Amsterdam News Issue: September 17 – September 23, 2026

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Vol. 117 No. 38 | September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

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THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES GAP A LACK OF CITY AND STATE SUPPORT LEAVES NYC TEENS UNDERSERVED (See story on page 6)

(Damaso Reyes photo)

To Close the Wealth Gap, Mayor Mamdani Must Look Past Tax Hikes, Rent Freezes Urban Agenda by David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York - See page 5

2 • September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Supporters fill the courtroom, but Blakely eviction hearing abruptly postponed By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff JASON PONTEROTTO Special to the AmNews A September 9 court date drew Harlemites, housing advocates, influencers, and members of the People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft to Manhattan’s 111 Centre Street, but the appearance ended before it ever fully began. Supporters of “Queen Mother” Dr. Delois Blakely, the Harlem activist fighting to remain in her longtime home at 477 West 142nd Street, filled the courtroom. They expected to hear arguments about why Blakely and her disabled daughter, Ini’Chinwa Thomas, were being evicted. Instead, after they waited nearly 90 minutes, a court officer announced that Judge Emily Morales-Minerva would not be coming down for the hearing. “Why would she not come down?” people in the courtroom started asking. Those present, including attorney Jacqueline McMickens, said it was because the opposing lawyer, Alan J. Weintraub, was worried about how many Blakely supporters were there. He said the crowd might cause trouble. “He told the judge that there would be a disturbance,” McMickens told the AmNews in an

Harlem activist Dr. Queen Mother Delois Blakely, with supporters and attorney Jacqueline McMickens, outside Manhattan’s 111 Centre Street after court hearing about her residency at 477 West 142nd Street. (Jason Ponterotto photo)

interview. “He sort of asked for protection in the courtroom because he thought that the spectators would cause a disturbance.” McMickens, who represents Blakely’s daughter’s interests, said Morales-Minerva’s court attor-

ney heard the matter in conference instead. “She was very thorough, knew the contents of the case, and the judge said she would make a decision. She reserved a decision.” See BLAKELY EVICTION on page 36

Mayor Mamdani celebrates African Heritage at Gracie Mansion By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff From Little Senegal in Harlem to Little Liberia in Staten Island to Little Accra in the Bronx and Little Nigeria in Queens, New York City has always been a place where African immigrants arrived and thrived. To celebrate, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani recently held the city’s first-ever African Heritage reception at Gracie Mansion, welcoming immigrants from the continent’s many nations. “I want to be very clear: I’m not going to be getting into whose jollof is best today,” joked Mamdani at the reception on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. Mamdani, who is Ugandan-born, attended the reception with his parents, aunt, and uncle. He expounded about the meaning behind his middle name, given to him by his father because of his admiration for Kwame Nkrumah — Ghana’s first prime minister and a stark Pan-Africanist. Mamdani and his family settled in New York City when he was 7. He was happy to discover that every borough had African communities. “That is the New York that I love. When strangers come up to me and start speaking Luganda, it strikes me as a small miracle — proof of the decision that so many African New Yorkers have made, both alone and together, to never leave Africa behind,” said Mamdani.

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (center) and his parents (far left) at 2026 African Heritage Reception at Gracie Mansion on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office photo)

He vowed to follow his namesake’s legacy of fighting for freedom and liberty. Over the first nine months of his term, Mamdani has appointed several people to positions in his administration, such as African Liaison for the NYC Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement Salim Drammeh; Delia Awusi, the first-ever mom-and-pop czar; Commissioner Nadia Shihata, the first-ever African head of the Department of Investigation; Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga; and Chief Equity Officer

and Commissioner Afua Atta-Mensah. Attendees at the reception included African advocates and organizers, such as Amy Andrieux, the executive director of MoCADA, and Adama Bah, chief executive and founder of Afrikana. They enjoyed loads of food, delicacies, and drinks from various countries, including coconut water, jollof rice, beef suya skewers, and plantain cakes. “Our language, our culture, our food, our faith, our tradition crossed the ocean with See AFRICAN HERITAGE on page 35

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 3

Harlem electeds join calls to reopen Columbia University’s campus to public By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff More than just a 4% undergraduate admission rate is keeping people out of Columbia University. As another new semester kicks off behind closed gates, uptown locals want the campus reopened to the public for the first time since 2023. Last week, Morningside Heights Community Coalition (MHCC) organizers staged the fifth protest in the past two years calling for restored open access to the school grounds. And they say momentum is on their side. “This was far and away the largest of the protests,” said MHCC President Dave Robinson. “We had more elected officials [and] co-sponsoring organizations there. We had more speakers and we had more people attending. It showed that this issue has not died down at all but rather the anger on the part of the community is really accelerated.” Back in late 2023, pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupted on college campuses across the country. But Columbia University, which boasts a deep history of student activism, drew the most attention. Officials subsequently closed the campus to the public. The restrictions remain today. Now, barricaded checkpoints staffed by security guards welcome students and staff

“It’s wonderful that this [protest] has brought so many sectors of this community together,” said Cleare. “Columbia should look at how many of us have come together. Every segment has come together: different ethnicities, blocks, educational backgrounds, [and] levels of income. All these people agree. It’s a part of New York, what do you mean gated off? It should be open to all of us…people have brought their children to say ‘one day this is someplace you can go to.’ This is part of the community.” A Columbia spokesperson pointed to new university president Jennifer L. Mnookin’s announcement of initial steps toward increasing campus access. She will form an advisory committee composed of students, professors, school staff, and locals while also easing, but not lifting, restrictions for guests. “Reopening our gates responsibly will require us to learn from our recent experience, assess risks, listen to different perspectives, Protest outside Columbia University over restricting public access. (Kristina Lopez photo) and be willing to adjust as circumstances onto campus. Approved guests receive a ty and visiting the campus inspired him “to change,” wrote Mnookin. “It will also reunique QR code and must bring a govern- understand what higher education was and quire us to resist framing the choice as one ment-issued ID. what it could mean for any young person in between an open campus and a safe one. I These restrictions also impact nearby [his] community.” do believe we can find a wise path forward Harlem, says Assemblymember Jordan J.G. State Senator Cordell Cleare also partici- together and the Campus Access AdvisoWright, who spoke at the protest. The state pated in the rally and recalled admiring the ry Committee will help us get there in the lawmaker and former educator recounted campus and its buildings as a young person months ahead.” See COLUMBIA on page 16 how growing up near Columbia Universi- growing up in Harlem.

AG James, Mamdani sue over new anti-immigrant benefits rule By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff New York State Attorney General (AG) Letitia James, along with NYC Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, are in a legal battle this week to push back against the Trump administration and protect the city’s immigrant families’ lawful access to public benefits. The new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Public Charge Rule is set to go into effect this coming Friday, Sept. 18. It expands the list of public benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid, that might count against those seeking a green card or visa applicants, asylees, refugees, and immigrant juveniles in their journey to get citizenship. “At a time when we are facing the reality of being the most expensive city in the United States of America, to see the federal government pursue rule changes and legislation that will make hungry New Yorkers hungrier, that will make poor New Yorkers poorer — it is a slap in the face to everything that we should be doing in this moment, which is to make it easier for working-class New Yorkers to afford their life here in this city,” Mamdani said at a press conference at City Hall on September 14. According to recent city and American Community Survey (ACS) data, New York City’s population was about 8.4 million in

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announces that New York City, along with the City of Chicago; City and County of San Francisco; County of Santa Clara; City of Seattle, King County, Washington; and Public Rights Project, filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s new public charge rule. City Hall. Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office photo)

2023, with 37.5% being immigrants (roughly 3.1 million), primarily from Latin America, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa. Neighborhoods throughout Queens and Brooklyn accounted for close to two-thirds of the city’s immigrant population, followed by the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Being a “public charge” should not be equated with dependency, said James. The first iteration of the Trump administration tried to introduce a similar anti-immigrant rule in 2019, just before the pandemic, she said, which city leaders successfully blocked in court. The earlier version of the public

charge rule resulted in dropout rates from benefit programs as high as 35% among mixed-status families and as high as 60% among refugees, according to James’s office. “That means immigrant New Yorkers may be forced to ask themselves impossible questions. Will getting health insurance hurt my chances of getting a green card? Will accepting food assistance when I fall on hard times be held against me?” said James. “No family should have to grapple with these questions, and the circumstances of this rule will extend far beyond individual immigration applications.”

The current lawsuit argues that this rule is a “capricious” violation of the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeds the legal authority of the DHS. James’s office said that in addition to immigrant families being fearful of using services, there could be an overwhelming long-term impact on safetynet hospitals; eligible students could lose out on free or reduced price lunches; and there could be a reduction in education funding, as well as direct costs to state and local governments. The data shows that the poverty rate for the foreign-born population in NYC is slightly higher than that of citizens, and the poverty rate is even higher among certain groups, like Dominicans, Russians, Chinese, Koreans, and Mexicans. However, it’s documented that a “smaller share of foreign-born households receive public assistance” compared to those with citizenship or who are U.S-born in the city. James and the coalition are asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to block this “illegal” measure before this Friday, so New Yorkers can continue to access public services regardless of their immigration status. The federal government is claiming the rule will push for immigrants to be “selfsufficient and not dependent on taxpayerfunded government benefits.” It also gives immigration officials power of discretion to decide which programs count against a See BENEFITS on page 16

4 • September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

National

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

EPA could make it harder to fight polluting data centers By WILLY BLACKMORE Word in Black When news broke that Elon Musk was building a massive artificial intelligence (AI) data center near a historic Black neighborhood in Memphis, the backlash was swift and intense. Activists organized protests, residents packed public hearings to speak out, and environmentalists joined civil rights groups and sued Musk. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to let Musk and other data center developers keep their permit applications for new projects under wraps — even if they might harm air or water quality for local communities. A draft EPA proposal currently under consideration would allow data centers to skip notifying the public when applying for new air pollution permits. It would also exempt developers from a 30-day public comment period before any permit approvals. Secret permits If the EPA adopts the proposal, local and state agencies could set pollution standards and issue permits behind closed doors without public input. That’s bad news for Black communities, which have borne the brunt of the data center construction boom and used publicly available information to organize opposition. Keri Powell, an attorney who runs the Air Program at the Southern Environmental Law Center, said in a statement that the draft proposal would allow the EPA and potential polluters to privately cut deals against the public interest. “Data centers and other industrial sources should not be able to get their air pollution permits in secret,” Powell said. “Communities deserve a chance to weigh in before the government allows a new or expanded industrial facility to increase harmful pollution in the air they breathe.” But the EPA says the change is simply meant to cut red tape. Data center boom An EPA spokesperson told the NewYork Times that the proposal would “responsibly speed up permitting, supporting American economic development and energy dominance. Our proposal does not alter emission standards or weaken environmental protections.” The proposed change would overhaul a 50-year-old rule that requires new industrial facilities such as car repair shops, landfills, and steel mills — classified as minor polluters — to post a public notice when applying for air pollution permits. It also mandates a 30-day public comment period before any approvals are made or permits issued. The change comes as new data center construction booms, despite becoming a major source of contention in neighboring

Memphis, Tenn. (Pexels/Gavin Young)

communities. In many instances, developers want to build gigantic facilities with huge footprints, run with powerful generators that add emissions to areas already struggling with poor air quality. For example, Musk’s Colossus project in Boxtown, a community founded by freedmen, gets its electricity from nearly 70 gas-powered turbines installed without permits. Project Marvel, a data center planned for the majority-Black city of Bessemer, Alabama, will cover as much ground as 18 Walmart superstores. South is targeted A report by the nonprofit MediaJustice found that the South is at the heart of the data center boom, with $200 billion worth of projects under development across the region. More than half of the nation’s Black population is in the South. While the changes the EPA wants to make wouldn’t affect how emissions are regulated, public notice and public comment are important sources of information about development plans — and a key way to push back against them. At the beginning of 2025, after months of public pressure against the project, Musk’s company finally applied for permits to run the gas turbines it had already installed at Colossus to power the first Grok supercomputer. In April, the Shelby County Health Department held a public hearing, as required by current EPA rules. It was attended by more than 200 people who were nearly unanimously opposed to the data center and its power source. The permits were still granted.

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Troy Kingston: Fighting for real New Yorkers with his viral videos

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 5

THE URBAN AGENDA

By David R. Jones, Esq

To Close the Wealth Gap, Mayor Mamdani Must Look Past Tax Hikes, Rent Freezes An alarming new report finds income inequity in New York City has accelerated as the wealthy elite have built immense fortunes through investments, while most everyday workers struggle to survive on a paycheck. The report by Mark Levine, the city’s comptroller, found that 60 percent of the city’s wealth was concentrated in only 10 percent of the population, intensifying the city’s affordability crisis. This disparity plays out along racial lines. Last year, the median income for Black New Yorkers was $60,000, compared to $110,000 for white city residents. At the wage level, the racial gap was $16 per hour. Even among the city’s municipal workforce, where greater parity might be expected, workers of color earned 84 cents per dollar compared to white workers. The comptroller’s analysis suggests Mayor Mamdani must focus on jobs and workforce training that unlocks upward mobility for New Yorkers. His prescription must look beyond tax hikes on the rich, increasing the minimum wage, and holding the line on rents. The most effective steps to drive down inequality longterm are giving more New Yorkers opportunities to enter the middle class through good-paying jobs and ownership of durable assets.

Troy Kingston. (Contributed photo)

By JASON PONTEROTTO Special to the AmNews

Malcolm X Blvd. in Bed-Stuy was no longer recognizable. “Nobody I know from this In less than a year of making block actually still lives here content, Brooklyn native Troy New Yorker anymore,” Kingston said in Kingston has already amassed the video. He also shared a large following and garnered his story of his grandmother views for his videos highlighting issues that being evicted from their three-bedroom Black and Brown New Yorkers face, includ- family home after a new owner purchased ing housing affordability, gentrification, the building and sought to renovate the and displacement. apartment. “It feels a little surreal. I never thought His following has grown to the point people would care so much about what I had where he was able to interview Mayor to say,” Kingston, 24, said. Kingston goes by Mamdani in April, something only a the name Scourge Bliss on Instagram, where select few influencers have had the ophe has more than 32,000 followers, and on portunity to do. The interview came after TikTok, with almost 20,000 followers. one of his prominent videos highlightKingston is intent on raising awareness ed the alleged deed theft battle over the of the real struggles faced of forgotten New Charrington family brownstone at 212 Yorkers, namely Black and Brown residents. Jefferson Avenue in Bed-Stuy. He credits “Everybody’s so caught up with work the mayor’s office for making the mayor that there are people who don’t even know accessible to content creators like himself what’s going on in their neighborhood. and, in his eyes, being transparent. They would have no idea,” Kingston said. It has also resulted in Kingston being In one of his most viral videos on honored at the Spill It Entertainment TikTok, Kingston highlighted his person- Back to the Block Community Day celeal connection to gentrification and dis- bration at Reinaldo Salgado Playground placement, focusing on how the block on Saturday, Sept. 19. See BNY on page 25 and neighborhood where he grew up on

Black

Specifically, the mayor must reform the current system of public, private, and non-profit players that recruit, train, and place thousands of New Yorkers annually into entry-level jobs. These “pathway” roles can be precarious, with starting wages low and retention volatile. As a result, workers’ climb up the ladder toward economic security often produces only temporary gains that rarely, if ever, translate into wealth. More New Yorkers need to get a foot in the door. That means apprenticeships at Wall Street financial giants, health insurers, pharmaceutical companies, engineering and technology firms, particularly artificial intelligence giants flush with investment capital. Everyone involved should work more closely with City University of New York, which already has strong STEM curricula, to expand its offerings of specialized training programs. On top of investments in jobs, New Yorkers need safe and stable homes. I strongly support the pending New York City Council bill —the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) — that would give government-vetted, qualified entities the first chance to buy troubled properties. The bill, sponsored by Brooklyn Councilmember Sandy Nurse, would specifically exclude small owner-occupied buildings with fewer than six apartments or parents passing properties on to their children. A complimentary bill pending at the state level, called the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act

(TOPA), builds on COPA. Both should be fasttracked by the City Council and New York State Legislature. A home is the greatest asset most individuals will own in their lifetime, but only one-quarter of Black and less than one-fifth of Latino city residents own their homes, compared to nearly half of white New Yorkers. COPA and TOPA would open the door to social housing, which can especially help low-income people by creating new opportunities for ownership, control and long-term stability. Residents of social housing can put the money they are not spending on unaffordable rents or mortgages into other investments, be they social (education, training), financial (retirement vehicles, college savings accounts), or physical (equipment, business start-up funds). Mayor Mamdani’s other announced programs are on target. They range from raising the city’s minimum wage to $30 to the creation of an Office of Worker Power to empower labor unions and local rank-and-file employees. Those steps would enhance his ambitious portfolio of affordability goals, including universal childcare, low-cost grocery stores in every borough, and free bus rides. Income inequity means something more than money or people in poverty. It speaks to social and economic injustices and persistent racial disparities in health care, wealth, housing, employment, and wages. Nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers are unable to meet the city’s cost of living—coming up $40,000 shy annually on average, according to the city’s True Cost of Living Measure. In addition to struggling to pay skyrocketing rents and high food prices, some New Yorkers still struggle to afford bus and subway fares. They’re digging themselves into a financial hole. Ironically, New York’s lowest wage earners did not take a pay cut. Wage and salary inequity only slightly increased over the past five years, according to the comptroller’s report. Pay grew fastest for lower-wage positions, such as food preparation and healthcare support. However, when factoring in inflation, real income fell for the bottom 90 percent of earners, while it grew 16.2 percent for the top one percent, the comptroller’s report said. Low-income workers are not to blame. These are not individual failures; the system is stacked against anyone who lacks college degree or lacks social connections with the people doing the hiring, no matter how hard they try. Mamdani must keep an eye on the prize: New Yorkers need tangible wealth and better job prospects. Without them, too many of our neighbors will struggle into the future to afford basic necessities.

David R. Jones, Esq., is President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), the leading voice on behalf of low-income New Yorkers for more than 175 years and a member of the MTA Board. The views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer. The Urban Agenda is available on CSS’s website: www.cssny.org.

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

The mental health services gap: A lack of city and state support leaves NYC teens underserved By NEELA JAIN Special to the AmNews

Jaden Brown struggled with depression and anxiety in high school, but got back on track through mental health services provided by his school, something not available to every NYC public school student. (Damaso Reyes photo)

Jaden Brown remembers how easy it was to make friends before entering high school. “I really enjoyed socializing and interacting,” recalled the now 22-year-old New York City resident, who attended the United Charter High School for Advanced Math and Science IV in Jamaica, Queens. “I was very open to chatting with people.” However, the mental health challenges that Brown had suffered from intermittently since early adolescence — a result of both hereditary factors and relationships with classmates, he said, threatened to change all of that. “I was struggling with depression and anxiety ... since I was about 8 years old,” he said. “It made it difficult for me to maintain strong interpersonal relationships.” “[Depression] took away a lot of the things I found enjoyable in life,” he went on, describing how his illness affected him. “I couldn’t really see a future for myself.” Brown said his depression became so visible that “teachers would come and check up on me because they saw that something was deeply impacting me.” Brown credits his high school guidance counselor and teachers, and the school’s culture of mental health programming, which included mental health awareness rallies that encouraged students to be open and vulnerable about their feelings, with helping him find a way back to his former self. “We were very close, so I felt whenever I was going through something, I could go speak to her,” he said of his counselor. “[The school staff] helped me open up and return to the more social being I was,” said Brown, who graduated from Morehouse College last year and will enroll in a master’s program in clinical mental counseling at St. John’s University this fall. For students like Brown, school-based mental health resources are an essential source of care — and a path to a brighter future. However, a lack of financial investment by the city and state hinders the delivery of mental health services and programming to all students in need. Brown said the value of the care he received is immeasurable. “[The school staff ] really encouraged me to want to be a better version of myself,” he said. Mental health issues among youth have short- and long-term impacts An estimated 20% of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 in the United States are reported to have a diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition, according to research published by the Department of Health and Human Services. Anxiety is the most common condition, followed by depression and behavioral conduct issues. More than one-third of New York City youth between the ages of 14 and 24 report wanting or needing mental health See story on next page

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 7

Continued from previous page

services from a professional, but fewer than half report receiving services, according to a 2021 survey by the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York. Among high school students, nearly 40% of youth experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023, an increase of over 30% over the last decade, according to the latest data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 10% of all students also reported attempting suicide, the data shows. In addition, Black high school students are 1.25 times more likely than white high school students to attempt suicide, according to data published by the Department of Justice in 2023. “[There’s been] an uptick in a lot of mental health needs,” said Courteney Johnson, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Division of Psychological and Educational Services at the Fordham Graduate School of Education. Why does this matter? Mental health issues are the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes among young people, according to the World Health Organization. Poor employment performance and an increased risk of substance abuse are also associated with the development of mental and behavioral issues in youth, research shows. Mental health challenges among adolescents are also a significant predictor of decreased levels of academic success, including on-time high school graduation rates. According to the latest data issued by the National Center for Education Statistics, 81% of Black public high school students graduate on time, compared to 90% of white public high school students. Mental health disorders in adolescents are also associated with decreased odds of graduating from high school, enrolling in college, and graduating from college, a study by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School found. NYC school-based mental health programming is underfunded In New York City, a lack of adequate funding also hampers the operations of school-based mental health programming. This includes School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs), which are overseen by the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH), and provide a range of comprehensive wellness services to students, including mental health services. Nearly a quarter of students who visited SBHCs in New York State during the 2024– 2025 school year used mental health services, while more than 15% of students used both medical and mental health services, according to a report by the New

York School-Based Health Foundation. Of the city’s 137 SBHCs that serve approximately 150,000 students out of the more than 900,000 public school students in grades K–12 in the Five Boroughs, only 34 are currently funded by the city, according to government sources. This leaves the more than 100 remaining centers, which are sponsored by community-based health organizations, to rely on federal and state funding, as well as grants and reimbursements from Medicaid and other forms of insurance. Adria Cruz, deputy director of health programs and integration at Children’s Aid, which operates two of the SBHCs that are among the few to receive funding from the city, views support from the city as vital to their ability to deliver comprehensive mental health services at the centers. “The financial support … allows us to do that without running into a deficit or having to tap into other [programming] funds,” she said. Between 2020 and 2025, five SBHCs closed due to funding issues, according to

Adria Cruz, deputy director of health programs and integration at Children’s Aid. (Contributed photo)

the New York City Council. Children’s Aid is part of a coalition of organizations advocating for the city to provide additional budget support to all established SBHCs, a figure estimated by the New York City Council to be $18 million during the city’s 2026 fiscal year. However, despite calls for more funding, the city continues to fail to provide additional financial investments for SBHCs. In response to an inquiry about the lack of additional funding support for SBHCs from the city, the NYC DOHMH responded with a written statement: “The NYC Health Department is proud to support more than 130 school-based health centers serving over 143,000 students in 320 public schools across the five boroughs as part of our commitment to support the health of young New Yorkers. Each center offers accessible care at no cost in the places where students spend their time. This supports young New Yorkers’ health while easing the burden on families navigating the medical system or traveling for care.” School-Based Mental Health Clinics (SBMHCs) are another form of mental health programming in New York City whose operations are hindered by a lack of funding investment. SBMHCs function as outpatient child and adolescent mental health clinics, overseen by the New York State Office of Mental Health and operated by licensed community-based organizations or local hospitals. The operating agencies contract with schools to provide mental health services onsite through hiring mental health professionals and support staff. SBMHCs and other models of school-based mental health programming commonly use a system of evidence-based interventions, known as the Multi-Tiered System of Sup-

Jaden Brown was fortunate to be able to access mental health services as an NYC high school student. Many schools lack enough mental health professionals to serve all students who need help. (Damaso Reyes photo)

ports (MTSS), to deliver behavioral health programming whose aim is to reach the entire school student population. “[This] framework allows us to touch every single child, regardless of if they are outwardly projecting any type of behaviors or needs,” said Alicia Wilson, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at the City University of New York. Irianna Munoz, a senior program director of school-based mental health at the Child Center of New York, which operates SBMHCs at 12 public high schools in Queens, noted how insufficient funding for SBMHCs can lessen the impact of the MTSS model. Because the first and second tiers of the model are essential to building a school environment that fosters openness to caring for one’s mental health and having a school-wide impact, a limited availability of funding for staffing at those levels, such as counselors and parent coordinators, can hinder this process, she explained. In some sites, “mental health [resources are] available, but it’s in the room deep in the second floor,” said Munoz. “You might see the announcements, but there isn’t that active engagement where … there’s a presence [of resources for mental health] that everybody is aware [of] within the school building,” she said. SBMHCs are primarily funded via a reimbursement model through which the operating agency receives payments from various forms of insurance, covering students who use the clinics’ services. These payments serve as a significant source of revenue for SBMHCs, covering non-billable program administrative costs, such as staff salaries. See MENTAL HEALTH GAP on page 27

8 • September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Black fashion designers shine at Style Across the Aisle 2026 By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff On one side of the runway, State Assemblymember Jordan Wright hit a quarter turn; on another side, City Councilmember Kamillah Hanks dropped a fierce overthe-shoulder look back. Did these two give up their political careers for fashion modeling? No, but they did take the opportunity to join 29 other elected officials on the Sept. 9 catwalk in this year’s Style Across the Aisle showcase, where politicians and fashion designers spend an evening trading policy for polish.

