TOWN HALL FACT CHECKS

DIGITAL Version 2020

Vol: 2 No: 21

OCTOBER 16, 2020

DUELING TOWN HALL FACT CHECKS Page 27

EDITORIAL Page 43

SAVE OUR VILLAGE page 78 ICE CUBE –TRUMPSTER or not Page 54 Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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10/16/2020

Donald Trump’s Incitements to Violence Have Crossed an Alarming Threshold In December, 2016, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, two political scientists at Harvard, published an opinion piece in the Times that posed the question “Is Donald Trump a Threat to Democracy?”

Relying on a set of criteria for antidemocratic leaders created by Juan José Linz, a Spanish expert on totalitarianism, which includes the incitement of violence for political purposes, the two scholars determined that Trump “tests positive.”

During that year’s Presidential campaign, they reminded readers, Trump had incited violence by encouraging his supporters to rough up protesters at his rallies.

In their Times piece, and at greater length in their book, “How DemocPublished by The Village Press, Inc.

racies Die,” from 2018, Levitsky and Ziblatt developed the theme that Trump had authoritarian inclinations—and they also emphasized the fact that he took over the Presidency during a period of intense political polarization, when other right-wing extremists were already questioning the legitimacy of their political opponents. While American democracy wasn’t in imminent danger of collapsing, they wrote, “We must be vigilant. The warning signs are real.”

Right now, those signs couldn’t be flashing any brighter. Over the weekend, Trump cheered on a caravan of his supporters that confronted groups of Black Lives Matters demonstrators in Portland, Oregon, the site of months of ongoing protests, some of which have turned violent. In the clashes that ensued, one person—Aaron (Jay) Danielson, a supporter of the far-right group Patriot Prayer— was shot and killed. Not content with fanning the flames in Portland, Trump retweeted a message that was supportive of Kyle Rittenhouse, the seventeen-year-old Illinois teen-ager who shot three pro2

testers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last week, killing two of them. Then, at a press conference on Monday, Trump defended Rittenhouse, suggesting that he had acted in selfdefense.

“I find it, frankly, terrifying,” Levitsky told me on Monday, when I called to ask him about Trump’s latest rhetorical escalations. Although the language that the President has adopted over the past few days is entirely consistent with his 2016 campaign, the inflammatory statements he issued at rallies then were “on a micro scale” compared with what he is doing now on a national stage, Levitsky said. And the political environment, following months of protests against police racism and brutality, is even more incendiary. “We now have the potential in towns and cities across the country for pretty significant violence, with a large number of deaths,” he said. “Trump is either unaware of this or he doesn’t care.

I don’t normally like to make these comparisons, but this sort of encouragement of violence for political purposes is worryingly similar to (Continued on page 4)

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NYPD’s Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo resigns over rift with de Blasio

him to City Hall on Friday to chew him out for the oversight, sources said.

Hizzoner “routinely loses his s—t about missed phone calls,” another source added.

Then, on Saturday night, the mayor’s office texted Pichardo several times about a house party in The NYPD chief responsible for the Bronx, a law enforcement tens of thousands of uniformed source said, explaining that dealing patrol officers abruptly resigned with such an issue should fall to Tuesday — frustrated by needling the precinct’s commander. micromanagement from Mayor Bill “This is nothing but inappropriate de Blasio, according to police meddling from a person who sources. doesn’t know anything about paNYPD Chief of Patrol Fausto trol — even though he has been Pichardo hit his breaking point here for seven years,” the source after working long hours covering said of de Blasio. protests against state-imposed It was unclear when Pichardo’s last coronavirus lockdowns in Borough day would be — though it can Park last week — only to be hacome in the next 30 days. rangued by the mayor afterward, Pichardo, who oversees the dethe sources said. partment’s “largest and most visiWhen he got home from one of ble bureau” — including a majority the shifts, Pichardo missed a call of its nearly 24,000 uniformed pofrom the mayor — who summoned Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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lice officers — was appointed by Police Commissioner Dermot Shea in December, according to the NYPD. He began his career in 1997, serving as a police cadet before graduating to a police officer in the Midtown North Precinct two years later.

He went on to hold a number of high-profile posts, including as commanding officer of the 33rd Precinct in Washington Heights and commanding officer of the 43rd Precinct in the Soundview section of the Bronx.

Before being tapped for chief of patrol, he served as the executive officer in the Patrol Services Bureau under Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison.

Pichardo was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York City at the age of 9, the Manhattan Times reported in 2018.

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what the Fascist movement did in Europe during the nineteentwenties and nineteen-thirties.”

In these hyper-polarized, hyperonline times, the word “fascist” gets bandied around a great deal.

For this reason, among others, I have avoided using it when writing about the Trump Administration.

But Levitsky isn’t the only expert on democratic erosion who sees some alarming parallels between interwar Europe and what is happening in the United States today.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian at New York University, is the author of a forthcoming book on authoritarian leaders, “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present.” In a telephone conversation, she reminded me that the Fascist Italian dictator, before he ascended to power, in October, 1922, exploited violent clashes between groups of his armed supporters, known as the Blackshirts, and their left-wing opponents. “He used the violence to destabilize Italian society, so he could position himself as the person to stop this violence,” Ben-Ghiat said. That’s what Trump is doing now, she added.

To be sure, the historical parallels aren’t exact. After King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Mussolini as Italy’s Prime Minister, Mussolini quickly obtained dictatorial powers and seized control of the state, converting the Blackshirts into a state-sanctioned official militia.

Trump has already been President for nearly four years. He’s said and done some terrible things, but, when checked by the courts or by Published by The Village Press, Inc.

other institutions of state, he has generally backed down, at least for a while. During the protests for racial justice in Washington, earlier this year, for example, Pentagon chiefs successfully resisted Trump’s calls to send in federal troops.

Still, these recent events are extremely alarming. By cheering on the members of the Portland caravan—“great patriots,” he called them on Twitter—and defending Rittenhouse, despite the fact that he has been charged with two counts of first-degree homicide, the President has crossed a threshold. Faced with the prospect of losing an election, and power, he has gone beyond mere scaremongering and resorted to fomenting violent unrest from the White House. “The public embrace of militias and paramilitaries is clearly recognizable authoritarian behavior,” Levitsky said of Trump’s incitements. “You see it in India, in the nineteennineties and two-thousands. You see it in the American South, during Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era. What Trump is doing— encouraging this violence—is a time bomb. We had three political deaths last week. We should not be watching the political death count rise in a mature democracy like the United States.”

One of these deaths, in Portland, appears to have been the result of a left-wing protester shooting a Trump supporter in the chest.

The Oregonian has identified the suspect as Michael Forest Reinoehl, a forty-eight-year-old Portland man whose online postings identify him as a supporter of Black Lives Matter and Antifa. I asked 4

Levitsky and Ben-Ghiat what can be done to arrest a downward spiral into more bloodshed. Both of them said that it was essential for leading politicians of both parties to denounce violence and call for calm.

This is what Joe Biden, Trump’s opponent, did on Monday. “I’m going to be very clear about all of this,” the former Vice-President said, in a speech in Pittsburgh. “Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting. None of this is protesting.

It’s lawlessness. Plain and simple.

And those who do it should be prosecuted. Violence will not bring change.” Shortly after Biden spoke, Trump launched his defense of Rittenhouse and described the Portland caravan as a peaceful protest. Almost equally disturbing was the silence from other elected Republicans. “The most influential figures in the conservative movement—the commentators on Fox News and the Republican Party leaders—must come out and renounce this violence,” Levitsky said. “If they don’t, we are in terrible trouble.”

Ben-Ghiat echoed Levitsky’s call for political leaders to distance themselves from Trump and stand up for peaceful democratic values. She added that leaders of other institutions that have a vital interest in preserving the American system of government, such as businesses, should join this effort. “In this case, the business community has not stepped up and been vocal enough,” she said. If the country’s leaders don’t push back against Trump’s incitements now, the violence could take on a momentum of its own, raising the possibility of an authoritarian reaction. That is what has happened in other failed democracies. “The only way you can avoid violence, and perhaps a constitutional crisis, is if the political leadership moves to de-escalate things and demobilize their bases,” Levitsky said. “Trump is doing precisely the opposite of that.”

10/16/2020

DIGITAL Version 2020

Let the Record Show: Amy Coney Barrett Draws Scrutiny for Ruling Saying ‘N-Word’ Doesn’t Prove a Workplace Is Hostile As Senate confirmation hearings for Donald Trump’s Supreme Court candidate Amy Coney Barrett began on Tuesday, her record on bigticket issues will come under increased scrutiny as people on both sides of the aisle try to discern exactly what kind of Justice she might be. While the confirmation hearings themselves may be revealing—and soundbites may be looped hundreds of thousands of times on cable news channels and social media over the coming days—Barrett’s time spent as an Published by The Village Press, Inc.

appellate judge offers plenty to parse through. As the Associated Press reports, Barrett has written about 100 opinions in more than three years serving on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Among these are two cases, one involving voting rights, the other a discrimination suit, that could disproportionately impact Black Americans.

Just last year, Barrett wrote a revealing decision on behalf of a three-judge panel regarding a case about racial discrimination in the workplace, reports the Associated Press. The panel upheld the original ruling, which tossed out a discrimination suit filed by a Black Illinois transportation employee, Terry Smith, who said he was called a racial slur by his supervisor, Lloyd Colbert.

In fact, Barrett reinforced that Smith was to blame for his termination because of his “poor track 5

record.” From AP: “The n-word is an egregious racial epithet,” Barrett wrote in Smith v.

Illinois Department of Transportation. “That said, Smith can’t win simply by proving that the word was uttered. He must also demonstrate that Colbert’s use of this word altered the conditions of his employment and created a hostile or abusive working environment.”

Barrett went on to say that Smith “introduced no evidence that Colbert’s use of the n-word changed his subjective experience of the workplace. To be sure, Smith testified that his time at the Department caused him psychological distress. But that was for reasons that predated his run-in with Colbert and had nothing to do with his race. His tenure at the Department was rocky from the outset because of his poor track record.”

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Then-Police Commissioner James O’Neill lauded him at the ceremoAt a promotion ceremony that ny, saying Pichardo is a “great cop, year, Pichardo recalled how his but more importantly, he’s a great public school education influenced human being.” his career as a police officer, the The department confirmed his respaper reported. ignation.

“I went to school with every race, “Chief Fausto Pichardo, the NYPD creed and religion, every type of Chief of Patrol, filed for retirement kid,” he said at the time. on Tuesday, ending an accom“The only way that the city will plished more than two-decade continue to thrive, is by strength- long career in the New York City ening those bonds, ensuring that Police Department,” the departwe do our jobs, but you do your ment said in a statement. part too,” he added.

“Chief Pichardo, 43, was the first (Continued from page 3)

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Chief of Patrol of Dominican heritage in NYPD history and has worked tirelessly in recent months to guide the men and women in uniform through a series of challenging issues that have strained the city and the agency.”

In a statement, de Blasio spokesperson Bill Neidhardt said, “Chief of Patrol Pichardo is a deeply respected leader in the NYPD and City Hall is continuing to have conversations with him regarding his future.”

10/16/2020

DIGITAL Version 2020

THE BLACK PERSPECTIVE Donald Durant Trump has submitted a candidate for the Supreme Court, Hon. Amy Coney Barrett, and he is anticipating that she will abide by his desires for judicial rulings. He has been forced to turn over Tax Statements, to State Attorney Generals, and is avoiding acknowledging facts that he has failed to pay much in past due Income Tax. His businesses are being run from the Oval Office with his Sons at the helm. They seek his viewpoints and approval on all business decisions pertaining to Trump Organization businesses. Normally this responsibility is given over after election to a third party uninvolved in the business at hand.

As a nation we are forced to abide by laws, uniformly fair to each and everyone. We are able to be governed at all levels by rules and regulations fair to the Rich, and wealthy, as well as for the poor and needy. Trump and his family have changed the rules to separate the assessment of opportunity.

Even the Secret Service members accompanying the Trump family on trips, HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PAY MILLIONS IN FEES SIMPLY BY ACCOMPANYING FAMILY ON TRIPS FAR AND NEAR. Negative books have been written about Trump from former Administration members. These books, including one from Mary, the Niece of the President have each raved about his failings and his Narcissism. Many are calling for his resignation, or for Published by The Village Press, Inc.

voters to VOTE HIM OUT. "In the latest reminder of just how ineffective of a henchman Bill Barr has turned out to be, nearly five months after he tried to get the criminal case against Michael Flynn dismissed, the case is still intact.

The courts keep ruling that Barr and his DOJ can’t throw the case out, and that the judge is free to send Flynn to prison. Now Barr has apparently gotten desperate.

Late last week, Barr’s DOJ released some internal notes from the Flynn case that were designed to embarrass the agents who investigated Flynn. This is of course going to have no impact on the Flynn case, because the judge made clear awhile ago that he’s not amused by Barr’s antics.

But now former FBI agent Peter Strzok has sent a letter to the judge, revealing that Bill Barr’s DOJ altered the notes in question, by adding incorrect dates which change the context of how the investigation played out. The mere act of altering the notes at all is a clear sign of bad faith intent, so Barr and his DOJ lose any benefit of the doubt when it comes to the question of whether they got the dates wrong on purpose.

It’s difficult to imagine anyone in the DOJ doing this without Bill Barr being involved. So it appears Barr and his underlings tried to falsify evidence with the intention of painting Michael Flynn as a victim.

If the judge also sees it this way, it’ll spell the end of any faint chance Barr might have had of 7

Don Durant

getting Flynn off the hook – and it could lead to criminal liability for Barr if Trump loses the election. Of course Barr is already on the hook for so many counts of felony obstruction, who’s counting?"

Trump has a failing of selection in choosing a team based on his own level of crookedness. Trump is planning to extend his power and authority for as long as possible.

He is the president with the highest number of arrests and jailing of his high level Administration members. His failure to change his procedures for rallies, after coming down with a case of COVID 19 of his own, shows his concern does not lie in favor of his followers…

P.S. Donald Durant We have had major delays in our voting Process and our voting Lines, based on malfunctioning Voting Machines, or machines that the Poll Workers are not familiar with. Ivanka and Jared have purchased Chinese Trademarks on VOTING MACHINES, and perhaps many GOP Governors and Election Officials have purchased these new fangled Machines across the country? Many lines are more than three hours and some have extended to ten hours, according to News broadcasts.

10/16/2020

DIGITAL Version 2020

Joyce Dinkins, wife of NYC’s first Black mayor, dead at 89 The powerhouse wife of former New York City mayor David Dinkins was an advocate for education.

The former first lady of New York City, Joyce Dinkins, has passed away.

Mrs. Dinkins is credited as being a powerhouse and reportedly played a major part in her husband, David Dinkins, becoming the first Black mayor of New York City, an office he held from 1990 to 1993. She was 89 when she passed away on Sunday.

In this 2014 photo, Joyce Dinkins attends a special evening honoring her husband, David Dinkins, the 106th mayor of New York City.

(Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images) As the city’s first lady, Dinkins advocated for arts for kids, education and health care. She was an honorary chair of the Mayor’s Task Force Published by The Village Press, Inc.

on Child Abuse, honorary chairperson of New York City’s Children’s Week, and chairperson of “The First Day Back to School,” according to the N.Y. Daily News.

“Very sad to learn of the passing of Joyce Dinkins. Born in NYC, she spent her time as its First Lady with grace & purpose—dedicated to education and a champion for literacy. My deepest condolences go out to Mayor Dinkins, their children David and Donna, and all her loved ones,” tweeted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday when he learned of her death.

Operations manager Lynda Hamilton offered these words about the late first lady, per ABC 7: “Joyce Burrows Dinkins, the youngest of two daughters of Daniel Burrows and Elaine Nelthrop Burrows, was born in 1930. Daniel Burrows was a prominent entrepreneur and political figure in Harlem. Joyce was raised and educated in Harlem, and graduated from George Washington 8

High School. She then attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1953.”

Mrs. Dinkins is survived by her husband and their two children, David Dinkins Jr. and Donna Dinkins.

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This judgment differs considerably from one given by the most recent addition to the high court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who, in a 2013 decision as an appellate judge found that one instance of using the n-word was enough to establish a hostile work environment.

On Tuesday, Barrett told the Senate that she considers herself—like many Republican judicial appointees—an originalist.

“That means that I interpret the Constitution as a law...I understand it to have the meaning that it had at the time people ratified it. That meaning doesn’t change over time and it’s not up to me to update it or infuse my policy views into it,” Barrett explained in a clip that spread quickly on social media.

MSNBC anchor Joy Reid shared a common knee-jerk reaction to the comment, noting that at the time the Constitution was ratified, founders codified the idea that Black people should only count as 3/5ths of a person.

During an election cycle where many fear the possibility of mass voter suppression or a constitutional crisis spurred by a president who refuses to vacate the office, even if he loses, concerns about voting rights have once again leaped to the fore.

Similar to reproductive justice advocates, voting rights activists fear that a 6-3 Supreme Court conservative majority could fundamentally alter the constitutionally protected rights of Americans who have been historically underrepresented and disenfranchised. Challenges to Census results may go

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before the court, as well as cases involving gerrymandering and new district maps. While SCOTUS ruled against construction election maps on the basis of race, it allowed for local and state officials to redraw maps according to the political preferences of a region. The fear is that these new maps will be so dramatically and purposefully reconstructed that they would allow members of a given party (in this case, Republicans, who are overrepresented in state legislatures) to entrench their electoral advantages for the foreseeable future.

Barrett hasn’t made a ruling on voting rights itself but did impart some of her feelings about it on a decision about gun rights.

Barrett dipped into constitutional history to note that states did more to protect the rights of people to own guns than their right to vote. In some states, people who were convicted of crimes lost the right to vote, but not the right to legally have a gun, she wrote.

“And as a right that was exercised

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for the benefit of the community (like voting and jury service), rather than for the benefit of the individual (like free speech or free exercise), it belonged only to virtuous citizens,” Barrett wrote.

The distinction is telling, suggesting her rationale for why certain rights can be revoked or infringed upon by the state (voting, which requires an element of “virtue” as a citizen), while others (gun rights, free speech) have been—and presumably ought to be more—more stringently protected.

As The Guardian noted in a summary of the hearings, Barrett dodged questions on abortion, healthcare and election laws during the first day of hearings—a frustrating but not unsurprising development. Still, Barrett’s record has said plenty about how she feels about some of these issues already. For those concerned about the rights of Black people in their workplaces or free and fair elections, she has certainly said enough to be worried about.

10/16/2020

DIGITAL Version 2020

Jackie Gordon to represent 2nd Congressional District Jackie Gordon is the Democratic candidate in the Second Congressional District Credit: James Escher In his most memorable moments, Peter King — who is vacating New York’s 2nd Congressional District after 14 terms in Congress — was an advocate for his service-oriented constituents.

That included the firefighters, police officers and nurses who work long hours and sometimes dangerous ones to keep society ticking, who don't shrink from duty during disaster, be it Sept. 11 or superstorm Sandy.

Many of them had moved to Long Island to carve out middle class lives, the kinds of newcomers whose parents or grandparents might have come through Ellis Island seeking new opportunities, and now they were making good on that gamble here.

It is those constituents and their 21st century dreams who Jackie Gordon is perfectly poised to represent.

Gordon, 55, has already lived a life of service. That includes nearly 30 years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a military police officer. It includes decades as a Wilson Technological Center guidance counselor and Babylon Town councilwoman.

As with so many families in the 2nd Congressional District, hers is one of multigenerational service. She herself deployed to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan and retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. And her 31-year -old daughter, Kerrianne, is a captain in the U.S. Air Force.

And as with the families of so many of the people she would serve if elected, with roots from Italy to Ireland to Honduras, she has an immigrant backPublished by The Village Press, Inc.

ground. She migrated from Jamaica with her post officeand railroad-worker parents at age 7.

"Outside of America, people look at this country as a real beacon of hope, and not just words," the Copiague Democrat said in an endorsement interview with the Newsday editorial board. "If you come here to America, you will do better. That’s what people outside of America believe about America."

Her career of service has taught her the value of working with all parties.

This ramrod-backed woman born around the tail end of the Baby Boom generation is no radical, much as GOP attacks attempt to tie her to the most left-leaning impulses of her party. She has highlighted health care, veterans' issues, bolstering Pell grants, and constituent services as top priorities.

Even her policy interests, such as a hope for a role on committees including the House Veterans' Affairs or Transportation and Infrastructure committees, are grounded in helping her constituents get what they need.

She knows that's crucial for the district, from veterans' health to big construction projects in the region.

Her background includes service on a committee for King's nominations to West Point and other service academies.

Her opponent, Assemb. Andrew Garbarino, is a committed public servant, too, who knows how to work within the legislative process and understands the needs of the district. In years past, he has distinguished himself by sometimes bucking his party as with supporting the "Red Flag" law allowing people deemed to be risks due to substance abuse, violent threats, or other issues to be prohibited from purchasing firearms. He told the editorial board in an endorsement 10

interview that there should be a pathway to citizenship for the Dreamers protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. But the Bayport Republican’s law-and-order campaign focus on "radical mobs" and "chaos and violence" in New York City was disappointing — reminiscent of the old stereotypes of suburbs as white flight havens, and particularly inappropriate given Gordon’s career in law enforcement. This is a woman who has experience with an M16 and 9mm handgun, and who qualified in the military as a sharpshooter and expert.

As a Black woman, she has the chance and the gravitas to work toward policing solutions beyond rhetoric. That means different training for officers and body cameras, and much more responsive, community-focused policing, but also a shift in perspective on this issue beyond stagnant and getting -us-nowhere partisan fights.

"As a military police officer, we were charged to protect and defend," she told the editorial board. "And as a citizen, I want to be protected and defended."

That’s the kind of reasonableness and insight that Long Island needs in Congress, for a new generation. Newsday endorses Jackie Gordon.

10/16/2020

DIGITAL Version 2020

Billionaire Robert Smith reaches $140 million tax settlement with DOJ The businessman allegedly failed to pay taxes on about $200 million in assets.

Billionaire Robert Smith has reached a $140 million settlement with the DOJ as part of a four-year criminal tax investigation.

Smith, who famously pledged to pay off the debt of Morehouse College students last year, must also acknowledge misconduct related to tax crimes and assets held in offshore tax structures. theGRIO previously reported, Smith allegedly failed to pay taxes on about $200 million in assets that moved through offshore accounts tied to Robert Brockman, a Houston software businessman.

Brockman reportedly gave Smith $1 billion in 2000 to start his equity firm, funds that originated from a charitable trust based in Bermuda.

Read More: Did Robert F. Smith use Black America?

Smith has reportedly been on the radar of the IRS since 2014, Bloomberg reported. That year, the billionaire reportedly approached the federal agency seeking amnesty from prosecution under a program to Americans who did not report offshore assets. The IRS, however, declined Smith’s request. The agency reportedly turns down taxpayers if it already knew they had not reported offshore accounts.

In September 2019, Smith’s Vista Equity Partners was hit with a lawsuit that accused it of self-dealing, according to the New York Post. Kurt Lauk, a former executive at Audi, claimed he got booted from the board at the automotive software firm Solera Holdings when he brought up the concern. The suit accused Vista of using Solera as a “personal piggy bank” to bail out the firm’s failed investments in other companies. The suit also accused Vista of misleading its Published by The Village Press, Inc.

investors, to which Smith and the firm denied.

Read More: Billionaire Robert Smith investigated by feds for possible criminal charges Smith cooperated with the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service criminal tax investigation to avoid prosecution. A conviction would have forced him out of his Vista Equity Partners management firm, $65 million fine and a prison sentence.

Robert F. Smith (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights ) As part of the settlement, he must admit that he failed to pay about $30 million in taxes, with penalties and interest accounting for the expected $140 million payout, per Bloomberg.

Smith’s tax woes began after he allegedly failed to file proper reports of foreign bank and financial accounts, the report states The businessman and entrepreneur is the wealthiest Black person in America, with a reported net worth of $7 billion.

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President Trump's top federal prosecutors are overwhelmingly white men An analysis of government data from nearly three decades found a persistent lack of diversity in the ranks of U.S. attorneys has reached a nadir under Trump.

The nation’s top federal prosecutors have become less diverse under President Donald Trump than under his three predecessors, leaving white men overwhelmingly in charge at a time of national demonstrations over racial inequality and the fairness of the criminal justice system.

The Associated Press analyzed government data from nearly three decades and found that a persistent lack of diversity in the ranks of U.S. attorneys has reached a nadir in the Trump administration. Eighty -five percent of his Senateconfirmed U.S attorneys are white men, according to AP’s analysis, compared with 58% in Democratic President Barack Obama’s eight years, 73% during Republican George W. Bush’s two terms and at most 63% under Democrat Bill Clinton.

White men lead 79 of the 93 U.S. Published by The Village Press, Inc.

attorney’s offices in a country where they make up less than a third of the population. Nine current U.S. attorneys are women.

Two are Black, and two Hispanic.

Federal prosecutors can have a profound effect on the criminal justice system and leadership holds an immense sway. Without a diverse group considering cases, bias can seep unnoticed into charging decisions and sentencing recommendations, undermine leadership and chip away at the perceived legitimacy of the justice system.

The enduring imbalance leaves U.S. attorneys looking less like the people they serve, and is in stark contrast to the population of federal prisons, where a disproportionate share of those incarcerated are Black.

“The department, as a whole, is simply not valuing diversity at its highest ranks of leadership and not making the most well-informed decisions when those voices are absent from the decision-making process,” said Kenneth Polite Jr., who served as U.S. attorney in New Orleans during Obama’s second term.

The gap is especially relevant in an era when state and local law enforcement are repeatedly being taken to task over decisions not to prosecute police in the killings of Black people. U.S. prosecutors can serve as a backstop in those scenarios by bringing federal charges.

The Trump administration’s inability to hire top prosecutors who re13

flect the nation has also deepened mistrust in communities frustrated by the Justice Department’s shift away from investigating police practices and Attorney General William Barr’s dismissal of the idea of systemic racism in law enforcement.

These images provided by the Department of Justice, show U.S. Attorneys from across the United States. The nation’s top federal prosecutors have become less diverse under President Donald Trump than under his three predecessors. White men are overwhelmingly in charge of federal law enforcement amid a national paroxysm over racial inequality and criminal justice. (Department of Justice via AP) White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement the administration has “worked closely with U.S. Senators to identify the best candidates to serve as the chief law enforcement officer in their districts back home."

Former prosecutors say bias can skew prosecutorial decisions where there isn’t a varied group considering cases. It’s something Danny Williams Sr. saw a year after he became a U.S. attorney in Oklahoma in 2012.

Tulsa police had arrested two groups, one white and the other Black, in similar armed robberies.

Williams said he was surprised the proposed charges that reached his desk were different: The Black de(Continued on page 19)

10/16/2020

The pandemic has brought unprecedented hardship for small businesses, and it has disproportionately impacted the Black small business community. That’s why we are working with American Express to launch the Coalition to Back Black Businesses—a multi-year initiative to support Black small business owners in their recovery.

Coalition to Back Black Businesses and we hope these grants can help the Black business community begin to emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.

APPLY BY 9/21/2020.

Learn more at webackblackbusinesses.com.

Over the next four years, the initiative will provide $10 million in grants, leadership development and business mentoring and other development opportunities to empower Black-owned small businesses in U.S. communities that have long been struggling with economic growth. We’re proud to be a part of the Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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THIS WEEK’S TRUMP REPORT

Trump files emergency request with Supreme Court to stop release of his tax returns President Trump has filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court to block the release of his tax returns. The request comes as the Senate is holding confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, the president's nominee to the Supreme Court.

Last week, a federal appeals court ruled Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance can enforce a subpoena for Mr. Trump's business records and tax returns, a blow to the president as he tries to keep those returns from a grand jury. The president's attorneys are asking the Supreme Court to grant a stay, to hear the case and overturn the lower court's decision.

"The president should have a fair chance to develop his serious overbreadth and bad-faith claims before his records are disclosed," the president's attorneys write.

"The court should preserve the status quo in order to afford the president that opportunity."

The New York Times has obtained years' worth of the president's tax returns, showing he only paid $750 in U.S. taxes during 2016 and 2017.

The president claimed before the 2016 election that he would release his tax returns, but has never done so, claiming his returns are still under audit.

Get Breaking News Delivered to Your Inbox "First of all, I paid a lot and I paid a lot of state income taxes, too." Mr. Trump said at a Sunday news conference. "New York State charges a lot and I paid a lot of money in state. It will all be revealed."

The New York Times report focused on federal tax returns, not state returns. Mr. Trump didn't disclose how much he paid in either federal or state income taxes.

Breaking tradition Since entering the White House, Mr. Trump has broken with tradition set by his predecessors by not only refusing to release his tax returns but by waging a legal battle to keep them hidden. The Times report suggests why that might have been so. It reported that many of Mr. Trump's top businesses are losing money, losses that have helped him shrink his federal tax bill to essentially nothing.

Eugene Steuerle, a tax expert at the Urban Institute, said he wasn't surprised that it turns out that Mr. Trump had paid almost no federal income tax. Most commercial real estate developers deduct large interest payments on their debts from taxable income, thereby lowering their tax bills.

Typically, they also often avoid capital gains taxes by plowing profits from the sale of one building into the purchase of another.

"Most tax experts expected you would find little in the way of tax payments by President Trump," said Steuerle, who served as a Treasury Department official under President Ronald Reagan.

The Times noted that Alan Garten, a lawyer for the Trump Organization, said of the Times report that "most, if not all, of the facts appear to be inaccurate" and asked for the documents on which the reporting was based, which the Times declined to provide in order to protect its sources. The Times said Garten then directly disputed only the amount of taxes Mr. Trump had paid.

in the top .001% of earners paid about $25 million annually over the same time frame.

His tax returns also reveal that he's failed to repay $287 million to his lenders since 2010, which the Times says is far more than previously known. While the IRS treats forgiven debt as income, Mr. Trump avoided paying taxes on much of that money through tax maneuvers.

