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To stave off impending food crisis, state, city electeds turn to local food pantries
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
Despite New York State (NYS) Attorney General Letitia James and others waging a serious legal fight, there will likely be a delay in food assistance for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients because of the month-long government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, ahead of this holiday season.
About 42 million people nationwide rely on SNAP benefits. New York state has about 2.9 million people utilizing SNAP benefits, with 1.8 million of those in New York City. Most are older adults, children, or people with disabilities experiencing food insecurity. In response to a potential food crisis, the state committed $65 million in additional emergency food funds as well as volunteer staffing to support food banks and pantries.
“The Trump Administration is cutting food assistance off for three million New Yorkers, leaving our state to face an unprecedented public health crisis and hurting our grocers, bodegas, and farmers along the way,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul in a statement. “Unlike Washington Republicans, I won’t sit idly by as families struggle to put food on the table.”
The government shutdown began on Oct. 1, as the result of a stalemate between Democrats and Republicans over healthcare and Medicaid cuts. James and a coalition of 25 other attorneys general sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last month, demanding they dole out November SNAP benefits. By Oct. 31, a Massachusetts court held that USDA’s suspension of SNAP violat-
ed federal law and that the agency is required to use its more than $6 billion in contingency funds during the shutdown.
“SNAP is one of our nation’s most effective tools to fight hunger, and the USDA has the money to keep it running. There is no excuse for this administration to abandon families who rely on SNAP, or food stamps, as a life-
line,” said James in a statement.
In the meantime, many city and state elected officials have opted to highlight local food pantries and non-profits for food assistance.
“I stopped by the Brooklyn Christian Fellowship Seventh-day Adventist Church to volunteer during a food service and talk to New
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) office located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn in October 2025. (Ariama C. Long photos)
New York State (NYS) Attorney General Letitia James, U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, and Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman at a soup kitchen in Brooklyn on Monday, Nov. 3.
State Sen. Salazar reports prisons recurrently denying visits over erroneous scans
By Tandy Lau Amsterdam News staff
Reports are emerging of a sizable increase in complaints over NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) staff denying prison visits with little transparency.
The Office of Brooklyn-based State Sen. Julia Salazar, who chairs her chamber’s Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee, told the Amsterdam News it received around 50 similar reports from New Yorkers across the state over the past four to six months.
Families and friends of incarcerated individuals report correctional facilities turning them away under accusations of smuggling contraband picked up on screening machines but were not criminally investigated further despite the serious allegations. Many were later suspended from returning.
“Contact visits are incredibly important for incarcerated individuals and their loved ones,” said Salazar in a statement emailed to the AmNews. “And so I’m concerned by what appears to be an increasing pattern of facilities denying, and even suspending, people’s ability to visit based on arbitrary body scan analyses. In many cases, the scans show menstrual products, scars from surgery, medical devices, piercings, or
natural skin lumps.
“In some instances, radiologists have confirmed there is nothing suspicious on the scans. I strongly urge DOCCS to end this practice of denying what can be lifesaving visits for incarcerated people from their family, loved ones, and friends.”
These reports follow DOCCS slashing weekday visits earlier this year as state prisons faced upheaval from an illegal corrections officer strike and Marcy Correctional Facility staff murdering incarcerated individual Robert Brooks on camera.
Almost anyone can visit someone in prison, given their permission. Specific DOCCS programming like the Family Reunion Program allows families to meet in a more private setting with personal contact. The body-image screenings are somewhat voluntary. But not going through the scanner means non-contact visitation only, banning physical embrace and separating the visitor from the incarcerated with a partition. Most advocates do not believe noncontact visits are an adequate alternative to full-contact visits.
Vanessa Kelder, a government employee, says prison staff turned her away while visiting a long-time friend for the ninth time. She says the process seemed routine until staff asked her to bend over following a scan and informed her she would need a medical note due to metal in her body.
Her family was still allowed to go inside but she waited in the car. Kelder received a letter 11 days later accusing her of smuggling contraband through her private parts. She cannot visit a DOCCS facility again until the end of next January and continues waiting for her appeal to go through.
Service provider Osborne Association, which the state contracts to operate family and hospitality centers in many DOCCS facilities, echoed these concerns.
“Families we work with have consistently reported longer wait times due to the reduced visiting schedule and the use of body scanners,” said Jon Monsalve, President and CEO of Osborne Association. “They have also reported that training and certification on the use of body scanners and consistent protocols and rules for all facilities should be a priority for DOCCS. Visiting is a lifeline for people who are incarcerated and their families.
“It creates a calmer environment inside for everyone, promoting program participation, transformation, and goal-setting
See SALAZAR on page 29
Roxanne Brown set to take the lead as the United Steelworkers’ first Black president
By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff
Roxanne Brown will become the international president of the United Steelworkers (USW) union on March 1, 2026. In doing so, she will be the first woman and the first Black person to lead North America’s largest industrial union, which has some 850,000 members and has run for more than 80 years.
But there is a lot of political and economic pressure expected for Brown as she takes on the lead of the USW. The economy is unstable, and the government and lawmakers are making it hard for unions to protect their members. This is taking place just as the USW is scheduled to renegotiate contracts for its 30,000 workers at oil and petrochemical refineries in January 2026, for its aluminum industry workers in April, and for its tire and rubber workers in July 2026.
In an interview with the Amsterdam News, Brown — originally from Kings -
ton, Jamaica, and raised in White Plains, New York — spoke about how the USW has melded its mostly white, male industrial members with union members from the more diverse service and healthcare sectors. She talked about how the USW has been able to broaden its membership across a variety of sectors by getting members to share a platform of economic equality.
AmNews: What do you think you can do for the USW in this period of time, when unions are facing headwinds with the current [Trump] administration?
Roxanne Brown: I would say a few things: next year is a really significant bargaining year for our union. Many of our major industries will be negotiating next year, including oil, aluminum, tires and rubber, paper, and steel.
It’s a big year, and there’s a lot of economic uncertainty. It’s October 29th today,
NYS Senator Julia Salazar speaks at a press conference with the father of Robert Brooks (left). Mr Brooks was an inmate that was murdered at Marcy Correctional Facility.
(Photo courtesy of NYS Senate Media Services)
Roxanne Brown, the upcoming United Steelworkers president, speaking at a past rally in front of union headquarters. (USW photo)
Democrat Mikie Sherrill elected governor of New Jersey, defeating an opponent who aligned with Trump
By MIKE CATALINI, MICHAEL R. SISAK and ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON
Associated Press
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday was elected governor of New Jersey, raising hopes for Democrats and highlighting Republican vulnerabilities after there had been signs of a rightward shift in recent years in what has been a reliably blue state.
Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and four-term member of Congress, defeated Jack Ciattarelli, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, and quickly cast her victory late Tuesday as a referendum on the Republican president and some of his policies — from health care to immigration and the economy.
“We here in New Jersey are bound to fight for a different future for our children,” Sherrill told her supporters gathered to celebrate her victory. “We see how clearly important liberty is. We know that no one in our great state is safe when our neighbors are targeted, ignoring the law and the Constitution.” She was joined on stage by her husband and children.
Sherrill, 53, offers some reassurance for moderates within the Democratic Party as they navigate the path forward for next year’s midterms. A former prosecutor and military veteran, Sherrill and Abigail Span-
berger, the other Democrat who was elected as Virginia governor, embody a brand of centrist Democrats who aim to appeal to some conservatives while still aligning with some progressive causes. Sherrill campaigned on standing up to Trump and casting blame for voters’ concerns over the economy on his tariffs.
Ciattarelli called Sherrill to congratulate her on the results and did not mention Trump in his address.
“It is my hope that Mikie Sherrill has heard us in terms of what we need to do to make New Jersey that place where everybody can once again feel that they can achieve their American dream,” Ciattarelli said.
The start of voting on Tuesday was disrupted after officials in seven counties received e-mailed bomb threats later determined by law enforcement to be unfounded, said the state’s top election official, Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way. A judge granted a onehour extension at some polling places after Democrats made a request for three schools that received the threats earlier Tuesday.
Sherrill marks milestones She will be New Jersey’s second female governor, after Republican Christine Todd Whitman, who served between 1994 and 2001. Her victory also gives Democrats three straight gubernatorial election wins in New Jersey, the first time in six decades
that either major party has achieved a three-peat.
Ciattarelli lost his second straight general election after coming within a few points of defeating incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy four years ago.
New Jersey’s odd-year race for governor, one of just two this year along with Vir-
ginia, often hinged on local issues such as property taxes. But the campaign also served as a potential gauge of national sentiment, especially how voters are reacting to the president’s second term and Democrats’ messaging ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Black Republican Winsome Earle-Sears loses Virginia governor’s race to Democrat Abigail Spanberger
By OLIVIA DIAZ and BILL BARROW Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democrat Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governor’s race Tuesday, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to give Democrats a key victory heading into the 2026 midterm elections and make history as the first woman ever to lead the commonwealth.
Spanberger’s win was the first in a big night for Democrats in Virginia and around the country, casting new doubts about President Donald Trump’s political strength less than a year into his second White House term.
“We sent a message to every corner of the commonwealth, a message to our neighbors and our fellow Americans across the country,” Spanberger told supporters Tuesday night in Richmond. “We sent a message to the whole world that in 2025, Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship. We chose our commonwealth over chaos.”
Also Tuesday, Democrat Ghazala F. Hashmi won the lieutenant governor’s race and will succeed Earle-Sears. Hashmi is the first Muslim woman to win a statewide
office in the U.S. And in a night of firsts, Democratic challenger Jay Jones defeated Republican Jason Miyares to become the state’s first Black attorney general and complete a Democratic sweep of the commonwealth’s statewide posts. Democrats also retained control of the state legislature. Spanberger, a former congresswoman and CIA case officer, won by emphasizing
economic issues, a strategy that may serve as a model for other Democrats in next year’s elections as they try to break Republicans’ hold on power in Washington and gain ground in statehouses.
Campaigning, Spanberger often sidestepped the historic potential of her candidacy. In victory, she embraced it.
“Just a few minutes ago, Adam said to
our daughters, ‘your mom’s going to be the governor of Virginia.’ And I can guarantee those words have never been spoken in Virginia ever before,” she said.
“It’s a big deal,” she added, “that the girls and the young women I have met along the campaign trail now know with certainty that they can achieve anything.”
Spanberger’s eyes welled up as she told her family she loved them. Her husband and three daughters, standing behind her, wiped tears from their cheeks.
Spanberger was intentional in how she criticized Trump
Throughout the campaign, Spanberger made carefully crafted economic arguments against Trump’s policies, while she spent considerable sums on ads tying Earle-Sears to the president. She campaigned across the state, including in Republicanleaning areas, and in her first appearance as governor-elect, she wore a bright red suit.
Yet Spanberger also emphasized her support for abortion rights in the last Southern state that has not enacted new
See SHERRILL on page 27
New Jersey Democratic Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill and Lt. Governor-elect Dale Caldwell celebrate during an election night party in East Brunswick. (Matt Rourke/AP)
Republican Winsome Earle-Sears speaks on stage at an election night watch party after losing the Virginia governor's race. (Eric Lee/AP)
Taking a teenage dream and turning it into jewels: Lu Willard
By TAAYOO MURRAY Special to the AmNews
Lu Willard had aspirations about becoming a model.
Having graduated high school at 15 years old, and with two years of college completed, during the mid-1950s, she moved from New Orleans at 17 to join her mother who worked as a nurse’s aide at Harlem Hospital in New York.
“I came up to stay with her, and I did have a plan, because I picked up Jet magazine or Ebony, but I got the idea that I wanted to be a model,” Willard shared. But the decision to move to New York proved to be the right one.
Willard attended Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) because she was interested in “fashion and pretty things.” It was there that she took her first course in jewelrymaking.
“Tony Paris was teaching jewelrymaking, and I liked it,” said Willard. She became adept in the physicality of jewelry making, like soldering, but her heart has always been in the creative side of the business. Her entry to the jewelry district more than 50 years ago was as an apprenticeship at Solow, while still working with Tony Paris.
During Willard’s 50-plus-year career in the jewelry business, she was literally the jewelry maker to Black stars. “Dick Gregory, the comedian, is one who introduced me to Michael Jackson when Michael
Black
New Yorker
THE URBAN AGENDA
By Frederick Davie
Faith Demands More Than Politics as Usual
Several weeks ago, I attended an interfaith gathering where people discussed priorities for a potential Mamdani administration. I was surprised how quickly the conversation veered to an exclusive focus on how to ensure racial ethnic representation in his government, which racial and ethnic groups would get what positions.
Old grievances surfaced: Some Black leaders were concerned that there had not been sufficient Black positions in the past, the same was expressed about Latino representation. I found the conversation unsettling and misplaced. Amid such widespread suffering, faith communities’ priority should be policies and priorities that uplift the poor and most vulnerable, not parsing government positions’ racial/ ethnic distribution.
and debris on the sidewalks, walked in circles disheveled and smelly while talking to themselves, or yelled at passersby while rocking back and forth uncontrollably. The staggering lack of government care for their needs indicts our city. Any mayoral administration that doesn’t focus intently on the wellbeing of these siblings created in God’s image directly contradicts our diverse faith traditions’ fundamental demands.
Jackson was 17 years old. And so I started working, doing things for Michael,” said Willard. She built an impressive client list. Her standout piece was a $70,000 piano watch for Isaac Hayes.
Willard’s current work however isn’t tinged with celebrity. Her project with New York City Jewelry Connection aims to create a conversation around Black historical events using jewelry. It centers the Black experience anchored in Juneteenth. This has seen Willard designing and producing commemorative Juneteenth pendants for different persons and organizations. A Juneteenth pendant was presented to Al Sharpton, in recent years, and most recently, after the Rucker Park in Harlem was dedicated as a national historical site, Willard designed and produced a pendant to commemorate the occasion.
As Willard looks to her future in the jewelry business, she has also launched a Juneteenth Design competition in Atlanta, which began Oct. 1. It will run through the spring and on April 28, a Grand Prize winner will be announced.
For purchase by regular customers, Willard has also designed and produced a charm bracelet. It has 10 charms that celebrate historical Black persons like the Tuskegee Airmen.
“The idea is to have someone see a charm that triggers a conversation,” shared Willard, “and hopefully, this can help to further the conversation around Black history outside of schools.”
In a city like New York, it is almost a given that any mayoral administration will be racially and ethnically diverse. Not that diligence isn’t required, but given the current city leadership, a diverse administration is the natural result when we elevate the best candidate for each role. Moreover, administrative personnel’s ethnicity and race do not guarantee that they support integrity in government, nor that they will address the poorest and most vulnerable residents’ needs.
In the Adams administration, leaders from communities of need repeatedly prioritized personal gain over policies that would support those communities’ thriving. We have witnessed many of these leaders handcuffed after corruption indictments or resign under clouds of credible allegations.
As faith leaders, our traditions place far greater emphasis on just policy than on the skin color of people who would enact it. All the world’s major religions name an obligation to prioritize the needs of the poor. Buddhism emphasizes “Dana or almsgiving;” Hinduism “seva-service;” Judaism “Tzedakah”—charitable justice; Christianity -- caring for the least of these; Islam “Zakat”— compulsory sharing of wealth. This is where faith leaders should start conversation about what we want from a new administration.
High on the list of vulnerable people in NYC are unhoused folks who live with mental illness. I recently walked from 120th and Broadway to Columbus Circle and saw at least 26 people who appeared to be unhoused, bearing symptoms of mental illness. They lay in heaps of rags
Of equal importance for faith leaders must be our children and youth. Families across the city desperately need access to decent and affordable housing. It is a crime that shelter has become a luxury commodity, that we accept it as a given people will be priced out, forced out, or made to double and triple up to have a roof over their heads. It’s an abomination, especially as children and youth suffer most. Our young people also deserve a decent education, one that should start at age three, which is why universal 3-K and pre-K are so important.
Another priority for the poor and vulnerable is quality schools with quality teachers who are paid fair and decent wages, while being held accountable for results. We also need quality facilities; we cannot acquiesce to school disrepair as yet another horrible reality we come to accept as normal. This must stop. In addition, out of school time for children and youth must be high on faith leaders’ agenda. Quality constructive out of school time not only enhances learning, it keeps children and youth out of the criminal justice system. Any good precinct captain will tell you; constructive engagement of the young is fundamental to preventing crime. These positive options both keep young people out of harm’s way and prevent them from creating harm.
The tatters left after decades of wellintentioned but fundamentally misguided democratic governance stand as a dire warning against following politics as usual. Identity politics simply cannot prevent the exploitation of labor and increase all people’s opportunity to live a decent life.
The old paradigm that divides the spoils of victory to benefit the few of any racial/ ethnic group must give way to championing the needs of the “least, lost, and left behind.” This is our first obligation as faith leaders. Let us not succumb to those well-worn ruts that lead to ruin. A greater burden has been placed upon us: we are commanded by our faith and spiritual traditions to speak truth to power alongside the powerless. Anything less misses the mark of that higher calling.
Jeweller Lu Willard (Courtesy Lu Willard)
Mamdani takes NYC mayoral election shocking establishment, projecting a new path for the Five Boroughs
A new era has dawned in the nation’s largest city but with the hope the progressive Mayor-elect brings, there will be challenges waiting from the start
By AMSTERDAM NEWS STAFF
New Yorkers decided to leave behind a decades-old political legacy and chose a young progressive, self-styled Democratic Socialist to lead them into the 2030s. According to the Associated Press, Democrat Zohran Mamdani defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo by more than nine percentage points out of 2 million ballots cast.
The 34-year-old Uganda-born Queens assemblymember will be the first South Asian and first Muslim to occupy the Mayor’s Office when his term begins Jan. 1.
“New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change,” he said, during his victory celebration in Brooklyn. “The conventional wisdom would tell you that I am far from the perfect candidate. I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this.”
Mamdani’s win comes to the chagrin of both moderate Democrats who would not endorse him and Republicans who bolstered efforts to defeat him, claiming that his tax-the-rich brand of politics would decimate the city, and even made Islamophobic references to his faith.
President Trump has even threatened to withhold federal funding from the city if Mamdani were victorious.
“New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and as of tonight, led by an immigrant,” he said, adding that, “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”
Trump responded only: “So it begins” on his Truth Social website.
But with a young mayor, who did not have the entire city behind him and who still meets skepticism in some circles will have an uphill battle taking over from a prior City Hall that started with promise, but was riddled with scandal in the end.
Beyond the Ballot Box: NYC Residents Predict City Hall’s Trajectory
It’s easy to be curious about what New York City voters are thinking about the future of City Hall as they hit the polls to decide who will be the next Mayor this week.
Regardless of whether they voted for mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, or Republican Curtis Sliwa, Amsterdam News hit the streets in Harlem and Brooklyn to ask voters’ opinions. Here are their responses:
“It’s going to be about the same, no matter who’s in there. Not much has changed. Politics is for the birds,” said Nellie Purefoy, an elderly Fort Greene resident.
“I think it’s going to be an exciting victory for the city. I am particularly moved by young voters, young volunteers, seeing themselves in this candidate,” said Roz Lee, a Harlem resident who voted for Mamdani.
“A new opportunity for the city to reset ourselves and so that it is not simply about partisanship, but that the partnership is really with community members themselves.”
“I think there’s definitely gonna be a lot of discourse now, like in any election, once a policymaker is put in power. There’s a discussion about whether they are going to keep up with what they’re saying,” said Mia, a younger Brooklyn voter.
But others said that the new mayor could face challenges in executing an agenda, much like incoming presidents.
“I know how hard a time they gave Barack Obama to get healthcare. If things don’t go the way he [Mamdani] wants it, it’s not because of him. Remember, it’s other people
behind him. He’s not like Trump, trying to make new rules so that he’s the king. He’s going to try to do it the right way. So I think things will change if people allow him to do what he wants to do. And that’s why we have a democracy,” said Linder Howard, a Harlem resident.
“We have to compromise. I don’t get what I want all the time. So how are you going to get what you want all the time? That’s what’s wrong with the world today.”
Hayes Taylor, a Fort Greene, Brooklyn resident, said that he was not a fan of Mayor Eric Adams or his policies. He thinks every Mayor sets a standard for how the city operates.
