OUR TIME PRESS | November 15 – 21, 2018

| From the Villa ge of Brook ly n |

OUR TIME PRESS THE L OCAL PAPER WITH THE G LOBAL VIEW

| VOL. 22 NO. 46

November 15 – 21, 2018 |

Since 1996

Jumaane to Run for Public Advocate

At a spirited press conference on the steps of City Hall, yesterday afternoon, Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams launched his campaign for the office of Public Advocate. He was joined by Councilpersons Ben Kallos, Andy King and Brad Lander and supporters, Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte, NYPAN Co-Chair Traci Strickland, members of the Mason Tenders' District Council Local 79 and the Working Families Party-- all buoyed by energized and engaged New York voters who want to see change. Page 3

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View From Here ■■

By David Mark Greaves

he elections are two weeks past and the votes are still being counted. If there is one thing we’ve learned from this election is that every vote counts and every vote needs to be counted.

Voter suppression is, I think, the third original sin of the Republic; it comes after the genocide of the Indigenous People and the enslavement of Africans, but the Founding Fathers cut them all from the same cloth. They believed that only persons such as themselves, land-owning white males, were qualified to run the country. It’s a strand in the country’s DNA and genetic editing is hard.

Alaska, North Dakota and South Dakota have a combined population of 2.349 million and six U. S. senators between them.

Brooklyn, with its 2.649 million

people, has to share two senators with the rest of the state and that imbalance is not going to change. It was originally put in place to provide a check on the “tyranny of the majority” by the larger states, and now it has become the tyranny of a minority of the nation’s population.

What can be changed are the voter suppression tactics being instigated by state legislatures.

With the Democrats gaining seven governorships, six state legislative chambers, and more than 300 state House and Senate seats, they are able to control any reapportionment after the 2020 Census as well as remedy voting restrictions set in place by the previous Republican administration.

With the margins of victory ➔➔ Continued on page 11

Protest Against Amazon Deal Done in Secret

Chelsea Connor of the RWDSU (Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union) speaks out against the proposed Amazon headquarters for L.I.C. See Page 3.

Photo: ABC News

Voter Suppression Efforts May Fall Short in Georgia and Florida Page 11

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OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

VOL. 22 NO. 46

Town Hall on Five Development Projects Slated for South Crown Heights ■■

NYS Assemblyman and District leader for the 57th Assembly District Walter Mosley hosted a Town Hall and heard an array of concerns from his constituents.

Photo: Mark Stewart

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he Full Gospel Assembly in Crown Heights, opened its doors to the community on November 13, 2018 to permit the exchange of ideas and concerns about five real estate projects that could have negative environmental and social impacts.

U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (9th C.D.), Assembly Member Walter Mosley (57th A.D) and NYC Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo (35th, NYC) were invited to field questions from the people. Walter Mosley was present to chair the meeting. Yvette Clarke was represented by Anita Taylor, her district director and Dominique Grant, director of constituent services and district affairs represented Laurie Cumbo. Taylor and Bryant chose to sit in the front pews rather than join Mosley at the front table.

Five projects of concern were discussed.

One was the laundry facility at 40 Crown Street, which is currently a one-story brick

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structure. The plan is to clear the site to construct two 16-story towers containing 165 units of affordable housing: 12 units for middle-income households, 165 units at market rate and 48 condominiums.

Six towers are proposed for the six-story brick spice factory at 960 Franklin Avenue.

This project has been presented to the NYC Department of City Planning and negotiations are in progress. At 1535 Bedford Avenue, the plan is to replace the BP gas station with a significant mass structure, (currently at nine floors). The First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, located at 450 Eastern Parkway, is at the initial stages of discussion within the church membership. Key parameters to this nascent project are that the property will remain in the hands of the church wherein the church building will be demolished, the property will be leased and any structure built on the land would be done by a developer chosen by the church.

The fifth project is the Bedford Union Armory, located at 1579 Bedford Avenue.

BFC Partners has been selected to redevelop it. Much rancor exists surrounding it, due to traffic congestion, insufficient parking space, the allocation of housing units deemed affordable and insufficient city services to support the additional population. This project was not discussed at the meeting due to time given to the previous four projects.

Though there was a relatively low turnout given the size of the sanctuary, those in attendance were passionate about developing a livable and affordable community. Sakia Fletcher, a CUNY Medgar Evers College student, performed an ad hoc poll. She asked if anyone was in favor of these projects. The vocal response was “No!” Segun Holder asked, “How do we get a discussion on responsible growth that includes what the residents want?”

By Akosua K. Albritton

Townhall meetings are where voters have the opportunity to speak directly to their representatives.

And the representatives listen because these are their voting constituents and influence the votes of others. Photo: Mark Stewart Fletcher opined that, “Developers don’t believe a conversation with the community is needed.”

To illustrate the truth of Fletcher’s statement, Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s James Harrison explained that the board of directors deliberated on the matter and was not altering its plan for the spice factory. Brooklyn CB No. 9 Chairwoman Patricia Booker was one of many who were concerned about sunlight being blocked by the towers. Walter Mosley discussed the tendency for residents to receive additional taxes when development projects are suggested. Should hotel construction be part of the developer’s plan, the public and the elected must be watchful that the hotels are used for people on vacation and not converted to homeless shelters.

Nicola Cox, a Brooklyn CB9 ULURP Committee member, said an environmental assessment of the infrastructure including schools and transportation, required execution.

LaShaun Ellis expressed frustration about the tendency to address the needs of the developers over those of community residents. Ellis said, “The environmental assessment statement was done but wasn’t adhered to,” Ellis said. “You let the developers do what they want!”

The fear of having to relocate to another community and of homelessness was apparent.

Sharon Hunt asked the question many people had in mind: “If current residents are displaced, where will they go?” Ras Omeil Morgan, another meeting attendee, fervently asked that attendees study the 5th Amendment to the Constitution, which protects citizens from having their from having the government take one’s freedom or one’s property without being convicted of a crime. The 5th Amendment also makes it harder for the government to actually convict citizens of crimes.

Publisher DBG MEDIA Editor-in-Chief David Mark Greaves Copy Editor Maitefa Angaza Columnists Eddie Castro Victoria Horsford Michael Johnson Abigail McGrath Marlon Rice Reporters Akosua Albritton Margot McKenzie Contributors Lisa Durden Fern Gillespie Web Editor www.ourtimepress.com Liani Greaves Office Manager Joanna Williams Consultant Bernice Elizabeth Green Co-Founder

Parking at night was this voter's concern.

© 2015, DBG MEDIA Publishers of Our Time Press, Inc., printed in New York City.

All rights reserved.

No part of the publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publishers.

Publishers are not responsible for any ad claims.

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The proceedings of the meeting were taped

by Movement to Protect the People’s Alicia Boyd, who was very active in the discussion surrounding Cornell Realty. She said that MTOPP has proof that, “Cornell Realty, the developers of 40 Crown Street, had violated the NYS environmental laws in their rezoning application. A subcommittee hearing on the Cornell Realty Project is slated for 9:30 AM, Thursday, November 15, 2018 at City Hall.

VOL. 22 NO. 46

Elijah and Maxine Will Have New Power in the House ■■

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Maitefa Angaza

ll eyes are on the newcomers to the House of Representatives and, in New York, on our new state Senate members. They are poised to make a major difference, along with the veteran members of both bodies whose seniority places them in powerful positions. Gridlock and obstruction on the Hill and in Albany have been a significant problem for Democratic lawmakers attempting to get the people’s work done.

But there’ll be some changes made.

Although some political pundits are advising caution and diplomacy, the people are looking for swift and energetic action on a variety of issues central to quality of life, basic rights and financial sustainability for households, to name just a few. While the new guard is getting the heat and light at the moment, let’s look at what voters who turned out in historic numbers might expect from two members of the old guard:

Maxine Waters Congresswoman Maxine Waters is the top-ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee.

However, she’s had to watch as her calls for tighter regulation of Maxine Waters banks were ignored.