2. A lavish lifestyle through business expenses From his homes, his aircraft — and $70,000 on hair styling during his television show "The Apprentice" — Trump has capitalized on cost incurred from his businesses to finance a luxurious lifestyle.

The Times noted that Mr. Trump's homes, planes and golf courses are part of the Trump family business and, as such, Trump classified them as business expenses as well. Because companies can write off business expenses as deductions, all such expenses have helped reduce Trump's tax liability.

Mr. Trump's Seven Springs estate in Westchester County, New York is a 50,000square-foot mansion set on more than 200 acres. But because he classifies it as an investment property, Mr. Trump is able to write off the estate's $2.2 million in property taxes as a business expense. Eric Trump, one of Mr. Trump's sons, has described the property as "home base for us for a long, long time," while the Trump Organization describes the property as a "retreat" for the Trump family.

At the same time, the tax overhaul signed into law by Mr. Trump in 2017 limits taxpayers to $10,000 in deductions for state and local taxes, which includes property taxes.

3. Some of his best-known businesses lose millions The president has frequently pointed to his far-flung hotels, golf courses and resorts as evidence of his success as a developer and businessman. Yet these properties have been hemorrhaging money.

The Times reported that Mr. Trump has claimed $315 million in losses since 2000 on his golf courses, including the Trump National Doral near Miami, which Mr. Trump has portrayed as a crown jewel in 1. Trump paid $750 in taxes in both 2016 his business empire. Likewise, his Trump and 2017 International Hotel in Washington has lost The newspaper said Mr. Trump initially $55 million, the Times reported. paid $95 million in taxes over the 18 years 4. Foreign visitors help support Trump it studied. But he managed to recover properties most of that money by claiming — and Since Mr. Trump began his presidential receiving — a stunning $72.9 million feder- run, lobbyists, foreign governments and al tax refund. According to the Times, Mr. politicians have lavished significant sums Trump also pocketed $21.2 million in state of money on his properties, a spending and local refunds, which are typically spree that raised questions about its probased on federal filings. priety and legality.

Mr. Trump's outsize refund became the The Times report illustrates just how much subject of a now-long-standing Internal that spending has been: Since 2015, his Revenue Service audit of his finances. The Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida has taken in audit was widely known. Trump has $5 million more a year from a surge in claimed it was the very reason why he membership. The Billy Graham Evangelistic cannot release his returns. But the Times Association spent at least $397,602 in report is the first to identify the issue that 2017 at Trump's Washington hotel. Overwas mainly in dispute. seas projects have produced millions more As a result of the refund, Mr. Trump paid for Mr. Trump — $3 million from the Philan annual average $1.4 million in federal ippines, $2.3 million from India and $1 taxes from 2000 to 2017, the Times report- million from Turkey. ed. By contrast, the average U.S. taxpayer

7 takeaways from New York Times report on President Here are seven key Trump's tax returns takeaways from the A New York Times report that President Donald Trump paid just $750 in federal income tax the year he entered the White House — and, thanks to colossal losses, no income tax at all in 11 of the 18 years that the Times reviewed — is raising doubts about President Trump's self-image as a shrewd and successful businessman.

That Sunday's report came just weeks before Mr. Trump's re-election bid served to intensify the spotlight on Mr. Trump the businessman — an identity that he has spent decades cultivating and that helped him capture the presidency four years ago in his first run for political office. The Times' report deepens the uncertainty surrounding a tumultuous presidential campaign set against the backdrop of a viral pandemic, racial unrest in American cities and a ferocious battle over the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Mr. Trump on Sunday called the report "totally fake news."

Published by The Village Press, Inc.

Times' reporting:

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U.S. Intelligence Says Republicans Are Working With Russia to Reelect Trump Two weeks ago, William Evanina, director of the United States National Counterintelligence and Security Center, published a somewhat vague warning about various forms of foreign interference in the upcoming election. On Friday, he followed up with a more direct and incriminating one, specifically warning that Russia is working to help reelect Donald Trump. Even more important is what this warning unmistakably implies: that Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are actively cooperating with Russia’s campaign.

Trump obviously tends to respond with rage at the suggestion that Russia wants him to win, let alone that he is accepting the assistance. So Evanina’s summary delicately surrounds the revelations about Trump and Moscow with superficially balancing material. The report highlights three countries that want to influence the election: Russia, China, and Iran.

The report notes that the latter two want Trump to lose, while Russia wants him to win.

This seems intended to let Republicans claim that there is foreign interference on both sides. And it’s true, as far as it goes.

But the comparisons end there. What is China doing to defeat Trump? Its government has “grown increasingly critical of the current Administration’s COVID-19 response, closure of China’s Houston Consulate, and actions on other issues.” And Iran’s efforts “probably will focus on on-line influence, such as spreading disinformation on social media and recirculating anti-U.S. content.”

In others words, Iran and China are undermining Trump by criticizing him in public remarks, possibly including some mean tweets.

Russia’s efforts to help Trump include all that. In addition, the statement notes, “pro-Russia Ukrainian parliamentarian Andriy Derkach is spreading claims about corruption — including through publicizing leaked phone calls — to undermine former Vice President Biden’s candidacy and the Democratic Party.”

Derkach and his Russian allies despise Biden, who spearheaded the administration’s efforts to reform Ukraine, rein in its oligarchs, and diminish Russian influence. They have attempted to depict Biden’s reform efforts as a Published by The Village Press, Inc.

corrupt plot to enrich his son Hunter.

Derkach has been working openly with Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.

None of this is a secret. Here are the two of them meeting in Kiev in December: Giuliani told the Washington Post earlier this summer that Derkach “doesn’t seem pro-Russian to me.” In case that ruse was fooling anybody, U.S. intelligence has now officially described Derkach as an organ of Russian political interference.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee are holding hearings in an attempt to substantiate this charge — or, more realistically, to insinuate it. They have produced no evidence to advance their charge. The Russians have given Republicans stolen tapes of secret conversations Biden held with Ukrainians during his tenure as vice-president, and pro-Trump media outlets have hyped up the material, but nothing they have is inconsistent with the narrative that mainstream news organizations found. Biden was working to clean up Ukraine.

Senate Republicans tried to be cagey about their activities. After proRussian Ukrainians said they’d passed materials on to Republican officials, a Johnson staffer told NBC News in July that it was “‘false’ the committee has received any ‘oppo,’ or opposition research, without responding directly to whether that covers any materials from foreign sources.”

The Washington Post reported that Homeland Security Committee chairman Ron Johnson received secret documents from Ukrainians. And former Giuliani associate Lev Parnas has confessed to putting Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee and perhaps Trump’s most energetic defender on all things Russia, in touch with one of the Ukrainians releasing documents in the United States.

There is hardly any secret to what they’re up to. Johnson says he plans to release his report on Biden in September. It hardly matters if the information Russia gives him actually substantiates his allegations, or even whether it is authentic. The obvious plan is to splash some headlines into news screens in the heat of the campaign that seem to connect Biden to some kind of wrongdoing.

In reality, it is not a scandal about Biden at all. It’s a scandal about Republican cooperation with a Russian propaganda campaign.

What makes Evanina’s statement on Friday so significant is that it makes clear that the passing of information, 16

real or otherwise, from various Ukrainian figures to various Trump allies is part of a Russian-directed scheme to help Trump win. Republicans could tell Russia that Russiancontrolled media are free to say anything they want, but Republicans aren’t going to launder their propaganda for them. Instead, they are doing everything in their power to exploit it.

Update: The unanswered question of why Evanina followed his first, vague statement with a second, more specific one has an answer. On Saturday morning, the New York Times Magazine published a long, devastating story by Robert Draper about Trump’s politicization of intelligence. Draper’s reporting forced Friday night’s release, which directly acknowledged Russia’s active preference to help Trump win.

Draper’s story also helps contextualize the essentially decorative mentions of China and Iran. Intelligence officials are terrified of enraging Trump by confirming that Russia wants him to win, even though the conclusion is obvious. If you want to understand why officials added references to China and Iran to create the illusion of balance — even though those two countries don’t seem to be taking any steps to help Biden, and Biden certainly isn’t cooperating with them — Draper’s narrative explains the intense pressure they’re facing.

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5. He may have paid family members in "consulting fees" Mr. Trump wrote off about $26 million in unexplained "consulting fees" as a business expense across many of his projects, the New York Times reported.

While the "consultants" aren't identified on the tax returns, the consulting fees claimed as tax deductions in some cases match exactly what Ivanka Trump claimed as income in her financial disclosures. For instance, Ivanka Trump reported receiving $747,622 in payments from a consulting company she co-owned, the same amount that Mr. Trump claimed as a tax deduction for two hotel projects.

At the same time Ivanka Trump was an executive officer of the Trump companies, she both profited from the hotels and the consulting fees, the Times story noted.

The IRS in the past has pursued penalties against some companies that have sought to avoid taxes by paying consulting fees to people who weren't, in fact, independent contractors, the report noted.

The maneuver helps companies sidestep payroll taxes, noted the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

6. Trump's lucrative licensing revenue has dwindled Mr. Trump earned $427.4 million from his reality show "The Apprentice" from 2010 to 2018, as well as from licensing deals from everything from clothing to mattress companies. But that revenue started to dry up when he ran for president and made derogatory comments about immigrants, which cost him two of his most lucrative deals along with tens of millions in revenue from the Miss Universe pageant which NBC announced it would no longer broadcast.

Indeed, Mr. Trump's brand appears to be the most successful part of his business.

During the same period the "The Apprentice" was on the air, the businesses that Mr. Trump ran lost almost $175 million, the Times reported.

7. Trump's debt load is coming due Mr. Trump seems sure to face heavy financial pressures from the enormous pile of debt he has absorbed. The Times said the president appears to be responsible for $421 million in loans, most of which will come due within four years. On top of that, a $100 million mortgage on Trump Tower in New York will come due in 2022.

tial nominee Joe Biden in 2020.

In 2016, both the Investor's Business Daily/TechnoMetrica poll (IBD/TIPP) and University of Southern California Dornslife/ Los Angeles Times poll (USC/LA Times) both predicted Trump's victory.

The day before Election Day 2016, the IBD/TIPP poll showed Trump beating Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by 2 percentage points and the USC/ LA Times poll showed Trump beating Clinton by 3.2 percentage points.

In truth, Clinton ended up beating Trump by 2.1 percentage points in the popular vote, but the Electoral College votes still weighed in Trump's favor because he won the majority of popular votes in several critical swing states.

As of October 12, 2020, the IBD/TIPP poll has Trump losing to Biden by 8.5 percentage points, and the USC poll has Trump losing to Biden by 13 percentage points. It seems The LA Times is no longer partnering with USC for its 2020 poll.

The latest IBD/TIPP poll shows Biden's support now among voters is higher than what Clinton's was in 2016. Four years ago, Clinton's support topped out around 45 percent in their polls within the election's final weeks, IBD/TIPP wrote in an October 12 article.

The latest USC poll has had Biden consistently beating Trump by at least eight percentage points since late August. Four years ago, it showed Trump consistently beating Clinton for all but four days from September 12, 2016 to November 8, 2016.

Trump polls 2016 win 2020 loss landslide

Two U.S. polls that predicted current Republican President Donald Trump's electoral victory in 2016—the Investor's Business Daily/TechnoMetrica poll and the University of Southern California Dornslife/Los Angeles Times poll—have both showed him losing in 2020. In this image, Trump campaigns at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida, October 12, 2020.

The most recent IBD/TIPP poll conducts about 200 daily interviews. The pollsters conduct 80 of the interviews via cellphone (40 percent), 75 online (37.5 percent) and 45 via landline (22.5 percent).

While TechnoMetrica President Raghavan Mayur has boasted that his company's polling methods factor in the likelihood of each polled voter actually casting a vote on Election Day, he told Investor.com, "Right now, data suggests a significant number of votes are still in play, and factors like COVID-19, economic stimulus and mail-in voting could have a real impact.

This is a race to watch."

The USC poll also takes the likelihood of respondents actually voting into account as well while asking roughly 6,000 respondents in a representative panel about their preferred candidate and the issues important to them.

In addition to asking each respondent about their preferred candidate, the USC pollsters ask each respondent to rate their likelihood of voting, on a scale of zero to 100. Each person's response is weighed more heavily if they consider themselves more likely to vote.

Two Polls That Predicted Trump's 2016 Win Now Predict His 2020 Landslide Loss Two U.S. polls which correctly forecasted the electoral victory of President Donald Trump in 2016 now have him slated to lose in a landside to Democratic presidenPublished by The Village Press, Inc.

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fendants faced more potential prison time.

Williams, who is Black, asked the assistant U.S. attorney who’d handled the cases what factual difference accounted for the disparity. The career prosecutor, who is white, responded that the white defendants were college students, Williams said.

“I just think that he didn’t grasp, in the charging decision, the way he treated these two different groups differently,” Williams said, adding the same charges ultimately were brought in both cases.

To be sure, the way bias plays out is complex and there is not a direct relationship between a prosecutor’s race or sex and the decisions he or she makes.

After a white South Carolina police officer gunned down Walter Scott, who was Black, in 2015, the Justice Department secured a 20-year prison sentence for the officer.

Jared Fishman, the white former prosecutor who handled the case, “showed so much compassion and he took on my brother’s case as if it was his own family,” said Anthony Scott, Walter’s older brother.

But other families have had their hopes dashed.

Years before George Floyd’s death under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer set off protests around the country, Valerie Castile turned to the federal government after the Minnesota police officer who killed her son was found not to have committed a crime.

Former St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez shot Philando Castile, a Black school cafeteria worker, in July 2016, within two minutes of approaching his car during a traffic stop in the Twin Cities suburb of Falcon Heights. A state court jury acquitted him of second-degree manslaughter the next summer.

After Castile’s death, his mother and political leaders in Minnesota pressed for an outside investigation into the shooting and charges of racially biased policing in the region.

The Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s office helped local prosecutors in the case but no independent federal probe was opened.

The Justice Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services Office did, however, start a review of the St. Anthony Police Department. But before the office finished its findings, Trump’s Justice Department, under then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, put a stop to all such assessments.

A lack of diversity has long been an issue throughout the federal law enforcement and criminal justice systems. In some places it’s grown more acute under Trump.

An AP analysis also found nearly 86% of the 206 federal judges confirmed to lifetime positions under Trump have been white — the Published by The Village Press, Inc.

highest rate of white judicial appointments since George H.W. Bush’s presidency. Two-thirds of Trump’s judicial appointees have been white men.

And at the top of the Justice Department, Trump’s two attorneys general — Barr and Sessions — are also white.

Erin Nealy Cox, U.S. attorney in Dallas and chair of the Attorney General Advisory Committee, said the country's current U.S. attorneys are among “the most dedicated public servants in America.”

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Jamie Dimon is setting aside $30 billion of JPMorgan Chase’s money to help narrow the racial wealth gap in America.