Now in its third year, the event reflects the city’s rich diversity by recruiting designers who highlight their own techniques and styles spanning various religions, boroughs, and backgrounds from Puerto Rico to Korea. Many also took immense pride in showing off the city’s champion sports team’s colors in their work. “We all know what that moment feels when a stranger stops feeling like a stranger,” said Skye Ostreicher, founder and creator of Style Across the Aisle, in a statement. “That’s what this event is about — bringing people together as people first, before titles,

parties, or labels.” The politicians and their designers walked the runway on the Metropolitan Opera House’s iconic grand staircase. In previous years, the show was held at Gracie Mansion and the New York County Surrogate’s Court. “This is a very beautiful occasion where you get to see elected officials styled in wonderful garments from their district and local designers,” said Councilmember Kevin Riley during the event. Riley was sporting a matching bright orange and blue Knicks-themed ensemble with Bronx designer Mugzy McFly,

who started working in the fashion industry at 13. Councilmember Yusef Salaam took to the runway in a white fur jacket alongside designer Mel Maxi. Their connection went back decades, having grown up in the same neighborhood and played in the same park as children. Maxi also designed Wright’s all-Black apparel. The WITNESS to Mass Incarceration Art of Tailoring and Fashion Design program fitted Councilmember Crystal Hudson with a WNBA New York Liberty teamthemed suit and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams in a blue jean

Knicks-themed outfit. Designer Imani Desrameaux, who created The Madonna Label, styled Councilmember Susan Zhuang in a sleek, blush pink and red gown for the event. Designer and Bronxite Terese Sydonna Brown outfitted State Senator Nathalia Fernandez. Deputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha Williams looked regal in an allBlack gown from Zsane By The Alexanders, a bridal atelier. Hanks was styled by two designers: Yana Ilyaich, who heads the Miriya Love label, and Yvonne Liao, who owns a footwear company.

From left to right: Councilmember Kevin Riley, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, fashion designer Mugsy McFly, and Councilmember Crystal Hudson.

Assemblymember Jordan Wright modeling Mel Maxi designs at the Style Across the Aisle event on Sept. 9, 2026. (Ariama C. Long photos)

Harlemite Councilmember Yusef Salaam (left) and designer Mel Maxi (right) at the fashion show on Sept. 9.

From left to right: Councilmember Crystal Hudson, U.S. Rep Tom Suozzi, fashion designer Mugsy McFly, and Councilmember Kevin Riley.

Councilmember Amanda Farías (left) and designer Edwin Reyes (right) walk the runway at Style Across the Aisle.

Councilmember Susan Zhuang (left) and designer Imani Desrameaux (right) on the runway on Sept. 9.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 9

Former Manhattan BP C. Virginia Fields commemorates 25th anniversary of 9/11

Former BP C. Virginia Fields with previous staff members and Councilmember Gale Brewer at the 9/11 remembrance on Sept. 11, 2026. (Bill Moore photo)

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff Former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields gathered her former staff in Harlem on September 11 to mark the 25th anniversary of the deadly terror attack on America. Together, they shared their firsthand accounts of the harrowing events during and after the planes struck the Twin Towers. “[This is] an opportunity for us to reflect, to remember; an opportunity to resolve our commitment to doing what we can, wherever we sit or stand,” said Fields at the Friday gathering at the Dwyer Cultural Center, “and that is to fight against racism. Antisemitism. Islamophobia. Homophobia. All of the hate that is fueling our lives in terms of what we see and what we experience. It’s up to us in terms of saying, ‘Never again.’” Fields recounted that the morning of the terror attack was Election Day, and the polls and schools were open. She talked about being at Ruthie’s restaurant with her staff member uptown and witnessing the second plane crash into the towers. She remembers the 32nd police precinct and the fire departments heading downtown as people were running out of the dust and smoke. “Everybody, and the staff that we were with, came to my house,

which is about two or three blocks away, because nothing was working around you, cellphones or anything. I still maintain a landline today,” said Fields. “That’s the only way I was there, getting a call out to my family to say, I’m okay.” She noted that the lack of phone service and communication posed a major obstacle to delivering aid to stranded New Yorkers. To help people reach their families and friends, phone companies supplied free devices, while others set up trucks offering free calls. “People had signs posted everywhere, looking for their loved ones,” she said. “People were singing wherever they could, notes of love and support throughout, and this was going on daily. People were lighting candles. These kinds of things were going on day after day for months, day and night. … It was just such a difficult time, obviously, for all of us and people just trying to find their loved ones.” It was later found that Harlem had lost several prominent members in the attack, such as Clyde Frazier Jr., the son of the Frederick E. Samuel Community Democratic Club’s Clyde Frazier Sr. There were 343 New York City Fire Department (FDNY) firefighters who died on 9/11; 12 of them were Black firefighters: Gerard Baptiste, Capt. Vernon Cherry, Tarel Coleman, Andre Fletcher,

Keith Glascoe, Ronnie Henderson, William Henry Jr., Karl Henri Joseph, Keithroy Maynard, Vernon Richard, Shawn Powell, and Leon Smith Jr. “Twenty-five years ago, America, the world, New York City, our families, were attacked,” said Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson of the Abyssinian Baptist Church. “On that day, we witnessed, and we saw precious lives be lost. People who woke up in the morning, looking to just provide for their families, never returned home. We ask now on this 25th anniversary of 9/11 that this will never, ever happen [again], not only to New York, but to no other country.” Former City Councilmember Alan Gerson (District 1) was a Greenwich Village resident in downtown Manhattan. He was still a candidate on the morning of 9/11 and was visiting polling sites at schools. He remembers hearing the first plane fly directly overhead by the time he got to P.S. 234. “This was so loud. It was so incredibly loud. I looked up, and I knew something was wrong before anything else,” he said. Afterward, he helped evacuate the building and get students home. The school polling places were eventually converted into medical hubs for police first responders to provide free healthcare for community members, said Fields. After the towers’ collapse, Fields and her staff, as well as other

Former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields presents a 9/11 remembrance at Dwyer Cultural Center for the 25th anniversary of the terror attack on Manhattan. Friday, September 11, 2026. (Ariama C. Long photo)

electeds, traveled down to Lower Manhattan to meet with people, especially trapped seniors, in the community and provide them with any scraps of information about housing, food, medication, and transportation that they could. Her office on 125th Street coordinated with the National Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and American Red Cross to get emergency services to people in tenement buildings. She also kept a desk for daily briefings at the former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s command center at 42nd Street, she said. Fields presented an extensive slideshow of on-the-ground photos from Carl Crutchfield, the photographer who captured the aftermath of the attack’s debris and inches of dust on the buildings and cars in the area. “The plane was coming down the Hudson, and just north of us, it literally went over our heads, and we watched it go into the building and it was surreal … watching the building — the skin of the building came down, that silver skin, and it rippled in the air. It looked like tinsel from a Christmas tree falling,” said former Manhattan Councilmember Kathryn Freed, who was in office from 1992 to 2001. She was also near the school polling site with Gerson. Freed remembers fires burning at the Ground Zero site until

past December of 2001, and the sheer amount of dust affecting their homes in the downtown area months later. Freed was adamant at the time about documenting the environmental harm and exposure caused by the buildings’ collapse. She fought to prove that the city denied that the air was toxic, contacting her own scientists to do her own independent studies of the debris at Albany and Warren Streets. She turned over her findings about gross toxicity in the air to former Congressmember Jerry Nadler and the Ground Zero task force a month later, but nothing came of it. “The results that we got showed how bad it was,” said Freed, who had bronchitis and breathing trouble assumed to be related to the exposure. “It was infuriating that the city kept saying, ‘It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.’” In a validating move, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani recently released more than 170,000 pages of city records in regard to the attacks and their aftermath, and settled two lawsuits brought by 9/11 Health Watch over air quality in the city after 9/11. “I congratulate Mayor Mamdani for having the guts to do it, and let us know what happened,” said Freed. For more information about the September 11th records, go to nyc. gov/sept11docs.

10 • September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Labor & Workplace Home health aide says 24/7 Home Care owes her years of wages By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff Marlene Urquhart says she spent seven years caring for an elder as part of her job for the home health care agency 24/7 Home Care. She says she had to lift, bathe, feed, and support a woman who was living at home alone, and needed support so she would not fall. She also pressed remote controls when the woman couldn’t use her hands and stayed awake through the night when the patient screamed or needed help. But Urquhart, a Jamaican home health aide, said the company only paid her for 12 or 13 hours of many 24-hour shifts and owes her hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen wages. In April 2025, Urquhart filed a complaint with the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) against 24/7 Home Care (a.k.a. 1st Help Homecare Agency) with help from the pro-worker nonprofit Flushing Workers Center. Under New York’s home care pay rules, agencies can pay employees for 13 hours during a 24-hour shift, as long as the worker gets three hours of meal breaks and eight hours of sleep (at least five hours of which are uninterrupted). If these breaks are interrupted, the time must be paid. The Department of Labor says home health aides are essential workers and need rest to care safely. Urquhart said, however, that’s not what happened in her case. In an interview, Urquhart explained that 24/7 hired her as a companion, but the assignment quickly shifted to full physical care. She said her patient had suffered strokes; had limited use of one side of her body; needed bed baths, meal preparation, and help walking; and often had to be fed. “I cared for a patient who needed my help to do everything. She couldn’t get out of bed. I developed health problems –– back and knee pain –– from lifting my patient, and sleepless nights. I took my case to the DOL and I experienced a lot of racism. 24/7 accused me of being a liar; they said I only worked 12 hours, and the DOL took their side. Shame! I am fighting back!” “She kept screaming at night,” Urquhart said about the patient she worked with. “Several [aides]

Marlene Urquhart, home health aide from 24/7 Home Care, says she is owed thousands in stolen wages. (Flushing Workers Center photo)

… complained even to the agency that they don’t want to be there anymore because the lady does not allow them to sleep.” Urquhart worked weekends, beginning on Friday and leaving Monday morning around 9 a.m. She said her patient lived alone but feared being left by herself –– she required someone present around the clock. “That patient needed 24hour assistance,” Urquhart contends. “If I wasn’t there, she’s living by herself. … If I wasn’t there for 24/7, who took over the shift when I left for the 12 hours?” Urquhart said she regularly complained to 24/7 Home Care /1st Help HomeCare agency owner Rita Cohen about the lack of sleep and the strain of lifting the patient. She said she and other workers were told not to document problems like this and instead to call the office. “She told us not to document,” Urquhart said. “I never … even have a form to fill out; … We would call it in.” When reached by phone, Cohen

said that since the Urquhart case is still being negotiated, her lawyer has asked her not to comment. “I can only say,” she told the AmNews, “you have the whole story wrong. We are doing everything legally.” Urquhart said that in 2021, workers were called in to sign paperwork, “and on the part where they said that I get eight hours of sleep. I did not put my signature there,” she said. “Now it shows that my signature is there [and it’s] totally different from my signature. I know for sure that’s not my signature.” Sarah Ahn of the Flushing Workers Center said the organization raised that issue with the DOL after the employer submitted the document. “We had also told the Department of Labor that Marlene never signed this document and they’re submitting that,” Ahn said. “Marlene was able to see it because they submitted that to the Department of Labor, and we let them know that Marlene purposely did not sign this document

because [she said] this is a lie, but as far as we know, they’re not doing anything about that.” Asked for comment about this document and accusations that Urquhart was being treated unfairly during her DOL hearing, the DOL press office said it would not be able to respond to AmNews inquiries adequately by press time. Documents provided by Flushing Workers show that in an April 20, 2026, email, an investigative specialist with the DOL’s Division of Labor Standards wrote: “I am reaching out to advise that the employer has offered $3,000.00 in full settlement of your claim. Please let me know if you accept this offer or if you have a counteroffer you would like me to relay to the employer’s attorney. Please respond no later than 4/25.” Urquhart rejected that offer, and said a later $6,000 offer was also an insult. She said the agency later offered $140,000, while she believes the unpaid wages total about $260,000. “It was a diffi-

cult job. It was a hard job, it was a tiring job,” she said. “I developed sicknesses from this job, so I’m entitled to get what I work for.” A September 8, 2026, DOL email to Flushing Workers said: “Since we have not received any additional records for the period of 2019–2022, the Department is prepared to proceed with the Order to Comply for the amount computed: $140,127.00. Please advise if you would like the Department to proceed. If you do not agree with this amount, we will close the case as withdrawn so that the claimant can take her own private legal action. Please advise by 9/15/26.” Ahn said the case is still open and that Flushing Workers expects a judgment shortly, but they see the DOL as relying on the employer’s account for part of the claim. “They are taking the employer’s word that Marlene did not work 24 hours for three years,” she said, noting that, if they do, Urquhart’s earned wages will be cut in half.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 11

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12 • September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Opinion Roberto Clemente knew what success really meant — and it wasn’t a private trophy

Long before Lonnie Bunch III announced stepping down as secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, there were ominous signs that his departure was imminent while he insisted that the pressure from President Trump had nothing to do with his promise to retire at the end of the year: “not part of my calculus,” he said; only the least informed would willingly accept that arithmetic. Evidence surfaced that his days were numbered last spring when Trump issued an executive order denouncing the Smithsonian for promoting a “racecentered ideology.” Kim Sajet, who Trump claimed was a “strong supporter of DEI,” was removed as director of the National Portrait Gallery, which is associated with the Smithsonian, marking another move against the institution’s leadership. Then came a 162-page report from the White House entitled “Saving America’s Story,” indicating that Bunch, without mentioning his name, could not “be trusted to tell America’s story.” None of this should have come as a surprise to the founder of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In fact, in his memoir “A Fool’s Errand,” he touched on the difficulties anticipated from the Trump administration that he characterized as the “current poisonous political partisanship and racial antipathy” that he hoped one day would be overcome. Bunch, 73, may soon be out of Trump’s crosshairs, but as Othello said in the Shakespearean tragedy, he “has done the state some service and they know’t.” That service will be around as long as the Smithsonian exists. And the hope he expressed in his book for the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), he would probably extend to the Smithsonian, in which he wrote: “Long after I have vacated the best office with the most impressive views in Washington, I hope that the museum will continue to be a source for understanding American history through the lens of African American history and culture and that while it reveal the richness and complexity of the Black experience that it never forgets to seize its own Americanness.” We have no doubt that he extends the same hope to the Smithsonian.

Roberto Clemente has always been one of my heroes. My admiration began with baseball, especially his 3,000 hits, extraordinary arm, and the way he played every game as if the season depended on it. More than 50 years after his death, though, those achievements are not the only reasons he remains important on Roberto Clemente Day. We should also remember what he believed success was for. Clemente believed his baseball achievements created responsibility. As his influence increased, so did his sense of obligation to use it for people with fewer opportunities. He demanded dignity as a Black Puerto Rican navigating American sports, then extended that demand to younger players, working people, children, and eventually strangers suffering after an earthquake in Nicaragua. Roberto Clemente Day is, therefore, more than a celebration of athletic greatness. It asks what any of us should do with whatever measure of success we achieve. Clemente won four National League batting titles, 12 consecutive Gold Gloves, two World Series championships, the 1966 National League Most Valuable Player Award, and 1971 World Series MVP. In September 1972, he became the first Latin American player to reach 3,000 major league hits. Yet those achievements did not automatically bring respect. Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, in 1934, Clemente was a U.S. citizen from birth and later served a six-year commitment in the Marine Corps Reserve. During spring training in Florida, Jim Crow determined where he could eat, sleep, and travel. While white teammates entered restaurants, Black and Latino players were often left waiting on the team bus. Clemente protested to Pirates management and helped secure station wagons so excluded players could travel independently. Discrimination followed him into media coverage. Reporters regularly Americanized his name to “Bob” or “Bobby,” and Topps baseball cards called him Bob Clemente through 1969. Clemente corrected them: “My name is Roberto Clemente.” Some writers also reproduced his English phonetically (“this” became “deez,” and “give” became “geev”), a practice rarely applied to white players with heavy regional accents. Clemente understood

EDITORIAL

Smithsonian’s Lonnie Bunch III has ‘done the nation a great service,’ and we know it

Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher Member

Alliance for Audited Media

and Editor in Chief

Madison Gray: Executive & Investigative Editor Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor Damaso Reyes: Editor at Large Siobhan "Sam" Bennett: Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Advertising

Wilbert A. Tatum (1984-2009): Chairman of the Board, CEO and Publisher Emeritus

By BRIAN MACCOLL

Roberto Clemente during his 1957 season with Pittsburgh Pirates. (Public Domain photo)

players, conducted baseball clinics for children from poorer households, and dreamed of building a community where Puerto Rican children from different economic backgrounds could learn several sports and receive guidance beyond the playing field. He also connected his struggles to the larger Civil Rights Movement. Clemente admired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., met with him in Puerto Rico, and supported causes inspired by Dr. King’s example. After Dr. King’s assassination in April 1968, Clemente joined teammates in refusing to open the season before King’s burial. In a joint statement, Clemente and white teammate Dave Wickersham said Black and white players owed the gesture to Dr. King’s “memory and his ideals.” Honoring Dr. King was not a responsibility belonging only to Black Americans. It tested the country as a whole. Clemente’s humanitarianism grew from his identification with people who received little public recognition. “I feel for the needy, for the taxi driver, for the garbage collector, for the hungry and the sick,” Mayoral remembered him saying. “They are the ones who know the true essence and value of what it is to be alive.” Our culture is exceptionally good at measuring achievement by counting wealth, followers, and awards, but less certain about what achievement should serve. As America marks 250 years, Clemente’s example challenges our preoccupation with self-ambition. His life asks whether success is a private trophy or a public responsibility. Every September 15, Major League Baseball honors Clemente through community service projects, recognition of the Roberto Clemente Award nominees, and uniform tributes incorporating his No. 21. However, taking his contribution seriously requires more than these efforts. For institutions, it means treating community investment as a fundamental duty, not public relations. For leaders, it means using their positions to protect underserved people. For individuals, it means measuring success not simply by what we accumulate, but by the protection, opportunities, and care we provide to those coming behind us.

that the treatment he accepted could become the treatment younger Latino players would be expected to endure. After the Pirates won the 1971 World Series, Clemente spoke Spanish during his nationally televised postgame interview, sending love to his family and asking for his parents’ blessing. Millions of Americans had just watched him dominate the World Series. Clemente used that moment not to distance himself from Puerto Rico, but to bring his home island into American living rooms. Clemente was not the unquestioned leader of the Pirates when he arrived. Language and culture separated the quiet young player from many older teammates. As the roster changed and more Black and Latino players joined the club, the former outsider gradually became a leader others looked toward. His friend Luis Mayoral remembered a principle Clemente expressed to him several times: “No person is better than me, but I am not better than any person.” The first half explains Clemente’s refusal to be diminished. The Brian MacColl is a New York-based second half explains what he did once recent public policy graduate student who he had earned stature. writes independently about civic history, Clemente mentored younger Latino institutional design, and public systems.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS O P I N I O N

Why SOMOS conference in Puerto Rico should not be business as usual By ANNA CORREA Every year, hundreds of New York’s elected officials, advocates, lobbyists, and civic leaders travel to Puerto Rico for the SOMOS conference, which is intended to celebrate Latino political power and confront the issues affecting our communities. This year, we need to ask an uncomfortable question: How can we gather in Puerto Rico to celebrate our political power while people on the island cannot reliably have access to something as basic as water? Puerto Rico is facing a serious water crisis. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a drought disaster designation covering 26 municipalities. More than a third of the island is experiencing extreme drought, while another 30% is experiencing severe drought. Water rationing has affected more than 500,000 Puerto Ricans, with residents going without running water for 48 hours at a time. Even scheduled rationing does not tell the whole story. Earlier this month, at least 60 communities in San

Juan and Trujillo Alto went without potable water for days after problems with the Cupey water system. I have family on the island. I hear about people figuring out where they can bathe, how much water they can afford to buy, and how to organize daily life around a utility that most of us in New York rarely think twice about. That is what makes proceeding with SOMOS as usual so difficult to accept. SOMOS has an important history of bringing together Puerto Rican and Latino leaders. Its mission emphasizes translating political gatherings into political action. If SOMOS is truly about using political power to deliver results, there may be no more important moment to demonstrate it than now. Instead of asking how many receptions we can fit into several days in San Juan, we should be asking why Puerto Ricans still cannot depend on their faucets. Instead of treating Puerto Rico as the backdrop for New York politics, we should center Puerto Rico itself. The water crisis is part of a much larger story. A decade ago, Congress enacted the

Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), which allowed billions in public debt to be restructured but transferred enormous fiscal authority from Puerto Rico’s elected government to an unelected Financial Oversight and Management Board. Puerto Rico’s experience under PROMESA demonstrates the limitations of treating fiscal discipline as economic recovery. More than 650 public schools closed between 2007 and 2019. The electrical infrastructure remains notoriously fragile. Communities are once again struggling for reliable access to water. Meanwhile, tax incentives now consolidated under Act 60 offer substantial benefits to qualifying businesses and wealthy investors who relocate to Puerto Rico. In 2023, members of Congress called for a federal review of these incentives, raising concerns that they were providing significant tax advantages to wealthy newcomers without delivering comparable benefits to the Puerto Rican people. Furthermore, a 2025 Government Accountability Office

review found that recipients of the resident-investor incentive were disproportionately high-income and that evidence of the incentives’ broader economic benefits remains mixed. The contradiction is difficult to ignore: Puerto Rico can make itself attractive to wealthy investors, luxury developments, and political visitors, yet too many Puerto Ricans cannot count on having water when they turn on the faucet. This is why SOMOS should not happen this year as business as usual. That does not mean abandoning Puerto Rico. It means doing the opposite. Turn the conference into an emergency policy summit. Replace some receptions with hearings involving residents, mayors, engineers, and community organizations. Bring New York’s congressional delegation into discussions about federal infrastructure investment. Examine disparities in Medicaid funding and Puerto Rico’s exclusion from SSI, the Jones Act, PROMESA, and the continuing authority See SOMOS CONFERENCE on page 35

Remembering Dr. William G. Anderson, osteopath who became unlikely civil rights hero

On several occasions, I have used this column space to compose obituaries, and the passing of Dr. William G. Anderson gives me reason for a special dedication. In 1961, after white men attacked Black women at Albany State College in Georgia, the local NAACP Youth Council staged a rally protesting the attacks. When dissension arose between leaders of the NAACP and SNCC about how to combat racism and discrimination in the city, Dr. Anderson,

an osteopath and owner of a drugstore, was elected to head a new formation to resolve the differing views. In my book, “We Shall Overcome – The History of the Civil Rights Movement as it Happened,” I wrote that Dr. Anderson, a native of Americus, Ga., had come to Albany to begin his practice with no intention of getting involved in the Civil Rights Movement. “That was not in my long range plans,” he said. However, after being segregated twice, he was ready to join the fight. “First I was segregated because I was Black and second because I was a DO (doctor of osteopathy).” Many community lead-

ers felt that because he was a doctor, he would be the best mediator to allay the heated differences. Later, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Rev. Ralph Abernathy arrived in town (whom Dr. Anderson, in fact, summoned), he would join them at rallies and demonstrations. Leading those marches was his introduction to the movement and only the beginning for an activist career that extended over the course of his 98 years. He died on Aug. 16 at his home in Detroit. I had no idea he lived in my hometown and had been living there since 1962, after the Albany movement ended. He became the first African American surgi-

cal resident and later opened a surgical practice. Along with his medical practice, he also taught at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 1994, he became the first Black president of the American Osteopathic Association. In his memoir, “The Making of a (Pardoned) Felon During the Civil Rights Movement in America: The Physician Who Helped Heal American Democracy,” Dr. Anderson proudly claimed the conviction he received in Albany. It was a dubious distinction, he said, but he always saw that as a hallmark of his illustrious life.