(She called, for example, for the dissolving of Wells Fargo following the extensive scandals involving the bank.) Labeled as an enemy of Wall Street, Waters would strengthen the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and impose higher penalties on lawbreaking banks. She’s pledged to go after Wells Fargo again and is adding Deutsche Bank to her list.

While much of what Waters would like to accomplish may be blocked by the Senate, she’ll have subpoena power to dig into the records of banks and their protectors. She’ll also have the ability to demand that the people see Donald Trump’s tax returns. In a

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OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

recent letter to her fellow committee members, Waters gave a clear directive: “With Trump in the White House, I know that our fight for America’s consumers and investors will continue to be challenging. But I am more than up to that fight.”

Elijah Cummings As Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Elijah Cummings has expressed his intention of righting some practices that polls say Elijah Cummings a majority of citizens see as wrong.

Cummings has indicated his interest in working together with the now-minority House Republicans, but he is adamant that his focus is on change. Again, the Senate is a factor in just how sweeping that change can be, but Cummings has clear clout. He has the authority to subpoena documents from the executive branch and to hold hearings. He plans to focus on ethics and election reform, voter suppression and other violations of the Voting Rights Act, full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and more.

If his actions in recent months are any indication, Cummings can also be expected to focus on the issues of alleged wrongdoing at the Environmental Protection Agency and the separation of migrant children from their families. He is also interested in how the president comports himself and will be investigating some of the many allegations against him.

“The job laid out to us in the Constitution is to be a check on the executive branch, and we plan to do that,” said Cummings. “We plan to do that with… fact-based investigations and investigations that hopefully will lead to better government… This is not about trying to get any retribution. It is about trying to bring us back to a sense of integrity.”

City Residents Say They Deserved the Consideration Amazon Got

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By Maitefa Angaza

s the mayor and the governor tout the blessings that Amazon will purportedly bestow upon New York, a vocal group of detractors, including a few elected officials, staged a protest outside One Court Square in Long Island City -- the proposed site of the new Amazon headquarters – as we went to press on Wednesday. Protestors said the community and its representatives were given no opportunity to have input into the plans. Rather, discussions were had, and deals were made, between Amazon and City and State officials in secret. When the public was made aware of the proposal last week, Amazon had supposedly not yet made its final decision. But when organizers announced a protest rally for Wednes-

running up hills, and will continue to do that as our city’s next Public Advocate.”

Williams, who represents Midwood, Flatbush and Canarsie, will be running against fellow City Council Member Rafael Espinal, Jr., who represents East New York, Brownsville and Bushwick. Also a progressive Democrat from Brooklyn, Espinal has left his mark by introducing legislation leading to the repeal of the long-standing, much reviled cabaret laws prohibiting dancing in city clubs. A related bill of his, creating a Night Mayor and an Office of Nightlife, was also enthusiastically passed.

Espinal will have to play catch-up to receive the breadth of endorsements enjoyed by Williams. And if another Council Member, Yeger, has his way, there may soon not be an office for which to run. Yeger has introduced legislation calling for the elimination of the Public Advocate, positing it as a redundancy, with duties that can be fulfilled by the mayor and his staff. Fellow Council Members Ritchie Torres and Rev. Ruben Diaz agree and are co-signers.

Those supporting Williams however, see the need for the office, particularly if occupied by someone like their candidate.

Bill Lipton, Executive Director of the New York Working Families Party said, “For the past 10 years as a Council Member,

➔➔ Continued on page 9

Shawn Dixon (left) worries about his neighborhood and business when Amazon comes to town. (GeekWire Photo / Monica Nickelsburg)

Jumaane Williams Announces for Public Advocate with Significant Support

n Wednesday November 14th NYC Council Member Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn) was joined by City and State elected officials, political organizations and community leaders during a rally on the Steps of City Hall to officially launch his campaign for Public Advocate. He announced endorsements by the New York Working Families Party, the New York Progressive Action Network, Mason Tenders’ District Council Local 79, New York State Laborers Organizing Fund,100 Black Construction Workers and the Shirley Chisholm Democratic Club.

At the rally he was also endorsed by Kings County Democratic Chairman Frank Seddio, and several City and State elected officials, including State Senator Roxanne Persaud (D-Brooklyn), Assembly Member Al Taylor (D-Manhattan), and Council Member Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn). This comes after over a dozen elected officials recently endorsed his grassroots campaign.

“It’s an honor to have so many of my colleagues and progressive grassroots organizations stand by me today as I officially announce my run for Public Advocate,” said Williams. “So many of the challenges our city face are uphill battles, but I’m used to

day, Amazon quickly announced on Tuesday that it would definitely locate one of its two new headquarters there.

"This is a big money maker for us.

Costs us nothing," Governor Andrew Cuomo said earlier in the week. But residents wonder who is the “us” he’s referring to, as they see the deal as costly indeed to people like themselves, who don’t enjoy the luxury of living in the governor’s mansion.

"We have so many members over in the NYCHA houses that are just blocks from here that are already working in different types of fulfillment and distribution centers that are in the city already. Their rents are going to increase

Jumaane has served as an advocate for the Public, now it’s time we officially make him our city’s Public Advocate.”

Traci Strickland, Co-Chair of NY Progressive Action Network said, “We are proud to say that Jumaane is one of us. We are proud to support a candidate who is an unwavering advocate for civil rights and civil liberties.”

Robert Bonanza, Chair of the Mason Tenders’ District Council of Greater New York and John Hutchings, Director of the NYS Laborers’ Organizing Fund PAC said in a joint statement, «Jumaane Williams has proven himself time and time again to be a friend of the men and women who build this city.”

Kings County Democratic Chairman Frank Seddio said, «I›m proud to throw my support behind a fellow Brooklynite who will continue fighting for our borough and New Yorkers across the city. Jumaane will be an excellent Public Advocate.»

Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte, Chairwoman of the Shirley Chisholm Democratic Club, added, “I have no doubt in my mind that Jumaane is the best person to be New York City’s Public Advocate. It is what he has been doing his whole career.”

See Page 6

Mayor DeBlasio and Governor Cuomo Announce Amazon’s new LIC Headquarters

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ayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that Amazon will establish a new corporate headquarters in Long Island City, Queens. The decision followed a yearlong selection process during which 238 cities across North America competed for the multibillion-dollar project.

In 2019, Amazon will occupy up to 500,000 square feet at One Court Square while working to construct four million square feet of commercial waterfront space over 10 years, with expansion opportunities for up to 8 million square feet over the next 15 years. Amazon will make a $3.6B total investment and says it will draw from the New York State workforce to fill 25,000 new jobs by 2029 and up to 40,000 jobs by 2034 with an average salary of $150,000. Overall, the project is estimated to create more than 107,000 total direct and indirect construction jobs, $14 billion in new tax revenue for the ➔➔ Continued on page 7

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OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

WHAT’S GOING ON ■■

By Victoria Horsford

NY/AMERICA

THE NATION: Despite our early press deadline last week, we did not miss the election outcome headlines in the gubernatorial races in Georgia and Florida where African-American Democrats Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum, respectively, were on their way to victory and the history books. A week later, the jury is still out because it seems that there was voter repression and other monkey business in those two states.

Both Abrams and Gillum should be looking at runoff elections soon. National and local voter turnout was robust, a good sign of a still-functional democracy. Last week, the American electorate said that they are mad as hell and want a change in temper, in policy by POTUS 45. Obamacare was the single most important item to voters across party, socioeconomic and ethnic lines.

Of the 435 congressional seats, the Democrats won 223.

Fifteen

Andrew Cuomo

congressional races are inconclusive.

Alas, the Democrats did not achieve a coveted US Senate majority. Last weekend, Democrats could confirm 47 of the 100-seat Senate chamber. Republicans have 51 seats.

African-American Democrat Mike Espy, for example, is a candidate for US Senate in Mississippi, who faces a runoff in a special election on November 27.

Since recounts and runoffs are scheduled in California, Georgia and Florida for gubernatorial and congressional races, a final count is elusive. I will reserve judgment about my thoughts on those voting machinations in Georgia and Florida.

a majority, which could exceed 40.

