Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 145

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ISSUE 145 VOLUME 22

February 24, 2022

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES!

Reasons to File a Coronavirus Lawsuit

BY LINDA NWOKE, SPECIAL TO CAW

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id you know that over 30 million lawsuits are filed each year in the United States, in state and federal trial courts? Moreso, more than $1.5 billion is spent in state courts to process over 14 million civil cases. Yet, the courts remain overburdened with civil lawsuits. Consequently, the courts encourage 'out of court' settlements or mediation and only resort to trial as a last option.

Yet, there are all forms of lawsuits,

St Lucia’s Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre, 43rd Independence Message to the Diaspora ....11

continued on page 4

If I Am Vaccinated and Get COVID-19, What Are My Chances of Dying? ....18 AN EXCLUSIVE CHAT

Diana Richardson – From the Mighty 43rd to Brooklyn’s Borough Hall. What to Expect.

BY VICTORIA FALK, SPECIAL TO CAW

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Hon Diana Richardson. Photo: NYS Assembly

Be Equity Smart ....14

Actress of Jamaican & Haitian Descent Stars in “Marry Me”....17

PAHO Director Dr Etienne: Low Vaccination Rates in the Caribbean Must be Urgently Addressed ....3

Call 855-768-8845

uring an exclusive interview with People, Power, and Politics Radio Show, the Honorable Diana Richardson spoke candidly about her journey from Assemblywoman of the 43rd District to her current role as Deputy Borough President of Brooklyn, New York. continued on page 4

Knowledge is Power when you use it!

Get a FREE Consultation!

Ask the Lawyer:

Black History Month Special ....5

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

Partnering Up Can Help You Grow as an Individual ....20

Sir Ronald Sanders: Caribbean Cannot Ignore Escalating Tensions Over Ukraine ....2

The New Public Charge Standard Will No Longer Penalize Medicaid and SNAP ....12

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SPECIAL CARIBBEAN REPORT OP-ED 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

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Caribbean Cannot Ignore Escalating Tensions Over Ukraine

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 685 Third Avenue, 11th Floor 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 630 Third Avenue, 7th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 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, 4th 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

Editorial credit: Photographer RM / Shutterstock.com US President Joe Biden Editorial credit: Editorial credit: BiksuTong / Shutterstock.com

BY SIR RONALD SANDERS

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lobal tension is rising concerning Ukraine, the second-largest country in Europe after Russia which it borders. Ukraine was a part of the defunct Soviet Union, declaring its independence in 1991 when the Union dissolved.

Should regions, as geographically distant from Ukraine as the Caribbean, care about the hostility that is escalating over it between Russia and the countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which includes the United States (US) and Canada?

The short answer must be yes. Every region in the world would be impacted by a conflict over Ukraine. The Caribbean would be affected by higher prices for oil and gas that would result from Russia cutting off oil supplies to Europe and the consequent competitive bidding in the markets from which Caribbean countries now purchase these commodities. This would have been bad news for Caribbean economies at any time but, coming in a period when these countries are still struggling to recover from the adverse effects of the COVID19 pandemic, higher oil and gas prices would plunge many economies into further decline.

There would also be a knock-on effect on the cost of imported goods and services, including food and the provision of vital utilities such as electricity and water.

Beyond the economic and financial impact on the region if oil and gas prices rise, small Caribbean countries which came to independence by exercising the right to self-determination and which treasure their sovereignty and territorial integrity, would have to be very concerned should Russia invade Ukraine to bring it back under Russian control.

Any diminution in the sanctity of these norms of international law would pose a threat to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states, such as Belize and Guyana, which are faced with territorial claims.

The root of the problem in Ukraine

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Editorial credit: Photographer RM / Shutterstock.com

Russia President Vladimir Putin Editorial credit: Sasa Dzambic Photography / Shutterstock.com

rests in two things: the belief by the Russian government and especially president Vladimir Putin that Ukraine is, historically, part of Russia; and President Putin’s further conviction that NATO countries wish to use Ukrainian territory as a staging post against Russia. Putin had repeatedly said that “we (Russia) are categorically against any further NATO expansion eastwards because it poses a threat to us”. He adds, “It’s not us who’s advancing to NATO, it is NATO coming to us and its illogical to talk about Russia’s aggressive behaviour”.

In 1991, when Ukraine became independent from the dissolved Soviet Union, it declared itself ‘neutral’. No doubt, it did so, because even then it was wary of Russian ambitions to control its neighboring states. Ukrainian concern turned out to be justified when, in 2014, Russia encouraged forces in Crimea to declare it an independent Republic effectively annexing it to Russia.

The Crimea is physically a peninsula of Ukraine where Russia has, traditionally, stationed its Black Sea Fleet at the Port of Sevastopol. Russia’s annexation of the area appears to have been a response to the Ukrainian government’s attempt to join the European Union (EU) – a move that was seen as a further step to link Ukraine to European countries that are also part of NATO. In recent years, Russian unease over Ukraine increased over the Ukrainian government’s expressed desire to join NATO, and the latter’s pledge in 2008 to allow it to do so, although no date was set and still does not exist.

Russia has now amassed over 100,000 troops near Ukraine and sent a detachment of warships into the Black Sea. All this has been interpreted by the Ukrainian government, NATO and the Western media as intent by Russia to invade.

Putin appears to have two objectives: the first is to stop Ukraine from joining NATO and the second is to limit the expansion of NATO to include any countries other than its present membership.

For their part, leading NATO nations, including the US have made it clear that

they will not negotiate NATO’s membership with Russia.

Thus, the standoff continues, and tensions heighten amid recent efforts from NATO leaders to engage Russia in a dialogue. An encounter between the Russian and British foreign ministers was summed up by the Russian as “a mute talking to a deaf person”. And a visit to Moscow by French president Emmanuel Macron for talks with Putin showed no sign of a solution. Russian-US talks also proved unproductive.

The danger of the Caribbean region being thrust into this row became evident when Sergei Ryabakov, who led the Russian delegation in a meeting with US officials on January 12, said he would not confirm or exclude Russia sending “military assets” to Venezuela and Cuba. US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, described the Russian statement as “bluster”.

Bluster or not, the Caribbean cannot ignore events surrounding Ukraine – a country with which all CARICOM countries have diplomatic relations as they do with Russia and the NATO member states.

Considering contingency arrangements for oil and gas supplies – and their prices – is one thing that Caribbean governments should be collectively considering.

They should also be jointly indicating their concern to Russia, that however tempted it may be to do so, military intervention in Ukraine should not be contemplated and would not have the support of governments that uphold and respect international law.

In every international forum, Russia and the NATO nations should hear Caribbean governments, in a unified voice, calling for diplomatic engagement and not conflict to reach a solution to this problem that would leave Ukraine’s territorial integrity intact. l Sir Ronald Sanders is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States and the Organization of American States.

Editor’s Note: This article was published on February 10, 2022. Russia has since invaded Ukraine

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3

THOUGHTS

Low Vaccination Rates in the Caribbean Must be Urgently Addressed to Stop the Spread of COVID-19 Says PAHO

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ashington D.C., February23, 2022 (PAHO): Low vaccination coverage in many countries of the Caribbean must be urgently addressed to stop the spread of COVID19 and protect the most vulnerable, warned PAHO Director, Carissa F. Etienne, with health care workers and the elderly remaining particularly at risk.

Out of the 13 countries and territories in the Americas that have not yet reached WHO’s 2021 goal of 40% vaccination coverage, 10 are in the Caribbean, she said at a media briefing today.

Vaccine hesitancy, a lack of vaccination centers in remote areas, insufficient staff numbers, and limited cold-chain infrastructure remain huge barriers to vaccination in many islands, but we now have the tools “to turn the tide on vaccinations in the Caribbean.”

With 700 million people now vaccinated in Latin America and the Caribbean, there are “real-word data to show that vaccines are safe and effective against COVID-19,” the PAHO Director said.

But interventions must now be tailored to the needs of those that remain vulnerable in each country.

