Winner of Vol. 72, No. 14
What’s inside?
the Pulitzer Prize Thursday, May 13, 2021
$1.00
Another racism lawsuit targets Fieldston n Family claims inaction, retaliation regarding reports of racially charged incidents
‘As a woman of color and as an alumna of color, it cuts right to my heart that the girls of color — and my daughter, a young woman of color — (were) subjected to this kind of disgusting behavior.’
By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com
Losing balance SHSATs are done, but so could be a lot of support for the tests after another year of racial disparity. Page A3
When Kim Emile graduated from Ethical Culture Fieldston School, she never imagined one day suing her alma mater. But after what she claims happened to her children while attending the prestigious private school, Emile says she had no choice. Emile filed suit in federal court against several administrators and faculty members at Fieldston, including head of school Jessica Bagby, Upper School principal Nigel Furlonge and Upper School dean Carl Anhalt, among others not yet identified. Filed late last month, the lawsuit alleges a pattern of not only ignoring complaints from Emile’s children over what she described as racist incidents, but also retaliation from the school when the teenagers came forward. The lawsuit says Emile’s family suffered “substantial economic and non-economic damages, reputational harm, and severe mental anguish and emotional distress.” One of the more recent incidents prompting the lawsuit involved Emile’s son and a conversation she said two of his white
— Kim Emile
ing the racial slur against Ace on two separate occasions.
Other claims as well HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN
Ethical Culture Fieldston School has been sued by a family claiming the school failed to act on reports of students alleging racial discrimination at the school. Administrators say they are committed to diversity on campus. classmates shared on the social media app Snapchat. Currently a senior at Fieldston, Emile’s son is only identified as “A.C.E.,” leading his lawyers to give him the pseudonym “Ace.” According to the lawsuit, someone sent Ace a screenshot of the conversation
between the students where he is called “a (expletive) n——r.” Ace reported what happened to school officials a few months later, according to his lawsuit, but the disciplinary action against the two students was insufficient, claiming neither have faced any consequences despite admitting to us-
The lawsuit recalls another incident dating back to middle school when a white student called Ace a “slave” during recess. The student allegedly said, “Bow down to me, you are my slave,” and whipped Ace with his jacket. Ace reported that to middle school assistant principal Jason Ford, who had the white student apologize. However, that apology was “subpar,” according to the lawsuit, with claims the student told Ace, LAWSUIT, page A4
SUBWAY
Praying to win Mayor’s race takes religious turn through interfaith forum put together by SAR pair not yet even old enough to vote. Page A5
Driving force After a decade leading one aspect of CB8 or another, Dan Paernacht steps down from vaunted traffic committee. Page A8
BACK /
n For a city that never sleeps, a subway that never closes after year of no overnights By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com
It began May 6, 2020. For the first time since New York City’s subways started carrying passengers in 1904, those very trains would no longer be available overnight, while crews worked to disinfect cars in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The shutdown was just the latest to prove the pandemic’s grip on not only the city, but the world. But now, with vaccines widely available, New York City might once again regain its reputation of never sleeping. And that’s thanks, in part, to the return of a beloved city institution: round-the-clock subway service. The return to 24-hour metro rail service begins May 17. But that’s not the only moratorium getting lifted that day. Outdoor service at bars and restaurants will be allowed to remain open past midnight, with plans for indoor alternatives to follow suit by month’s end. Then, later next week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo says capacity limits on bars, restaurants, stores, museums and other locations will be lifted, allowing them to return to 100 percent capacity. SUBWAYS, page A4
HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN
A South Ferry-bound 1 train departs the Van Cortlandt Park-242nd Street station. Subways citywide — including the 1 — will resume 24-hour service after nearly a year of overnight closures.
Discovering a healthy way to appreciate moms n Kingsbridge Unidos donates fresh produce to mothers at housing facility By ETHAN STARK-MILLER estarkmiller@riverdalepress.com
Sometimes it feels like a Hallmark holiday, but Mother’s Day remains a really meaningful event for many — especially moms. It’s a day when moms are appreciated for sacrifices they made, and the overall hard work it takes to raise children. Jessica Woolford, a mom herself, wanted to do something special for Mother’s Day this year. So she focused her attention on the Broadway Family Plaza transitional housing facility in her neighborhood, bringing flowers, sweets and some fresh fruits and vegetables from the Hunts Point Produce Market to mothers there, just in time for the big day. Woolford is no stranger to making such deliveries — it’s something she started doing last summer through an organization she set up, Kingsbridge Unidos. Its goal was to deliver fresh produce to her Kings-
bridge neighbors amid the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, Woolford and her volunteers have led seven drives, delivering more than 18,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables from the Hunts Point Produce Market to her neighbors. And more recently, to residents of Broadway Family Plaza. It all started with a call from the organization that runs the transitional facility on behalf of the city’s homeless services department, Praxis Housing JESSICA wOOLFORD Initiatives. “This was in response to the folks from Praxis saying, ‘We want to do something special for Mother’s Day.’ And I was like, ‘Totally. I’m game,’” Woolford said. “It’s just a cool way that the community comes together to share some fresh produce with people, and spark a little joy and treat folks with dignity.” Woolford and about a dozen volunteers took an extra step from their usual efforts to assemble gift baskets with flowers. MOTHERS, page A4
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CHRISTINA SANTUCCI
Andre Coleman, the program director at the Broadway Family Plaza transitional housing facility gives a cupcake to Karla’s children, McKenzly and McKayson, during a Mother’s Day event last week. The event was part of a produce drive organized by Kingsbridge Unidos, a mutual aid group ensuring families get fresh vegetables in this part of the Bronx.