New York Trend NYC: January 14-20, 2021

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NEWMAYOR YORK TREND DAVID DINKINS, REP. CHARLES RANGEL, Serving New York City, Nassau & Suffolk Counties

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THE ALTERNATIVE VOLUMEPERSPECTIVE 26 ISSUE 40

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December 17, 2015 - December 23, 2015

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

Since 1989

January 14th, 2021 - January 20th, 2021

C E L E B R AT I N G HONORED WITH LIFETIME AWARDS C E O ACHIEVEMENT CALL 30

NAACP PRESIDENT The Black Stars News 2015 Annual

AND

FOR

IMPEACHMENT

Awards Dinner will honor Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Charles Yvette Clarke, D ER RRangel, I C K J ORep. H N S ON objective than to disrupt the R. President Donahue Peebles, Barbara constitutional proceedings of NAACP Arnwine, Inez Barron, Sabrina a fair and rightful transition Statement Lamb, Dr. Rudy Crew, Stephen of power. At this moment, THE NAACP released Byrd, Alia Jones,the and the Central President Trump is silent and following statement from Park Five survivors ofNAACP gross injustice President Derrick Johnson on December 18 from 6:00pm – continues to perpetuate lies and disinformation for his selfish on the10:00pm disruption of peaceful at MIST Harlem, 46 West 116th transition ofStreet. power and calls for

the impeachment President “Each honoreeofchosen for Trump: recognition has demonstrated leadershipat and vision in “Whatexceptional we are witnessing this her or his respective profession or moment is the manifestation endeavor and in some significant and culmination of reckless measure has contributed towards leadership, a apervasive creating more just misuse society in this of power, and anarchy. not country,” says BlackThis StarisNews protesting or activism; this is an founder and publisher Milton insurrection, an“Obviously assault onmuch our work Allimadi. democracy, and coup here incited needs to beadone andby around the world.”

President Trump.

We must not allow President Trump to continue to place our nation in peril. The NAACP calls for President Trump’s impeachment so that he will never again be able to harm our beloved country, and more

David Dinkins

The galaw starts atr6:00pm with a Wh at e a e cocktail hour to be followed by the witnessing at dinner and awards ceremonies.

There this moment is musical t h e will m be an i f e sentertainment t a t i o n by Cassandra a n dopera c u singer lmin a t i o nDouglas and phenomenon of r e cfrom k lharmonica ess William lead e r s hGalison. i p , aDavid Dinkins is honored perv a s i vfor e Lifetime m i s u sAchievement e of p wwas e rNew , a York n d City’s first —ohe a n aAfrican r c h yAmerican  mayor and also

Pioneering producers Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones, through their People) is the largest and Production, company Front Row brought “Cat civil on arights Hot Tin Roof” most pre-eminent and “A in Streetcar Named organization the nation.

WeDesire” with a multi-ethnic cast have over 2,200 units and to Broadway.

In 2016 they bring branches across the nation, “Eclipsed” with Oscar Winner along with well over 2M activists.

Lupita Nyong ’O to Broadway.

Charles Rangel

was a member of the New York City Council, representing the 40th council district in Brooklyn, succeeding her mother, Una S. T. Clarke. In the current 114th Congress Clarke serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, responsible for consumer protection, food safety, energy development, public health, communications, the environment, and interstate and international commerce.

YEARS!

York and a former chancellor of the New York public schools system.

majority. She now leads The Transformative Justice Coalition.

Arnwine was for 26 years executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. Inez Barron, honoree, formerly a State Assembly member, is now a New York City council member and a champion of education for our youth.

Honoree Imhotep Gary Byrd is a legendary radio talk show host and executive producer, radio DJ, poet, songwriter, music recording artist and producer, rapper, writer and community activist. He began his career as a radio DJ in Buffalo at age 15. For over 30 years, he’s been a talk show host at WBLS and WLIB radio in New York City. He also has a Friday night radio talk show on WBAI.

Honorees, the so-called Central Park 5, are collectively and individually heroes. They are survivors of one of the ugliest miscarriage of justice in New York’s history; having been railroaded and unjustly convicted for a crime they did not commit and for which they served long prison sentences ranging from seven years to 13 years before being exonerated when the actual rapist confessed. They are: Yusef Abdus Salaam; Raymond Santana Jr., Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, and Kharey Wise.

The Black Star News, which focuses on investigative journalism, has been featured as a result of some if its news scoops, on CNN, The New York Daily News, The New York Post, The Village Voice, and Brill’s Content magazine.

R. Donahue Peebles, honoree, is a leading developer and founder of The Peebles Co., the nation’s largest African American-owned real estate firm with $3.5 billion worth Past Black Star News honorees welcomed Nelson Mandela to the of properties under development For the past four years, we’ve have included: Gil Noble (Like It city after his release in 1990. or management — he was one seen him chip away at the Is), Rep. Maxine Waters, Soledad Charles Rangel, also honored of the pioneering developerswho O’Brien (CNN), Ms. Camille Cosby, civility,Rep. integrity, and dignity for Lifetime Achievement, has helped turn around and revitalize Voza Rivers (New Heritage Theatre), of ourserved nation.

