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SPORTS: “On The Right Track” with Diane Dixon

Diane Dixon
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PSAL Boys Baseball
On Saturday, April 7, the Cardoza Judges defeated the PSAL City Champions George Washington Trojans in a 5-4 win.  “Intimidation is no longer there,” Cardoza coach Ron Gorecki told a reporter. “Cardoza is a force to be reckoned with this year. Barring injury and eligibility, be prepared for us to be in the final four.”
On Monday, April 9, the Xaverian Clippers delivered an upset over city power Grand Street Campus Wolves with a 4-0 win on two inside-the-park home runs at the 43rd Annual Monroe Baseball Tourney.  Maryland-bound backstop Kevin Martir was behind the plate for Grand Street against his old school Xaverian.  However, it wasn’t Matir who delivered the blast but the three-run homer belonged to teammate Andres Ruiz, a left-handed hitter. Ruiz told a reporter, “It means a lot to us.  Hopefully, we can go far.  These are the types of games we’ll have in June”.  Coach Lou Piccola told a reporter, “We got terrific pitching, timely hitting and we were flawless in the field.  That was a playoff-type game against a quality team.  Everything fell into place”.  The Clippers would not normally compete in this tournament but with limited games to play, this showcase was an opportunity for the Bay Ridge team to face some top PSAL teams and get his pitchers to work.

Girls Basketball
On Saturday, April 7 at JHS 113 in Brooklyn, The Rose Classic, a one-day tournament that featured 12 teams – eight high school squads and four junior clubs – showcased some of the city’s top girls basketball talent.  It was a day meant to remember coach Apache Paschall; however, Lisa Blair – one of his best success stories – provided the biggest reminder.  “She was today’s MVP,” Exodus NYC coach Lauren Best told a reporter.
The 6-foot-6 Blair spent the afternoon at The Rose Classic blocking and changing shots and scoring inside. With Exodus NYC, Paschall’s travel program, clinging to a one-point lead with 10 seconds left to play, the Ohio State recruit forced Notre Dame committed-Michaela Mabrey into a tough shot on a drive and pulled in the rebound with three seconds remaining.
She stepped to the line and made 1 of 2 free throws to seal Exodus NYC’s 74-72 win over Team Prince in the Apache Day tournament final. The famed girls basketball tournament held the one day event in memory of Paschall, the former St. Michael Academy and Nazareth coach and Rose Classic fixture who died of a heart attack on Jan. 3.
Paschall won seven straight Rose Classic spring crowns and eight overall, including last year’s. The trophy will be named in his honor from here on out. Exodus NYC put another title to their credit on Saturday for their deceased coach.

In other PSAL News
Nazareth, which was slated to close in June, is now close to remaining open by raising enough capital as the deadline nears.  Nazareth graduates 98 percent of its students and 96 percent go on to college, an astounding number for an inner-city area. The school’s girls basketball team is a nationally ranked power and won a second straight CHSAA Class AA state championship this season. The boys basketball team won the CHSAA Class B city and state titles and the JV team won the CHSAA city title.
Sports Tidbits
Look for our Olympic Trials coverage leading up to the London Olympics.

Academic Tidbits
Wings Academy’s Justin Jenkins created a Division I scholarship for himself.  Back in November, he was relatively unknown, however, that changed after an outstanding senior season in which he led the Wings to a PSAL Class AA semifinal berth.  He averaged 18 points and six assists per game.  He then became on the radar of Division I schools that were impressed by his scoring and playmaking skills.  Coach Billy Turnage told a reporter, “In my six years, he has been the kid who has raised his stock the most in one year”.  Fairfield, a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) powerhouse, made it clear they wanted him and on Monday Jenkins fulfilled his dream and committed to them.  He will thus join his friend Amadou Sidibe, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Cardinal Hayes.