In some countries, this means ensuring that health care workers are provided with the information they need to get vaccinated, including on potential side effects and how long the benefits of the vaccine last.

“These are legitimate questions that must be acknowledged and addressed so that we can better protect our health care workers and everyone else,” Dr. Etienne said.

In other countries, PAHO is working with governments to ensure that vaccination centers are closer to the people who

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10 out of 13 countries and territories in the Americas yet to reach 40% coverage are in the Caribbean but the tide can still be turned with targeted interventions need them the most, and that hours of operation are convenient for those that work.

The Director also urged countries to work with trusted voices and community leaders to create spaces for dialogue to address concerns around vaccination.

A recent survey by PAHO and UNICEF, supported by USAID, showed that 51% of vaccine hesitant people in the Eastern Caribbean were open to changing their minds after seeing more scientific and medical evidence to support vaccination.

“Dialogue, trust and outreach are the tools we must rely on to get more vaccines into arms and ultimately save lives,” the Director said.

Dr. Etienne also made a special appeal - “As a doctor from the Caribbean who has dedicated her life to public health, the best decision you can make for your health right now is to get a vaccine against COVID,” she said.

“The pandemic is not over, and a new

variant can emerge at any point.”

“We have the power as a community to overcome these barriers and reduce the toll of this virus on our people.”

Turning to the COVID-19 situation in the region, new cases declined by 28% from the previous week, to 2.2 million.

Deaths also fell for the first time since the beginning of the Omicron wave to 29,000 – a 9% drop.

Overall cases dropped by a third across North America, and while deaths declined in the United States, the rates remain among the highest seen during the pandemic.

With the exception of Honduras, deaths also dropped by 17% in Central America though Nicaragua experienced a surge in new infections.

In South America, deaths decreased by 13%, with spikes remaining in some areas, including Chile.

In the Caribbean, new infections fell by 44%, yet eight countries and territories reported an increase in deaths.l

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Germ-X and makers of Purell hand sanitizer were allegedly making false claims on how their sanitizers protect consumers against Coronavirus.

File a Coronavirus Lawsuit/ continued from page 1 including coronavirus lawsuits targeting individuals and companies on issues like profiteering during a time of crisis, preventing the spread of the disease, unjust treatment, among others.

COVID-19 Case Studies There are several Coronavirus healthcare-related lawsuits against employers.

For instance, some hospital employees claim their employment was terminated after raising concerns about the lack of available personal protective equipment.

Or after reporting those other staff members, failed to wear masks correctly and did not follow social distancing guidelines in certain situations. In other instances, employers denied staff members with high-risk conditions leaves of absence. They also failed to implement proper screening, social distancing, and instituting other protective measures, which in some cases resulted in deaths from COVID-19.

Potential Reasons for COVID-19 Lawsuits Yet, many lessons have been learned since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

From causes to prevention and managing the virus at different levels, including the loss of human lives, arguably prevented.

As the Coronavirus mutates and spread, lawsuits will inevitably ensue from citizens seeking legal help in its wake to address perceived injustice. There are different reasons for initiating Coronavirus-related lawsuits. Causes can range from individual to organizational, civic to human rights, to mention a few. Some of the prevalent examples of Coronavirus related cases include the impact on workers, financial injury, business interruption insurance, price extortion, etc.

The series of litigation can be attributed to the following: COVID-19 Based Impact on Employees Lawsuit Despite every effort, the coronavirus pandemic keeps growing, evolving from Delta variant to Omicron and the most recent 'Flurona', causing on-ending hardship through loss of employment and health-related issues. Many lawsuits against employers, including those in the healthcare sector, are based on issues similar to concerns raised when the pandemic started in 2020. The Coronavirus lawsuits assert that employers violated federal and state mandates, guidelines,

Securities Lawsuits due to COVID-19 A stakeholder can file a false financial claim lawsuit against an organization if they discover inflated filings or financial situations in shareholder or company reports attributed to Coronavirus and its economic repercussions. and regulations regarding employee safety. Specifically, employers violated federal laws like the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

Some employees have also filed lawsuits against their employers for violating WARN Act which requires that employers with less than 100 or more employees provide at least 60 days' notice before conducting a mass layoff.

Employers abused workers' rights when the pandemic was raging. So, they are fighting employers who failed to provide proper protection against COVID-19, didn't provide a safe work environment, and ensured their lives were not at risk by being asked to come into work. Reasons like wrongful termination, denial of leave, workplace safety, and retaliation are all basis for initiating a lawsuit.

Failure to Refund Lawsuit In response to the onset of the virus, many states issued a stay-at-home directive, several events, festivals, and canceled flights. Yet, various vendors refused to issue refunds, leaving consumers in challenging positions during the pandemic. As a result, several classaction lawsuits ensued to help consumers receive their refunds, like the New York Sports Club Member Fees Refund Lawsuit and Planet Fitness Monthly Fees Refund Lawsuit. Persons with similar complaints can also seek redress.

Coronavirus Tuition, Board, Room and Fee Class Action Lawsuits Similarly, students who lost the benefits of in-person training, housing, meals, and student activities previously paid filed a lawsuit against their colleges and universities. Such lawsuits seeking restitution for fees, tuition, housing, meals, and other applicable costs are a valid basis for seeking justice.

COVID-19 Price Extortion Lawsuit Many consumers went into panic buying in response to the news during the pandemic. Numerous retailers took advantage of the increased demand for certain

products, raising their prices exorbitantly, resulting in consumers accusing the retailers of unfair price extortion and exploitation. Several reports of surges in coronavirus-related price-gouging claims on products across the United States, which encouraged several States to enact new laws, enforce existing ones, and take executive action such as declaring a state of emergency to combat price extortion.

Consumers who fell victim to coronavirus price extortion can receive compensation for violating their rights. They can join a coronavirus class-action lawsuit. For example, in New York, the Attorney General challenged the increased egg prices during the Coronavirus outbreak and other existing lawsuits.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Insurance Lawsuit Business owners anticipate loss. In response, they take out business interruption insurance policies. The insurance covers mortgage payment, lost income, loans, rent, taxes, payroll, and other costs. However, many owners who paid premiums for years to some insurance companies were denied because the insurance companies insisted that it did not cover Coronavirus and refused to pay up. It forces buyers to take legal action against the insurance companies who denied their claim and still justifies a lawsuit.

COVID-19 False Claims Lawsuits Promoting false products and messages against Coronavirus can result in lawsuits because state and federal laws prohibit companies from making misleading and false product claims. In New York, the Attorney General ordered Alex Jones, the CEO of Infowars, to stop advertising and selling products as a cure for Coronavirus and threatened him with legal action. Private consumers and government authorities can start legal actions against companies that make bogus health-related claims on products that could cure or prevent Coronavirus.

Foreclosure Lawsuits based on Impact of Coronavirus Homeowners with adequate proof can initiate lawsuits to prevent foreclosures based on the impact of the virus on their business or job. These lawsuits can cause a halt in foreclosure, especially homeowners who are still out of work due to the pandemic and facing foreclosure can seek legal options.

Negligence-based Coronavirus Lawsuits In this type of lawsuit, which is often tricky to prove, defendants are liable if they negligently exposed people to Coronavirus, resulting in personal injury or death. Businesses, health care facilities, and various organizations are liable if there is evidence that they didn't take adequate measures to prevent the spread and failed to take precautions against COVID-19 caused infection or complications. Various airlines, cruise lines, nursing homes, commercial properties have been sued for negligence. Similarly, infected tenants, guests, or family members could also claim that the building or property was unclean, overcrowded, or had sick people in it. Thus, leading to preventable coronavirus transmission or the death of a loved one from coronavirus infection.

Steps to Filing a Lawsuit If you intend to pursue a lawsuit, specific information and stages that accompany the process include filing a complaint, which then goes through judicial review and then service of the process. It is worth mentioning that in anticipation of possible lawsuits that can ensue, over 25 states in 2021 introduced protective legislation that will protect businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits. And as earlier mentioned, it is always better to try to settle out of court when all parties can try and reach an amicable agreement. However, if all measures fail, the plaintiff can seek justice by consulting a lawyer to start the process. Visit www.askthelawyer.us or call 855-768-8845.l

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH: HEROES

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Modern Civil Rights Leaders

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oo often, discussion of Civil Rights heroes end with figures from history. Important though they maybe, new generations have followed in the hallowed footsteps of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshall.

