The AmsterdamNewsassumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Photographs and manuscripts become the property of The Amsterdam News. Published weekly. Periodicals Class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to NYAmsterdamNews,2340 Frederick Douglass Blvd., New York, NY 10027.
CM Hanif demands M/WBE program include Middle Eastern & North African businesses
Councilmember Shahana Hanif and Assemblymember Jessica GonzálezRojas with Middle Eastern & North African (MENA) advocates and business owners at a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 10. (Ariama C. Long photo)
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
Middle Eastern and North African (MENA)
Americans are considered white in terms of racial classification under the U.S. Census, an identity that many haven’t necessarily agreed with for decades. Because of New York’s huge population of MENA immigrants and descendants, more advocates and business owners are pushing to be included in parity programs usually aimed at bolstering Black and Hispanic communities.
The 2020 Census was the first census to specifically solicit MENA responses. Its count concluded that California, Michigan
and New York now have the largest MENA populations. Similarly, the Census has struggled with accurate Hispanic and Latino racial and ethnic distinctions in the past, but reported a huge increase in population numbers in the last count.
The MENA region covers an expansive area from Africa to the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan in Central Asia to the Mediterranean. It includes many Arabic and Islamic countries like Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the West Bank and Gaza.
MENA immigrants started coming to the
states in the late 1800s and the U.S. imposed racial restrictions on who could become citizens up until 1952. Because of rampant and entrenched “anti-Blackness,” the earliest generations of MENA immigrants viewed an assimilation into American “whiteness” as the path towards full citizenship, reported NPR. This viewpoint largely shifted after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City spurred a wave of Islamophobia against Arabs and Muslims, said NPR. In 2022, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued an order to revise the Race and Ethnicity Standards or Directive No. 15, which would update how the
See MENA on page 29
Randall’s Island HERRC to close next year. Immigration advocates say it was never successful.
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
New York City officials announced the impending closure of the Randall’s Island Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center (HERRC) next February, which received a mix of praise and criticism. Mayor Eric Adams considered it a success in handling a growing influx of migrants and asylum seekers, while immigration advocates slammed it as a failure.
for
MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS INFORMATION
The center was originally built to house migrants and asylum seekers, as the city saw an influx of thousands of new arrivals in recent years. As of August 2024, more than 210,000 migrants and asylum seekers have come to the city; the influx has eased since President Joe Biden decided to cap the number of asylum migrants earlier this year, after months and years of backlash from New York State and border states. Biden had adamantly advocated for the bipartisan Senate border security bill but it failed to pass with lawmakers twice.
“We’re not out of the woods yet, but make no mistake, thanks in large part to our smart management strategies and successful advocacy, we have turned the corner on this crisis,” Adams said in a statement. “We’re not scrambling every day to open new shelters — we’re talking about closing them. We’re not talking
about how much we’re spending — we’re talking about how much we’ve saved. And thanks to today’s announcement, in a few months, we’ll be talking about how much we’re investing in restoring Randall’s Island’s incredible fields and parks for community use.”
Migrants from Latin America, Africa, and Asia first arrived in the city in Spring 2022, sent north from southern border states on buses and planes. This kicked off a flurry of activity
from advocate groups and the city, struggling to handle the waves of new people.
Over the last two years, the city purchased tickets to help migrants reach other cities or relatives, built HERRC structures to house people, opened hotels that were still shuttered from the pandemic for families, enrolled their children in schools; and created asylum seeker application help centers to aid
See HERRC on page 43
Housing facilities
asylum seekers on Randall’s Island on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. (Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office)
Protect your home: BK’s BP Reynoso offers deed theft protection workshop
By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is putting deed theft prevention at the top of his list of priorities.
In a borough where the housing market has been bursting at the seams for more than a decade, there has been a corresponding increase in property fraud scams and forcible attempts to steal home titles, or deeds that prove evidence of ownership, away from homeowners. Deed theft cases in Central Brooklyn have reached alarming heights and are taking a toll on area Black homeowners, who often feel they have no trusted source they can turn to for help.
That’s why the borough president organized a deed theft-prevention workshop at Medgar Evers College on Tuesday night, Oct. 16. The event featured discussions about estate planning, the availability of legal resources, and examples of how deed theft cases have played out in the borough.
“[Alt]hough it is like a very long and painful road, it does sometimes lead to success,” said Jenny Eisenberg, a senior staff attorney in the Foreclosure Prevention Project at Brooklyn Legal Services, of efforts to deal with deed theft. She assured attendees who might be hesitant about contacting some of the agencies represented at the workshop for help. Ultimately, she said, “…every single one of you has managed to hang onto a house in Brooklyn through how many millions of crises and threats and predatory loans and racist lenders and crazy investors. If you’ve hung onto your house for this long, trust your instincts because you’re really going to be your own best advocate.”
Deed theft has been the number one issue that people are coming to complain about at the Brooklyn borough president’s office, the AmNews was told. The workshop was the first of many planned responses to private conversations Reynoso has had with constituents.
Trump’s women woes continue
By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews
“Homeownership is one of the most important pathways to building and sustaining wealth,” Reynoso told those attending the workshop. “When deed theft scammers target communities like Central Brooklyn, they are trying to displace our neighbors and lock Black and Brown families out of homes they’ve nourished for generations. Events like our Deed Theft Workshop give homeowners the tools they need to remain in their homes and protect themselves from this preda-
tory practice. Knowledge is power and I’m thankful to all the partners who made this day possible.”
One homeowner, who did not want to have her name published, said, “I think that this was one of the most thorough presentations on deed theft that I have seen in a long time. I don’t think it is perfect, but you begin here first.” The vast amounts of money and influence that investors have in New York City, particularly in Brooklyn, means that Black homeowners will continue to be harassed,
and usually without any repercussions, she said, “so I appreciate this—that these kinds of steps are being taken. We’ll see where it leads.”
After the presentations, participants were able to talk with representatives from the Kings County District Attorney’s office, NYC Department of Finance, Brooklyn Legal Services, nonprofit financial counseling firm Grow Brooklyn, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and NYC Department of Buildings.
As the presidential race tightens in the final weeks leading up to Nov. 5, Trump’s grip on reality becomes increasingly looser. Many pundits predicted that he would become more unhinged as the race neared the end, and that’s certainly the case — particularly with respect to his attacks and accusations about women. Vice President Harris is unsurprisingly at the top of his list of insults and denigrations.
During a recent assembly of big spenders, Trump unleashed a rant on Harris, calling her “retarded,” a follow-up to his previous slur of “mentally impaired.”
Some of the attacks on Harris may have been prompted by his insufficient fundraising, which daily shows a widening gap to Harris’s donor base.
It seems incongruous that a candidate not faring well with women voters, according to several polls, would repeatedly degrade them as he did recently with comedian and actress Whoopi Goldberg, calling her “filthy, dirty and disgusting.” Goldberg, never at a loss for words, retorted “you hired me four times.”
Trump received an equally tart response from Maine Gov. Janet Mills, after he referred to her as “he” and “him” during a rambling speech to supporters earlier this week. Mills delivered her response on X, writing that Trump “better get used to recognizing women. He’s about to get beat by one.”
Depending on your poll choice, Trump is up by a margin of error or trailing Harris by the same margin. If Trump is having his trouble with women, Harris is having hers with men, including Black men. And the acrimony has intensified lately with former President Barack Obama on the campaign trail for her, assailing Black men who, according to some polls, are not supporting her to the extent that Black women are. Some of his remarks harken back to his own campaign when he chastised young Black men, demanding they pull their pants up.
In a year of bizarre developments in this presidential race, we haven’t even exhausted October, and its usual critical surprises.
Homeowners gathered for deed theft workshop at Brooklyn’s Medgar Evers College. (Karen Juanita Carrillo photo)
Medgar Evers College’s Dubois Bunche Center for Public Policy chart shows loss of economic wealth in neighborhoods where homes have been lost to deed theft. (Brooklyn Borough President’s office photo)
Harris works to energize Black male voters while Trump continues to attack immigration policy
By WILL WEISSERT, COLLEEN LONG and BILL BARROW Associated Press
DETROIT — Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris warned Tuesday that Republican Donald Trump would “institutionalize” harsh policing tactics that disproportionately affect Black men, while Trump blamed Harris’ immigration policies for “devastating” Black and Latino communities.
“Any African American or Hispanic that votes for Kamala ... you’ve got to have your head examined, because they are really screwing you,” Trump said of Harris, who is African American, at an evening rally in Georgia.
Earlier, during a radio town hall moderated by Charlamagne tha God, Harris promised to work to decriminalize marijuana, which accounts for arrests that also have a disproportionate impact on Black men. And she acknowledged that racial disparities and bias exist in everyday life for Black people — in home ownership, health care, economic prosperity, and even voting.
Just 21 days before the final votes are cast in the 2024 presidential season, Harris and Trump are scrambling to win over Black voters, women, and other key constituencies in what looks to be a razor-tight election.
Harris, a daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, hopes to maintain her party’s traditional advantage with voters of color, while Trump is showing modest signs of momentum among Black men in particular.
A small shift among any group could swing the election.
Harris told Charlamagne that despite the persistence of racial bias, no one has a pass to sit out the election.
“We should never sit back and say, ‘OK, I’m not going to vote because everything hasn’t been solved,’” she said. “This is a margin-of-error race. It’s tight. I’m going to win. I’m going to win, but it’s tight.”
The vice president took questions that listeners called in, but also from a series of people who joined in-studio, including Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr., pastor of Detroit’s Triumph Church.
When asked about reparations, or potential government payments to the descendants of enslaved people, Harris said the notion “has to be studied, there’s no question about that.” It’s a position she’s taken before, but which Trump’s campaign immediately pounced on, saying the vice president was “open” to payments that could cost billions.
Trump has called for a return to “proven crime fighting methods, including stop and frisk.” The tactic, deployed by the New York City Police Department, involved stopping, questioning, and sometimes frisking people deemed “reasonably suspicious.” It dispro-
portionately affected Black and Hispanic men, and in 2013 the policy was found to have violated the U.S. Constitution.
Harris said part of her challenge is that Trump’s campaign is “trying to scare people away because otherwise they know they have nothing to run on. Ask Donald Trump what is his plan for Black America. Ask him.”
Trump did not respond to Harris’ criticism during multiple stops Tuesday, including a Fox News town hall with an all-female audience and a nighttime rally in Atlanta, where he railed against Democrats and the media and focused especially on immigrants in the country illegally.
He insisted that immigrants are “devastating” people of color by taking their jobs. He called President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris’ border policies a “complete and total betrayal of African American communities and Hispanic communities.”
During the town hall the former president sidestepped questions about the erosion of abortion rights, leaning instead into the nation’s culture wars by vowing to ban male-born athletes from competing in women’s sports.
Pressed on how he would enforce a ban, Trump responded: “You just ban it. President bans. You just don’t let it happen.”
Trump also stood by his recent description of his political opponents as “the enemy within” — rhetoric that evokes authoritarian regimes.
Earlier, Harris stopped by a Black-owned art gallery, joined by actors Don Cheadle, Delroy Lindo, and Detroit native Cornelius Smith Jr., for a conversation with Black men focused on entrepreneurship.
Harris this week announced a series of new proposals dubbed the “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men,” meant to offer Black men more economic advantages — including providing forgivable business loans of up to $20,000 for entrepreneurs and creating more apprenticeships. The plans would also support the study of sickle cell and other diseases more common in Black men.
The focus on Black men sharpened last week when former President Barack Obama campaigned for Harris in Pittsburgh and said he wanted to speak “some truths” to Black male voters, suggesting some “ just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president.”
The vice president’s campaign says it doesn’t believe Black men will flip in large numbers to supporting Trump, especially after strongly backing Democrat Joe Biden, with Harris as his running mate, in 2020. They are more concerned about a measurable percentage of Black males opting not to vote at all.
Meanwhile, Harris’ support among women has generally been solid since she took over the top of the Democratic ticket, but Trump is aiming to narrow the margins on Election Day. That could be tough since
the former president has seen his support among women, especially in the suburbs of many key swing states, soften since his term in the White House.
A September AP-NORC poll found more than half of registered voters who are women have a somewhat or very favorable view of Harris, while only about one-third have a favorable view of Trump. To reverse the trend, Trump has sought to cast himself as being able to personally shield women from various threats.
“You will be protected, and I will be your protector,” Trump said at a September rally. He’s also suggested that, should he win, women will no longer have a reason to think about abortion, after three Supreme Court judges that he appointed helped in 2022 to overturn the landmark ruling.
Harris said Tuesday that it was comical for Trump to consider himself a president for women, particularly as maternal mortality is rising and roughly one in three women live in states with increasingly restrictive abortion bans.
“And they want to strut around and say this is in the best interest of women and children? And they have been silent on Black maternal mortality?” she asked.
Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Steve Peoples in New York, Jill Colvin in Chicago and Jeff Amy in Atlanta contributed to this report.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, participates in an interview with Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of iHeartMedia’s morning show The Breakfast Club, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Iyana Titus’s journey toward making NYC Parks more inclusive
By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member
The NYC Parks & Recreation assistant commissioner of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, arrived in the Big Apple with nothing but a thousand-dollar loan from her grandmother. An internship in Harlem introduced Iyana Titus, then a Detroit-born, Texasreared law student, to New York City.
“One of the pieces of advice that an attorney gave me was to take the bar [exam] in a place where you see yourself living, and I saw myself in New York City,” Titus recalled.
“To be sort of like a Southern girl [and] kind of Midwest girl in New York City was extremely exciting to me. The summer internship was a little trial run for me to see if I could actually do it and be okay.”
One thing led to another and she ended up starting with the parks department as a deputy equal employment opportunity officer. Back then, she had only a formative understanding of employment law.
Titus later joined the Department of Homeless Services before moving to Amsterdam (the city in the Netherlands, not the avenue) for her master’s degree, specifically researching diversity management in the Dutch police force.
But Titus remained tethered to New York City. After managing employee relations for an airline company, she was hired by Borough
NYC Parks ultimately drew her back after the assistant commissioner position opened up.
more inclusive workplace.
“We’ve been starting to do a lot more restorative practices,” Titus said. “I still conduct trainings, I still investigate discrimination complaints, but we’re also just adding in other programmatic pieces…we’re saying we want to go beyond that, and we want people to really try to understand each other.”
Outside of work, Titus prides herself as a minister’s daughter and credits her religious background in preparing her for the “complexities of humans.” Through weddings, funerals, and everything in between, she’s seen people at their best and their worst.
She also lends her time as a mediator for the U.S. District Court-Southern District of New York and remains active with the New York Bar Association. Outside of work, Titus enjoys running, traveling, and gardening—she says conflict resolution is hard work, so leaving time for herself is crucial.
“You can’t be a person who’s in conflict and you’re trying to resolve conflict,” she said. “It’s hard, and because that work is hard, you have to be centered. You have to nourish your soul. You have to have your head on straight.”
remains an adjunct at the City University of New York (CUNY) school to this day, but
The role is a balancing act of compliance and conflict resolution, in the name of creating a
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who 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.
of Manhattan Community College as chief diversity officer.
She
Iyana Titus (Gregg McQueen/NYC Parks)
Biden’s executive clemency record is ‘anemic’ in age of capital punishment
By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member
President Joe Biden could not spare Marcellus Williams from being executed by the state of Missouri last month despite potentially exonerating evidence. Nor can he halt the upcoming execution of Robert Roberson in Texas on Oct. 17, stemming from a nowdebunked criminal science, because nonfederal sentences like those of Williams and Roberson remain in the hands of governors. But Biden can grant clemency to the likes of Rejon Taylor, who is on federal death row in Terre Haute, Indiana, for the 2003 murder of restaurateur Guy Luck. Taylor’s attorney, Kelley Henry, chief of the Federal Public Defender Capital Habeas Unit in Nashville, Tennessee, says she applied for clemency on Taylor’s behalf. That is a routine practice for a capital defense lawyer dealing with a chief executive in their final term, but she believes there is nothing routine about her client.
“Rejon is in the most restrictive environment that you can imagine, and yet has flourished — it is amazing,” said Henry over the phone. “I give him so much credit for having to raise himself in prison, because he is in solitary confinement on federal death row, and the deprivation is as awful as you can imagine. Yet he has been able to maintain a clear disciplinary record, which is extraordinary…he has such compassion for every person who was on federal death row.
“He ministered to all of the men who were executed because, as a result of his conduct, he is allowed to be [an] orderly. He was the only one that the men who were being executed would have any access to.”
Henry said that as an orderly, Taylor lends an ear to his death row peers facing execution in their last minutes and handles postmortem affairs such as delivering messages and personal effects to their friends and families. He also developed into a prolific artist, writer, and poet, donating his works to galleries with proceeds going toward the venues and for causes like the Innocence Project. Unlike Williams, Taylor does not claim actual innocence. He “is not a guy, who in any way, wants to justify what happened,” said Henry. However, clemency is based on grace and mercy, not exoneration. In fact, those on death row aren’t returned to the community after their sentences are commuted and instead serve out a life sentence without parole even when the defendant may be innocent.
Federal death penalty under Biden and his predecessors
Merrick Garland swiftly paused federal executions in 2021 after his appointment by Biden as U.S. attorney general. His famous prosecution of Oklahoma City
bomber Timothy McVeigh led to the domestic terrorist’s execution in 2001, but current disparities led him to halt the practice. People of color make up 55% of the entirely male 40-person federal death row and 38% are Black — as opposed to just 13% of the American population — including Taylor.
While people of color are overrepresented on death row, the race of the victim — rather than the defendant — is a more consistent determinant in death-eligible cases: 75% of executions stem from a white person’s murder, even though more Black people are murdered each year.
After the first George W. Bush term, 17 years passed without a federal execution due to lethal injection drug protocol litigation. Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, ended that streak, putting 13 people to death starting in his last six months in office. Six of those occurred between Trump’s election loss and Biden’s inauguration, including that of Corey Johnson, whose low IQ came into question: Executing someone with an intellectual disability violates the Constitution.
Six of the seven people of color executed in the roughly three-month span were Black, with the remaining person a member of the Navajo Nation.
Even with Garland halting executions,
the next administration can easily resume capital punishment. And Trump, of course, is on the ballot again. Clemency becomes even more pressing for those sitting on federal death row if 45 becomes 47 this November, given his track record.
Presidents have only commuted three death penalty sentences throughout history. Two came from Obama.
“This administration has not executed anyone, and has sought fewer death sentences at trial, but this Justice Department is still fighting relief in every single case on the row, including in cases of race discrimination or where the prisoner is intellectually disabled, and thus ushering them all closer to execution,” said Ruth Friedman, director of the Federal Capital Habeas Project, via email.
What distinguishes a state and federal capital offense can be quite arbitrary, given the stakes. High-profile killers like McVeigh or mass shooter Dylann Roof often dominate public attention for federal death row cases, but lesser known defendants like Taylor go through the same system.
“Historically, those crimes for which the federal government could seek a death sentence were limited to crimes that were specifically narrow in scope and and were related to a strong federal interest…like a terrorism offense,” said Robin Maher, ex-
ecutive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. “But the expansion of the federal death penalty greatly expanded the number of federal crimes for which a death sentence was possible.
“It included a number of crimes that were drug crimes that would ordinarily have been charged locally, but were raised to the federal level as drug-trafficking crimes. And they also saw, sort of disturbingly, that those offenses were generally used against people of color in the late ’90s.”
Carjacking can elevate a local murder charge into a federal prosecution, as in Taylor’s case — not because of the crime’s severity or brutality, but because vehicles are assembled from parts across the country and murders violating interstate commerce fall under federal jurisdiction. Killing someone on federal property means federal prosecution, even if state land is just a few feet away.
Biden’s ‘anemic’ clemency record
While commuting federal death row sentences remains exceedingly rare among all presidencies, Biden’s broad clemency record currently does not inspire confidence: Only 25 people have been pardoned (or granted complete forgiveness) since he took office in 2021. Another 131 sentences were commuted or reduced in length (or severity in death penalty cases).
According to Rachel Barkow, an NYU law professor, both numbers are particularly disheartening, given Biden’s criminal justice reform promises after progressive criticism of his track record as a “toughon-crime” Democratic senator who pushed anti-drug legislation in the 1980s and ’90s.
“It’s been disappointing to see that he really hasn’t done much to show that he’s got a different framework, because he does have this power where he could quite literally fix some of the very same sentences that were caused by the legislation he supported by giving commutations, because people wouldn’t get those sentences to go in many cases,” said Barkow over the phone. “But he just hasn’t exercised the power.”
Reforming the clemency process was also proposed in the Biden-Sanders Unity Plan, another attempt to court otherwise ambivalent progressive voters. Yet Biden never followed through, according to Barkow. Arguably, his biggest action was the simple marijuana conviction categorical pardon, which did not free a single person from prison. Meanwhile, people remain locked up for excessive drug sentences today.
“With Biden, there’s a certain amount of difficulty engaging [with] what he’s done, because he’s done a couple of broad mass clemencies that don’t deeply affect a lot of people,” See CLEMENCY on page 7
Federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, file)
said Mark Osler, professor of law at the University of St. Thomas-Minnesota. “If we pay attention to what’s the core federal clemency, which is people who filed a petition, followed the rules, got letters of support, and submitted it to the partner treaty, he’s been really anemic in his response to that.”
Osler, a former prosecutor, added that specifically, directly granting clemency “has the ability to be truly life-changing for people” and broad actions like Biden’s simple marijuana pardon proclamation “just doesn’t have that transformative effect.”
Don’t compare Biden and Trump’s clemency records
While Trump pardoned roughly 100 more people than Biden, Barkow said the two should not be compared. The ex-president’s numbers “definitely exaggerate the kind of the good he did with his clemency power,” she said, despite the highly publicized commutation (and later pardon) of Alice Johnson, a Black woman then serving a life sentence for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense.
Barkow pointed to Trump’s pardons and commutations for war criminals and personal allies as padding to his clemency record.
Instead, other Democratic presidents, like Obama and Bill Clinton, provide clearer benchmarks. Over his eight years in office, Obama pardoned 212 people and commuted 1,715 sentences. Clinton pardoned 396 people and commuted 61 sentences in his two terms.
“If you looked at President Obama’s clemency record, he was very much focused on racial disparities and people that got long sentences, and that is not what you would see in the Trump grants,” said Barkow. “There have been so few by Biden that it’s hard to say what he’s focused on. It’s just so minimal as to not really be a pattern.”
That is not to say every clemency order by a Democrat is welcomed by criminal justice reform advocates. Clinton’s pardon of white-collar fugitive Marc Rich particularly drew public outrage, including from another former Democratic president and recent centenarian: Jimmy Carter.
Due to political impact, Barkow does not expect any substantial pardons or commutations until after the election. Across the board, presidents exercise their clemency authorities most when leaving office.
With Biden dropping out of reelection, Vice President Kamala Harris is saying little about clemency in her presidential campaign. And for good reason.
“Even when someone is a deserving recipient, no voter really votes for somebody because they granted clemency,” said Barkow. “That’s just not the way our politics work. The reason for clemency is never really a political one.”
Applying for presidential clemency Osler said the long road to clemency usually starts from the individual putting together a petition. It first goes to an assistant in the U.S. Office of the Pardon Attorney, for consultation with the original prosecutors for an opinion. After gathering further information, the assistant will make a recommendation.
“The pardon attorney is going to have it in hand and is going to decide what [they think] the recommendation should be,” said Osler. “After that, it goes to the Office of
and “eventually nothing gets through.”
Nothing in the Code of Federal Regulations technically binds presidents to such a process — and as a result, Trump often skirted around the red tape without recourse.
The reforms by the Biden-Sanders Unity Plan proposed forming an independent board to review clemency applications, rather than channels like the Office of the Pardon Attorney, operated out of the U.S. Department of Justice, which also investigates and prosecutes all federal cases. The plan also recommended abolishing the federal death penalty.
