New York Amsterdam News Jan. 11-17, 2024

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Vol. 115 No. 2 | January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

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©2024 The Amsterdam News | $1.00 New York City

BLOCKED:

ADAMS FILES CONTROVERSIAL $708M LAWSUIT AGAINST TEXAS BUS COMPANIES (See story on page 4)

Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg reflects on second year in office (See story on page 3)

Hochul vetoes Grieving Families Act right before end-of-year deadline (See story on page 3)

Mayor Eric Adams and senior administration officials hold in-person media availability at City Hall, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

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2 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

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INDEX Arts & Entertainment �������������������Page 17 » Astro ��������������������������������������������Page 20 » Film/TV �����������������������������������������Page 21 » Jazz ����������������������������������������������Page 24 Caribbean Update �������������������������Page 14 Classified ����������������������������������������Page 32 Editorial/Opinion �����������������������Pages 12,13 Education ����������������������������������������Page 16 Go with the Flo ������������������������������Page 8 Health ����������������������������������������������Page 28 In the Classroom ��������������������������Page 25 Community ��������������������������������������Page 9 Religion & Spirituality ��������������������Page 30 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

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SOUTH AFRICAN SPRINTER WHO KILLED GIRLFRIEND GETS BREAK ON PRISON TIME (GIN)—South African professional sprinter Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius has been released from prison after serving half of his more than 13year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius, a double amputee, shot Steenkamp multiple times through a locked bathroom door in his house after mistaking her for a burglar during the night.

The shooting and subsequent trials gripped South Africa and the world.

The double amputee won six gold

medals over three Paralympic Games and made history in 2012 by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics in London.

Until his sentence expires in 2029, he will live under strict rules: confined to his home for certain hours of the day, banned from drinking alcohol, and not permitted to speak to the media.

Pistorius will also be required to have therapy to help deal with issues of gender-based violence and anger.

Steenkamp’s mother said she accepted the decision to release the former athlete, but added her family was the one “serving a life sentence.”

Due to a congenital condition, Pistorius’s lower legs were amputated when he was less than a year old. He subsequently relied on prosthetics and became a world-renowned athlete known as the “Blade Runner.”

After becoming a Paralympic

News

champion, Pistorius attempted to enter nondisabled international competitions, over persistent objections by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and arguments that his artificial limbs gave an unfair advantage. Pistorius prevailed in this legal dispute.

South Africa has a particular problem with femicide and violence against women, wrote the BBC’s Danai Nesta Kupemba. In 2020, a woman died at the hands of her intimate partner on average every eight hours, according to a study by the University of the Free State. In 2019, South Africa ranked among the five countries with the highest rates of the murder of women, according to the United Nations.

That is why Pistorius being let out of prison “feels like a kick to the gut,” said activist Michael van Niekerk, the founder of Keep the Energy, an organization that spreads awareness about violence against women, children, and LGBTQ+ people in South Africa.

South Africa also has extreme-

ly high levels of rape; in the threemonth period between July and September last year, for example, more than 10,500 incidents were reported to the police.

INVESTIGATION UNCOVERS FAKE COLLEGE DEGREES FROM UGANDA, KENYA (GIN)—Nigeria’s National Universities Commission (NUC) claims to have uncovered dozens of fake college degrees for Nigerian students from Kenya and Uganda.

This finding follows the recent suspension of accreditation for degrees obtained from institutions in Benin and Togo.

During an interview on Nigeria’s Channels Television, Education Minister Tahir Mamman said, “We are not going to stop at just Benin and Togo. We’re going to extend the dragnet to Uganda, Kenya, even Nigeria—here where such fake institutions have been set up.”

This move is a response to the revelation of fraudulent qualifications from foreign degree mills, as See INTERNATIONAL on page 36

In 2023, Afro Colombians were at the crossroads of August massacres and resilience Last marked the 10th

By JESÚS CHUCHO GARCIA Special to the AmNews

Translated by KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff Throughout 2023, people of African descent in Latin America had their lives marked by hope, violence, and resilience.

In Colombia, a country that has the largest population of people of African origin in Latin America, second only to Brazil, there was a notable change of government after years of strong neoliberal policies that had led to exclusion and racebased massacres.

The Peace, Human Rights, and Conflict Observatory of Colombia defines a massacre as “the intentional and simultaneous homicide of several persons (3 or more) who are protected by International Humanitarian Law and in a state of defenselessness, in equal circumstances of time, manner and place” (IHL, 2020). According to the institute, these massacres were committed in Afro-Indigenous areas such as the provinces of Cauca, Arauca, Santander, La Guajira, Valle del

Cauca, Bolivar, Antioquia, Nariño, anniversary Atlantico, Putumayo, and Bogota.

(2013-2023) The Institute for Peace in Colomof Congress of bia (INDEPAZ) noted that 313 masBlack, Afrosacres were committed with 1,192 Colombian, and total fatalities between August 7, Raizal peoples 2018, and August 1, 2022. (who are from Afro Colombian territories are the archipelago highly coveted because of their conof San Andres) nection with the Pacific and Atlantic in which Oceans. These lands are pivotal for thousands the cultivation of coca; its processof people ing; and national, regional, and inparticipated ternational trafficking, as well as the and developed illegal extraction of gold. an agenda to Last December 4, Colombian Presimplement ident Gustavo Petro reported on the their rights difficulty of stopping the massacres, (Renacientes. which are the result of the breaknet photo) down of peace agreements with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia/Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla organization during the Duque administration. But they are similar to the massacres of 2022. Recently, at the end of 2023, three more massa- versary (2013–23) of the Congress of cres occurred in the departments of Black, Afro Colombian, and Raizal Antioquia and Valle del Cauca. peoples (who are from the San Andres archipelago) in which thouBlack, Afro Colombian, and sands of people participated. ToRaizal people are resilient gether, they developed an agenda Last August marked the 10th anni- to implement their rights as citizens

and marked the 30th anniversary of Colombia’s Law 70 of Black Communities (1993). These two dates have become part of the permanent guide for Afro Colombian struggles for the recovery of their lands, their See AFRO COLOMBIANS on page 36

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 3

Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg reflects on second year in office

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s eventful 2023 didn’t slow down for the holiday season, although he did find time to enjoy a cup of apple cider. On December 20, he sat down with the AmNews to reflect on his second year as the borough’s first-ever Black chief prosecutor.

“This is a phenomenal privilege to serve generally—I’ve been an [assistant United States attorney], [an assistant attorney general], a counsel staffer, a judicial clerk; to have the public trust, these roles are of Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg speaks to the Amsterdam News in 2022 for previous year in great privilege to serve,” said Bragg. “Cerreview. (Bill Moore photo) tainly, as a district attorney, to have as my job to think about safety and fairness “For someone like me, who spent [most lege to have this be what I get to do every every minute of the day is not something of ] his whole life on this island thinking day, and it’s a profound, sacred trust.” that’s lost. about these sets of issues, it’s a real priviBut it’s hard to be a homebody when

Manhattan is often the center of the world.

In April, Bragg’s case against Donald Trump spurred the first criminal charges against an American president, former or sitting, in the nation’s history. Bragg avoids specifics—he doesn’t talk about ongoing cases— but said he brought the routine approach of “examine the facts and…apply the law” to the unprecedented prosecution.

The Harlemite added that his focus is Manhattan, even if there’s chatter nationwide. After all, he’s far from the only district attorney in New York City.

Naturally, Bragg is most keen about how his work affects Manhattanites. He pointed to marked gun violence decreases in the borough, crediting his office’s focus on prosecuting “the people who were driving the most significant harm.”

Just days before the interview, Bragg See MANHATTAN D.A. on page 25

City council banned solitary confinement, Mayor not exactly on board

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member The New York City council passed bills last December that ban the use of solitary confinement in city jails, a practice that is considered a form of psychological torture with lasting trauma for those incarcerated, and would require the NYPD to publicly report on all police-civilian investigative stops.

The solitary ban, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, states that all people in city custody would have at least 14 hours of out-of-cell time in shared spaces and would allow separation from the general population only in instances where a person engages in a violent incident in custody.

“The Council has taken historic strides

nities, the lasting trauma of solitary confinement follows them home, and affects us all as neighbors and members of a shared community.”

Solitary confinement is defined by Penal Reform International as the segregation, physical isolation, or lockdown of an individual who is incarcerated or a detainee confined to their cell for the majority of 24 hours in a day and allowed minimal interaction with others as a form of punishment.

Further research shows that the use of this practice, even for shot periods of time, can have lasting impacts on a person like anxiety, depression, anger, cognitive disturbances, perceptual distortions, paranoia, to advance justice and safety by ban- confinement leads to increased death and psychosis, self-harm, suicide, and increase ning solitary confinement and improving violence in jails, endangering those incar- instances of violence. police transparency,” said Speaker Adri- cerated, as well as correction officers and This endangers those incarcerated in city enne Adams in a statement. “The physical staff. When formerly incarcerated New jails, as well as correction officers and staff, and psychological harm caused by solitary Yorkers eventually return to their commuSee SOLITARY CONFINEMENT on page 25 Supporters seeking to end solitary confinement at press conference led by Councilmember Carolina Rivera in front of City Hall on Oct. 21, 2019.

(John McCarten photo)

Judge largely rules in favor of CCRB rule expansion in NYPD union lawsuit

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) can continue investigating bodyworn camera misuse after a favorable New York State Supreme Court ruling on Jan. 3 in a lawsuit filed against the NYPD watchdog by the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), the largest union representing the department’s uniformed officers.

Last Wednesday’s decision stems from legal challenges against CCRB’s rule changes filed in January 2023. Along with improper use of body cams, the PBA also unsuccessfully contested how the oversight agency defined “severe acts of bias” in its new charter provisions and its ability to self-initiate complaints without police misconduct victims needing to act.

The judge did favor the union in regards to using the terminology “unable to investigate” when the CCRB needs to close cases without full investigations. Instead, the court suggested the agency provides direct reasoning to the inconclusive results like uncooperative complainants or unidentified victims.

A CCRB spokesperson told the AmNews the decision generally sided with the police watchdog and allowed further investigations into misconduct. Such news comes off the heels of Local Law 24 of 2022, which expanded the agency’s jurisdiction and a reported 11-year high in police misconduct complaints.

“We are pleased that the courts have once again upheld the City Charter, defended the CCRB’s rights and strengthened oversight,” added CCRB Chair Arva Rice. “As the police unions work to undermine the CCRB’s au-

thority, we rely on elected officials more than ever to strengthen police oversight.”

The PBA was not available for comment at press time.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) called the decision “positive” after submitting an amicus brief in favor of the CCRB during the litigation last year. The organization specifically underscored the importance of investigating body camera misuse by NYPD officers, especially when policing in Black and brown communities traditionally impacted by misconduct.

“The CCRB, of the available avenues, is the best situated to investigate these really important complaints of misconduct, which include racial profiling [and] bias policing,” said NYCLU staff attorney Lupe Aguirre. “So as the court recognized, and as we recognized, body-worn cameras can be useful tools, but they have to be used responsibly

[and] properly to give the CCRB the ability to properly investigate and come to a determination in these important investigations of police abuse or misconduct.”

More than 24,000 NYPD officers are currently equipped with body-worn cameras, the most by any American police department. The practice was born out of a pilot program mandated after the (David) Floyd v. City of New York class action lawsuit, which alleged stop-and-frisk tactics violated Black and brown New Yorkers’ constitutional rights.

The CCRB sees body-worn camera misuse—which usually involves the device being off when it should be on—as both an independent abuse of authority and a barrier for the agency to investigate other forms of misconduct. The PBA contended that body cam misuse was a See CCRB on page 25

4 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Biden uses Hochul vetoes Grieving Families Act right before end-of-year deadline the pulpit to rouse voters

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

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews There was a sustained round of applause when President Joe Biden, during his appearance at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., called out Nikki Haley’s refusal to cite slavery as the cause of the Civil War. “Let me be clear, for those who don’t seem to know: Slavery was the cause of the Civil War,” the president said.

The comment on Haley’s failure to name a pivotal moment in the nation’s history was one of several remarks from the president that resonated back to those dark days. It was clear to most of those in attendance at the church that Biden was there to galvanize a base that had been so crucial in his 2020 victory.

But it was also an opportunity to put his likely opponent, Donald Trump, in the proper context of his lies and falsehoods. “Once again, there are some in this country trying to turn a loss into a lie—a lie which, if allowed to live, will once again bring terrible damage to this country,” Biden said.

“This time, the lie is about the 2020 election.”

To underscore this point, Biden leaned on metaphor, suggesting that Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 elections was a form of white supremacy, calling it “the old ghost in new garments.”

It smacked of a familiar expression during the Civil Rights Movement that many white racists were no longer garbed in sheets but often at-

tired in suits.

Assisting in the rousing of South Carolina voters, who will head to the booths in early February, was Rep. James Clyburn. he did in the last election, he voiced his strong support for Biden. “As I told you four years ago, we know Joe,” Clyburn said on Monday, with the president sitting behind him.

“But more importantly, Joe knows us.”

Biden’s speech at Mother Emanuel evoked memories of the 2015 massacre where white supremacist Dylann Roof killed nine parishioners. The church is the oldest of its denomination in the South. Booker T. Washington and Dr. King spoke at the church, among other dignitaries over the years.

The Biden campaign is hoping his visit will improve his numbers, and turn around polls that suggest Trump would defeat him if the election was held today. According to the New York Times and Siena College poll last fall, 22% of Black voters in six battleground states said they would vote for Trump while 71% said Biden would be their choice.

In effect, Trump’s numbers have escalated from 6% of Black voters nationally in 2016 to 8% in 2020.

Countering this concerning forecast, Quentin Fulks, Biden’s principal deputy campaign manager, said, “No president has done more for the Black community than what Joe Biden has done. The problem is just going to be one where we continue to communicate to these voters.”

For a second time, the Grieving Families Act (GFA) was left on the cutting room floor last year. Bereaved families of color behind the legislation were devastated.

The bill aims to reform the state’s wrongful death laws that were crafted in 1847. Advocates of the bill have said the existing laws “are exceedingly discriminatory and racist by design” because they exclude close family members from receiving any money from wrongful death suits.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Si-

Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Cordell Cleare join New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, SaveaRose Foundation, and the families of victims of wrongful death at rally in support of Grieving Families Act on December 18, 2023 (Contributed by New York State Trial Lawyers Association) (Photo contributed by New York State Trial Lawyers Association)

gal and Assemblymember Helene Weinstein (S.6636/ A6698), passed in the State Senate and Assembly in 2022. Hochul had already

vetoed a previous version.

“Forty-eight other states have modern wrongful death laws, making New York one of the shameful

few that put expenses and profits over the value of a human life. We’ve denied countless family members See GFA on page 27

Blocked: Adams files controversial $708M lawsuit against Texas bus companies

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Mayor Eric Adams is clapping back at Texas in their ongoing feud over the asylum seeker crisis.

Over the holiday season last month, he announced a $708 million lawsuit against 17 charter bus and transportation companies after issuing an emergency executive order to demand better coordination from southern states.

According to city numbers, the Adams administration has spent an estimated $3.5 billion on shelter and services for the more than 164,500 asylum seekers who have come through the city’s intake center between April 2022 and December 2023. They said they have also opened more than 210 emergency sites, including 18 large-scale humanitarian relief centers, so far.

“We’re going to navigate our way through this, but we need everyone to call— I’m calling on the federal government to do its job,”

Mayor Eric Adams and senior administration officials hold in-person media availability at City Hall, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

said Adams at this week’s inperson meeting on January 8. “New Yorkers are angry, asylum seekers are angry, the mayor’s angry, we’re all angry. But we are doing the best we have with the resources in front of us.”

Since 2022, Republican Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has used numerous independently owned bus and transportation companies, some of which were already federally approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) under the U.S. Department of Transporta-

tion (DOT), to move people across state lines to Democrat-led states. Abbott is responsible for the direct transport of more than 33,600 migrants to New York City, said the city.

On December 27, 2023, Adams passed Executive Order 538 to get the manifest of a charter bus operator, as well as the time and location of drop-offs of asylum seekers, among other things. That was met with immediate backlash from immigration groups, and instead of complying with the order, the bus com-

panies started dropping off migrants in New Jersey with train tickets to New York City instead. The shift prompted the city to go tit-for-tat and slap 17 “bad faith” bus companies identified in moving migrants up north with a lawsuit a few days later, claiming that transporting people without paying for the cost of continued care is in violation of New York’s Social Services Law. Adams has the support of Governor Kathy Hochul, who’s come around to being slightly more vocal in asking See LAWSUIT on page 27

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 5

Civil rights attorney William O. Wagstaff III running for Westchester DA

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Civil rights lawyer William O. Wagstaff III, 42, announced his candidacy for District Attorney (DA) last November. He aims to become Westchester County’s first Black DA. A community organizer with a passion for public safety, Wagstaff has a law practice that concentrates on civil rights litigation, criminal defense, and municipal law.

He has handled some of the area’s highest-profile civil rights cases and lawsuits against police in various cities and counties for using excessive force, illegal police surveillance, shooting an unarmed man, and the death of a Riker’s Island detainee held in solitary confinement.

“Mount Vernon is an interesting place.

We’re a suburban community that has urban issues,” said Wagstaff about his hometown.

“You have people who are coming from socialeconomic backgrounds where they have been disadvantaged in most instances, whether it’s because of educational disadvantage, the family structure, or not having the best role models to look up to [and] uplift you.”

Wagstaff was brought up in Mt. Vernon as an only child in a loving home. His parents were married for 45 years. His mother was a

teacher and principal, and his father a gas station chain owner.

Wagstaff was heavily involved in sports and in the community as a youth, but had an “unfortunate encounter” with someone he thought was a friend who forcibly extorted him for money he had borrowed. He had to work off his “debt” and ended up with a federal misdemeanor. He started law school at Pace Law while on federal house arrest.

After his graduation and pursuing bar admittance, Wagstaff also earned an MBA from Fordham Business School. The judge who had sentenced him ultimately wrote his letter of recommendation and remains a close friend, he said.

“I was fortunate enough that I had a family that was in a position to support me and make sure that when I was caught in the system, I did not end up thrown away,” said Wagstaff. He has since vowed to be the kind of lawyer for others that he needed in his time of exigency.

Wagstaff has also served as the City of Mount Vernon’s special prosecutor for police discipline, co-sponsored an annual coat drive with Collective for a Cause in Yonkers, serves as chair of the African American Men of Westchester Mentoring Committee, is on the board of directors of the Legal Aid Society of Westchester, and is a member of

the Westchester Black Bar Association.

Wagstaff firmly believes in a data-driven approach to the role of DA. He plans to use data to reduce crime, improve quality of life, promote restorative justice, address racial disparities, provide fair plea bargaining, charge with restraint, and eradicate hate crimes. Because of his experiences, he wants to give young people a second chance at redemption, career opportunities, and development with supplemental punishments as opposed to harsh sentencing. “There needs to be an additional investment in reaching into the community and supporting the young people,” said Wagstaff.

Currently, he lives in Westchester with his expecting wife and two kids, and is hitting the campaign trail hard. The DA race has, as of this Tuesday, a total of five candidates who are running to replace current Westchester County DA Miriam Rocah. The primary will be held on June 25, 2024.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member who writes about politics 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://bit.ly/amnews1.

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Early intimations of Dr. King’s dream

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews

Booker T. Washington.

In 1962, when King spoke there, the waters of the nation were troubled by the Wherever you choose to celebrate and Civil Rights Movement. When Biden was commemorate the 29th annual King Hol- there on Monday, he too wanted to rouse iday Observance, it will be hard to outdo the congregation and visitors about the the plans at the King Center in Atlanta that importance of democracy and the need to began on January 4 and will culminate on uphold its promise.

January 15, the day of Rev. Martin Luther Attempts to find King’s speech on that King Jr’s birth. occasion have not been successful, but we During President Joe Biden’s recent visit can speculate that it resonated with the to Emanuel Methodist Episcopal Church same frequency as the one he delivered in in Charleston, S.C., it was noted that King the summer, at the National Press Club in was among a coterie of prominent Ameri- the nation’s capital. His theme that day was cans who had stood in the pulpit, including nonviolent resistance and his hope for the future of race relations in America.

“Just last week,” he said, after delivering introductory remarks and explaining a welter of current problems, “I was convicted in the city of Albany, Georgia, for participating in a peaceful march protesting the segregation conditions of the President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public community. I deDomain photo) cided, on the basis

Honoring MLK

A G R E AT

of conscience, not to pay the fine of $178, but to serve the jail sentence of 45 days. Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy and I were notified that some unknown donor had paid our fines and that we had to leave the jail. As the Atlanta Constitution suggested the other day, we have reached a new landmark in race relations.

We have witnessed persons being ejected from lunch counters during the sit-ins, and thrown into jail during the freedom rides. But for the first time, we witnessed people being kicked out of jail.”

There is no record of the crowd’s response to that irony or his invocation of Victor Hugo that “…there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”

Central to King’s address was the powerful ingredient of nonviolent resistance to bring down the walls of segregation and put an end to white supremacy. “It is my great hope that as the Negro plunges deeper in the quest for freedom, he will plunge even deeper into the philosophy of nonviolence,” King continued. “We must never succumb to the temptation of using violence in the struggle, for if this happens, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness and our chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos.”

Some would contend that with or without violence, “a long and desolate night of bitterness” to end the relentless racism and white supremacy prevails, with no end in sight.

But there is no mistaking that some incremental changes occurred from the

( Florida Memory on Unsplash photo)

nonviolent marches and protests against segregation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Housing Act of 1968.

This was Dr. King’s outlook in the early 1960s and, by the end of the decade, his ideas were undergoing a dramatic change, particularly as he addressed the ongoing war in Vietnam.

The radical King still maintained his nonviolent strategy and another potent element of outlook was taking shape in 1962: the full realization of the American dream, a word that within a year or so would be at the fore of his driving narrative.

At the close of his speech at the National Press Club, you can hear intimations of his most famous speech. “When it is realized,” he said of his dream, “the jangling discords of our nation will be transformed into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood and men everywhere will know that America is truly the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

(See A Testament of Hope—The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., HarperCollins, 1986; edited by James M. Washington.)

REMEMBRANCE The Coney proudly supports Amsterdam News in honoring the deep impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His legacy of peace, equality, and justice remains a relevant beacon of hope for all communities.

Ya n k e e s

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8 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

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National Action Network to celebrate MLK Day by honoring those keeping up the fight

Go with the Flo

FLO

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

ANTHONY Ice T’s bodacious wife Coco gave her rapper/actor hubby an “icy” piece of her mind about spending their 23rd anniversary at the Hustler Club in midtown Manhattan on New Year’s Eve. A source told Big Apple Buzz that Coco wanted to have an intimate dinner and a quiet night at home, and was shocked and upset to find out her husband had agreed to host a big bash at the gentleman’s club with his pal, movie producer Noel Ashman. As the clock started counting down, the couple was racing up the West Side Highway. Ice had to make an illegal U-turn on a one-way street and left his car practically on the sidewalk in front of the club on West 51st to make it to their table at literally 11:59.

At midnight, the couple shared a steamy kiss and a magnum of Aphrodite, the new bubbly rosé from Greece. Coco captioned an Instagram photo of the couple at the gentleman’s club, saying, “My rock, my diamond in the rough, love you beyond, happy anniversary, no words can describe.”

The couple told “Scarface” actors Steven Bauer and Angel Salazar that they had been stuck in traffic due to the new year’s festivities in Time Square. Coco posted on Instagram, “We almost missed the countdown because of NY’S freakin’ traffic.”

During the bash, which was attended by 300 revelers, the DJ played Ice-T’s hit “Colors,” which he rapped along to, joined by Melle Mel to his hit “The Message,” and Treach to his song “Hip Hop Hooray.” Dressed in matching pink outfits, Coco and Ice-T exited the hot gentleman’s club hand in hand at 4 a.m. …

America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League judge Mel B (Melanie Brown) did a Big Apple talk show run on January 8, where she hit up “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” as well as “Today with Hoda & Jenna.” The Spice Girl recently announced that she and Rory McPhee, who have been engaged since October 2022, are getting married at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the same church where then-Prince Charles married Princess Diana in July 1981. According to People, Mel B told Hoda and Jenna that her Spice Girls bandmate Victoria Beckham designed her wedding dress, as well as her mother’s...

The Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, was jumping during the last

week of 2023. Celebs on the island included “Sherri” Executive Producer Jawn Murray; Chef Melba Wilson; and former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Porsha Williams and her husband Simon Guobadia, who were spotted playing blackjack with Akon.

Also holding court at the casino was Cuba Gooding Jr., who chanted “Show Me the Money” from “Jerry McGuire” while he played a game called Casino War. The Oscar-winning actor asked a sister from Tennessee to teach him the game, then generously gave her $100 to play with...

On January 9, Urban One announced that Mary J. Blige, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning songstress, Oscar-nominated actress, and Queen of Hip Hop Soul, will be recognized as the Entertainment Icon Honoree at “Urban One Honors: Best in Black” event, which premieres during Black History month on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST, on TV One and simulcast on Cleo TV. Said Michelle L. Rice, president of TV One and Cleo TV, “Urban One is thrilled to honor the incomparable Mary J. Blige as our 2024 Entertainment Icon. She fully personifies the ‘Best in Black’ theme of this year’s Urban Honors.”

Blige joins previously announced award recipients Dionne Warwick, recognized as the Lifetime Achievement Honoree; Chloe, celebrated as the Generation Next Honoree; Frankie Beverly, honored as a Living Legend; and Donald Lawrence, acclaimed for his Inspirational Impact...

On January 7, the 81st Golden Globe Awards aired live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Although “The Color Purple” was shut out, the popular Hulu series “The Bear” took home multiple awards, including one for Ayo Edebiri. The lovely actress won the Golden Globe for Best Television Female Actor.

Another big winner was Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who won Best Supporting Actress in a Movie for her role as grieving mother and cook Mary in “The Holdovers.” Said Randolph, who also won the Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards, “Mary has changed my life—you have made me feel seen in so many ways that I’ve never imagined, and I hope I’ve helped you all find your inner Mary, because there’s a little bit of her in all of us.”...

Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) plans to honor MLK Day with a celebration of individuals who have been promoting the kind of progressive ideas the 1960s-era civil rights leader stood for.

“Dr. King’s birthday,” Sharpton said in a statement to the AmNews, “is a reminder not only of the work he did while he was alive, but the journey that has continued in the nearly 56 years since he was killed. Our Washington, D.C. breakfast will put a particular emphasis on the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, discuss how the tenets of that legislation remain under attack, and recognize those who carry on his legacy. Then, in the Village of Harlem, we will bring together New York’s top leaders to discuss what policies, investments, and programs must be built up to ensure equality in the nation’s biggest city. With DEI under immense attack, we must treat King Day as a continuation, not just a celebration, of his work.”

NAN is scheduled to grant awards to several people who have taken on roles that are helping change the nation. The young civic activist Deyona Burton will receive the MLK Day Youth Award; actress Phylicia Rashad who is dean of Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts will be awarded the MLK Day Lifetime Service of Excellence in the Arts Award; and Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, will receive the MLK Day Education Award.

Among other NAN awardees, actress Taraji P. Henson will receive an MLK Day Visionary Award. Henson has recently become a strong voice on issues of pay equity for Black actresses. She told the reporter Gayle King that there remain pointed pay disparities for actors, based on their race. “It seems every time I do something and break another glass ceiling, when it’s time to renegotiate, I’m at the bottom again like I never did what I just did, and I’m tired. I’m tired,” she told King. “It wears on you. What does that mean? What is that telling me? If I can’t fight for them coming up behind me then what the f-- am I doing?”

Claude Cummings Jr., who this past July 12 was elected to serve as president of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), the D.C.-based AFL-CIO-affiliated union that represents people who work in media, tech, telecommunications, public service, education, and related fields, will be receiving the Labor Leader of the Year Award.

When he was elected president, Cummings, the first person of African descent to ever lead the CWA, talked about his hesitancy in even competing for the leadership role.

“There were times when I would interview, and I would see someone, and they would say to me ‘What about the way you look–– and you’re running for president?’ I said,

‘Well, I got up this morning, I looked in the mirror and I said, hell, I didn’t like the way I looked either––I looked a lot better 30 years ago––but I couldn’t do anything about it.

“So it would be a lie to say this journey has been easy, but through it all my commitment to our union and to all of our members has never wavered, because CWA is my home. To it, I owe everything. With every ounce of my being, I will continue to fight to protect and advance the values that make us who we are.

Our values of community and solidarity are the foundation of our strength as a union, which is why at this very moment, we all have to commit to coming together as one union, one family, and together fight for what we collectively believe in. That I am Black may be historic in the eyes of others, but for CWA in District 6, … this milestone is just a continuation of our legacy of open-door opportunity for all, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other differences that may separate us but do not divide us.”

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will be one of several recipients of an MLK Day Visionary Award. Moore is a former Oxford Rhodes Scholar who served as the CEO of the nonprofit poverty-fighting Robin Hood Foundation from 2017 to 2021. As Maryland’s first Black governor, he was sworn into office with his wife, Dawn, holding a Bible once owned

by Frederick Douglass.

When he delivered his inaugural address outside the State House in Annapolis, Moore said: “As I stand here today, looking out over Lawyers Mall, at the memorial to Justice Thurgood Marshall, it’s impossible not to think about our past and our path.

“We are blocks away from the Annapolis docks, where so many enslaved people arrived in this country against their will. And we are standing in front of a capitol building built by their hands. We have made uneven and unimaginable progress since then. It is a history created by generations of people whose own history was lost, stolen, or never recorded. And it is a shared history—our history—made by people who, over the last two centuries, regardless of their origin story to Maryland, fought to build a state, and a country, that works for everybody.”

Moore noted that his official portrait, and that of his lieutenant governor, Aruna Miller, who is of South Asian descent “are going to look a little different from the ones we’ve always seen in the capitol. But that’s not the point. This journey has never been about ‘making history.’ It is about marching forward.

“Today is not an indictment of the past; it’s a celebration of our future. And today is our opportunity to begin a future so bright, it is blinding. But only if we are intentional, inclusive, and disciplined in confronting challenges, making hard choices, and seizing the opportunity in front of us.”

NAN’s celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will commemorate the world-renowned activist’s 95th birthday.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS O U T & A B O U T

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 9

A segregated America!

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews There is an unforgettable photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964. It was taken immediately after the signing into law the Civil Rights Act. Later, Dr. King put that historic moment in context in his autobiography. “In 1964 the meaning of the so-called negro revolution became clear for all to see and was given legislative recognition in the civil rights law,” he wrote. “Yet, immediately following the passage of this law, a series of events shook the nation, compelling the grim realization that the revolution would continue inexorably until total slavery had been replaced by total freedom.”

What the ever-prescient Dr. King envisioned was the necessity for an ongoing struggle for freedom and equality, and the revolution of 1964 was far from over. Even then, as it is now, democratic rights were threatened, and the battle for the White House between Johnson and the Republican Party’s Barry Goldwater, who in Dr. King’s opinion “advocated a narrow nationalism, a crippling isolationism, and a trigger-happy attitude,” was just a harbinger of the injustices on the horizon.

Dr. King’s prognostication bore fruit in the events at the Republican Convention held in San Francisco, the triple lynchings in Mississippi, and the urban riots in several major cities. Sixty years later, the great leader’s dream is far from reality and as several social scientists and agencies have noted, the nation is more segregated than it was in 1964.

It would appear that some of the forces, the rallies, and massive marches that brought about the relative change back then are necessary today, a strategy that has for years been part of the Dr. King celebrations and activities of the Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network.

The systemic racism that Dr. King challenged is at the very core of a segregated America, and this fact was underscored by several studies, to say nothing of the heartfelt reactions of people in the vortex of poverty and discrimination. Rev. Sharpton reminded the nation

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Unsplash photo)

that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, are being assailed and under relentless attack “and diversity in Corporate America is on the brink.”

Most Americans are familiar with Dr. King’s last words about

his dream which continues to resonate without any notion of fulfillment, and for all the hope and promise folks instilled in his commitment and leadership, he insisted he was only one man in the struggle for justice, and that thousands had to

join the fight. “Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won’t have any

money to leave behind. I won’t have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind.

But I just want to leave a committed life behind. And that’s all I wanted to say.”

Leaving a committed life behind is all any of us can offer.

10 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Unions Matter UFT sues the city over education budget cuts

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member Just before the end of last year, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) filed a lawsuit in Manhattan State Supreme Court to block Mayor Eric Adams and the education department’s nearly $2 billion in budget cuts to city schools.

In November 2023, the city announced cuts of nearly $550 million to the education budget. Plans for further reductions this year could amount to $2 billion. The cuts affected universal pre-K initiatives, afterschool programs, planned summer school programs, and other services.

Adams has maintained that the city is hemorrhaging money because of the influx of asylum seekers and lack of support from the federal government, making these cuts necessary. The lawsuit, filed on December 21, challenges the claim that high estimates of the cost of asylum seekers will create a fiscal crisis, and says it’s illegal to use schools as a “political bargaining chip.”

“The administration can’t go around touting the tourism recovery and the return of the city’s pre-pandemic jobs, and then create a fiscal crisis and cut education because of its own mismanagement of the asylum seeker problem,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew in a statement. “Our schools and our families deserve better.”

asylum seekers’ costs are billions of dollars less than the mayor’s proposed numbers and that tax revenues have increased by $5 billion since last year.

“Rather than pursuing long-term solutions to lower asylum seeker costs further, the mayor instead doubles down on unjustified cuts that will have long-term detrimental effects on the many students who United Federation of Teachers (UFT) President Michael Mulgrew have been struggling at press conference on December 21, 2023, announcing union to catch up after years filing its budget lawsuit. (Contributed by UFT photo) of destabilization and uncertainty,” said Liza Schwartzwald, director of economic Schwartzwald. “As enrollment rates are injustice and family empowerment at the New creasing for the first time in over five years, York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), added it is time to invest in our public schools. We in a statement that all students in the city stand with the United Federation of Teachhave the right to a quality education. ers, and all New York City public school “The Mayor has continuously scapegoat- students, in the fight to ensure a quality eded asylum seekers to justify current and ucation for all New York children.” proposed cuts to the education budget,” The UFT also alleged that according to Schwartzwald’s statement said. “But the ad- state law, the city “illegally” decreased eduministration’s austerity cuts do not reflect cation funding as the state increased its eduthe reality of our City’s financial situation.” cation funding contribution to city schools, She cited the Independent Budget Office despite billions of revenue in the city’s re(IBO) budget estimates, which state that serves last fiscal year. The law falls under

a requirement known as “maintenance of effort” that is a part of mayoral control legislation for New York City schools.

The state is currently reviewing mayoral control in a series of public hearings being held in the city. Dozens of educators have testified on the Bronx and Queens hearings. Many are registering to speak at the Brooklyn hearing this week, said the UFT. “The UFT, they have to represent their members. And from time to time, friends disagree. And sometimes it ends up in a boardroom and sometimes it ends up in a courtroom,” said Adams at an ethnic media roundtable on December 22, 2023. He was referring to Mulgrew and Henry Garrido, executive director of District Council 37 (DC 37). DC 37 similarly filed suit against the city over budget cuts.

“We should not mix up a point of disagreement with the point that we both want what’s best for this city. I look forward to talking with Henry and Michael, and try[ing] to come to a determination,” said Adams.

“They know—listen, these guys, these are smart guys. They know what we’re facing.”

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member who writes about politics 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://bit.ly/amnews1.

AFL-CIO’s MLK Day Civil and Human Rights Conference will be in Montgomery, Alabama

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff The AFL-CIO will hold its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center in Montgomery, Alabama this Jan. 12–14.

“The conference not only will spotlight the issues concerning our civil and human rights, but also act as a platform for leaders to engage in a meaningful dialogue, exchange insights, and generate innovative ideas,” says a release for the conference.

With this year’s conference themed as “Our Voice, Our Ballot, Our Future,” organizers are expecting that the event will bring union members together with activists and faith leaders to talk about how Dr. King used the power of moral suasion and combined it with civic might—the power of the vote. “Each day of the conference will explore different aspects of the theme, with deep dives into community engagement, civic engagement and political strategy, and the evolving landscape of workplaces and democracy.”

Both AFL-CIO President Elizabeth Shuler

King Jr. from his ‘Letter from Birmingham City Jail,’ ‘Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront an issue,’” Charles E. Clark, Sr., AFL-CIO’s Southern Region Director told the AmNews. “‘Creative tension’ is simply a series of publicly facing nonviolent direct actions that make a given situation untenable, compelling all parties to engage in good-faith negotiations. This applies not only to civil rights movements but also to justice-aligned endeavors, such as the labor movement.”

Clark said King’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” is an important framework because “The ‘four basic steps to a nonviolent campaign’ outlined by Rev. Dr. King AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond speaks at the inaugural ‘State of the Unions’ remain relevant today, guiding various orevent (Photo via YouTube) ganizations, including the AFL-CIO. This and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred help activists organize. The workshop “A framework emphasizes that organizing, reRedmond will speak at the opening of the Letter from Birmingham Jail: Organiz- gardless of the perspective, should ensure conference and Acting Secretary of Labor ing Tools for Creative Tension” will show just outcomes through just means. ‘WhatJulie Su will be on hand to talk to attendees. participants how nonviolent direct ac- ever affects one directly affects all directIn one of the conference workshops, tions can help move a crisis situation for- ly,’ underscoring the continued relevance King’s famous “Letter from Birming- ward, when it has come to a stalemate. of the letter’s teachings in addressing conham Jail” will be shown for its ability to “In the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther temporary issues of injustice.”

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 11

Public Hearing

CAPITAL PROJECTS PUBLIC HEARING The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, on behalf of MTA New York City Transit and its subsidiaries; MTA Long Island Rail Road; MTA Metro-North Railroad; MTA Construction and Development; and MTA Bus Company (collectively “MTA”), will hold a public hearing to solicit comments on MTA’s federal grant proposals for Federal Fiscal Year 2024. The hearing will be held in a hybrid format with options to participate in-person, as well as virtually via Zoom’s online platform and conference call feature, with a livestream available on the MTA 2024 Capital Projects hearing website.

The MTA receives federal funds pursuant to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Sections 5307, 5309, 5337, 5339 and 5340 of Title 49, United States Code, 5300 et seq. (the Code), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (surface transportation act and other federal appropriations). The Governor of the State of New York, local officials, and publicly owned operators of mass transportation services have designated the MTA to receive such grants.

The requested funds are for categories of capital projects listed below and more fully described in the MTA Program of Projects. MTA’s Program of Projects is available for review at https://new.mta.info/transparency/public-hearings or by calling the number shown below. The MTA solicits and encourages the comments of private transportation providers. Capital improvements under this Program generally take place within the MTA network or on State or city-owned property. Property acquisitions or relocations will be carried out in accordance with the appropriate provisions of law and regulatory requirements. The projects included in this hearing are part of the approved 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 Capital Programs.

The capital projects have been or are expected to be endorsed by the Metropolitan Planning Organizations for the New York metropolitan region and conform with the State Implementation Plan (SIP) as required by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The projects are not anticipated to have any significant adverse environmental impact. If the FTA prepares a formal environmental impact statement on any of the proposed projects, the MTA will issue a public notice to make the statement available. All legal requirements related to senior citizens and customers/people with disabilities will be met.

It is anticipated that any difference between the projects’ cost and the federal grant amount will be satisfied through funds that are made available by any one or a combination of State, local, affiliated agency (such as MTA Bridges and Tunnels or MTA) sources, credits for non-federal project share generated from toll revenues in accordance with federal statute (23 USC 120 (i)), or sales of property or program income.

In Federal Fiscal Year 2023, MTA received $868.2 million of Section 5307 funds, $1.155 billion of Section 5337 State of Good Repair funds, and $26.7 million of Section 5339 of Bus and Bus Facilities funds. Apportionments from Federal Fiscal Year 2024 are not yet available. Federal funds must generally be matched by a local share contribution for capital assistance of 20 percent for most funding categories.

PROJECT CATEGORIES / ESTIMATED FEDERAL REQUEST (Dollars in Millions) Project Categories Stations Track Power Miscellaneous Total LIRR Project Categories Rolling Stock Stations Track and Structures Communication and Signals Power Shops and Yards Miscellaneous Total MNR

LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD

METRO-NORTH RAILROAD

Project Categories Facilities Total MTA BUS

MTA BUS

$M $355.71 69.10 31.80 0.50 $457.11 $M $484.64 135.43 568.69 9.83 59.29 2.72 32.69 $1,293.29 $M $7.19 $7.19

Project Categories Subway Car Bus Replacement Passenger Stations Line Equipment Line Structures Signals and Communications Shops and Yards Depots Traction Power Misc./Emergency Total NYCT Project Categories Penn Station Access Penn Reconstruction Miscellaneous Total MTA BUS

NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT

MTA CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

MTA GRAND TOTAL

$M $1,400.00 400.00 2,980.00 200.00 350.00 575.00 300.00 50.00 325.00 200.00 $6,780.00 $M $2,093.70 96.00 32.00 $2,221.70 $10,759.29

DATE AND TIME OF THE PUBLIC HEARING 2024 CAPITAL PROJECTS PUBLIC HEARING Tuesday, February 6, 2024 • Hearing begins at 6:00 P.M. • Hybrid Public Hearing will include both in person and virtual platforms.

Public Hearing Format This will be a hybrid hearing with in-person participation as well as via Zoom’s online platform and conference call feature, with a livestream available on the MTA 2024 Capital Projects hearing website https://new.mta.info/2024-capital-projects-hearing. Those interested in speaking must pre-register to speak at the public hearing. Each registered speaker will have two (2) minutes to speak.

Location of the Hearing This public hearing will be held in-person at MTA Headquarters, 2 Broadway, 20th Floor – William J. Ronan Board Room, New York, NY 10004.

Registering for the Public Hearing

To register to speak at the hybrid public hearing, please sign up to comment either in-person, online at https://new.mta.info/2024-capital-projects-hearing or call the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777. All comments will be transcribed and made part of the permanent record of this hearing.

Joining the Public Hearing

If you are registered to speak, you may join the Zoom webinar either online, in-person or by phone following these instructions: Join Zoom Webinar Online: To access the Zoom webinar online, visit the website: https://new.mta.info/2024-capital-projects-hearing.

You can also go to zoom.us/join and enter the Webinar 826 9778 6527) Join by PC/Tablet/Smartphone: Join link: https://mta-info.zoom.us/j/826 9778 6527- Webinar ID: 826 9778 6527 Join Zoom Webinar by Telephone: To access the Zoom webinar by telephone, please call 1-877-853-5247 (toll-free). Then enter Webinar ID: 826 9778 6527, followed by the pound (#) sign.

View Only Online: Members of the public who wish only to view the hearings may access the event live at https://new.mta.info/2024-capital-projects-hearing.

To Submit Comments

All written comments must be submitted by 6:00 p.m. on February 6, 2024. Comments received after that date and time will not be considered.

To View a Copy of the Complete MTA Program Projects

A complete list of projects eligible for funding under this proposal is available onsite and on the MTA Website at https://new.mta.info/2024-capital-projects-hearing or by scanning the QR Code below. Information on public viewing locations and on the projects eligible for funding can be found on the MTA website or by contacting the MTA at the address below. The MTA will also make the final program of projects available on its website https://new.mta.info/transparency/grant-management for Section 5307 funded projects when the FTA awards the Federal Fiscal Year 2024 grants.

Additional Ways to Comment or Request Information

For More Information, to Pre-Register to Speak, or to Submit Comments Those wishing to be heard at the Public Hearing must register in advance. Email comments will be accepted online on the MTA website https://new.mta.info/2024-capital-projects-hearing or in person at the hearing or by dialing (646) 252-6777.

Telephone agents are available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Verbal presentations will be limited to two (2) minutes. You may present verbal testimony or submit written statements in lieu of or to supplement oral testimony concerning the proposed projects. To submit comments, for additional information, or to request copies of the application and final program of projects to be submitted to the FTA, letters should be addressed to: MTA Capital Program Funding / Grants Management, RE: 2024 Capital Projects Public Hearing, 2 Broadway, C15.11, New York, NY 10004.

All letters must be postmarked by February 6, 2024. Comments received after that date will not be considered.

Accessibility and Language Assistance Services

At the public hearing, CART Captioning and American Sign Language services will be available.

Members of the public who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or the free 711 relay service, and then request to be connected to the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777.

Members of the public who are blind or have low vision can request accommodations on or before February 1, 2024, by submitting a request online at https://new.mta.info/2024-capital-projects-hearing or by calling the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777.

Members of the public who do not have access to a computer or to the Internet, can dial in to the hearing by calling the Zoom webinar at 1-877-853-5247 (toll-free) then enter Webinar ID: 826 9778 6527, followed by the pound (#) sign. If language assistance or any other accommodations are required, please submit a request at least three business days before the hearing date in one of the following ways: 1. online at https://new.mta.info/2024-capital-projects-hearing 2. calling the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777, or by 3. Sending a letter to: MTA Capital Program Funding / Grants Management, RE: 2024 Capital Projects Public Hearing, 2 Broadway, C15.11, New York, NY 10004.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Going your way

www.mta.info

12 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Opinion AI on NY and NJ

EDITORIAL

Nothing beats change, whether in sports or technology, like competition and such a race appears to be fully underway between New York and New Jersey when it comes to AI. On Tuesday, both Gov. Kathy Hochul and Gov. Phil Murphy cited the importance of AI in their State of the State addresses. Gov. Hochul wants to make New York the leader in artificial intelligence research and development. She proposed the creation of Empire AI––a consortium that would include seven founding institutions and be funded with more than $400 million in public and private investments.

Gov. Murphy’s plan for AI development was not as itemized as Gov. Hochul’s. He announced an “AI moonshot” of getting leaders in technology on board to bring research and development to the state. “Whatever the challenge, we are going to harness generative AI to unlock a new generation of possibilities,” he said. “The future of generative AI has yet to be written and New Jersey can be the author.

If we do not take the lead on AI, I guarantee you someone else will.”

The governor is probably very much aware of New York and other states’ aspirations on AI and, “We may be a small state, but we have always thought and acted big. And it is time to start thinking and acting big about generative AI.” So, in effect, the race is on, and both may be leagues behind California where Silicon Valley and other tech giants are in cahoots with the state and its educational institutions.

In this race, we wonder what the various chatbots and AI sites have to say about New Jersey and New York.

A few contacts said they have no real-time information, especially for requests after 2021. But ChatGPT had this to say about the plans. Several factors have to be considered: Objectives and priorities; implementation strategy, funding and resources, ethical considerations, and track records.

In short, there is little profundity here and perhaps we will learn more about the states’ success and how their commitments to AI can deliver more information.

Member

Alliance for Audited Media

In A Post-Pandemic World: Ending Black inequality and promoting public policy equity, in pursuit of the American Dream

By DR. JOHN LOUIS FLATEAU DuBois Bunche Center For Public Policy Medgar Evers College, CUNY The following is testimony given by Dr. John Louis Flateau to the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate Joint Legislative Hearing on Solutions to the Disproportionate Impacts Of COVID-19 On Minority Communities, May 18, 2020,

Local, state and national research has definitively established that Black Brooklyn and Queens are the epicenter of the national coronavirus pandemic. Not by coincidence, do African Americans and their diaspora, have a tragic historical relationship to the present catastrophe. My own ancestry includes a great grandmother, Sarah Flateau, killed by the 1918 pandemic in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. And there is a grandfather, Lt. Daniel G. Hill, Jr., who was recruited as a graduate of HBCU, Lincoln University; commissioned from America’s first U.S. Army Black Officers Training School, Fort Des Moines, Iowa; and fought in France in WWI. He came home ill from the war, dodged the bullet of the “Spanish flu”; and also survived the “Red Summer” of 1919, one of white America’s rages against Black America, including the lynching of returning American Black soldiers in uniform. Rev. Dr. Hill was a descendant of slaves, an American soldier, AME minister, social worker, “A Race Man” and activist, as well as Howard University professor and dean. He traversed this nation, with his wife and children (including my mother, Jeanne), at a time when Black lives mattered even less than now. By God’s grace, our family survived and thrived, so that their progeny can bear witness today.

In 2020, 100 years later, our family has again lost to the pandemic, in Louisiana and Brooklyn, at Medgar Evers College, in Black BrookElinor R. Tatum: Publisher lyn churches and Editor in Chief and neighborKristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor hoods, and Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor within friends Damaso Reyes: Investigative Editor and family.

Siobhan "Sam" Bennett: Juxtaposed Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Advertising with our Wilbert A. Tatum (1984-2009): raging panChairman of the Board, CEO and Publisher Emeritus demic already ravaging

Black communities, inserted among today’s triumphant and tragic videos gone viral are: a young Black man, Daquan Jones, an innocent bystander being beat down by NYC police during a social distancing sweep, eerily mirroring the Eric Garner murder scene; and a young Black man, Ahmaud Arbery, shot dead for “jogging while Black,” by white racist father and son vigilantes in Glynn County, Georgia.

After NYC’s 90% Black “stop and frisk” unconstitutional policing was confessed to and reformed, today in a pandemic, Blacks are 22% of NYC, but 66% of arrests and summonses for “social distancing violations.” Blacks are still caught in the time warp of a modernday Middle Passage, 400 years after the first enslaved Africans disembarked at Point Comfort in colonial Virginia.

From 757,000 total Africans, 92% enslaved (698,000) in the 1790 Census; to 50 million Africans in America today (including the 10% undercount), disproportionately dying in the 2020 pandemic; once again undercounting ourselves in Census 2020; and shortchanging our fair share of Resources, Representation and Rights (the “ 3 R’s”).

How much more, must we endure, Africans in America, to be truly free, in the land of liberty?

America’s “Wellness Check” is Black America’s death watch. There are vastly disproportionate Black and brown pandemic deaths in New York City; Newark, NJ; Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee; New York State, New Jersey, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana; with new hotspots emerging daily.

According to a recent Johns Hopkins University “Coronavirus Dashboard,” report which tracks deaths globally and locally, the top three death watches, out of 3,200 counties in the entire nation are all in New York City (Brooklyn - 4,373, Queens - 4,363, and the Bronx- 3,137).

Long Island (#6, Nassau-1,940, and #8, Suffolk-1,597), would be #4 in the nation, if their deaths are combined.

Three New Jersey Counties, Essex(#10 in the nation), Bergen and Middlesex have a combined 3,931 deaths, #3 in the nation. Chicago/Cook County-2,264 deaths is #4. Detroit/Wayne County, 2,082 deaths is #5. Manhattan, 1,913 deaths is #7. And Los Angeles County has 1,515 deaths, #9 in the nation.

A research consortium of Johns Hopkins, Emory University, Georgetown, Univ. of Mississippi et.al., did a recent

national study of disproportionate COVID prevalence in Black communities. The study found that the 22% of 3,200 U.S. counties which are 13% or more Black (our national percentage), accounted for 49% of US 1.3 million cases; and 55% of US 76,000 pandemic deaths in early May. The U.S. death count is now 85,000 and counting, with projections of 140,000 plus.

Additional research has found that Michigan is 14% Black, but Blacks account for 40% (3 times the number) of pandemic deaths. Wisconsin is only 7% Black, with 33% (5 times) of deaths.

Mississippi is 38% Black with 61% of deaths. Milwaukee is 39% Black with 71% of deaths. Chicago is 30% Black with 56% of deaths. Orleans Parish is 60% Black with 70% of pandemic deaths. NYC is 22% Black (2 million), but had 30% of pandemic deaths. Further, NYC’s reported 21,000 deaths may have missed an additional 5,200 pandemic deaths, according to CDC’s recent data analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has ripped off the ugly scab hiding America’s vicious malady and tragedy—400 years of the rabid, chronic disease of structural racism, driving Black inequality.

