Workers' World Today - Issue 15

December 2020 INSIDE

TPS Extended for Another 9 Months ... 17

Buying a Short Sale ... 16

Prisoners Hoping for Mercy ... 22

Issue #15

What Union Why Should I Trust the Coronavirus Vaccine When It Members Can Teach NY Was Developed So Fast?

A Doctor Answers

BY DR LANA DBEIBO THE CONVERSATION

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ote: With a coronavirus vaccination effort now underway, you might have questions about what this means for you and your family. Here, Dr. Lana Dbeibo, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, answers reader questions about the vaccine and compromised immune systems and whether to get the

i

BY CONSORTIUM FOR WORKER EDUCATION vaccine if a person has had previous adverse reactions to a vaccine.

I fully support the use of vaccines, but continued on page 6

Hot Topics and News You Should Know About

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ew York City is home to 695,000 union members. What can they teach the rest of us?

“People don’t think of workers and unions in an educational context, but when we look at the extraordinary scope and depth of union training programs across NYC, we see an largely untapped social resource with enormous potential,” says John continued on page 8

Calls for NYPD Commissioner to Be Stripped ... 4

Mind the “No Parking” Signs on Credit Reports... 9

Is this the Right Time to Switch Careers? ... 15

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Home ... 11

Labor-Related News - Nationally & Locally

Is It Time to Speak to Your Spouse About a Separation ... 21

Historic Moment for Nurse

BY MARY CAMPBELL

T Photo TWU

TWU Urges Early Testing as Best Defense ... 3

Nurses Raise Their Voices in Solidarity ...10

UAW to Face 6 Years of Federal Monitorship ... 14

he light at the end of the tunnel is near.

The COVID-19 vaccine is here. Sandra Lindsay, a critical-care nurse for more than 20 years, created history by becoming the first person in the United States to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Governor Cuomo continued on page 10

Lindsay getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Photo: Scott Heins for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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December 2020

Working people want a labor movement strong enough to help return balance to our economy, fairness to our tax system, security to our families and moral and economic standing to our nation.

—AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, May 20, 2011

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Contents

Labor History - December 11

In Solidarity: Union Urges: Early Testing is Our Best Defense.............................................................3

A small group of Black farmers organize the Colored Farmers’ National Alliance and Cooperative Union in Houston County, Texas. They had been barred from membership in the all-White Southern Farmers’ Alliance. Through intensive organizing, along with merging with another Black farmers group, the renamed Colored Alliance by 1891 claimed a membership of 1.2 million – 1886

Obama Foundation: Volunteer to Help Your Neighbor this Winter.............................................3 Workers’ Matters Council Votes to Prevent Fast-Food Workers from Being Fired.............................................7 Money Matters Mind the “No Parking” Signs on Credit Reports..................................................................9 Workers’ Safety Returning to the Office: How to Stay Connected and Socially Distant.......................................................13

New York City, New York/USA May 30, 2020 Hundreds took to the streets of Manhattan protesting against police brutality after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.. Editorial credit: Steve Sanchez Photos / Shutterstock.com

Civil Rights ....4 Recently released documents show that NYPD commissioners have used their authority to reject the civilian review board’s recommendations and even guilty pleas from officers themselves

Love, Health & Travel ....20 Resolve to Acheive Healthy Sleep in 2021 "Insufficient sleep contributes to the risk for several of today's public health epidemics, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. As such, it is critical that we incorporate healthy sleep habits and routines into our daily lives to be our best in 2021."- AASM President

Love, Health & Travel ....18

Jobs & Recession Is This the Right Time to Switch Careers?.............................................................15

There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays – and That’s What Makes the Pandemic’s Winter Surge Particularly Devastating

Love, Health & Travel Is It Time to Talk to Your Spouse About a Separation?......................................................21

COLUMNS Family: The True Modern Relationship .... 11 10 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Home

A few ideas for making your New Year's Eve celebration a fun event for all!

Workers’ Matters ....7 Council Votes to Prevent Fast-Food Workers From Being Fired Without “Just Cause”

Union In Action ....10 Nurses Speak Out for Safe Patient Care and Fair Contracts “What has Montefiore done since June?

They put a bunch of billboards up on the highway. They bought TV commercials calling us "heroes."

-RN Castillo

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December 2020

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In Solidarity

Union Urges: Early Testing Is Our Best Defense

TEAM Publisher Workers’ World Today, Inc Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip Contributing Writers Marilyn Silverman Charles Tabasso Victoria Falk Erin Telesford Jennine Estes, MFT Travis Morales Mary Campbell Janet Howard

B Supports Workers’ World Today

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ecently, I was in Albany fighting and seeking support of A1261/S1947, legislation that will create a clear definition of public work and level the playing field for New York’s contractors.

District Council 9 Painters and Allied Trades Union (DC9), the union for painters, prides itself on being a strong advocate for workers’ rights and safety. We are excited about this new publication, Workers’ World Today, which covers the issues of relevance and concern for all workers.

We are encouraged that all workers: blue and white collar will have a voice and platform.

Congratulations on your inaugural issue. We wish much success to the leaders and team of Workers’ World Today and pledge our support.p Davon Lomax Political Director, DC9

etween late October and early this month, approximately 8,000 on-site Covid tests have been administered to MTA employees across all agencies, including the commuter railroads. Another 400 tests have been administered at Northwell Urgent Care centers.

All combined, 102 MTA workers tested positive, including 77 at NYC Transit locations. That’s a positivity rate of 1.2%, which is well below the statewide average of 5.44 percent.

Local 100 President Tony Utano said that the numbers reflect well on the union's efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus in the workplace, as well as the membership's adherence to social distancing efforts and mask usage. "We can never let our guard down for one second with this virus, but

Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Telephone 1-866-435-3286 . Photo: TWU

we should all be pleased that, at the moment at least, we're going in the right direction."

The Local 100 leadership, which urged the MTA to start this early detection screening program, strongly encourages everyone to take full advantage. “Early detection is our best defense until the vaccine is available,” added President Utano. “Wear your masks, keep your distance as much as you can, and get tested. Help protect yourself, and our union

brothers and sisters. We are in this fight together.”

Nearly 80 NYC Transit workers who had the virus - but didn’t know it - were identified. By getting tested, these workers were able to get treatment and quarantine before they even experienced symptoms like fever and fatigue.

That helped prevent the virus from spreading at work, home, and in the community. There is no limit on the number of times a Local 100 member can

Email info@workersworldtoday.com Visit us at www.workersworldtoday.com

be tested. Regular testing is permitted.

The schedule of locations and dates can be found on the MTA portal, the union website twulocal100.org and the union Facebook page.p —TWU

Volunteer to Help Your Neighbors This Winter

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his year has been filled with inspiring stories of ordinary citizens volunteering their time to help their neighbors overcome incredible challenges—everyday heroes lending their time to sort groceries at a food bank or deliver PPE to the elderly have helped ensure that aid reaches those who need it most in their communities.

This winter, pledge to spend time helping those in need in your community. Volunteer with your local food bank, shelter, or another organization to ensure they’re able to help all those who need it.

Food banks and other charities rely on volunteers to deliver critical resources to the communities they serve. That’s why one of the most powerful gifts you can give this season is

spending a little bit of your time volunteering to help others.

Take our #OFCareChallenge and volunteer a couple of hours with an organization doing good work in your community.

As older volunteers stay home to stay safe, it’s up to all of us to step up and give of our time to ensure that help reaches those who need it most.

Take care of your community.p —The Obama Foundation

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December 2020

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Civil Rights

Calls Increase for NYPD Commissioner to Be Stripped of Absolute Authority Over Officer Discipline

BY MOLLIE SIMON AND ERIC UMANSKY, PROPUBLICA

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he chair of New York City’s Civilian Complaint Review Board is calling for a fundamental shift in how NYPD officers are disciplined for abuse of civilians.

The Rev. Fred Davie, who has led the board since April 2018, said last week the police commissioner should no longer be the final arbiter of discipline in cases investigated by the CCRB. “I’ll go where others dare not tread and hope I still have my position tomorrow morning,” Davie said on Dec. 16 during a public event convened by his agency to discuss civilian oversight. “I would say we really need to look at final authority.”

Echoing sentiments he tweeted the week before, Davie went on to say that the

Recently released documents show that NYPD commissioners have used their authority to reject the civilian review board’s recommendations and even guilty pleas from officers themselves.