The Office of the Pardon Attorney and the Biden administration did not respond to requests for comment.
Into the future
Henry said that while there’s a lot of red tape, that red tape is “designed to have fairness,” and she believes Biden and Garland will be fair. Getting their attention is the challenge.
“I feel like President Biden has had a lot on his plate, so I don’t get tangled up in rates of commutations,” said Henry. “This is something that I will do, and have done — I’ve been practicing for 34 years. When an executive leaves office, you request clemency, because you hope that you hope and pray that they will exercise clemency. That was the hope for President Obama, and I believe he only granted two death penalty commutations, and they were pretty easy ones to grant.
“I don’t know what President Biden will do, and I have stopped predicting what any executive will do. I just pray that he reads Rejon’s petition and is moved by it.”
Maher said there’s still time for Biden to do something meaningful for people on federal death row before he leaves office next January. While he cannot pardon the likes of Marcellus Williams, Emmanuel Littlejohn, or Robert Roberson, the president can influence how states approach executions through federal action.
“What we’re seeing is a real disconnect between what elected officials are doing in the state and what the American public wants them to do with respect to use of the death penalty,” she said. “We’ve seen concerns about fairness and racism in the death penalty increase and elected officials are still blindly scheduling executions without regard to these very serious concerns about use of the death penalty.
the Deputy Attorney General, first to a staffer and then the Deputy Attorney General. After that, it goes over to the White House Counsel — first the staffer reviews it — and then the White House Counsel reviews it. At some point over there, the Domestic Policy Council gets involved and is looking at [the petition], too.
“And so after all that, it goes to the president.”
All these individuals bring “different filters of what they’re looking for and what they care about” when combing over a clemency application, Osler said — enough filters
“Should the federal government do something meaningful regarding federal use of the death penalty, I think that would send a strong signal to the state, and perhaps serve as a model for the kind of reform that the American public is looking for.”
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who 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.
Rejon Taylor (Photos courtesy of Public Defender Kelley Henry)
National Action Network’s Triumph Awards a smash!
The National Action Network (NAN) held its “Triumph Awards” at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The Rev. Al Shapton celebrated his 70th Birthday and greeted guests Stepha-
nie McGraw, Robert DeNiro, Gladys Knight, Wynton Marsalis, and Carolyn “Cookie” Mason. Gov. Kathy Hochul was also on hand to present Sharpton with a plaque.
A street naming in honor of Helene Nomsa Brath: mother of activism
By DR. TYRENE WRIGHT, PH.D. Special to the AmNews
On September 28th, 2024, Helene Nomsa Brath received one of the city's highest honors: a street naming, installed at 112th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) in Harlem, outside her former residence and in the community she uplifted and lived in. Cinque Brath, son of Nomsa and Elombe Brath, proposed the idea to Yusef Salaam, city councilman of District 9, shortly after her passing on October 30th, 2023. Councilman Yusef Salaam, is one of the Exonerated Five, who Nomsa and Elombe Brath were instrumental in advocating for 35 years ago. Nomsa was specifically responsible for forming “Mother’s Love,” a group of women organized to address wrongfully accused Black male youth in New York City.
The story of the Central Park Five, now the Exonerated Five, and those who advocated for them is depicted in the No. 1 most-watched Netflix miniseries "When They See Us" (2019). In addition to actress Adepero Oduye's portrayal of Nomsa Brath in "When They See Us," her life and activism are the subjects of several documentaries and films, including "You Say You Want a Revolution: Records & Rebels 19661970" (2019) by UK director Emily Harris and "AJASS Pioneers of the Black is Beautiful Movement," the award-winning documentary by Louise Dente (2022). Harris' film was screened in the UK at the Victoria and Albert Museum in conjunction with
an exhibit by the same name, highlighting Nomsa Brath's prowess as a skilled organizer and activist. "AJASS: Pioneers of the Black is Beautiful Movement," produced and directed by Louise Dente, has received awards nationally and internationally and engages the full scope of African Jazz and Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) as an organization that had great social, cultural, and political implications in and beyond the Black community, still evidenced in contemporary society. However, this dynamic documentary is not the culmination of Louise Dente's work, which includes Helene Nomsa Brath. Ms. Dente is currently working on a new documentary, entitled "Nomsa Was Her Name," which will focus on Nomsa through the eyes of her friends and family, set to be released this fall.
The accolades accredited to Helene Nomsa Brath are extensive and include her early life as one of the original Grandassa Models, a modeling ensemble created by African Jazz and Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), founded by Elombe Brath and Kwame Brathwaite in 1956. The Black Arts Movement can be best understood in three waves; AJASS were pioneers of the second wave (1950-1970s) that swept the nation, invoking all aspects of the African aesthetic with music, motif, imagery, painting, and more. Initially, AJASS began by organizing and securing the African musical tradition and genre known as Jazz to Bronx communities. The production quickly expanded to include a modeling troupe called the
and original Grandassa model, has been prominently featured on numerous magazines and record albums, as well as replicated by community artists and exhibited at esteemed institutions, including The New York Historical Society, as part of the groundbreaking Black is Beautiful Tour, showcasing images by Kwame Brathwaite. An all-around natural beauty and representative of the African aesthetic, Nomsa Brath toured the nation with the Grandassa models, showcased in the "Naturally Shows: The Original African Coiffure." The Black is Beautiful Movement played an essential role in the positive transformation of the Black community nationally, raising collective self-esteem through artistic expression. Today, images of Nomsa Brath and the Grandassa models are a source of inspiration found in the aesthetic of contemporary clothing lines like Fenty, created by artist and singer Rihanna. Helene Nomsa Brath's impact extended well beyond her contributions to the Black is Beautiful Movement. Nomsa was an exceptional mother, a "mother of activism," as she created and worked with numerous educational committees and organizations. She served as president of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) and chair of the Parents Committee at two local public schools in Harlem. A diligent force in education reform, when she decided to homeschool her last two children, she added that agenda to her list
See STREET NAMING on page 39
Grandassa Models, who donned African attire, motif, and natural hair.
Nomsa Brath, a founding member
Helene Nomsa Brath (Photo courtesy of the family)
Gladys Knight and Rev. Al Sharpton
Shalic Mitchell, Rev. Sharpton, and Stephanie McGraw (Bill Moore photos)
Gov. Hochul and Rev. Al Sharpton
Abe Stark Steel Pan Band competes in Department of Aging talent show
By TANDY LAU
Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member
Every Tuesday and Friday, seniors from the Abe Stark Steel Pan Band gather to practice — a gathering for health, companionship and competition. Most recently, they performed in the NYC Department of Aging’s Talent is Timeless grand finale, a talent show for New Yorkers ages 65 and better at the United Palace Theater in Washington Heights last Thursday, Oct. 10.
They ultimately did not take home the gold, but they still showcased their musical chops and represented their home borough of Brooklyn. 13 older adults from various ethnic backgrounds make up the band.
“Almost all the Caribbean islands, including French-speaking and some Spanish-speaking islands, play the steel pan,” said band member Patricia Williams. “It’s the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, but it’s played in almost all of the islands. Our group is made up of people from all of the islands, including someone who is American born.”
The only barrier to entry is being a member of the Abe Stark Older Adult Center (or another Millennium Development-owned active adult center), hence, the band’s name. Williams recalls the band’s formation dating back to an early desire to play the steel pan. Millennium Development, which owns Abe Stark Older Adult Center, had come across some city council fund-
ing which ultimately went towards starting the group.
“Performing in the band gives us more confidence in our abilities,” said member Arnold Akong. “It’s a good idea for older adults to stay engaged because I think it helps the mental faculties.”
“We do it together as a team,” said member Pat Nurse. “When we set up the music and we go to different places, we are together. We work as one.”
Outside of competitions, the band also performs for fellow adult center residents.
More than 1,000 acts participated in the competition, with the Steel Pan Band making it into the final 22 after three rounds; the group performed strongly in those earlier competitions, finishing second in the preliminaries and first place
in the semifinals.
“The Talent is Timeless series is a beautiful, heartwarming, and remarkable demonstration of what makes New York City’s older adults so wonderful,” Anne WilliamsIsom, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, said in her statement. “More than 20 acts in the finale performed comedy, music, or dance routines and showed that skill, stage presence and engagement with their craft are truly ageless.”
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who 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.
Abe Stark Steel Pan Band performs at Department of Aging’s Talent is Timeless 2024 (Photo courtesy of NYC Department of Aging)
32BJ SEIU’s Weekend Warriors promote voting
By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff
32BJ SEIU sent out hundreds of its “Weekend Warriors” union members this past weekend in an effort to urge people to cast votes in the upcoming November election.
Union members volunteered to take part in 32BJ SEIU’s Weekend Warriors program, which helped get out the vote (GOTV) among undecideds and voters who might be less than enthusiastic about the candidates and proposals available in this year’s national and local elections.
At 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 12, the Weekend Warriors boarded buses that took them 90 miles away from New York City to Allentown, Pa. “The canvass coincides with National Hispanic Heritage Month,” the union said in a press release. The buses went to “…a city where more than half of the population is Hispanic. 300 32BJ SEIU cleaners, door people, security officers, and airport workers who live and work in New York will arrive by bus.”
Union members fanned out across Allentown to generate support for Kamala Har-
ris’s campaign for the U.S. presidency.
Tammi Durant, a union member who works as a security guard in Queens, told the AmNews she was more than eager to take part in the day’s events because she wanted to share her healthcare story with others. She wants to see Harris win the presidency because she likes what the candidate is promising in terms of healthcare assistance.
“I lost a few family members to not having affordable health care,” Durant said, “so when Kamala Harris says healthcare matters, it plays a real part in my heart because I’ve lost my grandmother, my grandfather, all because they couldn’t afford the health care that they needed.”
Durant’s grandmother died nearly five years ago, and her uncle died just within the past week. Neither her uncle, who had Medicare B, nor her retired grandmother could come up with the funds to cover any of the surgeries they needed to stay alive.
Durant said she spent her time in Allentown knocking on doors and letting people know that Kamala Harris has vowed to improve access to health care, in particular by getting more people covered under the
Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare).
On Oct. 11, the vice president told a Univision Town Hall that “I firmly and deeply believe that access to health care is a right and should be a right—and not just a privilege of those who can afford it or have access to it easily.
“It should be something that we make accessible to all people.”
Even though it was a Saturday morning and 32BJ members were stopping Allentown residents as they were heading out on weekend errands, Durant said she believes she was able to garner strong support for Kamala.
Thirty-eight-year union member Delroy Dawkins, who is employed as a maintenance worker in Manhattan, has been on various Weekend Warrior canvassing campaigns with 32BJ SEIU. He’s been volunteering to join local and national Weekend Warrior efforts for at least 20 years. “Because a lot of us don’t read and don’t follow the news,” he explained. For Dawkins, it’s important for Black people to understand how politics affects how they live. “They really don’t have an idea of how important
voting is and what voting can do for your community and your children. By just the vote, we can get certain people elected, and get the federal government to support unions, which is very important for us.”
The early-morning Weekend Warriors bus was fun for union members who are serious about the solidarity that being part of a union can provide. It was another opportunity to see people who were energized about political possibilities, Dawkins said, and who wanted to talk to other people about those possibilities.
Dawkins proudly spoke about how he explained the importance of voting and the policies the Democratic Party’s Kamala Harris is proposing to an undecided voter he met in Allentown. “He said he was undecided, [that] he’s going to wait until the end of the month to vote…I said, ‘Well, it’s very important that we go out and vote.’ And I told him the benefits that we get when we vote. That as a union, we get good jobs, good union jobs, this and that. And [by the end] he said, ‘You know, I’m going to vote for Kamala’...I said, ‘Thank you very much: That means so much to us to hear that from you.’”
Delroy Dawkins (wearing sunglasses and purple hat) on Weekend Warriors bus to Allentown, Pa. (32BJ SEIU photos)
Tammi Durant went GOTV door-knocking with her union in Allentown, Pa.
Congratulations Elinor
Tatum
on being named Publisher of the Year by
E&P
The Amsterdam News family congratulates Elinor Tatum on being named Publisher of the Year by E&P . For 30 years, Publisher Tatum has dedicated herself to protecting our legacy and serving our community through journalism.
While so many of our local news peers have disappeared, the Amsterdam News continues to thrive and grow, ensuring that we will continue to serve America's Black and Brown communities for another 114 years!
Pass the Press Act immediately!
Even before the New York Times Editorial Board, which is separate from the newsroom, lent its support to the PRESS Act, protecting journalists from being forced to reveal the sources of their stories, we were notified by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and we are in accord with this initiative.
By joining the Society of Professional Journalists and 120 other signatories, as well as journalism organizations, First Amendment advocacy groups, attorneys and law professors, we raise our voice in urging leaders of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to “prioritize action on this long-stalled legislation to protect journalistsource confidentiality.”
In short, we insist that the PRESS Act, which the House of Representatives unanimously passed in January, become legislation. A bipartisan federal shield act, Press Act, S.2074, would protect journalists from being compelled to disclose sources or records created as part of their reporting, except in extreme cases.
Such action is consistent with the preamble of the SPJ Code of Ethics which declared “that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy.”
Given the current threat to democracy, and the incipient fascism emanating from a certain presidential candidate, powerful safeguards are demanded, and the SPJ stands as an unwavering sentinel in this regard. While we don’t always agree with the New York Times or much of the mainstream press, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Times on this issue, and echo its charge that “Governments often chafe at the presence of a free press. The reason is simple: A robust and independent news media keeps a sharp eye on the government and, when necessary, exposes abuse of power, corruption, incompetence and waste.”
When the principles of SPJ converge with the Times’ editorial board, there is no hesitancy on our part to lock arms with them and push for this federal shield law.
As Election Day approaches, we cannot let disinformation win
By ALPHONSO DAVID
We are less than four weeks from Election Day, and voter education is more important than ever. When it comes to engaging our community in the political process, the attention tends to be myopically focused on registration and voter suppression. While these are important, we have to focus on multiple issues simultaneously.
Given America’s long history of disenfranchising Black voters and the intensifying efforts from extremists to stop us from voting, the impulse is understandable. However, in this election, there is an equally important and unmet need to inform our community about the issues up and down the ballot that will affect us the most.
We have to cut through the noise. The sheer volume of election disinformation—and its disproportionate impact on our community—is troubling, but it is not new. In fact, it is a tradition that dates back to slavery, when slave owners regularly spread lies to Black people to suppress revolution. Today, those tactics have evolved to encourage apathy and disengagement from the political process.
With the advent of social media, Black audiences are being constantly targeted with false information and harmful narratives. At least 40 million Americans — nearly every Black person in the country — are regularly targeted and fed disinformation within Black online spaces, according to a June report published by Onyx Impact, a nonprofit organization working to combat disinformation in the Black community. As a result, many Black voters are being fed false information about key issues like public health and immigration, leading to more division and mistrust.
In this election, the stakes for ensuring we are informed about the issues and the candidates could not be higher. After all, we have two parties with fundamentally different definitions of “freedom.”
For example, take the freedom to learn about Black history. Last year, right-wing Republican state legislatures banned roughly 10,000 books in U.S. public schools, nearly tripling the number of banned books from previous years—and according to a PEN America survey, the biggest targets of these bans are books that tell our stories.
On reproductive freedom, ever
since Trump-appointed Supreme Court judges overturned Roe v. Wade, state-level abortion bans are delaying critical care and leading to cruel, preventable deaths. In Texas alone, the rate of maternal mortality cases rose by 56% from 2019 to 2022, compared with just 11% nationwide during the same period, far outpacing a slower rise in maternal mortality across the nation. The recent heartbreaking story of a young Black woman from Georgia, Amber Nicole Thurman — who died after not being able to access reproductive healthcare — paints a clear picture of the stakes of this election.
On the other hand, Kamala Harris and Democrats are focused on building an economy and country that will allow anyone — regardless of skin color — the freedom to reach their full potential. That includes the freedom to build wealth through homeownership and entrepreneurship, the freedom to care for our families with a stronger paid family leave program, and the freedom to live free from gun violence.
Right-wing extremists are working hard to make sure Black voters do not see that information, and because Black people in America are more likely than white Americans to get news from certain social media sites, such as Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, we have an enormous hill to climb.
The best way to fight disinformation is quite simple: Meet people where they are with clear and concise facts
that can be spread with the help of credible messengers.
That’s exactly what our Paint the Polls initiative is focused on. Back in July, the Sundial Group of Companies, which includes ESSENCE, the Global Black Economic Forum, Girls United, AfroPunk, BeautyCon, Refinery29, and New Voices Foundation announced a robust schedule of virtual events to help voters understand how the key policy issues affect our daily lives.
So far, we have seen a real appetite for our programming, with the first three events attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers. By focusing on the intersection of race and politics, we will bring greater attention to the issues facing our community. Our brands have a responsibility to educate our audiences because our power at the ballot box is one of our most precious rights.
In this election, the stakes could not be higher, so we are doing all we can to ensure the public has the information, resources, and support to exercise their freedom to vote to protect our future.
Help us spread the word. Visit www. paintthepollsblack.com to watch our previous town halls and sign up for upcoming events. You can also find all content on the Global Black Economic Forum’s YouTube page.
Alphonso David is a civil rights attorney and president and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum.
Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher and Editor in Chief
Damaso Reyes: Executive & Investigative Editor
Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor
Aaron Foley: News Editor Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor Siobhan "Sam" Bennett: Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Advertising Wilbert A. Tatum (1984-2009): Chairman of the Board, CEO and Publisher Emeritus
(AmNews Illustration)
(Photo via CPJ X.com account)
What you need to know about NY’s ballot proposals
By DONNA LIEBERMAN
We all know our democracy is on the line this election, and candidates up and down the ballot will shape our nation for generations to come, but for voters in New York City, this Election Day also offers a rare opportunity. Flip your ballot over and you will find six proposals with a direct say in the future of our state and city. Most voters have never heard of these proposals, so we all need to make sure voters are ready for them come Election Day.
Proposal 1 will protect abortion rights and full equality in our state constitution. New Yorkers should vote YES to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution and protect against government discrimination.
Prop 1 closes loopholes that most New Yorkers don’t even know exist: Abortion rights and many protections against discrimination aren’t actually guaranteed in our state constitution. We all remember how angry and vulnerable we felt when the Supreme Court decimated Roe v. Wade. One of our last defenses against extreme politicians — the kind who want to criminalize abortion, oppose contraception, and demonize families who use IVF — was suddenly gone. Most of us thought our hard-won rights were secure, but suddenly they were ripped away.
We can’t afford to be caught off guard like that again. New York is increasingly a battleground state, and it was just the last election that an anti-abortion nominee for governor came close to winning. And while it may be true that New York has strong abortion laws today, we also know by now that laws alone just aren’t enough to prepare for tomorrow. When we enshrine a right in the state constitution, we protect it from political interference — and extreme laws. A YES vote on Prop 1 also ensures that the protections we have against government discrimination because of someone’s race or religion are extended to include gender, age, ethnicity, pregnancy status, disability status, and being LGBT.
Proposals 2 through 6 are a last-minute power grab by Mayor Eric Adams that would reduce the accountability of the NYPD and other agencies in New York City government. City residents should vote NO to stop the mayor from weakening checks and balances, and limiting the power of the City Council.
Proposals 2 through 6 change New York City’s charter, which is effectively our city’s constitution. Any changes to such an important document should be the result of a careful and open process,
but that’s not the way Mayor Adams wants it. He rushed these proposals to the ballot in late summer without adequate time for New Yorkers to give input. Now there’s almost no time for New Yorkers to learn about them, and he’s hoping they’ll sneak through.
These proposals give the mayor increased powers to block legislation and oversight he doesn’t like, even when these help New Yorkers and New Yorkers want them.
This all started because the City Council stood up to Mayor Adams and passed some laws over his veto, including the How Many Stops Act. That law recognized that transparency is essential to good governance and for any meaningful police accountability — but that wasn’t how the mayor saw things.
Now the mayor is trying to weaken the role of the City Council because he is angry that the Council won that fight. He is also angry that the council is trying to ensure it reviews the people he appoints to important positions — many of which, it is notable, are vacant today due to a series of alleged scandals. Whether it’s the NYPD, his appointees, or the De-
Oh, New York
What a city. There truly isn’t any place like New York City. Autumn is my favorite time in the city, even as it gets colder more frequently and darker much earlier, trees are shedding, and leaves are falling to the ground while I play “Autumn in New York” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. I feel a great sense of hope and promise during the fall season.
partment of Corrections (which runs Rikers Island), Adams doesn’t want to be accountable to the City Council, or the New Yorkers they represent.
Prop. 1 to amend the state constitution and Props. 2 through 6 to amend the NYC Charter have enormous implications for freedom, safety, and democracy in New York — but they’re easy to miss.
Not only do we need to make sure our friends, families, and communities understand what’s at stake this fall, but we need to remind them that the ballot continues on the back. After voting for president and our representatives, we need to remember to flip our ballots over to vote YES on Prop. 1 to protect abortion and our freedoms in the state constitution, and vote NO on Props. 2 through 6 to prevent undemocratic changes to our City Charter.
It’s a small extra step that will affect our futures and our freedoms.
Donna Lieberman is the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, which is a coalition member of New Yorkers for Equal Rights and New Yorkers Defending Democracy.
Right now, the New York City political scene is in tumult. Mayor Eric Adams is facing an historic tenure as the 110th mayor and is staring down several indictments. So many people in top appointments in his administration have resigned that it is literally too difficult to keep track of the comings and goings of officials in key positions in the city. However, in the midst of all of this, I still have an overwhelming sense of hope right now.
Maybe it’s because Knicks season has begun and my beloved Mets are on a historic run (and the Yankees are doing well, I hear).
Beyond the sports triumphs, though, the current disorganization at the top has reminded me of the thousands of dedicated employees in the public sector. Sure, it is best when we have commissioners and deputy mayors in place. However, this reshuffling of the deck can, in many ways, be what is best for the city. There are some positions where the incoming leadership is someone who should have been in place from the beginning of Mayor Adams’s tenure.
Sometimes from the ashes a more fertile soil evolves. I am optimistic that the new leadership will allow the city to not just survive but thrive. As of now, trash is still being picked up, the war on rats is still in effect, teachers are still in classrooms, crime has not spiked, businesses have not left the city, and we are slowly getting better at incorporating new arrivals into our very diverse and complex city. Where do we go from here? Sadly for our city, we are in for several months of nonstop coverage and leaks pertaining to the woes of Eric Adams. I truly hope that the business of selling papers does not obscure the necessity for journalists to cover other areas of the city that need assistance. The decline in local media from major newspaper outlets has been disturbing to witness. However, if you care about local politics as I do, I strongly suggest checking out outlets such as The City, Gothamist, City and State, and Vital City, as a start. This city needs all of us to be participatory for it to work. We have a mayoral primary coming in June 2025 and it is not too early to start doing your research on the various candidates for mayor and several other offices.
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 FAQ-NYC.
CHRISTINA GREER, PH.D.
Caribbean Update
Martinique erupts over inflation
By BERT WILKINSON
Special to the AmNews
Authorities in the French Caribbean overseas territory of Martinique are on full alert after several days of protests on the island linked to growing concerns about the cost of living and apparent inertia on the part of France in dealing with the lifeline issue.
The situation reached a boiling point over the weekend when hundreds of angry residents tried to break into the island’s lone airport and occupy the runway as they upped the pressure on authorities in Paris to do something about the rising cost of living in Martinique. The population is estimated at 350,000.
The protests forced the cancellation of flights, leaving about 1,000 passengers stranded as officials
shuttered the airport and diverted flights to nearby Guadeloupe, also a French overseas territory.
More than a dozen police officers have been hurt during a week of unrest, including six who were hit by bullets. Police have reported one death so far.
