Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 149

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ISSUE 149 VOLUME 22

April 21, 2022

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES!

The Lieutenant Governor’s Race Is the HOTTEST RACE in NY! Meet the Top Two Candidates!

Diana Reyna Photo Diana Reyna Campaign

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin was arrested and charged with bribery and related offenses. He has since resigned as Lieutenant Governor, leaving the race between Diana Reyna and Ana María Archila. Read their stories on pages 19 and 21!

AG James Reminds Landlords to Not Raise Rents ....7

Ana María Archila Photo Ana María Archila Campaign

Former Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Sylvia Ash Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison ....8

ICE New Guidelines for Immigrants with Mental Health Disorders

BY LINDA NWOKE EXCLUSIVE TO CAW

Knowledge is Power when you use it!

Get the BEST Consultation!

Ask the Lawyer:

DOT Commissioner Rodríguez Calls for Better Drivers for NYC....page 4

Call 855-768-8845

T

he effect of a pandemic such as COVID 19 often goes beyond medical and physiological changes. It leaves individuals and society with consequences beyond physical illness—resulting in mental and social repercussions. Psychological reactions such as increased anxiety, heightened continued on page 10

Buying a House? What You Need ....9

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

Calls for Bob Marley to be Honored as National Hero ....13 Editorial credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com

Who Wears the Pants in a Relationship Matters ....17

Sexual Abuse: Warning Signs for Young Children ....5

Protect Those You Love with a Will ....14

Hon Una Clarke Appointed to BBP Reynoso’s Maternal Health Taskforce ....3

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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 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

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Developing Countries Also Victims of Ukraine War

BY SIR RONALD SANDERS

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n the words of UN SecretaryGeneral, Antonio Guterres, the war on Ukraine by Russia “is fast becoming a matter of life and death for vulnerable people around the world”.

His comment is strongly supported by a UN report, published on April 13 and entitled, “Global Impact of war in Ukraine on food, energy and finance systems”. Its findings make grim reading and should fully dispel all the opinions that Russian aggression against Ukraine is a “white peoples’ war” or that it does not affect regions as distant as the Caribbean.

Here's what the report finds in summary: The war in Ukraine, is producing alarming cascading effects to a world economy already battered by COVID-19 and climate change, with particularly dramatic impacts on developing countries. Commodity prices are reaching record highs across the board. On April 8, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated that food prices are 34% higher than this time last year and have never been this high since the FAO started recording them. Crude oil prices have increased by around 60%, and gas and fertilizer prices have more than doubled.

The world’s poorest countries tend to be net food importers and export and import measures on trade can further exacerbate rising food prices. At current price levels, FAO estimates increases in undernourishment and food insecurity.

Therefore, as the UN Secretary-General has aptly put it, “the war has launched a silent assault on the developing world”.

The Caribbean is not excluded from this assault. And while Belize and Guyana might be excluded, to some extent, from CARICOM countries that will experience food shortages and high prices for food imports, no other CARICOM country will be spared the undernourishment and food insecurity that will ensue. But Guyana and Belize will suffer from wheat shortages because Russia and Ukraine provide around 30 per cent of the world’s wheat and barley, one fifth of its maize, and over half of its sunflower oil. Also, together, Russia and Ukraine account for a fifth of the world’s fertilizers which are now either not being produced or are not being exported.

Consequently, the agriculture sector in all CARICOM countries, including Guyana and Belize will decline.

Ordinarily, countries in the Caribbean would look to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) to assist with the grave financial challenges that will, undoubtedly, flow from this deeply troubling situation – the full impact of which has not yet been felt and is, perhaps, clouding popular perception of the clear dangers that are now on the region’s doorstep.

However, to help countries in the Caribbean cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WB and the

IMF extended special mechanisms for lending to low and middle-income countries. With the exception of Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis, the two institutions also provided credit to highincome countries such as Barbados and the Bahamas. In August 2021, the IMF also expanded the allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) equivalent to $650 billion to boost liquidity and reserves around the world. About $275 billion of that $650 billion went to emerging and developing countries, and low-income countries received about $21 billion.

The credit that was extended, while immediately helpful to the recipient countries that were confronted with a decline in income from COVID’s effects on their economies and increased expenditure, particularly in health and support for the poor and unemployed, means that the majority of CARICOM countries are now facing the limits of their borrowing capacity. It will be difficult – if not impossible – for them to find the increased resources needed to pay for skyrocketing oil prices and food.

Further, the IMF has gone as far as it can go in expanding allocation of SDR’s to increase liquidity and reserves.

The IMF and WB, whose Spring Meetings with world governments are now in session, have announced no new avenues of assistance. Thus, they are telling Caribbean countries that “the increased financing needs of the Caribbean region will lead to even higher debt levels, which for some were in excess of 100% of GDP prior to the COVID-19 pandemic”. They have also indicated that diversification of small economies is very difficult. This means that reliance on industries such as tourism and one-crop agriculture – both of which are vulnerable to extreme Climate Change events will continue.

So far, however, the IMF and WB have

not produced any new means to increase liquidity and fiscal space, so that governments in developing countries can invest in the poorest and most vulnerable of their populations. The countries that control the WB and IMF – the United States, Germany, France, China and Canada among them – should step up with the means for small economies to provide for their people. After all, even in this crisis, as with Climate Change and the COVID-19 pandemic, small countries were the least contributors but the biggest victims – as they are of an unjust international financial system.

Against this background, it should also be clear that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a humanitarian disaster for that country but a dagger at the heart of developing countries, especially small economies. Up to 1.7 billion people – over one-fifth of humanity – are being cast into poverty, destitution and hunger on a scale not seen in decades.

Apart from the fact that Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine is a violation of international law that has weakened the system and left small nations bereft of the only meaningful protection that they had, the economic consequences are also now battering small countries disproportionately.

This is why Russia must be sent the clear message by all the world that nothing justifies its violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and the disregard to the rules of war that have killed thousands of civilians including children, and put the world’s economies in jeopardy.

The war must end, and global peace and security restored by all.

Small economies must raise their hands for this cause. l Sir Ronald Sanders is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States and the OrganiZation of American States.

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3

THOUGHTS

BBP Reynoso Appoints Members to Maternal Health Taskforce Photo courtesy: Brooklyn Borough President Office

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ROOKLYN, NY: Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso on April 11, announced the appointment of the initial members to his Maternal Health Taskforce. Co-chaired

by NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Women’s Health Service Officer Dr. Wendy Wilcox and NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Director of Midwifery Services Helena Grant, additional members of the taskforce include former NYC Councilmember Hon. Una S. T. Clarke, Assistant Commissioner of Brooklyn Neighborhood Health at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Dr. Zahirah McNatt, Executive Director at Brooklyn Perinatal Network, Inc. Ngozi Moses, and mental health advocate Christina Sparrock.

In its first phase, Borough President Reynoso’s taskforce will help lay the foundation for strategizing around his maternal health agenda and expanding the taskforce. The Maternal Health Taskforce fulfills Borough President Reynoso’s commitment to reduce disparities of maternal mortality and morbidity found between birthing people of color and their white counterparts. Currently, Black birthing people in New York City are 9.4 times more likely to die due to childbirth complications than their white counterparts.

“The initial members of our Maternal Health Taskforce bring decades of expertise in maternal healthcare, wraparound services, community engagement, advocacy, and other spaces that are needed to holistically approach the crisis of maternal mortality disparities seen in our communities,” said Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso. “I look forward to working with these experts and literally saving lives.”

In his new position, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso intends to allocate a majority of his FY23 Capital Funding to the three Brooklyn public hospitals to upgrade birthing facilities at each,

including but not limited to utilizing stateof-the-art technology to improve patient safety, expanding birthing options, providing new opportunities for patient education, improving continuity of care, and prioritizing privacy and infection control.

Borough President Reynoso also looks forward to supporting outpatient services, such as social services and community care models, that address underlying issues facing people of color, increasing health insurance access for all birthing people, and more.

