Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 94 by IQ INC.

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A D.B.A. OF I.Q. INC.

ISSUE 94 VOLUME 18

April 2-8, 2020

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES! THE CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION

What We Need to Understand About Asymptomatic Carriers if We’re Going to Beat Coronavirus Immigrants Saving Our Lives ....3

BY CAROLINE CHEN, PROPUBLICA

n the early days of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., around the last week of February, I joked to a colleague that maybe now, finally, people would learn how to wash their hands properly. My remark revealed a naive assumption I had at the time, which was that all we needed to do to keep the novel coronavirus contained was follow a few simple guidelines: stay home when symptomatic and maintain good personal hygiene. The problem, I thought, was

that nobody was following the rules. In the past few weeks, however, more and more reports have emerged to challenge my neat assumptions. Seven out of 14 NBA players, coaches and staff who tested positive didn’t have symptoms

when they were diagnosed, The Wall Street Journal reported. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a case study on a nursing facility in King County, Washington, continued on page 9

Helping the Caribbean in a Pandemic...2

Deferring Tax Payments Due to COVID-19 ... see page 8 Knowledge is Power when you use it! Get a FREE Consultation! Ask the Lawyer: Call 855-768-8845 Coping With Conflict and Stress....17

and other medical staff, emergency responders and others on the frontline

Brian Figeroux, Esq., Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association

INSIDE: Equity Smart Realty Homeowners’ & Buyers’ Guide

Protect Those You Love With A Will BY WILLSANDESTATES.NYC

here are many important documents in our lives, but few carry the life changing importance that a will can provide. While every responsible adult should have a will in place, all too few of those men and women have

taken the time to prepare this vital document. A will provides much more than peace of mind – a properly executed will provides valuable protections for those you love, and it is important for anyone with a family to protect to start planning their will without delay. continued on page 21

Remembering Principal Dez-Ann Romain ....22

CARIBBEAN SPECIAL REPORT

Caribbean Consulates Anguilla 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street, Suite 6A New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel: 212-541-4117 The Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-421-6420 Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-551-4325 Belize 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-593-0999 Dominica 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400H New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-949-0853 Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-599-8478 Grenada 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1101 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-599-0301 Guyana 308 West 38th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 Tel: 212-947-5119 Haiti 815 Second Avenue,6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9767 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-840-2450 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel: 212-535-5521 St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel: 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Tel: 212-682-7272 For more Consulate information go to www.cawnyc.com/directory

Helping the Caribbean in a Pandemic BY THERESE TURNER-JONES

ASHINGTON: Cruise ships are docked. Flights are grounded and tourists are staying home. As the coronavirus grinds the world economy to a halt, the small, open economies of the Caribbean are taking a hard hit. The Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica are dependent on tourism. Oil and natural gas prices are plunging, hurting Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago. A recent exploration of economic scenarios gives some indication of the extent to which the reduction in tourist arrivals could impact the GDP of Caribbean countries. The worst scenario: a 75 per cent reduction in tourism arrivals over the last 3 quarters of the year could reduce GDP by between 11 per cent and 26 per cent in the case of The Bahamas, with similar numbers for Barbados and Jamaica. Governments need urgent financial support. At the Inter-American Development Bank, we are taking steps to help our six Caribbean member countries. We are increasing the availability of funds, adjusting our lending instruments, rechanneling technical assistance grants, and establishing exchange and learning platforms, to provide immediate responses to the countries’ specific demands. We are devoting our entire network of collaboration, knowledge, and dialogue to serve the regional effort combating the pandemic. For our 26-member countries, we have added US$3.3 billion in additional funds to the 2020 lending program. These resources, together with the available programmed resources, make up to US$12 billion available to the countries to address the health crisis and the economic impacts stemming from the pandemic.

We have immediately offered countries the ability to reallocate resources from the health portfolio and will consider reformulating the entire loan portfolio to redirect available resources for an amount equivalent to 10 per cent of the undisbursed loan balances in the investment portfolio or up to US$50 million, whichever occurs first. The IDB is also making US$50 million of our own resources available to Latin America and the Caribbean for national and regional grant assistance, as well as technical cooperation funds from nonregional partners under the IDB’s administration. IDB Invest will join this effort with US$5 billion in 2020 for Latin America and the Caribbean. Of this amount, USUS$4.5 billion from its investment program will be devoted to enable lines to support the financing of the entire trade and supply chain and finance companies in critical sectors impacted by the crisis. In addition, IDB Invest will create a new Crisis Mitigation Facility with US$500 million to finance the delivery of services and inputs for the health sector and provide access to short-term financing for small and medium-sized enterprises. These financial efforts are being supplemented by the streamlining of our fiduciary processes and approval times so we can provide the firm and timely support demanded by the situation. We will also be coordinating closely

COVID-19 In NYC New York City leads the U.S. in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 64,000 residents testing positive, according to city statistics. Here is a Department of Health map from March 31st showing percentage of patients testing positive by zip code . The zip code unknown percentage at 89% seems like a red flag however.

with other multilateral financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. The health and safety of the people of the Caribbean is our top priority. The steps governments are taking to protect the lives of their citizens are encouraging. We urge all governments to enforce urgent regulations to restrict the spread of the virus. And we urge citizens to abide by these rules. Our teams in your countries are fully engaged with policy makers to fulfill the most urgent needs and also plan for the future. You can count on the IDB Group, with all the human and financial resources at our disposal, to help you through these challenging times. l Therese Turner-Jones has been the IDB’s country representative for Jamaica since 2013. In 2017 her portfolio was expanded when she was promoted to general manager of IDB’s Country Department Caribbean Group (CCB). Her purview spans IDB operations in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and her home country, the Bahamas. A trained economist, Mrs. Turner-Jones has over 25 years’ experience in macroeconomics and economic development, with special emphasis on the Caribbean.

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In The New York Times‘ own analysis of the same data, they write, “many of the neighborhoods with the most confirmed virus cases were in areas with the lowest median incomes, the data shows.” Crown Heights and Canarsie in Brooklyn are two hot spots.l

Map credit: Ben Huff/Untapped New York

Ask the Lawyer on Facebook Figeroux & Associates

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ELECTIONS 2020 The Immigrants Saving Our Lives Today are the Immigrants Trump Will Demonize and Blame in the 2020 Election

TEAM My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6 Publisher I.Q. INC. Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

Pearl Phillip

BY AMERICA’S VOICE

Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq.

s the lethal COVID-19 crisis spreads, more Americans are beginning to recognize the essential role immigrant workers play in our response. They are critical to the work of growing and distributing our food, cleaning hot spots, and delivering life-saving healthcare. Meanwhile, Trump, Stephen Miller and their enablers continue their relentless effort to blame foreigners, seal borders and kick out immigrants. Trump’s xenophobia has a cost for everyone in America today fighting against the common threat of the coronavirus. Trump and his cohorts are undermining the singular and unifying goal of protecting the broader public’s health by singling out and bashing immigrants in order to win reelection in November. A CNN deep dive piece, entitled, What happens to our food supply if American farmers can’t farm? underscores the indispensable role of immigrant workers in food production. The main concern of the growers? The inability to have a skilled workforce for its just-in-time production schedule. The workers that growers depend on could get sick themselves and stay away; they could get deported by ICE as the federal agency continues to do Stephen Miller’s bidding with raids and patrols aimed at terrorizing communities; or those who come as temporary workers needed during the height of the picking and packing season could find the door slammed shut. Similarly, Ephrat Livni writes in Quartz, Will the US Supreme Court let Trump deport 27,000 healthcare workers despite coronavirus? The conservative majority on the Supreme Court seems to be on the verge of enabling the Trump administration to put Dreamers on a path to deportation, which the Trump administration wants to do – despite the fact that those with DACA are playing key roles in the response to COVID-19. The piece notes, “Beyond the 27,000 healthcare professionals putting their own lives on the line to care for the ill right now,

Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Anvaar Sabirov

there are tens of thousands of essential workers among the DACA recipients— delivery drivers, food service workers, and hospital and healthcare staffers.” Meanwhile, Trump talks incessantly about how his decisions to seal the borders (but not really) against Chinese, Europeans and Mexicans were heroic. Stephen Miller, the de facto head of a DHS who cares only about the administration’s war on immigrants, is raiding National Guard resources and seizing private land so the border wall construction can go full steam ahead; deploying ICE agents in raids and refusing to adjust enforcement priorities; keeping detention centers filled, immigration courts open and the deportation mill humming; and locking up unaccompanied minors or deporting them without a hearing, even though most have families in America waiting to care for them. As the New York Times wrote in an editorial: The coronavirus doesn’t discriminate between carriers who are held behind bars and those whose job it is to guard them. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has continued to make arrests and has shown no intention of releasing nonviolent detainees, though judges in some states have ordered some released out of health concerns. Rounding up undocumented immigrants and shutting down the border is something President Trump has yearned to do since long before the coronavirus began its fateful spread. And his animosity toward undocumented immigrants is affecting the efforts to contain the coron-

avirus far beyond the border. As Miriam Jordan of The Times reported, the virus has spread more fear among immigrants, legal and undocumented — the fear that seeking medical or financial help will put them in the cross-hairs of the administration’s repressive immigration policies. According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice: At this dramatic moment, it is imperative that all of us pull together and work together to defeat the coronavirus. And all of us means all of us. Who plants the crops, harvests the bounty, puts food on our table? Who works as home health care aides, hospital nurses, attendants and doctors? The answer in many cases: immigrants. Our government should be embracing the real time talent, skills and dedication of immigrants – including the 11 million without papers – already here and rolling up their sleeves to help America. Unfortunately, Trump and Miller have other priorities. Trump wants to rewrite the narrative to deflect from his historic failure to prepare the nation for this crisis. He wants to congratulate himself for being tough on foreigners, at the borders and against immigrants. He wants to talk about the fact that he partially closed the door to some Chinese, some Europeans and most Mexicans and Central Americans. Meanwhile, Miller wants to use the cover of a nativist president to relentlessly pursue his sadistic policy agenda. Trump does not want to talk about the more important facts: he downplayed the

Interns Sharif Tyler Casey Alexander Contributors Jennine Estes Erin Telesford Janet Howard Mary Campbell Tarsha Gibbons Travis Morales Email info@myiqinc.com Telephone 718-771-0988 Website www.cawnyc.com threat while playing golf; he has failed to mobilize a testing and tracing regime that could have stopped tens of thousands of deaths; and he has failed to federalize the production and distribution of masks, gowns, gloves, swabs and ventilators such that our healthcare workers and their patients face unnecessary death. A wartime president leading America’s fight against the coronavirus would ensure that immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are recognized for their contributions and as the Americans they already are. But Trump’s priority is winning reelection, not saving lives. His strategy is to demonize and dehumanize ‘the other’ so he can juice the turnout of white grievance voters in November. And all of us will suffer as a result. November 2020 elections.l

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CIVIL RIGHTS

An Angel Called to Glory BY MICHAEL BLAKE

n Friday, March 26, an angel for Civil Rights and Justice was called on to glory as the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, a civil rights hero, passed away at the age of 98. Rev. Lowery worked closely with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and helped to organize key milestones in America’s civil rights history, including the storied Montgomery bus boycott in the 1950s. His bravery, selflessness, and tireless commitment to economic empowerment and civil rights for African Americans serve as a shining example of the power of grassroots activism and moral leadership. In December 2007 in Des Moines, Iowa, I was staffing Rev. Lowery who was a surrogate for then Senator Obama's Presidential campaign. Rev. Lowery told this amazing story. He said that if he could figure out how to work his iPhone, he would call up Martin in the grave and say, "Martin, look how far we have come. That I'm in Des Moines, and a black man is on the front page leading the polls to

become President of the United States." It was a beautiful moment of connecting Civil Rights past, present and future. As a black political leader advocating on behalf of fellow Bronxites, I know that much of Lowery’s work is unfinished. Poverty and race are still inextricably linked. Stark disparities still exist in the criminal justice system. Now, in the midst of a global pandemic, the disproportionate hardships that fall upon low-income people of color are tragically clear. These challenges make Rev. Lowery’s legacy even more important. As we move forward in our quest for racial justice and equality, we must continue to honor the sacrifices made and victories achieved by this civil rights legend who President Obama honored with the Medal of Freedom due to Rev. Lowery's lifetime of service. Rest In Power Rev. Lowery. We are indebted to you. l Michael Blake is the New York Assemblyman for 79th District and is currently running for the 15th Congressional District.