“Every candidate sets a tone for the city. Whether he achieves it or not, he sets it. I think if [Mamdani] wins, there’ll be a lot of inspiration. I’ve been very motivated by the ‘No King’s’ protests and things like that,” said Taylor. “So I’m really a person who believes in people power, and for a person who has the right-sounding policies and the charisma that he has, I’m hopeful that some of the changes that he would like to
make will come to fruition.”
– Ariama C. Long Public Safety will take a different approach than in past administrations No, Zohran Mamdani will not actually replace police officers with social workers. But he plans on fixing the existing pilot for mental health calls to a civilian response as B-Heard continues sending cops when the program dictates a non-uniform responder to address an issue that does not place anyone at risk of physical harm.
Despite previous comments surrounding defunding the police, Mamdani maintains his civilian-led blueprint for a Department of Community Safety, which boasts a roughly $1 billion price tag, will not pull from the NYPD budget. Cuomo promises to expand the department by adding 5,000 officers. Both intend on retaining Commissioner Jessica Tisch, if she accepts. While Cuomo boasts a tougher-on-crime approach than Mamdani, he signed many key criminal justice reform bills into law as governor. Bail reform, Raise the Age, and See ELECTION on page 25
Zohran Mamdani speaks after winning the mayoral election, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. Mamdani takes NYC mayoral election shocking establishment, projecting a new path for the Five Boroughs (Yuki Iwamura/AP)
José Tavarez President, Bank of America New York City
Brooklyn Democrats celebrate annual gala as election comes
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
The mayoral election is finished, but the Brooklyn Democratic Party is just getting started backing its candidates and as the city headed into Election Day, its annual gala last week boasted a central theme of party unity.
“The Brooklyn Democratic Party is coming together as a unified coalition to support our Democratic nominees on the ballot,” said Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn at this year’s celebration, held at the Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on Oct. 30.
Speakers for the night included Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, comptroller candidate Mark Levine — both now elected — Congressmember Yvette Clarke, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, who ran unopposed for his position.
“We are here as Democrats because we understand the importance of voting, of getting representation in our communities that reflect who we are as a people,” said Clarke speaking about getting the vote out on Election Day on Nov. 4.
“Across this nation, there are a lot of families that won’t be able to socialize. They won’t even be able to have a decent meal on their table because there are some people in Washington, D.C. who don’t believe that the least amongst us should have healthcare, should have food to eat, should have shelter,” said Clarke. “And so we need to send a big number to those who have forgotten their own humanity. Who don’t remember that they, too, were it not for someone who sacrificed for them, would not be where they are today. Let us show them by showing up to vote in record numbers.”
James took the opportunity to thank the crowd for their support following her indictment, and excitedly spoke about her endorsement of Mamdani for mayor. “It’s an honor and a privilege to serve you as the Attorney General of the State of New York and to let individuals know that I believe in the law, I believe in justice, and I believe that justice will rain down like the waters, and righteousness, like a mighty flow,” said James.
“As we stand here in Brooklyn, I’m reminded of the history of this borough, of standing up to repression, of refusing, in the words of Dylan Thomas, to go gentle into that good night,” said Mamdani. “The Underground Railroad ran through Brooklyn. It was a hotbed of the abolitionist movement, so often led by those who had fled slavery. And it has long welcomed those who have been denied, those who have been made into the downtrodden. It was here in Brooklyn that free Black Americans founded the village of Weeksville. It was here in Brooklyn that millions of Jewish and Irish and Italian and Chinese immigrants found a home. And it is here today that the world sees itself re-
flected in communities that exist differently, but live together.”
In addition to talking about Brooklyn’s history, Mamdani talked about unifying the Democratic party and backing James in her legal fight against alleged mortgage fraud.
The event honored union, business owners, and community leaders from all over the borough, including the Teamsters Local 831 Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association, LiUNA!-NY/NYS Laborers, Civil Service Employees Association, the
Brooklyn Cyclones, Gyro King, Rockwell Health Center, Red Hook Business Alliance, Flume, Earn Your Leisure; and Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Attorneys Martin Connor, Kwok Kei Ng, and Benjamin Pinczewski also received awards.
Brooklyn Party Boss and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn hosts the Brooklyn Dems Gala on Thursday, Oct. 30. (Ariama C. Long photos)
Elected officials celebrate the annual Brooklyn Dem Gala 2025: Power in Unity at the Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on Oct. 30.
Councilmember Narcisse’s bill pushes for amendments to short-term rental rules
By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff
Many of New York City’s small homeowners view the supplemental income they could make renting out their property with third-party booking platforms, like Airbnb, as a “lifeline.” Especially, considering the dual issues of skyrocketing housing and affordability costs.
A coalition of Black electeds and housing advocates, with the backing of Airbnb, are pushing to pass legislation to amend the shortterm rental (STR) laws in the city.
“You know how difficult it is in New York City to own your home?
The tenants, the taxes,” said Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse, who is the bill sponsor for Intro. 948. This bill would increase the number of people allowed to stay in short-term rentals in oneand two-family homes, and allow homeowners to have guests without being physically present at the property. It would also address the ‘unlocked doors provision,’ similar to Councilmember Farah Louis’ bill Intro. 1107.
Narcisse, a former nurse, said she worked three jobs while raising her children as a single mother to afford her mortgage. There are plenty of homeowners in her community in Canarsie that are similarly situated and barely making ends meet, she said.
Mayor Eric Adams fought against a legal challenge from Airbnb to
get Local Law 18 (or the ShortTerm Rental Registration Law) passed in 2022, cracking down on “illegal” rentals that weren’t up to code, increasing rents, inflating home prices in residential neighborhoods, and depleting available housing stock. Narcisse maintained that her bill would not be “turning homes into hotels.”
“It allows families to maintain their homes. That’s all we’re trying to do. This is not a free-forall,” said Narcisse. “Even after this bill passes, New York City will still
have the toughest short-term rent laws in this country. Every safety zoning registration rule remains fully in place. This bill simply restores fairness for responsible homeowners. It doesn’t pack homes with renters who open the door for developers, it’s just giving the people a chance.”
Narcisse was joined by Councilmembers Kevin Riley and Selvena Brooks-Powers, New York State National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Executive Director Chris
Alexander, and housing advocates for a press conference at Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem on Friday, October 31.
“The homeowners I see every day in my district in the Northeast Bronx are hard-working families who build something meaningful. They pay their mortgages, invest in their communities, and create a foundation of stability for their children,” said Riley. “They are not alone. Families across New York City, from Brooklyn to right here in Harlem, face the same challenges.
For too long, the city’s rules have made it harder, not easier, for these families to keep what they work so hard to earn. Intro 948A, it’s about giving those families a fair shot, protecting Black and Brown home ownership, and making sure the families who built these neighborhoods can stay here and thrive.” Brooks-Powers added that the current STR laws unfairly punish homeowners, and it’s entirely possible to protect tenants and small landlords at the same time. “Since the foreclosure crisis, Black homeowners have relied on supplemental income to stay afloat and build generational wealth. For many, short-term hosting provides an additional support needed to cover mortgages, utilities, and property taxes,” said Brooks-Powers. “As we know, the city has lost nearly 200,000 Black residents since 2000, a reduction of about 9%.”
NAACP New York State Conference Executive Director Chris Alexander concurred that Black and Brown homeowners are already disproportionately impacted by racial barriers, predatory lending, and foreclosure. “It’s a problem that compounds wealth and intergenerational equity for Black homes, and it cannot be ignored,” said Alexander. “The economic harm of a devalued home is not abstract. It’s real money lost for Black neighborhoods that [need] mobility, investment, and family stability. We’re proud to support this legislation.”
Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse (center) was joined by Harlem homeowners, the New York State NAACP Chris Alexander (center right), and housing advocates in Harlem on Oct. 31. (Ariama C. Long photos)
Councilmember Kevin C. Riley spoke at the short-term rental press conference at Mount Neboh Baptist Church.
Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse at a press conference at Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem on Friday, October 31.
Union Matters
NYC security officers, unions call for standardized pay, benefits
By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff
Security officers and members of 32BJ SEIU, which represents more than 20,000 security workers in New York City, gathered at City Hall last week to testify in support of the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act.
The legislation, introduced by City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Member Crystal Hudson in September, would set new security guard standards across the city.
Named in memory of Aland Etienne, one of four victims killed during the July mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue — the office building housing the NFL’s New York offices and major financial firms — the bill would increase protections for those working in the security industry. If passed, the law would require security guard employers to meet minimum pay levels, offer paid sick leave and vacation, provide comprehensive benefits, and mandate employee safety training.
Low pay and the lack of benefits make security guard work unsustainable, Clarissa Baynes, who works security at 1776 Broadway, said at the hearing. Most security officers have it rough because they have to work paycheck to paycheck. “I
struggle to keep up with rent, and without good health insurance, I’ve had to pay for health care out of pocket,” she said. “As I get older, I’m terrified of getting sick and ending up with thousands of dollars of medical debt. Aland’s Act would change my life.”
A recent report from the UC Berkeley Labor Center looked at the economic challenges faced by many security officers in NYC. It found that 77.3% of these officers are men, 90.6% are people of color, with Black workers constituting over half of the workforce. Almost 45% are foreign-born, and only about half have education beyond high school.
Median income for these guards stands at just over $40,000 — less than 40% of the city’s median income — with many living below the poverty line and lacking employer-sponsored health insurance.
The proposed legislation would task the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection with setting standardized wages, benefits, and paid time off, phased in over the next four years.
“If someone comes into our store with the intent of breaking the law or becoming violent, I’m the first line of defense,” notes Ibrahim Séne, who has worked as a security officer at several retail stores. He explained at the hearing that his job is more
than just preventing theft; he also safeguards employees and customers. “Every time I clock in at my job, I feel like I might be taking a risk in order to provide for my family. I am from Senegal, and I am fighting to achieve the American Dream. It gets difficult to do that with the cost of living always increasing. I work hard to contribute to this great city, and Aland’s Act would give me the support to continue building my life here.”
Matilda Radinson, a 32BJ SEIU member and security officer at the Oculus One World Trade Center, spoke about how having affordable healthcare saved her life: “I went through spinal surgery and cancer, and all of my treatments were covered. I never had to choose between paying rent and getting the life-saving treatment and care I needed. That’s why I’m fighting for the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act: to ensure all security officers, the people like me who are risking their lives to protect New Yorkers, have health care coverage and a living wage.”
Manny Pastreich, president of 32BJ SEIU, said: “Security officers are on the frontlines of every imaginable emergency... While risking their lives, thousands of security officers are earning poverty wages with no access to health care or time off. The Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act
is an investment in our frontline workers and in the safety of our city.”
Security guard training — the main pillar of the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act — is desperately needed, according to Travina Garrel, an adjunct professor of criminal and social justice at Monroe University. Garrel also works as a training instructor at the 32BJ Thomas Shortman Training Center and is a retired NYPD sergeant who oversaw the detective squad.
“As a former law enforcement officer, I can testify firsthand to the essential role that security officers play in New York City’s public safety. Despite their key role... security officers lack the training, pay, and benefits commensurate with their importance,” Garrel told the hearing, noting that building owners expect officers to not only secure properties but also mediate disputes and de-escalate dangerous situations. She emphasized that this is why the city should supplement existing state training with standards designed for NYC’s unique challenges. She also drew a direct link between poverty wages and public safety: “I have literally taught officers who work all day patrolling a homeless shelter and then go to sleep at a homeless shelter. Low pay contributes to high turnover, and when turnover is high, the benefits of training are lost.”
32BJ President Manny Pastriech, Aland Etienne’s partner Rachelle Paoli, Security Officer Ibrahim Séne, and Security Officer Clarissa Baynes testified at a City Hall hearing to support the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act. (32BJ SEIU photo)
Collaboration aims to bridge NYC’s youth digital divide
By DAVID SOLOMON JONES
Too many young people across New York City do not have adequate connectivity. Some lack access to technology, and others have difficulty harnessing technology’s potential. Either way, the digital divide persists in all five boroughs.
Not every young New Yorker dreams of a STEAM-related future, but every education or career path involves technology in some capacity. It is critical for young people to have viable, safe options to engage with technology in a productive way that aligns with their lifestyle, education, and career aspirations.
Ikhodi, Inc. and its NYC Computer Lab Initiative are addressing these issues and helping bridge the digital divide. Our ongoing mission is to open a computer lab in every underprivileged and underserved community in New York City, hitting thirteen to date. Along the way, we have realized one key fact: closing the digital divide is not up to one person or one organization; it must be a collaborative, community-wide effort.
With that in mind, we have made it a priority to seek quality community and corporate partners that share our vision of computer literacy and safe spaces. A prime example of that approach has been our collaboration with AT&T over the past year.
AT&T is also on a mission to provide internet access and high-quality educational tools to families and kids who encounter barriers to internet connectivity and digital resources. AT&T’s team in New York has
made it a priority to bring this effort home to the Empire State through their Connected Learning Center program.
tions within their community.
The CLC program aligned perfectly with our efforts at the NYC Computer Lab Initia-
It is critical for young people to have viable, safe options to engage with technology in a productive way that aligns with their lifestyle, education, and career aspirations.
Connected Learning Centers (CLC) are brick-and-mortar tech labs offering free access to digital resources, including internet, computers, printers, and other tools. AT&T opens these centers alongside local nonprofit organizations that are already adept at supporting underserved popula-
tive. In less than a year, we have collaborated to open two AT&T CLCs in New York City.
In November 2024, we opened the first AT&T Connected Learning Center in the Bronx. Several other partners joined the effort, including the City’s Department of Community Youth & Development, to
launch this CLC at Edenwald Houses.
And just this past August, AT&T and the New York City Computer Lab Initiative opened a new CLC inside the Stapleton Houses in Staten Island. This was a big deal because AT&T has now opened a Connected Learning Center in every borough of New York City (with two in the Bronx).
In total, AT&T has opened 12 CLCs in the state of New York in the past eighteen months, and they’ve done this by teaming up with numerous nonprofit organizations like the NYC Computer Lab Initiative, YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and others.
AT&T is working towards opening at least 100 of these CLCs across the nation by the end of 2027. It is a piece of a larger effort, with the company committing $5 billion to help 25 million people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030.
The collaborative approach is getting more New Yorkers connected. But there is still more work to be done. Nationwide, tens of millions of people still don’t have access to digital resources or connected technology.
We are bridging the digital divide piece by piece here in New York City, by pulling together resources from the public, private, and nonprofit worlds. We encourage others, companies, and individuals alike to work with and support organizations focused on closing the digital divide. Together, we can get our kids connected.
David Solomon Jones is the founder and executive director of the NYC Computer Lab Initiative.
Helen S. Brodie Baldwin lived a life that gave us so much
By HERB BOYD
At the funeral service for Helen S. Brodie Baldwin, who passed away Sept. 30, her friends and associates learned there was much more to her life than being married to the brother of the famed author James Baldwin.
Countless speakers at her homegoing on Nov. 1 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Harlem, fondly recalled her leadership at Minisink Townhouse and Camp, Queensborough Community College, and at the City-Wide Coordinating Committee in Manhattan. I had no idea she had such a diverse relationship with so many community organizations. When I sought Helen out to lecture to my students at City College, it was mainly for her to elaborate on her connection to Baldwin. She was so self-effacing and never delved into her brilliance in leadership. Many also spoke of “her creative spirit, as a writer, producer, director, who brought stories to life,” according to the funeral program.
Even during her intimate details about her famous relative, she never mentioned her own publication, “Uptown: The Voice of Central Harlem.” Outside of the classroom, where she was my guest speaker on two occasions, I was with her and her son, Trevor, and Mayor Bill de Blasio after a street was named in honor of her brother-in-law.
The last time I saw Helen was when I was accompanying my wife to Mount Sinai’s geriatric hospital, but we only greeted each other in passing. If we had met a little earlier, it might have given me the opportunity to learn about some of her achievements, as highlighted at the funeral, in advance.
One of the most moving tributes to her was delivered by former Assemblymember Keith Wright, who many years ago, during Helen’s tenure as Minisink’s leader, was presented with the Meliorism Award. In his remarks, he touched on her visionary importance to the community and her role in a church where
her parents were founding members.
Another memorable moment came when a contingent of Delta Sigma Theta members assembled across the front of the church and recited a litany of praise in her honor. A few days before the funeral, Trevor sent me several photos and a copy of her resume, which was festooned with her academic accomplishments from Columbia University’s Teachers College, including a certificate from the University of Ghana, Legon. I was so consumed by Helen’s presence and her task of discussing James Baldwin that I was unaware of her own magnificence. Trevor, I hope this serves as my apology for my oversight in not giving her the recognition she deserved. Her homegoing ceremony will certainly help her memory resonate with future generations, particularly at the church where a plaque commemorates her father, Adolphus Brodie.
Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher and Editor in Chief Madison Gray: Executive & Investigative Editor
A Hobson’s choice between gerrymandering and redistricting
Choosing a consequential political issue today, especially in the heat of the election season, is very challenging. We might say all of the above when it comes to a survey of candidates supported by Donald Trump.
There are several critical mayoral and gubernatorial contests we experienced this week with broad national implications, most notably the one here between Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa in New York City, and the race for governor between Democrat Mikie Sherrill who won against her Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey.
But let’s put those on hold and deal with something that ramifies on current and future elections: gerrymandering. Some years ago, a colleague of mine, Dr. Wayne Dawkins of Morgan State University, simplified the complexity of the
term by describing it as “politicians picking their voters instead of voters picking their politicians.”
The concept dates back to the 19th century, when a Massachusetts governor created a partisan voting district in Boston. Its shape was said to resemble a mythological salamander, inspiring part of the term’s name. In effect, as it evolved over the years, particularly during the civil rights era, it meant the drawing of districts with an aim of discriminating against African Americans, diluting their ability to elect a candidate of their choice.
Gerrymandering is often confused with redistricting, which is a legal and neutral process that occurs every ten years. A critical difference between the two concepts is intent, which is at the center of the case in Louisiana that may be heard by the Supreme Court in a few weeks or sooner. If the court eviscerates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act
of 1965, in the same way it overturned Section 5 in 2013, a provision banning racial discrimination in voting would make it easier for the GOP to redraw several voting districts — potentially adding several additional congressional seats to its count.
At the crux of this endeavor is the midterm election of 2026 and the Trump-led initiative to help the GOP maintain its slim majority lead in the House of Representatives. At stake in this political drama is the possibility that mapmakers could redraw districts in Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Tennessee, potentially eliminating all their Democratic representatives. This is a scary scenario and far more consequential for national politics than any of the current election outcomes. But as we always say, comparisons are odious, and on the horizon for Black Americans is lack of options at all — or a Hobson’s choice of nightmares.
Strong, but at what cost? What Gucci Mane’s wife teaches us about caregiving and the strong Black woman trap
By GINA SISSOKO, PHD
Rapper Gucci Mane and his wife Keyshia Ka’oir sat down last week in the New York studios of the syndicated radio show The Breakfast Club to talk candidly about how they have navigated serious mental illness in their marriage. Gucci discussed his new memoir, “Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man,” which details his experiences living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. His openness and vulnerability were widely praised — but much of the public’s attention also turned to Keyshia, who described the daily, often invisible labor of supporting him: monitoring warning signs like changes in sleep or texting patterns, removing social media apps, and helping to ensure he received psychiatric care. Across social media, she was celebrated as a model spouse caring for a celebrity partner living with serious mental illness.
Although I was proud to see mental health discussed so openly, as a licensed clinical psychologist who focuses on the mental health of Black women and girls, I could not help but notice a few warning signs that others might have missed. Where the public may see a story of marital success, I see a Black woman carrying invisible and relentless responsibilities that are too often mistaken for strength. I want to affirm that multiple truths can exist at once. Gucci deserves a partner who supports him, and he appears to have found a loving, resilient one who understands mental illness and takes an active role in his healing. At the same time, Black women often shoulder an incredible amount of invisible caregiving labor, which carries serious
consequences for their own health. During the interview, Keyshia repeatedly stated that she is “strong” and that she does not need mental health support because “she is the therapist.” I do not know Keyshia personally, and it is entirely possible that she feels well supported, draws on non-traditional forms of care, or simply does not feel the need for professional help. However, I also want to raise this point: The Strong Black Woman narrative — the belief that Black women can handle everything and do not need support — creates dangerous silences.
