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Disgraced lawyer Solny sentenced to 2.5 to 7 years in prison for housing scams
By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff
Disbarred attorney Sanford Solny has finally been sentenced for his crimes after being convicted in June of crimes that include possessing stolen property, three counts of first-degree scheme to defraud, and theft of 11 properties.
On November 12, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun sentenced Solny to two and a half to seven years in prison. The judge ordered the 11 stolen deeds to be nullified, which should allow the homeowners to reclaim their properties. However, he did not order Solny to return the nearly $500,000 in rent he collected by stealing the homes.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez’s office stated it would have recommended a sentence of seven to 18 years in prison for Solny. “This defendant is a serial scammer who deserves every day he will now spend behind bars,” Gonzalez said. “He stole valuable homes, as well as the financial stability and integrity of his victims, leaving many in financial ruin. My office investigated, tried, and convicted this defendant, holding him accountable and returning the stolen deeds to their rightful owners.”
From 2012 to 2022, Solny stole 11 proper-
ties in Bedford-Stuyvesant, East Flatbush, Canarsie, East New York, and Ocean Hill, primarily from Black and Brown homeowners facing foreclosure. Posing as a financial adviser, he promised to help the owners sell their homes for less than what was owed on them, but instead transferred ownership to himself or his companies, and collected rent for years. His victims lost their homes and equity, and had their credit destroyed because of unresolved foreclosures.
Community impact and courtroom drama
A member of the People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft, who asked to remain anonymous, said she and others were surprised by the large turnout of Solny supporters at the court. Brooklyn-based members of the Hasidic Jewish community packed the courtroom, along with supporters who traveled all the way from Israel to show their support for the disgraced attorney.
“It was shocking, honestly, to be sitting there and hearing the other side say, ‘Oh, he’s a good man. Oh, these aren’t important victims; they knew what they were doing.’ But at the same time, saying, ‘Oh, this man was disbarred for doing predatory acts,’” the Coalition member
See SOLNY on page 36
How did Black and Brown voters cast their ballots in 2025?
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
As Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani brings an ambitious agenda to City Hall, a post-election analysis reveals how Black and Brown voters, as well as youth, supported him at the ballot box.
Generally speaking, the 2025 mayor’s race in the primary and general elections raked in a huge number of voters, breaking records compared to previous years. The New York City Board of Elections (BOE) estimated that more than 2 million voters showed up to the polls; in 2021, about 1.1 million ballots were cast in the entire election.
“It reminds me a lot of what happened with David Dinkins in 1989, where you had a very bitter primary against someone — Ed Koch — who had been around for a very long time. He was a third-term incumbent,” said Michael Lange, writer and political analyst, in a roundtable about the election hosted by Vital City and the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. “And then an equally bitter, if not more fraught, general election, where the winning coalition gets over 50% — has all this enthusiasm, gets the most votes in X number of years.”
Dinkins, the city’s first Black mayor, appealed to working- and middle-class New Yorkers with a labor-led coalition that included renters, immigrants, and racial and ethnic groups asserting their political power, said Lange. Similarly, Eric Adams, the city’s second Black mayor, had huge support from Black
Eta Nu Sigma Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Social Action Committee held a mayoral debate watch party at Bunnan restaurant in Brooklyn on Thursday, October 16, 2025. (Ariama C. Long photo)
and Latino voters, unions and labor coalitions, moderate voters, and police groups during his run for office in 2021’s mayoral race.
A key demographic that showed up to the polls for Mamdani this year across the board were younger voters. According to the Associated Press (AP) voter poll, about 75% of New York City voters under 30 cast a ballot for Mamdani. Voters between the ages of 30 and 44 also skewed more toward Mamdani, while former Governor Andrew Cuomo did better with voters 45 and older.
“I also think Cuomo’s flirtation/truce with Trump — whatever you want to call it — certainly did him no favors,” said Lange.
To break down ballots cast by borough,
Mamdani earned votes in the Bronx, Manhattan, parts of Queens and Brooklyn, and Staten Island’s North Shore, according to the Center for Urban Research at The CUNY Graduate Center election map. Adams had a similar demographic breakdown in 2021.
Cuomo scored with most of Staten Island, large areas of Brooklyn and Queens, and scattered parts of the Bronx and Manhattan.
“The three most robust Democratic constituencies are young, college-educated, more ideological voters — these kinds of older voters who consider themselves to be very liberal or even progressive, in places like Brownsville, Brooklyn, or the Upper West
Disgraced attorney Sanford Solny was finally sentenced for his deed theft crimes at Kings County Supreme Court building. Court officers told people who wanted to be present for the Solny decision to wait on 15th floor or outside, in front of courthouse building. (Karen Juanita Carrillo photo)
Police commissioner may decide what happens to cop linked to death of Delrawn Small
By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff
Calls for justice over the killing of unarmed Black man Delrawn Small by offduty cop Wayne Isaacs date back to the Obama administration. They still continue as the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Trials Rosemarie Maldonado, who ostensibly serves the department’s administrative judge, recommended dismissing fireable disciplinary charges against the officer earlier this month. Advocates and elected officials now want police commissioner Jessica Tisch, the final decisionmaker, to greenlight the proceeding anyway.
“In this moment, I don’t even think that we’ve been allowed to have real feelings about things — even grief — because [of] this whole fight for justice,” Small’s sister Victoria Davis said over the phone. “The celebrating of his life [hasn’t] come yet … the only time we were able to do that was when the street was named after him. Other than that, this delays a human response [like] grieving because we’re so focused on systemic things instead of [the] human response to death.”
Isaacs killed Small on July 4, 2016 during a road confrontation between the two men in East New York, Brooklyn. The incident sparked the first-ever special prosecution for a police-involved shooting by the State Attorney General’s Special Investigations
and Prosecutions Unit through an executive order by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. A grand jury indicted Isaacs, who maintained he was scared for his life and practiced selfdefense. He was ultimately acquitted on murder charges in 2017 and returned to active duty a year later.
In 2022, then–NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell refused to block a Civilian Complaint Review Board investigation, as requested by Isaacs. A battle over whether the police watchdog agency could access
his criminal trial records continued for more than three years. After a successful appeal in March 2025, the records were resealed because of his acquittal.
Originally, the NYPD slated the trial for this week, although the dates will certainly be rescheduled if Tisch does not dismiss the charges and continues the proceedings. Isaacs’ argument now centers against the CCRB’s jurisdiction — which only covers police misconduct — given he was off-duty. But many argue the reasoning contra-
dicts the officer’s previous claims, including 33 elected officials who penned a letter to Tisch, Mayor Eric Adams, and mayoral-elect Zohran Mamdani against Maldonado’s “erroneous recommendation” and for the department to move forward with a disciplinary trial. Among them were Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander.
“Isaacs and his attorneys cannot both claim he was acting as an NYPD officer to defend him from liability and secure indemnification in federal court, and now claim he was not acting as an officer to evade discipline,” they wrote. “Unfortunately, DCT Maldonado was fooled by these antics. We urge you not to be.”
They point to a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Isaacs, who successfully dragged the city into the case through his own litigation by claiming he acted as an officer and ultimately led to taxpayer money covering a settlement on his behalf.
“Isaacs argues that he is entitled to indemnification because his actions on July 4, 2016, were ‘within the performance of his duties and within the scope of his employment as [a] New York City Police Officer,’ and he ‘did not violate any of the rules and regulations’ of the Police Department,” read the opinion. He did not identify himself as a police officer during the dispute
See COMMISSIONER on page 25
Calls for focus on Black maternal health emerge at city level due to continued high risks
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
Black and Brown maternal health was not necessarily at the forefront of the election season, but some strides have been made at the city level to address it. The hope is that progress will continue under the new administration with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
For the last 24 years, the overall rate of maternal mortality has remained steadily high in New York City, and extreme disparities between racial groups persist, according to health department (DOH) data.
From 2011 to 2020, there has been an increase in maternal deaths among Black women. They are still about five times more likely to experience a pregnancy-associated death than whites, based on a DOH report from 2018 to 2022. Hispanic women were about two times more likely to have a maternal death from 2016 to 2020.
“We know that every preventable death, of course, is a tragic failure. We have to act with urgency to prevent any deadly outcome,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who pushed to establish the Maternal Health Steering Committee after the death of Bevorlin Garcia Barrios in 2024. It
convened leaders with diverse perspectives in the health field earlier this year.
The steering committee produced 12 City Council bills and resolutions aimed at solving recurring maternal health issues raised in the meetings. This includes Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez’s bills 1284-A, 1285A, and 1001-A; Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers’s Bill 1146-A; Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala’s Bill 1393-A and Resolution 1082-A; Councilmember Chi Ossé’s Resolution 1086-A; Councilmember Lynn Schul-
Adams sponsored two resolutions calling on the state legislature to provide annual increases to Temporary Disability Insurance payments and ensure Medicaid automatically covers the costs of blood pressure monitors for expectant parents.
“From personal experience, I suffer from high blood pressure,” Adams said, “and it is absolutely a silent killer. It runs
in my family, and we know also that there are high instances of hypertension during pregnancy, as well as other things. I suffered through gestational diabetes when I was carrying my daughter many years ago. So women of color are susceptible to these health conditions.”
In addition to the legislation, the committee released its first Action Steps report, detailing the city’s systemic issues that lead to poor maternal health outcomes, such as a lack of affordable and culturally competent healthcare, historic disinvestment in hospitals in neighborhoods with mostly Black and Brown residents, lack of language access in hospitals, little mental health treatment for post-partum women, faulty electronic medical record-sharing, the limited role of midwives and doulas in the current hospital system, and the fear of child services being involved.
“We need standardized care across the [NYC Health + Hospitals] system that prioritizes midwifery,” said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, a former nurse who worked in the birthing clinics of Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn and Woodhull Hospital in Queens. “An OB/GYN obstetrician’s focus
Delrawn Small (Courtesy of Victor Dempsey/Justice Committee)
Speaker Adrienne Adams held a pre-stated press conference on October 29, 2025. (Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit)
U.S. appeals court upholds hate crime convictions of 3 white men in 2020 killing of Ahmaud Arbery
By RUSS BYNUM Associated Press
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Friday upheld the hate crime convictions of three white men who chased Ahmaud Arbery through their Georgia subdivision with pickup trucks before one of them killed the running Black man with a shotgun.
A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals took well over a year to rule after attorneys for the defendants urged the judges in March 2024 to overturn the case, arguing the men’s history of racist text messages and social media posts failed to prove they targeted Arbery because of his race.
Federal prosecutors used those posts and messages in 2022 to persuade a jury that Arbery’s killing was motivated by “pent-up racial anger.”
The appellate panel’s opinion, written by Judge Elizabeth L. Branch, said prosecutors at the trial showed “that each of the defendants held longstanding prejudice,” and that evidence was sufficient for “a reasonable juror to find that Arbery’s race was the determinative factor” for the deadly neighborhood chase.
Even if the appeals judges had thrown out their hate-crime convictions, the trio faced no immediate reprieve from prison.
That’s because they’re also serving life sentences for murder after being convicted in a Georgia state court.
Video of Arbery’s killing fueled national outrage
Father and son Greg and Travis McMichael armed themselves and used a pickup truck to pursue 25-year-old Arbery after spotting him running in their neighborhood just outside the port city of Brunswick on Feb. 23, 2020. A neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, joined the chase and recorded cellphone video of Travis McMichael shooting Arbery at close range.
More than two months passed without arrests, until Bryan’s graphic video of the killing leaked online. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case from local police as outrage over Arbery’s death became part of a national outcry over racial injustice. Charges soon followed.
All three men were convicted of murder by a state court in late 2021. After a second trial in U.S. District Court in early 2022, a jury found the trio guilty of hate crimes and attempted kidnapping.
Greg McMichael’s attorney in the hate crimes case, A.J. Balbo, declined to comment on the appellate ruling. Attorneys for Bryan and Travis McMichael did not immediately return phone and email messages.
Defense argued racist messages didn’t prove racism against Arbery
In their federal appeals, lawyers for Bryan and Greg McMichael criticized prosecutors’ use of more than two dozen social media posts and text messages, as well as witness testimony, that showed all three men using racist slurs or otherwise disparaging Black people.
Bryan’s attorney, Pete Theodocion, argued those statements were so repulsive that prosecutors were able to sway the jury without proving a racist intent to harm Arbery himself.
Balbo insisted his client initiated the pursuit of Arbery because he mistakenly suspected him of being a fleeing criminal. The McMichaels had seen security camera videos in prior months that showed Arbery entering a neighboring home under construction.
The 11th Circuit judges rejected those arguments, noting there was no evidence Arbery had committed any crimes
in the men’s neighborhood. He was unarmed and had no stolen property when he was killed.
In Travis McMichael’s appeal, attorney Amy Lee Copeland didn’t dispute the jury’s finding that he was motivated by racism. The social media evidence included a 2018 Facebook comment Travis McMichael made on a video of a Black man playing a prank on a white person. He used an expletive and a racial slur when writing, he’d kill him.
Instead, Copeland based her appeal on legal technicalities. She said that prosecutors failed to prove the streets of the Satilla Shores subdivision where Arbery was killed were public roads, as stated in the indictment used to charge the men. The 11th Circuit rejected her argument.
The trial judge sentenced both McMichaels to life in prison for their hate crime convictions, plus additional time — 10 years for Travis McMichael and seven years for his father — for brandishing guns while committing violent crimes. Bryan received a lighter hate crime sentence of 35 years in prison, in part because he wasn’t armed and preserved the cellphone video that became crucial evidence.
From left, Travis McMichael, William “Roddie” Bryan, and Gregory McMichael during their trial at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga. (AP File Photo)
James Felton Keith looking to lead Harlem and Uptown into future by mounting a political challenge
By JASON PONTEROTTO
Special to the AmNews
James Felton Keith has already led on issues of housing affordability and activism throughout his professional career, and in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) over the last 10 years. Now he has a new mission. Keith, 44, whose nickname is JFK, has led efforts on the affordability of housing, such as One45 most recently, and was successful in working with the Eliza Project development in Inwood providing 100% affordable housing for residents making under $65,000.
His DEI work began in 2011, when he served on the Taskforce in Geneva, Switzerland, to establish the standard index for DEI globally, which was published in 2021. It is used as a guideline that companies in 163 countries must follow, tying it to insurance premiums. In 2021, he established Inclusion Score, which manages DEI solutions for companies.
In recent years, Keith co-founded the Harlem Same Gender Loving, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Center,
THE URBAN AGENDA
By David R. Jones, Esq
Black New Yorker Eric Adams’ Tumultuous Mayoralty
When Eric Adams took office as New York City’s 110th mayor on January 1, 2022, he declared himself the “face of the new Democratic Party” and promised to restore “swagger” to a city battered by the pandemic.
Four years later, as Adams exits Gracie Mansion, his tenure offers a cautionary tale of ambition colliding with governance. His record on affordable housing, immigrant protections and police accountability reveals a mayor who often talked big but delivered unevenly.
Police Misconduct: Reforms Deferred
A former NYPD captain and founder of “100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care,” Adams centered his 2021 mayoral bid on public safety. And even though he ran as a “pro-cop” candidate, there were high hopes that Adams would be able to deliver reforms and greater accountability to a police department known for systemic racialized policing.
Before he entered politics, Adams was a vocal police reform advocate. He strongly condemned the ugly behavior of off-duty police officers who in September 1992 stormed City Hall to protest Mayor David Dinkins’ support for the creation of an all-civilian complaint review board. That day, thousands of off-duty police officers, many carrying racist placards disparaging Dinkins, flooded the streets of City Hall bringing traffic to a standstill. Standing in front of City Hall steps before a bank of news cameras, Adams fittingly described them as a “drunk racist lynch mob.”
of permanently affordable units.
Yet the reality is more complicated. It is true that under the Adams administration more homeless New Yorkers are exiting shelters using CityFHEPS vouchers and the proportion of units built by HPD for the lowest-income housing are up. Those achievements are minimized, however, by the fact that rents soared to record highs during Adams’ time in office while homelessness increased. His focus on long-term rezonings may years from now lay the groundwork for structural change. But by fighting immediate relief measures like expanding housing vouchers or capping rent hikes, he failed to stem the housing affordability crisis during his own term.
Cozying
Up to Trump Over Protecting Immigrants
New York City is first and foremost a city of immigrants. It has prided itself on being a sanctuary city. So, when Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025 touting his anti-immigrant agenda, promising mass deportations (read: deport immigrants of color), an end to birthright citizenship and to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to round up the undocumented in homes, workplaces, schools, churches and hospitals, Mayor Adams could have pledged to protect immigrants who are an essential part of the city’s heritage, vibrancy and everyday life.
also known as HarlemCenter.org. The center has a new office space being built on 124th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues and will encompass 20,000 square feet.
Now he is using his years of professional experience in engineering, labor economics, entrepreneurship, and activism to undertake his latest challenge: He is running in the 2026 midterm election against Rep. Adriano Espaillat for the House 13th Congressional District seat. He says his unique expertise in many areas distinguishes him from other candidates.
Keith said Espaillat represents the old guard and fresh ideas are needed to deal with the severe new challenges of housing affordability, new forms of income, and displacement in Harlem and uptown. “Everyone is hurting right now, whether you’re under the poverty line or just above the poverty line … and no one has been able to articulate to common people where their money is,” he said. “We think it will take an activist and an economist to have a national conversation about our incomes and our value and our equity.”
See BNY on page 27
But as mayor, any signs of the reform-minded, vocal critic of police abuse quickly faded. Adams reinstated controversial plainclothes units and launched the Community Response Team (CRT), an aggressive squad tasked with tackling quality-of-life crimes. Internal audits flagged unconstitutional stops and excessive force by CRT officers, yet Adams continued to champion the unit—going as far as to livestream its operations and pose in its uniform.
More damaging were the claims of promotions-for-bribes and obstruction of internal investigations lodged by former NYPD chiefs, painting a grim picture of a mayor who either tolerated or ignored misconduct among his closest allies. Though crime rates fell and subway safety improved under his watch, the mayor’s failure to confront the NYPD’s internal rot undermined his credibility as a reformer.
Affordable Housing: Lofty Goals, Mixed Results
Adams entered office amid a generational housing crisis, pledging a “moonshot” goal of 500,000 new homes over a decade. He branded his administration “the most pro-housing in city history,” touting zoning reforms like the City of Yes and neighborhood rezonings in Long Island City, Midtown South, and Atlantic Avenue. These initiatives could eventually enable more than 130,000 new homes, including thousands
Instead, he chose to indulge President Trump, agreeing not to publicly “criticize” him for his attacks on New York in exchange for a “direct line” to the president. In doing so, he cemented the public perception that he was unwilling to stand up for vulnerable immigrants. As the Trump administration ramped up ICE raids, Adams’ approach to immigration enforcement was marked by ambiguity. “Children should go to school… victims of crime should speak to law enforcement,” Adams said at a town hall, pledging to uphold sanctuary laws.
But immigrant advocates accused him enabling federal crackdowns pointing to his willingness to coordinate with federal authorities on criminal enforcement and his refusal to condemn courthouse raids. His administration did intervene in some high-profile cases, filing briefs to block deportations of immigrant students, but these gestures could not erase the perception that Adams was prioritizing his own political survival over immigrant trust.
There were lofty expectations for Adams in the city’s Black community. He promised to be mayor for the working-class New Yorkers who carried him into office – a pragmatic progressive who could marry public safety with equity.
In the end, however, many of the Black and brown voters who supported him turned away from him when he sought re-election, and his administration unraveled under ethical lapses and federal scrutiny.
James Felton Keith (Courtesy photo James Felton Keith)
New York moves forward with Brooklyn flood protection plan that falls short of other city projects
By ASHAD HAJELA Amsterdam News Staff
This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with The New York Amsterdam News. Sign up for Dispatches to get our stories in your inbox every week.
After a decade of planning, New York City broke ground in September on a $218 million plan to prevent flooding in the portside neighborhood of Red Hook in Brooklyn, even though experts say it will provide inadequate protection from storms. The project will also provide less protection than other city flood-protection projects, including a new $3.5 billion upscale development on the edge of the neighborhood.
Over a decade ago, Superstorm Sandy killed 44 people and caused $19 billion in damage across New York City, swamping homes and destroying businesses in Red Hook. The city responded, pumping billions of dollars into neighborhood flood protection projects. Most of the money went to protect lower Manhattan from powerful 100-year storms — defined as storms that have a 1-in-4 chance of occurring at some point during the typical 30-year home mortgage.
But in Red Hook, where roughly two-thirds of residents are Black and Hispanic and earn below the city’s median income, the city is instead building to protect against a 10-year storm. The planned construction is expected to raise streets and sidewalks and erect barriers and floodwalls to an elevation of up
to 10 feet above sea level.
“It’s at best temporary. At worst, it gives a false sense of security,” said John Shapiro, a Pratt Institute professor whose research focuses on the impact of climate change on urban planning.
Shapiro and other experts say that as the climate warms, floods and storms are striking more frequently and with greater intensity. This leaves coastal communities with a complicated choice: Retreat from the coast, or build protection against the next violent storm.
Red Hook sits on a peninsula jutting into New York Harbor, which makes it vulnerable to flooding. The neighborhood was a marsh before the city began filling it in by the 1870s. In 1939, the city added the first section of the Red Hook Houses to board dock workers. The 32 buildings of the Red Hook Houses make up one of the city’s largest public housing developments and dominate the neighborhood’s skyline.
The neighborhood has Brooklyn’s last working port, along with an Amazon warehouse and an Ikea store. Artists’ studios are now tucked into old port buildings and trendy stores line the cobblestone streets. In recent years, the area has gentrified.
Quincy Phillips was living in a third-floor apartment in the Red Hook Houses when Sandy hit. He watched as the water swamped the first floor of the building.
“It didn’t reach past the second floor, thank God,” he said. “We had to roll our pants up to even walk past to get outside.”
