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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

Dozens Rally & Write For Mario

Cross students, immigrant rights activists, and local elected officials that an apparently harmless teenager has been detained for over 100 days and is on the brink of deportation from the country he’s called home for over two years.

“One of our students is gone,” Wilbur Cross Principal Edith Johnson (pictured) said. “We want him back.”

Wilbur Cross is a school filled with immigrant students, Johnson said. It is a safe and supportive place for those students, and Castañon should be returned to the diverse peer group that is his community.

“It is my hope, my holiday prayer, that he will come back to us,” she said.

Mayor-Elect Justin Elicker (pictured) agreed. “This is Mario’s home,” he said about New Haven.

“New Haven has always been a place that welcomes people from all backgrounds, and needs to continue to do so.”

He pledged that, when he takes office in January, he will maintain the current executive order prohibiting city employees from asking victims about their immigration status. He said he will also sign a sanctuary city law into effect if the Board of Alders passes one.

Mayor Toni Harp (pictured) stressed her own outrage at Castañon’s detention once the protest made its way to the second floor atrium of City Hall.

“Are we so vindictive, petty, and eager to punish that we incarcerate a teenager for what amounts to an administrative matter?” she asked.

“How has an immigration offense become a criminal matter where Mario’s being held without bond? I find this excessive. I find this behavior deplorable. And I find it troubling that more people are not outraged by it.”

Barroso and Cruz Lopez (pictured) said that, as undocumented immigrants themselves, they have both experienced first hand the anxiety and fear and pain of the threat of deportation.

“We have to unite and fight together because, if we’re doing this alone, we’re all gonna get lost in the system,” Barroso said. “We will not stop fighting until Mario’s release from detention, until everyone’s free, not only from detention, but from all mass incarceration because the system is very flawed.”

by THOMAS BREEN New Haven I ndependent

Dozens of Wilbur Cross High School students and local immigrant rights activists rallied outside a downtown courthouse, and inside City Hall, in support of an 18-year-old classmate who’s been detained outside Boston for over 100 days and is facing deportation.

That rally took place Monday afternoon on the steps of the state courthouse at 121 Elm St. Emceed by Connecticut Students for a Dream organizers Eric Cruz Lopez and Anthony Barroso and propelled by chants of “No fear / No hate / No ICE in my state” and “Hey hey / Ho ho / Detention centers have got to go!”, the rally called for the release of Mario Aguilar Castañon.

The protesters later marched to City Hall, where they continued their demonstration and wrote cards and letters of support to their detained classmate.

Castañon, a junior at Wilbur Cross, was arrested and detained by federal Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officials in September while contesting drunk driving charges at the Milford Superior Court.

For the past three-plus months, he’s been held in the Bristol County federal immigration detention facility in North Falmouth, MA while his attorneys from the New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA) petition for his asylum on the grounds that he would be in physical danger if he was returned to his birth country of Guatemala.

“Mario is not and has never been a danger to anyone,” said one of Castañon’s attorneys, Ben Haldeman, at Monday’s rally. “He likes video games and funny memes and learning about trees and planets.

“He came thousands of miles to this country so he could continue his education without the constant fear of being threatened and beaten and killed by gangs in his home country.”

Haldeman said Castañon is still waiting for a written judgment to be issued by the federal immigration judge presiding over his asylum case. He said Castañon’s most recent hearing was on Dec. 12, and that he is still locked up in a facility where he shared a giant warehouse of a room with 60 other inmates.

Monday’s rally was less about the details of Castañon’s case and more about the moral outrage felt by Wilbur

THOMAS BREEN PHOTO Protesters outside 121 Elm St. Monday afternoon. Below: Kica Matos and Miguel Castro.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

Black Women Shout Out Their Villages At Long Wharf

by Lucy Gellman, Editor, The Arts Paper www.newhavenarts.org

Find your village. Look to the women in your life, especially the elders among you. Mine your inner strength, but also say the word ‘no’ when you need to.

Shake off the strong Black woman trope and let yourself be exhausted. Talk about being exhausted.

Saturday, that advice came from six panelists at Long Wharf Theatre’s (LWT) first annual “The Strength Within Me” celebration, a sweeping discussion of inner strength, faith, and family that took place over brunch. Organized by Long Wharf Theatre Group Sales Coordinator Azaria Samuels, the celebration was followed by a matinee performance of Pride & Prejudice, which runs through Dec. 22. Over 75 women attended.

Panelists included Valencia Goodridge, president of the New Haven chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inner-City News Editor Babz Rawls-Ivy, Woman I Am, Inc. Founder Chardonée Avelar, longtime community champion and educator Lensley Gay, life coach and Sterling-Xavier Consulting Group President Dr. Sheryl Barnes, and Keepsakes CT Director Angelina Wilson.

The panel was moderated by Trenee McGée, an arts educator and actor who was just elected to West Haven’s City Council. It doubled as a chance to cel-

ebrate Long Wharf Theatre as it becomes a more community-focused and collaborative institution. In addition, the brunch featured spoken word poetry from Hartford-based artist Monique Harriot and music from “The Guys,” a band that formed at Neighborhood Music School.

“For those of you who have never been to Long Wharf Theatre, this is Long Wharf Theatre,” Samuels said as attendees nibbled on fruit, eggs, chicken and waffles from Sandra’s Next Generation. “Let’s raise a glass to the new Long Wharf Theatre. Jacob Padrón, this is his vision of radical inclusion.”

For many of the panelists, inner strength began and ended with family. One of four daughters, Barnes recalled growing up in a home filled with laughter, so much so that she “thought everybody’s parents danced late into the night.” On weekends, her cousins, aunts and uncles stopped by to break bread together.

If she wasn’t at home or at school, she was in church, learning about prayer.

For her, she said, it became a language in which she trusted. To laughs from attendees, she recalled praying for a teddy bear and knowing “that God was real” when she finally received it.

Barnes gave a sort of opening to other

women on the panel. One of four kids raised by a single mom, Avelar praised the influence of strong women both at home and in her church, where several female pastors modeled behavior that she later followed. After studying journalism in college, she chose to go into ministry instead, because “God was calling me” to give back through the church.

Gay, who helped found Gateway Community College in the 1970s, recalled the emotional impact that her mother, grandmother, and aunt all had on her—and the immense pain she experienced when she lost them. Goodridge, who grew up in Bridgeport’s Marina Village housing project, echoed a reliance on family, which meant her mom. After her parents split during her childhood, Goodridge watched her mom work two jobs to support three children. She learned to help out around the house, warming up food for her siblings and tending to them after school.

She remembered her mom as strict but loving, often threatening punishment if Goodridge and her siblings didn’t keep their grades up. In those years, she was enrolled in Project Concern, which meant that Goodridge was bussed out to Wilton for school each day.

“The thing that really is resonating is that for our girls, it starts very, very young,” she said, adding that her mom is now in her 70s, has worked through her retirement, and remains “my shero” to-

day. “And instilling in them that they can believe in themselves. It’s really critical that we as leaders cultivate our young people and draw back on our story. Everyone has a story that brought them to where they are today.”

The Role That Community Plays In addition to their own families, many of the panelists looked to the strength that they had mined—and continue to mine—in their wider communities.

Some, like Avelar and Wilson, have learned to rely on their faith communities. Raised in the Pentacostal church in New York, Wilson lost her mom when she was only 15, then later discovered a different church in New Haven, where being religious did not revolve around condemnation. That transformation led her to the work she is doing now.

Others spoke about the importance of their neighbors. Born and raised in New Haven, Rawls-Ivy recalled growing up in the Church Street South housing complex with a mom who worked two jobs, which meant that her neighbors were constantly looking out for her. Laughing, she described the small parade of people who would check in on her when they knew her mother wasn’t home.

“There was always other people who helped keep eyes on us,” she said. “It Con’t on page 09

“Jamerican” Restaurant Debuts In Westville

by ALLAN APPEL

New Haven I ndependent

A couple drove all the way in from Guilford to Westville just because they were in the mood to eat curried goat.

Two city deputy economic development directors —one a vegetarian interested in sauteed and curried broccoli, the other a lover of oxtail with rice and beans — placed their orders for when they treat their colleagues to a catered lunch at next week’s staff meeting.

Those culinary bulletins were part of the aromatic talk Thursday as city officials gathered to cut the ribbon on Kool Breeze, the newest locally owned restaurant to join New Haven’s tasty food scene.

The full name is Kool Breeze: Jamerican Cuisine Restaurant, located at 1400 Whalley Ave. On Whalley Avenue near Ramsdell, the sun-lit, spacious restaurant with palm-treed island paintings is the labor of love of Andrea Stone, who has been cooking and catering out of her house

nearby for ten years—all the while holding down a medical assistant’s job at Yale New Haven Hospital.

Stone said opening the establishment has been a lifelong dream. She hopes one day to open a Kool Breeze Two. Friend Avery White has been coming in every week since the restaurant’s soft opening a month ago. White said Stone cooks not only with love but with flavors and secret rubs that are the taste of home — that is, Jamaica.

The oxtail, the jerk and curried chicken, and the brown stew chicken have that taste of home, Stone said, in part because she imports the spices she uses from Jamaica. She revealed a key ingredient of her secret rub: the pimento.

“It looks like a black pepper ,but it’s different,” said Avery White. “It’s minty,” mixed with garlic, scallions, curry, and other spices.

“The meat is wet and the rub gets ‘massaged’ into the food,” added Stone. “That’s what makes it different.”

And successful.

In the month the soft opening, the restaurant has drown both natives of Jamaica and the Caribbean islands and people from all over, like those curried-goat seekers who happened to pop in the other day from Guilford.

Other customers are Westville locals, along with doctors, lawyers, including the crowd from Woodbridge, Stone said.

It was important to Stone to have a restaurant with a kool vibe, so the eating is an experience if you linger and take in the generously spaced tables, the relaxing yellow paint and island art on the walls.

Cathy Graves, who runs the city small business academy, and fellow city development deputy Steve Fontana placed their orders for future staff meetings during Thursday’s event.

They have a tradition of ordering from new local restaurants. They concurred with Stone that hers is the first full, sit-down Jamaican restaurant in New Haven.

