ManhattanTimes

09/30/2021

New vax sites for children to open

120 new pop-up vaccination sites across New York State will be opened over a 12-week-period under the campaign, a coordinated effort to increase vaccination rates among school-aged children.

In the coming weeks, the State Department of Health will work with localities, community-based organizations and healthcare centers on-the-ground to establish the sites in all regions of the state. As announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, each region will be hosting two new events per week, with partners, host sites and outreach efforts tailored to best meet the needs of the communities they are built to serve, Hochul said.

“With these pop-up vaccinations sites, we are ramping up our campaign on the road and going into communities where vaccination rates are still lagging among young New Yorkers, so we can reach as many families as possible and make our schools safer for students and staff,” Hochul said.

A community-based medical professional will be available at each site to answer any questions parents and guardians of school-aged New Yorkers may have. Alongside the new sites, mobile vaccine buses will be launched in public recreational spaces like basketball courts and parks.

"Con estos sitios emergentes de vacunación, estamos intensificando nuestra campaña en el camino y entrando en comunidades donde las tasas de vacunación aún están rezagadas entre los jóvenes neoyorquinos, para que podamos llegar a tantas familias como sea posible y hacer que nuestr...

09/30/2021

Managing Microaggressions

The Covid-19 pandemic has been disproportionately damaging to many communities, but the Latinx and Hispanic communities have been hit particularly hard, not just physically but emotionally.

With roughly 27.7% of Covid cases in the U.S. occurring in Hispanic/Latino patients and 18% of Covid-related deaths, the mental health impacts of the pandemic on the Latinx community are striking.

“Right now, our psychological clinics are inundated with people seeking help and needing psychological support because they have been isolated and have experienced loss in numerous forms: loss of friends and family, loss of jobs, loss of structure, loss of the life that they once knew and had,” says Dr. Yessenia Mejía, a clinical psychologist in the Pediatric Psychiatry Department at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.

On top of this, they continue to face the unconscious bias that is often directed at the community in the form of microaggressions — subtle, indirect, or often unintentional acts of discrimination against members of marginalized groups such as the Black community, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and those who identify as LGBTQ+.

When someone is confronted with a microaggression, whether it’s subtle, systemic, verbal, or nonverbal, essentially what they’re hearing is that they don’t belong. That something about them based on their race, gender, class, or immigration status is not accepted or “wrong.”...

09/30/2021

Keen on Quinoa

Keeping healthy means keeping heart-healthy foods – like quinoa – at the center of your diet.

Quinoa (pronounced “keen-wah”) is a type of edible seed that comes in various colors including black, red, yellow, and white. The plant has been cultivated for about 5000 years and is indigenous to the Andean region of South America, specifically Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Peru.

There are more than 120 known varieties of quinoa. White and yellow quinoa have the mildest flavor, so they are good varieties to try first. Red and black quinoa have slightly stronger, earthier flavors and tend to hold their shape better than lighter colored quinoa.

Though technically a seed, quinoa is classified as a whole grain.

The plant has been cultivated for about 5000 years and is indigenous to the Andean region of South America, specifically Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Peru.

09/30/2021

Off Track

It’s a bad trip ahead.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) may have weathered financial disaster instigated by the Covid-pandemic but still faces significant fiscal challenges in the coming years, according to a new report by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Released on September 28, DiNapoli’s annual report on the MTA’s finances details how a combination of higher spending, winding down of federal aid, lower ridership levels, extreme weather, potential service reductions and other factors will create escalating challenges with limited time for the agency to solve them.

“The MTA is the engine that drives New York City’s economy and it is running on borrowed time,” DiNapoli said. “It has so far survived the worst crisis in its history by covering budgets with massive federal aid. The MTA and its funding partners face tough choices on challenges that can turn into emergencies if not dealt with promptly.”

The agency plans to close significant budget gaps ($4.8 billion in 2021, $2.9 billion in 2022, $2.5 billion in 2023, $2.8 billion in 2024 and $3.3 billion in 2025) predominantly through the use of $10.5 billion in one-shot federal assistance, the report said.

The MTA faces enormous budget shortfalls that could harm the regional economy with no easy solutions...

09/30/2021

Science of Fall Colors

The timing of color changes and the onset of falling leaves is primarily regulated by the calendar as nights become longer. None of the other environmental influences – such as temperature, rainfall, food supply – are as unvarying as the steadily increasing length of night during autumn. As days grow shorter, and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaf begin to paint the landscape with Nature’s autumn palette.

Durante años, los científicos han trabajado para comprender los cambios que ocurren en árboles y arbustos durante el otoño. Aunque no conocemos todos los detalles...

