June 17th Issue

BRONX VOICE 4th Year, No. 4

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File photo

FREE June 17 - 23, 2020

BULLETS BLOOMING?

Looters destroy immigrant’s Assault Rifle store found in Page Bronx

flower bed

Photos by David Greene

Page 12

Calls for change, prayers for peace

Page 10

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Bronx Boro Prez’ bro slashed

The brother of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. was slashed during an arguement with a coworker at a NYCHA development, the NY Post is reporting.

Photo by David Greene

The brother of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. (Above) was attacked by a coworker he was reprimanding.

Samuel Diaz, brother of the borough president, is a NYCHA superintendent.

Cops say that at around 11:40 am on June 9, Diaz was disciplining a worker at the Concourse Village development.

The employee allegedly picked up a sharp object and slashed Diaz in the back of the head.

Diaz was taken to nearby Lincoln Hospital where he was treated for cuts to his head and neck. According to the Post, cops have identified the suspect but have not released a name or photo.

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4• BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020

Two dead in fiery morning Bronx River Parkway crash

By David Greene One man is dead and another was seriously injured after an ear-

ly morning crash on the Northbound Bronx River Parkway at East Gun Hill Road in Norwood.

The incident was reported at 1:35 a.m. on June 11, when officers from the 47nd Precinct and the

NYPD's Highway Patrol quickly shutdown the roadway and attempted to remove one victim from

the burning vehicle.

One police official reported a male driver was pulled from the burning 2019 Dodge Challenger. "unconscious and unresponsive." The still unidentified man was pronounced dead at the scene.

One unit reported a second victim, believed to be a pedestrian, "was also discovered unconscious and unresponsive and lying on the roadway in close proximity to the vehicle.”

The still-unidentified 60-year-old victim was rushed to Jacobi Hospital with serious injuries, one source reported a serious arm injury and an amputated left foot. Officials later stated the man was reported dead upon arrival to Jacobi.

The exit ramp and several lanes of the northbound roadway were shut until after 5 a.m. as the NYPD's Crash Investigation Squad performed their investigation.

The NYPD reports that after a preliminary investigation it has been determined that the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed, "When he failed to properly navigate the roadway as he was exiting the off ramp, and struck an unidentified pedestrian, before careening into a concrete wall, causing the vehicle to erupt in flames.”

Officials noted that the investigation continues and the names of the two victims are pending until their next of kin can be notified.

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Assault Rifle found in Bronx flower bed

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6• BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020

By David Greene A little more than 24 hours after hundreds of rioters set fires and looted stores across several Bronx neighborhoods, a Yonkers man was arrested after stashing an AR-15 assault rifle-- at the foot of Van Cortlandt Park.

After a denial that such an arrest took place, the NYPD conceded on June 7, issuing a brief statement that read in part, "On Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at approximately 2300 hours the suspect was observed in front of 4299 Katonah Avenue (47 Precinct) in possession of a loaded AR-15 assault rifle.”

The NYPD identified the individual as Nicholas Marc Bingman, 31, of 43 Hildreth Place in Yonkers, NY. The NYPD statement concluded that Bingman's motive remains “unknown."

Bingman was charged with criminal possession of a loaded firearm and criminal possession of an assault rifle on June 3 and was released on Saturday, June 6, after posting a portion of the $300,000 bail set by the Bronx District Attorney's office.

Sources and published reports have stated that in the criminal complaint, a witness spotted Bingman stash a backpack with his name on it, inside a flowerbed at the Arthur Ross

Nursery and the entrance to Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Park East and Katonah Avenue.

Sources and published reports have also indicated that Bingman is a former U.S. Marine, who had the assault weapon and two magazines of ammunition inside the backpack. He was also carrying a baseball bat at the time of his arrest.

Repeated calls and e-mails to the Bronx District Attorney's office have gone unanswered.

Police apparently arrested Bingman at 11 p.m. on June 2, outside the shuttered Behans Public House Sports Bar, a few blocks away from Van Cortlandt Park, on Katonah Avenue.

A day after Bingman made bail and police announced his arrest, a large crowd gathered at the Rambling House, where many were enjoying their Sunday cocktails on Katonah Avenue, with bars now allowed to serve customers on the street due to the coronavirus outbreak.

One Woodlawn resident hadn't heard of Bingman's arrest and responded, "Really? Yes, it's surprising, It's very quiet here. I didn't see anything. So we have to stay home a little bit, there's a lot of crazy people out here.”

Another resident offered, "They're out

here to cause trouble.

Go all the way up here and you'll see where he stored the machine gun, all the way to the end, there's a bus circle and you look to the left, you'll see a little garden with a sign, that's where they found it.”

That resident added, "Knowing the people in this neighborhood, he probably picked the wrong neighborhood.”

A homeowner on Van Cortlandt Park East, quipped, "Ask him where he got the $300,000, this way he could buy more guns.”

Another homeowner fumed, "The guy made bail? Welcome to New York, it's nice to have money.”

Attributing it to law enforcement sources, News 12, The Bronx reported that Bingman had a text on his phone telling him to "destroy all enemies," but that could not be independently verified.

A source who first alerted this reporter to the incident, insisted that the alleged plot involved more than one suspect or one park, but that key detail was also unable to confirm.

Meanwhile, a June 4th alert issued throughout the Yonkers Police Department about Bingman turned up on social media, providing a photo of

the burly, 6-foot, 220 pound white male.

The alert stated, "The above male was arrested by NYPD (47 Pct.) on 6/2/20 at 4299 Katonah Avenue, Bronx, NY." The alert continued, "Bingman was found to be concealing a loaded 45. semi automatic rifle and ammunition in a backpack which he discarded upon police contact.”

The alert concluded, "Officers should use extreme caution when interacting with Bingman and responding for calls for service" to his Yonkers home.

On Monday, June 15 Bingman's Legal Aid attorney Dorothy Kelly McDonald, stated, "All that is in the public record, he entered a not guilty plea," before declining further comment.

