The New York Amsterdam News Issue #31 August 4-11, 2022

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Vol. 113 No. 31 | August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW BLACK VIEW

SIXTH EXONERATION

BEYOND FIVE: STEVEN LOPEZ’S VINDICATION EXPANDS SCOPE OF CENTRAL PARK JOGGER CASE

©2022 The Amsterdam News | $1.00 New York City

VP Harris, Adams visit Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy to promote small businesses (See story on page 6)

(See story on page 3) (Ariama C. Long photo)

Monkeypox: A New York emergency state of mind (See story on page 6)

(Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit)

Bill Russell, a superior athlete and civil rights activist (See story on page 16)

(Wikimedia Commons photo)

‘Star Trek’ legend Nichelle Nichols, 89, passes (See story on pages 16,17,18,19)

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg discusses the exoneration of Steven Lopez at the National Action Network. (Bill Moore photo)

Mayor Sinks Cheap Fares for “Day Trippers” on Over-Subsidized NYC Ferry Urban Agenda by David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York - See page 5

2 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

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INDEX Arts & Entertainment ���������������� Page 17 » Astro/Numerology �������������������Page 20 » Travel ����������������������������������������� Page 21 » Jazz ��������������������������������������������Page 24 Caribbean Update ���������������������� Page 14 Career/Business �������������������������Page 32 Classified ������������������������������������� Page 33 Editorial/Opinion ��������������������Pages 12,13 Education ������������������������������������ Page 28 Go with the Flo ����������������������������Page 8 Health ������������������������������������������� Page 30 In the Classroom ����������������������� Page 25 Nightlife ������������������������������������������Page 9 Religion & Spirituality �������������������Page 16 Sports �������������������������������������������Page 40 Union Matters ������������������������������� Page 10 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS INFORMATION U.S. Territories & Canada weekly subscriptions: 1 year $49.99 2 Years $79.99 6 months $30.00 Foreign subscriptions: 1 year $59.99 2 Years $89.99 6 Months $40.00

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

International CONGO OIL AUCTION IN ‘LAST REFUGE OF BIODIVERSITY’ SHOCKS ENVIRONMENTALISTS (GIN)—As massive floods and endless droughts, unleashed by global climate change, take lives and leave homes a twisted pile of sticks, the Democratic Republic of Congo will be taking a dangerous step backward—opening up the Congo Basin to fossil fuel development.

Sections of a renowned tropical forest could soon carry the pounding of oil rigs including in Virunga National Park, the world’s largest wetland.

Created in 1925 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park is also a sanctuary for endangered mountain gorillas and other endangered species.

Environmentalists and climate activists warn that oil drilling can pose significant risks to a continent already inundated by harsh climate effects. Members of the Mbuti and Baka people are also at risk of being evicted or displaced.

Other fragile blocs up for auction include some located on Lake Kivu, Lake Tanganyika, and one in a coastal region alongside the Eastern African Rift Valley system.

“These are the last refuges of nature biodiversity,” said Ken Mwathe of BirdLife International in Africa. “We must not sacrifice these valuable natural assets for damaging development.”

The planned auction comes a week after the International Union for the Conservation of Nature hosted the inaugural Africa Protected Areas Congress in Kigali, Rwanda. More than 2,400 participants from 53 African and 27 other countries pledged to act with urgency to address the biodiversity, climate change and health crises and to restoring 1 billion hectares of degraded land.

Their pledge fell on deaf ears. Didier Budimbu, the country’s hydrocarbons minister, said the oil exploitation would benefit the Congolese population.

“The president, Felix Tshisekedi, has a vision and he wants to get his population out of poverty,” Budimbu said during a press conference.

The prospect of oil drilling has shocked local and international green groups such as Greenpeace Africa whose spokesperson, Irene Wabiwa Betoko declared: “Only six months after signing a $500 million forest protection deal at the COP26, the Congolese government is declaring war against our planet with oil and gas…

“The immediate price will be paid

by Congolese communities, who are not aware of the auction, have not

been consulted or informed of the risks to their health and livelihoods.

Many of them will rise up against it— and we shall stand with them.”

She called the auction “a mockery of DRC’s posturing as a solution country for the climate crisis—it exposes Congolese people to corruption, violence, and poverty that inevitably come with the curse of oil, as well as more heat waves and less rains for all Africans.”

Meanwhile, young activists from the Democratic Republic of the Congo have posted a documentary online that describes the threats posed to Africa’s oldest proclaimed national park. The 10 minute film can be seen on YouTube: at https://www. dailymaverick.co.za/article/202107-02-oil-drilling-threat-to-africasoldest-national-park-highlighted-byyoung-activists-documentary/ STUDY BOOSTS FIGHT FOR REPARATIONS IN CLIMATE-DAMAGED AFRICAN NATIONS (GIN)—The African continent of 1.2 billion people, which represents 17% of the world’s population, contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions but suffers from extreme weather events which scientists have warned will become more frequent due to climate change.

Researchers in a new study have now put an actual dollar figure on economic harm caused by the countries most responsible for the climate crisis, and the ground-breaking data could serve as a starting point for legal action by Africans against the world’s wealthiest nations.

The Dartmouth College study found that just five of the world’s top emitters of planet-warming gasses— the United States, China, Russia, India, and Brazil—caused around a $6 trillion loss in gross domestic product from 1990 to 2014, or about 11% of total global GDP. The study also shows the U.S. and China—the two biggest contributors to the climate crisis—individually caused global economic losses of more than $1.8 trillion each during that same period.

The study’s authors said this is the first time scientists have connected the dots between one country’s fossil fuel emissions and the economic harm those emissions have done to other countries.

The world’s wealthiest countries have already agreed to pay into a global climate finance fund, though rich countries have shirked deadlines on payments to that fund.

Having a rich set of data to show

News

how much poorer nations’ economies have been harmed could increase the pressure on richer nations at this year’s summit, experts told CNN. “Scientific studies show that high emitters no longer have a leg to stand on in avoiding their obligations to address loss and damage,” said Bahamian climate scientist Adelle Thomas of Climate Analytics.

Recent studies “increasingly and overwhelmingly show that loss and damage is already crippling developing countries,” she said.

After the U.S., the countries that caused the most damage since 1990 are China ($1.8 trillion), Russia ($986 billion), India ($809 billion) and Brazil ($528 billion), study authors figured.

Just the United States and China together caused about one-third of the world’s climate damage.

Benin’s women warriors (GIN)

NEW FILM SPOTLIGHTS WORLD’S ONLY FEMALE ARMY IN KINGDOM OF DAHOMEY (GIN)—The only documented female army in modern history was that of the Kingdom of Dahomey—now southern Benin—which, by the 1800s, had thousands of female troops.

In September, a film version that portrays the lives of these warrior women will be seen in cinemas around the country. In the meantime, a trailer of the film can be seen on YouTube. It features Viola Davis and Hero Fiennes.

“The Sacred Ibis” posting on YouTube, explains that the Kingdom of Dahomey was located in present-day Benin from 1600-1904 and became a regional power in the 18th century.

The Dahomey Mothers, known as the Agooji, were the all-female army trained to kill while striking fear in the European colonizers.

The king often picked them as teenagers for their strength and beauty. By 1800, up to 4,000 women were fighting for the kingdom. They live on through dances performed

in Benin today.

Nanlèhoundé Houédanou is a survivor. “My Amazon was gentle,” said Houédanou, who, at 85, is one of the last people on Earth to have grown up with one. “She was known for protecting children,” she told the Washington Post.

Researchers have spent decades combing through European and West African archives to craft a portrait from the jottings of French officers, British traders and Italian missionaries.

Of close to 3,000 comments on YouTube, most were very positive. “It is incredibly rare that goosebumps and complete awe overwhelm me the instant a trailer begins. This changes that!” wrote Derrick Ensey.

“Everything about this is epic on an astronomical level. The most subtle thing about it is the TIMING. At a time when women are being attacked, this is total female empowerment right here. Never underestimate a unifying message!”

“The previous depictions of the allwomen Agojie warriors, also known as the Amazons, portrayed the female soldiers as ‘beasts’ and mannish. Davis and director Gina PrinceBlythewood sought instead to bring the authenticity of the story to the big screen instead of racial stereotypes.”

“These women were fascinating and didn’t need to be embellished or glossy,” Prince-Blythewood toldVanity Fair. “I wanted it to be real and visceral and raw. We didn’t want to show them as just one thing—badass women who killed. They also laughed and loved and cried. We wanted to show their full humanity, not just the cool part that would look good in a trailer.”

“The French made sure this history wasn’t known,” said the Beninese economist Leonard Wantchekon, a professor of international affairs at Princeton University. “They said we were backward, that they needed to ‘civilize us,’ but they destroyed opportunities for women that existed nowhere else in the world.”

Now a team of Beninese researchers is working to reshape the narrative. For the last three years, historians at the African School of Economics, a private university that Wantchekon founded near Cotonou, the capital, have been tracking down descendants of Amazons across the nation.

They aim to glean local memories for a book that can be taught in schools—to present a three-dimensional view of the real Amazons.

Only 50 of the women are thought to have survived the two-year war with France. The last died in the 1970s.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Detectives on the streets, understaffed on the beats

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Rookies not showing up at Madison Square Garden, what’s new?

Last month, only 561 NYPD recruits graduated at the MSG swearing-in ceremony, roughly half of the incoming classes’ targeted numbers, according to the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York.

The PBA blames low pay, inferior benefits and “constant abuse” for the lack of new, blue blood.

“Hundreds of our most talented and experienced police officers— the ones who know their communities best—are quitting or retiring every month, and not enough recruits are signing up to replace them,” said the union’s president Pat Lynch in a statement. “The NYPD is trying to paper over this staffing crisis with forced overtime and as-

signment changes, but that is a vicious cycle. It drives even more cops to pursue other opportunities where they can make more money and have a better quality of life.”

The PBA says a substantial number of officers are leaving the NYPD for other police departments. And some are quitting the profession altogether. As a result, detectives are getting pulled onto patrols, and away from their investigations. According to Detectives’ Endowment Association President Paul Digiacomo, these new street assignments leave major holes in local crime fighting.

“They’re going on a foot post, which is counterproductive to the needs of the people of the city—to investigate homicides, robberies, rapes,” he said. “It’s taking detectives out of every unit within the police department.”

Like patrol, the detective ranks are declining. Digiacomo says back

in 2001, the bureau boasted over 7,000 officers. Today, there’s roughly 5,400. And on top of potentially new duties on the beat, detectives work on around 300 to 500 cases a year.

The expanded role affects precincts with high crime rates in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx most, according to the Detectives’ Endowment Association.

Detectives get their start as police officers, so they’re not new to the work. And Digiacomo wouldn’t be surprised if they bring extensive skills to patrol work. But he maintains their talents are squandered on the streets.

“The knowledge and experience that they have to investigate crimes should be used to investigate the crimes in their precincts, not stand on foot posts,” said Digiacomo.

“That’s the function of the patrol division, not the detective bureau.”

See DETECTIVES on page 26

Beyond Five: Steven Lopez’s exoneration expands scope of Central Park Jogger case

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Last week, a sixth, “forgotten” codefendant wrongfully indicted for the 1989 rape and assault of white jogger Patricia “Trisha” Meili was exonerated for convictions stemming from the infamous case. But Steven Lopez’s vindication isn’t just as simple as the Central Park Five+1, but rather an example of the farreaching consequences of a threedecade old story that continues to develop even today.

Dr. Yusef Salaam says before he was a part of the Central Park Five,

there were initially seven Black and Brown teens vilified, including Lopez. Harlem youngster Michael Briscoe rounded out the group, but was only charged with assaulting another jogger, David Lewis. He pleaded guilty in 1990. But Lopez, like the Central Park Five, was indicted for Meili’s rape. Ultimately, he was offered a plea deal to avoid the trial in exchange for exclusively pleading guilty to a lesser charge for robbing a male jogger. The same conviction was overturned last Monday.

“It’s magnificent, it’s a miracle, for Steven Lopez to receive justice, to be able to put his life back together [and] to be able to say, ‘I’m able

to finally put this chapter behind me,’” said Salaam. “You can imagine 33 years has gone by and he was one of the forgotten members of the original, seven individuals that were being persecuted. For this case, we were the pariahs, we were the ones who Donald Trump took out the full page ad calling for the media to kill us.”

Along with Salaam, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise were collectively known as the Central Park Five and now known as the Exonerated Five. They were teenagers when their lives were exposed See LOPEZ on page 27

Flatbush Central vendors ask for help

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

They complained about a lack of foot traffic and signage, and a difficult-to-find entrance, that played into their problems with generating The new Flatbush Central Carib- business. A booth with high visibilbean Marketplace, formerly known ity outside and a food vendor with as Flatbush Caton Market, is in dire a large social media presence were need of marketing and more con- doing fairly well, but the rest said nection to the community, said they were struggling to make rent. struggling vendors.

Essentially, “dipping into their own The building, located at 2123 pockets” in an unsustainable way.

Caton Ave., has been open for over One vendor said after the grand 5 months. About 14 vendors with opening the attention dried up and booths at the marketplace met to it’s really that the surrounding comvoice their concerns. Most were el- munity doesn’t know that they are derly business owners who had pre- there. Many of the elected officials ceded the new building and had that came to the opening didn’t buy been selling their wares in the com- anything, she said. munity for over 17 years.

One man pointed out that the

bar was not fully opened in the front of the building which deceptively made the rest of the building, where the market is, look closed or inactive.

“We are an immigrant community, here all of us have been through it. We know what it means to work hard, to raise children and make it in America,” said another vendor.

Urbane, the Black owned development company that built the new marketplace, said that “vendor success is at the core of Flatbush Central’s operating ethos and the market fully supports all vendors with the resources needed to be successful.”

“To level the playing field for See FLATBUSH on page 27

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 3

MetroBriefs Metro Briefs 32BJ SEIU announces primary election endorsements 32BJ SEIU, the largest property services union in the country, has announced its endorsements for the NYS Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the Aug. 23rd primary elections. 32BJ SEIU President Kyle Bragg said: “This month’s primaries will determine which candidates will face off against a resurgent and deeply radicalized Republican Party in a fight for control of the NYS Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

With a far-right Supreme Court determined to dismantle hard-won civil liberties and labor victories, maintaining Democratic majorities in state legislatures and the U.S. House takes on an entirely new dimension of importance. To stop the NY GOP from implementing its own version of the national party’s reactionary agenda in the Empire State and DC, NY Democrats must present a united and powerful front.”

The list of 32BJ SEIU-endorsed candidates includes: Senate District 7 – Anna Kaplan; Senate District 15 – Joseph Addabbo Jr.; Senate District 21 – Kevin Parker; Senate District 15 – Joseph Addabbo Jr.; Senate District 21 – Kevin Parker; Senate District 23 – Jessica Scarcella-Spanton; Senate District 26 – Andrew Gounardes; Senate District 27 – Brian Kavanagh; Senate District 30 – Cordell Cleare; Senate District 31 – Robert Jackson; Senate District 33 – Miguelina Camilo; Senate District 34 – Nathalia Fernandez; Senate District 47 – Brad Hoylman; Senate District 59 – Elizabeth Crowley; Senate District 61 – Sean Ryan; NY Congressional District 3 – Jon Kaiman; NY Congressional District 4 – Laura Gillen; NY Congressional District 7 – Nydia Velazquez; NY Congressional District 8 – Hakeem Jeffries; NY Congressional District 11– Max Rose; NY Congressional District 13 – Adriano Espaillat; and NY Congressional District 16 – Jamaal Bowman.

Book reading/signing for ‘Long Past Summer’ The book launch for Noué Kirwan’s debut novel “Long Past Summer” will take place Saturday, Aug. 6, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Adanne Bookshop, 234 Water St., Brooklyn, New York 11201. The book launch is sponsored by Adanne and Cafe Con Libros; email longpastsummer@ gmail.com for further information.

In-person help contacting city agencies Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is hosting “Constituent Services! Live at Brooklyn Public Library” on Thursday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A constituent services representative will be in-person at Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library (located at 10 Grand Army Plaza)—ready to assist you if you need help contacting any city agency. Rain or shine! All other days you can reach Brooklyn’s Constituent Services Department at 718-802-3700 or email AskReynoso@brooklynbp.nyc.gov ––Compiled by Karen Juanita Carrillo

4 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Speaker Pelosi and her delegation in Taiwan in support of democracy

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews Speaker Nancy Pelosi hit the ground in Taiwan on Tuesday fresh from a trip to Malaysia, and immediately intimated the purpose of her visit. “Our Congressional delegation’s visit to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s democracy.”

This opening shot across the bow was followed by an op-ed published in the Washington Post, in which she wrote: “We cannot stand by as the CCP proceeds to threaten Taiwan— and democracy itself.”

A throng of citizens gathered outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei, many of them hoisting placards and banners welcoming Pelosi and her delegation.

Not since Newt Gingrich visited the island in 1997 had such a high-ranking American official set foot in Taiwan. Pelosi,

as the Speaker of the House, is the third ranking U.S. official after Vice President Harris.

On Wednesday, she is slated to meet with President Tsai Ingwen and a group of legislators.

According to those familiar with her schedule, the focus of the meetings will be on assuring Taiwan of U.S. support and “promoting shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

This bold move by Pelosi has been a cause of concern for the Biden administration, feeling it was not the right time to visit Taiwan, given the tensions with China and the Russian conflict in Ukraine. The president’s top military advisers and national security officials warned that the visit could escalate tensions between the U.S. and China.

China, too, voiced opposition to the visit, and Chinese President Xi Jinping stated, “Those who play with fire will eventu-

ally get burned.”

Pelosi has been an ardent human rights advocate and China has been on her list for its violations. To this end she has been outspoken and even challenged three presidents on her resolve to press for human rights, no matter where. President Clinton truly felt her wrath as she boldly spoke out against China’s violation of human rights.

The Speaker was barely in the country before China began restricting trade with Taiwan. China’s Commerce Ministry said in a notice on Wednesday that it had halted exports of sand, so vital in construction, and suspended imports of Taiwanese citrus fruit and some types of fish.

There are sure to be other measures of retribution and retaliation for Taiwan’s open door policy to the U.S., which stands by the island, and refuses to agree with China that it’s a rogue nation.

Freeing Mutulu: Clock ticks for compassionate release of 2Pac’s dying political prisoner stepfather

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

Washington, D.C. to deliver a letter signed by more than 200 faith leaders demanding the release of the Republic of Given six months to live, po- New Afrika figure so he could litical prisoner Mutulu Shakur spend his last moments free might die in prison because and next to family. authorities see the cancerThe stepfather of slain rap stricken 71-year-old as a po- icon Tupac Shakur, Mutulu tential recidivist. On July 20, Shakur forged his own legacy activists rallied outside of in New York City as a revothe Department of Justice in lutionary, a healer and an

always sharply-dressed man.

The Black Liberation Army member worked at the Lincoln Detox program in the ’70s, offering acupuncture at the South Bronx clinic as an alternative to methadone treatments during the “War on Drugs.”

“One of the beautiful things See FREEING MUTULU on page 29

Mayor Adams announces emergency shelter for asylum seekers

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Mayor Eric Adams initiated an effort to get emergency shelter for people seeking asylum, building off a previous cry for federal support to aid a “historical surge” of asylum seekers flocking to New York City from southern borders.

“New York is a city of immigrants, and we will always welcome newcomers with open arms. Over the past two months, we have seen a significant increase in the number of asylum seekers arriving in our city’s shelter system,”

said Adams in a statement on Monday.

About 4,000 asylum seekers have entered the city’s shelter system since late May and more than 100 additional asylum seekers on average are looking for housing each day, said the Mayor’s office. The “conservative estimate” of asylum seekers is based on interviews with those who have arrived, but since the city doesn’t track an individual’s immigration status or ask about it during intake, the numbers are incomplete.

Adams said in order to fulfill the city’s legal and moral mandate as a ‘right to shelter city,’ See EMERGENCY SHELTER on page 31

NewJerseyNews Paterson policeman indicted for aggravated assault A grand jury has indicted former Paterson Police Officer Spencer Finch on five criminal charges stemming from a May 26, 2021 video-recorded attack on an African American man.

The incident took place during an attempted arrest of the victim during a domestic dispute.

Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced on July 28 that a grand jury has finally indicted Finch and charged him with official misconduct, aggravated assault, and perjury, among other charges, for signing and submitting a Paterson Police report about an arrest he made while on duty. “[T]he body camera video of another Paterson Police Officer and surveillance video from the apartment building where the incident occurred,” the county prosecutors’ statement reads, “showed: ∙ The victim was in a hallway. He was agitated, pacing and screaming into a cell phone, but he maintained his distance from the officers. ∙ The defendant, in full uniform, advanced on the victim. The defendant did not tell the victim he was under arrest nor did he tell him to put his hands behind his back. ∙ The defendant struck the victim with an overhead, open

palmed strike to the face. ∙ Following a struggle, the victim is brought to the ground, approximately twenty seconds later. The defendant struck the victim multiple times in the head with a flashlight. ∙ The victim was handcuffed behind his back approximately thirty-five seconds after being initially struck by the defendant. The victim was seated in the hallway with his back against the wall. The defendant then kneed the victim in the face or chest without justification.”

