Our time press december 21, 2017 by Our Time Press

| From the Villa ge of Brook ly n |

OUR TIME PRESS THE L OCAL PAPER WITH THE G LOBAL VIEW

| VOL. 21 NO. 51

December 21 – 27, 2017 |

Since 1996

Paul Krugman of The New York Times says that Trump›s tax plan is “the biggest tax scam in history,” hurting ordinary Americans just to help the rich get richer. This could kick 13 million Americans off their health insurance, raise taxes on middle-class families and gut Medicare and Social Security – all to pay for a tax cut for the super-wealthy.

”A Disaster for Millions of American Families”

Children, Poor, Middle-Class SCROOGED!

n response to the Senate vote to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Chair of the Patriotic Millionaires Morris Pearl, former Managing Director at BlackRock, Inc., issued the following statement: “Today’s vote is a disgusting example of what happens when the rich and powerful control all the levers of government. This bill is nothing less than the ultra-wealthy rewriting the rules of the tax system in their favor, irreparably hurting poor and middleclass families in the process. It will be a disaster for millions of American families, but because its supporters in the Senate, House, and White House were able to save themselves millions, they don’t care. Each and every Senator who just voted for this bill must share in the blame, as millions of their constituents now face higher taxes and the loss of health care.”

Protesters greeted Donald Trump outside the St. Charles (Mo.) Convention Center late November when he arrived to promote the Republican tax cut plan that multiple reports show favor the rich. Photo: Al Neal/People's World

ho profits? People like Trump’s economic advisor Gary Cohn who’s current net worth is reportedly at $285 million. After getting an offer to lead Trump’s

National Economic Council, the former Goldman Sachs executive abruptly left the investment bank. Cohn wrote the tax plan along with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, another Goldman

Sachs multi-millionaire, and Speaker Paul Ryan. The tax plan also will even further enrich members of the Trump cabinet, including U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.

This Tax Bill Is a Trillion-Dollar Blunder ■■ by Michael R. Bloomberg @MikeBloomberg

he hour is late, but the fight is not over. Last month a Wall Street Journal editor asked a room full of CEOs to raise their hands if the corporate tax cut being considered in Congress would lead them to invest more. Very few hands went up. Attending was Gary Cohn, President Donald Trump’s economic adviser and a friend of mine. He asked: “Why aren’t the other hands up?” Allow me to answer that: We don’t need the money. Corporations are sitting on a record amount of cash reserves: nearly $2.3 trillion. That figure has been climbing steadily since the recession ended in 2009, and it’s now double what it was in 2001. The reason CEOs aren’t investing more of their liquid assets has little to do with the tax rate. CEOs aren’t waiting on a tax cut to “jump-start the economy” -- a favorite phrase of politicians who have never run a company -- or to hand out raises. It’s pure fantasy to think that the tax bill will lead to significantly higher wages and growth, as

Republicans have promised. Had Congress actually listened to executives, or economists who study these issues carefully, it might have realized that. Instead, Congress did what it always does: It put politics first. After spending the first nine months of the year trying to jam through a repeal of Obamacare without holding hearings, heeding independent analysis or seeking Democratic input, Republicans took the same approach to tax “reform” -- and it shows. The Treasury Department claimed to have more than 100 professional staffers “working around the clock” to analyze the tax cut. If true, their hard work must have been suppressed. The flimsy one-page analysis Treasury released -- which accepts the White House’s reality-defying economic projections in order to claim that the tax cuts will pay for themselves and then some -- is a politically driven document that amounts to economic malpractice. So does the bill itself. The largest economic challenges we face include a skills crisis that our public schools are not addressing, crumbling infrastructure that imperils our global competitiveness, wage stagnation coupled with growing

wealth inequality, and rising deficits that will worsen as more baby boomers retire. The tax bill does nothing to address these challenges. In fact, it makes each of them worse. EDUCATION: The bill, by limiting the deduction for state and local taxes, will make it harder for the localities to raise money for education. The burden will fall heaviest on cities with poor students, making it harder for millions of children to escape from poverty -- and leaving more and more businesses with fewer qualified job applicants. INFRASTRUCTURE: Restricting state and local tax deductions will also mean less local investment for infrastructure, and by raising deficits, the bill will constrain federal infrastructure spending. Our airports, railways and roads are in desperate need of modernization, and our energy grids are vulnerable and inefficient. Yet spending on those and other needs, which acts as a catalyst for private investment, will become more difficult. INEQUALITY: If Congress wanted to raise real wages and reward work, there is a simple and proven way to do it: expand the earned income tax credit. Instead, it seems to believe that lower corporate tax rates

will magically lead to higher wages, which fundamentally misunderstands how labor markets work. In addition, by eliminating the requirement that individuals buy health insurance, many young and healthy people will drop out of the marketplace, causing health insurance premiums to rise for everyone else. This is nothing more than a backdoor tax increase on health care for millions of middle-class families that will leave them with less disposable income for savings, investment and spending. DEFICITS: The bill’s cost -- $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion -- makes it more difficult for taxpayers to afford Medicare and Social Security for the baby boom generation, which is now hitting retirement. Republicans didn’t grapple with those costs. Instead, they kicked the can down the road. Ignoring the bill’s price tag, or pretending we needn’t worry about deficits, is like ignoring climate change or pretending we needn’t worry about its effects. I’ll say one thing for Republicans in Congress: They’re consistent. In effect, the tax bill achieves four main things: ➔➔ Continued on page 11

