Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 128

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ISSUE 128 VOLUME 21

July 15, 2021

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES!

Slain Haitian President Faced Calls for Resignation, Sustained Mass Protests Before Killing

BY TAMANISHA JOHN THE CONVERSATION

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aitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in the early morning hours of July 7, 2021, in a brazen attack on his private home outside Port-au-Prince, the capital.

Moïse’s wife was also shot in the assault that killed her husband. The

CARICOM: Assassination of Haitian President Moïse....3

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse on stage at the Miramar Cultural Center. Editorial credit: Gregory Reed / Shutterstock.com

continued on page 6

ICE Will Stop Arresting and Detaining Most Pregnant and Nursing People ....13

Jamaica to Petition Queen Elizabeth II to Pay Billions for Reparations

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amaica will petition Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom for billions of pounds to compensate the country for the wrongs of slavery during Hon. Olivia Grange, CD, MP. Photo: jis.gov.jm

Help Senior Loved Ones from Financial Abuse .... 19

continued on page 12

How to Help Children Cope with a Divorce....7

Brian Figeroux, Esq., Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association

Forgiveness: Why You Should Let Yourself Off the Hook ....15

DCWP Commissioner: Fast Food Workers Job Protections .... 11

Critical Race Theory: What It Is and What It Isn’t ....4

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CARIBBEAN NEWS ROUNDUP Caribbean Consulates Anguilla 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street, Suite 6A New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel: 212-541-4117 The Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-421-6420 Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-551-4325 Belize 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-593-0999 Dominica 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400H New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-949-0853 Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-599-8478 Grenada 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1101 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-599-0301 Guyana 308 West 38th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 Tel: 212-947-5119 Haiti 815 Second Avenue,6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9767 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-840-2450 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel: 212-535-5521 St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel: 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Tel: 212-682-7272 For more Consulate information go to www.cawnyc.com/directory

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Opposition Charges PPP Gov’t with Using ‘Gestapo’ Tactics of Extra-Judicial Abductions

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EORGETOWN, Guyana: The APNU+AFC Coalition is again not happy with the manner in which the police is allegedly being used as a weapon against the opposition by the government.

In a statement today, [July10] the Coalition charged that at 3 o’clock this morning, agents of the ruling People's Progressive Party (PPP) regime, executed what it said was a Gestapo-like arrest of Mr. William Roy Marshall, the driver of Region10 Chairman, Mr. Deron Adams.

Reports from Mr. Marshall’s wife says that he was awakened from his sleep and forcefully abducted from his home in the dead of night by persons dressed in plain clothes and claiming to be officers of the Guyana Police Force, but who produced no identification or warrant.

The GPF has now belatedly confirmed that Mr. Marshall is in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Division.

It is important to note that up to 10am today the Police Divisional Commander at Linden claimed no knowledge of the arrest by elements external to the Police Division.

“The APNU+AFC Coalition condemns this unconstitutional abduction of a citizen, a phenomenon which was pervasive while the PPP previously held government, and which led to hundreds of

Region 10 Chairman Adams

young black men remaining missing to this day and presumed dead.”

The Coalition noted that “what is especially troubling about this incident is that it appears as though the PPP regime, in defiance of the constitution and laws of Guyana, has activated the shadowy parallel police force known as Regional Security Support Teams but which many citizens have likened to the return of the Black Clothes Killing Squad.”

“This latest action buttresses our No Confidence Motion in Robeson Benn,

the Minister of Home Affairs in whom no right-thinking Guyanese can have any confidence and who must be removed.

“We warn, once again, that the PPP by their reign of terror against citizens is pushing Guyana to a dangerous place where Guyanese people feel unsafe and distrustful of persons who hold themselves out as officers and ranks of the Guyana Police Force,” the APNU/AFC release stated. l —Wiredja.com New Team

Emergency Grant Aid in response to the eruption of La Soufriere Volcano in SVG

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n July 13th, 2021, the Government of Japan decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid of 1.58 million US dollars (approx. 170 million Japanese Yen) to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to support the populations affected by the eruption of La Soufriere Volcano.

Since the eruption of La Soufriere in April 2021, more than 10,000 people are still displaced and over 2,000 evacuees remain in shelters. This prolonged displacement has impacted livelihoods and also created a need for assistance with food access.

The emergency grant will finance humanitarian assistance in the areas of shelter renovation and food assistance though the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Program (WFP). Through this assistance, the following are expected: 1. Improvement of living conditions and hygiene to approx. 1,100 displaced people through shelter renovation.

Japan Diplomat with SVG Prime MInister

2.Provision of food and Non-Food items (NFIs) such as basic household items to approx. 5,000 people.

This aid follows the Government of Japan’s previous donation of emergency relief goods to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in May 2021.

The Government of Japan extends its

hope for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ earliest recovery and will continue to offer its support to Caribbean countries to overcome the vulnerabilities inherent to Small Island Developing States (SIDS).l —OECS Newsroom

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THOUGHTS

Statement By Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community on Assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse

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he Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met in a Special Emergency Session on Wednesday, 7 July, in the wake of the assassination of the President of Haiti.

The Heads of Government are shocked and saddened by the assassination of a member of the CARICOM family, His Excellency Jovenel Moïse , during the early hours of 7 July 2021.

They are concerned by the condition of his wife, the First Lady, Her Excellency Martine Moïse, who was gravely wounded in the attack, and wish her a full and speedy recovery Heads of Government strongly condemn this abhorrent and reprehensible act that comes at a time of deep turmoil and institutional weakness in the country.

They called for the perpetrators to be apprehended and brought to justice, and for law and order to prevail.

In accordance with its values, as expressed in its Charter of Civil Society, the Caribbean Community does not settle its differences by violence which undermines democracy and the rule of law, but peacefully through dialogue and recourse to democratic institutions.

In light of Haiti’s Membership of CARICOM and the family ties that bind the people of Haiti and CARICOM together, CARICOM expresses its willingness to play a lead role in facilitating a process of national dialogue and negotiation to help the Haitian people and their institutions to craft an indigenous solution to the crisis.

They call on the people of Haiti to remain calm, and to overcome their differences and unite at this moment of national peril.

Heads of Government extend condolences to the family of President Moïse , and the Government and People of Haiti.

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PAHO Director, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6 Publisher I.Q. INC. Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

Pearl Phillip Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Kenrick Williams Contributors Jennine Estes Erin Telesford Janet Howard Mary Campbell Tarsha Gibbons Travis Morales

CARICOM Chair, Hon. Gaston Browne

As a mark of respect, the Member States of the Community and the CARICOM Secretariat will fly their national flags and the CARICOM Standard at half-mast for three days beginning immediately, as well as on the day of the funeral.l

Statement by the Director of PAHO On Haiti ashington, DC, July 7, 2021 (PAHO/WHO) Director Dr. Carissa F. Etienne issued the following statement concerning the recent events in Haiti: "I have to acknowledge the event that unfolded this morning in Haiti leading to the untimely death of President Moïse Jovenel. PAHO wishes to extend its condolences to his family. We also want to express solidarity with the Haitian people in these uncertain times and to reiterate our commitment to advance the country’s health and development.

"Our organization has a long history of working in Haiti, hand-in-hand with

TEAM

local authorities, health professionals and communities through our country office in Port-au-Prince. We continue to stand with them now and will redouble our efforts.

"One of PAHO’s top priorities over the past few weeks has been to support Haiti to start vaccinations and to control the transmission of COVID-19. We will continue working towards this goal with global and local partners. I am hopeful that the arrival of vaccines in the country can start to turn the tide of the pandemic and bring some relief to the Haitian people during these very difficult times."l

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4

CIVIL RIGHTS

Critical Race Theory: What It Is and What It Isn’t

BY DAVID MIGUEL GRAY THE CONVERSATION

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.S. Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana sent a letter to fellow Republicans on June 24, 2021, stating: “As Republicans, we reject the racial essentialism that critical race theory teaches … that our institutions are racist and need to be destroyed from the ground up.”