The storm sent a six-foot wave of water
See story on next page
Port warehouses, brick buildings with black shutters, which now house artists’ studios, with the Manhattan skyline in the background. (Shuran Huang for ProPublica)
Quincy Phillips and his family had to live without power for two weeks after Hurricane Sandy.
through the neighborhood, destroying homes, ripping metal doors from warehouses, dropping boats onto the streets, and carrying cars out into the harbor.
Phillips’ family, like several thousand others in Red Hook, lived for two weeks without power and had to rely on federal aid until their refrigerator came back on.
The year after Sandy wiped out the homes of Phillips and his neighbors in Red Hook, the administration of then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg determined Red Hook was at high risk of future flooding. A 2013 city report recommended a flood protection system for the neighborhood, using a combination of infrastructure such as floodwalls and floodgates.
The city said the project, now known as the Red Hook Coastal Resiliency Project, would cost $200 million, but at the time, was able to secure only a $50 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The administration of subsequent Mayor Bill de Blasio tapped the city’s capital budget for another $50 million. As a result, the city told consultants to only consider projects that it could afford on the smaller budget, according to a feasibility study. This would be a less ambitious 10-year storm plan.
No Accounting for Sea Level Rise
In order to predict how frequently storms will occur in the future and how high floodwaters are likely to reach, scientists and engineers use historical tidal data.
The models project that in Red Hook, a 100-year storm at current sea level would produce surging waves that would reach an elevation of at least 11 feet — a foot higher than the current plan would protect against.
That doesn’t account for sea level rise. Climate experts serving on a city climate change panel have projected that, by midcentury, in the worst-case scenario, sea levels will rise several feet. Counting that additional water height, the city’s own study found that Red Hook would need to erect barriers between 15 and 18 feet. Neighborhood storm protection projects in other parts of the city are being built to an elevation of at least 16 feet.
The National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized flood insurance to homeowners who live in high-risk flood zones, encourages communities to adopt a 100-year flood plan, said Philip Orton, an engineering professor at Stevens Institute of Technology who researches flood protection. Doing so, he said, lowers the cost of flood insurance for residents. “It’s rare that communities will not do it,” he said. All other coastal storm protection projects in New York City meet a 100-year standard. Biden and Obama administration guidelines encouraged federally funded projects to build to an elevation of at least 2 feet over 100year storm projections. The Trump administration revoked them during each of his terms. Last year, the city and FEMA increased funding by about $100 million for the Red Hook project. According to the city’s De-
partment of Design and Construction, the agency responsible for the project, the added funds covered a decade of inflation and paid for upgrades to park and green spaces in the area.
The funds also increased the elevation of the project from the original height of 8 feet to 10, taking into account greater changes to sea levels. But it didn’t bring it up to the levels that are being pursued in other parts of the city.
The Department of Design and Construction said a bigger project would disrupt ports, cruises, and other waterfront businesses while taking away park space. When asked why Red Hook was receiving a lower level of protection than other communities, a department spokesperson said its low-lying topography and privately owned waterfront made gaining access to build and maintain a protection system difficult. The current project is sufficient, the spokesperson added, because Sandy is the only storm to strike the city since 1927 that would have overtopped the flood barrier.
Michael Oppenheimer, a professor at Princeton University who served on the city’s climate change panel that came up with the sea level rise projections, said the city is misusing the historical record to justify its failure to protect against future storms.
“That’s a pretty poor excuse,” he said, adding that storms and floods like those experienced in Sandy will occur more frequently as sea levels rise.
Bernice Rosenzweig, a professor at Sarah Lawrence College who studies urban flooding and serves on the New York City Panel on Climate Change, said the project is inadequate to protect Red Hook from even today’s large storms.
“The walls are not designed for major floods, not even our contemporary major floods, forget about major floods that will happen at the end of the 21st century,” she said.
Unequal Protection
Alexa Avilés, the City Council member representing Red Hook, said infrastructure planning is particularly frustrating in Red Hook. Along with community activists and residents, she argues that the system the city and the federal government use to decide how much money to spend on flood protection is biased against poor communities.
“It never feels like we are prioritized, and we’re constantly fighting with the city again for both a basic level of service and then to get these major projects done and coordinated properly,” she said.
To win federal grants, applicants conduct a cost-benefit analysis that needs to show flood projects save more money in the event of a storm than they cost to build, said Kristin Smith, an economics researcher at Headwaters Economics, a nonprofit that studies flood risk.
That can be difficult for poor communities, she said.
“The benefit-cost analysis can be a barrier to qualifying for federal funding when it’s a lower-income neighborhood and the cost of the project is so high that you just don’t have the benefits to justify it,” she said.
Red Hook residents, advocates, and leaders say the flood barrier system proposed for the $3.5 billion housing development in the neighborhood shows how wealthy residents in the city receive greater protection.
The development, called the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, would build 6,000 mostly market-rate units on the northwest side of Red Hook, according to planning documents. A city task force approved the development in September along with a plan to refurbish and upgrade the port. It promises a flood barrier system that would protect from 100-year storms.
The Economic Development Corp., a cityrun nonprofit organization, owns the land and plans to pay for the flood protection and other infrastructure with funding from federal grants, the city’s capital budget, and the state, plus some from developers.
The Brooklyn Marine Terminal plan still needs to pass an environmental review and the state’s approval process, but it will bypass the city’s more extensive process. According to the planning documents, it could take until 2038 to finish the project.
The plan would protect the new develop-
ment site with a 21-foot coastal floodwall, which would start on the northern end of Red Hook and extend about 1 mile north.
Urban planners who conducted an analysis of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal for the City Club of New York Waterfront Committee, an advocacy group promoting flood protection for waterfronts, say it’s a mistake to protect the new development while the south coast of Red Hook receives a lower level of protection. That will place the new development at risk, as a storm surge can overtop those barriers and flood the area from the landward side of the development.
The group said the plan serves gentrification and developer interests rather than the larger Red Hook community.
“Most Red Hook residents live in public housing and lack the income necessary for housing mobility in NYC,” the analysis said. In contrast, most of the residents in the new development are expected to be very affluent, based on projected rents, it said.
A spokesperson for the Economic Development Corp. said the city would study how to integrate the two projects but that there are no plans to further protect the peninsula.
Construction on the Red Hook Coastal Resiliency Project began in September. (Shuran Huang for ProPublica photos)
New floodwalls at Asser Levy Playground in Manhattan are part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project. The walls, seen in the background, are 6.5 feet higher than the planned walls for the Red Hook project.
Last will and testament: Avoiding estate planning until it’s too late is hurting Black and Brown homeowners
Solutions That Empower is an editorial series spotlighting financial empowerment and racial equity. We’ll feature changemakers, community voices, and practical tools that help our readers build wealth, access resources, and drive real change.
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
“It’s a taboo conversation to have,” said Yoram Rodriguez, 57, a deputy director of youth services living in the Bronx. He’s talking about encouraging family members to make a will and estate plan. It’s been a year since his beloved mother, Eunice, 76, passed away after suffering from stage 4 melanoma cancer. She bought their fourbedroom family home in 1996. She did not have a will.
With the bustle of all the time spent living, it becomes easy to turn away from difficult conversations about a relative’s passing and the aftermath. This is particularly true for older Black and Brown homeowners who are statistically less likely to have a will or trust prepared in the event of their death, possibly leaving loved ones without an opportunity to inherit wealth across generations.
Nearly 70% of senior Black homeowners and 76% of senior Hispanic homeowners do not have a will or trust, compared to the same demographic of older white homeowners with children in the U.S., according to recent Urban Institute data. This could be for several personal reasons — some people don’t think they have enough assets or money to plan for, it’s a cultural taboo to discuss, or some seniors and their families just aren’t interested in accepting the inevitable, say legal experts.
“Estate planning is a crisis facing Black and Brown homeowners in Bed-Stuy that is too often swept under the rug, and too many lose generational wealth simply because they lack access to clear information and affordable legal support,” said Councilmember Chi Osse in a statement.
“I would say the closer we got to realizing that it was terminal, we talked more about it, but by that time, I don’t know. I think my brother [and I were] just so caught up in just trying to take care of her on a day-today,” said Rodriguez.
When you don’t have a will
In New York State, individuals and families go to Surrogate’s Court when someone dies. When a person dies without a will, or “intestate,” the families go to the adminis-
tration department. This means that if the decedent had less than $50,000 in personal property, voluntary administration can be filed. If not, the “distributees,” or heirs who are entitled to a share of the deceased person’s property, have to go through a costly and lengthy “administration proceeding.”
“At worst, people could lose family property to unpaid taxes [or] unpaid mortgages, and potentially a shot at building generational wealth,” said State Assemblywoman Latrice Walker. “We must have a plan.”
Rodriguez and his brother currently have a “letter of administration” from the courts, which allows them to control their mother’s estate and the eventual sale of her house. His father was technically still married to his mother at the time of her death, but they were separated and he waived his rights to a share without a fight. His brother, who lived in the home with their mother before she died, was surprised that his name wasn’t on the deed. Luckily, his family is all on the same page and has opted not to be in conflict over the house in court. Legal experts lament that some of the worst infighting among families can be over real estate.
His mother’s hospice and general care were made easier by the fact that she was organized and a very good steward of her bills, said Rodriguez. He was added to her account to make payments on her mortgage and her single credit card debt was forgiven upon her death.
In the experience of Casey Lee, a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society, many
homeowners in Black and Brown neighborhoods are cash-poor. More than 60% of older Black and Hispanic homeowners without wills don’t have $500 in “liquid wealth,” which includes assets, checking accounts, savings accounts, money market funds, stocks, and stock mutual funds, according to the Urban Institute. This makes it harder for some homeowners to handle the costs of creating a will. More often than not, the biggest barrier to will-making for Black and Brown families is money and access to legal services to hire an attorney.
“There are financial predators all over … lying in wait to take people’s homes, either through fraud, deception, tax lien sales, or other means. We can’t allow our people to contribute to our own financial demise,” said Walker. “We have to keep grandma’s house in the family and out of the hands of greedy gentrifiers who will repurpose it and push people who look like us out of our neighborhoods.”
Rodriguez’s father recommended him to a lawyer to deal with the administration proceedings and file their paperwork. He was charged about $3,500. Their letter from the court comes with a stipulation that requires another $2,000 to be lifted. That was in addition to keeping up with house payments and fees, or he risked losing his mom’s house to foreclosure from the bank.
“It’s difficult for the average person who’s not litigious, [and] if you don’t have that kind of money just lying around, it’s not cheap,” he said.
When you do have a will
When a person dies with a will, or “testate,” their families go to the state probate court in the county where they lived. Probate is the process of proving that the will is legally valid and appointing an executor from the will for the estate. The executor can then file the will, a death certificate, any related fees, and a probate petition that lists all the heirs. Distributees and beneficiaries have to be notified of the death and their rights, even if they consent to giving up their share. If family members don’t sign a waiver, they have to be “cited.” In New York, the house or assets would go to the next of kin, including half-siblings and second cousins.
“Estate planning isn’t really about having wealth,” said Lola Waterman, a New York City Civil Court Judge. “It’s more about protecting what you do have, whether it’s a small home, whether it’s a savings account, an IRA account. It’s about protecting what you have and making sure that the people you want to get it after you’re no longer here actually inherit it.”
Josephina Oluwanifise, a member of the Center for NYC Neighborhoods’ (CNYCN) Black Homeownership Project team, said many people are unaware of the free legal services and assistance available to them as homeowners.
“The system of homeownership as a policy could be such a major way people can build wealth, [although] the fact [is] that it’s so elusive and precarious for
1. (Photo by Cytonn Photography via Pexels.com) 2. Sabrina Bazile and the Black Homeownership Project (BHP) team at Center for NYC Neighborhoods. (Photo contributed by CNYCN)
Bail reform research shows mixed results outside city and in NYC suburbs
BY TANDY LAU Amsterdam News staff
Recidivism went down long-term after New York state’s initial bail reform laws in the suburban and upstate areas, but saw short-term increases among a minority of individuals deemed “high-risk” for reoffending, researchers from the Data Collaborative for Justice at John Jay College have found.
“It’s looking at areas outside of New York City, where prior to the reform going into effect, bail was much more common,” said report co-author Stephen Koppel. “Outside of the city, it was about 41% of cases were either bailed or remanded compared to New York City, where it was down to about 21%.
“The marginal effect of going from a system where you could consider all the factors possible to a system where you could only consider the [current] charge, the effect is going to be bigger outside of
New York City. It allows you to answer the question: What was the impact in a context where bail or remand were fairly common?”
While bail reform remains a hot-button issue in the Big Apple, the law ostensibly soft-launched in New York City decades before enactment in 2020 — the courts were already releasing people on otherwise baileligible offenses previously. Koppel also pointed to the study focusing exclusively on a period before amendments to bail reform that allowed judges to apply some discretion in setting bails and remands.
The laws eliminated the option to set bail or remands for most misdemeanor and non-violent charges, ostensibly saving many New Yorkers from pre-trial detention. The first iteration of the law went into effect at the start of 2020, but was amended around half a year later.
The report found that during the pretrial period, bail reform did not have a broad impact on recidivism and only saw increases among a “high-risk” subgroup. The find-
ings pointed to a 6.6% uptick in general re-arrests and a 5% jump in felony re-arrest likelihood among those individuals after the state eliminated bail. Among all groups, there was a small — 1.8% — increase in recidivism during the pretrial period, with low-risk groups becoming less likely to be arrested after bail reform.
“The high-risk subgroup was just somebody that had recent criminal history, which was defined by having an open pending case,” said Koppel. “If you’re at a hearing and at that time, there’s another case that is winding its way through the courts … we’re going to define you as a high-risk group. For the low-risk subgroup, on the other hand, we said we don’t want any criminal history that’s visible, to us at least. That meant no prior criminal convictions and no other pending cases that coincided with the case that we’re looking at.”
However, even the high-risk group was less likely to be re-arrested down the line. Long-term recidivism likelihood dropped
by 1.1% for those individuals after preamendment bail reform was enacted. Overall, re-arrest rates dropped by 2%, with a “statistically significant” 2.7% reduction in felony re-arrest.
The researchers employed a proven “Difference-in-Differences” technique for their data, which allowed them to comfortably compare two time periods: before and after the first bail reform law went into effect in 2020. However, the report mentions some limitations, including outlying influences like pretrial supervision expansion and the impact of COVID-19.
While not examined in this study, previous research links pre-trial detention to long-term recidivism due to external factors like loss of employment, damaged social relationships, and criminogenic influences from jail. Detainment also contributes to carceral disparities, given that nonwhite defendants are more likely not to make bail, which feeds into a higher rate of plea deals.
Sign advertising a bail bonds business seen near Brooklyn’s jail and courthouse complex in New York on Tuesday, July 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Union Matters
Nurses rally at City Hall as contract expirations loom, testify at City Council hearing
By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff
With contracts for nurses at 12 private hospitals set to expire on the last day of 2025, members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) have organized citywide events and rallies over the past two weeks to spotlight the vital role nurses play in caring for New Yorkers.
More than 20,000 nurses are represented by NYSNA, and they have been drawing attention to the ongoing staffing shortages at city hospitals, workplace safety concerns, and the need for increased funding for healthcare infrastructure.
On November 12, more than 200 NYSNA members gathered on the steps of City Hall before participating in a City Council “Committee on Hospitals” hearing. During the committee session, nurses detailed the working conditions and staffing challenges they face daily.
Dr. Natalia Cineas, chief nursing officer and co-chair of the Equity and Access Council for NYC Health + Hospitals, spoke about the progress public hospitals have made in nurse recruitment and retention despite industry-wide challenges. “Our team of about 9,600 nurses is at the core of our mission to provide care to all New Yorkers,” she stated.
Cineas reported a nurse turnover rate of 10.3% for 2025 — significantly less than the national average of 16.4% and a major decrease from 46% in 2019. That’s an improvement that has led to major cost savings, she said, which have been reinvested into workforce development and patient care initiatives.
However, NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, who has also been a nurse at Montefiore Medical Center for the past 30 years, countered that, “Every day, nurses battle to provide quality patient care against the Trump administration’s
attacks on our most vulnerable patients and healthcare funding.”
Hagans said she was concerned about upcoming federal Medicaid and Affordable Care Act funding cuts, which could reduce hospital funding and increase the number of uninsured New Yorkers. She also warned that hospitals, particularly safety-net facilities, may attempt to roll back recent staffing gains and benefits as a way to cope. “My hospital’s administrators want to reduce nurse staffing, cancel shifts at will, and implement changes that will harm nurse retention and benefits — the very gains that helped us recover staffing levels after COVID-19 and manage retiree health costs,” ” she said.
Cineas reported that NYC Health + Hospitals hired more than 3,400 nurses in 2024, which helped replace temporary staff and saved more than $150 million on recruitment costs. Programs like NURSES4NYC, nurse
residency and fellowship initiatives, and a $400 million fund with CUNY to develop a skilled workforce have allowed Health + Hospitals to expand partnerships with Hunter College and other CUNY campuses, Cineas said. This gives it the ability to offer clinical rotations, employment opportunities, and academic pathways.
Union leaders and some City Council members said they were still concerned about whether staffing levels are adequate to meet the city’s rising demand for healthcare.
NYSNA leaders claim that some hospital administrators are trying to cut nurse staffing, reduce shifts, and limit benefits. Hagans spoke about the November 13 active shooter incident near the main entrance of the Mount Sinai Hospital emergency department, when an armed man stormed inside, threatening to “shoot up” everyone there. He was confronted by New York
City police officers, then fatally shot. Mount Sinai nurses, who moments before had their lives threatened by the man, had to try to save his life when he came to the hospital as a trauma patient.
“We are fortunate that the active shooter incident at Mount Sinai last week did not result in greater tragedy — the hospital was unprepared,” Hagans said. “I spent time with nine staff members that day. They were shaken and angry because management did nothing to support them. We know nurses and patients deserve a safe environment.”
Hagans said such security issues, combined with increased use of cost-cutting technologies like virtual nurses and AI systems, could threaten the quality of care nurses are able to provide. She stressed the importance of more state and city investment in safety-net hospitals and greater accountability from wealthier health systems.
NYSNA members rally on steps of City Hall. (NYSNA photo)
Trump’s tragic melding of domestic and foreign policy
Not that we need a reminder of the irreducible connection between the U.S. domestic and foreign policy, but the Trump administration provides repeated examples, each more horrifying than the previous.
When you also consider the onslaught of agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security across the country, and the ceaseless attack on vessels in the Caribbean and sometimes on the Pacific Coast — an indisputable violation of human rights, the policies take on tragic proportions.
While the domestic militarization may be experiencing relative calm, the annihilation of presumed narco-traffickers continues, with an estimate of more than 80 people killed and some 20 boats destroyed. These numbers, as troubling as they are, could easily be eclipsed if the current 5,000 troops in the Caribbean theater, recently expanded by the arrival of the USS Gerald Ford, unleash their firepower. The only thing preventing such a calamitous outcome is the reluctance of the nations in the region to repel the advances, but all that is needed for Trump to step up a renewed version of manifest destiny is one military outburst of resistance.
Of course, as we know so well, Trump needs no provocation to impose his domination in this territory, or any other region of the globe. In the neighborhoods of America, we have witnessed the presence of what many are now calling the “Department of Deportation,” which gels perfectly, if ignominiously, with a “Department of War,” presently deemed the Department of Defense.
Caught in the calipers of this desperation is what many once called democracy. How terrible it is to speak of this dream in the past tense.
Slave patrols by another name: Making America white again
By RASHAAD THOMAS
“White people are trapped in a history they do not understand; and until they understand it, they cannot be released from it.”
— James Baldwin, “The Fire Next Time”
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids are not a new invention of law and order. They are the evolution of slave patrols — by another name, in another uniform, in another century, but with the same mission: “Make America White Again.”
President Trump is stripping all references to slavery from national parks and the Smithsonian Institution in an effort to erase American history. He claims those references like the “Scourged Back” and similar exhibits promote “corrosive ideology” and “unfairly disparages Americans.” He embraces a long American tradition of reshaping history to obscure injustice, clearing a path to revive America’s ugliest machinery of racial control.
Slave patrols, or paddy rollers, hunted and captured Black people in the antebellum South, enforcing terror and calling it “law and order.” Established in 1704 in South Carolina, they were formally abolished after the Civil War, but did not disappear. Rather, slave patrols evolved into the Ku Klux Klan, lynch mobs, and eventually, modern policing. Today ICE and other law enforcement agencies use the same logic — statesanctioned violence to intimidate and abuse communities of color.
Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher and Editor in Chief
Kristin
Cyril
Editor
The ruins of segregation are visible in cities across the country today. Redlining, supported by banks, real estate agents, and government policy, denied and still denies Black and Brown families the opportunity to build wealth or own homes. Those same red lines shape political maps, laying the groundwork for gerrymandered districts that weaken Black and Brown political power. In the same neighborhoods once marked “hazardous” to justify a lack of investments, police presence remains pervasive, trapping generations in cycles of poverty. Today, ICE uses raids, detention, and deportation, relying on surveillance programs like ImmigrationOS, to track undocumented people, U.S. residents, and
By using Black and Brown people in enforcement roles, the state hides systemic oppression in plain sight while perpetuating fear, control, and monitoring the very communities it exploits. Slave patrols criminalized Blackness; ICE criminalizes racialized migration — both enforce rigid hierarchies under the guise of “law and order.”
citizens alike. Families are torn apart and individuals are detained often during critical immigration processes, including marriage, citizenship, and naturalization processes with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These practices are not about safety, but domination and whitening America.
