New York Amsterdam News: Issue Sept. 7-13, 2023

LEGACY

HARLEM NYPD CAPTAIN JANELLE SANDERS

LIVED AND DIED ON 9/11, REMEMBERED FOR SO MUCH MORE

(See story on page 6)

56th Annual West Indian American Day Parade

(See story on page 9)

It’s back-to-school backpack giveaway time!

(See story on page 17)

Mayor Adams doubles down on call for expedited work visas for asylum-seekers

(See story on page 4)

(Councilmember M. Velázquez office photo)

(Bill Moore photo)

(Photo portrait of Capt. Janelle Sanders courtesy of NYPD)

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INDEX

Arts & Entertainment Page 21

» Astro Page 26

» Jazz Page 30

» Trends Page 27

Caribbean Update Page 14

Classified Page 36

Editorial/Opinion Pages 12,13

Education Page 16

Go with the Flo Page 8

Health ...............................................Page 18

In the Classroom Page 32

Nightlife Page 9

Religion & Spirituality Page 34

Sports Page 47

Union Matters Page 10

International News

Afro Chilean struggles for recognition

By JESÚS CHUCHO GARCIA Special

to the AmNews

Translated by KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

The coup d’état that ousted Chilean President Salvador Allende is painfully remembered worldwide. Led by the military dictator Augusto Pinochet, the coup established a ferocious dictatorship that lasted from September 11, 1973, until 1990. The pain caused by that dictatorship is palpable and remains, but today we want to highlight the role of Afro Chileans and their struggles for recognition.

The African diaspora can be found in all corners of the American continent as a result of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Chile, though not widely recognized as a country that received enslaved Africans, was the site of the forced arrival of Africans kidnapped from the Congo-Angola-Guinea region during the period between 1580 and the country’s abolition of slavery, which took place on June 23, 1823.

Documents in the Archivo General de Indias in Seville, Spain show that the Chilean territory was part to the Viceroyalty of Peru. Santiago, the current capital of Chile, was a transit point for this shameful trade to Peru, and becam a link to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia.

The Afro Chilean epicenter is in the port city of Arica, on the border with Peru. One of the chief promoters of Afro Chilean culture, the engineer Marta Salgado Henríquez , in one of her statements says that “many times I have passed for a foreigner in my country, just because of my color and my curly hair, and I have to say with pride that I am Chilean.” She goes on to say that “Chilean Afrodescendant culture is composed of a network of shared symbols. In Arica there is a very popular neighborhood called Lumbanga where people enjoy the Moreno Carnival and where they dance the Saya, which is a signal of our solidarity with Afro Bolivian communities.”

From Santiago de Chile to Durban

In the late 1990s, the United Nations prepared for its Third World Conference Against Racism by holding a series of regional assemblies so that governments and social movements could put together a programmatic line for inclusion in the plan of action against racism. In December 2000, at the beginning of the 21st century, more than one hundred Afrodescendant organizations from all over the continent met in Santiago, Chile, for a meeting in which we defined ourselves as Afrodescendants.

Following the Santiago de Chile meeting, organizations from all over the American continent went to the city of Durban, South Africa and outlined the Afrodescendant plan of action against racism for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination,

Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on Sept. 6, 7, 8 and 9. It was there that we proposed, among other things, restorative justice and declared the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and African slavery as a crime against humanity. Santiago de Chile, the city with the smallest Afrodescendant population on the continent, became an essential point of reference for the redefining of Africans and their descendants. From that moment on, Afro Chileans took up their own advocacy agenda and fought for inclusion in Chile's 2017 census, where the Afro Chilean population reached 11,000 inhabitants, mostly located in Arica and Santiago de Chile. Following that, the Afro Chilean community started organizing to seek constitutional recognition for the reform of the Chilean constitution—they wanted to be included in the new constitution––but with that goal they were not successful.

The Oro Negro de Chile organization Marta Salgado, leader of the now 23-yearold organization, Oro Negro, says that their

work has allowed Afro Chileans to be present in the struggles for recognition as a people, as set forth in Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization.

“Our struggles have not been easy,” she said. “It was wonderful to have our Afrodescendant gathering in Santiago on December 4 and 5, 2000. Then we met again in the city of Durban, South Africa, in September 2001 with Professor Sheila Walker and Jesus Chucho Garcia and we began to categorize our experiences in the book “Conocimiento desde adentro: Los afrosudamericanos hablan de sus pueblos y sus historias (Knowledge from the Inside: Afro-South Americans Speak of their People and their Stories).”

“There in that book I pointed out the history and culture of Afro Chileans: it looks at our African linguistic remnants such as Mandinga, Sandunga, Chimba, and Chimbango among others. There are also our dances for mother earth, like the Cachimbo, that point to our heritage.”

Marta Salgado Henríquez and her greatgrandson, Ignacio Segura Olivares, at the Puntilla-Playa Chinchorro reserve in Arica, Chile (Marta Salgado Henríquez photo)

Rikers Island closure approaches four years from deadline

By TANDY LAU

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Advocates are quite literally counting on New York City to close Rikers Island. This past Thursday, Aug. 31—exactly four years before the shutdown’s 2027 deadline— they reminded Mayor Eric Adams of the city’s legal obligation as he continues to flirt with a “plan B” at a rally by City Hall.

“I hope that we are fully clear that this administration not only doesn’t want to close Rikers Island, I don’t think it ever had any intention to close Rikers Island,” said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. “[The closure plan] went through a process. It wasn’t like someone woke up one day, and then [thought] about how to do this. This was a process that made its

Vocal-NY rallies for International Overdose Awareness Day

By ARIAMA C. LONG

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

For International Overdose Awareness Day, a passionate group of protesters surrounded the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office (SNP) in Manhattan this past Thursday, claiming that the office was a relic of the country’s outdated and “racist” war on drugs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Center for Health Statistics indicates there were an estimated 107,622 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. during 2021—an almost 15% increase from 2020. An estimated 3,229 people fatally overdosed in New York City between March of 2022 and March of 2023, said the CDC.

The protesters started out with dozens

gathering at City Hall’s plaza for a vigil to honor lives lost to the overdose crisis, which they date back to the so-dubbed “war on drugs” as well as the recent fentanyl and opioid waves. The rallying groups included Vocal-NY, Drug Policy Alliance, and Katal Center members. Reverend Erica Poellot of Judson Memorial Church and Vocal-NY’s Marilyn Reyes performed the vigil.

A recent data report from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) indicates that overdose deaths or overdose mortality rates citywide follow the national trend. The rate “increased to 39.4 per 100,000 city residents” in 2021. Black New Yorkers had the highest rate of overdose death, followed by Latinos, and the Bronx had the highest concentration of overdose deaths.

The DOHMH said that “fentanyl was

Phipps, Wells Fargo ‘Welcome Home’ volunteer day at Bronx Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community Center

Volunteers from Wells Fargo and staff from Phipps Neighborhoods will join local elected officials and community members for a day of community-building and service at the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community Center in the Bronx’s Soundview neighborhood.

The event takes place Friday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1000 Rosedale Avenue in the Bronx.

The event will see volunteers fill 200 backpacks with school supplies for NYC children and build an indoor hydroponic system that will be used as part of the Phipps Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) program’s community garden.

In partnership with Food Stream Network, a local organization that provides the community with access to free, nutritious food, the event will also include a pop-up farmer’s market, where volunteers will distribute 100 bags of fresh produce from local farmers to Soundview residents and community members.

E-waste recycling event in St. Albans

The Ecology Center will sponsor an ewaste collection event at 113-43 Farmers Blvd in St. Albans, Queens, on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

the most common substance involved in overdose deaths (80%), followed by cocaine (47%), alcohol (39%), and heroin

NYCLU releases state police use-of-force data after legal battle over records

By TANDY LAU

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) found state police engaged in 5,554 reported use-of-force instances between 2000–2020 through a recently published report stemming from public records obtained following a 2022 Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) lawsuit. Nearly a third of incidents occurred during traffic stops.

According to NYCLU legal fellow Ify Chikezie, the exact race of New Yorkers on the receiving end of these incidents isn’t known, but history clearly points to Black and brown people.

“This is something you know about policing; this is something that we see anecdotally,” said Chikezie. “Though this is not

a data point we have, from what we know, we have every reason to believe that that would be borne out in the data if we were able to see it.”

New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven Nigrelli responded to the findings and lawsuit by email.

“The New York State Police values transparency,” said Nigrelli. “We follow the law in all respects, including in the appropriate release of publicly available agency records. Pursuant to a Freedom of Information Law request, the NYSP produced to NYCLU numerous records relating to personnel and disciplinary matters. NYCLU published its interpretation of the records it received from the NYSP.”

The FOIL request was initially filed after ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2020 repeal of New York State Civil Rights Law § 50-a, which allowed law enforcement

Working and nonworking electronic equipment will be accepted as tax-deductible donations, including laptops and desktops, smartphones, tablets, printers, fax machines, TVs, VCRs, and more.

For more information, contact the Ecology Center at 212-477-4022; email, info@ lesecologycenter.org or https://www. lesecologycenter.org/calendar/st-albans113-43-farmers-blvd/

Community School District 19 Back to School Carnival

employment or promotion.”

to reject requests for “personnel records used to evaluate performance toward continued

The act was intended to restrict criminal defense lawyers from employing them against police witnesses, but ballooned into blanket authority to withhold many records involving police misconduct by the time it was annulled.

The NYCLU filed a subsequent lawsuit against the state police last year after the request was rejected after 16 months, alleged the lawsuit filing.

“The long-standing secrecy was really hurting police accountability, public trust, [and] understanding of what accountability processes exist and how they work,” said NYCLU supervising attorney Bobby Hodgson.

“For the public to start to have an

Join a fun carnival filled with food, beverages, music, games, springboard book reading, and school supply giveaways on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 982 Hegeman Avenue in Brooklyn.

East New York Community Music Fest

The East New York Community Music Fest is a free resource event that will feature a bookbag (with school supplies) giveaway, live DJ, photo booth, game truck, refreshments, haircuts for youth, games, and challenges on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Berriman Playground (633 Schroeders Avenue, Brooklyn).

For more information, call 646-460-4101

See RIKERS on page 31

See OVERDOSE on page 31

Countdown clock to close Rikers by Aug. 31, 2027. (Tandy Lau photo)

On Thursday, August 31, Vocal-NY held a march and rally on the steps of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office (SNP) in Manhattan for International Overdose Awareness Day. (Ariama C. Long photo)

Trump and the 14th Amendment!

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

On Wednesday, the justices of the Supreme Court will receive the John Castro v. Donald Trump brief for the conference on September 26 to decide whether Trump should be allowed to appear on the 2024 presidential ballot. The case is expected to be decided on or before October 9. Expected as well, given the court’s right-wing imbalance, is a decision that will favor Trump. Castro, a tax attorney and Republican candidate, filed a lawsuit that charges that Trump should be disqualified from holding public office.

Castro is banking on Section Three of the 14th Amendment, which says that

“no person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President...who shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” As the world knows, Castro is clearly referencing Trump’s role in the January 6 attack on the Capitol, although the former president has not yet been formally accused or convicted of insurrection or sedition.

What Castro contends is similar to what Jack Smith has charged in his indictment, much of it leaning on the “aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”

Trump has by no means been silent about the lawsuit, snapping back at Castro on his Social Truth platform and

asserting what several legal scholars have: that the 14th Amendment has no legal “basis or standing relative to the upcoming 2024 Presidential election.”

He added, “Like Election Interference, it is just another ‘trick’ being used by the Radical Left Communists, Marxists, and Fascists, to again steal an Election that their candidate, the WORST, MOST INCOMPETENT, & MOST CORRUPT President in U.S. history, is incapable of winning in a Free and Fair Election. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

President Biden has offered no comments, perhaps more concerned with his wife, Jill, testing positive for COVID19 and his son, Hunter, being hounded by Trump and Republicans.

Mayor Adams doubles down on call for expedited work visas for asylum-seekers

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

Mayor Eric Adams doubled down on his calls for expedited work visas for arriving asylum-seekers—roughly 100,000—at a huge rally in Foley Square in Manhattan this past Thursday. This comes a week after Governor Kathy Hochul addressed President Joe Biden on the same issue. Adams repeated his assertion that immigration is a national, not city, issue and asked for more federal resources to handle the crisis.

“[I] want to thank our colleagues who are here, coming united, [with] different views, political spectrum views, different ways of approaching things, but we are united on the same concept and belief that the precursor to [allowing] us to experience the American dream is the right to work, the right to prevail, the right to provide for your family,” said Adams. Adams was joined by asylum-seekers, other elected officials, and union or-

ganizations such as District Council 37 (DC 37); Hotel and Gaming Trades Council (HTC); Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU); RWDSU Local 338; Communications Workers of America (CWA) 1180; and 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Deimer Bonilla Asprilla, a member of La Colmena and an asylum seeker from Colombia, said via a translator, “I am here to work to be able to support my family and to be able to contribute to the economy. It is important that we are heard in Washington. That support is needed to obtain our permit. But more than anything, it is time U.S. immigration law changed for the actuality to be a pathway to citizenship for not only us, but for all those immigrants who have been here for 20 or 10 years.”

Vishally Persaud, a delegate for 1199 SEIU and originally from British Guyana in South America, spoke about her experiences as a home care worker and a single mom of two living on Staten Island. She recalled fearing for her father,

who only had a green card at the time, as he went out to look for work.

“I came here when I was 10 years old, with my mom and dad. We had nothing in America,” said Persaud. “We traveled so many miles. We left everything behind—our family, our loved ones.”

Good news about clean energy jobs for communities of color

By HERB BOYD

Special to the AmNews

More than 111,700 new clean energy jobs have been brought to communities of color since last year when the landmark Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) became law. As part of the Biden administration’s clean energy plan, one of the largest such investments in the nation’s history, 272 projects accounting for more than 170,600 clean energy jobs have been announced by clean energy companies.

New York’s Black workers, along with those in South Carolina, Michigan, Georgia, and Tennessee, are included in 124 new clean energy projects— spurring $53.52 billion in investment

and 58,473 new clean energy jobs.

What remains unclear is the extent to which the various companies involved in the projects will diversify their workforces. According to one report, 61% of clean energy workers across America are white non-Hispanics. African American and Hispanic/Latino workers are more poorly represented in clean energy than they are across the rest of the economy. The report notes that Black people comprise “8% of the clean energy workforce,” compared with 13% economy-wide.

It is certainly good news that 66% of new clean energy jobs, and 74% of projects are located in communities of color across the United States, but location is no guarantee that people

of color will actually get these jobs. More information is needed in terms of what companies are involved in the projects and what compliance measures are in effect to ensure more diversity. Moreover, New York is listed among the top five states with new jobs in Black/African American communities, registering 3,415 jobs and $518 million in investments—numbers below Tennessee in jobs but with a larger investment number.

There is no disputing the Biden administration’s step in the right direction when it comes to helping disadvantaged communities. But more and larger steps are necessary to improve the disparity that exists in clean energy and the broader economy.

Fajr A. Williams 7th birthday balloon/lantern release, “Fajr’s Law” petition updates

Najmah Nash, mother of Fajr A. Williams, is inviting Fajr’s friends and loved ones to celebrate her seventh birthday with a balloon and lantern release Monday, Sept. 11. The event will take place at “The Clubhouse” (500 Bristol Blvd., Somerset, N.J. 08873) from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Nash has launched a proposal for Fajr’s Law since the death of her daughter, who was nonverbal and had a chromosomal disorder known as Emanuel syndrome (ESA; Emanuel Syndrome Awareness). Fajr died because a school bus aide was not attending to her when a safety harness choked the 6-year-old to death during a school bus ride this past July 17.

Nash has started a petition on Change.org that calls for new safety measures and regulations for New Jersey school bus aides and drivers; she is looking to ensure that other families won’t have to suffer the loss of a child due to this kind of neglect.

She has reached out to the offices of Sen. Cory Booker, Gov. Phil Murphy, Franklin Township Mayor Phillip Kramer, and the New Jersey Department of Education regarding her Fajr’s Law proposal, but has not had anyone respond to her personally. After questions were posed by the AmNews about Fajr’s Law, only the New Jersey Department of Education has bothered to respond:

“The New Jersey Department of Education…is committed to ensuring the learning environment and transportation of all students is provided in a safe and secure manner,” they told the AmNews in a statement. “Whenever a tragedy involving a student occurs, the Department grieves the tragic loss alongside the entire school community. Although the Department cannot comment on the details of this or any other specific incident, the safety of New Jersey students remains a top priority for the Department.”

“No decision makers such as governors, senators, or legislators have contacted Najmah despite her attempts to reach them,” Nash said in a recent press release. “The Fajr Movement ESA (Emmanuel Syndrome Awareness) will continue to spread awareness in hopes of curating change within children’s transportation for better days, regardless of feedback.”

Website launched memorializing the late Sheila Oliver

New Jersey’s Democratic State Committee has launched a website memorializing the late Sheila Oliver.

“Honoring the life and legacy of Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver”—http://njdems.org/ltgov— features quotes and reflections about Oliver’s political impact from people she used to work with. The site also has a video link to her full memorial service.

Newark Arts Festival 2023, Sept. 27 through Oct. 1

The Newark Arts Festival (NAF) 2023 is scheduled to take place September 27 through October 1. The free, four-day festival features arts and

Mayor Eric Adams hosts rally August 31 at Foley Square in Manhattan, joined by union leaders, elected officials, stakeholders, and advocates in delivering remarks calling for expedited federal work authorization for asylumseekers (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance

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

For millions of New Yorkers, Sept 11, 2001, will always be remembered as a day of great tragedy and immense heroism. The founders of 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance wanted to invert the sadness for service, choosing to honor the memories of fallen heroes by performing good deeds.

Now, 22 years after the terrorist attacks, millions in the city and nationwide also choose to volunteer or donate to charities every year.

The nonprofit 9/11 Day was founded by David Paine and Jay Winuk six months after the buildings collapsed. Winuk lost his brother, Glenn J. Winuk, an attorney and volunteer firefighter/EMT on Long Island who helped evacuate his law offices. His brother died going back to help others inside the World Trade Center South Tower.

Winuk marveled at the way his brother and other people responded to the tragedy. He and Paine were inspired to put out a call of service. “We focused on common humanity, [and] put aside our differences. It didn’t matter what your background was or how much money you had or where you lived, what your race was or your religion,” said Winuk. “That, of course, dissipated over time, and it seemed like everybody went back to the way things were.”

They began the grassroots campaign for a day of service on 9/11 in 2002, initially calling it ‘One Day’s Pay,’ said Winuk. After a few years, they changed the name of the event to ‘My Good Deeds’ but it didn’t stick.

In 2009, former President Barack Obama proclaimed

9/11 Day as an annuallyobserved National Day of Service and Remembrance under federal law. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday is the only other federally designated day of service.

“In the hours, days and weeks immediately following the 9/11 attacks, Americans were able to see that whatever differences we think we have pale in comparison to what we all share as human beings – our innate kindness, compassion and concern for the well-being of others,” said Paine in a statement. “9/11 Day is about rekindling that spirit of compassion, and bringing it forward in our lives as a reminder of who we really are as people.”

Winuk and Paine rebranded the organization to 9/11 Day, focusing on volunteering, making donations, and doing other “good deeds” using the hashtag #IWillFor911Day. By their count, at least 30 million people nationwide have participated.

“It’s more relevant than ever; people want to find something meaningful,” continued Winuk.

The act of service is usually up to an individual, but Paine and Winuk have held a New York City Meal Pack for 9/11 Day for the past seven years. They kept adding cities. “It is a mix of employees of generous corporations that help us execute this. It is also faithbased organizations, first responders, military veterans, students, and so many others. It’s an extraordinarily diverse population,” said Winuk, “and just an army of people doing goodwill on 9/11 and that’s the case in all of the cities.”