Our leaders’ fatal equivocation, moral ambiguity, petty political games, and economic paranoia, have converged at America’s jugular. And now, we are all confronting seismic shifts towards a transformative and uncertain, social, economic and political future. We were dealing with crippling economic impacts, including an official unemployment rate of 15% with 20 million officially unemployed; and another 20 million, unofficially unemployed or underemployed, America’s highest joblessness since the Great Depression.

America is in the ICU once again. Is there a doctor in the house? We and our God are our savior, and we need a miracle cure. An enlightened, unified, multiracial democracy called “we the people” is our own best medicine. To paraphrase philosopher George Santayana, “Those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it.” Either our Leaders didn’t see the pandemic coming, or they ignored the warning signs. Both scenarios are unacceptable.

Our slow response has reaped 87,000 deaths so far in just two months and is growing at a rate of 1,000+ per day, more total deaths than in the See EQUITY on page 31

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 13

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS O P I N I O N

Emerging from the Shadows: The Struggle and Progress in America’s Fight Against Poverty 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

The United States is known The Supplemental Pover- enced by a 7.8% increase in infor its economic and mili- ty Measure (SPM) for 2022 was flation—the largest annual rise tary prowess. Its diversity of 12.4%, marking an increase of since 1981. The real median cultures and ideas has made 4.6 percentage points from 2021. earnings of all workers also dethis country a destination for This increase, the first of its kind creased by 2.2% between 2021 people from all over the world in since 2010, can be largely attrib- and 2022. search of the “American The distribution of dream.” However, even poverty in the United the wealthiest counStates is uneven, with try in the world deals significant variations with poverty. Accordacross age groups and “Poverty in the U.S. is a ing to the U.S. Census geographical regions.

Bureau, 42.31 million The child poverty rate multifaceted issue, impacted people lived in poverin 2022 was reported ty as of 2020, and while at 16.3%, higher than by a range of factors including this number may seem the overall rate. In coneconomic policies, access to staggering, it is roughtrast, the poverty rate ly 12.75% of the total for those aged 65 and education and availability of population of around over was lower, at 10.9%.

332 million. Economic The geographical distrihealthcare. The numbers have self-sufficiency is a critibution of poverty rates since improved since 2020. cal component of lifting presents a diverse picAmericans out of povture, with more than In fact, in 2022, the official erty, while this hurdle half of the states in the is challenging for most, Southern region reportpoverty rate was 11.5%, the Aspen Institute cited ing child poverty rates census data that indicatexceeding 18%. translating to 37.9 million ed that 3.5 million AmerTo combat poverty efpeople living in poverty. This icans lifted themselves fectively, it is critical to out of poverty in 2015. adopt targeted stratrate has remained relatively Those numbers continegies tailored to the ue to rise, albeit not fast unique needs of differunchanged since 2021, enough for those tasked ent demographics and indicating the persistence of with studying and creregions.

Investment ating ways to solve this in education and job poverty across the nation.” problem. training, alongside polWhile these numicies supporting wage bers seem intractable, growth and affordable they only tell part of the healthcare, are key facstory. Poverty in the U.S. tors in reducing poveris a multifaceted issue, impact- uted to changes in federal tax ty. Additionally, we must tackle ed by a range of factors includ- policy. The expiration of tempo- systemic issues that contribute ing economic policies, access rary expansions to the Child Tax to income inequality and ecoto education and availability of Credit and the Earned Income nomic disparities. healthcare. The numbers have Tax Credit, as well as the end While the United States offers since improved since 2020. In of pandemic-era stimulus pay- ample opportunities, it also fact, in 2022, the official pover- ments, have played a significant faces the daunting challenge ty rate was 11.5%, translating to role in this rise. of poverty. A concerted effort 37.9 million people living in povThe economic landscape of from policymakers, community erty. This rate has remained rel- the U.S. in 2022 showed a de- leaders, and citizens is required atively unchanged since 2021, cline in real median house- to diminish poverty and ensure indicating the persistence of hold income by 2.3%, settling at the American dream is achievpoverty across the nation. $74,580. This decline was influ- able for all.

Planning for 2024 CHRISTINA

GREER PH.D. I have written quite a bit in this column about my latent anxiety about the pending 2024 election and all that this year can possibly bring. I must admit that I am worried about the future of this country, democracy writ large, and what the political fallout could look like for millions of Americans if we do not pay attention to the dangers of the Republican party and their policy platforms.

I also know that I cannot become consumed with reading the news and worrying about politics every moment of the day. I can only control what I can control.

Keeping that in mind, there are ways I can organize myself and my life to ensure a somewhat less stressful 2024.

First, on a political front, I am going to make sure I educate my friends and family about the importance of registering to vote. I want to make sure they have the appropriate information so they can be prepared for primaries occurring in their respective states, as well as the November election. I know it might seem far off, but we know time truly flies by and we do not want to be caught unprepared and unable to participate.

Second, I am completing “minor” tasks in my own life to release clutter in the mind, spirit, and physical environment so I can have energy and clarity for the months ahead. I have already begun to purge: clothes, old electronics, magazines, and overall clutter. I have found that remov-

ing unwanted items from my home allows me to see what I already have, give to others who may be in need, and allow new blessings to come into my life.

I recently discovered a note that encouraged the reader to do the following to start the year off correctly, such as getting rid of old shoes, dead plants, burntout candles (I have lots of those), expired medications, toys your children have outgrown, and books you don’t enjoy or will never read.

I also cleared out my refrigerator and cupboards, threw out old electronics and miscellaneous cords, discarded old makeup, and got rid of old magazines that I had never read.

These may seem like minor things to do, but you will be amazed at how much lighter you and your home will feel.

It is my sincere hope that 2024 will be a year where we see all of the seeds we’ve planted come to fruition. I tend not to make resolutions, but I do like to set intentions. However you decide to organize your new year, I hope it will include selfcare, a focus on the future, and building connections with friends new and old. Here’s to 2024!

Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio; and a 2023-24 Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at CCNY.

“It is my sincere hope that 2024 will be a year where we see all of the seeds we’ve planted come to fruition.”

14 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Caribbean Update

Caricom zeroes in on Haiti

BY BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews To say that Caribbean leaders are concerned about Haiti is an understatement as the region’s poorest and most populous member nation continues its downward spiral, with gangs controlling large parts of the capital, Port Au Prince, and other urban areas.

In response, Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders met virtually as the new year began, to discuss the situation in Haiti.

They have agreed to redouble efforts to help bring back some level of stability to the island nation of more than 11 million.

The leaders were briefed about the situation on the ground and determined that living conditions and the general atmosphere in Haiti remain in dire shape, with dozens of people killed and/or injured each week, similar numbers being chased from their homes, and chaos

reigning without any main elected central authority in place.

With regional bloc headquarter nation Guyana set to host the first of the two main summits in the coming weeks, new Caricom Chair and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali led the first leaders’ session on Haiti for the year this past weekend. The meeting called on Haitian stakeholders to redouble efforts toward implementing a transitional authority that could organize fresh and credible general elections and allow the island nation to be run by elected representatives for the first time in months.

The recurring theme of the seventh special session on Haiti had much to do with attempts to organize elections so the country can be run by elected, rather than interim, representatives. The country has had no president or elected parliamentary representatives since the brutal July 2021 assassina-

tion of President Jovenel Moise at the hands of hired foreign mercenaries. The region wants order restored. Several of those involved have been arrested and charged, including many deemed as intellectual authors.

“Heads called on all stakeholders in Haiti to exert every effort to urgently arrive at a political resolution and the implementation of a transitional roadmap toward stability, the facilitation of humanitarian support, the holding of credible elections, the restoration of political and institutional legitimacy, and long-term development for the Haitian people,” the leaders said.

They also discussed the imminent deployment of a United Nations-controlled multinational peacekeeping and stabilization force to Haiti, with several governments pledging to send military or police personnel along with the force to support the local police system.

Among the latest to confirm was Suriname, with President Chan Santokhi telling reporters that the Dutch-speaking Caricom nation is ready, willing, and able to contribute boots on the ground when the UN is ready to deploy.

“Suriname will provide a security force to participate in the multinational security mission for Haiti,” he said. “I have already proposed in the past to start a platform for coordination toward Haiti. In that platform, we will have all the institutions and we can take coordinated initiatives toward Haiti.”

Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Trinidad, and others have all pledged to contribute to any force that would be deployed.

The UN had agreed that Kenya would be the lead country on the mission, but opposition court challenges have led to delays. The Bahamas pledged to send 150 personnel, with Prime Minister Phillip Davis telling reporters that the men

and women have already been identified and trained for the mission whenever the green light is given.

At the invitation of Haitian stakeholders, Caricom has organized an eminent persons group comprising three former regional prime ministers to bring the parties together to help clear the way for elections and a restoration of constitutional rules.

A release last month indicated some amount of progress from sessions held in both Haiti and Jamaica. Other visits to Haiti by the former leaders are planned in the coming weeks.

“The community remains committed to working with the people and all stakeholders in Haiti toward durable peace and sustainable development,” the statement noted. “Caricom looks forward to strengthened collaboration and coordination of efforts with the friends of Haiti and the wider international community in support of Haiti.”

Twelve U.S. immigration detention centers each surpass 1,000 detainees—TRAC FELICIA PERSAUD

IMMIGRATION KORNER Recent data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), analyzed by The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse ( TRAC) at Syracuse University reveals that twelve immigration detention centers across the United States are each holding an average daily population (ADP) exceeding 1,000 detainees.

Predominantly located in the South and Southwest, these facilities include five in Texas, two in Louisiana, and one each in Arizona, California, Georgia, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.

ADP is a fiscal year average and does not reflect the total number of migrants currently detained. Leading the list in

terms of ADP is the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, accommodating 1,868 individuals, closely followed by the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall with 1,659 detainees.

Both are operated by private contractors. The Stewart Detention Center in Georgia, another privately run facility, ranks fourth with an ADP of 1,514. The Adams County Detention Center in Mississippi, 1,594, and the Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana (1,483), round out the top five, both publicly owned but contracted to ICE. Other facilities with notable ADP figures include the Eloy Detention Center in Arizona, Otay Mesa Detention Center in California, Karnes County Immigration Processing Center in Texas, Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylva-

nia, Montgomery Processing Center in Texas, Port Isabel SPC in Texas, and Jackson Parish Correctional Center in Louisiana. Detailed ADP statistics for all ICE facilities are available through TRAC’s website.

As of December 31, 2023, the total number of detained immigrants stands at 37,131.

TRAC reports indicate an increase in the overall number of detainees and in the duration of detention stays. Notably, 66.8% of the detainees, or 24,796 individuals, have no criminal record.

Texas remains the primary state for housing ICE detainees in FY 2024. In November 2023 alone, ICE and CBP booked 17,693 people into detention.

Concurrently, ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) programs are monitoring 194,797 families and individuals, with San Francisco’s area office over-

seeing the highest numbers.

for traffic violations, totaling only 36 so far this fiscal year. In terms of more severe crimes, there have been 6 arrests for homicide and manslaughter, and 48 for illegal weapons possession, transport, or trafficking. Drug-related offenses, including possession and trafficking, account for 308 arrests.

Other notable categories include 131 arrests for burglary, robbery, larceny, theft, and fraud, while those apprehended for assault, battery, and domestic violence total 188.

These data provide a factual basis for understanding the nature of criminal activities among the non-citizen immigrant population intercepted

by Border Patrol.

Additional Data Highlights Border Patrol Arrest Trends In FY 2024 Recent enforcement statistics from the U.S. Border Patrol for Fiscal Year 2024 show a diverse range of offenses among arrested non-citizen criminals.

Fiscal year 2024 began on October 1, 2023 and will end on September 30, 2024.

The predominant reason for arrests this fiscal year, amounting to 1,954 instances, is criminal entry or re-entry. The second most common offense is driving under the influence, with 490 arrests recorded.

Contrary to some right-wing political narratives and analyses, the data indicate that Felicia J. Persaud is the publisher sexual offense arrests among of NewsAmericasNow.com, a daily immigrants are significant- news outlet focusing on Black imly lower compared to those migrant issues.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

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Must be postmarked by this date. Sending more than 1 application may disqualify čđƽĠē ćĕĘĊƟĉ হাউিজং you.

How to Apply: äĘąĀĂ öćđ ĺĀíĠđĉ ĺċČ þđĒĉð: ćđôŪ 15, 2024 ëå þđĒĉĘðĉ ćĘāƟ ãąċƟå ãĂĊđåĘĂ ãÿąđ ĺćĊ ëĉ ćđāƟĘć öćđ ĒĀĘþ ĎĘąÞ 1 ëĉ ãĒāï äĘąĀĂ öćđ ïĉĘĊ Request Application By Phone or Email: 212.899.7150 or ResidentialCompliance@durst.org äăĂđĘï ãĘĈđñƟ ĒĎĘčĘą āĘĉ ĺĂíĠđ ĎĘąÞ Street, floor, New York, NY 10019

By Mail or In-Person: HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th ĺĄđĂ ãÿąđ5th åĘćĘĊĉ ćđāƟĘć: 212.899.7150 ResidentialCompliance@durst.org ëïöĂ ąƟĒǏĉ ãÿąđ ĺćĊ ëĉ HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 Include your address & the name and address of the building where you want ćđāƟĘć: to apply.

YOU HAVE RIGHTS!

전화 또는 이메일: 212.899.7150 ResidentialCompliance@durst.org Includi il tuo indirizzo per cui 우편 또는 내방: HELENAe57l'indirizzo West, 601dell'edificio West 57th Street, 5thdesideri floor, Newcandidarti York, NY 10019 N/A주소를 포함시키십시오 Data e 주소 luogo lotteria: 신청자 및della 신청하려는 건물 La lotteria determina quali domande verranno esaminate per l'affitto. 추첨일 및 추첨 장소: N/A 추첨을 통해 입주 심사 대상이 될 신청서를 결정하게 됩니다

Русский язык (Russian) Доступное жилье в наличии

äăĒĂ ĺĈðđĘĂ äĘąĀĂ ïĉĘþ ôđĂ ĺčðđĂïđĉ LJïđĂđ ëąá äăĂđĉ ĒąĒɟáĘĠĉ LJïđĂđ ãȭĆĔŪ Ǐ ï˙ĂÞ লটািরর তািরখ এবং ãąʆđĂ: N/A ĊùđĒĉĉ ćđāƟĘć ĒĂāŪđĉý ïĉđ ĎĘą ĺĈ ĺïđĂ ãƟđĒɀĘïċĂʟĘĊđ ĆđĞđĘùĉ öĂƟ ăĈŪđĘĊđôĂđ ïĉđ ĎĘąÞ

Срок подачи заявления: 15 марта 2024 Заявление должна быть подана онлайн или по почте к этой дате. Отправка более 1 заявления может дисквалифицировать вас. По телефону или электронной почте: 212.899.7150 ResidentialCompliance@durst.org По почте или лично: HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 Включите ваш адрес и адрес здания, на которое вы хотите подать заявку. Дата и место проведения лотереи: N/A Лотерея определит, какие заявки будут рассмотрены на предмет аренды.

Reasonable accommodation and modifications may be requested POLSKI● (Polish)

‫( اردو زﺑﺎن‬URDU)

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION

● If you have experienced housing discrimination: https://dhr.ny.gov/journey-fair-housing or call 844-862-8703

DOSTĘPNE MIESZKANIA W PRZYSTĘPNEJ CENIE

Termin składania wniosków: 15 marcu 2024 r Wniosek należy złożyć online. W przypadku wysyłki pocztą, z datą stempla pocztowego do tego dnia. Wysłanie więcej niż 1 wniosku może spowodować dyskwalifikację.

Wniosek otrzymasz: __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Przez telefon lub e-mail: 212.899.7150 ResidentialCompliance@durst.org Governor Kathy Hochul HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas www.hcr.gov/lotteries Drogą pocztową lub osobiście: HELENA 57 West, 601 West NYHousingSearch.gov 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 Podaj swój adres oraz adres budynku, którego dotyczy wniosek Data i miejsce loterii: N/A Loteria określa, które wnioski zostaną rozpatrzone pod kątem najmu.

‫( אידיש‬Hebrew) ● Learn about how your credit and background check will be individually reviewed: https://on.ny.gov/3uLNLw4

‫צוגענגליכע האוזינג איז אוועילעבל‬

2024 ,15 ‫ מרץ‬:‫אפליקאציע דיו דאטום‬

‫ﺳﺳﺗﯽ رﮨﺎﺋش دﺳﺗﯾﺎب ﮨﮯ‬

2024 ,15 ‫ ﻣﺎرچ‬:‫درﺧواﺳت ﮐﯽ آﺧری ﺗﺎرﯾﺦ‬

‫ ﺳﮯ زﯾﺎده درﺧواﺳت ﺑﮭﯾﺟﻧﺎ‬1 ‫ اﮔر ﻣﯾل ﮐﯾﺎ ﺟﺎﺋﮯ ﺗو اس ﺗﺎرﯾﺦ ﺗﮏ ﭘوﺳٹ ﻣﺎرک ﮐﯾﺎ ﺟﺎﺋﮯ۔‬،‫آن ﻻﺋن ﺟﻣﻊ ﮐراﻧﺎ ﺿروری ﮨﮯ ﯾﺎ‬ ‫آپ ﮐو ﻧﺎاﮨل ﻗرار دے ﺳﮑﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ۔‬ :‫درﺧواﺳت ﺣﺎﺻل ﮐرﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ‬ ResidentialCompliance@durst.org 212.899.7150 :‫ﻓون ﯾﺎ ای ﻣﯾل ﺳﮯ‬ HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 :‫ڈاک ﺳﮯ ﯾﺎ ﺧود آﻓس ﺟﺎ ﮐر‬ ‫اﭘﻧﺎ ﭘﺗہ اور ﻋﻣﺎرت ﮐﺎ ﭘﺗہ ﺷﺎﻣل ﮐرﯾں ﺟﮩﺎں آپ درﺧواﺳت دﯾﻧﺎ ﭼﺎﮨﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں‬ N/A :‫ﻻﭨری ﮐﯽ ﺗﺎرﯾﺦ اور ﻣﻘﺎم‬ ‫ﻻﭨری اس ﺑﺎت ﮐﺎ ﺗﻌﯾن ﮐرﺗﯽ ﮨﮯ ﮐہ ﮐراﯾہ داری ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ ﮐن درﺧواﺳﺗوں ﮐﺎ ﺟﺎﺋزه ﻟﯾﺎ ﺟﺎﺋﮯﮔﺎ۔‬

‫( اﻟﻌَ رَ ِﺑﻲ‬Arabic)

‫ﯾﺗوﻓر اﻟﺳﻛن ﻣﯾﺳور اﻟﺗﻛﻠﻔﺔ‬

2024 ،‫ ﻣﺎرس‬15 :‫اﻟﺗﺎرﯾﺦ اﻟﻣُﺣدﱠد ﻟطﻠب اﻟﺗﻘدﯾم‬

.‫ געפאסטמארק'ד ביז דעם דאטום‬,‫ אדער אויב עס ווערט געשיקט דורך די פאסט‬,‫מוז ווערן אריינגעגעבן אנליין‬ KREYÒL AYISYEN paj kap vini an 한국어다음.‫דיסקוואליפיצירן‬ 페이지 [ąđáĊđ] ăĉąþʗ ăĖɵđ РУССКИЙ ‫אייך‬- ‫עס‬ ‫אפליקאציע קען‬ 1 ‫אויב איר שיקט מער פון‬ :‫אפליקאציע‬ Следующая страница POLSZCZYZNA następna strona ‫ اﮔﻼ ﺻﻔﺣہ‬- ‫ اردو‬ITALIANO pagina successiva FRANÇAIS page suivante ‫צו באקומען די‬ ResidentialCompliance@durst.org 212.899.7150 :‫דורך די טעלעפאן אדער אימעיל‬ ‫ וויי ַטער בלאַט‬- ‫אידיש‬ HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY :‫דורך די פאסט אדער פערזענליך‬ Español (Spanish) 中文 (Simplifed Chinese) 10019 ‫רעכנט אריין אייער אדרעס און די אדרעס פון די געביידע ווא איר ווילט זיך איינגעבן‬ Vivienda asequible disponible 可提供經濟適用房 Fecha limite de entrega de la solicitud: 15 de marzo del 2024 申請截止日期: 3月 15 2024 N/A‫דאטום און לאקאציע לאטערי‬ Debe entregarse por internet o por correo postal a más tardar en esta fecha. Si envía más de 1 solicitud podría 請務必在此日期前線上提交申請或透過郵寄提交申請。提交超過1份申請將使您失去資格. ‫די לאטערי באשטימט וועלכע אפליקאציעס וועלן ווערן איבערגעקוקט פאר טענענסי‬. quedar descalificado.

‫ ﻗد ﯾؤدي إرﺳﺎﻟك ﻷﻛﺛر ﻣن‬.‫ ﯾﺗم ﺧﺗم اﻟﺑرﯾد ﺑﺣﻠول ھذا اﻟﺗﺎرﯾﺦ‬،‫ وﻓﻲ ﺣﺎﻟﺔ إرﺳﺎﻟﮫ ﺑﺎﻟﺑرﯾد اﻟﻌﺎدي‬،‫ﯾﺟب أن ﯾﺗم ﺗﻘدﯾﻣﮫ ﻋﺑر اﻹﻧﺗرﻧت‬ .‫طﻠب ﺗﻘدﯾم واﺣد إﻟﻰ إﻟﻐﺎء أھﻠﯾﺗك‬ :‫ﻟﻠﺣﺻول ﻋﻠﻰ طﻠب اﻟﺗﻘدﯾم‬ ResidentialCompliance@durst.org 212.899.7150 :‫ﻋﺑر اﻟﮭﺎﺗف أو اﻟﺑرﯾد اﻹﻟﻛﺗروﻧﻲ‬ HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 :‫ﺑﺷﻛل ﺷﺧﺻﻲ‬ ‫ﻋﺑر اﻟﺑرﯾد اﻟﻌﺎدي أو‬ ٍ ‫ﻋﻠﯾك ﺗﺿﻣﯾن ﻋﻧواﻧك وﻋﻧوان اﻟﻣﺑﻧﻰ اﻟذي ﺗرﯾد اﻟﺗﻘدﯾم ﻟﻠﺳﻛن ﻓﯾﮫ‬ N/A :‫ﺗﺎرﯾﺦ اﻧﻌﻘﺎد اﻟﻘرﻋﺔ وﻣﻛﺎﻧﮭﺎ‬ ‫ ُﺗﺣدﱢد اﻟﻘرﻋﺔ طﻠﺑﺎت اﻟﺗﻘدﯾم اﻟﺗﻲ ﺳﺗﺗم ﻣراﺟﻌﺗﮭﺎ ﻣن أﺟل اﻹﯾﺟﺎر‬.

Para Obtender La Solicitud:

ITALIANO (Italian)

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ALLOGGIO CONVENIENTE DISPONIBILE

LOGEMENT ABORDABLE DISPONIBLE

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申请

透過電話或電子郵件: 212.899.7150 ResidentialCompliance@durst.org Por telefono o email: 212.899.7150 ResidentialCompliance@durst.org 透過郵寄或當面索取: HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 Por correo postal o en persona: HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 請提供您的地址和您想要申請的建築物地址 Incluya su dirección y la dirección del edificio en el que quiere presentar la solicitud.

N/A 15 Marzo 2024 Data di scadenza抽籤日期和地點: della domanda: Fecha y lugar de la loteria: N/A - 將透過抽籤決定對哪些租賃申請進行審核 La lotería determinará cuáles aplicaciones se analizarán para el alquiler

Deve essere inviato online o, se spedito, con timbro postale entro tale data. L'invio di più di 1 domanda potrebbe portarti alla squalifica.

KREYÒL AYISYEN (Haitian Creole) 한국어 (Korean) Per ottenere l'applicazione: Lojman Pri Abòdab Disponib 임대 주택 이용 가능 Per telefono o e-mail: 212.899.7150 ResidentialCompliance@durst.org Dat Delè Aplikasyon an: 15ye mas 2024 신청서 제출 기한: 2024년 3월 15일 Dwe soumèt sou entènèt oswa nan lapòs nan dat sa a. Voye plis pase 1 aplikasyon ka diskalifye ou.Per posta o di persona: HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 이 날짜까지 온라인 또는 우편으로 제출해야 합니다. 1건 이상의 신청서 제출 시 실격 처리 됩니다 To Get Application: 전화 또는 이메일: 212.899.7150 ResidentialCompliance@durst.org Includi il tuo indirizzo e l'indirizzo dell'edificio per cui desideri candidarti Nan Telefòn oswa Imel: 212.899.7150 ResidentialCompliance@durst.org 우편 또는 내방: HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 lotteria: N/A Pa Lapòs oswa An-pèsòn: HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 Data e luogo della 신청자 주소 및 신청하려는 건물 주소를 포함시키십시오 Mete adrès ou & adrès bilding kote ou vle aplike a La lotteria determina 추첨일quali 및 추첨domande 장소: N/A verranno esaminate per l'affitto.

Dat lotri & Andwa: N/A Lotri a ap detèmine ki aplikasyon yo pral revize pou lokasyon

추첨을 통해 입주 심사 대상이 될 신청서를 결정하게 됩니다

전화 또는 우편 또는 신청자 주 추첨일 및 추첨을 통

Срок под Заявлен может д По телеф По почте Включит Дата и м Лотерея

DOSTĘPNE MIESZKANIA W PRZYSTĘPNEJ CENIE

Your household must meet these income restrictions:

AMI 40%

신청서 제

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024이•날짜까 15

Dwe soumèt sou entènèt oswa nan lapòs nan dat sa a. Voye plis pase 1 aplikasyon ka diskalifye ou.

Date limite de dépôt des demandes: 15 mars 2024 À soumettre en ligne ou, si envoyée par courrier, doit porter un cachet de la poste ne dépassant pas la date limite. Vous pourriez être disqualifié si vous envoyez plus d’une demande.

Pour postuler : Par téléphone ou e-mail: 212.899.7150 ResidentialCompliance@durst.org Par courrier ou en personne: HELENA 57 West, 601 West 57th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019 Indiquez votre adresse et celle de l’immeuble pour lequel vous déposez une demande Date et lieu de la loterie N/A C’est la loterie qui détermine les demandes qui seront étudiées en vue de la location.