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Stone, center, cuts the ribbon with the mayor and Deputy Economic Development Directors Cathy Graves and Steve Fontana, and friends

Kool Breeze has seven employees.

The restaurant is open Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mayor Toni Harp praised small businesses like Stone’s as the backbone of the city’s economy. Then she got personal: “And thanks for going into business in my neighborhood.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

Co-Op Seniors Dance Their Humanity about connection, honestly, vulnerability.”

“I want to take them back and remind them to look at each other in the eye,” she added.

by Lucy Gellman, Editor, The arts Paper www.newhavenarts.org

One moment the stage was empty, and the next a group of dancers had filled it.

Under blue light, they lurched together in a phalanx of black and pink leotards.

Space formed between them as they moved, pockets of it glowing between straight arms and pointed toes, limbs that lifted and lengthened. A few dancers fell to their knees. Violins swelled, catching as if they were about to cry.

This week, dance-focused seniors at Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School have started the long goodbye— and summoned their humanity—as part of the school’s annual “Winterfest.” An end-of-year dance showcase for all grade levels, the event marks their penultimate performance together before heading off to college.

The work has been supervised by teachers Christine Kershaw-Hobson, Lindsey Bauer and Stephen Hankey. Performances run Wednesday and Thursday; more information is available here.

“I feel like we’re all going to go our different ways,“ said senior Chassity Ramirez. “We say we’re all ready for now. But when we’re in college, meeting different people, we’re gonna miss each other. We’re gonna feel alone.”

In their work Holding Onto Humanity, seniors have worked collaboratively to craft a piece about human connection, tying lessons they learned inside the classroom to those they have picked up outside of it. With Bauer, the group started the process last year, discussing what movements and actions might be associated with the words “passion,” “humanity,” and “inhumane.”

They experimented with improvisation and weight bearing, a practice in which dancers balance on each other. The group picked the project back up earlier this year, when Bauer returned from maternity leave.

In part, talking through the dance was just as important as devising the choreography. At a rehearsal Wednesday morning, senior Rowan Huber recalled starting the process with a discussion that revealed his classmates were as stressed out about their senior capstones as he was. Vita Harris, his classmate and a fellow dancer, noted that the dance ultimately became a meditation in compassion and survival.

“We looked around at our surroundings, and we kept remembering how we had other people,” she said. “That snaps us back into reality.”

Wednesday, they made their way across the stage to music from composer Max Richter, their breath and footfalls joining the voices of violins. As they moved, they spread out into a circle, hands tightly clasped. They scattered, mastering the

same back bends, outstretched limbs, forward falls and lunges in unison.

Dancers scattered, and Rosello braced himself for the lift he knew was coming.

From the curtain, his classmates became a train of bodies once more, leaning on each other as they moved towards the

center of the stage.

“We found ourselves talking about how we need people to hold us up sometimes,” Bauer said after watching a tech rehearsal Wednesday morning. “We find ourselves collapsing at various points.

Times can be really tough. This piece is

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But Holding On, like the program it represents, seems to also play a role in redefining who dancers and choreographers can and cannot be. In data collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and Deloitte’s Data USA project in 2017, 66.7 percent of dancers self-identified as white, and 16.6 percent as Black.

There wasn’t a metric for Latinx; dancers who identified as “two or more races” comprised 8.52 percent and Native dancers made up less than one percent.

There’s a gendered lens too: in a study of 467 performances by the Dance Data Project this year, only 87 (less than 20 percent) were choreographed by women, despite the fact that the field is still dominated by them.

And yet in a field that still remains highly segregated—particularly in ballet, where Black and Latinx dancers didn’t have a pointe shoe to match their skin until 2016—Co-Op’s dancers come in every shape and shade. At a tech rehearsal Wednesday, some ditched the traditional pink ballet tights for coffeecolored ones. They came onstage fierce and nimble, ready to take on Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Georges Bizet but also Rose Royce, Rob Base, and Moby.

When seniors broke into motion in Sally’s Playground, choreographed by Kershaw-Hobson and set to Moby’s “Flowers,” they were joyful and rambunctious but also precise, soaked in green stage light that bounced off their fuchsia leotards. Music filled the stage with pumping, steady percussion and hand clapping to which dancers pushed themselves forward and rotated their limbs. With Ramirez counting them in, they worked in elements of lyrical dance, contemporary movement, and step.

As they prepared to perform Wednesday, seniors stood in a hallway outside the school’s auditorium, trading anxieties on next semester’s capstones and exactly how much they think they’ll miss each other when the year is over. One joked that she was ready to graduate; another said they weren’t so sure. Alayjah Draughn noted that whatever they do, they now know they won’t be taking it on alone.

“We have these moments in life where we just feel human again,” she said.

“This world is driven by ‘me first, I have to get there, I have to do my job.’ It’s very busy.”

“But there are these slight moments in our lives, in our day, where we’re able to connect with the people that we love the most. And only those moments are the only ones that matter.”

John P. Thomas Publisher / CEO

Babz Rawls Ivy

Editor-in-Chief Liaison, Corporate Affairs Babz@penfieldcomm.com

Advertising/Sales Team Keith Jackson Delores Alleyne John Thomas, III

Editorial Team Staff Writers

Christian Lewis/Current Affairs Anthony Scott/Sports Arlene Davis-Rudd/Politics

Contributing Writers David Asbery Tanisha Asbery Jerry Craft/Cartoons Barbara Fair

Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur Michelle Turner Smita Shrestha William Spivey Kam Williams Rev. Samuel T. Ross-Lee

_______________________

Contributors At-Large

Christine Stuart www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass New Haven Independent www.newhavenindependent.org

Memberships

National Association of Black Journalist National Newspapers Publishers Association Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Greater New Haven Business & Professional Association Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

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10/18/19 4:46 PM

New Havener Of The Year THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

by PAUL BASS

New Haven I ndependent

New Haven will always be grateful that Anthony Duff followed his own advice in 2019. Otherwise he might not have made it to 2020, on the cusp of reporting back to work at the police department.

“Train for trouble,” Duff, a police captain, advises younger officers, quoting famed Oakland Raiders coach John Madden. When off duty, carry your firearm, he tells them. And always keep a police radio within reach. In case you encounter trouble.

Because Duff follows his own advice, he had a police radio on the front seat as he drove home from work the night of Aug. 12. And he encountered trouble.

He was stopped at the intersection of Dixwell Avenue and Henry Street in the Dixwell neighborhood. Duff knows Dixwell well: Earlier in his career, he served as the neighborhood’s district manager, the consummate “community policing” cop known for mediation rather than jamming people up.

Stopped at the light on Aug. 12, Duff saw something he’d never seen before in 23 and a half years on the force: “I saw another man shot, feet away.” Shot dead.

He grabbed his gun. He grabbed his radio.

He hustled out of the car. He confronted the shooter. The shooter fired away — at Duff, and hit him. In the arm. In the chest. In the abdomen. In the pelvis. (According to a subsequent state’s attorney investigation, Duff did not fire his weapon.)

“It was a stunning event,” Duff recalled in an interview the other day as he continued the healing process. “It threw me off guard.”

But not completely. Duff’s training kicked in. So did the adrenaline. “I had my wits about me. I know my body might shut down. I know I might pass out.”

He knew he needed to grab the radio.

He knew what information to convey: 1) A shooting was in progress.

2) Where it took place.

3) The direction in which the shooter was running.

And: “Signal 4.” Officer needs assistance.

Within moments, medics arrived, along with Duff’s fellow officers. New Haven’s force all received training in 2019 in the use of tourniquets. That was enabling them to save the lives of shooting victims on scene when it looked like they might not survive an ambulance ride to the hospital. Now a cop himself needed that life-saving help.

“People are asking me what it’s like to have a near-death experience,” Duff said.

“In the heat of the moment, I’m just thinking: ‘I need medical attention.’ I knew my body might shut down, I might pass out.”

Four officers — Sgts. Chris Cameron and Shayna Kendall and Officers Ramonel Torres and Joseph Perrotti — got to work.

They applied the tourniquet. They kept Capt. Duff alive.

For the next ten days, a team of doctors did the same at Yale New Haven Hospital.

PAUL BASS PHOTO

party.

Lt. Manmeet Colon greets Capt. Duff at Dec. 11 “Signal 4” Van Dome fundraising

Fellow cops and the community tend to rally around any officers shot while protecting the public in the line of duty. And this was an act of true personal courage.

But there was something different about the reaction to Duff’s brush with death.

There may be no more beloved cop in New Haven than Anthony Duff, a calm, smart, gregarious colleague who wins everyone over with his warm smile and open heart.

In addition to the grief, the communal outpouring of support served as an antidote for our harsh times. It was a reminder that the police and the public aren’t always at odds.

That human beings can cross that divide, can and do bridge that gap. That the world may have too much hate, but it also flows with reservoirs of love.

True Community Cop Just a few months before he was shot, Duff represented the police department on a panel held at Quinnipiac University to discuss a movie about the mistreatment and death of Sandra Bland in a Texas police lock-up.

Duff sat next to Bland’s sister, on a stage with police abolitionists, during a session of relentless criticism of his department and his profession as irreparably and fundamentally racist. Without defensiveness, he described how New Haven’s police lock-up operated when he ran it. He listened to everyone and spoke with clarity and honesty.

He didn’t trash cops. He didn’t trash critics.

He described how he does his job, and how he tries to do it right. He described how he dealt with officers who broke the rules.

In the end, Bland’s sister hugged him. What a better world this would be, she said, if all

cops were like Anthony Duff.

Anyone who knows Duff would not have been surprised to witness that scene. It has played out over and over, among his fellow officers, in the community, since he joined the force 23 and a half years ago.

Duff, who’s 53, originally came north from Arkansas to study at Yale. He settled in town, married a local sweetheart. He worked at a clothing store, co-hosted an R&B radio show on the side.

When he joined the force, he navigated a steady series of posts, earning accolades and earning trust at each step. Beat walking cop in the Hill. Patrol shift commander.

Head of patrol. Detective bureau supervisor. Firearms unit chief. Family services chief. Internal affairs boss. Head of the lock-up.