This coming September 11, 2023, they estimate more than 4,500 volunteers will spend the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11

tragedy supporting the community by packing 1.5 million healthy, non-perishable meals aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan. The meals will be donated to support food banks, like City Harvest and Food Bank For New York City, that work to combat food insecurity in the city daily.

More than 120 companies from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut plan to send employee volunteers to the event. Nationally, the 9/11 Day Meal Pack program is being supported by AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, Citi, United Airlines, JPMorgan Chase, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., and KPMG.

Winuk said that he’s attended the memorial services honoring people like his brother many times. “Each time is just as moving as the first,” said Winuk. For more information on how to volunteer, please visit 911day.org or email info@911day.org.

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

NEW HAVEN ROCKAWAY LLC

Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis through November 30, 2023 for Studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments at 2210-16 New Haven Ave., Far Rockaway, NY

Qualification will be based on Section 8 Federal Guidelines - Income and occupancy restrictions apply

Tenants pay 30% of adjusted annual gross income

1 Household Size includes everyone who will live with you, including parents and children. Subject to occupancy criteria

2 Household earnings includes salary, hourly wages, tips, Social Security, child support, and other income. Income guidelines subject to change

Interested persons may obtain an application by one of the methods:

–

Completed applications must be sent to the address shown on the application form via regular mail only, (no priority, certified, registered, express or overnight mail will be accepted).

Applicants who submit more than one application may be disqualified. Qualified applicants will be required to meet income guidelines and additional selection criteria.

The Fair Housing Act Prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. Federal law also prohibits discrimination on the basis of age. This apartment community does not discriminate on the basis of handicap/disability status. The management coordinates com compliance with the non-discrimination requirements contained in HUD’s Regulations implementing Section 504 (24 CFR part 8 dated June 2, 1988)

No Broker’s Fee. No Application Fee

9/11 DAY logo, New Yorkbased nonprofit, graphic element on white. (AP photo)

Harlem NYPD Captain Janelle Sanders lived and died on 9/11, remembered for so much more

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

Never forget? Try impossible to forget, with recent reminders like the 2022 death of Harlemite Janelle Sanders. Inextricably tied to 9/11, she responded to the World Trade Center attacks just a year into her NYPD career in a literal trial-by-fire. Exactly 21 years later, on Sept. 11 of last year, Sanders died from a 9/11-related cancer first announced by her union, the NYPD Captains Endowment Association. She was 44.

The third of four children growing up in Harlem’s Polo Grounds Towers, Sanders initially aspired to become an attorney, but an NYPD recruiter at a high school career fair encouraged her to test for the force. She officially joined the department in 2000 and was fresh out of the academy, working in the Bronx, when she was called to duty on September 11, 2001, by voicemail. Despite her mother’s reservations, Sanders headed to Ground Zero.

“I remember 911 as clearly as if it was yesterday. I was in college in London,” said her

sister Sharisse Sanders. “I remember seeing the towers and the smoke on the screens as I walked from class. I wasn’t able to get in touch with anybody here in the U.S. for a couple of days, and I was worried because my sister just graduated from the police academy and she’s out on the streets. I’m sure she’s there.

“I finally got to talk to her a couple days later…she said it was just an unbelievable thing, but she knew it was her duty to be there. And she didn’t second-guess anything.”

Sanders went on to rise through the ranks, ultimately promoted to captain in her home precinct, the 32nd. Her colleagues say she requested placement in Harlem, an aberration given the usual reservations and safety concerns for police to work where they live.

“That was a full-circle moment for us because she was now heading to the precinct that policed our neighborhood,” said her brother Rashad Sanders. “Even my friends were proud because we were like, if somebody can make a change, it definitely could be somebody that comes from here. That was the full-circle moment, her being able to police our old neighborhood.”

Sanders added, “Being a Black person in America and then being a law enforcement

officer, you see how things go from both sides of the table. [She] was never one-sided on the job. Right was right, wrong was wrong—which I always liked about her. Sometimes when you talk to cops, you get

a law enforcement perspective only, instead of from a humanity perspective—she would give you both. She’s truly missed. I think about her every day.”

See SANDERS on page 33

Black firefighters remembered for 9/11 contributions

Keithroy Maynard, Vernon Richard, Shawn Powell, and Leon Smith Jr.

History of the Vulcans

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

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Author’s note: This article was originally published in 2022. Additional reporting by Tandy Lau this year reflects changes in the Vulcan Society.

This year marks 22 years since the September 11 tragedy that cut down New York City’s iconic Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. About 3,000 people were killed during the terrorist attack when four planes were hijacked and flew two into the towers , and one into the Pentagon in Washington D.C. The fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Almost 10,000 people were injured but survived.

Of the 343 firefighters who sacrificed their lives as first responders to the attack, 12 members of the Black Vulcan Society of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) were lost during rescue and recovery efforts. The firefighters’ names were Gerard Baptiste, Vernon Cherry, Tarel Coleman, Andre Fletcher, Keith Glascoe, Ronnie Henderson, William Henry, Karl Joseph,

Wesley Williams, founder of the Vulcan Society and the first Black battalion chief, established the society with more than 50 Black firefighters in 1940 because of issues of discrimination in the FDNY, previously reported Amsterdam News.

The Vulcans became known for their advocacy work in fighting discriminatory practices in the FDNY and fundraising for the NAACP, Urban League, and Harlem YMCA. By 1960, the Vulcan Society had 500 members.

The organization is going strong, although its headquarters in Brooklyn is under construction. Every year, the president and members invite the families of 9/11 firefighter victims to a Brooklyn memorial service to honor their sacrifice.

Capt. Paul Washington, former Vulcan Society president, said last year they are also doing a street renaming on a section of Monroe Street to honor fallen firefighter Powell. Washington recalled that most of the 12 Vulcan members who died were inside or right outside the Twin Towers when the structures collapsed.

“It’s up to us to keep the memory alive. They made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Washignton.

“While the city may forget, the families don’t,” said Vulcan member and firefighter Greg Shepherd of Engine Company 234. “A lot of these

people had kids and some of them are firefighters now. I bet you they never forgot, either. For us, it’s about helping the families. They’re our extended family.”

President Regina Wilson recalls the fateful day

Vulcan Society President Regina Wilson— who returned to her leadership role earlier this year—shared her personal recollection of responding to the World Trade Center attacks with the AmNews. She recalled waking up to a beautiful, sunny day during a house watch, with plans to train new colleagues. A loud sudden noise came out of the kitchen, which wasn’t unusual given firefighters’ predilection toward laughter. But the

sound wasn’t joy. Wilson saw the news broadcast of the 9/11 attacks as it occurred. She says it was surreal, like a movie. But there was no time to gawk—they were called to respond.

While riding through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel to get to Manhattan, Wilson said, the rig—which holds hundreds of gallons of water— shook violently and she felt like they were going to be caved in. But the firetruck got through.

“When we got to the other side, you [almost] couldn’t see anything. [There were] abandoned rigs, we ran into people that were in distress, a number of women had an asthma attack and charcoal was on their face,” said Wilson. The firefighters started guiding the people

See BLACK FIGHTERS on page 42

Capt. Sanders Luncheon (Courtesy of NYPD)

Black FDNY firefighters lost on Sept. 11: Gerard Baptiste, Vernon Cherry, Tarel Coleman, Andre Fletcher, Keith Glascoe, Ronnie Henderson, William Henry, Karl Joseph, Keithroy Maynard, Vernon Richard, Shawn Powell, and Leon Smith Jr.

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Go with the Flo

FLO ANTHONY

Denzel Washington is once again number one at the box office. People magazine reports the two-time Oscar-winning actor’s “The Equalizer 3” raked in an estimated $42 million domestically over the four-day holiday weekend, making it the second-highest Labor Day weekend of all time. In “The Equalizer 3,” Washington returns as Robert McCall, who is living a quiet life in southern Italy until he comes to blows with local members of the mafia. This is the third movie in Washington’s “Equalizer” franchise in which he works with director Antoine Fuqua...

Celebs and royalty packed Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on September 1, sparkling in silver outfits like the Virgo birthday girl requested. The superstar songstress turned 42 on September 4. Seen dancing with their arms around each other to “Crazy in Love” in a private booth, both Megan Markle and Prince Harry sported silver. The Duchess of Sussex was clad in a sequin silver pencil skirt and a white top, while the duke wore a silver blazer over a gray shirt and a pair of light-colored pants. Meanwhile, Gabrielle Union wore a see-through chainmail dress over an underwire bikini top and matching metallic bottoms...Tracee Ellis Ross wore a micro-mini dress by Rabanna, and Kelly Rowland also wore a silver outfit as she cheered on her bestie Beyoncé. On September 4, Markle returned to the concert sans her husband, and she and other celebs, including Chris Rock, Lizzo, and Kerry Washington, watched Diana Ross serenade Beyoncé with Happy Birthday...

The producers of the upcoming Broadway revival of “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Broadway Romp Through the Cotton Patch” by the late Ossie Davis, starring Leslie Odom, Jr., have announced that Alan Alda, former NFL all-pro player Nnamdi Asomugha, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Phylicia Rashad, and Kerry Washington have joined the production team of the upcoming American comedy. Previews begin September 7 before opening on September 27 at the Music Box Theatre in midtown Manhattan. The play is directed by Tony award-winner Kenny Leon. The production marks Odom’s return to Broadway after winning the Tony for his performance as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. “Come enjoy Ossie Davis’s classic comedy. It’s not to be missed,” Rashad said in a statement...

The Honorable Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka; Central Ward Councilwoman LaMonica McIver and Councilwoman at Large the Rev. Louise Rountree will welcome the public to a street-renaming dedication honoring Tony award-winning and Grammy-nominated actress/songstress Melba Moore. The event takes place on September 8 at 11 a.m. ET at the intersection of William and Mercer Streets in Newark, across the street from Moore’s alma mater, Arts High School. The street will be renamed Melba Moore Plaza. Guest speakers will include “Dancing with the Stars” bandleader Ray Chew and celebrity DJ D-Nice...

Jeffries hosts annual Senior Picnic in Canarsie

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

House Democratic Leader and Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries held his annual senior picnic at Canarsie Park in Brooklyn on Tuesday, Aug. 29, with hundreds of seniors joining him for food, fun, music, games, and entertainment.

Jeffries took the opportunity to address seniors about ongoing negotiations at the federal level with Medicare about drug prices, which was recently announced by President Joe Biden. Previously, the federal government wasn’t able to negotiate lower drug prices for medications. That changed once the Inflation Reduction Act passed.

The White House recently released the first 10 drugs selected for Medicare Price Negotiation by the Centers for

Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

“First thing that the Inflation Reduction Act did was to take the cost of insulin for everybody who’s on Medicare, which, as you know, could cost thousands of dollars a year and, in fact, did up until January 1st of this year. Butbecause of the Inflation Reduction Act, we have now reduced the cost of insulin to $35 a month,” said a White House official in a statement. “And we’re just getting started.”

Jeffries said that pharmaceutical companies were profiting from the struggle to afford life-saving medications for far too long. He said that he and House electeds have also been working hard to defend Social Security from “extreme MAGA Republican attacks.”

“We’re going to continue in Washington to fight hard on your behalf to make sure that we can put people

over politics, and, in particular, fight for lower costs and fight for an economy that makes sense for everybody, fight for freedom, defend our democracy, and certainly make sure that no one takes away your Social Security or your Medicare,” said Jeffries in a statement. “Not now, not ever.”

The Affordable Care Act was also protected by the Inflation Reduction Act in the “fight for lower costs for American families,” according to the White House.

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

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries hosted an annual senior picnic in Canarsie, Brooklyn, on August 29 (Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries’s office photos)

West Indian American Day Parade steps off with steel bands, colorful costumes, stilt walkers

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK (AP) — The annual West Indian American Day Parade stepped off in New York City Monday with brightly colored costumes, steel bands, flag waving and street dancing. The Brooklyn parade is the culmina -

tion of carnival week and one of the world’s largest celebrations of Caribbean culture. The parade routinely attracts more than 1 million people for what has become one the city’s most spirited annual events. A separate street party known as J'ouvert, commemorating freedom from slav -

ery, began in the early morning hours. The main parade started later in the morning and featured steel drum players, stilt walkers and dancers wearing flamboyant costumes. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams were among the elected officials who either showed up

for the parade or marched in it. Hundreds of thousands of Caribbean immigrants and their descendants have settled in Brooklyn and have helped turn the Labor Day celebration into a must-see event. The parade returned last year after a pandemic-induced hiatus.

Highlights from the 56th Annual West Indian American Day Parade

(Bill Moore photos)

Union Matters

NYSNA Pres. Nancy Hagans to serve as Labor Day Parade grand marshal

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

This year’s New York City Labor Day Parade will kick off Saturday, Sept. 9, with Nancy Hagans, the president of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), at its helm.

Hagan will serve as the event’s grand marshal as the parade winds its way uptown from 44th Street and Fifth Avenue toward the NYC Central Labor Council (NYCCLC) reviewing stand on 64th Street.

The NYCCLC represents 1.3 million workers in some 300 New York-area unions. At least 200 NYCCLC-affiliated unions are expected to march in this year’s parade. They will be demonstrating in support of this year’s parade theme, “We Organize, We Rise,” which pays homage to the resurging power of labor unions. Having NYSNA and its president out in front at the parade points to the impact this year’s strikes by nurses have had on the labor movement. In January, NYSNA members conducted a successful three-day strike against Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. In total,

Mount Sinai saw 3,625 nurses walk out on strike, and the Bronx’s Montefiore Medical Center had 3,500 nurses strike over calls for safer nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and against persistently low cost-ofliving wages.

“For the past three years, our nurses saved New York––at the height of the pandemic,” Hagans said in an interview with the Amsterdam News. “We went to work when nobody else would go to work. We went to work without any PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). And we asked for change, we demanded that nurses are safe while they were at work and caring for patients, we also demanded care for our patients and our community.

“So, for us to be recognized as a union and to be [selected to serve as] the grand marshal, it tells you that as nurses, we could organize, and we are doing what we’re supposed to do.”

Nurses have faced tough, understaffed work environments and demanding schedules for years. The COVID-19 pandemic was an event that finally brought their efforts and sacrifices to the forefront, Hagans asserted. “The pandemic opened up to the public how instrumental nurses

are to saving a community and saving patients. So, when we started to organize and started to stand up for our rights, people started looking up to us. By asking for a fair contract, for proper PPE, for safer nurseto-patient ratios––then other unions started looking at us and said, ‘Oh my gosh, these nurses are doing it, we could do it.’

“We organized. And when you organize and you fight together, you win.”

Recent unionizing efforts in higher education and among other medical employees have been fairly successful, the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies notes in its annual State of the Unions report. But organizing drives at major brand-named companies like Amazon, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, and Apple have been less successful. Workers have been able to form unions but they remain stuck in a tug-of-war with management who appear to be refusing collective bargaining efforts. “Union organizing has been trending upward among college-educated young workers, and especially those who are difficult to replace, like academic workers,” the CUNY report states. “For them, voting to unionize is far more likely to lead to recognition and a contract than among high-turnover and

low-wage workers at companies like Starbucks, which has not yet signed a single contract despite hundreds of elections in which workers voted to unionize and repeated rulings by the National Labor Relations Board against the company’s anti-union conduct.”

NYSNA’s Hagans looks at the pandemic as a learning vehicle, particularly for the nursing industry and its union members.

“During the height of the pandemic, the Black and the brown people suffered the most,” she reflected, “we lost more of the Black and the brown people because of lack of care, and we wanted to bring that out into the public. We wanted everybody to know that there are two levels of care, the haves and the have-nots. And we continue to fight to make it one level of care: every patient, every community and everyone around us should be treated as VIPS, whether they have insurance, whether they’re rich, whether they’re poor, whether they’re documented or undocumented. Regardless of their sexual orientation, regardless of their gender, regardless of the religion, regardless period. And that’s the work that we are going to continue to do, and we will not stop until it’s done.”

Nancy Hagans, RN, president of the New York State Nurses Association, addresses a rally by members of the New York State Nurses Association, adjacent to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Health issues continue to plague 9/11 responders and survivors

Center’s Twin Towers collapsed.

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

The September 11, 2001, attacks took the lives of almost 3,000 people: New York City alone saw 2,753 people die. Of that number 343 victims were firefighters.

The collapsed World Trade Center towers left a plume of smoke that rose into the air, covered the sky, and floated over city streets, encasing them in a dust cloud of toxic debris and ash. That toxic air contained contaminants like asbestos, silica, crushed metals, concrete, and glass.

In the past 20-plus years, those pollutants have developed into 60 carcinogens that have caused illnesses and taken the lives of more than 4,000 survivors and first responders, the Centers for Disease Control’s World Trade Center Health Program site shows.

Short- and long-term health issues have plagued people who found themselves in lower Manhattan and in the northern parts of Brooklyn on the day the World Trade

In 2002, the federal government and the New York City Health Department created the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Registry in an effort to steer attack survivors toward locations where they could receive health care, such as the 9/11 Treatment Referral Program (TRP). The registry was also created to keep records regarding the health of people exposed to the Twin Towers collapse.

Some 91,000 rescue/recovery workers and volunteers are enrolled in the registry. This includes 57,00 residents who live south of Canal Street and 15,000 children and staff who were in schools south of Canal Street on September 11.

The health registry has, for years now, published research showing that those affected by the collapse had their lives forever changed. In its 2019 annual report, the registry showed that some of the people who enrolled have had to take early retirement and faced job loss; suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder; and have been confronted with diagnoses of cancer, pulmonary fibrosis (a scarring of the lung tissues), and strokes, among other issues.

Efforts to expand funding for the WTC

Health Program so it can continue to monitor and treat the ongoing health issues faced by 9/11 attack victims, are currently on hold in Congress. The 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2023 is a bill sponsored by New York

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand that would cover the program’s costs through the year 2033; the bill also sets up a funding plan to support the continuance of the WTC Health Program from fiscal year 2034 until the year 2090.

Thick smoke billows into the sky from the area behind the Statue of Liberty (lower left), where World Trade Center was, on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer)

Thank you, Hazel

Gun violence in America remains as tragically insufferable as it is irresolvable, but award-winning journalist Hazel Trice Edney gives the dilemma a fresh reality by noting that Black youths in this country suffer the most from gun violence. A few paragraphs into her story, Edney lets us know that this disparate impact on the Black community is not new.

Even so, she graphically highlights her research by focusing on victims of gun violence, none more gripping than her profile of Sierra Jenkins, a former news assistant for CNN and a reporter with the Virginian Pilot newspaper.

In March of last year, Jenkins’s editor tried to reach her to assign her to cover a shooting incident in downtown Norfolk, Va. His phone calls to her went unanswered. The editor had no idea that as he phoned her to cover a shooting incident, she herself was a victim of a proposed assignment.

Edney discusses several other people killed by gun violence, and it may take these intimate treatments to further arouse the nation to just how much gun violence permeates our society.

Each death as a result of gun violence has its particular elements, but the one thing they have in common is the presence of a gun to resolve whatever conflict or problem precipitated the lethal end.

We have grappled with this problem time and time again on our pages, and there is no easy remedy or answer. At the end of her article, Edney highlights some of the measures advanced by Virginia Representative Bobby Scott, who centers his concern on assault weapons and the size of gun magazines. Background checks are also mentioned.

But too many of the shooting incidents involve small-caliber weapons, and handguns that are even easier to purchase and conceal.

Still, we need more coverage of the sort delivered by Edney, in which the victims are more than another statistic, and their lives deftly contextualized and humanized.

Our own Beyond the Barrel of the Gun reporting project is another example of how journalism can report passionately and holistically on the root causes and impact of gun violence as well as the solutions to this public health crisis.

BIPOC mental health resources are available

By CLAIRE JULIAN

The pandemic, racial reckoning of 2020, a shifting political climate, and the rising cost of living have tested our collective mental health limitations. Then there’s the adage in the Black American community that when white America catches a cold, Black America has pneumonia.