Repeated attempts to reach Bingman at his Yonkers home were unsuccessful. A call to Bingman's family home in Mount Vernon was not immediately returned.

Before Bingman's arrest was publicly known, a crowd of 200 'Black Lives Matter' demonstrators gathered to peacefully protest the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police on the Broadway side of the 1,146-acre park.

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8• BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020

Good Samaritan senior shot

By Dan Gesslein A Good Samaritan who tried to break up a fight was rewarded with a bullet in his leg. The NYPD is asking for the public’s help in trying to track down the shooter.

The assault happened inside the lobby of an apartment building in the vicinity of Sedgwick Avenue and West 197th Street. At around 4:30 pm on May 26, two men got into a heated exchange in the lobby.

Cops say a 66-yearold man tried to break up the fight. Then one of the men pulled out a gun and shot the Good

Samaritan in the left leg. He was rushed to an area hospital where he was treated for the gunshot wound.

The NYPD released surveillance video which shows the gunman running down a flight of stairs with his automatic handgun.

Investigators also released a photo of the person they are seeking.

Anyone with infor-

With a firearm in hand, cops say this man was involved in the shooting of a Good Samaritan in the Bronx.

mation is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.

The public can

also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.

COM, on Twitter @ NYPDTips or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

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10• BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020

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BLM protests continue as NYPD disbands anti-crime unit

By David Greene As the 'Black Lives Matter' movement continues with protests and demonstrations now entering a fourth week in cities across America, in response to the May 25th death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers-- individual cities look into their own practices and policies regarding the use of force and come to grips with their own racial disparities in their own system.

On June 5, nearly 300

demonstrators gathered at Poe Park in Kingsbridge and marched to the Bronx County Courthouse where several speakers recalled what they said was a peaceful rally the night before along Third Avenue, that many claimed turned violent by police. On that night the NYPD reported 240 arrests of demonstrators in the South Bronx.

Protester Luis Miguel Flores told the crowd, "I was one of the few that was able to make it out of yesterday's riot that hap-

Photo by David Greene

A crowd of peaceful demonstrators call for the defunding and even the abolishment of the New York City Police Department.

pened and occurred by the police, not by the protesters.”

Flores then shared a poem he wrote with the crowd, titled 'The Third Avenue Protest,' that read in part: "A black queen was our leader Heartbroken how they treat her No justice no peace Is all we hear as we stand Boxed in like animals as we watch our youth get slammed So I'll shout, make the God's panic But the actions causing madness Why the abuse Trump, this is tragic" Flores would soon get into a shouting match with a heckler, who attended another rally on May 31 on Third Avenue, when the same man disrupted a News 12 interview with Councilman Fernando Cabrera. A protest organizer convinced the unidentified man to leave the area.

After nearly an hour of speeches as the crowd jammed into the traffic island outside the Bronx County Courthouse, known as Lou Gehrig Plaza, the demonstrators ap-

parently defied an NYPD request and marched onto the courthouse steps.

On the steps of the courthouse, one unidentified organizer yelled out, "We stand on the blood and backs of our people. These buildings are here because of them. The only reason we have capitalism is because of 400 years of free slave labor. So dismantle this (expletive) system."

On June 8, congressional Democrats announced a bill aimed at overhauling police departments and police practices around the country. The legislation comes as President Donald Trump is expected to introduce his own bill.

Meanwhile, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea announced on June 15, that the department would immediately begin disbanding the 600-man, anti-crime unit who patrols in civilian clothes and unmarked police vehicles. Shea stated that the officers would be transferred to other units within the department.

Demonstrators then got back on the Grand Concourse and headed into Manhattan for more rallies.

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BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020• 11

Lifeline to community during pandemic destroyed by looters

12• BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020

By David Greene By eyewitness accounts the bright sun would rise over many of the looters who had paid an unexpected late night shopping trip to East Fordham Road/The creatures of that night of madness, scurried home like rats running from a kitchen light.

The repeated sightings of mostly young man, most carrying what looked like brand new and full backpacks, quickly walking in one direction or the other, as police vehicles continued responding to calls, speeding back and fourth across East Fordham Road.

It looked like a war zone or Category 5 storm, the devastation is quickly observed outside of the Kingsbridge Tobacco & Convenience Shop, located at 271 East Kingsbridge Road. Debris from the shop littered the sidewalk as well as the shattered panes of glass from the bus shelter in front of the store. The shop is now unrecognizable.

The shop owner, Shamsan Almunantscr, knows what war looks like. He comes from Yemen, one of the most dangerous battle fields in the world.

He and his employee Sadam Sayad looked around in disbelief. The shelves lay practically bare. What wasn't stolen ended up on

the floor.

At 6:30 a.m., Almunantscr was in the shop, cleaning up the damage and waiting for cops to arrive to make a report.

Still at this hour police were still very well engaged with the gangs of marauding youth, running in packs of ten or twenty along Tiebout Avenue and and on Andrews Avenue to the west.

Almunantscr blurted out, "A lot of damage and a lot of food was lost. A lot of damage, it goes in the garbage. You know, I don't care when they break it or they take it. If they break something, I don't care, but why you gotta make damage like this?”

The two men closed their shop at 9 p.m., but on June 1 they got a call that the shop was being vandalized.

As he tiptoed through the debris field of his store, like one might cross a minefield, he replied, "I got video.. but they broke the T.V., Yeah, Later." The surveillance system was

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Photo by David Greene

The Kingsbridge Tobacco & Convenience Shop, located at 271 East Kingsbridge Road was in tatters after looters smashed the store's windows and set fire to garbage out front.

smashed and in pieces on the floor.

Asked who did it, he said the crowd "was mixed" of young black, Spanish and white men.” Almunantscr doubted that any of the young men`1 were any of his customers or residents of the community.

Asked if he would rebuild, Almunantscr said simply, "Yes," before adding, "It's sad man. Why they gotta go break into a store like this man?"