NEW YORK, NY/USA – MAY 28, 2020: NYPD officers arrest a protester in Union Square during a rally responding to the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd at the hands of police.Editorial credit: noamgalai / Shutterstock.com

Police Department should be “required to adhere” to disciplinary recommendations made by the CCRB in cases under the agency’s jurisdiction, which covers unnecessary or excessive force, abuse of authority, discourtesy and offensive language.

As ProPublica has detailed, NYPD commissioners have used their authority to overturn not only the CCRB’s recommendations for punishments but also rulings by department hearing officers (often referred to internally as judges) and even guilty pleas

agreed to by police officers. Officers have also been promoted to senior positions in the NYPD despite lengthy records of civilian complaints alleging misconduct.

Davie is far from alone in wanting to see a change in the police commissioner’s discipli-

nary authority, as pressure has increased on the NYPD to reform.

On Friday, the city’s Department of Investigation released a report critical of the NYPD’s response to this summer’s protests against police brutality. The report recommended that policymakers revisit the police commissioner’s absolute authority over discipline. The report also noted that the NYPD has often been uncooperative in providing records to the CCRB and other oversight agencies, an issue ProPublica recently detailed.

At least five New York City Council members are working on legislation that would shift final authority on discipline away from the commissioner.

In one approach, which would require voter approval, the CCRB would become an elected board with the power continued on page 5

December 2020

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Civil Rights NYPD Commissioner/ continued from page 4 to make binding disciplinary decisions. The current board, which can only make recommendations on discipline, consists of 15 members, with the City Council, mayor, public advocate and police commissioner each accorded appointments, and the mayor and City Council speaker jointly picking the chair. The board oversees a staff of about 200 people, including investigators, mediators, case managers and lawyers.

“We want the [disciplinary] authority to rest with the residents who are in these communities, and who unfortunately have been subjected to numerous complaints of police misconduct and brutality,” said council member Inez Barron, who is sponsoring the legislation that would make the CCRB an elected body.

Other legislation being discussed would focus specifically on removing the commissioner’s final disciplinary authority, without restructuring the CCRB. “It’s a foundational concept,” said council member Stephen

As New York City police commissioner, Dermot Shea holds enormous power over officer discipline. Some officials are calling for the commissioner’s authority to be curtailed. Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Levin, who is working on the narrower legislation. “If you mess up, you should be held accountable. It shouldn’t be complicated.”

The NYPD did not respond to a request for comment on the report but has previously said in a statement that the current system gives the commissioner “wide latitude for rapid accountability” and is “fair and effective.”

Currently, the only check on the commissioner’s discipli-

nary authority is the mayor, who has the power to hire and fire the commissioner. Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has been criticized for the wide berth he has given his current commissioner, Dermot Shea, said he “agreed” with the findings and recommendations of the new report on the NYPD’s handling of the protests.

Any rollback of the police commissioner’s authority would face obstacles. Many of the rules on discipline of offi-

cers and other public safety workers are rooted in state law, and changes sought by the city may need approval from the state legislature, where police unions have long had considerable influence.

In Rochester, New York, which tried creating an elected civilian oversight board with greater authority, the local police union is fighting the change in state court. The leader of New York City’s largest police union has made clear he believes disciplinary authority needs to remain with the commissioner.

For some advocates, a change to disciplinary authority would not go far enough in increasing accountability.

“While it’s important that CCRB be able to issue binding disciplinary findings, there’s no magic legislative remedy — reducing police violence and timely firings of abusive officers will not happen in NYC until the budget, size, scope and power of the NYPD and police unions is significantly reduced,” said Joo-Hyun Kang, director of Communities United for Police Reform.

The change suggested by the CCRB chair and others would

be novel. Most police oversight agencies do not have the “authority to make final determinations as to the outcome of an investigation,” according to the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement.

Police reform in New York City is already an issue in the 2021 mayoral race. To date, 31 candidates are registered to run for the position that appoints the police commissioner. Mayoral candidates include a former NYPD captain, a former chair of the CCRB and the city’s current comptroller, Scott Stringer. In a recent op-ed, Stringer called for a series of changes to NYPD oversight. Among them: stripping the police commissioner of final disciplinary authority.p This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.

Mollie is a Scripps Howard Foundation research fellow at ProPublica.

Eric Umansky is a deputy managing editor for ProPublica.

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December 2020

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Should he be concerned about receiving the coronavirus vaccine?

Having any type of allergy other than anaphylaxis, which is a severe and sometimes lifethreatening allergic reaction, to vaccines or components of the COVID vaccine is not a contraindication to receive the COVID vaccine. Everyone who receives either one of the drugs that have received emergency use authorization will be monitored for 15-30 minutes in the clinic after the vaccine dose because serious reactions will happen in the first few minutes after the vaccine is given.

and penicillin g (after two episodes of endocarditis. Also a hemicolectomy for cancer.

No problem with flu shots.

Generally I am feeling better than I have in the past several years. I drive without difficulty. Should I get the vaccine?

My answer here would be similar to one answered above – having any allergy other than anaphylaxis to vaccines or components of the COVID vaccine is not a contraindication to receive the COVID vaccine. Similarly, having asthma or seasonal allergies is not a contraindication. I would recommend you consult with your doctor for specifics related to your other health issues.

And remember that scientific observations of the vaccine are ongoing. The CDC, FDA and other government agencies will update the public on significant changes if they occur.p

Hot Topic Coronavirus Vaccine/ continued from page 1 I worry about possible longterm side effects with the new vaccines. How can anyone say with any confidence there will be no long-term consequences with vaccines that have been developed so rapidly?

There are reasons the vaccines were developed rapidly: First, the production started before the end of phase 3 clinical trials. Second, there was a lot of interest in volunteering for the trials that tested the vaccines’ effectiveness, which expedited the process. Researchers often wait many months and sometimes even years to get people to volunteer to be part of trials.

Last, there was a lot of disease in the community which made it faster to see whether the vaccine was effective. The coronavirus has caused disease in millions of people in the U.S. alone, while Ebola and Zika viruses, while extremely serious, affected far fewer.

I worry much more about the long-term effects of the virus, which can be very debilitating and start soon after the infection. We have not seen reports of major effects of the vaccine in the past few months that it

was studied; if there were major effects, I believe we should have started to see them by now. This could can change, however, and scientists would update recommendations accordingly.

My husband is 72 and undergoing chemo treatment for metastasized cancer in his lymph nodes. So far, treatment is showing shrinkage of tumors and no new spread.

I’m 73. Should I get the vaccine?

There are two issues to address here. First, there is a question of whether someone who has been vaccinated could spread the disease to someone else. There is very limited data on whether the vaccine effectively limits spread of the disease, but we are waiting on studies to answer this question.

The second issue you raise is about people with compromised immune systems and whether they should get the vaccine. While the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines was not studied in immunocompromised people, the danger of COVID-19 to patients with a weaker immune system like your husband’s is very high.

Because the benefit may exceed the risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not list being immunocompromised as a contraindication to receive the COVID vaccine. Please consult with your physician to have a conversation about this.

I have rheumatoid/psoriatic arthritis. I am taking the biologic Actemra and Solu Medrol as an infusion, monthly.

I also take methotrexate twice a week. Is the vaccine considered safe for people with compromised immune systems?

The answer to this is very similar to the answer above. The CDC did not list having a weakened immune system as a reason not to get the vaccine, or what we doctors call a contraindication. Still, it is important for you to talk to your physician about your particular case.

My 22-year-old son had a reaction to the MMR vaccine when he was approximately 6 years old. He ran a fever for several days and developed the bleeding disorder ITP within a month or two after receiving the MMR vaccine.

At age 7 or 8, I received tetanus antitoxin (horse serum) and quickly lost consciousness for about four days. Subsequently, I remember having hives a few times in childhood and mild asthma until I was about 25. I do not now have significant allergies. I have had several cardiac procedures, including open thoracotomy for mitral and aortic bovine valve replacement in 2010 and a “Watchman” procedure. I have a pacemaker and daily take Metoprolol, Torsemide

NYC, masks and social distancing are working!

WHAT’S NEXT

IN THE COVID-19 FIGHT? NOW, WE ALL NEED TO GET TESTED OFTEN, even with no symptoms, to keep reducing the spread.