The pattern of in Congress since 1971. He is Photothe once-blighted Anacostia Credit: NAACP // naacp.org Errol Louis (NY1 News), Amel President Trump’s misconduct Honoree Sabrina Lamb, founder a recipient of The Bronze medal for neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Larrieux (Entertainer), Dr. William is unmistakable hasbehind provenenemy of World of Money, is a champion helping saveand soldiers A champion of African-American Pollard (Medgar Evers College), time and time again that it War. is a of financial literacy for youth-- sheOur mission is to secure the line during the Korean amusement and personal gain. its people.” economic empowerment Peebles’ importantly, is Herm Edwards (NY Jets), Nayaba grave Rep. threat and harm to the teaches knowledge about handlingpolitical, educational, social, contemplating a possible run for NYC Yvette Clarke is a Democratic Arinde (Amsterdam News), La-Verna Founded in 1909 in response this is an money, budgeting and planning. and economic equality of rights fragilemember fabric of mayor in 2017. ofour the country.

US House of Fountain (Columbia University), insurrection, an to the ongoing violence In theRepresentatives latest show of failed Dr. Rudy Crew, honoree, is one of in order to eliminate race-based from New Lillian Roberts (DC37), Desiree Dancy Honoree Barbara civil against Black people around assa u lt o n o uArnwine, r leadership, we witnessed the nation’s leading educators.

He’s York whose 9th district covers discrimination and ensure the (New York Times), Greg Floyd (Local d e m rights o c rlawyer, a c y is, aachampion n d a of the country, the NAACP the Capitol siege by much under of central Brooklyn.

Before c o uprotecting 237), Rev. Al Sharpton (National president of Medgar Evers College p health and well-being of all voting rights of ethnic (National Association for bad actors who had noinother entering Congress 2007, she Action Network), and many others. of The City University of New minority groups — the emerging the Advancement persons. of Colored

INSIDE T HIS ISSUE: IS SUE : INSIDE THIS

PAGE 2 Education FLY BLUE!pg.5

PAGE 2 SUPPORTING RACE FWD NewYorkTrendnyc

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BluePage Sky EPIC pg.8LIKE YUH! 7 BAD

PAGE 3 NYC CANCELS CONTRACTS

December 17, 2015 - December 23, 2015

January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

Page 11 NYC NEW YEARS!

PAGE 8 A TALE OF STRUGGLE

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N AT ION AL

FEEDING AMERICA Network Stays Resilient As COVID-19 CRISIS Endures Over 80 percent of food banks in the Feeding America network continue to serve more neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic yet are accustomed to this new level of demand, working tirelessly to keep inventory of food and resources high.

This is according to the most recent survey by Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hungerrelief and food rescue organization.

Ninety-one percent of food banks in the Feeding America network responded to a survey between Nov. 9 through Nov. 19 to identify critical gaps in funds, food, volunteers and distribution. Food banks have consistently seen a 60 percent increase in demand compared to this time last year, and continue to require more food and resources to provide to people in need.

According to the USDA, more than 35 million people, including nearly 11 million children, lived in food insecure households before the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, a recent Feeding America analysis found that number

could rise to more than 50 million people, including 17 million children, in 2020. With the help of monetary contributions to Feeding America and critical partnerships with donors in the supply chain, the Feeding America network has distributed 4.2 billion meals to this growing number of neighbors facing hunger.

With 11.1 million people in America still unemployed, many are turning to the food banks for the first time.

Previous food bank surveys revealed that an estimated 40 percent of people seeking assistance from food banks had never needed help before.

People across the country can get involved to help neighbors this holiday season and beyond by:  Volunteering at their local food bank  Donating to their local food bank or Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund  Contacting elected officials to protect and increase the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program, which is the first line of defense against hunger  Joining the conversation on social media with @FeedingAmerica Key Findings According to the survey distributed Nov. 9 through Nov. 19:  Food banks have become accustomed to the new level of increased demand, which has consistently been an average of around 60 percent more neighbors

SUPPORT race forward

Authenticity. Owning our strengths. Learning from those who came before us. The importance of collective and collaboration. The power of joy.

These are just some of the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve progressed on the path towards a just, multiracial, more democratic society.

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In 2020, following the police killing of George Floyd here in my Minneapolis community, organizers and activists across the nation pushed harder than ever before to achieve a shared vision for racial justice.

compared to the same time last year.  From March 1 through October 31, the Feeding America network distributed an estimated 4.2 billion meals (5.2 billion pounds) to people facing hunger in the United States.  Just over 60 percent of food banks are accepting and in need of volunteers.

To learn more about ways you can help, please visit feedingamerica. org.

IN 2021

What lessons have you learned?

As you reflect on the progress and setbacks of 2020 - we hope that you choose to give to Race Forward so that we can sustain this important work in

2021.

We will continue to learn. We will continue to grow. We will continue to educate. We will continue this work. Together.

That tragedy and so many others has sparked a movement that is grounded in the persistence of our ancestors, the power of organizing, and a deep hunger for liberation.

January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

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N AT I O N A L MAYOR Announces NYC To Cancel Trump Contracts Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that the City of New York is taking steps to terminate three Trump Organization agreements with the City after last week’s deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The Administration will be notifying the Trump Organization that the City will begin the process to cancel its agreements to operate the Central Park Carousel, Wollman and Lasker skating rinks, and Ferry Point Golf Course in accordance with the steps outlined in the contracts.