Speaking of the daily protests in cities across America after the horrific death of George Floyd at the hands of police, Almunantscr, fumed, "If they want justice... This is not justice.”

Sayad, wearing his face mask, an American flag bandanna that's now firmly below his chin, said of the violence, "At Fordham Plaza they broke everything... Next door at the furniture store they tried to break in, but they couldn't, the gate was too heavy.”

Almunantscr offered, "They were going to burn the store last night, some-

body was calling me.

They were going to burn it, but some people said ‘don't burn it, just take the stuff and leave.’" He then pulled out his phone as the store's surveillance system caught the perpetrators as the set fire to the garbage out front before breaking into the store.

Speaking of his native Yemen, Almunantscr revealed, "In our country, we have a war and we don't even lose, not one soda. They fight on all sides, but business is business.”

Asked if he was sorry for coming to America, he replied, "No, were not sorry but you have to do something with this country.”

Sayad added, "We helped the community 247. It helps to know who's the people doing this problem and take them to jail." Both men stated they couldn't identify the men in the video, because it was dark and because they were wearing masks on their faces, but likely

not out of fear of the virus.

Almunantscr continued, "Listen, we ran from our homes to get away from war to get to a safe place and say 'God bless America.' This country has to do something. This mistake is not with this country, but we have to watch for these people. The people doing that shit, they try and do it all the time," as he now recalls the repeated shoplifting at his shop.

"You don't know how many times," Almunantscr then repeats, "But the problems in this country, they should fix it.”

Asked if 10 years was a fair sentence for looting, Almunantscr, a married man with four kids, replied, "Ten years is nothing. They should do life....

Everywhere in the city, their breaking in and the coronavirus. I don't want to close because I got milk and eggs, you know... now I'm not going to open for how long.”

He added that he had insurance coverage, but explained, "It wouldn't be that much.”

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Your Hustle by Tom Greenbaum

Small Biz surviving, thriving in post-pandemic period

In 1942, General McArthur was forced to leave the Philippines, but not before he delivered one of the most famous slogans of WWII “I SHALL RETURN”.

Two years later he marched through knee deep water and returned in force to lead the allied troops to the victory in the Philippines.

For retail establishments of all types in the current post Covid 19 period, the famous McArthur slogan should be a rallying cry for everyone. While many of the establishments closed by the virus will never return, the ones that try and make it in the new environment must be very diligent in following guidelines in two key areas.

The assumption is that there are very limited operating funds in the business, so the concept of a massive grand opening extravaganza is off the table. However, there are three key areas to be seriously addressed if your restaurant or store is to be one of the survivors, who can be on a path to return to pre Covid 19 levels: The first area of consideration is, of course, money. Regardless of the situation in which your business was when it closed, to open successfully will take some money for necessary changes in the operation, and perhaps even communication to your audience that you are back in business better than ever. To accomplish this, it is essential to take stock of both the amount of money you will need for a successful opening, and where you might be able to get them.

This is a brief document called a USES and SOURCES report, and includes the following: USES – This identifies the amount of money you will

need to get back into operation: * Identification of the money you will need to be ready to open (before any customers arrive). This considers such things as redecorating or rearranging the establishment, so it is consistent with the demands of the new retail environment, including social distancing, mask requirements, barriers between tables for restaurants etc. * Determination of the operating funds you will require upon opening until the flow of business provides a positive cash position. A business trying to reopen in this environment will very likely operate in a negative cash position for a short while as word spreads that you are open, and people in your target begin to feel comfortable eating out or shopping in your stores.

SOURCES - This outline of various sources of money that might be available to be able to meet the financial needs, and covers the following: * Funds you have on hand, if any, from the business before it closed. * Funds you might be able to borrow from friends and family either as a loan, or an investment in your “new” enterprise. * Money that might be obtained from city, state or federal sources either as a grant or loan to supplement what you have.

The Second area of consideration as you plan your opening is the “product mix” you will be offering. For example: * A restaurant should carefully plan the menu so that the foods included are among the most popular from the earlier time, and

also were the most profitable to provide. The concept of a more limited menu offering should be acceptable by your customers, IF the food is excellent, and there is a sufficient selection to meet the needs of most customers. * It is essential NOT to make available menu offerings that are nice to have, but do not generate much profit, and in fact result in unacceptable leftovers when the meal service is complete. * A retail store should follow a similar approach, focusing on the basic items that made the store successful in the past. By focusing the product offering on the items which you know will sell fast, and generate favorable profit margins should be the focus of the merchandising strategy. You must make your inventory work hard for you to generate cash for future inventory investment and contribution to overhead.

The Third area of consideration is the configuration of the retail establishment to meet the customer (and local legal) requirements in the post Covid period. Specifically, this involves rearranging the outlet so that social distancing is available for your customers at all times. * In a RESTAURANT it is the recognition that tables inside the restaurant will be fewer than before, perhaps with barriers between the tables to make customers feel more secure.

If possible, try to leverage any outdoor space you might have available to serve meals outside.

Customers will definitely feel more comfortable eating outside relative to the risk of Covid 19. To this end, a good investment is the portable heating elements which can stand

between tables to make dining during colder days more comfortable. * In a RETAIL STORE it probably would be necessary to widen the aisles, so customers feel they have space.

This is very consistent with the item #2 previously involving consolidation of the product mix.

The Fourth area for consideration is to have sanitizing liquids readily available throughout the restaurant or retail store. Customers will expect to be able to sanitize themselves whenever they desire. This also sends an important message to the customer relative to your attitude toward protecting your customers.

The Fifth area that must be considered involves you and/ or your employees in recognition that most people are quite anxious and concerned about returning to the retail environment in the current post-Covid19 period. To this end: * Restaurant employees of ALL types must wear masks and gloves when servicing customers. They also must be very cognizant of personal space, seeking to provide excellent service but without being all over the customers.

In restaurants particularly, it is particularly important to visually communicate the concern for cleanliness by ensuring that when tables turnover, there is a great attention towards cleaning and sanitizing the entire area including both the tables and chairs. * Retail store service personnel should follow many of the same guidelines as restaurant personnel. They should wear masks, and work very hard to help prospective customers without violating the space that we all need to feel comfortable.