Adding fuel to the fire, the government in France deployed the feared special anti-riot police to Martinique in the first such move in six decades, creating even greater levels of anger. Some mostly Afro-Martinican human rights activists have been clamoring for better living conditions and making attempts to reach out and engage with the 15-nation Caribbean Community as a way of garnering regional support for their plight
Residents of Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and other French territories in the
Caribbean are treated as fullfledged French citizens with voting rights, but the persistent complaint is that no one in Paris listens to the clamor for improvement from these territories. They say prices for basics in the islands are up to 50% higher than mainland France and no one is doing anything about it.
The latest round of protests has come just three years after similar eruptions in Martinique and Guadeloupe over French mandates for compulsory vaccinations for health workers. Paris had also been pushing locals to receive the COVID vaccine because less than half of the population had made themselves available to be inoculated by health officials. As was the case in 2021, French authorities were forced to impose a curfew to quell the protests in an attempt
to restore order.
Protest leaders say their anger is rooted in the fact that some items like milk and meats have increased by 40% in the last year while wages have remained unchanged. Meanwhile, Didier Laguerre, mayor of Fort-deFrance, the Martinique capital, said during the weekend that inflation is indeed a cause for concern and too many people are struggling to cope.
“I understand the suffering and anger,” Laguerre said. “I know everyone’s impatience and the resignation of those who have lost hope for a long time.”
It is unclear if and when many stores that had been looted in recent days will reopen as tensions remain high and authorities expect the situation to flare up again.
Expressing concerns about
American citizens on the island, the U.S. Embassy in nearby Barbados issued a travel advisory over the weekend, urging U.S. citizens in Martinique to check with local authorities regarding the current security situation, specific areas affected by the curfew, and whether any travel during the hours of the curfew could fall under one of the exceptions. Noting the level of looting, arson attacks, roadblocks, and street demonstrations, the mission warned American citizens to avoid large public gatherings, maintain constant awareness of their surroundings, pay attention to changes to security in their area, and avoid wearing jewelry or displaying cash.
Schools and some governments were ordered closed as angry protesters set fire to several car parks and a few barricades.
Trump’s mass deportation plan is economically, logistically impossible
With days remaining until the November 5 election for president, with Donald Trump’s primary solution to America’s challenges being the mass deportation of immigrants, I made a tough decision to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. It’s not because I’m a devoted supporter of either. Harris’s nearinvisibility over the past three years and her current stance on the war in Palestine have left much to be desired, but as an immigrant, the thought of another Trump presidency is simply unbearable.
Trump, much like Adolf Hitler before him, has once again turned to xenophobia as a central campaign tactic, promoting mass deportation as a catch-all solution to the country’s issues. However, the reality is that deporting millions would severely damage the U.S. economy, costing taxpayer billions while shattering families and fundamentally altering the nation’s identity.
The American Immigration Council recently released a report that sheds light on the enormous fiscal and logistical burden of mass deportations. Deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants, plus the 2.3 million migrants who crossed the U.S. southern border between January 2023 and April 2024, would cost an estimated $315 billion. This price tag is not just a one-time expense; a prolonged campaign of deporting 1 million people per year would balloon to nearly $1 trillion over the course of a decade.
The numbers are staggering, but even more startling is the ripple effect this would have on the U.S. economy. Undocumented immigrants are an integral part of the American workforce, representing 4.6% of employed workers in the country. They make up nearly 14% of the construction industry— a sector already facing a severe labor shortage. Deporting undocumented immigrants en masse would disrupt industries like construction, agriculture, and hospitality, where undocumented workers are vital. Re -
moving these workers would not only create gaps that U.S.born workers are unlikely to fill, but would also slow down infrastructure projects, cause food prices to spike, and shutter hospitality services, costing millions of jobs and driving up inflation. Furthermore, undocumented immigrants contribute significantly to the U.S. economy in other ways. In 2022 alone, they paid $46.8 billion in federal taxes and $29.3 billion in state and local taxes, while also contributing $22.6 billion to Social Security and $5.7 billion to Medicare. Deporting these workers would gut the tax base and destabilize social safety net programs already under pressure from an aging population. Beyond the financial toll, the human cost of mass deportation is incalculable. Roughly 5.1 million U.S. citizen children live in mixed-status families, where at least one family member is undocumented. Forcibly removing undocumented parents would lead to the fracturing of families, placing tremendous emotional and financial strain on U.S. citizen children. These children
could face economic insecurity, homelessness, and long-term psychological trauma, issues that would not only harm individual families but also impose costs on society.
On top of that, the infrastructure required to execute mass deportations would be staggering. The U.S. would need to increase ICE detention capacity by 24 times what it currently holds, build 1,000 new immigration courtrooms, and hire tens of thousands of new law enforcement officers. This would result in a draconian surveillance state that would intrude on the lives of all Americans, particularly in immigrantheavy communities where families would live in constant fear of government raids.
The devastation to America’s social fabric would be profound. Communities would become more fragmented, trust in law enforcement would erode, and racial profiling would probably rise. Even American citizens who happen to share ethnic backgrounds with immigrants could find themselves under scrutiny, adding to an environment of
fear and suspicion.
The price of mass deportation is far too high for America to bear—in terms of both dollars and damage to the nation’s soul. Rather than engaging in policies that fracture communities and tank the economy, the U.S. must pursue more humane and economically sound solutions, such as comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to legal status for those who have contributed to the country’s growth for decades.
The truth is, mass deportation is not only economically reckless but also morally indefensible. As a nation of immigrants, we should be investing in the integration and inclusion of those who call America home, not pursuing policies that would cause irreparable harm to our economy, our communities, and our shared values. Mass deportation would not make America great; it would break it.
Felicia J. Persaud is the publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, a daily news outlet focused on positive news about Black immigrant communities from the Caribbean and Latin America.
International News
Kitchen staffed by trans women is refuge for Mexico City’s LGBTQ+ community
By MARIANA MARTÍNEZ BARBA Associated Press
MEXICO CITY—Karolina Long Tain
González Rodríguez plops another corn cake into the piping-hot oil of a large pan. As she grabs a set of tongs to flip them one by one, she yells across the kitchen, realizing she’s pressed for time.
“We open in 15 minutes!” she shouts over the cumbia music playing in the background.
Casa Lleca, an LGBTQ+ shelter in Mexico City’s Peralvillo neighborhood, is a community kitchen founded two months ago to provide employment opportunities to transgender women and serve residents in the area.
As González, 36, reaches over for more of the corn cakes to fry, Thalia Trejo stuffs shredded pork into small masses of dough. While they’ve only worked together for a short time, González said she runs a kitchen based on mutual respect and communication.
“We know how to talk to each other… and we know how to find a solution. We’re a really united trans community; we’re really understanding,” she said.
The community kitchen was born after Casa Lleca received approval from city authorities to open through a social welfare program, in recognition that many trans women in the shelter were having trouble finding work.
Casa Lleca founder and human rights activist Victoria Sámano, 30, had brought up the idea to González, who came from a culinary background.
“She (Victoria) saw the opportunity to employ our friends who arrived unhoused and gave them dignified work,” González said.
Much of the funding for the kitchen came from the women themselves, who purchased appliances, chairs, and tables to create an authentic dining experience.
González, a native of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, arrived at Casa Lleca seven months ago, seeking refuge and a fresh start as a trans woman. She had studied cooking in middle and high school, but dropped out. After working in a kitchen in Oaxaca, she left for Mexico City to begin her transition.
Once in the capital, she was recommended to a plastic surgeon who gave her faulty breast implants and, after one of them ruptured, refused to give her a refund or operate on her again.
That’s when she said her life began to spiral.
“I acquired lots of bad vices, lots of bad habits, and that took me to a lot of dark
places,” she recalled. “But God always has a plan for us.”
When she arrived at Casa Lleca, things began to turn around.
Sámano approached her after noticing her active involvement in the shelter and strong work ethic. She thought González could be a good fit to lead the kitchen.
Along with her other helpers, González runs a tight crew. All kitchen employees are up by 7 a.m. to bathe and drink coffee. They start cooking at 8:30 a.m. and prepare for customers’ arrival at 1 p.m.
For González, the kitchen has become a safe space where she can also use all of her culinary knowledge. “Now that I found this kitchen, this project, and this rhythm of life, I’ve found a way to fulfill my dreams as a young person,” she said.
Although the kitchen initially began as an
idea to serve and employ their community, residents in the surrounding neighborhood started to flock in as soon as it opened. Out in front of Casa Lleca, Sámano guides customers into the small dining room set up for the community kitchen. Etched onto a whiteboard on a steel door, the menu reads in big black letters: “chicharrón gorditas, soup, beans, and dessert”—a full meal for only 11 pesos (about 50 cents).
They cook lunch for up to 150 people a day, including workers like 31-year-old Alan Olivares, who has become a regular. Olivares, a cleaner who works in the nearby Cuauhtemoc neighborhood, has been eating at the kitchen for the past couple of weeks.
“In addition to saving some money, the food is delicious,” he said, adding that he was happy to see the shelter thriving in its new business. “Mexico needs to have a more
open mind. We’re all human and it’s part of our diversity.”
Sámano founded Casa Lleca in 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, in an effort to help LGBTQ+ folks and sex workers who were unhoused or at risk of losing their homes. As hotels remained shut down, many were left without a home or workplace. She said many of the shelters that were opened by the government at that time didn’t know how to address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
“When they arrive in these spaces, they are often violated or discriminated against, in part by other residents, but (also) by the staff who don’t know where to place them because of their gender identity,” said Sámano.
Those involved in the shelter and its community kitchen are deeply appreciative. “One day, when we leave this place, we’re going to say ‘Thank you, Casa Lleca’ for showing me how to live,” said González. “‘Thank you for showing me new progress in my life.’”
Still, many trans individuals like González are not given the space and support to embrace who they are, and are often vulnerable to dangerous situations.
Mexico’s trans community continues to face challenges, and transgender individuals continue to be killed, sparking protests and anger. So far this year, 36 trans people have been killed in Mexico, according to an August report from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Some progress has been made, though. At least 20 Mexican states have passed legislation to protect trans people. In July, Mexico City passed the Paola Buenrostro law, named after a trans woman and sex worker killed in 2016, that makes transfemicides a crime punished by a prison sentence of up to 70 years.
Sámano believes adopting laws to support trans individuals is crucial. She pointed at laws passed recently in Spain and Colombia that cover everything from access to medical services to labor protections for trans people.
“(These laws) address many areas of life for a trans person, and put emphasis on the tools for them to overcome and, in some cases, to survive,” said Sámano.
For residents of Casa Lleca, the community kitchen has also helped to raise awareness about who they are and what role they play in the neighborhood.
“Now that they’ve tried the food, and they saw we opened the kitchen with a really nice atmosphere, people started to approach us,” said González. “‘How should I refer to you all?’ they ask…‘We’re trans women,’ I would tell them. People have been really accepting.”
Karolina Long Tain González Rodríguez, a trans woman, walks past kitchen at Casa Lleca, an LGBTQ+ shelter where she works, in Peralvillo neighborhood of Mexico City (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Comedian Ali Siddiq (Unprotected Sets, The Domino Effect) will leave you laughing with his hilarious storytelling.
Joan Baez
Nikki Giovanni Tyehimba Jess
featuring mahogany l. browne, caridad de la luz (la bruja) & tyehimba jess
rakim dj spinna
lisa fischer
philip bailey dianne reeves
christian mcbride
New Long COVID and complex disease center at Mt. Sinai to be leader in research, clinical care
By BETSY LADYZHETS
The Sick Times
Last week, a new center serving people with Long COVID and related complex chronic diseases opened at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. Led by Dr. David Putrino, the center will be a hub for diagnosing these diseases, helping patients manage their symptoms, and running clinical trials of novel treatments.
The Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illnesses (CoRE) builds on prior work by Putrino and his colleagues at Mount Sinai, as well as work by collaborators in research and patient communities. It serves people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), hypermobility disorders, dysautonomia, Long Lyme or chronic Lyme disease, and other complex chronic diseases, along with Long COVID. Dr. Amy Proal, president and chief scientific officer of the PolyBio Research Foundation,* serves as the center’s scientific director.
Patients who seek care at CoRE will have access to state-of-the-art testing to diagnose diseases and track their responses to potential treatments. They will also have opportunities to participate in clinical trials; current trials include studies of HIV antivirals Truvada and Maraviroc, and the enzyme lumbrokinase, which may address microclots.
The center’s dual focus and commitment to rapid scientific development reflects the urgency of understanding these complex diseases better, Putrino said during its opening event on Oct. 10.
“Every brick of this center has been built by patients and their feedback—the people who, very kindly, are giving up their energy and exerting themselves to work with us,” he said.
While CoRE officially opened last week, some patients have had early appointments over the last few months. Those who spoke to the Sick Times expressed excitement about the high-level testing, symptom management options, and participation in trials, but also noted some logistical hurdles as the center has grown, such as challenges with scheduling and unmet expectations about masking while CoRE shared space with a different clinic.
“There’s testing there that you wouldn’t get elsewhere, and it’s all in one spot,” said Ruth Brannan, a CoRE patient and person with Long COVID. She said she feels “very lucky” to have access to the center’s resources, although she acknowledged that it’s “early days” for a facility that is evolving quickly.
CoRE currently has capacity to bring in about 20 new patients a week, according to Putrino, and can serve several hundred each year.
Building on prior research and lived experiences
Putrino was not an expert in complex chronic diseases when the pandemic started. His expertise and position at Mount Sinai focuses on rapid innovation: speeding up the decade-plus that it typically takes for research to go from a lab bench to a patient’s bedside.
At the opening event, he described how this focus led him to recognize Long COVID in spring 2020. His team developed an app to help people with COVID19 track their symptoms after they were sent home from the emergency room, but the researchers quickly realized that many of those people weren’t “recovering” from their acute illnesses.
Putrino and his colleagues started studying those cases, then began developing symptom management strategies for patients, building on prior work in treating people recovering from concussions. The team soon began collaborating with people with Long COVID, as well as other academic teams, including Akiko Iwasaki at Yale University and Proal at PolyBio. Together, they learned more about other infectionassociated chronic diseases.
CoRE’s current symptom management offerings, including autonomic rehabilitation, therapy for chronic pain, and non-invasive brain stimulation, build on extensive research into complex chronic diseases and are constantly updated based on the latest findings. For patients, appointments
at CoRE are different from other doctors’ visits in that they don’t feel a need to constantly bring new papers or treatment ideas, because the clinicians are already well-informed. “They’re at the forefront of research,” Brannan said.
“I’ve been especially impressed with how open they are to any kind of treatment that works,” said Joshua Roman, who has gone to CoRE starting with its earlier iteration as a rehabilitation program in 2021. For example, he had a good experience with a breathing program, which he was surprised to find in a Western hospital system, he said.
That breathing program, called Meo Health, has now been validated by a peerreviewed study and is available to all CoRE patients. “It might not be a full cure—you might not be back on track like nothing has happened—but for some people, it can be pretty impactful,” said Charlotte Bovin, founder and CEO of Meo Health, who herself has Long COVID.
The CoRE team is “extremely innovative, extremely forward-thinking, and open to experiment,” as well as very “patient-oriented,” Bovin said.
A new space designed for people with energy-limiting diseases
CoRE’s physical center includes two spaces in the basement of Mount Sinai’s Upper East Side hospital (on 98th Street next to Central Park). Both have been extensively renovated to meet the needs
of people with Long COVID and similar complex diseases; one is now fully open while the other is slated to be complete later this fall.
The spaces are designed to be “psychologically safe,” said Mirelle Phillips, founder and CEO of Studio Elsewhere, a studio focused on bio-experiential design that led the renovations. Key physical features include adaptive lights that can be turned up or down based on a patient’s preference, privacy barriers between testing areas, and color choices that feel less intimidating than the typical harsh white that might be expected in a hospital.
The rooms also feature upgraded HVAC systems and far-UVC lighting, which research suggests can kill SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. Along with these upgrades, clinicians are expected to wear N95 masks whenever they are in direct contact with patients and KN95s or better when they are not, according to Putrino.
“We’re trying to make it so if you come to our clinic to get treated for Long COVID, you won’t get COVID,” Proal said during the opening event, to applause from attendees. Despite the investment in this updated space, most CoRE appointments—including all initial intake appointments—so far have been remote, to accommodate patients’ limited energy and the challenges many face when traveling in New York City. Patients are most likely to come into the center for testing.
(Photo courtesy of the Mount Sinai Health System)
The untested waters of Black lakeside communities
By WILLY BLACKMORE Word in Black
Nothing says that you’ve made it quite like living right by the water. And while it’s most often white people who are living out that fantasy in lakeside communities across the country, there are some waterfront towns with significant Black populations (or otherwise non-white)—but a new study has found that the water in such communities is far less likely to be subject to water-quality monitoring.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, is believed to be the first to look at water-quality monitoring on lakes as an environmental justice issue. On the whole, the researchers found that lakes in white communities were three times more likely to be monitored than those in communities of color (the study looked at all non-white racial groups together, and also compared Hispanic and non-Hispanic communities).
“Where we sample can matter as much as what we sample,” said Matt Kane, program director of the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Biological Sciences, which helped fund the research, in a statement. “These findings reveal the need to expand sampling and monitoring to get an accurate picture of water quality across the country that can serve as the basis for management and policy decisions.”
Nationally, the study found that 18% of lakes had a surrounding population that was more than a quarter nonwhite, and considered those communities of color. Half of those lakes are concentrated in the Southeast, which suggests that many of those communities may be Black, too.
In total, many lakes are not monitored: Just 10% of the 137,072 lakes looked at in the study were tested for water clarity, but only 7.5% of those lakes that were tested are in communities of color. In the Southeast, just 3% of the lakes in communities of color were tested.
“Of all lakes that were sampled, lakes in (People of Color; POC) and Hispanic communities were sampled less frequently and for fewer years than lakes in white and non-Hispanic communities,” the researchers wrote.
While water-quality monitoring is
not the same as, say, testing for pollutants or other more significant environmental hazards, the lack of very basic testing in most lakeside communities of color doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. The researchers pointed to other studies that suggest Black people and other racialized communities who do live near the water often live near less-pristine water. In the Saginaw River watershed in Michigan, for example, people of color were more likely to live near areas with poor water quality compared to white residents, according to a 2014 study.
A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 63% of U.S. adults believe the federal government is not doing enough to protect the quality of lakes, rivers, and streams, but when it comes to fixing things, the survey also found less than half—46%—of all U.S. adults believe the federal government should play a major role in addressing disparities in health risks from pollution and other environmental problems across communities. However, perhaps pointing to the disproportionate impact of toxic water and air, 63% of Black Americans, more than any other racial or ethnic group, say it should play a major role.
“We encourage local, state, or regional environmental monitoring programs to include equity in their sampling designs by selecting which lakes to sample, based not only on natural features (such as lake size or land use) but also on social features such as race and ethnicity of the nearby communities,” said one of the study’s leads, Kendra Spence Cheruvelil, a professor at Michigan State.
Cheruvelil and her colleagues wrote that without action, marginalized communities will continue to lack information about potentially negative impacts of local environmental hazards on their health and quality of life.
Of course, water quality is a matter of public health and equity, too. Without proper monitoring of these lakes, harmful pollutants can go undetected, putting Black families at risk. The water where Black children play, where folks fish, and that supports local ecosystems could be contaminated, and communities might not even know it.
When it comes to environmental health, no one should be left treading in uncertain waters.
THE BLACKLIGHT IS THE FIRST INVESTIGATIVE UNIT AT A LEGACY BLACK OWNED NEWSPAPER. WE ARE SHINING A LIGHT WHERE OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS DON’T WANT TO LOOK AND WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP OUR JOURNALISTS WORKING.
FROM THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND GUN VIOLENCE IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE, WE ARE WORKING HARD TO SERVE YOU! PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TODAY.
SCAN the QR Code to donate. OR TEXT “BLACKLIGHT” to (202) 858-1233 amsterdamnews.com/blacklight-donate/
The Local Media Foundation/New York Amsterdam News Blacklight Project will shine a light on the problems plaguing our communities and highlight solutions. Donations to the Local Media Foundation for this project are taxdeductible to the extent of the law. No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributions. Please consult a tax advisor for details. The program is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with the Local Media Association.
State Sen. Kevin Parker visits Eagle Academy on Career Day
Contributed Press Release
Abu Bekr Temple No. #91 recently participated in the Eagle Academy for Young Men at Ocean Hill’s Career Day. This program fosters community engagement and youth development. The gathering welcomed Senator Kevin Parker, who delivered an inspiring presentation that underscored his career as a public servant and gave the students a look into the day-to-day life of elected officials
No laughing matter: Why some worry about kids abusing Galaxy Gas
By JENNIFER PORTER GORE Word in Black
It’s a product unintentionally tailor-made for underage abuse: easy to use and available in a variety of flavors, like mango smoothie and vanilla cupcake. It’s plentiful and inexpensive; produces a quick, euphoric high; and you don’t have to be 21, or know a dealer, to get it.
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, the active ingredient in commercial whipped-cream canisters, is as close as a computer keyboard, or the neighborhood big-box store.
The hot new high among young people is huffing N2O products manufactured by Galaxy Gas, an Atlanta-based company that sells whipped-cream chargers to wholesalers, restaurants, and grocery and convenience stores.
Videos of teens and young adults doing “whippets”—inhaling dessert-flavored gas from palm-sized canisters to get high— have gone viral on social media. While young people using whipped-cream cans for a cheap thrill is nothing new, critics compare the current problem to the youth vaping epidemic of the early 2010s, pointing to Galaxy Gas’s enticing packaging, kidfriendly flavors, and social-media cachet.
“Help these kids”
The problem has become so acute that popular singer-songwriter Sza is sounding the alarm.
“Yes …I’m aware whippets have been around since we were younger,” she said.
“Galaxy Gas, however, was founded in 2021 in metro Atlanta and is currently being marketed to children. It has childlike branding and marketing, and is being sold at Walmart and gas stations like cigarettes…that’s not normal. Stop being dense and help these kids...”
Although Galaxy Gas argues that its products aren’t sold or marketed for personal use, it has halted sales of the canisters in an abundance of caution.
The charger is a nitrous oxide-filled, stainless-steel cartridge that transforms the cream and other ingredients into a flavored whipped topping. When it’s empty, the charger dispenses only nitrous oxide.
A multi-purpose gas primarily found in hospitals and dentists’ offices, nitrous oxide is regularly used as a powerful anesthetic. Dentists and surgeons often administer it to patients facing extreme pain from surgery; even women giving birth have benefited from it.
Its culinary use includes adding a topping to cold brew coffees, desserts, and
other foods.
It’s also used as a makeshift recreational drug among teenagers and younger adults in North America, Europe, and Australia.
Social media influence
According to the United Nations’ 2023 World Drug Report, misuse of nitrous oxide has been rising since 2017. Forbes magazine reported that around 13 million Americans aged 12 or older have misused it, according to a 2019 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
A 2022 report found that 70% of people who misused the substance were between 16 and 24, and its use consecutively decreased as group ages increased, according to Forbes. Nitrous oxide intoxication can cause disorientation, loss of balance, impaired memory and cognition, and weakness in the legs. This can lead to accidents like tripping and falling. Fatal accidents have been reported due to hypoxia, a dangerous condition that occurs when the body’s tissues don’t have enough oxygen. Symptoms include confusion, rapid breathing, bluish or off-colored skin, and difficulty breathing.
While abusing nitrous oxide isn’t believed to be addictive, there isn’t much clinical re-
search about the issue.
Despite Galaxy Gas’s disclaimer, a quick review of social media platforms TikTok, Instagram, and X shows a plethora of teens and young people doing whippets from the company’s canisters.
“For responsible culinary use only“ At the same time, it’s easy to see how Galaxy Gas’s marketing draws in young people. Like vaping products, Galaxy Gas comes in bright packaging, with fruity or candy-like flavors. There’s even a half-pint dispenser in “rasta color” at Walmart.
