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Vol. 112 No. 51 | December 23, 2021 - December 29, 2021
THE NEW BLACK VIEW
©2021 The Amsterdam News | $1.00 New York City
WOMEN SHALL LEAD NYC
Meera Joshi, Sheena Wright, Anne Williams-Isom, Maria Torres-Springer, and Lorraine Grillo
(Nayaba Arinde photo)
Mayor-elect Adams picks five experienced and talented women to be his deputy mayors By NAYABA ARINDE Amsterdam News Editor
and friends. Adams taped two pieces of A4 paper to either side of the mic on the podium. Walking to the podium at Jay Street They read “Emotional Intelligence,” in Borough Hall, current Brooklyn Borough big black letters. President/Mayor-elect Eric Adams told This, Adams grinned, is what the press the over-a-dozen assembled media out- conference would be about as he had five lets that he had to do a little housekeep- strong, experienced female public sering. What gives? pondered the room full vants graciously introduce five careerof print, radio, digital and online journal- minded, impressive female soon-to-be ists, and new appointee family members deputy mayors.
It was an interesting move. “Anyone that knows me knows I’m a mama’s boy, and I was raised by women,” Adams said prefacing his comments about wanting people in his administration who can read the the temperature of the city on all levels; including being emotionally in-tune with the residents of the five boroughs and what it is they need from the city. With diversity and inclusion brand-
New COVID-19 variant pulls New Yorkers back inside
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to our readers
By STEPHON JOHNSON Amsterdam News Staff
Umoja is the first principle of Kwanzaa and means unity in Swahili, the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute notes in announcing their virtual “Umoja: A Year-End Celebration Of Our People’s Unity.” “Unity is at the core of who we are as a community and reminds us of the importance of
See DEPUTY on page 6
(SANTA BLAIR/FACEBOOK)
the street, restaurants like Mojo and Martha’s Country Bakery (and OBA right behind them) were packed with The Omicron variant of the coro- customers on the inside––and on the navirus has pulled New Yorkers from outside––sitting in enclosed spaces to restaurants and bars and back into protect themselves from the public. their homes. In recent days you could find more More than a week ago, on a Saturday people at CityMD; but the lines for night on Austin Street in Forest Hills, CityMD are closed now too. Queens, one could find a line of people The U.S. Center for Disease Conwaiting outside of a CityMD which trol and Prevention (CDC) website was right next to a mobile testing spot states that the Omicron variant of the (which also had a line). Directly across See OMICRON on page 6
ing doing the rounds, Adams is on topic with his picks who are Black, of Asian descent, and white: Sheena Wright, Anne Williams-Isom, Meera Joshi, Maria Torres-Springer, and Lorraine Grillo. Each of the women re-introduced themselves as they praised each other’s appointment. Former CEO of the United Way’s Sheena Wright, will be deputy mayor for strategic initiatives; Anne
See STORY on page 6
Passing ‘Clean Slate’ Records Clearance Legislation Should Be Albany’s First Order of Business Urban Agenda by David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York - See page 5