09/30/2021

Rezoning takes root
Uptown residents witnessed a jolting sight in May, as the former Inwood Library building was demolished.

After a giant excavator pounded the building’s facade into rubble, it became abundantly clear that the rezoning of Inwood was at last moving forward.

The Inwood branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL), which stood at 4790 Broadway since 1952, was razed to make way for a new 14-story building that will include a modernized NYPL branch, 175 units of affordable housing and other amenities.

Nicknamed The Eliza in honor of Eliza Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton’s wife, the project will also host a 6,800-square-foot Pre-K facility operated by the Department of Education, a 10,000-square-foot activity and training center managed by The Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) and Children’s Village, and a STEM lab run by First Robotics.

The project is currently in the early stages of construction, as excavation is now underway following the demolition of the site, which also included a former car wash.

“It feels wonderful to be moving forward,” said CLOTH Executive Director Yvonne Stennett, speaking outside the construction site on a recent weekday. “It’s exciting for us and all of the entities involved.”

La sucursal de Inwood de la Biblioteca Pública de Nueva York (NYPL, por sus siglas en inglés), que se encontraba en el No. 4790 de Broadway desde 1952, fue demolida para dar paso a un nuevo edificio de 14 pisos…

09/30/2021

Changes in school testing and quarantine protocols

New York City will update its Covid-19 testing and quarantine protocol for public schools, Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced.
Weekly random testing of students and staff will now be conducted.

“We will increase random Covid-19 testing in all K-12 schools from biweekly to weekly,” explained de Blasio.

Also, unvaccinated students will no longer be required to isolate at home if another child in their classroom tests positive for Covid-19.

“When there is a positive test in a classroom, the unvaccinated students in that classroom will not have to quarantine if they are masked and three feet distant. That will allow more kids to safely remain in the classroom,” said de Blasio.

The changes will take effect on September 27.

Under the previous policy, unvaccinated students were required to quarantine for 10 days if a classmate tested positive. Additionally, the Department of Education (DOE) was required to randomly test 10 percent of a school’s unvaccinated population every other week, rather than every week.

De Blasio cited data from the first week of public school classes as motivation for the change.

New York City will update its Covid-19 testing and quarantine protocol for public schools, Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced...

09/30/2021

Expanding the municipal right to vote

This is no favor.

Immigrant allies who have called for the immediate passage of legislation that would allow legal permanent residents to vote in New York City elections, are making it clear: this is not a courtesy.

“This is about no taxation without representation,” said City Councilmember Ydanis Rodríguez, the bill’s lead sponsor. “This is not about granting a favor to immigrants by allowing them to vote. If they pay their taxes, they should have a right to elect their local leaders.”

The bill was introduced in January 2020 by Rodríguez, who joined a rally outside City Hall on Mon., Sept. 20th calling for the bill’s passage.

“Let’s be clear — all of us are immigrants,” he remarked.

The City Council bill, known as Intro 1867, would let green card holders or those authorized to work in the U.S. have a say in selecting the next mayor, City Councilmembers, Public Advocate and other municipal offices.

Advocates pointed out that noncitizens in certain municipalities of Maryland and Vermont have already been given the right to vote in municipal elections.

Immigrant allies who have called for the immediate passage of legislation that would allow legal permanent residents to vote in New York City elections, are making it clear: this is not a courtesy…

09/28/2021

Advocates call for an end to predatory court fees

From feudal times through the mid-19th century, debtors’ prisons were a common resort.

A sentence was meted out to those unable to pay court-ordered fees or fines, and individuals too destitute to pay were frequently imprisoned until their debts were settled either through forced labor or outside resources.

During the Middle Ages, courts throughout Western Europe regularly ordered men and women, and sometimes entire families, to debtors’ prisons to seek repayment.

But some advocates say that, far from a relic of the past, debtors’ prisons, thanks to predatory court fees and policies, are essentially a current and functioning component of New York’s criminal justice system.
Marvin Mayfield, an organizer with the non-profit group Center for Community Alternatives (CCA), rallied at Foley Square in Manhattan on September 20.

Mayfield, who was joined by other advocates, called court fees related to New York State’s criminal justice system “a regressive revenue source that traps millions of low-income residents in a vicious cycle of debt and punishment.”

Read more at www.ManhattanTimesNews.com or click link in bio...

09/28/2021

New vax sites for children to open

120 new pop-up vaccination sites across New York State will be opened over a 12-week-period under the campaign, a coordinated effort to increase vaccination rates among school-aged children.