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

View From Here ■■

By David Mark Greaves

he just-passed Republican tax plan shows the same greed, self-service, and lack of empathy as President Trump and those around him. And yet more than those two sins, this change of tax laws is diabolical in its own special way. When the top .01% demand and get their tribute, they do it by inflicting pain and suffering while extracting the labor from the rest of the citizenry who they leave further behind in health, wealth and education, while seeking to genetically enhance their offspring. What kind of people would do such a thing, place money above humanity and the common good? In his epic 1935 work, Black Reconstruction in America: An Essay Toward a History of the Part Which Black Folk Played in the Attempt to Reconstruct Democracy in America, 1860–1880, W.E.B DuBois introduced them to us as the “Planter Class”, who were most ostentatious during those slavery times that former Senate candidate Roy Moore longed for. And this kind of person, driven by an amoral greed, saw that there was a nation to be robbed, and it was now or never to pull off a heist for the ages. As Rep. Chris Collins, a New York Republican has said about the tax bill, “My donors are basically saying, ‘Get it done or don’t ever call me again,’” and they are adamant because, “83% of benefits go to the top 1%...it’s a monumental theft” as Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, called this

historic transfer of wealth, $1.5 trillion, to the very wealthiest. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries said that the so-called tax reform “Is all about showering millionaires and billionaires and huge corporations with a massive tax cut” and he cites as only one example of the unfairness the proposal by the White House that deductions for state and local taxes be abolished “for everyday ordinary Americans, but allow corporations to deduct their state and local taxes.” And then it gets even more sordid with the already-wealthy in congress getting richer, and any soon to be out-of-work politicians are looking to the lobbying firms and their clients to make sure their life after politics is a comfortable one. They’re biggest fear is that failure to make possible employers happy, may leave them hanging their lawyer shingles on a storefront next to a deli. That isn’t the case of course, but all things are relative and that’s how employment outside the beltway will feel. The second drama being played out Speaking about how unusual this president’s first year has been, one CNN commentator likened it to the usual period after election saying “and this was the honeymoon.” And this union between President Trump, Congress the Justice Department and the people. will turn even uglier if that legal force of nature, special counsel Robert Muller, tells Trump’s lawyers their client is a target of the investigation and they’d like to speak with him. That is when all hell will break loose in a historically nasty and

dangerous divorce from an amoral and abusive spouse and his crew who would be using a spittoon at the bar if it wasn’t for appearances. This will come as a disappointment to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been entertaining the world as he uses flattery like strokes of a bow, playing the fiddle-in-chief, the United States President, Donald Trump. Former Director of National Intelligence and the Defense Intelligence Agency, James Clapper, explained it this way, “Putin is handling Trump like an asset… he’s a former KGB officer,” and Donald Trump is in his portfolio. And if we follow the line of thought of Mr. Clapper who knows more about these kinds of things than we ever will, then that portfolio contains not just the psychological and business profiles, but perhaps compromising material used to force Trump to, in effect, aid the enemy. If so, then Muller may come back with information that makes obstruction the easy way out. It sounds crazy, but frankly all of this is crazy. 2018 will usher in the rapacious tax, the possibility of an unstable president being charged with obstruction, collusion or more, public lands being damaged for profit, millions of people losing health coverage, the federal judiciary continuing to be stacked with rightwing ideologues, and that’s just some of what we have to look forward to next year. This is a time when we need to take deep and slow breaths, get out the marching shoes and placards and be ready for the worse, because it’s coming and God help the Union. See "The Planter and his Psychology" Page 5.

New Law Provides Tax Relief to Grieving Families

S SUGAR HILL (Kings County Politics) tate Senator Simcha Felder’s (D-Borough Park, Midwood, Flatbush, Kensington, Sunset Park, Bensonhurst) law providing tax relief to grieving families

was signed into law last week. The new legislation, signed on Dec. 13 by Governor Andrew Cuomo, protects families already coping with tragedy and loss from additional financial hardship. Upon death or permanent

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disability, federal law forgives any outstanding student loans due to an understanding that the loan was taken in good faith, but obviously can no longer be repaid. However, until now, New York State did not fall in line with this policy. Bill A-6601 amends the tax law so that, effective immediately, the full dollar amount of the loan is no longer taxed at all. The new measure would amend New York State tax code so that a forgiven loan would no longer

VOL. 21 NO. 51 DBG MEDIA Publishers of Our Time Press, Inc. 358 Classon Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11238 (718) 599-6828 Web site: www.ourtimepress.com e-mail: editors@ourtimepress.com Publisher DBG MEDIA Editor-in-Chief David Mark Greaves Consultant Bernice Elizabeth Green Legacy Ventures Contributors Victoria Horsford Fern Gillespie Akosua Albritton Margo McKenzie Priscilla Mensah Aishamanne Williams Marlon Rice Web Manager www.ourtimepress.com Liani Greaves Sports Eddie Castro Office Manager Joanna Williams © 2015, DBG MEDIA Publishers of Our Time Press, Inc., printed in New York City. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publishers. Publishers are not responsible for any ad claims. MBE Certified in NYC, NYS and the Port Authority of NY & NJ Member: New York State Press Association

be counted as income to the family. “We were determined to bring some solace to people reeling from tragedy by correcting this clear injustice. In what convoluted way does a forgiven student loan become income? It can only happen in a system that is set up to overtax, overfine and overticket. One that’s unjustly skewed to squeeze as much as it can, whenever it can, from hardworking New Yorkers. So, of course, it also takes advantage of people going through such a difficult time that they probably wouldn’t find the energy to fight it,” said Senator Felder.