“Every maternal death is a tragedy, not only for the grieving family and community left behind, but for society at large,” said Dr. Wilcox. “Maternal mortality is a key indicator of the health of a society and is a reflection of the functioning of the overall health system in the United States. I commend Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso for shining a spotlight on this tragic issue and I am honored to be chosen as the co-chair of this taskforce. I look forward to working with the Borough President and other stakeholders in Brooklyn to solve this complex and difficult problem.

“I am humbled to accept the appointment as Co-Chair of Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s maternal mortality and morbidity taskforce. I am excited to work with someone so on fire for the holistic health of families,” said Grant. “I look forward to helping co-create new energy that gets activated around what we can do to empower birthing people, families, and communities to live their best lives through increased education, care, understanding, and resources. The Brooklyn Borough President shares my long-held desire to ensure that birth is safe, satisfying, and sacred. Collaborative midwifery care has the power to reconcile the abysmal statistics in Brooklyn as it has in other industrialized nations because it utilizes a relationship-based, shared-deci-

sion-making philosophy that addresses issues of reproductive justice, birth equity, health disparities, maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, and primary care. I have absolutely no doubt that in this season, under his leadership, shifts will happen that change the trajectory of the birthing experiences and outcomes in the borough of Brooklyn, making it the sought-out place to receive care and give birth in our city.”

“I was pleased to serve as the co-chair of the Brooklyn Borough President’s Transition Team and look forward to serving on this taskforce. In my tenure in City Council, I have advocated on many health issues, including maternal health and will continue to advocate for funding and collaboration between providers, hospitals and community-based organizations to improve maternal health outcomes,” said Hon. Clarke.

“By working across disciplines and professions, we can confront inequities in maternal health, dismantle harmful systems and structures, and build anew,” said Dr. McNatt. “Families all across this city deserve every opportunity to survive and thrive.”

“I am extremely excited to support our new Brooklyn Borough President in his focus on comprehensive maternal health care; particularly, to tackle the crisis of Black and Brown women experiencing severe morbidity and mortality,” said Moses.

“I am honored to be appointed by Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso to his maternal health taskforce. Health care is a human right, and race should never be a factor in how health care is delivered.

Especially during the perinatal period, it’s imperative that women of color receive culturally humble, trauma-informed, and person-centered care as this will strengthen and maintain their emotional wellness,” said Sparrock. l

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4

DIASPORA CONCERNS

DOT Commissioner Rodríguez Calls for Better Drivers for NYC

BY MANUEL HOLGUIN

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ew drivers, including immigrants, take to the road every day in New York City. To ensure that these drivers could be adequately licensed, informed of traffic laws, pass a driving test, and operate a registered, inspected, and insured vehicles, the Driver's License Access and Privacy Act, also known as the 'Green Light law,' was enacted and took effect on December 2019. It allowed New Yorkers aged 16 and older to apply for a standard, noncommercial driver's license or learner permit irrespective of their citizenship or lawful status in the United States.

During a recent press conference, NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner (DOT) Ydanis Rodríguez spoke about how immigrant drivers have an immense responsibility to keep themselves and others safe on the road, including pedestrians and cyclists. "We at DOT will ensure that fairness and equity reach all communities," said Commissioner Rodriguez. "The local press can educate drivers not to drive over 25 miles per hour, to respect crosswalks and intersections, not to drive drunk, and for people to use bicycles

Rodríguez Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

more for exercise and add seven years of life to their existence," he added.

Rodríguez, an immigrant, became New York's first Latino Transportation Commissioner. He was the prime sponsor of the "Our City Our Vote" bill passed and introduced as a law on January 8th, 2022, which permits lawfully present residents and those with work authorizations to vote in municipal elections such as races for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president, and city council, as well as a ballot referendum.

Vision Zero A report released by NYPD shows that this year alone, up until February, there has been a total of 7,261 motor vehicle collisions citywide. From this amount, 2,504 include injury or fatal collision

outcomes. It's reports like these why Rodríguez will continue to spotlight the DOT's Vision Zero. The initiative put together by former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2014 outlined numerous proposals to reduce death and serious injury on the streets.

Of course, there is no silver bullet that will end traffic fatalities. Since Vision Zero became the official City policy in 2014, agencies have transformed themselves, prioritizing safety and undertaking tremendous numbers of new projects to reflect the urgency of this need.

Projects have already shown encouraging results – for example, the City's speed camera program has reduced speeding by over 60 percent in locations near schools where cameras operate. NYPD Traffic policing emphasizes enforcing the moving violations most likely to kill or seriously injure. For-hire vehicle, MTA bus, and City fleet drivers receive state-ofthe-art training and safety education.

Vision Zero is interwoven into the operations of all agencies on the Vision Zero Task Force – an example of the culture change they try to bring to all New Yorkers. It's important to remember that Vision Zero is not only comprised of a task force, the NYPD, and its many agen-

cies. It also includes the drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, all of us.

It is vital for everyone – immigrant or not – to adhere to the traffic laws to keep the streets of New York City safe.

Critical Control Last month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams led a coalition of administration officials, legislators, and advocates urging Albany to give New York City control of critical tools to tackle the spike in traffic violence that has played out across the City throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. "No family should have to suffer the loss of a loved one to traffic violence, but that's what can happen when a speeding car drives through a red light," said Mayor Adams. Under current law, speed cameras in the automated enforcement program can only be active Monday to Friday, 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and the program will expire this year. "My job is to prevent New Yorkers from dying in our streets, and I need Albany to give me the tools to do my job. I want New Yorkers to hold me accountable for my decisions and results, which means I need home rule control over our speed cameras and red-light cameras. This is about keeping New Yorkers safe."l

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FAMILY MATTERS

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April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month: Warning Signs for Young Children

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very 9 minutes, government authorities respond to another report of child sexual abuse.

Child sexual abuse can include sexual contact with a child, but it may also include other actions, like exposing oneself, sharing obscene images, or taking inappropriate photos or videos of a child.

These crimes can have a serious impact on the life and development of a child, and often continue to impact them later in life. Learning the warning signs of child sexual abuse is often the first step to protecting a child who is in danger.

Signs that a child may have been sexually abused It’s not always easy to spot sexual abuse because perpetrators often take steps to hide their actions. Some signs are easier to spot than others. For instance, some warning signs might be noticed by a caretaker or parent, and are often red flags that the child needs medical attention. Listen to your instincts. If you notice something that isn’t right or someone in a child’s life is making you uncomfortable—even if you can’t put your finger on why—it’s important to trust your gut, continue to watch for

Emotional signs: •Change in eating habits •Change in mood or personality, such as increased aggression •Decrease in confidence or self-image •Excessive worry or fearfulness •Increase in unexplained health problems such as stomach aches and headaches •Loss or decrease in interest in school, activities, and friends •Nightmares or fear of being alone at night •Self-harming behaviors signs of abuse, and talk to the child who may be experiencing abuse in age-appropriate ways.

Warning signs Physical signs: •Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) •Signs of trauma to the genital area, such as unexplained bleeding, bruising, or blood on the sheets, underwear, or other clothing Behavioral signs: •Excessive talk about or knowledge of sexual topics •Keeping secrets Not talking as much as

usual •Not wanting to be left alone with certain people or being afraid to be away from primary caregivers, especially if this is a new behavior •Regressive behaviors or resuming behaviors they had grown out of, such as thumbsucking or bedwetting •Overly compliant behavior •Sexual behavior that is inappropriate for the child’s age •Spending an unusual amount of time alone •Trying to avoid removing clothing to change or bathe

This list may seem overwhelming to keep in mind when looking out for a child in your life, and some signs seem to contradict each other, such as being overly compliant or oppositional, or showing regressive behaviors or advanced sexual behaviors. The most important thing to keep in mind when looking for signs of child sexual abuse is to keep an eye on sudden changes in behavior. Trust your gut and don’t ignore your feelings if something seems off. If a child tells you that someone makes them uncomfortable, even if they can’t tell you anything specific, listen. continued on page 6

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FAMILY MATTERS

6

Warning Signs/

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continued from page 5 Signs that an adult may be hurting a child Keeping children safe can be challenging because many perpetrators who sexually abuse children are in positions of trust— 93 percent of child sexual assault victims know the perpetrator.2 This includes family members, members of faith communities, coaches, teachers, and other helping professionals.

