The Westchester County Press
“Documenting
IN MEMORIAM: Eternal Salute to The Reverend Dr. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
By Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association
God always will bless the oppressed with leaders who are fearless, brilliant, audacious, and transformative. We thank God for the life, the legacy, and the iconic leadership of The Reverend Dr. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
On behalf of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) representing the Black Press of America, we extend our sincerest condolences to the Jackson family. Leadership matters. Jesse Jackson’s leadership in the Civil Rights Movement in America and the human rights movement throughout the world was outstanding. Jackson uttered a strong penetrating voice for the voiceless. His courage on the battlefield for freedom, justice and equality was unparallel.
There is an old African proverb that says when a leader of the village transitions, the spirit of the leader remains at the center of the future of the village.Certainly, today in 2026 our nation and world are still challenged by racism, antisemitism, hatred, and inhumanity. The spirit of Jesse Jackson lives on at the center of the ever evolving and unfolding “freedom movement’ throughout the world.
Golden Frinks, the North Carolina State Field Secretary for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) under the leadership of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther, Jr., recruited me when I was 14 years old in 1962 to be the NC Statewide Youth Coordinator for SCLC. I grew up in the Civil Rights Movement. Jesse Jackson was a mentor and a colleague who I admired. I have hundreds of vivid memories of when we worked and struggled together for the liberation of all humanity.
I mourn the passing of Jesse Jackson, Sr. by rededicating my life and ministry to keep fighting for freedom and equal justice.
I witnessed firsthand the integrity, the movement-building genius, and the audacity of Martin Luther King, Jr and all those who worked with him including The Reverend Andrew Young, The Reverend David Abernathy; The Reverend Hosea Williams, The Reverend Fred Shuttleworth, The Reverend Wyatt T. Walker, The Reverend Joseph Lowery, and The Reverend IN MEMORIAM, Cont’d. on page 11
The Reverend Dr. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
Community Health Care Association of New York State Announces Judith Watson as New Board Chair
Leader of Westchester Community Health Center to Guide Statewide Association at Critical Time for Community Health Centers
ALBANY, NY — The Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) today announced that Judith Watson, CEO
of Westchester Community Health Center, has been elected Chair of the CHCANYS Board of Directors. Watson will help guide CHCANYS as we continue our work to strengthen and expand Community Health Centers (CHCs), which serve more than 2.5 million New Yorkers at more than 850 sites across the state.
Watson succeeds Joey Marie Horton, CEO at North Country Family Health Center, and will work closely with the CHCANYS Board and leadership to advance policies and investments that support community-based primary care.
Watson brings decades of experience in community health and health care leadership to the role. As CEO of Westchester Community Health Center, she leads an organization dedicated to providing high-quality,
comprehensive care to patients regardless of insurance status, income, or background.
“Community Health Centers are a cornerstone of New York’s health care system, ensuring that everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, has access to highquality, affordable care,” said Judith Watson, CEO of Westchester Community Health Center and Chair of the CHCANYS Board of Directors.
“I’m honored to serve as Board Chair at this pivotal moment. Health centers are facing rising costs, growing demand for services, and workforce challenges, yet they continue to deliver exceptional care in communities across the state. I look forward to working with CHCANYS and our partners to strengthen the health center network and ensure it
has the resources it needs to survive and thrive.”
Watson takes this role at a critical time for New York’s Community Health Centers. CHCs are currently advocating for a $300 million investment in the state budget to help stabilize and strengthen CHCs at a time when rising costs and changes at the federal level are fueling a growing financial crisis. The funding would help address rising operating costs, workforce shortages, and increased demand for care while ensuring health centers can continue serving patients in every corner of the state.
“Judith is a respected leader in New York’s health center community and a powerful advocate for expanding access to care,” said Rose Duhan, CHCANYS President and CEO. “Her leadership comes at an
NEW BOARD CHAIR, Cont’d. on page 3
CONCERNS GROW OVER MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH
Open Door Care Network Offers ‘Healthy Steps’ Program to Support Patients
(WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY -- Maternal mental health can be affected by a combination of factors during and after pregnancy: biological (hormones, genetics, sleep), psychological (history of mental illness, trauma, stress, identity changes), and social/environmental (lack of support, financial stress, discrimination, difficult birth/pregnancy, relationship issues).
In many communities, the problem only seems to be getting worse.
“I would say that maybe we see about eight to 10 patients a day and at least one of them is experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression during their pregnancy or postpartum,” said Fabiola Martinez Castillo, a Licensed Master Social Worker who works in the Healthy Steps Program provided by the Behavioral Health Department at the Open Door Care Network in Port Chester. Healthy Steps is a pediatric evidencebased program supported by the New York State Office of Mental Health and foundation and donor contributions.
“There have been spikes of anxiety and concern about the future within our communi-
ty about immigration and what this means for birthright citizenship. It’s a reality for them. If they’re not facing it themselves, it’s their partner or someone in their family or support system who they’re at risk of losing. It’s derailed their birthing plan: what plans they have for after the birth, who they’re going to stay with, how they’re going to support themselves during that postpartum period.”
One patient, said Castillo, had her partner deported days before having a C-section. Others have open cases themselves and face looming court dates to determine their status. Experts say it’s the entire family that becomes affected by such common symptoms of maternal mental health as extreme mood swings, inability to cope with daily stress, social withdrawal, significant changes in sleep/appetite, impaired concentration, paranoia, and illogical thinking, often creating instability or an emotionally chaotic environment.
