.

Throughout the trial, Rusesabagina maintained that he is not guilty of the charges against him but said he didn’t expect to get justice.

“We knew from the day he was kidnapped that the verdict would be ‘guilty’ on some or all of the false charges. We are happy that the charade of the trial is ending,” Rusesabagina’s family said in a statement.

A member of his legal team, Kate Gibson, added that “the only thing that has been surprising in watching this horror show unfold over the last year has been the brazenness and openness with which the Rwandan authorities have been willing to systematically violate all of the fair trial rights to which Paul was entitled.”

Amnesty International criticized the proceedings, noting that Rusesabagina was initially denied the right to choose his own lawyer. It added that Kagame’s comments that “Rusesabagina had ‘done something terribly wrong, committed a crime,’ may have prejudiced the defendant’s right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said “the reported lack of fair trial guarantees calls into question the fairness of the verdict,” and he urged Rwanda’s government to examine “shortcomings” in the case, including Rusesabagina’s reported lack of confidential, unimpeded access to his lawyers and case documents.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Ceremonial groundbreaking for new Inwood library and housing

By ARIAMA C. LONG Report for America Corps Member / Amsterdam News Staff Rain didn’t stop advocates and elected officials from gathering on the grounds of the old two-story Inwood Public Library, demolished earlier this May, to kick off construction on the new towering 14story library and “affordable housing” development at 4790 Broadway on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

“I know how the library was mainly used by working class families, that this became like a babysitter for them,” said Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez. “So as a council member for this area I know this has not been easy and I know that we will continue moving forward.”

The building is named “The Eliza” after philanthropist Elizabeth Hamilton who was married to founding father Alexander Hamilton, said Executive Director of the Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) Yvonne Stennett.

“What we’re doing here is taking minds into the future. It is our responsibility,” said Stennett, “It is what we should be doing as brothers and sisters. To build for those who can’t build for themselves, to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves.”

Stennett promised the housing component of the building would be “100% affordable” with 174 “deeply affordable units, a new 20,000-square-foot, two-story library, a STEM learning center, a community center with a teaching kitchen, and a universal Pre-K program.”

Despite that, a coalition of community groups that formed in 2017 had hotly debated and filed lawsuit after lawsuit to

stop the library’s redevelopment and the city’s “estimated $500 million Inwood rezoning plan,” reported Patch.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, who spoke at the groundbreaking, noted that no one thought the library’s replacement would happen and there were indeed “enough lawsuits to sink a ship.”

She said that the redevelopment was “a shining example” of public and private partnerships coming together for an exciting project.

Save Inwood Library was the voice of the most prominent activists and Facebook group. They commented in several posts that neighbors who “knew nothing about the destruction of the library” were “horrified” to see it go, calling it an “obvious sign of gentrification” in Washington Heights and Inwood. One post said that elected officials did not consult with the surrounding community before pushing the new library through.

The partners spearheading the effort to build the library redevelopment said today a new, more capable and well-equipped library was necessary and holds the community’s needs at its core.

The Children’s Village President and CEO Jeremy C. Kohomban said that the main objective was to design something they would want to live in and that they plan on being held accountable to their future tenants. “Yvonne and I intend to make sure that our team is on the ground. We are not building and delegating authority and walking away. We intend to be accountable to the promises made,” said Kohomban.

NYPL President Anthony W. Marx said the new library will be the next chapter, See INWOOD on page 25

Cases of missing Black men and boys going unnoticed

By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff The missing and eventual killer case of white 22-year-old Gabby Petito continues to dominate headlines as mainstream media outlets fall deeper and deeper into the “missing white woman syndrome.”

As the hunt to find Petito’s fiance, possibly her murderer, makes the headlines, there are the cases of Daniel Robinson in Arizona and Jelani Day in Illinois, two missing Black men getting little if any coverage.

Both Day and Robinson represent the 524 Black boys and men missing in America, according to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In New York State there are 35.

Law enforcement announced last week that a body found in the Illinois River has been identified as Day, a 25-yearold Black graduate student from Illinois

State University who has been missing since Aug. 25.

In a press release by the local law enforcement, Day was identified through forensic dental identification and DNA testing and comparison. Currently, the cause of death is unknown pending further investigation and toxicology testing.

Day’s family reported they last spoke with him on Aug. 23. He was seen at the Illinois State University campus on Aug. 24, and his last known location was at Beyond Hello in Bloomington on Aug. 26.

Day’s vehicle was located in Peru, Illinois.

Based on findings by the Peru Police Department when recovering the vehicle, a command post was established and a K9 search was conducted by the Illinois State Police, with drone aerial searches by fire departments as well as a ground search by teams from Peru, Utica, and Oglesby, Ill. Subsequent searches were conducted in the Peru area and Jelani was not See MISSING on page 27

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 3

MetroBriefs `

Supporters continue call for firing of NYPD detective on anniversary of police killing of Mohamed Bah Saturday, Sept. 25 marked the ninth anniversary of the 2012 police killing of Mohamed Bah. His mother, Hawa Bah, religious leaders and community supporters rallied in front of the apartment building where Mohamed was killed to demand Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea fire NYPD Dt. Edwin Mateo for his role in Mohamed’s death. They also called for the NYPD to be completely removed from mental health responses.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Councilmember Antonio Reynoso and Councilmember Brad Lander were in attendance. Several organizations including the Justice Committee and the Muslim Community Network were there as well.

Hawa called 911 on Sept. 25, 2012, for an ambulance for her son, who was in physical and emotional distress. NYPD officers arrived first. Despite her pleading with them not to, Emergency Services Unit officers forced their way into her son’s apartment—against NYPD protocol and without a warrant—with guns drawn and shot him eight times, killing him.

De Blasio unveils blueprint to combat extreme weather Mayor Bill de Blasio released “The New Normal: Combatting Storm-Related Extreme Weather in New York City,” a report that provides New York City with a new blueprint to prepare for and respond to extreme weather.

The report was delivered to the mayor by the Extreme Weather Response Task Force along with outside experts on climate change and resiliency, directed to compile a new set of protocols and policies to protect New Yorkers from future storms like Hurricane Ida. The mayor announced the creation of New York City’s first “Rainboots on the Ground” program—the city’s first-ever program to distribute educational information on evacuation procedures to basement apartment residents and vulnerable neighborhoods. Starting in 2022, the city will contract with 60 community-based organizations to canvas these neighborhoods and highlight the threats posed by storm water and extreme weather.

Mural featuring Snoopy and Woodstock unveiled at Harlem Hospital Last Saturday, Harlem Hospital doctors and kids of all ages joined paintbrushes as they brought to life a 49” x 56” six-panel mural featuring the world’s most beloved beagle and his best pal, Woodstock, sharing a laugh atop Snoopy’s doghouse.

The mural painting session took place at the Hope Center Harlem for Wellness & Self-Care Fair and will then go on display in Harlem Hospital’s pediatric unit.

“Hospital art is not just decorative—it can also play its own important role in healing by providing beauty, calm, uplift, and even laughter,” says Ivana Man, child life specialist NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem Pediatric Department. “We’re delighted to have Snoopy and Woodstock join us in helping uplift the children of Harlem.”

Through the global “Take Care with Peanuts” Hospital Mural Program, Peanuts Worldwide is sharing Snoopy and Woodstock murals with hundreds of hospitals across six continents.

Black Bankers collaborating to close the racial wealth gap The National Bankers Association announced a new initiative to close the racial wealth gap in America. The National Bankers Community Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the NBA that will provide programs and services to support Minority Depository Institutions and the communities they serve.

To support its member banks with this challenge, the NBA launched the Alliance with a Four Pillar framework: financial wellness, technical assistance, research and impact assessment, and capital aggregation and collaboration.

A 2019 FDIC Survey of Consumer Finances showed that white families have the highest level of both median and mean family wealth: $188,200 and $983,400, respectively. Black and Hispanic families’ median and mean wealth is less than 15% that of white families, at $24,100 and $142,500, respectively.

Millions of Black and Brown families do not have a bank account or access to mainstream financial services. Minority banks are at the center of wealth creation in these communities.

—Compiled by Cyril Josh Barker

4 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Generals contradict Biden on withdrawal from Afghanistan

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews Any notion that President Biden and his military advisers were in accord on the withdrawal plan in Afghanistan was dispelled Tuesday by testimony by top military leaders before Congress.

Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command and who was in charge of the Aug. 31 withdrawal, and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, contradicted Biden’s statement that he wasn’t told to leave a small military presence in Afghanistan.

During an interview in August, when asked by ABC News if he had been told to leave a few troops in Afghanistan, Biden said, “No. No one said that to me that I can recall.”

Are we in the midst of another he say, they say? Is the president’s memory faulty on this point or are the generals attempting to save face and place the blame on Biden?

Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, may not be the best arbiter to answer the differences here, but she certainly dismissed any indication that the president was trying to mislead the public.

“The president made clear that the advice was split,” she said. “If

there’s conflicting advice given, by necessity some people’s advice will not be taken.”

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin defended the chaotic atmosphere surrounding the withdrawal, which was mainly a deadly fiasco when the Afghan government forces failed to hold up their end of the bargain.

“Let’s be clear, those first two days were difficult,” Austin explained at the hearing. “We all watched with alarm the images of Afghans rushing the runway and our aircraft,” he said about the evacuations that began at Kabul’s airport in mid-August.

All told, both the U.S. and the Afghan forces were taken by surprise when the Taliban seized control of the government and intercepted any possibility of a peaceful transition.

Austin also took time to elaborate on the withdrawal, which he said “…Was the largest airlift conducted in U.S. history and it was executed in 17 days.

Was it perfect? Of course not…We moved so many people so quickly out of Kabul that we ran into capacity and screening problems at intermediate staging bases outside Afghanistan.”

More than 140,000 Americans and Afghan citizens were evacuated, though the Republicans are doing their best to place the blame for the death of 13 military personnel on Biden.

Life after trauma New Jerseyans continue recovering from Hurricane Ida with the magical assistance of ‘The Black Fairy Godmother’ As New Jersey resident, Simone Gordon, prepared to celebrate her son’s 11th birthday, a deadly storm set out to rip apart the lives of Black and Brown communities across the state––causing ‘The Black Fairy Godmother’ to wave her magic wand and aid the people.

Heavy rainfall, catastrophic winds and rampaging tornadoes dominated N.J. earlier this month as Hurricane Ida tore across the eastern U.S. Bringing destruction to everything in its path, Ida claimed at least 25 lives while also severely destroying hundreds of homes and cars in the Garden State. Fortunately for New Jerseyans, the devastating impact made by the storm brought forth the help of the founder and CEO of The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation, Simone Gordon.

Despite her already heavy workload of fairy duties, Gordon activated her alter ego, ‘The Black Fairy Godmother,’ yet again to help Black and Brown victims recover from the seconddeadliest storm to hit New Jersey. “I’m

used to fighting the pandemic like I did before. But this hurricane had destroyed people’s cars, left many people homeless, and many without power and food. I just recovered from doing the emergency assistance fund across America, so I couldn’t do much, but I can help with the food,” Gordon said.

The 35-year-old New Jersey native utilizes social media platforms to get resources from charitable people around the globe to marginalized communities in recovery. Through Instacart accounts, her foundation sends between $200 to $300 worth of fresh emergency groceries to families without a home, power or groceries.

With families still struggling to regain financial stability and essential life resources, the stomach-fulfilling gestures Gordon makes go a long way in their road to recovery.

After surviving domestic violence and other personal disasters of her own, Gordon wholeheartedly understands just how far gestures of help within marginalized communities can go.

In 2017 Gordon lost her job. The loss resulted in her struggling to pay the bills on a roughly $200/week unemployment check. Shortly after the See LIFE on page 25

NewJerseyNews NJ activists call for end of violent abuse of Haitian migrants

By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff Last week, the People’s Organization for Progress (P.O.P.) stood with elected officials and community leaders at a press conference organized by the National Haitian American Official Network (NHAEON) - NJ Chapter in East Orange, N.J. The press conference was held to express outrage at the treatment Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas experienced at the hands of border patrol agents and to demand changes to federal government immigration policies and procedures.

The general assembly of the People’s Organization for Progress voted to condemn the inhumane treatment and deportation of Haitians at the border, and salute the U.S. Special Envoy for Haiti Daniel Foote, acknowledging his resignation as indicative of the need for the Biden administration to develop an entirely new policy toward Haiti and Haitian migrants.

“The scenes of border patrol agents whipping the Black Haitian migrants was reminiscent of slave patrols and overseers chasing down enslaved Black people during the era of slavery in the United States,” said P.O.P. chairman Larry Hamm. “The People’s Organization for Progress demands that those border patrol agents be fired immediately.”

P.O.P and NHAEON are also demand-

ing that whippings and the use of horses cease immediately and that the practices be permanently prohibited. They want deportations of Haitians currently in progress to be immediately halted and that Haitian migrants be granted asylum.

Haiti has been inundated by earthquakes, hurricanes, poverty, and the political assassination of their president.

“The People’s Organization for Progress demands self-determination for the island nation of Haiti and justice for the Haitian people wherever they are,” Hamm said. “The current crises that have befallen Haiti and its people didn’t suddenly occur. They are the end result of centuries of western and U.S. imperialism, slavery, racism, colonialism, and neocolonialism.”

Along with their support for Haitian migrants, P.O.P. is continuing their fight against police brutality. This month, the organization is putting together The Long March for Justice: March To Trenton For Police Accountability, Social Justice, And Economic Progress. Hamm and others will march 67 miles from Montclair to Trenton.

The march will begin at 11 a.m on Oct. 11 at the intersection of Church Street and Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. The group expects to reach Trenton on Oct. 15. The march will proceed through 22 New Jersey towns. It is expected that it will be joined by support rallies in marches in several of those communities.

COVID-19 Rent Relief Program extended in Jersey City

By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff The Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA) together announced the next application period for Jersey City’s COVID-19 Rent Relief Program will be open Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, through Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. The program provides rental assistance to low-income residents struggling financially due to the pandemic and at risk of homelessness or housing instability.

The next phase will provide eligible low-income Jersey City families with up to $10,000 in rental assistance. With expanded eligibility, the program will continue to focus on families living at or below 50% of Area Median Income.

“We’ve been very clear from the start of the Rent Relief Program that we’d use a phased approach to ensure our neediest residents and landlords receive the financial assistance they deserve, rather than opening it up broadly only to have limited funds monopolized by large developers and out-of-town investors,” said Mayor Steven Fulop.

The first phase of the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program reserved eligibility for very low-income households renting in small, owner-occupied buildings to provide financial aid to Jersey City’s most vulnerable residents, both landlords and renters. Historically, this population faces more challenges applying for aid.

“We continue our outreach efforts to make sure tenants, small landlords, and community-based partners are aware of this opportunity and know how to apply for the program,” said Vivian BradyPhilips, executive director of the JCHA. “Our staff will also continue to assist renters and landlords with completing the online applications. If this round is oversubscribed, we can conduct selection by random lottery.”

Initial funds focused on owner-occupied buildings where the owner lives and relies on the rental income for sustaining their own home as opposed to a large developer or an absentee landlord that is more organized and would exhaust the limited funds available with their multiple investment properties.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 5

Harlem Grown’s THE URBAN AGENDA

By David R. Jones Tony Hillery Let’s Get More New Yorkers

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

ship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.

Hillery noted that many of the LGBTQ and/or Black and Brown youth “The typical community garden in they serve aren’t in stable homes. “We New York City is volunteer-driven, worked throughout the pandemic, we’re not. Harlem Grown, although not just growing food but rallying our we plant fruits and vegetables, we wide network of supporters. It was grow people. So, we take local people, our finest moment because we work pay fair wages with health care to be with the most vulnerable in Harlem. farmers,” said Hillery.

Most of our children are in transitionTony Hillery

In 2015, our annual Unheard Third survey – the only low-income opinion poll of its kind in the nation – found that one in four respondents reported being unable to afford subway and bus fares. Life in this city depends on our transit system, and without access, people cannot get to work, medical appointments, or school.

We knew we had to do something.

After further research on transit affordability by the Community Service Society (CSS), and collaboration with grassroots transit advocates and the Riders Alliance, the concept behind the Fair Fares program was born.

But even the best of ideas goes nowhere without political will. Fortunately, Fair Fares gained momentum and early support from then-Public Advocate Letitia James and City Comptroller Scott Stringer. We partnered with the Riders Alliance and a broad-based coalition of advocacy, labor, legal, and community groups to secure the endorsement of nearly every city elected official, as well as editorials in major newspapers. This support was crucial, but funding the program was equally as essential. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson led the budget fight for funding.

Black

New Yorker

Tony Hillery founded and has run Harlem Grown farms in Harlem, Manhattan for the past 10 years.

Before he started the farm in 2011, he had his own limousine company that served the entertainment industry. While volunteering in an elementary school in Harlem, as a father of three children, Hillery discovered an abandoned community garden located directly across the street from the school.

Dissatisfied with the surrounding streets’ food options, and finding only fast-food restaurants, he was inspired to start Harlem Grown.

“It’s not an accident that where we have our first farm, we have 55 fastfood restaurants in a three-block radius with 29 pharmacies and not one affordable option when all the families [are] on food stamps,” said Hillery about the food apartheid in Harlem. “That can’t be an accident or coincidence.”

Hillery and his team worked to reregister the abandoned garden. He and 400 students planted 400 seedlings to begin with and now the project continues to inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentor-

Enrolled in Fair Fares!

al housing or homeless,” said Hillery.

“I was very proud of our response.”

Hillery said that the farm worked to grow food, deliver prepared meals to people sheltering in place and shelters nearby, and partnered with restaurants that needed food supplies.

He excitedly spoke about the new mobile teaching kitchen that the farm had crafted within a truck to take to youth in NYCHA developments and shelters nearby. He said the detachable cooking unit will be educational and entertaining for kids in stressed living situations.

Hillery said that the increases to the Child Tax Credit and SNAP benefits program last year should be permanent, and are just a few systemic or legislative solutions to shrink food insecurity in the city.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America Corps member and writes about culture and politics in New York City for the AmsterdamNews. 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://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

Fair Fares finally became a reality in August 2019, signaling a new day for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who, because of their economic struggles, were often forced to choose between transit and other necessities such as food, medications or paying rent.

The program offers half-priced transit fares to New York City residents, ages 18 to 65, with incomes at or below the federal poverty level. Today, more than 245,000 New Yorkers are enrolled in Fair Fares – a benefit more critical now than ever before with so many New Yorkers struggling to get on their feet economically in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Despite being inextricably aligned with his pledge to make New York City a more equitable place to live and work for New Yorkers at the bottom of the economic ladder, Mayor Bill de Blasio did not initially support the initiative. In fact, even after funding was appropriated for Fair Fares in the FY2019 budget, his administration chose to implement the program in limited phases, at first by invitation only to employed recipients of cash assistance and SNAP benefits (food stamps). But by late January 2020, the city opened the program up to every eligible city resident.

With Fair Fares open to full enrollment, the de Blasio administration launched a marketing campaign to promote it on the buses and subway. Enrollment was just ramping up when COVID-19 hit, effectively shutting down the city’s economy and dramatically reducing

transit ridership. The advertising campaign was shelved, enrollments centers closed, and the application process was moved online.

More than a year and half later, mass transit ridership is starting to slowly, but steadily, climb. Last week, ridership on the city’s subway (and Staten Island Railway) exceeded three million for three consecutive days. While this is still nearly 50 percent below pre-pandemic levels, it’s a positive sign nonetheless that people are gradually starting to come back to the system. And after criticism from advocates – including CSS – that his administration was not publicizing the program, the mayor announced in July that the city would mount an “aggressive outreach effort” to raise public awareness.

Digital subways ads and radio spots promoting Fair Fares began running in September along with neighborhood advertising in nail salons, barber shops and bodegas, according to the City’s Human Resources Administration, which is managing the program. And beginning next month, ads will start appearing on buses, subways and at bus shelters.

Though it took him far too long to support the program, Mayor de Blasio deserves credit for putting resources behind publicizing Fair Fares. With less than a third of eligible New Yorkers enrolled, we must do all we can to get the word out. Our mass transit system is the city’s economic engine. Expanding access to work, jobtraining and educational opportunities – particularly for those most impacted by the pandemic – helps everyone and contributes to the city’s recovery.

More can be done to ensure eligible New Yorkers can benefit from Fair Fares.

The city could start by screening public assistance and food stamps applicants for the program at the intake point.

Similarly, the city should enlist NYCHA and CUNY’s participation in publicizing Fair Fares to its respective communities.

Earlier this month, MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said he’d like to double enrollment in the Fair Fares program over the next year. That’s certainly achievable, but it will take a sustained commitment by the MTA long after the city’s advertising campaign ends and a new mayor assumes office. There’s good reason to be optimistic, however: Eric Adams, New York’s presumptive next mayor, supports Fair Fares.

As progressive policies go, Fair Fares is right up there with Paid Sick Leave and Universal Pre-K in terms of improving the lives of our lowest income friends, neighbors, and family members. Let’s do all we can to get them enrolled.

New Yorkers can apply online or call 311 for information.

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 170 years, and an MTA Board Member. The views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer. The Urban Agenda is available on CSS’s website: www.cssny.org.

6 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

Teachers Continued from page 1

tool in the fight against COVID-19— this ruling is on the right side of the law and will protect our students and staff,” the city’s Department of Education said in a statement.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said this week that 87% of public school employees have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, a small percentage of education workers unvaccinated amounts to thousands of people in the workforce. Those who don’t comply with the vaccine mandate could face being out of the job

by Monday.

A shortage in teaching staff will bring in substitutes. De Blasio said the city is ready and has them on standby if necessary and they could be hired permanently in some cases.

“A lot of those substitutes are people who are absolutely ready, willing, and able to become permanent teachers,” de Blasio said. “Who are very experienced, who are high quality. They’re ready. So, the point here is we are going to give folks a chance in the short term but in the long term, anyone who’s not ready to be vaccinated on an ongoing basis, of course they’re ultimately going to get replaced. And there’s thousands and thousands of great educators

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS who want those jobs.”

After the court’s latest dismissal, ten DOE plaintiffs filed another lawsuit against de Blasio in federal court over his forced vaccination mandate. Kane v. De Blasio is the third lawsuit filed against the city’s vaccine mandate for the city’s educators with a major focus on the city’s exemption process.

In an interview with the AmNews, 14-year DOE special education teacher Michael Kane, who is leading the lawsuit, said he believes unvaccinated teachers might get relief from a judge.

“Our attorneys believe that this speaks to the knowledge in the legal community that this is an illegal mandate,” Kane said. “They’re looking for the correct legal argument.

The legal arguments brought so far were very broad. Our legal argument is much more narrow. We’re bringing a legal argument about the fraudulent exemption process, right, that they had for religious exemptions and for medical exemptions.”

Kane said school staffers’ reasons for not getting the COVID-19 vaccine include medical, religious and “sincere belief” reasons. He says if the deadline stays and teachers are out of work on Monday, there will be peaceful protests in the streets.

“Everyone in my lawsuit has extremely firm conviction on this that forcing us to inject a product

All Power To The Voters

de

m

oc r

ac y

ny c.t u

rb

ov ot e.o rg

Vote for the change you want to see!

o

rt

e st

te vo

by

th gi r8 Re e tob Oc y: n Da o i t c Ele

Ear ly V otin g: Oct. 23 - 31

Nov. 2nd

YOUR CITY YOUR VOICE YOUR VOTE

that is not even one year old, into our muscle tissues as a condition of employment is insanity,” Kane said. “Where are we going to draw the line?”

As far as the schools are concerned, Kane said the DOE could face a tough time if hundreds of teachers can’t come to work and wouldn’t be surprised if the situation causes the DOE to repeal the mandate. He believes the majority of schools are COVID safe but each facility has its own environment. Several schools in the city are dealing with overcrowding.

“Unvaccinated teachers are not a danger to the schools that they work in,” Kane said.

“We have implemented multiple layers of mitigation to make sure the schools are safe. To say that teachers are less safe than those that are vaccinated defies the science.”

Civil rights attorney Norman Siegel said the teachers filing the lawsuit might not get their way due the fact that they do in fact pose a public health risk by not being vaccinated. He said that because COVID-19 is so contagious they are affecting other people’s right to survive.

“The issue here is the balancing of the individual right to resist the vaccine versus the public health risk,” Siegel stated. “I think the message here is that when the government decides to do a vaccine mandate, given the circumstances of where we are COVID with the Delta variant, that that will be upheld legally.”

Siegel adds that teachers who aren’t vaccinated should explore the option of collective bargaining with their union. An agreement could placate teachers’ suspicion until the COVID-19 pandemic is over or until they get vaccinated.

Such an agreement could be helpful for those with medical or religious exemptions.

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew and Counsel of School Supervisors and Administrators President Mark Cannizzaro are warning de Blasio about a potential staff shortage if the vaccine mandate goes forward. Mulgrew

said safety could be an issue because of the shortage of officers in schools.

“According to our recent survey of UFT chapter leaders, only about one-third believe that as of now their schools can open without disruption, given the potential shortage of unvaccinated personnel, including school aides and security personnel,” Mulgrew said. “The city has a lot of work before it to ensure that enough vaccinated staff will be available by the new deadline.”

The in-person reopening went smoothly for about two weeks, Cannizzaro told the AmNews, until school and classroom closures and lawsuits over the employee vaccine mandates gummed up the works.

Cannizzaro, and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, said that an arbitrary date for school employees to get vaccinated by, whether they believe in it or not, should have been well before the school year started so they had enough time to anticipate pushback.

Cannizzaro said that the pause from the court order is a “good thing” and has allowed for more time to figure out staffing issues. “It’s an opportunity for consistency,” he said.

Polling of AFT members reveals that 90% are vaccinated and fully.

Two in three K-12 members support vaccine mandates. Weingarten said the AFT is trying to reach unvaccinated members by connecting them with “trusted messengers” to provide information on the vaccines.

“This poll is proof positive that the hard work educators have been doing for months to get vaccinated, promote the shot and work with employers on vaccine requirements has paid dividends,” she said. “Educators know that safety was the pathway back to in-person learning and is the key to staying back—a combination of vaccines, masking, ventilation, physical distancing and planning for an outbreak.”

“Everyone in my lawsuit has extremely firm conviction on this that forcing us to inject a product that is not even one year old, into our muscle tissues as a condition of employment is insanity,” Michael Kane said. “Where are we going to draw the line?”