The Passing of Rev. Joseph E. Lowery did not stand on ceremony and never allowed the presence of the powerful stop him from dispensing bitter truths. Even as our own movement shied away from full-throated advocacy for LGBTQ rights, Rev. Lowery was Reverend Lowery awarded the Medal of Freedom from President Obama out front pushing for everyone’s ASHINGTON:Vanita Gupta, rights and humanity. It was the truth. And president and CEO of The he was going to tell it. Leadership Conference on “As we celebrate Rev. Lowery’s life, Civil and Human Rights, issued the folwe are reminded of our obligation to lowing statement on the passing of speak the unvarnished truth: to those in Reverend Joseph E. Lowery, founder of power, within our own movement, and the Southern Christian Leadership on behalf of those left behind. It is our Conference and the Georgia People’s truth. And now we need to tell it. Agenda: “He was known for saying ‘There’s “The civil and human rights communigood crazy and there’s bad crazy – and ty has lost a giant. In the fight for civil sometimes you need a little bit of that rights, Rev. Lowery did not leave the batgood crazy to make the world a better tlefield. He never retired his fiery oratoplace.’ We will miss his ‘good crazy’ in a ry, his rapier wit, or his outsized love for world so dominated by ‘bad crazy.’ Our all people. Until the end, he deployed thoughts and prayers are with his family, them in service to equality for all. It was and all those who have benefited from the truth. And he was going to tell it. his dedication to justice.” l “He was an unapologetic advocate who

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FAMILY MATTERS

Child Welfare Limbo: Covid-19 Puts Family Reunifications on ‘Indefinite’ Hold BY ABIGAIL KRAMER

mid the chaos caused by Covid19, New York City parents with kids in the child welfare system have lost access to the Family Court judges normally entrusted with protecting their rights. In at least one case, the City's child welfare agency held custody of a child for more than a week without seeking permission from a judge, according to family members who were desperate to bring the child home. Under normal circumstances, the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) must seek permission from a judge before removing a child from his or her family. If the agency believes the child is in imminent danger at a time when Family Courts are closed, it can make what's known as an "emergency removal," but must seek approval from a judge on the following business day. The family is then assigned an attorney, who can – and often successfully does – contest the removal in court and petition to return the child home. In response to the spreading coronavirus, the City’s Family Courts have closed their buildings and dramatically reduced their caseloads. Judges are now

holding hearings by phone and video, only on “essential/emergency” matters, according to a statement from the New York State Office of Court Administration, which did not respond to request for further comment for this story. In practice, judges have continued to hear petitions from ACS seeking to remove children and place them in foster care. But they are not willing to hear motions by parents seeking to return children to their families, according to attorneys who represent parents. As a result, the attorneys say, children may be held unnecessarily, away from parents who have little legal recourse or protection. ACS continues to take children away

from their parents. Yet the court has built a system where government power will go unchecked and children and parents have almost no ability to challenge their continued separation,” writes Emma Ketteringham, the managing director of the Family Defense Practice at The Bronx Defenders, in an emailed statement. “This approach denies Constitutional rights, does irreparable harm to the children the system claims to protect, and is a message to the world that the families in the child welfare system, the vast majority of whom are low-income and of color, are not ‘essential,’” Ketteringham writes. The situation has resulted in confusion and dismay for families. If a parent goes to a Family Court building, they will find a sign on the door that offers a phone number for people seeking an order of protection, but no contact information for child protective matters. Instead, attorneys are relying on ACS to share parents’ phone numbers—which often happens less than an hour before the agency files a motion with the virtual Family Court. Hearings are then held over “Skype for Business.” Since many families don’t have access to the neces-

sary technology, attorneys say they’re resorting to holding cell phones up to computer speakers, through which parents strain to hear the decisions made about their children. ACS was unable to immediately say how many children have been removed from their homes since the Family Courts reduced their capacity. However, the agency continues to be able to request that children in foster care be returned home, according to an agency spokesperson. "If all parties agree to the return of a child or modification of any order, the parties email a signed stipulation and the judge will review it and schedule a hearing if necessary." Typically, ACS files new petitions in Family Court involving about 1,000 children each month. In addition, Family Court judges oversee dozens of conferences and hearings each day that are necessary to move forward with ongoing cases. For example, they order foster care agencies to provide parents with services that will help close their cases; they approve increased and overnight visits between parents and children; and they order trial discharges from foster care. continued on page 18

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DIASPORA CONCERNS

April’s Rent Is Due But I’ve Lost Income. What Are My Options?

BY RACHAEL HOLLIDAY SMITH, THE CITY ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LAUREN COSTANTINO AND ALLISON DIKANOVIC

t’s April 1 and rent is due. But many New Yorkers who have lost income because of the coronavirus-related lockdown suddenly don’t have the money to cover it. Here’s what we know right now about options renters have or could soon gain as government officials, tenant advocates and landlords grapple with the financial fallout of the pandemic.

Will I have to pay rent for April? We got tons of questions from readers about this and, in short: Yes, you have to pay rent, even if you lost your job because of the coronavirus. You may have heard about the 90-day moratorium on evictions made statewide by Gov. Andrew Coumo through an executive order. That means, if you don’t pay your rent, there will be no evictions proceedings until at least June 20. But that doesn’t suspend the requirement to pay.

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OK, so I can’t be evicted. What if my landlord tries anyway? If your landlord tries to throw you out, know that his or her actions are illegal and you have the right to report it to the police — illegally evicting a tenant is a criminal misdemeanor. “An eviction moratorium is clear, and is exactly what it sounds like: no evictions,” Jason Wu of the Legal Aid Society wrote in a recent op-ed column for the New York Daily News. Any New Yorker who does get an eviction notice, or who sees or experiences an eviction being executed by the City Marshals, should report it to the Bureau of City Marshals in the Department of Investigation at (212) 825-5953. What about a rent freeze? Is that going to happen? Maybe. Two bills have been proposed in the state legislature — one by State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) and another by Assemblymember Yuh Line Niou (DManhattan) — that would forgive rent payments for 90 days for residential and small business commercial tenants who have lost income due to the coronavirus crisis. It would also give a break on mort-

Notary Public Training Course This 3‑hour New York Notary Public Training course is designed to educate individuals with the legal terminology, concepts and clauses contained in the framework of the New York State Notary Cost includes materials and information on: lSupplemental Study Guide lNotary Fact Sheet lPractical Exam lSample Forms lNotary Public Application and Oath of Office lNY State License Law Booklet lNY State Exam Schedule lExpert Training and Assistance

gage payments to landlords of affected tenants. Many tenant advocates have been pushing for a statewide rent freeze, including Housing Justice for All, a coalition of advocacy organizations that successfully lobbied for rent reform measures adopted in Albany last year. But the person with the power to sign the freeze into law, if it gets through the legislature, is Gov. Andrew Cuomo — and he doesn’t seem too keen on it. When asked about a rent freeze on Monday, Cuomo insisted the eviction moratorium already “solves” the issue, Curbed New York reported. “We have said that no one can get evicted for nonpayment of rent and that to me is the fundamental answer,” he said at a press conference at the Javits Center. Stopping evictions temporarily, however, is not the same thing as forgiving rent owed under a lease. Asked on Tuesday about what could be done to relieve rent debts, Cuomo responded, “We’ll deal with that when we get to it. There has to be some smoothing.” Any better ideas? Mayor Bill de Blasio has backed an idea to freeze all rents for the city’s one million rent-regulated apartments, Politico reported. The move would need state approval. Borough presidents Gale Brewer and Eric Adams have joined two City Council members to push to allow renters to use their security deposits to cover April rent. De Blasio said on Monday he would support it, POLITICO reported, but it’s unclear when or how it would be enacted. This, too, would need state approval. Meanwhile, activists are mobilizing for a rent strike. On Wednesday morning, Housing Justice for All and Right to Counsel NYC will release rent strike toolkits for tenants organizing their buildings.

Location: 26 Court Street, Suite 701 Downtown Brooklyn

Is there any way for me to get my rent reduced? If you live in NYCHA public housing or receive a Section 8 voucher and have lost income due the pandemic, you may be eligible for a rent reduction. NYCHA residents who end up with a loss of income for at least two months should request an income recertification through the NYCHA Self-Service Portal or through their local management office. Those receiving a Section 8 voucher via the Department of Housing Preservation and Development should email DTRAI@hpd.nyc.gov to seek lower rent due to lost income.l

For registration and dates, visit www.nacc.nyc or call 718-722-9217.

This story was originally published on March 31, 2020 by THE CITY.

Fee: $50 covers course materials.

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JOBS & RECESSION

Time for a Career Change? 5 Reasons to Become a Paralegal

career as paralegal (also known as a legal assistant) can be a wonderfully fulfilling profession. Paralegals perform legal, regulatory and business-related research for lawyers working at their organization. Most of the time paralegals work for law offices, corporations’ legal departments or courts. These professionals also provide legal support services to attorneys. They assist lawyers in filing materials such as motions, memoranda, pleadings and briefs in various court systems, as well as accompany lawyers to see clients and/or to go to court. Here are 5 great things about being a paralegal: 1. Rise in Pay Paralegal compensation has risen steadily in the past decade, despite a bump in the road in the depths of the 2009-2010 recessions. As paralegals perform a broader and more complex range of tasks (paralegals even represent clients in court in certain countries and administrative tribunals), paralegal earnings continue to rise. The average paralegal salary hovers at around $50,000 per year but paralegals often make more through bonuses. Overtime hours can also add significant cash to a paralegal’s paycheck.

paralegals to minimize costs. As a result, a paralegal career is one of the hottest non-lawyer jobs in the legal industry. 3. Easy Career Entry Unlike lawyers who must complete seven years of formal education and pass the bar exam to practice law, you can become a paralegal in as little as a few months of study.