Be cautious of an adult who spend time with children and exhibits the following behaviors: •Does not respect boundaries or listen when someone tells them “no” •Engages in touching that a child or child’s parents/guardians have indicated is unwanted •Tries to be a child’s friend rather than filling an adult role in the child’s life •Does not seem to have age-appropriate relationships •Talks with children about their personal problems or relationships •Spends time alone with children outside of their role in the child’s life or makes up excuses to be alone with the child •Expresses unusual interest in child’s sexual development, such as commenting on sexual characteristics or sexualizing normal behaviors •Gives a child gifts without occasion or reason •Spends a lot of time with your child or another child you know

•Restricts a child’s access to other adults Taking action isn’t easy, but it’s important It’s not always easy to identify child sexual abuse—and it can be even more challenging to step in if you suspect something isn’t right. Keeping a child away from the perpetrator may mean major changes in your own life, even if you are outside of the child’s family.

“As it started to settle in, I replayed it in my mind. How could this happen? I had so much shame, so much guilt that I had brought this man into my house to molest my child. What kind of mother am I?” said Lisa, a mother of a survivor and member of the RAINN Speakers Bureau. “The guilt and the shame were deafening—but at the same time I knew I had to do what was necessary for my

daughter.”

If something seems off, pay attention to that feeling and look into it further. If a child tells you that someone makes them uncomfortable, even if they can’t tell you anything specific, listen. Talk to someone who can help you figure out if this is something that must be reported, such as a staff member from your local sexual assault service provider. In the meantime, if you are the parent or have influence over the child’s schedule, avoid putting the child in a potentially unsafe situation.

Remember, you are not alone. If you suspect a child in your life may be experiencing sexual abuse, you can talk to someone who is trained to help. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org.l

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

7

AG James Reminds Landlords to Not Raise Rents If They Accept Pandemic Rental Assistance

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EW YORK: New York Attorney General Letitia James on April 18 issued an advisory to landlords reminding them that they cannot raise rents if they accepted or plan to accept funding from the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which was recently expanded in the state’s budget. Landlords who accept payments from the program are prohibited from raising rents for a year after they receive the funds. Attorney General James is ready to take action to protect tenants if landlords fail to abide by ERAP’s rules.

“The rules are clear: Landlords who accept ERAP payments cannot raise rents for 12 months,” said Attorney General James. “This program was created to support struggling tenants and keep New Yorkers in their homes during the pandemic. Landlords who accepted payments from the state yet are still raising rents are double dipping and breaking the law. I urge any tenant who accepted ERAP payments and received a new lease with rent increases from their landlord to contact my office.”

ERAP is a rent relief program that provides support to low- and moderateincome tenants across the state who

could not pay rent during the pandemic.

Since the state started accepting applications in June 2021, it has provided hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers with financial support to pay off back rent. It pays up to 12 months of rental arrears accrued on or after March 13, 2020 as well as up to three months of additional rental assistance going forward. In addition, the program pays up to 12 months of electric or gas utility arrears that accrued on or after March 13, 2020. The program was recently infused with an additional $800 million.

Landlords who accept ERAP payments agreed: •Not to increase the monthly rental amount for one year from receipt of the ERAP payment; •To waive any late fees due on any rental arrears covered by the ERAP payment; and •Not to evict ERAP recipients when their lease expires. This does not apply if the apartment is in a building of four or fewer units and the property owner or owner’s immediate family members intend to immediately occupy the unit for use as a primary residence.

AG James. Editorial credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has received reports from tenants that landlords who accepted ERAP payments are sending them renewal leases with rent increases amid the 12-month grace period. While these leases may be generated automatically by management, landlords are cautioned not to seek rent increases in renewal or new leases that commence during the 12-month period.

“The Emergency Rental Assistance program has been an effective tool in ensuring tenants can remain housed during a global health crisis,” said Meghan Zickl, legal tenant advocate, PUSH Buffalo. “Continuing to fund ERAP is a decision we are relieved the New York state legislature made a priority in the

most recent state budget. However, we remain concerned about landlords who will take advantage of this mutually beneficial program and seek to undermine the tenant protections in it by raising the rent during the first year, apply excessive late fees, or even trying to move their tenants out, all while accepting ERAP. We have seen this happen in the prior round of ERAP funding, and we must remain aware of those patterns and address them if our goal is to stabilize our communities.”

Attorney General James offers the following tips and guidance to tenants who have received funding from ERAP: •Return leases that have a rent increase.

•Monitor your rent statements. Check your rent statements to make sure that your rent hasn’t been increased or that your landlord is charging you late fees for any of the months covered by the ERAP payment.

•Do not ignore court papers. Even if your landlord received an ERAP payment or you submitted an ERAP application, do not ignore court papers.

•Speak with an attorney. If your landlord is taking you to court or you have questions about your lease, you should speak with an attorney.l

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IN THE NEWS

8

Former Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Sentenced to 15 Months In Prison for Obstructing Federal Investigation of Misconduct at Municipal Credit Union

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amian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced on April 20, 2022, that SYLVIA ASH, a former justice of the New York State Supreme Court and chair of the Board of Directors of Municipal Credit Union (“MCU”), was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 15 months in prison for conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, and making a false statement to a federal agent. These charges arose from a scheme to impede the federal criminal investigation into fraud and corruption at MCU, a nonprofit, multibillion-dollar financial institution, including misconduct committed

by Kam Wong, the former chief executive officer (“CEO”), and Joseph Guagliardo, a former New York City Police Department Officer and member of MCU’s Supervisory Committee.

Wong and Guagliardo were charged separately and previously pled guilty to embezzlement from MCU. ASH was convicted in December 2021 after a twoweek jury trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who imposed today’s sentence.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:

“While serving as a sitting state judge, Sylvia Ash took repeated steps, over multiple months, to seek to obstruct the federal criminal investigation into misconduct at MCU that took place during Ash’s tenure as chair of its Board of Directors. Ash agreed to do so with the now imprisoned former CEO of the credit union, who provided her with a steady stream of benefits from MCU, including after she was directed to resign from MCU’s board. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who attempt to thwart a federal investigation face serious consequences for that corrosive conduct.”

In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Kaplan said ASH’s “crimes struck at the heart of the criminal justice system.”

ASH’s Obstruction of Justice In January 2018, after Wong, MCU’s then-CEO, had been approached by federal law enforcement agents investigating apparent financial misconduct by Wong, in an attempt to protect Wong, ASH agreed to and did sign a false and misleading memorandum purporting to explain and justify millions of dollars

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Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

Wong had received from MCU. Wong subsequently provided that false and misleading memorandum to federal agents in an attempt to demonstrate that the millions of dollars had purportedly been orally approved for him to receive by ASH in June 2015, when she was chair of the Board. However, in truth, neither ASH nor the Board had approved the payment of those funds.

On March 1, 2018, shortly after Wong was placed on administrative leave by MCU, ASH was interviewed about the memorandum she signed for Wong.

During that interview, ASH admitted that the memorandum was not accurate, but attempted to justify the money that Wong received by stating that MCU’s then-current general counsel had told her that Wong’s employment contract gave him the option of receiving such money. That statement was false.

On March 13, 2018, ASH was served with a federal grand jury subpoena (the “First Subpoena”), which required the production of documents related to various matters, including Wong’s compensation, and any communications with Wong through the date of the First Subpoena. On April 6, 2018, during a telephonic interview with a federal agent, ASH falsely stated that she did not have any materials responsive to the First Subpoena.