With additional reporting by Ariama C. Long, Report for America Corps Member, Amsterdam News Staff

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

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

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 7

Owning a home isn’t just about finances— it’s about building a future. Our Community Homeownership Commitment1 can help new homebuyers with: Down payment help up to $10,000 or 3% of the purchase price, whichever is less. Product availability and income restrictions apply.2 Closing cost help up to $7,500 as a lender credit.3 Down payments as low as 3% down.

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

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE POWER TO DO? You are invited to apply. Your receipt of this material does not mean you have been prequalified or pre-approved for any product or service we offer. This is not a commitment to lend; you must submit additional information for review and approval.

1. Down Payment program and America’s Home Grant program: Qualified borrowers must meet eligibility requirements such as being owner-occupants and purchasing a home within a certain geographical area. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply. Minimum combined loan-to-value must be greater than or equal to 80%. The home loan must fund with Bank of America. Bank of America may change or discontinue the Bank of America Down Payment Grant program or America’s Home Grant program or any portion of either without notice. Not available with all loan products, please ask for details.

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

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

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

Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. ©2021 Bank of America Corporation. America’s Home Grant, Bank of America Community Homeownership Commitment, Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation.

MAP3623794 | AD-BAAM8424000 | 06/2021

8 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Out & About One Africa returns to Brooklyn

By OLAYEMI ODESANYA Special to the AmNews

through scintillating performances by Artistes rooted in Africa’s heritage,” said Paulo Okoye, CEO of One Africa FEST. “African talents and art are making headlines on a global level, and everyone is noticing the paradigm shift. There is no better time than now to continuously export Africa’s substantial blend of quality Afrocentric music to the world while leveraging on the fastgrowing African Entertainment industry.”

Afrobeats is one of the biggest growing musical genres worldwide. The song of the year right now has to be “Essence,” with Wizkid and Tems. Justin Bieber wanted to get in with the remix. From Drake to Beyoncé Afrobeat collaborations are fueling the charts.

“One Africa has always added Caribbean artists including Machel Montano,” Okoye added. “This year we have Kranium. It will be big again. One Africa and Brooklyn is another massive collaboration.”

Whether it is the Barclays Center or the Coney Island Amphitheater Brooklyn knows how to host a massive African music event.

Anyone who has been to the One Africa festival at either venue will tell you it can change your life.

This year the annual show will be at Coney Island on Nigeria’s designated 61st Independence Day. This Friday on Oct. 1, Interswitch One Africa Music FEST Concert will be taking place at Brooklyn’s Coney Island Amphitheater. Hundreds of concertgoers from various parts of America, and our fellow Africans will be in attendance at one of the biggest African celebrations here in New York City.

Marking its fifth year, One Africa For more information: Info@insidethediMusic FEST brings the ultimate aspora.com.

Afrobeats party with artists inOneAfrica CEO - Paul Okoye (Photo courtesy of Facebook) cluding Flavour, Olamide, Tiwa Visit: https://concerts.livenation.com/ Savage, Harmonize, Busiswa, one-africa-music-festival-2021-brooklyn“This year will be a double celebration as we cel- new-york-10-01-2021/event/1D005AD29EDC27FB?_ D12, Wurld, Oxlade, Bella Shmurda, Rema, Kranium, Kwaw Kese, Tome, DJ Buka, DJ Big Skipp, ebrate with Nigeria on her 61st Independence Day ga=2.92688030.242448642.1631972625DJ Young Kofi and many more. anniversary and also celebrating Africa’s heritage 1709920185.1631972622

Harlem marches for domestic violence victims W.A.R.M founder and CEO Stephanie McGraw hosted the Support Brides March / 21st Anniversary Memorial Walk for Gladys Ricart and for victims of domestic violence.

(Bill Moore photo)

(Bill Moore photos)

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

Harlem’s historic photograph of 85 HBCUs Harlem made history again on Saturday, Sept. 25, as Amsterdam News photographer Bill Moore captured a historic moment on film when 85 alumni from 85 HBCUs came together for an epic photograph, taken inside Morningside Park in Harlem, New York.

Historic photograph of 85 alumni from 85 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Bill Moore photos)

Nightlife

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 9

Written by David Goodson

BAM R&B Festival kicks off While the pandemic has altered how we get it in, rest assured that the city that never sleeps, WILL get it in. For starters the BAM R&B Festival returns for two weekends of free performances at Fort Greene Park, set for Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 2-3 and Oct. 9-10. The widelyknown festival, which has grown to become one of Brooklyn’s beloved outdoor traditions, brings together the community and groundbreaking artists—from music legends to bold new voices across the genre of R&B. BAM R&B Festival at Fort Greene Park marks BAM’s first live, inperson music performances since the pandemic shuttered arts venues and live performances in March 2020. The concerts will take place outdoors with the most up-to-date safety protocols in place for artists, audiences, and staff.

BAM R&B Festival at Fort Greene Park will boast an impressive and versatile lineup, showcasing musical artists from Brooklyn and around the world, including Memphis singer-songwriter Valerie June, Tony Award-winning playwright Stew with his band The Negro Problem, jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker, and the Grammy Awardwinning singer Mykal Rose, formerly of Black Uhuru. The fall concerts also feature dashing jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and her band the Soul Squad, Queens-born soul surrealist duendita, and more.

“After the past challenging year, we are thrilled to bring the energy and dynamism of our beloved R&B concerts to Fort Greene Park.

The Festival celebrates the versatility and undeniable influence R&B has on other genres by bringing together an eclectic lineup of music legends and bold new voices, each with their own distinctive style and sound,” said BAM Co-Interim President Coco Killingsworth. “Our beloved concerts will continue to bring free music and incredible talent to Brooklyn.

And we can’t wait to welcome you back.”

“It is a tremendous personal and professional delight to continue the 26-year-legacy of the BAM R&B Festival, this year in Fort Greene Park.

Our headliners [Matthew Whitaker, Mykal Rose, Stew & the Negro Problem, and Valerie June] are all uniquely creative artists, making deep and lasting impressions on the music scene,” said BAM R&B Festival Producer Danny Kapilian. “Presenting these free fall concerts is our way of providing positive inspiration and generous spirit for all Brooklyn and NYC communities.”

All concerts are FREE, require no tickets, and take place at Fort Greene Park. The concert stage is located on the lawn at Myrtle Avenue.

Visit BAM.org for updates.

“After the past challenging year, we are thrilled to bring the energy and dynamism of our beloved R&B concerts to Fort Greene Park.”

See NITE on page 28

10 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Union Matters 7th annual ‘Tying Communities Together’ Labor Awards Breakfast

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

as light instrumental jazz played in the cleaners, are so important every day background. of the week. My daughter is in those This year’s honorees were musician schools, and if it wasn’t for all the people Harry Belafonte, 32BJ President Kyle you represent my daughter would not The Amsterdam News and Bill Lynch Bragg, Council on School Supervisors be safe,” said Tatum. “She is my world Associates honored several members and Administrators President Mark and she represents the world of every of the labor comAFT President Randi Weingarten munity this Tues- Hon. Brian Benjamin day at its seventh annual “Tying Communities Together” Labor Awards Breakfast at the new 1199 SEIU offices, located at 498 7th Ave. in midtown Manhattan.

At every table, swag bags with new thermos cups, lunch containers, face masks, and other goodies that bore the newspaper’s signature red with black logo were placed for guests as they arrived.

New York Amsterdam News Publisher Elinor Tatum, former (Bill Moore photos) Assemblymember Michael Council on School Supervisors and 32BJ President Kyle Bragg Blake, and reAdministrators President Mark Cannizzaro cently confirmed New York State Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin spoke at this year’s awards ceremony.

Benjamin said that his father was a 32BJ member, and it was because of unions that he and other families were afforded the opportunity to break into the middle class.

“When you talk about the American dream, you can’t do that without talking about labor,” said Benjamin.

After an arduous and socially distanced year in 2020, many said Cannizzaro, and American Federation other mother and father, aunt and uncle that the breakfast felt like a mini family of Teachers President Randi Weingar- out there.” reunion and delighted in seeing old ten, and unofficially Billy Lynch, whom In Weingarten’s remarks, she said it friends in person. People caught up many spoke of highly throughout the was important to have a moment of with one another, or enjoyed the fea- morning. gratitude for all the essential workers on tured chicken and waffles breakfast, “The teachers, the principals, the the ground that the union leaders in the

room represented. “[Essential workers] during the height of COVID, during the surges, the ups and downs, all of whom showed up for others,” said Weingarten.

She said above all it was about the members and communities’ voices, agency, and safety.

Bragg, who was elected after the untimely passing of former 32BJ President Héctor J. Figueroa in 2019, said he worried for employees and union members facing down the barrel of unemployment or losing their livelihoods because of the pandemic’s vaccine mandates.

“They exposed themselves to a deadly virus to do hard and necessary work,” said Bragg of the city’s essential workers as he accepted his award.

“The job that they were not able to sit at home at a computer while the rest of the country was remote. They were and continue to be the backbone of our economic survival and the lynchpin of our continued recovery.”

Cannizzaro said that with the great leadership and talent present at the breakfast, he thought that a solid sit down together could solve most of the school system’s COVID problems as the city is currently grappling with lawsuits over the vaccine mandates in the new school semester.

“That’s probably what needs to happen. And I think Randi said it quite well, we have a responsibility and we’re going to take that seriously and make sure things happen for kids,” said Cannizzaro.

Belafonte couldn’t join in person, but his daughter, Gina, sent an acceptance video on his behalf.

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

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 11

“I believed a clinical trial could save me. Thankfully, so did Perlmutter Cancer Center.”

Two years after difficult chemotherapy and surgery for breast cancer, Karen Peterson learned that her tumors had returned. “I knew my only real hope was a clinical trial,” Karen said.

She called everyone and searched everywhere. Finally she found an immunotherapy clinical trial at Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health. Karen became the first triple-negative breast cancer patient in the trial. After just eight weeks, a scan revealed that Karen’s lesions were shrinking. A couple of months later, they were gone.

In the past year, Perlmutter Cancer Center has opened more than 100 additional clinical trials for many types of cancers. “I know there are more patients out there like me,” said Karen.

“They should know there’s hope and help at Perlmutter Cancer Center.” To learn more about Perlmutter Cancer Center’s clinical trials, visit nyulangone.org/pcc. Or call 833-NYUL-PCC.

12 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Opinion COVID-19 vaccine mandates seem discriminatory, classist Dear Amsterdam News,

despite the possible risk, many educators returned to in-person teaching during the height I am writing to express my concerns about of the pandemic. They followed the safety prothe vaccine mandates being implemented. tocols recommended by the CDC in order to Before you toss my letter in the trash as the keep themselves and their students as safe as ramblings of some Trumpist anti-vaxxer, I possible. This was very effective. Unfortunatewould like to make it clear that I’m in favor ly, many transit workers were not as fortunate of vaccines that have been developed with the because they were not advised to wear masks use of rigorous safety and effectiveness test- until after many of them were already infecting. I swear by the pneumonia vaccine and ed. We know that masking up along with other I’m considering the shingles vaccine. Howev- safe hygiene practices is effective against this er, the current COVID-19 vaccine strikes me as or any other virus. Educators, transit workdiscriminatory and classist (elitist also comes ers, nurses, and many other middle- and lowto mind). For example, the mandate for NYC income employees were designated essential educators and transit workers has no testing workers and lauded as heroes. and mask options. I would like to note that Educators were instrumental in reopening schools to meet the demands of parents who wanted or needed their children enrolled in in-person learnIt took 20 years to end the “Forever War” in Af- ing. All of us who were ghanistan but the residue, particularly the evac- designated as essenuation of 140,000 Americans and Afghan citizens, tial workers masked up, presents a new timeline for who’s responsible for put on our brave faces, the fiasco of the evacuation. said a prayer and went The finger-pointing escalated this past week out daily: we confronted with the testimony of the generals before Con- our unseen nemesis, the gress and their claim of keeping a contingent of COVID-19 virus, in order troops in the war-torn country, one that is refut- to provide for our famied by President Biden. lies and to support those Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin then weighed in plac- in our communities who ing the blame on the State Department, adding, “A number needed the services we of things kind of came together to cause what happened provide. Our willingness to happen.” to confront the danger To compare the destructive war with the error-filled presented by COVID-19 evacuation is odious since each had its own distinct mess- in order to support the iness. That the war even occurred has to be figured into children, parents, and this equation of senselessness. community members we Placing blame for any of these events is pointless and serve resulted in accoappears to bring a fresh baggage of disruption when so lades for many state offimany issues are exceedingly pressing at the moment. cials. In NYC, our efforts Most immediate is the debt ceiling that could shut down were especially favorable the government if Republicans continue to block efforts to for Mayor Bill de Blasio. raise the debt limit.

Fast forward three Another shutdown of the government would be cata- months, we are now strophic for those dependent on Medicare, Social Securi- faced with the prospect ty, and the ongoing struggle to stabilize the nation in the of losing our livelihood wake of the pandemic. if we do not comply with And speaking of the pandemic, a decision has apparent- mandatory vaccinations. ly been reached after a three-judge panel from the Second May I point out what U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the city’s vaccine man- has been patently obvious date can move forward. And Mayor de Blasio stated that since polio? No vaccine the vaccine requirement goes into effect Oct. 4. developed since the polio vaccine No matter where we turn nowadays an impasse looms, has led to the eradication or near but we hope the current ruling removes one troubling ob- eradication of a virus. No vaccine stacle for our teachers and students. eradicates a virus. There is no exception to that fact. The COVID-19 vaccine is no exception to that fact. The COVID-19 vaccine does not eradicate the virus or its variants. It is actually less effective than the pneumonia vaccine which is effective for 5 years.

The COVID vaccine is barely effective for 6 months. Everyone I know, myself included, who had and survived COVID-19 also had the pneumonia shot, the flu shot, or both.

We know the efficacy of this vaccine is limited. We also know the efficacy of masking up is just as good.

I must therefore ask why are educa-

Impasses at every turn

tors and other essential workers in the inner city of NYC being mandated to take the vaccine or lose their livelihood? Why are they not being offered the option to mask up and get tested regularly? Testing and masking up should be an option for those who do not want to be vaccinated at this time. If we could keep students and staff safe during the height of the earlier pandemic by following the CDC protocols, why can’t we do so now, especially since most educators are vaccinated?

Additionally, why is the vaccine mandate without the testing option being implemented primarily in areas of New York (the inner city) where most of the employees impacted are people of color? Why is the mandate not being enforced in predominantly white as well as more

EDITORIAL

“Educators were instrumental in reopening schools to meet the demands of parents who wanted or needed their children enrolled in in-person learning. All of us who were designated as essential workers masked up, put on our brave faces, said a prayer and went out daily: we confronted our unseen nemesis, the COVID-19 virus, in order to provide for our families and to support those in our communities who needed the services we provide.” affluent sections of the state? Why are educators in Long Island, Westchester, and upstate New York offered a testing and mask option? Moreover, the NYPD and the FDNY have a predominantly white work force and those employees are also offered a testing option. New York state teachers are similarly situated to New York City teachers but New York state teachers are not facing termination if they do not take the shot.

This form of inequity has existed in this country for far too long. Employees in the inner city of Los Angeles are facing the similar disparate treatment. There needs to be equity in the dissemination of these mandates. This is most definitely separate but not equal.

Sincerely, Cheryl Perry vickysdaughter68@gmail.com

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

Django Unchained, Unleashed Part II 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

Watching the imagery, the public discussion, the official explanation, and the now collapsing narrative from the White House of the pictures of a Haitian immigrant being run down on horseback by a Federal Border Patrol Agent has been difficult, and plucks at raw nerves and memories of generations of Black Americans. A Black man running with what appeared to be boxed lunches in plastic bags (meals being provided for the unmanageable crush of human beings in Del Rio, Texas), brought into precise focus the incompetence, the feckless “leadership,” and the almost total absence of responsible leaders running the Biden administration, from the president on down through the federal executive departments and the Pentagon.

My first thoughts were a scene from the movie “Django Unchained,” where they are catching runaway slaves, or worse, a real-life memory of the events on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in March of 1965, when the last charge of the Alabama Light Cavalry was undertaken with mounted sheriffs and dogs to run down Black folks peacefully protesting the horrors and injustices of segregation and systemic racism in America. All these historical images of horror, whether captured in the film “Django Unchained,” or the real-life horror of events on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965, were reflections of the Democratic Party of America. Joe Biden’s party. Few white people know who Edmond Pettus was. Former Confederate General Edmond Pettus, former Democrat Senator Edmond Pettus, and former Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon Pettus. For all their effort, projection, and political spin, the Democratic Party cannot wash off their rich and racist history. Joe Biden has brought it all back into focus.

When focusing on the unimportant, instead of the important, challenging situations can quickly turn into unmanageable situations. Combined with weak, politically driven leaders at the top, the formula for disaster is firmly in place. In just nine months, the Biden administration is collapsing before our eyes. When there are incompetent political hacks at the top, the promotion process generally looks for and selects supervisors that mirror the leadership’s abilities and political bent.

Secretary Mayorkas remains mostly silent on the growing chaos at the border. He snapped at a Republican senator in the recent hearing when asked a question about the border chaos that he supposedly works on 18 hours a day. Really, doing what exactly? Maybe the picture of that unknown Black man being run down on horseback will wake the nation up, and force profound changes and immediate accountability and replacement of so many incompetent people managing the president and supposedly running these federal executive departments and the Pentagon. Political decisions and reckless policies are costing innocent people their lives under Biden. The tragic and preventable deaths in Afghanistan were impossible to conceal, but make no mistake, many people are dying in this border chaos. Dying from dehydration and exhaustion, drowning in the rivers, and at the hands of criminals and monsters mixed

in with the hapless people simply trying to come to America for what it used to stand for.

Think back a few weeks about how the truth surfaced in Afghanistan after the bombing of Abby Gate and the tragic loss of our Marines and Soldiers in the blast. The NYTimes investigative report on the drone strike was thorough and well documented. That press piece resulted in the CENTCOM commander being forced to speak out and address the calamity. Although he made some comments, sort of apologizing and verbally taking responsibility for the mistake, nothing happened. No one resigned, and no one was fired. Fast forward to the events of the past few days in Del Rio, Texas. The discussion triggered immediately after the picture of a Black man, from Haiti, being grabbed by a mounted Border Patrol Agent while running provoked a narrative of a whip being used. The image is burned into the minds of Americans now. It doesn’t matter that there was no whip. The image itself stands alone. An event so offensive and symbolic that it may trigger America’s gag reflex. The core issues playing out at the border are simply wrong and immoral on multiple levels. The image brought the chaos into precise focus. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is doing her part providing misinformation and aggressive counternarrative messaging. Her goal is to manage the narrative for damage control and political advantage. Ms. Psaki, for all her legendary skills at spin, cannot put this issue to rest.

With all this noise, what is really happening at the border and why is it happening? There is no policy in place to control our borders. Protection of our southern border has simply been suspended deliberately by President Biden. Horses are patrol tools given to the Border Patrol to cover difficult and hostile terrain faster and safer than on foot. You can see better when mounted in difficult terrain. They are not crowd control tools.

Running down a Black man on horseback who is fleeing with two emergency food bags is an image that cannot be explained, managed, or erased.

The optics are horrible, and must be addressed head on; with actions, not with political spin.

The Biden administration opened the border and created and nurtured the chaos and flood of humans. Now it is quite literally out of control. A stampede of human beings. The Border Patrol is ordered to change the imagery of the chaos and make this go away. Remember the foolish order from the FAA to close the air space to drones so the public couldn’t see the chaos? Change this image! They have no plan, not enough properly equipped people, and no competent leadership.

In the end the mission falls to the GS-6 agents on the ground who are desperately trying to do “something”, anything, in order to regain some semblance of order and control. These young Border Patrol agents on the ground, God Bless them, are the federal workers who will be thrown under the bus to protect Secretary Mayorkas and President Biden. Mayorkas and his leadership team should be relieved and fired, immediately.

Armstrong Williams (@ARightSide) is the owner and manager of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast Owner of the Year. He is the author of “Reawakening Virtues.”

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 13

We must confront Rikers CHRISTINA

GREER PH.D. Each week we hear a new story about someone who has died in New York City’s sprawling jail on Rikers Island.

My heart breaks when I think about the number of innocent people waiting for their time in court. I am enraged thinking about the scores of people who have committed petty crimes who are left for months or even years while waiting for due process. Even those who have committed serious crimes should still be treated with dignity while awaiting sentencing.

Mayor de Blasio was elected in 2013 and promised to end the “tale of two cities” in New York. Part of that declaration was to decrease the number of Black and Latinx individuals who have been targeted by police solely based on the color of their skin and the neighborhoods in which they reside. Sadly, over the course of the mayor’s tenure, we have not seen substantive change in many of those communities.

Initially, the mayor supported an idea of community jails, that is, instead of warehousing thousands of individuals on Rikers Island, those awaiting sentencing would be able to stay in local jails in their own neighborhoods where they’d have access to their families and a sense of dignity. This plan stalled and we are now witnessing the deterioration of a facility and an overall disregard for human life while jailed.

Part of the obstacle in implementing community jail programs throughout the city stems from the age-old NIMBY problem, that is, “not in my back yard.”

Many New Yorkers initially supported the dissolution of Rikers and the building of smaller jails until the proposal included their own neighborhoods.

We must ask ourselves why so many people are housed in Rikers in the first place. Is jumping a turnstile or some other petty offense a punishable crime whereby someone needs to sit in jail for days, weeks, months, or even years because they cannot afford bail? In essence, we have created a system where our most economically vulnerable populations are filling the jails in a system that clearly does not work.

It is my sincere hope that Democratic nominee and presumed mayor-elect Eric Adams will make Rikers a priority once his tenure begins. As a former police officer who has spoken quite eloquently about disparities in racial profiling and arrests, Adams must move quickly to solve this crisis. To date, 12 people have died in Rikers this year alone.

We must also pressure our city council members to assist the incoming mayor with solutions to jails in New York City. What we have now is a 21st century version of a “debtors prison” and as my grandmother used to say, “If we can put a man on the moon, we can surely figure this out!” It is high time we do so, far too many lives are at risk.

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

14 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Caribbean Update

Controversy in Jamaica over U.S. visa for minister

By BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews In the past week, the State Department decided to reinstate the American entry visa of a senior Jamaican government minister but did so with a proviso that indicates he remains under the watch of officials and is part of some kind of probationary scheme involving federal authorities.

Two years ago, the embassy in Kingston, the Jamaican capital, pulled the visa of Science, Technology and Energy Minister Daryl Vaz and that of his wife. Explaining that reasons for visa revocation are confidential, the U.S. mission refrained from giving the Jamaican public a reason for the cancellation saying such was personal information granted only to the visa applicant.

Vaz was grounded for the period but the fact that his new B-1 B-2 visa now contains a waiver means that he was or is still suspected of some form of wrongdoing related to illicit drugs or had links to traffickers, charges the

minister has vehemently and persistently denied.

The waiver reads “212 (Small D) (3) waiver of 212 (A) 92C) (1)” meaning that federal officials have cause to believe that the applicant or visa holder has in the past been linked to the drug trade as an aider, abettor, conspirator and related activities the Jamaican Gleaner reported at the weekend.

Vaz has not been locally known to be involved in the drug trade so the visa cancellation sparked national debate about whether the embassy and State were acting on credible information or had been the victim of inaccurate information fed to them.

Doubts about the entire episode began to emerge in recent months when former American Ambassador Donald Tapia made it clear that the U.S. was wrong to pull Vaz’s visa as there was no evidence linking him to the drug trade or the local underworld.

Local media have in recent days published a statement by Tapia exonerating the minister. Tapia even

argued that the mission had acted on unreliable information fed to officials.

Tapia said Prime Minister Andrew Holness had approached him after the late 2020 general election, asking for a review of the case as many thought the cancellation was a strange development. The two agreed that both sides would review the case and both came to the conclusion that the revocation was based on inaccurate information.

“After the agencies provided their findings to the PM, it was found that the allegations were not factual,” Tapia said noting that the probe conducted by American officials “found that all reports were hearsay allegations with no substance or evidence.”

Humiliated and embarrassed, Vaz toughed it out during the period but was gracious at the weekend to indicate that “I can confirm and I am highly appreciative of the courtesy that has been extended by the U.S. embassy in Kingston,” Vaz told local media. Vaz was forced to renounce

his American citizenship more than a decade ago to comply with electoral laws regarding dual citizens and eligibility for parliament. The former diplomat deemed the entire issue as unjust and a diplomatic blunder as he demanded that officials admit their role in what was clearly a mistake.

But even now that he can travel again with the waiver in his passport, pressure is being applied on PM Holness to fire the minister as the waiver indicated to his political opponents that he has not been fully cleared. The issue was expected to be debated at Monday’s cabinet meeting.

Tapia had taken Vaz’s case to nearly 50 American senators as he complained about the wrong on the part of the mission in Kingston.

Vaz is slated to make his first trip to the U.S. later this year to attend an international technology conference.

The embassy had also pulled the visa of former opposition lawmaker Phillip Paulwell for unknown reasons. It is not clear if he and Vaz’s wife have reapplied for new visas.

Cages, horsewhips and the hypocrisy of it all FELICIA PERSAUD

IMMIGRATION KORNER We have now gone from the era of Brown children in cages, to the era of white men on horses chasing down innocent Black migrants like runaway slaves, grabbing them by their clothing as horse reins are waved like whips and lassos.

Three years after Donald Trump, we as immigrant voters, who largely voted to get rid of the dark days of Trump’s immigration terror, now feel like it’s déjà vu. As one of my colleagues summed it up: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

What is more nauseating is the fake outrage that has taken days to emerge from the Biden White House and administration, even as immigrants from Haiti were already being shipped back to a country they had not lived in for years and which has no capacity to accept them.

The mounted U.S. Border Patrol agents were called out and sent to help stop more Haitian immigrants from crossing the Rio Grande in Del Rio, Texas on Sept. 19, 2021. This occurred after thousands of Haitian mi-

grants managed to cross the river on Sept. 17th and set up an encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande near the Acuña Del Rio International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas initially said the agents were trained to respond the way they did to migrants. But he then backtracked when President Biden condemned the agents in front of reporters, subsequently appearing on CNN to say that “one cannot weaponize a horse” against migrants.

By then, hundreds of Haitian migrants were already deported back to Haiti as U.S. DHS had announced the policy beginning on Sat. Sept.

18th after the convergence under the bridge.