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) need mental health support and interventions, and suffer disproportionate negative consequences from not getting treatment. We have more obstacles to obtaining therapy than our white counterparts.

The American Psychiatric Association has said that some barriers to BIPOC accessing care include lack of insurance, mental illness stigma, distrust of the healthcare system, and lack of diversity among mental health care providers. However, attitudes are changing, and many options exist for those seeking compatible, culturally competent

BIPOC therapists.

More BIPOC are open to receiving mental health support and treatment, decreasing the stigma and distrust of mental health care providers. Many exceptional and engaging BIPOC therapists on social media are popularizing the benefits and availability of culturally informed therapy and discussing various mental health topics. We are becoming more aware of our complex inner lives thanks to Black mental health podcasts discussing breaking generational trauma, overcoming troubled childhoods, recognizing deregulation, and intentional parenting. In my own life, I’ve observed my friends and family members becoming more open about seeking professional help. The standard approach to mental and emotional challenges was “just pray.” We now know that accepting professional mental health support is okay. It’s not either/or, but both/and. BIPOC are more informed about how improving our mental

health improves our physical health and quality of life.

Most therapists see clients virtually, eliminating transportation challenges and making seeing a BIPOC therapist more accessible. It’s a matter of knowing what conversations to have and where to look.

According to Psychology Today, “The advantages of seeing a Black therapist are that it may help Black patients feel more confident [about] beginning therapy, feel more easily understood, and feel a stronger connection to the therapist.” A culturally competent mental health care provider is more effective because there is less to explain, and this added ease lets people feel safe enough to allow vulnerability. There are compassionate, masterful Black therapists of every specialty, gender, sexual orientation, spiritual background, insurance status, and approach ready to serve the community. We have to start asking for BIPOC therapists. The benefits of finding one are

See BIPOC MENTAL HEALTH on page 43

Are unions good for corporations, the economy, and society?

By CHRIS LEE

This Labor Day was a moment to step back and look at the forces that have led to the decline in labor union membership. Currently, only 6% of private sector employees belong to a union. They are concentrated in motor vehicle-related manufacturing, oil and gas, and mining. We also want to acknowledge the successes of SEIU 32BJ, the hospital workers’ unions, and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher and Editor in Chief

Member

Alliance

Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor

Nayaba Arinde: Editor

Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor

Damaso Reyes: Investigative Editor

Siobhan "Sam" Bennett: Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Advertising

A recent Gallup poll survey reported that 70% of people in the United States had a favorable opinion of unions—60% percent would join a union if the option was available at work. Yet, there is a strong anti-union sentiment among Republicans and near-fanatical opposition by corporations.

The deeper answer to the question is: Yes, unions work, just not for businesses and corporations. In the tradition -

al economic science of efficiency, unions create inefficiency: They increase costs and someone else pays. They misallocate resources. Unions are different from corporations and consumers. They are a third power group representing workers. Consumers want the cheapest price, businesses want the cheapest labor cost, and unions want higher pay and benefits. It’s an inherent conflict. But the ultimate power broker in the U.S. economy—the consumer—has decided in favor of cheaper prices.

What is the actual cost to the economy of labor unions? Estimates are in the 3/10 of 1% or 0.3% range.

But the question of whether unions are good is really a trap. It might be the wrong question to ask.

To understand why, you have to take a step back—a big step back. You have to look at how the U.S. political economy is organized.

Power in the U.S. economy is organized into five basic groups: consumers, corporations and small businesses, government, finance and capital, and labor (workers). Since

1980, each group in the U.S. economy has performed differently: Consumers, business, and finance have done well; government has modestly shrunk; and unions––which represent the bargaining power of workers––have been crushed.

To judge the power of each group over the past 60 years, let’s look at the success and failure of each.

The same way there is inefficiency in any business, like CEO pay being 600 times average worker pay, there are economic inefficacies in unions, like higher wages and bargaining power.

That is the playing field that unions confront.

The U.S. economy has been through three dramatic changes: the shift from an agricultural economy to an industrial economy, and then industrial to service during the 1970s, and finally the growth of high-skilled service workers during the 1990s.

What can unions offer high-skilled workers? To start, unions offer decent

See OP-ED UNION on page 43

Unraveling morality, rising anger: A disturbing trend among young people

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

If you go to Google and type “heinous crimes up with young people,” you’ll see 268,000 results. It’s a stark reminder that the alarming trend of young people committing gruesome acts isn’t a new phenomenon, but the sheer proliferation and frequency of these acts most certainly are. Our society is grappling with a disconcerting reality—a reality born out of the convergence of various factors. From the messages embedded in our music to the desensitizing violence prevalent in our culture, and even the erosion of moral and ethical values, each contributes to the emergence of a more violent society.

It’s a society where individuals no longer temper their darkest impulses, and regrettably, it’s our youth who often find themselves on the frontline, manifesting behaviors at an unacceptable rate. This is a phenomenon that should deeply trouble us all and lead us to pause in concern for the direction in which our society is headed.

These young individuals, driven by a cocktail of influences, often react impulsively or, in the gravest of cases, meticulously plan calculated crimes that result in the loss of innocent lives. We’ve witnessed stories like that of Mackenzie Shirilla, a name etched in the annals of a society grappling with the aftermath of senseless violence. Shirilla was recently found guilty of the murder of her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and her friend, Davion Flanagan. Their tragic deaths underscore the gravity of the situation we’re facing—a situation where young people are becoming entangled in webs of aggression and desperation. In Shirilla’s case, she purposely sped up her car to 100

A youth basketball development

miles per hour and drove straight into a wall, instantly killing her boyfriend and friend.

The breakdown of morality in our society is contributing to this disturbing trend. Traditional values that once served as guiding principles seem to be waning, leaving a moral vacuum in which right and wrong are increasingly ambiguous. The erosion of moral foundations means that young people are less equipped to distinguish between ethical choices and destructive actions.

The deterioration of ethics further compounds the issue. Ethical conduct is the cornerstone of a civilized society, fostering a sense of responsibility and accountability. Yet, as we witness these disturbing trends among our youth, it becomes evident that the concept of ethics is losing its grip. The pursuit of personal gain, even at the expense of others, has become alarmingly normalized.

As we reflect on these developments, the implications for our future are profoundly concerning. A society that permits the erosion of morality and ethics in its younger generation is sowing the seeds of its own demise. The actions of today’s youth foreshadow the trajectory of tomorrow’s adults. If we fail to address these concerning trends, we risk a future marked by increased violence, social fragmentation, and a dearth of empathy.

It’s time for us to confront these unsettling truths and take meaningful action. By reemphasizing morality and ethics in our families, communities, and institutions, we can recalibrate the moral compass of our youth. This requires an unwavering commitment to fostering values that prioritize human dignity, compassion, and respect

for one another. Only through concerted efforts to restore these foundational aprinciples can we hope to guide our society toward a more harmonious and promising future.

This alarming trend of young people exhibiting violence and aggression should serve as an urgent wake-up call for our educational institutions. We must prioritize emotional education alongside academic excellence. By equipping our youth with the tools to manage their emotions, resolve conflicts constructively, and communicate effectively, we can help curb the escalation of anger and violence. It’s imperative that our schools become places not only for intellectual growth but also for emotional well-being and character development.

The rising wave of heinous acts committed by young people underscores the pressing need for a comprehensive societal response. We must address the erosion of morality and ethics, and we must prioritize emotional education within our education system. This is a challenge that requires the collective effort of families, communities, educators, and cultural influencers. By refocusing on our shared values, investing in the emotional well-being of our youth, and fostering a renewed sense of empathy, we can shape a society that rejects violence and paves the way for a brighter and more harmonious future.

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

I recently learned about Game Up, a new app that helps parents navigate the ever-increasingly complicated world of youth basketball. So many parents are trying to figure out the best way to support their talented little ballers with the best teams, coaches, leagues, resources, and so much more.

Luckily, there is a new app to help parents with this complicated process from no better founders than current NBA star Cole Anthony of the Orlando Magic and his mother, the filmmaker and author Crystal McCrary McGuire. Even better, GameUp will launch their new initiative in Harlem at the Police Athletic League on September 10.

To help the next generation of athletes, the GameUp app has several features. Some of the important elements assist families who would like to:

1) Find and Match Teams: Parents can easily find and match with suitable teams, including travel teams, based on their child’s skill level and location;

2) Developmental Programs and Trainers: The app hosts an extensive database of programs and trainers to cater to all development needs;

3) Personalized Matching: Parents can enter specific information about their child’s needs and goals, and GameUp’s AI technology will find the perfect match in teams or training programs;

4) A Hub for Trainers: The platform allows trainers to register and offer their services, widening the available options for quality coaching;

5) Concierge Services: Each concierge service signup comes with a free initial 45-minute session, adding a personal touch to guide users through the app.

GameUp will officially launch at “City Assist” on September 10, 2023, at the Harlem Center of the Police Athletic League (PAL) of NYC (441 Manhattan Avenue, New York, NY 10025) and will be a celebration of youth basketball. Go to www.cityassistnyc. com to register.

GameUp Youth Basketball Fair will include a one-stop destination for families to explore various basketball opportunities, teams, trainers, and programs. At the Empire Invitational High School Showcase Games, elite high school teams will have a platform to demonstrate their skills and compete in showcase games. Confirmed teams so far include Cardinal Hayes and the Patrick School.

There will also be scholarship opportunities for young athletes in alignment with GameUp’s mission to nurture talent. Lastly, Skills Clinics will give participants the chance to hone their basketball skills through expert-led clinics run by former Rutgers men’s basketball star Geo Baker, local talent, and surprise guests in sessions designed for various age groups and skill levels.

If you have a young athlete in your ranks, this is an event you do not want to miss. It is imperative that we support our athletes and help them hone their basketball skills, as well as find support networks as they reach for the next level.

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

CHRISTINA GREER, PH.D.

Caribbean Update

Jamaican teachers head to North America, abandon local system

BY BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews

Tired of complaining about scrounging to make a decent living, thousands of high school teachers in Jamaica are abandoning the country, heading to Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. to accept teaching positions that pay them far more than they earn at home. Jamaican authorities, however, are worried about the impact their departure will have on the local system.

Early last week, authorities had complained that more than 430 teachers had quit the system as of mid-August, just a few weeks before this week’s reopening of schools for the academic year. However, by last Friday, they had updated the number to 854 after an additional 400-plus teachers handed in their resignations after collecting salaries for the month. Many headed to international airports after doing so.

Education Minister Fayval Williams said that the 854 is way less than the 1,538 teachers who quit the public schools system last year under similar circumstances, many having specialized training in math and English language. These are the ones who are often specifically targeted by recruiters from western nations. And when they are not fleeing to North America or Europe, others are headed to the nearby Bahamas, Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands, putting even more pressure on the

local system.

The situation is so serious that Williams took to the national airwaves Sunday night to address the issue, hours before hundreds of thousands of students returned to schools after the main annual holiday break.

“We know that there may be some lingering unease about the number of teachers who have left the system, but I want to assure Jamaicans that there are enough high-quality teachers available to support the teaching and learning process at the highest standards,” she said. “We are at the threshold of an era where change is not merely a concept but a living reality. Our dedication to revitalizing and invigorating

the landscape remains steadfast.”

But while the minister tried to sell optimism and hope that the system will function well despite the departures, Teachers Association President Leighton Johnson argued that many schools will be scrambling to find replacements.

“The situation that currently exists right now is that there are schools that will begin the new school year and are unable to fulfill critical vacancies,” he said. “There are critical areas such as mathematics, English, and in some technical disciplines. Those areas are in very short supply as we speak.”

Meanwhile, Linval Wright, president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools, told the Gleaner news-

paper that while there are still many dedicated and high-quality professionals in the system, there is no doubt that the quality of the teaching product will be affected.

“In critical areas such as English and industrial arts, schools will have to work through how best to prepare the students with the experience missing. Migration will definitely affect the quality as many who left were seasoned and knew the ropes well,” he noted, suggesting that in some instances, the replacements “will do as good or even a better job than those who have left.”

Other Caribbean Community countries, like Guyana and Trinidad, have also had similar experiences with recruiters targeting their best and most experienced—while colleagues who have left and are settled have often paved the way for others to join them overseas.

As authorities prepare to make a full assessment of the impact this week, opposition spokesperson on education Damion Crawford predicts that the number of resignations will swell to well beyond 854 in a few days.

“I am predicting that another 300 will leave in the next 20 days because the teachers don’t resign from the ministry. The teachers resigned from the school. There is a natural time gap between when the school receives and [when] the ministry is advised,” he said.

Indiana’s case of discrimination based on national origin

FELICIA PERSAUD IMMIGRATION KORNER

Remember Donald Trumpeto’s famously reported comments about wanting immigrants from Norway in the U.S. over those from “s—hole” countries like Haiti and those in Africa? Well, it seems Indiana has adopted a legal version of this by allowing Ukrainian immigrants to obtain an Indiana driver›s license or identification card while denying other non-citizen immigrants who qualify to be here legally.

HEA 1050, a newly enacted Indiana law from the 2023 legislative session, establishes a path for individuals with humanitarian parole to acquire Indiana driver’s licenses or ID cards. However, this opportunity is only extended to those immigrants from Ukraine.

Screw those from Haiti, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua who qualify for “humanitarian parole,” which is granted under U.S. federal law “due to an emer-

gency and urgent humanitarian reason or significant public benefit” in their country.

Thankfully, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana, along with the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), is not letting this obvious discrimination slide. The ACLU and NILC have initiated legal action on behalf of five Haitian immigrants seeking to obtain an Indiana driver’s license or identification card.

The legal complaint asserts that HEA 1050’s provision of allowing individuals from Ukraine to obtain IDs while denying the same opportunity to Haitian refugees constitutes national origin discrimination.

The plaintiffs in the case were all authorized to work in the U.S., hold steady employment, and face the challenge of relying on others for transportation to work. The ability to drive is of paramount importance, particularly in areas of Indiana where services are dispersed and public transportation is not readily accessible.

The lawsuit underscores that individuals from other countries on humanitarian parole would also benefit from being able to drive or secure state-issued identification.

Furthermore, the lawsuit contends that the new law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, is preempted by federal law under the Supremacy Clause, and contravenes Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“Our clients are being denied access to state-issued IDs solely because they are Haitians and not Ukrainians,” said Gavin M. Rose, senior attorney at the ACLU of Indiana. “Non-Ukrainians on humanitarian parole are left struggling to get to work, to keep medical appointments, to take children to school, and more, all because they cannot drive.”

Chiraayu Gosrani, an attorney with NILC, added: “The federal government regulates immigration—not the states. The State of Indiana cannot create immigration classifications that conflict with federal law, and here they have done just that in an effort to unconstitutionally discriminate against people with humanitarian protections who are overwhelmingly immigrants of color.”

The groups want a federal judge to declare the law illegal and force the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to grant li-

censes and ID cards, plus the ability to register and title vehicles, to humanitarian parolees from other countries.

The irony of this case is that the BMV states publicly on its website: “Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, income, or Limited English Proficiency (LEP) has the right to file a formal complaint.”

This comes after a 2018 lawsuit also from the ACLU that sued the Indiana BMV for national origin discrimination because it only provides the driver’s manual in English but provides the written exam in 14 languages.

Why would a state make it OK to give European immigrants licenses but not Haitians, Afghans, Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans, even though they all qualify legally under the parole program?

It’s obvious. Just revisit the Trump logic. White immigrants welcomed; Black and brown—stay out!

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

“In critical areas such as English and industrial arts, schools will have to work through how best to prepare the students with the experience missing. Migration will definitely affect the quality as many who left were seasoned and knew the ropes well.”

It makes me proud because we’re doing the right things for people.

In thousands of communities across the country, Bank of America employees like Scott have volunteered to teach financial literacy over the last 10 years, helping millions of people achieve their financial goals.

Horsham, PA

Consumer Banking Performance Manager, Scott R. Better Money Habits® Volunteer Champion

Back to school

Tanesha Grant, executive director and founder of Parents Supporting Parents NY Inc., hosted back-to-school giveaways at the Langston Hughes House to

provide students with school supplies, which at times have included laptops, computers, and books.

Giveaways were also held at Coun -

cilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan’s office on Malcolm X Blvd. Grant works to help promote pride of self and community through the principles of Black

August, which includes honoring parents, ancestors, and Black freedom fighters throughout history.

For more info, visit www.pspnyinc.org.

(Bill Moore photos)

It’s back-to-school backpack giveaway time!

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

As parents and educators gear up for the beginning of school Sept. 7, the past few weeks have been filled with a number of back-to-school giveaways across the city. These event are especially popular as the costs of school supplies continue to strain teachers.

According to a National Education Association (NEA) report , over 90% of teachers spend their own money on

school supplies every year. In New York City, public school teachers are usually provided with a stipend of $250 each, but many end up spending more. Prepandemic, it was reported that nationally, most teachers spent about $500. As of the 2022–2023 school year, most reported spending an average of $820. In underresourced schools, teachers digging into their own pockets for students is an “unstated expectation,” reported the NEA. Various elected officials hosted their own free backpack giveaways to offset some costs for physical school supplies, such as notebooks and folders, for school-aged children.

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, in partnership with Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud and Councilmember Farah N. Louis, held such a giveaway this past Friday on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. Kids of all backgrounds enjoyed games, free ice cream, and a rockclimbing wall after they received their free backpacks.

In the Bronx, Councilmember Marjorie Velázquez partnered with the Hispanic Federation and the Westchester Square Business Improvement District (WSBID) to distribute back-to-school supplies to families in need at a giveaway on East Tremont Avenue. The event featured family-friendly activities, bouncy houses, fes-

tival treats, and music.

Velázquez also had a school safety component to her giveaway: honoring La Jara Band, a Spanish music band made up of Latino officers, with a street co-naming. The band’s mission is to bridge the gap between law enforcement and communities through music.

“This is a beautiful foundation for all; it’s about understanding that music brings us together. La Jara Band has made sure that our communities are represented, proving that our community and police can come together because we are one,” said Velázquez in a statement. “I’m hon -

ored to recognize La Jara Band, Captain Cedillo, and all of our officers who have put their heart and soul into the band. It is a true labor of love that continues to entertain and inspire countless police officers and community members alike.”

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

Back to school backpack giveaway in Brooklyn. (Ariama C. Long photo)

Back-to-school backpack giveaway in the Bronx Sept. 1 (Councilmember Marjorie Velázquez office photo)

Health

White House discusses the first 10 drugs selected for Medicare price negotiation

By HEATHER M. BUTTS, JD, MPH, MA Special to the AmNews

Tom Perez, senior advisor and assistant to President Joe Biden, spoke with the Amsterdam News for a Q&A about the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program and the first 10 drugs to be selected for price negotiation. Perez, who also serves as director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, was previously a Montgomery County, Maryland, council member and labor secretary under former President Barack Obama. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

AmNews: Please describe the Medicare price negotiation and the first 10 drugs selected

Perez: The Center for Medicare Medicaid Services released the first 10 drugs selected for Medicare price negotiation. In plain English, here's what's been going on. When we established Medi -

care and the prescription drug benefits, Medicare lacked the legal authority to negotiate on behalf of consumers, and so you have a situation that is unique here in the United States where we can't negotiate on behalf of consumers, but around the world, they are negotiating lower prices.

So you look at the drug Xarelto, and you pay so much more here in the United States than you do elsewhere. By the way, the Department of Veteran Affairs, on behalf of service members, has the authority to negotiate lower prices, but Medicare and Medicaid didn't until the Inflation Reduction Act.

Up to 9 million will benefit from the new negotiated drug prices for the first 10 drugs that have been announced. In 2022 alone, these 9 million seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries spent over 3.4 billion dollars out of pocket on just these 10 drugs. This is what the Inflation Reduction Act was about. This is about putting the seniors in a better position by negotiating better prices.

AmNews: Could you speak about the impact this will have on Black and brown communities as well as individ -

uals suffering from health disparities?

