New York Amsterdam News Dec. 12-18, 2024 by AmsterdamNews

FABRIC OF REPAIR

BLACK, INDIGENOUS GROUPS JOIN FORCES FOR JUSTICE

(See story on page 6)

USPS 382-600/ISSN#00287121

2340 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

New York, New York 10027

(212) 932-7400 / FAX (212) 222-3842

Advocates ‘chain’ themselves in protest of NYCHA Fulton & Elliott-Chelsea Houses demolition

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

A small coalition of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) advocates are still protesting the coming demolition of Fulton & Elliott-Chelsea (FEC) Houses in Manhattan, slated to begin early next year.

Fulton Houses is located on West 17th Street, blocks away from the city’s Google Headquarters and 14th Street’s Union Square. Elliott and Chelsea Houses are northbound past West 25th Street. FEC provides apartments to over 2,000 families.

NYCHA circulated FEC resident surveys in June 2023. About 29% (580 tenants) of the total eligible population participated in the surveys and of that, more than half opted for new construction, according to city numbers. Since then, advocates have collected 949 signatures from tenants opposing the demolition and continue to peacefully protest the demolition whenever they can.

Save Section 9, FEC Against Demolition, The Illuminator, and More Arts members came together this Tuesday for a day of creative advocacy. At the Hudson Guild Fulton senior center, the groups created linked paper chains to symbolically tie themselves to the buildings slated for demolition.

Resident Renee Keitt has lived at Elliott Houses for over 50 years. She said that the community has always been a mixed-income and mixed-use neighborhood that welcomed all people, despite the effects of gentrification. NYCHA is only speaking to the few hundred that agreed to new construction on the survey, not “the thousands” that oppose the demolition, she said.

MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS INFORMATION

Keitt was among the other advocates that draped themselves in paper chains in front of the FEC campuses, chanting and singing songs for passersby to hear.

“There’s no need for us to be taken out of the community,” said Keitt. “We don’t want to be demolished.”

Daniel Penny found not guilty of negligent homicide in Jordan Neely death

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

On Dec. 9, Daniel Penny was found not guilty of negligent homicide in the death of unhoused Black New Yorker Jordan Neely last year. The charge carried a maximum of four years in prison but could have also yielded no prison time, according to the AP.

“It hurts; it really, really hurts,” said Neely’s father Andre Zachary during a press conference.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) had ruled the death a homicide via compression of the neck (chokehold), while Penny’s defense maintained to the jury that other health factors killed Neely. When the trial started on Nov. 1, the top charge was second-degree manslaughter. That charge was dropped on Dec. 6.

While Penny’s intervention against Neely during a threat-laced outburst on a north-

bound subway was much discussed, the prosecution focused on Penny’s fatal chokehold on Neely, which they argued was reckless. When police searched Neely for weapons, they only found a muffin. While protesters decried Penny’s violent interference with Neely, who reportedly did not touch anyone, Penny drew more than $3.2 million in donations for his legal fund.

Both Neely’s and Penny’s backgrounds have been scrutinized since the deadly F train encounter on May 1, 2023. Neely, a prominent Michael Jackson impersonator, experienced serious mental illness and, after his mother’s death, homelessness. Penny, an ex-Marine, was studying architecture and engineering after his service. The incident divided an already tense New York City, which ramped up policing on subway platforms after several violent incidents.

During an appearance on 710 WOR radio a little over a week ago, Mayor Eric Adams said Penny’s response was “doing what

See NYCHA on page 24 See DANIEL PENNY on page 24

Daniel Penny arrives at criminal court. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Longtime Elliott Houses resident Renee Keitt and associates draped themselves in symbolic chains on Tuesday, Dec. 10. (Ariama C. Long photo)

Discriminatory lending practices that target Black homebuyers persist in NYC

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

New York City has taken some steps to address the city’s housing crisis with the passage of City of Yes and other pro-housing initiatives. But according to recent data, Black and Brown homebuyers continue to face discriminatory lending practices and higher interest rates in comparison to white homebuyers.

The New Economy Project (NEP) released an analysis of home mortgage loan data for three of the city’s major banks–Bank of America, Citibank, and JPMorgan Chase.

“We found that Black borrowers were receiving the short end of the stick,” said Will Spisak, senior program associate at NEP. “Even when interest rates were at historic lows they were being charged higher interest rates than white borrowers. And when interest rates started to increase, those rates increased faster and higher for Black borrowers.”

From 2018 to 2023, the report found that the city’s biggest banks continued to charge Black New Yorkers higher rates than other borrowers. This interest rate disparity cost a Black homeowner about $30,000 more in interest payments over the course of a 30-year mortgage. During the recovery period following the COVID-19 pandemic, between 2021 and 2023, the report said racial lending disparities in the city were especially pronounced as borrowing costs surged. Even Black borrowers with incomes above $100,000 had higher interest rates than white borrowers with lower incomes, said the report.

The banks also denied Black homeowners refinancing loans, which helps lower mortgage payments, at nearly twice the rate of white homeowners. This happened even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when interest rates reached historic lows, said the report.

Justin Pack, 35, works for Amazon Web Services and owns a 3-family home built in 1901 in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Pack grew up in New Jersey, and lived in Texas during and after college. He moved to a Bronx apartment near Yankee Stadium a few years ago. Looking for his first home, he put in offers on four different properties ranging in price from $650,000 to $880,000 in the Bronx, he said, but the neighborhood was rapidly gentrifying. He also tried for a vacant, debilitated property in Harlem that “had no plumbing, no electricity” and you could see through the ceiling. It was still listed for $1.8 million.

“The city has so many regulations and even with an attorney, if you don’t know, you could be in violation,” said Pack about how difficult the homebuying process is and homeownership is in the city. “The city systems are onerous. Like to register you have to go online, fill out a form and then print out the form and then fill it out by hand.”

Pack’s home in Bushwick previously belonged to a Jamaican family that had

owned the house since the 1950s. The elderly owners had passed during COVID and their children didn’t want to keep the house, said Pack. His current mortgage rate is 6.25 percent. He opted to use a broker and a smaller mortgage company as opposed to going through a major bank.

“We’re seeing the effects of gentrification,” said Pack. “I think if we have access to credit and access to capital, we can be a part of that process. Gentrification doesn’t have to be a bad thing (but) displacement is.”

Jamael Romans is a Black loan officer at United Mortgage Corp in Woodbury, Long Island. He owns a home in Canarsie, Brooklyn. According to Romans, many Black borrowers in his experience are “discouraged” and often “overwhelmed” during the home buying process either because they don’t have family that will help them or because of their negative experience with a realtor. He’s had plenty of clients of color who do not get pre-approved for larger loans, aren’t well informed about financial planning and different loan options, and suffer with high fees and poor communication from other lenders.

Many lenders, he said, deploy a “bait and switch” method where they send a customer a favorable option but when the loan estimate and appraisal comes out, the person is blindsided by fees and a higher mortgage rate. For minorities in particular, said Romans, big banks offer down payment assistance usually (about 3% down) that could raise a mortgage payment by hundreds of dollars in the long run because it has its own interest in addition to a housing loan.

“A lot of those big banks have the control because many times people don’t think to come to a company like mine, a brokerage-

Biden’s farewell economic address?

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

mortgage bank. It’s something they’re not familiar with. They’re familiar with Chase or Wells Fargo because they just know it’s a big brand and they put their trust in them,” said Romans. “But the bank doesn’t have the best interest when it comes to those people. You’re just another number.”

History of NYC banking

New York City has a long, and at times sordid, history with banks, going all the way back to the creation of the country’s first banks. Alexander Hamilton famously founded the Bank of New York in 1784. And Hamilton’s rival, Aaron Burr, later created the Bank of Manhattan in 1799. The site of Wall Street in lower Manhattan was a government sanctioned slave trade venue at this time, and had been in operation since 1711. It became more associated with banking and the New York Stock Exchange in later centuries.

The city became the epicenter of financial power in the U.S. as its population grew, meaning that only certain federally or state chartered banks could handle housing the city’s money while meeting strict collateral requirements, said Spisak.

“The city collects a lot of money through taxes, fines, and fees and other revenue sources to the tune of about $100 billion a year. And all of that money, before it gets distributed to other budget priorities, has to go sit in a bank account just like any one of us that gets money from work with a checking account. The city does the same thing. Those billions that the city collects ends up going to banks like JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo. The city has an official list of banks they do business with called designated banks,” said Spisak.

See BLACK HOMEBUYERS on page 25

President Biden, a month after the disastrous outcome of the election, touted his administration’s economic record at the Brookings Institution in Washington on Tuesday. “Most economists agree the new administration is going to inherit a fairly strong economy,” Biden said. “It is my profound hope that the new administration will preserve and build on this progress.”

It was the kind of message that Vice President Kamala Harris could have used in her unsuccessful bid for the White House, though she was somewhat hampered by indecision, unsure at times how to praise her role in the Biden administration and at the same time take a step away.

Stressing the positive developments of the Biden administration may have been futile anyway given voters’ concerns about inflation, housing prices and the cost of living, and perhaps most critical, the failure of Democratic voters to turnout as they had done in the previous presidential election. Biden explained how his administration had reversed the trickle-down economics of the previous decades and currently growing the economy from “the middle out and the bottom up,” rather than fattening the bank accounts of wealthy Americans.

He also emphasized the extent to which his administration had vastly improved the creation of jobs, more than 16 million, recorded the lowest unemployment of any administration in half a century, and experienced the smallest racial wealth gap in a score of years. Overall, there was nothing new about this speech since portions of it were echoed during Harris’s run for office, though not stressed enough. This may be Biden’s farewell economic address, doing as much as he can to appear as if he’s making substantive gains, particularly for the middle class.

A Black couple house hunting. (Photo by Kindel Media)

President Biden (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Should we treat Black and Brown people with felony indictments or convictions differently?

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

With the reelection of President-elect Donald Trump as a felon and Mayor Eric Adams’ federal indictment, it seems more and more that anyone can be touched by the criminal justice system regardless of position. The question is — will that exposure change the country’s perception of Black and Brown people who have felony convictions, but not the luxury of a high social status?

Having a felony conviction can mean a wide range of crimes were committed, from aggravated sexual abuse to nonviolent welfare fraud. Daniel Lambright, special counsel for criminal justice litigation for the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), said despite that range, having any felony

in New York could disqualify a person from housing, jobs, and many miscellaneous positions, like serving as a juror, without “empirical evidence” that they should be excluded.

“Such felony convictions have a tremendous racial disparity given racist policing practices for decades in America,” said Lambright. “They’re all types of felony bans, restrictions on housing. There are restrictions on getting licenses. There are restrictions on serving as an executor on a will. And those are far too broad and unrelated to the felony offense that someone’s been convicted of.”

Lambright hopes that people will begin to move past the idea that having a felony as a justiceimpacted person means they should be banned from critical services and benefits once time

See FELONY on page 31

Expanding student debt forgiveness program aims to stop the bleeding in public defense, district attorney’s office

By TANDY LAU

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

The right to an attorney means writing to Gov. Kathy Hochul for proponents of expanding District Attorney and Indigent Legal Service Attorney Loan Forgiveness Program (DALF): On on Dec. 3, 37 district attorneys, along with public defense organizations and their unions, penned a letter to Albany asking for $4 million in the next fiscal budget toward expanding the loan forgiveness program. Four New York City district attorneys were among those who signed the letter: Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg, Bronx D.A. Darcel Clark, Queens D.A. Melinda Katz, and Staten Island D.A. Michael McMahon.

Law school debt remains a major hurdle for retaining both public defenders and prosecutors in today’s legal workforce. The letter piggybacks on existing state legislation, which proposes increasing the maximum money forgiven from $3,400 to $8,000 for more than

eight years instead of the current six. In total, the bill could cover up to $64,000 in student debt for public sector attorneys. Currently, DALF can only spot $20,400 at most.

Out of the pandemic came an exodus of public defenders and assistant district attorneys due to the high cost of living and lower-than-industry-average wages. Replacing those departing public sector lawyers is an issue for the same reasons.

“One of the biggest challenges I think all public defenders face, but [particularly] if you’re talking about impacting Harlem, is [recruiting] the best candidates to support our clients,” said Piyali Basak, managing director at Neighborhood Defender Services (NDS) of Harlem. “As costs throughout the city are rising, as a law school becomes more expensive, it just becomes harder to both recruit and to get people to stay.

“It’s so important for our clients to have continuity of representation, and it’s devastating when clients develop

See STUDENT DEBT on page 33

Mayor Eric Adams holds an in-person media availability. City Hall. Monday, December 9, 2024. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.)

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (far back right) swears in new class as office makes significant strides in reducing attrition over past year (Laura Badger, Yakov Mantelman, Rosa Margarita McDowell/DANY Photo Unit)

A sixth-grade ambition charted Dr. Kimberly Henderson’s path to medicine

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

Dr. Kimberly Henderson discovered her love of medicine at an early age.

When she was in sixth grade, she entered a “What I want to be when I grow up” contest. At that time, what she wanted to be was based on the growing admiration she had for her pediatrician.

She remembers being that weird kid who was excited whenever she had the chance to go to the doctor’s office. “I wanted to see what he did, and you know how he listened to the heart and this and that,” she recalled. Henderson came in second in the school competition, but that was when she realized that medicine was her heart.

Born at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, New Jersey, Henderson grew up there alongside her brother and a mother who was originally from Quitman, Georgia, and a father who was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey.

Henderson had spent her school years tagging along with her mother every month to attend Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority community events: they prepared food for people, took part in toy drives, and collected books for kids. Henderson started to feel like her natural posture was in helping others. “I’m kind of a natural helper,” she said. “That’s how I’m bent.”

That trait followed her throughout high school and into college. As an undergrad at Georgetown University, she joined GERMS. “It was a terrible acronym, but it stood for Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service. We were basically a bunch of college kids that were trained as EMTs, and we would go to other college kids’ dorms to help them when they were sick.”

Her training inspired her to consider getting a medical degree, but she soon realized that most students come from families where a parent or close relative is a doctor, and are often advised about the medical school process. Henderson’s mother had been a schoolteacher, and her dad was a firefighter, so she was mostly on her own in that respect when she enrolled at Georgetown.

“I was going to go to medical school and do my residency and live happily ever after. But I got to Georgetown pre-med, and I did terribly: I got C’s and D’s, which was a firsttime occurrence for me. It had never happened in my whole life of schooling. And I would watch the people around me get these incredible grades.

“What I didn’t know at the time was that this was usually either the second or third time they’d taken the class: you never take the class for credit the first time, you just audit it. It makes sense because chemistry is chemistry –– wherever you take it, the information is exactly the same. But if you take it the first time around just as an audit, it doesn’t matter what grade you get because you’ve learned all the material. When you go back to your home insti-

Black New Yorker

Dr. Kimberly Henderson was recently appointed as a board member of the National Medical Fellowships. (Morgan Stanleyphoto)

tution, you take it for real, you take it for credit, and you end up with these just sterling grades. I didn’t know that at the time; I learned it afterwards.”

Now intimidated by med school, Henderson instead attended Georgetown Law. That’s where she met a professor named M. Gregg Bloche who was both a medical doctor and a lawyer. Bloche became an inspiration, and by the time she graduated from law school, Henderson had signed up to take part in the Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies (GEMS) program. This time, she was determined to succeed.

GEMS prepared her for medical school, and Henderson was accepted into and graduated from Georgetown School of Medicine.

“I graduated with the class of 2000, the year my first son was born. I was a very pregnant graduate and went on to complete an emergency medicine residency at George Washington and came to New York to work here in Manhattan, started at Beth Israel, which finally became part of the Mount Sinai system, and have never left.”

Today, as a board-certified emergency medicine physician, Dr. Henderson admits that ER work can be very taxing. In addition to working in the ER, she has worked in urgent care and with pharmaceutical companies, and currently, she serves as the head of health and wellness with Morgan Stanley investment bank. “So, I’ve sort of traded in my lab coat and I don’t work with patients, I work with clients. But you know, I say it every day: believe it or not, clients are people too, and they do have health and

Stay Safe from Holiday Scams

The holidays are a time to celebrate with loved ones, not falling victim to scams that can steal your cheer. Falling for a scam can lead to losing money and putting your account and personal information at risk, which can be both time consuming and costly.

Here are some common seasonal scams and tips to help protect yourself:

• Missed packages or problems with delivery: Expecting a package? Be cautious of phishing messages through email or text impersonating delivery services like UPS or FedEx with links to view «missed deliveries.» These links may lead to fake sign-in pages or malware-infected sites. Do not respond to messages requesting personal or financial information, including money or cryptocurrency. Be wary of unexpected packages and avoid scanning QR codes, as they may be attempts to steal your information.

• Online deals that are too good to be true: When shopping online or on social media, buy only from trusted websites and vendors. If purchasing on a platform or marketplace, stay on the platform to complete transactions and communicate with sellers, as protections often only apply when you use the platform. Use payment methods that offer buyer protection, and never send money to strangers or use Zelle for purchases, especially when you can’t confirm the goods exist.

• Phony charities preying on your generosity: The Holidays is also a season of giving. Before you donate money, double-check contact and payment information for your charity of choice and watch for text, email or phone call solicitations. Like any other unsolicited message, don’t click on links or open attachments that may contain malware or attempt to steal your information.

“Scammers do not discriminate and can target anyone during this festive season. Don’t let your guard down. Always remember that if something seems off, it likely is. By staying alert and informed, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from falling victim during this holiday season,” said Darius Kingsley, head of Consumer Banking Practices at Chase.

Tips to Avoid Scams:

• Don’t send money to unknown individuals or for goods or services that you can’t confirm exist.

• Be cautious of friendly messages from strangers on social apps. Scammers might try to build trust before asking for money.

• If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for deep discounts or low prices that may be scams.

• If you shop on social media marketplaces, never pay using Zelle—it is the same as cash and you may not get back if there is an issue.

• For more information about ways to help protect yourself from scams, visit chase.com/scamspotting —it’s a free resource that offers information in English and Spanish.

For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any individual. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/ or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.

Sponsored content by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Black, Indigenous communities can work together to strengthen reparative justice, report states

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

A new report from the BLIS Collective says that when Black and Indigenous groups combine their interests, it strengthens the push for reparative justice.

The Black Liberation-Indigenous Sovereignty (BLIS) Collective, a new organization created in 2022, will issue its first report in January 2025. The study, titled “Fabric of Repair: The Impact of Braiding Narratives of Reparations and Land Back on Black and Indigenous Audiences,” reveals that while Black and Indigenous communities often prioritize their own issues, they are also likely to support each other’s reparative efforts when provided with sufficient information.

BLIS wants to get that sort of information out by promoting narratives that illustrate the connection between settler colonialism and the exploitation enslavers used against Black people. The organization sees itself as “a solidarity and action hub that braids narratives and grows movements,” said cofounder/executive director Trevor Smith.