Kimberlé Crenshaw, a law professor and central figure in the development of critical race theory, said in a recent interview that critical race theory “just says, let’s pay attention to what has happened in this country, and how what has happened in this country is continuing to create differential outcomes. … Critical Race Theory … is more patriotic than those who are opposed to it because … we believe in the promises of equality.

And we know we can’t get there if we can’t confront and talk honestly about inequality.”

Rep. Banks’ account is demonstrably false and typical of many people publicly declaring their opposition to critical race theory. Crenshaw’s characterization, while true, does not detail its main features. So what is critical race theory and what brought it into existence?

Editorial credit: willy sanjuan / Shutterstock.com

The development of critical race theory by legal scholars such as Derrick Bell and Crenshaw was largely a response to the slow legal progress and setbacks faced by African Americans from the end of the Civil War, in 1865, through the end of the civil rights era, in 1968. To understand critical race theory, you need to first understand the history of African American rights in the U.S. The history After 304 years of enslavement, then-former slaves gained equal protection under the law with passage of the 14th Amendment in 1868. The 15th Amendment, in 1870, guaranteed voting rights for men regardless of race or “previous condition of servitude.”

Between 1866 and 1877 – the period

historians call “Radical Reconstruction” – African Americans began businesses, became involved in local governance and law enforcement and were elected to Congress.

This early progress was subsequently diminished by state laws throughout the American South called “Black Codes,” which limited voting rights, property rights and compensation for work; made it illegal to be unemployed or not have documented proof of employment; and could subject prisoners to work without pay on behalf of the state. These legal rollbacks were worsened by the spread of “Jim Crow” laws throughout the country requiring segregation in almost all aspects of life.

Grassroots struggles for civil rights were constant in post-Civil War America.

Some historians even refer to the period from the New Deal Era, which began in 1933, to the present as “The Long Civil Rights Movement.”

The period stretching from Brown v.

Board of Education in 1954, which found school segregation to be unconstitutional, to the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibited discrimination in housing, was especially productive.

The civil rights movement used practices such as civil disobedience, nonviolent protest, grassroots organizing and legal challenges to advance civil rights.

The U.S.’s need to improve its image abroad during the Cold War importantly aided these advancements. The movement succeeded in banning explicit legal discrimination and segregation, promoted equal access to work and housing and extended federal protection of voting rights.

However, the movement that produced legal advances had no effect on the increasing racial wealth gap between Blacks and whites, while school and housing segregation persisted.

What critical race theory is Critical race theory is a field of intellectual inquiry that demonstrates the legal continued on page 5

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5 Critical Race Theory/ continued from page 4 codification of racism in America.

Through the study of law and U.S. history, it attempts to reveal how racial oppression shaped the legal fabric of the U.S. Critical race theory is traditionally less concerned with how racism manifests itself in interactions with individuals and more concerned with how racism has been, and is, codified into the law.

There are a few beliefs commonly held by most critical race theorists.

First, race is not fundamentally or essentially a matter of biology, but rather a social construct. While physical features and geographic origin play a part in making up what we think of as race, societies will often make up the rest of what we think of as race. For instance, 19thand early-20th-century scientists and politicians frequently described people of color as intellectually or morally inferior, and used those false descriptions to justify oppression and discrimination.

Second, these racial views have been codified into the nation’s foundational documents and legal system. For evidence of that, look no further than the “Three-Fifths Compromise” in the Constitution, whereby slaves, denied the right to vote, were nonetheless treated as part of the population for increasing congressional representation of slave-holding states.

Third, given the pervasiveness of

racism in our legal system and institutions, racism is not aberrant, but a normal part of life.

Fourth, multiple elements, such as race and gender, can lead to kinds of compounded discrimination that lack the civil rights protections given to individual, protected categories. For example, Crenshaw has forcibly argued that there is a lack of legal protection for Black women as a category. The courts have treated Black women as Black, or women, but not both in discrimination cases – despite the fact that they may have experienced discrimination because they were both.

These beliefs are shared by scholars in a variety of fields who explore the role of racism in areas such as education, health care and history.

Finally, critical race theorists are interested not just in studying the law and systems of racism, but in changing them for the better.

What critical race theory is not “Critical race theory” has become a catch-all phrase among legislators attempting to ban a wide array of teaching practices concerning race. State legislators in Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia have introduced legislation banning what they believe to be critical race theory from schools.

determined by the individual’s race or sex; (5) An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex; (6) An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or another form of psychological distress solely because of the individual’s race or sex.

Editorial credit: willy sanjuan / Shutterstock.com

But what is being banned in education, and what many media outlets and legislators are calling “critical race theory,” is far from it. Here are sections from identical legislation in Oklahoma and Tennessee that propose to ban the teaching of these concepts. As a philosopher of race and racism, I can safely say that critical race theory does not assert the following: (1) One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; (2) An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously; (3) An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of the individual’s race or sex; (4) An individual’s moral character is

What most of these bills go on to do is limit the presentation of educational materials that suggest that Americans do not live in a meritocracy, that foundational elements of U.S. laws are racist, and that racism is a perpetual struggle from which America has not escaped.

Americans are used to viewing their history through a triumphalist lens, where we overcome hardships, defeat our British oppressors and create a country where all are free with equal access to opportunities.

Obviously, not all of that is true.

Critical race theory provides techniques to analyze U.S. history and legal institutions by acknowledging that racial problems do not go away when we leave them unaddressed. l David Miguel Gray is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Affiliate, Institute for Intelligent Systems, University of Memphis

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CARIBBEAN SPECIAL REPORT Slain Haitian President Faced Calls for Resignation/ continued from page 1

Miramar, Florida/USA - April 15, 2018: Haitian President Jovenel Moïse with his wife, at the Miramar Cultural Center. He spoke to a capacity audience about Haiti's progress during his first year in office.

Editorial credit: Gregory Reed / Shutterstock.com

Washington, DC – May 18, 2021: Demonstrators marching along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House to encourage the Biden administration in ending its support of Haitian dictator Jovenel Moïse. Editorial credit: Phil Pasquini / Shutterstock.com

assailants have not been identified, and Haiti’s prime minister reports he is running the country.

Moïse’s assassination ended a four-anda-half-year presidency that plunged the already troubled nation deeper into crisis.

A political novice Jovenel Moïse, 53, was born in 1968, meaning that he grew up under the Duvalier dictatorship in Haiti. Like most Haitians today, he lived through turbulent times – not only dictators but also coups and widespread violence, including political assassinations.

Moïse, a businessman turned president, made his way into politics using political connections that stemmed from the business world. Initially he invested in automobile-related businesses, primarily in the north of Haiti, where he was born.

Eventually, he ultimately landed in the agricultural sector – a big piece of the economy in Haiti, where many people farm.

In 2014, Moïse’s agricultural finance company Agritrans launched an organic banana plantation, in part with state loans. Its creation displaced hundreds of peasant farmers, who received minimal compensation.

But the business brought Moïse prominence. It was as a famed banana exporter that Moïse met then-Haitian President Michel Martelly in 2014. Though he had no political experience, Moïse became Martelly’s hand-picked successor in Haiti’s next election.

Martelly was deeply unpopular by the end of his term, but party leaders assumed that Moïse would be more welcomed given his relatable background in farming.

A divisive and unstable presidency Instead, Moïse barely eked out a win in a November 2016 election that fewer than 12% of Haitians voted in. His meager electoral victory came after two years of delayed votes and confirmed electoral fraud by Martelly’s government.

In 2017, Moïse’s first year in office, the Haitian Senate issued a report accusing him of embezzling at least US$700,000 of public money from an infrastructure development fund called PetroCaribe to his banana business.

Protesters flooded into the streets crying “Kot Kòb Petwo Karibe a?” – “where is the PetroCaribe money?”

Lacking the trust of the Haitian people, Moïse relied on hard power to remain in office.