For one eight-year stretch, from 20022010, Duff made a lasting mark on the neighborhood where he would later almost lose his life in the shooting: He served as district manager in Dixwell. During his tenure, crime plummeted and neighbors felt like part of the team. Duff calmly and methodically tackled problems rather than ignoring them, enlisting family members in the process rather than alienating them. Beneath the radar, Duff and his cops used their familiarity with people in Dixwell — and, in this case, crayons as well to solve small problems that would otherwise turn into big problems. New Haven has aspired to an often unattainable model of true, smart and caring community policing that sees arrest as a last resort. Duff reached it.

When he was shot this year, he was serving as the department’s public information

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officer, a trusted, low-key face and voice of a department that can often find itself consumed by drama and division.

Other colleagues had to put the word out to the press after Duff was shot on Aug. 12.

Word spread fast, starting around 11 p.m. through the early-morning hours. New Haven started praying.

First-Ever Sick Day And Duff started healing. One step at a time.

In doing so, he continued to follow his own advice. Namely, to work hard to get and stay healthy.

This was a new experience for Duff. He’d never been hospitalized before. In fact, he had never before even called in sick — not when he worked in Fred’s Discount Store as a teenager in Forest City, Arkansas, not when he worked in Barry Cobden’s Campus Customs store on Broadway after coming to New Haven to study at Yale, not since joining the police force in 1996.

Now Duff had no choice but to stay out of work.

At first, he couldn’t even leave his hospital bed. He was connected to tubes. Teams of trauma and thoracic surgeons “saved my life.”

From the start, he worked with them to avoid getting too comfortable on morphine or oxycontin. He’d always counseled avoiding strong pain medication, because of how fast you can get hooked. Within days, his doctors helped him start weaning off “the strong stuff.”

Duff had a reputation to live up to: He was known as a “health” guy in the department. He started a wellness center on the second floor. It brought in salads and healthful snacks for cops to eat during the day. It brought in trainers for “Wellness Wednesday” classes on how to stay fit, how to fight off diabetes. It spread to include not just cops, but visitors from other workplaces like Yale New Haven Hospital. It’s still going strong.

After ten days, on Aug. 22, hundreds of officers from throughout the state stood in formation outside Yale New Haven’s York Street entrance to salute Duff as his wife escorted him out of the hospital and into a car headed home.

Duff managed to make it a day later to the funeral of the man he saw shot that night, Troy Clark. Duff was having trouble walking. But he was determined to pay his respects, to show that all lives matter in our community. He and Chief Otoniel Reyes and Mayor Toni Harp stood outside Howard K. Hill Funeral Home to welcome all the mourners, then joined them inside for the service.

Duff still had far to go: More surgery.

Physical therapy. Regular appointments with the doctors.

It was challenging — not just pushing forward, but figuring out what to do all day.

He enjoys going to work. Fall is prime fishing season; this fall his 90-horsepower, 16-foot pleasure boat would remain docked

while its skipper remained on land. For this season. Just this season.

“Still Processing It” On Dec. 11, hundreds of his fellow officers responded to a second “Signal 4” call for Duff. This time it was a “Signal 4” party held at the Van Dome nightclub on Hamilton Street.

Officers designed, ordered and sold over 400 Duff-themed T-shirts. Business owners donated raffle gifts. And thousands of dollars were raised, along with spirits, to help with Duff’s healing.

Duff and his wife Mia entered the club to smiles and a phalanx of hugs. He was standing. And walking. And smiling. The event “brought the police department together,” Assistant Chief Renee Dominguez noted as she helped assemble the Waxology and Starbucks coffee packages and HDTV screen on the crowded raffle-prize table, to “rally around him and make him feel the love that he deserves.”

The next day, cops were still wearing those T-shirts inside 1 Union Ave. when Duff stopped by. He popped in to the second floor past the wellness center. He stopped by the credit union; he chairs the board, and encourages officers to save some of their money as one way to “train for trouble.”

Seated in the credit union office, Duff reflected on his road to recovery. He couldn’t speak much about the details of the incident itself, because the state’s attorney’s office is still investigating it. Instead, he looked as much forward as back. Duff seemed like his old self: Upbeat, he left no doubt that he has come far and has no intention of stopping.

“It was four months ago today. I’m still processing it,” he said.

He dropped 30 pounds — and has been working at keeping the weight off.

“You really have to gradually and slowly work your way back,” he said. He does house chores in the morning. “This is the most time I’ve had to myself without school or work since I was a pre-teen,” he observed. He has “reorganized” the basement, the garage, cleared out junk. He practices walking up and down the stairs. He can now do that “without feeling winded.

You see the progression. You notice the healing.” He goes to physical therapy appointments. His staples have been removed. (A private man by nature, he declines to discuss his injuries in detail.)

He has stopped limping. That was noticeable as he made the rounds at 1 Union Ave. Duff is eligible to retire. But “I’m in no hurry to retire,” he said. “I enjoy the work.”

If the doctors say OK, he sees himself back in the job as soon as February. If not sooner.

Faces lit up at each stop Duff made on his rounds that day at 1 Union.

“When are you coming back?” asked one sergeant.

“I’ll be back,” Duff assured her.

Take that to the bank.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

Bloodless “Cheesesteak” Served, With Love

by PAUL BASS

New Haven I ndependent

It was Thursday, so the orders were coming in for the meatless, dairy-free “Philly Cheesesteak” inside New Haven’s newest — and first vegan — food truck.

The truck, parked at the western edge of the Green on College Street, is called Vegan Ahava — the latter word being Hebrew for “love.”

Customers like downtown lawyer and “pescatarian” Alan Bowie (pictured) have already become regulars.

Israeli native Poreyah Benton opened the business two and a half weeks ago. “I’ve never had anything I didn’t like,” Bowie said as he waited for his cheesesteak, the daily special.

Inside the truck, sous-chef Jalita Manning got started on the order. She spread veganaise on an Amoroso roll ... ... then added pre-sauteed peppers. A mix of peppers, she said, “for the colors.” She slipped in the pre-sauteed seitan (aka wheat meat).

Benton (pictured) who is 27 and lives

in Westville, had made the seitan earlier, from scratch: She buys wheat gluten in bulk from Edge of the Woods, then mixes in water along with tamari. “Back home in Israel, we call it kel-bone,” Benton said.

Benton has been eating vegan all her life, since growing up in Dimona, Israel, as part of the African Hebrew Israelite community (which has been eating animalfree for a half century). She remained vegan when she moved to the U.S. She worked post office, cleaning service, and airline gate jobs. Her dream was to start the business.

A stint along with Manning at the culinary training program at ConnCAT taught her knife skills as well as business skills.

Her fiancee put up the money for the truck, and she was in business. So far the Thursday cheesesteak is the top seller. “I first tried it in the vegan diner in New York,” Benton said. She adapted the dish with her homemade seitan recipe, liquid aminos ... .. and a splash of sriracha hot sauce ... ... which Manning applied to the sandwich along with some Tofutti brand Amer-

PAUL BASS PHOTO

Poreyah Benton at work in the mobile Vegan Ahava kitchen.

ican “cheese” before Benton slipped it in the oven. “It’s all about flavor,” Benton said. “That’s why people come back every Thursday.”

Manning handed the sandwich over to Benton to slip into the oven, from which it

emerged moments later, the cheese melted, the order ready for another customer along with fries.

One of the waiting customers was Larry Murphy aka “Chef.” He was one of Benton’s and Manning’s instructors at

incarcerated. The stark racial disparity is also seen among those held in isolation.

Here over 90% are people of color. Although several prisons cage people from 20-22 hours a day Northern is the most brutal and inhumane.

Solitary confinement, defined by the international community, is caging people from 20-22 hours a day without meaningful human contact. The US along with other nations signed and ratified an

agreement with the United Nations in 1955 called Mandela Rules designed as the minimum standards of care for prisoners. It is by no means a model standard of care. It is the minimum and yet the US is not in compliance with rules every other developed nation follows.

According to the United Nation Human Rights Watch after a few days in isolation the brain begins to function in a different manner. After 15 days many will experience irreversible brain damage. Most of these people will be returned to our communities with limited resources to debrief from the experience. Many will suffer post- traumatic stress disorder and find it difficult to be around other people. Many, if not all will experience psychosis which is a break with reality and need to be prescribed anti -psychotic medications to help them function. Side effects of antipsychotic medications include muscle stiffness, involuntary body movements, drop in white blood cells, slowness, suicidal ideation, vision changes, sexual dysfunction and weight gain which increases the incidence of diabetes. Heart problems may also occur. Many end up self- medicating with alcohol and other drugs because they don’t like the way the medication has them feeling.

According to the Mandela Rules solitary confinement should never be used as a punishment, should only be a last resort on a short- term basis and not exceed 15 days. Regular well checks should be a mandate. Those who should never be placed in isolation are children under the

ConnCAT. He showed up Thursday along with lead ConnCAT chef and culinary instructor Jenna Martin. One ordered the cheesesteak with seitan, the other with portobello mushroom.

The Independent’s Vegan Vittler factchecked the customers’ reactions by consuming a Vegan Ahava Philly cheesesteak, and confirmed that it makes for a hearty, healthful meal indeed.

Vegan Ahava is open on College Street between Elm and Chapel Streets Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday’s special is tacos; Wednesday is Caribbean day, featuring curried chick peas and coconut rice and cauliflower; Thursday features the Philly Cheesesteaks; and Fridays and Saturdays feature soul food specialties including the Jackson Five: mac and cheese, corn bread, sweet potato pie, broccoli and tofu. The business also takes catering orders. Find out more about the full menu (including desserts) and the business at its Facebook page or email Benton here.

Solitary Confinement Must End

by Barbara Fair, Community Activist and Social Justice Contributor

Christ Chapel New Testament Church under the direction of Pastor John Lewis, The Elm St Free Public Library and Washington DC are 3 places where the campaign to end solitary confinement has been discussed. Stop Solitary Confinement- Ct and My Brother’s Keeper have been bringing people together to educate them on the long term effects of isolating people in jails and prisons across this state, including Manson Youth facility which is currently under federal investigation. At Christ Chapel panelists included Senator Gary Winfield, Supermax survivor, Harvey Fair, Yale Professor Hope Metcalf and former student, Maddy Batts. They informational sessions have encouraged the public to play a major role in ending what the International community has defined as torture.