‫ﺳت ﺑﮭﯾﺟﻧﺎ‬

HE

‫ﯾﺎ ﺟﺎﺋﮯﮔﺎ۔‬

‫اﻟﻌَ رَ ِﺑﻲ‬

‫ﻛﺛر ﻣن‬

HELENA

França

LOGEM

Date lim À soume pas la da Pour po Par télép Par cour 10019 Indiquez Date et C’est la

16 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

Education

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Slots open for TeenHacks LI’s free, student-run hackathon

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff A free, student-run hackathon is coming to Long Island, and organizers want high schoolers from New York City to participate.

TeenHacks LI is hosting a day-long hackathon at Hofstra University on Sunday, January 21. To join, just register via their Google form before January 7 and then be ready to attend the event with your own laptop and devices in hand. The hackathon can only accept 110 participants.

“Hacking is basically where all the registrants collaborate in teams of about two to four and they basically just code: create and brainstorm ideas that they would want to implement into projects that have real world effects,” said Ray Kong, TeenHacks LI’s press coordinator.

The hackathon will start at 9 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. Hackers will be in teams, thinking about ways to use programs to creatively resolve the problem posed by the day’s theme. Past hackathons have created Chrome extensions that could monitor what data was entering a computer and an app for an online merchandise store to support the LGBTQ+ plus community. The event is a full day’s challenge. Participants also have breaks where they can attend workshops; listen to professional speakers; and receive a free lunch, free snacks, free T-

TeenHacks LI participants at a spring 2019 workshop (TeenHacks LI photos)

shirts, and swag—all while talking through their ideas.

The TeenHacks LI hackathon will be a chance for teens who are interested in broadening their understanding of software designs to join with others and think about ways computer programming can help improve a situation. The event is ideal for young kids who are new to or testing out their knowledge of coding.

Organizers say they want their hackathon to foster a safe community for hacking and to have few barriers to entry: They want

And that, I think, allows as many people as possible to be open to enjoying a new experience, like a hackathon.”

Hacking originally had negative connotations: It conjured up the image of nefarious computer wizards trying to find a way into computer networks to steal vital information.

TeenHacks LI creators, who have been organizing hackathons since 2018, said they want to help redefine what it means to be a hacker. “Normally, you have this sort of negative connotation with hacking,” Kong told the AmNews. “But with us, being able to create life-changing products and lifechanging applications, these students will come away with this sort of problem-solving collaboration and new ways of thinking that you wouldn’t normally get in a classroom.

“You’re exposed to people you’ve never met before and it’s…this think tank of ideas where everyone is contributing toward a common cause––and that is, making something beautiful. You’re able to learn from the workshops that we provide and then build something and then share it out at the end.

You basically go through the entire production process and maybe some of these students will…become future entrepreneurs [who] will be thriving in our world.”

participants to be okay with reaching and stepping out of their comfort zone.

“Normally, it’s tough, but in a regular hackathon, you would have to have a pre-registered team,” Kong said. “Normally, they’re not going to organize you into teams—you would have to register as a team by yourself.

If you don’t really have any experience, it’s kind of hard to gather a bunch of people who don’t really know anything about coding and then be successful in that. With us, whethFor more information about the hacker you have a team or whether you’re regis- athon, visit the TeenHacks LI website at tering individually, we have a space for you. www.teenhacksli.com.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

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

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 17

Pg. 20 Your Stars

Remembering Vinie Burrows

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews This past Christmas, December 25, 2023, marked the day that 99-year-old theater legend and civil rights activist Vinie Burrows made her transition.

It is said that “if I can help someone along the way, then my living will not have been in vain.” These words, in so many ways, epitomize the life of Burrows, who was a staunch advocate for civil rights even into her later years. She had a spirit about her that was full of energy, love, warmth, and wisdom.

In hearing about her passing, I was quite saddened. I spoke to some of those who knew and loved her greatly and asked them to answer three questions: how long they knew her; what was their favorite memory of her; and what is her legacy.

Tony Award-winner Andre DeShields said, “I’ve known Vinie Burrows since the Civil Rights era. She, along with Ruby Dee, Lena Horne, Harry Belafonte, and Ossie Davis, part of the entertainment community there, were active in the Civil Rights Movement.

“I’ve known her personally since 2017.

My favorite memory is when she said yes to my invitation to escort her to the Tony Awards in 2019. It was my third nomination. We had started to work earlier with Rachel Chavkin in her creative group called the TEAM. Vinie and I would go down as the elder members of the group. Once I came back from London and got the Tony nomination—it was my third, and I was thinking, ‘Who do I want to accompany me?” and I thought [about] how important it is for the younger members of the theater community to see the generations before them come together—[for]people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s can see people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s who came before them.

“I asked her if I could escort her to the Tony Awards and she was excited. I invited her to come to the matinee of ‘Hadestown.”

I had a car pick her up, bring her to the matinees; she waited for me to change and then we took the car to the Tony Awards.

“I consider that ancestral ritual part of the blessing of winning the Tony. We posted photos on the internet, on my social media, and people asked who I was with. She had lasted so long and had not been in the spotlight as [much as] many of us thought she deserved. You can shine a spotlight with this new technology, so why not shine it on Vinie Burrows?

“Her legacy is longevity, the maternal essence—everyone was her child. She blazed

2009. I asked what her plans were and did she want to spend it with my husband and me at my house. She said, ‘Every Thanksgiving, I do what I do every year. I go to Plymouth Rock and I protest with the Indigenous people,’ and she invited my husband and I to go, and we did. We were on the bus with her at 4 a.m.!

“That type of activism, that type of standing for the people, was so ingrained in her.

“I was with her every day for weeks before she passed. Even up to those days when her body was in a weakened spirit, her spirit was so strong and for the people.

I would read poetry to her from Langston Hughes. In her weakened state, she would raise her fist in activism.

“I wanted the nurses and doctors to know the queen who was in their midst, the quality of human that they were caring for. As I would tell them, she would raise her fist and say, ‘I’m for the people, all the people.’

“She was a remarkable inspiration to hundreds and thousands of us students who sat at her feet and knew her value. As I told her in those weeks in the hospital, 2018 photo of Vinie Burrows with Andre DeShields (Photo by Lia Chang) we took good notes and we will carry on in her name. She kept saying ‘Carry on, carry on,’ and we will. I feel beyond honored to have known her, worked with her, to have called her my friend, to have sat at her feet, and that she allowed me to care for her and love on her…

“I would sing to her, read poetry, kiss her head. The first few weeks, she was talkative. It was beyond an honor for me to have that opportunity. When she was in the hospital, they mentioned that she had a stream of people coming in to see her and the staff wondered who this person was. “We are here because of her heart, her spirit, and her love of the people in general and the people individually. I have never heard a cross, cruel word out of that woman’s mouth; nothing but words of upliftment and support. She supported other artists, she gave them guidance. She showed up at their shows and my shows.

“Before she was hospitalized, she lived Vinie Burrows with Andre DeShields in 2018 (Lia Chang photo) independently and was still working at a trail in what was once a wilderness. That’s Actress Rhonda Ross said, “We met in 99! Vinie Burrows leaves a legacy of deep why I tried to pay homage to her in the 2003—we were both cast in Daniel Alexan- and abiding and broad-spectrum, unmost effective way I could by sharing my der Jones’s play ‘Phoenix Fabrik.’ The show conditional love and upliftment. A righcelebrity with her. was in Minneapolis; it was a four-person teous love. And it comes from a foregone “The TEAM is planning to put together show. The energy was very mother-daugh- time. Our love is different now—it’s polara memorial for Vinie. The TEAM involves ter and we kept that chemistry [through- ized, conditional, and segmented—but an array of different personalities, so we out] the 40 years of knowing each other. Vinie exemplified this broad-spectrum, are waiting for everyone to absorb what She was my mother, my mentor, and my unconditional, strong, and courageous has happened. Sometime soon, the TEAM friend, and I just adored her and I still do. love. Love that is in deed, not just in word will do something to commemorate Vinie “There are so many memories. One that or in concept.” going home.” comes to mind is one Thanksgiving before See VINIE BURROWS on page 18

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Vinie Burrows

“When I told her that it was a blessing that she was still here and I was able to visit her and share that special moment with her, it meant so much, because if she had left, I couldn’t have had that special moment with her. She shared with me that she was ready.

“My wife, my daughter, and I visited her on Christmas Eve…She was weak, but you could still see that energy in her, and then the next day, she was gone.

Continued from page 17

Interdisciplinary artist and playwright Daniel Alexander Jones was also glad to share.

“I knew Ms. Vinie for 23 years. She was a dear friend and guiding light; we worked together many times. I have so many memories of her; vivid imprints of her acting, oratory, and political activism, but I always recall an afternoon when I ran into Ms. Vinie walking up the street with her shopping cart outside her building in the Lower East Side. Synchronicity.

She didn’t even say hello—it was as though we were simply continuing our years-long conversation. She met my eye, grabbed my arm, and shook me, saying in her inimitable voice: ‘Life is motion, life is motion, life is motion!’

“She dropped my arm, her message delivered, and walked away. I made that the chorus of a song, and always credit her for reminding me never to get stuck, to always stay in the flow of life. She saw across time, I believe.

“Ms. Vinie’s legacy? She loved humanity and never abandoned her commitment to justice, making each performance or appearance an offering to deepen and elevate our compassion, bravery, and deep witness. She will be remembered for the extraordinary span and excellence of her art. But for those who knew her well, we will remember her as a perfect embodiment of absolute, unwavering, fierce love.”

Rome Neal, actor, playwright, jazz singer, producer, and director, had a beautiful friendship with Ms. Burrows. He recalled, “She won the AUDELCO Award for ‘Shango’ in 1994, and we go back a few more years because she worked on an Ismael Reed play, ‘Hubba City.’

We’ve known each other for over 30 years. She did readings of Ismael Reed’s plays. She did the tribute to Miguel Algarin in a memorial service we held for him and she read one of his poems and she turned it out. She was stupendous! She read with such vigor and dramatic flair, and she was 94 then.

“She set the standard for all those who came after her.

“There’s a few (favorite moments). One of them is seeing her at age 89 dancing with this young man to hip hop music at the African Market on 116th Street, when we had just left Gertrude Jeannette’s memorial service. She was just getting down with this young boy and everyone surrounded her and was just cheering her on and she was in her zone.

“The other would be seeing her with so much fire, energy as she was Obatala in ‘Shango’—she was the mother of Shango, who was played by the late Lloyd Goodman. Both of them won AUDELCO Awards for lead actors.

“Her dramatic flair was par excellence!

“The last one for me would be to visit her in the hospital and on her last month and to sing to her, and she was singing back and she was rejoicing. As I was singing ‘Here’s to Life,’ I did a Yoruba chant to Elegba, she raised her hands in the air and shook her body and smiled with so much fierce fire in her eyes and a smile of appreciation, and you could see she wasn’t going anywhere any time soon.

Vinie Burrows at 2023 event held by the TEAM, a group she participated in

“Her legacy is all the great works that she’s done over the years: theatrical productions from the Nuyorican to New York Theatre Workshop, her work on Broadway at a very young age, and her solo shows that she toured the world with. Her being the GOAT— the greatest of all time—and that was one reason why Andre DeShields had her on his arm when he received his Tony Award.”

Vinie Burrows at an event held by The TEAM, a group she was a part of (Lia Chang photos)

Vinie Burrows with Andre DeShields, Grace Jones, and Rome Neal

Woodie King Jr., retired New Federal Theatre founder, had a tenderness, respect, and love in his voice as he said, “I’ve known Vinie for 40 to 50 years. My favorite memories are when New Federal Theatre was doing a production of ‘Rose McClendon,’ directed by Douglas Turner Ward, and rehearsals of that play daily for a month and the fun we had—Vinie played the lead role and she wrote the work as well.

“Another memory is her last birthday, at St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery. She’s sitting and we’re laughing; that’s a memory.

“What it all boils down to is whenever I was with Vinie, it was fun, never upsetting. She was 98 at that birthday. We all cherished her, spoke highly of her—Rome Neal and Alan Lee Hughes were there, along with so many others, and each person shared their love for her.

“Vinie’s legacy was staying power and commitment to the Black theater; although she worked in television and all over, she was committed and that’s what the Black theater needs. Vinie Burrows was/is a part of the Black Theater Movement. She was a fine actress.”

God blessed our community with such a lovely lady!

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January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 19

Les McCann, fusionist of soul jazz, dies at 88

t r t IBy RONALD E. SCOTT h Les McCann, the pianist and singer nwhose love for r&b soul music became da part of his jazz repertoire, rushed in ta younger generation to the jazz platform, and later ignited the hip hop community to sample his tunes, died in a Los Angeles hospital on December 29, 2023. He was 88; the native of Lexington, Kentucky, was born on September 23, 1935.

The cause was pneumonia, said Alan Abrahams, a record producer and McCann’s longtime manager and songwriting partner.

McCann had a stroke in the mid1990s but returned to performing in 2002 and continued to release recordings until 2018. As an avid photographer, he also constantly took photos while on the road. In 2015, he published “Invitation to Openness,” a collection of his photographs that included Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, and John Coltrane.

McCann’s hard-hittin’ jazz chords of soul and blues became his signature sound, infused with electric piano, clavinet, and synthesizer. His defiance of genres ignited a new hip hop generation to sample more than 140 of his songs, some of which insclude “Soul on Ice” by Ice T, “The Next -Episode” by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, -“After Hours” by A Tribe Called Quest, a“The World Is Yours” by Nas, and “Ten eCrack Commandments” by Notorious —B.I.G. e He released his first albums in s1960 — “Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Truth” and “Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Shout.” Later, he and his group backed esinger Lou Rawls on his debut recordeing, “Stormy Monday.” In Washington, rD.C., McCann discovered singer Roberta Flack at Henry’s Restaurant in the nlate 1960s, and arranged for her signsing with Atlantic Records. y The singer-songwriter, who was primarily self-taught on piano, recorded more than 60 albums as a leader .from 1960–2018. Despite his impresdsive discography, he will forever be recognized for his intense soul-tinged sprotest anthem single “Compared to eWhat,” recorded live in June 1969 at the ,Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. eAs the New York Times reported, after ,McCann and saxophonist Eddie Harris played their own sets, the two teamed -up for another performance with trumepeter Benny Bailey. The unrehearsed sperformance was released as the album r“Swiss Movement” (Atlantic, 1969). k McCann said during an interview that he had no idea the song (written aby Gene McDaniels of the “100 Pounds of Clay” hit) would be such a huge

Jazz and soul pianist and singer Les McCann performs on stage during the opening of the 40th Montreux Jazz Festival at the Auditorium Stravinski, June 30, 2006, in Montreux, Switzerland. McCann, a prolific and influential musician and recording artist who helped found the “soul jazz” genre and became a favorite source for sampling by Dr. Dre, A Tribe Called Quest and other hip-hop performers, died Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. He was 88. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP, File)

success, although everyone from college students to elders knew after five notes that it was destined to be something outrageous. His opening on those piercing heavy chords, that cowbell, that melody touched your bones down to your toes and by the time McCann broke out with those unforgettable lyrics, the shoutin’ and stompin’ had already begun. “I love the lie and lie the love/A-Hangin’ with push and shove/ Possession is the motivation that is hangin’ up the GD nation/Looks like we always in a rut/Tryin’ to make it real compared to what? C’mon baby!” The lyrics may mean more today than in the 1960s as they relate to social issues and the government.

In 1971, McCann and Harris flew to Accra, Ghana, and performed before 100,000 spectators in a 14-hour concert that also included Wilson Pickett, the Staple Singers, Santana, and Ike & Tina Turner. The concert was recorded for the documentary film ”Soul to Soul,” released in 2004.

McCann told All About Jazz in a 1998 interview that what he hoped listeners got from his music was “a sense of joy, uplifting, release, and to feel something.” He added, “I’m not selling a technique of playing. I’m selling feelings.”

McCann was predeceased by his wife, Charlotte, and a daughter. A complete list of survivors was not available.

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Rebirth of A New Nation: The new moon in Capricorn on January 11 at 20 degrees at 6:57 a.m., ignites a spark, flame, passion, and emotions to pursue your happiness. That happiness is within, not outside. What you see when you step outside of your home is everyone else’s happiness from within, be it a brick-and-mortar store, the music you listen to, or the things you buy. It’s a time to get into alignment by adjusting the areas that need attention in your life to move forward. What is your belief as your faith feeds off it to create your reality? Once you believe, the signs, messages, people, and places you drive by daily yet never paid attention to will start to show up. Once the eyes and body have experienced something, you become more aware and are shown more. “Be brave to stand for what you believe in, even if you stand alone.” –Roy T. Bennett

Pluto in Capricorn is transiting into Aquarius on January 20, which is

Life feels like it is swirling around; you are playing out old scenes and parts of yourself that already happened to remind you of something. A reminder is needed to innerstand how things begin and end as indicaDec 22 June 22 perienced, developed or discovered since Pluto’s preview in Capricorn tors to move forward in life. Listen, look around you, be aware of your Jan 21 July 23 in 2008? Review what occurred in your lifetime during those dates mensurroundings to gasp the details right in front of you. From January 13 tioned as a guide to move forward with any plans, projects, or agenda. around 10:29 p.m. until January 15 around 11 p.m., just as you go into Allow the new moon on January 11 at 6:57 a. m. to be a start of a new beginning for the a relationship blindly without knowing the outcome, it is the same when you change next six months. In the days leading up to January 18, “energy flows where attention your comfort zone into an uncomfortable status to transform you. goes” (Tony Robbins).

Selfishness gets you nowhere, and while you may know what the outMajor changes are brewing up within your life and some changes come is, it isn’t always what it seems or is hyped up to be. This week will require you to operate differently, using a different approach or be still and tread lightly, as what you need will come to you. Learn from Leo method to build on a higher plateau from where you are now. Focus past experiences and when they show up again let them pass you by, no July 24 Aquarius on the vision of what you need to know and you will hear it from the need to engage. Think of it as a test. Your spirit will guide you, and your Aug 23 Jan 22 grapevine like birds chirping in the dawn. Apply pen to paper and body will send a feeling or inkling of what it felt life before as a warning Feb 19 utilize your words to speak it into existence. From January 11 around to remove yourself from the situation. From January 15 around 11:49 p.m. until Janu10:01 p.m. until January 13 around 9:50 p.m., things are playing out in slow motion ary 18 around 2:30 a.m., when there is no light at the end of the tunnel, remember that only for a moment, before picking up again. you are the light.

 the second dip into Aquarius to put you on notice of what’s ahead before Capricorn entering Aquarius on November 19. What have you gained, learned, ex-

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Emotions can move you into places you have never experienced It happens again, and it will keep showing up due to you doing the and at the same time emotions can drive you to your greatest work. When you are not doing the work, the results speak for themhappiness or fear. Where are your emotions and thoughts pullselves. This time, put a new feel to the story that ignites the passion Virgo Pisces ing you emotionally and mentally? What’s on your mind? There from within to what connects the heart. Life can be simple when you Aug 24 Feb 20 are resources, opportunities, and decisions that need to be made. allow yourself to relax and go within to search for answers. For any kind Sept 23 Mar 20 From January 13 around 10:29 p.m. until January 15 around 11 of legal affairs, handle it, be it signing a new lease, a civil matter, or conp.m., the power struggle is within and the help you need is avail- tract. A new moon on January 11 at 6:57 a.m. is favorable to earth signs to continue to able—just ask. build on the foundation of what’s already in place. In the days leading up to January 18, follow suit on your passion and purpose.

Mentally, emotionally, physically, what are you guided to do in your heart and mind? Cancel, divorce, and separate yourself from what Newsflashes spread more quickly than hot water hitting the floor. doesn’t serve a purpose in your life. Action is required this week—ask Here’s the thing with all intel given: it can be a resource, an insight into Aries for what you need. With the right amount of pressure, effort, sweat, and something forthcoming, or totally misinformed data. A direct source is Mar 21 Libra due diligence you will succeed. To grow, you must go through somebetter than hearing it from someone else. Use logic with facts and figApr 21 Sept 24 thing and let go. From January 15 around 11:49 p.m. until January 18 ures and then you will have a better chance that the information is true.

Oct 23 around 2:30 a.m., allow up-in-the-air things to pass through, as a mesOld and new businesses are also ending, and partnerships are key for sage or sign will show up when you least expect it. elevation. Prior investments made are ready to pay off, or some form of inheritance.

From January 11 around 10:01 p.m. until January 13 around 9:50 p.m., as we grow, the Expansion is at its finest with Jupiter on your side, making its folks around us mature like Uranus and Saturn energy that reaches its Pluto transforfinal transit forward into the next sign. Reflect on when Jupiter mation, which leaves the next generation to carry out its mission. entered the sign Taurus and what you were doing then, the things Taurus you were into, and review the retrograde period. That informaWhat’s your delivery method to gain the crowd, the sponsor, or help Apr 22 tion will assist in what’s in store for you and what gift Jupiter will you need? This cycle week, seek, find, speak, and apply action with a May 21 enhance when it leaves your sign. Within the next three months, solid plan to sell your product or service. With phrases like “the game Scorpio keep digging into the depths of your plan and projects to achieve, as the more doesn’t change just the players,” and “The streets don’t change but the Oct 24 you discover, the wiser you are. In the days leading up to January 18, take heed names,” well that old saying is true depending on which game of life you Nov 22 of resources, your finances, and relationships, as a message is there for you to play your cards in to work in your favor. From January 13 around 10:29 see, hear and feel. p.m. until January 15 around 11 p.m., information is a resource. The more you know, the more equipped you are for life advancement and triumph.

The things we do and say, how much of it do you apply to yourself?

Be they something new or old, ideas you may have written down in Opportunities come in abundance when you invest sweat, skin, the past, to use for another plan, project, or program, are now ready time and effort in the game. Everything we do is energy and energy Gemini for use. What thoughts, ideas, visions, or plans are coming to your can shapeshift itself into something or someone for a moment May 22 Sagitarius in time to give or receive. It’s a financial week that includes your mind? Or is there something you’re passionate about that you haven’t June 21 Nov 23 yet acted on? From January 11 around 10:01 p.m. until January 13 elders, land, real estate, agriculture, and the social aspects of our Dec 21 around 9:50 p.m., give it a tryout like you would for any reputable company you daily lives. From January 15 around 11:49 p.m. until January 18 know or buy from. They all have gone out on a limb to see what type of response around 2:30 a.m., when you have a dream, work towards it and your gifts will will be received. Whatever it is, go for it. make room for you to inspire you to express yourself more.

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Ava DuVernay’s ‘Origin’ opens Jan. 19

By MAGRIRA Special to the AmNews

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in “Origin” (Atsushi Nishijima/Neon)

Ava DuVernay’s film “Origin” comprises many moments that resemble a documentary. That’s not a bad thing, considering the cinematic art form’s pursuit of truth, or whatever approximates it.

“Origin” is based on Isabel Wilkerson’s influential nonfiction bestseller “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” This sweeping analysis of discrimination links American racism, the Nazi persecution of Jews, and India’s caste system.

Now, with DuVernay’s skillful eye and open heart, it transforms into a historical mystery.

Brava!

DuVernay takes us back to basics and introduces us to Wilkerson (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), the story’s protagonist. This becomes part of her personal journey as she allows herself to be drawn into the subject while her life seems to unravel.

She lets her mind (and ours) navigate through history, presenting case studies from her research— sometimes through extended sequences, other times glimpsed only through fast-moving flashes.

The ambition is high, and when it succeeds (which is for the most part), the impact is profound.

“Origin” begins with the slow buildup to Trayvon Martin’s murder (Myles Frost) by George Zimmerman in 2012. I’ve noticed some colleagues using the word “killing,” but I object vehemently.

The word is murder. Plain and simple. Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin.

Wilkerson is fatigued—an internal feeling familiar to many writers—and she wants (no, needs) a break after writing an award-winning book. Because of her brilliance, she is approached by one of her editors about a story about Martin’s murder, but she initially declines. However, something snaps inside her after listening to Zimmerman’s 911 call recordings and contemplating how a Latino man murdered an African American teen in a gross, misguided attempt to protect a white neighborhood.

In a heart-wrenching realization, similar to what many of us also experienced, we understand that this isn’t just old-fashioned, Black-versus-white racism. No, this is deeper and closer to the core of the problem.

“Racism as the primary lan-

guage to understand everything is insufficient,” Wilkerson tells a few colleagues. “Everything can’t be racist. Something else, something deeper, is at work here.” And regrettably, she’s right.

Then, the writer embarks on a profound journey to comprehend the ways different cultures have established social hierarchies. To elucidate this point, DuVernay takes us on a historical odyssey.

She offers us a glimpse into the life of August Landmesser (Finn Wittrock), a German shipyard worker remembered as the man who refused to give the Nazi salute in an iconic 1935 crowd photo. Despite being a member of the Nazi party years earlier, he got engaged to a Jewish woman, Irma Eckler (Victoria Pedretti), which violated Nazi miscegenation laws modeled after American laws.

Later, the narrative delves into the story of African American anthropologist Allison Davis (Isha Blaaker), who, along with his wife and colleagues Burleigh and Mary

Gardner, went undercover in Jim Crow-era Natchez, Mississippi, to study social divisions on both sides of the racial divide.

I understand it’s a lot to absorb.

The same can be said for the movie as well. DuVernay took a chance, but she seems eager to showcase events in Wilkerson’s life that influenced her research.

The writer is in the process of moving her elderly and ailing mother into a nursing home and grappling with the decision.

She’s married to Brett Hamilton, a white man (Jon Bernthal), in a union that would have been forbidden just a few decades earlier.

Wilkerson’s ideas and opinions swirl in her head, affecting her world in the most unexpected ways. She encounters a plumber (Nick Offerman) wearing a Make America Great Again hat. Eventually, she visits Germany and debates with a friend about the differences between the Nazi extermination of Jews and the American slave trade.