2. Explosive Employment Outlook The paralegal field is one of the fastestgrowing professions on the globe. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, predicts the employment of paralegals and legal assistants to grow 28 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Among the factors driving this growth is client demand for cheaper, more efficient delivery of legal services. Since hourly rates charged by attorneys are typically double or triple the rates of paralegals for the same task, law firm economics mandates the increased use of

4. Intellectual Challenge Paralegal work is intellectually challenging and involves a range of high-level skills. The most successful paralegals are problem-solvers and innovative thinkers. Paralegals must become subject matter experts in their specialty area and master legal procedure, research, drafting and other skills. They must stay on top of ever-changing laws and new legal trends and developments while interfacing with attorneys, opposing counsel, vendors, staff members, clients and others. The work is varied and each day brings new challenges. 5. Rising Prestige As paralegals perform more complex and challenging work, paralegal prestige is rising. Paralegals are no longer simply

lawyer’s assistants; they are assuming management roles in corporations, leadership roles in law firms and entrepreneurial roles in independent paralegal businesses. Over the years, paralegals have transcended the image of glorified legal secretary to become respected members of the legal team. Choose Your Certificate Program The Chamber Coalition’s Paralegal Chamber Program offers four certificate programs: New Paralegals & Pre-Law Students Shop Stewards & Union Leaders Faith-based Leaders & Executive Staff Legal Marketing Rewarding Career A career as a paralegal can be rewarding professionally and personally. A career as a paralegal offers a unique opportunity to help others. These opportunities vary, depending on the paralegal’s practice area. Paralegals in the public interest sector help poor and disadvantaged segments of the population with legal issues ranging from protection from domestic abuse to assistance preparing wills. Time for a career change? Ready to take the leap? Visit www.freeparalegal.org l

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TAX MATTERS

Treasury and IRS Issue Guidance on Deferring Tax Payments Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

ASHINGTON: Following President Donald J. Trump’s emergency declaration pursuant to the Stafford Act, the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance allowing all individual and other noncorporate tax filers to defer up to $1 million of federal income tax (including self-employment tax) payments due on April 15, 2020, until July 15, 2020, without penalties or interest. The guidance also allows corporate taxpayers a similar deferment of up to $10 million of federal income tax payments that would be due on April 15, 2020, until July 15, 2020, without penalties or interest. This guidance does not change the April 15 filing deadline. “Americans should file their tax returns by April 15 because many will receive a refund. Those filing will be able to take advantage of their refunds sooner,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “This deferment allows those who owe a payment to the IRS to defer the payment

Looking to make extra cash? A side hustle? We are looking for persons to sell advertisements in our newspapers. Experience in advertsing sales is needed and preferably experience or sincere interest in marketing. until July 15 without interest or penalties. Treasury and IRS are ensuring that hardworking Americans and businesses have additional liquidity for the next several months.” This guidance will result in about $300 billion of additional liquidity in the economy in the near term. Treasury and IRS

will issue additional guidance as needed and continue working with Congress, on a bipartisan basis, on legislation to provide further relief to the American people.l Source: irs.gov

Interested? Send your resume to info@myiqinc.com

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CORONAVIRUS Beat Coronavirus/ continued from page 1 where 23 residents tested positive for COVID-19, and it found that 13 reported no symptoms initially. Sixty singers went to rehearsal and followed all the rules, according to the Los Angeles Times — nobody hugged, shook hands or appeared ill — yet three weeks later, 45 were diagnosed with COVID-19 or had symptoms of the disease, and two have died. With articles about “silent spreaders” and “stealth transmission” flying across the internet, friends were starting to text me: Was it still OK to go for a walk with a friend, even 6 feet apart? Or should all interaction be avoided? Should we start wearing masks to the grocery store? At the same time, my colleagues were scrutinizing guidelines at various workplaces and agencies we cover: The New York City Fire Department told workers on March 19 they were to come to work, so long as they had no symptoms, even if they had had “close contact with someone who is a known positive COVID-19 patient,” according to a document obtained by ProPublica. Was that policy wise? I decided to dive into the available data. What I discovered is that not only can people be infected and experience no symptoms or very mild symptoms for the first few days, but this coincides with when the so-called viral load — the amount of virus being emitted from an infected person’s cells — may be the highest. That makes the virus a truly formidable opponent in our densely packed, globally connected world. We’re going to have to be smarter than this virus to stay on top of it. What does asymptomatic really mean? Let’s start with the basics. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the emerging diseases and zoonoses unit at the World Health Organization, told me that the WHO so far has found few truly asymptomatic cases, in which a patient tests positive and has zero symptoms for the entire course of the disease. However, there are many cases where people are “pre-symptomatic,” where they have no symptoms at the time when they test positive but go on to develop symptoms later. “Most of the people who were thought to be asymptomatic aren’t truly asymptomatic,” said Van Kerkhove. “When we went back and interviewed them, most of them said, actually I didn’t feel well but I didn’t think it was an important thing to mention. I had a low-grade temperature, or aches, but I didn’t think that counted.” The WHO sent a team to China and visited community centers, clinics and hospitals, and transportation hubs. Through their data collection, the team found that about 75% of people who were initially classified as “asymptomatic” went on to develop symptoms, she said. This matches up with the CDC’s findings at the nursing facility in Washington. Of the 13 positive patients who initially reported no symptoms during testing,10 later developed symptoms. But ultimately, the only way to really find out how many asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers are out there would

be to conduct blood tests across large swaths of the population to look for antibodies, which are a type of protein that provide evidence that a person’s immune system did battle with the coronavirus. Tests that can look for these antibodies are now being developed in several countries. For the purposes of containing the outbreak right now, however, Jeffrey Shaman, a professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, says the focus on asymptomatics is a bit of a red herring. “In some sense, symptomatic versus asymptomatic isn’t really the appropriate dividing line” for us to be focusing on, he said. “The appropriate dividing line is documented versus undocumented infection.” What Shaman means by “documented” is people who are identified as being infected, either because they were sick enough to go seek care or were tested through contact tracing, which is when public health officials track down all the contacts of someone who tested positive. The “undocumented” could be people who have symptoms but didn’t get tested, because of lack of access to testing, dislike of doctors or sheer stoicism — or more concerningly, people who had no symptoms or such mild symptoms that they decided to just carry on with their daily lives. “Maybe they pop some ibuprofen, but still go to work, still get on public transportation, still do all the things we normally do, and the consequence of that is those people with mild infections — as well as if they’re truly asymptomatic — are taking the virus out into the community, and they’re spreading it far and wide,” Shaman said. Shaman and colleagues published a study in the journal Science on March 16 in which, using a statistical model, they estimated that 86% of all infections in China were “undocumented” prior to Jan. 23, when Chinese authorities cut off Wuhan, canceling all planes and trains leaving the city. This would help explain the rapid spread of the virus across the country, they said, concluding that their findings “indicate containment of this virus will be particularly challenging.” The disease IS spread by liquid “droplets.” But the human body has lots of ways of creating these minuscule, virus-laden flecks. If there are thousands of asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people out in public, how are they transmitting the disease, if they’re not coughing or sneezing? After all, as I’m sure many of us have heard, this disease spreads primarily via droplets. The WHO’s Van Kerkhove said research so far shows that liquid droplets are necessary to transmit the virus, and they need to go from the infected person’s mouth or nose into someone else’s eyes, nose or mouth. (People can also get infected if they touch a contaminated surface where a droplet has fallen onto and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.)

But sneezing and coughing aren’t the only ways droplets get transmitted. “People clear their throat,” Van Kerkhove pointed out. “Some people spit when they talk.” I winced. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia’s Mailman School, provided more vivid descriptions for my mental tableau. “Droplets are not necessarily huge, like globs. We release respiratory droplets when we speak.” “When you go outside and it’s really cold out and you see your breath fog — that’s respiratory droplets,” she said. This doesn’t mean that the coronavirus is being transmitted as an “aerosol,” which is the term that many researchers use when virus particles remain suspended in the air for long periods of time. That applies to the measles virus, for example, which is why that microbe is so incredibly contagious. However, it does mean that if you’re standing right next to someone who is infected and they’re talking to you, or, say, if you’re in a room full of singers who are projecting their voices in an enclosed space, there are going to be droplets in the air, and yes, you could inhale them. What’s still fuzzy is exactly how far one needs to stand in order to be ideally protected from coronavirus droplets. The WHO says 1 meter, or 3.2 feet. The CDC says 6 feet. Lydia Bourouiba, a fluid dynamics expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, published a paper last week that said that “peak exhalation speeds” can create “a cloud that can span approximately 23 to 27 feet.” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, later called the study “terribly misleading.” While the exact measurements are being debated, the experts I spoke to said that if you have to leave home, staying outdoors is the safest bet, since open air can help to “dilute” any potential microbes that reach you. While, of course, this isn’t free of risk, one has to balance that risk against, for example, the mental and physical health benefits of going out for a run. So keep going out to exercise, the experts said. Maintain a 6foot distance, at least. You’re likely most infectious right after you contract the virus, possibly before you know you’re sick. So we have a virus that can transmit from one person to another, standing a few feet apart, in the course of conversation, perhaps helped along by a few errant throat clearings, while the infected person either didn’t have any symptoms yet or had a few minor body aches they didn’t think much of. That’s already a recipe for a bad outbreak, but this coronavirus has another aspect that’s helping to amp up its contagion factor. Studies are now finding that people are shedding more virus during early stages of the disease rather than the later stages. The term “shedding” may bring to mind my cats, whose fluff seems to evade even my most ardent of vacuuming attempts, but it doesn’t actually mean that virus particles are being emitted off patients’

skin in an infectious cloud. It’s a term used by researchers measuring the amount of viral RNA from someone who is infected, from a sample gathered via a method like a throat swab. When nurses at one Washington State hospital complained about having to use expired respirators, they allege that staff were ordered to remove stickers showing the equipment was years out of date. A study of 94 patients in Guangzhou, China, found “the highest viral load in throat swabs at the time of symptom onset” and concluded that meant that patients would be most infectious right before or at the time when symptoms started appearing. That study was published online as a pre-print and has not yet been peer-reviewed, but lead author Dr. Gabriel Leung, dean of medicine at the University of Hong Kong, said it has been accepted for publication in the journal Nature Medicine. Another study, also conducted by researchers in Hong Kong and published in the journal Lancet last week, found that viral load, this time in a saliva sample, was “highest during the first week after symptom onset and subsequently declined with time.” The authors of the Lancet paper noted that this profile contrasted with COVID19’s coronavirus cousins SARS, where the peak viral load was around 10 days, and MERS, at the second week after onset of symptoms. COVID-19’s “viral load profile” actually appears to be more similar to the flu, the authors wrote, which also “peaks at around the time of symptom onset.” Viral load is thought to correlate with a patient’s ability to infect others, and when the peak comes later on during the course of disease, it’s more likely that a patient will have already sought care, been tested and either started treatment or gotten instruction to stay isolated. The high viral load early on in the course of disease for COVID-19 patients “suggests that [the virus] can be transmitted easily, even when symptoms are relatively mild,” wrote the authors of the Lancet paper. This finding “could account for the fast-spreading nature of this epidemic.” All of this makes it extra hard to set workplace standards. Against this wily virus, it’s difficult to set comprehensive guidelines. “What we recommend is if you’re feeling unwell, stay home,” said the WHO’s Van Kerkhove. That sounds simple, but after our conversation, I was doubtful as to how to carry this out. What counts as “unwell”? If I wake up with a scratchy throat, how can I tell if that’s seasonal allergies or a potential early COVID-19 symptom? When’s a headache just a headache? I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to work from home for the past month and rarely need to leave my apartment. But many aren’t that lucky. My colleague Michael Grabell recently wrote about workers in the meatpacking industry who often don’t have paid sick days and work shoulder-to-shoulder. Even if on paper, their employers say they “don’t want team members who feel sick to continued on page 10