“It can affect the relationship she has with her partner, the relationship with her other kids, even her outside support system,” said Castillo.
“It puts cracks in the foundation. If it’s not addressed early on, it could really derail the family, and developmentally-wise, the child’s future.”
Caring for a predominantly Spanish-speaking, Latino population, Open Door’s Healthy Steps specialists/ behavioral health clinicians begin screening patients for signs of depression, anxiety and other behavioral health issues once they begin prenatal care. Screening and support continue during pregnancy and after birth. Collaborating closely with medical providers, the behavioral health team ensures that families receive comprehensive, coordinated, and compassionate care. This includes conducting timely mental health and developmental screenings, developing appropriate age interventions, and coordinating referrals and follow-ups for additional services needed by offering guidance, education, and emotional support. They provide patients with access to therapy, also provided by Open Door, and/or collaborate with medical providers who prescribe medication when needed.
“We listen to our patients and remind them of the different services not only at Open Door
MATERNAL HEALTH, Cont’d. on page 11
JUDITH WATSON
WBWPC Greater Peekskill Area Chapter Honors Six Community Leaders for Women’s History Month
PEEKSKILL, NY -- Six community leaders will be highlighted and presented to the public during the 2nd Annual Woman’s History Month Luncheon & Program sponsored by the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, Greater Peekskill Area Chapter. The honorees are Mrs. Patricia Rooms, community activist, Former Chapter President; Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, community activist, Former Chapter President; Hon. Terry Clements, County Legislator, President, Black Democrats of Westchester; Lt. Khalia M. Carter, Commanding Officer of the Community Policing Unit, Peekskill; Ms. Amanda Armenteros, regenerative farmer, educator, and community organizer; and Ms. Tanya P. Dwyer, Esq., grassroots advocate for comprehensive affordable housing
“We are proud to honor these extraordinary women whose leadership, service, and advocacy embody the very spirit of Women’s History Month. Each honoree has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to uplifting our community—whether
through decades of grassroots activism, transformative public service, innovative approaches to community-based farming and education, dedicated service in law enforcement, or tireless advocacy for equitable housing policy. Together, they represent the power of principled leadership, civic engagement, and collective progress. Their work has strengthened families, amplified marginalized voices, and advanced justice throughout Peekskill and Westchester County. It is with deep respect and admiration that we celebrate their enduring impact and the paths they continue to forge for future generations,” said Reverend Valarie Paul-Greenaway, President of the WBWPC Greater Peekskill Area Chaper..
The event will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Peekskill Firehouse, 1141 Main Street in Peekskill, NY. Tickets are $30 pp and may be purchased through Zelle at this number: (914) 427-3822. (See flyer on page 9 for more details.) .
Watson Named Board Chair
important moment, as Community Health Centers are caring for more patients than ever while navigating rising costs and workforce challenges. With Judith as Board Chair, we will continue pushing forward to secure the investments and policy changes needed to ensure health centers can meet the needs of the 1-in-8 New Yorkers who rely on them.”
Community Health Centers provide comprehensive services including primary care, behavioral health, dental care, and pharmacy services in medically underserved communities. They play a vital role in improving health outcomes, reducing health disparities, and lowering overall health care costs.
CHCs are economic engines, but have been dramatically underfunded for decades. Medicaid is their single largest source of income, representing 42% of total CHC revenue. Yet New York’s outdated Medicaid reimbursement system, unique to CHCs, pays rates based on costs from a quarter of a century ago, putting CHCs at a disadvantage as they deal with rising costs, workforce shortages, and growing demand.
CHCANYS’ Legislative Agenda briefing
book provides additional information about CHCs, who they serve, how they contribute to their communities, and what support they need to survive and thrive. Our State and NYC fact sheets provide a breakdown of the types of care CHCs provide and how they are funded.
About Community Health Center Association of New York State. CHCANYS is the voice of nearly 80 Community Health Centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), serving patients at almost 900 sites across every region of New York State, providing care to more than 2.5 million people each year. Our members are on the front lines of community health care, providing primary and preventive care, including medical, dental, behavioral health, vision, and substance use disorder services to high need patients in medically underserved areas.
For more information about CHCANYS and New York’s Community Health Centers, visit www.chcanys.org.
Free Spring Break Opportunity for Girls in Grades 5–8
We’re excited to share that Girls Inc. of Westchester County is now accepting registrations for our upcoming Spring Break Program — and we’d love your help spreading the word!
This free four-day program will take place March 31–April 3 at Yonkers Arts and is open to girls in grades 5–8. Throughout the week, girls will enjoy a fun and engaging mix of leadership activities, games, creative projects, movement, team-building, and hands-on experiences designed to help them build confidence, explore their strengths, and connect with peers in a positive and supportive space. Program Detail: Cost: Free
Dates: March 31–April 3 • Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Yonkers Arts, 216 Lake Ave, Yonkers, NY Registration Link: https://forms.gle/gUfJQ7Wi3wjHEHuE7
We would be so grateful if you could share this opportunity with girls and families in your network. It’s a great chance for girls to spend part of their spring break in a space that is fun, empowering, creative, and communitycentered.Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Thank you, as always, for your partnership and support.