It then took Joe Biden’s immigration czar and vice president, Kamala Harris, three days after the rein whip photo emerged from the border to express “grave concerns.” She did not make a live statement in an interview, but said this through her chief of staff, that all border agents should “treat people with dignity, humanely and consistent with our laws and our values.”

I call BS on that. The reality is that Harris has been using Donald Trump’s own policies to try to get the border crisis under control, including pushing Central American governments to

get tough with migrants before they get to the U.S. border.

For more than a week before, as the caravan of migrants tried to make it to the border to apply for asylum, Mexican agents had arrested, chased, and roughed up Haitian migrants as the U.S. administration pressured Mexico to contain the migrants.

But like most politicians, hypocrisy was on full display. It was so bad that Joe Biden’s own appointed special envoy for Haiti, Ambassador Daniel Lewis Foote, quit in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Sept. 22nd. Ambassador Foote blamed the “inhumane” and “counterproductive” decision to deport thousands of Haitians back to a country where armed gangs are in control of daily life.

Of course, the administration quickly pounced on Foote. How dare he defy them and speak out? Under the bus he was thrown, faster than the U.S.’ exit from Afghanistan and faster than Donald Trump would have tweeted his firing, even though he had resigned.

By Thursday, Sept. 23rd, under pressure from all sides, including Democratic and immigrant leaders, White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced that Border Patrol agents will be forbidden from using horses to guard the border in Del Rio, Texas, referencing the “horrific” photos of

agents swinging reins while responding to Haitian migrants.

Then came President Biden’s sensational statement on Day Four of the Drama: “To see people treated like they did, horses barely running over, people being strapped––it’s outrageous. I promise you, those people will pay. There will be an investigation underway now and there will be consequences. There will be consequences.”

Are these the same promises you made in 2019 and 2020 to immigrant voters and Haitian voters Joe? Please spare me!

By then, over 2,000 Haitians were already back in Haiti.

And so, the hypocrisy album played on, like a scratched record.

So much for Black Lives Matter; so much for having a Caribbean American vice president in the U.S. White House; so much for Biden’s pledge to immigrants and especially Haitian voters in 2019; and so much for having a Haitian spokesperson in the White House in Karine Jean-Pierre.

And so, the beat goes on––as immigrants and immigrant voters again become the pawns in the U.S.’ political con game of ‘Fool The Immigrants.’ Sorry Haitians but it looks like duplicity wins again.

The writer is publisher of NewsAmericasNow

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 15

Arts & Entertainment Theater page 15 | Dance page 16 | Music page 17 | Jazz page 20

Pg. 18 Your Stars

Black performers front & center at 74th annual Tonys (Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Audra McDonald (L) and Brian Stokes Mitchell perform onstage during the 74th annual Tony Awards at Winter Garden Theatre Sept. 26, 2021 in New York City.

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews Inclusion reigned supreme at the 74th annual Tony Awards!

Recognizing productions from the 2020 season, which was abruptly cut off by the pandemic, the awards show consisted of two ceremonies: the first, hosted by six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and shown on Paramount+; and the second, titled “Broadway’s Back!” and broadcast on both Paramount+ and CBS, hosted by Leslie Odom Jr. The glorious evening was held at the Winter Garden Theatre and it was packed with Broadway celebrities.

This year the Tony Awards put Black folks front and center, not only with its hosts, but with special awards. The Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre went to Irene Gandy, a press agent and Broadway producer; Woodie King Jr. for Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre; and Beverly Jenkins, a professional stage manager for over 30 years on Broadway.

A Special Tony Award went to Broadway Advocacy Coalition (BAC), a non-profit organization which advocates for equity and inclusion for Blacks

Tarik Davis, Christopher Jackson, James Monroe Iglehart, Leslie Odom Jr., Wayne Brady, Aneesa Folds, Lin Manuel-Miranda, and Chris Sullivan perform onstage with the group Freestyle Love Supreme.

on Broadway, working in all matters from criminal justice reform to education reform to immigration.

Tony Award winners for the night began with David Alan Grier winning best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play for “A Soldier’s Play,” in which he brilliantly played Sergeant Vernon Waters. Anyone who saw Grier’s stellar performance knew that this was a well-deserved Tony. Grier humbly thanked director Kenny Leon for making him his first call when casting “A Soldier’s Play.” He was also glad to acknowledge the late Negro Ensemble Company director Douglas Turner Ward: “This is unbelievable. It means so much, Douglas Turner Ward cast me into the show. Doug came to see the play and was on stage answering questions, though he could barely speak because he was ravaged by cancer. I paused my dinner break to listen, he had the same passion, teaching and energy.

He answered every question. It was amazing. It was awesome.

I think of Adolph Caesar who was Serg with me in the movie version.”

“A Soldier’s Play” also won best revival of a play for direc-

tor Kenny Leon and playwright Charles Fuller. Leon, who received a standing ovation, immediately began his speech calling out the names of those we have lost to police murders.

He called out Breonna Taylor three times and George Floyd twice, exclaiming, “We will never ever forget you.” He poignantly continued, “We opened ‘A Soldier’s Play’ the same week we lost Kobi Bryant and his beautiful daughter Gigi. All lives are precious. I’m a graduate of CAU, a HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia and I want to say to all those students, present and yet to come, yes you can! To all the people in this room, we can do better. Charles Fuller wrote this play, no dis to Shakespeare, Shaw, Ibsen, we need Ntozake sitting at the table, Melvin Van Peebles—we need to do better.”

Now, with this win and the fact that seven shows will come to Broadway this season by Black playwrights, Leon was asked where are we at on Broadway?

“As artists our job is to impact the world through storytelling. I don’t think we’ve come far enough, but this reset has given us the opportunity to start anew. The proof is in the pudding, what will it look like next year at this time? We have

seven plays this season, but where will it go? We have to be part of the solution. It’s a wonderful beginning and it’s going to take all of us, the young and the old folks.” Leon, a founding member of Black Theatre United (BTU)—shared, “We did the New Deal for Broadway and we’re relentless, these organizations [BTU, BAC] have no intention of stopping from doing the work. They are committed and fierce. It’s our job to protect our future and to give our young people a chance.

There are a lot of wonderful things that our young people are doing. It’s on us adults to get rid of this systemic racism.

It’s on all of us adults to make our nest better.”

Adrienne Warren received the Tony Award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical for her portrayal of Tina Turner in “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” and it was a stunning moment!

Warren emotionally thanked her family. She thanked Tina Turner, “for trusting me to bring her story home.” She thanked the cast. Warren, also a founding member of BAC, said, “The world has been screaming for change…I want to prepare this space for those who look like

me. There are countless people working tirelessly to see that you can be here. I’ve gotten so much encouragement through this journey. This has been a six-year journey. I’m extremely moved by this. When I started this show I thought I had so much to prove, now I want to make things better for those who come after me.”

Broadway Advocacy Coalition’s president Britton Smith accepted the Special Tony Honors from Pulitzer Prize winning Black female playwright Lynn Nottage, who will have two productions on Broadway this season—the play “Clyde’s” and “MJ: The Musical.” Nottage was greeted by the capacity crowd with a standing ovation.

Smith was candid as he said, “I’m only standing here because George Floyd and a pandemic brought us to a point to say enough is enough and for Black people to speak up!

My biggest fear is that when Broadway comes back that opening will close.” Addressing the Broadway audience in the room, he said, “When this room decides to move behind us that’s when we’ll earn the phrase Black Lives Matters.”

Talking about what this Tony See TONYS on page 20

16 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

A

R T S

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

M

E

N

T

Melvin Van Peebles, godfather of modern Black cinema, RIP

By LAPACAZO SANDOVAL Special to the AmNews

Melvin Van Peebles, the pioneering African American filmmaker who is best known for his films “Watermelon Man” and “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song,” transitioned on Sept. 21, 2021, at his home in Manhattan.

He was 89 years old.

The visionary filmmaker’s son, actor Mario Van Pebbles and The Peebles family announced the news in a joint statement with The Criterion Collection and Janus Films.

“We are saddened to announce the passing of a giant of American cinema, Melvin Van Peebles, who died last night, at home with family, at the age of 89. In an unparalleled career,

Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape. He will be deeply missed,” the statement read.

“In an unparalleled career distinguished by relentless innovation, boundless curiosity, and spiritual empathy, Melvin Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape through his films, novels, plays, and music,” it added.

Eighty-nine is a tremendous age and what this cinema pioneer, Melvin Van Peebles accomplished is extraor-

Image from the Feb. 24, 1973 edition of the AmNews

dinary. He was born Aug. 21, 1932, in Chicago, in a period in America’s history when people of color were given very few choices. What I am trying to communicate is that this filmmaker smashed glass ceilings left, right, and center. And in so doing the “impossible” his name will ring forever cemented in African American cinema immortality.

Van Peebles walked into Hollywood in 1970, with his debut film “Watermelon Man” and followed with “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” in 1971. His film which tells the story of

a poor African American man fleeing from white police authorities was independently funded and shot by Van Peebles before receiving a $50,000 loan from Bill Cosby to complete the project.

His son, Mario Van Peebles, brought his father’s legacy home. “Dad knew that Black images matter. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was a movie worth?”

Melvin Van Peebles’ death came shortly before the 50th anniversary of “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” and a celebration planned by the New York Film Festival. The Criterion Collection planned a box set to be released next week called “Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films.”

Francesca Harper named artistic director of Ailey II

By ZITA ALLEN Special to the AmNews

Francesca Harper (Richard Termine photo)

Ask Francesca Harper how she felt when Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle announced her appointment as artistic director of Ailey II, that internationally renowned AAADT’s acclaimed troupe of young talented dancers and she gushes with excitement declaring, “It’s kind of surreal.” Yet, in many ways the appointment seems a natural step in a rather remarkable career, as well as a promising beginning of a critically acclaimed dance company’s next chapter, and last but not least, as a perfect example of the circle of life.

Harper’s appointment opens the next chapter of Ailey II as it prepares for a much-anticipated return to live performances with the kickoff of its 2021-2022 season, beginning in December with participation in the AAADT’s annual New York City Center season. The Ailey II dancers will join the AAADT for the performance of Ailey’s classic “Memoria,” the tribute to Ailey colleague, dancer and master teacher Joyce Trisler. Then without skipping a beat Ailey II kicks off a busy 2022 with its own New York season March 23-April 3 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater along with a U.S. Tour. (THE TOUR IS BEFORE AND AFTER THE U.S. SEASON) During a recent interview, Harper’s enthusiasm clearly communicated the energy of an artist ready to hit the ground running a quality the AAADT search committee must have found compelling after what AAADT Artistic Director Robert Battle said was, “an exhaustive international search done by a firm. We wanted to make sure we

had a wide variety of people who we may not have thought of. There were so many great candidates but at the end of the day, we made the right choice for the right time. She came equipped.”

In fact, so many aspects of Harper’s biography makes this appointment feel like a homecoming. In fact, Battle mentioned that the multitalented Harper not only trained at the Ailey School before embarking on an extraordinarily successful professional career in dance, but regularly returned to teach and choreograph. What’s more, in addition to being “charismatic, caring and utterly brilliant,” Battle noted, “She knew Mr. Ailey and drew inspiration as a dancer from Ms. Jamison.

And her vision for Ailey II will not only bring fresh perspectives to Mr.

Ailey’s legacy, but also bring new voices to the stage and propel the Company forward. She is the perfect choice to lead Ailey II.” Ailey II is an artistically important part of the Ailey vision, says former Ailey dancer Sylvia Waters who served as that company’s first artistic director for 38 years after Mr. Ailey entrusted her with this smaller troupe designed to serve, among other things, as “a performance vehicle for the gifted and talented dancers of the Ailey School to teach them what it was to be in a company.” It’s done such a successful job of training future dancers that many Ailey II dancers have gone on to join the main company, AAADT, and many choreographers whose works were presented by the second company have gone on to create dances on the first company.

Battle’s excitement about the choice of Francesca Harper to head this important artistic entity is underscored by a resume that he and Bennett Rink, executive director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, found impressive to say the least.

The multi-talented, multi-discipline Harper has had an impressive career as a dancer, choreographer, singer, actor, director, producer and teacher both in America and in Europe. She grew up surrounded by dance greats studying at the Ailey School, becoming a soloist with the Dance Theatre of Harlem under the

direction of Arthur Mitchell, choreographed works for both of the Ailey professional companies and DTH, Hubbard Street II, and La Bale Da Cidade, among others, as well as works commissioned by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and her own The Francesca Harper Project; has been a principal dancer with Ballet Frankfurt, under choreographer William Forsythe, and a featured performer in Broadway shows; has served as a consultant for major film and stage productions; and has extensive teaching experience, with posts at Juilliard, New York University, Barnard, and The Ailey School’s joint BFA program with Fordham University. She is the daughter of the late Denise Jefferson, who directed The Ailey School from 1984 to 2010.

It is this last point, Harper says, that makes her appointment of Ailey II feel like life coming full circle.

“My mother, Denise Jefferson, was always my inspiration and mentor for teaching and giving back to the community. Through her work at The Ailey School she changed the landscape for young aspiring dance artists, including me, and was an unfailing example of courage and compassion. I feel I grew up at The Ailey School, and now, having performed and choreographed around the world, it is profoundly moving to me to come home, accepting the great privilege of leading Ailey II.” Describing her reaction upon learning of her appointment, Harper says, “It just felt like everything was in alignment. “The moment that everything fell into place there was something that I was embodying,” she said recalling herself as a little

girl visiting her mother in her own office as head of The Ailey School.

Fast forward to today, Harper said, “I thought about the moment that I’m there working in the building again and my daughter comes in to hang out with me and sees my mother’s picture on the 2nd floor and then I think about all we’ve been through and the movement we’ve all been through,” Harper says referring to both her family’s involvement in the early Civil Rights Movement and the current Black Lives Matter movement and the heightened awareness of the need for diversity, equity and inclusion, for Blacks and for women, and the Ailey organization’s own legacy of art reflective of the cares and concerns of the world we inhabit. Harper says of her new appointment, “It feels so much bigger than me.”

Ms. Harper and the Ailey organization are also announced the appointment of Lakey Evans-Peña as rehearsal director of the company.

A former member of Ailey II herself, Ms. Evans-Peña has been serving as a teacher and advisor for The Ailey School and will continue in that role while taking up her new responsibilities with Ailey II. Renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding emerging choreographers, Ailey II was founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble. Since then, Ailey II has flourished into one of the most popular modern dance companies, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs, a reputation that will only be enhanced by Harper’s appointment.

A

R T

S

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

M

E

N

T

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 17

Nina Simone ‘Greatest Hits and Remixes’ to be released (Courtesy photo)

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH Special to the AmNews It has been announced that a new collection of remixes and greatest hits by The High Priestess of Soul will be released on Verve Records on Oct. 29. The first single from the album, “Feeling Good: Her Greatest Hits and Remixes” is a remix of Simone’s iconic song, “Feeling Good” by renowned DJ Joel Corry. Her voice is displayed with a soft echo performed atop upbeat dance music that would invigorate any dancefloor across the globe.

The album includes seven remixes from popular international DJs and bands like Rudimental and HONNE, and 19 memorable songs like “Strange Fruit,” “Mississippi Goddamn,” and “I Put a Spell On You.” “Feeling Good: Her Greatest Hits and Remixes” offers Simone’s music through the lens of post-modern electronic music.

This is not the first time that her music has been reworked at the hands of electronic DJs. Her music has been attractive to countless remixers, trying their hand and sharing their interpretation of the icon’s

timeless works. This album, though, is a carefully crafted collection created under the guidance of Verve Records which has been releasing her music since 1995.

The expansiveness of the album is a great addition to a new generation of Simone listeners who wish to explore her recordings with fresh ears, to gain a new understanding of the civil rights icon who pushed the envelope in the 1960s until her death in 2003.

The rejuvenation of her art is needed, as young listeners do not have the same outlets and outspoken role models who led this country into a new era as segregation slowly toppled under the feet of musicians and artists like Simone. Knowing that her music can touch the world in the 21st century should be comforting, even if purists feel that the electronic augmentation of DJ and musicians is not the best path for her original songs.

We must understand that everything moves forward, and there is a privilege that we hold in learning more and re-imagining Nina Simone’s songs for years to come.

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO SEE THIS MUSICAL MASTERPIECE. BROADWAY TICKETS FROM $49 WITH CODE COCAM SHARON D CLARKE

Book and Lyrics by TONY KUSHNER Music by JEANINE TESORI Choreographed by ANN YEE Directed by MICHAEL LONGHURST

13 WEEKS ONLY • BEGINS OCT 8 Major support for Caroline, or Change generously provided by Ravenel Curry and Jane Moss Underwriting support provided by Roundabout’s Musical Production Fund partners, Andrew Martin Weber and Elizabeth Armstrong.

Caroline, or Change benefits from Roundabout’s Musical Production Fund with lead gifts from The Howard Gilman Foundation, the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Michael Kors and Lance Le Pere, Diane and Tom Tuft, and Cynthia C. Wainwright and Stephen Berger.

Studio 54 254 West 54th Street 212.719.1300 roundabouttheatre.org

18 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

A

R T S

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

M

E

N

T

HOROSCOPES BY KNOWYOURNUMB3RS

KYA FRENCH September 30, 2021 — October 6, 2021 Vinateria CAN SUDDENLY START OR END, BE IT PERSONAL, BUSINESS, FRIEND-RELATED, OR REBIRTH OF A NEW NATION: LOVE VIBES ARE IN THE AIR AS WE ENTER THE AUTUMN SEASON. RELATIONSHIPS STRICTLY PLATONIC. LOVE BEGINS WITH SELF-LOVE FIRST, BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE CAN LOVE YOU THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT TO BE LOVED. NOT EVERYONE LOVES THE SAME, SO UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGES OF LOVE, JUST LIKE MERCURY IN DIFFERENT SIGNS; PEOPLE COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY OR SPEAK WITH A DIFFERENT DIALECT. MERCURY RETROGRADE IN LIBRA AT 25 DEGREES IS ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO APPRECIATE OTHER VIEWPOINTS AND FEELINGS WITHOUT JUDGING OTHERS. HEALTH IS VITAL DURING THIS SEASON, SO TAKE SPECIAL CARE OF YOUR BODY, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH ASTHMATIC CONDITIONS AND ISSUES WITH THE KIDNEYS, ECZEMA, ANEMIA, ETC. TREAT YOUR BODY WELL, AND IT WILL TREAT YOU NICELY IN RETURN.

October sets the tone and the building blocks you’ve formed along your journey Dec 22 – Jan 21 thus far. Somewhat like new and old recipes mixed, to keep the legacy strong for the next generation to come.

Life has its purpose, just like a car. The car is the physical form that gets us from point A to B. The physical body is the vehicle for the spiritual world to connect, build, create, experience, manifest, and contribute to society, whether big or small. So make use of what you have right in front of you. A change within your appearance, relocation, remodeling, or rearranging your home and career is looking bright.

Capricorn

What exciting new piece of art you begin Aquarius to develop around Sept. 25 will carry over Jan 22 – Feb 19 into October, setting the tone of a new chapter in your life? You are motivating yourself by your actions to get it done. Change is different, yet it sets the tone for your uniqueness to shine brightly and fearlessly. It’s best to go with the flow and break free from the birdcage to explore the exciting new opportunities that await you.

Pisces

Finalizing the last details and walkthrough on a plan before its debut is on your schedule. Achieving something you envision is a glorious feeling to accomplish, and share the wealth and knowledge with others. Nothing can stand in your way now that you leveled up and continue to educate to higher grounds. Make life an experience to live for by taking control of your fate. You have a soulful spirit, Pisces. Live, act, and beat your feet to your drum.

Feb 20 – Mar 20

Whether fighting with the energy work with the energy to guide you, it’s about working with June 22–July 23 what you have. Letting go of specific circumstances is great for your overall health, especially if you weren’t there initially. In short, don’t push the issue. Clear away the dead weight or heavy load for clarity. It’s time to begin a new chapter in your life as you are the main character now. Clear away the spider webs and blow away the dust. It’s about being organized and taking account of yourself and your destiny. What is your inner calling leading you to do?

Cancer

This year thus far has been centered around work, family, love, commitment, and routines to avoid all distractions to focus on your achievements. Projects now can be completed this week going into next month, where you’ll see more exponential growth. Take a deep sigh and appreciation of the accomplishments, dedication, and provision to achieve a goal, more like a significant milestone in your life. Then, recuperate your energy by going on a retreat, massage, sunbathing or meditation, etc. This month, synchronicity is no accident. It’s just the nature of the linguistic of how the universe operates.

Leo

July 24 – Aug 23

Can you say it’s easy as one, two, three once you embark on a journey? A journey that keeps going besides being wrapped up in the whirlwind of things that leads you to nowhere. The direction of the cosmic map is telling you to stay the course as you sail through the smooth waters. Creating another masterpiece is fun, as well as the learning experience you share with other folks.

Virgo

Aug 24 – Sep 23

Aries

Take a walk or trip down memory lane, whether it’s a conversation replaying in your mind, specific keywords that stand out that people stated, or a statement that holds value in your upbringing. That seems to be the antidote to a situation, to give birth to a project or new concepts. This week contains information beyond the physical realm that’s tugging on you, be it by change of mood or thoughts that trigger an emotional reaction to receive or deliver a message. Grab a pen and paper to take notes.

Taurus

It’s time for a new scenery within the home by applying a fresh coat of paint or remodeling and rearranging the home. Schedule a few days off work to pamper yourself. This month, create a routine to incorporate into your schedule to assist in the heavy load of responsibilities around the home and the workplace. Researching topics online can be helpful when learning how to do something. One-on-one personal relationships may need special attention as your advice or words of encouragement are needed.

October will center around your one-onone relationships, rearranging or remodeling your home, along with revamping your appearance are in your forecast. You’ll enjoy looking in the mirror more often as your skin glistens, making you more attractive, beautiful, and easy on the eye. Partnerships or joint projects are also a part of the discussion in this cycle. Situations once a mystery is revealed, along with the answers to the questions you seek, will be unveiled.

Mar 21 – Apr 21

This is a phenomenal week to join in community group discussions, along with catching up with a friend you haven’t heard from in a while. This cycle week suggests leaving some wiggle room in your schedule as unexpected delays or serendipitous situations occur. Ask questions if you don’t know, as you’re in an information cycle asking the what, who, when and the why for better clarity.

Apr 22 – May 21

Although this year has taught you to be more assertive and take the lead while lisMay 22 – June 21 tening to your inner intuition, the essential key is the transformation to regain self-focus. Every seven to nine years, changes occur within our body, that our body sends us signals to go with the flow or act upon before the issue gets out of control.

By you listing and following up, you came out on top rather than the bottom. As you move forward, fortitude is required to sail through the waters to guide you.

Gemini

Libra

Sept 24 – Oct 23

Scorpio

Oct 24 – Nov 22

Sagittarius

This is a time to cleanse yourself of unwanted habits, remove outgrown clothes, shoes, or other items that no longer serve a purpose.

Start releasing this month for the newness of a clean slate coming through to shower you with gifts gracefully. Gifts can be spiritual, physical, or accepting that you have a natural talent you can tap into to assist others. When one cycle ends, another starts like an enter and exit sign inside a building, stores, etc. It is time to shed away from the old and embrace the change.

Nov 23 – Dec 21

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

W w

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 19

Resort & Travel

Where to go for a European vibe— without a passport Lush gardens in San Juan, Puerto Rico (Courtesy photo)

By SHERYL NANCE-NASH Special to the AmNews

castles, and of course the classic town square of Plaza de Armas. The Caribe Hilton in While Europe has opened nearby San Juan is on 13 acres much of its borders to American of lush gardens between cobtravelers, particularly those who blestone streets that evoke all are vaccinated, you still may not things Europe and the historfeel ready to go just yet. No wor- ic colonial barrio of Condado ries. You can get a European that today is a go-to for shopping for those who aren’t convibe without a passport.

Here are some of the places cerned about price tags. you can fake it until you make Key West, Florida the trip across the pond.

Key West is its own thing.

Funky, quirky, great food.

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico If you fell asleep and woke Some have compared it to Alup in Old San Juan, you could garve, a darling of a small think you’re still dreaming and beach town in Portugal. They you’re in 16th century Europe. both have colorful downtowns Old San Juan screams old- that are full of local charm and world Europe, with its design personality, cool shops you and 500-year-old architec- won’t see in every town. Boats ture, especially the fab Goth are big in both, as is fishing. and Renaissance Revival-style Seafood reigns supreme. As See TRAVEL on page 21 cathedrals. Then there are the

“A LONG-BURIED TREASURE.

TROUBLE IN MIND IS EXTRAORDINARILY WINNING AND SCATHINGLY FUNNY.” —PETER MARKS, WASHINGTON POST

BROADWAY TICKETS FROM $39 WITH CODE TIMAM

11 WEEKS ONLY BEGINS OCTOBER 29 SM

American Airlines Theatre

227 West 42nd Street 212.719.1300

roundabouttheatre.org

20 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 A

R T

S

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

M

E

N

T

William ‘Doc’ Gibbs, master percussionist, dies at 73 William “Doc” Gibbs Jr., considered one of the fathers of the Philadelphia percussive community and one of the most sought-after percussionists in the music industry, died in Salem, Oregon on Sept. 15, after a long struggle with prostate cancer. He was 73.

Gibbs appeared on more than 200 albums and toured the world playing across genres from jazz to R&B with such diverse musicians as Grover Washington Jr., Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Bob James, George Benson, Nancy Wilson, Al Jarreau, Ricki Lee Jones, Wyclef Jean, Erykah Badu and Eric Benet. He was an elected member of the Philadelphia chapter board of

Tonys Continued from page 15

governors of the National Association of Recording Artists and Sciences.

“We lost a major presence, Doc was a premiere African American percussionist who established a high standard in the music business,” said his friend and percussionist Neil Clarke.

From 1997 to 2007, he was the musical director for “Emeril Live” a Food Network cooking show that featured the outrageous host Emeril Lagasse with Gibb’s percussions in the background. In 2002, Gibbs recorded his only album as a leader “Servin’ It Up! Hot!” The saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. gave Gibbs the nickname “Doc” after he suggested herbal remedies for his cold during “Grover’s Live at the Bijou” album in 1976. “There are two doctors in Philly, Dr. J. (of the Philadelphia 76ers) and Am Telling You, I’m Not Going!”

Broadway also paid tribute to famous duets, and one which gave everyone chills was Tony winners Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell performing “Wheels of a Dream” from “Ragtime.” That had to be one of the most astonishing moments in Tony history. You could literally see people in the Broadwaystar-filled audience, holding their chests and wiping their eyes.