Starting Monday, New York City To Offer Free Lead Testing For 3,000 Nycha Children

EW YORK––The New York City Housing Authority and NYC Health + Hospitals announced that starting on Monday, December 18th, the City will offer free blood lead level testing for the nearly 3,000 children ages 6 months to 8 years who live in more than 2,300 NYCHA apartment units that were painted in 2016 by workers without proper certification. While the risk of significant exposure from this work remains low, out of an abundance of caution, the City is offering free testing to children aged 6 months to 8 years old due to normal behavior that can result in ingestion of lead dust. Tenants in these 2,300 apartments will receive a letter under their door and phone calls with more information about how to schedule an appointment at any NYC Health + Hospital location across the five boroughs by using the City’s dedicated hotline. “Resident safety is our top priority,” said NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye. “We want to make sure families know about this free testing to address any concerns and provide peace of mind.” “New York City has made great strides to reduce lead poisoning among children by working in partnership with families, health care providers and building owners,” said NYC Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett. “This free testing program will provide families in public housing the opportunity

to learn more about their children’s health. As always, we ask that all parents with concerns about the health of their children speak with their pediatrician.” “The health effects of exposure to lead are best managed early, so concerned parents are encouraged to take advantage of this free testing,” said Machelle Allen, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals. “If high lead levels are detected, follow-up is available. And we provide care to all, regardless of ability to pay. Parents or guardians with children living in these 2,300 apartments can request a free blood level test by calling the dedicated hotline. Parents and guardians will need to bring their photo ID and will need to sign a form permitting their child to be tested as well as release of information. Any child with an elevated lead result will be connected to care. Lead poisoning in New York City is at historic lows, and the number of children in NYC with lead poisoning has declined 69 percent since 2005. Residents concerned about their home or their children can learn more about the health effects of lead-based paint exposure by visiting DOHMH’s Lead Poisoning Prevention page at nyc.gov/lead. Residents can also call NYCHA’s Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 with questions about the Authority’s program to remediate potential lead-based paint hazards.

VOL. 21 NO. 51

Brooklyn Federal Lawmakers Denounce Final Tax Bill ■■

(Kings County Politics)

ongress members Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) and Yvette D. Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay) denounced the final version of the Republican Tax Bill announced yesterday and set to head to President Trump for final approval today. On Tuesday, the Senate was on the verge of passing the most significant overhaul of the tax code since 1986, with the House of Representatives ready to send the measure to President Trump this morning, according to The Washington Post. The new bill would cut the corporate tax rate dramatically, and the vast majority of households would see their income taxes go down in 2018, with the largest savings going to the wealthy. The bill also proposes revising almost every part of the tax system by restructuring income tax rates and expanding some popular deductions while cutting back on others including cutting individual tax rates for all income tax levels and ending many of the tax breaks for individuals. Additionally, the standard deduction, taken by many middle- and low-income households, would double, and a child tax credit would be expanded. Also, other provisions that taxpayers use to reduce their bills, including a deduction on interest paid on new home mortgages and a provision allowing Americans to deduct what they pay in state and local taxes, would be curtailed. “I wanted nothing more than to vote

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

for a tax plan that would put more money in the pockets of overburdened taxpayers and spur job creation. However, the bill that came out of the conference committee still means a tax increase for many Brooklyn residents. My priority always has and will continue to be the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn who sent me to Congress to represent them. Their interests come before Washington, always,” said Donovan. “Additionally, analyses show that New York’s share of the country’s tax burden will grow by 9 percent – the largest increase of any state in the nation. Even this small-capped deduction of $10,000 will be eliminated in 8 years, and once it’s gone it probably will be eliminated forever. With the state and local tax deduction nearly eliminated, this tax bill doesn’t equal relief for far too many New Yorkers. My responsibility and allegiance is to the people who sent me here, and I will not support a tax hike on the people I represent,” added Donovan. “Policy reflects priorities and the GOP’s priorities are clear: billionaires first, everybody else second. This bill supports Republicans’ trickle-down delusions, not analysis or facts. Every Republican who voted for this legislation will be forced to answer why they chose the donor class over the working class. They’ll have to explain why they’ve made corporate tax cuts permanent, while making tax cuts for hardworking American families temporary. The American people will continue to make their voices heard and hold Republicans accountable for this tax scam,” said Clarke.

We’re witnessing the wholesale looting of America Unchecked by norms or political prudence, it’s smash-and-grab time for the GOP.

■■ By Matthew Yglesias@mattyglesias matt@vox.com Dec 19, 2017

ver the course of 2017, both in Congress and in the executive branch, we have watched the task of government devolve into the full-scale looting of America. Politicians are making decisions to enrich their donors — and at times themselves personally — with a reckless disregard for any kind of objective policy analysis or consideration of public opinion. A businessman president who promised — repeatedly — that he would not personally benefit from his own tax proposals is poised to sign into law a bill that’s full of provisions that benefit him and his family. Congressional Republicans who spent years insisting that “dynamic scoring” would capture the deficit-reducing power of tax cuts are now plowing ahead with a bill so fast that they don’t have time to get one done, because it turns out they can’t be bothered to meet their own targets. Meanwhile, in the background an incredible flurry of regulatory activity is happening out of public view — much of it contrary to free market principles but all of it lucrative for big business and Trump cronies. Throughout the 2016 campaign, the political class talked a lot about “norms” and how Donald Trump was violating them all. He brushed off fact-checkers, assailed the media, went on Twitter tirades against his critics, and dabbled in racism. Since