Zellie Thomas, leader of the Paterson Black Lives Matter movement, told the AmNews: “Too often cops remain on the force even after video evidence of their violence surfaces and goes viral. If we continue to rely on a grand jury’s decision to do the right thing, we will continue to be on the wrong path to making Black people safe in this country.”

Finch, who joined the police force in 2003, became the first Paterson cop charged with a crime based on police body camera footage. In November, Finch also became the first Paterson cop ever to be fired while criminal charges were still pending against him. Finch, 45, a resident of Mahwah, had been earning $105,733 annually.

Democracy Conversation Project, through Nov. 8 The Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (SCLSNJ) will be participating in a statewide initiative in partnership with the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) called the Democracy Conversation Project through Nov. 8.

The goal of the program is to discover what New Jerseyans have to say about the state of our democracy. The tool that SCLSNJ and NJCH are using to collect this information is called Storybox.

These Storyboxes provide a place for New Jerseyans to add their voices to the national story with personal reflections on preprinted response cards.

Join the conversation at SCLSNJ’s Bridgewater, Hillsborough, North Plainfield, Somerville, Warren, and Watchung branches. To learn more about the Democracy Conversation Project, visit: https:// njhumanities.org/programs/museum-on-main-street/dcp.

Story & Verse open mic The Arts Council of Princeton and African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County announced that their monthly Story & Verse open mic will head outdoors for its Summer Series. The poetic and storytelling events began on June 17 and will be held at Pettoranello Gardens, 20 Mountain Ave., and are free and open to all.

Story & Verse welcomes local and —Compiled by Karen Juanita Carrillo

regional talent to perform original works inspired by a monthly theme, providing attendees with free, community-created entertainment.

Dates and themes are as follows: Aug. 19, 6 p.m.—“Circle of Life” Interested performers should arrive 15 minutes before the start time of each event.

For more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

The Honorable Patricia Williams: Advocate, traveler, retiree, model, & musician

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Patricia Williams with son Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (Stan Parnham photo)

Patricia Williams, mother of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, is a well known community activist in Brooklyn. She is a retired medical rep for a local drug company, and has spent her free time traveling extensively, modeling, playing her beloved steel pans, and keeping up the family reputation of causing ‘good trouble.’

“I stick up for whatever I think is not right and even though I have bad knees I will go out there and demonstrate or join some movement,” said Williams.

Williams grew up in Grenada.

Her father owned a drugstore.

She left for the U.S. in 1968 when she was 18 years old. “I had wanderlust,” said Williams. “I read a lot. I lived near the airport and I always wondered where those planes went. I wanted to be a flight attendant.”

In the U.S., Williams ended up majoring in pharmacy at Howard University in D.C., inspired by her father’s profession. She later got married and her husband was doing his residency at Harlem Hospital. They settled in Brooklyn in 1975. Williams started out at a local pharmacy for a short while before becoming a medical rep. She worked for the lab for 31 years, the first Black person and the first woman that they hired. “I am not the type of person who likes to be in one place,” said Williams. “Being a rep was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

She’s been retired for the past 11 years and has been modeling in fashion shows for the past seven years. She recently finished walking for world-renowned Brooklyn designer, Moshood, at his annual event in Bed-Stuy. “I’ve been traveling, getting involved in an active adult center, crocheting, learning to play steel pans. I did some painting,” said Williams, who’s apparently living her best life.

Williams and her husband had two children, Jeanine and Jumaane. Her daughter is a nurse practitioner working in Harlem at a community clinic, she said. Her son is a former council member and the city’s public advocate. He recently made a bid for governor of New York as well.

“I used to go on marches actually. I used to take Jumaane. Al Sharpton, Hands Across America, things like that,” said Williams. “People from all over the country

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 5

THE URBAN AGENDA

By David R. Jones

Mayor Sinks Cheap Fares for “Day Trippers” on Over-Subsidized NYC Ferry The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is a nonprofit corporation charged with leveraging New York’s assets to spur job creation, stimulate investment and improve the city’s quality of life.

Then, in 2019, the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) released a report titled, “Swimming in Subsidies, The High Cost of NYC Ferry,” which showed that fare revenue in 2018 covered only 22 percent of NYC Ferry’s operating costs.

One or all of these objectives, evidently, were in mind when the EDC entered into a public-private partnership in 2017 with San Francisco-based ferry company Hornblower to create a citywide ferry service. NYC Ferry, as the new ferry service was named, merged with the East River Ferry with the aim of growing into a network of routes serving all five boroughs.

A recent audit by the City Comptroller’s Office unearthed layers of problems in management, procurement and operations with NYC Ferry underscoring a staggering lack of oversight by the de Blasio administration’s EDC. Most glaring is the finding that the EDC failed to disclose $224 million in expenditures and understated the extent to which the City was subsidizing ferry riders. For example, in 2016 the EDC estimated taxpayers would subsidize the service at $6.60 per ride. However, according to the audit, taxpayers paid $12.88 per ride during fiscal year 2021. That is substantially higher than subsidies for the subway ($1.05), bus ($4.92) and rail service ($5.62 Metro-North; $6.07 LIRR) in the region.

At the time, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio heralded the ferry system expansion as a much-needed transit option for communities underserved by existing public transportation, as well as a way of connecting waterfront communities to emerging job centers. Despite its high operating costs, the mayor insisted on keeping the ferry fare at $2.75 per ride, equal to the cost of a single MTA bus or subway ride.

Black

New Yorker

met and just stretched hands. I think we were in Manhattan on the West side. They stretched hands all across trying to make things better. It’s 2022 and we still trying to make things better.”

Williams still lives in East Flatbush. She said in the future she sees herself with her granddaughters, Amelie and Amani.

Public Advocate Williams recently had his youngest at a peaceful sleep-out with Mayor Eric Adams and other colleagues to raise awareness for homelessness. His mom was surprised and delighted in him keeping the family tradition going. She called her granddaughter a “trooper” and is excited to spend time with her as she gets older.

“I know she’s probably going to do the same thing he does cause she’s already out there,” said Williams.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about culture and politics in New York City for The Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

New York is a multi-modal city, and ferries are an important component of a vibrant transit system serving the needs of different riders. However, all transit systems are not equal. In the case of NYC Ferry, the City had essentially cut a deal to underwrite a leisure-oriented transit service for affluent New Yorkers and tourists who could certainly afford to pay more. In truth, the ferry is a premium transit service on par with express bus service, another heavily subsidized system, which charges $6.75 per for most riders.

When NYC Ferry began operations, I was one of Mayor de Blasio’s appointees to the MTA Board [Note: The MTA has no authority over NYC Ferry]. Not surprisingly, my criticism of the ferry pricing structure did not make me very popular at City Hall. But when I accepted the mayor’s nomination to the MTA Board, it was with an understanding that he was getting someone who would use the position to advocate on behalf of low-income transit riders to make the city’s public transit system more affordable and accessible to the city’s working poor.

Considering some of the pressing public transit needs in New York City that deserved attention and more resources, I could not stay silent about a grossly inefficient use of precious public dollars, especially by a mayor who came into office pledging to level the economic playing field for low-income New Yorkers.

When the audit was made public, Mayor Eric Adams wasted little time imposing new rules for NYC Ferry’s fare structure that would lower fares for low-income city residents while charging more for those who could afford it.

Under the mayor’s plan, New York City residents who are eligible for half-priced Fair Fares MetroCards, seniors and people with disabilities will be able to ride on the ferry for $1.35, down from the current $2.75 price. Ten-trip ticket packages on the ferry will be available to regular commuters for $27.50. However, tourists and non-low income riders who use the ferry occasionally will be charged $4.00 per ride. The new pricing system goes into effect in September.

Mayor Adams also indicated that, under his administration, the EDC will be more transparent in its reporting of NYC Ferry budget and maintenance data to avoid the kind of accounting irregularities and weak oversight found in the Comptroller’s audit.

Based on ridership projections, operating costs and the current pricing structure, the CBC report cautioned that subsidies for the ferry could eventually rise, from the current $13 to $14 per ride reported in the Comptroller’s report, to nearly $25 per ride on some ferry routes. For this reason, the mayor should remain open to increasing ferry fares for “day trippers” and tourists.

But for now, it is good to see some positive news come out of the Comptroller’s audit.

David R. Jones, Esq., is President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), the leading voice on behalf of low-income New Yorkers for more than 175 years, and a Member of the MTA Board. The views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer. The Urban Agenda is available on CSS’s website: www.cssny.org.

6 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

VP Harris, Adams visit Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy to promote small business

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Vice President Kamala Harris, along with Mayor Eric Adams and other officials, gathered at Bed-Stuy Restoration in Brooklyn to announce the creation of the Economic Opportunity Coalition (EOC), a coalition of companies promising to invest billions in small businesses in underserved communities.

“What we know is not everyone in our nation has equal access to this essential support,” said Harris in the presser. “Consider for example, in our nation Black entrepreneurs are three times more likely to report they did not apply for a loan for fear of being turned away by a bank. That fear being based on the stories and experiences of their family, friends, and neighbors.”

The founding members of the Biden-Harris administration’s EOC coalition include powerhouses such as the Ford Foundation, Google, McDonald’s, Netflix, and The Rockefeller Foundation. Through the EOC, and their support for community development financial institutions

(CDFIs) and minority depository institutions (MDIs), they’ll make major investments in communities of color businesses and housing, said the administration.

The EOC said they will commit more than $3 billion into CDFIs and MDIs, will buy more than $6 billion in products and services from diverse suppliers, and invest more than $500 million in funding to Blackand brown-owned equity funds. Additionally, the EOC said they have pledged $25 billion towards affordable housing.

Thasunda Brown Duckett is CEO of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), one of the members of the investing coalition. Duckett said that she looks forward to helping all Americans get on a road toward financial health and resilience. Duckett said TIAA’s asset manager, Nuveen, announced a $15 billion investment into improving affordable, sustainable and climate safe housing as a show of commitment to EOC. “Closing the wealth gap for people of color in America continues to be one of the toughest issues we face as a nation. Cooperation between private

expand local access to business resources and capital for over 55 years.

Restoration offers an array of services, including a business center, technical assistance, and skills program.

Pinnock is a Black lawyer of Jamaican heritage and the first Black woman to lead Restoration.

Pinnock said Restoration is committed to closing Brooklyn’s widening racial wealth gap, which is an overlooked crisis that is causing great Vice President Kamala Harris visited Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy last damage to local communities.

Thursday. (Photo by Ariama C. Long) “I also want to take this time to institutions and government leaders munities through the Emergency thank the Biden-Harris adminiscan help us chart stronger pathways Capital Investment Program. The tration, who has been a firm ally in toward economic success and finan- Department of the Treasury said the fight for economic justice and cial empowerment for everyone,” that they have already put in about equity for Black families. We stand said Ducket in a statement. $8.26 billion of investments so far behind its efforts to promote great“Working in lockstep with the into 161 CDFIs and MDIs. er financial inclusion and economic Biden-Harris administration and “We’re generated by so many small mobility for Black and Brown comwith other industry partners, the businesses up and down Fulton munities,” said Pinnock.

Coalition aims to address pervasive Street, Bedford Avenue, South Jaeconomic disparities and accelerate maica, Queens, South Bronx,” said Ariama C. Long is a Report for Ameropportunities by reimagining how Adams at the presser. “Small busi- ica corps member and writes about capital, technology, and talent are nesses are the heart and soul of our culture and politics in New York City deployed in underserved communi- city and our country.” for The Amsterdam News. Your doties,” continued Duckett.

Bed-Stuy’s Restoration Plaza, nation to match our RFA grant helps The Biden-Harris administration headed by President and Chief Ex- keep her writing stories like this one; will also have six federal govern- ecutive Officer Blondel Pinnock, is please consider making a tax-deductment agencies collaborate on a new a first-of-its kind community devel- ible gift of any amount today by visiteffort to fund underserved com- opment corporation that has helped ing: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

Monkeypox: A New York emergency state of mind Mayor Eric Adams declared a monkeypox state of emergency this past Monday, allowing him to temporarily override local laws to address the outbreak for at least the next 30 days.

“New York City now has over 1,200 reported cases, approximately 25 percent of cases nationally, and we are continuing to see the numbers rise,” said Adams in a statement. “This order will bolster our existing efforts to educate, vaccinate, test, and treat as many New Yorkers as possible and ensure a whole-of-government response to this outbreak.”

This announcement follows Gov. Kathy Hochul’s statewide executive order last week, which expands monkeypox vaccine eligibility to medical workers.

Currently, the shot is largely reserved for gay and bisexual men, along with any other men who engage in intercourse with other men, but transgender, non-binary

and gender non-conforming New Yorkers with multiple or anonymous sexual partners over the past two weeks also qualify if they’re over the age of 18. Those previously infected are protected and do not need to be immediately vaccinated. Monkeypox is transmitted through direct contact and anyone can catch it. But the aforementioned groups are disproportionately affected.

But sexuality and sexual health can both be touchy subjects for some and getting a monkeypox vaccine can be tricky for such New Yorkers. The city recommends scheduling appointments to avoid standing in line, minimizing the opportunity of interacting with others, and subsequently, the risk of getting outed.

Then there’s the matter of COVID19, which remains more infectious than monkeypox, which is largely transferred through intimate contact. Dr. Olusimbo Ige, of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, knows folks are tired of public health precautions. She recommends self-care, but maintains

(Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit)

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

the importance of remaining protected, both from the existing pandemic and the new outbreak.

“As much as we would rather not have to deal with another outbreak, here we are with another threat to New Yorkers,” said Ige, who serves as assistant commissioner at the Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness. “So part of that self

care is for us to acknowledge what are threats to our health, and to do what we can to mitigate the threat.”

Reminiscent of protests against ex-president Donald Trump calling COVID-19 the “Chinavirus,” Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Ashwin Vasan penned a letter to the WHO demanding to rename monkeypox. He fears similar violence against gay New Yorkers that Asian Americans faced after Trump’s comments as well as the historical racist use of “monkey” to refer to certain communities of color. “‘Monkeypox’ is a misnomer, as the virus does not originate in monkeys and was only classified as such due to an infection seen in research primates,” said Vasan. “And we know alternative terminology is possible and entities are starting to use terms such as ‘hMPXV’ and ‘MPV.’ We need leadership from the WHO to ensure consistency in naming and to reduce confusion to the public.”

Also back on the menu is social distancing. The health department recommends isolating for symptoms of

chills, fever and respiratory issues— sound familiar? And sexual activity and other intimate contact should be strictly off-limits until all monkeypox sores are healed and a new layer is formed. It can be a two to four month process after the rashes appear. For working New Yorkers, taking time off can be tough, especially with the city reopening over the past year and employees often getting called back into offices. There’s no solution yet, but officials are encouraging workplaces to offer time off for those infected and are currently working with employers for solutions to the ongoing outbreak.

Those searching for a vaccine can text MONKEYPOX and MONKEYPOXSP for Spanish to 692692 for alerts and updates.

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News.

Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visiting: https:// tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

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What would you like the power to do?® Learn more at bankofamerica.com/metroNY Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC © 2022 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 7

8 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS G O W I T H T H

E

F

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Stop the Killing event––‘An artist’s duty is to reflect the times’

Far left Rashad Wright, Malaika Campbell, event host Bro. Frank, Sister Lisa Muhammed, Chauvet, Clarence, Watch My Tone, Abdul Haqq Islam

By FRANK BROWN Special to the AmNews

The campaign began in August 2021 in response to the violence in the Black community. The brothers of the campaign deNina Simone’s words could not have been cided that action needed to take place; that echoed any clearer than at the Stop The Kill- it is the absence of Black men taking leading (STK) campaign-hosted Poetry Jam held ership in their community that allows the at Sistas’ place on July 23. crisis to exist. The campaign catapulted

into the streets with determination. Marches, street corner rallies and community engagement were necessary tools to combat a culture of hate. Motivated by the love for Black people, the work was then carried on to weekly community meetings.

At one of those meetings, the idea of a Poetry Jam was birthed. Posters were posted throughout the community of BedfordStuyvesant and fliers were distributed to those who expressed solidarity with the need for the event. The work brought out several incredible poets: Rashad Wright, Sister Lisa Muhammed, Clarence, Malaika Campbell, Chauvet, Watch My Tone, Chimwhi Brown (of STK) and Abdul Haqq Islam (of STK). The poets poured their heart and soul into their inspirational pieces.

Prior to each poet’s time on stage, the MC and STK member Frank Brown called out “There’s a fire in the streets!” In the African tradition of call and response, the audience replied, “Bring out the water!” The fire of senseless violence was confronted and a tactic to cool it down was identified. The poets accepted Simone’s challenge and added to the motion to cool down the fire further.

Moshood celebrates 28th anniversary with festive cultural fashion showcase

By KEITH L. FOREST Special to the AmNews In celebration of Black Business Month, and in honor of the 28th anniversary of his flagship Brooklyn store, global fashion designer Moshood once again brought his legendary New Roots to Culture Fashion Showcase to the village of Bedford-Stuyvesant. Hosted by Laurie Cumbo, commissioner of cultural affairs for the city of New York, and filmmaker Joseph Grant, the explosive fashion extravaganza took place at Restoration Plaza, 1360 Fulton St., Brooklyn, N.Y., and featured live musical performances and Moshood’s signature African-inspired fashion creations. Other notable civic leaders in attendance included U.S. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, New York State Sen. Kevin Parker, Bed-Stuy Gateway BID Executive Director Dale Charles, and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams who came out to support his mother who annually models for the show.

The high-spirited event kicked off with a live performance from the Kunle Might Sunrise Band featuring lead singer Moses “Kunle Mighty” Ayankunle, a celebrated multi-instrumentalist born into a family of talking drummers. Dressed in traditional West African garb, the band’s percussive rhythms bathed the audience with hypnotic, syncopated licks straight from the motherland. The high energy 10-member band, that is steeped in the percussive JuJu,

highlife and Afropop sounds, was formed in Sunrise Spiritual Church. It is managed

by Kunle Ade who is the son of legendary Nigerian JuJu singer, and multi-disciplined musician, King Sunny Ade. In addition to the live music, the festive celebration included authentic, fashion-forward designs from a variety of emerging black designers. Daryl Gordon, a Brooklyn based accessories and hat designer was the first designer to take to the stage to present the latest creations from his Brooklyn-inspired Daryl G Designs collection. Arise and Shine, a Brooklyn-based global design company, followed with their African inspired Nigerian bling. Up next was artist, designer, and cancer survivor Lisa Fashion’s one-of-a-kind wearable art. Mo Glover, who debuted her intergenerational, African inspired designs during Moshood’s 27th anniversary showcase, returned with her latest collection paying homage to the Kings and Queens of Brooklyn. Designer Wolete Mariam, aka Empress Wendy, bedazzled the runway with bold, Afrocentric designs from her Rasta Royal Elegance collection.

The festive outdoor festival, which took place on the eve of Black Business Month, is intended to drive traffic into the Bedford Stuyvesant business district. Like most small businesses, COVID-19 took its toll on the Nigerian born designers business. However, thanks to his growing ecommerce platform, and assistance from

Bed-Stuy Gateway BID, Moshood has been able to keep his doors open. In gratitude to the village that helped sustain him, Moshood hopes the fashion show will encourage spectators attending from near and far to support other local businesses within the corridor.

The name MOSHOOD/Afrikan spirit has become synonymous with a style that personifies the “spirit” of Afrikan pride. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Moshood arrived to make his mark in New York in the early 1980s. After years of tireless effort and hard work he opened his boutique in Brooklyn,

(Nayaba Arinde photo)

New York. His timeless pieces bring together the traditional beauty of Afrikan tailoring and a taste of western flavor. His fluid and elegant designs have been embraced from Harlem to Soweto, Lagos to Bahia, London to Tokyo, and New York to Kingston.

Moshood teaches us through his fashions to love and respect ourselves and the traditions, our traditions, from which we come.

Remember: When you wear Moshood, you wear yourself!

(Bill Moore photo)

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS O U T & A B

Birthday celebration for Dr. Billy Taylor Jazzmobile founder Dr. Billy Taylor’s 100th birthday was celebrated with a special concert at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem.The concert, part of“Summer-

O

fest,” featured the Cyrus Chestnut Trio. The celebration was produced by Robin Bell-Stevens, Jazzmobile executive producer.

(Bill Moore photos)

U

T

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 9

Nightlife LL bout to Rock the Bells, and Goon with a Spoon and dem feeding folks

Written by David Goodson

Millions turned into believers that the kid James Todd Smith was going to be a mainstay with the third release off his debut album “Radio.” In that song, ‘Rock the Bells,’ he professed to be a hardcore, battle any rapper, anytime, anywhere bravado laden emcee at the onset and through the duration of the song he went about proving it. True purveyors of hip hop music, however, know of the just as potent, more prolific ORIGINAL version of the recording where he spoke of expanding to the maximum, while injecting another element to his persona through the funk of “Rock the Bells.” Decades later that song did indeed expand not just his brand as an artist, but the past, present and future of hip hop culture itself. With a broadcast outlet through Sirius Satellite Radio, a clothing line and philanthropy, the brand is well on its way to establishing a rock-solid foundation to hip hop’s lasting endurance.