He liked everything about Fairfield, from the coaching staff to the large 10,000-seat Webster Bank Arena to the impressive recruiting class head coach Sydney Johnson has assembled and the sprawling Connecticut campus. Fairfield’s close proximity to his Bronx home was also a factor. ”People who helped me get here can come and watch me play,” Jenkins told a reporter.
Exercise/Healthy Tidbits
Do 20-60 minutes of cardiovascular exercises (power walking, jogging, cycling, aerobics class, kickboxing, boxing, swimming, etc.) at least 4-6 times per week. This will help you boost your metabolism and burn calories.
·  Try to do your cardio first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to boost your metabolism.
·  Hydrate with approximately 5 liters of water per day.
·  Don’t eat carbohydrates (sugar, fruit, juices, cereal, starches) during the first two hours following cardio.
·  Drink at least 1-2 liters of water after cardio.
·  Do muscular strength/endurance work (Yoga, sculpting, weight training) at least 2-3 times per week to boost metabolism, sculpt and define muscles.
·  Do flexibility work (Yoga, Pilates, stretching) at least 2 times per week to lengthen and define muscles and increase range of motion in your joints.
·  Eliminate complex carbohydrates (starches, rice, pasta, bread, etc.) from your evening meal.
·  Eat 6-7 small meals per day to increase metabolism.
·  Follow the guidelines of a healthy nutrition plan.
Eating & Exercising! It’s MY LIFEStyle LifeFITNESS
For more information or questions, please contact dd@dianedixonfoundation.org.
(Diane Dixon is an Olympic Gold and Silver medalist)

ENY’s Adeline Bunche Honored

Mary Alice Miller
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Mrs. Adeline Bunche (center) with Assemblywoman Inez Barron and friends.

Mrs. Adeline Bunche was recently recognized for her years of loving service to her community. Family, friends, fellow church members, and community activists came together to pay tribute to Mrs. Bunche.

“This is the first time that my office has honored anyone,” said Assembly woman Inez Barron. “We’ve given citations and proclamations, but this is the first time we have organized an event for someone. We could not have thought of a better person than Mrs. Bunche. She’s genuine, she endears herself to people. She builds your strength and character. She knows how to shore people into a collective and how to get you energized for noble causes. She’s everybody’s mother, everybody’s grandmother, everybody’s sister, everybody’s friend. She does what she feels God has called to do. She is the perfect example of how we are supposed to support one another and love one another.”

“The person we are here honoring is so special,” Barron said. “She is a perfect example of what God wants us to do as we live here on this Earth.” Mrs. Barron described the circumstances in which she learned of Mrs. Bunche’s character. “I first met Mrs. Bunche when Charles was running office. She came to us. We began to know her as Bunchie. She endeared herself to us. She came bringing her skills, her commitment, her enthusiasm, and her desire to be involved in a campaign for person that she saw had some skills and talents to bring to help make this community a better community. She served on that campaign faithfully. Campaign Finance is a city agency that monitors how you spend the money that they give you that matches what community people have given. They are exacting. Bunchie had everything filed so that you can go back and get it. Bunchie taught me how to categorize and file it once you’ve done the work. I can’t tell you how many hours Bunchie dedicated to working in our campaign. She would come to my house 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, then stay until 1, 2, 3 in the morning, 4 in the morning, 6 o’clock and be dedicated to the work. It was never, ‘I gotta go.’ She’s gentle, but forceful. She makes sure you get the message that things have to be done a certain way. She will encourage you, support you, she’ll model for you what you should do.”

Barron told of Bunchie remembering special days in her friend’s lives. “Bunchie loves birthday cards. I don’t know what kind of system she has, but Blackberry has nothing on Bunchie,” said Barron. “She knows when your dates are and she will send you a card. She doesn’t just get gifts for children, show by little gifts for adults that they like, too.”

There is one other thing people did not know about Bunchie. “She can sew. She can tailor a garment,” Barron said. “It’s part of her eye for detail. She can put things together in a particular form and fashion and make it look good.”

We pay tribute to Mrs. Bunch,” Viola Plummer said. “This is women’s history month and we are appreciating the essence of women through Mrs. Bunche.

Tina Bunche characterized her mother community service as “doing what we all should be doing. It’s the little people that usually make a big difference. One thing I noticed, especially in our church, is that she gathers people together without fanfare. She introduces people; she gets conversation started. She brings people in. As you know in any church large or small they are people who stand off to the side and not feel welcome. She always tries to welcome and in corporate people which is really good. It spills into her family life, personal life, and her community activity. I am very proud of my mom.”