taking office, his norm busting has spread. Members of Congress who under other circumstances might be constrained by shame, custom, or the will of their constituents have learned from Trump’s election that you can get away with more than we used to think. Norm erosion is real, and it matters. Economists Daron Acemoglu and Matthew Jackson of MIT and Stanford have written about how rules are only effective when they are backed up by social norms “because detection relies, at least in part, on whistle-blowing.” Their Spanish colleague Patricia Funk emphasizes that in a variety of contexts, “the strength of the social norm of ‘not committing a crime’ is shaped by social interactions.” These scholars are all considering deep, long-lasting differences in cultural norms, but we also know from experience that norms can sometimes shift dramatically in unusual circumstances. Sometimes a blackout or other disaster prompts a few people who would ordinarily be too cautious to break store windows in broad daylight to become more brazen. And the normal course of ordinary life flips into reverse, as those with some inclination toward bad acts recognize a moment of impunity and grab what they can, while those who would ordinarily be invested in upholding order are afraid and stay inside. The sheer quantity of bad acts makes it impossible for anyone to hold anyone accountable. Soon, a whole neighborhood can be in ruins. Or a whole country.

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

WHAT’S GOING ON ■■

By Victoria Horsford

BLACK ENTERPRISE A Washington Post article, “Colin Kaepernick tweets that He Wants to Join Diddy in Buying the Carolina Panthers”. Essay mentions that Sean (P. Diddy) Combs recently said that he wanted to buy the entire National Football League, which is wishful thinking. Now Sean, P. Diddy, Combs that an NFL franchise, the Carolina Panthers, is up for sale, Diddy is revisiting NFL ownership. The estimated Panther price tag is $2.3 billion, a little more than Sean Combs’ personal net worth of $820 million. He needs partners. Diddy wants to buy the team and hire Colin Kaepernick, the “take to the knee” out-ofwork quarterback. In 2014, P. Diddy talked about acquiring the Clippers of the NBA. Kaepernick tweets that he’d be interested in joining a group of Panther investors. NBA’s Stephen Curry is interested in a partnership. Former NFL players Maurice Jones-Drew, Greg Jennings and Shawne Merriman also want in on a Panther deal. There is ample Black wealth to make the purchase happen. The NFL is the world’s largest-grossing sport. Almost all of the

majority NFL franchise owners are white, while 70% of NFL players are AfricanAmerican, who do not get an equitable share of the revenues. There are two nonwhite NFL minority owners. If Black money elite can buy the franchise, will Bill Rhoden, former NY Times sports columnist and author of “Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise and Fall and Redemption of the Black Athlete”, have to write a sequel. And then there are all of the bad chemicals swirling in POTUS 45’s head about the SOBs.

AND THE WINNER IS After weeks of post-11/7 election recounts, there is a new Sheriff-designate in the town of Suffolk County, New York! Democrat Errol Toulon will be sworn in as the 67th Sheriff on January 1. The highest-ranking law enforcement officer in Suffolk County, the Sheriff’s post was created more than three centuries ago. Imeime Umana To u l o n ’s victory is historic, making him Suffolk County’s first African-American Sheriff and the first Black elected to countywide office on Long Island.

Mainstream media made its Cassandralike predictions about the end of the Atlanta, Georgia Black mayoral tradition, which began in 1973 with Maynard Jackson. The 2017 mayoral race ended in a runoff, followed by a recount, but the AfricanAmerican Democrat emerged victorious over fellow white Democrat Mary Norwood. Incumbent Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reid is term-limited.

TALK OF THE TOWN The Crain’s New York Business Special Issue currently on newsstands is all about the city’s biggest, best businesses and professionals. The 2018 Leading Women Lawyers List included lots of African-Americans. They include Sheila S. Boston, Arnold & Porter; Kimberly Y. Chainey, Avis Budget Group; Lisa Davis, Frankfurt, Kurnit Kelin & Selz; Wanda N. Goodloe, CBRE; Keisha-

VOL. 21 NO. 51 a g g r e s s iv e community advocate, responsible for numerous free dental care initiatives and programs which Dr. R. Chester Redhead b e n e f i t e d Harlem’s indigent population. He was prominent in social circles and summered in Sag Harbor, NY. A long-serving President of the Howard University Alumni Association, he was also President of the NY Society of Forensic Dentists. If memory serves, Dr. Redhead sold Harlem Dental Associates to a young African- American associate, Dr. Maryann Riordan. He is survived by his wife Gladys and sons Raymond and Charles. A NY memorial service was held on 12/18 at St. Phillips Episcopal Church on 134th Street in Harlem.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Lisa Davis Ann G. Gray, Proskauer Rose; Taa Grays, Met Life; Tanya Hobson-Williams, HobsonWilliams; Lenore Horton, Fisherbroyles; Hazel-Ann F. Mayers, Simon & Schuster; Marjorie Mesidor, Phillips & Associates; Moya M. O’Connor; Met Life; Alanna C. Rutherford, Partner Boies Schiller Flexner; and Stacie E. Trott, Duval & Stachenfeld.

MEDIA MATTERS Scott Mills was named President of BET, leading purveyor of entertainment targeted to an African-American audience, effective January 1, succeeding Debra Lee, who continues as BET CEO/Chair. Lee has been BET President since 2005 when she succeeded BET founder Robert Johnson. Mills served as an Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Viacom, BET’s parent company. TVOne cancels Roland Martin’s “News One Now” morning show, owing to budget woes. Reason does not make sense. “News One Now” was extended to two hours in September, owing to its popularity. Also, TVOne, or one of its subsidiaries, recently purchased about six of the top websites boasting strong urban, as in AfricanAmerican, appeal. Martin’s last “News One Now” show airs on 12/21.

