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Backed by allies, Espaillat fights to keep his seat on two fronts

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

Rep. Adriano Espaillat is fighting to keep his seat in New York’s 13th Congressional district race amid an increasingly hectic atmosphere leading up to the state’s June primaries.

However, he has found allies among other New York City political peers, who are backing his re-election bid in what has become a field with eight other candidates running for his spot, which he inherited from the late Rep. Charles B. Rangel.

“In Congress, Adriano has been a champion for immigrant communities and a determined fighter for working families,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, WHIP Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, who all have endorsed Espaillat in his re-election campaign as of last week, in a joint statement. “At a moment when so many immigrant communities are under attack, we need leaders like Adriano, who as chair of the CHC (Congressional Hispanic Caucus) has acted decisively and effectively to confront the Trump administration’s disastrous

policies on the House floor, at ICE detention facilities, and in the courts,” they said.

Despite these endorsements, Espaillat, 71, is facing not only other contenders, but issues in and outside of New York that stand to affect the 13th Congressional District because of Trump administration policy and the abrupt political changes of the last month.

Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in Congress. He was first elected in 2016 and currently chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. His district covers predominantly Black and Latino communities, including much of Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood, Hamilton Heights, Marble Hill, and parts of the western Bronx.

See CONGRESSMAN ESPAILLAT page 36

Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act returns to Albany lawmakers more than two years after Hochul veto

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff

A bill overturning case law preventing innocent New Yorkers from challenging their guilty pleas with non-DNA evidence resurfaced in the state legislature May 19. Lawmakers originally passed the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act back in 2023 but Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed the legislation in the 11th hour.

“How could we accept a system that allowed innocent people to spend a single minute in our prisons?” said lead sponsor State Sen. Zellnor Myrie. “But that is the system that exists here in New York. We got to do something about this, and that is why I have been proud under the leadership of people who have been impacted to sponsor the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act. We passed this bill, we sent it to the governor’s desk, and she vetoed it.

“We went back to the drawing board. We said we will accommodate the concerns, we will add, we will subtract, and here we are, three years later, prepared to finally do justice for New Yorkers right now, so we cannot wait any longer.”

About 97% of New York’s felony convictions stem from guilty pleas. Yet, a 2018 ruling in the state’s highest court prevented nurse Natascha Tiger from challenging a 2012 plea bargain, for which she spent months in jail, after new non-DNA evidence from a civil case showed no crime ever occurred. The bill would overturn the legal

precedent established in People v. Tiger. “In 2018, there was a New York Court of Appeals case, People v. Tiger that created this insurmountable obstacle for many people who are convicted,” said lead State Assembly sponsor Latrice Walker. “The court ruled that if someone pleads guilty to a crime, it bars them from challenging the conviction unless they can produce newly discovered DNA evidence. This is a staggering hurdle, since 97% of felony convictions and 99% of misdemeanor convictions in New York are solved through guilty pleas and DNA is only relevant in only a small

fraction of these cases.”

The amended bill would still overturn the case law, as well as expand access to evidence and legal representation in credible post-conviction cases. Advocates say the new version was redrafted following conversations with concerned skeptics and opponents, who feared the legislation could open “floodgates” in the legal system. Currently, the main recourse for proving one’s innocence in a guilty plea goes through the local prosecutor. Prosecutor’s offices across the state boast conviction in-

See WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS ACT page 36

New bill pushes city contract focus for Black and Brown youth entrepreneurs

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

A bill that is gaining momentum in the City Council aims to establish a minority youth entrepreneurship program targeted at Black and Latino young people that allows them a chance to compete for city contracts.

“We have been very assertive with making sure that we’re adding resources to young people on different career paths,” said Councilmember Kevin Riley, who sponsors the Minority Youth-owned Business Enterprise (MYBE) bill. “Something that we’ve seen a lot of young people are leaning into is entrepreneurship.”

The MYBE bill would require the city’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to establish a youth entrepreneurship and business development program for individuals between the ages of 18 and 30. The program would provide young business owners with training and work experience, as well as resources to navigate how to apply for and win city contracts, essentially building on the model for the current Minority Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program. The bill has been introduced in the City Council, but details have not been worked out in a committee yet or in any public hearings, Riley said.

According to the city’s latest report from the Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), despite showing improvement, racial disparities in regard to unemploy-

ment remain high. White New Yorkers are also employed, generally speaking, at higher rates — well above the rates for other races and ethnicities.

These inequities are hard enough for fullfledged adults or families to deal with, so high school and college students just breaking into the workforce can easily become marginalized.

The idea is, “‘Hey, if we’re giving MWBEs these contracts, what about putting [something] aside for young people who are starting businesses at a very young age.’ Not every young person wants to go to college,” said Riley. “Even if that young person wants to go to college, maybe they also want to have a business, so they can help themselves pay for college. This bill is supposed to navigate and give young people the opportunity to not only gain a contract with the city if [it] is able to pass, but showcase that the city is really invested in young people, especially young business owners.”

The youth behind the bill

A driving force behind this bill is Project 2028 founder Joshua Dieudonne, 27, who was a youth advisory board chair in 2022 and is most known for his annual Hip-Hop Holiday event that encourages local rappers, like A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and Joey Bada$$, and electeds to give back to young people. He

See BILL on page 25

Black liberation fighter Assata Shakur to be celebrated in memorial at Riverside Church

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

Family members, longtime comrades, movement veterans, scholars, and admirers of Assata Shakur plan to gather at Riverside Church on May 30 for a public celebration of her life — a memorial that will affirm the political life Shakur spent decades defending.

Entitled “Carry It On,” the event takes its name from Shakur’s poem “The Tradition,” which appears at the end of her 1987 book, “Assata: An Autobiography.”

When she wrote about the last time she was able to speak with her grandparents before fleeing the United States, Shakur noted that they implored her not to get used to being imprisoned: “Every day out in the street now, I remind myself that Black people in amerika are oppressed,” she wrote. “It’s necessary that I do that. People get used to anything. The less you think about your oppression, the more your tolerance for it grows. After a while, people just think oppression is the normal state of things. But to become free, you have to be acutely aware of being a slave.”

In that poem, Shakur urges future generations to continue the Black struggle for freedom: “Carry it on now./Carry it on./Carry it on now./Carry it on./Carry on the tradition.”

The program is being organized by an all-volunteer host committee that includes

longtime activist Monifa Bandele and African history and Diaspora studies professor Dr. Lisa Brock, who chairs the memorial committee. Event organizers say they have spent months putting together what they describe as a national gathering in New York, both because Shakur’s life reached far beyond any one city and because they believe the public record about her has too often been written by law enforcement and the state.

“In African tradition, we always do a celebration of life,” said Bandele. “And just because someone has passed away months ago or a year ago, it’s still really important for us, in our tradition as African folks, to make sure that we celebrate that life, that we celebrate the community and the village that that life helped to produce.

“So, for Mama Assata Shakur, she’s built so much, she’s inspired so much, she’s taught and trained so many; part of that transition into the ancestral realm requires community acknowledgment and community celebration of an important person in our village.”

Bandele said Shakur’s family has been directly involved with organizers in planning the event. This will be the principal public memorial for Assata Shakur, even though independent tributes have been held elsewhere. Dr. Lisa Brock said Poster for “‘Carrying

See SHAKUR on page 27

On the voting rights trail, bus riders to Montgomery retrace old steps while fighting a new fight

By BILL BARROW Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — In 1965, Black Americans peacefully demonstrated for voting rights and were beaten by Alabama state troopers before returning two weeks later to complete their march under federal protection. Keith Odom was a toddler then.

Now 62, the union man and grandfather of three retraced some of those final steps — on Saturday, he came from Aiken, S.C., to Atlanta, where he joined several dozen other activists on two buses to Montgomery, Alabama. A few hours later, he stepped off his bus and onto Dexter Avenue, where the original march concluded.

“The history here — being a part of it, seeing it, feeling it,” said Odom, who is Black. His voice trailed off as he saw the Alabama Capitol and a stage roughly where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. concluded the original march.

Odom lamented that he and his fellow bus riders were not simply commemorating that seminal day in the Civil Rights Movement. Instead, they came to renew the fight. The 1965 effort helped push Congress to send the Voting Rights Act to Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign, securing and expanding political power for Black and other nonwhite voters for more than a half-century. Today, that has changed.

Saturday’s “All Roads Lead to the South” rally was the first mass organizing response after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that severely diminished that landmark law. Striking down a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana, the justices concluded in a 6-3 ruling that considering race when drawing political lines is in itself discriminatory. That spurred multiple states, including Alabama, to redraw U.S. House districts in ways that make it harder for Black voters, who lean overwhelmingly Democratic, to elect lawmakers of their choice.

“I’m not trying to live a life that’s going backward,” Odom said. “I want to go forward, for my grandchildren to be able to go forward.”

Old political battle is new again

The passenger rosters and the scene when riders arrived in Montgomery this time sounded the echoes and rhymes of past and present.

“I talked to my grandmother before I came, and she was so excited,” said Justice Washington, a Kennesaw State University student named because her mother and grandmother had faith in the American system. “My grandmother told me she did her part, and now it’s time for me to do mine.”

No one on the Atlanta buses had reached voting age when the Voting Rights Act became law. The youngest attendee was

born as Democrat Barack Obama was elected the first Black president in 2008.

Kobe Chernushin, who is 18, white, just graduated from high school in Atlanta’s northern suburbs, and is an organizer with the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, spent the day filming Khayla Doby, a 29-year-old executive for the organization, doing standups for the group’s followers on social media.

“I believe in the power of showing up,”

Chernushin said.

The buses launched from the congressional district in Georgia once represented by John Lewis, who was bloodied on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, when he was 25. Lewis died in 2020, but some on the buses Saturday celebrated that a proposed federal election overhaul is named for him. If some Democrats get their way, the bill would override the U.S. Supreme Court, reinvigorate the Voting Rights Act, and outlaw the kind of gerrymandering competition that Republican President Donald Trump has instigated.

“I’m here because of the same forces that pulled on John Lewis when he was a student,” said Darrin Owens, 27. He has worked for former Vice President Kamala Harris and now trains Democratic candidates.

“Political activism is personal,” Owens said, explaining that he attended Saturday as a citizen, not a political professional.

“Sometimes those lines are blurred, and as a Black person in America, a Black person living in a Southern state, I’m committed to action that stops what I consider to be unAmerican — this possibility that the person who represents me is someone who is not from my community and does not understand me or my community.”

When he arrived, Owens saw no federal authorities on Montgomery’s streets, although a wounded, recovering Lewis did during the second march in 1965. This time, many of the Alabama troopers and local officers who walked the area were Black.

The buses and sandwich lunches were arranged by Fair Fight Action, a legacy of the political network built by Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, who became a national figure in her unsuccessful runs in 2018 and 2022 to become the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history. No Black woman has yet achieved that feat.

Different generations share their stories

At different points, Montgomery has branded itself as the cradle of the Confederacy and the cradle of the modern Civil Rights Movement.

“It feels like our country is stuck in this pattern of making progress, then there’s a huge backlash, and then people have to go through the same battle again just to get to where we were,” said Phi Nguyen, the

41-year-old daughter of Vietnamese refugees who is a civil rights lawyer in Atlanta. She stood across from the church where a young King led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and not far from where Jefferson Davis took the oath of office in 1861 as the slavery-defending Confederate president.

Nguyen and her sister Bee, a 44-yearold who served in the Georgia General Assembly and ran for statewide office, met two other women as they walked. Carole Burton and Tondalaire Ashford are 72-yearold Montgomery residents who have been friends since they were in a segregated junior high school and then newly desegregated Sidney Lanier High School.

“I don’t call it ‘integration,’” Ashford said, pointing at her dark skin. “It was never real integration, and it’s not like we can ever just blend in.”

Burton described them as being “in the second wave” of Black students. “It wasn’t easy,” she said, “and we had to support each other.” They remember their parents not being able to vote in the era of poll taxes, literacy tests, and other racist restrictions that the Voting Rights Act eventually outlawed, but they smiled as they swapped family histories with the Nguyens.

Burton said immigrants, descendants of enslaved persons and Native Americans, have different but overlapping paths. “We just want to be treated like people with the same rights and opportunities the country has promised us,” she said. “They’ve never fully lived up to it.”

Conflicting legacies are at stake

To Odom, who began his journey Saturday in South Carolina, the current U.S. Supreme Court reinforced that history by refusing to see some race-conscious election policy as a way to ensure fair representation, not simply the “technical right to vote.”

He recalls being represented for decades of his life by Strom Thurmond, a segregationist Democratic governor who became a “Dixiecrat” presidential candidate and U.S. senator — by now as a Republican — into the 21st century. Odom said he fears his state losing U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus, through redistricting. “They want to take away that legacy when we’re still living with Strom’s?” Odom said.

Odom said he is also worried that the young people who participated on Saturday are not a vanguard but outliers.

“I was talking to a 20-year-old co-worker about this trip,” he said. “She told me she supported me but didn’t want to do it or work for anybody running for office. She wondered what any of them are going to do for her.”

Nonetheless, he said on the way home, “I’m still going to tell her what I saw and what I heard.”

How ‘angel mom’ Shiyonne Chester is helping others who have also lost a child

By ARIAMA C. LONG Amsterdam News Staff

Shiyonne Chester is an angel mom. Her angel is her son, Dallas, whom she lost in 2011 to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The long-time maternal health advocate is taking that loss and turning it into something positive by launching a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that provides grief counseling and other services to other angel moms, or women who have lost children.

This summer would have marked Dallas’s 15th birthday. To honor him, she named the organization the Dallas Lamar Project and is planning to launch it in Brooklyn as a resource for parents who must navigate the challenges that come with those she has faced.

“My experience during that time around grief and not having access to the resources and the grief support that I needed then kind of led me on the journey of wanting to start a Dallas Lamar Project,” said Chester, 40. She said the organization will provide grief support therapy and community-centered resources for families and parents who have experienced losses of pregnancy and infants.

Native American and Black infants were highest among SIDS and sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) rates when compared to their white counterparts, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from 2017 through 2022.

Chester plans to outfit her nonprofit with

Black and Brown therapists and psychiatrists who can assist angel moms with grief counseling, as well as create a network of doulas and midwives for those looking to have more children after a traumatic experience. Her future goal is to partner with other entities to raise public awareness about infant mortality and the importance of Black maternal health.

“Those are the services that we’re going to be providing, ensuring that families that look like myself, and families who have experienced this loss, do not have to go looking for the support that they need,” said Chester.

Chester was born in Guyana and lived there until age 15. She migrated to Brooklyn with her mother in 2001, fascinated by how different the reality of America was from what she was used to seeing on TV. She attended Sheepshead Bay High School and then Brooklyn College before transitioning into healthcare.

After the loss of her son to what is commonly referred to as “crib death” when he was just 3 months old, she remembered feeling alone.

“I must say that my family and my friends were a great support up until the extent of what they could have given me at that time,” she said, “but talking about the death of a child, especially within a Black and Brown and a West Indian community, [is] a conversation that we don’t really talk about. Grief and death are conversations that we normally keep quiet within our communities, and it can be a very isolating place.”

Few places to turn

Chester actively went looking for help, but often found that the support groups she was in were just as isolating. She also didn’t consider the spaces she did find as very culturally sensitive.

SIDS doesn’t have a known cause, so at the same time she was struggling with her grief, she was dealing with the weight of the investigation into her son’s death.

“It took three months,” said Chester. “They have to rule out every possible thing before they can say it’s SIDS … my son passed in October and they did not get a ruling of SIDS until February. Until they can rule you out as someone who did not hurt your child, you’re identified as a person of interest. That means from October until I finally got the documentation that said I didn’t do anything to my child, I had to answer the question every day by the detectives. By social workers. We lived that day every day.”

To start rebuilding toward some semblance of normalcy, Chester began a small celebration on what would’ve been Dallas’s first birthday. She used the virtual event to discuss SIDS education with community members. This became known as Dallas Day and sowed the beginning seeds for her organization.

“Unfortunately, I wish there was a full idea as to what you can and cannot do,” Chester said. “There’s so many different studies as to [what to do]: ‘Don’t lie the baby on the stomach … put the baby on [their] back … ensure that there’s nothing surrounding the crib …

Did someone say bill discounts?

Black

New Yorker

avoid cosleeping — make sure that the baby sleeps by themselves,” said Chester. “Those are the important ones.”

She is now encouraged by her ability to help others, while remembering the blessing of her son. Chester said she is taking the opportunity to turn a sad event in her life into something positive.

“The intention of this space and this organization,” she said in a video introducing the nonprofit, “is to be rooted in compassion, connected through community, and guided through healing.”

Can the Knicks do it? A franchise’s 53-year quest to end its championship drought

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

Six decades.

Not that anyone is counting, but we are now in the sixth decade since the New York Knicks last NBA championship.

For those who are counting, it was 1973. The first cell phone call was made that year. George Steinbrenner purchased a majority share in the New York Yankees for $10 million. And the No. 1 song in the country was “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn.

The world has drastically changed over the past 53 years. What hasn’t is the Knicks’ quest to win their third league title — the first earned in 1970. Seven players — Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Jerry Lucas, Earl Monroe, and Dick Barnett — were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame from the 1973 roster.

Their head coach, New York City native Red Holzman, was enshrined in 1986. A banner with No. 613, his accumulation of regular season wins with the Knicks, hangs in the rafters of Madison Square Garden. Phil Jackson, a key member of both Knicks’ championships, was inducted in 2007 as a coach after leading the Chicago Bulls to six titles and the Los Angeles Lakers to five. The 11 are the most ever by an NBA head coach.

Now, current Knicks head coach Mike Brown, and All-Stars Jalen Brunson and KarlAnthony Towns, along with a strong supporting cast, endeavor to add their names to Knicks lore as the East’s No. 3 seed began the Eastern Conference Finals — the franchise’s 12th conference finals appearance — Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden versus

the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series.

But in the clutch, the Knicks stood their ground, staging a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback in the final seven minutes after being down 22 points to send it into overtime and defeat the Cavs 115-104. Game 2 starts Thursday at 8 p.m. at MSG.

The Mandate

On June 3, 2025, three days after the Knicks’ four-games-to-two series loss to the Indi-

ana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, Knicks owner James Dolan and team president Leon Rose made what was arguably a drastic decision in firing head coach Tom Thibodeau. It was a polarizing move that had the Knicks’ ardent fan base and media debating the merits and efficacy of jettisoning one of the most successful coaches in the franchise’s then 79-year history, who was voted the NBA’s 2021 Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm of the Knicks.

Thibodeau had just guided the Knicks

to their first conference finals series in 25 years. Rose, who was hired as team president in March 2020 after a long and successful career as a sports agent for the company Creative Artists Agency, representing, among others, LeBron James, brought Thibodeau on board in July of the same year. Prior to their arrival, the Knicks had made the playoffs just once in the previous eight seasons.

Together, from the 2020-21 campaigns through 2025, the tandem of Rose as the architect and Thibodeau as the engineer made the postseason four of the five years. The turnaround began in earnest when the Knicks signed Brunson in July 2022 to a four-year, $104 million contract. The former Dallas Mavericks reserve guard, backing up erstwhile Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić, has turned out to be the most consequential free-agent signing in Knicks history, emerging as one of the league’s best players.

Despite being an integral component of restoring the Knicks to a respected organization with championship makeup, the Knicks’ front office determined that Thibodeau had taken the squad as far as he could and new bench leadership was necessary to reach and win the Finals.

The new sports catchword, “collaboration,” was implied as a primary reason for Thibodeau’s dismissal. The Knicks wanted a coach who would fully buy into the vertical alignment of ownership, team president, coaching staff, and analytics department; the latter which has become demonstrably prominent and influential across the college and professional sports landscapes in all aspects of a program’s and organization’s operations. It was reasonably inferred by many that See story on next page

Thibodeau was too old school in how he ran the team. Contending he was resistant to what amounts to extensive organizational modernization, implementing and executing his vision with suggestions and input from others that was moderately considered but infrequently applied.

While such reports have largely remained unsubstantiated by Dolan, Rose, and Thibodeau, and granular details as to what caused the parting remain publicly unspoken, change came at a time when the Knicks were a viable title contender for the first time since the 1990s.

On May 31, 2025, Brunson stood firm in support of his coach when asked by a reporter less than an hour after New York was eliminated by the Pacers if he deemed Thibodeau the right coach to elevate the Knicks to the Finals.

“Is that a real question right now?”

Brunson said calmly but defiantly. “You just asked me if I believe that he’s the right guy? Yes. Come on.”

However, his substantial sway within the organization wasn’t enough to avert Thibodeau’s exit.

Fast forward to this past January, in an interview with radio station WFAN, Dolan issued a mandate for the Knicks: Finals or bust.

“We want to get to the Finals. And we should win the Finals,” said Dolan. He then insisted, “This is sports and anything can happen. But getting to the Finals, we absolutely got to do.”

“We love our team right now. They have chemistry, they all like each other,” Dolan expanded. “I’ve never seen a locker room more copacetic. There’s a lot of energy there. Leon can always overrule me. But I don’t see us making a big change. Because we got to keep building up this group. This group can win a championship. I believe that.”

Will the Knicks Deliver?

After an exhaustive and confounding search for a new head coach, which included Rose being denied permission to speak with Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder by their respective front offices, the Knicks officially hired Mike Brown last July.

Brown, now 56, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year (2009, 2023), who took the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first-ever Finals in 2007 with a young LeBron James as their star player (they were swept 4-0 by the San Antonio Spurs) possessed the resume, temperament and mindset of collaboration that Dolan and Rose viewed as the necessary characteristics to steer a group constructed to compete for a title.

“Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization,” said Rose, announcing Brown’s hiring.

“His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach, and his ability to grow and develop players will all help us as we aim to bring a championship to New York for our fans.”

Brown subsequently laid out the qualities of a team that could scale the NBA’s mountaintop.

“I’ve been to six Finals with three different teams,” Brown said. “And the commonality that they all had is they all sacrifice for one another. They’re all connected. The connectivity, it’s at the highest and it starts with ownership on down.

“They all have a competitive spirit,” he illuminated, “and there’s a high level of belief not just in the process, but each other. So those four things are common amongst the teams that I’ve been with that have participated in the Finals.”