But there’s more. On Saturday, Aug. 6 at Forest Hills Stadium (1 Tennis Pl, Forest Hills, NY 11375) comes the Bigger and Deffer version of the Rock the Bells Festival. James Cuthbert, CEO of RTB, explains what can be expected of this incarnation of the music fest.

“Rock the Bells is the only brand owned and operated by the creators and keepers of the culture.

Our love and passion for hip hop drives us to take our festival to the next level. From the talent to the production, to the fully immersive festival experience, we are focused on delivering an amazing event for artists, fans, and our partners,” he says. “Our Rock the Bells Festival is a day-long celebration curated by LL COOL J in his hometown, Queens, N.Y. featuring live performances from some of the most iconic MCs of all time, including LL COOL J feat. DJ Z-Trip, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, Lil Kim, The Diplomats ft. Cam’ron, Jim Jones & Juelz Santana, Fat Joe & Remy Ma, Jadakiss, Scarface performing 20th anniversary of The Fix, Trina, Digable Planets and Queen’s native artists N.O.R.E, Onyx, Havoc of Mobb Deep & Large Professor.” North,

South, West, and East some of the most iconic emcees of all time are represented.

Aside from traditional merchandise or performance, yet another vehicle of revenue streaming is being showcased with the Trill Mealz Food Court. Cuthbert reveals, “The legendary Bun B has been an amazing partner in helping to curate a selection of food and beverage vendors from other legacy artist including Nas (Sweet Chick), E-40 (Goon With The Spoon), Jadakiss and Styles P (Juices for Life), Ghostface Killah (Killah Koffee), and Mia X (Team Whip Them Pots). In addition to these great vendors, we’re planning on bringing in a few local Black-owned Queens establishments to round out the food court including The Nourish Spot which has been serving Forest Hills Stadium for years now. Rock the Bells exists to elevate hip hop culture from its roots to modern day and be champions of hip hop and champions for all who love hip hop. So, for us, it is only natural that we support hip hop entrepreneurs who have given so much to the culture.”

It should be of no surprise that proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Universal HipHop Museum in the Bronx whose mission is to celebrate and preserve the people, artifacts, and stories that echo from 1973 to today. Cuthbert concludes, “It is exciting to see our global platform that solely exists to elevate hip hop culture come to life for artists, fans, and brand partners.

Rock the Bells has grown by focusing on content, commerce and experiences that honor the culture and reach fans of hip hop wherever they live. From the Rock the Bells Festival on August 6 to major brand partnerships, to helping artists further monetize their brands, to several long-form content projects in production, we continue to grow by relentlessly focusing on projects that lift up the culture we love.” For more information visit: https://rockthebells.com/festival Over and out, Holla next week.

Til then, enjoy the nightlife.

10 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Union Matters A new labor movement is flourishing GEORGE

GRESHAM A few months ago, I wrote a column asking organized labor and working people across the country to support union leader Chris Smalls and the heroic Amazon workers who successfully organized Amazon’s huge JFK8 fulfillment center on Staten Island. It is the first union at Amazon, a massive $2 trillion corporation which holds 40% of the entire ecommerce market.

The campaign took years and was not without hardship. Smalls’ organizing at the plant, where workers long griped about punishing, dangerous workloads and outrageous schedules, eventually got him fired. Despite the setbacks and the employer’s harsh anti-union campaign, in March his 8,000 colleagues voted to join the Amazon Labor Union.

This did not happen in a vacuum. After years of declining union membership, more and more U.S. workers are petitioning the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to oversee votes to turn their workplaces into union shops. Last month, the NLRB announced that union election petitions jumped a whopping 58% in the first nine months of fiscal year 2022. Workers submitted 1,892 petitions to organize during this period, 695 more than during the same months a year earlier.

This is great news for the labor movement, which over the last five decades has seen declining membership across the board, despite the fact that large majorities of American workers continue to hold pro-union views. Today, about 9% of American workers belong to a union, about half of the percentage 30 years ago. Yet recent Gallup polling shows that labor unions now have the highest approval rating among the U.S. population since 1965.

Many of these latest organizing campaigns are happening at the largest and most powerful companies in the world—from Starbucks to Apple to Amazon. This is a potential game changer for our economy because these companies employ armies of workers, especially younger people, who serve coffee, sell technology, and make sure your online orders are packaged and delivered to your door as soon as possible. In a service economy, these are the people who make our country tick.

These votes mean that frontline workers, burnt out by the impact of the pandemic and decades of growing inequality and economic stagnation, are seeing past the hype, manipulation and intimidation that big businesses have long used to keep workers obedient and unorganized.

See NEW LABOR on page 32

Cesar Chavez’s San Jose, CA home to become community center small part in this great community success.”

The home, situated at 53 Scharff Avenue in the Mayfair neighborhood of East San Jose, is where, according to the online news site San José Spotlight, “Chavez lived in the Mayfair neighborhood formerly known as ‘Sal Si Puedes,’ meaning ‘get out if you can.’

Chavez and his wife, Helen, raised their family in that home from 1951 to 1953 while he worked (Photo credit: Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice at a nearby apricot orand Empowerment) chard and organized

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO with the [Community Service OrganiSpecial to the AmNews zation]. His East San Jose home hosted organizing meetings and social justice The home of labor leader/civil rights lectures. One of his first grape boycotts activist Cesar Chavez won a reprieve was held where the Mexican Heritage from the wrecking ball when the city of Plaza stands today.”

San Jose, California joined with the non“Cesar Chavez learned about non-viprofit Amigos de Guadalupe Center for olent resistance and organizing for the Justice and Empowerment to purchase great cause of civil liberties for the imthe property. migrant community, especially MexThe city of San Jose matched $500,000 ican farmworkers in San Jose,” states toward the purchase. San Jose Mayor the Amigos de Guadalupe Center on Sam Liccardo stated on Twitter: “I’m its website. “This place (the home, the thankful to Maritza Maldonado, @Ami- surrounding streets, the neighborhood gosGuadalupe & partner organizations assets) is where Sal Si Puedes (Get Out if for ensuring the Cesar Chavez family You Can) became a vision of Si Se Puede home is preserved for future generations. (Yes, We Can!).”

The @CityofSanJose is glad we played a Chavez and the activist Dolores Huerta

co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became United Farm Workers, in 1962. The UFW’s deftly coordinated non-violent boycotts and picketing for better pay and safer working conditions for farm workers made Chavez a central figure in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

The 53 Scharff Avenue property had been designated a historical landmark by the San Jose City Council in August 1993—there is a plaque designating the location as Cesar Chavez’s family home from 1951 to 1953. Today, that same neighborhood, where Filipino and Mexican farm workers and cannery workers once lived, is being gentrified with more expensive properties. Developers were said to have wanted to purchase the Chavez property, tear it down, and build a four-story building. The three bedroom, two bath, 1,080 square foot Chavez house was listed on Zillow for $1,193,300.

Amigos de Guadalupe want to ultimately turn the East San Jose home into a national landmark.

“In honor of Cesar,” the group said in a statement, “Amigos de Guadalupe will ensure that the property will benefit the community and public as a community-centered space which could include community activation and Living Museum/Interpretive Learning Center, where youth and community members have space to gather, build relationships and build community. Si Se Puede!”

The U.S.’s legislative workers are uniting!

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Special to the AmNews

In D.C., it’s the Congressional Workers Union.

In Albany, it’s New York State Senate employees coming together to form the New York State Legislative Workers United (NYSLWU).

And in New York City, it’s the staff working with New York City Council members who have created the Association of Legislative Employees (ALE).

Legislative workers are speaking out about the drudgery of the work their members have had to put up with; now they’re organizing to form unions. Tasked with helping politicians create legislative proposals, write speeches, and with assisting politicians as they provide services to people in their dis-

tricts, many legislative staffers say that a job whose profile promotes positive public service, too often leads to their being stuck with low pay, long work hours, and occasionally abusive bosses.

In D.C., the @dear_white_staffers Instagram account, created in January 2020, was one of the first to lay bare the problems Capitol Hill staffers face. The account has posted anonymous reports by staffers who have complained about discrimination and being bullied by their supervisors. Last month, a Hill staffer wrote to the account to complain about a supervisor who “told me, a Black woman, the only African American person in the office, that my hair, when pulled up tidily with a clip, looks like Amy Winehouse’s hair. I was the only staffer working on Juneteenth.”

The federal labor laws that protect union activism were not designed to protect labor

organizing among Hill staffers. Traditionally Capitol Hill staffers have suffered in silence— if anything, the only reflection of their work misery could be seen in the high staff turnover found in the offices of some politicians. But this past February, staffers came together to form the Congressional Workers Union (CWU)—they asked Rep. Andy Levin (D-Michigan) to draft a bill that would grant Capitol Hill staffers the right to unionize and collectively bargain. The bill, H.Res. 1096, passed the House on May 10, 2022 and, after a 60-day probationary period, on July 18 staffers could begin organizing.

“July 18 will go down as a historic day for congressional staff and our democracy— marking the day our protected rights to organize and bargain collectively go into full See LEGISLATIVE on page 32

THE NEWS THE NEW NEW YORK YORK AMSTERDAM AMSTERDAM NEWS

14, 2022 - July10, 20,2022 2022• 11 •1 AugustJuly 4, 2022 - August

AS YOU PREPARE TO HEAD TO THE POLLS FOR THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS, WHAT ISSUE(S) MATTER MOST TO YOU? FOR EXAMPLE: • Are you concerned about the rising cost of living?

• Is crime a top concern?

• Does the impact of COVID-19 remain a concern?

• Is climate change top of mind?

• Are you concerned about prescription drug costs?

• Are you concerned about the future of abortion rights?

The New York Amsterdam News is partnering with WNYC Public Radio to amplify the voices of residents in communities throughout the New York metropolitan area.

Tell us what’s on your mind ahead of the mid-term elections in the form of a 400-to-700-word first-person essay. Selected essays will be published in (Your Publication Here).

WNYC’s Community Partnerships & Training Editor George Bodarky may also work with you to create an audio version of your essay to air on WNYC Public Radio and appear on Gothamist.com

WHAT MAKES FOR A GOOD ESSAY? • •

Get to the point quickly. Tell us what matters to you

•

Embrace your own personal voice. Talk it out while

right away.

writing. Think about how you would say it to a friend

Provide examples and anecdotes to help the audience

or family member.

understand the impact of the issue(s) on your life.

•

Use short sentences and paragraphs.

Please submit essays no later than Friday, August 26, 2022

12 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Opinion Iconic legacies Reflections of my father—Albert Vann EDITORIAL

The nation said farewell to Nichelle Nichols and Bill Russell last week. They both were stellar and interstellar, one doing it in fictional space as an officer on a starship and the other soaring high on a basketball court. They died a day apart, Nichols on July 30 at 89, and Russell on July 31 at 88, and were one year apart when they met with President Obama—Nichols in 2012 when he later tweeted he once had a crush on her; Russell in 2011 when Obama presented him with the Medal of Freedom.

Both excelled and were trailblazers in their chosen profession, and paved the way for others to follow. Nichols provided inspiration for a coterie of African American astronauts and for others to work in the space industry, and Russell did the same for aspiring Black athletes, particularly when he became the first Black coach of a major sports team.

They also had in common a fight to end racism and discrimination, and Nichols addressed these issues in lectures and tours advocating the presence of Blacks at NASA and in the world of entertainment, especially on stage and in Hollywood. Russell was equally involved in the Civil Rights Movement, and there’s that unforgettable photo of him seated with Jim Brown, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Muhammad Ali, in support of Ali’s refusal to be drafted into the military.

We have no way of knowing if these two role models of dignity and integrity ever actually met, but they share a common legacy of achievement that we hope is taken to heart by the young people today.

The barriers they broke and the limitations they faced is proof that we as a people are capable of great heights, both on and off the planet.

Two iconic Black Americans have left legacies that are unimpeachable and we salute them as they travel on another starship, on another plane of wonder and the hereafter.

Member

Alliance for Audited Media

By BINTA VANN

private memorial service at Boys and Girls High School at 5 p.m.

So many people knew and loved my father. ● Saturday, August 13th will be a comMy family and I willingly and proudly shared munity day, open to all, on Fulton Street outhim with the broader Brooklyn communi- side Bed Stuy Restoration starting at 12 p.m. ty and the world. It wasn’t always easy, but we More details are forthcoming. knew his work was his passion, it moved his spirit, it was his offering during his life walk.

Letter from Albert Vann: And as beloved and revered as he was, his Dear loved ones and friends, commitment and devotion to his family was OUT OF THIS WORLD. He loved us I hope this message finds you in the best of with such intention, concern, and gener- health and spirit. I will get right to the point of osity. He had high expectations for us, but my message. It has been over a year and a half he had a soft heart, wise words, and end- since I’ve been diagnosed with cancer, which I less patience. He wanted to see his chil- only shared with my family. I’d like to thank my dren, grandchildren, nieces, and cousins family for being strong and for keeping this a thrive. He led our family with optimism family matter. and realism and above all devotion.

I am doing well and am in good spirits. I reWhen his cancer treatment began to fail and alize that there is really no best time to send he decided to stop treatments and transition this message to you. And because you are all on his own terms, he was hesitant about no- my family too, I wanted to share this news with tifying his friends and community. I think he you. I have come to face the fact that I will not felt he was letting us down in some way. But survive my illness. It has curtailed my activiwith strong encouragement from his dear ties and is inoperable. But there is still a lot of friend, Richard Jones, and family, he asked me life to be lived. And I’m planning to live mine to scribe his last words—which were filled with until my last breath. humility. It was my honor to do so.

I have lived a truly blessed life. As a lifeHis letter was a gift to his community, giving long Bed-Stuy resident, I, along with many them a chance to say goodbye. In the weeks of you, share the wonderful memories of our leading to his death, he saw dozens of loved community. My activities with you have in ones who lifted his spirit and gained some so many ways resulted in achievements, vicsense of closure. We are grateful for the con- tories, and accomplishments that have not tinued support we receive. only highlighted and touched my life imWe are hosting a two-day celebration of mensely but enriched my spirit and brought his life: joy to our friendships. Your devotion and ● Friday, August 12th will be a semi- contributions, no matter how large or small,

have heightened the lives of our children, families, and communities.

I continue to pray that these accomplishments are a lighted pathway and an example to those who come behind us. There can be no greater legacy for us to leave than the service we have bestowed to others during our time on this earth.

All that I ask of each of you is to keep living your lives to the fullest. Stay the course of helping one another and uplifting our Brooklyn community.

I encourage you to reach out as the spirit moves you and, in any form, you choose to take.

Thank you for your understanding and friendship.

With Much Love and Respect Al Vann

Donations to the Al Vann Legacy Scholarship Fund can be made at: https://give.classy. org/Albert-Vann-Legacy-Scholarship-Fund

‘$8 for a cup of coffee and a croissant?’

By REV. DR. DOROTHY SANDERS WELLS

The Reverend Patrick Williams grimaced at the price of what he had hoped would be his morning breakfast, after walking his young daughter to a school in their Harlem neighborhood.

“I think that it will be coffee and muffins at home for me,” he sighed.

New York rental costs have been hard to swallow for Williams, an Episcopal priest serving Harlem’s St. Martin’s and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher and his wife, Nataand Editor in Chief lie Harvey, a teachKristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor er. Now searching for Nayaba Arinde: Editor their third apartment Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor in two years, the two Damaso Reyes: Investigative Editor are facing rental stickSiobhan "Sam" Bennett: er shock. Williams Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Advertising and Harvey join the Wilbert A. Tatum (1984-2009): growing number of Chairman of the Board, CEO and Publisher Emeritus New Yorkers already

squeezed by inflation who worry that rising rents will outpace their ability to afford to live in the Harlem neighborhood which they serve.

Williams and Harvey, who are Black, met in New York City, where Williams previously worked in the financial services industry before attending seminary and beginning to serve another Harlem church. After a few years of living in Williams’ home state of Tennessee, they returned to New York. Their decision to move to Harlem with their two young children after a few years in Memphis was not a difficult one.

“We want to be part of Harlem’s resurgence and renewal. We want to be part of what makes this a great community,” Williams said.

The first apartment they chose in Harlem proved to be too noisy a location for a family with young children. They’d hoped that the second apartment would be a long-term rental in a rent-competitive area. But their landlord’s plans to marry and grow his own family meant that he needed to move from his own one-bedroom apartment in the walkup into the larger, three-bedroom apartment he’d rented to them; their lease, the

landlord told them, would not be renewed.

That put the couple on the hunt for another apartment. While Williams expressed relief that an anticipated decrease in childcare costs would help ease their rent burden, he acknowledged it will not give the family an opportunity to accumulate savings.

The rising cost of rent, coupled with still-increasing costs for food, gas and essentials, and a workforce still struggling to get its bearings after COVID, have left more Americans homeless or fearful that they will soon lose the roof over their heads. Salaries are not keeping pace with inflation, even as some employers offer generous incentives to draw workers. Food pantries are struggling to serve an increasing number of working poor, and agencies serving the homeless see more and more families who can’t stay afloat and who seek temporary shelter. As generous as it may sound, a $20 wage for a janitorial service worker isn’t enough to make ends meet when the work schedule is only part-time.

“I really need a second job,” a part-time janitoriSee INFLATION on page 36

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS O P I N I O

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 13 N

Law abiding gun owners will not harm you. But criminals will.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the New York Amsterdam News. We continue to publish a variety of viewpoints so that we may know the opinions of others that may differ from our own.

ARMSTRONG

WILLIAMS

There have been innumerable debates on gun ownership. These discussions generally address two critical factors: gun violence in inner cities and mass shootings. As a result, some Americans have called for the removal of certain weapons, such as the AR-15, from civilian ownership and the limitation of magazines to 10 rounds as a means to combat these two problems. While I understand the desire to act quickly, we should not act in a way that makes villains of law-abiding gun owners who only wish to protect themselves and their families while simultaneously giving criminals the upper hand in their pursuit of destruction.

Can good, responsible citizens with firearms actually make a difference in life threatening situations? A recent incident in Indianapolis demonstrates that, with training, a responsible gun owner can respond swiftly, safely, and responsibly to save lives. A 22-yearold saved a significant number of lives when he eliminated a shooter who murdered three people and injured three more in an Indiana mall; the situation likely could have been much worse. Since 2021, there have been a total of 21 confirmed incidents of concealedcarry permit holders employing deadly force to stop criminals in life-

threatening situations.

This number sounds insignificant in a vacuum; however, it is critical to consider that most shootings do not occur in places where firearm carry is permitted—for obvious reasons—thus, there is generally no armed person available to stop a shooter.

As a gun owner with a license to carry a concealed handgun, I am fully aware that the use of force is an action of last resort. Firearm carriers are trained to avoid risky situations and make every attempt to de-escalate whenever feasible; nonetheless, taking a life is only appropriate if your own life is in imminent danger. I hope that I will never be in such a life-or-death scenario, but it is comforting to know that I can safeguard my life and the lives of others if necessary. After all, no sane individual goes about his day craving blood; rather, they carry to secure their own safety. Responsible individuals can use a weapon to prevent mass shootings and other types of deadly violence.

However, the villainization of law-abiding gun owners has prompted many Americans to distrust firearms and gun owners in general. This has occurred at the hands of government actors and gun control lobbyists who twist the facts to make people believe that

guns are both dangerous and unnecessary in lifethreatening situations.

They make gun owners out to seem like fringe conspiracy theorists who have a deep distrust for authority.

Unsurprisingly, this could not be further from the truth. Gun owners are your neighbors, your friends, and your family members; the firearms community is composed of persons you care about, and they are neither monsters nor evil. They are ordinary citizens concerned with their safety and the use of their fundamental right to defend themselves. No one should be at danger of having their rights and liberty infringed upon by criminals’ intent on causing bodily harm. Restrictive gun laws merely place criminals who flout the law in control.

When I recall growing up in rural South Carolina during a very difficult period in our nation’s history, I recognize that it was firearms that enabled Blacks in the South to fend off the Klan. I consider today’s single moms and women who, in most cases, would be powerless against an assailant but, with a firearm, could have the ability to protect themselves. It goes without saying that members of the LGBTQ community have the right to keep and bear arms, and they most certainly ought to have the right to defend themselves if they find themselves a potential victim of a transphobic or homophobic attack.

I consider the hatred of Asians and atrocities committed against our

Jewish brothers and sisters; they absolutely deserve to use deadly force against assailants who seek to harm them for their immutable characteristics. This privilege is available to all law-abiding Americans, regardless of color, religion, orientation, or any other classification of theirs.

Criminals and those seeking to commit mass violence do not care if you are armed or not; they will find other ways to harm you. This has been the case since the beginning of human history; however, the question is how to strike a balance between protecting the rights of lawabiding citizens and keeping us safe from criminals.

Maintaining access to weapons for law-abiding citizens is essential, and a balance must be struck between laws that screen out criminals and laws that make it difficult for law-abiding persons to acquire and possess firearms.

You may not like firearms, and you may not want to possess one, but if you ever find yourself in a situation similar to the victims in that Indianapolis mall, you will wish there was a good Samaritan with a gun who could mean the difference between survival or death.

Armstrong Williams (@ ARightSide) is manager / sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast Owner of the year. www. armstrongwilliams.co | www.howardstirkholdings.com

It’s Leo season CHRISTINA

GREER PH.D. I don’t normally spend too much time thinking about astrology. However, recently a colleague of mine has me thinking more and more about astrological signs, behaviors, and seasons when varying astrological signs thrive.