NEWSMAKERS The winter solstice and the zodiac sign Capricorn arrives on December 21. Birthday greetings to the following Capricorn natives: William Anthony Allan, Bill Burgess, Emmet Causey, Morris Chestnut, Laurent Delly, Wallace Ford Esq., Mary Flowers, Marilyn Gobern, Wallace Gossett Esq., Michael Garner, Michael Horsford, Rafee Kamaal, Mae Jackson, Laura James, LeBron James, James Earl Jones, John Legend, Byron Lewis, Lucille McEwen Esq., First Lady Michelle Obama, Dwyane Wade, Denzel Washington, Marcus Wingate, Tiger Woods, Nathanael Wright Esq., and Camille Yarbrough. RIP: Chester Redhead, 92, passed on December 2 in Florida. Harlem-born and bred, Chester Redhead’s career was the gold standard of dental care. His office, Harlem Dental Associates, is still housed at Lenox Terrace at 2225 Fifth Avenue. It is the place to restore that Colgate smile. He practiced from 1953 to 2012. Dr. Redhead was an

The Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling will host the Harlem Opera Theater presentation of HOLIDAY COMMUNITY SING, songs of the holiday season and ensemble from famous operas on December 21st at 6 pm, with performances by Stephen Wallace, tenor; Denisha Ballew, soprano; Virdall Williams, bass baritone; and Dr. Gregory Hopkins, artistic director, on piano. Refreshments will be served at this family-friendly, free concert which is open to the public. The Sugar Hill Museum is located at 898 St. Nicholas Avenue, on 155th Street, Manhattan. [Visit harlemoperatheater. org] The Apollo Theater’s 10th Annual Kwanzaa Gala, on “Regeneration Night”, will be held on Saturday, December 30th, with two shows at 2 pm and 7:30 pm, celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Abel R. Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. Apollo continues its tradition of observing one day of the Kwanzaa season, honoring one of its principles. [Visit apollotheater. org] Voz Rivers New Heritage Theatre co-presents with the American Museum of Natural History and Community Works the museum’s 39th Anniversary of Kwanzaa with performances by the Persuasions, a gospel a cappella group; Vy Higginsen’s Gospel for Teens; and the Brooklyn United Marching Band on December 30th from 12 to 5 pm. The Kwanzaa 2017 Celebration, complimentary with museum admission, will be held at the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life at the Museum of Natural History, located at Central Park West at 79th Street, Manhattan. E-mail: dizzar145@gmail.com at New Heritage or call 212.769.5100, or visit amnh/ calen dar/kwanzaa. JaRon’s Parlor Jazz, a NY Sunday ritual, celebrates New Year’s Eve, 12/31, in the East 80s, Manhattan, with an authentic jazz, blues and soul show with virtuoso pianist Ms. Emme Kemp (composer and actress of 1976 Broadway musical “Bubbling Brown Sugar”) and vocalist JaRon. Parlor Jazz NYE will be a party like no other, offering entertainment and food like Louisiana seafood gumbo, hot-buttered corn bread, Parlor Jazz BBQ chicken, dirty rice, green salad, vino and chamJaRon Eames pagne, all for $50. Louisiana-born JaRon Eames is a celebrated musician and author. Reservations necessary. [Text 646.337.0620 or visit jaroneames.com]

VOL. 21 NO. 51

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

The Planter and his Psychology

DuBois’s Black Reconstruction, Chapter 3: “The Planter” ■■

By Jamelle Bouie

hapter Three, titled “The Planter”, deals with the other key actors of the antebellum economy: the slave-owning class itself. It’s interesting to read this chapter in light of recent scholarship, like Cornell historian Ed Baptist’s book, The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism, which presents the planters as capitalists of a sort: innovative and entrepreneurial, bringing new methods and technologies to the “project” of extracting labor from enslaved people. DuBois touches on some of this in the context of the planter’s dependency on Northern manufacturing, which he describes as a function of the planter’s fundamental myopia: The result was that Northern and European industry set prices for Southern cotton, tobacco and sugar which left a narrow margin of profit for the planter. He could retaliate only by more ruthlessly exploiting his slave labor so as to get the largest crops at the least expense. He was therefore not deliberately cruel to his slaves but he had to raise cotton enough to satisfy his pretensions and self-indulgence, even if it brutalized and commercialized his slave labor. Everything has a context, and my hunch is that the context for DuBois’ harsh view of the planter class as economic actors is the larger conversation around slavery in the early 20th century, which treated slave owners and the institution itself as fundamentally benign, with the former standing as respectable, decent citizens and leaders. DuBois takes a scalpel to that view, putting the failures and deficiencies of the planters in sharp relief: The Southern planter suffered, not simply for his economic mistakes—the psychological effects of slavery upon him was fatal. The mere