Here’s a look some of our modern-day Civil Rights leaders:

JAMES RUCKER Co-founder, Color of Change Color of Change is an enormous web-based group that uses social networking to address the racial issues of our day. Under the leadership of James Rucker and others, it has grown to nearly 2 million members.

MICHELLE ALEXANDER Law professor, Ohio State University Michelle Alexander became a thought leader in the modern Civil Rights era after publishing “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.” Her book argues that a prison system that’s disproportionately filled with Black men has replaced discriminatory 20th century laws as the new brand of racial suppression. Dr. Cornel West of Harvard University said it’s a must-read for activists of today in the book’s forward.

ESMERALDA SIMMONS Executive Director, Center for Law and Social Justice Based in the Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York, the Center for Law and Social Justice is just another avenue for Esmeralda Simmons to fight for the rights of the underserved and underprivileged. A longtime advocate for better public education as an attorney, Simmons now provides legal services in the growing area of voter suppression.

MELANIE CAMPBELL CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation A focus on civic engagement brought Melanie Campbell to wider renown, in particular her involvement in the Black Youth Vote! leadership development program.

PATRISSE CULLORS Co-founder, Black Lives Matter Patrisse Cullors started Dignity and Power Now to push for police reform in Los Angeles County, while also calling for a more dignified approach to incarceration. She created the original #BlackLivesMatter hashtag after Trayvon Martin was fatally shot in 2012.

JOHNETTA ELZIE Co-editor, This Is the Movement The widespread protests following the lethal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, didn’t have an official leader but Johnetta Elzie nevertheless became one the effort’s most prominent voices. She helped found a digital movement called We the Protesters that tracks police violence and seeks to hold law enforcement accountable.

BRYAN STEVENSON Founder and Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson founded the Equal Justice Initiative to highlight and push back against racial disparities in the justice system, something he’s witnessed up close as a practicing attorney. Their research has uncovered an astounding 800 lynching incidents that had never been previously disclosed. l

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH: HEALTH CARE

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Health Insurance Equity

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lack Health and Wellness isn’t just about doctors, diets and doing more exercise. The wellness journey for generations of African Americans has also been shaped by both historic obstacles even among more recent gains in health insurance.

The uninsured rate for Black Americans declined significantly after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed.

More than 20 million people gained coverage under the ACA, and nearly three million of them were African American.

Still, the uninsured rate among Black people is often double that of their white counterparts. Some 38% are on Medicaid.

The ACA made progress toward universal coverage, but costs still mean that access is a challenge for African Americans who don’t participate. The average American family spends about 11 percent of their total income on health care, including premiums, co-pays, prescriptions and other out-of-plan bills. But those same dollars represent a much larger percentage of income for the average Black family, which because of pay disparity may be spending more like 20% of their household income on wellness.

Millions more are underinsured, mean-

ing doctor or hospital visits put a strain on their finances or even require going into debt. Nearly 20% of U.S. adults who are underinsured are African American.

Some may be helped with Medicaid expansions on the state level, but a number of governors and local legislatures are opting out. Following a trend, that leaves people of color as the ones most likely to find themselves in a coverage gap. They earn too much to qualify under the original Medicaid guidelines, but not enough to earn premium tax credit in the ACA marketplace.

These aren’t the only reasons why costfriendly, fair coverage options is so

important.

There are still marked differences in outcomes between Black people and whites in the areas of infant and maternal mortality, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

African American females are three times more apt to die in pregnancy than whites. The Black infant mortality rate is twice that of whites. Across a range of chronic maladies, simply being African American means you’re more likely to die compared to other groups.

Affordable health care might literally be the difference between life and death.l

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Your health is your greatest legacy.

Black people are generally at higher risk for many heart diseases, stroke, diabetes and more. Let’s change the story together.

Art by Jade Purple Brown

Visit emblemhealth.com/blackhealth for more information.

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2/10/22 11:52 A

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: HEALTH PROBLEMS

Heart Disease Risk

Diana Richardson/ continued from page 1

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he good news is that Blacks are living longer, as pre-COVID death rates declined about 25% over the previous decade.

Even with those obvious advances, however, Black people are living with and often dying of complications from conditions like high blood pressure that are better managed in other communities.

These outcomes are typically due to economic conditions and access issues that are more common in the Black community. Sometimes, there is a lack of trust because of unfamiliarity, or historical issues with the medical community.

Often, they may not see a doctor simply because of cost.

Inside the Numbers Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among Blacks, with increasing numbers among formerly atypical demographics like women and the young.

When a chronic illness begins early, it can lead to earlier death.

As it stands, Black people aged 18 to 49 are two times more likely to die from heart disease than whites, according to the CDC. African Americans between 35 and 64 are also 50% more likely to have high blood pressure. Black women are 60% more likely to suffer from hyperten-

sion than non-Hispanic white women.

Black History Month’s gives us all a chance to reflect on the simple steps we can take to address heart disease. Your risk is heightened by high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes, issues that also play a role in strokes.

Addressing the Problem High blood pressure impacts Blacks more than any other race worldwide, and left untreated it can do permanent damage long before there are any debilitating symptoms. Hypertension is more severe among Black people, and also tends to develop earlier in their lives.

Start by being aware. Check your blood pressure regularly, even if you don’t have

8

a history of hypertension. Become familiar with your family’s medical history, since that can play a role in developing high blood pressure. If there’s a problem, seek medical attention immediately.

Blacks are also disproportionately suffering from obesity. Nearly 70% of nonHispanic Black peopleages 20 and older, and more than 80% of women, are overweight. A healthy diet can help address this issue, along with a regimen of daily exercise. Similar advice is given to those dealing with diabetes, a major risk factor in both heart disease and stroke. Type 2 diabetes is preventable, and treatable — but you’ll need to develop a plan with your doctor. l

Ms. Richardson, who entered into office in 2015 in a special election and served six years as a New York State Assemblywoman, was selected by Brooklyn Borough President, Antonio Reynoso, to serve under him in her new role. The Brooklyn Borough President’s office announced the appointment this January 2022. It indicated that Ms. Richardson’s focus would be on “addressing food insecurity, reducing gun violence, and supporting Brooklyn’s Community Boards and ensuring they are reflective of the communities they serve.”

As Richardson reflected on her time as a New York State Assemblywoman, she discussed her previous success in each area that she will focus on in her current role as Deputy Borough President.

However, this longtime Brooklyn resident, born to Caribbean immigrants from Aruba, made it very clear that she did not do it alone. “We’ve had so many successes that we can highlight. Notice I said ‘we,’ because I know that although I am the individual, I am nothing without the community,” stated Diana Richardson.

“We were able to pass over 15 pieces of legislation in that time, as well as highlight and uplift the community through civics education. One of the most important legislations I passed is the continued on page 9

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH: LEADERSHIP Diana Richardson/ continued from page 8 Community Violence Intervention Act of 2021. We got a designated revenue stream using VOCA (Victims of Crime Acts) dollars at the federal level to come down to the state. Great accomplishment – because before that, these types of antiviolence programming would be funded on a year-to-year basis, depending on who was in power in administration and if that person deemed gun violence necessary.

Whereas now, there is a dedicated funding stream, and you don’t have to fight for the basis of what we know should happen,” stated Richardson.

Other accomplishments highlighted by Diana Richardson during her candid discussion with People, Power, and Politics Radio Show included the Police Accountability Act of 2020 and the passing of legislation criminalizing the false calling of 911 against people of color.

However, of most importance to Ms. Richardson was “…bringing back a sense of pride to the mighty 43rd Assembly District.” Richardson became emotional during the interview as she expressed her love for the people of the 43rd Assembly District and her desire for them to know that they are “powerful” and “mighty.”