He created a kind of police state in Haiti, reviving the national army two decades after it was disbanded and creating a domestic intelligence agency with surveillance powers.

Since early last year, Moïse had been ruling by decree. He effectively shuttered the Haitian legislature by refusing to hold parliamentary elections scheduled for January 2020 and summarily dismissed all of the country’s elected mayors in July 2020, when their terms expired.

Sustained protests – over gas shortages and blackouts, fiscal austerity that has caused rapid inflation and deteriorating living conditions, and gang attacks that have killed several hundred, among other issues – were a hallmark of Moïse’s tenure.

Existing street protests exploded in early 2021 after Moïse refused to hold a presidential election and step down when his four-year term ended in Feburary.

Instead, he claimed his term would end

one year later, in February 2022, because Haiti’s 2016 election was postponed.

Before his death, Moïse planned to change the Haitian Constitution to strengthen the powers of the presidency and prolong his administration.

Memories of a dictatorship For months before his assassination, Haitian protesters had been demanding Moïse’s resignation.

For many Haitians, Moïse’s undemocratic power grabs recall the 30-year, U.S.-backed dictatorships of François Duvalier, known as “Papa Doc,” and his son, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier.

Both Papa Doc and Baby Doc relied on murdering and brutalizing Haitians to remain in power, with the unspoken approval of Western political interests in Haiti. Working with the Duvaliers, U.S. manufacturers in Haiti ensured that their investments were profitable by pushing for wages to remain low and working conditions to remain poor.

When mounting Haitian protests ended the regime in 1986, Baby Doc fled the country. The Duvaliers had enriched themselves, but Haiti was left in economic collapse and social ruin.

The 1987 Haitian Constitution that Moïse sought to change was written soon after to ensure that Haiti would never slide back into dictatorship.

Beyond Moïse’s use of state violence to suppress opposition, anti-Moïse protesters before his killing pointed out another similarity with the Duvalier era: the United States’ support.

In March, the U.S. State Department announced that it supported Moïse’s decision to remain in office until 2022, to

give the crisis-stricken country time to “elect their leaders and restore Haiti’s democratic institutions.”

That stance – which echoes that of Western-dominated international organizations that hold substantial sway in Haiti, such as the Organization of American States – sustained what was left of Moïse’s legitimacy to remain president.

Haitians unhappy with continued American support for their embattled president held numerous demonstrations outside the U.S. embassy in Port-auPrince, while Haitian Americans in the U.S. protested outside the Haitian Embassy in Washington, D.C. From its invasion and military occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934 to its support of the Duvalier regime, the U.S. has played a major role in destabilizing Haiti.

Ever since the devastating Haitian earthquake of 2010, international organizations like the United Nations and nonprofits like the American Red Cross have also had an outsize presence in the country.

Now, the unpopular president that foreign powers supported in hopes of achieving some measure of political stability in Haiti has been killed.l

This story is a substantially updated and expanded version of an article, originally published on May 10, 2021.

Tamanisha John is a Ph.D. Candidate of International Relations, Florida International University More coverage at www.cawnyc.com

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7

FAMILY MATTERS

How to Help Children Cope with a Divorce

BY JANET HOWARD 311DIVORCE.COM

struggling too much to speak, try drawing pictures together as an easier outlet.

D

Allow Them to Participate in New Traditions Children may also feel that they have lost their sense of belonging during the divorce, and it's important to help them develop new traditions. One way is by encouraging them to talk about what they want for Christmas or other holidays.

This helps them become more invested in family tradition so that it doesn't seem like something there once was but is no longer there.

It's also important to recognize that children may not want the same things they would have wanted before the divorce. They may want something different for Christmas, or even no presents at all this year. This is completely normal and should be respected as ultimately it is your child's decision about how he or she wants to honor family traditions during a time of great change.

It's also important to keep in mind that your child may want to take on more responsibility during the holidays by helping make decisions about what they would like for Christmas instead of waitcontinued on page 8

ivorce can be a difficult event for anyone to go through, but it is especially hard on children.

They may not understand what is happening or why their parents are no longer together. In order to help your child cope with divorce, you need to show them that they have a lot of love and support in their life. You also need to give them the opportunity to express themselves about the divorce and talk openly about how they feel. The following strategies will help to improve communication and establish a sense of security for your child.

loved. Taking the time to do something special with your child will not only make them feel good, but it also helps to establish that your bond with your child has not changed even though you will no longer be married to your spouse.

Offer Continual Love and Support Children whose parents are getting a divorce may feel guilty or even angry about the situation and have trouble expressing themselves to others because they're still trying to process their feelings. It's important that you offer them love and support at every opportunity in order to help them work through these emotions.

Spending quality time together is a great way to show them that they are

Encourage Expression It's also important to give children the opportunity to express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about the divorce in particular. They may not be aware of all of their emotions initially so it is up to you to ask them open-ended questions that will help them explore what they're feeling. Make sure your child knows they have a voice in the process.

Give your child the time and space to process their emotions because they're

still trying to learn what divorce means.

For example, a five-year-old may not fully understand why one parent is no longer living at home. It is important to help them navigate their feelings surrounding this change while reassuring them that the other parent will still be present in their life.

You may have your own opinions about what is best for your children to believe during this time, but it's important to avoid pushing these onto them.

Encourage them to talk about how they're feeling and make sure that you listen without interrupting or judging. Be patient with your child if he or she can't articulate their feelings well as not everyone feels comfortable talking openly and children are no exception. If a child is

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HOME OWNERSHIP Cope With a Divorce/ continued from page 7 ing for someone else to decide. It can be empowering and help give them a sense of control over their life if they are allowed to have input, so don't hesitate when it comes time to ask them how they want to spend the holidays.

Empower Them to Make Important Decisions It's important to give children the opportunity to have input on decisions that will impact their lives, such as choosing a new school. If you're not sure how they might feel about a certain decision, be open to talking it out and allowing your child the space to process the decision.

Children often feel that life is spiraling out of their control during a divorce, so allowing them to make age-appropriate decisions for their life can be empowering.

Let Them Know You Are There No Matter What It's also important to let your child know that you are there for them no matter what happens in life. The most important thing during these difficult times is being there as much as possible and providing support when needed. For example, if your child is struggling with adjusting to a new school schedule or home life after the divorce has taken place, make sure they know that you are there for them.

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The best way to do this is by setting up a regular time each day where you spend quality time with your child. This could be something as simple as going on a walk, watching TV together, or just talking about their day and how they are feeling. No matter what the activity may be, the important thing is being available and present in your child's life and making sure that your former spouse can do the same.

AG James Announces Indictment of L.I. Man for Deed Theft and Mortgage Fraud

Keep Your Promises A child with divorced parents may feel as if they are not able to trust either one.

Even older children can sometimes struggle to reconcile the divorce with their expectations that their parents would remain together forever, and it is easy for that hurt to be projected onto other matters. To help your children avoid this, make sure all of your promises are kept to help rebuild the trust that may have been lost during the divorce. This can apply to small matters, such as going to the park when you promised the week before or letting them pick what to have for dinner. These small moments add up, and they can help to re-establish a sense of normalcy in your child's life.

Divorce is a difficult process for children to understand, but with these strategies, you can give your child the best chance at successful healing. Over time, it will become easier for your child to process these new changes, and learn to adapt to the new normal.l

EW YORK: New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the indictment and arrest of Joseph Makhani, 58, of Kings Point, Long Island for stealing two brownstones located in Harlem at 107 West 118th Street and 135 West 131st Street. Makhani targeted the two Harlem brownstones using forged and falsified documents, numerous limited liability corporations under his control, multiple property transfers, an unethical attorney, and abused court processes. Makhani stole the two Harlem brownstones in 2012, and, according to New York state real estate tax filings, he claimed to have only paid $10 for each. Today, the two brownstones have an estimated value of $2.29 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

After illegally taking over the two properties, Makhani used forged and falsified documents to cover up his fraud and maintain control of the properties from the true owners’ claims. To this day, Makhani still fraudulently possesses the West 118th Street brownstone, but he lost possession of the West 131st Street brownstone in December 2018 due to unpaid tax liens.