The Sixth area that both restaurant and retail stores must utilize is the Internet to build awareness of your establishment. An effective social media campaign can be very helpful in drawing customers, as you can announce your opening and importantly all the changes in the establishment that have been made to make customers feel comfortable eating or shopping in the store.

Social media can be totally free, or you can invest limited money in some ads, but it is clearly the best, most cost-effective way to announce to the “world” that you are open for business and better than before.

The Seventh, and final, area that must be considered is the owner or manager of the establishment. The attitude that the manager, and the employees show towards the customer probably will be the single most important factor in determining whether they return and importantly what they tell their friends about their venture into “retail land”.

Managers and employees of both restaurants and retail stores must communicate their appreciation of your patronage via personal greeting and the best possible customer service.

In my opinion the key success factor that will determine the probability that a reopened establishment can succeed will be the attitude of the management and the staff toward the customers. If the customer feels wanted, and appreciated they will be much more likely to return.

ENCORE Strategic Business Consultants is a company that works with medium and small organizations to help them build their business in this difficult time. Our experience of over 40 years in the consulting business is our main point of difference, as we can work with an organization on virtually and issue, they feel will be important to growing their business.

Tom Greenbaum, the founder, can be reached at tom@encorestrategic.com or at 203-858-0515.

To learn more about the company go to www.encorestrategic.com.

14• BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020

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Knife-wielding suspect sought for Parkchester stabbing

By David Greene One man is recovering from a vicious knife attack in broad daylight as police released a surveillance photo of the suspect wanted in the crime.

According to NYPD detective and spokeswoman Sophia Mason, the incident was reported at 12:07 p.m. on June 6, outside of the E.D. Parking, located at 1840 East Tremont Avenue on the Parkchester - Van Nest border.

According to one witness, the still-unidentified 29-yearold victim first sought help at the New Hong Kong Restaurant at the corner of East Tremont and Thieriot Avenue, but the staff declined to get involved.

The victim stumbled another 50-feet to the New

King Gourmet Deli and Grocery, located at 1587 Thieriot Avenue, where the store clerk called police. Paramedics rushed the man to St. Barnabas Hospital, where his condition was reported as serious, but stable.

Detective Mason added, "It was determined that the victim and an unidentified male were engaged in a physical dispute when the unknown male stabbed the victim."

She added the investigation remains active and ongoing.

All westbound lanes on East Tremont Avenue were shut at Leland Avenue, for more than two hours as police conducted an evidence search on the traffic island where the incident took place.

Crime scene tape also

Photo by David Greene

Police shutdown the eastbound lanes of East Tremont Avenue after a 29-year-old man was stabbed and seriously wounded on June 6. stretched across the length of the New King Gourmet Deli and Grocery. One longtime Thieriot Avenue resident explained, "They took him away, he looked like he was going to die.”

The witness, who declined to be identified, continued, "He was on the floor right where you see the blood," as she pointed to a piece of paper towel soaked in blood.

The witness continued, "He was on the floor, right where you see the blood," adding that the victim was bleeding from the head.

The man behind the counter at the deli, reported that customers had reported to him that the victim was chased down by an assailant on a bicycle or scooter, moments before being attacked.

The deli worker who also declined to be identified, added, "He got stabbed and he went to that business and they said they didn't want any problems." The worker stated that the victim sat on the ground outside the deli, waiting for EMS, but soon collapsed.

The deli worker added, "He

was losing a lot of blood. He was stabbed in the head and he was holding his stomach.”

The NYPD released a surveillance photo of the suspect, who is described as a dark-skinned male black, between 20 - 30 years of age, wearing red shorts, black shirt and red baseball cap.

The suspect fled eastbound on East Tremont Avenue.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 577TIPS, all calls remain confidential.

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BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020• 15

Pride NOT dampened

by Coronavirus

Pandemic may have killed parade, but not Bronx Pride

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From AIDS to the Coronavirus and Beyond:

Let’s break the shackles of history, together

By Arthur Fitting BSN, RN, LGBTQ Program Manager, Visiting Nurse Service of New York As a public health nurse, a gay man and a New Yorker, I have lived, cared and lost through the AIDS crisis and the coronavirus pandemic. Across the span of four decades, I see far more similarities than I’d like in how we are dealing with both pandemics.

I also see—and am fortunate to be part of—a better way forward, which starts with making plans to ensure that all vulnerable people in our society have access to and are linked to healthcare, bringing all communities to the healthcare table and learning as Americans that we are all connected to one another.

Yet it must be noted, especially at this moment in time, when PRIDE events are coinciding with ongoing Black Lives Matter protests throughout the nation, how deeply discrimination still tarnishes the freedoms we’ve fought so hard to win.

In the 1980s, I spent frightening and mentally exhausting months caring for my partner as his life was being quickly taken away by AIDS. Recently, I’ve been monitoring oxygen levels, arranging telehealth visits with our doctor, delivering trays of food, and compulsively washing hands and surfaces to care for my husband, who is finally on the long road to recovery from COVID-19—neither of us knowing what would happen next at each step along the way. I was more than uncomfortable with

frequent flashbacks of my experience during the AIDS crisis. The exhaustion itself, a new reminder of inner and outer protests from the past.

As a public health nurse, then and now, I have cared for so many others—individuals and, person by person, whole communities—suffering from these two devastating, isolating diseases.

A painful history can be seen in the cruelty and heartbreak of people dying alone, having no known treatment and not knowing what would be happening next. In the 1980s and 1990s, the isolation was because of stigma, fear of a disease about which so little was known, and fear, by association, of gay men, who were on the margins of society in the first place.

As a young nurse with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) doing infusions for desperately ill AIDS patients in their homes, I saw far too many patients and friends die of a disease that spared no one,(at that time) I redoubled my commitment to be part of VNSNY’s pioneering health care force, which leads the way in not only delivering clinical care but also disseminating information, helping patients navigate stigma and isolation, and creating home health care programs to support vital quality care at home.