TO FIND EASY AND SAFE TESTING AT NO COST TO YOU,

VISIT NYC.GOV/COVIDTEST OR CALL 212-COVID19

Dr Lana Dbeibo is an Assistant professor of clinical medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine

December 2020

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Workers’ Matters

Council Votes to Prevent Fast-Food Workers From Being Fired Without “Just Cause”

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n December 17 the New York City Council will voted on legislation designed to protect fast-food workers from unfair firings. Under legislation, fastfood employers would be prohibited from terminating employees or substantially reducing their hours without providing bona fide economic reasons or an employee’s demonstrated failure to satisfactorily perform job duties or misconduct.

Int. 1415-A, sponsored by Council Member Brad Lander, would prohibit fast-food employers from terminating the employment or substantially reducing the hours of a fastfood employee in the absence of the fast-food employee’s demonstrated failure to satisfactorily perform job duties or misconduct; in other words, without just cause. Employers

would be required to give employees a written reason for the termination of their employment.

Laid off fast food employees would also be entitled to schedule pay premiums for shifts lost due to termination

and provides for remedies including reinstation, back pay, and civil penalties.

This bill would take effect 180 days after it becomes law.

“Fast food workers have been on the frontlines of this pandemic, serving their neigh-

bors, working in tight quarters, taking on new responsibilities for sanitizing, and yet often unable to speak up about health and safety issues for fear of losing their jobs. These workers, the majority of whom are women and young people of color, have fought hard for years to raise wages and demand workplace protections.

I’m grateful to them, to 32BJ SEIU, and to the partnership of Council Member Adams and Speaker Johnson, for getting us here today to take this groundbreaking step forward for workplace rights,” said Council Member Brad Lander.

Int. 1396-A, sponsored by Council Member Adrienne Adams, would prohibit fastfood employers from terminating the employment or substantially reducing the hours of a fast-food employee in the absence of bona fide eco-

nomic reasons, including full or partial closing of operations or technological or organizational changes to the business in response to the reduction in volume of production, sales, or profit.

Additionally, the employer would be required to discharge employees by inverse seniority (those hired last will be discharged first). Employees discharged for bona fide economic reasons within the prior year must first be offered available shifts before they are distributed to other employees or new hires. This bill additionally provides for arbitration of disagreements between fast-food employers and fastfood employees.

This bill would take effect 180 days after it becomes law.p

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Know Your Rights What Union Members Can Teach NY/continued from page 1

Sunrise Movement Staff Form Union with Communications Workers of America

N Editorial credit: IV. andromeda / Shutterstock.com

McDermott, Consortium for Worker Education’s Special Projects Director.

All of CWE’s programs center on providing workers with the skills they need to advance in their career. Accessing the expertise and experience of veteran workers to shape the training is critical to the success of our union programs.

CWE put that philosophy into action earlier this year, when the United Federation of Teachers Local 1 and the Transport Workers Local 100 participated in a CWE-led working group to expand apprenticeships, along with CUNY, the MTA and the NYS Department of Labor. Building on those discussions, CWE was able to assist in the creation of a new partnership between the unions, a kind of professional development cultural exchange.

UFT knew that some of their Career and Technical Education teachers would benefit from updating their knowledge and industry skills – exactly the programs that are being taught internally at the TWU – skills related to signals, infrastructure, and track maintenance.

The two unions initiated Zoom classes where TWU trainers could share the latest on safety, work regulations, and what industry-specific skill sets teachers can impart to their students. The initial classes are turning into a lasting relationship for skills and knowledge transfer, as well as networking that will benefit high school students and a public transit system that faces skills gaps in infrastructure po-

sitions.

"In response to the urgent needs of New York City Transit concerning capital construction, subway infrastructure, and the retiring workforce, the Training and Upgrading Fund works in partnership with others to provide the best training models across the transportation industry," says Charles Jenkins, Acting Director of TWU Local 100's NYCT Training & Upgrading Fund.

It turned out, TWU trainers needed support from the UFT as well. The COVID-19 pandemic had forced in-person education to go online at institutions across the city, and the member education programs at TWU Local 100 were no different. Who better to advise online learning than the public school teachers who had put it into action for the city’s million public school students in the spring? Assisted by CWE, TWU and the UFT Teacher Center worked to organize Zoom classes about how to develop an online lesson plan, how to use a digital white board, and how to effectively utilize online platforms as a teacher.

The success is sparking other discussions of inter-union partnerships to respond to the coronavirus as well as solve long-term challenges. “Unions know how much workers have to offer,” says McDermott. “The Consortium for Worker Education is committed to supporting and connecting unions to our public education systems so New Yorkers get the full benefit of their members’ expertise.”p

ationwide: Today, [December 15] workers with Sunrise Movement, a youth-led movement organization advocating to stop climate change and create millions of American jobs, voted to form a union with Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1180 in New York. More than 95% of Sunrise Movement staff members voted in support of forming a union with CWA, and management has agreed to recognize the staff union.

In a virtual meeting today with Sunrise Movement staff and management, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) verified the union vote count as Sunrise’s third-party validator, announcing support from 79 out of 82 workers.

“As a youth-led grassroots organization dedicated to climate justice and bringing millions of living-wage jobs to the American workforce, forming a union was a clear step of action for us at Sunrise, and one that we believe embodies our movement’s values and will guide its growth,” said Gabbi Pierce, Internal Communications Coordinator at Sunrise Movement and member of CWA Local 1180. “We know that workplaces are stronger when workers have a voice and are empowered through unionization, and we are thankful for the recognition of our union by Sunrise management, who has supported our organizing efforts from the start. This is a huge step for our movement in our fight against climate change, and for nonprofit organizations everywhere which are increasingly advocating in support of worker rights.”

“The organizing efforts by Sunrise workers show that unions are essential in creating a foundation for a strong, equitable environment that elevates the voices of all workers,” said

Senator Markey. “I’m proud of these passionate young people who embody the true value of unions in the strongest traditions of the labor movement and are stepping out as advocates for workers’ rights and good American jobs. Their dedication to empowering their team with strong support from management sets an important precedent for our country's workplaces.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought national attention to the need for unions due to increasingly precarious and unsafe working conditions, workers with the Sunrise Movement saw organizing as an opportunity to strengthen their relationship with management while creating a more accessible environment for their growing team. Sunrise workers will join a number of nonprofit workers as members of CWA Local 1180, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Open Society Foundations, Century Foundation, and StoryCorps.

“We’re incredibly proud that our employees exercised their right to form a union, and we look forward to a productive bargaining relationship with our staff that furthers our mission to organize for a world where everyone has the right to meaningful, safe, and dignified jobs,” said Varshini Prakash, Sunrise Movement Executive Director. “Sunrise Movement unequivocally supports, and fights for, the right of any and

all workers to unionize, including and especially at Sunrise.

When we talk about creating millions of good jobs through a Green New Deal, we mean jobs where people get paid well, with the protections they deserve and that the labor movement fought for. We are confident that this new union will make our movement even stronger and more capable of fighting to expand the rights of working people everywhere.”

Sunrise is the latest nonprofit to organize, with the industry largely non-union. While there are no official federal statistics on the number of unions in the nonprofit industry, recent census data shows that the percentage of union members in this space has remained around 1% to 3% over the past decade.

Sunrise’s young, diverse workforce reflects the growing trend for nonprofits and youth-led organizations to support union organizing and ensure a voice for all workers on the job.

“We’re excited for Sunrise Movement staff to join Local 1180 and the thousands of nonprofit workers CWA represents across the country,” said Gloria Middleton, President of CWA Local 1180. “Sunrise workers’ decision to organize speaks to the real impact unions have on strengthening the workforce at its core and creating a more equitable environment for workers. We look forward to working with Sunrise to continue to promote good jobs and fair contracts for all hard working Americans.”p

December 2020

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Money Matters

Debt Collectors: Mind the “No Parking” Signs On Credit Reports

BY SEENA GRESSIN, FTC

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here’s a virtual “NO PARKING” sign planted smack in the middle of your credit report. It means that debt collectors can’t report your debt — or your supposed debt — to credit reporting agencies without first trying to check with you.

That’s a key takeaway from the FTC’s case against Midwest Recovery Systems, LLC. The FTC says Midwest used “debt parking” to collect fake or questionable debts. Debt parking is an illegal practice where collectors post debts to people’s credit reports without first trying to contact them.

Many people don’t learn about

the debts until they apply for loans, jobs, or housing, and someone pulls their credit report. Some people pay the debts to clear their credit even if they don’t owe them. Others never discover the debts but lose job offers or other opportunities because of the infor-

mation.

The FTC says Midwest parked more than $98 million in fake or unverified debts on credit reports, including certain medical debts and debts for fake or unauthorized payday loans, sometimes called phantom debts. The FTC says

Midwest continued collecting the supposed debts even after finding that 80% to 97% of the debts that people disputed each month were inaccurate or invalid.