She eventually finds answers in In-

dia’s caste system and in the treatment of Dalits, once known as “untouchables”—the lowest rung of India’s social hierarchy, often tasked with cleaning toilets with their bare hands.

DuVernay might face criticism for evoking strong emotions, yet her fearlessness in embracing sentimentality serves a purpose: She’s resolute about her artistic vision. While the film’s structure might not resonate with everyone, DuVernay’s focus on reasserting these characters’ humanity and, consequently, our own, is essential to her storytelling.

The absence of “Origin” from discussions in the film award season could be attributed to various factors. One plausible reason might be the film’s broader context, delving into complex and challenging themes that might not align with the mainstream award preferences. The absence of significant star power, particularly in the lead role, portrayed by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, could have contributed to its

limited recognition.

Clayton Davis from Variety has brought attention to the film being overlooked in the award season conversation. His article sheds light on this issue and offers insights into the possible reasons behind the film’s underappreciation. For those interested, here is the link to his analysis on the subject: https://variety. com/2023/film/awards/ava-duvernay-origins-snubbed-overlooked-awards-1235835147/ “Origin” opens January 19.

Written and directed by Ava DuVernay. Produced by Ava DuVernay and Paul Garnes. Matthew J. Lloyd, cinematographer. Kris Bowers, composer.

Starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash-Betts, Emily Yancy, Finn Wittrock, Victoria Pedretti, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Isha Carlos Blaaker, Vera Farmiga, Audra Mcdonald, Connie Nielsen, Blair Underwood, Nick Offerman, Stephanie March, and Myles Frost.

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New books on poetry: Aimé Césaire and ‘Black Poet Anthology’

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH Special to the AmNews

collection, will age very well, and will sit equally with other staple collections of the past.

What greater gift is there than the immortal words of Black poets? Their sentiments are moving, the written portraits of the struggle are timeless, and the dream-like sensuality of Black love gives young readers experiences to look forward to. “This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets” by Kwame Alexander collects the writing of the world’s best Black poets, and Chadian poet, essayist, and philosopher NIMROD writes about Aimé Césaire, the lesser-known Martinique author, poet, and cofounder of the Négritude Movement, in “Aimé Césaire: No to Humiliation,” translated by Emma Ramadan.

This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets

by Kwame Alexander (Little Brown and Company) Award-winning poet and children’s book author Kwame Alexander curates a compelling Parker and Terrence Hayes co- Rita Dove and Nikki Giovanni, excollection of works of Black poetry incide with pieces from Black panding the contemporary poetry for the postmodern era. Morgan American foundational poets like canon to include newer, accom-

plished writers.

This intergenerational anthology is a must for any Black literary

Aimé Césaire: No to Humiliation by NIMROD (Seven Stories Press) This new young adult title brings Afro-Caribbean history to a broader English-speaking Black readership and interested students of all backgrounds.

Aimé Césaire was a writer and activist who stood up against the demoralizing treatment of Black people by French colonists on the island of Martinique in the early 1900s. He, Léopold Sédar Senghor, and Léon Gontran Damas created the Negritude Movement to instill Black pride; celebrate their heritage; and gather with members of other French colonies, like Senegal and Guayana, to confront discrimination against their cultures.

Césaire went on to become president of the Regional Council of Martinique from 1983–1988, among many profound accomplishments throughout his life.

He served his people with dignity, grace, and humility.

New essay collections of 2024

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH Special to the AmNews

ing prose. “Weird Black Girls” leans toward Black absurdist writing and mischievous humor. Each of the seven collected stories embodies an imaginative premise: “A rural town finds itself under the authoritarian sway of a tree that punishes children” or “A pair of narcissistic friends wreak havoc on an activist community,” as the publisher, Scribner, describes. The beauty of fantastical short stories is that you’re transported into worlds that are unlike any ever conceived. A little escapism from the daily pressures of Black life can be a healthy outlet and quite entertaining.

The first week of the new year, one would believe, is full of hope and fresh goals for the future. The books emerging to the fore look promising, inspiring, afro-centric, and distinctive.

We’ll start this year off with new Black essay collections: “You Get What You Pay For” by Morgan Parker and “Weird Black Girls” by Elwin Cotman. These two accomplished young writers are defining themselves as highly skilled authors. Their stories are circumstantially raw, yet their voices are refined and well-crafted in their respective literary realms.

You Get What You Pay For: Essays by Morgan Parker (One World) Award-winning poet and author Morgan Parker, called by many a leading voice of her generation, returns to bookshelves with a new memoir-esque collection of essays.

She is plagued by loneliness and isolation due to an inability to experience intimacy in relationships that she feels and believes derives from the ancestral trauma of slavery. The essays blend Black cultural criticism and acute circumstances from her life to create a “portal into a deeper examination of racial consciousness and its effects

on mental well-being in America today,” writes her publisher, One World. To read Black women is to empathize and connect with Black women; Parker’s vulnerability can tear the veil of dehumanization and desensitization of Black women’s pain and

This year brings a fresh generation of authors whose works are evolving and maturing into thoughtfully defined, individualistic styles. It takes time for a writer to find their voice and set themselves apart from the masters of the past. Fearless up-and-coming writers are emerging from drastically different backgrounds with unique points of view. Parker and Cotman are promising writers who have a lifetime ahead of them to share their stosense of alienation. ries. They’re off to an impressive start: “You Get What You Pay For” is Parker’s fifth work Weird Black Girls: Stories by Elwin and “Weird Black Girls” is Cotman’s fourth Cotman (Scribner) book, preceding a novel due out in 2025.

The mysteriously eloquent young author We look forward to exploring new Black Elwin Cotman is known for his entranc- books throughout 2024!

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January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 23

‘The Gardens of Anuncia’ is a delightful musical

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews

very amusing to behold for so many reasons.

A beautiful, gripping aspect of this musical was the love Anuncia had for her garden— gardening was something she learned from her grandmother, aunt, and mother. Her family had shared many important life lessons with her in the garden.

This musical also looked at the pain of losing the last of your family members who raised you and what that makes you think about. In a loving way, the production let the audience know it is fine to keep all those memories and life lessons, and it is also okay to say goodbye to that person as long as you keep them in your heart.

With Daniele’s story, direction, and co-choreography, along with that of Alex Sanchez, the audience could not help but be engaged, entertained, and charmed.

“The Gardens of Anuncia” had wonderful acter of Tia, her aunt, poignantly played by rique Acevedo and Tally Sessions portrayed sets by Mark Wendland, delightful costumes Andrea Burns. Granmama was given a lot of multiple roles and brought humor, fun, and by Toni-Leslie James, lovely lighting by Jules sass, fun, and fire by Mary Testa. Mami, An- unforgettable charm to their characters. Ace- Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, sterling sound uncia’s mother, was touchingly delivered by vedo portrayed Granpapa among his char- by Drew Levy, unforgettable orchestrations Eden Espinosa. acters, and the passion and disdain he and by Michael Starobin, and enchanting musiIt was breathtaking to watch these strong Granmama shared was hilarious and cap- cal direction by Deborah Abramson. actresses take the stage and deliver perfor- tivating to watch. One of Sessions’s characIt was so interesting to see a slice of Danmances that had the audience clapping, ters was a deer that Anuncia spoke to in her iele’s childhood and to have it shared in such cheering, and shouting with approval. En- garden and flirted with. That character was a creative, loving way.

The cast of ‘The Gardens of Anuncia’(Julieta Cervantes photo)

“The Gardens of Anuncia” is a stunningly beautiful musical that recently finished a run at Lincoln Center’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre. It was such a pleasure to behold because it was based on the life of award-winning choreographer Graciela Daniele’s childhood growing up in Argentina under the dictatorship of Juan Peron.

The musical, by Michael John LaChiusa, tenderly, lovingly, and respectfully shares a story of Anuncia, a grown woman, who takes the audience on the journey of her humble beginnings as she prepares to receive a lifetime achievement award. You learn that she was raised in Argentina by her mother, aunt, and grandmother. Her father was not in the picture, but you also hear the backstory of what happened between her parents.

Older Anuncia, as adult and narrator, was magnificently portrayed by Priscilla Lopez.

She played this character with delicacy, tenderness, and marvelous energy. Younger Anuncia was fabulously portrayed by Kalyn West, who gave the character an innocence, a curiosity, but also a creativity and a passion for dance that was supported by the char-

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “You’ve got to accept yourself”

By MAL'AKIY 17 ALLAH Special to the AmNews This Monday, the nation will commemorate the legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ever since 1986, the third Monday in January has been observed as a federal holiday in his honor. Numerous events will occur nationwide on Jan. 15, the 95th anniversary of his birth.

King was born in Atlanta, and followed his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps by attending Ebenezer Baptist Church locally, where he eventually served as pastor from 1960 until his April 4, 1968 assassination in Memphis. Growing up in the segregated South during the Jim Crow era, he encountered much racism and also learned how to develop great oratory skills which he later utilized to spread his divine messages.

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now,” Dr. King once said. “We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.”

Many of his messages delivered over half-a-century ago are still relevant today.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience,” he once said.“But where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

The young reverend rose to international prominence during the mid 1950s urging African Americans to stand up for their civil rights and not allow themselves to be mistreated by their Caucasian American oppressors in the land of the free.

With racist cops often beating

Blacks with their flailing batons and unmercifully siccing vicious dogs on protesters during demonstrations, Dr. King would advise the victims of such heartless brutality to “Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.”

He also said: “Darkness cannot

drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”

He was always on the frontlines where the danger was. Such as

during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, in Alabama beginning in December 1955 where he, along with several other activists, led the demonstration demanding African Americans be treated fairly on public buses. They were being forced to surrender their seats to Caucasian passengers and ride in the back of the buses. “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor political, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right,” he urged, adding, “The time is always right to do what is right.”

Reverend King traveled across the country advocating nonviolence, as hundreds of thousands flocked to see him speak. His demonstrations significantly heightened awareness about the Blackman’s plight in North America. The mass attention garnered prompted politicians to take action, and the 1964 Civil Rights Act was one of the results.

“We are not makers of history, we are made by history,” Dr. King said.

“You know, a lot of people don’t love themselves, and they go through life with deep and haunting emotional conflicts. So the length of life means that you must love yourself.

And you know what loving yourself also means? It means that you’ve got to accept yourself.”

24 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

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Funmi Ononaiye, omnipresent music explorer, dies at 53 Funmi Ononaiye (Lawrence Sumulong photo)

Funmi Ononaiye, the regal, omnipresent music connoisseur, who was an inspiring ray of light in his capacities as A&R director, event producer, artist manager, performing musician, and mentor to many people, died on December 18, 2023, at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City. He was 53.

Funmi, as he was fondly called, was a longstanding member of Jazz at Lincoln Center as an advocate, and later served as programming manager at Dizzy’s Club.

“Funmi brought a shining light of positivity and warmth wherever he went, whether to a nightclub, house party, concert hall, or the office—spreading and sharing his passionate love for the music and the music-makers,” said Jason Olaine, VP, Programming Concerts & Touring Department of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

“Nowhere was his indomitable spirit more evident than when he laughed—that deep gutbucket, soaring cackle that was fearless and proud of its might. You couldn’t help but be lifted and buoyed by its unmistakable expression of pure joy.”

It was somewhat eerie walking into Dizzy’s jazz club last week and realizing my friend Funmi would not be in attendance; well, not physically—spiritually, he will always be present, because many know that was his spot. He usually sat or stood in the back, near the last four stools upon entering on your right.

For those in the know, he was their personal welcoming committee. They greeted him with a smile and hug and in return, he offered his big, broad smile and a bigger hug. He was the eager supporter of all the performing musicians thorough his enthusiastic hand-clapping and, if it was really hittin’, his bass-like voice would give a bold shout-out.

It wasn’t just at Dizzy’s that we met—it seemed like he was everywhere, always blowing in like a warm breeze from the west, in his signature head wrap. He wasn’t a jazzhead—he was a lover of good music. I ran into him in Harlem, at outdoor concerts, house parties, receptions, and varied jazz clubs.

It became evident that if you saw Funmi anywhere, you were defi-

nitely in the right place.

Recently, during a conversation with an elderly couple at a private SoHo reception, Dizzy’s came up, and the woman asked if I knew Funmi. She joyfully said, “We love Funmi. He is the best. He always makes us feel like the in-crowd.

Aside from the musicians, he keeps us coming back.” Having crossed paths with Funmi has inspired us more than we will ever know.

“Funmi was a great Brother, very educated and well-informed lover of music,” said drummer Will Calhoun. “I renamed him ‘Savoir Faire.’ As the cartoon character said, ‘Savoir Faire is everywhere.’

I used to bump into Funmi in the most unique music environments: underground DJ events, U.N. special events, hip hop gigs, art galleries, West African restaurants, tock clubs, and the Schomburg library. We both took pride in being

connoisseurs of African culture. As fate would have it, the last time I saw Funmi was at my recent performance at Dizzy’s, [which] he booked for me. I was thrilled to see him in the club. His presence blessed the evening!”

Michael Olufunmilola (Funmi) Ononaiye was born on September 17, 1968, at the Island Maternity Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.

His father was Michael Olusegun, a retired diplomat who served as Nigeria’s ambassador to several countries, including China, and his mother was Olajumoke Adedoyin Ononaiye, a retired attorney. That same year, on his father’s embassy assignment, the family moved to Washington, D.C., and resided in Silver Spring, Maryland, until 1972, when they returned to Nigeria.

Funmi continued his schooling in Nigeria at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School. In 1975, his father

was posted to Paris, France, where Funmi and his sister Roli were enrolled in the Mary Mount International School, Neuilly Sur Seine.

His mother noted, “It was quite interesting that Funmi picked up the language better than any of us and he made a lot of friends whom he went to camps with.”

Two years later, the family moved to Lisbon, Portugal, and the three children were enrolled in St. Julian’s International School, where once again, Funmi easily adapted to a new language.

The family returned home in 1979, before having to return to the United States in 1984, this time to New York City when his father was appointed ambassador to the United Nations. There, Funmi attended and graduated from Harrison H.S., in Westchester. He later attended Pace University and moved from there into a phenom-

enal career in music. His mother noted he became interested in music while listening to jazz music with his late aunt and listening to Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington during car rides with his father.

“A few weeks before September 11, 2001, I moved to NYC to work at Spiritual Life Music…It was there I met the 6'3'' Nigerian whirlwind Funmi Ononaiye,” wrote Dope Jams/Paul Nickerson. “It was the beginning of one of the greatest musical friendships I ever had, there are few people I have learned as much from and there certainly is no one more willing to share ALL the jams they know.”

Funmi had a burning passion for music and genre was of little consequence. While at Atlantic records as an A&R representative, he was influential in the signing of Ten City, an R&B house music group; Bas Noir, a female house band; and the electronic dance music of Outta Limits and Sunday Afternoon. What he called his renegade promotion style is what made “Knights of the Jaguar” (techno music track by DJ Rolando) an NYC anthem during his days at Dancetracks.

“At first glance, you might think him a bohemian of the first order, but then he would charm you and perhaps let slip a little French, Chinese, or Turkish and give you a hint that you were in the presence of diplomatic royalty, and then he would dance and you would know that you were with the ultimate man of the people,” said producer and curator Brian Bacchus. “We have lost a wonderful and beautiful spirit [who] loved and knew all music and cultures.”

As a tribute to beloved Jazz at Lincoln Center Programming Manager Funmi Ononaiye and his beautiful spirit, Dizzy’s Club will add a new beverage to the menu.

“The Funmi” combines his favorite drink, ginger beer, with lemon juice, honey, and tabasco.

Funmi is survived by his parents, living in Nigeria; and his four siblings, Roli Okome in Atlanta, Georgia; Olumide Ononaiye in London; Damola Funmi-Adeshina in Amsterdam; and Oladepe AmukaPemu in Lagos.

Funeral Service for Michael Olufunmilola Ononaiye will be held on January 13, 2024, in Harlem at Mother Zion AME Church (140 West 137th Street, Harlem) from 10 a.m.–12 noon), open to the public.

Burial will follow the church service at Woodlawn Cemetery (4199 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY).

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Manhattan D.A. Continued from page 3

announced that a Washington Heights man pled guilty for assembling ghost guns—untraceable, homemade firearms typically made from 3D-printed parts— and threatening his girlfriend with such a weapon over a video call. Last November, he announced the guilty plea of another ghost gun manufacturer who allegedly sent photos of his 7-year-old son posing with a pair of firearms.

Bragg also underscored non-carceral approaches, like expanding his office’s victim and witness aid services, as critical to gun violence prevention.

He pointed to the citywide statistic that 97% of shooting victims are Black and/ or brown, and said that is why his unit deploys men-of-color counselors and clinicians, rather than prosecutors, to work with the most-affected communities.

“We see, time and again, folks who are victims on one day may be witnesses the next and maybe defendants down the road, so getting through that trauma and treating it and addressing it before it metastasizes and results in additional violence [is important],” said Bragg.

Beyond gun violence prevention, the office also ramped up efforts to crackdown on hate crimes, expanding its investigation unit from three assistant district attorneys to roughly 20 this year.

In October, Bragg announced his support for expanding the hate crime statute to include 31 new offenses, such as first-degree murder and second-degree rape. A similar initiative was introduced in Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State plan earlier this week. Bragg’s office told the Amsterdam News that there were 15 open anti-Black crime investigations in early November.

Mental health and labor violations are quieter issues that Bragg tackled in 2023.

He pointed to $9 million mental health investments, which include $3 million toward the Fortune Society’s “court navigators,” who build relationships with arraigned New Yorkers experiencing mental illness, homelessness, and/or substance abuse disorders to connect them to city resources when they’re voluntarily ready.

“Someone’s leaving arraignment and

CCRB Continued from page 3

“procedural matter,” arguing that incidents involve accidents like cameras getting dislodged during an encounter.

The courts ultimately backed the CCRB, stating that body-worn camera misuse “might evidence an effort to conceal misconduct.”

Like most city agencies, the CCRB is scal-

they need emergency housing, and someone from Fortune can take them straight from the courtroom to emergency housing,” said Bragg. “That’s stabilizing, that’s humane, and it’s also public safety work.

It’s going to cut down on recidivism.”

The office’s worker protection practice area also expanded this year, including several multi-million-dollar wage-related prosecutions. But Bragg said smaller cases can be as important, referencing allegations of an employer threatening to report a day laborer to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) after allegedly failing to pay him.

Bragg called his upbringing in the “village of Harlem” critical to his office’s non-carceral work this year, like his postconviction justice unit, which helped exonerate two Harlemites in November.

Earlier in the year, he appointed Courtney Bennett, executive director of One Hundred Men of New York, to run the Manhattan D.A.’s Harlem offices.

“My priority is the safety of the Harlem community, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished uptown under D.A. Bragg’s leadership,” said Bennett by email. “One key focus area is deepening our ties with community partners to ensure that we are addressing the concerns of local residents. We have also put several new initiatives in place, including a youth public safety council that addresses crime and quality of life issues. We look forward to continuing this collaboration with all our partners to achieve our shared goal of a safer Harlem.”

After speaking with the AmNews, Bragg was immediately on the move to attend the sentencing of Khalid Barrow, who was convicted for killing his cousin, Nisaa Walcott. He sat solemnly and attentively as the 23-year-old man was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison.

Afterward, the usually media-friendly Bragg opted not to talk to reporters and instead comforted the victim’s family.

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who 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 of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/ amnews1. ing back due to budget cuts and will pause on eight investigation categories. But the spokesperson says body-worn camera footage will not be one of them.

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who 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 of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 25

Solitary confinement Continued from page 3

said city council. For those who have already transitioned from incarceration, the lasting trauma of solitary confinement has also been shown to induce acute anxiety, depression, psychosis, and other impairments that seriously hinder their capacity to reintegrate into society, said city council, felt most acutely among Black and brown communities in the city who have high levels of incarceration.

“Solitary confinement is inhumane, and its presence in our city is indefensible,” said Williams in a statement. “Committing an infraction in jail can cause you to lose privileges, not basic human rights. People in solitary are isolated, denied human contact and connection, denied support, and come out of these deplorable conditions worse than when they went in—and some don’t come out at all. Banning solitary—not just in name, but in practice—is good for public safety. This bill will make our jails and our city safer, and correct an immoral injustice that has no place in New York.”

The NYC Department of Correction (DOC) said in response to an Amsterdam News inquiry that it “does not practice solitary confinement and has not practiced solitary confinement since 2019.”

Solitary confinement implies that an individual is in a cell for 22 hours or more in a day without meaningful human contact with others. This is not a practice of the Department of Correction, said a DOC spokesperson.

“We believe the implementation of Intro-549-A as written would jeopardize the people who live and work in our jails— the very people we are supposed to protect,” said the DOC spokesperson. “The new law, if implemented, eliminates the department’s ability to respond to acts of violence—both assaults on staff and violence inflicted against other incarcerated people, including sexual assault.”

The Council also voted to pass the How Many Stops Act (HMSA), which would require the NYPD to publicly report on police investigative stops, provide public access to reporting on vehicle stops, overtime and consent searches, and mandate annual reports on donations made to the NYPD that exceed $1 million. Currently, the NYPD is only required to issue reports on “Level 3” or “reasonable suspicion” stops, where an officer has the legal authority to search and detain someone. The aim is to get accurate information about stop-and-frisk practices, which historically has targeted Black and Latino individuals in the city at disproportionately high rates, and was deemed unconstitutional by a federal court in 2013.

“HMSA will allow for policing data related to stops of New Yorkers at the hands of NYPD public information,” said Councilmember Alexa Aviles in a state-

ment. “This data will shed light on what many New Yorkers believe is a pattern of racial profiling from the NYPD and will help increase accountability and transparency. The relationship between the NYPD and our communities has consistently been filled with tension. With this higher standard of reporting, we can begin to repair harm and establish a consistent structure of accountability. While this legislation will not resolve everything, I want to thank the families of victims of police violence who have worked tirelessly in pursuit of justice, and we honor the memory of their loved ones with the passage of today’s legislation that will bring us closer to true community safety.”

Mayor Eric Adams, who has a background as a NYPD officer, has shown resistance to the solitary ban and HMSA. At an ethnic media roundtable on Dec. 22 last year, he said that he’s behind punitive segregation, which some believe is the same as solitary but for shorter periods of time, to protect other prisoners during or immediately after a violent incident. “I don’t support solitary confinement. Here’s what I support, punitive segregation,” said Adams at the roundtable. “I support that if inmate Johnson just slashed inmate Bobby, inmate Johnson should not still be in general population and according to what’s being called for, inmate Johnson before he can be removed from [gen pop] he has to have some sort of due process.”

Adams firmly believes that both bills would usurp police resources and make the city less safe. NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, in a recent interview, added that the HMSA is “ill conceived.”

Anthony Dolci, director and founder of the Stop False Police Reporting Group and Initiative, said that the Mayor’s opposition to HMSA suggests that holding police officers accountable for their actions is not a priority. “The ‘How Many Stops?’ Act is crucial in preventing wrongful searches and ensuring innocent people are treated fairly during police investigations,” said Dolci. “It is important to hold police officers accountable for their actions, as this legislation aims to do, in order to prevent unjust searches and protect the rights of the innocent.”

Adams is “reviewing options” but had not definitively stated that he would veto the ban.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics 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://bit.ly/ amnews1.

26 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

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Ewart Guinier, progressive labor ACTIVITIES activist and educator FIND OUT MORE

By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews The debate and outrage at Harvard University over Dr. Claudine Gay’s governance and tenure reminds us of the turmoil around Ewart Guinier’s situation in the late 1960s. Or the more recent throwdown between the institution and Dr. Cornel West, who resigned three years ago, accusing the school of “intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of deep depths.” For the moment, let’s examine the story of Professor Guinier since it conforms most directly to the column’s overall aims.

Guinier was born on May 17, 1910, in the Panama Canal Zone to Howard and Marie-Louise Beresford Guinier. His parents were Jamaican immigrants living in a segregated area where his father worked as a lawyer and real estate agent, and his mother a bookkeeper. After his father died in 1919, his mother moved to Boston and Ewart joined her in 1925.

As a teenager, he began attending Boston English High School and by 1929 was a student at Harvard College. As one of the only Black students at the university then, he endured discrimination, exclusion from the dormitory system, and was ruled ineligible for financial assistance. Even without his application for off-campus housing, he was informed that he had been approved. In the classroom, he was often ostracized by his white classmates, but thanks to his friendship with Robert Weaver, later a “Black cabinet” member of FDR’s administration, and esteemed historian Frank Snowden, he received some comfort from the racist experience.

Solace also came from his membership in the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

The Great Depression delivered an even larger challenge to his survival on campus and his struggle to meet the cost of tuition. After his sophomore year, he left the school. His move to New York City was in part precipitated by the tuition-free City College which he began attending at night while working as a freight elevator operator at the New York Times building. He graduated summa cum laude in 1935 and later attended Columbia University Teachers College, earning his master’s degree in 1939.

Ewart Guinier (Fair use photo)

He often combined his educational pursuits with his commitment to labor, particularly during the time he worked at the helm of the Men’s Service Rating Bureau, which was part of the city’s Department of Welfare.

After he passed the Civil Service exam in 1937, he became an examiner in the same department. This was a stepping stone to his appointment to the post of chief of the Civil Service Commission.

From this post, he began his deep involvement in the trade union movement, eventually becoming the first chair of the Rating Bureau of Local, State, County, and Municipal Employees of America (SCMEA). He had other significant leadership stints in the labor division before he began his tenure in the military, mainly in the Pacific. When the United Public Workers came into existence, he served as secretary-treasurer, the second

highest-ranked official in the union.

In 1951, Guinier wrote that “the U.S. government is the nation’s biggest Jim Crow employer.”

Two years before this assertion, he ran for the Manhattan Borough President on the American Labor Party ticket. His campaign was led by attorney Hope Stevens, who expressed his feelings about Guinier’s bid and that “it would put an end to the lilywhite standards of other political parties which have long denied the Negro people of New York political representation in our city government.” His pro-labor, anti-racist policies were not enough to win the race, though he received 38% of the votes cast in the race, losing to the Democratic Party candidate, Robert Wagner.