Look at the disproportionate number of Black people who have diabetes, kidney conditions, heart conditions, and blood conditions—those disparities are real and we have to address them. The reason this is a big deal for African Americans is because when you look at the 10 drugs that are the subject of negotiation, they're diabetes drugs, they're drugs for heart conditions, for blood clots, for kidney issues.

This is going to put more money in the pockets of all seniors, and it's going to disproportionately help African Americans because African Americans are disproportionately affected by the diseases that I just discussed. That's why this is a big deal and this is a big day. It's really important for us to get this word out.

AmNews: What does this mean for families that are secondarily impacted by their family member’s illness?

When you have to decide between food and medicine, that's a decision

that no body should ever have to make. However, that's a decision that so many people are making across this country right now because the cost of their medication for diabetes or for their heart condition is so expensive. So this is about making life better for people and putting money in your pockets. Health care should be a right for all and not a privilege for a few, and if you can't afford the health care that's going to keep you alive, that's just not who we are as a nation. I think what this is going to mean for people is restoring the dignity of life where you are able to have more money in your pocket. These are not luxury drugs. These are drugs that are keeping you alive and thriving, day in and day out.

The Center for Medicare Medicaid services released the first 10 drugs selected for Medicare price negotiation. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

"Up to 9 million will benefit from the new negotiated drug prices for the first 10 drugs that have been announced."

—Tom Perez

Factcheck: False—Only people who have experienced

serious potential outcome of a COVID-19 infection, with additional re-infections of COVID increasing the chance of someone getting Long COVID. A persistent myth is that only those who have experienced a severe bout of COVID-19 will get Long COVID. As experts told the AmNews, this is not correct.

When asked whether the myth is true, Lisa Sanders MD, medical director of the Yale New Haven Health Systems Long COVID Consultation Clinic said, “Absolutely not. In fact, I think the people who are most outraged are the people [who were] sick for less than a day and two weeks later [feel] tired and then two weeks later, the fatigue [is] overwhelming.”

Sanders also said that patients who contracted COVID-19 back in March of 2020 “when we really didn't know anything and it was a very serious disease and some of those people still have scars from…they have injuries that they sustained (from) being critically ill that stay with them, so certainly having a severe disease does not prevent Long COVID, but having a

mild disease doesn’t, either.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, “The severity of COVID-19 symptoms can range from very mild to severe. Some people may have only a few symptoms. Some people may have no symptoms at all, but can still spread it. This is called asymptomatic transmission. Some people may experience worsened symptoms, such as worsened shortness of breath and pneumonia, about a week after symptoms start.”

Researchers at Harvard University Medical School found in a study that “[COVID] long haulers were most likely to be older, female, and have existing health conditions such as hypertension, chronic lung disease, obesity, diabetes, and depression.” The study also found that “(b)oth narrow definition and broad definition long haulers displayed a higher incidence of pre-pandemic comorbidities than non-long haulers, with narrow-definition long

haulers having a higher pre-pandemic incidence of cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, and other conditions such as depression, liver disease, and arthritis.” Black and brown Americans are more likely to have one or more of these comorbidities.

Lindsay McAlpine, MD, director of the Yale NeuroCOVID Clinic told the AmNews that the myth that Long COVID only affected people who had severe COVID-19 cases has even proliferated in the

population and people were really surprised and scared. I think that really anybody with a COVID-19 illness would be at risk because initially, a lot of our first-wave participants were in the hospital. Not all of them were in the ICU, but a lot of them were hospitalized. [However, a large number] of our study cohort had mild illnesses at home. I’ve even had some people that had the sniffles and they got Long COVID.”

As to where we are with COVID and Long COVID, according to McAlpine, “I think it really is not over when it comes to anybody suffering from Long COVID because we don’t have specific treatments for Long COVID and there’s still a lot of people suffering and with significant disability (who) can’t go back to work, can’t get back to their normal lives, need treatment, [and] need answers.”

For additional resources about COVID-19, visit www1.nyc.gov/ site/coronavirus/index.page or call 311. COVID-19 testing, masks, and vaccination resources can also be accessed on the AmNews COVID-19 page: www.amsterdamnews.com/covid/.

Claim: Only people who have experienced severe cases of COVID go on to have Long COVID.

Factcheck: False. Research has shown that anyone who has contracted COVID-19 can get long COVID symptoms. Continued vigilance is warranted to avoid contracting COVID and developing Long COVID.

(AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin)

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Sun, Nov 12 @ 7PM

National treasure Gladys Knight shares songs and stories from her incredible 50+ year career.

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It’s a soul-stirring evening with “Godmother of Soul” Patti LaBelle (“Lady Marmalade”).

the hip hop nutcracker

with special guest MC Kurtis Blow Sat, Dec 23 @ 2 & 7:30PM

NJPAC’s original holiday mash-up remixes Tchaikovsky’s ballet with supercharged hip hop dance (and some surprises)!

stephanie mills & the whispers

Sat, Jan 13, 2024 @ 8PM

Welcome “Home” to GRAMMY® winning songstress Stephanie Mills and R&B supergroup The Whispers

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Arts & Entertainment

September 2023 Dance Calendar

By CHARMAINE PATRICIA WARREN Special to the AmNews

Topping this month’s list of upcoming dance events is the Kenyan-born, Francebased choreographer Wanjiru Kamuyu’s “A disguised welcome…,” a solo exploration of the experience of displacement which draws inspiration from experiences in Africa, North America, and Europe, offering a bitingly satirical look at the notions of center and periphery.

Said Kamuyu, “Having lived on three different continents—Africa, North America and Europe—has provided me the privileged space and time to absorb diverse cultures and worldviews. The current critically sensitive (im)migration issue at the forefront of worldwide political debates has inspired me to re-examine my personal (im) migration stories and consequentially cultivated a desire to examine the notion of and politics surrounding the privileged vs. unprivileged (im)migrant.”

Co-presented with Villa Albertine, performances will take place Sept. 22–23 at the Chocolate Factory Theater. For more information, visit https://chocolatefactorytheater.org/wanjiru-kamuyu-2023/.

Also this month:

Sept. 6–9: DANCENOW returns after a three-year hiatus with live performances at Joe’s Pub. The host is “TruDee” (Deborah Lohse), and will feature performances by Orlando Hernández, Jamal Jackson Dance Company, Amber Sloan, TAKE Dance, BAIRA MVMNT PHLOSPHY/Shaina and Bryan Baira, binbinFactory/Satoshi Haga & Rie Fukuzawa, Tsiambwon M Akuchu, Megan Williams Dance Projects, doug elkins choreography, and more.

For more information, visit https:// publictheater.org/productions/joespub/2023/d/dance-now/

Sept. 9: Dance on the Lawn: Montclair’s Dance Festival, NJ’s free outdoor dance festival, will return for its 10th and final year, celebrating New Jersey. The 2023 finale will include Nai-Ni Chen and Company, Maurice Chestnut, Alborada Dance Theater, Jason Samuels Smith, MeenMoves, and more. Also included in this year’s program will be the return of five—Robert Mark Burke, Kyle Marshall, Javier Padilla, Amber Sloan, and William Ervin—of the six winners of the yearly Dance on the Lawn “Emerging Commissioned NJ Choreographer” award.

For more information, visit www.danceonthelawn.org.

Sept. 14–15: DELIRIOUS Dances/Edisa

Weeks and 651ARTS will present “3 RITES:

Life, Liberty, Happiness,” a trilogy featuring three interactive performance rituals that integrate dance, live music, text, visual installations, community discussions, and shared meals to humorously and poignantly interrogate why life, liberty, and happiness were included as unalienable rights in the United States Declaration of Independence. For more information, visit https://www. eventbrite.com/e/3-rites-life-tickets704571370937?aff=odeimcmailchimp.

Sept. 15–22: At the Joyce Theater, Experimental R&B musician serpentwithfeet, multimedia artist Wu Tsang, and choreographer Raja Feather Kelly join forces to tell the story of unpredictable romance

and self-discovery in “Heart of Brick,” a theatrical dance and music production that ponders the spirit and magic of Black queer nightlife.

For more information, visit https://www. joyce.org/performances/heartofbrick.

Sept. 16–17: Step Afrika!, the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, under Brian Williams, comes to NYU Skirball.

For more information, visit https://nyuskirball.org/events/step-afrika/.

Sept. 20–23: At TRISK, the “Black Black Black” Week—a gathering of dancers, choreographers, and multidisciplinary artists—will offer performances, live mural

painting, an active photo booth, dominoes and card games, soul train lines, self-made oils, breathwork, and meditation.

For more information, visit https:// www.triskelionarts.org/beyond-the-blackbox-2023.

Sept. 21–22: Baryshnikov Arts will present the New York premiere of “ABHIPSAA (a seeking)” by Odissi artist Bijayini Satpathy.

For more information, visit https:// baryshnikovarts.org/bijayini-satpathy.

Sept. 21–23: At JACK, The Dynamite Experience’s “In Lieu of the Option…” is a dance piece co-choreographed by Winston Dynamite Brown and Latra Ann Wilson that pairs electric dance with live jazz music.

For more information, visit https:// ci.ovationtix.com/35022/production/1174336.

Sept. 22–23: Miro Magloire’s New Chamber Ballet’s 2023-24 season features dances set to music by Maurice Ravel, Pierre Boulez, and contemporary composers Beat Furrer and Wong Foo Jeng as the troupe returns to the Mark Morris Dance Center. For more information, visit https://www. newchamberballet.com/.

Sept. 22: Roderick George’s premiere of “The Missing Fruit.” inspired by the recent Black Lives Matter protests, opens at Kaatsbaan.

For more information, visit https://kaatsbaan.org/performances-festivals.

Sept. 23–25: The Indo-American Arts Council announces the “Erasing Borders” dance festival at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, plus a virtual presentation featuring Padma Shri Malavika Sarukkai, along with a lecture and a workshop event.

For more information, visit https://iaac. us/dance/.

Sept. 27: At Florence Gould Hall, Smaïl Kanouté’s “Never Twenty One,” inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, “…pays tribute to young people of color who have lost their lives to gun violence all over the world before reaching the age of 21,” according to a press release. This work is presented by FIAF in partnership with New York Live Arts and as part of Crossing The Line Festival.

For more information, visit https://fiaf. org/event/2023-09-kanoute/.

Sept. 27–Oct. 8: The 20th Fall for Dance Festival returns with several diverse programs: Ballet BC, Caleb Teicher, Gibney Company, Côté Danse, Sara Mearns, Madrid’s Sergio Bernal Dance Company, Adesola Osakalumi, Hawaiian hula halau Kaleoolakaikahikinaokalā, and much more.

For more information, visit https://www. nycitycenter.org/pdps/FallforDance/.

Wanjiru Kamuyu (chocolatefactorytheater.org photo)

KIN Art Show exhibits rare generational bond

By BRENIKA BANKS Special to the AmNews

Jamaican immigrants come to New York City for a better life. Health care and food services are sought-after occupations for a secure income. A Jamaican father and son’s bond over art wouldn’t evolve into an exhibit, yet it occurred. Dane “DST” Thompson unveiled pieces from himself and his father, Michael “Freestylee” Thompson, in an art show titled “KIN: A Father Son Story,” which ran Aug. 25–27 at 72 Warren Street— in a posh neighborhood known for its boutiques and galleries.

It is sometimes atypical for a Jamaican father to be an artist in addition to supporting his son’s artistic interest, and the show is described as a platform to strengthen and highlight Black immigrant artistry through a father-son shared passion. DST, 36, was born in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to Crown Heights, Brooklyn at two years old. The KIN art show preserves their strong bond, even after the passing of Freestylee Thompson seven years ago.

The Thompsons shared a love for movie posters. This inspired both of their art to depict poster-style elements. DST described his father’s style as “cleaner” while he adds more layers and characteristics to his art. DST creates mixed-medium collages in his unique pieces, which encourages the audience to spend time digesting the layers. “I was always interested in posters in the street and in the subway,” he said. “You’ll see them, and they’re torn a little bit – and there’s something underneath; it’s very New York.”

This series, 12-plus years in the making, was embraced with plenty of love, respect, and support from the show attendees. Visitors were lively and excited to witness the pair’s artwork. People congratulated DST and took photos as the DJ played current hip-hop and reggae classics. His mother and aunt both beamed with pride as they experienced the Thompsons’ art together on display.

DST’s collages are made from illustrating posters combined with his custom patterns. “Keith,” which pays homage to artist Keith Haring, was influenced by a coloring book from Haring that Freestylee Thompson gave him. The base of the artwork starts with pictures and vintage clippings from Haring’s books. Next, a pattern made with DST’s initials follows as an additional layer of the collage. “There are things I thought were cool that would relate to help telling the story,” he said. DST included graffiti-related art in his “Keith” piece, similar to what Haring used to draw around New York City. DST described his layered motifs as “dense” which has evolved.

Freestylee Thompson’s five artworks were arranged to strategically hang on a wall together, opposite from DST’s works. He loves his father’s technique of simple, solid backgrounds, yet knew it wasn’t his style. “His

stuff was more clean, more refined, more attention to detail,” said DST at the show’s opening. His father enjoyed speaking and bringing people together based on history, movies, and music.

As visitors enjoyed the show and music, DST reminisced about “Eek A Mouse,” his father’s piece he resonated with the most.

“I really like this one because this is an artist he and I used to listen to a lot,” he said. Mouse was a Jamaican music artist who made animated, over-the-top tunes.

DST said he and his father adored Mouse’s music because it was out-of-the-box, nontraditional type Jamaican songs.

Happier times connected DST deeply to his own piece titled “Wuz Good.” The picture reminds him of being happy with life at that time. It depicts his version of the Mona Lisa with a hoodie, spraying a heart over his logo. “I was in a very happy place when I was making [‘Wuz Good’].”

“Deep Water Carter,” a newer work, is an admiration piece of rapper Lil Wayne. DST

views Wayne’s lyricism as very creative and relates to him doing unexpected things. For example, people don’t expect Lil Wayne to be a skateboarder because of his rapper persona. In parallel, people are shocked to learn DST is an artist based on his looks. “We’re common in that way where it’s not expected of us to do certain things, but we really have fun doing those things.”

DST has fun collecting vintage clippings that echo his piece “The Perpetrator,” featuring

See on page 23

Guests at the KIN Art Show mingling and looking at artwork. (Brenika Banks photos)

Dane “DST” Thompson and girlfriend singer Noboa talking to visitors in front of artwork.`

Continued from page 22

vintage Ronald McDonald. “This has clippings from the old McDonald’s—you know, what you [used to get] in the [restaurant’s] tray.” He will go as far as searching on eBay for anything old school he believes will complete his vision. He isn’t afraid to include anything eye-catching in his works.

DST was happy and overwhelmed by different people in his life, from his job to family members, supporting the exhibit. He relished witnessing everyone experiencing this multigenerational bond artistically and predicts his legacy will be conveying how art can transform lives. “I want to show people that it is possible—art can take you somewhere.” DST believes in endless opportunities, teaching subsequent generations, and continuing a legacy that began in generations before. These are the keys that open doors to futures.

For more information, visit https://www. freestylee.net/ and www.instagram.com/dst46.

(from left to right, top then bottom) “Jose Wales”, “You!”, “The Perpetrator”, and “Mmm.”

Dane “DST” Thompson in front of two pieces by his father, Michael “Freestylee” Thompson.

(from left to right, top then bottom) “Mia”, “Deep Water Carter”, C.R.E.A.M” and “Keith.”

Dane “DST” Thompson in front of three pieces including his Mona Lisa inspired “Wuz Good.”

HOROSCOPES BY KNOWYOURNUMB3RS

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SEPTERMBER 7, 2023—SEPTERMBER 13, 2023

Rebirth of a new nation: Do you know what skills, talents, expertise, and gifts you numerically vibrate on to be of service to self, family, your community, and humanity? You can be shown an opportunity, yet some don’t take it. Instead they squander, get lazy, fold, park in neutral, put it off until another day, or never operate in their gift. “There is something special about you. You’ve got the it factor; a talent or skill that is unique to you, and you have a responsibility to your life to bring it out.” —Germany Kent

It’s a weekly cycle to climb the highest mountain, take the elevator to the highest level, walk the longest distance, and jog the longest mile because you are in the home stretch. There is no time out and no stopping now. You are at a point to decide to be about it or not. What may seem like a tough week is one of many to occur for the continuum of your elevation. In all honesty, it’s up to you. In the days leading up to September 13, follow your heart and remember that feelings have a vibration, so channel yours to the highest peak to ride this tsunami wave, then soar like an owl and stay surefooted like a goat on the ground: It's test time.

September is a month to have strength like a warrior, skills like a soldier in combat, and survival techniques to progress forward. Whatever mission you are on, you must apply yourself with structure and get your paperwork in order. Don’t forget to keep up with your breath because news is coming from every angle and work on the desk has to be completed. From September 5 around 4:07 p.m. until September 8 around 1 a.m., slow down to focus task by task, no need to rush. Something is tugging on you; acknowledge it so you can see and hear clearly. Everything that sparkles, glitters, looks glam and gold isn’t all that it seems.

In the King James version of the Bible, in the book of Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 3, “God said let there be light.” Pisces, it’s time to get back in the spotlight to showcase your creativity. You need a soul revival mini retreat, which includes soaking your feet, a full body massage, going for a swim, a trip to the beauty/barber salon, travel to the beach, grabbing a book to read, and unwinding. From September 8 around 1 a.m. until September 10 around 12:36 p.m., what’s new in your life? Who are your new affiliation partners pulling you in the circle of life?

It’s the great awakening or come-to-Jesus moment, as the church folks say. Aries, this cycle week is not for the faint of heart. This is a spiritual metamorphosis taking place and you are not in the driver’s seat. Themes of partnerships, contracts, semi-legal matters, déjà vu, sudden endings, and departures may be featured. Be ready to let the past go to discover a new side of you. From September 10 around 12:36 p.m. until September 13 around 1 a.m., you are ready to explore life on a higher, more mature level. As Michael Jackson states in his song “Rock with You,” you got to “feel that heat”— either you are rocking with it or not.

A moment of silence is what you need from the hustle, bustle, business, and personal life. What are your needs? When was the last time you took inventory or organized the home or office space? When was the last time you spent time in nature? When was the last time you visited or spoke to your mother or a woman to whom you can express yourself? In the days leading up to September 13, you are surrounded by the great and grand family members, so ask them what advice they can share with you or what you can learn from them for your growth.

The great word-wizard and thinker, your mind is constantly analyzing everything in sight and within conversations due to the Mercury retrograde in Virgo, the analytical side of you. If you are ready to rebrand yourself, then September is your transformation month to do so. Don’t talk about it; be about it to see results. Your mind is painting a beautiful image in your imagination. It’s up to you to gather the information into a book, projects, curriculum, service—you name it. From September 5 around 4:07 p.m. until September 8, walk toward your calling when being called.

What are your dreams and aspirations that keep you awake at night and are constantly on your mind? That’s the drive you need to fuel your passion to get you going. Once you get a move on, it keeps progressing like the Energizer battery bunny. The normal things you eat daily are likely to cause discomfort. Drink plenty of water and tea, visit near a body of water, and take a salt bath. Get your mind clear on the project, plan, or mission for completion. From September 8 around 1 a.m. until September 10 around 12:36 p.m., like Michael Jackson sings in“Beat It,” it’s time to beat to your own drums with a happy dance at the end.

Big boss on the move, it’s time to meet up with the bosses at the breakfast, lunch, and dinner table to discuss business collaboration projects. Roll up your sleeves because you are on a true mission with a heavy-duty assignment to make it happen. All bases are loaded; when the pitcher throws the ball, it’s time to hit it out of the ballpark with a grand opening home run. From September 10 around 12:36 p.m. until September 13 around 1 a.m., everyone on board is collecting, building, and networking, and has a position or role they play within the organization. All you need to do is keep believing, walk by faith, and know your talent and what you are capable of.

