Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 92

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ISSUE 92 VOLUME 18

February 2020

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES!

With Public Charge Rule Now in Effect, Trump Achieves One of the Largest Cuts to Legal Immigration

BY AARON REICHLIN-MELNICK fter months in the courts, the Trump administration declared victory and began enforcing its new “public charge” rule. The rule goes into effect on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, inside the United States and at consular posts across the world.

Under the rule, immigration officials have far greater power to deny visas and green cards to people they believe might use public benefits in the United

A

Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the U.S. ....3

Immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean are nearly twice as likely to be impacted.

Yet research shows that immigrants from those communities thrive and contribute to the United States just as much as immigrants from other locations.

Sedition Charge Dropped against T&T Union Leader....2

continued on page 10

Is It the IRS Calling or Knocking? ... see page 8

Greyhound to Stop Allowing Immigration Checks on Buses n February 14, The Associated Press reported on a leaked a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) memo confirming that private bus carriers could refuse to consent to warrantless searches. Greyhound had previously insisted that even

Knowledge is Power when you use it!

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continued on page 7

Ideas for Parents to Help Kids Maintain a Healthy Weight....19

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

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Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

BY MARY CAMPBELL n February 2017, CNN released an investigative report by Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken entitled, “Sick, Dying and Raped in America’s Nursing Homes.” The report started with this chilling sentence: “You prepare for a

I

phone call your mother has passed. You don’t prepare for a phone call that your mother has been RAPED.” Obviously, these victims are elderly persons in the latter stages of their lives. Some of them use wheelchairs and walkers and are continued on page 6

Jamaican Artist Koffee Set for Coachella Debut ....15

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

CARIBBEAN ROUNDUP CARICOM Development Fund to Be Restructured

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RIDGETOWN, Barbados: So severe are the issues facing the region that its leaders have decided to restructure the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) to enable it to raise additional monies from individuals, companies, institutions, regional countries, and extra-regional countries.CARICOM Chairman, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, said the issue of the CDF and its management was one that had “bedeviled the Community for some time,” noting that it was created as a way to assist disadvantaged countries, sectors, and regions.

“Member states have committed to capitalizing this Fund, but this will never be enough to do what needs to be done, particularly with all of the challenges that the region faces at this point…. I outlined a number of them, and we keep seeing new challenges as we did with the COVID-19. To that extent, therefore, we feel strongly that we need to revisit the structure of the CARICOM Development Fund,” she said on the heels of the 31st Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of

Government, which her country hosted.

Mottley added that the restructuring would be long-term, explaining that the CDF would ultimately drive the development of regional institutions that had been taken over by technological progress, which made them obsolete or incapable of being competitive.

As a result, she said a transition period is needed since a middle-developed country that was affected by a climatic or other events would require an injection of capital to stabilize it. The CARICOM chairman noted that going forward, once the restructuring was done correctly, the Fund would be one of the key pillars of the integration movement, allowing leaders to deal with the disparities that exist as far as size and capacity were concerned, and carrying all nations from the very large to the very smallest ones on the integration journey.

She opined that in any Single Market and Single Economy, there would be winners and losers, pointing out that this decision by heads of government would “make a significant difference” to the region’s development.

PM Mottley

At the end of the two-day summit, several agreements were signed. Dominica signed the Protocol on the Public Procurement and an agreement on the Return or Sharing of Recovered Assets; the British Virgin Islands signed an agreement for the establishment of the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for the Education in Medicine and other Health Professions; and St. Vincent and the Grenadines signed the Protocol on Public Procurement and Declaration of Intent to Provisionally Apply the Protocol on Public Procurement.

CARICOM Heads of Government will meet in St Vincent and the Grenadines for their Regular summit from July 2 to 3, but they have promised to confer before that date by teleconference.l

Magistrate Drops Sedition Case Against T&T Trade Union Leader, But He Could Be Charged Again

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ORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: President of the Public Services Association (PSA) Watson Duke no longer has a sedition charge hanging over his head – at least for now.

The case against him, which stemmed from statements he made in November 2018 about proposed layoffs at three public utility companies, was discontinued by Chief Magistrate Maria BusbyEarle Caddle on the basis of a High Court ruling that parts of the Sedition Act, under which he was charged, were unconstitutional.

The development came a week after Duke’s attorneys had applied for the dismissal, based on the January 13 ruling by Justice Frank Seepersad which the State

Watson

has appealed.

“At this time, [January 27], there is an order of the High Court that these sections are unconstitutional. At this stage there is nothing on which for him to be tried,” she said when Duke reappeared before her at the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court and the prosecution sought to have the matter adjourned until

after the State’s appeal is heard.

A preliminary hearing on a suspension of Justice Seepersad’s ruling is set for February 3.

The Director of Public Prosecutions can file fresh charges against Duke – who also has other pending charges for rape, indecent assault and disorderly conduct – if Seepersad’s decision is overturned in the Court of Appeal.

The judge had ruled that the legislation was “vague, uncertain and can lead to arbitrary application”, and was not compatible with a sovereign democratic state as it limited constitutional rights to freedom of thought and expression and freedom of the press. l

Don’t Cancel Deal with ExxonMobil; Just Give Guyana What It Deserves

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lobal Witness, an international organization that has fought against natural resource exploitation, poverty, and corruption since 1993, recently published a report called “Signed Away” which has added more firewood to the heated debate on whether Guyana got a good deal with ExxonMobil for the oilrich Stabroek Block.

To set the record straight, Jonathan Gant, Senior Campaigner for Oil, Gas and Mining at Global Witness took part in an interview on Kaieteur Radio’s program, Guyana’s Oil and You, on February 6,

2020. There, Gant explained that the main intention of the report was to determine whether the Guyana-ExxonMobil deal was any good, in Guyana’s best interest, and whether it was what the country deserved.

In this regard, the Senior Campaigner recalled that the local media would have exposed the fact that the contract was hidden for more than a year, that the US$18M signing bonus was shrouded in secrecy, and that there were concerns about possible corruption.

Gant said that the team at Global Witness

started collecting evidence and upon examination of same, found that Guyana got a deal that was simply exploitative; hence the recommendation for a renegotiation was made. Further to this, Gant noted that Open Oil was contracted to do a fiscal analysis, and the results showed that Guyana did leave US$55B on the table.