With coronavirus, it’s the easy transmissibility that isolates people from their loved ones in their final days. Family and friends cannot see loved

ones or mourn together.

Health care workers—in head-to-toe protective gear—stand in for loved ones where they can. This includes some of my courageous, compassionate nursing colleagues in VNSNY Hospice, who have told me stories of convening tearful FaceTime goodbyes, holding a hand in the final moments, and blowing a kiss to a dying mother at a grieving daughter’s request.

Coronavirus, like AIDS, preys disproportionately on people in black, ethnic and other minority at-risk groups and in underserved communities. My younger self—a nurse during the AIDS crisis, comforting largely marginalized people facing what was then a certain death sentence—would have been surprised to see how little progress we’ve made in closing the gaps in health disparities. Progress remains painfully slow in making sure people have access to the care, food, housing and support they need to live healthy lives, whether during the current pandemic, a new mysterious disease, or in response to America’s ongoing epidemic of chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

At the same time, my younger self also would have been proud—and indeed I am—of how community health organizations, like the one I still work for, are addressing social determinants of health. Through forward-looking collaborative partnerships, we bring comprehensive

quality care directly into the home, taking a holistic view that includes making sure people have food in the refrigerator, adequate heat and air-conditioning, and a way to obtain and correctly take needed medications as well as other day-to-day necessities.

We in the LGBTQ community stand on stronger footing now than ever before. Forty years after the emergence of the AIDS crisis and 50 years after Stonewall, LGBTQ Americans find themselves living in a world of more emerging “normalcy,” PRIDE, and marriage equality. When I am caregiving for my husband during an epidemic with so many unknowns, it is no small consolation to know that we are married under the law, with certain bedrock rights, as referenced in the NYC Department of Health LGBTQ Health Care Bill of Rights.

But there is more to do.

LGBTQ New Yorkers who are 55 and older— the people I serve most closely in my role as LGBTQ Program Director for VNSNY—are once again in a high-risk group during a pandemic, and social isolation is again the order of the day. Even before the virus, LGBTQ seniors were much more likely than their non-LGBTQ peers to avoid the health care system as they age— which is when they need access most—and to report feeling more isolated and vulnerable, according to SAGE, the advocacy group for LGBTQ seniors.

I am again proud of our

organization for ensuring that every employee— from senior leadership to top managers, to administrative assistants and clinicians across all divisions—has taken SAGE training in how to provide safe, culturally sensitive and trusted care to this population.

This June, as we connect in PRIDE while social distancing, it is more important than ever to ensure that LGBTQ seniors of all backgrounds are able to age more safely and in better health. To help make that happen, VNSNY’s Center for Home Care Policy and Research has teamed up with SAGE on a survey of LGBTQ New Yorkers age 55 and up. Data from the survey will be used to understand how older adults perceive and experience their own communities, to pinpoint barriers to aging well, accessing health care, transportation and adequate housing— and to create solutions.

We encourage all 55+ LGBTQ+ New Yorkers to fill out the survey at: bit. ly/SAGE-NYC-LGBTQSurvey.

To bridge isolation and create the connections we yearn for these days, we must continue to raise our voices—an important quality of being proud, but also of being heard on these essential matters of healthcare and aging.

If we look closely across the decades, we can see the real path forward to healthier living and the antidote to dying alone: living, learning and moving forward together.

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18• BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020

LGBTQ care, Pride continues through the Pandemic

By Alana Murphy, Program Chair to Healthcare Equality Index for Human Rights Campaign at Montefiore Health System This year, Pride takes on a new meaning for all of us. As the world continues to recover from a pandemic, we have already witnessed Pride in our collective admiration for all the

healthcare heroes helping to keep us safe every day.

We witnessed Pride in the celebration of these heroes each night with clapping, ringing bells, and banging on pots and pans in appreciation for those risking their own lives for the lives of others.

Pride speaks to the confidence and self-respect of everyone who

is or has been socially marginalized by others based on their race, culture, identity or sexual orientation. We use Pride as a measurement of our progress and continued movement toward social justice for all.

Montefiore was proud to be the first health system in New York to join the NYC Pride March in 2015. Last

June, our “Your Home for LGBTQ Care” float joined 5 million others rolling down 5th Avenue celebrating World Pride. Although we cannot join the parade physically this year, we stay committed to serving our LGBTQ associates, patients, and community during this time.

We are committed to creating a safe working environment for Montefiore’s diverse workforce through policy & education by ensuring that associates are able to share benefits with their same-sex spouses, use their preferred name and pronouns, and receive LGBTQ cultural competency training to create awareness and explore biases. We know creating a safe space for our associates will translate into better healthcare for patients.

Along with continuing to see patients through Montefiore FIRST video visits throughout the pandemic, the Oval Center at Montefiore partnered with the Department of Health to

send out at-home HIV test kits to patients.

These kits allowed patients to continue getting their PrEP and PEP prescriptions refilled without coming into the clinic to get the required test. The clinic is now open to see patients physically with appropriate policies for social distancing and screening in place.

We partner with the CDC-funded MPowerment program to build community and provide sexual health resources for queer youth in the Bronx. In the lead up to Pride Month, the MPowerment program held a weekly virtual talent show on Instagram and weekly zoom group meetings throughout the month of May to combat isolation and bring community together. Attendees to the virtual event were also able to receive free sexual health screenings.

To learn more about how you can receive LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare all year long, visit montefiore.org/LGBTQcare.

Celebrating pride and protecting your health

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By Veronica Noel As Bronx residents join New York and the rest of the world in celebrating Pride Month, it’s important to remember this is a time not only for celebration, but also reflection and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.

As a Bronx native, I understand how difficult it has been over the past few months for many of my friends, neighbors and the LGBTQ+ community, especially when it comes to accessing and receiving quality health care.

As regional manager for EmblemHealth’s Neighborhood Care center in Harlem, my work focuses entirely on serving our community.