Asking for help is not a weakness, but is a form of strength. This is especially true because caregivers represent one of the most overlooked groups in our national mental health conversation.
One in five, or roughly 57 million Americans, provide unpaid caregiving services to adults. Nearly two-thirds of caregivers report experiencing moderate or high emotional stress as a result of their responsibilities. Among those caring for loved ones with serious mental illness, about 32% report experiencing clinically significant burden and mental distress themselves, which is associated with depression, anxiety, and sleeping problems. So, when Keyshia reports monitoring Gucci’s sleep, his food intake, and his social media consumption, she is engaging in daily care work with measurable health risks for herself, too.
In the interview, Keyshia embraces the role of the caregiver through the lens of a strong Black woman, a cultural script that tells us that Black women must carry burdens, be unbreakable, and never complain. From psychological science, however, we know that while the Strong Black Woman script can offer short-term
psychological resilience, it has also been linked to reduced instances of seeking help, higher emotional burden, and poorer health outcomes. We can honor resilience, but we should not romanticize its risks. Seeking care as a caregiver is never a failure.
To be clear, I am not diagnosing Keyshia, nor do I presume that she needs therapy. My point is that caregivers often neglect their own mental health, and that Black women are especially vulnerable to self-neglect because of societal expectations, inequitable health systems, and internalized cultural scripts such as the Strong Black Woman ideal. In a society that relies on individuals rather than systems to carry the weight of care, we must remember that the ability to sustain others depends on our willingness to sustain ourselves.
Gucci and Keyshia’s public conversation about mental health is both important and needed. Beyond shining a light on mental illness, it normalizes support and accountability, and reminds us that it is possible to be loved and to live a full life with serious mental illness. At the same time, it offers an important reminder to Black women who perform invisible, daily caregiving work: taking care of yourself is also taking care of others. Asking for and accepting help is not a sign of weakness but of courage. As every flight attendant and pilot will tell you, put your oxygen mask on first. The same rule applies to mental health.
Dr. Gina Sissoko, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and researcher focused on Black women and girls’ mental health. She is a Public Voices Fellow of The OpEd Project in partnership with Yale University.
Let’s Go Knicks
CHRISTINA GREER, PH.D.
Ok. It’s another year and another season, and I am yet again filled with great hope for our beloved New York Knicks. Dare I say, this is our year. I might be a little premature in my excitement, but being a true New York sports fan is all about the prospect of good things to come in the future. Hope, joy, community, and resilience are what I think of as the key elements of being a Knicks fan and part of the larger New York sports community, in my view.
I am filled with a sense of possibility seeing the newly hired Coach Mike Brown these past few games. Seeing him rotate almost the entire bench had me in absolute shock, something we never saw with the previous coaching staff. Coach Thibs practically ran his players into the ground, and his strategy was not sustainable for long-term success. I am optimistic to see bench players step into key roles and showcase why they are worthy of being in the blue and orange.
For me, Knicks basketball is so much more than just the sport and the magical time in the Garden. It really is a time to experience collective joy (and disappointment) and fellowship with a broad array of New Yorkers. This city of almost nine million people can feel lonely and overwhelming for many. The city can also feel like it pushes people into a sea of faces and a level of anonymity that can be isolating for others. New York sports pull people out of the margins and give them a
reason to feel camaraderie and community with friends and strangers alike. I recently went to a game and found myself high-fiving strangers next to me, genuinely wishing them well when we parted, and feeling like I lived in a small town for just a few hours. In reality, New York is nothing but hundreds of small towns and communities where people identify strangers by sports logos, and those strangers become anything from fleeting moments of positive energy passing by, and often, lifelong friends. If sports are not your thing, I think it is important to find another way to build community in such a large and busy city. As some of you may know, I quite enjoy birding as another activity to help me appreciate the beauty of New York through nature. Life is very stressful for so many. There are so many stories of cruelty and lawlessness and breaking of norms happening right now, it is so important to find whatever joy you can. So, whether it’s the Knicks or sports or nature or whatever it may be, find it and savor it and enjoy it and spread the love.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.
Caribbean Update
Trinidad expelling Venezuelan migrants as relations tank over support for U.S. action
By BERT WILKINSON, Special to the AmNews
Once the Trump administration had made its position clear on removing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and even possibly going after its abundant oil and gas resources, Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar made no secret of her republic’s support for any military U.S. action against the neighboring South American nation.
Saying the time had come to move against alleged international drug cartels using her nation as a base to funnel narcotics north to the U.S., the cabinet even offered Trinidad as a launch pad for military operations against Venezuela, especially if Venezuela ever attacks fellow Caribbean Community nation, Guyana, with which it has a longstanding border demarcation row.
“Kill them all violently,” the PM said publicly, irking Venezuelan authorities, leading to a diplomatic tit for tat that has resulted in Venezuela making open threats of violence against Trinidad if the U.S. attacks militarily.
Foreign Minister Yván Gil has even said that “the one whose prime minister threatens
us and has assumed a position of constant war against Venezuela, even against its own people, would suffer the most tragic consequences of any intervention.”
As the tit for tat continues between two neighbors that had traditionally shared extremely close ties, Trinidad is now preparing to round up and deport Venezuelans living there illegally and those in state prison systems as convicts or on remand awaiting court hearings.
“All illegal immigrants detained are to remain at the immigration detention center until their repatriation. No further orders of supervision shall be issued,” stated the homeland security ministry. An estimated 50,000 Venezuelans are believed to be living in the country.
Authorities have also cut the number of work permits to be issued to Venezuelan migrants, triggering a wave of resignations from work sites as most said they would rather head to neighboring Guyana, Brazil, and other places rather than be detained like common criminals. Many are selling off possessions and giving up rented apartments to avoid being rounded up and detained.
As well, many said they do have work per-
New immigration rules
FELICIA PERSAUD
IMMIGRATION KORNER
If you thought U.S. immigration couldn’t get any more complicated, think again. The Trump administration has quietly rolled out a wave of regulatory changes that will impact everyone from immigrants seeking work authorization to employers hiring foreign professionals, and even green card hopefuls preparing for citizenship.
Here are the most significant updates you need to know:
1. No More Automatic Work Permit Extensions
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced an interim final rule ending the long-standing practice of automatically extending Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain noncitizens while their renewal applications are pending. Starting October 30, 2025, immigrants filing to renew their work permits will no longer receive automatic extensions, except in narrow cases such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations or extensions explicitly provided by law.
According to DHS, the change is about “prioritizing proper screening and vetting.” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow said, “Working in the United States is a privilege, not a
mits, pay taxes, and possess legitimate jobs. Yet the atmosphere in the country for them is being poisoned to such an extent that many think the time has come to leave.
Statistics published by the Guardian newspaper this week show that the ministry has reduced the tally of permits issued from 4,275 to less than 800 this year, reflecting a whopping 82 percent cut.
Apart from local support for the U.S. as it builds its armada of warships in Caribbean waters, Venezuela is particularly angry with Trinidad and its sister federation island of Tobago for allowing a U.S. guided missile destroyer to dock in Port of Spain a week ago for alleged joint exercises with local troops.
PM Persad-Bissessar’s basic argument is that some of the high-powered weapons used to commit an average of 600 murders annually have recently come from across the seven-mile Gulf of Paria separating the two. She also complains about drugs and human trafficking and their consequences for her federation, contending that any reduction in illicit activity would be good for her nation of 1.3 million.
As an indication of how badly relations be-
tween the two have tanked, thousands of Trinidadians flocked to supermarkets and stores over the weekend, others fled the city, and parents picked up children prematurely from school after the local military was placed on full alert on Friday. The police service did likewise but quickly abandoned the exercise, suggesting there was no real threat of military action in the region or against the republic.
The prime minister, the supermarket association, and ministers were forced to issue statements to calm the nerves of those in a state of panic, assuring the nation that nothing negative was afoot.
“Be calm. There is nothing to fear. We have been receiving intelligence reports and thus far, I have none that there is an imminent strike anywhere in the region. If and when that happens, I will share it with you as soon as it comes to me,” she told reporters. It is unclear what would actually occur if and when there is military action against Venezuela but local analysts have urged the PM to shut up and use diplomacy rather than threats against Venezuela as it makes little sense to place the federation in the middle of a conflict that does not directly affect the nation.
make it harder to work, harder to pay, and harder to stay
right.” He added that ending automatic extensions will allow officers to vet applicants more frequently and detect “aliens with potentially harmful intent.”
Critics, however, note that this could lead to massive work disruptions, as thousands of immigrants may lose employment authorization while waiting for renewals to process. USCIS recommends filing renewal applications up to 180 days before expiration, but given the agency’s long backlogs, many immigrants may still face job losses and uncertainty.
2. USCIS Moves To Mandatory Electronic Payments
In another major shift, USCIS will now require electronic payment for all paper-filed immigration forms starting October 28, 2025. Applicants can pay by credit or debit card (Form G-1450) or directly from a U.S. bank account using Form G-1650. The change eliminates paper checks and money orders, part of what DHS calls the government’s “modernization” of financial transactions under Executive Order 14247.
USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser framed it as a modernization effort: “Over 90 percent of our payments come from checks and money orders, causing processing delays and increasing the risk of fraud and lost payments. This is a no-brainer move.”
While this may streamline processing and improve security, it could also pose a burden for applicants without access to bank accounts or credit cards, including asylum seekers, low-income families, and elderly immigrants.
3. $100,000 Fee for Certain H-1B Workers
Donald Trump’s September 19, 2025, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” proclamation has added yet another barrier for foreign professionals.
The new policy, effective September 21, 2025, imposes a $100,000 payment on employers filing new H-1B petitions for foreign workers outside the United States or seeking initial entry under H-1B status.
The fee does not apply to:
• Petitions filed before September 21, 2025;
• Workers already in the U.S. applying for amendments or extensions; or
• Existing valid H-1B visas.
Employers must pay through pay.gov and include proof of payment with their petition or face automatic denial. Limited exceptions may be granted if no U.S. workers are available, if the foreign worker poses no security risk, or if the payment would harm “U.S. national interests.”
The $100,000 price tag makes the H-1B ––once a key pipeline for global talent –– a visa only the largest corporations can afford.
4. The New U.S.
Citizenship Test Takes Effect
Finally, USCIS has begun administering the new 2025 Naturalization Civics Test for applicants filing Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025.
Key changes include:
• Returning to the 128-question bank
used in 2020.
• Applicants will be asked up to 20 questions, needing 12 correct to pass.
• USCIS officers will stop once an applicant passes or fails.
• Seniors (65+ with 20 years as permanent residents) take a simpler 10-question version drawn from a 20-question pool.
Applications filed before October 20 will continue using the older 2008 test. The new format is intended to improve standardization, though immigrant advocates warn it could add confusion and pressure for older or less fluent applicants.
The Bottom Line
From tougher vetting and electroniconly payments to a six-figure visa fee, the Trump administration’s latest changes underscore a familiar message: immigration is a privilege for the few, not a process for the many.
These policy shifts may speed up digital systems and bolster security, but they also risk sidelining thousands of ordinary immigrants –– workers, students, and families ––who continue to navigate an increasingly complex system just to live, work, and contribute legally in America.
Felicia J. Persaud is the founder and publisher of the NewsAmericasNow.com, only daily newswire and digital platform dedicated exclusively to Caribbean Diaspora and Black immigrant news across the Americas.
International News Jamaica rushes to prepare for peak tourism season as it digs out from Hurricane Melissa
By JOHN MYERS, Jr.
Associated Press
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaica’s peak tourism season is one month away, and officials in the hurricane-ravaged nation are rushing to rebuild from the catastrophic Category 5 storm that shredded the island’s western region.
Before Hurricane Melissa hit on Oct. 28, the government expected Jamaica’s tourism industry to grow by 7% this winter season and was preparing to welcome an estimated 4.3 million visitors.
Now, officials are scrambling to repair hotels and clear debris in the western half of the island in hopes of securing tourist dollars at a moment when they’re needed the most.
“We are still doing our assessments, but most of the damage was in the northwest and southwest,” said Christopher Jarrett,
who leads the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association.
He noted that the popular Negril area in Westmoreland was spared major damage.
All international airports in Jamaica have reopened and are receiving commercial flights. But almost a week after one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record struck the western end of Jamaica, tourism officials were still trying to get a true picture of the damage to the sector — a mainstay of the island’s economy.
Jarrett said the lobby group that represents private hotels and attractions on the island is still unable to reach many of its members, especially in the western parish of Hanover, as communication and electricity services were down.
“Every individual member who was affected is doing everything to get back up and running,” he said.
In recent days, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said he expected Jamaica’s tourism sector to be back to normal by Dec. 15, the start of the island’s peak tourism season.
“It’s doable for some and not for others,” Jarrett said of the timeline, pointing out that the larger hotel chains would be able to recover quicker.
Jarrett, who operates the family-owned Altamont Court Hotel that has properties in Kingston and Montego Bay, said only one property in Montego Bay sustained roof damage and that repairs were underway.
Despite the disruption to the important tourism sector, Jarrett said he doesn’t expect the economic fallout to be significant.
He said many hotels in the capital of Kingston and in the northern coastal town of Ocho Rios were gaining business from the influx
of aid workers and volunteers in the hurricane’s aftermath.
“Right now, we’re giving discounts, between 25% and 50%, and some (hotels) are giving complimentary stays as well,” Jarrett said.
Tourism is Jamaica’s main source of foreign exchange earnings, contributing a combined 30% to gross domestic product directly and indirectly. It employs an estimated 175,000 people and is a major economic driver for other sectors in the Jamaican economy, such as construction, banking and finance, utilities, and agriculture.
The disruption to the tourism sector is also affecting many providers of goods and services.
“With some of the hotels closed and most of the tourists gone, many of us are left without work.
This storm didn’t just destroy buildings; it shattered jobs and in-
comes for many of us and our families,” said Patricia Mighten, who works in the western parish of Hanover as a hotel housekeeper.
Desrine Smith, a craft vendor who plies her trade in the resort town of Falmouth in the northwestern parish of Trelawny, echoed those sentiments.
“Going days without tourists coming to buy anything means no sales and no money. We survive on daily earnings, and now everything is uncertain,” she said. “The hurricane has impacted our pockets hard.”
The government announced Monday that the death toll increased to 32 and is expected to keep rising.
Crews are still trying to access 25 isolated areas in western Jamaica as helicopters continue to drop food for them. Nearly half of all power customers remain without electricity.
Locals gather next to a resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. (Matias Delacroix/AP photo)
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Twelve-time GRAMMY®-winning gospel artist CeCe Winans lights up the holidays with joyful music.
An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies – Part II Sun, Nov 30 @ 3PM
Neil deGrasse Tyson breaks down the science in Harry Potter, The Wizard of Oz, 2001: A Space Odyssey and more.
Christmas Show Sun, Dec 21 @ 3PM
The GRAMMY®-winning gospel legends Blind Boys of Alabama perform Christmas classics in this uplifting holiday show. of alabama blind boys
Arts & Entertainment
Bronx native Edwin B. Maxwell named chief librarian of Brooklyn Public Library
By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews
Recently named Chief Librarian of the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), Edwin B. Maxwell oversees the sixth-largest public library system in the United States. He described his role as overseeing public service in all Brooklyn libraries (62 branches).
“There are certain baseline services that we should provide to all people of Brooklyn, to make sure they have access to collections, information, technology, and that there’s programming for every age group,” said Maxwell. “Each branch, each neighborhood in Brooklyn, and what makes Brooklyn special is [that] they all have their own culture. … We have to figure out how to acknowledge and service each one of those communities, each one of those cultures, that really define what Brooklyn is. That’s the exciting part of the role for me.”
Maxwell said knowledge is essential to the lifeblood of communities, and knowledge is in books as well as a myriad of other containers. Libraries have always provided space to gain information. They also provide connection through programming and shared spaces, including the ability to have discourse even though people may disagree on issues.
“There are not many places left in society where you can come and it is open to everyone,” Maxwell said. “The other big piece is it’s free.”
He loves walking into a branch and seeing people connect. A New York City native, Maxwell was born and raised in the Bronx, but throughout his adult life, much of his time has been spent in Brooklyn. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Cheyney University (becoming a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi® fraternity), the nation’s oldest HBCU institution, he returned to NYC and discovered his calling. He earned a master’s degree in library science at Queens College and began his career as a youth services librarian, creating programs like the Growing Dollars and Sense Teen Virtual Investment Club, which connected young people with financial professionals to learn about financial literacy and investing.
Another position was serving as the manager of New Lots Library. During that time, the branch was awarded the Revson Award for outstanding community service. Prior to his position as Chief Librarian, he managed major BPL renovations, expanded Satellite Services, and launched the Teen Tech Center network. He also positioned BPL to increase its role in environmental and civic engagement.
His library journey was not traditional. Maxwell said that, as a youngster, he saw libraries as a quiet space to which he didn’t fully connect.
“I didn’t really understand the full breadth of libraries until I started working part-time and volunteering in the youth wing,” said Maxwell. “Coming from Kingsbridge in the Bronx, an underserved population, I didn’t put priority on libraries growing up. It was not until I was 20 or 21 years old, when I started working here, that I could see all the things. It was so shocking to me. I wanted to take that back to my neighborhood. I wanted everyone to know the amount of resources that were available in the library.
“It’s not that quiet place that it used to be; it is full of programs and people,” he added, noting that after seeing libraries as bus-
tling community centers, they became his career focus. It is his mission to promote what is actually available through the BPL. There is a tremendous amount of programming — from events to films to exhibitions to panel discussions and more.
For young people, especially those trying to find themselves, libraries provide opportunities, belonging, exposure to culture, and life skills. Maxwell said there will be continued investment in youth programming. As libraries are renovated, there is a keen eye toward making space for youth.
“We want to do that for every age group, but…that’s one of the most vulnerable age ranges that we encounter,” said Maxwell. “To give young people a space where they can explore and connect with other members of their community and people that
they might not meet every day.”
Maxwell has compiled a Chief Librarian’s Library List that contains not only books — including “The Alchemist,” “Between the World and Me” and “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” but also events, like community cooking and cultural events, and an amazing vinyl collection, including such gems as “Summer of Soul” and “The Low End Theory.”
“The List is varied by disciplines and authors and audiences, but it’s very me,” Maxwell said. “These are things that have resonated with me over the years. Pointing back to the breadth of things that we do in the library.”
Visit bklynlibrary.org and bklynlibrary. org/bpl-presents for more info.
Edwin B. Maxwell is Chief Librarian of the Brooklyn Public Library (Gregg Richards photo)
Karen Gone Wild: Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Neighbor’
By MARK WINSTON GRIFFITH Special to the AmNews
By one measure, “The Perfect Neighbor,” a documentary directed and produced by Geeta Gandbhir, tells a simple story. It recounts the events that led to the June 2023 fatal shooting of Ajike “AJ” Owens, a 35-year-old Black mother of four, at the hands of Susan Lorincz, a 58-year-old white woman in Ocala, Florida. After opening with that fateful, lethal moment, “The Perfect Neighbor” returns to tell the story in chronological order, with sparse commentary and no filmmaker narration.
In fact, with perhaps one notable exception, the film gives us no real surprises. In the first half of the film, each scene looks like
the last: Susan calls the police and complains that the (mostly Black) kids on the block are trespassing on her property and acting like “animals.” The police attempt to mediate, quickly surmise that Susan is an ornery crank, and then leave after determining there is nothing they can do. Rinse and repeat. To the extent there is any humor to be found in this tragic tale, the kids on the block who are the objects of Susan’s ire don’t even bother to call her “Susan” anymore and just reflexively refer to her as “The Karen.”
The second half of the film features the grief that is left in the wake of AJ’s killing and the efforts to hold Susan to account. Rather conveniently, Susan is her own worst enemy and makes for
an easy villain. Even in her most pitiful moments, sitting alone and condemned in an interrogation room, she never rises above being an ignorant racist who has taken her profound intolerance, unneighborliness, and white privilege to an extreme end.
The conceit of “The Perfect Neighbor” is that it employs a near-total reliance on strung-together found footage from surveillance technology — police bodycams, ring cameras, CCTV, and police interrogation room recordings — which makes the viewing experience crude, but simultaneously inventive and compelling. What could have easily been a reality show a la “Cops” that casually exploits the lives of Americans in distress, eventually
becomes a stress test of American race relations and 21st-century gun culture.