In her role as Assemblywoman for the 43rd District, Diana Richardson made it a point to

Get ready Brooklyn! brand herself by saying, “The power of the people is more important than the people in power.”

While Ms. Richardson did admit that it was difficult for her to accept her current position as Deputy Borough President because she knew she’d be leaving behind some relationships with the residents of “the mighty 43rd” that were dear to her. However, she knows that she leaves “The Mighty 43rd District” in a better place than where she met it.

Furthermore, Richardson understands she will be able to do more for the community in her current role as Deputy Borough President. “I am in a season of growth. I had to look at the landscape to see how I could grow as an individual

and also in reach of service to others. I felt that joining Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s team would allow me to continue to serve my constituents more effectively, yet in a different way,” expressed Diana Richardson.

When asked what we can expect to see from her immediately and long-term, Ms. Richardson stressed that “…right now it’s a matter of infrastructure building – hiring the right staff and making sure we have the right people in position.” She plans to tackle the following issues immediately: gun violence, food insecurity, agriculture, and community boards. “I need to interview and appoint people to community boards by June. I want to have a summertime plan in place

9 now because violence tends to increase when people don’t have money. I need to understand what is happening concerning our food programs and what is working. I want to make sure we are touching every individual, whether documented or undocumented and reaching everyone who needs resources,” stated Diana Richardson.

Ms. Richardson discussed her eagerness to work with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. People can expect “visible leadership, and they will never have to look hard to find us. We will be listening, and we will be mobilizing for activation across the borough.

Brooklyn can look forward to two leaders who were born here, raised here, and educated here, and who care about this place, putting our needs first – the people over the politics,” stressed Richardson.

Diana Richardson spoke about the importance of having the people of Brooklyn be actively involved with the elected officials, informing the officials of what is happening and the needs of their communities – the power of the relationship between elected officials and the communities they serve.

Ms. Richardson explained how she and Mr. Reynoso plan to work together in their perspective positions, “Get ready Brooklyn. We are going to show up for you consistently, and I hope Brooklynites will show up consistently.”l

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ISLAND FOCUS: SAINT LUCIA

10

Saint Lucia Celebrates Its 43rd Anniversary of Independence: "Douvan Ansanm – Celebrating Our People"

BY MANUEL HOLGUIN

S

aint Lucia celebrated its forty-third anniversary of independence inside the halls of Borough Hall.

The flag-raising event was held indoors due to the rain forecast. Still, it did not dampen the spirits of its attendees.

Health and lifestyle coach Dionne Nicholls hosted the ceremony. She began the event by speaking of family and those that came before. She talked about the importance of the stories we all share and knowing and staying connected to one's roots. "That's the other piece for this legacy to continue," Nicholls said.

"Make sure we are planting seeds for the next generation to want to come back, uplift, and empower our community."

The room stood and joined in a prayer led by Pastor Kerol Daniel of Waymark Ministries. On the agenda was the Consul General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Hon. Howie Prince, who represented the CARICOM Consular.

Consul General of Saint Lucia in New York, Hon Jeremiah Hyacinth, delivered the feature remarks and spoke on the resilience and dedication of the Saint Lucian Diaspora. He said: "I would like to begin by thanking our Prime Minister, the Honorable Philip J. Pierre, our External Affairs Minister, the Honorable Alva Baptiste, and their entire cabinet for granting me the privilege to serve as Saint Lucia's Consul General to New

Editorial credit: Manuel Holguin/CAW

York. In doing so, they have demonstrated their confidence in me and acknowledged my devotion toward our beautiful island nation. I am enormously grateful for this honor and will endeavor to fulfill my duties to the best of my abilities.

With Independence 43, St. Lucia embarks on a new chapter under the leadership of Prime Minister Pierre. We look forward to his leadership with great optimism. However, we are faced with an ongoing pandemic that continues to wreak havoc on our people and our country. In light of this dire situation, we have chosen a theme for this year's celebration, "Douvan Ansanm– Celebrating Our People," that reflects our defiant response to the havoc brought about by this disease. We must remind ourselves that there is still much to celebrate and

remain resolute in our belief that there will be better days ahead.

This year's theme also recognizes the contributions of overseas-based Saint Lucians. Despite the severe challenges of the last twenty-four months, our brethren abroad have continued to support their family members and friends back home, both financially and emotionally. You are more than worthy of being celebrated for your resilience and your unwavering commitment to the place of your birth."

Consul General Hyacinth also thanked the city of New York, specifically the borough of Brooklyn, for their generous support and goodwill to Saint Lucia and its citizens.

Poetry and music were also present.

Violinist Grace Andrews filled the room with a beautiful rendition of Saint Lucia's

Borough President Antonio Reynoso with cultural performers.

Editorial credit: Manuel Holguin/CAW

National Anthem. The OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature recipient, Poet Vladimir Lucien, read poems bursting with images of nostalgia and food.

Hon. Diana Richardson, the former Assemblywoman for Brooklyn's 43rd district, introduced herself to the crowd.

It was her first event as she was newly appointed Brooklyn Deputy Borough President. Being a daughter of immigrant parents from Aruba, Ms. Richardson reminded attendees that "While we have different islands, it's one Caribbean Sea." She also assured everyone that Brooklyn has two children of immigrants at Borough Hall who understands the immigrants' journey, challenges and experiences and will be working hard to improve their lives.

Hon. Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn's Borough President, took the podium and spoke on what independence means, "It's about a country's struggle and self-determination to be recognized." He then presented the Consul General with Saint Lucia's fortythird Anniversary of Independence Celebration Day Proclamation. The Vice-Consul General of Saint Lucia in New York, Ms. Victoria Bousquet, delivered the closing remarks.

Guests showed up ready to represent and show love for their home of Saint Lucia.

Some were decorated in their island's blue, yellow, white, and black from head to toe. In closing, guests were led outside to look upon the flag of Saint Lucia flying high on top of Borough Hall. Despite the drizzle, guests and speakers gathered on the steps of Borough Hall for a photo waving their handheld flags with pride and joy.l

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ISLAND FOCUS: SAINT LUCIA

11

43rd Independence Message to the Diaspora from Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia

F

ellow Saint Lucians, Brothers and Sisters: As always, it is again with a great sense of pride and honor that I am addressing you, on yet another significant milestone in our Country's development, the 43rd Anniversary of our Independence. It is always a pleasure to converse with you, particularly about our State's development affairs, as I truly understand and appreciate the significance of the various contributions that you have made and continue to make, in the pursuit of our national development goals. For this I want to thank you immensely, and express my wish that the relationship, between the Diaspora and the homeland, can be strategically broadened and strengthened, for our mutual benefit, in the ensuing period.

Our theme for this celebration, "Dovan Ansanm-Celebrating Our People" aptly captures the essence of my Government’s intention and focus of putting you the people first; as we believe that the raison d'etre for the existence of the government of any country is the wellbeing of its people. So let us move

forward together, celebrating our people.

In my New Year's Address this year, I announced my intention to extend citizenship to the grandchildren of nationals born overseas; it is my hope that the majority of you who qualify, will apply for registration, without delay, after the requisite legislation is amended. This will be one among a number of new initiatives aimed at serving you better and cementing your bond with the homeland.

I also mentioned in that address that starting this year, my administration will take concrete steps to mobilize the diaspora's human and financial capital in the forms of skills, talents, networks, and financial resources, in a coordinated and structured manner, for full participation in our country's development. We know what you can give to Saint Lucia, and we want to work closely with you to facilitate your meaningful integration into our developmental thrust. Indeed, you will hear from us in the months ahead.

A number of activities have been planned in commemoration of our Independence Anniversary. These have

I also mentioned in that address that starting this year, my administration will take concrete steps to mobilize the diaspora's human and financial capital in the forms of skills, talents, networks, and financial resources, in a coordinated and structured manner, for full participation in our country's development.