Gant said that the model used to compute this is free for anyone “to play with” while noting that it is absolutely credible. l Source: guyaneseonline.net

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3

ELECTIONS 2020

Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States

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ome people will describe him as conservative-liberal. Others will say he is the socialist-minded Brooklyn-born, New Yorker turned Vermont senator with a great sense of humor. Among other circles, he is to them, a man with the right amount of Republican ideologies balanced out with the right measure of Democratic values, a rare combination but of great necessity in the run for America’s highest leadership position. Bernie Sanders is not a newbie in the political arena, with records of over 24 years’ experience as a politician in his resume. Noted for his stance on issues of social-welfare, tax, environmental issues (mainly climate change and veterans and renewable energy), he sponsored several bills and amendments related to these issues as a Senator. Sanders is a great leader, with the rare quality of unbiased, critical thinking, likes to listen as well as debate issues, and has been described by some as a good negotiator. Among his contemporaries, he has a rating of over 80% and is well-loved as a Senator by members of his constituency despite misgivings by critics with opposing views.

Accomplishment as a Mayor He is not just all talk and no action; some of his achievements as the mayor of Burlington for eight years(1981-1989) attest to these virtues. He is acknowledged as one of the first mayors to have a foreign policy and astute money management skills. Sanders grew Burlington’s economy into an enviable entity by offering technical assistance to start-up entrepreneurs and establishing trade associations; raised taxes on business created necessary institutions like the women and youth councils and financed training for women.

Burlington became one of America’s best places to live and do business.

He became recognized as one of the top 20 mayors in 1987 due to his practical ideas on affordable housing and property tax. Especially with the establishment of the first municipal housing land –trust in 1984, this award-winning project is now a model in history for others around the world.

Senatorial Accomplishment Senator Sander’s, more than seven times, has been elected to serve in the House of

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

Pearl Phillip Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Anvaar Sabirov

Senator Bernie Sanders Editorial credit: JStone / Shutterstock.com

Representatives by the state of Vermont.

As a serving member of the House of Representatives, he has worked and proven himself right for the job by delivering results according to his job description. For example, his unequivocal support for bills and amendments that addresses issues of social welfare specifically in the reduction of cost of college, fighting corporate welfare, increasing winter heating funds for the poor.

Sander’s role in supporting energy efficiency and conservation grant program resulted in passing it into law and obtaining over $3 billion grant for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

His service on several committees resulted in the presentation of bills that favor veteran’s affairs, the climate, healthcare, and Children, including issues on the scope of treatment under military care.

His role in the Affordable Care Act enabled over 9 million Americans to have access to free health treatment, provision of scholarships, and loan repayment for health care workers who practice in underserved communities. Notably, his role in the Act resulted in the expansion of the federally qualified community health centers, by obtaining funding of over $12 billion for the program that now serves more than 20 million Americans. As the chairman of a committee that oversees the Senate Veteran’s Affairs, he succeeded in stopping the cut in the Social Security and disabled veterans’ benefits, saving the

lives of millions of Americans. He promoted the signing of legislation that created registries for cancer programs that is operational in all 50 states in America through a bill he proposed in 1992.

National Impact: Link between Personal History, Accomplishments and his run for President of the United States of America Bernie Sanders is a wise, thorough, and effective leader proven by the years of results. His varied experiences in different roles spiced by political losses and gains have molded him into a man of exceptional skills and character. During his youth, he served as an organizer on issues of race, such as the Congress of Racial Equality and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which gave him clarity of the complexity of the American nation. As the man who led in Chicago, the first Act of civil rights sit-in to protest segregated housing and the man who participated in the Martin Luther King CivilRights March, this former professor of political science is more than qualified to lead America at this point. His promise of transformational change, targeted at the majority in the lowest socio-economic class, is a crucial necessity for a deeply polarised country.

America needs a man that will stand by his words, to the American people that he is for the majority, the working people of America and not for a select few, the 1%.

Contributors Jennine Estes Erin Telesford Janet Howard Mary Campbell Tarsha Gibbons Travis Morales Email info@myiqinc.com Telephone 718-771-0988 Website www.cawnyc.com America needs someone who can get the American people to become involved and take an active part in their future by participating in politics without fear of retaliation through self-driven policies, someone who can get things done, by getting all involved America needs a president at this point who is not compromised by funding from gun, oil, drug, or Wall Street. America needs a president who is a true leader, willing to negotiate, and get all to a table to discuss the creation and building of a country that works for everyone. America needs Bernie Sanders for President.

Given all of the above and more, we are proud to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States in the November 2020 elections.l

Read more about Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States at www.cawnyc.com

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4

CIVIL RIGHTS

Innocent Black Student Files Lawsuit Against Police Who Put a Gun to His Head

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hicago, IL: Jaylan Butler, a 20year old man from Chicago, says that he was falsely accused and violently arrested by police who threw him to the ground and put a gun to his head even after learning that he was the wrong guy. He filed a lawsuit against the police officers, alleging false arrest and excessive use of force.

In the incident that occurred last year, Butler, who is a member of the school’s swim team, was traveling with his teammates on a bus when he was asked by his coach to take a picture of a road sign while they were on a rest stop.

As he was walking back to the bus, several patrol cars suddenly surrounded him and at least six police officers came up to him and confronted him with guns drawn.

“Plaintiff Jaylan Butler has always known that he could be targeted by police officers because he is Black. Mr. Butler’s father taught him at a young age how to maximize his chances of surviving an encounter with law enforcement — stop instantly, put your hands up, drop anything you are holding, and drop to your knees,” the lawsuit states.

Butler quickly did that, but he was

What is Black History Month and Why Is It Cselebrated?

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Jaylan Butler

forced to the ground by the officers. An officer even held a gun to his head and threatened to “blow his fu–ing head off” if he moved. Butler complied with all the orders as he was being handcuffed while face down in the ground.

His coaches then noticed the commotion and intervened and explained to the police officers that he was a college athlete. He was able to show his ID to the officers only after the violent arrest. He was released when they realized he was not the person they were looking for.

“They never told Jaylan why he was being arrested, even after they realized

their mistake,” Rachel Murphy, a staff attorney at the ACLU of Illinois, told New York Post. “Instead, it’s clear they based their decision to arrest and harm Jaylan on the fact that he was a young Black man.”

Butler recently filed a lawsuit against the officers from the Hampton Police Department, the East Moline Police Department, and the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office for false arrest, excessive detention, and excessive use of force.l Source: blacknews.com

resident Reagan issued Presidential Proclamation 5443 which proclaimed that “the foremost purpose of Black History Month is to make all Americans aware of this struggle for freedom and equal opportunity.” This proclamation stated further that this month was a time “to celebrate the many achievements of African. Black History Month began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. l Listen to Donald Nesbit, Executive VP Local 372|DC37 VP/ Political Action Chair - Interview About Black History Month on www.laborradio.nyc

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5

FAMILY MATTERS

D.A. Vance Invests $2M to Create Youth Sex Trafficking Intervention Program

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n February 13, 2020, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., announced a new funding opportunity to create a Child and Youth Sex Trafficking Intervention Program in New York City. With a $2 million investment from the D.A.’s Office, the Intervention Program will serve young survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and young people who are at high risk of commercial sexual exploitation. This initiative will provide targeted support through a combination of survivor mentorship, intensive case management, and the provision of emergency and wraparound services. The Intervention Program will consider the perspectives of survivors to inform program design and implementation. The Manhattan D.A.’s Office is providing this grant through its Criminal Justice Investment Initiative (“CJII”), which D.A. Vance created using millions seized in investigations against major banks. A full list of investments can be at cjii.org.