Bunchie also collects clothes and toiletries for Haiti. “We send barrels twice a month,” said Tina. We were doing this before the earthquake because we still have family in Haiti. My godfather, Lafontant, is a Catholic bishop in the north region of Haiti. There is poverty all over Haiti, no matter where you go. My mother makes sure she collects clothes and toiletries from everyone – Linden Plaza, Cypress Hill’s, Pink Houses, and family homes, everywhere. People come and say, ‘Adeline, I have clothes.’ We paid to transport the barrels. That’s what we do. Let’s face it. Everybody in New York has much more than people in Haiti and will ever have. People here do not know poverty. When I went to Haiti with my daughter in 1983, I came back and told the people that I worked with ‘you have no idea what poverty is. I’ve seen people washing rags and putting them out on their hut to dry.’ My cousin told me, ‘those are not rags, those are their clothes that they wash in the dirty streams and put them on their huts to dry in the sun.’ so for us to contribute, getting the barrels, putting clothes together, and sending it, that’s absolutely nothing. I love my mother for doing that. She’s the one that started me doing it.”

“My mother just does, said Tina. “She makes sure everyone gets Our Time Press. She lets people know when the Precinct Council meetings are held. She goes to the neighbor’s houses and reminds them of it. She just tries to keep everybody together. With our family is the same thing. She wants everybody to get together, be loving and kind to each other, to share what you have. She always tells us we all have talents and treasures, but if you don’t share them are not worth anything. That’s how she is.”

Estelle B. Langston is the first cousin to Mrs. Bunch’s deceased husband. “Our daughter was born in Virginia where I’m from and where husband is from. I came up here to New York. She thought I came for visit. I had moved in. We’ve been close ever since. So close that people thought I was related to her and Bill was the in-law,” said Estelle.

Lorraine Lucas said she and Bunchie are “cloned. We go to the same church. We know some of the same people. We have been friends for a number of years. We call on each other for whatever, whenever. She has me helping her to live Our Time Press and working with the homeless. I consider us doing ministry work. That’s why I love her.”

Patrick Adun, a member of Bunchie’s church St. Fortunata Catholic, said she “is like a mother to almost everybody. When she is involved with anything that we do, she takes it as her own personal responsibility. She ensures that things are well done, and appropriately. She’s does not discriminate whether you’re an African or European, she takes you just the way you are. It was a great honor for me to attend this great honor for her because I never thought I would be invited to such an occasion.

Bunchie told the group, “This was supposed to be a surprise. I was told to come to the office to take care of some water bills and taxes. However, Ms. Viola (Plummer) let the cat out of the bag. She said,’ your daughter told us we can’t surprise you (Bunchie) because you will surprise everybody.

I just want to thank each and every one of for being here today. This is a momentous moment for me. The things you have said about me, well, some of them are true. I’ve know my neighbors for a long time. We look out for one another. We are like block watchers.

Making point to recognize Tony, a former officer with the 75th precinct, Bunchie told of working together with Tony on Forbell Street (the location of a men’s shelter), trying to keep peace there. When Bunchie thanked her Linden Plaza ‘family’ and her African ‘family’ from church, Tony, who looks Italian said, “I’m African, too!” generating more laughter.

Bunchie described how she would grab daughter, taking her to various locations like her doctor’s office, and True Worship Church. “I go all around, especially in the laundry mat and ask, ‘Would you like to have a free community paper?’ ‘No, thank you.’ ‘But it’s good news! Once you read it, you’re good to be looking for it.’ Believe me, they come looking for it. In church, they come asking me for the paper, because there is good information in Our Time Press. I’ve been delivering the papers for about six or seven years now. I like that paper and I enjoy letting the community know what’s going on. This is my community for 48 years.”

CALENDAR by Bo

Editor, Our Time Press
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Houston Person at Jazz 966
April Earth Month, Jazz Appreciation, Poetry, Sakura Matsui, Easter CelebrationsArts, Culture, Lifestyle
Art Exhibitions

Through Sunday, April 8@3p: DORSEY ART GALLERY, the oldest continuously active black-owned art gallery in New York City, opens The 2+2 Art Show. 553 Rogers Avenue, corner of Lawrence P. Dorsey Way. The show features more than 50 pieces of original works in a range of mediums from two women plus two men, Romana Candy, Mary Change and Joseph Bell-Bey, Dudley Vaccianna. Details: 718-771-3803

April 25 – May 30: African Voices and Savae, Inc. will present A Choice of Weapons: The New Renaissance Artists in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Gordon Parks. Details to come.