“How BLIS was born was my co-founder, Savannah Romero — we met in grad school — (and I) were at a party one day, just kind of talking about our work,” Smith told the AmNews. “The conversation kind of got to the place of asking ourselves, why isn’t the Black land movement for reparations and the Indigenous land movement for Land Back more connected? They didn’t feel as connected as we thought they should be, despite obviously not the exact same histories, but similar goals that relate to repairing the hurts caused by colonization and the transatlantic slave trade.”

Anti-Indigeneity and anti-Blackness

The Black reparations movement and the Indigenous Land Back movement have each had to overcome crippling societal efforts to destroy them. Mainstream U.S. culture is based on a history that justified genocide, land theft, and the violent pursuit of wealth –– the basic tenets that support anti-Indigeneity and anti-Blackness, the BLIS report contends.

After trying to exterminate Native Americans, the United States simply sent them to live apart from the rest of society. “The resulting invisibility of Indigenous experiences in mainstream discourse has led to widespread public apathy toward Indigenous rights and justice,” the report states.

“A 2018 survey found that 72% of Americans ‘rarely encounter or receive information about Native Americans.’ People cannot mobilize or advocate against a problem that they aren’t aware of, which is what makes the erasure of Indigenous people such an effective narrative tool for those looking to hoard power, suppress challenges to a white

supremacist status quo, and manipulate ideals such as democracy and freedom to legitimize inequity and maintain dominance

within social and political systems.” Anti-Blackness, the report also says, is regularly evidenced by police violence,

the perpetuation of the Black-white wealth gap, and the “depressed … social, economic, and political power of all Black people [that] has grown on the backs of Black women.”

Slavery and colonialism connect our stories

Indigenous and Black activists share an interconnected history, yet they don’t often associate their struggles. The BLIS report calls on activists to show “visible and vocal solidarity” with each other. Doing so can change the dynamics of how reparative justice efforts are responded to by the larger society.

As part of the report, BLIS surveyed 2,886 people, looking for their responses to videos that spoke about either the Reparations movement, the Land Back movement, or both movements at once.

Smith said that BLIS couldn’t predict which kind of videos would be most popular. “We really wanted to get a baseline understanding of how much support exists between Black and Indigenous communities on the topic of Reparations and Land Back, and what the effects would be when we produce the video that talked about both of these movements and the interconnectedness of these movements.

“We found that the video that braided the narratives together was effective at increasing support for Reparations and Land Back within Black and Indigenous audiences.”

One video the organization recently made has social media content creator Garrison Hayes talk about the United States’ two original sins: “... This land belonged to indigenous people,” Hayes says about a plantation just outside of Nashville, Tenn., that was once owned by Andrew Jackson.

“In fact, this region was home to some 600,000 indigenous peoples, including Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Shawnee people, but between the years 1492 and 1900, European settlers stole more than 1.5 billion acres of land from Indigenous peoples across what is now the United States.

And at the same time, those settlers were building America’s wealth on the backs of enslaved Africans. By 1860, the value of enslaved people was estimated to be between $3.1 and $3.6 billion: an amount more valuable than all of the railroads and factories in this country at the time –– combined.”

Efforts to combine Black and Indigenous narratives will be long-term and generational — the kind of work that will be necessary to build solidarity. The growing national effort to fight for Black reparative justice policies is mostly taking place on the local level. Places like Evanston, Ill.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Boston, Mass.; Kansas City, Mo.; and New York State are studying the idea of reparation programs for Black Americans. As they build locally, these programs can note how Land Back and Reparations ideas work together.

(photos courtesy of BLIS collective)

Alberto Garofalo

Dr. Ashwin Vasan reflects on his legacy in NYC public health

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

Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the former commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, spoke with the Amsterdam News about the work he has done at the department, the programs and projects he has overseen while commissioner, and the challenges New York still faces. This interview was conducted the day before he left office. It has been edited and condensed for clarity.

AmNews: Please tell the readers of the paper about your legacy as commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene?

Dr. Ashwin Vasan (AV): I am so proud of the work we’ve done over the last three years. When I was appointed at the end of 2021, we were in the throes of COVID-19 with Omicron. To play a part in leading us out of . . . COVID … Then Mpox hit, and then things like polio and measles came up, so we had these recurring crises, but in the background, we were doing a few things. We re-oriented the city toward the common health agenda, HEALTHY NYC. We got that passed into law and now that will be the permanent planning structure for the city.

We made incredible investments in mental health, especially youth mental health, and overdose prevention. Today, we just announced we had the first reduction in overdose deaths in four years, so we’re turning the tide on that. We stood up after the Dobbs decision on abortion and became a national leader in abortion access and reproductive health. We addressed affordability of healthcare. Over the next three years, we’ll be clearing $2 billion in medical debt from 500,000 low-income families and launched an office of healthcare accountability to improve price transparency. We’ve invested in maternal health and launched the citywide doula program.

The list goes on. We did all of that while strengthening our data systems internally, investing in our people and our resilience.

Morale is high in the department. In our last workforce survey, 84% of our staff said they’re happy and satisfied with their work and the environment here. That was much higher than when I arrived and understandably so, because people were still affected by the pandemic and working so hard and traumatized.

All along the way, we’ve tried to ensure that equity isn’t a side project but rather foundational to our population health goals. We can’t achieve HEALTHY NYC unless we’re focusing on Black lives, Brown lives, low-income communities, people who have been left behind, marginalized people. It’s a lot. When I look back on it, I’m very proud that we did so much in such a relatively short amount of time. I’ve been here almost twice as long as my predecessors …, and I’m extraordinarily proud of this work.

AmNews: How do you feel about the initiatives and programs you’ve overseen during your tenure, given your departure?

AV: Part of the reason why I’m confident in leaving, even though I’m sad, is the people we have. We have 7,000 fantastic staff here who care so much about the city, who wake up every day trying to serve and improve health and justice in the city, and we have Dr. Morse. It’s her time to step up and she’s ready. It’s going to stretch her like it stretched me. It’s going to test her like it tested me, like it tests everybody. But she’s a great leader and she will keep us going in the directions that we have laid out in the postCOVID era. I’m really proud. Bittersweet to leave, but leaving with my head very high.

AmNews: What are your plans once you leave the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene?

AV: I’m still on the faculty at Columbia and I’m going back for the moment. We will see what happens next. New York is my home and I’m still going to be on Team New York.

East Harlem’s Union Settlement markets its early childhood programs

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

Union Settlement has provided social services in East Harlem for over 100 years. As a traditional settlement house –– designed to provide public health services, adult education, and childcare programs –– the organization is tasked with delivering community services that support and uplift.

“We are working heavily on another project that was given to us –– enrollment,” said Johnnie Abreu, associate director of Family Services at Union Jefferson, one of the Settlement’s five East Harlem sites. “Enrollment is part of our community outreach, initiatives, and recruitment efforts.”

Abreu and Dr. Patience Oti, the senior executive director of Union Settlement, discussed the early childhood education

initiatives at their organizations and new strategies to boost service promotion with the Amsterdam News . “Presently, in these schools, we are at 62% enrollment,” explained Dr. Oti. “And we are pushing to at least get to 75%.”

In 2020, just after the full force of the COVID-19 pandemic hit, enrollment numbers started to decrease. They have stayed low ever since. It doesn’t help that East Harlem also has other early childhood programs available: “If you have a child who is five or six that is going to one school and they afford you an opportunity to bring your three year old to that same place, you would rather go to the place where you can take two of them at the same time, rather than dropping one off here and bringing

(Photo courtesy the NYC Dept. of Health)

Students taking part in read-aloud (Union Settlement photo)

What in the world is the NYPD’s Community Response Team?

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

No, the NYPD is not practicing Critical Race Theory when talking about CRT over social media. The department is actually referring to the Community Response Team, but any confusion is warranted — almost no information on what the specialized unit actually does is publicly available.

On Nov. 26, the NYC Department of Investigation’s Office of the Inspector General issued a report on the lack of transparency for CRT’s written policies. In fact, the NYPD website does not mention the unit at all. Yet CRT is regularly featured by the department’s social media pages, including in a reality TVesque video series in 2022 titled “True Blue: NYPD’s Finest.” Investigators say the NYPD confirmed to them the absence of official or written policies for the unit.

“The lack of transparency regarding NYPD’s Community Response Team risks non-compliance with the law, ethical breaches, and negative policing outcomes,” said NYPD Inspector General (OIG-NYPD) Jeanene L. Barrett in her statement. “Since its inception more than two years ago, CRT has expanded significantly, with a team in every patrol borough, without a corresponding expansion of publicly available information about the work of this unit.”

Little is known about the unit’s selection

process, although the ranks ballooned from 16 officers in 2022 to 165 this past May. Notably, Jonathan Diller, the slain officer whose funeral was attended by Presidentelect Donald Trump earlier this year, was a member, revealed by Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry’s X post describing CRT as “a specialized team of highly trained officers whose mission it is to restore order.”

From interviewing unit members and based on official statements, the OIGNYPD gleaned the unwritten mission statement centered around responding to “quality-of-life” concerns which the department describes as enforcement ranging from addressing campus protests and homeless encampments to removing illegal motorbikes and ghost cars from the streets. It is unclear how much role the unit played in this spring’s pro-Palestinian student demonstrations or the recent padlocking of illicit smokeshops, which fall under such jurisdiction.

To be clear, CRT is not under investigation for misconduct as a unit and there are no rules mandating transparency. But divulging information on policies and procedures is good practice, says Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber. The probe is largely preemptive as knowledge of mission statements and access to disciplinary records would provide a better understanding of potential concerns the unit poses.

“The goal is to address any issues, policies, procedures or the lack thereof that might lead to a situation where there is misconduct or negative outcome either for an officer or for the public,” said Strauber over the phone. “A lot of the work that we do here is to try to get ahead of those outcomes, and where we see an absence of policies and procedures, I would say [it’s] a red flag, an area where the department could do better and hopefully prevent a potential problem in the future.

“We want to look at disciplinary history, both outside of before officers come to CRT and while they’re in CRT, and I’m not aware of specific problematic conduct [of] either, but we also haven’t studied those records.”

The report points to the contentious relationship between previous specialized units and Black and Brown New Yorkers as a concern for CRT. These teams are often characterized by aggressive policing far beyond typical patrol cop duties. The Street Crime Unit notoriously killed unarmed Guinean student Amadou Diallo in 1999 before disbanding three years later. The still active Strategic Response Unit faced a deluge of misconduct complaints during the 2020 George Floyd protests and more recently drew criticism for a militarized response against Columbia University and City College student protests this year.

In fact, the OIG-NYPD notes community concern on CRT, particularly from Black

and Brown youth who are skeptical due to the NYPD’s history with specialized units; this is why transparency is particularly important when addressing those anxieties.

“You want to have clear policies and procedures [by having] guard rails around what they can do,” said Strauber. “You want them to have specialized training so that they can do the things that they’re being tasked with. You also want to track their success in ways that are kind of concrete and measurable. So those were the sorts of fundamental things we wanted to know about the unit.

“What we found, in many cases, was an absence of those kinds of basic procedural safeguards. So there’s no mission statement. There are no policies and procedures specifically applicable to this specialized unit. And again, that is in contrast with some of the other specialized units within the police department.”

An NYPD spokesperson responded to the report by thanking the Department of Investigation for reviewing CRT and says the department looks forward to considering the recommendations.

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.

NYPD crushes illegal bikes with Mayor Eric Adams (right) June 5, 2024. (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office photo)

Union Matters

Rival union official says Atlantic City casino union boss should resign for opposing smoking ban

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) —

Workers pushing for an end to smoking in Atlantic City casinos say the main employee union has been won over by tobacco companies seeking allies in the fight against smoking restrictions.

On Monday, an official of a union involved in the anti-smoking push called for Donna DeCaprio, the head of the Atlantic City casino workers’ union, to resign for failing to protect her members from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

DeCaprio is president of Local 54 of the Unite Here (HERE) union, which opposes a smoking ban on the grounds that so much business would be lost by smokers taking their money elsewhere that it could cause one or more casinos to shut down, costing thousands of workers their jobs.

“She should be ashamed of herself,” said Ray Jensen, assistant director of United Auto Workers Region 9, which represents dealers at three Atlantic City casinos and is part of a lawsuit seeking to have the courts force an end to smoking in the gambling halls. “She should hand in her union card.”

DeCaprio said her union supports the health and safety of its members, and that improvements to the workplace environment need to be made.

“A balance needs to be reached that will both protect worker health and preserve good jobs,” she said. “We are protecting our members against multiple casino closures and job losses. The UAW is eager to sacrifice the entire casino industry and put 25,000 good jobs with benefits at risk.”

DeCaprio said between 50% and 72% of all in-person casino revenue in Atlantic City comes from smoking sections, which occupy only 25% of the casino floor.

She said her union “and the vast majority of the labor movement” support a proposal that would improve ventilation in casinos and prevent any employee from being assigned to work in a smoking section against their will.

Whether to ban smoking is one of the most controversial issues not

only in Atlantic City casinos but in other states where workers have expressed concern about secondhand smoke. Similar campaigns are underway in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Virginia.

Workers have been pushing for four years to end an exemption in New Jersey’s clean air law that allows smoking in nine casinos. They say they or their co-workers are becoming ill with cancer, heart disease, and other conditions related to exposure to second-hand smoke.

Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has said he will sign a bill to end casino smoking if it reaches his desk.

The casinos, joined by Local 54, oppose that effort, saying it will cost Atlantic City thousands of jobs and lead to decreased tax revenue for state programs for senior citizens and the disabled.

On Monday, the workers’ group that calls itself Casino Employees Against Smoking’s Effects (CEASE) filed an appeal of a court ruling in August that allowed smoking to continue in the nine casinos.

The Casino Association of New Jersey declined to comment Monday.

Attorney Nancy Erika Smith said as far back as 1993, tobacco com-

panies targeted labor unions in the hospitality industry as potential allies to work against smoking bans in the restaurant and hospitality industries. That effort included the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union, a precursor of the Unite Here union.

“HERE and the related AFL-CIO affiliates are critical allies [that] should be cultivated as supporters of the effort to prevent smoking bans,” a public relations firm wrote in a memo to the Philip Morris Companies that was made public during several states’ litigation against tobacco companies.

The memo said having HERE “as an ally in this effort would be a very powerful voice.”

As far back as 2001, HERE was part of a 12-member coalition, including labor unions, advocating for improved indoor ventilation instead of government-imposed smoking bans, according to another document cited in Monday’s appeal.

The anti-smoking campaigners cite a 2022 report by Las Vegas-based C3 Gaming, a consulting firm, showing that casinos that went smokefree “appear to be performing better than their counterparts that continue to allow smoking.”

A gambler smokes while playing a slot machine at Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City, N.J., on Aug. 8, 2022 (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

Remembering Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni was an intriguing complexity of strength and vulnerability, and these shifting aspects of her remarkable literary journey were evinced in her poetry and her political commitments.

One of the nation’s most productive and often controversial poets, Giovanni joined the pantheon of wordsmiths on Monday with her passing, a transition that resonated far and wide. She was still a very young woman when she enrolled at Fisk University, but under the tutelage of John Oliver Killens, she quickly let it be known that she would not be intimidated or bite her tongue when it came to speaking truth to power. Her bold commentaries and steadfast resolve were more than the college was willing to tolerate and she was bounced from campus. But in a few years, she was back with an even stronger determination to assert her political and poetic vision.

Ironically, Giovanni made her transition as the world nearly concludes its centennial celebration of the life and legacy of James Baldwin, a writer and mentor of sorts with whom she shared a feisty and rewarding conversation in the early 1970s on “Soul,” produced by Ellis Haizlip.

They sparred about issues such as religion, power and morals, and the fate of children, and agreed on and disagreed on a number of things as they both smoked and shared impressions of the Civil Rights Movement. When they discussed sex and sexuality, which for Baldwin was a central place for Black men, Giovanni was silent — but not when it came to the perpetuation of brutality. She was perplexed that a man mistreated by society could come home and mistreat his wife.

“It’s the perpetuation of a terrible syndrome,” Baldwin said. Love, Baldwin asserted, “is not a rational situation.”

“But it must be,” Giovanni countered.

Their differences continued for several beats, neither willing to surrender their position. This contentiousness concluded the first hour of a two-hour session.

During the second half, it was mainly Baldwin pontificating and Giovanni, perhaps to keep things moving, nodding in agreement. Ultimately, though, she began to command the moment with an insightful exegesis about the writing and evolution of Chester Himes, citing chapter and verse, and slowly making Baldwin see her point about the essence of Himes’s views.

This was vintage Giovanni, and even Baldwin had to acknowledge her conclusions.

Giovanni’s brilliance is further explored in this paper’s obituary, relaying her highly eventful odyssey, but it’s only an overture to her symphony of creativity.

The negative impact of New York’s CDPAP program change on minority communities

By SALIM DRAMMEH AND ADAMA BAH

The heart of New York State is its diversity, with communities like ours contributing to our great state’s cultural, social, and economic fabric. However, our communities are now under threat, thanks to an alarming decision by our governor to centralize the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).

The rushed process aims to eliminate hundreds of local small businesses and outsource the program to a single company based in Georgia that has a concerning record and doesn’t know anything about New York or our communities. What’s worse, this plan could leave 250,000 sick, disabled, and chronically ill New Yorkers without care. In minority communities where trust in the system is already fraught and resources are already stretched thin, this decision is incomprehensible. CDPAP is a lifeline for individuals requiring long-term care, such as the disabled or elderly, allowing them to choose family members or friends they trust to be their caregivers. For communities like ours, this program does more than provide care. It sustains families, allows the sick or disabled to remain in the comfort of their homes, and ensures that care is provided even if a person can’t speak English or has unique cultural needs.

For the West African community, many of whom rely on multilingual caregivers, accessing culturally sensitive services through local fiscal intermediaries has been crucial. These organizations know us, speak our languages, and are based in our communities. This familiarity builds trust, which is essential in navigating a complex healthcare bureaucracy for our largely immigrant populations. The sudden decision to centralize CDPAP disregards these realities, threatening to upend a resource we rely on.

Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher and Editor in Chief

Damaso Reyes: Executive & Investigative Editor

Cyril

The process by which New York State selected this single fiscal intermediary has raised significant concerns. Across the board, communities are confused by this shortsighted decision. The lack of robust community consultation — particularly with minority groups who disproportionately rely on CDPAP — raises questions about whose in-

terests are being prioritized. Disruptions will be catastrophic for those in our community who live paycheck-to-paycheck. Outsourcing the state’s CDPAP program could destabilize the lives of thousands of people who already face systemic barriers to accessing care.

Minority communities, particularly immigrant populations, will bear the brunt of this shift.

Language barriers are a prime example. In the West African community, many recent immigrants speak only their native languages, such as Wolof, Twi, or Fulani. The current fiscal intermediaries who facilitate CDPAP have gone to great lengths to ensure that interpreters and multilingual staff can assist with paperwork and training. A single, monolithic intermediary may not have the resources or the motivation to provide tailored services.

Minority-owned small businesses that facilitate CDPAP will also be devastated. Many of these businesses are run by members of our communities, and their loss will ripple far beyond CDPAP. These businesses employ local residents, reinvest in the community, and serve as a bridge between vulnerable populations and state systems. Their closure will widen the gap of mistrust and marginalization, leaving communities further isolated.