My birthday recently occurred on the same day as a full moon and I must admit, I felt distinctly connected to the moon and the Earth in a new and spiritual way. That my annual trip around the sun coincided with the full moon meant something special to me. A full moon is a time when the moon is opposite the sun in its orbit around Earth. The brightness comes from the moon’s sunlit side being entirely visible from Earth.

Some believe the full moon is a time to “be receptive, to take the light and awareness of spirit into your emotional and physical body.” During this seemingly never-ending time of uncertainty—inflation, job and housing insecurities, monkeypox, shark attacks, COVID, and so much more— so many people are seeking peace and a way to connect with nature and the elements in new and peaceful ways.

A full moon occurs every month and if you have missed the previous seven this year, do not fret, you have five more opportunities to enjoy and observe a full moon in 2022. According to Space. com the remaining full moons will occur on August 11(Sturgeon Moon), September 10 (Harvest Moon), October 9 (Hunter’s Moon), November 8 (Beaver Moon), and December 7 (Cold Moon).

I like to think of full moons as an opportunity to begin anew and set new intentions.

I have a few professional goals that have been lingering and I am going to take these monthly renewals as an indicator for me to restart and reset. For those who are in a rut, for whatever reason, I am always reminded that we have so many opportunities to reset. First, each day is a new day. Second, each month is a new opportunity to start anew. Third, the full moon, or even new moons, are a way to think of a new “calendar” beginning.

And of course, one’s birthday or the start of the school year can also be catalytic moments to restart one’s emotional and intellectual energy.

So, whether you pay attention to astrology or not, we can let the stars be our guide and use the changing of astrological seasons as an opportunity for us to reset and recharge.

Life is stressful and we need to remember that nature will always be our beacon.

The moon guides oceans so it can clearly be our guide as well.

As the summer comes to a close and the changing of the seasons begins, it is imperative we take care of ourselves and one another. It’s Leo season, let out your inner lion be seen and be heard.



Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream,” and the co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.

14 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Caribbean Update

Possible end of road for ex-Surinamese military strongman

By BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for mass murder at the end of 2019, but former Surinamese military strongman Desi Bouterse’s days as a free man could soon come to an end if a military-civilian tribunal currently hearing his appeal rules against him in the coming weeks.

Bouterse, 77 in October, is fighting to stay out of prison for the December 1982 executions of 15 government opponents who were killed for allegedly plotting with the west to reverse the February 1980 coup that Bouterse and other rebel soldiers had staged against the country’s elected gov-

ernment over a string of grouses including the unusual demand that soldiers be represented by a labor union. Four of the 15 were journalists, while the others were labor leaders, clergymen and academics.

Efforts to bring Bouterse and other soldiers to trial had run into major hurdles over the decades, but a tribunal finally tried the group, dishing out various prison terms to surviving soldiers and some civilians in December 2019.

Bouterse, who has denied ever ordering the killings, was handed a 20-year prison term that would most likely see him dying in prison if enforced. He has, however, accepted collective responsibility for the murders being the head of the then military-

controlled government.

Last week, the tribunal reconvened to hear his appeal in what is clearly his last opportunity to overturn the conviction and remain free to lead his National Democratic Party (NDP) which was voted out of office after two consecutive, five-year terms two years ago.

Bouterse’s main points in his appeal are that vital evidence to prove his innocence were suppressed by prosecutors and other state officials who want to see him behind bars.

The tribunal will also entertain him and his defense team’s request to hear new evidence from at least seven witnesses when hearings continue in mid-August.

When the case was

called up last week, Court President Justice Dinesh Sewratan asked the former president why he was appealing the sentence and he replied, “I absolutely do not agree with the verdict,” as he explained that important exculpatory statements that could free him never made it into evidence.

Several other defendants who have also appealed and whose cases are being heard simultaneously, made similar allegations. The court has agreed to allow the witnesses to have their say.

Ever since staging the bloody coup in 1980 and a second which was ordered by telephone on Christmas Eve in 1990, Bouterse has remained as one of the key but extreme-

ly polarizing figures in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community nation of about 500,000 people bordering Guyana and Brazil.

He was fired by the then elected government as army chief back in 1992, but by then, his multiracial NDP was on a steep growth curve, eventually winning election in 1996.

Bouterse stayed in the background as state advisor but eventually served two terms up to July 2020.

It is unclear if he will in fact be sent to prison if he loses his appeal as is widely expected. The administration of President Chan Santokhi has accused him of supporting current street protests against inflation and other ills just as the appeal is being heard. Officials say

this is a veiled reminder to those in authority that he still has influence and political clout.

Hugo Essed, the lawyer for families of the 15, says he hopes Bouterse understands that this is the end of his efforts to stay out of jail.

“There are no other legal remedies open to Bouterse. Appeal is the last station and when the court makes a decision and people are convicted, the suspects will have to be put behind bars,” he told the Herald Newspaper.

In all, 25 defendants including ex soldiers and civilian government officials were tried. Twelve of them, mostly civilians, were acquitted, six have died while Bouterse and five others now await their fate before the tribunal.

rassment, life-endangering medical neglect, verbal abuse, impediments to legal counsel access, lack of COVID-19safetymeasuresand retaliation.

Documenting a pattern of racist and xenophobic treatment at Baker, the complaint details several incidents of anti-Black racism, the targeting of Black immigrants and racist verbal harassment, including guards’ use of the N-word and references to “whipping.” Guards also discriminate against Spanish speakers, telling them to “learn English or don’t speak at all,” according to the complaint.

The complaint details a pattern of gruesome violence and physical assault against immigrants detained at Baker. In several incidents described in the complaint, beatings resulted in broken or fractured bones. The complaint goes on to reveal how significant

retaliatory and punitive measures are often taken

by ICE and Baker County officials to stifle detained people’s public advocacy.

In one retaliatory incident this past May, guards shut off the water after approximately 100 people at Baker launched a hunger strike to peacefully protest the abusive conditions. For days, Baker staff placed participating units on lockdown and denied people access to both drinking water and toilet water. Some individuals who participated in these strikes are named complainants who have since been deported in alleged retaliation, underscoring the severe consequences for whistleblowers in ICE detention.

“Our team has witnessed firsthand the abuses at Baker through site visits and interviews with clients detained there, and we have authored reports and

complaint letters throughout the years alerting ICE and the Baker County Sheriff’s Office staff, who oversee the detention center, of the egregious human rights violations occurring at the facility,” said Andrea Jacoski, director of Detention Program with Americans for Immigrant Justice. “The continued disregard of the rights and welfare of people detained at Baker proves that ICE and Baker County Sheriff’s Office are unable and unwilling to address these abuses that have been ongoing for years. The only way to protect people from further harm is for ICE to immediately release all detained there, including those who bravely came forward in this complaint, and terminate its contract with Baker County.”

“The eyewitness testimonies in this complaint are clear: Baker is a deadly facility,” said Rebecca Talbot, campaign organizer at Im-

migrant Action Alliance. “It is a place of violent abuse, hunger, thirst, medical neglect, racist harassment and unexplained deaths.

It must close immediately. And all those who bravely testified here must be swiftly released to ensure their safety.”

The groups want the release of all immigrants held at Baker, the immediate closure of the detention facility and an investigation.

Sadly, Baker represents just a minute example of what immigrants in detention face across the country.

It is time Joe Biden delivers on his campaign promise of ensuring “that facilities that temporarily house migrants seeking asylum are held to the highest standards of care and prioritize the safety and dignity of families above all.”

‘A living hell’ FELICIA PERSAUD

IMMIGRATION KORNER Late last month, a federal civil rights complaint was filed with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and other oversight bodies, saying immigrants in one detention center in Florida are in “A Living Hell.”

The complaint was submitted by Americans for Immigrant Justice, Freedom for Immigrants, Immigrant Action Alliance and 14 other organizations against the Baker County Detention Center at 1 Sheriff’s Office Dr., Macclenny, Fla., a medium prison office in Baker County.

Fifteen people, either currently or formerly detained

by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Baker, claimed ongoing

and rampant human rights abuses including excessive use of force, racism and retaliation at the Center, built in 2009.

The Baker County Sheriff’s Office, through an Inter-Governmental Services Agreement, was constructed over 30 years ago as a county jail and reopened in June 2009 as a facility housing immigrants in ICE custody. Over 200 immigrants are usually housed there at a time.

Most are individuals in removal proceedings and individuals with final orders; lawful permanent residents, asylum seekers, torture survivors, domestic violence survivors and human trafficking survivors, among others.

First-hand testimony included in the more than 40-page complaint details inhumane treatment including the frequent use of physical assault, violent use of force, racist ha-

The writer is publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com – The Black Immigrant Daily News.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 15

Ray Robinson || original Youth at Risk program, which was brought to the attention of the Points of Light Institute created under President George H.W. Bush, and which received the Points of Light award. A program innovator, Mr. Robinson conceived and produced the program, Fighter for the Future, with Assistant Deputy Commissioner Sandra Lewis Smith, of the NYC Department of Corrections, a program that empowered youthful firsttime offenders at Rikers Island in NYC. Mr. Robinson served as an impetus to the production of the 1998 HBO documentary, SUGAR RAY ROBINSON: THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND DARK SHADOWS OF A CHAMPION, where he and his mother, Edna Mae, were interviewed for the program. Ray II was also the guiding force for the biography of his father, POUND FOR POUND, which was written by author Herb Boyd with Ray II, and published in 2005 by Harper Collins.

With the passing of legislation by the New York City Council and signed by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Ray II’s father received the ultimate acknowledgement with the installation of a commemorative street sign in Harlem, near the block where Sugar Ray’s businesses had been, honoring the champion prize fighter, entrepreneur, entertainer and humanitarian. Herb Boyd, a Black Studies professor at the City College of New York, had done the requisite research, with community activist Jake Morris handling the necessary lobbying and shepherding of the bill through the legislative process, culminating in the signed bill in December of 2009. The commemorative sign at West 124th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Harlem was installed with a ceremonial unveiling attended by WABC-TV and The New York Daily News on what would have been Sugar Ray’s 91st birthday on May 3, 2012. Sugar Ray Robinson had died at 67 on April 12, 1989.

Ray Robinson II, 72, son of famed prizefighter, Sugar Ray Robinson and Edna Mae Holly, one of the original Cotton Club dancers, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2022, after a long battle with multiple sclerosis and metastatic aggressive prostate cancer.

Through his work with Landmark training, the outgrowth of EST, Ray Robinson II is the founder of the Robinson Family project, One World, One Race – HUMAN. “Sugar Ray”(as he is known in Landmark circles) had been involved with EST/ Landmark for over 35 years, and remained a friend of founder, Werner Erhard, and the entire Landmark extended network.

Mr. Robinson also worked with WBLS-FM DJ Frankie Crocker as a Music Librarian at the New York urban radio station in the 1970s.

Mr. Robinson is survived by his loving wife, Michele Dupey; his Mr. Robinson was born in Sydenham Hospital on November 13, 1949, the only child of Sugar Ray’s second marriage. His early life was one of five children, Ray III (Willow), CoCo (Franco), Deirdre Dryden (Jake), Tal (Rocio), and Zoe (Mason); his five grandchildren, Caprice, Sugar privilege, having experienced a long-remembered trip to Paris at the Ray IV, Tokyo, Santiago, and Cleomi; his former wife, Celeste; his age of five and having known such luminaries as musicians, Miles Davis sister, Ilma Thomas (Pierre); Gerry Newman and Maryann Caromil, and actress Cicely Tyson. his close friends from Landmark; and many extended family Mr. Robinson was an independent producer and program developer members and friends. for many years, having worked with the Reverend Jesse Jackson at A Memorial Service will take place at Grace Lutheran Church, 836 the first Black Expo in New York City, in stage production and as a coAvenue C, Bayonne, NJ on August 16, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. producer, and in Santa Monica, CA, as an exhibits service manager and assistant show manager. He contributed to, and participated in, the Condolences may be received at bayonnememorialhome.com

16 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Religion & Spirituality Bill Russell, a superior athlete and civil rights activist

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

Bill Russell had more rings than he had fingers, and a cluster of awards to fill the walls of his entire house. But awards and statistics tell only a portion of this NBA Hall of Famer, who died peacefully Sunday, according to a statement from his family. He was 88.

One line in the statement from his family spoke volumes about his achievements: he was the most prolific winner in American sports history. They were making reference to Russell’s incomparable 11 NBA titles with the Boston Celtics, eight of them consecutively, thereby surpassing the New York Yankees’ five straight World Series championships; and the Montreal Canadiens’ five straight Stanley Cup titles.

Few could speak with absolute authority of Russell’s prowess like Red Auerbach, his coach and mentor. For him Russell was “the single most devastating force in the history of the game.” There is a long list of numbers to back up this comment, including five-time NBA MVP and 12-time All-Star. He wasn’t much of a scorer but his athleticism, his speed and vertical extension made him an impregnable defensive player. And his being left handed gave him

an added advantage against the majority of right handed players, such as Wilt Chamberlain, and their battles were classic.

Add the number of rebounds, assists, and blocked shots, which were not tabulated during his career, and you have a formidable team player, to say nothing of his savvy and understanding of how to run the court, set up a pick and roll, and hustle back down the court. In his 1979 book “Second Wind: The Memoirs of an Opinionated Man,” with Taylor Branch, he wrote this about his defense of the almost unstoppable Oscar Robertson. “When he hesitated near the foul line for the jump shot, I would take a step toward him, faking a move to block his shot or steal the ball. But what I really wanted him to do was to take the opening to drive by me for a lay-up, and I’d be able to recover in time to black the shot.”

Born William Felton Russell on Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, he like so many of his friends and family endured racist hostility and discrimination. He was eight years old when his father moved the family to Oakland, California, like many other migrants from the South. Even before he stepped on the court and handled a basketball, he became a student of the game studying players and their moves. It took him a

while to develop his skills, but by his senior year he had led McClymonds High School to two state championships. Frank Robinson, the baseball immortal, was one of his teammates.

He was even more successful at University of San Francisco, where he captained the team and led them to back-to-back NCAA championships. His teammate was K.C. Jones, who would later join him on the Celtics. The two inseparable players would also lead the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in Melbourne in 1956.

A most impressive pattern was established and it would continue for them right into the green uniforms in Boston. And the rest of the league soon learned what a lethal combination they were, and near the end of their remarkable streak of victories, Russell became the coach, the first Black coach or manager in any major sports team in the nation.

Upon hearing of Russell’s death, Michael Jordan, widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time, said, “Bill Russell was a pioneer—as a player, as a champion, as the NBA’s first Black head coach, and as an activist. He paved the way and set an example for every Black player who came to the league after him, including me. The world has lost a legend. My condolences to his family and may he rest in peace.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by former president Barack Obama, who awarded Russell the Medal of Freedom in 2011. “Today we lost a giant,” Obama tweeted. “As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy rises far higher—both as a player and as a person. Perhaps more than anyone else, Bill knew what it took to win and what it took to lead. On the court, he was the greatest champion in basketball history. Off of it, he was a civil rights trailblazer—marching with Dr. King and standing with Muhammad Ali.” And there is a photo that has Russell seated with Ali, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Jim Brown, in support of Ali’s refusal to serve in the military.

Russell possessed an infectious laugh, a delightful sense of humor, and always carried himself with dignity and respect for others, at the same time totally in control of his own inadequacies and his ego, as he wrote in “Second Wind.” “I’ve tried to handle my ego the way I would any other part of my character: to acknowledge it but not to let it control me or make me into something I don’t like,” he wrote.

“All of us have prejudices that grow out of our egos, but that’s natural. Show me a person with no prejudice and I’ll show you a person with no taste. The struggle is to keep prejudice from turning into bigotry and hatred.”

Nichelle Nichols, the first lady of Deep Space, dead at 89

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

television. Nichols explained that “I just got the script and I said, ‘Oh, wow, great! We’re going to get a little romance in here!’” In the From the very first episode of “Star Trek,” “The original script the kiss was between Spock Man Trap,” Nichelle Nichols, who died of natu- and Uhura, but Bill Shatner, who portrayed ral causes July 30, at 89, was a consummate actor Kirk, said, “Oh, no! If anyone is going to kiss and that as Lt. Nyota Uhura, the communica- Nichelle, it’s going to be me.” The script was retions officer she established her place as the first written and the cast laughed about it. leading Black woman in space. In this exchange This is just an example of the camarawith Spock she made it plain that she was merely derie that made “Star Trek” such a poputrying to strike up a conversation, and not about lar show, creating a coterie of “Trekkies” moonlight on his planet of Vulcan. like the undying fans of the Grateful Dead.

And this was just the beginning of their re- Nichols’ role provided an opening for Afrilationship, though her first kiss was with Cap- can Americans in sci-fi and other productain Kirk, making it the first interracial kiss on tions where the fictional future was devoid

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Bids will be accepted until 12 noon on Friday, September 30, 2022 and work is to comto commence by November 30, 2022 and be completed by November 30, 2023. mence by November 30, 2022 and be completed by November 30, 2023.

of Black people. Her influence was even more meaningful for Blacks on Earth and reached beyond television to NASA, where she was instrumental in recruiting female and minority candidates to be astronauts.

In this capacity she made public appearances and recorded several PSAs on behalf of the agency. She was a keynote speaker in 2012 at the Goddard Space Center and lauded for helping to diversify the space program. A NASA news release underscored her contributions, noting, “Nichols’s role as one of television’s first Black characters to be more than just a stereotype and one of the first women in a position of authority [she was fourth in command of the Enterprise] inspired thousands of applications from women and minorities,” the release said. “Among them: Ronald McNair, Frederick Gregory, Judith Resnik, first American woman in space Sally Ride and current NASA administrator Charlie Bolden.”

Born Grace Dell Nichols on Dec. 28, 1932, in Robbins, Ill., she asked her mother for another name and they decided on Nichelle, mainly because of its alliteration. She came of age in Chicago, and at a very early age possessed a remarkable singing voice. Her first professional performance was in a revue and occurred while she was still a student at Englewood High School. For a year, after Duke Ellington spotted her dance routine, she was hired and toured with the troupe as a dancer in his jazz suites.

During the 1950s she performed at a number of nightclubs, even at the Playboy Club in New

York City, all the while waiting unsuccessfully for a chance on stage as an understudy of Diahann Carroll in the musical “No Strings.” When director Otto Preminger filmed his version of “Porgy and Bess,” Nichelle was a dancer; four years later in 1963, she made her television debut in an episode of “The Lieutenant,” and the series was created by Gene Roddenberry, who would later create “Star Trek.”

Two intimations of what lay ahead for her.

She had cameo appearances on a number of television shows, including “Head of the Class” and “Peyton Place.” On stage in Los Angeles she did impersonations and saluted such Black women as Lena Horne, Pearl Bailey, and Eartha Kitt. Not too long after her appearance on “Peyton Place,” she took the role on “Star Trek,” as a line on her resume since her real dream was Broadway. Roddenberry, with whom she had a brief affair, told her to think it over, and she decided to stay and the rest as they say is history.

Nichelle was married twice, she and Foster Johnson had one son, Kyle, who many film buffs may remember for his starring role in Gordon Parks’ “The Learning Tree.” In her autobiography published in 1995, she revealed a lot of intimacies that she kept to herself for many years. And many of them occurred on the “Starship Enterprise.” But to get the lowdown on that check out the book, and a final word from President Biden, who said the nation lost a “trailblazer of stage and screen who redefined what is possible for Black Americans and women.”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Arts & Entertainment Film/TV pg 17 | Travel pg 21 | Jazz pg 24

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Pg. 20 Your Stars

‘Star Trek’ legend Nichelle Nichols, 89, passes Nichelle Nichols at a ceremony for fellow “Star Trek” cast member Walter Koenig who was receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012. (Angela George (https://commons. wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NichelleNicholsHWOFSept2012.jpg), „NichelleNicholsHWOFSept2012“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode)

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH Special to the AmNews It has been reported that the iconic star of the original “Star Trek” television show, Nichelle Nichols has died at age 89. Gilbert Bell, her talent manager and business partner, confirmed her passing.

Nichols’ performance as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, the communications officer on the starship U.S.S. Enterprise, was a groundbreaking role in the 1960s.

“Ms. Nichols was among the first Black women to have a leading role on a network television series, making her an anomaly on the small screen, which until that time had rarely depicted Black women in anything other than subservient roles,” writes The New York Times. Her beauty was unmatched as she held her leadership position in a male-dominated field on and off the small and big screens.

She is known to have portrayed the first on-air interratial full kiss on television in 1968 with William Shatner who played Captain Kirk, following an on-the-cheek kiss given by Sammy Davis Jr. to Nancy Sinatra the year before.

Nichols became a powerful political

figure in the realm of science and astronomy due to her influential portrayal on “Star Trek.”

Variety reports “NASA later employed Nichols in an effort to encourage women and African Americans to become astronauts. NASA Astronaut Group 8, selected in 1978, included the first women and ethnic minorities to be recruited, including three who were Black. Dr. Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to fly aboard the Space Shuttle, cited ‘Star Trek’ as an influence in her decision to join the space agency.”

