New York Amsterdam News Issue July 31-August 6, 2025
Health officials probing Legionnaires’ disease cluster in Central Harlem
BY JANAE ANTRUM
Special to the AmNews
The New York City Department of Health (DOH) is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases in Central Harlem and its neighboring communities. So far, according to reports, eight individuals have been diagnosed in the area, in four ZIP codes stretching nearly river to river: 10027, 10030, 10035, and 10037. Results for additional individuals are still pending. So far, no fatalities have been reported.
The DOH, which announced its probe July 25, is actively sampling and testing water from cooling tower systems in the affected area to identify potential sources of the bacteria responsible for the disease. New Yorkers experiencing flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever, or difficulty breathing are urged to contact a healthcare provider immediately. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that is contracted by inhaling vapor that contains Legionella bacteria. It is not
“Legionnaires’ disease can be effectively treated if diagnosed early, but New Yorkers at higher risk, like adults aged 50 and older, [and] those who smoke or have chronic lung conditions, should be especially mindful of their symptoms and seek care as soon as symptoms begin.”
— Dr. Toni Eyssallenne, NYC DOH Deputy Chief Medical Officer
contagious and can be effectively treated with antibiotics if addressed promptly.
Legionnaires’ disease arises in warm-water environments. Common symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, and a persistent cough. Most instances of this disease are linked to plumbing systems that foster the growth of Legionella, such as cooling towers, hot tubs, and humidifiers.
“Any New Yorkers with flu-like symptoms should contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible,”
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Toni Eyssallenne said in a statement. “Legionnaires’ disease can be effectively treated if diagnosed early, but New Yorkers at higher risk, like adults aged 50 and older, [and] those who smoke or have chronic lung conditions, should be especially mindful of their symptoms and seek care as soon as symptoms begin.”
Health officials emphasize the importance for individuals, particularly those over the age of 50 or with pre-existing lung conditions
or smoking habits, to be vigilant about their health and seek medical advice if experiencing symptoms. It’s critical for residents and workers in the affected area to reach out to their primary care providers or urgent care if they show any signs of illness related to the spread of the disease.
The most recent local outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease was in September 2024 at an assisted living facility in Albany; that episode killed four people, according to the Associated Press.
EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR AND UNIVERSITY PROVOST
THE
CITY
UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez and the Search Committee invite nominations and applications for the position of Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost.
For confidential expression of interest and how to apply, please contact Isaacson, Miller at https://www.imsearch.com/ open-searches/cuny/provost
Legionnaires' disease (Public domain photo)
Opinion
Preserving Harlem’s history and culture –while we are still here
A rural Alabama newspaper, the Southern Courier, recently received a long-awaited historical marker, emblematic of its critical role during the Civil Rights Movement. It brought to mind the work underway in Harlem by While We Are Still Here (WWSH) and its tireless founder and Executive Director Karen Taylor.
To date, WWSH has installed 23 of the planned 25 historic markers in the community to commemorate notable figures, events, and organizations. One recent marker was placed near 445 W. 153rd Street, where the great tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins lived. A busload of supporters attended the Hawkins event, part of the organization’s tourism program designed to share Harlem’s history with the world.
Taylor and her team have been completing these landmarks without fanfare, and without too much financial support. Even so, they are determined — as Ellen Lake was in galvanizing reporters in the creation of the Southern Courier — to preserve the culture and legacy of Harlem despite the intensifying wave of gentrification.
But recently funding was cancelled, leaving WWSH in desperate need to meet the matching-funds requirement for the Market New York grant opportunity. We strongly endorse this initiative to secure WWSH “Signs of the Times: Harlem Markers Project.”
In this first phase of commemorative installments, only two more markers are needed before the second stage can begin — but that may never happen if the current phase isn’t completed. That means the only way WWSH can survive, thrive and fully realize its mission is with your help.
To donate, go to https://whilewearestillhere.networkforgood.com
Turning city-owned land into the housing New Yorkers need
By AHMED TIGANI
If you’ve ever walked past an empty lot or an underutilized city-owned building and thought, “we should be doing more with this,” you’re not alone.
The truth is, not every vacant lot you pass is city-owned, but those that are each represent an opportunity to put public dollars towards transforming public lands for the public good. And it’s not just vacant land. At New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), in collaboration with our partner agencies, we are learning from past experience and applying new tools to reimagine how municipal properties and facilities, including parking lots and garages, are used.
In a moment of urgent housing need, we have to ask ourselves whether these sites are truly delivering their highest and best use. When they are not, we must act. And I am proud to say that this approach has been something HPD has leveraged for decades, but in recent years, with greater urgency and new energy.
You can already see the fruits of our labor taking shape. For example, last year, under the leadership of Mayor Adams, New York City’s housing agencies exceeded their shared goal of advancing 24 affordable housing projects on public land within 12 months. We moved forward on 26 projects — surpassing the mayor’s original target and demonstrating what’s possible when we align resources, leadership, and urgency. These developments benefited from strong collaboration across city government, nonprofit partners, and private developers — each working together to deliver more housing more quickly and more equitably.
Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher and Editor in Chief
The footprint of this work spans the city. For instance, there is our project in the upper section of Inwood, where a little-used city parking lot along the Harlem River is being reimagined through a community-driven planning process that will deliver upwards of 600 affordable homes and public green space. In Staten Island, we’re converting an old cityowned garage on Jersey Street into over 200 affordable homes and a new community hub. In the Bronx, we just announced plans for The Stemma: 149 deeply affordable, sustainable homes on a long-vacant lot in Crotona Park East.
We are also looking closer to home for opportunities to create new homes for New Yorkers. The headquarters for the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, 100 Gold in the heart of lower Manhattan, will be transformed into what we estimate could be between 1,000 and 2,000 new homes – at least 25% of which will be affordable. This project will produce more affordable homes than have been produced in the entire last decade in this area. HPD is also moving forward with the redevelopment of a cityowned commercial building in Downtown Brooklyn at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension. The city is partnering with our development partners to transform the site into over 1,200 new homes, with between 250 and 380 affordable units, and new public open space.
In addition to these projects, in 2024, HPD advanced seven more affordable housing projects on public land, representing 1,070 new homes, through the land use approvals process, known as the
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure or ULURP. One of these projects, the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments will bring not only 283 affordable homes to Brownsville, but also a cultural arts center with performance, rehearsal, and studio space for use by local cultural and arts groups. Whether it’s building above a public library or converting an empty parking lot, we’re focused on creating homes that serve the New Yorkers who need them most — seniors, formerly homeless households, and low-income families. This is about more than building units. It’s about building a city where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home. We know this work is urgent, and in a city as resourceful and resilient as New York, an empty lot should never stand in the way of a family having a roof over their head.
The work continues.
Ahmed Tigani is the Acting Commissioner of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Madison Gray: Executive & Investigative Editor
Damaso Reyes: Editor at Large
Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor
Ahmed Tigani
What’s on for Harlem Week 2025
By NADINE MATTHEWS
Special to the AmNews
Harlem is arguably one of the most special places in the world. A joyful, brilliant, and resilient cradle of Black American culture, it carries a rich legacy of Black American history and creativity. So each year, New Yorkers come together to celebrate Harlem with a week-long party called Harlem Week. This year, Harlem Week runs August 1-17, with a schedule of exciting, engaging events encompassing culture and social impact.
August 1
Senior Citizens Day. 10 a.m.-3 p.m at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building
Honoring Black elders. Senior Citizens Day has always been one of the most important elements of Harlem Week. The event will include health screenings, health demonstrations, and performances.
August 2, 9, 16
Summer Streets
7 a.m.-3 p.m., 109th Street & Park Avenue –125th Street & Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
One of the most famous block parties in America, Summer Streets is a passionate celebration of New York summers featuring biking, walking, running, jumping, meditating, skipping, skating, dancing — all to the beat of sumptuous live music!
August 4
Arts & Culture/Broadway Summit - Men in the Arts and Mental Health
6-8 p.m., virtual
A discussion of mental health issues affecting men.
Harlem on My Mind Conversations
7-10 p.m. Location TBD
A conversation with Men in Arts & Culture discussing the importance of mental health.
August 5
National Night Out
3-9 p.m., 135th St. bet Adam Clayton Powell Jr & Fred. Douglass Blvd, Morningside Avenue btw. West 125th & 126th Streets
A night of community-building and seeking to strengthen partnerships with law enforcement. Bounce houses, face painting, food, and fun. Meet leaders and personnel from your local precinct and interact with neighbors, community members, and local businesses with the common goal of partnership and safety.
August 6
Climate Change Conference
5:30-8:30 p.m., Adam Clayton Powell Jr State Office Building 163 W 125th Street
Presented by Columbia Climate School & The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce.
A discussion on climate change and its disproportionate negative impact on communities and countries of color.
August 7, 14
Uptown Night Market
4-10 p.m., 12th Ave & W 131st St
A highlight of Harlem Week for foodies, the Uptown Night Market is a familyfriendly celebration of global cuisine.
August 9
Hazel Dukes Memorial Family Health Walk
9 a.m.-12 p.m., 135th Street & St. Nicholas Avenue
A family walk to promote health and honor the memory of Harlem heroine and trailblazer Hazel Dukes, who headed New York’s NAACP.
Great Jazz on the Great Hill
4-7 p.m., Central Park Great Hill Picnic, live jazz music and swing dancing in one of America’s greatest parks.
August 10
A Great Day in Harlem 12-7 p.m.
The outdoor event include:
The opening of the International Village, showcasing vendors and exhibitors with items for sale ranging from arts & crafts, jewelry, clothing, unique accesso-
ries, international foods and more.
Music will be the highlight: Artz, Rootz & Rhythm featuring local, community and emerging performers of varying genres. The Gospel Caravan featuring local, national and international gospel performers.
A Presentation from Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute — a celebration of the diaspora tracing the journey from Africa through the Caribbean and to Harlem.
Concert Under the Stars featuring the HARLEM WEEK All-Star Band led by “Music Director to the stars,” Ray Chew and joined
Audiences on “Harlem Day 2023” watching live performances on the 5th Avenue stage during the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop celebration. August 20, 2023. (Jason Ponterotto photo)
Remembering and ruminating on Harlem Week
By CONGRESSMAN
CHARLES B. RANGEL
Editor’s Note: Earlier this year, we grieved the loss of Congressman Charlie Rangel, Harlem’s Hero and the “Lion of Lenox Avenue.” Always a champion and defender of New York’s Black community, one of his favorite celebrations of it was Harlem Week. To him, Harlem Week was a showcase of the best the enclave had to offer, river to river. Last year, he wrote this op-ed for the AmNews about why the event is important, and we wanted to offer his thoughts again as a remembrance.
Lots of people think that Harlem Week is actually Lloyd Williams Week, and they may have that impression because he has worked so tirelessly to make it successful over the last 50 years. He is more satisfied with the results than making people know the role he has played. People have no idea how important [the role] his reputation plays in attracting supporters, sponsors, and talent; how difficult it is to maintain that high standard — and to do that for half a century is remarkable, given how things change from generation to generation.
Look, Chinatown has changed, Little Italy has changed, the Bowery has changed. And as difficult as it is for me to accept at my age and retirement, I can imagine how my predecessors felt when Adam Clayton Powell said, “It’s a new day!”
Things are changing, and so is our ability to try to hold onto what we have and never lose what we have. Never lose the culture, do expand the political power, and make adjustments when we have to. To be against something without any idea of how to replace it can be counterproductive. You can hate the new and curse the change, but unless you have a plan to adjust or replace it, you are cursing the darkness. Change is something that Lloyd and his team
have done so smoothly that you hardly notice it.
It never entered my mind back in 1974 that Harlem Week (HW) would be a national and historic occasion, and at the same time, provide so many economic opportunities for a countless number of people.
HW is just one of the extraordinary accomplishments of Lloyd Williams. I remember when Percy Sutton and I thought about such an event as little more than a block party. I have learned so much from the people who have been a part of the celebration — their talents and entrepreneurship have been indispensable to the community’s development. The Chamber [of Commerce] has done a great job with superb staff and leadership. I don’t think anything like Harlem Week has been done anywhere in the country.
I have been around the country and I’ve gone to a lot of fairs that have been white-type festivals, but I can’t remember
Listings
Continued from page 21
by national and international performers. Special Musical Salutes to Kool & The Gang and Roberta Flack
August 11
Children’s Corner – Books On The Move, “Mommy Moment” 12-2 p.m
Harlem Week Youth Conference
6-8 p.m., virtual Forum for discussion on issues important to youth and what they can do to have an impact.
August 12
Economic Development Day
12-3 p.m., virtual
Featuring key discussions on Community Development, Economic Development & Diversity, Technology & Cyber-Security with experts from business and political sectors.
Harlem on My Mind Conversations A Conversation on Justice, Reform, and the Future
9-10 p.m., virtual
Topical discussions featuring thought leaders whose works are inspired by and/or benefits Harlem and similar communities
August 13
NYC Jobs and Career Fair
Black folks coming out even for a shorter period, showing their talent, their wares, their foods, their culture, their songs, their clothes, and the constant variety of opportunities in terms of the involvement of businesses, the networking on how to deliver their services to the people.
I don’t want to overstate it, but Lloyd has done a fantastic job, and one of the things that impresses me is how he can do this without politics. He has a board of directors, that’s true, but to navigate this without a lot of criticism is incredible.
Over all these years, Harlem Week has endured without an embarrassing moment or incident. You almost expect something terrible, given the size of the crowds each year, but they continue to come and the week continues to expand.