History warns us where this leads. In 1989, five Black and Latino teenagers — the Central Park Five — were wrongfully accused of rape. Donald Trump inflamed hysteria by spending $85,000 of full-page ads demanding, “BRING
BACK THE DEATH PENALTY. BRING BACK OUR POLICE!” branding them guilty before trial. His words amplified the racist stereotype of Black and Brown youth as inherently violent. Decades later, the same narrative persists. President Trump calls Black and Brown children “roving bands of youth,” implying they are “born to be criminals,” justifying militarized policing and invasion of U.S. cities such as Black-majority Washington D.C. rather than acknowledging that the community itself was
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Editor
American Betrayal: When immigration policy bites the hands that feed us
By FABIOLA PEÑAFIEL
President Trump threatens to bite the hand that feeds him and millions of Americans. Promising to carry out “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country,” President Trump’s current immigration strategy spells disaster for the U.S.’s agriculture sector. Despite claims to target the “worst of the worst,” ICE raids have played out in agricultural worksites across the nation, disrupting operations and leaving crops dying in unworked fields. Relying largely on immigrant labor, both documented and undocumented, agribusinesses have already started to show signs of strain under the administration’s migrant attacks. If the administration continues these restrictive immigration policies, it will not only be migrants who are put in danger, but also Americans nationwide who will pay the price.
The backbone of American agriculture
Providing cheap and often exploitable labor, a predominantly migrant labor force is crucial to U.S. agricultural operations. One survey by the US Department of Labor finds that 66% of agricultural workers are noncitizen immigrants, with 47% reportedly lacking work authorization. With farm work
often involving difficult and harsh conditions, these migrants, both visa holders and mostly undocumented workers, fill the labor shortages for jobs that no other Americans want to do. Now, the Trump administration’s anti-migrant policies add another layer of danger for migrant workers, particularly undocumented farmhands, turning many away from the agricultural sector.
Empty fields, rotting crops
Faced with heightened ICE presence at worksites, undocumented farmhands must make the decision between safety and work, leaving fields across the country now empty. As early as June, farm owners and representatives reported that 70% of farm workers had stopped reporting for work. In a Guardian interview, undocumented farmworkers cited feeling “hunted like animals,” describing a newfound sense of risk associated with fieldwork. In the absence of migrant workers, farms have been left unable to harvest their crops. One California farm owner noted in a Reuters interview that, “If 70% of your workforce doesn’t show up, 70% of your crop doesn’t get picked and can go bad in one day.” Relying so heavily on undocumented workers, the U.S. agricultural sector is being heavily
hit by Trump’s deportation efforts, a hit that agribusinesses will soon be transferring to their consumers.
Lower production, higher prices
The loss of a migrant workforce has very direct consequences for everyday consumers, limiting the selection of produce and increasing market prices. A report by the American Farm Bureau Federation estimates that Trump’s enforcementonly strategy could result in a 30% decline in fruit production and a 15% decline in vegetable production. This would largely limit the products consumers see on store shelves, potentially restricting access to fruits such as California strawberries and New York apples, which largely rely on migrant workers. This produce shortage is likely to also be followed by inflated prices, with food costs potentially growing by 5-6% over the next five years, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. These projections show how the effects of the Trump administration’s immigration policy are likely to trickle down to every sector of daily life.
No migrants, No America
Migrant workers are at the core of the U.S.’s agricultural sector; without them, crops are left to rot,
and store shelves go empty. Yet, the Trump administration’s current immigration strategy spits in the face of this dependence on migrants, attempting to cut off what is, in essence, a vital limb to the American nation. The Trump administration thus cannot continue to ignore the crucial role of migrants within American operations, especially in agriculture, as it executes its immigration policy. Rather than seeking to target migrant farmworkers, President Trump must leverage this reliable workforce; otherwise, he risks depriving America of one of its most effective advantages in agriculture. By expanding and making more accessible legal avenues for migrant laborers, the U.S. can continue to benefit from migrants’ work while also rewarding them for their contributions and place within the American nation. If the Trump administration does not heed these warnings, it will soon irrevocably sink its teeth into the hand that has fed it from its beginning and soon learn that an attack on migrants is an attack on all Americans.
Fabiola Peñafiel is a second-year student at Brown University studying International & Public Affairs with a focus on migration.
The calculating coldness of ICE
By HERB BOYD
A few days ago, I was returning home on 146th Street in Harlem when three ICE agents swooped by me and accosted a young man. He was as stunned as I was, and one of them flashed a photo supposedly of him on their cell phone. When I began closing in on the situation, concerned that he might be roughed up, one of the agents stepped in front of me and advised me to keep my dis-
tance. I obeyed, moved a few steps away, but began recording the encounter on my phone. Once more, he approached me and asked me to stop recording. I moved further away but continued recording. After being convinced that the photo they had was not the man they apprehended, they walked away. He was still a bit shaken as he walked with me toward a nearby building where he lived. “I told them I was an American citizen and
showed them my identification,” he explained. “I have no idea why they believed I looked like the man they were looking for.”
I never got the young man’s name, but earlier that morning, I had read an article about how the Department of Homeland Security had diverted agents from their normal duties and focused on arresting undocumented immigrants. Fortunately, this young man, unlike thousands who have been de-
It’s time to think about baton passing
CHRISTINA GREER, PH.D.
There has been a lot of hand-wringing about why so many people are disengaged from politics. Although the recent New York City municipal election showed increased turnout, we are still nowhere near the vast majority of the voting-eligible population showing up to participate in elections. What we have seen is clear: When voters are given a candidate with innovative ideas, they are more inclined to turn out to vote. Voter apathy is rampant, but giving people a reason to go out to vote could help turn the tides in our country and with our leaders.
This may be a controversial statement, but it is time for some of our leaders to pass the baton to the next generation. What we are seeing in both parties, but especially in the Democratic Party across the country, are leaders who have been amazing public servants and now refuse to exit stage left. When so many leaders are in their seventies and eighties, and have held public office for three decades and more, we need to think about a succession plan.
tained, was able to make it home safely, though visibly upset.
I wondered to what degree he had been accosted before and how prepared he was to avoid being taken into custody. During the stop, he remained calm and presented his ID. He did not run away, they did not search him, and it was a good example of how immigrants should conduct themselves when forced to endure such encounters. It was also a lesson for me.
We know the incumbency advantage is real. Many of the elected leaders hold senior committee positions and use that as a justification to maintain their seats. These same individuals also tend to be amazing fundraisers and have a core group of donors and constituents who deliver them back to Washington, D.C., and their various state houses every two or four years. However, when someone young with new ideas or innovative ways of thinking about calci-
fied problems attempts to run, they are often pushed to the side, dismissed as unrealistic, and painted as interlopers who aren’t deserving of the seat. Incumbency is important, for sure, but it should not serve as a way for individuals to have a job for life.
We are slowly seeing ambitious individuals challenge long-standing politicians who have held their seats for decades. I always think of how former Newark Mayor Cory Booker decided to run for the U.S. Senate in 2013 for a seat that was held by Frank Lautenberg since 1982! How are we supposed to get young people and new voters engaged if they see the same calcified leadership in office for over a quarter century?
I do think there is a role and necessity for seniority in Congress and state houses, but we must think of better ways to support newcomers and those who want to become public servants with innovative ideas and a slightly external perspective. It is our responsibility to participate in primaries and learn more about new candidates before we just pull the lever for the name we have always known. We may end up supporting the incumbent — or we may just be pleasantly surprised.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.
Caribbean Update
U.S. troops again in Trinidad for alleged joint training exercises
By BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews
For most of this week, American soldiers in the Marine battle group preparing for likely action in Venezuela will be in Trinidad for joint exercises with the local military. Still, many are skeptical about the real reasons behind the second such activity in about a month.
The main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) and some civil society actors are demanding full explanations from the administration about the presence of warships and soldiers on Trinidadian soil, even as the Trump administration has openly stated its intention to take military action against the South American nation.
Part of their reasons for the rising levels of skepticism has to do with the fact that the local government is openly supporting whatever action the U.S. takes in Southern Caribbean waters, and how any attack on Venezuela will eventually play out. The administration has even offered Trinidad as a base to the U.S. if Venezuela ever attacks fellow Caricom member state Guyana to enforce its long-held claims to local territory.
Late Sunday, PM Persad Bisses-
But former Security Minister Marvin Gonzales and former Foreign Minister Amery Browne both want authorities to fully explain the reasons behind a second deployment of American soldiers and warships to Trinidad …
sar said American attacks on alleged drug boats and their general presence in the area have resulted in a safer Trinidad. She remains unapologetic about her country’s open backing of the U.S. against a neighboring state with which it has long shared close ties.
“To win the fight against organized crime, we must strengthen and modernize our crime-fighting capability. These joint exercises with the United States are a critical step in enhancing the TTDF’s readiness, intelligence capability, and operational strength. The U.S. presence in the region has already contributed to a significant reduction in the trafficking of guns, drugs, and humans into our country. As a small nation facing transnational crim-
inal networks, T&T benefits immensely from this partnership with the world’s leading superpower. For too long, our citizens, from the elderly to our youth, and even innocent babies, have been slaughtered mercilessly by brazen criminals who profit from their connections to cartels and narco-terrorists,” she said in a social media post. But former Security Minister Marvin Gonzales and former Foreign Minister Amery Browne both want authorities to fully explain the reasons behind a second deployment of American soldiers and warships to Trinidad, at a time when the U.S. has made it clear it is readying for military action against Venezuela. They think such support can only harm Trinidad-Venezuela
relations in the long run.
The exercises, the second in a month, will involve the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and run from Sunday, November 16 to Friday, November 21.
“The U.S. War Secretary on one day this week announced that he has activated Operation Southern Spear, and the very next day, our government announces the arrival of a U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit in Trinidad and Tobago,” Browne said. He noted that people in the federation with Tobago are “observing the deployment of the largest aircraft carrier ever built and so many other naval assets in a massive armada that is designed to engage in warfare against nuclear superpowers.
Yet the government expects people
Trump’s shock admission: Immigrants do
IMMIGRATION KORNER
Every now and then, the impossible happens. Water runs uphill. Pigs fly. And Donald J. Trump tells the truth.
Yes, you read that right. The man famous for “alternative facts” and creative truth-telling has done something thought impossible — he admitted a fact backed by evidence.
In a recent interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, Trump acknowledged something that economists, CEOs, and anyone who’s ever tried to hire a qualified engineer already knows: there aren’t enough skilled workers in the U.S.
“You don’t have certain talents, and people have to learn,” Trump said. “You can’t just say a country is coming in, going to invest $10 billion
to build a plant, and take people off an unemployment line who haven’t worked in five years, and they’re going to start making their missiles. It doesn’t work that way.”
Well, imagine that — Trump, the man who built a political brand on blaming immigrants for everything from job losses to border chaos, now admitting that America needs immigrant talent.
The $100,000 visa wall
Of course, this flash of honesty comes wrapped in contradiction. Just weeks earlier, Trump imposed a $100,000 one-time fee on H-1B visas — the very program designed to attract highskilled foreign workers in fields like tech and engineering. The result? A policy that economists say could “kneecap” American innovation. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, startups with higher H-1B hiring rates are far more likely to
go public, get acquired, or secure major patents and funding.
In fiscal 2024, nearly 400,000 H-1B visas were approved — double the number from 2020. And leaders like Elon Musk have long argued that these visas help keep the U.S. competitive globally. Yet, Trump’s fee ensures only billion-dollar corporations, not startups or universities, can afford them.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the fee at the time, saying, “If you have a very sophisticated engineer and you want to bring them in … then you can pay $100,000.” Easy to say when you’re not a small business owner trying to hire one.
Raiding the future
Trump’s newfound appreciation for skilled immigrants also comes after his ICE agents raided a Hyundai factory in Georgia, detaining 475 workers like common criminals — most of them being South
to believe the assets are here to shoot alleged drug pirogues, to paint schools in T&T, and conduct periodic training exercises,” The Guardian newspaper quoted Browne’s statement. He argues that citizens can “connect the dots.”
Meanwhile, Gonzales thinks there is more to the joint military exercises that both sides are letting on.
“The prime minister must come clean and tell the population what other ‘deals’ she has made with foreign partners that she is desperately hiding from the people of Trinidad and Tobago. It shows that she cannot be trusted under any circumstances.” The withholding of critical information from the public can cause panic and unease in society, he argued.
And in a social media post on the issue, the U.S. mission in Trinidad said that the military’s “presence in the Caribbean supports the U.S. South Com’s mission to promote regional stability, counter transnational threats, and enhance disaster response capabilities. So far, the U.S. has attacked more than 20 alleged drug boats both in the Atlantic and the Pacific, killing more than 80 people.
the jobs Americans can’t
Korean specialists building EV batteries on site.
The raid delayed production by months and infuriated South Korea and Hyundai’s leadership, which had just announced a $26 billion investment in the U.S. Trump now admits the move may have gone too far.
“You know, making batteries is very complicated,” he told Ingraham.
“They had like 500 or 600 people, early stages, to make batteries and to teach people how to do it. Well, they wanted them to get out of the country. You’re going to need that, Laura.”
So, after deporting the very workers teaching Americans how to build the clean energy technology of the future, Trump now realizes — oops — maybe we actually need them.
The truth he can’t
escape
For once, Trump has stumbled into reality: the U.S. simply doesn’t have enough engineers, scientists, and skilled tradespeople to meet demand. Immigrants fill those gaps
— and have for generations. But here’s the kicker — while Trump admits the truth about America’s talent shortage, he’s still enforcing policies that make it harder for those very workers to come, stay, or succeed.
Economists at the National Foundation for American Policy estimate that his immigration agenda would cut the U.S. workforce by 15.7 million people and shrink GDP growth by one-third over the next decade. In other words, “America First” is starting to look a lot like “America Left Behind.”
So yes, Donald Trump finally told the truth — but like so many times before, he’s standing in the way of it.
Felicia J. Persaud is the founder and publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, the only daily newswire and digital platform dedicated exclusively to Caribbean Diaspora and Black immigrant news across the Americas.
By TAAYOO MURRAY
Special to the AmNews
Two weeks after Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, the people who live there, still fighting to bring things back to normal, are facing mounting challenges with the Caribbean island nation’s economy and infrastructure.
The parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, and some parts of Falmouth saw the worst of the Category 5 hurricane. As a result, two major industries, agriculture and tourism, have been severely impacted.
This means those who are left in the aftermath are left simply waiting for things to improve.
“My family operates an events, accommodation, and catering
International News
Hurricane Melissa came at the worst time, leaving Jamaica in a difficult position
business and I do private school transportation for children from home to school and vice versa,” said Carla Drummond, 43, a mother of four living in Montego Bay. “Since Hurricane Melissa, business has stopped as schools have been closed and for the family business, we are out of light and water.”
She said many functions her business was involved in had to be postponed and one was canceled.
Tourism is crucial to Jamaica’s economy, contributing $4.3 billion to the country’s GDP in 2024, with a record 4.3 million visitors. With peak tourist season about to start, the storm could not have come at a worse time. The two major airports, Norman Manley International and Sangster International,
have reopened but some airlines have canceled flights into Jamaica for the rest of the year. Major hotel chains like Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, and Sandals South Coast will not reopen until May 2026 after sustaining significant damage.
Large companies may have the resources to weather this storm, but the ripple effect will decimate many families and communities.
Drummond lives in the Catherine Hall community of Montego Bay, which sustained extensive damage. Her five-year-old asks when she can return to school, but her school has been completely destroyed. They suffered some damage to their home, mainly the roof, and many trees blew down.
“We are still without light and
water, so just hoping we will get those back soon, so business can resume,” says Drummond.
Slow recovery
According to the Associated Press, 45 people were killed in the storm with 15 still missing. About 30,000 households have been displaced, with 1,100 people still living in 88 emergency shelters.
In a Nov. 11, 2025, press conference, Hugh Grant, president and CEO of Jamaica Public Service, said 64% of the customer service base had power restored. Grant admitted that the scale of devastation in the western parishes means repair and restoration involve redesign and rebuilding.
“We have seen [that] landslides
See JAMAICA on page 36
Fundraising efforts for Hurricane Melissa victims in Jamaica continue
By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff
New York Attorney General Letitia James has called on the federal government to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Jamaicans living in the United States. Her appeal comes as the nation works to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
“Hurricane Melissa has caused unimaginable damage to our neighbors in Jamaica, displacing tens of thousands of people, destroying vital infrastructure, and severely limiting access to basic necessities,” AG James said in a statement. “Forcing Jamaicans in the United States to return home to a devastated island would be dangerous and cruel. Situations like this are exactly what TPS was intended for, and our federal government should extend TPS to Jamaicans to help keep people safe while the island rebuilds.”
Hurricane Melissa, a powerful
Category 5 storm, caused widespread devastation in Jamaica, ripping roofs off some 122,000 structures, damaging crops and infrastructure, and resulting in at least 48 deaths. Several communities are still without electricity or clean water.
The United Nations Development Program reports that Hurricane Melissa displaced over 30,000 residents on the island. The Jamaican government has initiated a fourphase emergency plan after declaring the entire island a disaster zone. Efforts are underway to repair in-
frastructure and clear roads so that essential services can be restored, but the widespread damage to infrastructure and washed-out roads has made this difficult.
In the New York metropolitan area, home to one of the largest JamaicanAmerican communities, local efforts
to help hurricane victims continue. Organizations are working together to provide aid, with activists and local officials launching fundraising programs.
Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages, in partnership with LeRoy Graham Jr. of True Tribute Organization, has organized a supply drive and fundraising campaign at Nolan’s Cuisine, a Jamaican and Caribbean restaurant at 2101 Dutch Broadway in Elmont, New York. Donation barrels are available at Nolan’s and at other locations like legislator Solages’ law offices at 1630 Dutch Broadway in Elmont and 92 Willis Ave in Mineola, New York.
Irwine G. Clare, Sr., founder of Team Jamaica Bickle, urged support for this collective action, saying, “People are suffering — about 70% of our nation is without power. But we are resilient. Let’s work together to provide support for our brothers and sisters in need.”
See FUNDRAISING on page 36
Jeff Nephew tends to his kale farm after Hurricane Melissa struck his home in Jamaica. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Nephew)
Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages and community members quickly organized a supply drive and fundraising campaign for Jamaican victims of Hurricane Melissa. (Office of Legislator Carrié Solages photo)
Rapper Nicki Minaj calls for protections for Christians in Nigeria at U.N. event
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Rapper Nicki Minaj took up President Donald Trump’s allegations that Christians are persecuted in Nigeria, saying Tuesday at a United Nations event organized by the U.S. that she wants to shine a spotlight on “the deadly threat.”
Trump has said Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria and has told the Pentagon to begin preparing for possible military action in the West African nation. Experts and residents say some attacks in the country target Christians, but most emphasize that in the widespread violence that has long plagued the West African nation, everyone is a potential victim — regardless of background or belief.
The Trinidadian-born Minaj thanked Trump for his leadership and for calling for urgent action “to defend Christians in Nigeria, to combat extremism and to bring a stop to violence against those who simply want to exercise their natural right to freedom of religion or belief.”
She spoke at a panel at the U.S. mission to the United Nations along with U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and faith leaders. The event came after she replied to Trump’s
social media post about Nigeria earlier this month, saying, “no group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.”
In a post Sunday on X, Pope Leo XIV said Christians are suffering discrimination and persecution in various parts of the world, pointing to Nigeria and other countries like Bangladesh, Mozambique and Sudan.
Introducing Minaj, Waltz said, “She steps on to this world stage not as a celebrity but as a witness ... to spotlight Nigeria’s persecuted church” to her millions of social media followers.
Saying she was “very nervous” to speak before the panel, Minaj vowed to keep standing up “in the face of injustice” for anyone anywhere who is being persecuted for their beliefs.
“Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria, but also in so many other countries around the world,” she said.
Minaj said she wanted to make clear that protecting Christians in Nigeria wasn’t about taking sides or dividing people. “It is about uniting people,” she said, calling Nigeria “a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions” that she can’t wait to see.
The rap star did make one reference to music in her remarks, saying it has taken
her around the world and she has seen how people everywhere come alive when they hear a song “that touches their soul.”
“Religious freedom means we all sing our faith regardless of who we are, where we live and what we believe,” Minaj said.
Nicki Minaj at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards (Wikimedia Commons)
Arts & Entertainment
Meet India Bradley, New York City Ballet’s first Black female soloist
By ZITA ALLEN Special to the AmNews
The buzz preceding India Bradley’s October promotion to New York City Ballet (NYCB) soloist, making her the first Black ballerina to assume that position in the company’s 76-year-history, has morphed into a proliferation of congratulations to the captivating young dancer, highlighting the significance of the event.
Bradley’s long-limbed elegance, sparkling vitality, and charming charisma have long made her someone to watch. In 2023, it added something special to her debut as Dewdrop in “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.” Since the legendary Tanaquil LeClercq premiered that role in 1954, it has been considered one of the delights of NYCB’s seasonal favorite production. Dewdrop leads the Waltz of the Flowers section of the ballet, with choreography full of “short bursts of ravishing, effervescent dancing, with turns and jumps that appear and disappear as quickly as dew falling on a petal.” The buzz around Bradley’s performance quickly turned into thunderous applause and has now resulted in the historic promotion.
Dance Magazine and the New York Times announced Bradley’s promotion, along with five other NYCB soloists — Victor Abreu, Dominika Afanasenkov, Naomi Corti, Mary Thomas MacKinnon, and Andres Zuniga. Black Enterprise proudly declared that she was “making history in the dance world.”
After all, it was a world that had long resisted the inclusion of the Black dancer. Even as American ballet began to welcome Black male dancers, like Arthur Mitchell, Keith Lee, Desmond Richardson, Albert Evans, and Taylor Stanley, companies continued to resist embracing Black and Brown ballerinas.