Brown’s interpretation took a while to manifest. The Knicks started this unevenly. They were 13-7 and there were expected rumblings that Dolan and Rose erred in firing Thibodeau. They then went 13-2 from December 3 to December 29, including defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 on December 16 to capture the NBA Cup inseason tournament and were a sturdy 23-9.

Yet, a 134-132 loss in San Antonio to the Spurs on New Year’s Eve began a regression as the Knicks went 2-9 over their next 11 games and fell to 25-18. The connectivity Brown had said was essential to a championship team was not tangibly evident over that stretch. Then the Knicks dramatically course-corrected and went on an eightgame winning streak, raised their record to 33-18, and gradually addressed their defensive flaws and sometimes disjointed offense over the next ten weeks.

Knicks center Towns was the central figure to them coalescing. Around midMarch, Brown began to run the offense through Towns, employing him as an offensive facilitator from the high- and mid-post, utilizing his superb passing skills. The schematic change reduced Brunson’s time on the ball and the offense became more fluid and lethal. On the defensive end, Towns became more intentional and engaged, using his 7-foot, 250-pound frame to wall off the middle and form a formidable back line with fellow center Mitch Robinson, one of the sport’s elite defenders.

The Knicks finished the regular season 53-29, their most wins since going 54-28 in the 2012-13 season. After trailing the Hawks 2-1 in the opening round of the playoffs, they have been a juggernaut, beating the Hawks three straight, including a 140-89 annihilation in the series-clinching Game 6. Then the Knicks swept an over-matched Philadelphia 76ers team 4-0 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals to make back-to-back conference finals for the first time since the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 seasons.

Still, not getting to the Finals, by Dolan’s standards, would be a failed season.

How far the Knicks will go is still to be determined. They still need three more wins against the Cavs. And even if they win the series, they would still have to face the winner between the San Antonio Spurs and defending NBA champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are hungry for a backto-back crown.

Brunson, however, summed it up on Monday: “It’s go-time now.”

State prison deaths grow in recent oversight findings

By TANDY LAU Amsterdam News Staff

This year marks the deadliest start for state prisons in at least six years, according to findings recently reported by the watchdog Correctional Association of New York (CANY). The findings account for the 57 deaths as of April 30 — since then, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s (DOCCS) mandated reporting points to at least 12 more deaths so far in May.

Exactly what caused this uptick remains unknown, according to Sumeet Sharma, CANY’s director of policy and communications. The numbers indicated spikes in the maximum security Green Haven Correctional Facility, along with three times the suicides in the women’s maximum security Bedford Hills Correctional Facility compared to last year. CANY’s findings also point to three homicides in North Country upstate prisons within a single week last month.

“The numbers that we’re seeing so far this year, where we have 57 deaths in custody, really outpaces the numbers that we’ve seen in 2024-2025 and even going back to the COVID years,” said Sharma over video call. “We don’t know the cause and manner of each of these deaths at this stage. But the number of prison deaths and the way that people are dying is like a ground zero, where it gives us insight into how things are operating in the state prison system overall.

“So, seeing an increased rate and increased pace of people dying in New York state’s prisons [in] 2026 is very concerning.”

New York State tasks the nonprofit CANY to investigate its prisons, and last year’s Omnibus Prison Oversight Bill passed by the legislature allows the organization to show up at correctional facilities with just 24 hours’ notice, rather than the previous 72 hours.

The legislation also expanded the State Commission of Correction, which also oversees the city’s jail system, to five commissioners and mandates the governor to appoint at least one person who is formerly incarcerated (the agency is traditionally staffed with law enforcement backgrounds). The bill also ensures that DOCCS notifies the public when someone dies in prison.

These measures followed increased public scrutiny over video footage showing Marcy Correctional Facility staff beating incarcerated Black man Robert Brooks to death in Dec. 2024. State prisons remained in the news throughout the first half of last year after an illegal prison guard strike. Meanwhile, staff allegedly beat to death another man, Messiah Nantwi.

But this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed cutting $3 million from CANY. Sharma says the nonprofit is making the most of the current reforms. Incarcerated individuals told CANY that a wide bodyworn camera rollout is increasing safety. However, most facilities still lack stationary cameras despite a $400 million investment to expedite the process.

“The strength of change in law or resources given to either the department or the oversight entities really depends on the implementation of those laws and what happens with those resources,” said Sharma. “We’d like to see that the spirit of what was in the prison omnibus bill [is] really brought out to its full effect.”

A DOCCS spokesperson cautioned against speculation and pointed to an annual review process by official and unofficial watchdog groups to break down the department’s mortality numbers and to determine root causes. The State Commission of Correction reviews all deaths, and several investigatory bodies, including the Office of Special Investigations, New York State Police, and the State Attorney General, into all deaths “that appear to be from other than natural causes or known medical condition.”

“As in the general population, there are many reasons people pass, including natural causes, old age, and disease,” he said.

“The approximately 34,000 individuals within our custody are not immune to any of these and the majority of deaths in custody reflect this reality. Without a thorough understanding of the causes, locations, and circumstances surrounding these cases, the raw data simply provides an incomplete picture, and sweeping generalizations or conclusions made concerning deaths in custody are ill-advised.”

But many prison reform advocates believe that state prisons continue to face the same

unresolved issues, including Derrick Hamilton, co-founder of Families and Friends of the Wrongfully Convicted. Last year, the former jailhouse lawyer spearheaded the End Prison Violence campaign alongside the likes of former State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Brooks’ father Robert Ricks to successfully pass the omnibus bill.

“I know what’s going on, I spent over 30 years of my life in prison,” said Hamilton. “And what’s going on is that you have racist prison guards from these areas upstate who are killing us and it’s being covered up. As we seen [sic] in Robert Brooks. This didn’t just happen then, it just was recorded for the first time.”

Yonah Zeitz, the director of advocacy for the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, pointed to how the two new parttime SCOC seats remained unfilled since the new law came into effect on May 9. He blamed the killings of Brooks and Nantwi on “an utter disregard for incarcerated people” and called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to appoint a formerly-incarcerated person to the commission, as per law.

“This governor has said she is committed to increasing oversight accountability,” said Zeitz. “Her actions speak louder than words. She is not restoring the CANY funding and she has not put reform-oriented commissioners on the SCOC.”

Other reforms to the SCOC from the omnibus bill include the agency annually inspecting every prison, jail, and juvenile detention center, as well as launching an

online complaint portal for families to file written complaints.

“New York prisons have had a systemic pattern of violence and abuse for decades, with little to no oversight,” said State Senator Julia Salazar in a statement. “The SCOC was designed to provide oversight, but has not had the capacity or diverse expertise to do so. The Prison Reform Omnibus Bill rightfully expanded and diversified the Commission to address this problem.

“Current vacancies must be quickly filled with reform-oriented commissioners so that the SCOC can more adequately fulfill its constitutional mandate of ensuring all local jails and state prisons are safe, stable, and humane.”

A spokesman for Gov. Hochul says the SCOC positions must be confirmed by the State Senate and cannot be appointed unilaterally.

“Governor Hochul has been clear that the safety of all staff and incarcerated individuals is a top priority, which is why she has implemented and continues to invest in fundamental, systemwide changes to improve oversight and ensure the State’s correction system prioritizes safety, accountability, and transparency across all facilities,” she said. “This administration began working diligently to identify candidates for the Commission prior to the effective date for the new law, and will continue to coordinate with the Senate to schedule confirmation hearings to fill these new roles.”

Black Birders Week 2026 takes flight May 24 with an inspiring theme

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

Black Birders Week, the national push to encourage Black people to stake their space in nature, science, and public green spaces, will take place again this year from May 24 through May 30.

Black Birders Week 2026 is organized nationally by Black AF In STEM. In New York City, the NYC Bird Alliance is one of the major local organizations hosting free events in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. Black AF In STEM identifies Black Birders Week as one of its signature initiatives; the week is fiscally sponsored by the equity-in-education nonprofit Amplify the Future.

The annual event was launched in late spring 2020 in response to the notorious attempt by a white woman named Amy Cooper to sic the NYPD on Black birder Christian Cooper after he asked her to leash her dog in Central Park. Black AF In STEM and its partner organizations say the week was created because Black birders, scientists, and naturalists have also been periodically threatened while simply trying to enjoy nature and realized that something positive had to be done to counter this.

Everyone should feel welcome in green spaces, and that is a major reason NYC Bird Alliance supports Black Birders Week, says Tasha Naula, the group’s public programs manager.

“We host over 300 programs in all five boroughs throughout the year, and we do so in smaller community parks. But I think part of our public programs’ mission,” said Naula, “which is one of our core values, is to make sure they’re as accessible as possible for all New Yorkers.”

She said the organization works to remove the practical and psychological barriers that keep many New Yorkers from trying birding in the first place by offering free programming, encouraging registration rather than requiring it for most outings, and having guides who keep binoculars on hand for anyone who wants to participate in bird-watching events.

The first Black Birders Week took place in 2020, during the country’s COVID-19 lockdown, while protests against anti-Black violence were increasing. It was mostly virtual, featured hashtags, online panels, and utilized social media. By 2022, more in-person walks and gatherings began to

take place. Now, in 2026, Black AF In STEM organizers say many local groups have developed the capacity and trust in their own communities to run events with less direct oversight from the national planning team.

This year’s New York City programming, as posted on the NYC Bird Alliance schedule, includes events like beginner birding and a sunset outing at Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn; a walk at Evergreens Cemetery on the Queens-Brooklyn border with the Evergreens Cemetery Preservation Fund; an introduction to birding in Morningside Park with the West Harlem Art Fund; a Birds & Brews gathering at Marsha P. Johnson State Park in Brooklyn; a northern-end walk in Riverside Park with Riverside Park Conservancy; and an outing in the Bronx River Forest with Bronx River Alliance.

The NYC Bird Alliance says all of its Black Birders Week events are free, with registration encouraged and only one event requiring advance sign-up. Black Birders Week participants receive guides and binoculars and learn to identify species, slow down, and observe.

For 2026, Black AF In STEM says the week’s theme is “Flyways & Freedom: Advocacy, Action, and the Future,” with Laridae — gulls, skimmers, noddies, and terns — serving as the bird family of the

year. On its face, that might sound unusual in a city where gulls are often dismissed as background noise, but the choice is deliberate.

“We’re looking at migration patterns and how effective conserva-

tion needs to consider both how birds migrate and how human migration affects that,” Black AF In STEM 2026 planning team member Ade Ben-Sal told the AmNews. “And not just the move-

ment of humans themselves, but also the political and social restrictions on that movement and how that also affects both humans and birds.”

The “Flyways & Freedom” theme draws a line between migration routes, ecological survival, and the politics of movement: who gets to move safely, who is stopped, who is displaced, and who is welcomed. For people of African descent, that idea also looks at the African diaspora and how migration is not an abstraction. It is a reference to history, survival, rupture, adaptation, forced movement, chosen movement, and the work of making home across borders and coastlines. Ben-Sal said gulls and their relatives are useful not only because they are familiar and underestimated, but because they physically connect shorelines and continents in ways that mirror a broader Black global story.

“They’re very resourceful, and there’s a good variety of them that are sort of pan-oceanic, if you will. So people in different parts of Europe and West Africa will have seen them, or we’ll see the same species as we’re seeing here in the Americas, and then some species migrate up and down the coast of each hemisphere. So it’s sort of connecting Black folks across much of our diaspora globally.”

Union Matters

Trains roll again after three-day LIRR strike shutdown, preventing commute headaches

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

The Long Island Rail Road began moving again at noon on May 19, putting an end to a three-day strike that had shut down the nation’s busiest commuter railroad. By evening rush hour, full service had been restored between Long Island and New York City.

The shutdown ended only after years of bargaining, a federal intervention, and a final round of negotiations. So far, the terms of the tentative agreement reached Monday night have not been disclosed, but they appear to have resolved the main wage dispute that had kept both sides apart.

The walkout began at 12:01 a.m. May 16, after talks between the MTA and a five-union coalition collapsed. The unions involved — the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and Transportation Communications Union — represent engineers, signal workers, machinists, electricians, and other key rail employees. Their dispute was based on what workers would receive in the last year of a four-year contract.

Union leaders argued that many members had gone years without a raise that kept pace with inflation and the cost of living in the New York City metropolitan area.

The MTA said it could not agree to a package that would require future fare hikes or create a new burden on taxpayers.

Labor leaders called the newly minted deal a triumph of rankand-file resilience. “This tentative agreement was made possible by the unity and solidarity of all five coalition unions,” said Mark Wallace, president of the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference. “Throughout these negotiations, our members stood together for a fair agreement that recognizes the dedication and sacrifices railroad workers make every day while keeping pace with the rising cost of living. This was never about seeking more than what is fair — it was about securing the respect and economic security our members have earned. We appreciate the

support and patience of the riding public, and now the final decision rests with the membership.”

Other union officials agreed that the settlement proved that collective action and labor withholding turned out to be more powerful than long-drawn-out bargaining sessions.

“Our members stood strong even when that meant economic

sacrifice by going on strike. Their resolve and solidarity made it possible to secure an agreement that protects real wages and respects the value of the work performed on Long Island Rail Road every day. We are grateful to the membership for their patience, support, and cooperation throughout this process,” said Transportation Communications Union (TCU)

National President Matt Hollis. TCU National Vice President Nick Peluso added that the strike was because of the coalition’s refusal to allow management to split wage increases from workplace protections. “This agreement reflects the principles the Coalition advanced throughout this process and that both Presidential Emergency Boards ultimately af-

firmed,” Peluso said. “Our members never backed down from what this fight was really about. You kept this railroad moving through all of it, and you deserved an agreement that recognized that.

“From day one, “ he continued, “we said fair wages should not come at the cost of giving away our agreements, and this Coalition stayed together and held that demand on the strike line. This deal gets done because the membership stayed informed, stayed engaged, and stayed united. I could not be prouder of our members.”

Officials refrained from releasing the formal text of the tentative agreement, insisting that union members needed to review the details first through the internal ratification process, but reports are that the final deal could mean a 4.5% wage increase in the contract’s final year, with no added concessions on employee health insurance premiums.

At an early morning media briefing at Jamaica Station shortly before the trains started running again, LIRR President Rob Free repeatedly defended the intricate balancing act it took to end the strike. “I cannot go into the details of the contract, but you know, you negotiate, you go back and forth, and you provide different ideas to make it affordable and acceptable,” Free said. “You want the unions to be able to ratify it with their membership. And as the union said last night, they wouldn’t have accepted the deal if they couldn’t get it ratified, and we wouldn’t have accepted the deal if it would put a burden on the taxpayers in the ridership.”

Free said that the final resolution was not simply about the wage percentage, but about how the full contract package was arranged. “There’s nuances to every contract,” he said. “There’s a financial package, and you work within those elements to make it work for everyone. So as I said earlier, I’m not going to go into the details of it, because there’s a process the unions have to go to their membership and explain it to them, let them explain it to their members first,” Free noted, adding, “So we can get it ratified, because everyone wants it ratified.”

nypl.org/uncoverandreveal

Opinion

A Department of Injustice as a tool of killing democracy

The Trump administration calls it the Department of Justice (DOJ), but for many Americans, it’s the Department of Injustice, particularly as it systemically reverses the acts and laws authored by the Obama and Biden administrations.

Three recent examples of these changes occurred when the DOJ filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia bar seeking to discipline Trump lawyers, including those who defended Jeffrey Clark, who sought to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche accused the D.C. bar of being a “blatantly partisan arm of leftist causes.” A similar flip by right-wing advocates is the announcement that the DOJ is planning to drop the charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. The department indicted him during the Biden administration in what prosecutors called “an elaborate bribery scheme involving corruption and fraud at the expense of U.S. investors.” Once Adani employed one of Trump’s personal lawyers, it was only a matter of time before the move to drop all the charges against him was underway.

The third strike by the DOJ occurred when the department accused the Yale School of Medicine of violating anti-discrimination laws, after similar charges against the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The basic complaint cited by the DOJ centers on admission policies they said favored Black and Hispanic students over more qualified white and Asian students. Then, as if this wasn’t enough salt in the wound, the agency has announced a $1.78 billion fund to compensate Trump supporters who say they were wrongly investigated and persecuted by previous administrations, mainly those of Obama and Biden.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand the aim and process of these measures. It’s no more than a continuation of the Trump administration to complete the total evisceration of anything that smacks of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and cutting such a broad swath that leaves little untouched.

As the midterm elections loom closer and closer, we advise you to pick up that ballot weapon and use it to stop the onslaught against what remains of the democratic process. As we go to press for this issue of the Amsterdam News, those valuable liberties and assets are diminishing by the moment.

Brooklyn’s deed theft crisis is about more than property — it’s about erasure

By MICHAEL BAILEY

There is a growing feeling in Bedford-Stuyvesant that the people who built this community are steadily losing their claim to it.

For many residents, the reported sale of the Stuyvesant Avenue mansion and the former Paul Robeson Theater site was not simply another real estate transaction. It serves as another warning that Bed-Stuy’s cultural memory is being converted into a commodity.

This is more than a real estate deal. It’s selling out our community cornerstones through the sale of historically significant spaces tied to Bed-Stuy’s Black cultural legacy — places that have housed community organizations, supported small businesses, and brought neighbors together for generations.

What makes the moment especially troubling is that it reflects a broader threat to Black homeownership across Brooklyn, especially deed theft.

For decades, Bed-Stuy families endured redlining, disinvestment, and neglect while continuing to invest in their blocks, churches, businesses, and homes. Many held onto brownstones through periods when the city and private capital showed little interest in the neighborhood. Today, those same homes have become extraordinarily valuable assets, and increasingly, targets.

Across Brooklyn, elderly homeowners, grieving families managing inherited property, and financially vulnerable residents are being caught in fraudulent transfers, forged signatures, predatory contracts, and opaque legal schemes designed to strip them of ownership. In some cases, families do not discover a deed has changed hands until eviction proceedings begin.

Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher and Editor in Chief

Madison

Gray: Executive & Investigative Editor

Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing

Editor

Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor

Damaso Reyes:

Siobhan "Sam"

Wilbert

The rise in deed theft is not incidental to Brooklyn’s transformation. It is one of its clearest warning signs. Too often, lifelong Bed-Stuy residents and Brooklynites are forced to fight to hold onto the very spaces we built.

The fight is no longer solely about affordability. It is about preservation, continuity, and whether longtime residents will retain any meaningful stake in the future of the communi -

ties they sustained long before those places became profitable.

There is an understandable desire to frame every new development as progress — but development without safeguards becomes displacement by another name. A neighborhood cannot prosper meaningfully while the people who carried it through decades of hardship are steadily pushed aside by speculation, legal vulnerability, and rising costs.

We need leadership in our district that does not cater to real estate deals by outside buyers over the communities that built and sustained those properties.

This is where public leadership matters. The city cannot continue reacting to displacement only after damage has already been done. Protecting communities requires strengthening tenant protections, expanding access to legal assistance for vulnerable homeowners, aggressively prosecuting deed fraud, and creating genuine pathways for community ownership.

We need real, community-driven solutions that stop displacement before it happens. We also deserve leaders who are strengthening tenant protections, supporting small businesses, and giving our

residents a fair shot at ownership through tools such as community land trusts and buyer trusts.

The deeper issue at stake is not nostalgia. It is about agency and community power.

When we lose ownership, we eventually lose the ability to shape our own future. Losing housing means losing political influence, cultural continuity, and the institutions that once held neighborhoods together. Bed-Stuy does not have to be frozen in time, either. Growth is inevitable. However, growth that erases the people responsible for this neighborhood’s identity is not revitalization. It is a replacement. This is where we need results, not rhetoric. Preserving Bed-Stuy’s future means putting true power back in community hands

Increasingly, Brooklyn residents are beginning to recognize the difference. Leaders must do the same.

Michael Bailey is a lifelong Bedford-Stuyvesant resident, attorney, small business owner, and community advocate running to represent New York State Assembly District 56 to fight for affordability, housing justice, and stronger neighborhood leadership.

Changes to 340B program threaten Black patients already affected by Medicaid cuts

By RICHARD A. FOWLER

Just a couple months ago, we all watched as registered nurses took to the picket lines outside several hospitals in New York, demanding better nurse-to-patient ratios, higher-quality healthcare for their patients, and the wages they deserve. On strike for more than a month, these nurses exposed a truth that we often don’t like to admit: Our healthcare system could be falling apart and it is on us to fight for it.

Part of that fight is a program that you may not have heard about, but Black communities will feel the impact first and hardest. It centers on the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Not flashy or easy to explain to the person sitting next to you on the subway, this program has quietly helped keep hospitals and clinics in our community open and serving patients who rely on them the most.

The program was created to do one simple thing: Make drugs more affordable for hospitals and clinics that serve poor and disabled patients. It requires pharmaceutical companies to offer discounts on outpatient medications. Hospitals then use those savings to stretch limited resources — covering the cost of care for patients who can’t pay, expanding services, and keeping clinics open in communities that need them most.

That matters, because in too many Black communities, access to care is already a fragile thing.

Hospitals like NYC Health + Hospitals/ Harlem aren’t just healthcare providers for us; they are community anchors. We know the nurses and respiratory therapists who work there, and we call all names a friend, family member, or neighbor who benefited from the hospital’s care. They treat higher numbers of Black patients, more Medicaid patients, and more people dealing with chronic illness and financial hardship. They are where people go when

there is nowhere else to turn.

The data backs that up. A 2019 report from L&M Policy Research found that hospitals participating in the 340B Program treat significantly more Black patients, more disabled patients, and more people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid than other providers. These are the patients who need consistent, affordable access to medication — not policy experiments.

Right now, though, the system that supports that care is being squeezed.

On one side, you have rising healthcare costs and ongoing staffing shortages. Hospitals across the country are struggling to hire and retain nurses and frontline workers. That’s not theoretical. It’s happening in real time.

On the other side, Medicaid — the largest payer for many of these hospitals — is under pressure. Cuts from the Trump administration have led to eligibility changes, low reimbursement rates, and hospitals getting paid less for the same patients. Now, layered on top of that, there are efforts to reshape the 340B program itself.