“We are using funds seized in our investigations against major banks to close the gaps that cause vulnerable young New Yorkers to fall through the cracks and become targets for traffick-

DA Vance

ers,” said District Attorney Vance. “In case after case, we see traffickers target children and teens, particularly those in our child welfare system or those who have run away from home. Through this investment in mentorship, case management, and emergency assistance, we will not only support child survivors of sex trafficking, we will help prevent children from being exploited in the first place.

Together with our partners at ACS and the Mayor’s Office to End Gender-Based Violence, we are working to make sure children are protected from predators that would profit off their youth and vulnerabilities.”

In November 2018, the Manhattan D.A.’s office and ACS convened a sum-

mit with various city and state stakeholders, including government agencies, community-based organizations and foster care agencies, to identify promising practices, opportunities, and gaps in services to enhance the City’s continuum of prevention and intervention services for child sex trafficking victims. One of the primary gaps identified was the need for trauma-informed, mentorship-based program models. The release of today’s RFP is the culmination of this partnership and collaboration.

ACS Commissioner David A. Hansell said: “ACS is committed to doing everything we can to support young survivors of trafficking and continue to work towards helping exploited children and preventing further exploitation. The Manhattan District Attorney’s new Youth Sex Trafficking Intervention Program will help us advance these efforts by connecting some of our most vulnerable young people to critical support and trauma-informed services. We are proud to have been part of the convening that led to the development of this important initiative and look forward to our continued partnership.”

Commissioner Cecile Noel of the

Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence said: “A critical area for coordinating the City’s human trafficking response is to strengthen the important work being done to address youth who are trafficked or at high risk of being trafficked. Our collaboration with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Administration for Children’s Services not only gives vital, additional resources to those who are on the ground everyday working to protect and support our most vulnerable youth it strengthens the odds that these young people will have access to better futures for themselves.”

The D.A.’s Office is seeking proposals to create a trauma-informed intervention program for young people ages 12 to 18 that addresses this vulnerable population’s short-term needs (physical healthcare, crisis counseling, access to food and housing) and long-term needs (educational supports, workforce development, trauma-specific interventions). The overarching goal of the Intervention Program is to create pathways for young people to escape the sex trade.l Read more at www.ciji.com

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HOT TOPIC Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes/continued from page 1 robbed of their memories by diseases of dementia and Alzheimer. They are brought to these facilities by their loved ones under the trust and hope of their family members being comfortable and taken care of. Instead, the opposite happens; the unthinkable, they are raped and sexually assaulted by the very persons paid to take care of them.

According to the CNN report, it’s impossible to know just how many victims are out there. But through an exclusive analysis of state and federal data and interviews with experts, regulators and the families of victims, CNN has found that this little-discussed issue is more widespread than anyone would imagine.

Even more disturbing: In many cases, nursing homes and the government officials who oversee them, are doing little — or nothing — to stop it.

Sometimes pure — and even willful — negligence is at work. In other instances, nursing home employees and administrators are hamstrung in their efforts to protect victims who can’t remember exactly what happened to them or even identify their perpetrators.

In cases reviewed by CNN, victims and their families were failed at every stage.

Nursing homes were slow to investigate and report allegations because of a reluctance to believe the accusations — or a

6 have the right to engage in consensual sexual activity, but this is dependent on both residents having the capacity to consent. A resident’s ability to consent to sexual activity needs to be carefully and adequately assessed through proper legal and ethical processes, as some residents with dementia or other cognitive disorders may not be able to consent.

Facilities must ensure both resident safety and residents’ right to consensual sexual expression.

Residents may exhibit unusual behavior with their abuser, including tense relationships and frequent arguments. They may also exhibit anxiety or excessive fear around their abuser and engage in more aggressive behaviors. If a resident says they have been sexually assaulted or raped.

Believe them!

desire to hide them. Police viewed the claims as unlikely at the outset, dismissing potential victims because of failing memories or jumbled allegations. And because of the high bar set for substantiating abuse, state regulators failed to flag patterns of repeated allegations against a single caregiver.

It’s these systemic failures that make it especially hard for victims to get justice — and even easier for perpetrators to get away with their crimes.

Response Responding to the CNN report, Consumer Voice issued a statement on

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What are signs of sexual abuse?

If a nursing home resident is being sexually abused, there may be physical and psychosocial signs of this abuse.

sexual abuse in nursing homes and issued a joint statement with the National Center on Elder Abuse and the National Organization for Victim Assistance.

They also provided the following information: What Is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse is non-consensual sexual contact by one person upon another. It may happen as the result of deceiving, manipulating, or forcing the resident into sexual contact. Sexual abuse is a form of elder abuse that frequently goes underreported, under-investigated, and unnoticed. In 2016, Ombudsman programs investigated 819 complaints regarding sexual abuse. Sexual abuse can take on many forms and includes: •Unwanted intimate touching of any kind, especially to breasts or genital area; •Rape, oral or anal sex •Forced nudity •Forced observation of masturbation and/or pornography •Taking sexually explicit photographs or audio/video recordings of a resident and distributing them online or in-person.

This includes pictures or recordings of residents that are not fully clothed while they are being cared for (bathing, dressing, etc.).

Women and residents with dementia are more likely to be victims of sexual abuse.

Women comprise nearly two-thirds (65.6%) of the nursing home population.

Residents with dementia are particularly susceptible to sexual abuse because of their impaired memory and communication skills. While women and residents with dementia are more likely to become victims of sexual abuse, all residents are vulnerable to abuse.

The abuser can be anyone who has contact with the resident. Residents may know their abuser, such as a family member, friend, or staff person, or they could be complete strangers. Abusers could include permanent and temporary staff, visitors to the facility, and even other residents. Some residents may have dementia or another mental health issue that impacts their choices and behavior and result in resident-to-resident sexual aggression (RRSA). Dementia-driven RRSA is the most common form of sexual abuse in nursing homes.