“The President incited a rebellion against the United States government that killed five people and threatened to derail the constitutional transfer of power,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The City of New York will not be associated with those unforgivable acts in any shape, way or form, and we are immediately taking steps to terminate all Trump Organization contracts.”

“T h e P r e s i d e nt i nc i t e d a r e be l l io n ag a i ns t t h e U n i te d S tat e s g ov e r n m e n t…”  Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Mr. Trump’s incitement of violence at our Capitol was an abomination,” said Corporation Counsel James E. Johnson. “In light of last week’s attack on our Capitol and our democracy, we have concluded that it is in the

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City agreements. The Carousel is currently closed and termination will be effective 25 days after the City’s termination notice is delivered. The Agreement for the Wollman and Lasker Rinks terminates after 30 days

level golf course that would attract major championship events.

The termination process for each location is detailed in each of the

written notice. The process for terminating the Ferry Point Golf Course is more detailed and is expected to take a number of months.

SHOOTING

JACOB BLAKE

Wollman Rink, New York Photo by Yomex Owo via Unsplash

best interests of New Yorkers for the City to commence the process of cancelling these contracts and terminating its business ties with the Trump

NAACP CONDEMNS DECISION

The NAACP released the following statement regarding Kenosha county official’s decision not to charge Rusten Sheskey with the shooting of Jacob Blake: “Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley’s failure to bring substantial charges against the officer who shot Jacob Blake causes pain for far too many Americans still reeling from a pandemic and the countless black deaths due to police brutality.

The district attorney’s decision is foul and shameful. It is yet another stark reminder of the free-willing atrocities committed against Black people at the hands of those entrusted to maintain public safety. Atrocities committed against the people of this country by the authorities

Organization.”

The PGA recently cancelled the 2022 PGA Championship at a Trump golf course. In its contract with the Trump Organization to run Ferry Point Golf Course, the City called for a championship

IN THE

cannot and should not go unanswered. The justice system failed Jacob Blake and, as such,

OF

failed us.

At this moment, the work of the American people is clear: we

Jacob Blake

January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

must continue to fight, organize, and mobilize against police brutality. Far too many Black lives have been damaged or lost due to the egregious malpractice of police officers, elected officials, and the justice system as a whole. While the visions of Jacob Blake, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others play over and over in our minds, we must not grow weary until we’ve achieved police liability and substantive change is realized. If there was ever a time for us to unite against a common threat to the existence of Black people, it is now. Our fight for justice remains unyielding.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with Jacob Blake, his family and friends.” www.newyorktrendnyc.com | 3

COMMUNI T Y NE WS

COUNTY EXEC Announces FREE COVID-19 TESTING I am proud to announce a partnership with Nassau’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) to offer free COVID-19 testing for residents.

The COVID-19 testing will be available to all residents, regardless of insurance or immigration status, on evenings and Saturdays at the County’s FQHCs in Elmont, Freeport, Hempstead, Roosevelt and Westbury.

As everyone turns their focus to the vaccine, the County remains committed to offering easy and reliable COVID-19 testing for residents so we can contain disease spread while we wait for the vaccine to be widely available.

Our FQHCs have been real partners during this pandemic and I thank them for once again working with us to make sure all residents have access to COVID-19 testing and other critical health care services.

The testing will be at the following locations:  Westbury Health Center (682 Union Avenue, Westbury) Monday and Wednesday, 4:30pm to 8:30pm  Elmont Health Center (161 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont) Monday and Wednesday, 4:30pm to 8:30pm

Photo Source: Nassau County, NY

 South Ocean Care Health Center (101 South Bergen Place, Freeport) Tuesday and Thursday, 4:30pm to 8:30pm  Hempstead Health Center (135 Main Street, Hempstead) Tuesday and Thursday, 4:30pm to 8:30pm  Roosevelt Health Center (380 Nassau Road, Roosevelt) 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month, 9am to 1pm

Owner/Publisher Executive Editor Editor-In-Chief Dr. Teresa Taylor Williams

Online Editorial Director Rachel Breton Hamlett

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Art Director Jessica R. Doughty

New York Trend welcomes letters to the editor.

Assistant to Publisher, Administrative Zoie Williams

Emeritus Office & Subscription Manager Sophie Taylor

International Correspondent Ann Brown

Social Media Zoie A. Williams

Travel Editor Jim Weaver Contributing Editor Justin Williams Circulation Manager Robert L. Taylor

Writers Ezra Mechaber Jim Weaver Anastasia Williams Justin Williams Teresa Williams

14 Bond Street, Suite 176, Great Neck, N.Y. 11021 Tel (347) 551-1545 Fax (516) 626-3966 ISSN#1083-58 Email NYTrend@aol.com Email: Website: www.newyorktrendnyc.com Website “Like Us” on Facebook: www.facebook.com/newyorktrendnyc New York Trend is published by TTW Associated, Inc. which holds copyright to the content of this publication. ISSN: 1083-5822 Mail inquiries to: New York Trend NYC, 14 Bond Street, Suite 176, Great Neck, N.Y. 11021.