Some pharmaceutical companies have already moved to limit how hospitals can get access to discounted drugs, particularly through contract pharmacies. Others are pushing for structural changes that would require hospitals to pay full price for medications upfront and then apply for rebates later. That might sound like a bureaucratic tweak. It’s not.

For hospitals operating on thin margins, that shift could mean millions of dollars in upfront costs they simply don’t have. It could mean hiring more administrative staff just to navigate the system — resources that would otherwise go toward patient care. For smaller or underfunded providers, it could mean cutting services altogether and potentially leading to hospital closures.

That is why some states are pushing back. Arkansas and Louisiana were among the first to pass laws protecting hospitals’ access to 340B discounts, and a growing number of states have followed their lead. This isn’t happening by accident. It’s happening because lawmakers on the ground see what’s at stake.

What’s at stake is access. Access to HIV/AIDS medicine. Access to insulin. Access to cancer treatment. Access to medications that keep chronic conditions under control, such as diabetes and high cholesterol.

For Black communities, this is not an abstract policy debate. It’s about whether the systems that have long filled the gaps in our healthcare infrastructure will continue to exist in a meaningful way.

When resources shrink, when systems get strained, when policy decisions prioritize efficiency over equity, our communities feel it first. Longer wait times. Fewer services. Harder choices between paying for medication and paying for rent, so when you hear people in Washington talk about “reforming” 340B, ask a simple question: reform for whom? If reform means shifting more cost and more burden onto hospitals already stretched thin, and onto patients already navigating barriers to care, then it’s not reform — it’s retreat.

In a healthcare system where access is already uneven and inequitable, retreat is not an option.

The truth is, programs like 340B are not perfect — but they are essential. They are part of the patchwork that keeps care within reach for millions of people who would otherwise fall through the cracks.

Richard Fowler is an American storyteller, a contributing writer at Forbes, a contributor at Fox News, and an adjunct professor of journalism at Georgetown University.

Holding Malcolm X’s hand and remembering his energy

By HERB BOYD

By the time you read this, the organizations and individuals marking the 101st anniversary of the birth of Malcolm X (El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) on Tuesday will have completed their celebrations.

The number 101 will always have a special place in my memory. It was the number of my study hall in high school for four years, and a refuge I willingly sought under the counseling and guidance of Miss Vyn.

When my mother made her transition in 2021, she was 101, and had been almost as active as ever. These three people helped shape the man

I am today; of course, not equally, three-thirds. At home, it was Mom's; in school, it was Miss Vyn; and by the time I was in my 20s, Malcolm took control. He first took my hand in 1961, just a few months before I was drafted into the army. This moment occurred at the Muslim Temple No. 1 (now Masjid Wali Muhammad) on Linwood Avenue in Detroit. His grip was firm and strong, and even to this day, I can remember its enormous size and pressure, which was accompanied by his greeting of “peace be unto you.”

Now, some 60-plus years later, Malcolm’s touch remains as powerful and momentous as it was on that first and only meeting. Memories returned in

Yes, a community of Black birders exists and there’s a week especially for us

Anyone who follows my column knows how I feel about birding. I discovered the joys and beauty of birding while sheltering in Delaware with family during the pandemic, the summer of 2020. On my solo walks to get exercise and not go stir crazy doing work, I would walk around the neighborhood and notice the colorful (and chatty) birds of the northeast. There was so much bird drama each day, eggs being stolen, lovers’ quarrels, local fights over nests, the list goes on. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered an entire community of Black Birders who love the outdoors, communing with friends in nature, strapping on binoculars, and discovering the wondrous world of diverse birds.

vocacy, Action, and the Future.”

As the Black AF in Stem Collective noted on their website, “This year, we turn our gaze to the horizon and the paths that connect us all. We are not just standing our ground; we are tracing the ancient flyways of migration, movement, and resilience…It is a continuation of a movement that centers Black joy, liberation, and collective power in the outdoors.”

February when I was honored to be among the recipients of the Vanguard Award at the Shabazz Center.

Over the years, during this commemoration of his assassination, I was ordinarily with the press contingent, so, in effect, I was summoned from the back of the room to the podium, where Malcolm stood and lectured so passionately. For his 101st birthday celebration, I will be behind the microphone or on a cellphone with Mimi Rosenberg of WBAI, concluding a daylong event honoring our fallen hero. There’s a photo of me with my hand on Gabriel Koren’s statue of Malcolm’s shoulder at the center, but my hand will always be in his hand.

Black Birders Week began in 2020 and is comprised of activities across the country for birding enthusiasts to meet one another and spend time in nature. It’s a way for novices and experienced birders to meet and connect the modern-day trials and triumphs to larger themes in nature … and in our lives, individually and collectively. It’s for scientists and activists and conservationists and nature lovers of all ages to find time to celebrate birds, Blackness, and the seen and unseen bonds between them all.

Black Birders Week runs May 24-May 30 and the theme is “Flyways and Freedom: Ad-

As a political scientist, there are so many ways to think about this incredibly robust theme. As the rights of Black people and so many citizens and non-citizens are being retracted, it is imperative that we connect our natural world to the broader world and themes around us. It is by understanding the collective action of birds and their quest for freedom that we can move much closer to our own.

If you would like to know more about Black Birders Week, check out www.blackafinstem. com. They will be updating the website with events and updates leading up to May 24th.

Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.

Caribbean Update

How a Black American influencer did more for Caribbean tourism than big advertising budgets

By BERT WILKINSON

Special to the AmNews

A recent 15-nation whirlwind tour by a Black American social media influencer appears to have done more to advertise the idyllic Caribbean tourism product globally than any of the big advertising budgets voted by parliaments each year or by attendance at international events to expose destinations.

In the past two weeks, the 21-year-old YouTube sensation IShowSpeed ably demonstrated how the global media landscape is changing with the growing importance of the social media world compared to traditional promotional and advertising outlets like newspapers, television networks, and billboards, among others.

Speed visited 15 destinations from the Bahamas and Jamaica in the north to the Dominican Republic in the center to Trinidad in the south. He did not travel with Hollywood-type crews, with equipment and production facilities; just on a private jet with a

supporting cast, carrying enough devices to broadcast on YouTube

Live to resounding success. In one case, he bizarrely visited four of the smaller islands in a single day, exposing their products to his 53 million followers on his YouTube channel and other platforms.

Governments and umbrella tourism organizations said they are extremely grateful for the visit and the new level of awareness about where to place their precious advertising dollars.

Every tourism authority, regional government, and media house, as well as social media communities in all 15 countries, turned out in numbers to welcome, facilitate, and support the live-streaming efforts of Speed — born in Cincinnati, Ohio, as Darren Jason Watkins Jr. — on his acclaimed YouTube channel because they recognize his importance and the changing international marketing and media landscape.

IShowSpeed can do more to promote a product, a destination, or a personality than any government, regardless of how flush they

might be with cash and other resources.

In the Dominican Republic, for example, his livestreaming broadcast of tourism destinations attracted a staggering 300,000 live followers, making it one of the biggest for such an event on the channel.

Officials said that Google searches and inquiries from potential tourists from around the world surged exponentially even as the stream was on. They are now more inclined to use influencers rather than pricey advertising agencies to reach audiences.

On his last stop in Jamaica, the livestream in the capital Kingston attracted nearly 3 million views and nearly 200,000 live followers, while also generating nearly 700,000 live chatting sessions and 35,000 new subscribers. Such is his impact, officials say.

In St. Lucia, Louis Lewis, chief executive of the Tourism Association, basically referred to Speed’s brief presence on the island as a blessing. “It is for us now to build on that visibility and continue to

market Saint Lucia,” he told reporters. “The event in itself was very important. It gave us visibility in places that we could not ordinarily reach and the returns on investment were one of the highest that we have had in a while.”

The return on the island’s investment in Speed was calculated at 77-1, meaning that the product garnered 77 times more in world viewership than from normal spending on marketing.

“You would have seen reflections of our culture, our history, our culinary experiences, our heritage, all being featured, and of course, the entertainment. For the execution of that event, we also exhibited the warmth and hospitality of Saint Lucians, their adventure and their kindness, and the camaraderie that we display as a people,” said Lewis.

Colin James, Antigua’s tourism boss, said officials must now recognize the changing landscape of sales and marketing as the internet world has taken over. “When you See CARRIBBEAN continued on next page

The price of staying: ICE wants to make relief from deportation even more expensive

FELICIA PERSAUD

IMMIGRATION KORNER

For immigrants facing deportation, time is often measured in court dates, deadlines, and lastminute pleas for mercy.

Now the Trump administration wants to make one of those pleas significantly more expensive. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is proposing to raise the filing fee for Form I-246 — the application immigrants use to request a temporary stay of deportation or removal — from $155 to a whopping $755. That is a nearly 387% increase. For many Americans, $600 may be an inconvenience. For immigrants already under a final order of removal, it can be the difference between having one last chance to remain in the country or being put on a plane. Form I-246 is not a path to legal

status. It does not erase a deportation order. It simply asks U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to temporarily delay removal due to compelling humanitarian circumstances. That could include a serious medical condition, the need to care for a sick family member, or a pending legal matter that could change the outcome of a case.

In other words, it is often a request for time: time to undergo surgery; time to keep a family together; time to allow due process to run its course; time to avoid an irreversible mistake.

Under the proposed rule, ICE says the higher fee is necessary to recover the full cost of processing an application and to ensure that taxpayers are not subsidizing requests from immigrants already subject to final orders of removal. That explanation may sound reasonable on paper, but in practice, the policy raises a troubling ques-

tion: When did access to mercy become a luxury item?

Because that is what this fee increase threatens to do. It places a far higher price on one of the few discretionary tools available to immigrants who are trying to buy time for legitimate humanitarian reasons.

Yes, the government notes that fee waivers would remain available for those unable to pay — but anyone who has spent time in the immigration system knows that a waiver on paper does not always translate to timely relief in practice.

Many immigrants navigate the process without lawyers. Others are detained, separated from family, or scrambling to gather supporting documents while facing imminent removal. Adding another financial barrier only increases the pressure on people already in crisis — and it comes at a time when immigrants are facing a growing number of costs throughout the system, from ap-

plication fees to legal expenses to detention-related hardships.

Taken together, these charges raise a broader concern: that the immigration system is becoming increasingly inaccessible to those with the fewest resources.

That is particularly troubling because the people seeking a stay of removal are often asking for time based on circumstances rooted in family, health, and basic fairness.

This proposal also sends a larger message. It suggests that even temporary relief from deportation should come at a premium; if you cannot afford to ask for more time, you may not get it.

The administration says the increase could generate about $2.25 million annually. In the context of the federal budget, that is a relatively modest amount, but for the immigrants and families affected, the cost is far from modest; it can be life-changing and sometimes life-altering.

Public comments about the proposal are open through July 6. That means there is still time for advocates, attorneys, and affected communities to speak out.

It is important to remember that immigration policy is often discussed in terms of enforcement and efficiency, but behind every fee increase is a human decision about who gets access to process, discretion, and in some cases, a little more time.

When the price of that time rises nearly fivefold, the question is no longer just about cost recovery. It is about whether justice is becoming something only the well-resourced can afford.

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.

By FARAI MUTSAKA Associated Press

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A new and deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda is the latest health emergency forcing African governments to break free of dependency on global donors like the United States, as international support has been slashed in half over the past five years.

Shrinking assistance worsened by the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts is colliding with Africa’s fast-growing population of over 1.5 billion people. The Ebola outbreak of a strain with no approved therapeutics or vaccines comes days after a rare hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship put officials on alert.

Africa faces “an equally dangerous threat” of funding, Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said while launching an initiative for African self-reliance in health financing earlier this year.

“Every time we have an outbreak, many countries start to ask for partners because they don’t have in their budgets funding to respond, even to prepare for these outbreaks,” he added during a briefing on the new Ebola outbreak.

But African nations know that must change.

African nations for years pledged more health funding

The Africa CDC says the continent now faces “an unprecedented financing crisis.”

It says official development assistance has dropped sharply, from about $26 billion in 2021 to around $13 billion in 2025, as wealthy nations turn attention instead to wider geopolitical issues like the war in

International News

Ebola and hantavirus have Africa talking ‘health sovereignty’ as donor support fades

Iran and domestic pressures.

African leaders for years had pledged to better finance their own health systems, but commitments remained on paper. In 2001, countries committed to allocating at least 15% of national budgets to health, yet only Rwanda, Botswana, and Cape Verde are on track out of Africa’s 54 nations.

“The conversation was somewhat theoretical because the donor system was still functioning,” said Dr. Alex Ajangba, a health financing expert and co-editor of the new African Journal of Health Economics, Systems and Policy. “But now that cushion is gone.”

He added, “What we are seeing here is not a temporary dip of donor funding that we will recover from.”

Africa now talks about ‘health sovereignty’

Governments are accelerating efforts toward “health sovereignty,” with aspirations to finance and manage systems with far less reliance on external aid.

Initiatives like Ghana’s “Accra Reset” launched in September, and the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda, adopted by African leaders in February, aim to strengthen long-term resilience.

Health ministers are proposing domestic solutions, including higher taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary foods, pooled procurement of medicines to lower costs, expanding local pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing, and tackling inefficiencies.

The need is stark. Africa imports more than 90% of its health commodities such as vaccines and medicines, while health emergencies — from mpox to cholera to Ebola — surged from 153 out-

breaks to 242 between 2022 and 2024, according to the Africa CDC. It wants the continent to produce 60% of its vaccines by 2040.

“The word ‘health sovereignty’ has become a phrase that is used in almost every continental policy meeting right now,” Ajangba said, warning it risks being just a “slogan.”

Africa is rich in natural resources but short of cash

Experts say the continent has plenty of wealth. Africa holds about 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, including those essential for technology and renewable energy, yet much of that value is lost through opaque or weak contracts, illicit financial flows, debt burdens, and limited local processing of minerals that are largely exported raw, Ajangba said.

The continent loses about $40 billion annually to illicit financial flows in an extractive sector that includes mining, gas, and oil, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Aside from tackling those issues, another key pillar of African nations’ transition away from aid dependency is co-financing, requiring countries to contribute more alongside donors.

Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, says lower-income countries contributed a record $302 million toward vaccines in 2025, and about $1 billion over the past five years.

“This creates predictability,” Gavi chief executive Sania Nishtar told The Associated Press. “Reliance on aid for basic services does not.”

The Trump administration offers new aid, with conditions

But the shift can be conten-

tious. The Trump administration has pushed co-financing as a key condition of the “America First” health deals it has agreed with nearly two dozen African nations.

They reinvent aid to Africa by requiring countries to increase domestic spending within a specified time or risk losing support.

Some countries have rejected the proposed deals, outraged over U.S. requests for the sharing of health data with no promises that nations will receive any benefit from it. Others criticize proposed swaps of health support for natural resources.

Though most governments say Africa needs to move toward selfsufficiency, critics say some of the U.S. conditions place unrealistic pressure on already strained economies.

“They are being set up to fail,” said Asia Russell, executive director of Health GAP, an international advocacy group. “When an ad-

ministration says, ‘If you don’t hit these numbers, you’re not going to get resources anymore,’ that is extremely serious.”

Debt burdens are squeezing health spending

Many African countries are under mounting debt burdens. Already, about 40% are spending more on debt than health.

“Many of these countries have huge debt service and other challenges,” said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at the nonprofit KFF, which focuses on health policy. “At the end of the day, it’s going to be people who live in those countries who will feel the effects.” Africa’s debt has surged to about $1.2 trillion, according to the African Export-Import Bank, forcing brutal trade-offs. Debt servicing consumes roughly 19% of government revenue in sub-Saharan African countries, according to the United Nations.

saw him in that helicopter looking on and saying this (the island) doesn’t look real, it’s so beautiful, you can’t pay for that type of advertising,” local media quoted him as saying.

Kishore Shallow, St. Vincent’s

tourism minister, shrugged off rumors about excessive spending to have Speed broadcast from the federation with the Grenadine islands. “I won’t give details. It’s no secret, but it didn’t cost US$100,000,” Shallow said. “In the end, it cost us less than $40,000 which … is great value for money.”

James Gregg, a Jamaican vlogger broadcasting on Carib 21, is

elated about the 15-nation tour that started on April 25. He said this is clearly the new way to go.

“We are getting historic numbers. The numbers that are coming out of the Caribbean are just huge. The numbers are crazy,” Gregg said.

“This is a big deal for the Caribbean in terms of numbers. Speed, at age 21, was able to create generational wealth for his family. This man is

a multi-millionaire at 21 years old. This is a big, massive win for the Caribbean. Everybody wins. Don’t be surprised if you see a big travel boom for the next winter travel season.”

Speed had kicked off his tour in Trinidad and has suggested he might well return for Carnival next February. “I’m enjoying Trinidad. Trinidad has been amazing,” local

media quoted him as saying. “I’m having a fun time here. The people lit. The music lit. The food lit. Everybody here is lit. I’m enjoying it.”

The whirlwind tour took him to Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Arts & Entertainment

Sterling K. Brown gives exclusive one-on-one on his role in ‘Is God Is’

By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

Three-time Emmy Award-winner and Academy Award nominee Sterling K. Brown, one of the most talented actors in television and film today, spoke exclusively with the AmNews about his role as “Man” and working with the cast in the Black women-led film “Is God Is,” which opened in theaters on Friday, May 15. Brown is an intellectual who was an economics major at Stanford University before falling in love with acting.

“There’s the macro and the micro,” Brown began when asked why he chose to work on “Is God Is.” “I love Black women, and I love seeing Black women win, right? I thought this was an incredibly creative script, something different and new, and I think that we, as a community, have been asking for creative and new stories. … I feel like the more diverse the landscape of stories are that we get to tell, the more people will stop putting us into a box in terms of what a Black movie is, what a Black story is. We are everything, and so the opportunity to do everything is something that excites me. Aleshea [Harris] wrote a play, then she adapted the play, and she directed the play, and I think she did so brilliantly. I also love the idea that Black women get a chance to be messy in this film — hella messy. I feel like oftentimes we’re asked, in many stories, to be voices of reason — sort of the sensible side component of a larger story, and that’s not the case in this. That is exciting to me.”

the Rosa Parks story.’ Even though you’re the ‘big bad,’ I still believe that the story — the level of agency that Black women get a chance to take in determining their own futures — is something that I believe in. Even though you have to be the antagonist in that, I believe in the bigger story.”

Brown said it was wonderful to work with the Black-women-led cast. “I had just seen [Harlem native and two-time Tony Awardwinner] Kara Young in ‘Purlie Victorious’ and ‘Purpose,’ and I [thought], ‘This sister is the bee’s knees,’” he said. He added that he also enjoyed Mallori Johnson in the FX on Hulu television adaptation of Octavia E. Butler’s 1979 science fiction novel, “Kindred.”

Brown then discussed his character specifically as work on a “micro” level.

“I feel like people will put you in a box from time to time and think that, ‘All right, this is what Sterling does,’ and I’m always

interested in … doing anything that is outside of people’s expectations. I love to surprise people as much as possible, so I felt that [this character] was an opportunity to surprise people, and then, as my cousin says, ‘Somebody has to drive the bus in

“I’ve been watching Vivica [Fox] my whole life and have a big crush,” Brown exclaimed. “I got to hold her in my arms. That was pretty cool. Erika [Alexander] and I worked together on ‘American Fiction.’ Janelle [Monáe] and I got a chance to meet on this one, and in a beautiful way, and she was great [even though] we didn’t have any scenes together. The spirit and talent of the cast were second to none. We were all so excited to be in this film because we hadn’t read anything like this before, and we [felt that] ‘Oh, we’re putting something out into the world that’s new and different, and hopefully we’ll have some sort of ripples because of that.’”

“Is God Is” was written, produced, and directed by Aleshea Harris and is an adaptation of her 2018 play of the same name.

Great performances in ‘Is God Is’ provoke questions and deep thought

By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

How would you respond if a parent you thought did not survive a tragic event asked you to do the unthinkable during their dying days? That is the dilemma facing the two stars of “Is God Is,” starring Harlem native and twotime Tony Award winner Kara Young and Mallori Johnson as twin sisters Racine and Anaia.

Through a flashback scene, we learn that both Racine and Anaia were badly burned in a fire as children. Anaia’s scars are more visible and cover her face, making her the more timid of the twins and forcing Racine to assume the protector role. “Is God Is” is written, produced, and directed by Aleshea Harris, an adaptation of her 2018 play of the same name.

When contacted by their mother, Ruby, played by NAACP Image Award-winner Vivica A. Fox, she asks them to not only confront their father, but also physically harm him. This leads the twins on a journey to confront their birth father, simply called Man, played by three-time Emmy Award-winner and Academy Award-nominee Sterling K. Brown.

Along the way, the twins encounter the very comical evangelist Divine, played superbly by NAACP Image Award-winner Erika Alexander, who is waiting for Man to return home. The twins also meet Divine’s son with Man, their brother Ezekial, played by Josiah Cross, who resurfaces later in the film. Racine and Anaia also encounter the attorney who is responsible for Man being free, Chuck Hall, played by Mykelti Williamson, who I would describe as the type of lawyer who would have a

late-night commercial on a Black entertainment television station. As the twins finally discover where their father lives, they learn that he has built a new life with his current lover, Angie, played by actress, singer, and songwriter

Janelle Monáe. She lives with Man and his second set of twins, sons Scotch and Riley, played by Xavier Mills and Justen Ross. The film expertly takes you on a journey that ultimately leads you to the twins confronting the person responsi-

ble for not only their injuries but also those of their mother — the monstrous Man.

The Black-women-led film is filled with tremendous performances, starting with Young and Johnson, who finish each other’s sentences and read each other’s minds like twins often do. In her directorial debut, based on a play she wrote, Harris creates authentic characters that, like most of us, can be messy and ask the unthinkable. Not only are they far from perfect, but you will certainly second-guess or outright disagree with many of the decisions made by the characters in the film.

On a personal note, I saw a screening of the film during a very disturbing news cycle in the New York City area and nationwide.