The CEO of the nation’s largest bank announced on Thursday that the bank will use the unprecedented sum over the next five years toward efforts it thinks will help level the racial playing field in the US. JPMorgan plans to spend $12 billion to expand homeownership in underserved communities, including $8 billion in grants and mortgages and $4 billion on refinancing efforts. It has also set aside $14 billion to create 100,000 new affordable rental units, including funding for new construction and the rehab of existing units.

Published by The Village Press, Inc.

It is also reserving $2 billion for loans to small businesses in communities of color.

“Systemic racism is a tragic part of America’s history,” JPMorgan chief Dimon said in a statement. “We can do more and do better to break down systems that have propagated racism and widespread economic inequality.”

Dimon, 64, and his bank are not the first major US bank to call attention to the racial wealth gap in America.

On Sept. 24, Citigroup released a report that found the US economy has lost out on $16 trillion in growth over the last 20 years because of racial inequality. That report focused on wage growth, education access, homeownership, and lending to minority-owned businesses, the last of which Citi found was the largest contributor to lost economic growth.

While outgoing Citi chief Michael Corbat beat JPMorgan in publicly addressing the issue, his team only pledged $1 billion toward solving the problems they identified.

“It’s long past time that society addresses racial inequities in a more tangible, meaningful way,” Dimon, a native New Yorker, said in a statement.

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COVID-19 Yolanda Baldenegro Galindo October 5 at 4:36 PM · Shared with:Public This is what Covid looks like.

This is me earlier this year. I spent 2-months in the hospital. 6-weeks in ICU intubated and in induced coma. I was not getting enough oxygen to my heart and brain so my kidney shut down. Had to go through dialysis for 4-months until my kidney function came back. I went into cardiac arrest twice (almost died).

I had to relearn how to walk, swallow, regain function of my muscles and body. My wife and family went through so much!!! My wife is my guardian angel. I love her so much.

The President said today, “Don’t be afraid of Covid” ... WHAT????

This photo is personal but I felt the need to share it. Stay safe everyone!!! Author: Xavier Galindo (Yolanda’s Husband).

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Wish Local is a series of programs that allows small businesses to partner with Wish, one of the largest eCommerce marketplaces in the world. As part of the Wish Local program, businesses select which programs to participate in and can sell their inventory on Wish, act as neighborhood Wish pickup locations, source wholesale items, and more.

The Wish Local Empowerment Program is a $2M fund Wish has dedicated to give roughly 4,000 Black-owned businesses financial support. Businesses choose how to best utilize the funding, but suggestions include keeping your workforce employed, paying rent, or connecting with new customers.

Wish recognizes that as a large e-commerce company, we have an opportunity and responsibility to help uplift others and we can't think of a better way than by helping people build their businesses.

Learn more about the program and apply today!

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Fact check: Competing town halls highlight Trump's dishonesty (CNN)The stark differences between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden were on display during their competing town halls on Thursday night, and in no space was that clearer than the magnitude and frequency of their falsehoods.

The fact that the second debate was cancelled after Trump backed out of the proposed virtual format deprived Americans of a chance to see the two candidates sparring on the same stage. But where Biden scattered in a small number of exaggerations or misstatements over about an hour and a half, Trump unleashed a barrage of dishonest claims over about an hour.

Trump falsely claimed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 85% of people who wear masks get the coronavirus, again argued inaccurately that there is widespread fraud with mail-in voting, defended as mere "opinion" a baseless conspiracy theory he retweeted about Osama bin Laden and the US military, and repeated familiar false or misleading remarks about the state of the pandemic, Biden's tax plan, job creation, and his own positions on DACA and preexisting conditions.

Biden falsely claimed that Trump did nothing on unemployment after the initial round of congressional aid expired, wrongly asserted that there are more troops in Afghanistan today than there were when he left the vice presidency, and seemed to incorrectly deny that his website called the Green New Deal a "crucial framework."

CNN's team watched the dueling townhalls. Here are the facts.

Coronavirus Trump: 85% of people who wear masks get the coronavirus

Trump made a dramatic claim about Covid-19 during Thursday night's town hall.

"Just the other day, they came out with a statement that 85% of the people that wear masks catch it," Trump said.

It was a repeat of a similar claim he had made two times earlier in the day, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the source for that number.

Facts First: Trump's claim is false. A CDC study released in September, did not say that 85% of people who wear masks get infected with the coronavirus. In fact, it did not even attempt to figure out what percentage of people who wear a mask get infected with the coronavirus.

Rather, the study looked at the behavior of 154 symptomatic people who had tested positive for the coronavirus in July around the country and 160 people who reported symptoms but tested negative in July.

The study found that, of those 154 people, 85% said they had worn a mask either "always" or "often" over the 14 days prior to the onset of their illness. That's where the 85% figure comes from.

Of the 160 people in the study who had tested negative, however, 88.7% said they had worn a mask either "always" or "often." So there's really no difference between people who wore masks and those who didn't.

And that's not even the point here.

Trump was suggesting that the CDC found that 85% of all people who wear masks get the coronavirus. But the CDC was just looking at the behavior of these 314 symptomatic people who sought out testing at 11 particular sites around the country in July.

Here's how one of the co-authors, Christopher Lindsell, co-Director of the Health Data Science Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, described the study's data on masks.

"The data suggest that among a group of patients who are already showing symptoms that prompted them to get testing for the virus, there was no statistical evidence of a difference in mask wearing behavior between those who tested positive and those who tested (Continued on page 25)

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negative," Lindsell said in an email.

"This is very different from the question of whether wearing masks prevents you becoming infected with the virus, and it is also different to the question of how many or what percentage of people who wear masks contract the virus. The study was not designed to answer these questions."

-- Daniel Dale Trump: US deaths from Covid will exceed 2 million Trump claimed the US was "expected to lose 2,200,000 people and maybe more than that" from the coronavirus.

Facts First: This is misleading.

Trump is likely citing a report posted in March by scholars from the Imperial College in London that predicted that a total of 2.2 million Americans could die from Covid-19 if no preventative measures were installed on any level of society.

In other words, that would be the loss of lives if no action were taken at all to mitigate it.

The report did not analyze what would happen if just the federal government took no action against the virus but rather what would occur if there were absolutely no "control measures or spontaneous changes in individual behaviour."

-- Holmes Lybrand and Tara Subramaniam Trump: Biden called him 'xenophobic' After an audience member asked a question that mentioned his "travel ban" on China, Trump repeated the assertion that he imposed a "travel ban." He also claimed that Biden called him "xenophobic and racist" over the policy.

Facts First: This is misleading. The phrase "travel ban" is an exaggeration. And although it's not unreasonable for Trump to claim that Biden accused him of racism, Biden never explicitly linked the racism accusation to the travel restrictions.

While Trump did restrict travel from China in early February, he did not put a complete stop to it. His policy made exemptions for travel by US citizens, permanent residents, many of the family members of both groups, and some others. The New York Times reported April 4 that Published by The Village Press, Inc.

nearly 40,000 people had flown to the US from China since the restrictions went into effect in early February.

Biden's campaign announced in early April that he supports the travel restrictions on China. But his campaign says Biden's January 31 accusations -- that Trump has a record of "hysterical xenophobia" and "fear mongering" -- were not about the travel restrictions at all.

The campaign says Biden did not know about the restrictions at the time of his speech, since his campaign event in Iowa started shortly after the Trump administration briefing where the restrictions were revealed by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.

Given the timing of the Biden remarks, it makes sense for the Trump campaign to infer that the former vice president was talking about the travel restrictions. But Biden never took an explicit position on the restrictions until his April declaration of support.

-- Daniel Dale Biden: Trump said injecting bleach will combat coronavirus Biden claimed that Trump said injecting bleach could help combat the virus.

"President Trump says things like...crazy stuff he's walking away from now, 'inject bleach in your arm and that's going to work,'" Biden said. "I'm being a bit -- I'm not being facetious though; he actually said these things."

Facts First: This is misleading. Biden was recalling a moment from a Trump briefing that attracted broad derision. Biden, however, overstated some of the specifics.

During an April 23 press briefing, which included a discussion of tests that appeared to show disinfectants like bleach and isopropyl alcohol quickly killed the coronavirus on surfaces in lab studies, Trump expressed interest in exploring the possibility of "injection inside or almost a cleaning" with disinfectants.

Here's what he said: "(T)hen I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning, because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so 25

it'd be interesting to check that, so that you're going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me."

-- Holmes Lybrand Biden: Covid vaccines haven't been tested on kids Answering a question about vaccines, Biden talked about the coronavirus' impact on children.

"Children are getting the virus, not with as serious consequences, but we haven't, there's been no studies done yet on vaccines for children," he said.

Facts First: Biden is correct about research in the US, though a leading drugmaker just this week revealed plans to include children in its vaccine research.

Pfizer plans to start testing its experimental coronavirus vaccine in children as young as 12, the researcher helping lead the trial told CNN on Tuesday. It will be the first coronavirus vaccine trial to include children in the United States.

--Tami Luhby Biden: Redfield said masks would save more lives than a vaccine Biden claimed that Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said wearing a mask would save more lives "between now and the end of the year than if we had a vaccine."

Facts First: This goes beyond what Redfield said in congressional testimony.

Testifying in September before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, Redfield made headlines for stating, "I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against Covid than when I take the Covid vaccine."

But while he said he personally felt more shielded by a mask, he did not say that masks would save more lives than a vaccine.

He emphasized the importance of face coverings, saying "facemasks, these face masks, are the most important, powerful public health tool we have."

"I will continue to appeal for all Americans, all individuals in our country, to embrace these face coverings," Redfield added. "I've said it, if we did it for six, 8, 10, 12 weeks, (Continued on page 27)

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we'd bring this pandemic under control."

You can read more here.

-- Holmes Lybrand Economy Trump: Biden wants to "quadruple" taxes Trump said: "Our economy is going to be, next year, if we don't have somebody that raises taxes and quadruples taxes, which they want to do -- it kills everything -- our economy is going to be phenomenal next year."

Facts First: This is false. Biden's plan would increase taxes for people making more than $400,000 per year. He has promised not to directly raise taxes for those making less than that.

Higher-income Americans would bear the brunt of the tax hikes proposed by Biden, according to analyses from left-leaning Tax Policy Center, the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

But even the most wealthy Americans would not see their taxes quadruple. For example, the Penn Wharton Budget Model found that the top 0.1% would see an increase of up to 12.4 percentage points on average when including both the individual and the corporate tax changes proposed by Biden.

-- Katie Lobosco Trump: We set a record on jobs Trump repeated his usual boast about job creation, saying, "We just set a record: 11.4 million jobs."

Facts First: This is misleading. While it's true that the 11.4 million jobs are a record, Trump left out essential context about the amount of jobs lost during the pandemic.

Immediately before this record gain of about 11.4 million jobs over five months, there was a much larger record loss of about 22.2 million jobs over two months. In other words, as of August, the country was still down more than 10.7 million jobs since March. (And as of September, the economy was down about 3.9 million jobs since the beginning of Trump's presidency.)

Also, many of the 11.4 million jobs "added" since May simply represent people returning to their previous jobs, from which they had been temPublished by The Village Press, Inc.

porarily laid off. And the pace of the jobs recovery slowed significantly in September, with 661,000 jobs added -- down from about 1.5 million in August.

-- Daniel Dale Biden: Trump did nothing on unemployment after congressional aid expired Biden slammed Trump for not helping the jobless after the $600 weekly supplement for unemployment benefits -- which Congress passed as part of its $2 trillion relief package -lapsed in late July.

"And then what happened was, when the first round of money for unemployment, enhanced unemployment went by, he didn't do anything. He didn't do anything," Biden said.

Facts First: This is false.

The day after congressional talks to extend the federal boost to unemployment benefits collapsed, Trump signed an executive measure to use $44 billion in federal disaster aid to provide $300 a week to the jobless.

The effort provides out-of-work Americans in 49 states and the District of Columbia with these funds for up to six weeks. The money has already been fully distributed in many states.

South Dakota declined to participate in the Lost Wages Assistance program.

-- Tami Luhby The rest Trump: People can decide if Osama bin Laden is alive NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie, who was moderating the Trump town hall, asked about the QAnonaffiliated conspiracy theory Trump had retweeted earlier this week claiming Osama bin Laden was still alive and that the man killed in the raid was a body double.

Trump defended his actions, saying, "That was a retweet. That was an opinion of somebody, and that was a retweet. I'll put it out there. People can decide for themselves. I don't take a position."

Facts First: This is a baseless claim with no evidence to back it up. The facts around the killing of bin Laden are not a debatable opinion.

In the early morning hours of May 2, 2011, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by US Special Forces 27

during a raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A DNA test was conducted, confirming it was bin Laden. He was buried at sea.

Those are the facts.

You can read more of the facts behind this conspiracy theory here.

-- Tara Subramaniam Trump: 'Thousands of ballots' were found in dumpsters Trump expanded on a false claim that he's made previously, saying that "thousands of ballots" had been found in dumpsters.

"Thousands of them are dumped in dumpsters and when you see ballots with the name Trump -- military ballots, from our great military, and they're dumped in garbage cans," the President said in the NBC town hall.

He went on to claim that the "thousands of ballots" were found with "my name on it."

Facts First: This is false. There have been two incidents where ballots were found in a dumpster or trash can: 99 ballots heading to voters in New Jersey and nine ballots "incorrectly discarded" by a temporary worker in Pennsylvania.

In New Jersey, the Justice Department charged a mail worker with two felonies for tossing 1,875 pieces of mail that included 99 ballots in two dumpsters. The ballots, which were being sent to voters, were immediately delivered after the US Postal Service learned about them being tossed in the trash.

This isn't the first time the President has lied about ballots being found in the trash. He's repeatedly lied about ballots being found in a trash can in Pennsylvania.

According to federal and local authorities, an election worker improperly threw out nine military ballots in Luzerne County. The Justice Department initially said all nine ballots were marked for Trump, then deleted its initial statement and issued a new one saying seven were Trump votes. Local officials said they would try to reach the affected voters and fix the ballots.

-- Paul Murphy Trump: He'll protect people with preexisting conditions Trump reiterated his boast about protecting people with preexisting conditions.

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"We're always protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and I can't say that more strongly," Trump said.

Facts First: This is false. The President has repeatedly asserted his support for covering individuals with preexisting conditions, yet his administration has consistently taken steps to undermine the Affordable Care Act without presenting alternative plans that would offer similar benefits and protections.

In fact, the President is supporting a lawsuit brought by a coalition of Republican attorneys general that could topple the landmark health reform law and its provisions that ban insurers from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on consumers' pre-existing conditions.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case on November 10, a week after the election.

Trump signed an executive order in September that stated that it's US policy that people who suffer from pre-existing conditions will be protected. However, this is not actually a plan.

-- Tara Subramaniam Trump: He'll 'take care' of DACA recipients Trump repeated his claim that the administration is "going to take care" of recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program—the Obama-era program that shields undocumented immigrants who arrived to the US as children from deporta-

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tion—despite trying to end the program at the start of his presidency.

"We have the strongest border we've ever had. We want people to come into our country. They have to come in legally," Trump said. "But we are working very hard on the DACA program, and you will be, I think, very happy over the course of the next year."