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VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

Due to federal and state regulations concerning the operations of non-essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and deliveries, please be advised that regularly scheduled deliveries may be delayed or adjusted to meet these regulations at the discretion of the distributors and publisher requires to adhere to the mandates. @2020

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January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

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Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. 20090337H

Serious memory loss isn’t part of normal aging.

Stony Brook Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease As the only center of its kind on Long Island, and one of only 10 such centers in New York State, we provide early diagnosis and help enhance the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Our team includes geriatric psychiatrists, a geriatrician, a neuropsychologist and social workers. And we have partners throughout Long Island to effectively serve you and your loved ones where you live.

For Physicians and Healthcare Providers

Alzheimer’s Disease Virtual Symposium Person-Centered Care: Therapeutic Strategies in Dementia Care for Improving Quality of Life and Caregiver Support.

Friday, Nov. 6 • 8 to 10 am To learn more/register: ceadlongisland.org

• • • • •

Assessment and diagnosis of memory loss Comprehensive, individualized care plans Management of complex cases Technical help Educational resources for difficult diagnoses

• Second opinions

For Family Members • • • •

Recommendations on resources and support Language assistance Clinical trials information Advocacy with and on behalf of caregivers

(631) 954-2323 • ceadlongisland.org This center is supported by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.

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January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

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ENTER TAINMENT

J E N N I F E R H O L L I D AY V i r t u a l N A B J Awards F e at u r e d P e r f o r m e r

Gramm y Awa rd-winning singer and actress Jennifer Holliday will join the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) as the featured performer for its 2020 Virtual Awards, streaming December 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Celebrity DJ Andre Mack will also join NABJ as the host of the awards show live afterparty. Free tickets are available at https:// nabj.digitalvirtualspaces.com/ register.

Holliday is best known for her role in the smash Broadway musical, “Dreamgirls,” with her showstopping performance as Effie "Melody" White. This iconic role garnered her a Tony Award for best actress in a musical.

With over 30 years of experience on Broadway, Holliday got her start at age 17 while singing in her church choir in Houston, Texas.

Holliday's passion didn't stop on the Broadway stage. She has appeared on television as Lisa Knowles on the Fox TV dramedy, “Ally McBeal.”

She has also enjoyed a successful recording career, winning Grammy® Awards for her mesmerizing

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6 | NewYorkTrendnyc

performances of "And I Am Telling You, I'm Not Going" (1982) and Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday" (1985). Holliday has also received rave reviews for her first album in two decades - "The Song Is You" (2014).

Back by popular demand, DJ Andre Mack is no stranger to NABJ. After performing at the 2020 Convention Opening Ceremony and Reception, co-produced and presented by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, members and attendees raved about Mack's skills on the

turntables. He is frequently called upon to spin classic and soulful House, Old School R&B, Hip Hop, and Reggae music.

NABJ's first-ever virtual awards will recognize the winners of its 2020 Salute to Excellence Awards and pay tribute to 2020 SPECIAL HONORS recipients and Hall of Fame inductees. The hosts for the evening will be Lynn Whitfield, Emmy Award-winning actress; Craig Melvin, anchor of NBC News’ “TODAY”; Tichina Arnold, NAACP Image Award-winning actress;

January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

Michelle Miller, co-host of “CBS This Morning: Saturday”; and Kenneth Moton, co-anchor of “ABC World News Now” and “America This Morning.”

The awards ceremony, presented

by FedEx, will kick off at 8 p.m. ET. It will be preceded by a pre-event reception at 7:30 p.m. ET. The postevent afterparty will be held from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Tickets provide access to all three activities.

"In such a critical time in America and in journalism, it is important that we take time to celebrate and applaud our members and industry colleagues," said NABJ President Dorothy Tucker. "We are honored to have iconic artists and actresses like Jennifer Holliday, Lynn Whitfield and Tichina Arnold celebrating with us. We are also grateful to have our award-winning hosts and journalists Craig Melvin, Michelle Miller and Kenneth Moton. And, of course, we can’t wait to unwind with the talented DJ Andre Mack. Congratulations to our 2020 honorees and finalists. We are proud of all you've accomplished.”

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On this day when we honor Martin Luther King Jr., we remember his unwavering commitment to community.

By rallying others towards a just cause, he showed anything can be achieved when we come together towards a goal.

Celebrate with us at aarp.org/longisland

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January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

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BUSINE S S BOOKS return and just where in God's name was, he! "Fatherless" is not the typical sob story of a child who grew up without a dad.

In "Fatherless," author Larry McCoy takes us on a journey through the day-to-day existence of a sharecropping family in the Mississippi Delta. He does so through an abandoned child's eyes and manages to stay true to the 1950's dialect and authentic culture. Peppered with stories of humor, history, pain and life lessons, "Fatherless" reveals the private thoughts of a young boy as he grows in coping with loss and begins to focus on the hopes and opportunities of each new day. In the Deep South, the

In the 1950's Jim Crow Mississippi Delta, where cotton is king and sharecropping has staunchly replaced slavery, McCoy captures the struggles of a family surviving poverty, racism, and sporadic hopelessness.