The Galaxy Gas website has a pop-up disclaimer about the product’s intended use and makes visitors click a button saying they understand and accept the company’s guidance. By clicking “yes,” visitors also agree not to take legal action against vendors selling the product.
“Galaxy Gas products are for responsible culinary use only,” according to the disclaimer. “We are deeply concerned about the recent news reports and social media posts of individuals illegally misusing our products.”
If you or someone you know are misusing a nitrous oxide product, call or text the Crisis Lifeline at 988 for assistance in connecting with substance abuse resources.
(Photos courtesy Sen. Parker’s office)
The bridge to Black joy: New books about faith and community
By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH Special to the AmNews
It can feel like the world forces the Black community, throughout the United States and globally, to focus on Black pain as opposed to Black joy. Yet, it is important to consider that Black healing is a mid-point to Black joy—a bridge to optimism, inner peace, and emotional safety. The new books, “The Wounds Are the Witness: Black Faith Weaving Memory into Justice and Healing” by Yolanda Pierce and “No One Left Alone: A Story of How Community Helps Us Heal” by Liz Walker, work to create a viable path toward resilience, self-compassion, and grace for a healthier Black future.
“The Wounds Are the Witness: Black Faith Weaving Memory into Justice and Healing” by Yolanda Pierce
Dr. Yolanda Pierce’s “The Wounds Are the Witness: Black Faith Weaving Memory into Justice and Healing” is a journey through the intersections of Black faith, suffering, and the
transformative potential of justice. A scholar and dean at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, Pierce draws on the rich traditions of thinkers like James Cone and Kelly Brown Douglas to examine the profound connections between pain, memory, and the pursuit of healing.
“The Wounds Are the Witness” reminds us that to work for liberation in a world rife with injustice, we cannot turn a blind eye to the realities of suffering. The book brings to light historical wounds, such as the legacy of the Middle Passage, systemic injustices faced by Black veterans, and the harrowing experiences of women in prison.
Each of these stories serves as a testament not only to the pain endured but also to the resilience and faith of a people who refuse to be silenced. This acknowledgment becomes a source of hope—by recognizing and bearing witness to our wounds, we can reimagine faith and transfigure hope. In this reimagining, the truth of our injuries becomes the foundation for extraordinary healing work.
“No One Left Alone: A Story of How Community Helps Us Heal” by Liz Walker
In her compelling new book, “No One Left Alone: A Story of How Community Helps Us Heal,” Liz Walker—the first Black woman to anchor the evening news in the
Boston area—witnessed firsthand the media’s often narrow portrayal of Roxbury, a community marked by violence and trauma.
Walker’s narrative centers on the concept of “soft spaces”: environments where individuals can safely express their sorrow and share their
New Black global nonfiction about Haiti, the Caribbean
By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH Special to the AmNews
Historical nonfiction has evolved greatly over the last decade. Now, Black historical figures and regions are being written about in unique, experiential, and esoteric ways. Postmodern global concerns like climate change, and deeper and possibly more empathetic views of behavior such as disloyalty and blind power, are outlined and creatively examined in new works: “The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe” by Marlene Daut and “Dark Laboratory: On Columbus, the Caribbean, and the Origins of the Climate Crisis” by Tao Leigh Goffe.
“The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe”by Marlene Daut
Marlene Daut offers an essential biography that explores the tumultuous life of one of the most controversial figures in the history of the Americas in “The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe.”
Christophe’s journey from enslaved child in Grenada to self-proclaimed king of Haiti is a tale of rebellion, betrayal, and, ultimately, tragedy, making it a riveting account of both personal and political turmoil. He fought for Napoleon against the very people he had once sought to liberate, which positions him as both a traitor and a complex
figure whose motivations remain debated. Daut meticulously examines these contradictions, challenging readers to understand the multifaceted nature of Christophe’s character and the choices he made in the context of the political landscape of his time. The biography raises critical questions about loyalty, betrayal, and the
stories. These gatherings became vital outlets for those burdened by grief, not just providing a platform for emotional expression but also fostering a sense of community. The meals shared, the tears shed, and the silences held within these spaces allowed participants to experience their sorrow collectively, transforming isolation into solidarity. Upon becoming a pastor, Walker discovered a richer, more complex narrative—one defined not only by suffering but also by courage, resilience, and a deep longing for connection.
Through her reflections, Walker invites readers to envision similar story-sharing groups in their own contexts, encouraging us to confront the stark disparities of grief wrought by systemic racism and inequality. She emphasizes the importance of listening—an act that may seem simple but holds profound healing potential. The art of accompanying someone in pain becomes a sacred practice, where both the caregiver and the grieving individual can find solace in shared humanity.
price of power. Why did Christophe betray Toussaint Louverture, and how did these betrayals affect the fabric of Haitian society? Daut navigates these inquiries with nuance, revealing how personal ambitions intertwined with the broader geopolitical struggles of the era.
“Dark Laboratory: On Columbus, the Caribbean, and the Origins of the Climate Crisis” by Tao Leigh Goffe
In “Dark Laboratory: On Columbus, the Caribbean, and the Origins of the Climate Crisis,” Tao Leigh Goffe presents a powerful and multifaceted exploration of the Caribbean, challenging conventional narratives that often romanticize the region as a paradise untouched by the forces of exploitation. This groundbreaking work invites readers to delve into the shadows behind the idyllic façade, revealing the profound historical and ongoing impact of colonialism, environmental degradation, and racial injustice.
In her narrative, Goffe not only reveals the profound violence that
has shaped the Caribbean but also posits the region as a source of solutions for the crises we face today. Drawing from the ecological wisdom of the islands, she advocates for a reimagining of our relationship with the environment—one that respects Indigenous knowledge and prioritizes sustainable practices. This vision for renewal is not merely theoretical; it serves as a call to action for addressing the dual apocalypses of racism and climate change. This approach not only humanizes the historical accounts of colonization and exploitation; it also underscores the lasting legacies of these injustices. The reader is compelled to confront the stark realities faced by the Caribbean’s Indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans, and indentured laborers, whose work transformed the islands into sources of immense wealth for Western powers. She draws connections between the colonial past and contemporary issues such as climate change, highlighting how colonial practices set the stage for today’s environmental crises.
Tenement Museum, Cooper Union explore Black/immigrant views of Statue of Liberty
By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff
Clint Smith’s 2021 book “How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America,” looks at the connection between the Statue of Liberty and the end of African slavery in the United States.
Smith wrote: “For most of my life the Statue of Liberty was one of a number of pieces of American iconography that seemed to memorialize an idea that had never materialized. It is a feeling I suspect many Black Americans experience with respect to pieces of history that commemorate an ideal of U.S. history.”
The Tenement Museum’s president, Dr. Annie Polland, said Smith’s reflections on the Statue of Liberty—along with his remembrance of James Baldwin’s 1960 short story “This Morning, This Evening, So Soon,” which has a Black man watch a white father tell his daughter about the grand symbolism of the statue and yet note, “I would never know what this statue meant to others, she had always been an ugly joke for me”—gave her museum the impetus to partner with the Cooper Union on a program about why Lady Liberty was initially created and the ways it has been interpreted in the U.S. over the years.
“Rethinking the Statue of Liberty,” which took place Oct. 8, featured Smith, Hunter College sociology professor Nancy Foner, New York University (NYU) history professor Edward Berenson, and playwright Anna Deavere Smith, who also teaches at NYU. Smith’s book looks at how the legacy of African enslavement is acknowledged at times but more often obscured throughout the United States. In New York City, the fact that the Statue of Liberty was created to commemorate the end of African slavery is hidden within the statue itself: Original designs for the statue featured Lady Liberty’s left hand discarding the broken chains of slavery, instead of supporting the tablet she now carries.
According to Berenson, the statue’s model was altered over the space of five years after its original design in 1870. The Reconstruction era, which followed the U.S. Civil War, was so volatile that a gift from France that highlighted the broken
chains of slavery would have been controversial. In the U.S., northerners joined southerners in not wanting to spotlight the crimes that had been perpetrated against Black people. In France, Berenson said, the then-recent convening of the revolutionary Paris Commune, which could have permanently upended that nation’s system of government, remained a sore spot.
“The radicalism behind that also scared those who were involved in conceptualizing the Statue of Liberty, so I think it was the fear of both how Reconstruction unfolded and the radicalism
of the Paris Commune [that] led to a distancing from the idea of commemorating the abolition of slavery,” Berenson said.
Fundraising for the Statue of Liberty and its establishment in New York Harbor took more than two decades to complete; neither the French nor U.S. government paid for it. Private citizens from both nations donated all the monies for the statue.
But not all private citizens were interested in celebrating Lady Liberty. Smith read excerpts from articles and letters from groups that did not want to partake in
The Ellis Island documentary also re-examines the understanding of the “liberty” immigrants received in the U.S., Foner added. The first waves of immigrants to arrive at Ellis Island were despised and referred to as the dregs of Europe. The large numbers of eastern and southern European Jews and Italians who came to the U.S. in the early 1900s were often said to be undermining U.S. values and “polluting America’s racial stock,” Foner said. They faced housing, educational, and job discrimination.
It wasn’t until the late 1950s to early 1960s, when the children of this generation of immigrants had assimilated and often intermarried with other European ethnic groups, and after immigration levels began to drop, that immigration waves were viewed nostalgically. “Nativism,” or efforts to keep immigrants from entering a country, “seems to never disappear in American society,” Foner said: “It rears its head periodically when there are these huge immigration flows.”
any celebration of the Statue of Liberty. Suffragettes called the unveiling of a Statue of Liberty who had the body of a woman a farce since U.S. women were not truly free. Chinese immigrants, who suffered race-based immigration restrictions under the Chinese Exclusion Act, called celebrations of a liberty statue and appeals to help fund it an insult.
Foner, who was part of the recent redesign of the exhibition space on Ellis Island, noted that one of the new documentaries at the site, points to Lady Liberty’s abolitionist movement origins.
The exclusions and discriminations immigrants and enslaved Black people experienced in the U.S. can’t be forgotten, particularly in the context of the statements coming out of the campaign of former President Trump, who promises to install a virulent nativist administration if he is reelected to office. “Knowing that other groups in the past experienced this hostility and nativism, and had difficulties being accepted into American society, and that they eventually were, gives a lot of immigrants—certainly, my students at the City University of New York and people that I’ve interviewed in my research—an identification with immigrants in the past,” said Foner, “and a feeling that there may be hope for the future, so let’s hope there is better hope for the future.”
“Rethinking the Statue of Liberty” can be viewed on Cooper Union’s YouTube channel. The Tenement Museum will also hold the free virtual Tenement Talk “Three Historians Walk into a Saloon: Immigration and Voting Rights,” featuring Jelani Cobb, dean of the Columbia University School of Journalism, and Columbia University history professor Mae
on the museum's YouTube channel on Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Ngai,
Tenement Museum President Dr. Annie Polland sits on stage at Cooper Union with “How the Word Is Passed”
author Clint Smith, Hunter College sociology professor Nancy Foner, and New York University historyofessor Edward Berenson (Michelle Biagi photos courtesy of The Cooper Union)
Clint Smith signs copies of his book, “How the Word Is Passed,” at “Rethinking the Statue of Liberty” event
AmNews Roving Camera
By SIYAKA-TAYLOR-LEWIS
Special to the AmNews
Q: If you had a theme song, what would it be?
Miss E. Bed-Stuy
Age N/A
Tina Maire, “Lover Girl”
It just has that beat. I love it. It keeps you going. Anytime I’m listening to music [and] it slows you down, I don’t like it. I like it upbeat.
Spencer 62
Crown Heights
The Impressions, “Spinning Around” [originally by the Main Ingredient]
I love oldies. It’s a man’s world but it wouldn’t be nothing without a woman. All the music nowadays is bad for the youth. We need love. Oldies inspire that.
Ugba 34
Fort Greene
Biggie, “Everyday Struggle”
I’m feeling that right now. Lately, things have been kind of off, but this moment was great, and I think that song kind of speaks to that.
[As we were talking, a woman, who didn’t want to be photographed, approached us
and told us a story of how she used to be a booster in Brooklyn when Biggie was first becoming popular. She claims to have been the one who introduced him to the infamous COOGI sweaters he would later popularize. She had noticed that Ugba and I were chatting about Biggie in front of the mural while he was wearing a Biggie shirt— it felt like a genuine Brooklyn moment that we both appreciated.]
I just feel like this song is where I be at. I relate 100%. He’s talking ’bout elevated topics and self-safety on some fly s**t; I’m about all that.
Ali 28 Bushwick Mick Jenkins, “Ghost”
Miss E (Siyaka Taylor-Lewis photos)
Ugba
Spencer
Ali
Trends Fashion Report: Spring ’25 to bring cloaks and drama
By RENEE MINUS WHITE Fashion & Beauty Editor
The recently held Chinese Institute’s Cuisine & Fashion Festival was a complete success for New York Fashion Week. Dignitaries and VIP guests, dressed in sequined, beaded, and draped gowns; and black-tie attire, attended the standing-room-only event. Glamorous gowns designed by Wang Feng from Shanghai were on display.
Opening the show, the elegant cloaks and drama featured in the sustainable designs by Sandriver from Inner Mongolia were extremely impressive. With one stunning design after another, Sandriver’s environmentally green-designed outfits received applause. There were widebrimmed hats that topped ponchos over pants, knit dresses, suits, skirts, and shirts. Their fabrics, created by women in the town, were woven in multicolor patterns.
The styles reminded guests of the fashions from the old Wild West, and a time when folks traveled into small western American towns to shop or visit the saloon—think of Clint Eastwood’s western movies, although, these New York City models looked much more sophisticated in fashionable boots, hats, vividly color-coordinated ponchos, and long braided
The dramatic cover-up is back in fashion. Colors are vibrant.
The models were spectacular. For evening, there were form-fitting knit gowns with long sleeve details and bare cut-outs.
This event helped to introduce the
China Institute Gallery, a beautiful event space at 100 Washington Street. It’s also known for its intimate, firstclass thematic exhibitions and art education programs.
The evening’s event was sponsored by Empress Court Vineyard & Diamond Hong.
For more information,visit www. chinainstitute.org.
Neiman Marcus Hook-Up; Melba Moore’s Love Song To Broadway; Kordell Beckham
Joins ‘Got Milk?’
Exclusive! Is there a reconciliation on the horizon for Stevie J and Faith Evans? Although the three-time Grammy Award-winning music producer and fabulous songstress’s divorce was finalized in July 2023, there have been several sightings of the two of them together, including one back in June 2024 at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, California. An eyewitness first saw Stevie J, who was at Sean “Diddy” Combs’s Miami estate during the Department of Homeland Security raid this past spring, sitting at the popular bar in Neiman’s when Faith joined him. A source overheard Stevie J tell another person at the bar that he was waiting on “the wifey” to finish shopping. Stay tuned. I always liked them as a couple........
On Oct. 8, “Love Island USA” star Kordell Beckham kicked off cuffing season with the creators of iconic “got milk?” ad to debut the “Real Matches are Back” digital creative campaign. The effort invited singles to reconnect in person via a “milkshakes and morning jammies-themed” speed-dating experience hosted by Kordell, who is the brother of Miami Dolphins wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr., at Mel’s Drive-in diner on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip. The guest spectators included “Bachelor Nation’s” Nick Viall, “Love Island USA” season 6 fan favorite, Miguel Harichi, and television personality Julianne Hough.....
Tony Award winning, three-time Grammy nominee Melba Moore will be returning to 54 Below in New York City on Thursday, Oct. 17, and Friday, Oct. 18, with her one-woman show, “Melba Moore: From Broadway With Love.” Moore exclusively told Go With The Flo that she will be singing her tunes from Broadway shows that she’s appeared in, including “Hair,” “Purlie,” “Timbuktu!,” and “Les Miserables.” Moore will also be singing tributes to Barbra Streisand and Lena Horne in her repertoire. Show times are 7 p.m. for both nights. The venue is offering a limited number of $15 tickets ($18 with fees) with no minimum for the show........
Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia hosted the annual Lifeline New York Benefit Dinner with a crowd dedicated to championing philanthropic efforts around the world. The crowd who attended the exquisite soiree in the Big Apple enjoyed cocktails and dinner. In addition to the royals, notable attendees included Jean Shafiroff, Consul General Dr. Vladimir Bozovic, Susan Gutfreund, Cheri Kaufman, Michele Gerber Klein and Marc Rosen. The goal of Lifeline is to reduce and relieve the suffering of physically and mentally disabled children, orphans, and the elderly, as well as to improve medical facilities in the country.......
Spring ’25 fashions by Sandriver from Inner Mongolia for Cuisine & China Festival at China Institute of America (Renee Minus White/a Time to Style photos)
Elevate your beauty routine: Top Black-owned brands to support all year long
By MAGRIRA Special to the AmNews
I agree with historian John William Templeton, who created National Black Business Month in 2004, but I disagree that it should be celebrated in only one month. I offer this: Black business should be celebrated 12 months a year because we must circulate the money into our communities like others do with theirs. We show our support with our dollars.
Let’s address the proverbial elephant in the room: The social media and media conversation about diversity and inclusion in beauty can sometimes feel stagnant, repetitive, and staged to benefit white-owned and whiterun beauty brands and the corporations that own them.
It’s just like in Hollywood business circles, where companies willingly leave billions of dollars of profit on the table rather than step in and help grow a community of storytellers of color: When it comes to investments in beauty brands, they have historically provided just enough to get them started but not enough to support their growth.
The nonprofit Seasoned Gives Circulation of Our Dollar initiative presents a comprehensive analysis of how money circulates in historically populated African and African American communities, highlighting the transformative potential of regenerative economics over extractive practices. Understanding the profound impact of these dynamics is essential for addressing how we can keep our money circulating in our communities.
The current disparity in dollar circulation is stark, with a dollar remaining in the Asian community for 28 days, in the Jewish community for 19 days, in the White community for 17 days, and in the African American community for only six days.
I start these beauty stories with facts because we have power in whom we choose to support, and we must never forget that fact. According to the global marketing research firm NIQ, African American consumers spent a whopping $9.4 billion on beauty products in 2023, accounting for an estimated 14.4% of the U.S. population, which is a 32% increase since 2000. This is power.
Here are a few beauty brands that have products to consider
supporting as you make the transition from summer to fall.
Danessa Myricks Beauty
Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder and Concealers
Danessa Myricks creates multifunctional products that work for every part of the face. A selftaught professional makeup artist, her unconventional ways and innovation continue to help people achieve amazing results.
Black Opal True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation
Dior has just dropped their new Dior Forever Skin Correct MultiUse Foundation Stick, and Westman Atelier has just introduced their Vital Skin Foundation Stick, priced at $68. However, neither brand beats BLK/OPL at $14. Cre-
ated in 1994 and Black-owned since 2019, this brand understands Black and Brown skin tones.
Wyn Beauty
This brand released 36 shades because they understood the assignment. Their goal is to create products you can be active in and push the bounds of what beauty can stand for.
Ami Colé
Ami Colé has a new Skin-Enhancing Lightweight & Blurring Foundation Stick. The founder, Diarrha N’Diaye, made this product for melanin-rich people, prioritizing natural ingredients and addressing the undertones of even the deepest shades of brown. This is also a clean beauty brand.
is a clean brand with distinctive formulations.
Range Beauty
This brand is made for those who struggle with major skin issues like eczema and uses the standards set by the National Eczema Association. They even create “Not for Skin” ingredient lists to ensure that their customers stay away from elements that could trigger flare-ups.
Sacha Buttercup
Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder is one of the products in a line developed in Trinidad and Tobago. They cater to women of color with all different shades and tones.
The Lip Bar
This brand offers a beautiful range of lip colors for all occasions—maximum impact with minimal effort.
Mented Cosmetics
Mented products are created to fit people in a variety of hues. This is a high-quality, pigmented, vegan makeup brand.
Pound Cake Cosmetics
Pat McGrath Labs
Pat McGrath has been in the beauty industry for more than 25 years, continuing a legacy of innovation. Her newest product is the Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Powder. It’s perfection!
Thread Beauty
The Thread Blend It Multi-stick focuses on the Gen Z consumer. This is a cruelty-free brand, and their goal is to create a culture around self-expression and creativity. Price range is only $4–$8.
LYS Beauty
LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer Stick, and now their foundation stick, is the first African American-owned, clean makeup brand at Sephora. This
Looking for the perfect matte liquid red lipstick? Look no further. The tone variant technology caters to diverse skin tones.
The Crayon Case
The Crayon Case Hall Pass Lip Gloss is a fan favorite. Founded in 2017 to inspire amateur makeup lovers, the company has evolved into a line that even expert makeup artists love.
Fashion Fair
Now at Sephora, this brand was founded by Eunice Johnson in 1973. Fashion Fair is an OG, breaking racial barriers in the business and centering on our beauty for generations, standing the test of time.
LAMIK Beauty
Founded by Kim Roxie, this brand was designed to make women of color feel better about themselves and is known for clean makeup that fits dark skin tones.
Adriana Nichole Cosmetics
Single Shadows
I discovered this brand rising on TikTok. It’s created by Adriana Nichole, who focuses on single shadows that range from fun to absolutely nuts.
Danessa Myricks Beauty
(LMS photos)
Pat McGrath makeup
Lys Beauty
Artists, museum directors seek to remove racism from artistic spaces
By BRENIKA BANKS Special to the AmNews
In recent years, activists, social media attention, and the press have forced museum institutions to be more accountable to the communities they serve. Welcoming more diverse exhibits and board members provides temporary solutions for larger issues. Readying the Museum (RTM) has a solution-based agenda to remove entrenched cycles of racism and white supremacy in those environments. Formed in January 2021 by a cohort of artists and museum directors, this organization aims to dismantle colonialism, patriarchy, and anti-Blackness practices in museums and other arts-related institutions.
they have is to the IRS or to their boards of trustees,” she said.
The unlawful killings of Black and Brown people throughout the history of the United States, especially during COVID-19, were the inspiration for RTM. “Museums had no ability to reckon with what was happening A) on the walls and B) from the artists and arts workers who were demanding that the museum look at itself,” said Xaviera Simmons, cohort member and co-leader of RTM, who has depicted tragedies linked to concerns in her artworks, as well as fundamental problems of the U.S.
As an artist and now a co-leader of an institution, Simmons strongly believes museums have no accountability because they are tax-exempt. “The only accountability
According to RTM’s website, “few systems and structures of accountability exist to ensure museums are serving the most marginalized members of the community.” Simmons now understands the amount of pressure needed for necessary changes in museums. “People have been pressing them, just not in mass,” she said, “and most people who do press them don’t have resources.”
RTM was funded by the Ford Foundation and endowments from the Mellon Foundation. RTM’s collective thinking led to their methodology, which is available publicly on their website. With their September 2024 launch, they intend to implement this methodology and hope other museums adopt it
for the betterment of other institutions. “We cannot force people to do this work,” said Simmons. “Institutions must decide they want to do it—(if) they want to find solutions, then they have to get into that framework.”
This framework is not viewed as just another item on a checklist: RTM’s goal is to achieve internal changes for permanent solutions. Lori Fogarty, RTM cohort member and director of the Oakland Museum of California, questions institutions about what resolutions they provide beyond surface-level social media postings. She believes white leadership in museums will greatly benefit from adopting RTM’s methodology, and said the blueprint of community members, artists, and other art workers in a cohort with museum directors is the most effective ap-
proach, not only with directors. “If I really think about who am I most accountable to in my community, how would I not create projects that center the Black community?” Fogarty said. This is especially true when considering the history of the Black Panthers and other Black figures in Oakland. Fogarty also noted the significance of the RTM cohort not using the phrase “DEIA [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility] work.” They frown on superficial reformative actions from other museums attempting to diversify exhibitions and making occasional token hires. “We’re offering [and stressing that] if you really want to counter oppression, racism, patriarchy, and white supremacy in museums, it’s going to take more than exhibitions,” said Fogarty. As a white woman, she boldly criticizes institutions for their shallow solutions. “What they don’t do is get to the internal work that’s necessary, especially from the white leaders,” said Fogarty. Internal work using RTM’s methodology has the potential to be a game changer during this generational shift, according to Miki Garcia, director of the Arizona State University Art Museum, who experienced pain in witnessing Black people’s mistreatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said this new generation of artists and workers aren’t tolerating the harm and violence
Readying the Museum’s merchandise showcasing framework and methodology.