Facts First: This is misleading. Trump is responsible for trying to terminate the Obama-era program that shields certain undocumented immigrants from deportation. Despite waffling on the issue publicly, his administration has shown little indication of reversing its position.

While the Department of Homeland Security has said it's reviewing the program following a Supreme Court decision blocking its termination, there's little indication that Trump is currently working to keep the program in place.

Instead, acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf expressed ongoing concerns in a memo released earlier this year, saying: "I have concluded that the DACA policy, at a minimum, presents serious policy concerns that may warrant its full rescission."

Amid that review, the administration has limited renewals to one year instead of two and not accepted new applicants. Immigrant advocates, lawyers and lawmakers have denounced the move, criticizing the delay and arguing the move ran afoul of the Supreme Court's order.

-- Priscilla Alvarez Trump: Obama and Biden never tried criminal justice reform

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Trump, boasting about the First Step Act criminal justice reform bill he signed, repeated a previous claim that Biden and President Barack Obama did not even attempt criminal justice reform during their administration.

"Criminal justice reform, everybody said it could not be done. President Obama and Biden never even tried to do it, they never even tried," he said.

Facts First: This is false. The Obama administration did try to get a criminal justice reform bill passed; a bipartisan bill failed in the Senate during the 2016 presidential election, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell decided not to bring it up for a vote.

The Obama administration nonetheless took its own reform steps that did not require Republican approval, such as banning the use of solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons, working with state and local governments to reduce pre-trial incarceration and the incarceration of people with mental illnesses, and instructing federal prosecutors to try to avoid triggering mandatory minimum sentences for certain nonviolent drug offenders.

Also, Obama signed a narrower criminal justice bill in 2010, the Fair Sentencing Act, that reduced the disparity between mandatory sentences imposed for crack cocaine offenses and sentences imposed for powder cocaine offenses.

And the Obama administration took multiple steps to try to improve policing. You can read more here.

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10/16/2020

African American Gun Manufacturer “Civilian Force Arms” Yonas Hagos of Civilian Force Arms National African American Gun Association

USA –-(Ammoland.com)- I ran across a Company called “Civilian Force Arms” they are an African American owned “Gun Manufacturer” in the United States.

Yes right here in the USA and they are thriving. The company was founded by Yonas Hagos who is a USA Army Veteran and Purple Heart recipient.

The company is delivering a World Class AR-15 platform that is dependable and performs at a quite a high level.

Yonas Hagos, a child refugee from Sudan, has always dedicated his life to serving his country and others.

After being wounded by a rocket propelled grenade in Iraq during the height of the war in 2004, Yonas became an avid community volunteer and entrepreneur.

Volunteering as a Mission Continues Fellow, he along with other post 9/11 Veterans dedicated their time and energy to rebuilding communities across the nation.

Soon he turned his drive to serve into business, launching three successful businesses helping to employ fellow Americans.

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Now he is focusing on what he does best, designing and building custom AR-15s. Yonas prides himself on producing weapons that are American Made, Built To Survive.™ This is a solid Veteran owned organization that the NAAG community needs to support “Nationwide” and buy products from.

They are based in Illinois.

Company Website: https://www.civilianforcearms.com/about Location: Civilian Force Arms 1208B Badger St. Yorkville, IL. 60560 Telephone: 630-882-3498 / Phone: 815-341-9165 Email; levon@civilianforcearms.com About National African American Gun Association (NAAGA): The goal of the National African American Gun Association is to have every african american introduced to firearm use for home protection, competitive shooting, and outdoor recreational activities. We are a civil rights organization focused on self preservation of our community through armed protection and community building. The National African American Gun Association provides a network for all african american firearm owners, gun clubs and outdoor enthusiasts. We welcome people of all religious, social, and racial perspectives. We especially welcome african american members of law enforcement and active/ retired military.

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DIGITAL Version 20I9

MARKET ABOUT OUR PUBLICATIONS OUR African-Americans represent a substantial growth In the Bible it is said, “...My people perish for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6 KJV. This statement is not only true for the Saints but for the African American community’s of Nassau County. Over the years I have personally seen the deterioration of the fabric of the Black community first hand and it began in the schools. Now this is not a bad thing but it is an important thing that needs to be addressed before it is too late.

While living on Long Island places a lot of pressure on many residents. Long Island is among the top 25 markets in the country. Anything and everything is available to the residents living on Long Island except a professional, stable and strong community news source. If we are not informed how can we make informed decisions?

This is why the VILLAGE PRESS was birth and will launch this coming September. An informed community is the worlds best customer as well as best neighbor. We are committed to making that happen.

The marketing and sales teams here at the VILLAGE PRESS have a very simple customer marketing strategy.

We believe that it is our obligation to meet the client where they are most comfortable, like at Home on a Saturday morning with our Home Delivery Workforce. Or as with this digital publications. Or at their quiet get-a-away; Like their personal SPA, the Gym, or HAIR SALON or even their BARBER SHOP with our Live Streaming Internet Radio Network.

Or even at WORK during a break with our Internet Television Podcast.

There is no magic to this marketing thing we just want to comfortably meet our clients where it is convenient for them.

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segment of the American consumer market for companies and organizations. As a young population with growing economic power and influence it is an important market for those organizations looking for future domestic growth.

When looking toward the future prospects of the African-American demographic some key factors indicate a fertile economic opportunity for corporations.

The buying power of African-Americans is $I trillion and expected to grow to $I.3 trillion in the next few years. A younger, growing population and higher educational achievement are the engines behind gains in economic power and show no signs of slowing down or plateauing.

Overall growth in the number of households with incomes higher than $50,000, $75,000, and $I00,000 indicates the overall buying power increases are broad-based and not concentrated at the top, allowing for increased branding and sales opportunities for companies. Along with exercising more purchase power, African-Americans have started adopting behavioral changes in their lifestyles. These lifestyle changes and consumer behaviors are concentrated in a majority that is in a prime age demographic, have more durable household income levels, and are driven by cultural and ethnic awareness. Cultural identity and ethnicity are key drivers for consumption for African-Americans.

African-Americans are very receptive to advertising and programming that include positive cultural themes and include people of color. Black consumers are more likely to support or purchase products and services that are represented or owned by people of the same ethnicity. Not only are African-American consumers culturally aware they are early adopters of new technology and are heavy users of digital media. Blacks are more likely to positively receive advertising and content via mobile phones and use applications to recommend products to others or rate their experiences.

African-Americans consume television and video at higher rates than the general population.

Black adults are adopting healthier habits including greater participation in exercise and athletics, eating healthier organic foods, cutting back on riskier habits like smoking and drinking alcohol.

Healthier living also includes financial awareness, literacy, and preparedness activities like managing debt, saving, investing, and retirement planning.

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DIGITAL Version 20I9

TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial Page Political News Business News Religious News Opinions Black History Law & Order Education Health Technology Wealth Management Investment Entertainment Food, Fashion Life and Living Travel Sports News

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Got Something To Say? TUNE IN NIGHTLY AT 10:00 PM I DARE YOU! I DOUBLE DARE YOU! http://streaming.radio.co/s3dc3587b2/listen.m3u

CHECK US OUT ON RADIO.COM We’re looking for NEWS HOST...

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ANDREAUS GUILTY

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEDIA NETWORK

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(Continued from page 28)

-- Daniel Dale Trump: He has done more for the Black community than any president but Lincoln Citing his efforts on criminal justice reform, Trump said he has "done more for the African American community than any president with the exception of Abraham Lincoln," noting that "a lot of people agree."

Facts First: This is false.

President Lyndon B. Johnson, for example, signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act, monumental bills whose impact dwarfed the impact of any legislation Trump has signed.

It's also worth mentioning that Black people themselves do not, on the whole, agree with Trump's selfassessment. Trump has had a consistently abysmal approval rating with Black citizens -- just 16% among Black likely voters in one recent Quinnipiac University poll, for example, versus 82% disapproval.

-- Tara Subramaniam Biden: There are more American troops in Afghanistan than when Obama left office Biden claimed that the Trump administration has more people in Afghanistan now than when the Obama administration left office.

"You know, you have Americans -bounties on American military's

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heads in Afghanistan. They have more people there now, by the way, than when I left -- when we left, in Afghanistan," Biden said.

Facts First: If Biden was speaking strictly about levels of US troops, this is false.

In July 2016 President Barack Obama said he would leave 8,400 troops in Afghanistan through the end of his administration. On December 9, 2016 CNN reported there were 9,800 American service members in Afghanistan.

While Trump did increase troop levels in Afghanistan earlier in his term, he has since pulled troops out of the country. National security adviser Robert O'Brien said on October 7 there are now fewer than 5,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

-- Holmes Lybrand Biden: Green New Deal calls for eliminating non-renewable energy by 2030 George Stephanopoulos asked Biden if he was for or against the Green New Deal, noting, "On your website, you call it a crucial framework."

"My deal is a crucial framework, but not the New Green Deal," Biden responded. "The New Green Deal calls for elimination of all non-renewable energy by 2030. You can't get there.

You're going to need to be able to transition, George."

Facts First: This is misleading.

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The Green New Deal does include the goal of hitting net-zero emissions by 2050, but it does not call for the automatic elimination of all nonrenewable energy by that date.

Biden's campaign website does call the Green New Deal a "crucial framework" on the environment, but while Biden's climate plan and the Green New Deal share the overarching goal of curbing heat-trapping gas emissions, the plans differ in how they achieve net-zero emissions -- and how quickly they get there.

After lauding the "framework" of the Green New Deal, Biden's website lays out the bullet points of the candidate's own plan to combat climate change, which includes items like building out energy-efficient infrastructure and setting a goal for the US to reach zero emissions by 2050.

While the two plans overlap on some environmental objectives, Biden's plan does not include many of the social welfare proposals of the Green New Deal. For instance, he is not calling for a guaranteed job for each American with family and medical leave and paid vacations, as the deal proposes.

In other ways, the proposals differ less dramatically. Biden's plan also has a goal of creating a carbonpollution-free energy sector by 2035, whereas the Green New Deal proposed reaching 100% clean power in 10 years.

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10/16/2020

Dear Fellow New Yorker, We have worked hard over these past months to establish a nationleading testing and tracing program. Together with all the measures New Yorkers have taken to stop the spread, state-of-the-art testing and tracing have helped us make remarkable progress. Today, we build on this effort by adding an innovative new tool: COVID Alert NY — the official Exposure Notification App created by the New York State Department of Health in partnership with Google and Apple. Now you can use your phone to help stop the spread of COVID19 and you can receive exposure alert notifications without compromising your privacy or personal information.

What is COVID Alert NY? COVID Alert NY is New York State's official Exposure Notification App. This is a free smartphone app available to anyone 18+ who lives and/ or works in New York. The app uses Bluetooth technology — not location data — to quickly alert users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Once alerted, users can quickly protect themselves and others by selfquarantining, contacting their physician and getting tested.

Get alerts today: Download the app on your iPhone here. Download the app on your Android device here.

How does COVID Alert NY protect Published by The Village Press, Inc.

my privacy?

The app does not compromise privacy or collect your personal information. Use of the app is completely voluntary and anonymous.

The app will never track your location.

Privacy is protected because your data is kept anonymous and is not identifiable to any individual. The State Department of Health cannot identify who downloads the app, and does not collect your name, phone number or other personal information. Any data you voluntarily choose to share is anonymous and can be deleted at any time. Learn more about the app's expert-vetted security and privacy here.

How does COVID Alert NY work?

As you go about your day, the app uses Bluetooth to sense when another person with the same app comes within 6 feet of you. Your phone exchanges a secure random code with the other phone to record your proximity.

If the app notes that you've been within 6 feet of someone for more than 10 minutes, the app adds their phone's random code to a list of close contacts. When a fellow 41

app user tests positive for COVID19, a Case Investigator from the county health department will ask if the person is willing to share the app's list of "close contact" codes to help protect other people. Sharing your list is secure and private.

The app never reveals who you are to anyone.

Each day, the list of codes for "confirmed cases" is sent to every phone that has the app. The app compares its own list of close contact codes to the list of confirmed cases. If there's a match, the app displays a COVID Alert. Using these lists of anonymous codes, the alert is kept private. No one ever knows who generated the COVID Alert.

Neighboring states including New Jersey and Pennsylvania have launched Exposure Notification Apps that work in concert with New York's, meaning New Yorkers will also get alerted if they have been exposed to someone from one of these states who tests positive How you can help: The more New Yorkers using the COVID Alert NY app, the more effective it will be as a tool to stop the spread of COVID-19. Download the app today and encourage your friends and loved ones to download it, too. Alerts can only come from other people who use the app, so we need as many New Yorkers as possible to download the app.

Help New York Stop the Spread: Download the app and get exposure alerts.

The COVID Alert NY app puts the power in the hands of all New Yorkers to protect ourselves, our neighbors, friends, family and community. Together, we can slow the spread of COVID-19.

10/16/2020

DIGITAL Version 2020

EDITORIAL Eighteen days and counting. The decade they called 2020 is almost over and I for one can’t wait until the lie detector test results are read into the record.

Will we have 4 more years of lie’s, political insults of our intelligence and public extortion with our own tax dollars or will we be freed from bullying from a treasonous psychopathic sociopath who failed English and math and don’t forget history as well?

Our democracy is teetering on collapse with significant numbers of so-called pro-America’s on one side and the rest of humanity on the other.

For decades we have managed to agree and or disagree on political leadership from time to time and not find ourselves threatening to kill each other and now all of a sudden we are facing a national internal civil war while the world has been invited in to influence our electoral process.

If the current leadership was doing such a good job why would they need or even encourage subterfuge of the electoral process from

our enemies and or anyone willing to pay the entry fee?

When did they announce that political representation was openly for sale?

I must have missed that commercial. I think I might have really wanted to join that process as a new candidate for office maybe even that of president or maybe even a congressman I see that either can be had for pennies on the dollar with the prospect of having a relevant impact on trillions of taxpayer dollars.

Many people blame the distasteful image of the president on the media. Even he boast “Fake News” is an issue.

But I have been around long enough to know when the truth is being spoken and when a lie or a distractions is being offered.

The truth always comes out, just stand there for a few minutes and watch you will see it.

The great things we are doing are making “America Great Again” yet there have been more cop killings during arrest of Black people then

Larry Montgomery, Sr. Publisher and Chairman

Ever before. “People are very happy with what we doing” another quote or talking point yet unemployment is higher than it has ever been in the Black and Brown community.

“Job growth is up.” Job growth is always up when you are the one employed. I’m not are you?

“The Corona Virus is a hoax”, even after your whole household got it and you went to the emergency room and got a new experimental cocktail of drugs and in 72 hours was back at your desk. I wonder what that drug cost and how much stock did they give you to say it worked? After all who would question its ability after the most powerful man in the world took it and it worked?

We’ve been conned America and no one has or will escape its sting.

COLUMNIST

Phil Andrews

Joysetta Pearse Published by The Village Press, Inc.

Sr. Pastor Arthur L. Mackey , Jr.