Other states that have attempted similar centralizations provide a cautionary tale. Pennsylvania contracted with Public Partnerships LLC, the same company New York

plans to use, and was left with payment delays that caused caregivers to be unpaid for weeks. Vulnerable recipients experienced lapses in care, leading to avoidable health crises. If New York replicates these mistakes, the consequences will be magnified in a state as populous and diverse as ours.

The governor’s plan to outsource CDPAP will come at the expense of quality and accessibility for vulnerable populations. In communities already grappling with inequities, this trade-off is unacceptable.

New York’s leaders must recognize the implications of this decision. Before moving forward, policymakers must listen to the voices of their constituents, including minority and immigrant communities like ours. The process should prioritize transparency and community involvement to ensure no one is left behind. If the state insists on moving forward with outsourcing CDPAP, it must require the chosen entity to demonstrate its capacity to meet the diverse needs of New York’s population. We must hold our elected leaders accountable. Decisions of this magnitude should not be made without robust oversight and community input. Minority communities must rally together to demand a seat at the table, ensuring our voices are heard and our needs are prioritized.

New York currently stands at a crossroads. The outsourcing of CDPAP administration threatens a system that has worked precisely because it is local, flexible, and attuned to our needs. If New York State proceeds without addressing the concerns of those most affected, it risks deepening inequities and eroding trust in government.

Our minority and immigrant communities deserve better. Caregiving is not just a service. It is a relationship built on trust, and by sidelining the very organizations that have fostered these relationships, the state risks replacing care with chaos. Let us hope that those in power will pause, listen, and act in the best interests of all New Yorkers.

Salim Drammeh is president of the Gambian Youth Organization and Adama Bah is executive director and founder of Afrikana.

Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor

Josh Barker: Digital Editor

Siobhan "Sam" Bennett: Chief

(Photo by Kampus Production)

In these hot-mess times, let us love our nation

This day is etched in my memory: On Dec. 5, 1955, the Montgomery Boycott began.

On Dec. 5, 2020, a six-alarm fire destroyed the site of the Middle Collegiate Church. I close my eyes, and I can see the flames; I can smell the smoke; I remember the punch-inthe-stomach sorrow.

On so many days, it feels like that fire is burning, still. Yes, our congregation is still here. Yes, we have been hosted in places like the Riverside Church, East End Temple, and now Judson Memorial Church. Yes, we now have members in 48 states and 22 countries, due to the digital footprint we built during COVID and after the fire. Yes, we are rebuilding — even now — the part of our site at 50 E. 7th Street that received the least damage.

But, still, the fire. The fire is inside us. And the fire makes me think of the fires burning in this nation. Yes, there are amazing pockets of love and resistance, and incredible communities doing the work of fierce love. Folks are organizing for immigrants; for trans and queer people; for reproductive, racial, and economic justice. And still, the fires burn. Fires of incivility and cruelty. Fires of lies masquerading as truth and the forming of policies forged in enmity and hatred. In so many ways, human rights — civil rights — are being torched with the fires of bigotry.

These are some hot-mess times, family.

I love this paper: the Amsterdam News . And in the annals I found this article, published in January 2017, about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (lightly edited for current AmNews

style):

REV. DR. JACQUI LEWIS

FIERCE LOVE

“There are two very misconstrued quotes from King. The first is ‘My Dream turned into a nightmare’ from his 1967 Christmas Eve Sermon broadcast on the Canadian Broadcast Channel. The other is ‘I have integrated my people into a burning house.’ Most use these quotes as proof that toward the end of Dr. King’s life, he abandoned integration for Black separatism or Black militancy. Looking at both of these quotes more rigorously will help us understand what King meant.

“The exact quote from the Christmas Eve Speech was:

“‘Toward the end of that afternoon (March on Washington), I tried to talk to the nation about a dream that I had had, and I must confess to you today that not long after talking about that dream, I started seeing it turn into a nightmare.’”

In this speech, King explained his frustration at the amount of violence Black people have encountered in the Civil Rights Movement. His frustration led him to double down on his philosophy of integration. He went on to say that hope is what keeps people alive, and he would never lose faith in the cause.

The 1967 Christmas Sermon is just one of five Massey Lectures, a series that the Canadian Broadcast Channel did to showcase significant contemporary thought leaders. If one reviews the entire Dr. King Massey Lecture series in the book “Trumpet of Conscience,” his philosophy about social justice is thoroughly explained. He sees the first stage of the movement as removing the legal basis of segregation. The movement was now in its second phase: world-centric humanitarianism. In this movement, the focus was on empowering all underprivileged people all over the world. He espoused global egalitarianism, which was manifested in his opposition to the Vietnam War.

The second quote on the “burning house” comes from a story told by Harry Belafonte. Here is the quote from the New York Amsterdam News: According to Belafonte, King re -

sponded, “I’ve come upon something that disturbs me deeply. We have fought hard and long for integration, as I believe we should have, and I know we will win, but I have come to believe that we are integrating into a burning house. I’m afraid that America has lost the moral vision she may have had, and I’m afraid that even as we integrate, we are walking into a place that does not understand that this nation needs to be deeply concerned with the plight of the poor and disenfranchised. Until we commit ourselves to ensuring that the underclass is given justice and opportunity, we will continue to perpetuate the anger and violence that tears the soul of this nation. I fear I am integrating my people into a burning house.”

Belafonte added, “That statement took me aback. It was the last thing I would have expected to hear, considering the nature of our struggle.”

Belafonte said he asked King, “What should we do?” and King replied that we should “become the firemen.” King said, “Let us not stand by and let the house burn.”

So again, King did not want to evacuate the house. Instead, he wanted us to be agents of change and harbingers of a new moral code. A full retelling of Belafonte’s story is consistent with what was expressed in the Massey Lectures.

Friends, let us be firefighters, like those souls in Montgomery. Let us turn the full force of our love onto our systems, our politics, our beloveds, and ourselves. Let us love with such power and strength to extinguish the fires of bigotry and violence. And, from the smoldering ashes, let us rise up together in the love revolution needed to heal our nation, our souls, and the world. Let us remember that we are inextricably connected and what affects you affects me, and that we can’t be fully human by ourselves.

Let us love this nation, and make it generous and just, perhaps for the very first time.

Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is senior minister and public theologian at the Middle Church in New York. She champions racial, economic, and gender/sexuality justice. The author of several books, including “Fierce Love” and the “Just Love Story Bible,” her work has been featured on NBC, CBS, PBS, MSNBC, and NPR, and in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Ebony and Essence magazines.

How to build a democracy

CHRISTINA GREER, PH.D.

I recently published a mini book entitled “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” (Cambridge Elements) and it couldn’t have arrived at a more needed moment.

I was inspired to write this book after thinking about all of the contributions of Stacey Abrams during the 2020 and 2021 election cycles. When reflecting on her career in public service, I was interested to learn more about the roots that helped this brilliant Black woman grow into such a political force in 21st century politics.

I was also interested in learning more about the contributions of Black women from the U.S. south. This is in no way devaluing the contributions of people like Shirley Chisholm and Kamala Harris, both of whom have Caribbean lineage and hail from New York and California, respectively. Both Chisholm and Harris contributed immensely to the advancement of Black women in electoral politics on local, state, and federal levels. However,

“How to Build a Democracy” focuses specifically on three Black American women who hailed from the southern states of Mississippi, Texas, and Georgia, respectively.

This book is at a price point aimed for students and a length that I hope will encourage people to actually read the entire book and not just skim a chapter or two. It’s a great introduction to these three amazing women, but it is by no means a definitive text on the lives and careers of these dedicated public servants.

My argument is essen-

tially, if one combined the organizing skills of Fannie Lou Hamer and the political prowess of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, 50 years later, we would have the brilliant legislator and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Abrams combined astute organizing capabilities across the state of Georgia to organize myriad diverse racial, ethnic, class, and age groups in the state. Her ability to organize and work with elected officials within her own party, as well as the Republican party, illustrates her understanding of larger political goals to better serve the citizens of Georgia. It is my hope that you will pick up “How to Build a Democracy” and learn about the bravery and intelligence of Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan, both 20th-century civil rights leaders who fought for the rights of all Americans, not solely Black Americans. It is also my hope that you will finish this short book by feeling inspired to do more for your community, run for political office, or support nonprofits doing organizing work or someone thinking of becoming a public servant and candidate. You can find “How to Build a Democracy” on Amazon or at the Cambridge University Press website at bit.ly/4iorT1l.

Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of the book “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.

Caribbean Update

Jamaica considering nuclear energy for power woes

By BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews

Jamaica’s government has said it is considering nuclear power as a major alternative energy source because, once properly managed, it will reduce the island’s carbon footprint, provide clean energy, and stabilize its sometimes shaky fossil fuel-dominated power system.

Three weeks ago, the administration of Prime Minister Andrew Holness signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Limited to help accelerate feasibility studies and preparations for a possible nuclear energy sector. If the project gets the green light, it would easily position the country as the first in the 15-nation Caribbean Community (Caricom) bloc to dare use such high technology to generate power for general commercial purposes.

The announcement by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) did not generate banner headlines in local media, but officials said they are pressing ahead with the project because it could help beat the island’s struggles for reliable energy generation and supplies.

Jamaica is already a signatory to the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy Capacity by 2050, which was launched at the UN’s

COP28 climate change conference a year ago. Holness said the partnership with the two companies has much to do with the new approach to power generation from clean and sustainable sources.

The partnership reflects the Jamaican government’s commitment to diversify the country’s energy portfolio with new, clean, and sustainable alternatives, Holness said. “It shows that with proper regulation of technology and the embrace of technological advancement, nuclear power can be a game-changer. In fact, today’s nuclear technology, especially small modular reactors, is far safer and more adaptable than it was in the past. Of course, there are those who are going to say, ‘Why not wait until this technology is mature.’ The problem is that anything that has to do with nuclear requires a long period of time and … development of local capabilities. If you don’t do it now, then not only will you have to import the capital and the actual small modular nuclear reactor; you’re going to have to import the technological skills and expertise as well, which will increase the cost of deployment,” he said at the signing.

Reporting on the issue recently, the JIS stated that the idea of tapping nuclear power as a reliable source dates back to the

general of the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), as saying that Jamaicans do not have to be too concerned about the safety of nuclear power since those systems are well-developed. “There is nothing to be fearful of,” Grant said. “Nuclear energy is considered as a green form of energy [because] it does not release greenhouse gases while in use. In terms of cost, it is comparable to most conventional fuels: lower than oil and, I would say, coal.

“International collaboration is key and must be done first. The fact of the matter is, no nation will export nuclear technology to a country that is not fully regulated and part of the whole IAEA system. I am looking toward having nuclear power here.”

Grant added that “Jamaica is a regional leader for nuclear technology and having a nuclear reactor here for the past 40 years that we have run safely and securely is the foundation for this big step.”

early 1980s. Back then, the island operated an experimental reactor called a SLOWPOKE-2, based at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies.

It quoted Professor Charles Grant, director

Holness also sought to calm nerves about safety and security linked to nuclear reactors, telling the Observer newspaper, “We understand the concerns many Jamaicans may have regarding safety, and I want to assure the country that we are approaching this with caution, care, and the utmost regard for the well-being of our people and environment.”

Donald Trumpeto’s Caribbean ‘Eye Pass’

FELICIA PERSAUD

As Donald Trumpeto prepares for his second term as U.S. president, one of his freshly baked and utterly bewildering immigration proposals feels like a direct “eye pass” to the Caribbean, as we’d say in Guyana. Indeed, Trumpeto’s latest scheme is as if he spun a globe, closed his eyes, and randomly picked destinations for his mass deportation plan — minus any thought for countries and their sovereignty.

NBC News reports suggest that Trump’s administration is considering nations like the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Grenada, and Panama as convenient drop-off points for deportees whose home countries refuse to accept them. Yet the Bahamas, like a stern parent catching a child mid-shenanigan, has already said, “Not today, and not ever.”

Prime Minister Philip Davis of the Bahamas minced no words, declaring his nation simply does not have the resources to accommodate such a ludicrous influx. Frank-

ly, calling the plan untenable is putting it mildly — it’s a proposal so preposterous that it could cause a Jamaican to exclaim, “Wha de … clat?”

The Trumpeto playbook: Recycled Controversy edition

This isn’t Trumpeto’s first time at the rodeo of controversial immigration policies. During his first term, he orchestrated a similarly ill-advised plan to deport immigrants to Guatemala — a scheme halted only by a combination of legal challenges and the pandemic. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), perpetually poised with a legal counterpunch, has already vowed to challenge any attempts to roll out a mass deportation plan again. Despite the backlash, Trumpeto trudges forward, pitching these policies as necessary for national security while threatening economic sanctions against countries that refuse to comply. It’s a diplomatic strategy that feels like trying to charm your neighbor with a hammer.

The Caribbean is not your dumping ground

The suggestion of offloading deportees to Caribbean nations shows a stagger-

ing disregard for the region’s realities. These are nations often grappling with economic constraints, the ongoing impacts of climate change, and rebuilding from natural disasters. Adding deportees into the mix — many of whom have no ties to the region — would create a ripple effect of resource strain and social disruption. We have already been down this road, largely thanks to the draconian Bill Clinton policies.

Déjà vu, but worse

This proposal smacks of the UK’s infamous Rwanda asylum-seeker plan, which was ultimately declared unlawful. Policies like these might play well with certain voter bases, but they’re often in blatant violation of international law and leave vulnerable individuals in perilous situations.

And let’s not forget: Alienating Caribbean and Latin American neighbors jeopardizes vital cooperation on issues like drug trafficking, climate action, and regional stability. These are relationships that require nurturing, not bulldozing.

The Caribbean’s response needs to be: Not today, Satan

The Caribbean is a region of resilience

and cultural brilliance, not a pawn in geopolitical games. Leaders like Davis have shown the kind of backbone that demands applause for standing firm against any attempts to use their nations as holding cells for misguided policies.

As for Trumpeto? He would do well to put down the Sharpie, reconsider this policy, and perhaps — just perhaps — start seeing the Caribbean not as a convenient receptacle for his political leftovers, but as a region deserving respect, dignity, and partnership. Trump’s administration must recognize these realities and abandon policies that dehumanize immigrants and disrespect international partners. For Caribbean nations and their allies, now is the time to stand united and demand that any U.S. administration engage with them as equals, not as expendable players in domestic political agendas.

To put it plainly, the Caribbean is not here for your foolishness. Not today, Satan; not today and not ever!

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.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in Kingston, Jamaica, on Jan. 22, 2020. (State Department photo by Ron Przysucha)

International News

Gualeguaychú displays its hidden Afro Argentinean history

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff and ANDREA LANDI

Special to the Amsterdam News

After the Nov. 8 Afro Argentinean Day march in Buenos Aires, various organizations across Argentina have tailored their programs to promote national acknowledgment of the country’s African descendants.

On Nov. 15, the coastal city of Gualeguayú held a night at the museums, which encouraged people to join free guided tours of eight of its local cultural heritage sites. One of the sites featured was the Casa de Haedo (Haedo House) Museum, where the EntreAfros association sponsored the research presentation

“Gualeguaychú Esclava.” The night was focused on demonstrating the impact Africans had on the city’s development.

In an interview with the Amsterdam News, Casa de Haedo museologist Natalia Derudi spoke about the role Black people have played in Gualeguaychú’s history.

AmNews: Could you briefly explain where Gualeguaychú is in Argentina and how its geographical location led to Africans being enslaved there?

Natalia Derudi (ND): San José de Gualeguaychú is a city in the province of Entre Ríos, 220 kilometers north of Buenos Aires, the capital of the country. This province is between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers and borders the provinces of Corrientes, Santa Fe, and Buenos Aires, and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, which historically links it with the most important events that have shaped Argentina’s identity.

Gualeguaychú was founded Oct. 18, 1783, and is a product of the Spanish policy prevailing in the 18th century, which was to limit the advance of the Portuguese, but the history that links it to the arrival and sustained advance of Europeans goes back more than a century before. As early as 1662, the Dominicans settled strategically near the Uruguay River and established the first settlement of Indigenous people from different nations. In 1664, this settlement, known as Yaguarí Miní or Santo Domingo Soriano, surpassed Buenos Aires in terms of population. Yaguarí Guazú was also founded (on the banks of Arroyo Lorenzo — Gualeguaychú River). They were the two most important groups at that time. Colonial occupation continued into the second half of the 18th century, with the settling of large landowners. This is when the first major records of enslaved Africans appear due to the profitability of their labor on the viceroyalty’s estancias, or plantations.

The Ravignani Institute/National Council of Scientific and Technical Research records that “The Estancia de Esteban had

a total of 61 slaves in 1803 (a number that was the same in 1809, although they were no longer the same people) ... The 61 slaves in 1803 included 12 families with a total of 42 members between parents and children, that is an average of 3.5 people per family. This policy of establishing slave families had a long tradition in the farms of the coast. The baptism books of Gualeguaychú record 56 births of children of Esteban’s slaves between 1785 and 1817; on the other hand, the death books from that same period show the deaths of all these children, sometimes even shortly after their birth ...”

AmNews: What does the Casa de Haedo (Haedo House) Museum mean in terms of slavery in Gualeguaychú?

ND: The Haedo House, a National Historic Monument, is the only colonial building in Gualeguaychú and one of the few that has been preserved in Entre Ríos. Therefore, we can say that it is the bearer of memory of the city’s first years and, as a site of Afro memory, it is also a witness to and architect of the social context of the time.

People who were deprived of their freedom lived in this house, and there are historical documents that allow us to visualize how different members of the family were involved in the purchase and selling of enslaved Africans. An example from the Eduardo Gomes Moreira Haedo archive is, “Of the number of slaves that I introduced in these Balisas on September 21, last year, in the Goaleta of my property named La Marcelina, coming from

Rio Janeiro, I sold to Don Jodef Borrago, two slaves called Mursiana and Franca; both in the amount of 482 pesos...”

Don José Borrajo was the one who built the house and, therefore, the first owner of this property. His family and his descendants lived there, and in the corner room, there was an important commercial office. His daughter Petronila married José Antonio Haedo, a Spanish merchant who settled in the town at the end of the 18th century, and since then, all his descendants have lived in this house.

The presence of Africans in the city, their stories, and their impact on the local identity are some of the topics that are addressed in this museum, based on the museographic research and dissemination project “Gualeguaychú Esclava” (Slave Gualeguaychú).

AmNews: Is there still a significant population of Afrodescendants in Gualeguaychú? Why do you have this celebration in Gualeguaychú if there are not many Afrodescendants? If there are a lot of Afrodescendants, what is their reaction to the event?

ND: Although the museum has not carried out specific studies of the descendants of the Africans who participated in the life of the city ever since the 18th century, their presence has been evident for a long time afterward –– in censuses and municipal records, and even in the local press.