Under a settlement, Midwest and its owners must stop all unlawful collection practices, ask credit agencies to delete any debts they previously reported, and take other steps to assure they only report and collect valid debts.

How can you protect yourself against debt parking?

Check your credit reports regularly. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each must give you a free copy of your credit report every 12 months. And, all three are offering free weekly online reports through

April 2021 due to the pandemic. Dispute any errors or inaccurate information you find.

If you plan to apply for a job or financing, check your credit reports at all three agencies before you apply, even if you have to pay for a report. That will let you clear inaccurate information from your report before it causes problems.

If you’re dealing with debt collectors, know your legal rights. And, if you spot deceptive or abusive collection practices, let us know at reportfraud.ftc.gov.p

Seena Gressin is Attorney, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC

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The Law Offices of Figeroux & Associates, 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn, NY. Visit www.311bankruptcy.com

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December 2020

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Union In Action

Nurses Raise Their Voices In Solidarity Speaking Out for Safe Patient Care and a Fair Contract

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ew Rochelle, NY: On December 1, approximately 200 nurses at Montefiore New Rochelle hospital participated in an Unfair Labor Practice strike, demanding safe staffing and a voice in patient care. They were joined by elected officials, labor and community supporters, who urged Montefiore to come back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract.

On December 2, nurses marched on the picket line outside the hospital from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Their spirits were lifted by live music and chanting throughout the day.

Emergency room nurse Maria Castillo, RN, said: “What has Montefiore done since June? They put a bunch of billboards up on the highway. They bought TV commercials calling us "heroes.

“What has Montefiore done since June? They put a bunch of billboards up on the highway. They bought TV com-

Photo courtesy NYSNA Facebook

mercials calling us "heroes."

They want the community to think they appreciate us. The reality is, they would rather spend millions of dollars on their public image, instead of making sure we have enough nurses to care for everyone who is sick!”

Negotiations with the hospital stalled when the hospital refused to negotiate on the

nurses’ top demand—hiring more nurses and improving safe staffing enforcement to ensure quality patient care. The hospital also attempted to silence RNs from communicating with fellow RNs and restrict RNs’ ability to use social media.

“We would prefer to be inside with our patients, but we can’t do what we need to do

26 Court Street, Suite 701, Downtown Brooklyn

without the right number of staff,” explained Shalon Mathews, RN. “We want a fair contract. We want to deliver safe patient care. We want to uphold the oath we took in nursing school—do no harm.

Montefiore, we need you to hear us.” p The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more

Historic Moment/ continued from page 1 broadcasted Lindsay's shot's video feed into a live news conference. The needle that went into her arm contained genetic instructions that would prime her cells to recognize and defend against the coronavirus.

"This is the weapon that will end the war," Cuomo said shortly after her shot.

Speaking to the media, Lindsay, who works in the Intensive Care Unit at Long Island Jewish Medical Hospital in New York, is Jamaican and urges her countryfolk to get it.

Her message: "My hope is that this is the beginning of the end of the pandemic. I have seen what it has done and what it is doing to our people, and I just want it to be over."

Having seen first-hand the suffering and pain COVID-19 has caused in New York, Lindsay said she was ready to get her shot. She confirmed that she was not pressured or paid but volunteered because she desires to see this pandemic end.

"I feel the healing is coming. I hope this marks the beginning of the end of the very painful time in our history," said Lindsay.

Lindsay added that it was essential for her to as a Black woman, to take the vaccine as an example to those who distrust the medical system because of historical wrongdoing or sufferings from medical racism. "Unfortunately, due to history, my population — minorities, people that look like me — are hesitant to take vaccines," she said. She wants to send a message that science can be trusted. She pointed out that the vaccinations won't work "if only some people take the vaccines."

It is historic also that a Black woman, Dr. Michelle Chester, director of employee services for Northwell Health, administered the injection.p

December 2020

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11

Family: The True Modern Relationship

10 Ways to Celebrate New Year's Eve at Home

T

his year, New Year's Eve celebrations might not look like they normally do. But that doesn't mean you can't still celebrate with family and friends! In fact, given how difficult this year has been, a party might be exactly what is needed. The good news is that there are plenty of fun, safe ways to ring in the new year as a family right from the comfort of your own home.

Here are a few ideas for making your New Year's Eve celebration a fun event for all: 1) Have a dance party: With a little planning and spirit, any room can be transformed into a dance space. Turn on some tunes, get the family moving and raise the roof to ring in 2021. You could even turn off the lights and use glow sticks or LED light-up wands for added ambiance.

2) Set up a photo booth: Make it a night to remember by setting up a photo booth for the kids to enjoy. Pick a corner, pull out old Halloween cos-

tumes or find some festive props, and let your kids get creative. The photos can be great to share on your social channels to wish friends a happy new year.

3) Look through old photos or home movies: As we head into a new year, take a trip down memory lane by looking through old photos or watching home movies. This is sure to put a smile on everyone's face and is a great reminder of how far they've come this past year.

4) Create a family time capsule: Ask each family member to write down their wishes and dreams for 2021. Then, seal responses in a box or jar with other memorable items to open next New Year's Eve. 5) Board games, anyone? Get the family energized with a little competition. Find a few games everyone can enjoy or host a tournament of your family favorites. Consider giving out some fun prizes to

Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble from Bedrock leading into the 9 p.m. EST hour during "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021," which airs live beginning at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. Tune in and join Fred and Barney for an epic countdown to 2021, which happens to be the cereal's 50th birthday year.

keep everyone engaged.

make their own masterpiece.

6) Glam up everyday objects: Kids love sparkle! Add glitter to playdough or slime and let them play. Use number cookie cutters to spell out 2021.

8) Have a virtual hangout: Carve out some time and say hi to family and friends you haven't been able to see. This is a great way to keep the kids occupied and get some face time with grandparents or others who might be isolated.

7) DIY dessert bar: Set up a dessert bar, and let your kids create a confetti-themed treat with some pre-made cupcakes topped with frosting. Have a variety of confetti colored toppings, like sprinkles, decorating icing, and colorful Fruity Pebbles cereal or candy pieces, on hand for everyone to use to

9) Watch an early countdown: Nothing says New Year's Eve like a good countdown. To help families everywhere ring in 2021, Pebbles cereal is hosting a New Year's Eve countdown on Dec. 31, featuring

10) Make party favors: Pick up some party favors at a local store or better yet, make them at home. There are plenty of great tutorials online for fun party favors the kids will enjoy. Try your hand at making confetti poppers, a fun take on a celebration staple. What better way to ring in the new year than with some fun party poppers the kids will enjoy making and eating.

Whatever you end up doing, don't forget to take some time to reflect on this past year and celebrate the year to come.

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...

Happy New Year! (BPT)p

December 2020

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12

Education

Teachers Union Balks at de Blasio’s Suggestion School Buildings Can Remain Open Amid Possible NYC Lockdown

BY ALEX ZIMMERMAN CHALKBEAT VIA THE CITY

M

ayor Bill de Blasio warned on Tuesday that New York City may need a stricter set of restrictions to fight a surge of coronavirus cases shortly after Christmas. He called for an important exception: school buildings.

“Right now we’re seeing extraordinary success in keeping our schools safe,” the mayor said. “I want to keep them open.”

The teachers union — which supported the mayor’s move last week to reopen roughly 850 campuses serving elementary school students and those with the most significant disabilities — cast doubt on that approach.

“If the coronavirus infection

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew speaks at a 2018 City Hall press conference with Mayor Bill de Blasio. New York City Department of Transportation rate rises to the point that a citywide ‘shelter in place’ is necessary, keeping school buildings open would be irresponsible,” Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers,

said in a statement.

The critical reaction could foreshadow a contentious debate about when it’s appropriate to shut down school buildings and represents a shift in tone from United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew. In recent months, he has been generally supportive of City Hall’s approach to reopening the nation’s largest school district.

For now, the back-and-forth is largely symbolic. De Blasio has hinted that the city may need broader shutdowns, similar to those instituted last spring, though he has not put forward a specific plan. The final authority to make decisions about closing schools or other aspects of the city rests with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The state’s current threshold for shutting down school buildings across New York City is 9% positivity rate over seven days, though Cuomo has not commented on whether he will stick to that. Monday’s positivity rate over one week was 4%, according to state data.

