By Alfonsina Venegas

On Thursday, a broad coalition of business, labor, grassroots, environmental and advocacy groups known as the Fix Our Transit Coalition got together in Bowling Green, to celebrate a great achievement. The law of congestion pricing that was envisioned more that 10 years ago by supporters of the cause recently was approved by legislators in Albany.

John Raskin, Executive Director of the Riders Alliance, acted as the MC and introduced the speakers to the podium. Raskin opened the act by saying:

Fix Our Transit activists. Credit: Alfonsina Venegas

“Congestion pricing is a policy that serves everybody. It’s an economic development policy that will help the city move faster so that goods and services can move around and will save billions of dollars every year for New York’s economy. This policy is good for real estate growth, for affordable housing, and for transit riders, who are the city’s working class, and folks who don’t have the option of taking private vehicles into the center of Manhattan.”

As the participants clapped and cheered, Raskin called on Senator Michael Gianaris, who said: “Without a functioning mass transit system the entire city will grind to a halt. We are seeing the consequences of that on a daily basis, people delayed getting to work, trains breaking down, things that need massive investment of funds and smart spending of funds, and that’s the process we have been going through this week, by passing a budget that finally gives the MTA the resources it needs to get the job done, but now we have to make sure the job gets done.”

Kathy Wild, of Partnership for NYC said, “This is going to improve quality life, it’s going to reduce cost for business and for private citizens and for people getting around, and it’s going to provide funding for our transit system.”

City Council Member Rodriguez offered, “This is good for the 8.5 millions of New Yorkers who may agree or disagree with the congestion pricing: When they see the results, when they see that more money will be used to make more train stations accessible to run their buses in time, they will see that this is a victory.”

As more advocates and grassroots individuals spoke at the podium, the turn for Assembly Member (57th district, Kings County) Walter Mosley came:

“This is a collection of people that normally won’t see eye to eye on many issues; but we understand that we all live in one city, under one transportation system, and to me, over these next 18 months, it is critical to think how we spend this money and how we manage it. We have one last mile and a half to be able to do what is right for the people we represent throughout the five boroughs of our great city.”

When asked about how the congestion pricing plan works, Mosley explained:

“It’s a program within the central business district in Manhattan, where people who come into that district will be levied a toll probably through some electronic device, and that money will then be allocated towards the up-keeping and upgrading of our transportation system as well as dealing with issues in regards to places that are transportation deserts. The idea is to expand on our bus routes and subway routes and all the places of the city that are under-served.”

Today’s sunny morning was perfect to celebrate the good news for the people that has fought hard to get approved these changes that our city transit system needs so urgently.

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“Cloud Madonna.” Credit: Carolann Lowe

By Carolann Lowe

The National Museum of the American Indian held a press preview on Thursday of the At the Edge of America exhibit, featuring the work of the Native American artist T.C. Cannon. Cannon explores the activism and creative expressions that defined America in the 1960s and 1970s. The exhibit displays Cannon’s paintings, sketches and poetry. A guitarist and sings, his music is played in the background.

Cannon, in his art, confronts biases of the dominant Western culture. His art reveals how Native Americans persisted and even flourished, a truth that he and others feel has been absent from American and art history. Canon’s work is also a powerful reclamation of America as an Indian country.

Native people have not only been absent in art and history, but when they appear they are misrepresented. This has been true for centuries. Cannon disrupts historical portrayals.

“Soldier.” Credit: Carolann Lowe

One of Cannon’s paintings showing this disruption is the “Cloud Madonna.” The Virgin Mary is associated with Christianity and embedded in Western religious beliefs. Cannon visualizes the Virgin Mary as a brown skinned woman wearing a blue mantle. She is seen holding a melon as opposed to an infant child, and her water jar serves as her halo.

Cannon’s artwork urges the viewer to reflect on the contradictions of the Native Americans’ place in American history. Much is unknown to most of the country: Forty two thousand Native Americans served in the Vietnam War from 1964-1975, for example. Following Cannon’s completion of art school, he served as a soldier in the Vietnam War.

Many American Indians have viewed their participation in the U.S. armed forces as continuation of the warrior’s role in their native culture. He is proud to have served as an American warrior.

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By Milette Millington

Attorney General Letitia James, along with Attorney Generals from California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico, Vermont, and Washington D.C., this week filed a lawsuit yesterday against the Trump administration over nutrition standards in schools.