Hon Philip J. Pierre Editorial credit: Office of the Prime MInister

been organized both by you in the Diaspora and by our agencies and organizations at home. Many will be online and accessible via virtual platforms. I wish to implore you to participate and support these activities, as this is an easy way to keep connected and informed about what we are doing, together, to commemorate our 43rd year of nationhood.

In closing, let me wish everyone a happy 43rd Anniversary of Independence and express my sincere wish that you come visit us, in the not too distant future. As sons and daughters of Saint Lucia, I want to leave you with this line from our national anthem: "Wheresoever you may roam, Love, oh love, our island home"l

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IMMIGRATION

12

The New Public Charge Standard Will No Longer Penalize Medicaid and SNAP Recipients

BY WALTER EWING

T

he Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to clarify the meaning of the “public charge ground of inadmissibility” on February 24. The new guidance will be welcome news for immigrants as well as state governments and immigrant-serving organizations across the country that have worked to combat fear and misinformation around public charge.

Under current law, immigrants applying for admission to the United States or those already here and seeking a green card must prove they are not “likely to become a public charge.” Although changes were implemented during the Trump administration, since 1999 immigrants have been required to prove that they would not become “primarily dependent” on certain cash welfare programs.

Changes to Public Charge Under Trump The Trump administration attempted to change this standard by implementing its own version of the public charge rule in 2019, but its application was halted in

March 2021 due to litigation. Since then, DHS has applied “the public charge inadmissibility statute consistent with the 1999 Interim Field Guidance.”

Once finalized, the Biden administration’s proposed rule would replace both.

The Supreme Court is, however, still deciding whether to allow several states to continue the fight to save Trump’s version of the public charge rule.

State and local governments have had a difficult time keeping up with continuously shifting guidance over the last three years. California was forced to commit substantial resources toward multilingual guides for residents, while social service agencies in Maryland and Michigan dedicated significant resources to multiple rounds of guidance for frontline civil servants.

But issues with the Trump-era public charge rule didn’t stop there. A group of 21 Attorneys General told DHS that the Trump administration’s 2019 Final Rule caused many immigrants to either not enroll in or disenroll from public benefit programs not even covered by the rule.

The public charge inadmissibility formula in the rule was so complex and difficult to understand that many immigrants and service providers simply

avoided benefits rather than risk making a mistake. In fact, the rule may have led to a decrease of 260,000 enrollees in child Medicaid and 21,000 enrollees in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)—even though neither of these programs was targeted by the rule.

New Public Charge Guidance Under Biden The Biden administration’s proposed rule defines someone who is “likely to become a public charge” as someone who is “likely at any time to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term insti-

tutionalization at government expense.”

DHS is clear that, as in 1999, “institutionalization” does not include immigration detention or the serving of a penal sentence.

Contrary to the standard imposed by the Trump administration, DHS will no longer consider “receipt of Medicaid, public housing, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as part of the public charge inadmissibility determination.” The proposed rule will “provide fair and humane treatment for noncitizens requesting admission to the United States or applying for lawful permanent residence from within the United States.” continued on page 13

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IMMIGRATION

13

USCIS Issues Guidance on Informal Marriages for Derivative Refugee and Asylee

U

.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate (RAIO) announced guidance recognizing that a spousal relationship may exist for the purpose of obtaining derivative refugee or asylee status, in certain circumstances, if there is evidence of an informal marriage. This guidance applies to the adjudication of a pending or newly filed Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal; Form I-590, Registration for Classification as Refugee; and Form I730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition.

This guidance does not apply to any other form types, including Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.

USCIS is returning to its prior interpretation of the place-of-celebration rule and will recognize in certain circumstances that a spousal relationship may be evidenced by an informal marriage for the purpose of adjudicating derivative refugee and asylee claims. Historically, USCIS has recognized informal marriages or camp marriages in certain circumstances for the purpose of refugee

Mexico City, Mexico - September 23, 2021: Haitian migrant families wait in front of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance to request refuge in Mexico.

Editorial credit: Nelson Antoine / Shutterstock.com

adjudications due to the unique and humanitarian nature of refugee status.

Effective immediately, USCIS officers will recognize a derivative refugee or asylee if there is evidence of an informal marriage where the spouses were unable to have their marriage legally recognized in the place of celebration because of their flight from persecution and circumstances beyond their control, or due to restrictive laws or practices in their country of origin or country of first asylum.

The marriage must meet all other legal requirements, excepting the place of celebration rule, for the marriage to qualify for the benefit requested.

For Form I-589, Form I-590, and Form I-730, USCIS officers may recognize: Informal marriage; Informal divorce of an informal marriage; and Informal marriage following the informal divorce of an informal marriage.

USCIS will also reconsider derivative spouse eligibility for a Form I-590 or Form I-730 that we denied solely because we did not find that evidence of an informal marriage was sufficient to establish a qualifying relationship under the previous guidance. (Note that the previous guidance did not apply to Form I589.)l

Public Charge/ continued from page 12 In addition, the proposed rule will formally exempt several categories of noncitizens from public charge, including “refugees, asylees, noncitizens applying for or re-registering for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), special immigration juveniles, T and U nonimmigrants, and self-petitioners under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).” Nor will DHS consider “vaccines or public benefits specifically related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic” when making public charge determinations.

“The 2019 public charge rule was not consistent with our nation’s values,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Under this proposed rule, we will return to the historical understanding of the term ‘public charge’ and individuals will not be penalized for choosing to access the health benefits and other supplemental government services available to them.”

The administration will accept comments from the public on the new proposed rule until April 25, 2022, and a final rule could be unveiled soon afterward. This proposed rule is an important step in creating a more fair and efficient immigration system because it will provide a greater level of flexibility and certainty to noncitizens who seek to obtain or maintain immigration benefits in the United States.l

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Divorce and Forclosure: What You Need to Know

BY VICTORIA FALK

W

hat do you do when "I do" turns into "I don't," and you can no longer stand to be in the presence of the person that you imagined you would spend the rest of your life with? You vowed to be together "…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health…." However, the sight of this person now 'makes you sick,' and you wonder if things can get any worse. Divorce becomes inevitable.

Divorce can be devastating, as two people who legally joined their lives together return to living separate lives. Gone are the hopes and dreams of "forever," and in many cases, there may be a loss of income. As a result of divorce, individuals who enjoyed, in many cases, shared savings and shared living expenses are now faced with the challenge of maintaining a household without the same

level benefit of financial assistance from another person that was previously received. It may be a financial challenge for one spouse to purchase the house from the other or maintain the full responsibility of taking care of the homeowner's expenses on their own.

The relationship between the divorce rate and the foreclosure rate is evident,

with the foreclosure rate increasing as the divorce rate increases. According to a study conducted by Citywide Home Loans, divorce is one of the most common foreclosure causes. "Frequently, divorce means that one person is designated as responsible for making mortgage payments. This can put financial stress on the individual making mortgage pay-

Call Equity Smart Realty at 888-670-6791 for a FREE consultation.

ments, especially if there are missed spousal support payments. The stress that the divorce process brings ( both emotional and financial), along with impaired communication, can also mean missed mortgage payments," found Citywide Home Loans.

However, divorce does not have to lead to foreclosure. There are things for the divorcing couple to consider. According to AllLaw, "A couple going through foreclosure at the same time they are going through a divorce should be aware of several issues such as: Who is responsible for the remaining debt on the home?

How will the debt be repaid? What will happen to the house?" They may decide that one spouse may 'become the sole owner' of the property, or if neither of them wants the house, …they can attempt a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure. If one spouse will take over the property and the mortgage, that spouse can then apply on their own for a modification or refinance."

Most divorcing couples cannot communicate on the level needed to come to a compromise regarding the home and the mortgage on their own due to the deterioration of their marital relationship. As a matter of fact, it is not uncommon for one spouse to want the other "to get out of the house" and/or to accuse the other person of wanting to miss required mortgage payments to spite the other spouse intentionally. Thus, increasing the likelihood of foreclosure.