No Clear-Cut Science If New York City schools shut down their buildings in the near future, it would affect about 20% of students at most, or roughly 190,000. The vast majority of children selected fully remote learning, and middle and high school students will remain virtual at least until January.

De Blasio and his health advisors have made the case that health precautions in schools — including masks, social distancing, and weekly testing — have made schools incredibly safe, with little evidence that they are contributing to an uptick in cases.

“Schools are not increasing the rate of transmission,” Dr. Jay Varma, a mayoral health advisor, told reporters when asked about stricter lockdowns. “People’s risk of getting infected, if you are a member of the school community, is either similar to, or in some situations, much less than it is for anybody else in the community.”

A spokesperson for the teachers union did not immediately offer a more detailed explanation about why they believe keeping school buildings open would be risky.

The exact threshold by which schools should close has been hotly debated and turns partly on how much risk policy makers are willing to accept given that there is not a clear-cut scientific answer.

The city has other factors to consider, including whether freezing temperatures could make it more difficult to keep windows open as a primary source of ventilation in some classrooms. (The education department has said it has purchased 60,000 air purifiers, which should enable classrooms to keep their windows closed, education department officials said.) Educators have also raised questions about the city’s process for catching cases and informing communities, claiming it has been slow to inform schools of coronavirus infections in some cases.

Complicating matters, the mayor pushed to shut down the city’s school buildings citywide last month after the city’s virus positivity rate crossed 3% over a seven-day average, making it more difficult for him to argue that school building shutdowns aren’t needed even as coronavirus cases remain above that level.

Asked about the union’s comments, representatives of de Blasio and the city’s education department did not immediately respond.p This story was published on December 15, 2020 by THE CITY.

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December 2020

13

Workers’ Safety

Returning to the Office: How to Stay Connected and Socially Distant

BY DANIEL BEUNZA & DERIN KENT THE CONVERSATION

C

ompanies around the world are debating how and when to return to the office. Health and safety has taken on a whole new significance in the era of coronavirus. To bring people back safely, the options for office redesign are bewildering.

How should desks be arranged to enable social distancing alongside the benefits of being in the same room? And do people need to return for five days a week?

Many companies are looking to have some employees work from home, some of the time.

But unless careful thinking goes into this, companies run the risk of getting stuck in the middle, achieving neither the benefits of the traditional office nor the safety conferred by the home.

Consider, for instance, the 6 Feet Office. This concept, developed by a commercial real estate multinational, Cushman and Wakefield, aims to ensure that employees remain six feet apart at all times. It is achieved by spacing desks, creating oneway people circulation, and including visual signs in the carpeting around each desk so as to nudge people to keep their distance.

This idea runs the risk of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. As architecture scholar Kerstin Sailer has noted, its combination of distanced furniture, nudges, and warnings can also stigmatise social interaction, pushing all communication online, even in the office. If that is the case, why not just work from home?

Companies need to incorporate an essential lesson from the COVID-19 lockdown: Zoom works surprisingly well.

But there are also lots of benefits to informal interaction – something a prearranged video call cannot replicate. In light of this, we propose a hybrid system of the best of both worlds. If fewer people are coming in to maintain social distancing, it is best to have all teams represented. And the office layout must facilitate connections between people rather than keeping them apart.

Planned vs unplanned communication There’s an important distinction between planned and unplanned communication at work. Unplanned communication typically takes place via serendipitous encounters and, importantly, involves conversations across teams. Here proximity is needed.

This is because different teams are typically not part of the same reporting line, and so communication depends on unplanned engagements like overhearing each other talk or chance encounters in the corridor. This can have real business benefits. As one of us has documented in our recent book, unplanned social interaction across nearby desks in a Wall Street trading floor improved the use of financial models.

In the case of planned communication, remote conferencing technology has made proximity less important. The reason is that within-team communication typically happens on a planned and routine basis, so all it needs is a digital platform.

This message came out clearly from a panel event we organised at the LSE’s Systemic Risk Centre. Charles Bristow, global head of rates trading at investment bank JP Morgan, and one of the panellists, explained that “a team of people trading together on a single product are getting incoming inquiries through the same channels” and “use the same tools”. For that reason, communicating remotely is incredibly easy and can even be more efficient.

So physical proximity is primarily needed for unplanned communication. It means remote working can continue at little cost to planned communication. And it potentially means that if companies want to bring limited numbers of people back to the office, they should focus on having at least one member from every team. This will enable cross-team communication, which relies on physical proximity.

Keeping everyone engaged Another important element of office design to take into account is the extent that it facilitates employee engagement – whether people leave their desks to come into face-to-face contact.

This is important for building better relationships between colleagues and company culture.

To facilitate this, the focus on social distancing must distinguish between distance and accessibility. While distance reduces the extent that

people can engage with each other and collaborate, research in architecture shows that ease of access and facilitating movement can partly compensate for distance.

As Sailer has established, in a house where every room is accessible to every other room via a door, connection is far easier than in one where you can only access a given room from the adjoining one. The same degree of distancing between people, in other words, can lead to vastly different levels of engagement.

To achieve this connectivity (while maintaining social distance), companies can leverage the staggered return of employees to remove some

desks and create a corridor around the periphery of their open plan offices, giving employees the chance to easily access each other. Encounters and conversations can be further facilitated by nooks and corners outside such a corridor, so that employees can have quick one-on-ones without blocking circulation.

The return to the office after months of remote working gives companies a chance to make their setups more effective. They can incorporate the benefits of remote working, while ensuring people can interact and exchange ideas in a safer way than if they blindly replicated their pre-COVID work arrangements.p Daniel Beunza is an Associate Professor of Management, City, University of London Derin Kent is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Management, Aalto University

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December 2020

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14

In the News

UAW to Face 6 Years of Federal Monitorship

Statement of NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento on the Met’s Lockout of Local One IATSE

D

ecember 14, 2020: The U.S. Department of Justice announced a long-awaited settlement deal with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. The deal is meant to weed out corruption in the union following a multiyear federal investigation that found 12 UAW officials — including the wife of a former official and two former union presidents — guilty of an array of crimes, including embezzling union funds and defrauding union members.

The settlement includes six years of federal union oversight by a court-appointed independent monitor. It also allows union members a secret ballot election where they can vote on whether to change their constitution to allow for the direct election of future leaders. UAW rank-and-file have called for direct elections in the past as part of the Unite All Workers for Democracy movement.

While the appointed monitor will oversee this election and other anti-corruption reforms, he or she will not play a role in negotiating collective bargaining agreements on behalf of the union. The monitor will, however, be able to exercise disciplinary power within the union, and should corruption concerns continue, the monitorship could be extended for longer than the initial six years.

In a press conference, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said the goal of the settlement was “genuine democratic reform” at the UAW, where former leaders have been convicted of “breaking federal labor laws, stealing union

AG Schneider Photo courtesy Justice.gov

funds, receiving bribes and illegal benefits, and trying to cover up the crimes.” The union has already paid back $15 million in improper chargebacks, as well as $1.5 million to resolve tax issues, according to the U.S. Attorney.

The settlement did not include any further fines or penalties for the union, noting that any additional charges would come from the pockets of union members, who have already lost millions of dollars.

This corruption scandal — which we’ve documented at UAWInvestigation.com — has placed a long-lasting black mark on the UAW’s record.

Regaining members’ trust won’t happen over night, despite current President Rory Gamble’s promise to ensure the independent monitor’s job is a “boring” one — i.e. free of any future scandal.

This settlement puts an end to the years-long investigation at the UAW. The result is a win for the thousands of auto workers who have been wronged by a union that was supposed to protect them, and a crucial first step in holding UAW leadership accountable to its rank-and-file.p —LaborPains

N

YC: The dedicated and hard-working stagehands, shop crew members and designers of Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) have been out of work throughout the coronavirus pandemic after the Metropolitan Opera

house shut down. Now, adding insult to injury, the Met has locked out these workers in a despicable attempt to use this crisis as leverage during contract negotiations.

It’s a new low. Even worse, Met management is demanding IATSE members take a 30

percent pay cut for an indefinite period, in exchange for short term relief payments the Met knows these workers desperately need.

It is outrageous and shameful which is why the members of Local One IATSE have the full support of their 2.5 million brothers and sisters of the New York State AFL-CIO. We stand with them and all the unionized workers at the Met in their fight for fairness during these challenging times.