If there is any unpredictability to be found in the story, it’s that, at first, this seems to be yet another demoralizing tale of a racist homicide that the American criminal justice system cynically dresses up and justifies as “self-defense.”
But the story eventually pivots into a quieter observation of Florida’s use of its Stand Your Ground law, which states that a person is not required to retreat and is legally justified to use deadly force if they reasonably fear death or bodily harm. Florida’s 2005 statute went on to inspire similar laws in other states across the country, and in 2012, it was notoriously used by George Zimmerman in
his defense of the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Of course, Trayvon’s killing went on to prompt the modern Black Lives Matter movement.
Perhaps even more than the protests that pushed the police to prosecute her, what ultimately does Susan in is that she is an equal opportunity offender. Even the southern white officers in the sheriff’s department who haul her in don’t like her or appreciate her incessant and frivolous 911 calls. If “The Perfect Neighbor,” in the years since the egregiously immoral acquittal of Zimmerman, gives us hope that the arc of the universe bends towards justice, it also reminds us just how fickle, arbitrary, and unreliable the promise of that justice continues to be.
An image of the late Ajike Owens surrounded by mourners. (Netflix photo)
Dance Calendar November 2025
By CHARMAINE PATRICIA WARREN Special to the AmNews
This month’s calendar is packed and provocative. Nov. 14-15 at The Billie Holiday Theatre, Bed-Stuy’s own Ronald K. Brown will be celebrating the 40th anniversary at home — among his community — with a weekend of events including performances, conversation, and community movement workshops. The celebration is designed around Brown’s journey, from his first childhood dance classes on the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation campus to international acclaim. Says Brown, the founder and artistic director of EVIDENCE, A Dance Company, “Restoration has been a part of my life from the very beginning, and I’m deeply grateful to have grown as an artist and a person within this community. Over the years, EVIDENCE has taken me and my company to stages all over the world, but there is truly no place like home. To celebrate our 40th anniversary at The Billie [Holiday Theatre], in partnership with Restoration, is especially meaningful — it’s a reflection of the love, faith, and creativity that have shaped my journey. Being part of this community, and watching the children and families I’ve known for decades grow and thrive, has been one of the great joys of my life. I’m excited to keep creating, sharing,
and building on the foundation that started right here in Bed-Stuy.” The evening’s program, titled “EVIDENCE of Love and Legacy in Bed-Stuy:40th Anniversary Celebration Weekend,” will feature excerpts from the company’s repertoire performed by EVIDENCE dancers and special guest artists, including: ONE SHOT: Rhapsody in Black & White, OPEN DOOR, GRACE, and TENDER WARRIORS. For more information visit evidencedance.com.
ALSO THIS MONTH:
Nov. 2: As part of Cathy Weis’ “Sundays on Broadway,” in a shared evening titled “A Tribute to Aat,” featured will be works by Gabri Christa, Yoshiko Chuma, Fast Forward, Mimi Goese, K.J. Holmes, Lucy Sexton, and Sally Silvers. For more information visit cathyweis.org.
Nov. 6-7: At Teatro LATEA, Beatrice Capote will present “Radical Goddesses” which “... awakens the histories and legacies of three Black Cuban women who fought for freedom between the 17th and 20th centuries - Carlotta Lukumí, a Yoruba woman who led a rebellion in Matanzas, Florentina Zulueta, of Arará heritage, and Manuela Alonso, rooted in the vibrant rumba traditions of Matanzas,” notes the release. Performances are free! For more information
visit hemisphericinstitute.org.
Nov. 6-8: At TRISK, SHA Creative Outlet will premiere “...all knowing 瞭然,” a solo, multidisciplinary performance exploring the transitional state between past and future. For more information visit triskelionarts.org.
Nov. 7-9: Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company will offer a season with artistic director DeJesus’ “Exhibition,” set to music by Astor Piazzolla, and also the presentation of three classic works by Eleo Pomare, “Raft,
Safety
Delivered By
Hex, and Las Desenamoradas.” For more information visit alphaomegadance.org.
Nov. 7-9: At Cultura Lab LIC, Obremski/Works will present the world premiere of “Coloratura US,” an evening-length site-specific work layered with the subcontext from the Asian/ AAPI lens, and represents moments through wartime anxiety, family separation, and USglobal relationships, among others. For more information visit eventbrite.com.
Nov. 9: Also part of Cathy Weis’ “Sundays on Broadway,” Angie Pittman will present “Holy Defiance,” in a shared program with Jon Kinzel and Bob Eisen. For more information visit cathyweis.org.
Nov. 9: The CUNY Dance Initiative, which supports choreographers and dance companies with creative residencies on CUNY college campuses, at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, the South Korean choreographer Sun Kim will present “Alien of Extraordinary.” For more information visit lpac.nyc.
Nov. 10: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with Alicia Graf Mack, as part of the “Works & Process” series, will offer a preview of the company’s new season. For more
See DANCE CALENDAR on page 31
23,700+ illegal firearms removed from streets in the last three years
Shootings down 54% citywide since 2022
NYC’s “Community Link” improves neighborhood quality-of-life and safety issues through coordinated multi-agency response
New York is dedicated to being the best place to raise a family. Tens of thousands of unlawful guns removed, more than 110,000 ghost cars and illegal mopeds off our streets, and safer neighborhoods in all five boroughs, all thanks to the over 300,000 of your neighbors working to build a safer, more affordable city.
That’s New York City’s agencies delivering for you Every day. Everywhere.
Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE – 40th Anniversary Celebration (J Boogie Love photo)
Now on view: “Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens” at the Brooklyn Museum
By ROBERT GERHARDT Special to the AmNews
A new exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum is the most expansive North American exhibition of the Malian photographer Seydou Keïta’s work, who documented the vibrant cosmopolitanism of Bamako during a critical time in West African History.
When you make your way up to the 4th floor of the Brooklyn Museum to see their new exhibition of the photographs of Malian photographer Seydou Keïta’s work. You are met with deep blue walls and a huge portrait of the man himself in the first room, appearing serene in a white shirt, looking right at the camera, delicately holding a flower. It is a beautiful entrance to an even more beautiful exhibition.
Keïta was born around 1921 in BamakoCoura, or New Bamako, a growing colonial commercial center within the historic Malian city of Bamako. His first camera, given to him at age 14, was a Kodak Brownie, a gift from his uncle, who had brought it back from a trip to Senegal. In 1935, Keïta became an apprentice to Mountaga Dembélé, Mali’s first professional photographer to earn a living through his studio. He went on to open his own studio in 1948 in front of his family’s home, becoming Mali’s second photographer.
“Keïta’s studio was active for a surprisingly short time: 1948-1962, at which time he was pressed into service by the new Independence government to work as a state photographer and forced to abandon the
studio,” guest curator Catherine McKinley tells me via email. “It’s a sliver in time, but his oeuvre is a pretty astounding document of the decade leading up to Independence as well as the legacies of World War 2 and militarism, trade, social identity, etc.”
This time frame for the studio’s existence coincided with a period of great change in Mali, as the country transitioned from a
French colony to an independent country. Keita’s studio became a destination for all levels of Malian society, welcoming everyone from the rich and powerful to people from remote villages in the countryside to travelers passing along the Dakar-Niger railroad.
“As a young photographer, he went out with his camera and photographed people in their homes and on the street. He also
employed the apprentices in his father and uncle’s carpentry shop, where he worked, to direct people to him,” McKinley tells me. “Apparently, walking around with a camera in the city, something few people had seen, also drew people’s curiosity. By the time he opened his studio in 1948, he was well known.”
And the photographs Keïta made are astounding. They must be seen in person to really do them justice, particularly those printed at life size or slightly bigger. Looking into the eyes of the sitters, and seeing all the details in clothing, accessories, and the sitters’ surroundings, one forgets that a living person is not sitting in front of you. The wall text also does a wonderful job of explaining some of the details in the portraits, and their importance, that a viewer may at first not understand the significance of.
But what also stands out is how contemporary and modern the photographs look. Many could be from modern-day fashion spreads, others could be artists’ portraits. Keïta’s ability to capture his sitters’ personalities and aura brings the photographs to life.
The museum has also been able to both display and preserve some never-beforepublished photographs through digital imaging at the museum that were loaned by the Keïta family for the exhibition. Some of these are on display in the exhibition, along with some hand-painted photographs which serve to reinforce that idea of the photographs as objects in themselves, not just images of people.
tion includes a selection of personal belongings, textiles, garments, and jewelry that can be seen in the photographs. All of this further puts the work in context, along with a video in the last gallery that should not be missed to really put the exhibition in a deeper context.
“Materiality is a very important facet of the show, with the last room being dedicated to examples of textiles like those featured in his work,” McKinley explains.
“We have Fulani ‘tapis’ wedding hangings, wrappers (‘pagnes’), boubous, religious shawls, giving visitors another dimension
into the world of his photography. It’s part of the emphasis on the tactile –– the idea of ‘A Tactile Lens.’ The materiality opens new entry points for viewers.”
The exhibition also has a catalog that accompanies it, with a new essay by McKinley. It is based on extensive interviews with Keïta’s family and other leading art professionals and historians, offering new insights into the photographer, his work, and Malian material culture.
“Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens” is on view at the Brooklyn Museum through March 8, 2026. For more info, visit brooklynmuseum.org.
Seydou Keïta. Untitled, 1959, printed ca. 1994–2001. Gelatin silver print.
For a combined 175 years, two institutions have been lodestones in preserving, presenting, and promoting African American history and culture: the Schomburg Center for 100 years and the Harlem Writers Guild for 75 years. On Saturday, they combined their celebrations, so to speak, with the Schomburg, its staff, and leadership, hosting several noted writers and members of the HWG, including its executive director, Diane Richards. In her opening remarks, after being introduced by the emcee of the ceremony, Rev. Venida C. Rodman Jenkins, she set a tone of reverence for the event, noting that “When We Write, We Free the World,” and at the same time acknowledging the influence of keynote speaker Kevin Powell.
did resoundingly. She closed by invoking the memories of three founders of the Guild: Dr. John Oliver Killens, Dr. John Henrik Clarke, and Maya Angelou, who, in an earlier clip, said, “What I pray for is humility that there is something greater than I.”
Richards set the stage for Kendall D. Glaspie, a startup market researcher and technology specialist, and published poet. In his recollection of the Guild’s history, he added the author Rosa Guy as a founding member, and after a relatively slow beginning, by the 1960s, there were more than 300 members.
Following Glaspie to the stage was an illustrious crop of current members, including Marc Polite, the author of five books and a prominent figure around the campus of City College of New York. It was his responsibility to open the author’s portion
“Our voices must be heard,” Richards charged, asking the crowded auditorium to repeat those words after her, which they
of the evening, and he did so by recounting an essay written by Arturo A. Schomburg in 1925 in a special edition of Survey Graph-
ic magazine. The article was entitled “The Negro Digs up his Past,” one that had a powerful influence on Dr. Clarke. “The American Negro must remake his past in order to make his future,” Schomburg wrote, and Polite recited. “… History must restore what slavery took away,” the essay continued, “for it is the social damage of slavery that the present generation must repair and offset.”
And the evening’s succession of writers admirably fulfilled Schomburg’s prophecy with Dr. Robert Woodbine, Jade Soares do Nascimento, Eartha Watts Hicks, and poet Judy Andrews. Dr. Woodbine offered a telling prologue with a sentence that declared, “Words come from and form memory, and memory is the root of legacy.”
All the comments from previous speakers were fodder for Kevin Powell’s address, and he cited several of them as he delivered a plateau of personal reflections, particularly the role his mother played in developing the vision-
ary perspective he unfolded. To the retinue, he added the poet Louis Reyes Rivera, Killen’s sonin-law, as he sped through a gallery of great thinkers and sheroes.
Among the memorable strokes was to include the event’s theme, which he summarized by stating that Black Americans were a “miracle people,” and he certainly fits notably in that context.
Powell’s prose and praise are a hard act to follow, but John Robinson Jr. and Minnette Coleman were more than equal to the task, with presentations made even more enthralling by Wali Ali’s guitar licks. When she recalled her father’s journalistic odyssey and how, in 10 tiny pages, he captured vital aspects of his travail in the South, Ali made his instrument sing a bluesy lament.
It took a coterie of esteemed writers to conclude the program and compose a brief bio of Dr. Brenda Greene’s literary contributions, and a consummate builder of an institution, as Dr. Farah
Jasmine Griffin noted. No one is more deserving of the Inaugural John Oliver Killens Literary Leadership Award than Dr. Greene. She has lived up to all the promises she proposed years ago to carry on the tradition established by Dr. Killens’s and, in fact, expanded its reach and inclusionary dreams.
Upon accepting the award, Dr. Greene took a moment to recount a portion of her 44 years at Medgar Evers College and her role at the helm of the Black Writers Conference since 2002, and this writer was stunned to hear my name listed among her remembrances of the past honorees, but that is the kind of woman Dr. Greene is as a sharer.
Eartha Watts Hicks, editor of the Harlem World magazine, closed out the event with a bouquet of flowers for Ms. Richards, and when they embraced, it brought everything full circle, as the screen behind them darkened but still illuminated the words “When We Write, We Free the World.”
(L-R): Diane Richards, Executive Director of The Harlem Writers Guild; Kevin C. Matthews, Deputy Director, Operations & External Engagement, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
(L-R): Diane Richards, Executive Director of The Harlem Writers Guild; Senator Cordell Cleare, New York State Senate, 30th Senate District
(L-R): Dr. Brenda M. Greene, Kevin Powell, Grammy-nominated poet, filmmaker, author; Diane Richards. (Terrell Belin photos)
Black theater figures gather to honor critic Linda Armstrong’s 40th anniversary
By JASON PONTEROTTO
Special ot the AmNews
Last week, Black playwrights and Broadway performers celebrated longtime New York Amsterdam News theater critic Linda Armstrong at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
The panel discussion touched on Armstrong’s 40-year career as a theater critic with the AmNews and other outlets. Panelists, including New Federal Theatre founder and producer Woodie King Jr., president of AUDELCO, Jackie Jeffries, Tony Award winners Kara Young and Brian Stokes Mitchell, actor and jazz artist Rome Neal, playwright Keenan Scott II, and NY Times theater critic Brittani Samuel, shared how influential Armstrong has been overall and in their careers specifically.
“When you cover us, you cover us with such love and respect for Black theater that one does. There’s no one else in this town that does that. No one else in this town cares the way you do and shares the way you do,” Neal said. Young spoke about her close bond with Armstrong, who views her like one of her daughters.
“It felt like heaven because we were able to see what we were doing and being reviewed in a way that was not only meaningful, but spiritual,” Young said about Armstrong’s reviews. “You were pouring literally into us by listing every little detail about what we were doing.”
Jeffries praised how “meticulous” Armstrong is in her reviews.
Scott II wrote and produced the Broadway show, “Thoughts of A Colored Man,” which opened in 2021. Armstrong had labeled the most important play of the 21st Century in her
(L to R : Woodie King Jr, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Rome Neal, Jackie Jeffries, Linda Armstrong, Kara Young, Brittani Samuel, Keenan Scott II, and moderator Adam Wassilchalk) A panel of Black playwrights and actors giving tribute to Linda Armstrong as a trailblazing critic for Black theater for her 40th anniversary of being a critic. Bruno Walter Auditorium, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. October 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy NY Public Library for the Performing Arts)
review. He recalled Armstrong’s review as the first one that was able to understand his work, which he says single-handedly saved him and his career, as it gave him confidence.
“It feels very good to be able to have somebody that has your back, that’s just in the room, that is just a safe space for you, especially with the work that we do that is nuanced and that isn’t always received when it’s from a Black lens,” Scott II said.
A focus on highlighting Black theater companies and Off-Broadway and “Off-Off Broadway shows and performers has been a focus for Armstrong. In her series, “Blacks on Broadway” for Harlem Community News, Armstrong includes a list of all Black performers on Broadway and notes the improvements over the last 20 years, when it started at around 50 performers, and increased to over 300 today.
“While I love covering all types of theater when it comes to Black theater, I believe it is part of my purpose in life to make sure that the
Jordan E. Cooper’s powerful, poignant ‘Oh Happy
Day’ plays at the Public Theater
By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews
Jordan E. Cooper, a powerful advocate for the LGBTQIA community, creates stories that show the devastating mistreatment they can often endure from both family members and the world beyond. In his latest work, “Oh Happy Day”, a stunning musical playing at The Public Theater through Nov. 9, he looks at the struggles of Keyshawn, a gay sex worker who is disowned by his family. Keyshawn, also the victim of a violent crime, is preparing to cross over, but he must finally get to tell his family his truth, make peace in his own heart with his family, and make sure that they know what he has been through. Keshawn is guided by God and three Divine ladies, Holy Divine, Mighty Divine, and Glory Divine, while he attempts to embark on a journey of discovery and healing. He has to find a way for his heart to be healed and to lose the hate in his heart for his family before he can reach his divine home.
When we meet Keyshawn, his family is celebrating his father Lewis’s birthday, and when he comes by, the fireworks commence. He and
his father take turns verbally abusing each other. His sister Niecy is happy to see him, but she has also judged him harshly for his lifestyle. His nephew Kevin is not really sure how to react towards him. As this story is being told, the audience is taken down a road that is not exactly what it seems to be. We are focusing on one path, but things are actually going in a different direction. What’s interesting about Cooper creating this musical is that he is letting people see that things are very different than how they may appear. Keyshawn comes off as an angry, abrasive individual, but he is really not that. He is someone who has been abandoned by his family, abused by the world, been blamed for his lifestyle, but never shown any compassion or understanding. Cooper creates a story in which a person needs to find a clear path to healing by finally getting to have his say. Finally getting his family to not only listen to what he has gone through, but to have sympathy for this young man who has been ostracized and blamed for the family’s troubles for so long. The story being set up here
public knows what Black theaters are doing as they superbly tell our stories,” Armstrong said in her remarks. “I think my people are so incredibly talented that I just want to shout from the rooftops what is going on and that people need to come out and support it.”
“It’s not just about them having jobs. It’s about them being able to bless an audience with this beautiful work that they’re doing in this story they’re telling,” she continued.
Among the attendees was long-time New Heritage Theater president Voza Rivers. Watching proudly were also Armstrong’s two daughters, Linda, 32, and Jasmine, 23, who were seated up front.
As a social worker, daughter Linda says her mother’s work and her focus on mentally taking a break and fully experiencing the theater have deeply helped her in her career.
“My mom does not know that, but that is what she’s done for me, in many ways, of me growing up is me being able to understand and learn who I am as a person, why it’s important for people to actually take a pause, sit down, process it,” Linda said. As she was watching the event, she realized how much of herself she took from the way her mother had always worked. “My mom contributed to how I thought about feelings.”
Jasmine has more directly followed in her mother’s line of work in theater, as she is currently a student at Armstrong’s alma mater, Hunter College, majoring in theater, and also freelances with the AmNews like her mother.
“She’s literally the reason why I’m doing what I do, and the love I have for my craft, but also she’s the reason why I am so observant, so thorough, so detailed when it comes to not only my work as an actor, and also being able to see other fellow actors act and appreciate what they do,” Jasmine shared.
Brian Stokes Mitchell gave an impromptu performance of “The Impossible Dream” dedicated to Armstrong.
On Nov. 17, Armstrong will once again be honored by AUDELCO with a Board of Directors Award.
Anthony Jackson, innovative bassist, dies at 73
Anthony Jackson, one of the most versatile recorded bassists in music history and creator of the “contrabass guitar,” died on Oct. 19 in Staten Island. He was 73.
The cause of death was Parkinson’s disease, as noted by his manager, Danette Albetta, on her social media announcement. Bass magazine reported this year that health issues had largely prevented Mr. Jackson from performing since 2017.
Acknowledged as a master of the electric bass guitar [contrabass], Jackson performed live in over 30 countries, appeared in over 500 albums, and recorded in more than 3000 sessions. Jackson began playing on the local New York scene in his late teens and landed the bass chair with Billy Paul’s band in 1972, earning his first gold record for the singer’s hit recording “Me and Mrs. Jones.” His continued work with the Philadelphia songwriting/production team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff led to a session with the O’Jays on a song titled “For the Love of Money.” His creative approach to the bass chart that simply called for D minor became one of the most riveting bass lines in music history; heavily sampled on over 130 records by artists such as Mary J. Blige, Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five, A Tribe Called Quest, N.W.A., and Dr. Dre. It made every bassist stand up and take notes; his version of D minor was a redefining moment.