Just a few days after her promotion was announced, thousands of Instagram (IG) followers congratulated Bradley while also wishing her a happy 27th birthday. The online IG list was an impressive one that included NYCB’s associate artistic director Wendy Whelan, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) artistic director Alicia Graf Mack, and former AAADT dancers Hope Boykin and Sarita Allen, Dance Theater of Harlem (DTH) ballerina Alexandra Hutchinson, School of American Ballet’s Aesha Ash, and American Ballet Theatre’s (ABT’s) Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III.
Many of Bradley’s well-wishers, both online and in person, also acknowledged her predecessors — the countless Black ballerinas whose talent, perseverance, and guardian angels helped them pave the way
for future generations even as they fought to realize their own dreams. That list includes, but is by no means limited to, Janet Collins (Metropolitan Opera Ballet); Raven Wilkinson (Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo); Carmen de Lavallade, Cleo Quitman, Judith Jamison, and Glory Van Scott (ABT’s production of Agnes de Mille’s Four Mary’s); Houston Ballet’s Lauren Anderson; Capitol Ballet’s Sandra Fortune-Green; New York Negro Ballet’s Delores Browne; ABT’s Misty Copeland; and, of course, DTH’s Virginia Johnson, Lydia Abarca, and the roster of the Black ballerinas with the company Arthur Mitchell founded with Karel Shook
that Robert Garland now leads. Of course, the list wouldn’t be complete without NYCB predecessors Debra Austin, Bradley mentor, and former NYCB ballerina, and DTH principal and teacher, Boston Ballet’s Andrea Long-Naidu.
Asked how she got the news, Bradley said that the day before the promotion, she received an email scheduling a meeting with NYCB artistic director John Stafford, Wendy Whelan, and choreographer Justin Peck.
“My anxiety went through the roof … in the world of ballet, it could be anything.” It turned out to be good news: “It was just a beautiful, calm, fun, very exciting day. And,
as it turned out, I had made plans to hang out that night with friends I first met at DTH 14 years ago and when I told them, ‘Oh, by the way, I just got promoted,’ we were screaming. It was a crazy, full-circle moment of not seeing each other since the years at DTH when Arthur Mitchell was alive and we just so happened to make plans for that day. It was very, very special.”
Asked about the impact of becoming NYCB’s first Black principal dancer on her life, Bradley said, “These past couple of months, Mr. Mitchell’s been on my mind a lot. I was talking to my mom a couple of days ago and she reminded me of conversations with him when I was very young and him telling me, ‘You’re not going to understand what I’m talking about right now, but one day, you’re going to do what you were put on this Earth to do in ballet.’ I think he was telling me [that] your entire life, you should be in it, be present and grateful, but understand your significance. I think his point was to say you don’t need to dissect what’s going on to understand fully what it means. That really resonated with me. I’m trained to do my best, to just do what I think is good and to dance well.”
The Detroit native said dance is in her DNA: “My mom was in Alvin Ailey back in the day.” Bradley’s dance training started at the age of 4 at the Link School of the Arts in Troy, Michigan. When she was 11 years old, she began studying at the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet, before winning a full scholarship to the DTH summer program in 2012. Entering DTH’s Professional Training Program, under the direction of Long-Naidu, changed her life when she was taken to see the NYCB. “It was like freedom in ballet form,” Bradley said.
Soon afterward, an audition for NYCB’s School of American Ballet led to a full scholarship to the summer course that, in turn, resulted in an invitation to stay on as an apprentice with the company in 2017. One thing led to another and in August 2018, Bradley became a member of NYCB’s Corps de Ballet, performing featured roles in Balanchine’s masterpieces, including “Agon,” “La Valse,” “Emeralds” in “Jewels,” and more, as well as in ballets by Ulysses Dove, Alexei Ratmansky, Pam Tanowitz, and Peck. She also originated featured roles in ballets by choreographers Kyle Abraham, Silas Farley, Andrea Miller, Justin Peck, Tiler Peck, and Gianna Reisen.
This holiday season, folks attending New York City Ballet’s performances of its boxoffice hit, “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker,” from Nov. 28, 2025–Jan. 3, 2026, could be lucky enough to see the ravishingly effervescent performance of NYCB’s first Black female soloist, India Bradley, making history and dancing her heart out.
India Bradley as Hot Chocolate in NYCB’s production of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.” (Erin Baiano photos)
India Bradley as Coffee in NYCB’s production of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.”
India Bradley rehearsing role of Dewdrop in NYCB’s production of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.”
Leo Holder discusses father Geoffrey Holder's paintings, now on display at James Fuentes Gallery
By MALCOLM JOHNSON Special to the AmNews
With the passing of each day, even the moments that take our breath away become distant memories. The true power lies with those who not only hold onto those moments and make them last forever, but also share their transformative properties with the world. Those who transcend language, time, and belief with messages that unite us. That is the ability of an artist. That is what Geoffrey Holder was. And sharing his art is what the James Fuentes Gallery is doing with the recently opened exhibit of his work, “Saturday Night.”
“What I’ve been really working on establishing is that he did this every day,” said his son, Leo Holder. “He’s known for a lot else, but this is first, foremost, and center, and he never wavered. He probably painted every day from the moment he was 8 years old.”
Holder was born into humble beginnings in Port of Spain, Trinidad, yet he died a beacon of cultural impact whose influence shone across the globe, especially in New York City. Holder was a Tony Award winner,
actor, celebrated performer, costume designer, and choreographer for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. While he evolved into a multidisciplinary titan, he remained connected to his first artistic outlet: painting. His son Leo hopes to reframe the narrative about the gifts he gave the world.
“My goal is to reset the balance,” said Holder. “A celebrity didn’t paint these paintings, a painter did.”
Leo Holder recognizes that some of the creations that brought his father the most notoriety are not considered traditional art, certainly not in the vein of the pieces in “Saturday Night.” However, for Holder, it’s not a matter of rewriting history, but of providing context.
“It’s been 40 years since my father’s commercials,” said Holder, referring to an ad campaign his father did for a popular soft drink. “They are in the past, and frankly speaking, they were a small aspect of what he did. It’s just that they were a big hit, so he’s known for that. But when you think about it, he’s only been in a handful of films. He’s only been in a handful of commercials, none of which is the kind of
volume that makes a career otherwise. But this artwork is something he did for over 70 years. This comes first, and I’m finally giving it a chance to breathe and find its own audience.”
What “Saturday Night” revealed to me was the way Holder charts a path to another time and space with each stroke of his paintbrush. The scene he masterfully sets is the Trinidad of his youth, specifically the dark and intimate dance halls where smoke greets your eyes upon entry and the smell of sweat hangs in the air as a sign of work done in rhythmic motion. Geoffrey Holder’s parents met in one of those dance halls, forever linking him to those same venues.
“It’s a scene that is very ripe for coming back to, to be able to create and make different observations and different stories,” said Holder.
While “Saturday Night” revisits Geoffrey Holder’s earliest memories, the remarkable thing is that, despite being created over a span of three decades, from 1980 to 2006, the works still speak with a single, cohesive voice and an unmistakable style.
“The thing about these paintings is they
look both contemporary and 100 years old at the same time,” said Holder. “That’s the reason why he’s resonating with younger artists. Their standard is to be polymathic. And here’s somebody who was doing it 70 years ago. He did music, he did choreography, he designed, and he did it not only well, but everything he did was an extension of his art.”
The viewer experience offered at the James Fuentes Gallery is much more than fluorescent lights, white walls, and depictions of life on display. It’s a history lesson in human interaction, eschewing haute and monotonous traditionalism for brooding images of passion and freedom. But perhaps the most exciting part of this new exhibit is that fans can expect to see more groundbreaking work from Geoffrey Holder in the near future.
“There are different subjects and different styles of painting you’ll be seeing in the next few years,” said Holder of his father’s work. “We’ve just scratched the surface.”
“Saturday Night” by Geoffrey Holder will be on display at the James Fuentes Gallery until January 10. For more info, visit jamesfuentes.com/exhibitions/saturday-night.
Detail of “Dance Hall 1” (2008-2011) (Malcolm Johnson photos)
“Dance Hall 1” (2008-2011)
“Shoes” (1996) (Malcolm Johnson photos)
“Strippers 2” (n.d.)
“Strippers” (1980)
(1995)
“Dancing at Midnight : Saturday Night Party I” (1994)
AmNews FOOD
Hear us out: Try serving this cheesy risotto at Friendsgiving instead of the usual mac & cheese
By KELLY TORRES Special to the AmNews
There are a variety of classic dishes served on Thanksgiving Day. This year, I have a hot take, and that is to serve a cheesy risotto dish in addition to or in lieu of mac and cheese. I know this may seem risky for some of you mac and cheese lovers. If that’s
the case, try bringing this dish as your offering to the Friendsgiving table and see what the consensus is. Nothing says thank you more sincerely than cheesy, salty, buttery, tasty lusciousness. The roasted honeynut squash melts gently into the risotto, transforming the creamy white hue into an aesthetically pleasing pumpkin-colored shade and leaving delicious pulpy bits of honey-
nut squash throughout. The pancetta nibs fit neatly into that empty spot in your core that yearns for salty meat, with just the right amount to satisfy that craving without weighing you down. Fontina is the only cheese I prefer to use when cooking risotto, with Parmesan being a close second. Why? Because the fontina cheese melts flawlessly into the al dente risotto, offering rich, nutty
Cheesy Risotto with Honeynut Squash, Fontina & Pancetta
Yields 4 servings
Ingredients for the risotto:
• ½ cup pancetta, diced
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 garlic clove
• 3 - 4 thyme sprigs
• 2 cups arborio rice
• 8 cups chicken stock
• 2 honeynut squash, diced & roasted (see instructions below)
• ½ lb fontina cheese, diced
• 1 or 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Instructions for the honeynut squash:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Keeping the skin on the honeynut squash, cut off the ends and discard. Cut in half lengthwise, and scoop out seeds. Dice into bite-sized pieces.
3. In a bowl, add the diced honeynut squash and enough olive oil to coat the squash. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix, then transfer to a sheet pan.
4. Spread evenly in the sheet pan and roast for 25 minutes. Set aside, saving a few pieces of the honeynut squash separately for garnish.
Instructions for the risotto:
1. In a cold, heavy-bottomed, deep skillet, add the pancetta and cook over medium-low heat, allowing the fat to slowly liquefy as it cooks, approximately 8 - 10 minutes. Feel free to add a touch, like a teaspoon, of olive oil to assist with browning the pancetta. When the fat is rendered and the pancetta is golden brown, remove the pancetta pieces using a slotted spoon. Set aside on a paper towel-lined plate, saving a few pieces of pancetta separately for garnish. In the meantime, heat up the chicken stock.
2. Add the minced shallot, garlic, and thyme to the pancetta fat, and stir on
medium heat until aromatic and translucent, approximately 3 - 4 minutes.
3. Add the arborio rice. Stir until the rice is lightly toasted but not dark, approximately 3 - 5 minutes.
4. Using a 4-oz ladle, add the chicken stock, starting with four ladles. Stir the rice vigorously yet carefully so that no stock spills over. As you’re stirring, scrape the bottom of the pan to collect any stuck bits. Continue to stir until the chicken stock is nearly evaporated, then add 2 to 4 more ladles of chicken stock and continue to stir.
5. Repeat the stirring process with the rice, adding stock incrementally a few more times. When half the stock remains, taste the rice to check for doneness.
6. When the arborio rice is al dente, meaning firm to the bite, remove the garlic clove and the thyme sprigs and discard. Add the roasted honeynut squash, pancetta, and the diced fontina cheese to the risotto and stir until the cheese is fully melted. Add a ladle or two of chicken stock if necessary. If you run out of chicken stock, you can use hot water instead. When the fontina cheese is melted, add the butter and stir until melted. The texture of the rice should be loose and creamy, but not soupy. When you slide a wooden spoon across the skillet and the rice comes back together within seconds, you know you have the right texture. If the risotto stays separate, it is too thick, and you will need to add more stock to loosen it. If it comes together too quickly, continue to cook for a few more minutes to thicken the risotto.
7. Once you’ve achieved your desired consistency, taste, and add salt and pepper only if necessary, then transfer the risotto to a deep serving dish and garnish with the saved honeynut squash and pancetta pieces. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
undertones that, if you close your eyes after one bite, feels like a warm hug to your soul, that you didn’t know you needed, on a cold, cold night. So, allow yourself to enjoy the comfort of a dish that exudes pleasure guiltlessly, then pay it forward to show gratitude to the people you like and love. Happy Friendsgiving, y’all!
I was in high school the first time I understood the significance of Eddie Murphy. Murphy had finished his first year on “Saturday Night Live” and a seventeen-year-old classmate of mine, who regularly trolled New York City nightlife, gushed about slavishly following Murphy and his entourage around the city. Murphy was lighting up the screen with what would eventually include an all-star roster of indelible comedy characters like Gumby, Velvet Jones, Mr. Robinson, and Buckwheat. But for my friend, Murphy’s talent was almost beside the point. While still a teenager, Murphy had become one of the world’s most famous celebrities.
It’s a theme as old as public entertainment and documentary film itself: The embodied tension between art and fame. “Being Eddie,” currently streaming on Netflix, enters this storytelling fray promising to give us a peek at the man behind the legend. The film is visually and structurally built around extended, present-day interviews with Murphy as he is seated in and walks through his ridiculously sprawling mansion. We travel the arc of Murphy’s life, from his humble family and stand-up beginnings to “SNL” and a movie career filled with peaks and valleys. Along the way, comedic royalty — Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and Kevin Hart — drop by to genuflect as they describe Murphy’s singular role in the evolution of contemporary Black artistry and the American comic tradition.
For those who have only become familiar with Murphy in his later years and have wondered what all the fuss was about when he returned to “SNL” in an Emmy award-winning turn as a host in 2019, “Being Eddie” does a thorough job of describing the scale and range of Murphy’s achievements and the extent to which he dominated pop culture in the 80s. “Being Eddie” recounts Murphy’s genius for creating and inhabiting characters on “SNL” and in dozens of movies, and captures how unprecedented it was for a Black actor at that time (and since) to show up in a movie, thoroughly command each scene, and make complete
fools of all white people around him, as epitomized by the unforgettable bar scene in “48 Hours.”
“Being Eddie” also has some important things to say about how narrow the lane is for Black celebrityhood. At one point, the film comments on how Eddie Murphy was often publicly compared to and pitted against Richard Pryor, as if American popular imagination could only rationalize and withstand one breakout Black comedic talent at a time.
“Being Eddie” is so driven by Murphy’s present-day voice and perspective that you fully expect him to receive an executive producer nod when the credits roll. But unlike celebrity vanity projects like “Madonna: Truth or Dare,” Beyonce’s “Life is But a Dream” or the daringly self-disassembling “Aka Charlie Sheen,” “Being Eddie” rarely allows himself to be sufficiently inward-looking or vulnerable, even when discussing the death of his brother.
Murphy’s multiple romances, marriages, and divorces are vaguely referred to, but these personal relationships are never examined, much less detailed. He talks about how he has centered his family
in his life, but his children are reduced to B-roll fodder without names or backstories. Even when given a chance to reveal why and how he fell so hard off the public radar for a period of time in the aughts, Murphy offers a vague explanation and largely leaves it to the viewer to fill in the blanks. In the end, Murphy strikes pensive and reflective poses and awkwardly laughs at his own observations, but rarely exposes much of himself. And other than making some bad movie choices and cringeworthy music throughout his career, the flaws and neuro warps that are essential features of any brilliant mind are seldom acknowledged. Perhaps the most striking evidence that “Being Eddie” is a heavy redaction of Murphy’s life, and that his on-camera persona is largely self-engineered, appears when Murphy casually discusses how he made a conscious decision to change his laugh because he didn’t like how it was being used in the public realm. While it’s fair to say that his signature guffaw is easily caricatured — much like the tics he famously parodies in his own impressions of personalities like
Stevie Wonder or Bill Cosby — Murphy’s newest chortle is an unrecognizable affect, as if he underwent a botched personality transplant.
“Being Eddie” documents that Murphy is indeed one of the funniest men and character transformers to ever walk the planet, but that skill feels skin deep. Even Murphy at one point seems to admit that while he built routines around his genius for mimicry, he never developed a sophisticated comic and socially observant voice before he was swallowed up by movie stardom. His suggestion that the Academy never awarded him an Oscar because of political remarks he once made tends to overstate the subversive threat that he posed and his accomplishments as a dramatic actor. It would indeed be unfair to compare Murphy to Richard Pryor if not for the fact that Murphy made no secret of the fact that he studied and revered Pryor. They both eventually succumbed to film roles that were unworthy of their powers, but Murphy never fell victim to the self-loathing that led to Pryor’s slow roll to self-destruction. On
the other hand, Pryor recorded taboo-busting and socially insightful stand-up and sketch comedy in the seventies and eighties. He issued poignant commentary on race and masculinity in America throughout his career. He slyly championed the labor and civil rights movements in “Which Way is Up.” Like Bill Cosby before him and Dave Chappelle after, Pryor, in spite of deep personal shortcomings, was not just humorous; he was an emotionally intelligent and revelatory humorist. By the end of “Being Eddie,” you come to celebrate that Murphy is a Black man who entered the celebrity meat grinder right out of high school, side-stepped drug and alcohol abuse, pivoted to become a family-friendly brand, and emerged on the other end, intact, to tell the tale. God knows we can use more stories like that. But as Murphy is shown rattling around his mansion, browsing through old magazine clippings, and voicing shadow and hand puppets, you can’t help but sense his muted isolation. For what does it profit a comedian, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his comic soul?
Eddie Murphy in “Being Eddie” (Netflix photo)
Fragrance power: Exploring Azzaro’s “The Most Wanted” Collection
By MAGRIRA Special to AmNews
In exploring how leading fragrance houses are meeting the diverse needs of today’s scent lovers — men and women alike — I turned my attention to Azzaro, a brand long celebrated for its confident, contemporary approach to classic scent design.
The reason is clear: African American men are among the most powerful drivers of the U.S. fragrance market, accounting for more than 22% of all fragrance spending despite representing a smaller share of the population. Their deep appreciation for scent — expressed through hundreds of millions of dollars spent annually on colognes and signature blends — continues to set trends and shape the industry’s direction.
Equally influential are African American women, who often purchase colognes and luxury fragrances as meaningful gifts for husbands, partners, brothers, and sons. These expressions of love and pride, especially around holidays and special occasions, sustain the fragrance economy and encourage innovation in scent design.
At the same time, the boundaries of “men’s” and “women’s” fragrances are fading. More women are embracing the boldness and depth of colognes traditionally marketed to men — choosing spicy, woody, and amber-rich scents that convey sophistication, strength, and individuality. For many, a fragrance like Azzaro The Most Wanted becomes more than a scent; it’s an act of self-expression and empowerment, proving that truly great fragrance transcends gender.
Azzaro stands out as a timeless example of this evolution. Founded by Loris Azzaro, the house has built a legacy of crafting charismatic, unforgettable perfumes. Its celebrated “The Most Wanted” collection captures that spirit — engineered for those who refuse to go unnoticed. With its sleek, barrel-shaped black bottle and magnetic aroma, it embodies confidence, allure, and the art of leaving a lasting impression.
Azzaro The Most Wanted Eau de Parfum Intense is the ultimate fragrance for those who crave boldness mixed with refined sensuality. Its scent opens with a striking, spicy blast of cardamom — a note distilled in Guatemala known for its blend of spicy, green, balsamic, and even lemony facets. This first impression is powerful, luring you with an energetic, attention-commanding edge.
As the fragrance develops, a deeply satisfying note of caramel rises, conjuring warmth with its sweet, gourmand richness and adding a soft, delicious sensuality reminiscent of burnt sugar and vanilla.
Woody amber and bourbon vanilla in the base provide a commanding depth and anchor the fragrance, delivering complexity — soft yet strong, sweet but with a backbone of classic masculinity. The scent
is often described as both warm and spicy, with a clean freshness that keeps the sweetness from overwhelming the wearer.
Reviewers have compared it to other modern, sweet-spicy fragrances, sometimes drawing parallels to Dior Sauvage, though many believe The Most Wanted strikes a more unique and balanced profile. Performance is a highlight of this parfum: It projects boldly within the first hour and
clings to skin for 8 to 10 hours, easily making it through a long workday or late night out.
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Eau de Parfum Intense (Courtesy photo)
Celebrating 40 years of ‘La-Di-Da-Di’ — Slick Rick talks social justice, upcoming NJPAC show, and NYC in-store appearance
By JOHNNY KNOLLWOOD Special to the AmNews
Rapper and artist Slick Rick is slated to make appearances this month in both New Jersey and New York. The influential hip-hop pioneer, who released his latest album, “Victory,” in June, will perform at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ, as part of “Represent!” on November 20 before appearing at Rough Trade alongside collaborator Doug E. Fresh to celebrate 40 years of “La-Di-Da-Di,” one of the most sampled songs in the history of hip-hop, on November 25. Slick Rick rose to prominence in the emerging NYC hip-hop scene of the 1980s through his penchant for storytelling and a unique melodic approach at rapping that would go on to influence generations of artists including The Notorious B.I.G, Ice-T, and Snoop Dogg, who fa-
mously re-imagined “La-Di-DaDi” as “Lodi Dodi” and appeared alongside both Rick and Doug E.
Fresh at the Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary celebration at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 11, 2023.
“Hip-Hop is like a plant, it grows,” he told the AmNews in a phone interview ahead of
the events. On November 20 at NJPAC, Slick Rick will join other hip-hop mainstays including Chuck D of Public Enemy and Rakim alongside a host of poets and artists in a celebration of spoken word and its relationship to social justice. “Social justice is just an adult perception of reality,” Rick said. “When we interact with each other, what stirs us is a moral compass. So, we maintain our moral compass, and we add our gifts to the moral compass, so it enriches health, growth, and communication.”
Tickets for Represent! are available at njpac.org and there is a 20% discount for TD Bank cardholders that can be redeemed at njpac.org/td-bank-cardholder-perks/. Tickets for Slick Rick’s in-store signing appearance with Doug E. Fresh at Rough Trade can be found at dice.fm, and you can stay up to date with Slick Rick at slickrickisart.com.