On June 8, 2018—after Wong was charged with embezzlement from MCU and the Government executed a judicially-authorized search of the residence of Guagliardo—ASH was interviewed by telephone for a second time about the First Subpoena. During that interview, ASH again falsely stated that she did not have any materials responsive to the First Subpoena.

On June 18, 2018, ASH was served with a second federal grand jury subpoena (the “Second Subpoena”), which required the production of, among other things, all correspondence with Wong and Guagliardo; all documents regarding any criminal investigation, internal investigation, or audit related to Wong; and all documents regarding items of value ASH received from MCU, Wong, or Guagliardo. Shortly afterward, ASH went to an Apple store and wiped an iPhone X that Wong had provided her in January 2018. In addition, ASH deleted emails from her Gmail account, includ-

ing all of her emails with Guagliardo, none of which she produced in response to either of the two federal grand jury subpoenas directed to her. ASH also later wiped two MCU-issued iPads she had received.

On July 6, 2018, on ASH’s behalf, her then-counsel produced materials to the Government in response to the Second Subpoena. This production was materially incomplete, and did not contain text messages, emails, and other documents ASH possessed or had under her custody or control that were responsive to the Second Subpoena.

On July 9, 2018, ASH attended a voluntary interview with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. During this interview, while accompanied by her then-counsel, ASH made multiple false statements, including repeating false statements regarding her purported conversations with MCU’s former general counsel about Wong’s receipt of cash payments and falsely claiming that she and her aunt took a trip to Las Vegas paid for by MCU, including airfare, lodging, and entertainment expenses, after she resigned because all of her travel arrangements were paid for

by MCU before she resigned, when in truth all of the expenses were paid for after she resigned.

On or about October 11, 2019, ASH was arrested, and her cellphone was seized. After obtaining a judicially authorized search warrant, ASH’s phone was searched, which revealed, among other things, numerous text messages, including with Wong and Guagliardo, that were concealed in response to the First and Second Subpoenas.

In addition to her prison term, ASH, 64, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to a $80,000 fine, and two years of supervised release, including a special condition of twenty hours of community service per week while on supervised release.

The court reserved the decision on restitution to MCU. On June 4, 2019, Wong was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment for embezzlement from MCU and was ordered to forfeit $9,890,375 and to pay restitution in the same amount to MCU. On July 23, 2020, Guagliardo was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment for embezzlement from MCU and was ordered to forfeit $425,514 and to pay $468,189 in restitution to MCU. l

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AMERICAN DREAM

9

Buying a House? What You Need

B

uying a house is a long, complicated process with lots of paperwork and steps. Whether you’re buying for the first time or you’ve done it half a dozen times, the process can get overwhelming. But there are plenty of available resources to enjoy so check all the boxes, ask the right questions and end up with a home you love and can afford.

U.S. News and World Report released a Guide to Buying a Home, which walks homebuyers through what they need to know when beginning the process. Start with people. You’ll need: A real estate agent: Especially for firsttime homebuyers, a real estate agent is critical to making homebuying more pleasant and less stressful. Your agent has a wealth of knowledge about questions you should ask, the timeline, what to look for as you’re looking for houses and more. He or she also will be your negotiator with the seller and handle all the paperwork. You are hiring this person, so look for recommendations from people you trust and don’t be afraid to interview a few agents to find someone with whom you trust.

A lender: You can start with your own bank or talk to your real estate agent about good lenders in your area. Find a lender early, even before finding a house;

many sellers won’t entertain an offer if it doesn’t include pre-approval from the buyer’s lender. To get that, you’ll need several documents and a credit check, all of which can take time.

In the way of paperwork, you’ll need bank statements for all of your accounts, including retirement accounts, for all the people whose names will be on the loan.

You’ll also need income tax returns and pay stubs, as well as documentation for any other income or debts you have.

Lenders want to make sure you have the means to make your payments.

Finally, you need to know what you want. Start with your budget; figure out

how much you can afford to pay each month, including insurance, property taxes and mortgage insurance and determine how much you can pay up front for a down payment. From there, consider your needs and wants in a house: number of bedrooms and bathrooms, whether you want a garage or a big yard or kitchen, what neighborhood or school district you’d like to live in, the commute to work, and so on.

If you're currently on the market for a home, you may want to contact one of our mortgage professionals for more information.We will be happy to meet with you and share our guidance. Schedule an appointment today. Call 888-670-6791. l

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

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IMMIGRATION

10 underprivileged housing conditions increase the spread of COVID. Yet, such a housing scenario remains a norm for many asylum seekers and refugees. Conversely, many immigrants find themselves in predominantly faceto-face occupations instead of remote, thereby exposing them to the virus.

Besides that, they must work in complex and unsafe work environments with hazardous conditions that sometimes foster COVID 19 transmission.

ICE New Guidelines/ continued from page 1 stress level, outbursts, disruptive behavior, and stigma, to mention a few, can often go undiagnosed or disassociated with the effect of the pandemic.

Most people recall that everyone was forced to isolate themselves at the pandemic's peak to control the spread of COVID. Research shows that the act of self-isolation and quarantine harm people's mental health. While the short-term impact is somewhat evident and assessed, the jury is out on the longerterm effect of COVID 19 on mental health. Experts have tried to explain that humans are naturally social beings. Any disruption in their natural way of existence comes with a price.

In a report by The Lancet Medical Journal, the loss of freedom, separation from loved ones, uncertainty, and boredom sometimes deteriorate an individual's mental health status. Interestingly other works reveal that different age groups display both short and long-term effects in their social behavior due to isolation.

Effect of COVID-19 on Children and Teens Generally, children and parents respond to stress in different ways. Children can experience social isolation, abusive environment, anxiety, and distress differently, with both short‐ and long‐term effects on their mental health. Some of the expect-

ed changes associated with the pandemic and observed in children's behavior include – increased annoying behavior, crying, worrying, sadness, short attention span, difficulties concentrating, changes in eating habits, unexplained headaches, and bodily pains.

Effect of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities and Elders Being more prone to COVID, the mandated physical distancing due to the COVID‐19 outbreak at home among family members placed the elderly and disabled persons at mental health risk.

Causing them anxiety, distress, and induced trauma which can damage a family system.

For the elderly and disabled people living in nursing homes, COVID‐19 can increase their depression, stress, and anxiety, especially among older adults already dealing with mental health issues.

Often, they display behavioral changes

like irritation, emotional outbursts, shouting, and changes in eating and sleeping habits.

For the general adult population, the fear, challenges, and isolation caused by COVID-19 left individuals, families, and communities with effects on their mental health due to the disruption in their routine and relationships.

Effect of COVID-19 on Immigrants A lot of data establishes that clusters of the population with socio-economic disadvantages are more predisposed toward poor health conditions and often suffer from chronic diseases, increasing the risk of comorbidity of these diseases with COVID 19. Immigrants usually fit within such circumstances and are likely to live in sub-standard lodgings, overcrowded homes, and poor housing conditions.

Thus, increasing the likelihood of infection because many cohabit as extended families. A combination of poor health conditions, absence of insurance, and

Immigrants and Mental Disorders The World Health Organization (WHO) records that in 2019, there were over 250 million international migrants. They include refugees, asylum seekers, and irregular migrants who often need protection and support. Due to their exposure to various stressful situations before and during their migration journey and after reaching their destination, they often struggle with mental health issues that go unnoticed.

During the phase of settlement and integration, noncitizens and immigrants deal with immigration-related stressors.

These include social marginalization, language barriers, cultural shock, isolation, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and increased suicidal thoughts and risk among immigrants.

Some of these disorders can be higher among migrants exposed to adversity continued on page 11

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IMMIGRATION ICE New Guidelines/ continued from page 10 and refugees, reports WHO. For immigrants that have preexisting psychological disorders or psychosocial problems, any additional stress can cause them to go overboard. In reality, immigrants will benefit from extra care in mental and psychosocial support. Enabling them to integrate into their new society, as migrating from one country to another, evokes stress on individuals as they struggle to adjust to life in a foreign culture and context. Without this recognition and support, life may likely become unbearable for noncitizens with mental disorders. In addition to these challenges, the pandemic may increase cases and symptoms of poor mental health among immigrants leading to dire consequences on their immigration status such as detention, removal, or deportation.