Stanley Clarke, bassist and close friend, called him “a great light in the bass universe,” as stated in Downbeat.com. “Our dear brother Anthony Claiborne Jackson was truly one of a kind, a specially gifted soul whose touch on the instrument was extraordinary. He created some of the most joyful, unforgettable bass lines ever heard. I’ve always admired how he crafted grooves that became permanently etched into music history.”
Jackson recorded and toured with numerous musicians crossing genres from R&B to jazz, pop, and beyond with such artists as Steely Dan, George Benson, The O’Jays, Paul Simon, Luther Vandross, Pee Wee Ellis, Lena Horne, Phyllis Hyman; and extensive recording sessions with Buddy Rich, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, Hiromi, Michel Camilo, Al Di Meola, Will Downing, Steve Khan, Tania Maria, Lee Ritenour, and Eric Gale. He also performed on Madonna’s self-titled debut album from 1983, which catapulted her into pop superstardom. “From Land of the Midnight Sun, Elegant Gypsy to countless unforgettable moments on stage, he brought a power and sensitivity that could move anyone who listened,” said Al di Meola on social media. “He was a true innovator whose genius reshaped
modern music. His sound, precision, and soul were unmatched.”
Jackson’s most tangible contribution to the music world was his invention of the six-string bass guitar tuned (low to high) BEADGC, which he referred to as a “contrabass guitar.” It was a concept of his since his teen years, desiring an instrument that would give him more range as opposed to the ordinary four-string electric bass.
In 1975, Jackson convinced luthier Carl Thompson to build him a prototype. Successive iterations with luthier/bassist Ken Smith led to improved design and playability. In 1984, Jackson co-designed the first of a dozen groundbreaking, signature instruments with Vinny Fodera and Joey Lauricella of Fodera Guitars in Brooklyn. They unveiled their ultimate collaboration, the Fodera Signature Series Anthony Jackson Presentation II, in 2013, thus launching the widespread popularity of extended-range basses. “We will honor
him by continuing the pursuit of excellence in our craft — inspired by the example he set,” said Fodera.
In 2019, Bass magazine called that process “probably the longest and most productive partnership between a player and a builder in the history of the bass guitar.”
Anthony Claiborne Jackson was born on June 23, 1952, in New York City and raised in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. By age 12. His musical journey began early, inspired by the orchestral music he heard in films and cartoons, which inspired him to play guitar; a year later, his mother bought him his first bass guitar in 1965, at Ben’s Music on West 48th Street, for the price of $43.
Jackson began playing guitar in local clubs in 1966, and by 1968, he had moved to bass by the R&B grooves inspired by Motown icon James Jamerson, Jefferson Airplane’s Jack Casady, and French modernist composer Olivier Messiaen.
As the session scene slowed down in
the late 1980s and ’90s, Jackson turned his focus to jazz and Latin jazz with such artists as Tania Maria, Jorge Dalto, Nancy Wilson, Pat Metheny, Stanley Jordan, Michael Camilo, Akiko Yano, Arturo Sandoval, and Al Jarreau. In those ensembles, he developed his thumb-and palm mute technique to approximate both acoustic bass and Ampeg Baby Bass, raising the bar for big-band bass guitar with Camilo on One More Once and Caribe, and issued landmark solos on “Calle 54” with Camilo and “Water Ways Flow Backward Again” with Yano.
On Feb. 27, 2025, Jackson attended a celebration in his honor at Shape Shifter Lab in Brooklyn. “For the Love of Anthony” featured performances and moving tributes from peers like DiMeola, Phillips, Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, James Genus, Kenny Davis, Lincoln Goines, Dennis Chambers, Omar Hakim, Gene Lake, and Nat Adderley Jr.
Anthony Jackson in December of 2007. (Art Bromage from Seattle /
the HALT Solitary ban seem particularly maligned by law enforcement proponents as “soft-on-crime,” including Tisch.
Republican wildcard Curtis Sliwa continues pointing to his work with the Guardian Angels vigilante group, which patrolled New York City streets and subways in signature red berets. He boasts the toughest-on-crime agenda but previously drew ire from NYPD officers for his extrajudicial methods.
The incoming mayor will contend with a federal monitorship over racist police stop-and-frisk practices and a federal receivership over the city’s jail system as Rikers Island continues crumbling and will almost certainly miss a key 2027 deadline to shut down.
– Tandy Lau
Education expecting boosts but challenges as well
New York City public schools will receive a major financial boost over the next four years to help the Department of Education expand and renovate school buildings. The funding will also ensure that it can push forward with reform-focused teaching strategies, like its NYC Reads and NYC Solves math skills curricula.
The School Construction Authority’s Capital Plan for 2025 through 2029 designates $20 billion to roof repairs, heating and electrical upgrades, asbestos abatement, code compliance, and the repair of athletic fields. Funding is also set aside for more than 33,000 new student seats to help schools comply with the new state law mandating reduced class sizes. Schools are also set to expand the free “After School for All” program for elementary and middle school students by adding 15,000 new seats by 2027.
The next mayoral administration, which will still have the responsibility of shepherding 2 million students from K-12, must also decide if it will stick with mayoral control of the schools or switch back to a school board system.
Currently, Community and Citywide Education Councils advise the Schools Chancellor, but have no decision-making power.
During his tenure, Mayor Eric Adams has focused on overhauling reading and math instruction and expanding career education programs. His reelection campaign was widely considered to be a long shot, leaving the next mayor to decide whether to continue those efforts.
Mamdani’s education agenda includes ending the current system of mayoral control of the Education Department in favor of an approach that includes more community voice, though he has not shared details about his vision for changing the governance system. He
also favors mental health support and school integration.
– Karen Juanita Carrillo
A possible contentious relationship with Washington
New Yorkers of a certain age will remember this iconic New York Daily News headline from 1975: “Ford to City: Drop Dead.” These words captured, with tabloid flair, the spirit of President Gerald Ford’s refusal to bail out New York City when it was teetering on bankruptcy. It also summarizes Donald Trump’s contemporary attitude toward his birth city which has since spurned him.
New Yorkers have already been fighting back against aggressive ICE raids and Trump has held out the possibility of sending the National Guard to patrol the streets of NYC. But what’s financially at stake for New York City is not entirely clear. At the very least, this week’s election result sets off a showdown between Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani. When endorsing Andrew Cuomo on the eve of the election, Trump offered to reward New Yorkers if they elected Cuomo, and punish them by denying federal assistance if Mamdani is elected. The city must now await the consequences.
A New York State Comptroller report estimated that the city will require $7.4 billion in federal operating funds in the 2026 fiscal year and that New York City could lose as much as $535 million or higher in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, which doesn’t even account for the finalization of the 2026 federal budget. Trump has already frozen $18 billion for infrastructure projects, but it’s questionable whether the Trump administration can legally withhold congressionally authorized funds. The Adams administration is in court now fighting Trump’s attempt to block $12 million in federal money that would be used for counterterrorism in the subway.
Mamdani has indicated that, in the best interests of the city, he is willing to work with Trump. But given Trump’s resolve to bring the hammer down on urban Democratic strongholds, he has little incentive to cooperate with the mayor-elect. While President Ford’s antagonism towards New York City may have led Republicans to lose New York State in the 1976 presidential elections, Trump already lost New York State in 2024.
Come January, Mamdani will have to fight to quell his many sceptics at home who question his campaign promises. But that’s just the beginning. He must simultaneously marshal all his political skills to not simply restore federal funding, but protect the city from active federal harm.
Potential loss of SNAP benefits has NY officials scrambling to fill gaps for K-12 kids
By EMMA DELAHANTY Special to the AmNews
The fear of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) being cut as a result of the government shutdown that began Oct. 1 has become reality. More than 42 million people will be affected, the USDA reported.
But New York State residents will be at a loss of crucial aid as 14.7% of people statewide will be affected, with children, the elderly, and people with disabilities being at the forefront of this loss, according to the Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center.
This affects K-12 children in particular and advocates say it is a necessity in danger of disappearing. City records show more than 806,000 children qualified for free or reducedprice lunch in 20240, according to Chalkbeat.
“SNAP is a lifeline for those children and their families; it increases food security, improves health outcomes, and supports learning and development,” said Krista Hesdorfer, director of public affairs at Hunger
Solutions. “Emergency food providers, including New York City’s food banks and pantries, will do everything they can to help families navigate the crisis, but there is no matching the scale of SNAP.”
“For every one meal provided by a food bank or pantry, SNAP provides nine,” Hesdorfer said. “Losing SNAP will be a devastat-
ing financial blow to families who are already struggling with rising costs for everything from food to health care and housing.”
To help alleviate the burden on the families, state education officials have announced measures to offset the impact of any SNAP losses to children.
First, the Universal Meal Program will remain unaffected and free breakfast and lunches will still be provided to students.
Second, the state Education Department will support initiatives that address food insecurity among children. They will also partner with community food banks, which provide distribution channels for families in need.
The State University of New York’s Empire State Service Corps will be giving support through trained volunteers. Assistance can be requested by submitting the 2025-26 Empire State Service Corps - Host Site Application form.
“The loss of SNAP funding poses a dire challenge for families here in New York State, and in times like these, we have a moral ob-
ligation to work together,” said NYS Education Department Commissioner Dr. Betty A. Rosa. “Schools have always been more than just places of learning — they are lifelines for their neighbors and their communities.”
The Trump administration, after an edict imposed by federal judges, announced that it will partially fund SNAP for November through contingency funds that were already available. Gov. Kathy Hochul had already announced $65 million for food assistance, while Mayor Eric Adams has announced $15 million in emergency funding for food assistance.
“The federal government shutdown is threatening to cut access to food for 1.8 million New Yorkers who rely on SNAP to feed their families,” said Adams in a statement. “We are activating all of our social services agencies to ensure they are prepared to contribute where they can, and we urge our philanthropic partners, faith leaders, and community members to contribute even more.”
(Pexels/Anastasia Shuraeva)
3
but in three, four, or six months, I couldn’t tell you what the economy will look like. We’re seeing impacts across all of our sectors. This uncertainty is also creating uncertainty for the bargaining that’s coming up next year, because at every negotiation, we have a job to do on behalf of our members to ensure that the contracts that we bargain for, provide them with the benefits and wages they deserve.
So,…to answer your question about what we’re going to do outside of bargaining, it’s really to lean into education with our members even more. We already have all the programmatic elements across the union to educate specific constituents in our union. We have our Women’s CEO [often referred to as Women of Steel, which advocates for female workers]; our Next Gen, which represents our young workers. We have our Civil and Human Rights Committee. We have our Rapid Response team, which handles grassroots activism. But we also do broader education focused on our core values — healthcare, retirement security, collective bargaining, safety and health, economic issues, and trade. There are many examples right now of how each of these core values are under attack.
Sherrill
Continued from page 4
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, praised Sherrill’s win as “a roadmap for how Democrats can overcome precedent and win in deeply competitive races when we stay laser-focused on our positive vision to address the biggest issues impacting families in their daily lives.”
A victory against Trump
In her speech on Tuesday, Sherrill said voters were concerned with attacks on their civil liberties as well as on their economic well-being. She said Trump is “ripping away” health care and targeting food benefits. Democratic governors across the country have been pushing back on those issues, as well as planned National
My hope is that as we continue to lean into this education across our union, so that when people go to the ballot box next year, at the midterms, and then again in 2028 for the general election, they will make even more informed decisions about who really stands with them on their core values.
AmNews: Do you know if the USW is mostly made up of men, and if the demographic breakdown is still mostly white?
Brown: Yeah, yeah, for sure. But I’d say we are the most diverse union by sector in North America. No other union looks like ours because, for example, we have 50,000 members in healthcare. Think about the healthcare sector — many of our members there resemble me and share a similar background: they are Black, female, immigrants, Asian, or Hispanic. So, it’s much more diverse in that sector. We represent folks in higher education. Again, it’s a diverse sector as part of the public sector, and also diverse in terms of race and gender. So, it’s not like the steelworkers of 1965 or even 2001, because we’ve been very intentional about building power for the union and organizing across many sectors where workers want stable jobs. Today’s steelworkers look different than they did 30 years ago, especially in terms of diversity, but they are
Guard deployments in their states.
Sherrill also criticized him for something that impacts New Jersey specifically: Canceling a project to expand train access to New York City. In the closing weeks of the campaign, she lambasted the president’s threat to cancel the Hudson River project.
“Governors have never mattered more,” Sherrill said. “And in this state, I am determined to build prosperity for all of us.”
From the Navy to the governor’s office Sherrill steps into the governorship role after serving four terms in the U.S. House. She won that post in 2018 during Trump’s first term in office, flipping a longtime GOP-held district in an election that saw Democrats sweep all but one of the state’s 12 House seats.
During her campaign, Sherrill leaned hard into her credentials as a congresswoman and onetime prosecutor as well
still largely male and still predominantly white.
AmNews: So obviously, you’ve been able to meld this diverse demographic around their union goals. But a lot of white males have been supportive of the Trump administration. Do you see any difficulties or any problems with that?
Brown: You know, I go back to what I say about education and an educated voter being a powerful voter, right? Because, at the end of the day, people just want to be seen and heard. And, aside from the more nefarious elements surrounding Trump and his administration — like racism, misogyny, and sexism — apart from all of that, many people who align themselves with the cause, especially our members, ultimately want to be recognized and acknowledged.
We see our members, hear them, and understand them better than any politician could because of our daily fight for them across those four values I mentioned. We’ll keep deepening our efforts on education and continue encouraging members to stand up for those who share our values as a labor organization — values they stand for as members because they wouldn’t be connected to us if they didn’t. You have someone’s back who has yours, and that’s the work we do.
as her military service. But she also had to defend her Navy service record after a news report that she was not allowed to participate in her 1994 graduation ceremony from the U.S. Naval Academy commencement in connection with an academic cheating scandal at the school.
Sherrill said the punishment was a result of not turning in some classmates, not because she herself had cheated. But she declined to release additional records that the Ciattarelli campaign said would shed more light on the issue.
For her part, she accused Ciattarelli of profiting off the opioid crisis. He is the former owner of a medical publishing company that made continuing education materials for doctors, including some that discussed pain management and opioids. Sherrill called it “propaganda” for drug companies, something Ciattarelli denied.
AmNews: How do you think the USW specifically can safeguard union jobs for the next couple of years until we’re out of the woods here?
Brown: We’ve always focused on policy because, you know, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. So, regardless of who’s in office — whether it’s a Democratic-led government or a Republican-led government — and I’m talking about federal, state, and local levels — we engage everywhere. We have to, not only to protect workers’ rights related to retirement, security, and healthcare, but also to ensure unions can bargain collectively. These attacks are especially fierce at the state level. Whenever we speak with anyone in the labor movement, we come together to push back against attempts to weaken workers’ rights to organize. Right now, those threats are also at the federal level, where people are losing their collective bargaining rights with the stroke of a pen, like what happened with the AFGE [American Federation of Government Employees] members.
So we’re just committed to staying at the table in the policy space, advocating for our members and working people, and pushing back against any efforts to weaken or eliminate the right of workers to collectively bargain and secure a better now and a better future for themselves and their families.
Promises for New Jersey
Sherrill will inherit a state budget that swelled under Murphy, who delivered on promises to fund the public worker pension fund and a K-12 school aid formula after years of neglect under previous governors, by imposing highincome taxes on the wealthy. But there are also headwinds that include unfunded promises to continue a property tax relief program which began in the governor’s second term. Also on the ballot Tuesday were all 80 seats in the Assembly, which Democrats control with a 52-seat majority.
New Jersey hasn’t supported a Republican for U.S. Senate or the White House in decades. The governor’s office, though, has often switched back and forth between the parties. The last time the same party prevailed in a third straight New Jersey election for governor was in 1961, when Richard Hughes won the race to succeed Gov. Robert Meyner. Both were Democrats.
Earle-Sears
Continued from page 4
restrictions or bans on the procedure, and she railed against Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, the U.S. government shutdown, and their negative impact on a state with several hundred thousand federal employees. That approach helped corral Demo -
crats’ core supporters while attracting the kinds of swing voters who elected Youngkin four years ago. It also continued a historical trend for Virginia: Since Jimmy Carter won the White House in 1976, Virginia has backed a governor from the opposite party of every firstterm president in the following year. This year is a special case, given the gap between Trump’s terms. Republicans, meanwhile, must grapple
again with a battleground loss by an archconservative from the president’s party. Trump never campaigned for Earle-Sears, though he did give her his tepid support. Their uneasy alliance raises questions about the ideal Republican nominee for contested general elections and how the president’s volatile standing with voters might affect GOP candidates next November. The midterm elections will settle statehouse control in dozens of states and
determine whether Republicans maintain majorities in Washington for the final years of Trump’s presidency.
Earle-Sears 61, would have become the first Black woman to be elected as a governor in the U.S.
“My opponent, Abigail, ran as a moderate,” Earle-Sears said in her concession speech. “If she governs as one, then she will unite us, and she’ll heal our divide and win our support. I hope and pray she does.”
Making organ donations easier for Black and Brown people, thanks to a new law
By HEATHER M. BUTTS, JD, MPH, MA Special to the AmNews
Not enough is being done to make organ donations available for people of color and according to Aisha Tator, executive director of Donate Life New York State, there is still much work to be done. She says there is an organ scarcity crisis, which has become a public health crisis.
“We have over 50% of New Yorkers enrolled in the New York State Donate Life Registry,” Tator told AmNews. “But we have a lot of work to do. We have 8,000 people who are depending on us to be advocates.”
Tator leads a nonprofit dedicated to increasing organ and tissue donation. The organization works to raise awareness about the nationwide shortage and its impact on vulnerable communities.
One way Tator and others hope to address the issue is through the HEART Act, legislation passed in October 2025 that repeals New York State’s ban on multiple listing requirements for organ transplants. The law allows patients to register at several transplant centers within the state, with the goal of saving lives, reducing wait times for organs, and helping low-income residents who struggle with the costs of out-of-state registration.
“We’re really proud of one of the policy initiatives that got through the process this year,” Tator said, praising the HEART Act. “Not only are patients encouraged to list at more than one transplant center, but transplant centers are required by federal policy to inform patients verbally and in writing of their right to list at more than one transplant center … It enhances equity and fairness in the system and we’ll talk about that. And it also brings New York into alignment with national standards and policies.”
There have been wins in the fight to get more individuals to become organ donors.
In a 2024 press release, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that for the first time, more than 50% of the eligible New Yorkers had registered to become organ and tissue donors through New York’s Organ Donor Registry.
“This is a very important milestone for New York and the thousands of New York-
ers who are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant,” Hochul said in the statement.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald added that 50% of New York’s population has registered to become organ and tissue donors through New York’s Organ Donor Registry.
“Just one donor can save the lives of up to eight people while tissue donors can make a meaningful difference in the lives
of up to 75 people,” McDonald said.
Tator acknowledges that while there have been gains to individuals donating organs, there is work to be done. “When I started here 13 years ago, we had over 10,000 people waiting for life-saving organ transplants. So we’re heading in the right direction, but we have a long way to go. We have the third highest need in the country. We have a lot of work to do.”
for the future. The limited schedule and additional barriers for what is an already difficult and exhausting process are very disheartening.”
Attorney Claudette Spencer, who heads the Coalition for Parole Restoration, says she received phone calls about denied visits recently. The advocate herself frequently visited a loved one incarcerated in New York State prison between 1984 and 2002. Spencer says outside contact played a significant role in his rehabilitation and incentivized good behavior in order to maintain Family Reunion Program participation.
She shared footage of a woman denied a visit at Upstate Correctional Facility last month who recorded herself waiting in a remote parking lot for a bus home. Only 5,400 people live in Malone, N.Y. which houses the maximum security prison located closer to Montreal than New York City. “This is the worst feeling in the world right now,” the visitor said through tears. “But I love you, I don’t know. I guess I’ll try again another day. This sh– hurts so bad. It hurts so bad.”