Mercury retrograde in Virgo is having a field day, like children going on a field trip. Be mindful of where you walk—you might trip over your feet in the process. This Mercury retrograde can have you feeling like the Monica song “Don’t Take It Personal.” In the days leading up to September 13, most importantly, take some time to collect your thoughts and organize your home, business, and fun activities.

Even in Virgo season, you can feel Libra’s misty air breeze. Libra, don’t you think it’s too early to feel that cool breeze? Tone it down a bit and breathe easy—the sun is still heating up humanity and bringing life force to the vegetation. Early frost makes people pick up the pace a bit to prepare for the upcoming harvest season. Libra, it’s time to formulate your structure for your establishment, and your commitment is needed to rise to the occasion. From September 5 around 4:07 p.m. until September 8, be true to yourself and the rest will follow. Even the resources and people will show up. Believe in yourself.

Well, information was revealed to you for a reason and a lesson to learn from others. As you progress in life and the path that you choose, you are learning what to do and not to do. There is one more surprise you didn’t see coming and that is the awakening from within, rocking you to sleep like a baby in a cradle, and taking you into your conscious realm of life. From September 8 around 1 a.m. until September 10 around 12:36 p.m., there’s no need to put up a fight—it’s all in the Divine’s way. “For many are called, but few are chosen.”— Matthew 22:14.

What’s a heavy assignment that a Bosslady/Bossman can handle? This is a new voyage, one you haven’t explored, yet you did similar work on other projects. The concepts are different, yet the basics are the same. You have all the tools, resources, and, may I add, people in a position to provide the equipment you need to manifest the blueprint into a reality. From September 10 around 12:36 p.m. until September 13 around 1 a.m., this is God’s work you are doing, because it’s the God in you that sees the vision to make a reality. All you need to do is apply the footwork.

A 15-minute bonus session will be held at 7:30 p.m. Space is limited. Sign up for the newsletter at www.kyafrench.com to receive details.

Trends

Moshood’s Fashions on the Street

By RENEE MINUS WHITE Fashion & Beauty Editor

Last Sunday afternoon, masterful Brooklyn designer Moshood kicked off the Labor Day weekend celebrations with a festive carnival street fashion show in Marcy Plaza at Fulton Street and Marcy Avenue. With the West Indian Day Parade hitting on Monday, Brooklyn was certainly one of the holiday weekend hot spots.

With a Caribbean Carnival fashion theme, Moshood’s well-attended celebration was simply spectacular and fashions were bold, opulent, vibrant, and colorful. The looks were a fabulous mix of African chic and timeless elegance with modern modes. Fashion coordinator Michael Williams, a top accessories designer, jazzedup Moshood’s designs with sharp accessories, including spiked heels and jewelry. Williams specializes in belts and has created belts for Stevie Wonder and other top entertainers.

Colors were vibrant, and styles were bold and sexy. Moshood works wonders with color-blocking techniques, prints, and popular designs. His multi-hued striped strapless dress could take you anywhere—from morning to night.

The music pumped up the volume at the spot, featuring a live, electrifying steel drum performance by DoMoJOAT Steel Band Drummers, Corner Stone Band, and Dale Charles BedStuy “Gateway” BID. The rocking runway music was provided by DJ Barry Blends. But Moshood’s African-inspired fashion collection was the star of the show, featuring exceptional models who strutted their stuff.

The 24 designs, shown on 10 models, came from Moshood’s store at 1360 Fulton Street in Brooklyn (at the entrance of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza).

“Make yourself at home,” greeted Moshood, upon my arrival at his shop before the show. “Have a seat in the queen’s chair, created in Africa.” He was very kind, and quite a gentleman.

Moshood’s marvelous boutique is filled with a variety of elegant looks, from multi-color, elasticwaisted long pants, traditional dashikis, beautiful caftans, skirts,

and long sheaths, to men’s clothing and accessories. His favorite fabrics are silks, cotton, linen, and poly-cotton blends. Merchandise is creatively displayed in showcases, and hung on racks and on mannequins. They offer custom designs and outfits for a complete wedding party.

The name “Moshood” has become synonymous with a style that personifies the “spirit” of African pride. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Moshood arrived in New York to make his mark in the early 1980s. After years of tireless effort and hard work, he opened his boutique in Brooklyn. I recall that he also had a shop in Harlem, right off W. 135th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., but then moved back to Brooklyn.

His timeless pieces bring together the traditional ingenuity of African tailoring and influence of western flavor. His fluid and elegant designs have been embraced from New York City’s Harlem to Soweto and Lagos, Bahia, London, Tokyo; Kingston, Jamaica; and beyond. Through his fashion designs, Moshood’s message to everyone is “ to love and respect one another.”

Moshood in his shop adjusting a caftan on a model (Renee Minus White/A Time To Style photo)

Scenes from Moshood’s pre-Carnival fashion show (Photos courtesy of Moshood)

Black books about justice, healing

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH Special to the AmNews

It is our duty as a Black community to never forget the constant generational work we must continue to vehemently engage with to create a safer society and stronger bond among our families, colleagues, friends, and inner selves. These new books will enlighten and inspire in the world of social justice, racial equity, and the healing of the Black mind, body, and psyche. “Until Our Lungs Give Out” and “Trauma and Race” are toolkits for readers who make self-education a top priority, along with professors, lecturers, psychologists, and philosophers who hope to hone their skills and widen their world views.

“Until Our Lungs Give Out: Conversations on Race, Justice, and the Future” by

George Yancy (Rowman & Littlefield)

The profound Black philosopher and professor George Yancy’s new book “Until Our Lungs Give Out” is a collection of dialogues with world-renowned thought leaders about race, justice, and the future, as the subtitle of the book conveys. “Each conversation bears witness to the weighty moment in which it was first conducted and present-

ed by Truthout and Tikkun magazines while pointing to ramifications, future hurdles, and practical optimism for moving forward.” For anyone who works consciously to do their part in understanding the intricacies and complexities of global inequality, this book offers invaluable insights into the minds of contemporary leaders to support in serving others from a standpoint of intellectual prowess and integral information.

“Trauma and Race: A Path to Wellbeing” by

Micah L. McCreary

(Fortress Press)

The knowledgeable and credentialed theology professor, engineer, and doctor of psychology writes a powerful book that states its contents clearly and succinctly: “This book is about trauma-informed counseling with racially traumatized African (Black), Latino/a/x, Asian, and Native (Indigenous) Americans (ALANAs),” according to the publisher. The book argues that psychologists and counselors must integrate the intersection of systemic racism with the context of healing practices for marginalized beings. This book is timely and an important resource for anyone interested in helping Black and POC patients more forward after living a season of their lives entrenched in the throes of trauma.

New books: When hip hop and philosophy converge

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH

Special to the AmNews

Hip hop and Black art as philosophy is an incredible concept to imagine, intellectualize, and mentally and emotionally explore. Art is not always seen as a way of life or a new way of thinking, particularly the artform of hip hop and its powerful culture that has legitimately survived for over half a decade. Iconic rapper and thinker Chuck D has graced the world with a new book titled “Summer of Hamn” and authors Souleymane Bachir Diagne and Chike Jeffers have imagined a world of beauty and thought titled “African Art as Philosophy.” These books are wonderful examples of Black authors thinking outside of the box and creating a visual and conscious way of interacting with Blackness, how it functions, how the world sees us, and what our artistic output can do for a world that has discriminated against us and attempted to diminish our potential time and time again.

“Summer of Hamn: Hollowpointlessness Aiding Mass Nihilism” by Chuck D (Enemy Books)

In “Summer of Hamn,” activist, rapper, and Black-thinking Chuck D “takes on gun violence with

rhythmic, inventive writing, and passionately raw art. He has long spoken out against gun violence, including how it intersects with rap and hip hop culture. ‘Summer of Hamn’ is the bound journal Chuck D carried with him in the summer of 2022—a summer marked by a

particularly high rate of gun death,” according to his new book imprint, Enemy Books. The Black intellectual pleas for the doing-away of gun violence in Black communities as weapons continue to rip apart our enduring communities. We should not just be enduring, we should be

thriving safely and confidently as the future urges us to change the way we live in ultra-violent neighborhoods.

“African Art as Philosophy: Senghor, Bergson, and the Idea of Negritude” by Souleymane

Bachir Diagne and Chike Jeffers (Other Press)

To know more, we must learn more. Black Americans and the global Black community will do well by arming themselves with philosophical knowledge as we grow and evolve into an educationally resilient class of people. “Léopold Sédar Senghor (1906–2001) was a Senegalese poet and philosopher who in 1960 also became the first president of the Republic of Senegal. In ‘African Art as Philosophy,’ Souleymane Bachir Diagne uses a unique approach to reading Senghor’s influential works, taking as the starting point for his analysis Henri Bergson’s idea that in order to understand philosophers, one must find the initial intuition from which every aspect of their work develops. In the case of Senghor, Diagne argues that his primordial intuition is that African art is a philosophy,” according to the publisher of “African Art as Philosophy.”

If we do not learn from Black thinkers of the past and present, we are doomed to repeat mistakes. Let’s think outside of the box, and explore what we can do and who we can be in the hopes of becoming a more powerful Black intellectual global entity.

Ishmael Reed’s ‘The Conductor…’ highlights historical and present-day persecution

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the

“The Conductor: A Living Newspaper” by Ishmael Reed recently opened at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue in Manhattan). This drama talks about the targeting of minority groups in this country by white racists. While Blacks are always targeted, the racist white establishment will at times pick other groups and deem them a danger as well, after which those groups can quickly become victims of violence, have their businesses shut down, and be made to feel so endangered that they leave the country as quickly as they can. In this play, the folks targeted are people from India.

In the play, a white racist TV network constantly spews lies, ignorance, and hatred about people from India being dangerous, and this leads to even Indian-Americans, born and raised in the United States and educated at elite universities, feeling the need to flee and move to

India for safety. It is considered a crime to help Indian people leave the country, and things are so bad that Warren, a Black journalist, becomes a conductor in a modern-day equivalent of the Under-

ground Railroad.

Warren winds up housing Indians as a link in an underground network to get them to Canada and ultimately to India. He takes in a young person named Shashi

and they constantly butt heads about racist, historical, and political points regarding Blacks, Indians, and Asians in this country. This includes who are the public figures and school board figures

that are going after the right things for minority children.

Warren has a great deal of information to share, both historical and present-day, about the betrayal Black people in this country have endured at the hands of other minority groups who came to them for help when white racists put them on the radar. But once the spotlight was off them, these same minority groups, such as Asians and Indians, sought acceptance by the racist whites.

This play also goes deeply into the discriminatory caste culture in India. There are a great many eyeopening moments of facts shared that will cause you to ponder.

The cast delivers stirring performances and includes Brian Anthony Simmons, Monisha Shiva, Sri Chilukuri, Kenya Wilson, Laura Robards, and Emil Guillermo. Carla Blank provides interesting direction.

The play will run through September 10, 2023. For tickets, call 212-254-1109 or visit www.theaterforthenewcity.net.

‘Let’s Call Her Patty’ stunned at Lincoln Center Theater

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews

An extremely poignant play called “Let’s Call Her Patty” recently completed its run at Lincoln Center Theater at the Claire Tow Theater. The Zarina Shea play gave us three characters: Patty, an older, rich white woman; her niece Sammy, who she raised; and her daughter Cecile. Sammy, the narrator of the play, introduces the audience to Patty and describes her everyday activities; her family construct, with her husband in the house but never seen; and her constantly cooking food for her dog.

Listening to Sammy’s description of Patty’s daily activities, especially since she is older, one might think she had a charmed existence with exercise classes, leisurely activities, and gossiping about people; however, her life is anything but that. Sitting in the audience, you realize that the title of this play means so much. “Let’s Call Her Patty” is a way of saying that she is like many people whom we see every day, but we don’t know the problems they face in their lives.

Her daughter, Cecile, a sculptor who works with clay, is preparing for an exhibition of her work and has not been to her parents’ home in some time. She also has a terrible eating disorder, and although Patty worries about her lack of eating, still tries to downplay what is

happening with her daughter—all the while criticizing the lives of other people whom she and her niece know. Patty judges people very easily: When a neighbor’s son becomes an addict, she blames the neighbor for smothering him. Patty is someone who has to confront her own failures in life. She has to realize that her daughter has decided to not only turn to drugs for comfort, but that mentally, she does not understand how to feel anymore. Patty has to admit to the part that she has had in enabling her daughter to

be the person she is today.

Rhea Perlman took on the role of Patty with such distinction. She let the audience see every layer of Patty’s personality and every moment of her despair. She made it clear that Patty could be anyone and made the character relatable in a way that touched the heart. Of course, she was also funny.

Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer was absolutely mesmerizing and at times humorous as Sammy. Arielle Goldman was stirring as Cecile. Her struggle with life was so evi-

dent and at times painful to watch. One scene in particular stood out for me: a moment when Patty goes to see Cecile at a rehabilitation center and Patty asks how Cecile is doing. However, when Cecile tries to speak, Patty continuously speaks over her. It just showed how overwhelmed and under-equipped Patty felt that she could not even allow her daughter to speak her full thoughts.

This play definitely left an impression. “Let’s Call Her Patty” was directed brilliantly by Margot Bordelon.

Rhea Perlman in scene from “Let’s Call Her Patty.”

Arielle Goldman and Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer in scene from “Let’s Call Her Patty” at LCT. (Jeremy Daniel photos)

A scene from “The Conductor: A Living Newspaper” with (l-r) Brian Anthony Simmons, Kenya Wilson, and Monisha Shiva (Tennessee Reed photo)

AmNews

Pittsburgh Jazz, Spontaneous Creativity, Harlem Late Night

There are only a few out-of-town jazz festivals left on this year’s jazz itinerary. One is the 13th Annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival on September 14–17. This eclectic music fest employs the likes of multi-Grammy winner Gregory Porter; Gotham's own Spanish Harlem Orchestra; keyboardist, arranger, and founder of Fourplay Bob James; Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter; Nicholas Payton with Blaque Dynamite; the R&B soul of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis; Ledisi; Pharoahe Monch & Mumu Fresh; Orrin Evans; and the African-rooted stylings of Somi.

Pittsburgh is a mere 369 miles from New York City—approximately six hours by car and just over an hour by plane.

The Pittsburgh festival opens with Nigel Hall & Madison McFerrin. The music of vocalist and keyboardist Hall is gospelbased with exploratory blends of classic soul, funk, and hip hop. McFerrin has fun incorporating her bright vocals, which are textured in an array of colorful tones that diminish genre bias. Together, Hall and McFerrin are an exciting duo with fresh ideas waiting to be heard.

The Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival Presented by Citizens launched the Music is Very Powerful (MVP) Program, which will offer a minimum 500 complimentary festival passes for Saturday and Sunday at Highmark Stadium on September 16–17, 2023. Regional musicians will receive 100 festival passes and 400 local high school and college students, with valid IDs, will receive general admission festival passes.

Tickets to the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival Presented by Citizens are on sale now at https://pittsburghjazzfest.org.

Jazz bands with leaders are the order of the day, but pianist James Hurt and trumpeter Duane Eubanks wanted, as they stated, “to get out of the 20th century bandleader thing, so we got this collective.” Their collective, called Spontaneous Creativity, has been playing since 2020. The other members are bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Eric McPherson. With their individual experience (being relied upon by such notables as Jason Moran, Greg Osby, Oliver Lake, and Rashied Ali) and instrumental command, they are easily one of the best quartets on the scene. Their latest CD, “2020 The Black Chamber, Pt. 1,” substantiates their creative versatility as they push forward the musical inventiveness by Trio 3 that featured Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman, and Andrew Cyrille.

“Our music is coming right out the studio—it’s an organic collaboration by all of us. We just go in the studio and play, and the people hear our results. That’s why we came up with the name Spontaneous Creativity,” said Hurt. “There aren’t any rehears-

als and deep conversations. We are building our musical foundation that is motivated by all the musicians who came before us.”

The CD “2020 The Black Chamber, Pt. 1,” which includes seven tracks, is a consortium of straight-ahead melodies with avant garde classical edges. The cut “Remembrance's Reflections” has it all: a riveting spiritual opening with a subdued harmonic trumpet accompanied by tom-tom beats and engrossing piano chords, and a textured solo tempered with whispering cymbals. The title track begins with hip melodic bass lines as all instruments unite in moving conversation. “This is Black chamber music,” said Hurt.

The four members of this collective (Hurt, Eubanks, Tarus Mateen, and McPherson)

are all exceptional leaders and composers who are virtually under the jazz corporate radar, although their many musical colleagues have acknowledged their virtuosity.

Hurt’s genius was noticed since his arrival on the jazz scene. He is always miles ahead, forging his own path. Tenor saxophonist Gregory Tardy wrote a song after him, entitled “Mr. Hurt.” “Putting the music out is a challenge, but we will keep releasing music like Charles Tolliver and his nowlegendary record label Strata East. We just keep going.” The music speaks for itself.

The CD is available on Spotify, iTunes, Deezer, and Pandora.

Harlem Late Night Jazz, Inc., is celebrating its eighth anniversary. In its short existence, they have made an impact on supporting

Harlem venues, artists, and the communities they serve. The partners include Dakota Pippins, C. Kelly Wright, Geoffrey Eaton, and T.S. Monk. Their program Elevating New Artists/Honoring Legends is a weekly jam session held at the historical New Amsterdam Musical Association (NAMA) founded in 1907 as the Negro music union. It brings established and emerging jazz musicians together in the same brownstone where Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, and James Reese Europe played.

During the Late Night Jazz anniversary, they are seeking to raise $80,000 to assist and build on its opportunity goals for artists, venues, and the jazz community. For more info, visit www.harlemlatenightjazz. networkforgood.com.

Spontaneous Creativity (James Hurt photo)

Rikers

Continued from page 3

way to the city council. So not only is it the morally right thing to do, it is the legal right thing to do.”

“What we have is an administration that came in and said that they want to do and address public safety differently. Increasing the population of Rikers Island, and saying that we’re [possibly] not going to close it is not different…Rikers Island is not safe for anyone who was on that island and I’m always gonna make sure I mention the Black and brown bodies who cannot leave there and are detained and work in medical [or as] corrections officers.”

Earlier last week, Adams called replacing Rikers Island with four borough-based jails a “flawed plan.” Combined, the slated facilities can only house up to 3,300 detainees and the New York City jail population sits at 6,182 people as of last month. And the initial $8.7 billion cost to shut down Rikers continues to grow.

“Everyone created this ideal environment and now we’re stuck with something that started at one price tag and now it has ballooned beyond belief,” Adams said at a New York Law School event. “The cost of what it takes and the population. The population has changed.”

But advocates squarely blame the growing jail population on Adams’ adminis-

Overdose

Continued from page 3

(37%)” in 2021. Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that has been infiltrating other drug supplies since 2015.

“The most prominent inequity in overdose mortality rates in New York City continues to be by geography, reflecting a highly segregated city. As in prior years, these geographic patterns reflect inequities in income, wealth, employment, education, criminal legal system involvement, and housing,” the report said. “All of these factors have been linked to an increased risk of overdose death and are the result of structural racism and disinvestment in communities.”

Terrell Jones, community engagement and advocacy manager for OnPoint NYC, is a former drug user who was incarcerated for drug-related offenses. He said that programs like OnPoint saved his life by holistically addressing his addiction and helping him rehabilitate. He’s been dedicated to helping others with their addictions for decades and spoke about his experiences at the rally.

He, like others at the rally, is a huge proponent of overdose prevention centers (OPCs). “They get to detox, use services, they get free food, [and] holistic mental health care,” Jones said about those who get support at these centers. “They also

tration, which cut $17 million in reentry services often credited with reducing recidivism. A spokesperson for Freedom Agenda—one of the organizing groups for Thursday’s rally—pointed to the Mayor’s frequent use of a Bishop Desmond Tutu quote about going “upstream” to address Rikers’ problems as an initial, unfulfilled indicator for alternatives to incarceration.