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CORONAVIRUS Beat Coronavirus/ continued from page 9 come to work,” it’s unclear what counts as “sick” enough that they won’t get in trouble. I asked the CDC, given what its own studies are finding on asymptomatic transmission, how workplaces are supposed to set policies, and the agency directed me to a specific page on cdc.gov, which says: “Employees who have symptoms (i.e. fever, cough, or shortness of breath) should notify their supervisor and stay home.” Like the WHO instructions, that really doesn’t seem to address the questions posed by a virus that can be spread by people before they experience symptoms. But it’s also understandable why agencies are setting guidelines around black-and-white things like fevers (which are objectively measurable) and coughs (which is also a binary call). It’s pretty much impossible for the CDC to weigh in all the possible symptoms that this coronavirus might cause, especially the more subjective ones like mild headaches or fatigue, even if they could turn out to be early COVID-19 symptoms for some. Dr. Raphael Viscidi, a professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who worked on a vaccine for the SARS coronavirus, notes that there are different standards being asked of the general population and of essential work-

After months of saying that healthy individuals should not wear masks, administration officials are now considering guidance for much broader, communitywide use of masks, Fauci told CNN ers, for good reason. “On a population basis, the message has to be strong, it has to be consistent, and it has to be repeated: We have to exercise maximum social distancing,” he said. “But then you start saying, well, what about the people that have to go to work?” Hospitals that are short-staffed don’t have the luxury of having conservative policies and telling staff to stay home and quarantine themselves before they exhibit symptoms, even if they’ve been exposed to someone who has a confirmed infection. “The problem is we need the health care responders, because we have to care for the critically ill, so there’s probably going to need to be an exception,” said Columbia’s Shaman. “And they’re going to have to rely on their PPE, the personal protective equipment, to prevent them from spreading it to other people.” Viscidi acknowledged: “You are giving one message to the people you’re asking to work and another message to the general population. For sure, some people are forced to take slightly greater risks.”

We’ve got to fight this virus with all we’ve got. Here’s how we do that. Since symptoms-based policies alone cannot be perfect, we need to turn to other strategies to catch the people who slip through the gaps presented by a broad “If you’re feeling unwell, stay home”-type recommendation. In recent days, there’s been a new enthusiasm for masks, with many calling for widespread use among the general public. The idea there is that masks could help prevent droplets from traveling far, particularly from an asymptomatic person who doesn’t yet realize they’re infected. Leung, from the University of Hong Kong, is a fan of this idea. “Wear a mask, preferably universally in public spaces,” he said, when I asked him how to solve the problem of asymptomatic transmission. But he also pointed out that there’s a practical hurdle to this plan — “Of course this is not possible for some places where there are mask shortages even for hospital workers,” which would be most of the United States.

NOTICE OF DIVORCE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF KINGS, INDEX NO. 55424/2017 – Date Purchased: November 27, 2017 – SUMMONS WITH NOTICE – Plaintiff designates Kings County as the place of trial – Basis of Venue: Plaintiff’s Residence – SHERNET KARENA RICHARDSON against TYRONE RICHARDSON – ACTION FOR DIVORCE - To the above named Defendant, YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to serve a notice of appearance on Plaintiff’s attorneys within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons is complete and in the case of your failure to appear, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the notice set forth below. Dated: February 4, 2020, Brooklyn, New York. Law Offices of FIGEROUX & ASSOCIATES, 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn, New York 11242. NOTICE: The nature of this action is to dissolve the marriage between the parties on the grounds of: irretrievable breakdown of the relationship for at least six months pursuant to DRL §170(7). The relief sought is a judgment of absolute divorce in favor of the plaintiff dissolving the marriage between the parties in this action. NOTICE OF AUTOMATIC ORDER. Pursuant to DRL §236(b)(2), the parties are bound by certain automatic orders which shall remain in full force and effect during the pendency of the action. For further details you should contact the Clerk of the Matrimonial Part, Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201 Tel.: (347) 296-1714. DRL 255 NOTICE. Please be advised that once the judgment of divorce is signed in this action, both parties must be aware that he or she will no longer be covered by the other party’s health insurance plan and that each party shall be responsible for his or her own health insurance coverage, and may be entitled to purchase health insurance on his or her own through a COBRA option, if available. NOTICE OF GUIDELINE MAINTENANCE. Pursuant to DRL §236(B)(5-a), there is an obligation to award the guideline amount of maintenance (spousal support) on income up to $175,000 to be paid by the higher income spouse to the lower income spouse after the divorce is final according to a formula, unless the parties agree otherwise or waive this right.

After months of saying that healthy individuals should not wear masks, administration officials are now considering guidance for much broader, communitywide use of masks, Fauci told CNN on Tuesday. In an absence of an abundant supply of masks — which, by the way, also need to be worn properly to provide protection — both the WHO and CDC stressed how important social distancing was. “COVID-19 spreads between people who are in close contact with one another,” the CDC said in a statement. “That’s why the CDC recommends staying at least 6 feet away from other people, so someone doesn’t spread the disease if they are sick or are exposed through contact with someone who is sick.” Not only can social distancing protect you as an individual, but the better the general public is at adhering to these guidelines and staying at home, the less virus will be circulating in the public to potentially infect paramedics, grocery store workers and public works employees and other essential staff. For workers who absolutely have to turn up in person, Columbia’s Rasmussen explained to me that dose also matters. We understand this instinctively. If someone infected sneezes straight at you from a foot away, splattering your entire face with wet gunk, you’re going to feel more nervous about your likelihood of getting sick than if a single virus landed in your mouth. “It’s not always as simple as you come into contact with a single infectious particle and you’re going to be infected,” Rasmussen said. “You usually have to have a certain number of those particles in order for them to evade the immune system, get past the mucus barrier that’s in your nose and throat, come into contact with a cell that has the virus receptor on it, and then get into the cell and start replicating.” So increasing the chance that the virus will be “diluted” is important. That means workplaces like meatpacking factories and delivery warehouses should do whatever they can to space out their workers, and not have meetings en masse in indoor spaces, where droplets are likely to persist and don’t have a chance to be carried away by wind. And of course, companies should have generous sick leave policies, so workers can err on the side of caution if they do feel unwell. And let us not forget about testing. Testing is critical, because it can let people know if they’re sick before symptoms emerge and prompt them to self-isolate. At a big picture level, testing helps public health officials know where the disease is spreading and better allow them to direct resources and responses efforts. I was wrong to ever think that curbing the novel coronavirus could be simple. It is truly a dastardly bug. But I’m confident we can be smarter. Even if COVID19 doesn’t vanish and becomes a seasonal illness, if we give it all we’ve got, I think we stand a good chance of getting this stealthy virus under control.l Joe Sexton contributed to this reporting.

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Buying a House after Bankruptcy the amount of your outstanding balance. The Department of Veterans Affairs also guarantees mortgages for armed forces veterans, service members, and surviving spouses. When you apply for a VA loan, the lender can ignore any bankruptcy discharges that are more than two years old.

BY JANET HOWARD

iling for bankruptcy doesn't have to be the end of the world. As time passes, and if you take steps to rebuild, you can be creditworthy again, even enough to qualify for a mortgage. But repairing your credit isn't the only issue you face. Depending on the type of mortgage you're looking for, the law imposes certain waiting periods. Credit Considerations The first issue is lifting your credit score while you're waiting to be eligible for a mortgage post-bankruptcy. You may be stuck with the bankruptcy appearing on your credit report for up to 10 years, and even longer if you apply for a loan or mortgage of more than $150,000, but you can take steps during this time to raise your score anyway. You might take out one or two secured credit cards and religiously pay on them every month. If you kept your car in your bankruptcy and redeemed the loan against it, stay cur-

rent with these payments as well. The good news is that if your credit score was shaky before you filed for bankruptcy, it probably didn't have far to fall when your bankruptcy was reported. The difference might not be as bad as you think. Federally Insured Loans Mortgage options exist for those with lessthan-perfect credit. FHA-backed loans are usually the easiest to qualify for because they accept lower scores. You're not taking out the mortgage directly from the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). The FHA insures your loan; if you default and go into foreclosure, the FHA pays your lender

The Waiting Periods Federal law says you must wait at least two years after your Chapter 7 discharge if you want to apply for an FHA loan. If your bankruptcy came about because of an unanticipated hardship that caused your household income to drop by 20 percent or more, this can reduce the waiting period to one year. If you filed for Chapter 13, you don't have to wait for your discharge before you can get a mortgage. If your credit score is good enough, you can qualify after you've successfully made your Chapter 13 plan payments to the trustee for one year, but you must get approval from the bankruptcy court before you can take on a new debt. Loans that aren't guaranteed by the federal government have the longest waiting periods: four years after Chapter 7 and two years after Chapter 13.

INSIDE:

Renting after Bankruptcy VIA 311BANKRUPTCY.COM

enting after bankruptcy isn’t actually as hard as you might imagine it to be. Bankruptcy has become a lot more common in today’s economy. Landlords are well aware that people still need places to live even after going bankrupt. Indeed, in some cases bankruptcy might even improve your credit score, making you a more attractive rental prospect. However, renting after bankruptcy often requires you to handle the rental process a little bit differently. First, you may not be able to take advantage of rental specials that excuse you from paying deposits. Often, bankruptcy rentals require a full deposit. Sometimes, the landlord will even require you to pay a non-refundable deposit. You may also want to be careful about taking on new pets if you don’t currently have pets. Even though many landlords will be willing to work with you there will still be those for whom a bankruptcy will serve as an automatic denial. Since there are fewer rental units that allow pets than

those that do, you will want to increase your chances of finding a good place by keeping pets out of the equation. Since pets typically cost more in both deposits and monthly rent avoiding Fido and Fluffy might be your best financial move for the time being. You shouldn’t drive all over town before trying to find a rental as this wastes time, money, and gas. Most rental advertisements include a phone number. You can simply call the number and ask if the landlord considers renting to people who have declared bankruptcy in the past. This will allow you to focus your efforts on properties where you have a chance. Don’t be too

Extra Efforts In addition to repairing your credit while you're waiting to be able to qualify for a mortgage, you can take other steps. Even if your income didn't drop by 20 percent or more prior to your bankruptcy, you can still provide proof of whatever happened that led you to file, and this might affect a lender's decision. Both the FHA and the VA typically want some sort of explanation for your bankruptcy in any event, but smaller private banks and credit unions may take your explanation into account, particularly if your income is good. If you can save some money while you're waiting, putting down a larger down payment on a house can tip the odds of approval in your favor. Help is just a phone call away. Call us at 888-670-6791. n

