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Gregory Anderson: Bridge Street Development Corporation & Brownstoners of Bed-Stuy United in Effort to Strengthen Support to Homeowners

David Mark Greaves
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Gregory Anderson: Bridge Street Development Corporation & Brownstoners of Bed-Stuy United in Effort to Strengthen Support to Homeowners

“Bridge Street Development Corporation is proud to stand in solidarity with Borough President Reynoso, Council Members Chi Osse, Farah Louis, and Sandy Nurse, homeowners, and community advocates demanding increased investment in the fight against deed theft,” said Gregory Anderson, BSDC President & CEO, at BP Reynoso’s press conference at City Hall recently on deed thefts.


“While Bridge Street does not provide legal services directly, our deep engagement with over 50 Central Brooklyn Block and Resident Associations has made clear just how critical legal support is for preventing these crimes and protecting longtime homeowners—especially our seniors.


“Recent high-profile cases, like the $7 million Sunset Park and $2 million Fort Greene indictments, are just the tip of the iceberg. And by the time legal action is taken, the harm has already been done. That’s two indictments to totaling $9 million — and that is the tip of the iceberg. The $5 million being requested for legal services is just a drop in the bucket. But it is an important drop in a critical bucket that must be filled.


“It is no coincidence that today’s rally takes place on the date originally scheduled for the NYC Tax Lien Sale—a process that too often serves as a roadmap for predatory actors targeting those in financial distress.


“With the extension of the sale date, as we speak, our office is printing the addresses from the 10-day lien sale list, and we will be partnering with the Brownstoners of Bed-Stuy who will once again go door-to-door in an effort to save as many of the 700 Council District 36 homes on that list as possible. There is no doubt that just as we are using the list to identify homes we can save, the predators and scammers are using that same list to identify homes they can steal.


“We urge the City to increase funding for free legal services to intervene early, prevent displacement, and safe guard the homes and legacies of vulnerable New Yorkers.”

Baba Surya Passes

David Mark Greaves
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Baba Surya Passes

It is with pain in my heart that I announce the passing of Baba Surya. He passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday at the age of 91 years. He was a fixture at the WESPAC office for many years when we were located at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. location in downtown White Plains. Below you will find some information about his life. Additional information will be shared on our website and socials.

Nada Khader
WESPAC Foundation Director
http://www.wespac.org

Al Surya Peterson was born in White Plains and raised at his grandparents’ house on Saxon Woods Road in Scarsdale, New York, in what used to be a Black Community that was formed in the 1800s.


His grandfather took care of the horses at the Rockefeller estate in Pocantico Hills.
You can learn more about his family history by listening to this oral history interview with Surya by the White Plains Library: https://whiteplainslibrary.org/2015/07/people-stories-oral-history-project-al-surya-peterson/


Surya dedicated decades of his life educating the public through exhibits, lectures and conferences about the fine arts and crafts of African Americans.


In 1970, as a board trustee, he was the Arts & Culture Curator for the African American Cultural Foundation based in White Plains and was responsible for assisting the organization with event planning and implementation. In 1971, Mr. Peterson co-founded Sunday Gallery located at the Africo-ileto Boutique on 205 Martine Avenue in White Plains. It was the first African American Boutique in Westchester County. They exhibited arts and crafts throughout Westchester and Rockland Counties.


In 1972, Sunday Gallery was invited to exhibit at the National Urban League located at E. 52nd Street Lobby Gallery which prompted the Westchester Art Society to present an exhibit at their 88 E. Post Road Space. Assisted by the NY State Council on the Arts, Sunday Gallery traveled with the exhibit to Columbia, Maryland, Atlanta, Georgia, and Tuskegee, Alabama, as a member of the National Conference of Artists which seeks to promote the Visual Arts of African Americans.

He assisted the planning of the annual conferences. He traveled with the organization throughout the US, Canada, Africa & South Africa. He served as the Vice President of the New York State chapter.


Mr. Peterson traveled to Jamaica and Cuba to participate in Art conferences. He was a board member of the Association of Community Based Artists of Westchester, Center for the Arts, Avitar Foundation of Westchester & NY & The Center for World Religions.


Sunday Gallery was a member of the Harlem Arts Alliance and received its 501(c)3 with assistance from Columbia University law students. Surya was a certified Art Handler, volunteered as a docent, created a Social Justice Mural Project at the WESPAC (Westchester People’s Action Coalition) and assisted the Art Westchester Folk arts programs.


His dream was to create an African American Museum in Westchester. He remained committed to Black artists who were isolated and whom he knew would very much benefit from networking and exhibiting opportunities. “They just need to know that there are great resources and a supportive community available to them,” he says.
He was a vegetarian and the co-founder of the African Holistic Network which brings Holistic Health lectures and printed information to the Public.


Baba Surya: I hope that you knew and felt how very precious you were to me. Rest in power, my dearest elder. I learned so much about Black history and the Black Community from you.
Facebook: Explore WESPAC, Twitter: @WESPAC_NY

(Note to Readers: The Our Time Press June Men’s Month issues are dedicated to Baba Al “Surya” Peterson.)