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso was critical of his predecessor’s invocation of another hallowed Black leader, ex-Mayor David Dinkins.

“This mayor talks a lot about the last Black mayor of the City of New York, David Dinkins,” said Reynoso. “This mayor is more attuned to or more aligned to a Giuliani mayoral administration, not a Dinkins mayoral administration…he talks about it being impractical to close Rikers Island. But we saw legislation passed to stop stop-and-frisk. And we saw crime go down. We saw the population in Rikers Island go down.”

Reynoso is referring to the 2013 Community Safety Act bill package, which included legislation to create more litigation pathways for New Yorkers who were racially profiled to discourage discriminatory stopand-frisk practices. Despite then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s concerns towards public safety, index crime continued to trend downward after the bill’s passing.

Close Rikers proponents also questioned Adams’ comments about detainees on Rikers that “have committed serious

can get safe drug testing and other client services.”

Currently, New York State has two OPCs in East Harlem and Washington Heights in Manhattan. According to the DOH, an OPC is where people can safely use previously obtained drugs under the supervision of trained staff—an effective tool for “public health intervention to prevent overdose deaths.” DOH said that OPCs reduce injection-related illnesses, increase access to health care and referrals to drug treatment, reduce public drug use and syringe litter. An OPC is privately funded.

However, some community members in these two neighborhoods have been incredibly vocal about the optics of concentrating OPCs in historically Black and brown neighborhoods.

The rally eventually turned into a march towards the SNP building in Manhattan, where protesters crowded onto the building steps to give speeches about how Governor Kathy Hochul should shut the office down and abolish state-run methadone clinics. The only of its kind in the country, the SNP is a state office that collaborates with the city’s district attorneys to prosecute felony narcotics cases.

“Prosecution and punishment have never been life-saving strategies,” said Deputy Public Advocate Solomon Acevedo from the SNP steps. “It’s only been life healing policies.”

Acevedo spoke powerfully about a cousin

Metro Briefs

Continued from page 3

or 917-721-1551.

Ujamaa Afrikan Market & Open Mic

The Ujamaa Afrikan Market & Open Mic event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 2 to 8:30 p.m.at 385 Kosciusko Street (between Marcus Garvey Blvd. & Lewis Ave. in Brooklyn). The event is free and features music, food, drinks, open mic, games, and vendors. One Africa, one nation!

For more information, call 347-6668991.

New Jersey

Continued from page 4

culture events that will take place across all five wards of Newark.

“Voted New Jersey’s favorite visual arts festival,” the festival’s programming states, “NAF 2023 will proudly feature the ‘Cross Cultural Perspectives’ of Newark’s diverse and vibrant arts community, as well as national and international voices in the arts. Unique to this year’s festival will be a spotlight on the contributions of Newark-area hip-hop pioneers, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop.”

For more information, visit NewarkArtsFestival.com

crimes.” According to the Center for Court Innovation, 90% of those held on Rikers have not been convicted.

Another New York City jail, the Vernon C. Bain Center, a barge floating across from Rikers Island, is also reportedly closing.

“I will be so glad to see ‘The Boat’ close, but the jails on Rikers need to close too,” said Cynthia Acevedo, whose brother died from leaping from the facility last year. “The Mayor constantly speaks about the amount of people with mental health challenges incarcerated, but he has not done anything to reduce that

who died in 2018 from an overdose. “He had been using drugs from the time he was 12 years old to the time he was 25. He had been in and out of jail several times in Puerto Rico. The last time he was released, two days later he used again and took a fatal dose,” said Acevedo.

On behalf of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Acevedo threw his support behind more OPCs. He demanded that Hochul direct funds into more OPCs to increase harm reduction and overdose death prevention methods.

Amsterdam News reached out to Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan for a response. In a statement, Brennan said that the recent calls for abolishing the SNP were “misguided and based upon inaccurate information.” She said drug laws, mandatory sentences, and criminal justice approaches have changed significantly during the past two decades and have not sent thousands to state prisons like protestors claimed. In 2022, their prosecutions sent 183 people to state prison, said Brennan, down from the 451 people in 2018.

“In the midst of an unparalleled overdose epidemic, the work of our office has never been more important or more relevant than it is today. Illegal drugs smuggled into New York, and packaged and sold here are deadlier than ever, largely due to lethal fentanyl smuggled in from Mexico. More New Yorkers are losing their

population. Instead of moving people from The Boat to Rikers, he should get them into treatment, and divert them from incarceration in the first place. Gregory, like so many others, [needed] housing and treatment, not jail.”

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

lives to overdose death than at any time in the city’s history,” said Brennan. “The Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutors focuses on saving lives in every borough by targeting those importing and trafficking large volumes of deadly narcotics, as well as local drug distribution networks linked to overdoses and violence. Last year alone, our cases resulted in the seizure of almost one thousand pounds of fentanyl, and nearly a million fentanyl pills.”

Brennan added that today’s drug epidemic requires a collaborative approach that includes effective treatment, prevention programs, and proven harm reduction strategies. She also recognized “the impact of high incarceration rates of the late 1980s and the 1990s, particularly in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.” She said that there is an understanding of the consequences of policies of that period and the office has shifted its approach because of it. She said the SNP is committed to treatment, prevention, educational initiatives, and the community.

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

––Compiled by Karen Juanita Carrillo

––Compiled by Karen Juanita Carrillo

CLASSROOM

Captain William Pinkney, who sailed alone around the world

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

Captain William Pinkney has a unique place in history and it’s a good bet his remarkable feat flies below, or should we say sails below, your radar. Pinkney, who became the first African American to sail around the world solo via the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn, died on August 31. He was 87.

He was born on September 15, 1935 in Chicago, where he was raised. His parents divorced when he was very young. He attended Tilden Technical High School, from which he graduated in 1954. Two years later, he was in the Navy, serving as a hospital corpsman. In 1964, after mustering out of the Navy, he moved to Puerto Rico, and it was during his brief stay there that he began learning to sail. During his three years in Puerto Rico, he worked as a stringer for a local paper and later as an elevator operator. His nightlife included frequenting bars, where he earned a reputation as an excellent limbo dancer.

There were many opportunities to be a crew member on sailboats.

Pinkney was employed in several occupations upon returning to the mainland, including working as a marketing manager for Revlon, and later the Johnson Products Company. It was in 1985 that he began thinking about a voyage around the world. After he was laid off from his job at the Department of Human Services, the idea became a greater possibility. For the next several years, he made various fundraising ventures to finance such a trip.

The original concept for the voyage was to circumnavigate via the Panama and Suez Canals in 1987, a route that had already been accomplished by another African American, Teddy Seymour. Pinkney began devising a different way to circle the globe.

On August 5, 1990, he left Boston for Bermuda, and sailed along the eastern South American coastline, across the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Town, South Africa, and across the Indian Ocean to Hobart, Tasmania. He sailed across the South Pacific Ocean, around Cape Horn, up the eastern South American coastline, and onward to Boston. Overall, the

ACTIVITIES

FIND OUT MORE

Captain Pinkney's books are the best resources to learn about him and his remarkable career.

DISCUSSION

Pinkney has been remembered as a very good dancer and musician, although I wasn’t able to find but a line or two about these endeavors.

PLACE IN CONTEXT

Born during the Great Depression and having served in the Navy, Pinkney lived during a dynamic phase of American history.

pended on his radar to watch the seas for him. On one occasion, he was awakened by the radar’s alarm, indicating a ship was within 24 miles of him. He quickly got up and began tracking the other ship—a large freight container ship approaching fast behind him. It passed so close that it shook his boat. “All the guys from the crew—they were taking pictures of this crazy American on his little sailboat,” Pinkney recalled in a story in the Chicago Tribune.

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY

trip took 22 months and covered approximately 27,000 miles. The expedition cost him around $1 million.

A Boston law firm and the rich industrialist Armand Hammer provided some of the financing, thanks to Bill Cosby, Pinkney’s lifelong friend.

He arrived on a 47-foot cutter Valiant, named the “Commitment,” at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston Harbor on June 9, 1992. More than 1,000 school students and 100 offiW-

cers from the Navy, Coast Guard, and National Park Service greeted him. A week later, students who had been tracking his trip gathered in Chicago to welcome him home, along with his wife, Ina, and his two grandchildren. The journey had been long and full of challenges. Sailing alone was even more difficult when it came to managing the large vessel and finding time to sleep. When he rested, according to the log he kept, he de-

Another memorable sea voyage occurred when he and a crew retraced the trips of the Middle Passage slave trade routes, a tale he related during an interview with HistoryMakers. His next adventure was as the first captain of the replica schooner “Amistad” from 2000 to 2003, and he worked with director Steven Spielberg on the film “Amistad” (1997).

Pinkney’s books include an autobiography, “As Long as It Takes” (2006), which won the John Southam Award, and two children’s books: “Captain Bill Pinkney’s Journey” (1994) and “Sailing Commitment Around the World” (2022). The 1994 documentary “The Incredible Voyage of Bill Pinkney” received a George Foster Peabody Award.

Sept. 4, 1981: Grammy award-winning vocalist Beyoncé was born in Houston, Tex.

Sept. 6, 1930: Leander Jay Shaw, Jr., first Black chief justice in Florida, was born in the state.

Sept. 7, 1930: Great saxophonist Sonny Rollins was born in New York City.

William "Bill" Pinkney, captain of Amistad, maneuvers the schooners into a berth at Nauticus in Norfolk on Friday, Oct. 19, 2001. The ship arrived in Norfolk after taking part in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. Helping keep watch is co-captain Mary Fenn, at right. (AP Photo/Virginian-Pilot, STEVE EARLEY)

NYCLU

Continued from page 3

informed conversation about that and what police accountability looks like, we have to be able to see and talk about disciplinary records, how misconduct investigations happen, how complaints

Asylum

Continued from page 4

Persaud said she is proud to now be a U.S. citizen of this country. “I came from an eight-hour shift all the way here and I’m proud to be here. Mr. Mayor, I want to say thank you very much for having me here and we will continue fighting as a union

Sanders

Continued from page 6

Her siblings say the past year was naturally tough for the family, especially given how abrupt her illness was. Their mother is still coming to terms. Sanders’ two daughters are both entering their senior years— one in high school and the other in college. And her dog Hunter is currently with Sharisse Sanders—currently an NYPD lieutenant—who calls herself his “dog auntie.”

NYPD Housing Sgt. John Schad, who worked under Sanders in 2014, credits her as his mentor and recalled her investment toward her “second family” in the police department.

“Even to her last days…she was always asking about the people that work with her, how their lives are going,” said Schad. “Even my new details—people maybe she hadn’t worked with [in] years. In many ways, she was an older sister to me and sometimes the mother to the cops.”

Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard recalled attending the first grade together with Sanders. Years later, they reconnected on the force. He said she set high goals for not only himself, but others.

“Janelle was trying to talk me into taking the captain’s exam and I said, ‘I already make good money and I don’t know if I want to be a captain,’” said Sheppard. “I [was] pretty comfortable with being a lieutenant special assignment. She basically sat me down and talked about making a change. It’s about how many people we can affect and help as executives and it’s not about how much money we make…I would not have taken that captain’s exam and wouldn’t be a deputy commissioner right now had it not been for my friend Janelle Sanders.”

Inspector Amir Yakatally and Captain Jose Taveras, who worked with Sanders at the 32nd shortly before she died, say she was a role model for young Black girls in Harlem who saw themselves in her. According to

are dealt with, and what sort of discipline gets imposed.”

Along with use-of-force, officer misconduct and discipline records between 2000 and 2020 were also disclosed. Yet the NYCLU says the officers in unfounded misconduct allegations are not named and state police complaints are investigated internally through the department’s Professional Standards Bureau; Chikezie argues

worker and a union,” she said.

“For generations, immigrants have come to this city, and what a beautiful morning it is in this city to stand with asylum-seekers and immigrant advocates and our labor partners and our elected officials, including the mayor and the public advocate and so many more,” said Comptroller Brad Lander.

Lander endorsed the call on the federal government to accelerate work authoriza-

them, her door was quite literally always open for others. They added that she was the “heart and soul” of the 32nd, especially when the precinct dealt with the high-profile killing of officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora in January of last year.

“That was such a heartbreaking tragedy for us, and without a doubt, Janelle was the glue that held this command together,” said Taveras, who now heads the 26th Precinct. “She was somebody that was just so kind, and so genuine, and the cops were in incredible pain, but they knew she cared for them.”

“If someone [was] going through something, they felt like they could go to her,” added Yakatally. “Countless times, we come into the office and she’s hugging someone or consoling someone. Getting to know people on a personal [level]. When it came to work, she was all business. She was tough. But she would always say it doesn’t mean you have to ignore the human element of this job.”

Those around her saw Sanders as invincible in life—Sheppard still winces when he recalls the congratulatory playful punch she gave him when he passed the captain’s exam. They all said she was a fitness enthusiast who organized 5K runs in her workplace and took her health with utmost seriousness. Sharisse Sanders said her sister went for mammograms and 9/11-related cancer screenings annually. And Yakatally and Taveras recall the precinct confidently prepared for when—not if—Sanders would return to work from her illness.

But the diagnosis came abruptly and those around her had little time to prepare for her cancer and subsequent death. Her brother said she still had big plans beyond the NYPD. Sanders was up for retirement, thanks to her early start in law enforcement. There was even talk about revisiting her early dreams of becoming a lawyer and enrolling in law school.

“My whole plan was for us to grow old together and move closer to each other and ride out to the sunset,” said Rashad Sanders. “It just didn’t go that way. It caught

that this is a transparency concern and was an issue named in the lawsuit. The unnamed officers are referred to as “NA” in the data set.

All in all, around 7,500 of the roughly 18,000 use-of-force complaints were determined to be founded; 489 complaints referenced racial discrimination but only around 5% were founded.

To see use-of-force data, go to https://

tion, extend temporary protective status, and support refugee resettlement in New York City as well as New York State.

“No hate, no fear. Immigrants are welcome here,” chanted Public Advocate Jumaane Williams during his speech, in which he highlighted the plight of African and Caribbean immigrants.

Williams also said that it’s not enough to send federal staff to New York City, but that new na-

everyone off guard. She got sick [and] diagnosed and it was over fast.”

And Sanders isn’t the only one. Deaths stemming from 9/11-related illnesses due to toxic exposure likely outpace the nearly 3,000person death count from the attacks today. Sharisse Sanders said besides her sister, she also lost her boyfriend eight years ago to 9/11-related cancer. Back then, they spoke about the possibility of facing a similar illness.

“She was just like, ‘Listen, we took a job [and] we knew the risks,’” said Sharisse

www.nyclu.org/en/new-york-state-police-

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

tionwide immigration reforms must be implemented to combat this humanitarian crisis.

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

Sanders. “Unfortunately, this is something that came out of it. I’m gonna do everything in my power to fight this thing, but I don’t regret anything.”

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

Religion & Spirituality

NY1 news anchor Ruschell Boone dies at age 48

Longtime Spectrum News NY1 anchor Ruschell Boone has died. Her passing was announced Monday by the 24-hour local cable news channel. Boone died Sunday from complications related to pancreatic cancer. She was 48.

An Emmy award-winning journalist, Boone started at NY1 in 2002. She reported on several important U.S. events, from the 2016 Manhattan bombings to the triumph of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Boone stumbled into broadcasting during her senior year at Baruch College at the campus radio station, when another guest missed their spot. She did internships at CNBC and CNN before going to NY1.

“I feel very blessed, because for my entire career, and I guess my whole life. There are always people who were kind enough to see something in me and allow me to become,” Boone told the AmNews in a 2019 interview (https://amsterdamnews.com/

news/2019/10/31/ruschell-boone-making-her-mark-journalism/). “Where I’m from…girls like me aren’t really expected to do well, but my mother and grandmother always thought I would do well in life. My mom and grandmother sacrificed a lot to send me to a really good school in Jamaica that they absolutely could not afford.”

Fellow NY1 anchor and friend Cheryl Wills paid tribute to Boone on social media. “As long as the sun keeps shining, the rains fall, the winds blow, you will live in me forever,”

Wills said. “This is what my heart knows.”

Mayor Eric Adams called Boone a “fighter” in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). “She took on her battle with cancer with strength, and grace, while never losing focus as she delivered the news to the city she loved so much,” he said. “My prayers are with her family and friends, and all her colleagues.”

Boone is survived by her husband Todd Boone, a production technician at NY1, and two children.

(Bill Moore photo)

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This is to announce that the next meeting of the Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy I Charter School Board of Trustees will occur in person on Wednesday, September 13th at 7:30am. The meeting will transpire at 245 West 129th St, NY, NY.

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

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

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

HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Plaintiff, -againstArnold Quismorio Bengco a/k/a Arnold Bengco if living and if any be dead, any and all persons who are spouses, widows, grantees, mortgagees, lienor, heirs, devisees, distributees, or successors in interest of such of the above as may be dead, and their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residences are unknown to Plaintiff, Rachelle Bengco if living and if any be dead, any and all persons who are spouses, widows, grantees, mortgagees, lienor, heirs, devisees, distributees, or successors in interest of such of the above as may be dead, and their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residences are unknown to Plaintiff , Board of Managers of The 322 West 57th Street Condominium, United States of America-Internal Revenue Service, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, John Doe (Refused Name), John Doe (Refused Name), Defendants, Index No. 850260/2019

Filed May 4, 2023

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Plaintiff designates New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the Mortgage premises is situated.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S):

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your Answer or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the attorneys for the plaintiff within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $870,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the County of NEW YORK on June 16, 2011, in CRFN 2011000213816, covering premises known as 322 West 57th Street, Unit 41K1, New York, NY 10019. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this Summons and Complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the Mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the Summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to your Mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: Bayshore, New York May 4, 2023

/s/By: Linda P. Manfredi, Esq. Frenkel, Lambert, Weiss, Weisman & Gordon, LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff 53 Gibson Street, Bay Shore, New York 11706 (631) 969-3100

Our File No.:01-092596-F00

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

INDEX NO: 850257/2022

D/O/F: 12/02/2022 & 01/18/2023

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Premises Address: 61 West 126th Street, New York, NY 10027

Plaintiff designates New York County as the place of trial.

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

USALLIANCE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION BY MERGER WITH NEW YORK METRO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, -against-

Unknown heirs at law of JAMES MCCASKILL a/k/a JAMES MC CASKILL, his next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained; KAMILAH MCCASKILL AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF JAMES MCCASKILL A/K/A JAMES MC CASKILL; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; EDNA MCCASKILL AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF JAMES MCCASKILL A/K/A JAMES MC CASKILL; EDNA MCCASKILL AS NATURAL GUARDIAN OF JAMES MCCASKILL AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF JAMES MCCASKILL A/K/A JAMES MC CASKILL;

“JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises, Defendant(s).

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your Answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

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

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

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

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

YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

PLEASE BE AWARE:

TO THE DEFENDANTS, except The Estate of James McCaskill a/k/a James MC Caskill: The Plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action.

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

Dated:

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

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Tea Teasse L.L.C.. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on July 26th, 2023. Office Location:New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process may be served. The Post Office the address to which shall mail a copy of any process against the L.L.C. served upon him/her is 7014 15th Avenue,Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228.The principle business address of the L.L.C. is 212 East Broadway, G1507, New York, NY 10002

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. FAITH WIGGINS, Deft. - Index # 850194/2020. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 27, 2021, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 5,000/28,402,100 tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase 1 HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $45,871.08 plus costs and interest as of April 6, 2021. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Roberta Ashkin, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

Notice of Qualification of FRIEZE US HOLDINGS, LLC

Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/07/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/21/15. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of ALCLEAR KYC, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/18/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/16/23. Princ. office of LLC: 85 10th Ave., 9th Fl, NY, NY 10011. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of IMENNOV LEGAL CONSULTING

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

Notice of Qualification of RP ZEREGA NY, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/23/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/20/23. Princ. office of LLC: 423 W. 55th St., 7th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal State St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: All lawful activities related to renewable energy generation in the state of New York.