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 13

Harlem Grown’s mission is to make us all healthy CHRISTINA

GREER, PH.D. I don’t know about you, but the recent food recalls and severe cases of cyclospora linked to lettuce have me thinking more seriously about where my food comes from — how it’s grown, and ways I can be a more active participant in my own food production, cultivation, and knowledge. Luckily for us, an organization called Harlem Grown exists. Their mission is to inspire young people to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition. For the past 15 years, Harlem Grown has operated local urban farms, increased access to and knowledge about healthy food for Harlem residents, and provided farm-based development programs to Harlem youth. One of the many ways Harlem Grown fulfills their mission is by raising support for the physical renovation of abandoned lots in Harlem, transforming them into thriving urban farms. Currently, Harlem Grown has 14 urban agriculture facilities, ranging from soil-based farms to hydroponic greenhouses and school gardens. Tony Hillery, the CEO and visionary behind Harlem Grown, believes healthy habits start young. Harlem Grown’s programs target elementary-aged students, because they understand that food justice is more than just providing and distributing food. The model of Harlem Grown is to provide mentorship, education, and partnerships to create sustainable change. Since 2011, Hillery has watched his program expand and grow like a well-nurtured garden. Hillery initially worked with 400 students to plant 400 seedlings, and they succeeded in growing

38 pounds of produce, working on skills like patience, teamwork, and responsibility along the way. Now, Harlem Grown has expanded to partner with five local Harlem schools, reached more than 7,000 youth, composted nearly 70,000 pounds of food scraps, and grown more than 5,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables, distributing 213,800 pounds of fresh food to families in need throughout the community. In addition to providing lifelong and life-affirming skills to young people, Harlem Grown has three farmstands in the community, providing fresh fruits and vegetables. So many people in our communities lack access to basic vegetables and non-processed food. Our diet is a road map to our short- and longterm health. Helping young people establish a love of fruits and vegetables is creating a much wider, interconnected web of healthy communities and people who can educate others. Harlem Grown is providing a space in the community for people young and old to learn, grow, participate in camps and cooking lessons, and — most importantly — see themselves in the future healthy foundation of their communities. Hillery has created something truly special. Let’s be sure to support Harlem Grown and watch it grow for at least another 15 years. To find out more about Harlem Grown, their various farmstands and programs, and ways you can donate to help this amazing (and necessary) work continue, go to www.harlemgrown.org. Christina Greer, Ph.D., is a professor at Fordham University; author; senior policy fellow at Brooklyn Org; and co-host of the podcast FAQNYC.

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THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Caribbean Update Preparations for Haitian elections hit low voter registration snag By BERT WILKINSON Special to the AmNews Determined to hold general elections in December despite the country’s precarious security posture, Haitian officials are pressing ahead with preparations for new polls, but a frighteningly low level of voter registration is frustrating the system at all levels. The country’s electoral council says it would be satisfied with a registration level of about 4 million, but as the new workweek began, the national voter scroll reported that it can only account for just over half a million people who have registered — 509,000, or less than 13% — of those eligible so far, with fewer than 100 days to go. The attempt at organizing the first general elections since 2016 is set for December 13 in the most populous and economically troubled nation of the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The interim administration or transitional council that Caricom and other nations helped

to install in the country in early 2024 wants to press ahead with the polls, since the official mandate of nearly every elected official has expired, from mayors to lawmakers, in the past decade. Preparations for December 13 are proceeding despite the increasing power and influence of heavily armed gangs that have been severely disrupting life, killing and abducting Haitian citizens, burning buildings, and marauding into neighborhoods while engaging in deadly clashes with police and soldiers, mostly in the capital and surrounding areas. The level of uncertainty about security appears to be the main reason why Haitians are turning out in such low numbers to register and prepare to elect a new generation of leaders. In recent months, there have been several visits from Caricom delegations, the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, and the United Nations (U.N.). In each case, officials have expressed concerns about the se-

curity situation, but have nevertheless thrown their support behind the need to organize fresh polls. “Haiti stands at a critical juncture. Our responsibility is clear: to strengthen security efforts, advance electoral preparations, deliver on the commitments already made, and ensure that international cooperation translates into tangible improvements in the daily lives of the Haitian people,” said OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin after a recent visit. Caricom Secretary General Carla Barnett said, “Our objective must remain to support the Haitian people in their search for solutions to the current crises of insecurity and governance, so that they can focus on long-term investment planning, job creation, and access to essential social services.” Feeling a level of responsibility about things in Haiti, the 15-nation bloc said it is doing its part to remain engaged in the lead-up to December 13. In the past week, it sent a delegation of three former regional prime ministers serving as a so-called em-

inent persons group (EPG) to Haiti to assess the situation. The delegation reported that the “visit provided a timely opportunity to assess the political conjuncture and to engage in dialogue on the preparations for the first round of elections scheduled for 13 December 2026. The security situation remains of particular concern. The EPG noted the recent spread and spike in deadly violence and kidnappings, as well as the challenges contributing to the slow deployment of the gang suppression force. In their discussions, all stakeholders underscored the critical importance of ensuring a security environment that will allow for countrywide registration of voters, political campaigning, freedom of movement, and citizens to vote safely. Deployment of the additional forces and resources pledged by various countries and strategic operational coordination among these, and the Haitian security forces are of paramount importance in achieving this objective.” Like the OAS and the U.N., the

former prime ministers of Jamaica, the Bahamas, and St. Lucia said that Haiti needs all the international support it can get because the country is at “a critical juncture. With important steps being taken by Haitians toward stability and a return to democratic governance in their country, the EPG calls on international partners to refocus efforts to deliver with dispatch on security commitments made to ensure the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2793, which deals with efforts to establish an international gang suppression force.” Meanwhile, nearly 300 political parties and individuals have registered to contest the polls, but how many will have the financing to contest in the major provinces remains a concern for officials. It is not clear whether multilateral agencies like Caricom, the OAS, and the U.N. will mount observer missions in mid-December because many are worried about being attacked by the armed gangs operating in the country.

Who will now get to count in America? FELICIA PERSAUD

IMMIGRATION KORNER For 12 years, I fought to make Caribbean immigrants and those of Caribbean ancestry count in the United States Census, but after reading the Trump administration’s sweeping proposal to reshape the 2030 Census last week, I realized the question confronting America today is much bigger than the Caribbean immigrant community. The Trump administration’s Census Bureau is proposing changes that could exclude undocumented immigrants and some other non-citizens whose legal status is considered less permanent from the population used to apportion the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. At the same time, the Bureau is proposing to prohibit questions about race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation from the questionnaire used for the decennial population count. One proposal changes who

counts while the other changes what we know about those who do. The Bureau argues that some non-citizens should not be included in the apportionment count because they lack what it calls a sufficient tie and allegiance to the United States. It also argues that the census should be “colorblind” and questions the usefulness of collecting race and ethnicity information in the decennial enumeration questionnaire. Of course, thankfully, these are proposals, not yet final rules, and legal challenges are almost certain to follow if they are adopted. However, the direction should concern anyone who understands the meaning of Census data. I certainly do. For 12 years, through CaribID, I fought to convince Caribbean immigrants and Caribbean Americans that being properly counted mattered. Simply checking “Black” did not tell America who we are. We are Guyanese, Jamaican, Haitian, Trinidadian, Barbadian, Grenadian, Vincentian, St. Lucian, Dominican, and much more. Various races from one region who respond to one culture:

the culture of the Caribbean. After years of advocacy by communities across America, the 2020 Census made significant progress. For the first time, its Black or African American race question included a write-in area for detailed identity, with examples like Guyanese, Jamaican, and Haitian. The result? The Census Bureau produced detailed data for 62 Black population groups, including Caribbean identities such as Jamaican, Haitian, and Grenadian. Nearly twothirds of Black respondents provided a detailed identity. That is what better data can accomplish, and this was never simply about ethnic pride. Data is power. Census data affects congressional representation and redistricting, and helps inform the distribution of federal resources. The Census Bureau itself says race data is used in government planning and funding, identifying disparities in access to medical services, and evaluating whether programs serve different communities fairly. When immigrants and Black communities become less visible in detailed data, our children do not

disappear from schools. Our elderly do not disappear from hospitals; our families do not disappear from neighborhoods. What becomes harder to see is precisely who is there, and now there is an even larger issue. The proposed residence rules would potentially exclude not only undocumented immigrants from the apportionment population, but also some immigrants who are lawfully present yet do not have permanent resident status. Think about what that means. A person could live in Florida, Texas, California, or New York. They could rent an apartment, buy groceries, send children to school, travel on the roads, and contribute to their community’s economic life. Yet, under the proposed approach, their presence may not count in determining that state’s representation in Congress. At the same time, the government is considering knowing less about the racial and ethnic identities of the people it does count. That represents a remarkable reversal. The race question has existed in some form since the first U.S. Census in 1790. More recent-

ly, the Census Bureau spent years researching how Americans could better report their increasingly complex racial and ethnic identities. Now America is considering moving in the opposite direction. To be clear, removing these questions from the decennial enumeration would not make all race and ethnicity data disappear. The Census Bureau also collects demographic information through the American Community Survey and other programs. However, the philosophical question remains. After decades spent improving America’s ability to understand the people who comprise this nation, why would we now choose to know less? For 12 years, I told Caribbean immigrants and Caribbean Americans: “Stand Up and Be Counted.” I believed then, as I do now, that visibility matters — but this fight is no longer simply about whether a Jamaican, Haitian, Guyanese, or Trinidadian can be seen in America’s demographic portrait. It is about something much more See IMMIGRATION KORNER on page 35

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

International

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 15

News

Dangote refinery IPO opens a new chapter for African ownership

Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, center, participates in the Opening Gong Ceremony of the Dangote Refinery Initial Public Offering at the Nigeria Stock Exchange in Lagos, Nigeria, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has launched what supporters call a landmark offering for Nigeria and broader African markets. On Sept. 14, he opened an initial public offering for shares in Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO is offering 4.1 billion new ordinary shares at 525 naira (₦525), or about 40 cents. A minimum purchase of 10 shares (about ₦5,250, or $3.95) is required. If all shares are sold, the offering will raise about ₦2.15 trillion (roughly $1.6 billion), with the total potentially reach-

ing $2.1 billion. The offering is scheduled to close on Oct. 13. Dangote comes from a wellknown merchant family in West Africa. His great-grandfather, Alhassan Dantata, was one of the wealthiest traders during British rule. Dangote studied business at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, then returned to Nigeria with a loan from an uncle to start trading cement, sugar, rice, and other goods. His trading business grew into the Dangote Group, which now includes cement, sugar, salt, fertilizer, and energy. The Dangote Group has several publicly traded companies on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and already offers

investment stocks. The three major Dangote stocks are: Dangote Cement PLC (Ticker: DANGCEM); Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC (Ticker: DANGSUGAR or DANGSUG); and NASCON Allied Industries PLC (Ticker: NASCON). The Dangote refinery near Lagos, which cost about $20 billion to construct, started operating in 2024. It is important to Nigeria’s goal of relying less on imported fuel. Reuters reported that the company plans to spend $14.3 billion to expand the refinery, doubling its capacity from about 700,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million by 2029. The Associated Press reported that during the IPO’s launch

at the NGX, Dangote called the offering a “People’s IPO,” saying the point was to widen participation in the ownership of his companies and share prosperity with the people. “We are all going to fully share all our prosperity with the people, and that is why we call it the people’s IPO,” Dangote said. In company statements, he has described the listing as a way to democratize ownership, create jobs, conserve foreign exchange, and allow Nigerians, Africans and global investors to participate in one of the continent’s most transformative industrial projects. Dangote said small retail investors who want to invest ₦50,000 (about $38) or ₦100,000 (about

$75) should be given priority over large institutional investors. People can do so through NGX Invest or via digital investment apps and platforms such as Bamboo, PiggyVest, and Cowrywise. Dangote has said that his company might go public in the United States within the next three to four years. In the meantime, the refinery shares are expected to be traded on the Nigerian Exchange following the offer period. If the refinery succeeds as promised, its public offering could become Africa’s largest share sale and push other African industrial giants to list their companies on the continent.

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Columbia Continued from page 3

A previous advisory committee was formed under Mnookin’s interim predecessor, Katrina Armstrong, early last year. But little came from those efforts, and MHCC organizers say the reception to these measures is largely lukewarm. As the university mulls over its options, it also faces legal action over restricting campus access. Earlier this month, the Mamdani administration quietly supported reopening Columbia’s “College Walk” to the public through a city law department filing for a lawsuit brought by local residents against the university over the closure. “The City supports reopening of the walkway through the Columbia University Campus to the public,” wrote assistant corporation counsel Rachel Moston. The walkway connects Broadway to Amsterdam Avenue, and without public access, pedestrians must walk around the campus, which spans from 116th Street to 120th Street. Cleare, who chairs the State Senate’s Aging Committee, believes restricting access is causing an accessibility issue. “There’s not a block there if you live east of Broadway, this is a cut across that you don’t have to walk around,” she said. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the son of a Columbia professor, previously introduced legislation challenging the universi-

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS ty’s nonprofit tax exemptions while serving on the state assembly. But the school is significantly more beholden to federal funding than at the city or state level. MHCC Program Director Dan McSweeney says the protests against a campus closure also stem from fighting for academic freedom and expression in the face of the Trump administration, which responded to the student demonstrations by threatening funding freezes and targeting notable student protesters such as Mahmoud Khalil. He also pushed back on the safety concerns used to justify restricting public access. “It sends the very wrong message to international or domestic students, [and] their families,” said McSweeney. “Our neighborhood is not a dangerous place. West Harlem is not a dangerous place. And if people come to Columbia and they see these locked gates and hear that it’s about safety, they might get the wrong impression that they’re studying in a crimeridden neighborhood and that’s simply not the case at all.” Wright also disputed the campus closure as a safety measure. “The village of Harlem has been open to Columbia University for generations,” he said. “It’s not fair that Columbia gets to close its gates to Harlem now. No matter where the students are from, no matter what kind of safety issues they might think might be the case, it’s been done before [and] we can keep the gates open and maintain everybody’s safety.”

Benefits Continued from page 3

person’s application. In 2023, 69% of male New Yorkers over 16 were in the labor force. Among foreign-born males, the participation rate was higher, at 71%, than citizens or those born in the U.S., according to city data. They were likely to be entrepreneurs, salaried workers, government employees, or working in service jobs. For foreign-born women over 16, it was about 58%. Women were more likely to be self-employed business owners or in service roles. “Oftentimes, the Black immigrant experience is left out,” said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, speaking about Caribbean and African immigrants who would be affected. “With the combination of the raids that are happening, the combination of getting rid of TPS and now people trying to wade through legal arguments they may not understand, parts of our districts are ghost towns already as people are no longer coming out and supporting their businesses and now [will] have to make the decisions of whether they feed their children or not. The purpose of this is cruelty. That’s it. Cruelty and fear.” In the meantime, Mamdani advised community members and asylum seekers against hastily withdrawing from public assistance programs, recommending in-

stead that they consult a reliable legal provider before making any changes to their enrollment. The city also suggests contacting the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) hotline at 800-354-0365. “I would like to take a moment to speak directly to those across our city who may be affected by the new public charge rule. Nothing about your or a family member’s eligibility to access benefits and services has changed,” said Mamdani. The city said the rule does not apply to “people who already have a green card and are renewing it; people applying for U.S. citizenship; children of immigrants who are U.S. citizens; or immigrants with certain humanitarian protections, including asylum or refugee status, T visas (victims of human trafficking), U visas (victims of certain crimes), Violence Against Women Act self-petitioners, and those with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.” It does apply to people applying for family-based visas as certain relatives of U.S. citizens and green card holders; employment-based visas for priority workers, skilled workers, and professionals; diversity visas; and S visas for witnesses and informants. Mamdani added that in ongoing conversations with President Donald Trump about immigration policy, he’s been very clear about his “deep disagreements” with several policies, including the public charge rule.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 17

Arts & Entertainment

Studio Museum exhibits Peggy Cooper Cafritz’s vision for Black artists By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff The Studio Museum in Harlem is paying tribute to the late Peggy Cooper Cafritz with the exhibition “Dreams of This Future: The Collection of Peggy Cooper Cafritz.” The show, on view through Feb. 28, 2027, showcases works from her major donation to the Studio Museum following her death in 2018. It’s giving viewers the chance to look at Cafritz’s lifetime of Black arts advocacy. Born in Mobile, Alabama, Cafritz moved to Washington, D.C., to attend George Washington University and stayed. In 1974, she helped establish the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA), an arts-education-focused public high school. She also became a major arts patron and a strong advocate for empowering Black students and Black artists. Cafritz was an early collector of

paintings, photography, sculpture, and textiles by artists of African descent. She bought works by artists like Kerry James Marshall, Simone Leigh, Kehinde Wiley, Kara Walker, Deana Lawson, Wangechi Mutu, Titus Kaphar, Nick Cave, Tschabalala Self, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Sanford Biggers, and featured them in her home. In 2009, a fire destroyed more than 300 art pieces in her house, but she began collecting again and built a second collection in the last years of her life. When she passed, The Studio Museum says she left the museum with more than 400 works by more than 200 artists of African descent. In “Dreams of This Future,” visitors can see a three-room gallery featuring the range of art styles and interests that caught Cafritz’s eye. The exhibit includes pieces like Arcmanoro Niles’ oil and acrylic painting “A Promise to Never Get Old,” which focuses on the beauty of a young, sexy woman richly saturated in layers of oranges, pinks,

purples, and greens. In another portrait-like display, Simone Leigh’s 2015 terracotta, porcelain, and epoxy sculpture “No Face (Black)” centers a featureless Black female face that, by its posture, appears strong and ready to take on whatever comes. Similarly, the silkscreen poster “In Revolution One Wins or One Dies,” by artist/activist Emory Douglas — who served as Minister of Culture and art director for the Black Panther Party — outlines the image of a militant African American figure moving forward. These and other pieces show Cafritz’s embrace of representations of Black art and Black life. The Studio Museum in Harlem is located at 144 West 125th Street. Tickets can be purchased online at studiomuseum.org/visit or at the Museum.

Entrance to the Studio Museum’s “Dreams of This Future: The Collection of Peggy Cooper Cafritz” exhibition. (Photos courtesy Studio Museum in Harlem)

Arcmanoro Niles, “A Promise to Never Get Old,” 2015.

Simone Leigh, “No Face (Black),” 2015.

Emory Douglas, “In Revolution One Wins or One Dies.”

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(Re)Discovering 2Pac: How to listen to his discography By MATTHEW ALLEN Special to the AmNews It’s been 30 years since the world lost Tupac Shakur, and it took that long for his killer to be brought to justice. Three decades after Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, Duane “Keffe D” Davis was convicted of first-degree murder in the case. This is much-needed and long-overdue closure for Shakur’s family, loved ones, and fans. The year 2026 carries much significance for Shakur’s memory. Not only is it the 30th anniversary of his death and the year his murderer was brought to justice, but it is also the 30th anniversary of “All Eyez on Me” and “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,” the final two albums he recorded and finished during his lifetime. Now is, therefore, an excellent time to rediscover why Shakur was, and remains, such a crucial figure in hip hop music specifically, and Black American music in general. With the fodder surrounding his murder, the lore of his caricatured image from the fateful East Coast/West Coast rap beef, his charismatic energy, and arguably the greatest vocal timbre in rap history, Shakur left behind much to discover. During his 25 years on Earth, Shakur left an indelible mark on hip hop and pop culture. He was a hit-making rapper, a critically acclaimed actor, and a thoughtful poet, but it was the manner in which he navigated his life and career that captivated his audience. Regarded as a man of contradiction in his music and life, one minute he’s shooting at police officers to protect someone; the next he’s promoting a vicious war of words with fellow MCs like Notorious B.I.G.; it was nearly impossible not to be deeply affected by his music. Shakur’s mind was a constant, multirope tug-of-war between his past and present. Sometimes he was a militant activist, other times he was a thoughtful caretaker, and sometimes he just wanted to make his money and ride on his enemies. His albums were skewed and schizophrenic to some, but in actuality, he came from the generation of Black geniuses who excelled at making many opposing moods and narratives sound cohesive, from Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley to Lauryn Hill and Janet Jackson. When examining anyone’s discography, the easiest thing to do would be to start from the beginning and listen chronologically to follow the artist’s progression. However, that’s not always the best way to engage with someone’s body of work, and Shakur is a good example. Instead of slowly uncovering what Shakur became as a musician, with so much distance between his death and today, it’s better to begin with the best representation of what Shakur was as an MC, and thus, a human being. If you plan to start a journey of discovering Shakur’s discography, here’s the order to aurally ingest his albums (ex-

political indignation in “Holler If Ya Hear Me,” yet include an anthem of detached promiscuity like “I Get Around” and an affirming plea for women to “Keep Ya Head Up.” While not as socially mature as “Me Against the World” would be later, “Strictly” finds Shakur at an interesting crossroads, leaning into his public notoriety without compromising his beliefs or his artistry.

corded in a week-long studio binge, with Shakur inspired by his rage at his enemies, be it rap rivals or corrupt police. Adopting the alter ego ‘Makaveli,’ “The Don Killuminati” found Shakur hell-bent on disruption and destruction. In songs like “Hail Mary,” “Toss It Up,” “Against All Odds,” and “Bomb First,” he is unrelentingly bent on revenge and retribution against rappers like Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and Mobb Deep. Never would Shakur sound more menacing and pensive. Even with such unchecked wrath, “The Don Killuminati” is his most focused and cohesive statement.

Rapper Tupac Shakur attends voter registration event in South Central Los Angeles, Aug. 15, 1996. (AP Photo/Frank Wiese, File)

cluding his posthumous albums). “Me Against the World” (1995) Although only Shakur’s third album, “Me Against the World” is the fullest representation of who he was as a man and an MC — a young man who knew as much about William Shakespeare as he did Toni Morrison; a man who was birthed and raised by Black Panthers but lived and empathized with drug addicts, drug dealers, and thug n*ggas. “Me Against the World” finds Shakur offering his most fully realized and untainted work. Shakur was enduring some tumultuous episodes. Since his previous album, he was in and out of court over accusations of police shootings and sexual assault, and he suffered a near-fatal ambush at a New York recording studio months before the album was released. The songs on the album convey a vast range of emotions, like the vitriol of “F*** the World,” the celebration of “Dear Mama,” the empathy of “Can U Get Away,” and the paranoia of “Temptations.” “Me Against the World” is the most fully realized album Shakur would ever make regarding the full gamut of his humanity and his unique perspective on life.

Image of Tupac Shakur from his passport, 1995. (Public domain photos)

“All Eyez on Me” (1996) Shakur’s biggest public breakthrough came with an album that showed him in the midst of his villain origin story. Fueled by the fury of his 1995 shooting and his suspicions of Bad Boy Records’ alleged involvement, and serving a prison sentence for sexual assault, Shakur embraced the braggadocio that dominated that era of hip hop with a double album, “All Eyez On Me.” Reinvigorated after signing with Death Row Records, Shakur leaned heavily into the West Coast hip hop sound while waxing poetic about lavish living and sexual conquest on “How Do You Want It,” “All About U,” and “California Love,” exacting vengeance with “Ambitionz az a Ridah” and fusing both with “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.” Meanwhile, the paranoia of his previous two albums reached “Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z …” (1993) a fever pitch with the title track. “All Eyez Before “Me Against the World,” Shakur’s on Me” with Shakur at his most sprawling layers began to present themselves on his and exaggerated, walking the fine line besecond album, “Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z tween carefree and careless, giving him a …” Here is where we see a 21-year-old step diamond-certified album. out into his fame and allow all his emotions to run wild. Coming off a brilliantly “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory” unhinged film debut in 1992’s “Juice” and (1996) being violently victimized during a police Although released two months after brutality incident, Shakur was primed to Shakur’s murder, “The Don Killuminati: unload everything off his chest. After one The 7 Day Theory” was the final album he listen, one may feel confused about how an saw to completion during his lifetime. All MC can kick off an album with explosive but one of the album’s 12 songs were re-

Tupac Shakur as a teenager, in a 1988 Baltimore School of the Arts yearbook.