The public perception has been guided by those who claim only “the worst of the worst” are held in isolation. On any given day over 80,000 people are housed in that manner across this nation. Depending on the state over 80-90% of those held in solitary are young men, women and children of color.

Christ Chapel was the first in recent weeks to host an informational meeting in which approximately 50 people showed up and watched a Yale University production of “The Worst of the Worst” which depicts the most harshest form of isolation that occurs inside Northern Su-

permax facility located in Enfield, where many prisons are located in Connecticut. Certain towns have flourished with the uptick of prison construction in the 1970’s and 1980’s where the Corrections budget skyrocketed from $187,000 in 1989 to over $710,000 by 2009.

As the prison population rose dramatically so did the rise in isolating people.

Connecticut is among the highest in the Northeast in racial disparity among the

8

age of 18, elders, pregnant women, and those who suffer from mental illness.

Isolation causes and exacerbates mental illness.

At a 3 day conference in Washington Dc several members of SSCT heard about progress many states have made in strictly reducing the use of solitary. States include New York, New Jersey, Colorado and California. Colorado’s commissioner said after spending one hour in a solitary cell he knew he had to restrict its use.

California made changes after 30,000 prisoners went on a hunger strike and as part of settling a lawsuit filed by them.

Recently in Connecticut a federal judge ordered Corrections to relax the conditions by which death row prisoners were held at Northern CI. The judge ruled the conditions were extremely harsh constituting cruel and inhumane treatment ordering immediate changes.

The history of solitary confinement stemmed from an idea initiated by the Quakers who thought placing a prisoner in solitary for a short time with a bible would help them to reflect on their misdeeds. It later became a way to control a growing prison population, a way to punish anyone who didn’t follow prison rules, and an excuse to lock down anyone whom correctional officers felt threatened. The public perception of “the worst of the worst” were the only ones being held in these harsh conditions made it easy for the practice to go on without challenge or question.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020 Con’t from page 03

Black Women Shout Out Their Villages At Long Wharf

was this unspoken commitment to everybody else’s kids.”

Decades later, she said that same sense of responsibility has pushed her to serve the community that raised her, from her role editing the city’s only Black newspaper to serving on several nonprofit boards to her life at home, as mom to four kids.

Gay, too, pulled from handfuls of anecdote on family, both blood and chosen.

As she choked up recalling the death of “those three matriarch people” that built her foundation, Gay explained that her work and her friends have kept her going. Now site coordinator at the Brennan Rogers Magnet School family resource center, she praised the students and parents that she sees every day. On the few times she has told them she doesn’t have kids, she said, they’ve swiftly corrected her: she has thousands.

To laughs, applause, and a few tears, she told the story of a student who explained that she wanted to be just like Gay when she grew up—which meant “busy!” in her young vocabulary. The student later went on to get a certificate of thanks from President Barack Obama for performing the Heimlich maneuver—on her birthday no less—on someone in a restaurant who was choking.

Gay, who heard the story and brought it to the Red Cross, was by her side when she received the certificate.

“We have to pull on what we have,” she said. “We never know where our strength comes from. We must always think about how we’re giving back, and reaching back, and helping someone else.”

“I’ve Retired Identifying As A Strong Black Woman” In mining strength, panelists also urged attendees to take care of themselves— which is the last thing women of color often do. Avelar, who turned 30 this year,

spoke about living through more than she thought she could ever handle, and leaning on those around her to get through it.

In the past several years, her brother has been shot in the head. Her husband has spent months in the Intensive Care Unit.

Her family has faced homelessness.

“I believe every woman should have some type of village,” she said. “And if you don’t seek one out. When you go through something, an authentic village is what makes a difference.”

Barnes said that as a life coach, she frequently sees women who have hit burnout and feel that they must keep going.

She noted that for her, she’s held tight to her faith as a source of inner strength that doubles as a spiritual balm even on her worst days.

Both she and Goodridge called for spaces where women of color can commune with each other, take time to read, bathe, and “catch up with authentic girlfriends.” That—and learn that ‘no’ isn’t a bad word.

“We have to reframe it in our minds and allow ourselves to enjoy that self-care,” Goodridge added. “Sometimes, it’s okay to have compassion, and authenticity, and truth, and bring your voice in a subtle way. We have to take care of ourselves.”

Rawls-Ivy added that she has “retired identifying as a strong Black woman” to describe herself or her friends. She advised attendees to find a vocabulary that acknowledges they may be holding down the fort—and sometimes the neighborhood—but they get to be vulnerable too.

“We stamp the strong on us, and then we soldier into this life and take beatings every single day,” she said. “And everybody expects us to continue to do that!

And so when one of us falls, we feel bad, we clean that up, and then we soldier back on. We never give ourselves room to be softer, to say ‘I need,’ to be open, to be vulnerable.”

Saturday, February 15th Tickets on sale Friday at 10:00am only at

TICKETMASTER.COM | MOHEGANSUN.COM 9

BEST FILMS OF 2019 THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

By Dwight Brown NNPA Newswire Film Critic

Look back on the most noteworthy films of 2019 and they all display a diverse array of superb talent—in front of and behind the camera.

These movies entertained, educated and often inspired us. They challenged our opinions. They made us contemplate our fate and become more aware of the world around us.

Booksmart (***1/2) – Two coeds (Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever), high-school outcasts, find refuge in their close friendship. Animated performances. Funny and thoughtful dialogue.

Astute comic direction by first-time filmmaker and noted actress Olivia Wilde.

Who knew nerdy teen angst could be hilarious?

Dolemite Is My Name (****) – King of comedy Eddie Murphy rises like a phoenix in this oh-so-hysterical ode to comedian and pioneering indie filmmaker Rudy Ray Moore. Dream team cast includes: Keegan-Michael Key, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess, Wesley Snipes, Mike Epps and scene stealer Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

The Farewell (***1/2) – An Asian family handles the last-chapter of life process with charm to spare. Writer/director Lulu Wang digs into her own experiences in a premise and script filled with colorful kin folk. Star turns by Awkwafina, Shuzhen Zhao and Tzi Ma make the characters lifelike.

Harriet (***) – Depicting the legendary life of the courageous abolitionist Harriet Tubman is a task few are worthy of.

Director Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou) is the chosen one. Her epic bio tale catalogs the inhumanity and humanity of the 1800s. Cynthia Erivo (Widows) infuses Tubman’s spirit in every frame. Terence Blanchard’s emotionally charged musical score is haunting.

The Irishman (****) — Martin Scorsese, Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino team up for an impressive crime/ drama/thriller about a man who purportedly murdered Jimmy Hoffa. Brilliant performances. Strong direction, writing and editing. Ingenious use of CGI. The crowning achievement of Scorsese’s career. he Lighthouse (****) – Two workers (Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe) and a bunch of seagulls are engaged in a melodramatic relationship at a desolate New England lighthouse, circa 1890s.

Brutal allegory. Totally engaging. Director/writer Robert Eggers and co-writer

Max Eggers make riveting cinema on a black and white canvas (cinematographer Jarin Blaschke).

Little Women (****) — Actress turned director Greta Gerwig gives the classic Louisa May Alcott Civil War novel her own feminist spin with relatable threedimensional characters. Fiery relationships among sisters, parents and friends.

Feels like you’re on a long buggy ride with lots of bumps in the road. Superb performances by Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet and Laura Dern.

Marriage Story (****) — Writer/director Noah Baumbach captures the angst of thirtysomethings (Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson) going through what should have been a friendly D-I-V-O-R-C-E that turns into a war of threats, betrayals and raw emotions. As primal in ways as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Full of life at its worst and people struggling to take their next steps.

Queen & Slim (****) – Easily the most talked about black movie of the year.

Director Melina Matsoukas (HBO’s Insecure) and screenwriter Lena Waithe (TV’s Master of None) weave a very modern crime tale and a poignant love story together. Hints of social relevance are threaded in. Lovers on the run are played by Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith. So thoughtful. So cool.

So romantic.

Uncut Gems (****) — A gregarious, Jewish NYC jeweler (Adam Sandler) is deep in debt to thugs. His schemes dig him into a deeper hole. Gritty, sewerlevel urban drama written and directed by the very talented brothers Benny and Josh Safdie. Sandler deserves an Oscar nom. Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Julia Fox and LaKeith Stanfield round out a powerhouse cast.

Best Directors Noah Baumbach = Marriage Story Robert Eggers =The Lighthouse Greta Gerwig = Little Women Melina Matsoukas = Queen & Slim Martin Scorsese = The Irishman Best First Films Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre = The Mustang Mati Diop = Atlantics Melina Matsoukas = Queen & Slim Olivia Wilde = Booksmart Phillip Youmans = Burning Cane Best Foreign Language Films Ash Is Purest White Atlantics Corpus Christi Les Misérables Transit Best Documentaries

10

After Parkland Miles Davis: The Birth of the Cool David Crosby: Remember My Name Pavarotti Tony Morrison: The Pieces I Am Best Actors Robert DeNiro = The Irishman Daniel Kaluuya = Queen & Slim Eddie Murphy = Dolemite Is My Name Robert Pattinson = The Lighthouse Adam Sandler = Uncut Gems Best Actresses Awkwafina = The Farewell Cynthia Erivo = Harriet Lupita Nyong’o = Us Alfre Woodard = Clemency Renee Zellweger = Judy Best Supporting Actors Jamie Foxx = Just Mercy Aldis Hodge = Clemency Joe Pesci = The Irishman Brad Pitt = Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Bokeem Woodbine = Queen & Slim Best Supporting Actresses Indya Moore = Queen & Slim Florence Pugh = Little Women Da’Vine Joy Randolph = Dolemite Is My Name Jennifer Lopez = Hustlers

Shuzhen Zhao = The Farewell Best Screenplays Ad Astra = James Gray, Ethan Gross The Farewell = Lulu Wang The Lighthouse = Max Eggers, Robert Eggers Little Women = Greta Gerwig Queen & Slim = Lena Waithe Best Cinematography 1917 = Roger Deakins Atlantics = Claire Mathon The Irishman = Rodrigo Prieto The Lighthouse = Jarin Blaschke Queen + Slim = Pete Beaudreau Best Animation/CGI Frozen II How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World I Lost My Body Toy Story 4 Other Great Films 1917, Ad Astra, Avengers: Endgame, The Beach Bum, Giant Little Ones, Good Boys, A Hidden Life, Hotel Mumbai, Hustlers, The Mustang, Never Grow Old, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Report, Rocketman, Sauvage, Skin, Us, The Two Popes, Woman at War. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

Idris Elba is Set to Receive His Citizenship from Sierra Leone

by Rufaro Samanga, OkayAfrica.com

The actor will be awarded citizenship in his father’s native country and reportedly spend Christmas with President Julius Maada Bio. Idris Elba is reportedly set to receive his citizenship soon from Sierra Leone’s government during his current visit to the country.