We are all in this crisis together but workers, who are already paying such an extraordinary price, cannot and must not be taken advantage of.p —NYS AFL-CIO

CWA Contract with AT&T Extended for Mobility Workers

W

ashington, D.C.: The Communications Workers of America and AT&T have agreed to extend two contracts covering 24,000 technicians, call center customer support workers and representatives at AT&T's retail stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. The “Orange” contract was set to expire on February 11, 2021 and the “Black” contract was set to expire on February 10, 2022. Each contract will be extended by one year.

The extension includes a 2.5% wage increase effective on the original contract expiration

dates. Benefits remain the same under the existing cost sharing agreement. In addition, groundbreaking job security protections negotiated in 2017 remain in place.

This AT&T and CWA also agreed that AT&T Mobility Call Center employees who are temporarily working from home due to the COVID19 pandemic can continue to do so through June of 2021.

The CWA AT&T Mobility “Orange” Contract covers workers in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, In-

diana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming The CWA AT&T Mobility “Black” Contract covers workers in the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.p —CWA

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December 2020

15

Jobs & Recession

Finding Fulfillment: Is This the Right time to Switch Careers?

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people in countless ways. From quarantine and social distancing to remote working, furlough and job loss, many people are reassessing how they spend their time and make money. Turning proverbial lemons into lemonade, people of all ages and backgrounds have decided to pivot their careers to do something that they truly enjoy.

Time provides the gift of insight With extra time at home, people are taking stock of their jobs and paths for the future.

They are exploring hobbies and passions that may have been put on hold. Finding enjoyment in these activities and realizing strengths and talents can be the inspiration for a new chapter. For example: * Limited restaurant hours and

options paired with ample kitchen time has inspired foodies to flex their culinary muscles. Some have started showing off their creations on social media and recording how-to videos to share with friends and family. Live cooking videos have been a fun way to connect socially with others from a distance. * Having last-minute needs for items like desks, DIYers started working on projects in garages and sheds, realizing they have a maker mindset and handy capabilities. Talking with others and sharing images of finished projects, they've discovered their talents are in demand. * Unexpected changes due to hour reduction, job loss and more have financial consequences for many families.

After creating agile budgets that help their family thrive in

uncertain times, some may even share their budgeting tips and find joy in helping others discover financial security.

The silver lining of the pandemic is the gift of time for reflection and self-discovery.

However, it's one thing to enjoy a talent or passion, it's another to figure out how to monetize it.

Desire inspires the need for change Being your own boss is appealing. If you've discovered a talent and you want to make it a career, it's important to explore options that can help set you up for success. Taking orders for custom-made desks can be a rewarding side gig or even full-time career, if you have the space, tools and organization skills. Passionate cooks can explore culinary school and consider hosting online cooking classes to help

garner some money and grow their reputation.

For people who desire to help others with budgeting or financial concerns there's no better time to explore the possibilities for a bright, vibrant new career as a financial professional. Organizations such as The Guardian Life Insurance Company provide training on how to build your career and find clients. They partner you with mentors in a team setting so that you can learn from peers as you help

clients reach financial confidence. They even provide proprietary software that will help you build plans for clients so they can visualize their future success.

Financial representatives are in demand A financial representative is someone who owns their own business and makes their own hours. You can decide areas of specialty and what you're most continued on page 16

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December 2020

16

Home Ownership

Buying a Short Sale

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

I

t seems like many people have heard the term “short sale,” but few know what it really is. If the idea of pursuing a short sale house intrigues you, you’re not alone. Short sales can result in bargains for buyers, but the process takes patience.

The personal financial website Bankrate defines a short sale this way: A short sale is when a house is sold for less than what the homeowner owes on it, and the lender or lenders don’t get all their money back. Short sales only occur with the lender’s permission when a home’s value has declined and the mortgage holder owes more than the home is worth. The homeowner not only has no equity, but in fact has negative equity.

Because the market is flooded with short sales, there’s a good chance you’ll run across more than a few anywhere in the U.S. But because the negotia-

tions take time, many find the process — which typically takes four to six months — stressful to endure.

However, if you possess the right amount of fortitude, buyers can reap great rewards from a short sale.

It’s wise to remember than simply because a seller isn’t profiting from the sale doesn’t mean they’ll take the first offer than comes along. Bidding wars often erupt before an agent can present the seller with the best offer. Top dollar doesn’t always rule the day either, as terms and financing play an important role.

While you can wind up with a great home at below market value, there are downsides to short sales. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, also known as Freddie Mac, outlined these pitfalls to consider before deciding to bid on a short sale: Short sales may take longer to close. Lien-holders may need to approve the short sale

and that takes time, so if buyers are on a timetable, a short sale may not be ideal.

Short sale properties are often sold on an as-is basis, meaning the sellers won’t make any repairs to the property. The buyer may also incur higher closing costs because the approving lender usually won’t pay for any extras, like inspections.

Sellers may have to pay money at closing or agree to an unsecured debt to have the sale approved. If the seller balks, the sale may still fall through.

Free Consultation Need assistance? We will be happy to meet with you and share our guidance. Schedule an appointment today. call us at 855768-8845.p

Switch Careers/ continued from page 15 passionate about.

Financial representatives come from all backgrounds and exploring this career doesn't require previous experience. There is a growing need in the industry to have people from diverse groups become financial representatives in order to best represent a diverse group of clientele.

Is it time you changed your future?

Many people have been reassessing their life path during the pandemic and desire to make a change so they can spend their time doing something they love while making an honest living. If this is something you've been thinking about, there's no better time to consider options and opportunities. (BPT)p

Get more resources to help your professional career and boost your confidence at www.freeparalegal.org

December 2020

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17

Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights

TPS Extended Another 9 Months for Certain Countries

BY JENNIFER IBANEZ WHITLOCK

T

he Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an important announcement on December 9 about the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) designations for people from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. TPS recipients from these six countries received an additional nine-month permission to remain and work in the United States.

There has also been increased attention paid to Central America, after two hurricanes caused extensive damage to the region in November. This and other factors support designating TPS for Guatemala and extending TPS to eligible nationals from Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua already in the U.S. Congress created TPS to protect people from being forcibly returned to a country that is

facing an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions that would make returning life-threatening.

The nine-month extension for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan is a result of pending litigation in three separate cases: Ramos v. Wolf, Bhattarai v. Wolf, and Saget v. Trump.

DHS was forced to automatically extend TPS for beneficiaries from the six countries named in the litigation. Having TPS is vital—it allows people to work legally, receive driver’s licenses, and apply for social security numbers. It allows people to be self-sustaining in the U.S. Originally, TPS for the six countries named in the Bhattarai case was set to expire on January 4, 2021. The extension impacts the lives of approximately 300,000 TPS holders na-

tionwide.

Many are long-term residents who have lived in the U.S. for close to 20 years. They are part of the country’s “essential critical infrastructure” workforce in occupations such as healthcare, food, and transportation.

These TPS designations— often a matter of life and death—need to be thoughtfully considered.

Many TPS holders are parents to U.S. citizen children. These U.S. citizen children would either be forced to immigrate to their parent’s birth countries or remain without them in this country. TPS holders also own homes and businesses that could potentially be abandoned and shuttered.

The TPS community and their families are not a problem for the U.S. to solve. Rather, it is an opportunity to move forward together. This is why a permanent solution to the legal limbo TPS holders face is crucial.

Congress can provide a leg-

islative fix too by passing a bill allowing eligible people to apply for permanent status. In the meantime, there has also been litigation pushing for TPS holders to be able to become lawful permanent residents if they hold close family relationships or certain employment in the U.S. Regardless of the outcome of these lawsuits, TPS is a humanitarian and legal solution that Congress deemed good public policy. There is a clear process, precedent, and guidelines for the Biden administration to follow.

The incoming administration should not shrink away from adding new countries or opening eligibility to nationals from currently designated countries.

In November, category 4 hurricanes Eta and Iota made landfall in Central America within two weeks of each other. It was deemed “unprecedented” for two category 4 hurricanes to make landfall so close together.

This destruction came on top of already “significantly compromised public health resources” in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. The Biden administration should consider extending protection to these countries.

In a system that often does not have a way for people to receive lawful immigration status, TPS is a beacon of hope and safety. People with TPS and their families have been in legal limbo long enough—it is time to give them the opportunity to breathe a little easier by supporting a pathway to permanent legal status.p

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December 2020

18

Love, Health & Travel

There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays – and That’s What Makes the Pandemic’s Winter Surge Particularly Devastating

BY FRANK MCANDREW THE CONVERSATION

W

hile Christmas playlists often include cheesy favorites like “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” there are also a handful of wistful tracks that go a little bit deeper.