An article from April 15, 1880, in the news-

paper El Noticiero, reads: “Joaquina García, one of the only two queens of African nations in this city, died on Monday. Joaquina, despite her 95 years, was still working.”

In addition, many families have been formed with descendants of different Indigenous peoples. An important example is the first marriage registered by the church, in 1766, between Francisco Solano Martínez, born in Paraguay, and María Josefa de los Santos, born in Angola and enslaved by D. Juan de los Santos.

It is worth mentioning the presence of Creoles and migratory waves from different European nations that brought a great cultural plurality and fusion. The Afrodescendants were no strangers to this reality and the result was miscegenation, with the increasingly notorious presence of mulattos and zambos. It’s also worth mentioning that Argentina’s Black population was decimated in the wars of independence because Black citizens were recruited to form the shock infantry military unit Battalions of Pardos and Morenos, and many of them died.

In the Entre Ríos province, the EntreAfros Civil Association represents the Afro Argentinean community. They promote recognition, visibility, and respect for Argentina’s African descendants. They are involved in multiple projects with the community, which links them through art, urban archeology, anthropology, and research. Our museum is in a fluid dialogue with them for mutual enrichment and plans to do more with them in the future.

EntreAfros association sponsored “Gualeguaychú Esclava” presentation at Argentina’s Casa de Haedo Museum on Nov. 15. (Casa de Haedo photo)

AT THE WHITNEY EDGES OF AILEY

The lead sponsor for Edges of Ailey

the Jerome L. Greene Foundation

Arts & Entertainment

Legendary poet, activist Sonia Sanchez honored at Hunter

By JULIAN MICHAEL CALDWELL Special to the AmNews

At 90 years old, poet, author, activist, and groundbreaking educator Sonia Sanchez is a giant of literature. She’s authored dozens of books, including “Homecoming” and “We a BaddDDD People” and plays like “Uh, Huh: But How Do it Free Us?” She was Philadelphia’s first-ever poet laureate, from 2012–2014. Although she stands less than 5 feet tall, Sanchez’s legacy casts a shadow thousands of feet long.

On Monday, Dec. 9, Sanchez, a 1955 graduate of Hunter College, returned to her alma mater to spend the day visiting students in classes, and the evening being honored for her contributions to literature, higher education, and the world at large. The event, part of Hunter’s “American Voices” series, featured orators in their own right paying homage to Sanchez exactly three months after her 90th birthday, and took place just hours before news spread that Sanchez’s friend and fellow member of the Black Arts movement, Nikki Giovanni, passed away the same day at 81 years old.

“When I [began] Black studies at a place called San Francisco State, I met sister Nikki and she had moved to New York City,” Sanchez said during a conversation with the AmNews the following day.

“She was just beginning to write, and one of the things she asked of the people who were handling her (was) would they let her travel with me so she could see what we were doing at that point.

“I don’t like to separate all of us. Nikki came in as a younger member [of Black Arts], continuing that motion and movement, and began to teach like many of us did. She was very much involved with this whole idea that African Americans had a heritage in terms of writing and doing the work that needed to be done in this place called America.”

As a member of the Black Arts movement that emerged in the 1960s and counted poets Amiri Baraka, Larry Neal, and Gwendolyn Brooks among its membership, Sanchez has dedicated her life to ensuring that African American history is studied in the United States. She taught the country’s first collegiate Black studies course at San Francisco State University in 1968, and within a year, also taught the first course about Black women at the University of Pittsburgh.

“I was traveling every year to a new school because they didn’t like what we were doing, but we persevered,” Sanchez said. “What the Black Arts did is that we said we not only have intelligence, we also will challenge you in a place called a university.”

Sanchez added that “when we came in and brought in Black studies, then you brought in Puerto Rican studies, brought in women’s studies. People paid attention and they began to imitate us.”

Sanchez taught for more than 40 years with her Black studies courses covering a range of literature, from the Black folklore of unnamed authors originating from the time of legal slavery on American soil, to poets and novelists of the Harlem Renaissance.

Sanchez is a native of Birmingham, Ala. Before becoming an educator herself, she was living in New York City and an undergraduate student at Hunter College. At Hunter, she overcame a stutter and, in the process, developed the musical cadence she’s become known for.

“Before I asked a question, I learned how to recite it slowly in my head first,” Sanchez recalled. “I broke up the lines, and in breaking up the lines, it taught me how to read my poetry with emphasis. I brought song into my poetry also because when you sing, you don’t stutter.”

Hunter’s celebration, “An Evening with Sonia Sanchez,” began with tributes from poets Ama Birch and Rachel Eliza Griffiths, and Sanchez’s friend Quincy Troupe, author of several books, including “The Autobiography of Miles Davis” and “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

Troupe, who was feeling under the weather, sent in a pre-recorded video of himself reading a poem dedicated to John Coltrane, one of Sanchez’s favorite musicians. Griffiths, a 2021 Paterson Poetry Prize winner, recited a poem written in tribute to Sanchez and shared an account of meeting Sanchez for the first time as a new poet, and leaving with an assignment Sanchez is known for giving all of her students: Go for one week without saying anything negative about anyone.

Birch’s opening tribute poignantly encapsulated the essence of Sanchez’s vision and delivery as a poet and activist. “She’s impressive because she is human, but she is also a revolutionary, producing abstract and avant-garde lyrical poetry that speaks truth to power, whether on the page or the stage,” Birch said. “The rhythms presented in Sonia Sanchez’s poetry embody percussion as a communication tool. The syncopated rhythms — the use of song, repetition, rhyme, and alliteration — transport the reader into an experience of her revolutionary vision that challenges the American paradigms to be reimagined.”

In her address, Sanchez cracked jokes, suggested that she get up and dance, shared anecdotes from her life, and recited five poems from her extensive catalog. She switched effortlessly between rhythmically

running off words at a danceable pace and stretching out her syllables in melodic singsong interludes, without missing a beat.

Sanchez operates with a gratitude and lifelong enthusiasm about learning that extends beyond the classroom. “When we came into the knowledge of what had been left out of herstory and history, we would be up at night studying that, writing it down. I would put my head down on the table and cry,” Sanchez said.

With a career that includes dozens of awards, and poetry readings in nearly every continent, Sanchez said she has found the most pride in the searching she’s done on behalf of her ancestors.

“I am most proud of finding places like the Schomburg (Center for Research in Black Culture) and Ms. Hudson who was there, who gave me guidance and gave me books, and sent me down to 125th Street where [Lewis H.] Michaux’s bookstore was … When I was ready to teach, they had given me every book that they had about our herstory and history.”

During Monday’s event, Sanchez ended her speech by giving the audience the same prompt she’s used to dismiss countless classes over four decades: “For one week, don’t say anything negative about anyone. Can you, for one week, move on this Earth and not say anything bad about anybody?”

Sonia Sanchez (Matt Capowski photos)

Ama Birch, Sonia Sanchez, Rachel Eliza Griffiths (l-r)

‘Love Warrior’ — Daniel Beaty’s autobiographical journey of life, tragedy, and healing

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews

Daniel Koa Beaty recently performed his one-man, autobiographical play, “Love Warrior” at the Billie Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn as part of the theater’s “The Black Narrative” theater series. Beaty had the house riveted as he performed this deep, revealing work which talked about the struggles he has faced in his life and how he was able to overcome them to be a Love Warrior.

Sitting in the audience felt like a revealing, healing journey with Beaty. He shared his successes in life, and also shared the tragic past of his father and brother: His father was a repeatedly incarcerated heroin addict, and his brother became a crack addict after returning home from the military. Beaty shared how difficult it was growing up with so much upheaval around him and how his mother was there to take care of her five children in Dayton, Ohio.

Giving the audience bits of his brilliance, he performed excerpts from a few of his dynamic one-man shows including “Emergency” and “The Tallest Tree In The Forest.”

Beaty stood on stage completely vulnerable as he told the stories that are in his past. He also talked of his spiritual journey to finding his worth. He talked of the voice in him that at one point told him to end his life. But, then there were other voices, his deceased father and brother, who told him to keep going. He was able to find a con-

nection to his great grandmother and journeyed to Africa to connect with her people. She was royalty and was stolen and placed into slavery. When he got to her people, he found out that he is royalty, and a ceremony was held in his honor.

Beaty truly believes that theater can heal as we look at the world in real time and go

on a journey to discover our purpose and fulfill it. His show definitely connected with people in the audience. As he spoke of the pain and tragedies he had experienced, you could hear people crying softly in the audience. This play is something anyone can identify with. We have all had tragedies in our lives and what this play emphasizes is that we are all divine, we all have an inner strength that will pull us past any obstacles, and we can all heal if we give ourselves the chance. Also know that your ancestors are with you at all times and are there to help strengthen you for your journey in life.

Beaty believes that theater is healing, and I can tell you, on a personal level, that definitely rang true for me. If you get any opportunity to see “Love Warrior,” rush to the theater. A healing is awaiting you as well. In addition to “Love Warrior” the other two productions presented over that weekend were “Dutchman” by the late Amiri Baraka and “The Lady and The Tramp” by the late Aishah Rahman. To learn more about shows at the Billie Holiday Theater on Fulton Street in Brooklyn visit thebillieholiday.org.

Members of The Last Poets and Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys speak on the passing of Quincy Jones

By MAL’AKIY 17 ALLAH Special to the AmNews

In order to earn the right to be considered a legend, one must set oneself apart from others by being the best and/or being uniquely different. Having many successes spanning several decades, and mastering various aspects of the entertainment industry along the way, Quincy Jones definitely earned this classification throughout his distinguished career before transitioning to the ancestral realm on Nov. 3 at 91 years old.

He had much success producing music, whether crafting music tracks for legends Frank Sinatra and Count Basie, as a solo artist during the 1950s and 1960s, or composing the scores for various popular television shows and collaborating with fellow jazz musicians.

“He was so excited when we met,” recalled Abiodun Oyewole, founding member of The Last Poets, about their only encounter, at Tavern On The Green with actor Malik Yoba during the late 1990s. “He said ‘You guys are the original rappers, you guys laid down the foundation,’ and started hugging me. There’s no musical composer that could touch him. He was at the very top of the music world, producing scores for movies and TV shows. He had a genius to put music together in a way that people appreciated what they were watching.”

In the 1970s and 1980s, Jones created classic soundscapes for TV shows like “Sanford & Son,” as well as the monumental 1977 mini-series “Roots,” and worked with legendary singers like Chaka Khan and Michael Jackson, arranging music for three of Jackson’s albums, including “Off The Wall” (1979), and “Thriller” (1982) — one of the best-selling album of all time at 37 million copies in the U.S., and over 70 million globally, according to the RIAA. (Their third album collaboration was for “Bad” in 1987.) He also orchestrated the

track for 1985’s “We Are The World (USA For Africa),” which sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Quincy won 28 Grammys and numerous other awards.

Jones also enjoyed success in the literary world, establishing the front-runner Vibe magazine in 1993, which became one of the foremost magazines which documented hip-hop as it blossomed globally.

“Quincy was extremely talented, a musical genius, one of the best musicians, arrangers, composers, to ever do it,” said TaharQa Aleem, who along with his twin

brother Tunde-Ra, were members of Jimi Hendrix’s Band Of Gypsies, and recalled meeting Quincy and Michael Jackson in Midtown Manhattan during the 1990s. “He was very creative and one of the best to ever do it. His career overlapped several generations is testimony to his impact.”

In 1990, Jones was behind the scenes in Hollywood, serving as executive producer of such popular television series as “The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air”, “The Whoopi Goldberg Show,” and “In The House,” among several others.

I was introduced to Mr. Quincy Jones during the summer of 1997 by Mr. Steve Rifkind when I was in A&R at Loud Records, whose office was in the same building as Vibe magazine at the time. I asked him, “With all of your successes, how do you manage to stay hungry and remain on top for so long?” He replied: “Never be satisfied with your last accomplishment.” That’s a jewel which I’ve shared with only a few, until now.

“I always appreciated his work because it’s always been on a super scale. The world’s anthem is ‘We Are The World,’” Abiodun added. “He will never really die, because when you produce the volume of work he has, he will never die. His work gives him immortality, and I’m grateful to be here on the planet and experience the work that he has done.”

Daniel Koa Beaty in “Love Warrior” at the Billie Holiday Theater in Brooklyn. (Kevin A. Richards photo)

(Mal’akiy 17 Allah photo)

Carter family shines on red carpet; Paris Jackson gets engaged

WITH THE FLO

In the midst of 24-year-old allegations accusing Jay-Z, along with Sean “Diddy” Combs, of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2000 at a private party following the Video Music Awards, the Carter family, including the rap mogul, his wife Beyoncé, and her mother Tina Knowles, turned out in solidarity on the red carpet to support their 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter, at the Los Angeles premiere of “Mufasa: The Lion King” on Dec. 9. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has denied all allegations, as has Combs. In “Mufasa,” Blue Ivy voices Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala (voiced by Beyoncé), in the prequel to “The

gowns that complemented each other. Meanwhile, Jay-Z has filed documents to have the civil lawsuit dismissed and he also wants the identity of the alleged victim to be released. “Mufasa: The Lion King,” opens Dec. 20........

Paris Jackson is headed to the altar. The only daughter of the late “King of Pop” Michael Jackson announced her engagement to fiance Justin Long while celebrating the music producer’s birthday with a special tribute on social media on Dec. 6. Paris captioned the post, “Happy birthday my sweet blue. Doing life with you these last years has been an indescribable whirlwind, and I couldn’t dream of anyone more perfect for me to do it all with. Thank you for letting me be yours. I love you.”

Congratulations!......

Jean Shafiroff, philanthropist, author, and humanitarian, hosted an elegant holiday cocktail reception in her apartment

gether a diverse array of guests united by their commitment to philanthropy. At the reception, the Mission Society of New York City and Jean were presented with citations for their philanthropic work from NYS Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright. Founded in 1812, the nonprofit continues to provide life-changing programs for underserved youth and families in Harlem, and throughout the boroughs of New York City. Jean, a longtime supporter of the organization, welcomed guests to her beautiful home, which was elegantly decorated for the holiday season with twinkling lights and floral arrangements..... Worldwide Entertainment and Media reports that Porscha Coleman, Denzel Whitaker, Valarie Pettiford, Jackee Harry, Michael Colyar, and Adele Givens star in the upcoming BET+ Holiday Comedy “Too Many Christmases.” The story was written by Clarence Williams IV and directed by Kenny Young. The movie premieres on BET + on

Beyoncé at The Lion King European Premiere in 2019. (Sassy photo / https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beyoncé_at_The_Lion_King_ European_Premiere_2019.png)

AmNews FOOD

Talking SCHOP! Tía Carmen: An Homage

KYSHA

HARRIS FOOD EDITOR, @SCHOPNYC

Like Mariah Carey announcing the beginning of the Christmas season, it’s ti-iiime for me to unwrap and unpack an early gift I received in October for you. A quick trip to the West Coast proved to be filled with pure joy, reconnection, celebration, and art on a plate.

Earlier this year, I had the best meal I have ever eaten at the James Beard House, hands down. (I am looking forward to sharing this with you soon). Presented by the Visit Phoenix tourism board, Bravo’s “Top Chef” season 7 finalist and celebrated chef Angelo Sosa was at the helm showcasing the flavors of his Asian street food restaurant Kembara. This was not the first time I have eaten Chef Sosa’s food and will not be the last …

What began as a chance meeting at the New York City Wine & Food Festival became an invitation to a full circle moment a little over 14 years later in Palm Springs, California to visit Angelo Sosa’s latest restaurant creations, Tía Carmen and Carmocha.

On my first night, along with other food media guests, we dined on the foods of Carmocha as the sun set over the golf course. We sipped on signature cocktails before Chef Sosa emerged from the kitchen to welcome us and talk a little about his inspiration, his aunt Carmen, and her love of travel and food. This would be the beginning of this artist painting a picture before each course for diners to experience in each bite.

My Carmocha favorites revolve around the chicken-shaped Cuban chicken hand pie, the Mediterranean salad with falafel, feta, and herb dressing, and five spice sticky pork ribs with mango, medjool date, and tamarind sauce. Chef Sosa’s deft talent at balancing all of the elements of flavor is never missed on me. As he does in life, he cooks with harmony and intention.

Our final night was a multi-course meal at Tía Carmen. Simply put, I was not ready. Chef Sosa led his all-Latino team in an epic night of storytelling and culinary grace. We began with pan frito, a cotija cheese fry bread with serrano and honey butter. Silence befell the table before moans of disbelief. Then a beautiful salad followed by hamachi crudo in corn coconut broth, smoked chili oil on a slice of banana (yes, it works!), and then perfectly grilled octopus with local heirloom bean puree.

We moved on to one of the most transformative bites of the evening. Ember-roasted purple yam topped with aged tepary

bean mole and queso served with a burning ember. Absolutely incredible. After sharing the story of the next dish, Chef Sosa came and personally made a slow-cooked barbacoa taco with a perilla leaf, topped with hibiscus and rice vinegar, marinated red onions, and caviar. Yes chef, I ate every bite of it.

And for dessert? I was fortunate enough to have Chef Sosa’s vanilla flan again. Not

just any flan. This one includes tequila caramel and topped with a Nor’Easter of manchego cheese. It is a “not to miss” dish.

Congratulations, Angelo! You have done it again. Continue to lead your team to glory with kindness, pride, and selflessness. You are appreciated.

Happy eating and thanks for reading!

Kysha Harris is a chef, food writer and

editor, culinary producer, consultant and owner of SCHOP!, a personalized food service in NYC for over 22 years. Follow her on Instagram, @SCHOPnyc and on Facebook, @SCHOPnyc.

Questions, comments, requests, feedback, invitations? Email us at AmNewsFOOD@ SCHOPnyc.com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @NYAmNewsFOOD.

Carmocha Cuban chicken hand pie

Tía Carmen (Kysha Harris photos)

Tía Carmen ember roasted purple yam

Tía Carmen vanilla flan

With Chef Angelo Sosa at NYCWFF 2010

Tía Carmen barbacoa tacos

Colman Domingo, Danielle Deadwyler earn Spirit Award noms for ‘Sing Sing,’ ‘Piano Lesson’

By MAGRIRA

Special to the AmNews

Colman Domingo’s performance in “Sing Sing” has earned him a well-deserved nomination for Best Lead Performance at the 40th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards. The ceremony, which celebrates the best of independent film, announced its nominees today, shining a spotlight on Domingo’s portrayal in the film.

“Sing Sing” tells the powerful story of the transformative role that theater plays in a maximum-security prison. Domingo’s compelling performance has received widespread critical acclaim, solidifying his place as one of the standout actors of the year.

Alongside the Best Lead Performance nomination, “Sing Sing”’ is also up for Best Feature, reflecting the film’s strong impact on both audiences and critics alike.

Boys,” and “The Substance.” These films, along with “Sing Sing,” reflect the diversity and creativity of independent cinema, continuing the Spirit Awards’ tradition of recognizing unique voices in film.

Domingo’s nomination follows in the footsteps of many other talented actors who have been celebrated by the Spirit Awards over the years. The ceremony’s influence continues to grow, providing a platform for artists who push boundaries and bring new perspectives to the screen. For Domingo, this nomination further affirms his talent, adding to the growing recognition he has received throughout his career.

