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Unleashing the Power of Mothers

Aminisha Black
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The female was endowed by nature with the ability to bring children into the world. Since this is true, it must follow that we are capable of nurturing them to reach their full potential. Animals protect their young. Why can’t we?

When we allow ourselves to confront emotional trauma from the past, we gain the power to release the hidden trauma that we live with and pass on to our children. After all, we’ve bought into this culture’s definition of what success looks like and preoccupied with equality.

My question to mothers: Equal to what? A culture thriving on the theft of the Indigenous People’s land and currently killing children, civilians and soldiers in other countries while education in this country is sorely in need of revamping, adopting a nation -wide curriculum based on Multiple Intelligences where the student enjoys and eagerly await classes of interest placing less interest on recess.

Our role and duty as mothers is to keep the gifts our children are born with alive and expanding. The prerequisite for this conversation is our taking responsibility and consequently garnering the power to save our young and have them contribute to saving humanity. We continue Mother’s Month by exploring ways to maintain one’s sanity without destroying the child’s self-esteem.

Clear your emotional residue – We need to recognize that while the roots of our upsets, anger and regrets among other emotions stem from the past, we can rid ourselves of those effects today. We can change the impact they have on us today and be empowered to liberate our children from the generational inheritance. The first step is admitting “I felt hurt when….. or I feel hurt”. We’re so conditioned to making the other person wrong that we don’t address our feelings, so they linger and distort our view of others while decreasing our sense of self-worth… We organize to seek equal rights to other people. It’s time to declare a movement to regain self leading to healed relationships and restored families.

A Pretest – Do you have any of these issues? A) Seeing the negative in others, including your children, more than positive; B) Do you make statements that communicate your power over your child, i.e. ,“Your butt belongs to me” or “Shut up”; C) Do you feel a need to always be right, D) Do you tend to compare yourself and compete with others? E) Do you compare your child to others? These are a few examples of low self-esteem as quiet as it’s kept, self-esteem doesn’t come with positions, money, material possessions, attire or authority. Self-esteem is based on love.

When we master the art of forgiving and loving ourselves, we can love our children – not because they look or behave a certain way but simply because they are. And when we reconnect with our feelings, we become more aware of the possible freedoms of others, including those of our children. We are then able to provide a listening that releases the emotions attached to those feelings and freeing the need for negative behaviors.

Loving ourselves and our biological children opens the door to loving all children and humanity. Interestingly enough, it has nothing to do with their religion or nonreligion. Then as with other species of nature, we will create ways to protect those we love from all predators – even ourselves.

Family is a special classroom if used to teach tolerance and respect for differences. Members were not interviewed and selected from other applicants. They became family because, at some point, a male and female came together and the family tree was born. It occurs to me that the ideal place to heal the world begins with the family – not by everybody having the same vision but by supporting each in having a vision thereby sowing the seeds for Peace on the Planet. Listening to public media free of commercials one learns of the wars undeclared and existing throughout the world and the role that this country plays. Instead of commercials, we hear about men, women and children, civilians being killed by America’s troops. We are witnessing an increase in numbers of our youth dying in the streets. I think if we looked closely, our wish for the world and for our children would be the same – a world where each one matters and life of each and all is considered sacred. Share with us your tools for building self-esteem and healing relationships within the family. Send to: parentsnotebook@yahoo.com.

Anatomy of Federal Corruption Allegations

David Mark Greaves
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The recent spate of federal prosecutions for political corruption may look racial because of the ethnicity of the defendants, but the real risk is an elected official’s circle of associates.