Senators-elect like John Liu of Queens, former NYC Comptroller, and Zellnor Myrie of Brooklyn are people with well-defined Progressive agendas. To be sure, the real estate developers lament the end of Republican Senate dominance.

A new NYS Senate gestalt is inevitable.

P.S.: The NYC electorate approved Mayor de Blasio’s three Charter Revision items - campaign financing, creation of a civic engagement commission to advise community boards and setting term limits for community board members - an action which they will ultimately regret. Items 2 and 3 are music to real estate developers’ ear.

VOL. 22 NO. 46 inspirational. No, she is not interested in the US Presidency and she speaks candidly about love and marriage counseling and in vitro fertilization. Michelle Obama begins a 10-city book tour at stadiums, not bookstores, with moderators. Her first stop on the tour is her native Chicago with Oprah as the moderator. Cannot wait to devour the memoir by this remark-

Roy DeCarava Andrea StewartCousins

Carl Heastie

NEW YORK is awash in “blue” in its political leanings. In Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo won reelection as did NYS Comptroller DiNapoli. NYC Public Advocate Letitia James is NYS Attorney General-elect and downstaters are still kicking their heels. The NYS Assembly is still overwhelmingly Democratic. The NYS Senate has a clear Democratic majority, which will be headed by a woman, Andrea Stewart-Cousins. She achieves “three men in a room power status,” which is composed of NYS Governor, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate leader. It is a moniker for the power trifecta, which really runs NYS. Hate to be repetitive.

This is a big deal!

The 63-member NYS Senate has

Laurie Cumbo

NEW YORK CITY

BROOKLYN: Brooklyn NYC Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo has partnered with two groups for pre-Thanksgiving Meal Giveaways (turkeys, stuffing, etc.) in Brooklyn. They are: 1) Onos Footprints at St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf, 260 Eastern Parkway, on Saturday, November 17 from 12-3 pm; 2) First Baptist Church and Feed the Children at the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, 450 Eastern Parkway & Rogers Ave., which plans to feed 2,500 families. Registration is necessary on 11/17 at 9-3 pm and on 11/18 from 1:30 to 4 pm. Food will be distributed on 11/20.

Household address ID is necessary for both groups. [E-mail: cumbo@council. nyc.gov] HARLEM: Lemor Development principal Ken Morrison and his partners, NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Downtown Baptist Church invited community politicos, leaders and press to attend the 11/4 groundbreaking of the 12-story residential and commercial Paul Robeson Building, which is located at 407 Lenox Avenue, near 131st Street.

Lemor is an African-American real estate development company.

The 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID) will host its Annual Harlem Holiday Lights Celebration on November 15 from 3-9 pm. The festivities will run along the 125th Street corridor from Fifth Avenue west to Marginal Street on the Hudson River.

ARTS/CULTURE

BOOKS: Michelle Obama’s memoir, “BECOMING,” is the post-election media chatter. The 426-pager book is divided into three sections: “Becoming Me,” “Becoming Us” and “Becoming More” runs the gamut from her early childhood in Chicago to the First Lady and beyond.

Memoir is equal parts “tell all that a woman of her stature can share” and heavily

Michelle Obama

able American woman.

Dr. Glory Van Scott, former principal dancer with Katherine Dunham, cousin of Emmett Till, has written her memoir, “GLORY: A Life Among Legends.” A performing arts advocate who has worked most of her life in dance and theater, heads a program named Dr. Glory’s Youth Theatre, which is based at The Riverside Church in Harlem. Her next book-reading will be held at the Caribbean Cultural Center at 120 East 125th Street, Harlem, on November 25.

Sherry DeCarava, art historian and widow of fine arts photographer Roy DeCarava, is spearheading a centennial celebration to culminate December 2019 when Roy would turn 100.

She recently republished “The Sweet Flypaper of Life,” a 1955 best-seller with photos by Roy and prose by Langston Hughes. Roy’s works have been exhibited at MoMA and the Studio Museum in Harlem and are included in the “A SOUL OF THE NATION” exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum through February 3, 2019.

[Visit decarava.org] GOVERNMENT: Its NY Consul General Office will host the 2018 Antigua and Barbuda Independence Gala at the Greentree Country Club, located at 538 Davenport Avenue, New Rochelle, NY on Saturday, November 17 at 8 pm. The black-tie gala honorees are cricket legends Sir Isaac Vivian Richards and Sir Curtly Ambrose. [Visit abconsulate.nyc or call 646.215.6000] THEATER: The 45th Annual AUDELCO AWARDS with its fitting theme “Amazing Grace,” commemorating its longtime rainmaker the late Grace Jones, will be held on November 19 at the TriBeCa Performing Arts Center, located at 199 Chambers Street, Manhattan.

AUDELCO is the Black Tonys, an awards ceremony which celebrates Black excellence in the NY theater arts.

MUSIC: If it is musical theater uptown, the destination is Vy Higginsen’s two presentations, “ALIVE! 55+ AND KICKIN’” and “LET THE MUSIC PLAY …GOSPEL.” The season ends on Saturday, November 17 at the Dempsey Theater, 127 West 127th Street, between Lenox and Seventh Avenues.

“ALIVE! 55+” is an explosion of senior talent. “LET THE MUSIC PLAY” is a lot of Sunday music and joyful noises squeezed into Saturday. [Call 212.280.1045] A Harlem-based management consultant, Victoria can be reached at Victoria. horsford@gmail.com.

VOL. 22 NO. 46

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OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

Thinkers Notebook

What Happens After an Election?

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ll summer long, political candidates were working hard for your vote. They sent you direct mail pamphlets.

They came to your church. They invited you to fundraisers where you paid $100 to eat tikka masala and listen to the wonderful sounds of a jazz band. They put posters up at your corner store, and some of them even used that robo-calling thing to reach you at home. You hung up on it though, but the point is that for the last few months the candidates vying for the local positions on the ballot have made it their business to be “all up in your face.” On Election Day, candidates pay people to hand out flyers in their support outside of polling stations just so that they can hold your attention all the way up until you physically enter your polling station to cast your vote.

Then you vote, and just like that Election Day is over. But what happens after an election?

What happens to the candidate that came to your block party?

Remember him? He ate a cheeseburger from your barbecue food and promised to always answer your call when you needed him.

Have you tried calling him yet?

What happens to the candidate that you knew from high school?

Remember her? She asked you to

post support for her run onto your school’s Facebook page and to tag yourself so that others could see it, too. Have you guys spoken since then?

How about the candidate that came to your church?

Remember him? He came late and sat right in the front and spoke for seven minutes about how your church was his church home and how you all need to vote for him. Has he been back to church since then?

By Marlon Rice

Electing your local, state and national officials is only one part of civic activism, and yet it’s the part that garners the most attention because it’s the part where they, the candidates, get you, the voter, to vote them into office. But your civic duty doesn’t end when the loser gives his or her concession speech. In fact, voting is the bare minimum of your civic responsibility. Voting counts, but only if you work to hold the officials that you vote into office accountable

for their promises and their responsibility to their constituents.

If you think that you can just vote and then sit idle while your elected official saves the world, then you miss the whole point of civic activism.

Do you know what civic activism looks like? It looks like attending your Community Board meetings. The liquor licenses that bars and lounges receive, the eight-story buildings that go up on your block, the co-naming of blocks in your neighborhood, these are things decided at your Community Board meetings. I remember when bike lanes started popping up in the neighborhood. I had neighbors who were appalled, and they blamed gentrification for the bike lanes, not knowing that these are the kinds of things presented at Community Board meetings.

Attending your Community Board meetings are a great way to interact directly with your local elected officials. City Council members frequent Community Board meetings in order to gauge neighborhood concerns.

However, that can yield an opportunity to let your voice be heard about anything you wish to see addressed. Have you ever heard of Participatory Budgeting? Well,

you would have if you attended a Community Board meeting.

Participatory Budgeting gives community members the opportunity to vote on how certain monies will be spent in that community. Even though you cast a vote every November, your voice can be heard year-round when you attend your Community Board meetings.