An experienced divorce attorney and real estate expert, such as Mr. Brian Figeroux, of Figeroux and Associates, can assist those going through a divorce who are also facing foreclosure. Missed mortgage payments and foreclosure can affect your credit history years after the divorce. So, know your rights and responsibilities. If you or someone you know is in the process of divorce and facing foreclosure, then it is a critical time to speak to a lawyer.

Visit www.AskTheLawyer.us to get expert legal advice today. n

Save Your Property from FORECLOSURE

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15

EQUITY SMART REALTY INC

Do You Need an Agent? The Answer Is Yes!

tristian Phillip

Wayne Jordan

I

f you’ve bought or sold a house before, it may be tempting to decide to go through the process without the help of a real estate agent and their fee.

Know what you’re getting into before taking on this responsibility.

For both buyers and sellers, an agent is an important ally who can handle the paperwork and negotiating, which can get tricky, and make the process much less stressful for you. Here’s what to know when you’re considering an agent: Sellers Time Magazine reported that 90 percent of home sellers use a real estate agent.

The agent understands the market and

the appraisal process and can provide expert advice on how to move a home more quickly, how to market it effectively and more. Knowing market trends, they often are better able to negotiate the details of the contract. Your agent handles all of the walk-throughs and open houses as well, making them particularly helpful for sellers with inflexible work schedules.

If you’re not sure about your agent or having an agent at all, consider signing a short-term contract, so you can reevaluate how well the relationship is working.

Buyers An agent can help you find a lender, a

title company and an assessor and answer questions about the types of loans available, different down payment assistance programs in your area, how much you can afford based on your budget and the benefits and drawbacks of different neighborhoods, although many aren’t allowed to directly tell you yes or no about a neighborhood.

Agents also know what to look for when you’re walking through the house.

You may not notice a slight hump in the floor, but an experienced agent will and knows to ask the owner what caused it.

They know possible issues to look for and questions to ask depending on the neighborhood (traffic patterns, persistent noises, if a family of raccoons lives nearby, and what electricity usage is like).

Your agent works for you, so do your homework and find one you’re comfortable with. You can ask for recommendations and check online reviews. The buyer’s agent is paid through the sale of the home, not out of your pocket.

We are happy to help and share our insight and experience to help you with the real estate investing process.

Schedule an appointment today. Call 888-670-6791. n

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16

JOBS & RECESSION

Goal for 2022: Become a Paralegal attorneys, opposing counsel, vendors, staff members, clients, and others. The work is varied, and each day brings new challenges.

BY THE CHAMBER COALITION

A

career as a paralegal (also known as a legal assistant) can be a wonderfully fulfilling profession. Paralegals perform legal, regulatory, and business-related research for lawyers working at their organization.

Most of the time, paralegals work for law offices, non-profits, corporations' legal departments, or courts. These professionals also provide legal support services to attorneys. They assist lawyers in filing motions, memoranda, pleadings, and briefs in various court systems and accompany lawyers to see clients and go to court. Here are five great things about being a paralegal: 1. Rise in Pay Paralegal compensation has risen steadily in the past decade. As paralegals perform a broader and more complex range of tasks (paralegals even represent clients in court in certain countries and administrative tribunals), their earnings continue to rise. The average paralegal salary hovers at around $50,000 per year, but paralegals often make more through bonuses. Overtime hours can also add significant cash to a paralegal's paycheck.

2. Explosive Employment Outlook The paralegal field is one of the fastestgrowing professions on the globe. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, predicts the employment of paralegals and legal assistants by over 25 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations. Among the factors driving this growth is client demand for cheaper, more efficient delivery of legal services. Since hourly rates charged by attorneys are typically double or triple the rates of paralegals for the same task, law firm economics mandates the increased use of paralegals to minimize costs. As a result, a paralegal career is one of the hottest non-lawyer jobs in the legal industry.

3. Easy Career Entry Unlike lawyers who must complete seven years of formal education and pass the bar exam to practice law, you can become a paralegal in as little as a few months of study.

4. Intellectual Challenge Paralegal work is intellectually challenging and involves a range of high-level skills. The most successful paralegals are problem-solvers and innovative thinkers.

Paralegals must become subject matter experts in their specialty areas and master legal procedure, research, drafting, and other skills. They must stay on top of ever-changing laws and new legal trends and developments while interfacing with

5. Rising Prestige As paralegals perform more complex and challenging work, paralegal prestige is rising. Paralegals are no longer simply lawyer's assistants; they assume corporate management roles, leadership roles in law firms, and entrepreneurial roles in independent paralegal businesses. Over the years, paralegals have transcended the image of glorified legal secretaries to become respected legal team members.

Ready to Take the Leap?

A career as a paralegal can be rewarding professionally and personally and offers a unique opportunity to help others; options vary, depending on the paralegal's practice area. Paralegals in the public interest sector help poor and disadvantaged segments of the population with legal issues ranging from protection from domestic abuse to assistance preparing wills. Ready to take the leap, the next step? Call us at 718-722-9217 or visit www.freeparalegal.org to complete your registration which includes payment.l

Orientation is Tuesday, March 22

Need Assistance? Call 718-722-9217.

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nHOROSCOPE

Kitchen Corner Actress of Jamaican Descent Stars in New Caribbean Fish Soup Jennifer Lopez Movie, “Marry Me”

BY STEPHANIE KORNEY JAMAICANS.COM

Editorial credit: Sam Aronov / Shutterstock.com

M

ichelle Buteau, an American comedian, actor, television host, and podcast host, has a starring role in the new film “Marry Me,” which also stars Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, and Sarah Silverman. The film, which is directed by Kat Coiro, tells the story of a musical superstar named “Kat Valdez,” played by Lopez, and a math teacher, “Charlie Gilbert” played by Wilson, as two strangers who agree to get married and then get to know one another. As the story develops, a romance arises between the two different people who are looking for something real in an environment marked by relationships based on perceptions gleaned via social media.

Buteau noted that the best thing about working on the film was being with so many dynamic women, and she had only praise for Jennifer Lopez, who was integrally involved with the film’s production. She also said she felt the difference being directed by a woman and in a cast with diversity. She remembered that when she was growing up, she did not see people like herself in the movies, but now, with Lopez and Maluma living their dreams on stage and being good people represented more than a movie< “It’s a movement,” she added.

Buteau was born in 1977 in New

Jersey. Her father is of Haitian and Lebanese descent, and her mother is a Jamaican of French descent. Buteau attended Florida State University where she was studying for a career in journalism before deciding to move into comedy. She began her pursuit of a comedy career just a few days after the tragedy of September 11, 2001. After five years of stand-up work, she appeared on television for the first time on Comedy Central, and by 2017, she was listed by Esquire magazine as one of its “ten comedians to watch.” She became the host of the “Late Night Whenever” podcast in 2018, a broadcast named one of the best of 2018 by Time magazine. She was also a member of “The Comedy Lineup” on Netflix. Her film career began in 2019 when she made appearances in several movies, including “Someone Great,” “Isn’t It Romantic,” “Sell By,” and “Always Be My Maybe.”

The year 2019 brought more exposure for Buteau when she started hosting the “Adulting” podcast on WNYC with cohost Jordan Carlos and appeared in two television series – “First Wives Club” and “Tales of the City.”

In 2020, Buteau began hosting “The Circle,” a reality television show from Netflix. She also published her first book, a collection of personal essays titled “Survival of the Thickest” in that year. In 2021, her show “Buteau’s Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia” won a Critics’ Choice Television Award in the Best Comedy Special category.

Buteau has no problem staying busy.

The “Marry Me” film was released on February 11, 2022, and the comedian signed a new deal with Netflix for a series based on her novel “Survival of the Thickest.” With the series, she hopes to represent “curvy and thicker women” through honesty, which she is hoping will prompt “difficult conversations.”

The show will be based on her own experiences, and she says she wants to find “humor through pain.”l

N

ot just a healthy soup, it's very tasty too. I always loved this soup while growing up in the Caribbean. To my surprise it turned out to be a good warm-up drink too. Long story short, as I waited for a bus on a very cold and windy winter evening in NYC, I noticed a West Indian restaurant across the street. I ran in to get a cup of coffee or tea. The last thing on my mind was a bowl of soup. They were about to close and the only thing they had was fish soup. I took a small cup and went back to the bus stop. It warmed me up so much and reached such a good place inside me that I ran back for more.