Film Independent, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting independent filmmakers, also revealed this year’s

Joining Domingo in the spotlight is Danielle Deadwyler, who has earned a nomination for Best Supporting Performance for her role in “The Piano Lesson,” an adaptation of August Wilson's play. Deadwyler’s performance adds to the film’s multiple nominations and further cements her reputation as one of the most talented actors of the year.

nominees for the 40th edition of the Spirit Awards, which will be held on Feb. 22, 2025, at Santa Monica Beach. The event will be streamed live on IMDb and Film Independent’s YouTube channel.

Other major Best Feature contenders include “Anora,” “I Saw the TV Glow,” “Nickel

The Spirit Awards also celebrate the achievements of emerging filmmakers, with many of this year’s nominees having previously participated in Film Independent’s Artist Development programs. These initiatives are at the core of the organization’s work to cultivate the next generation of independent storytellers.

For the full list of nominees for the 40th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards, visit filmindependent.org.

Co-stars in “The Piano Lesson” (l-r) Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Ray Fisher (Photo courtesy of Toronto International Film Festival)

Colman Domingo (Dominic Leon photo)

Google’s Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2: Ultimate holiday tech upgrades

By MAGRIRA Special to the AmNews

With the holiday season on the horizon, it’s crucial for African Americans to thoughtfully consider how to spend their hardearned money. Taking the time to read product reviews can make all the difference by helping to ensure quality purchases, minimize waste, and make choices that reflect both personal priorities and community values.

This year, Google has introduced several products that redefine convenience, connectivity, and innovation. From smartwatches to new versions of the popular Pixel Buds, here’s a closer look at how Google is shaping the future of technology.

The Pixel Watch 3 is a leap forward in the world of wearables, blending sleek design with advanced functionality. Designed to optimize fitness routines, simplify daily tasks, and seamlessly integrate into Google’s ecosystem, the Pixel Watch 3 positions itself as a game-changer. Available in two sizes, 41 mm and 45 mm, the watch offers up to 40% more active screen area compared to

its predecessor. Its Actua display delivers 2,000 nits of brightness, ensuring clarity even in direct sunlight, while a dynamic refresh rate enhances responsiveness and energy efficiency.

Fitness tracking takes center stage with the Pixel Watch 3. The device serves as a personal running coach, offering customizable routines, real-time guidance, and advanced motion analysis to help users refine their form. Integration with Fitbit Premium provides personalized AI-powered recommendations based on readiness scores, sleep data, and cardio load metrics, making it easier than ever

to achieve fitness goals.

The Pixel Watch 3 also excels in productivity, with features like Nest Cam integration, offline Google Maps, and call screening via Google Assistant. Its battery life (lasting up to 36 hours in Battery Saver mode) and its ecoconscious design of 100% recycled aluminum further enhance its appeal. This isn’t just a smartwatch; it’s a versatile companion for life, health, and productivity.

Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 address previous complaints about fit and comfort. Smaller and lighter than their predecessor, these earbuds incorporate insights from 45 million ear scan data points to ensure a snug, secure fit. To enhance this further, customizable internal ear pieces range from extra-small to extra-large, guaranteeing maximum comfort for every user. Powered by the Tensor A1 chip, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 process audio 90 times faster than the speed of sound, delivering unmatched noise cancellation and premium sound quality. Silent Seal™ 2.0 technology adapts to the user’s environment, canceling out even high-pitched frequencies for a fully immersive experience. For audiophiles, the earbuds fea-

ture an upgraded acoustic architecture, including 11 mm drivers for deep bass and smooth treble. Advanced call clarity technology reduces background noise, ensuring seamless conversations even in noisy environments. With AI-powered Conversation Detection, the earbuds automatically pause music and activate Transparency mode when you start speaking. Boasting up to 31 hours of total battery life with the charging case, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a significant upgrade over the first generation.

For African Americans and all

consumers, it’s vital to make informed choices and support products that deliver value and reliability. By carefully reading reviews, we can ensure our purchases reflect our priorities and contribute to a more mindful approach to spending.

Whether it’s the Pixel Watch 3 orPixel Buds Pro 2, Google’s latest products offer a glimpse into the future of technology. This holiday season, let’s be intentional about how we use our resources, investing in innovations that enhance our lives and support our values.

Google’s Pixel Watch

Pixel Buds Pro 2 (Contributed photos)

Staten Island Jazz, John Zorn, Jay Hoggard

Staten Island isn’t considered one of New York City’s swinging boroughs, but for the past 35 years, the Universal Temple of the Arts has successfully presented the longest-running jazz festival in the borough. On Dec. 20, they will celebrate their 36th year with an exceptional program featuring the Joyful Women of Jazz at St. George Theatre (35 Hyatt Street), 7 p.m.–10 p.m.

The Joyful Women of Jazz features four inventive young women with an intent of banishing genre barriers through their own expressive journeys.

Tenor saxophonist, vocalist, and composer Camille Thurman will perform with the Darrell Green Quartet. Her voice flows like moon dust: warm and magical, with scats that swing like bebop melodies, and her bold tenor improvisations are expanding the sphere of predecessors like Jimmy Heath. The alto saxophonist, composer Lakecia Benjamin, with roots in Washington Heights, infuses strong doses of soulful funk in her sound. On her acclaimed album “Pursuance: The Coltranes” (Ropeadope, 2020), she celebrated the Coltrane legacy with a combustion of fiery improvisation.

The harp is still seen as a distant relative in the jazz family, but composer Brandee Younger is revolutionizing the instrument for the digital age. In the spirit of her ancestors Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane, she continues to express the intriguing boundless possibilities offered by the harp. Olatuja is an astounding mezzo-soprano who blends her operatic vocals with a colorful mosaic of blues, gospel, and jazz harmonies.

In New York City, two women play a significant role behind the scenes in the world of jazz: Tracy Hyter-Suffern, executive director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, and Robin Bell-Stevens, direc-

tor and executive producer of Jazzmobile, who is also based in Harlem. They will both be honored for their years of commitment to presenting jazz pioneers, as well as those artists in the now and still rising. The event will be hosted by author and WBGO jazz radio host Sheila Anderson.

In this society, where jazz has been dominated by patriarchal design, this concert is destined to be an historical moment. These artists, established in their own right, at the front of their music generation, have yet to reach their zenith, but be assured they are comets zooming towards the stratosphere. The upcoming performances of Thurman, Younger, Benjamin,

and Olatuja reflect the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival, when history was made with the roster of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, and Sarah Vaughan. This, too, will be history in the making — a festival well worth attending!

For information and tickets, call 718273-5610 or visit www.utasi.org.

The music of saxophonist, composer, and arranger John Zorn exhibits a creativity that defies being compartmentalized. He is an experimentalist from the fenceless mode of avant-gardism, rooted in improvisation that dares to encompass rock, world music, classical, metal, and Jewish music.

Most musicians seek nighttime engagements, but for some years now, Zorn has found an annual home at the historic Village Vanguard, where he will continue his 3 p.m. matinee performance on Dec. 15. Despite the time of day, since most jazzheads are seen as music creatures of the night, his matinees are always sold out with a line trailing around the corner.

For this daytime journey, Zorn will perform with his trusted New Masada Quartet, which he formed in 2019. It features guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Jorge Roeder, and drummer Kenny Wollesen.

Zorn’s thought for Masada was to create something positive in the Jewish tradition that might move the concept of Jewish music into the 21st century, similarly to the progression of jazz from its embryonic stages to now. “My initial idea was to write 100 tunes, and then I ended up writing over 200 for the first book and then performed it countless times for years,” he noted in a 2009 interview with KTVU.com. Zorn and New Masada Quartet take audiences on a music excursion that transcends normality. For tickets, visit villagevanguard.com.

Vibraphonist, composer, and educator Jay Hoggard doesn’t play as often as fans would like, but when he does, it should be required attendance for anyone who has yet to experience his engrossing performance. Well, that moment is here: From Dec. 19–21, the Jay Hoggard Quartet will embark on a three-night engagement at Alvin & Friends in the Roscoe Room (14 Memorial Hwy., New Rochelle, New York) with shows at 7 p.m.

Hoggard’s quartet features his longtime bandmates over the years: pianist James Weidman, bassist Belden Bullock, and drummer/percussionist Jocelyn Pleasant (Hoggard’s protégé and bandleader of the Lost Tribe).

Hoggard has played in a variety of bands that included some time on the avant garde scene with innovators such as Max Roach, Muhal Richard Abrams, Henry Threadgill, Sam Rivers, and Oliver Lake, as well as a straight-ahead flow with his good friend Sherry Winston, Dr. Billy Taylor, and Geri Allen. Regardless of the vibraphonist’s repertoire, it is sure to be a stimulating journey. For reservations, call 914-654-6549 or visit www.alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com/events/.

This week’s column is dedicated to my cousin Marian Dozier, who transitioned on Dec. 6. She was a former staff reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Later in West Palm Beach, Florida, she wrote an online weekly newsletter and produced and hosted a community affairs radio show. She was a great inspiration to me.

Jazz harpist Brandee Younger. (Erin Patrice O’Brien photos)

NYCHA

Continued from page 2

Save Section 9 founder Ramona Ferreyra has been leading the fight against NYCHA’s privatization and demolition since last year. She’s been teaching residents at Fulton Elliott-Chelsea Houses how to lobby and protest on behalf of public housing, she said. She considers the demolition nothing more than a “land grab.”

The proposed demolition will be discussed in an upcoming community board meeting on Jan. 16, 2025 at 6:30 pm at the Hudson Guild Elliott Community Center.

Daniel Penny

Continued from page 2

we should have done as a city in a state of having a mental health facility.”

According to Adams, “Those passengers were afraid. I’ve been on the subway system. I know what it is as a police officer to wrestle or fight with someone. It is imperative that we look at the totality of this problem.”

Neely was laid to rest on May 19, 2023, with a eulogy delivered by National Action Network founder Rev. Al Sharpton, who held a rally for Neely’s family this past Saturday at the House of Justice in Harlem.

Jordan Neely’s uncle, Christopher Neely, talked about how Harlem supported him throughout the trial. He questioned why Penny was not remanded after the city’s history of rampant pre-trial detention in Black communities (Penny was released on $100,000 bail).

“Sitting in the courtroom, it’s real hard — showing all the images of my nephew, seeing the disrespect from the defense attorney,” Christopher Neely said on Dec. 7.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted Penny, pointed to evidence from “medical records, videos, bodycam footage, and testimony from [more than] 30 witnesses.” He also mentioned the four-day deliberation by the jury as why the case reached a trial. “The jury has now spoken. At the Manhattan D.A.’s Office, we deeply respect the jury process

“Sitting in the courtroom, it’s real hard — showing all the images of my nephew, seeing the disrespect from the defense attorney,” Christopher Neely said on Dec. 7.

and we respect their verdict,” Bragg said. Bragg also condemned threats against his office’s prosecutors and their families, which he says were received via social media, phone, and email.

The case is now being contested on the civil front after Zachary recently filed a lawsuit against Penny.

This story is developing. Please check amsterdamnews.com for updates as it progresses.

Photo outside Elliott Houses near West 25th Street and 9th Avenue.

Longtime Elliott Houses resident Renee Keitt. (Ariama C. Long photos)

Black homebuyers

“The unfortunate thing is these banks are also banks that have historically and continue to today to exploit poor, working class neighborhoods, Black and Brown communities, through predatory lending, through redlining, and through discriminatory practices,” he continued.

Because of these disparities, Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) in 1977. The hope was that banks would be forced to reinvest in communities where they operate to combat redlining–a practice where banks would not give loans to people in majority Black neighborhoods. New York State adopted its own version in 1978. Rather than fixing the problem, Spisak said that most banks went from excluding Black homebuyers to exploiting them.

In 2003, New York City adopted a Banking Development District (BDD) program, under the New York City Banking Commission, to designate which banks are eligible for city funds. The idea was to promote individual wealth and community development. But racial disparities in the banking system persisted. This led to the city council attempting to pass banking regulations, such as the Responsible Banking Act (RBA) in 2012. The bill was opposed by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the state Department of Financial Services, and the New York Bankers Association (NYBA). Bloomberg vetoed the RBA bill later that

year, which the city council overturned. The RBA was ultimately struck down in the courts in 2015.

“Even when the city has tried to assert itself and say we want to regulate the banks more and hold them accountable, it turns out that the city doesn’t have that much authority. Its primary lever is really as a customer of the bank saying ‘we’re not going to do business with you’ but there are very few banks we can do business with,” said Spisak.

Mayor Eric Adams and Comptroller Brad Lander challenged Wells Fargo’s designated status because of disproportionate denials of mortgages to Black applicants in 2022. They publicly promised to cut ties with the bank, but as of this year, it was reapproved for the city’s designated list.

“I am deeply concerned by the troubling findings in this report. The all too unfortunate reality is that Black New Yorkers continue to be disproportionately impacted by decades of harmful mortgage lending practices and policies,” said Lander in a statement. “In previous cycles we voted to conditionally designate banks that failed to meet their application requirements, and we declined to open new accounts with Wells Fargo following reports of racial discrimination.”

Solutions

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Councilmember Justin Brannan wrote a joint letter to the NYC Banking Commission on Nov. 27, 2024, demanding that the

entity review lending practices of the city’s designated banks and address discriminatory practices.

“We write to express our deep concerns about Black homebuyers in New York City being charged higher interest on mortgages by major banks than their white counterparts with similar incomes and debt levels…,” they wrote. “The revelations in this report, showing an apparently discriminatory impact of the lending decisions made by banks holding the largest deposits of the City of New York, are alarming and unacceptable. The report only underscores the barriers that persist in achieving fair and equitable access to capital for homeownership, particularly for Black New Yorkers.”

Lander agreed that when these banks apply for renewal of their designation in 2025, the city will have to “pay careful attention” in order to hold them to the highest standards under existing rules.

However, Lander’s office pointed out that the NYC Banking Commission does not have the legal authority to regulate the banking industry, nor does it have the power to enforce anti-discrimination laws. These patterns of disparate impact should be thoroughly investigated by federal authorities, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as well as the NYC Commission on Human Rights, said Lander’s office.

On the more radical side, NEP suggests that the city cut ties completely with Bank of America, Citibank, and JPMorgan Chase as well as move to establish an equitable public

WE VAX

banking system. “Since we’ve been on the Banking Commission,” said Lander. “We’ve worked to implement new measures to advance transparency, equity, and safeguard our City’s finances: first-ever Banking Commission public hearing, new procedures for certifying banks’ practices for non-discrimination, and stronger scrutiny for soundness in light of recent bank failures.”

The city council held a hearing in April 2023 to review bills introduced that would establish transparent banking laws and call on the state to enact the New York Public Banking Act.

“For far too long, predatory lenders have preyed on East New York homeowners and tenants,” said Debra Ack, a founding member of East New York Community Land Trust, in a statement. “Meanwhile, the big banks are more interested in turning a profit than in ensuring Black and brown young people have access to truly affordable housing and community wealth building opportunities. We need a public bank chartered to serve the public interest that will invest in real affordable housing in our communities of color.”

In the meantime, Romans recommended first time home buyers gravitate towards Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans and find the “right real estate deal” that’s profitable for them with equitable brokers. He also suggested, once a home is bought, renting out to City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) voucher holders to help supplement house payments.

Dr. Marjorie Peebles-Meyers, a medical pioneer

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

A recent discovery that Dr. Marjorie Peebles-Meyers, a stalwart in Detroit’s medical history, was born in Harlem fortifies the link between these two Black communities. Okay: Harlem is an historic section of New York City, and Detroit is a city; even so, there are vital links between them, and PeeblesMeyers provides us an opportunity for our weekly column.

She was born on Oct. 6, 1915; attended Hunter High School for the academically gifted; and at the age of 12, declared her dream to become a doctor. Her father was a postal clerk and her mother a seamstress. She graduated in 1937 after earning a degree in physics and chemistry. In 1938, she earned a master’s degree from Columbia University, and later accepted enrollment at Howard University’s medical school.

In 1939, she married the Rev. Frederick Meyers, who was appointed rector of St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Detroit. She used a hyphenated name, she later recounted, to retain her parents’ name, since she was an only child. Her husband’s appointment made it possible for her to transfer to Wayne State University’s medical school in 1940. Three years later, she became the first African American woman to receive a medical degree from the college. Almost immediately upon graduation, she was accepted into an internship and residency program at the Detroit Receiving Hospital, making her the first Black woman in that program.

An outstanding student and intern, Peebles-Meyers was appointed chief resident at the Detroit Receiving Hospital in 1946, another first for this distinguished Black female doctor. Soon, she was honored by being the first of her race and gender to receive a teaching position at the Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine, mainly as clinical assistant and clinical associate professor in the Department of General Medicine.

In 1947, she partnered with Dr. Eugene Shafarman to form the first interracial medical practice in the city. Patients were generally allowed under the white doctors and then transferred to her for treatment.

She retired from private prac-

tice in 1977, but not from a medical career, and was later appointed chief physician for the Ford Motor Company World Headquarters and the Ford Credit Company, a position she would hold until 1985.

Her 40 years of practice were reflected in numerous awards and citations; most prominently, being named Michigan’s Outstanding

Physician in 1968 and seven years later, receiving the WSU School of Medicine’s Distinguished Service Award. Other recognition came from the Detroit Urban League in 2000 and the Pathfinders in Medicine Award from the WSU School of Medicine. She died in 2001.

When the Richard J. Mazurek Medical Education Commons

opened in 2009, the Marjorie Peebles-Meyers, MD Atrium was dedicated posthumously in her honor. Her image is among the medical groundbreakers portrayed in Detroit’s Black Bottom Mural. She was named a “distinguished warrior” by the Detroit Urban League and one of America’s 100 “unsung heroes” by Newsweek magazine.

ACTIVITIES

FIND OUT MORE

While her remarkable medical career is featured in the Black Bottom Mural, the number of firsts that Peebles-Meyers achieved has given her prominence in numerous books and articles about pathfinders in medicine.

DISCUSSION

Peebles-Meyers and her family’s background in Harlem cries out for more research and further coverage.

PLACE IN CONTEXT

Although born in Harlem just as World War I was heating up, Peebles-Meyers spent most of her life in Detroit in conjunction with two formidable institutions: WSU and the Ford Motor Company.

CLASSROOM IN THE THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY

Dec. 8, 1933: Comedian Flip Wilson (Clerow Wilson) was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died in 1998.

Dec. 10, 1987: Actor Michael Clarke Duncan was born in Chicago, Illinois. He died in 2012.

Dec. 11, 1967: Actress/ comedian Mo’Nique (Monique Imes) was born in Woodlawn, Maryland.

Dr. Marjorie Peebles-Meyers (Courtesy of WSU Medical School)

Union Settlement

one back there,” said Dr. Oti. She said many local parents are making this choice: “So, the competition is real.”