If the young main character in this book could write well, he would have written it. However, it is 1955 and school is a special treat primarily black children, who are unskilled "cotton pickers" or physically unable to work in the cotton fields. When a father suddenly disappears from a young boy's life, a new role is carved out for Arthur as he struggles through life's challenges. In the meantime, his colorful, hard-working, sharecropper mother unskilled 8 | NewYorkTrendnyc

focused on maintaining a roof over her family's heads on the Hobbs plantation. As Arthur, nicknamed Bird's family moved from shotgun house to shotgun house, the personal stories of characters in and out of their lives are painful at times and joyous and funny at other moments. Bird daydreams about the day his daddy will return.

Finally, God teaches him how to fly above poverty, pain, many injustices, and a longing for his father's love and closeness.

Every day that his grieving mother went to work was a day for him to ponder the impacts of being the "man" of the house and more time to explore and become frustrated about why his father was missing when he would

Mississippi River amidst the cotton fields of Bolivar County, he now lives in Central Mississippi.

He continues to travel the magnolia state's back roads, capturing photographic records of remains of its iconic blues and juke joints. Listening to stories of elders throughout the Delta inspired McCoy's creative efforts to writing. McCoy often carries his passion for karaoke to music joints and events to small towns throughout Mississippi. His other works include The Last of the Mississippi Juke Joints. Pending book releases include "The Love Family Reunion," "The Robbery on the Pee Vine Track," "Done Got Over," and "The Trial."

Photo Credit: Larry McCoy

1950s were thick with downhome blues, racism, sweat, cotton, tobacco, and mosquitos with just a touch of tenderness.

To Arthur, none of that was as crucial as finding his daddy.

McCoy is a retired businessman, youth coach, and teacher. Born and raised near the mighty

January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

Fatherless is available in numerous bookstores, online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Baker & Taylor, Walmart and via iBook, The Book Company, Kobo, and other bookselling localities. The E-Book generally sells for less than $7.00, and the paperback is less than $21.00 plus shipping. www.newyorktrendnyc.com

BUSINE S S Business Groups Urge Airlines To Adopt TRAVELER-FRIENDLY POLICIES Several consumer and business travel groups today urged U.S. airlines that plan to operate the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 aircraft to adopt traveler-friendly policies – in writing – providing concerned travelers with a variety of options when the plane returns to service. This morning the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an order that will enable the aircraft to return to service, certification of the aircraft by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is progressing, and the plane could be operating flights in U.S. airline schedules as early as next month.

The consumer and business travel groups, which include the Business Travel Coalition, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League and Travel Fairness Now sent a joint letter to the CEOs of Alaska, American, Southwest and United Airlines asking them to agree to a five-point “737 MAX 8/9 Passenger Protection Plan.” The five protections include:  1. Allowing passengers concerned about flying on a 737 MAX 8 and 9 to change to flights operated with other aircraft without any financial penalties such as differences in fare with the ticket they already purchased, all the way up to departure time. This includes flights operated by the airline itself and those operated by that airline’s “code-share” partners.  2. If no other aircraft is operated on a passenger’s itinerary, offering consumers the option of either a full refund or the ability to apply the full value of the ticket to a ticket to a different destination, without incurring a change fee, administrative fee or other financial penalty.  3. If a consumer is concerned about flying on a 737 MAX 8 or 9 to a degree that they’d rather not travel at all, provide them with a full refund on a timely basis.  4. Updating the airlines’ “Contract of Carriage” to reflect these changes and make them binding.  5. Providing consumers and travel agents with easily viewable information on the type of aircraft that will be used to operate a flight in advance so that consumers have full knowledge of whether a flight being considered is being operated with a 737 MAX 8 or 9, well before making a decision to purchase an airline ticket on a specific flight.

“The circumstances surrounding

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the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 are unprecedented in the history of commercial travel and call for extraordinary protections for understandably concerned consumers,” said Kurt Ebenhoch, executive director of Travel Fairness Now. “While we appreciate the initial accommodations that some airline officials have shared through public comments, we look forward

doing so,” said Susan Grant, director of Consumer Protection and Privacy at Consumer Federation of America. “If this plane is put back in service, it’s crucial for the airlines to adopt formal policies to accommodate consumers’ concerns.”  LAST-MINUTE AIRCRAFT SUBSTITUTIONS Travelers may also be faced with

burden should not be on consumers who are rightfully concerned about the safety of this aircraft,” said John Breyault, vice president, Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud for National Consumers League. “Passengers should have the right to opt out of flying on the 737 MAX, and there should be no financial penalty for doing so.”  CODE-SHARING

to them formalizing those plans into binding commitments consumers can depend on before committing to purchase a plane ticket.”

airlines making close-to-departure aircraft substitutions, where a published schedule shows a flight operated with a plane other than a 737 MAX 8 or 9, and that aircraft becomes delayed or requires lengthy maintenance work. To prevent a cancellation or lengthier delay, the airline may decide to substitute the aircraft originally planned for the flight with a 737 MAX 8 or 9 instead.

“Many travelers now dread the thought of getting on a 737 MAX and understandably will go out of their way to book travel on another kind of aircraft,” said Linda Sherry, director of National Priorities for Consumer Action. “Having gone to the trouble of making their preferences known, these travelers should never face last-minute aircraft substitutions that would land them in a 737 MAX. We fully support strong, formal and transparent airline policies that give these travelers the right to switch to another aircraft when possible, paying no more than they did for the same type of ticket and class, or be given a full refund or credit if no alternative is available.”