Born to a father from Sierra Leone, the country’s Deputy Tourism Minister William Robinson has confirmed that the actor will also be spending Christmas with President Julius Maada Bio on Sherbro Island.

France24 reports that Elba should be issued with a passport from Sierra Leone before Christmas according to a govern-

ment official who opted to stay anonymous.

The West African country is looking to encourage tourism in a bid to increase economic prosperity. Back in September of this year, Sierra Leone’s government and the Sherbro Alliance Partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding which pledges to help the country in doing just that by developing a charter city on Sherbro Island.

In the joint press statement released a few months ago, the venture has been described as a “public private partnership between the GoSL and Sherbro Alliance Partners, a company resulting from the vision of Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens...supported in this effort by a

deeply experienced international team.”

In the same press release, Elba himself says that, “My commitment to Sherbro Island City is driven by a desire to make a difference, but to do so in a fashion which produces tangible benefits for West Africans that may be sustained over the long-term.”

It’s been a year of making serious boss moves for Elba. Not only is he set to star alongside Jonathan Majors in the upcoming all black Western The Harder They Fall, his lighthearted Netflix series Turn Up Charlie premiered on the global streaming platform in March. Additionally, Elba’s directorial debut in the crime drama Yardie, also hit the big screen in the same month.

Black EOE Journal

Kamala Harris: Will McConnell Let the Senate Hold a Fair Impeachment Trial?

By Kamala D. Harris, U.S. Senator (D-CA)

December 18 — Today the House of Representatives will vote on whether to impeach President Trump. If it votes yes, sometime early in the new year I will take an oath on the Senate floor to uphold the Constitution, review evidence and follow the facts wherever they lead, regardless of party or ideology. Every one of my colleagues will be required to do the same.

As a former prosecutor, I understand the importance of holding powerful people accountable. I know that every trial requires fairness and truth.

Official photo of United States Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA)

Having worked my whole life serving the people, I know that any trial that abandons the pursuit of truth cannot be considered fair or just.

But the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, appears more interested in covering up the president’s misconduct than in pursuing truth and fairness. He is already trying to limit the impeachment trial by preventing witnesses from testifying, and he has all but announced a verdict. In doing so, he showed the American people that he has no intention of honoring his oath.

Let’s be clear: Mr. McConnell doesn’t want a Senate trial. He wants a Senate

cover-up.

Fortunately, Mr. McConnell does not have the power to unilaterally undermine this trial. Every single senator will be empowered with an equal vote on how the trial will proceed. Though in just the past year, Mr. McConnell has used his position to unilaterally block legislation to restore the Voting Rights Act, lower the prices of prescription drugs and address the gun violence epidemic, he cannot wield the same authority in a Senate impeachment trial.

In this trial, senators will be far more than jurors. Every one of us will vote to determine the rules for the trial, de-

cide which witnesses testify and ultimately serve as both court and jury.

Each of us will be called on to uphold our oath with every decision we make.

We will all be held accountable by the American people if we refuse to discover the facts relevant to the articles of impeachment.

The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, has made a reasonable request to hear from four additional witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the president’s misconduct and to review documents that shed light on why the administration initially decided to cut off military aid to Ukraine.

Con’t on page 15

Sudan Celebrates the Anniversary of the Country's Uprising

by Rufaro Samanga, OkayAfrica.com

It’s been one year since the nationwide protests that led to the ousting of then Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir began.

Today marks the one year anniversary since the nationwide protests began in Sudan. The historic uprising led to the ousting of then President Omar al-Bashir and gave way to the current transitional government which consists of members of the military and civil society.

Channel Africa reports that Sudanese civilians have already begun what will be a week of festivities to mark the occasion.

Sudan has a come a long following the massive protests which rocked the nation earlier this year and resulted in the loss of many lives. After the deadly Khartoum massacre of June 3rd that subsequently resulted in the global #Bluefor-

Sudan movement, the political landscape began to change rapidly thereafter.

The country then appointed a new Prime Minister in Abdalla Hamdok along with a transitional government or Sovereign Council that will rule during the three-year transitional period to complete civilian rule. The BBC reports that it is the transitional government which has organized festivities and rallies in several of the country’s districts in honor of those who propelled the uprising and brought about change.

Describing where things stand in Sudan as of now, academic and prominent activist Sulaima Sharif says that, “Removing al-Bashir was a great victory, but how can we safeguard the change is the question.” Sharif goes on to add that, “It’s too early to judge the government’s performance, but it needs to listen more and interact more with the people. It has no real visibility with the people.”

11

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

Man Who Stole $88K from Bank Caught After He Posted a Photo of Himself With the Money on Social Media

by BlackNews.com

Charlotte, NC — Arlando Henderson, a 29-year old employee at a Wells Fargo bank in North Carolina, has been arrested after allegedly stealing $88,000 from the bank’s vault. One of the primary pieces of evidence used against him is his photo holding stacks of cash that he himself proudly posted on social media.

According to reports, Henderson systemically stole cash from the vault at least 18 times this year, gathering a total of $88,000. Most of the stolen money was apparently deposited into an ATM near the bank where he worked.

Henderson allegedly used $20,000 of the money to pay for the down payment on a new Mercedes-Benz car. Prosecutors discovered falsified bank documents he made to get a car loan from another financial institution to cover the remaining balance of the car.

Henderson reportedly also “destroyed

certain documents” and he “made, or caused others to make, false entries in the bank’s books and records to cover up the theft.”

Moreover, reports said that “throughout July and August 2019, Henderson used a social media account to post several pictures of him holding large stacks of cash.” In his other posts on Facebook and Instagram, he can be seen posing beside a white Mercedes-Benz in Hollywood, California in September.

Henderson was arrested on December 4 and is facing charges of 19 counts of theft, embezzlement and misapplication, along with 12 counts of making false entries, and two counts of financial institution fraud. He could be sentenced to 30 years imprisonment and $1 million fine if convicted.

He is also charged with transactional money laundering, which carries a penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

US Government Accidentally Lists Wakanda as Official Trade Partner—The Internet Reacts cows, fresh vegetables, covfefe coffee and more.

Tseng took to Twitter to share his findings, later telling Reuters that he was was confused after seeing Wakanda listed.”[I] thought I misremembered the country from the movie and got it confused with something else.”

Shortly after the listing was discovered, the USDA removed it, stating that Wakanda’s inclusion on the list was a mistake from the start and part of “testing.” USDA spokesperson Mike Illenberg told The Washington Post that the department was “using test files to ensure that the system is running properly.”

“The Wakanda information should have been removed after testing and has now been taken down,” he added, but not be-

by Damola Durosomo, OkayAfrica.com

You can’t make this stuff up.

On Wednesday night it was discovered that the fictional country of Wakanda (the setting of the 2018 blockbuster movie Black Panther) was listed on the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) tariff tracking list of free trade partners.

According to BBC Africa, the listing was discovered by a software engineer by the name of Francis Tseng, who stumbled upon the gaffe while conducting research for a fellowship. What’s perhaps even stranger, is that the list included detailed information about items that had been traded between the US and a nonexistent Wakanda, including donkeys,

fore the media and internet got a hold of the mixup, prompting several jokes and remarks about the US being in a trade war with Wakanda. Both “Wakanda” and “vibranium” are currently trending on Twitter.

This isn’t even the first instance of Wakanda being mistaken for a real country and published as such for the world to see. Back in 2017 British Airways’ in-flight magazine listed the fictional nation as the home country of lead actress Lupita Nyong’o.

As one might have noticed, the current state of American politics, is worrisome (to say the absolute least) so it appears the Wakanda free trade news has brought about some much-needed comedic relief.

Medical Students Viral Photo On Slave Plantation: “We Are Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams”

By Derek Lane, BlackDoctor.org

As a medical student, getting your white coat is a pretty big deal. But now, a group of Black medical students have taken it further by showcasing their achievement was brought about by our ancestors.

Now that photo has gone viral.

Altogether, there were 16 members of Tulane University’s Student National Medical Association (SNMA) who made a 50-mile trek from New Orleans to a plantation to make the now-viral image possible. As of Thursday, a single tweet of the photo had been liked more than 75,000 times and retweeted more than 17,000 times.

The students planned the photo to inspire other young black people to honor where they come from.

Slave quarters like the Whitney Planta-

tion once was a symbol of struggle, strife and death. But now, because of ancestors looked forward to where they could be, Sydney Labat and others are now standing tall as a symbol of life and success.

“We are truly our ancestors’ wildest dreams. As physicians in training, we stood on the steps of what was once slave quarters for our ancestors. This was such a powerful experience, and it honestly brought me to tears. For Black people [pursuing] a career in medicine, keep going. For our entire community, keep striving. Resilience is in our DNA,” Sydney Labat, a med student at the Tennessee University, wrote in a caption on Instagram over the weekend.

Labat and 14 of her classmates planned a trip to Wallace to take a series of photos at the plantation last week.“Seeing that many black students in training in

one photo was striking. In a place that was dedicated to our ancestors and their struggles,” Labat, 24, said. “We knew this photo was going to make people stop … and really think. I can say for myself, I definitely got emotional throughout this experience.”