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“Homeownership is a critical part of every community, but far too often, individuals like Joseph Makhani conduct elaborate schemes designed to steal New Yorkers’ homes,” said Attorney General James. “Deed theft continues to be a crime that permeates our neighborhoods, and preys upon our most vulnerable, leading to a cycle of displacement and grief. New Yorkers should never have to fear that their homes will be targeted by predatory individuals. My office will continue to collaborate with our government and community partners to bring these schemers to justice and protect these homes.”

“The Sheriff’s Office is strongly committed to investigating criminal activity concerning real property fraud,” said New York City Sheriff Joe Fucitto. “These crimes are financially devastating to the victims and their families, many of whom are elderly and have spent a lifetime working hard and saving to buy a home. The Sheriff’s Office looks forward to working collaboratively with Attorney General Letitia James and her team.” continued on page 9

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HOME OWNERSHIP Deed Theft and Fraud/ continued from page 8

West 118th Street Property Makhani allegedly used forged deeds and other falsified documents to steal the brownstone located on West 118th Street from an elderly disabled owner. In a New York state tax filing used to further his scheme, a Makhani-controlled corporation claimed to have paid only $10 for the brownstone in 2012. Makhani also falsely claimed that he paid $975,000 for the brownstone when he obtained a $650,000 construction line of credit on the property.

Additionally, Makhani fraudulently received a $1.2 million mortgage loan by claiming he had a legitimate title to the stolen brownstone. The elderly and disabled owner of the brownstone never received any money from Makhani for the brownstone, which is now valued at approximately $2.29 million. In 2016 — after renovating the apartments from single room occupancy units to full apartments — Makhani rented each unit out for between $3,000 and $3,400 per month, allowing him to collect a monthly rent income of more than $12,000.

West 131st Street Property Makhani allegedly illegally transferred ownership of the West 131st Street property in Harlem through the use of fraudulent deeds, shell companies, and strawmen, and by abusing court processes. Prior to Makhani's fraudulent take over, the last true deed recorded on this property was in the name of an elderly owner who died soon after the deed was recorded in 1975.

Allegedly, a beneficiary of the estate looked after the building until his death in 2010. Soon after, a tenant of the building was approached by Makhani, who later returned and told the tenant he had purchased the brownstone. Makhani — through the guise of offering the tenant a job — fraudulently obtained the tenant’s signature in order to misrepresent the tenant as the owner. The tenant, who had not purchased the property and was never the owner of the brownstone, later learned that his signature was forged on a fraudulent deed that had been filed with the City Register’s Office, transferring the brownstone to Makhani’s company, One 35 West Corporation. The Real Property Transfer Report — filed along with the fraudulent deed created by Makhani — falsely listed the sale price of the brownstone as $10.

When the tenant questioned the validity of the deed in a housing court case, Makhani filed a new forged deed showing that the purported heirs of the last recorded owner from 1975 had transferred the property to Makhani’s One 35 West Corporation. In

2013, the transfer tax documents filed with this deed contained a fake social security number listed for a man who was one of the purported heirs and the seller of the brownstone to Makhani. That social security number, however, belonged to a woman born in 1902. In 2015, Makhani’s One 35 West Corporation and Makhani were fined over $1 million for their failure to install a roof, upgrade the electrical wiring system, and implement an extermination plan for the rodents and cockroaches in the Harlem brownstone. In early 2015, Makhani eventually abandoned the property after the New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development issued a $1 million judgment. The property was later transferred to a not-for-profit after a tax foreclosure action. Today, the value of the property is estimated at $1.9 million.

Makhani was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the first degree with respect to the brownstone located at 107 West 118th Street; one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the second degree with respect to the brownstone located at 135 West 131st Street; one count of Residential Mortgage Fraud in the First Degree and one count of Residential Mortgage Fraud in the Second Degree, both with respect to the two residential mortgage loans he obtained for the West 118th Street brownstone; two counts of Falsifying Business Records submitted to a New York bank; and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree between August 7, 2012 and June 28, 2021 for engaging in a scheme constituting a systematic and ongoing course of conduct to obtain property from more than one person by false or fraudulent pretenses.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

In 1998, Makhani pleaded guilty in federal court to taking part in a scheme involving the bid rigging of foreclosed properties in Queens and for submission of a false tax return, for which he was fined and sentenced to two months in prison. In 2008, Queens LLC, HPD LLC, and Floor One, LLC — three companies allegedly owned by Joseph Makhani — pled guilty to Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class “E” felony. The criminal complaint alleged that Makhani, personally or through one of his corporations, forged signatures on deeds filed with the New York City Department of Finance to unlawfully gain control of three properties in Queens from their legal owners.

Deed theft has become a common tool of career criminals and unscrupulous real estate developers to illegally obtain real estate so they can sell it at a huge profit in high-demand housing markets. This illegal scheme especially affects people of color, the elderly, and other vulnerable homeowners who are scammed into signing over the deeds to their homes to con artists. Deed theft usually happens when scammers forge deeds to look like they purchased the home, or when homeowners are tricked into signing their homes over to a scammer without knowing what they are doing. Scammers then seek to evict the homeowner and sell the house to a third party at a significant profit. l

9

DON’T LET SOMEONE STEAL YOUR HOME.

Criminals prey on unsuspecting homeowners to illegally transfer property deeds.

Anyone can be a victim. Be on the lookout: check the status of your property with the NYC Department of Finance and sign up for alerts on any changes to your property documents.

Act now to check your deed!

Visit www.nyc.gov/deedfraud or call 311 for more information.

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10

EDUCATION

CUNY Community College Students Need Help Covering Big Costs to Get Back to Class, Study Says

BY CLAUDIA IRIZARRY APONTE THE CITY

A

new study by the Center for an Urban Future found that even before the pandemic, more than half of City University of New York community college students dropped out before completing their degrees within three years. Just 27% of full-time, firsttime students earn a two-year associate degree in three years, according to CUNY estimates.

The problem isn’t just the $4,800 annual tuition for full-time, in-state students, according to the study — it’s the expense of other items, including child care, textbooks, school supplies and MetroCards that shuts many out of a path to earning a college credential.

“There’s an understanding that a lot of lower-income families in New York need that help: You need the free train ride to go to school, you need to subsidize textbooks,” said Jonathan Bowles, the Center for an Urban Future’s executive director.

“But when we get to public community colleges — one grade higher, the 13th and 14th grades — the financial need doesn’t

just go away,” even when the help does, he said.

He called on the next mayor and City Council to allocate funding for costs that go beyond tuition assistance at CUNY’s seven community colleges, which served nearly 92,000 full- and part-time students as of 2019.

A majority of the city’s community college students receive some form of financial aid, while roughly half work full-time and more than 70% live in a household earning less than $30,000 a year. Faced with unexpected expenses such as medical bills — or even expected ones, such as MetroCards — many students drop out to stay financially afloat, the study found.

The report coincides with a pending budget deal at City Hall with big stakes for CUNY community college students short on funds.

As proposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio, the city budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 would cut $10 million from a program called CUNY ASAP, which provides full-time students who meet certain academic standards with textbook subsidies and a free MetroCard. That’s about one-eighth of the program’s budget.

Money Train The average full-time CUNY community college student received approximately $7,503 in aid, including for tuition, last year. But the costs of everything else — from books to supplies to transportation — can total $10,368 for students living at home or with relatives, according to CUF’s analysis of nine-month student budgets.

For students living on their own, expenses over the same time period can total $24,446. And costs can be even higher for the one-fifth of CUNY community college students who are parents: an extra $600 per month, unless they qualify for Head Start.

The cost of a MetroCard alone — around $1,000 per year — often derails students from their studies.

That includes former Borough of Manhattan Community College student Darleny Suriel. Though the 23-year-old worked full-time at a Best Buy, she often didn’t have enough money to take the train to school.