Chef Arrette Harvey

LISA-ANNE BYERS

Don Durant

Shuray Bethea 42

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NOW ON YOUTUBE AFRICAN AMERICAN SHOPPING NETWORK

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Kyle Rittenhouse, Accused Kenosha Killer, Won't Face Gun Charges In Illinois The white teenager accused of fatally shooting two demonstrators and injuring a third in Wisconsin in August will not be charged with gun crimes in his home state, an Illinois state prosecutor announced.

Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, faces six criminal counts in Wisconsin, including first-degree intentional homicide. He allegedly used an AR15-style rifle during protests in Kenosha, Wisc., that erupted after the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Lake County, Ill. State's Attorney Michael Nerheim's office said in a statement that an investigation conducted by local police "revealed the gun used in the Kenosha shooting was purchased, stored and used in Wisconsin."

"Additionally, there is no evidence the gun was ever physically possessed by Kyle Rittenhouse in Illinois," the state's attorney's office added.

Police in Antioch, Ill., led the investigation. Antioch is Rittenhouse's Published by The Village Press, Inc.

hometown, which is located about 15 miles southwest of Kenosha.

The Lake County statement did not provide any details about who may have possessed the gun or where it currently is.

Little is publicly known about the firearm's history, as the Chicago Tribune points out, so it is unclear if the teenager or another person would have faced charges in Illinois if investigators had determined Rittenhouse had possession of the gun inside state lines.

An attorney for Rittenhouse has previously said his client never had possession of the gun outside of Wisconsin.

"Kyle did not carry a gun across state lines," Lin Wood said in a tweet. "The gun belonged to his friend, a Wisconsin resident. The gun never left the State of Wisconsin. Truth always prevails."

Ahead of a court appearance earlier this month that Rittenhouse joined via video link, his legal team submitted a court filing suggesting he was a "patriot" and was only at the demonstrations to provide medical assistance while he carried a rifle for self-defense, Chicago NPR member station WBEZ reports.

Rittenhouse, a staunch supporter 47

of the Blue Lives Matter movement, is said to have traveled to Kenosha to join militiamen who purported to be there to assist state and local law enforcement protect property from being destroyed amid protests.

Rittenhouse's actions were apparently captured on graphic video posted on social media.

President Trump, who has made law and order a central theme of his reelection campaign, declined to condemn the teen's alleged actions in August. He suggested, without evidence, that Rittenhouse may have been trying to protect himself when he fired his weapon.

"I guess he was in very big trouble," Trump said. "He probably would have been killed."

Democrats have pointed to Rittenhouse as the embodiment of the threat posed by domestic terrorism.

The teenager remains in a juvenile detention center in Lake County where he is being held without bond. He is due in court at Oct. 30 for an extradition hearing.

10/16/2020

Burundi Joins Congo in Demanding Reparations from Belgium Burundi wants Belgium and Germany to pay $43 billion in reparations for harm done during decades of colonial rule over the nickelproducing East African nation.

The move follows similar calls for compensation by the Democratic Republic of Congo after Belgian King Philippe in June offered his “deepest regrets” over his nation’s colonial past in the Congo. While the killing of George Floyd in the U.S. sparked some introspection about racism in the West, in subSaharan Africa much of the analysis has focused on the legacy of colonialism.

Burundi also wants Belgium and Germany to return archival material and objects stolen between 1899 and 1962, Senate President Reverien Ndikuriyo told senators in the capital, Gitega, on Thursday. In 2018, the Senate appointed a panel including historians and anthropologists to investigate the impact of colonialism in the nation.

Much of Burundi’s present-day political challenges can be traced Published by The Village Press, Inc.

back to a decree by Belgian King Albert I to classify the population along three ethnic groups, according to Aloys Batungwanayo, a historian and doctoral researcher at the Lausanne University.

“It is this decree that has led to conflicts in Burundi and the region because some of the population was excluded from the ruling class because of the decree,” Batungwanayo said in the commercial hub Bujumbura on Friday.

Brutal Past Other than the ills of colonization, Burundi accuses Belgium of fomenting dissent in the country in the recent past and sheltering the plotters of an attempted coup in 2015.

On its part, the European nation may seem to be confronting its brutal past as lawmakers have agreed to set up a panel to look at Belgium’s colonial history in Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.

But while King Philippe seems contrite about King Leopold II’s atrocities in Congo and for the suffering and humiliation in the subsequent Belgian colonial period, his expression of regret to Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi in June was short of an official apology. The former king claimed the Congo region as his personal property in 1885 and ruled it until 1908, when it was handed over to the Belgian 48

government.

Burundi’s economy, estimated at $3.1 billion by the African Development Bank, has been struggling since Belgium and the European Union placed it under sanctions when the late President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to extend his rule, which some critics said contravened the constitution. Economic output could contract 5.5% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

10/16/2020

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM NOTE: A face mask must be worn, and non-contact thermometers will be used to measure temperature. A reading of 99.5 = Entry Denied.

Joysetta Pearse

Social distancing will be observed so seats are limited. Reservations are required. Call the museum Wed-Sat 10 am – 5 pm to make reservations

516-572-0730 or email: taags.aam@gmail.com *Some of Ms. Baker’s costumes are for mature audiences.

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DIGITAL Version 2019

EDUCATION ASK LISA-ANNE

found. Information from the wbur.org website reports: “This group always reported much higher rates of suiQ. I have a 13-year-old son and I read recently that cide attempts than Black boys are committing suicide a lot lately. Is this any other group true? What can I do to prevent this? except for Native A. Yes, it appears to be true and very sad. A child has American Alaskan to be feeling very depressed, hopeless and useless to Indians since 1991,” says Sean Joe, a professor of sotake his/her own life. The thought of our children in cial work at Washington University in St. Louis and

Are Suicide Rates Climbing in Black Children?

that kind of pain is horrifying. Let’s look at the research. The study that sparked this recent conversation was unveiled in the Journal of Pediatrics in October, 2019. It reported that suicide attempts among black children and teenagers have increased by 73% since 1991. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S., but over the period studied, suicide attempts decreased among teens in every ethnic group except for African Americans. Self -reported suicide attempts among white teenagers fell by 7.5% between 1991 and 2017, the study

LISA-ANNE BYERS

one of the study’s authors. “So now we're seeing a stronger, significant increase not only for males but also for black females.”

The rise in suicide attempts among black adolescents is marked by higher levels of hopelessness, increased stigma around mental health issues and lack of access to mental health care, Joe says.

“There is potentially more increased trauma in this population that's not dealt with [and a] greater level of hopelessness ... for this population that we have (Continued on page 52)

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(Continued from page 51)

never seen before,” he says. “So these are things we must really take a look at.”

Black teen girls often have stronger social networks to connect with than black boys, he adds. The increase in self-reported suicide attempts among black teen girls could suggest they’ve lost those support systems, Joe says. “For instance, our black young girls [are] less likely now to be engaged in the black church when before they really were avid churchgoers and participation in organized religious activities,” he says. “The other thing we have to look at is whether or not there's increasing in any notions of bullying among young black girls.” CNN Health website reports this study is in line

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with earlier research that has shown African-American boys, especially younger boys between the ages of 5 and 11, have experienced an increase in the rate of suicide deaths. In black children ages 5 to 12, the suicide rate was found to be two times higher compared with white children.

What seems to be missing is a solution! Suicide is still relatively rare and hard to predict, according to the American Psychological Association, but it says there are some warning signs: If someone is talking about suicide; if they have experienced a recent loss, like the death of a friend or parent’s divorce; if the person seems different; if you notice a change in their usual personality or behavior;

or if they tell you they aren't sleeping a lot or have a change in eating habits.

Low self-esteem, lack of hope for the future, or if they talk a lot about their fear of losing control -these can all be warning signs.

Other Risk Factors include but are not limited to: · Major loss (i.e., break up or death) · Substance use · Peer or social pressure · Access to weapons · Public humiliation · Severe chronic pain · Chronic medical condition · Impulsiveness/aggressiveness · Family history of suicide · If your teen says any of the following: "Nothing matters."

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m. Be present! Pay attention!

Know their friends, whereabouts, · "I wonder how many people computer use etc. would come to my funeral?" n. Check in often! · "Sometimes I wish I could just go If you or someone you know may to sleep and never wake up." be considering suicide, contact the · "Everyone would be better off National Suicide Prevention Lifewithout me." line at 1-800-273-8255 (En Espa· "You won't have to worry about ñol: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and me much longer."

Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting 741741.

Lisa-Anne Ray-Byers is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist who has worked in education for over three decades. She holds graduate degrees in speech-language pathology and multicultural education. She also holds certification in educational administration. She is a member of the National Education Writers Association and author of the books, They Say I Have ADHD I Say Life Sucks! Thoughts What Do Parents Need to Do? move all firearms elsewhere until From Nicholas, They S S Say I’m a First of all, parents are not at fault the crisis has passed.

St St Stutterer, But I S S Say Nothwhen teens commit suicide. Many k. Do not verbally abuse your teen! ing! Meet Kelly, The Tail of a Black parents are busy working someYou can discipline without name Panther and co-author of two reftimes two jobs to sustain the fami- calling. erence books on ADHD all availaly and it can be difficult to tell l. Don’t be afraid of therapy and ble at www.Amazon.com. You may which behaviors are depression or medication! You wouldn’t ignore a contact her at normal moody teenage behavior. broken arm. speechLRB@gmail.com.

Education is key in this situation and parents are going to have to find the time to check in with their children! Here are some suggestions from the Healthychildren.org website and me: a. Don't let your teen's depression or anxiety go on for a long period without intervening.

Fact: 9 in 10 teens who take their own lives met criteria for a diagnosis of psychiatric or mental health condition or disorder—more than half of them with a mood disorder such as depression or anxiety. b. Listen—even when your teen is not talking. c. Never shrug off threats of suicide as typical teenage melodrama. d. Seek professional help right away. Stop the stigma! e. Share your feelings.

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f. Encourage your teen not isolate himself or herself from family and friends. g. Recommend exercise. h. Urge your teen not to demand too much of himself or herself. i. Remind your teen who is undergoing treatment not to expect immediate results. j. If you keep guns at home, store them safely or

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From N.W.A. to MAGA: Ice Cube takes some heat for working with the Trump administration Ice Cube: "Every side is the Darkside for us here in America." (CNN)Rapper Ice Cube once said he would never endorse Donald Trump. And though not an endorsement, the rapper is causing a stir this week for working with the President on his plan for Black America.

Cube confirmed and defended his stance on Wednesday, tweeting that the Trump campaign made adjustments to "their plan" after talking to him about his Contract With Black America, a plan he released earlier this year to address racial inequality, while Democrats said they would wait until after the election.

"Every side is the Darkside for us here in America," Ice Cube tweeted, while defending the work he's done with Trump. "They're all the same until something changes for us. They all lie and they all cheat but we can't afford not to negotiate with whoever is in power or our condition in this country will never change. Our justice is bipartisan."

Dubbed the "Platinum Plan," Trump's plan for Black America includes initiatives like "neighborhoods with highest policing standards" and replacing "failing schools" with "full school choice." CNN reached out to representatives for the rapper for further comment, but was directed to watch his appearance with CNN's Chris Cuomo. A few hours later, Ice Cube, a former member of the group N.W.A., tweeted that the appearance was off.

Still, Cube continued to defend his stance on Thursday, Published by The Village Press, Inc.

saying that he will "advise anyone on the planet who has the power to help Black Americans close the enormous wealth gap." On Tuesday, Katrina Pierson, a senior adviser for the President, tweeted that Cube helped develop Trump's "Platinum Plan."

"Leaders gonna lead, haters gonna hate," she wrote on Twitter. "Thank you for leading!" In the midst of the controversy, prominent Black thinkers and activists have spoken against the rapper, arguing that Trump has never done anything to address racism or eradicate racial inequality, and is using the entertainer for his own image. Ibram X. Kendi, a professor known for his work on anti-racism, said the rapper is "lying to himself." "Before we talk truth to power, we must talk truth to ourselves. Cube is lying to himself that he can get Trump to deliver Black progress in exchange for Black votes when Trump hasn't brought progress for his own supporters. The process starts brother by talking truth to yourself," he wrote on Twitter. Brittney Cooper, a professor and author, slammed the rapper on Twitter, questioning when Ice Cube became a spokesman for Black America. "Who is Ice Cube that the Democratic Party would feel the need to talk to him about the broad political concerns of Black America? Is he a political leader or organizer? No." The rapper-turned-actor has been outspoken about racial injustice and White supremacy throughout his career.

In July, he unveiled a 13-part plan called the "Contract with Black America," which included points such as police and prison reform and interest free loans for home ownership. Though he denounced Trump in 2016, he has said in recent months that he wants change regardless of the political party.

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BOOK SHELF

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New York-based Personal Development Training Company Offering social-emotional skills workshops and Assembly Programs K-12

tomizable programs are also available.

To Preview Program click on video link here: https:// youtu.be/7RVvnCHVVBc About: Renée McRae is the Founder & Pres. of Poetic Motivations LLC, a personal development training company. Author, Poet, Teaching Artist, Motivational Speaker, Success Coach and most recently, Recording Artist, Renée McRae has enhanced school climates and cultures for over two decades. Students, Teachers and Parents absolutely love her! Using poetry as a Personal Development Training Company Poetic Mospringboard, Ms. McRae captivates, mesmerizes and tivations LLC, is now offering social-emotional empowers any audience. Through her fun-filled skills virtual workshops and assembly programs for Workshops and Assembly Programs, she specializes in grades K-12 Success Skills.

New York, New York - New York-based Personal DeMs. McRae has published 22 Books of Student (and velopment Training Company Poetic Motivations Teacher) Poetry with various schools across the counLLC, is now offering social-emotional try. skills virtual workshops and assembly programs for To contact Renée McRae’s company Personal Develgrades K-12. Our students need social-emotional skills opment Training Company Poetic Motivations LLC now more than any other time in our history. regarding her company’s social-emotional For that reason, we are offering (virtual) workshops skills virtual workshops and assembly programs for and assembly programs for grades K-12. Feel free to grades K-12 https://www.reneemcrae.com/ reach out to our company if you are interested in contact/. You may also bringing this program to your school. You may also email: wapublicrelationsco@gmail.com share our program with your principal, counselor or teacher. Our program combines poetry with the necessary skills your students need for their success. CusPublished by The Village Press, Inc.

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Queen of Harlem Uses Past Adversity and Current Celebrity Status to Teach Life Lessons

ry events for the community - including having her own female basketball team!

Michelle Small AKA “The Queen of Harlem” has a new book out that commands attention about handling one’s past struggles and adversity in order to succeed in the now Michelle Smalls is a prominent and key figure in Harlem. Now, with the debut of her autobiography, “The Queen of Harlem Commandments”, Ms. Smalls is helping and inspiring others to live their best life and demand respect from others and themselves. Throughout her climb to the top, this serial entrepreneur and investor has gone from living on the streets to setting up and creating opportunities for her community.