So, I’m glad that you voted, and a lot of you definitely did vote this year. It took me an hour and a half to cast my ballot at my poll this past Election Day. I’ve voted in every election since 1996, and I don’t remember my poll ever being that packed! It looks like the yearning to oust Trump is “Making Voting Great Again,” and that’s cool with me. But just as faith without works is dead, so is a vote with no follow-through. This ain’t a beauty pageant guys, it’s the state of your communities at stake. So now that you voted, continue to keep your voice part of the process by attending Community Board meetings. That way when you witness an elected official renege on all those promises they were talking at that one church service they made their business to attend, you will be able to vote them out in the next election cycle with confidence.

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OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

Brooklyn DA Extends Deadline for H.S. Mid-Winter and Spring Break Internships

rooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that the deadline for filing applications for KCDA’s mid-winter and spring break internship programs has been extended to November 25, 2018.

The internships are open to students who live and /or attend high school in Brooklyn and are interested in learning about the different careers and responsibilities within the criminal justice system.

The mid-winter internship runs from Tuesday, February 19, 2019 to Friday, February 22, 2019. The spring internship runs from Monday, April 22, 2019 to Friday, April 26, 2019.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “We are proud to offer week-long internships during the mid-winter and spring breaks for Brooklyn’s high school students.

During the week, students will receive exposure to the criminal justice system and gain an understanding and appreciation of a professional work setting.”

Selected students will be assigned to one of the many specialized units within the DA’s office, while also getting an overview of the criminal justice system.

They can expect to assist with legal research and analysis; assist prosecutors preparing for trial; work on discovery; file maintenance and organizing court documents; participate in Trial Zone workshops; participate in judicial, legal and law enforcement-related field trips; and observe criminal proceedings

including trials, guilty pleas and alternatives to incarceration.

During the week-long internship, participants will receive a MetroCard to cover transportation expenses.

Internship hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Interns selected are expected to commit for the entire duration of the program.

Applicants are required to provide their most recent school transcript, a onepage resume, one letter of recommendation and must submit a 300-word typed essay (12 pt. font and double-spaced) on why they are interested in interning with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and what impact they think it will have on their future career goals and aspirations.

To apply, please visit: http://apply. brooklynda.org to upload transcript, essay and resume. Only the recommendation letter should be emailed as an attachment to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office at hsinternships@brooklynda.org, with the subject line: Recommendation Letter (Applicant’s First and Last Name). All application materials must be received no later than Sunday, November 25, 2018. For questions or assistance, please contact the High School Internship and Youth Initiatives Program Coordinator at (718) 250-4873.

To learn more about the program visit: http://www.brooklynda.org/careers/ internship.

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VOL. 22 NO. 46

Bill Could Eliminate Public Advocate Office as BK Lawmakers Jockey for Open Seat

By Kelly Mena, Kings County Politics

ity Councilman Kalman vulnerable communities will be the Yeger (D-Borough Park, real losers if political games get in Bensonhurst, Midwood the way of real work,” said James and Kensington) could introduce spokesperson Delaney Kempner. a bill as early as tomorrow that Current co-sponsors on the bill could eliminate the Office of include City Councilman Ritchie Public Advocate, a position that Torres (D-Bronx) and Rev. Ruben was recently left open with the Diaz (D-Bronx), who argue that historical election of current Pubthe $3 million price tag of the Jumaane lic Advocate Letitia James to state position could be allocated elseWilliams Attorney General. where, according to initial reports The Office of Public Advocate from State of Politics. was first created in 1993 and The news comes just as two serves as a direct link between top Brooklyn City Council memthe electorate and their elected bers look to fill the void left open officials by acting as a watchdog

by James, including City Council for all New Yorkers. member Jumaane Williams The Public Advocate acts as (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, an ombudsman for city governMidwood) and City Council memment, providing oversight for city ber Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, agencies, investigating citizens’ Rafael Espinal, East New York, Crown Heights, Jr. complaints about city services and Brownsville, Cypress Hills, making proposals to address any Bedford-Stuyvesant), who officialshortcomings or failures of those services. It ly announced his candidacy today. is also the first in line to succeed the mayor.

“The Public Advocate was not created to Under Yeger’s proposal, if enacted, the be a stepping stone or a launchpad, it was question of keeping the Office of Public designed to be a vital watchdog for issues Advocate would be presented to voters that New Yorkers are struggling with every in a referendum. Yeger is a member of the day while holding government accountable.

Committee on Government Operations.

As it stands, the Public Advocate’s Office has “The Council cannot legislate the office the ability to be that, but it can and should be out of existence, no one is trying to do that,” strengthened. It seems odd to me that the anYeger stated in a social media post. swer to the watchdog not being strong enough In recent years, the position has been isn’t to empower more but to eliminate it,” used as a springboard for politicians looking said Williams. to become major players in state and local “I believe the Office of Public Advocate government including as a route to mayor. plays a crucial role in keeping the city acMayor Bill de Blasio himself held the position countable. New Yorkers need an independent before being elected to mayor in 2013. voice with big ideas and a vision for the city to De Blasio remains a strong supporter of help bring about a better future,” said Espinal. the city position and believes it still has merit.

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson “The mayor supports the advocacy and the (D-Manhattan), who will legally fill the check on City Hall power that the office pro- vacancy, is unsure of the bill’s future but is vides,” said de Blasio spokesperson Eric Phillips. reviewing the legislation.

James also maintains the office serves as a Under Section 44 of the City Charter, crucial check and balance to the executive and in the event of a vacancy in the Public legislative branch of city government.

Advocate’s Office, “The Speaker shall act “The Public Advocate’s Office, under Tish as Public Advocate pending the filling of the James, has played a critical role protecting vacancy pursuant to subdivision © of Section the lives and interests of tens of thousands Twenty-Four, and shall be a member of every of the most vulnerable New Yorkers – and board of which the Public Advocate is a memthe sponsors of this bill know that full well. ber by virtue of his or her office.”

From groundbreaking legislation to ban salary “The bill was just introduced. Corey has history, to holding NYCHA and bad landlords not had a chance to review it. He will monitor accountable, to protecting tenants, children it as it goes through the legislative process,” in foster care and children with disabilities, said Johnson’s spokesperson Jennifer Fermino.

Public Advocate James has moved the needle De Blasio is expected to call for a special forward every day of her tenure. Our most election to fill the vacancy early next year.

Black Security Guard Gunned Down by Police Was Wearing a 'SECURITY' Hat Not only was he clearly identifiable, but officers on the scene knew Jemel Roberson. A civil rights lawsuit has been filed against "Officer John Doe" and Midloathian Village.

J

■■

By Jayme S. Ganey

emel Roberson, age 26, shot and killed on Sunday by a white cop in a Chicago suburb, was wearing a hat that said "SECURITY" on it, clearly identifying himself as an ally to the police.

Officers circled his body in video footage, after telling the unnamed officer, who is a four-year veteran of the force, that Roberson was "one of us." ➔➔ Continued on page 8

VOL. 22 NO. 46

OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

Mayor DeBlasio and Governor Cuomo Announce Amazon’s new LIC Headquarters ➔➔ Continued from page 3 state and $13.5 billion in city tax revenue. The project provides a 9:1 return on investment. According to an economic impact study by REMI, Inc., a world leader in dynamic forecasting and policy analysis, the Amazon project will generate over $186 billion in Gross State Product for the New York

State economy over the initial 25 years.

“With an average salary of $150,000 per year for 25,000 new jobs, Amazon is creating in Queens,” Governor Cuomo said. “Economic opportunity and investment will flourish for the entire region.

Amazon understands that New York has everything the company needs to continue its growth.”

The agreement includes commitments to build a jointly funded 10,000-square-foot on-site employment center and a $15 million investment to expand the Jobs Plus program to Queensbridge Houses with tuition-free tech training to nearly 1,800 residents over the next 10 years. The plan also secures a new 600-seat intermediate public school, a 3.5-acre

waterfront esplanade and park, and the establishment of a fund to invest 50% of the project’s PILOT proceeds in transportation and other neighborhood priorities identified in collaboration with the local community.