Food display at Readying the Museum’s September 2024 NYC launch.
Readying the Museum cohorts posing at September 2024 NYC launch (left to right): Cruz Ortiz, George Scheer, Miki Garcia, Xaviera Simmons, Frederick Janka, and Lori Fogarty. (Brenika Banks photos)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Andrea Arroyo’s new exhibition ‘Faces & Façades’ opens at Morris-Jumel Mansion Oct. 19
By MAGRIRA Special to the AmNews
This October, the Morris-Jumel Mansion will showcase “Faces & Façades,” a new exhibition by artist Andrea Arroyo. The exhibition, opening on Oct. 19, 2024, celebrates the women of Washington Heights and the architectural beauty of the neighborhood. Arroyo’s collection merges images of the female form with the rich architectural features found in uptown New York, creating a vivid reflection of both the people and places that shape this unique community.
In “Faces & Façades,” Arroyo finds inspiration in the women of Washington Heights who care for their families and neighbors with quiet determination. Their strength and resilience serve as the foundation of her work, which blends the organic shapes of the female body with the ornamental details of the local architecture— iron gates, arched doorways, and sculpted columns. The result is a series of intricate paintings that pay homage to the women who make the neighborhood what it is. Arroyo created many of the pieces in the exhibition on-site in Washington Heights,
embracing improvisation as she worked, responding to her environment in real time. The artist’s process reflects her deep connection to the neighborhood, which allows her to engage with the community while crafting her art.
The exhibition will open with a reception at Morris-Jumel Mansion on Oct. 19 from 3–4:30 p.m., where Arroyo will share her thoughts about the works. The exhibition will run through March 23, 2025.
Arroyo is an internationally recognized artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, and public art. Her pieces are housed in collections including the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress, and she has been featured in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and Ms. magazine. Her career is defined by a commitment to cultural and social narratives.
Built in 1765, Morris-Jumel Mansion is Manhattan’s oldest surviving residence and a historic landmark. The museum hosts exhibitions and programs that connect the past with the present, offering visitors a chance to engage with New York City’s history.
For more info, visit www.andreaarroyo.com and www.morrisjumel.org.
Continued from page 26
from previous times: “We have people now who have much more access to technology and information so they’re more critical and dubious of institutions.”
Art lovers en masse have started questioning the foundation of museums more and more, according to Garcia. “Now it’s become a generational situation where, because of technology, we know where dollars are coming from,” she said. “We know about investments, we know about data, who’s being left out and who is not being represented.”
Garcia pointed out that museums are based on an 18th-century model that has remained unchanged for the majority of its existence. She also mentioned leaders like herself and Fogarty, who benefit from the current system yet are still on board for societal improvements. Garcia agreed that museum leaders should pair with creatives and other art workers to combine and create an effective new space. “If more directors and artists actually came together to sit at the table in a healthy respect and mutual respect, then we might find a way forward.”
A significant part of this combination of
artists and museum directors is trust. That is the foundational principle for Cruz Ortiz, artist and cohort member of RTM, who recalled thinking, “...‘How can I trust these museum people?’” As a Texas native with a political activist background, his priorities are registering people to vote and painting. Trusting and engaging in personal work with museum directors is important to him, as is the mission of combating eurocentricity and patriarchy. “Looking at patriarchy as a disease—that’s hard work [for some] to do,” said Ortiz. “Our methodology can be placed in boardrooms and school districts.” RTM provides its blueprint framework as a solution to stop the cycle of suppression and unhappy artists as well as unhappy community members, and looks forward to seeing the bigger institutions implement that framework. For more information, visit www.readyingthemuseum.com.
Artwork from Andrea Arroyo’s “Faces & Façade” (Contributed photo)
Readying the Museum’s “The Woman of Color Enters” poster highlighting methodology. (Brenika Banks photos)
Readying the Museum’s visitors mingling at September 2024 NYC launch
NJPAC, Smalls, JALC, BRIC Festival
The moving, engrossing, impactful, fiery words of the 20th Dodge Poetry Festival, held at NJPAC, comes to an end on Oct. 19. Poet, author, and civil rights activist Nikki Giovanni will appear in a jazz atmosphere created by tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson, nine-time Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride, and pianist Jeremy Manasia. Giovanni’s poetic words will dance in the rhythms of this musical quilt.
Since recording their first album together, “The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni” (2022), the poet and saxophonist have become somewhat of a collaborative team, recording their second album earlier this year, “Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies” (2024). This album selects some of Giovanni’s favorites—standards from the Great American Songbook, many of them originally composed for Hollywood classics, as well as some of Jackson’s own compositions. Their NJPAC repertoire for the afternoon will include music from their first gospel-oriented album and music from the movies, along with some originals. The performance begins at 2 p.m.
For more information, visit njpac.org. NJPAC is at 1 Center Street, Newark, N.J. This performance requires a separate ticket purchase.
Smalls, the tiny jazz club at 183 W. 10th Street in the West Village that spotlights
exceptional musicians who, for whatever reason, are not on the jazz radar, will feature saxophonist Eric Person and his Quintet on Oct. 17, with two shows (7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.).
Person will be joined by trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, pianist Tim Regusis, bassist Adam Armstrong, and drummer Peter O’Brien. Person has played with a variety of jazz masters, from McCoy Tyner, Donald Byrd, John Hicks, Houston Person (their sax duet Person to Person), and Dave Holland. He’s also mixed it up with the rock and funk sounds of Vernon Reid and Bootsy Collins. Here, jazz lovers will experience the worthy musicianship of Person, who deserves more exposure in the Big Apple.
On Oct. 18, Smalls welcomes one of the few living legends of the bebop era: Detroit
native vocalist Sheila Jordan. Her abled Quartet will feature guitarist Roni BenHur, longtime bassist Harvie S, and drummer Billy Drummond. The NEA Jazz Master continues to enjoy a blissful career, having played many gigs in those early days with her friend and pianist Barry Harris in their native Detroit. Her vocals were the early sauce that contributed to bebop and scat stylings. She was a member of Charlie Parker’s band. Her early membership with the vocal trio of Skeeter, Mitch, and Jean (she was Jean), who sang versions of Parker’s solos, may have been the improvisational chart for the later trio of Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross.
If you have yet to witness Jordan performing live, doing what she has done best for more than seven decades, don’t miss out. Two shows, at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
For more information, visit smallslive.com.
On Oct. 17, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame will honor Kenny Clarke, a bebop innovator and one of its pioneers along with Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Christian, and Charlie Parker that was brewed at Harlem’s Minton’s Playhouse. He had a stint with the Modern Jazz Quintet and appeared on early recordings of Miles Davis. Clarke was instrumental in pioneering the use of the ride cymbal to keep time, rather than the hi-hat, along with the use of the bass drum.
The live performance by Carl Allen Quintet features trumpeter Eddie Allen, tenor saxophonist Keith Loftis, pianist Michael LeDonne, bassist David Wong, and drummer Carl Allen.
The same evening, at 9:30 p.m., the Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame will honor Latin jazz salsa pianist Eddie Palmieri. The pianist,
along with others, spearheaded the Latin revolution in New York City and particularly in the Bronx. If you lived in the Bronx in the 1960s (the projects, to be more specific) and you claimed hipness, it was mandatory to have Palmieri’s album “Azucar pa’ Ti” (1965) under your arm or his album “Bamboleate” (1967) with Cal Tjader.
Today, Palmieri is still breaking records with his many fans, who transform his live concerts into salsa fiestas. Live performance for the evening will include the gusto of musicians trombonist Conrad Herwig, pianist Hector Davila, bassist Luques Curtis, and drummer Camilo Molina.
For more information, visit jazz.org.
The 10th annual BRIC JazzFest, now a Brooklyn institution, will be in orbit Oct. 17–19. This year’s theme celebrates a decade of resilience, artistic growth, and genre-bending exploration. The 2024 BRIC Artist Curator is harpist Brandee Younger. She has evolved from a young and new musician in 2015 to an exploring, inventive musician whose artistry symbolizes the spirit of the festival.
The three-night marathon fest boasts established musicians, vibrant stride-makers, and newcomers. Some of the highlights from the impressive list of artists include Younger; NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz; multiinstrumentalist and composer Kassa Overall; NEA Jazz Masters Terri Lyne Carrington and Reggie Workman; Ebban and Ephraim Dorsey (20- and 21-year-old saxophonists and bandleaders); the Jungle; saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin; and conga player Joaquin Pozo, among others. Genres cross paths and even collide at the BRIC JazzFest. For a complete schedule and tickets, visit bricartsmedia.org.
Town Hall hosts night with Buena Vista Orchestra
Nikki Giovanni (Photo courtesy of NJPAC)
Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos, music director, singer, trombonist, and arranger, and his Buena Vista Orchestra recently performed to a sold-out audience at New York’s Town Hall, featuring some of the best in Afro-Cuban cultural music and dance. Highlights included trombonist/vocalist Lorena Lazara Ramos Diaz and vocalist Miranda Alvarez.
Buena Vista Orchestra (Bill Moore photo)
Jesus Aguaje Ramos and Lorena Lazara Ramos
federal government collects or uses race and ethnicity data — the first time this has happened since 1997. The U.S. Census Bureau vowed to stick to the directive and improve federal race and ethnicity statistics, ensuring that data more accurately reflect the country. New York State passed legislation last year to disaggregate MENA citizens on government forms and create a new MENA racial category. The bill was sponsored by Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, and is currently waiting to be signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.
“MENA communities deserve to be counted and their needs understood by the government,” González-Rojas said. “By now, we’ve celebrated the passage of my bill at the state level to disaggregate the data of these New Yorkers so state institutions can better serve them. But it has yet to be signed into law. There is no reason for these delays. The longer we wait, the longer we delay important resources and support to communities that need it most.”
At the city level, more people have begun to study the MENA population. In 2018, the Muslims for American Progress (MAP) subsidiary of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding released a report examining the contributions of Muslim Americans to the city. The report found that Muslims owned about 100,000 small businesses including restaurants, fashion stores, and bodegas.
Dr. Debbie Almontaser, an educator and Yemeni activist, said that the report really galvanized local MENA business owners to push for more of them to be considered for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) city contracting and programming along with businesses owned by Black, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous Americans. “It’s been over 20 years that many Arab Americans and myself have been
having conversations about [the MENA movement],” said Almontaser. “When you look at them, you say they’re a minority, they should get this but the classification of somebody from Sudan or Somalia or Morocco or Tunisia or Libya or Egypt–they’re considered white.”
Councilmember Shahana Hanif recently introduced Intro 1076, a bill that would expand the M/WBE program eligibility for MENA business owners and require the city to create a M/WBE disparity study to research whether MENA owned businesses are underrepresented in city government contracts.
“It wouldn’t be them competing against the Latin or Black community. They would have their own bracketing of funding, depending on how many businesses there are,” said Hanif at the conference.
“Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities have long been excluded from the support systems designed to uplift minority and women-owned businesses in New York City,” said Councilmember Yusef Salaam in a statement. “This bill is a necessary step toward rectifying this oversight and ensuring that members of the MENA community have the appropriate
access to our city’s services. I stand proudly with Council Member Hanif and my colleagues in supporting this critical legislation to help MENA business owners thrive and contribute even more to our great city.”
MENA advocates were ecstatic that the city and state seem to be catching up to the MENA movement in terms of legislation.
“As we advocate for the inclusion of MENA communities in New York City’s data, we recognize that true equity starts with visibility,” said Rana Abdelhamid, executive director of nonprofit Malikah. “Our communities deserve to be counted, understood, and empowered. By supporting Councilmember Hanif’s bill to incorporate the MENA cate-
gory in the MWBE business disparity study, we are not just seeking acknowledgment; we are opening doors to economic opportunities that have long been closed.”
Husein Yatabarry, executive director of Muslim Community Network (MCN), said that the bill is not just about recognizing identity, it’s about equity. “For too long MENA-owned businesses have been left out of crucial M/WBE programs and missing out on chances to grow and thrive due to outdated classifications,” he said. “As a Black West African muslim, I am able to access M/BWE resources but my counterparts in the MENA community cannot. And for me it’s an equity issue that has to be rectified.”
TRINITY HOUSE
100 WEST 92ND STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10025 MITCHELL-LAMA RENTAL ONE AND THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT WAITING LISTS ARE BEING OPENED
*Based upon the number of persons in household. **Subject to change. OCCUPANCY STANDARDS: One Bedroom: One to Three people. Three Bedroom: Four to Six people. IMPORTANT NOTICE: (FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION)
• Applications are not transferable.
• Applicant must be a New York State resident.
• Applicants must be financially responsible.
• Applicant/Head of household must be at least 18 years old at the time of the lottery.
• Preference will be given to documented veterans selected in the lottery that are NY State residents only.
• Any applicant that does not have the proper family composition will automatically be disqualified.
• Applicants can only be on one waiting list at a development. If applicants have the right family composition, they can apply to more than one lottery. However, if they are selected for more than one lottery, they will have to choose which waiting list they prefer.
• ONE REQUEST ONLY PER APPLICANT. Any applicant placing a duplicate request will not be entered into the lottery. An applicant can only submit a paper entry or an on-line entry. If applicants enter on-line and also mail in a letter or postcard, they have submitted a duplicate request and will not be eligible for the lottery.
• An applicant whose name is selected in a lottery cannot be included in the family composition of any other applicant who is selected in the same lottery for that particular Mitchell Lama development. Failure to comply will result in the disqualification of both applicants.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The waiting list will be established by a limited lottery. There will be a limit of 300 applicants drawn from the One-Bedroom lottery and a limit of 75 applicants drawn for the Three-Bedroom lottery.
HOW TO APPLY: ONLINE You can now apply to a lottery online through Mitchell-Lama Connect. Applying is fast, easy and you will be able to check the status of your entry to see if you have been selected. To apply on line go to: https://a806-housingconnect.nyc.gov/nyclottery/lottery.html#ml-home BY MAIL Mail Post Card or Envelope by regular mail. Registered and Certified Mail will not be accepted. Clearly print your full first and last name, current address and last 4 digits of your social security number and the bedroom size lottery that you wish to apply for. If you do not include the last 4 digits of your social security number or fail to indicate the bedroom size lottery, you will not be entered into the lottery. Mail post card or envelope to:
Trinity House One Bedroom Lottery P.O. Box 916 New York, NY 10272
Trinity House Three Bedroom Lottery P.O. Box 927 New York, NY 10272
MENA business owners, advocates, and elected officials rally around a bill for parity on Oct.
C. Long. photo)
Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas (at podium) at a MENA press conference at City Hall park.
CLASSROOM IN THE
Clementine Hunter’s gifted hands created paintings, quilts, and a remarkable legacy
By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews
The artistic versatility of Michael Kelly Williams, whose works are on display at the Kenkeleba Gallery until November 2, brought to mind memories of Clementine Hunter, the folk artist from the Cane River region of Louisiana who worked on Melrose Plantation. Like Williams, Hunter was proficient in several formats, most famously as a painter, although she was equally adept at spinning cotton and making quilts.
Hunter was born in late December in 1886 or 1887 into a Creole family at Hidden Hill Plantation in Natchitoches Parish, La. She was the first of seven children born to Janvier Reuben and Mary Antoinette Adams. Her parents were married on Oct. 15, 1890, in Cloutierville at the town’s Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist. After her baptism in 1887, her family called her Tebe, for “Little Baby,” and she kept the name into her adult years.
She attended a segregated school for less than a year and thus never learned to read or write. At eight years of age, she was picking cotton along with her father. At the age of 15, she moved to Melrose Plantation, where she worked as a farm laborer. In 1907, she gave birth to her first child, Joseph Dupree, whose father was Charles Dupree, a Creole man 15 years older than Hunter. The couple never married and he died seven years later.
In 1924, she married Emmanuel Hunter, a man six years her senior. He taught her English and they had five children (two of whom were stillborn) while living in a workers’ cabin on Melrose Plantation. During this period, Hunter began working as a cook and housekeeper for Cammie Henry, the wife of John H. Henry. Her versatility was evident in her sewing of clothes, making dolls, and tending the family’s vegetable garden. Eventually, Cammie Henry began hosting a salon for artists and writers, and their appearance there may have been an inspiration for Hunter’s desire to paint, which she began doing in the late 1930s, using the discarded tubes of paint left by the visiting artists.
Hunter’s husband became terminally ill and bedridden 10 years later,
leaving her as the sole breadwinner and caregiver for him, and painting late at night. He died in 1944. Along with own children, she adopted Mary Francis LaCour, who had been abandoned at age 11 by her parents. Hunter taught her LaCour paint and they often displayed their works outside their home.
Hunter began selling her paintings for 25 cents each. Her first exhibit was in 1945 in Rosenwald Grant, Brownwood, and Waco, Tex. Four years later, she had a show at the New Orleans Arts and Crafts, where she acquired recognition beyond Cane River. She received national exposure when Look magazine published an article about her work in 1953.
Hunter was soon recognized as one of the best-known selftaught artists. She often said that she painted from memory in documenting her southern environ-
ment. Among her most popular works were depictions of events in her community, various ceremonies, and scenes of plantation life. “I just get it in my mind and I just go ahead and paint, but I can’t look at nothing and paint. No trees, no nothing. I just make my own tree in my mind—that’s the way I paint.”
After the onset of arthritis, she was encouraged to delve more into abstract work, and an example of that was “Clementine Makes a Quilt.”
However, two years later, in 1964, she returned to her forte in narrative works when she began devoting more time to her quilts—something she had developed long before her immersion in painting. Her quilts and tapestries, in many respects, were an extension of her paintings, and many of them were not batted (backed), indicating they were created to hang as tapestries and not used as a household function.
The honors and awards she received were numerous, including being noted as the first AfricanAmerican artist to have a solo exhibition at the Delgado Museum, now the New Orleans Museum of Art. In 1985, she was saluted during a centennial tribute to her. Later, she received an invitation from President Jimmy Carter and a letter from President Ronald Reagan. She was included in the Black Women Oral History Project records that are housed at Harvard University. In 1987, Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards designated her as an honorary colonel, a state senator, and aide-de-camp.
Hunter’s remarkable achievements also spawned a number of forgeries that readers and reviewers can find in several biographies and profiles on her life and legacy. She was 101 when she died on January 1, 1988, in Natchitoches parish.
ACTIVITIES
FIND OUT MORE
Numerous publications, particularly those that deal with folk art, include Hunter.
DISCUSSION
Space here does not permit a full list of forgeries undertaken by the FBI.
PLACE IN CONTEXT
Hunter lived for more than a century, and compiled an impressive amount of art.
THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY
Oct. 14, 1919: UNIA leader Marcus Garvey was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt by George Tyler.
Oct. 14, 1964: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Oct. 19, 1960: Grammy Award-winning singer Jennifer Holliday was born in Riverside, Tex.
Clementine Hunter has given the world a unique record of Black plantation life in the South (Photo courtesy of the Black Women Oral History Project)
Long Covid
Available tests include:
EndoPAT, which monitors endothelial dysfunction (or issues with the vascular system)
Metamax, which measures mitochondria function (requires the patient to remove their mask)
Sonoclot, which measures blood coagulation (and can identify microclots)
Transcranial Doppler device, which measures blood flow to the brain during autonomic testing
Electroencephalogram (EEG) and neurocognitive assessments, to measure brain function
Not all patients will do all the tests; it depends on their symptoms and prior diagnoses, Putrino said. For example, patients generally start with an active stand test to identify potential Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), then may do a tilt-table test; the latter can lead to worse symptoms for some people. One CoRE patient, Rose Friedman, reported that she was able to decline a tilt-table test this summer because she had a prior POTS diagnosis.
After the tests, patients will receive customized reports, also designed by Studio Elsewhere, that visualize the biological underpinnings of their symptoms and show how their results compare to others with the same diagnoses. “It’s going to have a glossary and visuals of how everything’s connected,” Phillips said.
Patients will be able to repeat certain tests every few months to track how they are doing. In one preliminary example, some patients whose Metamax tests reported dysfunctional mitochondria in their first tests showed improvement in following a regimen of supplements to boost mitochondrial function, Putrino said.
However, these tests are currently inaccessible to people whose symptoms are more severe because they require patients to come to the center. Even for those able to travel, doing several tests in an hours-long appointment has downsides: “I was really exhausted after the testing…and I’m a relatively mild case,” said A.,* one patient who was tested in August.
Growing pains for a new, complex center
While CoRE officially opened last week, the center has been ramping up with appointments over the last several months. Several patients who had appointments during this time said they’ve been excited to get tested and participate in research, but have faced some logistical hurdles as the center hires new staff and scales up. Some challenges have stemmed from CoRE sharing space with the Abilities Research Center, an adjacent center at the hospital that is not explicitly focused on infection-associated diseases.
Multiple patients who spoke to the Sick Times expressed some confusion about
scheduling and insurance approvals. A., who lives in Brooklyn, planned her schedule around a testing appointment, only to find out that it “actually hadn’t been put in the calendar,” she said. For K., it took months to have a follow-up appointment after the intake testing due to staffing shortages while the center hired more people.
Sofia Adams, who also had an appointment over the summer for testing, was disappointed to find staff unmasked or wearing surgical masks when they arrived despite a prior confirmation that CoRE staff wear high-quality masks. Adams also hadn’t known in advance that one of the tests, the Metamax, would require taking off their masks, they said. “I had a full-blown panic attack. I was like, I have to leave,” Adams recalled. In addition, a home visit for Adams to participate in a clinical trial was abruptly canceled because they didn’t pick up a lastminute phone call, they said.
“I’m really grateful that they’re doing this work and this research, [but] I think ultimately it can only be a net positive if they don’t infect patients or each other,” Adams said.
In response, Putrino acknowledged that the early months of appointments have been far from perfect. “We opened out of brute force,” he said, noting that CoRE initially shared space with a different center that works with a different group of patients. “That led to some expectation violations, which I really regret…[We have] put together policies to make sure that we do better.”
Putrino emphasized that CoRE now has a specialized space with layered infection control measures. The team is also working to set up a separate waiting area for patients in the CoRE space, so their time in Mount Sinai’s common areas is limited.
The clinic has other logistical hurdles to overcome as well, Putrino said. These include home visits for people with more severe symptoms—CoRE current -
ly can do home visits for research studies but not clinical care due to insurance complications, he said—and negotiating with insurance providers so they can see people who live outside of New York and New Jersey.
Better connectivity within Mount Sinai is another concern for Putrino. The health system currently has multiple Long COVID-related clinics, including a Center for Post-COVID Care and another newer center focused on serving patients in Harlem and the South Bronx. Many other clinicians at Mount Sinai also see people with Long COVID and related diseases. These different options, combined with the bureaucracies inherent in a large hospital network, have created a confusing landscape, as some prospective patients found last week when they tried to contact CoRE from Mount Sinai’s phone directory and were not connected.
Some patients who spoke to the Sick Times said they’ve seen improvements as CoRE has added more staff and moved into its own space. “It felt a little disorganized toward the beginning, but I think that they’re getting a lot more organized now,” Friedman said. “I’ve had a much easier time scheduling appointments.”
Providing a model for other centers
In addition to providing diagnostic information for patients, the advanced testing available at CoRE is a key component of multiple clinical trials now underway at the center. “Objective physiological changes can be tracked” in tandem with people’s self-reported changes in symptoms, Putrino said.