ICE and Immigrants with Mental Health In April 2022, the U.S agency overseeing Immigration and Customs activities, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), shared their new policies to protect further detained noncitizens and other immigrants with severe mental conditions or disorders. The new directive is covered in the agency's 'ICE Directive 11063.2 Identification, Recordkeeping, Safe Release and Communication, and Safe Release

ICE Acting Director Johnson Photo: ice.gov/leadership

Planning for Detained Individuals with Serious Mental Disorders or Conditions,'. Under the new directive, emphasis is made on how to support the vulnerable population through identification, treatment, and monitoring.

According to Tae D Johnson, ICE Acting Director, the agency continues its efforts to implement directives and policies that support a humane, fair, and orderly immigration system.

He explained that the directive reinforces the agency's existing guidelines regarding treating detainees with a severe mental disorder or condition. The order covers the detainee's removal, transfer, or safe release, as permitted by law.

Other areas covered by the new guidelines are summarized as follows: •Ensuring that ICE provides the information relevant to an individual's severe mental disorder or condition to enable an immigration judge to determine the individual's competence in representing themselves in removal proceedings •Introducing additional safeguards before the transfer, release, or removal of individuals with severe mental conditions such as disorders or conditions and/or who are incompetent to represent themselves in removal proceedings •ICE must properly document all critical information regarding the detained noncitizens with a severe mental disorder or condition in specific systems •Consistent with the agency's national detention standards, everyone in their custody should receive a comprehensive examination by a qualified health care professional within 14 days of arrival at a detention facility •And individuals identified as having severe mental disorders or conditions must be provided appropriate treatment and monitoring The new directive from ICE is undoubtedly a welcome development among noncitizens, especially the more vulnerable individuals and populations with mental health challenges and the aftermath of a lingering pandemic such as COVID-19.l

11 Help for TPS Holders

I

n December 2019, Trump's administration decided to slightly modify an immigration condition which they described as a 'mere clarification 'that turned into a nightmarish reality for certain immigrants. The clarification sought to eliminate protections for several thousand immigrants covered by the Temporary Protection Status (TPS) beneficiaries.

Under the leadership of USCIS Director Ur Jaddou, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has agreed to restore a path to permanent residency for over tens of thousands of beneficiaries under TPS. Based on the agreement, the victims of the policy will now be able to have their removal order cases reopened and dismissed. Also, eligible beneficiaries will be able to apply for a 'status adjustment' that will enable them to become permanent residents.

Overall, the danger of future deportation no longer exists even if TPS protections are revoked. It is a significant concern for many who have lived in the country for a long time and established a new life in various communities.

Legal Assistance To find out if you qualify for this new change in TPS, call 855-768-8845.l

You may be eligible for COVID-19 Treatment People who have tested positive for COVID-19 may be able to receive outpatient treatment to help symptoms and avoid hospitalization. Treatment works best if you begin it soon after you start feeling symptoms, so get tested right away.

Monoclonal antibody treatment is a one-time IV or injection to help fight COVID-19 while your immune system produces its own antibodies.

Oral antiviral pills are taken for five days and helps stop the virus and keeps it from replicating, which reduces the amount of virus in your body.

There are currently two authorized pills - paxlovid and molunpiravir.

Both monoclonal antibody and oral antiviral treatments can reduce your risk of becoming sick from COVID-19 and avoid hospitalization.

COVID-19 treatments are not a substitute for vaccination. COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots remain the best protection against getting severely sick due to COVID-19.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have tested positive, talk to your doctor, or call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).

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JOBS & RECESSION

12

Being a Paralegal Is a Great Career Choice! 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 Monday, May 9

Join us via Zoom at 6pm

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nHEALTH

nENTERTAINMENT

nRELATIONSHIPS

nRECIPES

nSPORTS

nHOROSCOPE

MP Lisa Hanna Calls for Bob Marley to be Honored as National Hero

BY STAFF WRITER JAMAICANS.COM

Kitchen Corner My Grandmother's Simple Cabbage Salad

L

isa Hanna, who represents St. Ann South East in the Jamaican Parliament, has reiterated calls to name legendary reggae musician Bob Marley as the nation’s eighth National Hero. Hanna made a motion in the House of Representatives that repeated her article in the Jamaica Observer newspaper, which is now part of the parliamentary records because of her motion.

Hanna described Bob Marley in her motion as an international “icon of peace, freedom, and love” and noted that his messages have inspired movements for social change that have shaped and continue to influence Black consciousness and given people the courage to oppose systems of injustice that target marginalized and dispossessed populations both around the world and in Jamaica.

Marley’s activism for the poor prompted moves toward more progressive social policies affecting working-class Blacks in the 1970s, Hanna added, and he did so by promoting the acceptance of Jamaica’s reggae music and the island’s indigenous culture and practices of Rastafarianism.

Hanna went on to say that Bob Marley’s life and work contributed greatly to the recognition of Jamaica on the world stage, he also inspired the people of Jamaica to appreciate their own culture more fully. She noted that Marley’s song “One Love” has been translated into nearly every language in the world and that it was named “Song of the Millennium;” the 1977 Marley album

W Editorial credit: Lucian Milasan / Shutterstock.com

“Exodus” was named the Best Album of the 20th Century.

Among his many honors, Marley received the “United Nations Peace Medal of the Third World” on behalf of some 500 Africans in 1978. She also noted his contributions to the world’s culture as a “poet, nationalist, humanist, and Africanist” and that statues of Marley have been erected in many places around the globe by people who already view him as a hero.

Hanna noted that the 1970 National Honors and Awards Order of National Hero Regulations includes the National Hero motto, “He built a city which as foundation” and that this clearly applies to Marley’s life and works. Therefore, her motion stated, “Be it resolved that this honorable House in Jamaica’s 60th

year of independence, call on the Governor-General to take the necessary steps for the national honor of Order of National Hero to be conferred on the international crusader for peace, love and equality, a global superstar, the honorable Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley.”

Jamaica has conferred the honor of National Hero to seven individuals since 2015: Marcus Garvey, Alexander Bustamante, Norman Manley, Paul Bogle, George William Gordon, Nanny of the Maroons, and Sam Sharpe.

Renewed interest in designating Marley as a National Hero was prompted by the action of Barbados in 2021, which declared superstar singer and entrepreneur Rihanna as the nation’s 11th National Hero.l

e all remember some foods from our childhoods more fondly than others. And while it's been at least 40 years since she served it to me, my grandmother's cabbage salad is one I love so much that I continue to make it exactly the same way she did.

Grandma Gonnie always called her take on coleslaw "cabbage salad," and I believe that's because the dish is, well, cabbage.

Start with a big chunk of plain green cabbage.Though Gonnie used a box grater, and you can as well, I use the food processor to give the cabbage a finelychopped texture.

Place the cabbage in a large bowl and add your favorite mayonnaise. She was team Hellman's all the way, and I am, too. I add 1 tbsp. of mayonnaise at a time until the cabbage is lightly coated but not drowning. Then I add a pinch of salt.

Now, we come to the secret ingredient: whole celery seeds. Compared to celery salt, celery seeds taste fresher, have no salt, and bring both a fun bit of texture and a pop of celery flavor to the salad.

Start with 1 tbsp. and add more if you like. Mix thoroughly and taste. Adjust the mayo, salt, and celery seed.

That's it. l

By David McCann, AllRecipes.com

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14

GENERATIONS

Do You Have a Family to Protect? Protect Those You Love with a Will

BY BECONRAD

T

here are many important documents in our lives, but few carry the life changing importance that a will can provide. While every responsible adult should have a will in place, all too few of those men and women have taken the time to prepare this vital document. A will provides much more than peace of mind – a properly executed will provides valuable protections for those you love, and it is important for anyone with a family to protect to start planning their will without delay.