Congressman Charles B. Rangel (1930–2025) represented Harlem in the House of Representatives for more than 40 years.
Banking and Finance for Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs
6-8:30 p.m., Chase Community Banking Center 55 W 125th St
Financial advice for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
August 16
Summer in the City
1-6 p.m., West 135th Street from St. Nicholas Avenue - Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
With performances from local, national and international artists, the Harlem Broadway Row fashion show, health testing stations and hundreds of food vendors, arts, crafts, music, jewelry, hats, sculptors, corporate exhibitors, and games.
Alex Trebek Harlem Children’s Spelling Bee
2-4 p.m., Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture 515 Malcolm X Blvd
Children from 1st – 5th grade test their spelling prowess for prizes in this fun competition.
HW/IMAGENATION Outdoor Film Festival
6:30-10 p.m., St. Nicolas Park
St. Nicolas Park, St. Nicholas Ave & 135th St. Free outdoor screening of “Wicked” starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
August 16, 17
10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Great Hall at City College. 160 Convent Ave. Representatives from over 40 business sectors disseminate information and conduct workshops and discussions on career development.
Harlem on My Mind Conversations - Celebrating Our Magic through Fashion
7-8 p.m., virtual
Topical discussions featuring thought leaders whose work is inspired by and/or benefits Harlem and similar communities.
Top health providers host a transformative day of health, wellness, and fun, entirely focused on YOU.
Harlem Summerstage
5-7 p.m., Adam Clayton Powell Jr State Office Building
An evening of top flight music.
A feature of the Harlem Music Festival.
NYC Children’s Festival
12-5 p.m., Howard Bennett Playground 32 W 136th St
Time and space children ages 5 to 12 years and their family members enjoy storytelling, children’s entertainment (performances showcasing tap dancers, dance troupes, step shows, hip-hop, theater, poetry, vocalists, etc.), arts & crafts, double dutch competitions, face painting, technology information, information on health services, and more.
Harlem Day
1-5 p.m., 135th Street from 5th Avenue to St. Nicholas Avenue
The day that started it all in 1974! This is Harlem Week’s largest and final day, featuring three stages of entertainment, food, the Harlem Health Village, Harlem Broadway Row, performances from Broadway productions, local, national and international artists in various musical genres from Jazz, R&B, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Reggae, Soca, Latin and more.
For more info, visit harlemweek.com.
From the Aug. 15, 1992 issue of the AmNews.
Femi Kuti, dead prez, and more talk challenges, build bridges at SummerStage
By JOHNNY KNOLLWOOD
Special to the AmNews
The air was thick on Sunday night, as heatwaves and political unrest continue to pervade NYC and the country at large — but that didn’t stop New Yorkers from gathering on the lawn at the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park to witness Afrobeat bandleader and activist Femi Kuti performing with his group Positive Force. The Grammy-nominated, multi-instrumentalist was joined by NYC hip-hop duo dead prez, Cape Verdean singer/songwriter Elida Almeida, Nigerian poet Alhanislam (who is the United Nations Global Advocate for Peace) and DJ Rich Medina, who each brought their own unique blend of socially charged artistry to the stage for an evening filled with dancing, laughter, and some big ideas. The show was preceded by “Beats & Roots,” a panel on African art and diaspora, hosted by Hot 97’s Shani Kulture and featuring chef Ayo Balogun, NYC-based artist Laolu, Olivia — who has performed with G-Unit and appeared on “Love
& Hip-Hop” — and David Ponte, co-founder of streaming platform Audiomack.
Femi Kuti, who comes from a family of artists and activists, is the son of revolutionary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. The younger Kuti uses the genre introduced to the world by his father as a backdrop to express themes that include unity, illustrations of poverty and class divide, and criticism of government corruption in his homeland of Nigeria. With song titles like “Truth Don Die,” “Stop the Hate,” and “Politics Don Expose Them,” Kuti drove his message home at Central Park with ferocity unmatched, as he ripped through a 90-minute set that served as a bridge between New Yorkers and “the continent.”
In Kuti’s music you hear both tradition and innovation, as he utilizes ancient African rhythms and folk sensibilities, and fuses them with styles that developed from the African diaspora; jazz, funk, salsa, and even rock ‘n’ roll were part of the magic that unfolded onstage Sunday night.
Kuti’s group featured keyboardist Oluwaseun Ajayi, Alaba Ayo-
dele on drums, guitarist Opeyemi Awomolo, Tom DiCarlo on bass, saxophonist Joshua Oladeji, Donald Malloy on trumpet, and percussionist Elizabeth PupoWalker, rounded out by dancers Olajumoke Adigun, Kate Udi, and Kuti’s wife Anthonia Bernard. Three American musicians, Dicarlo, Malloy, and Pupo-Walker, stepped in at the last minute after several members of Kuti’s group left “unceremoniously,” Kuti told the AmNews via telephone in a post-show interview. The players learned the demanding, blistering set on short notice, and with only four hours of rehearsal. Attendees likely could not tell, because Kuti and his group put on an energetic and rousing performance. He played saxophone and keyboards, sang, and danced around the stage, leading the audience in anthemic chants and hand claps throughout the night — instilling a sense of togetherness. “I am so happy we pulled it off,” he added. Connection seemed to be a central theme of the night. The free show is part of Capital One City Parks Foundation’s annual series that includes access to an abun-
dance of no-cost programming.
“Arts and culture are a refuge,” said Erika Elliott, executive artistic director of SummerStage, to AmNews via email. “A place for community.”
The evening was preceded by a pre-show panel, “Beats & Roots,” that opened with a question by moderator Shani Kulture. “How has African music served as a bridge between the continent and the diaspora?” he asked the panelists, who engaged in a broad discussion on how African art has influenced modern culture, the unique challenges African artists face in the music industry with regards to distribution and compensation, and how the art is reflective of the continent’s rich and diverse cultural landscape. Panelist and chef Balogun, who specializes in West African cuisine at his restaurant, Dept of Culture, discussed how art and food can be used to “preserve heritage,” he told the audience, claiming he strives to “represent the culture with integrity.”
The panel was followed by a poetry reading from Alhanislam, a Nigerian poet and U.N. Advocate
for Peace, who instilled a sense of hope in her passionate plea for harmony across the human race. “There was a time when we measured strength by how long we could hold a grudge, but today, let us measure strength by how long we can hold space for someone else’s truth,” Alhanislam told the audience. “Because there was a ‘me’ and a ‘you,’ before there was ever an ‘us.’”
Soon after, Elida Almeida took to the stage, bringing Creole influence and island flavor to the Afrobeat table. Singing primarily in Portuguese and rarely staying in one spot, Almeida exuded power and vibrance onstage, quickly winning over the audience and leading them in dance. New York duo dead prez were joined by special guests including Talib Kweli for a set of politically charged hip-hop. They performed in front of a literal history lesson, showing videos of Malcolm X with subtitles about his life, among a slew of other videos depicting the challenges and struggles of the Black community on a screen plastered
“Olivia, Ayo Balogun, Shani Kulture, David Ponte, and Laolu in discussion on African art and diaspora at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park on July 27.
“Elida Almeida brings Cape Verdean flavor to the stage at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park on July 27.
Femi Kuti and Positive Force, performing live at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park on July 27. (Johnny Knollwood photos)
St. Peter’s Jazz, Jazz Gallery, Donald Harrison review
Jazz and the gospel truth have permeated the spiritual walls of St. Peter’s Church since Pastor John Garcia Gensel founded the jazz ministry in 1964. He dubbed New York City’s jazz community as his “Night Flock.” His friend and collaborator, Duke Ellington, who on occasion performed at the church, dedicated his composition “The Shepherd Who Watches over the Night Flock” to Gensel in honor of his ministry.
“The first church of jazz,” as it is known, continued after Gensel’s retirement, thanks to the leadership of Jazz Pastor Emeritus Dale R. Lind and jazz musicians who called Saint Peter’s their parish. The jazz ministry continues with its “Jazz on the Plaza,” held in the public outdoor plaza at 601 Lexington Avenue (between 53rd and 54th Streets) every Thursday from 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.; free to the public now through September 25. On July 31, Jazz on the Plaza welcomes back the Arturo O’Farrill Quintet; on Aug. 7, the trumpeter/flugelhornist and composer Jonathan Saraga appears (he has worked with such artists as Orrin Evans, Tyshawn Sorey, and Samuel Torres). On Aug. 14, catch the inventive drummer Marcus Gilmore (since his teen years touring with Clarke Terry, he has been in the forefront of this jazz artform); on Aug. 21, welcome the multi-woodwind instrumentalist Jasper
Shogo Dutz Quartet, followed on Aug. 28 by violinist and erhu player (Chinese twostringed instrument) Meg Okura. In New York City, she leads the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz ensemble and is also a member of Pharaoh’s Daughter. In the event of inclement weather, the concert may be moved indoors to the Sanctuary of Saint Peter’s Church. For more information, visit the website saintpeters.org. The alto saxophonist and composer Donald Harrison recently hit the Birdland jazz club like a wild whirlwind. During his five-night engagement, audiences were anchored to hard-hitting rhythms and were movin’, groovin’, and clappin’ to his interpretations of James Brown funk, hip-hop, and Jimmie Lunceford swing, even show-
ing off some Godfather of Soul dance steps. What a jazz musician! An NEA Jazz Master really got down like that? Yes, he did — to a sold-out audience; there wasn’t a spare seat in the house. I was stashed in the far-deepright corner behind the bar, sitting next to a group of young music students who enjoyed Harrison’s captivating journey. The jazz police might be upset over such goings-on, but the paying audience offered him two standing ovations.
Harrison has created an enthralling voyage where he explains and plays the sounds of ragtime from the rhythms of Louis Armstrong to Sidney Bechet, connecting to the swing era of Count Basie, to Bebop Charlie Parker, to the innovations of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and
Art Blakey (he played and recorded with Blakey). “I wanted to play like Miles on alto sax, so I stole some of his stuff,” laughed Harrison as the band broke into Miles’s “Bye Bye Blackbird.”
The saxophonist’s journey included some of his own originals, as well as his creative concept of Nouveau Swing (1997), a rhythmic blend of Black music. His longtime quartet featured pianist Dan Kaufman, bassist Nori Naraoka, and drummer Joe Dyson (a former student of Harrison as an adolescent). Their combined creative sounds were an assortment of spicy New Orleans music gumbo coming from all directions.
The NEA Jazz Master took time to explain the significance of jazz and its connecting roots, adding his native New Orleans history and its second-line culture. Audiences, particularly those who aren’t familiar with the jazz art form, leave his performance with new insight.
The Jazz Gallery (1158 Broadway) is known for introducing imaginative young artists who play in and out of the music. On Aug. 6, for one night only, they will bring guitarist and composer Mwanzi Harriott to the stage for two shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Harriott will be joined by a vibrant ensemble featuring alto saxophonist Kevin Oliver Jr., trumpeter Robert Vega, bassist Conway Campbell, drummer Gary Jones, and vibraphonist Luke Glavanovits. His absorbing self-styled compositions are ahead of the traditional jazz curve — his music is a unique mixture of colorful influences of the African Diaspora. Visit jazzgallery.org for more info.
Chuck Mangione, prominent flugelhorn player, dies at 84
By RONALD E. SCOTT Special to the AmNews
Chuck Mangione, who redefined feelgood music with his distinctive flugelhorn tone, died on July 2 at his Rochester home. He was 84.
The news was confirmed via a press release from a funeral home in Rochester, N.Y., on behalf of the Mangione family, who said they were “deeply saddened to share that Chuck peacefully passed away in his sleep at his home in Rochester.” No cause of death was given.
Mangione had a mellow tone, smooth precision, and cool melodies — a quiet groove in the soul pocket. His music was a fusion of pop and electric sounds of the ’70s, warm and cuddly like Linus’s blanket. The saxophonist’s onstage persona became his trademark, sporting a beard, long hair, and his signature brown fedora hat with a feathered band.
“Feels So Good,” one of his great hits from the double-platinum album of the same
name, remains a staple on jazz and pop radio. It has been called one of the most recognized melodies since the Beatles’ recording of “Michelle.”
“It identified for a lot of people a song with an artist. Even though I had a pretty strong base audience that kept us out there, touring as often as we wanted to, that song just topped out there and took it to a whole other level,” Mangione told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2008.
He won his first Grammy Award in 1977 for his Latin-tinged Best Instrumental composition “Bellavia,” which was named in honor of his mother. His second Grammy was for Best Pop Instrumental performance for the film soundtrack “The Children of Sanchez” in 1979.
His inspired music was selected for two Olympics — “Chase the Clouds” was used at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, and he played “Give It All You Got,” his theme for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. He performed it live for a worldwide television audience during the
closing ceremony. It was another Billboard Top 20 hit, and earned an Emmy Award.
Since the 1960s, Mangione released over 30 albums and enjoyed appearances on television shows such as “Magnum P.I.” He was introduced to a new younger generation when his caricature appeared on the Fox-TV animated series “King of the Hill,” appearing as a commercial spokesperson for Mega Lo Mart, where “shopping feels so good.” He paid homage to the series on his album “Everything for Love” with a track titled “Peggy Hill” (Chesky, 2000).
Charles Frank Mangione was born on Nov. 29, 1940, in Rochester, a few years after his older brother Gaspare. His parents, who were jazz enthusiasts, owned a local grocery store. Chuck began music lessons as an adolescent, adopting the trumpet. In high school, he started a jazz band with his brother, Gaspare, nicknamed Gap. To their surprise, a dream came true when they sat in with jazz legends Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. Chuck, with pride and joy, made it known that Gillespie gave him a trumpet
when he was just 15. He referred to the jazz icon as “my musical father.”