By Tony P, AllRecipes.com Ingredients 2 whole fish, scaled and cleaned, or more to taste 1 lemon, juiced 8 cups water 4 green bananas, chopped 1 pound pumpkin, cut into 1-inch pieces, or more to taste 2 potatoes, chopped 2 ears corn, cut into 1-inch pieces 4 ounces carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces ½ cup chopped okra 4 scallions, chopped 1 hot chile pepper 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped Directions Step 1 Rinse fish with lemon juice; drain.

Step 2 Bring water to a boil in a large bowl. Add fish; simmer until soft, about 30 minutes.

Strain fish, reserving broth. Let fish cool.

Remove bones, trying to keep large pieces of fish intact.

Step 3 Bring broth to a boil. Add green bananas, pumpkin, potatoes, corn, carrots, okra, scallions, chile pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring back to a boil.

Reduce heat to low; simmer until potatoes are almost tender, about 10 minutes.

Stir in fish. Simmer until flavors combine, about 5 minutes more.

Step 4 Remove soup from heat and let stand before serving, about 30 minutes.

Discard chile pepper.

Cook's Notes Don't slit the chile pepper if you don't like a lot of heat.

Tips When reheating leftovers, do not boil; it will break down the fish.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 203 calories; protein 11.6g; carbohydrates 35g; fat 3.3g; cholesterol 25.5mg; sodium 338mg.l Prep: 35 mins Cook: 1 hr Additional: 30 mins Total: 2 hrs 5 mins Servings: 8

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18

HEALTH Are you looking to get into the health & wellness business?

If I Am Vaccinated and Get COVID-19, What Are My Chances of Dying? The Answer is Surprisingly Hard to Find

BY LISA MILLER THE CONVERSATION

T

Contact:

Stacy Young Board Certified Holistic Health Coach Tel: 917-459-8431

hankfully, most people who get COVID–19 don’t become seriously ill – especially those who are vaccinated. But a small fraction do get hospitalized, and a smaller fraction do die. If you are vaccinated and catch the coronavirus, what are your chances of getting hospitalized or dying?

As an epidemiologist, I have been asked to respond to this question in one form or another throughout the pandemic. This is a very reasonable question to ask, but a challenging one to answer.

To calculate the risk of hospitalization or death after getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 you need to know the total number of infections. The problem is that nobody knows exactly how many people have been infected by the coronavirus.

So, while it is very hard to estimate the true risk of dying if you are vaccinated

and come down with COVID-19, there are some ways to better understand the risks.

Counting infections The first thing to consider when thinking about risk is that the data has to be fresh.

Each new variant has its own characteristics that change the risk it poses to those it infects. Omicron came on quickly and

seems to be leaving quickly, so there has been little time for researchers or health officials to collect and publish data that can be used to estimate the risk of hospitalization or death.

If you have enough good data, it would be possible to calculate the risk of hospitalization or death. You would need to count the number of people who were continued on page 19

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HEALTH

19

Vaccinated/ continued from page 18 hospitalized or died and divide that number by the total number of infections. It’s also important to take into account time delays between infection, hospitalization and death. Doing this calculation would give you the true [infection] hospitalization or fatality rate. The trouble is health officials don’t know with certainty how many people have been infected.

The omicron variant is incredibly infectious, but the risk of it causing significant illness is much lower compared to previous strains. It’s great that omicron is less severe, but that may lead to fewer people seeking tests if they are infected.

Further complicating things is the widespread availability of at-home test kits. Recent data from New York City suggests that 55% of the population had ordered these and that about a quarter of individuals who tested positive during the omicron surge used a home test.

Many people who use home tests report their results, but many do not.

Finally, some people who do get symptoms simply may not get tested because they can’t readily access testing resources, or they don’t see a benefit in doing so.

When you combine all these factors, the result is that the official, reported count of coronavirus cases in the U.S. is far lower than the actual number.

Estimating cases Since the beginning of the pandemic, epidemiologists have been working on ways to estimate the true number of infections. There are a few ways to do this.

Researchers have previously used antibody tests results from large populations to estimate the prevalence of the virus.

This type of testing takes time to organize, and as of late February 2022, it doesn’t appear that anyone has done this for omicron.

Another way to estimate cases is to rely on mathematical models. Researchers have used these models to make estimates of total case numbers and also for infection fatality rates. But the models don’t distinguish between estimated infections of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

Research has shown time and again that vaccination greatly reduces one’s risk of

serious illness or death. This means that calculating the risk of death is only really useful if you can distinguish by vaccination status, and existing models don’t enable this.

What’s known and what to do?

Without a good estimate of total cases by vaccination status, the best data available is known cases, hospitalizations and deaths. While this limited information doesn’t allow researchers to calculate the absolute risk an individual faces, it is possible to compare the risk between vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that hospitalization rates are 16 times higher in unvaccinated adults compared to fully vaccinated ones, and rates of death are 14 times higher.

What is there to take away from all this?

Most importantly, vaccination greatly

reduces the risk of hospitalization and death by many times.

But perhaps a second lesson is that the risks of hospitalization or death are much more complicated to understand and study than you might have thought – and the same goes for deciding how to react to those risks.

I look at the numbers and feel confident in the ability of my COVID-19 vaccination and booster to protect me from severe disease. I also choose to wear a high-quality mask when I’m indoors with lots of people to lessen my own risk even further and to protect those who may be unable to get vaccinated.

There have been many lessons learned from this pandemic, and there are many things researchers and the public still need to do better. It turns out that studying and talking about risk is one of them.l

Protect yourself, New York.

Get vaccinated.

Stay up to date with a booster.

Wear your mask.

NYC VACCINE FOR ALL:

SAFE, FREE, EASY

To learn more, visit nyc.gov/vaccine昀nder or call 877-VAX-4NYC 877-VAX-4NYC..

Eric Adams Mayor Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc Commissioner

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20

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

Partnering Up Can Help You Grow as an Individual – Here’s the Psychology of a Romantic Relationship that Expands the Self

BY GARY W. LEWANDOWSKI JR.

I

t’s common to want to become a better version of yourself. Much like the desires to eat, drink and avoid harm, human beings also experience a fundamental need to learn, grow and improve – what psychologists call self-expansion.

Consider your favorite activities.

Things like reading a book, spending time in nature, volunteering with a new organization, taking a class, traveling, trying a new restaurant, exercising or watching a documentary all broaden the self. Those experiences add new knowledge, skills, perspectives and identities.

When who you are as a person expands, you enhance your competence and capabilities and increase your ability to meet new challenges and accomplish new goals.

Of course, you can achieve self-expansion on your own by trying new and interesting activities (like playing Wordle), learning new things (like advancing through a language app) or working on a skill (like practicing meditation). Research confirms that these

kinds of activities help individuals expand themselves, which encourages them to put forth more effort on subsequent challenging tasks.

Interestingly, romantic relationships can also be a key source of growth for people. As a relationship scientist for over 20 years, I’ve studied the effects all kinds of romantic relationships can have on the self. Today’s modern couples hold high expectations for a partner’s role in one’s own self-development.

Growing in your relationship Falling in love feels good, and spending

time with a romantic partner is enjoyable, but love’s benefits run even deeper.

People tend to value partners who help them become a better version of themselves.

One way to optimize self-growth in your relationship is by sharing in your partner’s unique interests and skills.

When “me” becomes “we,” partners blend their self-concepts and include the other in the self. That merging encourages partners to take on each other’s characteristics, quirks, interests and abilities to some extent. Romantic partners inevitably have different life experi-

ences, knowledge bases, perspectives and skills. Each area is an opportunity for growth.

For example, if your partner has a better sense of humor than you do, over time, yours will likely improve. If they have an eye for interior design, your ability to put together a room will evolve. A partner’s differing views on climate change, politics or religion will grant you new perspectives and a deeper understanding of those topics. Your relationship helps you become a better person.