Established in 1946, the National School Lunch Program is a federally subsidized program that provides students with healthy, balanced meals in schools at low- or no-cost. Since that time, Congress has taken action to ensure that program’s nutritional guidelines keep current with the best scientific evidence with the most recent modernization occurring in 2010 with the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, according to the press release on James’ website.

James announced the filing of the suit Wednesday in front of Public School 67 in Brooklyn, which serves residents of Ingersoll Houses run by NYCHA (the New York City Housing Authority). She said that ninety-nine percent of those students qualified for free or reduced-price meals, according to the report in the New York Times.

Last year, President Donald Trump’s Department of Agriculture issued a ruling allowing for more sodium and cutting the whole grain requirement in half.

About 30 million children in public schools are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches, and for many low-income students, the food they consume at school comprises much of their overall diets, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

That number includes the students living in the Ingersoll public housing, as well as many other neighborhoods throughout New York City. James said in a statement, “The Trump administration has undermined key health benefits for our children…with deliberate disregard for science, expert opinion, and the law.”

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By Brianna Mikes

Members of Make The Road NY (MRNY) on Long Island came together earlier in solidarity with other people of color to tell stories about struggles as minorities.

Among the demands they agreed to make: Giving access to driver’s licenses to all qualified drivers regardless of their immigration status; extending tenant protections to all renters; ending the so-called school-to-prison pipeline; ensuring police accountability; achieving a fair public financing system for elections with a 6 to 1 match; and decriminalizing sex work.

Credit: Brianna Mikes

“Good afternoon, my name is Sylvia,” said Sylvia Garcia, a member of MRNY. “I have lived on Long Island for 17 years. With a license, I could go to work, take my children to the doctor when an emergency arises, and I can drive without fear.”

“One night a couple of years ago, I had an allergic reaction that almost took my breath away,” Garcia said. “I had to go to the emergency room, and the only way to get there quickly was by car. My husband, who doesn’t have a license, borrowed a car and drove, and . . . If my husband had not driven that night, I don’t know what would’ve happened to me.”

Garcia further said: “Other occasions have been when my daughter has gotten sick at school, and I needed to pick her up . . . I had to lose a whole day of work since waiting for the bus takes a long time, but it’s my only option. My problems are not unique or special – they are many immigrant families here on Long Island going through the same thing. That’s why I’m here today to ask our senators to support this organization and restore access to driver’s licenses for all. ¡Sí se puede! [Yes, we can!]”

“I live in Hempstead, Long Island,” said Mirna Portillo, a member of MRNY. “I’m from El Salvador, and I’ve had TPS (temporary protected status) since 2001.”

She continued, “A few years ago, I was diagnosed with having stress, anxiety, depression, which has created many other health problems. I need regular MediCare. I am now really lucky to have low-cost health insurance, and I can access all my treatments and medicine that I need. President Trump is trying the end TPS from many countries, including El Salvador. They are saying that my TPS will end in January of 2020. If my TPS ends, I will be left without insurance. I am extremely scared. This will affect my whole life because I cannot afford my prescriptions. I won’t feel well enough to leave my house and may not be able to work. For this reason, I ask New York state assembly members and senators to support by passing this legislation. ¡Sí se puede!”

“I stand here today as a renter who believes that everyone should have access to dignified and affordable housing across our state,” stated Maria Hernandez, another member of MRNY.

“For decades, New Yorkers have benefitted from various forms of rent control,” she added. “Necessary tenant protections that prevented unjust evictions and insane rent hikes [have occurred]. Today, however, those benefits have disappeared. Because of real estate’s tight grip on Albany, thousands of tenants each year lose their protection and their homes. This is not right. In 2019, we need a state legislature that will fight to not just renew the rent laws, but to strengthen them. ¡Sí se puede!”

Twyla Joseph, who identified herself as a youth leader, said: “Young people of color on Long Island need our elected officials to pass legislation that ensures us justice and equity in our schools and communities . . . In Long Island, black students are disproportionately pushed out of schools.”

She added, “In Suffolk [County], black girls are 11 times more likely to be suspended, often from minor infractions . . . We have to change the way we think about safety. Safety is not metal detectors, police, or suspending students. Safety is giving students the social and mental support we need. It is important that the state of New York takes the lead on defending all students, especially black students and students of color.”