To bring this transformational, multibillion-dollar project to New York, the state offered a package of performance-based incentives totaling $1.705 billion.

Additionally, the company, state and city are committing $15 million – $5 million each – to create new workforce development

7 programs focused on technology training and recruitment targeted toward underrepresented segments of the workforce. Amazon is also eligible for a partial property tax abatement and an annual credit of $3,000 for twelve years per eligible employee under REAP, a program available to all companies to encourage job growth outside of Manhattan.

REAP benefits for Amazon’s 10year expansion are projected at $897 million through 2038, and ICAP will abate approximately $386 million.

8

OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

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defending our freedom. On top of those breath-taking Veterans Day festivities, I was more than excited to be attending my first-ever professional football game. It was a division-rival matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the New

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the sidelines and in for the game’s first touchdown. The team’s defense, or lack thereof, was noticeable as Buffalo scored 24 unanswered points. The Bills would continue to dominate at both ends of the field as they defeated the Jets at their home field by a score of 41-10. Never have I ever heard the home crowd boo the home team as loud as I did this past Sunday. Heartbreaking to watch, but I sure loved the experience.

It should be noted that Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold missed his first game of the year due to a sprained foot. More than likely, it was more of the organization taking precaution for the 21-year-old considering the team does have a bye week coming up which will give Darnold’s ailing foot more rest. Now the Jets sit at 3-7 with Coach Bowles more than likely coaching his last few games as head coach. Last week, the team lost to another backup quarterback in Miami’s Brock Osweiller. In what could have been two easy wins for the Jets, the last two games have

seen them get outscored 54-16.

All in all, Bowles and his team looked completely unprepared and overwhelmed. In fact, since Bowles came out the gates winning 10 of his first 15 games, the Jets have gone 13-29. Not to make an excuse for Bowles, but his current Jets team does not have the Pro-bowlers or playmakers needed to create a solid NFL team, but to lose to Brock Osweiller and Matt Barkley! Really? At 3-7, where do the Jets go from here?

Sports Notes: (Basketball) In Monday night’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Nets guard Caris Levert was stretchered off the court after a gruesome injury to his foot. Tuesday’s MRI revealed a dislocation of his foot but an injury that will not require surgery. Levert was having a career year before the injury. (Football) After a gritty performance this past Monday night, the Giants collected their second victory of the season in what has been a very tough year. They look to keep things going as they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Black Security Guard Gunned Down by Police Was Wearing a 'SECURITY' Hat ➔➔ Continued from page 6

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York Jets. Throughout the week, there were whispers surrounding the Jets team regarding the job security of Head Coach Todd Bowles. Remember a few years back in what was probably the biggest game in the Bowles era, the Jets needed just one win to get into the playoffs facing against a not-so-good Bills team. The Bills spoiled the Jets playoff hopes as they were able to seal the win.

With the current Jets team at that time with a win-loss record of 3-6, it was almost certain the team and Bowles could use a huge win.

For Gang Green, things did not go well early in the game as Bills third-string quarterback Matt Barkley connected on a big throw on the first play of the game. Barkley has not played in the NFL in 2 years. The second play, Barkley handed the ball to Buffalo’s dynamic running back LeSean McCoy who ran towards

VOL. 22 NO. 46

A Midlothian officer used excessive force when he killed an on-duty armed guard while responding to a shots fired call at a bar in Robbins, IL, a lawsuit was filed against the cop and village. “Other officers knew him and screamed out he's one of us," says witness.

The medical examiner in Cook County ruled Roberson's death a homicide by multiple gunshot wounds.

Beatrice Roberson, Jemel's mother, retained attorney Gregory Kulis who filed a civil rights lawsuit against "Officer John Doe" and the Village of Midloathian on Monday claiming the officer's actions were "intentional, willful and wanton" and that the shooting was "unprovoked," "unjustified" and "unreasonable."

"Jemel was trying to save people's lives," said Kulis. "He was working security. A shooting had just taken place inside the establishment. So he was doing his job and holding onto somebody until somebody arrived. And a police officer, it's our feeling didn't make the proper assessment and fired and killed Jemel."

Midloathian police expressed "heartfelt condolences" in a statement to the family.

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Jemel Roberson Sherriff's office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari said the man shot by police, "turned out to be a guy working security for the bar."

Roberson was the father of a nine-month-old son with Avontea Boose, and was planning on getting an apartment for his family with his earnings from the job, according to Rev. Marvin Hunter, who also said Roberson was a promising keyboard player at several churches including his, and "an upstanding man."

Hunter is the great uncle of Laquan McDonald who was also killed by police in Chicago in 2014.

A vigil held outside Manny's on Monday was wrought with expressions of frustration, grief, and demands for action: "Why? Why did you kill him?" Roberson's cousin, Candace Ousley asked. "It doesn't make sense.

The police officer just saw a black man. I believe if he was indeed white, he'd be alive."

Another man at the vigil said, "This was not reckless policing, this was homicidal policing. They saw a black man with a gun. If he did not have a gun, his black skin made him a weapon.

"As a community, we demand respectful engagement. We want the police to treat our people with just a certain amount of dignity and respect.

They patrol the Black community like some . . .

Gestapo being judge, jury and executioner."

Another vigil attendee, Harvey Alderman Keith Price, called on State's Attorney Kim Foxx to open an investigation into the shooting.

"This could have been my son. This could have been any one of our sons," Price said. "So Kim Foxx, do the right thing, open up a full out investigation. That's what you got elected for."

Lane Tech College Prep, where Roberson graduated from, tweeted a remembrance of Roberson: “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the tragic passing of 2010 Lane Tech graduate and Lane Tech Basketball alumn, Jemel Roberson. We pass along our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Jemel. Jemel had a big smile and a bigger heart. You will be missed.”

VOL. 22 NO. 46

9

OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF KINGS GOSHEN MORTGAGE LLC, AS SEPARATE TRUSTEE FOR GDBT I TRUST 2011-1, Plaintiff, Against CARLTON EXILE A/K/A C. EXILE, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 5/9/2014, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction in Room 224 of the Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, on 12/13/2018 at 2:30 pm, premises known as 123 Montauk Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11208, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York; Block 3,992 and Lot 5. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $966,297.14 plus interest and costs. The premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 45556/2007. Nancy Schacher, Esq., Referee.

SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 Dated: 10/19/2018 File Number: 25672 MNB NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court County Of Kings Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST David G. Robinson, et al, Defendant Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated 6/11/18 and entered on 7/10/18, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY on December 13, 2018 at 02:30 PM premises known as 543 East 52nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11203. All that

certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Kings, City and State of New York, BLOCK: 4737, LOT: 52. Approximate amount of judgment is $773,242.13 plus interests and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 021695/2011. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Helene Blank, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISS WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street, Bay Shore, NY 11706 STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF KINGS GREEN TREE SERVICING LLC, Plaintiff, vs. DAVID ZOIMEN, et al., Defendants NOTICE OF LEGAL POSTPONEMENT OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the office of the County Clerk of Kings County on June 7, 2017, I, M. Randolph Jackson, Esq., the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on November 15, 2018 at the Kings County Supreme Court, Room 224, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, County of Kings, State of New York, at 2:30 P.M., the premises described as follows: 9 West 9th Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 SBL No.: Block 534 Lot 46 ALL THAT TRACT OF PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York. The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 7136/10 in the amount of $852,493.88 plus interest and costs. This sale was originally scheduled for October 18, 2018, at 2:30 P.M., and has been postponed to November 15, 2018, ➔➔ Continued on page 10

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Boys Junior Varsity Football 11/11/2018

B

Brooklyn Tech High School vs. Harry S. Truman High School

rooklyn Tech HS score: 30 Coach Brian Pugh: We showed a lot of improvement this week. We had a tough time blocking and tackling, but we stepped it up. We had returning sophomore students that stepped up their game. We had captains that stepped up their game.

Honestly, I think we had a great game. We did give up some bad touchdowns, and we did move up 14 points this week. I don’t think Harry S. Truman HS should have been able to score. We had some missed assignments, but overall we played like a team.