HONOREES (L-R): Patricia Rooms, Elizabeth Johnson, Hon. Terry Clements, Lt. Khalia Carter, Amanda Armenteros, and Tanya Dwyer, Esq.
One Hundred Years of Black Workers Telling the Truth
By Fred Redmond Secretary Treasurer AFL-CIO
In 1917, A. Philip Randolph and Chandler Owen launched The Messenger, a pro-labor, anti-war magazine that connected racism to exploitation and demanded justice for Black workers. Two years later, the federal government responded with tactics of targeted censorship—surveillance, harassment and threats of prosecution—and branded a small
The Westchester County Press
(ISSN 0043-3373) is published weekly on Thursday in White Plains, New York. Copies: 40¢. Yearly Subscription: $25.00, two years: $45.00. National Advertising representative: National Newspaper Publishers Association. Local and national advertising rates on request. Paper founded August 1, 1928 to serve the County of Westchester, New York.
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Black labor magazine “the most dangerous” publication in the country simply for encouraging Black workers to organize.
More than a century later, two highly respected Black journalists— Don Lemon and Georgia Fort—are handcuffed and indicted for filming a protest inside a church. The tools have changed, but the oppressive government playbook has not.
That continuity matters as we mark 100 years since the launch of Negro History Week, founded in February 1926 by Carter G. Woodson. Negro History Week rejected the lie that Black people had no history worth teaching and no role worth remembering. It challenged an education system that erased Black achievement and a public narrative that treated Black people as a problem, not a people. What later became Black History Month grew from that project of memory and resistance. From its earliest days, Black history celebrations were about more than remembrance. They also were acts of resistance, challenging the ongoing use of law, fear and surveillance to silence Black workers and suppress the truth about power in this country.
That pairing matters: The birth of Negro History Week alongside the rise of an apparatus built to monitor and suppress Black labor dissent. The same government that denied Black people their history also treated them as a threat when they spoke collectively as workers. When Black work-
By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher
San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper
Chairman,
NNPA Board of Directors
This month, the Black Press celebrates 199 years of existence. It has been a time of advocacy for a people otherwise erased from the growth and history of this country.
We have been the ones to “Lift Every Voice” as the trusted messengers and storytellers of our struggle. We have shed tears for and with each other; we have been the ones to carry hope in the midst of a struggle that so often seemed hopeless. We have survived not “Not Because of,” but “In Spite of” every effort to dehumanize and deny us the equality of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness the founding fathers swore to as a right to all people.
James Weldon Johnson really stated our history in his song, Lift Every Voice & Sing, when he wrote:
“We have come, over a way that with tears have been watered.” The stories we have reported, often at great personal cost, have made a difference in the quality of life so many take for granted today. But today, we, as a people, are in much greater danger than the physical slavery that held us for too many years. Many of the very brothers and sisters, we have sacrificed and struggled to save, have forgotten our past. Too many have allowed social media and the illusion of progress, through personal achievements, to take us away from the national sense of pride and unity we once held so dear
Today, we, the Black Press, are once again confronted with survival. The reality is that neither President Trump, nor his social policies seeking to eliminate us, is the real problem. “We” are the problem ourselves. We, the Black Press, in our efforts to survive, have lost much of the ability to engage our communities in a changing environment, so that they remember who we are and how important we remain as a part of our collective survival.
Likewise, our communities of churches, social organizations, and the very businesses we do business with, must be engaged again in support of the Black Press. Now is the time to re-tell our own story, lest we be forgotten. The future of the Black Press belongs to all of us.
DR. JOHN E. WARREN
(Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA.
COMMENTARY: Women of Color Shape Our Past and Future
By Dr. Sharon M. Holder | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder
Women’s History Month offers an opportunity to recognize the enduring impact of women of color leadership across history and in the present day. From Harriet Tubman and Shirley Chisholm to today’s leaders in science, politics and culture, women of color continue to shape movements, institutions and communities through courage, collaboration and vision.
Every March, Women’s History Month invites us to pause and honor the women whose courage, intellect, and leadership have shaped our world. This year, that invitation feels especially urgent. We are living in a time when history is being rewritten, when DEI is being recast as a threat, and when the stories we choose to uplift matter more than ever. The stories of women of color must be centered, celebrated, and carried forward with intention.
For centuries, women of color have been architects of progress, even when history tried to confine them to the margins. They have led movements, built institutions, transformed culture, and expanded the boundaries of justice, leadership, and community. Their contributions are not postscripts; they are landmarks. Yet too often, their brilliance has been acknowledged only in hindsight. Women’s History Month offers a chance to correct that imbalance, not only by remembering the past, but by recognizing their leadership unfolding before us.
This legacy lives in Harriet Tubman, whose courage and strategic brilliance transformed the
Underground Railroad into one of the boldest freedom operations in American history. In Barbara Jordan, whose moral clarity reshaped the nation’s understanding of justice and constitutional responsibility. In Madam C. J. Walker, expanding both the beauty industry and the economic horizons of Black women. It dances in Josephine Baker, who challenged racism and resisted fascism. In Ida B. Wells and Dolores Huerta, who wielded truth and determination in pursuit of justice. In Chien-Shiung Wu, whose experiments altered science, and Shirley Chisholm, whose political courage expanded the very definition of leadership. These women did more than break barriers; they built new worlds.