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By Joe Leo

New Yorkers have a health crisis on their hands. Measles has resurfaced in New York State and is causing one of the biggest health scares of the twenty-first century.

At a press conference held in front of City Hall on Thursday, state senators accompanied by state physicians said that getting rid of the religious exemption for vaccinations is a necessity for public health.

They are pushing legislation to bar the so-called religious exemption, allowing some to escape the requirement that their children be vaccinated.

“Parents are being misled by ‘junk science’ and using a personal belief loophole not to get their kids vaccinated,” State Senator Brad Holyman said.

Since 2018 there have been 400 confirmed cases of measles in New York State. The press was a response to the state of emergency that Rockland County announced one week ago following an outbreak of measles, with 161 people said to have the disease.

David Carlucci, who represents Rockland County in the senate, said New York State has to wake up to the crisis it is facing.

Measles was reported to have been eradicated in the United States by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. But it has been making a return with a combination of non-vaccinated children in the U.S. and the virus coming in from outside the country.

New York State Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz said, “Not getting your kid vaccinated is not just doing wrong by your kid, but doing wrong for all children.”

Holyman added, “Parents have been misinformed and driven to fear [of the vaccination] . . .”

A bill to their, outlawing the religious exemption in California, was heavily referenced during the hour-long press conference. Following a similar measles outbreak, California lawmakers got rid of all religious exemptions and increased their vaccination rate from 90 percent to 95 percent.

“Fifty million people can’t be wrong,” Dinowitz shouted when bringing up the California bill.

Dr. Shelia L. Palevsky suggested that New York State should not allow children into any school in the state if they are not vaccinated. “Measles is the most contagious disease we know about, more than Ebola,” the doctor said.

New York state is not the only state fighting to remove religious exemption for vaccinations. Iowa, Maine, New Jersey, and Vermont are all planning to draw up bills barring religious exemption. Currently four states do not allow religious exemptions: Arizona, California, Mississippi, and West Virginia. City Council Health Chair Mark Levine was not in attendance but his colleagues said that he is strongly behind this cause.

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Pete Buttigeg at National Action Network convention. Credit: Tywanna Webb

By Tywanna Webb

Pete Buttigeg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and a Democratic presidential candidates, discussed his agenda with the Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network’s Convention.

“I believe that the time has has come for a new generation to put forward leaders in enterprise, activism and in politics at the highest level,” Buttigeg said to the crowd on Thursday.

The National Action Network is a civil rights organization founded in 1991 by civil rights leader, Reverend Al Sharpton.

Buttigeg (prounounced Buddha-Chegg)  was deemed the “Most Interesting Mayor You’ve Never Heard Of” by the Washington Post in 2014. He is a Afghanistan War Veteran and the first openly gay municipal executive in Indiana. If he secures the Democratic nomination, he would be the first openly gay presidential nominee.

While speaking to the predominately African-American crowd, Buttigeg focused on ways to improve the quality of life for people of color.

“I believe an agenda for black Americans needs to include five things that all of us care about: homeownership, entrepreneurship, education, health and justice,”  Buttigeg said.

Buttigeg spoke of changes he would like to see made in each of those areas, as he also addressed the social shortcomings his hometown, South Bend.

“We worked hard to address the racial inequities that still hold us back from being the city we wish to be,” he said.

Buttigeg was born in South Bend and resides in his childhood neighborhood, living with his husband and their two rescue dogs.

Buttigeg acknowledged that, despite his efforts, there is still much more work to be done in South Bend, as in the rest of the nation.  Issues such as criminal justice reform, police accountability and educational reform are expected to be hot topics among African-American voters in the run-up to the 2020 election.

Referring to what he called “disparities that have strong and unfair racial consequences,” Buttigeg said that he plans to invest in economic rehabilitation programs for disadvantaged minorities.

“These disparities did not just happen,” he said. “They are the side effects a poison and those inequities won’t take care of themselves.”

These “side effects,” he said, included higher maternal mortality rates in African-American women, higher statistics of mass incarceration in African-American men and obstacles that adversely affect home ownership rates in black neighborhoods.

“That’s what politics is about,” he said, “to mend what is broken and to make right what is wrong. That is the nature of American greatness.”

Buttigeg formed a exploratory campaign committee in January and is expected to officially announce his candidacy later this month.

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ASPCA CEO Matt Bershadker, with Apple. Credit: Jada May

By Jada May

There was a lot of puppy love in the Upper East Side ASPCA adoption center Thursday. The group welcomed its one hundred thousandth pet, a transported female Dachshund mix named Apple.