H

arry S. Truman score: 14 Coach Chris Brescia: Unfortunately, we had a rough season. We finished the season with 18 players, and 18 is the minimum in order to play the game.

Kids are going both ways. They are tired, and it shows.

Brooklyn Tech had a lot more players that were able to substitute in and out and that showed. We really need to work on our tackling. The other team broke through some of the tackles. The players are putting one arm in front instead of putting their shoulders into the body and wrapping up. We try to teach the team to gang-tackle. But they gave their all.

Photo: Nathaniel Adams

Brooklyn Tech Jr. Varsity footballers listening to coach Brian Pugh at half-time.

City Residents Say They Deserved the Consideration Amazon Got ➔➔ Continued from page 3 and it's not just the rents, their groceries are going to be astronomical," said Chelsea Connor of the RWDSU (Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union).

Most residents appear unimpressed by Amazon’s offer of 25,000 jobs and proposed investments in the community, considering the 1.75 billion-dollar incentives to be given the company, paid for with their tax dollars.

"We're seeing such an issue of people just being able to pay their rent, that we can somehow find money to give to Amazon, but can't fix our trains, can't deal with the housing crisis, can't actually deal with what's going on in our schools! It's just very troubling to us," said Zachary Lerner of New York Communities for Change.

Through the New York State Excelsior Program Amazon will receive a tax credit of $48,000 for each of the $25,000 jobs with salaries over $150,000 that it says it will create, in addition to a cash grant of $325 million based on the square footage it will occupy over the next decade.

"No one's giving me a kickback," said Michelle Melnick, a business owner. “Why isn't de Blasio making sure that we, that the small business owners, who are the biggest employers in the country, that we are well?”

Mayor DeBlasio says an additional LIRR stop and shuttle busses are being considered to help handle the new increased transportation load. What he didn’t mention is that the deal was made by circumventing land-use procedures, giving the City Council no veto power. He said that Amazon, “needed a certain amount of certainty.”

State Senator Michael Gianaris joined the protest and an Assembly Member will reportedly be introducing a bill to stop the Amazon plan.

10

OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

NEW BUSINESS FORMATIONS AL TALENT AND MEDIA LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/02/2018. Office: Kings 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, 110 Broadway # 705 Brooklyn Ny 11249. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

PRIME SOCIAL DAY CARE, LLC filed Arts. of Org. with the SSNY on 5/4/18. Office location: Kings County.

SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: The LLC, 3125 Emmons Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11235. Purpose: any lawful act.

Hygienic Elements LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/05/2018. Of-

LEGAL NOTICES ➔➔ Continued from page 9 at 2:30 P.M. Megan S. Kale, Esq. Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Plaintiff's Attorney 700 Crossroads Building, 2 State St. Rochester, New York 14614 Tel.: 855-227-5072 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF KINGS__ INDEX NO. 13396/2008 Plaintiff designates KINGS as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises:655 DECATUR STREET BROOKLYN, NY 11233 District: Block: 1502 Section: Lot: 69 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, IN TRUST FOR REGISTERED HOLDERS OF FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-FF2, Plaintiff, vs. YVONNE PETERKIN A/K/A YVONNE RATLIFF, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF WARREN RATLIFF; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF WARREN RATLIFF 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; FIRST MUTUAL BANK; MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN, A DIVISION OF NATIONAL CITY BANK; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; CLAUDETTE BOYD; JOE BOYD, JR.; JOE BOYD SR.; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE IN ITS CAPACITY AS CREDITOR BY VIRTUE OF POSSIBLE ESTATE TAXES THAT MAY BE, OR BECOME, DUE AND OWING BY

fice: Kings 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, 1206 East 98th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11236.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

RDC ARTS, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/07/2017. Office: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to RDC Arts, LLC, 221 Linden Blvd. C17 BROOKLYN, NY 11226.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Urban Adventures NYC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/21/18.

Office: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall

THE ESTATE OF WARREN RATLIFF; and, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE N ITS CAPACITY AS CREDITOR

BY VIRTUE OF POSSIBLE ESTATE TAXES THAT MAY BE, OR BECOME, DUE AND OWING BY THE ESTATE OF WARREN RATLIFF, Defendants. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff's Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $506,000.00 and interest, recorded on April 19, 2007, at CRFN 2007000203212, of the Public Records of KINGS County, New York, covering premises known as 655 DECATUR STREET BROOKLYN, NY 11233. 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. KINGS 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. RAS BORISKIN, LLC Attorney for Plaintiff BY: Marsha Cato-Hohn, ESQ. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, NY 11590. 516-280-7675

mail copy of process to the LLC, 64 Powers Street, Bklyn, NY 11211. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Georgetown HR Capital LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/05/18.

Office: Kings 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, 2181 Ralph Avenue. Brooklyn NY. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

2158 EAST 13th LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/18/18. Office: Kings 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, 21 Glenbrook Road, Morris Plains, NJ 07950. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

681 LINCOLN LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/31/18. Office:

NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court County Of Kings Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for HASCO 2007-WF1, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-WF1, Plaintiff AGAINST Corine McLean, Paulette McLean, et al, Defendant Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated 10/8/14 and entered on 10/14/14, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY on November 29, 2018 at 02:30 PM premises known as 3110 Snyder Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Kings, City and State of New York, BLOCK: 4902, LOT: 4. Approximate amount of judgment is $771,210.52 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 8391/2008. Domenick Napoletano, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISS WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court Kings County BH EMMENS LLC (Plaintiff) v. IRINA SHELIKHOVA et. al. (Defendants) Index No.: 7491/2013.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 2, 2017, as amended, I will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Courthouse located at 360 Adams Street, Room 224, Brooklyn, NY 11201 on November 29, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., the premise located at 3149 Emmons Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11235, in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York (Block 8804, and Lot 1301, 1302, 1303). Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Building sold as one unit and building is vacant. Steven A. Naiman, Esq., Referee. Roberts & Fidler, P.C, attorney for Plaintiff, 26 Court Street, 11th Floor, Brooklyn, New York. 347-721-9022.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: KINGS COUNTY. WEST COAST SERVICING, INC., Pltf. vs.

MILTON K. WILSON, et al, Defts. Index #507742/2014. Pursuant to order confirming a referee report and judgment of foreclosure and sale dated July 25, 2018, I will sell at public auction in Room 224 of the Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams St., Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 at 2:30 p.m., prem. k/a 589 East 89th St., Brooklyn, NY a/k/a Block 7968, Lot 111. Said property located at a point on the Northeasterly side of East 89th St. 31 ft. Northwesterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the Northwesterly side of Farragut Rd. and the Northeasterly side of East 89 Street; Running thence Northwesterly along the

VOL. 22 NO. 46 Kings 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, 1077 East 14th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11230.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of OCEAN CAPITAL HOLDINGS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/02/18. Office location: Kings County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/12/18. Princ. office of LLC: 426 Sterling Pl., Apt. 1A, Brooklyn, NY 11238. 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: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, State of DE, Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 3, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Northeasterly side of East 89th St. 29 feet; Thence Northeasterly parallel with Farragut Road, 100 feet; Thence Northwesterly parallel with Remsen Avenue, 47.42 feet; Thence Northeasterly parallel with Farragut Rd. 4 feet; Thence Southeasterly parallel with Remsen Avenue, 75.42 feet; Thence Southwesterly and part of the distance through a party wall, 104 ft. to the point or place of beginning. Approx. amt. of judgment is $865,317.05 plus costs and interest.

Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. SHERYL MENKES Referee. THE MARGOLIN & WEINREB LAW GROUP LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 165 Eileen Way, Ste. 101, Syosset, NY. #95861 NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court Kings County BH EMMENS LLC (Plaintiff) v. IRINA SHELIKHOVA et. al. (Defendants) Index No.: 7491/2013.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 2, 2017, as amended, I will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Courthouse located at 360 Adams Street, Room 224, Brooklyn, NY 11201 on November 29, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., the premise located at 3149 Emmons Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11235, in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York (Block 8804, and Lot 1301, 1302, 1303). Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Building sold as one unit and building is vacant.