“Sometimes I either had to hop the turnstile or, you know, there were times that there was police in my train station, and if I had no money for a MetroCard, I just wouldn’t go to class,” she said. “Between a $100 ticket and not going to class, I just wouldn’t go to class.”

As Suriel’s absences piled up, her grades plummeted: At the end of her first year, she was put on academic probation and lost her financial aid. In 2017, she took a year-and-a-half-long hiatus from school, working to support her family and to pay off the $3,000 debt she owed the school.

The job losses of the pandemic made matters worse for many students: Early surveys cited by the Center for an Urban Future suggest that half of CUNY students lost part-time or full-time work during the pandemic.

Students were faced with crushing decisions, like buying computers or buying groceries.

After he lost his job in construction due to the pandemic, then-BMCC student Luis Hernández, 25, chose to shell out $3,000 for a new computer and other equipment.

“I was already halfway through the semester, it was a difficult decision, but it was too late to drop classes,” Hernández told THE CITY. “I bought the computer knowing I would be hungry.”

ASAP for All The report proposes several solutions to help CUNY students. Among them: expanding child care to every community college campus, and supplying a free MetroCard and meals to every community college student in the city, the same as afforded to middle and high school students.

It’s an approach that CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos-Rodríguez supports: “We should think of higher education as a K-14

system and extend any support or service provided for K-12 by two years,” he noted at a recent forum.

Suriel, the former BMCC student, agreed.

“How can a high school student who couldn’t afford a MetroCard, or lunch, be expected to pay for it two months later when they go to college?” Suriel said. “It doesn’t make sense.”

The Center also recommends expanding CUNY ASAP to every community college student. That would require $86 million in additional annual funding — while yielding an additional 16,000 graduates per year, according to the Center’s estimates.

“Policymakers in the city are really focused on how do we build a more inclusive economy, and how do we expand economic opportunity in the city,” said Bowles. “And I think that the city’s community colleges have to be at the center of that discussion.”

‘Help Us Succeed’ Suriel and Hernández managed to beat the odds, with help from their employers or others.

Hernández finished his associate’s degree last fall and now studies construction management at City Tech. During the pandemic, he received groceries through his local church and participated in grassroots distribution efforts in Southeastern Queens, where he lives.

He went back to work earlier this year.

But he urges the city’s next mayor and the incoming City Council to “help us succeed” by providing funds for school supplies and MetroCards for future students in need.

“Don’t let us drop out, because there is a lot of energy. Just like me, I’m pretty sure hundreds of students also are fighting every day in the same situation. There is a lot of energy and we do want to succeed, but we need help.”

Suriel returned to school in 2019 after paying the back tuition she owed for her first year, putting in hours at Best Buy and by working part-time at Goddard Riverside, a local nonprofit where she still works on the education equity team.

That job reimbursed her for her MetroCard, and her managers let her take snacks and made other gestures of support, which “made such a big difference,” Suriel said. She completed her associates’ last December and is now at City College, where she’s a political science major.

She credits the support she received for her turnaround.

“As they say, the proof is in the pudding: When I had to leave because I was on academic probation, my GPA was 1.70. And last year I graduated with a 3.30,” she said. “I was in a better headspace, and I was able to focus.”l This story was published on June 28, 2021

by THE CITY.

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

11

Fast Food Worker Just Cause Job Protections Effective July 4

N

EW YORK, NY: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Acting Commissioner Sandra Abeles announced that the groundbreaking just cause law for fast food workers goes into effect on July 4 and that resources for employers and employees are now available. Under the new law, fast food employers cannot fire or lay off workers, or reduce their hours by more than 15 percent without just cause or a legitimate economic reason.

The just cause law adds critical new job protections for fast food workers in addition to the existing fair scheduling protections under the City’s Fair Workweek Law. “For too long, fast food workers—a predominately minority and female workforce—have been treated as if they were disposable and yet they have been there for us on the frontlines throughout the pandemic,” said DCWP Acting Commissioner Sandra Abeles. “These workers deserve better and no worker should be left jobless for unjust reasons – ever. This vital law will bring additional stability to the lives of these low-wage workers and ensure they can’t be fired on a whim.”

Under the new just cause law, fast food employers: •Cannot fire or reduce hours without just cause. Employers must give workers who passed their probation period retraining and an opportunity to improve and can only fire underperforming workers after giving them multiple disciplinary warnings in a year or for egregious misconduct.

•Cannot lay off current workers except for economic reasons. Layoffs must be in reverse order of seniority, with the longest-serving workers laid off last.

•Must give a written explanation for firing, reduction of hours, or layoff.

•Must give laid-off or current workers priority to work newly available shifts.

Employers must advertise open shifts on posters in the restaurant and by text or email. Employers can only hire new workers if no laid-off or current NYC workers accept the shifts by the posted deadline.

The just cause protections go into effect on July 4 and workers can immediately enforce their rights in court through a private right of action. DCWP will begin enforcing the just cause law on September 2. Beginning in January 2022, workers also can request to resolve their complaints through binding arbitration by a DCWP administered panel of arbitrators.

Under the Fair Workweek Law, which went into effect in November 2017, fast food employers in New York City must also give workers regular, predictable general schedules, two weeks’ advance notice of their work schedules covering specific dates, premium pay of between $10-$75 for schedule changes, and the opportunity to work newly available shifts before hiring new workers. Fast food employers also cannot schedule workers for a morning shift the day after

a night shift unless workers consent in writing and are paid a $100 premium to work the shift. Similarly, fast food employers must obtain workers’ written consent before adding any time to their work schedules with less than two weeks’ notice and may not penalize them for declining to work. Under the Law, retail employers must also give workers advanced notice of work schedules and may not schedule workers for on-call shifts or change workers’ schedules with inadequate notice.

Fast food employers must post the new NYC Fast Food Workers’ Rights Notice in English and any language that is the primary language of at least five percent of the workers if available on the DCWP website. Employers and employees can visit nyc.gov/workers or call 311 (212NEW-YORK outside NYC) for the new Notice, which will soon be available in 16 languages, as well as an overview of the law, information about the required progressive discipline policy, templates, and soon-to-be added FAQs about the law.

Starting this month, DCWP will be conducting a series of educational walks and roundtables to educate workers and employers about the new protections.l

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12

ISLAND FOCUS: JAMAICA Pay Billions for Reparations/ continued from page 1 the time Jamaica was a British colony.

Beginning in 1701 and lasting until it was abolished in 1833, British merchants made fortunes in the slave trade. Many Jamaicans today are the descendants of enslaved people.

According to Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, the Jamaican government is “pleased to announce” that the House of Representatives has taken additional steps toward achieving reparatory justice for the victims and descendants of the transatlantic slave trade. She noted that the petition will be presented either to Queen Elizabeth of to the government of the UK. Grange said that the National Council of Reparation in Jamaica “fully backed” the petition as ministers agreed that the Attorney General needs to consider the merits of the petition and that the Attorney General’s chambers would have the responsibility to file the petition on behalf of Jamaica’s people.

In 2015, UK leader David Cameron faced calls to pay slavery reparations during a visit to Jamaica. Also in 2015, taxpayers in the UK finally paid off the debt imposed by compensating slave owners for their losses when the practice was ended in 1833. According to the founder of the British Monarchists Society, Thomas Mace-Archer-Mills, Britain has “already paid its share and then some – the price of freedom for

Party Rentals for All Occasions Queen Elizabeth ll. Editorial credit: Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com

Jamaica’s slave.” A historian, MaceArcher-Mills noted that through the slave acts of the 19th century, Britain went into debt purchasing the freedom of slaves throughout its empire. This amounted to some 20 million pounds, or about 17 billion pounds today. This amount represented 40 percent of the government’s budget.

Over 20,000 people have signed an online petition demanding the UK government provide compensation for “all Caribbean and African Descendants” of slaves in December of 2020. A spokesperson for the UK’s Treasury said that while reparations are not a part of the government’s plans, it does feel “deep sorrow” for the transatlantic slave trade and fully recognizes the “strong sense of injustice and the legacy of slavery” in those parts of the world most impacted by the practice.