“I remember being on the set of a reality television show and having an ex disrespect me. He was trying to drag my thought process to where I was years ago, sleeping on a mattress with nothing to my name. This book is not only about how to overcome your past using my set of comMichelle Smalls, is mandments, but how to respect yourself when known as "Queen of your past pays a visit to your present self. How Harlem" to many in you respect yourself and the growth you embrace and encounter on your personal journey as the community. a person teaches others how to treat you. That’s Michelle's goal is to what this book is really about,” said Ms. Smalls. put smiles on the fac“The Queen of Harlem Commandments” is over es of young people, by way of giving back to 40,000 words and is available on Amazon. The book is an inspiring read and helps people devel- the community at large. Michelle is an op boundaries and rules for their success and influencer, serial entretheir own self-respect. The book is available in preneur, real estate both Kindle format and paperwork. broker, owner of multi“Anyone will benefit from this book regardless of ple investment properwhat stage in life they are currently experiencing ties and is also a philanthropist. For well over a in life. There is no such thing as hopelessness decade, Michelle smalls, as a social impact leader has after reading Michelle Small’s autobiography. always placed a high priority on youth and the We all can have it all if we continue to carry on community. Michelle intuitively sees the needs and and strive to reach our goals. We have to respect desires of her community, as an inspirational leader ourselves enough to set up rules for our lives and who focuses on problem-solving. She takes full responsibility for her actions and contributions and to cut out those who don’t benefit us.

This isn’t selfish, this is a form of self-love. Once hosts outstanding charity events like her Christmas you set these rules and practice self-love, you can Toy Drives, Coats Drives, Community Halloween Parties, Back to School Drives, Prepares teens for start to move yourself forward and achieve your their Proms, and Sponsorship of an All-girls Basketball dreams,” said Lytoya Parker, Media Manager for Team. Ms. Smalls is a pillar in the Harlem community.

Michelle Smalls.

She is transforming the lives of our youth by From once running the streets and living an imempowering them with love and opportunities that poverished life, Ms. Smalls has a bouquet of build tighter bonds that last throughout their lifetime. property investments, lives in a house that reflects truly who she is and her hard work, and is Social Media Handles: known in Harlem for setting up events, such as Instagram - @queenofharlem_commandments Facebook - facebook.com/queenofharlemcommandments the toy drives, coat drives, and other celebrato- LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/queenofharlemcommandments/ Website - www.queenofharlem.nyc

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Don Durant

THE INTERNATIONAL GRAPEVINE

THIS WEEK’S "THE INTERNATIONAL GRAPEVINE presents

"The dangers of Cancer" on YouTube Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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FOOD FOR THE SOUL STUFFED PEPPERS ORIGINALA Chef Arrette Harvey

6 large green peppers 2 TBS oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 lb. lean ground beef 1 12 cups long grain rice 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup shredded cheese 6 tsp Worcestershire sauce (divided) 1 1/4 tsp salt 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce 1/2 cup water Cut thin slice from stem end of each green pepper. In a large skillet heat oil, add onion and pepper (1/4 cup) saute 5 minutes.

Add beef; cook and stir until light brown. Remove from heat.

Stir in rice, cheese, 4 tsp Worcestershire sauce and salt. Place in buttered baking dish. Combine tomato sauce, water and remaining 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce. Pour around peppers. Bake uncovered in preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes until peppers are tender. Top with shredded cheese Baste occasionally with tomato sauce.

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Rev. Joseph Jenkins Since 1985 the Eta Theta Lambda Education Foundation (ETL) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has championed the cause of higher education opportunities and access for traditionally underserved and underperforming student populations.

Today the foundation accomplishes its goals primarily through its College Readiness Program which includes the Success Workshop series, the Virtual University Initiative, and our flagship program; the College Tour.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 College Tour is a VIRTUAL EVENT. The virtual College Tour will visit the following Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Alabama A&M, Claflin, Clark Atlanta, Florida A&M, Johnson C. Smith, Hampton, Howard, Morehouse, Morgan State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Spelman, Tennessee State, Tuskegee, Virginia State and Xavier.

The Virtual College Tour will also visit the United States Naval Academy.

Attached is the 2020 Virtual College Tour announcement and the 2020 Virtual College Tour calendar Please share the announcement with family and friends. High School students and parents/guardians interested in participating in the Virtual College Tour should go to www.etleducationfoundation.or g and complete the online application.

The cost for the 2020 Virtual College Tour is $50 and includes souvenir College Tour Polo, ETL College Tour commemorative pin, and Certificate of Completion. ETL provides an invoice when the application is completed.

The 2020 College Tour experience begins on Tuesday, September 29 as ETL conducts its Parent/Student Orientation workshop. Students and parents are encouraged to participate.

Thank you in advance for your support of the 2020 College Tour. Please contact William Mills at (631) 835-2743 willmills06@hotmail.com or Dr. Steven Skinner (917) 862-4008/ professorsteve@prodigy.net if you have questions.

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SPORTS Long Island’s Danny Green gets Another Ring with Lakers

every level of basketball starting with his dominate play at St. Mary’s High School, the NCAA Championship with the University of North Carolina and earning 3 NBA championHello sports fans, the Los An- ships with the San Antonio Spurs, the Toronto Raptors, geles Lakers have collected another National Basketball and now the Lakers to earn recognition as a “winner”.

Association Championship Danny Green has been a with LeBron James and AnSHURAY BETHEA thony Davis leading the team sensational baller throughAT LARGE in the “Bubble” to a record of out his basketball life, as he earned his St Mary’s 17 Titles, which they share with the Celtics. Long Island High School National recogni- helped the Tar Heels team

native Danny Green helped the Lakers to succeed in the playoffs, while playing fantastic on defense and consistent from 3-point range. The word from the cheap seats says Green has been a winner on Published by The Village Press, Inc.

tion while being selected to the McDonalds All-American team in 2005. In his University of North Carolina studentathlete experience, he earned ACC All-Defensive Team honors, and in 2009 he 62

win a NCAA Championship.

Green’s professional career was a true test of perseverance as he continuously worked to improve his skills (Continued on page 63)

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and the results are the success fans view today. This year’s NBA finals offered an exciting twist with Jimmy Butler playing at such a high level while offering a balanced attack to include the Heat’s future stars such as Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Duncan Robinson.

The Heat also received an unbelievable boost from veterans Jae Crowder and Goran Dragic that gave Heat fans hope that with Butler’s leadership their team would deliver another unpredicted series win. The Miami Heat proved to be talented, fearless, and determined to win the championship as they played the role of giant killers by knocking off the Pacers, (number 1 seed Bucks) and Celtics. The Heat’s magical run allowed NBA fans an opportunity to see the organizational skills of General Manager Pat Riley, and 3X champion coach Erik Spoelstra, which will certainly be the team to watch next season.

The most valuable player on the Lakers team is LeBron James, but Anthony Davis appeared to be the reason for the team’s success, as he played defense on the team’s best player in each of the rounds of the playoffs.

Rajon Rondo played the back-up point guard position with the Lakers and shot the ball from 3-point range as efficient and reliable as Published by The Village Press, Inc.

the best shooters in the league, while showing a basketball IQ that only LeBron would compare too. However, LeBron James displayed the excitement that adds him to the “greatest of all time” (GOAT) conversation, his competitive demonstration of strength and quickness was a remarkable answer to the surprisingly gifted attack by Jimmy Butler. The L.A. Lakers are coached by Frank Vogel, and he truly is the best coach for the job, as his coaching resume includes a heavyhanded focus on defense, which was the requirement LeBron has always commanded from his leader and team. The Lakers enjoyed contributions from Alex Caruso, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, and Dwight Howard (superman), each player competed as if they were the best players on the floor, with remarkable attention to detail.

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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

SATURDAY EVENINGS AT 5:00 pm On FACEBOOK LIVE Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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PLAY NEXT WEEK

RULES: Honesty is the best policy. Play weekly and win gifts. Write as many questions as you can for the answers displayed above. Then click on the answer to visit our website where the correct question is displayed. If you are correct then you can enter to win a special prize. Four winning entry’s and you win.

Merely send us your answers and we will grade them either Correct, Close Enough, Nice Try or Try again next week. If you are correct four (4) weeks in a row then we will be announced as a Bible Jeopardy Scholar and be notified of your gift. You must be a active subscriber to win.

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Scripture Habakkuk 1

Tested Faith Reverend Joseph D. Jenkins, Jr., M.Div. Retired Minister African Methodist Episcopal Church Habakkuk is a little book only 3 chapters long and a total of 56 verses that were written just before the world caved in for the people of Judah. Habakkuk provides us one of the most remarkable sections in all of Scripture, as it contains an extended dialogue between Habakkuk and God Habakkuk 1-2. Habakkuk is not so much a prophecy from God to the people but a compilation of the prophet's laments. Habakkuk questions God's goodness because he sees so much injustice, evil, and tragedy in the world and it seems as though God is silent.

Habakkuk and every generation that force me to look at evil, stare trouble God will deal with evil. in the face day after day? Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels, Habakkuk asked God the kinds of and fights all over the place. Law questions that so many of us have and order fall to pieces. Justice is a wanted to ask but have been taught joke. The wicked have the righteous that we should not question God like hamstrung and stand justice on its He is intimidated by our questions or head”.

It is one of the minor prophets. Unthat we could ask Him something derstand minor prophets doesn’t that He couldn’t answer. Questions We have all seen the evidence of evil mean he is less important than the like How long Lord do I have to go and tragedy in our lives. We’ve all major prophets like Jeremiah and through this, Why do you force me to been touched by it and we often bear Isaiah, but the time span covered is look at evil, Why when I call your the scars left by the healing process. less. He's also concerned because name you don’t seem to hear my We are often surrounded by evil and God plans to send Babylon, an invoice, Lord Why Me?” Habakkuk 1:1- tragedy some of it may even be of tensely evil nation, to judge Israel.

4 in the Message Version reads as our own doing because of poor deciThroughout the book of Habakkuk, follows:- “God, how long do I have sions we have made and the condiwe see Babylon as an example of a to cry out for help before you listen? tion of this fallen nation that exalts itself above God How many times do I have to yell, world. However, the (Continued on page 69) and practices injustice, violence, and “Help! Murder! Police!” before you idolatry. In the end, God reminds come to the rescue? Why do you Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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book of Habakkuk reminds us that no place is too dark and situation too hard, no people to far fallen, no valley too low or no wall too thick for God’s grace to find us and change us in only the way He can.

wants to make our faith strong and pure, “that the trial [testing] of your faith, being more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it is tested with fire, might be found unto praise, honor, and glory at the appearing of Jesus”. The testing of our faith is in order to make our Understand that while God may seem silent and uninfaith stronger. Testing reveals to us where we are in volved in our world, He always has a plan to deal with terms of our faith as God already knows whether we will evil and always works out justice . . . eventually. The pass a given test. It’s like a test in school to see if you example of the prophet Habakkuk encourages believers knew what had been taught. to wait on the Lord, expecting that He will indeed work out all things - Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all It is as we go through the fire of testing that we can be things work together for good to them that love God, to strengthened, sanctified, and purified. James 1:2-4 emthem who are the called according to his purpose for phasizes the sanctifying and strengthening results of testour good”. ing when it says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see O your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and comcry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! plete, lacking in nothing." Therefore; it is imperative Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold that we understand the testing of our faith. When God grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and tests us, He wants us to succeed. He wants us to see that there are that raise up strife and contention Therefore our faith is real and that it has been refined by fire. 1 the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: Peter 1: 6-7 says, "In this, you greatly rejoice, even for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; there- though now for a little while, if necessary, you have fore wrong judgment proceedeth Behold ye among the been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will your faith, being more precious than gold which is perwork a work in your days, which ye will not believe, ishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to rethough it is told you For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, sult in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through Jesus Christ." the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful: their In other words, God doesn’t put us through a refining judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. process for no reason. He is not malicious or desiring to Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are see us suffer through trial. Just as a goldsmith only puts more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsethe metal into the fire in order to get rid of impurities, men shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall so is the way of our Lord. God will test us so that we can come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to see where we need to improve. We can be sure that God eat. They shall come all for violence: their faces shall designs each test specifically to show us individually and sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captiv- personally what our defects and impurities are so that ity as the sand. And they shall scoff at the kings, and the we can be sanctified and changed. Testing, therefore, is princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride something that we can glory in rather than to dread. But every stronghold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. we must be willing to go through the fire if we want to Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and come out more like Christ than we were before. offend, imputing this his power unto his god. Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? The result of God’s kind testing is to reveal just how we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for much we believe His Word and promises to us. God is judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established powerfully glorified by those who continue to believe them for correction”. even when things do not make sense and appear to be contradictory to what I was expecting. We need not fear God wants us to understand whether we have the real the tests that God brings to us; rather, we thing. If we want to have a pure faith like purified gold, need only trust Him to bring us through then God will put your faith in the fire. God intends no them. Why? Because God is good, faithful, harm in a test, whereas Satan is out to destroy you God (Continued on page 74) Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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FEDIE REDD

Andrae E. and twin sister Sandra Crouch were born on July 1, 1942, in San Francisco, California. He has one other sibling. Andrae Crouch was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. He was born to parents Benjamin and Catherine (née Hodnett) Crouch. His father was the pastor of the Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ Inc, Pacoima, California. Andrae Crouch is known as "the father of modern gospel music".

When Andrae Crouch was just 11 years old, he accompanied his father to a revival. At that revival, his father, and the church's congregation encouraged him to play the piano, during the service.

While at the piano, Crouch found the key in which the congregation was singing and started to play. After that day he honed his piano-playing skills and in time, learned to write music.

When he was 14 years old, he wrote his first Gospel song.

Crouch formed his first musical group in 1960 and called them “The Church of God in Christ Singers”. The group included future recording artist, and session musician Billy Preston on keyboards. They were the first group to record "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power". A song written by Crouch at age 15. The song's popularity grew following the initial release in 1969 and Published by The Village Press, Inc.

has become a standard in churches and hymnals worldwide. In 1965, while studying teaching at Valley Junior College in the San Fernando Valley CA; Andrae Crouch along with fellow musicians Perry Morgan, Reuben Fernandez, and Bili Thedford formed the gospel group "The Disciples". The group became a frequent attraction at "Monday Night Sing" concerts in southern California. These concerts were hosted by Audrey Mieir, a Christian minister and music composer, who frequently sponsored new Christian music groups. Shortly after, Mieir introduced Crouch to Manna Music Publishing founders Tim and Hal Spencer; Manna Music published Andrae Crouch's song "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”. Crouch and the group were introduced through the Spencer’s to Light Records founder and Christian songwriter Ralph Carmichael. After the addition of Sherman Andrus to The Disciples, Light Records recorded, and released in 1968 the group's first album, “Take the Message Everywhere”.

In 1970, Crouch's twin sister, Sandra, joined “The Disciples”, after Reuben Fernandez’s departure from the group.

Crouch has been credited with playing an essential role in the 1960s and 1970s, in bringing contemporary Chris-

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tian music to the church. He is also credited with bridging the gap between Black and White Christian music and revolutionizing the sound of urban gospel music. Although his contemporary music styles were harshly criticized and said to be diluting the Christian message; his songs have become staples in churches, and hymnals around the world.

Crouch’s songs have been recorded by mainstream artists such as Elvis Presley, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Barbara Mandrell, and Little Richard.