Live-In Landlord or Host Landlord..................................2

discouraged if you hear, “It’s a total package.” This usually means they’ll work with you if you have other positive factors but that they are reluctant to say “yes” or “no” because it might be construed as a promise to rent where no such promise exists. If you’re not having much luck with the larger rental companies, try private landlords. The managers of big apartment complexes typically don’t have a lot of power: their management companies give them rental guidelines which they must follow. Sometimes the managers aren’t even the ones approving or denying the application; instead, they are faxing it to the corporate office for review. Privately owned rental units allow for a lot more person-to-person discretion. You might want to dress nicely when you arrive and be prepared to make a good impression. You might even check around with your friends or family first: they may know someone who will be willing to help you and they may be able to provide an “in” where one might not continued on page 4

Bankruptcy and Your Commercial Tenancy.......................3 Millennials Changing the Game.........................................4

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EQUITY SMART REALTY

Become a Live-In Landlord or Host Landlord

ave an unused room in your home? Or do you vacate your property frequently? In either case, it probably occurred to you that the extra space, or even your entire home, could work for you rather than sit empty while you’re paying for it. Depending upon your situation, you might be capable of doing both. If the prospect of either is appealing but confusing, read on. Here’s some things to consider if you’re thinking about becoming a landlord or host: Strategy Begin with a formula based on your situation. Both long-term rentals and homesharing services like Airbnb can bring in extra income. If you are seeking a steady flow of income and have a room, apartment or detached living space on your property, becoming a landlord might suit you best. If you’re out of town frequently, say for up to a month or less, and would like your home to earn extra money for you while you’re away, Airbnb might be the best bet. Both have their pros and cons. Long-Term Rentals You may be more familiar with the idea of a traditional rental. With this option, you’d seek a tenant under contract for at least six months. Some considerations: Ensure you interview prospective tenants,

get references and do background checks. You’ll be living with them for a long time, so you’ll want to know more about them. Make sure the rent meets your financial goals. You can’t change it once the contract is signed. Keep in mind such extra expenses as maintenance, insurance and other upkeep and factor that in when establishing the rent. Utilities: Ideally your extra space will have its own utility connections for the tenant to pay. If not, add those average expenses into the rent. Furnishings: Are you offering your space fully or partially furnished or unfurnished? You can add more money to the rent for a furnished apartment or room, but know that there will be a certain amount of wear and tear. Short-term Rentals You’ve likely at least heard of Airbnb, the platform that acts as meeting place for those with a space to rent for a short-term and guests. It’s an imperfect but potentially profitable route to earning extra income from your home that, like long-term rentals, comes with its own concerns. Here are but a few of the main ones: Renting through Airbnb is easy and a great way to earn quick money, especially if you live in a large, business-focused region or tourism-oriented city. Rentals

and guests are somewhat vetted through the program, but keep in mind you are renting your home and relying upon your guest to treat it with care. Listing your home on Airbnb is free. The service earns its money through the booking fees. Like other sharing platforms, such as Uber, guests can and do review your home after visits, so ensure that you’re up to keeping your place spic-andspan to keep more reservations coming. Airbnb can be seasonal, so it’s not always a reliable source of rental income. Do some research. Visit the site and spend some time looking over the properties and guests’ reviews. Imagine yourself as a guest and pick up on the elements of a

property you admire to give yourself a starting point. Read the reviews to give you an impression of routine pet peeves and how to avoid them. Either situation can make a significant impact on positive cash flow, but look before you leap. If you’ve never rented your home before, giving Airbnb a trial run can provide you with a sense of the pros and cons and help you decide whether you’re a natural long-term landlord or a short-termer who can benefit from the rental every once in awhile. Need assistance? We will be happy to meet with you and share our guidance. Schedule an appointment today. Call us at 888-670-6791.n

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Bankruptcy and Your Commercial Tenancy

Is a Career in Real Estate Right for You?

magine working for yourself in a flexible career where you can set your own schedule with annual earning potential of $100,000 or more. There are so many reasons to choose real estate as your career. But there are always two sides to every story, and a real estate career is no different. Below is a straight-forward look at the pros and cons of a real estate agent career:

•Your landlord cannot evict you just for going bankrupt. Even if your lease has a clause that specifies filing bankruptcy as a default under the lease, their ability to evict you will be put on hold while you are working out your bankruptcy. However, if they expect you to go bankrupt, they may look for other ways to evict you before you file.

Getting Started Is Quick and Painless Pros: In most states, you can complete the required training, become a licensed real estate agent, and start a new career in just a matter of weeks or months (depending on state regulations). Cons: There is an investment in time, money, and effort required. Also, it comes with no guarantees. Passing the state real estate licensing exam is difficult and demands an understanding of complex topics and a varied skill set.

BY JANET HOWARD iling bankruptcy is a serious step for any business. Regardless of whether you file under Chapter 7 or 11, it will affect your rights under your lease and your relationship with your landlord. Here are a few of the most serious considerations to keep in mind:

•You still need to pay rent. If you intend to continue occupying the building during and after the bankruptcy, the Bankruptcy Code allows your landlord to stop providing you with access to the building if you stop paying for it. You will, however, have any collection activities for rent that you did not pay before filing bankruptcy put on hold. Bear in mind, though, that if you intend to stay for the long term, you will probably eventually need to pay all of your back rent.

•Your lease's termination date is still valid. Bankruptcy can stop your landlord from evicting you for past non-payment of rents, but it has nothing to do with your lease's pre-existing termination date. If your lease terminates in the middle of your bankruptcy, your landlord is well within his rights to have you move out of the building. •You have choices. As you go through bankruptcy, you will be able to decide whether or not you want to retain the lease. If you "assume" the lease, you will be able to remain in the building after your bankruptcy, as long as you can pay the rent. If you "reject" the lease, though, you will be able to leave. Whichever option you prefer, ensure that you make your election

within the Bankruptcy Code's deadline, which is usually 120 days for a commercial tenant, although you may be able to get an additional 90 days. You may even be able to assign your lease to a third party. If your lease is at a below-market rent, you might even be able to charge the new tenant more and pocket the difference. •Rejecting a lease doesn't always eliminate your liability for it. While sanctions vary, it's not uncommon for landlords to recover some compensation for the remaining term of your lease if you reject it. They rarely receive more than the equivalent of one year of rent, though. Need help? Schedule an appointment today by calling 888-670-6791. n

You Are Your Own Boss Pros: You’re an independent contractor and control your own book of business. You make the decisions. Couple together a good attitude and solid work ethic, and there are virtually no limits for the growth of your real estate business. Cons: You’re an independent contractor and are on your own to learn the market and the business. You are in charge of building your lead list, maintaining your client’s needs, networking relationships, marketing your business, and managing the day-to-day office needs. It’s all in your hands. Many new agents fail to recognize how much work it takes to become a successful real estate agent. Make a Good Income Pros: Your income isn’t limited by an hourly wage or a corporate-dictated salary range. As a real estate salesperson, your income is largely dictated by the time you invest. Grow your real estate business by adding an assistant or get the appropriate license that lets you build your own brokerage. The growth potential is huge. Cons: At first, your cash-flow direction will be out. Most new real estate agents need a nest egg to begin their careers. Getting your first sales to come in will take some time, and it will likely be a couple months or more before you cash your first check. Depending on the market you cover and existing relationships you can form, it can be a feast or famine situation. Work Flexible Schedules Pros: You don’t work a mundane 9 to 5 job. Real estate agents set a daily work schedule that works for them. Much of a real estate agent’s time is spent socializing, meeting people, and building relationships. Cons: Having a flexible schedule in real estate means you have to be flexible to the client’s needs. In real estate, you tend to work when everyone else is not. That includes weekends. If a client calls, can you drop everything and be attentive to their needs, even if it’s a time that you normally would be spending with your friends or family?n

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HOME OWNERSHIP

Millennials Changing the Game

illennials are known as disrupters, so when it comes to the housing market it’s no surprise that generation is upending the conventional process. Older millennials are flooding the buyer’s market seeking homes. But the way they view the market is vastly different than their parents or even the generation that preceded them. Here’s some ways millennials are making the market adjust to them: One big factor: Economics. First-time homebuyers need almost a quarter of their income to afford an entry-level home, up 2 percent from a year ago, according to The Real Deal, a real estate website. And those previously owned homes have reached a record median price of $264,800. So the barrier is high, especially for younger buyers, the site reports. It’s also no secret that millennials are waiting longer to get married or partner. That results in the lack of a need for a large home, so they’re naturally waiting longer to buy. When they are ready, chances are, they’ve accumulated more wealth, settled in to an area where they plan to stay and have a firmer grasp on what they want — and they may be looking past starter homes. Unlike previous generations, millennials are also renting longer, biding their time paying off student debt (now at an all-time

high), rising through the ranks in a profession and waiting until they can afford the homes they want. And those homes don’t look like they did to previous generations. Some are skipping over starter homes and taking advantage of the delay in buying to purchase a much more luxurious home. “These people, who may each have 10 years of work under their belts, can afford a first home that is more luxurious than what one thinks of as the typical starter home,” according to Fred Cooper, a senior vice president at Toll Brothers, a luxury home builder. In between, millennials are comfortable renting in the city, according to a recent article in the website Investopedia. A Pew Research last year found that 88 percent of millennials live in metropolitan areas. And instead of buying a starter home, some

millennials are opting for the best of both worlds: city life and a vacation home they can enjoy but also rent out. “For less than $350,000 — an amount that barely buys a studio in brownstone Brooklyn these days — they are finding that they can afford homes with three bedrooms or more on several acres of land, sometimes on lakefront property, or with a pool,” wrote Michelle Higgins in a New York Times story. If you're currently on the market for a home, you may want to contact one of our mortgage professionals for more information.We will be happy to meet with you and share our guidance. Schedule an appointment today. Call us at 888-6706791.n

Renting after Bankruptcy continued from page 1 ences from past landlords, be sure to include them. Be up front about your problems before the landlord checks your credit. You might want to try bringing a letter of recommendation from your employer, particularly if you’ve been with the same employer for a long time. If you’re desperate for shelter right now and are having trouble finding a place, you can use weekly rentals to tide you over until you can find someplace better. These places usually don’t require any kind of application. You simply pay a deposit and pay your rent each week. This can help you put a buffer of time between you and your bankruptcy: a bankruptcy that is 6 months old, with no other credit issues, is not as large of a bar to rental as a fresh bankruptcy might be. Do not try to rent from a company that wants to force you to get a co-signer, as asking a friend or family member to cosign for you will only put undue strain on your relationship. Though it can take a little detective work, you should be able to rent a home or apartment after bankruptcy without resorting to a cosigner. Resolve not to give up. Though it can be a little bit more challenging to rent after bankruptcy, it can be done. Need assistance? We will be happy to meet with you and share our guidance. Schedule an appointment today. Call us at 888-670-6791. n

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IN THE NEWS Jamaican Medical Worker In New York Beats Coronavirus, Goes Back to Caring for Patients

amaican-born Raeburn Fairweather, 47, a respiratory therapist at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, became infected with COVID-19, but won the battle with the disease and returned to work. In an interview with the New York Post newspaper, Fairweather reported that his fever had risen to 104 degrees during the two weeks he suffered from the onslaught of the virus. He added that taking Tylenol did not reduce the fever and that his body “felt like it was falling apart.” He also described the terrible headaches that are part of the disease, along with the thick mucus he began to cough up on the third day of his illness, a condition that continued for several days. Even in recovery, COVID-19 continues to impact his life as it has temporarily caused him to lose his senses of smell and taste. During his weeks of illness, Fairweather, who is married and has five children, self-quarantined in a spare room in the family home in Canarsie and used a bathroom that was avoided by his wife and his 11-year-old son. who still lives at home. Neither his wife or his son has exhibited any COVID-19 symptoms. During his self-isolation, he treated him-

Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides worker benefits

Jamaican Raeburn Fairweather, 47, battled COVID-19 and lived to tell about it. (New York Post image)

self with home remedies from the Caribbean in addition to taking the Tylenol. These included ingredients like ginger, turmeric, and garlic. Fairweather told the Post that his first symptoms appeared a short time after he had worked a difficult triple-shift on March 17, 2020. His work as a respiratory therapist includes the dangerous task of inserting and removing the breathing tubes used by coronavirus patients to help them survive the disease. He also shared that in the early stages of the pandemic, the hospital staff did not wear protective gear when treating patients who were not suspected of having the virus. “I’m going to be honest with you, the staff was still somewhat laid back about it,” he said.