Proal also discussed this process in her remarks at the opening event. “We’re not just measuring people’s symptoms,” she said. “We collect samples and we send them to our collaborators, who work those samples up for so many infectious and immune and endocrine and hormonal and metabolic
parameters.” These measurements will help the researchers better understand the underlying biology of the diseases under study and will inform clinical trials at other institutions.
Current trials at CoRE include lumbrokinase, an enzyme that may break down microclots; testing two HIV antivirals; vagus nerve stimulation; and adevice called Sana that can assist with chronic pain. Trials include people with different diagnoses: for example, the Sana trial focuses on Long Lyme, while the lumbrokinase trial includes Long COVID and ME groups.
Proal is particularly excited about a potential upcoming trial with the drug rapamycin, which research suggests may help boost the immune system and improve function in other areas of the body. She and colleagues at CoRE are currently working on the approval process to start the trial, she told the Sick Times CoRE patients who spoke to the Sick Times were enthusiastic about participating in trials. “I’ve given so much blood” over the course of different studies “and I’m totally fine with that,” Roman said. “I think it’s important. There’s so much that has to be understood.” Like other people who’ve taken part in CoRE’s programs, Roman finds that the center gives him hope not only for Long COVID research, but also for a model of health care that is more integrated in addressing complex diseases, he said.
To that end, CoRE is developing educational materials for other healthcare providers, an effort led by Dr. Raven Baxter, who has lived experience of Long COVID as well as a PhD in curriculum development for science education. These materials are a crucial part of the training process for new staff at CoRE, Putrino said, but will also become publicly available for other institutions to use.
“If this becomes a location clinic for every Long COVID patient in the world, I would say that our mission has failed,” Putrino said at the conclusion of the opening event last week. “This, I hope, is the clinic that’s going to launch a thousand clinics.”
Interested patients in New York and New Jersey should email CORE@mountsinai.org.
*The PolyBio Research Foundation, like the Sick Times, has received support from the Balvi and Kanro funds. Its newsroom operates independently of financial supporters.
*Two CoRE patients who spoke to the Sick Times for this story requested to be referred to by initials only for privacy reasons.
Health
Black hair, cancer, and accountability: Emerging nationwide regulation over ‘toxic’ relaxers
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
In response to recent studies linking chemical hair straighteners, targeting Black and Brown women with natural hair, to specific cancer strains, Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman recently joined the Black women-led legal team that’s spearheading a lawsuit against hair companies that pushed such products for several decades without health and safety warnings.
In New York State, in addition to the 2019 Crown Act, Zinerman and others have already introduced several pieces of legislation to protect against toxic hair chemicals and harmful marketing strategies.
“We do know that when you’re talking about certain types of chemicals, we shouldn’t be consuming them, and putting it on your head is still consuming because it ends up in your bloodstream,” said Zinerman, who’s worn her hair in natural styles for about 32 years. “We want people to be aware. What they are not telling you is how many people have chemical burns, how many people have lost their hair, who have a level of alopecia that they’ll never recover from. Not all of that information is transparent to the consumer.”
The bills include S6528A, which requires that cosmetologists or natural hair stylists be educated about all hair types and textures; AB3877, which requires that hair relaxer products display warning labels when they contain certain dangerous chemicals; A9068, which limits the sale of chemical hair relaxers and permanent hairstyle kits to hair salons or licensed stylists; and A8624A, which creates apprenticeships and opportunities for natural hair care and braiding.
Women aren’t just holding hair companies to industry standards legislatively; they’re also fighting back in the courts. Attorney Heather Palmore of the Palmore Law Group and her co-counsel, Tope O. Leyimu with Motley Rice LLC, are representing 8,393 women in a nationwide multidistrict hair relaxer lawsuit (some of the claimants have already died from a cancer diagnosis).
They allege that the chemicals in hair relaxer products have caused ovarian, uterine, and endometrial cancer, based on scientific studies using National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) data from 2022. They also claim that product manufacturers misrepresented the safety of their hair-
relaxing products while specifically targeting women of color and children with “misleading language” on packages and advertisements, using phrases such as “botanicals,” “natural,” “gentle,” “healthy,” “safely elongate tight coils,” and “ultra nourishing.”
“This litigation is special for me because my firm has worked on historic cases— asbestos, big tobacco, or the opioid litigation—but never has there been a case that has hit me so close to home, that I have understood so well,” Leyimu said.
“It’s an honor and a privilege.”
For more than a century, hair relaxers have been a staple product for Black and
Brown people who wanted to achieve straight hair to adhere to more “white” beauty standards. The hair relaxer industry generates about $690 million annually and is expected to grow to $854 million annually by 2028, said the law group.
“As a child, I yearned for it,” said NAACP Brooklyn Branch Executive Board Member Ciara Walton about straight hair. Walton’s mother was adamantly against her getting a hair relaxer in her youth, even though she used such products herself.
“I’m from Jacksonville, Florida, and in the South, that wasn’t something that was a thing for us. It was ‘you wear your hair and get it straight’—you do the thing
that makes you hirable.”
Parent companies and hair relaxer brands that have been named in the lawsuits include Avlon, Dabur, Godrej SON Holdings, House of Cheatham, JF Labs, L’Oréal, Luster, McBride, Namaste Laboratories, PDC Brands, Revlon Inc., Sally Beauty, SoftSheen-Carson, Strength of Nature, Affirm, African Pride, Africa’s Best, Cantu, Crème of Nature, Dark & Lovely, Design Essentials, Dr. Miracle’s, Dream Kids, Hawaiian Silky, Just for Me, Mizani, Motions, Optimum Care, Organic Root Stimulator, ORS Olive Oil, Pink Conditioning No-Lye Relaxer, Profectiv Mega Growth, Revlon Realistic, Roots of Nature, Silk Elements, Smooth Touch No-Lye Relaxer, Soft & Beautiful, TCB, and TCB Naturals.
Many of the ingredients in hair relaxers and related products have endocrine disruptors and carcinogens linked to reproductive cancers like cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, vulvar, and breast cancer. These chemicals can hinder the normal activity of the endocrine system and block hormone signals by modifying DNA and cell structure, according to the “Journal of the National Cancer Institute” (“JNCI”). Black and Hispanic women are disproportionately exposed to these products and subsequently are diagnosed with “aggressive” breast tumors, ovarian tumors, and types of uterine and endometrial cancers with lower survival rates compared to white counterparts, reported the “JNCI.” Symptoms can include bleeding between periods, pelvic pain, and vaginal bleeding after menopause. Less See BLACK HAIR continued on next page
Concerned individuals (left to right) Ciara Walton, Executive Committee member, Brooklyn NAACP; Tope Leyimu, Motley Rice LLC lawyer; attorney Heather Palmore; Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman; and Natasha Gaspard of National Hairstyle & Braid Coalition, Inc., discuss possible link between hair relaxers and cancer. (Ariama C. Long photos)
Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman speaks about legislation against toxic hair chemicals and products at Oct. 14 discussion.
DOJ inserts statement of interest in lawsuit over NYPD response to mental health responses
By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a statement of interest toward Baerga v. City of New York, a lawsuit accusing the deployment of NYPD officers in mental health crises as discrimination against people with disabilities.
“Congress enacted the ADA in 1990 ‘to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities,’” the filing reads. “It found that ‘discrimination against individuals with disabilities continue[s] to be a serious and pervasive social problem’ which persists in several critical areas, including access to public services. Such discrimination takes several forms, including ‘outright intentional exclusion,’ ‘overprotective rules and policies,’ failure to make modifications to existing practices, and ‘relegation to lesser services, programs, activities, benefits, jobs, or other opportunities.’
“To combat these varied forms of exclusion, Congress broadly prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities by public entities.”
Trained medical staff show up when a physical medical emergency occurs. Baerga challenges why NYPD officers, rather than similarly qualified professionals, typically respond to mental health calls. The DOJ — which enforces the American Disabilities Act through litigation — now adds weight to the case through such a filing.
The lawsuit stems from a broader campaign to remove police from mental health responses given the track record of deadly violence — including NYPD officers fatally shooting 19-year-old Win Rozario earlier this year after he called 911 seeking help for a mental health crisis. Marinda van Dalen, director of litigation at New York Lawyers for Public Interest
and one of the organizers in the campaign, says the movement started largely due to the dehumanization of people seeking emergency services for mental health crises.
“The first impulse was to fix the training that police officers got and that’s always going to be part of the solution,” van Dalen said. “But what slowly became evident was the cops simply needed to be removed. They’re not part of the solution, they’re part of the problem.
“When police officers show up on the scene, they’re police officers, and that’s not going to change. They are there to restore order and enforce the laws and doing that with a uniform and guns and potentially sirens blaring and lights flashing just makes these situations worse.”
She says the DOJ weighing in serves as a “wake-up call” for the city to preemptively
apply such reforms given the arduous nature of lawsuits and court orders.
“The City’s practices with respect to mental health-related calls to 911 are consistent with the requirements of the constitution and federal and state law,” said an NYC Law Department spokesperson.
911 pilot B-HEARD currently exists to remove police responses from mental health calls, specifically operating in mostly Black and Brown neighborhoods (including Harlem) where the aforementioned issues are exacerbated by a history of over-policing. But the initiative remains limited and deployment of mental health professionals over cops is far from guaranteed. “[B-HEARD] refutes the city’s position that police need to be the first responders when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis,” said van
Dalen. “In this litigation, the city is saying that the police need to be present for public safety, and we know that that simply is not true, and the fact that the city has B-HEARD up and running, albeit in only a very limited number of cases, demonstrates that that’s simply not true [and indeed,] disingenuous. “Now B-HEARD is profoundly imperfect. It needs to be changed in fundamental ways, but it shows that there is an alternative to police response, and that is so critical to this issue.”
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who 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
obvious symptoms include abdominal bloating or swelling, back pain, changes in bowel habits, fatigue, frequent urination, weight loss, and pelvic discomfort.
These products have been used for generations in households and hair salons throughout the U.S., and have often been deemed an intricate part of Black culture that allows for assimilation in the workplace, schools, and society overall, said Palmore.
“I think, like many young Black girls growing up, hair was very important in my home. There’s no way to get around it: Hair was an important part of our ritual,” said Palmore. Her mother and cousin recently died of ovarian cancer and were frequent users of relaxers.
“It’s always been about hair, especially in
the industry that I work in,” she said. “Your appearance at that time—there was a push to present a certain way. As a trial attorney, I felt myself in front of hundreds of strangers every day, having to be everybody to everybody, meaning the way I chose to wear my hair was an important part of my work because it helped me to connect with certain people.”
Natasha Gaspard of the National Hairstyle & Braid Coalition, Inc. said she remembers as a child, idolizing little Black girls with silky, manageable hair on kiddie perm boxes or in commercials. She viewed such hair as a rite of passage to becoming a young adult. She grappled with the idea of going natural with her hair in college. Eventually, she founded Mane Moves Media, a natural hair and beauty-focused video network creating lifestyle content for women of color.
“I knew I had bought into the lie. I had
drank the Kool-Aid,” said Gaspard about her hair. “And the fear was real. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get a job or if my boyfriend would like it. I knew my mom would hate it, and that was one of the biggest deterrents. Growing up, straight long hair was the standard of beauty and I didn’t think I would be beautiful anymore.”
NIEHS Sister Study researchers found that much of the harm these chemical hair straighteners cause is from “frequent use” or more than four times a year. Even with natural hair movements slowing down product use and the advent of no-lye formulas in recent decades, most people who apply relaxers will use them well more than four times throughout the year.
“We have to acknowledge the historical and cultural significance in our country and society that put pressure on us to wear our hair a certain way,” said Leyimu. “Un-
derstanding that context is the reason why a person would reach for a hair relaxer.”
In 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a ban on formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair relaxers. The administration was supposed to unveil a proposal for the ban in April 2024, but hasn’t done so yet.
“Consumer protection—laws are in place to ensure that when you use a service, we have paid attention to all of the potential dangers and mitigated those things so that you have a beautiful experience, but a healthy experience, because that’s the goal,” said Zinerman.
At present, the hair relaxer lawsuit is in the “discovery phase” of litigation in the Northern District of Illinois court, said Leyimu. No lawsuit settlements have happened yet and it’s likely the first hair relaxer trials won’t begin until 2025.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland (center) speaks at conference. (Tia Dufour/ United States Department of Homeland Security photo)
Education Defend Harlem and students protest Columbia and gentrification
By JASON PONTEROTTO Special to the AmNews
The New York Interfaith Commission for Housing Equity and Columbia University students are continuing their partnership to protest the school’s expansion in Harlem and the resulting displacement of residents. Students held a rally on Monday in front of the university gates, calling out the university.
“More students than ever are ready to stand behind Harlem in this fight and target the university in whatever ways we can. We cannot claim to be in solidarity with Harlem unless we answer its call right now,” one protester proclaimed during the rally on Sept. 30.
Dozens of students with the Columbia student organization Housing Equity Project (HEP) led the protest with chants of “Columbia open your eyes, Harlem is not yours to buy” and “No more corporate greed, Harlem knows what Harlem needs.” They also called out the university for not following through with the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) signed in 2009 between the school and the West Harlem Local Development Corporation. The contract was a pledge to invest more in the local Harlem community.
The student leaders have been working alongside the commission, which held an emergency community action meeting last month at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church to share updates with supporters. After having received multiple letters to the university, Columbia agreed to meet with the commission, leaders said. The letters outline how the university has been “endangering the existence of the West Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood communities.” The first letter was sent in February with no response and the follow-up went out in July.
The commission began in 2010 and has recently built substantial support through its Defend Harlem social media campaign.
“Defend Harlem and the New York Interfaith Commission for Housing Equality have finally brought Columbia to the table after it ignored their letters for months. We must
show up to demand that the university stop gentrifying Harlem and negotiate with them and Harlem residents in good faith,” one Instagram post read.
A flyer from the group said its official demands are for Columbia to: end the expansion and instead create a satellite campus away from Harlem; return the 125th Street waterfront and the Fairway properties to create more housing and economic opportunities for the community; make university real estate and property acquisitions public; renegotiate and extend the existing CBA; and appoint a Harlem community member to the Columbia board.
The commission’s executive board includes Dr. Charles A. Curtis, Dr. Dedrick L. Blue, Bishop James I. Clark, and more, representing several ministries in the Harlem community.
In his remarks at the meeting, Blue said Columbia has actively attempted to ignore the commission and is now trying to back out of the planned meeting that they “promised” to take part in.
“For them to ignore the community—it’s an outrage,” Blue said. “They agreed to sit down and now they act like they are reneging on the deal. We will not let them
renege on the deal.”
In 2008, the Empire State Development Corporation gave Columbia the power to use eminent domain to acquire 200,000 square feet per year through the Columbia Education Mixed Use Development Land Use plan. Since then, the school has acquired up to 400,000 square footage in Harlem and Washington Heights.
Organizers shared a video detailing the history of Columbia’s encroachment on the Harlem community. which also highlighted the university apparently going back on their word not to buy the 125th Street Fairway properties. The area had previously been used as an economic engine for the Harlem on the Hudson program, established by the Harlem Urban Development Corporation before being shut down by Governor George Pataki in 1995, “leaving the community defenseless against the university’s aggressive development activities.”
In 2021, the commission met with Columbia representatives who said they were not interested in the Fairway area. However, less than a year later, the university purchased the property for $84 million, leading to the closure of the Fairway Supermarket.
Phase 2 of Columbia’s expansion is positioned to begin in 2030, and would push the Manhattanville campus up to 134th Street and eventually up to 165th Street in Washington Heights with the medical center.
Harlem leaders New York State Senator Cordell Cleare and Assemblymember Al Taylor co-sponsored SB9028A, which would repeal Columbia’s mixed use plan and prevent further projects.
Rebecca Carter, 20, and Hagen Feeney, 19, two of the student leaders with HEP, told the Amsterdam News that they are doing their part to educate and energize students about the issues and are willing to assist the commission in whatever ways they can.
“There are thousands of families who lived in Harlem for generations who will obviously be priced out if gentrification continues, and a lot of Harlem residents, including Defend Harlem, recognize how urgent the situation is,” Feeney said.
The organization has initiatives including providing food and mutual aid to those dealing with housing insecurity in the community.
“We have both responsibility and a very useful positionality to be like, ‘Hey, we are Columbia students who are saying that this is not what we
want, that this is not what should be done,’ and that can be very helpful to reach a university that is so often very closed off to people it considers outsiders,” Carter said.
Students who are part of other activist groups, such as the Coalition for Divestment from Apartheid at Columbia, see a correlation between the displacement of Harlem residents and the situation of Palestine. One of that group’s central demands is the end of gentrification in Harlem, according to Carter.
“There’s a recognition that although Columbia has had a very troubling and horrific past in Harlem, that it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way, and that Columbia can invest a lot in the community and be a good, conscientious neighbor,” Feeney said, highlighting ways the university can offer spaces like studios and other resources for community members.
The student protesters shared the petition. Feeney said that the demonstration on Monday is not the end and more action will come.
“We really want to emphasize to Columbia that we as students and we as community members are not going to [take] displacement lightly, and we want them to stop,” Feeney said.
Columbia student protesters in front of Columbia’s 116th Street campus with Housing Equity Project, demanding Columbia stop expansion into Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood communities. (Jason Ponterotto photo)
‘Forward Ever, Backward Never’—Harlem Divine 9 organizations Get Out the Vote
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
The First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem gathered members of Divine Nine fraternities and sororities to help register people to vote this past weekend.
Divine Nine organizations include the Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Zeta Phi Beta sororities and the Alpha Phi Alpha, Iota Phi Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, and Phi Beta Sigma fraternities.
The voter-registration drive started with an early breakfast for participants at the Angel of Harlem restaurant, a local brunch spot on Frederick Douglass Boulevard. People showed up in vibrant colors and outfits that showed off their fraternity or sorority voting paraphernalia. Having pledged in college or graduate school, many were eager for a chance to reconnect with other Divine Nine members and fulfill their organizations’ legacy of community service.
The Rev. Dr. Michael A. Walrond, Jr., senior pastor at the First Corinthian Baptist Church and a member of Omega Psi Phi for the last 31 years, said he was inspired to pledge during his time attending Morehouse College because of the influential history of Black fraternities in the church and social justice causes. When his congregation came up with the idea of a voter drive centered around the Divine Nine, he was excited.
“I thought it was a way to get members of the Divine Nine involved by going throughout the community and actually registering voters,” said Walrond. “All of our organizations do something. Service is at the forefront, and historically, service to our community is what inspired and motivated most of these organizations at a time where we were experiencing segregation and the diminishing of who we were as a people.”
Kercena A. Dozier, social justice ministry leader at First Corinthian and a Delta Sigma Theta soror from Loyola University, came up with the idea for a voter registration drive to educate community members about the upcoming presidential and local elections. “We’re just moving in the spirit of our ancestors, and understanding that it is our time to pick up that torch and
move this country forward,” Dozier said at the breakfast.
A long list of Black historical figures, both past and present, were part of the Divine Nine, including Shirley Chisholm, Fannie Lou Hamer, Marian Wright Edelman, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Rev. Jesse Jackson.
The planning committee for the event consisted of Dozier; AKAs Shana Harmongoff, Athena Moore, and Effie Donaldson; Deltas Erika Ewing and Pascale Bernard; Alphas Larry Scott Blackmon, Nakiim Bey, and Thomas Donaldson; Zeta TaShana Pace; Kappa Keith Tubbs; Omegas John Staton and Donnell Bolden; Phi Beta Sigma Mu-
hammed Bilal; and Sigma Gamma Rho Hope Maddox.
After breakfast, the Divine Nine members held a press conference with New York State Attorney General Letitia James at the Harriet Tubman Memorial (W.122nd Street). Pastors and organizers from all over Harlem joined to speak about the importance of the Black vote.
“This election is probably the most existential election—an election that will have so many consequential impacts on all of your lives,” said James, who’s been embroiled in litigation against former President Donald Trump since 2016. He’s been indicted on 34 counts of felony charges.
“This vote, this election, is about rights, liberties, and our democracy as we know it, because [Trump] wants to concentrate power in his
corrupt hands,” she continued.
“...the 4 million of Divine 9 in this nation represent 4 million patriots, individuals, who share camaraderie, who share academic excellence, but who are also committed to community service. Today is the day of community service, where you’ve got to go out and let people know what is at stake.”
James warned that over the years, the courts and judges have changed with initiatives like Project 2025. In that time, James said, she’s dealt with death threats and protestors showing up to her home.
After the conference wrapped, the sorority and fraternity participants set up voter registration tables throughout Harlem, from 116th Street to 145th Street. Some members, like the Zeta Phi Beta Sorori-
ty, partnered with local restaurants and businesses to entice passersby with giveaways if they signed up.
The Zetas and Ma Smith’s Dessert Café, owned by JoAnn Baylor, gave out free cupcakes to registrants and offered a raffle for a tray of assorted cupcakes every hour.
Baylor, 81, grew up at Harlem River Houses and remembers going to vote for the first time with her mother before she was registered. She was amazed at the process, she said.
“I am very excited to vote this year and even more excited to get other people involved,” Baylor said. “There’s not just me. I can’t do it alone. It’s what all of us can do collectively to get a Democrat back in office. Listen, I would’ve voted for Biden had they rolled him up there in a wheelchair, okay?”
Fraternity and sorority members of Divine Nine gather at Harriet Tubman Memorial in Harlem. (Ariama C. Long photos)
Members of Divine Nine.
Kappa Alpha Psi member Keith Tubbs (center) at voter registration table.
Religion & Spirituality
Investigation into former Abyssinian Baptist Church deacon for alleged fraud and theft continues
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
A former deacon at Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church is still being investigated by local law enforcement for allegations of fraud and stealing from fellow parishioners since 2019.
“He stole money from my family,” said Mara Porter, a former congregation member. “He posed as a contractor and he would get these contracts with members, using his relationship with members, and then he’d disappear with the money.”
Former deacon Jerome Yeiser worked for the Porters as a contractor, and began renovations for them on their brownstone on W. 131st Street in 2018. Porter said that work started off well, but within months, had stopped altogether. Workers began complaining to the couple that they hadn’t been paid in months, although the Porters had made regular payments to Yeiser.
Over a seven-month period, the Porters say they paid $480,341 for the renovation project. Only $288,283 of this money was accounted for and $194,058 remains missing, according to Porter. She alleges in a lawsuit that Yeiser confessed that the money was frozen in his bank account due to a tax lien. Yeiser claimed he only owed the couple $30,000, according to the lawsuit.
The Porters took the issue to Abyssinian’s leader at the time, Rev. Dr. Calvin Otis Butts III, and say they were told that they were the third family that Yeiser had stolen from. Abyssinian Church leadership was thrown into a nearly two-year search for a new pastor after Butts died, and only recently elected Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson as an official replacement.
An Abyssinian representative told the Amsterdam News that the issue between Yeiser and the Porters is a “private matter and does not involve Abyssinian Baptist Church.”
The fraud case was temporarily paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and reopened in 2022.
Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Alvin Bragg is known to attend Abyssinian and had a relationship with Yeiser: Bragg taught Yeiser’s children years ago in Sunday school, the DA’s
office confirmed. The office received the complaint and, in August 2022, referred the matter to Bronx DA Darcel Clark’s office after Bragg recused himself.
The Bronx DA’s Office confirmed that there is “an investigation into this matter” currently.
In a 2024 letter to the Bronx DA and provided to the AmNews, Abyssinian’s Deacon Board wrote that it was not told about Yeiser’s criminal history and civil litigation — court documents indicate that Yeiser was indicted on felony charges before his time at Abyssinian.
The federal criminal case was held in Arizona from 2002 to 2005 and involved charges related to drug trafficking and cocaine distribution going back to 1996. Yeiser was in college at the time, according to the court timeline, and made a plea agreement. He was referred to home confinement, as opposed to a halfway house or boot camp program, during sentencing.