“2Pacalypse Now” (1991) After getting to know Shakur and becoming well-acquainted with his extremes and duality, end the journey by going back to the beginning. In 1991, when Shakur was 19, he was mentored by Bay Area hip hop outfit Digital Underground, pushing to express all the ideology and observations he had accumulated to that point. While Digital Underground handled most of the production, Shakur’s subject matter reflected less of the group’s whimsy and was instead a thesis about the disproportionate ills that young Blacks faced in America. While most of the album spoke of police brutality on songs like “Trapped” and “I Don’t Give a F***,” and the perils of drugs and their impact on his community in “If My Homie Calls,” the centerpiece is “Brenda’s Got a Baby.” The single tells a narrative of a young Black child who has a baby at 12 from an abusive relative, turns to sex work for money, and is eventually murdered. On Shakur’s first album, we see the fire that fueled his rage as a spark, ignited by the prejudice surrounding him. Before he was consumed with getting even with his rivals, he was more concerned that everyone who looked like him should be heard.

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Hip Hop Museum moves projected opening date to 2027 By MATTHEW ALLEN Special to the AmNews The highly anticipated opening of the Hip Hop Museum has been postponed yet again. The institution, dubbed “Hip Hop’s Forever Home,” has moved its grand opening from fall 2026 to Spring 2027, as listed on its website and social media pages. As far back as July, museum CEO Rocky Bucano revealed that the opening was pushed back. Bucano told News 12 The Bronx during a walkthrough of the grounds and the building that construction was “60 percent” complete. Located on the waterfront of the Harlem River in the South Bronx, the museum — then called the Universal Hip Hop — was founded by Bucano in 2014 with hip hop legends Grand Wizzard Theodore, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Kurtis Blow, and the late Afrika Bambaataa. The Hip Hop Museum is set to be the definitive home for the historical celebration and preservation of hip hop culture worldwide. At first, it looked like the museum would reside in the Kingsbridge Armory in Kingsbridge Heights before ultimately the site at Bronx Point, in Mott Haven at 585 Ex- Rocky Bucano, CEO of the Hip Hop Museum. (Courtesy photos) terior Street, was chosen. Since the museum’s construction was first formally was scheduled for 2019, but that came and naries like Grandmaster Flash, Nas, LL Cool announced, it has had multiple delays. The went. The museum had the groundbreak- J, and many others in attendance. original groundbreaking for the museum ing ceremony in 2021, with hip hop lumiThe goal was to open the museum’s doors

The Hip-Hop Museum, in South Bronx.

to the public in 2023, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of hip hop, but that didn’t happen. During the museum’s inaugural gala in August 2023, Bucano, who rebranded the institution from Universal Hip Hop Museum to the Hip Hop Museum, disclosed that a soft launch would commence in the fall of 2024, with an official opening in spring 2025. Then, in July 2025, with the museum still under construction, Bucano disclosed that it would be ready to open between July and October 2026, after finalization of the exhibition design with Ralph Applebaum Associates. Neither Bucano nor any representative of the Hip Hop Museum has given any formal explanations behind what’s been causing the delays over the years. In the meantime, the museum has hosted several pop-up exhibitions and activations at its outpost, The Culture Lab, at Bronx Terminal Market (658 Exterior Street), a few blocks away. Once finished, the Hip Hop Museum will be a 55,000-square-foot monument to hip hop culture, equipped with a restaurant, a performance hall, and an immersive theater. Affordable housing units are also a part of the museum development. Until then, the Culture Lab is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring pop-up exhibits and merchandise. For more info, visit thhm.org.

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AmNews FOOD La Mesa Nuyorican set table for Red Bull Chapters featuring Rauw Alejandro KYSHA HARRIS

FOOD EDITOR, @SCHOPNYC With much gratitude, I got to live a full Boricua life as part of the inaugural Red Bull Chapters, featuring the magnificent Puerto Rican superstar Rauw Alejandro, a two-time Latin Grammy Award-winner and five-time Grammy nominee. What began as a Puerto Rican dinner invitation to Brooklyn ended with a fabulous evening in Queens, replete with fireworks and dancing. Dinner and a movie have absolutely nothing on this experience. Wepa! Red Bull hosted La Mesa Nuyorican at Brooklyn Grange’s Sunset Park rooftop farm. I was thrilled to visit for the first time. I wish I had arrived before sunset to capture it all for you, but the Red Bull cocktails and sangüichitos de lechón asa’o — tender pork from a whole roasted pig, bright chimichurri, and a sweet roll, plus my request for crispy skin — set me right. I was gutted to miss passed hors d’oeuvres of mofonguitos de yuca con bacalao and the alcapurrias made with green banana and yautía, filled with lentil picadillo and served with pineapple pique. Curses! I migrated to the area where guests were watching the Bombazo Dance Co. right outside the dining room perform Bomba, an Afro-Puerto Rican music-and-dance tradition. Dancers in traditional attire moved in conversation with the live drummers, setting a physical intention for the dinner ahead. My hips were ready. Once inside, there were two long, fully set communal tables that glowed beneath blue light and overlooked the New York City skyline. Centerpieces incorporated produce connected to the island — avocados, papaya, and plantains, continuing the conversation among place, memory, and food. From the large display across the room, I soon realized that this was not just another PR dinner. La Mesa Nuyorican translated the Red Bull Chapters framework into food through Inspiration (origin story and influences), Momentum (evolution and defining work), and Legacy (achievements and what’s next). This dinner was about Puerto Rico, yes, but also about New York City and the Nuyorican culture that shaped Rauw. It would take a collaboration of four dynamic Puerto Rican chefs to showcase Rauw’s chapters: Dylan Golden of Chino Grande, Jonathan Meléndez Rodríguez of Michelin-starred Casa Mono, César Pérez of Primos Lejanos, and Manolo López of Café Colmado and Finca La Promesa. Inspiration honored the Puerto Rican culture and food traditions that shaped Rauw. Momentum showed how those traditions adapted

Food Editor Kysha Harris with friend Raquel at Rauw Alejandro’s Red Bull Chapters concert at Forest Hills Stadium. (Kysha Harris photos)

First course: ensalada de hojas locales, a salad of greens from Brooklyn Grange.

Ticket to Rauw Alejandro’s Red Bull Chapters concert at Forest Hills Stadium on September 6, 2026.

in New York, shaping new neighborhoods and communities. Legacy considered what the next generation is carrying forward to define itself. After the chefs welcomed us and Rauw settled into his seat, the meal began with bread service, but made it Puerto Rican style. Warm pan sobao arrived with freshly made butter, guava jelly, and smoked salt. It was giving guava-and-cheese pastry moments. By the end of the night, my tablemates and I were mad we didn’t bring Tupperware to take some home. Next came ensalada de hojas locales — local greens with roasted plum vinaigrette. I went back for seconds and thirds. It was fresh, abundant, and deeply satisfying in a way that only a well-dressed bowl of beautiful lettuce can be. Red snapper crudo followed in coconut leche de tigre, finished with crispy malanga. One of my favorite dishes of the night. When the platter of roasted kabocha squash with queso fresco and candied seeds; oyster mushroom empanadillas with recaito and a Malta reduction; and Chino-Latino

chicharrón with tomato escabeche arrived, I lost my mind. The squash was outstanding with its combination of texture and flavor. The oyster mushroom empanadillas brought deep umami realness. Add fatty, crisp, delicious pieces of chicharrón … done! The entrée course brought Chef Dylan Golden’s Chino-Latino magic to arroz con jamonilla (Spam fried rice) and white beans, stir-fried Chinese yardlong beans over purple yautía and celeriac purée, and prime rib from Finca La Promesa with fivespice jus and scallions. Just brilliant food. It was getting late, so I missed the dessert of polvorón and peach jam with goat cheese panna cotta … and I do love panna cotta. I said goodbye to my new Puerto Rican family, “Bacalao!” (an inside joke on our new shared IG chat), and headed back to Harlem, joyous and full. Days later, I was invited to Rauw’s second sold-out concert at Forest Hills Stadium. It was my first time in the historic venue, and the timing felt especially significant while New York was still in the throes of the U.S. Open.

Forest Hills hosted the inaugural U.S. Open in 1968, when Arthur Ashe became its first men’s champion and the first Black man to win the tournament. One week after Rauw’s concert, Ben Shelton became the first Black American man since Ashe in 1972 to reach the U.S. Open men’s singles final. I am not going to hold you. Rauw’s concert was phenomenal! Exceptional production from staging and choreography to his impeccable leather clothes and sunglasses game. My friend Raquel and I could not stay sitting, especially during his salsa set and when he built a song live onstage, bringing in each musician one by one. Genius! Each of the three chapters — Inspiration, Momentum, and Legacy — appeared on the enormous screen above the stage and marked another era of Rauw’s journey. The production also featured Red Bull extreme sports athletes, including freestyle motorcyclist Aaron Colton, along with appearances by b-boys and special guests Puerto Rican mega-producer Tainy and Chencho Corleone. Rauw also shared heartfelt thoughts about home, family, and identity. “You can never forget where you come from,” he said in Spanish. He talked about how life sometimes carries people far from home and how years can pass without seeing grandparents and other family members. “Life slowly pulls you back to where your ancestors are, where your people are,” he said. He ended by saying, “I count the hours until I can return home to my beautiful Puerto Rico.” And the crowd goes wild. By then, Legacy felt like more than the title of a final chapter. It felt like the purpose of everything I had experienced — from four chefs cooking the flavors of home on a Brooklyn rooftop to thousands of people raising their hands for Puerto Rico in a historic Queens stadium. La Mesa Nuyorican gave the concert a language before the music began. The chefs translated inspiration, momentum, and legacy into food. Bombazo Dance Co. expressed them through movement and music. Rauw carried them into Forest Hills Stadium with reverence. One table. Two boroughs. Three chapters. A Puerto Rican story still being written. Thanks for reading and happy eating! Kysha Harris is a chef, culinary producer, and food editor for the NY Amsterdam News. As a consultant and owner of SCHOP!, a personalized food service in NYC for over 23 years, she remains on the hunt for the city’s next great bite. Follow her on Instagram and on Facebook, @SCHOPnyc. Questions, comments, requests, feedback, invitations! Email us at AmNewsFOOD@ SCHOPnyc.com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, @NYAmNewsFOOD.

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‘Just Like My Own’ magazine launch celebrated in NYC By NAFISSATOU YATTASSAYE Special To The Am News Every strand holds a story. “Just Like My Own,” a newly released photo magazine aiming to bring back “print media,” focuses on the evolution and variation of African/minority diasporic roots in NYC. The event was one of a kind, and, more surprisingly, the artist is only 20 years old. Born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, and now a Bronx resident, Soulyeman Traore, also known as Sou, is changing the art scene. Traore moved from Virginia at 6 months old with his mother, Mimi, and his father, both immigrants from Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. As a middle child with an older brother, a basketball star, and a younger sister, Traore has always tried to find his way. Growing up, Traore attended All Hallows, an all-boys Catholic school in the Bronx, where he helped manage the team his brother, a grade above him, played on. Being 6’7”, Traore shares how he was in a position of finding his passion and putting an end to pleasing people. “I guess being 6’7” and not playing sports isn’t normalized. I never had a passion for basketball, and to me, passion isn’t getting up at 6 a.m. to train every day.” With his older brother, a breakout basketball star at the University of West Virginia, Traore realized he played sports only to fulfill his parents’ happiness. However, when he went to college, he realized that his heart and love were actually attached to cameras and the process of filmmaking, noting, “I knew this was my passion, and work didn’t feel like work.” With an attendance of over a hundred people across different ethnic backgrounds, the East Village’s TBG gallery space was filled with love and support. Traore’s mother, Mimi, or “Miss Mimi,” as he said others refer to her, is an anointed woman and a main source of his inspiration. While he was growing up, he shares, “She was forced to grow up fast. She walked miles and miles to sell fish to provide for her brothers and sisters and support her mother,” and through hair braiding and earning her nickname throughout the Bronx, she takes care of her family through hard work. Traore thanks both his parents for working hard and making

sure their life growing up was filled with love, happiness, and connection. “My purpose is to make my parents proud and to show them that their hard work was never taken for granted.” When asked to describe himself, Traore says he loves to explore and is an innovator. “I love to get inspired to create something new.” This was put on full display Saturday night from 7–10 p.m. for the joint magazine launch and photo exhibit. When discussing the origin of the concept of “Just Like My Own,” Traore says it was an exploration of his younger perspective of life growing up in a hair salon. After a conversation with his mother in Burkina Faso, they spoke about the “amazing memories in the shop,” and instantly, this sparked his interest in sharing this perspective with the world. The images range from photos taken in the U.S. and in Ivory Coast, a trip that also sparked Traore’s career after purchasing a small camera and documenting that journey. The majority of his inspiration comes from artists who aren’t in the same medium as him. He shares that, for example, Beyoncé had an interview a couple of years back and said, “We lost the art of making a body of work. Everybody just wants to drop singles. I want to make albums and tell stories,” and that always stuck with him. “Just Like My Own” was very intimate and personal. From family to lifelong friends, creatives, influencers, and more, people came together to discuss the art, what it represented, and reflect with one another. Among those who attended the event, many echoed how much they were “proud of Sou,” given this was his second event, while others walked around the gallery to admire the different stories each image had to share. What stands out in Traore’s work is his ability to bridge modern and Western cultures together through the portraits he shoots. Overall, “Just Like My Own” was a successful event, fusing culture and embracing everyone’s background as ‘one of his own’. When giving advice to future creators and those wanting to start a new journey, Traore shares that, at the end of the day, you have to keep going because “You’ll have anything that’s meant for you.”

“Just Like My Own” magazine copy by artist Souleyman Traore. (Nafissatou Yattassaye photos)

Souleyman Traore and a guest interacting at “Just Like My Own” magazine launch event.

“NYANTWIG AXON” photo on display.

Portrait on display at “Just Like My Own.”

Portrait on display at “Just Like My Own.”

Portrait on display at “Just Like My Own.”

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Woodie King, Jr.’s theater magic continues in the West Village By HERB BOYD Special to the AmNews The West District address of 154 Christopher Street has a new occupant: Woodie King, Jr.’s New Federal Theatre. On the second floor of the block-long building, a large photograph of King, who died on January 29, welcomes visitors as it did during the ribbon-cutting ceremony last week. “With great respect and love, I welcome you with all my heart … to the home of the New Federal Theatre,” said King’s widow, the actress Elizabeth Van Dyke in her greeting to a host of loyal supporters and elected officials in attendance to commemorate the opening. “Today, the theater has a home of its own — for the first time in 56 years, the NFT has a home of its own, with full autonomy, 365 days a year, to program this space.” The new space, she added, did not happen by accident. “It happened because of people in this room [who] chose to believe in us, to champion us.” One of her superheroes, she announced, was State Sen. Erik Bottcher: “He didn’t just find space for us, he ad-

Elizabeth Van Dyke (third from right), with actor André De Shields (second from right), cuts ribbon at Woodie King, Jr. New Federal Theatre in West Village, with loyal supporters and elected officials in attendance. (Lia Chang photo)

vocated for us — the same way he fights for affordable housing, for gun control, for mental health, for everyone to be included.” The public servant who championed the theater’s cause made note of how Van Dyke worked hard to make the new space a reality.

“[Van Dyke] tells a story about that Zoom meeting that brought us together,” said Bottcher, “including Claude and Shelley Winfield … but she didn’t mention the emails, the text messages, the phone calls. She fought for this space because she knew

that this was out there somewhere, and we just had to find it.” Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal emphasized some of Bottcher’s points and also plans to invest in creative spaces. “We’re taking our entire capital budget, and we’re getting into the arts exclusively,” he said. That comment was met with a loud round of applause. Hoylman-Sigal acknowledged several other notables in attendance and behind the podium: Councilmember Carl Wilson; Diya Vij, commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs; and actor André De Shields, who led the audience in a rousing rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The facility will serve as a classroom, for workshops, “and a powerful tool for activism,” Van Dyke added. Meanwhile, staring at us from the photo on the wall, Woodie seemed to be reminding us, as he had said before, that “the purpose was always the stage, and the stage was always larger than the building.” The stage at this New Federal Theatre will certainly be larger than this enormous building. For more info, visit newfederaltheatre.com.

‘The Pass’ shows the possible price of success in sports By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews “The Pass,” playing at La Mama (E. 4th Street), shows an interesting take on the world of professional soccer and the price that one may have to pay to make it in the business. Playwright John Donnelly looks at two friends who compete for the last spot on a professional team. What these young men had between them was much more than just wanting a place on the team — there was a tension, a desire that they had for each other, but not for the same reasons. This play makes you wonder about the price of being successful and famous while burdened with being a husband and father who never sees their spouse and kids; or having rumors fly that young boys are often brought to your room. When a person tries to best everyone they come into contact with, and they have no bounds about what they won’t do to maintain their position, can they ever really be happy? Is the person who did not make the professional cut and went on to have a “normal” life the more successful of the two? When you are famous, is there anyone you can truly trust? If everyone wants a piece of your fame, to what lengths will they go, and to what lengths will you go to promote wild stories about your behavior? What is the cost of denial of your true sexuality? This play poses the question: What does masculinity look like? There is a lot going on in this drama and the small cast plays their roles very well. Matisse Ratron-Neal is heartless, ambi-

Matisse Ratron-Neal and Terry Bell in scene from “The Pass” at La Mama. (Andy Henderson photo)

tious, and confused as Jason. Terry Bell is poignant and captivating as Ade. Ino Badanjak is memorable as Lyndsey. Oliver Rowland-Jones is unforgettable as Harry. Donnelly’s story is stunningly directed by

Max Hunter. The production has detailed scenic design by Seth Byrum, lighting design by Cheyenne Sykes, costume design by Amanda Roberge, sound design by Megan Culley, prop design by Thomas Jenkeleit,

and video design by Dwight Bellisimo. The production is presented by the Max Hunter Company and runs through September 18. For tickets, visit themaxhuntercompany.com.

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Commentary: John Coltrane gave Black artists a roadmap for tracking their spiritual evolutions through music By MATTHEW ALLEN Special to the AmNews John Coltrane found God when he almost lost his life. In 1957, heroin and alcohol addiction had cost the legendary tenor saxophonist his gig in Miles Davis’s band, and his reputation was up in the air. He locked himself away for a week to kick his habits cold turkey, and the withdrawal nearly took him out. Had Coltrane died at 30 instead of 40, the world wouldn’t have had his classic recordings, like “Alabama” and “Naima,” Davis’s “So What,” or Duke Ellington’s “Sentimental Mood.” Meanwhile, generations of musicians would have lost their roadmap for using their music to navigate their spiritual journey. Thankfully, Coltrane emerged from the valley of the shadow of death victorious in the autonomy of his body and mind. “During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life,” Coltrane wrote in the liner notes of his landmark 1965 album, “A Love Supreme.” “At that time,

in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD.” Coltrane attributed his rebirth to God, but his vision of God wasn’t typical, to say the least. The son of a preacher, his heart and mind were open to a menagerie of religions and beliefs, from Christianity and Buddhism to Ancestral Worship and Hinduism later, as his adulthood progressed. His music — innovative, transcendental, and popular — was a reflection of his growing amalgamation of faiths. The masterpiece “A Love Supreme” can certainly be interpreted as Coltrane’s love letter to a Christian God, since “Psalm” is a title of one of the four movements. However, when examining the other movement titles, “Acknowledgement,” “Resolution,” and “Pursuance,” it’s evident that Coltrane’s image of God involved a personal gathering of sources. It is no accident that the final song of “A Love Supreme” is “Pursuance,” and the following year, Coltrane released an album called

“Without Coltrane’s pioneering work, many artists after him might not have been as bold in using their art to illustrate their spiritual curiosities and personal journeys with religion.” “Ascension.” After piling up classic albums and crossover recordings like “Blue Train,” “Giant Steps,” and “My Favorite Things,” Coltrane was more concerned with discovering new territory and less with appeasing his audience. For him, it was all part of his spiritual journey. “There are always new sounds to imagine: new feelings to get at,” Coltrane wrote in the “Ascension” liner notes. “And always, there is a need to keep purifying these

American jazz saxophonist John Coltrane arriving at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1963. (Hugo van Gelderen photo courtesy of National Archives of the Netherlands/public domain)

feelings and sounds so that we can really see what we’ve discovered in its pure state. So that we can see more clearly what we are. In that way, we can give to those who listen, the essence — the best of what we are. But to do that at each stage, we have to keep on cleaning the mirror.” A century since his birth, the legacy of Coltrane’s unbridled instrumentation, his mathematical approach to composition and melody, and how his religious education played out through his catalog is his profound effect on so-called jazz. When backing away from the mirror, though, it’s evident that so much in the frame of said mirror bears a similar reflection to Coltrane. In a world with so many faith systems, it’s hard for some to know what the truth is. For Coltrane, it was all true, and cleaning the mirror was his way of explaining how the reflection of mankind is constantly being dirtied and clouded with manipulation and closed-mindedness. The man gave permission to so many Black musicians beyond jazz to not only include non-traditional religions in their music, but chronicle their development and changing beliefs. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Black church was at its most powerful in terms of its influence on the Black family, Black values, and Black politics. While Muslims were increasing in the 1960s thanks to the growing prominence of the Nation of Islam, it was rare for the Black man or woman to stray far from the edict of Christianity. Coltrane, early in childhood, was a product of this way of life, born the son of a preacher in North

Carolina. However, after his neardeath experience in 1957 in kicking his substance abuse habits, his spiritual awakening prompted him to search and ingest what was out there. To be fair, pianist Sun Ra had challenged conventional fusions of traditional religion in his music before Coltrane, but whereas Sun Ra was an icon of Afrofuturism, Coltrane was more grounded and relatable in the ways he was fusing spirituality and mysticism into his music. Coltrane’s integration of different worldly influences in his music coincided with that of people like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, who were simultaneously incorporating Eastern influences into their brand of pop music. In fact, Coltrane recorded a 29-minute composition, “Om,” that borrowed from Hindu scriptures and the Buddhist “Tibetan Book of the Dead.” John Lennon would go on to incorporate his own interpretations of the “Tibetan Book of the Dead” in the Beatles’ 1966 track, “Tomorrow Never Knows,” and he himself used the term “Om,” inspired by chantings he learned under the Maharishi, in the 1969 Beatles song “Across the Universe.” Sure, Coltrane and the Beatles were on similar wavelengths when it came to injecting numerous religious influences into their music, but, except for the Beatles’ George Harrison, it was not a reflection of how they were changing their lifestyles and spiritual beliefs. Coltrane was genuine in the way he See JOHN COLTRANE on page 29

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This week: Leon Hefflin, the Real Impresario; Sistas’ Place