Two 15-year-olds, one in Queens and one on Long Island, were senselessly murdered; an ex-Virginia politician killed his wife and himself; and a man killed eight children in Shreveport. The film immediately inspired thoughts of art imitating life, and vice versa, and no matter how difficult the themes of the cinematic piece, actions as bad — or even worse — occur in the world. Ultimately, art, whether in film or other media, should help us heal from the most significant traumas of our lives. A brief escape from reality as we navigate difficult news cycles and personal tragedies. Check your local theater listings so you do not miss the chance to experience “Is God Is.”

Black Rock Coalition & others honor Stevie Wonder’s classic albums at BAM

By MATTHEW ALLEN Special to the AmNews

Stevie Wonder released “Songs in the Key of Life” 50 years ago. The double LP was the creative apex of an unprecedented musical genius that began four years before in 1972 with a string of albums that changed American music forever. Last weekend, the Black Rock Coalition (BRC) Orchestra celebrated those landmark albums at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) with the concert series “Stevie: A Life in the Key of Songs.”

The BRC refused to confine Wonder’s landmark albums — “Music of My Mind,” “Talking Book,” “Innervisions,” “Fulfillingness’ First Finale,” and “Songs in the Key of Life” — to just one show. Instead, the collective played all five albums in entirety over three nights and gave the excited Brooklyn contingent access to Wonder’s genius.

The rhythm section was controlled by the show’s co-musical directors: BRC Director of Operations Darrell M. McNeill (bass) and Willie Mae Rock Camp Executive Director LaFrae Sci (drums). The two set the tone for the more than 20 musicians who shared the stage at BAM’s gorgeous Howard Gilman Opera House. The elegant music hall provided a serene backdrop for Wonder’s transcendent catalog, further enticing an already eager audience.

BRC performed two albums, front to back, each night — night one, “Music of My Mind” and “Talking Book”; night two, “Innervisions” and “Fulfillingness First Finale”; night three, “Songs in the Key of Life.” For the most part, McNeill and Sci stayed true to the original arrangements of the songs. This decision was proven wise, evident with lush renditions of “Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You),” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,”

“Sir Duke,” and “I Wish.”

Each singer, including the Family Stand, gave spirited takes on the songs, but they shone the best when the songs were stripped down. Vocalist Xavier Smith brought the house down on ballads like “You and I” and “Too Shy To Say,” only accompanied by Roots keyboardist Ray Angry and dreamy synth effects from Leon Gruenbaum. Smith’s powerful baritone and emotional falsetto brought the crowd to its feet each time.

While most of the songs had familiar arrangements, there were a few instances when the performers toyed with new styles. On night one, the ensemble transformed the rustic R&B of “Music of My Mind” album cut “I Love Every Little Thing About You” into a thumping disco explosion. On night three, the band molded

“Have a Talk With God” from a mid-tempo cut on “Songs in the Key of Life” to a 1960sera funk/soul revival.

The Family Stand gave some of the more raucous vocals over the three days. The harmonic power of Sandra St. Victor, Peter Lord, and V. Jeffrey Scott induced animated reactions from the audience on songs like “Jesus Children of America” and “They Won’t Go When I Go.”

Even with so many amazing vocal performances each night, the musicians had ample moments to shine, particularly harmonica player Grégoire Maret. The Grammy winner took the place of the singer on one song on the first two nights. His mixing of melody and improvisation on “Girl Blue,” “Big Brother,” “He’s Misstra Know-It-All,” and “It Ain’t No Use” was soothing and poi-

gnant. Jazz guitarist Mark Wright swirled and swung with well-timed precision of songs like “Too High” and “Visions.”

Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid kicked tail with signature solos on the funk/rock jams “Maybe Your Baby” and “You Haven’t Done Nothin’.” Living Colour frontman Corey Glover only appeared on the final evening, despite being billed for two nights. He made up for lost time with dynamic vocals on “Joy Inside My Tears” and “I Wish.”

What took each night to incredible heights were the unannounced special guest vocalists: the Brooklyn audience. The crowd participation was awesome, whether singing the horn parts on “I Wish” or mimicking the Jackson 5 background vocal parts on the chorus of “You Haven’t Done Nothin’.”

Although the BRC did the albums front to back for the most part, McNeill and Sci plucked each of the LP showstoppers to close each album. For instance, “Superstition” closed the “Talking Book” set despite having fallen to number six on the album’s track list. Meanwhile, rather than ending the finale night with the “Songs in the Key of Life” actual closer, the Latin disco classic “Another Star” was the penultimate song, flip-flopping with “As,” a song that’s regarded as Wonder’s finest composition.

The biggest takeaways from these performances are how they put Wonder’s artistic progression front and center. Seeing the BRC and the Family Stand tackle Wonder’s fabled five-album run of the 1970s not only honored the time-tested projects, but it made the audience track the 25-time Grammy winner’s evolution as a songwriter. For Wonder to go from “Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)” at age 21 to composing something like “As” at age 26 is nothing short of miraculous.

DanceAfrica 2026 returns with Uganda’s Ndere Troupe, Asase Yaa, Spirit Walkers, Billie’s Youth Arts Academy Dance Ensemble, and more

By ZITA ALLEN Special to the AmNews

DanceAfrica 2026, this country’s longestrunning celebration of the culture of Africa and the African Diaspora, can always be counted on to present a thrillingly dynamic panorama of music, dance, and more during Memorial Day weekend — and this year will be no different.

DanceAfrica Artistic Director Abdel R. Salaam has curated a program for May 22–25 with the theme “Uganda: Umoja/Mirembe/ Obulungi (Unity/Peace/Beauty)!” that promises to turn the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House into a festive communal gathering.

Uganda’s Ndere Troupe returns to BAM after previous visits in 2001, at the invitation of Baba Chuck Davis, DanceAfrica founder and then-artistic director, and 2007, and will be joined by the Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater, celebrating their 25th anniversary with a newly revamped version of “The Revival: Djembe in the New Millennium” (2010). The DanceAfrica Spirit Walkers and Billie’s Youth Arts Academy Dance Ensemble (YAA) will also be part of the event.

In keeping with tradition, a libation ceremony precedes the opening performance (Friday, May 22) on the steps of the Peter Jay Sharp Building to honor those who have passed on to the ancestral grounds.

Each performance will include the traditional DanceAfrica greeting; welcoming ritual; calling of the names of the Ancestors; and a procession featuring the DanceAfrica Council of Elders, DanceAfrica Candlebearers, and youth ensemble.

Recalling the Ndere Troupe’s earlier DanceAfrica appearances and his recent visit to Uganda to see them in 2025, Salaam described them as “absolutely brilliant” and said “the audience is going to abso-

lutely love them,” referring to the troupe’s thrillingly energetic dance and music that features intricate, virtuosic drumming and other instruments. Salaam recalled that the Ndere Troupe blew the audience away in 2007, adding that “since that was almost 20 years ago, there’s a whole generation that hasn’t seen them, so I’m honored to share more of these ancient dances and songs, mixed with shades of contemporary visions of East Africa, [through] the spirited artistry of the Ndere Troupe.”

Salaam added that “following the success of bringing East Africa’s Song & Dance Company of Mozambique in 2025, we traveled to Uganda to bring more of the best from this region to our audience. After spending time with the Ndere Troupe, we wanted to share the joy and impassioned

Ndere Troupe involves the “many talented young people who could not have access to education. I wanted to recruit them into the troupe and mobilize resources and pay for their education. Dance also serves as a springboard to educating communities that don’t have access to television, newspapers, or even the internet, about important issues that affect them, like HIV-AIDS.”

Lastly, because Uganda had been torn by warfare during the days of Idi Amin’s rule, Stephen said, he “wanted to create examples of how people can live together where cultural diversity is seen as wealth and not a reason for conflict. Looking at the different tribes of Uganda, I created a troupe whose repertory would emphasize the beauty of diversity.”

commitment to their culture and tradition as it aligned with the resurgence of their traditional African identity in Uganda.”

In a recent interview with the Amsterdam News, founder and artistic director Dr. Stephen Rwangyezi described one of the driving forces behind his decision to found Ndere Troupe in 1984 as a desire to preserve the country’s indigenous culture. “Uganda, just like all the other countries of Africa, was a colony, and I think the biggest thing that colonizers ever did was to try and kill the indigenous cultures of the countries they were ruling,” Stephen said. Coming from “a family aware of our great culture,” even as it was in danger of being erased, he decided that “if I could ignite some sort of renaissance, I would.”

Stephen said another key mission of the

This year’s program embodies that mission with a carefully curated selection of dances representing Uganda’s extraordinary cultural diversity, spanning courtship and celebration; spiritual ritual; and percussive, hip-driven movement that speaks across generations. The haunting sound of the Agwaara, a wooden trumpet, ushers in a festive procession dance of the same name, from the Alur people of Northwestern Uganda, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan — music that embodies cross-cultural respect, collective spirit, and communal joy. Bakisimba, from the Baganda people of Central Uganda, is an expression of peace, tranquility, and fertility, traditionally danced in celebration of abundance. Tamenhaibuga, from the Basoga people near the source of the world’s longest river, the Nile, is an ecstatic celebration dance whose frenetic energy invokes pure joy. Orunyege is a love and courtship dance from Western Uganda, at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, paired with Ekaaro, a courtship dance from the nomadic Karamojong people of Northeastern Uganda.

Echeevugo, epic poetry and arguably the ancient beginning of modern rap music, is intertwined with Echitaaguriro dance to celebrate the unique beauty of the longhorned Ankole cattle. The Adungu dance, named for the Adungu African bow harp, is a vibrant social celebration and a reminder to respect even the most vulnerable in society. Larakaraka, from the Acholi people of Northern Uganda, is a dance of courtship, frugality, and peace rooted in the belief that harmony comes when communities take only what they need and carefully balance decisions affecting humanity.

Echizino, the high-energy dance of the Bachiga people from the mountainous Kigezi region — home of the rare moun-

tain gorillas — in Southwestern Uganda, is accompanied by the Enanga, a near-extinct instrument whose style is distinct in blues music, and celebrates physical power and communal spirit.

According to Salaam, all of this made Uganda’s Ndele Troupe a perfect fit for DanceAfrica 2026 and a program that mixes the traditional with forces creating what he called “a new tradition, the new voices.”

That’s where Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater, the Billie’s Youth Arts Academy (YAA) Dance Ensemble, and Dance Africa Spirit Walkers come in. Salaam said that throughout his entire career, he’s been “in search of a Pan-African language. I think the culture is dynamic, as opposed to fixed.”

The Ndebe Troupe has struck a delicate balance of “preserving culture while keeping it a living, breathing thing.”

For folks hoping to experience the company’s choreography first-hand, dance classes, co-presented by BAM and Mark Morris Dance Center, offer hands-on engagement with African movement traditions taught by members of the Ndere Troupe.

DanceAfrica 2026 also does that with a varied program that extends beyond the stage, with dance classes, film screenings, visual art, and community programming presented in collaboration with the Billie Holiday Theatre at Restoration Plaza, Weeksville Heritage Center, Mark Morris Dance Center, Museum of Contemporary

African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA), African Film Festival, Fort Greene Park Conservancy, and Center for Brooklyn History.

Of course, one of Brooklyn’s most beloved open-air marketplaces, DanceAfrica Bazaar, returns to the streets surrounding BAM, bringing together more than 150 African, Caribbean, and African American artisans, designers, chefs, and entrepreneurs celebrating Black culture through fashion, food, art, and community. The return of FilmAfrica to the culture-rich event brings a selection of films from across the continent, curated by the African Film Festival and deepening the festival’s exploration of African and diasporic culture.

For more info, visit bam.org/danceafrica.

AmNews FOOD

Birthday weekend in the Catskills: Coffee, memories, and morning sunshine

I am just days away from celebrating another spin around the sun. Geminis, stand up! My birthday has always fallen somewhere on Memorial Day Weekend and this year it hits the bullseye — the last Monday in May. Memorial Day was created to honor those who have served our country. Over time, the three-day weekend has also become the unofficial start of the summer season.

Growing up, having a birthday around a holiday wasn’t always a good thing. I often celebrated before or after the long weekend when people didn’t have other plans. But my mom is a G! She created some great memories, like my party on the Schooner Pioneer at the South Street Seaport in 1982, when I got Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album as a gift. A little later in high school there would be my birthday weekend in Fire Island where friends and I could run amok in the carless streets, in town, and on the beach. Good times.

For this birthday weekend I will harken back to my childhood memories and to April of this year when I spent a couple of weekends at my

friends Marya’s and Nick’s home in the Catskills while they were away on vacation. Many a good time has been had there, but these weekends were also about discovery and seeing things anew.

I invited a couple of my friends to stay each weekend. The biggest consensus is what time to set the coffee maker to begin brewing in the morning (the answer is not 6:30 a.m.). We of course cooked in the 1950s tiny pass-through kitchen and grilled in the yard to dine at the mid-century modern table, or at the cobalt blue picnic table outside. Nights were set to a fire with robust conversation

and some board games.

Once I am at the house, I am set. I don’t need to go anywhere, but with friends who have never been, there is license to roam and experience the area. So on one Saturday, my friend Adam and I drove into nearby Ellenville in search of a breakfast morsel and a cup of joe. Spoiler alert: what we found was a gem of an experience!

We pulled up to Morning Sunshine (3-5 Clinton Avenue, Ellenville, NY), a free-standing building with orange graphic writing and a mini nursery in front. As soon as I opened the door I was taken by

everything in the clean, modern, Scandinavian-like space from the specialty handcrafted tabletop items and the branded merch, to the artfully merchandised locally-made food products for sale. Though I don’t need any of it, I wanted all of it — all at once.

We ordered coffees and shared their BEC. Coffee was on point and the BEC was a thing of beauty, meticulously prepared to order with thick perfectly rendered applewood bacon on a warm ciabatta roll. I savored every bite. Then, as much as I wanted to fight it, the thick slice of banana bread with dark chocolate

chunks called me like a lost lover. My goodness, take me back… Turns out Morning Sunshine owners, Natalia and Tori, are a former Brooklynite chef and marketing professional couple that opened their business in 2021 in response to the isolation felt during the pandemic. Since then, they continue to be an instrumental part of Ellenville’s growth and its artistic and queer community. Outstanding work!

Respect and gratitude to all who have served in our military. Get out of the city if you can and have a memorable holiday weekend (slash my birthday)!

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.

Sisters show how to wear a hat at Central Park Conservancy 2026 lunch

By MICHAEL HENRY ADAMS Special to the AmNews

Mother’s Day is when one wears a red or white flower in tribute to the queens who gave us birth, be they living (red) or dead (white). On Easter Sunday, we put on new clothes and wear our best, in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died to redeem our manifold sins.

Many traditional highlights in the year of the Black community are derived from ceremonial festivities taken from the Christian calendar. One particular element that was a feature of such occasions was once typical of all women, regardless of faith. Essential to beauty in the past, to being well-dressed, was donning magnificent hats. The focus of Michael Cunningham’s and Craig Marberry’s splendid book “Crowns,” today, this is a practice reserved almost exclusively for African American women.

Over time, an exception in New York has become the annual Central Park Conservancy Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon, which benefits Central Park. Held in the park’s Conservatory Gardens, it has become known as “that Hat Lunch.”

Why? The name comes from the now de rigueur conceit that all attendees wear their finest headgear, often extravagant confections created specially for the occasion. The ritual extends from well before the time of the first Conservancy Lunch, back in 1983. By then, as now, most — men and women alike — went about bare-headed.

assigned to open their Los Angeles branch in 1939.

Going on her own in 1943, Blount proceeded from success to success. A colleague of hers was my late friend, the wonderful Willard Winter, who came to New York from Boston in the late 1930s to design the most smashing hats. He started by showing his designs at Rose Morgan’s House of Beauty on 125th Street.

Today, Harlem’s hat heritage is elegantly supplied by the FlameKeeper’s Hat Club haberdashery and Hats by Bunn. Most notable of all area hat designers, however, is Evetta Petty of Harlem’s Heaven Hat Boutique. Supplying hats for notables like Patti LaBelle and Star Jones, represented in the grandstand of the Kentucky Derby and on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot in the Royal Enclosure for some time now, Petty has also been responsible for several striking numbers to be seen at that Hat Lunch.

Blessed with some of history’s best millinery masters, Blacks have always known how essential proper hats can be to looking great. Yet, the story of Mildred Blount’s rise to acclaim is a trajectory unfamiliar to even many African Americans. She was brilliant and unsurprisingly, even when unknown, Blount’s skilled efforts brought her white employer riches and renown.

A native of Eden, North Carolina (1907),

Blount moved in with family members after her parents died. Attending New York public schools, she dreamed of becoming an interpretive and ballet dancer, as well as a costume designer. In pursuit of these goals, she attended Hunter College and Cooper Union. After completing school, she worked for the John-Frederics hat firm from the time of its inception. She served at the Manhattan salon for 10 years, and was

Nowadays, more and more women of color are joining the elite who work tirelessly to fund maintaining the park. In addition to long-time supporters like Roben Bell-Stevens (Jazzmobile) and Erana M. Stennett (director of the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa), Darice Fadeyi has recently joined this undertaking as a co-chair. I, for one, am overjoyed because, from now on, there’s a new and wonderful venue for Black women to wear amazing hats and show the world how it’s done.

See HAT LUNCH on page 29

What’s going on: Jazzcultural, Jazz Genius, Negril, Blue Note

Wallace Roney Jr. says that having legendary artistic parents — pianist/composer Geri Allen and trumpeter/composer Wallace Roney — doesn’t give you a free pass to stardom. “I don’t think I’ve been treated any differently than any other musician because of my mom or dad,” said Roney Jr. during a recent interview with Hot House Jazz magazine. “You have to earn your stripes. It may have gotten my foot in the door but if I couldn’t play, that door would close very fast. Respect comes from playing. There’s nothing to hide from once I hit the stage, so I am happy to share the room to learn and grow.”

At age 29, Roney’s musical tastes cover a broad spectrum. “I’m fascinated by music of the world, incorporating as many musical cultural styles into my music and not just American styles,” he said.

On May 22–24, the Wallace Roney Jr. Quartet lights up Jazzcultural for two sets each night at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. His able working quartet features pianist Victor Gould, bassist Tom DiCarlo, and drummer Miguel Russell. He has a varied repertoire that includes originals, his parents’ material, and standards before, as he said, “we stretch out.”

For tickets, visit jazzcultural.com. Jazzcultural’s late night 10:30 p.m. sets on May 22–23 feature pianist and composer Willerm Delisfort. His music is a boundless flow evolving in uncharted territory. His creative ensemble features trumpeter Josh Evans, saxophonist Joseph Miller, bassist Jonathon Muir-Cotton, and drummer Christian McGhee, along with vocalist Alexa Barchini.

Soon after graduating from FAMU, Delisfort made his way to Chicago, where he encountered one of his most eye-opening experiences: working with the AACM and Ernest Dawkins. “This was my introduction to a side of music and myself I had yet to explore,” he said. “Dawkins always had this beautiful, intense approach that always demanded the best from you.” Delisfort’s performance with the AACM took place at Fred Anderson’s Velvet Lounge in Chicago. “I distinctly remember [that] after my first set, I stepped outside to try and process all that had transpired during the set of music. It was astonishing.”

For this weekend engagement, the pianist will perform a series of original music from various suites he’s written, in addition to some of the songs on his latest album, “Black Element(s).”

For reservations, visit jazzcultural.com.

For more than 20 years, Negril Village (70 West 3rd Street) has served authentic Jamaican food in the heart of Greenwich Vil-

lage. In the midst of NYC’s hip hustle-bustle crowd, founder Marva Layne has set the standard in Caribbean cuisine and dining.

On May 21, trumpeter and composer Duke Jones brings his brand of jazz to Negril Village. He appears with his quartet featuring drummer John Iannuzzi, pianist John Weiss, vocalist T.C. III (known for venturing in new directions like his predecessors Eddie Jefferson and Babs Gonzales), and special guest saxophonist/multi-reed player Chip Shelton.

Real music heads may recall Duke from his early days as a founding member of the popular R&B group Atlantic Starr. In the late ’70s, Duke studied traditional island rhythms, calypso, and soca at the University of the Virgin Islands with then Professor Larry McClellan. He has since performed with such names as Angela Bofill, Larry Coryell, and Marion Meadows, and has collaborated and recorded with August Darnell of Kid Creole and the Coconuts, and drummer-producer Norman Connors, serving as an original member of his Starship Orchestra.

Duke says his repertoire swings through traditional jazz, contemporary, and his originals.

Two shows, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. For reser-

vations, visit negrilvillage.com or call 212477-2804.

Jazz is genius, genius is jazz, jazz is life, life is jazz — it moves, swings, rides on experience, day-to-day improvisations making it work, getting by, hitting new notes, bending old melodies into hip sounds in new realities.

On May 21–23, Jazz Genius (151 Essex Street) presents the David Kikoski Trio in two shows each night, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

During the 1980s, Kikoski was an integral part of the NEA Jazz Master and multiGrammy Award-winning drummer Roy Haynes’ ensemble. Roy offered him an opportunity to soar. The pianist plays in a state of immersed energy — his entire body grooves with every note he strikes. “Dave has so much feeling. He can play anything. I can depend on him for so much,” said Haynes during an interview.

Kikoski earned a Grammy nomination (2001) with Haynes for the album “Birds of a Feather: A Tribute to Charlie Parker.”

It’s worth highlighting that the Mingus Big Band, with Kikoski as a vital contributor, received a 2024 Grammy nomination for the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in recog-

nition of their outstanding performance in “The Charles Mingus Centennial Session.” For tickets, visit jazzgenius.com. Alto saxophonist, arranger, and composer Kenny Garrett doesn’t perform in NYC enough — it seems he’s in and out like the blink of an eye; faster than the sun can set, he’s gone. Quick, he returns to the Blue Note jazz club on May 22–24.

From my perspective, Garrett isn’t getting his props although he plays the well-known U.S. clubs and major international jazz festivals. Every time I listen to one of his albums, it’s like ‘Damn, Kenny is a bad cat, what’s up.’ Okay, he’s an NEA Jazz Master, but from my perspective, his name should be in bold neon lights. For more than three decades, Garrett’s horn has been blazing rhythms like flying bullets from the Wild Wild West. Kenny plays Kenny — original compositions beyond the ordinary jazz scope. He swings with the creative insight of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders. His early inventiveness caught the attention of Miles, which garnered a five-year collaboration. He has more than 20 recordings as a leader, as well as appearing on more than 230 as a sideman. For this Blue Note outing, he will be joined by percussionist Rudy Bird, bassist Corcoran Holt, acoustic and electric pianist Keith Brown, and TBA on drums.