It is important to note that residents

Signs of Sexual Abuse Signs of sexual abuse may include: •Bruises around inner thighs, the genital area, or breasts •Unexplained genital infections or sexually transmitted diseases •Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding, pain, or irritation •New difficulty sitting or walking •Torn, stained, or bloodied underclothing Other Signs Sometimes, there may be no clear physical signs of abuse. However, there may be other signs that something is wrong, such as: •Extreme agitation •Withdrawal from social interactions •Panic attacks or emerging post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms •Suicide attempts •Sudden or unexplained changes in behavior including fear or avoidance of a person or place, fear of being left alone or the dark, and increased nightmares, and/or disturbed sleep.

Residents may exhibit unusual behavior with their abuser, including tense relationships and frequent arguments. They may also exhibit anxiety or excessive fear around their abuser and engage in more aggressive behaviors. If a resident says they have been sexually assaulted or raped. Believe them!

Residents have the right to be free from abuse Under federal law, nursing home residents have the right to be free from abuse, including sexual abuse.

Nursing facilities must: •Have written policies and procedures to prohibit, prevent, and investigate abuse; •Train staff on what constitutes abuse and the procedures for reporting incidents or allegations; and •Not hire anyone who has been found guilty of abuse by a court, has had a finding entered into the state nurse aide registry for abuse, or has had a disciplinary action against them for abuse.

Legal Help If a family member or someone you know has suffered abuse or neglect, help is available. Call the Law Office of Figeroux & Associates at 855-768-8845 for a FREE consultation.

Read more at www.willsandestates.nyc

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7

DIASPORA CONCERNS

NYC’s Basement Apartment Crackdown Clashes With Census

BY TRONE DOWD

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ith the 2020 Census stakes high for the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson have awarded $16 million grants to scores of nonprofits to help ensure every New Yorker is counted.

Meanwhile, the city’s Department of Buildings is cracking down on unregistered apartments carved out of basements and other spaces — giving an unknown number of New Yorkers, many of them immigrants, reason to hide from view.

“You don’t know what giving away that kind of information will do,” said Mario, a 43-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant who lives in a basement apartment in Jamaica, Queens. “Now they got your name and the area of where you may live. No. I can’t risk my life, where I lay my head and how I support my family.”

In 2019, the Department of Buildings issued 5,151 violations to property owners for illegal apartment conversions, city records show, compared to 4,665 the year before.

Most of those violations hit buildings in Brooklyn and Queens, and some demand immediate shutdown of the illegal apartment in the face of a $1,000-a-day fine.

The department has issued 209 violations so far this year.

“Lots and lots of people have basement renters,” said Michelle Neugebauer, executive director of Cypress Hills Local Development Corp., a Brooklyn group working with the city in a pilot program that aims to bring some basement apartments up to legal code.

“They have been hit by so many inspectors and enforcers from the Department of Buildings over the years, that they’re very leery to admit that they have a current renter,” she added.

Trump Citizenship Question Echoes Many of those renters are immigrants, already wary of giving information to the government, especially if they’re undocumented.

The Trump administration’s failed push to add a citizenship question to the survey only compounds fears — even though federal law prohibits the government from using census information for any purpose other than counting the population and creating statistics.

Javier, a 30-year-old Mexican immi-

grant living in a basement apartment in Ridgewood, Queens, said he wouldn’t take part in the census.

“They don’t need to know where I am or why I’m here,” he said. “I don’t need any trouble with the government.”

City Census officials acknowledged that DOB enforcement could have an impact on Census turnout. They are planning to address the basement apartment issue directly, though he couldn’t offer any immediate details.

“It is precisely to reach historically undercounted and other hard-to-reach populations, including New Yorkers living in all types of housing arrangements, that NYC Census 2020 has invested $16 million in local organizing efforts,” said Amit Bagga, deputy director of NYC Census 2020.

Renting out a basement without a sprinkler system, ventilation, lighting and at least two means of exit is illegal. These spaces are a liability for landlords and potentially hazardous for the inhabitants who agree to live there — but many say they have no other affordable options.

There are as many as 114,000 New Yorkers living in basement apartments, the Pratt Center for Community Development estimates.

‘Key to NYC’s Future’ Getting every one of them counted is a priority for the city and state. The results of the Census will determine for the next decade how much money New York will get from the federal government to help fund services, as well as the shape and

number of political districts in Washington and Albany.

New York’s Department of City Planning has been on a mission the last four years to canvass every address in the five boroughs. In all, they added 122,000 residential addresses that were not already in the system and over 59,000 address corrections to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“DCP’s demographers know to look for harder to find addresses, such as basement apartments,” said City Planning spokesperson Melissa Grace.

Ian Hull, the U.S. Census Bureau New York deputy regional director, said the online option for the census will be of significant help in getting hidden New Yorkers counted — allowing them to register online even if a sign-in code doesn’t arrive in the mail.

“We then match your address, we then process whatever you entered and link it to the correct internal ID and you can self-respond,” said Hull, adding that the Census Bureau will promote this option at houses of worship, libraries, schools and community centers.

If a household does not respond online, a Census worker will come to their door.

“No New Yorker should worry that answering Census questions honestly could threaten their living situation,” said Andrew Rudansky, a Buildings Department spokesperson. “An accurate Census count is key to New York City’s future.

“We want to be clear: the U.S. Census Bureau is prohibited by law from disclosing any information to any government agency, including DOB, and DOB does not use Census data to inform our enforcement actions.”

Rudansky added that residents who are removed from their basement dwelling are relocated by the American Red Cross, and, if eligible, offered housing by the city.

For Mario in Jamaica, that isn’t enough to bring him out of the shadows.

“Why would I want to be relocated?” he asked. “I have a stable place right now. I get to work from here easily right now. I don’t want to be placed somewhere I have no familiarity with. It just doesn’t work like that.” l

This story was originally published on [February 7, 2020] by THE CITY.”

Greyhound/ continued from page 1 though it didn’t like the immigration checks, it had no choice under federal law but to allow them.

The memo obtained by the AP was dated Jan. 28, addressed to all chief patrol agents and signed by then-Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost just before she retired. It confirms the legal position that Greyhound’s critics have taken: that the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment prevents agents from boarding buses and questioning passengers without a warrant or the consent of the company.

Soon after the memo was leaked, Greyhound announced that it will no longer allow Border Patrol agents on its buses to conduct routine immigration checks without a warrant. Greyhound, the nation’s largest bus company, said in a statement to The Hill that it will notify the Department of Homeland Security that it no longer consents to warrantless searches on its buses and terminal areas that are not open to the public. It will also give drivers and other employees updated training regarding the policy.

"Our primary concern is the safety of our customers and team members, and we are confident these changes will lead to an improved experience for all parties involved," the company said. "We plan to begin the implementation of these changes immediately."

The bus company had been under pressure from civil rights groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) over its policy regarding the Border Patrol sweeps, with critics saying the practice has spiked under President Trump.