A year later, the UPW was a victim of the nationwide Red Scare perpetuated by Sen. Joseph McCarthy and was purged from the CIO because of its alleged connections to

the Communist Party. In 1953, the union was dissolved.

Guinier was well on his way to prominence in the labor movement when he decided to return to the academic realm at New York University, and by 1959 had earned his law degree. Neither his academic pedigree nor his connections to the Communist Party, kept him out of the labor movement, including Harlem Trade Union Council, which he cofounded with Ferdinand Smith, and the National Negro Labor Council and served as a vice-president. From 1962 to 1968, he was chairman of the Queens Urban League.

Still, it was hard for him to ignore the call to academia, and upon leaving the Brownsville Community Corporation, he became an associate director at the Urban Center at Columbia University. Here he was in the vortex of the dispute about the divide between the university and Harlem neighborhoods, which activists insisted was a segregationist move on the part of the school. In 1969, he began his tenure at Harvard University as a full professor, and subsequently out of the Black students’ demand for Black Studies, was the first chairman of the newly formed Afro American Studies department, a position he held until 1976.

Ironically, it was Dr. Martin Kilson, a Black professor at Harvard, who was Guinier’s main nemesis, and they disagreed on how the study of the Black experience should unfold.

Kilson argued that the courses could be included in existing departments, while Guinier took exception to this concept, charging that there was an insufficient number of Black faculty to make this workable. Besides his administrative duties, he taught several courses and was widely sought as a speaker.

In 1980, he retired from Harvard, though he continued to be involved in several important academic and international organizations, including chairing the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship. His daughter, Lani, followed in his footsteps as an educator and legal scholar. She was 71 when she died in 2022.

Guinier died on Feb. 4, 1990, of Alzheimer's disease, at the Veterans' Hospital of Bedford, Mass. He was 79.

The files on Guinier at Harvard are packed with information on his days there and elsewhere.

See also, “Ewart Guinier papers, 1910-1989, Biography.” New York Public Library. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

DISCUSSION His dispute and differences with Dr. Martin Kilson require a thorough review.

PLACE IN CONTEXT Three areas of concentration—labor, leftist activity, and education— consumed his adult years that spanned much of the twentieth century.

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY Jan. 10, 1864: Scientist and inventor George Washington Carver is widely recognized for being born on this day in Diamond, Missouri. He died in 1943.

Jan. 10, 1924: Drummer and composer Max Roach was born in Newland, N.C. He died in 2007.

Jan. 11, 1971: Mary J. Blige, the “Queen of Hip Hop” was born in New York City.

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Grieving Families Act Continued from page 4

the proper consideration for their loved ones, since our 175-year-old statute considers only economic loss,” said HoylmanSigal, who chairs the Judiciary Committee.

The amended version had a shorter statute of limitations and limited who could file a claim for grief and anguish to close family members. Hochul vetoed it on December 29, 2023. In a letter, she said she supports the goals of the bill but it would “fundamentally alter the legal framework” for wrongful death claims in the state, and could have costly “unintended consequences” for insurance and healthcare facilities.

“While I remain open to working collaboratively to find holistic solutions that support impacted families without introducing potential unintended consequences, I believe that further deliberations are needed,” Hochul wrote.

Advocates and electeds were hurt at the last day’s-ditch disapproval. They had held a rally on December 18, 2023, begging the governor to sign GFA. They said Hochul refused to meet with them before the deadline.

“Governor Kathy Hochul’s veto of the Grieving Families Act is a grave miscarriage of justice that puts the safety of New Yorkers in jeopardy and upholds a perverse standard of morality in current New York law,” said New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) President David Scher. “With this veto, she is denying victims their day in court, making it more advantageous to kill than to injure, and putting corporate profits over patient safety. This veto is an abject failure of leadership to grasp the impact of grief on loved ones, from young children who have lost a parent to parents who have lost a child, to the families of victims of gun violence, to expectant families and communities of color.”

Attendees at the rally included family members of wrongful death victims who have turned to advocacy to be heard, such as Bruce McIntyre, partner of the late Amber Rose Isaac, who died after giving birth at a hospital during the pandemic; Mandy Fletcher, mother of the late Maison Callender; Jose Perez, partner of the late Christine Fields; Shawnee Gibson, mother of the late Shamony Gibson; and Alfida Arrevillaga, mother of the late Marlon Arrevillaga.

“To have your soulmate ripped away on what is supposed to be the happiest day of your life is a pain that is unimaginable until you go through it yourself,” said McIntyre in a statement. “Black women are dying in hospitals at a record rate, and there is no deterrent at all. The law makes it free to kill. My son Elias will never experience the warmth of his mother’s heart. Fortunately, these outcomes are preventable and it is not too late for other families.”

The act, supported by the victims’ fam-

ilies, seeks to cover families for emotional grief and anguish in wrongful death cases, including accidents stemming from negligence or criminality; medical malpractice cases, including misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose; and pregnancy-related deaths.

In the current system, according to the Common Justice from New York State’s Office of Victim Services (OVS), families of people of color, children, retirees, the disabled community, and women who lost their lives as a result of someone’s tragic mistake typically receive less compensation for the loss of their loved ones than families of white and/or male victims receive because of the widespread structural racial-and-gender pay and opportunity gaps throughout the state and society.

“As someone who has lived the devastation of the current wrongful death law, it is my personal commitment to ensure that justice knows no bounds, and no family, irrespective of race, ability, or age, is denied the recourse they deserve because of their economic status,” said Senator Cordell Cleare in a statement. “The governor must reform the law and sign the Grieving Families Act, offering long-awaited justice to the bereaved and deterring these preventable deaths. We must put the power back in the hands of the people. It is absolutely unacceptable that, in the midst of a Black maternal health crisis and rising infant mortality, we remain in the same place [as] we were in 1847.”

Rebecca Fischer, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, said that even though it’s been over a year since the “horrific” mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, in which a white gunman targeted Black shoppers, the victims’ families continue to suffer from unimaginable grief and loss every day.

“Everyone who is grieving and healing from trauma like what happened to me, and worse, deserves to heal in their own time,” said Zaire Goodman, survivor of the mass shooting in Buffalo. “There are no time limits on what we are going through. I was lucky and survived. Ten other families can’t say the same thing.

They have a right to be compensated for their family members who were murdered by a racist. They will grieve that loss forever.”

Advocates said that the main opponents of the bill are corporate hospitals and insurance companies.

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member who writes about politics 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://bit.ly/ amnews1.

Migrants who entered U.S. from Mexico are loaded onto bus at processing center, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Lawsuit Continued from page 4

for federal support when it comes to immigration issues, and more recently, the support of Governor Phil Murphy.

“Governor Abott continues to use human beings as political pawns, and it’s about time that the companies facilitating his actions take responsibility for their role in this ongoing crisis,” said Hochul in a statement. “If they are getting paid to break the law by transporting people in need of public assistance into our state, they should be on the hook for the cost of sheltering those individuals—not just passing that expense along to hard-working New Yorkers. I’m proud to support the mayor’s lawsuit.”

Murphy sent a letter to several charter bus companies with connections to transporting recent migrants from Texas and/or Louisiana to transit sites in New Jersey. He said dozens of charter buses have transported more than 1,800 individuals to transit sites in New Jersey since December 31, 2023. Like Adams, Murphy asked for more coordination and at least advanced notice of drop-off times so the state can better assist migrants.

“As we continue to see more migrants arrive to our state at the hands of the governor of Texas, who is reportedly funding the passengers’ transportation with taxpayer funds, notice to New Jersey officials in advance of these individuals’ anticipated arrival is critical to ensuring the health and safety of passengers once they arrive in New Jersey,” said Murphy. “Additionally, because we know the vast majority of these individuals are intending to travel to New York City, this information will be shared with our colleagues across the Hudson to ensure the passengers’ health and safety there.”

City Hall Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg clarified that the lawsuits and executive order are targeted at the Republicans Party’s “extreme conduct” to “flood and overwhelm” the social services system of specific cities for political reasons—not to block buses or migrants from coming, she said. They have purposefully not coordinated any efforts with the city and have at times dropped people off in the middle of the night, she said.

Some advocates felt that the city’s lawsuit was retaliatory and a waste of time. New York Immigration Coalition Executive Director Murad Awawdeh said that for almost two years, Adams has treated the arrival of asylum seekers as an emergency, trying everything he can to dissuade them from coming to New York rather than developing an efficient and thoughtful process to welcome them.

“This lawsuit is just another tactic in the Adams administration’s grab bag of ineffective approaches that have nothing to do with creating lasting change,” said Awawdeh. “The mayor needs to stop complaining that the city is at a breaking point and scapegoating immigrants.”

The Amsterdam News reached out to several bus companies listed in the lawsuit.

Classic Elegance Coaches LLC based in El Paso and Road Runners Charters Inc. in Dallas said they had “no comment.”

On January 9, Hochul delivered her 2024 State of the State Address in Albany, which Adams attended. Her address was swiftly criticized for her proposals on public safety and lack of immigration initiatives. Shayna Kessler, associate director of advocacy for the Vera Institute of Justice’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative, said she was “disappointed” by the governor’s omission of critical immigration legal services from her top priorities.

“Immigrants are a crucial part of New York’s identity, culture, history, and economy,” Kessler said. “Supporting immigrants is key to securing the state’s future stability and prosperity. New York currently faces a labor shortage, with nearly half a million vacant jobs and not enough workers to fill them. As the executive budget is finalized, we call on Governor Hochul to increase funding for immigration legal services to $150 million and to support the passage of the Access to Representation Act, which would establish a right to counsel in immigration court in the state.”

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member who writes about politics 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://bit.ly/amnews1.

28 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Health The continuing fight for Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients

By HEATHER M. BUTTS, JD, MPH, MA Special to the AmNews Billy Hanlon, who has been living with ME/CFS since 2017, spoke with the Amsterdam News in a Q&A about Long COVID, ME/CFS, and ongoing advocacy efforts. He is the director of advocacy and outreach for the Minnesota ME/CFS [Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome] Alliance, a nonprofit in Minnesota aimed at increasing medical education and public education and trying to improve the lives of those who live with ME/CFS, Long COVID, or other infectious associated diseases. The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

AmNews: Please tell us your backstory.

In 2017, at age 27, I was working for a local company here in Minneapolis in a managerial capacity and this seemingly mild virus, in the blink of an eye, changed my life…I felt like I was really in the prime of my life, physically, professionally, socially, and personally, and this infectious episode derailed my life trajectory…Before long, I started noticing that I had these difficult neurological complications—difficulties with comprehension and coordination, and then I was having these profound nervous system issues.

For me, it was this crushing, debilitating exhaustion that I now know is called Postexertional malaise and is the cardinal symptom for ME/CFS and Long COVID. It’s [a] defining characteristic…Those symptoms got worse…any exertion that I was putting forward was exacerbating those complications, that just crushing exhaustion, those neurological difficulties, palpitations…it just catapulted my life into trying to fight for [my] life back. I became a full-time advocate, [fighting] for equitable treatment, equitable funding levels, and widespread recognition for these diseases.

A pillow is decorated with the words “2009 Waiting No Answer” as advocates for people suffering from long COVID-19 and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome host an installation of 300 cots in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington to represent the millions of people suffering from postinfectious disease (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

AmNews: Could you speak to ME/CFS and Long COVID in underserved and vulnerable communities?

This is a really important point and I try to make sure that I’m honest about [the fact] that I was very privileged to have the support system that I had. I recognize what the pandemic exposed and revealed was how COVID-19 impacts members of minority groups and vulnerable populations. That includes frontline workers and those of low economic status. Seeing that has been really important to my advocacy—knowing that health disparities are exacerbated when you have less access to care or you’re disbelieved and discredited in medical settings, your chances of recovery are so much more diAmNews: How did you get involved in minished than someone with access to care.

Long COVID advocacy?

I’m proud and I’m glad that [the AmsterA sizable fraction of Long COVID patients dam News is] raising that voice. The realor of the Long COVID community meets the ity of these diseases [is that] there is such diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS because ME/ a sparse understanding of them from a CFS is part of this long-known but minimal- medical provider situation that anytime ly researched umbrella of infectious associat- you have even further barriers against you, ed diseases that generally are preceded by a your odds are that it’s even harder to mainviral infection, [such as] SARS-CoV-1, H1N1, tain your health…It really is a tragic thing.

Epstein-Barr Virus (which produces mononucleosis), and now COVID-19 from SARSAmNews: What are some outcomes CoV-2. Long COVID [is] now the newest in you’re seeing with your advocacy work? these long-known, but minimally researched From a local standpoint, we were really infections diseases. proud that last May in Minnesota, we

passed local legislation for funding measures that were dedicated to Long COVID and these related conditions, mainly for capacity-building activities like awareness and surveillance monitoring, so from a local standpoint, gaining more recognition and acceptance and validation was something our local Minnesota Community was really proud of.

While that’s a step in the right direction, the honest reality is at the federal level, we still have a lot of work to do, and much progress still remains, because… where much of the biomedical research takes place is at the federal level and… [for] health research and biomedical research, you…need solid funding streams to be able to carry out studies and carry out clinical trials…For those living with these diseases, your end goal is diagnostics and therapeutics and interventions.

There’s a bill in the Senate and there are two bills in the house: the Long COVID Support Act in the Senate and the Treat Long COVID Act in the House, as well as the Long COVID Recovery NOW Act. Right now, the problem is that there are millions upon millions of very sick, very debilitated individuals with these diseases and it’s going to take a moonshot [because] these diseases historically have

been at the end of the queue for funding.

AmNews: What can people reading this article do who want to help?

I’m a big proponent of calls to action; it’s also what the community can do. You can reach out to your elected officials and ask for their support with the three bills under consideration. Everyone has a senator, everyone has a representative; they can reach out to their elected officials and ask for their support in the Senate of the Long Covid Support Act; they can ask their representative for their support of the Treat Long COVID Act or the Long COVID Recovery NOW Act. If you are recovering from #COVID19 or experiencing #longCOVID, you can call 212COVID19 to receive specialty care, or visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/services/ covid-19 to learn more about NYC’s COVID19 Centers of Excellence. For additional resources about COVID-19, visit www1.nyc. gov/site/coronavirus/index.page. To learn more about NYC ME/CFS resources, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/conditions/me-cfs/. COVID-19 testing, masks, and vaccination resources can be accessed on the AmNews COVID-19 page: www.amsterdamnews.com/covid.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS H E A L T H

Flu and COVID infections got worse over the holidays, with more misery expected, CDC says

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 29

My Bklyn. My Care.

The flu season in the U.S. is getting worse, but it’s too soon to tell how much holiday gatherings contributed to a likely spike in illnesses. New government data posted Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, for the previous week showed 38 states with high or very high levels of respiratory illnesses with fever, cough, and other symptoms. That's up from 31 states the week before. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer NEW YORK (AP)—The flu season in the U.S. is getting worse, but it’s too soon to tell how much holiday gatherings contributed to a likely spike in illnesses.

New government data posted Friday for the holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s showed 38 states with high or very high levels of respiratory illnesses with fever, cough, and other symptoms.

That’s up from 31 states the week before.

The measure probably includes people with COVID-19, RSV, and other winter viruses, not just flu. But flu seems to be increasing most dramatically, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We expect it to be elevated for several more weeks,” said the CDC’s Alicia Budd. So far, though, this is a moderate flu season, she said.

Interpreting flu reports during and after the holidays can be tricky, she noted.

Schools are closed. More people are traveling. Some people may be less likely to see a doctor, deciding to just suffer at home. Others may be more likely to go.

The flu season generally peaks between December and February; CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said she expects it to peak by the end of this month. Officials say this season’s flu shots are well-matched to the strain

that is spreading the most.

According to CDC estimates, there have been at least 10 million illnesses, 110,000 hospitalizations and 6,500 deaths from flu so far this season since the beginning of October. The agency said 27 children have died of flu.

COVID-19 illnesses may not be as escalating as quickly as flu this winter. CDC data indicates coronavirus-caused hospitalizations haven’t hit the same levels they did at the same point during the last three winters. Still, COVID-19 is putting more people in the hospital than flu, CDC data shows.

Lauren Ancel Meyers, who runs a team at the University of Texas that forecasts COVID-19, flu, and RSV trends, said the nation is seeing a second rise in COVID19 after a smaller peak in September.

“There is a lot of uncertainty about when and how high this current surge will peak,” said Meyers.

A new version of the coronavirus, called JN.1, is accounting for nearly two-thirds of U.S. cases, according to a CDC estimate, but health officials say there’s no evidence that that it causes more severe disease than other recent variants, The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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30 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

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Religion & Spirituality

Prominent Black church in New York is sued for gender bias by woman who sought to be its senior pastor

By DARREN SANDS Associated Press Over its 215-year history, the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City has earned a reputation as the flagship of the Black church in America. Based in Harlem, it became a famous megachurch with the political rise of the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., perhaps the most influential of the many men who have led the congregation. Powell, pastor from 1937 to 1972, served in Congress for 26 years.

Among the countless believers making Abyssinian their spiritual home was Eboni Marshall Turman, who came to believe she could become the first woman to be the church’s senior pastor. She rose through the ranks and in 2007, became the youngest pastor ordained in Abyssinian’s history.

After longtime senior pastor Calvin O. Butts III died in 2022, Marshall Turman — by then a professor at Yale Divinity School — was among dozens of people who applied to fill the vacancy.

She was full of optimism that she would be chosen. Instead, she wasn’t even a finalist, and is so convinced that sexism was the key factor that she has now filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing Abyssinian and its search committee of gender discrimination.

Along with the church, the lawsuit—filed on December 29—specifically names the search committee chair, Valerie S. Grant, accusing her of behaving inappropriately by asking Marshall Turman questions and pressing issues not broached with her male counterparts.

“Gender discrimination motivated the decision not to hire (Marshall Turman), a fact discussed openly during meetings of the Committee, including by Grant and another Committee member, who said that Abyssinian would only hire a woman as its Senior Pastor ‘over my dead body,’” the complaint states.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages from the defendants for “lost wages, lost benefits, other economic damages, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, and mental distress,” as well as an injunction forbidding any hiring-related gender discrimination.

Duke Divinity School celebrates its 90th Baccalaureate service, May 14, 2016, in Duke Chapel with Eboni Marshall Turman, then a professor at Duke and now a professor at Yale Divinity School, preaching. Marshall Turman filed a lawsuit in December 2023 accusing Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York of sex discrimination for rejecting her application to become Abyssinian’s senior pastor (Duke Divinity School via AP)

The Harlem church and Grant, who also is a board member of Morehouse College in Atlanta, disputed the lawsuit’s discrimination accusations.

“While she and others were considered for the role because of their impressive backgrounds, she ultimately fell short of some key requirements for the role, where other finalist candidates prevailed and moved forward in the process,” said Abyssinian spokesperson LaToya Evans. In her statement, she said the church is prepared to defend itself against the allegations.

Grant, who described the search process as rigorous, said Marshall Turman was one of 11 people who advanced from a 47-applicant field. While some committee members may have felt she was the strongest candidate, she did not receive enough votes to advance to the next round, Grant said.

Due to varied beliefs about whether women can have authority over men, the Black church broadly has been a minefield for women aspiring to pastoral leadership. Beyond that, the question of who gets to preach from the pulpit has caused deep rifts in denominations and congregations across Christian America.

Marshall Turman, who did not respond to requests from the Associated Press for comment, researches gender politics in Black

HAVE YOUR LOVED ONES MEMORIALIZED IN THE AMSTERDAM NEWS’ OBITUARY SECTION. FOR MORE INFO EMAIL: William.Atkins@amsterdamNews.com

churches and related issues. It also is the focus of her forthcoming book.

“I further interrogate theological erasure and violence against Black women in Black churches,” she said about “Black Women’s Burden: Male Power, Gender Violence, and the Scandal of African American Social Christianity” in a September post on Facebook. “Currently, life is tracking my theory.”

The remaining Abyssinian finalists are men. The lawsuit gives reasons why Marshall Turman believed she stood a real chance of filling Abyssinian’s top job, including being told by committee members that she was the obvious pick and being held in high esteem

by Calvin Butts, her ministry mentor.

Grant said the process “was designed to be fair to everyone.”

“I have an issue with people characterizing this process as discriminatory and designed to deny opportunities to women,” she said.

“It’s simply not the case.”

The process was the same for every candidate, she said, adding that her job was to tell the committee to set their biases aside.

Some wanted an older person, or a younger one; some wanted the candidate to be married and others wanted them to have existing connections to Abyssinian, she said.

She took issue with the lawsuit’s accusations against her own interviewing of Marshall Turman. Grant explained that every candidate was asked a series of common questions, and additional ones tailored to each person were asked as well. Grant said Marshall Turman was asked certain questions that other candidates did not get “because she was the only woman” candidate.

When Butts died in October 2022 after a

bout with cancer, Marshall Turman felt that God had called her to the moment. She wrote an application to Abyssinian’s senior pastorate that reflected her credentials, including a master of divinity and doctorate from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and experience on the Abyssinian staff as a minister for Christian education.

Butts called her the best assistant he had ever had, and the smartest, too, according to the lawsuit.

Marshall Turman was among those invited to apply, but after not making it to the final round, she alleged in a Facebook post on September 23, 2023, that the hiring process was tainted by secrecy and gender bias.

She contended that Abyssinian deacons had worked alongside “an energized group of Morehouse supporters and committee leadership to systematically eliminate all female applicants from the pool of candidates.”

“I write only to underscore that gender bias has no place in God’s house,” Marshall Turman continued in her post. “Moreover, gender bias is illegal in the City of New York in 2023 no matter the prior legacy of the organization involved.”

Among the remaining contenders for the open senior pastor job are the Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson, formerly of the historic Bright Hope Baptist Church in North Philadelphia, and Derrick Harkins, who was recently working for Marcia Fudge at the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development.

For years, as detailed in the book “Witness: Two Hundred Years of African American Faith and Practice at the Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem, New York,” treatment of women in the church has been an unsettled issue among its members.

In her book “Toward a Womanist Ethic of Incarnation: Black Bodies, the Black Church and the Council of Chalcedon,” Marshall Turman critiqued the Morehouse social gospel tradition, even interviewing Butts.

In terms of Black women as pastoral leaders, Butts told Turman that at Morehouse, the thought of women as pastoral leaders had never crossed his mind. “It was not an issue at Morehouse,” said Butts, in an excerpt from the book. “I just never even thought about it.”

She described finding herself in a world where Black women aren’t listened to, but also one in which their labor is essential to Black survival.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Equity

Continued from page 12

Vietnam and Korean Wars. America is only 4.2% of the world population but 28% (7 times our population rate) of global pandemic deaths (334,000); and 1.4 million American cases, or 32% (3 times our population rate) of 4.1 million global confirmed cases. Both pandemic deaths and cases are currently underreported, as health professionals and leaders seek to deconstruct grim realities; belatedly conduct racial analyses; and launch testing and tracing strategies. Race matters: we must know who is dying, how and why. And then, stop the carnage. Black and brown deaths are being underreported. People are dying at home, were sent home untreated, and were untested for the virus.

We talk about having the most powerful military on earth, our soldiers always having a fighting chance. How did this pandemic manage a surprise attack in the home of the brave and the land of the free? The richest and most powerful nation on earth? And who didn’t have a fighting chance? Our seniors, those with diabetes, hypertension, pre-existing conditions, our health professionals, under resourced, not trained in cultural competence or managing pandemics; first responders, essential workers; our Black, Latinx, Native American communities; our nursing homes and meat plant workers; the incarcerated and their guards. While the blue states are spooking the reds, we can’t move fast enough to bury our dead. The sins of our forebears are on our heads, and those who are silent, don’t vote, don’t fill out their Census forum so we can have better healthcare, are not part of the solution, and are transmitting a societal plague upon future generations.

America the beautiful, the good, the bad, and the ugly. America’s 331 million people has had the most powerful economy in the world for the last 150 years. In 2019, America had a $22 trillion GDP, 24 % of the $88 trillion Global GDP. America, 4% of the world’s population, produces 24% of the world’s goods and services. Our nearest competitor, China with 1.4 billion people, 4 times America’s population, has a $7 trillion smaller GDP ($14 trillion) than America. Our country has the world’s greatest scientists, universities, medical centers, intellectual capital, and is the global financial capital.

America’s persistent problem of Black inequality is not due to a lack of resources, but maldistribution, and a lack of effective and equitable sharing of those resources. America has wavered in moral courage to break with the sins of its past, and is dodging its challenges of the present and future.

The economic benefits for the 1% are significantly derived from centuries

of white wealth building via enslaved and underpaid labor and mega-fortunes too enticing to forego. What we have, is a lack of political will to pay for targeted, policy and data driven solutions. Once and for all, we must eradicate the problems, and reinvent present policy, program and practice, which are still undergirding Black inequality, in healthcare, education, income, wealth accumulation, entrepreneurship, housing and home ownership, criminal justice, voting rights, civil rights, cultural rights, and human rights.

We must replace the bad with new and better paradigms of public policy and programs, public finance and its inextricably intertwined and subsidized private capital, to finally and definitively defeat Black inequality in its myriad domains. The devil is in the details. Let the policy think tankers, and the legislators and public and private sector leaders of good will, and the American people get to work now, before the next pandemic comes. A new, “PostPandemic Public Policy Agenda” must be conceived, envisioned, and forged from the present pain, so that we never find ourselves in this place again. Here are a few ideas to consider.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive shutdown of Pre-K-16 public and private school buildings and university campuses, almost instantaneously forcing these educational systems into distance learning mode.

The 80,000 DOE teachers of 1.1 million school children, and 20,000 CUNY professors of 500,000 CUNY students, and administrators are all undergoing ongoing training and making an “all in,” paradigm shift to digital learning management systems such as Blackboard.

They are also utilizing video conferencing systems such as Webex, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom in order to migrate to a 100% distance learning, digital learning environment.

In just a matter of a few weeks, thousands of laptops and tablets were purchased and distributed to students, their homes were equipped with free internet service, and their educational process went forward, in a new digital world.