Listen closely to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” or “White Christmas,” and you’ll hear a deep yearning for home and sorrow at having to spend the holidays somewhere else.

During no holiday season in recent memory have these songs resonated so deeply with so many. The pandemic

has upended holiday traditions, and for those who eagerly anticipate annual visits to their hometowns to celebrate with loved ones, the cancellations of these plans are yet another blow to endure in a long, grinding year.

Strip away the cursory Christmas rituals – the TV specials, the lights, the gifts, the music – and what remains is home. It is the beating heart of the holiday, and its importance reflects our primal need to have a meaningful relationship with a setting – a place that transcends the boundary between the self and the physical world.

Can you love a place like a person?

Most of us can probably name at least one place we feel an emotional connection to. But you probably don’t realize just how much a place can influence your sense of who you are, or how essential it is for your psychological wellbeing.

Psychologists even possess an entire vocabu-

lary for the affectionate bonds between people and places: There’s “topophilia,” “rootedness” and “attachment to place,” which are all used to describe the feelings of comfort and security that bind us to a place.

Your fondness for a place – whether it’s the house where you lived your whole life, or the

fields and woods where you played as a child – can even mimic the affection you feel for other people.

Studies have shown that a forced relocation can elicit continued on page 19

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December 2020

19

Love, Health & Travel No Place Like Home/ continued from page 18 heartbreak and distress every bit as intense as the loss of a loved one. Another study found that if you feel a strong attachment to your town or city, you’ll be more satisfied with your house and you’ll also be less anxious about your future.

Our physical surroundings play an important role in creating meaning and organization in our lives; much of how we view our lives and what we have become depends on where we’ve lived, and the experiences we’ve had there.

So it’s no surprise that architecture professor Kim Dovey, who has studied the concept of home and the experience of homelessness, confirmed that where we live is closely tied to our sense of who we are.

An anchor of order and comfort At the same time, the concept of home can be slippery.

One of the first questions we ask when we meet someone new is “Where are you from?”

But we seldom pause to consider how complicated that

question is. Does it mean where you currently live?

Where you were born? Where you grew up?

Environmental psychologists have long understood that the word “home” clearly connotes more than just a house. It encompasses people, places, objects and memories.

So what or where, exactly, do people consider “home”?

A 2008 Pew study asked people to identify “the place in your heart you consider to be home.” Twenty-six percent reported that home was where they were born or raised; only 22% said that it was where they currently lived. Eighteen percent identified home as the

place that they had lived the longest, and 15% felt that it was where most of their extended family had come from.

But if you look at different cultures across time, a common thread emerges.

No matter where they come from, people tend to think about home as a central place that represents order, a counterbalance to the chaos that exists elsewhere. This might explain why, when asked to draw a picture of “where you live,” children and adolescents around the world invariably place their house in the center of the sheet of paper. In short, it’s what everything else revolves around.

Anthropologists Charles

Hart and Arnold Pilling lived among the the Tiwi People of Bathurst Island off the coast of Northern Australia during the 1920s. They noted that the Tiwi thought their island was the only habitable place in the world; to them, everywhere else was the “land of the dead.”

The Zuni of the American Southwest, meanwhile, have long viewed the house as a living thing. It’s where they raise their kids and communicate with spirits, and there’s an annual ritual – called the Shalako – in which homes are blessed and consecrated as part of the year-end winter solstice celebration.

The ceremony strengthens

STAY SAFE, STAY HOME! DO NOT TRAVEL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

Traveling puts you, your loved ones and our community at risk of getting sick and spreading COVID-19.

If you must travel, be prepared to get tested for COVID-19 and to quarantine when you return.

For more information about COVID-19, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus.

For the latest information regarding NYS travel restrictions, visit ny.gov/traveladvisory.

bonds to the community, to the family – including dead ancestors – and to the spirits and gods by dramatizing the connection each party has to the home.

During the holidays, we might not officially bless our home like the Zuni. But our holiday traditions probably sound familiar: eating with family, exchanging gifts, catching up with old friends and visiting old haunts. These homecoming rituals affirm and renew a person’s place in the family and often are a key way to strengthen the family’s social fabric.

Home, therefore, is a predictable and secure place where you feel in control and properly oriented in space and time; it is a bridge between your past and your present, an enduring tether to your family and friends.

It is a place where, as the poet Robert Frost aptly wrote, “When you have to go there, they have to take you in.”p

Frank McAndrew is the Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology at Knox College

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December 2020

20

Love, Health & Travel

Resolve to Achieve Healthy Sleep In 2021

A

ccording to a recent survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 85% of U.S. adults do not get the recommended seven hours or more of sleep every night.

After a challenging and stressful year, the New Year provides Americans with the opportunity to refocus on the importance of making healthy sleep a priority.

"Our survey findings show a worrying trend of national sleep deprivation," said AASM president Dr. Kannan Ramar.

"Insufficient sleep contributes to the risk for several of today's public health epidemics, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. As such, it is critical that we incorporate healthy sleep habits and routines into our daily lives to be our best in 2021."

Why should we make healthy sleep a New Year's resolution?

The AASM recommends that adults sleep at least seven hours each night to promote

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optimal health and wellbeing. In the same survey, slightly more than one-third (34%) of Americans said they sleep for seven or more hours only two nights - or fewer each week, in line with findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Regularly sleeping less than seven hours per day is associated with an increased risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and frequent mental distress. Resolve to make 365 days of healthy sleep your goal for 2021 by keeping in mind its extensive benefits:

well-being and can improve relationships with others. * Sleep makes you smarter Getting the right amount of sleep is conducive to learning, memory recall, creativity and cognitive function.

* Sleep makes you healthier Without good sleep, both mental and physical health suffer greatly, putting Americans at an increased risk of chronic disease.

What is inhibiting us from achieving the recommended seven hours of sleep?

Despite evidence showing the importance of adequate sleep, it often can take a back seat to other behaviors we find important. According to the AASM's July 2020 survey, a vast majority (68%) of U.S. adults lose sleep due to drinking alcohol past bedtime.

Americans also report staying up past their bedtime to bingewatch a TV show or stream a video series (88%), read a book (66%), watch a sporting event (58%) and play video games (50%).

* Sleep makes you happier Sleep has a positive effect on mood and overall sense of

How has the pandemic impacted sleep?

With a change in daily rou-

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

tines, the COVID-19 pandemic is also disrupting sleep for Americans. According to the AASM survey, one in five Americans (22%) are sleeping worse due to the pandemic, and 19% are getting less nightly sleep.

"Despite the fact that many Americans are no longer commuting to and from work, it is paramount to establish and maintain morning and bedtime rituals, such as getting up and going to bed at regular times to achieve adequate sleep," added Ramar.

What are some tips to kick off the New Year with healthy sleep? * Obtain adequate sleep - Set a bedtime that allows you to get enough sleep so you wake up feeling refreshed and alert.

Identify an appropriate bedtime for your age and lifestyle using the AASM bedtime calculator. * Establish a bedtime and waketime routine - Consider developing a nightly routine that evokes calm and relaxation, which may include reading, journaling or meditating.

Even for those working remotely, allow ample time to wake, reflect and prepare for the day ahead. * Ensure the bedroom is a space for sleep - Limit noise and distractions by making your bedroom quiet, dark and a little bit cool - and only use the bed for sleeping, not watching TV or reading.

Contact:

Stacy Young Board Certified Holistic Health Coach

* Set boundaries for blue light exposure - Consider setting a technology curfew by turning off your TV and other electronic devices 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime. Silence your notifications and charge your devices away from your bed so you are not tempted to look at social media or news alerts. * Limit alcohol, caffeine and large meals before bed - Avoid consuming caffeine after lunch and avoid alcohol near bedtime, as both can disrupt sleep.

If hungry after dinner, keep snacks small, sugar-free and easily digestible so as to not disrupt sleep. (BPT)p

Tel: 917-459-8431 Stacy@HealthCoachStacyNYC.com

Mydoterra.com/stacyyoung

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December 2020

21

Love, Health & Travel

Is It Time to Talk With Your Spouse About A Separation?

BY JANET HOWARD

I

f you and your partner have been struggling to get along, facing impossible obstacles, or simply fighting constantly, you might be thinking about separating from them. The choice to separate can be either temporary or permanent but is often viewed as a way for you to enjoy some time apart from one another and re-evaluate how your relationship will function moving forward. Before you talk with your spouse about separating, however, it’s important to consider how this choice will impact your life. Here’s what you need to think about.