While Jamaica became independent in 1962, it retained the Queen as head of state. Because she has the official title of “Queen of Jamaica,” Queen Elizabeth II is the target of reparation demands, although the UK government is likely to address the matter on her behalf. The petition notes the significant impact of the transatlantic slave trade on Jamaica, which became a British colony in 1665.

Between 1665 and 1838, over three million people from Africa were trafficked across the Atlantic Ocean, many of whom were brought to the British colonies of the Caribbean. Enslaved people were forcibly required to work on Jamaican plantations, vast profits were obtained for Britain through his exploitation.

Past attempts to gain compensation from the UK for the nation’s role in the slave trade have failed.l

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13

IMMIGRATION

ICE Will Stop Arresting and Detaining Most Pregnant and Nursing People

BY MELISSA CRUZ

U

.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will no longer detain most people who are pregnant, postpartum, or nursing, according to a new policy released on July 9. However, ICE did not commit to a total ban, saying that there will still be “very limited circumstances” that will allow the agency to detain pregnant people.

The move is a clear shift away from the Trump administration, which in 2017 ended the presumption of release for such individuals. In the two years following that change, the rate at which ICE detained pregnant people skyrocketed by 52%, increasing from 1,380 in 2016 to nearly 2,100 pregnant people in 2018.

In announcing the new policy, ICE Director Tae Johnson said the change “reflects our commitment to treat all individuals with respect and dignity while still enforcing our nation’s laws.”

ICE’s new policy revokes the Trumpera practice. It also goes a step further than the Obama administration, which generally exempted pregnant people from detention, but did not include those

who were nursing. Additionally, the Biden administration policy includes people who gave birth within the last year.

This is a much-needed step toward safeguarding the wellbeing of pregnant individuals in detention, as well as the health of their baby.

For years, advocates have raised serious concerns about the detention and treatment of pregnant people in immigration detention.

In a complaint filed with the Trump

administration, several individuals shared testimonies of how traumatizing it was to be pregnant in detention. It not only impacted them, but the health of their babies and ability to prepare for credible fear interviews with asylum officers.

In one testimony, a 31-year-old Honduran woman named Teresa recounted suffering a miscarriage while in detention.

While in detention, she informed ICE officials that she was four months preg-

nant, bleeding, and in pain. Despite this, her requests for medical attention were denied. After suffering the miscarriage days later, officials confiscated the medicine she had purchased from the ICE commissary. Teresa remained locked up, even though she was experiencing headaches, weight loss, and other health issues.

Another asylum seeker, a 28-year-old woman from Honduras, described the anxiety around preparing for her credible fear interview while pregnant in detention: “Being detained and preparing for a credible fear [interview] has been very stressful for me, which I feel is dangerous for my baby. In order to prepare for my credible fear interview with a [legal assistant], I have had to discuss my history of sexual abuse and domestic violence in detail.”

The compounded trauma of being detained while experiencing a difficult pregnancy cannot be overstated. The Biden administration’s decision to proactively seek to avoid enforcement actions against pregnant individuals is a long overdue, welcome change. l

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SHAQUANA CAN'T WAIT 9 out of 10 people with hepatitis don’t know they have it. They could be one of them, and so could you.

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nENTERTAINMENT

nRELATIONSHIPS

nRECIPES

nSPORTS

nHOROSCOPE

Kitchen Corner Forgiveness: Why Mint-Cucumber You Should Let Mojitos Yourself Off the Hook

Ingredients 1 lime, quartered 2 sprigs fresh mint leaves 1 tablespoon white sugar 2 slices cucumber 6 cubes ice, or as needed 2 ounces white rum (such as Bacardi®) 4 fluid ounces club soda

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

Y

our stress level rises when you are a slave to guilt. Nonetheless, you may feel unable to forgive yourself for your mistakes. The pressure of not letting yourself off the hook creates depression, low self-esteem, and shame. Here's why it's time to love yourself more and put yesterday's errors to rest.

Your mistakes help you learn and grow.

Everybody is shaped by their mistakes.

Without the occasional error, it's unlikely you would develop wisdom. Your blunders, however uncomfortable to experience, are life lessons that help you make smart choices the second time around. Rather than see them as shameful signals you aren't good enough, it's better to recognize their value.

Those life lessons gleaned from your mistakes sink into your psyche. Unlike knowledge gained from books that might fade from memory, wisdom from gaffe-making sticks, and it's the disagreeable emotions you experience when you slip-up, like embarrassment and regret that aid the process.

You never want to experience the humiliation of falling asleep during a business meeting again, and will do your utmost not to overspend and beg your parents for a loan. Because of your mistakes, you're wiser and more self-sufficient.

Errors are inevitable Mistakes are inevitable components of life. No matter what you do, you'll always make them because there's always something new to learn. You'll gain wisdom from old errors and forge fresh ones that make you even more astute. Besides, without them, you wouldn't experience the beautiful, humbling recognition of your vulnerability and lack of omnipotence.

T

his refreshing version of mint mojitos features a springtime kick of cucumber. We love these at special gatherings and summer barbeques. A pitcher of this can be made a few hours in advance--just add alcohol at serving time.

—Wendy Morrow-Kelly, Allrecipes.com

Directions Squeeze the lime quarters into a highball glass, and drop the limes into the glass.

Add the mint leaves and sugar. Muddle well with the back of a spoon or with a muddler. Place the cucumber slices into the glass, and fill with ice cubes. Pour in the rum, then top off with club soda. Stir gently and serve.l Nutrition Facts Prep: 15 mins Total: 15 mins Servings:1 Yield:1 cocktail

Forgiveness can lead to love It's hard to be open-hearted and let love in until you practice self-forgiveness.

While you are deep in shame and sorrow for your blunders, you carry the burden of guilt. You might reject kindness and offers of love because you imagine you aren't deserving. Forgive yourself and your heart will open to love again. You'll no-longer worry bonding with people might lead to disgrace and blame.

The shame that goes with guilt isn't useful long term. It festers, eroding joy and self-esteem. Humans only experience shame because they have a concept of self. Less sophisticated creatures, like pets, don't fret about the past. They enjoy the moment, free from the torment of fault-recognition. You too can benefit from letting go of your perception of a shameful past and live in the present.

You've made mistakes. Who hasn't?

They are part of life and encourage the growth of wisdom. Gather lessons from the past and use them to develop rather than let remorse and guilt blight your happiness. l

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17

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

5 Signs Your Partner is Insecure

BY MARY CAMPBELL 311DIVORCE.COM

I

nsecurity in relationships is defined, as per Pyschology Today, as an inner feeling of being threatened and/or inadequate in some way. The majority of relationship insecurity is based on irrational thoughts and fears—that you are not good enough, that you will not be OK without a partner, that you will never find anyone better, that you are not truly lovable. Insecurity can ruin relationships and often leads to destructive behavior that affects both partners. Spotting the signs of insecurity enables you to address the problems early on and, if necessary, to seek help from a therapist or relationship counselor. Here are five signs that your partner is insecure.

Jealousy Jealousy can be a red flag in a relationship, as it can lead to controlling behavior and sometimes even violence. If your partner is showing signs of jealousy towards your friendships, previous partners, work colleagues or acquaintances, it's important to address the issue as soon as possible.

Smothering While it's nice to know that your partner

wants to be with you, insecure people often smother their partners with constant attention and declarations of love.

They may want to spend all of their time with you and become upset or anxious when you ask for time on your own.

Reassurance Seeking An insecure person seeks constant reassurance that their partner loves them and is happy in the relationship. If your partner is insecure, they may call, text or email all the time and become agitated or worried if you don't answer the phone or respond to messages straight away.

Possessiveness Possessiveness often masquerades as protectiveness and can feel good at the beginning of a relationship, as your part-

ner may step in to defend or protect you during conflicts with other people.

