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The FIZ-ard of Oz

Eddie Castro
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The FIZ-ard of Oz

We are now just about 2 rounds complete in the NBA Playoffs, an intense platform where next month we will crown an NBA Champion. Unfortunately, for the New York Knicks, they have not made a playoff appearance since the 2012-13 campaign. Since then, they have had two other head coaches who were unable to get them to the postseason, let alone build a winning culture for the franchise. On Tuesday afternoon, the Knicks believe they have found their guy who can help build that winning culture the team has been longing for.

As team President Steve Mills and General Manager Scott Perry stood for photos during a press conference, everyone had eyes on the man who stood in the middle with them as former assistant coach/head coach David Fizdale. Fizdale will have some huge shoes to fill as he got his first taste of the New York spotlight. It has been said that although many sources were quite fond of the Brooklyn-born kid and former Knick Mark Jackson taking the job; however, with Jackson and nine other coaches whom had interviewed for the vacancy, the Knicks had zeroed in on Fizdale. With such demands and expectations that comes with being head coach of the Knicks, Fizdale was asked why he decided to take the Knicks job and he answered: “I just felt a real connection to them. How many chances do you get to coach in the Garden? (Madison Square Garden) It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal and I love challenges.” Fizdale has a great reputation of being a superb communicator to players he has coached in the past. Although he had a run-in with Grizzlies’ center Marc Gasol while he was the coach in Memphis, he (Fizdale) has developed great relationships with many star players around the NBA including (dare I say) LeBron James.

Fizdale comes from the Pat Riley tree and was an assistant coach on those Miami Heat teams that won back-to-back NBA Championships a few years back. With Fizdale in play as the team’s coach, the team will now look to build around star player Kristaps Porzingis, who will miss more than half of the upcoming season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL. The Knicks own all of their future first-round draft picks and are projected to have around $30 million in cap space for the summer of 2019. The question is, can Fizdale be the “wizard” the Knicks need to create a winning culture and engage potential free agents to come and take their talents to New York? We shall see how the era of Fizdale begins in New York.

Sports Notes: (Baseball) As we go to press, the New York Yankees have been sizzling, having won 16 of their last 17 games while the Mets try to recover from what has been a tough stretch which saw them fall out of first place for the first time since April 3.    What does the OTP universe think about the Knicks hiring of David Fizdale? Tell me your thoughts and E-mail me at Castroeddie714@gmail.com.

 

 

 

PS 23 – Carter G. Woodson Elementary School Celebrates Earth Day!

Editor, Our Time Press
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PS 23 – Carter G. Woodson Elementary School Celebrates Earth Day!

 

On April 20th, DOE Earth Day, students from

PS 23’s 4th-grade classes planted a Royal Star Magnolia tree donated to the school by the Magnolia Tree Earth Center.  The tree was planted just outside of Heaven’s Gate Community Garden on Hart Street between Tompkins and Throop Avenues.

 

The students worked together to uproot the stump of a previously planted bush that had died by using a stand-up garden tiller.  After removing the stump, the students took turns digging an 18-inch hole with shovels, planted, then watered the tree.

At the conclusion of the planting, students posed for pictures with their classmates and expressed their excitement over the activity.  “It was fun, and we were able to do something good in the community.  I can’t wait to see the tree grow and visit it next year with my class,” said Janiah H.

Kanye West, Donald Glover and the correct way to send a message

Marlon Rice
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Kanye West, Donald Glover and the correct way to send a message

Kanye West is crazy. Not in a “crazy like a fox” way. No, he’s crazy in a “cut off your nose to spite your face” way. In his Gemini-centered quest to be the deepest mind in the room, Kanye has said and has done things that have created more questions and concerns than answers. Wearing a MAGA hat. Becoming a fanboy for Donald Trump. The Kanye that was once known for pushing the envelope has totally ripped the envelope open, only to reveal that there is nothing inside of it. It’s empty. His latest act of career suicide came in the form of an appearance on TMZ last week in which he said the following: “400 years of slavery? That sounds like a choice.” He didn’t qualify this statement in a way that would give it context. He didn’t explain this statement in a way that would give it depth. No, as he has been doing lately, he simply said it and moved on as if we would understand what he meant. We live in the sound bite era, a place where you can say 99 great things and 1 horrible thing, and that 1 horrible thing will become the sword you lay upon. All that anyone was reporting, trolling or sincerely paying attention to Kanye heard was that he thinks slavery was a choice. And when you wear the trappings of white nationalism, and you are quoted fanning out on this villainous administration, and then you speak of slavery as some option that our ancestors could choose or refrain from without giving any depth to the statement, then you, sir, have proven you’re crazy.