ASPCA staff, journalists and onlookers stood outside in the cool breeze, in the early afternoon, waiting for the truck to arrive with Apple and 29 other dogs from Mississippi. The staffers sported their orange ASPCA t-shirt. Apple was the first dog to come off the truck and she was greeted with an orange bandana. The happy watchers took pictures and videos, and Apple seemed to feel right at home.

As CEO Matt Bershadker held Apple in his arms, he discussed the issue of animal homelessness. Apple appeared a bit nervous as Bershadker talked. “The problem of animal homelessness is very much a geographic problem and in pockets of the country we [have] come a long way to solving that,” he said.

Apple had been roaming streets before his rescue and eventual delivery to New York, where his life will hopefully be happier. Bershadker said the ASPCA not only rescues dogs and cats but helps families keep their pets healthy and happy.

Bershadker said adoptions have gone up tremendously across the country and that those who take animals into homes are “saving lives.” ASPCA has three relocation routes around the country. The mission of ASPCA, the association proudly says, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”

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By Austin Santiago

The Sheraton Hotel in Times Square is buzzing with activity as the 2019 National Action Network (NAN) convention is underway. Founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton in 1991, the NAN has become one of the leading civil rights organizations in the United States. It has pushed for reform is areas such as criminal justice, police accountability, and voting rights.

This year’s convention has a focus on the 2020 presidential election, and there is certainly no shortage of candidates attending. The conference will welcome close to a dozen 2020 democratic candidates for the presidency.

On Thursday, John Delaney and Pete Buttgieg spoke; on Wednesday, convention goers heard from candidates Beto O’Rourke and Andrew Yang. On Friday, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, Bernie Sanders and John Hickenlooper will be speaking.

Rev. Sharpton. Credit: Austin Santiago

The convention will also feature appearances from New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as another rising national progressive star, Stacey Abrams of Georgia.

Although there are plenty of special guests to garner excitement, perhaps the most anticipated speaker is Sharpton himself. The crowd erupted into applause as Sharpton made his way to the podium, and chanted in unison when the reverend kicked off the day with his saying of “No justice, no peace!” On Thursday, Sharpton himself questioned both presidential candidates, U.S. Resentative John Delaney of Maryland and Mayor Pete Buttgieg of South Bend, Indiana.

Sharpton’s questions ranged from reform in the nation’s police departments to if they would sign a bill that offered reparations for descendants of slaves. Both candidates said “yes” to the latter question.

In an official press release, Sharpton highlighted the goal of this year’s convention: “The convention is an opportunity for Black America to cut through the noise and hear from our leaders on the issues and policies that are going to be driving our voting agenda in 2020.”

Bea Pickney and her husband, Ron, traveled all the way from Georgia to attend the event. They use the convention as a way to better understand those running for the highest office in the land. “Every year you get to meet the candidates,” said Bea Pinckney, “and being here we get to learn more about those candidates.”

Not only do those in attendance get to meet presidential candidates, but they also get to listen to panels discuss issues such as fair media coverage and mental health in the black community. The influence of the NAN founder has not been lost on the attendees. When asked about the importance of Al Sharpton to the NAN movement, Ron Pickney said, “He brings attention to a lot of issues that otherwise would not be seen in the media.”

Sharpton says he created the NAN in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, who was assassinated 51 years ago Thursday.

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By Jada May

The morning session of The Women’s Catalyst Awards Conference — Future@Work — took place in the Hilton Hotel in Midtown, celebrating four organizations: Schneider Electric, Bank of America, Deutsche Post DHL and Lilly.

The event had two floors of thriving technology organizations, giving the women attendees an opportunity to network and learn. In the grand ballroom of the hotel, there were many women of different races and ethnicities. They were all motivated by a desire to be inspired. The morning hours put a spotlight on the four organizations, which will be receiving their awards on March 14.

Catalyst President and CEO Lorraine Hariton, speaking at the awards conference.

Every year the Catalyst awards have been given out to help in the advancing of women in business, making it less male dominated, a day at a time. The event spreads the belief that “change is possible” and it reminds women that they have to take care of each other.

Bank of America’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Cynthia Bowman started off her speech with a moving testimony of what the bank stands for. “Being a great place to work means to have diversity and inclusion,” she said. The quote was not only moving but was the main topic of the conference — inclusion as a concept advancing women.