However, protective partners can quickly become possessive, leading to controlling and disturbing behavior that ruins the relationship and destroys your confidence.

tivity are all signs of an insecure partner.

It's important to talk to your partner about their insecurities and, if necessary, to seek help from a therapist or relationship counselor, as insecurity can lead to controlling behavior and sometimes even violence.

Oversensitivity Insecurity makes some people hypersensitive to criticism and rejection. This can manifest as irrational behavior and overreactions, particularly in situations where your partner feels rejected or judged.

Your partner may also become angry or bad tempered if you say no to their suggestions or decline one of their invitations.

Jealousy, smothering, reassurance seeking, possessiveness and oversensi-

Smoke and Fire Sometimes insecurity is exactly that.

Sometimes, where there is smoke there is fire. Being prepared is the best decision you can make for yourself and your family. Get a free, confidential consultation from the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates Call 855-768-8845. You will get the expert advice you need from a qualified divorce attorney.

Remember, the lawyer you hire does make a difference. l

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18

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

Grenada, The Spice of the Caribbean, Named World’s First “Culinary Capital” Looking to make extra cash? A side hustle?

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BY ERIK WOLF, WFTA

T

he World Food Travel Association (WFTA) is delighted to announce that today it named Grenada and its sister islands Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, as the world’s first “Culinary Capital.”

Kirl Grant-Hoschtialek, Acting CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA), said “The Culinary Capitals destination accreditation by the World Food Travel Association is a huge achievement for Grenada. We are known around the world as the Spice of the Caribbean, so it is fitting that we are the first Caribbean island to earn this designation. This will undoubtedly attract discerning travelers who want to explore the link between food and culture, and who want to ensure that every dish they have on their vacation tastes amazing!”

The integration of spices into Grenada’s cuisine has resulted in an overall robust and flavourful national food profile.

From fine dining to casual beachside restaurants and even street food, it is undeniable that Grenadians have a taste and flair for delicious food. The islands are perfectly positioned as a Culinary Capital, with their many distinctive culinary assets to showcase. Examples

include the tradition of saraka, the national dish ‘oil down’, chocolate, nutmeg ice cream, handcrafted rums, and of course, the many uses of the spices on the island – both in food and for medicinal and wellness purposes.

Now that Grenada’s unique culinary culture is officially recognized, the GTA is set to market the destination to “foodie travelers” and further develop the island’s food tourism offerings, and put Grenada on the map for consumers who travel for unique and memorable food and beverage experiences.

Erik Wolf, the Executive Director of the World Food Travel Association, the world’s leading authority on food and beverage tourism, said that “Smaller destinations like Grenada need every competitive advantage, and that is what Culinary Capitals provides. Savvy foodloving travelers are adding destinations

like Grenada to their bucket lists right now, eagerly waiting for when they can travel again.”

Culinary Capitals is a regenerative tourism program devised by the WFTA to put the spotlight on culinary cultures around the world as the tourism industry begins to recover after its long hiatus.

The program accredits eligible destinations through a rigorous application process. The program is about much more than just earning recognition.

Successful destinations also receive marketing and strategy support for the coming year, as they put their new moniker to good use in their destination marketing efforts. And for food- and beverage-loving travelers, Culinary Capitals designation gives them new choices with undervisited destinations, which is exactly what travelers now seek postpandemic.l

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19

GENERATIONS

How to Help Senior Loved Ones Protect Themselves from Financial Abuse

A

n often-overlooked aspect of elder abuse is cybercrime - and it's a problem that's getting

worse.

In 2020, the FBI reported a record amount of cybercrime complaints — nearly 800,000 — adding up to over $4.1 billion in losses. More than half of those losses were suffered by people aged 50 and older.

"The financial consequences are staggering," said DJ Johnson, senior vice president of financial crimes risk management at Charles Schwab. "It's something we all need to prioritize, dedicate resources to address and work closely on to prevent."

The FBI data shows that, on average, Americans aged 50 and over lost nearly $5 million every single day, or nearly $3,500 per minute, to cybercriminals.

To protect your loved ones from financial cybercrime, the first step is awareness.

What are the scams?

While fraud can come in many forms, some criminal schemes are targeted at the senior population, including: •Romance scam: Fraudsters present

themselves as potential romantic partners online to exploit their targets' desire for companionship — a desire that has grown for many who have felt isolated through the coronavirus pandemic - and eventually get access to their money.

•Person in need scam: Criminals pretend to be a loved one (e.g., a grandchild) in immediate trouble and need of money right away.

•Investment scam: Outreach with phony investment opportunities.

•Fraud investigation scam: Criminals pose as law enforcement officials, asking for personal information or even money to help with their investigation.

•Technology scam: Fraudsters appear to be a technology support team member or someone from a trusted financial institution asking for remote access to fix a fabricated technical or account issue.

Who are the perpetrators?

When we think of fraudsters, we tend to think of nameless, faceless people sitting in the dark, halfway around the world. In reality, a report by the Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans found that in 36% of cases, the victim knows the perpetrator personally.

This is why caregiving should be a group effort. Bring other loved ones into the conversation, instead of leaving it in the hands of just one person. Lean on the financial institutions you keep your money with to be an extra set of eyes and ears for you. Bring other loved ones into the conversation, instead of leaving it in the hands of just one person. Lean on the financial institutions you keep your money with to be an extra set of eyes and ears for you.

wills, trusts, powers of attorney, account statements, insurance policies and beneficiary designations.

How can caregivers protect senior loved ones?

For caregivers, if you're worried about your loved ones, start with this checklist to protect them: •Talk about it. Have a conversation about common scams. Discuss your loved ones' investment goals and attitudes toward money so that you can recognize irregular behavior.

•Designate trusted contacts. Make sure financial institution reps know who to contact on your loved one's behalf in the event of suspected exploitation, fraud or health issues.

•Get organized. Locate and safely store important financial documents, such as

Even after you put things in place for your loved ones, be vigilant: •Check in. Regularly review and update important financial documents.

•Listen. Pay attention to what your loved ones are saying and listen for worrying key phrases, such as "people are asking me for money," "my bills are confusing to me" and "I don't understand financial decisions that someone else is making for me."

•Watch. Look out for red-flag behaviors, including unusual or unexplained financial activity, abrupt changes to documents, unpaid bills or mail piling up, new friends or sweethearts or confused behavior.l (BPT)

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20

HEALTH

Do I Need a COVID-19 Booster Shot? 6 Questions Answered On How to Stay Protected

BY WILLIAM PETRI THE CONVERSATION

T

he increasing prevalence of new coronavirus variants is raising questions about how well protected those who’ve already had their COVID-19 shots are against evolving forms of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Here, microbiology and infectious disease specialist William Petri of the University of Virginia answers some common questions about COVID-19 booster shots.

1. What is a booster shot?

Boosters are an extra dose of a vaccine given to maintain vaccine-induced protection against a disease. They are commonly used to bolster many vaccines because immunity can wear off over time. For example, the flu vaccine needs a booster every year, and the diphtheria and tetanus vaccine every 10 years.

Boosters are often identical to the original vaccine. In some cases, however, the booster shot has been modified to

enhance protection against new viral variants. The seasonal flu vaccine, most notably, requires an annual booster because the flu virus changes so rapidly.

2. Do I need to get a COVID-19 booster?

Not yet. As of early July 2021, none of the U.S. government authorities is recommending a booster. This includes the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the CDC. 3. Why aren’t booster shots recommended yet?

While vaccine-induced immunity may not last forever, it is not clear when a

booster will be needed.

Encouragingly, all of the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines induce a robust immune memory against the coronavirus. The vaccine teaches your immune system’s memory B cells to produce antibodies when you’re exposed to the virus. Researchers have detected high levels of memory B cells in the lymph nodes of people who received the Pfizer vaccine for at least 12 weeks after they got the shot.