Actress Daphne Rubin-Vega also presented a Special Tony Honor to “Freestyle Love Supreme,” which among its founders is Lin-Manual Miranda. And the Tony Awards ended with a fantastic performance by the ensemble and special guest members of “Freestyle Love Supreme,” which will be returning to Broadway this season.

Among the Tony presenters on the stage were LaChanze, Ron Cephas Jones, Wendell Pierce, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Jordan Fisher. And with fantastic performances from Broadway shows including “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life And Times of the Temptations”— which featured John Legend, “Jagged Little Pill,” “David Byrne’s American Utopia,” “Freestyle Love Supreme,” and “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” viewers received a tasty sample of what Broadway has to offer.

All-in-all it was a stupendous occasion!

honor means he shared, “I feel overwhelmed, proud, affirmed, seen. I feel like people saw the industry is excited to shift. Black Lives Matter is easy to say, but you can’t say it until there’s a standard. The BAC standard is everybody else has full range to participate.”

Throughout the evening Broadway’s message was about inclusion and the fact that Black voices will not be silenced.

Daniel Watts from “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” performed in a powerful number in which the message was that it’s wrong to try to lessen the voices of others. “You can’t stop this beat, this beat will refuse.

This beat will resist arrest.”

A special Tony performance dedicated to BAC, introduced

by BAC founding members Amber Iman and Warren, boasted marvelous tap dancing and the gorgeous voices of Broadway Inspirational Voices.

This was an evening filled with Black excellence as the audience was taken back to the original cast of “Dreamgirls” on Broadway, and one of the original Dreamgirls, Sheryl Lee Ralph—who is now a producer on Broadway for “Thoughts of a Colored Man”—introduced her co-star and the lead in the original Broadway cast, Jennifer Facebook/Instagram/TwitHolliday, who bought the house ter: @TheTonyAwards down with a stupendous, monTikTok: @OfficialTonyAwards umental performance of “And I #TonyAwards

Doctor Gibbs,” Grover shared with the Bijou Cafe audience.

Gibbs became a core member of the group Locksmith, which was the backup band for Washington in the mid-’70s, touring the U.S. and Europe.

In the Yoruba/Orisa community and those in the know Gibbs was known as “Baba Doc” he was a priest of Obatala for more than 35 years and was one of the tradition’s highly respected and revered sacred batá drummers. Baba Doc co-founded the organization Drums for Peace, which seeks to invoke the power of percussion in support of global harmony.

In 2015, the native Philadelphian relocated to Los Angeles and recently to Salem, Oregon.

While in Los Angeles he returned to teaching drum and percussion instruments. He also created Baba Doc’s Heal-

ing Sound therapy, a practice that uses percussion as a form of healing and reconnecting.

Leonard William “Doc” Gibbs Jr. was born Nov. 8, 1948, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He attended West Philadelphia High School while studying percussion instruments before attending the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in the early 1970s. He left the academy to pursue his music aspirations. His recording debut was with Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Big Band in 1974. He recorded two tracks which appeared on different albums. He traveled from Philly to New York City’s Village Vanguard every Monday to sit in with the Jones/ Lewis Big Band. During an interview he recalled being paid $20 per night and says he actually lost money after paying for gas and tolls. When Jones asked the percussionist to go on

tour to Europe, Gibbs declined.

He later said, “With such a big band I didn’t think it was worth it from a financial perspective.”

“He took the idea of supporting Philadelphia musicians and helped elevate them to a much higher platform or level. People forget that we look at Lee Morgan and John Coltrane as the Golden Age of Philadelphia jazz music,” recalled longtime friend, Lovett Hines, music education director of The Philadelphia Clef Club. “Still, in later years, people like Doc Gibbs, John Blake, and Grover Washington Jr. kept the legacy going and moving forward. In fact, they were the incubators responsible for creating soft jazz that people listen to today and Doc Gibbs was a major part of that.”

Information on Gibbs’ funeral or memorial service was not available at time of this printing.

(Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Adrienne Warren, Christopher Jackson, Jared Grimes, Daniel J. Watts, Amber Iman and Leslie Odom Jr. attend the 74th annual Tony Awards at Winter Garden Theatre Sept. 26, 2021 in New York City.

An evening with Gregory Porter

Grammy award-winning jazz vocalist Gregory Porter (instagram.com/gregoryportermusic) brought his singular sounds back to NJPAC in Newark last Friday night. (Risasi Dais photo)

A

R T S

Travel Continued from page 19

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

M

E

N

T

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 21

COME FOR THE LOVE. COME FOR THE HOPE. COME FOR THE JOY.

Lush gardens in San Juan, Puerto Rico (Courtesy photo)

for where to stay in Key West, you might want to go for the only private natural sand beach, The Reach Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton, with its generous heaping of local artwork, and Hemingway-inspired oceanfront eatery.

Phoenix, Arizona If you can’t be in Spain’s Almeria Province, a Spanish desert escape awaits you in Phoenix and its vast semi-desert scrubland. Make like you’re in Spain at the Arizona Biltmore. The adults-only pool is landscaped with palms. The nights are for stargazing from your private cottage and you can complete the mood with a meal at Renata’s Hearth for elevated Latin cuisine.

New Orleans, Louisiana If you’re not feeling the Eiffel Tower right now, but want a piece of Paris, think the Big Easy. French culture is everywhere, from those iron-laced balconies to the architecture and cuisine, particularly pastries. Beignets anyone? You know all about the French Quarter. Eat, drink and be merry. The Roosevelt New Orleans is convenient if you don’t want to be too far from the action of the French Quarter.

Park City, Utah An Austrian mountainside retreat might not happen this year, but you can do Park City.

Written, Performed and Directed by

RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON

Music Performed by Scenic Design Costume Design Lighting Design Sound Design Original Music

JUNIOR

MACK

MICHAEL KAREN JEN DARRON L BILL CARNAHAN PERRY SCHRIEVER WEST SIMS JR.

LIMITED BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT NOW IN PREVIEWS LackawannaOnBroadway.com

Those alpine vistas are pretty darn impressive.

The hiking trails are world-class and for a little bit of a city bonus, Main Street is where you’ll find restaurants, galleries and shops. Just five minutes away is the Waldorf Astoria Park City with its Wasatch Range Mountain views that will make you forget about Austria.

Las Vegas, Nevada You probably don’t need an excuse to go to

PHOTO BY BENEDICT EVANS

Vegas. This time, say you’re going to get your Greek on. Yes, it can be a Greece-inspired Getaway. If you don’t think so, try Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Curio Collection by Hilton. You can’t deny the Mykonos flavor at the onsite Elia Beach Club, a poolside day club with Grecian stonework and wood-framed cabanas overlooking a Mediterranean-style pool. The theme continues with Todd English’s Mediterranean-influenced restaurant, Olives.

22 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

IN

THE

CLASSROOM

Ella Sheppard, pianist and original member of Fisk Jubilee Singers

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

ently that marriage ended and he married again, and was once more purchasing his wife from slavery for $1,300.

Her free papers, however,

Thus far we’ve profiled three members of the legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers—Eliza Walker (alto), Isaac Dick- Ella Sheppard erson (tenor), and Benjamin Holmes (bass).

Before we close out the series on the original Jubilee Singers with a group portrait, we highlight the musicianship of Ella Sheppard, who was listed as a soprano, but she was also an accomplished pianist.

Sheppard’s account actually begins with her telling Gustavus Pike about her father, who bought himself from slavery in Nashville, Tenn., where she was born in 1851. She was gravely ill at 15 months while living in Mississippi with an inattentive mother. When her father heard that their master was preparing to sell her he hurried to Mississippi, paid $350 for her and brought her back to Nashville with him.

“Shortly after,” Sheppard continued, “he returned to purchase my mother. were not completed and six The bargain had been made; months later her father’s busimy father, mother, and the ness failed from his inability overseer, were in Nashville, and to pay his debts. “One night he the bill of sale was to be signed was secretly warned by a white the following day, when word gentleman that his creditors came from her master that she intended to claim my mother. must not be sold, but returned If a man bought his wife, she to Mississippi; and so she was was considered his slave until obliged to leave her husband free papers were made out, and child at once, and go back and could be taken for debt again into slavery. My father the same as any other properthen kept a livery stable, and ty. My father quickly returned was doing quite a good busi- to his house, and hastened ness, owning four carriages and my mother off for Cincinnaeight horses.” ti that very night. They went It is not clear in her recollec- a long distance to a station in tion exactly what happened the woods, where they would then between her father and not be recognized, to take the mother but appar- twelve o’clock train. Soon after he took me and followed,

SPONSORED BY

leaving everything to his creditors. Here he began life over again. We had literally nothing to start with, but collected household furniture piece by

piece. My mother took in washing and ironing, and when able to do so, kept a private boardinghouse. I attended the Seventh Street colored school, but when twelve years old, was obliged to leave my studies on account of ill health, and could not return to them till I was fourteen.”

She had begun taking piano lessons a year before with a German woman. For two and half years she studied with her.

But a tragedy would interrupt this process when her father died of cholera. Their financial situation was not very good but she was fortunate enough to be adopted by J.P Ball who

thoroughly trained her in music. A succession of teachers and benefactors entered her life and eventually she was off to Fisk University.

“First week a friend sent me one music scholar,” she said, “and in a few weeks I had two others. At the end of the term I was nearly sick, and spent the vacation with my stepmother. I entered school again in the fall, and studied till Christmas, and then gave myself entirely to preparing for the concert shortly to be given.

After the concert I was thrown onto my bed, and not able to do any thing. Permission was granted to me to remain at the school, and help or pay as I was able; and I should have been forty-four dollars in debt at the end of the year, had it not been for the sewing I did at odd moments, or when confined to my bed. That vacation I was offered the position of assistant music teacher in the University. I retained that position during the year, and at the close, after assisting to prepare the pupils to sing the Cantata of Esther, I was requested to remain, and help drill the Jubilee Singers during the summer, before we started for the North.”

As you see, Sheppard had to overcome a number of obstacles to attain her musical plateau. In the next and final installment we will profile the remaining original members of the Jubilee Singers, Thomas Rutlin (tenor), Maggie Porter (soprano), Minnie Tate (alto), and Greene Evans (bass).

ACTIVITIES FIND OUT MORE Once again Gustavus Pike is the primary and indispensable source of this and other profiles of the singers.

DISCUSSION There are a number of perplexing and unanswered questions about Sheppard’s life and if Pike didn’t disclose them they are probably lost forever.

PLACE IN CONTEXT Like the other members of the Jubilee Singers, Sheppard was born a decade or so before the Civil War, though no date is given for her death.

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY Sept. 27, 1912: Legendary composer W.C. Handy publishes “Memphis Blues,” the first notated blues song.

Sept. 28, 1975: WGPR-TV (Where God’s Presence Radiates), the first Black-owned TV station, is launched in Detroit.

Sept. 29, 1962: President Kennedy orders federal troops to ensure the integration of the University of Mississippi.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 23

Education NYC closes out Climate Week (Ariama C. Long photos)

By ARIAMA C. LONG Report for America Corps Member, Amsterdam News Staff The climate strike began at City Hall Park and marched downtown to Battery Park, where speakers, students of all ages, and organizers came together to demand more political recognition and action against climate change. An unsurprising sight since last week, Sept. 20-24, was United Nations Climate Week in the city.

Many of the young marchers were a part of local climate advocate groups, such as Launch Middle School, Green New Deal, the Sunrise Movement, and No NBK Pipeline.

Aderinsola Babawale, 19, of the Brownsville Green Justice organization, paused briefly to speak about the gas bill strike and lawsuit they’ve filed against National Grid and their controversial pipeline that’s set to run through North Brooklyn. Construction on the fracked gas pipeline started back in 2017 and has completed several stages so far, but coalitions like Babawale’s have been fighting tooth and nail to slow down and stop its completion.

“They were trying to use NYCHA as a pawn to say the gas will be flowing and heating homes,” said Babawale. “That infrastructure is not going to provide anything for anyone. It’s only going to provide more money to line the pockets of CEOs and ignore everybody’s well-being.”

Activist Ali Diini, one of the young-

climate resiliency and how to deal with est candidates running for Senate Dis- it right,” said Adams. trict 30 in Harlem, said that signing a Adams said that his resiliency plan extreme storms.

Last Wednesday, Sept. 22, de Blasio put green new deal should be the gover- deals with “prevention,” such as longnor’s highest priority. term goals of ending dependence on out the plan for a $75 million investment for more electric vehicles and charging stations, which there are 90 of in current operation (eight for public use). And in Monday’s briefing, Sept. 27, the mayor said he is planning a $2.1 billion investment for the Department of Environmental Protection and $238 million in DEP projects, based on a storm-related extreme weather report the city compiled.

The new report charts a path for investing in vulnerable neighborhoods, shoring up infrastructure, warning communities ahead of major weather events, and better tracking storms before they arrive, said de Blasio.

“Extreme weather is more common “This is unequally affecting commu- fossil fuels and having clean energy lines, nities of color, frontline communities, and “intervention” which focuses on cre- than ever, and more severe than ever.

I myself had my basement flooded be- ating an early warning system to notify Business as usual is over. Keeping New cause of Hurricane Ida,” said Diini at the residents ahead of time and bringing Yorkers safe means profoundly changing the way we prepare for—and react to— rally. “Climate change, this is a crisis that’s basement apartments up to code. happening today.”

Adams said he wants to incentivize this new normal,” said de Blasio.

Adams said that de Blasio’s plan is a While the youth-led climate strike more green buildings, fast track storm marched through downtown Manhat- funding for recovery, appoint a climate “great starting point” for a proper retan, Mayor-elect and Brooklyn Borough czar that can weigh in on the resiliency of sponse and should be built out more.

President Eric Adams and other electeds land use and development projects, and Ariama C. Long is a Report for Ameriaddressed the rising threat of extreme prioritize environmental justice projects. weather in the city outside NYCHA’s “We must emphasize what we must do ca corps member and writes about culture Haber Houses in Brooklyn. now to protect life, to protect property, and politics in New York City for The AmThe site is a senior development that is and to protect New Yorkers and business- sterdam News. Your donation to match one of more than two dozen public hous- es that we saw devastated in Hurricane our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making ing sites still rebuilding from Hurricanes Ida,” said Adams.

Sandy and Katrina, said Adams. “Let’s Current Mayor Bill de Blasio also an- a tax-deductible gift of any amount today face it, we screwed up the planet, let’s get nounced his beefed up blueprints for by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

24 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Health Snoopy, Woodstock come to life in Harlem Hospital mural On Saturday, Sept. 25, children from the Harlem community joined staff members from Harlem Hospital in painting a six-panel Snoopy and Woodstock mural that

will be displayed in the hospital’s pediatric unit. The mural is one of hundreds being donated by Peanuts to hospitals on six continents as part of the Take Care with Pea-

nuts initiative, a global program that inspires everyone to take care of themselves, take care of each other, and take care of the Earth.

YOU ALWAYS KEEP THEM SAFE. WITH VACCINES, THEY’LL BE EVEN SAFER. CHILDREN AGES 12-17 CAN NOW BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

Get your child vaccinated for a safe return to school. Children who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 are less likely to get and spread COVID-19.

LET’S KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE AND OUR SCHOOLS COVID-FREE. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines and where to get one, visit nyc.gov/covidvaccine.

Inwood Continued from page 3

complete with rooms for classes and programs, computers, quiet spaces for all ages, and all of the amenities that the “community needs, wants, and deserves.” He emphasized that the pandemic was an extremely stressful time, exposing gaps in the city’s education, economic, and health systems that can be corrected going forward.

“Loved the old library. Hard to see it go,” said Marx, “The silver lining has to be how do we rebuild as we come out of that time.”

Many of the partners present at the groundbreaking also spoke fondly of the original Inwood Library, reminiscing on it being a safe space for many immigrant children, like themselves, after school.

Rodriguez’s successor in his city council seat, Assemblymember Carmen de la Rosa, said that she spent a long time at the library learning skills to help her survive in a new country.

“I immigrated to this community as an undocumented child in the ’90s, and there was a trailer on the other side of this fence and that’s where I went to kindergarten,” said de la Rosa. “I didn’t know a word of English; my mother was a home health aide who also did not know a word

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS of English. But the library welcomed our family. And the structure that was here was a place where I spent many after school hours, learning English, to translate the documents, so that my parents could also move ahead.”

The project is led by a vast group of community non-profits including CLOTH and The Children’s Village, their partners Ranger Properties, Housing Workshop, and Alembic Community Development, with coordinated public-private partnerships from the NYPL, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and Robin Hood, the city’s largest poverty-fighting philanthropy.

The project was closed in April 2021 and construction is expected to be completed by October 2023.

In the meantime, Inwood residents will continue to have access to library resources, services, and staff at a temporary branch located at 4857 Broadway across the street.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America Corps member and writes about culture and politics in New York City for the AmsterdamNews. 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://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

Life

Continued from page 4

financial loss, her 2-year-old son was diagnosed with severe autism. The back-to-back adversities Gordon faced left her in desperate need of medical support and resources for her son.

So, after receiving no tangible help from social workers, Gordon took to social media.

“Four women came to my aid and put their heads together. One contacted the local children’s specialized hospital. Whatever magic she did, within two weeks, got my son the therapy that he needed. Another woman decided that every month she was going to buy my son’s medical supplies so that I won’t have to worry. The two other women helped put me back into college. They told me that I have to expand myself, I have to uplift myself and understand there’s life after trauma. So, they paid my previous tuition and paid for me to get back into school, and as of today, I was 3.8 GPA,” Gordon said.

Since beginning her life after trauma, Gordon decided to pay the help she received forward. “Everyone deserves to get blessings. I’ve received some blessings, but I didn’t walk away with those blessings. I decided to give it back to marginalized communities across

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 25 America,” she said.

With Hurricane Ida relief as her most recent way of paying it forward, Gordan’s magical assistance in helping the Black and Brown communities of New Jersey recover from Hurricane Ida shows that her mission continues to breathe life into disadvantaged communities.

“We don’t just help a person and just move on. That’s the problem with many nonprofits and shelters.

A lot of people need emotional help.

They need financial help. We need to uplift them so that they cannot continue to be in the same predicament each and every month, struggling,” Fairy Godmother said. “We decided to create a structured 90-day program that helps the families get at least 80% stabilized.”

The foundation’s 90-day plan supports families in obtaining trades, going back to school, building interpersonal relationships, perfecting their credit scores, finding safe housing and gaining other tangible life essentials.

CONNECT WITH THE BLACK FAIRY GODMOTHER If you need help recovering from Hurricane Ida or other life disasters visit www.theblackfairygodmother.org and fill out an application.

If you want to get help from The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation’s mission visit www.theblackfairygodmother.org and join the ‘Adopt A Family Program.’

26 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Religion & Spirituality First Baptist Church of Crown Heights celebrates its Homecoming Service

By DEACON MAURICE REID Special to the AmNews On Sunday, Sept. 12, the Rev. Rashad Raymond Moore and the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights celebrated its Homecoming Service as it held its first in-person service in more than 17 months. More than 250 members, elected officials and friends of First Baptist raised their voices in joyful praise as they gave thanks to the Creator for allowing them to be back in the house of the Lord. The Congregants expressed their joy that “We have come this far by faith” and by sharing Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let Us go to the house of the Lord.’”

The Homecoming Celebration included the glorious sounds of the choir and a

performance by the Dance Ministry. The highlight of the service was the sermon on “Resetting the Room” by the Rev. Moore as he encouraged the congregation to appreciate the moment, “reset the room,” and demonstrate a new attitude of thanksgiving and appreciation.

The Homecoming Service was followed by an outdoor “Masks and Mingle” celebration in front of the church.

(Lem Peterkin photos)

Celebrating the life of Shanice Young

By AUTODIDACT 17 Special to the AmNews Family, friends & the Harlem community in general attended three days of memorial services for domestic violence victim Shanice L. Young, 31, and her unborn daughter, Soleil, who were murdered Sept. 12 in Harlem as she returned home from her own baby shower. The heartbreaking deaths have “moved the city.”

A private ceremony was held Sept.

22 with family and close friends. The following day, a horse-drawn carriage carrying Shanice’s casket was chaperoned by several dozen sympathizers, headed south on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. from 125th St. to Canaan Baptist Church (132 W.116th St.). The all-white casket was placed inside, front-center while Apostle Dr. Staci Ramos emphasized that the heavy-hearted ceremony was a “celebration of life,” while attempting to raise the full capacity attendees’ spirits, which included Shanice’s two young daughters––Shaniyah and Kimora,

relatives, childhood friends, schoolmates and co-workers.

Dr. Ramos delved into various Bible verses seeking to find understanding on “Why God allowed this to happen” to the young, pregnant mother.

“Someone who was loving and so full of life,” to be a “victim of such senseless violence.” She acknowledged that Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office funded the funeral, while Mrs. Hazel Duke provided the flowers.

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams advised, “We gotta stick by the family,” before speaking against domestic violence. Then offered his “prayers to the family, Shanice and unborn child. My heart’s with you, the community is with you.

Shanice has moved a city! This tragedy will never fade.”

One of Shanice’s sisters said: “She brought all of us together. She would be so pleased. To know me is to know Shanice.”

A lady who described herself as “Shanice’s second mother,” warned against domestic violence and “holding it back from family and friends.”

She urged not to hesitate speaking up

“before it’s too late.”

Shanice’s best friend Matania concluded the evening sharing fond memories.

Reportedly, Shanice’s father, Thurman Young, who attended Thursday’s memorial, revealed that her alleged killer, Justin Soriano, was the father of her unborn child, adding that she was victimized by domestic violence––having three orders of protection against him since they had split a couple months ago.

“He’s Satan,” Thurman noted. “Say that’s the one word I used to describe him. I don’t want him to see the light of day. I could sleep now knowing that [guy is in custody].”

Adding that the second-degree murder charge wasn’t sufficient: “Is that all? He should be charged with two murder counts. That baby inside her was a person. That baby was going to live.”

Shanice’s relative, Diedra Thomas, said: “You never know what it’s like, until it happens to you. There are two children that is the motivation and the concern to ensure that they make it. It’s about them, period. And that’s

all that I’m here for, to ensure they beat the odds. They don’t have their mother and the way that it was done is horrific.”

On Sept. 14, New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin marched with a group to a candle-lit vigil at the site where Young was murdered: “My heart goes out to the family and friends of Shanice Young for this senseless loss. She was due to have her child in five days. I will do everything I can as lieutenant governor to help end gun violence. What we’re dealing with right now in Harlem is a national catastrophe,” he said.

The NYPD arrested Soriano on Sept.

16 at Carlisle Place in the Bronx and charged him at Harlem’s 32nd Precinct with second-degree murder, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, and acting in a manner injurious to a child. Further charges are pending. During his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, no bail was offered.

Shanice’s funeral was conducted Friday morning at Harlem’s Unity Funeral Home, in English and Spanish to accommodate her joint heritage.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 27

‘Overwhelmed’ IRS slipped up Missing

By ARIAMA C. LONG Report for America Corps Member, Amsterdam News Staff A “technical issue” at the Internal Revenue Service caused a delay in the promised monthly delivery of Child Tax Credits this month, but that’s far from the only COVID-related tax reform that’s affecting disadvantaged taxpayers. There’s also been a sharp rise in letters from the IRS being sent out saying many who qualified for stimulus payments owe back taxes because of a complicated process called a “math error.”

Tax experts said this is among the many issues currently overwhelming the underfunded and understaffed institution, which inevitably the average taxpayer has to pay for.

The Tax Foundation’s senior policy analyst Garrett Watson said that it’s been an incredibly stressed two years for the IRS because of the short staffing and economic relief that’s been brought into the tax code to battle the COVID19 crisis.

“It’s led to a combination of things, including making it harder for taxpayers to reach the IRS if they end up having notices or questions about potential errors in their returns and just getting returns processed more generally,” said Watson. “There’s been delays as well.”

The IRS said that they have now “resolved” the technical issue, which they estimated caused about 2% or less of child tax credit recipients not to get their September payments. The impacted group primarily included taxpayers who recently made an update on their bank account or address on the IRS Child Tax Credit Update Portal and affected payments to married filing jointly taxpayers where only one spouse made a bank or address change, said the IRS. “We know people depend on receiving these payments on time and we apologize for the delay,” said the IRS in a statement.

Watson said the vaccination process and general reopenings from last year have been helping, but it’s essentially a giant “backlog” that needs processing.

He also said IRS resourc-

Continued from page 3

ing and enforcement, meaning decreasing the audit rate and having more agents to answer questions, needs to be addressed.

“For taxpayers themselves, but even for preparers who are working on their behalf.

It’s even hard for them to get a hold of anyone or to go through the written correspondence, especially if there’s a math error,” said Watson.

The National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) section of the IRS posted in a blog about the surge in “math errors” related to the disbursement of Economic Stimulus Payments vs the Recovery Rebate Credit since the pandemic disrupted the usual tax season.

Last year there were about 628,997 IRS math error corrections made, said the NTA. The Wall Street Journal reported that as of the beginning of September 2021 about 11 million IRS math error notices, which looks like a first and final bill demanding money, have been sent out, which is astronomical compared to the average 3 million notices.

These notices give a 60-day time period for taxpayers to dispute the charges, made increasingly harder because of understaffing and an overloaded automated system.

“Unfortunately, because the math error notices do not clearly articulate what was adjusted and why, taxpayers are often left confused as to what changes have been made” or if they agree in the first place, wrote the NTA. Also, the language of “rebate credit” or “stimulus payment” often left people confused as to why they would have to pay back freely given money related to the pandemic at all, wrote the NTA in a second blog post.

Watson said the demographic of taxpayers that are usually hit with these bills are people not connected to the tax system, disproportionately low-income households, families with children with low salary jobs that don’t always necessitate filing a return, and people who don’t have access to the internet or adequate help to file a return.

It’s the folks the IRS knows the least information about, said Watson, and they are

more likely to make mistakes because this would be the first time filing for child tax payments, rebate credits or stimulus payments.

“Having some sort of safe harbor for taxpayers trying to do the right thing makes a lot of sense,” said Watson. “Especially if there’s established evidence that they’re working and trying to correspond to do the right thing and correct this stuff. It doesn’t make sense to penalize them further just because the IRS is overwhelmed.”

Watson said that if the reconciliation package being argued over in Congress presently passes it would add even more tax changes on top of all the issues the IRS is dealing with.