Bad Brains bassist Darryl Jenifer talks new EP ahead of NYC show Nov. 21
By JOHNNY KNOLLWOOD Special to the AmNews
Darryl Jenifer, bassist for seminal punk outfit Bad Brains, is slated to release a new two-track, self-titled EP on Nov. 21 with celebrations at Manhattan’s Bowery Electric and a collaboration with Dark Matter Coffee, which will host an in-store event at their Adios Amigos location on the Lower East Side on the same day.
The Bad Brains revolutionized punk rock with the release of their 1982 debut album, often known as “The Yellow Tape,” which pioneered a unique brew of fast and loud hardcore punk with reggae and jazz fusion sensibilities. The sound mirrored the experience of four young, Black Rastafari men from Washington D.C. — bassist Jenifer, guitarist Dr. Know, and brothers Earl Hudson and H.R. — amidst the gritty backdrop of the emerging punk scene that revolved around CBGB’s in the Bowery. It was the Ramones meets Return to Forever meets Toots & the Maytals. The group is credited for expanding and evolving the sound of punk, and are early champions of representation, expressing themes of unity and resistance in the face of adversity.
Jenifer at Afropunk Fest, Jan. 30, 2017. (Reeder5bam photo/ commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Darryl_
The EP marks the first new solo output by Jenifer since his debut album, In Search of Black Judas, was released in 2010. The new EP features two tracks, “Sacred Love II” and “F.A.L.S.,” each with a different lineup of musicians. “My new music is simply a continuation of my journey in music. I was inspired to compose light positive joints during that time,” Jenifer told
the AmNews in an email interview ahead of the release. “I call it my ‘weather channel’ joints — you got yacht rock, I got weather channel.”
The two-track EP is indicative of more music from Jenifer on the horizon. “I was blessed to have Lenny White on a couple of my weather channel joints along with Jack DeJohnette, John Medeski, and Karl Berger. I have two albums coming
out in 2026, an EP-ish progressive punkcore album called Palm Beach with my band Palm Beach — with drummer Ariel Shafir, and Karma Marco Chogyi Lama (Richie Havens’ grandson) on guitar — and a full-length jazzish album called Weather Channel. The current 7” single is a combination of the two releases for [the] Dark Matter Coffee collab.”
The show at the Bowery Electric on Nov. 21, steps away from the Bad Brains mural and also close to the former site of CBGB’s, will feature openers Honeychild and The Biz (The 1865), alongside Jenifer’s Palm Beach, who perform on the EP’s second song.
Dark Matter Coffee has announced a special collaboration with Jenifer on Instagram, promoting the release with a limited edition 7” vinyl, Bad Brains coffee beans, and cans highlighting Jenifer’s original artwork. The company has also announced an in-store event at their Adios Amigos location, details TBA.
“I want people to witness the results of positive creative energy and a lifetime of dedication to positive creativity,” Jenifer explained to the AmNews. “My new project, Palm Beach, is the spearhead in the current war of good over Babylon. I came out of punk rock retirement to throw my musical spear at divisive negativity and modern day Nazi-minded demons.” For tickets to the Bowery Electric release party, visit theboweryelectric.com, stay up to date with Darryl Jenifer on Instagram, and stay posted about the Adios Amigos event at Dark Matter Coffee’s IG page at @ darkmattercoffee.
Slick Rick performing at Hip Hop 50 with Doug E. Fresh and Snoop Dogg at Yankee Stadium on August 11, 2023. (Johnny Knollwood photo)
Darryl
Jenifer.jpg)
James Moody Jazz Fest, Village Vanguard
Don’t sit around brooding — there are still a few dynamic days left before the James Moody Jazz Festival finale. As the cliché goes, they saved the best for last for the conclusion of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) program. Here are a few enticing highlights to put the glide in your stride.
Nat Adderley, Jr., longtime New Jersey resident, pianist, and composer, makes his way to Dorthaan’s Place Jazz Brunch at NICO Kitchen + Bar (Newark, NJ) on November 23. This will be his debut appearance as a jazz musician and bandleader. For four decades, Adderley was the creative force behind legendary R&B singer and multi-Grammy winner Luther Vandross, as his musical director, arranger, and co-writer of such hits as “Stop to Love” and “Give Me the Reason.”
Once he decided to follow jazz rhythms for life, Adderley took to the road over the last 10 years to hone his improvisational skills, leading trios and quartets in massive gigs, primarily in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area.
His diligent pursuit of jazz has delivered his debut album as a leader, appropriately entitled “Took So Long,” just released on NAJ, his own independent label. The album’s 11 tracks of 10 covers arranged by Nat and his original self-titled track put him directly in the limelight, highlighting his brilliance as an arranger and enthralling piano voice. He adds a spicy Latin flavor to “Old Devil Moon,” and his daughter Alana brings her radiant vocal reverence to Billie Holiday’s signature ballad “Don’t Explain.”
On “Took So Long,” Nat is surrounded by his familiar bandmates: bassist Chris Berger and drummers Tommy Campbell, Dwayne Cook Broadnax, and Vince Ector. “Since I’m still learning, I used different bands on the record to keep my ears open and help me feel fresh,” explained Adderley. “Since we basically played nothing but covers during our NYC/NJ gigs, I felt my first recording should follow that format. I’m still getting better — I’m playing and growing.” “Took So Long” can be streamed on Spotify. Nat joins the Adderley legacy in
the jazz tradition of his legendary father, cornetist and composer Nat, Sr., and his uncle, alto saxophonist and composer Julian “Cannonball” Adderley.
It’s only natural for Adderley to debut his jazz musicianship at Dorthaan’s Place. Dorthaan Kirk is an NEA Jazz Master, jazz mother, historian, and mentor to many in and out of the jazz community. It will be somewhat of the prodigal jazz son returning home in celebration. Two shows, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
As a blurry democracy struggles to retain its freedom under the rein of a want-to-be tyrant looking for adulation as a cruel, ignorant dictator, it is most applicable for the JM Jazz Festival to present revolutionaries “for Social Justice Through Spoken Word.” MCs and poets unite for a moving celebration of the spoken word as a catalyst for social justice, a call to action.
On November 20, MCs known for taking no mess will bum-rush NJPAC stage with riveting words of urgency. They will include Chuck D revolutionary poet, cultural griot, and frontman for Public Enemy; Rakim, “originator of flow”; producer, writer, and TikTok sensation Raina Somone,; the 2025 Nuyorican Slam Team with special guest Caridad de la Luz, executive director of the Nuyorican Café; and Tyehimba
Jess, poet and author of “Leadbelly” and the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Olio” among others.
On November 21, the fest con-
tinues with Philadelphia’s main son, bassist, composer, and multibandleader Christian McBride and his Big Band. They are fresh off the
success of their 2025 album “Without Further Ado,” Vol. 1. The 17piece ensemble features an inspired lineup of special guests, including Grammy-winning vocalist Andra Day (“Rise Up”) and José James, amd Ledisi returning with her signature blend of R&B and jazz.
For all tickets, visit njpac.org/ series/james-moody-jazz-festival/.
On November 25–30, the Village Vanguard will experience Jason Moran and the Bandwagon as they share their infinite source of imagination, improvisation, and daring spirit. For the last quarter-century, the trio has been acknowledged for their creative approach to jazz. The longstanding collaborative trio of pianist Moran, bassist Tarus Mateen, and drummer Nasheet Waits play outside the realm of jazz.
The trailblazing piano trio hasn’t recorded an album since their “Live Thanksgiving at the Village Vanguard” in 2017 (YES Records). Their engagement during the week of Thanksgiving has become a tradition over the years. We can be sure whatever they play this Thanksgiving, the headless turkey will jump up and gobble, gobble to innovative grooves from the origins of James Reese Europe to Fats Waller, to original compositions in the core of classical music, jazz, swing, and hip hop.
Jason Moran. (Photo via jasonmoran.com)
Nat Adderley Jr. (A.P. Johnson photo)
and discharged his personal firearm rather than a service weapon.
“I’ve met the family on more than one occasion,” said Speaker Adams to the AmNews “And it is my hope that the commissioner does the right thing by the family and that the family of Delrawn finally gets justice for this horrific murder that [took] place. This man should still be alive to enjoy his family and his child.”
Councilmember Christopher Marte also signed on and says the letter stands for accountability and a spotlight for “something that should have been resolved years ago.”
“We’re trying to make sure that he is no longer on the force,” said Marte in a Zoom call. “That it sets an example to future officers in that similar situation not [to] pull out a gun and shoot someone that’s innocent. How can I talk to my communities to say that they’re going to be safe and that they should call 911 — if they see something happening and that they’re going to be safe under any circumstance as police officers arriving to that scene — if they look at this one case and say, why [hasn’t] this individual received justice, and why hasn’t, more importantly, his family received justice?”
Marte boasts “full confidence” in the police accountability policy platform from incoming Mayor Mamdani, who announced retaining Tisch this week, but remains con-
cerned about the Wayne proceeding getting pushed “under the rug” during the lame-duck transition period. An NYPD spokesperson simply responded to the matter with “the disciplinary process remains ongoing.”
The Wayne case provides another police accountability test for Tisch who increased discipline for police misconduct investigated by the CCRB. Ironically, she drew ire from police accountability advocates earlier this year for ignoring and overriding another Maldonado recommendation on an officer-involved shooting: to fire Lt. Jonathan Rivera for killing Allan Feliz in 2019.
Small’s 2016 death came just days after two other high-profile police-involved killings of Black men, Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota. Davis and Small’s other siblings stepped up as their brother’s spokespeople since their mother was deceased. The community and other organizers rallied around them.
“I felt like it was magic,” said Davis. “They just showed up. This tragedy happened and when I heard it I [didn’t] know what to do. And then when I showed up, all these people were there. I always thought that it would be cool if people did things for other people and showed up in community for other people. I just didn’t know what that actually looked like [and] how it happened. And then we found out.”
Maternal health
Continued from page 3
is surgery — that’s their specialty, not necessarily birthing a baby.
Forrest recalled that in 2018, as many as 85 “high-risk” pregnant women, mostly Black and Caribbean, would show up daily looking for care and end up waiting long hours during her shifts at Kings County. The midwives available would attend to the “low-risk” pregnancies. Meanwhile, Woodhull seemingly had more midwives on staff. She explained that even a pre-existing condition, like high blood pressure or diabetes, can get a pregnancy labelled high-risk at an understaffed hospital, but a different hospital with more resources is able to attend to the patient’s health concerns and pregnancy more easily.
Above all, Adams hopes that the state, City Council, and the incoming mayor are able to work together to keep pushing for better maternal health outcomes and fully funding solutions next year. “What we need for the next mayor and Council to do has to be a pairing of affordability solutions with targeted investments. For example, sustained footing for doulas, midwives, and maternal mental health specialists; also strengthening safety net hospitals serving Black and Brown communities,” said Adams. “And again, I’m going to keep on hammering this, ensuring healthcare covers critical
tools, like those blood pressure monitors and other devices that can help women during pregnancy.”
Part of Mamdani’s plan to improve Black maternal health centers on providing new parents with baby baskets, which include free diapers, baby wipes, nursing and post-partum pads, swaddles, baby clothing, and early learning materials, to offset some of the enormous costs they face.
This is based on the success of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s pilot program launched back in 2022.
“When Black mothers are more than six times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, and we lose roughly 60 Black mothers each year — that is a public health crisis,” said Dora Pekec, Mamdani’s spokesperson in a statement.
“Mayor-elect Mamdani will work with the City Council to expand proven solutions, including providing free baby baskets to new parents, increasing access to doula care, and integrating midwifery models into maternal health settings.”
In addition to delivering on promises to parents, like universal childcare and more funding for public schools, Mamdani has vowed to expand the city’s newborn home visit programs. This would help coordinate postpartum care, integrate midwifery models of care into maternal healthcare settings, increase access to doula care, and ensure adequate services for non-Englishspeakers during and after pregnancy, according to his team.
Education
NYC school suspensions fall to lowest level since the pandemic, but stark disparities remain
By ALEX ZIMMERMAN Chalkbeat
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters
New York City schools handed out fewer suspensions last year, the lowest rate since the pandemic forced school buildings to shutter, according to new Education Department statistics.
Overall, schools issued 27,143 suspensions during the 2024-25 school year, down 2.1% from the year before.
The decline was driven by a big drop in superintendent suspensions, which run six days or more and are served at outside suspension sites. Students received those lengthier punishments nearly 5,600 times last school year, down from about 6,200 the year before — a 10% decline.
Principal suspensions, which last for five days or fewer and are typically served in school, were issued more than 21,500 times, only slightly higher than the year before. (The figures do not include charter schools.)
Lengthy suspensions have recently drawn increased scrutiny. Legal Services NYC, a public interest group, filed a lawsuit in May alleging the city uses an inappropriately low standard of proof in suspension hearings, violating the U.S. Constitution. (City officials have moved to dismiss the case.)
Schools have also routinely suspended students with disabilities for longer than legally allowed by federal law, a Chalkbeat investigation found.
It’s unclear what drove the decrease in lengthy punishments last school year. Schools typically must get approval from a central office administrator to issue a superintendent suspension.
“There haven’t been any clear policy changes,” said Rohini Singh, the director of the school justice project at Advocates for Children, which helps families to navigate the suspension process. “Certainly, we’re happy to see that the overall number of suspensions is decreasing.”
Still, Singh noted that troubling disparities persist.
About 39% of all suspensions were issued to Black students and a similar share went to students with disabilities, even as only 19% of the city’s public school students are Black and 22% have a disability. Latino students, who represent 42% of the student body, were suspended roughly in line with their share of
the population. White and Asian American students were far less likely to be suspended compared to their share of the population.
Children living in foster care were at least four times as likely to be suspended as their peers, an uptick from last year, according to an analysis from the group Advocates for Children, which has pushed for reforms to school discipline policies.
An Education Department spokesperson celebrated the decline, though did not directly address the disparities.
“We are proud that over the past year, we have decreased overall suspensions,” department spokesperson Jenna Lyle wrote in an email. “We are continuously working towards encouraging schools to address any issues in a positive, supportive, and less punitive manner where possible.”
Many — though not all — studies sug -
gest that suspensions hurt the suspended students academically. One study based on New York City found that removing students from their classrooms contributed to students passing fewer classes and increased their risk of dropping out.
After the pandemic, some observers feared suspensions might spike as concerns about student mental health and behavior grew. Others worried that Mayor Eric Adams’ tough-on-crime posture toward public safety could ripple into schools, though there have not been any major policy changes to the city’s discipline code under his watch.
His predecessor, Mayor Bill de Blasio, overhauled the code to reduce suspensions for minor infractions and cap most suspensions at 20 days. (Suspensions can still run for months or even an entire school year in some cases.)
Groups that oppose suspensions have
successfully pushed the city in recent years to invest in alternatives such as restorative justice, which can include peer mediation and other methods of talking through conflicts. Some educators have countered that suspensions are an important tool for maintaining a safe learning environment and the city has not done enough to support alternative approaches.
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has said little about how he would approach school discipline, though his campaign platform emphasized mental health support for students. Some advocates called on the incoming administration to boost funding for those programs and ensure long-term support for other mental health initiatives that have had to fight to maintain funding each year.
“We’re encouraged by a lot of what we’ve heard, but it still remains to be seen what’s going to happen,” Singh said.
Suspensions roared back after school buildings reopened in the wake of the pandemic. But they have since been on a steady decline.
(Monica Disare/Chalkbeat)
was unsuccessful but finished with almost 20,000 votes and 25% to Espaillat’s 59%,
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Family of Bronx woman who died in NYPD custody sues to find the truth
By EMMA DELAHANTY Special to the AmNews
The family of a Bronx woman who died in police custody does not believe the ruling of the city medical examiner regarding her death and insists she had no reason to die. Despite that ruling, they say they are determined to find the truth and have filed a $25 million lawsuit.
City medical examiners said in July that Saniyah Cheatham, 18, died when she hanged herself after being taken into custody in an assault case. She was found unresponsive on July 5 in the holding cell at the NYPD’s 41st precinct in the Bronx.
Cheatham’s family is adamant that she did not take her own life and suspects that police may have had something to do with her death — one of nine in NYPD custody this year..
“I don’t believe she killed herself,” Cheathman’s mother, Thomasina, told WNBC. “Maybe she said something they didn’t like, they roughed her up. I don’t believe my daughter committed suicide.”
Cheatham, a Bronx Community College student, was smiling and happy just the day before at a July 4 cookout at Crotona Park. “She was happy and I was happy to see her,” said Thomasina. However, she got into a fight with her girlfriend, which led to their arrests.
The family said police told them that she used a sweater to hang herself in the holding cell, but they said she was not wearing a sweater that day.
In the lawsuit, filed in October, attorney David B. Rankin filed paperwork claiming the city is “vicariously responsible” for Cheatham’s death. “Ms. Cheatham is dead as a direct result of NYPD officers’ actions and omissions,” it said, according to the Bronx Times.
“Officers knew she was in mental health distress and threatening suicide, yet they failed to follow required safety protocols and failed to intervene, even though she was visible on surveillance video” family attorney Benjamin Crump said in a statement. “No mother should be left in the dark after her child dies in police custody. We demand full transparency and accountability for this grieving family.”
While the number of custody deaths is lower than last year, the Department of Investigations has launched an investigation. However, since the NYPD is normally in charge of the fatalities, the reports have remained unclear.
Due to a recent string of deaths in police custody, community groups rallied outside City Hall in September to get a 10-point plan in motion to address the problem. In the plan, the Bronx Defenders, a public de-
fender organization, wants the NYPD to recognize the “crisis” of custody deaths, stop low-level arrests, have a City Council inspection, and more.
“The people and communities we serve have long raised concerns about the dangerous conditions inside NYPD custody, yet
the City has failed to respond. Each death is a preventable tragedy, and we urge immediate action on this 10-point plan to help ensure that no more lives are lost,” said Tina Luongo, chief attorney in the Criminal Defense Practice at the Legal Aid Society, in a statement.
Judge upholds charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver after incident at Newark ICE facility
By EMMA DELAHANTY
Special to the AmNews
A federal judge has ruled that New Jersey Rep. LaMonica Mclver’s assault cases stemming from an incident earlier this year at a Newark immigration facility that resulted in the arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka will proceed.
The charges against McIver of assaulting a federal agent at Delany Hall will stand despite her prior attempts to have the charges dismissed, because U.S. District Court Judge Jamel K. Semper wrote in a 41-page ruling that she is not the victim of selective prosecution.
McIver was accused of grabbing federal agents as they arrested Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark. The scene was caught on different cameras by witnesses and agents.
“The charges against me are purely political — they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight,” Mclver wrote in a statement in May after being charged.
McIver, who represents New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, which includes Newark, was at Delaney Hall to inspect the
facility when federal agents were in the process of arresting Baraka. When she went to the jail’s parking lot, a number of others were there protesting the arrest. Federal prosecutors claim that she attempted to interfere with the arrest.
Her attorneys say she was simply emphasizing her oversight of the facility, which was in her district, but Semper balked at that, saying McIver toured the jail after Baraka was arrested, according to the New Jersey Monitor.
Baraka was arrested that day on trespassing charges, but was released after a few hours and is currently suing the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, claiming false arrest.
McIver tried to file a motion to dismiss under two rationales. First, she believed the Trump administration engaged in selective prosecution. Second, she argued that she was protected under the Debate Clause, which doesn’t allow prosecuting members of Congress.
After a court hearing, Mclver said, “It’s clear why this is happening. It’s because I
was doing my job and I will continue to do so. I’m not going to stop holding this administration accountable.”
Mclver’s attorneys also pointed to January 6, 2021, rioters as an example of a similar situation, where defendants were treated
more sympathetically by the administration, the New Jersey Globe reported. Semper disagreed with the claim and stated that the rioters were in a completely different situation than Mclver and cannot be compared.
Saniyah Cheatham. (Facebookphoto)
Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., speaks to press after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested while protesting at Delaney Hall ICE detention prison in May 2025. (Angelina Katsanis/AP)
Side,” continued Lange. “And then it’s also the Black electorate — staunchly anti-Trump. Those three coalitions really came together … and that is, I would say, not only the heart of the Mamdani coalition, but also the heart of the Democratic Party.”
In the 2025 June primary, Mamdani dominated in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and parts of Queens. Taking criticism to heart, he campaigned in Black and Latino communities harder as the Democratic nominee over the summer. He won over many supporters who had initially backed Cuomo or Adams out of the gate, as well as working-class immigrant neighborhoods that had “swung dramatically for Trump” during the presidential election in 2024, said Lange.
In census areas of the Five Boroughs with predominantly Black voters for the general election, Mamdani won big. These individual neighborhoods showed significant support for him.
• South Jamaica, Hollis, Baisley Park, St. Albans, Springfield Gardens, Laurelton, Brookville, Rosedale, Cambria Heights, Far Rockaway, Edgemere, Somerville, Arverne, and parts of Holliswood, Queens Village, Lefrak City, Queensbridge, and East
Elmhurst in Queens.
• Bedford-Stuyvesant, Ocean Hill, Crown Heights, Brownsville, East New York, New Lots, East Flatbush, Starrett City, Canarsie, Flatlands, Flatbush, Wingate, and parts of East Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Gowanus, Red Hook, and Coney Island in Brooklyn.
• Wakefield, Eastchester, Edenwald, Williamsbridge, Olinville, Baychester, Parkchester, parts of Co-op City, Fordham, Belmont, Mount Hope, Morris Heights, Tremont, Claremont, Castle Hill, Soundview, Crotona Park, Concourse, Highbridge, Morrisania, Mott Haven, and Melrose in the Bronx.
• East Harlem, Washington Heights, Morningside Heights, Hamilton Heights, Sugar Hill, Central Harlem, and West Harlem in Manhattan.