She worked as a representative for the advancement of diversity in the air and space field for much of her life. In 2012, she presided as the keynote speaker at the Goddard Space Center, an appearance that continued the efforts and conversation surrounding the inclusiveness NASA and other organizations have acknowledged for many years.

Nichelle Nichols was born Grace Nichols in Robbins, Illinois on Dec. 28, 1932. Before she began her television career, she worked in her hometown of Chicago as a lounge and supper club performer both during her teenage years and following the show. At 16, she sang with Duke Ellington in a ballet that

Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, communications officer of the USS Enterprise on “Star Trek” (Public domain - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nichelle_Nichols,_NASA_ Recruiter_-_GPN-2004-00017.jpg)

was inspired by one of his musical works, and later ended up singing with his band.

She starred in the 1961 musical “Kicks and Co.” and caught the eye of Hugh Hefner who gave her a job at the Chicago Playboy club. Nichols’ beauty was unmatched and undeniable to anyone who laid eyes on her. She also performed as Carmen in a Chicago production of “Carmen Jones” and danced in an adaptation of “Porgy and

Bess” in 1959.

Nichols worked in film and television for her entire life. Along with starring in the first six “Star Trek” films, she also appeared in the 2002 film “Snow Dogs” as Cuba Gooding Jr.’s mother and in Ice Cube’s 2005 film “Are We There Yet.” Nichols was a profoundly important Black icon and her memory will be celebrated for generations to come.

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Presented by The Joyce Theater

in association with

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American Street Dance Theater

Rennie Harris

LIFTED

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HOROSCOPES BY KNOWYOURNUMB3RS

By GODDESS KYA

August 4, 2022 — August 10, 2022 Rebirth of a New Nation: The full moon in Leo at 19 degrees Aquarius is in conjunction with Saturn. It’s time to lay the foundation of your plans with all the bells and whistles like you are decorating your Christmas tree, having a potluck for Thanksgiving, Easter egg hunt, barbeque for Independence Day and celebrating Veterans Day, and planning for vacation on spring, winter, summer, fall break. Fall back and take a deeper look at what’s in front of you and the things you value. All the holidays have laid a foundation with a consistent rotation for celebration. No matter how many tests, trials, errors, evaluations, or revisions occur, you keep it moving and take it as a lesson gained rather than lost to maneuver. When you notice the same patterns and cycles reappearing, questioning how it started and how it ended will give you clarity. Create new Vinateria cycles for generations to come within your D.N.A. script. When you heal yourself, you heal the generation before and after. The transformation of releasing to evolve to a better version of self. Don’t surpass the change of metamorphosis—express the energy. Let it out, cry it out, walk it out, jog it out. “Transformation happens when the pain of remaining the same outweighs the pain of change.” Arthur Burt

Cappy, this month the tough get going and continue to climb the ladder. On your journey, it’s getting lonely and isolated and that’s fine on your mission for self-development. This cycle week give it Capricorn your best shot, give it everything you got to give to reach your goals Dec 22 and follow up on your agenda. Make your errands as early as posJan 21 sible and check off your to-do list upon completing the task. Flexibility and adaptability allow freedom to work as you please. August 8th-10th your peace of mind and time is essential as this month holds prominence and change.

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Cancer June 22 July 23

Physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally you are embracing a new path, be it in personal development to break free from old rigid ways. Venus in Cancer is aiding you in the process to evolve to communicate what’s really bothering you. Write it down, speak it out, draw it out, bathe it out, solitude it out to draw it out of you. When you do, you feel better. August 4th-5th, what are your priorities as silence is part of growth at times.

Your dreams are vivid with meaning and clues to follow up on, as insight will appear through conversation and daily aspects. A New beginnings are taking place. This includes clearing and week of services, home, duty, business, and relationships formLeo cleansing out your home and closets of personal things, places, ing at once. An intense week to get it done including paperwork, July 24 Aug 23 items, and people in your life. This week is a taste of September, it’s organizations and separations also give birth to new concepts for Aquarius best to take notice of what’s coming down the pipeline. Insert youryour plan. A cycle for international travel, traveling near a body Jan 22 self in ways you haven’t done before to open new doors and oppor- of water and watching the rise and set. August 6th-7th the divine creator has a Feb 19 tunities. This cycle, new terms, conditions and contracts are being message for you, pay attention to your mood to understand. made. Most importantly, do what’s in your best interest near August 10th-11th.

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You are a walking messenger these cycles with information to It’s time to end something that’s been on your mind since the end assist others on their path. Insights of self-growth come with new of May. Put the kibosh on it and settle it once and for all to move forexperiences as you journey on your mission. New concepts to try, Virgo ward. No need to stress. Seek advice or counsel for a second opinnew hacks and tips to apply to see the value in your work. PractiAug 24 Pisces ion. It’s time to follow up with discipline on your projects and things cality is key, along with the cooperation of others to see an impact Sept 23 Feb 20 will move at a fast pace now. Practice makes improvement so do of your studies. You are the boss of the bosses this month to delMar 20 your due diligence to see the plan through in and out. Results and egate daily operations where help is needed. August 8th-9th you find solutions rewards come after the footwork and application is applied to bear fruit around to unsolved problems by investing in the issues.

August 4th-5th.

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It’s time to swing and get on the monkey bars, exploring your A powerful week where decisions being made since the end of inner child. A cycle of contradiction of your plans and conveyApril are now manifesting. No more wait-and-see game, choose the ing a message for you to deliver. Listen to your gut to guide you Libra direction that’s in your best interest. This is what you have been no matter what distracts you from your obligations. Do what you Sept 24 Aries waiting for.

First and foremost, family obligations need attention need to do and say what you mean. Balance your emotions to Oct 23 Mar 21 even if it requires you to pay for services while you are handling create a consistent flow in your daily aspects receiving what is Apr 21 other business affairs. August 6th-7th, relationship matters are on meant for you. August 10th-11th, keep silent about your plans. the table; also financial gain and career opportunities arise.

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Taurus Apr 22 May 21

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Abrupt changes that have a slow effect with certain messages being This cycle week the energy is high roller, where celebration and popuconveyed to you hold importance. Listen to the advice about partnerlarity are at their peak. Everyone gets their chance in the spotlight, so call ships and any legal matters. Images, signs, symbols, and synchronicScorpio that chauffeur to get a break from diving and calling the shots. Allow your ities are showing you something. Record the downloads as they are Oct 24 Nov 22 work and words to speak for you. This month is slow motion time with apleading to clues. Sudden departures, losses, gains, separation, unexplication applied to take heed of the details and signs right in front of you. pected money, and professional speculation bring instantaneous upAugust 8th-10th buckle down, it’s prime time to push through on your plan. grades. August 4th-5th you have everything to gain generating new relationships.

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Reprogramming your patterns initiates a new code to change your When the heart and mind are in sync, your mental and emotional facmindset for self-discovery of life. This will change your lifestyle in some ulties are balanced. This is a mastermind month for you to review the way. You see the bigger picture now with more meaning to life. Hold onto blueprint you develop as add-ons are included to upgrade the plan. It’s Sagitarius time to level and leverage up to new heights and meet people in the hiGemini the vision as you begin the process, making it a reality in due time.

You Nov 23 May 22 must apply the footwork, bookwork, and network to see tangible results. erarchy discovering your skills. Your skills are useful in their business, Dec 21 June 21 August 10th-11th keep your mind clear and conversations short, sweet which comes with a hefty price tag. August 6th-7th, remember why you and to the point. You mean business. started your mission and the drive and impact of your why.

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WWW.KYAFRENCH.COM | CONSULTATIONS 866-331-5088

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Travel & Resort

Eat, play your way around the U.S. Virgin Islands

By DWIGHT BROWN NNPA

(Dwight Brown photos)

Visit the United States Virgin Islands and your foodie experience will be as pleasurable as your playtime. This tropical archipelago has three main and 50 smaller islands. It was originally inhabited by Native Americans— Ciboney, Caribs, and Arawaks. Spain, France, Britain, the Netherlands and Denmark once claimed VI and Africans came during the slave trade. In 1917, the U.S. bought the territory and these days the USVI’s historical mix of cultures is still everywhere.

Must play: Magens Bay Beach—Sit in sun, swim in sea and walk around 56-acre park.

Downtown Charlotte Amalie—Fort Christian, 99 Steps, Blackbeard’s Castle.

The VI Cat—Glide on catamarans to Turtle Cove or take a sunset dinner sail.

Coki Beach—Swimmable, popular neighborhood beach. DJ music. Meet locals.

Must stay: Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham—On Water Bay, over hill from Coki Beach. Large rooms, balconies, quality service. Mellow Jimmy Buffet vibe.

Ritz Carlton St. Thomas—Very lux. View turquoise blue waters of Great Bay. Secret Harbour Beach Resort—Plush boutique resort on sequestered cove.

ST. CROIX It’s the largest of the three main islands and flatter than the rest. So, driving coast to coast (28 miles) is easy and eye-catching. Christiansted, the capital city, anchors the northeast coast. Frederiksted, the quieter city, is on the west coast. On St. Croix, everyone says hello and treats others like family or friends. Wilt Chamberlain and President Joe Biden have homes on St. Croix. You’ll feel welcomed too.

Dinners in St. Croix Must dine here: The Galleon at Tamarind Reef Hotel— Chef Charles Mereday offers an informal atmosphere and seaside location. Eat indoors or outdoors by the yachts. Sip on a Passionfruit Pisco Sour. Start with crabcakes. Main course it with paella, mango mahi mahi or a 16oz. ribeye. End the night with key lime pie.

Too. Chez.—Set in downtown Christiansted.

French-inspired American cuisine in openair courtyard. Casual but tony crowd. Drink a French 75 (Tanqueray gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, prosecco). Begin with baked shrimp scampi. Try the parmesan crusted breast of chicken entrée. Finish with cheesecake.

Taste of St. Croix—Chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, and fishermen show off their ware in an outdoor soiree. Feast on Braised Lamb Charlotte and red-tailed boa and stuffed johnny cakes. Drink oatmeal stout and Veuve Clicquot.

duty-free port since 1724. Rolexes, designer bags, perfume and electronics. Tour in and around the capital city.

Caroline’s—Breakfast eatery. In historic King Christian Hotel on Christiansted boardwalk. Bananas Foster, chicken’n waffles, blueberry pancakes.

Virgin Islands Food Tours—Stroll on downtown Christiansted’s cobblestone streets. Eat local cuisine and meet eatery owners on an enlightening, guided tour.

Polly’s at the Pier—Frederiksted’s top brunch/lunch place. Build your own burritos. Chocolate chip Belgian waffles. Steps away from the cruise ship pier.

Playing and staying on St. Croix Between meals, sip vodka, commune at outdoor markets and tour the island.

Must play: Mutiny Island Vodka Tour at Sion Farm Distillery—Chef Todd Manley makes vodka from local breadfruit. Sip on his hibiscus passion fruit vodka. Yum. Farmer’s Market—Shop dawn to midday at Rudolph Shulterbrandt AgriculturBreakfast and lunch in St. Croix al Complex for fresh vegetables, fruits, Brunch and lunch at: juices, bread, honey and local liquors.

La Reine Chicken Shack—The governor, Rainbow Beach—Bohemian party beach students, truckdrivers…everyone eats at scene. Popular Rhythms restaurant. this open-air restaurant. Crucian cuisine.

Sorbetiere Ice Cream Parlor and CreamSignature dish is succulent, slow-roasted ery—Tamarind and soursop sorbet. Vanilla rotisserie chicken. Dig into stewed oxtail, bean and ginger Thomas ice cream. Yummy! conch in butter sauce and sweet plantains.

Drink cold sorrel juice with its hint of ginger. Must stay: El Flamboyant—Puerto Rican chef Yvonne The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort— Villegas learned to cook from her grand- Christiansted’s most elegant resort. Three mother and infuses that love in her home- beaches, 18-hole golf course, 8 tennis style Latino dishes. Try the carne guisada courts, a spa and seaside suites. and tostones de pana or stewed red snapThe Fred—Frederiksted‘s top boutique per filets. Goat roasts on Sundays. hotel. Six buildings, Miami style design.

ST. JOHN The smallest of the big three isles. Half-hour Sand Castle on the Beach—In Frederikst- ferry boat ride from St. Thomas. Nineteen ed. Intimate adults-only, gay-friendly. Suites square miles and 60% of the island is protectand villas include kitchens, living rooms and ed U.S. National Park land. Pristine, swimmabedrooms. Two pools. ble, gorgeous beaches. Bohemian life.

Cottages By the Sea—Family-owned. 27 unique, beachfront cottages with private Rum tasting, lobster dinners and beautiful patios. Full kitchens. Kayaking, bike riding. beaches In Frederiksted. Quiet retreat.

Dine around town. Explore the restaurant scene. Mingle with friendly folks.

ST. THOMAS St. Thomas, with its USVI capital city of Must eat and drink at: Charlotte Amalie, has just as many people Morgan’s Mango—Extremely popular as St. Croix but is half the size. Hilly ter- restaurant. Creole, Bahamian, Cuban, Jarain—like the Hollywood Hills—and wind- maican, Haitian, Puerto Rican and Mayan ing roads. A shopping haven, restaurants influenced food with modern neo-Caand constant cruise ship debarkations make ribbean twists. Start with a Bushwhackthis a bustling island. Day and night. er cocktail. First course: lobster bisque.

Main course: Caribbean lobster. Dessert: Dinner and dining on St. Thomas passionfruit semifreddo.

Must eat at: Rum Bar Tasting at Bajo El Sol—Hybrid Indigo 4—Located in Marina at Yacht Haven. gallery, bookstore, café. Curator Priscilla The upscale eatery is the magical creation of Hintz Rivera guides you through rum, tea Chef Benji. As you dine on Fried Ole Wife Fish and cocktail tastings. & Eggs at Sunday brunch, with folks who’ve come from church, view the boat basin. De- Must play: lectable dinners include local lobster, tomaBeaches—Start with the famous and hawk steaks and donut bread pudding. very swimmable Trunk Bay Beach. Then Sunset Grill at Secret Harbour—Overlooks visit Cinnamon Bay Beach, Maho Bay a private beach. Fine cuisine. Guzzle local Beach, Caneel Bay Leather Back Beer. Feast on appetizers (lobGo Boating —Book a boat tour to exster & shrimp tostadas), entrees (miso Chil- plore some of the destination’s unique ean sea bass) and sweets (mile high mud pie). spots. Snorkel, swim and go sightseeing Ashley’s Restaurant—Tiny popular res- to places only accessible by boat. taurant on St. Thomas’ Cyril E. Airport grounds. Ask for the tender flaky and Must stay: sweet Fried Ole Fish or the conch.

The West St. John Resort Villas—Villa resort conveniently located near ferry Playing and staying on St. Thomas dock. Pools, tennis courts, fitness center.

Shop till you drop in Charlotte Amalie, a Daycare for kids so adults can play.

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

AmNews Food

Put sustainability on the family menu Cooking delicious family meals is surely the focus of many home chefs, from quick dishes on busy weeknights to homestyle favorites on the weekend. Equally important, however, is dishing up foods and ingredients you can feel good about serving to your loved ones.

The next time seafood is on the menu, consider the source of your main course. Available fresh, frozen, smoked and canned yearround and nationwide, seafood from Alaska is sustainably harvested, and you can trust it comes

from a responsibly managed fishery. Utilizing a science-based approach, the state sustains the long-term vitality of species and their natural habitats, as well as the fishing communities that rely on them.

Fishermen and scientists work together to ensure they only harvest what science tells them the ecosystem can support, so that fish stocks, communities and the marine environment can thrive for generations to come.

Wild, sustainable and harvested

in the USA, Alaska seafood is full of flavor and high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals and oils essential to good health, including omega-3s and vitamin D. You can feel good serving your loved ones these Blackened Alaska Cod Tacos as a classic way to spice up your dinner table, or give a sweet heat kick to Spicy Alaska Sablefish in Lettuce Cups with Korean chili paste, miso and honey.

Visit alaskaseafood.org to find more information and familyfriendly recipes.

(Photo courtesy of Sari Diskin)

Blackened Alaska Cod Tacos Recipe courtesy of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and Sari Diskin

Spicy Alaska Sablefish in Lettuce Cups Recipe courtesy of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 4 (2 lettuce cups each) 1/4 cup yellow or white miso 1 tablespoon Korean chili paste 1 tablespoon honey 1 pound Alaska sablefish (black cod), cut into Preheat oven to 450 F.

2-ounce portions nonstick cooking spray 1 small avocado, pitted, peeled and chopped 1-1 1/4 cups cooked sushi rice or quinoa 1/2 cup chopped English cucumber 1/4 cup thinly sliced halved radish 1/2 cup pickled ginger, chopped 1/2 cup bottled Asian-style salad dressing with wasabi and ginger 8 medium-large butter lettuce leaves 1/2 cup cilantro leaves

Roast 5-7 minutes, or until fish in dressing. Toss to coat. is opaque throughout and deep Blend miso, chili paste and golden brown; cool slightly.

To serve, place about 1/3 cup honey; spread onto Alaska savegetable-rice mixture in each letblefish portions. Place portions In mixing bowl, combine av- tuce leaf. Top with one sablefish on nonstick cooking spray- ocado, rice or quinoa, cucum- portion. Sprinkle each lettuce cup coated, foil-lined baking sheet. ber, radishes and ginger; pour with 1 tablespoon cilantro leaves.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 2-3 2 cups slaw mix 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon hot sauce, plus additional for serving

1 lime, divided salt, to taste pepper, to taste nonstick cooking spray 1/2 pound Alaska cod olive oil blackening seasoning, to taste, plus additional, divided sea salt, to taste 4 small flour tortillas 1 avocado, sliced

Preheat oven to 400 F. In bowl, mix slaw with mayonnaise, hot sauce, juice from 1/2 lime and salt and pepper, to taste; set aside.

Line baking dish with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place Alaska cod on top and coat lightly with olive oil. Generously season with blackening seasoning and sea salt, to taste.

Bake 5 minutes, set oven to broil and broil 3-5 minutes. When fish is done (when it flakes easily with fork and is opaque throughout), remove from oven and break into small chunks with fork.

In flour tortillas, add avocado and slaw. Top with chunks of cod and drizzle with additional hot sauce, squeeze of lime juice from remaining 1/2 lime and additional blackening seasoning.

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August 2022 Dance Calendar Donovan Reed in “Requiem: Fire in the Air of the Earth” (Peter Hönnemann photos)

By CHARMAINE PATRICIA WARREN Special to the AmNews

Donovan Reed in “Requiem: Fire in the Air of the Earth”

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham in “Requiem: Fire in the Air of the Earth”

Claude "CJ" Johnson and Dorchell Haqq in “Requiem: Fire in the Air of the Earth”

In August, the choreographer Kyle Abraham has two Lincoln Center events as part of the Summer for the City series.

First up, Aug. 6-7, is Abraham’s curation titled “Reunions,” featuring alumni of his company: Rena Butler, Kayla Farish, Vinson Fraley, Nicole Mannerino, Chalvar Monteiro, Jie-Hung Connie Shiau, and Maleek Washington. Each will share their own work. For more information, visit: https://www.lincolncenter.org/ series/summer-for-the-city/reunions.

Then, from Aug. 11-13 with his Company A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, and composer Jlin at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, they will “…transform Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ into an electronic opus that memorializes ritual and rebirth in the New York premiere of ‘Requiem: Fire in the Air of the Earth.’” For more information, visit: https://www.lincolncenter.org/ series/summer-for-the-city/requiem-firein-the-air-of-the-earth-517

Also this month: Aug. 3 - Dec. 11—Tiona Nekkia McClodden’s multidisciplinary exhibition exploring contemporary Black dance, “The Trace of an Implied Presence,” opens at The Shed. For more information, visit: https:// theshed.org/program/248-tionanekkia-mc-clodden-the-trace-ofan-implied-presence Aug. 5-28—Central Park SummerStage continues its dance series with: Maimouna Keita African Dance Company (8/5); Urban Bush Women/Cheri L. Stokes (8/12); omar edwards | tap master / latasha barnes: excerpts from the jazz continuum (8/19); and Hubbard Street

Dance Chicago (8/28). For more information, visit: https://cityparksfoundation.org/calendar/category/ summerstage/ Aug. 6-8—At Ailey Citigroup Theater, “Erasing Borders” and “India @ 75” Dance Festival will feature various artists in various programs. For more information, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/ cc/festival-of-india75-605699 Aug. 9-13—“BAAND Together Dance Festival” returns to Damrosch Park as part of Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City series. The five New York companies that make up

BAAND Together are: Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. For more information, visit: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-thecity/s/BAAND%20Together%20 Dance%20Festival

lease. For more information, visit: https://www.joyce.org/performances/rennie-harris-lifted Aug. 13-19—The 41st annual Battery Dance Festival returns with in-person and live-streamed performances at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park. Featured will be national and international companies on various programs. For more information, visit: https://batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival/

Arts Center. For more information, visit: https://www.asaseyaaent.org/

Aug. 25-27—Kinetic Light comes to The Shed with “Wired,” “…an immersive contemporary aerial dance experience of sound, light, and movement that traces the fine line between ‘us’ and ‘them’ while exploring Aug. 10-14—Rennie Harris rethe gender, race, and disabiliturns to The Joyce with the evety stories of barbed wire,” notes ning-length, New York premiere the release. Members of Kinetof “LIFTED: A Gospel House MuAug. 20—Asase Yaa Cultur- ic Light are Alice Sheppard, Jerron sical,” “…centered on the story of al Arts Foundation launches its Herman, and Laurel Lawson, plus one young Black man and his path 20th anniversary celebration others. For more information, visit: to healing and redemption through with “It Was All a Dream: A Musi- https://theshed.org/program/121faith and community,” notes the re- cal” at BMCC Tribeca Performing open-call-kinetic-light

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BKCM, SUGAR HILL QUARTET, NITE BJUTI

Nite Bjuti (Photo courtesy of Jazz at the Schomburg)

The Jazz Leaders Fellowship funded by the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music is another much needed platform providing Black women and Black non-binary jazz musicians with resources to further develop their craft and pursue their specific creative endeavors. This year’s (2022-23) annual fellowship was presented to singer, poet and composer Jasmine Wilson and pianist, composer, singer and cultural ambassador Melvis Santa.