As the current administration actively diminishes sources of Black cultural history, bans books, restructures voting districts, and dismantles freedom of speech, Deborah Swan has written a most remarkable book sharing the history of her grandfather titled “The Impresario Leon Hefflin and the World’s First Annual Jazz Festival” (Hefflin Legacy Foundation, 2025). The long title represents eight years of research that amounts to 555 pages, over 300 rare photos, 135 QR codes, and 33 original poems by Swan. Hefflin’s legacy boasts the kind of thrilling Black cultural history one discovers at Harlem’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, where a copy of Swan’s book currently resides. The chapters of Hefflin’s story are alive, turning with the kind of exciting and adventurous experiences that films are made of. Hefflin admittedly knew nothing about the entertainment business going into it — having accumulated his fortune as one of America’s early Black millionaires as owner of one of the country’s largest Black furniture manufacturers. He built and operated the Royal Appomattox Club. In addition, he produced America’s first large outdoor concert, the Cavalcade of Jazz Festival, which flourished at Wrigley Field from 1945 to 1958 and later took place at the Shrine Auditorium. The annual festival became a mecca for iconic stars including Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Frankie Laine, Dinah Washington, Sam Cooke, Little Willie John, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, Josephine Baker, Little Richard, Lionel Hampton, Cozy Cole, and Velma Middleton. The many photos, original program covers, and authentic memorabilia in the book drop readers into a Wrigley Field seat: the gentlemen decked in pinstriped three-piece suits, fedoras, and shined Stacy Adams shoes; the ladies catching stares in beautiful dresses, gloves, hats, and heels. The music comes alive: feel yourself being jostled about as you walk into the giant Wrigley Field, Black folks everywhere. Leon

Deborah Swan. (Ron Scott Associates photo)

Hefflin’s story represents nation building, community activism, and how to promote and maintain Black music in the community. As one ad states in the book, “Hefflin is one of the city’s most sincere but daring promoters.” The Black press was the community’s pulse during that era, and the book reveals many ads and reprinted previews and reviews from the Los Angeles Sentinel and California Eagle. Hefflin took out large ads in all the newspapers, as well as radio spots when he could. Jazz impresario Norman Granz was also known for his antiracist positions and for integrating audiences. Hefflin was not as fortunate: a Black man who hired both Black and white bands and integrated audiences himself, he

is not remembered for it. He also had to compete with Granz, who was able to advertise in both white and Black newspapers. However, Hefflin did hire Granz for a 1947 concert at the Shrine Auditorium, paying him $1,200. Granz and good friend George Wein are acknowledged “as the most successful impresarios in jazz history” — which probably isn’t debatable but jazz history tells us Wein organized the first Newport Jazz Festival in 1954, billed and documented as the first outdoor jazz festival in the United States. Clearly Wein’s early accomplishments came nine years after Hefflin’s 1945 outdoor festival, giving him a blueprint for his Newport fest. Oftentimes when African Americans write

their history, American history has to be altered to accommodate the full story. Get another perspective of West Coast jazz before it became cool, when Los Angeles was jumping: Central Avenue was the hotbed of jazz and the street was blazing like Harlem’s Lenox Avenue or Detroit’s Black Bottom. Hefflin and his brother Bill (his partner) packed local clubs like Elks Ballroom, Jack’s Basket Room, and Club Alabam, where they promoted big band dances. There is also a full chapter on Hefflin’s groundbreaking all-Black musical revue that he created and financed that starred the legendary Dorothy Dandridge with a cast of over 20 celebrity performers. Hefflin’s Cavalcade of Jazz took

off in very difficult times: World War II had just ended, the Great Migration was at its height, and Jim Crow, segregation, and lynchings were everywhere. KKK membership was high, and the Chitlin’ Circuit was swinging across the country. His Cavalcade of Jazz wasn’t just music, but a form of escapism, where Blacks dressed to impress for performances by the best entertainers in the world, who happened to be Black. Relax, groove to the music that for a moment took audiences eons away from a terrorizing, troubled country. Swan captures her grandfather’s resilience, the tenacity of Black soul, and the socioeconomic structure of his hometown, forged by his immense foresight and perseverance! It’s one of the most important books for Blacks and anyone connected with jazz or American music. Eighty years ago, Lionel Hampton and his big band performed at the second annual Cavalcade of Jazz on Oct. 12, 1946. The Hefflin Legacy Foundation will celebrate this historic anniversary at WLCAC Phoenix Hall (Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA) on Oct. 10, 2026, with an evening of live jazz, history, culture, and community, as well as a conversation about Swan’s work, with a book signing. For this event and for info regarding the book, visit hefflinlegacyfoundation.com As the summer sun bows to the autumn winds, the John Coltrane centennial continues at Sistas’ Place’s 31st season opener on Sept. 23, at Janes United Methodist Church (660 Monroe Street, Brooklyn, NY). The James Carter Quintet is sure to mesmerize taking a page from Coltrane, who reshaped the jazz idiom with his intense spiritual and blues discourse. Carter, known as a fiery reed technician, is too fierce to be categorized, having mastered the art of playing damn near every saxophone ever made. Whether the Detroit native is playing baritone with the complicated phrasing of Hamiet Bluiett, or the wild honking of Illinois Jacquet, or the soul alto of Cannonball Adderley, the temperature will rise. His inventive cast includes trombonist and seashell improvisor Steve Turre, pianist Sharp Radway, bassist Leon Lee Dorsey, and drummer Kahlil Kwame Bell. For tickets, call 718398-1766 and visit sistasplace.org/ john-coltrane-100-james-carter.

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His videos have even helped land him professional opportunities, including his current position as a property manager, where he is able to assist with matters related to housing. Most recently, he also moved into his new rent-stabilized apartment, which he describes as “spacious,” after sharing his struggle in searching for a place for a long period. Raised in Bed-Stuy, Kingston said he wasn’t very popular and remained introverted, but always had a love for writing. “I’ve always wanted to kind of get my voice out about things. I just didn’t know how to go about it,” Kingston said. As a young adult, he found himself struggling with work and finding housing, and began working as a concierge in a major high-rise in midtown, a position he does not miss at all. “I hated working as a concierge. It was genuinely just not a good work-life balance.” However, he said that experience did expose him to the wealth disparity in the city. Sharing conversations with wealthy residents showed Kings-

ton how out of touch they were with the culture of “real New Yorkers,” from complaining about noise to thinking that Manhattan was the only borough to live in. He also discovered that these residents often didn’t live in the city and treated their condo as a vacation home. “You have these multi-milliondollar condos that nobody lives in, and they’re just sitting vacant … but the city is telling us we don’t have enough housing when there’s clearly housing that exists,” Kingston noted. Issues like this inspired him to start writing and making videos. Kingston made one of his first videos in October 2025, about the issues that regular New Yorkers have with Housing Connect. He went on to make videos visiting locations across the city, highlighting topics like tenant rights, substandard living conditions, new developments, and alleged deed theft cases in Brooklyn, Harlem, and Washington Heights. He said he is not afraid to add his opinion, since he is not a journalist and not required to be objective. Kingston said he has seen how his videos have a positive ripple effect and have the power to make

change, including telling the story of one woman who was dealing with asbestos in her NYCHA apartment, which was swiftly taken care of soon after his video was posted. “I feel like my platform has grown to be a voice for the little guy and the New Yorkers who don’t have a voice — the New Yorkers who have issues that nobody will talk to them about,” Kingston said. Kingston is proud of the influence his viral deed theft video may have had in the response to deed theft from the city, with the creation of the Office of Deed Theft, although he noted that Councilmember Chi Ossé had been highlighting the issue before him. “It felt like a domino effect where I felt like, ‘Damn, I don’t know what would have happened if I never would have gone there and made that video,’” Kingston said. He has been working in his new position at TKR Property Management for four months and said that while it is a lot of work, he has a much better balance and is no longer stressed as he was at his previous job. The role is now giving him a background in housing and real estate work. Kingston said he smiled when he

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 25 got the email about being honored for his dedication to the community at the upcoming September 19 event. “People genuinely appreciate the stuff that I do,” he said. “To even get thought about … it just shows that real recognizes real. “I think my videos connect because I’m talking for New Yorkers,” he said. “A lot of New Yorkers were probably in the same space that I was in, a bad financial position … frustrated where they felt like they were fighting an uphill battle, that the city caters more toward transplants, that there is no help for the average New Yorker …” Kingston said he wants to become a content creator full-time and continue making a greater impact on New Yorkers facing these hardships, including possibly working on a program with city officials and helping residents get housing and employment opportunities, as well as streaming. He would use it not for gaming, but for raising awareness and supporting smaller businesses in Bed-Stuy and beyond. “Every day, I see it as a blessing,” Kingston said about his success. “It gives me hope that as long as I keep the pressure going, I can see the change that I want to see in my neighborhood.”

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani Mayor Alister F. Martin, MD, MPP Commissioner

26 • September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

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Health Two shots a year stop HIV. Why can’t more Black people get them? By JENNIFER PORTER GORE Word in Black First, the good news: Scientific progress over the last two decades has fundamentally transformed an HIV-positive diagnosis from a death sentence to a chronic but manageable condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure. Medications like preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can nearly eliminate the risk of acquiring the virus. That includes lenacapavir, a new, remarkably long-acting version of the drug that requires just two injections a year. Now, the bad news: The HIV epidemic still persists, with almost 40,000 new diagnoses occurring each year. Yet the people who would benefit most from long-acting PrEP — Black Americans, who make up just 12% of the U.S. population but accounted for nearly 40% of new HIV diagnoses in 2023 — aren’t taking it. Experts say the reasons PrEP, particularly the long-acting options, hasn’t broken through in the Black community are familiar, including disparities in health insurance, access to healthcare, and simple lack of awareness of the drug. The gap in use is so persistent that one of the nation’s leading scientists called it out at a global symposium in July. Same bevy of barriers “Inequity in lenacapavir provision by race, ethnicity, and age mirrors very closely inequities we’ve seen in more established modalities, so, within just six months of release, we are seeing the same inequities that we have seen,” since PrEP in pill form hit the market 14 years ago, Aaron Siegler, professor of epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta, told attendees at the AIDS 2026 meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “Clearly, there are system factors at play here.” Those patterns hold in nearly every demographic breakdown of PrEP users. Most were men, including 91% of oral PrEP users, 86% of cabotegravir users, and 85% of lenacapavir users. As with oral PrEP, lenacapavir uptake was lowest among Black and Hispanic people; each group’s usage rate was at around 17%. However, HIV activists and public health experts are using a growing set of tools to boost the use of long-acting PrEP among Black people at risk of acquiring HIV. If they’re successful, experts say, they can help slow the number of new cases in Black America. The data tells part of the story. Black men had the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses among all U.S. men, as did Black women compared to all women of all races or ethnicities. At the same time, young Black people accounted for almost

(Pexels/RDNE Stock Project)

half of new HIV cases among youth ages 13 to 24. When it comes to PrEP use, the data isn’t much better. Black Americans accounted for just 15% of PrEP users in 2024, even when they met clinical guidelines, according to AIDSVu. Although it’s relatively new, lenacapavir has already shown promising results. Recent data released by the manufacturer indicate that twice-yearly lenacapavir injections reduced the number of new HIV cases by 96% — but that efficacy has not translated into equitable access. Perhaps because lenacapavir only hit the market recently, just 1% of all PrEP users were taking it as of December 2025, six months after it became available. People aged 24 years and younger also used lenacapavir less (8%), a rate that’s about 22% lower than older cohorts, including those

age 45 and older. Dr. Pamela Foster, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, said it’s important for healthcare providers to pay attention to the barriers that prevent potential patients from accessing the treatment, “particularly in populations who are most affected by HIV in the U.S.” Foster, a preventive medicine specialist, previously taught medicine at the University of Alabama and specializes in HIV and inequities. These barriers, she said, largely stem from cost — including high medical copays — and a persistent lack of access. “For example, there are still many in the community who don’t know what PrEP is, and secondly, for many the cost of this type of PrEP is too expensive if not covered by insurance,” she said. “Strategies to overcome these barriers need to be elucidated.”

Spreading the word Still, the first and arguably most important step is getting the word out about longacting PrEP. The PrEP Locator is a national directory of clinics providing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in the U.S. It seeks to give patients access to a national, integrated service that includes both public and private practice providers. Dr. Aaron Siegler and colleagues at Emory University created the locator in 2016 and expanded it earlier this year. The site now allows users to find locations that offer injectable PrEP, as well as daily oral medication, and it extends the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Prevention Information Network of healthcare providers database. Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, ViiV Healthcare, and Gilead Sciences, Inc., have made the PrEP Locator available. Along with that access tool, the pharmaceutical industry is also investing in public awareness. ViiV Healthcare also has a long-acting PrEP medication, called cabotegravir, and is raising awareness of long-acting injectables (LAIs) through its “Do It For Future You,” a multichannel digital campaign anchored by a new website, ForFutureU.com. The ad campaign — aimed at cities like Atlanta, an HIV hot spot, and Los Angeles, which hosts the U.S. Conference on HIV/ AIDS this fall — is designed to encourage discussions about HIV prevention or treatment options, including LAIs, between individuals and their healthcare providers. Bithiah Lafontant, ViiV Healthcare’s head of enterprise communications, said the underlying message is clear: The choices atrisk people make today can shape their tomorrow. “We are at a critical juncture in the fight to end the HIV epidemic,” she said. While HIV is now a manageable condition, Lafontant said, “key gaps in care remain, particularly for the Black community, and are compounded by persistent societal stigma.” Breakthrough drugs like long-acting PrEP are important tools, but “won’t see progress unless the people that need them most can access them,” she said. That won’t happen until people “feel comfortable starting a conversation with their health provider about the options that can best fit their life and work for them.” That often means getting past the stigma of HIV. “Stigma thrives in the shadows,” Lafontant said, “so by putting culturally relevant, uplifting messages directly into public spaces, we bring these conversations into focus in a positive, forward-looking way.”

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Mental health gap Continued from page 7

Medicaid is the largest source of insurance coverage for children with behavioral health needs, according to the National Association of Medicaid Directors. Many of the mental health services provided in the top two tiers of the MTSS model, however, cannot be billed to Medicaid. This is primarily because, unlike in tier three services, where a licensed mental health provider can bill students’ insurance for individualized treatment services, universal and selective programming largely includes students who have not received a formal behavioral health diagnosis. New York State is one of 22 states that have yet to expand their school Medicaid programs outside of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a formal specialized education plan for students categorized as having learning disabilities. The expansion option has been available to states since 2014, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid reversed a prior policy that restricted states’ ability to bill Medicaid for school-based health services. In response to an inquiry regarding the absence of a school Medicaid program expansion exclusive of an IEP in New York State, the New York State Department of Health responded with a written statement: “The Department currently has a state plan amendment (SPA) related to the School Supportive Health Services Program pending approval from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Subsequently, it is our intention to submit a SPA to allow school districts to bill for mental health services for children without an Individualized Education Program (IEP), in accordance with a prior year budget action.” A shortage of mental health staff in NYC schools At M.S. 936 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Maya Tsekenis considers her office a protected environment where students can find refuge. Serving as the school’s only dedicated clinical social worker since 2021, Tsekenis provides clinical mental health therapy and counseling to the school’s student population of grades six through eight. Nearly three-quarters of public schools do not meet the minimum staffing ratio of one social worker for every 250 students set by the National Association of Social Workers, according to a 2025 report published by the New York City comptroller. More than half of schools also lack adequate staffing for guidance counselors, the report found. An annual investment of $402 to $426 million would be required for the NYC DOE to ensure that the city’s public schools meet national staffing standards for clinical social workers and guidance counselors, the report estimated. “Some students I see once a week … [while] other students I see five times a week because they just need to come in the morning to say hi …,” she said. “They have

Maya Tsekenis, NYC public school social worker. (Contributed photo)

a safe base, and then from [there], they’re able to go back into their classes.” Tsekenis, who has worked in New York City’s education system for 18 years, including as a high school-based social worker, views the relationships she builds with students, who may suffer from a range of mental health and behavioral challenges such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, as essential to creating positive

Jaden Brown. (Damaso Reyes photo)

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 27

honors,” Tsekenis said. “This is a kid who was depressed and it was difficult for her to show up. She wanted to do the work, but she just couldn’t show up in that way.” As the sole social worker in a school of nearly 450 students, as well as recording secretary of the Social Work and Psychologist Chapter of the United Federation of Teachers, Tsekenis is restricted in the amount of time she can spend on providing services to students over the course of the school year, she said. Typically after 10 weeks, she stops counseling sessions with students, after which she may refer them for further counseling to an outside therapist or the local community-based orgaRohini Singh, director of School Justice nization that provides a number of social Project at Advocates for Children of New services to the school. York. (Contributed photo) “I have to discharge (them) and then change in their lives. That is part of why move on, so that I can service as many kids she works so hard to find creative ways to as possible because I’m just one person,” show up for them, she said, such as a stu- she said. Tsekenis’s limited ability to support the dent whom she connected and engaged with through volleyball — the student’s fa- needs of all her students fully is a reflecvorite sport — when “traditional talk thera- tion of the shortage of clinical social workers and other mental health support staff, py wasn’t really working for her.” “We establish[ed] a rapport and trust, such as guidance counselors, employed in and three years later, she’s graduating with New York City public schools. Tsekenis was one of 500 social workers hired by the New York City Department of Education in 2021 to bolster mental health support in schools in the aftermath of the trauma and social isolation caused by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the initiative was implemented to allow that “every school has - at minimum access to a social worker, guidance counselor or school-based mental health center,” a 2022 audit report by the New York State Comptroller found that the increased staffing levels would still not be sufficient to ensure the presence of a full-time on-site mental health professional in every school. Despite the comptroller’s recommendation that the NYC DOE determine how to maintain adequate mental health staffing in schools, capacity issues continue to plague the city’s education system. In response to an inquiry about the report’s finding of a lack of adequate staffing of social workers and guidance counselors in NYC public schools, the NYC DOE responded with a written statement: “Ensuring that every child has access to a robust slate of mental health resources at New York City Public Schools is a top priority for our system. Across every borough, every student has access to a school counselor or social worker through school-based staff, shared staffing models, school-based mental health clinics, and partnerships with community-based organizations. In addition, students are supported by school psychologists, school nurses, and other trained professionals who work together to provide counseling, crisis intervention, and social-emotional supports.” For social workers like Tsekenis, however, the addition of more mental health staff for the school would be invaluable, she said, enabling her to develop closer relationships with students throughout their full See MENTAL HEALTH GAP on page 28

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This can include individual-based Mental health gap Education. interventions such as counseling or therapy, Continued from page 27

duration at the school. “What I would do is the same way that hospitals have social work departments,” she said. “I feel like schools could have little social work departments where there’s a social worker per grade. [Then] I can really go in depth, and get to know the kids and their families, and follow them through the three years [of middle school] … [so] we’re able to cover more ground.” The value of school-based mental health support Ranging from school-based health centers and mental health clinics operated by community organizations to referral services for off-site therapy and counseling to provider teams of school social workers and psychologists, school-based mental health programming is shown to have a positive impact on students’ emotional and behavioral health. Using school-based mental health services is associated with decreased levels of depression and anxiety in students, research shows. A school-based mental health initiative implemented in K–12 public schools in Minneapolis and surrounding communities resulted in a nearly 15% decrease in self-reported suicide attempts, according to a 2023 study led by researchers at the University of Minnesota. Improvements in school behavior, including lower disciplinary rates and improved attendance, are also seen among students served by school-based mental health programs. “We know that [school-based mental health programming] does have an impact,” said David Cipriano, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin and lead author of a 2024 study that found higher testing scores among students who had access to school-based mental health programs. “If kids aren’t feeling good, they can’t show up and be fully present for learning. They can’t benefit fully from instruction.” School-based mental health programs are also critical in reducing barriers to care, such as the need for parents or caregivers to transport children to medical settings. “[We] are where the young people are,” said Sharon Hoover, Ph.D., a former schoolbased mental health clinician and now a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and former co-director of the National Center for School Mental Health. “[We’re] there in their daily environment … showing up to their basketball games and fashion shows and all the things that go along with a school environment.” Today, nearly 97% of public schools nationwide provide at least one form of mental health services to students, according to a 2025 report published by KFF based on survey data from the United States Census Bureau and the United States Department of

group-based or family-based interventions, referrals to outside care, and universal mental health screenings for all students. Despite the seeming prevalence of services, one-third of public schools indicate they are unable to effectively provide mental health services to all students in need, the report found. Inadequate funding and a shortage of mental health providers are cited as the most frequently reported barriers to the provision of services by public school administrators. The percentage of schools citing inadequate funding increased from 47% in 2021 to 56% in 2025, the report noted. The system … “is crumbling from [the federal funding piece that doesn’t exist anymore], and we’re trying to plug in the holes,” said Prerna Arora, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, about the funding structure of school-based mental health resources. “One piece gets removed, and it heightens how many [funding] issues there are.” A better path to care Child and adolescent health advocates admit that the many challenges standing in the way of building a robust, comprehensive school-based system of mental health care in New York City can often feel overwhelming. Rohini Singh, director of the School Justice Project at Advocates for Children of New York, believes, though, that critical to the process is first evaluating the landscape of existing need among students and existing mental health resources among schools. “The first step should really be a mapping and an understanding of what is and isn’t in place and where the gaps are and trying to address them,” she said, adding that development of a centralized system would also help track program outcomes and guide pathways for investments. The absence of a centralized infrastructure system to document and assess mental health services and needs remains a critical weakness in the city’s school-based mental health system, according to the 2025 New York City Office of the Comptroller Report. This is despite similar critiques by the New York State Comptroller, as well as a commitment by the NYC DOE to adopt a digitized tracking platform by the 2025–2026 school year. In response to an inquiry regarding a timeline for implementing the system, the NYC DOE responded with a written statement: “NYCPS (New York City Public Schools) monitors student behavior in schools, including mental health needs. The Office of Safety and Prevention Partnerships collaborates with a range of partners, including the Office of School Mental Health, to ensure our students are receiving comprehensive supports. “The Office of School Health is committed to serving the school community, and continues to explore ways to improve and innovate. We look forward to sharing up-

Jaden Brown in front of school bus near his high school in Queens. His experiences have inspired him to create safe spaces for other students to be able to talk about their mental health challenges in the future. (Damaso Reyes photo)

dates when they are available.” Scott Bloom, inaugural director of school mental health services at the NYC DOE from 2005 to 2021, agrees that the “fragmentation of systems” remains a significant obstacle in developing comprehensive school-based mental health programming, but he remains confident about the city’s ability to build better systems of care for its youth. “I am hopeful that they do the right thing, and they listen,” he said. “They listen to the [kids and the parents]. They listen to the schools [and] what their struggles are, and they listen to the providers … I am hopeful, definitely hopeful.”

Jaden Brown, whose academic career was almost derailed by undiagnosed depression and anxiety, continued to find mental health help at Morehouse, and through the Jed Foundation, and now is planning to pursue his Ph.D. so he can “open up safe spaces for youth and adolescents to be able to speak freely about [their] challenges, whether it be depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, PTSD, anything like that ... [so they can] reshape their mindset and let them know ‘Hey, you can talk about this.’” This story was produced with support from Type Investigations’ Springboard Project.