Last week convicted former Queens State Senator Shirley Huntley was sentenced to one year and a day for the theft of $87,000 in member item dollars meant to service poor people. In order to save herself, Huntley alleged she had knowledge of other elected officials engaging in corruption. Cooperating with federal prosecutors, Huntley allowed her home to be wired during the summer of 2012 where she invited several political associates to her home where she took their pictures and recorded them. Among those Huntley recorded for the feds were New York state senators John Sampson, Ruth Hassel-Thompson, Jose Peralta, Malcolm Smith and Velmanette Montgomery and New York City Councilman Rubin Wills, Curtis Taylor (a former press advisor for Malcolm Smith) and Melvin Lowe, a former political consultant and associate of New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman. Only Smith and Sampson have been accused of wrongdoing.

Sampson was named in Huntley federal documents because he referred to Huntley a businessman who wanted to expand his business in JFK airport because the airport was in Huntley’s district. Huntley accepted a $1,000 payment from the businessman in exchange for advocating on his behalf.

Apparently, Sampson became a federal target in 2011 when a different individual was arrested on bank and wire fraud charges as part of a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders. Federal investigation of that individual led to inquiries about Sampson’s business dealing with the individual which led to investigations of alleged wrongdoing in Sampson’s legal work as a court appointed referee in foreclosure proceedings.

In April, Assemblyman Nelson Castro abruptly resigned when feds revealed that due to a pre-election perjury charge Castro had been wearing a wire for the entirety of his two terms in elected office. Castro’s wire led to Assemblyman Eric Stevenson being recorded taking a $20,000 bribe for writing legislation that would limit competition in the Bronx adult day care industry.

And just a week before that, Senate IDC member Malcolm Smith was arrested for allegedly trying to bribe his way onto the Republican line for mayor. That twisted plot included a vice chair of the Queens County Republican Party, the chair of the Bronx Republican Party, a bankrupted upstate developer, and the mayor and deputy mayor of Spring Valley. Complicating the plot was a wiretap in which Republican NYC Councilman Daniel Halloran bragged that he could obtain tens of thousands in member item dollars for use in bribe.

In yet another set of cases, Assemblyman William Boyland was recently indicted again… this time for allegedly participating in a scheme to provide member item dollars for a non-profit that in turn used the money to pay for politically related activities and products that benefited the assemblyman, including “Team Boyland” t-shirts.

But Boyland’s ensnarement began more than a decade ago when Queens Assemblyman Anthony Seminario participated in a scheme that ultimately led to attempts to discharge $19 million in debt for the MediSys hospital management company. Seminario’s prosecution led to the conviction of former MediSys CEO David Rosen for bribery. The trail of payoffs to Seminario (who died in prison), led to Boyland, and convicted former State Senator Carl Kruger. Boyland’s first trial ended in acquittal, but less than a week later Boyland was indicted again for an alleged bribery scheme with a carnival operator to pay Boyland’s legal fees. He was then allegedly caught concocting a scheme in which an entity would purchase an empty hospital facility, renovate it, and then sell it to a Boyland controlled nonprofit. To make matter’s worse Boyland was indicted for submitting travel reimbursement documents for Albany legislative business while he was on trial in NYC.

Others who have been prosecuted include former Republican Majority Leader Joe Bruno and Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin. All told, more than 2 dozen elected officials have been subject to prosecution in recent years.
Allegations of misconduct have no color or party affiliation.

Boys and Girls HS Hosts Eagle Academy All-Male Youth Summit

Mary Alice Miller
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Boys and Girls High School hosted 1,400 boys from Eagle Academy schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Southeast Queens and Newark, NJ for an All-Male Youth Summit organized by the Eagle Academy Foundation. The summit — part pep rally, part networking party, and part sports tournament – was the culmination of a weeklong celebration of the Eagle Academy Foundation. Other events included a parent’s forum in Queens and a mayoral candidate forum in the Bronx.

The young men were greeted by keynote speaker Maurice Coleman who captivated the boys with an uplifting story of how his family moved several times seeking a better life for him. Once Coleman earned a prep school placement, his life transformed. Coleman, a Senior Vice President with Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, told the boys of their responsibility to give back to their community. Using himself as an example, Coleman spoke of financing the nationally successful Applebee’s Restaurant against all odds and a current veteran’s housing project on Herkimer Street currently underway.