“This has become a nightmare for these women,” said Spencer. “As somebody who visited prison on a personal basis for 18 years, I can’t even imagine what these women are going through. I drove up most of the time…but most of these women are coming up on the bus or van. They drop
them off, and they may move on to the next facility. When they are told they cannot get in, they’re probably [not] even allowed to wait in the waiting room.”
“A lot of these facilities don’t have any place across the street so they are waiting in the road for their ride to come back [for] three [to] five hours.”
To be clear, visitors smuggling contraband into state prisons remains a concern — recently, drug-sniffing dogs caught hundreds of grams of marijuana coming into correctional facilities. DOCCS credits the scanners as a key tool for preventing drugs from getting in.
According to DOCCS, privileges can be suspended for up to a week after a visit is terminated. Subsequently, a superintendent decides whether to reinstate, limit, suspend, or ban the individual’s visitation rights. There is an appeal process that can be heard by a neutral third party.
“The Department’s top priority is the safety and security of staff, visitors, volunteers, and the incarcerated who enter our correctional facilities,” said a DOCCS spokesperson. “All staff and visitors are required to comply with the laws, policies, and procedures of the Department and State to maintain safe conditions for all.
“In accordance with DOCCS Commissioner Martuscello’s guidance, the Department remains committed to our Recover, Recruit, and Rebuild Initiative including reopening additional family reunion programs and expanding visitation days.”
End of Year Tips to Purchase Your Dream Vehicle
As we near the holiday season, you may be looking to treat yourself to those set of wheels you’ve been eyeing, or perhaps it’s time to purchase your loved one their dream car. In today’s financial climate, managing your vehicle costs efficiently is key, as it could help you save money and limit potential headaches down the road. Here are some helpful tips to finally make that purchase for your (or a loved one’s) dream vehicle this holiday season:
1. Set your holiday budget, and stick to it. There are a variety of different expenses that come with getting a car – the purchase cost, insurance, maintenance and fuel being a few of them. Knowing how much you can afford, especially if you plan to pay for it over time, is key to avoiding a car bill that stretches your finances. Look for access to different budgeting tools and tips that can help you save for your purchase.
2. Look for the best holiday deals. Like many other items, vehicles have a price cycle; the end of the year tends to be when you can find a better deal, as dealers may need to meet quotas or clear out inventory. Generally, make sure you are considering multiple vehicles and shopping around at several dealerships to get the best price.
3. Test drive the vehicle to make sure it fits your needs. This is your time to see how the vehicle looks and feels, try out the interior systems and figure out if the vehicle fits your needs. Schedule test drive appointments to ensure the car you want is still available, ideally a few in the same day or week to keep your impressions fresh in your mind. It’s also helpful to simulate your daily driving conditions as much as possible, such as bringing any car seats or equipment you may have in your car daily. After your test drive, you can ask about the car’s warranty and fuel and maintenance requirements, as well as the possibility of getting an extended test drive or bringing the car to your own mechanic for a second opinion.
4. Determine whether you are financing or
leasing. There are benefits of both a lease and a loan. With a loan, there is no milage limit and you are free to customize and change the car as you see fit. After completing your finance payments, you own it. Leases typically have lower upfront costs than loan payments, and at the end of the term you can return, purchase or trade the vehicle in. But keep in mind that most leases have a mileage limit, so it might not be the best option if you travel often.
5. How to know if an electric vehicle is right for you. With so many major manufacturers building EVs, there are more options than ever before. However, cost, maintenance, range and charging logistics are all key factors to consider. For maintenance, EVs typically require less maintenance than traditional cars. EV batteries tend to be covered by 8-10 year warranties (outlasting the amount of time most people own their cars) but EV tires degrade faster due to the weight of the battery. And just as gas prices vary, so do electricity costs – based on your location, your driving style and the size of your battery.
The median range of an EV with a fully charged battery is roughly 250 miles, but that number depends on the make and model as well as other factors like weather, traffic conditions and driving style. And when it comes to charging infrastructure, some cities and states may have more charging stations than others. Make sure to plan your trip ahead of time and map your route.
Be sure to do your homework first before making that big purchase. There are many tools available that can help you plan for costs in addition to the vehicle loan or lease payments, such as sales taxes, registration fees, and insurance— which can vary depending on the car make, model and even the color. For instance, using a car payment calculator can help estimate your monthly car payment for different scenarios, by inputting the ballpark amount you’d like to finance along with some other basic info.
For more auto budgeting tools and tips, visit autofinance.chase.com.
For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.
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Voter turnout highest in half-century as Mamdani phenomenon galvanizes electorate
By MIA HOLLIE
The City
This story was originally published by THE CITY
The number of voters casting ballots in the tense three-way race for mayor between Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa broke records, with more than 2 million check-ins, according to the city Board of Elections.
By comparison, 1.1 million ballots were cast in the entire 2021 election won by Eric Adams,
and the last election to see such numbers was in 1969, when John Lindsay, running on a third-party line, won a second term against two rivals.
Polls closed at 9 p.m. The in-person votes and absentee ballots tallied so far account for 34% of the city’s roughly 5.3 million registered voters.
Mamdani secured more than 1 million votes, reflecting how his campaign helped spur a highly engaged electorate — one that the city has not seen in decades. And it’s changed the electorate
from one that was once dominated by older, staunchly center Democrats to younger, left-leaning voters, many attracted by Mamdani’s grassroots campaign organization.
Backed by tens of millions of dollars in attack ads, including some painting Mamdani as a dangerous radical, rival Andrew Cuomo sought to rally a countermovement of voters, as did Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. The surge in turnout was largely propped up by the 735,317 votes cast during nine days
of early voting, which ended Sunday. Though heavy rains last Thursday seemed to have impeded voters’ momentum, overall it did not stop certain groups of voters — such as Millennials or those who live in wealthier election districts — from turning out in large shares, according to an analysis by THE CITY.
The surge in votes is even more notable because the electorate has shrunk since New Yorkers last voted for a mayor: currently about 5.3 million registered voters reside in the city, down from 5.6 million
four years ago.
Still, some 189,000 city residents registered to vote between February and November — with many of them joining the left-leaning Working Families Party, which ran Mamdani on its ballot line alongside his Democratic Party spot. Working Families Party registrations grew by at least 6% since February and by 28% since the last election. By contrast, the number of registered Democrats grew by 5%, but the party rolls have shrunk 7% since the last election.
Photo of a ballot box at P.S. 81 poll site in Brooklyn. (Ariama C. Long photo)
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information visit worksandprocess.org.
Nov. 11-16: Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater comes to The Joyce Theater with the New York premiere of “American Street Dancer,” which pays tribute to the influence of street dance on the arts. For more information visit joyce.org.
Nov. 13 - 14: Also part of the CUNY Dance Initiative at Aaron Davis Hall at City College, the choreographer Jeevika Bhat will present the world premiere of “Clothesline.” For more information visit ccny.cuny.edu.
Nov. 13-15: In “Luminescence,” five orig-
Public Theater
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is one that many audience members might empathize with — that feeling of being rejected, blamed, criticized, and maybe targeted for violence, but also not getting a chance to say their peace, have their voice heard, and get that positive acknowledgment from their families. It is a musical that will leave an impression on you; as it was performed, I could hear people in the audience getting emotional.
inal solos by TRIBE artists Ashley PierreLouis, Marcella Lewis, Tushrik Fredericks, and Shamel Pitts, featuring Marirosa Crawford and Ny Opong, will happen at The Flea Theater. For more information visit itsatribe.org/events.
Nov. 14 - 16: The flamenco dancer, Nelida Tirado will present the world premiere of “Misa Flamenca” which “transcends tradition to explore the sacred journey of healing, resilience, and spiritual awakening,” according to the release. Performances will be held at Irondale. For more information visit nelidatirado.com.
Nov. 15: For one performance only, and as part of L’Alliance New York’s Crossing The Line Festival, at the Le Skyroom, Amala Dianor will present “Coquilles.” Created for audiences as young as one year old, and
The production recognizes the battles that members of this community endure every day. It calls for more tolerance and allowing them to have a voice.
Cooper is not only the playwright of this meaningful piece, he also stars in it as Keyshawn.
“Oh Happy Day” has stirring original songs by Donald Lawrence and moving direction by Stevie Walker-Webb. It is presented in association with Baltimore Center Stage.
The performances are monumental, the singing inspired! Cooper goes through every
danced by two dancers. For more information visit lallianceny.org.
Nov. 15-16: Japan Society will present the world premiere of “The Seven Bridges(Hashizukushi),” a new work for all ages from the Tokyo-based dance company CHAiroiPLIN with choreography by founder Takuro Suzuki, based on a lesser-known short story by Yukio Mishima of the same title. For more information visit japansociety.org.
Nov. 18-30: Complexions Contemporary Ballet returns to The Joyce to celebrate its 31st season under Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. Slated for this program are new works by Rhoden, guest choreographer Houston Thomas, and co-associate artistic director Joe Gonzalez, plus the company premiere of Rhoden’s “Midnight Riff and Retro Suite.” For more information
emotion as Keyshawn. You feel his pain and walk with him through his journey. Tamika Lawrence is marvelous as Niecy, and her vocals are amazing. She is a sister who loves, but who also judges her brother. At the performance I attended, Brian D. Coats played Lewis, and he was quite riveting to watch. His emotional journey had many ups and downs. (This role is normally played by Charles Randolph Wright.) Donovan Louis Bazemore is outstanding as Kevin, a nephew who is more than what he seems at times. Tiffany Mann, Shelea Melody McDonald, and Latrice Pace
visit joyce.org
Nov. 20-22: Part of L’Alliance New York’s Crossing The Line Festival and co-presented with The Kitchen, at Performance Space New York, Will Rawls will present “[siccer]” which “...challenges divisions between the living, the captured, the rehearsed, and the performed,” notes the release. For more information visit performancespacenewyork.org.
Nov. 21-22: Miro Magloire’s New Chamber Ballet will appear in “Azalea - Five Ballets” by Magloire, at the Mark Morris Dance Center. The program is an overview of five years of commissioning new scores from young composers as part of the Composition for Dance Prize awarded by New Chamber Ballet in partnership with the Manhattan School of Music. For more information visit eventbrite.com.
bring in the spirit of church, brotherly love, and understanding as they perform as Holy Divine, Mighty Divine, and Glory Divine. The production features scenic design by Luciana Stecconi, gorgeous costume design by Qween Jean, lighting design by Adam Honore, sound design by Taylor J. Williams, hair and wig design by Mia Neal, makeup design by Kirk Cambridge Del-Pesche, choreography by Eboni Nichols, music direction/supervision/orchestration/additional music by Daniel Rudin. For more info and for tickets, visit publictheater.org.
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SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. SCOTT MOORE, KATHRYN MARIE MOORE, NEW YORK SUPREME COURT, NY STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, NYC ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD, NYC TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, Defts. - Index # 850370/2024. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 8, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the NY County Courthouse located 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 2:15 pm, an interest of an undivided 5,000/28,402,100 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 $21,915.96 plus costs and interest as of June 27, 2025. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale which includes annual maintenance fees and charges. Ronald V. Zezima, 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 , Loancore Capital Credit Reit LLC , Plaintiff, vs . CF 1 Whitehall LLC , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 9, 2025 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 1 Whitehall Street, New York, NY 10004. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 10 and Lot 23. Approximate amount of judgment is $80,000,000.00 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850394/2024.
Gregory Thomas Cerchione, Esq., Referee McCarter & English, LLP, 250 W 55th Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff
Notice of Formation of AHRENS CREATIVE LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/22/25. 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, 333 W. 56th St., Penthouse A N, NY, NY 10019. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK
JG FUNDING CORP., Plaintiff -against- 1363 FIRST OWNER LLC; et al., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale dated October 4, 2024 and entered on October 15, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 at the portico of the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., the premises known as 1363 1ST AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10021; Block 1448, Lot 24 and 453 E 83RD STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10028; Block 1563, Lot 121 as more fully described in the complaint and Judgment. Approximate amount of lien
$7,490,500.00 plus interest and costs
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850430/2023
ELAINE SHAY, ESQ., Referee MENASHE AND LAPA LLP, ATTORNEY(S) FOR PLAINTIFF
400 RELLA BLVD., SUITE 190, SUFFERN, NY 10901
DATED: October 30, 2025
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Plaintiff, vs. Steve Vassi, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on January 15, 2025 and a Decision + Order on Motion duly entered September 5, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 520 East 81st Street, Apt 2M, New York, NY 10028. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 1577 and Lot 1024 together with an undivided 0.433094 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $663,856.43 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #810060/2012. Elaine Shay, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 254207-1
Pendenza LLC. App. for Authority filed with the SSNY on 9/26/2025. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: The LLC, 445 Park Ave., Ste. 967, NY, NY 10022. Purpose: Any lawful act.
LEGAL NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK.
WOORI AMERICA BANK, Plaintiff -against- DK BEAUTY INC., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated March 27, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on November 19, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, known as Unit No. 2010 in the building known as the "20 West 33rd Street Condominium" together with an undivided 7.1629 percent interest in the common elements.
Block: 834 Lot: 1013
Said premises known as 18-28 WEST 33RD STREET, UNIT 2010, NEW YORK, NY
Approximate amount of lien $6,021,316.46 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 850042/2024.
SOFIA BALILE, ESQ., Referee
The Basil Law Group P.C. Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 125 West 31st Street, Suite 19B, New York, NY 10001 Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 40 Calumet Ave, Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034
The above sale, originally scheduled for October 29, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. has been postponed. The new sale date has been rescheduled for November 19, 2025 at the same time and place.
SOFIA BALILE, ESQ., Referee. {* AMSTERDAM*}
SUPREME COURT-NEW YORK COUNTY- HILTON RESORTS CORP., Pltf. v. TIMOTHY ANDREWS and NYC DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU, Defts. - Index # 850526/2023. Pursuant to Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 3, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the NY County Courthouse located 60 Centre Street, NY, NY on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 2:15 pm, interests in two undivided 0.1505136467542480% and 0.0741276267592057% tenants in common interest in the timeshare known as Phase II of HNY CLUB SUITES located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. Approximate amount of judgment is $116,295.38 plus costs and interest as of June 24, 2025. 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.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK, U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST, PLAINTIFF, VS. MOSHE RAHIMI, ET AL., DEFENDANT(S).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order On Motion entered on February 15, 2024 and a Decision + Order on Motion entered on September 5, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 635 West 42nd Street, Unit 15J a/k/a 627635 West 42nd Street, Unit 15J, New York, NY 10036. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 1090 and Lot 1351 together with an undivided 0.12612 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $570,028.95 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850111/2020. Paul R. Sklar, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 201235-1
SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. THE MURRAY HILL TER RACE CONDOMINIUM, BY ITS BOARD OF MANAGERS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ NICHOLAS M. CORITSIDIS, et al Defen dant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated July 25, 2025 and entered on October 6, 2025, I, the under signed Referee will sell at public auction in Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, in the Build ing designated and described as Unit No. 12F in the Building known as "The Murray Hill Ter race Condominium" together with an undivided 0.684% per cent interest in the common elements. Block: 917 Lot: 1076 Said premises known as 201 EAST 36TH STREET, UNIT 12F, NEW YORK, NY
Approximate amount of lien $67,486.72 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 159055/2024. ALLISON FURMAN, ESQ., Ref eree Schwartz Sladkus Reich Green berg Atlas LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 444 Madison Ave., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022
SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. NYCTL 1998‑2 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs ‑against‑ JACOB & JERRY INVESTMENTS LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein on July 15, 2025, I, the undersigned Ref eree will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on De cember 10, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and be ing in the Borough of Manhat tan, County of New York, City and State of New York, known and designated as Block 1905 and Lot 158 on the New York County Tax Assessment Map. Said premises known as 160 WEST 121ST STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10027
Approximate amount of lien $83,731.15 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 157503/2018. THOMAS KLEINBERGER, ESQ., Referee Phillips Lytle LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs 100 S. Clinton Avenue, Suite 2900, Rochester, NY 14604
{* AMSTERDAM*}
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , NYCTL 1998-2 Trust, The Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian for the NYCTL 19982 Trust , Plaintiff, vs . East 115th Street Associates , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion dated June 26, 2025 and duly entered on August 27, 2025 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on December 10, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 75 East 115th Street, New York, NY 10029. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 1621 and Lot 32. Approximate amount of judgment is $450,870.47 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #651512/2017.
Lorraine Coyle, Esq., Referee Bronster, LLP, 156 West 56th Street, Suite 703, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff
Courtney Lemon Curd LLC Arts. of Org.
LEGAL NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE, Supreme Court – New York County, BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE PARKVIEW CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiff v. EDGAR HERNANDEZ, et al., Defendants, Index# 158090/2024. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale docketed on October 6, 2025, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder in Room 130 of New York County Supreme Court, 60 Center Street, New York, New York 10007, on November 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM of that day, the premises known as 7 West 131 Street, Units A3 and AS3 , New York , New York 10037, Block 1729 Lots 1203 and 1206. Unit AS3 is a storage unit allocated to residential Unit A3. Unit A3 is approximately 1289 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The approximate amount of Judgment is $31,660.52, through and including April 2, 2025, plus interest, common charges, special assessments, advances, administrative costs, and expenses accrued from April 2, 2025. Premises will be sold subject to: (a) provisions of Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale docketed on October 6, 2025; and (b) the terms of sale. IF YOU ARE BIDDING AT THE AUCTION, YOU MUST BRING A CERTIFIED CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO THE REFEREE RONALD ZEZIMA , ESQ . IN THE AMOUNT OF 10% OF YOUR BID. If you have any questions, contact Attorney for Plaintiff: ANNA GUILIANO, BORAH, GOLDSTEIN, ALTSCHULER, NAHINS & GOIDEL, P.C., 377 Broadway, New York, New York 10013, (212) 965-2628.
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE VERUS SECURITIZATION TRUST 2019-INV3, Plaintiff, vs. JOSEPH QUASHIE, ET AL., Defendant (s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 21, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007, on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM, premises known as 255 E 49TH ST, 16F, NEW YORK CITY, NY 10017. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County, and State of New York, Block: 1323, Lot: 1080 together with an undivided .0035010123000% interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $572,847.96 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 850060/2023. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee's attorney, or the Referee.
SOFIA BALILE, Esq., Referee
Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK. BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE 130 WEST 30TH STREET CONDOMINIUM, SUING ON BEHALF OF THE UNIT OWNERS, Plaintiff -against- DAVID M. SIMON a/k/a DAVID SIMON; LISA D. GOODMAN a/k/a LISA GOODMAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated December 3, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan and County of New York, City and State of New York, known as Residential Unit No. 16A in the building known as 130 West 30th Street Condominium located at 130 West 30th Street together with an undivided 2.241% interest in the Common Elements. Block: 805 Lot: 1043
Said premises known 130 West 30th Street, Unit 16A, New York, NY 10001.
situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan and County of New York, City and State of New York, known as Storage Unit No. 11 in the building known as 130 West 30th Street Condominium located at 130 West 30th Street together with an undivided 0.079% interest in the common elements. Block: 805 Lot: 1060
Said premises known as 130 WEST 30TH STREET, STORAGE UNIT NO. 11, NEW YORK, NY 10001
Approximate amount of lien $113,708.03 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850614/2023.
ROBERTA E. ASHKIN, ESQ., Referee
Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 444 Madison Ave., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022
{* AMSTERDAM*}
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee for the Registered Holders of Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc., Multifamily Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2017-SB34 , Plaintiff, vs . RH 532 West 159 Street LP , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on June 3, 2025 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 532 West 159th Street, New York, NY 10032. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, Block 2117 and Lot 20. Approximate amount of judgment is $3,174,348.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850547/2023. Christy M. Demelfi, Esq., Referee
McCarter & English, LLP, 250 W 55th Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff
NOTICE OF FORMATION of VSM NY WAREHOUSE LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 8/26/2025. Office location: New York County.
CATEGORY: Ltd Liability Company, NY: New York AD Number:
NOTICE OF FORMATION of VSM NY WAREHOUSE LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 8/26/2025. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to DANIEL MCCARTHY, GENERAL COUNSEL, VILLAGE SUPER MARKET, INC., 733 MOUNTAIN AVENUE SPRINGFIELD, NJ, 07081, USA. Purpose: any lawful act.