Union Settlement’s selling points

But drop-off conveniences don’t always equate to the best service for young children. Union Settlement workers say their program offers selling points that distinguish it from what local public schools can offer. They welcome children from eight weeks to five years old, including toddlers and those in 3-K and Pre-K. They offer entirely free classes, which take place from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., and serve a nutritionist-approved daily breakfast and lunch.

“We have some great teachers who are certified and who are so dedicated,” said Dr. Oti. “They have longevity: some of them have been with us for 20 years or more. And Union Settlement is known for caring for the people in the community.” Union Settlement works with the NYC Department of Education (DOE) to ensure they have a curriculum that guides students toward meeting specific benchmarks. The Settlement’s programs are also subject to irregular DOE inspections, which guarantee that their files are in order and the programs are working properly.

“The parents,” added Abreu, “some of

the parents, some of [whom] are probably now grandparents now, they’ve mentioned to me their success stories. They have talked about the advantages they had because they had their child coming to our early childhood programs. And now they’re picking up their kids and grandkids. So, it’s like a generational thing now: it’s a tremendous asset. It’s a success story right there.”

Preschool programs help development

Beginning in January 2025, Union Settlement Early Childhood Education & Services will be conducting open houses to showcase its preschool programs. Union Settlement has five separate sites across East Harlem: Union Jefferson (2211 First Ave.), Union Johnson (1829 Lexington Ave.), Union Leggett (237 E. 104th St.), Union Franklin (2081 Second Ave.), and Union Carver (1565 Madison Ave.).

Various studies have shown that young children who take part in preschool programs acquire social/emotional and intellectual skills that aid in their development throughout their lifetime.

Families at Union Settlement come from various backgrounds, including new migrants from Africa and Latin America, and African Americans. Through the program’s classes, their children will explore the traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa while engaging in their own cultures and participating in foundational programs for their growth.

your online account for instant access to payment options, including: • Payment extensions if you need more time • Automated payments you can set and forget • Direct payments you can make in seconds

Union Settlement’s early childhood education students taking part in a pine tree activity (Union Settlement photo)

Fact Check — True: It is safe to get COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccinations at the same time Health

By ZINNIA FINN & CASSIDY STODDART Special to the AmNews

Along with holiday arrangements, changing seasons signal the need for another type of preparation: vaccination.

With the triad of respiratory viruses present in our day-to-day, it is recommended that individuals receive both COVID-19, flu, and occasionally RSV and MPox vaccinations. However, there is a common misconception that multiple shots at once are “too much” or will overwhelm the immune system.

Medically, this is not supported. Not only is getting multiple vaccinations at once safe, but it is something Dr. Annette Regan, adjunct assistant professor at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health, said has been done in certain populations for years.

“It’s safe to get multiple vaccines in one visit,” Regan said. “We do this a lot with little kids … and we’ve been doing that for decades and we know that’s pretty safe.”

Dr. Joshua Williams, a practicing pediatrician and vaccine safety expert in Denver, Colorado, expanded on the norm of receiving multiple vaccines in a single visit.

“The current recommendation from the CDC is that you can get all those vaccines for which you are due, at the same time,” Williams said. “I think part of that is it decreases the burden on people to come back for multiple appointments … but also decreases the amount of time that people are susceptible to these different things in the community.”

This safety is universal for any combination of these four vaccines, even though they create immunity in different ways. Both the flu and RSV vaccinations work through a more traditional route, where the vaccine includes an inactivated virus that will not infect the body. Instead, this bit of virus can train the immune system to recognize the larger pathogen that it is from and prepare the immune system to

Doctors and researchers agree it is both safe and better to get multiple respiratory disease vaccinations at once. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

attack it when exposure occurs.

Aside from the Novavax shot, which works by injecting a piece of virus similar to flu and RSV vaccinations, COVID19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines. These do not contain any virus, but instead give the body instructions in the form of mRNA to create proteins that can defend against COVID-19 if infection occurs.

The bottom line, Regan said, is that regardless of the mechanism of action, the efficacy of these vaccines will not be affected if given together. “We don’t have reason to believe that they’re going to perform differently when you’re getting multiple vaccines at the same time,” Regan said. “You’re still going to get antibodies to all three of those pathogens.”

Physicians and healthcare specialists often grapple with how to communicate with patients who are vaccine-hesitant, especially when receiving multiple shots at once. Often, providers go back to explaining the purpose of getting a vaccine, especially as we engage in the politicization of vaccinations, Williams said. Specifically when facing the COVID19 pandemic, Williams said he has heard the same string of questions. “Patients may follow up with questions like “Can’t we just get the natural infection instead, or a home remedy as something else to use to try and keep off the infection?”

“The current recommendation from the CDC is that you can get all those vaccines for which you are due, at the same time ... I think part of that is it decreases the burden on people to come back for multiple appointments … but also decreases the amount of time that people are susceptible to these different things in the community.”

—Dr. Joshua Williams, a practicing pediatrician and vaccine safety expert in Denver

Acknowledging the implications of vaccine hesitancy is necessary to discussing vaccine safety, especially when pharmaceutical and scientific solutions to disease develop at a rapid rate, Williams said. Healthcare specialists must call for more practicing physicians to expand the line of communication and transparency in the conversation with concerned patients about how their decisions affect their loved ones, according to Williams.

“There are those people in our communities who are immunosuppressed,” Williams said. “When we make an individual

decision to vaccinate ourselves and vaccinate our kids and vaccinate our family members against these different diseases … we’re not just protecting ourselves. We’re helping protect people who can’t protect themselves.”

In addition to protecting communities, the individual convenience of getting multiple vaccines simultaneously is a public health win, Regan said. Simply put, the easier something is to do, the more people will do it. This is something drug development companies also understand. On the vaccine development hori-

zon, Moderna is working on a combined inoculation for COVID and flu — an endeavor Regan said drives home the point that these vaccines are still effective if coadministered.

However, these innovations must exist alongside initiatives that work to undo past harm caused by public health in historically marginalized communities. Vaccine hesitancy, Williams said, must be met with honest conversations that acknowledge the validity of mistrust in these communities and collaborate to forge a path forward.

• Special First-Time

Education Schools brace for upheaval over fear of mass deportations

By BIANCA VÁZQUEZ TONESS AP Education Writer

The last time Donald Trump was president, rumors of immigration raids terrorized the Oregon community where Gustavo Balderas was the school superintendent.

Word spread that immigration agents were going to try to enter schools. There was no truth to it, but school staff members had to find students who were avoiding school and coax them back to class.

“People just started ducking and hiding,” Balderas said.

Educators around the country are bracing for upheaval, whether or not the president-elect follows through on his pledge to deport millions of immigrants who are in the country illegally. Even if he only talks about it, children of immigrants will suffer, educators and legal observers said.

If “you constantly threaten people with the possibility of mass deportation, it really inhibits peoples’ ability to function in society and for their kids to get an education,” said Hiroshi Motomura, a professor at the UCLA School of Law.

That fear has already started for many.

“The kids are still coming to school, but they’re scared,” said Almudena Abeyta, superintendent of Chelsea Public Schools, a Boston suburb that’s long been a first stop for Central American immigrants coming to Massachusetts. Now Haitians are making the city home and sending their kids to school there.

“They’re asking: ‘Are we going to be deported?,’” said Abeyta.

Many parents in her district grew up in countries where the federal government ran schools and may think it’s the same here. The day after the election, Abeyta sent a letter home assuring parents their children are welcome and safe, no matter who is president.

Immigration officials have avoided arresting parents or students at schools. Since 2011, U.S. Immigration and Customs

(Lily.Smith photo via Wikimedia)

Enforcement has operated under a policy that immigration agents should not arrest or conduct other enforcement actions near “sensitive locations,” including schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Doing so might curb access to essential services, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas wrote in a 2021 policy update.

The Heritage Foundation’s policy roadmap for Trump’s second term, Project 2025, calls for rescinding the guidance on “sensitive places.” Trump tried to distance himself from the proposals during the campaign, but has nominated many who worked on the plan for his new administration, including Tom Homan for “border czar.”

If immigration agents were to arrest a parent dropping off children at school, it could set off mass panic, said Angelica

PUBLIC NOTICE

Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles.

“If something happens at one school, it spreads like wildfire and kids stop coming to school,” she said.

Balderas, now the superintendent in Beaverton, a different Portland suburb, told the school committee there this month it was time to prepare for a more determined Trump administration. In case schools are targeted, Beaverton will train staff not to allow immigration agents inside.

“All bets are off with Trump,” said Balderas, who is also president of the School Superintendents Association (ASSA).

“If something happens, I feel like it will happen a lot quicker than last time.”

Many school officials are reluctant to talk about their plans or concerns, some out of fear of drawing attention to their immigrant students. One school administrator serving many children of Mexican and Central American immigrants in the Midwest said their school has invited immigration attorneys to help parents formalize any plans for their children’s care in case they are deported. The administrator spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Speaking up on behalf of immigrant families also can put superintendents at odds with school board members.

“This is a very delicate issue,” said Viridiana Carrizales, chief executive officer of ImmSchools, a nonprofit that trains schools on supporting immigrant students.

She’s received 30 requests for help since the election, including two from Texas superintendents who don’t think their con-

servative school boards would approve of publicly affirming immigrant students’ right to attend school or district plans to turn away immigration agents.

More than two dozen superintendents and district communications representatives contacted by the Associated Press either ignored or declined requests for comment.

“This is so speculative that we would prefer not to comment on the topic,” wrote Scott Pribble, a spokesperson for Denver Public Schools. The city of Denver has helped more than 40,000 migrants in the last two years with shelter or a bus ticket elsewhere. It’s next door to Aurora, one of two cities where Trump has said he would start his mass deportations.

When pressed further, Pribble responded, “Denver Public Schools is monitoring the situation while we continue to serve, support, and protect all of our students as we always have.”

Like a number of big-city districts, Denver’s school board, during the first Trump administration, passed a resolution promising to protect its students from immigration authorities pursuing them or their information. According to the 2017 resolution, Denver will not “grant access to our students” unless federal agents can provide a valid search warrant.

The rationale has been that students cannot learn if they fear immigration agents will take them or their parents away while they’re on campus. School districts also say these policies reaffirm their students’ constitutional right to a free public education, regardless of immigration status.

wellness needs, and they do have concerns. It’s a bit of a different venue, but it is, you know, helping people with their problems and concerns all the same.”

Henderson was recently appointed to serve as a board member to the National Medical Fellowships (NMF) program — an initiative that offers scholarships and various forms of support to underrepresented students in medicine and health care. She told the AmNews that she’s eager to encourage young doctors to push past their boundaries. “It is very typical for physicians to shy away from these kinds of roles,” she said, “because they’re like, well, I’m a doctor, I’m not a business person, that’s not what I’m here to do. But what I know after watching many, many great hospitals in New York City go under is that medicine is a practice and a calling, but if there’s no margin, there’s no mission.

“The business of medicine is super important, and understanding how to make this business work should be –– and it’s going to probably be for the next crop of doctors that are coming up –– as important as learning your craft. …I think that’s what I have to share after having spent time not only at bedsides but in Big Pharma and in a heavily matrixed corporation –– you have to understand your own business better than anybody else.”

is served. In his opinion, felony convictions are not really a signifier of someone’s moral character or fitness to be law abiding, especially when it comes to Black and Brown men who have the lion’s share of felony arrests and convictions in New York.

“I think they see it as if you have a felony conviction, you’re a bad person,” said Lambright. “Rather than recognizing that many people in the suburbs in kind of majority white neighborhoods that are not heavily policed do felony activities all the time. They just don’t get caught for it and they just don’t get a felony conviction for it.”

New York City and State have passed several criminal reform laws over the years aimed at giving formerly incarcerated people, or those with felonies, a fair chance at securing housing and jobs.

Steuben Vega is the director of Workforce Development for Osborne Association, a statewide nonprofit that provides services and advocacy for people and families impacted by the criminal legal system. He remembers the city’s Ban the Box movement back in 2015, which pushed to ban employers from inquiring about criminal records or considering criminal history

on a person’s job application. He said that jobs, and job placement in particular, are about changing perceptions of people with felony convictions and creating an opportunity for them to thrive.“Those are all important for individuals who are marginalized because of those convictions. To be able to balance the playing field and advocate on their own behalf,” said Vega.

In 2023, two major pieces of legislation were passed: the Fair Chance for Housing Act, which combats housing discrimination due to past convictions, and the Clean Slate Act, which automatically seals certain criminal records after three to eight years once released.

“I’ve heard the term ‘perpetual punishment’ before — but it wasn’t until I endured its sinister weight that I fully grasped its meaning,” said Legal Defense Fund’s Community Organizer Victor Dempsey. “The term itself carries racial undertones, reflecting the double standards, racial stereotypes, and class inequalities deeply ingrained in our justice system. While individuals in positions of privilege often evade lasting consequences, marginalized communities — particularly people of color — face a lifetime of penalties for past mistakes.”

Lambright added that there are far too many punitive changes to begin with and some charges shouldn’t “warrant harsh treatment” of individuals. He said that more people should have less severe sentencing whether they are rich and white or poor and Black.

In the larger case of elected officials, like Trump or Adams, Lambright said that solely focusing on the felony or indictment isn’t as important as their policies and integrity. He would like to think that Trump supporters would be influenced to keep an open mind about justice involved or formerly incarcerated people with felonies now that he won his reelection.

“I certainly hope it does,” said Lambright. “The truth of the matter is that that happens to many Black and Brown people, and poor people, in this country due to structural racism. Due to many factors beyond their control. And hopefully people who are Trump supporters — if they believe that Trump was unfairly prosecuted — see that just having a felony conviction in itself doesn’t mean that you are unfit to do many activities and that people should be judged individually, not based on their felony conviction.”

Speeding ruins lives. Slow down.

Religion & Spirituality

Nikki Giovanni, iconic poet and activist, dies at 81

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

Remembering the life and legacy of poet Nikki Giovanni, who died on Dec. 9 in Blacksburg, Virginia, after a long battle with lung cancer, begins with numbers: She received 27 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities; keys to more than two dozen cities; seven NAACP Image Awards; and authored numerous books of poetry. It would take a sizable gallery to showcase her awards and citations. She was 81.

Born Yolande Corneilia “Nikki” Giovanni, Jr. on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Yolande Cornelia, Sr. and Jones “Gus” Giovanni, she and her family subsequently moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where her parents began working at the Glenview School. Nikki, as she was called by her older sister, was four when they settled in the Black community of Lincoln Heights.

Giovanni returned to Knoxville 10 years later to live with her grandparents. She attended Austin High School and graduated early to attend Fisk University, her grandfather’s alma mater, but her ram -

bunctious and rebellious behavior led to a dismissal from the school.

In 1964, she reentered Fisk and immediately joined several civil rights activists in their protest movement. She was active with SNCC and edited a student literary journal. It was during this phase of political development that she published her first article, in Negro Digest, through the intercession of David Llorens, who, she wrote, “Either thought I showed talent or he was exceedingly kind to a young Fiskite … It made my day.”

She later told Mari Evans, the editor of “Black Women Writers — 1950 to 1980, A Critical Evaluation” (1984), “My first published book was done by me and my friends. It was the book ‘Black Feeling, Black Talk.’ I formed a publishing company, borrowed heavily from my family and friends, and hired a printer.”

Her ascendance as a poet took flight along with Sonia Sanchez, Haki Madhubuti (Don L. Lee), and others during the Black Power phase of the movement. When she spat out the lines “Nigger! Can you kill/Can You kill, Nigger Can you kill, Can Nigger kill a honkie,” she captured the nation’s attention and signaled a

mantra for the Black Arts Movement.

“When the revolution failed her,” wrote literary critic William J. Harris, “Giovanni turned to love and began writing a more personal poetry, signaling the onset of the second stage of her career.” To a great degree, her poetry marked the various social and political changes in her life, from “My House” (domestic love) to “A Poem Off Center” (refusing to be boxed in as a writer). “By the third stage of her career,” Harris noted, “love has failed Giovanni.”

In the early 1970s, there was a momentary lull in her poetry and she devoted more time to studying and giving birth to her only son, Thomas. In 1973, she published one of her most popular poems, “Ego Tripping,” which bears a similarity to Langston Hughes’s “A Negro Speaks of Rivers” with the lines “I was born in the Congo/I walked the fertile crescent and built the sphinx …”

Prior to this creation, she sat with James Baldwin for a riveting conversation that was captured by writer Rashida Briggs in "James Baldwin in Context," edited by D. Quentin Miller. Of the dialogue, Briggs wrote that theirs was a “collaborative

dance that demonstrates that one can love and have similar goals but also disagree about strategy. Their collaboration is a loving confrontation, wherein they come together and confront each other in a battle of wills and spirits.”

The timing of Giovanni’s death is ironic since it comes as the world continues to pay homage to Baldwin’s centennial birth celebrations.

Giovanni also received countless invitations to speak at colleges and institutions, and it was on such an occasion that Virginia Fowler, later to be her life partner, asked if she would be interested in teaching at Virginia Tech. She accepted and taught there until her retirement in 2022.

Much more space is needed to capture the full warp and woof of Giovanni's prowess and production. We conclude with her words to Evans in her anthology, about why she wrote: “We write because we believe that human spirit cannot be tamed and should not be trained.”

Nikki Giovanni was neither tamed nor constrained. In HistoryMakers, there is an extensive interview conducted in 2003 that illuminates much of her formidable days among us.

Student debt

Continued from page 4

a relationship with the attorneys and then attorneys just can’t stay, because it’s just so cost-prohibitive to stay in public defense. These public interest loan forgiveness programs make it more manageable to be doing this work.”

An attrition crisis among public defense organizations and district attorney offices directly affects those navigating the criminal justice system, particularly those who rely on public defenders because they cannot afford a lawyer. When a public defender leaves, they pass on their cases to a colleague who needs time to get up to speed.

Ultimately, these handoffs mean potential adjournments, delaying the court process and potentially dragging on cases far longer than needed. Basak said she does not blame those departing public defense and maintains that everyone leaves behind a backlog. She pointed to ACS cases for an example of how devastating attrition can be.

“This involves parents who are losing their kids to the foster care system, and when people [are] leaving, these hearings are getting delayed and that is preventing families from reunifying,” aid Basak said. “There’s a real, direct, tangible impact to families, and we’re talking about Harlem families who are being impacted by the turnaround.”

Jane Fox, chapter chair of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys – UAW Local 2325, who helped craft the legislation, said the combination of student loan payments, high cost of living, and low wages hits the hardest when public defenders reach mid-career, particularly when they begin a family. She said law school debt is usually their second- or third-highest monthly expense.

“From the union’s perspective, I could bargain a great contract and win a huge salary increase for my members, but if almost 100% of my members have this huge student loan bill every month, how much does the salary increase get them?” said Fox. “They don’t actually keep any of the wealth because they’ve just sent it off to the student loan servicer.

“This is also about making sure salaries go farther, that people can [have] that money to do the things they need to like saving for retirement, to purchase a home, for child care, or … to care for an elderly parent.”