fact that a man could be, under the law, the actual master of the mind and body of human beings had to have disastrous effects. It tended to inflate the ego of most planters beyond all reason; they became arrogant, strutting, quarrelsome kinglets; they issued commands; they made laws; they shouted their orders; they expected deference and self-abasement; they were choleric and easily insulted. [...] As the world had long learned, nothing is so calculated to ruin human nature as absolute power over human beings. DuBois saves special condemnation for the “sexual lawlessness” of the planter class, alluding to routine assaults on enslaved women: Sexually, they were lawless, protecting elaborately and flattering the virginity of a small class of women of their social clan and keeping at command millions of poor women of the two laboring groups of the South. Sexual chaos was always the possibility of slavery, not always realized but always possible: polygamy through the concubinage of Black women to white men; polyandry between Black women and selected men on plantations in order to improve the human stock of strong and able workers. The census of 1860 counted 588,352 persons obviously of mixed blood—a figure admittedly below the truth. The planters maintained a mythology of patriarchal life that served to shield their psyches from the brutal inhumanity of their position. This later leads to a discussion of the interstate slave trade. What’s interesting is that DuBois connects the monstrosity of that trade—ripping children from parents, wives from husbands, etc.—to the base morality of the slave owners themselves. He argues that the planters maintained a mythology of patriarchal life—of masters as guardians of

home and plantation—that served to shield their psyches from the brutal inhumanity of their position: He denied that there was any considerable interstate sale of slaves; he denied that families were broken up; he insisted that slave auctions were due to death or mischance, and particularly did he insist that the slave traders were the least of human beings and most despised. This deliberate contradiction of plain facts constitutes itself a major charge against slavery and shows how the system often so affronted the moral sense of the planters themselves that they tried to hide from it. They could not face the fact of Negro women as brood mares and of Black children as puppies. I don’t know enough about the lives of slave owners themselves to say much about the truth of this. But it’s a fascinating perspective. There is one other argument from this chapter I wanted to focus on, or at least make note of. Readers familiar with the shape of pro-slavery ideology in the years before the Civil War will know that, as the 1840s turned over into the 1850s, that ideology became even more radical and uncompromising than it had at any point before. DuBois connects this to both the rising economic fortunes of slavery—demand for slave-grown cotton continued to grow at rapid rates—and to the increasing pressures on slavery from Northern abolitionists, which led slave owners to further justify their institution: The espousal of the doctrine of Negro inferiority by the South was primarily because of economic motives and the interconnected political urge necessary to support slave industry, but to the watching world it sounded like the “carefully thought out” result of experience and reason; and because of this it was singularly disastrous for modern civilization

in science and religion, in art and government, as well as in industry. DuBois connects this—and the extent to which the planters were still eclipsed by Northern manufacturers—to a larger drive to turn the political power of planters into a weapon to make slavery an enduring feature of the American landscape: As the economic power of the planter waned, his political power became more and more indispensable to the maintenance of his income and profits. Holding his industrial system secure by this political domination, the planter turned to the more systematic exploitation of his Black labor. One method called for more land and the other for more slaves. Both meant not only increased crops but increased political power. It was a temptation that swept greed, religion, military pride and dreams of empire to its defense. What is DuBois driving toward with all of this? I think, again, that it’s best understood as an assault on the prevailing wisdom. He wants to show the essential criminality of the system they led and the extent to which it led the whole of the South—Black and white— into abject poverty and ruin. Here’s how he concludes the chapter: With all its fine men and sacrificing women, its hospitable homes and graceful manners, the South turned the most beautiful section of the nation into a center of poverty and suffering, of drinking, gambling and brawling; an abode of ignorance among Black and white more abysmal than in any modern land; and a system of industry so humanly unjust and economically inefficient that if it had not committed suicide in civil war, it would have disintegrated of its own weight. I don’t know if slavery would have disintegrated of its own weight, but the rest of this is well-taken.

Odds of getting enough sleep?

Odds of winning Take 5?

1 in yawn.

1 in 9.

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

VOL. 21 NO. 51

Two Women, Two Views

A Salute to Doria Ragland, Meghan's Mom ■■

By Abigail Rosen McGrath

h my god, oh my god, oh my god….I could be the grandmum of the future King of England. I, a lowly, blue-collar, overeducated and undervalued woman from North Portland Ave. in the Fort Greene Projects of Downtown Brooklyn, could have spawned a daughter who would marry a prince who is only five to seven steps away from inheriting the throne, and if he and Meghan Markle should have a child, he would be king…. simple Fantasy 101. Why not? Indulge me, please. When I saw that high school picture of Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, with the Angela Davis ‘fro, I knew we were one and the same; intelligent black women whose mission is to make the next generation better, more intelligent, more evolved

than ours. We sacrificed everything for our children. We are all Meghan’s mother. We, who worked so hard to bring up our little girls to be princesses. Okay, officially, she will be a duchess, that’s the same thing to those of us who live in our imaginations. We worked three jobs to send our kids to private schools, gave them ballet classes, braces, helped them with their homework and hired a tutor for their S.A.T.’s. We sacrificed everything for our children so that they would grow up perfect and superior. Not “just as good as”. Doria went through the same stages as many of us. We started with the Angela Davis afro and are now sporting braids in as many colors as we choose. We know that Yoga is the way and we are voracious readers. We can quote Malcolm Gladwell at every cocktail party we attend.

Doria Ragland with her daughter Meghan Markel.