Two shows each night at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Make haste and visit bluenotejazz. com/nyc/.

Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, rapper, composer, and deliberate genre bender as a jazz musician and hip hop producer Terrance Martin continues his residency at the Blue Note (131 West Third Street), May 26–30. His inventive ensemble features keyboardist and vocalist Taylor McFerrin; keyboards, bass, and vocals Phoenix; drummer Marcus Gilmore, with Martin on keyboards and saxophone. Together, they play through unexplored terrain, taking exciting leaps and swinging turns; flavored notes with sharp hip hop melodies, funky chords, and jazzy rhythms that tap the inner soul.

Under his many hats, Martin is known as a multi-faceted producer, a fusion master working with the likes of Snoop, Lalah, Robert Glasper, Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, Stevie Wonder, Thundercat, YG, and SZA. The creative force took a deep dive into the music business as founder, president, and producer of his own independent imprint, Sounds of Crenshaw Records.

“I’m not really preaching to the musicians and the other artists. I do music for the person that’s nine months late on their rent [and] ain’t got no job but got two kids,” Martin said in an NPR interview. “I love where all my music goes, but I’m not preaching to the choir. I wanted to use my music as vehicles to say certain words and slogans that I believe could help people.”

Two shows at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. For more info or reservations, visit bluenotejazz.com/nyc/.

also has a similar MYBE bill in the works with state legislators.

Beyond initiatives like “tax the rich,” Dieudonne believes that giving MYBEs a chance to have city procurement is an important component for affordability, economic upward mobility, youth ownership, and preparing for a workforce that incorporates AI and is likely to replace entry-level jobs of all kinds.

“Millionaires and billionaires give their children access to venture capitalists,” said Dieudonne. “They have access to pools of money that [an] inner city youth from a minority neighborhood isn’t going to have access to. I believe that the city and schools need to start giving out more contracts to youth and young adults so they could be able to afford New York City and to thrive in New York City.”

He envisions the program helping a college basketball student who is contracted to create the shirts for the basketball team … get mentorships and government contracts. “The fight shouldn’t just be about going against billionaires and millionaires, but it’s about how we create more wealth within the community,” he said.

Dieudonne said city agencies do an appalling job of advertising in a way that reaches young adults, which is why so many never hear about the programs and

resources the city has to offer. He applauded individual elected officials, such as Mayor Zohran Mamdani or Councilmember Chi Ossé, who have been able to connect with young voters via social media. He recommended that the city’s Department of Youth and Community Development, CUNY and SUNY schools, and the Department of Education beef up their social media and online presence to be better at advertising their programs to young adults.

“It’s all about where their attention is. If all their attention is on Instagram, all they’re seeing is influencers,” said Dieudonne.

“That really outshines the businesses — the boring businesses and everything like that.”

He added that plenty of youth and young adults have tried their best to sign up for the MWBE process, “but because they didn’t have the knowledge, they were rejected, and now they have to wait about a year to sign up for the process again. There’s a ‘language’ barrier.”

The funding for M/WBEs and participation also seems to fluctuate deeply with each administration, even under Black leadership. In the 1990s, M/WBEs received only 7% of the city’s contracts. Under Mayor David Dinkins, the city’s first Black mayor, that rate shot up to about 19% until 2001. In 2011, then Governor David Paterson worked to pass legislation that raised the cap of discrepancy purchases a state agency can award to M/WBEs.

Former Mayor Eric Adams made it his mission to hit the city’s lofty goal of giving

out close to 30% of contracts to M/WBEs.

Adams’s appointee Michael Garner still heads the Mayor’s Office of M/WBEs in the Mamdani administration.

According to the 2025 city comptroller report, only 5% ($2.4 billion out of $46 billion) of citywide procurement is actually awarded to M/WBEs. Businesses specifically owned by “women of color and Black and Hispanic American men” win far fewer contracts than others, said the report.

“The process is daunting. We know the procurement process takes a very long

time within the city and it’s just about navigation,” said Riley. “I think when a young person becomes a business owner, they go into different kinds of [phases] …, whether you’re going to get a loan from a bank, whether you’re trying to figure out different ways to market your business, whether you figure out who your consumers are. I think there’s always the complexities of businesses and of course, the government doesn’t make it any better, but with this bill, you’re actually given the opportunity.”

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Foster Care Awareness Month: Why we must talk about what actually works for Black youth

By ANTHONY ROBINSON Special to the AmNews

Every May during Foster Care Awareness Month, we hear stories about the failures of the foster care system. We hear about abuse, instability, overcrowded systems, youth aging out without support, and children who fall through the cracks. Those stories matter because those realities exist.

As a Black man who spent seven years in foster care in New York City, I also believe we need to spend more time talking about what happens when the system works and young people receive the support, stability, and community they deserve. Too often, foster youth are discussed only through the lens of trauma. Rarely do people talk about the adults, mentors, and programs that help them build meaningful and successful lives.

I entered foster care at 14 years old, carrying anger and pain I didn’t yet know how to process. I always knew my mother loved me, but she was not equipped to provide the structure and support I needed at that stage in my life. Like many young Black boys growing up in difficult circumstances, I was acting out while trying to figure out who I was. What I remember most from that time was not feeling safe anywhere — until I entered foster care through the nonprofit organization JCCA.

For the first time, I felt seen as a person instead of a problem to be solved.

The adults around me knew my name. They invested in me. They challenged me to think beyond survival and believe I had a future worth building. That kind of support changes a young person. It changed me.

Today, at age 30, I work for the same organization that helped raise me. I serve as program coordinator for the JCCA’s Arches program under LEAP, mentoring foster youth and justice-involved young people across New York City.

Many of the youth I work with are Black and Latino boys who have spent much of their lives being misunderstood by systems

that were supposed to help them. They are often labeled before they are listened to. That is why representation matters.

There is something powerful about a young person being able to look at someone who not only understands their experience, but who also looks like them and has lived through similar challenges. When I sit across from a teenager who feels angry or disconnected, I understand what that feels like because I was once that same young person.

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Pursuant to Section 104 Public Notice of the Open Meetings Law, this notice is to inform the public that the board of trustees of Democracy Prep New York School will hold a board meeting on:

Most days, this work looks simple from the outside. It looks like sitting around a dinner table with young people, helping someone apply for vocational programs, or checking whether they made it to school that day. Sometimes it means putting paperwork aside because a young person walks through the door needing someone to listen. Those moments matter more than people realize.

Young people in foster care often become experts at expecting disappointment. Many learn early in life not to trust adults because too many people have already left. When a young person finally believes somebody is going to stay, though, that can become a turning point.

I see the impact of that every day.

I have mentored youth who graduated high school and moved on to bigger dreams. I have former foster care youth who come back to tell me about major milestones in their lives, including one who recently let me know that he is about to become a father. I have watched others connect to employment, education, and stable housing. Those success stories deserve attention, too.

In New York, Black children continue to

be disproportionately represented in the foster care system, while Black families often face barriers to accessing the resources needed to support young people before crises occur. At the same time, the state continues to face a shortage of foster homes. In 2023, New York had approximately 10,500 certified foster homes despite nearly 14,600 children needing placement.

The answer cannot simply be talking about what is broken. We also have to invest in what works.

Young people need stable housing, mental health support, educational opportunities, mentorship, and adults willing to remain in their lives long-term. They need spaces where they feel safe enough to be vulnerable and supported enough to grow.

I know the foster care system is not perfect. No system is. But I also know I would not be the man I am today without the people who stepped in and refused to let me believe my story was already over.

This Foster Care Awareness Month, I hope we make room for both truths at the same time: The system still has deep challenges, and young people can thrive when we support them consistently, compassionately, and without giving up on them.

organizers felt a major national gathering was necessary: “There are already smaller things in various cities, but we felt we needed one national memorial and celebration.”

Bandele noted that the choice of Riverside Church for the event was practical, historical, and political: Riverside has long hosted major gatherings for movement figures, and Brock added that because the church seats about 1,700 people, organizers believe it can accommodate all those who want to attend. The program will include speakers, music, visual tributes, and intergenerational reflections on politics.

For decades, Assata Shakur’s legacy has been the target of intense attacks. To supporters, she was a freedom fighter, political thinker, and former political prisoner, but U.S. law enforcement officials have characterized her as a convicted fugitive in the 1973 killing of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster.

In 1977, Shakur was convicted of Foerster’s killing and sentenced to life in prison. In 1979, she escaped prison with outside help, lived underground for several years, and then resurfaced in Cuba, where she was granted political asylum in 1984. She remained there for some 41 years despite repeated U.S. demands for

her return. In 2013, the FBI made her the first woman placed on its Most Wanted Terrorists list, and the reward for her capture ultimately increased to $2 million.

Bandele said that in Cuba, Shakur spoke with gratitude about the Cuban people and the Cuban government for giving her safety and the chance to spend time with her daughter after years of imprisonment and pursuit. At the same time, Brock said exile took a personal toll on her: “The separation, she’s spoken about the separation from her family and from Black people as being some of the hardest things she had to endure.”

Brock said Shakur also remained part of a broader political and cultural world in Cuba, especially among Afro Cubans and younger activists. She said Shakur was known in Black hip hop circles there and remembered the affection many Cubans had for her, even as security concerns pushed her further from public view in later years. Her autobiography remains in print and continues to be taught, organizers noted, helping make her an inspiring political figure for younger generations.

Riverside Church, at 490 Riverside Drive, in Morningside Heights, will open “Carry It On” at 3 p.m.; those who need accessible entry should use the 91 Claremont Ave entrance. The event will also be recorded and livestreamed. Those interested in attending can register online or visit the events page at HarlemOneStop.com.

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Health

Hunger by Policy: SNAP cuts hit hardest in Black America

By JENNIFER PORTER GORE Word in Black

For the more than 10 million Black Americans who rely on federal food assistance to feed their families, the projected damage from food aid cuts was not just a warning. They were all but a done deal.

What President Trump claims as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), signed into law in 2025, slashed $187 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade, triggering new work requirements, restricting what recipients can buy, and stripping benefits from legal immigrants.

The result: More than 4 million people — a cohort the size of the Los Angeles population — have already lost SNAP since the law took effect. Hunger prevention advocates say Black Americans have been disproportionately affected, and that the worst is still ahead.

The average SNAP benefit amounts to just $187 a month — or barely $6 a day — to supplement a household’s food budget. For many recipients, that modest sum is the difference between consistent meals and food insecurity.

Despite time-worn narratives about SNAP recipients being unemployed, Census Bureau data show that more than 75% of households receiving SNAP benefits include at least one working person. The reality is SNAP is not a program for people who won’t work — it’s a program for people whose work doesn’t pay enough.

Who is affected

Dating back to the 1960s and President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society agenda, SNAP currently serves approximately 42 million Americans each month at an annual cost of roughly $113 billion, nearly all of which goes directly to food benefits.

Roughly 26% of SNAP participants — approximately 10.2 million people — are Black. Experts say the participation rate reflects both the program’s reach into lowincome communities and the persistent racial wealth and wage gaps that leave Black families with fewer financial cushions when income falls short.

New work requirements in the OBBBA budget have made it even harder for people to qualify for help with putting food on the table.

Federal work requirements for SNAP are not new. For years, recipients aged 16 to 59 who are physically able to work have been required to register for employment and participate in job training programs. SNAP recipients who already have a job are barred from quitting or working less than 30 hours per week.

OBBBA, however, significantly expanded to whom those requirements apply — and sharply limited the circumstances under which states can shield their residents from those restrictions.

More people at risk

Under the new law, adults between the ages of 55 and 64, who had been exempt, now must work, volunteer, or participate in job training for at least 80 hours per month to keep their benefits beyond three months. Parents whose youngest child is 14 or older are newly subject to requirements, as are veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth, who lose exemptions they previously held.

States can now waive the requirements only in areas where unemployment exceeds 10% — a much higher bar than before. Analysts say that will make it substantially harder for states to provide relief, even in communities where jobs are scarce.

The impact on Black recipients is expected to be particularly severe.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that more than 1 million adults aged 55 and older will lose food assistance under the expanded rules. The law also strips SNAP eligibility from legal immigrants — a provision that advocates say falls heavily on Black and Latino communities with residents from Caribbean and Central American countries.

The cuts and work requirements are only part of the story. For the first time, the federal government is allowing states to decide what

SNAP recipients can and cannot purchase — a fundamental shift away from a uniform national standard toward a fragmented, state-by-state system that civil rights and nutrition advocates say disproportionately harms Black communities the most.

Banned from the shopping cart

Last May, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed the first-of-its-kind waiver for Nebraska, prohibiting SNAP recipients from buying sodas and energy drinks; Indiana and Iowa followed suit within days. Those restrictions took effect on January 1; to date, 22 states ban consumers from spending SNAP funds on certain items, ranging from candy and sweetened beverages to prepared desserts.

Several of the states moving fastest to implement purchasing restrictions have some of the largest Black populations in the country. Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina are among those phasing in changes this year. Texas’s restrictions took effect last month and were expected to affect more than 3.5 million recipients.

Opponents point out the irony: The same states restricting what low-income Black residents can buy with their food benefits have made next to no investments in grocery access in Black neighborhoods. As a result, many residents depend on corner stores and convenience markets, where junk food is abundant but fresh fruits and vegetables are harder to find.

Recipients in five states — Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia — have sued to roll back the restrictions. They argue that the Trump administration’s sweeping changes violated the law and were made outside of established procedures. The outcome of that litigation could determine whether the restrictions survive or are sent back to the drawing board.

Struggling food banks

As millions of Americans lose SNAP benefits, hunger prevention advocates are sounding the alarm about what comes next — and what cannot fill the void.

SNAP provides nine meals for every one meal supplied by emergency food charities, food banks, and pantries. The nation’s charitable food system, already stretched beyond capacity after the economic disruptions of recent years, is not equipped to absorb the losses now being engineered by federal policy.

Advocates estimated that OBBBA’s changes will result in more than 6 billion fewer meals being available to low-income Americans. For Black communities, the impact is compounded by geography. Food banks and pantries are unevenly distributed nationwide, and with many recipients living in food-desert neighborhoods, emergency food resources are already thin. During a Congressional hearing last month, anti-hunger advocates were direct: No combination of local food drives, food pantries, or private charity can replace a government program that feeds millions of people each day.

Religion & Spirituality

Black churches transform food aid into food justice

By REV. DOROTHY S. BOULWARE Word in Black

The Black church has long understood that hunger is political.

Long before researchers coined phrases like “food insecurity” or “food apartheid,” Black congregations were feeding families abandoned by segregated systems, economic inequality, and government neglect. But a new generation of faith leaders is asking a harder question: What if the church stopped merely responding to hunger and started confronting the system producing it?

Across the country, Black churches are building gardens, supporting Black farmers, and reframing food as an issue of justice, health, and self-determination. At the center of that movement is the Black Church Food Security Network, which emerged from Baltimore’s 2015 uprising with a mission that goes far beyond emergency meals; helping Black communities reclaim power over what they eat, where it comes from, and who profits from it.

That mission is unfolding against the backdrop of a worsening hunger crisis — driven by inflation, food deserts, and nutritional inequity — that disproportionately affects Black Americans.

Worsening Crisis

The Urban Institute reported in 2025 that more than one in three Black adults reported household food insecurity, nearly double the rate for white adults. Among Black working-age adults, the number climbed to 39%. As many as 23% of Black children live in poverty, up to three times higher than white children.

The modern issues surrounding hunger and food access in Black neighborhoods have required new solutions, including a drive to not just put food in stomachs but also address what should be on the plates of hungry people.

In Baltimore, seeds of that movement were planted following the 2015 police killing of Freddie Gray. The protests, curfews, and service shutdowns it triggered left many Black residents struggling to access basic necessities — and inspired Rev. Heber Brown III, founder of the Black Church Food Security Network, to create a solution.

In a 2019 essay, Brown wrote that the moment of crisis, “when public services provided by city government and nonprofit organizations withdrew from the African American community, … a window of opportunity opened for the church to step forward.”

‘Alternative Food System’ Churches quickly transformed from worship spaces into emergency response hubs, coordinating food distribution after resi-

dents called saying neighborhood stores had shut down during the unrest. Drawing inspiration from figures like Fannie Lou Hamer, the effort connected Black churches with Black farmers to create, what Brown described as, “an alternative food system.”

“Abandoned by government and nonprofits and forced to fend for ourselves, we in the African American community organized and created a system to meet our own basic needs,” Brown wrote.

That emergency response eventually evolved into the Black Church Food Security Network, which now partners with congregations, seminaries, and farmers across multiple states. The goal is to address what Brown calls “the systemic problem of food apartheid” in Black communities.

“Our current food system — which is characterized by greed, abuses of power, expediency at any cost, legacies of enslavement, and conscience-less consumption — does not resemble the truest virtues of the Christian faith,” Brown wrote. “This corporatized food system is not only inhibiting human flourishing, but it is literally killing humans.”

Elsewhere in Maryland, one ministry has become a striking example of what happens when faith and food justice meet in the soil.

First Fruits Farm was founded by Rick and Carol Bernstein with a mission rooted deeply in scripture and service. The name itself refers to the Biblical principle of offering one’s “first fruits” to God — the best and the first, not leftovers. The concept behind the farm is simple: all of the produce grown there is donated to feed hungry people.

Church volunteers and civic groups plant, harvest, and package fresh vegetables. The food is then distributed through food banks, shelters, and community ministries.

After COVID, the farm distributed more than 1.1 million pounds of potatoes, 406,000 pounds of corn, 95,000 pounds of cabbage, and other produce to food banks, homeless shelters, churches, and households. First Fruits has delivered as far away as Texas.

“We believe God called us to grow food for people who need it most,” Bernstein said in previous interviews about the ministry’s mission. “This is not about charity — it’s about obedience and stewardship.”

That spirit of stewardship resonates strongly within the Black church, where congregations understood hunger as a communal responsibility. If a member

struggled, the church responded by providing meals or groceries.

Theology of Care

During the Civil Rights Movement, churches not only organized protests and voter drives; they also organized meals. Women’s auxiliaries prepared food for marchers. Congregations fed families displaced by economic retaliation.

Today, that same spirit continues through community refrigerators, mobile pantries, meal delivery programs, and Black churches are adapting to meet modern needs while practicing a theology of care.

In cities where grocery stores have disappeared, some congregations host weekly food giveaways that serve hundreds of families. Others operate soup kitchens, school backpack programs, and senior meal deliveries. Increasingly, churches are also teaching nutrition, gardening, and sustainability as part of holistic ministry.

“It’s the church being the church outside the building,” Bernstein said. “The Black church has always understood the power of feeding people. Meals open doors for ministry, healing, and relationships in ways few other things can.”

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK, STORMFIELD CAPITAL FUNDING I, LLC , Plaintiff, against 2647 BROADWAY APTS LLC; JONAH BAMBERGER; AMIR HELDI; ZVI CHALAMISH; AMACO MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCTION INC; IMP PLUMBING HEATING CORP; NYC FIRE SERVICES GUARDS LLC; CITY OF NEW YORK ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK; and JOHN DOE NO. 1 THROUGH JOHN DOE NO. XXX, inclusive, the last thirty names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint, Defendants. INDEX NO. 850438/2025. TO DEFENDANTS JONAH BAMBERGER AND AMIR HELDI: You are hereby summoned to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); 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. The basis of venue is the location of the subject property, which is New York County, New York. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an Order of Francis A. Kahn, III, a Justice of the Supreme court, dated April 16, 2026, and filed with the supporting papers in the New York County Clerk’s Office. This is an action to foreclose on the property known as 2647-2649 Broadway, New York, New York 10025, legal description: Block 1872 and Lot 52 of the New York County Tax Assessment Map in the Borough of Manhattan, State of New York. The relief sought is the finding that Plaintiff has a first and best lien on the property; an Order finding that Plaintiff has the legal right and is authorized to foreclose on the Property; an Order finding the such foreclosure will vest in the purchaser thereat free and clear title to the Property, free of any and all interests that are or might be asserted by the Defendants; an Order that Plaintiff has the right to credit bid at such foreclosure sale any and all amounts due to Plaintiff under the Loan Documents; an Order directing that the Sheriff of New York County, New York, or any referee appointed in this action, foreclose

Manhattan, State of New York. The relief sought is the finding that Plaintiff has a first and best lien on the property; an Order finding that Plaintiff has the legal right and is authorized to foreclose on the Property; an Order finding the such foreclosure will vest in the purchaser thereat free and clear title to the Property, free of any and all interests that are or might be asserted by the Defendants; an Order that Plaintiff has the right to credit bid at such foreclosure sale any and all amounts due to Plaintiff under the Loan Documents; an Order directing that the Sheriff of New York County, New York, or any referee appointed in this action, foreclose the Property and deliver the title to the successful bidder at such foreclosure; an Order directing how to apply the proceeds of the sale; an Order that Borrower has no right of redemption or reinstatement with respect to the Property; and an Order finding that Plaintiff has preserved its right to pursue any deficiency that may exist. Dated: April 27, 2026, POLSINELLI PC, Aaron P. Davis, Esq., Attorneys for Plaintiff STORMFIELD CAPITAL FUNDING I, LLC, 600 Third Avenue, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10016, adavis@polsinelli.com, (212) 803-9918.

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NEW YORK

KNOWN AS TRUMP PARC EAST CONDOMINIUM AND BY THE STREET NUMBER 100 CENTRAL PARK SOUTH, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, COUNTY, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK, SAID UNIT BEING DESIGNATED AND DESCRIBED BY THE ABOVE UNIT NO. IN A CERTAIN DECLARATION DATED APRIL 2, 1998, MADE BY TRUMP CPS LLC PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 9-B OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (THE "CONDOMINIUM ACT")

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.

CLASSIFIED ADS

Said premises known as 102 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019

Approximate amount of lien

$33,293.32 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850154/2023.