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF RESIDENTIAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES TRUST II, -against-
NORTHWARD ESTATES LLC, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York on September 29, 2025 , wherein WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF RESIDENTIAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES TRUST II is the Plaintiff and NORTHWARD ESTATES LLC , ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the THE ROTUNDA OF THE CIVIL SUPREME COURTHOUSE 60 CENTRE STREET, , NEW YORK, NY 10007, on 12/10/2025 at 2:15PM, premises known as 2573 FREDERICK DOUGLASS BLVD, UNIT A , NEW YORK , New York 10030 ; and the following tax map identification, -2041-1119 .
THE UNIT KNOWN AS UNIT A, LOCATED IN ST. CHARLES CONDOMINIUM IV, BEING IN THE COUNTY, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 850647/2023 . Paul R Sklar , Esq. - Referee . Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 , Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that a license, number NYS Application ID: NA-0524-25-00303 for Beer, Cider, And Wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Beer, Cider, And Wine at retail in a Cafe under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 236 West 135th Street Store #5, NY NY 10030 , New York, New York County for on premises consumption. Now What? Mardi Gras! Inc. DBA, Featuring
Wing & Root Management Consulting LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/01/25. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 50 Park Terrace E Apt 4L, New York, NY 10034. Purpose: Any lawful act.
MTA REAL ESTATE Request for Proposals
RFP No. JO11032025: Opportunity for Broadband Communications License along the MNR and LIRR ROW, New York. For info on this RFP, please go to https://rfponline.nymta.info/
DANIEL SOULAS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/14/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 11 CONCORD COURT, WARREN NJ, 07059. Purpose: Any lawful act.
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 850098/2025 COUNTY OF NEW YORK
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST,
Plaintiff, vs.
WONWOO CHANG, if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; HSBC BANK USA, N.A.; FIFTH PARTNERS LLC; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
"JOHN DOE #1" through "JOHN DOE #12," the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.
Plaintiff designates NEW YORK as the place of trial situs of the real property
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Mortgaged Premises:
189 EAST 7TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10009 Block: 390, Lot: 61
To the above named Defendants
Lucy's Hot Dogs LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 5/29/25. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 10228. Purpose: Any lawful act.
O'Rielly & Roche LLP Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 8/27/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 1330 Ave. Of The Americas, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10019 Purpose: Any lawful act.
Ka Ming Gordon Ngai, MD PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/04/2025. Office location: Manhattan County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 333 W 56th St, 2B, New York, NY 10019. Purpose: Any lawful act.
American Insight Operations LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 9/10/2025. Office location: 45 Rockefeller Plaza Floor 20 New York New York 10111 County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: American Insight Operations 45 Rockefeller Plaza Floor 20, New York New York 10111 Purpose: Any lawful act.
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff ’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $3,400,000.00 and interest, recorded on October 10, 2019 , in CRFN: 2019000330101 , of the Public Records of NEW YORK County, New York. , covering premises known as 189 EAST 7TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10009.
The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.
NEW YORK County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
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 the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: October 10 th , 2025
ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675
SUMMONS Index No. 850218/2025 STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT – COUNTY OF NEW YORK SPECTRUM MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, LLC, Plaintiff, -vs- THE HEIRS AT LARGE OF MARY THOMPKINS, deceased, and all persons who are spouses, widows, grantees, mortgagees, lienors, heirs, devisees, distributees, successors in interest of such of them as may be dead, and their husbands and wives, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors of interest of all of whom and whose names and places are unknown to Plaintiff; CHARLENE THOMPKINS; SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS LLC; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; THE CITY OF NEW YORK, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT; Defendants. Mortgaged Premises: 233 EAST 115TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10029 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S): YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. Your failure to appear or answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you, unless the Defendant obtained a bankruptcy discharge and such other or further relief as may be just and equitable. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer to the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. NEW YORK County is designated as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the location of the mortgaged premises. Dated: September 30, 2024 Mark K. Broyles, Esq. FEIN SUCH & CRANE, LLP
Attorneys for Plaintiff Office and P.O. Address 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800 Rochester, New York 14614 Telephone No. (585) 232-7400 Block: 1665 Lot: 16 NATURE AND OBJECT OF ACTION The object of the above action is to foreclose a mortgage held by the Plaintiff recorded in the County of NEW
Street, Suite 1800 Rochester, New York 14614 Telephone No. (585) 232-7400 Block: 1665 Lot: 16 NATURE AND OBJECT OF ACTION
The object of the above action is to foreclose a mortgage held by the Plaintiff recorded in the County of NEW YORK, State of New York as more particularly described in the Complaint herein. TO THE DEFENDANT, the plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action. To the above named defendants: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of HON. Francis A. Kahn, III Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated October 22, 2025 and filed along with the supporting papers in the NEW YORK County Clerk’s Office. This is an action to foreclose a Mortgage. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land together with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York Mortgaged Premises: 233 EAST 115TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10029 Tax Map/ Parcel ID No.: Block: 1665 Lot: 16 of the BOROUGH of NEW YORK, NY 10029 87886
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee on behalf of HSI Asset Securitization Corporation Trust 2006-HE2, Plaintiff AGAINST STATE4RS LLC; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 18, 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 November 19, 2025, at 2:15PM, premises known as 262 Mott Street, Apt. 4RS, New York, NY 10012. The Condominium Unit No. 4RS in the building (hereinafter referred to as the "Building") known by the street number 262 Mott Street, Borough of Manhattan and State of New York, Block 508 Lot 1167. Approximate amount of judgment $521,552.09 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 850216/2022. Mark McKew, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 4304792 Dated: October 1, 2025 87487
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NEW YORK COUNTY. WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOLDERS OF CD 2019-CD8 MORTGAGE TRUST COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2019-CD8, Pltf. vs. 63 SPRING LAFAYETTE, LLC, et al Deft. Index# 850042/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered April 23, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. prem. k/a 63 Spring Street, New York, NY a/k/a Block 496, Lot 34. Approximate amount of judgment is $28,125,967.56 plus cost and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. ELAINE SHAY, Referee. BALLARD SPAHR LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 1675 Broadway, 19 Floor, New York, NY. #102567
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ JEFFREY L. BROWNELL, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated September 3, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on December 10, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, being an undivided owner ship interest as tenant‑in‑com mon with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the build ing located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an appurtenant undivided .015838% common interest per centage. This is a foreclosure on ownership interest in a time share unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Decla ration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37. Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019
Approximate amount of lien $16,215.93 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850230/2023.
JEFFREY MILLER, ESQ., Ref eree DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 DLG# 39147 {* AMSTERDAM*}
SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK.
NYCTL 1998‑2 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs ‑against‑ CLIFTON EDWARDS, et al Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein on July 15, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Court house, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on November 19, 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, known and designated as Block 1751 and Lot 66 on the New York County Tax Assess ment Map.
Said premises known as 14 EAST 127TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10035
Approximate amount of lien $28,613.51 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 151788/2024. TOM KLEINBERGER, ESQ., Referee
Phillips Lytle LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiffs
100 S. Clinton Avenue, Suite 2900, Rochester, NY 14604
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ CHARLES SANIDA, et al De fendant(s). Pursuant to a Judg ment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 12, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Court house, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on December 3, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, being an undivided owner ship interest as tenant‑in‑com mon with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the build ing located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an appurtenant undivid ed 0.01972800000% common interest percentage. This is a foreclosure on ownership inter est in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declara tions. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37.
Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019
Approximate amount of lien $22,613.73 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 850184/2023.
SOFIA BALILE, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 DLG# 39295 {* AMSTERDAM*}
Zeanie B. LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 4/1/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 261 West 136 Street, New York,NY 10030. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Simpler Eats LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/03/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 200 Rector Pl, 26H, New York, New York, 10280. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Valura LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/7/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 2825 Snyder Ave, Apt 4B, Brooklyn, NY 11226. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Woven Audiobooks Llc Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 9/29/25. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 712 W 176th St, New York NY 10033 Purpose: Any lawful act.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ ZORAN DJUMIC, DINA DJUMIC, BISERKA PLEVKO DUMIC, et al Defendant(s). Pur suant to a Judgment of Foreclo sure and Sale dated September 3, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auc tion in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on December 10, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhat tan, County of New York, City and State of New York, being an undivided ownership interest as tenant‑in‑common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an appurtenant undivided .009864% common interest percentage. This is a foreclosure on ownership inter est in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declara tions. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37.
Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019
Approximate amount of lien $25,032.17 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850328/2023. SOFIA BALILE, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 DLG# 39177 {* AMSTERDAM*}
NEUTRALSMATTER LLC
Limited Liability Company Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/01/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 301 WEST 110TH STREET, Ste 6U, New York, NY 10026 Purpose: Any lawful act.
Bonds Pilates, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on October 10, 2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 370 E 79th Street Apt C909, New York, NY 10021. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Brand Mystique LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/07/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 251 W81 St 7E, NY, NY 10024 Purpose: Any lawful act.
Nooka Management LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/20/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 455 Main St, Apt 12A, New York, NY 10044. Purpose: Any lawful act.
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK. AXOS BANK, Plaintiff -against- HUDSON 805 LLC, et al Defendant(s). Index Number 850233/2022. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated November 26, 2024 and entered on February 3, 2025 (the “Judgment”), I, the undersigned Referee will sell at a public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, New York on November 12, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. (E.T.) premises situate, all that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, known as Unit No. 805-06 in the building known as the Printing House Condominium. Together with an undivided 0.0124% interest in the Common Elements. District: Block: 601 and Lot: 1155 Said premises known as 421 HUDSON STREET, UNIT 805/806, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10014.
Approximate amount of lien $7,584,837.12 plus post-judgment interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the filed Judgment and the Terms of Sale.
JEFFREY MILLER, ESQ., Referee
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP
Attn: Benjamin O. Gilbert bogilbert@sheppardmullin.com Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 (212) 896-0682
{* AMSTERDAM*}
NH PROPERTY SERVICES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/16/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 28 W 38TH STREET, SUITE 8W, NEW YORK, NY, 10018. Purpose: Any lawful act.
THE Y3 COLLECTIVE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/01/2025. Office location: NEW YORK County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 188 LUDLOW STREET, APT. 20J, NEW YORK, NY, 10002, USA. Purpose: Any lawful act.
PURPLE ARROW PRODUCTIONS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/08/25. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 8333 Braesmain Drive, Apartment 1459, Houston, TX 77025. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of TCB JV MEMBER LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/13/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 1411 Broadway, 34th Fl., NY, NY 10018. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of 22ND STREET 9DE LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/29/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/28/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19608. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of DE, Corps. Divs., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of 408 BWAY REALTY MEMBER, LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/30/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/21/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to United American Land, LLC, 73 Spring St., 6th Fl., NY, NY 10012. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of 419 MM MEMBER, LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/30/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/21/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to United American Land, LLC, 73 Spring St., 6th Fl., NY, NY 10012. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of ARRAS LIHTC OWNER, LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/24/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of ARRAS OWNER, LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/24/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of ASPEN DOBBIN BORROWER LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/30/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/12/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of formation of Bluestone Mani LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/21/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to UNITED STATES CORPORATION AGENTS, INC. : 7014 13th Avenue Suite 202 Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION of Derventio UW LLC. App. for Auth. filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/06/25. LLC formed in California on 01/31/24. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 33 Raven Rd. San Anselmo, CA 94960. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
Notice of Qualification of HMG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/14/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/12/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of DE, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of IRC AIRBEL VENTURES LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/24/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/20/23. Princ. office of LLC: 122 East 42nd St., NY, NY 10168. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Formation of NEW YORK DENTAL COLLABORATIVE, LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/22/2025. Office loc.: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address SSNY shall mail process to Arti Jagirdar, 17 W. 24th St., Floor 2, New York, NY 10010. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of JOSEPHINE TOWERS PRESERVATION GP, LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of JOSEPHINE TOWERS PRESERVATION, L.P.
Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LP: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. Latest date on which the LP may dissolve is 12/31/2125. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of Levittown SL OpCo LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/17/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/04/25. Princ. office of LLC: 745 Fifth Ave., 25th Fl., NY, NY 10151. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808-1674. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 3, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of Levittown SL PropCo LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/17/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/04/25. Princ. office of LLC: 745 Fifth Ave., 25th Fl., NY, NY 10151. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808-1674. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 3, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company ("LLC"). Name: Rangel PACT JV, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State ofthe State ofNew York (SSNY) on August 29, 2025. N.Y. office location: New York County. The SSNY has been designated as agent ofthe LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to Rangel PACT JV, LLC, c/o Genesis Companies, 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, New York, New York 10151. Purpose/character ofLLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.
Notice of Qualification of MT 35HY HOTEL LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/25/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/17/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of MT 35HY LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/25/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/17/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of PATRIOT HYDRO FUNDING, LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/22/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/27/22. Princ. office of LLC: 1700 Broadway, 35th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of RBC MUNICIPAL CAPITAL, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/17/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/02/24. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps. - John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of WUNGOO HOLDINGS LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/22/25. 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, 300 E 64th St., Apt. 27C, NY, NY 10065. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Florihana Realty LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on August 23, 2025. Office location: Richmond County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 626 New Dorp Lane, Staten Island, NY 10306. Purpose: Lessor of real estate.
Notice of Qualification of SKYTON BEAUTY LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/30/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/03/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of SQUIRE VILLAGE PRESERVATION, L.P. Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/07/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LP: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. Latest date on which the LP may dissolve is 12/31/2125. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Qualification of TANAKA NYC LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/13/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/10/25. Princ. office of LLC: 428 Greenwich St., NY, NY 10013. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of DE, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of VISUALIZING HERBALISM, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/14/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: Attn: Lillian Luu, 222 Riverside Dr., 3F, NY, NY 10025. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE OF FORMATION of VITRUVIAN MAN ENTERPRISES, LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/22/2025. Office location: NY county. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 177 Duane Street, #6 New York, NY 10013. Purpose: any lawful act.
Notice of Formation of MARGARET NELL LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/26/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 325 East 79th St., Apt. 2A, NY, NY 10075. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Emily M. Bromley at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
CAXBYTE STUDIOS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/15/2025. Office location: New York County County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 1171 2nd Ave, Apt 3S, New York, NY 10065. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Canaan Farms Entertainment LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/27/2016. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: P.O. Box 322086, New York, NY 10032. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Due Processors LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 9/26/25. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 41 State St, Ste 112, Albany, NY 12207 Purpose: Any lawful act.
Gilded City Creations LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 6/10/25. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 255 W 108 St. 10A, New York, NY 10025. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Hunting Ridge Capital LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 6/23/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 144 E 24th Street. APT 1A, New York, NY 10010. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Lithos Studio 'LLC' Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/08/25. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 500 W 18th St Apt E19D, New York, NY 10011. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Lumina Next LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/1/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 228 Park Ave S #286218 , New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Meg Barber Basketball LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 18th Of June, 2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail to: 115 Broadway Suite 1602, New York, New York 10006. Purpose: Any lawful act.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF HEATHER STEPANEK PLLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/16/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy to 165 Broadway, FL 23, New York, NY 10006. The principal business address of the PLLC is 165 Broadway, FL 23, New York, NY 10006. Purpose: the practice of law.
Notice of formation of Wellbeeings LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/18/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to United States Corporation Agents, Inc.: 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
101 E 9 DEVELOPER LLC.
Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/16/25. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, c/o Peraino Malinowski LLP, 152 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Formation of 130 W 19th 8D LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/3/25. Office location: New York County. NY Sec. of State designated agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served, and shall mail process to 130 West 19th St, Apt 8D, New York, NY 10011. Purpose: any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of 1313 SIGN COMPANY LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/16/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 450 Seventh Ave., 45th Fl., NY, NY 11418. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of ThrillHouse LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/14/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #NA-0370-25134375 for beer, wine & liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine & liquor at retail in a Legitimate Theater under the ABC Law at 308 W. 46th St., New York, NY 10036 for on-premises consumption; Out of the Box Theatrics Inc.
Notice of Qualification of WASABI ROLLOVER LLC
Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/30/25. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 05/06/24. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of DD GANSEVOORT LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/29/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 7 Penn Plaza, Ste. 600, NY, NY 10001. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of formation of Endo Exo Studio LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/24/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to United States Corporation Agents, Inc.: 7014 13th avenue, suite 202, brooklyn, ny, 11218. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Metamechanics Architecture PLLC.
6/24/2025. New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. 236 West 27th St Suite 1303, New York, New York 10001. 236 West 27th St Suite 1303, New York, New York 10001. Architecture.
Notice of formation of Catalyst 48 LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/21/25. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Erica Leone, 280 Park Ave S NY,NY 10010. Purpose: any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of LITTLE EGG PRODUCTIONS LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/23/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 321 President St., Apt. 3, Brooklyn, NY 11231. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Rose Gendelman at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of ASBURY PARK DEVELOPER, LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/07/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice is hereby given that a license, serial #NA-0340-25103028 for beer, wine & liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine & liquor at retail in a restaurant under the ABC Law at 994 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10025 for on-premises consumption; Limone LLC
Notice of formation of Papilio Strategies LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 9/12/25. Office located in NY County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC at 7 Park Ave #116, NY NY 10016. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
NOTICE is hereby given that a license, number NA-0370-24135212 for liquor, wine, beer & cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor, wine, beer & cider at retail in a bar/tavern under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 4371 3rd Ave; Bronx, NY 10457 in Bronx County for on premises consumption. Zion Restaurant and Lounge Corp d/b/a Zion Restaurant and Lounge
Notice of Formation of ASBURY PARK PRESERVATION GP, LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/07/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 30 Hudson Yards, 72nd Fl., NY, NY 10001. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of FARNER NARNER, LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/29/25. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 200 Park Ave. South, 8th Fl., NY, NY 10003. 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.
J AND J WARRIOR LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/27/25. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 872 Madison Avenue, #2A, New York, NY 10021. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
Notice of Qualification of AP CREDIT SOLUTIONS HOLDINGS (AIV) II, L.P. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/08/25. Office location: NY County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/26/24. Princ. office of LP: Attn: General Counsel, 9 W. 57th St., 43rd Fl., NY, NY 10019. Duration of LP is Perpetual. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the Partnership at the princ. office of the LP. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of LP filed with The Secy. of State of the State of DE, Dept. of State, Div. of Corps., John Townsend Bldg., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
M/WBE bids sought for 272 Seagirt Boulevard Far Rockaway NY construction project. A scope meeting will be held on November 11 Contact bidding@taxaceny.com for details
Daniel Adam Goldstein LCSW PLLC filed w/ SSNY 8/26/25. Off. in NY Co. Process served to SSNY - desig. as agt. of PLLC & mailed to the PLLC, 424 E. 52nd St, #5C, NY, NY 10022. Any lawful purpose.
Occupational Therapist Pri ority Care Staffing. Full time. Bronx. 75,712/year (36.4/ hour) Evaluate patients’ conditions; Develop and implement treatment plans; Demonstrate exercises to help relieve patients’ pain; Evaluate results and progress of occupational therapy on patients; Educate caregivers and family members of clients on patient care. usotjobs@prioritycarestaffing. com.
Food crisis
Continued from page 2
Yorkers about our efforts to stop the SNAP suspension. Millions of Americans rely on food stamps to survive,” posted James after visiting a soup kitchen on Nov. 3. “We’ll keep fighting for our
Additionally, the 2026 City Council budget expanded emergency food support, including $15 million for emergency food programs across all five boroughs and $57 million for the Community Food Connection program at the Human Resources Admin-
“This is not a political dispute; it’s a human crisis,” said Councilmember Yusef Salaam in a statement. “Millions of families depend on
SNAP to survive. With benefits suspended, they face impossible choices about how to feed their children and elders. The federal government must release contingency funds immediately to prevent widespread hunger.” Salaam’s district office allocated $126,000 to help organizations access food and an additional $125,000 for the Council’s Food Pantry Initiative. “Our office will continue coordinating with local partners to make sure residents know where to find food and assistance,” said Salaam in a statement. “But stopgap measures are not a substitute for the federal responsibility to ensure no one in this country goes hungry.”
SNAP TIPS & RESOURCES:
• NYS residents can still use any remaining Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) funds from October or previous months. The existing balances remain valid during the shutdown. Benefits do not expire for 12 months, but no new SNAP payments will be loaded until the federal government takes action. It’s advised to continue with recertifications and periodic reports to stay eligible for benefits.