Kalief Browder’s wrongful imprisonment in a NYC jail caused him to commit suicide. His young mother died of a heart attack. You too, might overeat, have high blood pressure, abuse substances and be dysfunctional, if you were living under the incessant stresses of structural racism. Scientific, peer reviewed studies have documented that Blacks subjected to the daily stresses of structural racism live less healthy lives and have the shortest lifespans of any race. Granted this is a tall order, rebuilding a world without racism, sexism, agism and other -isms. Maybe we’ll just pass the buck to our children and grand-children to fix?

This pandemic has highlighted the

fact there is indeed a digital divide in Black and brown households. Another verifier of this divide involves the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau and other entities are daily tracking Self Response Rates (SRR). NYC data shows that in wealthier, white census tracts, there is up to 80% internet response. But in Black and brown census tracts, they are lagging in response rates overall—in the very communities bearing the brunt of the pandemic. They also have much higher paper form and phone response rates and lower internet response rates.

This is a clear indication of the persistent digital divide. Incidentally, there is a similar pattern of lagging response rates overall, but high paper response and phone rates when compared to internet response rates, in a number of rural, upstate New York, white counties and towns.

In New York and elsewhere, education has made a paradigm shift to digital mode, turning on a dime. And this seismic shift to online education is not a temporary response to COVID, but a permanent educational migration. Thus closing the digital divide, expanding broadband access, and placing a digital educational device in every home, in Black and brown, and rural communities, becomes an absolute imperative going forward, if we are ever going to close the inequality gap in educational achievement among Black and brown children. Otherwise, the gap will just grow wider, between the haves and the have nots.

Let’s note another policy domain, regarding the eradication of economic inequality. The $2.9 trillion federal COVID stimulus package in the form of the CARES Act, brought billions of dollars in bailouts to the airline, hotel, and tourism industries, which as a result of COVID, are now undergoing fundamental downsizing, job loss and industry transformation. But very few of those dollars have flowed to small businesses, which provide 80% of American jobs and where the retail and services sector, heavily small business, comprises 70% of the $22 trillion U.S. GDP. There is big money being made in the midst of this pandemic and Blackowned businesses must receive their fair share, especially in light of the terrible toll the pandemic is imposing on Black communities, businesses and essential employees in New York City and across America.

During WWII, President Roosevelt commandeered industry and shipping to build bombs, ships, planes, tanks, guns, ammo, food and uniforms to save Europe and win the war. It is a threat to our national health and security that our current President did not swiftly invoke the War Production Act, to commandeer our major industries to produce PPE, ventilators and medical supplies in a critically timely manner,

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 31 as well as leverage the centralized purchasing power of the $4 trillion federal government, American Business’ #1 customer.

More timely national action would have reduced the American pandemic death and illness toll to a fraction of the current 90,000 American lives and climbing, as well as the current 4.5 million virus cases and climbing. Instead, state and local governments competed against each other for foreign and domestic purchases, driving up prices and blowing multi-billion holes in state and local budgets for emergency healthcare, police, fire, EMS, food, transit, and educational technology. And instead of federal reimbursement for the cost of their slow response, Washington (except the House) is now saying once again to New York and other ravaged jurisdictions, “Drop Dead!” But those with the inside track, not those with the greatest need, got their medical supplies first.

New York ingenuity in a time of crisis, in less than 30 days, invented small manufacturers of surgical masks and gowns in the Navy Yard, Industry City and beyond. NYC and NYS with their 30% MWBE goals need to capitalize Black-owned businesses to be the new generation of producers of goods and services in our post-pandemic world.

Gov. Cuomo, with his great peer leadership, in a few weeks, assembled a seven state, northeast regional purchasing coalition, to bulk purchase billions in domestic products and services, to reduce our overreliance on China and foreign economic powers, for critical domestic necessities, such as medical supplies.

If America is ever going to make amends, let us do it now: build and buy from Black-owned businesses. America burned our Black businesses to the ground. America lynched our entrepreneurs and enslaved our workers.

America rescinded our 40 acres and a mule and re-enslaved us through convict leasing, tenant farming, sharecropping and domestic terrorism. America stole our Black Farmers acreage from 20 million in 1900 down to 3 million today.

Roosevelt and the Dixiecrats cut Black domestic and agricultural workers out of the New Deal legislation: no Social Security and no legal right to organize for fair wages.

The FHA, VA, Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) and the banks, redlined Blacks out of home mortgages and loans and herded us into disinvested, racialized ghettoes. America built her first empires dominating global markets in cotton, tobacco and sugar, using up to 4 million enslaved workers in the 1860 Census, mostly on Southern plantations. One enslaved African valued at $2000 in 1860, is worth $30,000 today, white man’s property, to be bought, sold, insured, collateralized, See EQUITY continued on page 35

32 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

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SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC., 7014 13TH AVENUE, SUITE 202, BROOKLYN, NY, 11228. Purpose: To teach golf or to engage in any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of STRENTA PHILANTHROPIC GRANTING SERVICES, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/27/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 11/10/20. Princ. office of LLC: 600 Brickell Ave., Ste. 1720, Miami, FL 33131.

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. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of GATES MILLS VILLA PRESERVATION, L.P. Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/19/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LP: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. Latest date on which the LP may dissolve is 12/31/2122.

SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT – NEW YORK COUNTY – WEST 45TH RETAIL LLC, Plaintiff v. ALANDALOUS PROPERTIES CORP. f/k/a PEOPLES FOREIGN EXCHANGE CORPORATION, et al., Defendants. Pursuant to an Amended Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision and Order on Motion entered on September 29, 2023 (the “Judgment”), I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder in Room 130 of the New York County Supreme Court, 60 Centre Street, New York, New York, on February 14, 2024 at 2:15 p.m., the premises known as 24 West 45th Street, Unit C-1, New York, New York. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in New York County and State of New York: Block 1260, Lot 1001, as more particularly described in the Judgment. Approximate amount of Judgment is $1,632,632.61, plus additional interest and fees. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index #850207/2021. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 1st Judicial District's Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules.

Elaine Shay, Esq., Referee.

Andriola Law, PLLC, 1385 Broadway, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10018, Attorneys for Plaintiff Dewy Dawn LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/16/2023. Office: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy to: 89 Jewel St, Brooklyn, NY 11222.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

Snackbasket LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/03/2023. Office: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: MYCOMPANYWORKS, INC., 187 E. WARM SPRINGS RD. SUITE B, LAS VEGAS, NV, 89119. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of TET FIFTH AVENUE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/05/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 6400 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22182. 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: To own and hold real estate investments.

Notice of Qualification of TRIPLE P SECURITIES, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/18/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/31/22. Princ. office of LLC: 640 Fifth Ave., 10th Fl., NY, NY 10019. 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.

DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 17 EAST 70TH HOLDINGS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/28/23. 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 Formation of 163 CSTREET LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/21/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 121 Varick St., 4th Fl., NY, NY 10013. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of (C)worthy, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/14/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 05/05/23.

Princ. office of LLC: 1909 Broadway, Ste. 200, Boulder, CO 80302. 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. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Charitable and scientific purposes.

Deborah's Beauty Spa, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/08/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy to: 115 W. 142 St., Apt 6B, NY, NY 10030. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of 40 MADISON HOLDINGS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/20/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/23/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 140 E. 45th St., 43rd Fl., NY, NY 10017. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 820 N. French St., 10th Fl., Wilmington, DE 19801. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of SUGAR FOODS LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/01/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/18/23.

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. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Shirty Words LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/04/2023. Office: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy to: 28 E. 21st St, #1A, NY, NY 10010.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Studio Unfurl LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/16/2023. Office: NY County.

SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy to: Karen Wertheim, 44 W. 62nd St., Apt 15B, NY, NY 10023. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of STANDARD POWER HOSTING ULTRA COMPANY LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/14/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/12/23. Princ. office of LLC: 551 Madison Ave., Ste. 450, NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, DE Secy. of State, DE Div. of Corps., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

CREEK CAPITAL, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/8/2023. Office: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 180 WATER ST APT 810, NEW YORK, NY 10038. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of GATES MILLS VILLA DEVELOPER, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/19/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. 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.

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK. THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE 812 RIVERSIDE CONDOMINIUM, SUING ON BEHALF OF THE UNIT OWNERS, Plaintiff -against- SOSEFIN MALINOWSKI, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated September 11, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on February 14, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, known as Condominium Unit No. 41 in the premises known as “The 812 Riverside Condominium”, together with an undivided 4.4133% interest in the common elements. Block 2136 Lot 1021. Said premises known as 812 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, UNIT 41, NEW YORK, NY 10031. Approximate amount of lien $55,372.43 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 151675/2022.

SCOTT H. SILLER, ESQ., Referee. Kagan Lubic Lepper Finkelstein & Gold, LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff. 200 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016.

BARBO 908, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/05/23.

Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 165 West 73rd Street, New York, NY 10023. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

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101 LEGAL NOTICES

Notice of Qualification of BSP SUMMER GP L.L.C. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/06/23.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/25/23. Princ. office of LLC: 345 Park Ave., NY, NY 10154. 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 122072543. DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of SIG RCRS C MF 2023 VENTURE LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/22/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/04/23. Princ. office of LLC: 220 E. 42nd St., 16 Fl., NY, NY 10017. 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., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of BOSTON CHILDREN'S HEALTH NATIONAL, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/21/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Massachusetts (MA) on 08/09/23. Princ. office of LLC and MA addr.: 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115. 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. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of the Commonwealth of MA, One Ashburton Place, Rm. 1717, Boston, MA 02115. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of CROW HOLDINGS RENEWABLES GP, L.L.C. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/18/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/07/23. Princ. office of LLC: 3819 Maple Ave., Dallas, TX 75219. 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 122072543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wimington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., PO Box 898, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of SIG RCRS D MF 2023 VENTURE LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/22/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/04/23. Princ. office of LLC: 220 E. 42nd St., 16 Fl., NY, NY 10017. 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., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of GATES MILLS VILLA PRESERVATION GP, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/19/23. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. 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 SALE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK: COUNTY OF NEW YORK. JY TANGEROUS L.P., Pltf v. SIXTH STREET COMMUNITY CENTER, INC, et al., Defts. Index No. 850041/2021 pursuant to the Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 16, 2023 and entered on October 12, 2023, I will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, at the Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, New York, room 130 on January 24, 2024 at 2:15 p.m., prem. k/a 638 East Sixth Street, New York, New York 10009, Block 387, Lot 128 (the “Property”). Approx. amt of judgment is $1,483,225.50, plus costs, attorneys’ fees and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Peter Sklar, Esq., Referee. Jacobowitz Newman Tversky LLP, Attys. for Plaintiff, 377 Pearsall Ave., Ste C, Cedarhurst, NY. Notice of Qualification of CORIO GENERATION USA LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/22/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/25/23. Princ. office of LLC: One Lincoln St., Ste. 2400, Boston, MA 02111.

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. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Wilmington Office, 820 N. French St., 10th Fl., Wilmington, DE 19801. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of ECLAIR PARTNERS (GP) I, L.L.C. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/15/23. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/01/23. Princ. office of LLC: 353 W. End Ave., Apt. 1, NY, NY 10024. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 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 Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secy. of State - State of DE, Div. of Corps. - John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Investment management.

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101 LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff -against- JULIA ALEXIS AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF EILEEN DUIGNAN WOODS, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 29 and entered on September 1, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on January 24, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, being an undivided ownership interest as tenant-in-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an appurtenant undivided .009864% common interest percentage. This a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 2008 and October 31, NOTICE OF10, SALE SUPREME 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office OF of the City COURT OF THE STATE Register, County, City and State of New York.

The Timeshare NEW YORK: COUNTY OF NEW Unit is also designated as Block 1009YORK. and LotJY37.TANGEROUS Said premises known as L.P., 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW NY. Approximate amount of PltfYORK, v. SIXTH STREET COMlien $17,972.99 plus interest & MUNITY costs. Premises will INC, be sold subject to CENTER, et al., provisions of filed Judgment andDefts.

TermsIndex of Sale.

No. 850041/2021 Index Number 850024/2022. pursuant to the Judgment of ALLISON M. FURMAN, ESQ., Referee Foreclosure and Sale dated DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC August 16, 2023 and entered Attorney(s) for Plaintiff on October 12, 2023, I will sell 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY at 11590 public auction at the New York County Courthouse, at the Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, New York, SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS room 130 January 2024 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF on NEW YORK24, - COUNTY OF at 2:15 p.m., prem. k/a 638 East NEW YORK Sixth ASSOCIATION, Street, New York, 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS INC.,New

BY AND York 10009, Block 387,-againstLot 128 DIANA THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff, Approx. amt of GOMEZ JUAREZ , if living, and(the if he“Property”). be dead, any and all persons unjudgment is $1,483,225.50, plus in, or known to Plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest costs, fees and in intergenerally or specific lien upon the real attorneys’ property described this action; est. Sold subject to termsand andintended such unknown persons being herein generally described of filed judgment and widow, to be included in the following conditions designation, namely: the wife, Sklar, Esq., husband, widower, heirs-at-law,terms next of ofsale. kin, Peter descendants, executors, Referee.

Jacobowitz Newman administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, Tversky LLP, forpersons Plaintiff,deriving lienors and assignees of such deceased, anyAttys. and all Ave.,by, Stethrough C, Ce-or under interest in or lien upon, or title to377 saidPearsall real property darhurst, NY. wives, widows, husbands, them, or either of them, and their respective widowers, heirs-at-law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to Plaintiff, Defendants. INDEX NO.: 850070/2020 FILED: DECEMBER 12, 2023 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the plaintiff's attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within 30 days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant an Order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, a Justiceof the Supreme Court, of New York County, dated November 28, 2023 and entered November 30, 2023. Dated: October 6, 2023, Westbury, New York. Maria Sideris, Esq., DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC, Attorneys for Plaintiff, 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590, (516) 8760800. WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE 425 FIFTH AVENUE CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiffs -against- UNITED ENTERPRISES INTERNATIONAL INC., et al. Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 5, 2023 and entered on September 8, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY 10007, on Wednesday on January 31, 2024 at 2:15 pm premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York; known and designated as Block 868 Lot 1547. Said premises known as 425 FIFTH AVENUE, UNIT 25-C, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $46,778.62, through July 1, 2023, plus interest fees & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 656892/2021.

ROBERTA ASHKIN, ESQ., Referee Seyfarth Shaw LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018 SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. COLIN MILL and ERICA LYNN RANCE MILL, Defts. - Index # 850272/2022. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 28, 2023, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 2:15 pm, an interest of two undivided 0.0519144314871446% and 0.0135990382819495% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $111,378.55 plus costs and interest as of March 29, 2023. 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.

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 33

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK HSBC BANK USA, N.A., Plaintiff, -againstCarmen Patricia Armendariz Guerra if living and if any be dead, any and all persons who are spouses, widows, grantees, mortgagees, lienor, heirs, devisees, distributees, or successors in interest of such of the above as may be dead, and their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residences are unknown to Plaintiff , Juliana Hinestrosa Armendariz if living and if any be dead, any and all persons who are spouses, widows, grantees, mortgagees, heirs, devisees, distributees, or succesNOTICE OF SALElienor, SUPREME sors COURT in interestOF of such the above THE ofSTATE OF as may be dead, and their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom NEW YORK: COUNTY OF NEW and YORK. whose names and places of residences are unknown to Plaintiff , JY TANGEROUS L.P., Maria Hinestrosa if living and if any be dead, any and all Pltf v. SIXTHArmendariz STREET COMpersons who are spouses, widows, MUNITY CENTER, INC, et al.,grantees, mortgagees, lienor, heirs, devisees, or successors in interest of such of the above Defts. distributees, Index No. 850041/2021 as may be dead, and Judgment their spouses, pursuant to the of heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, of whom Foreclosure and all Sale dated and whose names and places of residences are unknown to Plaintiff August 16, 2023 and entered, The Board of Managers of Trump Parcon Condominium, State Iofwill New October 12, 2023, sellYork Commissioner of Labor, New YorkatCity Environmental Board, New York City Parking Violapublic auction atControl the New tionsYork Bureau, NewCourthouse, York City Transit County at theAdjudication Bureau, United States of America-Internal Revenue Service, Courthouse located at 60 Cen- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Defendants, tre Street, New York, New York, Indexroom No. 850396/2023 130 on January 24, 2024 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS at 2:15 p.m., prem. k/a 638 East Plaintiff New York, York County as the place of trial. Venue is Sixthdesignates Street, New New based upon the County in which the Mortgage premises is situated York 10009, Block 387, Lot 128 TO THE NAMED DEFENDANT(S): (the ABOVE “Property”).

Approx. amt of YOUjudgment ARE HEREBY SUMMONED is $1,483,225.50, plusto answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your Answer or, if the Complaint is not served costs, attorneys’ fees and interwith est. this Sold Summons, to serve a Notice subject to terms and of Appearance on the attorneys for the plaintiff of within (20)and days after service of this Summons, conditions filed twenty judgment exclusive day of service (or within thirty (30) days after service termsof of the sale.

Peter Sklar, Esq., is complete if this Summons is not Referee. Jacobowitz Newman personally delivered to you within the State of New York). for In Plaintiff, case of your failure to appear or answer, Tversky LLP, Attys. judgment will be taken 377 Pearsall Ave., against Ste C, you Ce- by default for the relief demanded in thedarhurst, Complaint.

NY. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $945,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the County of NEW YORK on August 10, 2011, in Book CRFN 2011000281448, Page , covering premises known as 106 Central Park South, Unit 15G, New York, NY 10019.

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

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 your 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. Dated: Bay Shore, New York November 7, 2023 By: Kristina Negri, Esq. Frenkel, Lambert, Weiss, Weisman & Gordon, LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, New York 11706 (631) 969-3100 Our File No.:01-097442-F00 SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK MASPETH FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff -against- CALIMERO, LTD., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 23, 2023 and entered on October 6, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on February 14, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the City, County and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of 84th Street, distant 123 feet easterly from the southeasterly corner of Avenue A and 84th Street; being a plot 102 feet 2 inches by 25 feet by 102 feet 2 inches by 25 feet. Section: 5 Block: 1580 Lot: 47. Said premises known as 504 EAST 84TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $716,258.71 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850247/2022.

SCOTT SILLER, ESQ., Referee MASONE, WHITE, PENKAVA & CRISTOFARI Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 69-34 GRAND AVENUE, P.O. BOX 780569, MASPETH, NY 11378 BARBO 906, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/05/23.

Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 165 West 73rd Street, New York, NY 10023. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Hagley's West 137 Management LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 5/11/2023. Office: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail copy to: 226 West 136th St, Apt 1R, New York, NY 10030. Purpose: Any lawful act.

34 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK HNY CLUB SUITES OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff, -against- UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF MYRNA D. WILLIAMS, if living, and if he be dead, any and all persons unknown to Plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs-at-law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs-at-law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to Plaintiff, Defendants. INDEX NO. 850107/2023 FILED:12/15/23 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff's attorney within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service or within 30 days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant an Order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, a Justiceof the Supreme Court, of New York County, dated December 6, 2023 and entered December 6, 2023. Dated: December 5, 2023, Westbury, New York. Maria Sideris, Esq., DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC, Attorneys for Plaintiff, 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590, (516) 876-0800 SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK. THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE 251 CONDOMINIUM, SUING ON BEHALF OF THE UNIT OWNERS, Plaintiff -against- W89D5 LLC C/O NYLLLCO, LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated September 6, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on February 7, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, known as Unit No. 5D in the building known as “The 251 Condominium”, together with an undivided 1.5389% interest in the common elements. Block: 1237 Lot: 1040. Said premises known as 251 WEST 89TH STREET, UNIT 5D, NEW YORK, NY 10024. Approximate amount of lien $109,588.28 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 150779/2022.

CLARK A. WHITSETT, ESQ., Referee Kagan Lubic Lepper Finkelstein & Gold, LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 200 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff, -against- MARCO ARTURO DEJESUS LAGUNES RUEDA, BEATRIZ SANSORES GARCIA, if living, and if he be dead, any and all persons unknown to Plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs-at-law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs-at-law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to Plaintiff, Defendants.

INDEX NO.: 850082/2013 FILED: 12/15/23 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff's attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within 30 days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant an Order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, a Justiceof the Supreme Court, of New York County, dated December 5, 2023 and entered December 7, 2023. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT: THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Timeshare Mortgage in the amount of $32,435.00, recorded in New York County Clerk's Office on August 9, 2011 in CRFN: 2011000280522 of Mortgages covering the .009864% undivided tenant in common interest of the Timeshare Unit which comprises a portion of the premises known as 102 WEST 57th STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019-3302. The relief sought in the within action is a final Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale directing the sale of the .009864% undivided tenant in common interest of the Timeshare Unit which comprises a portion of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage. New York County is designated as the place of trial on the basis of the fact that the real property affected by this action is located wholly within said County. Dated: October 31, 2013, Westbury, New York. Maria Sideris, Esq., DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC, Attorneys for Plaintiff, 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590, (516) 876-0800. WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. MONIQUE DUNCAN, Deft. - Index # 850425/2023. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 23, 2023, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.1505136467542480% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $65,658.34 plus costs and interest as of August 25, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Tom Kleinberger, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY. SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK THE COLUMBIA CONDOMINIUM BY ITS BOARD OF MANAGERS, Plaintiff -against- IR 96TH ST HOLDING LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 28, 2023 and entered on October 2, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on February 14, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, known as Unit No. 25F in the premises known as "The Columbia Condominium" together with an undivided 0.002716% interest in the common elements. Section 7 Block 1868 and Lot 1240.

Said premises known as 275 WEST 96TH STREET, APT. 25F, NEW YORK, NY. Approximate amount of lien $96,753.84 plus attorneys fees and costs as awarded in the judgment, along with interest & costs.

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

Index Number 154633/2021.

ALLISON M. FURMAN, ESQ., Referee Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 444 Madison Ave., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022 SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. BRIAN P. MOORE, DESIREE L. MOORE, NYC TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU, Defts. - Index # 850063/2023. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 24, 2023, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.0519144314871446% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $63,724.79 plus costs and interest as of March 29, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Jeffrey R. Miller, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. BOBBY D. PAYNE, JR. FREDERIKKA T. PAYNE, Defts. - Index # 850203/2021. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 6, 2023, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.00986400000% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 57th STREET VACATION SUITES located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, New York.

Approximate amount of judgment is $39,520.59 plus costs and interest as of May 18, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Christy M. Demelfi, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. KRISTINE M. GLEIN and DARYL P. GLEIN, Defts. Index # 850273/2022. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 23, 2023, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.00986400000% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 57th STREET VACATION SUITES located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $32,039.15 plus costs and interest as of February 24, 2023. 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.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. DAVID GEORGE JOHNSON, NYC DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU, NYC ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD, Defts. - Index # 850064/2023. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 24, 2023, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.00493200000% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 57th STREET VACATION SUITES located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $17,586.29 plus costs and interest as of March 29, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Jeffrey R. Miller, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. BARBARA G. HAMMERMAN, RAYMOND A. LAVINE, AMANDA G. HAMMERMAN, Defts. - Index # 850274/2022. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated November 27, 2023, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the NY County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 9,000/28,402,100 tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $36,363.83 plus costs and interest as of February 24, 2023. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Christy M. Demelfi, Esq., Referee.

Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY. NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT – NEW YORK COUNTY – WEST 45TH RETAIL LLC, Plaintiff v. ALANDALOUS PROPERTIES CORP. f/k/a PEOPLES FOREIGN EXCHANGE CORPORATION, et al., Defendants. Pursuant to an Amended Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision and Order on Motion entered on September 29, 2023 (the “Judgment”), I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder in Room 130 of the New York County Supreme Court, 60 Centre Street, New York, New York, on February 14, 2024 at 2:15 p.m., the premises known as 24 West 45th Street, Unit C-1, New York, New York. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in New York County and State of New York: Block 1260, Lot 1001, as more particularly described in the Judgment. Approximate amount of Judgment is $1,632,632.61, plus additional interest and fees. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index #850207/2021. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 1st Judicial District's Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules.

Elaine Shay, Esq., Referee.

Andriola Law, PLLC, 1385 Broadway, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10018, Attorneys for Plaintiff

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Equity

Continued from page 31

and often worked to death.

Wall St., banking, insurance and shipping, built from the transatlantic African slave trade, the U.S. domestic slave trade, and other commerce and industry; 246 years years of the free labor of Africans (4.4 million, 89% slaves in 1860); followed by 160 years to date, of under paid Black labor and intellectual capital; billions bilked from housing discrimination, over charged rent and subprime mortgages. America has run up quite a bill. But not to worry, America, we’ll give you a bargain interest rate, and installment plan, like you’ve done for us. To paraphrase MLK, Jr., please, no more checks marked insufficient in funds.

When white America gets a cold, Black America gets influenza and dies triple fold. This time, when America rises, when we all rise together, finally whole, and defeat this pandemic, Black America, 50 million strong, should never again be quarantined or socially distanced, in the back of the bus or thrown under the bus. By now, we should own the transportation sector. We should be driving the bus. America, are you all packed and ready to go for a scenic ride, in our new post-pandemic World?

The post-pandemic public policy de-

velopment model already exists. Gov. Cuomo’s $1.4 billion “Vital Brooklyn” program, launched at Medgar Evers College in 2017, is a multi-faceted health and community development initiative, covering half of Brooklyn’s 2.6 million residents, and precisely the communities where the pandemic has hit the hardest. Vital Brooklyn organically grew out of a bottom-up, community and healthcare partnership, utilizing a consultative planning and advocacy process known as Participatory Action Research (PAR). PAR identified the social determinants of health (SDOH), neighborhood by neighborhood, and their customized solutions.

DuBois Bunche Center-Medgar Evers College, Maimonides Medical CenterCCB, MIT Co-Lab, and One Brooklyn Health Systems are the key collaborative partners who for the past four years, have been using a this SDOH framework, to research key community-driven questions, and find the solutions to improved, quality healthcare in local neighborhoods. The team has produced five major reports thus far, as well as solution-driven implementation models, working with the NYS and NYC Health Departments, other agencies, and key stakeholders such as community, elected officials, nonprofits and labor.