Fairweather received a test for the virus on March 18 and was told it was positive shortly thereafter. He was permitted to return to work on the same day he got his positive results as he had not had a fever in the previous three days. Eileen Tynion, a hospital spokesperson, confirmed the facility’s policy, which allowed employees to return to work on the fourth consecutive day they do not have a fever. Fairweather said he had no hesitation about resuming his work duties after beating the virus, even though the day he returned he had to work for 17 hours straight without stopping, which made him very tired. l Source: jamaicans.com

60 and Over In the Time of COVID-19? Read on. BY JENNIFER LEACH

know, 60-year-olds. You’re not old. In fact, we’ve found that, when people think “old,” they think of someone about 10 years older than they are right now. But, because we’ve been warned about the effects of the Coronavirus on people 60+, listen up. Because scammers follow the headlines and know you might have this on your mind. Right now, scammers are scuttling out of their dark corners to offer false hope (Home test kits! A cure!) and use fear (Your Social Security number is about to be revoked! Your loved one is in trouble!) – all to get your money or information. (None of those things are real, by

New Law Requires Small Business to Provide Paid Leave

the way.) They’re asking for your bank routing number to “help” you get your relief money – which is not how you’ll get it, by the way. They’re sending fake emails that look real, but those fake CDC or World Health Organization emails are trying to steal your personal information – or, if you click a link, put malware on your computer, tablet, or phone. Scammers are calling (and calling…and calling…), using illegal robocalls to pitch you the latest scammy thing. They’re texting, and they’re all over social media. So, while you’re washing your hands and working to stay safe, here are a few ways you can help protect yourself – and those you love – from scammers.

Don’t be rushed. Whatever the call, email, text, or social media post is about, remember that scammers try to rush you. Legit people don’t. Check it out. Before you act on something or share it – stop. Do some research. Do the facts back up the story? Pass it on. If you get offered something great, or you’re worried about something alarming: talk to someone you trust before you act. What do they think? Keep in touch with the FTC. Sign up for Consumer Alerts to help spot scams: ftc.gov/subscribe. And watch for the latest at ftc.gov/coronavirus. Report scams to the FTC. Go to ftc.gov/complaint. Your report can help us shut the scammers down. Want to help even more? Pass this post on. Tell a friend. And hey, let’s be careful out there. l

Get real-time updates to your phone Text COVID19 to 40691

Jennifer Leach is the Associate Director, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

he Families First Coronavirus Response Act is a new law passed in late March that offers COVID19 assistance for both employees and employers. This new law provides businesses with fewer than 500 employees the funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members. Here are the details of the new law’s benefits: •Paid Sick Leave for Workers: The new law provides employees of eligible employers two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at 100% of the employee’s pay where the employee can’t work because the employee is quarantined and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis. •Other Paid Leave for Workers: Employees can receive two weeks (up to 80 hours) of leave at two-thirds the employee’s pay if they need to care for someone in the following situations: The need to care for an individual subject to quarantine, to care for a child whose school is closed or childcare provider is unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19. •Extended Leave: In some instances, an employee may receive up to an additional ten weeks of expanded paid family and medical leave at two-thirds the employee’s pay. •Companies will get paid back: Businesses who pay employees the mandatory sick and childcare leave according to the new law will get completely reimbursed through a payroll tax credit. What it means for you: •Employees can take the necessary time to recover from being infected with COVID-19, or to care for a loved one, without fear of losing their job or salary. •Employers can help their employees financially while navigating COVID-19 related shutdowns. l

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LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

How to Cope with Conflict and Stress BY JENNINE ESTES, MFT

onflict and stress are typical parts of any relationship. Just because they arise doesn't mean it's the end of your relationship. How you cope with this conflict and stress, however, is key. Let’s start with a scenario: A man and a woman are in the car coming home from dinner with their threeyear-old asleep in the back seat. They get into an on-going disagreement that goes in circles, getting them nowhere. They both quickly become agitated because neither one feels heard by the other, and the more they try to work out the issue, the more hurt and angry each of them become. They arrive home and put the child to bed. After, the wife goes to the kitchen and the husband goes upstairs to watch television to zone out and decompress. He grabs beer from the fridge and a full bag of chips to take with him. After an hour or so, as the six pack is emptying and the chips are long gone, engrossed in the TV, the argument is behind him. Meanwhile in the kitchen, the wife

begins to wash the dishes. She gets angry, thinking how “he still doesn’t get it” and “why won’t he simply come downstairs and talk to me?” She is very upset and so she grabs a bottle of wine and sits on the couch. After a half hour or so, she is feeling pretty good, absorbed in her movie and feeling the wine. Later she eats a large slice of cake, and soon after, another one. The movie ends, the bottle of wine and cake are both gone, and she makes her way to bed … no longer angry or upset with her husband. The next morning, however, they gets upset with themselves, thinking, “why

I’m done!

did I do that?!” They each feel horrible, a little hung over, and as if their weight loss diet is ruined. The “shouldn’t haves…” flood in and each partner is beating themselves up internally. Later, the wife finds herself at the store, buying another expensive purse … and the husband is betting on the football games of the week. I describe this scenario to paint the picture of a pattern many struggle with and continue to fall into when they cope with conflict. I will explain more simplistically: First, one feels hurt, upset, and as if their partner doesn’t understand them. The “not so good feelings” experienced are “negative emotions.” When someone feels negative emotions, they rapidly do a behavior to eliminate the pain. While doing the behavior, such as drinking, eating, shopping, or gambling, the pain isn’t as bad. The problem here is that these coping behaviors are temporary. Later the next day, they feel terrible, guilty for drinking, hung-over, and ashamed for eating the junk-food. Continuing this pattern, they turn to another behavior to eliminate the pain, such as shopping or gambling. You don’t have to be trapped in this cycle.

Take charge of your life and get proactive. Here are a few steps to break this draining and exhausting coping cycle: Avoid Triggering Events: Stay away from specific events that you might know may trigger your cycle. Or learn how to prevent a triggering event from arising, through steps like improving communication with your partner. If you know going to your parents’ house is triggering, communicate with your partner beforehand so you both know this is not the time to bring something up that may lead to conflict. You know it’s going to be a busy week at work? Table the discussion for another time. Be Aware of Your Emotions and How You React: Start to check in with your emotions. See how you feel and sit with your emotions; don’t try to make them go away. Instead, embrace your emotions and get comfort from your partner or a friend, instead of getting comfort from a bottle of wine. Try to pay attention to what physical sensations are coming up, as well as the thoughts that are arising. This will help you differentiate what continued on the page 18

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FAITH & BOOKS

Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic, Rev. Sharpton Calls Upon Faith Leaders to Discontinue Services Leading Into Easter

Reading for Spring

ivil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton convened a call with the heads of the nation’s largest historically Black religious denominations and other faith leaders to call on clergy to refrain from having church services as we head into Palm Sunday and Easter Holy Week. The public appeal is being made following the arrest of a Louisiana megachurch pastor for holding Sunday services and a separate criminal action against a Florida pastor, who held services over the weekend that drew large crowds, willfully violating a local coronavirus stay-at-home order. According to Rev. Al Sharpton “I have been arrested over thirty times for civil rights and civil disobedience—twice for ninety days and another forty-five days for standing up for people’s civil and human rights. These separate incidents involving leaders of faith putting people’s lives in danger is not a matter of

Child Welfare Limbo/ continued from page 5 Family Court dockets are overwhelmed, with hearings that often stutter through months of postponements and delays. With all "nonessential" matters on indefinite hold, advocates worry that the Courts will end up with an impossible backlog, and that children currently in foster care will remain there for months, or even years, longer than otherwise necessary. "Hundreds of children are going to stay separated from their families indefinitely given these court delays, even though if a judge was to hear the facts of the case, they could probably go home to their families," says Lauren Shapiro, the director of the Family Defense Practice at Brooklyn Defender Services. At least one child in Queens was kept for a week in the agency's Children's Center with no court oversight at all, according to family members. The child, a 14-year-old named Ruby who is severely autistic, came under ACS investigation in early January, after her mother was hospitalized and then transferred to a rehabilitation facility following a stroke. Ruby remained with her 24year-old sister, but had frequent outbursts at school and home that resulted in emergency room visits and hospital stays. (Ruby's adult relatives requested anonymity for this story, but shared multiple documents from ACS that corroborate their account of the investigation and the child's week-long placement in the Children's Center.)

F Reverend Sharpton Photo: National Action Network Network

civil or human rights, nor is it a statement of faith. It is self-aggrandizing, reckless behavior of those Shepherds who would risk their sheep rather than lead their sheep.” Under the leadership of Reverend Al Sharpton and NAN Board Chair

Reverend W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of the Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC), a series of calls will continue to be conducted to discourage the growing number of churches that say Palm Sunday and Holy Week should be observed in person. l

Throughout its two-month investigation, ACS agreed to let Ruby remain at home, under the care of her sister and an adult cousin who took her on weekends. The agency also said that it would seek services, such as a home health aide, to help the family cope until Ruby's mother could return home. But those services never materialized. Instead, ACS picked Ruby up from a hospital stay on March 19th and brought her to the agency's Children's Center in Queens. Because the case was never brought to Family Court, the family had no attorney and nowhere to turn for help. "It was horrible," says Ruby's cousin. "I would talk to her on the phone and she kept saying, 'Come get me, I'll be good, please come get me.'" Finally, after a week, Ruby was released to her cousin's home. The cousin, who is already caring for her own four children and a niece – all of whom are home full-time, now that schools are closed – was told not to be optimistic about receiving help. "Services are shut down because of the virus, so the caseworker said I'm pretty much on my own." "It's a lot," the cousin said. "I'm really not trained to give her the help she needs. But I was not going to leave her in the system." l

Conflict and Stress/ continued from page 17 emotions are arising, as well as be able to notice the emotions before they takeover in the future.

Abigail Kramer is the Associate Editor at The New School Center for New York City Affairs.