As a fellowship recipient Santa will be performing a summer night concert at the Recital Hall of BKCM on Aug. 6, at 8 p.m. “The music I will present is a selection of original compositions, lyrics and arrangements I’m currently working on,” explained Santa. “I like to express myself with different formats and instruments, so I will sing, play piano and percussion, including the bata drums.

I will also have special guests joining in.”

She will also premiere her song dedicated to Abbey Lincoln on the 92nd anniversary of her birthday. “This new composition is part of a larger project I am developing, a duo with trumpeter and arranger Josh Evans, who will be one of my special guests

on August 6th,” said Santa. “Abbey Lincoln’s work-in-progress project was influenced by my fascination with Abbey from my high school years in Cuba. Her particular timbre and the spirit she transmits in every recording reminded me of the powerful oral storytelling tradition I grew up with, so that stayed with me since. Years later I got into acting too, and as I would mature along the process, I would often go back to listen to Abbey’s music and unique style. She definitely is one of my sheroes. ‘My music is mine’ is the title I chose to write and compose an original song inspired by the greatness of Ms. Abbey Lincoln and the impact her legacy still has in me as a singer-songwriter and actress, as well.”

Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Santa is a creative source who employs her varied cultural spirits of the African diaspora into her music as a band leader, composer and singer. Her multi-cultured exploratory bands have included Ashedi, Ellas-Son, Melvis Santa Quartet, and La Rumba de Santa. As a member of Kenny Garrett’s Sextet, she plays keyboards and percussion. This fellowship will only catapult Santa to greater boundless heights.

“I envision a fruitful year of collaboration as a JFL with the BKCM. The fellowship has a performance and an educational component. For the latter I am invited to be part of the jazz program as a guest,” said Santa.

“I plan to do a workshop I developed based

on two important and recurring topics I’ve encountered throughout my career and personal experience: Movement and Repertoire. The first one I call it Dance for Musicians, and the other one, Female Voices and Songs in Latin Jazz. Today I am thankful and thrilled by the responsibility and the possibilities this award brings along. I think this is worth celebrating from the gate-go!”

For ticket information visit the website Bkcm.org.

On Aug. 7, celebrated jazz producer/promoter Berta will present her 11th annual “tribute to our late jazz heroes” featuring saxophonist Patience Higgins and The Sugar Hill Quartet, a longtime collaborative force of international jazzmen and acknowledged band leaders: pianist Marcus Persiani, bassist Tom DiCarlo, and drummer David Gibson; with vocalists Ghanniyya Green, Lady Cantrese, and Ras Chemash Lamed, and hosted by MC Murphy. The music is so hip don’t be surprised if some swing dancers are on the set.

“Unfortunately, in the past two years many noted musicians have left us, as well as those who joined the ancestors earlier; they include Onaje Allan Gumbs, Donald Smith, Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch, Junie Booth, Alex Lane, and original member of the Sugar Hill Quartet Andy McCloud III,” said Berta. “We have to always remember the great musicians who passed away—it is

their legacy we are keeping alive.”

The concert (1 p.m. - 6 p.m.) takes place in Ralph Ellison Memorial Park (150th Street and Riverside Drive. For more information call 646-705-2932.

Good music should do more than just make you feel good, it should knock your socks off and make you shout. On Aug. 11, Jazz at the Schomburg will feature Nite Bjuti, an explosive collaboration of three inventive ladies: vocalist Candice Hoyes, percussionist and turntablist Val Jeanty (evokes the creative subconscious self-defined as “Afro-Electronica”), and bassist Mimi Jones. Together the trio of Afro Caribbean artists swing on music’s esoteric realms, improvising on Haitian drum rhythms, sampling, electronics and spoken word.

Nite Bjuti reflects the centuries old Haitian folklore “Night Beauty,” about a girl whose bones begin to sing in her afterlife, her spirit seeking justice. Together, they improvise to build layers of intimate community both inside the band and with its audiences. This performance will also feature creative collaborators, choreographer/dancer JoVonna Parks and dancer Courtney Sauls (at 6:30 p.m).

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is located at 515 Malcom X Blvd. (corner of west 135th Street). For tickets (donation) visit the website nypl.org/Schomburg

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

IN

THE

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 25

CLASSROOM

Kathryn Boyd, a talented actress with a limited career

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews During a recent retrospective on Black films on TCM, particularly those precious silent ones, it was surprising to see that one of the stars was named Kathryn Boyd (1897-1965). My mother and one of my daughters had the same name, though sometimes altering the first part. A quick review of my family tree and the actress did not appear, not that I expected she would. Nonetheless, since I had never heard of her, I began researching her career beyond “The Flying Ace” (1926) the film she was featured in that caught my attention.

In the film Boyd portrays Ruth Sawtelle, the love interest of two pilots, co-starring with Lawrence Criner, with Harold Platts, Boise De Legge, and George Colvin in supporting roles. The film was a Richard E. Norman production, in which he wrote the screenplay and was the director. Sawtelle’s character was allegedly based on Bessie Coleman, the pioneering aviatrix, the first African American to earn an international pilot’s license.

What few feats she performs in the film were all shot on the ground, as were the other air segments.

The plot revolves around Captain Billy Stokes (Criner), the ace pilot who shot down seven enemy planes in France during World War I, and his return home to resume his job as a railroad detective. Finley Tucker (Platts) is the other pilot interested in marrying Sawtelle and proposes to her after a dizzying flight in his plane. She rejects him.

Meanwhile, Stokes is hot on the trail of the man who has gone missing with the $25,000 company payroll.

He suspects Finley is the culprit and this is confirmed once he finds the man he was pursuing did not have the money.

Alarmed and alerted, Finley grabs a drugged Sawtelle and flies off with her in his plane with Stokes in hot pursuit. When Finley’s plane catches on fire, Stokes flies overhead and drops a rope ladder to Sawtelle who climbs into his plane. Finley is unable to put out the fire and parachutes to safety, only to be arrested when he lands. The film ends with Stokes finally making his feelings known to Sawtelle.

Not much information is avail-

able on Boyd, other than she was born Sept. 13, 1897, in San Antonio, Texas. She apparently was working behind the scenes as a stage manager for her husband’s variety shows when her son died of diphtheria in 1925. Hoping to quell her misery and at the same time increasing her desire to be an actress, she soon joined Criner in the Norman acting company. She was a leading actor in “Deceit” (1923) and “Black Gold” (1928). In “Black Gold,” about the discovery of oil in an all-Black town in Oklahoma, Boyd is once again cast with Criner, whose character is Ace Brand, perhaps a reference to his previous role. One-legged Peg Reynolds, who also had a supporting role in “The Flying Ace,” is joined with them again.

Interestingly, the Norman Studio complex, where a number of the Black films, or “race films” as they were often called, still stands in Jacksonville, Florida and “The Flying Ace,” which is the known existing film from the studio, and is now considered a national treasure and in 2021 was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Boyd was married to Abraham Roach, Dr. Milton Cloud, and Irvin C. Miller, the father of her deceased son. In the picture below, Criner consoles Boyd and expresses his love for her.

ACTIVITIES FIND OUT MORE If there’s more to her life, it’s beyond the purview of this columnist, though if any reader can help, I would be exceedingly grateful.

DISCUSSION As such details come to my attention I will find a way to present them in future profiles, and I am particularly interested in Mr. Norman.

PLACE IN CONTEXT When the Black silent films were just beginning to break through, Boyd was there but unfortunately only made three films, and only one remains to be seen.

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY Aug. 1, 1960: Rapper and activist Chuck D of Public Enemy was born in Roosevelt, Long Island.

Aug. 2, 1924: Famous author James Baldwin was born in Harlem. He died in 1987.

Aug. 3, 1963: Actor Isaiah Washington was born in Houston.

26 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Gaps in New York State Constitution protected classes exposed by abortion rights bill

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

to the aforementioned categories.

“In a moment of widespread polarization, New York is working to enshrine into our very Constitution that no matter who you love, where you come from, or how you choose to express yourself, you are welcome here and we will protect you,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul in a statement last month.

And while the proposed bill comes directly on the heels of Roe v. Wade’s overturn, Kelli Owens, executive director of NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, says the definition of bodily autonomy is broader than just reproductive rights.

“[It] could mean rights for the transgender community, it certainly means something for the domestic violence community,” said Owens. “It means that you have the right to your own autonomy—the way you want to protect yourself and how you want to live your life. A really important piece of this amendment that you don’t see in other similar amendments across the country [is] a lot of it is very focused on gender, but this is very inclusive around gender expression, and gender identity and autonomy.”

Additionally, she says reproductive rights play a large role in

domestic violence. According to Owens, a quarter of cases involve reproductive coercion and onesixth of women victims say they were pregnant during the abuse.

The Equality Rights Amendment will need to pass another, consecutive legislative session before voters can find it on a ballot. Until then, Owens hopes folks stay informed.

“This process is put in place to make sure that when we amend our constitution, we’re amending it with the broadest possible support from the legislature, but also the public,” she said. “[I think] it’s gonna take a long time to educate the public on what this equality

amendment means so that when it gets to the ballot, people are ready to vote for it.”

The New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline is available 24/7, toll-free and can be reached at 800-942-6906 (phone) and 844-997-2121 (text).

ders and shootings are down.

“In our line of business, when Continued from page 3 we see less gun violence, and more stabbings, that shows But is New York City less safe? us that there’s a trend that’s According to the NYPD, crime going downward,” said Andre is up in almost every catego- T. Mitchell, co-chair of Mayor ry, with significant increases in Eric Adams’ gun violence task robberies and burglaries com- force. “Hopefully, it will go from pared to the past year. But mur- stabbings, down to fighting

and down to arguments, which is really where they begin…so really right now, stabbings are up, which is actually a good sign in the world of gun violence prevention and reduction. Because that’s what we call harm reduction.”

The incoming class of NYPD officers now inherit all of these

ongoing concerns. But Eric Adams believes they offer key ingredients to the city’s success.

“If I can borrow from the owner of the Snapple soft drink, we are who we are because we’re made up of the best stuff on earth,” Adams said at the academy graduation. “We are New Yorkers, and we are the NYPD.”

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visiting: https://tinyurl. com/fcszwj8w

As New York lawmakers move to shield abortion access, a proposed bill aimed at maintaining reproductive rights highlights the absence of protections from governmental discrimination based on ethnicity/national origin, age, gender/gender identity, disability and sexuality in the state’s constitution. The Equality Rights Amendment, which passed its first legislative session earlier this summer, would expand protected classes from just race and religion

Detectives

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

Working together to make healthy choices. aging.ny.gov/snap-ed

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Lopez Continued from page 3

to the public and their names torn apart by “everyone and anyone.” Wrongfully convicted for Meili’s rape, the five were exonerated in 2002 after DNA testing and a confession from the actual attacker, Matias Reyes. Over a decade later, exMayor Bill De Blasio settled with the exonerated men.

Lopez is currently not in contact with Salaam, or the other members of the Exonerated Five. Following last Monday’s news, his lawyer Eric S. Renfroe maintained the 48-yearold wanted his privacy. One of the Exonerated Five’s biggest proponents, the Rev. Calvin O. Butts of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, commended Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for “sure, solid and consistent work” in his role of vacating Lopez’s conviction. And the DA himself notches the first exoneration for his new PostConviction Justice Unit.

To be clear, exonerations aren’t always about prison release. Like Lopez, Salaam fin-

ished his sentence—someone else’s sentence—before his conviction was vacated. But he says he was resigned to living in the margins before his 2002 exoneration. Today, he’s a successful author and motivational speaker. And most importantly, Salaam got his name back. Now, Lopez does, too.

“When you think about the Central Park Jogger case, you’re now talking about six individuals,” said Salaam. “We have the Exonerated Five and now we’re also talking about Steven Lopez, and there are so many others. So it’s not just seven—it’s actually more than that. I want them to be able to get their day in court, for their names to be also restored. Because it’s a beautiful thing for you to be able to say, ‘I told you, I didn’t do it, I told you, I wasn’t a part of that.’”

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visiting: https://tinyurl. com/fcszwj8w

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 27

Flatbush Continued from page 3

non-English speakers, Flatbush Central has arranged for a native Kreyol speaker to facilitate a customized business curriculum to help vendors grow and thrive,” said a spokesperson in a statement.

The spokesperson said that the market offers its vendors ongoing training in marketing, pricing, merchandising, inventory management.

The market offers direct assistance with brand strategy development, financial projections and pricing, signage, and external retail wholesale partnerships. Flatbush Central has ensured “affordable rent” for the vendors, said the spokesperson.

To address concerns about vendors’ access to capital, market operators conducted a survey of vendors’ needs and put in place a $25,000 peer-to-peer interest-free loan fund, said the spokesperson.

“The market has additionally worked to garner awareness and support from and within the community as seen through Flatbush Central’s grand opening festivities inclusive of two days of programming and activations in tandem with 27 commu-

( Ariama C. Long photos)

nity partners and attended by news media, elected and appointed officials, and community stakeholders,’’ said the spokesperson. ​​ As it pertains to the corner bar, said the spokesperson, Flatbush Central is currently in the process of hiring highly experienced bar operators for the front of the market.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about culture and politics in New York City for The Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

FIN AL W E E KS !

AROUND THE TABLE: STORIES OF THE FOODS WE LOVE

On View Now–Sept 11 An Exhibition Celebrating the Art and Science of Edible Plants

28 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Education Chancellor Banks tours Summer Rising program at PS 161

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Schools Chancellor David Banks dropped in on a Summer Rising site at Public School 161 Pedro Albizu Campos in West Harlem last Wednesday, July 27.

The program onsite was run by local nonprofit Harlem Commonwealth Council.

The Summer Rising initiative is a partnership between the Department of Education (DOE), New York City Public Schools, the Division for Youth and Community Development and hundreds of communitybased organizations that are educating about 110,000 young people this summer. Adams had worked to expand the Summer Rising program this year, after its launch under former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2021.

PS 161 School Principal Jasmine Caceres, as well as other officials, joined the tour. Banks, funnily enough, lives about three blocks away from the school and has driven by it many times, he said.

“It’s a wonderful community to live in Harlem, the village of Harlem, particularly for folks of color and Black folks, has had tremendous cultural significance,” said Banks, who grew up in Brooklyn. “So I’m happy to be here every single day.”

Banks sat with students in various classes as they did handson learning activities in arts and biology. He toured the summer school’s English and creative writing places classroom and spoke with kids on each subject. Most of the younger students were delighted in having company or painfully shy. Other students in older grades proudly showed off their work and skills to Banks and visitors.

“I think Summer Rising is a critically important program for our New York City students,” said Banks after the tour. “They’re learning, they’re having fun so they’re not just home watching TV and having idle times. So I’m really excited about it. This was

a wonderful visit. The kids are being taken care of and that’s our first job.”

The school had a fun “CBO Carnival Space” set up to host hand-made games and activities for students daily as well as provide freshly made snacks.

Councilmember Rita Joseph, who chairs the education committee, attended the walkthrough with Banks. She said they often do these sort of drop-ins to spot check the Summer Rising programs and see if there are any problems to adjust. She said they call the DOE immediately to get fixes. “Whether it’s transportation, not enough paras, student mandates,” said Joseph.

The upcoming school year will be Banks’ first full year as chancellor. He said that he was “looking forward to it” with hope and optimism.

Though the Summer Rising program is heralded for keeping kids engaged year-round, it’s not technically funded in the budget past this year and is a federal stimulus initiative.

“It’s not baselined,” said Banks, “but we’re going to work together with the city council and do everything we can to try to figure out how we get the funding from the state, from the feds that will continue this really, really important work. Right now we’ve had the great benefit of the stimulus funding. At some point that’s going to run out.”

Banks did not address the current litigation a group of parents and teachers have filed against him and the DOE over cuts to next year’s schools budgets at the walkthrough.

Last week, a judge denied the city’s attempt to get the lawsuit dismissed. The judge ruled in favor of parents and teachers.

“We will take every step possible to make sure this litigation poses no disruption to students and families and that there is a smooth opening of our schools in September,” said the DOE in a statement after the dismissal.

“This includes making sure the DOE school-based budgeting

system remains fully available. As such, the Galaxy application will be available [Saturday] morning to ensure critical school operations proceed in accordance with the court’s direction.”

The public hearing over the

budget cuts lawsuit will resume sterdam News. Your donation to on Thursday, Aug. 4. match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; Ariama C. Long is a Report please consider making a tax-defor America corps member and ductible gift of any amount today writes about culture and poli- by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/ tics in New York City for The Am- fcszwj8w

NYC Chancellor David Banks tours Summer Rising program at PS 161 in Harlem. (Photos by Ariama C. Long)

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Freeing Mutulu Continued from page 4

Mutulu Shakur (Free Mutulu Campaign photo)

in the [Free Mutulu] campaign is that there are a lot of folks who have a ‘Mutulu healed me’ story,” said Jomo Muhammad of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement.

“They range from folks who actually knew him before he was incarcerated to…those young men who served time with Mutulu [who] bear witness to the transformation that he brought in their lives…many of

them have left prison and now are leading full and holistic lives and they give most if not all the credit to Mutulu.”

Shakur was convicted for leading the deadly robbery of a Brink’s Company armored car in 1981. He’s been in jail for 36 years and sentenced to 60 but was set to be released in 2016 under mandatory parole laws for “old law prisoners” with crimes

predating 1987. Six years later, he remains in prison, denied parole nine times and diagnosed with terminal bone marrow cancer.

“At this point, he's extremely weak,” said his lawyer Brad Thomson. “He’s in and out of very strong bouts of pain. I have gotten a chance to both speak to him on the phone and to visit him in recent months and his ability to engage in the conversation is very restricted based on his condition.”

According to Thomson, Shakur tested positive for COVID-19 three times, getting severely ill with the virus twice. Currently, he’s staying in a federal medical center, where he receives additional care from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. For treatment, Shakur regularly goes in-and-out of prison while shackled by multiple guards, often with an electro-shock stun belt attached to him for security purposes. Additionally, his constraints prevent him from practicing his own healing methods, including stretches, herbs, vitamins and healthier foods.

There are a trio of legal avenues that could potentially free Shakur. According to Thomson, he hasn’t received full credit from the Bureau of Prisons, which could also recommend a compassionate release or home confinement. Then, there’s the aforementioned mandatory parole from the U.S. Parole Commission, which grants release to “old law prisoners” following two-thirds of their sentence unless they’re likely to reoffend. Shakur’s lawyers are appealing the 2016 parole denial. And

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 29

lastly, through the courts, he could receive a compassionate release from the same judge who heard the initial case—91-yearold Charles Haight Jr. Shakur’s legal team is exploring all three routes. Unfortunately, time is not a luxury.

“It’s a general idea that courts and administrative processes tend to move slowly,” said Thomson. “There is an issue here where there’s various agencies within the U.S. government, and specifically within the Department of Justice, that are taking conflicting positions or passing the buck and redirecting us to who may claim as the appropriate entity to provide this type of release.”

Muhammad calls it a “death sentence by bureacracy.” To the activist, freeing Shakur helps restore trust in the same institutions he spent his life fighting. Specifically, he hopes Black politicians and lawmakers step up.

“Show us that this country works,” said Muhammad. “You’re running around calling for [defunding] the police and saying Black Lives Matter. Yes, this Black life matters. He has served his time. And according to the rules of this country, which he was convicted under, he should be free.”

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

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30 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Health Pulse oximeters and the fight for racial equity

A pulse oximeter in use (Credit: Adoscam)

By HEATHER M. BUTTS, JD, MPH, MA Special to the AmNews Pulse oximeters are a critical healthcare tool that in a time of need can mean the difference between life and death for someone who is sick. At the start of the pandemic, between March and June of 2020, the sale of pulse oximeters for home use increased by 500%.

While pulse oximeters are an undeniably powerful medical tool, researchers and advocates have raised concerns about the limits of their effectiveness for some people of color.

A pulse oximeter is a device that measures your blood oxygen level. Blood oxygen information is crucial to life, and is often used by healthcare providers to provide better care for their patients. Home use is also sometimes warranted for certain individuals. According to Nihon Koheden, the company which first patented the device, “It can be fatal if there is not enough oxygen in the blood. Blood sampling does not always provide accurate, real-time information about the patient’s condition, which changes over time,

but using a pulse oximeter does not hurt the patient and allows the surgeon to understand, in real time, how much oxygen the patient has in their bloodstream.” Like many medical devices, the pulse oximeter wasn’t created with Black people in mind and the effectiveness of pulse oximeters for people of color is not as high as it is for people with lighter skin.