His wife, Avis Yeiser, also a former deacon at the church, had pleaded guilty to money laundering around that time.
Before Butts died in 2022, according to the letter, church leadership held a private meeting in 2019 and confronted Yeiser about the allegations of stealing from three families: John and Cheryl Graves, who claimed Yeiser took $20,000 from them; Tommie and Mara Porter; and a third, unnamed couple. The letter notes that, while contrite in the meeting, even crying and praying, Yeiser immediately aboutfaced when he left and claimed all the families were lying.
The Abyssinian representative said the 2024 letter received by the Bronx DA was “not authorized or authored by Abyssini an Baptist Church.” She also said that the Bronx DA has been notified that this was not an official communication by actual church leadership.
The Yeisers were voted off the deacon board in 2019, according to the letter. Yeiser went on to file a defamation suit against the Porter and Grave couples, denying all alle gations against him. The AmNews out to Yeiser for comment on the allegations. He said in a curt text message that “there are no church people” and didn’t elaborate.
The affected couples have stopped attend ing the church, Porter said.
G Campbell
Mara Porter at empty brownstone on W. 131st Street. (Contributed by Mara Porter)
Local spiritual, holistic health organization to host three-day 20th anniversary conference
By JIANA SMITH Special to the Amsterdam News
The Rev. Nafisa Sharriff has been interested in spirituality since attending Catholic mass during childhood, but when her sister recommended a workshop from a prominent Arizona channeler in 1987 after their mother’s death, she nearly walked out due to skepticism. Her inner voice stopped her.
“My spirit so loud and clearly said, ‘You always give up on yourself,’” Sharriff said to the AmNews. “It was like I heard myself say that.”
Sharriff returned to the workshop — a decision that would lead her down a lifelong path of spiritual and holistic healing and impart the desire to share this healing with others. She founded her nonprofit organization, Entering the Holy of Holies (ETHOH), in 2004. The organization aims to help people confront and express their emotions in a healthy manner through spiritual and holistic wellness.
“You’re going to dive deep into your heart, become clear about how you feel, and then have that emotional clarity or release to make some decisions about changing your life,” said Sharriff.
ETHOH will hold a conference from Oct. 25–27 to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The three-day event will feature all-day African and funk dance classes, interactive holistic panels, and a vendor fair.
The conference will open on Oct. 25 with a tribute to Assemblywoman Inez E. Dickens at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. In 2014, when Dickens was still a councilwoman, she wrote a letter of recognition for ETHOH for its spiritual and cultural contributions. Dickens announced her retirement in January.
ing online workshops in 2020, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our programs went from a handful of people because now people are home, too,” Sharriff said.
The organization’s name was inspired by Sharriff’s travels to Egypt, where she meditated and immersed herself in ancient Egyptian spirituality and culture on the Nile River. The organization was officially incorporated in 2004 but began unofficially in 1995 when Sharriff started including meditation in her dance classes.
The format was significant because of the stigma surrounding mental health in Black communities, especially in the mid-1990s.
“People were just ready to heal,” Sharriff said. “Especially in the Black and Brown communities, people weren’t trying to go to therapists.”
Mental health remains an issue for communities of color today. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found in 2021 that around 39% of Black people with mental health concerns received treatment in comparison to 52% of non-Hispanic white people. The NSDUH also found that in 2020, suicide was the third leading cause of death for Black people between ages 15 and 24.
Sharriff said it is important to be mindful of mental and spiritual health in the face of modern economic and political stresses.
“This is a wonderful moment not just to honor her, as many people will be honoring her for 50 years of service, but also for us to do a rite of passage through African music and song to continue the journey for herself,” Sharriff said.
The day will also feature a short documentary and photo gallery reflecting on 20 years of the organization.
Saturday will feature classes from members of the African dance community, such as Pat “the Funk Meister” Mabry, Maguette Camara, and Dr. Darian M. Parker of the Juilliard School. Sharriff will end the day with Sunnu classes.
The final day will feature holistic health panels led by Sharriff and other experts, such as Fordham professor Aminata Maraesa and Joyous Ocean founder Dionne Monsanto.
The organization has changed in many ways over the 20 years it has been active, going from Sharriff’s living room to a rented space and from only in-person to includ-
“The more we anchor into our spirit and we develop this relationship with God within ourselves, with the universe, the more we honor it,” she said. “That’s key.”
Dr. Aminata Maraesa, who will lead a yoga session at ETHOH’s 20th-anniversary conference, began attending Sharriff’s dance classics in 1996. She remembers appreciating the meditation practices that Sharriff would include in the sessions, due to how communal they felt.
“She encouraged us to break down the walls between human beings who are next to you, who might not otherwise have done that, and really created community,” Maraesa told the AmNews. Community is an aspect of ETHOH that many collaborators and students enjoy.
Dionne Monsanto, a mental health advocate and speaker at the conference, said she expects the event to feel like a reunion.
“I’m really excited to see people that I have not seen in years, to dance with people and other teachers I have not danced with in years,” she said.
Dance professor Darian Parker encouraged others to attend the event. “She’s all about uplifting and supporting people,” Parker said of Sharriff. “It is really important work that Nafisa is doing in the world.”
For tickets and additional information about the event, visit Entering the Holy of Holies’ website at ethoh.org.
A group meditation session at Entering the Holy of Holies, which focuses on spiritual, physical, and mental well-being. (Photo courtesy of Entering the Holy of Holies)
Reverend Nafisa Sharriff, founder of Entering the Holy of Holies, teaches a dance class. (Photo courtesy of Entering the Holy of Holies)
Reiki session at Entering the Holy of Holies in 2004. (Photo courtesy of Entering the Holy of Holies)
‘Writing the next chapter’: How a Harris presidency could transform K–12 education
By SHARIF EL-MEKKI Word in Black
If she wins the White House in November, Vice President Kamala Harris would make history in ways that are important and wellacknowledged: the first woman, and woman of color, to serve in the world’s most powerful job.
As a self-identifying Black woman who attended Howard University, Harris also would become the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) graduate to sit in the Oval Office. That fact could have major implications not just for HBCUs but for education, the teaching profession, and the futures of Black and Brown young people.
When she ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, then-Sen. Harris pledged that, if she became president, she would allocate $2.5 billion for teacher training programs at HBCUs to increase the number of educators of color.
“We can’t write the next chapter without remembering the last one,” she told the National Urban League’s 2019 annual conference in announcing that plan. “We’re going from when the doors to many of our country’s prestigious colleges excluded our community to new investments that will educate
the next generation of Black leaders.”
Such an investment in HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs) would be transformative. The path to diversifying the teacher workforce literally runs through these institutions: According to federal data, MSIs, including HBCUs, enrolled more than half of all aspiring educators of color nationwide in recent years. Increasing their capacity would turbocharge the teacher of color pipeline and make a measurable impact on the stubbornly persistent lack of diversity in the teaching workforce.
The mismatch between the rising diversity in the public-school body—which is majority Black and Brown—and the stagnant demography of the overwhelmingly white teaching workforce has real, potentially lifechanging implications for our students.
Research shows that Black and Brown teachers improve a range of academic and social outcomes for students who look like them: higher graduation rates, reduced dropout rates, fewer disciplinary issues, more positive views of schooling, and better test scores.
For example, studies show that having a single Black teacher before third grade improves a Black child’s chances of enrolling in college by 13%. Having a second Black
teacher before third grade improves that child’s college enrollment chances by 32%.
The impacts aren’t isolated only to Black students: Teacher diversity benefits all students and improves the performance of their white colleagues. A 2023 study looking at longitudinal data from North Carolina found that having a “Black same-grade peer significantly improves the achievement and reduces the suspension rates of white teachers’ Black students.”
New evidence of the specific impact of HBCU-educated teachers is compelling. A massive study of 1 million students and 35,000 teachers in North Carolina found that teachers who graduated from an HBCU produced better outcomes in mathematics for Black students. The study also found that the effect was similar for Black and white teachers who had attended HBCUs.
The investments in HBCU teacher preparation programs that Harris called for five years ago were prescient. Her broader orientation toward diversifying the teaching workforce is right on the mark. The impact of her education agenda on teaching and learning for Black and Brown teachers and students—as well as their white peers— could be transformative.
At the same time, Harris’s groundbreak-
ing leadership could inspire a new generation of leaders from diverse backgrounds, creating a ripple effect in various sectors. Her presidency would symbolize the breaking of barriers, encouraging young people of color to aspire to leadership roles in politics, business, and other fields where they have been historically under-represented. This representation matters, because it fosters a sense of belonging and possibility for those who see themselves reflected in positions of power.
While her candidacy is historic and her election to the nation’s highest office would be an unquestionable milestone, her ultimate impact on Black and Brown children and communities will come down to policy choices.
Harris’s sudden ascension to the top of the Democratic presidential ticket means that some of those likely policy choices are no more than tea leaves being read by the policy community and the chattering class. However, there is ample evidence her presidency could make the kinds of bold moves demanded by the scale of challenges in public education.
Harris has already made history. The enduring impact of this moment, however, remains an open question.
CLASSIFIED ADS
RULES AND REGULATIONS
CANCELLATIONS must be made in writing by 12 Noon Monday.
The forwarding of an order is construed as an acceptance of all advertising rules and conditions under which advertising space is sold by the NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS. Publication is made and charged according to the terms of this card.
Rates and regulations subject to change without notice. No agreements as to position or regulations, other than those printed on this.
Til forbid orders charged for rate earned. Increases or decreases in space take the rate of a new advertisement.
The New York AMSTERDAM NEWS reserves the right to censor, reject, alter or revise all advertisements in accordance with its rules governing the acceptance of advertising and accepts no liability for its failure to insert an advertisement for any cause. Credit for errors in advertisements allowed only for first insertion.
CLASSIFIED
• Classified advertisements take the regular earned rate of their classification. Four line minimum on all ads except spirituals and horoscopes (14 lines).
CLASSIFIED DISPLAY
• Classified Display (boarder or picture) advertisements take the regular earned rate of their classification. Display (boarder or picture) advertisements one column wide must be 14 lines deep; two columns, 28 lines deep; 3 columns, 56 lines deep. Classified Display (boarder or picture) placed as close to classifications as rules and makeup permit.
CLASSIFICATIONS
All advertisement accepted for publication is classified according to the standard classifications. Misclassification is not permitted.
BASIS OF CHARGE
Charges are based on point size and characters per line. Upon reaching 15 lines the rate converts to column inch. Any deviation from solid composition such as indentation, use of white space, bold type, etc., will incur a premium. In
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT: NEW YORK COUNTY
BD NOTES LLC, Plaintiff -against- GAROFALO REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC, et al., Defendants.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated June 3, 2024 and filed July 26, 2024 bearing Index No. 850162/2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on November 6, 2024 at 2:15 pm at the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, Room 130, New York, NY 10013; All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County and State of New York, Block 1247; Lot 49, the premises known as 330 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024. Premises sold subject to the provisions of filed Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Terms of Sale. Approximate Judgment amount $5,542,012.52 plus interest and costs. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with the New York County Supreme Court Auction Plan in effect at this time. Paul Sklar, Esq., Referee. Harry Zubli, Esq., attorney for plaintiff, 1010 Northern Blvd., Suite 306, Great Neck, NY 11021 (516) 487-5777.
STATE OF NEW YORK
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Index No. 850060/2024
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., V. Plaintiff, ROHIN HATTIANGADI, STEPHANIE I. BRAUN- HATTIANGADI, THE JOHN WATTS CONDOMINIUM, JOHN DOE, 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 Plaintiff's attorneys within thirty days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, 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. 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.
This is an attempt to collect a debt, and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of Honorable Francis A. Kahn III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, signed the 9th day of September 2024 at New York, New York.
The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage on the following property: Block 595 Lot 1208
THE UNIT (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE "UNIT") KNOWN AS UNIT NO. 5-N IN THE BUILDING (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE "BUILDING") KNOWN AS THE JOHN WATTS CONDOMINIUM AND BY THE STREET NUMBER 459 WASHINGTON STREET IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OF NEW YORK, SAID UNIT BEING DESIGNATED AND DESCRIBED AS UNIT NO. 5-N IN THE BUILDING, IN THE DECLARATION (THE"DECLARATION") ESTABLISHING A PLAN FOR CONDOMINIUM OWNERSHIP OF THE BUILDING AND THE LAND (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE "LAND") UPON WHICH THE BUILDING IS SITUATED, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 9-B OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE "CONDOMINIUM ACT"), WHICH DECLARATION WAS RECORDED IN THE NEW YORK COUNTY OFFICE OF THE REGISTER OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK ("CITY REGISTER'S OFFICE") ON JUNE 4, 2002 IN REEL 3530, PAGE 2444. THIS UNIT IS ALSO DESIGNATED AS TAX LOT 1208 IN BLOCK 595 OF THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN ON THE TAX MAP OF THE REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND ON THE FLOOR PLANS OF THE BUILDING, CERTIFIED BY KISS & ZWIGARD, R.A. ON MAY 15, 2002, AND FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK ON MAY 21, 2001, AS CONDOMINIUM PLAN NO. 1238.
Subject to easements, covenants, and restriction of record. These premises are also known as 459 Washington St #5N aka 459 Washington St 5N, New York, NY 10013. Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK ALBANY AVENUE PARTNERS, LLC., Plaintiff AGAINST UPTOWN GAMBIT, INC., MICHAEL T. JOHNSON, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 3, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse in Room 130, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on October 30, 2024 at 2:15PM, premises known as 3-5 West 122nd Street, Units 1B, 2C, 3C, 4A, 6A and 6D, New York, NY 10027. Units as identified as 1B, 2C, 3C, 4A, 6A and 6D may all be put up individually for bid. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, Block: 1721 Lots: 1002, 1007, 1011, 1013, 1021, and 1024. Approximate amount of judgment $989,442.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850429/2023. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NEW YORK County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts. gov/Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Doron Leiby, Esq., Referee Law Offices of Alan J. Waintraub PLLC 125-10 Queens Blvd., Suite 311 Kew Gardens, NY 11415 UPTOWN GAMBIT 80998
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that a license, number NA-0267-23110669 for Beer, Wine And Cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Beer, Wine And Cider at retail in a Tavern under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 620 E. 6th Street, S-1, New York, , New York County for on premises consumption. Little Fish Reserve LLC, D/B/A Rosella Bar Miller
BISOU BISOU RADIO LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 7/30/2024. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 228 Park Ave S #263339, New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Notice of Formation of WEITZMAN LITIGATION ADVISORY LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/19/24. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Supreme Court-New York County – Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. v . Any unknown heirs to the Estate of CONNIE R. ADCOCK, 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 # 850346/2018 . 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 11 th day of September 2024 and duly entered the 13 th day of September 2024 in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, State of New York. 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 a fractional interest of 5,000/28,402,100 in the premises at Block 1006, Tax Lot 1302 located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas NY, NY. Mortgage bearing the date of July 31, 2015, executed by Connie R. Adcock to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $15,750.00, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on October 11, 2011, in CRFN 2011000357147 . 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.
NYCTL 2021-A TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs -against- E4BOWERY LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein on May 9, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on October 30, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, known and designated as Block 459 Lot 1113 on the New York County Tax Assessment Map. Said premises known as 52 EAST 4TH STREET, #PH2, NEW YORK, NY 10003
Approximate amount of lien $219,013.09 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 157609/2022. MARK L. MCKEW, ESQ., Referee
Phillips Lytle LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs
28 East Main Street, Suite 1400, Rochester, NY 14614
SLAINTE ACUPUNCTURE
PLLC. Art of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/01/2024. 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. THE LLC 114 W 73RD ST. APT 4A, NEW YORK, NY, 10023. Any lawful purpose.
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF 435 EAST 117TH STREET CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiff -against- CHRISTINE HEALEY, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated June 29, 2023 and entered on July 3, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on November 6, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, State and County of New York, known and designated as Section 6 Block 1711 and Lot 1203. Said premises known as 435 EAST 117TH STREET, UNIT NO. 3, NEW YORK, NY
Approximate amount of lien $57,680.99 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 152950/2022. GEORGIA PAPAZIS, ESQ., Referee
Mitofsky Shapiro Neville & Hazen, LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff
152 MADISON AVENUE, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10016
DUKE OUT EAST REALTY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/26/24. 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, 201 East 86th Street, Apartment 13F, New York, NY 10028. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT: NEW YORK COUNTY. NYCTL 19982 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Pltf. vs. SONIGIO LLC, BOARD OF MANAGERS OF 310 WEST 52 ND STREET CONDOMINIUM, Defts. Index #158610/2022. Pursuant to for judgment of foreclosure and sale entered October 6, 2023 and order to forfeit deposit and reset sale entered June 21, 2024, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on November 13, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. prem. k/a 310 West 52 nd Street, Storage Unit 155, New York, NY 10019 a/k/a Block 1042 Lot 1470. Judgments amount: $2,827.20 and $2,494.69. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale.
JEFFREY R. MILLER, Referee. THE DELLO-IACONO LAW GROUP, P.C., Attys. For Pltf., 312 Larkfield Road, Lower Level, East Northport, NY. File No. 22-000139 - #101648
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK.
NYCTL 2021-A TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs -against- CHINESE AMERICAN TRADING CO., INC., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein on June 6, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on November 13, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, known and designated as Block 1314 Lot 1315 on the New York County Tax Assessment Map.
Said premises known as 235 EAST 40TH STREET, #36B, NEW YORK, NY 10016
Approximate amount of lien $98,785.30 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 159713/2022.
CHRISTY M. DEMELFI, ESQ., Referee
Phillips Lytle LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs
28 East Main Street, Suite 1400, Rochester, NY 14614
1227 Holdings LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 9/19/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 156A East 83rd Street,, New York, NY 10028. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Twin Bull Properties LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 7/10/24. Office location: Fulton County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: Twin Bull Properties LLC, 693 Lakeview Road, Broadalbin NY 12025 Purpose: Any lawful act.
This Is Neatly LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/22/2024 . Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 275 W 96th St, 10025. Purpose: Any lawful act.
The Speech And Accent House LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 7/23/24. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: United States Corporation Agents Inc., 7014 13th Ave. Suite 202, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11228. Purpose: Any lawful act.
FURDONNAS CUSTOM CREATIONS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/08/2024 Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 2588 7TH AVE, BLDG 2, STE 6D, NEW YORK, NY 10039. Purpose: Any lawful act.
West Seneca Holding, LLC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/06/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: C/O West Seneca Holding, LLC,, 445 Park Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10022. Purpose: Any lawful act.
AMALIER LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/04/2024. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 224 W 35TH ST STE 500, NEW YORK, NY, 10001. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Stay Strong LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/02/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 400 West 43 Street 35R, NY, NY 10036. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Apparo NYC Cleaning Co LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 8/30/24. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 228 Park Ave S #689045, New York, NY 10003 R/A: US Corp Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Ave, #202, BK, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Arrakis Ventures LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/06/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 7014 13TH AVENUE, SUITE 202 , BROOKLYN, NY, 11228, USA. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Meteor Property Management LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/4/24. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 200 E 94th St Apt 2217, NY, NY 10128. Purpose: Any lawful act.
214 WEST 11TH ST REALTY
LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/23/19. 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, 214 West 11th Street, New York, NY 10014. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
CONCORE CABINETRY LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/21/2024. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 570 GRAND ST, APT H901, NEW YORK, NY 10002. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Mason Victor LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/03/24. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 228 Park Ave S #108704, New York, N.Y. 10003. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Notice of Formation of FOX
SHORE PRESERVATION, L.P. Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/12/24. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LP: 6 Greene St., Ste. 500, NY, NY 10013. Latest date on which the LP may dissolve is 12/31/2123. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of 60 E 8TH STREET LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/10/24. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Melissa E. Sydney, Esq., Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C., 101 Huntington Ave., Ste. 500, Boston, MA 02199. 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: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of LAZARD FO WIND LP Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/03/24. Office location: NY County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/23/24. Princ. office of LP: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NY, NY 10112. NYS fictitious name: LAZARD FO WIND L.P. Duration of LP is Perpetual. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of LP filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Multiverse Of Stuff LLC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/14/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 357 EDGECOMBE AVENUE APT 5D , NEW YORK, NY 10031. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Sekai Collective LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/15/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 340 W 42nd St, Fl 2, New York, NY 10036. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Tristate Bedbug Dogs LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/16/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 500 8th , New York, NY 10018. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Notice of Formation of BARI RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT
LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/18/24. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Mr. Anton Mayer, 240 Bowery, NY, NY 10012. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
VRH 430 E 13 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 3/14/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: C/O Parag Sawhney, 41 Madision Ave, New York, NY 10010. Purpose: Any lawful act.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF HAFLETCHER CONSULTING LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/19/2024. 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 LLC served upon him/her is: 7014 13TH AVENUE SUITE 202 BROOKLYN NY 11228. The principal business address of the LLC is: 228 Park Ave S #423622 New York NY 10003. Purpose: any lawful act or activity
NOTICE OF FORMATION of Cannabis NYC Fund, LLC (the “LLC”) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (“SSNY”) on 08/08/2024. Office location: New York County. The principal business address of the LLC is: One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York 10006. SSNY has been designated as the agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail service of process to c/o New York City Economic Development Corporation, One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York 10006, Attention: General Counsel. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
Notice of Qualification of 945 MADISON AVENUE, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/10/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/04/24. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of State of DE, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of AUGUSTANA HOMES ACQUISITION, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/17/24. Office location: NY County. 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., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of 888 BROADWAY MEZZ OWNER LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/23/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/16/24. Princ. office of LLC: One Market Plaza, Steuart Tower, Ste. 1050, San Francisco, CA 94105. 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: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of 888 BROADWAY OWNER LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/23/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/16/24. Princ. office of LLC: One Market Plaza, Steuart Tower, Ste. 1050, San Francisco, CA 94105. 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: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of LAZARD FO WIND GP LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/03/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/20/24. Princ. office of LLC: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NY, NY 10112. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Morrison Mindful MeadowsLCSW PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/01/2024 Office location: Kings County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: Northwest Registered Agent LLC, 418 Broadway, STE N, Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Notice of Qualification of 28TH STREET RETAIL LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/02/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/01/24. 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 of DE, John G. Townsend Bldg., Federal and Duke of York St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of SoHo Retail Portfolio 72-76 Greene Street LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/03/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/26/24. Princ. office of LLC: 233 S. Wacker Dr., Ste. 4700, Chicago, IL 60606. 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, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of SoHo Retail Portfolio 415 West Broadway LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/03/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/26/24. Princ. office of LLC: 233 S. Wacker Dr., Ste. 4700, Chicago, IL 60606. 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, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , Laelia, LLC , Plaintiff, vs . Matthew Glazier , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 12, 2024 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on November 20, 2024 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 90 East End Avenue, Unit 10B, New York, NY 10028. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 1580 and Lot 1025 together with an undivided 2.11807 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $3,335,374.80 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 850135/2019.
Jerry Merola, Esq., Referee Vallely Law PLLC, 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 165, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff
Notice of Registration of Foreign Limited Liability Partnership Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP. Notice of Registration filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/27/2024. Office location: 575 Lexington Ave., Ste. 2310, New York, NY 10022, New York County. SSNY designated as agent of LLP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to: 700 N. Pearl St., 25th Fl., Dallas, TX 75201. Registration as LLP originally filed on 8/27/2010 with Texas Secy. of State, P.O. Box 13697, Austin, TX 78711 Purpose: The practice of law.
Wells Fargo vols help to beautify Phipps Neighborhoods Opportunity Center in Bronx
Contributed Press Release
Volunteers from Wells Fargo recently worked with members of the nonprofit organization Phipps Neighborhoods to help beautify the Phipps Neighborhoods Opportunity Center in the West Farms section of the Bronx. The event was part of Wells Fargo’s third annual Welcome Home initiative, which aims to create more accessible and affordable homes and communities across the country.