• Mariner’s Harbor and Arlington, Port Richmond, West Brighton, St. George, Tompkinsville, and Stapleton on the North Shore.
Solutions That Empower
Continued from page 8
Black homeowners,” said Sabrina Bazile, CNYCN’s senior program manager. “If we don’t protect, if we don’t have these programs, like free estate planning and reaching out to Black homeowners … we’re at risk of continuing to see the loss of more Black people out of New York, as we’ve been seeing over the past 20 years.”
What are the options?
When it comes to will-making, one size doesn’t fit all. Many of the legal experts the AmNews contacted suggested that the best way to get started with the process is to find a licensed New York attorney through the state, city, or county bar associations.
“There are bar associations that have pro bono programs. It’s very possible that through one of those, they might be able to get assistance with putting together a basic set of plan documents,” said Mindy Stern, a partner at the Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas (SSRGA) law firm.
If a person isn’t interested in getting a lawyer and wants to fill out and file the necessary forms themselves online using a free website like RocketLawyer.com, it can be done. However, legal experts advise that online wills have some serious downsides if not thoroughly done to the letter of the state law. They strongly suggest signing the will in front of two informed witnesses who can attest to a person’s mental state, and to
include a “residuary clause” or a catch-all statement in case anything is missed. People don’t always follow through and make sure that signing the documents is in accordance with the state law with an online will, resulting in issues during probate.
“There’s nothing terribly wrong that I’ve seen or abhorrent about an online will,” said Lee. “[However], they’re not custom and so I think the problem is you don’t know what you don’t know. If you have a weird quirk about your family, you’re not getting a lawyer to advise you on how best to deal with that.”
“In my opinion, it’s pennywise and poundfoolish not to make sure that it’s being done with a licensed New York attorney who can make sure all of that happens,” said Stern.
Another good option is to open a living trust or a revocable trust. A will is technically not “a legally enforceable document that anybody can do anything with” until it’s admitted to probate in court and the executor is appointed. A revocable trust can name a successor trustee with all the assets already sorted, skipping court altogether.
“That is something that we do recommend more and more to clients — that they consider doing because it avoids the time and expense and delay of probate,” said Stern.
Lastly, there is an option to rely on a Transfer on Death Deed (TODD), which allows a homeowner to “record a deed” while alive, under the state Real Proper-
Areas with predominantly Hispanic voters had some overlap but were mostly concentrated in neighborhoods such as:
• Sunset Park, Williamsburg, Bushwick, Cypress Hills, and Highland Park in Brooklyn.
• Arlington, Port Richmond, Tompkinsville, and Stapleton on SI.
• The Lower East Side, Upper West Side, Manhattanville, East Harlem, Inwood, Marble Hill, and Washington Heights in Manhattan.
• Woodhaven, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Kew Gardens, Ridgewood, Jackson Heights, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, and parts of Sunnyside, and Astoria in Queens.
• Mott Haven, Hunts Point, Melrose, Longwood, Concourse, Highbridge, Morrisania, Mount Hope, Mount Eden, Morris Heights, Tremont, East Tremont, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Bedford Park, Norwood, Belmont, Soundview, Bruckner, Castle Hill, Clason Point, Morris Park, Pelham
ty Actions and Proceedings Law (RPAPL) or 993 Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, and the Heirs Property Protection and Deed Theft Prevention Act of 2024. “The private bar hates these so much. They call these the ‘poor man’s will,’ which I think is offensive,” said Lee.
CNYCN’s General Counsel K. Scott Kohanowski worked on getting the legislation passed in a state budget bill last year to address the prevalent issue of deed theft in Black and Brown communities. TODD anticipates potential deed theft and makes it more difficult for scammers to fraudulently transfer a property. It also makes it easier to track and invalidate fraudulent documents, and it can bypass probate in court, allowing for a quicker transfer to the designated beneficiary.
Legal experts advised that putting a property owner’s children or a trusted person on the deed as joint owner(s) also would help with the process. They also suggest that people look into advanced planning to designate a healthcare proxy, create a living will, and name a trusted person as power of attorney who can make decisions, pay bills, and access
Parkway, Van Nest, Allerton, Woodlawn, and Olinville in the Bronx.
Among predominantly Asian voters in Staten Island, southern Brooklyn, lower Manhattan, and northern Queens, Cuomo did very well. However, Mamdani did get Asian voters in Chinatown in Manhattan, Castle Hill in the Bronx, Sunset Park and Kensington in Brooklyn; in his state assembly district (36) of Long Island City, as well as Woodside, Jamaica, and Richmond Hill in Queens.
As the city’s first Muslim mayor, Mamdani naturally won the vast majority of Muslim voters in the general election. About 90% of Muslim voters supported Mamdani, said the AP Voter Poll, although they make up about 4% of the city’s overall eligible voters.
Many of these Muslim New Yorkers live in neighborhoods like Parkchester, Norwood, and Westchester in the Bronx; Graniteville, Arlington, and Park Hill on Staten Island; Kensington, Ditmas Park, Bay Ridge, Bath and Brighton Beach, East New York, and a small part of Bed-Stuy. The majority are located in Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Jamaica, Briarwood, South Jamaica, Jamaica Hills, Holliswood, Queens Village, Bellerose, Glen Oaks, Fresh Meadows, Sunnyside, Queensbridge, Elmhurst, Woodside, and Jackson Heights in Queens.
bank accounts in case of an emergency. “I think most people have the misperception that estate planning is for older adults or for the very wealthy. We have to change the narrative. Estate planning should begin as early as age 18. Your plan can grow and evolve as you get older and your financial situation matures,” said Walker.
The NYC Bar Association can be reached at 917-818-4684 from Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. EST. Para español, llame al 212-626-7374 ($35 initial consultation fee).
If you are interested in advice about setting up a will, call Legal Aid Society’s Access to Benefits (A2B) Helpline at 888663-6880 from Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., or call CNYCN’s homeowner hub at 646-786-0888.
The New York State Unified Court System has information about the legal process and free forms for when someone dies at NYCourts.gov/CourtHelp/whensomeonedies. Other advance planning forms for a living will, a healthcare proxy, and naming a legal guardian when a person no longer has capacity can be found at these links.
(Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)
Religion & Spirituality
Clergy in Philly are using their POWER to help the working class
By REV. DOROTHY S. BOULWARE Word in Black
Like many big cities, Philadelphia is facing a housing affordability crisis. With property taxes rising, especially in Black and working-class neighborhoods, the basic life principle — work hard and earn a livable wage to pay for safe, affordable, quality housing — has not come to fruition for many Philadelphians.
But a group of clergy and activists believes the problem stems from moral failure, not simple economics. They point to a $2.8 billion tax cut that city leaders want to give to Philadelphia businesses as Exhibit A. And they are taking their argument to the public.
For an entire week, more than… churches in Philadelphia have held multiple, high-profile press conferences, urging city leaders to keep the Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT), one of the key sourc-
es of revenue being phased out. Getting rid of the tax, they say, will drain the city’s coffers, make housing even less affordable, and force it to balance its budget on the backs of working-class and poor residents.
Tax Challenged in Court
Faith leaders say a moral city budget prioritizes people, not corporations. Every tax dollar given away to Big Business, they say, is one less dollar for housing, schools, and the social safety net that low-income households depend on.
“When you take that much money out of the equation, it has to come from somewhere else,” said An Tran, a Germantown resident and member of POWER Interfaith at their November 10 rally. “And we know where ‘somewhere else’ usually means in Philadelphia — it’s the poor, the working people, the Black and brown families already hanging on by a thread.”
But city leaders, including Mayor Che-
relle Parker, are worried they may not prevail in a lawsuit that challenges the tax break as unconstitutional. The Massachusetts-based medical device manufacturer Zoll Medical Corp., which does business in Philadelphia, sued to have the tax repealed.
Based on calculations by the Pennsylvania Policy Center, cutting BIRT, along with other business taxes, will cost the city an estimated $2.8 billion over 12 years. The removal of significant dollars from the city budget will force residents to shoulder a larger share of the burden.
‘Tax Breaks to Corporations’
In a statement, Rev. Dr. Gregory Edwards, executive director of POWER Interfaith, compared the city’s “unconscionable” tax cut proposal to families and children going hungry during the recent federal government shutdown.
As people suffer, “our city leaders are
handing out tax breaks to corporations,” he said. “Philadelphia City Council is accelerating a crisis that’s already pushing poor and working people to the brink. We need them to act now — not for big business, but for the families that struggle to survive.”
“This is a man-made, fabricated crisis,” he said.
Rev. Dr. Sharon Sobukwe, associate pastor for social justice at Salt and Light Church in Philadelphia, said a POWER Interfaith survey found that 30% of respondents struggle to pay property taxes or monthly rent. Those who can pay find they are using a disproportionate percentage of their total monthly income. With more than 4,700 members, POWER Interfaith is the state’s largest multiracial, multifaith, multigenerational organization. Their mission is to fight for racial and economic justice, a healthy planet, and a stronger democracy.
Another Name
being neglected by the government. In practice, the theory provided the NYPD justification for aggressive policing that disproportionately targeted Black neighborhoods, turning minor infractions, like jaywalking, littering, and fare-dodging, into criminal offenses. Policy and prejudice worked together to devastate lives then, and their effects continue to impact Black and Brown communities now.
The consequences are deadly clear. On Sept. 8, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that ICE agents may use race and language as proxies for citizenship to stop, question, and detain a person based on their own judgment. This decision sets a precedent at the state level by legalizing racial profiling at the federal level, an unsettling similarity to the slave patrols’ mandate, and Arizona’s SB1070, the notorious “Show Me Your Papers” law, gave local police the same power to target Black and Brown bodies under suspicion alone. Now, at the federal level, racial profiling is sanctioned, legalized, and normalized, granting the state authority to hunt, harass, and criminalize communities of color under the guise of public safety.
In New York, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams had reimplemented stop-andfrisk allowing police officers to pat down anyone suspected of being armed and dangerous. The revival stands in stark contrast to 2013, when Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled New York City’s stopand-frisk practices unconstitutional for their reliance on racial profiling.
This machinery of racial control is now being fortified. Facing a recruitment crisis like the U.S. military, ICE has begun lowering standards to expand its force. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently announced the agency will waive age limits for new applicants.
“We are ENDING the age cap for ICE law enforcement,” she declared, urging “qualified candidates” to apply with no restriction. This resembles the broader military trend of loosening requirements, offering financial incentives, and expanding waivers to meet enlistment quotas. Rather than confronting the deeper issues like public distrust in the government, moral conflicts about serving oppressive systems, and the targeting of minoritized and poor communities, the government instead chooses to expand its enforcement arms by any means necessary.
Slave catchers historically coerced enslaved and free Black people to hunt runaways, using threats, incentives, and the very logic of survival to perpetuate slavery. ICE mirrors that centuriesold system, recruiting Black and Brown agents to police their own communities, turning them into weapons to enforce deportations, raids, detentions,
and racial order against people already marked as “other.” Both slave hunters and ICE disproportionately target racialized communities. By using Black and Brown people in enforcement roles, the state hides systemic oppression in plain sight while perpetuating fear, control, and monitoring the very communities it exploits. Slave patrols criminalized Blackness; ICE criminalizes racialized migration — both enforce rigid hierarchies under the guise of “law and order.”
The Trump administration and ICE echo the confederates of the Jim Crow South, reviving the same logic that once defended slavery, detaining and deporting immigrants, citizens, and undocumented people alike, simply because of the color of their skin. On Sept. 30, 2025, federal agents from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE conducted a pre-dawn raid on an apartment in a predominantly Black Chicago neighborhood. The operation, part of Operation Midway Blitz, resulted in the arrest of 37 people, including children, the majority of whom were U.S. citizens. These raids are not about public safety; they are about control, intimidation, and domination over all non-white people in service to purging America of color.
Yet, resistance persists. Across the country, a network of volunteers and organizations like a modern-day Underground Railroad rises in defiance of the Trump Administration and ICE’s raids, living in the legacy of those who guided enslaved people to freedom. Lawyers, organizers, and churches provide sanctuary, safe passage, and protection, moving quietly to shield families from the trauma of detention and deportation. Every act of care is resistance, demonstrating that love, courage, and community can foster freedom even under oppression.
As the philosopher George Santayana warned, “Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.”
This nation was built on Black backs, yet Black Americans still are stalked, hunted, and killed — denied the freedom promised in the Emancipation Proclamation, the Reconstruction Amendments, and every policy that swore life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as their human and constitutional right. We are asked to maintain hope and be grateful for progress, but it’s difficult to imagine when Black and Brown people are commodified, dehumanized, and treated as disposable.
From mass incarceration to mass deportation, ICE raids, police surveillance, and detention centers are nothing but modern “slave patrols,” proof that “Making America White Again” is business as usual.
Rashaad Thomas is a writer, poet, and U.S. Air Force Veteran whose writing has appeared in AZ Mirror, AZCentral, Zócalo Public Square - ASU, Sojourners, and in poetry journals, including The Columbia Review and Hayden’s Ferry Review.
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In
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Plaintiff ‑against‑ CAROL M. KAGANOV INDI VIDUALLY AND AS TRUSTEE OF THE KAGANOV FAMILY REVOCABLE TRUST OF OCT 16, 2002 AS AMENDED AND RESTATED DEC 18, 2007, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 3, 2025, 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 December 17, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. prem ises 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 0.00986400000% common interest percentage. This is a foreclosure on own ership 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 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as re corded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37. Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019
Approximate amount of lien $13,878.65 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850077/2024. CLARK WHITSETT, ESQ., Ref eree
DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590
DLG# 39637 {* AMSTERDAM*}
Lumina Next LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/1/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 228 Park Ave S #286218 , New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Hunting Ridge Capital LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 6/23/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 144 E 24th Street. APT 1A, New York, NY 10010. Purpose: Any lawful act.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ JEFFREY L. BROWNELL, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 3, 2025, 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 December 10, 2025 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 owner ship interest as tenant‑in‑com mon with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the build ing located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an appurtenant undivided .015838% common interest per centage. This is a foreclosure on ownership interest in a time share unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Decla ration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37. Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019
Approximate amount of lien $16,215.93 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850230/2023.
JEFFREY MILLER, ESQ., Ref eree
DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff
242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590
DLG# 39147 {* AMSTERDAM*}
Valura LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/7/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 2825 Snyder Ave, Apt 4B, Brooklyn, NY 11226. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Courtney Lemon Curd LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/07/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 303 E 37th St 5F, New York, NY 10016. Purpose: Any lawful act.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ ZORAN DJUMIC, DINA DJUMIC, BISERKA PLEVKO DUMIC, et al Defendant(s). Pur suant to a Judgment of Foreclo sure and Sale dated September 3, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auc tion in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on December 10, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhat tan, 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 is a foreclosure on ownership inter est in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declara tions. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37.
Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019
Approximate amount of lien $25,032.17 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 850328/2023. SOFIA BALILE, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 DLG# 39177 {* AMSTERDAM*}
Wing & Root Management Consulting LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/01/25. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 50 Park Terrace E Apt 4L, New York, NY 10034. Purpose: Any lawful act.
American Insight Operations LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 9/10/2025. Office location: 45 Rockefeller Plaza Floor 20 New York New York 10111 County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: American Insight Operations 45 Rockefeller Plaza Floor 20, New York New York 10111 Purpose: Any lawful act.
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., Plaintiff -against- MARINERS GATE, LLC, et al. Defendants. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 10, 2025 and entered on October 27, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 252 at the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York on December 17, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., the premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, known and designated as Block 699 and Lot 5 on the New York County Tax Assessment Map. A more complete description of premises is attached to the Judgment. Said premises known as 547553 WEST 27TH STREET, New York, NY, 10001. Approximate amount of lien $40,906,865.06 plus interest & attorney’s fees as provided in the Judgment. Premises will be sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and the Terms of Sale to be read at the auction. Index Number: 850355/2024. CLARK WHITSETT, ESQ., Referee MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP
Counsel for Plaintiff 250 W. 55th Street, New York, NY 10019
O'Rielly & Roche LLP Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 8/27/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 1330 Ave. Of The Americas, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10019 Purpose: Any lawful act.
Ka Ming Gordon Ngai, MD PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/04/2025. Office location: Manhattan County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 333 W 56th St, 2B, New York, NY 10019. Purpose: Any lawful act.
NEUTRALSMATTER LLC
Limited Liability Company Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/01/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 301 WEST 110TH STREET, Ste 6U, New York, NY 10026 Purpose: Any lawful act.
Canaan Farms Entertainment LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/27/2016. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: P.O. Box 322086, New York, NY 10032. Purpose: Any lawful act.
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE VERUS SECURITIZATION TRUST 2019-INV3, Plaintiff, vs. JOSEPH QUASHIE, ET AL., Defendant (s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 21, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007, on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM, premises known as 255 E 49TH ST, 16F, NEW YORK CITY, NY 10017. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County, and State of New York, Block: 1323, Lot: 1080 together with an undivided .0035010123000% interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $572,847.96 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 850060/2023. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee's attorney, or the Referee.
SOFIA BALILE, Esq., Referee Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff
Bonds Pilates, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on October 10, 2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 370 E 79th Street Apt C909, New York, NY 10021. Purpose: Any lawful act.
CAXBYTE STUDIOS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/15/2025. Office location: New York County County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 1171 2nd Ave, Apt 3S, New York, NY 10065. Purpose: Any lawful act.
NOTICE OF SALE
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE TRUST 2016-C34, COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2016C34, BY AND THROUGH ITS SPECIAL SERVICER, LNR PARTNERS, LLC, Plaintiff v. 153 ELIZABETH STREET, LLC, 153 ELIZABETH HOTEL LLC, 30 KENMARE MASTER, LLC, EDMOND LI, ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE CITY OF NEW YORK, and PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Defendants, Index No. 850275/2021. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision and Order on Motion dated August 8, 2024, which was duly entered in the above-entitled action and filed in the Office of the New York County Clerk on August 12, 2024 and December 26, 2024, as amended by the Decision & Order on Motion dated September 24, 2024, which was duly entered in the above-entitled action and filed in the Office of the New York County Clerk on September 26, 2024 (the “Judgment”), I the undersigned Referee in said Judgment named, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at Room 130 of the Courthouse, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, New York, the premises directed by said Judgment to be sold. The premises will be offered for sale, as one parcel, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. The premises therein described are located at 153 Elizabeth Street, New York, New York 10023, also known as Block 479, Lot 29 on the Tax Map for the County of New York, together with the buildings, improvements, fixtures, machinery, equipment, personalty and other rights or interests of any kind or nature located thereon, and more particularly described in the Judgment.
The premises will be sold subject to the provisions of the filed Judgment, Index No. 850275/2021, and the Terms of Sale , all of which are available from plaintiff’s counsel upon request.
The approximate amount of the Judgment, for the property referred to therein, is $35,312,720.52, plus interest and costs, as provided in the Judgment. The successful bidder will be required to deposit 10% of the bid by certified or official bank check, unendorsed, made payable to the Referee.
Scott H. Siller , Esq., Referee ( 516) 644-6769
Herrick, Feinstein LLP, Attorneys for Plaintiff, Two Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016, (212) 592-1461, Attention: Scott T. Tross, Esq.
SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. THE MURRAY HILL TER RACE CONDOMINIUM, BY ITS BOARD OF MANAGERS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ NICHOLAS M. CORITSIDIS, et al Defen dant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated July 25, 2025 and entered on October 6, 2025, I, the under signed Referee will sell at public auction in Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, in the Build ing designated and described as Unit No. 12F in the Building known as "The Murray Hill Ter race Condominium" together with an undivided 0.684% per cent interest in the common elements. Block: 917 Lot: 1076 Said premises known as 201 EAST 36TH STREET, UNIT 12F, NEW YORK, NY
Approximate amount of lien $67,486.72 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 159055/2024. ALLISON FURMAN, ESQ., Ref eree Schwartz Sladkus Reich Green berg Atlas LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 444 Madison Ave., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022
{* AMSTERDAM*}
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ CHARLES SANIDA, et al De fendant(s). Pursuant to a Judg ment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 12, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Court house, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on December 3, 2025 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 owner ship interest as tenant‑in‑com mon with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the build ing located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an appurtenant undivid ed 0.01972800000% common interest percentage. This is a foreclosure on ownership inter est in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declara tions. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37. Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019
SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. NYCTL 1998‑2 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs ‑against‑ JACOB & JERRY INVESTMENTS LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein on July 15, 2025, I, the undersigned Ref eree will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on De cember 10, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and be ing in the Borough of Manhat tan, County of New York, City and State of New York, known and designated as Block 1905 and Lot 158 on the New York County Tax Assessment Map. Said premises known as 160 WEST 121ST STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10027
Approximate amount of lien $83,731.15 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 157503/2018.
THOMAS KLEINBERGER, ESQ., Referee Phillips Lytle LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs 100 S. Clinton Avenue, Suite 2900, Rochester, NY 14604
{* AMSTERDAM*}
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 57TH. ST VACATION OWNERS ASSOICATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ CHARLES STANLEY LEE, DEBORAH SHIRLEY LEE, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 3, 2025, 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 December 17, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. prem ises 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 .015171% common interest percentage. This is a foreclosure on ownership inter est in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declara tions. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37.
Notice of Application to Establish a Branch of a State Member Bank Metropolitan Commercial Bank, New York, NY intends to apply to the Federal Reserve Board for permission to establish a branch at 180 Lakeview Avenue, Suite 1220, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. The Federal Reserveconsiders a number of factors in deciding whether to approve the application including the record of performance of applicant banks in helping to meet local credit needs. You are invited to submit comments in writing on this application to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Attention: Bank Applications Officer, 33 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10045, or via email: comments. applications@ny.frb.org. The comment period will not end before December 08, 2025. The Board's procedures for processing applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. Part 262. Procedures for processing protested applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. 262.25 If you need more information about how to submit your comments on community affairs aspects of the application or to obtain copies of relevant procedures contact Mr. David Erickson, Community Affairs, (212) 720-6141; other questions, including those relating to general procedures, should be directed to Mr. Keith Goodwin, Head of Bank Applications, Bank Applications, (212) 7205885. The Federal Reserve will consider your comments and any request for a public meeting or formal hearing on the application if they are received in writing by the Reserve Bank on or before the last day of the comment period.