1. Maximize Black Digital Education from Pre-K-16; Achieve 90% High School and College Graduation Rates (access hardware, connectivity, training, jobs, contracts) 2. Universal Broadband, Internet, 5G Access in Black and Rural New York Communities; Blacks have lowest Internet response rates for 2020 Census 3. Achieve 100% Unbiased Law Enforcement; Recruit, Train and Promote Black Law Enforcement; Better Screen, Train, ReAssign, Discipline existing Forces 4. Maximize Telemedicine in Black Communities 5. End Structural Racism & Discrimination: A Major Black Stressor & Co-Morbidity 6. Increase to 25% share, NYC Black Doctors, MPA-MPHs, Nurses, Allied & Community Health Workers; Hire Contact Tracers et.al. from Covid Communities 7. 100% Food Security; Maximize Black Urban Farming; Purchasing from Black Farmers; and 30% Black Business contracts in the Food Supply Chain (DOE etc.)

8. Achieve 80% Black Participation in 2020 Census, Voting, Redistricting, Activism 9. 30% Black Business manufacturers in Health Products and Services Supply Chain; Business Incubators, Storage and Supply Houses in Black communities (Armories) 10. Maximize Black Affordable Housing Supply (Lower AMI); and Home Ownership 11. Continue & Replicate “Vital Brooklyn” Health and Community DevelIn A Post-Pandemic World, Ending opment Model, including Black Faith Black Inequality: 12 Major Goals: Institutional Development

8 kids a day are accidentally killed or injured by FAMILY FIRE. FAMILY FIRE is a shooting involving an improperly stored gun, often found in the home.

ENDFAMILYFIRE.org

January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 35 12. Use Vital Brooklyn “Participatory Action Research” (PAR) Model to ensure Community Input, Planning, Beneficiaries and Evaluation.

The author. John Flateau was a Professor of Public Administration and Political Science at Medgar Evers College, School Of Business, The City University Of New York (CUNY), Brooklyn, New York. He earned a Ph.D. in American Politics and Public Policy, CUNY Graduate Center; and directed an urban policy think tank, the DuBois Bunche Center For Public Policy, focusing on critical issues in the African diaspora and communities of color, and he led their U.S. Census Information Center. He is a Black scholar-activist, thought leader, author and public affairs commentator. He gave extensive public service, including as executive director, Black, Hispanic, Asian Caucus and deputy secretary, NYS senate. His research and publications focused on health equity, racial inequality, housing discrimination, criminal justice reform, census demographics, electoral reform, voting rights, redistricting, church and community development, and Black entrepreneurship. Dr. Flateau contributed to “Racial Inequality in New York City, 1965 and Beyond,” Bowser and Devadutt, eds., SUNY Press, 2019; a recent series of Brooklyn health equity studies; and a “Vital Brooklyn” program evaluation model.

36 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Afro Colombians

International

spirituality, and their dignity.

With the coming to power of the Historical Pact coalition, headed by President Petro and Vice President Francia Márquez Mina, there is an effort to reaffirm this Black agenda. These leaders have been developing this effort amid conflicts and structural violence. Last October, Márquez was in the historic Afro Colombian city of Cartagena for the installation of the National Commission for Historical Reparation (Comisión Intersectorial Nacional de Reparación Histórica). The Commission will officially pay tribute to people who were enslaved and point out the importance of historical reparations for Indigenous peoples, Afro Colombians, Raizals, and Palenqueros. The collective is also charged with working with various government agencies to address ongoing racial violence..

The challenges for 2024 are transcendental and will only be achieved with the unity of the Afro Colombian people.

exposed by the Daily Nigerian newspaper. In an undercover investigation, reporter Umar Audu detailed how he acquired a degree for a four-year program from a Benin university in under two months.

“I have no sympathy for those with fake certificates from foreign countries,” said Mamman.

“They are not victims but part of the criminal chain [who] should be arrested.”

The federal government has been urged to fish out those occupying top management offices with fake university degrees and other certificates.

According to the former NUC secretary, francophone West African nations have been benefiting by offering dubious degrees to Nigerians.

Holders of fake degrees are partly responsible for the nation’s backwardness, said Alhaji Musa Saidu of the International Human Rights Commission.

Elsewhere in Nigeria, the Economic and Fi-

Continued from page 2

Continued from page 2

nancial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a corruption watchdog, raided the offices of Dangote Industries Limited last month, carting away documents from the main office.

The Dangote Group is led by billionaire Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man. He accused the EFCC of seeking to cause “unwarranted embarrassment” in a probe into favorable exchange rates handed out by the country’s former central bank chief, according to the Financial Times.

The Dangote Group has interests in cement, sugar, salt, and flour. They said they were not aware of any accusations of wrongdoing against any company under their umbrella.

The Dangote Group is one of 52 companies to receive letters from the anti-corruption agency seeking documents since 2014. Dangote is worth around $14 billion, but may have fallen out of favor with the current administration.

The raid was the latest salvo in a widening probe into former central bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, who has been accused of fraud and mismanagement of billions of naira.Regarded as one of the most powerful

government officials in Nigeria when he led the bank, Emefiele spent nine years overseeing Nigeria’s monetary policy affairs, which was ended by Nigeria’s new president, Bola Tinubu, shortly after Tinubu took office in May. Emefiele is accused of operating a highly contentious regime with multiple exchange rates that a special investigator, appointed by Nigeria’s president, has allegedly enabled the bank to disburse scarce foreign exchange reserves at an artificially low rate to favored industries and individuals.

Meanwhile, Chidi Odinkalu of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University was quoted by the Financial Times as saying that he doubted the investigation into the central bank suggested an era of better government under Tinubu. On the contrary, he suggested, the president has spent large sums of money on supplying legislators with four-wheel drive vehicles costing up to $150,000 each.

“Rather than reduce the cost of administration,” he said, “they’ve bloated it.”

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January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 37

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

St. John’s men’s basketball rises in the Big East

By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews Before facing the 11-4 Providence Friars at Madison Square Garden last night, St. John’s was 11-4 overall and 3-1 in Big East Conference play, tied for third place with the University of Connecticut and Villanova University, which were also 3-1 and right behind 4-1 Seton Hall. The Red Storm lost a close road game to UConn on December 23, falling 69-65.

Last season under former head coach Mike Anderson, St. John’s was a respectable 18-15 but just 7-13 in conference games in the 11-team league. They ended in seventh place and failed to earn a postseason spot for the third consecutive year.

This season, under first-year head coach and 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Rick Pitino, who led Kentucky to the 1996 NCAA title and Louisville to the 2013 championship (it was later vacated due to rules violations) the Red Storm has their sights set on making it to the March Madness field of 68.

“I want to make the NCAA Tournament,” said St. John’s senior center Joel Soriano, who is having an All-Big East campaign thus far, averaging team-highs of 17.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game through the Red Storm’s first 15 games.

“I want to play Friday night, [deep into] the Big East tournament, win 20-plus games this year, and really just win. That has been my goal since I’ve been here.”

The 6-11 Yonkers, New York, native, who attended Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York, and played his first two years of college hoops at Fordham, was voted the Big East’s Most Improved Player last season and named All-Big East Second Team.

The Red Storm had their first win on the Villanova campus in over three decades on Saturday, handing the Wildcats their first Big East conference loss of the season with an 81-71 victory.

St. John’s, who had not won on their competitor’s campus since 1993, were led by Soriano with 20 points. Senior guard Daniss Jenkins, who played for Pitino a year

The St. John’s Red Storm were a promising 11-4 overall and 3-1 in Big East play before facing Providence at Madison Square Garden last night. ( St. John’s Athletics photo)

ago at Iona College, scored 18 points, dished out 5 assists, and had 3 steals. The victory was even more impressive as starting senior power forward Chris Ledlum sat out with a sprained ankle.

Freshman small forward Brady

Dunlap has been a spark for the Red Storm since entering the starting lineup against the Butler Bulldogs on January 2, notching his first two games in double-figures with 13 points versus Butler and 15 points against Villanova, nailing

three three-pointers in each game.

St. John’s will have two challenging road games ahead, taking on No. 22-ranked Creighton on Saturday (1 p.m. on Fox) and Seton Hall on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 1).

NJ native Kaijhe Hall finds success at nationally ranked Assumption

Junior guard Kaijhe Hall of Assumption University is excelling for the nationally ranked Division II program.

(Assumption Athletics photo)

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews So far, it’s been a good season for Assumption University women’s basketball. The Division II program started the year nationally ranked, which is motivating for the team’s players, including forward Kaijhe Hall, a 6-foot junior from Maplewood, New Jersey. She said the team put past disappointments behind them and is focusing on preparation game by game.

“We had a really good preseason.

We had some good non-conference games. Really excited to come into conference play. We’re just going game by game and competing every day in practice to get better,” said Hall.

While a national ranking is certainly satisfying, Hall said coach Kerry Phayre reminds them not to let the outside noise factor into how they play. Northeast-10 conference play began in mid-November while non-conference

action was still ongoing. That allowed the team to ease into the conference mindset. “We wanted to start off by getting a feel for [conference action] because we know every team is going to give their best game to us,” said Hall.

“It was a little taste of both.”

Hall played AAU basketball with the New Jersey Panthers, but due to COVID-19 protocols, college scouts were not able to attend games in person. Assumption coaches saw her during a livestreamed game and recruited her.

Going through the recruiting process during the pandemic heightened tension.

“I just knew every game had to be my best one,” said Hall, who didn’t decide to play college basketball until her junior year of high school. “I felt I had to put my name out there and everything I did had to be the best in order to get recognized. In high school, I had to be the standout player. I took that role personally.”

She chose Assumption in Worcester, Mass., for its atmosphere and academics. She called the team welcoming and said the coaches are “the best.” After an AAU coach told her to be a ferocious rebounder, Hall said rebounding

became the top of her game.

The Greyhounds will be in New York next week when they take on conference rival Adelphi. Her family will be in attendance and her mother will bring pom poms.

For that and the remainder of the

season, Hall said she will come into every game prepared.

“Obviously, not coming ready is the biggest downfall,” she said.

“Competing every day in practice, getting better as a team and as individuals.”

38 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

Jets double down on Douglas, Saleh, and Rodgers for next season

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor The Jets ended their season on Sunday with a 17-3 road win over the New England Patriots. It marked another conclusion to the regular season in which the Jets will not be playing in the postseason—they finished 7-10 and in third place in the NFC. Overall, the Jets were tied with the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, and Minnesota Vikings, all 7-10 as well, for the sixth-worst record in the 32-team NFL. The Jets have ignominiously missed the playoffs for the 13th straight season, the longest streak among all franchises in the four major North American professional sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL). Relatedly, they have the No. 10 pick in April’s draft.

So what did the Jets’ CEO, Robert Wood Johnson IV, commonly known as Woody Johnson, decide about moving forward? He doubled down on the trio of general manager Joe Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They all have retained their positions for now.

“My decision is to keep them,” Johnson told the Post regarding Douglas and Saleh on Christmas Eve before the Jets’ 30-28 win over the Washington Commanders, which fired their head coach, Ron Rivera, on Monday after a 4-13 campaign. “I think we’ve had some very positive moves. The culture of the team is a lot

stabilizing and improving the Jets’ circumstances. His weekly appearances on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” have been replete with COVID vaccine conspiracy theories, self-absorbed teasers about whether he was going to miraculously return to play before the Jets season ended, and—most recently—implying that late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel was among the infamous list of well-known and powerful people who appear in court documents associated with the notorious financier and child molester Jeffrey Epstein, who was determined to have committed suicide in 2019 while in federal custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Facility in lower Manhattan.

Kimmel has vehemently denied the allegations and threatened to take legal action against Rodgers. The latter is a four-time NFL MVP, and winner and MVP of Super Bowl XLV in 2011. He is the supposed the now 40-year-old polarizing signal caller. leader of the Jets and seemingly has subThe Jets surrendered their first-round stantial influence over personnel and other pick (No. 15) from last year’s draft, a sec- decisions. ond-rounder from last year (No. 42), their Rodgers’s narcissistic behavior isn’t re2023 sixth-round slot (No. 207), and a con- flective of how to improve a team’s culture. ditional second-round pick in this year’s If Johnson, the former U.S. ambassador draft if Rodgers had played 65% of the Jets’ to the United Kingdom from 2017–2021, plays this season. He didn’t come close to appointed by Donald Trump, views his reaching that, suffering a torn left Achil- QB’s self-absorbed actions as diplomatic les four snaps into the Jets’ September 11 and unifying, and aiding in the collective season opener versus the Buffalo Bills. growth of the team, then it’s emblematic of Rodgers has been more of a controver- why they have been a lower-tier team for 13 sial presence of controversy than an aid to consecutive seasons.

Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner suveys the New England Patriots defense on Sunday in New York’s 17-3 win to end their season. (NewYorkJets.com photo)

better. The defense is better. The offense needs a few pieces.”

The Jets hired Douglas in June 2019.

Saleh, who was previously the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator from 2017 through the 2020 season, joined the Jets organization in January of 2021. In three full seasons together, the tandem is 18-33.

Keeping Rodgers for at least one more season is the most logical decision, considering the depth of the assets they traded to the Green Bay Packers last April to obtain

Giants end the season with a win and shake ups to the coaching staff

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor passed for 297 yards in the Giants’ 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on Sunday (Giants.com photo)

The Giants concluded a disappointing 6-11 season on Sunday at MetLife Stadium with a 27-10 win over the playoff-bound Philadelphia Eagles. To their credit, the Giants played hard and with a purpose through the final weeks. Yet their flaws and needs are evident.

The Giants began their off-season on Monday by firing siblings Drew Wilkins and Kevin Wilkins, special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson. Drew Wilkins was the Giants outside linebackers coach and Kevin was a defensive assistant.

The New York Post was the first to report that the dismissal of Drew caused Giants defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale to curse out head coach Brian Daboll. Drew was Martindale’s closest colleague and multiple reports have stated Martindale’s resignation is imminent. There was no official announcement before the AmNews went to press.

As far as player personnel, paramount is the return of quarterback Daniel Jones from a torn ACL in his right knee which happened on November 5 in Week 9, healthy and operating the offense with the wise decision

making, careful protection of the football, and athletic plays with both his arm and legs as he did in the 2022 season. The Giants were 9-7-1 and defeated the Minnesota Viking in their wild card matchup.

Secondly, constructing a sturdy offensive line. Comparable to Jones, it starts with the physical condition of 2022 All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas, who played in only 10 games this season due to injury. The offense is also in need of an elite wide receiver. They will likely use their No. 6 over-

signed in March of 2023 that was essentially structured as a two-year contract. Jones was drafted by the Giants’ previous general manager Dave Gettleman with the No. 6 pick out of Duke in 2019.

There is also the status of running back Saquon Barkley to be addressed. The Giants placed the franchise tag on Barkley, which he eventually signed in July after intimating he would sit out the season. They can franchise him one more time so that the 26-year-old, Bronx-born, No. 2 overall pick in 2018 by the Giants plays on a oneyear deal as he did this season.

Barkley is seeking a pact similar to the three-year, $42 million extension with $26.5 million guaranteed that Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor inked in October. all pick in the draft, which will take place in “Again, Saquon and I will talk about that. downtown Detroit in April (25-27), to select [The franchise tag is] a tool we have at our LSU’s Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome disposal,” said Schoen speaking with the Odunze, whichever of the two is still avail- media on Monday. able when the Giants pick.

“When we redid his deal before he came They could consider drafting a quar- to camp, that wasn’t taken out of that deal. terback as it is unclear if general manag- It wasn’t a ‘Hey, we’ll do this but no franer Joe Schoen and Daboll, who were both chise tag’ so that’s an option that we have hired for their current positions in Jan- on the table. We’ll have those conversauary of 2022, view Jones as their long- tions; I’m not saying we will, or we won’t. A term QB. Next season will be the second lot of those conversations will be had over year of Jones’ four-year, $160-million deal the next month or so.”

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January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024 • 39

After decades of slow progress, women’s sports expands its global footprint University of South Carolina women’s head basketball coach Dawn Staley during a 2022 appearance on “The Daily Show”.

(The Daily Show photo)

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews Dawn Staley, coach of the top-ranked University of South Carolina women’s basketball team, wore a t-shirt that read “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports.” Women’s sports are on the rise. This month, two new women’s professional leagues are launching: Professional Women’s Hockey League and Pro Volleyball Federation.

I’ve been following women’s sports my whole life and covering it for a long while (nearly 18 years for the New York Amsterdam News), so to me women’s sports have always been exciting. As I wrote articles about important stories, such as Lauryn Williams becoming the first American woman and fifth person in history to win medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics, few others in the media seemed to notice.

While women’s basketball re-

ceived airtime during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta (first U.S. gold medal), it took going for a record seventh gold in 2021 for the women’s gold medal game to make NBC’s primetime broadcast. Yes, I’m thankful that all the U.S. games were broadcast live on NBC’s other networks, but that primetime NBC slot speaks volumes.

Here are a few things that may have changed the narrative. First, the United States has its first female vice president in Kamala Harris. Second, Sedona Prince made a viral TikTok video during the 2021 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament about the disparities between men’s and women’s tournaments that brought attention to the lack of accommodations provided— a dozen free weights and a few yoga mats don’t make a gym.

Third, Title IX turned 50, which highlights how fantastic women’s sports are despite severe

underfunding. Fourth, led by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, the WNBA did a significant capital raise and has been investing more money in marketing.

On Jan. 4, the NCAA announced a lucrative eight-year media rights deal with ESPN that begins on Sept. 1. My concern is that women’s basketball is yet again bundled with other sports, nearly half of which are men’s sports. While it is clear that ESPN values women’s hoops, it does not yet stand alone.

I am exploring writing a book about women’s team sports in America. Maybe the 2024 Olympic Games will bring that idea to fruition as U.S. women’s teams seek to defend gold in basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, water polo and the 4x400 relay.

Thank you to everyone for coming on board. I wish it had happened sooner, but now is the moment in time.

Starr Andrews readies for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

This season, Andrews is skating her short program to Beyoncé music. For inspiration, she saw The 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Beyoncé in concert in Las Vegas, Championships kick off on Jan. 22 where U.S. Figure Skating held its in Columbus, Ohio. Starr Andrews, Champs Camp, a gathering of the in her seventh year at the senior nation’s top skaters. “It was such level, is excited to compete. Senior an amazing experience,” Andrews women skate their short program said. “She is an amazing performon Jan. 25. Last year, Andrews er and person. Definitely one of became the first African American my idols.” woman to earn a spot on the medal This isn’t Andrews’ first time perpodium since 1988. forming to Beyoncé music. “Her “It’s been going really well,” voice is angelic,” she said. “[Her said Andrews, 22, who competmusic] kind of brings out an altered in three international comego, another personality. … You petitions in the fall, winning a make skating your own, which is bronze medal at the Golden Spin what I love.” of Zagreb. “I’ve been getting evDuring Champs Camp, Anerything comfortable and condrews also got to connect with sistent. I honestly feel really actress and singer Monique good about these weeks of trainColeman, most famous for her ing coming up to Nationals. role in the “High School Musi“Everything is a learning experical” films. Coleman has recentence. I learned from those compely taken up skating and fallen in titions. It made me grow as a person love with the sport, saying she and a skater, so I’m excited to go to was starstruck to meet Andrews.

Nationals, show how hard I’ve been issues related to tachycardia, second surgery proved too risky, Ocean performance at Coach- She offered the skaters advice working and just have fun.” which causes an elevated heart so she’s still navigating occasional ella in April 2023, but Ocean and shared insights about maxiAndrews got a late start to pre- rate. In 2022, she had an ablation spikes to her heart rate. withdrew from the iconic music mizing their performances. pare for the season. Last spring, procedure, which brought imOn a lighter note, she was sup- festival. She did get to attend The U.S. Championships senior she again had surgery to address provement, but not total relief. The posed to skate during a Frank Coachella, which was great fun. women’s event concludes on Jan. 26.

Figure skater Starr Andrews (U.S. Figure Skating photo)

40 • January 11, 2024 - January 17, 2024

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By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor Over a span five games from December AMofNews 23 through December 30 in which the Knicks went 1-4, they allowed an average of 127.6 06/22/23 points, including an alarming 140 in a road loss (140-126) to the Indiana Pacers to close the unfortunate stretch Saturday, Dec 30.

Earlier on that Saturday, however, the Knicks executed a trade with the Toronto NewsOG Anunoby, Precious Raptors toAM acquire Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn in exchange for RJ Barrett,06/29/23 Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second round pick.

Since Anunoby made his Knicks debut versus the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden on New Year’s Day, the team is 5-0AM heading into tonight’s game versus News the Dallas Mavericks in Texas. Anunoby’s allaround skill set has no doubt steadied and 07/06/23 bolstered the Knicks, especially on defense.

They have been near the top of the NBA in defensive rating. Going into Tuesday’s game at Madison Square Garden versus the Portland Trailblazers, who scorched the Nets for News 132 pointsAM in an overtime win (132-127) at the Barclays Center on Sunday, in Anunoby’s 07/13/23 prior four games with the Knicks, the team led

times it’s what you’re walking into,” he said. “If you’re walking into high-scoring teams, your goal is to obviously play great defense, but hold AM Newsthem to below their average and that’s what I measure. You can have a stretch, you can take a 11/23/23snippet out of a season and make it say whatever you’d like it to say, but the challenge is to do it consistently from the start to the end and keep the focus on improving.

“That’s where we are… I think the spirit of the team is really strong right now and the toAM Newsgetherness and the commitment to each other is very strong and we’ve got to keep it there.”

11/30/23 It indeed has been a collective effort. Center Isaiah Hartenstein has been notable since being inserted into the starting lineup to replace Mitchell Robinson, who had season ending ankle surgery last month. Quentin NBA schedule.

AM NewsGrimes and Deuce McBride have also maxi“Obviously, he allows a lot of space, but we mized their opportunities in increased roles. need him to be aggressive and we still need Jalen Brunson, the reigning Eastern Confer12/07/23 him to be OG,” said Julius Randle, “shooting ence Player of the Week, and Randle, continue the shots when he’s open and attacking when their campaigns as likely All-Star selections, he feels like he needs to be aggressive, and we’ll averaging 25.6 points and 6.4 assists, and 24.2 figure everything else out around it. To see him points and 9.3 rebounds respectively. aggressive and confident tonight was good.”

After the Mavericks, the Knicks will play the AM also NewsGrizzlies in Memphis on Saturday and the Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau weighed in following the victory. “We started Orlando Magic at the Garden on MLK Day 12/14/23 off the season playing great defense and some- Monday afternoon.

Knicks guard (l) Quentin Grimes and center (r) Isaiah Hartenstein have been integral to the Knicks five-game winning streak (Bill Moore photos)

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the league in defensiveAM rating over those 16 News quarters, giving up just 103.1 points per 100 possessions.

09/21/23 They improved on that mark by holding Portland, which ranks 29th out of the league’s 30 teams in scoring at 108.3 points per game, to 84 while scoring 112 in the win. Anunoby also led the Knicks in scoring with 23, shootAM News ing 9-12, and 4-6 on 3-point attempts. The Knicks have surged to 22-15 and No. 4 in the 09/28/23 Eastern Conference at the start of last night’s

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The Nets try to find solutions to their mounting defeats

By DERREL JOHNSON News Special to AM the AmNews

07/20/23

The Nets are in Europe today, Paris, France to be exact, to play the Cleveland Cavaliers (2 p.m. EST) . They are going into the game having lost 11 of their last 14, including two five-game losing streaks, and are 16-21, now the No. 10 AM seed in the Eastern Conference.

News Brooklyn had one of their most impressive wins of the07/27/23 season last Friday, a 124-115 win at home over the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the best teams in the league this season, but followed that up with a 134-127 overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday at the Barclays Center. The Trailblazers came into AM only News Brooklyn with nine wins. Nets forward Mikal Bridges scored 42 points in the loss.

08/03/23 “We finally got one and wanted to get a little streak going,” Bridges said after the loss. “I had the opportunity at home to get the team coming on a road trip. So yeah, it sucks.”

Before the game, Brooklyn’s head coach Jacque Vaughn explained the moving parts AM News and tried to find an explanation for the Nets’ struggles.

08/10/23 “I think we tried more things versus Oklahoma City this past game than any time on the fly throughout the course of the season.” he said.

“And to see our guys be able to react and reAM News spond was something that I had been wanting to see and our guys had confidence in it. I think 10/05/23 they're understanding why we’re doing it with different lineups, covering for people in different situations, providing some opportunity to create opportunities for turnovers and other situations, and creating variety with our group.

“We got a group that one AMdefense News won’t suit this group,” Vaughn added. “Because different individuals have strengths10/12/23 and so we’re trying to use everyone’s strengths throughut the course of the game by having multiple defenses.”

Last week, the NBA fined the Nets’ organization $100,000 for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy in connection AM News with the team’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 27 at Barclays Center.

10/19/23 The NBA determined that four Nets rotation players, who did not participate in the game, could have played under the medical standard in the Player Participation Policy, which is intended to promote player participation in the NBA’s 82-game regular season.

AM News The four players are believed to be Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton, Spencer Dinwid10/26/23 die, and Cam Johnson.

Since exiting the starting lineup on December 29, guard Cam Thomas has struggled, av-

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Nets forward Mikal Bridges elevates for a jumper in his team’s 134-127 overtime loss to the Portland Trailblazers at the Barclays Center on Sunday (Jamir Dickens/Fence Boy Media photo)

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eraging only 11.2 points in those six games. Day. The Nets then embark on a three-game 01/24/24 Thomas entered Thursday’s game against the road trip beginning in Portland against the Cleveland Cavaliers as the second-leading Trail Blazers on Wednesday. scorer on the team with 20.3 points per game.

A Brooklyn team that already lacks size will be without backup center Day’Ron Sharpe, who was diagnosed with a hyperextended left AM News knee he suffered in Sunday’s game and will be re-evaluated in about two weeks.

01/11/24 After facing Cleveland today in Paris, the Nets head back to Brooklyn to face the Miami Heat on Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

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