At EmblemHealth, we strive to ensure all of our members feel included, understood and respected. We see our members as individuals, with personal stories and unique needs. Unfortunately, people who identify as LGBTQ+ often tend to face more barriers to accessing health care than other groups.

In fact, the LGBTQ+ community often experiences worse health outcomes than other groups for a number of reasons. Many suffer from ongoing stress and anxiety from living in a society where LGBTQ+ individuals are often stigmatized. Those who do have access to medical care often struggle to find providers to meet their needs.

The federal government’s reversal of anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people earlier this month will only increase these challenges. At EmblemHealth, we believe in quality health care for all, and are committed to protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community with the care and resources

you deserve.

If you are not comfortable with your doctor, you are more likely to leave out information pertinent to your health, which will directly affect the level of care you receive. If you identify as LGBTQ+ and do not feel comfortable with your current health care provider, find a doctor that you feel more at ease. EmblemHealth’s provider group, AdvantageCare Physicians (ACPNY), takes a “whole you” approach to care that responds to and respects all the factors that make up your identity and contribute to your whole health picture, including your gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Many of our providers have undergone special training on providing responsive and respectful care to LGBTQ+ patients. ACPNY’s affiliate, BronxDocs, has three conve-

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nient locations in the Bronx and offers virtual visits.

While physical health is important, our mental health should also be a top priority, as LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience mental health conditions and are at a higher risk for suicidal thoughts. Help is available through local and national resources, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) and the Trevor Project, which is dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

Let’s also remember that health care goes beyond the doctor’s office. Make sure to consistently check in on how you are feeling, since a lot has happened over the last few months. If you are experiencing feelings of uncertainty and helplessness, those can actually be forms of grief. Try to limit your news consumption and find ways

to help your mind and body.

Some ways to feel good in these difficult times can include deep breathing, meditation, or just simply stretching your body and walking around the block. EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care offers free health and wellness programs to help, including virtually during COVID-19.

While these are uncertain and stressful times, it’s important to remember that Pride Month is also about celebrating what we’ve accomplished as a community.

Celebrate safely by taking advantage of one of the dozens of virtual events taking place around New York City. The Bronx is hosting virtual celebrations that include a ceremony at the Bronx Borough Hall along with dance parties, readings, and more—all which you can enjoy from the comfort

of your home. Social media channels and apps like MeetUp and Facebook are also great ways to find virtual events to join and meet new people while joining in the celebrations. For something more intimate with family and friends, why not schedule your own Pride party through Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime?

It’s important to remember we are not alone, even if we are still social distancing. We’ve made progress as a community, but there is still much work to be done.

EmblemHealth is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community, and committed to making sure our members have access to the care they deserve to lead a healthy, happy life—one in which they can truly be proud.

Veronica Noel is a Regional Manager at EmblemHealth.

20• BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020

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Health Matters

Covid concert in Bronx hospital lifts spirits

By David Greene As mega performers like Elton John, Billy Joel and Beyonce remain sidelined due to the coronavirus outbreak and the closure of most concert halls around the world, the sound of song and yes, even some laughter, has continued to fill the halls, rooms and even elevators at one local hospital. Members of the Health and Hospital Corporation's North Central Bronx Hospital's Creative Arts Therapy Department have been spreading good will throughout the hospital through song and dance.

In a poetic moment caught on video at the Kossuth Avenue hospital in Norwood, music therapist Tony Scarpa, 68, a resident of Long Island, held an impromptu concert on the elevator with a maximum crowd of five as he and his partner Alexa Palmer were headed to another floor. Scarpa continued to play, "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles. One hospital staff member is seen moving her head to the song's rhythm.

During a telephone interview the following day, Scarpa explained he and his partner Palmer, 30, who are officially dubbed, the 'Music and Emotional Support' team at the hospital, but

unofficially the duo is Photo by David Greene called the "Chill Pills."

Palmer is a creative arts The Music Emotional Support staff also known as the "Chill Pills" (Left to Right): Alexa Palmer and Tony Scarpa of North Central Bronx Hospital. therapist and Scarpa says, "I play the guitar this, which would be mind off of their prob- "is also a great form of and sing the songs and providing stress relief lems and stress.” providing joy, connecshe dances with them" and emotional support As Scarpa belts out tion and emotional reand gets patients to to patients and staff. I'd his tunes, Palmer gets lease." She said of her move. go around and do music their crowd involved as job at the Creative Arts "What I normally do therapy with them.” a dance and movement Therapy Department here is," Scarpa recalled, After given the bless- therapist.

"Could be draining, but "I'm a music therapist in ing by North Central Palmer explained, "I it's also very rewarding, the Partial Hospitaliza- Bronx Hospital's CEO help the staff and pa- especially at a time of tion Program for peo- Cristina Contrera last tients physicalize and crisis.” ple with mental illness, month, the duo have move the body as a Like any group before that's what I've been been traveling through- form of expression, so- a big gig, Scarpa and doing. But what hap- out the hospital, per- cialization and stress re- Palmer go over their pened when the COVID forming for staff mem- lief." She continued, "I playlist daily, which came to the hospital, bers and patients, even focus on the nonverbal Scarpa says his catalog they closed the program bringing other instru- expressions and create includes about 20,000 to make room for the ments and song sheets a supportive relation- songs, including such COVID patients.” with lyrics, if anyone ship from there, through groups as "The Beatles," He continued, "So I wants to join in. mirroring and attun- "The Black Eyed Peas" wasn't doing that anyScarpa says, "They ing to their movements, and "Maroon Five" to more, so I went to the play the instruments rhythm and mood.” name just a few. He CEO of the hospital and basically just have a "Movement and tapes his day's list of CONTINUED ON PAGE 21 and requested that I do good time and take their dance," Palmer noted,

BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020• 21

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Covid concert in Bronx hospital lifts spirits Even in the elevator CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

30 or so songs that he feels "appropriate" for that day, on his guitar however, he explains, "usually people request songs, so that changes things.”