A powerful throughline in the leadership of women of color is how they lead: collaboratively, creatively, relationally, and with deep responsibility to community. Their leadership is grounded not in hierarchy but in connection, in the belief that progress is something we build together.
We see this in Kamala Harris, whose presence expands the boundaries of possibility; in Ketanji Brown Jackson; in Oprah Winfrey; and in Toni Morrison, who insisted that the interior lives of Black women are essential to the human story. It resonates in Simone Biles and Serena Williams, redefining strength through excellence and selfbelief.
Today, women of color continue to drive breakthroughs in medicine, technology, the arts, politics, and environmental justice. Their leader-
ship appears not only in boardrooms or public office, but in mentorship, advocacy, and the daily navigation of systems never designed for them. The spirit shines in Mae Jemison and Ellen Ochoa; in Michelle Obama; and in the brilliance of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden, whose work helped launch a nation into space.
Celebration is important, but it is not enough. Honoring women of color requires intentional action rooted in equity. It means creating environments where their voices are valued, challenging the biases that shape who is recognized, and ensuring progress is shared.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us honor women of color not as symbols, but as leaders whose work continues to guide us. When we uplift women of color, we honor history and shape the future.
Dr. Sharon M. Holder lives in South Carolina. She holds a PhD/MPhil in Gerontology from the Center for Research on Aging at the University of Southampton, UK; a Master of Science in Gerontology from the Institute of Gerontology at King’s College London, UK; and a Master of Social Work from the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston, Texas.
Dr. Holder discovered her love of poetry at the University of Houston–Downtown, where she published in The Bayou Review and the Anthology of Poetry. Today, she writes poetry as a practice of gratitude alongside her academic research.
OP-ED: One Hundred Years of Black Workers Telling the Truth
Story continued from page 4
ers asserted their right to organize and be heard, they faced not just employer retaliation, but state repression.
Randolph went on to organize the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first major Black-led union, and was under constant federal surveillance. As Black workers organized in factories, on farms and in service jobs across the country, local police and FBI “Red Squads” and federal counterintelligence programs infiltrated meetings, built massive files, and worked to neutralize leaders who linked racial justice to workplace democracy.
That history provides a framework for understanding what happened in Minnesota this January, when Black journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort were arrested after covering a protest inside a church opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the area. The message was unmistakable: documenting dissent can itself be treated as a crime.
At the same time, major media outlets are shrinking their newsrooms and walking away from race coverage. The Washington Post recently laid off some 300 journalists, including race and ethnicity reporters. In late 2025, NBC News shuttered entire teams dedicated to covering Black, Latino and Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander stories. In Pittsburgh, the
240-year-old Post-Gazette is being shut down by its owners, who responded to a court order requiring them to honor The NewsGuild-CWA (TNGCWA) journalists’ contract after years of striking. When powerful newsrooms dismantle the very beats created after 2020 to cover racism and inequality, they send a different version of the same message: some truths about power are no longer welcome.
The National Writers Union said the arrests “set a disastrous precedent for press freedom in the United States,” and the National Association of Black Journalists called on the government to “halt all retaliatory posture toward journalists.” SAG-AFTRA has condemned the arrests of Fort and Lemon, a member, and unions like TNG-CWA are warning that union-busting, mass layoffs, and criminal charges against journalists are part of the same effort to make it dangerous for workers to tell the truth.
This Black History Month, the labor movement must be clear: the right to organize and the right to dissent stand or fall together. There is no freedom of association if workers cannot gather, speak and be heard. When Black journalists are criminalized for documenting protest, the real target is the possibility of multiracial worker power. If true worker power and economic dignity are to
have a future, it will be because the labor movement continues to refuse that silence.
The AFL-CIO recognizes that the same tactics used to quash Black voices are used to suppress all our voices—on shop floors, in independent media, in the streets, on picket lines and in places of worship. We stand with our union brothers, sisters and siblings in insisting that the First Amendment is a right and a core worker protection, not a luxury.
A century ago, Woodson insisted that Black people had a history worth telling and Randolph told Black workers they deserved more than exploitation. The government tried to silence them. This Black History Month, the question remains the same: Will Black truth tellers be honored or handcuffed?
The labor movement’s answer must be clear. We stand with Black workers and Black journalists in their right to dissent, to document, and to demand a better future.
Fred Redmond, the highest-ranking African American labor official in history, is the secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation, representing 64 unions and nearly 15 million workers.
(Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
OP-ED: NNPA Launches 2026 “Leadership Matters” Video Series
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO of the NNPA
Throughout Black History and Women’s History months this year we have emphasized that one of the best ways to celebrate history is to make more history. Black excellence and leadership in all fields of endeavor are rising as the nation takes account of the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America.
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) representing the Black Press of America is pleased to formally announce the launch of our 2026 “Leadership Matters” video series. Working in collaboration with Events DC and PKB Enterprises, with corporate support, we were able to professionally produce six exclusive 30-minute video interviews with some of the nation’s most effective and transformative leaders who are making a positive difference in science and technology innovations, healthcare engagement, and political empowerment and public advocacy.
The NNPA is the national nonprofit trade association of 253 local African American owned newspapers and multimedia companies that service the top 50 major media markets in the U.S. 2027 will mark the 200th Anniversary of the Black Press of America since the first publication Freedom’s Journal on March 16, 1827, in New York City.