“The Build Back Better Act will restore the American dream for everyday individuals across our nation by creating millions of good-paying jobs, lifting children out of poverty and cutting taxes for working-class families,” said Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) in a statement.

Jeffries and colleagues in Congress are trying to get the “Build Back Better” bill passed along with the $1 trillion infrastructure bill and a debt ceiling increase in, before government funding runs out this Thursday, Sept.

30, reported PBS Newshour.

The bill could provide the IRS with much needed aid so that the burden stops falling on American taxpayers.

“On top of being the largest middle-class tax cut in American history, House Democrats are fighting to ensure that the bill provides upwards of $3 billion to the IRS to help reverse years of underfunding and understaffing. These critical investments will help close more than $7 trillion of tax gap and make sure the wealthy pay their fair share,” said Jeffries.

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

located. On Sept. 4 an additional search was conducted in the LaSalle Peru area by members of the Illinois Search and Rescue Council along with other search agencies in the area. Day’s body was recovered floating near the south bank of the Illinois River.

Day was a graduate student at Illinois State University pursuing his master’s degree in speech pathology. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the historically Black Alabama A&M University.

In a statement released

by Day’s family, efforts are now focusing on what happened to him.

“At this moment there are more questions than answers surrounding Jelani’s disappearance and death, and that is where we will focus our energy,” the family said.

“As of this moment, we do not know what happened to Jelani and we will not stop until we do. Thank you to every single person who has thought about, prayed for, talked about and searched for Jelani.

The love you’ve shown our family has sustained us and we will definitely need you even more in the days to come.”

A public memorial service for Day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9 in Danville, Ill.The family has set up a GoFundMe (www.gofundme.com/f/ find-jelani-day) for support. Anyone with information on Day’s death is asked to call police.

In another case of a missing Black man, 24-yearold geologist Daniel Robinson of Buckeye, Arizona has been missing since June 23 when he left his job site. Police say his vehicle was found with his keys, wallet and cell phone left behind.

Robinson is a field geologist and oversees many sites located in remote desert locations, often working in extreme conditions and traveling long distances to work on projects.

At a press conference last weekend, Robinson’s

family say police aren’t doing enough to look for him, hoping to get the treatment given to Petito, who had police departments from three states and the FBI involved in her case.

Robinson’s father, David, said police cancelled a helicopter search to look for Robinson and he was told because his son “is a grown man” he has the right to leave when he wants. Petito is just two years younger than Daniel.

Local police say the condition of Robinson’s vehicle points to an accident where his 2017 Jeep Renegade rolled off of a cliff. They don’t believe foul play is involved.

David traveled from South Carolina to conduct his own search with the help of drones, volunteers, search dogs and social media.

“If the [police] stepped up to the plate, I wouldn’t be standing here now,” David said at the press conference. “After waiting for Buckeye police department to do more searches for my son, I knew I had to do something because time was crucial. I couldn’t go another day allowing the desert to separate me from being there for my son.”

Robinson’s mother, Melissa Edmonds, said the pain of her son missing has been unbearable.

“It took me three months to look at my son’s picture. I’d just seen his car. It took me three months to look at his car,” she said. “You thought you felt pain, try looking for your child and not knowing where he is.

He might be a man to you but he’s still my baby and we’re going to find him. I know it in my heart.”

Robinson’s family has started a GoFundMe (www.gofundme.com/f/ sebxxc-help-find-daniel), which has raised over $130,000 as of Tuesday.

Anyone with information or who has seen Robinson is being asked to contact police or go to pleasehelpfinddaniel.com.

28 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

Nite Continued from page 9

In the not-so-distant future, iHeartMedia’s Power 105.1, Home of The Breakfast Club and Angie Martinez, New York’s Hip Hop and R&B, announced the star-studded lineup for its annual live music event, Powerhouse produced by Live Nation. The event will take place on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. EST, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Beginning Friday, Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. tickets will be available to the general public via Ticketmaster.com. Fans can also purchase tickets by visiting the Box Office at Prudential Center beginning Monday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. EST, or while supplies last.

In addition, fans can listen to win tickets and stay up to date on this year’s biggest hip hop and R&B concert on Power1051fm.com. Fans can also tag @PruCenter and #Powerhouse to prepare for Power 105.1’s Powerhouse.Author The Broadcast Hall of Fame crew, DJDeborah Envy, Angela

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS Yee and Charlamagne Tha God of “The one of the greatest albums of all time.

Breakfast Club,” officially announced Presented by Diaspora Calling and the all-star performers on-air for Pow- produced by Live Nation, the 12-city erhouse which will include Migos, Mon- international tour kicked off with an ineybagg Yo, Polo G, Saweetie, Capella timate pop-up show in New York City, Grey, SpinKing and Friends, with more at an undisclosed location. The rest of to be announced. the tour will commence November 2nd “We’re beyond excited to give the at United Center in Chicago and will Tri-State an incredible line-up fea- make stops across the globe in Los Anturing the biggest names in hip hop & geles, Miami, Newark, Paris, London, R&B,” said Thea Mitchem, executive and more, before finishing the tour in VP of programming/program director Africa, with the final shows taking place power 105.1. “It will be an unforget- in Nigeria and Ghana. table night filled with huge moments “As I celebrate 25 years with the and big surprises!”

Fugees, my first memory was that we vowed, from the gate, we would not A few days later, November 26th, the just do music we would be a movesame venue, the Prudential Center will ment,” chided Wyclef via a press replay host to the heroic return, albeit lease. “We would be a voice for the a loooonnngggggg overdue 15 year un-heard, and in these challenging tease, of Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean times, I am grateful once again, that and Pras Michel collective known God has brought us together.” as the legendary hip-hop group the In a companion statement with the Fugees.

This week Security the trio reunited announcement, Hill said, “The Fugees Executive & Are ayou raisingbut a troubled to announce theirService first world tour in have complex impactfulteen? history. I Executive Exotic Limo Limo Know someone who is?

Fleet: 25 years to celebrate the anniversary wasn’t even aware the 25th anniversaFleet: Get: Teen Preganancy & Teen Drug Abuse Custom Mercedes Mercedes Benz Custom Benz Sprinter Sprinter of 1996’s seminal classic “The ry Its’s hada 60 arrived until brought Cadillac Escalade Escalade ESV Cadillac ESV Score,” minute DVD full someone of sound insight.

Business Directory

Battle's “For Children and the Young at Heart” Author Deborah Available at: Battle's Amazon, “For Barnes and Noble, Children and Google Play and the Young at Heart”

Mercedes S550 Mercedes Benz Benz S550

Funerals, Funerals, Wedding, Wedding, Tours, Tours, Casinos Casinos Special Events Occassions Special Events & & Occassions Office: Office:212-531-3792 212-531-3792 Mobile:917-560-6838 917-560-6838 Mobile: www.executivesecurityprotection.com www.executiveexoticlimo.com

To order send $29.95 Mercedes Sprinter Limousine plus $3.50Benz shipping and handling to: Funerals, Wedding, Tours, Casinos A. Nat Curtis Special & Occassions P.O. Box 306, Events New York, NY 10026-0306 212.531.3792 paypal: axnatxx@gmail.com

Business Directory Executive Security & Executive Exotic Limo Limo Service

Fleet: Fleet: Custom Mercedes Mercedes Benz Custom Benz Sprinter Sprinter Cadillac Escalade Escalade ESV Cadillac ESV Mercedes S550 Mercedes Benz Benz S550

Funerals, Funerals, Wedding, Wedding, Tours, Tours, Casinos Casinos Special Events Occassions Special Events & & Occassions Office: Office:212-531-3792 212-531-3792 Mobile:917-560-6838 917-560-6838 Mobile: www.executivesecurityprotection.com www.executiveexoticlimo.com

Announcing Philip Payton: The Father of Black Harlem by Kevin McGruder In 1904 Philip Payton began promoting predominantly White Harlem to Black New Yorkers, setting the stage for the community to be known as the Black Capital of America by the 1920s.

20% discount available with discount code CUP20 at https://cup.columbia.edu

FROM THE ESTEEMED “PSORIASIS” If you have an interest in bettering your present condition with the use of an F.D.A. approved adjuvant and patented protocol without side effects (no panacea offered i.e. certain individuals maybe allergic to water, wheat, etc.) nothing is 100%. However, the treatment is safe and uncomplicated, tolerated by the majority of the world’s population. To conclude, for further information and instructions, call us at 631-367-7450

DR. BERNARD HARRIS Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and bookbaby.com UNIVERSAL MEDICAL INNOVATIONS, INC.

An African To order send $29.95 American Philosophy Mercedes Sprinter Limousine plus $3.50Benz shipping and handling to: Funerals, Wedding, Tours, Casinos A. Nat Curtis of Medicine Special & Occassions P.O. Box 306, Events New York, NY 10026-0306 212.531.3792 paypal: axnatxx@gmail.com

by Frederick Newsome, www.executivesecurityprotection.com (Delivery in 3 weeks) MD, MSc

by Frederick Newsome, MD, MSc

FROM THE

PLEASURE. Available at Amazon, THE LATEST Barnes and Noble, OFFERING and bookbaby.com

Get: Teen Preganancy & Teen Drug Abuse Its’s a 60 minute DVD full of sound insight.

An African American Philosophy of Medicine

READING Available at: Amazon,PLEASURE. Barnes and Noble, THE LATEST and Google Play OFFERING

READING DR. BERNARD HARRIS

Are you raising a troubled teen?

Know someone who is?

Announcing

Announcing

FOR YOUR

ESTEEMED FOR YOUR

www.executivesecurityprotection.com (Delivery in 3 weeks)

Announcing Philip Payton: The Father of Black PRINCIPAL MONEY LENDER Harlem by Kevin McGruder In*SHORT 1904 Philip Payton promoting predom& Lbegan ONG TERM * inantly White Harlem to Black New Yorkers, setAPPROVAL* ting the*FAST stage for the community to be known as the Black Capital of America by the 1920s. *MULTIPLE FINANCIAL

PLANS &available STRUCTURES* 20% discount with discount code CUP20 at https://cup.columbia.edu

CALL MELIUS 631.367.7450

An examination of race, medical knowledge and history based on the author’s life as a physician in West Africa and Harlem, New York.

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and Dorrance Publishing Company An examination of race, medical knowledge and history based on the author’s life as a physician in West Africa and Harlem, New York.

W I L L B U Y YO U R BUSINESS CA$H!

Sale and/oratrelease deal Available Amazon,back Barnes and Nobles and Dorrance Publishing Company Plain talk—631.367.7450

YOUR choice!

MONEY LENDER TO DISPLAYPRINCIPAL YOUR BUSINESS INFORMATION, W I L L B U Y YO U R *SHORT & L ONG TERM * PLEASE CONTACT ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT BUSINESS CA$H!

“PSORIASIS”

If you have an interest in bettering your present condition with the use of an F.D.A. approved adjuvant and patented protocol without side effects (no panacea offered i.e. certain individuals maybe allergic to water, wheat, etc.) nothing is 100%. However, the treatment is safe and uncomplicated, tolerated by the majority of the world’s population. To conclude, for further in-

*FAST APPROVAL* William J. Atkins *MULTIPLE FINANCIAL

and/or release back deal P:Sale212-932-7429

YOUR WILLIAM.ATKINS@AMSTERDAMNEWS.COM PLANS & STRUCTURES*

choice!

it to my attention. I decided to honor this significant project, its anniversary, and the fans who appreciated the music by creating a peaceful platform where we could unite, perform the music we loved, and set an example of reconciliation for the world.”

Fugees charitable fund will partner with Global Citizen to work on philanthropic initiatives around the tour. Tickets are on sale now.

Before we leave Rest In Power to one of our great songwriters, sister Andrea Martin. An Instagram statement on Instagram read. “It is with a heavy heart we inform you of the passing of our beautiful Andrea Martin. Her impact will continue to be felt and heard for a lifetime. Andrea will always be remembered for her passion and dedication to her family and friends.” “It Kills Me,” Melanie Fiona, “I Love Me Some Him,” Toni Braxton “Before You Walk out of My Life,”Monica and SWV’s “You’re the One” are a testament to her work.

Over and out y’all. Holla next week. Til then, enjoy the night life.

December 26, 2019 JanuaryDATES 1, 2020 • 29 PUB #: ZONE TP - RUN Acct 364 EDT January30, - January 27 October13, 6, 2021 • 29 AN A September 977, 2021 S 01/07,14,21, 2340 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− ANGELA POLITE 2G 231 W. 149TH STREET Under this rates ar NEW YORK NY agreement 10003 event of a cancellation befor rate charged will be based up Salesperson: Not Applicable −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− Contact: Acct #: 370 _____________________________ Phone: (917)442−3053 Name (print or type) Fax#: MORRISON & TENEBAUM Email: 87 WALKER STREET Agency: NEW YORK NY 10013 .101 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− 100 PUBLICNOTICES NOTICE 100 101 NOTICES 101 LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL 101 LEGAL LEGALNOTICES NOTICE 101 LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE 101 LEGALNOTICES NOTICE 100 PUBLIC NOTICES 101 LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL 101RUN LEGAL NOTICES 100PUBLIC PUBLIC NOTICE 101 100 PUBLIC NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE 101 LEGAL NOTICE PUB 101 LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE ZONENOTICES EDT TP DATES Notice of formation of ATM Barreitude, LLC filed Arts. of Notice of Formation of SCINotice of Qualification of Notice of Qual of BLITSTEIN C a p i t aof l PQualification r e p a r a t o r y Hof a rBCI l e YORK m Notice NEW CITY NOTICE OF FORMATION Notice Formation of Arts.

HFP Notice ofUFormation formation of ATM Notice of Qualification of Notice of Formation of CLIF- AN Notice ofofA Qualification of S Notice of 97 12/10,17,24,3 LUXURY NEST LLC. HERE 4 LLC Arts.of Org. with the Sect'y ofof3235 State Org. FITNESS, TE FUND I, LLC Authority 13 ENCE CALIBRANT ASSOCIATES C h a r te FOR r S LLC c hAND o oDEPARTMENT ls NOTICE B Ofor A LLC RAuth.

D OOF F TRANSPORTATION NOTICE TO FORD BIDDERS SUMMONS YUNAVERSE HOLDOFNYwith LLC Arts. of Org.the filed with GRAND HERE 4 CONCOURSE U LLC Arts. of Org. HOUSELLC, DEVELOPBRANDS, Appl.

AMTECK OF KENTUCKY, 1605 BROADWAY LLC Appl.

LLC of Org. filed with SSNY filed the Secy. of State of of on 10/9/19.

Office: NY Appl.Appl. filed LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. for Auth. filed filed with with Se- ER, withArts. theof SSNY on −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− DIVISION BRIDGES TRUSTEES will a Public INGS, Articles of OrgaSecy.

NYSecy. filed with theon Secy. of State of Org. filed filed with Secy. ofhold State of NYOF LLC for Auth. filed with ofLLC. Org. filed Secy. ofor n SALE 1Auth.

2of /0 5State /1 7 . of O ffic e(SSNY) : N e of w Arts.

(SSNY) 2/22/21 NY ofNY SSNY haswith been desCounty.

INVITATION on FOR of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/12/2020. OfficeNOTICE loc: NY OF of State of NY (SSNY) cy. BIDS

38 January 11,2,2018 17, 8, 2018 26 2021--January September 2021 • September

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS THE NEWS THENEW NEW YORK YORK AMSTERDAM AMSTERDAM NEWS NEWS

CLASSIFIED ADS ADS CLASSIFIED RULES AND REGULATIONS

CANCELLATIONS must be made in writing by 12 Noon

rdam News Monday. x 7.5”The forwarding of an order is construed as an acceptance of all advertising rules and conditions under which advertising space is sold by the NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS. Publication is made and charged according to the terms of this card.

Rates and regulations subject to change without notice.

No agreements as to position or regulations, other than those printed on this.

Til forbid orders charged for rate earned. Increases or decreases in space take the rate of a new advertisement.

The New York AMSTERDAM NEWS reserves the right to censor, reject, alter or revise all advertisements in accordance with its rules governing the acceptance of advertising and accepts no liability for its failure to insert an advertisement for any cause. Credit for errors in advertisements allowed only for first insertion.

CLASSIFIED • Classified advertisements take the regular earned rate of their classification. Four line minimum on all ads except spirituals and horoscopes (14 lines).

CLASSIFIED DISPLAY • Classified Display (boarder or picture) advertisements take the regular earned rate of their classification. Display (boarder or picture) advertisements one column wide must be 14 lines deep; two columns, 28 lines deep; 3 columns, 56 lines deep.

Classified Display (boarder or picture) placed as close to classifications as rules and makeup permit.

CLASSIFICATIONS All advertisement accepted for publication is classified according to the standard c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s .

Misclassification is not permitted.

BASIS OF CHARGE Charges are based on point size and characters per line.

Upon reaching 15 lines the rate converts to column inch.

Any deviation from solid composition such as indentation, use of white space, bold type, etc., will incur a premium.

In Case of error, notify the Amsterdam News 212-9327440 7400

Pursuant to resolution adopted the Town The Town of meeting on COURT Tuesday, January SUPREME OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUN- by with nization were filed the 07/28/21. location: on NY (SSNY) 2/22/21 NYLLC ofSecy.Board, of State of NY (SSNY) 08/04/21.

Office Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) State of NYOffice (SSNY) on of State of on NY (SSNY) on York County.

SSNY desigfice location NY County. ignated as agent of with the Office location: NY Office location: LLC formed in DE on NY 11/09/20.

12/10/20.

County. Division Babylon, Commissioner of General Services, of Purchasing, 16th at 6:30pm.

The meeting willtheon TY OF NEW YORK Hand delivered sealed bidsLLC for Project described below will beNY (SSNY) State New Secretary 12/21/20. location: NY 1 County.

SSNY fice location NY County. on 08/05/21.

Office location: NY County.

07/02/21.

Office location: 2 /0 5whom /1has 7 . of O ffic e designated loagainst cofa tio n it: nated as Office agent of designatthe LLC SSNY been process upon County.

SSNY designated as County.

LLC formed in 11/02/2020.

SSNY is desigwill receive sealed proposals for: SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF BRONX received by representatives of the Contracts Section, Office of the Agency be held at 1 East 104th Street Index No. Borough: 1729 Lot: County.

LLC in NY (SSNY) on 10/27/2020.

York aswhom agent of formed LLCagainst upon SSNY has been designated formed in 153624/2019 Delaware (DE) on NYManhattan County. Block: LLC formed in location: NY County. Princ. ed County.

Princ. office of upon process agent upon whom process as be served and shall mail may ofContracting LLC upon whom pro(DE) on 12/01/20. as agent uponHudson whom whom agent Delaware nated of Officer, Ground FloorBid BANK Window 55 on Water Street, 4thChief Floor New York, NY 10029.

160 NYCTL 2018-A TRUST AND THE OF NEW YORK office Delaware (DE) on 11/10/20.

Office Location: New York process against it may as agent upon whom process LLC: 30 08/04/21.

SSNY designated (KY) 11/04/77.

Kentucky L C : 3it2to: 3 5The Gbe rLLC, aserved n d 347 C oand nE. i t m a y b e s e r v e d . S S N Y Lagainst may process BIDW. NO. Yards, 18G2 Fargo New York, NY 10041 until 11:00 on the date indicated below when cess against itupon may beAM SSNY office of CUSTODIAN, LLC: 125 against theNA, LLC may Princ. process MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND rd Princ. office of LLC: c/o ArSSNY has been desCounty.

Wells Bank, Plaintiff served.

SSNY shall mail be against it may be served and 72nd Fl., NY, NY as agent of LLC whom designated as agent of o u rST, smail e , PHB, 1aAcopy ANY, , Bof rNY on x10022. , proNY shall mail copy of process to cshall any 53 bids willSSNY bev. publicly opened and readCORP.; in55th Bid Room, same address REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR ARCHITECTURAL, shall mail proSt., NY, NY 10019. served.

SSNY shall mail served. be BM HOLDING THE CITY OF NEW 10001.

Plaintiffs, gent Ventures LLC, 551 5th as agent upon whom ignated to c/o Cohen & Coprocess shall mail a copy of any proSSNY designated as process against it may be LLC upon whom process 10468.

SSNY designated as t h e L L C , 5 W e e h a w k e n cess against the LLC Purpose: any lawful act.served I, ISAIAH MESSADO TIMOENGINEERING DESIGN, BID PHASE SERVICES, cess toSSNY Corporation Service as agent of agent to: CONSTRUCTION The whom LLC, pro777 hen, SSNY process On: January 14, 2020designated YORK; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION Ave., LLP, NY, 10176. against it may be process 767 Third Ave., agent cess against theupon LLC served of LLC upon served. shallwhose mail proitth may be served. against LLC wTyece hom Street, UnitNY 3B, New SSNY York, AGAINST isofC/O the LLC: upon th THY JOHNSON adADMINISTRATION ANDFISERVICES Co., 80 State St., Albany, NYth, CITY LLC upon whom process Third Ave Ste 2503, NY, NY REHABILITATION OF EAST 169 175 andDEPARTMENT 180 BRIDGES th Tyece FINANCE; NEW YORK OF AND designated of PurLLC process The Post Office adserved.

Fl., NY,as NYagent 10017. upon is 143 C/O the LLC: cess against it FOR may be 31st cess tois c/o Michael GoldSSNY shallSTREET mail process toINSPECTION against it may be NY 10014.

Smith, W 140 Street, d re s s 4 1 9 W e s t 1 2 9 th th of OVER METRO-NORTH RAILROAD SHORELINE STABILIZATION ROAD SSNY ELEVATION OF 12207.Sills against 10017.

Purpose: lawful it may be served.

Address required to pose: Notice of Qualification BCP A. R., AN Any INFANT,

BY HER NATURAL MOTHER NANCE; upon whom process against it dress to which the SSNY Any lawful activity.

Smith, 143 W 140 Street, the served. shall mail prosmith, Cummis & Gross KY addr. of LLC: 1387 E. e r v eYork, d. SS N Y 10030. s h a ll mPura il P uHo-Shing;Audrey r p o s e : A n y Ho-Shing l a w f u l sNew NY Lawson Ho-Shing a/k/a209 Lawson Contract Nos. HBX1670, HBX1215 and HBX180 Street,LEGAL Manhattan NY 10027 activity.

SSNYCircle be shall mail to cess maintained in DE: Or- H. CAPTREE ROAD SPECIAL AND GUARDIAN, JACQUELINE RIVERA; DANIEL may be served. SSNY shall process mail aOPPORTUNITIES copyactivity. of Michaeany Purproshall York, New NY 10030. to Corporation Service P.C., 101 Park Ave.,N.Y.C 28thP.I.N. Fl., New Rd., process Ste. 135, Philip J. purpose. pose: Any lawful 84118BXBR272 a/k/a Audrey al., process Defendant(s) proclaim my Free National Service Co. St. Scarlett-Ho-Shing; Wilmington de et c/o Corporation ange80 FUND IItolawful GP LP Appl. for MALDONADO; mail to theof LLC at ls cess against the LLC served pose: Any activity.

Co., State St., Albany, NY NY, NY 10178.

DE addr. of KY 40505.

Cert. of Lexington, Notice of formation Viento , c /o N o rto n R o s e F u llNa m eYORK asubmitted s IS Amust I A ENVIRONMENTAL Hbe11E78 T R I - (CSC), until am on for THURSDAY, 1, 2018 at the Town 19801. Cert 80 State St., Albany, of Purpose: Formation filed Media Notice of Formation of Auth. filed withisSecy. of State Each bid accompanied by a 10:00 certified check 2% of the of FEBRUARY NEW CITY CONTROL BOARD; the princ. of Org. the LLC. upon him/her 36 West 47th 12207-2543.

Any Form.

LLC: Corporation Service filed with Secy.

LLCoffice Arts. of filed bright US LLP, 1301 Ave. of FORCE JOHNSON accordHall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York, 11757 at amount of the proposal, or alternatively, a bid bond not less than 10% of the NY with 12207-2543.

DE addr. of DE Div. of Corps, 401 REALTY LLC Cert. of ConPursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated NY (SSNY) on York, 11/06/19. of DE addr. ofF o LLC: Cogency NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU and lawful Street, W03, New NY activity.

State, Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., P.O. Box 1150, FrankN o t i c e o f r m a t i o n o f with the Secy. of NY (SSNY) tNotice he Am rformation i c a sNY , N of Y , One NY offiled therules proposal, payable toof the Comptroller ofCSC, the City251 of New York. ingamount to DOE the and usage whichKY time they will be publicly and read of ofeThe c/o Little St., inSuite 4, Dover, LLC: Federal version with Secy.

May 11, 2017 I, the theDivision undersigned Referee will sell at public location: County.

Office "JOHN #1" through "JOHN DOE #100," the names ofFalls the opened Global Inc., 850 New Burton Notice Qualification ofbusiAuprincipal 10036. of Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert.

40602-1150.

Purfort, PikMyBrain, LLC Arts. of on 03/26/2021 NY office loca10019.

Purpose: Any lawful of THE such ISAIAH TRIFORCE office. and Only Management Group Dr., DE 19901.

Wilmington, 19808.

Purpose: Any ofdefendants NY (SSNY) on pose: State auction the Bronx County Courthouse, 851 Grand ConLP formed inProductions, Cayman Islands NYCDOT DIVISION OFSecy.

BRIDGES ISPurchasing SEEKING QUALIFIED BIDDERS/ Rd., NY Ste. 201, Dover, DE activity.

100 being fictitious, the true namesDE of said de- Notice last Avenue LLC. dio ofatQualification of HVS ness address of the LLC is 36 of Form. filed with DE Electrical contracting Org. filed with Secy. of State County.

SSNY has tion JOHNSON. LLC of Org. filed with Cert. itof Lawful Form. filed withtoTHIS Secy.

Purpose.

12/01/20, converting 11 course, Room 600, Bronx,filed New York on January 27, 2020 at CONTRACTORS FOR THEJohn ABOVE REFERENCED CONTRACT. on Princ. of(C.I.) 19904.

Cert. ofon Form. filed fendants being to plaintiffs, being intended des- XLII Authority filed withW03, Secy. of LLC Appl. for Auth.

47th02/06/19.

Street, New WestArts. of State, Div. ofunknown Corps., sub-contracting work, and of NY (SSNY) 12/27/17. designated as an agent been One (1) original and ten (10) copies of both technical and cost the Secy. of NY (SSNY) on PROCUREMENT IS SUBJECT TO PARTICIPATION GOALS FOR of State, Div. of Corps., John 78TH STREET CO. to EAST 2:00PM, premises known as 1312 Needham Avenue, Bronx, fice of LP: 650 Madison Ave., with DE Secy. ofNY State, Div. ignate fee owners, tenants or occupants of the liened premis- with State of NY (SSNY) on Secy. of State of NY York, NY 10036.