Change your Coping Behavior to a Positive Behavior: Change the coping behavior to something that doesn’t leave a sense of regret. Make a list of activities that help improve your mood – drawing, taking a long shower, going for a walk, going to the gym, cooking, journaling, playing music. Try to focus on the activity, don’t multitask.

ans of Issa Rae and Phoebe Robinson will love this collection of laugh-out-loud funny and insightful essays that explore race, feminism, pop culture, and how society reinforces the message that we are nothing without the perfect body. By the time Chloé Hilliard was 12, she wore a size 12—both shoe and dress— and stood over six feet tall. Fitting in was never an option. That didn’t stop her from trying. Cursed with a “slow metabolism,” “baby weight,” and “big bones,”—the fat trilogy—Chloe turned to fad diets, starvation, pills, and workouts, all of which failed. Realizing that everything—from government policies to corporate capitalism—directly impacts our relationship with food and our waistlines, Chloé changed her outlook on herself and hopes others will do the same for themselves. The perfect mix of cultural commentary, conspiracies, and confessions, F*ck Your Diet pokes fun at the all too familiar, misguided quest for better health, permanent weight loss, and a sense of selfworth.l —www.chloehilliard.com/book

Write down your negative thoughts and feelings: Write your thoughts out to release your pain. This allows you a place to feel the thoughts and be proactive at the same time. It is important to follow this with one of the activities that improve your mood. That way you won’t be stuck in those negative thoughts for the rest of the day. Avoid Critical and Judgmental Thoughts: If you did fall into the coping pattern, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, tell yourself you are okay and you made a mistake. Get Comfort and Support: The coping behavior is there because your body is saying that you don’t feel good. Get soothed and comforted by your partner, friends, and family. l Article courtesy www.estestherapy.com

Chloé Hilliard Photo: Chris Patey

Chloé Hilliard is a larger than life comedian. Well, that’s because she’s 6’1 and rocks a killer afro. Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in a large Hasidic Jewish neighborhood, Chloé has spun her unique experiences into side splitting laughs. Once you know how to tell a story you’re set for life. As a journalistturn-comedian, Chloé Hilliard is entertaining the masses with her wit and ability to find the humor in everything.

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HEALTH

Worried About Your Immune System? Try These 5 Natural Remedies

Are you looking to get into the health & wellness business?

BY DR SUHYUN AN

ody aches, fever, chills and nasal congestion, common symptoms of the flu, can stop you in your tracks, leaving you bedridden for days. “Complications arising from these illnesses can become serious,” says Dr. Suhyun An, an expert on regenerative medicine and co-author of Demystifying Stem Cells: A Real-Life Approach To Regenerative Medicine. Dr. An says there are ways to prevent the symptoms from reaching that serious point. To feel better and get back on your feet, she recommends numerous natural cold and flu remedies to alleviate your symptoms: Vitamin C. Some studies indicate that Vitamin C can shorten the lifespan of a cold and boost your immune system. “The best way to get it is through your diet; the fresher the food, the better,” Dr. An says. “Oranges, limes, lemons, grapefruits, leafy greens, and bell peppers are all good sources of vitamin C. Be careful with supplements because they can lead to upset stomach and kidney stones.” Honey. Honey has natural antiviral and antimicrobial properties. “Drinking honey in tea with lemon can ease sore throat pain,” Dr. An says. “Research suggests that honey is an effective cough suppressant, too. Honey often contains Clostridium bacteria, so never give honey to a child younger than 1-year-old because infants’ immune systems aren’t

Contact:

able to fight them off.” Chicken soup. This popular cold and flu remedy helps because hot liquids reduce mucus buildup and keep you hydrated. “Chicken soup, in particular, has antiinflammatory properties, which help reduce a cold’s unpleasant side effects,” Dr. An says. “Keep some in the freezer or even canned for flu season. It’s quick to prepare that way and soothing to eat.” Aromas. “When you have congestion from the flu, applying camphor or menthol salve around your nose can help break up mucus,” Dr. An says. “Aromatherapy oils, such as peppermint and eucalyptus, can have a similar effect. Also, vapor rub can reduce cold symptoms, especially in children older than 2 years. It helps open air passages to combat congestion, reduce coughing, and improve sleep. It’s a good alternative to

over-the-counter cold medicines in young children because of unwanted side effects.” Probiotics. These are friendly bacteria and yeast found in the body, some foods, and supplements. “They can help keep your gut and immune system healthy, and they may reduce your chance of getting sick with an upper respiratory infection,” Dr. An says. “For a delicious and nutritious source of helpful bacteria, include probiotic yogurt in your diet.”

Stacy Young Board Certified Holistic Health Coach Tel: 917-459-8431

“Colds and the flu are threats to us every year, but they don’t have to get us down for long,” Dr. An says. “Natural home remedies can reduce symptoms so you can be more comfortable and get the rest you need to get better faster.”l

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Dr. Suhyun An (www.drsuhyunan.com) is the clinic director at Campbell Medical Group in Houston and an expert on regenerative medicine. She is co-author of Demystifying Stem Cells: A Real-Life Approach To Regenerative Medicine and travels the nation speaking on those topics. Dr. An received a BS in Biochemistry and Biophysical Science from the University of Houston, graduated cum laude from Parker College of Chiropractic, and got her master’s in nursing science from Samford University.

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ELDER CARE

Connecting with Someone in a LongTerm Care Setting During the Coronavirus Outbreak

s many nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other longterm care settings close their doors to outsiders for safety reasons amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is proving tips on how families can still stay connected with a loved one in a care setting. “Right now, families across the country cannot visit their relatives in long-term care settings, and while they can’t be there with them in person, they can, and should, still be there for them,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “There are other ways that individuals can remain connected with a loved one with Alzheimer’s from anywhere.” AFA offers the following suggestions: • Speak to the care setting. Keep in touch with the care setting’s staff to get regular updates on your loved one and make sure they are safe. • Utilize technology to stay connected. Many care settings are helping families stay connected through video chat, such

as FaceTime, Skype or Zoom. Ask your loved one’s care setting if they offer this type of service. Phone calls, emails and letters are also good ways to keep in touch and stay connected. • Have a dialogue through photographs. Some care settings are working with families to regularly send pictures of their residents to their loved ones, and also encouraging families to send photos back for the residents to see. In some cases, they’ll encourage “themed” photos (i.e. wearing a funny hat) to keep things

fun and engaging. • Send care packages. Familiarity often helps reduce stress and improve mood, so sending favorite snacks, trinkets, lotions or activities to the person can be helpful. Check with the care setting before sending to see if there are any items they do not allow for health reasons. • Don’t panic. According to officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Health Care Association, moving an

older adult from a long-term care center and exposing them to more people and places is risky and could have long-lasting impacts. Additionally, the levels of care needed for residents in a professional care setting are usually higher than those that can generally be provided at home. All care settings are required to have plans in place to monitor and prevent infections and safeguard the health of their residents and staff and will provide you with information about these procedures if you ask. AFA’s Helpline, staffed entirely by licensed social workers, is available seven days a week to answer questions about this topic, caregiving during the coronavirus outbreak and more. l You can reach the Helpline by: • Calling 866-232-848 • Visiting www.alzfdn.org and clicking on the blue and white chat icon on the lower right-hand corner of the page •Sending a text message to 646-586-5283

Wills, Trusts & Nursing Home Asset Protection Learn how to Protect your Assets and Provide for your Loved ones

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At this consultation, we will discuss issues that include: Nursing home costs- the myth of the 昀ve year look back The advantages of Wills, Living Trusts & Probate How to maintain your privacy and protect your estate if you become disabled (Hint: Not all Powers of Attorney are valid) Why putting property in children’s names may be a mistake Protect one’s spouse when the other needs nursing home care Preserve your estate for your kids if your surviving spouse gets married How Probate works and more importantly, how to avoid probate How you can qualify and use Medi-Cal to pay for nursing home expenses Provide for special needs (disabled) children and grandchildren How you may be able to minimize federal and state taxes

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CONVERSATIONS

When to Update Your Will

will is your ironclad way to disperse your assets to loved ones as you wish. Here are a few of the top reasons you may need to update this important document: Change in Marital Status If you get married after a will is already in place, it’s important to update your beneficiaries to include a spouse. Most states have laws in place where a spouse will receive the estate if you die without a will, but the process can be more difficult and lengthier. A divorce would be another change in marital status that requires a will to be doctored. You will need to address their status as beneficiary, estate executor and sometimes as guardian to your children. If you have remarried but have children from a previous marriage, you can also update your document to include the kids and new spouse. A financial advisor is a great resource who can help you create a strategy to leave behind something for everyone. Changes in Financial Situation There may come a time where you decide to increase or decrease the inheritance you are leaving behind for loved ones. For instance, if you receive a large sum Protect/continued from page 1 Why Do I Need a Will? Many otherwise responsible adults ignore the obvious importance of a will out of a kind of willful blindness. Many people may feel that preparing a will is bad luck, as if the simple act of preparing a will can invoke some sort of disaster. Still others may simply be reluctant to create a will because doing so requires them to come face to face with their own mortality. While this is understandable, it is no excuse for not protecting your family with this vital legal document. If you doubt the importance of having a will in place just think about the disruption that would result if you were to die today. Not only would your surviving family members be financially devastated, but they may never have the solace of knowing that your final wishes were carried out. Without a will in place your family members may never know your final wishes, and this uncertainty is bound to cause stress for those you leave behind. When you have a will in place you can spell out exactly what your final wishes are and give your surviving family members the satisfaction of knowing that they

Making Plans: New Parents

of money, it’s possible to alter your will to add a new beneficiary or make an increase towards those currently on your list. On the other hand, if you experience financial misfortune, it’s necessary to adjust the document to pay out less and ensure your estate’s obligations can still be met. Changes in Tax Laws It can be hard to stay up-to-date on constantly changing tax laws, but it’s necessary to keep your final document in good

have carried out those final wishes. From how you want your funeral arrangements handled to which family members inherit those priceless family heirlooms you can let your family know exactly what you had in mind. Do You Have Minor Children? If So, You Absolutely Must Have a Will While having a will in place is important no matter what your circumstances, if you have minor children who rely on you it is absolutely imperative that you start working on your will right now. No matter how busy you are it is important to make time to protect your family from the unexpected. No matter how young or healthy you are it is vital to plan for the unexpected — young and healthy parents can and do die every day, and having a will in place is the best way to protect your children and make sure their physical, emotional and financial needs will be met even if you are no longer around. Many parents feel that a will is unnecessary because the surviving parent would simply take over all the parenting responsibilities, but what happens if you and your spouse were both to die? If you doubt this possibility just think about the

legal standing. Especially if your will takes actions to address estate tax issues, it’s a good idea to receive periodic reviews by an attorney. Ask for Advice Don’t be afraid to ask your legal expert for advice on other moments that may benefit your last will and testament. Remember, this document is incredibly important to keep accurate, as it articulates your vision and solidifies your legacy.l

thousands of people who die in car crashes across the country. If you and your spouse were to die in one of these road mishaps, who would raise your children, who would take care of them, and who would make sure they received the emotional support they need in their time of need? When you have a will in place you can provide the answers to these important questions, spelling out in clear detail exactly what your desires are and who will protect your children if you are no longer able to care for them. In fact, naming a proper guardian for your minor children is perhaps the most important benefit of having a will in place. Protecting your financial assets is one thing, but protecting your children and their vital interests is something else entirely. If you do not have a will in place you cannot know that your children are truly protected, and you cannot know for sure that the guardian you had in mind will in fact raise your children to adulthood. So, no more excuses – if you have children you simply must have a will in place.l

arents with a baby born in 2012 will spend an average of $217,000 to raise their little bundle of joy. These latest statistics reported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) don’t even include the cost of college, which can quickly rack up tens of thousands per year in tuition costs. The price tag on raising a child has been on a steady incline — a 24 percent increase since 1960, according to the USDA. Taking on the increasing costs can be a challenge for many new parents. But with proper planning and realistic expectations, even newbies can come out ahead as their children grow. Health Care The USDA attributes the rise in child-raising to the cost of health care. With parents covering larger proportion of children’s costs with higher co-payments and premiums, expenditures can add up quickly. When setting a budget and savings plan, make sure to apportion enough to health care costs, as well as unpredictable medical expenses that are sure to come up. Start a small savings account for funds devoted to medical costs. This will keep you prepared for such occurrences instead of having to dip into your primary savings account for medical payments. Long-Term Planning New parents will find that with the birth of their child comes the urge to protect him or her. This natural instinct includes the need to build a solid financial footing to be able to afford all of the necessities. But lost in the everyday chaos of raising a new child are the long-term financial strategies that can make a huge difference. If you’re a new parent, consider preparing a will, an inventory of assets and debt and a legal document naming a person to be the guardian should anything happen to you. These can be uncomfortable topics to discuss, especially in the midst of newfound parenthood, but planning wisely now can pay off in the future.l