As content producers and distributors, the NNPA is very conscious of the challenges that face all news media today with many local “mainstream” newspapers, radio and TV stations are making decisions to shut down and close their media businesses.
Because NNPA member publications with their print, digit and social media platforms as well remain the “trusted voice” of the communities that we serve, the distribution and presentation of the “Leadership
Matters” series over the next six weeks will not only enhance the NNPA’s national brand but also will provide a timely and much needed motivational content for all Americans on the importance of authentic and dedication leadership.
One of the outstanding national leaders that we were fortunate to interview is the newly elected Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), The Honorable Congressman Troy A. Carter who represents Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District in New Orleans. Congressman Carter is a freedom-fighting leader in the Congress of the United States. Yes, “Leadership Matters.”
We begin the diverse series with dynamic and candied interviews with The Honorable Congressman Gabe Amo, representing the 1st Congressional District in Rhode Island, and with healthcare professional Dr. Yasmine Wahdan of Bayer.
For the next six weeks and beyond the “Leadership Matters” video series will be repeatedly broadcast on the NNPA’s http://www.BlackPressUSA and on numerous NNPA member publishers’ social media channels across the nation in addition to being highlighted in NNPA print publications.
The following are the other national leaders who have been filmed for the NNPA “Leadership Matters” series: The Honorable Congressman James Clyburn and Rhonda Mims, Executive Vice President of AmeriHealth Caritas; The Honorable Congressman Troy A. Carter and Fred Humphries, Corporate Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs for Microsoft; The Honorable Congressman Steven Horsford and Dr. Steven Johnson, Executive Vice President of Events DC; The Honorable Senator Alsobrooks, D-MD, and Mamar Gelaye, Vice President of Amazon; and The Honorable Governor Wes Moore of Maryland.
We are grateful for the support and sponsorship from Amazon, Microsoft, Events, DC, AmeriHealth Caritas, Bayer, and PKB Enterprises whose generosity enabled and made possible the production and distribution of the “Leadership Matters” video series.
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org.
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. (left) interviews Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland. Photo courtesy Events DC.
Trump’s MAGA Allies are Creating Executive Order Plan to Steal the 2026 Midterms
By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Correspondent
A group of MAGA pro-Trump activists, who say they are working in coordination with the White House, are circulating a 17-page draft executive order that would claim without evidence that China interfered with the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential to President Joe Biden by over 7 million votes. Since Trump lost to Biden in 2020, he has repeatedly claimed that the election was “stolen” without evidence. The report of a group of “Trump allies” preparing an executive order to give Trump power over elections was first reported by The Washington Post.
The lies around the right-wing campaign that pushed falsehoods that the 2020 election was stolen was trafficked through right-wing media, particularly Fox News. Fox News was then sued for defamation for the claims by Dominion Voting Systems. Fox lost the case and had to settle for the largest defamation amount on record of $787.5 million in April 2023.
The document that could lead to an executive order proposes using the claim that China interfered with the 2020 elections as grounds to “declare a national emergency.” The move
would be an unprecedented step that would grant Trump new authority over the voting systems in the U.S.
The story in The Washington Post arrives as Trump increasingly signals that he may take actions that would alter the result of the 2026 midterms. The Republicans are widely expected to lose as their approval ratings plummet as a result of a failing economy under Trump. Over 50 members of Congress have announced they will retire this year and not return in 2027.
The Trump Department of Justice, which now has a large image of Trump on the side of it, “sued five new states Thursday [Feb. 26, 2026] demanding access to their unredacted voter rolls — escalating a campaign that has been rejected by multiple federal courts and faces resistance from Republican-led states as well,” according to Democracy Docket, a group that works to protect voting rights.
Trump claimed back in late 2020, the last year of his first term, that he had the authority to issue an executive order related to mail-in voting for the 2020 elections — which he would then lose. But the Constitution states that control of
elections lies with the states. As the GOP works to place hurdles in front of voting, Democrats worked to make voting easier.
In March 2021, President Biden signed an executive order calling on federal agencies to expand voting access as part of the Biden Administration’s effort “to promote and defend the right to vote for all Americans who are legally entitled to participate in elections.”
Trump’s focus is clearly on altering the November 2026 midterm elections. Trump’s polling numbers and the elections and special elections that have taken place around the U.S. over the last year clearly indicate that Republicans are about to be hit by a blue wave of Democratic victories.
Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent investigative journalist and the founder of Black Virginia News. She is a political analyst who appears on #RolandMartinUnfiltered and hosts the show LAUREN LIVE on YouTube @ LaurenVictoriaBurke. She can be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke
(Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
Supreme Court, Westchester County INDEX NO.: 58629/2026 in the Matter of the Application of MEADOWS MANAGEMENT LLC, plaintiff/petitioner, for the Dissolution of 9 HUNTS LANE CAPITAL CORP.., a domestic business corporation, against PIERPONT DEVELOPMENT LLC and KEVIN CASSIDY, Upon reading and filing the Verified Petition of MEADOWS MANAGEMENT LLC, a 50% shareholder in 9 HUNTS LANE CAPITAL CORP., sworn to on the 2nd day of March, 2026, together with the exhibits annexed thereto, and all of the proceedings heretofore had herein, LET respondents/defendants PIERPONT DEVELOPMENT LLC and KEVIN CASSIDY, show cause at Commercial Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Westchester, to be held at the Courthouse located at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, White Plains, New York , on the 8th day of April, 2026, at 9:30 AM, or as soon thereafter as counsel can he heard, why an order should not issue: 1) Dissolving 9 Hunts Lane Capital Corp., a domestic corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York and having a principal place of business in the County of Westchester, pursuant to the authority of BCL § 1104(c); 2) Directing a full accounting of the assets of 9 Hunts Lane Capital Corp.; 3) A judgment on the third cause of action against Respondents/Defendants for breach of fiduciary duty in an amount to be determined at trial; and 4) For such other and further relief as the Court deems just, proper and equitable. ORDERED, that 9 Hunts Lane Capital Corp., its officers and directors on the return date of this Order furnish to the Court a schedule of the corporate assets and liabilities and the name and address of each shareholder and of each creditor and claimant, including any with unliquidated or contingent claims, and any with whom the corporation has unfulfilled contracts; and it is further ORDERED, that a copy of this Order shall be published in the Westchester County Press, or such other newspaper of general circulation in Westchester County as designated by the Court once in each of the three (3) weeks before the time appointed for the hearing thereon; and it is further ORDERED, that a copy of this Order and the documents on which it is based be served upon Respondents/Defendants PIERPONT DEVELOPMENT LLC pursuant to LLCL §303 and KEVIN CASSIDY pursuant to CPLR §308 on or before March 6, 2026 and shall be deemed good and sufficient service; and it is further ORDERED, that a copy of this Order, and the documents on which it is based be served upon 9 Hunts Lane Capital Corp. and the New York State Tax Commission, and any other interested parties as prescribed under BCL § 1106(c) on or before March 9, 2026 and shall be deemed good and sufficient service. ENTER: Linda S. Jamieson, J.S.C.
MATERNAL HEALTH, Cont’d. from page 2
but in the community that might be of help to them,” said Rosa AlvarezLadapo, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Associate Director of Behavioral Health at Open Door. This can range from housing, to food and household supplies, including those needed for caring for a baby; to therapeutic services and support groups. Most patients, she said, don’t hide the fact that they’re having feelings of anxiety and depression.
“I feel like they’re very open to speaking to us,” said Emily Gonzalez, a Licensed Master Social Worker and Healthy Steps’ behavioral health specialist at Open Door. “For the most part, they want to let everything out. When I’m doing the screenings for depression and anxiety and they answer ‘yes’ to a question, I’ll try to explore a little bit more and that’s when they open up. When they discuss their history, and at times there is a lot of trauma, things can get emotional.”
The most important message to those going through this, said AlvarezLadapo, is that help is available. “You can call Open Door’s call center or you can walk into any of our sites and just say you would like to speak to someone, and then we’ll take it from there.”
To get help, call Open Door at 914-632-2737.
Cont’d from page 1
Jesse Jackson along with many others.
From the March on Washington in 1963, to the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March in 1965, to the Poor Peoples Campaign in 1968, the Civil Rights Movement was successful in getting into law the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the 1968 Fair Housing Act.
After the tragic and brutal assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, TN, the Civil Rights Movement was stunned and fractured.Thanks, however, to the steadfast courage and determination of Mrs. Coretta Scott King and others in SCLC, the Civil Rights Movement moved into the 1970s with renewed vigor to keep Dr. King’s dream alive and vibrant.
In 1972, Jesse Jackson was one of the keynote speakers to the National Black Political Convention in Gary, IN. I remember conferring with Rev. Jackson while in Gary about the escalating violence against public school desegregation in North Carolina and across the South. In the 1980s, Jackson’s two presidential campaigns ignited unpresented Black voter turnout and helped to transform the Democratic Party to be more progressive. The Reverend Wyatt T. Walker and I were the clergy coordinators for Jesse Jackson’s campaigns for president and “Run Jesse Run” became the anthem of the progressive political struggle across the nation.
Reverend Jesse Jackson was a great orator. But he also was a serious and effective writer of civil rights commentaries for the Black Press of America for decades. It is our responsibility to ensure that the legacy of Reverend Jackson will continue to be cherished and used as a stimulant for “Keeping Hope Alive.” Jackson was a “freedom fighter.”
Each generation has to take the baton of history and to continue to win victories for freedom even in the face of those in power who attempt to erase our history and to stifle the freedom movement.
God bless the legacy of Jesse L Jackson, Sr. Long live the spirit of the freedom struggle. Eternal salute to The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
SUPREME
COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR OPTION ONE MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-3, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-3
Plaintiff, vs.
DEREK SCOTT, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF EVETT MILLER; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF EVETT MILLER 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; THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOHN DOE (NAME REFUSED) AS JOHN DOE #1; JOHN DOE (NAME REFUSED) AS JOHN DOE #2; JOHN DOE (NAME REFUSED) AS JOHN DOE #3; JOHN DOE (NAME REFUSED) AS JOHN DOE #4,
“JOHN DOE #5” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last eight names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.
To the above named Defendants:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
Plaintiff designates WESTCHESTER as the place of trial situs of the real property
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Mortgaged Premises:
308 SOUTH 2ND AVENUE, MOUNT VERNON, NY 10550
Section: 169.23, Block: 3115, Lot: 3
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 $200,000.00 and interest, recorded on October 18, 2006, in Control Number 462750543, of the Public Records of WESTCHESTER County, New York., covering premises known as 308 SOUTH 2ND AVENUE, MOUNT VERNON, NY 10550.