While attending the Eastman School of Music in Rochester (1958–’63), Mangione began playing the flugelhorn; he later became a faculty member. With Riverside Records during 1960–’61, he and his brother co-led the Mangione Brothers Sextet/ Quintet, recording three albums. One of his compositions for the Sextet, “Something Different,” was hip enough to be recorded by Cannonball Adderley on his album “African Waltz” (Riverside, 1961).
Mangione is basically known as the smooth jazz guy, but remember: He was a member of one of the most influential jazz bands of the 20th century — Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. He filled the trumpet chair that was previously held by such greats as Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Dorham, Bill Hardman, and Lee Morgan. That distinction immediately qualifies him as more than a mere smooth jazz musician.
Marcus Gilmore (Jonathan Chimene photo)
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shares that there are more than 4,000 books currently on the list including her favorite, “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison. Cur-
rently, her Banned Books Library only has 67 titles, but she’s hoping to expand that and is actively seeking donations. “Church is open every Sunday. Bring some books.”
During the school year, Horton has a very busy schedule. Her mother assists in managing this balancing act, making sure school, basketball, deejaying, and her nonprofit work all have space to thrive while also giving Horton a moment of two to rest. During the summer, Horton’s schedule lightens up a bit, but she continues to pour back into her community by hosting a DJ camp for young kids.
Horton’s future plans include taking a year or two after completing an under-
Freedom Plaza
Continued from page 13
just steel and stone. Freedom Plaza is an opportunity to show what’s possible when we blend vision with values. To my fellow and sister clergy and colleagues, diplomats, lay leaders, and community builders: this is our moment to stand for righteous development — to support economic growth that reflects the heart of God. We can no longer afford to separate our spiritual lives from the policies, projects and entrepreneurial opportunities shaping our communities.
Freedom Plaza gives us a glimpse of the promised land, not one we’re hoping for
graduate degree in political science to tour Europe. Despite her mother’s fear and apprehension, Horton wants to get into the DJ scene abroad. When she does come back to the states, she plans to continue her academic career by going into law school and then go into politics.
“It excites me a lot,” she said. “I like the idea of being able to make decisions, being able to advocate for others. It’s very on brand for me.”
To learn more about Samirah Horton and the incredible work that she’s doing, you can follow her on Instagram @DJ_ Annie_Red or visit her website www.djanniered.com.
years from now, or on the “other side,” but one we can see and have right now, a place where equity flows, where opportunity is local, and where faith and justice work hand in hand. It’s within our reach, let us support it. Let us amplify it. And let us walk boldly into a future built on dignity and hope.
Rev. Dr. Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook is a minister and former U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom. She has founded several nonprofit and advocacy organizations, including Women on the World Stage, served as the official chaplain of the NYPD for more than 20 years, and is the author of nearly a dozen books.
*Based upon the number of persons in household. **Subject to change. OCCUPANCY STANDARDS: ONE BEDROOM: One to three persons, TWO BEDROOM: Two to Four persons, THREE BEDROOM: Four to Six persons IMPORTANT NOTICE: (FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION)
• Applications are not transferable.
• Applicants must be financially responsible.
• Current Shareholders are not eligible to apply.
• Applicant/Head of household must be at least 18 Years old at the time of the lottery.
• Preference will be given to documented veterans selected in the lottery that are NY State residents only.
• Any applicant that does not have the proper family composition will automatically be disqualified.
• Applicants can only be on one waiting list at a development. If applicants have the right family composition, they can apply to more than one lottery. However, if they are selected for more than one lottery, they will have to choose which waiting list they prefer.
• ONE REQUEST ONLY PER APPLICANT. Any applicant placing a duplicate request will not be entered into the lottery. An applicant can only submit a paper entry or an on-line entry. If applicants enter on-line and also mail in a letter or postcard, they have submitted a duplicate request and will not be eligible for the lottery.
• An applicant whose name is selected in a lottery cannot be included in the family composition of any other applicant who is selected in the same lottery for that particular housing company development. Failure to comply will result in the disqualification of both applicants.
Additional Information: A non-refundable $75 application fee will be required from applicants selected through the lottery. A waiting list will be established based on a limited lottery. A maximum of 250 applicants will be drawn for the One-Bedroom and Two-Bedroom units, and 100 applicants will be drawn for the Three-Bedroom units. HOW TO APPLY: ONLINE You can now apply to a lottery online through Housing Connect. Applying is fast, easy and you will be able to check the status of your entry to see if you have been selected. To apply on line go
Samirah Horton aka DJ Annie Red
Samirah Horton aka DJ Annie Red, City Councilmember Chi Ossé, and mother Sonya Horton with family at the launch of the Banned Book Library at Nazarene Congregational United Church of Christ in Brooklyn, NY. (Sonya Horton photos)
NYS gears up for cellphone-free classes this fall — but do NYC students and parents agree?
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
New York State is moving forward with a controversial ban on cellphones and smart devices in public schools for the upcoming school year. Reactions from New York City students and parents are a mixed bag, but administrators are behind it.
Many assumed that it would be impossible to implement a statewide cellphone ban, especially since officials would have to contend with New York City’s public school system — the nation’s largest at more than 1 million students.
Gov. Kathy Hochul began adamantly pushing for a ban last year. She finally succeeded in allocating $13.5 million — including $4.3 million to New York City — toward implementation of the ban and storage security in the state’s budget this year, as opposed to passing more-traditional legislation. The ban on phones and devices goes into effect for the 2025 to 2026 school year this fall. It applies to grades K–12 for all public and charter schools for the entire school day, including classroom time, lunch, and study hall periods.
DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething. org, said that more than anything, young people her organization works with want their voices heard and to be considered when it comes to implementation of school policies that affect them. As a mom of two, she said that there’s a generation of kids who were thrust into the digital age prematurely because of the COVID pandemic and educators are playing catch up with how to balance that technology to negate “learning loss and distractions” in schools.
National data shows student performance dropped significantly in 2022 from 2019, attributed to the pandemic, but New York had even greater declines in fourth-grade math and reading scores across the board, reported the state comptroller’s office.
Getachew doesn’t think educators and administrators want people to be resistant; they just want students to thrive like other states that have now made the decision to regulate tech in schools. There’s some wiggle room for schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day.
“I feel like the cellphone ban will be a double-edged sword for students: The obvious safety concern arises time and time again, as well as the concept of phones being a force of good,” said Soumik Dey, 16, who attends Pace High School. His school already has a phone-free policy and uses Yondr, or a lockable pouch. He said the New York City Department of Education (DOE) “can do its worst: Students will always find a way to spite the grownups.”
Dey got his first phone around eighth grade, and used it primarily for entertainment and video games. He graduated to a government-issued phone that only texted his parents in ninth grade, and then an iPhone that his parents and sibling can
use to track his location. Since there’s a ban in place at his school, Dey said he and his friends use it when they can bypass the Yondr pouch system during leisure times. He knows that certain Mac laptops can mirror a phone screen onto the laptop itself, which circumvents internet security tools the education department uses like Securly and Zscaler.
“I would say I use my phone often when helping me with homework, but only in math. The calculator app and Desmos website, in particular, have proven to be indispensable resources for that,” said Dey. “For my other subjects, I tend to understand the materials already, or it is all digital and we all know editing Google Docs on mobile is hell … but on the off chance, I am too lazy or on the move, I use my phone to look things up.”
In keeping with the state mandates, Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos updated the DOE’s Chancellor’s Regulation A-413, which has a subsection that addresses its Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy. Adams allocated $25 million to help with implementation of the policy. The change was approved by the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) on July 23, although non-voting student members who testified were opposed.
Hawaou Kobeogo, a 16-year-old attending Bronx River High School, said she thinks that students will benefit from the ban on cellphones. Her high school had also implemented a no-cellphone policy. She got her first phone when she was 11, during the COVID crisis. She mainly used it for research because the websites she went to weren’t blocked, but definitely noticed that she socialized and paid less attention in middle school.
“When I went from carrying my phone around all the time during the school day in middle school to not doing so, I felt
uneasy,” said Kobeogo. “I observed myself and my classmates not paying attention to the task or the teacher in front of us when phones were permitted in middle school. In addition, I’ve witnessed numerous instances of my peers misbehaving when teachers confiscated their phones for inappropriate usage in class. Honestly, the utilization of allowing phones in class really impacted our learning habits and abilities.”
Her school takes students’ phones away in the morning and puts them in a bubble bag system for the day. She thinks it’ll be hard for everyone to adjust to the ban. “It will also be difficult for the transition to happen because we are all used to technology, and most school stuff, like homework and classwork, is online. It is odd to try to eliminate the technology that is a big part of society today,” said Kobeogo.
Safety seems to be a major concern for parents, as far as the ban is concerned.
“Not happy with it at all. Some kids are latchkey kids. Especially with what’s going on in the world, how do I know my kid is safe?,” said Lawanda Joyner, a Harlem mother who works in city child protective services. Her eight-year-old, Eryn, is going to the third grade in a public school that already has a ban in place. In her experience, the education department is hard to get in touch with and doesn’t always communicate quickly, so she has the principal’s cellphone number.
Safety and equitable access to technology are the main concerns of Thomas Sheppard, the former elected Community Education Council (CEC) Presidents member and Bronx CEC Presidents member on the city’s Panel for Education Policy (PEP). He has worked with Apple Inc. since 2009, and authored a resolution this year that countered the cellphone ban but was shot down. A father of six, he has a 14-year-old son who is heading into 10th grade.
“The reason we put phones in kids’
hands is for safety,” said Sheppard. “Given the world we live in, given that things can and will go wrong, we give them phones for safety and security reasons and for us to feel safe. The ban removes that feeling.”
Sheppard said it’s already hard for parents to see how students are treated or experiencing school in real time. The ban limits the transparency that recordings provide. He also pointed out that a “sizable” population of the school community are immigrants, and not having the capacity to communicate in case they interact with law enforcement is alarming.
As someone who has developed digital classroom pilots, Sheppard thinks there’s a more effective way to integrate tech into the classroom. “If you are thoughtful about apps and training for teachers and students and parents, then you can be really effective at using tech as a tool. We haven’t really done that,” said Sheppard. “The DOE calls the shots. These conversations go into contracts with vendors, data privacy and security, and the use of AI.”
Kris Astle, SMART’s education strategist, said she has implemented a cellphone ban at the dinner table with her own children. In a classroom setting, she said phones and social media can provide “a little dopamine rush” that is certainly distracting.
“So it’s this huge mixed bag … The positives … If we take cellphones out of the classroom, then we’ve got students who are more likely to talk to each other, to engage in the learning, to be fully focused on the task, and that’s a huge win,” said Astle. “But then, on the other hand, if we think about the dynamics of our classrooms and the diversity of our students … it’s hard to say what the right answer is. The right answer is 100 percent that we need to work on a kind of digital citizenship and teach students responsible use of devices.”
The state clarified that students would still be allowed to have simple cellphones without internet access, as well as “internet-enabled devices” provided by their schools. Schools will be required to provide at least one method for families to contact kids in case of an emergency and a secure way to store devices. There are also some exemptions to the ban for medical reasons, students responsible for a sibling, a device for educational purposes like translation services, or Individual Education Program (IEP) students.
If students violate the ban, they can be put in detention or banned from school activities and clubs. Suspensions aren’t allowed, according to state law.
“Our kids are in school to learn, but, too often, cellphones are used in manners that are distracting, degrading, and dangerous to our young people,” said Mayor Adams. “The state cellphone ban was the first step in putting our kids back on track to learn and thrive in safe, nurturing environments, and this new cellphone policy is the next step in ensuring students are given the best shot to succeed in school.”
Man in black-and-white polo shirt beside writing board. (Photo by Pixabay)
Phoenix House
during a press conference at the time. “I’ll give you one example: peer clubhouses. In New York City, we have a number of these clubhouses, best typified by Fountain House. Fountain House provides services for New Yorkers with serious mental illness. We’ve seen their services mean up to a 45% reduction in the likelihood of that New Yorker going to an emergency room or hospital.
“The cost of services in an entire year of a Fountain House member is $4,000. It is about the cost of putting a New Yorker on Rikers Island for three days. For some reason, our city continues to spend $500,000 a year on incarcerating New Yorkers on Rikers Island.”
House tour
Phoenix House programming intends to become more than just busy work. “We don’t want to just sit a coloring page in front of people and say, ‘Here’s some colored pencils, enjoy,’” said Lampley. “We want to connect people to tasks that will give them a sense of purpose, sense of meaning, sense of mastery, and also help build their self confidence.”
She believes the Harlem site, which sits across from Abyssinian Baptist Church and is a short walk north from Harlem Hospital, can provide the proper amenities.
“It just feels like a very bright place when you come in,” said Lampley. “The vibes are really nice. And I think having access to so much natural light, plus the outer space, really helps the place feel like a center of wellness.”
A sprawling courtyard garden sets the stage for “Kickback Fridays,” while an ADA-compliant kitchen allows members to try their hand at viral TikTok recipes. Meanwhile, a work-in-progress computer lab helps build tech savvy — there are even plans to teach older members how to use their cellphones.
“You see the technology and then access to education and employment resources,” said Bragg. “Feeding people, helping their education, employment development, and then just being together, in community with one another — that makes a strong, healthy safe neighborhood, and that’s what we’re talking about over [at] the Manhattan [District Attorney’s Office].”
Clubhouses become clubhomes
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, clubhouse member Erica Moore spoke about how the new Harlem site affected her. “When I first walked into [the] Phoenix House Harlem Clubhouse, I came with the heart to serve and support others,” she said. “What I didn’t expect was the mirror it would hold up to my own life, after receiving my own mental health diagnosis.”
While clubhouses cannot directly replace psychiatric treatment, their re -
sults can be downright extraordinary.
Arvind Sooknanan, a member of Fountain House’s Bronx location who bounced from six different high schools and left two colleges after repeated hospitalizations, is an example.
The second-gen Indo-Guyanese New Yorker lives with Schizoaffective disorder — a mental health condition that overlaps with schizophrenic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions with those from mood disorders like depression.
“Clubhouses, I really believe, changed my life,” said Sooknanan. “It’s what allowed me to get back into society, it’s what has allowed for every other thing like therapy [and] medication, to work in a way that it didn’t for me before going to the clubhouse. I had been hospitalized over 20 times across the city, as well as in D.C. and Miami. I had tried every antipsychotic that was out there.
“New York City [has] the most psychiatrists, clinicians, and adult programs in the country. I felt like I tried them all in a weird way, and yet nothing was helping me. I was still really incredibly alone. I wasn’t able to get through a single college course, nor was I able to stick to taking my meds, and it all really changed when I walked into a clubhouse.”
Seven years passed since Sooknanan first stepped foot in Fountain House. He recounts just two hospitalizations since, “but the major difference about being hospitalized those two times was that I had somewhere to come back out to,” he said.
His clubhouse progression led to enrollment at Lehman College, where he met political science professor Jenifer Rajkumar and later managed her successful assembly campaign to become the first South Asian woman to join the New York state legislature. Sooknanan was just 21 years old at the time. He also played a hand in Rajkumar’s run for public advocate this year.
Sooknanan advises those considering membership at a Phoenix or Fountain House to “just let other people there help you figure out what you want to do every day.” He maintains that there’s no pressure to engage at all — just show up, when possible.
He also pointed to President Donald Trump’s recent order encouraging municipalities to involuntarily commit people civilly and recent narratives tying Monday’s mass shooting in Manhattan to mental illness as examples of where clubhouses can correct the record.
“With all the money that has been spent, and that continues to be spent, we owe it to people with serious mental illness to help them be reintegrated back into society,” said Sooknanan. “This gets often overlooked — that we’re people, too. We can have things to contribute.
“Under the right conditions, like a clubhouse, we can do that. It’s because of the clubhouse that I can prove to other people that I’m okay, that I have something to contribute, that I am more than my illness.”
Health
Dr. Tracy Scott on living with Stiff Person Syndrome
By HEATHER M. BUTTS, JD, MPH, MA Special to the AmNews
Tracy Scott, Psy.D., is the author of the book “Doctor to Patient: Living with Stiff Person Syndrome,” as well as a lecturer. Scott earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from the Alfred Adler Institute of Chicago (now Adler University). He completed his internship in clinical psychology at the Minirth-Meier Clinic in Wheaton, Illinois, and also completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital in Chicago. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Amews: Please tell us about your background.
I have a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. I specialized in clinical neuropsychology and had a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in that area at that time, when that particular aspect of the field of psychology was relatively new. From there, I completed my training but found my place in the area of teaching seminars because one of the things that I realized, as I was going through my training, [was] that I was helping people after they had fallen into a crisis situation. I wanted to go upriver and help them before they fell in and I found that to be a more significant space for me. I also had an opportunity to have a kind of mass impact with my time on the radio [and presenting] seminars, as opposed to a one-on-one counseling session. That really became my cup of tea. In terms of teaching, my time spent at Loyola University in Chicago was a great experience.
AmNews: Please talk to us about your diagnosis.
In 2002, somewhere in that timeframe, I started experiencing kind of mini spasms. They would come on and then they would leave. It kind of caught my attention, but being a former athlete. I kind of [said to myself], “Well, maybe I’m doing too much, maybe I’m exhausted or overworking myself, and I need to just take it easy and pay attention to this.” However, over time, they continued to escalate, not only in terms of frequency but also in terms of intensity. At that point, I went to my doctor and went through the process of bloodwork. My bloodwork came back and everything was pristine — it was really good. I said, “Let me try to adjust some things in terms of my diet,” so I started making changes in my diet, but the spasms persisted.
One day, I went in for my appointment and the neurologist said, “Dr. Scott, have you ever heard of a disease called Stiff Person Syndrome? and I said “No, I
haven’t.” He said, “I want you to go home. I want you to look it up, and then you and I need to talk.” I left his office and went straight down to my car and looked that up … After over a decade and a half of searching, trying to figure out what was going on, I had my answer— but now the question was what to do about it.
AmNews: What did you do once you had the diagnosis?
Being a professor, I was used to being in control of my environment and of the situation. If I didn’t have the answers, I kind of knew how to steer people into a direction to find answers or to get help or resources. I had to learn how to gain some sense of control and some sense of dignity, and realize that my life still had meaning despite the fact that I was now faced with being a forever patient.
AnNews: What does your life look like now in terms of medical visits and health care?
My life now requires excessive preparation before leaving my home. I make sure that I have my medications with me. I have a rescue bag that I keep with me. I’m always cognizant of the emergency rooms — where they’re located in the area, just in case spasms happen and they don’t dissipate. The routines that I have demand a significant effort in adaptation — I’ve had to adapt my lifestyle and I also had to be aware that it’s not only the fact that I am a patient living with Stiff Person Syndrome, but that it is an invisible disease; unless you see the spasms or the stiffness, you would never know that I have it. That brings a unique challenge of encouraging people to understand just in terms of how it has affected my lifestyle and all of those around me.
AmNews: What are some final facts you’d like people to know about Stiff Person Syndrome and the challenges you have had to overcome?
The important thing is the relationship that you have with your medical or healthcare professional — to solidify that relationship to make sure that you stay in constant contact with them and that you follow their advice. I’m in constant contact with my primary care doctor. I do nothing from a healthcare perspective without checking in with him and I’m very fortunate that I have what’s called a good doctor because not only is he compatible, but he’s very sensitive to my chronic illness. Second, I think it’s important to realize that despite the fact of what you may be going through, your life still has meaning — you need hope because Stiff Person Syndrome is so painful. When spasms take hold, it’s as if someone is taking my body
and putting it in a vise grip, turning and ratcheting the grip and not letting go, so you do need perseverance. It’s an attitude thing that starts with your mind, it starts with your purpose, and that despite what you’re facing, you don’t give up. If you don’t have a physician [whom] you have that relationship with, seek that out because that’s important. It’s very difficult to address living with Stiff Person Syndrome without that relationship with your doctor.
The other thing that I think is really important is in terms of nutrition. My diet — I make sure that I do everything. There’s a reliance upon my healthcare profession-
al, but ultimately, I’m responsible for my health care, so I’m doing everything that I can in terms of my diet and making sure that I get some exercise each day. I may not be able to exercise every day to the same degree, but I can always do something, and I listen to my body. If I need to relax or I need to not attend an event meeting, I do it.
The last thing that’s really important is that ideally, you have relationships with people who are empathetic and compassionate, because again, one of the biggest challenges of a chronic illness is that it is lifelong, it’s enduring, and you need support.
Dr. Tracy Scott. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Scott)
Michael Dinwiddie: Friends remember a playwright, professor, Black theater historian, and kind soul
By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews
When I got the call on July 4 that Michael Dinwiddie had passed away that morning from pancreatic cancer, I was devastated. Dinwiddie, 70, was an incredible person who I have known for many years. This NYU theater professor at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, playwright, composer, and a walking, smiling, laughing theater guru was always such a pleasure to be around.
One year, Michael, who was president of the Black Theatre Network (BTN), let me know how much he respected me as a Black theater critic and asked me to come to BTN’s festival, taking place in Winston-Salem, N.C., that summer, to do a workshop about theater criticism, with expenses paid. I was thrilled to have someone acknowledge me in this way; that was the first time anyone had offered me such an experience.
That was an example of the kind of supportive, going-out-of-his-way person that Michael was. His legacy would have to include all the people whose lives he touched with his knowledge, his kindness, his joy. I used to be in awe as I watched him moderate many theater panels, held at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Studies, about Broadway productions that featured Black actors.
Michael was such a well-spoken, humble, charming man. I will miss his larger-than-life presence at events and his genuine concern if you shared a problem.
I spoke to several people who felt blessed to know Michael and their thoughts follow.
Woodie King Jr, founder of the New Federal Theatre, said, “I had known Michael for about 35, 40 years since his NYU days, and he taught at [the] New Federal Theatre. Liz [Elizabeth Van Dyke] brought him on as a teacher at New Federal. I retired in 2021; my recollection of Michael is, He’s from Detroit; that’s my hometown. [At my] last event, they unveiled a statue of me by the Mayor’s Office at the Charles Wright Museum and he was there. More recently, 12 or 13 days ago, he arranged an exhibition at the Bruno Walters Auditorium at Lincoln Center, which will be held next month. He had about 15 or 20 questions that we talked about and laughed and we had a great time talking. He and Vincent, his partner, got a cab for us. He told us he had an illness and it would be nothing. At the end of that week, he was in the hospital. He was a really great guy, a playwright, teacher, professor at NYU. He raised money for the August Wilson Center in Pittsburgh, raised money for the new theater at NYU.
“He was a great guy all around. His legacy is bringing people together. You couldn’t be around him and not know the other people around him. If Michael Dinwiddie brought us together, we should know each other. Michael never looked older — he looked the same now as he did when I first met him 40 years ago.”
Elizabeth Van Dyke, producing artistic director of the New Federal Theatre said, “It seems
like I’ve known Michael for many, many years. I’ve known him as a friend, a playwright, a playwrighting instructor for the New Federal Theatre, a collaborator — we worked on the Zora Neale Hurston festival. At Crossroads, they have this famous Genesis Festival and they did a reading of his play ‘The Genesis of Love.’ I read the role of Anna Julia Cooper in his play.
“He was a close friend and an artistic comrade. ... Michael Dinwiddie embraced the joy of life and he lived fully, and that just impacted you when you were around him. His fun, his life, his laughter rooted in literature, history, and a love for our culture wherever he went, whether the New Federal Theatre or the August Wilson Society, as a professor of NYU, or the African Grove Theater.
“It was Michael who told me about ‘Gong Lum’s Legacy.’ Michael Dinwiddie was an extraordinary human being and an extraordinary gift to the world. He was nationally known and internationally. He was a teacher in South America and Africa. His joy of life, his laughter, and his humor — I will always treasure that.
“I would say his legacy [is] a powerful intellect and an artistic impresario for Black culture, inspiring and urging everyone to become a part, to become members and donors of those institutions. Michael had a hand in so many things, like the Black Theatre Network. When he became president, he opened up the Black Theatre Network to everyone and made it national and invited people around the country to become members. When they did ‘Skeleton Crew’ on Broadway, Michael had a hand in that. He was a musician, a scholar, a playwright, and a professor, he did several things …
“Two weeks ago, he was working on a Black Theatre exposition for the Lincoln Center Library. Woodie King Jr. was among the people he interviewed and Andre De Shields. That’s a big exhibition that will happen in September — he was doing that and coordinating all of that.
“He was everywhere. He and Vincent came to our last play, ‘The Wash.’
“The first three letters of his name, D-I-N, some say stand for Do It Now and that is how Michael lived his life. How do you speak of Black theater in America without speaking about the contribution of Michael Dinwiddie?”
Jackie Jeffries, president of AUDELCO, which honored Dinwiddie with the 2024 Pioneer Award, said, “I’ve known Michael 25 years. My fondest memory is being around him, him playing the piano and singing and all the laughter and joy. He was such a great comedian.
“His legacy is his commitment to Black people in Black theater — his commitment to restore the African Grove Theater, his being part of the August Wilson Foundation, all the students he’s mentored through NYU, the lives he’s transformed. I remember when he would produce these events at NYU. They were works in progress readings of different plays. He was on the board of the New Federal Theatre. He has always been willing to give. He was a historian, he was a walking genius and a great humanitarian. I think he was a quintessential resources man and everybody just loved him. He was walking love. Always had a smile on his face, always a good word. I will miss him.”
Michelle Hodges, one of his dearest colleagues and friends, recalled, “I’m the founding development director for the Classical Theatre of Harlem. I would always look at who was in our audience and, in 2003, Michael came and introduced himself, and that was it. My fondest memory would be the two early benefits that we did for the Classical Theatre of Harlem in 2005, 2006. We wanted to marry Harlem historical theater history with contemporary. Our awards that we gave to people — Tiffany made them. Dianne Carroll came. We were sold out to the gills. They were two remarkable events, and Michael and I just made that happen. We laughed our way through it.
“He was so utterly brilliant. One of the things I noticed when we first started hanging out at NYU — I would see four or five students waiting to talk to him at any time. He was beloved at NYU. “Michael was completely unafraid of expressing his true self. Any environment that he was in, he knew how to talk to people, how to get the best out of them and put them at ease. He was a really funny human being and also a generous spirit with his knowledge and experience.”
Reneé Charlow, 2024–2026 president of the Black Theatre Network (BTN), knew Michael Dinwiddie for more than 15 years, as a friend, mentor, former BTN president, and BTN consultant. “One of my fondest memories is watching Michael effortlessly take charge at BTN events, always grounding us in the rich legacy of Black theatre with his leadership and unwavering commitment,” she said. “He had an un-
canny way of blending authority with humor — especially during board meetings, when things got a little too serious. He’d slip in a quick joke or a light comment, just enough to lift the room’s energy.
“I’ll never forget one moment in particular: During a Zoom meeting, I told the board that I wasn’t especially fond of managing or handling other people’s money; I preferred handling Renee’s money. Without missing a beat, he chimed in on the Zoom chat, ‘Oh, I understand — I like Renee’s money, too. I do.’ I laughed and shared the comment with the others. That moment stuck with me because it was so him: candid, kind, and always ready to share a smile.”
Considering Dinwiddie’s legacy, Charlow said, “Michael’s legacy is rooted in his steadfast commitment to the preservation and celebration of Black theatre. Through every BTN event and every boardroom conversation, he reminded us that our work was not just organizational; it was ancestral, cultural, and revolutionary. He believed Black theatre should remain at the forefront of the artistic conversation, and he worked tirelessly to ensure our mission always reflected that.
“He championed theatre of the diaspora, never allowing us to stray from the business of uplifting stories that echoed our heritage and spoke to our future. His leadership was strategic as well as spiritual. He carried the torch with grace and pride, and left behind a blueprint for advocacy, artistic excellence, and community that we will continue to follow with reverence.”
Reflecting on Michael she shared, “In every room he entered—whether it was a rehearsal space, a board meeting, or a packed theatre—he carried an undeniable presence, one that combined insight, wit, and a deep love for the art form and the people who shaped it. We mourn his passing, yes, but we celebrate the legacy he leaves behind: one of joy, excellence, and cultural pride.”
“His voice may be silent, but his impact echoes in every curtain call, every script read, every story told. We will continue the work he championed, holding his vision close as we forge ahead.”
“Ashe, Brother Michael. Ashe.”
Professor Michael D. Dinwiddie
(Lia Chang photo)
Vincent Parham, Woodie King Jr., Elizabeth Van Dyke, and Michael Dinwiddie. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Van Dyke)
Religion & Spirituality
Thomas Joseph DuVall, percussionist and cofounder of Weusi Artist Collective, dies at 91
Contributed
Thomas “Taiwo” Joseph DuVall, a prominent Black Arts Movement leader, percussionist, and co-founder of the Weusi Artist Collective, died on March 30, 2025. He was 91.
DuVall was an author, artist, musician and folklorist known for his woodcuts, portraits, landscapes and book illustrations, according to his website. But, he was also known for his mastery of the Ashiko drum and his many other notable musical collaborations.
Born in Washington, D.C., he began painting at the age of four, demonstrating natural talent from an early age, becoming an entirely self-taught artist. DuVall described his artistic practice as a responsibility. “Drawing makes me feel like I am in charge of what I’m doing,” he once said, “and there is a certain amount of responsibility that goes along with that charge.”
DuVall was raised in a segregated America, but went on to become one of the first Black paratroopers in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division while serving in the Korean War.
Relocating to Harlem after his military service ended, DuVall attended numerous schools — including the City College of New York — before graduating from New York’s Pan American School of Art. In 1965, he joined 20 other artists to co-found the Weusi Artist Collective, which united a group of African American artists dedicated to using African themes and symbols in their work. Weusi opened New York City’s first African Art gallery on Harlem’s Strivers Row and continues today, as a hub for acclaimed African American artists.
DuVall’s creative pursuits spanned multiple disciplines. He was a master drummer who played with numerous talents including Babatunde Olatunji, Chief Bey, Pearl Primus, Percival Borde, Carlos Santana, Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, and Randy Weston.
He performed at the New York World’s Fair in 1964 and also played the Ashiko drum with Olatunji, who was signed to create the first African drumming album for Western ears called “Drums of Passion,” produced through Columbia Records in 1959.
“When I saw brother Duvall’s work,” Emmett Wigglesworth, also an original Weusi member, told the AmNews, “he worked in a kind of…if you look at it from
a Western perspective, a realistic vein. But every piece, even when he did pieces where children were sitting still, you felt movement, you felt dance, you felt rhythm. When he did pieces where children were actually doing something, you could feel the dance and that movement. He was also a musician, an incredible one, and when he played the drums, you could see the extrapolation from his art to the music, and it was all one.”
DuVall authored the 2014 book “Venial Sins: An Autobiography,” and his artwork has been exhibited internationally and is part of the permanent collection at Harlem’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. As a staff artist for Third Press Publishers, he managed other graphic artists and illustrators, culminating in recognition from Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer for his integrity and artistic ability. His diverse experiences influenced his work, often depicting memories from his childhood and community. He sought to intertwine African American folklore with broader American culture.
“I enjoy tying African American folklore into American culture by creating the experience of Africa and the Caribbean through my art,” he said.
Thomas “Taiwo” Joseph DuVall
Cover for Duvall’s book Venial Sins- An Autobiography (Courtesy photo)
Cover for Duvall’s book Venial Sins- An Autobiography (Courtesy photo)
Femi Kuti
behind the artists. “If you don’t know who dead prez is you have to get familiar,” guest Kweli told the audience. “So powerful. So beautiful. So Black. So excellent.”
After a brief intermission, Kuti and Positive Force brought a unique sonic brew to the enthusiastic, sweaty, Central Park audience. The set included free form solo improvisations from Kuti sprawled throughout intensely locked in grooves, and vamps that hypnotize, and pull the listener into the vast web of sound emanating from the stage. Much of the lyrical content is repetitive — easy to grasp for an audience member who wants to sing along — and powerful in its messaging. Kuti’s latest album “Journey Through Life” includes big ideas about love and peace — how we need to come together, but also includes moments of introspection, like on the track “Work on Myself,” which he included in the Central Park set. “If after all these years my father couldn’t change things … or Malcolm X or whoever it was — I’ve been doing it all my life, I thought ‘maybe I’m wasting too much time,’” he said. But then, he began to reframe his perspective. “Maybe if I look inward and people see the change in me, maybe people will start to look within themselves … If I keep telling you, ‘This is the way to go about it,’ then I’m like a dictator myself. “Kuti is all too wise to the power of music, and its ability to communicate and connect. “Music is a weapon, and art can bring people together,” but “it can be used against us as well,” he warned. “It all depends on the individual to stay true.” At the end of the day, Kuti wants his music to give people strength. “Because the music gives me the strength to just say — excuse me — ‘f — it!’”
Mangione
Continued from page 24
It was never about him being able to play anything more explosive. He was more interested in reaching the public with his music, not just a segment of the population. His most prominent recording, “Feels So Good,” played in elevators, department stores, grocery stores and restaurants which was his goal — to reach the mass public.
Many critics seem to have overlooked Mangione’s most meaningful and vibrant composition, the title song “Land of Make Believe,” sung by Esther Satterfield. The large ensemble also featured his brother Gap on electric piano and trumpeter Jon Faddis (Mercury, 1973). The song was a global anthem with igniting music that sparked the soulful spirit. “The Land of Make Believe” was the most riotous song recorded by Mangione — it was imaginative funk and the lyrics are Now for these unsettling times and will be for generations to come.
The lyrics were thought-provoking
(rapped in wishful nursery rhythms): “I once asked the Wizard of Oz / For the secret of his land/He said, ‘Just take a look around here/Seven dwarves and Little Boy Blue/ Uncle Remus and Snow White, too/’ (Now, just between us, that’s what’s known as integration.)/And Snoopy’s making smiles For grown-ups.” While everyone was listening to his smooth jazz, Mangione dropped a subtle revolutionary bomb with “Land of Make Believe.”
His signature brown felt hat, along with the score to “Feels So Good” and a treasure of photographs and albums, are in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, a donation that Mangione made to the institution in 2009.
In 2012, Mangione was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame, which quoted him as saying, “If you’re honest and play with love, people will sit down and listen … my music is the sum of all I have experienced.” (ABC News) Mangione’s wife, Rosemarie, died in 2015. He is survived by his two daughters, Nancy and Diana; grandchildren and greatgrandchildren and his brother Gap.
Marcus Gilmore (Jonathan Chimene photo)
“Dancers Olajumoke Adigun, Kate Udi, and Anthonia Bernard performing with Positive Force at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park on July 27. (Johnny Knollwood photos)
“Nigerian poet and United Nations Ambassador for Peace Aslaniham gives a passionate reading at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park on July 27.
“An enthusiastic audience watching Femi Kuti and Positive Force at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park on July 27.
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Empire Data Advisory LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on June 16th, 2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 26 Cornelia St., New York, New York, 10014. Purpose: Any lawful act.
CRG CAPITAL GROUP LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/08/2025. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 134 West 29th Street, 4th Fl, New York, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful act.
225 Willow LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on July 13, 2025. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 601 Wales Ave, Bronx, NY 10455 Purpose: Any lawful act.
TOKPA MASSAGE THERAPY, PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/22/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 234 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10001. Purpose: Any lawful act.
DEKOW TRANSPORTATION
LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/16/2025. Office location: ERIE County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 73 HAWLEY STREEТ, BUFFALO, NY, 14213. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Notice of Qualification of STORAGE POST / 4396 BROADWAY, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/20/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/03/25. 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, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
GEMSIGHT LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/04/2023. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 300 E 40TH ST, APT 8F, NEW YORK NY 10016. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Gian New York LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 6/16/2025. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 201 East 66th Street, New York, NY 10065. Purpose: Any lawful act.
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #NA-0370-25121169 for beer, wine & liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine & and liquor at retail in a bar under the ABC Law at 143 1 st Ave., NYC 10003 for on-premises consumption; Eighteen to One LLC
Lunessa Partners LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on July 15, 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 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005. Purpose: Any lawful act.
WRM HOLDING LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/31/2025. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 2O ATLAS COURT, EAST MEADOW, NY 11554. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Greater Harlem Chamber SPV1, LLC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 5/8/25 Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 200A W136th Street, New York, NY 10030. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Rover Cleaners LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/19/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 5 Union SQ FRNT 1 #1171, New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Clear Process Engineering
LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 5/14/2025. Office location: NY County County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 19376 N. 9th St., Covington, LA 70433. Purpose: Any lawful act.
CUSHION MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 6/23/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 374 W 116TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10026. Purpose: Any lawful act.
WEISSBERGER PRODUCTIONS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/03/2025 Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 45 EAST 72ND STREET, NEW YORK, NY, 10021. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Somethingsoft LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/16/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 125 Delancey St, Apt 1305, New York, NY 10002. Purpose: Any lawful act.
JAM331E81 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/15/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: C/O: JARED S. PINCHASICK, ESQ, 477 MADISON AVENUE, 6TH FLOOR , NEW YORK, NY, 10022. Purpose: Any lawful act.
EL REY VENTURES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/17/2024. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 136 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Uwabideli Brands LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on March 12, 2025. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 5680 Broadway #1039, Bronx, NY 10463. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Etico Managment LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 1/29/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 211 Thomspon Street APT 2E, New York, NY 10012. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Civic Spark Cleaning Co. LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/26/25. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 447 Broadway, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10013. Purpose: Any lawful act.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NEW YORK COUNTY
MORGAN STANLEY PRIVATE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff against PHILIP LAJAUNIE, et al Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 and 1131 Route 55, Suite 1, Lagrangeville, NY 12540.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered October 21, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at Motion Support Room 130 in the New York Supreme Court, 60 Centre Street, New York, New York 10007 on August 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM. Premises known as 62 East First Street, Unit 4S, New York, NY 10003. Block 443 Lot 1108. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate lying and being the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $1,609,440.57 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 850341/2018.
During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. Referee will only accept a certified bank check made payable to the referee.
Paul Sklar, Esq., Referee File # NY201800001401-1
Notice of Qualification of ADVANTAGE SALES & MARKETING LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/18/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Nevada (NV) on 12/30/24. Princ. office of LLC: 8001 Forsyth Blvd., Ste. 1025, Clayton, MO 63105. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 101 N. Carson St., Ste. 3, Carson City, NV 89701. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
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 August 13, 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. #102355
SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. ALMA BANK, Plaintiff ‑against‑ N.V. JUDSON CORPORATION, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated April 11, 2025 and entered on April 28, 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 August 20, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, known and designated as Unit No. 29G in the condominium known as "Olympic Tower Condomini um" together with an undivided .2213396% interest in the com mon elements. Block: 1287 and Lot: 1063
Said premises known as 641 5TH AVENUE, UNIT NO. 29G, NEW YORK, NY 10022
Approximate amount of lien $2,004,580.73 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850068/2023. MATTHEW D. HUNTER III, ESQ., Referee
SHERMAN ATLAS SYLVES TER & STAMELMAN LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036 {* AMSTERDAM*}
Notice of Formation of 1340 STRATFORD INTERESTS OWNER LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 116 E. 27th St., 11th Fl., NY, NY 10016. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Products and Services: Real estate investment & development.
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK.
AXOS BANK, Plaintiff
-against- HUDSON 805 LLC, et al Defendant(s). Index Number 850233/2022.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated November 26, 2024 and entered on February 3, 2025 (the “Judgment”), I, the undersigned Referee will sell at a public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, New York on September 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. (E.T.) premises situate, all that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, known as Unit No. 805-06 in the building known as the Printing House Condominium. Together with an undivided 0.0124% interest in the Common Elements. District: 0403 Section: 014.00 Block: 02.00 and Lot: 044.002
Said premises known as 421 HUDSON STREET, UNIT 805/806, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10014
Approximate amount of lien $7,584,837.12 plus post-judgment interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the filed Judgment and the Terms of Sale.
JEFFREY MILLER, ESQ., Referee
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP
Attn: Benjamin O. Gilbert bogilbert@sheppardmullin.com
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 (212) 896-0682
{* AMSTERDAM*}
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , Stormfield Opportunity Fund, LP , Plaintiff, vs . Glotser Living, LLC , ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Consent Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 9, 2025 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on August 13, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 166 East 63rd Street, Unit 16D, Manhattan, NY 10065. 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 1397 and Lot 1341 together with an undivided 0.611252 percent interest in the Common Elements, as well as all personal property of Borrower as identified in that certain Mortgage, Assignment of Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated as of September 17, 2021, and recorded on October 7, 2021 as CRFN 2021000395478, and excluding any funds held by Plaintiff in any reserve, escrow, or suspense fund, and excluding any funds held by Plaintiff in any cash management account. Approximate amount of judgment is $970,128.57 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850572/2023. Roberta Ashkin, Esq., Referee Polsinelli PC, Aaron P. Davis, Esq., 600 Third Avenue, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10016, Attorneys for Plaintiff
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT. NEW YORK COUNTY. FLUSHING BANK, Pltf. vs. GACH, LLC
A/K/A PBAK LLC, et al Deft. Index #850038/2024. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered April 25, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on August 20, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. prem. k/a 43 East 25 th Street, Unit C6, New York, NY 10016 a/k/a Block 855, Lot 1007. The Unit known as Unit No. C6 in the Building known as The Stanford, located at 43-51 East 25 th Street in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York and also designated and described as Unit No. C6 in the Declaration establishing the Standford (hereinafter called the “Property”), made under the Condominium Act of the State of New York as amended ( Article 9-B of the Real Property Law of the State of New York dated March 31, 1986 and recorded in the New York County Office of the Register of the City of New York on May 5, 1986 in Reel 1058 Page 1675 as amended by Amendment to Declaration dated August 8, 1986 and recorded September 5, 1986 in Reel 1113 Page 464 and further amended by Second Amendment dated June 22, 1987 and recorded July 20, 1987 in Reel 12362 Page 1345 and further amended Third Amendment dated October 15, 1987 and recorded December 8, 1987 in Reel 1328 Page 2003 and by Fourth Amendment dated June 13, 1988 and recorded June 17, 1988 in Reel 1418 Page 442). Which Unit is also designated as Tax Lot No. 1007 in Block 866 of Section 3 on the Floor Plans of the Building, certified by Liebman, Liebman Associates, P.C. on the 23 rd day of April 1986 and filed simultaneously with said Declaration in the said Office of the Register of the City of New York, County of New York as Map No. 4454. Together with an undivided 3.2788% percent interest in the Common Elements of the Condominium. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,188,476.36 plus cost and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. JERRY MEROLA, Referee. CERTILMAN BALIN ADLER & HYMAN, LLP Attys. for Pltf., 100 Motor Parkway, Ste. 560, Hauppauge, NY 11788. File No. 12914.0513- #102291
Notice of Qualification of STORAGE POST / 4388 BROADWAY, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/20/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/03/25. 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 DE Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #NA-0240-25121395 for beer and wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer & wine at retail in a restaurant under the ABC Law at 89B Canal St., New York, NY 10002 for on-premises consumption; Fooood LLC
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR HARBORVIEW MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST
2007-2,
Plaintiff, Against HARVEY LEVINE, CAROLE LEVINE, ET AL
Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 09/13/2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, in Room 130 at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on 8/13/2025 at 2:15PM, premises known as 455 Central Park West, Unit 17B, New York, New York 10025, and described as follows:
ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Condominium Unit (Hereinafter Referred To As The "Unit") Known As Unit No. 17B In The Premises Known As 455 Central Park West Condominium, And By The Street Number 455 Central Park West, Borough Of Manhattan, County City And State Of New York. TOGERTHER with an undivided 0.625% percent interest in the Common Elements. Block 01841 Lot 1276
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $3,088,341.91 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 850318/2014
Roberta Ellen Ashkin, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 6/4/2025 File Number: 17-301350 CA
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT: NEW YORK COUNTY
CI NOTES LLC v. 7 TH REALTY HOLDINGS, LLC et al.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated April 11, 2025 and filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court, New York County on April 17, 2025, bearing Index no. 850657/2023, I will sell at public auction on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 2:15 pm in Room 130 of the New York County Supreme Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, New York 10007 the premises known as 2291 7th Avenue a/k/a 2291 Adam C. Powell Jr. Blvd., New York, NY 10030 (Block: 1919, Lot: 63). Premises sold subject to filed Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Terms of Sale. Judgment amount $1,382,233.85 plus interest and costs. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with the New York County Supreme Court Policies. Location and time are subject to revision based on Court policy, current protocols and health conditions. It is requested that Auction attendees practice social distancing whenever possible. Roberta Ashkin, Esq., Referee. Harry Zubli, Esq., attorney for plaintiff (516) 487-5777.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Plaintiff, vs. David M. Simon a/k/a David Simon, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on December 4, 2024 and a Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on May 23, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Room 130 of the New York County Courtroom, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on September 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 130 West 30th Street a/k/a 128-134 West 30th Street, Unit No. 16A & Storage Unit 11, New York, NY 10001. 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 805 and Lots 1043 & 1060 together with an undivided 2.241 percent and 0.079 percent interests respectively in the Common Elements (as such term is defined in the Declaration). Approximate amount of judgment is $943,764.76 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850382/2023. Tom Kleinberger, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 232572-1
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK: COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 973 AMSTERDAM AVE FUNDING LLC, Pltf v. JOAL REAL ESTATE, INC., et al., Defts. Index No. 850115/2024. pursuant to the Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on June 5, 2025, I will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, New York, Room 130, on September 3, 2025, at 2:15 p.m., prem. k/a 973 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY (Block 1862, Lot 62). Approx. amt of judgment is $3,260,575.44, plus costs, attorneys’ fees and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Thomas R. Kleinberger, Esq., Referee. Jacobowitz Newman Tversky LLP, Attys. for Plaintiff, 377 Pearsall Ave., Ste C, Cedarhurst, NY.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF MULLEN, ARMS & FITZPATRICK LLP.
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/16/2025. Office Location: New York County.
SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLP served upon him/her is: 745 Fifth Avenue Suite 500 New York, NY 10151.
The principal business address of the LLP is 745 Fifth Avenue Suite 500 New York, NY 10151.
Purpose: Practice of Law.
Seeking M/WBE bids for construction site at 1746 Monroe Ave Bronx NY Contact bidding@taxaceny.com
Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company. Name: Bar4Bar Rap League LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 01/18/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 228 Park Ave S PMB 446776New York, New York 10003-1502 US. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
Notice of Qualification of CSIP
VII GENERAL PARTNER, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/10/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/11/25. 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 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, 401 Federal St., Ste. 3, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF OM SHADOW LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on May 31, 2025, Office Location, New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is: UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC. 7014 13TH AVENUE, SUITE 202, BROOKLYN, NY, 11228, USA. The principal business address of the LLC is OM Shadow LLC 228 PARK AVE S #195985, NEW YORK, NY, 10003
Notice of Formation of US OVERSIGHT PROPERTIES
LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/08/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 641 Lexington Ave., 15th Fl., NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of 577 BALTIC TIC 1 LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/11/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/22/25. Princ. office of LLC: 551 Fifth Ave., Ste. 1720, NY, NY 10176. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. DE addr. of LLC: 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.
Kimbro LLC filed w/ SSNY 6/22/04. Off. in NY Co. Process served to SSNY - desig. as agt. of LLC & mailed to Mike Katz, 630 Third Ave, 23rd Fl, NY, NY 10017. Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Qualification of WING AVIATION LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/03/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 05/16/17. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of AUBREY VENTURES 4 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/02/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Greeley Square Station, P.O. Box 20366, 4 E. 27th St., NY, NY 10001-9998. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of KIRKWOOD HOUSE ACQUISITION, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/18/25. 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 12207. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #NA-0267-25121998 for beer & wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer & wine at retail in a Tavern/Cafe under the ABC Law at 616A Amsterdam Ave., NYC for on-premises consumption; TDGNYC Corp.
Notice of Formation of RBF1, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/22/25. 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 12207. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of ALAN MENKEN LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/16/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Fulton Vittoria LLP, One Rockefeller Plaza, Ste. 301, NY, NY 10020. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
To display your Legal, LLC, and classifieds ads contact: Brian Lawrence (617) 704-3735
brian.lawrence @amsterdamnews.com
‘We Outside Summer’ in full swing for East Harlem NYCHA center
By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff
How New York City’s youngsters avoid the “summer slide” during the big city’s sweltering months will shape their future. It can be a time idly wasted sitting on street corners, when young people can’t find work or other opportunities to occupy their time, or it can be employed with a flurry of inspiration, education, and activity toward long-term purpose and fond memories.
This year, Mayor Eric Adams’ “We Outside Summer” safety plan increased weekend hours for select NYCHA community facilities. Even with these added hours, youngsters still found themselves waiting with excitement for the doors to open each day at East Harlem’s James Weldon Johnson Community Center, said social media manager Deleah Watts.
A quick tour from program director Rob Clarke shows exactly why. The community center remains alive even after dusk as the preteens of Pretty Problem bust a move for their hip-hop dance class while young men in the gym next door rest from lifting weights, sheepishly preparing for their photo after hearing about a media visit.
Meanwhile, “Coach D” preaches teamwork as teenage girls run basketball drills on a full-sized court as “Hanshi” Dave Thomas demonstratively hip-tosses a purple belt in a backstage makeshift dojo for a multigenerational karate class once taken by a student’s mom more than two decades ago
— all under one roof in El Barrio.
In May, Mayor Adams announced $2 million toward 400 hours of programming in hopes of keeping youngsters safe and busy during the summer, including extended weekend hours from 12 to 3 p.m. for certain Cornerstone community centers like Johnson. Regular operating hours run from 6 to 11 p.m. daily.
Cornerstone operates out of the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) in 100 public housing community centers across the city through nonprofit partners. Youth service provider SCAN-Harbor runs the programming at Johnson Community Center. Many participants and employees, like Watts, stem from the Johnson Houses.
“I feel like I’m more connected to them because I know their parents and everything,” said Watts. “So I feel like I’m really involved because I was once a kid here too, and then I got a job here and I started working here. I grew up here, so a lot of the parents [and] the grandparents know me. A lot of the kids are comfortable with me [because] one day that’s going to be them.”
22-year-old Isaiah McCants hails from the Bronx but Clarke’s mentorship program for young men drew him to Johnson. He began working at the center through DYCD’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) but later landed a standalone job handling a wide range of responsibilities like security and program application.
Through Johnson, McCants — who the
kids call Mr. Zay — kickstarted his own basketball tournament for the community called “Make Harlem Great Again.”
“We got teams from all over Harlem, all under one gym,” said McCants. “Just to make a safe space for young Black people — all races as well — everybody gets together [to] have a safe space to play basketball.”
While it won’t translate to the court, he seemed to grow a foot taller recalling the tournament’s roots. McCants hopes efforts to provide a safe space from the streets will carry back over to making the streets safer.
Clarke jokingly called him “Commissioner Z” and credited him for bringing together youngsters and their guests from all over the neighborhood under one gym roof as neutral ground for different housing developments, some with prior histories.
“A lot of places deny spectators saying they don’t want the unknown happening or someone [who isn’t] a participant coming into the space,” said Clarke. “But we welcome it because we command a different respect…and everyone honors and respects the space.”
Aubrielle, 11, says the center’s open doors make her “so happy.” “It inspires me to come here,” she said. “Just [an] open mind, talk to teachers, dance [and] to let out my feelings.”
Jailah, 14, just got her first paycheck working at the center thanks to SYEP. She points to her hair when asked about where her money went.
Anthony Posada, supervising attorney of Legal Aid Society’s Community Justice Unit, encountered Johnson Community Center a
few years back as a teaching artist for arts nonprofit Project Attica. He recounts a “vibrant and cohesive” hub, which the public defender sees as true public safety.
“Community safety often is a combination of factors, but at the core [are] resources,” said Posada. “In this case, community members knew they could partake of these sessions [like] pilates, after school programming … a community meeting that was taking place to address either a recent or ongoing issue that tenants wanted to focus on [or] food distribution — all these are resources [and] things communities need to meet their basic needs. And that provides safety.”
During the tour, Clarke pointed to workin-progress facilities like a new games room and computer lab in Knicks orange and blue thanks to donations from Madison Square Garden Company. McCants mentions LGBTQ programming, with ballroom culture like voguing. “We have a space for them,” he said. The center also boasts a small outdoor amphitheater and senior programming. Clarke even showed off renovated bathrooms, a luxury in Manhattan.
“I was born and raised in East Harlem,” said Clarke. “There’s opportunities out there, but a lot of people don’t know about opportunities. Then we say we don’t have these resources — the resource is information. We got to make sure that these kids have the information, the kids, the parents, the grandparents, the younger kids: getting the information out there is the resource.”
“Hanshi” Dave Thomas teaches karate at James Weldon Johnson Community Center. (Tandy Lau photo)
‘I didn’t sign up to be exploited’: NYC Teaching Fellows await payment for summer training
By ALEX ZIMMERMAN Chalkbeat New York
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.
Omena El signed up for the New York City Teaching Fellows program in search of a more stable career. El previously cobbled together work as a substitute teacher, nutritionist, and massage therapist, although making ends meet was a struggle. She was thrilled when she was accepted to the city’s Teaching Fellows program, which quickly trains career-changers and recent college graduates to fill hard-to-staff positions in the city’s public schools. She looked forward to building a career in the public school system that educated her.
However, as the seven-week training program winds down this week, El and many other teaching fellows have yet to receive promised stipends of up to $4,500 to cover summer living costs, according to interviews with five fellows and a site supervisor.
“I’m not able to pay that bus fare” to get to the program, El said. “I’ve been eating the same frozen dinners for lunch every day.” She added that “I love this work, but I didn’t sign up to be exploited, and I didn’t sign up to work for free.”
Teaching fellows across the city said they have struggled to pay their bills even as they worked long hours, learning how to manage classrooms, devising lessons, and honing their craft with summer school students. The Education Department has sent vague messages in response to fellows’ concerns about the payment delays. A spokesperson told Chalkbeat in a statement that fellows will receive their stipends within the next two weeks.
The payment issues come as the Education Department is trying to ramp up hiring to comply with a state class size mandate that will require recruiting thousands more teachers than usual every year. The Education Department hopes the Teaching Fellows will be one pillar of that strategy. There are nearly 1,000 fellows this year, roughly double the number last year, officials said.
About 12% of the city’s current educators came through the Teaching Fellows program, which launched in 2000 as a fast-track process to the classroom that skirts the traditional certification process. It is also designed to attract more teachers of color to enter the profession. Payment delays could complicate those efforts by making it harder to recruit future fellows or saddling new educators with unexpected debt.
“This makes me not want to be a teacher,” said one teaching fellow who previously worked in publishing and spoke on
condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. “If anyone asks me to apply for this program, I’m going to tell them ‘no.’”
The teacher-in-training said he expected to be paid in installments beginning early in the summer, based on an information session he watched. During that webinar, a Teaching Fellows staff member said that “our stipend is distributed from June and it is divided equally,” according to a recording obtained by Chalkbeat.
The fellow was depending on regular payments to replace some of his publishing salary. Instead, he has relied on loans from friends to pay rent.
“It’s placed [an] incredible strain on my relationships,” the fellow said. He recently restarted medication to handle depression and anxiety that have “skyrocketed” as a result of financial stress.
Education Department spokesperson Chyann Tull did not respond to questions about what caused the payment delays, but an internal message to some fellows blamed bureaucratic snafus.
“Unfortunately, this year’s Fellows cohort was caught in the middle of a transition to a new payment structure that
was required for us to remain in compliance with tax regulations,” according to an unsigned email sent to some fellows on Friday. “While the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality has been working tirelessly to issue this payment as soon as possible, we deeply apologize for the delay caused by this transition and appreciate your patience and understanding.”
The message noted that some fellows should pay attention to their mail after Aug. 1, because the payment will come as a paper check and may take months to replace if lost.
Some observers worried that the payment issues could make it more likely that this crop of Teaching Fellows could leave the classroom more quickly.
“If I’m starting my teaching career in debt, the likelihood that I’ll stay in the teaching profession shrinks,” said Jonathan Collins, a professor of political science and education at Columbia University Teachers College. “As teachers, they’re not on a trajectory to earn a king’s ransom.”
In the context of the looming class size mandate, Collins added, “any small setback in terms of getting more teachers, or teach-
ers’ aides, into the classroom, is a big deal.”
Another fellow, who is biracial and previously worked as an accountant, said he applied for the program in part because he thinks the teaching force should be more racially diverse. Research suggests students of color have better outcomes when they learn from teachers who look like them.
“I really wanted to be part of the diversity,” said the fellow, who is planning to become a special education teacher and spoke on condition of anonymity. He wound up borrowing $6,500 from relatives to afford rent and groceries this summer, an experience that made him second-guess his decision to work for the city’s public school system.
“It is putting people at a disadvantage,” he said. The payment issues “made it feel as if it’s not worth it.”
Alex Zimmerman is a reporter for Chalkbeat New York, covering NYC public schools. Contact Alex atazimmerman@ chalkbeat.org.
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
New teachers gather at LaGuardia High School in Manhattan. Nearly 12% of the city’s educators are Teaching Fellows, a program that offers a fast-track path into the classroom for career changers and recent college grads. (Michael Elsen-Rooney / Chalkbeat photo)
Bronx BP Gibson
Continued from page 2
Council Member Rafael Salamanca, who had run briefly for Bronx borough president in 2020 but dropped out of the race. She will face Republican nominee Grace Marrero, a community advocate, in the November election.
“Sixty-eight percent of the vote is a huge margin that we won with, and I am taking that in, understanding that we have more support across the borough.”
Gibson broke into politics in 2009 when she ran in a special election to replace former State Assemblymember Aurelia Greene, her boss at the time, in the 77th District in the Bronx. She went on to be elected to City Council’s District 16 seat in 2013. The learning curve wasn’t easy, she said.
“When I first got elected in 2009, my district was majority Latino/Hispanic, and a part of me always felt that I didn’t belong,” said Gibson. “I wasn’t a native of the Bronx, I wasn’t born in the Bronx, and people sometimes wanted to make me feel as if I didn’t belong. But once I started to build relationships and do the work and show up and deliver, I started to build confidence. I started to feel not only do I belong, but this is where God wants me to be.”
The trust grew and eventually, she became the first woman and Black person to hold her borough president position in 2020. This year’s pri-
Trinidad
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died while on duty.
“I call on them to treat with the concerned hostage that is alive today and the families of those who were murdered,” Eversley told reporters at a streetside press conference this week. “I cry ‘shame’ on the authorities where 1990 is concerned. I was used as a human shield. Lorraine Caballero, a parliamentary clerk, was shot in the stomach and dragged in front of me. I watched her bleed to death. I thought I was going to die.”
Eversley added, “This was an attack on parliament. The speaker’s chamber is still scarred by bullets. A clerk was killed doing her job. Why is there no national remembrance? Today, gangs are in control of entire communities. Judges and police officers are under threat. Corruption is rampant. And no one wants to say how it all started — on July 27, 1990.”
mary was the first election Gibson participated in without her mother, Phyllis Gibson, who died last year. It left her thinking a lot about future generations and how she will be remembered. “I honor her spirit, I honor her life and her legacy, because I know that she’s proud. And now, while I’m here, I want to make the Bronx proud,” said Gibson.
Moving the Bronx forward
In the meantime, Gibson is focused on keeping projects like the massive Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment, with a price tag of $215 million, on track. She is also busy connecting residents in need to jobs in the healthcare, social services, administrative, law enforcement, and city and state fields with her 2025 Future Forward Bronx Employment fairs.
“I absolutely believe in lifting up families through job growth, and economic development,” Gibson said. “I’ve been very adamant about having job and career fairs as the president. I joined with the New York State Department of Labor for a partnership called Future Forward Bronx [to help] people who are fully incarcerated, veterans, people with disabilities, communities of color, African American men, [who have] some of the highest rates of unemployment that we’ve identified.”
He drew parallels with the way 911 victims are honored in the U.S. “This country (USA) remembers 9/11 in America. I went to Manhattan last year and saw how they honor every life lost, but here in Trinidad and Tobago, 24 of our own died, and we say nothing,” Eversley said.
He wasted little time in linking the events of 1990 to runaway crime in the country, with authorities forced to impose two states of emergency to curb violent crime in the past seven months. “What we are witnessing in our country is because of 1990,” Eversley said. “This is because we didn’t treat and get rid of the cancer, because when those people were set free, it was like a carnival at the royal jail on Frederick Street. Today, we’re hearing about extortion, kidnapping, businesses having to close early. I call on [government] to treat with the concerned hostage that is alive today and the families of those who were murdered.”
Bronx Borough President
Vanessa Gibson at a meeting with community leaders. (Photo contributed by Gibson’s office)
Gerren Nixon’s Urban Arm Wrestling League is reshaping a community
By TYRESE ALLEYNE-DAVIS Special to the AmNews
On a strip of Wyandanch, Long Island, a working-class enclave in Suffolk County, past corner stores and narrow side streets, a different kind of arena is taking shape. There are no bleachers, no stadium lights — but when the arms lock and the referee calls, “ready, go,” the tension is electric.
For Gerren Nixon, these moments represent more than competition. They’re about identity, access, and a sport too often left underground. With a worn table, a vision, and a growing community, Nixon has built something that looks less like a league and more like a movement. In the Urban Arm Wrestling League (UAWL), the competitive circuit is as much about social empowerment as it is about physical strength. Nixon spent his early adulthood chasing a vision. For years, the music business served as his creative outlet. He promoted events and immersed himself in the rhythm of New York’s nightlife. But even in those fast-paced years, he longed for something deeper. “I always knew in the back of my head and in my heart that I wanted to find a way to put arm wrestling at the forefront of my community,” Nixon said.
A chance conversation with a close friend reignited his passion for arm wrestling, a spark that dated back to his childhood watching,
“Over the Top”, the 1987 Sylvester Stallone cult classic that romanticized underground arm wrestling. That memory, combined with his desire to create something lasting, planted the seed for a new path. In 2019, Nixon launched the
Urban Arm Wrestling League. UAWL now hosts training sessions, local qualifying tournaments, and a championship series. A portion of entry fees go toward Long Island charities and a scholarship fund for Wyandanch High School students, including Nixon’s alma mater, Wyandanch High.
“The first event was a disaster,” Nixon recalled, laughing. “I booked
it on a Sunday night. Total rookie mistake. Most seasoned pullers know events usually happen on Saturday afternoons so people can travel and recover. I didn’t know that. I thought I could just promote it like a concert.”
That humbling moment forced Nixon to reach out to veteran figures in the arm wrestling world such as Al Scalzo, Tom “Nitro” Simko,
and James Reid. They didn’t sugarcoat their feedback. “They told me straight up: learn the sport, respect the craft, and do it right.”
One of the league’s fastest rising figures is Leslie Sinclair, who began as a regular competitor and has since grown into a key leader within the organization. Now serving as UAWL’s vice president, Sinclair works closely alongside Nixon to grow the brand and expand its reach.
What truly sets the league apart, however, is its mission beyond the matches. UAWL events often feature DJs and music, forging a blend of sport and culture. Thanks to partnerships with major sponsors like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Buffalo Wild Wings, UAWL continues to grow into a movement. Ken Smith, general manager of a Buffalo Wild Wings location on Long Island and a fan of the sport, successfully advocated for corporate investment. Now, the chain is one of the league’s most visible and active sponsors.
From those early missteps to establishing one of the most unique and inclusive leagues in the country, Nixon’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless belief in the power of community. In Wyandanch and beyond, that belief is beginning to take hold—one pull at a time.
The WNBA celebrates and promotes diversity with Pride showcases
By LOIS ELFMAN
Special to the AmNews
Clearly the biggest stars of the WNBA’s recent All-Star Weekend were the StudBudz, two players Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams from the Minnesota Lynx, who sported pink hair and lots of positive energy during a 72-hour livestream on Twitch. Williams even played in the All-Star Game on the winning Team Collier. Their omnipresence and the amount of unabashed queer references led some people to dub the annual event the gayest All-Star Weekend in WNBA history. It was joyful. As I infuse my history covering the W into these opinion pieces, I can remember when the WNBA was deep in the closet. I remember standing in the press room at an All-Star Game, I believe it was 2000, holding a tip sheet that listed, “players who are married or engaged.” I can assure you, there
WNBA Pride is displayed on the base of the basketball hoop during a WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Chicago Sky on June 27, 2025. (Matthew Huang/ Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
were no same-sex couples. In 2002, Sue Wicks of the New York Liberty became the first WNBA player to publicly come out. Despite the minimal pushback, things remained relatively closeted until several years later when players slowly started to share their lives. It took until 2014 for Pride celebrations
to become a league staple. Nowadays, each new coupling, engagement, wedding and simple self-identification is embraced. Back to 2025 All-Star Weekend: WAG Talk (short for wives and girlfriends of athletes) was on the scene, interviewing partners, wives, and a few players. Most of those featured were
league veterans or individuals who have been publicly out for some time. In one now-viral WAG Talk segment, this year’s top draft pick, Paige Bueckers, answered a question about her “D-I girlfriend.” The reveal wasn’t exactly a surprise — she and her former UConn teammate, Azzi Fudd, have been
teasing their relationship for a while — but there was still a sense of gravity in the public acknowledgment.
Later that evening, Hiedeman turned to Bueckers and Fudd at a party and said, “I’m with the power couple.” They definitely are, but they’re also only 23 and 22, and one of them is still in college. It’s beautiful that players can be themselves and that authenticity is celebrated and nurtured in the WNBA and beyond. But I also hope journalists and fans won’t think Bueckers and Fudd owe them an inside look into their relationship.
Years ago, a high profile rookie said to me, “I’ve never been asked questions about my personal life before.” All I’m saying is let Bueckers and Fudd be early 20-somethings. Don’t let the enthusiasm for this couple dim because they’re not giving details. Let them be a power couple in their impact on the game but also let them be still until they’re ready to get loud.
Urban Arm Wrestling League founder Gerren Nixon (right) and vice-president Leslie Sinclair. (Sean Doyle photo)
With Aaron Judge down, what is the Yankees’ next move as issues
By RUDY ROBINSON Special to the AmNews
New York Yankees superstar right fielder Aaron Judge is hurting. A flexor strain in his right elbow caused the Yankees to place him on the 10-day injured list on Sunday. While Judge, the leading candidate for American League MVP, avoided surgery, his absence is significant because the Yankees are in an intense battle in the American League East division and are no sure bet to make the playoffs.
Heading into last night’s game (Wednesday) at home in the Bronx versus the Tampa Bay Rays, Game 3 of a four-game series, they were 58-49, four games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays, which were 63-46. At the time he was shelved, Judge’s .342 batting average, .711 slugging percentage and 1.160 OPS was tops and remains the best in the Major Leagues. His 37 homers was third. The two-time AL MVP has 85 RBIs, fourth in baseball. Those numbers reflect the obvious. As Reggie Jackson once famously said, he is the straw that stirs the drink.