We acted in defiance of the “oh-so-charming” caricature of the contemporary Black woman who is sassy and tough as portrayed so many times on “Saturday Night Live”. We coped with the self-loathing, albeit funny, comedies of “Sanford and Son”, “In Living Color”, etc. They were funny, Lord knows they were funny, but were these women the image we wanted for our girls? How many films centered on intelligent Black women verses “Booty Call” or “Precious”? Let’s give a great A recent photograph of her mother Doria, posted by big bravo to Meghan Meghan. for not going “Ghetto Chic” and trying to pretend that all Black Carolina and Princess Ariana Austin from women are loud and churlish. After all, as Washington, D.C are fellow Americans. an actress, that is where the money is. Most When I was a little girl there was a of the parts written for women of color, es- 1949 movie called “Pinky”. It was about pecially those on television (before Shonda a biracial girl with a Black mother whose Rhimes cast a spell on ABC and blessed daughter looked white. Back then, we called us all with intelligent female roles), are for her “light-skinned with good hair”. It was those with a big heart and tiny IQ, certainly a remake of an older 1934 movie called those with a wonton sense of etiquette who “Imitation of Life”. In that movie, Fredi are forced to drop their pants for a laugh, Washington, who was Black, played Peola, and a canned laugh at that. the daughter and Louise Beavers, who was There have been other fairy tale stories also Black, played the mother. In it, Peola, like Grace Kelly and even Jamie Lee Curtis the protagonist, moans, “I wish I were whose husband, Christopher Guest, turned white” because of her untenable situation. out to be royalty. Black royalty is a tad more In “Pinky”, the mother was played by scarce, however. Ethel Waters and the girl was Jeanne Crane, Meghan will join a handful of other who was white, or at least they said she was. Black women who have chosen to join Pinky, a nurse, falls in love with a doctor with royalty. Of that cadre of women only Countess Lei Von Habsburg from South ➔➔ Continued on page 9

I Support Omarosa in Solidarity! ■■

By Lisa Durden

adly, a lot of Black people are celebrating the fact that Donald Trump, a.k.a. “Number 45”, kicked Omarosa to the curb. Or according to her, she resigned. That’s really “six of one thing, half a dozen of another”. The bottom line is, in Omarosa’s time of need, Black people feel they got the key to heaven’s pearly gates for beating this Black woman down like she stole something! I gotta tell ya, this kind of “Black Woman Bashing” by the Black community makes me sick to my stomach!! Anybody who knows me knows I am a rabid feminist!! I am extremely pro-women; in particular, pro-Black women. So I’m about to say something very unpopular right now but what the hell, that’s never stopped me before. My name is Lisa Durden and I support Omarosa in solidarity! Something must be inherently wrong when the Black community embraces murderers like gang member Stanley “Tookie” Williams, after he founded the West Side Crips in Los Angeles and terrorized our community for years! I refuse to understand how the Black community can forgive and forget that abuser Chris Brown, after he beat the hell out of Rihanna so badly till her face was unrecognizable. It makes my #BrainBleed when Blacks, especially Black women, brag on social media about going to that accused child molester R.

Kelly’s concerts. It puzzles me how Black people can rally around that accused rapist Bill Cosby in the name of legacy. And yet, Black folks vilify Omarosa for accepting a $180,000-dollar-a-year job with “Number 45”. Did Omarosa kill your momma?? Did Omarosa take your man?? Did Omarosa rape your child?? NO!! My sister Daphne will tell you that I am all about redemption and reciprocity. Yes, we all agree, Omarosa made a CLUCKED-up decision to work for Donald Trump, but I’d like to think she’s now contemplating the error of her ways. So, if we can extend grace to those miscreants, it’s only fair to do the same for Omarosa. Unfortunately, Black Male Privilege is real!! With that said, why didn’t any of you good ole “God-fearing” Black folks, who threw shade toward Omarosa, drag boxer Floyd Mayweather for attending Donald Trump’s Inaugural loud and proud?? Why haven’t I heard a peep out of any of you so-called “appropriate” Black people about boxing promoter Don King supporting “Number 45”?? He’s even in pictures with Omarosa and Donald Trump and not as much as a whisper from y’all. Nobody in the “pristine” Black community clapped back when rapper Kanye West and former NFL player Terrell Owens supported Trump. Why aren’t any of you good “Christian, upstanding” Black folks angry at the caterer who got paid to supply the food for Trump’s Inaugural; the tech company who

got paid to provide the audiovisual services for Trump’s Inaugural; the florist who got paid to provide the flowers for Trump’s Inaugural; and the venue that got paid to rent the space to Trump for his inaugural. By now, you see where I’m going with this. It’s painfully clear, you “Black Power” Blacks are perfectly fine with Black men all up in “Number 45’s” camp and “randoms” taking Trump’s money to provide products and services, but when Omarosa, a Black woman, gets paid by Trump for her skill sets, talents and intellectual property, she’s somehow a monster. Yup, I am fully aware that “Number 45” is a racist!! That is not a secret. But let me ask y’all Blacks a question, “Did anybody throw you under the bus when you worked for a racist in order to pay your bills and feed your family”?? Cause the fact of the matter is, historically, Black people have worked for racists such as shining their shoes, cleaning their houses, cooking their food, taking care of their kids, sharecropping their land and driving Miss Daisy; all while being called “nigger’ in their face. But we understood then and we understand now why Black folks had to make those kinds of sacrifices. Well, sorry to break the bad news to y’all, but things haven’t changed that much. The fact is, every single Black person has, is, or will work for a racist white person in their lifetime because we are still not in the position, as a people, to be able to employ the entire Black race. Sure,

Omarosa Manigault Newman. Photo: ABC News we have a few uber-rich Blacks who own their own businesses, but there still aren’t enough Black-owned businesses to employ all 42 million Black people who reside in the United States. So please get off your hypocritical high horses and let Omarosa make her dough in peace. Don’t get it twisted, I am very aware that a lot of Black people have been hating Omarosa’s guts from her character on “The Apprentice” and the “Celebrity Apprentice”. Yes, sometimes she appears to be clucked-up! Yes, she’s been perceived as ruthless! Yes, she is provocative! But so is Kim Kardashian. However, you don’t see white people excommunicating her from their white community. It’s interesting how white women like Kim Kardashian can be all up in sex videos with Ray Jay backing that thang up, taking back shots and pulling out the golden kneepads to service him and instead of the white community rejecting ➔➔ Continued on page 11

VOL. 21 NO. 51

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

Kwanzaa Holiday Celebrations WRITE YOUR OWN PLAY/MOVIE Film your own family “oeuvre” on your telephone. It may seem corny today, but when you look back at it 20 years from now, you will weep with joy.

fortune-telling chicken is no longer there but the arcade games are. They are priced from $1.00 to $1.50. You could give each person $10.00 to spend as they like. Perhaps make a game of it, the one who makes their money last the longest, gets a prize.