Studies also suggest that authorized COVID-19 vaccines are continuing to offer protection even against emerging strains of the coronavirus. Among one study’s participants, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had 73% and 82% efficacy 14 days and 28 days post shot, respectively, at warding off severe disease from the beta variant. And a preliminary study that has not been peerreviewed found the Pfizer vaccine to be 88% effective against the delta variant.

The other source of long-lasting anticontinued on page 21

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21

HEALTH

Those who are immunocompromised may wonder if the vaccine they received is successfully generating immunity in their body. A preliminary study that has not yet been peer-reviewed did find that a test that specifically targets the antispike antibodies the vaccines trigger may be helpful in determining whether the vaccine worked. But for now, the FDA does not recommend antibody tests to assess immunity.

COVID-19 Booster Shot/ continued from page 20

body responses against the coronavirus is cells called plasmablasts that reside in bone marrow. These cells continuously produce antibodies and do not require boosting to maintain their activity.

Fortunately, plasmablasts have been detected in the bone marrow of people who received the COVID-19 vaccine for up to 11 months, indicating some degree of long-lasting immune memory.

4. How will I know if I need a booster?

You may need to wait for an outbreak in people who have been vaccinated.

Researchers are still figuring out the best way to measure the strength of someone’s vaccine-induced immunity. The COVID-19 vaccines have been so effective that there are not many failures to test.

The best candidate to measure are certain antibodies the vaccine induces the immune system to make. They recognize the spike protein that allows the coronavirus to enter and infect cells. Evidence supporting the importance of anti-spike antibodies includes a study showing that the somewhat more effective mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna generate higher antibody levels in the blood than the adenovirus vector vaccines like Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca. In a preliminary study that has not yet been peer-reviewed, anti-spike antibody levels were lower in people who caught

COVID-19 after they were vaccinated with the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine.

Medical workers would love to be able to give patients a blood test that would tell them how well protected they are or aren’t against COVID-19. That would be a clear indication as to whether a booster shot is needed.

But until researchers know for sure how to measure vaccine-induced immunity, the next indication that boosters may be needed are breakthrough infections in older adults who have already been vaccinated. People over the age of 80 make lower levels of antibodies after vaccination, so their immunity may wane sooner than that of the general population. The elderly would also most likely be the most susceptible to new viral variants that evade the protection current vaccines provide.

5. I’m immunocompromised – should I worry?

Boosters may be necessary for immunocompromised people. In one study, 39 of 40 kidney transplant recipients and a third of dialysis patients failed to make antibodies after vaccination. Another study identified 20 patients with rheumatic or musculoskeletal diseases on medications that suppress the immune system who also did not have detectable antibodies. Both of these studies were done after patients received the full vaccine dose.

Boosters have been shown to help in these cases. In one study, one-third of solid organ transplant patients who had a suboptimal response to two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines were able to develop an antibody response with a third dose.

6. Does my booster need to match my first shots?

Likely not. Recent research has shown that mRNA vaccines, like Pfizer and Moderna, can be mixed with adenovirus-based vaccines like AstraZeneca with comparable results. l Article corrected to indicate that the Johnson & Johnson study measured efficacy rather than effectiveness against severe disease from the beta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19.

William A. Petri Jr., M.D., Ph.D., studies immunology and molecular pathogenesis of enteric infections and their consequences. Petri leads the PROVIDE study of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that is exploring in Bangladesh and India the pathogenesis of enteric environmental dysfunction (EED). He is a Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia

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22

ELECTIONS 2021

It’s Not Just Adams vs. Sliwa: Long-Shot Mayoral Candidates Line Up for November

BY RACHEL HOLLIDAY SMITH THE CITY

E

ric Adams has good reason to take his post-mayoral-primary victory lap. With registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans nearly 7-to-1 in New York City, it’s not unreasonable to think he’ll win the general election over GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa in November.

But their names won’t be the only ones on the ballot.

Half a dozen independent candidates have already secured spots for the general election — and the fate of one potentially important ballot line, from the Working Families Party, is not yet clear.

Ravi Mangla, a WFP spokesperson, told THE CITY Thursdays that “no decision has been made” about who will appear on its line in November.

The party’s state officers “will be making a decision on the WFP ballot line for the mayoral race in the coming weeks,” he added.

The WFP is one of just four political parties — along with the Democrats, Republicans and the Conservative Party — with guaranteed slots on New York ballots thanks to new vote threshold rules

Surgeon Dr. Raja Flores. Photo courtesy Raja Flores

passed by Albany last year.

Following concessions this week from Maya Wiley and Kathryn Garcia, the Democrats have their presumed nominee in Adams. Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, sealed the Republican slot on June 22, primary night.

And former police detective Bill Pepitone is running on the Conservative line, having faced no primary challengers.

In the case of the WFP, the party has petitioned to install longtime Make the

Eric Adams.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Road nonprofit leader Deborah Axt as a placeholder for the line.

But “her fate is to be replaced,” longtime election attorney Sarah Steiner told THE CITY earlier this spring. (In a quirk of election law, Axt will have to be nominated for a judgeship if she’s removed.)

The WFP endorsed Maya Wiley in the mayoral race, but she has no plans to run on that line, her campaign told THE CITY Thursday. She would not accept the ballot line if offered it, said her spokesperson, Eric Koch.

A Crowded Field Meanwhile, several alternative-party candidates are vying for mayor — including one who already flunked a primary.

Fernando Mateo, who lost the Republican race by roughly 40 percentage points to Sliwa, will appear on the November ballot with the “Save Our City” party, according to the Board of Elections. An inquiry to the Mateo campaign was not returned.

He is not the only one making a run for it with lesser-known parties.

According to BOE petition records, at least five independent candidates, including Mateo, nabbed a spot on the general election ballot outside of the four ballot-line parties. They did it by gathering at least 3,750 signatures from voters, then submitting them to the BOE before a May 25 deadline.

Dr. Raja Flores, a thoracic surgeon and mesothelioma expert at Mt. Sinai Hospital, is running under the Humanity United Party, BOE records show. He told THE CITY in May he is seeking the top municipal office because he believes neither major party has solved some of the city’s most intractable problems, including the decline of public housing.

“My sense is that both parties are compromised,” he said. “What happened in NYCHA over the past several decades — it just continued to get worse.”

Quanda Francis, a Brooklyn native and owner of the financial-technology firm Sykes Capital Management, successfully petitioned to appear on the ballot in November with the Empowerment Party, according to her campaign and BOE

Fernando Mateo. Photo: Hiram Alejandro Durán/THE CITY

records.

Stacey Prussman, also from Brooklyn, is running as a Libertarian, according to her campaign and BOE petition records.

Prussman is a stand-up comedian, radio host and animal rights activist.

Queens public school teacher and socialist organizer Cathy Rojas is also joining the November fray. Rojas launched her run in late June and will appear on the general election ballot with the “Party for Socialism and Liberation,” or PSL, BOE records show.

At her campaign kick-off event — held at a Harlem church occupied by the activist group the Young Lords in 1969 — Rojas spoke of her goal of a “socialist reorganization of society” to provide food, education, health care and employment for all, according to Liberation, a newspaper of the PSL. Never Forget While New York is by and large a Democratic town, mayors have been elected with the backing of other parties in very recent history.

Mike Bloomberg, a one-time Democrat, won the job running as a Repubican with the post-9/11 endorsement of incumbent Rudy Giuliani in 2001.

Bloomberg then won re-election in 2009 by also running on the now-defunct Independence Party ballot line, after contributing over $1 million to that party.

(He later rejoined the Democrats years after leaving office and briefly sought the party’s 2020 presidential nomination.)

And Giuliani himself won City Hall in 1993 and 1997 with the help of the nowdefunct Liberal Party while also running on the Republican line. Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, also ran on the Working Families Party line in his successful bids for mayor.

Despite the relatively large array of contestants in the Nov. 2 general election, it will not feature ranked choice voting like the primary, so there’s little chance of lower-profile candidates collaborating against any of the front runners.l This story was published on July 8, 2021

by THE CITY.

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