On average, lawyers graduate with $130,000 in student debt, but public service attorneys receive less loan assistance from the Higher Education Services Corporation (which handles DALF) than nurses and social workers. Fox said when crafting the bill, she found that 90% of union members could cover all of their student debt if DALF covered up to $8,000 a year.

Last year, “New York Magazine”/ ”Intelligencer” reported on how a Legal Aid Society public defender worked two other jobs, including as a delivery app driver. Fox said while such side hustles are a rare last resort, burnout and economic anxiety are common in the profession.

Both Fox and Basak believe this is a racial justice issue, pointing to the legion of Black and Brown law students becoming first-generation attorneys in the public sector.

“There are so many folks who [are] talented, intelligent, incredible advocates[and] live in our communities, who maybe have experience with a family member being involved in the court system or struggling with mental illness, or know somebody who was caught up in immigration or the system — and they’re inspired by that and think ‘I want to stand up to these injustices,’” said Fox. “We want to encourage that. Finding a way to relieve that financial pressure is actually the way that we ensure that attorneys of color and people who come from working class communities, where they may be the first generation in their family to go to college or law school, get to actually take these kinds of careers.”

The impact is not only on defense. Similarly, when a prosecutor’s office loses lawyers, cases end up being delayed by pushing back trials, discovery and plea deals, said Basak. While public defenders and district attorney offices remain courtroom foils, they see the DALF expansion as imperative.

“Loan forgiveness is critical to relieving the crippling student loan debt driving record-high rates of attrition for public sector attorneys across New York State,” said Bragg in an email statement. “To avoid creating new case backlogs and legal delays, as well as to attract the best and brightest candidates, we stand with public interest attorneys and ask the (state) Legislature to bolster the DALF Program.”

The actual bill — A.1568D/S.4511C — sponsored by State Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, awaits to become law despite overwhelmingly passing the Assembly’s one-house budget and the State Senate multiple times while facing seemingly little pushback from Hochul, according to sources close to the issue.

KEEPIN’ THE CITY CONNECTED BY SOLVING THE UNEXPECTED.

PARKER - CYBER SECURITY ANALYST

Eric Adams Mayor

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.

Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #NA-0340-24143992 for beer, wine & liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine & liquor at retail in a restaurant under the ABC Law at 64 Downing St., New York, NY 10014 for on-premises consumption; Bird is the Word LLC

Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #NA-0340-24144463 for beer, wine & liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine & liquor at retail in a restaurant under the ABC Law at 1066 2nd Ave., NYC 10022 for on-premises consumption; Mazi Hospitality Group Corp.

Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #NA-0340-24145030 for beer, wine & liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine & liquor at retail in a restaurant under the ABC Law at 150 8th Ave., NYC 10011 for on-premises consumption; Goku NYC Inc.

NOTICE is hereby given that a license, number NA-0340-23150668 for liquor, wine, beer & cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor, wine, beer & cider at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 206 West 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 in New York County for on premises consumption. 206 West Restaurant Corp d/b/a Ciao Paisan

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , NYCTL 1998-2 TRust and the Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian , Plaintiff, vs . Larisa Mikhailova , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion dated March 13, 2024 and entered on May 1, 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 January 8, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., 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 862 and Lot 1274.

Said premises may also be known as 325 5 Avenue, Unit No. S72, New York, NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $2,755.56 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index #157999/2020. Sofia Balile, Esq., Referee The Law Office of Thomas P. Malone, PLLC, 60 East 42nd Street, Suite 553, New York, New York 10165, Attorneys for Plaintiff

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS–SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK– M & T BANK, Plaintiff, -againstSAMUEL E. BASS if he be living and if he be dead, the respective heirsat-law, next-of-kin, distributes, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or inheritance, lien or otherwise any right, title or interest in or to the real property described in the complaint; BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE COPLEY CONDOMINIUM AND CLUB; NORTHEAST ALLIANCE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION N/K/A AFFINITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Defendants - Index No.: 850040/2024

Plaintiff Designates New York County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated in New York County. 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(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); 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. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated October 18, 2024. 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 the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (M & T BANK) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable Francis A. Kahn III, J.S.C. Dated: October 18, 2024 Filed: October 21, 2024. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 2000 Broadway 26C, New York, NY 10023. Dated: November 8, 2024 Filed: November 8, 2024 Greenspoon Marder LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Raspreet Bhatia, Esq., 590 Madison Avenue, Suite 1800, New York, NY 10022 P: (212) 524-5000 F: (212) 524-5050 No Service by fax) Service purposes only: Trade Centre South 100 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 P: (888) 491-1120 F: (954) 343-6982

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , Sutherland Asset I-AT2, LLC , Plaintiff, vs . 167th Street CF Unit LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on July 31, 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 January 8, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 446-448 West 167th Street, Unit CF, New York, NY. 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, City, County and State of New York, Block 2111 and Lot 1101 together with an undivided 8.6537 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $4,331,008.67 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 850177/2022. The Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale has been assigned, and the ultimate assignee is LBC3 Trust. LBC3 Trust will be the de facto plaintiff and credit bidding at the sale. Paul Sklar, Esq., Referee McCarter & English, LLP, 250 West 55th Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff

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

INDEX # 152510/24

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND AMENDED NOTICE

Plaintiffs designate New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the liened premises is situated. Tax Lien Foreclosure of: 655 West 187th Street, New York, NY 10033, (Block: 02170, Lot: 0027)

NYCTL 2021-A TRUST and The Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian,

Plaintiffs, against Warren Demurjian as Executor and Residuary Beneficiary of the Estate of Malcolm Demurjian; Linda C. Cherken a/k/a Linda C. Graham; Harry S. Cherken, Jr.; Michael Demurjian, Individually and as Executor of the Estate of Joan Demurjian; Richard Demurjian, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the verified complaint herein; David Demurjian; United States of America (Southern District); New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; and "JOHN DOE #1" through "JOHN DOE #100", inclusive the last 100 names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiffs, it being intended to designate fee owners, tenants or occupants of the liened premises and/or persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the liened premises described in the complaint, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees, devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title, or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint herein, Defendants.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the attorney for the Plaintiffs within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where is made in any other manner than personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York, U.S. Bank National Association as Legal Title Trustee for Truman 2016 SC6 Title Trust , Plaintiff, vs . Moshe Rahimi , Defendant(s).Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on February 15, 2024 and a Decision + Order on Motion duly entered August 1, 2024 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on January 15, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 635 West 42 nd Street a/k/a 627-635 West 42 nd Street, Unit 15J, New York, NY 10036. 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 1090 and Lot 1351 together with an undivided 0.12612 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $570,028.95 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850111/2020. Paul R. Sklar, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No.: 201235-1

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT. THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Tax Lien pursuant to a Certificate recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York on March 4, 2022, in CRFN: 2022000097156, covering premises known as 655 West 187th Street, New York, NY 10033 (Block: 02170, Lot: 0027). The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the tax lien described above.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME.

SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT

To the above named defendants: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, J.S.C. of the State of New York, and filed along with the supporting papers in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York on 11/1/2024. This is an action to foreclose on a Tax Lien. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of the New York, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 02170 and Lot 0027, said premises known as 655 West 187th Street, New York, NY 10033. THE DELLO-IACONO LAW GROUP, P.C., Attorney for Plaintiffs, 312 Larkfield Road, Lower Level, East Northport, NY 11731, 631-8613001. Our File # 22-000044

O&E Enrichment2 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/5/2024. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 335 Concord Avenue, Bronx, NY 10454. Purpose: Any lawful act. Madison & Hart LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 9/16/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 228 Park Ave S #112800, New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful act.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT- COUNTY OF NEW YORK

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (SUCCESSOR TO BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK N.A.), AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE THORNBURG MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST 2008-1 MORTGAGE LOAN PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2008-1 , Plaintiff, AGAINST ALMI FUNDING LLS SERIES 517 W46 LLC, LT CW 105, LLC, NK CW 105, LLC, BOARD OF MANAGERS OF CLINTON WEST CONDOMINIUM , et al. Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on November 9, 2021.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre St, New York, NY 10007 on January 8, 2025 at 2:15 PM premises known as 517 W 46th Street 105, New York, NY 10036.

Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for New York County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

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, City, County and State of New York. Section 4, Block 1075 and Lot 1212.

Approximate amount of judgment $1,367,788.16 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #850101/2019.

Roberta Ashkin, Esq. , Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLP - Attorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747

The Human Resource Consortium LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 8/26/24. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: J.W. McCrory, 1900 SE 15th St, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33316. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Samantha Lassoff Coaching & Consulting LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/07/2024. 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 PMB 985264, New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful act.

PF741 WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/23/2024. Office loc: Bronx County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 5535 Netherland Ave, Apt 1E, Bronx, NY 10471. Reg Agent: Paul Freyer, 5535 Netherland Ave, Apt 1E, Bronx, NY 10471. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK. THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2007-HY3 MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-HY3, Plaintiff -against- BRUCE HUBERMAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 1, 2024 and entered on August 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 January 8, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, known as Unit No. 16B in the condominium known as "The Gatsby Condominium" together with an undivided 2.16% interest in the common elements. Block: 1602 Lot: 1058

Said premises known as 65 EAST 96TH STREET, UNIT NO. 16B, NEW YORK, NY 10128

Approximate amount of lien

$2,277,363.83 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850271/2022. MARK L. MCKEW, ESQ., Referee

Pincus Law Group, PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556

Notice of Formation of BLUE & WHITE BROADWAY CLUB, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/03/24. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 545 Madison Ave., 6th Fl., NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of NFF NEW MARKETS FUND XLVIII, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/26/24. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 5 Hanover Sq., 9th Fl., NY, NY 10004. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Nonprofit Finance Fund at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

CLYDEWARE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/11/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: LLC, LEGALCORP SOLUTIONS, LLC 11 BROADWAY SUITE 615, NEW YORK, NY 10004. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Formation of DOUBLE LOBSTER LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/25/2024. Office loc.: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address SSNY shall mail process to Max Lifflander, 1700 Park Ave., Apt. 1011, Weehawken, NJ 07086. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee for the RMAC Trust, Series 2018 G-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST Latasha O'Bryant; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered August 31, 2023 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 10007 on January 8, 2025 at 2:15PM, premises known as 297 West 137th Street, Unit No. 2574D a/k/a 2574D, Frederick Douglas Boulevard, New York, NY 10030. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of NY, Block 2023 Lot 1114. Approximate amount of judgment $442,512.46 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 850120/2019. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 1st Judicial District. Jeffrey R. Miller, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: September 23, 2024 For sale information, please visit www. Auction.com or call (800) 2802832 81742

Secondz Avenue LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/18/2024. 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 #126365, New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of TTF, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/26/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/08/23. NYS fictitious name: TTF FAMILY LLC. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 107 Greenwich St., NY, NY 10006. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of GUZMAN ADVISORY HOLDINGS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/22/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 11/21/24. Princ. office of LLC: 405 Lexington Ave., 8th Fl., NY, NY 10174. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Bedrock DigitalOps LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/28/2024. 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 Purpose: Any lawful act.

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK.

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., Plaintiff -against- DENNY MARTIN M.D. P.C., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated July 26, 2024 and entered on July 31, 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 January 15, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, State of New York, known as Unit No. 2A in the condominium known as "The Ruppert Yorkville Towers Condominium" together with a 0.097375% undivided interest in the common elements. Block: 1537 Lot: 2089 Said premises known as 1641 3RD AVENUE, APT 2A, NEW YORK, NY 10128

Approximate amount of lien $1,654,551.66 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850143/2022.

CLARK WHITSETT, ESQ., Referee

Buonamici & LaRaus, LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 222 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains, NY 10605

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF BRONX

US Bank National Association, as Trustee for Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp., CSAB Mortgage-Backed Trust 2006-4, CSAB Mortgage-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-4, Plaintiff AGAINST Martina R. Garcia; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 8, 2018, and Amended April 18, 2024, and Amended August 23, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Bronx County Courthouse, 851 Grand Concourse, Room 711, Bronx, New York on January 13, 2025 at 2:15PM, premises known as 1500 Vyse Avenue, Bronx, NY 10460. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of Bronx, City and State of NY, Block 2995 Lot 120. Approximate amount of judgment $857,204.83 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 381047/2011E. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 12th Judicial District. Only cash or certified funds payable to the Referee will be accepted as a deposit in the amount of ten percent of the purchase price. Leticia Arzu, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: November 15, 2024 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 82353

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York, Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, Not in its Individual Capacity but Solely as Trustee of MFA 2021-INV2 Trust , Plaintiff, vs. 414 East 115 LLC , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on August 6, 2024 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on January 15, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 414 East 115th Street, New York, NY 10029. 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, City and State of New York, Block 1708 and Lot 142. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,800,390.76 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850427/2023. Tom Kleinberger, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No.: 224262-2

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK.

NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs -against- BO HONG REALTY, INC., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein on July 29, 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 January 15, 2025 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 1535 and Lot 27 on the New York County Assessment Map. Said premises known as 1737 2ND AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10128

Approximate amount of lien

$6,668.73 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 160227/2022. CLARK A. WHITSETT, ESQ., Referee Phillips Lytle LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs 28 East Main Street, Suite 1400, Rochester, NY 14614

Notice of Formation of FLUENT MEDIA, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/03/24. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Ronald Kreidman, Esq., 94 Southfield Ave., Unit 1604, Stamford, CT 06902. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

7 CHILDCARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/13/24. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: LLC, LEGALCORP SOLUTIONS, LLC 11 BROADWAY SUTIE 615, NEW YORK, NY 10004 Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of RJMD HOLDINGS II LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/19/24. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 201 W. 79th St., NY, NY 10024. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

6 Hillside, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on Nov. 1, 2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 700 Columbus Avenue, Unit 20027, New York, NY 10025. Purpose: Any lawful act.

The Marketing Closet LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/16/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 7014 13th Ave Ste 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful act.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York, Merchants Bank of Indiana, Plaintiff, vs. 19 W 55 LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on July 22, 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 January 15, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 19 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019. 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, City and State of New York, Block 1271 and Lot 25. Approximate amount of judgment is $49,430,972.88 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850114/2023. Cash will not be accepted. Clark Whitsett, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff

Simpler Engineering LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 9/09/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 377 Route 35 South, Mantoloking, NJ 08738. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of VELAN HORIZON GP LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/29/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/21/24. Princ. office of LLC: 100 North Main St., Ste. 301, Alpharetta, GA 30009. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Hollywood Gyms West LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/12/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: LEGALCORP SOLUTIONS, LLC 11 BRODWAY SUITE 615, NEW YORK, NY 10004. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Cartiga LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/05/2024 Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 42 South Broadway, Floor 12, STE 12300, New York, NY 10004. Purpose: Any lawful act.

MICRO PRO ASSOCIATES

LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/24/24. 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, c/o Foster Garvey, P.C., 100 Wall Street, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10005. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of YAMO PHARMACEUTICALS LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/29/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/01/15. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of ALVAREZ & MARSAL FORENSIC TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/21/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/13/16. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of DE, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful

Another loss for the Jets eliminates them from playoff contention again

By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

The Jets were eliminated from NFL playoff contention on Sunday for the 14th straight season. It is the longest current streak of any franchise in the four major North American sports leagues — the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. Sunday’s 32-26 overtime road loss to the Miami Dolphins dropped the Jets to 3-10 with only four games remaining.

Although their season officially ends in the first week of 2025 against the Dolphins (the NFL has not yet announced a date and time as the game is part of their flex schedule), the Jets, headed by owner Robert “Woody” Johnson, are already planning for the future. It should begin by benching quarterback Aaron Rodgers now despite the 41-yearold passing for a season high 339 yards versus Miami, his first 300 yard game since December 12, 2021, spanning 34 games.

Rodgers has only led the team to three wins since they traded for him from the Green Bay Packers in April 2023. The four-time NFL MVP ruptured his left Achilles tendon early in the first quarter of the Jets open-

ing game of last season and was out until the start of this season. The Jets thought Rodgers would be the missing piece to a Super Bowl team. Instead, he and the squad have been a disappointment.

The Jets fired former head coach

Robert Saleh in early October after a 2-3 start, replacing him with interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, who was elevated from defensive coordinator. General manager Joe Douglas was terminated three weeks ago. The benching of Rogers should

Jets running back Isaiah Davis flexes after scoring a 17-yard touchdown in the second quarter in the Jets’ 32-26 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

have followed. The Jets have empowered him to influence decisions on coaching hires, including former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, and player acquisition, compelling management to trade for his friend and former

Giants can’t escape gravitational force of losing

By JAIME C. HARRIS

AmNews Sports Editor

If the Giants were going to end their long and emotionally taxing two-month losing streak, Sunday at MetLife Stadium seemed to be an opportune time.

They were facing the New Orleans Saints, which similarly has been a team in flux this season, and were 2-8 over their previous 10 games. The Giants entered the match up 2-10 and winless since an Oct. 6, Week 5, 29-20 road victory over the formidable Seattle Seahawks, which now lead the NFC West division at 8-5. As has been the storyline for too many games in their seemingly endless period of futility, though, the Giants’ failed execution at a critical moment undermined a potential victory.

Kicker Graham Gano’s field goal attempt with 11 seconds remaining in regulation time was blocked by Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. Instead of the game likely going into overtime, the 2-11 Giants suffered a painful 14-11 loss — their eighth straight.

New York has yet to win a game at home this season, where they fell to 0-7. The Giants are 0-3 since benching and releasing their former starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, last month during their Week 11 bye-week.

Head coach Brian Daboll has no prescription or antidote to cure and counter a losing virus that has become poisonous.

“I’ve been part of some losing streaks like this and some winning streaks. I think you are part of a lot of different things when you do it for as long as I have,” said the 49-year-old Daboll on Monday in speaking with the media. Daboll is in his third season as the Giants’ head coach. He began his coaching career in 1997 as a volunteer assistant at William & Mary.

“I’ve been part of a few of them where we started out and had a fair amount of losses, (but) finished strong,” Daboll said. “Again, every season’s different, every game’s different. It was ebbs and flows to yesterday’s game. We had some opportunities there, I’d say, in all three phases. We had 13 points basically, and then

we didn’t have them, or we got blocked … There (are) plays every game, every season. Got to figure out a way to make those.”

Football is inherently a physically and mentally taxing sport. Losing compounds and amplifies the toll.

The Giants players have taken a process- driven approach to remain hopeful that they would course-correct, but with just four games left, beginning this Sunday versus the irrepressible two-time and reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the 8-5 Baltimore Ravens, who are coming off of their bye-week, their desire and purpose will be intensively stress-tested.

“I think if you just watch the way our team played on Sunday, our play is indicative of how guys feel and the effort the guys are giving, especially on defense,” said wide receiver Darius Slayton on Monday. “I think our play on Sunday speaks to where guys’ minds are at in the locker room and the status of our team as a whole. That goes for the offensive side as well, as far as an effort standpoint goes. We just have to execute better on that side of the ball.”

Packers teammate Davante Adams, in a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in mid-October.