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.
WESTCHESTER County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.
Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: February 20th, 2026 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675
Community Calendar
CALENDAR SUBMISSION: Please use a brief paragraph to describe your event. The paragraph should include event name, date(s), time, location and contact information. Send calendar information via email to westchestercountypress@yahoo.com. Please type “CALENDAR EVENT” in the subject bar
Thursday, March 12.
At 6:00p.m., Westchester County Fair Housing Board Meeting on Thursday, March 12 at 6 p.m. in the Human Rights Commission Conference Room, 112 East Post Road, 3rd Floor, White Plains, NY 10601. Members of the public may view this meeting online at: meetings.westchestergov.com
Thursday, March 12
Westchester County Human Rights Commission Board Meeting will meet on Thursday, March 12 at 6:45 p.m. in the Human Rights Commission Conference Room, 112 East Post Road, 3rd Floor, White Plains, NY 10601 Members of the public may view this meeting online at: meetings. westchestergov.com
Monday, March 16
The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force will meet on Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m. in the Bleakley Conference Room, 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains, New York 10601.
Tuesday, March 17
The Dept. of Public Safety Police Board will meet on Tuesday March 17 at 3 p.m. in the Department of Public Safety Conf. Rm. 218 Saw Mill River Parkway, Hawthorne, NY 10532. Members of the public may view this meeting online at meetings@westchestergov.com
Tuesday, March 17
Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 17 at 4:00 p.m.in Cassella Conference Room 420, 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains, New York 10601. Members of the public may view this meeting online at: meetings. westchestergov.com
Tuesday, March 17
Westchester County Independent
Office of Assigned Counsel Board of Directors Meeting on Tuesday, March 17 at 4:30 PM, 235 Main Street, Suite 540, White Plains, NY 10601. Members of the public may view this meeting online at: meetings.westchestergov.com
Tuesday, March 17
The African American Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. Members of the public may view this meeting online at: meetings.westchestergov.com
Wednesday, March 18
The Historic Preservation Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 18 at 3:30 p.m. in Conference Room 420, 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains, New York 10601. Members of the public may view this meeting online at: meetings.westchestergov. com
Wednesday, March 18
On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, The talented Duke Ellington High School Show Choir will present a special concert at United Methodist Church,1200 North Ave, New Rochelle, New York. This performance not only showcases exceptional student artistry., but also serves as a meaningful Woman’s History Month. Celebration, honoring the role women play as mentors, educators, leaders, and champions of the arts.
Thursday, March 19
The Westchester County Board of Health Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 19 at 8:30 a.m. Westchester County Health Department Office, 11 Martine Ave., 12th Floor, White Plains, New York 10606. Members of the public may view this meeting online at https://www.meetings.westchestergov.com
Thursday, March 19
Westchester County Board of Health Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 19 at 8:30 a.m.at the Westchester County Health Department Office, 11 Martine Ave., 12th Floor, White Plains, New York 10606. Members of the public may view this meeting online at https://www.meetings.westchestergov.com This faith and family focused event is presented by the Alzheimer’s Association-Hudson Valley Chapter (alz.org/hudsonvalley), Delta Research and Educational Foundation, Inc. (deltafoundation.net), Westchester Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (dst-wac.org), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Inc.-White Plains/Greenburgh Branch (wpgbnaacporg.wordpress.com), and the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.-Hudson Valley Section (ncnwhvs.org).
Sunday, March 22
We ask you to join us on Sunday, March 22nd, at 3:00 at Reis Park in Somers for a Community Vigil, in lieu of our monthly meeting. We will be honoring those who died protecting our constitutional rights of due process, free speech, and freedom of assembly. We will offer remembrance of those who have died in ICE custody. This is a time for our community to come together. In amity. The Steering Committee of Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam.
Monday, March 23
LGBTQ Advisory Board Meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m.Members of the public may view this meeting online at meetings.westchestercountyny.gov
Tuesday, March 23
Youth Board Meeting will be leld at 6:00 p.m.Members of the public may view this meeting online
at: meetings.westchestercountyny.gov
Saturday, March 28
Six community leaders will be highlighted and presented to the public during the 2nd Annual Woman’s History Month Luncheon & Program sponsored by the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, Greater Peekskill Area Chapter. The event will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Peekskill Firehouse, 1141 Main Street in Peekskill, NY. Tickets are $30 pp and may be purchased through Zelle at this number: (914) 427-3822. (See flyer on page 9 for more details.) .
Saturday, April 18
The New Rochelle Royal Ladies Red Hats are hosting a bus and orchestra seating to the Dance Theatre of Harlem at NYC City Center, 7:30PM performance. Join us. Tickets are $150 (use Zelle). Contact Sylvia Reid (914-6205066) or Andra Adamson (914267-5841) for details.
Thru Sunday, April 26
Protean Core: March 19 - April 26, 2026 | Reception: March 19, 6-8 pm On View at Pelham Art Center, Curated by Neptune in June. Open: Mon - Fri (9am5pm), Sat - Sun (10am - 4pm), 155 5th Avenue, Pelham, NY 10803 Naomi Chambers’ site-specific installations invite healing through play, weaving a ectionately elastic community bonds. She exalts found objects to bring the everyday stories and experiences of Black culture and motherhood into environments of care. Through painting, casting, and bedazzling, Chambers’ spaces tell perennial stories of nourishment and resilience. www.neptuneinjune.com | info@neptuneinjune. com IG: @neptuneinjune.ny.