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John Coltrane Continued from page 23

questioned and explored religion for his life outside of music. Coltrane went beyond fusing the aesthetic and tonal properties of Indian or African music into pop, rock, or jazz. He was finding himself, and the music reflected that traverse into the wilderness. Without Coltrane’s pioneering work, many artists after him might not have been as bold in using their art to illustrate their spiritual curiosities and personal journeys with religion. Three years after Coltrane’s death, pianist Horace Silver composed the music and wrote the lyrics for his “The United States of the Mind” album trilogy (1970– 1972), which culminated with the title track of the third album, “All.” Silver, who spoke later about his own interests in “Metaphysics and Indian philosophies, and Yoga philosophies,” wrote and sang lyrics that show little doubt that Coltrane’s approach had helped provide a template for him to follow: Through many incarnations the All has brought about The message of the oneness we all must soon find out Hari Rama, Hari Krishna, Allah and Buddha too Jehovah and Jesus Christ, just to name a few. The final realization that everything is one

Will take a bit of doing but yet it must be done Spirit, all is spirit, spirit is all there is No matter what form it takes, be it yours, hers or his. Coltrane’s unveiled search for spiritual truth can be heard in the music of Earth, Wind & Fire. Maurice White, the band’s founder and leader, revered Coltrane and even played with him as a sub for drum great Elvin Jones. Noticing how Coltrane dabbled in numerous belief systems, White was empowered to fuse his own curiosities about world religions, astrology, and mysticism into his own band. When listening to songs like “Fantasy,” “Jupiter,” “In the Stone,” and “Burnin’ Bush,” as well as observing the gatefold artwork of albums like “Spirit,” “All N’ All,” and “I Am,” it is clear that Earth, Wind & Fire were able to crack into the mainstream in the 1970s with their hodgepodge of spiritual exploration. During the time Earth, Wind & Fire were ascending, Stevie Wonder was also using his music to reveal his own spiritual wonderment. On his Grammy-winning 1973 album “Innervisions,” Wonder was musing, not about his fears of an impending apocalypse of mankind hastened by the collective injustice against the disenfranchised, but spiritual solutions to combat this imminent Armageddon. On “Jesus Children of America,” Wonder fused

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tenets of Christianity and transcendental meditation, something that even today seems quite off-putting. Wonder, according to flutist Bobbi Humphrey, was an avid listener to Coltrane albums as a teenager, so he was also influenced to fuse different spiritual melodies together aurally. On 1976’s “Pastime Paradise,” he juxtaposed Hari Krishna chanters with a gospel choir singing “We Shall Overcome,” further illustrating how much differing cultures can literally and figuratively harmonize. Coltrane’s influence seeps well into hip hop culture as well. Singer/rapper Lauryn Hill created her 1998 solo debut, the diamond-certified “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” with religion as its formative foundation. Throughout the album, Hill, an admirer of Coltrane’s wife and influential harpist/pianist Alice Coltrane, wrote lyrics that interwove several different Abrahamic texts, sourced from the Bible, Torah, and Qur’an. At times, references of all three scriptures were used in the same song, like the No. 1 single, “Doo-Wop (That Thing),” where Hill rhymed, “Talking out your neck, saying’ you’re a Christian/A Muslim, sleeping with the jinn/Now, that was the sin that did Jezebel in.” There may be no other contemporary rapper today who leans into religion as unapologetically as Kendrick Lamar. The Compton MC has worn his love for God and Christ on his sleeve and on his records for his entire career thus far, dating back

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 29 to songs like “Kush and Corinthians” and “Sing About Me, I’m Dyin’ of Thirst.” Lamar delved deeply into incorporating elements of jazz into his 2015 album, “To Pimp a Butterfly,” collaborating with Coltrane devotees like Kamasi Washington and Terrace Martin. With his 2017 album, “DAMN,” Lamar rhymed about Black Israelites. On the songs “Ya” and “Fear,” the 27-time Grammy winner quoted the Bible’s Book of Deuteronomy, saying that Black Americans were the true descendents of the people of Israel who wandered in the wilderness in the Book of Exodus. Had it not been for the fearlessness of Coltrane, who knows if Lamar would have had the courage to step out on that kind of limb, thus winning a Pulitzer Prize for “DAMN”? John Coltrane’s non-complacency when it came to his music is what made him among the very best and most respected among his peers and revered by his fans. It was his commitment to using his music as a conduit to his growing curiosity about spirituality and religion’s role on the Earth and in his own existence that first alienated him from his fan base, but ultimately wound up deifying him in death. His musical apostles, from Horace Silver to Lauryn Hill, carry on this heritage, built on intellectual inquisitiveness and spiritual respect. Or as Coltrane put it: “No matter what. … It is with God. He is gracious and merciful. His way is in love, through which we all are. It is truly — A LOVE SUPREME.”

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Heritage at risk! Saving Harlem Now! By MICHAEL HENRY ADAMS Special to the AmNews Our lack of landmark protection is one problem facing Black Harlem; that’s not likely to get as quick a fix from Mayor Mamdani as overlooked potholes or repairing broken swings in a park might. The lack of positive action we get when it comes to protecting historic buildings representing our history and heritage, seemingly, is acute and seems to be getting worse. Just a few years ago, we had such hopes. Anticipating the 60th anniversary of their founding, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) launched an emphatic Equity Framework for landmarking. Referencing “a dreadful year,” they lamented, “the killing of George Floyd … and Breonna Taylor ... the despair and anger expressed subsequently, demands a new way of doing things. Events make it important for us to publicly reaffirm the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s … commitment to equity in all aspects of our work ... prioritizing designations that represent New York City’s diversity and designations in areas less represented by landmarks. “Despite designating two small new historic districts uptown, it’s been kind of a letdown,” said local realtor Laurent Delly, a former president of the Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association. He was sharing a letter he’d just written to LPC Chair Lisa Kersavage, seeking action to correct unapproved and inappropriate alterations to three buildings supposedly protected by being included in the 48-year-old Mount Morris Park Historic District. It was a follow up on inquiries already made about landmarks law violations identified at three addresses: 34 West 123rd Street, 32 West 123rd Street, and 242 Lenox Avenue. Particularly notable, 34 West 123rd Street, an ornate Queen Anne-style structure meant to evoke Harlem’s 17th-century Dutch lineage, was built in 1889 as the elite Harlem Club and designed by Lamb & Rich. As this South-East section of Harlem became one of the largest middle-class Jewish settlements in the world, the club started out courting disaster leading to its eventual downfall. According to historian Tom Miller, at the opening reception, “Senator Jacob A. Cantor was a guest of George McGown. Banker Robert Bonynge proposed

Is the ATLAH Church building being disfigured? With aluminum windows and stainless steel railings being added without consulting the Landmarks Preservation Commission, concerned Harlemite Laurent Delly thinks so.

him as a member that night.” But he was next approached by another member, one insisting, “In this club we draw the line at Hebrews.” Just doors away from Temple Israel (now Mount Olivet Baptist Church) in this community, such unwise exclusion made failure inevitable. In 1907, the Harlem Club building became the Eastman Business College. This group ceased operations in 1935. Despite the Great Depression making paying students invaluable, the school nonetheless refused to admit Black students. Enter “Father (Major Jealous) Divine, ” the entrepreneurial evangelist that established the Unity Mission Church here. Amassing a fortune in realty holdings from followers, the charismatic 4-foot, 6-inch prelate was a force to be reckoned with. In 1948, Devine was followed here by Rev. Millard Alexander Stanley of the newly-formed Bethelite Community Baptist Church. They decamped nearby in 1984 to the former James Fenimore Cooper Junior High School. That’s when Pastor James David Manning, a former convict, installed his ATLAH Church (All The Land Anointed Holy) in the building. Denouncing Obama, endorsing Trump, castigating the LGBTQ+ community, Manning has deployed the church’s outdoor lighted sign to spread what seems to be a partic-

Falling into ruin with trees growing out of the roof, P.S. 186 successfully utilized the Federal Historic Preservation tax credit for conversion into headquarters for the Harlem Boys and Girls Club and apartment units made 100% low income!

ularly uncharitable message. It is a sign erected following landmark designation, one which was never approved by the commission. Despite legal and financial troubles, it’s Rev. Manning who’s responsible for a number of other unsanctioned alterations here, which Delly is again complaining about, noting: “When property owners are permitted to make incompatible alterations without proper review, and when multiple 311 complaints go unanswered, public confidence in the entire landmark system is undermined. It is critical that the LPC apply its rules and regulations equitably and vigorously to all property owners in order to preserve our city’s architectural legacy. The repeated and unresolved violations across these three properties suggest a pattern that must be addressed through more effective and timely enforcement.” Over at Save Harlem Now! Valerie Jo Bradley, their president, told Delly, “Save Harlem Now! agrees that violations in Harlem historic districts need to be taken more seriously by the LPC and we join you in your concern.” If this were not already bad enough, from architecture critic Paul Goldberger at the New York Times comes a plea warning about yet another threat to Black heritage, the Queer legacy, and all American history.

Today the Lowe’s Victoria serves as the base and entry to Harlem’s new deluxe Hotel Renaissance. (Michael Henry Adams photos)

In order to push through his skyhigh commemorative arch, the president has proposed amending Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Highly effective as a tool to influence and moderate, Section 106 has had a superb record of encouraging negotiation and compromise. It does not forbid change or even stop demolition. It merely mandates efforts be made to “avoid, minimize or mitigate” any harm to historic places before approval is granted for any project that uses federal funds or could affect buildings or landscapes listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Impacts on historic resources must be evaluated and the public must be consulted. Much as the Supreme Court did with the Voting Rights Act, Trump’s imposition, by rendering the review process pointless, would eviscerate the statute’s efficaciousness and eliminate the need forfederal personnel to visit threatened sites. From the king of the no-bid contract, proposed mitigation of negative impact must henceforth be “technically and economically feasible.” That means that officials can with impunity, do what already occurs sometimes. They can opine, as happened in Harlem at the old Lowe’s Victoria Theater, ‘so sorry, but in our expert opinion, although the auditorium’s ornate plasterwork is

indeed intact under drywall, uncovering and restoring it will just be too costly!’ That was how Harlem lost its most exquisite theater interior. So, what then does this change mean for Harlem? Well, with the Victoria, it’s true that by the time State Senator Bill Perkins joined the committee determining its future, Chair Keith Wright had already doomed the auditorium. But Perkins’ efforts were still essential to restoring the facade and lobby as the new hotel’s entrance. Yes. It’s further true that to date, few redevelopment projects have utilized the federal 20% historic preservation tax credit. Only The Victoria, the Apollo, P.S. 186 and the Red Rooster building. But if more of Harlem’s exceptional architectural treasures were landmarked — the Koch Store Building next to the Studio Museum, the Blumstein’s Department Store building, a limestone and bronze masterpiece by famed architect Robert D. Kohen that now houses Touro College, the Lee Brothers Building, and the nearby Twelfth Ward Bank — they’d each become eligible to benefit as well. Just think of what that might be like, to have these great places restored to their former glory? Completely made of cast iron, the building that housed Franks Restaurant is another example and the Hotel Theresa is already designated.

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 31

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

CL ASSIFIED ADS 100 PUBLIC NOTICES RULES AND REGULATIONS CANCELLATIONS must be made in writing by 12 Noon Monday. The forwarding of an order is construed as an acceptance of all advertising rules and conditions under which advertising space is sold by the NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS. Publication is made and charged according to the terms of this card. Rates and regulations subject to change without notice. No agreements as to position or regulations, other than those printed on this. Til forbid orders charged for rate earned. Increases or decreases in space take the rate of a new advertisement. The New York AMSTERDAM NEWS reserves the right to censor, reject, alter or revise all advertisements in accordance with its rules governin g the acceptance of advertising and accepts no liability for its failure to insert an advertisement for any cause. Credit for errors in advertisements allowed only for first insertion. CLASSIFIED • Classified advertisements take the regular earned rate of their classification. Four line minimum on all ads except spirituals and horoscopes (14 lines). CLASSIFIED DISPLAY • Classified Display (boarder or picture) advertisements take the regular earned rate of their classification. Display (boarder or picture) advertisements one column wide must be 14 lines deep; two columns, 28 lines deep; 3 columns, 56 lines deep. Classified Display (boarder or picture) placed as close to classifications as rules and makeup permit. CLASSIFICATIONS All advertisement accepted for publication is classified according to the standard classifications. Misclassification is not permitted. BASIS OF CHARGE Charges are based on point size and characters per line. Upon reaching 15 lines the rate converts to column inch. Any deviation from solid composition such as indentation, use of white space, bold type, etc., will incur a premium.

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Notice of formation of Lindi Gordon Photography LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/02/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to ZenBusiness: RA@ ZenBusiness.com. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

copy of your answer, or if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s attorneys within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, signed the Honorable day of 20_ at New York. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage on the following property: 25-002664-NY ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OF NEW YORK, BOUNDED AND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:- BEGINNING AT A POINT ON THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 118TH STREET, DISTANT 259 FEET 6 INCHES EASTERLY FROM THE CORNER FORMED BY THE INTERSECTION OF THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 118TH STREET (60 FEET WIDE) WITH THE EASTERLY SIDE OF MADISON AVENUE (80 FEET WIDE); RUNNING THENCE SOUTHERLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 118TH STREET, 100 FEET 11 INCHES TO A POINT; RUNNING THENCE EASTERLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE LAST MENTIONED COURSE, 19

FEET 10 INCHES TO A POINT; RUNNING THENCE NORTHERLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 118TH STREET, 100 FEET 11 INCHES TO THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 118TH STREET; RUNNING THENCE WESTERLY ALONG THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF EAST 118TH STREET, 19 FEET 10 INCHES TO THE POINT OR PLACE OF BEGINNING. Subject to easements, covenants, and restriction of record. These premises are also known as 68 E 118TH ST, New York, NY 10035. Dated: 9/1/2026 25-002664-NY Aleaten Oleksiy Lunhu, Esq. Tromberg, Miller, Morris & Partners, PLLC Attorneys for Plaintiff 39 Broadway, Suite 1840 New York, NY 10006 Tel.: (800) 2806205

Judgment Index #850164/2023. Allison Furman, Esq., Referee Fein, Such & Crane, LLP 28 East Main Street Rochester, NY 14614 SPSNC846 91290

FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF RESIDENTIAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES TRUST II is the Plaintiff and NORTHWARD ESTATES LLC, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the NEW YORK COUNTY CIVIL SUPREME COURTHOUSE, 60 CENTRE STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10007, on October 13, 2026 at 2:15PM, premises known as 2573 FREDERICK DOUGLASS BLVD, UNIT A, A/K/A 300 WEST 138TH STREET, UNIT 2573A, A/K/A 300 WEST 138TH STREET, UNIT 2573, A/K/A 2573 8TH AVENUE, UNIT A, NEW YORK, NY 10030; and the following tax map identification: 2041-1119.

STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NEW YORK NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, V. Plaintiff, ANY UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE LATE ANTONIA MOCZO, IF LIVING, AND IF ANY BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS WHO ARE SPOUSES, WIDOWS, GRANTEES, MORTGAGEES, LIENORS, HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF SUCH OF THEM AS MAY BE DEAD, AND THEIR SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF; ANTHONY WAYNE NICOLEAU INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ANTONIA MOCZO; THE CITY OF NEW YORK, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT; CITY OF NEW YORK PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; CITY OF NEW YORK ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; JOHN DOE (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1; JOHN DOE (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #2; JOHN DOE (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #3; JOHN DOE (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #4; JOHN DOE (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #5 Defendants. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: Index No.: 850568/2025 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Property Address: 68 E 118TH ST New York, NY 10035 Block: 1623 Lot: 42 YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a 25-002664-NY

Notice of Formation of SEAL PARK VENTURES LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/16/2026. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 245 8th Ave, #884, New York, NY 10011. Purpose: any lawful activity. NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK U.S. BANK NA, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO BANK OF AMERICA, NA, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LASALLE BANK NA, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE WAMU MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007- HY7, Plaintiff AGAINST TERRE SIEPSER SIMPSON A/K/A TERRE S. SIMPSON A/K/A TERRE SIMPSON A/K/A TERRE SIEPSE-SIMPSON; ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered August 4, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, see posted location outside room 130, at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on October 6, 2026 at 2:15 pm, premises known as 106 Central Park South, Unit 3B, New York, NY 10019. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, Block: 1011 Lot: 4089. Approximate amount of judgment $1,863,650.44 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed

NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court County Of New York Citibank, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Thomas N. Pieper, Carol Ann Foley, et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 1, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, see posted location outside Room 130 at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on October 20, 2026 at 2:15 PM premises known as 250 South End Avenue, Unit 4D, New York, NY 10280. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of New York, City and State of New York, BLOCK: 16, LOT: 2222. Approximate amount of judgment is $28,099.34 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 850158/2023. This sale may be subject to the US Dept of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Real Estate Reporting Rule. In such event, all purchasers are required to provide the information needed for proper reporting in accordance with the terms of sale. Scott H. Siller, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-095756-F00 91257 M/WBE bids sought for 10-38 Beach 21st Street, Queens NY construction project. A scope meeting will be held on September 21st. Contact bidding@ taxaceny.com for details. SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF RESIDENTIAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES TRUST II, -againstNORTHWARD ESTATES LLC, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of New York on September 29, 2025, wherein WILMINGTON SAVINGS

THE UNIT KNOWN AS UNIT NO. 2773(A) LOCATED IN ST. CHARLES CONDOMINIUM IV LOCATED AT 2571-2579 FREDERICK DOUGLASS BOULEVARD, COUNTY, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK AND ALSO DESIGNATED AND DESCRIBED AS UNIT NO. 2573(A) IN THE DECLARATION ESTABLISHING ST. CHARLES CONDOMINIUM IV, (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE “PROPERTY”) MADE BY THE SPONSOR/ DECLARANT AND GRANTOR UNDER THE CONDOMINIUM ACT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS AMENDED (ARTICLE 9-B OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK) Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 850647/2023. Paul R. Sklar, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. ALMA RANGEL GARDEN Waiting list has been re-opened and applications are now available for ALMA RANGEL GARDENS, a 88-unit HUD-subsidized building for elderly over 62 years old, with limited income, located at 55 West137th Street, in Manhattan. Eligibility will be based on Section 8 guidelines and HUD regulations. Interested persons may obtain an application by calling Alma Rangel Gardens at 917-507-

32 • September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

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1108 or by writing to: ALMA RANGEL GARDENS Management Office 55 West 137th Street New York, NY 10037 Completed applications must be sent by regular mail to the P.O. Box indicated on the application. Duplicate applications will be dropped to the bottom of the list. Completed applications should be received by the deadline date of December 10th, 2026

interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 850317/2024. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: August 12, 2026 91159

& Nierer, LLP, 575 Underhill Boulevard, Suite 224, Syosset, NY 11791. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered October 15, 2018, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at the Bronx County Courthouse, Courtroom 711 at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, New York on September 28, 2026 at 2:15PM. Premises known as 4084 Wilder Avenue, Bronx, New York 10466. Block 4984 Lot 33. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Edenwald, Borough and County of Bronx, City and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $137,370.70 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 32231/2015E. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 12th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and the Bronx County foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. Charlane Brown, Esq., Referee File # 17-0930

against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Gluck & Co. LLP: info@gluckllp.com. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

rine A Sullivan: 310 1st Ave Apt 7H, New York, NY 10009. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Valerie Simms-Dixon: 156-20 Riverside Drive W apt 5i New York, New York 10032. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York, Freedom Mortgage Corporation, Plaintiff, vs. Farhad M. Boukani, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on December 19, 2022 and a Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on July 29, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, to be posted outside of Room 130, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on September 29, 2026 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 467 Central Park West a/k/a 467 West Central Park, Unit No. 1-D, New York, NY 10025. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 1842 and Lot 1003 together with an undivided 0.4972 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $332,718.76 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850053/2019. Roberta Ashkin, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 2442011 M/WBE bids sought for 4411 Avenue D Brooklyn, NY construction project. A scope meeting will be held on September 21st . Contact bidding@taxaceny.com for details NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST Allison Scollar; Brook Altman; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 20, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, see posted location outside room 130, at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on October 20, 2026, at 2:15PM, premises known as 59 John Street, Unit 11A, New York, NY 10038. The Condominium Unit (“the Unit”) in the premises known as Five Nine John Lofts and by the street Number 59 John Street, Borough of Manhattan City, County, and State of New York, Block 78 Lot 1667. Approximate amount of judgment $1,264,998.16 plus

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, in trust for the holders of UBSBarclays Mortgage Trust 2013C6, Commercial Mortgage Pass-through certificates, series 2013-C6, Plaintiff, vs. 240 Park Avenue South Owner LP, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on July 20, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction to be posted outside of Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on October 6, 2026 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 240 Park Avenue South, Commercial Storage Unit, A/K/A 240 Park Avenue South, A/K/A 49/55 East 19th Street, New York, New York and 240 Park Avenue South, Commercial Unit, A/K/A 240 Park Avenue South, A/K/A 49/55 East 19 Street, New York, NY 10940. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, Block 848 and Lot 1301 and 1302 together with an undivided 5.9491 and 4.2941 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is $14,002,392.26 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850406/2024. Mark McKew, Esq., Referee Duane Morris, LLP, 22 Vanderbilt, 335 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, New York 10017-4669, Attorneys for Plaintiff Notice is hereby given that Application ID Number NA-034026-115505 for a On-Premises Restaurant liquor license has been applied for by the undersigned to permit the service of beer, wine and spirits in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at Aroqua – Progressive Indian by Spice Rack located at 206 9 th Avenue, New York in New York County for on-premises consumption. Spice Rack NYC Inc., 206 9 th Avenue, New York, NY 10011. NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT BRONX COUNTY PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff against ANGELA MCGHEE AS BENEFICIARY UNDER THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF STANFORD SHAW A/K/A STANDFORD SHAW, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Margolin, Weinreb

Notice of formation of Rebecca Brown Marriage & Family Therapy, PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/11/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Rebecca Brown: 220 5th Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Blue Bonnet Studio, LLC . Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/06/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Bonnie Maxey : 45 e 22nd st. APT 18B New york, NY 10010 . Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Eagle Crest Facility Services LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/15/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Aldiana Hot: 105 Pinehurst Ave, Apt. Super, New York, NY 10033. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Gluck & Co. LLP. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/30/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) upon whom process

Notice of formation of Great Northeast Properties, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/25/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Secretary of State of New York: 53 Union Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Redman Protective Service LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/07/2026. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Ransford Redman: 40B Adler Place, Bronx, NY, 10475. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of BENOOSH LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/17/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to The Secretary of State: 106 W, 117th St, New York, NY, 10026. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of ANIVA LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/09/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Registered Agents Inc.: 418 Broadway, Suite R, Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of WSA Culinary LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/11/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to c/o United Agent Group Inc.: 600 Mamaroneck Avenue #400, Harrison, NY 10528. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Older Sister Events, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/03/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Cathe-

Notice of formation of Sancta Tribeca, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/24/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to LegalZoomUSCA, Inc.: 124 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of THE WONDER TREE LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/12/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to ENTITY PROTECT REGISTERED AGENT SERVICES LLC: 447 Broadway, 2nd Fl. - #3000, New York, NY 10013. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Show Stop Tickets, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/29/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to ENTITY PROTECT REGISTERED AGENT SERVICES LLC: 447 Broadway 2nd Fl. - #3000, New York, NY 10013. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of STOREY GALLERY, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/25/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to STOREY GALLERY, LLC: 60 Russell St, Brooklyn, NY 11222. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of NAPOLI BITES LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/01/2026. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to REPUBLIC REGISTERED AGENT SERVICES INC.: 54 STATE STREET, STE 804 ALBANY, NY, 12207, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Word of Mouf Catering LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/31/26. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process

Notice of formation of Legal Management Tools, PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/29/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Jacob Richman: jrichman@legalmgmttools.com. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Fushia Financials, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/16/2021. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to The LLC: 99 Wall Street Ste 5301, New York, NY 10005. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Redman Protective Service LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/07/2026. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Redman Protective Service LLC: emeldara@yahoo.com. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Cavu Books LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/10/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Elizabeth Anne Savery: 105 West 13 Street, Apt. 16D, New York, NY 10011. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of 360 Event Supplies, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/21/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to The LLC: 228 Park Avenue South #201242 New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of VYSE RENTALS , LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/27/2026. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail

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process to LegalZoom USCA. INC : 45 MAIN STREET, SUITE 238 BROOKLYN, NY, 11201, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

cess to Dana Cwaigrach: 27w 72nd st , 10023 NY. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

ticles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 6/10/26. Office in New York Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 808 Columbus Ave (17m), (c/o Pauline Cho), New York, NY 10015. Any lawful purpose

activity for which limited liability companies may be organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

300 feet easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the said southerly side of East 126th Street and the easterly side of Second Avenue; being a plot 99 feet 11 inches by 50 feet by 99 feet 11 inches by 50 feet. Block: 1802 Lot: 40 318 EAST 126TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY PARCEL 2: situate, lying and being in the Borough of New York, County of New York, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of East 126th Street, distant 300 feet easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the said southerly side of East 126th Street and the easterly side of Second Avenue; being a plot 99 feet 11 inches by 50 feet by 99 feet 11 inches by 50 feet. Block: 1802 Lot 39. Said premises known as 320 EAST 126TH STRET, NEW YORK NY PARCEL 3: situate, lying and being in the Borough of New York, County of New York, City and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of East 126th Street, distant 350 feet easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the said southerly side of East 126th Street and the easterly side of Second Avenue, being a plot 99 feet 11 inches by 41 feet 8 inches by 99 feet 11 inches by 41 feet 8 inches. Block: 1802 Lot: 38 Said premises known as 322‑324 EAST 126TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY Approximate amount of lien $10,548,529.53 plus interest & costs.