In the coming weeks, the State Department of Health will work with localities, community-based organizations and healthcare centers on-the-ground to establish the sites in all regions of the state. As announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, each region will be hosting two new events per week, with partners, host sites and outreach efforts tailored to best meet the needs of the communities they are built to serve, Hochul said.

“With these pop-up vaccinations sites, we are ramping up our campaign on the road and going into communities where vaccination rates are still lagging among young New Yorkers, so we can reach as many families as possible and make our schools safer for students and staff,” Hochul said.

A community-based medical professional will be available at each site to answer any questions parents and guardians of school-aged New Yorkers may have. Alongside the new sites, mobile vaccine buses will be launched in public recreational spaces like basketball courts and parks.

Read more at www.ManhattanTimesNews.com or click link in bio...

09/28/2021

Immigration measures imperiled by Senate decision

The Senate Parliamentarian, an unelected advisor to the U.S. Senate, has ruled that immigration provisions included in the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package cannot be put forth.

Democratic Senators had earmarked $107 billion to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, farm workers and immigrant essential workers.
However, in a memo to Senators on September 19, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that the immigration elements could not be included in the budget reconciliation process, a procedure that is used to pass budget bills with a simple majority of senators rather than the typical 60-vote requirement.
Historically, provisions included in the reconciliation process need to have a direct impact on the U.S. budget. MacDonough stated that the proposed immigration spending would far surpass any budget impact by creating “a broad, new immigration policy.”

Read more at www.ManhattanTimesNews.com or click link in bio...

09/23/2021

Debunking Breastfeeding

As an obstetric nurse, Mary Lou Mulholland sees a lot of new moms worried about breastfeeding.

“I’m not making enough milk, I’m going to starve my baby, and my anatomy isn’t right are common concerns,” says Mulholland, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CLC, a staff nurse and lactation counselor in the postpartum unit at the NewYork-Presbyterian Alexandra Cohen Hospital for Women and Newborns.

In most cases, these new moms end up breastfeeding successfully after receiving support from the hospital’s nurses and lactation experts.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, including exclusively for the first six months after birth. After all, breastfeeding is healthy for both baby and mother. For a child, it can lower the risk of asthma, obesity, diabetes, ear and respiratory infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. For the mother, it can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and ovarian and breast cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Mulholland debunks some common myths about breastfeeding.

Siendo enfermera obstétrica, Mary Lou Mulholland ve a muchas nuevas mamás preocupadas por la lactancia. “No estoy produciendo suficiente leche, voy a matar de hambre...

09/23/2021

“Deep dysfunction”

Break the cycle at the BOE.

A new report issued by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law details the New York City Board of Elections’ (NYC BOE) legacy of failure and offers a list of recommendations for the state legislature to help improve the agency’s operations.

Published in collaboration with the Let NY Vote coalition, the report recommends best practices drawn from the experiences of other large, diverse election jurisdictions around the country.

“For decades, the Board of Elections has been responsible for failure after failure with enormous impacts on voters, yet nothing seems to change,” said Joanna Zdanys, one of the report’s authors and counsel in the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program. “The agency’s structure breeds deep dysfunction and a resistance to accountability. The legislature has the tools and the power to break this cycle. Albany must follow through so that the agency can serve New York City voters effectively.”

In the report, Zdanys and her co-authors outline high-profile problems experienced by the NYC BOE, such as its untraceable absentee ballots, widespread voting machine breakdowns, purges of eligible voters from the rolls and more.

Break the cycle at the BOE. A new report issued by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law details the New York City Board of Elections’ (NYC BOE) legacy of failure...

09/23/2021

“I will not let you down”

It was a triumphant day for one of Harlem’s own.

Brian Benjamin was officially sworn in as New York State’s Lieutenant Governor on Thurs., Sept 10.
A Harlem native who recently represented the neighborhood in the State Senate, Benjamin had a swearing-in ceremony at Governor Kathy Hochul’s midtown Manhattan office, where he was surrounded by family members.

Benjamin joined Hochul’s administration two weeks into her tenure as Governor. Hochul, the former Lieutenant Governor, took over on August 24 after Andrew Cuomo resigned due to a string of sexual harassment allegations against him.

“Thank you, Governor, for putting your trust in me,” Benjamin remarked to Hochul after being sworn in. “New York State, I will do everything I can to make sure that those who are living at the margins, those who are struggling, those who are overlooked will have a seat at the table, and we will make sure that there’s fairness, accountability, and good practical decision-making that governs our activities.”

It was a triumphant day for one of Harlem’s own. Brian Benjamin was officially sworn in as New York State’s Lieutenant Governor on Thurs., Sept 10. A Harlem native who recently...