“We are pleased to see Greyhound clearly communicate that it does not consent to racial profiling and harassment on its buses,” Andrea Flores, deputy director of policy for the ACLU’s Equality Division, told the AP. “By protecting its customers and employees, Greyhound is sending a message that it prioritizes the communities it serves.”

Greyhound critics maintained they will ensure the company complies with its new policy.

“Today’s announcement from Greyhound confirms what should have been obvious to the company since I contacted them a year ago – it has both the power and the responsibility to stand up for its customers, who suffered for far too long from Greyhound’s indifference to CBP’s suspicion-less bus raids and harassment,” said Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who had pressured the company to block the sweeps. l Source: AP and The Hill

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TAX MATTERS

8

How to Know It’s Really the IRS Calling Or Knocking On Your Door

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any taxpayers have encountered individuals impersonating IRS officials – in person, over the telephone and via email. Don’t get scammed. We want you to understand how and when the IRS contacts taxpayers and help you determine whether a contact you may have received is truly from an IRS employee.

The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.

However, there are special circumstances in which the IRS will call or come to a home or business, such as when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, to secure a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax payment, or to tour a business as part of an audit or during criminal investigations.

Even then, taxpayers will generally first receive several letters (called “notices”) from the IRS in the mail.

Note that the IRS does not: •Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes.

card, the representative will provide you with a dedicated IRS telephone number for verifying the information and confirming their identity.

•Demand that you pay taxes without the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe. You should also be advised of your rights as a taxpayer.

•Threaten to bring in local police, immigration officers or other law-enforcement to have you arrested for not paying. The IRS also cannot revoke your driver’s license, business licenses, or immigration status. Threats like these are common tactics scam artists use to trick victims into buying into their schemes.

If you owe taxes: The IRS instructs taxpayers to make pay-

ments to the “United States Treasury.”

The IRS provides specific guidelines on how you can make a tax payment at irs.gov/payments.

Here is what the IRS will do: If an IRS representative visits you, he or she will always provide two forms of official credentials called a pocket commission and a HSPD-12 card. HSPD-12 is a government-wide standard for secure and reliable forms of identification for federal employees and contractors. You have the right to see these credentials.

And if you would like to verify information on the representative’s HSPD-12

Collection IRS collection employees may call or come to a home or business unannounced to collect a tax debt. They will not demand that you make an immediate payment to a source other than the U.S. Treasury.

The IRS can assign certain cases to private debt collectors but only after giving the taxpayer and his or her representative, if one is appointed, written notice.

Private collection agencies will not ask for payment on a prepaid debit card or gift card. Taxpayers can learn about the IRS payment options on IRS.gov/payments. Payment by check should be payable to the U.S. Treasury and sent directly to the IRS, not the private collection agency.

Audits IRS employees conducting audits may call taxpayers to set up appointments or continued on page 10

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9

MONEY MATTERS

How Bankruptcy Can Help With Foreclosure months. But even then, the bankruptcy will typically postpone the sale by at least two months, or even more if the lender is slow in pursuing the motion to lift the automatic stay.

BY 311BANKRUPTCY.COM

F

or many immigrants, the American Dream is that of either owning a business or a home. Sadly, with recent flat-line mortgage industry resulting in a foreclosure crisis, the American Dream of owning a home has become a nightmare. This nightmare is keeping immigrants from all over the United States awake – from California to Texas to Florida all in-between to right here in New York.

If you are facing foreclosure, bankruptcy might be able to help. In many cases, filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy can delay the foreclosure by several months. Some people may be able to save their home by filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

What Is Foreclosure?

Typically foreclosure begins after a homeowner falls behind on mortgage payments. The lender begins the legal process of selling the home at auction to get payment for the loan. The process involves numerous steps, including notification to the homeowner. Getting paid for the loan won’t happen overnight.

Usually, a lender won’t begin the foreclosure process until you’ve missed several

payments, often three or four. That gives you time to try some alternative measures, such as loan forbearance, a short sale, or a deed in lieu of foreclosure. But if you’ve already tried and failed with these measures, now is an excellent time to consider bankruptcy as a possibility for avoiding or stalling foreclosure. Here are some ways that filing for bankruptcy can help you.

for Relief) that includes a beautiful thing known as the “automatic stay.” The automatic stay directs your creditors to cease their collection activities immediately, no excuses. If your home is scheduled for a foreclosure sale, the sale will be legally postponed while the bankruptcy is pending–typically for three to four months.

However, there are two exceptions to this general rule:

The Automatic Stay: Delaying Foreclosure When you file either a Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the court automatically issues an order (called the Order

The first exception: Motion to lift the stay. If the lender obtains the bankruptcy court’s permission to proceed with the sale (by filing a “motion to lift the stay”), you may not get the full three to four

Second exception: Foreclosure notice already filed. Unfortunately, bankruptcy’s automatic stay won’t stop the clock on the advance notice that most states require before a foreclosure sale can be held (or a motion to lift the stay, can be filed). For example, before selling a home in New York a lender has to give the owner at least three months’ notice. If you receive a three-month notice of default and then file for bankruptcy after two months have passed, the three-month period would elapse after you’d been in bankruptcy for only one month. At that time, the lender could file a motion to lift the stay and ask the court for permission to schedule the foreclosure sale.

To find out if bankruptcy is right for you, please call 855-768-8845 for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.

Remember, you deserve your American Dream.l Read more at www.311bankruptcy.com

Creditors’ Harassments!

Lawsuits! Foreclosures!

Get the legal help you need NOW! Call 718-222-3155!

FREE BANKRUPTCY CONSULTATION Documents Required: Save Your: *Home *Business *Car

*Health *Peace of Mind/Health *Marriage/Relationship

*List of debts *Your most recent tax returns *Correspondence from creditors *Lawsuit documents *Social Security and ID *List of assets

Filing a Chapter 7, 11 or 13 bankruptcy may be your only choice!!!

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IN THE NEWS IRS/continued from page 8 to discuss items with the taxpayers, but not without having first attempted to notify them by mail. After mailing an official notification of an audit, an auditor/tax examiner may call to discuss items pertaining to the audit.

Criminal Investigations IRS criminal investigators may visit a taxpayer’s home or business unannounced while conducting an investigation. However, these are federal law enforcement agents and they will not demand any sort of payment.

Beware of Impersonations Scams take many shapes and forms, such as phone calls, letters and emails. Many IRS impersonators use threats to intimidate and bully people into paying a fabricated tax bill. They may even threaten to arrest or deport their would-be victim if the victim doesn’t comply.

Know Who to Contact •Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report a phone scam. Use their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page. You can also call 800-366-4484.

•Report phone scams to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the “FTC Complaint Assistant” on FTC.gov.

Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.