as The NYH Condominium. Together with an appurtenant undivided 0.0381% in common interest percentage. This is a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 27, 2003 and November 3, 2003 as CFRN # 2003000442512 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1006 and Lot 1302. Said premises known as 1335 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY 10019 Approximate amount of lien $19,470.73 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850292/2023. ROBERTA ASHKIN, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 DLG# 39266 {* AMSTERDAM*}

Notice of formation of LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/18/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Mohammad Sadeghi Ghahareh: m.sadeghi@msgwe.com. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of 803 Street, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/172026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to 803 Street LLC: 66 Saint Nicholas Place Apartment 36A New York NY 10032. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Pepperworks LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/02/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to The LLC: 450 W 42nd St Apt 17A, New York, NY 10036. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of In The Ether Productions LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/20/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to LegalZoom USCA, INC.: 45 Main Street Suite 28 Brooklyn,NY 11201. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Voyzant LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/13/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to VOYZANT LLC: ayesha@voyzantus.com. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Hostage Families NY Story Project LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/20/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail pro-

Notice of Qualification of Turbineco, LLC. Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/2/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed in Delaware on 8/24/2023. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to The Corporation Trust Company: Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Articles of Organization originally filed with Secretary of State (SOS). DE SOS, 401 Federal Street, Suite 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. MINETTA PRIVATE CAPITAL LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 08/24/2026. Office in New York Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 300 Mercer St., Apr 15J, New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of SHARFFI LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/30/2026. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Eric Sharff, 140 7th Ave Apt 6P, New York, NY 10011. Registered Agent: Dimov Associates LLC, 211 E 43rd Street, Ste 628, New York, NY 10017. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of formation of Restorative Retreats, LLC . Arts. of Org. filed w/ Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/13/2026 . Off. loc.: New York Cnty. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 220 East 65th St, #11EF, New York, NY 10065. Purpose: Any lawful activity. STUDIO ARMANDO AGUIRRE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed SSNY 03/18/2025. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail copy to: THE LLC, 73 W 11th St, Apt 4R, New York, NY 10011. Registered agent: United States Corporation Agents, Inc., 7014 13th Ave, Ste 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. Notice of formation of SEALED WITH SNARK LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/15/2026. Office located in NEW YORK. SSNY is designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to SEALED WITH SNARK LLC 99 WALL STREET #2319, NEW YORK, NY, 10005, USA. Purpose: any lawful purpose. KYRIAKOULI GROUP LLC Ar-

KINAN LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 06/17/2026. Office in New York Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 228 Park Ave S #235091, New York, NY 10003. Legalzoom Usca, Inc. desig. as agent for SOP 45 Main Street, Suite 238, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. STUDIODYKAS LLC Articles of Org. For Any Lawful Activity filed w/ SSNY 08/25/2026 New York County. SSNY designated agent whom process against to be served. SSNY mail all docs: 447 Broadway 2nd Floor #1476, New York, NY 10013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF RADIO MAN, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/29/26. Office Loc. NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: Radio Man, LLC at PO Box 778, NY, NY 10013. Reg. Agent: eResidentAgent, Inc. 1 Rockefeller Plaza Ste 1204, NY, NY 10020. P/B/A: 205 Hudson St, Ste 1002, NY, NY 10013. Purpose: any lawful activity. Notice of Qualification of INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATES LLC, d/b/a NEXTGUARD INSURANCE AGENCY LLC. Application for Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/20/2026. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Florida on 06/14/2019. LLC is not required to maintain an office in Florida. Principal office of LLC: 3000 S Ocean Drive, Apt 608, Hollywood, FL 33019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: International Affiliates LLC, 3000 S Ocean Drive, Apt 608, Hollywood, FL 33019. Address of the officer in Florida where a copy of the Articles of Organization may be obtained: Secretary of State, State of Florida Division of Corporations, 2415 N Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303. Purpose: any lawful activity. Notice: Blackhall Equipment Services LLC, a foreign limited liability company. Application for Authority filed with the NY Secretary of State on 07/21/2026. County: New York. LLC organized in Delaware on 3/15/2021. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process may be served; SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: Blackhall Equipment Services LLC, 1415 Constitution Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or

JWCM COF I MF ADMIN, LLC Auth. filed w/ SSNY 8/3/26. Off. in NY Co. Cert of Form. filed w/ SSDE 7/31/26. Process served to SSNY - desig. as agt. of LLC & mailed to 445 Park Ave., Ste. 1600, NY, NY 10022. Add. maintd. in DE: 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Name & add. of auth. officer in DE where Cert of Form filed: SSDE, Div. of Corp, John G Townsend Bldg, 401 Federal St, Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Any lawful purpose. NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF MILLS VINTAGE LLC. Appl. for Auth. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/3/26. Office Loc. NY County. LLC formed in FL on 12/11/14. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: MILLS VINTAGE LLC at PO Box 65063, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Reg. Agent: eResidentAgent, Inc. 1 Rockefeller Plaza Ste 1204, NY, NY 10020. P/B/A: 2532 Garfield St, Hollywood, FL 33020. Cert. of LLC filed with Secy. of State of FL located at R.A. Gray Building, 500 S Bronough St, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Purpose: any lawful activity NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF STRAZZELLA PROSTHODONTICS LLC. STRAZZELLA PROSTHODONTICS LLC filed an Application of Authority with the New York State Department of State on 07/23/2026. LLC formed in NJ on 05/30/2024. Its office is located in NEW YORK COUNTY. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the Company upon whom it may be served and a copy of any process shall be mailed to THE LLC, 279 GOFFLE ROAD, RIDGEWOOD, NJ, 07450. Certificate of Formation filed with the NJ Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, 33 W. State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. The purpose of the Company is any lawful purpose. SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. SIG RCRS D MF 2023 VENTURE LLC, Plaintiff ‑against‑ 318‑322 EAST 126 LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 18, 2026 and entered on March 26, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Supreme Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY, in the courtroom designated by the posting outside of Room 130, on October 6, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. PARCEL 1: situate, lying and being in the Borough of New York, County of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of East 126th Street, distant

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850136/2025. ALLISON FURMAN, ESQ., Referee Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 120 Albany Street Plaza, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 {* AMSTERDAM*} NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. HNY CLUB SUITES OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ HANS J. HENRICI, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 11, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Supreme Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY, in the courtroom designated by the posting outside of Room 130, on October 20, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. premises being an undivided ownership interest as tenant‑in‑common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY; known

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ EBRAHIM OSMAN, MIRIAM OSMAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 11, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Supreme Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY, in the courtroom designated by the posting outside of Room 130, on October 20, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, City and State of New York, being an undivided ownership interest as tenant‑in‑common with other owners in the Timeshare Unit in the building located at 102 West 57th Street, New York, NY. Together with an appurtenant undivided 0.00986400000% common interest percentage. This is a foreclosure on ownership interest in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declarations. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions dated October 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008 as CFRN # 2008000426142 as recorded in the Office of the City Register, County, City and State of New York. The Timeshare Unit is also designated as Block 1009 and Lot 37. Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019 Approximate amount of lien $19,425.00 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment

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and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850341/2023. SCOTT H. SILLER, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 DLG# 39286 {* AMSTERDAM*}

States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Consolidation and/or Modified Mortgage (hereinafter “the Mortgage”) to secure $159,500.00 and interest, recorded in the New York County Office of the City Register on August 31, 2011, in CRFN 2011000309791 covering premises known as 140 East 56th street, Unit 4J, New York, NY 10022 a/k/a Block 1310, Lot 1339. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates New York County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is situated. NOTICE

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK SUPPLMENTAL SUMMONS Index No. 850566/2025 Date Filed: 8/28/2026 Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Plaintiff, -againstEdward Gelb, if he be living or if he be dead, his spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; Gail Rosenberg Gurewitz; Eric Rosenberg; William Glickman; Franklin Spector; Sheila Brown; Jay Manne, if he be living or if he be dead, his spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; Stephen Spector; Howard Spector; Matthew Kaminsky; Samantha Kaminsky Pidmont, if she be living or if she be dead, their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; Any unknown heirs, devisees, distributees or successors in interest of the late Susan Rita Manne, if they be living or, if they be dead, their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the Plaintiff; The Board of Directors of 140 East 56th Street Condominium Homeowners Association; City of New York Environmental Control Board; City of New York Parking Violations Bureau; City of New York Transit Adjudication Bureau, and “JOHN DOE”, said name being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, and any parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming an interest or lien upon the mortgaged premises, Defendants. PROPERTY ADDRESS: 140 East 56th Street, Unit 4J, New York, NY 10022 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or a notice of appearance on the attorneys for the Plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service. The United

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT TO VOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: June 18, 2026 Steven M. Palmer, Esq. Foreclosure Attorney LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (585) 247-9000 Fax: (585) 247-7380 Our File No. 25-099886

SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF CITIGROUP COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE SECURITIES, INC., COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PASS‑THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2016‑P3, Plaintiff ‑against‑ NYACK 2 WASHINGTON LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated May 4, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Supreme Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY, in the courtroom designated by the posting outside of Room 130, on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. The Unit (the “Unit”) Known as Unit 3B in THE 17 BATTERY PLACE CONDOMINIUM (the “Condominium”), said Unit being designated and described as Unit 3B in the Declaration establishing a plan for condominium ownership under Article 9‑B of the Real Property Law of the State of New York (the “New York Condominium Act”), with respect to the building and improvements located on the land described below (the “Premises”) known by the street number 17 Battery Place, Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, which Declaration is dated 4/9/1998 and recorded in the New York County Office of the Register of the City of New York (the “City Register’s Office”) on 7/23/1998 in Reel 2636 Page 1214 and amended by First Amendment to Declaration dated as of 1/4/2001 and recorded on 1/5/2001 in Reel 3217 Page 168, as further amended by Second Amendment to Declaration dated as of 1/27/2009, recorded 2/12/2009 in CRFN 2009000041625, and by Third Amendment to Declaration dated as 7/22/2009, recorded 8/7/2009 in CRFN 2009000247585, as further amended by Fourth Amendment to Declaration dated as of 3/2/2016, recorded 3/11/2016 in CRFN 2016000086373 (as so amended, the “Declaration”); the Unit is also designated as Tax Lot 1004 in Block 15 of Section 1 of the Borough of Manhattan on the Tax Map of the Real Property Assessment, Division of the City of New York, and on the Floor Plans of said building, certified by Fifield Piaker & Associates, Architects, P.C. on 3/2/2016 and filed in the City Register’s Office, New York County, on 3/11/2016 as Condominium Plan No. 1025B, amending the original floor plans of the Buildings, certified by Fifield Piaker & Associates Architects, P.C. on 7/10/1998 and also filed in the City Register’s Office as Condominium Plan No. 1025, Map No. 5529 on 7/23/1998, as amended by the amended floor plans prepared by Avinash K. Malhotra, AIA, Architects and certified on 12/28/2000 and filed in the

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City Register’s Office on the 1/5/2001 as Condominium Plan No. 1025A, Map #5520A (all capitalized terms herein which are not separately defined herein shall have the respective meanings described to them in the Declaration or in the By‑Laws (the “By‑Laws”) of The 17 Battery Place Condominium);

60 Centre Street, New York, NY on September 29, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. prem. k/a 63 Spring Street, New York, NY a/k/a Block 496, Lot 34. Approximate amount of judgment is $28,125,967.56 plus cost and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. ELAINE SHAY, Referee. BALLARD SPAHR LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 1675 Broadway, 19 Floor, New York, NY. #103137

New York, New York, Block 927 Lot 1008 together with a .42734 percent undivided interest in the common elements. Said premises known as 312 EAST 22ND STREET, UNIT 3B, NEW YORK, NY 10010 Approximate amount of lien 24,395.69 plus interest & costs. Approximate amount of lien $24,395.69 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 162976/2025. SCOTT H. SILLER, ESQ., Referee TROIA & ASSOCIATES Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 59 MAIDEN LANE, 41ST FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10038

TOGETHER with an undivided 17.0551% interest in the Common Elements (as defined in the Declaration) appurtenant to the Unit. The land upon which the building containing the Unit is described as follows: ALL that certain plot. piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough of MANHATTAN, City, County and State of NEW YORK, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the northerly side of BATTERY PLACE with the westerly side of WASHINGTON STREET as now laid out and established by Law; THENCE westerly along the northerly side of BATTERY PLACE, 180 feet 10‑1/4 inches to the corner formed by the intersection of the northerly side of BATTERY PLACE and the easterly side of WEST STREET; THENCE northerly along the easterly side of WEST STREET, 363 feet 11‑1/2 inches, more or less, to the land now or formerly of ALEXANDER STEVENS and RICHARD MORRIS; THENCE easterly along said land now or formerly of ALEXANDER STEVENS and RICHARD MORRIS, 179 feet 10‑1/4 inches, more or less, to the westerly side of WASHINGTON STREET; THENCE southerly along the westerly side of WASHINGTON STREET, 357 feet 1‑1/2 inches, more or less, to the corner at the point or place of BEGINNING. Block: 15 Lot: 1004 Said premises known as 2 WASHINGTON STREET, UNIT 3B, NEW YORK, NY Approximate amount of lien $89,022,691.78 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850020/2024. CLARK WHITSETT, ESQ., Referee Holland & Knight LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 787 Seventh Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10019 {* AMSTERDAM*} NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NEW YORK COUNTY. WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOLDERS OF CD 2019-CD8 MORTGAGE TRUST COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2019-CD8, Pltf. vs. 63 SPRING LAFAYETTE, LLC, et al Deft. Index# 850042/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered April 23, 2025, I will sell at public auction in Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse,

SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE 75 KENMARE STREET CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiff ‑against‑ KOK KIT LEE, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated July 7, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Supreme Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY, in the courtroom designated by the posting outside of Room 130, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, The Unit known as Unit No. 2G in the Building known by 75 Kenmare Street, known and designated as Unit No. 2G in the condominium known as “The 75 Kenmare Street Condominium”. Together with an undivided 1.65 percent interest in the common elements. Block: 480 Lot: 1310 Said premises known as 75 KENMARE STREET, UNIT 2G, NEW YORK, NY Approximate amount of lien $70,040.78 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 151896/2025. GREGORY M. LASPINA, ESQ., Referee Schneider Buchel LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 60 Crossways Park Dr West, Suite 340, Woodbury, NY 11797 {* AMSTERDAM*} SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. BOARD OF MANAGERS OF GRAMERCY EAST CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiff ‑against‑ THE ATARAXIA REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST DATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 c/o MICHAEL WALLACE, AS TRUSTEE, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated July 14, 2026 and entered on August 28, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Supreme Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY, in the courtroom designated by the posting outside of Room 130, on October 20, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, known and designated as Unit No. 3B in the Condominium Building known as 312 East 22nd Street,

{* AMSTERDAM*} Notice of Formation of BOW LIFT LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/07/26. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 200 Park Ave. South, Fl. 8, NY, NY 10003. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of MAILLARD ART SERVICES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/07/26. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 23 E 73rd St., NY, NY 10021. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of EVIA NANO MEDICAL, PLLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/18/26. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of PLLC: 130 East 35th St., NY, NY 10016. SSNY designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the PLLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Medicine. Notice of Qualification of SOUND POINT U.S. DIRECT LENDING FUND IV (ONSHORE) L.P. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/17/26. Office location: NY County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 05/29/26. Princ. office of LP: 375 Park Ave., 34th Fl., NY, NY 10152. Duration of LP is Perpetual. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of LP filed with DE Secy. of State,

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401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF SCHMEISSER LAW, PLLC. App. for Auth. filed with SSNY 08/11/2026. Off. loc.: NY Co. PLLC formed AZ 04/03/2025. SSNY desig. agent for process & shall mail: 43 W. 43rd St., NY, NY 10036. AZ off.: 14362 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Ste 1107, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Cert. of Org. filed with AZ Corp. Comm., 1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007. Purpose: law.

Notice of Qualification of WFFA ADVISORS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/07/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/26/25. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 237 West 35th St., Ste. 1001, NY, NY 10001. DE addr. of LLC: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of DE, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Qualification of SOUND POINT U.S. DIRECT LENDING FUND IV (RN FEEDER) L.P. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/17/26. Office location: NY County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 05/28/26. Princ. office of LP: 375 Park Ave., 34th Fl., NY, NY 10152. Duration of LP is Perpetual. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of LP filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Qualification of STRIDE HOSPITALITY PARTNERS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/01/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/30/26. Princ. office of LLC: 1370 6th Ave., Ste. #1902, NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Charuni PatibandaSanchez, 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Passive Investments in Private Companies. Notice of Qualification of StruXure Outdoor, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/06/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Georgia (GA) on 04/01/09. Princ. office and GA addr. of LLC is: 154 Ethan Allen Dr., Dahlonega, GA 30533. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to

Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. Cert. of Form. filed with GA Secy. of State, 313 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Atlanta, GA 30334-1530. Purpose: Manufacturer of automated outdoor living systems.

195LEGAL HELP WANTED 101 NOTICES

agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Dover St., #4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of KRANE NEW ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND 3 L.P. Notice of Qualification of POAppl. for Auth. filed with Secy. NYGIRL PRODUCTIONS LLC of State of NY (SSNY) on Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. 08/03/26. Office location: NY of State of NY (SSNY) on County. LP formed in Delaware 06/05/26. Office location: NY (DE) on 07/29/26. Princ. office County. LLC formed in Delaof LP: 280 Park Ave., 32nd Fl., ware (DE) on 05/26/26. SSNY NY, NY 10017. Duration of LP designated as agent of LLC is Perpetual. SSNY designated whom process against it 1 • February 20, 2025 - upon February 26, 2025 as agent of LP upon whom promay be served. SSNY shall mail cess against it may be101 served. process to101 Bennet L.NOTICES Schonfeld, LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL SSNY shall mail process to 183 Madison Ave., Ste. 1602, Corporation Service Co. (CSC), addr. ofofLLC: Notice is hereby given NY, that aNY 10016. Notice ofDE Qualification AP license, serial #NA-0340-25CREDIT SOLUTIONS HOLD80 State St., Albany, NY 12207Falls(AIV) Dr.,II, Wilmington, 103028 for beer, wine &251 liquor LittleINGS L.P. Appl. for has been applied for by the Auth. filed with Secy. of State of 2543. Name and addr.undersigned of eachto sell beer,DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed wine NY (SSNY) on 01/08/25. Office liquor at retail in a restauNY County. LP formed general partner are &available with Secy.location: of State of the State rant under the ABC Law at 994 in Delaware (DE) on 12/26/24. from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: c/o of NY DE, 401 Federal St., #4, Columbus Ave., New York, Princ. office of LP: Attn:Ste. General 10025Wilmfor on-premisesDover, con9 W.Purpose: 57th St., 43rdAny Fl., CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., DECounsel, 19901. sumption; Limone LLC NY, NY 10019. Duration of LP is Perpetual. SSNY designated ington, DE 19808. Cert. of LP lawful activity. as agent of LP upon whom profiled with Secy. of State of the cess against it may be served. NOTICE is hereby given that a shall mail process to the State of DE, 401 Federal St., NA-0370-24Notice ofSSNY Qualification of office ETHlicense, number Partnership at the princ. 135212 for liquor, wine, beer & of the LP. Name and addr. of Ste.4, Dover, DE 19901. PurMOS, LLC cider has been applied for by each general partner are availthe undersigned to sell liquor, able from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: pose: Any lawful activity. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. wine, beer & cider at retail in a c/o Corporation Service Co., of State 251ofLittleNY on bar/tavern under the Alcoholic Falls (SSNY) Dr., Wilmington, Beverage Control Law at 4371 DE 19808. Cert. of LP filed with 08/18/26. Office location: NY 3rd Ave; Bronx, NY 10457 in The Secy. of State of the State Bronx County for on premises of DE, Dept. of State, Div. of Notice of Qualification consumption. of STAM- Zion Restaurant County. LLC formed in DelaCorps., John Townsend Bldg., and Lounge Corp d/b/aware Zion (DE) Dover, 19901. Purpose: Any FORD TENT, LLC onDE06/16/26. SSNY Restaurant and Lounge lawful activity. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. designated as agent of LLC of State of NY (SSNY) on upon whom process against it 03/18/26. Office location: NY may be served. SSNY shall mail County. LLC formed in Conprocess to Corporation Service necticut (CT) on 01/02/26. Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY SSNY designated as agent 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: of LLC upon whom process 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, against it may be served. SSNY DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed shall mail process to Cogency with Secy. of State, 401 Federal Global Inc., 122 East 42nd St., St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. 18th Fl., NY, NY 10168. CT addr. Purpose: Any lawful activity. of LLC: 10 Red Court Ln., Redding, CT 06898. Cert. of Form. Notice of formation of CHRISfiled with CT Secy. of State, 30 TOPHER SALE DESIGN LLC. Trinty St., Hartford, CT 06106. Articles of Organization filed Purpose: Any lawful activity. with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/06/2026. OfNotice of Qualification of 345 fice location: New York County PARK F&B OPERATOR LLC (Manhattan). SSNY designated Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of as an agent of Limited LiabilState of NY (SSNY) on 09/02/26. ity Company (LLC) upon whom Office location: NY County. LLC process against it may be formed in Delaware (DE) on served. SSNY should mail pro04/08/25. Princ. office of LLC: cess to LEGALZOOM USCA, c/o Rudin Management Co. Inc., INC. : 45 Main Street, Suite 238 345 Park Ave., 32nd Fl., NY, NY Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA. Pur10154. SSNY designated as pose: Any lawful purpose.

101 LEGAL NOTICES

101 LEGAL NOTICES 101 LEGAL NOTICES French, Arabic, Creole, Amharic, Tigrinya,

African Heritage Continued from page 2

us,” said Bah, who is from Conakry, Guinea. During the migrant influx in 2022 under former Mayor Eric Adams, Bah was instrumental in helping Black immigrants who were newly arrived from southern border states acclimate and find resources. “I saw African and Black immigrants being overlooked. They arrived speaking Pular, Wolof, Soninke, Bambara, Hassaniya,

and many more languages,” said Bah. “They needed more than translation. They needed people who understood their culture, their journey, and their dignity. That is how Afrikana was born. But I did not arrive here alone. I stand here on the shoulders of Africans who came before me, those who organized, built institutions, created opportunities for us.” The reception also featured artwork from African artists, such as Ugandan artist Sanaa Gateja, known as the “Bead King,” and Brooklyn-based photographer Naima Greene.

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

195LEGAL HELP WANTED WANTED 101 NOTICES 195 HELP Occupational Therapist Priority Care Staffing. Full time. Bronx. 75,712/year (36.4/ hour) Evaluate patients’ conditions; Develop and implement treatment plans; Demonstrate exercises to help relieve patients’ pain; Evaluate results and progress of occupational therapy on patients; Educate caregivers and family members of clients on patient care. usotjobs@prioritycarestaffing. com.

Adams indictment Continued from page 4

Attendees at Mayor’s African Heritage reception on September 9, 2026. (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office photos)

Organizers and advocates at 2026 Mayor’s African Heritage reception on September 9.

sured the following year. My argument is not that New Yorkers Continued from page 13 should stop going to Puerto Rico. It’s that we stand with Puerto Ricans. In Spanish, SOMOS of the Financial Oversight and Management means “we are.” This is the moment to prove Board. Ask what Act 60 has produced for or- who that “we” includes. dinary Puerto Ricans. Demand accountability for reconstruction dollars. Establish Anna Correa is a political and governmenTO DISPLAY YOUR LEGAL, LLC, AND concrete commitments that can be mea- tal communications advisor in New York City.

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Immigration Korner Continued from page 14

fundamental: Who gets to count as America? The 2030 Census is still four years away. These proposals are not final, and the debate is just beginning, but communities should pay attention now. Because when America debates whether millions of people who actually live here

should count, while also questioning whether the identities of those who do count are worth recording, we are no longer simply debating boxes on a Census form. We are debating who America chooses to see. Felicia J. Persaud is the founder and publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, the only daily syndicated newswire and digital platform dedicated exclusively to Caribbean Diaspora and Black immigrant news across the Americas.