Why Do I Need a Will?

Many otherwise responsible adults ignore the obvious importance of a will out of a kind of willful blindness. Many people may feel that preparing a will is bad luck, as if the simple act of preparing a will can invoke some sort of disaster.

Still others may simply be reluctant to create a will because doing so requires them to come face to face with their own mortality. While this is understandable, it is no excuse for not protecting your family with this vital legal document. If you doubt the importance of having a will in

place just think about the disruption that would result if you were to die today. Not only would your surviving family members be financially devastated, but they may never have the solace of knowing that your final wishes were carried out.

Without a will in place your family members may never know your final wishes, and this uncertainty is bound to cause stress for those you leave behind.

When you have a will in place you can spell out exactly what your final wishes are and give your surviving family members the satisfaction of knowing that they have carried out those final wishes. From how you want your funeral arrangements handled to which family members inherit those priceless family heirlooms you can let your family know exactly what you had in mind.

Do You Have Minor Children? If So, You Absolutely Must Have a Will While having a will in place is important no matter what your circumstances, if you have minor children who rely on you it is absolutely imperative that you start working on your will right now. No matter how busy you are it is important to make time to protect your family from the

unexpected. No matter how young or healthy you are it is vital to plan for the unexpected — young and healthy parents can and do die every day, and having a will in place is the best way to protect your children and make sure their physical, emotional and financial needs will be met even if you are no longer around.

Many parents feel that a will is unnecessary because the surviving parent would simply take over all the parenting responsibilities, but what happens if you and your spouse were both to die? If you doubt this possibility just think about the thousands of people who die in car crashes across the country. If you and your spouse were to die in one of these road mishaps, who would raise your children, who would take care of them, and who would make sure they received the emotional support they need in their time of need?

When you have a will in place you can provide the answers to these important questions, spelling out in clear detail exactly what your desires are and who will protect your children if you are no longer able to care for them.

In fact, naming a proper guardian for your minor children is perhaps the most

important benefit of having a will in place. Protecting your financial assets is one thing, but protecting your children and their vital interests is something else entirely. If you do not have a will in place you cannot know that your children are truly protected, and you cannot know for sure that the guardian you had in mind will in fact raise your children to adulthood. So, no more excuses – if you have children you simply must have a will in place. l

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HEALTH

15

Should You Wear a Mask on a Plane, Bus or Train When There’s No Mandate?

BY DANIEL MERINO THE CONVERSATION

O

n April 18, 2022, a judge in Florida struck down the federal mandate requiring passengers on mass transit to wear masks. While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends that passengers mask up while on planes, trains or buses, it is no longer a requirement.

When asked whether people should wear masks on planes, President Joe Biden replied: “That’s up to them.”

The Conversation has been covering the science of masks since the beginning of the pandemic. Masking may no longer be required on mass transit, but you can always choose to still wear a mask. For those worried about being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 or developing COVID-19, below are highlights from four articles exploring the benefits of wearing a mask and how to get the most protection from wearing one.

1. Masks can protect the person wearing them A lot of the reason for wearing a mask is to protect others. But early on in the pan-

demic, Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, explained how masks can protect the wearer, too.

“When you wear a mask – even a cloth mask – you typically are exposed to a lower dose of the coronavirus than if you didn’t,” Gandhi writes. “Both recent experiments in animal models using coronavirus and nearly a hundred years of viral research show that lower viral doses usually mean less severe disease.”

Though it’s only one of many factors, “the amount of virus that you’re exposed to – called the viral inoculum, or dose – has a lot to do with how sick you get. If the exposure dose is very high, the

immune response can become overwhelmed,” explains Gandhi. “On the other hand, if the initial dose of the virus is small, the immune system is able to contain the virus.”

The better the mask, the lower the exposure dose. And in the many months since Gandhi wrote that story, a lot of work has been done to determine which kinds of masks are most effective.

2. What makes for a good mask?

The first thing to consider when wearing a mask is whether it’s a good one.

Christian L'Orange is a professor of mechanical engineering and has been testing different masks for the state of

Colorado since the pandemic started. He explains that there are two things that make for a protective mask. “First, there’s the ability of the material to capture particles. The second factor is the fraction of inhaled or exhaled air leaking out from around the mask – essentially, how well a mask fits.”

When it comes to these two attributes, L'Orange says, “the N95 and KN95 masks are the best option.” This performance has a lot to do with the materials they are made from. “These fibers are very tightly packed together so the gaps a particle must navigate through are very small. This results in a high probability that particles will end up touching and sticking to a fiber as they pass through a mask. These polypropylene materials also often have a static charge that can help attract and catch particles.”

Fit is the second important factor for a mask. As L'Orange writes, “a mask can offer protection only if it doesn’t leak.”

N95s and KN95s are stiff and seal much better than other masks.

If you don’t have access to an N95 or KN95, surgical masks should be your second choice. They are made of densely continued on page 16

Do You Know NYC’s COVID-19 Alert Level? Current Level: The COVID Alert Levels show the current level of COVID-19 risk and what to do to protect yourself.

Low

Alert Level

What This Means

Very High

• Avoid nonessential activities and crowded places.

• Keep physical distance in all public settings.

High Medium Low

• Stay home if sick or were exposed to COVID-19.

• Wear a mask in all public indoor settings.

• Get tested for COVID-19.

• Avoid crowded indoor and outdoor settings.

• Get vaccinated and boosted.

• Consider wearing a mask in public indoor settings.

Know our current level and learn more at nyc.gov/covidalert.

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HEALTH Wear a Mask/ continued from page 17 woven material, but they don’t seal perfectly. Cloth masks should be your last choice because of their generally loose weave and bad fit. But there are ways to improve the performance of surgical and cloth masks.

3. How to make a mask fit well “No matter how good a mask’s material is, it won’t work well if it doesn’t fit well,” writes Scott Schiffres, a mechanical engineer at Binghamton University.

There are two ways to improve the fit and performance of surgical and cloth masks. The first, explains Schiffres, is simply wearing two masks. “Doublemasking is wearing a cotton mask over a medical-procedure mask.” This can greatly improve the fit and add a little bit more filtration. The second approach is to knot and tuck a surgical mask so that it fits better.

As Schiffres explains in his article, “Knotting and tucking entails tying a knot in the elastic loops that go over your ears, close to where they attach to the mask. Then, you tuck the extra mask fabric into the gap that is often present where the ear loops attach to the mask, and flatten that part as much as possible.

Both of these tricks make a better fit and decrease the mask-wearers’ exposure to potentially infectious aerosols by 95% as compared with wearing no mask at all.

That’s a 15% improvement over the 80% efficiency found when using a single sur-

16 gical mask.

4. Breakthrough cases and new variants The final consideration when deciding to wear a mask isn’t about you. Doing so can protect others.

Sara Sawyer, Arturo BarbachanoGuerrero and Cody Warren are virologists and biologists at the University of Colorado Boulder. In a recent story, they write that omicron "is often able to evade existing immunity long enough to start an infection, cause symptoms and transmit onward to the next person.” “This explains why reinfections and vaccine breakthrough infections seem to be more common with omicron.”

Case numbers are low for now, and therefore so is the risk of catching or transmitting the coronavirus. But it is not zero; some places have higher risk than others, and new variants can come on quickly. As the team writes, all new variants that spread widely – so-called variants of concern – are likely to be highly transmissible.

The person next to you on the plane might not be wearing a mask and, as it stands, that is their choice to make. If you want to lower your own chances of catching or spreading the coronavirus, there are still a number of reasons to wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask.l Editor’s note: This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archives.

Hey New Yorkers, did you know your

IDNYC

can expire?

Renew your card online to continue enjoying all the benefits of IDNYC, including discounts on prescriptions, groceries, health and fitness, and much more!

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17

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

Who Wears the Pants in a Relationship Matters – Especially If You’re a Woman

BY LAINA BAY-CHENG HE CONVERSATION

W

hen it comes to power in romantic relationships, men are often cast as dominant and women as deferential. But working against this are caricatures of domineering women with their “hen-pecked husbands” and “whipped boyfriends.”