•Report an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, or an IRS-related component like the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.l Source: irs.gov

10 2016 to a projected 299,131 in fiscal year 2021. This change would be due in large part to the public charge rule and other Trump policies restricting legal immigration.

That means that many Americans will be blocked from bringing over their parents, children, and spouses. This could force people to move abroad if they want to be with their loved ones.

Public Charge Rule/ continued from page 1 States—even small amounts used decades after becoming U.S. citizens.

What is public charge?

People wanting to immigrate to the United States or obtain a green card while already inside the country will now be blocked if it’s deemed they are likely to use 12 months of government benefits in a 36-month period at any point in their future.

These benefits include enrollment in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), certain Medicaid benefits, and government-subsidized housing.

What did the courts decide on the Trump administration’s public charge rule?

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court let the rule go into place everywhere except Illinois (where another challenge was still pending). On Friday, the court allowed the rule to go into effect nationwide while multiple challenges work their way through the lower courts. The court did not give any explanation for their 5-4 decision.

In her dissent, Justice Sotomayor accused the court of “putting a thumb on the scale” in favor of the Trump administration.

What will be the impact of the public charge rule?

Immigration officials are now required to predict the future about whether someone is “likely at any time” to use certain benefits. As a result, the rule operates like a wealth test. It gives “heavily positive”

weight to people who earn above a certain threshold, while those who make below a certain amount have “heavily negative” chances.

The rule also discriminates against people with disabilities and those who don’t speak English. Both get counted as “negative” factors when an official predicts whether someone might use benefits.

The concept of “public charge” isn’t new. Yet Trump administration has expanded its definition.

In the past, a public charge was a person “primarily dependent” on government support. But under the new rules, it’s far easier to receive that label.

Someone can be a public charge even if they are otherwise working and supporting themselves but receive food stamps for 12 months.

How will immigration levels change because of the public charge rule?

The new rule is expected to block hundreds of thousands of immigrants each year from obtaining a visa or a green card.

Analysis from the National Foundation for American Policy predicts that one of the most severe drops will come in the category of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. They predict a 47% drop in that category from 566,706 in fiscal year

Which countries are most impacted by the public charge rule changes?

President Trump’s rule will have its biggest effect on countries he often attacks.

Immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean are nearly twice as likely than immigrants from Europe and Canada to have incomes below the income threshold set by the public charge rule. Yet research shows that immigrants from those communities thrive and contribute to the United States just as much as immigrants from other locations.

What does this mean for the future of immigration to the United States?

Imposing a wealth test brings us back a hundred years, when Congress aimed to keep out “undesirable” immigrants.

Many of those immigrants settled and became part of the great American experiment like everyone else. Most of our own ancestors would be denied entry under the new rules.

Millions of Americans have stories of their ancestors arriving in the United States with only a suitcase and a few dollars. Those same immigrants then built a proud lineage. Under the new public charge rule, that is fast becoming impossible. l

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I’ll Take It! You Found a House

Y

ou’ve found a house you want to make your home.

Whether it’s been weeks or months of looking, this is an exciting step. Before you fall in love with it, make sure you’ve kicked the tires, so to speak.

Turn on water faucets, flush toilets, check fireplaces and stoves, look closely at walls, ceilings and floors for any signs of structural damage.

According to the Guide to Buying a Home, your real estate agent is a great resource; he or she has walked through hundreds of houses and knows what warning signs to look for.

Ask questions of your agent, neighbors if possible, a homeowners association and anyone else who can give you an idea of what the neighborhood is like.

When you’re ready to make an offer, talk with your agent about price. Don’t be afraid to negotiate, but know how much you’re willing to pay and be careful not to overextend

yourself. Get a pre-approval from your lender. The offer document is dozens of pages long (all filled out by your agent, but read each page carefully) and includes information about the home itself, including potential drawbacks like living near an airport or previous issues with the structure.

When your offer is accepted, you’ll put a small amount of money down with the

title company. This starts the escrow period, a set amount of time during which certain steps must be completed. Your agent can help you find an assessor, who examines the house to make sure it’s in good condition and what repairs are needed. You can ask the seller to make those repairs or negotiate a lower price or other trade-off.

States allow only a certain number of

Buying: What You Need

B

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

uying a house is a long, complicated process with lots of paperwork and steps. Whether you’re buy-ing 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 you 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. Start with people. You’ll need: A real estate agent: Especially for first-time 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 some-

one 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 ac-counts, for all the

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. n

Smart homeowners and first-time homebuyers read this paper! days for the assessor to come in and for the buyer and seller to negotiate repairs, so start the process quickly.

Your lender will send an appraiser, who looks at the home itself and also at similar nearby homes that have sold recently to determine the home’s value. You likely will not be able to get a loan for more than the appraised value of the home; if it comes back less than the asking price, the buyer and seller may have to renegotiate the price or the buyer puts more money down. You can also appeal an appraisal if you believe it to be incorrect.

Now that you are ready to makethe commitment, help is just a phone call away. Call us at 888-6706791.We are ready to assist! n

INSIDE: Do You Need An Agent?...............2 Buying a Fixer-.............................3 Types of Mortgages & Home Buying FAQs................................4

REAL ESTATE AGENTS WANTED: APPLY NOW! It's time to make a career choice that you will LOVE. Send your resume to info@equitysmartrealty.com

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2

EQUITY SMART REALTY

Do You Need An Agent? The Answer is Yes!

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 re-evaluate 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 house 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, 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 888-6706791. n

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3

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Buying a Fixer-Upper

I

f you like HGTV, the idea of buying an old home and turning it into your dream home can seem fun, romantic and the perfect way to get what you’re looking for, maybe even breaking into the neighborhood or suburb you never thought you could afford.

While it’s not a bad idea, you should go into such a venture with a clear idea of what a house needs, how much repairs will cost, whether you have the time, skills and tools needed to make those repairs and if this is the kind of investment you want to make. This Old House walked through things people should know.

Take a Hard Look at the Numbers Assess what needs to be done, then add up the costs to renovate the property, including the costs of materials and labor.

Subtract the costs of renovation from the home’s likely value when you’re done, then take off another 10 percent or so to cover unexpected expenses. That number you’re left with is what you should be willing to pay.

Avoid Significant Structural Improvements Major repairs like plumbing and electrical system overhauls, fixing the foundation or extensive roof or wall work are expensive yet rarely raise the value of the house

enough to offset renovation costs because they’re invisible repairs. Look for houses in need of aesthetic improvements — a paint job, new flooring, yardwork, windows, new countertops and so on. These are easier to do, they’re less expensive, and they’re noticeable.

Be Prepared to Get Dirty This doesn’t include plumbing, wiring or work that requires expertise if you don’t have it, but for most people, a fixer-upper is only a good deal if they do much of their own labor. Be realistic about how much time you can devote to home improvement and what you’re able to do.