Dealing with a diverse crowd, Scarpa says, "You'll get more people joining in with the older songs. Yesterday we got a request from a woman who was actually a COVID patient and we were playing for the staff and the staff suggested we visit her because she likes music." When the "Chill Pills" arrived, the patient requested, "We are The World.”

Recalling his work in the height of the pandemic in April, Scarpa said, "The songs at the beginning, when the outbreak first took over, were songs more about caring and compassion and helping each other like ‘Lean on Me,’ I don't know if you know the words of that song, but it's more about someone saying I'll help you and then you'll help me and we'll help each other... more songs that are directly related to the sadness and the grief everyone was feeling in the early weeks.”

At one point in the in-

terview Scarpa clearly became emotional as he recalled his first performance after the outbreak of the coronavirus. "The first person I went to, I started playing ‘Stand

by Me’ and gosh, we probably weren't into the song 15 seconds and the woman that I was playing for was right behind the desk and she started crying.”

"Now things tend to be lightning up," Scarpa says after a nearly 7-week "PAUSE" order and partial closure of our entire city, he now adds, "And people are enjoying more happier music. I’m not being reminded so much of the COVID anymore and people just want to have a good time and that's the stage were at now... We're starting to see the light in the tunnel and things are getting better.”

Scarpa, who first performed at the 1964 World's Fair at the age of 12, recalled his most recent performances, and said, "The thing that affects you the most is the demand that people had to hear these songs. I felt like they were in a desert and I had water." He added, "I can never remember a time when people had a

connection to music like that.”

"The Chill Pills" continue to perform daily at North Central Bronx Hospital, with the largest crowd of 20 held in a cafeteria or the hospital's lobby. The entire staff of art and movement therapists also had plans for something special in honor of 'Nurses Week.’

In a prepared statement

issued by Cristina Contreras, the Executive Director, NYC Health and Hospitals / North Central Bronx, noted, "Singing, listening to music and dancing have uplifted hearts for centuries and in the clinical settings have been associated with improved outcomes.”

Contreras added, "Our music therapy program has proven to be a po-

tent tool for improving employee morale and patient satisfaction and functions as an extension of the care team. The physical, psychological and social effects of the music therapy are a catalyst for healing and as such a crucial component of the ancillary services we offer our NCB community of both staff and patients."

22• BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020

Coronavirus:

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Children are NOT immune- study says While most children infected with the novel coronavirus have mild symptoms, a subset requires hospitalization and a small number require intensive care.

A new report from pediatric anesthesiologists, infectious disease specialists and pediatricians at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children hospitalized with COVID-19, during the early days of the pandemic.

Published in the Jour-

nal of Pediatrics, the report compares 46 children between one month and 21 years old, who received care either on a general unit, or in the Pediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU) at CHAM. This is the largest single-center study from the United States to date to describe in detail the full spectrum of COVID-19 disease in hospitalized children.

Researchers found that

File Photo

children requiring intensive care had higher levels of inflammation and needed additional breathing support, compared to those who were treated on a general unit. Of the children being cared for in the PCCU, almost 80% had Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), which is more commonly associated with critically ill adult COVID-19 patients, and almost 50% of children with ARDS were placed on ventilators.

On average, children in the PCCU stayed in the hospital four days longer than children on the general unit. Researchers at CHAM and Einstein also found that while obesity and/or asthma was highly prevalent in children in this study, these complications did not increase the likelihood that a child would need enhanced levels of care.

“We know that in adults, obesity is a risk factor for more severe disease, however, surprisingly, our study

found that children admitted to the intensive care unit did not have a higher prevalence of obesity than those on the general unit,” said lead author Jerry Y. Chao, M.D., M.Sc., pediatric anesthesiologist, CHAM, and assistant professor of anesthesiology, Einstein.

Researchers also found that more than half of the children had no known contact with a COVID-positive person. This may reflect the fact that the virus can be spread by asymptomatic people and COVID19 may be more prevalent in communities with a high population density.

“Thankfully most children with COVID-19 fare well, and some do not have any symptoms at all, but this research is a sobering reminder that children are not immune to this virus and some do require a higher level of care,” said senior author Shivanand S. Medar, M.D., FAAP., attending physician, Cardiac Intensive Care, CHAM, and assistant

professor of pediatrics, Einstein. “These preliminary findings contribute to our understanding of COVID-19 in pediatric patients, but more research is needed to determine how the virus truly impacts children.”

Co-authors of the paper include Kim Derespina, M.D., critical care attending, CHAM, and assistant professor of pediatrics, Einstein; Michael D. Cabana, M.D., M.P.H., Physician-in-Chief at CHAM and The Michael I. Cohen, M.D., University Chair, Department of Pediatrics at Einstein and Montefiore; and Betsy Herold, M.D., chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases and vice chair for research, CHAM and Einstein, and professor of pediatrics, of microbiology & immunology, and of obstetrics & gynecology and women’s health, Einstein.

For next steps, the investigators plan to follow the patients and examine their long-term outcomes.

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BRONX VOICE• June 17 - 23, 2020• 23

Culinary Road Return of the Foodies?

Restaurants reopen gradually

By Morris Gut

According to Gov. Cuomo, Mayor DeBlasio and local officials, the Bronx will have to wait until early July to begin Phase 2. That would permit restaurants to offer outdoor patio dining.

In the Mid-Hudson Region of New York State, which includes Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and the Hudson Valley, Phase 2 reopening began on June 9th.

Restaurants are serving outdoors throughout the area with restrictions. Phase 3 reopening in Westchester has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, June 23rd, and will allow for limited indoor seating at restaurants within strict guidelines.

This is, of course, great news for the restaurant community which has been struggling for months since coronavirus dining restrictions were put in place. I hear restaurant owners have had trouble getting their outdoor dining permits in some municipalities. Perhaps this will now ease with the phased re-openings in sight. Restaurants in nearby Fairfield County, CT., have permitted outdoor dining for several weeks. We have taken advantage firsthand, as have many New Yorkers crossing the border.