Joel Abramson, Esq., Referee. Roberts & Fidler, P.C, attorney for Plaintiff, 26 Court Street, 11th Floor, Brooklyn, New York.

347-721-9022.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF KINGS, CITIMORTGAGE INC., Plaintiff, vs. DWIGHT NOEL; STEPHANIE DENIS NOEL, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure, Sale and Discharge of Mortgage and Nunc Pro Tunc Relief, duly filed on August 13, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Court, Room 224, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY on October 25, 2018 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 447 East 48th Street, New York, NY. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York, Block 4696 and Lot 50. Approximate amount of judgment is $817,188.22 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 21783/2011.

Doron A. Leiby, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Ste. 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Cash will not be accepted.

VOL. 22 NO. 46

11

OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

Voter Suppression Reading the articles below, it is easy to believe that without the Republican voter suppression tactics against Stacey Abrams in Georgia and Andrew Gillum in Florida, we’d have two new African-American governors and another Democratic senator, Bill Nelson in Florida. In the past, voter suppression was no doubt perceived as a “black” problem. Now it is recognized as an existential threat to democracy.

92-year-old Georgia Voter Blocked ■■

Florida Invalidates More Absentee Ballots from Black and Young Voters

By Greg Palast, November 7, 2018

■■

J

T

92 year old Voter Blocked

his is why Stacey Abrams won't quit.

Christine Jordan, age 92, was blocked from voting today, thrown out of the polls with her walker - just one victim of Kemp's mass cancellation of voter registrations - more than half a million Georgians purged in the night, stealthily, hidden from the public eye.

That's why I sued Kemp last month in a federal court in Atlanta. To find out the names of every voter, including Grandma Jordan, and expose exactly how Kemp has made their voting rights vanish.

Jordan has been "voting right here since 1968," says her granddaughter Jessica Lawrence, the year Martin Luther King was shot. Jordan's voting registration has vanished, no record she EVER voted, though she tells me she's never missed a vote in these 50 years.

No points for guessing Grandma Jordan is African-American.

And she had no warning because Brian Kemp's purge machine strikes with no notice sent. I reviewed my investigative files with Stacey Abrams back in 2014.

She told me that what worried her more than anything about Kemp is that, "He is doing this stealthily."

Abrams also was deeply concerned that our investigation found Kemp was working in secret coordination with Kris Kobach

of Kansas. Our new legal actions revealed that Kobach supplied 108,000 of the names that Kemp purged. Purged in secret.

Jordan's granddaughter can't stop her tears, standing in the rain, crying. "It's horrible, ...she held civil rights meetings in her home ...and they had no record of her.

She was here in the West End community when we couldn't...."

She can't get out the words, "couldn't vote."

"And today, not being able to come out and vote... It's extremely emotional. And it BOTHERS me. Bothers me to my core."

Then Jessica apologizes for her tears. "I'm sorry."

But it's Brian Kemp who should be sorry. We met Mrs. Jordan after escorting Rahiem Shabazz to the same voting station.

They told him he couldn't vote either. So they gave him a provisional ballot.

Kemp has already ruled Rahiem's vote won't be counted.

So Rahiem asked me whether he can go to federal court to get his vote counted. I called our lawyers. We are working through the night on it.

I have been with a hundred purged voters today, shunted to provisional ballots.

Stacey Abrams says we have to count those ballots. Not because she's a candidate, but because she's an American.

And, Mr. Kemp, this is 2018, not 1958.

View From Here

➔➔ Continued from page 1

seemingly always maddeningly close in Florida, with the restoration of voting rights to 1.3 million ex-felons, any 2020 Florida voting calculations will have to be updated.

The election is still two years away, but we can already imagine Trump angrily denying the Florida results because criminals were allowed to vote against him.

Trump, Trump, always Trump. It’s only because the man is President of the United States that he is allowed to take up valuable and slowly diminishing space

Photo: Greg Palast

in the brain and there’s no getting around him. Special Counsel Robert Mueller will have to come up with God-knows-what for the Republicans in the Senate to agree to impeach. While the two phone calls Don Jr. made to a blocked number before and after his meeting with the Russians at Trump Tower give a glimmer of hope that a conspiracy with the Russians can be proved, it’s only a glimmer and we’re probably stuck for two more years.

Remember, every vote counts and pray the 2020 presidential election doesn’t come down to Florida.

By Jerry Ianella, miaminewtimes.com

ust before the November 2016 election, a federal judge forced the Florida Division of Elections to allow rejected absentee-ballot voters to correct mistakes on their mailed-in forms. Yet, somehow, even more ballots ended up being rejected in that election than in 2012 — and younger voters and voters of color, who overwhelmingly lean to the Left, had their ballots invalidated at a far higher rate.

That's the conclusion of a report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which says the results suggest a troubling trend of the state tossing out ballots from young and minority residents for reasons the group can't explain.

"All voters — regardless of race and ethnicity or age — face considerable hurdles when casting a mail ballot," the report reads.

"But in Florida, younger voters, as well as racial and ethnic minorities, are disproportionately more likely not to have their VBM ballot counted as valid."

During the 2016 election, voters aged 18 to 21 were eight times likelier to have their mail-in ballots rejected by local election boards compared to voters aged 65 or older.

Even though voters under 30 made up less than 10 percent of all absentee voters, those in that age bracket made up 30 percent of all rejected ballots. The ACLU noted that ballot rejections were particularly acute in counties with large college populations.

When broken down by race, the disparity between valid votes from white voters and voters of color somehow worsened between 2012 and 2016: When assessing the relative rejection rates of VBM ballots, although the nearly 245,000 Black voters comprised only 8.9 percent of all voters casting a VBM ballot in the 2016 general election, they accounted

Florida Andrew Gillum for 16.9 percent of all voters who had their VBM ballot rejected. Nearly one-in-four rejected VBM ballots in 2016 were cast by Hispanics, although they accounted for only 13.9 percent of all VBM ballots cast that election. Ten percent of the nearly 28,000 rejected VBM ballots in 2016 were cast by members of other racial or ethnic groups, although they accounted for only 5.5 percent of all VBM ballots cast. White voters cast nearly 72 percent of all VBM ballots in 2016, but they accounted for less than half of all rejected VBM ballots in 2016.

It's important to note that the ACLU's report does not suggest any sort of organized scheme to suppress Left-leaning votes.

(Though the report doesn't rule out that possibility either.) Instead, the report, compiled

by University of Florida Political Science Professor Daniel A. Smith, presents a dataset that should trouble anyone concerned with voting rights access across the state. Simply put, if you're younger or a voter of color, it's more likely that the state will reject your absentee ballot for submitting "mismatched signatures" or other similar violations. ➔➔ Continued on page 12

Voter suppression may have made the difference for Republicans in Georgia

And that could send a message to Republicans nationwide.

T

■■

By German Lopez www.vox.com

here was good news and bad news for voting rights in the 2018 midterm elections.

The good: Florida restored voting rights to more than 1 million people with felony records, which amounts to the biggest enfranchisement since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the women’s suffrage movement. This is a big moment for voting rights — way more people now have the right to vote! — but it remains unclear how this will change the swing state in the future.

The bad: Republican candidates that benefited from voter suppression efforts, particularly Brian Kemp in Georgia’s

governor race and Kevin Cramer in North Dakota’s Senate race, are set for victories. The results may send a message that emboldens future voting restrictions, given that, at the very least, benefiting from steps that prevented voters from voting didn’t seem to hurt these candidates.

Meanwhile, Arkansas and North Carolina voters also approved ballot initiatives that require photo IDs to vote, adding more barriers to the ballot box.

It’s the bad news that I’m really concerned with here. The research suggests ➔➔ Continued on page 12

12

OUR TIME PRESS November 15 – 21, 2018

Community Calendar Saturday, November 17th

ballot questions impact future elections, civic engagement and community boards and community control? Stefani Zinerman and Coach Coop moderate this discussion. [RSVP at https://thesessionbk. eventbrite.com]

Monday, November 19th What Is Joy

WHAT IS JOY? Group Exhibition Artist Talk & Dessert, St. Joseph’s College, 245 Clinton Ave., Alumni Room Gallery, 1-3PM, FREE. Featuring works by TAFA, Ava Tomlinson, Jimmy James Greene, Jorge Valdes, Willie Mae Brown, C. Bangs, Mark Blackshear, Brittan Blasdel, Sarah J. Hall and Ellen Coleman Izzo.