If you’re prepared to slowly renovate over several years, that may be a better invest-

ment than a house that needs immediate improvement to even be livable.

Know Where Your Money is Coming From You may be eligible for a renovation loan tied to your mortgage. These loans borrow against the house’s value after the work is completed, and interest is tax-deductible.

The FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer renovation loans as well. Another option for DIYers is a home equity line of credit.

If you're currently embarking on buying a fixer-upper, you may want to contact one of our real estate professionals for more information.Schedule an appointment today by calling 888670-6791. n

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

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4

HOME OWNERSHIP

Types of Mortgages & Home Buying FAQs uying a home is a big investment. For most of us, it’s the biggest loan we’ll have in our lives. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau discusses the different types of loans, many of which are available through private lenders and partially guaranteed by different federal programs, thus offering benefits for people who qualify.

Talk with your real estate agent or lender to see which programs you may qualify for.

B

Down Payment Assistance Some local governments and area nonprofits offer down payment assistance programs, usually for first-time or low-income homebuyers. Cities may do it to help employees overcome a high cost of living and get them connected to the town. Some of these are grants; often they’re second loans that are forgiven over time or that you repay when you sell your house.

Conventional Loans Most homebuyers get this type of loan, which is available through standard lenders.

Typically, you put down 20 percent of the price of the home with this type of loan; buyers who put down a smaller amount (3-5 percent is common) often pay mortgage insurance. The government sets a maximum loan amount for these types of loans, which are also known as conforming loans.

Home Buying FAQs Home buying is confusing, with jargon, unexpected expenses and lots of decisions to make, sometimes with what feels like little information.

VA Home Loans The Veterans Affairs Administration has a program to help military veterans, soldiers and their families buy houses. You get these loans through a private lender, and the VA guarantees some percentage of it, which gives you, the borrower, better terms for the loan, often including a smaller down payment or no down payment at all and no mortgage insurance.

FHA Loans The Federal Housing Administration’s program regulates and insures loans from pri-

vate lenders, which let potential buyers pay a 3.5 percent down payment and do not require as high a credit score as conventional loans.

These typically come with a higher interest rate than a conventional loan but is more accessible to a buyer whose credit or cash flow is limited.

USDA Loans The Department of Agriculture offers loans to buyers who want to build or buy in rural areas. These are for low- to moderate-income purchasers; they do not require a down payment, and you pay a lower mortgage insurance rate.

Your lender can tell you the income requirements and what areas in your city qualify as rural.

What is Mortgage Insurance?

Mortgage insurance decreases the lender’s risk when making a loan with less than a 20 percent down payment. Private lenders usually get private mortgage insurance; rates vary according to down payment and credit score but is a percentage of your loan and paid monthly. Mortgage insurance also is required on FHA and USDA loans.

Remember, this protects the lender, not the buyer.

What Does a Title Company Do? According to Title Forward, the title company is the intermediary between buyer and seller, gathering and recording all the legal documents, ensuring the property title is free of liens or easements, holding your escrow money, filing the deed with the county and

getting all the paperwork signed from both buyer and seller.

What Goes into Closing Costs?

Those fees, which run about 3 to 5 percent of the total cost of the house, include fees for your assessor and your lender’s appraiser; the title service fees, which pay for the title search, the premium for your lender’s title insurance policy, wire transfers and other costs of the title company; fees you pay to your lending institution for the processing of the loan; prepayment of some insurance, property tax and mortgage insurance; homeowners association fees; credit report fees; and some other processing fees. Usually the buyer pays these fees at the time of closing; you can negotiate for the seller to pay, but expect the cost of the home to increase.

What is the Difference Between Interest Rate and APR? Your lender will provide you two numbers when you secure your loan: interest rate and annual percentage rate, or APR. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says the interest rate is the cost you pay annually to borrow the money. The APR accounts for points, mortgage broker fees and other fees you are charged for the loan. Points let the

borrower make a tradeoff between upfront costs and monthly payments. You may pay more upfront but receive a lower interest rate.

Ready to become a homeowner? Call 888-670-6791.n

For registration and dates, visit www.nacc.nyc

Location: 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Downtown Brooklyn

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nHEALTH

nENTERTAINMENT

nRELATIONSHIPS

nRECIPES

nSPORTS

nHOROSCOPE

Koffee Confirmed for Debut Performance at Coachella

BY JAMAICANS.COM

J

amaican reggae star and Grammy Award winner Koffee is set to make her debut at the 2020 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one of the world’s most popular music festivals.

The 2020 staging of the festival will be held in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert area in California at the Empire Polo Club. It is scheduled to run from April 10 through 12, 2020, and from April 17 through 19, 2020.

The lineup for the festival was announced by its organizers on January 2, 2020. The announcement included

Jamaica’s Koffee as a supporting act of the headliner Travis Scott. The Grammywinning reggae star will perform on April 11 and April 18. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival attracts some 500,000 attendees each year. Tickets for the first weekend of the festival are already sold out.

Koffee has completed just one fulllength music project, but she is already one of the most talked-about and promising reggae performers of today. In 2019, she was the youngest solo reggae performer to receive a nomination for a Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category. She was nominated for

Koffee

her debut album, which is entitled “Rapture.” Koffee has also been included in the Summer and Year-End playlists of the former First Couple of the United States, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. She toured with Daniel Caesar, a Grammy award winner in the R&B genre, in 2019, and she is preparing to go on tour with Harry Styles, the British singer, later in 2020. Koffee

was born Mikayla Simpson in Spanish Town, Jamaica, in 2000. Her debut single “Toast” was released in 2018 and immediately brought her critical praise and enthusiastic fans.

In 2019, the singer, who also identifies as a songwriter, rapper, deejay and guitarist, signed a recording contract with Columbia Records.l

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17

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

Vulnerability in Relationships We are human. We are imperfect. We have the capacity to love but, I repeat – we are imperfect.

Because of this, getting hurt is inevitable.

BY HALEY WESTERGARD

W

e are all human and we long for closeness and connection.

In order to get the love, we long for, it requires us to step out of our comfort box, take a risk, and possibly encounter getting hurt from time to time.

We are human. We are imperfect. We have the capacity to love but, I repeat – we are imperfect. Because of this, getting hurt is inevitable. Therefore, because we know this, love becomes risky. Because of this risk, the choice to love and to be loved requires vulnerability. And the extent to which we are willing to be vulnerable is the extent to which we will experience the intimacy of love.

As Brene Brown has said before, we often hold back from loving wholeheartedly out of fear that we will get hurt. But then we are hurt by isolation. We are suddenly faced with two options: taking the risk to love and be in relationship or protect ourselves from getting hurt by choosing isolation. But what we fail to recognize in our attempts to protect ourselves is that getting hurt is inevitable.