Dr. Eric Gottlieb, a lecturer at MIT and a physician at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts who coauthored a study a recent study, when Hewlett Packard developed its pulse oximeter in the 1970s, said the company was aware of issues regarding accurate readings for non-white individuals and “put a lot of effort into trying to solve it, making these devices more equitable.”

However, over time, issues around equity and accuracy of pulse oximeters remained. According to Gottlieb, pulse oximeters “are very, very important and I wouldn’t say that they should be removed from practice, but the question of equity until the last couple of years sort of fell off the radar screen and then there was a renewed interest and

then of course even more interest with COVID both in terms of their accuracy and how they should be used.”

This assessment is shared by author Amy Moran-Thomas, an associate professor of anthropology at MIT. Studies over the intervening decades continue to show issues with oximeters and skin tone, but the COVID pandemic brought the issue back into sharp focus.

Gottlieb said that when a patient’s pulse oximeter readings are higher, “we assume [patients are] oxygenating a little bit better so our treatment of oxygenation will probably be less intensive.” This, according to Gottlieb, can lead to “disparities in treatment.”

As for solutions and next steps, there is research currently being conducted to improve readings for people with darker skin tones. Rutendo Jakachira, a second-year Ph.D. student at Brown University in the Department of Physics, in partnership with Brown University Professor of Engineering Kimani C. Toussaint, is conducting research to create a non-invasive method of obtaining accurate blood oxygen readings from people with darker skin.

If you already have a pulse oximeter at home, it is vital that you take readings (and write them down) when you are healthy and not feeling sick. This will provide you with an important baseline to understand the readings you take when you are feeling ill.

Pulse oximeters can be helpful but, according to the FDA, the limits of the devices mean that you should take immediate action if you see: •Bluish coloring in the face, lips, or nails; •Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or a cough that gets worse; •Restlessness and discomfort; •Chest pain or tightness; and •Fast or racing pulse rate.

When using a pulse oximeter it is essential to write down the measurements, dates and times so you and your doctor can easily track your oxygen level. If you see your oxygen level going down over time, and much lower than previous readings you took when you were not feeling sick, and/or your symptoms increase or worsen, you should contact your doctor or visit an emergency room as soon as possible.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Emergency shelter

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 31

Mayor Eric Adams provides an update on the situation regarding asylum seekers coming to New York City.

City Hall. Thursday, July 21, 2022 (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

Continued from page 4

the administration will provide quality shelter to anyone experiencing homelessness and appropriate services to asylum seekers, regardless of an “overburdened” shelter system.

On July 21, in a presser, Adams said that the current shelter system is incredibly burdened as an explanation as to why the administration narrowly failed, about two weeks ago, to house four families under the time limit by state law.

He said that the families weren’t placed in time, but they were found housing within 24 hours.

Adams bristled at “insinuations” of asylum seekers sleeping on the floor for days waiting for shelter, going hungry, or any inhumane treatment.

He also said it was wrong for bordering states to turn people away that needed refuge in the first place.

Adams issued an emergency procurement declaration to “rapidly procure additional shelter and services to serve these individuals and families.”

In the declaration, the Department of Homeless Services said that the “expected census and shelter capacity” will not be able to help the asylum-seeking population that has

arrived in the past few months because it was “not anticipated when determining capacity needs.” Additionally, asylum seekers need specialized services, like lawyers and advocates in their cases, that are not available or appropriate within the current shelter system.

Because of the asylum-seeking population, the city will be opening standalone facilities run by nonprofit providers during the continued housing crisis. “We are working across city agencies and with not-for-profit partners to ensure these individuals have access to a range of services, including legal support, health care, and education,” said Adams.

Comptroller Brad Lander added in a statement that his office would work closely with the Adams administration to appropriately expedite contracts for families urgently seeking asylum.

“We can no longer wait—and this declaration will allow the city to procure sorely needed additional resources as quickly as possible,” said Adams. “We are deeply committed to providing shelter and support to everyone who needs it, and we cannot do this work alone. We will

continue to work with federal and state partners to procure additional financial resources immediately.”

On July 28, Speaker Adrienne Adams and Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala scheduled a hybrid hearing for Tuesday, Aug. 9, to discuss long-term issues in the city’s shelter system and the influx of asylum seekers.

“New York City is in the midst of a housing crisis that is exacerbating homelessness and must be confronted with expanded access to affordable housing. We also know

that the shelter system has suffered from long standing issues that are unacceptable and must be addressed,” said Speaker Adams and Ayala in a joint statement.

The City has a responsibility to ensure adequate conditions in the shelter system for all residents, they said.

“The Council will hold a critical oversight hearing to examine how the mayor’s administration is handling these issues to uncover the real challenges and identify solutions. It is crucial for us to be clear about the

steps needed to ensure access to safe temporary shelter and a pathway to permanent affordable housing for people in our city,” they said.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about culture and politics in New York City for The Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w

32 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

New Labor Continued from page 10

As much as big business wants to suppress the truth, the secret is out—unions raise incomes, improve benefits, create job security, and reduce racial and gender disparities.

Union members are paid, on average, 11.2% more than non-union fellow workers on the same job.

32 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 Ninety-six percent of union members enjoy health insurance paid for by their employer—only 69% of

JUMP

Continued from page 3

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS non-union shops have the same. 23.8% more, respectively, overMore union members have paid all than their non-union countersick leave (93%) than workers at parts. The stability these good jobs non-union shops (75%) and they are and benefits provide are reflected in vastly more likely to enjoy a defined stable families and communities. retirement benefit (79% to 17%).

Unions benefit all working Union membership is the great people, not just union members. equalizer when it comes to racial, Unions, for example, were instrugender and social justice. Union mental in the recent recognition membership guarantees that of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. people working the same job re- The labor movement has played a ceive commensurate compensa- pivotal role throughout our histotion regardless race, gender or ry,NEWS from the Civil Rights Movement, THEof NEW YORK AMSTERDAM sexual orientation. establishing the 40-hour work week It’s why Black, Latino and female and the notion of the weekend, and workers make 26%, 39.2% and abolishing child labor.

for House staff, we join 85 congressional workers in taking the next step in our organizing drive by filing for a Continued from page 10 union election in 8 offices in the U.S. House of Representatives.” effect,” the CWU said in a celebratory Contacting staff who want to join statement. “After several months of or- the CWU is proceeding with caution 2 • May 26, 2022 - June 1, 2022 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS ganizing to establish these protections so that no Capitol Hill staff members

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ers as they continue the struggle to win dignity and rights for all people. I’m thrilled to see new rankand-file leaders breathing new life into our labor movement, and you should be too—simply because we are stronger when we unite for our common good.

Cortez (New York), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), Jesús “Chuy” García (Illinois), Ro Khanna (California), Andy Levin (D-Michigan), Ted Lieu (California), and Melanie Stansbury (New Mexico) have all agreed to hold elections to decide whether or not to unionize.

In Albany, NewYork State Senate employees have come together to form the New York State Legislative Workers United (NYSLWU).

In announcing their unionizing plans, they sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: “We are the newly formed New York Legislative Workers United, a collection of staffers in a range of positions representing senate offices across the state. … [W]e write to you today to share our intention to present our union for voluntary recognition, and put our (904)442-3810 Dawnmcdermott32218@yahoo.com trust that your long history of fighting for the working people of New York will guide your decision making PARTYMUZIC.COM as we take our organizing efforts public.”

WE’VE GOT WHAT YOU NEED Now that they have FROM ALL MUSIC TO VINTAGE CLOTHING, AROMATHERAPY & MORE. announced their forWE SELL 80 MINUTE mation, the orgaCONTINUOUS-PLAY PARTY MUSIC. nizers are trying to (ALL GENRES) collect union cards STOP BY THE SHOP, from a majority of OR VISIT US ONLINE the 700 staff employees and then will try WE ARE NOT JUST A RECORD STORE, to become a barWE ARE YOUR MUZIC BOUTIQUE gaining unit. They so STOP IN AND ASK FOR TYRONE far plan to ask Stewart-Cousins to vol438 MARCUS GARVEY BLVD untarily recognize BROOKLYN, NY 11213 the union and begin (646) 406.9102 negotiating a contract—rather than WWW.PARTYMUZIC.COM force the union to go through the lengthy

process of a secret ballot election.

The unionization of New York State Senate employees is in one part a response to the yearly New York State budget negotiations which traditionally become all-night negotiation sessions. Legislative staff are essential to these late-night sessions, but only receive the promise of comp time— which they rarely get to use—instead of extra income payments.

In New York City, the City Council staff won recognition for their union last Aug. 13 following a 21-month campaign. Now recognized as the Association of Legislative Employees (ALE), they are the nation’s largest legislative staff union and are currently bargaining for a contract.

Dan Kroop, president of ALE, told the AmNews his union is focused on bringing the labor movement into the social movement and the social movement into the labor movement: “When the Dobbs decision came out, ALE was one of the only unions in New York City to co-sponsor the massive, almost 30,000-person strong rally that went from Washington Square Park to Bryant Park, shutting down most of the city, to say that we defend reproductive justice for every single person who can get pregnant and that we refuse to go back. It’s the same for same-sex marriage, and every issue that touches our membership,” Kroop insists. “We can’t stand idly by and think that they’re ancillary.

“It’s important to tap into the best traditions of the CIO [Congress of Industrial Organizations], of the Civil Rights Movement, of Black Lives Matter, of the Women’s Movement, of the Anti-War Movement and to bring those pieces into our labor movement. It’s only when we act in solidarity and defend all of our members, not just where the workplace ends but outside of the workplace too, that we can make transformational change and truly defend our members.”

The ALE constitution contains explicit provisions to promote equity throughout the union’s governance, operations, and program strategy and

face the retaliations of being fired or blacklisted. The CWU is organizing staff in the offices of eight congressional representatives—all Democrats, all members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Staff members in the offices of Representatives Cori Bush (Missouri), Alexandria Ocasio-

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By this time next month, I hope to report a major victory for 400 registered nurses in New Jersey who are currently organizing to become the newest members of my union, 1199SEIU, in what would be the biggest healthcare organizing win in that state since the pandemic.

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George Gresham is president of 1199SEIU, the nation’s largest healthcare union representing 450,000 members in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida, and the District of Columbia.

CLASSIF

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 33

CLASSIFIED ADS 100 PUBLIC NOTICES

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Rates and regulations subject to change without notice. No agreements as to position or regulations, other than those printed on this.

Til forbid orders charged for rate earned. Increases or decreases in space take the rate of a new advertisement.

The New York AMSTERDAM NEWS reserves the right to censor, reject, alter or revise all advertisements in accordance with its rules governing the acceptance of advertising and accepts no liability for its failure to insert an advertisement for any cause. Credit for errors in advertisements allowed only for first insertion.

CLASSIFIED • Classified advertisements take the regular earned rate of their classification. Four line minimum on all ads except spirituals and horoscopes (14 lines).

CLASSIFIED DISPLAY • Classified Display (boarder or picture) advertisements take the regular earned rate of their classification. Display (boarder or picture) advertisements one column wide must be 14 lines deep; two columns, 28 lines deep; 3 columns, 56 lines deep. Classified Display (boarder or picture) placed as close to classifications as rules and makeup permit.

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101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs -against- HJ OWNERS, LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein on March 21, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located on the portico at 60 Centre Street, New York on September 7, 2022 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City and County of New York, State of New York, and designated as Block 0723 Lot 1064 on the New York County Tax Assessment Map and being further known on such tax roles as 263 9th Avenue, Storage Unit 14, New York, NY 10004.

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times.

Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.

Said premises known as 263 9TH AVENUE, STORAGE UNIT 14, NEW YORK, NY Approximate amount of lien $4,411.66 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 158905/2020.

GEORGIA PAPAZIS, ESQ., Referee Phillips Lytle LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs 28 East Main Street, Suite 1400, Rochester, NY 14614 SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. SIDDIQ MAHMOOD MALIK, Deft.- Index #850290/2017. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 11, 2022, I will sell at public auction Outside the Portico of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Wed., September 7, 2022, at 2:15 pm, a 6,000/16,783,800 tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase 1 of HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, in the County of NY, State of NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $32,841.45 plus costs and interest as of April 30, 2018. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Mark McKew, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY. Notice of formation of Audacity Enterprises, LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/22/2022.

Office location: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 99 Wall Street, Ste. 1818, New York, NY 10005. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of DF FUND 5, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/27/22. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/10/22. Princ. office of LLC: 152 W. 57th St., 26th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, State of DE, Dept. of State, Townsend Bldg., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

FrenchCocco LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Sec'y of State (SSNY) on 06/21/22. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC for process & shall mail copy to: 35 W 90th St, 5K, NY, NY 10024. Purpose: Any lawful.

Notice of Qualification of EM REVIVAL FUND GP, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/16/22. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/07/22.

Princ. office of LLC: 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Ste. 1610, NY, NY 10020. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of DE, Dept. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Investments.

Notice of Qualification of EVERGREEN RESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/21/22. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/11/21.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

101 LEGAL NOTICES Notice of Formation of FIRECOM NY MERGER SUB 4 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/21/22. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543, regd. agent upon whom and at which process may be served. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of FIRECOM NY MERGER SUB 6 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/21/22. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543, regd. agent upon whom and at which process may be served. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of GCK ART LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/13/22. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of ModernFi Advisers LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/21/22. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/14/22.

Princ. office of LLC: 135 W 50th St., 2nd Fl., Ste. 200, NY, NY 10020. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543.

DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of State of DE, Div. of Corps., Office of the Secy., 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice is hereby given that a license, serial # 1348724 for beer & wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer & wine at retail in a restaurant under the ABC Law at 637 2nd Ave., NYC 10016 for on-premises consumption; Roongruangsarp Inc. Notice is hereby given that a license, serial # 1349309 for beer, wine & liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine & liquor at retail in a restaurant/bar under the ABC Law at 23 Park Pl., NYC 10007 for on-premises consumption; Brickyard Craft Kitchen and Bar Inc.

101 LEGAL NOTICES Notice is hereby given that a On-Premises Liquor License for beer, wine and liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and liquor at retail rates for on-premises consumption at the 3DDDD Inc. located at 421 West 202nd Street, New York, NY 10034 under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. TABOGA ROOM and 3DDDD Inc. Notice is hereby given that a On-Premises Liquor License for beer, wine and liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and liquor at retail rates for on-premises consumption at the P.F. Changs China Bistro located at 113 University Place, New York, NY 10013 under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. P.F. Changs China Bistro Inc. Notice of formation of 130 WEST 131st STREET., LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Sec'y of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/26/2022. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy to: 130 W. 131st St., Ste. 1, NY, NY 10027. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Akselrod Investigations, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/27/22. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The P.O. address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon is: 226 E 74th St. #5D New York, NY 10021. The principal business address of the LLC is: 226 E 74th St. #5D New York, NY. 10021.

Purpose: any lawful act or activity NOTICE OF FORMATION of Alicia Young-Collins LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/21/22. Location: Manhattan. SSNY designated as agent for service of process on LLC. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: 2103 8th Ave, Apt 5A, NY, NY 10026.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of EXCEED TALENT CAPITAL LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/13/22. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

101 LEGAL NOTICES Notice of formation of BLOCKSURGE LAB LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/5/22. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served. The address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is: Song Law Firm, LLC., 400 Kelby St., Suite 1900, Fort Lee, NJ 07024. Purpose: to engage in any lawful act or activity within the purposes for which limited liability companies may be organized pursuant to Limited Liability Company Law provided that the limited liability company is not formed to engage in any act or activity requiring the consent or approval of any state official, department, board, agency, or other body without such consent or approval first being obtained.

Notice of formation of ENGAGE CONSULTING SERVICES LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/14/22. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served. The address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is: Chialing Yang, 243 W. 21st St., Apt 4D, New York, NY 10011. Purpose: to engage in any lawful act or activity within the purposes for which limited liability companies may be organized pursuant to Limited Liability Company Law provided that the limited liability company is not formed to engage in any act or activity requiring the consent or approval of any state official, department, board, agency, or other body without such consent or approval first being obtained.

NOTICE OF FORMATION of NYCNCC SUB-CDE 16, LLC (the “LLC”) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (“SSNY”) on 05/16/2022. Office location: New York County. The principal business address of the LLC is: One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York 10006.

SSNY has been designated as the agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail service of process to c/o New York City Economic Development Corporation, One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York 10006, Attention: General Counsel. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of SE LUXE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/18/22. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 315 E. 5th St., #3B, New York, NY 10003.

Purpose: any lawful act.

Acct #: 655

34 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK INDEX # 103164/2008 FILED 6/10/2022 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 158 West 130th Street, New York, NY 10027. Tax Map ID: 1914-55. U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF BANC OF AMERICA FUNDING CORPORATION, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-6, Plaintiff, GREGORY STEPHENSON AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF DEBORAH A. STEPHENSON, VINCENT STEPHENSON AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF DEBORAH A. STEPHENSON; DWIGHT STEPHENSON, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF DEBORAH A. STEPHENSON "JOHN DOE" AND "JANE DOE" 1 THROUGH 50, INTENDING TO BE THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, DISTRIBUTEES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, TRUSTEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AND ASSIGNEES OF THE ESTATE OF DEBORAH A. STEPHENSON, WHO WAS BORN IN 1964 AND DIED ON MARCH 25, 2011, A RESIDENT OF NEW YORK COUNTY, WHOSE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS WAS 605 WEST 147 STREET NY, NY 10031, THEIR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST IF ANY OF THE AFORESAID DEFENDANTS BE DECEASED, THEIR RESPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE AFORESAID CLASSES OF PERSON, IF THEY OR ANY OF THEM BE DEAD, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE HUSBANDS, WIVES OR WIDOWS, IF ANY, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES ARE UNKNOWN TO THE PLAINTIFF Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc, Greenpoint Mortgage Funding, Inc, NYC Parking Violations Bureau, AMERICAN EXPRESS CENTURION BANK, NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, Defendants. To the above-named defendants: ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff's attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State.

The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. Jn case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NEW YORK County is designated as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the location of the premised encumbered by the mortgage to be foreclosed herein. NOTICE: YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose home.. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case Is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC, Attorneys for Plaintiff, 145 Huguenot Street, Suite 210, New Rochelle, NY 10801. 914-636-8900. 914-636-8901 facsimile. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE New York State requires that we send you this notice about the foreclosure process. Please read it carefully. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT. You are in danger of losing your home. If you fail to respond to the Summons and Complaint in this foreclosure action, you may lose your home. Please read the Summons and Complaint carefully. You should immediately contact an attorney or your local legal aid office to obtain advice on how to protect yourself. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies, and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by New York State Department of Financial Services at 1-877-BANK-NYS (1-877-226-5697) or visit the Departments website at WWW.BANKING.STATE.NY.US. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS TIME. You have the right to stay in your home during the foreclosure process. You are not required to leave your home unless and until your property is sold at auction pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale. Regardless of whether you choose to remain in your home, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY and pay your taxes in accordance with state and local law. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to save your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowners distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services.

File# 19-300697

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

101 LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF FORMATION of NYCNCC SUB-CDE 17, LLC (the “LLC”) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (“SSNY”) on 05/16/2022. Office location: New York County. The principal business address of the LLC is: One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York 10006.

SSNY has been designated as the agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail service of process to c/o New York City Economic Development Corporation, One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York 10006, Attention: General Counsel. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Social Skills in Motion LCSW PLLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/22/2021. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 25 Vermilyea Ave, Apt #46, New York, NY 10034.

Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of formation of Stacked Software, LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/1/2021. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 3 Hanover Sq, New York, NY 10004. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of SKYDECK CAPITAL LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/10/22. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 05/26/22.

Princ. office of LLC: 1 Soldiers Field Park, Apt. 313, Boston, MA 02163. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

its membership, it is racially and ethnically diverse. Estimates from the Continued from page 32 survey found that ALE is 40% white; 27% Hispanic/Latinx; 24% Asian; 16% organizers are also proud that, based Black/African American; 4% two or on a voluntary demographic survey of more races; and 1% American Indian/

Alaska Native.

Kroop added that ALE is supporting the NYSLWU’s efforts to unionize. “Legislative workers, regardless of what body you’re working in—what chamber you’re working in—our situ-

ations are very similar. And that, honestly, is part of the reason why ALE chose to organize independently in 2019 when our card campaign began.

We have so many unique circumstances working for politicians…in

terms of the schedules, in terms of the sense of urgency to do certain things immediately. And, so, we wanted to build a worker-led, independent union that really put democracy and equity up front.”

will face, reportedly, the largest rent hike in years—3.25% increases on oneyear leases and 5% increases on twoyear leases. [https://www.nytimes. com/2022/06/24/realestate/rent-hikenyc.html#:~:text=New%20Yorkers%20 who%20live%20in,increase%20in%20 nearly%20a%20decade] The 2022 Home Affordability Report by ATTOM states that New York (Manhattan) is one of the top two U.S. counties with the highest income needed to buy a house; an annual income of $329,747 is required to buy a “typical” home—well out of reach of working class families. [https://www.attomdata.com/news/ market-trends/home-sales-prices/attom-q1-2022-u-s-home-affordabilityreport/] High housing prices, coupled with recent increases in mortgage interest rates, have placed home-buying out of reach for even more Americans—and have made rentals even more competitive and critical.