Many airlines engage in the practice of “code-sharing,” where they market flights operated by another airline as if it were their own, using the two-letter airline code on flights operated by different airlines.

The consumer and business groups recommend that travelers concerned about flying on a 737 MAX also check if flights operated by code-sharing partners airlines are using a 737 MAX. For example, while a U.S. airline on a passenger’s itinerary may not fly the 737 MAX, an international carrier that a passenger is connecting to might.  AIRLINE CONTRACTS OF CARRIAGE An airline’s “Contract of Carriage” details all of the contractual details and obligations between a consumer and an airline when a plane ticket is purchased, including what the consumer is entitled to and may expect. Airlines sometimes use Contract of Carriage language to enforce rules, collect additional revenues and deny services.

Unfortunately, these “contracts of adhesion” can be one-sided, confusing and do more to protect the interests of the airlines, not consumers.

In the U.S., there are four airlines that either operate or have ordered the Boeing 737 MAX – Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. “The Business Travel Coalition applauds airlines that have said they will allow passengers, fearful of flying a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9, to rebook for free once they take to the air again,” stated founder Kevin Mitchell. “It represents a smart cost-neutral business decision for travel and procurement managers around the world as they grapple with a MAX 8 and 9 related ‘duty-ofcare’ requirement of not knowingly placing employees in harm’s way.

These accommodations, if followed by all MAX 8 and 9 operators, should facilitate travel policies that make booking a 737 MAX 8 and 9 a voluntary decision for travelers,” added Mitchell.

“Consumers shouldn’t be forced to fly on the 737 MAX or have to pay more if they don’t feel comfortable

“Both Boeing and the FAA have shaken the public trust, and the

January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

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HE ALTH

A D U LT S M O K I N G R AT E i n N Y C D e c l i n e s

The Health Department today announced that results from the 2019 Community Health Survey show an adult smoking prevalence of 11.9%, a decrease from 14.3% in 2015 and 21.5% in 2002. This meets the smoking target of less than 12% in Take Care New York 2020, which is the City's blueprint for giving everyone the chance to live a healthier life. Its aim is to improve every community's health, especially among those experiencing the greatest health inequities.

“More New Yorkers than ever have extinguished their smoking habit – or never even picked it up – and we’re all healthier for it,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi.

“But with the ongoing impact of COVID-19, all New Yorkers can take additional steps to protect their health.

If you smoke, it’s a great time to try to quit and we’ve got your back with resources to make it easier.”

Smoking increases the risk of respiratory infections and pneumonia, as well the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Smoking is also known to cause heart disease, stroke, type2 diabetes, many cancers and lung diseases such as emphysema.

In 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed several bills to address tobacco and e-cigarette use, as well as secondhand smoke exposure. These

policies included banning the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies; raising the minimum prices for all tobacco products; capping the number of tobacco and e-cigarette retailers citywide; and promoting smoke-free spaces in residential settings.

While these improvements are impressive, troubling inequities exist.

In 2019, adults with less than a high school education were twice as likely to smoke as those with a college degree (15.6% vs. 7.4%). Men were more likely to smoke than women (14.7% vs. 9.3%). Smoking was also particularly high among adults with serious psychological distress (SPD), compared to adults without SPD (26.7% vs. 11.0%) Historically, the tobacco and vaping industry have resisted increased regulation and oversight, while also using manipulative marketing tactics to target youth and specific communities, which have contributed to these inequities.

more common among 18-24-yearolds than smoking (4.8%). White New Yorkers are two to three times more likely to use e-cigarettes (9%) than New Yorkers from other racial and ethnic groups. In response to the popularity of e-cigarettes among youth, this year, both the city and the state adopted laws prohibiting the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes. This will help protect young people from developing nicotine dependence and drive down the rate

The New York City Community Health Survey (CHS) is a telephone survey conducted annually by the Health Department. The 2019 sample included approximately 8,800 randomly selected adults aged 18 and older from all five boroughs. Interviews are conducted in English, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese). In 2018, additional languages were added, including Bengali and Haitian Creole.

The best thing people who smoke or vape can do is to stop. Using counseling and cessation medications, such as nicotine patches and lozenges, can double the chances of quitting successfully. The New York State Smokers Quitline is available to help online at nysmokefree.com or by phone at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487).

While supplies last, up to three months of nicotine replacement gum is available for free to those who qualify.

For decades, New York City has been a leader in tobacco control policies, reducing the rates of smoking among youth and adults, with policies including the Smoke Free Air Act and raising the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21.

E-cigarettes are an ongoing area of concern, with 10.4% of 18-24-year-olds and 7.5% of 25-44-year-olds reporting current vaping. Vaping is now much

of adult smoking further because few people start smoking as adults.

For support quitting, teens and young adults (ages 13 to 24) can text “DROPTHEVAPE” to 88709 to join This Is Quitting, a free Truth Initiative texting support program.

Photo by @eanlami via Unsplash

New Yorkers can also talk to their health care provider about medication and counseling options. Most health insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover services to help you quit.

H O M E S T R E S S D I S O R D E R : N e w Y o r k R a n k s # 6 i n U S

Consider this: the pandemic made 60% of respondents realize their homes were disorganized, according to a survey of 2,000 homeowners by online interior design company Modsy. Additionally, 77% were so stressed by their home surroundings that they undertook DIY home or room redesign projects during the quarantine.