Purpose: G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Fedall activities and purposand Office location: County. whom process against it upon proposals.

The Technical and Cost Proposals shall be in seperate MINORITY OWNED LLC. BUSINESS ENTERPRISES (MBEs) AND/OR WOMEN 06/08/2021 NY office location G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Fed11E78 REALTY Office NY 10469.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the NY 10022.

Duration of NY, of Corps., Johnand G. Townsend and/or persons or parties or claiming an interest in (SSNY) on 08/17/21. Office may es OWNED Office location: NY 05/25/21. any lawful act or essealed related thereto. eral St., Dover, 19901. having NOTICE OF DE SALE O TIC E O FSSNY FOactivity.

Rhas M ATIO N be designated served shall mail N SSNY as agent BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AS REQUIRED BY SECTION containers and may bedehand buildings delivered or mailed to the aboveof Notice of formation NY County. been St., Dover,individual DE 19901. eral NYthe County.

Princ. (WBEs) location: and improvements erected, situate, lying and being LP3P is Perpetual. desigBldg., 401 Federal St., Dover, of or lien upon premises, if the aforesaid County.

LLC SSNY formed in location: NY10:00 County.

LLC Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Associates, LLC. Arts copy of any process against a of LLC upon whom process 6-129 (Local Law 1liened of 2013) OF THE NEW YORK CITY ADMINISTRATIVE address.

Proposals will not be accepted after am on the LLC Arts. of Org. ScratchFoto designated as anon agent Purpose: Anyindividual lawful activity. of are LLC: c/o and Friedman office in the Borough and County of Bronx, and NY,LLC: nated asfiled agent LP upon upon DE City 19901.

Purpose: Any of living, if can any all of Schedule said defenfendants Delaware (DE) 05/13/21. formed in Delaware (DE) Do on CODE (Target/ Goal for M/WBE be or seen in the B of the Bid Book SUPREME COURT COUNO rgprocess wagainst ithof Secy. of the LLC C/O the against it ismState ay beof served.

Azimut Kennedy Lewis Acdate of bid opening.

NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE GRANTED. filed with the Secy of State of whom it may Notice of Qualification of 3 Management Co., 770 LexBlock: 4711 Lot: 75.

Approximate amount judgment whom lawful activity. dants beBRONX, heirs atis law, next ofto distributees, ex- 04/19/21. SSNY designated United designated SSNY alsoNotice Subject the APPRENTICESHIP 1dead, of 2). their This Contract TYNumber OF CITIBANK, States t a t e process of N Y against (shall Sas S Nagent Yit) may o of na SSNY shall mail Corporation process to S ofkin, formation of Cielo Fund III GP LLC Auth. not remove any pages; all proposals are to be submitted intact. For New York on costs. be and mail TIMES SQUARE LEASEington Ave., NY, 10065. $705,125.24 plus(SSNY) interest and will be 13 sold served.

SSNY shall mail be served th administrators, trustees,cess committees, legaecutors, PROGRAM and the NYC Comptrollers LaborDisaster Law 220 devisees, prevailing wages 107 LLC uponADOPTION whom process agent of LLC upon whom N.A., Plaintiff, vs.NY ESTATE Agents, Inc. 7014 Av- 11/17/2017.

Office location. the Premises LLC , 1025 Fifth Ave., Operations/LoAzul filed w/ SSNY Off. in information call 7/29/21.

(631) 957-3025.

Theas Town reserves the right to filed reject NY Office loca6/24/2020. copy of any process against HOLD LLC Appl. for Auth.

SSNY designated as agent of subject to provisions of Judgment Index# 380685-13. process to the Partnership at requirements as described in the Solicitation Materials. tees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in against it may be served. process against it may be O F with E L LSecy.

A B Rof OW N Aof/ KNY / A NY enue, Suite County.

SSNY designatA p t .to3the E FReferee S o202, u t h will , Brooklyn, N be Y , acN Y NY gistics LLC. Cert of Form filedArts w/ Only anyCo. andConsultants all having proposals. tion: New York County.

SSNY the LLC is C/O theprocess 595 filed State the princ. office ofLLC: the LP. whom process LLC cash or certified funds payable Notice of formation of lawful Grits Single woman looking to build interest ofAthem, all or Secy. claiming shall mail to: SSNY SSNY shall mail proOWNED AND WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES E LMINORITY L Aupon M E07/29/21.

B Rand O Wgenerally N , E T OWNED NY 11228.

Purpose: Any law- ed agent upon whom pro10028. of persons Org filed with of served.

7/1/21.

SSNY desig. has to designated agent Street, Brooklyn, NY (SSNY) on Office and addr. of each genName against itwill may be served. cepted asCorporation a depositas in Service the amount ofactivity. ten Purpose: percent LLC of Any theArts pur- of cBaltic Entertainment family by adoption.

Any her by, through, or full against theSSDE said defendants named as a under, 610 Fifth Ave., Ste. 612, NY, cess (M/WBE) be afforded opportunity to submit bids and the City of New AL., Defendant(s). ful e s s m a y b e s e rv e d a nd activity. of NY (SSNY) on State Proposal documents mayprocess be examined and whom obtained at the Town Hall it Org filed with the Secy of 11217. as agt. of LLC whom process against upon Purpose: Any lawful location: NY County.

LLC eral partner are available SSNY shall mail process to chase price. ethnicity welcome, expenses York hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any class, of any right, title or interest7/29/20. in or lienOffice upon the premises NY 10020.

Address to be Co.hours (CSC), 80 a.m.

Stateand St.,4:30 Almail copy of process location: NY the Purchasing between of 9:00 be served & shall mail may may beNY served.

SSNY desigactivity. formed Delaware (DE) on thecontract LLCinentered at theinto addr. oftoherein, its from SSNY. addr. of470LP: State of NY (SSNY) on NY shall paid. call pursuant this advertisement willDepartment be awarded to the in complaint Defendants.

TO THE described inC.I. DE: bany, 12207-2543.

DE Notice Persuant tothe a Purpose: Judgment of g a inMaples sPlease t LLC to : (347) U850 S CNew o rp County.

SSNY designated as of formation of 560 amaintained p.m. daily except Sundays andas Holidays, on and whom after process to c/o Universal Regagent upon nated 07/27/21.

Princ. office of LLC: lowest office. responsible bidder without discrimination onARE the basis ofSaturdays, race, color, princ.

Any c/o Corporate SerOffice location: NY County. or my attorney: (800) 5228 ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU HEREBY SUMFrank D. Lombardi, Esq., Referee Burton Rd., Ste. 201, Dover, addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 N o t i c e o f F o r m a t i o n o f F o rc lo s u re a n d S a le d u ly Inc., 7014 13th Ave., upon whom process agent NECK RD designated LLC Arts. Agents TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2018.

Proposal documents may also bebe LITTLE istered Agents, Inc., 26 process against it may sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or place of residence. c/o Rudin Management Co., lawful activity.

SSNY has been vices Limited, PO Box 309, 582-3678 MONED answer the complaintmay in DE 19904.

Arts11228. of Org. filed Dr., of formation of Ripka T aOrg. k a mfiled i c h i B e athe u t ySecy.

R o o of m Notice filed on to June 01, 2017 BK, NY Prinand of ddirected othe wbe nabove-entitled l served oto a the d eE. drequirements aGreenbush, t tshall hforecloe Tmail o w n oLittle f B a bFalls yand l o nshall ’ s w Wilmington, e b s i proces te at Prospective bidder's is alsoCarville of Ln, served Inc., 345 Park Ave., NY, and NY as an Arts. agentofwith upon whom pro- #202, House, Grand Ugland sure and to attention serve copycopy of your answer on Plaintiffs the Secy. of State, 401 with 19808.

Cert. & ofmail Form. LLC filed NY Arts LLC Arts. address: of Org. Cayfiled Shapiro, Dicaro Barak, LLC. Org.07/14/2021 filed with anschedule Oaction, rder ppointing Sa uccipal business 300 ofparticipation process against LLC DE "B"Ain the proposal concerning M/WBE the contract.

(SSNY) on www.townofbabylon.com.

12061.

Add.inof maintained against the LLC served upon 10154.

SSNY designated as cess against it may be served Notice of Qualification of NY man, C.I., KY1-1104.

Cert. of within thirty (30) days after the service this sumattorney Federal St., #4, Dover, DE with Secy. of State of DE, with74th the Secy. of NY NY, (SSNY) for the Plaintiff N Y office D e plocation t . o f SNY t a t e o n E. The of schedule of proposed M/WBE participation to be St, submitted by theNY Attorney(s) cessor Referee dated No#10A, NY to 220 60th #3k, NY, NY in DE:orEisUniversal Registered the LLC: 88Dover, Greenwich is C/O agent LLC upon whom proand shall Office mail alocation: copyCounty. of any 1711 RETAIL, LLC Appl. for filed St., with Registrar of LP 06/14/2021 mons, exclusive ofwithin the day of within thirty (30) days 19901.

Purpose: any lawful 401 Federal St., DE apparent low bidder seven (7) service calendar days after the date of opening on NY office loca175 Mile Crossing Boulevard 10/3/17.

NY vember 28, 2017, I, the un10021.

10022. Inc., R/A: 300 VB&T Certified SSNY has been the designated Creek View Agents, Street, Apt 714, New York, cess against it may be process against LLC to Auth. filed with Secy. of State Partnerships C.I., 133 Elgin after completion ofgoal service where isNOTE: madeThese in anyprojects other shall activities. of bids.

The M/WBE for project Public isservice 24 %. Accountants, Purpose: Any lawful as SPECIAL be funded in York part through tion NY County.

SSNY has Rochester, New 14624 C ounty.

Princ. bus. addr.: dersigned Referee willthis sell 110 SERVICES any lawful act.CayPLLC, anthe agent upon whom pro- Purpose: Rd, Ste.the 209, Newark, DE 19901.

NY 10006.

Purpose: Any lawserved.

SSNY shall proC/O LLC Angela Polite NY (SSNY) on mail 11/23/20. of Ave., Box 123, Grand th manner than by personal service within State.

The United been designated as an agent the W New State Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (877)430-4792 283 Decatur St., Brooklyn, a t Non-compliance p utoblocation: l iGoldfarb c a uwith c tNY i o& n7 day a tsubmittal t h e requirement, 57 St,&Ste NY, activity.

250 the theYork stipulations of1632, Schedule against may2G be served cess 19711.

Name add. of auth. ful activity. cess Fleece 231 w.

149thit St. NY, NY upon Office County.

C.I.& process KY1-9000. of America, if which designated as a1017. defendant in this action, States VIAGRA CIALIS!against 60 Purpills whom it Disaster Recovery and Federal Funds through Com m unity N Y shall 1 1 2Purpose: 3mail 3 . S eaccopy . Documeno f of S ta te man, "B" orAttn: submittal of bids in any of theofficer prices forinlump sumwhere or unit items are Bronx County Courthouse, NY Purpose: any lawful and any DE Cert of LLP, Partner-in-charge 10003 LLC formed in (DE)sixty pose: Any lawful activity. may answer or Delaware appear (60) days ofBlock service hereof.

Notice of Formation of ETER100 pills forofof $150. for $99. significantly unbalanced to thewithin potential detriment of the Department may be cause be served and shall mail Development Grants.

A project funded by and conceived d e s ig n a te d a g e n t o f L L C Notice Form ation 44 act.

Room 600, 851 Grand Conagainst the LLC is may process Notice ofof Qualification CHIDated: November 18, 2019 #98015 Form filed: DE Sec. of State, of Rudin matters, 560 Lexingtary.

11/17/20.

SSNY designaton case of your offailure to appearandthrough ortheanswer, will be NIS In for a determination non-responsiveness rejection of judgment the bid.

FINE CHEMICALS USA FREE shipping.

Money back a copy of any process against the NY Rising Community Reconstruction program of upon whom process against EAST 75TH STREET, LLC course, Bronx, NY on JanuC/O the LLC: 620 W 42nd St Notice of Formation of SIGNA UNIVERSAL ASSET Div. ofof formation Corp, John G. ton Ave., 6th you Fl.,LLC NY for ed as agent of upon Notice of in Jess against byNY, default the relief the taken Arts. SP ofProposers Org. filed with Formation of BRG WESTguaranteed!

1-855-579-8907 the LLC is C/O the LLC: 175 the Governor’s Office of StormLLC Recovery. m ust it may be served and shall of Org. filed with Secy. arySolicitation 29, 2018 atof2:00 documents (Specifications ONLY) willdemanded be available for 21A, New York, NY Arts.

5, LLC Arts. of Apt NATURE MANAGEMENT (USA), LLC. Townsend Bldg., PO Box 10022.

DE addr.

LLC: Corprocess against itp.m., may whom Trayah Interiors LLC Plaintiffs designate York County as the place complaint.

Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) SIDE LLC filed the Secy.

West 12thof Street, Apt. 4B, download 9,Dover, 2019 forany the full duration of of agency comply with and allArts. funding requirements, as of wellState as mail process to: Any 263 of Bowof State NYwith (SSNY) on p re m is eService sfree kSSNY nofo charge wCo., n shall a starting s 1 mail 5Lit5December 0 New Purpose: lawful Org. filed with Secy. filed with Secy. of Authority DE 19903.

Any 898, poration 251 Notice of Qualification of 79 10036.

Notice of Qualification 980 be served.

DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Org filed the of oron of trial.

Venue is based upon the County inwith which theSecy. subject 08/02/21.

Office location: the Solicitation Time from the City Record Website at City Record Onof State of NY (SSNY) on New York, NY 10011.

PurNotice is hereby given that a any other State, County, Town local government or agency ery, 2nd Fl., NY, NY 10002.

1 2 /0 4 /1 7 .

O ffic e lo c a tio n: U nionport R oad, U nit N o. activity. of NY (SSNY) on 11/19/20.

State of NY (SSNY) High on lawful purpose. tle Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE PLACE OWNER CLIFTON RAIL PROPERTY LLC Appl. process to c/o Anbau Enter+ $14.95 Channels State of regulations.

NY (SSNY) on property, a tax lien upon which is being foreclosed, isgoal situreal Line (https://mspwvw-dcscpfvp.nyc.gov/CROLPublicFacingWeb/) NY County.

SSNY designat11/21/19.

Office loc.: NY NY license, number 1324834 for pose: Any lawful activity. rules and A of 15% for New York State Certified Purpose: any lawful activity.

NY County.

SSNY designat6A, Bronx, NY. All that cerlocation: NY County.

Office Office location: 08/23/21.

19808.

Cert. of Form. filed LLCas Appl. for Auth. filedupon with for Auth. filed has with been Secy.apof County. prises, 11 E.September 26th St., NY, NY Speed Free InstallaNY officeandloca11/12/2020. ated.

Dated: 17, 2021 agent of as LLC SSNY designated as liquor license, Minority Businesses for Newof York A15% ed Drawings areofnotState available download and MUST be purchased. as Internet. agent of LLC upon tain plot, piece or of SSNY designated agent of Notice County.

LLC formed in of formation of 68with Secy. of for the Secy.

StateState of NYCertified (SSNY) State of NY 18 (SSNY) on ed DE addr. of parcel LLC: 251 10010.

DVR Includtion, Notice of Formation of CLIFtion: NY County. has has TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing sumwhom process against it this may 1509 agent ofpLLC plied for Marilyn Rest Inc. printed copy of thebuildings solicitation and drawing setom can be O purchased New York W en w ned Bat:SSNY usinesses been established for w h o mSmart rformation o(DE) c HD eupon s son awhom gof a RIGHT in sprot it land, with the and LLC upon whom process Delaware 02/14/18.

ESTATE LLC Arts. of State of DE, John G. Notice of on 11/06/19.

Office location: Office location: NY 11/04/19.

Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, ed, Fee Voice Remote.

Some FORD HOUSE PRESERVAas agent been is served upon you by publication, pursuant toContracting the Order mons be served.

SSNY shall mail City Department of Transportation, Office of thedesignated Agency Chief against it may be cess d/b/a Don Giovanni RisN O TIC E O F FO R M ATIO N project.

Proposers must demonstrate their good-faith efforts to may be served.

SSNY shall iTownsend m p r o v e m e n t s t h e r e o n it may be served. against designated as agent of SSNY filed LLC with the Secy. of 401 Federal LAUNDRY GROUP County.

LLCCorporation formed in Org. NY County. formed in WAY DEOfficer/Contract 19808. Bldg., Cert. of Form. filed 1-888-609restrictions TION, L.P. Cert. ofNew LPYork, filedit process upon whom process against of Honorable James E. d'Auguste, a Justice ofgoals. the Supreme Management Unit, 55 Water Street, Ground Floor, to c/o served.

Theapply. address SSNY torante liquor at retail OF A to P. sell LEE PRODUCT achieve these m ail process to c/o P eter erected, situate, lying and SSNY shall mailon process to NY LLC upon whom process (SSNY) on St., Dover, DE 19901.

PurLLC ofprocess Org. filed with Delaware (DE) 10/23/19.

(DE) on12/03/2019 10/31/19.

Delaware with Secy. of State, Div. of - 3:00 New York 10041 between 9:00 a.m. p.m., Monday Friday, excludes 9405 Arts.

Secy. ofto supporting Stateshall of mail NY with may be served and dated September 7, 2021, and filed with pa- Service Court, Co., 80 State St., Alshall mail to Benin aoffice restaurant under thewith Al- Low, LLC Arts.location of Org. filed 44 E. 75th St., NY, NY b e i n g i n t h e B o r o u g h o f Corporation Service Co., 80 it may be served. against NY NY County. pose: Any lawful activity.

Secy. of NY425 (SSNY) on Princ. NY office ofwithLLC: 1120 SSNY designated ast a agent off the Corps., 401 Federal St., Ste. holidays.

TheNew entrance is located on the South Side of any the Building facing thethe (SSNY) on 08/05/21.

Office copy of process to a pers in the York County Clerks Office on September 9, bany, 12207-2543.

PurSinanaj, Madison jamin The Town will not reimburse any individual or firm any costs coholic Beverage Control t h e S e c y . o f S t e o 10021.

Bronx, County of Bronx,You City St.,the Albany, NY 12207State of SSNY shall mail process to: Get DIRECTV! ONLY has been designated SSNY ndthe building without Vietnam Veterans Memorial. will not be allowed in 07/13/2021 NY office location Americas, Ste. Ave. LLC upon whom process 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purlocation: NY County.

LLC: 520 2with Ave, SuitePrinc.

20B, 2021.This is Qualification an action to foreclose a tax lien covering theof their pose: Any lawful activity.

Ave., Ste. 1001, New York, Law at 358 W 44th Street, associated the preparation proposal.

NY(SSNY) has been desigNotice of of Purpose: Any lawful activity. a n d S t a t e o f N e w Y o r k , 2543. NY, Purpose: Any SSNY lawful as Avenue of Channels the Americ1120 155 & $35/month! government issued identification (driver's license, passport, etc.). 30 Hudson an agent upon be whom pro- Bronx County.

SSNY has 1803, NY 10036. it may served. against pose: Any lawful activity. of LP: office New York, NY 10016.

Purproperty known as 62 West 132nd Street, New York, New NY 10017.

Purpose: Any lawnNew a t e against dYork, a s aNY n may afor g ebe npremises t served u p o n as, MONTICELLO STRUCBlock 3943 and Lot 2867 toactivity.

NY, NY 10036.

Address 1000s of Shows/Movies On cess it been designated as an agent as wom agent of HAN LLC designated SSNY shall mail process to Notice of Formation Formation 350 w Notice of Qualification of A deposit of $50.00 is as required for 1729, theYards, specification books and deposit 72nd Fl., NY Notice pose: Any lawful activity. and identified Block 160 TaxaNY, Parcel).

York of consumption. ful activity.

TheLot Town of(the Babylon encourages m inority and en ofowned h o m p r o c e s s a g a in s t it TURED PRODUCTS MSPg e th e r w ith a n u n d iv id e d to be maintained in DE: Demand (w/SELECT All Inshall mail a copy of any and of $50.00 isFormation required for each drawing setTax in the form of at certified check upon whom process against upon whom process c/o Service Co. N ACQUISITION CO., FIRST AMTECK OF KENTUCKY, Notice ofAppl. ofsale THE Latest date onauction which 10001.

The relief sought the of the Parcel public KU LLC against Arts. ofit m businesses to aparticipate all bids.DYNASTY otice of Package.)

Form ation of A-it ay Corporation be against served.

TheLLC Post 16, LLC forisinterest Auth. filed 16192 Hwy., Lewes, 0.0133 percent PLUS cluded the is may Notice of Formation ofin SIGor money order payable tointhe case New of York City Department of is beACoastal served and mail may filed be served.

SSNY shall 80 for State St., Albany, (CSC), LLC Arts. of Org. filed with process LLC Appl.

Auth. filed with BIG RED UMBRELLA, LLC LP may dissolve in satisfaction the taxoflien. your failure to appear, Org. Secy. ofof State th S Q 19958.

U EArts DUp Dofgiven, Oshall I FIVE N O Office address to which the with Secy. ofof State NY In the Notice of with Formation THE DE Org. filed theTransportation.

Common Elements.

ApNotice isRany here by purNo Cash or Secy.

Personal Checks Accepted.

Stream on toMagainst the LLC: 155 W 68 C/O SP 4, LLC Arts. of NATURE a copy of process mail process to c/o CorporaNY 12207-2543.

DE addr. of Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) Arts. of Org. filed with 12/31/2119.

SSNY designatjudgment may be taken against you in the sum of $14,113.23, The Town reserves the right to reject any all bids. GOLF, of NYor(SSNY) on 08/18/21.

LP (SSNY) on amount 08/02/21.

Office Org. SSNY shall York, mail Little a copy of OPPORTUNITY BOROUGHS LLC with the ofII,State, 401 proximate of judgesuant to Secy. law, that the Cert.

NYC Screens Simultaneously at Street, New NY 10023. filedagent Secy. of2019 State Office the LLC is C/O the LLC: tion Service Co., 80 State St., LLC: CSC, 251 Falls 09/14/21.

Office location: on on 07/02/21.

Office location: of of NY (SSNY) AState Pre-Bidwith meeting (Optional) hason beendisbursements scheduled forwith December 16, ed as of LP upon interest, costs, and attorneys together location: NY County. f LAdditional P file ith S eCall c y . Rd, of location: NYin the County.

LLC Contracting Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. any against the LLC o St,dSte 4, Dover, DE Federal m ent is AM $119,173.75 plus Department ofw Cost.

Consumer AfDINo Purpose: Any lawful activity. ofTheresa NY (SSNY) on 11/19/20. at 10:00 Agency Chief Officer Bidof Room, Ground Albany, Dr., process NY 12207-2543.

DE Wilmington, 19808.

1604 Williamsbridge NY County.

SSNY designatNY County.

LLC DE formed in S Office location: NY 11/06/20.

Sabatino process against it may whom fees of this action, and directing the public sale the Tax Par110 SERVICES Princ. office of LLC: 307 W. t a t e o f N Y ( S S N Y ) o n formed in Delaware (DE) on of State of NY (SSNY) on s e r v e d .

S S N Y s h a ll m a il 19901.

Purpose: any lawful interest and costs.

Premises fairs willNY hold a Public HearRECTV 1-888-534-6918 Office location: NY County.

Floor, 55 Water Street, NYC. All bidders are requested to addr.asof LLC: Little Falls Kentucky Cert. of Form.

Secy. Bronx, 10461.

Purpose: ed agent of location: LLC upon (KY)filed on with 11/04/77.

County.

SSNY designated as Commissioner of General Services be served.

SSNY shall mail PHILLIPS LYTLE LLP /s/prospective Anthony J. Iacchetta Attorneys cel.

38th St., NY,251 NY 10018.

07/29/21.

Princ.

LLC: 1 2 /1lawful 5 /1Wednesday, 7 . activity.

O ffic e lo cJanuary a tio n : Office NY Notice 11/23/20. process to 660 Nereid Ave activities. willattend. be sold subject toof on ing Seats areoffice limited.

Inprovithis connection, please limit the as number of of whom designated agent SSNY of Formation of 5 Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. of State, Div. of Corps., 401 Any process against it may SSNY designated as agent of of LLC upon whom proagent process to Corporation Serfor Plaintiffs NYCTL 2018-A Trust and The Bank of New York SSNY designated as agent of # 1 , B r o n x , N e w Y o r k , NY 600 Third Ave., 21st Fl., NY, County.

Princ.filed office ofSecy.

LLC: Princ.p.m. office of attendees to maximum of two personnel perupon firm. Please submit the sions of filed Judgment In2020 at 2:00 at 42 LLC whom process LLC Arts. of 08, County. of Form. with Cert.

Federal St.NYC -whom Ste. 4,process Dover, be served.

SSNY shall mail FRANKLIN LLC upon cess against it may be Date: January 9,28 2018 vice Co., 80later State St., Mellon, Collateral Custodian East Main LLC upon whom process NY SSNY 56 State, Leonard St., Apt. 39W, P : c / o A5sthcFloor, e n d Aon m ear perica of attendees to the Manager (2)Al10470. d ename(s) x10016. # SSNY 3as 80 2 4shall 6 / designated 2 0mail 1 2Agent . proNProject o and FREE! itno may than be two served. against Org. fileditwith Secy. ofserved.

State of John G.be Townsend Purpose: law- LBroadway, DE 19901. to Carlos Suarez, process against may be Any served. bany, NY14614 12207-2543.

Name against Suite 1400, Rochester, New York Street, it may served. business days prior to the pre-bid meeting date.

Savings Includelawful an American activity Walk-In Tubs as agent of LLC upon whom NY 10013.

SSNY desigNY, L L C , 6 3 5 M a d i s o n A v e ., Notice of Formation of Purpose: Any Cash to willFredda be Accepted. tition forofCASA AZUL. INC to SSNY shallofmail process to SSNY (SSNY) onToilet 08/12/21.

Bldg.,W. 401 Federal St., Ste.NY 4, of ful NY activity.

181 10th St., NY, SSNY shall mail process to Notice cess Herz758-2110 Brown, of CLIFStandard Right Height and addr. each general Telephone No. (585) aiacchetta@phillipslytle.com shall mail to process against may bewriting nated as agent ofprocess LLC upon STERNBUCH FAMILY 1300,Formation NY, SAVE NYand 10022.