In capitalism, one can always profit on the follies of another. Kanye’s statement broke the Internet. It became all that anyone discussed for the next 48 hours. The all-important think pieces began to flow from blog sites, guerilla journalists looking to pen that one piece that goes viral and gets them the looks they need to finally quit their day job and start a podcast. Every talk show on television now had their lead story. The woke community, Black twitter, they had a field day with him. The #ifslaverywasachoice memes were classic. If you haven’t seen them, stop reading this article right now and go check them out. They are hilarious. Every Black musician or creative with a mic in their face during that 48-hour cycle was asked about Kanye’s statements. The thing about it though is that no one ever really spoke with knowledge of what Kanye meant, because Kanye never elaborated. In truth, one could have such a discussion on an intellectual level. One could point to legends like Harriet Tubman, Toussaint L’ouverture and Nat Turner and say that they chose at some point to not be burdened with the yoke of slavery. They chose freedom. But that discussion won’t be had because Kanye opened an empty envelope.

Donald Glover is crazy. Not in a “cut your nose off to spite your face” way. No, Donald Glover is “crazy like a fox.” The man wears basically every creative hat in entertainment. Musician-Actor-Director-Writer-Comedian. His show, Atlanta, is an amazing ride, unique and fresh even as it presents traditional paradigms. He’s found success in the Hip-Hop realm as Childish Gambino and he’s only at the front end of what promises to be an accomplished career. And that’s what makes the recent video he released for his song, This is America, so interesting. Donald didn’t just push the envelope with this video, he ripped the envelope open and poured out hundreds of other sealed envelopes on the floor for you to sift through. The imagery in this video requires its own article, 750 words isn’t enough to touch on everything.The senseless killings of our own, the dancing and minstrel posturing in the foreground holding our attention while chaos exists in the background; death on a pale horse, the end of religion, this video discusses all of it in a way that yields itself only to more discussion and introspection. The think pieces for this are flowing like the river Thames. Social media has had a meaty week indeed, and one that has presented a beautiful juxtaposition. Social and political issues in interviews or in conversation without qualifying their statements or giving you the context of their thought process, they put themselves in danger of being misunderstood. When artists speak to social and political issues in their art, the art itself contextualizes the message and the conversation is left for you, the consumer, to have. Kanye needs to explain himself, he owes it to his fans and listeners to explain why he feels that slavery was a choice. Donald Glover doesn’t owe anyone an explanation. He’s said enough. I miss the old Kanye.

Winning Participatory Budgeting Projects Across Brooklyn Are Announced

Editor, Our Time Press
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Winning Participatory Budgeting Projects Across Brooklyn Are Announced

 

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams announced on Tuesday the impact of his $1 million capital budget investment in Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) of participatory budgeting (PB), a democratic process in which local residents directly decide how to spend part of a public budget, which increased the number of community-driven projects funded in council districts that encompass more than 60 percent of Brooklyn. Tens of thousands of Brooklyn residents cast ballots at locations across the borough — including at Brooklyn Borough Hall — during the 2018-2019 participatory budgeting cycle voting period, which took place between Saturday, April 7th and Sunday, April 15th. Borough President Adams’ $1 million contribution was apportioned equally to winning projects from the votes conducted by the 10 council members in the borough who are participating in PB this year.

This year’s voting cycle expanded the reach to more Brooklynites as votes could be cast online at locations across the borough and at LinkNYC kiosks. Borough President Adams highlighted how the continued growth of PB in Brooklyn is helping to advance the causes of civic engagement, fiscal transparency and good government throughout the city.

 

“Participatory budgeting is bringing democracy back to our communities, empowering individuals to make decisions on what gets funded at the hyperlocal level,” said Borough President Adams. “I thank all of the council members participating in this year’s process for their continued commitment to amplifying the voices of Brooklynites so our constituents have a direct say in where their taxpayer dollars get spent. From school technology to street safety, this year’s funded projects reflect that all Brooklynites seek safer places to raise healthy children and families. Let’s continue to advance these shared priorities and get more people involved in the PB process so that everyone has a stake in Brooklyn’s future.”