SOFIA BALILE, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC

TOGETHER WITH AN UNDIVIDED 0.7139 PERCENTAGE INTEREST IN THE COMMON ELEMENTS AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE DECLARATION;

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

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590

DLG# 39143 {* AMSTERDAM*}

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK

57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS

COUNTY OF NEW YORK THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NA, SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NA, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE CHASE MORTGAGE FINANCE TRUST FOR MULTICLASS PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007S1,

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NA, SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NA, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE CHASE MORTGAGE FINANCE TRUST FOR MULTICLASS PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007S1,

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 850629/2023. Georgia Papazis, 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.

-againstSVETLANA V. BUKHARIN JUSTER, 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 March 18, 2026, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NA, SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NA, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE CHASE MORTGAGE FINANCE TRUST FOR MULTICLASS PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007S1 is the Plaintiff and SVETLANA V. BUKHARIN JUSTER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the NEW YORK COUNTY CIVIL SUPREME COURTHOUSE, ROOM 252, 60 CENTRE STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10007, on June 2, 2026 at 2:15PM, premises known as 100 CENTRAL PARKWAY SOUTH, 6G, NEW YORK, NY 10019; and the following tax map identification: 1011-7033.

-againstSVETLANA V. BUKHARIN JUSTER, 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 March 18, 2026, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NA, SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NA, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE CHASE MORTGAGE FINANCE TRUST FOR MULTICLASS PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007S1 is the Plaintiff and SVETLANA V. BUKHARIN JUSTER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the NEW YORK COUNTY CIVIL SUPREME COURTHOUSE, ROOM 252, 60 CENTRE STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10007, on June 2, 2026 at 2:15PM, premises known as 100 CENTRAL PARKWAY SOUTH, 6G, NEW YORK, NY 10019; and the following tax map identification: 1011-7033. THE CONDOMINIUM UNIT (THE "UNIT") KNOWN AS UNIT NO. 6G IN THE BUILDING (THE "BUILDING") KNOWN AS TRUMP PARC EAST CONDOMINIUM AND BY THE STREET NUMBER

100 CENTRAL PARK SOUTH, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, COUNTY, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK, SAID UNIT BEING DESIGNATED AND DESCRIBED BY THE ABOVE UNIT NO. IN A CERTAIN DECLARATION DATED APRIL 2, 1998, MADE BY TRUMP CPS LLC PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 9-B OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (THE "CONDOMINIUM ACT")

THE CONDOMINIUM UNIT (THE "UNIT") KNOWN AS UNIT NO. 6G IN THE BUILDING (THE "BUILDING") KNOWN AS TRUMP PARC EAST CONDOMINIUM AND BY THE STREET NUMBER 100 CENTRAL PARK SOUTH, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, COUNTY, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK, SAID UNIT BEING DESIGNATED AND DESCRIBED BY THE ABOVE UNIT NO. IN A CERTAIN DECLARATION DATED APRIL 2, 1998, MADE BY TRUMP CPS LLC PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 9-B OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (THE "CONDOMINIUM

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. 57TH ST. VACATION OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff ‑against‑ PETER WIND OLSEN, LIS BETH STEEN OLSEN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 25, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. premis es 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 .009864% common interest percentage. This is a foreclosure on ownership inter est in a timeshare unit, a studio penthouse on a floating use basis every year, in accordance with and subject to declara tions. 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 $33,293.32 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850154/2023.

SOFIA BALILE, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

ASSOCIATION, INC., BY AND THROUGH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Plaintiff, -againstSPENCER NUTTING, if living, and if he be dead, any and all persons unknown to Plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs-at-law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs-at-law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to Plaintiff, Defendants. INDEX NO.: 850217/2023 FILED: April 30, 2026 Plaintiff designates New York County as the place of trial pursuant to CPLR §507 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, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the plaintiff's attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within 30 days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant an Order of the Hon. Francis A. Kahn III, a Justice of the Supreme Court, of New York County, dated April 21, 2026 and entered April 28, 2026. Dated: April 21, 2026 Westbury, New York. Maria Sideris, Esq. DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorneys for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590 (516) 876-0800

Notice of Qualification of PLG INSURANCE SERVICES LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/31/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 01/29/26. SSNY

Notice of Qualification of PLG INSURANCE SERVICES LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/31/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 01/29/26. SSNY designated as 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 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Refilling the Well Mental Health Counseling, PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/30/2026. 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 Yekis Fortunato: 52 Arden Street, Apt. 2N, New York, NY 10040. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Eric David LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/21/2026. 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 Eric David: 865 W End Ave, 6C, New York, NY 10025. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Hideaway Hospitality LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/11/2026. 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 John Anthony Ober: 3520 Leverich St Apt C447 Jackson Heights NY 11372. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

WWK Realty LLC, Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 07/25/23. Off Loc: New York County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC, 15 Division St Fl 2, New York NY 10002. Purpose: to engage in any lawful act.

NDL 305 LLC Art of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/01/2025. Office: NEW YORK COUNTY. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK.

VOYA RETIREMENT INSUR

ANCE AND ANNUITY COMPA

NY, Plaintiff ‑against‑ UNIWAY

PARTNERS, L.P., et al Defen dant(s). Pursuant to a Decision and Order on Motion and Con sent Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 10, 2026, and entered on March 30, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 2:15 p.m.

PARCEL I:

The Condominium Unit (herein after referred to as the "Unit") in the building (hereinafter referred to as the "Building") known as the 30 East Ninth Street Con dominium, and by the Street Number 30 East 9th Street, Borough of Manhattan, Coun ty, City and State of New York, said Unit being designated and described as Unit No. 2 (Com mercial) in a certain Declaration dated 3/5/1986, made by the Sponsor pursuant to Article 9‑B of the Real Property Law of the State of New York (hereinafter referred to as the "Condomini um Act") establishing a plan for condominium ownership of the building and land (hereinafter referred to as the "Land"), upon which the Building is situate (which Land is more particularly described below), which Decla ration was recorded in the New York County Office of the Reg ister of The City of New York on 5/9/1986 in Reel 1061 Page 1910, as amended and Restat ed by Amended and Restated Declaration of Condominium, dated 5/12/1986 and recorded 5/13/1986 in Reel 1063 Page 329, and further amended and restated by Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Condominium, dated 7/29/1986 and recorded 7/30/1986 in Reel 1095 Page 1991 (which decla ration and amendments thereto are hereinafter collectively re ferred to as the "Declaration").

This Unit is also designated as Tax Lot 1002 in Block 560 of the Borough of Manhattan on the Tax Map of the Real Prop erty Assessment Department of the City of New York and on the Floor Plans of the Building filed with said Assessment Depart ment as Condominium Plan No. 306, and also filed in the City Register's Office on 5/9/1986 as Map No. 4456. TOGETHER with an undivided 27.84% interest in the Common Elements (as such term is defined in the Dec laration). The Land on which the Building containing said Unit is more particularly bounded and 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, which comprises Lots 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132 and 133 as shown on Map of Property of the Trustees of the Sailor's Snug Harbor in the City of New York, made by Edwin Smith, C.S., dated 4/13/1848 and filed in the Office of the Register of the City of New York, New York County, now Register of the City of New York on 4/27/1848 as Map No. 158, which said Lots taken together are bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the cor ner formed by the southerly side of East 9th Street, and the east erly side of University Place; RUNNING THENCE easterly and along the southerly side of East 9th Street, 227 feet 7‑3/4 inches. THENCE in a souther ly direction at right angles to the southerly side of East 9th

erly side of University Place; RUNNING THENCE easterly and along the southerly side of East 9th Street, 227 feet 7‑3/4 inches. THENCE in a souther ly direction at right angles to the southerly side of East 9th Street, 187 feet 10 inches to the northerly side of East 8th Street; THENCE westerly and along the northerly side of East 8th Street, 241 feet 3‑5/8 inches to the easterly side of University Place; and THENCE northerly along the easterly side of Uni versity Place, 188 feet 3‑7/8 inches to the point or place of BEGINNING. Block: 560 Lot: 1002

East 9th Street, 227 feet 7‑3/4 inches. THENCE in a souther ly direction at right angles to the southerly side of East 9th Street, 187 feet 10 inches to the northerly side of East 8th Street; THENCE westerly and along the northerly side of East 8th Street, 241 feet 3‑5/8 inches to the easterly side of University Place; and THENCE northerly along the easterly side of Uni versity Place, 188 feet 3‑7/8 inches to the point or place of BEGINNING. Block: 560 Lot: 1002

Said premises known as 21 UNIVERSITY PLACE a/k/a 30 EAST 9TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10003

Said premises known as 21 UNIVERSITY PLACE a/k/a 30 EAST 9TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10003

PARCEL 2:

PARCEL 2:

The Condominium Unit (herein after referred to as the "Unit") in the building (hereinafter referred to as the "Building) known as the 40 East Ninth Street Con dominium and by the Street Number 40 East 9th Street, Borough of Manhattan, Coun ty, City and State of New York, said Unit being designated and described as Unit No. 2 (Com mercial) in a certain declaration dated 3/5/1986, made by the Sponsor pursuant to Article 9‑B of the Real Property Law of the State of New York (hereinafter referred so as the "Condomini um Act"), establishing a plan for condominium ownership of the building and land (hereinafter referred to as the "Land"), upon which the Building is situate (which Land is more particularly described below), which Decla ration was recorded in the New York County Office of the Reg ister of The City of New York on 5/9/1986 in Reel 1061 Page 1971, as amended and Restat ed by Amended and Restated Declaration of Condominium, dated 5/12/1986 and recorded 5/13/1986 in Reel 1063 Page 186, and further amended and restated by Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Condominium, dated 7/29/1986 and recorded 7/30/1986 in Reel 1095 Page 1840 (which decla ration and amendments thereto are hereinafter collectively re ferred so as the "Declaration"). This Unit is also designated as Tax Lot 1102 in Block 560 of the Borough of Manhattan on the Tax Map of the Real Prop erty Assessment Department of the City of New York and on the Floor Plans of the Building filed with said Assessment Depart ment as Condominium Plan No. 304, and also filed in the City Register's Office on 5/9/1986, as Map No. 4455. TOGETHER with an undivided 16.87% inter est in the Common Elements (as such term is defined in the Declaration). The Land on which the Building containing said Unit is more particular ly bounded and 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, which com prises Lots 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 123 and 124 in Block 560, as shown on map of property of Lessor, made by Edwin Smith, City Surveyor, dated 4/13/1848 and filed in the Office of the Register of the County of New York, now Reg ister of the City of New York, New York County on 4/27/1848 as Map No. 158, which said lots taken together are bounded on the North by East 9th Street, on the West by the easterly lines of Lots 125 and 173, respectively in Block 560, as shown on said map on the South by East 8th with Street and on the East by

The Condominium Unit (herein after referred to as the "Unit") in the building (hereinafter referred to as the "Building) known as the 40 East Ninth Street Con dominium and by the Street Number 40 East 9th Street, Borough of Manhattan, Coun ty, City and State of New York, said Unit being designated and described as Unit No. 2 (Com mercial) in a certain declaration dated 3/5/1986, made by the Sponsor pursuant to Article 9‑B of the Real Property Law of the State of New York (hereinafter referred so as the "Condomini um Act"), establishing a plan for condominium ownership of the building and land (hereinafter referred to as the "Land"), upon which the Building is situate (which Land is more particularly described below), which Decla ration was recorded in the New York County Office of the Reg ister of The City of New York on 5/9/1986 in Reel 1061 Page 1971, as amended and Restat ed by Amended and Restated Declaration of Condominium, dated 5/12/1986 and recorded 5/13/1986 in Reel 1063 Page 186, and further amended and restated by Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Condominium, dated 7/29/1986 and recorded 7/30/1986 in Reel 1095 Page 1840 (which decla ration and amendments thereto are hereinafter collectively re ferred so as the "Declaration"). This Unit is also designated as Tax Lot 1102 in Block 560 of the Borough of Manhattan on the Tax Map of the Real Prop erty Assessment Department of the City of New York and on the Floor Plans of the Building filed with said Assessment Depart ment as Condominium Plan No. 304, and also filed in the City Register's Office on 5/9/1986, as Map No. 4455. TOGETHER with an undivided 16.87% inter est in the Common Elements (as such term is defined in the Declaration). The Land on which the Building containing said Unit is more particular ly bounded and 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, which com prises Lots 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 123 and 124 in Block 560, as shown on map of property of Lessor, made by Edwin Smith, City Surveyor, dated 4/13/1848 and filed in the Office of the Register of the County of New York, now Reg ister of the City of New York, New York County on 4/27/1848 as Map No. 158, which said lots taken together are bounded on the North by East 9th Street, on the West by the easterly lines of Lots 125 and 173, respectively in Block 560, as shown on said map on the South by East 8th with Street and on the East by the westerly lines of Lots 116 and 182, respectively in Block 560, as shown on said map,

Lots 125 and 173, respectively in Block 560, as shown on said map on the South by East 8th with Street and on the East by the westerly lines of Lots 116 and 182, respectively in Block 560, as shown on said map, which plot is more particularly bounded and described as fol lows: BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of East 9th Street, 248 feet 1‑7/8 inches westerly from the corner formed by the intersection of said south erly side of East 9th Street, and the westerly side of Broadway; RUNNING THENCE southerly at right angles to the southerly side of East 9th Street, a dis tance of 187 feet 10 inches to the northerly side of East 8th Street, which point is distant 235 feet 7 inches westerly from the corner formed by the inter section of the said northerly side of East 8th Street, with the westerly side of Broadway; THENCE westerly at right an gles to the last mentioned line and along the northerly side of East 8th Street, a distance of 200 feet to a point, 241 feet 3‑5/8 inches easterly from the corner formed by the intersec tion of the said northerly side of East 8th Street, with the east erly side of University Place; THENCE northerly at right angles to the northerly side of East 8th Street, a distance of 187 feet 10 inches to the south erly side of East 9th Street, which point is distant 227 feet 7‑3/4 inches easterly from the intersection of the said souther ly side of East 9th Street, with the easterly side of University Place; THENCE easterly at right angles to the last mentioned line of 200 feet to the point or place of BEGIN NING. Block: 560 Lot: 1102 Said premises known as 40 EAST 9TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10003

PARCEL 3:

The Condominium Unit (herein after referred to as the "Unit") in the building (hereinafter referred to as the "Building") known as the 60 East Ninth Street Con dominium and by the Street Number 60 East 9th Street, Borough of Manhattan, Coun ty, City and State of New York, said Unit being designated and described as Unit No. 2 (Com mercial) in a certain Declaration dated 3/5/1986, made by the Sponsor pursuant to Article 9‑B of the Real Property Law of the State of New York (hereinafter referred to as the "Condomini um Act"), establishing a plan for condominium ownership of the Building and land (hereinafter referred to as the "Land"), upon which the Building is situate (which Land is more particularly described below), which Decla ration was recorded in the New York County Office of the Reg ister of The City of New York on 5/9/1986 in Reel 1061 Page 1849, as amended and Restat ed by Amended and Restated Declaration of Condominium, dated 5/12/1986 and recorded 5/13/1986 in Reel 1063 Page 257, and further amended and restated by Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Condominium, dated 7/29/1986 and recorded 7/30/1986 in Reel 1095 Page 1916 (which decla ration and amendments thereto are hereinafter collectively re ferred to as the "Declaration"). This Unit is also designated as Section 2 Tax Lot 1202 in Block 560 of the Borough of Manhat tan on the Tax Map of the Real Property Assessment Depart ment of the City of New York and on the Floor Plans of the Building filed with said Assess ment Department as Condo minium Plan No. 303, and also filed in the City Register's Office on 5/9/1986 as Map No. 4457.

TOGETHER with an undivided

and on the Floor Plans of the Building filed with said Assess ment Department as Condo minium Plan No. 303, and also filed in the City Register's Office on 5/9/1986 as Map No. 4457. TOGETHER with an undivided 27.34% interest in the Common Elements (as such term is de fined in the Declaration). The Land on which the Building con taining said Unit is more partic ularly bounded and 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, which com prises Lots 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111,112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 182, 183, 184, 185 and 186 in Block 560, as shown on Map of Property of the Trust ees of the Sailor's Snug Harbor in the City of New York, made by Edwin Smith, C.S., dated 4/13/1848 and filed in the Of fice of the Register of the City of New York, New York County on 4/27/1848 as Map No. 158, which said lots taken together are bounded on the North by East Ninth Street, on the East by Broadway, on the South by East Eighth Street, and on the West by easterly lines of Lots 117 and 181, respectively in Block 560 as shown on said map, and which said lots are more particularly bounded and described as follows: BEGIN NING at the corner formed by the intersection of the souther ly side of East 9th Street, with the westerly side of Broadway; RUNNING THENCE souther ly along the westerly side of Broadway, 188 feet 3 inches to the corner formed by the inter section of the northerly side of East 8th Street, with the west erly side of Broadway; THENCE westerly along the northerly side of East 8th Street, 235 feet 7 inches: THENCE northerly in a straight line and at right an gles to East 8th Street and East 9th Street, 187 feet 10 inches to the southerly side of East 9th Street; THENCE easterly along the southerly side of East 9th Street, 248 feet 1‑7/8 inches to the corner, the point or place of BEGINNING. Block: 560 Lot: 1202

Said premises known as 60 EAST 9TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10003

Approximate amount of lien $56,906,206.99 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850412/2025.

ROBERTA E. ASHKIN, ESQ., Referee KRISS & FEUERSTEIN LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 360 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10017

{* AMSTERDAM*}

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff -against- TREVOR C. MORAN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated April 22, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse located in Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street New York, NY on June 2, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. The Unit known as Residential Unit No. 10A in the building known as The Heritage at Trump Place, 240 Riverside Boulevard, in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, Together with an undivided 0.7911% interest in the common elements. Block: 1171 Tax Lot: 2111. Said premises known as 240 RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD, UNIT 10A, NEW YORK, NY 10069. Approximate amount of lien $5,673,292.89 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions

1171 Tax Lot: 2111. Said premises known as 240 RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD, UNIT 10A, NEW YORK, NY 10069. Approximate amount of lien $5,673,292.89 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Index Number 850110/2019.

THOMAS KLEINBERGER, ESQ., Referee, David A. Gallo & Associates LLP, Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030. File# 5025.1930 {* AMSTERDAM*}

SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK.

CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff ‑against‑ ONE57 36B LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated January 16, 2026 and entered on March 9, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on June 2, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, in the prem ises known as "The 157 West 57th Street Condominium" Unit being designated and de scribed as Unit No. 36B. Togeth er with an undivided 0.2668% interest in the General Common Elements. Block: 1010 Lot: 1720 Said premises known as 157 WEST 57TH STREET, UNIT 36B, NEW YORK, NY 10019

Approximate amount of lien $5,416,461.44 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgag ee’s attorney. Index Number 850387/2024. ROBERTA ASHKIN, ESQ., Ref eree

David A. Gallo & Associates LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030 File# 7777.373 {* AMSTERDAM*}

SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK.

THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE BROAD EXCHANGE BUILDING CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiff ‑against‑ NICOLE LAM BERT, et al Defendant(s). Pur suant to a Judgment of Foreclo sure and Sale entered herein and dated April 10, 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, June 16, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County, City and State of New York, said Unit be ing designated and described as Unit C‑PH2 in the Building known as "The Broad Exchange Building Condominium" togeth er with an undivided 0.5659% interest in the common ele ments. Block: 25 Lot: 1311

Said premises known as 25 BROAD STREET, UNIT C‑PH2, NEW YORK, NY

Approximate amount of lien $123,342.47 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject

Said premises known as 25 BROAD STREET, UNIT C‑PH2, NEW YORK, NY

Approximate amount of lien $123,342.47 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850355/2025.

JASON PAUL SACKOOR, ESQ., Referee

Rivkin Radler LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 477 Madison Avenue, Suite 410, New York, NY 10022

{* AMSTERDAM*} SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF BRONX

OCWEN LOAN SERVICING, LLC,

-against-

JORGE MUJICA, 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 Bronx on August 16, 2017, wherein OCWEN LOAN SERVICING, LLC is the Plaintiff and JORGE MUJICA, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the BRONX COUNTY SUPREME COURT, 851 GRAND CONCOURSE, COURTROOM 711, BRONX, NY 10451, on June 1, 2026 at 2:15PM, premises known as 1035 HOLLYWOOD AVENUE, BRONX, NY 10465; and the following tax map identification: 5421-54.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE BOROUGH AND COUNTY OF BRONX, CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 380444/2009E. Jody P. Vorchheimer, 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.

Notice of formation of Mestun Cosmo LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/26/2026. 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 Elif Ozyurekoglu : 145 East 48th Street Apt 32B New York, NY 10017. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Alessandra Stanley, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/10/2025. 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: 270 Riverside Drive, Apt 12B, New York, NY 10025. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK.

BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE 254 PARK AVENUE SOUTH CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiff ‑against‑ PEDRO LUIS

GONZALEZ, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 10, 2026 and entered on March 30, 2026, I, the under signed Referee will sell at public auction in Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Borough of Man hattan, City, County and State of New York, being designated and described as Unit No. 4R in the Condominium known as "254 Park Avenue South Con dominium" together with an un divided 0.6639 percent interest in the common elements. Block: 849 Lot: 1636

Said premises known as 254 PARK AVENUE SOUTH, UNIT 4R, NEW YORK, NY 10010

Approximate amount of lien $33,303.99 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 159976/2025.

CLARK WHITSETT, ESQ., Ref eree

COZEN O'CONNOR

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 3 WTC, 175 Greenwich Street 55th Floor, New York, NY 10007

{* AMSTERDAM*} SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NEW YORK

JG FUNDING CORP., Plaintiff -against- 1363 FIRST OWNER LLC; 453 EAST 83RD STREET LLC; PERL WEISZ; CHESKIE WEISZ; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; SHARESTATES INVESTMENTS, LLC; LEVON CAPITAL LLC; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #99,", Defendant(s). Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale dated October 4, 2024 and entered on October 15, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 130 at the portico of the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on June 23, 2026 at 2:15 p.m., the premises known as 1363 1ST AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10021; Block 1448, Lot 24 and 453 E 83RD STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10028; Block 1563, Lot 121 as more fully described in the complaint and Judgment. Approximate amount of lien

$7,490,500.00 plus interest and costs

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 850430/2023

ELAINE SHAY, ESQ., Referee MENASHE AND LAPA LLP, ATTORNEY(S) FOR PLAINTIFF

400 RELLA BLVD., SUITE 190, SUFFERN, NY 10901

DATED: May 14, 2026

NOTICE OF FORMATION of JADED FLOWERS LLC. Arts of

Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/28/25. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 423 E 82nd St Apt C, New York, NY 10028. R/A: US Corp Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Av, #202, BK, NY 11228. Purpose: any lawful act.