At the same time, popular culture is replete with representations of striving and self-serving women – from celebrities like Beyoncé to the TV show “Girls” – who engage in relationships with men as social equals on a level playing field.

The idea that during relationship conflicts, women can be just as volatile, combative and aggressive as men – what researchers refer to as “gender symmetry” – is also gaining traction.

But appearances of gender equality can be deceiving.

In my most recent study, I asked 114 young adults about their heterosexual relationship experiences. Unsurprisingly, power was skewed in favor of one partner (versus being equally balanced or shared) in most of their relationships.

What’s more, male and female participants were equally likely to see them-

selves as the ones wearing the proverbial “pants” in a relationship.

But the appearance of symmetry disappeared once we looked at the implications of these power differences. The young men and women may have been equally likely to report imbalances in their relationships and to feel subordinate in their relationships. However, the costs of feeling subordinate were not equal.

Looking below the surface To learn more about young adults’ sexual experiences – not just simply documenting what they did with whom, but trying to understand how they think and feel

about those experiences – I recruited men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 to complete Digital Sexual Life History Calendars (also known as d/SLICE). d/SLICE is a secure website where participants create a timeline of their sexual and relationship experiences. (There’s a face-to-face interview version, too.)

They rate different aspects of the relationships and share details and anecdotes along the way using text, emojis, images and even audio clips.

In the current study, my colleagues and I focused on one portion of the data: how the 114 participants (59 women and 55

men) rated their various heterosexual relationships (395 in all), from one-time hookups to long-term commitments, in terms of stability (how harmonious and even-keeled a relationship was); intimacy (how emotionally close and connected they felt); and the balance of power between them and a partner.

We tested whether the balance of power in a relationship was related to its perceived stability and intimacy. We also explored participants’ descriptions and anecdotes for other clues into the power dynamics in a relationship.

At first glance, gender didn’t seem to matter. Comparable proportions of women and men reported that they had been the dominant or subordinate partner in a relationship. We also found that if people felt like their partners had more power, they tended to think of their relationships as significantly less stable and intimate. On the other hand, if people thought they were in egalitarian relationships – or if they thought they were the ones calling the shots – they viewed their relationship as more stable and intimate.

But when we looked more closely at participants’ experiences, this apparent gender symmetry disappeared. continued on page 18

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18

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS Who Wears the Pants/ continued from page 17 Looking separately at women and men, we found that it was only women who thought the quality of their relationship changed depending on how much power they held. When they felt subordinate to a male partner, they perceived the relationship as less stable and less intimate.

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For men, it didn’t seem to matter whether they had more or less power in a relationship. They felt relationships in which they were dominant were just as stable and intimate as ones in which they were subordinate.

Paying more for having less power When we turned to participants’ openended descriptions of their relationships, we found even more potent evidence of what a difference power can make for young women.

For some young women in our study, power imbalances didn’t just mean a relationship felt less tender or was a little rocky. They were also subject to coercion and abuse. This was true for 12 women who held less power in a relationship (including two who depended on a partner for basic needs like housing) – and even for three who felt like they had more power than their partner.

On the flip side, two men in our study said they had controlling girlfriends, but in neither case did this mean there was physical, sexual or emotional abuse, as it

did for the young women. (One wrote that a high school girlfriend didn’t let him see friends and made him feel “selfloathing,” but summed up the relationship as “three miserable years filled with great sex.”)

Why are the stakes of power imbalances lower for men than women?

Relationships don’t happen in a social vacuum. A man may have less power than his girlfriend or wife, but in the world beyond their relationship, he’s cushioned by a still-intact system of male privilege. Men are less likely to worry about the possibility of being assaulted or abused by a female partner. For men, having less power in a relationship is an exception – and usually a benign one – to the rule.

For young women – especially those who are also racially or socioeconomically marginalized – relationships in which they have less power are just yet another domain (on top of workplaces,

classrooms and public spaces like streets and subways) in which they need to guard against sexism in all its forms.

Endless battling for equality and defending against mistreatment is exhausting.

And for women, it does not make for warm, harmonious relationships.

It’s tempting to look only at surface indicators of gender equality and buy in to the fiction that we’ve somehow “solved” sexism (or any other form of bias and oppression). It allows us to feel like we’re in total control of our lives (which has important psychological dividends) and off the hook for worrying about anyone else’s.

But if we look closely and deeply at women’s lived experiences – relationships with men included – enduring gender inequalities and the toll they take become apparent.l Laina Bay-Cheng is an Associate Professor of Social Work, University at Buffalo

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19

RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Ana María Archila: A Strong Leader and Voice for the People of New York

BY VICTORIA FALK EXCLUSIVE TO CAW

W

ho is Ana María Archila? The Columbian immigrant migrated to New York when she was 17-years old and dedicated most of her adult life to fighting for the rights of underserved New Yorkers. She gained national attention in 2018 when she confronted former Senator Jeff Flake in a Capitol elevator to protest Brett Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court due to unresolved sexual assault allegations against him. However, outside of her bold stance in the elevator, much more remains to be known about Ms. Archila.

During an exclusive interview with Caribbean American Weekly, Archila spoke candidly about her life, views, and why she wants to be the next Lieutenant Governor for New York.

She shared her values, her view of the role of Lieutenant Governor, and how she plans to use her voice to shape the agenda for the betterment of the people when she is elected to the position. Archila is seeking support for her candidacy and wants New Yorkers to know why she should get their vote in the upcoming primary elections held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022.

Archila explained that she has a fondness for New York and its people. "New York is the place that welcomed me. New York is where I have lived and worked for almost 20 years. For the last 20 years, I have been a community organizer, building organizations that allow working-class immigrants, Black and Brown communities, to be respected and taken seriously in our democracy," stated Ana María Archila.

Immigrant Roots As an immigrant herself, who came to New York without knowing English, she can understand the plight of the immigrant community. "I came, and I had to learn English. I understand first-hand what uprooting means and how difficult it is to find our way in a new place. I have spent most of my adult life inside immigrant communities, hearing the stories of workers whose wages were stolen because they are undocumented. I have listened to the students and parents who cannot communicate with their school, and hearing people who go to the hospital never have the opportunity to consent to the treatment they are given because there is no language access. I've also spent a lot of time listening to young people fighting to have the best education

Ana María Archila Photo Ana María Archila Campaign

they can," shared Archila. She recognized that although New York is "the immigrant state," it still holds on to policies that exclude immigrants.

Role As Lieutenant Governor Ana María Archila plans to use her role as Lieutenant Governor for New York to speak up for immigrants' rights and others whose needs usually get swept aside and go unheard: including women, workers, and the LGBTQ+ community. If elected as the next Lieutenant Governor for New York, Ana María Archila will

make history as the first Latina and the first LGBTQ+ statewide official in New York. During the exclusive interview with Caribbean American Weekly, Archila shared that she is running for Lieutenant Governor for New York "...to make sure all New Yorkers can have an affordable home, excellent healthcare, and high-quality education. So that mothers and fathers know that their paychecks will be enough to feed their family and that children have the childcare and more that they need. continued on page 20

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RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR Ana María Archila/ continued from page 19 I'm running to make sure that immigrant, Black, and Brown workers whose labor carried us through the pandemic are met not just with nice words, but with policies that honor their sacrifice."

Dedication and Commitment Archila shared with Caribbean American Weekly her dedication and commitment to helping "regular people" and her strength and conviction in wanting to change the way the Lieutenant Governor position is viewed. She discussed several instances where Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin did not speak up when Governor Kathy Hochul was rolling back progress already made.

"Governor Hochul chose to leave out the Excluded Worker Fund, which provided support to essential workers who didn't have access to other support during the pandemic. There will be a huge expansion to childcare, but she wants to leave out undocumented immigrants."