-INSte. FREE! ($500 Value) WALK BATHTUB SALE! $1,500 All questions shall beitsubmitted in to the designated person indicated establish, maintain, operCorporation Service Co., 80 Corporation Office location: NY 1387 County.

DE 19901.

Purpose: Dover, 10014.

Purpose: Any lawful the KY addr. of LLC: E. 450 E. 83rd St., Apt. 16A, FORD HOUSE DEVELOPare available from partner DeFoe Corp. invites all inDeFoe Corp. invites all inService Co., 80 served.

SSNY shall process against it may SSNY designated as agent of Latest whom PROPERTIES LLC sidewalk Arts. of date on which the LP of is December 20, 2019.

L abelow. u NY r a Deadline C . B r for o wsubmission n email , E sproq questions . , SSNY. ate an NY lawful activity. activity.

New Circle NY, 10028.

Any ER, LLCunenclosed Arts.isSecy. of Org. filed Any tState e r e sSt., t Purpose: e dAlbany, and q u a 12207llawful i f i e d State tAny ere sSt., t e dAlbany, aSSNY n d qNY u a12207l i f mail ied N th140 Backed

by American years cess to the LLCPurpose: at the princ. be served. shall o t i c eupon o f FKY o whom rRd., m a t i oSte. n Cert. o f 135, 2✔4of 6 may Org. filed with ofof dissolve 12/12/2117. cafe' at Standard’s 369 Ave inState the Referee 2543. Purpose: Any lawful Mr. Hari Velkur, LLC Lexington, 40505.process lawful activity.

Secy. of7 State of NY with experience activity.

MWBE firms to submit pro- 2543.

Purpose: Operations of MWBE firms to submit prooffice of the LLC. DE addr. of process to Sarika Singh at SPRING STREET CONDOMINIof NY (SSNY) on 07/12/21.

SSNY designated as agent Borough of Brooklyn for a Director of Engineering and Construction Programs, ACCO, activity.for against it may served.

Form. filed withbeSecy.

(SSNY) on 08/05/21. ✔ of Ultra low entry for easy entering & exiting Office posals the following NYS restaurants.

Noticec/o ofCorporation Formation of 5& Program posals to the following LLC: the princ. office of the NYS LLC. SSNY Office location: NY process County.

UM (NEW YORK) BORROWER, of LPDrain upon whom Management two years. term K n u c k lof e sFormation ,NYC KFinance, o mLLC o s Contracts iService n s kBIOi of & Departm ® shall mail1150, process State, P.O. Box FrankTechnology ✔ to Patented Quickof Notice of NY County.

Princ. location: ent ofFORMATION: TransportaArts.

FRANKLIN Departm ent of TransportaNOTICE OF Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., A golf simulation Purpose: Princ. office of LLC: 276 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. against it m ay be served.

New York City Department of Transportation 122-124 W 124TH ST LLC, M a n fr o , L L P , 5 6 5 T a x te r Notice of Formation Formation ofCLIF888 Barbara 4 Bryant ✔ Lifetime Warrantyof on theLLC: bath AND30 installation, fort, KYof Gutman, 40602-1150.

PurPROTECTORS, LLC Arts. of Notice office Hudson Notice Qualification of of tion project: Org. filed with Secy. of State of Qualification of Notice tion Best Valueretailer.

Bidofproject: Mental Health Abbott 55DE Water Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10041 Wilmington, 19808.

Cert. and -golf related Riverside Dr., Ste.process 2-G, NY, opose: f S t a9th tElectrical e Fl., o f NNY, Y ( SNY S N10018.

Y ) ALoINCLUDING n SSNY to of Org. filed withCounthe labor shall backed bymail American Standard Road, Ste. 590, sford, LEASE, LLC Arts. of Org. Park, contracting Org. with Secy. of212-839-9403, State Arts.

Yards, 72nd Fl.,designated NY, NY TOUR HOLDINGS, LLC ApFORD HOUSE PRESERVAof NYfiled (SSNY) on Elm 08/12/21.

AVE NYC LLC Ap1770 Telephone No. Fax2ND No. 212-839-4241 seling, PLLC. Articles of Org. of Form. filed with DE Secy.

NY 10025.

SSNY 1 2 /1 2 / 1 7 .

O ffic e lo c a tio n : N Y the Partnership, 635 MadiSSNY on 08/19/2021.

Office ✔ 44 Hydrotherapy jets for for ancopies invigorating Request ofmassage the reN YNY 1 0 (SSNY) 5 2 3 , A t on tNY orn eCounty. y s hvelkur@dot.nyc.gov f o r C o n t r a c t # D 2 6 3 6 3 4 - TION of Anyfiled lawful activity. and sub-contracting work, 12/03/19. of SSNY designated as 10001. pl. for Auth. with Secy. of as Arts.

Email: Office pl. forNY Auth. filed with of filed C o nwith tGP, r aSecy. cLLC t #D 2State 6 3of 6 of 3Org. 0NY - Purpose: filed w/ Secretary of Secy.

State of State,location: 401 Federal St. Ste. agent of LLC upon whom County.

Princ. office of LLC: 246 son A ve., S te.

1300, N Y , County.

SSNY has loc. th vocable consent agreement Plaintiff on 09/10/21.

Office (SSNY) and activities and purposOffice location: NY County. agent of LLC uponitwhom proStateall of NY (SSNY) on process Notice ofRepairs Qualification 80 Secy. of at State ofLLC, NY Spring designated as agent of been SSNY Bridge I-84 State ofReplacement, NY (SSNY) on filed Bridge 3 of LocaYESwith MAMA CREATIVE 9/9/2020.

Office NY (SSNY) 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Puragainst may be St.,ofNY, NY location: 10013. SSNY 10022.

Name and addr. as agent may beagainst addressed to: Departlocation: NY County.

SSNY es related thereto.

Bill de Blasio, Mayordesignated office ofwhom LLC: 1305 FulPrinc.Any may be cess Office NY 11/07/19.

STREET REALTY LLC Appl.

Notice Qualification of NY (SSNY) on 08/05/21.

Office Limited Time Offer! Call it Today!

LLC upon process Eastbound & W estbound Office location: NY 09/07/21. t i o n s i n L o n g I s l a n d of Org. filed with the Arts. location: New York County. pose: lawful activity. served. shall mail prodesignated agent formed ofAppl.

LLC upon each general partner are whom process against location: ment of SSNY Consumer Affairs, asCounty. agentSecy.

LLC Polly Trottenberg, Commissioner ton St., it Rahway, NJ served.

07065. upon served.

SSNY shall mail proCounty. as LLC in of for Auth. filed with of SoulCycle LLC for NY may be against o v e rLLC M e LLC tmay r o Nbe o r t agent h R a in i l designated County. formed Towns of Babylon &ofPrinc.

HunSSNY on 06/10/2020.

Office SSNY designated as of cess to Foil Jacob M. Weinreb at whom process against itofmay be available served. from SSNY. PurATTN: Officer, 42Service Broadwhom process against it Auth. upon SSNY of designated as agent of the to Corporation cess Notice Qual of KING PENDelaware (DE) on 08/21/17. of&County.

NY (SSNY) on State filed with Secy.

State office of LLC: 30 Hudson shall mail process to Road -upon Tow n on of Fishkill, Delaware (DE) 08/12/21. tington the City of Glen loc: NY SSNY has Or pose: visit: www.walkintubinfo.com/nypress whom process PLLC shall the princ. office of the LLC. served.

SSNY shall mail process SSNY mail process to: Any lawful activity. way, New York, NY 10004. may bedesignated served.

SSNY shall upon whom 4 process LLC OPPORTUNITY Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY GUIN FUND Princ. office of LLC: 1270 Princ.

11/08/19.

Office location: NY NY (SSNY) on 08/16/21. of Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY Barbara Gutman, Bryant NY office of LLC: 777 S. been as agent Cove, NY against may beYork served.

Any lawful activity. to T h of e location: Bthe o a rd of M a n aCounty. g e rs NY o f Purpose: The LLC,it271 New Av- mail toformed Brian J. Office against itAuthority may served.

12207-2543. Purpose: Any III LLC, filed with Ave. Americas, NY, LLC in County.

NY SSNY designated as 9th Fl., NY, be NY 10018.

Park, Figueroa St., 41st Los 10001. whom process against upon process shall mail copy of proSSNY Brooklyn, Carem ax professional serTrump SoHo Hotel Condominium NY Fl., 11213.

Beller, c/oon Tarter Krinlawful activity. shall mail process to enue, SSNY the SSNY onArts.

07/27/2021.

OfSSNY designated as N Notice of formation of 10020.

(DE) 05/05/99.

Delaware formed in Delaware (DE) ofEsq., LLC upon whom proPurpose: Any lawful activity.

Additional inform ationSSNY mAve ay agent 90017.

Angeles, the LLC may be served.

Additional inform ation m ay LLC cess to: CA 315 Madison O TIC E O F FO R M ATIO N vices LLC. of org. filed Purpose: Any Lawful PurNY at the princ. office of the LLC. Notice of Formation of CLIFsky &designated Drogin 1350 NOTICE OF FORMATION Corporation Co.,LLC 80 designated fice loc: NYService County. agent of LLC SSNY upon whom pro- OF Celebrity LLCofAppl.

SSNY as agent of on Notice theAdvisors qualification Re03/25/11. designatagainst may be be obtained from David as agent of AmLLC shall mailit LLP, process to: SSNY be obtained from David Am#1501B, New York, NY cess BPBB Media, LLC. Arts with the SSNY on 10/19/17. pose.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

FORD HOUSE PRESERVABroadway, 10018.

OF Albany, NY 12207. upon State St., formed in DE on 04/16/2015. cessas against for O mayupon be of Auth. filed with Secy of upon whom LLC source LLC agent ofit LLC a t o AMERIGO a t Purpose: 9 1process 4 - 6 HOLDINGS 9any 9against - 7lawful 440 whom it served.

The 299 12 a t o aLLC, tSSNY 9 1NY, 4 -shall 6 NY 9West 9mail -process 7 4pro4 0th ed 10017. rg Energy filed wSystems, iththe Secy. of O f f i c eis: designated N e w lawful YFORMATION o r kactivity. . Sagent S N Y LLC TION LLCagainst Arts.mail ofit may Org. Purpose: lawful activity.

Articles of Org. filed shall with NOTICE OF Purpose: Any SSNY as served.GP, SSNY shall pro- S State off NNY (SSNY) against itAny may served.

Application for of process Corporation Service damato@ defoecorp.com or cess may be served.

SSNY StreettoApt 3J, NY,be NY 10014. damato@ defoecorp.com or whom activity. t a t e of o Y (Certificate S Sof NY ) oon n d e s ALLTID i gwhom n a t e dprocess a g e n tagainst uLLC. p o n Notice Notice Formation ASTOfiled with Secy. of State ofmail NY Authority Secretary of State of NY the SPIRITS OF of Formation of 277 upon to c/o Corporation SerN.Y. Office location: cess 10/29/19 SSNY shall mail process to filed with the Secy be served.

SSNY shall Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY bids@ defoecorp.com process to c/o Corpora- bids@ mail Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice defoecorp.com 2 / 1WEST 9 / 1 7 . F&B O f f i cLLC e l oArts. c : N of Y ofonFormation ofOffice 319 1RIA whom process against the 122-124 Wmay 124TH ST LLC, (SSNY) 08/05/21.

(SSNY) on 11/5/2019.

Office Arts of Org filed with Secy of FIFTH 35A LLC Arts. of Org. the LLC be served.

FEYNMAN POINT LLC, Arts.

Notice of formation of Signs vice New York County.

SSNY has Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Gideon Rothschild, Moses & of State of New York (SSNY) process to c/o Corporation 12207-2543.

Purpose: Any tion Service Co., 80 State St., ounty.

SSN designated W est 10 6 t h12207-2543.

S t r e e t , Princ.

L LDE C C LLC mshall afiled y NY bmail ewith s(SSNY) eprocess rthe vwith e dSSNY athe n d filed Arts. of Org. filed Org. filed with YSecy. of agent State location: NY County.

NY County. location: Albany, NY State of on with NY Secy. ofArts State of NY activity.

SSNY to: Org. LLC. ofSSNY Org of Candles designated been LLP, 405 Lexington Singer on 05/18/2021.

NY as office loCo. (CSC), 80 State Albany, 12207-2543.

DE lawful Bid Date: January 25, 2018 Bid Date: 24, 2018 Service upon whom process Art. ofofOrg. filed with Sec. of agent shall mail process against to (SSNY) th January SSNY onOffice 08/19/2021.

Office of NYwhom (SSNY) onSSNY 08/16/21. office ofLLC: LLC: 30 251 Hudson designated as agent ofOffice LLC CSC, Little addr.Albany, 11/7/19. location: NY on 08/02/21.

The LLC, 369 Office West 126th on filed with 09/22/2020. loc: Secy. of State of NY Ahern upon process against Ave., 12Painting Fl., NY,Contractors, NY 10174. cation NY County.

NY 12207-2543.

St., Notice is hereby given that a of LLC: 251 Little Falls addr. m a y b e s e rv e d a n d s hhas a llit State of NY (SSNY) on SepLegalNYCorp Solutions loc.

County. has Office location: NY County.

Yards, 72nd Fl., c/o NY,CSC, NY is seeking M/WBE & SDInc upon whom process against it Notice is hereby given that a Falls SSNY designated Dr., Wilmington, DE County.

NY County.

Princ.

Street, Mgmt Suite, NY,LLC, NY location: SSNY hasSSNY been des(SSNY) on 5/29/20.

Office lomay be served.

The Post OfDE addr. of LLC: c/o Corpobeen designated as an agent DE addr. of LLC: Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. license, number 1331331 for tember copy ofprocess process against 15, 2017.

Office in mail 11Broadway Sterequired 615 New designated as agent been designated agent of SSNY 10001.

SSNY designated as VOB Subcontractor proposals be served. shall license, may serial Co., #1338366 for 251 rate agent upon whom process 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed of Form.

LLC: 277 Fifth Ave., 10027.

Address to office as agent upon whom NY County. ignated cation: address to as which the fice whom upon against it Little Falls Dr., WilmingliquorService license, has 251 beenLittle apCert. of filedSSNY with SSNY Secy. to: US mail Corp.

Agents, N Y DE CDE o 19808. uLLC n t y .upon S Y d sproi g . LLC York, New York 10004. upon whom process against LLC upon whom process agent of whom for the& Project: Miscellaneous mail process to: Justin L. Galbeer wine has been apbe served and shall mail Secy. ofS N State, Div. may with Dr., Wilmington, DE ton, Falls NY, NY 10016.

SSNY Cert. of Form. be maintained in DE: 108 #35A, process against the LLC may designated as agent upon SSNY shall copy of may be served andashall mail The New York Amsterdam News plied for Kem Rest Inc. d/b/a of State of DE, John G. Inc. 7014 13th Ave., #202, agent of LLC upon w hom Purpose: Any lawful activity. the LLC may be served. it may be served. against cess against it may be Repairs, Cleaning Structural 52 Downs Avenue, letti, plied for by the undersigned copy of process against LLC Of Corps., John G. Townsend 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed as agent of LLC designated filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, West 13th SSNY St., Wilmington, be served. shall mail Townsend whom process may be Don Giovanni Ristorante to process LLC aany copy of any against processthe against Bldg., 401 Federal K , LLC N Yshall 1 1 2mail 2 8C/O . process P rthe inisc ip atol pserved. r o c eof s sSSNY m a yof bthe eSt., smail eSte. r v proe dof shall mailofprocess to: upon SSNY SSNY shall and Painting at the Bronx Stamford, CT PurDE 19801.

Formation sell beerat&of wine ataretail in Secy. to principal business Bldg., 401 Federal 4,. B with Secy.

State of DE, whom process against it to State State will be Monday, January 15, 2018 in to: Cert Daniel L.address: Kesten, and shall06902. mail copy of process served served upon is LLC the served upon C/O sell liquor retail in restauSte. 4, closed Dover, DE 19901.

St., address: 562 W. S S NDiv. Yto sDE hofa ll19901. m a il cPurpose: oService p y G. o f business The LLC, 271 New27D, York Av- may Cape Advisors, Inc., 375 th cess Corporation Bridge, Contract Any lawful activity.

The aWhitestone pose: filed with Div. of Corps, bakery under the ABC Law DE, W. 57DE Street, New 601 Dover, Dept., Townsend Bldg., Corp. be served.

SSNY Corps., John ESQ. C/O Pryor Cashman process against LLC to shall 2010 Alton Rd, #3305, Miami 450LLC: the CT Corporation Sysrant under the Alcoholic BevTo advertise your Purpose: Any lawful activity.

48th t . ,St., # 2Third 6Street, , NPurpose: Y , New N Y process to: 163 74th St., Brooklyn, NYSuite 11213. enue, Fl., NY, Greenwich Co., 80 State St.,W. Albany, NY 1 BW-14C. Please contact No observance of Martin King Jr.St., Day LLC is to be managed by one at 115 Delancey NYC 401 St., 4, mail York, NY 10019.

Purpose: purposes, specificalAll legal Dover, process to the LLC at Luther DE 19901.

Purpose: Bldg., 401 Federal LLP, 7and Times Square, NY, Grand Ave, Apt 1C, Bronx, Beach, 33139. tem, 28SFL Liberty erage Control Law at 214 Townsend publicFederal legal notices, Purpose: lawful N N Yrelated.

0 2Purpose: 3 . DE P u rp oAny s e : 10031.

Purpose: Any Lawful PurNY Purpose: Any law12207-2543.

Anna atfor 718-639-5880 forcondeor managers. on-premises Dover, DEact.

19901.

Purpose: Any10003. lawful activity. any lyYtravel Any lawful activity. addr. ofPurpose: its princ.any office.

St. -, Ste. 4,1 0Dover, 19901.

10036.

Purpose: Any the 10453. law- 10002 NY lawful NYmore York, NY 10005.any Purpose: 10th Ave, New York, NY for act. any lawful activity. pose. lawful activity. ful activity. call Lawful 212-932-7435 tails. sumption; Salon Sucre LLC. Any Purpose.

Any lawful activity.

Purpose: Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Lawful Purpose ful act. Any lawful activity. premises consumption.

Contact: Phone:this (212)620−0938 Under agreement rates are Fax#: of a cancellation before event Email: rate charged will be based upo Agency: −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− PUB ZONE EDT AMNEWS TP RUN CORPORAT DATES ______________________________ AN A 97 S 01/07,14 FREDERICK DOUG Name (print2340 or type) −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− NEW YORK NY 10 (212)932−740 .

Under this agreement rates ar ORDER CONFIRMAT event of a cancellation befor rate charged will be based up Salesperson: Not Applicable Print −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− Acct #: 370 Ad #: _____________________________ Name (print or type) MORRISON & TENEBAUM Start 87 WALKER STREET Times NEW YORK NY 10013 STD 1 .

Total Class Rate:

Contact: Ad De Phone: (212)620−0938 Given Fax#: P.O. Email: Creat Agency: Last −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− PUB ZONE EDT TP RUN DATES AN A 97 S 12/31 01/07 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− AUTHORIZATIO

Under this agreement rates are subject to ch event of a cancellation before schedule comp rate charged will be based upon the rate for

101 LEGAL NOTICE

888-609-0248 _____________________________________ _____ Name (print or type) Name

.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Notice of Formation of CONNOLLY INVESTING, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/23/21. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 212 5th Ave., Apt. 12C, NY, NY 10010. Purpose: any lawful activities.

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF Construction Advocacy Professionals, LLC Application of Authority filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/02/2021. Office location: NEW YORK County. LLC formed in Connecticut Date originally filed on 12/01/2017. 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 LLC served upon him/her is: 8 Stonehouse Drive Moosup, CT 06354. The principal business address of the LLC is 8 Stonehouse Drive Moosup, CT 06354. Connecticut address of LLC: 8 Stonehouse Drive Moosup, CT 06354 Place of business in state of origin, Connecticut. Certificate of LLC filed with Secretary of State of Connecticut located at: 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06115 Notice of formation of EMERSON ROSE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/31/2021.

NY office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon is C/O LLC: 38 East 1st Street, Apt 3B, New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of GAR Equipment, L.L.C. Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/12/21. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in New Jersey (NJ) on 03/31/11.

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

SSNY shall mail process to: 27 Ramsey Rd., Lebanon, NJ 08833, also the address to be maintained in NJ. Arts of Org. filed with the State Treasurer of the State of NJ, 125 W State St., Trenton, NJ 08625.

Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of HAN DYNASTY KU LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/18/21.

Office location: NY County.

Princ. office of LLC: 307 W. 38th St., NY, NY 10018.

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

SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Purpose: Operations of restaurants.

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATIONS of LLC. Auth. Ivonne Welch Insurance Agency, LLC filed Secretary of State (SSNY) on 08/10/21. Office Location: NY County. LLC org. in California. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom proc. against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of proc. to: 25240 Hancock Avenue Suite 305, Murrieta, CA 92562. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice is hereby given that an On-Premises Liquor License for beer, wine and spirits has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and spirits at retail rates for on-premises consumption for the premises located 601 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001 under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. RXR SL JV and Marathonnotaspritz LLC. Notice of Qualification of MONTICELLO STRUCTURED PRODUCTS MSP16, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/02/21. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/29/21. Princ. office of LLC: 600 Third Ave., 21st Fl., NY, NY 10016. 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: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St. Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #Pending for beer & wine and spirit has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer & wine and spirits at retail in a restaurant under Harlem Nytes Hospitality LLC located at 344 East 59th Street NY NY 10022 for on-premises consumption; DBA: Narcisse at 344 East 59th New York NY 10022 Notice of formation of Ripka Arts LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of NY (SSNY) on 06/14/2021 NY office location NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is C/O the LLC: 175 West 12th Street, Apt. 4B, New York, NY 10011. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of the formation of Limited Liability Company.

Name: NYCR SUB-CDE 17, LLC (“LLC”). Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (“SSNY”) on August 10, 2021. NY office location: New York County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom the process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: NYCR SUB-CDE 17, LLC, c/o NYCR-CDE, LLC, 99 Hudson Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10013. Purpose / character of LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Qualification of OCTAGON CLO OPPORTUNITY FUND IV (US) L.P. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/21/21. Office location: NY County.

LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/15/21.

Princ. office of LP: 250 Park Ave., 15th Fl., NY, NY 10177.

Duration of LP is Perpetual.

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

SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Pain Free Strength LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/24/20 NY office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon is C/O the LLC: 4558 Broadway, New York, NY 10040. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Rachel L Goldman PhD Psychologist PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/16/21. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of PLLC: 675 3rd Ave., Ste. 1037, NY, NY 10017. SSNY designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the PLLC at the addr. of its princ. office.

Purpose: Practice of Psychology and any lawful activity relating thereto.

Prepare for power outages with a Generac home standby generator REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

877-516-1160

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!

Limited Time Offer - Call for Details

Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval

*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.

BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND

CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE TH

Notice of Qualification of SoulCycle LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/16/21.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/25/11. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543.

DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secy. of State of the State of DE, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

110 SERVICES

E

TT

EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER!

NATIO

1

15% & 10 %

2

Notice the qualification of Resource Energy Systems, LLC Application for Certificate of Authority filed with the Secy of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/18/2021. NY office location NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon is C/O the LLC: CT Corporation System, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of HVS XLII LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/17/21. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/19/21. 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, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

110 SERVICES

D

101 LEGAL NOTICES Notice of formation: Sam City Collaborative, LLC. Art. of Org. filed with the Secy of State. of the State of NY (SSNY) on 09/15/2021. Office location: NY County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of any process to Sam City Collaborative, LLC, c/o Genesis Companies, 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, New York, NY 10151. Purpose: to engage in any lawful activity.

GU

101 LEGAL NOTICES Notice of formation of 333 East 30th Street Holding LLC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/31/2021 NY office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon is C/O the LLC: 333 East 30th Street 20F Property Holding LLC 212 East 47th Street, Unit 25C New York, NY, 10017.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

’S

101 LEGAL NOTICES Notice of formation: Harlem Sam City, LLC. Art. of Org. filed with the Secy of State. of the State of NY (SSNY) on 09/15/2021. Office location: NY County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of any process to Harlem Sam City, LLC, c/o Genesis Companies, 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, New York, NY 10151.

Purpose: to engage in any lawful activity.

N

101 LEGAL NOTICES Notice of Formation of CLIFFORD HOUSE PRESERVATION, L.P. Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/05/21. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LP: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. Latest date on which the LP may dissolve is 12/31/2119. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

R

30 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

ER GUA

OFF

FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!

1

Notice of Formation of THE FUSION FILMS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/19/21.

Office location: NY County.

Princ. office of LLC: 365 3rd Ave., #4B, NY, NY 100169073. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to So Young Yang at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity Notice of Formation of V. cardui Consulting, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/13/21.

Office location: NY County.

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

SSNY shall mail process to: CT Corporation System, 28 Liberty St., NY, NY 10005.

Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of formation of Viento Media LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of NY (SSNY) on 03/26/2021 NY office location NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is C/O the LLC: United States Corporation Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

110 SERVICES Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today.

15% off and 0% Financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-763-2379 DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Fee Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 07/21/21. 1-888-6099405 The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-0194

Promo Code: 285

Subject to credit approval. Call for details.

1

CALL US TODAY FOR

YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE *

+

5

% OFF

TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS ONLY! **

SENIORS & MILITARY!

OFF

WE INSTALL

YEAR-ROUND! LIFETIME WARRANTY

1-855-478-9473

A FREE ESTIMATE

Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST

*For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Offer valid at time of estimate only 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.”

CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114

Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES

alone I’m never

Life Alert® is always here for me.

One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7. with

GPS !

Help at Home Help On-the-Go ®

I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!

Batteries Never Need Charging.

For a FREE brochure call:

1-800-404-9776

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

110 SERVICES

110 SERVICES

195 HELP WANTED

VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150.

FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! 1-855-579-8907

Freon Wanted: We pay CA$H for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-361-0601 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com

City Limits: $25.88 for 30 days Idealist: $30.38 for 30 days El diario waiting to hear back Amsterdam: $90 for 30 days

Get DIRECTV! ONLY $69.99/month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package.)

PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

140 MISC. INSURANCE

Never Pay For Covered Home Repairs Again! Complete Care Home Warranty COVERS ALL MAHOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE. $200.00 OFF + 2 FREE MONTHS! 866-440-6501

140 MISC. INSURANCE

DENTAL Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

Call to get your FREE Information Kit

1-855-225-1434 Dental50Plus.com/nypress

Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer.

Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds: B438, B439 (GA: B439B).

6208-0721

193 JOB TRAINING

193 JOB TRAINING

Computer & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering a $10,000 scholarship for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440.

(M-F 8am-6pm ET)

Economist The Independent Budget Office (IBO) is seeking an economist with a keen interest in public policy to join our tax and economics team. IBO is a NYC government agency providing impartial, nonpartisan information on the city budget, tax revenues, and the local economy to elected officials and the public. The tax and economics team conducts fiscal policy research focused on NYC, generates economic and tax revenue forecasts, and responds to requests for information and analysis from IBOs constituents.

Qualifications: Candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the New York City economy and experience in local economic forecasting and modeling or revenue forecasting and tax policy analysis are strongly preferred. A Ph.D. in Economics or a related field is preferred; equivalent work experience may substitute. Experience in an applied research organization and writing for a policy-oriented audience a plus.

Candidates should be detailoriented and able to demonstrate skills in quantitative research and policy analysis.

Commitment to impartial and independent research is essential. Must be comfortable working in a collaborative environment, juggling multiple tasks, and interacting with a variety of stakeholders on relevant city issues. Ability to take initiative and meet deadlines is critical.

Salary range: $80,000 to $110,000, depending on experience.

IBO is an equal opportunity employer. New York City residency is required for candidates with less than two years of city service; others may reside in Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk or Westchester Counties. Foreign nationals must have a valid permanent resident card (green card) or renewable work permit.

195 HELP WANTED

195 HELP WANTED

HOTEL CLEANING NYCQUEENS- WHITE PLAINS. T&L Cleaning is looking for Housekeeping Staff for various Hotels. Room Attendants, Laundry Attendants, House-persons and Supervisors. Apply on-line at: tlcleaningservices.com/apply or call 1-800-610-4770

JOB OPPORTUNITY $18.50 P/H NYC $16 P/H LI Up To $13.50 P/H UPSTATE NY If you currently care for your relatives or friends who have Medicaid or Medicare, you may be eligible to start working for them as a personal assistant. No Certificates needed. (347)462-2610 (347)5656200

District Opening Fallsburg School District Mathematics Teacher (3 Year Grant Funded Position) NYS 7-12 Cert. Required

Please forward resume & Fallsburg’s application (located at fallsburgcsd.net) by Oct 6th To fallsburg-recruitment@scboces.org Attn: Math Teacher position EOE

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 31

Salesperson: Not Applicable Printe −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− 349 APARTMENTS 349 APARTMENTS 349 APARTMENTS Acct FOR #: RENT 519 Ad #: FOR RENT FOR RENT

As of August 2, 2021, all new hires must be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus by the date of hire, unless a reasonable accommodation for exemption is received and approved by the hiring agency.

How to apply: Please forward a resume and cover letter to econ2021@ibo.nyc.ny.us by October 19, 2021.

No phone calls please.

252 BKLYN FURN ROOMS Nr. Brookdale Hosp., Med furn rm in pvt hse. Working Female Senior pre'd. Share clean kit/bth rm with 1. No Couples, NO Drugs, No Smoking! Close to tranp., L/G & wifi incl $950 Mrs. Turner 917-907-0285

272 BKLYN UNFURN ROOMS $1000/m 1/m Rent & Sec. Roof top Balc. L/G/C included Shared 1.5 Bat/Kit. Ref Check'd. Call 646.773.6913.

Unfurn. Rms share kit/bath Canarsie: 3 rms , Crown Hts: 2 rms Flatbush, E.Flatbush, $700-900 Broker 917.541.6394

349 APARTMENTS FOR RENT $1,700 Brownville 2 Bed on 2nd Fl of 4 Family House.

Work references req'd. Call Akingbade 718.791.4343 Crown Hghts Newly Refurb. 2 Bdrms $2200/m. E . Flatbush Lrg Refurb 1 Bdrm $1,600/m E.NY 3 ½ Bdrm's Newly Renov. $2200/m. Ground Fl 1Bdrm E. Flatbush $1550/m Util Incl.

Call Realtor 917.541.6394

349 APARTMENTS FOR RENT

349 APARTMENTS FOR RENT

ESTATE SALE - LOG HOMES

PAY THE BALANCE OWED ONLY!!!

AMERICAN LOG HOMES IS ASSISTING JUST RELEASED OF ESTATE & ACCOUNT SETTLEMENT ON HOUSES.

4 Log Home kits selling for BALANCE OWED, FREE DELIVERY 1)Model # 101 Carolina $40,840…BALANCE OWED $17,000 2)Model # 203 Georgia $49,500...BALANCE OWED $19,950 3)Model # 305 Biloxi

$36,825...BALANCE OWED $14,500

4)Model # 403 Augusta $42,450...BALANCE OWED $16,500 Before Calling View House Plans at

www.americanloghomesandcabins.com NEW - HOMES HAVE NOT BEEN MANUFACTURED

Make any plan design changes you desire!

Comes with Complete Building Blueprints & Construction Manual Windows, Doors, and Roofing not included BBB NO TIME LIMIT FOR DELIVERY! A+ Rating

*OFFER NOT AVAILABLE TO AMERICAN LOG HOME DEALERS*

625 MISCELLANEOUS Lost Shield (looks like a badge). Item was lost in Queens Vill/Jamaica. Please return. Call 347.336.7842.

634 DONATIONS Drive Out Breast Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup – 24hr Response Tax Deduction _ Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855905-4755

TO DISPLAY YOUR CLASSIFIEDS AD CONTACT Ali Miliner (212) 932-7435 | ali.milliner@amsterdamnews.com

634 DONATIONS

634 DONATIONS

Donate Your Car & Help Grant A Child’s Wish Help Local Children And Get Free & Easy Towing

Visit WheelsForWishes.org or call (877)-798-9474

Benefiting

Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. To learn more about our programs or financial information, call (213) 948-2000 or visit www.wheelsforwishes.org

32 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

IS PROUD TO INTRODUCE FOR

REPORT AMERICA

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

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 33

Harlem’s ZaQuae Carter earns national recognition in tumbling

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews Watching Harlem native ZaQuae Carter perform an explosive run down the tumbling track feels like he’s defying gravity. The 14-year-old flies from move to move with a sense of power and purpose. In June, he won a national championship in the male 15-and-over tumbling division at the USA Gymnastics Championships. Fellow Harlem resident Bailey Mensah, 15, finished second.

Carter’s mother, Malary Dunn, was initially surprised when her son expressed interest in gymnastics and tumbling at around age seven after attending a program from Harlem Children’s Zone. He went with a group to participate in recreational gymnastics at the Harlem Armory.

Carter soon became involved

(WHGF photo) ZaQuae Carter won a national championship in tumbling

with the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF), which serves urban youth ages 3 to 17 with low-cost and free gymnastics as well as programs focused on health and nutrition.

He was drawn to the WHGF’s supportive community. “After some years, ZaQuae has become great,” said Dunn.

He said what he loves about gymnastics and tumbling is the competition. “The rush, it makes me happy knowing other people like to do what I do,” Carter said.

He loves the explosive nature of tumbling. “It feels like I’m on a rocket,” he said.

In addition to training with the WHGF, Carter also trains with coach Roger Walker at CAVU Trampoline & Tumbling in New Jersey. With this title, Carter was named to the Junior National Team.

“Winning means a lot be-

cause I’ve been working hard a long, long time, and it shows that the work has paid off,” said Carter. “Being part of Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation is like being around family because I’ve been there for so long. Everybody I know is always pushing me to do better.”

In trampoline, he’s able to soar.

“When you’re flying in the air, you could just see everything,” he said.

“What’s good about tumbling is you can show all your strength that you’ve built up in all your practices.”

A typical tumbling run involves eight flips. “Over each one, I always push harder and harder so I fly even faster,” said Carter, who takes a deep breath and sees himself winning before each run. “On the second to last skill I go straight up.”

In addition to tumbling and trampoline, Carter trains in gymnastics. His long-term goals include increasing his involvement in gymnastics and hopefully earning a college athletic scholarship. Right now, he’s back at training, and there’s a competition coming up in October.

Misinformation, disinformation and the NBA’s COVID vaccine issue

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

When Washington Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal met with the media on Monday in the team’s first press event to start the new NBA season, his lack of rational knowledge regarding the COVID-19 vaccine illuminated the misinformation and disinformation permeating the national discourse.

“I would like an explanation to people with vaccines, why are they still getting COVID?” said Beal. “If that’s something we’re supposed to highly be protected from, that’s funny that it only reduces your chances of going to the hospital. It doesn’t eliminate anyone from getting COVID.” Beal’s ostensible ignorance, defined in this context as a lack of enlightenment, is troubling given the amount of resources the league and individual franchises have allocated to educating players, coaches and other personnel on the vaccine. He has first-hand experience with the effects and consequences of contracting the novel coronavirus.

This past summer, Beal was precluded from competing with the USA Men’s Olympic Basketball Team in Tokyo, where they won a gold medal, due to health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID. In New York City and San Francisco, where mandates require proof of vaccination with no exceptions to enter indoor

venues such as bars, restau- presents a potential setback for “Living in this public sphere, rants, gyms and sports arenas, his team, which is currently fa- there’s a lot of questions about players who have not been vored by major sports betting what’s going on in the world of vaccinated, such as (Bill Moore photo) Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, will be disallowed to play games held at Madison Square Garden, the Barclays Center and the Chase Center, home of the Warriors.

New York City regulations are less stringent than those instituted by the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

New York requires just one dose to gain entry while in San Francisco, full vaccination is mandatory. Wiggins, who is vaccine hesitant, endeavored to circumvent the obligatory guidelines by seeking a religious exemption, but his request was denied last week by the league.

At the Warriors media session on Monday, Wiggins asserted his decision re- The Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving did not attend the team’s media garding the vaccine is day session at the Barclays Center on Monday due to being “private” and “person- unvaccinated for COVID-19 al” and added, “I’m confident in my beliefs, what I entities to win the 2022 title. He Kyrie,” said the 29-year-old, sevthink is right and what I think was not present at the Barclay’s en-time All-Star, “and I would is wrong.” Wiggins also offered Center on Monday for the Nets’ love to just keep that private up this caustic response when gathering with the media, but and handle that the right way asked to explain his beliefs: “It’s cryptically addressed the sub- with my team and go forward none of your business.” ject of him being unvaccinated with a plan.”

The Nets’ Kyrie Irving also remotely.

In a recent story published

in Rolling Stone, writer Matt Sullivan put forth “Irving, who serves as a vice president on the executive committee of the players’ union, recently started following and liking Instagram posts from a conspiracy theorist who claims that ‘secret societies’ are implanting vaccines in a plot to connect Black people to a master computer for ‘a plan of Satan.’

This Moderna microchip misinformation campaign has spread across multiple NBA locker rooms and group chats, according to several of the dozen-plus current players, Hallof-Famers, league executives, arena workers and virologists interviewed for this story over the past week.”

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, arguably the greatest basketball player ever, offered a solution to the vaccine dilemma to Rolling Stone. “The NBA should insist that all players and staff are vaccinated or remove them from the team,” he suggested.

“There is no room for players who are willing to risk the health and lives of their teammates, the staff and the fans simply because they are unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation or do the necessary research.”

It is a polarizing issue that will continue to be debated, and potentially have sizable repercussions on the court and by extension the league’s financial bottom line.

34 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

History repeats itself for the mistake-prone Giants thing right now.”

It would be redundant to detail the miscues that plagued the Giants, such as a fumble by tight end Evan Engram—who was making his return after missing Weeks 1 and 2 with a calf injury—with 1:10 left in the first half.

They surface seemingly every game and aren’t mitigated by some of the positives, such as quarterback Daniel Jones’ second straight game without a turnover. Viscerally and tangibly, injuries to middle linebacker Blake Martinez, and wide receivers Sterling Sheppard and Darius Slayton impacted the Giants on both sides of the ball.

Martinez, who played collegiately for Stanford, tore the ACL in his right knee two minutes into the game on non-contact play and is out for the season. The 27-year-old Martinez, who signed as a freeagent with the Giants in March of 2020 after four years with the Green Bay

(Bill Moore photo)

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

For the second straight game, the Giants lost on a field goal as time expired, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. In Week 2 on the road, it was the Washington Football Team that sent them away with a 30-29 defeat when kicker Dustin Hopkins split the uprights on a 43yarder. This past Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons’ dropped the Giants to 0-3 after Younghoe Koo booted a 40-yard field goal to end the game.

The distressing 17-14 loss was an instance of history repeating itself for the Giants. Not just this season, but for most of the past decade.

Missed opportunities, critical mistakes, insufficient execution and injuries doomed them again.

“We’ve got to do a better job of finishing drives, finishing the game,” said Joe Judge after his team dropped his overall record to 6-13 as the Giants head coach. “You come out of any game without success and there are things you’re obviously not happy about,” Judge expanded.

“The key for us is to make sure that we go back to work, we correct the mistakes, we keep being productive in things we’re doing well and we stay together as a team and keep pushing forward. That’s the biggest-picture

Heading into this Sunday’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints, the Giants have several key players, including wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring), dealing with injuries

Packers, led the team in tackles last season with 151, which was the third highest in the league. His importance as the defense’s signal caller was substantial.

Sheppard and Slayton went out with hamstring injuries in the first half and did not return. Sheppard, 28, who has been with the Giants longer than any other current player after being selected in the second round (40th) out of the University of Oklahoma in 2016, leads the team with 227 receptions and 227 yards.

The 24-year-old Slayton, drafted by the Giants in the fourth round from Auburn, has played in 33 straight games. His 751 receiving yards last season was a team best.

As of early yesterday (Wednesday), the Giants had not provided definitive information on Sheppard’s or Slayton’s status for their game this Sunday (1 p.m.) versus the 2-1 New Orleans Saints on the road.

Saleh and Wilson have rough starts to their Jets career (Bill Moore photo)

By VINCENT DAVIS Special to the AmNews

When you look at Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, there is no fear in the eyes of the rookie.

You see determination, eagerness, some anger. You see an eagerness to play, to rectify his mistakes, to take accountability for some errors that aren’t all his fault, such as a pass to Braxton Berrios that went through the receiver’s hands and into those of Denver Broncos safety Caden Sterns, one of Wilson’s two interceptions this past Sunday in a 26-0 loss.

Wilson and Robert Saleh, a first-time NFL head coach, have started their positions with the Jets 0-3. Not what they had hoped for or expected. Or at least not expecting the team to be non-competitive. “It’s frustrating,” Wilson said. “We’re all learning. We’re trying to get better every single week. It may be hard for people to see that, but we’re learning a Jets second-year defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and his teammates look for their first lot from those games.” win of this season when they host the 2-1 Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium this Sunday And there’s a lot to learn from, starting with a 19-14 road loss to the which the offense was shutout. Wilson sacks against the Broncos, sharing one Carolina Panthers in Week 1. A 25-6 has expressed appreciation for the ef- with defensive end Bryce Huff. But the home loss to the New England Patriots forts of teammates like defensive tackle Jets haven’t shown they can play conin Week 2, and last Sunday’s defeat in Quinnen Williams, who totaled 1.5 sistently well.

This upcoming Sunday’s home game at MetLife Stadium is against the formidable 2-1 Tennessee Titans. They have won two straight, beating the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts. But unlike the Jets’ first three opponents, the Titans come in with less of a back story than the Jets’ previous three opponents.

Carolina has former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. New England is a longtime rival whose head coach, Bill Belichick, famously resigned as the Jets’ new head coach in January of 2020 without ever coaching a game. They are also starting a rookie in Mac Jones.

Broncos QB Teddy Bridgewater, who is having an excellent beginning to this season, leading Denver to a 3-0 record, is another former Jets quarterback.

The Jets are trying to find their way with young leadership. In addition to Wilson and Saleh, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is in his first year as an NFL coordinator and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is only in his second year as a coordinator in the league overseeing the Atlanta Falcons defense last season.

“We play hard, but playing hard is not good enough sometimes,” said Saleh.

“Sometimes you have to stumble,” noted Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins. “Sometimes you have to trip in order to start walking and running.”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021 • 35

Liberty season comes to an end with a heartbreaking one-point loss The New York Liberty arrived in Phoenix focused and ready to play the team’s first playoff game since 2017 and score its first-ever win in the WNBA’s current playoff structure. Longtime Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi was not able to play, which opened the door for the Liberty. Unfortunately, it was not to be, and the Liberty’s 2021 season came to an end with an 83–82 loss last Thursday.

Liberty head coach Walt Hopkins said he wanted to speak about a lack of respect the team received all season from the officials, but couldn’t, but then did. “The referees are above reproach.

They don’t have to do a press conference after games. They don’t have to explain the mistakes they make,” Hopkins said. “The way that they treated us is bad.”

Hopkins praised his players, saying they did more than enough to win the game.

“We don’t get respect because we’re a young team,” said Hopkins. “With that said,

this team has earned respect.”

Despite disappointment, Hopkins said there was a lot of pride about the way the team came together.

He said the players really stepped up and he gave credit to veteran leaders Betnijah Laney and Natasha Howard.

As she had all season, Laney was dominant in this game with 25 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Laney said the team’s improvement in recent weeks is something the players can take into next season. “It came down to things not going our way in the last few seconds,” said Laney.

Howard, who arrived late from overseas and then suffered an injury that kept her out of action until after the Olympic break, had another double-double, with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Sabrina Ionescu continued to show she’s ready to shine with

(Bill Moore photo)

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

Betnijah Laney and the Liberty were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs by the Phoenix Mercury, losing a close 83-82 battle

a double-double, 14 points and 11 assists.

“We definitely did our job,” said Howard.

“I think it shows what we’re capable of,” said Laney.

“We showed a lot of growth. It shows that we’re here and we’re here to stay. I think there were a lot of questions about how we were going to come out and what kind of team New York was. Throughout the season and especially our last game against the Mystics… it says a lot about the team. We’ll be back and we’re going to be really good. Just know that I said it.”

The Liberty players will now move onto their off-season activities, which for many of them will be playing overseas. When the team comes back together next spring, the expectation is they will be ready to win.

The WNBA Playoffs moves into the semifinals

Post-season play is in full swing for the WNBA , with the Phoenix Mercur y facing off against the Las Vegas Aces and the Chicago Sky taking on the Connecticut Sun in the semi-finals. The Mercur y earned its spot by defeating the New York Liberty in round one and the Seattle Storm in round two. The Sky defeated the Dallas Wings in round one and prevailed against the Minnesota Lynx in round two.

The WNBA’s current playoff structure allows the two teams with the best regular season records to sit out until the semi-finals. This suits the Connecticut Sun, which dominated post-season play with a league-record 14 consecutive wins.

The best-of-five semifinals began on Tues-

(Photo courtesy of Connecticut Sun)

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

Connecticut Sun veteran Jasmine Thomas is hungry for a championship

day night and continue tonight.

Veteran Sun guard Jasmine Thomas, who got engaged to Sun teammate Natisha Hiedeman just before the end of regular season, said the team has been laser-focused since returning from the Olympic break. The goal was to secure the one seed and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. “[The goal] is to win a championship,” said Thomas. “Over the last few years with this organization, there’s always been something. Whether it was injuries, core players leaving, any type of thing that has been a piece of adversity for us to face, we’ve been able to step up to that challenge and form the team we wanted and get the chemistr y and the culture the way that we wanted. You’re seeing the result of that.”

As post-season honors began to be announced, the Sun is getting respect.

Forward Jonquel Jones, a contender for league MVP, and guard Briann January were named WNBA AllDefensive First Team, and Thomas and forward Brionna Jones were named AllDefensive Second Team.

“Our young players have really developed and grown over the years, but we’ve seen multiple times this year where anybody can go up from our bench,” said Thomas, who is in her seventh year with Connecticut. “ You like to play where you feel valued, where you have a role.

That’s the way I’ve built my career.”

The only team in the semi-finals that has won WNBA titles is the Mercur y. Any of the other three would be first-time championships, which is inspiring the level of play. “Being part of bringing that first championship to Connecticut is what really motivates me,” said Thomas.

36 • September 30, 2021 - October 6, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Sports As training camp begins, the Knicks strive to build last season’s success

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

The 28-year-old Fournier says he will provide the type of mental and physical toughness Thibodeau demands from his players, instilled in him by his parents.

“Both of my parents were judo fighters from the national team. So I’ve always been around fighters my whole childhood,” said the nine-year veteran, who entered the NBA as a first round pick (No. 20) of the Denver Nuggets in 2012.

“A lot of hard workouts, hard practices. Guys throwing up because they’re tired.

As a kid, it just kind of stays AM NEWS 01274 01354 with you. It’s a part of who I AM NEWS AM NE 08/26/21 am. I enjoy 7winning. I enjoy 07/01/21 08/26/ 0 74470 22784and I enjoy competbattling, ing.’’

The Knicks open their preseason schedule Oct. 5 at Madison Square Garden versus the Indiana Pacers.

They will play a01364 total of four AM NEWS 01284 AM NEWS AM NE preseason games in preparaJulius Randle and the Knicks have 09/02/21 begun training camp 07/08/21 09/02/ 0 tion22784 for their7 regular season 74470 in preparation for their Oct. 20 regular season opener start Oct. 20 hosting the Celtversus the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden ics at MSG.

(Bill Moore photo)

“…It was a fairly simple series that I feel like, for me, I tended to just over complicate it.”

The 2020 season was bitter sweet for Randle averaged 24.1 points the Knicks. They far exceeded the prog- and 10.2 rebounds during the nostications of many pundits who had regular season, shooting 46% them finishing with a losing record for overall and 41% on three-point the eighth consecutive season. Instead, attempts. His consistently imunder new head coach Tom Thibodeau pactful play earned him the and the dramatic rise of forward Julius Most Improved Player Award, Randle, the Knicks ended the regular All-NBA Second Team and a season 41-31, their best record since first All-Star selection. going 54-28 and winning the Atlantic However, in five postseaDivision in the 2012-’13 campaign. son games against the Hawks, They were the No. 4 seed in the East- Randle shot just .298% from the ern Conference and a team none of the field, .333 on threes and scored top contenders were eager to face in the six points (18 points per game) postseason. But the Knicks were thor- below his regular season avoughly outplayed by the No. 5 seedAM At- NEWS erage. The Knicks’ signing of lanta Hawks in the first round of the shooting guard Evan Fourni07/01/21 playoffs, losing their best-of-seven er, who played 0 for the Orlando 7 74470 22784 series 4-1. At the Knicks’ annual Media Magic and Boston Celtics last Day on Monday held at the MSG Train- season before leading France ing Center in Tarrytown in Westchester to the finals at this past sumCounty, Randle reflected on the disap- mer’s Tokyo Olympics, where pointing exit. they lost to the United States, “I could have made the game more as well as the free-agent acquisimple,” he said. “Part of that was AM me NEWS sition of Bronx native Kemba being me, putting a lot on my shoul- Walker to bolster the point 07/08/21 0 will further en- 7 ders. Not making the moment bigger guard rotation, 74470 22784 than what it was but just me wanting to hance the growth of Randle be great in that moment. and by extension the team.

Stanton steps up as the Yankees try to seize a wildcard spot AM NEWS ton’s grand slam in the eighth inning09/09/21 on Satur0 7 day afternoon gave them 74470 22784 The Yankees acquired power a critical 5-3 win. hitter Giancarlo Stanton in De“We’re in a better situacember of 2017. The Miami Martion than we were yesterlins, the team that drafted him day, and the day before,” in 2007, made Stanton availexplained Stanton reable for a trade after their new garding the Yankees’ AM NEWS AM NEWS 01304 owners, led by Yankees’ Hall of tight race for a wildcard AM NEWS 07/22/21 09/16/21 Famer Derek Jeter, dumped salspot. “Now it’s our job to 07/22/21 0 7 74470 22784 aries to cut their payroll. The get out of here in an even Yankees gave up little in value to better situation.” obtain Stanton, sending Starlin Stanton’s two-run Castro and minor league proshomer in the eighth pects Jose Devers and Jorge inning on Sunday, his Guzman.

34th of the season, a masStanton was coming off of sive blast over theNEWS Green AM NEWS AM 01314 being voted the National League Monster at Fenway Park, AM NEWS 07/29/21 09/23/21 MVP after hitting 59 homers gave the Yankees a 6-3 07/29/21 0 7 74470 22784 and plating 132 RBIs. He was at lead after Aaron Judge the early stages of a $325 mildouble scored DJ LeMalion contract signed with the hieu putting the Yankees Marlins in 2014. Opinions about Yankees outfielder/DH Giancarlo Stanton’s dramatic up 4-3. It was drops of the trade were mixed. Views on eighth inning grand slam last Saturday versus the Boston catchable balls by third Stanton’s time as a New York Red Sox propelled his team to an important 5-3 win. baseman LeMahieu and Yankee have also been split. But left fielder Joey Gallo that AM NEWS AM NEWS 01324 AM NEWS there’s been more than overwhelming The 33-year-old Los Angeles native hit allowed the Red Sox to take a 3-2 advan08/05/21 09/30/21 08/05/21 0 7 approval of Stanton’s tremendous per- three key home runs in22784 the three-game tage in the seventh.

74470 formance against the Boston Red Sox series, one in each game, driving in 10 “It’s not something you’re going to see last weekend. runs. With the Yankees down 2-1, Stan- very often, two pop-ups get dropped by

AM NEWS 07/15/21

01294

AM NEWS 07/15/21

(Wikipedia photo)

By VINCENT DAVIS Special to the AmNews

01374Yankees really good defenders,” said NE manager Aaron Boone. “It’s part ofAM the 09/09/ ride0right now.”22784 7 74470 Stanton”s two-run blast gave the Yankees the security runs that they needed after Judge’s homer put them in the lead, 4-3.

The Yankees taking three from the Red Sox was their second consecutive series 01384Rangers, sweep after blanking the Texas AM NE and left them with just two series remain09/16/ 0 7 74470 22784 ing to end the regular season as the battle for the playoffs. They opened a threegame series on Tuesday on the road versus the Toronto Blue Jays 89-67, one game ahead of the Red Sox for the top wildcard position. The Tampa Bay Rays clinched the AL East title last Saturday.

01394 The Blue Jays were just two games AM NE behind the Yankees as7of Tuesday09/23/ and 0 74470 22784 the Seattle Mariners 2.5. The Yankees end the regular season hosting the Rays in the Bronx for three games tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.

01404 0

74470 22784

7

AM NE 09/30/