Russell Ledet, a second-year medical student who helped plan the photo, first visited the site with his daughter during the summer, he said. “I came back and talked about it with Sydney and the classmates. I said, ‘We should… … go in all black and our white coats.’

Everybody was on board,” Ledet said.

Ladet told People Magazine that his daughters comments from the plantation visit is what really sparked the idea. She saw the breath and depth of our rich history and said something profound.

“My 8-year-old daughter was like, ‘Dad,

12

it means a lot to be a black doctor in America. If you think about where we started… we made it pretty far,’” he explains. “I was like ‘You’re right, I think more of us should see this.’”

Now, the world is seeing it.

Thank you Ladet. We stand on the shoulders of many who came before us. Continue to build further, higher and longer.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

The African American Adoption Crisis: Our Kids are Hurting

by Derrick Lane, BlackDoctor.org

According to The Adoption Institute, researchers from the University of Vermont (UVM) discovered that although many white adoptive parents were open to adopting children of other races, they did not want to adopt African-American children.

With more than 100,000 students waiting to be adopted in the U.S., why are Black kids the least desirable? And why do parents go overseas to adopt?

The United States leads the world in international adoptions. The National Center for Adoption reports that Americans completed 6,441 intercountry adoptions in 2014. (This is way down, though, from the peak of 22,000 international adoptions in 2004.)

Meanwhile, there are about 108,000 children available for adoption in the U.S. as of July 2015, according to the National Council of Adoption. AfricanAmerican children are overrepresented — they make up about 24 percent of the children waiting for adoption. (The African-American population in the U.S. is 13 percent).

Researchers at UVM interviewed 41 parents from the northeastern U.S. (all were white except one Asian) who had adopted 52 kids. Thirty-three of the children adopted came from other countries, mostly China, Korea and Guatemala.

The researchers shared their findings in a report titled, “We Didn’t Even Think About Adopting Domestically: The Role of Race and Other Factors in Shaping Parents’ Decisions to Adopt Abroad.”

The main reasons the subjects chose to adopt kids from overseas were: – Fear of birth parents changing their mind and wanting their child back – Concern about open adoptions where birth parents maintain some contact with their child – An assumption that adoptive children in the U.S. have more health issues due to alcohol or drug abuse by their mothers Here’s where it gets really interesting.

While many of the parents surveyed said they were open to adopting children of any race — and even actively sought nonwhite children overseas — several said no when it came to black American children. In fact, 18 of the parents explicitly said they wouldn’t adopt a

black child. African-American children, in particular, were seen as “too different” physically and culturally.

“It was weird that we were fine with Asian. We were fine with South American. And we weren’t with African American… Maybe I wasn’t exposed or I just thought it would be too different.”

— Jenny, study participant who adopted from Guatemala Just two of the adopted children in the study group were African-American.

The other four black children adopted came from other countries: Haiti, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nikki Khanna is a sociology professor who led the study. She notes via email that U.S. adoptions from Africa have more than tripled between 2003 and 2010. But she says it’s not clear why the parents she interviewed found African children more adoptable than black American kids. “For these parents, it is possible that they perceive AfricanAmerican culture as more ambiguous and less defined than that of Tanzanian or Congolese culture, for example, and hence more accessible to them. More re-

search, however, is needed.” And then, there’s the race issue. Khanna says many parents cited long-standing, contentious race relations between blacks and whites as a deterrent to adopting African-American kids. “They were hesitant to enter into a situation in which they themselves had to take up and address this history

with their own African-American children. Perhaps some parents feel that if they adopt from Africa that they or their African children are somehow exempt from this history. I would argue, however, that that view is ill-conceived and highly problematic.”

JAN. 11

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

Muslim Advocates Legal Victory: All Federal Prisons Get New Group Prayer Guidance

Nationwide Guidance Secured After Lawsuit Challenging Improper Group Prayer Limits at Federal Prison in Kentucky

WASHINGTON, DC — In response to a lawsuit by Muslim Advocates and prisoner William Doyle challenging a policy restricting group prayer, United States Penitentiary McCreary in Kentucky has withdrawn the policy and the Federal Bureau of Prisons has changed its national guidance to recommend accommodation of group prayer opportunities for Muslim prisoners.

As documented in the Muslim Advocates report Fulfilling the Promise of Free Exercise for All: Muslim Prisoner Accommodation in State Prisons, state prisons commonly treat Muslim inmates differently from prisoners of other faiths, denying them the right to pray in groups, access to religiously appropriate meals (meals with no pork or with halal meat), to grow beards and other exercises of their faith that are protected by the U.S. Constitution. As the experience of Mr. Doyle demonstrates, Muslim inmates in federal prisons face similar challenges.

The new Federal Bureau of Prisons guidance is groundbreaking because, for the first time, the federal government is acknowledging the need to change its rules and recommend that daily group prayer be accommodated for Muslim prisoners.

“This new group prayer guidance sends a clear signal to all prisons that the right to pray should not be denied, regardless of faith,” said Matt Callahan, staff attorney for Muslim Advocates. “Unfor-

tunately, we believe many of the 142 federal prisons are likely ignoring their obligation to ensure the right to pray at their facilities. What happened at McCreary is an insult to religious freedom and we call on all prisons—particularly federal prisons—to stop standing in the way of the right to pray and to require all federal facilities to adopt policies implementing the new guidance immediately and without delay.”

The new guidance, outlined in the agency’s Religious Beliefs and Practices Manual and sent to all federal prisons: • Removes previous guidance recommending that group prayer should be limited to groups of no more than three prisoners; • States that prisoner requests for group prayer should be treated the same way requests for other group activities are treated; and • Recommends that staffers accommodate all group prayer requests and only deny them when the security or good order of a facility would be jeopardized.

Muslim Advocates is also calling on Americans to contact the Federal Bureau of Prisons and ask the agency to ensure that the new guidance is enforced so that incarcerated people of all faiths can practice their religion.

William Doyle, who is represented

by Muslim Advocates, is an observant Muslim incarcerated at United States Penitentiary McCreary in Kentucky.

Steve Harvey to Premiere New Talk Show Exclusively on Facebook BlackNews.com

Starting January 6, 2020, Harvey will be hosting a new show that is slated to run several times a week for 10 weeks.

According to reports, new episodes have already been taped from Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

The show will reportedly have a format similar to his previous TV talk show wherein he shares opinions on various issues and interviews celebrities, people in the news, musicians, and many more.

“Reaching my audience anywhere and everywhere they are has always been the goal,” Harvey said in a statement.

“Facebook Watch viewers are the most energetic, engaged community, and so are my amazing fans. Getting all those people to directly engage on a platform like this is the perfect evolution of the show.”

The show is expected to be a hit since Harvey is popular in social media, especially Facebook. In fact, Harvey’s Facebook page was named Top 6 most-

Though his faith requires him to pray multiple times a day with all other Muslims who are present at prayer time, McCreary staff prevented him from doing so by enforcing a policy restricting group prayers to a maximum of three people. The policy was adopted to implement guidance by the Bureau of Prisons that recommended facilities restrict prayer to groups of two or three.

While McCreary claimed the restriction on group prayer was necessary for security, the facility regularly allowed prisoners to congregate in significantly larger groups for other activities like sports or card games, as well as allow-

ing prisoners of non-Muslim faiths to violate the policy by praying in groups larger than three.

I n 2018, Mr. Doyle sued the facility but a district court dismissed his claim.

Earlier this year, Muslim Advocates filed an appeal asking a higher court to reverse the ruling. In response, the Federal Bureau of Prisons changed its group prayer guidance for all federal prisons and McCreary withdrew its policy restricting group prayer.

Additional Resources: • Muslim Advocates Files Appeal Against Kentucky Prison for Denying Muslim Prisoners the Ability to Pray

Together • Muslim Advocates Asks Bureau of Prisons to Enforce Group Prayer Guidance • Muslim Advocates Releases Report on America’s Muslim Prison Population Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination.

80-Year Old Woman Makes History, Graduates from College with a 3.69 GPA BlackNews.com

viewed U.S. entertainment page. Within a 1 year period, it has reportedly received 2.2 billion views and 64 million engagements. Moreover, 35 of his videos have each been viewed over 10 million times.

The move came a few months since his TV show Steve on NBC ended after its 7-year run and was replaced with Kelly Clarkson’s show.

Normal, AL — Donzella Washington, an 80-year old woman from Alabama, is celebrating being the oldest person to ever graduate from Alabama A&M University. Even more, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.69 GPA with a degree in social work. She dedicated her achievement to her late husband who she says had always been supportive of her.

According to Rocket City Now, Washington is the oldest person to ever graduate from Alabama A&M University. She now plans to travel to nursing homes across the country as a motivational speaker, and hopes to inspire other people — young and old — to believe in

14

themselves and their dreams.

Growing up, Washington says she had low self-esteem due to a speech difficulty that made her stutter badly. She was 30-years old when she overcame it after taking four speech classes at the College of the Sequoias.

She eventually learned how to manage her thoughts along with patience and confidence with herself. She took the risk and entered college even at an older age.

Washington is thankful for her late husband who she says was the one who always pushed her to achieve her dreams.

After graduating with flying colors, she also plans to continue studying to take up her master’s degree.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020 Con’t from page 11

Kamala Harris:

NEW HAVEN’S GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY RADIO STATION!

Will McConnell Let the Senate Hold a Fair Impeachment Trial?

We need to hear from Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, who admitted to Mr. Trump’s bribery scheme on live television, and from the former national security adviser, John Bolton, who has been shopping stories about Mr. Trump to book publishers instead of speaking with Congress. Every senator should want to hear from anyone who can speak directly to the president’s misconduct related to the articles of impeachment.

Even Richard Nixon allowed the key figures behind the Watergate scandal to speak to Congress, and he eventually turned over incriminating portions of his Oval Office recordings to investigators. But Mr. Trump has stonewalled Congress and inhibited our ability to seek justice by demanding that those closest to the center of the Ukraine scandal stay silent.

Senators must be allowed to subpoena relevant witnesses and submit questions to them directly. The Senate should not vote on any article of impeachment or consider a motion to dismiss the trial until we have reviewed the additional testimony and evidence that Mr. Schumer has requested.