Bowman stood on stage in front of a podium, looking down at notes to make sure she brought up everything important to Bank of America in the context of the day. The first point had to do with people, including not only the workers but their clients. Another point was the programs that help women across racial and ethnic lines: the Women’s Executive Development Program, the Women’s Next Level Leadership Program and the Global Women’s Conference, which is actually open to both (all) genders.

Bowman touched on the topic of maternity leave, noting that her company give 26 weeks off to new moms. The company also offers up to $5,250 for tuition support. After speaking about Bank of America, she ended her segment stating, “We want the power to invest in women.”

Deutsche Post DHL Group representatives President of Human Resources Kimberlee Harrison and Val Huggee walked on stage all smiles, waving, before sitting on the couch. Huggee mentioned the communications and skills gap that she had while working at male-dominated workplaces, before joining DHL. She said, “Open communication really helped me at DHL.”

A topic that Harrison brought up was maternity leave at DHL, making special mention of Europe. In Europe, the maternity leave is longer than in America, and she and her allies want the countries to be at the same level. DHL has developed an app for their employees on maternity leave, so that they miss out on everything while they’re gone. At the end the two women were asked what advice they would give, and Harrison took the bait and said, “Know what you want, articulate it and tell everyone — and don’t let anyone tell you no.”

Zain Asher, Anchor of CNN International, and Catalyst President and CEO Lorraine Hariton discussed the “Future@Work” in ways meant to bring hope to those gathered. The two women talked about gender bias, as well as racial and ethnic bias, in the workplace. “Some aren’t aware of bias, but you can bring awareness,” Harison said. She added that men must be given the right tools to deal with the issue with fairness and honesty, because they often know so little about the problem.

Rachna Mukherjee of Schneider Electric (based in India) talked proudly about women’s advances. Schneider Electric is a multinational corporation that specializes in energy management, automation solutions, spanning hardware, software and services. The organization has not only increased women’s overall representation from 15.9 percent 20.8 percent (and increased senior management representation from 6.7 percent to 9.4 percent). It has also help to boost equality throughout a country. “I can tell you this year, India closed the gap,” she said, referring to the wage gap between men and women in India.

Walking onto the stage with a vibrate and positive attitude that couldn’t be missed was Caroline Wanga, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, as well as Human Resources Vice President, for  Target Corporation. She held a conversation with Michael E. McNamara, the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Target was the premier conference sponsor, supporting the Catalyst events for four consecutive years. The company is “extremely diverse, having 40 percent to 45 percent women,” said Wanga. Target’s goal is to be 50-50, she added.

McNamara encouraged women to get engineering degrees and go into STEM fields. He said, “I’m not trying to create a bias, I’m trying to fix one.”

The last company to walk on the stage was Lilly, a pharmaceutical company. Lily walked on as two people: Joy Fitzgerald, Chief Diversity Officer and David Ricks, Chairman and CEO. They said the company is continuing to grow the presence of women within its collective walls.

The daylong conference not only put businesses in the spotlight, but made a gathering of women more aware of the fight for equality and inclusion that is making great process in the corporate world.

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By Shanika Carlies

Barry James, 34, a resident of the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, was charged with murdering his grandmother, Joyce James-Spears, 70, in their Union Street home on March 22, 2017.

According to court reports, James murdered his grandmother by repeatedly stabbing her and then stricking her with a dumbbell.

The reason that James gave for murdering his grandmother was that he thought she was possessed, according to police reports.

It was reported that her body was covered up in a bloody sheet outside her home near the trash. Her deceased cat was found nearby as well.

According to police reports, a person found her body while taking out the trash.

James has a prior psychiatric history, and neighbors described him as a man with mental issues, who often talked to himself, according to news reports.

Spears was viewed in the neighborhood as a hard-working woman who was friendly and mainly kept to herself.

James was charged with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

James’ defense attorney, Steven Chaiken, couldn’t reveal much information because of client privilege.

“He took a plea, which is called a not responsible plea, by reason of mental defect or disease,” Chaiken said of James.

The case was supposed to be held on Thursday morning at 320 Jay Street in the Supreme Court building.

Judge Matthew J. D’ Emic was not present because he had to sign off on where James was going to be held, which resulted in all of his cases being postponed that day.

Judge D’ Emic was scheduled to be back in court on Friday.

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