Bookmaking
Bookmaking for Poets, Tues., April 17 – May 29; 8 sessions; also explore process of compiling and writing a poetry manuscript; trends in self-publishing. 6 pm-8 pm Registration: $200. Instructor: Jacqueline Johnson. Sponsor: African Voices magazine. You may mail registration fees to African Voices Magazine at 270 W. 96th St., Manhattan, 10025

Cinema (screenings)
Wed., April 11 – Tues., April 17: The Film Society of Lincoln Center (FSLC) and the African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF) have again joined forces to present the 19th New York African Film Festival (NYAFF). Presented under the theme “21st Century: The Homecoming,” this year’s festival will explore the modern notion of home and homeland from the legacy of music legend Miriam Makeba—subject of the Opening Night Film Mama Africa—to Diasporic visions like the New York-set Restless City. The NYAFF will also mark the 100th Anniversary of the African National Congress (ANC) and the 50th Anniversary of Independence for Algeria, Burundi, Jamaica, Rwanda and Uganda, as well as give a unique look into the life of President Obama through a film on his half-sister, The Education of Auma Obama.

The NYAFF will run from April 11 through 17 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and throughout April and May at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, Columbia University’s Institute of African Studies, Maysles Cinema Institute and the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s cinematek. “This is a continuation of the discussion about the shape of Africa that has taken place since independence and that is now not being embraced by the younger generation,” said African Film Festival, Inc. Executive Director and Founder Mahen Bonetti. “Though these young people have not in many ways been thrown a lifeline as post-Independent conflict emerged, they have somehow managed, through technology, to craft their own narrative, unconsciously drawing on the past and creating something new and very modern without having disavowed the past.” Tickets: $13 General Public, $9 Students & Seniors, $8 Film Society Members. Visit www.africanfilmny.org for info.

Concerts
Fri., April 6 – Houston Person Quartet, JAZZ966, 966 Fulton St. @ Grand Ave., 8-10pm, $20, 718.638.8910, www.jazz966.com

Sun., April 8
Easter Sunday Premiere
Randy Weston’s
An African Nubian Suite
Randy Weston performs with his African Rhythms Orchestra
Featuring Jayne Cortez and Robin D.K. Kelley/
7:00pm/New York University/
Tickets: $15. 212-352-3101
(See Our Time Press story, p. 10)

Mon., April 9 – Bilal Sunni Ali & “The Singing Chef” Ras Chemash Lamed with Song of Life Ensemble, For My Sweet, 1103 Fulton St. @ Classon Ave., 2 shows – 7:15 & 9:15pm, $10, 718.857.1427, jazzymondays@gmail.com

Fri., April 13 – Bob Cunningham Quartet, JAZZ966, 966 Fulton St. @ Grand Ave., 8-10pm, $15, 917-593-0776., www.jazz966.com

Sat., April 14 – 11:00a New Federal Theatre’s BLOOM AGAIN: Ceremony followed by Concert at 12Noon: “Harlem for Japan: TOMO Friendship Ceremony and Concert”- Sakura Park, 122nd & Riverside Dr. in Manhattan.

Mon., April 16 – THE LAST POETS Originators of Revolutionary Poetry, For My Sweet, 1103 Fulton St. @ Classon Ave., 2 shows – 7:15 & 9:15pm, $10, 718.857.1427, jazzymondays@gmail.com

Thurs., April 19 – BROWNSVILLE to BROADWAY, afternoon of blues, tap, jazz, featuring The Harlem Blues and Jazz Band and Brownsville tap dancer Calvin Booker. Van Dyke Community Center, 392 Blake Ave., Bklyn., btw. Powell and Mother Gaston Blvd. Program is scheduled for 2pm- 3:15pm. FREE to the public. For directions, contact Van Dyke, 718-495-3719 or Councilwoman Diane Mealy’s office: 718-953-3097.

Fri., April 20 –The legendary LOU DONALDSON QUARTET at JAZZ966. 966 Fulton St. at Grand Ave., 8-10pm.Donation: $20. 917-593-0776.

Saturday, April 21- JAZZ SAXOPHONIST RUDRESH MAHANTHAPPA leads his quintet for the New York Premiere of SAMDHI SUITE at Carnegie Hall. Musicians are: guitarist David Gilmore, bassist Rich Brown, drummer Gene Lake and percussionist Anand Ananthakrishnan. The concert is presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with The Joyce and George Wein Foundation in memory of Joyce Wein. Tickets: Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57 St.; CarnegieCharge, 212-247-7800; or visit: carnegiehall.org.