The Adams deal hasn’t been fruitful either, as he and Rodgers have connected on only three touchdowns in seven games with just one win. Only two teams, the Raiders and the New York Giants, both 2-11, have fewer wins than the Jets. The priority for the team is hiring a new general manager and head coach, and securing a franchise quarterback. On Monday, Ulbrich did not indicate he would bench Rodgers.

“I think at the end of the day we got to put the best unit out there that gives us the best opportunity to win,” he said. “I think every player and every coach will appreciate that,” he said. “I think sometimes when you start playing with the roster a lot, especially at the back end of the season, that can be discouraging to some players, so we got to make sure we put the best group out there to win.”

If Sunday was the last game of Rodgers’s career as a Jet and in the NFL, it was indicative of his short tenure with the team as even his best game in green and white didn’t produce a win.

Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton sits solemnly on sidelines after his team’s 14-11 defeat to New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/ Adam Hunger)

Knicks look at big picture in midst of early season success

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

The Knicks are taking a long-term view of the NBA regular season, which has four months remaining.

They were 15-9 and winners of five of their previous six games before hosting the Atlanta Hawks in the quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup last night at Madison Square Garden (MSG). The Knicks began the week with a 113-108 win over the Toronto Raptors on the road on Monday. Center Karl-Anthony Towns was back in the lineup after missing last Saturday’s 120-111 loss at the Garden to the Detroit Pistons due to a sore right knee. Towns led the Knicks with team highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds. Forward Mikal Bridges had one of his better offensive games this season, with 23 points. Point guard Jalen Brunson had 20 points and 11 assists. The return of forward Precious Achiuwa from a left hamstring strain, sustained in the Knicks’ final preseason game on October 18, has added depth and flexibility to head coach Tom Thibodeau’s lineup.

Achiuwa made his season debut last Thursday at MSG in a 125-111 Knicks victory over the Charlotte Hornets, playing 12 minutes and registering a plus-11 plus-minus. Thibodeau eschewed a gradual increase in Achiuwa’s playing time,

keeping him on the floor for 28 minutes versus the Pistons in his second game back. Achiuwa responded by leading his team with 10 rebounds.

After Achiuwa went 16 minutes against the Raptors, posting seven points and six rebounds, Thibodeau was reserved in his assessment of the forward’s first week

OG Anunoby and Knicks hosted Atlanta Hawks last night at Madison Square Garden in quarterfinals of Emirates NBA Cup. (Bill

came to the Knicks along with Achiuwa last December in a trade that sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors. “He’s a really talented player — a special player who can do it on both ends. The more opportunities he gets, the more he’ll thrive.”

The Knicks’ starting lineup has solidified with Towns, Brunson, Josh Hart, Bridges, and Anunoby. The bench is still a work in progress. Guard Deuce McBride is the only reserve averaging more than 20 minutes per game, as he was at 25.7 before facing the Hawks, while guard Cameron Payne was at 17.6 in three games before last night. Achiuwa was playing an average of 18.7. Center Jericho Sims was the only other Knicks sub in double-digits in minutes played, at 12.9 in 23 games.

back. “Some good, some rust,” he said. “Each game, a little bit better.”

After Achiuwa tallied seven points, seven rebounds, and two blocks against Toronto, his teammate OG Anunoby, who has performed like an All-Star this season, had a more glowing view. “He made a big impact,” said Anunoby, who

The Knicks are hopeful that center Mitchell Robinson, who had left ankle surgery last May after re-injuring it versus the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, will return next month. He initially suffered a stress fracture to the ankle last December, underwent surgery, and surprisingly came back in March.

Before being sidelined in December, Robinson had established himself as debatably the best offensive rebounder in the league and was on a trajectory to be an NBA All-Defensive team selection.

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez sends strong message to the team

By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

The 10-14 Brooklyn Nets have lost four of their last five games heading into tomorrow’s road match up against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Nets’ head coach Jordi Fernández was bluntly critical of the team’s defense after Sunday night’s 118-112 defeat against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Barclays Center in which they had a 12-point lead with a little over three minutes left in the third quarter and a five-point lead with just under four minutes in the fourth.

Fernandez specifically noted the Nets did not effectively pressure the ball and were out of balance on defensive rotations.

“The reality is in the last three minutes of the third and the last six minutes of the game, I believe it was a minus 19 for us,” Fernandez said. “Our defense was atrocious, and if our guys that wear a Brooklyn Nets jersey don’t play harder defense, they don’t have a place in our roster, and they know it. They take pride in defense and we are going to watch film.

“That’s how you win or lose games in the NBA. We didn’t guard anybody in the last three minutes. In the last six minutes. Last three of the third. Last six of

the fourth. We have to be better.”

One of the positives was Nets center Nic Claxton, who is averaging 9.8 points per game but scored a season-high 21 on Sunday, earning the praise of Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers.

“You know he’s absolutely a great role player for a basketball team,” Rivers said. “He defends the basket. He’s one of the rare good rollers. We don’t have enough rollers in the league. I think if you ask every coach in the NBA, they would beg to have one great big roller that can catch the ball and finish, and he does that.”

Fernandez has been commendable shaping and developing the Nets young players, and keeping the team competitive through the early part of this season. He’s navigated injuries to key rotation players, most prominently leading scorer Cam Thomas (24.7), who has missed seven games and is currently sidelined with a left hamstring strain. Small forward Cam Johnson has picked up some of the scoring slack, averaging a career-high 18.8 points per game.

Following the Grizzlies, the Nets will face former head coach Kenny Atkinson, who has the Cleveland Cavaliers holding the best record in the NBA at 21-4.

Moore photo)

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez (background center) has his 10-14 team competitive despite injuries to key players. (Jamir Dickens/Fence Boy Media)

Colgate Women’s Games return to Armory for 49th season

By LOIS ELFMAN

Special to the AmNews

After taking the action outdoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colgate Women’s Games have returned to its indoor roots for its 49th season. Girls ages 6 and up and women are getting their race on at the Nike Track & Field Center at the Armory in Washington Heights, one of the premier tracks in the world. Registration began last month and the preliminary meets commence on Dec. 29.

Colgate Women’s Games return indoors for first time since COVID-19 pandemic. (Photos Courtesy of Colgate Women’s Games)

The Games enable participating athletes to win more than 100 educational scholarships awarded by long-time title sponsor ColgatePalmolive. Events include the 55-, 200-, and 400-meter dashes; 55meter hurdles; and 800- and 1,500meter runs, as well as field events such as the high jump.

Coach Fred Thompson, founder of the Atoms Track Club, founded the Colgate Women’s Games to provide girls the much-needed opportunity to compete and be seen as highly competitive athletes. Brook-

lyn-born Cheryl Toussaint, 1972 Olympic silver medalist in the 4x400 relay, is the meet director.

“From my own personal experience and seeing the many lives that [they’ve] changed, the Games provide the opportunity to compete and learn how to compete and also be empowered by the whole process,” said Toussaint. “Every year, there are new groups of young ladies who come through, looking for that opportunity.”

Toussaint said the benefits of sport are critical, especially for

the youngest competitors, who are learning discipline, focus, selfawareness, confidence, and other qualities that will benefit them in their education and lives.

“It’s a developmental program that starts at the grassroots level,” said Toussaint. “It helps support the future Olympic stars (double Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu competed at age 15). It has to start at some point, and I feel that Colgate Women’s Games is that point. I see it every time new faces come through the door. Many of them have not

had experience in the sport or organized competition, and you see them learning how to compete and how to persevere. It’s so critically important, especially for girls and women.”

There will be a registration session from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Pratt Institute. “It’s not too late; competition doesn’t start until Dec. 29 at the Armory,” said Toussaint. “We’re happy to be back inside at a premier track facility.” Registration is now open. For information, go to colgatewomensgames.com.

Mets sign Juan Soto and further shift economics of sports

By JAIME C. HARRIS

AmNews Sports Editor

The agreement between the Mets and outfielder Juan Soto to a 12-year deal for $765 million, first reported by multiple media outlets late Sunday night, is the largest contract in sports history and has dramatically shifted the economics not just of baseball, but sports in general. Base rate fallacy must be dismissed in assuming the Soto deal is an outlier.

The facts prove otherwise.

When the Los Angeles Angels and outfielder Mike Trout finalized a then-record 12-year, $426.5 million contract in 2019, it stunned the sports world. Many close followers of baseball and sports economics conjectured that because Trout was a generational talent, at the time a 27 year old two-time MVP who was projected to be one of the best of all-time by the end of the deal, it was likely to be the ceiling for how high contracts would ascend over the next decade.

But the arrival and unmatched

production and popularity of twoway Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani in 2018 with the Angels, teaming with Trout, produced just five years later what would be the now 30 year old Ohtani’s startling 10-year, $700 million free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. In only a 12-month span, two players have inked deals for $700 million and more.

Someone will ultimately exceed Soto’s contract. It is inevitable. He may be in high school in this country right now or playing in the Dominican Republic, where Soto was born and reared, or Japan, or perhaps another locale, but he’s out there. Comparable to Trout, Ohtani, and Soto, the future mega-rich star will sign the pact while in his early prime, right around the age of 27, and arguably, if not decidedly, be the best player in the game and on a trajectory like the aforementioned trio to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

He’ll be measured more against the legends of baseball — Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron,

Roberto Clemente, Ken Griffey Jr., Trout, Soto, Ohtani, et al. — than his contemporaries. The billionaire owner who signs him, as billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen did in his calculus of bestowing more than three quarters of a billion dollars on Soto, will have forecast a return of at least double what they will pay out over the life of the contract.

Major League Baseball is the only North American sports league with multiple players whose deals surpass $300 million. Four play in New York: Soto, Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor ($341 million), Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge ($360 million), and Yankees pitcher Gerritt Cole ($324 million).

The NBA has one in Jayson Tatum ($313.9 million), but more will soon join him. Kansas Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the only NFL player at $300 million or more ($450 million). Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl has the largest NHL contract valued at $112 million. Soto has set the bar. But history tells us not for long.

Cheryl Toussaint (upper left), the Colgate Games meet director, gathers with some of the meet’s participants.

Outfielder Juan Soto, pictured playing for New York Yankees in Game 2 of World Series in October, has agreed to historic $765 million contract with New York Mets. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Sports

The fencing and sports community mourns the passing of Peter Westbook

By LOIS ELFMAN

Special to the AmNews

On Saturday morning, a familiar scenario took place. Elite fencers past and present came together to teach youngsters about the sport. It was something five-time Olympian Peter Westbrook put in place for the Peter Westbrook Foundation, which he established in the early 1990s. Now, the foundation honors his life and will continue his work.

When Westbrook passed away on Nov. 29 at the age of 72, he left behind a legacy almost impossible to calculate. In addition to his own athletic achievements, which included an Olympic bronze medal and 10 Pan Am Games medals, and the Olympians he introduced to the sport — among them medalists Lauren Scruggs, Keeth Smart, Erinn Smart, Daryl Homer, and Ibtihaj Muhammad — there are generations of New York City kids who learned the sport of fencing as well as discipline and focus they carried into their lives and their communities.

“We had a beautiful remembrance for Peter,” said Erinn Smart, who was in attendance on Saturday. “We had the children write down notes of what Peter meant to them and we made a tribute wall for Peter. The words included ‘loving,’ ‘innovator,’ [and] ‘warrior.’ Not just the children, but the parents as well because he touched so many lives.”

Dr. Alpha Alexander, one of the founders of the Black Women in Sport Foundation, met Westbrook when she was working with the YWCA of the USA, introduced by Westbrook’s Olympic teammate, Mika’il Sankofa. They discussed Westbrook’s plans for the foundation.

“He saw a way to involve kids that would not normally have an opportunity to experience the sport of fencing,” said Alexander. “With Peter’s passing, a giant has been lost in the world. He has touched many lives.”

Some of the young fencers who participated in the Peter Westbrook Foundation earned athletic scholarships at various colleges and universities. They then returned and volunteered with the program. Keeth Smart, now a senior vice president at Chelsea Piers said he was a volunteer coach almost every Saturday morning from the age of 16 until about two years ago and still drops in occasionally. His sister, Erinn Smart, executive director of strategic partnerships at Dotdash Meredith, still goes almost every Saturday morning. Still a competitive fencer, Daryl Homer, shows up whenever he’s in New York City.

“That’s the culture that Peter set — everyone must give back,” said Keeth. “I learned so much from him about the art of compassion

and competitiveness and being disciplined. He was so disciplined and organized, and he made everyone feel special.”

Keeth and Erinn Smart were among the earliest participants with the foundation.

As they progressed, Keeth and Westbrook would train together and become teammates toward the end of Westbrook’s competitive days.

“He helped mentor us through the whole Olympic journey,” said Keeth, a three-time Olympian. He and Erinn both won silver medals at the 2008 Olympics in their respective team events. “Peter was elated for our success.”

Erinn, a current foundation board member, doesn’t really remember a world without Westbrook. She describes him as a friend, teacher, mentor, and motivator.

“What I learned on the strip, I use off

the strip — teamwork, resilience and even when you’re knocked down, you can get back up at any time,” Erinn said. “You can learn from the losses. It gave me confidence in myself, knowing that I can do great things, whether it’s in fencing or not. Peter taught that belief system and knowing that you can achieve so much if you put your mind to it.”

This past summer, Keeth and his family went to the Paris Olympics to see Scruggs compete and make history as the first Black female fencer to win an individual medal (foil) and first Black fencer to win Olympic gold (team foil). Peter could not be there, but Keeth kept him updated throughout.

“It was one of my happiest moments in my Olympic career, seeing Lauren do so well and her mother sharing that she got into fencing when she read an article about

me and Erinn and found out we were part of the Peter Westbrook Foundation,” he said. “I shared that in real time with Peter when he was FaceTiming me and wanted to know every single update.”

Gymnast Wendy Hilliard met Westbrook in the 1980s when both were athlete representatives on the U.S. Olympic Committee. He was very supportive when she launched the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation in 1996. “It’s amazing what he’s done with his athletes,” said Hilliard.

Westbrook was an outstanding coach. While some fencers moved to other coaches as they progressed, he coached Akhnaten Spencer-El through the 2000 Olympics. Spencer-El became a fencing coach, working with the USA Fencing Olympic team and spending more than a decade on the coaching staff at Columbia University. He is currently Homer’s coach.

Homer, a silver medalist in saber at the 2016 Olympics, said he started with the foundation at the age of 11. Through fencing, he has gained confidence, discipline, empathy and camaraderie, and feels he would be a totally different person without the Peter Westbrook Foundation. As he progressed in the sport, it gave him a sense of ease being a Black man in a predominantly white sport.

“Part of the foundation is you are exposed to Black Olympians in the sport of fencing,” said Homer. “From when I was 11 years old, I saw Keeth Smart, Erinn Smart, Akhi Spencer-El, Ivan Lee, Peter, Mika’il Sankofa, Bob Cottingham, who’d all been to the Olympic Games. Growing up and seeing that, I felt that if I listened to my elders and I dedicated myself to the craft, I could possibly do that too.

“Peter always acknowledged that we were underrepresented in the sport, but he always made sure that we knew that we belonged,” he added.

Erinn promises the foundation will continue because Westbrook taught them well. “We were taught by the master,” she said. “His spirit and his legacy lives in us. No one can ever fill Peter’s shoes, but we will try our best.”

Westbrook is survived by wife Susann, stepson Dorian Miles, sister Vivian, grandchildren, extended family and generations of fencers.

(L-R) Fencing icon Peter Westbrook and fencing Olympic medalist Daryl Homer model the Team USA uniforms in July 2021 ahead of the Tokyo Summer Olympics. (Charles Sykes/ Invision/AP photo)

New York Amsterdam News Dec. 12-18, 2024

FABRIC OF REPAIR

BLACK, INDIGENOUS GROUPS JOIN FORCES FOR JUSTICE

DIRECTORY

Advocates ‘chain’ themselves in protest of NYCHA Fulton & Elliott-Chelsea Houses demolition

Daniel Penny found not guilty of negligent homicide in Jordan Neely death

Discriminatory lending practices that target Black homebuyers persist in NYC

Biden’s farewell economic address?

Should we treat Black and Brown people with felony indictments or convictions differently?

Expanding student debt forgiveness program aims to stop the bleeding in public defense, district attorney’s office

A sixth-grade ambition charted Dr. Kimberly Henderson’s path to medicine

Black New Yorker

Stay Safe from Holiday Scams

Black, Indigenous communities can work together to strengthen reparative justice, report states

Anti-Indigeneity and anti-Blackness

Dr. Ashwin Vasan reflects on his legacy in NYC public health

East Harlem’s Union Settlement markets its early childhood programs

What in the world is the NYPD’s Community Response Team?

Union Matters

Rival union official says Atlantic City casino union boss should resign for opposing smoking ban

Remembering Nikki Giovanni

The negative impact of New York’s CDPAP program change on minority communities

In these hot-mess times, let us love our nation

style):

REV. DR. JACQUI LEWIS

FIERCE LOVE

How to build a democracy

CHRISTINA GREER, PH.D.

Caribbean Update

Jamaica considering nuclear energy for power woes

Donald Trumpeto’s Caribbean ‘Eye Pass’

FELICIA PERSAUD

Déjà vu, but worse

International News

Gualeguaychú displays its hidden Afro Argentinean history

AT THE WHITNEY EDGES OF AILEY

Arts & Entertainment

Legendary poet, activist Sonia Sanchez honored at Hunter

‘Love Warrior’ — Daniel Beaty’s autobiographical journey of life, tragedy, and healing

Members of The Last Poets and Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys speak on the passing of Quincy Jones

Carter family shines on red carpet; Paris Jackson gets engaged

WITH THE FLO

AmNews FOOD

Talking SCHOP! Tía Carmen: An Homage

KYSHA

Colman Domingo, Danielle Deadwyler earn Spirit Award noms for ‘Sing Sing,’ ‘Piano Lesson’

Special to the AmNews

Google’s Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2: Ultimate holiday tech upgrades

Staten Island Jazz, John Zorn, Jay Hoggard

NYCHA

Daniel Penny

Black homebuyers

Solutions

WE VAX

Dr. Marjorie Peebles-Meyers, a medical pioneer

ACTIVITIES

FIND OUT MORE

DISCUSSION

PLACE IN CONTEXT

CLASSROOM IN THE THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY

Union Settlement

Fact Check — True: It is safe to get COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccinations at the same time Health

Education Schools brace for upheaval over fear of mass deportations

PUBLIC NOTICE

Speeding ruins lives. Slow down.

Religion & Spirituality

Nikki Giovanni, iconic poet and activist, dies at 81

Student debt

CLASSIFIED ADS

RULES AND REGULATIONS

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED DISPLAY

CLASSIFICATIONS

BASIS OF CHARGE

Another loss for the Jets eliminates them from playoff contention again

Giants can’t escape gravitational force of losing

Knicks look at big picture in midst of early season success

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez sends strong message to the team

Colgate Women’s Games return to Armory for 49th season

Mets sign Juan Soto and further shift economics of sports