36 • September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Blakely supporters who heard the reason for the postponement were not happy. “In other words, one of you all are intimidating him,” Sharonne Salaam, mother of Councilmember Yusef Salaam, said sarcastically. “It’s the fact that all of these people are here,” another courtroom observer said. “And it’s the color of our skin: That’s what they’re saying,” one woman insisted. “That’s like the seed — they planted a seed in the mind of the judge.” Ambassador Raheem Allah Bey, who has served as part of Blakely’s peace security for several years, made it clear that Blakely’s supporters will continue to show up. “You don’t want to come see us now. The next time, it’ll be more of us,” Bey said. “The more you wait, it could be a day, it could be a week, it could be a month, it could be a year, we’re gonna come with more and more.” For Blakely, who is nearly 85 years old, seeing the benches filled with supporters was touching. “I was so moved because the community was with me,” she said outside the court. “I did not stand alone, going on 85 years.” She explained that the hearing was meant to determine whether her daughter could stay in the home she has lived in since childhood. “What was upsetting me,” Blakely added, “is that they were supposed to have dealt with my daughter and allow her to remain in the home she’s been in since 1978.” Court records show that Blakely helped organize the 477 West 142nd Street Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC), a limited-equity cooperative formed through New York City’s Tenant Interim Lease program that allowed low-income residents to create HDFC co-ops. The city sold the prop-

erty to the cooperative on December 7, 1982, and Blakely and six other low-income residents acquired shares for $250 per apartment. Blakely told the AmNews that the building was a safe space, created during Harlem’s roughest years. “No one wanted to live there. It was a blight to Harlem where I live,” she said, remembering the 1970s. “Some of us wanted to deal with that and serve our people, and I happened to be one of them.” By 2003, the city started a tax foreclosure against the co-op because of unpaid property taxes. To keep from losing the property, the co-op took out a $650,000 mortgage on Sept. 20, 2007, from Madison Park Investors LLC and ER Holdings LLC. Blakely has called that loan predatory, claiming the lenders went into it expecting the co-op to default. They knew that a subsequent foreclosure would allow them to own the building, she said, but courts have denied her claims and agreed with the bankruptcy court’s decisions. By 2015, new owners agreed to restructure the co-op’s finances and offered to allow the current tenants to remain in their units with a “Life Occupancy Lease” of $400 a month. By 2017, all of the co-op shareholders except Blakely agreed to the deal. According to McMickens, this Blakely case is less about deed theft and more about equity theft. “Queen Mother’s building should never have been mortgaged,” she stated. “They didn’t make enough in their rent rolls to pay any mortgage at all.” She explained that because a co-op owns the underlying building and residents own shares, the financing didn’t have the same protections as a standard homeowner’s mortgage. “A co-op is not a home; it’s shares,” she said. “You own the shares; you don’t own the underlying property. There would be no way for them to have made that mortgage on the rent they were paying because they weren’t paying enough

U.S. Open Men’s

Rickie Ricardo

set, Zverev broke right back to begin the fourth and marched on to victory. Zverev’s win brought his career record against Shelton to 6-0 and ended Shelton’s spectacular two-week run in New York where he took out several top-tiered opponents including Carlos Alcaraz in an epic five-set quarterfinal match that ended at 3:33 a.m. Zverev’s victory also means that the United States’ quest to end the drought for a men’s tennis Grand Slam champion continues for at least one more year.

alone and I was on the air. That’s how they threw me into the pool. “When Ken Webb came in to do the morning show, he asked, ‘Who are you?’” Besides Crocker, Ricardo has been in the presence of other great broadcasters, and one has stood out. “John Sterling is the exclamation point to my complete crossover,” states Ricardo about the iconic radio voice of the Yankees who passed away this past May. When Ricardo started doing the Yankees, he had his

Blakely eviction Continued from page 2

Continued from page 37

Giants and Jets Continued from page 40

season debut, the third-year wide receiver looked healthy and sharp, finishing with six catches on six targets from quarterback Jaxson Dart for 69 yards. “The deciding factor was when I got out there, I just felt good. I felt good, I got a little chill through my body. I was like, ‘Yeah, it’s time, it’s time,’” he said postgame. “I really

Continued from page 38

didn’t know; my family didn’t even come to this game because it’s a one-on-one battle that you have to go through. You have to do it for yourself. I didn’t want everybody here, I didn’t want my family here. I feel like I let them down by not playing, so I had to do it for myself first.” The Giants will take on the Los Angeles Rams on the road on Monday night (8:15 p.m.), and the Jets will host the Green Bay Packers at MetLife on Sunday (1 p.m.).

Dr. Queen Mother Delois Blakely with retired professor Patricia Gary, outside 111 Centre Street. (Jason Ponterotto photo)

to even keep the building. They were in tax arrears. How are you going to pay a mortgage if you can’t pay your taxes?” The 477 West 142nd Street bankruptcy case took a long time to settle. Court records show that Amsterdam Key Associates LLC was established by the previous lienholder to purchase the property from the debtor after the bankruptcy. McMickens pointed out that the issue of representation for Blakely’s disabled daughter was never dealt with during these court cases. “The daughter has not been represented at any time properly in this seating,” she said. After the September 9 conference, McMickens said the court paused Blakely’s eviction, appointed a guardian for her daughter, and scheduled both sides to return in 60 days.

During this time, the city marshal cannot forcibly remove Blakely or her daughter from the property. The new legal guardian for Thomas will spend the next 60 days reviewing her medical records, checking her care environment, and setting up protections. “Yes, in the meantime, they can stay,” McMickens said, “and it’s my goal that the daughter will be able to stay until she dies.” Attorney Alan J. Weintraub, representing the owners, Manhattan Lending Partners, declined to comment when reached by the NY Amsterdam News. Blakely is a world-renowned humanitarian activist, Pan-African leader, and educator, who was designated as Community Mayor of Harlem in 1995. She has said the film “Sister Act” was based on her story and 1987 memoir “The Harlem Street Nun.”

doubts. Do I belong? “One day out of the blue, John said, ‘I know about your reputation in New York radio, and I admire you,’ and I was taken aback,” admits Ricardo. They even had a moment when the two Edgewater, NJ, residents were hit with flooding from Hurricane Ida in 2021. Sterling was stranded and Ricardo rescued him. “John replaced Frankie in the sports realm of my career,” Ricardo declares with reverence. “John is the sports version of the ‘Chief Rocker.’” In Part Two next week, Ricardo reminisces about his time with music icons Prince and “Super Freak” Rick James.

Garcia vs. Benn

HBCU DII

Continued from page 38

you’re going to see a real Mexican warrior.” “This is the type of fight every fighter dreams about, and I’m ready for the challenge,” Foster, who is from Orange, Texas, said in early September. “I’m also excited to be back in San Antonio and fighting in front of all my fans, both locally and around the world. The support I’ve received throughout my career has meant everything to me, and I’m looking forward to giving everyone another performance to remember.”

by the various programs. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Willie Washington,” said SIAC National Association of Intercollegiate Ath- Commissioner Anthony Holloman, Ed.D letics (NAIA) Eastern Intercollegiate Athlet- on September 1, via a press release. ic Conference back to its original home, the His induction into the SIAC Hall of Fame SIAC, in the early 2000s. and the award that now bears his name Under his stewardship, the SIAC Hall speak to the respect he earned and the of Famer grew the athletics department legacy he leaves behind.” from 8 to 14 teams and oversaw more The Tigers will face Fort Valley State Unithan 50 SIAC championships achieved versity on Saturday.

Continued from page 40

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 37

After a historic run, Ben Shelton falls to Alexander Zverev in U.S. Open final By JUANNE HARRIS Special to the AmNews Last Friday’s historic U.S. Open semifinal matchup between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe marked the first all-Black American men’s Grand Slam semifinal in the Open Era (beginning in 1968). In a sport which both Black men and women have been historically underrepresented and underestimated, the match highlighted Black excellence, effort, and progress in tennis. The competitors met at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the latter named for the inimitable Arthur Ashe, the first and only Black American man to win the U.S. Open. It was serendipitously played on the 58th anniversary of Ashe’s 1968 title. After dropping the first set, the No. 8 seed Shelton fought back to defeat the man he refers to as a “big brother,” overtaking Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5, for his first career Grand Slam final. While Shelton seemed to battle nerves early

in the first set, his big serve and strong double-backhand enabled him to survive Tiafoe’s aggressive play and powerful forehand. The turning point in the match came in the third set when after 15 minutes and four set points, the 23-year-old Shelton prevailed 6-3 and Tiafoe appeared to lose steam. Both players showcased the power and skill that got them to the semifinal, but in the end, Shelton played the better match putting in 75% of his first serves, hammering in 20 aces, and hitting 47 winners; the 28-year-old Tiafoe only managed 27 winners. With the win, Shelton became the first Black American man to advance to the U.S. Open Final since Ashe in 1972 and the first Black American man to reach any Grand Slam final since 1996. Shelton was back at Arthur Ashe on Sunday afternoon, facing topseeded Alexander Zverev for the U.S. Open title. The 29-year-old German continued his breakthrough season defeating Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 to win his first U.S. Open and second

major title of the year following his French Open title in June. It was clear from the start that Zverev was on a mission. He broke Shelton in the first game, and Shelton, who won the 2022 NCAA men’s singles title at Florida playing for his father, then the Gators’ head coach, never recovered. Zverev’s serve and precision shotmaking throughout the match kept Shelton on his toes. Shelton fought back, leaving nothing on the court with some highlight-worthy returns. While his forceful serve and athleticism were on full display, he couldn’t overcome self-inflicted mistakes and the talented Zverev. Shelton made 11 unforced errors in the first set to Zverev’s three, and double-faulted twice on break point for Zverev. Except for a few dips in energy and some shaky serving that helped Shelton take the third set and give him and his supporters a glimmer of hope, Zverev was largely relaxed and in control throughout the match. After dropping the third See U.S. OPEN MEN’S on page 36

Alexander Zverev of Germany (left) greets Ben Shelton of the United States, after Zverev won the men’s singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships on Sunday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Rybakina secures the women’s U.S. Open title and world’s No. 1 ranking By B.L. OLIVER Special to the AmNews America’s hope for winning the 2026 U.S. Open women’s singles title ended when both of the country’s top players, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, fell short in the semifinals. The championship came down to the two top-ranked women’s players in the world. On Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, located within the expansive USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, Elena Rybakina, a native of Russia who represents Kazakhstan, won the title by defeating two-time defending tournament champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, to capture her first U.S. Open Championship and her third overall Grand Slam title. On Monday, the 27-year-old Rybakina officially ascended to the women’s No. 1 world ranking, unseating the 28-year-old Sabalenka. In an on-court interview after her win, Rybakina praised the former No. 1. “Aryna, you’re a great

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan (left) holds the winner’s trophy after capturing the women’s singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (background) this past Saturday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

champion…It’s so difficult to play against you…You push me to such a limit… I was diving on the court and just trying to get all the possible balls. I have no words... I still can’t believe it,” she said. Two days earlier, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sabalenka defeated the 32-year-old Pegula in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2. Later that night also on the Arthur Ashe court, Rybakina took down 22-year-old Coco Gauff, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. “I thought it was a good match, and it honestly came down to a couple of service games of mine in both sets, and I didn’t quite hold,” said Gauff. Americans found success in the women’s doubles final as Taylor Townsend, partnering with Katerina Siniakova of Czechia, topped the American wildcard tandem of Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to earn their first U.S. Open championship. With the win, Townsend and Siniakova have won all four Grand Slams, taking Wimbledon in 2024, the 2025 Australian Open, and this year’s French Open.

38 • September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

The amazing journey of radio icon and Yankees voice Rickie Ricardo By TONY PAIGE Special to the AmNews

Part 1 of a three-part story His voice has been stuck in our ears for over 40 delightful years. Whether he was smoothly playing tunes on WBLS, passionately calling sports games, or bantering on sports talk radio, Rickie Ricardo has left his indelible mark in radio booths in both Spanish and English up and down the I-95 corridor. Ricardo has been the New York Yankees’ Spanish radio voice for 18 years and the Philadelphia Eagles for 15. He also called Phillies games (2007-13). And don’t forget his years (1981-86; 199092; 1995-99) on WBLS when the powerhouse station ruled the airwaves. He now covers one of the most preeminent sports franchises in the world, the Yankees, on WADO Radio. The Bronx Bombers have been snake bitten all year with injuries. Yet, they are still in the hunt for post-season life even though their Captain, Aaron Judge, has missed 84 games with a busted rib.

“My gut tells me the Yankees will win the division. I don’t think there’s a better team in the American League, albeit a weak American League,” points out Ricardo, a youngster at 64 and in the business for 46 years. “They will go on to represent the AL in the World Series. That’s what my gut, my heart tells me. “And I’m not just penciling the Dodgers in as many people are. We’re going to have a rematch of the 2009 World Series. It’s going to be the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies.” Who knew that Ricardo would become a multifaceted media voice? At 18, he definitely didn’t think so, but it all happened after meeting one Frankie “Hollywood” Crocker in Miami Beach. “My godfather, Frankie Crocker, is my base; he’s my mold,” declares Ricardo, without any hesitation. “Frankie taught me how to brush my hair, how to walk, how to talk. “He took a chance on an 18-year-old kid who had six months of radio experience on an AM station in Orlando and brought me to New York.” The interview process, with the powerful

From left to right, the late radio pioneer Frankie Crocker, longtime music director Cedric Hollywood, and Yankees radio broadcaster Rickie Ricardo. (Rickie Ricardo photo)

program director, took place in a darkened assistant that I was going to do the overnight. BLS studio. “Jeff Troy was going to train me on the “I just sat there while Frankie asked ques- board. He showed me what the format was tions and I answered them,” recalls Ricardo. and at about 1:30 in the morning, Jeff left me “Twenty-four hours later I got a call from his See RICKIE RICARDO on page 36

Garcia earns TKO win over Benn in welterweight title match By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

Ryan Garcia takes aim at Conor Benn in their WBC welterweight title clash this past Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa Boxing)

Conor Benn has a family legacy. His father, Nigel Benn, is a former two-time world champion, holding titles in the welterweight and super-welterweight divisions in a professional career that spanned from 1987 to 1996. To etch his name among other British champions past and present, the younger Benn, 29, will have to be much better than he was this past weekend going up against Ryan Garcia. The 28-year-old Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs), a native of Victorville, California, retained his WBC welterweight championship by defeating England’s Benn (25-2, 14 KOs) by technical knockout in the second round on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Garcia dropped Benn with a powerful right hand. The challenger rose to his feet, but the referee stopped the fight because woozy Benn seemed unable to defend himself. It was Garcia’s first title defense after he defeated Mario Barrios in February to claim the title. “I think that it kind of went exactly how I imagined it,” Garcia said after his victory. “He was going to decide to put pressure on me right away, kind of banking on the idea that I may just start folding somehow and just maybe get a little bit tired, but you can’t jump

in like that. Just not the move.” Garcia said that Benn needs “a little bit more experience,” similar to what Gervona “Tank” Davis, the undefeated (30-0-1) former three-division champion, noted about Garcia after handing Garcia his only loss as a pro in April 2023. Garcia said he wants to unify the division against Brooklyn native Teofimo Lopez Jr., who captured the WBA welterweight title last month in the same ring, defeating Rolando Romero, who gave Garcia his second loss in May 2025. “Teo’s an entertaining dude, and it is going to be a hell of a buildup, and he’s a good fighter, too, so let’s run it,” Garcia said. “I know I’ll knock Teo out, seventh or eighth.” A compelling unification matchup will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24, when WBO and IBF super-featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete (40-2-1, 33 KOs) battles WBC super-featherweight titleholder O’Shaquie Foster (25-3, 12 KOs) at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. “I’m coming for everything, and I’m coming with everything I’ve got,” Navarrete said in a statement earlier this month. “I’m a Mexican warrior. I fear nothing and no one. I’m glad O’Shaquie Foster accepted the fight, because I’m coming for that third world title. I already have two, so why not three? On October 24, See GARCIA VS. BENN on page 36

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS S P O R T S

September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026 • 39

WNBA rookie Olivia Miles’ eyewear collaboration is trending WNBA star rookie Olivia Miles’ models some of the eyewear from her collaboration with GlassesUSA. com.

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews Over the past few years, female athletes have enjoyed increasing commercial opportunities. In the past, only a fortunate few Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players had endorsements or appearances for brands, but that has changed. In a growing number of cases, the products involved are genuine reflections of the athletes. That is certainly the case for the likely WNBA 2026 Rookie of the

Year Olivia Miles, who recently announced a collaboration with GlassesUSA.com, an online eyewear company. “Glasses have always been part of who I am, on and off the court, so this collaboration with GlassesUSA.com feels really personal to me,” said Miles, who has resisted suggestions to either wear contact lenses or have corrective surgery. “It’s about trusting your instincts, owning what makes you different, and feeling confident in the way you show up.” The “Trust Your Vision” eye-

wear collection includes a variety of looks that Miles has worn off the court and includes goggles like the ones she wears in games. For GlassesUSA.com, working with Miles is a major step in expanding the company’s presence in sports eyewear and prescription performance eyewear. “We have been following Olivia’s journey for quite some time,” said Arie Tom, chief marketing officer of GlassesUSA.com. “What really stood out to us is how naturally eyewear was already part of her identity. Her goggles weren’t some-

Three-time WNBA champion Natasha Howard releases a poignant memoir By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews Natasha Howard of the Minnesota Lynx is one of the most decorated players in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA): a three-time WNBA Champion (once with the Lynx and twice with the Seattle Storm), three-time All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, and MVP of the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup. Despite these accolades, though, she is not one of the league’s marquee names. Knowing that her story reflects many of the players in the WNBA, Howard worked with writer Deyscha Smith to tell it. That memoir, “The Vision Through My Lens: My Life in Basketball and Beyond,” was released by Brooklyn-based publisher Akashic Books this week. It details Howard’s oftenchaotic childhood and how discovering basketball rooted her

and provided opportunities to solidify her future. Smith is well-versed in basketball, having been an associate editor at Slam and now a contributing writer for that magazine who also covers women’s hoops for The IX Sports. “Tash had always wanted to write a book,” said Smith, noting that Howard had written a bit when she was a student-athlete at Florida State University. “When she was just about to sign with Indiana (in 2025), she decided to actually go forth.” After a preliminary meeting with Akashic, which had previously published books by former New York Liberty player Sugar Rodgers and former NBA player/ activist Etan Thomas, the work began. Over almost 18 months, Howard and Smith met regularly, both in person and virtually. “We continued to meet all throughout the CBA (collective bargaining agreement) negotia-

tions and her signing with Minnesota,” Smith said. “My feature writing style is I’m a conversationalist. I knew this is Tash’s story and she’s going to be talking about some hard moments in her life. She really wanted the book to be honest. I knew it was important that she felt comfortable.” Capturing Howard’s voice came naturally through their conversations, including her childhood growing up with a single mother who dealt with alcoholism. “It was an organic process that we really took our time with,” Smith said. “It’s important that we tell women’s stories, women in sports. With the WNBA, there are players [who] get a lot of media attention, but Tash felt she hadn’t gotten a lot of media attention or the opportunity to tell her story of how she became this champion … There are players [who] deserve to have memoirs and talk about these human experiences.”

thing created for a campaign; they were something she genuinely needed and wore. Over time, they became part of how people recognized her, part of her identity.” The partnership felt like a natural fit, Tom noted, not just a traditional celebrity endorsement. “It was all about authenticity,” he said. “We didn’t have to create a story. We relate to Olivia and her relationship with glasses. … For the collection, she chose the glasses that felt authentic to her.” The collection was built around Miles’s style and personal choices,

including the prescription-ready sports goggles. She has worn something like this throughout her college career at Notre Dame and TCU, and now in the WNBA. It has already become evident that young athletes who wear glasses on their respective fields of play see her as a role model. The company previously worked with NFL player Von Miller; Miles is their first female athlete collaboration. “These are the stories we’re looking for,” said Tom. “Women’s sports are creating an incredible cultural moment.”

40 • September 17, 2026 - September 23, 2026

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Sports Giants and Jets hope for dramatic turnarounds after Week 1 wins By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor First impressions could be lasting or fleeting. The Giants and Jets hope it’s the former. After their Week 1 victories, both teams looked more disciplined, physical, mature, focused, and intentional than in recent seasons. The Giants’ 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys at home at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night was more resonant than the Jets’ 23-10 victory against the Tennessee Titans on the road earlier in the afternoon, if only because of the opponents. The Giants knocked off an NFC East division rival whom many pundits projected to be a Super Bowl contender. The Jets, guided by second-year head coach Aaron Glenn, beat a Titans outfit led by Robert Saleh, who is in his first season with the franchise and still in the beginning stages of building a foundation. He is acutely familiar with trying to breathe life into a team after being the Jets’ head coach from 2021 to part of the 2024 season. He was fired by team

New York Giants players (from left) Tyler Nubin, Greg Newsome II, Deonte Banks, Jevon Holland, and Andru Phillips celebrate interception by Holland on pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in Giants’ 28-20 win on Sunday. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

owner Robert “Woody” Johnson five games into the 2024 schedule, when the Jets were 2-3 and still competing hard for Saleh. While Giants head coach John Harbaugh is also in his inaugural season with his new team after 18

seasons as the Baltimore Ravens head coach, the assembled talent, notably on the defensive side of the ball, elicits optimism that a dramatic turnaround from the last season’s abysmal 4-13 mark is plausible. After the win, Harbaugh, who has

responded. ”My dad always says that. He’ll say this in the car on the way home — he’ll say, ‘John, you’ve never had a better win than that.’ He says it every time, and I’m going to tell you, I think this time it might be true. “This was really special because these guys, these players, these guys who’ve had belief from the beginning, who don’t bat an eye, who just try to do the right thing every single day, who try to be on point, and even when they’re not on point, they’re willing to bounce back and make it right. “… Buying into that kind of a mindset just in practice and then seeing it happen in the game — that’s what as a coach you feel so good about.” The game was also special for Malik Nabers, who hadn’t played in a game since Week 4 (Septema Super Bowl title (XLVII, 2012) and ber 28) of last year when he tore six AFC North division titles on his the ACL in his right knee. Admithead coaching resumé, was asked ting he had apprehension and where his first victory with the anxiety leading up to taking the Giants ranks. field, and was uncertain about “It’s funny — it’s number one … whether he would make his See GIANTS & JETS on page 36 because it’s the one right now,” he

Benedict and Kentucky State make early statements in HBCU DII football By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

Kentucky State University senior wide receiver Darius Cyprian signals a first down in the Thorobreds’ 30-3 road win over the Clark Atlanta Panthers on Saturday. (Kentucky State University Athletics photo)

After two decisive victories in three games to open the 2026 college football season, Kentucky State University is eyeing a spot in the FCS (Division II) top 25 rankings. Playing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), the Thorobreds are 2-1 after a 30-3 road win over the NewsPanthers this past ClarkAM Atlanta weekend. 06/25/26 Kentucky State, which will host Saginaw Valley State on Saturday, opened the campaign with a 41-14 victory over Central State, fell the following week 34-15 to News FCS AM (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I 07/02/26 -AA) program Southern University of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

The Jaguars are led by Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, a New Orleans, Louisiana native who is in his first season as the team’s head coach. Last season, under SIAC Coach of the Year Felton Huggins Jr., Kentucky State made its first ever appearance in the DII playoffs. Their regular season mark of 9-2 was the best they registered since 1935. The Thorobreds lost AM to Newberry College of News Newberry, South Carolina, 45-14 in the 09/10/26 first round. The SIAC Benedict Tigers already occupy a spot in the top 25 at No. 22. They came away with an emotional 24-20 AM News win against the Shorter Hawks in Rome, Geor09/17/26 gia, on Saturday, with the memory of Willie Washington deeply etched in

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the minds and spirits of the collective Benedict community. Washington, who was the school’s athletic director, passed away on August 31. Coming to Benedict in 1988 as both the head basketball coach and athletics director, Washington transformed the Tigers into one of the most well-operated and successful athletic departments among HBCU institutions. Assuming the role of Benedict’s full-time AD in 1998, Washington led the sports department’s transition from competing in the

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See HBCU DII on page 36

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