In Frank Capra’s holiday classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” viewers are introduced to antagonist Henry Potter, a curmudgeonly rich banker who rents poorly maintained prop-

erties in an area called Potter’s Field, to working class citizens in the fictional town of Bedford Falls, New York at exorbitant prices.

It’s not lost on viewers that the name of the rental neighborhood owned by Potter is Potter’s Field. A potter’s field is the burial place of the unnamed, the unknown, or the indigent. And in the context of the film, Potter’s Field is indeed a burial place where the hopes and dreams of Bedford Falls’ workingclass residents have come to die. With high rents and low wages, renters’ opportunity to save enough money to get out of Potter’s Field and improve their lot seems impossible.

Too many of our cities have become potter’s fields of poor quality, exorbitantly priced rentals for working-class Americans, begging the question of our moral obligation to provide affordable, safe housing for our essential workers.

Safe, affordable housing for those who serve us all can be a public policy priority: minimum wage laws can take into account the higher costs of housing in our cities so that essential workers are not priced out of major

employment markets or permanently displaced from housing in those markets. We can convert now-empty spaces into supportive transitional housing alternatives for working persons who have already been displaced that allow them time, structure, counseling and most importantly, stable shelter to get back on their feet.

While Charlotte, N.C.’s Moore Place has become a model for supportive housing that can help persons access services and find stability, California’s Homekey project has become a model of an initiative that create thousands of affordable housing units from hotel properties that have been vacated by the fallout from COVID, in far less time than new construction would take.

Too, we must give attention to some of the many underlying causes for inequity and disparity in our communities. We can improve educational opportunities in our most underserved neighborhoods, to help equip workers to earn higher wages.

Partnerships and internship opportunities with local employers, and programs like the UpSmith program,

through which employers sponsor workers’ training, are advantageous to businesses and students alike, and can help ensure that employers have a solid pool of available workers from whom to draw. Pop-up food markets can bring fresh produce and other essential foods into food desserts— helping to ensure better health outcomes until such time as investment in adequate grocery stores can be accomplished in those neighborhoods.

We can restore hope to workers in our nation’s largest cities. Our major cities are made better and richer by all of our people being part of them.

When we work together to dismantle the potter’s fields in our own backyards, we give the hope of affordable housing to all.

Legislative

Inflation

Continued from page 12

al worker said.“This is so very stressful.”

What happens when janitorial, food service, delivery workers, nursing assistants, taxi and Uber drivers are unable to afford to live near our major cities?

What happens when a well-educated priest and teacher serving Harlem are unable to afford to live there?

Out of Reach 2022, compiled by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, reports that the average monthly fair market rent for a two-bedroom rental in New York is $1,962—which translates to full-time (40 hours per week) hourly market wage of $37.72. [https://nlihc.org/oor] Yet, recent ads for nursing assistants proffered hourly wages of less than $20; an ad for building maintenance workers proffered hourly wages of just over $20.These hourly wages are being proffered even as New York’s Rent Guidelines Board has just announced that, in October, more than 2.4 million NYC tenants in rent-stabilized apartments

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The Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells, a minister and advocate for social justice living in Memphis, Tennessee, a former attorney,and holds B.A.,J.D.,M.Div.and DMin. degrees. https://dorothysmusings.wordpress.com/. She can be reached at dswwrites@gmail.com

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 37

NYC point guard legends featured in new documentary

NYC legends such as God Shammgod are interviewed (Chad Gittens/SHOWTIME)

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews The style and impact of New York City’s legendary point guards are depicted in the Showtime Sports documentary film “NYC Point Gods.” The film includes archival footage of point guards such as Kenny Anderson, Mark Jackson, Stephon Marbury, God Shammgod, Kenny Smith, Rod Strickland and the late Dwayne “Pearl” Washington.

The film is directed by native New Yorker Sam Eliad, a basket-

ball lover, who grew up watching the point gods of the ’80s and ’90s. Combining vintage footage that spotlights the players in high school and college along with current interviews, it is a tribute to a style of play that defined an era of basketball as well as American culture.

“These guys were our superheroes,” said Eliad. “These players are the ‘Avengers’ of New York City basketball, and this film tells their origin stories. You might have heard of Kenny Anderson and Kenny Smith, but you don’t

know exactly where they come from, what they come from and their journey. One thing that was really important is to also set a lot of these on their high schools.

“Those teenage years are really what make you, and so we interviewed most of these people in their respective high schools,” he added. “Kenny Anderson gets really emotional because that’s the place he became a man. …

Each character was so gracious and so excited to talk and share their New York story.”

The film shows the special

The documentary highlights NYC ballers

characteristics of players from Harlem, the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. Eliad said he saw many of these players play in high school, and he chose to interview them at their schools so the locations felt grand. Jackson was interviewed at St. John’s University, joined for a few moments by the iconic Lou Carnesecca. After St. John’s, Jackson played for the Knicks, earning NBA Rookie of the Year while still living in his childhood home in Queens.

“It’s not easy to play in New York,” said Eliad. “New York fans,

we know so much about basketball that everyone has such a strong opinion.”

Respect is also given to standout female point guards: Shannon Bobbitt, Nancy Lieberman, Niki Avery and Niesha Butler.

“Niesha Butler broke Kenny Anderson’s record of the most points scored,” said Eliad. “That’s a big deal, male or female.”

The players interviewed agreed the influence of New York point guards on the game of basketball is undeniable. “We’re here to put on a show,” said Eliad.

The time for Saquon Barkley to prove he’s still elite is now

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor Leading up to the 2018 NFL Draft, Dave Gettleman, who at the time was the Giants’ general manager, referred to running back Saquon Barkley through an otherworldly prism. “He was touched by the hand of God, frankly,” said Gettleman.

“He’s a gold jacket guy,” the veteran football mind gushed, alluding to the ceremonial article of clothing awarded to Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees.

Many talent evaluators also saw Barkley, then coming off of a sensational junior season at Penn State, as a transcendent talent.

The Giants selected Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick in 2018, and in his first season he made Gettleman look like a gridiron prophet. He had the second most rushing yards in the league (1,307), the most scrimmage yards (2,028), 11 touch-

downs, tied Odell Beckham Jr. for the most catches (91) by a rookie in franchise history, set several more Giants and league records, and won Offensive Rookie of the Years honors.

After a strong sophomore campaign, in which he rushed for 1,003 yards and had 52 receptions in 13 games, he tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 2 of the 2020 season and returned last season to play 13 games but wasn’t the same dynamic game breaker the Giants had in his first two years. There were reports this past winter the Giants were considering trading Barkley, who is in the final year of his five-year rookie contract, after hiring new general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

There is uncertainty if Barkley will remain with the team beyond this season and if he can recapture his form as one of football’s best offensive players. Early in training camp he

has impressed Daboll, who is an NFL head coach for the first time after serving as the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator from 2018 through last season.

“He looks explosive,” said Daboll on Tuesday via the Giants website. “You know, he hit one yesterday and got out into the open field. I don’t know what his GPS numbers were, but it was high. He was moving pretty good.

He’s explosive. He’s quick. He’s strong. He looks good to me.”

Although it is a long established cliche, Barkley is taking the mental approach of one day at a time. “I know what I am capable of doing and I know the talent that I have,” said the 25-year-old Bronx-born product this past weekend.

“The way I look at life is if I take care of the little things and take it day by day, the rest will take care of itself and control what I can control. In the last couple of years, a lot of things have

been out of my control, specifically injuries, just some freak accidents…For me, I can’t look too far into the future, I can’t get caught up in, ‘Oh when I get back this is what I am going to do…’”

With many new pieces to the Giants’ offensive line, including tackle Evan Neal, the No. 7 overall selection out of Alabama in April’s draft, Barkley will have to operate early in the season behind a group still gelling. But

by Week 1, when the Giants open up against the Titans in Tennessee on Sept. 11, he will be two years removed from his ACL injury and perhaps primed to reclaim a spot among the sport’s top backs.

Saquon Barkley is entering the final year of his contract with the Giants with his future with the team uncertain (Bill Moore photo)

38 • August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

Liberty score huge win at Unity Day game Guard Crystal Dangerfield is playing a huge role for the Liberty (Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews With New York Liberty legends Teresa Weatherspoon and Sue Wicks in attendance, the Liberty scored a huge win over the Phoenix Mercury, 89–69, at Barclays Center.

Point guard Crystal Dangerfield had a season-high 17 points and guard Sabrina Ionescu had a franchise-record 16 assists. Five Liberty scored in double figures, and both Ionescu and Natasha Howard had double-doubles.

“It felt good to actually get a win in front of the players that played here that also did a lot of things for this organization,” said Howard.

“They handed it over to the next generation, like us, and it feels good to get that win for them and for us as well.

“We knew we needed this win to at least get to the point of making the playoffs,” she added.

“Today was a start right here. We can keep building.”

Dangerfield wears number 3, which is the same number that Crystal Robinson, on hand as an assistant coach for the Mercury, wore in her years with the Liberty. Dangerfield said the fight and the passion that the original Liberty players played with gave her chills when she saw the documentary “Unfinished Business.” “You want to pay homage to them,” said Dangerfield.

In addition to the big win, Sunday marked the Liberty’s sixth annual Unity Day game. The theme was See Black Women. The Liberty amplified Black women who are transforming mainstream spaces and creating pathways to racial, gender, social and financial

equity. There was a Black Women-Owned Business Expo on the concourse and a pregame panel discussion. April Walker of Walker Wear designed a custom t-shirt that was given to fans.

“I think we played with poise; at times I thought we could have played with a little more pace,” said coach Sandy Brondello.

“Crystal had a great game. I give a lot of credit for her speed. …

We control our own destiny.”

The Liberty hosted the Los Angeles Sparks, which parted ways with center Liz Cambage last week. The team is now on the road for four games, including a rematch with the Mercury in Phoenix on Saturday. The final regular season home game is on Sunday, Aug. 14. Five WNBA teams have already clinched playoff spots, so the Liberty is aiming for one of the three remaining berths.

Columbia women’s basketball promotes Tyler Cordell to associate head coach Columbia associate head coach Tyler Cordell (r) with guard Jaida Patrick (Columbia University Athletics photos)

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews The 2021-22 season was pretty incredible for Columbia University women’s basketball. After not playing at all during the previous season when the Ivy League canceled sports due to the pandemic, the Columbia Lions returned to the court with a vengeance.

Abbey Hsu and Kaitlyn Davis both earned All-Ivy honors, the first time in program history that

multiple Columbia players earned such honors in back-to-back seasons.

Expectations for the 2022-23 season are high. The coaching staff has been out recruiting to keep adding to this growing program. In early July, it was announced that assistant coach Tyler Cordell has been elevated to associate head coach.

“I’m very excited. It was completely unexpected,” said Cordell, who has been on coach Megan Griffith’s staff for six years.

“Coach G has been huge on not only celebrating loyalty and success but has been really good about taking care of her people.”

Columbia women’s basketball associate head coach Tyler Cordell

As the team’s recruiting coordinator, Cordell has been responsible for recruiting some of the Lions’ most prominent players, including Hsu. Griffith and Cordell had worked together at Princeton, and she saw the lack of attendance when they came to campus for games.

Named head coach in 2016, Griffith spoke about the program’s potential.

“For me, it was a no-brainer to join her and help her live out that mission to create a stable program that would be led the right way for our student-athletes, but also for our student-athletes to be ambassadors for the university,” said Cordell. “We put our heads down and went to work. We focused on recruiting and getting the right people here and developing those people.”

Over these past six years, the program grew from being a team near or at the bottom of the conference to a team that advanced to the final of the Ivy League Tournament and quarterfinals of the postseason WNIT. “Now, it’s all about sustaining success and growing to win a championship,” said Cordell, who is excited for the team’s upcoming international tour. “We are recruiters by nature. Megan is one of the best if not the best recruiter I’ve ever met.

We try to recruit good people that could be great players. … We’re all about developing student-athletes and young women who are successful on and off the court.”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 39

The Yankees come out of the All-Star break as baseball’s best

By VINCENT DAVIS Special to the AmNews

Before the start of this baseball season, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge turned down a seven-year contract extension offer from the team for an estimated $30.5 million per year.

Judge, who was selected by the Yankees with the 32nd overall pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft out of Fresno State and made his MLB debut in August of 2016, agreed to a salary increase to $21 million in June the day he and the franchise were scheduled for an arbitration hearing.

Judge deciding not to accept the Yankees’ long-term offer, and believing that there would be a much bigger payday ahead is paying off. The 30-year-old hit his league-leading 43rd home run on Monday night at Yankee Stadium against the Seattle Mariners, contributing to the Yankees’ 7-2 win to begin their three game homestand in the Bronx. Judge’s teammates also joined in the power surge.

All-Star catcher Jose Trevino hit two home runs and first baseman Anthony Rizzo began the barrage with a threerun homer in the first inning. Judge’s jack put him 10 ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber’s 33 for tops in MLB and 13 ahead of the Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez’s 30 when the league’s schedule of games began yesterday.

“Judge is doing something that’s beyond special in this day and age of baseball,” said Rizzo on Monday. “It’s fun to be a part of.” Judge, who began the week batting .299 with 93 RBIs, has hit 10 home runs in 12 games since the All-Star break and 13 homers in his last 16 games. He’s on pace to pass Roger Maris’ franchise record 61 homers set in 1961.

After losing to the Mariners 8-6 on Tuesday, the Yankees were 70-35, still holding onto the best record in baseball and an 11-game lead over the second place Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. They added reinforcement ahead of Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline.

The most important Aaron Judge’s historic home run pace continues to power moves were picking the Yankees to the best record in Major League Baseball up outfielder Andrew (Wikipedia photo) Benintendi from the Kansas City Royals last week, followed by starter Frankie Montas and closer Lou Trivino being acquired in a deal with the Oakland A’s.

They also parted with starter Jordan Montgomery for outfielder Harrison Bader, getting him from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Bader is currently in a walking boot recovering from plantar fasciitis. The Yankees begin a nine-game road trip tomorrow at St. Louis and will also play three versus the Mariners and three against the Boston Red Sox.

Jacob deGrom’s long awaited return is a reminder of his brilliance

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor At exactly 7:25 p.m. on Tuesday night at Nationals Park in the nation’s capital, Jacob deGrom threw his first pitch of the 2022 Major League Baseball season. With a backdrop of Mets fans packed into seats in the lower level of the stadium adorning jerseys with his name and number 48, the extraordinarily gifted pitcher easily sat down the Washington Nationals leadoff hitter, center fielder Victor Robles, on six pitches.

DeGrom’s greeting to Robles was a four-seam fastball that hit 99 miles per hour. His third pitch, another four-seamer, clocked 102. It was an early reminder of the slender 6-foot4 hurler’s brilliance and his standing as one of the best pitchers of his generation.

DeGrom hadn’t pitched in a Major League game since July 7, 2021. On June 11 of last season, he threw six scoreless innings versus the San Diego Padres to lower his ERA to 0.56, the best ever by any pitcher through his first 10 starts of an MLB season.

Roughly one month later, issues with deGrom’s forearm and elbow caused the team to shelve him for the remainder of the season. Then on April 2, five days before the start of this season, deGrom underwent an MRI that revealed a stress reaction in his reaction scapula (shoulder). The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner (2018, 2019) and twotime NL strikeout leader (2019, 2020) had to endure another four-months of watching his teammates while rehabbing.

So Tuesday’s re-emergence was an occasion to savor for deGrom, the entire Mets organization and its excited fan base. “Felt good,” said deGrom after going five innings, allowing only one run on three hits and six strikeouts in a 5-1 Mets’ loss.

“To get out there and pitch and be healthy, that’s the reward,” said deGrom. ”The goal was to win a baseball game and we weren’t able to do that tonight. To be out there and be healthy and feel good was definitely a good step.” Out of his 59 pitches, deGrom got 49 over

for strikes.

“Now, the challenge is to keep him out there. It’s hard to do,” said Mets manager Buck Showalter. “You generate that type of arm speed, all pitchers do it. Some can do it better than others. There’s things you have to stay on top of. We’ll see where he is in four days obviously.”

How deGrom’s arm responds post-outings is the most critically important aspect of what the Mets hope will be a steady buildup of strength and stamina.

Sustaining effective health is the top priority, as a front-of-the-rotation pairing of Max Scherzer and deGrom can be lethal.The Mets begin a consequential five-game series against the Atlanta Braves tonight at Citi Field.

DeGrom is scheduled to face them on Sunday. The Mets were 2.5 games in front of the Braves when they closed out their series with the Nationals early yesterday evening. After the Braves, the Mets will host the Cincinnati Reds for three games and the Philadelphia Phillies for three.

Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom made his first Major League Baseball appearance in over one year on Tuesday, throwing five strong innings versus the Washington Nationals (Wikipedia/All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA photo)

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 40

Sports The great Bill Russell was a champion in basketball and life

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

will forever inspire teamwork, when he was eight years old.

One of those young men inselflessness and thoughtful He was raised in various hous- spired during his formative change. ing projects in Oakland and years by Russell is Lem PeterBill Russell didn’t just shut “And we hope each of us can experienced early mental kin, a longtime photo journalup and dribble. find a new way to act or speak and emotional trauma when ist whose expansive work has Conversely, he was an out- up with Bill’s uncompromis- his mother, Katie, died when appeared in many publicaspoken race man. Russell’s towering presence was not singularly defined by his physically imposing 6-foot-10 frame and unparalleled basketball career, but perhaps more so by standing unbowed in advocating for racial and social justice during some of the most turbulent times of the 20th century in the United States.

AM NEWS Russell passed away at the 07/07/22 age of 88 on Sunday on Mercer 0 Island, Washington, located in the Seattle metropolitan area, after battling a long illness, his wife Jeannine by his side.

In a statement posted on social media by his family, Russell “peacefully” transitioned.

A statement posted by the AM NEWS family on Twitter read: “Bill’s 07/14/22 two state championships in 0 high school offered a glimmer of the incomparable run of pure team accomplishment to come: twice an NCAA champion; captain of a gold-medalwinning US Olympic team; 11 times an NBA champion; and AM NEWS at the helm for two NBA championships as the first Black 07/21/22 0 head coach of any North American professional sports team.

“But for all the winning,” it continued, “Bill’s understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life.

From boycotting a 1961 exhibition game to unmask AM NEWS too-long-tolerated discrimination, to leading Mississip07/28/22 0 pi's first integrated basketball Boston Celtics great Bill Russell (pictured in a 1957 photo), a legendary social and racial justice activist, camp in the combustible passed away this past Sunday at the age of 88 (Photo by John G. Zimmerman for Sports Illustrated, Public wake of Medgar Evers’ assasdomain, via Wikimedia Commons) sination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by ing, dignified and always con- Russell was 12. As the afore- tions over the past 50, his receipt of the Presidential structive commitment to mentioned Russell family including prominentMedal of Freedom in 2010. principle. That would be one statement illuminated, he ly in the Amsterdam Bill called out injustice with last, and lasting, win for our evolved into one of the most News.

AM NEWS an unforgiving candor that he beloved #6.” significant figures in the his“Mr. William Felton 08/04/22 intended would disrupt the Born in racially segregat- tory of American sports and Russell made me feel a 0 status quo, and with a pow- ed Monroe, Louisiana on Feb. culture, uplifting the lives of Black man could be a erful example that, though 12, 1934, Russell moved with countless men, women and Black man when I was never his humble intention, his family to Oakland, Calif. children directly and from afar. growing up in segre-

gated Aberdeen, North Carolina,” said Peterkin by phone to this writer on Tuesday. “He made me feel like I didn’t have to be afraid to speak out or stand up for myself in facing racism in the South.

“I grew a goatee because Mr. Russell wore a goatee,” recalled Peterkin, now 76. “When I first started playing basketball on the team at North Carolina Central University, Coach [Floyd] Brown wanted me to cut off my goatee but I wouldn’t. I explained to him that I wore it because of Mr. 01284 Russell and told him why.

AMHe NE let me keep it after that.” 07/07/ 7 74470 22784 would ultimatePeterkin ly meet his idol while shooting a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden years after Russell won his final title with the Boston Celtics in 1969, the last of 11 with the storied franchise, in a dramatic sev01294 en-game upset over the heavAM NE ily favored Los7Angeles Lakers 07/14/ 74470 22784 featuring all-time greats Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.

“At first I couldn’t stop smiling,” remembered Peterkin. “I wasn’t even thinking about taking his picture. I just 01304 myself wanted to introduce AM NE and shake his hand. He smiled 07/21/ 7 at me and 74470 22784we talked briefly. I told him how much I looked up to him growing up. Mr. Russell was very nice to me.”

There are numerous anecdotes and recollections similar to Peterkin’s that have been revealed since his death and myriad that will 01314 continue to AM NE be shared.

07/28/ 7 May 22784 the great Mr. Russell 74470 rest in peace as his life’s work will endure for generations to come.

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