8TH ANNUAL TURKEY MEAL GIVEAWAY St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf, 260 Eastern Parkway, 12-3PM, FREE. Simply join the line to receive your package.

One frozen turkey, one package of mashed potatoes, a box of stuffing, a jar of gravy and a can of cranberry sauce will be distributed. One meal per household address and ID required. Presented by Onos Footprints, in partnership with City Council Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo.

HOW WILL THE NY HEALTH ACT BENEFIT BROOKLYN? Brooklyn Borough Hall Community Room, 209 Joralemon St., 6-8PM, FREE. Come discuss how a single-payer plan could cover our diverse health care needs. Hear from experts, share your stories, ask tough questions. This venue is ADA-accessible and breast-feeding-friendly. Please have ID to go through security. For info and to RSVP: 917-515-7577. Brought to you by the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President and the Campaign for New York Health.

Tuesday, November 20th FOOD INDUSTRY JOB TRAINING INFO SESSION. This free training will lead to certification in food preparation and handling, preparing you for a career in the food industry.

Sunday, November 18th

Program graduates will be ready to take on a role in food production or manufacturing, commercial kitchens, entry-level baking, food retail and more. Successful trainees will be referred to open positions in the food industry at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, including at the new Food Manufacturing Hub located in Building 77.

Thursday, November 22nd AUNTY! AFRICAN WOMEN IN THE FRAME, 1890 TO PRESENT United Photo Industries, 16 Main St. #B, in DUMBO, 11AM-6PM, FREE. Curated by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, this show features photos from the collection of Catherine E. McKinley, a repository of rare, original images spanning the African continent from Morocco to South Africa, Guinea to Kenya, Madagascar to Benin, and the 1890s to the present day. It centers images of African women and engages with the nuances of the “Aunty” as both a colonial construction and honorific of African womanhood.

Sunday, November 25th HEADS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE DISCUSSION AT TFBWL Wendy’s Subway, 379 Bushwick Ave., 12-5PM, FREE. The Free Black Women’s Library returns to its favorite reading room for its November Pop-Up. Join lit lovers for some cozy, comfortable reading time, check out the archive, trade books written by Black women and join in conversation on this dazzling, satirical short story collection by Nafissa Thompson-Spires.

The library opens at noon, discussion begins at 2. All are welcome!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

POST-ELECTION STRATEGY SESSION The Corners, 395 Nostrand Ave., 5-7PM, FREE. The election is over.

Now the work begins. How will the

Saturday, Dec. 1st AUNTY

KING OF THE STAGE: THE WOODIE KING, JR. STORY

Voter suppression in Georgia ➔➔ Continued from page 11 that the voter suppression efforts so far don’t have a huge impact on electoral outcomes. But the impact disproportionately hurts Democratic and especially minority voters. Given that elections can be so close (including Georgia’s gubernatorial race), more restrictions really could play a decisive factor.

Voter suppression in Georgia The most concerning results for voting rights advocates were in Georgia and North Dakota.

In Georgia, Kemp remained in his position as Georgia’s secretary of state — the office that oversees elections in Georgia — even while running for governor against Democrat Stacey Abrams.

Kemp has carried out mass purges of the voter rolls, ostensibly to remove dead people and people who haven’t voted in recent elections from the records, but in such a sweeping way that Democrats fear it will keep voters, particularly minority voters, off the rolls.

Kemp’s office also put 53,000 voter registrations on hold, nearly 70 percent of which are for black voters, by using an error-prone “exact match” system, which stops voter registrations if there are any discrepancies, down to dropped hyphens, with other government records.

The Republican victories may lead to more voter suppression Republicans, of course, argue that their measures are not about stifling voters or swinging elections, but preventing voter fraud. That’s the rationale

VOL. 22 NO. 46

Republicans have used time and again to enact new restrictions on voting in the past few years, particularly after a Supreme Court ruling in 2013, Shelby County v. Holder, that weakened the Voting Rights Act. And they’ve been very successful: Since 2011, 24 states — all but five via Republican-controlled governments — have passed new voting restrictions, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a public policy think tank.

But basically, everyone knows that Republicans’ justification for these voting restrictions is nonsense.

For one, voter fraud is extremely rare. There is a lot of research backing this up, but, based on one investigation in 2012 by the News21 journalism project, there were 0.000003 alleged cases of fraud for every national general election vote cast between 2000 and part of 2012 — and as many as half of those alleged cases weren’t credible. Voter fraud is simply not a big deal in America’s electoral system.

In fact, Republicans have repeatedly admitted that their claims about voting restrictions are nonsense.

As longtime North Carolina Republican consultant Carter Wrenn in 2016 told the Washington Post, “Look, if African Americans voted overwhelmingly Republican, they would have kept early voting right where it was.”

So Republicans are carrying out voting restrictions to stop Democrats, and particularly minority voters who are likely to go Democrat, from voting. If the GOP concludes that the restrictions helped push Kemp to victory in Georgia and unseat Heitkamp in North Dakota, there could be a real incentive to continue making voting harder and harder across the US.

KING OF STAGE Metrograph Theater, 7 Ludlow St., Manhattan, 7PM, $15. One of the most important figures in contemporary Black theater, Woodie King, Jr. is founder and producing director of the New Federal Theater. He’s presented over 200 plays since its inception in 1970, in addition to producing and directing Broadway shows by Ntozake Shange and Ron Milner and facilitating the careers of Glynn Turman, Phylicia Rashad, Viola Davis, Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson. The full measure of his legacy is explored in film directed by Juney Smith.

Q&A with Woodie follows.

HOW WILL THE CENSUS MATTER TO YOU? CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave., Manhattan, 6:30PM, FREE. Maria Hinojosa, host of Latino USA on NPR, leads a discussion on what’s at stake for the 2020 Census. Not only will it determine national, state and local representation—as well as spending for education, health and infrastructure—but lack of funding and a newly planned question about citizenship may threaten its accuracy. Featuring: Steven Choi of the New York Immigration Coalition and New York Counts 2020; Vanita Gupta of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; John Mollenkopf, GC Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Sociology; and Esmeralda Simmons of the Center for Law and Social Justice.

Florida Invalidates More Absentee Ballots from Black and Young Voters ➔➔ Continued from page 11 Compared to 2012, 50 of the 67 counties improved their ballot-rejection rates. But rejection rates worsened in 14 of the remaining 17 counties — including Miami-Dade, which reported the third-highest rejection rate in the state in 2016.

Miami-Dade also reported the third-highest number of rejected Black voter ballots and the seventh-highest percentage of rejected Hispanic voter ballots.

Miami-Dade also posted the second-worst rate of rejected ballots from young people. That's particularly interesting now because Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is locked in a fight after activist groups, including the ACLU, demanded he open more early-voting centers on college campuses.

The data also comes after Gov. Rick Scott has been repeatedly accused of various voter-suppression schemes during his tenure as governor, and just before Florida voters are set to decide on a ballot measure that could finally end the state's racist

law banning felons from voting.

That 19th century law was explicitly designed to prevent Blacks from going to the polls.

Young voters and voters of color were also likelier to have had their ballots invalidated in both the 2012 and 2016 elections, and were less likely to have been properly contacted in 2016 to fix balloting issues.

The ACLU notes that some counties, including Pinellas, didn't seem to have issues contacting people to fix their ballots while others struggled.

"To be sure, responsibility for the variation of invalid VBM ballots in Florida rests with individual voters who have the responsibility to follow instructions and have an up-to-date signature on file," the report reads. "But the responsibility to protect the right to vote also rests with election officials who process and validate VBM ballots.

For Florida to have free and fair elections, all eligible voters must have equal opportunity to vote, including those casting (and curing) VBM ballots."