Fri., April 27 – The Harlem Renaissance Big Band swings at JAZZ966. The 18-piece Swingtet features Jann Parker vocals with Ron Parker conducting for a Jazz966 Dance Party. 917-593-0776

2012 Dance Africa, led by Baba Chuck Davis, journeys to BAM, May 25-28 for 35th-Year performances. Special anniversary celebration will be on May 20, 2012 at 3pm. www.bam.org

Theater
Opening today and ongoing through April 6 – Tyler Perry’s new comedy, The Haves and the Have-Nots, starring Palmer E. Williams, Patrice Lovely, Tony Hightower, Alexis Jones, touches on today’s key issues: from foreclosures to finances, and the prayers, relationships, critical thinking, mother wit and humor that keep people afloat. It can be seen at the Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway, NYC. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.

Ongoing through April 15 – Journalist/Playwright Betty Dopson’s SHARED SECRETS of ELDER SISTERS, a play about the gripping confessions of seven sisters born in the early 1900’s who fought battles against racism, disrespect, sexism and poverty and won because of the choices they made. Stars: Dr. Adelaide Sanford, Nana Camille Yarbrough, Nana Betty Dopson. Runs on weekends: Fridays and Saturday eves, 8:00pm and Sunday matinees, 4:00pm. Black Spectrum Theater, 177th St. & Baisley Blvd. (Inside Roy Wilkins Park), Jamaica, NY. Tickets, Info: 718-723-1800.

Family& Community
Black Book Fair
Sun., April 22, 3p-7p, The Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is inviting the community to READ and meet authors and book illustrators at Medgar Evers College, 1150 Carroll Street, BK. For more information, visit: www.brooklynalumnaedst.org

Faith Centers
HOLY WEEK SERVICES AT BROOKLYN CHURCHES, Through April 8
Bethany Baptist Church, 460 Marcus Garvey Blvd. in Brooklyn, continues Holy Week services with a series of powerful messages, including the Seven Last Words on Good Friday, April 6, beginning at noon:The Rev. Dr. M. Marquette Peace, Pastor – Zion Baptist Church, starts with the First Word, “Father, Forgive Them” (Luke 23:34). He is followed by the Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Pastor – First Corinthian Baptist Church (“Verily I Say unto Thee ..”., Luke 23:42-43); Rev.Dr. David L. Kelley II, Pastor – Christ Fellowship Baptist Church (“Woman, Behold Thy Son …,” John 19:26-27); Rev. Dr. S. Wayne Stokeling, Pastor – New Journey Church (“My God, My God …” Matthew 27:46); Rev. Conrad B. Tillard, Pastor – Nazarene Congregational Church (“I Thirst…”, John 19:28); Bishop Eric Figueroa, Sr., Pastor/Founder – New Life Tabernacle (“It Is Finished,” John 19:30); and Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, Pastor – Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, (“Father, into Thy Hands …,” Luke 23:46). On Easter Sunday, April 8, Bethany’s Dr. Peyton leads services at 8:00a and 11:00a. www.bethanybcbrooklyn.org. (718) 455-8400

Fund-raisersThurs., April 26, 8:00pm – Firefighter Leon W. Smith Foundation. Billy Holiday Theater located in Restoration Plaza, Brooklyn, N.Y. Tickets: $20.00 per person. According to Foundation rep, the organization has raised more than $75,000 and assisted ten students; three have graduated. Details: http://ffleonwsmithfoundation.com

Green Events (see special separate listing)

Housing Workshops (Foreclosures, Lien Sales, First-Time Buyers)
Bridge Street Development Corporation’s Recurring FREE SPRING WORKSHOPS:
· Weds. through April 18, 6:30p-8:30p/Fresh Start Clinic on Foreclosures
· Sats., April 14, April 21,10a-2p/First- time Buyer Counseling
· Thurs., April 19, 6:30-8:30/Saving on Energy Bills
Site for the Above: 456D Jefferson Avenue, nr. Nostrand, Bklyn.

· Weds., May 2, 5p-8p/Tax Water Lien Help Night
· (Restoration-1368 Fulton Street, Bklyn) Details: 718-636-7596, ext. 14

Legal
Fri., April 6 & Sat. April 7, 9a –3p, each day: SAFE SURRENDER. Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 212 Tompkins Avenue @ DeKalb Ave. The Court and Defense Attorneys will be available to resolve any outstanding summons warrants including: Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Possession of Alcohol under the age of 21, Consumption of Alcohol in Public, Unlawful Possession of Handcuffs , Littering, Riding a Bicycle on the Sidewalk, Making Unreasonable Noise/Animal Nuisance, Failure to have a Dog License, Unleashed Dog, Spitting, Trespass, Disorderly Conduct, Loitering, In the Park after Closing, Failure to Comply with a Posted Sign in Park. For More Info Call: 718-250-3888. www.projectsafesurrender2011.org

Green Events – April is Earth Month
Listings Submissions Sponsor: Magnolia Tree Earth Center of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Inc.