Will this be permanent?

For some couples, the choice to separate is a temporary one. If you simply need a break from your partner but aren’t interested in divorce or permanent separation, make sure you focus on this when you bring

up the topic. Let them know that you do not want a permanent separation, but rather, that you need some time to yourself. A temporary separation can be a positive way to decide whether you want to continue living alone or whether your relationship is worth salvaging. Sometimes having some time apart can give you the clarity you’ve been searching for and can help you make important decisions about your future.

Is counseling an option?

Before you rush off to rent your own apartment, consider whether you and your partner should attend therapy or counseling together. Sometimes communicating in a more effective way can be beneficial. A therapist can help you accomplish this. If you and your partner constantly struggle to demonstrate your opinions and express your ideas in a healthy way, counseling could

give you the skills you need to move forward and could prevent you from separating. Additionally, if you have children, family therapy can be quite beneficial after periods of stress.

How will your children be impacted?

When there are children involved, it’s important to consider how the separation will affect them. Whether your kids are five years old or seventeen, they will experience changes when you and your partner

separate from one another.

You’ll need to decide who your children will live with, how you’ll handle custody arrangements, and whether they’ll continue attending the same school. For some kids, dealing with separation can be emotionally stressful, so you’ll need to be ready to handle that. Open communication is very important for any family but is especially vital when you’re thinking about separating. Your kids will need to be reassured that you and your partner still love them.

No matter what type of situation you’re dealing with, it’s important to consult with an attorney in your state before you choose to separate. There may be legal steps you need to take before you and your partner take a break, so make sure you reach out to an attorney today. Your lawyer can guide you throughout the separation process and will let you know what steps you need to take in order to make your separation a legal one. p

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December 2020

22

Conversations

Prisoners Hoping for Mercy Place Little Faith in Cuomo

BY REUVEN BLAU THE CITY

W

hen a prison counselor recently asked Frank Pruitt to sign a medical release form in response to his clemency application he was overjoyed.

Pruitt, who has been in prison for 31 years for the murder of two teens in Queens, thought it meant his application was moving along and that he’d soon be freed from Attica.

“Unfortunately, it certainly seems to me that it’s just an administrative step that doesn’t carry much weight,” said his lawyer, Steve Zeidman.

“So it just raises false hope.”

It is unclear how many other state prisoners have been asked to sign off on similar releases so that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his staff can review their entire files.

But very few prisoners get to the final cut, despite Cuomo promising in 2015 to make the process “a more accessible and tangible reality.”

Cuomo this year has granted clemency to three male prisoners during the pandemic and two others, including one woman, in January, preCOVID-19.

Pruitt was 18 when he fatally shot Tyrone Lee, 17, and Jahar Bellamy, 18, inside an apartment building lobby in Far Rockaway on April 21, 1989.

He was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison and won’t be eligible for parole until February 2039, when he’ll be 68.

Pruitt’s supporters worry that he will not make it that long, especially with COVID19 cases spiking in Attica.

There were 102 confirmed cases in the facility as of Dec. 18, according to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Prison rights advocates point out that it is impossible to social distance behind bars.

A prisoner died from COVID-19 complications in Clinton Correctional Facility on Monday and another at Woodbourne Correctional Facility on Dec. 18, DOCCS records show. Since the start of December, 668 people have tested positive and two have

Criminal justice reform advocates call on Governor Andrew Cuomo to grant clemency to prisoners, outside the governor’s Midtown office, Dec. 22, 2020. Hiram Alejandro Durán/THE CITY died — bringing the total since the pandemic to 20 fatalities, prison data reveals.

“This may be the only opportunity for people who have languished in prison to go back to their homes. We hope the governor understands this,” said Jose Saldana, director of Release Aging People in Prison.

Traumatic Childhood to Profound Regrets Pruitt’s backers say that he has made extraordinary strides behind bars, is no longer a scared teen and has deep remorse from the crime he committed as he tried to break up a dispute.

He has led a Bible study course for 10 years and participated in “every single vocational and educational program recommended for him, and more,” according to his clemency application. He got married 15 years ago and was recently accepted as a peer counselor in Attica’s suicide prevention program.

Pruitt was raised by a single mother who struggled with a heroin and crack addiction, according to his clemency application. He lived with her and two sisters in a Rockaways NYCHA development.

His father was an alcoholic who once severely beat him, a trauma that left him scarred as a teen, according to the clemency request.

“Mr. Pruitt grew up without a stable parental figure with the tools to take care of him and be a positive role model,” the filing says. “Instead, Mr. Pruitt explicitly learned to resolve conflicts through violence.”

When he was 8, “Pruitt was beaten up badly and his

mother ended up slashing the other child’s mother in the face with a knife,” according to the clemency application.

His mom was arrested and sentenced to jail. Pruitt and his sisters went to live with their grandparents.

He shared a room with another relative, whom, he alleges, sexually abused him from when he was 9 until he turned 11, according to his lawyers. Kids at his new school bullied him and “he overreacted to these perceived threats and instigated fights,” the clemency application says.

“One time I punched a kid and took his bike and didn’t even know why,” Pruitt is quoted saying in the report.

As a teen, he dropped out of school and began selling drugs. A few months before his crime Pruitt was robbed at gunpoint in the stairwell of the same building, according to his lawyers. So he bought a gun for protection, a choice “he profoundly regrets,” the filing says.

Potential ‘Credible Messengers’ Pruitt is just one of thousands of people in prison seeking mercy from Cuomo.

State prisoners have submitted at least 6,489 applications for reduced sentences since 2016, after the governor announced a more merciful approach to dealing with requests, THE CITY reported last year.

The overwhelming majority of inmates, many of them serving life terms, made just a single application. Prisoners can go years without a response from DOCCS or Cuomo’s team, which reviews the pleas.

Zeidman, who has multiple

pending clemency applications, contends that the release of some older prisoners who have served long sentences would actually increase public safety by reuniting families.

“Here’s someone who can lend emotional, physical, financial support, because communities have been devastated,” he said, noting that many could also serve as “credible messengers” to caution others against committing crimes.

“We waste that level of talent and commitment, by warehousing people till they die in prison,” said Zeidman.

He argues applicants should also be kept informed on where their cases stand or if there’s a need for additional information.

Thomas Mailey, a DOCCS spokesperson, defended the clemency process, saying the Executive Clemency Bureau receives and thoroughly reviews applications on a consistent basis.

The review includes an evaluation of the “facts and circumstances” of the crime and an assessment of what the person has done while locked up, he said. The bureau then sends eligible applicants to the governor’s office for review.

‘Gotten People’s Hopes Up’ In 2015, Cuomo vowed to revamp the process. But he hasn’t kept a promise to make decisions on a quarterly basis, according to lawyers with pending applications.

“We were hopeful because we really got the impression that it was going to be done on a large scale and take on overincarceration,” said Ted Hausman, a supervising attorney at the Legal Aid Society who handles clemency cases.

“There are a lot of people who are strong candidates for clemency that the governor has overlooked,” he added.

“He has gotten people’s hopes up.

Prisoner advocates say Cuomo’s five commutations this year and 24 in total since 2011 pales compared to President Donald Trump and some other governors — including his own father, Mario Cuomo, who issued 37 commutations during his three terms in office from 1983 to 1994.

New York Gov. Hugh Carey granted 155 commutations during his two terms from 1975 to 1982. Now former California Gov. Jerry Brown commuted 154 sentences during his 16 years in office.

Mailey, the state prisons spokesperson, noted that Cuomo has released more than 3,500 inmates early this year, mostly due to the pandemic.

Critics point out that none of those people were convicted of serious crimes where only clemency would give them a chance at freedom.

Advocates in New York are urging state lawmakers to back several measures to reform the system, including one bill that would automatically grant parole hearings to all prisoners when they turn 55, if they have served 15 years or more.

On Tuesday night, about 75 people protested outside of Cuomo’s New York City’s Office in East Midtown. They urged the governor to take sweeping action on the clemency front while holding signs reading: “Cuomo Let Them Go!” “Clemency Now!” and “COVID + Prison = Death.”

“On behalf of the men at Green Haven prison, I want to offer an apology for the pain that we have caused,” said Stanley Bellamy who called into the rally from the lockup.

Bellamy, who is serving 62 ½ years to life for a murder conviction and has a pending clemency application, added, ”We ask that you give us a chance to be assets to our communities.”p

This story was published on December 22, 2020 by THE CITY.

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