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , NYCTL 1998-2 Trust, The Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian for the NYCTL 19982 Trust , Plaintiff, vs . East 115th Street Associates , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion dated June 26, 2025 and duly entered on August 27, 2025 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on December 10, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 75 East 115th Street, New York, NY 10029. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 1621 and Lot 32. Approximate amount of judgment is $450,870.47 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #651512/2017.
MARION D. BROOKS JR. (BUTTON)
MARION D. BROOKS, JR “BUTTONS”, 72, DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2025, AT ST, FRANCIS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, MEMPHIS, TN.
MARION WAS BORN TO MARION AND PEARLENA BROOKS ON MAY 26, 1953, IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. HE GREW UP IN HARLEM, N.Y. AND WAS A GRADUATE OF SPAULDING HIGH SCHOOL IN LAMAR, S.C. MARION ATTENDED LEES–MCRAE COLLEGE, BANNER ELK, NC, AND E. TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY, JOHNSON CITY, TN, GRADUATING IN 1978. HE WAS A FAITHFUL MEMBER OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY.
HE WAS EMPLOYED WITH RIKERS ISLAND CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, AS A PROGRAM SPECIALIST IN EAST ELMHURST, NY, WHERE HE RETIRED AFTER 37 YEARS. AFTER RETIREMENT, MARION MOVED TO ATOKA, TN. MARION REMAINED ACTIVE WITH HIS FRATERNITY AND KING SOLOMON MASONIC LODGE. HE ENJOYED HUNTING, FISHING, COLLECTING CLASSIC CARS AND WORKING WITH THE YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY.
MARION IS LOVINGLY REMEMBERED BY HIS DEVOTED WIFE OF 45 YEARS, MONICA HEMP–BROOKS; SON, MARION D. BROOKS III, OF QUEENS, NY; DAUGHTER, JENNIFER RUSSO; GRANDCHILDREN, MAXWELL AND PHOENIX RUSSO, ALL OF SACRAMENTO, CA; SISTER–IN–LAW, MARGARET HEMP–HARDEN OF PLANO, TX, AND ADRIAN HEMP, JR. OF MASON, TN A HOST OF AUNTS, UNCLES, NIECES, NEPHEWS, COUSINS, FRIENDS, AND HIS BELOVED DOG, TANK — ALL OF WHOM LOVED HIM DEARLY.
HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS PARENTS, MARION AND PEARLENA BROOKS, SISTER, MARY E. TOXEY, AND HIS BROTHER, BOBBY D. BROOKS.
SOLLEVARE MONARCH LLC.
Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/05/25. 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, 445 Park Avenue, Floor 7, New York, NY 10022. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Approximate amount of lien $22,613.73 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 850184/2023.
SOFIA BALILE, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590
DLG# 39295
{* AMSTERDAM*}
Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019
Approximate amount of lien $21,690.45 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850270/2023. ALLISON M. FURMAN, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP
PLLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590
DLG# 39168
{* AMSTERDAM*}
Lorraine Coyle, Esq., Referee Bronster, LLP, 156 West 56th Street, Suite 703, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff
101 E 9 DEVELOPER LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/16/25. 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, c/o Peraino Malinowski LLP, 152 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF RESIDENTIAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES TRUST II,
-against-
NORTHWARD ESTATES LLC, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York on September 29, 2025 , wherein WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF RESIDENTIAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES TRUST II is the Plaintiff and NORTHWARD ESTATES LLC , ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the THE ROTUNDA OF THE CIVIL SUPREME COURTHOUSE 60 CENTRE STREET, , NEW YORK, NY 10007, on 12/10/2025 at 2:15PM, premises known as 2573 FREDERICK DOUGLASS BLVD, UNIT A , NEW YORK , New York 10030 ; and the following tax map identification, -2041-1119 . THE UNIT KNOWN AS UNIT A, LOCATED IN ST. CHARLES CONDOMINIUM IV, BEING IN THE COUNTY, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 850647/2023 . Paul R Sklar , Esq. - Referee . Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 , Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.
M/WBE bids sought for 917 Home Street Bronx NY construction project. A scope meeting will be held on November 26. Contact bidding@taxaceny. com for details
M/WBE bids sought for 217 Bedford Park Boulevard Bronx, NY construction project. A scope meeting will be held on November 24. Contact bidding@taxaceny.com for details
SUMMONS Index No. 850218/2025 STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT – COUNTY OF NEW YORK SPECTRUM MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, LLC, Plaintiff, -vs- THE HEIRS AT LARGE OF MARY THOMPKINS, deceased, and all persons who are spouses, widows, grantees, mortgagees, lienors, heirs, devisees, distributees, successors in interest of such of them as may be dead, and their husbands and wives, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors of interest of all of whom and whose names and places are unknown to Plaintiff; CHARLENE THOMPKINS; SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS LLC; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; THE CITY OF NEW YORK, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT; Defendants. Mortgaged Premises: 233 EAST 115TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10029 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S): YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. Your failure to appear or answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you, unless the Defendant obtained a bankruptcy discharge and such other or further relief as may be just and equitable. 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 to 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 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. NEW YORK County is designated as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the location of the mortgaged premises. Dated: September 30, 2024 Mark K. Broyles, Esq. FEIN SUCH & CRANE, LLP
Attorneys for Plaintiff Office and P.O. Address 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800 Rochester, New York 14614 Telephone No. (585) 232-7400 Block: 1665 Lot: 16 NATURE AND OBJECT OF ACTION The object of the above action is to foreclose a mortgage held by the Plaintiff recorded in the County of NEW YORK, State of New York as
(585) 232-7400 Block: 1665 Lot: 16 NATURE AND OBJECT OF ACTION
The object of the above action is to foreclose a mortgage held by the Plaintiff recorded in the County of NEW YORK, State of New York as more particularly described in the Complaint herein. TO THE DEFENDANT, the plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action. To the above named defendants: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of HON. Francis A. Kahn, III Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated October 22, 2025 and filed along with the supporting papers in the NEW YORK County Clerk’s Office. This is an action to foreclose a Mortgage. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land together with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York Mortgaged Premises: 233 EAST 115TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10029 Tax Map/ Parcel ID No.: Block: 1665 Lot: 16 of the BOROUGH of NEW YORK, NY 10029 87886
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , Loan Funder LLC, Series 31312 , Plaintiff, vs . 236 West One Enterprises Inc. , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on September 17, 2024 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on December 17, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 236 West 136th Street, New York, NY 10030. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, Block 1941 and Lot 49. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,541,954.90 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850683/2023. Clark Whitsett, Esq., Referee McCarter & English, LLP, 250 W 55th Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee for the Registered Holders of Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc., Multifamily Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2017-SB34 , Plaintiff, vs . RH 532 West 159 Street LP , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on June 3, 2025 , 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 December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 532 West 159th Street, New York, NY 10032. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, Block 2117 and Lot 20. Approximate amount of judgment is $3,174,348.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850547/2023. Christy M. Demelfi, Esq., Referee McCarter & English, LLP, 250 W 55th Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , Loancore Capital Credit Reit LLC , Plaintiff, vs . CF 1 Whitehall LLC , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 9, 2025 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 1 Whitehall Street, New York, NY 10004. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 10 and Lot 23. Approximate amount of judgment is $80,000,000.00 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850394/2024.
Gregory Thomas Cerchione, Esq., Referee
McCarter & English, LLP, 250 W 55th Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK 21ST MORTGAGE CORPORATION AS MASTER SERVICER FOR CHRISTIANA TRUST, A DIVISION OF WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB AS TRUSTEE FOR KNOXVILLE 2012 TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST JIN HUA LIN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 19, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse in Room 130, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on December 17, 2025 at 2:15 PM, premises known as 44-46 Market Street, Unit 10A, New York, NY 10002. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, Block 274, Lot 1216. Approximate amount of judgment $831,930.17 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850085/2018. Clark Whitsett, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-002279 87701
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT. NEW YORK COUNTY. WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOLDERS OF CD 2019-CD8 MORTGAGE TRUST COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2019-CD8, Pltf. vs. 63 SPRING LAFAYETTE, LLC, et al Deft. Index# 850042/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered April 23, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. prem. k/a 63 Spring Street, New York, NY a/k/a Block 496, Lot 34. Approximate amount of judgment is $28,125,967.56 plus cost and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. ELAINE SHAY, Referee. BALLARD SPAHR LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 1675 Broadway, 19 Floor, New York, NY. #102567
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK
JG FUNDING CORP., Plaintiff -against- 1363 FIRST OWNER LLC; et al., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale dated October 4, 2024 and entered on October 15, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 at the portico of the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., the premises known as 1363 1ST AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10021; Block 1448, Lot 24 and 453 E 83RD STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10028; Block 1563, Lot 121 as more fully described in the complaint and Judgment. Approximate amount of lien $7,490,500.00 plus interest and costs
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 850430/2023
ELAINE SHAY, ESQ., Referee MENASHE AND LAPA LLP, ATTORNEY(S) FOR PLAINTIFF
400 RELLA BLVD., SUITE 190, SUFFERN, NY 10901
DATED: October 30, 2025
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK, U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST, PLAINTIFF, VS. MOSHE RAHIMI, ET AL., DEFENDANT(S).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order On Motion entered on February 15, 2024 and a Decision + Order on Motion entered on September 5, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 635 West 42nd Street, Unit 15J a/k/a 627635 West 42nd Street, Unit 15J, New York, NY 10036. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 1090 and Lot 1351 together with an undivided 0.12612 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $570,028.95 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850111/2020. Paul R. Sklar, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 201235-1
Notice of Qualification of 22ND STREET 9DE LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/29/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/28/25. 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 19608. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of DE, Corps. Divs., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Plaintiff, vs. Steve Vassi, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on January 15, 2025 and a Decision + Order on Motion duly entered September 5, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 520 East 81st Street, Apt 2M, New York, NY 10028. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 1577 and Lot 1024 together with an undivided 0.433094 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $663,856.43 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #810060/2012. Elaine Shay, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 254207-1
Notice of Qualification of 408 BWAY REALTY MEMBER, LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/30/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/21/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to United American Land, LLC, 73 Spring St., 6th Fl., NY, NY 10012. 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 Qualification of 419 MM MEMBER, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/30/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/21/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to United American Land, LLC, 73 Spring St., 6th Fl., NY, NY 10012. 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 Qualification of PEARL CARE 12, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/12/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/03/25. Princ. office of LLC: 220 5th Ave., 17th 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 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK. BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE 130 WEST 30TH STREET CONDOMINIUM, SUING ON BEHALF OF THE UNIT OWNERS, Plaintiff -against- DAVID M. SIMON a/k/a DAVID SIMON; LISA D. GOODMAN a/k/a LISA GOODMAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated December 3, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan and County of New York, City and State of New York, known as Residential Unit No. 16A in the building known as 130 West 30th Street Condominium located at 130 West 30th Street together with an undivided 2.241% interest in the Common Elements. Block: 805 Lot: 1043
Said premises known 130 West 30th Street, Unit 16A, New York, NY 10001. situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan and County of New York, City and State of New York, known as Storage Unit No. 11 in the building known as 130 West 30th Street Condominium located at 130 West 30th Street together with an undivided 0.079% interest in the common elements. Block: 805 Lot: 1060
Said premises known as 130 WEST 30TH STREET, STORAGE UNIT NO. 11, NEW YORK, NY 10001
Approximate amount of lien $113,708.03 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850614/2023. ROBERTA E. ASHKIN, ESQ., Referee
Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 444 Madison Ave., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022 {* AMSTERDAM*}
Notice of Qualification of ARRAS LIHTC OWNER, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/24/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o 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 ARRAS OWNER, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/24/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o 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 FORMATION OF JOSEPH C. DANILCZYK, ESQ. PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/23/2025. Office Location New York County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. Post Office address to which SSNY shall mail copy of any process against PLLC served is: JOSEPH C. DANILCZYK, ESQ. PLLC 43 W 43rd Street, Suite 236 New York, NY, 10036, USA. Principal business address of JOSEPH C. DANILCZYK, ESQ. PLLC is 43 W 43rd Street, Suite 236, New York, NY 10036 USA. Dissolution date: PERPETUAL. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.
Notice of Qualification of MOTEK FLATIRON LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/21/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Florida (FL) on 04/01/25. Princ. office of LLC: 2895 Collins Ave., Ste. B, Miami Beach, FL 33140. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. Cert. of Form. filed with Cord Byrd, State of FL at Tallahassee, the Capital, 500 South Brough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of TANAKA NYC LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/13/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/10/25. Princ. office of LLC: 428 Greenwich St., NY, NY 10013. 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 Secy. of State of DE, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of WEQUONNOC VILLAGE PRESERVATION, L.P.
Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/25. 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 12/31/2125. 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 Formation of SQUIRE VILLAGE PRESERVATION, L.P.
Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/07/25. 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 12/31/2125. 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 Qualification of HANAOLIVIA LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/15/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Florida (FL) on 04/28/25. Princ. office and FL addr. of LLC is: 2895 Collins Ave., Ste. B, Miami Beach, FL 33140. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. Cert. of Form. filed with Cord Byrd, State of FL at Tallahassee, the Capital, 500 South Brough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399. Purpose: Adminstrative entity.
Notice of Qualification of HEED HEALTH LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/13/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/20/20. Princ. office of LLC: 52 Wooster St., Ste. 2, 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 princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: Resident Agents Inc., 8 The Green, Ste. R, Dover, DE 19901. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, P.O. Box 898, Dover, DE 19903. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of HMG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/14/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/12/25. 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 of DE, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company ("LLC").
Name: Rangel PACT JV, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State ofthe State ofNew York (SSNY) on August 29, 2025. N.Y. office location: New York County. The SSNY has been designated as agent ofthe LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to Rangel PACT JV, LLC, c/o Genesis Companies, 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, New York, New York 10151.
Purpose/character ofLLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.
Notice of Qualification of MT 35HY HOTEL LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/25/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/17/25. 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 Qualification of MT 35HY LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/25/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/17/25. 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 WEQUONNOC VILLAGE PRESERVATION GP, LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/25. 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 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of JOSEPHINE TOWERS PRESERVATION GP, LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/25. 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 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF HEATHER STEPANEK PLLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/16/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy to 165 Broadway, FL 23, New York, NY 10006. The principal business address of the PLLC is 165 Broadway, FL 23, New York, NY 10006. Purpose: the practice of law.
Notice of Formation of VISUALIZING HERBALISM, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/14/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: Attn: Lillian Luu, 222 Riverside Dr., 3F, NY, NY 10025. 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 Formation of JOSEPHINE TOWERS PRESERVATION, L.P.
Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/25. 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 12/31/2125. 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 formation of 3DR Entertainment LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/19/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to James Kuhn: 125 Park Avenue, New York NY, 10017. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of formation of PIERRE AMOUR LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/20/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to PIERRE AMOUR LLC: 200 W 20th street, #212, New York NY 10011. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of 1313 SIGN COMPANY LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/16/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 450 Seventh Ave., 45th Fl., NY, NY 11418. 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 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of LITTLE EGG PRODUCTIONS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/23/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 321 President St., Apt. 3, Brooklyn, NY 11231. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Rose Gendelman at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of ASBURY PARK PRESERVATION GP, LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/07/25. 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 the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of formation of Endo Exo Studio LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/24/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to United States Corporation Agents, Inc.: 7014 13th avenue, suite 202, brooklyn, ny, 11218. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of formation of Bluestone Mani LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC. : 7014 13th Avenue Suite 202 Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of formation of Dolce Cultural LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/30/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Daniel Cooperman: 214 W 82nd Street 5B, New York, NY 10024. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
ABINGTON VILLAGE LLC. App. for Auth. filed with the SSNY on 10/24/25. Originally filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on 10/22/25. 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, c/o Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler, Nahins & Goidel, P.C., 377 Broadway. New York, NY 10013. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of formation of Inclusynth Consulting Group LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/24/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Christopher Schmidt: cschmidt@ inclusynth.com. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of ASBURY PARK DEVELOPER, LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/07/25. 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 the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of formation of Papilio Strategies LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 9/12/25. Office located in NY County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC at 7 Park Ave #116, NY NY 10016. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of PATRICIA LANE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/07/25. 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 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of formation of Wellbeeings LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/18/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to United States Corporation Agents, Inc.: 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of formation of Stahl Solutions LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/10/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Harry Stahl: 88 Lexington Avenue, Apt 804. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION of Derventio UW LLC. App. for Auth. filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/06/25. LLC formed in California on 01/31/24. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 33 Raven Rd. San Anselmo, CA 94960. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of MELISSA STANGER LCSW, PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/23/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 5 East 16th St., 6th Fl., NY, NY 10003. Purpose: Licensed clinical social work.
Brooklyn Point 47 LLC filed Arts. of Org. with the Sect'y of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/2/2025. Office: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: The Ke Song Revocable Trust, 369 Lexington Ave, #3114, NY, NY 10017. Purpose: any lawful act.
J AND J WARRIOR LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/27/25. 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, 872 Madison Avenue, #2A, New York, NY 10021. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
THE Y3 COLLECTIVE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/01/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 188 LUDLOW STREET, APT. 20J, NEW YORK, NY, 10002, USA. Purpose: Any lawful act.
DANIEL SOULAS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/14/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 11 CONCORD COURT, WARREN NJ, 07059. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Notice of formation of Five Iron Golf Shaker Heights LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/14/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Jared Solomon: 883 Avenue of the Americas, FL 3, NYC, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of TCB JV MEMBER LLC
1 • February 20, 2025 - February 26, 2025
101 LEGAL NOTICES
Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #NA-0340-25103028 for beer, wine & liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine & liquor at retail in a restaurant under the ABC Law at 994 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10025 for on-premises consumption; Limone LLC
Notice of Formation of ThrillHouse LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/14/25. 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 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE is hereby given that a license, number NA-0370-24135212 for liquor, wine, beer & cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor, wine, beer & cider at retail in a bar/tavern under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 4371 3rd Ave; Bronx, NY 10457 in Bronx County for on premises consumption. Zion Restaurant and Lounge Corp d/b/a Zion Restaurant and Lounge
NH PROPERTY SERVICES
LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/16/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 28 W 38TH STREET, SUITE 8W, NEW YORK, NY, 10018. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/13/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 1411 Broadway, 34th Fl., NY, NY 10018. 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 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Solny
Continued from page 2
told the AmNews
M/WBE bids sought for 354 194th Street Bronx, NY construction project. A scope meeting will be held on November 25 Contact bidding@taxaceny. com for details
THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
101 LEGAL NOTICES
195 HELP WANTED 195 HELP WANTED 101 LEGAL NOTICES
Notice of formation of Luxe Contracting Group LLC . Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/21/25. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Luxe Contracting Group LLC: 25 Joseph St Manalapan NJ, 07726. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Qualification of AP CREDIT SOLUTIONS HOLDINGS (AIV) II, L.P. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/08/25. Office location: NY County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/26/24. Princ. office of LP: Attn: General Counsel, 9 W. 57th St., 43rd Fl., NY, NY 10019. Duration of LP is Perpetual. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the Partnership at the princ. office of the LP. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of LP filed with The Secy. of State of the State of DE, Dept. of State, Div. of Corps., John Townsend Bldg., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Occupational Therapist Priority Care Staffing. Full time. Bronx. 75,712/year (36.4/ hour) Evaluate patients’ conditions; Develop and implement treatment plans; Demonstrate exercises to help relieve patients’ pain; Evaluate results and progress of occupational therapy on patients; Educate caregivers and family members of clients on patient care. usotjobs@prioritycarestaffing. com.
She was one of the few people able to enter the courtroom. Although the court case was scheduled to start after 2:30 p.m., Solny’s victims and supporters arrived at 1 p.m. to secure seats. So many people arrived for the hearing that more than 20 court officers came out to block the hallway outside the courtroom, citing overcrowding. They told people who wanted to be present for the court’s decision to wait on the 17th floor or outside, in front of the courthouse building.
ity clarified that more waiting areas were available. “I said, ‘You’re telling me I can’t come in? You have all these police for this when this is a public event, a public courtroom. Why are you telling people they can’t come in?’ And then they said, ‘Oh, no, you can come into the waiting area.’”
sociation of Realtors survey found that 92% of real estate agents were aware of title or deed theft in the Northeast, making it the region most affected by this type of crime.
In New York City, more than 3,000 deed thefts were reported between 2014 and 2019; 45% of those complaints were in Brooklyn’s gentrifying neighborhoods.
Adams indictment
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Solny’s victims were not permitted to deliver impact statements during the court proceedings. Instead, if they had their statements written down, the Brooklyn district attorney’s office was allowed to read them into the record.
Simpler Eats LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/03/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 200 Rector Pl, 26H, New York, New York, 10280. Purpose: Any lawful act.
M/WBE bids sought for 179 Amboy Street Brooklyn NY construction project. A scope meeting will be held on November 26 . Contact bidding@taxaceny.com for details
M/WBE bids sought for 1143 Hoe Ave Bronx NY construction project. A scope meeting will be held on November 25 Contact bidding@taxaceny.com for details
“They first told me I had to go somewhere else, and then I went live and started filming,” noted Imani Henry, founder and lead organizer of the police accountability, anti-gentrification, and antidisplacement organization Equality for Flatbush (E4F). Henry was told he could go to another floor or wait for the decision downstairs, but after he started filming, he said someone in author-
When Solny made his own statement to the court, he did not apologize to his victims. He thanked all his supporters who showed up, and thanked his wife, friends, and the rabbis who came, but did not mention the impact he had on his victims.