Dozens of men from all walks of life brought inspirational books for the boys and engaged them with mentoring break-out sessions.

Isaiah Miles, 14, who attends Eagle Academy #3 in Queens said, “Today was a good experience. I didn’t get to go to all the workshops, but the workshops that I did attend were very informative. It was a very positive energy. I’m glad that I came. I am a part of the first graduating class of 2017.”

Jarred, 14-year-old 8th -grader, also attends the Queens campus. “Today was past my expectations. It was fun. I met students from other Eagles. I learned in my workshop how to manage my money,” said Jarred. “I would recommend Eagle Academy to other young men. Eagle rocks!”

George Nunez attends Eagle Academy for Young Men in the South Bronx. A current senior and student president of the school, this fall George plans to attend Massachusetts College of Liberal arts in Boston. “This event itself was great. We got a chance to build that solidarity and camaraderie that we have been looking for among our Eagle brothers,” said George. “We haven’t seen our Eagle brothers throughout the other schools for a long time. I got a chance to meet my younger brothers. It was a great experience to share my knowledge of four years of high school and prepare them for what is expected as an Eagle scholar. My younger brothers were very energetic and they brought out the sense of rivalry among Eagle brothers. We had a competitive spirit on and off the basketball courts… playing checkers or Connect Four. At the end of the day we are all brothers.”

Brandon Frank facilitated a workshop and basketball competition. “It is my mission to empower boys of color across the world. Any opportunity that presents itself to do so, I have to be there. Not only did I get to meet with young men but also other presenters to see how we can all build together to make the world a better place and take our young men to the next level,” said Frank. “The young men gave tremendous energy. I felt a hunger for learning and saw young men who are critical thinkers or are looking to build their critical thinking skills. We had a great dialogue about fatherhood, education, leadership.” Brandon Frank is currently a school administrator at High School, Inc. in Hartford Connecticut and author of Redefine Yourself, Define the World, the Guided Journal for Black Boys and Men, and Chief Visionary Officer of The Black Man Can.

Dr. Alvin Perry, author of The Circus Act: Unleash the Entrepreneurial Spirit in You, says he “came because it is important that brothers like myself who have some semblance of success pay it forward. We tell these young people our failures and successes and hopefully share something with them that shortens their time to success,” said Dr. Perry. “My goal is to have young people to think. The strongest thing they have is their mind. I want them to know they are not confined by what everybody else says. You can do some things based on what you believe and what you see in your mind’s eye, and don’t be afraid to pursue those things.” Dr. Perry has corporate marketing experience, has started 6 or 7 businesses, earned a doctorate in business administration specializing in entrepreneurship, and teaches at Montclair State, William Patterson and Essex County College.
Boys and Girls High School Principal Bernard Gassaway said he was happy to host the summit because of a vision planted in 1997 when he and Eagle Academy CEO David Banks first became principals. “Our young black boys will soon become black men,” said Gassaway, “and with the right support systems they can become all that they can be. I am here to support that anyway that I can.”

Local bicycle shops embrace city’s rent-a-bike program

Stephen Witt
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The bicycle shops of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Fort Greene/Clinton Hill this week gave unanimous thumbs up to the city’s rent-a-bike program that is officially expected to roll out early next month.

The public-private partnership plan dubbed Citi Bike because Citibank is its major underwriter will ultimately see 600 docking stations and 10,000 bikes where residents and tourists can rent a bike and pedal to another dock near their destination.

Thus far eights docks have been installed in the western portion of Bed-Stuy and several more in the central and eastern part of the community are expected as the program rolls out.

“I think it’s going to boon for biking in the whole city and I don’t personally see it hurting the local shops at all,” said Alex Picca, who opened the Bike Slug, which is mainly a repair and bike accessory shop at 1050 Bedford Avenue between Clifton Place and Lafayette about a year ago.