Crouch’s affiliation with Light Records was instrumental in bringing Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, Jessy Dixon, and The Winans to the label. Andrae Crouch is known for his compositions "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power", "My Tribute (To God be the Glory)” and "Soon and Very Soon". He has collaborated on some of his recordings with such artists as Stevie Wonder, El DeBarge, Philip Bailey, Chaka Khan, Sheila E., and vocal group Take 6. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was one of the most sought after producers for whom superstars depended to provide a great gospel choir sound to their recordings. He appeared on a number of recordings, including Michael Jackson’s “Man in The Mirror”, Madonna’s “Like a Prayer", and "The Power", a duet between Elton John and Little Richard. Crouch's original music arrangements were heard in films like “The Color Purple”, for which he received an Oscar nomination, and Disney's “The Lion King”. In 1986, he composed the theme music for the Sherman Hemsley sitcom Amen, sung

by Vanessa Bell Armstrong. His Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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awards and accolades are numerous.

Andrae Crouch has received four GMA Dove Awards, seven Grammy Awards, an Oscar nomination, NAACP Image awards, a lifetime achievement award by the National Academy of Recording Artists. He was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame, and museum, and has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Between 1993 and 1994, Crouch suffered the loss of his father, mother, and older brother. After his father's death, Crouch and his sister took over the shared duty as senior pastors at the church his parents founded, Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ Inc Pacoima California.

On January 8, 2015, at age 72, Andrae Crouch died at the Northridge Hospital Medical Center Los Angeles, California. sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andra% C3%A9_Crouch, http://andraecrouch.com/,https:// www.imdb.com/name/nm0189428/, https:// www.allmusic.com/artist/andra%C3%A9-crouchmn0000031263/biography, https://www.last.fm/ music/Andra%C3%A9+Crouch, https:// www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/01/08/ andrae-crouch-gospel-music-pioneerdies/21262183/, https://believersportal.com/ biography-andrae-crouch-gospel-artist/

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and true, knowing that we will end up better than we were before. Once again, God causes all things to work for our good, even if it does not make sense, it hurts, or it is difficult. We will be better for it. This is the outcome of Habakkuk; however, before Habakkuk or you and I get there we will have to have our faith tested.

We are entitled to ask, Lord, where are you? Why do you not do something about this? Hey God, where are you at my world is falling apart. Now we need to first clarify something and that is the purpose of prayer: - the primary purpose of prayer is not to get something but to know something. Remember I said my desire is to cause people to seek the heart of God and not His hand. We pray to enter the presence of Mark 11:24 says “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

promises us. Faith says to God, I trust what you say so much that I will live by what you say. And those who are audacious enough to really live by what God says will see mountains move that God wants to be moved. That’s why Jesus said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” “Abide in me, and ask whatever you wish.”

Think about this. Which of our other close relationships are simple? How hard do we have to work, especially because of our own selfish sin, to understand and communicate clearly with those we love? Isn’t relational communication among the most difficult things we deal with daily? And these are relationships we encounter face to face. Should we expect knowing and relating to God will be less difficult?

Prayer has all the components of a relationship because it is the way we relate to God. In every relationship, efThen we pray and we do not see answers to our prayers. fective communication is something we must learn. We We’re left asking, what’s the problem? Why does not understand that good communication requires more God listen to me? Is my faith is too small that God igintentional effort. But if we really press into it, we tend nores my prayers or any other factors causing Him not to discover far more about that person than we knew to answer me? Either way, the net effect is we are disbefore and experience new levels of intimacy and couraged from praying much unless we feel very desper- friendship with them. ate. We even begin to believe that this promise of Mark 11: 24 is not for me. But this is not the way God wants us to respond to unanswered prayer. He wants us to seriously press into the question, what is going on? Why isn’t God answering me? Because the statement “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” is an invitation to an intimate relationship with Him. He is drawing us beyond what we have yet seen and experienced, and He is calling us to trust Him even when we cannot trace Him. Jesus’s purpose is not to shame us for small or undeveloped faith. He is inviting us to come closer and deeper in our relationship with Him. Understand prayer is a relational interaction, not just a service transaction. Faith is not a divine currency that we pay God in order to receive whatever we ask in prayer. Faith is a relational response of trust in what God Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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TO ORDER A COPY Pastor Arthur L. Mackey Jr. Senior Pastor Mount Sinai Baptist Church Cathedral 243 Rev. Dr. A. L. Mackey Sr. Avenue, Roosevelt, New York, 11575 artbren12@aol.com

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MACK REPORT

CONVICT & SENTENCE ALL FOUR OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDERERS FOR LIFE: All four Minneapolis, Minnesota former police officers who were fired, arrested, and released on bail MUST be convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of George Floyd. As well the estate of George Floyd MUST receive a large settlement, on top of four corrupt cop convictions and four corrupt cop life imprisonments, for the modern day literal lynching, the racist murder of George Floyd. Black Lives Matter.

Roosevelt New York Middle School tenured teacher and tenured worker can get away with racism and racist lynchAll four of the former police officers, Derek Chauvin, J ing nooses displayed in a class room full of Black and Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao, must go to prison for life. All four must go to prison for life. Including Brown children. Then any racist cop, any racist teacher, or the former officer, Derek Chauvin, who put his knee on the any racist citizen can. BLACK LIVES MATTER!!! kneck of George Floyd. As George Floyd painfully cried out ●THEIR TEACHING LICENSES MUST BE REVOKED for his deceased Mother, and painfully pleaded for his life FOR THEIR DEADLY REVIVAL OF RACISM & RACIST crying out like the late, Eric Garner, “I cannot LYNCHING NOOSES!! breathe!” BLACK LIVES MATTER!!!

Racist cops, racist teachers, and racist citizens throughout the entire landscape of America must not only be fired, but imprisoned for murdering Black lives, murdering Black hope, and murdering Black future. BLACK LIVES MATTER!!!

This is not justifiable homicide. It is outright murder, an outright modern day lynching during the coronavirus crisis.

No amount of negative information intentionally leaked against George Floyd can ever justify this racist lynching of George Floyd. BLACK LIVES MATTER!!!

Lets be crystal clear, and connect the dots. When racist ●THESE FOUR MURDERERS OF GEORGE FLOYD police are not are not arrested, are not charged, are not MUST BE IMPRISONED FOR LIFE!!! BLACK LIVES MATconvicted, and are not imprisoned for life in all of these TER!!! endless criminal cases of vicious police brutality, and horrific murder of Black Lives in America. Sadly, three historically well documented outright crimes against humanity continue to happen again, again, and again. ●PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL THREE!!!

1.) Sadly, more and more racist police continue to brutally beat and lierally murder Black lives throughout the landscape of America.

2.) Sadly, more and more deeply troubled people of the exact same ethnic group continue to murder one another, and murder innocent bystanders (INCLUDING YOUNG CHILDREN) of the exact same ethnic group.

3.) Sadly, more and more deeply troubled police officers continue to commit suicide, and or, more police officers are injured and murdered in ambush attacks of absolute anger. ●NO ONE CAN DENY THESE THREE FACTS. Sadly, these are the crystal clear three stages of the continuous cycle of deadly violence that clearly cries out for the drastic need for major police reform from an anti racist perspective all across the landscape of America. ●ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

When a tenured teacher and tenured worker at Roosevelt Middle School in Roosevelt, New York, posted an illegal racist nooses image featuring the racist statements "YES", ""HA HA", and "BACK TO SCHOOL NECKLACES" in a classroom full of Black and Brown children. I clearly warned New York State Department of Education (NYSED) that they needed to fire them ASAP for their blatant illegal acts of racism. Promting racism and racist lynching nooses. BLACK LIVES MATTER!!!

We must care, share, and bear the heavy burdens of the broken, battered, and bruised brothers and sisters of hurting humanity. The message of real anti racism police reforms must be first and foremost on the radar of America's agenda to shut down racist AmeriKKKa's deadly agenda from the Whitehouse to the voter's house in JESUS name.

(Continued on page 77)

For racists throughout the landscape of America feel if a Published by The Village Press, Inc.

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●NYSED REVOKE THE ROOSEVELT NEW YORK MIDDLE SCHOOL TENURED TEACHER'S & TENURED WORKER'S NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TEACHING LICENSES NOW FOR THEIR BLANTLY RACIST CRIME AGAINST OUR BLACK & BROWN CHILDREN NOW!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

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Pastor Arthur L. Mackey Jr. Senior Pastor Mount Sinai Baptist Church Cathedral 243 Rev. Dr. A. L. Mackey Sr. Avenue Roosevelt, New York, 11575 artbren12@aol.com #GeorgeFloyd #getyourkneeoffournecks #BreonnaTaylor, #BlackLivesMatter, #PoliceReform, #stoppolicebrutality #ArrestBreonnaTaylorsMurderers CATCH THE VISION OF VICTORY & NEVER GIVE UP!!!

George Floyd, Ahmaud Alberry, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Matthew Felix, Daniel Prude, & many more Black people were ALL LYNCHED by racist police AFTER this Roosevelt New York Middle School tenured teacher & tenured worker put up racist nooses with the words "YES", "HA HA", & "BACK TO SCHOOL NECKLACES", in a classroom full of Black & Brown students. The tenured teacher & tenured worker's racist actions in February (BLACK HISTORY MONTH) 2019, set the racist atmosphere in America for a well documented revival of modern day lynchings of Black Lives. THIS CAN NOT BE IGNORED! THIS MUST BE STOPPED!!! BLACK LIVES MATTER!

●DON’T NORMALIZE THE LYNCHING NOOSE!!! DON’T DESENSITIZE THE MINDS OF THE MODERN DAY PUBLIC REGARDING THE TRUE MEANING OF THE LYNCHING NOOSE!!! THE LYNCHING NOOSE IS NOT A FUNNY "HA HA", "YES", “BACK TO SCHOOL NECKLACE” JOKE. HISTORY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF CLEARLY!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! ●WE DEMAND JUSTICE NOW FOR OUR BLACK & BROWN CHILDREN!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

●REVOKE THE TEACHING LICENSES FOR ILLEGAL & BITTERLY CRUEL ACTS OF BLANTANT RACISM AGAINST BLACK & BROWN STUDENTS BY THIS ROOSEVELT MIDDLE SCHOOL TENURED TEACHER & TENURED WORKER!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

●WRITE, WRITE, WRITE - New York State Education Department Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) ●NEW YORK STATE LAW REGARDING RAC- 89 Washington Avenue, Room 981-EBA IST NOOSES specifically states that anyone who Albany, New York 12234 “etches, paints, draws upon or otherwise places ●CALL, CALL, CALL Phone: (518) 473-2998 or displays a noose, commonly exhibited as a ●FAX, FAX, FAX Fax: (518) 402-5940 symbol of racism and intimidation, on any build●EMAIL, EMAIL, EMAIL: OSPRA@nysed.gov ing or other real property, public or private, owned by any person, firm or corporation or any ●Call New York State Governor Andrew Coumo public agency or instrumentality, without express at permission of the owner or operator of such build- 1 (518) 474 8390 ing or real property.” is breaking New York State ●Call New York Attorney General Tish James 1law regarding nooses and that is “aggravated 800-771 7755 harassment in the first degree is a class e felony.” ●Call New York State Assemblywoman Taylor Darling ●THE UNTENURED TEACHERS INVOVLED IN 1 (516) 489 6610 THIS ILLEGAL RACIST NOOSES COLLAGE ●Call New York State Senator John Brooks DISPLAY WERE ALREADY FIRED FROM THE 1 (516) 882 0630 ROOSEVELT SCHOOL DISTRICT!!!

Pastor Arthur L. Mackey Jr. ●ROOSEVELT TAX PAYERS REFUSE TO PAY Senior Pastor HATEFUL EDUCATORS WHO PROMOTE RAC- Mount Sinai Baptist Church Cathedral ISM AGAINST BLACK & BROWN CHILDREN!!! 243 Rev. Dr. A. L. Mackey Sr. Avenue NYSED, NO MORE WAITING!!! NYSED, NO Roosevelt, New York, 11575 MORE SYSTEMATIC RACIST GAMES!!!! artbren12@aol.com ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

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The Incorporated Village of Hempstead is located in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 53,891 at the 2010 census,[5] but by 2019 had reached 55,113 according to the U.S. Census Bureau estimate.[6] It is the most densely populated village in New York.

Hempstead Village is the site of the seventeenth-century "town spot" from which English and Dutch settlers developed the Town of Hempstead, the Town of North Hempstead, and ultimately Nassau County.

Several of Nassau County's most historically valuable buildings are in the Village of Hempstead, including Town of Hempstead Town Hall (built in 1918), Carman-Irish Hall at 160 Marvin Avenue (built about 1700), St. George's Episcopal Church (319 Front Street, erected 1822), St. George's Rectory (217 Peninsula Boulevard, built 1793), and the United Methodist Church at 40 Washington Street (erected 1855).[7] The Carman-Irish Hall is occupied by American Legion Post 390. The church structures have been in continuous use by their congregations since they were built.

Christ's First Presbyterian Church at 353 Fulton Avenue is Nassau County's oldest Presbyterian congregation, and one of the earliest in the United States, having been founded in 1644 by Richard Denton.

Jackson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, housed at 60 Peninsula Boulevard since the mid-1950s, was established between 1825 and 1840.[7] It is one of the county's oldest African American congregations.

Diversity has long been a characteristic of Hempstead. While it was majority white until the mid-twentieth century, Hempstead had a significant black population from about 1651 onward, in addition to the native peoples still living on Long Island. Starting in the nineteenth century, Hempstead's diversity increased.

Irish, Polish, and German immigrants arrived during the second half of the nineteenth century to join the descendants of the original English and Dutch settlers. Military personnel were trained at Camp Mills during 1918 and at Mitchel Field during World War II, and some stayed to raise families, adding other European-descent groups and African Americans. During the first half of the twentieth century, African Americans from the South who sought opportunities in the North established homes and businesses in Hempstead. Nassau County's first chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was established in Hempstead in 1932. A major case against de facto segregation in Hempstead was taken to the New York State Supreme Court in 1949 by Thurgood Marshall.

From the 1950s forward, the village's African American population has increased, and so have Mexican, Central American, and South American groups, as well as Caribbean immigrants, Middle Easterners, and Asians, especially Indians and South Asians

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CLICK HERE SOLUTION #8

The Village of Hempstead is a great place to live and raise a family except for these 15 fixable issues. For each of the next 17 week’s we will offer fixes for each of the below quality of life issues listed below. Follow us and join the diaolog by emailing us at: thevillagepress7@gmail.com.

ISSUES of concern: 1. High Residential Property Taxes 2. Pockets of High Crime 3. Lack Affordable Housing 4. Village Gas and Electric Plant 5. Disproportionate number of Non-taxable properties 6. Under performing School District 7. Poorly designed business district 8. No brand or reason to stop and shop in the Village 9. Poor traffic management 10. Lack of quality medical services-Emergency Triage 11. High Unemployment 12. Failed redevelopment plan 13. Pointless fiscal management plan 14. To many residential properties in disrepair 15. Inability to keep residents informed 16. No plan for the future-No Vision-expansion ideas 17. Poor Voter turn outs 10/16/2020

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