County Launches “Westchester, Explained” Podcast Series to Break Down County Policies and Programs
(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County Government has launched a new podcast segment titled Westchester, Explained, a special series designed to give residents a deeper understanding of the policies, programs and decisions shaping life across the County.
Hosted by Westchester County Government Communications Director Catherine Cioffi, the series expands on conversations introduced in the County’s weekly This Week in Westchester podcast by slowing down the headlines and bringing listeners inside the work being done by County leaders and departments.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Residents deserve to understand
how the decisions we make in County government affect their daily lives. Westchester, Explained is about pulling back the curtain and having real conversations about the policies, programs and investments shaping our communities. We want people to hear directly from the experts doing the work and understand why these efforts matter for families across Westchester.”
Cioffi said: “Government works best when people understand not just what decisions are being made, but why they matter. Westchester, Explained is about transparency and clarity, taking the time to break down important issues so residents can see how County government is working for them.”
The first episode focuses on lead prevention and remediation, highlighting Westchester County’s new Lead Registry Program, an initiative aimed at identifying and addressing potential lead hazards to better protect children and families.
Joining Cioffi for the inaugural conversation are Westchester County Health Department Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health Christopher Ericson and Health Services Coordinator for the Westchester County Health Department, Immunization Action and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs Leslie Liberatore. Together they discuss the risks associated with lead exposure, how the new registry works
and what residents should know to keep their homes safe.
Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and at westchestercountyny.gov/podcast.
Open Door’s Performance Enhancing Project Helps Reduce Vision-Threatening Complications of Diabetes
(Westchester Cty, NY, MARCH 5, 2026) -- As a nurse, Bill Fay was all too familiar with the primary consequences of uncontrolled diabetes: blindness, missing limbs and toes, kidney failure, heart disease.
This is why Fay, who is now Director of Practice Administration and Infection Control at Westchester County, NY’s Open Door Care Network, has been so enthusiastic about the federallyqualified health center’s performance enhancing project this past year, that was created to ensure that patients with diabetes are seen more frequently for eye appointments and retinal scans, are regularly monitored for their A1C levels, and evaluated for their kidney health.
One of the project’s priorities is reducing diabetic retinopathy (DR), the leading cause of blindness among working aged adults in the U.S., and a primary consequence of uncontrolled diabetes. Nearly 10 million Americans suffer from DR, nearly two million of whom are threatened with the loss of vision.
The eye disease, which is often asymptomatic, is caused by high blood sugar that damages retinal blood vessels. It affects a significant percentage of people with both Type 1 and 2 diabetes.
“If they can catch the disease early enough,” said Fay, “they can control it.” The results of bringing patients in for eye exams and monitoring their A1C levels (with diet and exercise programs and providing medication), he said, has
been extremely positive, with compliance rates exceeding New York State guidelines.
A room in Open Door’s Ossining facility is dedicated to its OCT machine ((Optical Coherence Tomography), a non-invasive diagnostic tool, that uses light waves to capture high-resolution cross-sectional and 3D images of biological tissues. This allows it to identify the swelling of tiny blood vessels in the retina caused by diabetes and for patients to get earlier treatment (which focuses on slowing or stopping progression, managing symptoms, and preserving vision through blood sugar/blood pressure control, laser therapy or surgery).
Blacks and Hispanics are hit hard-
est by vision-threatening DR (more than twice as much as whites). This is due, experts say, to poor glycemic control among those with diabetes, the earlier age at diabetes diagnosis and longer disease duration, and disparities in the quality of care.
Diabetes is a high impact, chronic disease, especially with our folks,” said Fay. “It runs rampant in our population, which is why we take these services seriously and work so hard to get these people in through the door. Our project has been successful in meeting our goals. The human impact of diabetes hasn’t changed since I was a nurse, but it’s great when you see people under control.”
Young, Gifted & Black: A Showcase of Young Talent
The concert will take place on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the United Methodist Church, located at 1200 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York. Community members, families, educators, and supporters are warmly invited to attend this inspiring evening of music, culture, and collective celebration.
The Duke Ellington School of the
The Women’s Leadership Institute and the Renaissance Chapter of The Society, Incorporated are proud to present a special musical celebration designed to uplift youth while honoring the enduring power of women’s leadership and collaboration. In recognition of Women’s History Month, the organizations will host the Duke Ellington School of the Arts High School Show Choir Concert, themed “Young, Gifted & Black: A Showcase of Young Talent.”
Arts High School Show Choir is an accomplished ensemble recognized for its excellence and dynamic performances. Known for presenting a rich repertoire of music that connects art, history, and culture, the choir brings to life musical traditions that honor legacy while energizing contemporary expression. Their performances reflect both technical mastery and a deep alignment to the cultural narratives that shape our shared experience.
Attendees are invited to experience the empowerment of music, the joy of youth expression, and the strength of women’s collaboration in action. Together, the evening promises to celebrate history, inspire the present, and affirm the transformative possibilities that emerge when community, culture, and leadership come together in harmony.