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IN MEMORIAM

Reflecting on the Life of Principal DezAnn Romain BY MOHAMED Q. AMIN

n Sunday, March 22, New York City lost a beloved teacher, friend, sister, daughter, and colleague, a tireless crusader for education justice. I was 14-years-old when I first met Dez-Ann Romain. She walked into Mrs. McCauley's art class at Far Rockaway High School in Queens, NY, with intimidating confidence and fearlessness. We bonded through our love of art and challenged each other to discover our true potential as two Caribbean immigrants. Dez-Ann was a Trinidadian Cleopatra being raised by a single mother, and I was a young closeted IndoGuyanese transplant. Both of us coming from low-income working-class families living in the "ghetto," we were considered "at-risk" youth. While our parents were still learning how to navigate New York City, for four years, we competed for art scholarships and other academic opportunities to advance our education. Those who knew Dez-Ann in high school would say she was determined to succeed. She was brilliantly creative, wise beyond her years, and would dominate any space with her abundance of positivity and love for others. I distinctly remember her having intense disagreements with teachers, which ultimately earned her their respect and admiration. She was always an advocate for marginalized and under-resourced students, especially the black and brown among them. From 1997-2001, we were those black and brown students. Dez-Ann and I proudly spoke with our Caribbean accents, and throughout high school, our diverse group of friends reflected the crayons that would define what it means to be "at-promise" young people. In 1997, during our freshmen year, Dez-Ann and I were jointly selected for an art Internship at the Queens Museum of Art. Along with twelve students from three different high schools in the Borough of Queens, we were featured in world-renowned American photographer and educator, Dawoud Bey's 20X24 Polaroid photography exhibition. Determined to uplift and empower our classmates, we participated in many extracurricular activities together. We spent our junior and senior years serving on the Student Government Association, working as Set Designers for the school's production of "The Wiz" and "Grease," and were members of the National Honor Society and the Class of 2001 Yearbook Committee. Dez-Ann was immensely proud of her "Trini" roots and culture. As one of the Student Government leaders, Dez-Ann insisted on us incorporating a "Culture Day" as part of our senior year "Spirit Week" celebration. She wore those red, black, and white colors as a badge of diasporic pride and honor of the twinislands of Trinidad and Tobago. But it didn't stop there! In our music class,

powerful culture-shifting muse for her students. Our shared lived experiences as working-class Caribbean immigrants became lessons in her classroom. In 2016, one year after I founded the Caribbean Equality Project, Dez-Ann invited me to do a workshop on the negative impact of "Caribbean Cultural Hate Speech" at the Brooklyn Democracy Academy in Brownsville, NY. She was the Principalin-Training and had recently learned that out and perceived queer students were experiencing homophobia. The school's student population consisted of 50-60 percent Caribbean immigrants and first-generation Caribbean-Americans. In Principal Dez-Ann Romain and Mohamed Amin 2017, at just 34-years-old, Dez-Ann was promoted to Principal of Spirit Week ended with Dez-Ann leading the Brooklyn Democracy Academy an all-out soca fete in tribute to Carnival (BDA). She developed new economic culture with us jumping and waving our empowerment and food justice programCaribbean flags. Dez-Ann's immigrant ming at BDA and helped students naviexperience shaped her perspective on gate complex systems on their path to a life, gave her purpose, and amplified her quality education with unmatched eledesire to see undocumented and docugance and compassion. mented immigrant students thrive. Principal Romain was more than just a Our journey didn't end with red and remarkable educator and student advowhite Far Rock graduation caps and cate. Her turbulent relationship with her gowns, ironically an ode to Dez-Ann's mother left her being the only stable and Trini colors. We kept our young and supportive family foundation to Delicia, naive promises to remain friends and her only sister whom she loved more eventually became life-long sources of than life itself. Dez-Ann was a resilient inspiration and support to each other. At black Caribbean woman that committed 18 years old, as I was struggling with my her life to speak out against inequality, faith, and silently suffering from debilisupporting social & gender justice issues, tating anxiety and confusion over my and a diligent campaigner for equal pay sexual orientation, Dez-Ann was there for women in education. She lived by for me. After coming out to her, she jokthese values and instilled them in all her ingly said, "I guess this means we can't students, who she always referred to as get married now, but I still love you." her children. Dez-Ann believed all black This type of unimaginable acceptance and brown young boys and girls deserved and friendship was lifechanging for me. to engage with role models that look like It meant that I wasn't going to be alone them, and she worked tirelessly to faciliwith my incapacitating thoughts and tate these opportunities. To her students fears of rejection. Dez-Ann and my best and colleagues, Principal Romain dared friend, Myisha McDonald (also a graduthem to dream without limitations. She ate from the class of 2001), became my personified leadership, motherhood, and support system. exemplified authentic fortitude to seeing Drawing encouragement from Mrs. her children win in an institutionalized McCauley, Dez-Ann devoted her academic setting constructed against extraordinary short-lived journey on this their capacity to achieve the American earth towards being a compassionate and Dream. driven educator, empowering, and upliftPrincipal Romain was more than just a ing inner-city students. She once said, "If remarkable educator and student advoI want to make real change in my stucate. Her turbulent relationship with her dent's lives, I have to become a mother left her being the only stable and Principal." To accomplish this goal, Dezsupportive family foundation to Delicia, Ann worked as a hairstylist to support her only sister whom she loved more herself through college, earning a than life itself. Dez-Ann was a resilient Bachelor's Degree in Visual Arts and two black Caribbean woman that committed Masters in Education from CUNY her life to speak out against inequality, Brooklyn College. As I was unapologetisupporting social & gender justice issues, cally finding my voice in Caribbean and a diligent campaigner for equal pay LGBTQ + activism and accepting my for women in education. She lived by queerness, Dez-Ann was becoming a

these values and instilled them in all her students, who she always referred to as her children. Dez-Ann believed all black and brown young boys and girls deserved to engage with role models that look like them, and she worked tirelessly to facilitate these opportunities. To her students and colleagues, Principal Romain dared them to dream without limitations. She personified leadership, motherhood, and exemplified authentic fortitude to seeing her children win in an institutionalized academic setting constructed against their capacity to achieve the American Dream. As of April 2, 2020, New York State has 92,381 confirmed cases of Novel coronavirus, with 51,809 in New York City and at least 2,373 COVID-related deaths statewide. People between the ages of 18-44 make up nearly 44% of the cases and 4% of deaths, while people over 75 make up about 8% of the cases and 50% of deaths. Being forced to painfully reminisce on my 20-plus years of friendship with Principal Romain, I question whether her tragic death could have been prevented. What if the President of the United States had taken a proactive approach to allocating resources to prevent the spread of COVID-19? Imagine if Mayor Bill de Blasio had closed all New York City public schools earlier? Would Principal Romain still be alive to continue inspiring, leading, and changing the lives of her children at BDA, during this remote learning evolutionary time in history? As I reflect on all my teenage memories of us escaping Far Rockaway with our friends to explore New York City, I'm reminded by how enthusiastic Dez-Ann and I were to be the change we wanted to see in this world. Principal Dez-Ann Romain embodied that change. My beloved friend built a tremendous legacy in giving "at-promise" students a second chance to excel and to discover their full potential, regardless of their socioeconomic background. May her wisdom, art, and selflessness continue to inspire us all to live our truths and stay home during these uncertain times. Rest in Power, Principal Dez-Ann Romain. l Mohamed Q. Amin is a pioneering IndoCaribbean Queer & Muslim Human and Immigrant Rights activist, a native of Guyana, who currently resides in Richmond Hill, NY. In response to antiLGBTQ hate violence, in 2015, he founded the Caribbean Equality Project (CEP), a non-profit organization that advocates for Caribbean LGBTQ+ voices in New York City. Amin holds a B.A in Economics, has over fourteen years of management experience in retail banking and financial literacy program development in immigrant communities, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Mental Health Counseling at his alma mater, Queens College.

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Can a Concussion Cause Long-Term Brain Problems? outside too quickly which could raise the risk of longer term problems. Parents should also take whatever steps possible to protect child against potential head injury such as providing appropriate helmets and head gear when your child is participating in sports or riding a bicycle, skateboard, or scooter. Although kids may not think it is “cool” to wear a helmet, the importance of this can’t be overemphasized. The brain is one organ you definitely want to protect at all costs.l

BY DR KRISTIE

o you have a child who plays sports or who loves to be a daredevil on a skateboard or bicycle? If so, they may be at a higher risk of experiencing a brain concussion. Although concussions have traditionally been thought of as mild forms of head injury that completely resolve without long-term problems, this may not always be the case. There’s evidence to suggest that a minor concussion may have affects on brain activities many years later. The so-called “mild concussion” may not be so minor after all. A brain concussion occurs when a person receives a blow to the head or a shaking type of injury which causes changes in brain activity, but without bleeding or other damage seen on x-ray. The symptoms of a mild concussion can be quite variable and can include a brief loss of consciousness. Even if no loss of consciousness occurs, a child may appear confused, dazed, have memory deficits, and behave in a peculiar manner. When is it most likely to happen? A minor concussion commonly occurs when a child is playing sports, playing outdoors, or as a result of a car or bike accident. Anytime the head experiences a blow or

a jarring type of movement, a brain concussion can result. Although a MRI or CT scan may be needed in severe cases of head injury, if symptoms are only mild, imaging studies may not be needed. This is why the history surrounding the head injury is so important. The history and how a child behaves immediately after the injury can determine whether or not a child needs to be hospitalized for further studies and observation. Although a mild concussion generally resolves over a period of several days to

a few weeks, there are some studies that show that children who experience a brain concussion, particularly multiple ones, can have subtle changes in memory and problems with inattentiveness even up to thirty years after the event. This appears to be more likely to happen if a child returns to playing sports too soon after a minor concussion. What can parents take away from this study? It’s important when a child is diagnosed with a minor concussion that he or she not be urged to go back to playing sports or allowed to play unattended

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