I, for one, am anxious to get back out again to restaurants in the region. I miss the ambiance, conviviality, and the food. It will be a ‘new normal’, experts say. We will keep you posted in coming weeks…

SOFT SHELL CRAB SEASON HAS ARRIVED: WHERE TO ENJOY THEM! The season for fresh softshell crab runs thru September and there are legions who crave this delicacy simply sautéed or deep fried with some lemon and butter (perhaps some capers).

Of course, there are other recipes, too. Nothing like a crispy soft-shell crab sandwich with the proper condiments. I am a big fan. Here’s where to seek them out?

Artie’s Steak & Seafood, 394 City Island Ave., City Island, Bronx (718-885-9885) The blackboard lists the weekly specialties served with all the trimmings. Jumbo soft shells simply sautéed. Wash it all down with one of the house specialty cocktails or craft beers.

Open for take-out & delivery. www.artiescityisland. com City Island Seafood Shack, 2049 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx (929-371-3252) A taste of City Island on Williamsbridge, just off Pelham Parkway. Open for take-out. www.cityislandseafoodshack.com Randazzo’s Seafood, 2327 Arthur Ave., Bronx (718-367-4139) Started 3 generations ago by a Sicilian family of fisherman, this market has soft shells in stock all season.

Current hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.randazzoseafood.com Sammy’s Fish Box, 41 City Island Ave., City Island, Bronx. 718-885-0920 Traditional seafood.

Get them to go. www. sammysfishbox.com Dubrovnik, 721 Main Street, New Rochelle (914-637-3777) This restaurant, the first to specialize in Croatian/ Adriatic cuisine in the metro area, excels in fish and seafood so you won’t go wrong here. Chef Selendic will prepare it beautifully. Take-out & delivery. www.dubrovnikny.com The 808 Bistro, 808 Scarsdale Ave., Scarsdale (914-722-0808)

Chef Salvatore will be serving soft shells with creamy polenta and cheese & spinach stuffed tomatoes on the side. Sounds yummy!

They will also be on hand at their other space: El Barrio. www.the808bistro.com www.elbarriony.com La Piccola Casa, 410 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck (914-777-5766) Chef/owner Walter Ricci, who cooks across from blossoming Harbor Island Park, personally shops the Hunts Point Fish Market during the wee hours of the morning, and he was clued about the arrival of soft shells from one of his valued seafood purveyors. He does a flavorful job with them.

Magno’s Grill, 108 Centre Ave., New Rochelle (914-235-0008) Chefs Angel & Paz Magno offer soft shell crabs piccata with caper berries over sautéed corn, tomatoes, spinach, with a lemon wine sauce.

Take-out & delivery. www. magnosgrill.com X20 Xaviar’s on the Hudson, 71 Water Grant Street, Yonkers (914-965-1111) Chef Peter X. Kelly and company do a fine job with soft shell crab every year.

Enjoy them along with expansive views of the Hudson River. www.xaviars.com Eastchester Fish Gourmet & Market, 837 Post Road, Scarsdale (914-725-3450) They will be serving soft shells all season long. They shop the new Fulton Fish Market each week. You can take home from their market a few doors down, too. www. eastchesterfishgourmet.com FARMERS MARKETS REOPEN IN WESTCHESTER! At this writing, New York State and New York City are coordinating their reopening strategies. If you enjoy

foraging thru your local seasonal farmers market, Bronx residents still must wait.

However, nearby Westchester farmers markets have been reopening. Be prepared to follow all the Covid-19 safety guidelines and restrictions.

BRONXVILLE FARMERS MARKET, SATURDAYS! You must register for a time slot. The market runs every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. thru November. It is located at Stone Place at Paxton Ave., Bronxville. 914-337-6040 www. bronxvillefarmersmarket. com MOUNT VERNON FRESH CONNECT FARMERS MARKET! It’s held on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Hall Plaza, Mount Vernon. www.cmvny.com MUSCOOT FARMERS MARKET OPENS, KATONAH! It is nice to hear that Muscoot Farmers Market, part of Muscoot Farm on Rt. 100 in Katonah, has reopened for the season. There are safety restrictions in place in keeping with the times. Visitors will require an advanced appointment (reservation) for a 30-minute shop slot.

Shoppers must also adhere to all coronavirus safety rules.

The farmers market will operate every Sunday from 10 a.m. thru November 22. Free admission. For further info: 914-864-7283, or www.muscootfarm.org WHITE PLAINS FARMERS MARKET, WEDNESDAYS! A welcome sign of the new season, the popular outdoor White Plains Farmers Market is in full swing on Wednesdays. New hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year, the public is asked to follow proper safety protocols. Masks

and gloves are encouraged.

Check their website for details. It takes place on Court Street between Martine and Main Streets. For further info: www.whiteplainsfarmersmarket.com PLEASANTVILLE FARMERS MARKET KICKS OFF! It opened and will continue to operate at 10 Memorial Place every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. thru December 24th. Parking at the Metro-North parking lot.

New restrictions in place. www.pleasantvillefarmersmarket.org COLD SPRING FARMERS MARKET NOW AT BOSCOBEL! The popular Cold Spring Farmers Market has moved to the historic Boscobel Estate Museum in Garrison. A lovely setting. It takes place every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. New guidelines. www.coldspringfarmersmarket.org FARMERS MARKET AT JOHN JAY HOMESTEAD, KATONAH! The farmers market will run every Saturday thru October. Advanced registration is required for a 30-minute shopping slot from 10 a.m.

One family member per group. John Jay Homestead is at 400 Jay Street (Rt. 22), Katonah. www.johnjayhomestead.org Addendum: At this writing, the State of New York was considering partial reopening. Restrictions and guidelines may change, so please check ahead.

(Morris Gut is a restaurant marketing consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in greater Westchester for 30 years. He may be reached at: 914-235-6591.

Email: gutreactions@opton-

line.net)

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