09/23/2021

Garlicky Shrimp Scampi

American cooks use the term scampi to describe sautéed jumbo shrimp in a buttery white wine sauce. The onset of the fall season and its crisp air offers a welcome opportunity to enjoy slightly richer dishes at the dining table.

Los cocineros estadounidenses usan el término langostinos para describir los camarones gigantes salteados en una salsa de vino blanco con mantequilla. El inicio del otoño y su aire fresco ofrece...

09/23/2021

09/23/2021

Rise & Grind Uptown

📸:

www.UptownCollective.com

09/23/2021

15 charged in fake vax card scam

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. has charged 15 individuals, including hospital and nursing home workers, with participating in a fake Covid-19 vaccination card conspiracy.

According to court filings, Jasmine Clifford, 31, advertised and sold fake Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination cards via Instagram, charging extra for defendant Nadayza Barkley, 27, to enter buyers in the New York State immunization database.

Clifford, of Lyndhurst, NJ, and Barkley, of Bellport, NY, were both charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and fifth-degree conspiracy. Clifford also faces charges of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

In addition, 13 individuals who purchased fake cards were charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. has charged 15 individuals, including hospital and nursing home workers, with participating in a fake Covid-19 vaccination...

09/22/2021

Struggles persist for “excluded” workers

When the New York State legislature passed the $2.1 billion Excluded Workers Fund (EWF) in April as part of the most recent state budget, it promised to become a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who were ineligible for Unemployment Insurance and other financial relief since the start of the pandemic.

The fund provides payments of up to $15,600 to help replace income lost due to Covid-19.

Luis, a Washington Heights resident, was one of those affected workers. In March 2020, he was laid off from his job at a restaurant where he was employed for 20 years.

“It was hard on me,” the 70-year-old Luis told Manhattan Times through an interpreter. “I’m older, so it’s been hard for me to find other work.”

“I was over a year behind on rent because I had no money. It was even difficult to feed myself,” he said.

Through the assistance of the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC), Luis was able to apply for the EWF and recently received a payment from the state for over $15,000.

Cuando la legislatura del estado de Nueva York aprobó el Fondo de Trabajadores Excluidos (EWF, por sus siglas en inglés) de $2.1 mil millones de dólares en abril como parte...

09/22/2021

Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month

Dear Catholic Schools Community,

September 15 marks the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. Since 1988, Hispanic Heritage Month has celebrated the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic Americans who trace their roots back to Spain and Spanish-speaking countries in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Throughout our nation’s history, Latinx and Hispanic persons have had a profound and positive influence through their strong commitment to family, faith, and service. They have embodied servant leadership and embraced communal identity in a way that not only reflects the multiethnic and multicultural customs of their community but follows the way of Christ.

As always, I would like to recognize Hispanic Americans not only in our nation, but also in our schools. According to a 2016 Boston College study, more than 97% of school-age Hispanics do not benefit from Catholic school education. While Latinos are by far the fastest-growing ethnic group in the U.S. Catholic Church, many Hispanic families find Catholic education just out of reach. Here at the Archdiocese of New York, we strive to ensure that traditional barriers to entry—including tuition expenses and lack of cultural support and bilingual resources—do not deter our Hispanic families from pursuing an enriching Catholic education. On all levels, our schools work together to affirm and serve our Hispanic families.

Dear Catholic Schools Community, September 15 marks the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. Since 1988, Hispanic Heritage Month has celebrated the rich histories, cultures...

09/22/2021

09/22/2021

The Weekly Dose of Uptown Love has arrived familia...

09/22/2021

Labor Day Mass

On September 8th, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities New York, celebrated a Labor Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Mass, honoring the work and contributions of workers throughout New York, was attended by, among others, State Governor Kathy Hochul; State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli; New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento; NYC Central Labor Council Vincent Álvarez; and Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York President Gary LaBarbera. Also present were members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) and New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA).

On September 8th, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities New York, celebrated a Labor Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Mass, honoring the work and contributions of workers throughout New York....

09/20/2021

Get Yours: Reset

The latest edition of Uptown's bilingual community newspaper is out now.

http://manhattantimesnews.com

09/19/2021

Vacay!

For better or for worse, the pandemic has catapulted us into a new way of working. And this new way of working is spurring new models for vacation as well. Keeping up with the times means that we need to evolve in our thinking and practices – not only for work, but also for vacation. Doing so to preserve some fun is certainly a legitimate rationale, but it’s more than that. It will also preserve the mental health benefits of vacation.

For better or for worse, the pandemic has catapulted us into a new way of working. And this new way of working is spurring new models for vacation as well. Keeping up with the times means...