The $100,000 designated by Borough President Adams for PB in each participating council district expanded that council member’s committed PB allotment, resulting in additional projects winning funding in the upcoming fiscal year:

  • Laptop carts at PS/IS 157 The Benjamin Franklin Health Science Academy in Bedford-Stuyvesant, in partnership with Councilman Stephen F. Levin
  • Broadband system and computer upgrades at PS 299 Thomas Warren Field School in Bushwick, in partnership with Councilman Antonio Reynoso
  • Auditorium upgrades, including a new stage floor, lighting, sound system, paint, curtains and chairs at PS 9 Teunis G. Bergen in Prospect Heights, in partnership with Councilwoman Laurie A. Cumbo
  • Auditorium upgrade to a public performance and community gathering space at PS 23 Carter G. Woodson Elementary School in Bedford-Stuyvesant, in partnership with Councilman Robert E. Cornegy, Jr.
  • Security cameras at PS 94 The Henry Longfellow School in Sunset Park, in partnership with Councilman Carlos Menchaca
  • Replacement of damaged and hazardous turf for the soccer field at Albermarle Playground in Kensington, in partnership with Councilman Brad Lander
  • Library upgrade at MS 2 Parkside Preparatory Academy in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, in partnership with Councilman Mathieu Eugene
  • Sidewalk extensions and school safety measures near PS 134 in Kensington, in partnership with Council member Kalman Yeger
  • Trench restoration along 16th Avenue in Borough Park, in partnership with Council member Kalman Yeger
  • STEAM library upgrades at PS 193 Gil Hodges in Midwood, in partnership with Councilman Jumaane D. Williams
  • Auditorium upgrades and supplemental cooling system installation at IS 281 Joseph B. Cavallaro in Gravesend, in partnership with Councilman Mark Treyger.

A map of winning projects and full voting results by district can be viewed at pbnyc.org.

Iyanla Vanzant at Boys and Girls High School Complex

Maitefa Angaza
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Iyanla Vanzant at Boys and Girls High School Complex

Iyanla Vanzant was called to Brooklyn on Tuesday, May 8th. She arrived and delivered, galvanizing minds and uplifting spirits at the Boys And Girls High building in Bedford Stuyvesant. The author, spiritual teacher, life coach and TV personality was asked by old friend Stan Kinard, community liaison for the school, because some students were having difficulty after a classmate was recently shot multiple times (off school grounds). “I need you,” is all Kinard said, and it was enough.

The school building, easily recognized by its colorful mural by the late, great Ernie Chrichlow, currently houses Boys and Girls proper, the Research and Service High School and the Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice. Each has its own mission and challenges, but the students tend to cooperate. So all felt the blow, though not all students were equally familiar with the young shooting victim.

Before she addressed the children, Vanzant sat in a room with Kinard, faculty members and community stakeholders to come up with concrete plans for assisting the students on optimal levels going forward. People volunteered to accept areas of assignment and to follow through on collaboration for the sake of their common commitment – the students.

Once on stage, Vanzant’s message and impact transcended the solemnity to help students examine their trajectories and to claim agency now, to determine their futures. Likely because they’ve been conditioned to appreciate straight talk, the students were mostly attentive and receptive to Vanzant, who began her presentation with clips from her show, Iyanla Fix My Life. The first showed her working with a family of young men and their absent father returned. In the second clip she interacted with a young woman to hilarious, but pointed effect.

Most of what Vanzant offered was food for thought at any age. Both students and faculty came to the mic to express confusion, betrayal and heartbreak. Each left with something to think about and to be about. See below some of her sharing:

“I usually say to people that I’m not good with kids. I had three of my own. It was a mess! But what I am good with, is mind. And I’m real good with spirit and I’m good with soul. And when I see you, I see such incredible power in your mind, your spirit and your soul. Yes, I know that once your foundation breaks down at home, it spreads out to every single thing that you do. I know a lot of you are experiencing broken foundations. Just like me. Just like my children. I was pregnant at 16, pregnant at 19, pregnant again at 21. I didn’t go to college till I was 30 years old. I graduated when I was 33 and went to law school. So you are so much further ahead than me.”

“People will reward you today for your bad behavior, but I want you to be clear: when you make a mistake today, it’s so that you can learn and grow from it. I am so glad that my mother forced to me to stay in high school! You have to have a vision. What is your vision? The vision will move you forward. You can’t just sit around and see what’s gonna happen. How do you see yourself? What do you see for yourself? And it doesn’t matter what it is, if you believe in it.”

“A caterpillar is an insect that has to crawl thru dirt all is life. On its belly. And then one day… it realizes, ‘I can have a change. It recognizes that. ‘I gotta change.’ It just happens. I don’t know how it happens. But when the caterpillar has been crawling through dirt and spit and poop on the ground, It gets the notion that, ‘I have to change.’ You know what it does then? It crawls up a tree. Change is an uphill battle. So the caterpillar climbs up a tree and goes out on a limb. It hangs on a limb – a dangerous place, because it could fall. It could be eaten by a bird. And then, with one string from within itself, it wraps itself in a cocoon so that it can mature into a butterfly. What you need to change is not outside you. It’s not on social media. It’s inside.”

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