Saturday, April 14
Magnolia Tree Earth Center — 100 FREE TREES GIVEN AWAY IN BED-STUY, APRIL 14
Sat., April 14th: 11:00a-3:00p -PACC and Magnolia Tree Earth Center Tree Giveaway. 100 Free Trees will be given away to the public. PACC’s Affordable Housing Building- Magnolia Plaza, 686 Lafayette Avenue (btw. Marcy & Tompkins), Reserve your Crape Myrtle, Magnolia or a Pear Tree in advance! Go to www.nyrp.org/brooklyntrees. Trees will be available to individuals, families and community groups for planting on private property only and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies run out. Simple tree-planting and care instructions come with your free tree. All you need is a place to plant your tree and access to water. It is recommended that you bring a folding shopping cart to transport your tree. This event is hosted by PACC and Magnolia Tree Earth Center and is sponsored by: Toyota, plaNYC, NYC Parks Department, NYRP and the Million Trees Project. Rain or Shine.* First-come, first-served .* Arrive early as trees will run out quickly!

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens – If it’s April, Hanami’s here. According to the BBG, “Hanami at BBG follows the Japanese tradition of enjoying each moment of the cherry blossom season. BBG’s many species of cherry trees bloom at different times, culminating in a magnificent display on Cherry Esplanade. Hanami culminates in the Sakura Matsui Festival, the weekend of April 28-29 at the Gardens. For more information: www.bbg.org

New Federal Theatre: “BLOOM AGAIN” – SAKURA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL-Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Gift of the Sakura Cherry Trees. Ceremony and Performances: “HARLEM FOR JAPAN: Tomo Friendship Festival” at Riverside Drive and 112nd Street.(See ARTS/Concerts)

Kings County Politics (KCP)

Stephen Witt
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Parker sticks by budget comments
Flatbush State Sen. Kevin Parker this week refused to back down on his comments that his African-American constituents and other groups of people were excluded from the recently completed fiscal year 2012-13 state budget.

Governor Andrew Cuomo, along with Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, announced the $132.6 billion spending plan last week.

Parker said he had two problems with the budget, including going back to the 20-year-old perception that the budget process boils down to three people in a room making all the major decisions on how money is allocated and spent.

“For people to act on what we are going through now is not the same dysfunction we experienced previously is a disservice to the voters of the state,” said Parker.

Parker said the second problem he had with the budget is that whole groups of people were being excluded along race, gender, class and disability lines in the budget process.

“The process is far narrower than it should be. We have representative government across the state drawn in districts that allows as many different types of people to be represented as possible, and then they get to Albany to do the budget, and it filters down to three white guys making all the decisions. This has a negative impact on outcomes,” said Parker.

Parker said this type of budget process this year led to the state not addressing such important budgetary issues as the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, in which lower-income school districts were supposed to get more funding.

Other issues the budget and/or the state didn’t address included legislation backing the federal Dream Act, which would give long-term immigrants more legal rights – especially in New York City, which has the largest immigrant population, said Parker.

“We also failed to put together a proper renters protection unit even after we promised to do it, and we’re still fingerprinting for food stamps,” said Parker.

Parker said his vocal opposition to the budget process is part of his job.
“I’m providing an opposition to the Republican majority in the Senate, which is non-representative, and for the system to be more inclusive so that the people I represent have a seat at the table,” Parker said.

Every vote counts
After one of the most heated elections in southern Brooklyn history, Republican David Storobin clung to a one-vote lead over City Councilman Lew Fidler to replace convicted felon and former Sen. Carl Kruger in a special election for the 21st Senate District seat.

According to the latest unofficial city Board of Elections results, Storobin had 10,900 votes to Fidler’s 10,899.

After the election night two weeks ago, Storobin had a 120-vote lead that jumped to 143 the next day after workers from the Board of Elections completed a paper ballot recount. However, that lead shrunk to a single vote after 700-plus absentee ballots and affidavits were tallied.

But this race is more likely to be decided by court-appointed referees than by vote recounts as lawyers for both Storobin and Fidler are claiming more than 300 of the votes were phony.