Modsy’s recent COVID-Inspired Design Trend Report discover that the top 10 most stressed states in terms of home spaces are:  1 Virginia  2 Massachusetts  3 Kansas  4 South Carolina  5 Utah  6 New York  7 Florida  8 Colorado  9 Georgia  10 Tennessee

Alessandra Wood, VP of Style at Modsy, says: “Approximately 80% of people give up on their New Year’s Resolution

by February. Why? Because change is really, really hard. Once the glitter is swept up and the optimism of a new year has faded, it’s easy to slip back into old, unhealthy habits. This is because habits can be incredibly hard to break, especially when you live in an environment that reinforces them.

So what’s the best way to make a resolution stick? Research tells us that

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it might be as simple as making a few changes to your home.”

Modsy has six tips to help people spruce up their home interiors and set themselves up for successful New Year's resolutions come January: 1  Truly assess your place, your wants, and needs. Answering basic questions like whether or not a place is public or private, if you spend a lot of time there, and you need it for work can set you up for success by determining your need for specific furniture and budget.

2  A fresh new face (or coat of paint).

A fresh coat of paint can completely transform a room. It’s definitely a simple design upgrade that makes a huge difference.

3  Cut down on clutter. Call it early spring cleaning, but simplifying and de-cluttering your living area can also open up more mental space to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Also helpful for those who plan to take up meditating in 2021.

4 If you have to look at it every day, think of investing in some nice art. Save some of your favorite art pieces for your bedroom—helping to make this space more personal and inspiring 5  Use multipurpose furniture. While the end of 2020 (and all the clutter it dragged with it) seems to be in sight, our designers now more than ever appreciate the need to adopt versatile pieces such as storage furniture or murphy beds. We might want to be

prepared for when our furniture needs to pull double duty again.

6  Utilize storage. Rethink where you have storage pieces in your home, and move them around to areas that have the biggest needs. Entryways are an often overlooked but high-trafficked area that are desperate for more storage. Move a storage piece, such as a credenza or extra dresser, into your entryway to capture clutter, hide bags, and shoes, and allow for the ultimate organized drop zone.

Wood says: “The saying used to be ‘New Year, New You' but the mantra we're seeing more people embrace lately is ‘New Year, New Home Space’ as we’ve

seen customers use our services to upgrade everything from their home office, home gym, and homeschooling areas.”

Modsy also recently released its 2021 Style Trend Report which is chock-full of emerging interior design trends and style predictions for the new year for anyone who might need a little help refreshing their space this January.

“New users and visitors to our site are also utilizing our tips and guides to help maximize their home space. If you're looking to start 2021 on the right foot, the best place to start is with your home,” says Wood.

Photo Source: Modsy Blog

January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

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END NO TE S WOMEN

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M I N O R I T I E S I n t e g r a l t o H e a l i n g D i v i d e d C o u n t r y

Now that America has voted in Joe Biden, who will be the oldest president ever in the U.S., and Kamala Harris, who will be the first woman—and of color—as vice president, what message is Biden’s team sending by nominating 74-year-old Janet Yellin for U.S. treasury secretary and 68-year-old Linda Thomas-Greenfield as Ambassador to the United Nations? With a clear stand on age and gender, Erica Baird and Karen E. Wagner, two successful lawyers (now retired) and cofounders of Lustre.net, an online community aimed at redefining the stereotypes of retirement for modern career women, share six tips each for Biden and Harris as they further shape their cabinet for the country:

FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN: 1. Deploy the advantages of your age. You have many decades of political and personal experience that allow you to think big.

2. Listen to our cohort when an issue affects people 65 and over.

3. Listen to our cohort when an issue affects people 65 and under.

4. Apply your problem-solving skills to give the people what they need. Most Americans,

whoever they voted for, want the same things: an end to COVID, a good job, an excellent education for their children, a

secure home and three meals a day, not necessarily in that order.

5. Use your gentle diplomatic approach to bring us together. Older people remember a “United States,” and our hope is that our

country can still be a nation undivided.

6. Call on older women. We shouldn’t be dismissed. We’re an untapped demographic

with huge intellectual and buying power that we typically don’t flaunt. We are here to enhance.

FOR VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT HARRIS: 1. Diversity brings strength. Remember that

diversity includes age.

2. Pay heed to those politicians who learned to be effective by listening to their adversaries.

3. Keep employing style to convey how a woman exercises power.

4. Channel the power of women to bring about a stronger America.

5. Break the stereotype that assertive women are “bitchy.”

6. Encourage Biden to bring younger and older Americans together to serve the country.

Lustre.net is an online forum founded by Erica Baird and Karen Wagner, two New York City retired attorneys. Together, Baird and Wagner are on a mission to redefine retirement for modern career women by confronting outdated concepts, defying stereotypes and raising our collective voices to ensure that retirement for all of us is shaped by women, for women. Baird and Wagner want women to “tap into our experiences and passions, forge new identities and find new purpose—and pass on what we know to the next generation.”