Archila views it a "disgrace" to sit back and say nothing when you know something wrong is being done. "I hope to model a different way of leading and serving New York. The Lieutenant Governor should be an ally in the executive mansion, making sure the needs of regular people are at the conversation," declared Archila.

She sees herself as having the ability to work cooperatively as a partner with whoever is elected the next Governor of New York and to check that person —

Archila’s interview was done before Benjamin’s arrest. Here is her statement in response to the arrest of Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin on bribery charges:

Editorial credit: Stephanie Kenner / Shutterstock.com

"Our elected officials should be held to the highest ethical standard to preserve the public trust, and Brian Benjamin has violated that compact. Albany has been plagued by corruption for too long, with politicians trading favors for the money of the wealthy and powerful.

This must stop now.”

holding them accountable for their responsibilities to the people.

all the systems of support that are available to the rest of New Yorkers.

Executive Experience and Priorities "I have a lot of executive experience that I bring to the table, which is important because the Lieutenant Governor has to be able to step into the role as Governor if he or she cannot continue their duty," explained Archila, who helped co-found grassroots organizations. "I helped build Make the Road New York, one of the country's leading immigrants' rights organizations, and built the Center for Popular Democracy, where there are affiliates in 33 states and Puerto Rico.

I'm ready to build a New York for the many, not the few, and I humbly ask for your support," declared Archila. She plans to focus on the things she deems priorities to most New Yorkers: •Affordable housing •Affordable and accessible childcare •Good wages •Access to healthcare •Make sure immigrants are included in

Support for Candidacy Ana María Archila has already received significant endorsements, including from the New York Working Families Party, which asked her to step into the role, from community organizations, and several elected officials. Endorsements include Make the Road Action, Tenants PAC, Community Voices Heard Power, the New York Progressive Action Network, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, NYC Comptroller Brad Landor, multiple City Council Members, and more.

Go to www.anaMaríaforny.com if you want to learn more about Archila and support her campaign. Ana María Archila wants New Yorkers to remember to vote her in as the next Lieutenant Governor because, "I will fight for you, and I will use every single day to make sure we are focused on the things New Yorkers really care about." l

Ana María Archila

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21

RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

A Conversation with Diana Reyna Who Is Ready to Serve New York As Its First Latino and Female Lieutenant Governor

BY LINDA NWOKE EXCLUSIVE TO CAW

D

iana Reyna is a New Yorker with over two decades of experience in politics. She served as the immediate past Deputy Brooklyn Borough President for the first four years under now Mayor Eric Adams and, for twelve years, served in the New York City Council representing the 34th District. But now, Ms. Reyna is the running mate for U.S. Representative Thomas Suozzi's Governorship candidacy for the position of the Lieutenant Governor of New York in the 2022 election.

What should New Yorkers expect?

Why is she running for the position?

What qualities set her apart from other competitors, and what qualifies her for this position? These were some of the questions Caribbean American Weekly asked the first Dominican-American woman to be elected into New York's public office.

Proven Leadership It is important to me to see the New York I need for my children and our families.

The opportunity to be able to provide New York with proven leadership. I have the executive and the legislative skills our state requires to be redirected into the forward path. We have out-of-control crime and public safety issues. The Washington Post considers New York state the most corrupt state in the United States, and people deserve better.

Vision for New York & Priorities We have to address public safety because that is precisely what we've repeatedly been hearing. The issue of bail reform needs fixing. We cannot be too proud to say we did something wrong, and we have to try to understand where the fix is necessary. We need to allow judges to look at history when they're reviewing cases before them. Working with law enforcement, judges, district attorneys, and prosecutors isn't one person's job.

This requires all of us, including the pub-

Diana Reyna Photo Diana Reyna Campaign

lic. If the public does not invest in the process, we cannot address public safety.

It allows me to be able to address affordability in our state. Over 300,000 people have left New York just last year alone. And when people go, it's because something's wrong. Since 1957, we have had 45 congressional districts in New

York. Today we have 27 congressional districts. We are losing one more. We're down to 26 congressional districts. We lose federal funding when we lose congressional districts and have a $220 billion state budget.

If we have fewer people, our taxes will continued on page 22

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RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR Diana Reyna/ continued from page 21 continue to go sky high, more sales tax, higher gasoline tax, and electricity bills.

These taxes are drawn, driving New York out of the middle class, and the poor are squeezed into communities. We have to do better about the affordability crisis that we're experiencing in New York.

We're not investing in what would be the wealth gap. Owning something in New York is very important to families and providing for them is critical.

Homeownership opportunity requires an affordability conversation.

Education and NYC's Segregated System Education is in a crisis. We're not talking about education that lost two years because of the pandemic. Before the pandemic, we had 66% of students leaving college and not finishing with debt.

Before that, they already were experiencing a two-year gap in education. Our educational content must align with where our children need to be.

We have to fix our troubled schools and build an educational system that will provide them with career skills. We have to invest in prevention and intervention programs in the schools and advance our curriculum and support. People want to see more parental representation in the Parent Educational Plans (PEPs).

The opportunities to improve schools shift the school's interest, and then we start to see a more integrated school. But you cannot address the racial and ethnic segregation issues if we're not improving our schools. Open enrollment is only going to exacerbate the schools that are doing well. So, what we have to do is raise the standards. We have to ensure that we provide our teachers the adequate training, and we need more state aid coming into our schools.

We also must remember that we have to start inspecting what we expect from our government. Assess the opportunities to have advanced curriculum, dual language, and global education in our educational system. That should be the standard across every school. Leadership in these schools is also critical. It's setting a climate of excellence for every school, not just some schools.

New York's Failing Health Care System Failing Minorities & Plans to Address This Inequity?

If we look at our health indicators, they're in the same communities where we have safety-net hospitals. Those are the publicly funded hospitals that are always underfunded. So that's the first order of business.

It's funding and investing in these hospitals' infrastructure on the Upper East Side. You have a first responding vehicle

mary care. We also need to consider preventative measures, look at the person's medical history, and have coordinated medical care.

Diana Reyna Photo Diana Reyna Campaign

that can reverse a stroke within the first 72 hours of an instance of a stroke. But you don't find it in Bushwick, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where the stroke is the highest indicator in all of the city of New York.

And so, when we think of our health care, let's look at measures and resources. What is maintained in other communities that helps people live longer, and we have to learn from that and then take that model and apply it is where needed most. We have to triage our health care system to function for patients to access dental, vision, and pri-

The Lieutenant Governor's Race I am very confident that the people will vote for a proven leader, executive, and people that know how to govern. And being an activist is not necessarily how you manage. Tom Suozzi [running mate for Governor] and I are experienced leaders and have a very unified approach. We want to engage people, to get them involved and remain involved. And being able to run with someone that understands these issues like me is very important. Tom Suozzi and I are running independently, but together, understanding that people will want leadership that know how to govern.

Thoughts on the Brian Benjamin, Former the Lieutenant Governor Arrested on Campaign Fraud and Resigning, and the Effect on Her Campaign I think it affected Governor Hochul's campaign more than mine. She now has a credibility issue. Her selection was her first order of business in the state of New York. She gave Brian Benjamin authority to oversee the budget negotiations and the power to preside over the Senate and represent her administration. That speaks volumes of her bad judgment, leadership, and integrity. The odds as far as lieutenant governor for me have risen. But I cannot tell you how saddened it makes me, and I feel for Brian Benjamin's family.

Endorsements and Support for Candidacy So, I have received the endorsement of former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer. I have received Councilmember Bob Holden's approval and Tom's. I received IBEW Local Three, Local 25, Local 1049, UAW Local One and Two Brotherhood of Railroad Signalman Local 56. And we're working towards D.C. 37. We're working towards UFT and peers in government.

Ours is a campaign that welcomes everyone's endorsement. If you believe in what we're talking about and want to discuss ideas for moving our state forward, we would like to meet with you. If you have an opportunity that you think will drive economic activity in this state so that it can create jobs, an idea to invest in our schools, we welcome that. We need everyone involved in this campaign.

Follow me on social media @Reyna4NY.l

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