MTA METRO-NORTH RAILROAD Contract & Purchasing Solicitations

RFP 548655 - Design, Manufacture, Test, Deliver & Warranty of New Single Level Passenger Coach Cars. RFP Opening due date: 10/1/2026 at 3:00 PM.

More detailed info. & the MTA MNR contact for the above solicitation(s) can be found on the MTA Vendor Portal at http:// www.mymta.info/vendor Contact: Gregory Collymore–gregory.collymore@mnr.org

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF [WILKINSON FORGE & FOUNDRY LLC].Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on [04/13/2026]. Office Location [NY] County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The P.O address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the [LLC] served upon him/her is: [45 Main Street Suite 238 Brooklyn NY 11201]. The principal business address of the [LLC] is [199 Water St. , 34th fl, New York, NY 10038].

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF Wishlab LLC Application for Authority filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/10/26. Office Location New York County. LLC formed in California on 4/3/2026. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: Wishlab LLC at 9255 Sunset Blvd, 805, W. Hollywood, CA 90069. Reg. Agent: eResidentAgent, Inc. 1 Rockefeller Plz, 1204, NY, NY 10020. CA address of LLC is 9000 Sunset Blvd.,1260, W. Hollywood, CA 90069. The principal business address of the LLC is 9255 Sunset Blvd, 805, W. Hollywood, CA 90069. Certificate of LLC filed withSecy. of State of CA located at 1500 11th St, Sacramento, CA 95814. Purpose: any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , Loan Funder LLC, Series 31312 , Plaintiff, vs . 236 West One Enterprises Inc. , ET AL., Defendant(s).Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on September 17, 2024 and a Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on September 29, 2025 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on June 16, 2026 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 236 West 136th Street, New York, NY 10030. 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, City and State of New York, Block 1941 and Lot 49. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,541,954.90 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850683/2023. Clark Whitsett, Esq., Referee McCarter & English, LLP, 250 W 55th Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, successor in interest to Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Trustee, for Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Inc. Mortgage PassThrough Certificates, MLMI Series 2005-A5, Plaintiff AGAINST Angus W. McCallum a/k/a Angus McCallum; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 31, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at New York County Courthouse, see posted location outside room 130, at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on June 16, 2026, at 2:15PM, premises known as 200 East 65th Street, Unit 21K a/k/a 210 East 65th Street, Unit 21K, New York, NY 10065. 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, Block 1419 Lot 1296. Approximate amount of judgment $781,965.98 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 850399/2023. Thomas R. Kleinberger, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: April 20, 2026 For sale information, please visit www.Auction. com or call (800) 280-2831 89916

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE SECURITIES, INC., MULTIFAMILY MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2018-SB57, Plaintiff, vs. 145 allen legacy ltd liability co., ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 1, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the New York County Supreme Court, room assignment will be posted outside of room 130, 60 Centre Street, New York, New York 10007 on June 9, 2026 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 145 Allen Street, New York, New York 10002. 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 415 and Lot 22. Approximate amount of judgment is $2,682,806.98 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850259/2025. Sofia Balile, Esq., Referee McCarter & English, LLP, 250 W 55th Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff

Notice of formation of 203 W 90th 2G LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/30/2026. 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 Peta Couzens : 1060 Logan Blvd S, Naples Fl 34116. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NEW YORK COUNTY. FLUSHING BANK, Plaintiff. vs. LUIS A. DIAZ, JR., et al Defendant(s). Index #850207/2025. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale and decision + order on motion entered April 8, 2026 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on June 9, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. ALL that certain plot, piece of parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough and County of the Manhattan, City and State of New York known as 171 East 111th Street, New York, NY a/k/a Block 1639, Lot 29. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,232,233.61 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

RONALD ZEZIMA, Referee. WESTERMAN BALL EDERER MILLER ZUCKER & SHARFSTEIN, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 1201 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556. #102915

Notice of Qualification of MAG 122 VARICK DEVELOPER LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/30/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/20/26. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., P.O. Box 898, Dover, DE 19903. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York , SIG CRE 2023 Venture LLC , Plaintiff, vs . Area Columbus LLC , ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on April 3, 2026 , I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction, assigned room will be posted outside of Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on June 9, 2026 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 60 Columbus Circle, Office Unit-A2, New York, NY 10023. 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 1049 and Lot 1242 together with an undivided 1.1634 percent interest in the Common Elements, as well as all personal property of Defendant as identified in that certain Mortgage Consolidation, Modification, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated as of April 2, 2018, and recorded on April 4, 2018 as CRFN 2018000112982, and excluding any funds held by Plaintiff in any reserve escrow or suspense fund, excluding any funds held by Plaintiff in any cash management account, and excluding any funds held by the court-appointed receiver. Approximate amount of judgment is $35,859,621.49 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850432/2024. Jeffrey R. Miller, Esq., Referee Polsinelli PC, Alina Levi, Esq., 600 Third Avenue, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10016, Attorneys for Plaintiff

Notice of formation of Wensta Design, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/29/2025. 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 BRETTE WINDHAUSEN: 228 East 13th St APT 21. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of Logistics Q&M LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 4/1/2026. Office Location: New York County, New York. SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to 45 Main St. Suite 238, Brooklyn, NY, 11201. Registered Agent: LegalZoom USCA, Inc. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY

OF New York, Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, Not in its Individual Capacity but Solely as Trustee of MFA 2021-INV2 Trust, Plaintiff, vs. 414 East 115 LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on January 14, 2025, and a Decision + Order on Motion entered on March 25, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction to be posted outside of at Room 130 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on June 16, 2026 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 414 East 115th Street, New York, NY 10029. 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 1708 and Lot 142. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,800,390.76 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850427/2023.

Tom Kleinberger, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 224262-2

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF New York, Athene Annuity and Life Company, Plaintiff, vs. 534W175TH LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order on Motion duly entered on March 12, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on June 2, 2026 at 2:15 p.m., premises known as 534 West 175th Street, New York, NY 10033. 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 2131 and Lot 35. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,788,234.28 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #850427/2024. Georgia Papazis, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 241847-1

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF DOUBLE LJK, LLC

Application for Authority filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/06/26 Office Location New York County. LLC formed in Florida on 3/03/26. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to:

DOUBLE LJK, LLC at 3920 North Ocean Drive, 15B, Riviera Beach, FL 33404. Reg. Agent: eResidentAgent, Inc.1 Rockefeller Plaza1204, NY, NY 10020. Florida address of LLC and principal business address of the LLC is 3920 North Ocean Dr, 15B, Riviera Beach, FL 33404. Certificate of LLC filed with Secy. of State of Florida located at 2661 Executive Center Circle, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Purpose: any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NEW YORK JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST Dean Conigliaro; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 30, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the New York County Courthouse outside room 130, at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 on June 16, 2026, at 2:15PM, premises known as 287 East Houston Street Unit 3D, New York, NY 10002. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, County and State of New York, Block 350 Lot 1407. Approximate amount of judgment $902,024.84 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 850153/2024. Clark Whitsett, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: April 9, 2026 89802

Notice of Qualification of OptionsBuddy LLC. Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/30/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed on 12/15/2025. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Wyoming Registered Agent: 1621 Central Ave #8720 Cheyenne WY 82001. Articles of Organization originally filed with Secretary of State (SOS). Herschler Bldg East Ste 100 & 101 Cheyenne WY 82002-0020 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification Plante & Moran, PLLC

Plante & Moran, PLLC (the "PLLC"), a professional service limited liability company formed on October 1, 2002 under the laws of the State of Michigan, filed an Application for Authority with the New York Department of State on December 30, 2025, pursuant to Section 1306 of the New York Limited Liability Company Law. The county in New York in which the office of the PLLC is located is New York County (Manhattan Borough). The PLLC is authorized to practice the profession of certified public accountancy and public accountancy in the State of New York. The Secretary of State of the State of New York has been designated as agent of the PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process served upon it to: 3000 Town Center, Suite 100, Southfield, Michigan 48075.

Notice of formation of FLIGHTLINE LEGAL, PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/27/2026. 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 COGENCY GLOBAL INC.: 122 EAST 42ND STREET, 18TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10168. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of Halo Software LLC. Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 9232025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed on 1/14/2022. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to FIRSTBASE REGISTERED AGENT INC.: 447 BROADWAY, 2ND FL #187 NEW YORK, NY, 10013. Articles of Organization originally filed with Secretary of State (SOS). Herschler Bldg East, Ste.100 & 101 Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of EDGE EDGECOMBE OWNER LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/31/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/16/26. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Edge Property Group, LLC, 3 West 57th St., 8th Fl., 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. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., #4, Dover, DE 19801. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of CORSICAN EAGLE, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/17/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 05/21/25. Princ. office of LLC: 84 Wooster St., Ste. 400, NY, NY 10012. 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: 221 W 9th St., PMB 959, Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of Bebida TCG LLC. Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/09/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed on 4/06/2026. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to CORPORATE SERVICE CENTER, INC.: 300 DELAWARE AVE., STE 210 Wilmington, DE 19801. Articles of Organization originally filed with Secretary of State (SOS). 130 West 25th Street Suite 5C, New York, NY 10001 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

WRECKTANGLE LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 04/03/2026. Office in New York Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 50 Riverside Blvd. Apt. 9M, New York, NY 10069. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of COLLEN LAW, PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/02/2026. 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 Peggy L. Collen: 390 Riverside Drive, #3C, New York, NY, P/B/A: 17 State Street, 40th Floor, New York, NY 10004 . Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of FYT NEW YORK 2 LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/09/2026. 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 BRANDON ZHI CHIN: 195 CANAL ST 203 NEW YORK NY, 10013. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of EAG PARTNERS SPV LLC

Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/17/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/24/26. 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 Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF FEGAN SCOTT LLP.

Notice of Registration filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/23/2026. Office Location New York County. LLP formed in IL on 2/3/2026. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005. Address of the principal office: 305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10007 . Certificate of LLP filed with IL Secretary of State, 115 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60603. Purpose: Practice of Law.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF MAXGEN SOLUTIONS LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Sec'y State of NY (SSNY) on 3/02/2026. Office Location: New York County. SSNY is designated agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail any process against the LLC to 22 West 83rd Street, #4B, New York, NY 10024. The principal business address of LLC is 22 West 83rd Street, #4B, New York, NY 10024. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of formation of Spriteview Capital, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/04/2026. 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 Jason Burak: 155 W 68th Street #29F, New York, NY 10023. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of NH 446 FULTON LLC

Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/17/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/20/26. SSNY designated as 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 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of DE, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of NW 150 GREEN STREET LENDER LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/24/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/15/26. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Northwind Group, 1700 Broadway, 25th Fl., 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 Secy. of State, State of DE, 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of ERICA KRAKOVITZ PSYD ,PLLC. Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/2025. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) formed on 10/27/2025. SSNY designated as agent of Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to ELISSA MULEE: KRAKOVITZ.ERICA@GMAIL. COM. Articles of Organization originally filed with Secretary of State (SOS). 4 OAK BRANCH DRIVE, BROOKFIELD, CT, 06804, USA Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of SUMOMON LLC. Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/27/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed on 8/22/2025. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to SUMOMON LLC: 630 NINTH AVENUE, SUITE 1411, NEW YORK, NY 10036. Articles of Organization originally filed with Secretary of State (SOS). 262 CHAPMAN ROAD, SUITE 240, NEWARK, DE 19702 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of 1934 ADAM LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/02/2026. 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 : 1934 BRONXDALE AVE SUITE 1, BRONX, NY 10462. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of Windchime Services, LLC. Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/06/2026. Office location: Seneca County. Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed on 03/10/2026. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Paracorp Incorporated: 2804 Gateway Oaks Dr., Ste 100, Sacramento, CA 95833. Articles of Organization originally filed with Secretary of State (SOS). c/o Paracorp Incorporated, 2140 S Dupont Highway, Camden, DE 19934 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of PROCELLARX, LLC. Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/25/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed on 2/23/2022. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to PROCELLARX, LLC: 5680 King Centre DR ST 600 Alexandria, VA 22315. Articles of Organization originally filed with Secretary of State (SOS). 5680 King Centre DR ST 600 Alexandria, VA 22315 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of KRANE NEW ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND 2 L.P. Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/29/26. Office location: NY County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 04/23/26. Duration of LP is Perpetual. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. 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 Secy. of State of the State of DE, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Firm of Kenneth M. Berman LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/10/2026. 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 Kenneth M. Berman: 228 Park Ave S. #547283, New York, NY 10003. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. SIG RCRS D MF 2023 VEN TURE 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 Court house, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY, in the courtroom des ignated by the posting outside of Room 130, on June 16, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. PARCEL 1: situate, lying and being in the

house, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY, in the courtroom des ignated by the posting outside of Room 130, on June 16, 2026 at 2:15 p.m.

PARCEL 1: situate, lying and being in the Borough of New York, County of New York, bounded and de scribed 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 25 feet by 99 feet 11 inches by 25 feet.

Block: 1802 Lot: 40

Said premises known as 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, bound ed and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of East 126th Street, distant 325 feet easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the said south erly side of East 126th Street and the easterly side of Second Avenue; being a plot 99 feet 11 inches by 25 feet by 99 feet 11 inches by 25 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 de scribed 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.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850136/2025.

ALLISON FURMAN, ESQ., Ref eree

Windels Marx Lane & Mitten dorf, LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 120 Albany Street Plaza, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 {* AMSTERDAM*}

Notice of Qualification of KINDLEWORTH SERVICES LLC

Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/10/26. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/31/26. 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 Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Bring It Back Boutique LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/16/2023. Office location: Schenectady County. SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Diane Rositano: dlee123789@gmail.com. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Just The Top, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/10/2026. Office Location New York County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: Just The Top, LLC at 888 7th Avenue 4th Floor, NY, NY 10106. Reg. Agent: eResidentAgent, Inc. 1 Rockefeller Plaza Suite 1204, NY, NY 10020. The principal business address of the LLC is 888 7th Avenue 4th Floor, NY, NY 10106. Purpose: any lawful activity.

LEGAL NOTICE: Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy. Policy Statement of West Village Care Rehabilitation and Nursing Center provides equal opportunities to all employees, applicants and admission, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender indemnity or expression, handicap, disability, source of sponsorship, source of payment, marital status, age, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Notice of formation of RDM Immigration Services LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/18/2026. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against it to 447 Broadway, 2nd Fl #1525, New York, NY 10013.

Notice of formation of Lumavec Group, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/12/2025. 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 United States Corporation Agents, Inc.: 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of MILLIE WIGS LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/17/2026. 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 LEGALCORP SOLUTIONS, LLC: 11 BROADWAY, SUITE 615 NEW YORK CITY, NY, 10004, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

THOMPSON 65 REALTY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/14/26. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 215 Devoe Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10705. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of NEW YORKS STUDIO SALON LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/21/2025. Office location: Queens County. 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: 10835 53Ave 2F Corona Queens, NY 11368. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF Vertigo Autos, LLC Application for Authority filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/20/26 . Office Location New York. LLC formed in DE on 07/10/2014. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: Vertigo Autos, LLC at 135 W 50th St, Fl 17, NY, NY 10020. Cert. of LLC filed with Secy of State of DE located at 401 Federal St, 4, Dover, DE 1990.Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of WHENYOU DESIGN LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 5/01/2026. 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 INC: 41 STATE ST, STE 112, ALBANY, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Carter & Stanley LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/01/26. Office Location New York County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: Carter & Stanley LLC at 888 7th Avenue 4th Floor, NY, NY 10106. The principal business address of the LLC is 888 7th Avenue 4th Floor, NY, NY 10106. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Elevate Support Services, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/26/2026. 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 Nina Mathieu: 437 East 12th Street Apt #15 New York, NY. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of HARBINGER ADVISORY LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY on 010/8/2026. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Cassiope Sydoriak, 99 John Street 1107, New York, NY 10038. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

19 EAST 92GP LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/30/26. Latest date to dissolve: 12/31/2080. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 80 Varick Street, Suite 1A, New York, NY 10013. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

CLARITY TAX COUNSEL PLLC

Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 04/17/2026. Office in New York Co. SSNY desig. agent of PLLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 43 West 43rd Street, , Suite 449, New York, NY 10036. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of mackenzie.jpg LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/20/2026. 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 Secretary of State of New York: New York Department of State Division of Corporations One Commerce Plaza 99 Washington Ave Albany, NY 12231. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of MITA Advisory, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/11/2026. 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 SSNY: 133 East 64th Street, Apt 2B, New York, NY 10065. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION of Myka NY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/17/2025. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Registered Agents Inc., 418 Broadway, Ste R, Albany, NY 12207. R/A: Registered Agents Inc., 418 Broadway, Ste R, Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION of Myka Window LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/20/2026. Office location: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 79 Melba Street, Milford, CT 06460. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Nutritional-E Coaching LLC.. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/06/2026. 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 Republic Registered Agent Services Inc.: 54 State Street, Suite 804, Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Simple Spaces Real Estate LLC, Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 10/18/24. Off Loc: New York County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC, 89 Division St, New York NY 10002. Purpose: to engage in any lawful act.

SUPREME COURT ‑ COUNTY OF NEW YORK. DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGIS TERED HOLDERS OF WFRBS COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE TRUST 2014‑ LC14, COM MERCIAL MORTGAGE PASS‑THROUGH CERTIFI CATES, SERIES 2014‑LC14, acting by and through its spe cial servicer, Rialto Capital Ad visors, LLC, as Special Servicer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated March 24, 2026 and entered on March 26, 2026, Plaintiff ‑against‑ COHEN RITZ RETAIL COMPANY, LLC, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Decision + Order Motion entered herein and dated March 2, 2026, I, the undersigned Ref eree will sell at public auction in Room 252 of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY on Tues day, June 23, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. As to Parcel I, Tax Lot 1301: Situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, known as “The 465 Park Av enue Condominium” together with an undivided 33‑1/3% in terest in the Common Elements. The Land: Situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, bounded and described as fol lows: BEGINNING at a point on the northerly side of 57th Street, distant 17 feet 6 inches easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the north erly side of 57th Street with the easterly side of Park Avenue; RUNNING THENCE northerly parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue, and part of the way through a party wall, 80 feet 5 inches; THENCE easterly parallel with the northerly side of 57th Street, 52 feet 6 inches more or less, to a point distant 70 feet easterly from the said easterly side of Park Avenue; RUNNING THENCE northerly again parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue 20 feet; RUNNING THENCE easterly again parallel with the norther ly side of 57th Street, 60 feet; RUNNING THENCE souther ly and again parallel with the easterly side of Park Avenue and part of the way through a party wall, 100 feet 5 inches to the northerly side of 57th Street; RUNNING THENCE westerly along the northerly side of 57th Street, 112 feet 6 inches to the point or place of BEGINNING.

As to Parcel II, Tax Lot 70: Leasehold interest in the land described below created pur suant to the Ground Lease de scribed on Exhibit B hereto:

Situate, lying and being in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York, bounded and described as fol lows: BEGINNING at a point on the northeasterly corner of 57th Street and Park Avenue; being a plot 80 feet by 17 feet 6 inches by 80 feet by 17 feet 6 inches. Block 1312 Lots: 1301 and 70

Said premises known as 465 PARK AVENUE a/k/a 101 EAST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10022

Approximate amount of lien $24,063,716.05 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850108/2025.

ELAINE SHAY, ESQ., Referee Holland & Knight LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 787 Seventh Avenue, 31st

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 850108/2025. ELAINE SHAY, ESQ., Referee Holland & Knight LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

787 Seventh Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10019 {* AMSTERDAM*}

Notice of Formation of 713 MADISON 28 TIC OWNER, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/31/26. Office location: NY County. 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, regd. agent upon whom and at which process may be served. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of Crucianelli Consulting LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/02/2026. 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 LEGALZOOM USCA, INC: 45 Main Street Suite 238 Brooklyn NY 11201. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of FR HORIZON LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/25/26. 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 Frayda Resnick: 1641 Third Ave #19k New York, NY 10128. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of HOUSE OF GILLES LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/22/2023. 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 ERESIDENTAGENT, INC.: 1 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, SUITE 1204 NEW YORK, NY, 10020, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of KETA WATERS LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/28/2026. 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 Adam Massmann: 90 Convent Ave, Apt 22, New York, NY, 10027. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Heights Mental Health Counseling PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/16/2026. 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 Anita N. Sung: PO Box 307, New York, NY 10040. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

101 LEGAL NOTICES

OBITUARIES

Notice of formation of 447 Creative Company, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/30/2026. 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 Allison Strauss: 401 East 65th Street, Apt 14J New York NY 10065. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of 447 Creative Company, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/30/2026. 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 Allison Strauss: 401 East 65th Street, Apt 14J New York NY 10065. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Yahweh is Faithful LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/13/26. 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 Yanerlis Marrero: 4 Fordham Hill Oval Apt 1H Bronx, NY 10468. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Yahweh is Faithful LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/13/26. 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 Yanerlis Marrero: 4 Fordham Hill Oval Apt 1H Bronx, NY 10468. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Corsoura LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/21/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: LegalZoom USCA, Inc., 45 Main St, Ste 238, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of Corsoura LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/21/2026. Office location: New York County (Manhattan). SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: LegalZoom USCA, Inc., 45 Main St, Ste 238, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Congressman Espaillat

Continued from page 2

gress into a Jim Crow era of gerrymandering.

TriHaus RE, LLC filed Arts. of Org. with the Sect'y of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/29/2026. Office: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: The LLC, 11 N Moore St, New York, NY 10013. Purpose: any lawful act.