I have never been in a courtroom where the accused can unilaterally block witnesses from testifying or prohibit prosecutors from asking witnesses questions. No court would allow a trial to proceed this way, and neither should any member of the Senate.

Ensuring the integrity of this trial is a solemn responsibility for every senator, with consequences that extend far beyond any one presidency. My colleagues and I have a duty to use our voice and our vote to insist on a fair trial, rooted in the pursuit of truth. We must demonstrate to the American people that in our system of justice all are equal under law, and that there are not two sets of rules, one for Donald Trump and another for everybody else.

We must conduct the Senate impeachment trial in a way that is fair and that reflects impartial justice.

History will judge the actions taken by the United States Senate at a time when our Constitution and the rule of law were at stake. I’ll be fighting for justice and accountability, and my colleagues should too.

Kamala D. Harris is a Democratic senator from California.

The above article was originally published as a letter to the editor by The New York Times. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. The article is reproduced here by request.

www.newhavenindependent.org

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We believe that a parent is the child’s first and best teacher.

We are committed to providing a high-quality experience that enhances the overall development of the child and supports the family unit. We incorporate play in our detailed experience plans that are in line with the CT ELDS and CT DOTS.

** Our Program is Full Day / Full Year /Open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm ** NAEYC Accredited ** Care4Kids accepted ** State mandated sliding scale fee based on income and family size ** Onsite Social Worker and Educational Consultant

https://catholicacademynh.org/pre-school/pre-school-overview Dr. James F. Acabbo, Director St. Aedan Pre School 203-387-0041

15

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Bristol Housing Authority is developing its 2020-2024 Agency Plan in compliance with the HUD Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998. A VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- atAPPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Public Hearing will be held on February 18, 2020 11:00 a.m. at Gaylord Towers Community Hall located at 55 Gaylord Street, Bristol, CT. HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting for studio one-bedroom apartments at this develInformation is pre-applications available for review andand inspection at Bristol Housing Authority, 108 Frank Street, hours New Haven.

Maximum income ap164opment Jeromelocated Ave., at Bristol, CT during M/W 8:30a-4:30p, Tues.limitations 8:30a-1:00p, ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y Thurs.

1:00-4:30p, F 8:30a-2:00p.

25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

Town of Bloomfield Full Time Custodian NOTICIA

$22.87 hourly

MACRI VIVIENDAS DE apply ALQUILERvisit PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES ForVALENTINA more details on how to www.bloomfi eldct.org

Pre-Employment drugHouse testing EOE/AA HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus y de larequired.

New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 Seeking to hasta employ experienced in the labor, foreman, operajulio, 2016 cuando se han recibidoindividuals suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) torenand for aLas heavy outside work statewide.

Reliable perlas teamster oficinas de trades HOME INC. pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC and al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes sonal transportation a valid drivers license required. Todeberán applyremitirse please oficinas de HOMEor INC en 171 Orangeto: Street, tercer piso,Department, New Haven , CT 06510 . calla las (860) 621-1720 send resume Personnel P.O. Box

Construction

368, Cheshire, CT06410.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce

HELP WANTED: Large CT guardrail company

looking for Laborer/Driver with valid CT CDL Class A license and able to get a medical card. Must be able to pass a drug test and physical. Compensation based on experience. Email resume to dmastracchio@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE M-F

Equipment Operator Help Wanted: Immediate opening for Equipment Operator for Heavy and Highway Construction.

10 hour OSHA certificate required. CDL license a plus but not required.

Please call PJF Construction Corp.@ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.

Laborer Help Wanted: Immediate opening for Construction Laborer for Heavy and Highway Construction.

10 hour OSHA certificate required.

Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.

CDL Driver Help Wanted: Immediate opening for CDL Driver for Heavy and Highway Construction.

10 hour OSHA certificate and clean CDL license required.

NEW HAVEN

Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.

242-258 Fairmont Ave 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

Project Manager/Project Supervisor

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center

HELP WANTED

Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

City of Bridgeport / Various Departments CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s

Certificate Program.

ThisSpecialist is a 10 month program to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates Airport Certifi cation (starting atdesigned $42,913.00): Public Facilities; Airport Division. in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30-

3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis,Labor M.S., B.S. Benefi ts Manager (starting at $90,549.00): Relations; Benefits Administration Division.

(203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster

St. NewPolicy Haven,Analyst: CT Budget Office of Policy and Management.

Civil Engineer I (starting at $75,021.00): Public Facilities; Engineering Division.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Director of Public Facilities (starting at $131,706)

Information Services Technology Staff: Various positions will be posted.

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour OPM Policy Analyst: Office of Policy and Management. until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Public LibraryCT Staff: Library & Librarian(s), positions to be posted.

Seymour, 06483 forAssistant(s) Concrete Sidewalkvarious Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

School Crossing Guard ($11.00 - $12.64 per hour): Police Department.

Tax Assessor (starting at $116,680.00): Finance Department, provisional position, available for A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith applicants immediately.

Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

For more information, visit our website at: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/citycareers

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Of-

The City Bridgeport providesSeymour, equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for emfice, 28of Smith Street, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. ployment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type specific to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any

other protected by federal, state the or local laws.

Thecharacteristic Housing Authority reserves right to accept or reject any or all bids, to

reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Housing Authority.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Help Wanted: Immediate opening for a Project Manager/ProjOld Saybrook, CT ect Supervisor for Heavy and Highway Construction. Previous (4 Buildings, 17 Units) experience on CTDOT projects required.

Civil Engineer

Diversified Technology Consultants (DTC) is a multi-disciple engineering and environmental consulting firm. DTC is a leader in servicing governmental clients for four decades. DTC prides itself as having worked on a wide variety of project types. From schools and senior centers to town halls and universities, our diverse portfolio provides extensive experience to our communities.

As DTC enters its forth decade, we are seeking an energetic, organized and proactive professional in our Civil Engineering Department. The successful candidate(s) will work closely with our technical staff in support of DTC’s strategic goals and objectives.

This is an entry level position located in our Hamden, Connecticut office.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in the preparation of plans, specifications, supporting documents, and permit applications for private and municipal projects.

• Assist in preparation of calculations such as storm drainage, water supply & wastewater collection, cost estimates, and earthwork quantities.

• Perform design and drafting using AutoCAD Civil 3D. MicroStation experience is beneficial but not required.

Qualifications:

• Graduate from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.

• Engineer in training certificate preferred.

For Further information or to apply send resumes to ellen.nelson@teamdtc.com DTC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

DTC is a Drug Free Work Place.

Individuals with Disabilities, Minorities and Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Construction Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 621-1720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

Autoridad de Vivienda de Branford, Parkside Village II Aceptar solo solicitudes para apartamentos de eficiencia New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Cast- II/ no Utilities A partir de $592 mensuParkside Village in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, ales, Max. Ingresos Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998.

We are an equal opportunity employer M/F

Town of Bloomfield

Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Límite: Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection.

1 persona $52,850, Contacto: This contract subject to stateted set-aside andIcontract compliance requirements.

FullisTime –Benefi Librarian Merit Properties, Inc., 1224 Mill St., Bldg. A Part Time – Non-Benefited Librarian I Berlín Oriental CT 06023, correo electrónico: info@ Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 merit-properties.net, 860-828-0531 ext. 204 Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 For more details on Project how to documents apply visit available www.bloomfi via ftpeldct.org link below: Pre-Employment drug testing required.

EOE/AA http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

$37.58 hourly

Branford Housing Authority, Parkside Village II

Accepting Applications for Efficiency Apartments Only Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com Elderly 62+/Disabled 18+ Community HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses

QSR Haynes STEEL CORPORATION Parkside Village II/no Utilities Starting at $592 a month, Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483

APPLY NOW!

AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers.

Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

16

Max. Income Limit: 1 person $52,850, Contact: Merit Properties, Inc., 1224 Mill St., Bldg. A #102, East Berlin CT 06023, e-mail: info@merit-properties.net, 860-828-0531 ext.204

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

NOTICE

DELIVERY PERSON

Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT VALENTINA MACRIhourly RENTAL PREAPPLICATIONS AVAILABLE We offer excellent rateHOUSING & excellent benefi ts Contact: Tom Dunay Phone: 860- 243-2300 HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, Email: Tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com isWomen accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven.

Maximum income limitations apAffirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon reGarrity Asphalt Incduring seeks: quest by calling HOME Reclaiming, INC at 203-562-4663 those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current Floor, New Haven, CT 06510. licensing and clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300 Email: MACRI rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com VALENTINA VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply AffiINC, rmative Action/ Opportunity HOME en nombre deEqual la Columbus House yEmployer de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas HOME Las&pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición Tractor Trailer de Driver forINC. Heavy Highway Construction llamando a HOME INC ala 203-562-4663 durante horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse Equipment.

Must have CDL License, cleanesas driving record, a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 OrangebeStreet, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 . capable of operating heavy equipment; willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact Dana at 860-243-2300.

1907 Hartford Turnpike Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com North Haven, CT 06473 Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

NEEDED

Part Time Delivery Needed

One/Two Day a Week,

NOTICIA

Coventry Housing Authority is accepting applications for its Section 8 Elderly/Disabled housing. Annual income limit is $21,200 (one person) & $24,200 (two people), Also accepting applications for its State Elderly/ Disabled housing. Annual income limit is $52,850 (one person) & $60,400 (two people). Interested parties may pick up an application at the Coventry Housing Authority, 1630 Main St., Coventry, CT, or have one mailed. Completed applications must be postmarked or hand delivered no later than January 31, 2020. For more information call 860-742-5518.

Must Have your Own Vehicle

If Interested call

(203) 435 -1387

Union Company seeks:

NEW HAVEN POLICE NOW HIRING

KMK Insulation Inc.

NEW HAVEN

Mechanical Insulator position.

Invitation to Bid: Apply online at Policeapp.com

Insulation company offering good pay 2nd Notice and benefits. Please mail resume to Or Visit our Social Media Pages 2BR Townhouse, 1.5valid BA,CT3BR, 1 level , 1BA looking for Laborer/Driver with CDL Class SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE above address.