No matter what extend we are willing to go to protect ourselves, even complete

grunt work. Vulnerability is hard work but what you gain from it is utterly worth it.l

isolation results in pain.

Vulnerability is not easy. It requires honesty – honesty with how we’re feeling, what we want, what we need, what we fear, etc. Without vulnerability, a bar-

I’m done!

ricade is built between each partner. And though it may be something that is difficult, it will promote an intricate and irreplaceable intimacy. Often, we want intimacy but are not willing to put in the

Haley Westergard, is a senior at Point Loma Nazarene University. Haley is an undergraduate intern at Estes Therapy and accrues hours for her practicum class at PLNU. She has helped with the #BeingLOVEDIs project and was able to connect with the community and find out what others think it means to be loved.

The #BeingLOVEDIs campaign was created by Jennine Estes MFT.

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SPORTS

18

Teen Girls Who Play Soccer Are at High Risk for Concussions and more likely to continue to play through their symptoms, so a mild concussion could go undetected.

Disturbingly, the number of sports concussions has increased in frequency among both girls and boys playing all sports, and no one knows exactly why. It may due to the increasingly aggressive nature of sports – or to improved diagnosis.

BY DR KRISTIE

T

he risk of concussions is always a concern when a teen plays sports.

Most parents think this type of head injury occurs mostly in boys who play football, but girls who play soccer are also at greater risk. How high is the risk of sports concussion in athletic girls who play soccer?

Sports Concussions and Girls Who Play Soccer In an article published in Family Practice News, researchers looked retrospectively at concussion rates among teen athletes from 25 high schools in Fairfax County, Virginia over an 11 year period. During this time, almost 2,500 concussions occurred. Not surprisingly, the highest rate of sports concussions was for teens that played football, which accounted for 53% of all concussions.

Girls who played soccer had the second highest risk of sports concussions, accounting for 7% of the total. This added up to about 0.35 concussions per 1,000 athletic exposures, significantly more than sports concussions among girls who participated in other sports

such as cheerleading or baseball.

More bad news for girls who play sports. In sports that both boys and girls play such as baseball, soccer and basketball, girls had double the risk of sports concussions compared to the guys.

Why Are Sports Concussions More Common in Athletic Girls?

No one knows for sure why athletic girls are more prone to concussions than boys who play sports. Some researchers hypothesize that boys may be protected by their larger muscle mass, which absorbs some of the force of an injury so that it’s less likely to affect the brain.

There’s also the thought that boys are less likely to report concussion symptoms

The Bottom Line?

Sports concussions among girls who play soccer is high – second only to football.

It’s important that coaches and parents be aware of the symptoms of concussion and get medical attention for any teen that has them. No child or teen with a concussion should return to sports practice until he or she is completely symptom-free – and the transition back in should be gradual.

Head injuries are nothing to take lightly, and both athletic girls and boys are at high risk for them. Be cautious when you send your teen out to play sports.l

Read more at www.311personalinjury.com

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19

HEALTH

Tips for Parents–Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight

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

I

n the United States, the number of children with obesity has continued to rise over the past two decades.

Why are doctors and scientists troubled by this trend? As parents or other concerned adults, what steps can you take to prevent obesity in your children? This page provides answers as well as resources to help you keep your family healthy.

Why Is Childhood Obesity Considered a Health Problem?

Children with obesity can be bullied and teased more than their normal weight peers. They are also more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem. The effects of this can last into adulthood.

Children with obesity are at higher risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases, such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, and type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being reported among children who are overweight. Onset of diabetes in children can lead to heart disease and kidney failure.

Children with obesity also have more risk factors for heart disease than their normal-weight peers. Risk factors include high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In a sample of 5- to 17-yearolds, almost 60% of children who were overweight had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and 25% had two or more risk factors.

Children with obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults. This can lead to lifelong physical and mental health problems. Adult obesity is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and many types of cancers.

What Can I Do to Help Prevent Childhood Overweight and Obesity?

Balance the calories your child consumes from foods and beverages with the calories your child uses through physical activity and normal growth.

Remember that the goal for children who are overweight is to reduce the rate of weight gain while allowing normal growth and development. Children should NOT be placed on a weight reduction diet without the consultation of a health care provider.

Balancing Calories: Help Kids Develop Healthy Eating Habits One part of balancing calories is to eat foods that provide adequate nutrition and an appropriate number of calories. You can help children learn to be aware of what they eat by developing healthy eating habits, looking for ways to make favorite dishes healthier, and reducing calorie-rich temptations.

Contact:

Encourage healthy eating habits There’s no great secret to healthy eating.

To help your children and family develop healthy eating habits: Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.

Include low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products.

Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein.

Serve reasonably-sized portions.

Encourage your family to drink lots of water.

Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.

Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat.

Remember that small changes every day can lead to a recipe for success!

Look for ways to make favorite dishes healthier The recipes that you may prepare regularly, and that your family enjoys, with just a few changes can be healthier and just as satisfying.

Remove calorie-rich temptations!

Although everything can be enjoyed in moderation, reducing the calorie-rich temptations of high-fat and high-sugar, or salty snacks can also help your children develop healthy eating habits.

Instead only allow your children to eat them sometimes, so that they truly will be treats! Here are examples of easy-toprepare, low-fat and low-sugar treats that are 100 calories or less: A medium-size apple.

A medium-size banana.

1 cup blueberries.

1 cup grapes.

1 cup carrots, broccoli, or bell peppers with 2 tbsp. hummus.

Balancing Calories: Help Kids Stay Active Another part of balancing calories is to

engage in an appropriate amount of physical activity and avoid too much sedentary time. In addition to being fun for children, regular physical activity has many health benefits, including: Strengthening bones Decreasing blood pressur Reducing stress and anxiety Increasing self-esteem Helping with weight management

Stacy Young Board Certified Holistic Health Coach Tel: 917-459-8431 Stacy@HealthCoachStacyNYC.com

Mydoterra.com/stacyyoung Help kids stay active Children should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily. Remember that children imitate adults. Start adding physical activity to your own daily routine and encourage your child to join you.

Some examples of moderate intensity physical activity include: •Brisk walking.

•Playing tag.

•Jumping rope.

•Playing soccer.

•Swimming.

•Dancing.

Reduce sedentary time In addition to encouraging physical activity, help children avoid too much sedentary time. Although quiet time for reading and homework is fine, limit the time your children watch television, play video games, or surf the web to no more than 2 hours per day. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television viewing for children aged 2 years or younger.

Instead, encourage your children to find fun activities to do with family members or on their own that simply involve more activity. l Source: cdc.gov

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