TriHaus RE, LLC filed Arts. of Org. with the Sect'y of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/29/2026. Office: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: The LLC, 11 N Moore St, New York, NY 10013. Purpose: any lawful act.

He said that issues with ICE have certainly affected his district. Harlem is home to many African immigrants and Washington Heights is home to many Dominican immigrants, he said.

last year. This year, whether the Trump administration would get about $70 billion more in funding through 2029 has been up in the air for the last several months.

SLK COVENTURES LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 02/08/2026. Office in New York Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 224 W, 35th St Ste 500, New York, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

SLK COVENTURES LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 02/08/2026. Office in New York Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 224 W, 35th St Ste 500, New York, NY 10001. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

“... There’s a chilling effect out there. ICE is patrolling our commercial arteries, and one cannot go out to shop or go to church, or visit a family member, so this has a profound impact way beyond the immigration issue,” said Espaillat. “It has an impact on our local economy.”

Notice of formation of Nexvara Media LLC Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/24/26. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 9 E 53rd St, NY, NY 10022. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of formation of Nexvara Media LLC Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/24/26. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 9 E 53rd St, NY, NY 10022. Purpose: any lawful act.

Recently, Espaillat said he and his colleagues are trying to make sure that more funding does not go toward the ICE agency through the reconciliation process. Congress gave about $170 billion to ICE

“They want to fund it for the next decade, taking money away from Medicaid, from the SNAP program, from basic services, from NYCHA on repairs,” he said. “That is the gravity of this, and Hakeem Jeffries, who’s endorsing me, and our party understand that. That’s why we will continue to fight back, as they continue to increase funding for ICE to unprecedented levels.”

From ICE to voting rights

In addition to a continued fight against an ICE occupation in New

York City, many Black and Latino lawmakers are grappling with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Louisiana redistricting case to essentially decimate the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As a result, many southern states, like Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi, have started redrawing their own maps in an effort to wipe out allBlack congressional districts. This could have a severe impact on the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses.

Espaillat estimates that at least 20 members of the Black Caucus and at least a dozen Latino members from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which he chairs, could be in danger of being eliminated. He is deeply concerned that Black and Brown voters will not have adequate representation and the country will re -

“That is real serious because we’re poised to have the first African American speaker in the House of Representatives,” said Espaillat, “and for him not to have the backup from the communities that have helped elevate him to that important position, I think, is a problem. We need to have his back.”

He added, “New York State is not exempt from any national effort to stack the deck against people of color, so we must be vigilant. We must hold our legislators accountable, including members of Congress, and we must make sure that the state legislature advances laws that prevent ‘cracking and packing’ from occurring, and that we, at a federal level, ensure that the John Lewis Voting Rights Act legislation is pushed forward.”

7 PLATT F & B LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/07/26. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 3 Columbus Circle, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10019. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

7 PLATT F & B LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 05/07/26. Office: New York County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 3 Columbus Circle, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10019. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Wrongful Convictions Act

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tegrity units, which review and push innocence claims from cases they once prosecuted.

For example, Steve Lopez pleaded out to a lower charge to avoid the Central Park Jogger trial, arguably the most well-known wrongful conviction case in American history. But while the courts vacated the convictions of his co-defen-

dants, known then as the Central Park Five, his guilty plea was not cleared until 2022 with the help of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Even before the Tiger ruling, Lopez struggled to find legal representation. And the DNA evidence used to exonerate his co-defendants and prove that serial rapist Matias Reyes raped

Central Park jogger Trisha Meili could not be used as evidence for the lower conviction he pleaded out to. Back in 2022, VOCALNY’s Roger Clark and Families and Friends of the Wrongfully Convicted cofounder Derrick Hamilton co-authored a Times Union op-ed about challenging their own convictions. Today, both remain heavily involved in the bill and spoke to the AmNews this week with renewed confidence.

“Back in 2023 it passed

both houses,” said Clark. “However, the governor vetoed the bill, which was heartbreaking and extremely cruel. It has been a heart-wrenching moment, especially for those who are still incarcerated and are looking to have to get an avenue to get a fair chance to go to court.”

“This bill will give these people recourses,” added Hamilton. “The ability to get to court to present the evidence of innocence and be exonerated like they should be.”

Olympic champions celebrate figure skating in Harlem

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

The theme for this year’s Figure Skating in Harlem (FSH) gala was Igniting the Dream, and Olympic figure skaters were on hand to be part of the celebration. This included Olympic Champion Alysa Liu; silver ice dance medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates; and gold medalists from the team event Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam, and Danny O’Shea.

Olympic judge Tina Lundgren, a passionate FSH supporter, was an honoree, along with Tony Awardwinning actress Anika Noni Rose, who voiced the first African American Disney princess, Tiana, and is currently starring on Broadway in “The Balusters.” Her award was presented by FSH participant McKenzie Lewis, who recently appeared on Broadway in “The Lion King.”

The opening of the Davis Center, with the Gottesman Rink at the north end of Central Park, has provided more ice time for FSH participants. There were four Harlem Ice synchronized skating teams this year. “For us, synchro is about building teamwork skills and lead-

ership skills that you carry with you everywhere,” said FSH founder/ CEO Sharon Cohen.

Seniors Tori Prentice and Adrianna Walker, who were featured in the Disney+ docuseries “Harlem Ice,” were presenters at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. “Of course, they were poised and their public speaking skills were wonderful,” said Cohen.

Founded in 1997, FSH now has a program for alumnae, several of

whom were at the gala. The alumnae board created a workshop for older FSH girls, teaching them about professionalism and being in the workplace. Tanay Davis was the evening’s alumnae honoree. “I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without Figure Skating in Harlem,” said Davis, who is now a senior specialist, global communications at MasterCard. The program’s six seniors have all been accepted by colleges. Ellie Stubbs Gomez will attend the Uni-

versity of Pennsylvania on a full scholarship; Prentice is bound for Seton Hall University; Walker will enter the nursing honors program at Pace University; and Danielle Wood will attend Quinnipiac University, which has a skating club she plans to join. “FSH gave me a lot of structure,” said Wood, who has been part of FSH for 12 years. “In the skating, even though they teach us and they push us, they still allow us to have fun with what we’re doing and

explore ourselves through our skating and not just practice our skills.”

Eight-year-old Malia Walters is in her first year with FSH and was part of the spoken word piece at the gala. “I loved seeing all the practicing and the different moves that came together for the end-of-the-year ice show,” she said. “For the ice show, everyone cheered us on.”

“Right after this gala, we start year 30,” said Cohen. “We’re looking to keep growing in size and impact.”

American Museum of Natural History exhibit celebrates sports

By LOIS ELFMAN Special to the AmNews

In advance of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11, which includes matches in the New York area, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) has opened the exhibition, “For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence,” a celebration of the artistry, history, and cultural impact of iconic athletic mementos. It includes more than 70 championship rings, trophies, medals, and jewelry spanning more than a century of sports history. One of the oldest items is Jim Thorpe’s 1912 Olympic medallion. More current pieces include the New York Liberty’s 2024 WNBA Championship trophy and Breanna Stewart’s 2024 Championship ring.

There is a section for trailblazers. Among the items is one of Jesse Owens’ gold medals from the

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1936 Olympics in Berlin and his 1976 Presidential Medal of Freedom. At a time when Adolf Hitler saw the Olympics as a showcase for white supremacy, Owens’ four gold medals proved that a Black man could triumph. His granddaughter, Gina Hemphill-Strachan, was at the opening of the exhibition.

“What he did on the track and what he meant to people off of the track has come full circle, and it is so lovely that he’s still celebrated and that he’s celebrated through different generations,” said Hemphill-Strachan. “For us as a family, it’s important to continue his legacy for those who may not know who he is and what he accomplished. It’s really quite wonderful. There was no social media then, so it’s all about an accomplishment that was meaningful for everybody.”

At the exhibition’s media preview, two-time Super Bowl champion Justin Tuck and boxer Claressa

while, but that’s a testament to the grit, the resiliency of this locker room and this team that when the game went along,” said Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns.

Shields, the only American boxer to win two Olympic gold medals and an 18-time World Champion, joined astrophysicist and director of the AMNH’s Hayden Planetarium Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson in a thoughtful conversation about the power of sports. Shields took time to savor the exhibit and remarked how she likes to be around the energy of athletic excellence.

“Because this exhibit spans over 150 years of history and across so many sports, I was thinking about what the unifying thing is,” said guest curator Vikki Tobak. “I just kept coming back to this culture of winning and being great at something. … Understanding the unifying rituals that we as humans do together, and then the symbols that we create to show that. So, whether it’s a championship trophy, a ring, or an Olympic medal, that is the commonality that makes humans strive to be the best.”

with a team-high 29 points.

“It’s one loss, it’s a bad loss but all we can do is go back and watch film and fix it,” said Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell, who finished

Regardless of how the Cavaliers put a positive spin on the loss, it was a devastating defeat that could set the tone and tenor for the rest of the series.

“It is one game we could lose by forty. It still would’ve been 1-0.”

True, but the team that is up 1-0 should be them. Now the Knicks go into Game 2 carrying a swag and anything-is-possible mindset for which the Cavs may have no counter.

Games 3 and 4 will be in Cleveland Saturday (8 p.m.) and Monday (8 p.m.).

Even for non-soccer fans, the World Cup is worth watching

second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Fulham in London, England, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

By TONY PAIGE Special to the AmNews

Early this month, I’m waiting for the Yankees game to start. They’re playing the Orioles on a Saturday afternoon.

Like any impatient American, the clicker gets busy looking for something, anything to fill the void when I hit Channel 4 and the Premier League is on. Soccer?

Sorry, futbol.

Oh yeah, the World Cup starts on June 11. My youngest, Jalen, played high school and travel soccer years ago and I enjoyed watching and cheering. With only 45 minutes to kill until the Yankees’ first pitch, why not?

Do I know soccer like I know baseball, basketball, or boxing?

No.

Then this lightning-quick player breaks his defender’s ankles, better than Allen Iverson, and as he folds onto the turf, the 24-year-old Brit slithers a low pass to teammate Viktor Gyökeres, a member of the Swedish National team, who scores in the ninth minute.

Arsenal is up one nothing — sorry, onenil — over Fulham. Who is this quick guy?

The announcers call him Saka. Bukayo Saka, from Greater London, but they kept calling him by one name: Saka. Still in the first half while his teammate

has the ball, Saka, whose parents emigrated to London from Nigeria, mirrors his man so as not to become offside. His teammate waits for Saka, who’s captaining the squad, to make a move. He delivers the ball to him, who drills a low left-footer for the two-nil lead at the 40th minute.

The Gunners would win 3-0.

And just like that, Saka, one of the world’s best wingers, sits the second half with a big League game upcoming. He’s rested coming off a month-long absence due to a nagging Achilles injury.

I’m not saying that Saka is the man to watch for the upcoming World Cup, but this is just to let the non-soccer fans know to give the games a look.

Forget the fact that the World Cup will suck the financial life out of you with outrageous ticket prices and if heading to MetLife Stadium, you will have to shell out some serious coin just to ride the train to the game.

As the Brits would say, “Bloody Hell!”

Just sit back and do what we always do. Turn on the telly and watch the games.

We are New Yorkers and if we don’t know the sport, we do know talent, style, and arrogance. And who’s more arrogant than professional soccer players? And who else but soccer players could win multiple Academy Awards in the category of Best Flopper.

But back to the game where Saka is a member of the British National team for the upcoming World Cup, along with a talented game changer in Harry Kane.

Nicknamed “Little Chilly” and “Starboy,” Saka possesses a Tyrese Maxey-like smile to go along with deadly Iverson-esque moves. He started his pro career at the age of 17 for Arsenal’s U23 team. Then, around the 80th minute, the Arsenal coach makes a sub and the home crowd of over 60,000 goes nuts. In comes another speedster by the name of Max Dowman. He is the team’s future at age 16. He is the youngest goal scorer in Premier League history. Dowman played for Arsenal’s U18s when he was … 13. After Arsenal’s win, the crowd in full throat sang in unison much like Yankee fans joining Frank Sinatra in “New York, New York” after a win.

By the way, the Bronx Bombers were up one-nil — sorry 1-0 — in the bottom of the third when I went back to the YES Network. The Yanks would go on to win 9-4 behind Cody Bellinger’s two-homer, four-hit day. So, try a different sport. Look for names like Messi (Argentina), Ronaldo (Portugal), Mbappe (France), Pulisic (USA), and Saka and enjoy the World Cup and cheer for soccer.

Sorry, futbol.

The Liberty starts 3-1 despite missing key players

By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

The New York Liberty began this season winning three of their four games, including a 100-82 win a week ago despite being without key players. Two 2025 WNBA All Stars, point guard Sabrina Ionescu, who suffered a left foot/ankle injury on May 3 was out, and forward Satou Sabally, who the Liberty signed as a free agent in April, has been sidelined with a cyst. The Liberty are also missing forwards Leonie Fiebich and Raquel Carrera, both winning a title on Sunday as teammates in the Spanish League. In their absence, seven-time All-Star Breanna Stewart is off to a strong start, averaging 23 points, 9 rebounds, and two blocks. Liberty first-year head coach Chris DeMarco is emphasizing the important details, big and small, that determine outcomes as the Liberty head into tonight’s game at home at the Barclays Center against the Golden State Valkyries.

“It is hard to play defense when you’re turning the ball over,” said the 40-year-old DeMarco after the Liberty’s 98-96 loss to the Portland Fire on May 12, a game in which

the Liberty had only nine active players. DeMarco was a Golden State Warriors assistant from 2012 until being hired by the Liberty last November after not renewing the contract of former head coach Sandy Brondello, who led the team to the 2024 league title.

“If you’re constantly in transition,” added DeMarco, “you’re out of position, you foul more, you give up threes and scrambles. It’s really hard. So it’s all connected. You can point out offense or defense, but the game of basketball is connected.

“It’s a new team, and we have to get used to playing with each other, and what we can do as a staff and players as a whole is continue to have the right space and understand, if a defense takes something away, it means something else is open,” DeMarco added. “So it’s just all being on the same page and with people going in and out of the lineup.”

After a full week off, the Liberty begin a seven-game homestand tonight. After the Valkyries, they’ll play Dallas Wings on Sunday and on Monday, the Portland Fire for the third time this season. On Wednesday, New York will host the Phoenix Mercury.

The Mets’ young pups breathe new life into improving team

By JAIME C. HARRIS

AmNews Sports Editor

The long and taxing 162-game regular season schedule, which spans from late March to September, is invariably filled with ebbs and flows. The Mets have already experienced those ups and downs with more to come.

Expectations in sports are reasonably interlocked with a player’s salary and a team’s payroll. The Mets’ Juan Soto has the highest valued contract in baseball at $765 million for 15 years — he is in the second year of the deal — and the Mets are No. 2 behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (roughly $400 million including the luxury tax) in total payroll at $370 million.

er A.J. Ewing. The Mets took two out of three from a Yankees team that has been reeling and dropping in the American League standings.

The athletic duo has infused energy and production into a lineup that has needed it. Freeagent signee Bo Bichette, the third baseman brought in partly to fill the power void left by Pete Alonso’s departure to the Baltimore Orioles, is still trying to find his groove at the plate, hitting just .224 with five home runs and 25 RBIs as of last night.

All-Star second baseman Francisco Lindor has been out of the lineup for one month (since April 23) with a strained left calf. Soto missed 15 games last month with a right calf strain. Excuses are monuments of nothingness, but it’s also true that the Mets legitimately have not been whole.

Last season, the Mets finished 83-79 and out of a playoff spot. They are currently 11 1/2 games behind the first-place Atlan-

The Mets’ performance on the field has not aligned with their monetary value so far this season. They are 21-27 and in last place in the National League East going into last night’s game versus the Nationals in Washington, D.C. But there have been signs of life, breathed into them by rookies and other young players that could change the impression that this is another season that will end without a postseason appearance.

ta Braves and looking up at nine teams ahead of them in the wildcard race. It’s only the third week of May, but with so much ground to already make up, each day and each outing is consequential.

An uplifting three-game Subway Series against the Yankees this past weekend at CitiField showcased two Mets rookie outfielders: 23-year-old right fielder Carson Benge and 21-year-old center field-

The Mets were 6-2 over their last eight games prior to last night. A win over the Nationals tonight and being on the plus side of a weekend series in Miami beginning tomorrow versus the Marlins would further change the perception of their long-term prospects.

Former boxing champ Jamel Herring to challenge for BKFC title

By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

Former WBO junior lightweight boxing champion Jamel Herring, a native of Rockville Center, N.Y., in Hempstead, Long Island, made his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) debut in January at Mohegan Sun. Now, the former Marine will challenge for the BKFC Bantamweight championship when he faces Nate Maness at BKFC 89 Palm Desert (California) tomorrow night.

“May is never just another month for me,” Herring said via X (formerly known as Twitter). “My daughter Ariyanah’s birthday is May 25th. I lost her to SIDS when she was only two months old. In 2019, on that same day, I became a world champion. Now, May 22nd, just days before her birthday and during Memorial Day weekend, I get the chance to fight for another world title.”

The 40-year-old Herring, who last competed as a boxer in April 2024, told the AmNews how he became a BKFC competitor.

“I just felt like I missed training for the most part, and I was watching everything going along,

especially behind the scenes,” Herring said about boxing inside the ring and on the business side.

He also closely followed the BKFC career of his good friend, former boxer and current Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

contender Austin Trout. “(I watched) what he was doing and how he was making things look in terms of bringing that boxing aspect to a different combat sport,” said Herring, “and I actually reached out to him a few

times and we had a lot of great conversations … he was just letting me know the little twerks and differences between boxing and bare knuckle fighting.”

Herring explained the differences between BKFC and boxing.

“I guess when the adrenaline is running (in BKFC fights), you don’t really worry about the impact of the punch so much, but when you look at boxing, you probably expect to get hit more because there’s more cushion behind your opponent’s fist.

“You have to just pick it up a lot faster. Obviously, there are only five rounds. It’s a sprint because there are only two minutes, so during camp, we just worked on a lot of cardio and starting out faster in the first round. Basically, going back to my amateur days, especially the Olympics. It was only four two-minute rounds.”

Herring, who was a member of the 2012 U.S Olympic boxing squad that battled in London, shared the significance of his fight taking place during Memorial Day Weekend.

“(It is) a weekend to remember fallen veterans throughout the years, so obviously this is a big weekend for all veterans,” said Herring, who served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2005. “I have to conduct and carry myself as a Marine because I represent them and not just them, the entire United States Armed Forces.”

Knicks have miracle win in Game 1 of East Finals

By JAIME C. HARRIS

AmNews Sports Editor

Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden involved both celebration and lamentation. The former by the Knicks and their delirious fans, and the latter by the Cleveland Cavaliers and their backers.

Down 93-71 with 7:52 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Knicks, a team characterized by their mental and physical toughness, executed one of the most stunning come-from-behind wins in NBA playoff history, clawing their way back to a 101-101 tie at the end of regulation then outscoring the Cavaliers 14 to 3 in overtime to snatch a miraculous 115-104 victory from a benevolent opponent.

As has been customary, Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was the catalyst. He was a wolf hunting food, specifically his counterpart, Cavaliers veteran guard James Harden, and ate him alive. Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson perplexingly assigned Harden as Brunson’s primary defender and the Knicks’ captain spearheaded an improbable 18-1 run, scoring 15 of his game-high 38 points over the 12-minute stretch.

The 36-year Harden allowed the most points per direct isolation (1.88) in a single quarter in a regular season or playoff game in the last 13 seasons when a player has defended eight or more isolations. Translation: Brunson relentlessly went at him with little resistance.

“It was no secret we were at-

tacking Harden,” said Knicks head coach Mike Brown after the game.

More facts: the Knicks overcoming a 22-point fourth quarter deficit was the second-largest comeback in NBA playoff history. Only the Los Angeles Clippers climbing back from 24-point hole versus the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012 exceeds what the Knicks did on Tuesday at a raucous MSG.

“Keep fighting, keep chipping away...” said Brunson. “Just being in attack mode.”

The Knicks extended their playoff win streak to eight games after having a nine-day gap between their 144-114 May 10 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals.

“You can see we were a team that hadn’t played a playoff game in a

HJTEP gala honors youth participants and supporters

By LOIS ELFMAN

Special to the AmNews

Monday evening, May 11, was an energized and exciting gala for Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program (HJTEP), founded in 1972 by two Harlem residents and tennis enthusiasts, Claude Cargill and Bill Brown. Today, it combines tennis with education and wellness programming, serving kids aged five to 18.

High school senior Bintu Dramé has been part of HJTEP since she was seven. “This program has been a place that I feel like is my second home,” said Dramé, who will play collegiate tennis at Division II Post University and major in finance.

“It’s helped me grow into the new chapter of my life. I feel the mentors and the coaches really help you get ready for real life experiences, especially the tutoring and volunteering.”

Leila Grey has been with HJTEP for nine years. “You can see all our teammates and all our coaches really care for the students,” said Grey, a high school senior who will attend Howard University. “They teach a lot of discipline, focus, teambuilding, and cooperation.”

President/executive director Katrina Adams serves multiple roles in the tennis world, including television commentator, but her position with HJTEP is close to her

heart. “I’m from the West Side of Chicago, so I come from humble beginnings and I know what this sport can do for individuals: the life skills that you learn, the people that you meet, and the mentors that come into your pathway,” said Adams.

“For me, it’s about reaching back and pulling forward. … I wear a lot of hats, but this is home.”

The evening’s Shin-

ing Star Award recipient, Joakim Noah, was an NBA All-Star but has a deep connection to HJTEP and the sport of tennis. His father is French tennis icon Yannick Noah, the only African player (his father was from Cameroon) to win a Grand Prix tournament.

“I’m a third-generation athlete — Grandpa played soccer, Dad played tennis — and for me growing up around a professional tennis player allowed me to understand what it means to be a pro,” said Noah, now a philanthropist.

“It’s not just playing the game; it’s the practice, it’s a mindset, it’s believing in yourself. It’s dreaming and how far you’re willing to push yourself. Tennis is a special sport because, whether you make it at the highest level or not, there are values that the sport gives you.”

The Corporate Award was presented to Parkway Ventures and accepted by Jesse Coors-Blankenship and Gregg Hill.