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

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

Index Number 850195/2022.

HAYLEY GREENBERG, ESQ., Referee

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

250 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff -against- ADEWALE GEORGE, ENATA GEORGE, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated May 5, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 27, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises being an undivided ownership interest as tenant-in-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an undivided 0.00986400000% interest in the common elements. This a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37. Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $38,780.17 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850060/2022.

PAUL R. SKLAR, ESQ., Referee

DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

HNY CLUB SUITES OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff -against- ANGELA N. STEMLER AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF HILMA W. NOONAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated April 4, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on October 4, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises being an undivided ownership interest as tenant-in-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY; known as The NYH Condominium. Together with an appurtenant undivided 0.0381% in common interest percentage. This a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 27, 2003 and November 3, 2003 as CFRN # 2003000442512 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1006 and Lot 1302. Said premises known as 1335 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $21,676.41 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850079/2018.

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

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff -against- JANELLE L. PARRIS AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF MYRA E. PARRIS, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated April 25, 2023 and entered on May 3, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on October 4, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, being an undivided ownership interest as tenant-in-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY; known as The NYH Condominium. Together with an appurtenant undivided 1.4182% common interest percentage. This a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 27, 2003 and November 3, 2003 as CFRN # 2003000442513 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1006 and Lot 1303. Said premises known as 1335 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, UNIT HU2, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $36,539.61 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850054/2022.

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

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. STEPHEN MONIZ and BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HNY CLUB SUITES OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC., Deft. - Index # 850094/2021. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 27, 2021, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 7,000/28,402,100 tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase 1 HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $2,851.69 plus costs and interest as of June 21, 2021. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Roberta Ashkin, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

Supreme Court – New York County – Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. v. Any unknown heirs to the Estate of JAMES A. SCOTT, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, creditors, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest, as well as the respective heirs at law, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest of the aforesaid classes of persons, if they or any of them be dead, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff, et al., Deft. – Index # 850073/23. The foregoing supplemental summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable FRANCIS KAHN, III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, dated the 19th day of July 2023 and duly entered the 24th day of July 2023 in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, State of New York. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY, 5165868513.

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s attorney, within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State) In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of:

An undivided 6,000/16,783,800 tenants in common interest in Phase 2 of HNY Club Suites located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas NY, NY. Section: 4 Block: 1006 Lot: 1303. Mortgage bearing the date of March 6, 2015, executed by James A. Scott to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $37,161.60, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on December 4, 2015 in CRFN 2015000430738. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises as described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

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

Index Number 850181/2022.

JERRY MEROLA, ESQ., Referee

Zeichner Ellman & Krause LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 1211 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10036

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. JACQUELINE M. TILLAR and BARBARA ANN WYNN, Defts. - Index # 850029/2023. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 9, 2023, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 14,000/16,783,800 tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase 2 HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $100,534.95 plus costs and interest as of March 27, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Georgia Papazis, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. MICHAEL A. GARCIA and CANDICE J. GARCIA, Deft. - Index # 850047/2020. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 10, 2021, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.0271980765638990% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase 1 HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $30,314.03 plus costs and interest as of March 27, 2020. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Clark Whitsett, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

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

INDEX # 157000/22

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND AMENDED NOTICE

Plaintiffs designate New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the liened premises is situated. Tax Lien Foreclosure of: 1 Irving Place, Unit 17A, New York, NY 10003. (Block: 00870, Lot: 1347).

NYCTL 2021-A TRUST and The Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian, Plaintiffs, against Alvin Wong, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the verified complaint herein; Board of Managers of the One Union Square East Condominium;; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; United States of America; and "JOHN DOE #1" through "JOHN DOE #100", inclusive the last 100 names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiffs, it being intended to designate fee owners, tenants or occupants of the liened premises and/or persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the liened premises described in the complaint, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint herein, Defendants. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the attorney for the Plaintiffs within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where is made in any other manner than personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE OF FORMATION of FASHION BY SABINE LLC, Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 06/12/2023. Office location: New York County. Principal office of LLC: 548 West 28th Street, Suite 645, New York, New York 10001. The New York Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail process to Fashion By Sabine LLC c/o Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, PC, 21 Main Street Ste. 200, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Broadway & 166th, L.L.C. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/08/00. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 3956 Broadway, New York, NY 10032. Registered agent address c/o Herbert Wetanson, c/o The BBQ Restaurant, 27 W. 72nd Steet, New York, NY 10023. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NORTH 43rd, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/04/01. Latest date to dissolve: 12/31/2099. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 147 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of GREYSTONE SSG 2 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/28/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/01/21. Princ. office of LLC: 152 W. 57th St., 60th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of YES WE DID! LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 02/01/2023. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to YES WE DID! LLC, 130 Jane Street, Suite 5J, New York, NY, 10014. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT. THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Tax Lien pursuant to a Certificate recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York on March 4, 2022, in CRFN: 2022000097156, covering premises known as 1 Irving Place, Unit 17A, New York, NY 10003 (Block: 00870, Lot: 1347).

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the tax lien described above. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT

To the above named defendants: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, J.S.C. of the State of New York, and filed along with the supporting papers in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York on 7/3/2023. This is an action to foreclose on a Tax Lien. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of the New York, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 00870 and Lot 1347, said premises known as 1 Irving Place, Unit 17A, New York, NY 10003. THE DELLO-IACONO LAW GROUP, P.C., Attorney for Plaintiffs, 312 Larkfield Road, Lower Level, East Northport, NY 11731, 631-861-3001. Our File # 20-000009

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. ROBERT J. GODING, JR. and LATRICIA L. GODING, Defts. - Index # 850225/2022. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 9, 2023, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 5,000/16,783,800 tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase 2 HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $18,853.56 plus costs and interest as of February 24, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Tom Kleinberger, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. NESTOR I. CHAVEZ, Defts. - Index # 850268/2022. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 8, 2023, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0,00986400000% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 57th STREET VACATION SUITES located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $16,870.38 plus costs and interest as of March 27, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Allison M. Furman, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. WENDY M. PUSATERI and RICHARD PUSATERI, Deft. - Index # 850169/2018. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated May 31, 2023, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.00986400000% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 57TH STREET VACATION SUITES located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $48,795.81 plus costs and interest as of January 12, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Jeffrey R. Miller, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

Lounge Kat Studios LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/09/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: Lounge Kat Studios LLC, 1412 Broadway, 21st Fl., Ste. 21V, NY, NY 10018.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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

Purpose: General.

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

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

ARWA PROPERTIES GROUP NY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/21/2023. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 237 Eldridge St., Apt 2, NY, NY 10002. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of 625 MADISON REO JV SUB 2 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/13/23. Princ. office of LLC: One Vanderbilt Ave., 28th Fl., NY, NY 10017. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Real estate.

Notice of Qualification of 625 MADISON REO JV LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/13/23. Princ. office of LLC: One Vanderbilt Ave., 28th Fl., NY, NY 10017. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Real estate.

Notice of Qualification of 625 MADISON REO JV SUB 1 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/13/23. Princ. office of LLC: One Vanderbilt Ave., 28th Fl., NY, NY 10017. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Real estate.

Notice of Formation of 302 BEACH 149TH STREET LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 22 W. 66th St., Apt. #13, NY, NY 10023. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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

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

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

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

Notice of Qualification of GREYSTONE SSG 1 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/27/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 11/13/17. Princ. office of LLC: 152 W. 57th St., 60th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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

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

Notice of Qualification of TUNGSTEN HEALTH HOLDINGS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/19/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/25/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Half Moon Isle, Jersey City, NJ 07305. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of Jacquelyn Trimlett LLC filed with SSNY on 202308-9. Office: New York County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC.: 7014 13TH AVENUE SUITE 202 BROOKLYN, NY 11228. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Formation of E. CASCADE VENTURE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/04/23. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 780 3rd Ave., Ste. 4203, NY, NY 10017. The regd. agent of the company upon whom and at which process against the company can be served is Brian Conroy, 780 3rd Ave., Ste. 4203, NY, NY 10017. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of GREYSTONE SSG 3 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/28/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/17/21. Princ. office of LLC: 152 W. 57th St., 60th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity. SVG Plan Trucking LLC. Arts. of Org. filed on 03/23/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to 228 Park Ave S #536671, NY, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of HUDSON YARDS 5701 LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/10/2023. Office located in NEW YORK. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 5

Notice of Formation of MGHE

LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/23/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 65 E. 55th St., 31st Fl., NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543.

Purpose: Hospitality.

Skin Therapy By Susan LLC

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

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

23RD & 8TH, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/17/01. Latest date to dissolve: 12/31/2099. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 261 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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

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

ADAE HOLDINGS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/07/23. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 121 West 17th Street, 2B, New York, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of S + B READE STREET, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/04/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Maryland (MD) on 07/12/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 1000W, Bethesda, MD 20814.

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

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

Notice of Qualification of RGNMCA AMHERST II, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/03/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/28/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Operate an executive suite business center.

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

SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Management of real estate.

Notice of Formation of BAUDELAIRE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 445 Park Ave., Ste. 1401, NY, NY 10012. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of GERHARD PRODUCTIONS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/03/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 207 W. 25th St. - 6th Fl., NY, NY 10001. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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

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

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF NEW YORK INDEX # 158597/22

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND AMENDED NOTICE

Plaintiffs designate New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the liened premises is situated. Tax Lien Foreclosure of: 310 West 52nd Street, SU 104, New York, NY 10019 (Block: 01042, Lot: 1419).

NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST and The Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian, Plaintiffs, against Wen Deng, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the verified complaint herein; Lu Tang, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the verified complaint herein; Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.; CitiMortgage, Inc.; The Board of Managers of 310 W. 52nd St. Condominium; Forte Express Plumbing & Heating Inc.; CCG Construction LLC; DNJ Industries Inc.; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; United States of America; and "JOHN DOE #1" through "JOHN DOE #100", inclusive the last 100 names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiffs, it being intended to designate fee owners, tenants or occupants of the liened premises and/or persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the liened premises described in the complaint, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint herein. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the attorney for the Plaintiffs within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where is made in any other manner than personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT. THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Tax Lien pursuant to: (1) a Tax Lien pursuant to a Certificate recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York on August 23, 2018 in CRFN: 2018000284174; and (2) a Tax Lien pursuant to a Certificate recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York on March 4, 2022, in CRFN: 2022000097158, both liens covering premises known as 310 West 52nd Street, SU 104, New York, NY 10019 (Block: 01042, Lot: 1419). The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the tax lien described above. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT To the above named defendants: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, J.S.C. of the State of New York, and filed along with the supporting papers in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York on 7/20/2023. This is an action to foreclose on a Tax Lien. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of the New York, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 01042 and Lot 1419, said premises known as 310 West 52nd Street, SU 104, New York, NY 10019. THE DELLO-IACONO LAW GROUP, P.C., Attorney for Plaintiffs, 312 Larkfield Road, Lower Level, East Northport, NY 11731, 631-861-3001. Our File # 20-000140

Notice of Qualification of SCOPUS GROUP, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/26/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/17/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secy. of State of the State of DE, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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

Princ. office of LLC: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of DE, John G. Townsend Bldg., Federal and Duke of York St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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

Notice of Qualification of TILLMAN GLOBAL HOLDINGS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/17/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/01/13. Princ. office of LLC: 152 W. 57th St., 27th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

110 SERVICES

This is to announce that the next meeting of the Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy II Charter School Board of Trustees will occur in person on Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, at 7:30 am. The meeting will transpire at 245 West 129th St, NY, NY.

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

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

110 SERVICES

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

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

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Black Firefighters

Continued from page 6

toward Brooklyn. Her boss ensured Wilson put her mask on. But as she hooked the straps across her face, everything went dark—covered in smoke. Wilson recalled praying.

When the smoke subsided, “We saw a lot of civilians, we saw other firefighters, but everybody was [in] distress,” said Wilson. “It was buildings on fire. We [saw] cars on fire. And then we just went into work mode.”

There was no water pressure in the nearby hydrants, so they had to venture into buildings to find another source, like water towers. Ultimately, a marine unit helped them get water through.

Once the building fires had been put out, Wilson needed to inform her family she was okay in a pre-smartphone era. She spied a payphone.

“I called my nephew’s grandmother because I remembered her number only because it was the last [digits of the] year [of] my youngest brother’s birthday,” she said. “I called her up and I said ‘Listen, I’m down at the Trade Center. Please tell my family that I’m okay, tell them that I love them, and just let them know that I’m here. But if I die, I died loving what I’m doing.”

Wilson is one of the many Black firefighters who responded to 9/11. But after such efforts, she says the world never gave them their due.

“I think the public as a whole disrespected the efforts made by not only [Black firefighters]

but the contribution of women,” said Wilson. “Most people, if you close their eyes and ask them what is the image of a firefighter, they will see a white man. The fact that the world focused in and visualized and interviewed and gave deals to and highlighted on TV—it was never a diverse field. We never knew about the 12 Black firefighters themselves on 9/11.”

Families remember Black firefighters killed in 9/11

Joining the FDNY was the first time Keithroy Maynard went his own way, recalled his twin brother Kevin. As kids, they attended the same junior high and the same high school. As adults, they both worked for Continental Airlines. They even finished each other’s sentences. But Keithroy, a key union organizer at LaGuardia Airport, wanted to be a role model in his neighborhood of East Flatbush, so he became a firefighter.

Keithroy Maynard became one of the 12 Black firefighters who died during 9/11. He was in the Vulcan Society.

“One of things I didn’t like was that we were just alike, but now that my brother is no longer here, [it’s] something that I cherish. You want to live your own independent life because you look just like someone and we were just alike,” said Kevin Maynard. “But now when I think about it, I wish I could go back to that point. For me, I look at a lot of stuff now that he is no longer here and I wish I didn’t really feel that way about it.”

Another fallen firefighter, Powell, has been

immortalized in a Bed-Stuy street naming. His sister, Monique, remembered him as a decent man who split his time between the military and fire department. And as quite the craftsman and the creative, when the two were children.

“Everybody was playing ‘skully’ at the time, [and] he created our own skully board, in the living room,” said Monique Powell. “Surprised my mother let him do it, but she did. My mother was very supportive, so he was always creating stuff.”

She also recalls their sibling fascination with “Mission Impossible” and subsequent attempts to remake gadgets and keys from the spy movie. It was just the two of them, so they did everything together.

“He [was] very kind, very caring,” she said. “I just miss him because he’s my brother. And I miss that support of him being my brother.”

For Leila Joseph, her brother Karl lives on through her work helping youngsters in their birthplace of Haiti.

“We started a foundation in memory of him for Haiti,” she said. “The reason we did it was also when the earthquake happened in Haiti— everybody was going down there. And I knew there was a group of firefighters in FDNY who actually went to Haiti.”

Through the FF. Karl Henri Joseph Educational Fund, Leila Joseph was able to start a school offering courses from kindergarten to grade four.

She remembers Karl Joseph as a bookworm—he was always studying. And he was family-oriented, staying at home despite earning enough to move out, so he could support their parents and siblings financially when their mother wasn’t working. These days, their younger brother also serves in the FDNY, re-

ceiving a promotion just recently.

According to former Vulcan Society president Dellon Morgan, many family members of the 12 firefighters moved out of New York City over the past 22 years, but Powell and Joseph, whose brothers worked together in Engine Company 207, both stayed, becoming support systems for one another.

“Through the years, [with] everything that has gone on, [the Powell family] has always been there for us,” said Joseph. “We all go to each other’s thing. They’ve been great. And we’ve gotten to know them.”

“Karl Joseph’s family has been very important in my life in the past few years—they look after me, they make sure I’m okay,” said Powell. “They let me go with them on family functions. I speak to Leila all the time.”

Kevin Maynard did not stay in New York City. He left for Houston, to serve as a firefighter in Keithroy’s memory. But there’s something about the Big Apple that he can’t let go. Maynard has refused to change his phone number and area code to keep some connection with the city. Whenever he returns to visit his mom, he swells with pride on seeing Black firefighters throughout town, followed by a wave of sadness.

“I see the fire trucks, and I see all these brothers on these fire trucks,” said Maynard. “It makes me feel sad that my brother’s not here to enjoy some of it.”

Ariama C. Long and Tandy Lau are Report for America corps members and write for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep them writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by clicking here: bit.ly/amnews1.

OP-ED Union

Continued from page 12

working conditions and overtime pay; vacations; job stability; and protections against unfair employment practices. They help balance the power of corporations and promote social justice and worker rights. Their benefits spill over into the larger economy for non-union workers. They promote stability, trust, and productivity in the workplace.

Union myths and facts

Ongoing myths about unions claim they are all corrupt. In the past, unions were corrupt, but union corruption is mostly a thing of the past. Unions are governed by democratic principles, unlike businesses. They elect their leaders in elections that are monitored by the NLRB.

Another myth is that union workers do not work hard. Again, this is far from the truth. They do their job: They are skillful and knowledgeable workers who get the job done safely and on time. In many cases, the real issue is poor management. Corporations often limit overtime, but when problems arise, they blame unions for asking for overtime. They say that unions are inflexible and against bonuses or merit pay.

Corporations also say that unions do not care about the companies they work for. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unions know who is paying their salaries; they simply want to share in the success. During the 1990s, there was a record number of givebacks by unions.

The facts are, though, that some unions were and still are racist. Until recently, many construction unions, police, and fire unions restricted Black membership. Many unions have no Black leadership, and Black people and other minorities have had difficulty with enrolling in apprenticeship programs.

Unions have been known to inflate the cost of infrastructure projects. Over-specialization has hampered projects like the Second Avenue Subway and East Side access. Teacher unions have resisted educational reforms; police unions have resisted reforms like wearing bodycams; and some public sector unions, like fire services, EMS, and government employees, could be more efficient.

Corporation myths and facts

Corporations reportedly hate unions. But it’s only U.S. companies that hate unions. Mercedes Benz and other companies that are not based here are all unionized in their home countries.

Sadly, U.S. corporations have waged a long, vigorous, and successful campaign

against private sector unions. They view it as a cost of doing business to hire the best anti-union consultants and lawyers to fight unions tooth and nail.

They have positioned themselves as taking over the moral high ground in the media ever since Ronald Reagan broke the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association when he fired striking air traffic controllers in 1981. Today they use Fox News to promote anti-union views. They have lobbied for and promoted an anti-union stance under “right-to-work” laws which allow free riders on union contracts. They have used corporate lobbying power to weaken union organizing laws, and they have labeled unions as anti-competitive while they seek monopolies themselves.

Interestingly, some corporations like unions. They like the rules, stability, and predictability of a union contract.

In summary, unions are good for society and the economy. The decline in union power or worker power relative to corporations is not good for society. There has to be some balance or it’s a race to the bottom.

Chris Lee is founder of the Black Economics and Business (BEBN) website, https://blackeconbiz.com, which is designed to promote Black economic success and happiness.

BIPOC mental health

Continued from page 12

well-known and documented. Therefore, it is time to normalize having this conversation. Ask your primary care practitioner and insurance provider for a referral to a BIPOC therapist. Many companies have Employee Assistant Programs (EAPs) that offer counseling services. Ask for a BIPOC counselor. The more we ask, the more we will see. Our racial and cultural experience intersects with all other areas of our lives, including ourmental health. As we become knowledgeable about the benefits of tending to our mental health, we must find the appropriate solutions.