The broader crisis: Deed theft in Brooklyn E4F’s Henry explained that the fraud Solny committed is in line with what many Black and Brown homeowners in New York City are experiencing. A 2025 National As-
As many neighborhoods in the Five Boroughs gentrify, developers often harass local homeowners who frequently don’t know how to respond. Organizations like E4F and the People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft have mobilized to support victims, raise awareness, and demand accountability from city officials and law enforcement.
“We’ve been working with homeowners dealing with deed fraud, theft, and adjacent public property destruction since 2016,” Henry said. “Mainly Black homeowners, and frankly, Black and Brown women homeowners, [although] white homeowners, too, have had predatory developers buy property next to them and
then do everything possible to destroy the infrastructure. The developer comes and paints one side of your brownstone black; puts in a handrail without permission; hoists debris, toilets, and bathtubs in front of your property; and more. We’ve seen developers do everything—from terrorizing children to bringing a county sheriff to your door, saying, ‘You need to sell to this person.’ We’ve had to develop a list of predatory lawyers because, again, many lawyers, particularly those representing homeowners, are the ones helping deliver properties to developers.”
One of the first things every homeowner needs to know is whom not to turn to for help. E4F’s list of predatory lawyers labels attorneys who tenants, homeowners, small business owners, and even other attorneys claim are untrustworthy and more likely to profit from their clients’ loss of property.
The organization asks homeowners who need help to contact them via email at b4g@equalityforflatbush.org or by phone at 646-820-6039.
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have caused poles and other infrastructure to be significantly damaged and, frankly, we have to now reroute some of our facilities and redesign to facilitate restoration. The good news is, we’re making progress. Our strategy is to first restore critical services like hospitals, water pumps and town centers in these key economic zones,” he said.
The slow restoration for Jeff and Patrice Nephew, residents of Malvern, St. Elizabeth, means being without electricity and connectivity while living in a damaged home they try to rebuild.
“Our alarm doesn’t always go off at 6 a.m. because it’s
Fundraising
Continued from page 15
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, meanwhile, has launched the “Brooklyn Backs Jamaica” resource drive in partnership
on the phone and the battery might be dead on any particular morning,” said Patrice.
“Sometimes we have no idea what time it is as neither of our phones are charged.”
“Getting the telephone charged is another highlight of the day, as we rely on people with a backup generator for charging,” said Patrice.
The local public community library is solar-powered so the community can charge their devices there.
The Nephews, like many Jamaicans, are small-business owners. Patrice is an event planner and Jeff, a farmer.
“I am unable to follow up with clients, and sometimes if I miss a phone call or if I’m not able to respond
with the Consulate General of Jamaica and several local officials. The drive, which runs until November 26, will collect essential items such as diapers, hygiene products, first-aid supplies, and gloves, with collection hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
to an email it means I miss out on business,” explains Patrice. Her husband lost all his crops that were supposed to be harvested for sale by December.
“I had even planted some seedlings a couple days before the hurricane, hoping that because they were smaller, the wind wouldn’t damage them but then they got waterlogged because of the amount of rain that the hurricane brought,” Jeff shared.
“Our nutrition and eating habits are different as we don’t have the use of a refrigerator,” explains Patrice, “if we decide to eat chicken, we have to consume all of it rather than being able to refrigerate a portion.”
The emotional and mental toll of the storm is often underreported. Many will talk about their experiences with others, and that helps but the lack of connectivity isolates many people.
“Some days I don’t want to talk about it, and some days I want to vent,” Patrice shared. “Even the sound of rain or the sight of heavy clouds signaling pending rainfall is triggering.”
The Nephews currently sleep in the one dry room that they have left after the hurricane destroyed their home, living out of boxes and plastic containers. The stagnant water after the storm means an abundance of mosquitoes, and a lack of electricity impacts their wellbeing.
Monday through Friday, at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness also established the Support Jamaica Recovery Portal (supportjamaica.gov.jm), an official government relief platform designed
to coordinate donations, track pledges, and oversee recovery efforts. The portal also allows users in Jamaica to report emergencies and locate shelters. It also has a list of recommended donations and verified relief organizations.
From the Bronx to the national tournament with Monroe Express volleyball
By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews
The women’s volleyball team from Monroe University-Bronx wrapped up its season last week at the NJCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball National Tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Coach Odaly Aponte-Orta described the competition as a great experience for the players.
“They get to see the best teams in the nation, and they’re part of that, which is amazing to watch,” said Aponte-Orta, who set the goal of making the national tournament at the start of the season. “The team was able to push through the whole season and make it here.”
Recruiting is not easy, but Aponte-Orta finds local players as well as kids from Puerto Rico and international players who see the chance to develop their games and get exposure for future opportunities. Building a winning culture takes “creating that competitive passion for volleyball,” she said.
Sophomore setter/libero Julia Ramos is the team captain. She said competing at the national tournament enabled her to see
the high level of competition. Although Monroe is a four-year institution, the Express compete in the National Junior College Ath-
letic Association, so Ramos hopes to continue playing at a school with a four-year program.
“Ever since we went into pre-
season, our goal was obviously nationals,” said Ramos. “Every time we walked into practice, it was hard work, dedication. We
came and we played our best each practice, each game we played and always knew we had to push no matter the outcome.”
Monroe lost its two matches in Iowa but kept the competition close. Freshman libero Brycelynn Paul said that pushing herself and her teammates to this level was an experience in hard work and determination.
“To get here, all of our hard work paid off,” said Paul. “I was able to take a deep breath and smile at the competition around us. To be able to play and have people watch us on ESPN live (streaming), my parents loved that. I loved being with my teammates here.”
Paul plans to stay at Monroe until she completes her bachelor’s degree and expects her competitive volleyball days will end after the 2026 season. “I am a criminal justice major with a double minor in psychology and paralegal studies,” she said. “I plan to go to law school, so full focus on my studies and the LSAT.”
Recruiting for next season begins next week. The returning players get a break and then return for spring training.
Hofstra volleyball heads into the CAA tournament with the top seed
By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews
Always a competitive team, Hofstra University volleyball is having an outstanding season. At 21–3 overall and 13–3 in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play, the Pride earned the number one seed in the CAA tournament that starts today in Towson, Maryland. Hofstra has not qualified for the NCAA tournament since 2018, and head coach Emily Mansur said the goal is to win the conference championship and return to the highest level of competition for Division I women’s volleyball.
“Definitely, a great season; they worked super hard together,” said Mansur, now in her 12th season as head coach. “Now we’ve got to go be great this weekend so we can finish in a great way.”
A special group of seniors have been strong leaders. Izadora Stedile leads the team in kills.
beautiful and amazing, Mansur noted. Volleyball is a fall sport, which means the fall semester is packed with practice and matches. The season’s first match took place before the first day of the semester. Everyone must remain locked in during the packed schedule.
“It’s practice management and being smart,” said Mansur. “We’ll do our best as a coaching staff and as the medical staff with our trainer, but I think it’s the open communication between our older players and the younger ones. A lot of times, as coaches, we can say something, but they don’t believe it at first until they experience it by having it come from a fellow teammate. It’s definitely a much bigger impact.”
Clara Bal, Mairi Hadjipetrou, and Emily Nunes are also contributors. “They want to make this happen very badly, and they have been leading the group,” said Mansur. “They know that’s their last shot. The seniors are the driving force behind us having this special season.”
an impact. Nina Jioshvili-Ravva leads the team in assists and aces and Julia Amorim leads in blocks.
Junior Nil Kayaalp leads in digs.
player, and she has made an immediate impact. She was out for a week with an injury, but she’s back,” said Mansur.
A couple of freshmen also made
“Julia is a phenomenal defensive
Having a first-round bye is
The top seed earned Hofstra a bye from the quarter-final round of the CAA tournament. Tomorrow they will face the winner of today’s quarter-final match between Charleston and North Carolina A&T. Hofstra is not the only New York team in the CAA tournament. Stony Brook takes on Towson in the second quarter-final today.
The Monroe Express women’s volleyball team shares a moment of team spirit on their Bronx home court.
(Photo courtesy of Monroe Express Athletics)
The Hofstra University women’s volleyball team is 21-3 heading into the CAA tournament which starts today. (Hofstra Athletics photo)
The HBCU Harlem Renaissance Classic returns to Manhattan University this Saturday
By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor
Marching bands, Divine Nine step performances, and boundless Black culture are central to the social fabric of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Yet, uplifting academics is the foundation of the collective HBCU institution.
Bridging Structural Holes, Inc., led by its founder and CEO, Darryl Roberts, continues to expose youth and adults alike to the rich history and opportunities of HBCUs, which have produced some of the world’s great thinkers and scholars. Since its inception in 2020, the Harlem-based nonprofit has endeavored to connect marginalized groups to critically important educational and socio-economic resources while staunchly advocating for and supporting HBCUs.
One of the vehicles by which Roberts, a native and lifelong resident of Harlem, has accomplished this goal is the Harlem Renaissance Classic. This Saturday at Manhattan University, lo-
cated in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, the event will be held for the fifth time, with the annual centerpiece being two basketball
games at Draddy Gymnasium featuring HBCUs. At 1:00 p.m., the Bowie State University Bulldogs will face the
Saint Michael’s College Knights, and at 3:30 p.m., the 2024 CIAA men’s champion Lincoln University Lions will take on the Queens
College Knights. Tickets are $15 per attendee, and free parking will be available on Manhattan College Parkway. Proceeds from the Classic will be allocated to the Academic Enrichment, Youth Sports, and Cultural Programming of Bridging Structural Holes, Inc. The games will stream on HarlemRenaissanceClassicLive.com. Presentations on the legacies of HBCUs, information on applying to HBCUs, financial assistance, and mental health awareness will be among the interactive activities of the day, which begin at 11 a.m. Roberts has noted, “Athletics have long been deeply rooted in the Black community and Black culture. Basketball has been a source of providing free education to a multitude of young men and women through scholarships who might otherwise not have been able to afford higher education.”
“It is also a pathway to success in many careers inside and outside of sports,” Roberts, a Lincoln University alumnus, expanded. “So we see it as a means for potentially creating generational achievement.”
Nick Harvey is a champion in the making for Columbia’s fencing team
By TYRESE ALLEYNE-DAVIS Special to the AmNews
At the core of Nick Harvey’s philosophical approach to the sport of fencing is something he learned from his father: “My dad emphasized the importance of being at tournaments to fence for myself, not to impress college coaches or to make my coaches proud. That allowed me to perform my best and know that I was fencing because I truly loved it.”
A senior and captain of the Columbia University fencing team, Harvey has been competing nationally in sabre since he was 15. Sabre is reactive, like rock-paper-scissors, with fencers only able to score from the waist up. At 15, he entered the top 20 for the 17U division.
Harvey’s development was shaped in part by the Nellya Fencers Club, his fencing club in Atlanta, Georgia, which he described as a great training environment with teammates his age always trying to be better. One of them, Colby Harley, even joined him at Columbia, so they are still pushing each other.
As Harvey’s senior year of high
school approached, he had to decide where he wanted to pursue collegiate fencing. He considered several top programs, including Harvard University and the University of Notre Dame, before committing to the latter. However, he decommitted in the fall of 2021 after deep introspection, viewing Columbia as a more favorable environment to achieve his fencing goals and placing him in New York City among some of the best Black fencers in the world, specifically those nurtured at the Peter Westbrook Foundation.
A major influence on Harvey’s journey has been his longstanding relationship with former Columbia fencing head coach Akhnaten (Akhi) Spencer-El, who joined the Lions as sabre coach in 2013.
Spencer-El is a U.S. national sabre champion, former No. 1-ranked Junior Sabre fencer, and 2000 Olympian who later coached the United States at major international events. Harvey has known Spencer-El since he was in middle school, with their bond steadily growing over the years as the coach has pushed him towards reaching his vast potential.
“I’ve known Akhi since I was
around 13 and when I expressed interest in Columbia he advocated for me during my recruiting process,” said Harvey. “At Columbia, he supported me wherever I was at with my relationship with fencing, whether I was trying for a national team or simply trying to win bouts for Columbia.”
The College Park, Georgia, native’s rise in the sport included earning third place at the May 2021 Olympic Qualifier in Richmond, Virginia, and another third-place finish at the January 2020 20U Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Harvey’s journey has come with valuable lessons. He often thinks back to his sophomore year of high school, right after he did not make the 2020 world team. He was alone in Dourdan, France, and it was the first time he had given his all for something and still fallen short — a defining moment for Harvey’s growth.
As he leads the Columbia University men’s fencing team into this season, Harvey is striving to win the Ivy League championship team title, bring home a national title, and qualify for the national championships.
Columbia University saber fencer Nick Harvey at the 2024 Columbia University invitational against Johns Hopkins University.
(Nick Harvey photo)
The Lincoln University Lions will be one of four teams taking part in the HBCU-themed Harlem Renaissance Classic at Manhattan University this Saturday. (Lincoln University Athletics photo)
Islam Makhachev becomes a UFC double champion with victory over Jack Della Maddalena
By DERREL JOHNSON
Special to the AmNews
Twelve days after Zohran Mamdani became the first Muslim ever elected as the mayor of New York City, a man named Islam became the 11th double champion in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history. Following a defense of his lightweight championship in January, Islam Makhachev moved up from 155 pounds to 170 and defeated Jack Della Maddalena to capture the UFC welterweight title in his first match at the new weight in a dominant performance at UFC 322 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
All three judges scored the fight 50-45. The same result as the AmNews’ unofficial card. The victory was Makhachev’s 16th in a row, tying him with MMA legend Anderson Silva for the most consecutive wins in UFC history.
In a matchup between two of the most accomplished women in MMA history, Valentina Shevchenko was victorious in defending her UFC flyweight title against Zhang Weili, who vacated her UFC strawweight belt. Overall, the event
marked another successful staging for the UFC, one of the most flourishing and lucrative ventures in all of sports. The company will begin a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount in 2026 to stream its combat competitions.
The AmNews asked UFC presi-
dent and CEO Dana White to reflect on the company’s time with ESPN as the two part ways after a sevenyear partnership.
“I look at the path that we’ve taken to get here, we started on Spike TV, from there we went to Fox, then we went to ESPN, and now we have this
Paramount deal,” he said.
“It’s almost…been the perfect trajectory and I say it all the time, I had a little bit of a rocky start with ESPN in a couple of different departments, but we ended up having an incredible relationship with them and we have a lot of respect for ESPN and all
the people that work there, and I appreciate everything they did for this company over the last seven years.”
In boxing, on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) will defend his WBC light heavyweight title against Anthony Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) in the main event. Also on the stacked card, Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KOs) will take on WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. (27-3, 24 KOs), WBC junior bantamweight champion Jesse Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs) will battle the WBA’s bantamweight title holder Fernando Martinez (18-0, 9 KOs), and British and Commonwealth lightweight title holder Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs) will face Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs for the vacant WBO Lightweight Title.
The first weekend in December will see Isaac Cruz take on WBA super featherweight strap holder Lamont Roach for the interim WBC super lightweight title at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, in the main event. In the co-main event, WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara will step in the ring against WBO and IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly.
“Reggae Girlz,” chronicling the Jamaican women’s soccer team, premieres in NYC
By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews
The documentary film “Reggae Girlz,” which premiered last week at DOC NYC, is uplifting, inspiring, and emotional. It is also a blunt, unvarnished look at gender inequity in sports. Focusing on the Jamaican women’s national football (soccer) team that not only qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia, but won a match, held powerhouse Brazil to 0–0, and advanced to the round of 16, the film shows a team that impressed the world despite being “neglected, underfunded, and ignored.”
After qualifying for the World Cup in 2019, the first Caribbean women’s team to do so, the team caught the attention of filmmakers. Producer Laura Smith got the ball rolling in connecting with the players. Directors Trish Dalton and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy joined in 2020. There were many Zoom conversations in which respect and trust were built. The project picked up steam when, in 2022, the team qualified for the 2023 World Cup, the first Caribbe-
an team to qualify for two consecutive World Cups. Red Bull Studios stepped up to fund the film.
“We wanted to follow their
journey and thought it would be a good story,” said Dalton. “We connected with the players and were very much interested in, not
only in telling the story of women who were making a historical feat, but working with such little resources and still managing to
reach such a high level of competition.”
Cedella Marley, daughter of the late reggae icon Bob Marley, and the Bob Marley Foundation provided support to the team when the Jamaican Football Federation did not. Dalton said Marley’s passionate involvement showed women supporting women. As the film progressed, Marley was also involved in the film’s soundtrack, which is also being released.
Some of the players on the 24person World Cup squad came from the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom, but were willing to accept the challenging conditions. “The love of Jamaica, the love of the team, the camaraderie, and representing Jamaica had a deeper meaning,” said Dalton.
“We really felt [that] if the audience could meet these players, see them and learn about them…they would be interested to watch more women’s sports,” said Dalton. “To show that they’re amazing players, really interesting to watch, and they’re part of a broader circle. … We hope it reaches as wide an audience as possible.”
Jamaican World Cup players Tiffany Cameron (l) and Cheyna Matthews with Reggae Girlz coach Lorne Donaldson. (Reggae Girlz photo)
Islam Makhachev takes Jack Della Maddalena down at UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden. (Photo courtesy of the UFC)
The Knicks try to maintain consistency with Brunson and Anunoby healing injuries
By JAIME C. HARRIS
AmNews Sports Editor
Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges stand up!
Now is the time for the power forward and guard-small forward respectively to show why the Knicks have made steep investments in them.
With starting point guard Jalen Brunson listed as questionable yesterday morning ahead of last night’s road game versus the Dallas Mavericks with a Grade 1 right ankle sprain and starting power forward OG Anunoby possibly out for two weeks with a left hamstring, Towns and Bridges must be force multipliers driving wins.
Brunson injured his ankle in a 124-107 defeat at Madison Square Garden on November 12 to the Magic and Anunoby hurt his hamstring last Friday at MSG — two days after Brunson went down — in a 140-132 victory over the Miami Heat.
“It’s about the next man up, and
who that next man is going to be,” said Knicks head coach Mike Brown following the win. “Knowing that we’re going to have some highs and we’re going to have some lows, so staying even-keeled is going to be great, no matter who’s in uniform. Whether Jalen’s out, OG’s out, next man up, and keep playing the right way.”
Both Towns and Bridges have proven they can carry a team. Towns, after nine seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2022 and again in 2025.
Mikal Bridges, meanwhile, was the No. 1 offensive option for the Brooklyn Nets prior to being acquired by the New York Knicks in July 2024 for five future firstround picks. After arriving in Brooklyn from the Phoenix Suns in February 2023, he averaged 26.1 points per game over 27 games for the Nets.
Neither Towns nor Bridges seized Monday’s road game against the Heat with Brunson and Anunoby watching from
the sidelines. The Knicks lost 115–113, dropping to 8–5 overall and 0–4 away from MSG heading into their matchup with the Mavericks.
Bridges was solid and efficient through the first three quarters, registering 23 points on 9-14 shooting but was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Towns had 22
points, right at his 21.8 season average, but labored from behind the three-point line, shooting 1-7. Miles “Deuce” McBride led the Knicks with 25, but not enough to mitigate the void left by Brunson and Anunoby.
The pair was averaging 43.8 points per game heading into last night with Brunson’s portion of 28 standing ninth in the NBA. In addition to Anunoby’s 15.8 ppg, he has continued to be one of the best and most versatile defenders in the league.
Miami was also shorthanded, playing without All-Stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Adebayo was hobbled due to a toe injury and Herro has yet to play this season as he recovers from ankle surgery performed in September.
The Knicks have three more games remaining on their fivegame road trip. They are in Orlando on Saturday to play the Magic, in Brooklyn on Monday to meet the Nets, and in Charlotte next Wednesday to play the Hornets.
Nets rookie Egor Dëmin shows potential and growing pains
By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews
For the Brooklyn Nets, the youngest team by average age in the NBA at 23.4, progress is not primarily being measured by wins and losses. Growth, rather, will be determined by the development of players such as rookies Egor Dëmin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, Nolan Traoré, and Danny Wolf. The Nets were 2-12 after losing 113-99 on Tuesday night at home at the Barclays Center to the Boston Celtics.
Of those five first-year ballers, no one has shown more promise than Dëmin, who was the team’s first selection in this year’s draft with the eighth overall pick. The Russian-born Dëmin, who played one season at BYU, has started six of the 13 games he’s appeared in. The 19-year-old was averaging 7
points, 3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists going into tomorrow’s road match-up with the Celtics. At 6-6, Dëmin has displayed noteworthy court vision and ball handling, capable of being both a scorer and facilitator. But like most young players, there are also parts of his game that evidently require some necessary maturation.
“He needs to grow on the defensive end, be more proactive instead of reactive,” Brooklyn head coach Jordi Fernández said about Dëmin. “I think right there is where he can catch some of the drives and communicate better and learn the schemes. He’s a smart kid. We’re going to keep challenging him to do those things. And he will. But I’m very happy where he’s at right now and what he’s shown.”
Forward Michael Porter Jr., who Brooklyn acquired in a trade with the Denver Nuggets in July, has been the team’s most consistent player on the offensive end of the court. Porter Jr. leads the Nets in scoring at 24.1 and scored a season high 34 points, coming close to a tripledouble, with nine rebounds and seven assists in a 129-106 win over the Wizards in Washington on Sunday.
After the Celtics, the Nets will face the Raptors in Toronto on Sunday and return to Brooklyn on Monday to host the Knicks.
Brooklyn Nets rookie Egor Dëmin, soars to the rim in his team’s 113-99 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. (Bill Moore photo)
The Knicks are playing without forward OG Anunoby, who is sidelined with a left hamstring strain. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