Working alongside Bronx-based artist Laura Alverez, volunteers painted an original mural on the exterior of the building. They also built new flower beds in an outdoor garden in the center’s courtyard, which will be used by the community, including the Phipps early childhood programs.
Volunteers also provided career readiness skills for Phipps Neighborhoods Career Network program participants, including interview preparation. The event also featured a pop-up farmer’s market in partnership with FoodStream Network, where volunteers distributed 150 bags of fresh produce to community members.
Participants included Wells Fargo Chief Operating Officer Scott Powell, who serves on the board of Phipps Houses (Phipps Neighborhoods affordable housing affiliate), and Phipps Neighborhoods Executive Director & CEO Andre White.
“We’re proud of our long-standing collaboration with Phipps to help more New Yorkers access education, career, and economic opportunities to succeed at school and work, raise healthy families, and build thriving communities,” said Powell. “Volunteering our time and our skills is a terrific way to show how much we care for the communities we serve, and we’re honored to join Phipps in this day of service and hope to make a positive impact in the community.”
“We are proud to have partnered with
HERRC
Continued from page 2
people with work authorization, temporary protected status, and asylum.
“Since the spring of 2022, we have had nearly a quarter million people come through our system in New York City,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom in a statement.
“With 14 straight weeks of lower numbers of new arrivals seeking asylum, we are now able to transition from this large humanitarian relief center, which is a step in the right direction. Thank you to the teams that have been and continue to work as part of our humanitarian response. We look forward to additional steps in this next phase as they are appropriate given the need.”
The “tent city” on Randall’s Island, which held more than 750 cots, was one of the first constructed in 2022. It was initially on Or-
chard Beach in the Bronx but was relocated after flooding and community pushback.
The space was meant mostly for single and married adult asylum seekers. In 2023, the city enacted a controversial shelter limit policy last year. The rule initially focused on evicting adult men and exempted migrant families in shelters, but eventually the 30/60 day eviction notices disrupted migrant students and their families.
The city said it has already begun “gradually reducing the population on-site” on Randall’s Island.
The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) said that the tent city was “never a humane or effective way” to provide newly arrived migrants with adequate services. From that aspect, they are glad to see it closed.
“Considering thousands of people still need support, we continue to call for the Administration to stop evicting recently ar-
rived immigrants from shelter after 30 and 60 days, as the support they need becomes exponentially less accessible in the face of such instability,” said NYLAG in a statement.
“Further, we hope to see the City instead focus meaningful investments on efforts like increasing capacity for expert immigration legal service providers so our new neighbors have a real opportunity to establish their lives here and become part of our communities.”
Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), also welcomed the news of the HERRC’s closure.
“New York should be investing in the future success of everyone who lives in our great city, whether they arrived here 30 days or 30 years ago,” said Awawdeh. “Cramming people into congregate settings in tents — in locations far away from public transportation, grocery stores and jobs — has been
Wells Fargo for the past three years through their Welcome Home Initiative,” said White. “Our mission to build thriving communities is fueled by investments in projects like this one and our over 30 education and career programs, including Career Network, which equips young adults with the skills and mentorship they need to secure meaningful employment and long-term success.”
Wells Fargo’s philanthropic mission is to address community issues such as financial health, housing affordability, small business growth, and sustainability. In 2023, Wells Fargo awarded roughly $19.8 million to support local nonprofits and community organizations throughout New York. The company’s employees in New York volunteered more than 18,000 hours in 2023 to support nonprofits and causes important to them. Wells Fargo also has a goal to deploy $500 billion in sustainable finance by 2030.
a recipe for failure since day one.”
Awawdeh said that he encourages the city to close other “inhumane” HERRCs across the city, and especially at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, in favor of focusing efforts on safe and dignified shelters.
“Our industries need new workers, our schools need new students, and our culture needs new life,” Awawdeh added. “To move into a future where we can seize on the vast opportunity that asylum seekers present to New York, we call on the Adams administration to expand access to CityFHEPS housing vouchers to lowincome New Yorkers regardless of immigration status, invest in legal services to get people on the path to legal status and work authorizations, and end the 30- and 60-day shelter limits.”
Once the site is closed in February, the city said it will invest in restoring impacted athletic fields and parkland on Randall’s Island.
(Photos courtesy of Wells Fargo)
Davante Adams is finally in the fold — can he help salvage Jets’ season?
By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews
The long-speculated trade between the Jets and Las Vegas Raiders has finally happened — but will it be enough to energize an offense that is averaging just 18.8 points per game, tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams for 22nd in the NFL?
With the Jets acquiring wide receiver Davante Adams for a conditional 2025 thirdround pick, the 31-year-old three-time First Team All Pro is reunited with the team’s current starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Adams played for the Green Bay Packers from 2014 to 2021, while Rodgers was with the Packers from 2005 to 2022.
The Jets are 2-4 and have lost three games in a row, despite a top-5 NFL defense. They fired head coach Robert Saleh last week, although Saleh specializes on the defensive side of the ball. Their problems have clearly been an offense unable to maximize talented skill players such as wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall.
On being promoted from the Jets’ defensive coordinator to interim head coach, Jeff Ulbrich reassigned former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and moved Todd Downing, who previously was the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, to offensive play caller. While the offense showed improvement on Monday night versus the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium, the results were the same when they lost 23-20, scoring just
one touchdown in four trips after reaching the Bills’ red zone (20-yard line).
“We need to get going,” Rodgers said after the loss. “This was a golden opportunity. Some games you win in the NFL and some games you give away. This was a giveaway. I mean, we were terrible in the red zone, missed two field goals, and didn’t convert on a 2-minute drive. We had plenty of chances, had the momentum, had good drives, moved the wall up and down the field, so — disappointing.”
But Ulbrich is optimistic that Adams can improve their lagging point production, given his long history and positive chemistry with Rodgers.
“[He’s] not only an elite player, as we all know, but the relationship with him and Aaron just takes his value to a whole other space for us,” said Ulbrich on Tuesday.
“I think we’ll figure that out in the next couple of days, how all these pieces fit together. It’s an exciting and a good problem to have because we’ve got a lot of different guys with a lot of different skill sets [who] can do a lot of different things.”
Heading into Week 7, the Jets are still very much in contention in the AFC East. The 4-2 Bills are vulnerable, but enhanced their questionable wide receiver group by making a trade with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday for five-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper. The division could shift in three or four weeks, which is the nature of the NFL. But the Jets’ margin for error is decreasing with each defeat. The turnaround must start now.
Undermanned Giants take a step backwards after loss to the Bengals
By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor
The Giants’ surprisingly impressive 29-20 road win against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5 seems like much longer than just 11 days ago. The memory and momentum dissipated after Sunday’s figuratively and literally hurtful 17-7 loss to the previously 1-4 Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium. There is a fine line between wins and losses in the NFL. Two or three plays over a 60-minute game can be the difference in success or hardship. During stretches this season, the Giants have shown promise as a potential playoff contender, including when the Giants’ defense by and large contained Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow with the exception of a 47-yard first quarter touchdown run by the
QB on a missed assignment by the Giants.
They held one of the sport’s best signal callers to 208 yards passing and sacked him four times. But complementary football eluded the Giants as the offense produced just one score, a one-yard TD by running back Tyrone Tracy at 5:49 of the third quarter to cap off a 16-play, 79-yard drive.
The 2-4 Giants went into the matchup without star rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who sat out his second straight game in concussion protocol, and starting running back Devin Singletary, who also was sidelined for a second consecutive game with a groin injury.
Following the defeat, the Giants learned they will be without 2022 All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas indefinitely due to a Lisfranc injury. The 25-year-old Thomas sustained the damage in the third quarter. Lisfranc is an injury to the bones and or ligaments in the middle part of the foot. There is deep concern from the Giants that Thomas could be out for the rest of this season.
It would be a monumental absence given Thomas is the Giants’ best offensive lineman and protects right handed quarterback Daniel Jones’ blindside. Giants head
coach Brian Daboll gave the media terse reply on Monday when asked about Thomas’s status.
“…I’ll get all that stuff later today and then fill you guys in on Wednesday… I still have to meet with the doctors and the trainers.” Daboll’s tone reflected the significance of not having Thomas in the lineup. Last summer, the Giants signed him to a five-year, $117 million contract extension to anchor a much improved offensive front, a unit which had been in flux and a team weakness in recent seasons.
Thomas’s injury also further illuminates the unforeseen snaillike development of tackle Evan Neal, whom the Giants selected with the No.7 overall pick out of Alabama in the 2022 draft to bookend with Thomas. Since entering the league, the 6-7, 340 pounder has labored with being consistent in his technique and countering the speed, power, and agility of NFL edge rushers.
The Giants will play an NFC East division rival when they take on the 3-2 Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday at MetLife. The Giants are 0-2 in division games this season, having been beaten 21-18 in Week 2 by the Washington Commanders and 20-15 by the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4.
Newly acquired Jets wide receiver Davante Adams is expected to lift 2-4 team from its offensive struggles as they face 4-2 Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.
(AP Photo/David Becker)
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has a look of frustration in a 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
The Liberty look to get back in Minnesota trying to win their first WNBA title
By LOIS ELFMAN
Special to the AmNews
After a crushing 95–93 overtime loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals last Thursday at the Barclays Center, the New York Liberty brought the heat in Game 2 on Sunday in Brooklyn, coming away with a decisive 80–66 victory to even the best-of-five series at 1–1. In Game 3 last night in Minnesota, the Liberty were looking to get back at the Lynx for stealing Game 1, or more aptly, at themselves for blowing an 18-point lead.
Game 2 saw 18,046 pack the Brooklyn arena—the largest crowd to ever attend a Liberty game at the Barclays. Forward Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with a game-high 21 points and forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton had a season-high-tying 20 points in the crucial win.
“We encouraged her to shoot the threes— she’s a great three-point shooter and she was stroking it yesterday in practice,” said Liberty coach Sandy Brondello of LaneyHamilton after the win. The veteran from Rutgers, who began her WNBA career in 2015 with the Chicago Sky, shot four-for-six from behind the three-point line.
“She’s digging deep and that’s what we needed,” added Brondello. “We knew we needed a bounce-back and it was a big bounce-back game.”
Stewart, who has two WNBA championships, two Finals MVPs, and two league MVPs as a member of the Seattle Storm, en-
York Liberty photo)
hanced her scoring with eight rebounds and seven steals. She said the Liberty placed an emphasis on defense in Game 2.
“The thought process was we were trying to be up a little bit more, not letting them get to the three-point line to set up their offense—making them move a little bit quicker than they want to,” Stewart said.
Liberty milestones reached in Game 2 included a Finals franchise-tying 10 assists in a single quarter, doing it in the first quarter. Stewart, who reached 119, passed Tari Phillips for third on the Liberty’s all-time postseason field goals made list. Sabrina Ionescu had 15 points and two three-pointers, extending her streak to 81 games in which she has made at least one three-pointer.
“My goal was take what the defense gives me, not forcing anything but understanding I’m going to be able to drive and kick,” said Ionescu. “I don’t always need to be looking to score every single time I have the ball; just continuing to make the right reads and understanding what it is that provides our best offense as a team.”
Before Game 1 of the Finals, the WNBA announced that its Board of Governors had approved a best-of-seven format for the Finals, effective next season. The regular season will increase to 44 games per team with the expansion Golden State Valkyries beginning play as the league’s 13th franchise.
Game 4 will be in Minnesota tomorrow (8:00 p.m.), with Game 5, if necessary, at the Barclays on Sunday (8:00 p.m.).
WNBA All-Stars take part in National Voter Education Week event
By LOIS ELFMAN
Special to the AmNews
On Oct. 8, the Team, a nonprofit organization focused on integrating nonpartisan civic engagement and voter participation into college athletics, held an historic event: Pizza to the Polls, a convening of student-athletes, sports stars, and leaders in national civic engagement. The “All Star Meeting” involved 122 watch parties in 34 states, with more than 7,000 people attending. Participating pizza joints and restaurants delivered about 1,200 pizzas.
Among the participants were Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm and Natasha Cloud of the Phoenix Mercury. Other guests included NCAA president Charlie Baker and student-athletes Caleb Kenney (Holy Cross basketball), Kansas Robinson (Northwestern softball), and Elise Byun (UCLA gymnastics).
“In my day job at Stanford, I teach students how to imagine new futures and bring them to life,” said event emcee Lisa Kay Solomon, designer in residence, and lecturer at Stanford. TheTeam.org provides various resources for voters, including a step-by-step Voter Guide, which details everything from
WNBPA President and nine-time WNBA All-Star NnekaOgwumike. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
registering to vote to researching a ballot, and making a voting plan.
Robinson interviewed Cloud, asking, “Was there a pivotal moment in your career when you first realized the impact
of your leadership on your teammates and community?” In response, Cloud said, “First, I have to talk about the pivotal moment that had an impact on me. It was 2016 and the Minnesota Lynx protest-
ed after Philando Castile [was killed]. That was the first time I truly saw pivotal players in our league…utilizing not only their individual platforms but their combined platforms to shed light on issues that were plaguing our community.”
The actions of the Lynx players, said Cloud, pushed other players and teams in the WNBA to take a stance. “In that moment, it made me realize how truly powerful not only individually my platform was, but collectively as players in this league and the sisterhood that we have and how strong we were together,” she said.
Janai Nelson, president and directorcounsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, introduced Ogwumike, saying, “We’re so excited to join forces with the Team to make sure that student-athletes feel prepared and feel empowered to make your voices heard during this election.”
“There has never been a better time to be an athlete, and there has never been a more important time to use that influence to fight for our individual and collective rights,” said Ogwumike, who recently took over leadership of More Than a Vote, the nonprofit voting rights initiative founded by LeBron James.
Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton scored 20 points in her team’s 80-66 win versus the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals (Brandon Todd/ New
Nets begin a rebuild with young talent and draft capital
By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews
The Brooklyn Nets are essentially starting the 2024 season at the ground floor. There is a wide gap between them and the NBA’s championship contenders, especially after dealing their best player, small forward Mikal Bridges, to the Knicks this past June. Admittedly, this season for the Nets is about rebuilding, which includes multiple first-round picks in the 2025 NBA draft, while developing talent and leaders on a roster that has many young players.
They finished 32-50 a season ago, 11th in the East and four games out of the final PlayIn Tournament spot. In recent years, the Nets have experienced self-inflicted turmoil and constant overhaul of their roster and coaching staff. This season, first-year head coach Jordan Fernandez, who at 41 years old was a Denver Nuggets assistant from 2016–2022 and the Sacramento Kings’ associate head coach for the past two seasons, will be charged with the further development of promising young players, including 25-year-old center Nic Claxton, who is at the outset of his prime.
“Everyone has got a job to do,” said Nets general manager Sean Marks at the team’s media day late last month. “Our job out here and (Jordi Fernández’s) job on the court is to help develop a culture, develop an identity, and establish that as the season goes on. Ul-
timately, our goal—it’s been the same way every year—is to go out there and compete, and compete at the highest level, no matter what the stakes may be and no matter what is
being put in front of you—to go and compete and establish that identity through that.”
Marks said his job also entails discovering which players on the roster can be with the
franchise for years to come. Returning this season is the Nets’ best scorer, 6-3 shooting guard Cam Thomas, who led them with a team-high 22.5 points per game average last year. The Nets’ key decision-makers, notably owner Joe Tsai and Marks, also hope Fernandez and his staff can grow a player such as 23-year-old guard Killian Hayes, the No.7 overall pick in the 2020 draft by the Detroit Pistons, who is still striving to make his mark in the league.
“Yeah, definitely a restart. Definitely something that’s refreshing, something that’s new, and treating it like a second draft, kind of,” said Hayes at media day. ”I did my first four years, and then just coming in here is just something new, bringing your energy, learning from different people.”
Two of the Nets’ more accomplished veterans—the much-maligned three-time AllStar, point forward Ben Simmons, and point guard Dennis Schröder—are likely to be dealt by the February 6, 2025, trade deadline to acquire more draft capital.
In addition, forwards Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, entering their sixth and ninth years respectively in the league, could also be attractive trade pieces
The Nets complete their four-game preseason schedule tomorrow hosting the Toronto Raptors at the Barclays Center and open the regular season next Wednesday in Atlanta facing the Hawks.
Despite injuries, Hofstra women’s volleyball team is still flourishing
By LOIS ELFMAN
Special
to the AmNews
Hofstra University volleyball began the season with two big wins, but then things took a rough turn when two key players suffered ankle injuries. Coach Emily Mansur said not having setter Beatriz Alves and outside hitter Yagmur Cinel in the lineup was definitely a disadvantage, but their absence made everyone unite. The team is currently 11–6 overall and 7–1 in CAA (Coastal Athletic Association) conference action.
“These are people who have played the whole time they’ve been here,” said Mansur, who’s in her 11th season as head coach of the Pride. “We were faced with big decisions to make and changes, but everyone has stepped up and we started to build as a team. It’s been really cool to see the development of everybody.” Alves returned to action in the matches against Northeastern last weekend. Cinel is slowly working her way back. Getting Alves and Cinel, both team captains, back and healthy is exciting, and the team is collectively happy about their current play and looking forward to building on the momentum. “We’re easing them back in and giving them a chance to get used
to being on the court again,” said Mansur. The team has four freshmen and five sophomores, and Mansur said the coaching staff has been pleased to see some of the young players step up. “The team rallied together to go through this tough time that we encountered and did not get defeated by some obstacles we had until we were able to figure out what we wanted to do,” Mansur said. “They put their shoulders back and said, ‘Let’s get through it,’ and it’s been very big for us.”
Among the players stepping up is sophomore middle blocker Iyanna Garvin. “It’s so cool to watch her growth,” said Mansur.
“She is such a big personality on our team. She is a super athletic and determined kid that really wants to do a pretty aggressive, nice job, which is very good for the position that she plays.”
A big win over Stony Brook provided a confidence boost and created momentum for the volleyball team. “This is a team that can fight to really win the CAA, and we’re all starting to realize that this is a pretty special team,” Mansur said.
This weekend, Hofstra travels to Wilmington, N.C., to take on University of North Carolina Wilmington in matches on Saturday and Sunday. The next home match is Oct. 26 versus the University of Delaware.
Nets have made center Nic Claxton a focal point of rebuild. (Bill Moore photo)
Hofstra sophomore middle blocker Iyanna Garvin is helping her team stay near the top of the Coastal Athletic Association. (Hofstra Athletics photo)
Sports
Mets hope their resolve carries them in NLCS
By JAIME C. HARRIS
AmNews Sports Editor
The Mets, unflinching despite being beset with struggles, reversed course after being 23-33 on May 30 and ended the regular season 89-73 to earn a wildcard spot. They willed their way past the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies with indelible come-from-behind wins in the first two rounds of the playoffs to reach the doorstep of the World Series.
On Monday, in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, it seemed a foregone conclusion that the Mets would resoundingly assert themselves after a 9-0 road loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 less than 24 hours earlier. National League MVP candidate Francisco Lindor ensured they would.
While he won’t win the award, it’s a certainty that his opponent in the NLCS, Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, will soon become only the second player in Major League Baseball history to be a regular season MVP in both the American League (Angels) and NL, joining the late Hall of Famer Frank Robinson as the
first with that distinction. No one has been better than Lindor this postseason.
He ignited the Mets’ offensive attack with a 395-foot leadoff homer given up by Dodgers pitcher Ryan Brasier to start the game, then in the top of the second, was intentionally walked to load the bases for budding star Mark Vientos, who hammered a 391-foot grand slam to highlight a five-run frame and put the Mets 6-0. Led by starter Sean Maaea, who threw five effective innings, the Mets’ pitching staff held down the Dodgers’ lethal lineup and snatched a 7-3 victory.
“You’ve got Francisco ahead of me, and he hit a home run earlier in the game, so they would rather take a chance on me than him,” said Vientos via the Associated Press. “But I use it as motivation. I’m like, ‘All right, you want me up? I’m going to show you, whatever.’”
The series moved 3,000 miles to CitiField, with Game 3 tied 1-1 last night and Luis Severino taking the ball for the Mets to begin the matchup versus the Dodgers starter Walker Buehler. Games 4 and 5 are on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Depending on how the best-of-seven series unfolds, Games 6 and 7 on Sunday and Monday, respectively, will be in Los Angeles.
Yet, it was the outcome of Game 2 that further emboldened a Mets squad that is supremely confident and hopeful as they continue an emotional but process-driven deep playoff journey guided by manager Carlos Mendoza, with an architecture conceived and constructed by general manager David Stearns. Both are in the first year of their positions with the franchise.
The Dodgers pitching staff had not allowed a run in its previous 33 innings, going back to their National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres, before Lindor touched them for a homer on Monday. With an injury-plagued starting rotation, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went totally with his bullpen versus the Mets, as he did in Game 4 of the NLDS, where he faced elimination when he called on all relief pitchers to shut down the Padres 8-0. But they couldn’t reproduce their superlative showing.
“When you’re facing a bullpen day, I think
Yankees balance has them take control of the ALCS
By RUDY ROBINSON Special to the AmNews
The New York Yankees are two wins away from reaching their first World Series since 2009. A 5-2 win on Monday over the Cleveland Guardians followed by a 6-3 victory in Game 2 on Tuesday has the Bronx Bombers up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
The teams have moved on to Cleveland for the next three contests beginning tonight with Game 3 . Game 4 is tomorrow and Game 5 if necessary is Saturday . During the regular season, the Guardians had the league’s best home record, going 50-30, while the Yankees had the best road mark at 50-31.
In Game 1, home runs by Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton opened and completed the Yankees scoring. The other three runs were courtesy of the Guardians pitchers, who issued seven walks and threw five wild pitches, four by reliever Joey Cantillo. Conversely, Yankees starter Carlos Rodon excelled. He allowed just one run on six hits, striking out nine in six innings of work.
He did give up his customary home run to the opposition and also gave up one in the opening round versus the Kansas City Royals, but he was extremely tough, mixing his slider with his fastball more than in his previous start.
“The goal was to stay in control, physically and emotionally. I thought I did that well tonight,” said Rodon after the victory in the Bronx.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole started Game 2 and lasted only 4 2/3 innings while giving up six hits and walking four. However, as Cole said afterwards, he had a “bend but don’t
break” mindset, and exited the game with a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning. The Yankees bullpen, which has become their best weapon in the playoffs, took over.
Clay Holmes, who was officially credited with the win, Tim Hill, Tommy Kahnle, and Luke Weaver stopped the Guardians’ rally in the fifth and allowed only two hits and one
it’s hard to game plan, but you’ve got to go out there make adjustments, whether it’s putting the ball in play, moving a guy over, getting a guy in,” said rookie Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “Those are the little things that you have to do to win games in the playoffs when you’re facing an elite pitching staff.”
run the rest of the way. For the series, the Yankees pen has given up a mere two runs and have eight strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. This is after not allowing a run in 15 2/3 innings versus the Royals. Aaron Judge, the leading candidate for the American League regular season MVP award, was also a factor in this game, driving in three runs and hitting a two-run homer in the 7th inning to help seal the victory.
Up until then, this year’s playoffs haven’t been memorable for Judge in terms of his individual play. His .167 batting average and .389 slugging percentages are well below his regular season numbers of .322 and .701. Teams have attacked him, something he probably wasn’t ready for because he was pitched around during the regular season. Judge also led MLB in walks with 133. Better pitching in the playoffs is presenting a challenge for him, but maybe his first home run will get him going for the rest of the series.
Gleyber Torres has also been a force at the top of the lineup for the Yankees, hitting .292 for the playoffs with seven runs scored and six walks. Baserunning mistakes have been glaring for the Yankees and their defense has been spotty at times. Yet, winning ugly can be beautiful.
Mets starter Sean Manaea exits Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers after pitching five solid innings in a 7-3 victory. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Yankees’ designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton celebrates with his teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday in a 5-2 win in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. (AP Photo/Godofredo Vásquez)