09/19/2021

Sweet and Deep

Even if life isn’t always just a bowl of cherries, the sweet little buttons can make anybody’s life a little sweeter. Perfectly ripe cherries are a nearly unrivaled treat. Their short season is anticipated by all but the most jaded eaters. Make the most of the end of the season with this deep-dish treat.

Even if life isn't always just a bowl of cherries, the sweet little buttons can make anybody's life a little sweeter. Perfectly ripe cherries are a nearly unrivaled treat...

09/19/2021

Healthy How-to: Savory Oatmeal

With the start of the school year, mornings call for quick, healthful breakfast moments.

Test Kitchen Chef Sandra Wu describes herself as a creature of habit when it comes to breakfast. “Most mornings, I gravitate towards the same two things for breakfast: a ham, egg and cheese muffin sandwich, or an egg scramble with cheese and veggies,” she says. “When I want to incorporate more fiber, I’ll have oatmeal with some dried fruit and nuts, but I never feel completely satisfied. I always crave something salty afterwards.”

The solution? Savory oatmeal.

With the start of the school year, mornings call for quick, healthful breakfast moments. Test Kitchen Chef Sandra Wu describes herself as a creature of habit when it comes to breakfast.

09/19/2021

Dawn of La Doña

In the year 3050, a formerly dystopian country demands that immigrants assimilate. Forced to speak English, they must also surrender personal items from their former homes and forget who they are. Instead, rebels form “a joyful revolution.”

Doña Mañana is elected as the nation’s first female Afro-Latina President. Together with her team of former revolutionaries, Doña Mañana strives for full liberation — without sliding back into old patterns of oppression.

Doña Mañana (Miss Tomorrow) is the newest production by the non-profit People’s Theatre Project. Deeply rooted in the uptown communities of Northern Manhattan and the Bronx, the ever-growing theatrical company managed to sustain and even flourish during a pandemic. Doña Mañana kicks off PTP’s 13th season on September 17 at The Riverside Theatre.

While another theater company might have subjected cautious and pandemic-weary audiences to a performance rooted in viruses and climate disasters, PTP chose to set its sights far into the future, with a deeply resonant play full of hope and spiritual evolution.

En el año 3050, un país antes distópico exige que los inmigrantes se asimilen. Obligados a hablar inglés, también deben entregar artículos personales de sus antiguos hogares y olvidar quiénes son. En cambio, los rebeldes forman...

09/19/2021

“I will not let you down”

It was a triumphant day for one of Harlem’s own.

Brian Benjamin was officially sworn in as New York State’s Lieutenant Governor on Thurs., Sept 10.
A Harlem native who recently represented the neighborhood in the State Senate, Benjamin had a swearing-in ceremony at Governor Kathy Hochul’s midtown Manhattan office, where he was surrounded by family members.

Benjamin joined Hochul’s administration two weeks into her tenure as Governor. Hochul, the former Lieutenant Governor, took over on August 24 after Andrew Cuomo resigned due to a string of sexual harassment allegations against him.

“Thank you, Governor, for putting your trust in me,” Benjamin remarked to Hochul after being sworn in. “New York State, I will do everything I can to make sure that those who are living at the margins, those who are struggling, those who are overlooked will have a seat at the table, and we will make sure that there’s fairness, accountability, and good practical decision-making that governs our activities.”
https://www.manhattantimesnews.com/i-will-not-let-you-downno-los-decepcionare/

It was a triumphant day for one of Harlem’s own. Brian Benjamin was officially sworn in as New York State’s Lieutenant Governor on Thurs., Sept 10. A Harlem native who recently...

09/17/2021

Fur Real

Surprises were in store for local construction workers. Four small furry ones.

As they unpacked a shipment of tools, workers in the Bronx discovered four kittens at the bottom of the shipping pallet.

Their mother, 900 miles away at a factory in Milwaukee, gave birth, and had probably left her newly born babes for a few moments to find sustenance, only to return and find them out for delivery.

Just weeks old, their eyes still closed, the small creatures miraculously avoided being crushed during shipment. The quick-thinking workers called Bidawee, which has found homes for animals for more than a century. The organization, whose name references the Scottish phrase “stay a while,” is one of the oldest animal welfare and pet adoption organizations in the country, and has local sites in Manhattan and Long Island.

“This was very unusual,” said Elyise Hallenbeck. “We’ve never gotten a call about kittens in a shipping container.”

Surprises were in store for local construction workers. Four small furry ones. As they unpacked a shipment of tools, workers in the Bronx discovered four kittens at the bottom of the shipping pallet.