This isn’t to say that individuals should try to completely merge, running the risk of losing themselves. Rather, each person can maintain their own identity while augmenting it with desirable elements from their partner.

Relationship consequences of more or less The science makes it abundantly clear that couples with more self-expansion are better relationships. Specifically, people who report more self-expansion in their relationship also report more pascontinued on page 17

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21

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

already strong. Relationships are complicated, so you should see your score for what it is: one small piece of the puzzle about what makes your relationship work.

File a Coronavirus Lawsuit/ continued from page 1 sionate love, relationship satisfaction and commitment. It’s also associated with more physical affection, greater sexual desire, less conflict and couples being happier with their sex life.

Because self-expansion is so critical, when expanding relationships end, participants describe feeling like they have lost a part of themselves. Importantly, when less-expanding relationships break up, individuals experience positive emotions and growth.

When a relationship provides insufficient expansion, it can feel like it’s stuck in a rut. That stagnant malaise has consequences. Research finds that married couples who at one point indicated more boredom in their current relationship also reported less marital satisfaction nine years later. Insufficient relationship selfexpansion also encourages people to have more of a wandering eye and pay more attention to alternative partners, increases susceptibility to cheating on one’s partner, lowers sexual desire and comes with a greater likelihood of breakup.

How does your relationship measure up?

Maybe you’re now wondering how your own relationship is doing on this front.

To provide some insight, I created the Sustainable Marriage Quiz. On a scale from 1 to 7, with 1 being “very little” and

7 being “very much,” answer these questions: 1. How much does being with your partner result in you having new experiences?

2. When you are with your partner, do you feel a greater awareness of things because of them?

3. How much does your partner increase your ability to accomplish new things?

4. How much does your partner help to expand your sense of the kind of person you are?

5. How much do you see your partner as a way to expand your own capabilities?

6. How much do your partner’s strengths

as a person (skills, abilities, etc.) compensate for some of your own weaknesses as a person?

7. How much do you feel that you have a larger perspective on things because of your partner?

8. How much has being with your partner resulted in your learning new things?

0. How much has knowing your partner made you a better person?

10. How much does your partner increase your knowledge?

Before adding up your score, know that these categories are generalizations.

They suggest where your relationship may need attention, but also where it’s

60 and above – Highly Expansive. Your relationship provides lots of new experiences and helps you reach new goals. As a result, you likely have a more fulfilling and sustainable relationship.

45 to 60 – Moderately Expanding. Your relationship has produced some new experiences and additions to your selfconcept, but you have some room for improvement.

Below 45 — Low Expansion. Currently your relationship isn’t creating many opportunities to increase your knowledge or enhance you. Consequently you likely aren’t improving yourself as much as you could. Consider making an effort to seek out more new and interesting experiences with your partner. You may even rethink if this is the right partner for you.

What makes a relationship great? While there are many factors to consider, one area deserves more attention: how much it helps you grow. A relationship that fosters self-expansion will make you want to be a better person, help you increase your knowledge, build your skills, enhance your capabilities and broaden your perspectives. l Gary W. Lewandowski Jr. is a Professor of Psychology, Monmouth University

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18

CONVERSATIONS

Why Is New York’s Bail Reform So Controversial? were laid bare in 2015 following the death of 22-year-old Kalief Browder. As a Bronx teenager, Browder was arrested for allegedly stealing a backpack.

Because his family couldn’t raise $3,000 to post bail, he was detained for three years at Rikers Island, the bulk of the time in solitary confinement.

Browder was released in 2013, after the charges were dropped and went on to speak openly about the toll the time behind bars took on his mental health. He killed himself two years later.

BY JOSEFA VELASQUEZ & RACHEL HOLLIDAY SMITH, THE CITY

T

he subway shoving death of Michelle Go and murder of Christina Yuna Lee in Chinatown last weekend have once again drawn out critics of New York’s bail reform, which prohibit cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies.

Those critics include Mayor Eric Adams. In a recent trip to Albany, he pushed to amend the bail laws, including giving judges more discretion over who to lock up pre-trial. State legislative leaders responded with a hard no.

Such political wrangling is hardly new.

Ever since bail reform was passed by the state legislature in 2019, the law has been hotly debated. Weeks after those changes took effect in 2020, a spate of hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers spurred a backlash. In response, lawmakers passed tweaks to the law in April 2020.

The recent shooting deaths of two NYPD officers, as well as the death of a teenage fast food worker in Upper Manhattan, have also intensified the controversy over the new bail laws.

While some blamed Lee’s murder on

the bail reforms since her accused killer had eight prior arrests in New York, including a recent arrest in January, the Daily News found that the reforms did not contribute to the suspect walking free.

The specifics of the law are hard to parse, especially amid emotionallycharged debate from all parts of the political spectrum. Combined with the fact that much of the rollout of the law happened during the pandemic’s early days, you’re forgiven if the issue has flown over your head. Let’s break it down:

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What is bail?

Cash bail is the amount of money that accused defendants “must post to be released from custody until their trial,” according to the American Bar Association. It’s designed to ensure that defendants show up for pretrial hearings — and the trial itself.

Defendants are supposed to get their bail money returned to them after a trial concludes. In New York City, a 3% fee is deducted if you are convicted of a crime.

If you are found innocent, you get a full refund.

The fees can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and in some cases into the millions. The amount is typically set at someone’s very first court appearance, an arraignment, “when that person is legally innocent,” said Jared Trujillo, policy counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union and a former public defender.

How do defendants pay bail?

There are typically two ways to pay. One is cash bail, where a defendant pays the court the full amount set by a judge.

The other is through commercial bonds, where a defendant (or their families and friends) pay a for-profit bail bond company a non-refundable percentage of the bail amount. The company then pays the court the full bail amount.

Cash bail is used in many countries, but the United States and the Phillipines are the only places where the for-profit, commercial bail bond industry is legal.

If the bail amount can’t be paid either way, then the person has to wait in jail until their trial ends.

“Bail is ransom that the government is allowed to charge,” Trujillo said. “This is money that someone has to pay in order to secure their freedom.”

So why did New York change its bail laws?

To understand the present discussion, we need to learn a bit about the past. Prior to 2019, the last time New York overhauled its bail laws was in 1971.

Critics of New York’s old bail laws argued that they penalized poverty, creating a two tiered criminal justice system in which the wealthy can post bail while they await trial while the poor who have to sit in jail.

The inequities of the cash bail system

So how do New York’s current bail laws work?

Cash bail is prohibited for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies under the 2019 changes. In these types of cases, judges are required to release people with the least restrictive conditions imposed to ensure they return for their court dates.

For violent felonies and some misdemeanors, such as purposefully trying to prevent someone from breathing, judges have discretion over how to use an arsenal of tools available to make sure a defendant returns to court — such as setting bail, electronic monitoring, surrendering passports or treatment programs.

Judges can also hold people in detention pending their trial in very serious cases.

When judges set bail, they have to take into consideration someone’s ability to pay and offer various options, including where either no money is required upfront or only a percentage, known as a “partially secured bond.”

Why is bail reform such a hot issue?

In November 2021, Republicans in and around New York City handed Democrats some bruising losses. Their unexpected gains were widely credited to a platform that emphasized public safety and assailed bail reform.

Following his election, Adams — a former cop — surprised fellow Democrats when he said one of his top priorities would be rolling back some of the reforms and allowing judges to consider a defendant’s “dangerousness.”

Facing an increase in crime when he entered office in January — including the shooting death of two NYPD officers, an officer shot by a teenager who was released from custody after posting bail and a stray bullet hitting an 11-month-old — Adams doubled down on his calls to change the laws.

State legislative leaders and key state lawmakers — all Democrats — have remained firm in their opposition to change how bail is done. l This story was published by on February 21, 2022 by THE CITY. Editor’s note: This is an excerpt. To read the full story, including if New York’s bail reform laws had an impact and have led to increased crime, visit www.cawnyc.com

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