National and NYC-based referral resources

• Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM)—virtual black therapist referral service:

https://beam.community/

• Black Mental Health Alliance—culturally relevant mental health referral service: https://blackmentalhealth.com/

• MPG Consulting; Mary Pender Greene, LCSW-R, CGP, president & CEO— NYC-based company with a vast network of BIPOC therapists in an extensive array of specialties; each referral vetted based on specific needs:

https://marypendergreene.com/

• NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy—NYCbased Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC) practice with many mental health professionals: https://www.nycaffirmativepsychotherapy.com/

• Therapy for Black Girls—has an extensive directory of BIPOC therapists and a podcast that explores Black women’s mental health issues: https://providers.therapyforblackgirls. com/

• Therapy for Black Men—organization with an extensive national directory of therapists for Black men: https://therapyforblackmen.org/therapists/

• Psychology Today—national media organization with Find a Black and AfricanAmerican Therapist referral service: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/ therapists/african-american

Claire Julian is the learning & branding coordinator for MPG Consulting, a company committed to eliminating bias and structural racism in the workplace that supports leaders and organizations serving diverse populations by ensuring they are prepared to provide transformative, culturally and racially attuned programmatic, clinical, and administrative services.

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David Ortiz says Red Sox traded perfect franchise player in Betts

By DAVID GRUBB, MLBbro Special to the AmNews

Mookie Betts had a homecoming of sorts, returning to Boston’s Fenway Park for the first time since the huge trade that landed him with the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2019 season.

The two teams meet at a time when their franchises are moving in opposite directions. The Red Sox are sliding down the American League East standings and staring at a long offseason, while Betts is once again in serious consideration for NL MVP after a dominant August in which he won National League Player of the month while becoming the third person since 1900 to hit .450, have 50 hits, and have 10 Bro bombs.

Given the current status of the two parties in question, the Boston fanbase had no choice but to wonder if their team could be in the middle of a dynasty if Betts remained in Boston.

Something that Mookie didn’t have a problem doing if Boston had “played ball."

“Even though I wasn’t really ready for (the trade to the Dodgers)—I know people don’t believe me but I wanted to stay in Boston my whole

career,” Betts told former teammate Brock Holt during his appearance via MassLive. “That was my life. I knew everybody there. It was a short flight to Nashville. It was perfect.”

Big Papi lost some love for Boston when they traded Mookie

David “Big Papi” Ortiz was never a guy who kept his opinion quiet about baseball discussions, and his thoughts about Betts resonated during the series last week.

When Ortiz played with Betts,

closing out the last two and a half seasons of his career, he knew back then that our MLBbro was not just an ordinary star for the era. He was a keeper—a franchise cornerstone that you simply didn’t trade away. During his appearance on Audacy’s podcast, “Baseball Isn’t Boring,” last weekend, Ortiz shared his thoughts about Boston letting Betts go and gave the former Red Sox star one of the greatest compliments a Hall of Famer can give to a fellow player.

“I think that the minute he went to the Dodgers, my emotions shifted a little bit because that guy, he was the perfect franchise boy for an organization like this one,” Ortiz said. “Mookie has the personality—I’m not going to even talk about the player because that’s off the charts—and he’s young, very mature. He’s the full package. He’s the full package.”

Our MLBbro put together a résumé to back up Ortiz’s statements. In six years in Boston, Betts

hit over .300 while Bro Bombing 139 times and driving in 470 runs in 794 games. He collected the AL MVP during the Red Sox World Series championship run in 2018.

Not long after, Betts was traded for reportedly “financial reasons,” which Ortiz understood. “We know it was a mistake. We know. We know because numbers don’t lie. Numbers don’t lie,” Ortiz said. “But that happens. This type of mistake happens sometimes and there’s not much you can do about it.”

Despite the Betts trade to the West Coast, Ortiz says he’s still close with the MLBbro.

“Mookie Betts is like my baby brother,” Ortiz said. “We always stay in touch. We always communicate. He’s too smart, because he’s always on the search and smart baseball players, that’s what they do because this game every day has something to show you. There’s something to learn every day.”

To begin the month of September, Betts was in the top 10 in batting average (.316), on-base percentage (.410), OPS (1.021), hits (156), home runs (36), doubles (36), RBI (94), and runs scored (114). He’s also played second base and shortstop, displaying his unrivaled versatility.

Comeback player Jason Heyward remains unsung hero for LA Dodgers

By CRAIG GRANT, MLBbros Special to the AmNews

MLBbros manager Dave Roberts and National League MVP candidate Mookie Betts have been leading the Dodgers to their ninth NL West division title in 10 years. However, one of the unsung heroes for the star-studded team in Los Angeles has been the veteran MLBbro Jason Heyward.

Heyward was signed by the Dodgers back in December of 2022 on a minor league contract.

The MLBbro veteran ended up making the opening day roster and has provided an invaluable contribution to the team. A 14year veteran with tons of playoff experience was sure to help any team, especially one such as the Dodgers with high expectations every postseason.

“They were the first team to call, the second team to call, and the third team to call,” Heyward said to USA Today Sports. “No one was willing to give [me] a major league contract, but they were at least

willing to give me a minor league deal and give me a chance.”

Just like in Chicago, where he helped bring the Cubs organization its first World Series in 108 years in 2016, Heyward has been a veteran presence in the Dodgers dugout and locker room, providing wisdom and experience to his teammates.

For that reason, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave Heyward the ultimate compliment: “He’s on the Mount Rushmore of favorite players I’ve been around,” Roberts said. “He has a new lease on life, a new freshness. He’s been a big part of this. I’m honored to be sharing the same uniform with him.”

The MLBbro is a former All-Star, five-time Gold Glove winner, and most importantly, a World Series champion. Adding someone of his pedigree, along with their other roster additions and culture, shows that the team is all in on another championship run,

Not only has Heyward been having a resurgent campaign,

but he is also heating up in the final stretch of the season. In the month of August, he batted over .300 and only struck out five times in 56 plate appearances. With 13 home runs, Heyward has hit more long balls this season than his last two seasons combined. His current batting average, .262, has not been this high since the 2018 season.

Some of Heyward’s rebirth can be attributed to being reunited with his former Atlanta Braves teammate Freddie Freeman. However, the major reason is his love for the game, and he has said that this year, he is enjoying playing the game again. His last few years in Chicago were met with disdain due to a hefty contract and underwhelming results.

Heyward still helped bring a championship to the Windy City amidst all the criticism, and is proving this year that he still has something left in the tank. Dave Roberts has placed the veteran in a role in which he can excel easily, and he has done that.

Outfielder Jason Heyward has experienced resurgent season for Los Angeles Dodgers, in first place in NL West (Kevin Reece, MLBbros.com photo)

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/infielder Mookie Betts is leading candidate for this season’s National League MVP award (Kevin Reece, MLBbro.com photo)

Americans leave their imprint on the US Open Courts

By B.L. Oliver Special to the AmNews

American tennis players have made an indelible mark at this US Open. Players such as Madison Keys, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz all made it to the singles quarterfinals.

The American contingent has been led by 19-year-old Coco Gauff, who reached the semifinals of the tournament by defeating Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia on Tuesday 6–0, 6–2. The No. 20 seed Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, knocked off No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek on Sunday to face Gauff in the quarterfinals.

“(I’m) so happy,” said Gauff after her victory. “Last year, I lost at the quarterfinal stage and I wanted to do better this year. I still have a long way to go, but I'm happy and I'm ready to go back to work for the next one. "

Guaff is the first American teenager to reach back-to-back US Open quarterfinals since Serena Williams (1999 and 2000) and is now the first American teenager to reach the semifinals since Serena.

"I mean, being in any sentence with her is great," Guaff said. "She is the greatest of all time. I'm nothing close to that yet, but I'm just honored to be in the same sentence.”

Gauff will meet No. 10 seed Karolina Muchova tonight.

She and her doubles partner, American Jessica Pegula, went up against Hsieh Su-wei and Wang Xinyu in the quarterfinals yesterday. Pegula, who was the No. 3 seed in

No. 6 seed CoCo Gauff, who will play No. 10 seed Karolina Muchova tonight in a semifinals match, is one of a group of American tennis players who have excelled at this year’s US Open (Margot

the singles competition, was eliminated by fellow American Madison Keys, seeded 20th, in the fourth round. Keys and No. 9 Marketa Vondrousova battled last night at Arthur Ashe Stadium for a spot in the semifinals.

The American men have also experienced considerable success at this year’s Open, including two who contested each other in the quarterfinals on Tuesday night. Unseed-

ed 20-year-old Ben Shelton advanced to the semifinals by upsetting No. 10 seed Frances Tiafoe 6–2, 3–6, 7–6. It was a historic pairing as it was the first time two Black men met in a US Open quarterfinal.

"I'm feeling like I left it all out here tonight," said Shelton, a native of Atlanta who played collegiately for the University of Florida. "An emotional battle,” he continued.

“Thanks to all you guys for staying so late. Hell of an atmosphere. And thanks for pushing me over the line."

Shelton reached this year’s Australian Open as well and will take on No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic, arguably the greatest men’s player of all time, in the semifinals. Djokovic bested American Taylor Fritz, the No. 9 seed, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 on Tuesday.

Liberty head to the playoffs in a winning state of mind

By LOIS ELFMAN

Special to the AmNews

Even with their playoff spot secure and their seed at or near the top locked in, the New York Liberty are sustaining their focus as regular season WNBA play heads to the finish. Last Friday, the Liberty celebrated its first West Indian Night, developed in recognition of Jonquel Jones’s Bahamian roots. The team marked the night with an 89–58 thrashing of the Connecticut Sun before another sellout crowd at Barclays Center.

The Liberty then headed out to the Windy City, taking on the Chicago Sky. New York increased its best-ever winning record with an 86–69 victory. The two victories were achieved despite the absence of Sabrina Ionescu, who was out with a calf injury, and some rough moments. The game marked the 33rd time this season

that the Liberty finished with 20plus assists: a new WNBA singleseason record.

New York was 30–7 and had the second-best record in the league behind the Las Vegas Aces as of Tuesday when they met up with the Dallas Wings on the road.

Four Liberty players scored in double figures, among them guard/forward Jocelyn Willoughby, a New Jersey native, who came off the bench for 10 points and four rebounds. “Jocelyn had great minutes for us today; I think that was a big turning point for us,” said Courtney Vandersloot, who had 20 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds in the win over the Sky.

Head coach Sandy Brondello noted that Willoughby, who hasn’t seen a lot of minutes this season, stayed ready for the opportunity to prove herself.

“Came on and executed perfectly,” said Brondello. “Took

the shots when she was open, played really great defense, and that’s what we expect of her. I see what we need out there. We have total trust [that] if we do put her out there, she’ll play really hard.

“This team is tough,” she added. “It’s way more fun when we [get] back to it. It wasn’t as much fun early, but it’s a good game for us to have some adversity like that heading into the playoffs. Being able to claw our way out and get a really good win.”

The Liberty host the Los Angeles Sparks, who are fighting for a playoff spot, tonight at the Barclays Center. They will end the regular season by playing the Washington Mystics on Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn in their annual Fan Appreciation game. The final playoff spots for the rest of the league probably won’t be decided until after all regular season games are played.

Jordan photo)

Reserve guard Jocelyn Willoughby was a key contributor, scoring 10 points, in Liberty’s 86-69 win over Chicago Sky on Sunday (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty photo)

Iona women’s volleyball gains momentum

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

After working hard to find its groove, the volleyball team at Iona University scored a huge win over Georgetown University at last weekend’s VCU Classic. Secondyear head coach Andy Mueller is pleased with the intensity and focus the team displayed. Now 2–5 overall, the Gaels are looking toward more success.

“We had a really, really nice win over a strong Georgetown team,” said Mueller. “We have our toughest opponent and the most insurmountable odds stacked against us, so of course, we win that…This was one of those matches that makes you feel, ‘This is why I continue; it’s matches like today.’”

Mueller is well known on the New York City volleyball scene, having previously served as an assistant coach at St. Francis College and Long Island University, as well as working with a high-profile club program. He was hired shortly before the 2022 fall season and found his coaching philosophy a good fit for Iona.

“The things that I already stood for happened to be what they wanted,” said Mueller. “The athletes that were in the program last year when I first got here—

they were the type of athletes and young adults that I hoped to train. They take a lot of accountability and responsibility, not just for what they do on the volleyball court, but in the classroom, in the community, as a whole.”

It’s a plus that the student-athletes are able to live a more normal college existence. When Mueller first arrived, he saw that the upperclasswomen had grown weary from the rigid restrictions and meager results due to the pandemic. Having a good season in 2022 put the team back on track. They capitalized on other teams underestimating them, but this year, people are coming for them, so they have to be ready.

“It’s getting back to having fun,” Mueller said. “I’m a serious guy. I love my job and I have an incredible amount of passion for my job, but I want to joke around in the gym and laugh. I know when it’s time to have fun and when it’s time to take care of business. I’m having the most fun when we’re winning, so if we can win more, then we will all have a lot of fun.”

Starting tonight, the Gaels are hosting the Iona Volleyball Tournament, which will also feature Fordham University, LIU, and Boston College. Conference play starts on Sept. 16.

Hampton tops Grambling in the Brick City Classic

By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

HBCUs Grambling State University and Hampton University battled in the Brick City Classic at Red Bull Arena —home of the Red Bulls Major League Soccer team —this past Saturday in Harrison, New Jersey.

Hampton Pirates quarterback Christopher Zellous was 14 of 15 for 155 yards throwing and ran 15 times for 114 yards to lead his team to the 35-31 win. Running back Darran Butts had 103 yards rushing, highlighted by a 40-yard touchdown.

Grambling's Myles Crawley was 25-of-38 for 311 yards, while receiver Lyndon Rash caught eight passes, scoring one touchdown.

Hampton has won its last six games against Grambling.

Shané Harris, Prudential’s vice president and head of social responsibility, presented the trophy to Hampton.

"On behalf of Prudential, I am thrilled to present Hampton University with the winning trophy from today’s game,” she said.

HBCUs are critical to Prudential’s vision to be a global leader in expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security, and HBCUs are a crucial component in building generational Black wealth.

“That is why we at Prudential were excited to sign on as the title sponsor for the Brick City HBCU Kickoff Classic.

“And we are just getting started,” expanded Harris. “We have a multipronged strategy to improve the financial health of HBCU students and families, strengthen the capacity and resiliency of HBCU institutions, and position Prudential as an employer of choice for HBCU graduates.”

HBCU battles aren't just about what happens on the field of play. The bands of both Grambling State and Hampton, accompanied by cheerleaders, played outside of the stadium, to the delight of alumni and fans.

More HBCU football returns to the area as Morehouse College will take on Albany State University at MetLife Stadium Saturday, Sept. 16.

Hampton University quarterback Christopher Zellous led the Pirates to a 35-31 win over Grambling State University in the Brick City Classic this past Saturday. (Chris Brown, Breezyshots photo)

Freshman middle blocker/right-side hitter Ezzie Thompson

Iona senior setter Tamara Pichardo (Iona Athletics photos)

Unseeded Shelton outlasts Tiafoe to surge into the US Open semifinals Sports

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

On an almost unbearably humid Tuesday night in front of a packed and energized crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, unseeded Ben Shelton upset No. 10 seed Frances Tiafoe 6–2, 3–6, 7–6 (7), 6–2 to advance to the 2023 US Open semifinals.

With the win, the 20-year-old Shelton became the youngest man from the United States to reach a US Open semifinals since Michael Chang accomplished the feat at the age of 20 in 1992.

The match between Shelton and Tiafoe was also historic for another reason. Facing off against each other in a stadium named for Arthur Ashe, the only Black man ever to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open, the meeting was the first US Open quarterfinal between Black men in the Open era.

Leading up to the match, Tiafoe reflectively expressed to the media, “Two people of color playing in the quarterfinals ...It’s a pretty monumental moment.”

The No. 10 seed Tiafoe was the presumed favorite, having dropped just one set at the

tournament before Tuesday night. However, Shelton, whose powerful serve and impressive forehand helped propel him from outside the Top 100 last year to the No. 47 ranked player in the world, displayed the skills to take down Tiafoe in his runup to Tuesday’s quarterfinals match.

Speaking with reporters early in the week, Tiafoe, from Hyattsville, Maryland, assessed

his friend and opponent.

“It’s a big match. He’s Bugs Bunny. He’s got crazy energy, endless energy,” said Tiafoe. “He’s going to come after me, and I’m going to come after him. It’s going to be a great battle, we’re going to compete really hard.”

And they went at it. Shelton, a native of Atlanta, put his abilities on full display as the lefthander and Tiafoe battled back and

forth, both with huge serves and blistering returns. Ultimately, however, a powerful return by Shelton to save a set point in a pivotal third-set tiebreaker, followed by two missed shots by Tiafoe, allowed Shelton to win the set and prevent Tiafoe from taking a two-sets-to-one lead. Shelton broke Tiafoe to begin the fourth set and marched on to victory.

In his post-match on-court interview, Shelton said, “I’m feeling like I left it all out here tonight… An emotional battle. Thanks to all you guys for staying so late. Hell of an atmosphere. And thanks for pushing me over the line.”

Shelton’s victory moved him into the top 20 in the men’s world singles ranking. He will face No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic this Friday in the US Open semifinals. Djokovic will be appearing in his record 47th Grand Slam semifinals match and has won 23 Grand Slam titles, the most all-time by a men’s player.

Earlier during Tuesday’s session, No. 6 seed Coco Gauff dominated No. 20 seed Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, 6–0, 6–2, to reach her first US Open semifinal at just age 19. Next up for Gauff is No. 10 seed Karolína Muchová tonight.

Jets and Giants begin the season with high expectations

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

The dress rehearsals are over.

From this point on, each of the Jets and Giants 17 regular season games will be extremely consequential. Both begin Week 1 playing nationally televised primetime games against division rivals expected to contend for the Super Bowl.

The Giants face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. and the Jets play the Buffalo Bills on Monday at 8:15 p.m. Both games will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The early part of the schedule for the Jets and Giants will be critical determinants of their postseason goals. In addition to the Bills, the Jets will play the Cowboys (Week 2), New England Patriots (Week 3), defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs (Week 4) and reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, who lost to the Chiefs 38–35 in last season’s Super Bowl, Week 6.

Five of the Giants first six opponents are teams that made the playoffs last season. Based on the combined winning percentages of NFL teams last season, the Giants are tied with the Patriots and Cowboys for

the third toughest schedule in the league this season. So by mid-October both the Jets and the Giants will already have gone through what now appears to be a perilous gauntlet.

“I think the biggest thing in the early parts of the year for games is making sure that you are really focused on the things that you can control,” said Giants head coach Brian

Daboll to the media on Tuesday via Giants. com, “which is your execution of the plays, whether it's an offensive play or the defensive looks that we get out here and really focusing on your fundamentals, your techniques, your communication, [and] all the things that help you play well.

“That puts even more of a premium on it in the early part of the season because,

again, you usually have a log of a few games here in the beginning part of the year after, call it, October. We are going to have to do a good job of executing our stuff against a really good team.”

Daboll is acutely aware that attention to detail and limiting costly mental mistakes will be crucial to his team avoiding an under .500 start after completing the early six-week stretch.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas, entering his fifth season as the team’s GM, who was part of Super Bowl-winning teams with the Philadelphia Eagles (vice president of player personnel) and Baltimore Ravens (scout), said the Jets are embracing being projected as a lofty contender.

“We're not running or hiding from any expectations that are out there,” Douglas said last week via Jets.com. "I think when the dust settles, you want to be in the conversation as one of those teams that can compete for a Super Bowl. You get a ticket into the dance and anything can happen.

“… But we're really not looking any further than the Buffalo Bills. Three-time defending AFC East champions are coming into MetLife and we know what kind of task that is to compete against them.”

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley will be critically important to their teams’ respective playoff goals this season (Jets.com photo, Giants.com photo)

Aaron Rodgers

Unseeded 20-year-old Ben Shelton upset No. 10 seed Frances Tiafoe on Tuesday at the US Open to advance to tomorrow’s semifinal match against No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic (Margot Jordan photo)

Ben Shelton

Frances Tiafoe

Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley