New York Amsterdam News March 13-19, 2025

NYPD STOPS MORE BLACK NYERS

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Can NYC elect ‘Adrienne from Queens’ as mayor?

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

After weeks of anticipation, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams officially launched her campaign for mayor on International Women’s Day.

To celebrate the launch of her campaign, Adams held a press conference on Saturday, March 8, outside of her city council office, which is smack dab in the middle of Rochdale Village Shopping Center in Southeast Jamaica, Queens. Her campaign supporters were joined by locals and sorors from Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc.

The news about her decision to run was initially broken late Wednesday night on March 5. She is running for mayor against incumbent Eric Adams (no relation), former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and a slew of diverse candidates.

“I never planned to run for mayor, but I’m

not giving up on New York City. Our city deserves a leader who serves its people first and always, not someone focused on themselves and their own political interests,” said Adams. “I’m a public servant, mother, Queens girl, and I’m running for mayor. No drama, no nonsense — just my commitment to leading with competence and integrity.”

The surrounding neighborhood of Rochdale Village, aka the “Jewel of Jamaica,” was developed under the Mitchell-Lama Housing Program to provide affordable housing for low- and middle-income families. It operates like a small town within the borough with its own malls, playgrounds, public safety department, power plant, daycare centers, schools, community center, senior center; and is run by a board of directors.

Southeast Jamaica is a sure voter base that Adams will lean on heavily to catch up on petitioning and fundraising in the mayoral race.

This weekend, Adams began collecting petition signatures to get on the Democratic ballot. Green sheets for residents to sign were seen during the event and throughout the shopping center. To appear on the June ballot, candidates must collect 3,750 signatures from registered Democratic voters by April 3. She also hopes to collect enough donations to participate in the city’s matching funds program.

Other challenges her campaign has to contend with will be name recognition, considering she and Mayor Adams have similar names, and the fact that New York City has never elected a woman for mayor despite many valiant attempts. But above all, the federal administration and President Donald Trump loom heavy over every mayoral candidate.

“The neighborhoods that New Yorkers call home may vary, but the problems and possi-

State prison crisis hits home with young Harlemite Messiah Nantwi’s death

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

Prison reform advocates rallied outside Harlem’s Adam Clayton Powell State Office building last Friday, Mar. 7, after another Black New Yorker’s recent death in state prison. Early reports suggest “extremely disturbing conduct” probably was the cause of 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi being killed at Mid-State Correctional Facility earlier this month, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

In connection with the death, 15 staff members were placed on leave, following familiar patterns that led to the arrest of 10 prison staff members allegedly involved in killing Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility, which is across the street from MidState. Six currently are charged with murder. Body-worn camera footage showed a room full of corrections officers violently striking the restrained Black New Yorker shortly before his death.

The Rev. Kevin McCall, a spokesperson for Nantwi’s parents, organized the advocacy action and told the AmNews the family would like the young Harlemite remembered as someone trying to overcome a tough upbringing who was making strides to turn his life around while behind bars.

“You don’t know what was going to come out of him paying his debt to society, but he’s not here to tell his story,” McCall said by phone.

“He’s not even here to even apologize to the victims. He’s not here to do anything because the corrections officers took that from him.”

Nantwi’s death also coincides with a recent illegal strike by corrections officers

and heartbreak” over the alleged killing of her constituent.

See STATE PRISON DEATH on page 38

across the state. Those who did not return to work were fired, blacklisted, and kicked off their benefits.

Harlem State Senator Cordell Cleare said she was “torn between feelings of outrage

See ‘ADRIENNE FROM QUEENS’ on page 38

Supporters for City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams waved signs at her campaign launch in Rochdale Village on Saturday, March 8. (Ariama C. Long photos)

(L-R) Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs, Rev. Kevin McCall, Renny Smith and Jose Saldana hold a rally for Messiah Nantwi in Harlem on Friday. (Tandy Lau photo)

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams officially launched campaign for Mayor.

Lawyers look to reunite up to $92.5 million with immigrants

wrongfully

detained for ICE

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

Claims opened up last month for the Onadia class action settlement, which accuses the city of unlawfully extending detainments in local jails at the request of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) between Apr. 1, 1997 and Dec. 21, 2012. The deadline is May 15.

While the class counsel law firms Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel, LLP and Benno & Associates already have a list of the more than 20,000 individuals who qualify for the up to $92.5 million payout, tracking them down to claim their money is another question. Some no longer live in the country. Others may mistake the settlement as a scam.

The claims period also coincides with escalating ICE raids under the Trump administration — lawyers fear some potential class members may keep a low profile because they still face deportation threats.

Some class members are in line for more than $10,000 and most will likely receive at least a fourfigure payout. Exactly how much money each person receives will depend on how long they were detained and how many people end up collecting. In addition, those who were held in the first 10 years of the lawsuit period — from 1997 to 2007 — will only receive half as a compromise to the city’s dispute that such a claims period has already passed.

“We are asking for the help from the news media, community organizations, and individuals to share this information with anyone they know who may fit the description of a class member, so they can receive a settlement payment,” said Debra L. Greenberger, a partner at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.

Eligible individuals can claim online (see link is provided at end of this article). The class counsel said that filing is meant to be a swift process — they just need to verify

the identities of those on the city records list of qualifying people. People who are unsure whether their detainment by the NYC Department of Corrections for ICE falls within the settlement period are encouraged to apply.

Known as an ICE detainer, the written request asks other law enforcement agencies to keep noncitizen detainees in custody for 48 hours after their release date so federal immigration authorities have more time to pick them up for potential deportation proceedings. Such holds can trample over due process. Some class members were allegedly held for months beyond their release dates. In 2017, the City Council passed and enacted a law banning local agencies from honoring ICE detainers without a warrant.

“Resolving this long-standing case was in the best interest of all parties,” said a city law department spokesperson in a statement. “During the period this case covers, from 1997 to 2012, New York City —

Black church leaders call for 40-day Target Boycott over $250M DEI demands

By CHRISTIAN SPENCER Special to the AmNews

A call for economic resistance rang out from Antioch Baptist Church, where faith leaders gathered to launch a 40-day boycott of Target.

Inspired by the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Dr. Jamal Bryant of the JHB Movement, along with Rev. Robert Waterman of the Bed-Stuy church, and Hasan James of “Root” magazine (not to be confused with “The Root,” owned by G/O Media), delivered an emphatic message from the pulpit, urging major institutions to recognize the strength of Black economic influence, starting with Target.

Boycott leaders are demanding that Target invest $250 million in Black-owned banks, partner with 10 HBCUs to develop retail business programs, and reinstate its DEI commitments.

As the Amsterdam News previously reported, the Minneapolisbased retailer ended its three-year DEI initiative on January 24, , 2025. It created the program in response to the murder of George Floyd in

the same city, an event that sparked global reflection on police brutality and the treatment of Black people.

The boycott movement aims to assess the spending power of Black consumers, which analysts estimate around $2 trillion annually, according to the NAACP.

At the heart of the protest is Target’s rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, a shift that coincided with the political climate of President Donald Trump.

“Black and Brown people are not the No. 1 beneficiaries of DEI; white women are,” Bryant said. “White women are the lead beneficiaries, then the Latino community and the LGBTQ community. Black people are fourth in recipients of DEI.”

The boycott challenges corporate rollbacks in racial equity, making it clear that companies profiting from Black consumers must be held accountable.

“Corporations must be held accountable, but so do legislators,”

Bryant said. “Congress and the Senate need to put pressure on the White House to act, and right now, they are failing to do so.”

Bryant positioned the boycott as a modern test of economic power, referencing past movements that forced corporate America to acknowledge Black financial influence. “Montgomery, Alabama, didn’t shut down because of speeches — it shut down because people refused to get on the bus,” he said, linking the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott to today’s Target protest. “We are in a moment where we must ask ourselves: Are we going to make an impact, or are we just going to make noise?”

Target’s 2023 workforce diversity report indicated that 15% of its employees are Black, a figure that at first glance suggests a degree of representation. However, a closer examination of the data presents a more complex reality.

Davinah “Dee” Bailey, chief operating officer of the African American Clergy and Elected Officials Coalition (AAECO), questioned Target’s actual commitment to diversity beyond employment numbers.

“Target doesn’t have a relationship with the Black community,

Person arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in detention room at ICE New York headquarters on Mar. 3, 2015, after series of early-morning arrests. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Dr. Jamal Bryant speaking at Antioch Baptist Church in BedStuy. (Christian Spencer photo)

Lawsuit challenges transport of immigrant detainees to Guantánamo

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

The Trump administration’s continued deportation of immigrants to the U.S. naval base and detention center on Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, is being challenged by a group of civil rights organizations.

Earlier this month, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), and ACLU of the District of Columbia filed an emergency motion to halt the transfer of 10 immigrants who had been given their final deportation orders to Guantánamo Bay. The groups argue that, when immigrants were first detained at Guantánamo Bay, their legal representatives and family members had minimal to no contact with them: they were held “incommunicado.” Now, because of legal challenges, those who are detained on Guantánamo have some access to phone use, and there is better record-keeping detailing whether they are on the island.

The Trump administration contends that it is detaining criminally dangerous immigrants on Guantánamo who came to the U.S. and stayed here illegally. In February, the Department of Defense used military

aircraft to fly what it termed “high-threat illegal alien” members of the Venezuelan “Tren de Aragua” gang to Cuba. Pictures emerged of these deportees as they were shackled and led aboard a C-17 aircraft.

The Associated Press reported that the Trump administration has replied to the new lawsuit by contending that detainees are being treated with “dignity and respect,” but asserts that the “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has broad authority to hold immigrants with final removal orders at Guantánamo Bay ‘for only so long as their removal remains significantly likely to occur in the reasonably foreseeable future.’”

The civil rights lawsuit argues that detaining immigrants on Guantánamo who have overstayed their visas, which is a civil offense, is excessively punitive. “Never before has the federal government moved noncitizens apprehended and detained in the United States on civil immigration charges to Guantánamo. Nor is there any legitimate reason to do so now,” the complaint argues. “The government has ample detention capacity inside the United States, which is far less costly and poses none of the logistical hurdles attendant to detaining people on Guantánamo.”

Civil rights advocates march down Brooklyn Bridge in remembrance of ‘Bloody Sunday’

BY RAYMOND FERNÁNDEZ

Special to the AmNews

On Sunday, March 9, civil rights leaders gathered at the City Hall steps to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Edmund Pettus Bridge crossing in Selma, Ala. Shortly after, the advocates led the crowd across the Brooklyn Bridge.

The march was organized by civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel and former head of the New York Urban League and diversity advocate Harriet Michel, to memorialize the 1965 march for voting rights and reaffirm their commitment to defending civil liberties today.

Michel walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965; this past Sunday, she walked once more in solidarity with activists in Selma. She told the AmNews it was imperative to march “because of the bloodshed and tears by those marchers 60 years ago … Some of them gave their lives, some of them were injured. We want to honor and commemorate their sacrifice and the movement that they fought for.”

For Michel, showing up now is more crucial than ever. “We are trying to encourage people to speak up, to stand up and to fight against what is going on in the country now,” she said. Her message to Americans is clear:

“Don’t ever give up, but understand; no one is coming to save us, we must save ourselves, and you save yourself by direct action.”

There were three Selma marches in 1965. The first took place on March 7 and was led by John Lewis and Rev. Hosea Williams, who demanded voting rights access for African Americans. The peaceful demonstration continued with no incidents until the protestors reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where they were met with

brutal police repression in what came to be known as Bloody Sunday.

Siegel, who attended the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta when told that Martin Luther King, Jr. was speaking, told the AmNews that paying homage to those who fought for civil rights is more important than ever. “We pay tribute to the people who taught us who we are,” he said. “Listening to Dr. King inspired me.”

Siegel emphasized the need to honor

“Hosea Williams, John Lewis, James Bevel, Fannie Lou Hamer, Charles Morgan, Rosa Parks, Viola Luizzo, Whitney Young, [and] Andy Young,” among others, who he said taught him about non-violence. “They taught me about liberty, freedom, about stamina, to never give up, [and] 60 years later, I want to thank them for teaching my generation to peacefully and constitutionally fight back and resist.”

With fists raised as they marched along the Brooklyn Bridge, the advocates chanted, “We are not going back,” rejoiced in singing, and held signs. People in the crowd often stopped to observe and at times join.

Reverend Hebert Daughtry, 94, was at the forefront of the march and said for him, “walking the bridge today is a commitment to health, justice, fairness, and equal rights.” He hoped that doing this at 94 meant he was still “able to send a couple of messages.”

C. Virginia Fields, former Manhattan borough president, held Daughtry’s arm during the entirety of the march. She told the AmNews that she walked the Edmund Pettus Bridge 10 years ago for the 50th anniversary of the march that was led by “our President Barack Obama.” “We saw that it led to the change that they were trying to make in Selma,” Fields said. “Keep it alive.”

See Lawsuit on page 32

C. Virginia Fields speaks to crowd on steps of City Hall, standing by Rev. Hebert Daughtry (left) and Norman Siegel (right), before heading to Brooklyn Bridge. (Raymond Fernández photo)

Department of Homeland Security images of Venezuelans transported to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on Feb. 4. (Department of Homeland Security photo)

Ghiles Jackson: Afterschool ambassador

Black New Yorker

By JASON GONZALEZ Special to the AmNews

On Wed., March 5, four days before his 41st birthday, Ghiles Jackson of East New York, Brooklyn, received momentous news.

The Afterschool Alliance announced that Jackson, program director at After School All Stars at Excel Upper Charter in Canarsie, has been named a 2025 Afterschool Ambassador, an honor that is awarded to only 15 leaders nationwide each year.

“It means the world to me to be honored with this opportunity,” Jackson told the Amsterdam News. “When you think about this work and how vital it is to youth development, it brings me so much joy that I will be a voice for my community and NYC as a whole.”

Jackson has a comprehensive background in youth development, having started his career at a sleep-away summer camp after completing an associate degree from Sullivan Community College. As a sports enthusiast and avid weightlifter, he secured a position as a basketball specialist. His experience as former point guard for the varsity team at Bishop Loughlin and his admiration for Steph Curry and the late Kobe Bryant led him to join the New York City Department of Education (DOE) as a school aide.

Jackson was later nominated as a crisis paraprofessional, providing one-on-one instructional and emotional support for students with special needs. He advanced to the role of dean of culture, climate, and equity. Jackson then served as a program counselor in juvenile detention. After six years with the city, he opted to return to his passion for community work and youth development.

“My favorite part of the job is advocating for the youth and bringing joyful moments to them,” Jackson said. “You gain a different appreciation for the work when you can impact the youth, the families, and

the overall community … ensuring that our children get different opportunities and experiences. My least favorite part of the job is that it’s not enough time to do all that I would like to do.”

The Afterschool Ambassadors program recognizes and empowers individuals who contribute significantly to after-school and summer learning programs. Its leaders continue the work with local afterschool programs while serving as Afterschool Ambassadors for a year, when they engage with community leaders and policymakers, organize events, and advocate for increased support for afterschool initiatives, which are vital for the development and well-being of students and families.

“I am a religious and spiritual person,” Jackson said. “I do believe that this is God’s work, and He is guiding me to doing the right thing in our community.”

Jackson’s role at After School All Stars showcases his dedication to fostering the development of 160 scholars. The program emphasizes safety and robust community engagement, offering enrichment activities aimed at promoting both personal and academic growth. Initiatives include socialemotional learning to enhance students’ emotional intelligence and resilience, along with multiple extracurricular activities, such as basketball, cheerleading, flag football, and soccer teams. The program also provides healthy snacks and cultivates community partnerships to create a comprehensive and supportive environment.

After School All Stars also features a Youth Advisory Board that empowers students to contribute to program design and enhances their sense of community and ownership.

“My plan for the future is to have my own program that will focus on youth development,” Jackson said. “I would like to have a program that focuses on trades, welding, carpentry, drilling, plumbing, but also has sports and enrichment activities, as well as therapy for young people and their families.”

THE URBAN AGENDA

By David R. Jones, Esq

Cruel GOP Medicaid Cuts Dire for All New Yorkers

Of all of President Donald Trump’s alarming and cruel policies, the gravest threat to New Yorkers may be the Republican-controlled Congress’ plan to dramatically cut Medicaid to fund tax cuts for corporations and the rich.

The threat to New York City is incalculable. Nearly half of the city’s projected 2025 population – four million adults, children, pregnant women, elderly and people with disabilities – depend on Medicaid jointly funded by the federal government and the state, according to city Health Department figures.

Imagine the hardship of slashing and burning Medicaid, the largest federal program for alleviating the burden of health care costs, on the fragile social and economic fabric of the five boroughs: households, hospitals and medical clinics, insurance companies, doctors and nurses aides, and long-term care facilities. The devastation would be irreparable.

New York City children are especially at risk. Just over half of all city children are covered by Medicaid, according to the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York. They live overwhelmingly in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. Their families are already struggling to make ends meet because eligibility for federal health care is based on age, family income in relation to the Federal Poverty Limit, and residency status.

Six New York congressmen are members of the Republican House majority, and 730,000 of their district constituents on Medicaid and state health plans would suffer under these cuts. They need to hear from New Yorkers –both inside and outside their districts -- who will be impacted by these cuts to make them think twice about toeing the Trump line.

Statewide, nearly seven million New York residents are enrolled in Medicaid. And eight percent of the total 83 million low-income people nationwide – one in five people living in the U.S. – depend on Medicaid, says the health policy research website KFF. The recipients include the poor as well as many individuals who are working low-wage jobs that do not offer health insurance.

Medicaid is a much bigger program, in terms of the number of people covered, than Medicare: 83 million versus 68 million, according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In addition to $880 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade, the budget ax would also put at risk New York health programs such as the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus and the Qualified Health Plan.

The Republican budget proposes $4.8 trillion in tax cuts, most of which benefit very high

income and net worth individuals. These tax giveaways would ultimately increase the national debt by $2.8 trillion. It would also expand income inequality and income inequity while taking away housing, food, healthcare, education and federal support for other basic necessities from those amongst us who have the least. These cuts will hurt the nation’s poor and working-class people.

The Republicans are following a script laid out in Project 2025, a policy playbook authored by the conservative Heritage Foundation. Every page offered extreme proposals to dramatically shrink government, increase presidential power and repeal gains by the poor and people of color in every arena, from education and infrastructure to health care and LGBTQ rights.

Trump, whose policies hurt his strongest supporters, did not utter the word Medicaid during his lengthy address to Congress last week. It is safe to assume Medicaid was missing because red states that supported Trump would suffer deep cuts because of it, and from the loss of badly needed medical facilities. According to one recent poll, 71 percent of Trump voters say that cutting Medicaid would be unacceptable.

Among seven states with more than 25 percent of their population on Medicaid, four of them – Louisiana (32.4), Kentucky (28.3), West Virginia (28.2) and Arkansas (27.4) –voted overwhelmingly Republican in the 2025 election, according to the health policy researcher KFF. Medicaid covers more than 50 percent of children in small towns and rural areas in six states: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, and South Carolina, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

Those numbers fly in the face of the perception pushed by conservative Republicans that Medicaid is politically unimportant – a safe target for cuts – because it’s mainly a program for inner-city people of color. If Republicans think they can slash Medicaid without paying a heavy political price, because only “those people” will be hurt, they’re deeply mistaken.

Medicaid is especially important for rural and small-town Americans, even if they aren’t direct beneficiaries themselves, because it helps keep health-care facilities open. Deep cuts could devastate America’s teetering rural health care system and jeopardize Republicans’ political power among rural voters.

The Medicaid cuts that take health care from the needy, as well as the federal government’s moves to stop food and medicine to Africa and break up families using deportations, are tied together by a similar string: Cruelty is the point in the name of tax breaks.

Ghiles Jackson (Courtesy of the subject)

New law reveals NYPD stops more Black NYers using low-level encounters

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

The appropriately named How Many Stops Act recently revealed just how many stops the NYPD conducted last year since the law went into effect: The department documented 1,185,728 investigative police encounters between July and December 2024. That’s an average of 6,310 a day.

Under How Many Stops, officers must record level 1 and 2 encounters for the first time, which provides a fuller picture for researchers like Stephen Koppel and Michael Rempel of John Jay College’s Data Collaborative for Justice. Police also have to report the stopped individual’s race, age, and gender to the best of their ability, as well as any use of force.

Level 1 stops simply request information from civilians without requiring suspicion of criminal activity in making a stop. Level 2 stops allow officers to approach individuals with accusatory questions and ask for consent to conduct a search under “founded suspicion” of criminal activity. People can walk away and ignore questioning at both levels.

Level 3 stops, better known as Terry stops or stop-and-frisks, were already documented before the legislation. They allow the NYPD to detain an individual for questioning and deploy “reasonable force” under reasonable suspicion that a crime was or will be committed.

Koppel said the researchers found that 98% of encounters were level 1 stops. Level 2 stops accounted for another 1%. In other words, the NYPD would be required to report only 1% of recorded investigative street encounters without the How Many Stops Act.

“We only had that [data] on level 3 stops, and it was totally unclear what was going on with the other types of investigative encounters,” said Koppel. “Finally, when they pull[ed] back the curtain here, we saw that there were roughly 1.2 million stops, [99%] of which we had no accounting of [and] no information about.”

Rempel, who directs the data institute, pointed to just 1% of level 1 stops leading to arrests and another 1% leading to summons (how much overlap between the two is unknown). However, they led to use of force 575 times, despite their more casual initial nature.

“The definition of level 1 is the police had some question; the basis of it was more than a hunch, but it doesn’t really mean that there’s any type of accusatory interaction,” Rempel said.

He added that the 7% arrest rate for level 2 stops was surprisingly low since those require “founded” suspicion, often for crimi-

nal possession of a weapon. Unsurprisingly, these encounters are often uncomfortable and hostile, so they require more than a hunch or a whim to justify them.

While a majority of level 1 encounters stemmed from radio dispatches in response to a victim or a witness, police officers self-initiated most level 2 encounters.

The researchers found that 39% of people stopped for level 1 encounters were Black. The rate jumped to 59% for level 2 encounters. In Manhattan, Harlem, and East Harlem precincts like the 23rd, 25th, and 28th registered the most level 2 encounters despite totaling fewer index crime complaints than precincts like Midtown North and South, as well as the Upper East Side’s 19th. Overall, East New York’s 75th tallied the most level 2 encounters — the only precinct to surpass 1,000 or more such stops.

NYCLU Assistant Policy Director Michael Sisitzky, a spokesperson for Communities for Police Reform, said the new data unsurprisingly confirms racial disparities in investigative encounters among all three stop levels.

“The majority of people who are stopped by NYPD, whether it’s a level 3 reasonable suspicion stop or all the way down to level 1 stops, [are] people of color,” said Sisitzky. “That is something that’s not surprising, just based on what we’ve seen from NYPD enforcement and deployment trends, but it’s good to have the data there to show what that impact is and how those interactions look differently, depending on the

communities that New Yorkers live in and the demographic profile of New Yorkers as they’re experiencing NYPD activity.”

While not new or unique data, reviewing How Many Stops numbers also confirmed increased stop-and-frisks under the current administration. Level 3 stops rose by 184%, from 8,947 to 25,386, since 2021 when Mayor Eric Adams took office. However, they pale in comparison to 2011, when the city recorded 685,724 level 3 stops, largely of Black and Brown New Yorkers. As a result, the city faced racial profiling allegations over such practices in Floyd v City of New York, a class action lawsuit that ultimately succeeded.

“We were able to win policy and legal victories in 2013 to lead to stop-and-frisk declining because [of] having that data on level 3 stops,” said Samy Feliz, a member of the Justice Committee. “Now that we have more of that data, we can see what the NYPD is doing in our city and we can use that data to continue to build campaigns and do more to protect our communities from police violence.”

Feliz came across the How Many Stops Act through the Justice Committee, which championed passage of the legislation and works with families of those killed by police. A then-sergeant fatally shot his brother during a 2019 traffic stop and NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch is currently deciding whether to fire the alleged killer cop after a department judge found him guilty last month in a Civilian Complaint Review

Board prosecution. The officer hailed from the Bronx’s 52nd Precinct, a command top five in both level 1 and level 2 stops based on the data.

The mayor famously vetoed the How Many Stops Act last year, but could not prevent the bill’s passage due to supermajority support from the City Council.

The law’s proponents, such as lead sponsor Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, maintain the recording process takes officers half a minute or less through an easyto-access smartphone drop-down menu. They also say the NYPD Patrol Guide already mandates accounting for investigative encounters when tagging body-worn camera footage.

However, the current data remains crude for the researchers, who cannot account for overlap between categories due to the aggregate numbers.

“We don’t have individual rows of information, so in a sense, it limits our ability to break down the data,” said Koppel. “Ideally, we’d do more granular analysis, where, in a particular precinct, we’d be able to break down the race [and] ethnicity, or we break down the types of stops that occurred.”

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams in front of poster for How Many Stops Act in 2023. (Gerardo Romo/NYC Council Media Unit photo)

For the Love of Our Children Gala celebrates 10th anniversary, presents North Star Award to CM

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

The National CARES Mentoring Movement celebrated its 10th annual “For the Love of Our Children” Gala at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan on March 6, 2025. Harlem Councilmember Yusef Salaam was among honorees at the event.

“Essence” CEO Susan L. Taylor founded National CARES nearly 20 years ago. Since then National CARES has recruited, trained, and placed some 250,000 mentors in its own programs in schools, communities, and detention centers across the U.S. Partners like Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, whose clients need Black mentors, also support the program.

Taylor said young people are already starting from behind from the realities of post-COVID life and that the latest pushback against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) would only increase those disparities. “The DEI pushback is really devastating to people who are employed in that space, and also to the programs that were being funded and committed to, and certainly to the work that we do as a nonprofit that’s serving communities and pushing [help] toward people,” Taylor said.

However, Taylor said the “phenomenal” turnout for the gala was evidence that Black people will continue to come together to fight back. “We’re going to step up for

our community. We’re stepping up for our future,” Taylor said.

Award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson, philanthropist Tina Knowles, author Dr. Iyanla Vanzant, and Salaam all received the organization’s North Star Award.

Salaam spoke about his humbling life experiences as a member of the Exonerated Five and now an elected official. He said it’s important to show up as “your whole self” as a mentor. Salaam is the father of a big family — 10 kids. He said having the right partner allows him to show up authentically and fully for them. His wife, Sanovia, attend-

ed the gala as well as his mother, Sharonne.

In his acceptance speech, Salaam said his mother, a life-long criminal justice activist, being his “North Star” through difficult times. If given the opportunity, Salaam said he would advise his younger self “to strap in for the ride” but wouldn’t necessarily change anything that happened to him.

“The beautiful thing about Sankofa is that I can go back and talk to my younger self, heal my younger self, and tell my younger self, ‘You made it,’” he said.

Civil rights activist and Harlem native Tamika Mallory called Taylor “a major stall-

worth in the community”: “She made her success a long time ago, and she could have said, ‘I’m just going to go and chill in my sunrise and enjoy my life,’ but instead, she is choosing to give herself over and over and over again,” Mallory said.

Mallory also emphasized the importance of unity, sounding the alarm about the “unprecedented” fight Black Americans find themselves in with the current administration and its anti-DEI movement.

“I’ve been talking to elders who are saying that there was never a time when they had rights and they were stripped away in the ways in which we see. They had to fight to get the rights, but we’re now seeing that those rights are being taken away, and that is unprecedented,” Mallory said. “We are living in uncharted territory, and we’re going to need to stand together.”

Funds raised at the gala went toward National CARES’ trauma-healing programming, especially efforts to combat the 144% rise in suicides among Black youths.

“We could not have grown our work and programming without the generosity of those who support us,” said Taylor in a statement. “But with depression and Black child suicide at epidemic levels, our work must not only be sustained, but grown. Our children have to know that we love them and that we are unwilling to lose them.”

Additional reporting from JASON PONTEROTTO.

Asha Bandele (left) with Councilmember Yusef Salaam (middle) and his wife, Sanovia Guillory (right), on red carpet at Love of Our Children Gala at Edison Ballroom on March 6, 2025. (Bill Moore photos)

Attendees (left to right) Tamika Mallory, Susan Taylor, Tina Knowles, Sherri Shepherd at 10th anniversary for the Love of Our Children Gala at Edison Ballroom on March 6, 2025.

Harlem pays final respects to Dr. Hazel N. Dukes at funeral service

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

Electeds, family, and friends of Dr. Hazel N. Dukes filled Mother African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church on Wednesday morning to pay their final respects to one of Harlem’s greats.

“Her legacy is selflessness,” said Dukes’ goddaughter, Melissa Walker.

Dukes was a towering figure in the Civil Rights Movement and a lifelong advocate for social justice, voting rights, and education. In 1977, she became the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) New York State Conference, and served as National President of the NAACP from 1989 to 1992. In January 2023, Dukes made history as the first layperson in the U.S. to administer the oath of office to a governor. Her contributions were further recognized in August 2023, when she was awarded the NAACP 108th Spingarn Medal, the highest honor given to a Black person for nobel achievements.

She passed away at the age of 92 on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The announcement was made by Dukes’ son, Ronald.

Reverend Dr. Malcolm J. Byrd, senior pastor of Mother AME Zion Church, opened the service noting that the entire service, down to the location, was by Dukes’ design and specific instructions.

Known as the “Freedom Church,” Mother AME was established in 1796. The church itself has been at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights and was a spiritual home for abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Madame CJ Walker, Paul Robeson, and Harriet Tubman.

Dukes’ funeral service was packed with dignitaries, elected officials, civil rights leaders, and community members from all

over the city, state, and nation. This included former First Lady and Secretary of State

Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York State

Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State

Attorney General Letitia James, NYS Secretary Walter Moseley, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg; Senators Cordell Cleare, Kevin Parker, and Zellnor Myrie; Assemblymembers Al Taylor and Jordan Wright; Councilmember Yusef Salaam, National Action Network (NAN) Founder Rev. Al Sharpton, Manhattan Democratic Party Boss Keith Wright, and New York State NAACP Conference President L. Joy Williams.

Clinton spoke about the long friendship she’s had with Dukes and former Congress-

member Charles Rangel — both of whom convinced Clinton to run for office while she was First Lady. They first met during the 1992 presidential campaign while former President Bill Clinton was running.

“Hazel was very liberal with her advice, but it was good advice, which was followed with a very good result,” said Clinton. “During those two terms of Bill’s presidency, every time either one of us came to New York for any kind of event, we always invited Hazel, and she always came. Not just to attend but to continue giving advice. And again, it was always good advice.”

Clinton considered Dukes a mentor and political sage throughout every stage of her political career, including the two times she ran for president. She also presented Dukes with the Spingarn Medal in 2023.

“It seems especially cruel that we would lose a trusted friend and a leader in a voice like Hazel’s,” said Clinton. “I think many of us would find ourselves in the days ahead, wishing we could pick up the phone to hear what she had to say, get a word of encouragement, because she never wanted to give up and she wouldn’t want us to give up either.”

Hochul promised that Dukes’ memory would be immortalized on the Million Dollar Staircase in Albany.

“She was always there for me during challenging times. That’s what she’s known for. She didn’t give up on her friends and when she embraced you she was there even when others are attacking. She’s your best defender,” said Hochul.

Williams laughed that she and Dukes didn’t get along at first but eventually came to know each other as kindred spirits committed to the cause.

“And that is what I am taking with me. Her prayers, her dedication not only to the NAACP but to our people,” said Williams.

Sharpton joked that “Hazel would go to jail and the White House” for a good cause, and that she never failed to stand up for others no matter what the issue was.

“Hazel Dukes was the mother of the northern civil rights movement. She raised us to fight and the generation behind us to keep the fight going,” said Sharpton. “I don’t know how long we have to go, but I know we owe it to Hazel to take bigots out of the White House…She raised us for this day. So she could get her rest now because from one generation to another generation or another generation, she did her duty.”

In her honor, Majority Leader Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins sponsored a resolution noting Dukes’ death as a distinguished citizen and devoted member of her community.

Open casket viewing of Dr. Dukes. (Ariama C. Long photos)

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodhan Clinton at podium.

L. Joy Williams President NAACP New York State Conference Rev Al Sharpton (Elinor Tatum photos)

Union Matters

Gwynne Wilcox rejoins NLRB; agency thwarts Trump for now

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

When the new Trump administration removed Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Jan. 27, it effectively incapacitated the agency.

The NLRB is responsible for mediating labor disputes between U.S. businesses and employees, and needs three members to form a quorum before making decisions. With Wilcox absent, the agency could not function. However, in a March 6 decision, the U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell found that Wilcox’s dismissal was unlawful, a move that was welcomed within the agency.

Video footage of Wilcox returning to the NLRB building on Mar. 10 depicts her being greeted by cheering co-workers. “I have the pleasure of having the best job and really having an impact on people throughout this country and that’s what’s so important,” Wilcox told the Associated Press.

“This case was not about me; it was about the agency and the people who work for the agency and who are so dedicated to our mission.”

Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nevada), co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus, was part of the crowd that cheered and welcomed Wilcox when she returned to the NLRB. “This is an independent agency representing the rights and the issues of workers,” Horsford said, “and the fact [is] that her illegal removal really hurt this agency and its ability to do its job. To all of you who work so hard to make sure that workers are represented, I wanted to be here along with all of you, because we understand that this moment is about standing up for workers, and that is what your agency does every single day.”

Wilcox told supporters that when Trump dismissed her on Jan. 27, “I didn’t sleep that night because I was so stunned and disappointed that this was actually happening: that we would not be able to do our work.”

First Black woman on the NLRB board

When Wilcox was appointed to the NLRB by former President Joe Biden, she became the first Black woman to serve on the NLRB board. Her appointment was set to last until August 2028 and she started this year expecting to complete her five-year term. She

sued after Trump removed her from the board.

Wilcox claimed that her dismissal violated the foundations of the 1935 National Labor Relations

tification of her dismissal that Wilcox provided in court, Trump dismissed Wilcox and Jennifer Abruzzo, who served as the NLRB’s general counsel, based more on his disagreement with their decision-making than with the conduct of their work. “In my judgment, the National Labor Relations Board is not presently fulfilling its responsibility to the American people,” the text of the email from the Office of Presidential Personnel stated. “The NLRB wields immense executive power over private employment relationships and relations with unions –– an area with vast economic consequences.

“The aims and purposes of the Administration with respect to the work on the Board can be carried out most effectively with personnel of my own selection. To that end, effective as of this date, Gwynne A. Wilcox and Jennifer Abruzzo are hereby removed from the office of Members of the National Labor Relations Board.”

U.S. District Court Judge Howell’s decision reinstating Wilcox found that “[a]t issue in this case, is the president’s insistence that he has authority to fire whomever he wants within the Executive branch, overriding any congressionally mandated law in his way. Luckily, the Framers, anticipating such a power grab, vested in Article III, not Article II, the power to interpret the law, including resolving conflicts about congressional checks on presidential authority. The president’s interpretation of the scope of his constitutional power — or, more aptly, his aspiration — is flat wrong.

“The president does not have the authority to terminate members of the National Labor Relations Board at will, and his attempt to fire plaintiff from her position on the Board was a blatant violation of the law.”

The Trump administration’s attempt to dismiss Wilcox represented an unprecedented action: the first time in the 90-year history of the NLRB that a U.S. president attempted to remove one of the board’s members.

Act (the Wagner Act), which states that board members can only be removed if they are found to have neglected their duties.

According to the emailed no-

Although Wilcox has been reinstated at the NLRB, ongoing legal challenges initiated by the Trump administration may lead to this case being ultimately reviewed by the Supreme Court.

Gwynne A. Wilcox of National Labor Relations Board. (@nlrbgov photo)

Affordable Housing for Rent

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109 NEWLY CONSTRUCTED UNITS AT 26-38 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101

LONG ISLAND CITY

Amenities: Pet Friendly†, Dog Washing station†, Large Dogs Allowed, Multiple Pets Allowed, Bike Storage lockers†, Pedestrian-friendly- Walk Score: 98, Bus stop/ public transportation access, Shared laundry room†, Washers and dryers in units, Dishwasher in unit, High-end kitchen appliances, High-end countertops and finishes, Energy-efficient appliances, Air-conditioning, Charging outlets with USB ports, Smart controls for heating/ cooling, Common area wifi, High-speed internet, Cable or satellite TV†, Online options for leasing, paying rent, and making maintenance requests, Gymnasium, Media Room, Party room, Outdoor areas, Jogging/ walking/ bike path or access to one nearby, Close to schools, Recreation room, Business Center, Children’s playroom, Outdoor terrace, Rooftop terrace, Security cameras, Doorman, Recycling center, On-site Resident Manager, Concierge, Package lockers†, Elevator, Accessible entrance, Smoke-free. (Breed restriction apply for pets).

Transit: E, F, G, M, R, 7

No fee to apply • No broker’s fee

• Smoke-free building • More information: https://rentlicapts.com/

This building was constructed through the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Program and is anticipated to receive Tax Exemption through the 421-a Tax Incentive Program of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

Who Should Apply? Individuals or households who meet the income and household size requirements listed in the table below may apply. Qualified applicants will be required to meet additional selection criteria. Applicants who live in New York City receive a general preference for apartments.

A percentage of units is set aside for:

o Mobility–disabled applicants (5%)

o Vision/Hearing–disabled applicants (2%)

 Preference for a percentage of units goes to:

o Residents of Queens Community Board 2 (20%)

o Municipal employees (5%)

New York City is committed to the principle of inclusivity in all of its neighborhoods, including supporting New Yorkers to reside in neighborhoods of their choice, regardless of their neighborhood of origin and regardless of the neighborhood into which they want to move.

AVAILABLE UNITS AND INCOME REQUIREMENTS

3

1 Tenants are responsible for electricity including electric stove. Rent includes electric heat and hot water.

2 Household size includes everyone who will live with you, including parents and children. Subject to occupancy criteria.

3 Household earnings includes salary, hourly wages, tips, Social Security, child support, and other income. Income guidelines subject to change.

4 Minimum income listed may not apply to applicants with Section 8 or other qualifying rental subsidies. Asset limits also apply. How Do You Apply?

Apply online or through mail. To apply online, please go to https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/ To request an application by mail, send a self-addressed envelope to: 26-38 JACKSON LOTTERY c/o Settlement Housing Fund, 247 West 37th Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Only send one application per development. Do not submit duplicate applications. Do not apply online and also send in a paper application. Applicants who submit more than one application may be disqualified.

When is the Deadline?

Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than April 21, 2025. Late applications will not be considered.

What Happens After You Submit an Application?

After the deadline, applications are selected for review through a lottery process. If yours is selected and you appear to qualify, you will be invited to submit documents to continue the process of determining your eligibility. Applicants are usually contacted from 2 to 10 months after the application deadline. You will be asked to submit documents that verify your household size, identity of members of your household, and your household income. Español Presente una solicitud en línea en https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/. Para recibir una traducción de español de este anuncio y la solicitud impresa, envíe un sobre con la dirección a: 26-38 JACKSON LOTTERY c/o Settlement Housing Fund, 247 West 37th Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10018 En el reverso del sobre, escriba en inglés la palabra “SPANISH.” Las solicitudes se deben enviar en línea o con sello postal antes de 21 de abril de 2025

简体中文 访问h tps:/ hous ngconnect nyc gov Publ cWeb 在线申请。如要获取本广告及书面申请表的简体中文版 请将您的回邮信封寄送至：

online nie później niż 21 kwietnia 2025 r. França s Pour déposer votre demande en ligne, rendez-vous sur le site https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/. Pour recevoir

Opinion

A highlight of Women’s History Month

Other than their genius and achievements, what do Queen Latifah, Aretha Franklin, Vanessa Williams, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, and Mariah Carey have in common? To begin with, they all were born in March — Women’s History Month. We could add several others; perhaps most notably Harriet Tubman, the great abolitionist.

However, another Black woman born in March — on March 7, 1917, to be precise — should also share the spotlight at the moment: Janet Collins, a prima ballerina, choreographer, and teacher.

A native of New Orleans, Collins became a pioneer in ballet dancing and one of the few Black women of her generation to be classically trained. In the 1940s, she collaborated with Katherine Dunham as a member of her company. By the late ’40s, she had earned countless glowing reviews, including as a standout in Cole Porter’s musical “Out of This World.”

Collins was at the height of her career in 1951 when she was hired as the first Black ballerina of the Metropolitan Opera. Among her memorable performances, praised highly by critics, was her artistry in Aida, Carmen, La Gioconda, and Samson and Delilah.

After abandoning the stage and concert tours, Collins devoted herself to teaching and applied the same rigorous training of style and technique that made her such an outstanding dancer to her students. Noteworthy, too, was the creativity and innovations she wove into the choreography of various operas.

As formidable and talented she was as a teacher, though, she is best remembered for the composure she brought to her creations: “at once cool and exotic ... a study in perfectly controlled power and tension.” One critic said that she harnessed a precise harmony of technique and invention.

In 2000, no longer the extraordinary dancer and retired as a teacher and choreographer, Collins moved from Seattle to Fort Worth to be closer to family members. She died in 2003 at the age of 86. Her thousands of fans remember the grace she exuded as she leaped and spun her magic on the stage. Women’s History Month could not be better represented than by the brilliance and magnetism of Janet Collins.

Prioritizing women for HIV prevention and treatment

By SYLVIA COWAN and LYMARIS ALBORS

The U.S. faces an ongoing HIV epidemic, with women — particularly women of color — bearing a heavy burden. While there have been substantial advances in the prevention and treatment of HIV, the unique needs of women have often been overlooked. National Women’s and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an opportunity to recognize that to make real strides in reducing new infections, it’s critical to prioritize women in HIV prevention strategies.

studies tracking PrEP prescriptions indicate that fewer than 10% of all prescriptions go to women.

Women living with HIV, especially women of color, continue to be affected disproportionately by stigma about the virus, which might discourage them from seeking care or even getting tested — the fear of being judged or rejected in their communities is a barrier to accessing treatment or necessary support. Combating this stigma and improving education about HIV are crucial to ensuring that women feel empowered to seek care.

Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher and Editor in Chief

Damaso Reyes: Executive & Investigative Editor

Cyril Josh Barker:

Siobhan "Sam" Bennett: Chief

Wilbert A. Tatum (1984-2009):

In 2022, women in the U.S. accounted for one in four people living with HIV and 18% of new diagnoses. The rates were even higher among women of color: Black/African American females aged 13 and older accounted for 50% of new HIV diagnoses, while Latinas accounted for 20%. According to 2023 data, women represented 21% of new HIV infections in New York State, while women represented 18% of new infections in New York City. Transgender women represented an additional 3% of new HIV diagnoses, among which 42% were Black and 48% were Latina. Despite these disparities, women remain underrepresented in HIV prevention programs, and many lack access to the necessary tools to protect themselves. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective intervention that reduces the risk of HIV transmission from sex by 99%, yet women are often not receiving it. According to data from AIDSVu, among all PrEP users in the U.S., only 8% are female. Further

New, longer-acting HIV treatment and prevention options that are easier to administer — microarray patches or under-the-skin implants, for example — offer a new ray of hope. Many of these products, including pills and injections, can be administered every six months. For women, access to these longer-acting options could be a game-changer. They not only provide convenience but also greater flexibility, discretion, and an empowering method of protection without the burden of daily pill-taking.

A recent study of PrEP use found that women make up only 7% of oral PrEP users. However, among those using injectable PrEP, women represent a higher proportion — 12.5%. This suggests that, relative to oral PrEP, more women are opting for the injectable option. However, systemic challenges continue to hinder equitable access to HIV prevention and treatment for many women. The underfunding of public health programs, particularly Medicaid, the largest insurer of low-income

people living with HIV in the U.S., and other programs that serve low-income and less-resourced communities, will further limit access to HIV prevention and treatment. Federal and state healthcare policies often fail to prioritize innovative interventions, which could leave many unable to afford or get access to longer-acting HIV medications. Women, particularly those who are uninsured or underinsured, find themselves caught in a web of exclusion from the latest, most effective HIV care. The time has come for the U.S. to prioritize women in the fight against HIV. In the spirit of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we must call for equitable access to HIV care. Culturally relevant, communitycentered education campaigns also are needed to raise awareness about PrEP and longer-acting HIV medications. Engaging trusted community leaders and healthcare providers in this effort is key to combating misinformation and stigma.

It is imperative that we ensure equitable access to HIV prevention tools, remove stigma, and create an environment where women feel supported in making informed decisions about their health. Investing in the health of women is not just a matter of individual well-being — it is a step toward ending the HIV epidemic for everyone.

Sylvia Cowan is vice president of customer experience, growth, and retention at Amida Care. Lymaris Albors is CEO of the Acacia Network and Board of Directors Representative, Amida Care.

Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor

Digital Editor

Lymaris Albors Sylvia Cowan

Can we say Trumpism?

By HERB BOYD

Erasures of the gains made by Black Lives Matter advocates — and this word like many others Trump seeks to purge from governmental use — took a dramatic turn yesterday when construction workers began dismantling the Black Lives Matter mural in D.C. as a symbol of protest for the killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Nothing in the realm of civil and human rights appears to be safe from Trump’s plans of eradication, his baleful hook. And I was completely unnerved to learn of his plan to close the Montgomery Bus Station, the location of the historic Freedom Rides Museum.

If a landmark museum is not safe, then we worry about what amounts to vandalism on part of the Trump administration. His crusade against any semblance of DEI endangers just about everything we cherish and hold sacred.

What next? Demolish Dr. King’s statue? Remove Lincoln from Mt. Rushmore, Roosevelt from the dime, take Grant’s tomb out of Harlem? As absurd and outrageous such moves would be, given Trump’s madness and determined authoritarianism, they are not beyond his reckless disregard for civility and human decency.

I cheered Rep. Al Green’s disruption in the Chamber during Trump’s long rambling, mindless speech, and wished others had

made a chorus of contempt. It was wonderful to see Justices Barrett and Roberts join the liberal contingent on the court to thwart Trump’s plan to freeze $2 billion in foreign aid and drastic budget cuts.

Many more signs of resistance are necessary to halt Trump’s destructive march against democracy and the full application of Project 2025. We need a collective outcry against his menace and a bold resolve to stifle his obnoxious worldview, one which we thought was merely incipient is now more and more fascist — another word perhaps destined for Trump’s trash can. Can we even say the word Trumpism in all its negative connotations?

Let’s not fall for the three-card monte

By JENNIFER JONES AUSTIN

In a nearly 100-minute speech to Congress this past week, President Donald Trump used the time to continue his attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and “wokeness,” addressing everything but the true threats that are altering the daily lives of Americans, such as the cost of living, and the erosion of government institutions and supports. While his enablers in Congress and in corporate America are trying everything in their power to undermine our basic protections, he keeps us spinning and distracted with anti-DEIA rhetoric.

He and other authors of his playbook have embraced anti-DEIA rhetoric as their most potent tool. They co-opt DEIA’s very meaning to imply that it is not about meritocracy, when that is exactly what it has always been about. They divide the country by insinuating that DEIA has caused widespread discrimination against qualified white male Americans and is the root of our nation’s pain. Rather than beginning his second term with an effort to improve the economy, Trump has used his power to shutter ongoing DEIA in government, then weaponized the federal government’s spending power against state and local governments and private companies that wanted to continue advancing DEIA. In so doing, Trump threw American governance into chaos rather than improving efficiency. Federal agencies, private businesses, preeminent universities, and even nonprofits have been roiled. While some were already eager to wipe out their DEIA programming, others have been forced to act against their freedom of judgment. Thankfully, a few still uphold the proudly American values of not bowing down or kowtowing but instead fighting back. Rev. Al Sharpton is one of the few.

As vice chair of the board of the National Action Network (NAN) and a daugh-

ter of Dr. William Augustus Jones, Jr., who first mentored Sharpton in the Civil Rights Movement and taught him the math and methods of boycotting, I find it reassuring that in this cataclysmic moment for our America, Sharpton is applying all the knowledge and skills he has amassed since his early days of activism and is fighting back. He has brought together a diverse group of leaders to commence a “buy-cott” in support of companies such as Costco that have vowed publicly to continue DEIA, and they are acting against those companies that have dropped DEIA and are most vulnerable to civic acts of resistance.

Indeed, the attacks on inclusion have devastatingly set back our country’s efforts to end marginalization of all Americans, racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism. However, I caution that Trump’s false, manipulative, and relentless rants about DEI are as much acts of deflection as they are deception — much like a game of three-card monte.

As a teenager in the early 1980s in New York City, I remember well the card masters who engaged pedestrians on street corners in Times Square and along Delancey Street. They would lure passersby, very often tourists, into a game of three-card monte with the promise of winning a pile of cash by following one of three cards lying flat on a cardboard box, as the master of deception moved the card around and misdirected the player.

With quick movements, changing and faking directions, the card master would deceive the bidder, and most often (too often), the bidder would lose their money.

Like those everyday people fooled into playing three-card monte, only to lose, we who believe in and are committed to freedom must be careful not to be sucked into Trump’s games of disorder and deception or we may very well lose, too.

In the last several weeks, Trump and his allies who stand to gain from disorder, such as Elon Musk, have been disman-

tling the basic structure of our government, including the parts that protect our individual and collective wellbeing. They have threatened to withhold federal funding for education, health, income, food, civil rights enforcement, infrastructure, international aid, environmental protection, and more, as well as to shut down agencies. Rather than appointing people with expertise, they have put people in positions of leadership who are committed to disorder.

To distract from their decimating of our basic protections in health, education, economic, environmental, and public safety, Trump has used his false rants like a cardshuffler to divert attention solely to DEIA: classic three-card monte.

We must speak with our wallets against corporate entities vowing to shut down DEIA but also be clear that this alone won’t stop Trump and his base. Ending DEIA is not their primary goal — they aim to remove the guardrails of our democracy for all. In this card game, they distract the public in one direction while seizing power in the other.

If there ever was a time for movementbuilding, it is now. Our efforts must be aimed at the actions and actors that threaten to harm us the most. We must support the national and local organizations that are doing the legal and policy work to both fight back and advance the common good. As local, state, and midterm elections approach, we must engage civically and vote for humanity politics up and down the ballot. And we must educate our own. We must teach the critical thinking and history that reveals how this three-card monte has been played throughout our history and is being played now. We must help ourselves and all Americans fight for a country that doesn’t play games with our lives but provides economic security for all.

Jennifer Jones Austin, Esq., is chief executive officer and executive director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies.

To love is to feel loss

CHRISTINA GREER, PH.D.

I have been thinking about the passing of Roberta Flack and Roy Ayers quite a lot lately. Both artists filled my home and my heart with melodies that seemed to bring me closer to understanding myself and my place in this convoluted world. Both artists represented a type of blackness that explored unbridled joys and pains as they exhibited unparalleled talents on their respective instruments. We are better as a people having listened to their music and to lose two greats in such a short span of time gives me pause. When I lost my grandparents almost twenty years ago, I was consumed with a type of sadness I could not put into words. The overwhelming wave of grief was something I had never experienced and I wondered if my heart might break from the weight of it all. As I spoke to people in order to find guidance on my grief journey I will never forget some wise words imparted to me, “To love is to feel a constant sense of loss.”

It took me years to fully understand that statement, but as I get older and experience so many dynamic friendships and begin to truly appreciate the artistry and genius of those like Roberta Flack and Roy Ayers, I understand now what a blessing it is to know love, to feel love, and to give love in return. These artists gave us so much. They gave of themselves for decades to adoring fans. They played the piano or the xylophone and transported us to places in our hearts that we sometimes didn’t know existed.

I met Roberta Flack briefly in 2002 at the Lisbon airport and shared some of my chicken nug-

gets with her after a long flight delay. She was as magical and gracious and warm as one might imagine. I was lucky enough to see Roy Ayers in concert at a smallish venue in New York City in 2023 as he performed with GZA and Big Daddy Kane. Yes you read that correctly. It was pure perfection seeing this multigenerational trio of talented Black men on stage, each masters of their respective crafts. I feel blessed to have been in the presence of Black brilliance.

So as I process the passing of these two musical giants and brace myself for this new phase in life where artists who have been in my life for decades become our ancestors, I must remain steadfast in my gratitude. To experience greatness and love these talents is to tap into what life is all about.

So how do we best honor these giants? I for one am introducing my students and younger generations to the genius of their music. The intricacy of the melodies of the simplicity and bliss in some lyrics and the pain and protest in others. We can keep their legacies alive by enjoying their music and refusing to put them on the shelves. We must celebrate their efforts, their hard work, and their creative talents and sacrifices — and we must never forget the love they poured into their music and into us.

Christina Greer is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University. She is the author of the new book, “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams.” She is also the cohost of the NYC centered podcast FAQ.Nyc.

Caribbean Update

Cuban doctors in Caricom are not ‘trafficked’

By BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews

Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans by the Trump administration to take action against Caribbean governments and officials linked to Cuban medical brigades working in the region.

Rubio, himself of Cuban ancestry, had signaled administrative plans to expand the U.S.-Cuba visa restriction system, which has been in place for decades, to include foreign governments and officials who oversee; administer; and are linked to the large number of Cuban doctors, nurses, biomedical engineers, and others working in the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom). He had bizarrely described the Cuban system of sending doctors overseas as a form of human trafficking. Caribbean governments have dismissed this notion as absolute nonsense.

Rubio said administration officials think the Cubans have a system that ensures their government gets a cut of how much they earn for serving two-year stints, on average, in a particular country before having their terms extended or being rotated.

Regional governments have been reacting with indignation and arguing that any seri-

ous disruption to the program could lead to significant upheaval in the health sector. The governments have asked for an urgent meeting with Rubio or a senior U.S. official in the coming weeks to ensure clarity about a radical policy that could wreck the health sector of some of the member states. No date has been announced as yet.

As an indication of how spooked some governments are, Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne made it clear in a weekend radio program that the Cuban brigade is critical to the region, and while some aspects of the program can be tweaked, no one in Caricom thinks the doctors and nurses are being trafficked.

“We totally reject [the] notion that we are involved in any form of human trafficking,” Browne declared. “The United States also must understand that these Cuban doctors and nurses represent the core of our healthcare service within the Caribbean. If we have to review the payment mechanism, that is something we can look at, but this extraterritorial positioning, articulation, and threats — I don’t know that this is the route we need to go.”

Cuban doctors have been the backbone of the health sector of many Caricom nations for at least the past four decades without any major complaints.

For leaders like Browne, the way forward is crucial because “if they were to take any punitive action against Caribbean countries because of the involvement of Cubans who are providing healthcare services, they will literally dismantle our healthcare services and

put our people at risk. We are sovereign countries. Their enemies are not our enemies. We are friends of all, enemies of none.”

Meanwhile, Jamaican Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith told a post-cabinet briefing in the past week that there is cause for alarm in the region if the U.S. persists with this policy change.

“Jamaica has had quite a long history of participation in the Cuban medical cooperation program and, in fact, that is replicated throughout the Caribbean, so the statement has been received with some concern,” she said. “The Jamaican government is examining the operation of our system. We have over 400 participants from the Cuban medical program at different levels — doctors, nurses, biomedical engineers, and technicians, so their presence here is of importance to our healthcare system.”

Cuba and Caricom have enjoyed extremely close, unbroken relations over the past 52 years, since Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados took steps in 1975 to establish diplomatic relations with the island, largely ending its hemispheric isolation and ignoring backroom threats from Washington about retaliation. The remainder of the bloc soon followed.

Trump’s ‘gold card’: A gateway for Russian oligarchs?

FELICIA PERSAUD

IMMIGRATION KORNER

When Donald Trump unexpectedly introduced a “gold card” for $5 million to replace the longstanding $1 million U.S. investor visa, one question immediately came to mind: Was this designed to give Russian oligarchs a backdoor to U.S. residency?

The timing is telling. Trump’s new investment-for-residency scheme was unveiled just two days before the U.S. met with Russia to discuss a so-called peace deal for Ukraine — without Ukraine or European allies at the table. The details of that meeting remain undisclosed, but Trump keeps boasting that Russia is suddenly interested in making peace. At the same time, the U.S. shockingly voted alongside Russia at the United Nations, opposing a European-backed resolution that condemned Moscow’s actions and affirmed Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Instead, the U.S. drafted a weaker UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to the conflict — without directly criticizing Russia.

Even more concerning, the Department of Defense, under Trump’s leadership, has reportedly ordered U.S. Cyber Command to

halt offensive cyber and information operations against Russia — a major strategic shift. What does this have to do with Trump’s new golden visa? Everything.

A safe haven for Russian elites?

Since late 2023, Russian elites have faced increasing roadblocks in securing foreign citizenship due to the Ukraine war. While investment-based citizenship remains possible in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hungary, Portugal, and Malta, most European and Caribbean countries have severely tightened their “golden visa” programs, cutting off access for rich Russians seeking to buy second passports. A $5 million U.S. residency program could be exactly what these individuals need: a new escape route, providing both safety and financial security in America.

Maíra Martini, CEO of Transparency International, and Gary Kalman, executive director of Transparency International U.S., have warned about this very issue: Writing in “Fortune,” they argued that Trump’s plan could offer a “golden escape route” for corrupt figures to funnel illicit wealth into the U.S.

“Explicitly inviting Russian oligarchs may be saying the quiet part out loud,” they wrote, adding that golden visa programs have historically welcomed “the corrupt and money launderers” under the guise of attracting “exceptional global citizens.”

The

‘right’ vs. ‘wrong’ immigrants

As usual, Trump has been light on specifics but laser-focused on who he deems worthy of U.S. residency. In his State of the Union address on Mar. 4, he argued that these $5 million investors would “create jobs” and help America pay down its debt.

“For $5 million, we will allow the most successful job-creating people from all over the world to buy a path to U.S. citizenship,” Trump declared, branding the initiative as “like the green card, but better and more sophisticated.” He emphasized that these wealthy newcomers would be required to pay U.S. taxes.

Yet, at the same time, his administration is aggressively tightening legal immigration, including changing asylum and refugee status, restricting work visas, and attempting to eliminate birthright citizenship. The contrast is stark: While Trump pushes to block asylum seekers and deport long-term immigrant families, he’s simultaneously rolling out the red carpet for the ultra-wealthy — anyone with the means; questionable financial backgrounds be damned.

A program ripe for abuse

The U.S. already has an investment-based visa: the EB-5 program, created in 1990, which grants residency to those investing $800,000 to $1.05 million in job-creating ventures. However, the EB-5 has been riddled with corruption

and fraud, including a major scandal involving a Vermont ski resort where foreign investors were scammed out of millions.

If the existing system is already prone to abuse, what safeguards will prevent Trump’s new gold card program from becoming a laundering pipeline for questionable money?

Trump’s history of financial ties to Russian business interests only fuels suspicion. His past real estate deals have frequently involved shady Russian investors, raising concerns that his new residency-for-cash plan could serve as a convenient favor to those same networks.

A dangerous path forward

The bottom line? Trump’s golden visa isn’t about helping America; it’s about lining pockets and rewarding the wealthy, no matter the cost. By giving the world’s richest, including Russian oligarchs, an easy path to U.S. residency, he’s creating a two-tiered immigration system — one where money buys privilege, while struggling immigrants are locked out. America’s immigration policy should be about fairness, opportunity, and national security, not selling citizenship to the highest bidder, especially those with questionable ties. Felicia J. Persaud is the publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, a daily news outlet focused on positive news about Black immigrant communities from the Caribbean and Latin America.

Kamina Johnson Smith, Jamaican Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. (© European Union, 2025 / https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ legalcode)

International News

Trump’s ending of 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts slams programs around the world

By GERALD IMRAY Associated Press

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Health groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) expressed surprise and outrage Thursday and said many humanitarian programs would collapse after the Trump administration’s decision to cut 90% of foreign aid contracts from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The move, barely a month after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day review of spending, will permanently defund programs across the world that fight hunger and disease, and provide other life-saving help for millions.

“Women and children will go hungry, food will rot in warehouses while families starve, children will be born with HIV — among other tragedies,” said the InterAction group, an alliance of NGOs in the United States that work on aid programs across the world. “This needless suffering will not make America

safer, stronger, or more prosperous. Rather, it will breed instability, migration, and desperation.”

The Trump administration announced Wednesday it was stopping some $60 billion in overall aid and assistance around the world because it didn’t advance American interests. Organizations that receive funding from USAID received letters advising about the termination of their funding and programs overnight, according to people who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some 10,000 USAID contracts with NGOs and others were terminated in the Trump administration’s move, InterAction said, “effectively crippling American foreign assistance.”

Liz Schrayer, president and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a nonprofit that promotes U.S. diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, warned that the move would cede ground and international influence to China, Russia, and Iran.

“The American people deserve a transparent accounting of what will be lost — on counterterror, global

health, food security, and competition,” Schrayer said in a statement.

In South Africa, an alliance of health groups said that thousands of USAID contracts for HIV programs in that country had been permanently canceled overnight “as the United States government abandons thousands of the most vulnerable people in South Africa and abroad.”

USAID provides a large amount of funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which is credited with saving millions of lives in Africa and more than 26 million globally since it was started by Republican President George W. Bush in 2003.

The letters of termination cut lifesaving services for people requiring treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, said a South African health group alliance called CHANGE. South Africa has around 5.5 million people on treatment for HIV — the most in the world. While the U.S. only funds 17% of South Africa’s HIV program, the cuts to USAID would put the entire program at risk because of

how U.S. money helps in critical areas, CHANGE said.

Trump ally and advisor Elon Musk have hit foreign aid harder and faster than almost any other target in their push to cut the size of the federal government. Both men say USAID projects advance a liberal agenda and are a waste of money.

Termination letters delivered by the administration to USAID partners across the world said their funding was being ended “for convenience and the interests of the U.S. government,” according to a person with knowledge of the letters who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the issue.

The person said the letters also advised the NGOs and programs affected that an administrator for USAID had “determined your award is not aligned with Agency priorities and made a determination that continuing this program is not in the national interests.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a waiver pro-

gram in the days after Trump’s order freezing aid that was meant to save funding for life-saving services. Many of those waivers were not enacted, and groups said Thursday that even programs that had been initially identified as life-saving had lost their funding permanently in the new order.

In his first day back in office on Jan. 20, Trump ordered what he said would be a three-month review of which foreign assistance programs deserved to continue and cut off all foreign assistance funds almost overnight.

The administration and Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) teams have also pulled the majority of USAID staff off the job through forced leave and firings. Thousands of USAID workers were being given a 15-minute window on Thursday and Friday to clear out their workspaces.

For more AP news about the Trump administration, go to https:// apnews.com/hub/donald-trump.

Demonstrators protest against cuts to American foreign aid spending, including USAID and PEPFAR program to combat HIV/ AIDS, at Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

A 1964 boycott fought school segregation, but inequality continues

By ABBIE HOPSON Special to AmNews

During the civil rights era, Black and Puerto Rican New Yorkers were frustrated with the constant claims of racial equality in the North. One look at public school systems, including New York’s, revealed that the educational inequities for their children didn’t look much different from down South.

On Feb. 3, 1964, named “Freedom Day,” the people spoke up. Bundled up against the 20-degree weather, thousands of students, teachers, and community members took to the streets in Manhattan and Brooklyn to bring attention to the disparities experienced in Black and Brown schools.

For Edward Gordon, today a 78-year-old music educator, the boycott was his first protest.

“It was an air of excitement,” said Gordon, adding that most of their parents didn’t know their kids were skipping class to protest.

Gordon didn’t plan on picketing that morning, but when he arrived at school, he and his friends decided to join in the action. “You are told to use your rights as an American and express yourself, and for the first time, you’re actually doing something, you’re thinking out of the box,” Gordon said.

Although the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, it was not strictly enforced. And educational inequality remained — and still does.

Today, segregation is still rampant in New York City’s school system. An estimated 83% of Black students and 73% of Hispanic/Latino students attend a school that is more than 90% minority students. These rates are significantly higher – over 90% – for Black and Latino students in the charter system. By comparison, Black and Latino residents make up nearly two-thirds of public school students and more than half of the city’s population. According to the Civil Rights Project at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), charter schools are the most “racially isolated” schools in the nation.

Decades ago, activists tried to prevent this

In 1958, nine mothers led the Harlem Nine Boycott, keeping their children out of school for 162 days in protest. With thousands of support-

ers, they successfully sued the city over de facto segregation: racial separation due to circumstance rather than law. Afterward, the Board of Education created an open education policy that allowed Black children to transfer to integrated schools.

Gordon, who grew up in Harlem, attended Commerce High School, which was later torn down to build Lincoln Center. He remembers the experience of going to one of the few integrated high schools in the city fondly.

“The kids got along well,” said Gordon. “I had white friends; I had Black friends; I had Latino friends. A lot of the time, if the adults get out of the way, the kids will work it out.”

The situation for Black and Puerto Rican students remained dire in certain neighborhoods, however. In December 1963 , an article in the Amsterdam News revealed that students in a Brooklyn school with a predominantly Black and Puerto Rican population were washing their teachers’ cars, shining shoes, and cleaning the building alongside custodial staff. In Black and Brown neighborhoods, schools were often overcrowded and underfunded. In Harlem, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and other areas, students were attending school in half-day shifts to accommodate the population. Many of those schools did not have libraries or gymnasiums.

By 1964, civil rights leaders recognized that it would take a larger demonstration to bring attention to the continuing segregation. Bayard Rustin, a key organizer of the famed March on Washington, planned the Freedom Day boycott with Reverend Milton Galamison, a civil rights activist and pastor of Siloam Presbyterian Church in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

“The strategy was to pressure the Board of Ed to take some meaningful steps, so the boycott didn’t have to happen,” said Christopher Bonastia, a sociology professor at Lehman College who researches school segregation in New York.

The pressure didn’t work

Although cities like Birmingham and Washington, D.C., dominate the records of civil rights history, New York City activists worked just as tirelessly. On Feb. 3, 1964, 44.8% or some 464,362 students, and 8% of teachers, did not attend school.

Pickets marched at 300 out of the 860 public schools, and the day ended with 3,500 protestors, mostly

children, marching on the Brooklyn Board of Education.

“As the pickets marched, they chanted ‘Jim Crow must go’ and sang ‘We Shall Overcome’ and handed out leaflets,” wrote Leonard Buder of the New York Times

As an alternative to attending school that day, many churches and some other organizations ran “freedom schools,” where volunteer teachers taught children about racial consciousness and justice.

The reaction to the boycott was varied. Civil rights leaders and prominent figures initially deemed it a success.

Bayard Rustin told the New York Times that the boycott was a “fair warning that the civil rights revolution has reached out of the South and is now knocking at our own door.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X both spoke out in support of the school boycotts.

Despite the media attention, though, the boycotts didn’t lead to widespread school integration.

In fall 1964, New York began a school pairing program in which mostly white schools and mostly Black schools in close proximity combined their student populations. Many white families responded by sending their children to private schools and moving to the suburbs. As a result, predominantly Black and Brown schools have continued to fall behind.

even have a decent music program.”

— their main focus — the spirituals.

According to Clarence Taylor, a history professor at Baruch College who has studied the Civil Rights Movement in New York City extensively, the movement failed largely due to the inner conflict between civil rights organizations and activists, often including Galamison, and the “fierce resistance” from other parties.

“You can’t rule out the huge resistance to that movement coming from parents, coming from the Board of Education, coming from the FBI,” he said.

Inequality of resources is a primary issue that Gordon has noticed in his education career. “I went to an average high school, but we had two choirs, a synchronic band, a jazz band, and a symphonic orchestra — 60 pieces,” he said. “Most of the schools in my community now don’t

To address the disparity, Gordon founded the Nubian Conservatory for Music in 1983, a classical music school in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, that focuses on expanding access to music education for Black community members and preserving the musical tradition of the spirituals.

In the late 1970s, when it was very difficult for Black musicians to find collegiate-level jobs, Gordon came up with the idea to “build our own collegiate institution in the Black community and hire ourselves.”

Building an institution

In the decades since, the Nubian Conservatory has trained students of all ages in classical vocals, piano, and violin. Gordon and his team continue to work toward offering a bachelor’s degree in music, despite being slowed down in recent years by finances. The conservatory has continued working to train students in both classical European music and

“The spirituals are the foundation of all Black American music,” said Gordon. Reclaiming these cultural roots is important not only for the preservation of the culture, but also for developing classical skills, he noted. While genres like hip-hop and gospel have long overtaken the spirituals in Black music culture, Gordon said learning the spirituals is a way to be marketable in the music industry.

Like the school system, many areas of the music industry are heavily segregated. A study from 2023 found that only 2.4% of orchestral musicians are Black, compared to 12.6% of the population in the United States. The segregation in music education is a primary cause of this gap.

In May, a lawsuit challenging segregation in NYC public schools moved forward in court. Still, Black and Brown schools are more likely to be under-resourced and under-performing, and the children are less likely to be admitted to prestigious schools.

“It’s worse now than ever,” said Taylor, referring to about segregation in the city’s school system and the “growing inequality.”

Gordon cited administrative issues as a key problem in the inequality between city schools.

“The body follows the head,” he said.

Edward Gordon

Immigration agents arrest Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ Associated Press

Federal immigration authorities arrested a Palestinian activist Saturday who played a prominent role in Columbia University’s protests against Israel, a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s pledge to detain and deport student activists.

Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia until this past December, was inside his university-owned apartment Saturday night when several Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered and took him into custody, his attorney, Amy Greer, told The Associated Press. Greer said she spoke by phone with one of the ICE agents during the arrest, who said they were acting on State Department orders to revoke Khalil’s student visa. Informed by the attorney that Khalil was in the United States as a permanent resident with a green card, the agent said they were revoking that instead, according to the lawyer.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed Khalil’s arrest in a statement Sunday, describing it as being “in support of President Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.”

protests

ed their rights to remain in the country by supporting Hamas.

McLaughlin signaled the arrest was directly connected to Khalil’s role in the protests, alleging he “led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.”

As ICE agents arrived at Khalil’s Manhattan residence Saturday night, they also threatened to arrest Khalil’s wife, an American citizen who is eight months pregnant, Greer said.

Khalil’s attorney said they were initially informed that he was being held at an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. But when his wife tried to visit Sunday, she learned he was not there. Greer said she still did not know Khalil’s whereabouts as of Sunday night.

“We have not been able to get any more details about why he is being detained,” Greer told the AP. “This is a clear escalation. The administration is following through on its threats.”

A Columbia University spokesperson said law enforcement agents must produce a warrant before entering university property, but declined to say if the school had received one ahead of Khalil’s arrest. The spokesperson declined to comment

Khalil’s arrest is the first publicly known deportation effort under Trump’s promised crackdown on students who joined

against the war in Gaza that swept college campuses last spring. The administration has claimed participants forfeit-

Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist, has been arrested by federal immigration agents. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey photo)

Black Male Initiative at CUNY celebrates 20 years of empowering young men of color in higher education

By LEAH MALLORY Special to the AmNews

The Black Male Initiative (BMI) at the City University of N.Y. (CUNY) is celebrating 20 years of empowering Black and Latino males in higher education, marking a major milestone in serving underrepresented groups through academic and career support.

The school has had “20 years of celebrating, uplifting, and providing upward mobility to underrepresented populations, especially in higher education, and providing them with the support and encouragement for them to be successful as they go on in their respective academic careers and professions beyond CUNY,” said Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ian James — “20 years of impact and more to come.”

According to Jonathan Quash, executive director of the CUNY-wide program, the BMI was born from a model program at Medgar Evers College (MEC) called Pi Eta Kappa — an academic fraternity and honor society for urban males. It was pioneered by former MEC president Dr. Edison O. Jackson, and operated out of the college’s Male Development and Empowerment Center, which still exists today.

After seeing the success of Pi Eta Kappa and its positive impact on students, the NYC Council asked Jackson to launch a system-wide CUNY effort based the honor society design. The BMI launched officially in 2005 with the council’s financial support.

Since its inception, the program has been implemented on more than 30 CUNY campuses, with more than 8,000 participants enrolled annually. The goal, Quash said, is to increase engagement consistently with the BMI.

“Programming within the BMI world allows us to stand in the gap so that students don’t have that occasion to disengage from the campus,” said Quash.

Quash knows the value of BMI first-hand: As an undergraduate student, he struggled to stay engaged in school due to being introverted. This eventually contributed to his dropping out and not obtaining his degrees until years later.

“I would never have dropped out if I had a mentor — someone to kind of pal around with me or show me what to do. I was kind of on my own,” he said. “I just didn’t connect with anyone, and one of the things that our program does, particularly at the senior colleges, is provide that engagement, so students have an opportunity to have a mentor like Dr. James did or have someone to connect to, to be that person to help them through, so that they don’t drop out.”

James, a graduate of MEC, said he spent a lot of time at the Male Development and Empowerment Center when he was a student in 2001. “I [was] in that space because

of my engagement as a student leader and [realized] I could make a difference,” he said.

James said he went to school for political science, intending to break into international relations, but the center changed his trajectory in the best way.

“If I weren’t in that space, I would probably be an ambassador somewhere in some country, so no regrets,” he said. “I was happy I could be in a program like this. I’m so happy to be in a position [now] where I can give back and support the students.”

James Viafara Sanchez, a current sophomore at the college enrolled in the BMI program, offered similar praises.

“The mentorship platform that Medgar Evers provided for me has been the most essential throughout my college journey, because having experienced mentors with you can influence and guide you,” he said. “I’ve also gotten access to a lot of resources throughout my time in this program, so I’ve been able to access internship opportunities, fellowship, [and] scholarships.”

Sanchez is majoring in public administration and joined the program his first year, after being introduced to it by an administrator. Since starting, he’s had a chance to take on new roles and experiences, including becoming a student mentor for the BMI and ambassador at the central CUNY office.

“That has been really groundbreaking for me, especially as a young student, because I didn’t expect that to happen through my involvement with the program, but they’ve provided me with safety and encouragement during my time here,” Sanchez said.

Ongoing support

James also mentioned that the BMI supports students throughout their entire school journey — for as long as needed.

“We go all the way to professional school, [including] our law school or medical school,” said James. “We have the program at

CUNY BMI Gala, NYC Tech Program participants. (Photos courtesy CUNY BMI)

CUNY BMI Gala, future Now Program participants.

Arts & Entertainment

Don’t ‘Forget’ Africa — Ivorian artists urge NY diaspora to stay connected amid aid cuts by Trump

By EDEN HARRIS

Special to the AmNews

First article in two-part series

Nearly 5,000 miles away from New York, Ivorian artists have already begun adapting to a life without funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) since President Donald Trump dismantled the agency as a part of his America First agenda, leaving millions of people to fend for themselves.

Despite the rollback in funding, artists are sending a powerful message to New York, home to the largest African diaspora in the U.S., through a symbolic letter to urge them to stay connected.

Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, a New York-Ivorian artist known as Aboudia, whose work is on display at the Ethan Cohen Gallery, said staying connected to Africa is essential, no matter what the circumstances.

“I would tell them to not forget [Africa]. It is good to leave, but it is good to come back with what we have learned elsewhere to develop our land — this land [from which we are] born — because we must leave a cultural, intellectual, heritage legacy to future generations,” he told the AmNews Aboudia said it’s important for the African diaspora to be “connected for the exchange, whether it is cultural business, family and all [other things] that follows.”

Mamadou Ballo, an Ivorian-based artist who protects the environment by using recycled bottles and boxes to create art, said he plans to stay connected to the New York diaspora through storytelling. When his art is “well made, it’s going to cross borders,” he said.

He told the AmNews that another way he wants to stay connected to the diaspora is by reopening his art house, which hosted artists from all over the world. This, he said, will bring the diaspora together now that there is more of a need for art programming. His art space had closed because a landlord sold it.

A report from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences titled “Art for Life’s Sake, the Case for Art Education” found that 88% of the American public supports art and agrees it is an integral part of a “wellrounded education.”

Until Ballo can get his art house back up and running, which requires financing, he and Aboudia are training local children at a resort called La Maison D’akoula, which brings in kids from the community. They are building “The School of Beauty,” which

Renaud Chauvin Buthaud conceptualized with his wife, Akoula Amon; he named part of the resort after her.

Buthaud, a philanthropist, said creating “sculptures” and craftsmanship is one of the many art areas neglected in the education sector — a gap he is filling. He also urged the New York African diaspora not to forget about the motherland, even if the U.S. has withdrawn funding and some of its presence.

Aboudia, who has sold an art piece for $640,000, is regarded as a prominent artist, but for Buthaud, “It’s not because you’re at the top level that you think you are close to God.” He said some people may think they are too big to come down on the “ground” and teach aspiring artists.

Aboudia, who still splits his time between New York and Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory

Coast), said the team is independent and will continue without the support of the Trump administration, but he wants the diaspora to get involved in understanding the value of art.

For Gnaka Lagoke, an Ivorian citizen and an associate professor of Pan-Africana studies and history at Lincoln University, the time that the U.S. pulled aid couldn’t come sooner.

“I am in favor of Africa’s sovereignty and Africa’s independence, and it is about time for African leaders to put more emphasis on self-sufficiency and self-reliance,” Lagoke said. “That is the most important lesson they have to draw from the dissolution of the U.S. aid.”

Lagoke, a self-described pan-Africanist, said he, along with many experts, was caught off guard when Trump pulled aid, but he believes African nations will have to find a way.

“I was surprised by the abrupt way of doing things by Donald J. Trump,” Lagoke said. “I’m going to quote Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, who said African countries now have the responsibility to look for local solutions as the agency is not going to be able to continue doing what it was doing for Africa in the field of development, in the field of humanitarian causes.”

Despite the challenges, Ivorian artists and leaders remain committed to their mission to foster a strong bond between the continent and its diaspora. Artists like Aboudia and Ballo are proving that creative expression is more than just an outlet — it’s a tool for connection. Their message to the diaspora is clear: Even if governments pull back, Africa must not be forgotten.

Mamadou Ballo, Ivorian-based artist, poses in front of his art in Assinie, Ivory Coast, in February 2025.

Renaud Chauvin Buthaud and wife Akoula Amon in Assinie, Ivory Coast, in February 2025.

Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, New York-Ivorian artist known as Aboudia, teaches a boy how to paint in Assinie, Ivory Coast, in February 2025. (Eden Harris photos)

‘Vibe Check’ hosts discuss their perspectives on current era

BY RAYMOND FERNÁNDEZ Special to the AmNews

For the “Vibe Check” podcast hosts, Black history is celebrated in every episode. At the Amsterdam News, every month is Black History Month.

Sam Sanders, creator and former host of NPR’s “It’s Been a Minute”; Saeed Jones, founding LGBTQ editor of BuzzFeed; and Zach Stafford, the first Black editor-in-chief of “The Advocate,” sat down with the AmNews to discuss “Vibe Check” and America’s past, present, and future.

AmNews: It is such an honor to be in the presence of such professionals in the podcast field, especially during Black History Month. You guys thoroughly explore culture through unapologetically Black and queer lenses. Your analysis is particularly fresh, given the insanity of the last couple of months. People are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information circulating, and there is something incredibly special about how your podcast breaks down and explores these topics.

Sanders: We are trying, with this show, to remind people that, one: However you feel about this, you are allowed to feel because we come to these episodes with different feelings every week from the three of us, but two: … If you feel like you can do something, do it in a way that works for you. It can be small, it can be local, it can be outside of the box.

AmNews: Who is an African American figure you wish would get more recognition during Black History Month?

Sanders : I think it’s less of which one to honor, but how do we honor them differently and holistically? For example, George Washington Carver — he was a bisexual; he was kinda cranky, messy, and mean. Am I hearing about the big players that we always hear about holistically? I want to hear about their flaws, I want to hear about their struggles … because if we only hear about these heroes of Black history as gods who do no wrong, we never think that we could do what they did.

Stafford: Angela Davis. I saw [on] Facebook [that] it’s the anniversary of my first time meeting her 15 years ago. She told me to “live in the contradiction.” I was almost your age [22] and it

changed my life. I think about it every day.

Jones: I think about [Richard] Bruce Nugent — he was one of the baby gays of the Harlem Renaissance. He was the only out member of the Harlem Renaissance; he was a poet, fiction writer, and artist. He was also alive within five years of me being born, which is incredible.

Sanders: Everyone forgets this: The freaking March on Washington … we organized that sh*t. Bayard Rustin — there was a movie about Bayard Rustin that got an Oscar nomination for Coleman Domingo and we still don’t talk about that man enough.

AmNews: For someone who wants to listen to your podcast, what is or are good episodes to start?

Jones: Democracy TBD, the candidate who ran on identity politics, Donald Trump, won.

Sanders: You Can’t Turn Cotton Candy Into Steak — we all felt differently about the movie, and it was still the best hour of criticism.

Stafford: Cheers, Queerleaders! You want some quick reactions that are thoughtful and juicy, come to “Vibe Check.”

AmNews: Who has been your favorite guest?

Jones: For National Poetry Month last year, we were able to have my dear friend Ada Limón, our current U.S. Poet Laureate, on the show.

That was an incredible honor.

Stafford: Cord Jefferson — he is our most dreamy guest.

AmNews: Who is your dream guest for the show?

Stafford: Solange Knowles.

AmNews: The queer community has always been under attack; however, it feels like, in the last couple of years, queer folks have become more mainstream; so have the attacks. Saeed, what is your message for the LGBTQ+ community?

Jones: I want to say to, especially our trans fam, get behind me. They’ve got to go through me and they’ve got to go through the rest of this LGBTQ community to get to y’all. I want them to know that we are ready to put our lives and our bodies on the line in defense of them. They are not alone.

AmNews: Who is dominating pop culture for you right now?

Stafford: I have been very impressed with Kendrick.

Jones: And the tour hasn’t started yet; the award cycle will be for next year. Oh — Doechii.

Sanders: Yes, she is something else. The last two movies that were cultural forces and dominated months of press around themselves were “Barbie” and “Wicked” — and both of them are decidedly queer. The marketing campaign

majority of people who voted in the last election decided that’s what they wanted.

AmNews: Do you think the way our political system is set up prompts the electorate to disenfranchise themselves?

Sanders: The challenge right now for people is to understand that reality and still stay engaged. I would love for our country to be sustained by five or six political parties, but in the meantime, am I still going to be active? I think that is the challenge for the next four years. If all of us tap out, who is working to change it?

Every system that I am a part of in this country is really flawed, and in spite of that, for some of the work that needs to be done to secure the rights of our people for the next four years, we’ll have to work within the systems.

for “Barbie” was queer-coded and “Wicked” went even further than the Broadway play or the book when you got to the point of Jonathan Bailey’s dancing, flirting with the boys and the girls. I think we are on the verge, on the cusp, of queer icons taking over Hollywood.

AmNews: What are your thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement in 2025?

Jones: We are just beginning to see how the influence of this administration, ironically, trickles down more than money. Political trickle-down; how all of that will empower police forces and what they feel empowered to do. Even as the national conversation drifted away from Black Lives Matter, police shootings have gone up. The conversation might have drifted, but it’s gone up. It’s just as urgent.

AmNews: What does Trump’s re-election to the presidency say about America?

Stafford: It’s clarifying: There is no excuse anymore that people think that was an accident.

Jones: A dear friend of mine said, “The 2016 election was a mistake, but 2024 was a choice.”

Maybe you don’t know every news story, maybe you don’t know every single thing, but you have a good sense of who that man is and the people he surrounds himself with. They are very consistent and a

Jones: To push back a bit, because we are in New York City in this specific moment in politics and news, I keep thinking about people saying, “We gotta roll up our sleeves.” Summer of 2020, a moment of unprecedented [and] diverse political action. [The following year], the city of New York elected who? And what’s happening now?

Yeah, I think it’s worth acknowledging; sure: Vote, call your representatives, get out there and protest. But sometimes I feel like we have these conversations and overlook the fact that it’s been happening. One of the largest trans protests that year happened in Brooklyn, and here is where we are. We have a Black mayor who fully sold out the city. Your paper focuses on the African American community and I know a lot of Black people in the city of New York voted for Eric Adams.

Stafford: And are still supporting him.

Jones: I am more of an outsidethe-system kinda girl. I also think there needs to be some deep introspection. I will give you a specific example: To the point of civil rights, I would like to see Black churches become centers of civil rights activism as they were … Sanders: I do hope that we get to a point in this second Trump term where there are just bodies in the streets again. That does work, it does work.

Read the full AmNews interview with Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford of "Vibe Check" at amsterdamnews.com.

“Vibe Check” promo image provided by podcast hosts. (Robyn Von Swank photo)

Wendy Williams talks to Rosanna Scotto, Kamala Harris’ next move may be governor of California, Jaden Lucas Miller joins “Beyond The Gates”

Former talk show host Wendy Williams called 911 herself on March 11 from the assisted living facility where she currently resides in New York City. The police decided that Williams did not need any help, however, and stayed with her until the EMTs arrived. Williams also threw a note out the window to members of the media below, and was later taken to Lenox Hill Hospital. On Tuesday, March 11, Wendy called Rosanna Scotto live on “Good Day New York.” Her friend Gina told Scotto that Wendy passed the capacity tests she was given at the hospital with “flying colors.” Wendy said she went to the hospital because “I want to be independently tested.” Scotto then asked Wendy if she needed a sober companion or a financial advisor. Said Williams, “As far as a sober companion, I am not drinking ever in my life. Of course, I need a financial advisor to watch over my money. The guardian person is taking money. I’m waiting to see my lawyer.” Williams went on to tell Rosanna that the fifth floor where she lives is the memory unit, a specialized care area for those dealing with memory-related challenges and needs. “I’m not allowed to go out,” said Wendy. “I have to be escorted to the third floor to go to the gym. It has to be approved by my guardian person.” The TV personality continued that she has a landline, while her guardian has her phone. Looking toward the future, Williams said, “I want to stay in New York, go back to work

and get out of this guardianship.” Ending the call, Rosanna told Williams, “We’ll have you on the show,” to which she answered, “I would love that. What would I wear? My clothes are in storage.” The ladies told each other, “I love you” and ended the call. Williams is scheduled to do a phone interview with “The View” on March 14 .......

According to various reports, former Vice President Kamala Harris is contemplating a run for governor of California and plans to make her decision by the end of the summer. Harris told several people at a recent pre-Oscar party what her planned timeline is to gear up for this endeavor. She would be entering the race to succeed current California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is unable to run for another term by law.........

Tongues are wagging that Jaden Lucas Miller has joined the cast of the new primarily Black soap opera “Beyond The Gates,” which is currently in its third week on CBS at 2 p.m. ET. Miller’s character Tyrell was introduced on the daytime series on March 10 as a quiet, thoughtful character with a quirky endearing side often seen playing chess or reading a book. “Beyond The Gates” is set in a leafy Maryland suburb outside of Washington D.C. and is one of the most affluent Black counties in the nation. The show also stars Clifton Davis and Tamara Tunie, among others .........

We Hear …

Melba’s Restaurant in Harlem was the hottest spot in town the weekend of March 7. Celebrities and dignitaries who were seen in the chic eatery included Kevin Hart, former governor/mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo, and talk show host Tamron Hall, who had a book signing of her new children’s book at Abyssinian Baptist Church …

Wendy Williams during an interview with JusNik of WBLS at Circle of Sisters, 2022 (WBLS photo (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wendy_Williams_WBLS_2022.png)

3 NIGHTS ONLY! The U.K.’s most celebrated Hip-Hop dance theater company returns to Lincoln Center with Cycles

FOR ANY SEAT IN THE THEATER! A Project of Arnhold Dance Innovation Fund

CHOOSE �WHAT�YOU � PAY

Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder delight at Roberta Flack's ‘Celebration of Life’ memorial

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — A public memorial service bursting with music, including planned performances by Stevie Wonder and a surprise one by Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, celebrated the life and legacy of the Grammy-winning singer and pianist Roberta Flack.

The songstress, whose intimate vocal and musical style made her one of the top recording artists of the 1970s and an influential performer long after, died last month at age 88.

Flack is best known for her transformative covers of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” Both were expertly handled by Hill at the ceremony held Monday afternoon at New York’s Abyssinian Baptist Church. Wonder followed the set and the Rev. Al Sharpton gave the eulogy.

Flack “put a soundtrack to Black dignity,” Sharpton said.

As many said in their tributes, Flack’s musical genius stemmed from her ability to seamlessly move between soul, jazz, gospel, and beyond.

Her “Celebration of Life” memorial was live streamed at www.RobertaFlack.com and on YouTube.

Some highlights:

For the memory of a singing legend, a historic location

Flack’s memorial was open to the public at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, a historic Harlem institution. Founded in 1808, it is

one of the oldest Black Baptist churches in the U.S.

The church was decorated for the ceremony with stunning white and yellow bouquets. Seats filled quickly. At center, a screen showed a young Flack at the piano and played highlights of her career. Later, it would broadcast music industry legends paying tribute to Flack, including Clive Davis, Dionne Warwick, India.Arie, and Alicia Keys.

It was a fitting location for such a celebration: Flack grew up with church gospel and her mother played organ at the Lomax African Methodist Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia. As a teen, she began accompanying the church choir on piano.

The ceremony detoured from a program handed out to attendees. It featured a powerful quote from Flack on the back that Arie would include in her message.

“Remember: Always walk in the light,” Flack once said. “If you feel like you’re not walking in it, go find it. Love the Light.”

Celebrating a life in music — through music

“Her existence was a form of resistance,” Hill said in her speech, holding back tears.

Hill’s appearance was unexpected but fitting. In the 1990s, her hip-hop trio the Fugees did a masterful take on Flack’s cover “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” It won the group a Grammy, two decades after Flack took home the record of the year trophy for the song.

“I adore Ms. Roberta Flack,” she said. “Roberta Flack is legend.”

She then launched into a cover of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” followed by “Killing Me Softly With His Song” with the Fugees’ Wyclef Jean and Wonder joining in on harmonica.

A legend who needed no introduction but certainly received one with roaring applause, Wonder followed up.

“The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity of being able to even better see with your heart. And so I knew how beautiful Roberta was, not seeing her visually but being able to see and feel her heart,” Wonder said.

He performed his song “If It’s Magic,” accompanied only by a harpist. Then he sat at the piano to sing with the harpist a song he wrote for Flack, “I Can See the Sun in Late December.”

“I love you, Roberta. And I will see you,” Wonder said at the end.

Earlier, songwriter and performer Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson played piano and sang an extended take of “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” interspersed with recollections of her friend.

“But that voice. Aw, she’d just grab you in the heart. And then when she touched the keys, she knew how to dig down deep,” Simpson said.

Simpson recalled being tapped to perform in “Chicago” for her 2018 Broadway debut and how she told Flack she wasn’t sure if she could act.

“She looked at me and said, ‘Girl, where's the script? Bring it over here. We’re going to work on this thing. We're going to do this,’” remembered Simpson.

New Orleans singer and piano player Davell Crawford performed a soulful version of Flack’s song “Just When I Needed You” to celebratory shouts and cheers.

A legendary artist remembered

“Many of us are here today because she has touched not just our hearts but she also touched our souls,” said the Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson, the senior church pastor who led the service.

Choir performances including a rousing rendition of “Amazing Grace” came in between a video recollection of Flack’s life and scripture readings.

“The reason we’re here is because she made a difference,” Sharpton said. And we should all ask ourselves when it comes our time, will they pack a church for you? If Roberta were here tonight, she would tell you, ‘Don’t just praise me, emulate me.’”

Actor Phylicia Rashad remembered first seeing Flack perform when she was a student at Howard University — to an audience that grew rapt by her quiet, steady voice. Flack lived comfortably with her genius and without having to proclaim it to people, Rashad said.

“She wore that like a loose fitting garment and lived her life attending to that which she cared for most: music, love and humanity,” Rashad said.

Mead Gruver contributed to this report from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Continued on next page

Lauryn Hill Wyclef Jean with backing singers. (Bill Moore photos)

The Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson

Dancer and choreographer George Faison.

The Rev. Al Sharpton (Bill Moore photos)

Phylicia Rashad

Valerie Simpson Stevie Wonder

Roy Ayers, ‘the Soul of Jazz,’ dies at 84

Roy Ayers, the vibraphonist, composer, and record producer whose groove pushed jazz to its soulful outer limits of hipness, inspiring a legion of hip hop artists to sample his huge catalog of music, particularly his hit “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” died on March 4 in New York City. He was 84.

“It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composer, and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing, which occurred in New York City after a long illness,” his family said in a statement on social media. “He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. A celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming.”

Ayers told the “LA Times” in 2011 how, as a 5-year-old in the crowd at the Paramount Theater, he received his first set of mallets from Lionel Hampton. “At the time, my mother and father told me he laid some spiritual vibes on me,” Ayers said. Those became the tools that assisted him in providing his own unique sound to America’s musical backdrop.

Ayers’ career was revived in the 1990s when hip hop and R&B artists such as Mary J. Blige, N.W.A., Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Mos Def, and Ice Cube began sampling his songs. It was singer/songwriter Erykah Badu, who collaborated with him on his 2004 recording of “Mahogany Vibe” (Rapster, 2004), who crowned him “King of Neo Soul.” Ayers released his debut album, “West Coast Vibes” (United Artists, 1962). After leaving Los Angeles City College in 1966, he relocated to New York City and earned a reputation on the jazz scene by join-

ing flautist Herbie Mann, recording three albums for Atlantic Records: “Virgo Vibes,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” and “Daddy Bug.”

New York City and the country were in the midst of the civil rights, Black power, and Black arts movements. The vibrant music community was upfront: In-yourface funk, soul, R&B, fiery jazz fusion were all happening; there was a message in the music. The young Californian came prepared, and over the next five decades, made his mark — one that he extended beyond the concept of jazz.

Ayers’ infectious grooves led him to record 20 albums, nine collaborative releases, and six live ones. He released 17 singles during the 1970s and 1980s, many of them hits, including “Don’t Stop the Feeling” (co-written with his then manager, Wes Ramsuer), “Hot,” “Running Away,” “In the Dark,” and “Get on Up, Get on Down.”

After his early recordings with both Atlantic and Columbia, Ayers recorded with Polydor Records for over a decade, starting in 1970.

In the early 1970s, Ayers formed his own band, Roy Ayers Ubiquity. Wayne Cobham, a multi-Grammy winner, trumpeter, and composer, recalled in a phone conversation that “Roy was the first musician to hire me; it was for a gig in Jamaica, Queens. I remember he paid the band upfront and I was pleasantly surprised. Roy loved playing. He didn’t use bridges or changes — he just had this groove with everybody playing on top of it.”

The Upper West Side was fertile ground for independent music explorers. Ayers and Ubiquity often performed at clubs such as the Cellar, Mikell’s (where Miles Davis and James Baldwin could often be sighted), and Russ Brown’s, where musicians like Lou Donaldson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Roy Haynes also performed. Some years later, Ayers became somewhat of a mentor to the young men who owned Leviticus International on West 33rd Street, where he also performed.

“I toured with Roy to Europe and California,” said saxophonist and jazz club owner Bill Saxton. “We co-wrote over 100 songs yet to be developed. He was a genius, an allaround natural musician. He knew how to move his musicians and the audience. He wasn’t a real student of the music from a university perspective — he just had that magic.”

In 2020, Ayers told the “LA Times” about the Southern California culture that influenced writing “Everybody Loves the Sunshine”: “I wrote the song because it is sunny and lovely out on the West Coast; that came through.” He composed the soundtrack for the film “Coffy,” which was co-written by its star, Pam Grier. The filmmaker Quentin Tarantino used the “Coffy” score in his 1997 film “Jackie Brown” that starred Grier.

With Argerie Ayers, whom he married in 1973, the musician hhad a son Mtume, and a daughter Ayana who later became his manager. He also had a son, writer Nabil Ayers, with ballerina Louise Braufman.

Roy Ayers performs at 2Pac 40th Birthday Concert Celebration on Thursday, June 16, 2011, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ron Harris, file)

From the April 28, 1979 issue of the AmNews coverage

From the July 23, 1975 issue of the AmNews coverage

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Roots, Sista’s Place, Birthdays At Dizzy’s, Blue Note

Brief interludes of the Roots’ musical creativity are seen nightly — they’re the house band on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” The band was originally formed in 1987 by drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and spoken word artist and singer Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, who were classmates at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

On March 13–15, Blue Note jazz club will present The Roots’ core duo, who have extended their hip-hop perspectives into an exciting eclectic blend of multi-genres, creating their own musical prototype that has won them three Grammy awards and inspired bands throughout the country.

For 15 years, the Roots have been the house band, sidekicks, and occasional comic foil for Fallon. Outside of the NBC studios, Black Thought and Questlove become boundless explorers, expounding on their creativity to ignite the spirit, bringing music and culture together. Special guests have not been announced, but don’t be surprised if a few show up.

For reservations, visit bluenotejazz.com.

The NEA Jazz Master tenor saxophonist George Coleman is known for his memorable opening solo on Herbie Hancock’s title tune “Maiden Voyage” (Blue Note 1965). That hardy muscular sound was his entré for stints with Max Roach, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, and Betty Carter. Coleman will celebrate his 90th birthday March 13–14 at Dizzy’s jazz club. Coleman taught himself to play the alto saxophone after being influenced by Charlie Parker. It wasn’t until he joined bluesman B.B. King, in 1950 at the age of 17, that he transitioned to tenor saxophone. His jazz education didn’t come from the ivy towers of academic music institutions but from being part of the vibrant music scene in his hometown of Memphis, Tenn., and beyond.

For over half a century, Coleman has shaped the sound of jazz, inspiring generations of musicians. With his acclaimed quintet — pianist Steve Myerson, guitarist Leo Larratt, bassist Joey Ranieri, and drummer Kevin Congleton, Coleman will bring timeless interpretations of jazz standards to Dizzy’s in celebration of his new nonagenarian status. Two shows each night, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. For reservations, visit jazz.org.

Pianist, composer, producer, big band leader, and arranger Orrin Evans celebrates his 50th birthday March 15–16 at Dizzy’s. Since recording his debut album “Justin Time” (Criss Cross Jazz, 1997) at age 21, it was evident he was a young lion, already exhibiting his inventive vernacular, composing, and arranging capabilities (restructuring well-traveled tunes like “Autumn Leaves” into rousing excursions).

Questlove and Black Thought. (Joshua Kissi photo)

Evans, one of the most inventive pianists of his generation, will be joined by longtime collaborators bassist Robert Hurst, drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, and vocalist Lisa Fischer. With such an intuitive trio, the music is sure to swing with abandoned creativity. Fischer, who has performed with everyone from Luther Vandross to the Rolling Stones, was featured on Evans’ current CD ,the Captain Black Big Band “Walk a Mile in my Shoes” (Imani Records, 2024).

“Walk a Mile in my Shoes” is a moving cultural journey of nine tracks that dares to swing in rooted soul and spirited ancestral Baptist grace riding on edgy jazz and blues melodies; say Amen! In the tradition of Lester Bowie and Sonny Rollins, Evans transports well-traveled songs like “Smoke Gets in your Eyes” and “Blues in the Night” into 21stcentury gems. The appearances by Nicholas Payton and Jesse Fischer, along with longtime vocal collaborators Bilal, Joanna Pascale, and Paul Jost, and special guest Lisa Fischer, all assist in bringing another voice to contemporary tunes like Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed” and Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “Save the Children.” “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” is an eternal journey that does much more than just swing. This is music for Now, the Times. It’s spiritual healing!

“I wasn’t a fan of big bands in high school — it was something you had to do and the arrangements were just okay, but when I joined the Charles Mingus Big Band in 1999, I could find my own voice because we played in the swing tradition but also played some Andrew Hill,” said Evans. “The bottom line is that it’s all music and I’m just trying to play what I feel and that comes from Mingus’ big band — even the style of composition. There was just so much I learned and a lot of what I do in my big band is modeled after Mingus.”

Evans also has a love for the trio format. A

collaborative union called Tar Baby, a highflying unit with bassist Eric Revis and drummer Nasheet Waits (formed in 2001), makes no apologies for their adventurous revelations in avant garde, blues jazz, and stuff in between. His projects also include the guitar/ piano duo project Eubanks – Evans – Experience, Brazilian project Terreno Comum, and Luvpark project, incorporating sounds reminiscent of ’70s Herbie Hancock, ’80s Steve Coleman, and ’90s R&B and hip-hop.

Evans and his wife, Dawn, are coloring the landscape with their record label Imani Records, founded in 2001. Evans said it’s another project that helps in telling his story, but also serves as a voice for other musicians who couldn’t otherwise find a home.

“Turning 50 is such a blessing and I’m looking forward to it on March 28, but at the same time, I want to continue to thrive, to make some of the things I thought were going to happen by 50 [so] that they will happen by 51,” Evans said during our phone conversation. “I’m thankful for everything, but am looking forward to making more things happen.”

For info and reservations, visit jazz.org.

The two-time Grammy Award-winning drummer and composer Will Calhoun is a musical chameleon. You may find him on tour in the Midwest or Europe, performing at a rock concert as a longtime member of the rock band Living Colour. Calhoun has an arsenal of grooves that led to playing with an array of diverse artists, such as Mike Stern, Carly Simon, Marcus Miller, Harry Belafonte, Wayne Shorter, Pharoah Sanders, Lauryn Hill, and the Moroccan Gnawan Masters.

His diverse creativity denies critics the option of attempting to categorize his work, which has led to becoming one of music’s most innovative drummers, using technology and its unique role in creating music, as well as the addition

of indigenous instruments that add a cultural voice to his unique dialogue.

On March 15 at Sistas’ Place (456 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn), Calhoun will take audiences on a spiritually enlightened Afrofuturistic journey with his Kele Quartet, which will include the young saxophonist Emilio Modeste, pianist Benito Gonzalez, and acoustic/electric bass Rachim Asur-Sahu. Calhoun will draw from his arsenal of drums, indigenous/electronic percussion, and Chinese flutes. Two shows, 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For tickets, call 718-398-1766; visit sistasplace.org for info.

The Grammy-winning tenor saxophonist and composer David Murray has been an influential contributor to the extended sound of jazz in his five decades. His explosive tenor boldness and the bellows of his bass clarinet are authoritative rhythms that dance in the light of avant-gardism and whisper in night blues on compositions like “Milano Strut” (Shakill’s Warrior, 1991; DIW/Columbia).

Murray was a founding member of one of the music’s most prolific improvisational groups, the World Saxophone Quartet with Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill, and Hamiet Bluiett. Murray, who has perfected his honks and high-pitched squeals into an improvisational art, will lead his creative Octet on March 17 and March 31 at the Blue Note jazz club (131 West 3rd Street).

The Octet will include pianist Lafayette Gilchrist, drummer Russell Carter, bassist Luke Stewart, trombonist Corey Wallace, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Mingus Murray, trumpeter Shareef Clayton, and saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins. Watching Murray in small groups is delightful, but his exploratory vision expands threefold when leading large ensembles.

For info and reservations, visit bluenotejazz.com.

Orrin Evans. (Photo courtesy of orrinevansmusic.com)

‘Ghosts’ is haunting, exquisite theater at Lincoln Center

BY LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews

I just experienced an exquisite theatrical work, as I sat in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center and saw “Ghosts.” The Henrik Ibsen classic has been given a new, moving breath of life by playwright Mark O’Rowe, and with flawless direction by Jack O’Brien. “Ghosts” tells the mesmerizing story of the Alving family: Helena Alving is about to open an orphanage, to be named the Captain Alving Memorial Orphanage after her late husband. Her son Oswald has returned home from Paris after living there most of his childhood and early adult life. Pastor Manders is assisting Helena with the legal paperwork that goes with opening the orphanage, but their history goes much deeper than that. The family has a young, pretty maid named Regina, who has a father she is ashamed of, named Engstrand. While her father wants her to move in with him, she has a deep-seated hatred for him that she cannot see past. She also despises her late mother.

This storyline has a lot of secrets that connect these characters in

ways that are obvious, but also in ways you could not have imagined. For example, the deceased father had a lot of baggage; a great deal of infidelity occurred; and Helena dealt with it up to a point. And while Oswald did not understand why his mother sent him away from them at the age of 7, he later learns why this had to be the case.

A lot of these characters reveal

secrets, and some are more heart wrenching than others. What this play does demonstrate is that the sins of the father can be visited on the son. It also makes one question how far a woman should go to stay true to her marriage vows if her husband is treating her horribly. Why was it believed that no matter what your husband did, you were supposed to stick it out? The stupen-

dous performances of this stunning cast will have you in tears by the end and will touch deep in your soul. Lily Rabe is stellar as Helena, a strong-minded woman who was dealt a terrible hand in life and who made the best of it as she saw fit. Billy Crudup is outstanding as Pastor Manders. He has such an archaic view of marriage that it makes you wince when he tries to

‘Garside’s Career’ is thought provoking at Theatre Row

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews

“Garside’s Career,” captivatingly written by Harold Brighouse, presented by the Mint Theater Company, and playing at Theatre Row on 42nd Street, is an engaging drama about a man’s aspirations to find respect, money, and prestige — and how having too much ambition can cause one to lose what they first fought so hard to achieve. Peter Garside, a working man, achieves his academic goals and becomes too full of himself, especially when his peers ask him to run for Parliament to represent the working man. Garside is drunk on his own ability to galvanize the mob and have them believe in him. He touts himself a man of the people, but he is a man for himself. Garside finds himself so entrenched in making money, and in having expensive things and prestige, that he turns his back on love, on the working men he is said to represent, and finds out that the higher you climb, the further you fall. This production is absolutely wonderful. You watch as Garside starts off a humble man, and gets

intoxicated by the power he experiences running for office and winning; and you watch his world crumble in front of him as he becomes more self absorbed and arrogant. It is interesting how he thinks he is fooling the working men that begged him to run and who got him into office, but he is only fooling himself. This play is about corruption, falling to the lowest point you can, and finding redemption. It is also about realiz-

ing who your friends truly are. The cast of this production is a marvelous example of non-traditional casting and it works beautifully. Brighouse’s words are poignant, straightforward, and cutting at times, but at other times are also filled with love, compassion, and empathy. This ensemble of actors does a stunning job at telling this story, and the chemistry between all the members of this company is electric. Daniel Mar-

coni is stirring as Peter Garside, a man with enormous dreams and ambitions but no common sense. Amelia White is feisty and formidable as his mother who loves and believes in her son and will go after anyone who she feels doesn’t believe in him, even when it is his fiancée Margaret. Madeline Seidman is spirited and delightful as Margaret. While she loves Peter, she also knows his limitations and will not back down from sharing her

reprimand Helena forever wanting to leave her husband during their troubled marriage. He also is torn between his pastor duties and his feelings for Helena. Ella Beatty delivers a strong performance as Regina, a young maid struggling to find a way to marry well and get out of their small community. Hamish Linklater is quite memorable as Engstrand. While his character is looked down upon, he has been through a lot and there is more to him than meets the eye. Levon Hawke is riveting as Oswald. His performance will have you in tears. He is struggling on so many levels and this actor delivers every emotion in the book. The final scene between Hawke and Rabe will leave you speechless, in awe, amazed, and your heart will drop. I can’t sing the praises of this production enough! “Ghosts” is a must-see — it will leave you haunted for some time to come.

This production has stunning set design by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Jess Goldstein, lighting by Japhy Weideman, sound by Mark Bennett and Scott Lehrer, original music by Mark Bennett. For ticket information visit www.lct.org.

thoughts. Melissa Maxwell is Lady Mottram, the mayor’s wife and part of the privileged class. This African American actress delivered the role beautifully, as did Sara Haider, who played her daughter Gladys. Haider was amusing, but also very perceptive of Peter’s true character. She becomes Peter’s love interest, but with her own agenda. Avery Whitted is delightful as her brother Freddie, a young gentleman who is happy not to work, but also has compassion for those less fortunate and will give a helping hand. Other cast members who brought this interesting story to life included Paul Niebanck as Ned Applegarth, Michael Schantz who plays Karl Marx Jones, and Erik Gratton who plays Denis O’Callaghan/Timson. The production is powerfully directed by Matt Dickson. This production is definitely worth your time. It has a very appealing set by Christopher Swader and Justin Swader, costumes by Kindall Almond, lights by Yiyan Li, and sound by Carsen Joenk. You will leave the theater feeling good! The show is only running through March 15. For tickets visit minttheater.org.

Scene from “Garside’s Career” with (L-R) Avery Whitted, Sara Haider, and Daniel Marconi playing at Theatre Row.

(Maria Baranova photo)

(L-R) Lily Rabe and Billy Crudup in a scene from “Ghosts,” playing at Lincoln Center’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. (Jeremy Daniel photo)

except for the fact that it probably has more Black employees in its stores than any other retailer in America,” Bailey said. “In terms of them working together with the Black community, I don’t know of any partnerships.”

She said only 16% of Black employees hold non-management roles, while only 13% are managers, just 9% are officers, and a mere 6% occupy team leader positions; 17% of Black employees serve on the board of directors.

Target’s latest SEC filings make no mention of Black consumers, supplier diversity, or specific DEI investments — a departure from previous years, when the company positioned itself as a leader in racial equity efforts. The current filings focus instead on cost-cutting measures and shareholder returns, signaling what boycott organizers describe as a quiet retreat from corporate DEI commitments.

“Before DEI was even a conversation, Target made a commitment of $2 billion into Black businesses after the murder of George Floyd,” Bryant said. “Then, after Donald Trump came into office, they dismantled that commitment. The question is: Why? What changed?”

Bailey and Waterman’s criticism of the lack of diversity, coupled with Target’s DEI rollback, adds depth to the economic fast. Having played key roles in electing New

“We cannot allow corporate America to profit from Black pain while refusing to invest in Black progress...That is the bottom line.”

—Dr. Jamal Bryant of the JHB Movement

York City’s first Black mayor, they now seek to channel that same momentum into a protest aimed at making an impact on Wall Street; this time with Bryant, a senior pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church megachurch, leading the charge.

“It’s not about who’s in the White House. We cannot just focus on what the White House is doing because we’ve been through this before. This is nothing new,” Waterman said. “We know that if we come together, we can make a change.”

The event also drew legal figures, including Supreme Court and Civil Court judges, signaling institutional recognition of the broader implications of corporate rollbacks on racial equity.

“Not many communities get to work so closely with our Supreme Court and Civil Court judges,” Bailey said. “Their presence here is a reflection of the broad support for this movement.”

Beyond legal figures, the event carried emotional weight with the attendance

of Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, whose death at the hands of the NYPD in 2014 became a rallying cry for police reform. Her presence makes the fight for racial justice not just a financial protest but a matter of life and death.

“We cannot allow corporate America to profit from Black pain while refusing to invest in Black progress,” Bryant said. “That is the bottom line.”

As the boycott began, faith leaders said their mission is to ensure that corporations that once profited from public commitments to diversity do not silently retreat from them without accountability.

“This is not just about Target — this is about proving that our dollars have power,” said Bryant. “If we can move billions into their pockets, we can take billions away. That is how change happens.”

It remains to be seen how Target will respond, but for the leaders gathered in Brooklyn, the message was clear: Black economic influence is not to be ignored.

Continued from page 3

and localities across the country — operated with the assumption that compliance with ICE detainers was mandated under federal law.

“Court rulings eventually clarified that localities could not hold a detainee beyond their release date based solely on the contents of a federal detainer and that a court order is needed. New York City changed its policies in 2012 to conform with these court rulings.”

Many potential class members are citizens of Mexico, Jamaica, and Haiti. Those from majority-white countries with significant undocumented populations, like Ireland, were not as represented in the settlement. The overrepresentation of Black and Brown immigrants in the settlement class reflects the broader disparities in pre-trial detention of Black and Brown New Yorkers, who were specifically targeted by stop-and-frisk police tactics during this period.

To file a claim, go to https://nycicesettlement.com/.

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News.Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1

Anna Julia Cooper, a formidable feminist and scholar CLASSROOM IN THE

By HERB BOYD

Special

to the AmNews

Last week’s profile of Dr. William S. Scarborough brought to mind Anna Julia Cooper, both of whom shared a connection to Oberlin and Wilberforce in Ohio. I first discovered Cooper while teaching at Oberlin in the early 1970s, when one of my students submitted a paper on her. Before that, I had never heard of her. I later included her in my book “Autobiography of a People,” but I don’t recall ever featuring her in my column. This being Women’s History Month, there isn’t a more appropriate way to shine the light on this distinguished scholar.

Born Anna Julia Haywood on August 10, 1858 in Raleigh, N.C., she and her mother Hannah Stanley Haywood, were enslaved by George Washington Haywood, a son of one of the founders of University of North Carolina. There is some doubt about Anna’s father who either was George or his brother, Dr. Fabius Haywood — who enslaved her older brothers, Rufus and Andrew. When Anna was ten years old, she received a scholarship at Saint Augustine’s Normal School and Collegiate Institute that would pay her expenses. She would spend 14 years at the School, excelling in math, science, French, Greek and Latin. It was during this phase of her matriculation that she began expressing her rights as a woman, insisting that she be included in courses set aside for men only. Among the men in preparation for higher academic training was George A.C. Cooper, later to become her husband. They enjoyed only two years of marriage before his death.

Anna’s achievements as a student enabled her to tutor younger children and pay for her expenses. It was an easy transition to becoming fully employed at the academy, teaching the classics, modern history, English, and even classes in vocal and instrumental music. Much of this may have been facilitated by her husband’s death — if he had lived she may have been required to be dispatched to wifely duties in the home.

She began studying at Oberlin upon leaving Saint Augustine’s and graduated in 1884, though she was not able to continue her musical pursuits. Fortunately, there were two literary societies for women. It

was during these sessions that she met a number of outstanding Black women, including Mary Church Terrell. Before returning to Saint Augustine’s in 1885, she briefly taught at Wilberforce. Then it was back to Oberlin where she earned a M.A. in mathematics by 1888. Two years later one of her first major essays, “Higher Education of Women,” was published. In many ways, it was a harbinger of later literary, political, and feminist topics that would highlight her career.

Some of her ideas, particularly as it pertained to “double consciousness,” education, and women’s rights preceded the work of W.E.B. Du Bois, and he often cited such publications and commentary without offering full attributions.

In 1900, Anna made her first voyage to Europe, mainly as a participant in the historic First Pan-African Conference in London, planned by Henry Sylvester Williams and Du Bois. She used this opportuni-

During her tenure at M School, where she was later reinstated, Anna published her first book, “A Voice from the South: By a Black Woman of the South.” For the most part, the book is a compendium of essays, across a broad tapestry of topics, none more critical than her views on the role of Black women in education, self-help, social uplift, and feminism. One of the oft-cited comments from the book is this one: “Only the Black Woman can say when and where I enter, in the quiet, undisputed dignity of my womanhood, without violence and without suing or special patronage, then and there the whole Negro race enters with me. Is it not evident then that as individual workers for this race we must address ourselves with no half-hearted zeal to this feature of our mission. The need is felt and must be recognized by all. There is a call for workers, for missionaries, for men and women with the double consecration of a fundamental love of humanitv and a desire for its melioration through the Gospel; but superadded to this we demand an intelligent and sympathetic comprehension of the interests and special needs of the Negro. I see not why there should not be an organized effort for the protection and elevation of our girls such as the White Cross League in England.”

ACTIVITIES

FIND OUT MORE

The files at three institutions: Oberlin, Saint Augustine’s College, and the Sorbornne are good places to start.

DISCUSSION

Much more needs to be said about the correlation between the ideas and findings of Anna and Du Bois.

PLACE IN CONTEXT

Given her more than a century with us, capturing even a portion of her eventful life is more than this summary can possibly complete.

ty to travel across the continent, including stops in Scotland, Paris, Germany, and Italy. By this time she had settled in D.C., continuing her significant work with the Colored Women’s League, in association with such notables as Terrell, Evelyn Shaw, Ida B. Wells, Charlotte Forten Grimke, and Mary Jane Patterson. Helen Cook was elected president of the organization.

Perhaps the most important member of the group was Ms. Grimke, whose friendship was instrumental in forging contacts and job opportunities in the nation’s capital. Almost upon arrival in the city, Anna began teaching at the legendary M School, and ultimately becoming the principal. The post was not without its complications, especially when her classical approach to the curriculum conflicted with members of different views. Things became so bad that the D.C. school board refused to reappoint her to the position in 1906.

Anna was 56 when she began taking courses for her doctoral degree at Columbia University in 1914, which was put on hold for a year after she adopted her late halfbrother’s five children upon their mother’s death. Over the succeeding decade, which was partially completed in Paris, by 1924 she was ready to defend her thesis, “The Attitude of France on the Question of Slavery Between 1789 and 1848.” At the age of 65, she became the fourth Black woman in American history to earn a doctorate in philosophy. Five years later, she was elected to take the helm at Frelinghuysen University, an institution that focused on increasing literacy among the marginalized African Americans and unskilled workers.

Anna was 105 when she died on Feb. 27, 1964 in Washington, D.C. A memorial service was held in a chapel on the campus of Saint Augustine’s College where she began her academic career. She is buried alongside her husband at the City Cemetery in Raleigh.

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY

March 10, 1964: Vocalist Neneh Cherry, daughter of trumpeter Don Cherry, was born in Stockholm, Sweden.

March 11, 1950: Singer and composer, Bobby McFerrin born in Manhattan, NY.

March 13, 1925: Jazz legend and drummer, Roy Haynes, was born in Boston, Mass. He died in 2024.

Photograph shows educator and civil rights activist Anna Julia Cooper (18581964) (Library of Congress photo)

on Khalil’s detention.

In a message shared on X Sunday evening, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration “will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”

The Department of Homeland Security can initiate deportation proceedings against green card holders for a broad range of alleged criminal activity, including supporting a terror group. But the detention of a legal permanent resident who has not been charged with a crime marked an extraordinary move with an uncertain legal foundation, according to immigration experts.

“This has the appearance of a retaliatory action against someone who expressed an opinion the Trump administration didn’t like,” said Camille Mackler, founder of Immigrant ARC, a coalition of legal service providers in New York.

Khalil, who received his master’s degree from Columbia’s school of international affairs last semester, served as a negotiator for students as they bargained with university officials over an end to the tent encampment erected on campus last spring.

The role made him one of the most visible activists in support of the movement, prompting calls from pro-Israel activists

in recent weeks for the Trump administration to begin deportation proceedings against him.

Khalil was also among those under investigation by a new Columbia University office that has brought disciplinary charges against dozens of students for their pro-Palestinian activism, according to records shared with the AP.

The investigations come as the Trump administration has followed through on its threat to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to Columbia because of what the government describes as the Ivy League school’s failure to squelch antisemitism on campus.

The university’s allegations against Khalil focused on his involvement in the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group. He faced sanctions for potentially helping to organize an “unauthorized marching event” in which participants glorified Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack and playing a “substantial role” in the circulation of social media posts criticizing Zionism, among other acts of alleged discrimination.

“I have around 13 allegations against me, most of them are social media posts that I had nothing to do with,” Khalil told the AP last week.

“They just want to show Congress and right-wing politicians that they’re doing something, regardless of the stakes for students,” he added. “It’s mainly an office to chill pro-Palestine speech.”

CUNY

Continued from page 18

every institution that we have, and students who want to move on into grad school have that support.”

Part of that support, Quash said, is relieving students of any financial burdens, but it comes with challenges. He used textbooks as an example.

“We can buy textbooks for 25 or 30 students, but there’s way more than 25 or 30 students looking to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT),” he said. “With the grants we get, we try to get that for them, so they don’t have that financial burden, but we wish we could do much more with this.”

Quash and James said they are proud of the program’s expansion, which includes going beyond the liberal arts colleges into “programs in which there have been low numbers of underrepresented populations,” like CUNY medical schools or law schools.

For the last two decades, BMI has received most of its funding from the city. Within the previous two years, they have secured some aid from the state, and while they are grateful, more is needed to sustain the program.

“Expanding would require additional resources,” said James. “We’re doing grant writing and trying to get external grants to help with some of the other programs we are doing.”

Quash said cementing BMI into CUNY is

a significant goal for the program: “a little bit more permanence in the university structure somehow, whether becoming an institute or having an expansion of the program to some degree, but I think that’s really what we’re looking at.”

The BMI holds an annual conference, which furthers its mission of providing access and opportunities to underserved students. This year’s conference will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Black Male Initiative and will be held on Oct. 3, 2025, at Medgar Evers College. Founding father Dr. Edison O. Jackson will be the main honoree.

Dr. Jonathan Quash, BMI executive director. (Photo courtesy CUNY BMI)

Health

WHEDco expands its peer-led workshops in the Bronx

By HEATHER M. BUTTS, JD, MPH, MA Special to the AmNews

The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) created its Just Ask ME (JAM) program from an innovative idea to face teen pregnancy and health disparities issues for teenagers in the South Bronx. The organization developed age-appropriate lessons for third through fifth grade students in its After School Enrichment Program at PS/IS 218 Rafael Hernández Dual Language Magnet School — a program called “JAM Jr.” The JAM program expanded to two additional schools in the South Bronx this fallL the Highbridge Green School and South Bronx Early College Academy Charter School.

According to Katie Shillman, health education coordinator at WHEDco, in an interview with the AmNews, “Jam has been around for over 10 years … there’s been a lot of issues outside reproductive health that are impacting our students, so we’ve expanded the program to include … social media and internet safety. I’ve helped develop those lesson plans … for sixth to eighth grade.”

Adding more schools is expected to greatly increase program reach. “In the past years, we’ve reached about 130 to 140 students, and this year we’re on track to reach over 700 students, so we’re expanding the program very rapidly this year which is very exciting,” said Shillman.

At the heart of JAM is its peer-led programming where high-school and college students are trained to lead workshops on topics from mental health to drug and alcohol awareness, to other topics described above.

According to Shillman, “local students who mainly have graduated from JAM themselves have gone to the middle schools that we teach at, so they’re high school students. This year, we’ve also expanded that component to include local college and grad students as well.”

Shillman works with cohorts of college and graduate students who are majoring in nursing, social work, and other health-related fields, “which has been a really amazing experience to help empower those budding professionals and student leaders in the community to help teach students in the area.”

WHEDco has a precise way of evaluating gains and outcomes of the program. According to Shillman, “we do pre- and posttesting throughout the years and there’s pretty clear progress. We have six to eight sessions with each class, covering all those different topics, and knowledge always increases each year … there’s a pretty stark contrast with what information they end up with and how much information they remember over the years.”

Shillman attributed much of “ this great progress that we see” to the repetition of knowledge, unlike in Department of Education (DOE) schools, where “typically you get it once in middle school and you get it once in high school, and that’s it,” she said. “We see that it’s so much more effective to be reintroducing that information, expanding upon that information.”

Shillman explained that not only is there increased knowledge for students, which is the program’s main goal, but also “it’s always incredible, having these conversations with the students during the workshops … you see that ability to create that community where they can talk about these more sensitive topics. We’re focusing

more on healthy relationships and consent … you see the gears in their head turning and they’re able to talk about the drama and the gossip in their schools in a little bit more elevated, knowledgeable way.”

Shillman said she sees “the main impacts … are three-fold with the actual knowledge increase each year and … they’re able to get involved, becoming peer educators themselves; being able to take on leadership roles; being able to provide that knowledge and resources for younger students in their community and grow as youth advocates, which is incredible to see in these communities.”

Shillman noted that the program is also expanding “not just to our graduates of the JAM program, but any high school student, college student, in the area who is passionate about health education; who wants to get involved, get good experience teaching and working with students. That’s definitely something that we’re trying to recruit for.”

Another goal is to expand JAM “past our partner schools eventually and be able to do one-off workshops in other schools that are relevant for their communities,” Shillman said. “A lot of exciting things are happening.”

Students participate in a Just Ask Me workshop. (Photos courtesy of WHEDco)

Bronx Health Center unveils $2.6 million renovated facility

By SAGE SWABY Special to the AmNews

Leadership and clinic staff of nonprofits Acacia Network and La Casa de Salud gathered in the Bronx on Feb. 19 for a ribboncutting ceremony at Clay Avenue Health Center’s $2.6 million renovated facility.

The renovation funding came from a New York State Facility Transformation grant. The Acacia Network leadership applied for the grant in 2017 with the goal of increased capacity in mind.

“We know that so many individuals lack access to quality healthcare,” said Lauren Mendenhall, executive director at La Casa de Salud. “With 10 exam rooms [previously], we were able to serve about 2,500 clients. With the addition, [and] with this full gut renovation of almost 4,000 square feet, we’ve been able to add three exam rooms, and that has increased our capacity by 21 percent, so we’ll be able to serve close to 3,000 clients for almost 22,000 visits.”

Started by Lorraine Montenegro, a Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx, La Casa de Salud has been serving the community since 1998 as the primary care arm of the Acacia Network. She co-founded United Bronx Parents in 1965 — a social service agency that provided educational services, supportive housing allowing mothers in recovery to live with their children, and services to older South Bronx residents. When she wanted to build a federally qualified healthcare center for United Bronx Parents, Montenegro went to Raul Russi, current president of the Acacia Network, for help.

“We have to make sure we celebrate history, we don’t rewrite history, and we know how we all ended up here,” said Lymaris Albors, CEO of the Acacia Network. “Thanks to Raul for being a visionary and incredible gratitude [to] Lorraine Montenegro for having the courage back then to fight for primary care services in the community.”

The Clay Avenue Health Center, located at 1776 Clay Ave., is one of five federally qualified healthcare centers La Casa de Salud has in the Bronx to aid underserved communities. The health center offers primary care and dental, behavioral health, and addiction and substance use services. These are vital to Bronx residents, who face health disparities at disproportionately higher rates out of the five boroughs: In 2023, Bronx residents had the highest rates of overdose deaths with 78 resident deaths per 100,000 residents.

“This renovated space here is an opportunity to do even more to reaffirm our commitment to our clients, to their families, to lifting up our community and saying that we will not accept the Bronx being first in everything challenging, but rather, we will

lead in everything good,” said Vanessa L. Gibson, Bronx borough president. “We will lead when it comes to saving lives, giving clients hope, giving them the wraparound services.”

Adrian Lopez is grateful for the opportunities the health center has provided to help him get clean. He has called the center home for more than two years as a member of the residential treatment program, Promesa-Methadone to Abstinence Recovery (MTAR), which offers men over the age of 18 treatment for opioid use disorder.

The renovations remind Lopez to stay focused, he said: “to focus on my life and come back to my family again.”

William Schouten, a 61-year-old patient, echoed Lopez’s gratitude. “I’m grateful for being here because I came here and I was broken. I live upstairs in the MTAR unit,” he said. “I come here for all my medical benefits, all my medical needs. The staff here is amazing.”

At his age, Schouten said he is ready to retire and receive his pension after working his entire life. “I plan to do what I have to do and move out and be a productive member of society,” he said. “I look to help people now. That’s what they told me upstairs; ‘Don’t look down. The only time you look down on somebody is when you’re helping them up.’”

Newly renovated examination room at La Casa de Salud’s Clay Avenue Health Center, photographed on Feb. 19, 2025. Renovations will allow clinic to increase patient capacity thanks to additional exam rooms and expanded hours. (Photos courtesy of La Casa de Salud)

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson speaks on Feb. 19, 2025, during ribbon-cutting

La Casa de Salud’s Clay Avenue Health Center.

Lawsuit

On Mar. 10, the Associated Press reported that immigrants from 27 countries are currently being detained there. “Court filings on behalf of the Homeland Security and Defense departments indicated that 40 immigrants with final deportation orders were being held at Guantánamo Bay as of Friday [Mar. 7] — with 23 labeled ‘high risk’ and held individually in cells. The remainder were held in another area of special housing for migrants, in groups of up to six,” AP reported.

“A lot turns on what the administration’s real, genuine intent is with this place,” Shayana Kadidal, the CCR’s senior managing attorney, told the AmNews . “The initial program of bringing immigration detainees there seems to have been intended to produce terror in all potential immigrants and all immigration detainees held here in the United States. It was to encourage people to accept final deportation orders and accept deportation to their home countries without putting up a fight because they were concerned with being sent to the quote-unquote ‘worst prison on Earth’ –– which is what Guantánamo’s reputation is, thanks to all the torture that was practiced just on the military detainees there during the Bush administration.”

According to Kadidal, detainees were moved to Guantánamo “to dissuade people who might come to the United States from coming to the United States and to dissuade people who were already

picked up and in immigration detention stateside from fighting whatever the administration wanted to do to them.”

Kadidal added that “a third purpose is to put pressure on countries that were either slow-rolling or refusing to take back people who had final deportation orders here in the U.S. — to put pressure on those countries to take their people back.”

Need help with healthcare?

Venezuelan-born deportees were shackled by U.S. authorities and led aboard a C-17 aircraft to be transported to Cuba. (Department of Homeland Security photo)

Education

Summer Youth Employment Program extends application deadline to March 15

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

Online applications remain open at press time for this year’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) after the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) extended the deadline to this Friday, March 14. 100,000 jobs and paid opportunities will be offered to young New Yorkers eligible to work in the United States between the ages 14 and 24 over a six-week span in July and August through a lottery system.

Those interested in applying should visit: application.nycsyep.com

Valerie Mulligan, deputy commissioner of DYCD’s Youth Workforce Connect, said those living in NYCHA can gain priority access to SYEP. Local community-based organizations partnering with some public housing developments can recruit young residents into the program, allowing them to surpass the lottery process. But even youth who go through the traditional application process will get a “leg up” to ensure they can participate in the program.

“SYEP is really an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone,” said Mulligan over Zoom. “You can access the job that you wouldn’t have access to otherwise, and I think that’s especially true for young people who live in NYCHA: whether they [to work in] their community, or they want to go work completely outside of their community, there’s something in SYEP for them.

“We really want to make sure that young people who live in NYCHA understand that this is not just a program for folks in other parts of the city, that this is a program that really is for them.”

Employers in various fields, ranging from tech and government agencies to cultural institutions and local mom-and-pops, can provide paid hands-on experience in exchange for summer staff without cost; the city directly pays participants a minimum wage. Mulligan said there is also a need for more hosting small businesses, noting that SYEP can not only provide short-term labor but also a pipeline for prospective full-time employees.

sioner Keith Howard.

In the middle of college application acceptance season, the youngster said she plans on becoming a geological engineer and hopes to attend her dream school Stony Brook University. SYEP provided her a head start.

“I’ve learned versatility and being intentional about your job, because all the things that I’ve described, they’re totally different aspects,” she said. “For the Cisco IT Essential [Training certification] we did a presentation that [Queens Borough President] Donovan Richards was holding at the performing arts center. We were the youngest people there … we basically had to go up on stage and literally show everyone how to assemble and disassemble the computer. You learn public speaking as well. It was a really humbling experience. So it just really opens your eyes to how vast the working world is.”

A time-tested institution in the city, SYEP, the country’s largest youth employment program, dates back to 1963.. It offered many New Yorkers their first paycheck, including DYCD’s own commis -

Faith, a Queens high school senior, said she joined SYEP when she was 14 fresh out of the COVID-19 pandemic through the nonprofit provider Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation, where she learned about mental health care. She later worked behind a register at a retail store and she has since gone through Cisco and Google career development programming.

“My first job was working with SYEP at a daycare center near River Park Tower in the Bronx,” said Howard over email. “SYEP taught me invaluable life skills such as time management, communication, and emotional intelligence. It is a full circle to have worked in the program and now as commissioner of DYCD running the largest Summer Youth Employment Program in the country. Thanks to Mayor Adams’ investment of 100,000 SYEP jobs, this major accomplishment makes NYC a more affordable place to live, while aligning with the blueprint to end gun violence.”

Mayor Eric Adams, who expanded SYEP in 2022, long extolled the program as a violence and crime prevention strategy. A 2021 study shows enrollment decreased the chance of felony arrest by 19% over the summer, when gun violence rates are traditionally the highest.

“The Summer Youth Employment Program plays a vital role in that mission by providing thousands of young New Yorkers with meaningful jobs and internships, offering both career exploration and a chance to earn money,” added a spokesperson for

Adams. “We’ve invested record amounts to maintain and expand these programs, and, for the fourth year in a row, SYEP will reach 100,000 young New Yorkers — helping to build the next generation, improve public safety, and create stronger communities for all New Yorkers.”

Financial literacy training is also included in the SYEP curriculum. Faith sais she learned how to properly save her money over the past two years, particularly with recent emphasis by the Adams administration. But her first paycheck at age 14 was a different story.

“It was $100 a week for seven weeks [and] you get $150 [in] the last two weeks: I blew the money,” said Faith with a laugh.“There was no money left.”

Apply for SYEP: https://application.nycsyep.com/

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

Summer Youth Employment Program participant. (Courtesy of NYC Department of Youth & Community Development photo)

Harlem Arts Alliance and Manhattan Theatre Club donating books to Harlem Hospital

By JASON PONTEROTTO Special to the AmNews

Last week, Harlem Hospital announced a book drive in collaboration with Harlem Arts Alliance (HAA) and Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC). This partnership is the latest arts initiative between the HAA and the hospital to serve the community.

A few dozen books, out of the thousands donated — from novels and Black history classics to self help — were on display during a press conference at Harlem Hospital, which featured Voza Rivers, director of the New Heritage Theatre (NHT) and Harlem Arts Alliance; hospital CEO Georges Leconte; and Marcia Pendleton, consultant of Audience Development for MTC and founder of Walk Tall Girl Pro -

ductions. The drive was inspired by the Broadway play, “Eureka Day” from Jonathan Spector which takes place in a library and played its final performance on Sunday at MTC.

“Books live with you. And to be able to come to the hospital to give books to patients, to give books to families, is such a wonderful marriage. And I’m so glad that the Harlem Arts Alliance, New Heritage and, of course, Manhattan Theatre Club, have come together to give books to the patients, to their relatives, and to have them for the staff,” Rivers shared.

Rivers says the thousands of books were donated over a two week period, after releases were sent out from HAA and from MTC, and that there was barely any room to move at his offices located on 135th Street between St. Nicholas and Eighth Avenue.

The books will be donated to the adult inpatients at the hospital as well as ageappropriate books for pediatric patients in the clinic and emergency room.

“The partnership with the Arts Alliance is truly one of those great partnerships that really works, not just for Black History Month, which is special, but all year round. It is something that allows us to be able to give art to our patient population,” Leconte said. “Arts does help heal a lot of individuals, and we’ve been using that here at Harlem (Hospital) for many years.”

Last year, through the NHT and Community Works, various artists offered to donate the “harlem is . . . Music, Theater & Dance” exhibit permanently to the hospital. The installation highlights the rich Harlem history of various figures

and is available to visit on the second floor outside the Herbert Cave Auditorium. Other photos and pieces of art in partnership with the HAA can be found throughout the hospital including the new Mural Pavilion gallery.

Rivers celebrates NHT and HAA being down the block from the hospital and as well as their work together along the historic 135th St.

“It’s a nice relationship that our theater company is on 135th Street, the entrance to this hospital and the original building is on 135th Street, and that the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is on 135th Street,” Rivers said. “And it’s Malcolm X Blvd. This is an important corridor, and I’m glad to be a part of it in the contributing legacy of this particular area, because I grew up here.”

Harlem Arts Alliance director Voza Rivers, Manhattan Theatre Club consultant for Audience Development Marcia Pendleton, Harlem Hospital CEO Georges Leconte, actress from “Eureka Day” play Eboni Flowers, and other representatives from the hospital, NHT and MTC. February 10. Harlem Hospital. (Jason Ponterotto photo)

NYC Mayoral candidate Michael Blake brings out star power with singer Leslie Odom Jr.

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

Former Assemblymember and Rev. Michael Blake is hot on the campaign trail in a crowded race for mayor of New York City. He recently held a series of events with the endorsement of his good friend, Tony and Grammy awardwinning actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr. “I'm getting back in the game cause I refused to sit on the sidelines,” said Blake. “And as the only candidate [with] White House experience, state house experience, and local experience, I have a unique vision of what the city can be. And if we really want to change the game, we gotta change the mayor.”

Blake is the founder & CEO of Atlas Strategy Group Inc. and the Kairos Democracy Project. He also served as the aide to former President Barack Obama, where he created the White House Urban Entrepreneurship series and co-led the Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprises initiative as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and as an assemblymember in the Bronx.

He held a campaign fundraiser at the Gentlemen's Factory (GF), a social club designed for Black male professionals, in BedStuy with a stunning live performance from Odom on Friday, March 7. The event was attended by a select group of supporters and colleagues of Blake’s.

He said he chose the location specifically because the GF is “Black excellence at its core.”

“Michael Blake has always been a champion for advocating for Black men and boys in New York State and in New York City through the My Brother's Keeper initiative. He was one of the anchors in bringing it to New York and putting the funding behind it,” said GF founder Jeff Lindor.

“He's someone who I think would be a great leader for the city.”

“I trust Mike Blake,” said Odom. “I’m enriched because I know you and I’m in full support of your vision and what you’re building. I think New York would be better for having you as Mayor.”

So far Blake has raised $146,084 in private donations, according to the latest New York City Campaign Finance Board (NYCCFB) filing. The next round of city matching funds payouts will be made public on March 17. Blake spoke about his platform and launched innovative campaign tools to reach his base during the event. His Project 2026 NYC plan includes the “true cost of living” based off a local median income scale, creating affordable housing like the Mitchell-Lama program, creating a guaranteed income for all

New Yorkers, supporting universal childcare, eliminating using credit scores for rents and home ownership, taxing vacant second property or investments for the ultra-rich, fighting against federal government cuts to services and programs for the city, free City University of New York (CUNY) tuition, protecting reproductive rights; and banning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in schools, places of worship, and community centers.

He is also firmly against Mayor Eric Adams or former Gov. Andrew Cuomo getting reelected.

“We should not be in a city where we have a mayor who literally is on a leash for Donald Trump, wondering at any moment what they will allow him to do,” said Blake. “We have an indicted Mayor for breaking the law

for an illegal campaign donation scheme. Full stop. That is not what we need in New York City. We also don't need a former governor who harassed 13 women and had tens of thousands of people that were impacted with COVID and 13,000 people who died in nursing homes because of Andrew Cuomo. He should sit down. He resigned because he knew he did wrong. For him to try to show back up is unacceptable.”

He added that City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who just announced she was running for mayor this past weekend, was exemplary in her position on the council but maintained that he provides a “different vision” for the city.

To close out the night, Blake did a Q&A session with Odom about his music and film career, being an original cast member in the Broadway musical Hamilton, and political musings. Odom then performed “Loved” off his album “When a Crooner Dies,” “Wait for It” from Hamilton the musical, and “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke.

“I think the idea for America is a good one and it's worth fighting for. We fall short all the time, but I'm an artist, I'm a citizen. So I believe my art is a part of those times,” said Odom, “I certainly take as much as everybody else from the community. I eat and breathe and, you know, my kids go to public school. I partake and that's just the way that I can offer but I'm a contributor to the ‘American Experiment’ like everybody else. I wanna do my part.”

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Leslie Odom Jr. (far left), former Assemblymember Michael Blake (left), Gentlemen’s Factory founder Jeff Lindor (far right), and staff in Bed-Stuy at a campaign event. (Ariama C. Long photo)

Religion & Spirituality

Thoughts on Wellness

Ramadan Mubarak to my Muslim family. We Christians are on a Lenten Journey that ends at Easter, April 20. Passover begins April 12. These Holy Days make me wonder what it means to live Holy lives; what does it mean to be whole? Sacred. Connected to Source.

Loving neighbor and self. Do we want to be holy and whole? Do we want to be well?

I’m taking us back to a story in the Christian scriptures — John 5 — about Jesus healing a paralyzed man.

2 Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew[a] Bethzatha,[b] which has five porticoes. 3 In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people.[c] 5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The ill man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am making my way someone else steps

down ahead of me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

This pool had bubbling water thought to have healing powers, and sick people came to the pool, believing that whenever the waters were stirred up, the first person to enter the pool would be cured of whatever sickness they had.

The text doesn’t say how long this man has been there, waiting to get into the healing, churning water, but it does say that he has been there “a long time” John 5:6. Nobody helped him get in the water. Nobody gave him a hand. Can you imagine the pushing and shoving to go first?

It turns out the man did not need to get into the water to be well!

Jesus asked him if he wanted to be well. Jesus told him to pick up his bed and walk. He did not need to wait on a sick system, one in which there was a competition to get in the water. He needed an intervention. I’m going to call that a system intervention. A clarifying question that required a truthful answer, and a prescription. In other words: Do we want wellness?

We can’t get well in a sick system. How you gonna get well in a system in which your disability — you inability to see, to walk, to hear, to stand, to be understood; your compromised immune system, your chronic asthma, your thyroid condition, what have you — is seen by the system as a sicknesses to be healed, to be cured, from which you MUST be “saved” in order for you to be perceived as “ABLE.” Sadly, the church has too often taught us disability is caused by sin: it’s your fault or your mama’s fault, a condition to be fixed by Jesusm and if Jesus does not fix it, and I mean RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE NOT just, righteous, or good enough to belong to the system. That system is sick and will not make you well.

If the system still low-key thinks God designed whiteness as superior, or being gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, or questioning is a mental disorder OR a condition from which you CAN be cured and SHOULD be cured, that system is sick and will not make you well.

If the system thinks wellness is for the rich and the poor be damned, the system is sick.

Our system is not well. Let’s look at birth for a moment: With an average of 20.1 maternal deaths/100,000 live births, the U.S. is the most dangerous developed country in which to give birth. For Black women, the most frequent vic -

tims of our crisis-level maternal mortality rates, the odds are even worse. According to the most recent data, the maternal death rate for Black women is more than double that of white women: 44.0 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 17.9. It was also more than three times the rate for Hispanic women at 12.6.

Is this what we want? Do we want to be well?

Our nation is not well. There are many contributing factors. Our nation is built on land on which, despite Laura Ingalls Wilder’s observation, there WERE people living here, people erased, massacred, removed, dispossessed, whose land was stolen, tilled by stolen bodies. White supremacist ideologies, capitalism that believes poor children are acceptable collateral damage for the wealthy to become wealthier, white Christian nationalists believing they are the chosen ones…we have a world view problem. That stuff is in the water; troubling the water is not going to make us well. We need to empty the stagnant polluted pools, we need to run the fresh rivers of vivid imagination, of wild equality, we need a tumult of fierce love, a cascade of justice, we need a new river running through a new city, a fierce clear river disinfecting our dis-eased and poor imaginations about who is human and who deserves love and live.

Do we want to be well?

I’m going to be writing about healing practices this year.

The first?

Truth. Speaking truthfully. Looking straight on at our culture, our society, our family systems, and being honest about what we see. Don’t squint and pretend. Don’t cover your eyes or look away. Let’s be honest. Because the truth will set us free.

Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is senior minister and public theologian at Middle Church in New York. Celebrated internationally for her dynamic preaching and commitment to justice, she champions racial equality, economic justice and LGBTQIA+/gender rights. Featured on MSNBC, PBS, NBC, CBS and NPR, she is the author several books, including Fierce Love” and the “Just Love Story Bible.” Countless individuals and communities have been inspired by Lewis’ transformative work on her podcast, “Love Period;” in columns and articles; and on stages, in churches, on the street and in digital spaces around the globe.

Panel to look at Black Church in fight for justice

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

Narratives about the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ’60s often highlight the influence of the Black church, especially the role played by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who co-pastored Atlanta, Georgia's Ebenezer Baptist Church with his father and later served as the minister at Montgomery, Alabama's Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

King’s activism led him to become president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) and orchestrate the Montgomery bus boycotts, but his social justice work was not the norm; most Black churches played little to no role in the Civil Rights Movement. Only a vanguard few churches actually supported activists by offering a secure space for them to meet and plan their next actions.

The legacy of Black church participation in social justice movements will be discussed at a panel discussion sponsored by the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) on March 15, a free event to be held at the Princeton Theological Seminary (25 Library Place, Princeton, New Jersey). from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Faith-based social justice activists will come together to talk about the past and present role of the Black church in U.S. society.

“It’s a complicated legacy that I think continues today,” said Rev. Naomi, the city of Philadelphia’s director of faith-based and interfaith affairs. “We have some Black church leaders and some Black congregations leading the way in terms of strategizing, organizing, mobilizing for the struggles that we face today, and then you have other leaders and congregations who sort of abdicate their responsibility to be involved in the public square or are so inundated with maybe local problems ––problems in the congregation –– that they haven’t come up for air to sort of see how those local problems fit into larger systemic problems.”

Joining Washington-Leapheart on the panel will be Dr. Keri L. Day, Princeton Theological Seminary’s professor of constructive theology and African American religion; Rev. Tamesha Mills, pastor of Saint James AME Church in Danbury, Conn.; and Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer, pastor of Trenton, New Jersey’s Greater Mt. Zion AME Church.

“The very existence of the Black church is as a resistance movement in response to slavery and the dehumanization of Black people,” said Rev. Boyer, who is also the founder of Salvation and Social Justice, a non-partisan public policy organization. “The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, for instance, was founded by Richard Allen, who was formerly enslaved, purchased his way out of slavery, and started the Free African Society, which ultimately became the African Methodist Episcopal Church. That was in response to the need for freedom amongst Black people in the United States. Whatever those needs were, spiritual, social, economic, the church became that for the people because the laws, the system, and even the predominantly white churches were not there for us; they segregated us, stole from us, you name it. Therefore, we had to create our own.” Boyer said someone recently pointed out to

him that the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was one of the first liberation movements in the United States not led by the Black church,but BLM hit its peak in 2020 and has struggled to survive; it does not seem to have the sustainability that the Black church does.

Today, as the United States appears to be reinstituting race-based segregation, Boyer said, the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church’s Pastor Jamal Bryant and Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, president of the Repairers of the Breach social justice organization, are mobilizing Black people and reminding them to stay activated.

“The Black church is still here, 200-something years later,” Boyer said. “It’s been here as long as the United States has been here, and I think we’re seeing an awakening of the Black church in this moment.”

Washington-Leapheart, who is also an adjunct professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University, noted that Black church involvement in the past was poignant.

Members of the Black church marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965 — Bloody Sunday — in Selma, Ala. However, she told the AmNews, “The conditions are different. The context is different. We have this as a frame of reference, but we know we’re living in a different time, and we’re facing different conditions now. How should that change our approach?”

Audience members will be invited to participate in the dialogue about the role of the Black church with the panelists and encouraged to suggest new approaches for Black church activism, Washington-Leapheart said: “I’m hoping that people, in asking a question or making a comment, talk about their experiences. What have you seen that’s contrary to what we’re saying? Or what have you seen that’s affirming or validating what we’re saying? I think that there’s always wisdom in the room, so I hope people will contribute that wisdom to the conversation and can talk about these issues.”

To reserve a seat for this event, go to https://bit. ly/social-justice-ssaam.

AmNews columnist Carol Weaver dies

Carol Maria Weaver, who wrote the Amsterdam News “The Lash and the Cross” religion column in the 1980s, died peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on January 17, 2025, after a brief hospital stay.

Born in Montclair, New Jersey, in 1936, Weaver became owner of Artistic Perceptions Unlimited and was a lifelong practitioner of cartoon, fashion, fine, contemporary, mosaic, and sculptured arts. She was an advocate and student of art who excelled in skill and techniques in a variety of mediums and styles.

Weaver had award-winning exhibitions and installations in New York City and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, decades of art donations; leadership roles in Manhattan art communities; and achievements that included having her work exhibited at the

Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1973. She also spent years as a communications executive — as host of a Sunday morning radio talk show in New York and public relations vice president. She consulted for leading corporations and community empowerment organizations with her husband, Frederick S. Weaver, president and owner of Public Relations Enterprises, Inc. and great-grandson of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. She continued writing the “The Lash and the Cross ” column after her husband died.

Weaver is survived by her four adult children — Thea Smith, James Weaver, Anastasia Howard, and Maria Weaver; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and beloved in-laws. She will be remembered at a Celebration of Life event later this spring that will include an exhibit of her work from more than 65 years in the arts and honor her uncommon range of talents.

Contributed Obituary

Carol Maria Weaver (Courtesy of the family)

Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer, pastor of Trenton, New Jersey's Greater Mt. Zion AME Church. (Contributed photo)

‘Adrienne from Queens’

Continued from page 2

first-timer Jordan Wright, opted to endorse Cuomo in the mayoral race.

Forever. For Justice.

bilities New Yorkers face are the same,” said Adams. “The trust in city hall and the focus on public service to New Yorkers has been weakened. Donald Trump’s corruption of our city’s independence is growing and every single day he is spreading chaos that is harmful to our city and families. New Yorkers are fed up, so it’s time for us to stand up.”

Adams was endorsed by a bevy of her colleagues, including Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, Majority Leader Amanda Farias, Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, Senator James Sanders, former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, former Councilmember I. Daneek Miller, and councilmembers Kevin Riley, Althea Stevens, Sandy Nurse, Chris Banks, and Yusef Salaam.

“The last time a Black woman ran a couple of months ago, we didn’t listen, and now we’re dealing with the consequences,” said Stevens at the conference. “If you’re ready for a leader that’s going to lead with integrity, that’s gonna lead with love, with compassion, that’s going to build bridges. That’s going to change this city. You want to vote for a Black woman.”

Salaam added that he was deeply moved to be working with Adams as a first time councilmember. Two of his Harlem colleagues, Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs and

State prison death

Continued from page 2

“Right now we’re at a critical moment in our city,” said Salaam. “We deserve to have a mayor who is completely dedicated to making New Yorkers’ lives better. Adrienne is that person, proving that she gets results and addresses the issues of importance to our communities. From confronting maternal mortality to increasing affordable housing, our city and its people are always her north star. I truly believe she will continue that path as our next mayor.”

Adams was born and raised in Hollis, Queens by union-working parents. She attended Bayside High School, and briefly York College at the same time as her father before transferring to Spelman College in Atlanta. She said her career has included being a flight attendant and a corporate trainer. She joined Community Board 12 and became an advocate later in life, fighting for equity in education and more resources for schools.

“Where I’m from is who I am; Adrienne, from Queens,” she said to a packed crowd.

She reiterated that she didn’t intend to run for elected office, but ran and won in 2017. She became the first woman to represent District 28 in Queens. In 2022, she was elected by city council to be the first Black speaker and lead the most diverse and first-ever, women-majority council in city history.

“Granted, Messiah Nantwi was convicted, found guilty, and sentenced to serve time, but that was all,” said Cleare by email. “[The corrections department] had no authority nor right to brutalize Messiah and take his life. No matter the crime committed, the act of incarceration is not and cannot be a death sentence. Today, because of the brazen, illegal, and barbaric acts of [corrections] officials, yet another family is grieving and mourning the death of their loved one.

ban. “You have to organize,” said McCall. “At the end of the day, this hits home because it’s in New York City. The family is from New York City, from Harlem. That’s the reason why we went to Sing Sing … because it’s about what the impact [is] — that it hits home — and what is happening on a local level. The same thing that we did [for] Robert Brooks.”

NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III alluded to Brooks’ death in his statement, maintaining such violence “cannot continue.”

“This culture of torture, brutality, and murder behind prison walls can only and must be eradicated by swift, systematic, and everlasting reform.”

Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs seemed lost for words during Friday’s rally. The East Harlem lawmaker is the first formerly incarcerated person to serve in the state legislature and was once imprisoned at Mid-State.

“It’s horrifying, scary, and disappointing — as a New York state legislator, I feel like I’m freaking powerless to stop this nonsense,” said Gibbs. “We can offer legislation. We can put together the Robert Brooks package. In all actuality, what does legislation do?”

After all, hitting an incarcerated person is already illegal. McCall said New Yorkers need to keep the pressure on because incarcerated Black and Brown individuals continue to die.

Just a day after the Harlem rally, the advocates went to the Sing Sing correctional facility in Westchester’s Ossining to promote reforms and protect the HALT solitary confinement

“Several months ago, I vowed that I would not allow violence to become normalized in our facilities,” Martuscello said. “My commitment to this goal has never wavered. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Messiah Nantwi, but thoughts and prayers won’t bring him back and they won’t change anything within our facilities. It’s on us to create a culture that isn’t based in violence and respects the lives of everyone in our care. We, as a department, are the ones who can and will make this change, and we are working with several organizations to assess and improve our culture, as well as the safety and security of our facilities.

“I will continue to operate in a transparent and accountable manner, and work with internal and external stakeholders to make impactful change to end this violence.”

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting

Community Trust.

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SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. CHARLES KC HUMPHREY, RITA SUSAN HUMPHREY and NYC ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD, Defts. - Index # 850324/2024. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 3, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.0424631946437561% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 48TH STREET VACATION SUITES located at 12 East 48th Street, New York, NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $162,319.45 plus costs and interest as of November 1, 2024. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Jeffrey R. Miller, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

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SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. EDUARDO MARTINEZ CASTELLANOS and KILDA SORAYA BORRELL SANCHEZ, Defts. - Index # 850141/2024. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated January 24, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided .009864% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 57TH STREET VACATION SUITES located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $59,778.54 plus costs and interest as of December 4, 2024. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Matthew D. Hunter III, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK PNC Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST Paul H. Pincus; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 23, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at room 130 at the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on March 26, 2025 at 2:15PM, premises known as 407 East 12th Street Unit 1FNE, New York, NY 10009. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of NY, Block 440 Lot 1101. Approximate amount of judgment $1,142,850.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 850413/2023. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 1st Judicial District. Elaine Shay, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard, Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: November 6, 2024 83349

Notice of Formation of SIKLAE HOSPITALITY LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/30/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 40 East End Ave., Unit 14B, NY, NY 10028. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Duane Morris LLP, Alejandra Vargas, Esq., 230 Park Ave., Ste. 1130, NY, NY 10169-0079. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE

OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York, CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, vs. CARMEL REAL ESTATE LLC, ET AL., Defendant (s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 4, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on March 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM, premises known as 140 EAST 63RD ST, UNIT 6C, A/K/A 140 E 63RD ST, 6C, NEW YORK, 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, City and State of New York, Section: 5, Block: 1397, Lot: 1524. Together with an undivided 1.56077 percent interest in the common elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $3,383,960.05 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 850222/2023. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee's attorney, or the Referee.

SOFIA BALILE, Esq., Referee

Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK GREEN MOUNTAIN HOLDINGS (CAYMAN) LTD; Plaintiff v. 2040 MADISON LLC; et al.; Defendants

Attorney for Plaintiff: Hasbani & Light, P.C., 450 7th Ave, Suite 1408, NY, NY 10123; (212) 6436677

Pursuant to the judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on 10/16/24, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder at the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on April 9, 2025, at 2:15 PM Premises known as 2040 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10035 Block: 01754 Lot: 0116

All that certain plot, piece, or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the County of New York, State of New York.

As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment: $2,604,204.14 plus interest and costs. Index Number: 850007/2021 Clark Whitsett, Esq., Referee

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. RADOSLAV KANSKY and LUCIA KANSKA, Defts. - Index # 850590/2023. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated January 9, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.0135990382819495% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase 1 HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $25,295.86 plus costs and interest as of September 1, 2024. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Clark Whitsett, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. WILLIAM J.P. LANGAN and NYC ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD, Defts. - Index # 850325/2024. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 3, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.034346960764478% and an interest of an undivided 0.0343469607644787% tenants in common interests in the timeshare known as 48TH STREET VACATION SUITES located at 12 East 48th Street, New York, NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $47,953.62 plus costs and interest as of November 5, 2024. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Jeffrey R. Miller, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

Notice of Qualification of TABERNACLE & TOAST LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/20/24. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/28/23. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Tiffany Siegel, 89 Monitor St., Apt. 619, Jersey City, NJ 07304. 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.

Supreme Court-New York County – Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. V. Any unknown heirs to the Estate of MARIE J. ABRIL, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, creditors, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest, as well as the respective heirs at law, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest of the aforesaid classes of persons, if they or any of them be dead, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff, et al., Deft. – Index # 850192/2020. The foregoing supplemental summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable FRANCIS KAHN, III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, dated the 26th day of February 2025 and duly entered the 27th day of February 2025 in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, State of New York. TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s attorney, within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State) In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of a fractional interest of 0.00986400000% in the premises at Block 1009, Tax Lot 37 located at 102 West 57th Street NY, NY. Mortgage bearing the date of November 26, 2014, executed by Marie J. Abril to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $30,712.00, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on March 6, 2015, in CRFN 2015000077700. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises as described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Notice of Qualification of GRITZY, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/28/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 01/22/25. Princ. office of LLC: 11 Park Pl., 3rd Fl., NY, NY 10007. 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, regd. agent upon whom and at which process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Supreme Court-New York County – Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. V. CROMWELL T. CABRISOS, Deft. – Index # 850084/2021. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable FRANCIS A. KAHN, III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, dated the 26th day of February 2025 and duly entered the 28th day of February 2025 in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, State of New York. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s attorney, within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State) In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of a fractional interest of 0.0271980765638990% in the premises at Block 1006, Tax Lot 1304 located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas NY, NY. Mortgage bearing the date of August 27, 2017, executed by Cromwell T. Cabrisos to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $45,854.02, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on November 30, 2017, in CRFN 2017000440252. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises as described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Notice of Formation of 505 WEST 168TH REALTY, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/26/17. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Fischer Porter & Thomas, P.C., Attn: Arthur "Scott" L. Porter Jr., Esq., 560 Sylvan Ave., Ste. 3061, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of hLevel, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/25/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/29/24. Princ. office of LLC: 2248 Broadway, #1954, NY, NY 10024. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Management.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK, NYCTL 1998-

2 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiff, vs. HARLEM INVESTORS LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion dated June 27, 2024 and entered on November 29, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, Room 116, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on April 9, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., all that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, Block 1937 and Lot 48.

Said premises may also be known as 240 West 132 Street, New York, NY.

Approximate amount of judgment is $46,263.01 plus interest and costs.

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

Index #151257/2020.

Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee

The Law Office of Thomas P. Malone, PLLC, 60 East 42nd Street, Suite 553, New York, New York 10165, Attorneys for Plaintiff

Laura Shepard LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/24/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 250 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10011. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Antioco Enterprises LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 2/20/2025. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 4380 Vireo Ave Apt 2O, Bronx, NY 10470. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Bar Reuven LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/2/2024. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 525 E 14th St, New York, NY 10009 Purpose: Any lawful act.

KSX Consulting LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on Feb 3, 2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 312 11th Ave #19D, New York, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful act.

First Add Water LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 2/1/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 420 Central Park West 6D, NY, NY 10025. Purpose: Any lawful act.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR BNC MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-2, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-2, Plaintiff AGAINST REGINALD BORGELLA, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 8, 2017, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse in Room 130, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on April 9, 2025 at 2:15PM, premises known as 140 7th Avenue Unit 7R, New York, NY 10011. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, County of New York, State of New York, Block 768, Lot 1203. Approximate amount of judgment $1,043,907.05 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850069/2014. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NEW YORK County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 00299477 83949

GLOBALLYCLEAN LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/16/24. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 1159 Second Avenue #202, New York, New York 10065. Purpose: Any lawful act.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK, PS FUNDING, INC., Plaintiff, vs. 236 WEST E&P LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on November 28, 2023 and a Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on November 6, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, room 130, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on April 2, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 235 West 136th Street, New York, NY 10030. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, Block 1942 and Lot 116. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,849,325.16 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850143/2021.

Georgia Papazis, Esq., Referee

Chartwell Law, One Battery Park Plaza, Suite 710, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff

Notice of Formation of RESERVE MANAGEMENT LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/25/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Certes Partners, 1359 Broadway, Ste. 800, NY, NY 10018. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

All In For Theatre LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on January 7, 2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 62 Saint Felix Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Host 1640 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on January 7, 2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 605 Third Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, NY. Purpose: Any lawful act.

COLON & PARTNERS PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/04/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 250 Park Ave 7th Fl, New York, NY. 10177. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of RJMD HOLDINGS III LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/30/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 201 W. 79th St., NY, NY 10024. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of WILLETTS-NYC, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/06/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, c/o Michael DeRose, 272 Water St., Ste. #2F2R, NY, NY 10038. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

NYC Department of Transportation (“NYC DOT”) is seeking concessionaires for the Development, Management and Operation of a Food, Beverage and/or Merchandise Concession at Café Building and Kiosk 2 and at Kiosk 3 at Fordham Plaza in the Bronx. NYC DOT is releasing two (2) Request for Proposals on the City Record at the below links.

Issue Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Due Date: Friday, April 11, 2025

Café Building and Kiosk 2 Concession RFP: https://a856-cityrecord.nyc.gov/RequestDetail/20250130002 Kiosk 3 Concession RFP: https://a856-cityrecord.nyc.gov/RequestDetail/20250130018

Please note that proposers who wish to apply for both RFPs must apply individually to each RFP. NYC DOT will view favorably proposers that attended either the on-site tour or virtual proposer meeting. The virtual meetings will take place in the morning on March 13th and in the evening on March 18th and will begin with discussion about the Cafe Building and Kiosk 2 RFP, followed by the information for Kiosk 3.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff v.

HAN H. CHEN AKA HAN CHEN, DAN XU, BOARD OF MANAGERS OF CARNEGIE PARK CONDOMINIUM, CITY OF NEW YORK TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU, CITY OF NEW YORK PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU, CITY OF NEW YORK ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD, JOHN DOE, JANE DOE, JOHN DOE, Defendant Index No.: 850353/2024

Property Address:

200 E 94th St, # 811 aka 200 E 94th St Apt 811 aka 200 E 94th St New York, NY 10128

Block: 1539 Lot: 1429

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff's attorneys within thirty days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered, and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

This is an attempt to collect a debt, and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an ORDER FOR ALTERNATE SERVICE BY PUBLICATION, APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM, by Honorable Francis A. Kahn, III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, signed on the 24th day of January 2025, at New York, New York.

The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage on the following property:

Tax I.D. No. Block: 1539 Lot: 1429

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, COUNTY OF NEW YORK, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK, BOUNDED AND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE CORNER FORMED BY THE INTERSECTION OF THE EASTERLY SIDE OF THIRD AVENUE WITH THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 93RD STREET; RUNNING THENCE NORTHERLY ALONG SAID EASTERLY SIDE OF THIRD AVENUE A DISTANCE OF 201 FEET 5 INCHES TO THE CORNER FORMED BY THE INTERSECTION OF THE EASTERLY SIDE OF THIRD AVENUE WITH THE SOUTHERLY OF EAST 94TH STREET; THENCE EASTERLY ALONG THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 94TH STREET A DISTANCE OF 215 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE SOUTHERLY AND PARALLEL WITH THE EASTERLY SIDE OF THIRD AVENUE A DISTANCE OF 100 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE EASTERLY AND PARALLEL WITH THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 93RD STREET A DISTANCE OF 24 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE SOUTHERLY AND PARALLEL WITH THE EASTERLY SIDE OF THIRD AVENUE A DISTANCE OF 101 FEET 5 INCHES TO A POINT ON THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 93RD STREET; THENCE WESTERLY ALONG THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 93RD STREET A DISTANCE OF 239 FEET TO THE CORNER FORMED BY THE INTERSECTION OF THE EASTERLY SIDE OF THIRD AVENUE WITH THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 93 RD STREET, THE POINT OR PLACE OF BEGINNING. SAID PREMISES ARE KNOWN AS 200 EAST 94TH STREET, UNIT 811, NEW YORK, NY AND DESIGNATED AS SECTION 5 BLOCK 1539 LOT 1429 AS SHOWN ON THE TAX MAP OF THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, COUNTY OF NEW YORK, CITY OF NEW YORK.

These premises are also known as 200 E 94th St, # 811 aka 200 E 94th St Apt 811 aka 200 E 94th St, New York, NY 10128. Woods Oviatt Gilman, LLP 500 Bausch & Lomb Place, Rochester, NY 14604

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that a license, number # NA-0240-25105388 for Beer & Wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Beer & Wine at retail in a Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 1663 1st Ave, NY 10028, NY County for on premises consumption. Pavin 86 LLC, Pavin 86 LLC

MOTION MADE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 2/8/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 262 Elizabeth St, Apt 3, New York, NY 10012. Purpose: Any lawful act.

NOTICE OF SALE

Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, Index No. 850180/2022

Six Gramercy LLC, Plaintiff, v. Westside Units Kips Bay, LLC et. al., Defendants.

TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to the Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered November 1, 2024, the undersigned referee will sell at public auction on March 26, 2025 at 2:15pm in Room 130 at the Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, NY, NY, the property located at 330 East 33rd Street, Unit 12F, New York, NY 10016 (Block 936, Lot 4160). The approximate amount of Plaintiff’s lien is $391,830.98 plus interest and costs. The premises will be sold in one parcel and subject to provisions of the judgment and terms of sale.

Elaine Shay, Esq.

Law Offices of Tae H. Whang, LLC, Attorneys for Plaintiff, 185 Bridge Plaza North, Suite 201, Fort Lee, NJ 07024, Tel. (201) 461-0300

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. YUKO MATSUDA, Deft. - Index # 850291/2024. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated January 24, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the NY County Courthouse located 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 16,000/28,402,100 tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase I of HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $59,778.54 plus costs and interest as of November 6, 2024. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Referee will not accept cash as any portion of the deposit or purchase price. Bruce Lederman, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK.

HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION, Plaintiff -against- FOLAYEMI ANIFOWOSHE, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated on July 30, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on April 16, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, being an undivided ownership interest as tenant-in-common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY; known as The NYH Condominium. Together with an appurtenant undivided 0.0381% common interest percentage. This a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 27, 2003 and November 3, 2003 as CFRN # 2003000442513 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1006 and Lot 1302. Said premises known as 1335 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY

Approximate amount of lien $59,947.94 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850029/2020. ROBERTA ASHKIN, ESQ., Referee

DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

DLG# 36988 {* AMSTERDAM*}

NOTICE OF

SALE

RADIANT REFLECTIONS

BEAUTY SALON LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/25/24. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 2505 Adam Clayton Powell, Front, New York, NY 10039. Purpose: Any lawful act.

RIOSEVENTS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 2/19/2025. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 4237 Hampton St, #6F, Queens, NY 11373. Purpose: Any lawful act.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff AGAINST ELVIRA P. CHRISTI, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 23, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse in Room 130, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on April 16, 2025 at 2:15PM, premises known as 520 West 112th Street Unit 4B, New York, NY 10025. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, Block 1883, Lot 1104. Approximate amount of judgment $392,131.52 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #116866/2009. Allison M. Furman, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-003305 83903

Supreme Court-New York County – Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. V. MICHELE C. ALANIS, Deft. – Index # 850006/2024. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable FRANCIS A. KAHN, III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, dated the 25th day of February 2025 and duly entered the 26th day of February 2025 in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, State of New York. TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s attorney, within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State) In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of a fractional interest of 5,000/28,402,100 in the premises at Block 1006, Tax Lot 1302 located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas NY, NY. Mortgage bearing the date of August 18, 2017, executed by Michele C. Alanis to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $30,200.00, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on November 13, 2017, in CRFN 2017000416025. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises as described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

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 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on April 2, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 130 West 30th Street a/k/a 128-134 West 30 th 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% and 0.079% 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

Supreme Court-New York County – Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. V. KUMUD K. DHITAL, JANE E. DHITAL and BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF 57TH STREET VACATION OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC., Defts. – Index # 850169/2021. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable FRANCIS A. KAHN, III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, dated the 26th day of February 2025 and duly entered the 27th day of February 2025 in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, State of New York. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Notice of Formation of 123A 7TH HOLDINGS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/03/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of 2 MAIN STREET, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/04/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/29/21. NYS fictitious name: 2 MAIN STREET, LLC (NY). 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 DE, John G. Townsend Bldg., Federal & Duke of York Sts., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s attorney, within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State) In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of a fractional interest of .009864% in the premises at Block 1009, Tax Lot 37 located at 102 West 57th Street NY, NY. Mortgage bearing the date of December 30, 2011, executed by Kumud K. Dhital and Jane E. Dhital to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $43,690.00, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on May 21, 2012, in CRFN 2012000200512. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises as described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. PATRICK TURNER and SANDRA TURNER, Defts. - Index # 850263/2024. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated January 9, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 0.00986400000% tenant in common interest in the timeshare known as 57TH STREET VACATION SUITES located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Approximate amount of judgment is $49,937.09 plus costs and interest as of August 27, 2024. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Clark Whitsett, Esq., Referee. Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston, & Zimet LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 341 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY.

Supreme Court-New York County – Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. V. IBRAHIM ALEMU, Deft.

– Index # 850368/2024. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable FRANCIS A. KAHN, III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, dated the 25th day of February 2025 and duly entered the 26th day of February 2025 in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, State of New York. TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s attorney, within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State) In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of a fractional interest of 0.006173181814852670% in the premises at Block 1010, Tax Lot 1905 located at 101 West 57th Street NY, NY. Mortgage bearing the date of April 20, 2023, executed by Ibrahim Alemu to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $24,742.50, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on August 23, 2022, in CRFN 2023000213873. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises as described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK US Bank National Association as Trustee for CMSI REMIC Series 2007-03REMIC Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-03, Plaintiff AGAINST Chaya Gottesman

a/k/a Chayala C Gottesman

a/k/a Clare C Gottesman, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 9, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse in Room 130, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on April 16, 2025 at 2:15PM, premises known as 127 West 82nd Street, Unit 1B, New York, NY 10024. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, Block: 1213, Lot: 1159. Approximate amount of judgment $873,418.90 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850006/2018. Joseph Buono, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-086495-F00 83828

Supreme Court-New York County – Hilton Resorts Corp., Pltf. V. MAREYUKI YAHATA and YUMIKA YAHATA, Defts. – Index # 850261/2024. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable FRANCIS A. KAHN, III, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, dated the 25th day of February 2025 and duly entered the 26th day of February 2025 in the office of the Clerk of the County of New York, State of New York. TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s attorney, within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State) In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of a fractional interest of 0.00493200000% in the premises at Block 1009, Tax Lot 37 located at 102 West 57th Street NY, NY. Mortgage bearing the date of February 18, 2022, executed by Mareyuki Yahata and Yumika Yahata to Hilton Resorts Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, to secure the sum of $19,305.00, and interest and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of New York County on April 14, 2022, in CRFN 2022000157866. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises as described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

NOTICE OF QUALIFICA- TION of Oui Do Good LLC. App for authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 1/28/2025. Office location: NY County, LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 8/9/2018. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 45 W 90th St.. Apt 2B. New York, NY 10024. LLC address in DE: 160 Greentree Dr. Ste 101. Dover, DE 19904. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St. Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901. Pur- pose: any lawful activity. 5090 Wo

Notice is hereby given that Application ID Number NA-034625-104365 for a On-Premises Catering Establishment license has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and spirits at retail in a Catering Establishment under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at the Waldorf Astoria Residences located at 301 Park Avenue, Floors 12, 18 & 20 in New York County for on-premises consumption. AB Stable LLC and Waldorf=Astoria Management LLC, 301 Park Avenue, Floors 12, 18 & 20, New York, NY 10022.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Pedro D. A. Alvarez Arenas, if living and if dead, the prospective heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignors, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, purchase, inheritance lien, or otherwise or any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and every person not specifically named who may be entitled to claim to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the verified complaint, all of whome and whose names and places of residence unknown, and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained by the Plaintiff; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 28, 2022, and Amended November 25, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse in Room 130, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on April 2, 2025 at 2:15PM, premises known as 15 William Street, New York, NY 10005. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of NY, Block: 25 Lot: 1503. Approximate amount of judgment $792,245.73 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 810049/2012. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 1st Judicial District. Mark McKew, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: December 10, 2024 83664

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that a license, number NA-0340-25104671 for Beer, Wine & Liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Beer, Wine & Liquor at retail in a Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 39 Christopher St., New York, NY 10014, NY County for on premises consumption. Binx 39, Christopher St LLC

Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company. Model City Home Renovation, LLC. Arts. of Org. filing date with Secy. of State NY. was January 8, 2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 55 W. 116 ST Suite 129, New York, NY 10026. Purpose any lawful act.

PHR NPL Fund IV, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 7/18/2024. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: P.O. Box 230653, New York, NY 10023 Purpose: Any lawful act.

NOTICE

OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK, FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff, vs. FARHAD M. BOUKANI, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on December 19, 2022 and a Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on July 29, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, Room 130, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on April 9, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 467 Central Park West, Unit No. 1-D, New York, NY 10025. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, Block 1842 and Lot 1003 together with an undivided 0.4972 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $332,718.76 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850053/2019.

Roberta Ashkin, Esq., Referee

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 244201-1 SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK.

ONESTONE LENDING LLC, Plaintiff -against- ALTA OPERATIONS, LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated November 17, 2023 and entered on November 27, 2023 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on April 2, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County and State of New York, known as The Tower Unit 10A in the building known as "One Riverside Park Condominium" together with an undivided 0.3653% interest in the common elements.

Block: 1171 Lot: 2508. Said premises known as 50 RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD, UNIT 10A, NEW YORK, NY 10069. Approximate amount of lien $1,027,596.74 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850198/2020. JERRY MEROLA, ESQ., Referee. The Camporeale Law Group PLLC, Attorney(s) for Plaintiff, 585 Stewart Avenue, 770, Garden City, NY 11530

SALON DE LILY LLC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 02/14/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 29W 36th St, STE 5U, New York, NY, 10018. Purpose: Any lawful act.

F AND C1 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 1/3/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 23 LARRABEE AVE, OYSTER BAY, NY 11771. Purpose: Any lawful act.

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK. BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE 130 WEST 30TH STREET CONDOMINIUM, SUING ON BEHALF OF THE UNIT OWNERS, Plaintiff -against- DAVID M. SIMON a/k/a DAVID SIMON; LISA D. GOODMAN a/k/a LISA GOODMAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated December 3, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 116 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on April 9, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan and County of New York, City and State of New York, known as Residential Unit No. 16A in the building known as 130 West 30th Street Condominium located at 130 West 30th Street together with an undivided 2.241% interest in the Common Elements. Block: 805 Lot: 1043

Said premises known 130 West 30th Street, Unit 16A, New York, NY 10001.

situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan and County of New York, City and State of New York, known as Storage Unit No. 11 in the building known as 130 West 30th Street Condominium located at 130 West 30th Street together with an undivided 0.079% interest in the common elements. Block: 805 Lot: 1060

Said premises known as 130 WEST 30TH STREET, STORAGE UNIT NO. 11, NEW YORK, NY 10001

Approximate amount of lien $113,708.03 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850614/2023.

ROBERTA E. ASHKIN, ESQ., Referee

Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 444 Madison Ave., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022

{* AMSTERDAM*}

IPPSOLAR CROSSROADS ESS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/26/2024. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: PAUL JEUN; 200E 33RD ST., #30E, NEW YORK, NY, 10016. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice is hereby given that Application ID Number NA-034325-104356 for a On-Premises hotel license has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the sale of beer, wine and spirits at retail in a Hotel under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at the Hotel Waldorf Astoria located at 301 Park Avenue, Floors Basement - 12 in New York County for on-premises consumption. AB Stable LLC and Waldorf=Astoria Management LLC, 301 Park Avenue, Floors Basement - 12, New York, NY 10022.

White Tiger 2024 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/01/2024. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 3857 White Plains Rd, Bronx, NY 10467. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of VETRICS GROUP LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/06/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Virginia (VA) on 04/19/21. 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. VA addr. of LLC: 100 Shockoe Slip, 2nd Fl., Richmond, VA 23219. Cert. of Form. filed with Clerk of the Commission, 1300 E. Main St., 1st Fl., Richmond, VA 23219. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 39 E 1ST HOLDINGS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/03/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of NomadE28 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/30/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 1040 First Ave., Ste. 343, NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Pierre Martin at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

174 PARK OPS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/09/24. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 250 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of 109 DUCK POND LANE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/04/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Arthur S. Penn, 980 5th Ave., Apt. 21B, NY, NY 10075. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Cheng Acupuncture PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 1/24/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 26 E 93rd St, Apt 7AB, New York, NY 10128. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of CARLTON HILL GROUP LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/03/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 01/22/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 1460 Broadway, NY, NY 10036. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Jocelynn

ANNUAL PLOT OWNERS

MEETING -FDMP, INC. The Board of Directors of FDMP has scheduled the Annual Plot Owners Meeting, March 22, 2025. In-Person at the Staten Island Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace Bldg A, 2pm-4pm. Go to Frederick-douglassmemorialpark.org to register.

To display your Legal, LLC, and classifieds ads contact:

Ali Milliner (347) 350-4316

ali.milliner @amsterdamnews.com

Or schedule your own Legal and LLC advertising by scanning the QR Code

Q&A with mayoral candidate Brad Lander

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, 55, is on the campaign trail in this year’s crowded mayoral race against incumbent Eric Adams.

In his current role, Lander serves as the “city’s budget watchdog” and is primarily responsible for finances, investments, and public pension funds. Before being elected comptroller in 2021, he spent 12 years as a councilmember and co-founded the City Council’s Progressive Caucus.

Lander was among one of the first to announce their mayoral bid back in July 2024. He’s raised more than $1 million ($1,185,781) in private funds to date and over $3 million ($ 3,674,414) through the city’s public matching funds program, according to campaign finance latest filings.

As the countdown to the June primary begins, the Amsterdam News caught up with Lander over the phone. Here’s what he had to say about his campaign so far. (Questions and answers have been shortened or edited for space and clarity.)