'MA RAINEY'S BL ACK BOT TOM' Showcases Triumphs In recent historical features about the Black experience in America — like "12 Years A Slave," "Hidden Figures" and even biopics like "Ray" and "Ali" — racism and oppression are through-lines in the narratives; antiBlackness becomes a character all its own.

The perils of white supremacy make their way into every plot even though the Black experience is at the core of these films, seeping (as it can in reality) into the characters' everyday lives. While these films are historically accurate, modern-day Black film-goers then often lament the prevalence of "slave films" and the inherent tragedies at the center of these stories, asking to see more Black joy and less Black sadness.

There is no tragedy porn in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," which premieres on screens this Wednesday and on Netflix on Dec. 18.

Rather, portraying the Mother of the Blues and dripped in fur and indignation, Viola Davis' Ma bursts through the screen and confinements of Rainey's era, standing tall and vibrant in each buttery frame of the film.

Many writers have tried to capture the particular nuances and specificities of the Black American experience and, while several have been successful, there has been no one quite like playwright August Wilson. Whether set in a dilapidated jitney station in the 1970s or a humble home in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, Wilson's "Century Cycle" of plays chronicled Black life through each decade in the 20th century. And though nine of his films were set in his native Pittsburgh, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" has 1920s Chicago as its backdrop — and a defiant Black woman at its center.

Now, nearly 40 years since it first premiered on Broadway and 15 years after Wilson's death, filmmaker George C. Wolfe has thrust Wilson's vision of Ma Rainey on the big screen in all of her glorious audacity.

Adapted for the screen by Ruben SantiagoHudson, Davis' astonishing portrayal of Ma Rainey (or "Ma," as she was often called) is a masterclass in transformation. With a mouth full of glittering gold teeth, a rounded stomach draped in silk fabrics and a face full of thick makeup, the actor is mesmerizing as the no-nonsense Blues singer with a soulful voice and a sharp attitude.

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But it isn't just about Davis: at a time when many Black people were just trying to survive, Ma was demanding what she was owed. What she represents as a Black woman is nearly unimaginable today — but Wilson tried, and now so have Wolfe and Davis.

Wolfe, for his part, paints a different picture

and stuck between Ma's refusal to conform to the demands of her record company, the pleading of her frantic manager Irvin (Jeremy Shamos) and the overt disdain of her producer Sturdyvant (Jonny Coyne) for all of them. There's Culter (Colman Domingo) — the closest thing Ma has to a right-hand man — on trombone, Slow Drag (Michael

Viola Davis in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." David Lee/Netflix

Of

Blacks

to another end.

Enthusiasm and fury, then, rattle between the band members like jazz notes, as they play and poke at each other; the cadence and dialect — specific to Black Americans — shines brightly here, putting Wilson's signature poetry and dialogue on display.

It's cathartic to watch Ma command the men of her band as Irvin zips in and out of the studio at her whim; she is well aware that her voice alone is the record company's golden ticket and that, to get what they want, Irvin and Sturdyvant must play by her rules. For her, respect and loyalty are what matter — more, perhaps, than success even.

She seems to understand that her recording session might well be her last stand in the industry. (In real life, Ma's protégée and alleged former lover, Bessie Smith, would soon overtake her in popularity.)

"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," by highlighting the dreams and triumphs of Black people instead of the burden of racial oppression, sticks with you well beyond its running time. Ma's weary face and Levee's anxious desperation may show that, even while living life on their own terms and flourishing,

of the North through Ma's eyes: often, the South is portrayed on screen as the devil's lair for Black Americans, but it's home for Ma and when she lands in the Windy City early in the film, it's clear she doesn't see Chicago as a prize. She sees no Promised Land in the Great Migration, nor is she moved or dazzled by city life, which she views as more confining than her life in Georgia.

Wolfe shows us why as well: she stays in a swanky hotel to record her album, but it's "colored only" hotel. She has her girlfriend, Dussie Mae (Taylour Paige), on one arm and her nephew, Sylvester (Dusan Brown), on the other for protection for them both. She glides slowly through the stifling summer heat while others bustle around her, but the beaming sun causes her heavy coat of makeup to slide down her face. She refuses to conform to the will of others, and Ma's even less concerned about her band.

Though Davis is the titular lead, "Ma Rainey" mostly tells the story of the four men in her band, squeezed into a small practice room

From left, Michael Potts, Chadwick Boseman and Colman Domingo "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." David Lee/Netflix

Potts) on the base, Toledo (Glynn Turman) on piano, and Levee (the late Chadwick Boseman) on trumpet. Levee's young and more concerned with his $11 shoes and the sway of Dussie Mae's hips than about being in the band, which he sees as only a means

January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

the horrors of racial violence are still there for Black people. Still for Ma, eking out an existence in the world that is presented to her is not enough for her; she’s determined to thrive on her own terms — and does.

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WHAT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM?

A five-part discussion hosted by Carlos Watson.

Join the inaugural conversation on positively resetting the American Dream, together. #realtalk

Aida Rodriguez Producer, Stand-Up Comedian

Jalen Rose Athlete, Commentator

Carlos Watson Host

Jasmine Davis Trans Activist

Eddie Glaude Jr. Princeton Professor

John Kasich Former Governor of Ohio

Angela Duckworth Professor

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WATCH NOW ozy.com/realtalk

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January 14, 2021 - January 20, 2021

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