Attorney General Letitia James Wins Lawsuit Blocking Trump Administration from Imposing Worldwide Tariffs

David Mark Greaves
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Attorney General Letitia James Wins Lawsuit Blocking Trump Administration from Imposing Worldwide Tariffs

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after the United States Court of International Trade ruled that the Trump administration’s tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are invalid and cannot be implemented.

The court ruled in favor of Attorney General James and a coalition of 11 other attorneys general who sued the Trump administration in April for violating the law by imposing worldwide tariffs under IEEPA, causing severe economic damage throughout the country:
“The law is clear: no president has the power to single-handedly raise taxes whenever they like.

These tariffs are a massive tax hike on working families and American businesses that would have led to more inflation, economic damage to businesses of all sizes, and job losses across the country if allowed to continue. This decision is a major victory for our efforts to uphold the law and protect New Yorkers from illegal policies that threaten American jobs and economy.”


Attorney General James and the coalition sued the Trump administration for unlawfully imposing tariffs under IEEPA through executive orders, social media posts, and agency orders. Attorney General James and the coalition argued that the president has no such power under IEEPA. However, since February, President Trump has been unilaterally imposing sweeping tariffs against America’s closest trading partners and nearly every country on Earth.


The United States Court of International Trade today ruled that the law does not authorize any of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under IEEPA, including tariffs on China, Mexico, Canada, and the European Union. The court found the tariffs to be unlawful and ordered that they be permanently blocked.


Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont.

Why Black Voters Should Consider Supporting Eric Adams for Reelection

Editor, Our Time Press
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By Renee Collymore
Eric Adams stands at a pivotal moment in New York City’s history—not only as a mayor managing complex urban challenges, but as the second Black mayor in the city’s history. Historically, Black leadership in high office has often been met with outsized scrutiny and a lack of patience.

David Dinkins, the city’s first Black mayor, served only one term, and his legacy has often been overshadowed despite his measured approach to governance and the groundwork he laid for the city’s future stability.


When President Barack Obama completed two terms as President, it wasn’t just a political victory—it was a psychological and symbolic triumph for millions of Black Americans who saw, for the first time, that the highest office in the land was within reach.

It expanded the realm of possibility for what Black leadership could achieve when given the opportunity to govern without premature dismissal.


Eric Adams may not be perfect, and fair criticism of his policies is part of a healthy democracy. But in deciding whether to support him for a second term, Black voters should weigh not just individual policies but also the broader implications of continuity in Black leadership.

Denying him a full two terms without affording him the same latitude historically given to white mayors could reinforce the harmful perception that Black leaders are unequipped for long-term governance.


Reelecting Adams could serve as both a practical and symbolic investment in the visibility, credibility, and viability of Black leadership—not just for New York, but for the nation.

Social Media and the Teenage Brain:Why Parents Need to Step In

Editor, Our Time Press
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By: Dr. Tolu Olupona,
Program Director for the Department of Psychiatry
at OBH Interfaith Medical Center


Teenagers are increasingly spending more time online. They go online to watch videos, use social media, play video games, listen to podcasts, and engage in other digital activities. According to a 2021 Common Sense Media survey, a significant number of teens reported heavy media use.

Thirty percent of teens aged 13–18 said they spend over 7.5 hours on YouTube daily. Seventy-seven percent reported watching online videos daily, 62% reported daily social media use, and 49% reported watching TV.

A Gallup survey on adolescent health found that over half of teens spend at least four hours a day on social media. The most used platforms among teens include Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Discord, TikTok, and Twitter.


Social media does have benefits. Teens use these platforms to share ideas, learn from others, and communicate—just like they do with phone calls or texting. Social media also serves as a creative outlet and allows teens to connect with peers beyond their local communities.


However, despite these benefits, growing concerns remain about the impact of social media on teen mental health. A 2016 paper in the Journal of Adolescence linked excessive social media use with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.


Adolescence is a critical period of brain development—the second most intensive phase after early childhood. During this time, the brain regions responsible for executive functioning, impulse control, decision-making, and planning undergo major maturation.

Areas tied to social understanding and communication—such as the medial prefrontal cortex, superior temporal cortex, and parietal junction—are also rapidly developing. Research suggests that teens are especially sensitive to peer feedback online during this phase, as their ability to process emotions and self-regulate is still evolving.


It’s during this vulnerable developmental window that teens are spending long hours online engaging in social comparison, reacting to likes, and managing emotional responses to comments, all of which can heighten stress and self-consciousness.


Parents and caretakers can help by promoting safe and healthy social media habits. Screen time should be monitored—there are excellent apps to assist with this. Teens should be encouraged to limit social comparison and take screen detox days to engage in offline activities.


Of course, this is easier said than done. But the rise in adolescent mental health concerns makes it clear that intentional efforts are needed to reduce excessive screen time during this critical period.

If your teenager is struggling to cut back, even with encouragement, seeking support from a mental health professional trained in adolescent therapy can make a meaningful difference. For more information or to connect a young person with behavioral health services, please visit us online at onebrooklynhealth.org.

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