• SNAP recipients will be notified about the status of their November benefits by the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) through the website, NYC ACCESS HRA, myBenefits, or the ebtEDGE app.
• Those in need of immediate food assistance can use the City Harvest Map, the NYC Food Finder, or Food Bank for NYC Food Map to find food pantries and free meals. You can also call 311 to find nearby food pantries or soup kitchens.
Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman (left) and NYS Attorney General Letitia James (right) serving food at the soup kitchen in Brooklyn on Nov. 3. (Ariama C. Long photo)
Bronx Legends Boxing Academy: A different boxing gym is born in The Bronx
By TONY PAIGE Special to the AmNews
What do Jake LaMotta, Iran Barkley, and Davey Moore have in common besides being boxing world champions? They’re all from the Bronx, of course. There is a brand new boxing gym on Walton Ave. in the Boogie Down that stresses confidence, hard work, discipline, and no pros.
“And that was by design,” says Jay Bulger, the executive director and brainchild of the threemonth-old Bronx Legends Boxing Academy. It’s more than just boxing. It’s a lifestyle for young people. For instance, if you’re over 15 minutes late, you don’t get to train. You have to do your homework because the 400 pugilists range in age from 12 to 21.
“Out of 400 kids, all of them are novices. I wanted to start with everyone on the same page so there’s no confusion,” notes Bulger, an Emmy-nominated writer and director. There are 12 trainers working with the boxers dedicated to teaching the craft the correct way.
“I can challenge them to have some type of structure in their life,” states Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, the former WBO middleweight champ and former Bronx resident. “It’s free, but you should be putting out the effort.”
“It’s the hardest thing to get in
these kids’ heads, working with that discipline and suffering.” And you read right. The program is free. One young charge who welcomes the Academy’s discipline is Steven Cruz, a 15-year-old sophomore from Taft High School, not too far from the gym.
“My mom gave me the idea of coming to it. I thought it’d be cool to try it out,” says Cruz, who’s in the Medical Science school at Taft and has been in the Academy for two months. “The first day I came out, I loved it and automatically connected with the people here. I’m learning a lot.”
He is also weighing his options in two fields. “I was either thinking
of taking my boxing career to another level or studying computer science,” he admits. So how does a free inner city boxing program work? You need help and partners. The Academy has partnered with the Cops ‘n’ Kids Program, but is not run by the NYPD. Bulger has put a substantial financial amount out of his own pocket, but it also helps to have donors on the same page like Giorgos Tsetis CEO and co-founder of Nutrafol, the number one hair care formula for women; Mark Cuban, former owner of the NBA’S Dallas Mavericks; Ed Clay, co-founder of CPI Stem Cells; and even the UFC’s CEO Dana White who’s scheduled
to stop by in early November.
Most have donated money and UFC equipment is throughout the gym. Another one of the coaches is Bronxite Leon Washington Jr. His father was the trainer of the aforementioned Davey Moore, the former WBA junior middleweight champ.
“It’s 4:15 [p.m.] and after they do their homework, that’s idle time,” notes Washington. “Idle time is the devil’s time. So now they’ve got something to do with that time.” It moves him to see the kids thriving because Washington has seen the other side.
“I worked in the juvenile prison [system] for 25 years,” he explains.
Besides the body, the Academy strengthens minds with upcoming SHSAT and SAT tutoring, mandatory strength and conditioning classes on Monday, with added classes in Qigong and Tai Chi martial arts, yoga, and meditation.
The Academy, open six days a week, is a 13,500-square-foot former basketball gym complete with two rings, multiple heavy bags, speed bags, double-end bags, weights, treadmills, and a classroom for those a tad tardy. It is both clean and spiffy. Bulger also knows the gym is good for the young ladies in the Academy.
“Some days it’s probably 30 to 40 percent girls and they are really my base,” points out Bulger, 44, born in Washington, D.C., who resides in the Bronx and is a Fordham University grad. “They’re my ideal candidates for this program. … Most of them are here to get in good shape and learn how to defend themselves.”
Bulger’s mile-a-minute cadence comes from his self-announced “crazy ADD,” but his passion is honest. “There’s one thing that the Bronx has like nowhere else, is toughness, right?” he queries. “People here are so resilient and special and one-of-a-kind.”
Anyone wishing to register or donate to the Bronx Legends Boxing Academy can call 516-945-0167 or go to bronxlegendsboxing.com.
Columbia University wrestler Sulayman Bah inspires beyond the mat
By TYRESE ALLYENE-DAVIS Special to the AmNews
“Coach Webb and Coach Ross really believed in me. They told me over and over when I was in middle school and high school how good I could be and how much ability I had. They gave me their full support no matter what.”
For Columbia University junior grappler Sulayman Bah, a Gambian-born folkstyle wrestler from The Bronx, New York, mental toughness sits at the center of the blueprint he used to build himself into the athlete he is today. At age 11 and just 75 pounds, under the guidance of wrestling coach Tyrone Webb of M.S. 129, Bah began developing both his body and his mindset. Over time, his muscles became more defined, and his vision for the future sharper.
After a strong middle school wrestling run, his raw talent and
natural ability caught the attention of Kiski School boys wrestling head coach Joseph Ross. From the moment the Bah family toured the Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, boarding school, they saw the vision and felt the values that their son would be taught, especially under the guidance of Coach Ross and his staff. By the time Sulayman finished his high school wrestling career, he was among the nation’s best.
At The Kiski School in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, Sulayman became a two-year starter in high school competitions at 113 and 120 pounds. He earned the honor of being a two-time National Prep All-American, placing second as a sophomore and eighth as a senior, and also became a National High School Coaches Association Junior All-American, finishing sixth nationally, along the way becoming a four-time letterman.
Now 5’ 9” and 125 pounds, Bah reflected on a moment when he was in eighth grade that he wishes he could go back to, the semifinals at the National High School Coaches Association Nationals.
“If I could go back to my eighth-grade self and share any wisdom that I currently have or give my younger self any advice for that time, I would definitely tell myself to believe I can win and not be satisfied with [being an All-American].”
Bah, whose father, Dawda, is a Columbia alumnus, regularly reminds himself of the true purpose behind his wrestling journey. He often volunteers with the Beat the Streets program, a wrestling mentorship initiative for middle school and high school wrestlers. Through the program, he shares with young athletes a formula to succeed in sports and academics, a goal he continually pursues.
Columbia University wrestler Sulayman Bah in a match against Brown University. (Sulayman Bah photos)
Taft High School Student Steven Cruz being trained by former WBO middleweight champion Peter “Kid” Guillin at the Bronx Legends Boxing Academy. (Tony Paige photo)
The Knicks reset back home at Madison Square Garden for a seven-game stretch
By JAIME C. HARRIS
AmNews Sports Editor
After going 0-3 on their first road trip of this season, the Knicks returned home to Madison Square Garden on Sunday to defeat the Chicago Bulls 128-116, prior to falling to the Bulls in Chicago two days earlier by 135-125. They began the three-game trek losing to the Miami Heat 115-107, followed by a 121-111 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. But they will have time to examine and correct their flaws during the current seven-game home stretch.
The one somewhat positive takeaway in the midst of their games away from MSG was center Mitch Robinson making his season debut as he logged 20 minutes versus the Bulls in Chicago. Robinson had been held out due to what the Knicks termed “left ankle management.”
The 7-footer has had two surgeries on his problematic ankle, the first in December 2023 to address a stress fracture and again in May of 2024 to repair a stress injury.
Robinson was in the lineup for 13 minutes, facing the Bulls on Monday. However, the downside is that he sat out against the Wizards, and Knicks head coach
Mike Brown informed the media that Robinson will be on a minutes restriction for the foreseeable future, which translates into also sitting out games to limit the wear and tear on his fragile ankle.
“It’s just part of his load management,” informed Brown. “We’ll keep doing that throughout the course of the year. Whatever they (the medical staff and front office)
tell me, I’m gonna do.” The Knicks hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves last night at the Garden, with Robinson’s availability uncertain as of AmNews press time. The Timberwolves were without star guard Anthony Edwards, who is recovering from a right hamstring strain he sustained on October 26.
The Knicks, who were 4-3 going into last night, are still endeavor-
ing to gain positive consistency on both ends of the court, mastering Brown’s systems and schemes implemented in his first season leading the team. With legitimate championship aspirations, they sat outside of the top 10 in most important statistical metrics such as offensive and defensive ratings, net rating, assist ratio, assist percentage, and as-
sists-to-turnover ratio.
The numbers are bound to improve, especially as forward Karl-Anthony Towns continues to become more grounded in Brown’s offense. The five-time All-Star looked unsure and out of sorts offensively in the first few games of this season, but is gradually acclimating to playing in a drive-and-kick, fastpaced system, a variance from what former head coach Tom Thibodeau employed last season, despite the Knicks being below the top 10 in pace.
On Monday, Towns scored a season-high 33 points and had a team-high 13 rebounds against the Wizards. “KAT was a monster,” said Brown. “He’s starting to feel and find his rhythm in what we’re trying to do. I’m telling you, there’s still a lot of room there to grow. Not just for him, but for us to learn from him, starting with me…” Towns’ take on his performance was more elemental. “Same mindset as every other game: just win the game,” he assessed. “I had the chances tonight to get some more shots up, so I just had to capitalize on it.”
Next up for the Knicks at MSG will be the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday and the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
With its tallest-ever team, Columbia takes aim at the Ivy’s No. 1 spot
By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews
The last few seasons have seen Columbia University women’s basketball achieve milestones. Senior forward Susie Rafiu and senior guard/ forward Perri Page enter the 2025–26 basketball season as three-time Ivy League regular season champions. Their goal for this season is to win the Ivy League Tournament, which would earn Columbia an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament. While the Lions have played in the tournament the past two seasons, they did not know they’d secured a spot until the televised announcement show.
“This team, they really want to win the Ivy League Tournament…and beyond that,” said Columbia head coach Megan
Griffith, who is in her 10th season. “Right now, we’re putting the pieces of the puzzle together. … I’m excited to see what we can do. This team has the potential to be one of the best teams that ever played here.”
While that is certainly a longterm goal, for now, the players are taking it one day at a time, prioritizing effective communication and trust on the court.
The team has four first-year players and one transfer, junior Hilke Feldrappe, a 6-foot-3 forward who joins Columbia after two seasons at the University of Missouri. Junior guard Fliss Henderson is rejoining the team after stepping away last season.
When asked how she is moving into a leadership role, Page said experiencing the leadership of last year’s seniors, Kitty Henderson and Cecelia Collins, showed her the way. “Stepping up to the plate knowing that I have a lot
of space in terms of them, but I’m really ready to attack it,” Page said. “Putting my own spin and personality into it as well. Making sure that I’m empathetic to my teammates, but also holding them to a standard in order for us to win.”
Griffith, Rafiu, Page, and junior guard Riley Weiss all noted that this team has a height advantage. “We’re really versatile this year, and we’re the biggest team I think Coach G’s ever had,” said Weiss. “This is our first year we’ve had a lot of depth in our front court,” said Griffith.
While proud of successes, Page said what’s past is past. “This is a completely new season, a new team,” she said. “We’re just taking it one day at a time, honestly, and moving forward.” Rafiu added, “The good thing is that we now know what it takes.”
From left to right (l-r) Perri Page, Riley Weiss and Susie Rafiu lead Columbia women’s hoops into the 2025–26 season. (Columbia University Athletics photo)
Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) watches teammate, guard Jordan Clarkson, rise at the rim in the Knicks’ 119-102 win over the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. (Bill Moore photo)
Riverside Hawks hold Power of the Game 2025 Fundraising Gala
By LOIS ELFMAN
Special to the AmNews
Supporters of the Riverside Hawks, a coed Harlem-based program that has impacted generations of young people through basketball and youth development, gathered at the Grill & Pool restaurant last week for the 2025 fundraising gala. The event celebrated The Power of the Game — from gamesmanship on the court to the academic discipline and career skills that basketball and the program impart.
This year’s honorees reflected the gala’s theme. One of them, Erika Irish Brown, head of talent management and engagement at Citi, decided instead of speeches, they would present a panel discussion. Moderating the panel, she was joined by fellow honorees, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, “the dynamic duo from the Bronx” behind the Earn Your Leisure Network, and Jose Minaya, global head of BNY Investments and Wealth, as well as coach Keydren Clark of Saint Peter’s University (a program alum), and writer/ producer Crystal McCrary McGuire (Riverside Hawks parent).
“We really wanted to deliver some thought leadership and content around the importance of the program,” said Irish Brown.
“We talked about the power of the game of basketball and how it changes lives and how it’s a means to acquire education at great institutions. Financial literacy is something that we provide our players. We talked about how NIL and the
transfer portal have changed the game a bit and what people need to know. It was a great conversation showcasing everything that Riverside does for the players and the broader community.”
In addition to the High Academic League 17U championship team, there were coaches and other players. Two of Irish Brown’s three sons played with the River-
side Hawks, noting they built relationships that they will have their whole lives. “People who have helped develop them as young men, not just as players,” she said. Her son Brad presented the Coach of the Year award to Zach Kuba. Phil Isom, chair of the board of the Riverside Hawks, said it was a very impactful night. Kuba referred to the Hawks as a com-
munity. “It really speaks to how you can bring people together around something other than political animosity and discourse,” said Isom. “Zach’s team is a diverse group of people from a wide range of backgrounds and they came together to have a really incredible season and win a championship that was a testament to people coming together.”
Jessica Carter and Amberly Klam recognized as Toyota Everyday Heroes
By LOIS ELFMAN
Special to the AmNews
The 10th class of Toyota Everyday Heroes was honored at last week’s espnW: Women + Sports Summit in Ojai, California. Jessica Carter, a former college basketball player, founded the nonprofit organization HER Sports in her Virginia community to ensure that the current generation of girls has the same opportunities and benefits that she experienced through sports. Amberly Klam, meanwhile, founded Texas Fury with the mission to create an outlet for local girls to learn and play competitive flag football in an inclusive environment.
“The power of being seen, not for the spotlight, but for the impact,” said Carter of the honor. “It means that the long days, quiet sacrifices, and behind-thescenes work truly matter. … I am proof that purpose and passion haven’t gone unnoticed.”
The Heroes each received grants of $15,000 for their organizations. HER Sports addresses challenges and barriers that keep
girls from taking part in sports. There are four core programs, which focus on both development and fun competitive basketball and flag football. Carter
noted that the grant provides more resources for the participants to attend sporting events and gain exposure to the sports world.
“From their first moments of uncertainty and hesitation to the point where they begin to open up and truly participate, the safe space that we provide allows girls
to be themselves,” said Carter.
After going to the NFL Flag Nationals, Klam saw boys intently competing and wanted to see the same for girls. The coach of her daughter’s team was retiring and asked if she wanted to take over. Texas Fury began with one team in 2017. Klam has strategically overseen the organization’s growth into a year-round program expanding across the Central Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio areas.
Klam has watched the sport of flag football significantly increase girls’ participation. Earlier this year, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics officially recommended that flag football join the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. Klam noted that 17 Texas Fury alumnae currently play collegiate flag football.
“This is something that these girls are now shifting their interests to playing flag, instead of basketball or soccer,” said Klam. “Flag football is no longer just a rec sport they can play for fun. It’s giving them opportunities that they dreamed of.”
Toyota Everyday Heroes awardees Jessica Carter (center left) and Amberly Klam (center right) with TV personality Sarah Spain (l) and Team Toyota athlete Jess Sims (r). (Photo courtesy of espnW)
Riverside Hawks 2025 Fundraising Gala honoree and board member Erika Irish Brown (l) with her sister, Lesleigh Irish Underwood.
Honoree Rashad Bilal (l) with his father and son. (Nkosi Hamilton photos)
Sports
The Jets look toward the future by trading Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams
BY JAIME C. HARRIS
AmNews Sports Editor
In a period of a few hours on Tuesday, the day of the NFL trade deadline, the Jets perhaps altered the trajectory of the franchise that has trended downward for the better part of the last 20 years.
Being aggressive and forward thinking, Jets General Manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, both in their first seasons in their respective positions, with the evident approval of owner Robert “Woody” Johnson, executed two stunning trades that someday may be viewed as the catalyst for the Jets winning a Super Bowl.
Ending what will be a 15-year playoff drought at the close of this season tops the Jets’ leadership agenda. They took the first step toward that goal on Tuesday by acquiring significant draft capital — trading 25-year-old, two-time first-team All-Pro cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for 2026 and 2027
first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
Shortly after that trade was announced, news broke that the Jets had made another blockbuster move — sending 27-year-old defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, a 2022 first-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection, to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-
rounder. The Jets drafted Williams third overall in 2019 and Gardner fourth overall in 2022.
The 1-7 Jets, who will play the 2-6 Cleveland Browns on Sunday at home at MetLife Stadium, now have two first-round and two second-round picks in next year’s draft, along with three first-rounders in 2027. The situation is reminiscent of the Cowboys’ famous 1989 trade
that laid the foundation for a dynasty and three Super Bowl titles.
Back then, the Cowboys dealt star running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings, with the then–San Diego Chargers also involved. In return, Dallas received five players and nine draft picks. While the deals share some similarities, history shows that the Cowboys — led by Hall of Fame coach
and deal architect Jimmy Johnson — thoroughly fleeced the Vikings. The Jets’ trades, by contrast, appear to be win-wins for all parties involved.
“Never easy moving on from any player,” said Mougey, “let alone guys like Sauce and Quinnen … We got to today and we had these offers that we felt were too good for the team [to forgo] and we made that with Sauce and Quinnen.”
There have been reports that Williams’ relationship with the Jets’ new leadership was fractured and that he requested a trade, preferably to the 3-5-1 Cowboys, who have been focused on fortifying their interior defensive line. Gardner, who had no idea he was a trade consideration until it happened, is now with a team piloted by former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones that is tied with the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots for the best record in the league at 7-2.
On the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Gardner posted: “New York it’s been real,” followed by a green heart.
Runners from across the world find purpose in record-setting NYC Marathon
By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews
The 54th edition of the TCS New York City Marathon took place this past Sunday, organized by the New York Road Runners and featuring a record-setting 59,226 participants from over 130 countries.
The grueling 26.2-mile course that went through all five boroughs saw Kenyan Hellen Obiri break a 22-year-old course record on her way to capturing her second women’s open division title in a time of 2:19:51.
“Honestly, I didn’t know I was on a record-setting pace because what was in my mind was to win the race, and then when I crossed the finish line and I saw 2:19, I said oh my goodness, that was so fast,” Obiri, a three-time Olympic medalist who became the eighth woman to repeat as winner after her 2023 win, she said to AmNews Monday morning.
On the men’s side, fellow Kenyan Benson Kipruto outlasted coun-
tryman Alexander Mutiso in a historically close finish, 2:08:09 to 2:08:09.03 to win the men’s open division. Kenyans finished first, second, and third in both the men’s and women’s races.
Marcel Hug won his seventh men’s wheelchair division championship, and American Susannah Scaroni won her second consecutive wom-
en’s wheelchair division title. For most of the participants who crossed the finish line, running had a purpose, and for Cole Cook, Creative Producer of AK Worldwide, Founder of Timeless Eye, and brother of 15-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, the inspiration came from raising funds for Keep a Child Alive (KCA), the
nonprofit co-founded by his famous sibling. Cook assembled a team of nine other nonprofessional runners to form Team KCA and raise awareness and funds for the organization. He shared with the AmNews that he plans for the marathon fund-
raiser, which sets a goal to raise at least $200,000, to become an annual event, and is excited for the 2026 marathon.
Native New Yorker and educator
Cassandra Smith spoke about not only her inspiration for running, but also the health benefits it provides Black people.
“I started running because I used to work out in the park by myself, and when I would finish, I would go for walks, and I would see people running,” she said. “The more I got into it, I realized, it will help with high blood pressure, it helps with diabetes, it helps with heart conditions, and my dad suffers from those things, so it became a form of medicine also.”
New York City Marathon winners from left to right, Benson Kipruto, Hellen Obiri, Marcel Hug, and Susannah Scaroni. (New York Road Runners photo)
(L-R) The Jets traded All-Pro defensive players Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams on Tuesday for a haul of first round picks. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, AP Photo/Doug Murray)