A license and able to get medical card.

Must close be to I-91 & I-95 All new apartments, newa appliances, new carpet, For More Information

Fairmontcompany Ave HELP WANTED: 242-258 Large CT guardrail

Old Saybrook, CT

able to pass a drug test and MAIL ONLY highways, nearphysical. bus stop & Compensashopping center (4 Buildings, 17 Units) tion based on experience.

Email resume to dmasNew Haven Police Department Recruitment Team This company is an Affirmative Action/ Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project tracchio@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE M-F Equal Opportunity Employer.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster

The Connecticut State Treasurer hereby gives notice of his intent to submit draft revisions to the Investment Policy Statement of the State of Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds. These draft revisions will be presented to the State’s Investment AdviSealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour sory Council at a public meeting on January 15, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, at 165 Capital Ave, 2nd floor, Hartford, Connecticut. The draft reSeymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the visions to the Investment Statement are available for public Smithfield Gardens AssistedPolicy Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. review at the Office of the State Treasurer, during normal business hours, or on the Treasurer’s website: A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith St. New Haven, CT

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

https://portal.ct.gov/OTT/Pension-Funds/Investment-Policy/

Bidding documentsInvestment-Policy-Statement are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

For additional information, The Housing the right Offi to accept reject any or all bids, to pleaseAuthority contact reserves the Treasurer’s ce at or 860-702-3000. reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Housing Authority.

Nhpdrecruitment

NHPDrecruitment

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection.

This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

CONSTRUCTION HELP WANTED Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

LaRosa Building Group looking Anticipated Start: is August 15, 2016 for people interested in construction for a project in New Haven.

Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

New Haven and Section 3 residents are encouraged to apply.

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com For& Section applications: HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 Visit the job site at 300 Wilmot Rd, New AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Haven CT., or join us on Thursday, November 14th, at 6:00 PM

or

Email: HR@larosabg.com

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer 17

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

COMMENTARY: Write Your Own Obituary. Your Life Depends on It. Spiritually Speaking

By James A. Washington, Publisher, Dallas Weekly

My immediate reaction to a recent sermon I heard was to share it. Although this was not the topic of the message, the pastor’s comment about life and death made me think about my own obituary.

It seems that the inventor of dynamite got an unusual chance to read his own obituary and was very irritated about what it said about him. The question that this little-known fact made me think about was, “How will God respond to mine?” Better yet, “How would I respond to my own obituary?”

I mean if you could design and write your own epitaph, wouldn’t you want it to reflect in some way a life with God at the center of it?

I once heard that one’s greatest enlightenment is to know the will of God. The greatest achievement is to do the will of God. If you could draft the truth about your life today and make sure that when people spoke at your funeral, they spoke

of your service to the Lord, would you have to change course, or could you stay the course? What would you need to change or do differently?

In the case of Alfred Nobel (of the Nobel Prizes) he didn’t want to be eulogized as the guy who invented wholesale slaughter for a profit. Because he supposedly read a premature obituary about himself, he established the Nobel Prize (in his will) to leave a gift to mankind that the world celebrates every year. That dynamite thing almost never comes up.

My point is if they wrote your obituary today, would it please you? Would it please God? If not, do you know why not?

In this instance, the thought of my own death prompted me to think, “What had I done for God lately that others might see and maybe appreciate?”

At a very personal level, I began to wonder how much I was doing simply out of the love for God, rather than the fear of monumental consequence. Do I follow the Lord out of faith in unconditional

grace or because I’m afraid of what will happen to me if I don’t? If you’re talking about God’s rules, that becomes a very interesting question. Is my obedience to God based on fear or is my obedience based on love?

You see whatever anyone says in my obituary, I’m pretty sure God will know the truth of it all. We all want to be remembered fondly. The thing that made me think about this was the reality that new life, eternal life begins at death. The quality of that life might just begin with what your spiritual obituary says. If you know that then you also know you can start to rewrite your obit today, starting right now.

I just thought that it might be a beneficial exercise to commit, from today forward, to crafting a life that, when spoken of at its celebration, you would be proud to show it to God. We all know we’ll be held accountable for our new life as we conclude our old one: the physical one.

I’m reminded that I often refer to our

ability to influence that dash; that thing between when we are physically born and when we physically die. We have no say about the beginning and a little at the end. But how we handle the dash in between will serve us well for eternity.

It will be what makes up our obituaries.

Pay attention to your life. You cast a wider net than you could possibly know.

May God Bless and Keep you Always.

James A. Washington is a father, husband, Christian, writer, entrepreneur and the owner/publisher of the Dallas Weekly.

INTERVIEW: Are Republican Senators in Fear of ‘Don Corleone’ Trump? “Yes!” Says Schumer

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent NNPA Newswire interviewed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DNY). The discussion covered a wide range of topics, focusing primarily on the impeachment of the president. The Senator also shared some insight on his conversations with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Republicans have steadfastly sided with President Donald Trump on impeachment and most other issues, perhaps out of fear that they might wind up sleeping – politically – with the fishes.

At least that’s how Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer views the otherwise hard-to-explain loyalty Republicans have displayed toward the president.

When asked whether he believed the GOP has a “Don Corleone-like” fear of the president, Schumer quickly answered in the affirmative.

“I have never seen anything like this,” Schumer told NNPA Newswire one day after the House voted to impeach the president, and moments after the Democrat met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to discuss the upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate.

“What motivates these Republicans to just circle the wagons? And, whatever this president says, who is known for having a low moral character, who is known

for not telling the truth, why do they rally around him? When I talk to a good number of them privately, they know how bad this guy is. But, there’s one reason they rally around him: Fear.” When asked, “What, is he the Godfather… Corleone here?” the Senator chucked and replied, “Politically speaking, he probably is.”

On Wednesday, December 18, the House voted along party lines to impeach Trump, making him just the third president in U.S. history to face impeachment.

Richard Nixon resigned during the impeachment process.

Since the historic impeachment vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she would withhold sending the case to the Senate until Democrats and Republicans can reach a consensus on how a Senate trial would take place.

Based on the Constitution, if the Senate votes to convict Trump, he would be removed from office.

McConnell and other Republicans have said there’s no chance they’d convict the president and GOP leaders have threatened to lock Democrats and the public out of any Senate trial.

“Impeachment of the president is a very solemn and serious moment for our country,” Schumer stated.

“When you have a president who overreaches, the founding fathers put a few tools or checks on him, but the biggest and most important most serious and solemn check is impeachment. And, if the president goes off the rails, the Founding Fathers said the Congress has the ability to remove him,” he noted.

The House voted in favor of two articles of impeachment against Trump, obstruction of Congress and abuse of power.

Schumer said the Founding Fathers listed their top fear as being a president overreaches his authority and that he would get a foreign government to interfere in the U.S. election.

“That’s what this is all about,” Schumer stated.

“So, conducting an impeachment trial in the Senate is a weighty and solemn responsibility and we Democrats in the Senate believe that the trial must be fair and it’s important to let the American people judge it to be fair,” he added.

A fair trial is when the Senate hears all the evidence and can decide the case impartially, and the only way to accomplish that is with witnesses and documents, Schumer stated.

“We will treat every witness with respect and no off-topic questions. We also need documents, and we requested them. Thus far, Mitch McConnell is resisting that, and you have to ask yourself the question, ‘Why don’t they want the truth to come out?’ Do they fear it? Why don’t they want to have a trial in the normal sense where there’s evidence on both sides and, instead, want what seems to be a cover up? So, we feel strongly that this is all about our democracy and protecting it.”

Schumer said the black community especially understands the value of a fair trial.

“The African American community knows when you don’t have fairness, and you don’t have democracy, people with little power get the short end of the stick,” he stated.

Statistics show that most Americans side with the Democrats on impeachment, Schumer noted.

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An ABC News poll revealed that 71 percent of Americans expect a fair Senate trial and believe that Trump should allow his top aides to testify. Approximately 64 percent of Republicans agreed, as well as 72 percent of independents, and 79 percent of Democrats.

“We believe when these [Republican] Senators go home to their constituents, they will ask them why don’t you want to have witnesses and documents,” Schumer stated. “Right now, our Republican colleagues are sort of twisting themselves in knots, trying to avoid this, but they don’t have any good arguments.”

Schumer also applauded Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and six others in Congress who voted in favor of impeachment despite the potential political risks of their decision.

“I have such respect for the seven members of Congress, all of whom served in the military or the CIA. They said what motivated them to serve the country is motivating them to go forward even if they lose the election because if we don’t do it, and here’s the problem this president is more overreached than anyone else and if there’s no fair trial and he can withhold documents and witnesses, that renders impeachment impotent. This president will do even worse things, and the next president will do even worse things, so it’s really our democracy that motivates us.”

In his meeting on Thursday, December 19, with McConnell, Schumer said he told the Leader that witnesses and documents are necessary. “He said, ‘I don’t want to give them.’ I said, ‘well, I hope you and your 52 Republican colleagues will think about this over the holidays,’”

Schumer stated.

When asked if there is anything Democrats, who are the minority in the Senate, could do to ensure that the trial would not be a rubberstamp proclaiming Trump’s innocence, Schumer said he’s hoping some Republicans will change their minds and allow testimony from witnesses and to include documents.

“When in the minority, you don’t have many tools. But, the one tool you have in the impeachment trial is the force of vote.

All we need is four (GOP) votes because all 47 (Democrats) will be ours [and] to get to that magic number 51. And, if we get 51, we’ll get the witnesses, so I hope your readers, if they agree with us, will talk to their Senators, especially Republican senators,” Schumer stated.

The Minority Leader then praised the African American community for its awareness about the importance of impeachment.

“Thank god the African American community has become very mobilized in New York and around the country because they know of the dangers Donald Trump presents to the African American community in so many different ways,” Schumer stated.

“Reaching out [to their respective Senators] would be important,” he noted. “I urge them to do it if they believe in the future of America. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends in the direction of justice.’ All we’re seeking here is justice,” said Schumer.

The Senator offered a holiday greeting: “I wish your readers a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, Happy Kwanza, and happy everything!” he stated.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

December 25, 2019 - December 31, 2020

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