Before the Yankees defeated the Rays 7-5 on Tuesday, Yankees
manager Aaron Boone said he is hopeful Judge will not have his stay on the injured list extended after the 10-day period.
“I think that’s the expectation, but we’ll listen to the body, the trainers, him and see where we’re at,” said Boone.
As of AmNews press time, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had not made any trades or minor league call-ups to directly address the gaping hole left by Aaron Judge. He did, however, acquire former Mets shortstop and current utility player Amed Rosario this past weekend in a deal with the Washington Nationals. Rosario can play right field parttime, along with third baseman Ryan McMahon, who came over from the Colorado Rockies.
Judge’s absence will put additional pressure on his teammates, most notably first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and second baseman Jazz Chisholm. Goldschmidt was third on the team in runs scored (58) and hits (103) going into last night while Chisholm was third in home runs with 18.
Judge’s injury will prevent him from playing right field upon his return, where he is one of the
game’s best defensive players. He has committed only one error over the past two regular seasons. Fortunately for the Yankees, his replacement, Clay Bellinger, is excellent defensively as well and had just two errors in 98 games played as of last night. Outfielders Trent Grisham and Jasson Dominguez can also pick up the outfield defense. It has already been determined that when Judge does return to the lineup, he will be the designated hitter due to his limited throwing ability resulting from the elbow injury.
If Judge becomes the fulltime designated hitter upon his return, what will happen with current designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who has played sparingly in the outfield over the past few seasons?
“It doesn’t matter,” said Stanton earlier this week, when asked about being reassigned to the outfield. “Whatever helps the team win.”
The Yankees will face the Rays again today (Thursday) and subsequently begin a six-game road trip with three in Miami versus the Marlins, then follow up with a three three at Texas versus the Rangers next Monday through Wednesday.
With World Series aspirations, Mets fans are hopeful upgrades are ahead
By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor
On my New York Mets text thread, the debates and discussions with passionate fans are endless and often heated, marked by frequent disagreements and little consensus. The analysis swings wildly, ranging from thoughtful to downright irrational.
Yet the exchanges are also oddly therapeutic. The 162-game Major League Baseball season can be emotionally draining for deeply invested fans who devote significant time and money to supporting their team.
So the expectations and duty placed on the Mets this season by a fan base that has either never seen them win a World Series — or was around for the last one all the way back in 1986 — are understandable. The team sat 62-46, tied for the third-most wins in the entire league and were in first place, half a game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, when they played the San Diego Padres on the road last night (Wednesday).
But the Mets have flaws and are vulnerable. As the MLB trade deadline approaches at 6 p.m. today, countless eyes are on Mets general manager David Stearns and team owner Steve Cohen to see if they add a top of the line starter, bullpen help, and a centerfielder to bolster the roster.
The Mets already landed lefty reliever Gregory Soto in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles last Friday but many close observers of the sport surmise that another starter and centerfielder are essential in their quest for a title.
Team owner Steve Cohen has raised the stakes, embracing high standards set by fans and the accountability that comes with it by pouring many billions into his ball club. It is appreciated and lauded by the team’s longtime supporters after the franchise’s previous principal owner, Fred Wilpon, was rightfully widely criticized for not spending the requisite amount of money to build a champion — especially after he allegedly lost upwards of $700 million in
the infamous Bernie Madoff investment scandal.
“I have the ability to spend if I have to, and I want to win, and I want to put the best team I can on the field. There’s certain things, free agency’s expensive. It’s just the way it is…” Cohen said to the media in February during spring training.
He has backed up those words, most notably in December by signing Mets right fielder Juan Soto to the richest contract in North American sports history.
The 69-year-old Cohen, a hedge fund manager born and raised in Great Neck on Long Island, who Forbes estimates to have a net worth of $21.3 billion, inked Soto to a 15-year, $765 million deal.
Now Soto and shortstop Francisco Lindor, who Cohen deservedly bestowed a 10-year, $341 million contract in April 2021, are charged with carrying the Mets one step further than last year’s team that lost to the eventual World Series champion-Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 in the National League Championship Series.
Yankees superstar Aaron Judge was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with a flexor strain of his right elbow. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The Mets are hopeful that shortstop Francisco Lindor will perform like the NL MVP runner-up he was a season ago with down the stretch of this year’s regular season. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Brooklyn native Danita Knox inducted into the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame
By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews
Danita Knox has had an impact on the sport of rugby as a player and as an administrator. On July 19, the co-founder and board president of the U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation, was inducted into the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame. The honor celebrates her decades-long commitment to the sport.
While a student at Clemson University in the early 1980s, the Bed-Stuy native was playing flag
football, but didn’t ever feel she could fully embrace it. “It was OK, but I wished we could actually tackle, and someone said, ‘I’ve got a sport for you,’ suggesting I go to rugby practice,” said Knox. “I haven’t looked back.”
The women’s club rugby team was a mix of graduate students, undergraduates and locals. Knox loved the diversity of body sizes.
“I’ve always been small in stature, so to be able to tackle and get up and run with the ball was awesome,” she said. “The whole
body image thing goes away and you get a swagger because you’re a rugby player.”
She continued playing after college and rugby became a lifelong sorority and fraternity. Over time, Knox became a vital part of raising the profile of women’s rugby. . In 2005, she helped found the U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation. From 2004 to 2013, she also served on the USA Rugby board of directors, leading the territorial union/local area union committee that created the current geo-
graphic union structure.
“I like to tell people rugby is my passion career,” said Knox. “My daytime job is an electrical engineer. Now, I’m a global product specialist for a large company.
On the U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation, we have an all-volunteer board of different people like me who are corporate people, entrepreneurs, educators and leaders in their own right. When you love it, it’s not hard to do it.”
The Hall of Fame recognition was deeply meaningful. She didn’t
do the work for the honors, she did it because she knew participation in rugby could be life changing, giving women the confidence and leadership skills they need to succeed in the world.
“It was an honor to be acknowledged by my peers and friends in the rugby community,” Knox said. “I’m more of an introvert that works behind the scenes, but to be acknowledged publicly … and getting the accolades has been affirmation of the work I’ve been doing all these years.”
Ice Theatre of New York to do a summer performance in Harlem
By LOIS ELFMAN
Special to the AmNews
For 40 years, Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY) has been part of New York City’s arts and sports landscape. In addition to performing at ice rinks around the city, company members have done on-ice clinics at Riverbank State Park helping young people from the community enjoy skating. “We do events that are free and welcome the community,” said Moira North, founder and artistic director of ITNY.
On Aug. 5, ITNY will be part of the West Harlem Arts Alliance’s (WHAA) launch of the Innovation Triangle at the Taystee Lab Building on 126th Street. The event will include a meet and greet with five Harlem artists-in-residence, as well as Eric Washington’s photographic exhibit “Manhattanville: Hidden in plain sight,” the West
Harlem Wall of Fame: Art, Culture and Commerce, and a performance by ITNY. Harlem Late Night Jazz will present the Morgan Faw-Tet, which will perform as well as accompany several ITNY skaters for a bit of improvisation.
“We’re taking the opportunity of the [ITNY] performance to launch the whole activation of the Innovation Triangle,” said Michael Palma Mir, board member and executive director of WHAA. “It’s part of WHAA’s program to activate underutilized commercial corridors in different parts of West Harlem. This is our second year doing it … We’re taking a bigger bite in West Harlem by utilizing the old factory district.”
The Manhattanville exhibit comes from the City University of New York archives. “During the run of our activation, we’re going to have a panel discussion between two West Harlem historians, John Reddick interview-
ing the curator of this exhibition, Eric Washington,” said Palma Mir. “We’re trying to activate the space with activities.”
As this is not a refrigerated ice rink, ITNY will perform on a unique PolyGlide acrylic polymer surface. ITNY began rehearsing in the performance space on July 29.
After the WHAA opening, the 40 pieces that comprise the surface will then be transported to Becket, Massachusetts and installed at Jacob’s Pillow, the oldest dance festival in the U.S., where the company will perform on August 7.
“[The Innovation Triangle] is a beautiful space and it allows us the opportunity to do a residency,” said North, adding that singer and skating enthusiast Alicia Hall Moran will serve as emcee. “To have the added opportunity to do a free showcase for the community in collaboration with the jazz group and …WHAA is fantastic.”
Danita Knox, co-founder and board president of the U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation, during her playing days. (U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation photos)
U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame inductees (Danita Knox, fourth from right) presented at a USA Eagles double header.
Ice Theatre of New York ensemble member Aaron Singletary. (Hideki Aono photo)
Sports
Through legislation, the already wealthy and elite try to stymie the free-market of NIL
By JAIME C. HARRIS
AmNews Sports Editor
In the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, Black men made up 50% of the 68 teams. Many were recipients of name, image and likeness deals — commonly known as NIL. These financial agreements, with companies ranging from multibillion-dollar corporations to local car dealerships and college-town restaurants, provided young Black men — and Black women, who make up 44% of Division I basketball players — with critical monetary resources to cover their basic needs.
In some cases, these resources helped stave off their family’s eviction or provided sustenance during a time when countless Americans are food insecure. Yet many college coaches and administrators, some of the usual suspects, are lobbying the federal government to place strict regulations on NIL while duplicitously accumu-
lating generational wealth via the same free-market, capitalist system under which NIL functions.
Hypocritically adopting a slave master’s mentality, hundreds of the said coaches and administrators have gained their riches off of the labor of the student-athletes
whose earning power they are endeavoring to control. Last Thursday, expectedly, President Donald Trump, the United States’ Oppressor in Chief, issued an executive order misappropriately named “SAVING COLLEGE SPORTS.” Its intent is to change how NIL and
other payments to college athletes are managed.
Some of the language includes what is meant to be an ominous warning that “the future of college is under unprecedented threat.”
The irony — and on-brand nature — is not lost, given that it comes from a man whose family amassed untold wealth in the previously unregulated “Wild West” of the cryptocurrency industry; Congress did not enact its first piece of regulatory legislation until Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law just two weeks ago on July 18.
Yes, there are complications and potential pitfalls for college athletics if there aren’t changes to the current system. Beginning in 2021, college athletes have been afforded the opportunity to earn money through NIL following years of antitrust lawsuits filed against the NCAA. Subsequently, third-party payments and student-athletes being paid directly by their colleges is also permissible.
The shift has led to headlinemaking deals, including incoming BYU freshman basketball star AJ Dybantsa, a projected top-two pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Dybantsa has already signed multiple NIL agreements, the most recent an eight-figure deal with Fanatics Collectibles, bringing his reported total close to $20 million.
Fundamentally, looking through a clear lens and with historical context, powerful and privileged white men fear losing their firm control of economic systems and, by extension, control of Black men and women. Yes, white student-athletes also benefit from the new college athletics framework but they aren’t the intended target.
Those who are fighting to fervently dismantle or dramatically modify it would make slave owner Thomas Jefferson, a so-called Founding Father and the founder of the University of Virginia, one of the country’s leading academic and athletic institutions, mightily proud.
With Stewart injured, the Liberty try to survive a four-game road trip
By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews
New York Liberty All-Star and 2023 WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart exited Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Barclays Center in Brooklyn after playing less than four minutes due to a right leg injury. An MRI revealed that Stewart avoided any serious damage, and she is traveling with the team on its four-game road trip, which began Monday in Dallas. However, as of AmNews press time, there is no timetable for her return.
It was her first missed game of the season, and no player on the team has appeared in all 26 contests going into last night’s game versus the Minnesota Lynx, which were 22-5 and have the best record in the league. The Liberty, at 17-8, held the second-best mark just ahead of the Phoenix Mercury, which stood at 16-9 when the WNBA’s schedule tipped off last night.
In their quest to repeat as WNBA champions, injuries have been a major theme of the Liberty’s season.
Starting center and 2024 WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones returned to the lineup on July 23 after being sidelined since suffering a right ankle sprain on June 19. Jones was absent for nine games over that stretch. Now, with Stewart out indefinitely, the Liberty’s continuity has again been disrupted.
“We want to put together 40 minutes of great basketball,” Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu said after Saturday’s loss. “We understand that we’re still learning and figuring out what works, what doesn’t.”
Ionescu added that she needs to develop chemistry with forward addition Stephanie Talbot, who made her Liberty debut last Tuesday, and reacclimate Jones into the team.
“There are so many variables, and this is kind of the time where you try and iron those things out and figure out what works,” she said. “I have full trust in our team that by the time we really need to buckle down and put 40 minutes together, we have gone through this adversity and
understand what it takes to do that.”
After Stewart’s exit on Friday, New York went on to lose a heartbreaker to the Los Angeles Sparks 101-99 on Saturday at Barclays Center. The shorthanded team trailed by as many as 30 points at Dallas against the Wings, and went on to drop the game, 92-82.
“It’s an effort thing,” Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said after Monday’s loss. “We’re not competing at a high level, and we have to get back to playing what we know we’re capable of.”
The Liberty will face the Connecticut Sun in back-to-back games on Friday and Sunday, and then return to Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday for a rematch against the Wings and this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, former University of Connecticut star Paige Bueckers.
Highly acclaimed 18-year basketball player AJ Dybantsa, has reportedly signed NIL deals valued near $20 million. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud drives against Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks during the Liberty’s 101-99 loss on Saturday at the Barclays Center. (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty photo)