Picca said it is his understanding that there will be a fix-it shop for the rental bikes in Red Hook, and the city is looking for bicycle mechanics at the shop. However, he doesn’t see himself going to repair the bikes.
“I’m sure the repair work will be a management nightmare,” he said, referring to the collection and repair of the city’s bikes.

Brian Gluck, who owns Red Lantern Bicycles, 345 Myrtle Avenue between Carlton Avenue and Adelphi Street, said the program will encourage people to ride bikes more and also allow the rest of the city who are non-bike riders to become more aware of bicyclists.

“More bikes on the street means more awareness of bicycles for motorists and it will make it safer for everybody,” said Gluck, whose bike shop includes retail and accessory sales, repairs and a café that serves coffee, wine and beer.

“I think it will be great for congestion and a great alternative for train or taking cab. It will also become like a gateway drug for buying a bike because people will get sick of paying the rental fees,” he added.
The only owner that expressed some reservations is Henry Chang, the dean of Bed-Stuy bike shop owners as his Fulton Bicycles at 1580 Fulton Street and Marcus Garvey Blvd has been at its present location for 25 years.
“I think it’s a good program, but I’m not sure how it will turn out,” said Chang. “The other countries that the program is modeled after have been doing it for years and so the culture of biking is different.”
Chang said he doesn’t think the program will hurt his sales, and in fact might even increase his sales because it will encourage more people to purchase a bike.

Chang said customers have found some problems with the placement of bike racks to lock up their bikes around the city.

“Just today a customer came in to get a new lock because the one around his bike was snapped off in front of the Target Mall on Atlantic Avenue by security as it was chained to a lamppost instead of one of the city’s bike racks,” he said, adding the bulk of his business is in repairs where the profit margin is much higher than in sales.

Chang, who has several employees from the neighborhood, noted how the neighborhood has changed over the years from one that was mainly poor to becoming much more working class.

“Before it became more working class there wasn’t a lot of money in the neighborhood and many of the residents acted out from emotion,” he said. “On the upside when people with less money get a paycheck they tend to buy more spontaneously.”

Community Fights for SUNY Downstate as Cuomo Pursues Federal Dollars

Mary Alice Miller
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Hundreds packed the Mt. Zion Church of God, and then marched to SUNY Downstate where they were greeted by hundreds more. Chanting “Health care is a right! Fight, fight, fight!” and “Cuomo, Cuomo hear our cry! We won’t let you privatize!” the Coalition of Faith, Labor and Community Leaders came together to demand that SUNY Downstate Medical Center and University Hospital remain open as a public institution. “The religious coalition formed because I don’t think just the Christian religion can [save Downstate]. We needed a collaborative effort between all religions. The hospital is not just for Christians. It is for Muslims, it is for Jews, it is for the rich and poor,” said Pastor Gil Monrose. “When you have these critical moments, we need to be able to come together.”

The rally to save SUNY Downstate — planned several weeks in advance – occurred on the same date it was announced that Gov. Andrew Cuomo sent a letter to the Obama Administration requesting federal assistance on Medicaid funding formulas. New York saved more than $17 billion resulting from Gov. Cuomo’s Medicaid Redesign Team, but since Medicaid is a federal/state partnership, the state savings came with reductions in federal reimbursements. Cuomo’s letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wants the federal government to grant a waiver so that $10 billion of the restructure savings could be used to support failing hospitals.

Cuomo’s letter specifically listed four Brooklyn hospitals at risk: Interfaith Medical Center, Brookdale Medical Center, SUNY Downstate Brooklyn and Long Island College Hospital.

“Due to a rapid deterioration in the financial status of essential components of the health care services system in Brooklyn, if nothing is done within the next 12 months, the outcome will be disastrous,” Cuomo wrote to Sebelius. “Access to care will be compromised and the remaining health care providers in the borough will be destabilized.”