AmNews: Since you are basically the money man for the city, I figured I’d start with the money questions. In terms of fundraising you, Eric Adams, Zohran Mamdani, and Scott Stringer are pretty much the top fundraisers in the race, and according to campaign finance, you have about 92% in-district donors and 81% small donors. Can you talk a little bit about how you manage that?

Lander: I love the New York City campaign finance system, and the incentive it gives to raise money from everyday New Yorkers, so I go all over the city for house parties. Last night, I had one in Sunnyside, Queens. Tonight, it’s in Morningside Heights in upper Manhattan. We’ve had house parties in all five boroughs and it’s just a great way to campaign. You’re raising money but you’re talking to dozens

of New Yorkers, hearing about the things that frustrate them, about what they want from a mayor. So much better than dialing for dollars from wealthy people who want something.

AmNews: Candidates like Mayor Adams, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and maybe New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams have a similar base of working-class Black and Brown voters. How do you plan to appeal to this audience?

Lander: I’m proud of the work I’ve done alongside working-class Black and Latino New Yorkers over the last 30 years. Even before I was on the City Council, I spent 15 years working in affordable housing and community development. The Fifth Avenue Committee was founded by Black and Latino working-class New Yorkers. Folks like Barbara Bethel … people who taught me what it means to be a New Yorker because when their buildings were

abandoned by their landlords, they fought to save them and turn them into affordable co-ops owned by the people who live there. That’s my whole career: fighting alongside folks who have been screwed by the city [and] landlords, [and for] economic equality.

In the council, I helped desegregate middle schools in District 15, and passed legislation that makes us the first city where Uber and Lyft drivers and deliveristas have a living wage.

In 2021, when I won for comptroller, there was an analysis that showed that I won most of the voters who voted for either Maya Wiley or Kathryn Garcia in the mayor’s race. I actually overperformed in outer-borough communities of color, and some of that was because I had great endorsements from [Public Advocate] Jumaane Williams, U.S. Rep. Nydia Velasquez, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), and former Assemblymember

Perry. I worked really hard to dramatically increase the amount of pension funds that are managed by Black and Latino and Asian women asset managers, and to fight for more Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) contracts.

We put out a great report on the racial wealth gap, and I’ve laid out plans for making the city more economically and racially inclusive.

AmNews: As comptroller, I think people expect you to be very fiscally responsible.

How do you plan to avoid budget cuts and fights with the City Council as we’ve seen with Adams, who also considers himself fairly money-savvy?

Lander: But he has not been transparent or honest with New Yorkers in his budgeting, and this has been a big frustration of mine.

Every year, the budget Mayor Adams has put out has included a lot of things everyone knew wasn’t true.

We under-budget on shelters, police overtime, and the cost of special education by literally billions of dollars. Then he dressed up and overestimated dramatically what we were going to spend on sheltering services for asylum seekers, and then told people that was going to cause cuts at libraries, City University of New York (CUNY), and parks that we didn’t need to have.

I put out a set of commitments to ambitious proposals to modernize the city’s fiscal framework and practices, and that includes honest and transparent budgeting, where the preliminary and executive budget tell the truth about what we’re likely to spend so the council and the mayor can have a real conversation.

I have called over and over for, and am committed as mayor to, making investments in the city’s rainy day fund via a formula so it’s not the last thing that the council and the mayor get to and See LANDER on page 44

Nick

City Comptroller Brad Lander, a mayoral candidate for 2025, during petitioning season. (Photo contributed by Lander’s campaign)

Brad Lander

we’re saving for a rainy day automatically.

AmNews: One of the biggest concerns that people have is confronting the federal administration and President Trump about issues like immigration and congestion pricing. How would you approach it?

Lander: Let me take the example of this $80 million that they took out of our bank account. I think that’s the most direct hostility that the Trump administration has had for New York. Elon Musk ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to withdraw $80 million from New York City’s bank account. That was my team that discovered it and raised the alarm. Unfortunately, that was right at the moment when Eric Adams was being compromised by the Justice Department’s effort to drop the lawsuit against him, and his administration did not

speak up and tell people about it and fight to get it back. I pressured the law department [and] said if you don’t go to court to get that money back, then I’m gonna find a way to do it.

I’m pleased to say that last Friday, the law department filed papers that I believe will get our $80 million back. People have seen me fight for the city on their behalf against the Trump administration when they come to harm us.

I will stand up for our sanctuary laws. When someone has been convicted of a serious or violent offense, our laws facilitate cooperation, but not to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents into our schools or shelters or public hospitals. I will be a mayor who fights like hell for New Yorkers.

AmNews: Speaking to your critics, people have described you as de Blasio

2.0 or ultra progressive and — more harshly — “soft on Hamas” and anti-Jewish. How would you respond to people like that?

Lander: Let me separate those out. One, I work hard every day to make the government deliver for the people of this city. It’s job one of the mayor, it’s job one of the comptroller, it’s what I did as a council member. I don’t think this is a time for ideological lanes. This is a time for honest, effective government that actually delivers a safer, more affordable, and better-run city. That’s the campaign I’m running. That’s the work I’ve done over the past few years and that’s what I’ll do as mayor.

On questions about antisemitism and Judaism, I’ll say this: I am a proud Jewish New Yorker and the highest-ranking Jew in the New York City government. It is a deep part of my identity. Since I was a kid, I have loved what New York City has been for my people. It has been a haven when we were facing oppression and

war and pogroms all around the world. It’s made it possible for us to thrive here in a way that’s extraordinary. Not us alone … that’s why we have to build a city that is safe for everyone. I support Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. For it to be a place of safety and democracy where Jewish people can flourish and thrive, it has to come to mutual recognition and peace with its Palestinian neighbors.

AmNews: To throw a hypothetical curveball at you, let’s say the mayor stepped down or was removed and the public advocate was interim mayor. If he decided to run for reelection as mayor, do you think your friendship would or could survive if he entered the race?

Lander: I’m lucky to have a deep personal and political friendship with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. It goes back to before we were on the City Council. I know it’s hard to predict every hypothetical, but

yeah, I’m very confident our friendship would survive.

AmNews: In that sense, is there anyone that you could see yourself cross-endorsing, since we have rankedchoice voting?

Lander: Yes, this is important. If one month out in the [2021] election, Maya Wiley or Kathryn Garcia had endorsed each other, one of them would be the mayor now and we wouldn’t have a mayor that we have to worry about working for Donald Trump and not for us. I am committed to not making that mistake again, so I’m building the broadest coalition. It is critical that we do not have either Eric Adams or Andrew Cuomo — neither of those two corrupt chaos agents — as our next mayor. So I will approach your ranked-choice voting strategically as we see how the race and the field evolves.

AmNews: Is there anything else about your proposals or platform that you want to highlight?

Lander: My three big proposals in the race are to end street homelessness for people with serious mental illness, which we can do and will make this a safer city; a laser focus on affordable housing, which I worked on my whole career; and expanding universal childcare, meeting the promise we made to have a seat for every three-year-old.

That’s protecting tenants from eviction, that’s building more affordable housing, and it includes a real focus on getting back to affordable homeownership, especially multifamily co-ops like the old Mitchell-lama program, which we used to build and basically stopped doing 50 years ago. Most of what passes for affordable housing is rental housing owned by private developers, [which] doesn’t create homeownership opportunities for working-class and middle-class families. Those have largely evaporated. It’s especially an issue for younger Black families who would like to put down roots and stay here.

African American baseball players look to increase MLB representation

By JAIME C. HARRIS

AmNews Sports Editor

The start of the Major League Baseball season begins next Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan, where the defending World Series champion Dodgers will face the Chicago Cubs. One of the sport’s best players, infielder/outfielder Mookie Betts will suit up for the Dodgers. But the future Hall Famer is one of baseball’s few African American stars in the league today.

In generations past, Major Baseball’s All-Star Game, also known as the Midsummer Classic, would have rosters replete with African American players. Now, only a handful take the field in the annual July showcase. According to the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida, in 1991, the first year it conducted a study on baseball’s racial demographics, 18% of Major League Baseball players were African American. On Opening Day last season, the number was just 6% — a decline from 6.2% in 2023 and 7.2% in 2022.

“There are so many factors that have caused the drop,” said Pitts-

burgh Pirates area supervisor Brandon Rembert to this writer last summer. The 26-year-old former outfielder for the HBCU Alcorn State University Braves has spent countless hours traveling across the United States and the Caribbean searching for MLB caliber talent.

Rembert attends events such as the DREAM Series, an MLB developmental program, as well as numerous high school and college games. But the foundation for future major leaguers must be assembled much earlier.

“Today, AAU baseball is so prominent and critically important to growing and nurturing young players,” said Rembert. Kids are now playing for elite AAU teams and getting the experience of going from state to state competing against other top players at an early age. Many have personal trainers and coaches. So obviously, it’s very expensive. Some parents have the means to provide them with specialized training. Many do not. For a lot of African American kids the cost is prohibitive.”

In the age of profit-driven

youth sports, socio-economics is a key determinant in the opportunities pre-teens and teens are afforded. But changing culture is also a prevalent element of African American youth turning away from a sport that was once an indivisible strand of the fabric of Black pride in America, with Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron among Black folks’ greatest heroes.

“Baseball isn’t associated with hip-hop culture like basketball and football,” said Rembert. “The marketing of its players isn’t on the level of basketball and football.”

For certain, young African Americans see the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves uber-athletic guard Anthony Edwards and the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens astonishing quarterback Lamar Jackson as representations and reflections of who they are culturally. They vicariously become them in video games, another driving force of youths sports preferences.

Baseball may slowly make inroads among future generations of African Americans. But they have already lost the past two.

The Jets and Giants face similar issues but differing timelines

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, head coach and general manager of the Jets respectively, are less than two months into their tenure with the franchise. Both were hired by team owner Robert “Woody” Johnson in January. While Glenn and Mougey are operating with urgency to transform the Jets into a playoff contender, the pair’s immediate job security is sturdy.

Conversely, Brian Daboll, the Giants’ head coach, and Joe Schoen, their general manager, are on borrowed time. After three seasons under their leadership, during which the team has an 18-32-1 record with one wild card appearance following the unremarkable mark of 9-7-1 in the 2022 campaign, Daboll and Schoen were retained by team coowners John Mara and Steve Tisch to course correct what has been an unsuccessful mission.

The Jets haven’t made the playoffs in the past 14 seasons and the Giants have made the playoffs

just once over the last eight. The teams began this week, the opening of the NFL’s 2025 free-agency period, with some of the same objectives, the most pressing securing viable starting quarterbacks.

The Jets were swift in addressing that need. On Monday, they agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with 26-year-old quarterback Justin Fields.

It is uncertain if he will be the Jets’ long-term QB, but Glenn and Mougey are hoping Fields will develop into just that. The Chicago Bears’ 2021 first round pick (No. 11 overall) has shown flashes of potential in four pro seasons, three with the Bears and last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Meanwhile, the Giants, which currently hold the third overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft, have a massive hole at quarterback. Livingston, New Jersey native Tommy DeVito, who has carved out a role as a backup in two seasons with the Giants, is the only QB they have under contract as of yesterday morning. The two names most associated with the Giants as likely

options are veterans Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers.

Both would be temporary stopgaps and one season placeholders. Wilson, who started 11 games for the Steelers last season is 36. Rodgers is 41. After rupturing his left Achilles tendon in the Jets’ season opening game in 2023, he came back last season to play and start in all 17 of the Jets’ games last season. The Jets’ imperative is to ultimately draft or trade for a much younger quarterback who can man the spot for ideally a decade or so. But will Mara and Tisch entrust Daboll and Schoen, who are essentially in survival mode, to make such a consequential decision with their top 3 draft pick? It can either put the franchise on a path of becoming a playoff contender or stagnate them for another several years in an NFC East division being dominated by NFL champion Philadelphia Eagles and the ascendant Washington Commanders, which made it to the NFC Championship Game in January powered by sensational young QB Jayden Daniels.

Justin Fields, working out before the Pittsburgh Steelers wildcard game in January versus the Baltimore Ravens, is now the newest Jets quarterback. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Atlanta Braves’ center fielder Michael Harris II is one of Major League Baseball’s standout African American players. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

The Knicks endeavor to survive West Coast trip without Brunson

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

A worst-case scenario, or close to it, happened to the Knicks last Thursday just one game into their current seven-day, five-game West Coast road trip.

Their 2024 All-NBA Second Team guard Jalen Brunson sustained a right ankle injury in overtime in a 113-109 loss against the Lakers. The Knicks averted full disaster when All-Star Brunson, authoring another All-NBA campaign, averaging 26.3 points and 7.4 assists, was diagnosed with an ankle sprain and not a more severe injury. Hopes of making a deep playoff run still remain.

A day after the hold-your-breath moment for the Knicks and their always anxiety filled fan base, the team announced Brunson would be out at least two weeks.

“Unfortunately, you don’t want to see anyone get injured but it’s part of our league, so when someone goes out, the next guy has to get in there be ready to go and get the job done — so next man up,” said Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau in the aftermath of Brunson going down.

“You don’t replace a guy like [that] individually, you have to do it collectively,” he maintained. In theory, it is the most logical, and really the only answer to moving forward without Brunson until his return. The application

of Thibodeau’s solution isn’t as simple. The Knicks’ quality of depth has been suspect and a widely debated topic when comparing their roster with the more ample reserve units for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, the two teams ahead of the Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings, as well as the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Knicks, which were 41-23 when they faced the Portland Trailblazers last night (Wednesday), were a combined 0-7 versus the Cavaliers, a gaudy 55-10 after defeating the Nets 109-104 on Tuesday for their staggering 15th straight win. Meanwhile, the Celtics were 47-18 and the Thunder 53-12, when they faced each other in Boston yesterday in the NBA’s signature matchup of the night.

The Knicks displayed the requisite collective effort that Thibodeau talked about in their 133-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday. With guard Miles “Deuce” McBride inserted into the starting lineup replacing Brunson, all five starters scored at least 15 points, led by center Karl-Anthony Towns’ team-high 26 and forward OG Anunoby’s 24 points. Anunoby and forward Mikal Bridges each had eight assists.

The Knicks end their road trip on Saturday versus the Golden State Warriors and will be back at Madison Square Garden on Monday to host the Miami Heat.

Nets guard Keon Johnson making the most of his opportunities

By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

Injuries, in addition to trades and other roster fluctuations begets surprising opportunities. Arguably, no other Brooklyn Nets player has taken advantage of the aforementioned circumstances more than fourth-year guard Keon Johnson.

The Shelbyville, Tennessee, native, who turned 23 earlier this week, was selected by the New York Knicks with the 21st pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and traded on the same night to the Los Angeles Clippers. Midway through his rookie season, Johnson, who played one season for the University of Tennessee, was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent a year and a half. Acquired by the Nets a season ago, Johnson continued to find his NBA footing in the league, ending the campaign having only started 12 games in his first three seasons.

This season, the six-foot-five guard has started a career-high 39 games and has been one of the Nets’ most reliable players, appearing in 61 of the team’s 64 games prior to the Nets, which were 22-42, facing the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road on Tuesday. Only second-year forward Jalen Wilson has played more games (63 heading into Tuesday). Johnson was averaging 10.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 23.8 minutes, his most as a pro in all three categories.

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has used

Nets guard Keon Johnson guards

Los Angeles Lakers

star Luka Dončić in Brooklyn’s 111-108 home win on Monday. (AP

Photo/Pamela Smith)

Johnson in various roles, and whether it’s coming off of the bench or starting (40 games before going up against the Cavs), he has eagerly accepted whatever the moment calls for. Earlier this season, Johnson seemingly foresaw a door opening that he was prepared to run through.

“I understand that night in and night out, my role could change, but each night I just feel like [it] is a new opportunity to show some type of growth, whether it’s offensively or de-

fensively.” he said back in January. “I tend to just forget about all the what ifs and what nots and just go out and play the game that I know.”

On Monday night at the Barclays Center, the Nets ended a seven-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Lakers, defeating them 111-108 while holding the team’s newly acquired superstar Luka Dončić to only 22 points on 8-26 shooting and forcing him into five turnovers — albeit with a triple double. The Lakers were without LeBron James, who

is sidelined with a groin strain. When the Nets stepped onto the court in Cleveland, they were 4 1/2 games behind the Chicago Bulls for 10th place in the Eastern Conference, the last play-in tournament spot. They have 17 games remaining in the regular season, playing the Bulls in Chicago tonight, hosting the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks on Saturday and Sunday respectively at the Barclays, before a rematch with the Celtics in Boston next Tuesday.

Knicks guard Josh Hart dunks on the Sacramento Kings in New York’s 133-104 road win on Monday night. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Women’s basketball enters its golden age with soaring popularity

By LOIS ELFMAN

Special to the AmNews

Division I college basketball is heading into March Madness, which women’s hoops now officially uses (prior to 2022 the term “madness” was men only). The Division II tournament kicks off tomorrow, and Division III action resumes tomorrow as defending champion NYU continues their pursuit of back-to-back titles when they take on SUNY Geneseo.

The women’s pro game is also thriving. As is the case every year, some WNBA players have taken their skills overseas, but there is also a ton of exciting women’s professional hoops action happening stateside. Athletes Unlimited wrapped play last week with Maddy Siegrist earning MVP for season four. The league will return to Nashville in 2026.

In its inaugural season, the 3x3 league Unrivaled is garnering incredible attention. The unquestionable queen of season one is Napheesa Collier, whose Lunar Owls are dominating. In addition to leading her team, Collier cleaned up in the league’s 1x1 tournament and then gave half of her $200,000 prize to the Lunar Owls staff. She is co-founder of the league, so one might expect some grand gestures, but that one is regal.

As Unrivaled heads into the playoffs,

it is clear that season one has produced high energy excitement, from Brittney Griner giving the league its first dunk to Kayla McBride having a career resurgence to Chelsea Gray showing she’s returned to form. Unrivaled is not traditional 3x3, which is played on half court, but the format enables viewers to see players from different perspectives. Even the broadcasters are taking innovative approaches — shout out to Renee Montgomery. More on Unrivaled next week.

This article wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Diana Taurasi, who recently announced her retirement. Since I began covering women’s basketball in 1999, Taurasi has been part of the game. I heard about this promising high school senior from California who was sure to take the college game by storm, which she absolutely did, winning three NCAA titles at UConn. Then she began her incredible pro career, winning three WNBA titles with the Phoenix Mercury and an unprecedented six Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball.

In this Women’s History Month, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the career of someone who did what we ask of great basketball players — she made those around her better … even a journalist who knew little about basketball back in 1999.

Columbia women’s basketball continues to make history

By LOIS ELFMAN

Special to the AmNews

Before last Saturday’s senior day game, Columbia University women’s basketball had already secured the top seed in this weekend’s Ivy League Tournament, but the Lions wanted to send seniors Kitty Henderson and Cecelia Collins out with a bang and be the Ivy League women’s basketball regular season champions. A 91–58 victory over Cornell brought Columbia another piece of history. This is the team’s third consecutive Ivy League regular season title, but the first they’ve won outright and not shared the honors with Princeton. The significance of this achievement was not lost on the program’s alumnae who were in attendance.

“There’s nothing cooler than being a part of history; that’s why we all came here,” said Carly Rivera, class of 2023. “To be a part of the first of something and to watch that legacy carry on, there’s no feeling like it.”

“This is a moment we’ve all been waiting for,” said junior guard/forward Perri Page, who had seven rebounds and six points in the win. “This is something we’ve worked for ever since the beginning. I’m so proud of, first of all, the seniors who have worked

their butts off to be in this moment. We’re really proud to be here, but we’re not done yet. This is just our first step and we’re going to keep building with this.” Page said the team speaks about its potential and how it’s gaining momentum each day. “As we keep growing, our ceiling keeps rising,” she said. “I get to be a part of the community we’ve built.”

Junior forward Susie Rafiu had 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. “This is what you dream of,” she said. “We don’t want to be like every other team, we want to stand out and do our own thing. This is a great stepping stone to doing that.”

The two seniors both had stellar games. Collins had 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Henderson had 14 points, nine assists and three steals.

Lilian Kennedy, class of 2023, was wearing her ring from Columbia’s first Ivy League regular season championship as she relished the team’s continuing progress.

“[This win] is a testament to the culture that we built here and the hard work that the players put in day in and day out,” said Kennedy during the postgame celebration. “I’m super excited to see the momentum carry on to the Ivy League Tournament and the NCAA Tournament as well.”

The Columbia Lions wrap up as Ivy League regular season champions. (Columbia University Athletics photo)

(L) WNBA star Napheesa Collier has dominated Unrivaled play. (Unrivaled photo)

After a brilliant career, Diana Taurasi has announced her retirement. (USA Basketball photo)

Sports

Women’s inspirational stories highlight the United Airlines NYC Half

By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

Shaunta-Mae remains determined as she makes final preparations to participate in this Saturday’s United Airlines NYC Half, a New York Road Runners (NYRR) event widely recognized as the world’s premier half marathon.

“Originally (my reason for running) was a promise that I made to God: I said if he were to restore my mobility and my walking, that I would walk like I’ve never walked before, I’d run like I never ran before and I would dance like I’ve never danced before,” said the New York City resident.

Shaunta-Mae overcame not only child abuse and a chronic illness, but paralysis from a rare medical reaction. She eventually regained mobility and is currently raising money for the NYRR Team for Kids.

Maya Sudhakaran is another inspiring woman that will traverse the 13.1 mile course that begins in Brooklyn, has runners trek across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, through Times Square and ultimately finish in Central Park.

“My dad was diagnosed with [multiple sclerosis in 2012], and I was running two to three miles here and there just to get started on my fitness journey,” Maya Sudhakaran told the AmNews. When a fundraising opportunity arose to run in the New York Marathon, she embraced the endeavor.

“That’s really what started my journey. Initially, when I found out about (my dad’s) diagnosis, I didn’t really know how to contribute or how to help, but I felt that fundraising for the cost and being part of something bigger than all of us in the community would really help me come to terms with it,” Sudhakaran explained. “I signed up with the MS Society, joined a training group, and haven’t stopped since.”

Although her father passed away in 2012, Sudhakaran is instilling purpose in her 12-year-old son through running.

“Ever since he was a baby, he’s been seeing me lace up and get out of the house to go run three times a week,” she said. “He asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ He’s really inspired to a point where he’s actually running the race.”

Sudhakaran’s son will be one of 1,500 kids participating in the Times Square Kids Run on Sunday, one of over 20 free Rising New York Road Runners events held annually. Since she began running, Sudhakaran has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Still, she continues.

“I told myself that if I stop now, I’m going to stop forever, and I don’t think I can do that.”

A major health issue also changed Beatriz Fritschler’s life. “I actually went on a long health journey after overcoming a brain aneurysm rupture,” she said

“During the COVID days, I was working out in the park with some ladies from my neighborhood, and we will warm up. Jogging in the first couple of weeks was really hard, but then I found in week three or four, I wasn’t feeling that tired, and I decided to go on a run on my own, and I was able to run a mile and a half and I just went from there because it was something that I always wanted to do, but always felt impossible to me.”

Overcoming many medical and personal struggles, Shaunta-Mae will be participating in this Saturday’s United Airlines NYC Half marathon. (Shaunta-Mae photo)

Fritschler shared that running also helps with her physical and psychological endurance, and has strengthened her will to push through adversity.

She credits the Dykman Running Club, a community based organization based in Upper Manhattan founded in 2019, for uplifting her. “I couldn’t do anything if I had to do it by myself,” she said. “I need to do it with the community. They keep me accountable and give me the energy to keep going.”

Figure skater Maé-Bérénice Méité works to grow her place in history

Maé-Bérénice

Méité is an ascending French figure skater whose parents are from the Ivory Coast and the Congo.

(Caroline Miller photography)

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

It took French figure skater MaéBérénice Méité a long time to see herself as a part of history. She hasn’t won any Olympic medals, but as a two-time Olympian (2014 and ’18), European and World competitor in a sport with few Black athletes, she has come to understand that she represents what is possible with self belief.

“I know not all athletes, even the best, get the chance to compete at the Olympics,” Méité said. “I know it’s a very unique opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance for an athlete, and we work so hard to get there. It took me time to realize how much of an honor it was to earn my spot there and I earned it twice.”

Méité considers herself blessed that she did not experience racial bias as a skater growing up in France. In fact, people champi-

oned her as the next Surya Bonaly, a renowned French skater who won five European Championships and three World medals.

“I might have faced a little bit of bias in the sense that I don’t look like your typical figure skater as far as my physique; I’m very athletic,” Méité said. “I knew I couldn’t make any mistakes because I might have been more penalized. I knew I had to aim for ‘perfection’ if I wanted to be rewarded for the hard work.”

The last few years have been challenging. Knee and ankle injuries took her out of competitions and impacted her mental health. At one point, she returned to the ice, rushing her training. Despite a poor finish at Skate Canada in 2023, there was a spark of inspiration when she was invited to skate in the exhibition. She then took the time to fully heal and

properly rehabilitate her injuries and is now feeling strong.

Over the past year, she’s performed in shows, including Bol on Ice in Italy, and welcomes more such opportunities. She’s developed her skills as a content creator, hoping to build community as she shares her journey in sport and life on social media. Looking to the future, Méité, 30, is eager to make more history. She is focused on training and hopes a sponsor will help with expenses so she can fulfill her vision of a third Olympics.

“We always aim for more; that’s why we’re high level athletes,” she said. “I know I’m not done.”