Odds and ends
Despite several political pundits playing down a possible fourth candidate joining the already-crowded June Democratic primary for the newly created 8th Congressional District, several sources say one will emerge in the next week.

Both the Kings Highway Democratic Club and the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club are actively looking for a candidate more familiar with issues in southern Brooklyn, said one source.

Thus far, the candidates include incumbent Congressman Ed Towns, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and City Councilman Charles Barron.

Meanwhile, Jeffries continues to pick up union support, most recently from the city Transit Union.
Towns, though, continues to have strong support in Canarsie and Flatlands – and in particular the support of Mercedes Narcisse, who is expected to make a strong run for City Councilman Lew Fidler’s 46th District seat.

“Canarsie is the most black neighborhood in all of Brooklyn,” said Narcisse spokesperson and longtime political operative Michael Roberts. “We continue to support Congressman Towns and we will deliver for him in the 46th Council District.”

Hundreds of Bed-Stuy homeowners at risk of losing their properties

Editor, Our Time Press
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By Aimena Lipscomb

A staggering 750 homeowners from Bedford-Stuyvesant are on the verge of losing their properties due to the city’s tax lien sale.

When property owners do not pay their property taxes, and/or water, sewer and other property-related charges, the city can file a legal claim for collection called a tax lien.

The property owner’s debt includes unpaid taxes and charges, as well as the associated interest. Any property owner that owns two- and three-family homes and owes $2,000 and a year in water/sewer charges, $3,000 and a year in taxes and $1,000 and a year in property-related expenses (emergency repair loans), that property is eligible for the lien sale.

The issues some property owners are facing is the lien sale notices and where the published list can be found. The list is posted on the Department of Finance (DOF) Web site as well as in local newspaper, but some senior and/or disabled homeowners aren’t able to access the Internet to check the list, leaving them unaware of sale or blind to the fact their property is eligible for sale.

The timeline for notices of the sale are as follows: the initial 90-day notice, which can be found in local newspapers; 60-day notice; 30-day notice, which will be posted again on April 13. There are also two notices mailed directly to the said eligible property.

There are three ways to avoid having property sold. Pay the charges in full, set up a payment arrangement with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which handles sewer and water charges, or find out if you qualify for one of the following exemptions: Senior homeowner exemption (SHE), Disabled homeowners exemption (DHE), real property tax credit for homeowners, veterans exemption and active-duty military personnel.

The deadline to resolve and avoid the sale is May 17.

“If you have received a lien sale notice, or if the property was on a published lien sale list, it is best to act immediately,” explained April Tyler from Comptroller John Liu’s office at the recent Community Board 3 meeting.

That said, the main issue that Bed-Stuy is focusing on is awareness of how tax liens work.
“Help is available and it’s within the community,” said community activist Brenda Fryson. “The church families need to be involved and neighbors need to come together on this.”

Fryson said “people need to understand the importance of awareness, especially for the seniors.”
For 11 years, the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Inc., in collaboration with community partners, have been actively notifying homeowners (primarily the seniors) with information on the assistance programs available.

“A large number of the lien sale list consists of seniors with water liens,” said Brownstoner President Ava Barnett. “For that reason, the Brownstoners of Bed-Stuy have developed door-to-door outreach programs visiting about 90 percent of the listed homeowners and delivering packages with details of the lien sale and ways to get help, allowing these older homeowners to keep their properties.”

Barnett also credited City Councilman Albert Vann as being instrumental with the outreach program.
“Councilmen Vann was the only Council member who voted against this bill presented by the DEP to place water liens on properties,” Barnett said. “He (Vann) also implemented the notification policy, which forced the DEP to formally notify homeowners of their debt in addition to their property being placed on the lien sale list. In the past they did not have to notify residents.”

Local community officials and a host of community partners strongly encourage any resident in question or who needs assistance to attend the Help Night from 5-8 pm on May 2 at Restoration Plaza.
For more information below are other contacts concerning tax liens:

NYC Department of Finance’s (DOF) Web site to find out if your property is on the list
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/property/property_bill_taxlien.shtml
Go to the check the eligibility checklist
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/pdf/lien_sale/exemption_checklist.pdf
NYC Department of Finance Outreach Unit (212) 440-5408
NYC Department of Finance Senior Ombudsperson (212) 440-5407
NYC Department of Environmental Protection (water/sewer) (718) 595-7000
NYC CVomptroller’s Office (212) 669-3916

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