“With 8,000 employees and 400,000 individuals treated at SUNY Downstate last year, Downstate cannot be allowed to fail,” said Bishop Findlatter, President of Churches United to Save and Heal (CUSH). “It makes absolutely no sense to talk about privatizing a public hospital. If you lose your job it will affect every business in the community. If you lose your job it will affect the health care of every person who lives in East Flatbush, Ditmas Park, Flatbush and Canarsie. We will not allow that to happen.”

In a direct message to Gov. Andrew Cuomo Findlatter said, “If you don’t do right by the people of Central Brooklyn, we voted you into office, we will vote you out of office. If saving Downstate is important to the governor and the legislators, they will find the money.”

Speaking on behalf of the Crown Heights Jewish community, Rabbi Cohen called SUNY Downstate “a source of healing”. Cohen joined with the other voices demanding that this institution remain open and remains able to serve the most vulnerable. “There are many people who work in this hospital — as nurses, as aides, as doctors – who put in effort way beyond their capabilities to look after people,” said Cohen. “Your lifesaving efforts deserve to be recognized. The state can find the money to keep this hospital open.”

SCEA regional president Lester Crockett said, “We will not allow Gov. Cuomo or anybody to close this hospital. It is part of this great community, and it is something we will fight for today, tomorrow and however long it takes.”

Fred Kowal, President-elect of 36,000 members of United University Professionals (UUP) said, “Health care provided here is a civil right. This is a healing place. This is where we [together] make life in Brooklyn better for all.”

Susan Kent, President of the Public Employees Federation (PEF): “Health care is a human right. I want to thank the imams, the rabbis, the pastors, the bishops, my brothers and sisters in the labor unions, and community groups for being here and standing up for the people that we care about and serve every day.”

President of Professional Staff Congress (PSC) Barbara Bowen (representing 25,000 professors and staff of the City University of New York) said, “NYC has the greatest income inequality of any city in this country, the greatest gap between rich and poor. If this city (with the richest people in the country) cannot find a way to provide health care for all of us then that is an indictment of the whole state and the city. There is nothing more sacred and more personal than health.” Bowen added, “When you attack health, you attack the most basic part of us.”

Michael Burt, SUNY Downstate employee, said workers there “feel very disrespected”. Burt spoke of the governor’s plan to close Central Brooklyn psychiatric centers “and make people travel three hours to Staten Island. There is no concern for the community”.

Regarding the relationship between SUNY Downstate and LICH, Burt said he “smelled a rat. We bought a hospital – LICH – three years ago that was losing money for the previous 15 years. I don’t believe that people are that stupid that they would make a business decision like that. Now they have been losing money for 18 straight years. It is an albatross around our neck.” He added, “I have no ill feeling for my brother unions at LICH, but the state had their hands in that.” Referring to Gov. Cuomo Burt said, “You are not going to run for president and think that all of Brooklyn is not going to be fighting you” if something happened to SUNY Downstate.
Rev. Al Sharpton; Anthony Harmon, Director of the Community and Parent Outreach Dept., UFT; James McDougal, member of National Action Network; Anthony Feliciano, Dir. of the Commission on the Public Health System; Anita Burson, Pastor of El Peter Community Baptist Church in Crown Heights and NAACP 1st Vice Pres.; and Barbara Ingram-Edmond representing DC37, also spoke in support of Downstate.

“We really don’t need a miracle to save Downstate and that other attachment to Downstate… LICH. We need money,” said Assemblyman Nick Perry. “I have been in government for 21 years. One thing I know, which is a fact: When there is a will to find money to do anything, government can find it.”

Perry urged that letters be written to the President and the Secretary of HHS to urge them to act on the Medicaid waiver.

Assemblyman Perry said that during this year’s budget negotiations he “made sure that nothing in that budget language should be construed, interpreted or understood to allow that Downstate become a private facility”.
“My colleagues and I are committed that we will not lose this treasure on our watch,” said Perry.

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