CAROLING

THE HAYDEN PLANETARIUM

Have the family learn a few seasonal songs and sing them outside of your neighbors’ door. Start as soon as they open the door. Give them a memento such as fruit or figs when you have finished the song. You can also ask them to join you as you go to the next neighbor. By the end of the evening, you might have a heavenly chorus.

200 Central Park West, corner of 79th St., NYC. Closed Christmas Day but open Christmas Eve. This is where the astrophysicist, Neil de Grasse Tyson, everybody’s favorite “genius”, weaves his magic. There is a suggested donation which is okay for those who can afford it. The museum wants to be inclusive, therefore, you can give what you can. I think $1 for each adult and 25 cents for each child is about right. The museum has a line on the city budget, they are not dependent upon donations, and they certainly don’t want you to stay away if the price of admission is too dear.

CHOP DOWN YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS TREE If you have a car, you can drive a few miles out of the city and select your tree from a tree farm. OR on Christmas Eve, after all of the tree vendors have closed, you can rescue the trees that did not get a new home. Many times, they are a tad straggly, so you might have to take two or three of them and bind them together. Be sure to make the decorations out of popcorn, cranberries and all things homemade in order to stay in the motif. Wrap your presents in newspapers or paper brown packages tied up in string.

THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY Take the Staten Island Ferry round-trip. Time it so that you can see the sun go down and the lights coming up as you return to NYC.

THE CHINATOWN ARCADE Chinatown Fair Family Fun, 8 Mott St., NYC, open on Christmas from 11:00am-Midnight, 212-964-1001. The

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 79th St. & Central Park West. Closed Christmas Day but open Christmas Eve, 212-769-5100. Pay what you will. There is a suggested donation. My suggested donation is that you pay $1.00 for each adult and 25 cents for each child.

KWANZAA AT THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY--ONE DAY ONLY! 79th St. & Central Park West. December 30, 2017, from noon-5:00PM. This event is free with your admission ticket, which means that it is included with your 25-cent

donation. There will be vendors at this event and I’m sure the museum would be delighted to see your disposable funds go to the individual artisans. It is located in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life. The day will have a live musical performance, a history of the Seven Kwanzaa Principles, local artisans vending their Afrocentric wares and a spirit of unity.

MOVIE PARTY IN YOUR HOME You can show an appropriate kid flick in your home for all the neighborhood children and give the grown-ups a break to go wrap their presents and make surprises at their home. P.S.--If your home is already decorated in Kwanzaa style, it might engender conversation about the holiday and attract others to it. Meanwhile, if you have netflix, it should only cost you a couple of bowls of popcorn (preferably hot with olive oil and garlic) to do a mitzvah for your neighbor.

STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM 144 West 125th St., NYC 10027; 212-864-4500 FREE ON SUNDAYS, NOON- 6:00PM Featuring: FICTIONS, an exhibition of 19 emerging artists-in-residence. THEIR OWN HARLEM: including the works of the great masters such as Jacob Lawrence and others and their visions of Harlem. THE JOURNEY: the work of Derrick Adams.

THE MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE 36 Battery Place, New York City, 646-437-4202

FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY FROM 4:00-8:00PM

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS 1 Bowling Green, NYC 10004, 212-5143700, open every day except Christmas. 10:00AM-5:00PM--FREE EVERY DAY

BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 145 Brooklyn Ave., Brooklyn, NY 718-735-4400 FREE ON THURSDAYS FROM 2:00PM-6:00PM

HAMILTON GRANGE NATIONAL MEMORIAL (HAMILTON MANSION) 409 West 141st Street, NYC 10031, 646-548-2310 FREE WEDNESDAYS-SUNDAYS FROM 9:00AM-5:00PM New York City is an incredible place to be during the holiday season. You are blessed to be a part of it. Treat it like a tourist and do all the things you never have time for during the year. Have yourself a “Staycation” and discover all of the delights that abound you. Most of them are free. If you haven’t celebrated Kwanzaa yet, give it a shot. You won’t be disappointed. Keep your costs down, save up for that college education or upkeep home your family needs. Show your friends and family how much you love them through your actions. There is no need to keep making Wal-Mart rich. Kwanzaa is for everyone! ■■ By Abigail Rosen McGrath

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

NEW BUSINESS FORMATIONS Divergent Streams Media, LLC, Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 12/04/2017 Office Location: Kings County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC, c/o Mark Kirshner, Divergent Streams Media, LLC, 2935 W5th St., Apt 16C, Brooklyn, NY 11224. Purpose: to engage in any lawful act. Notice of Formation of GOLDEN FILMS, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/01/17. Office location: Kings County. Princ. office of LLC: 123 Coffey St., Brooklyn, NY 11231.

LEGAL NOTICES SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 2108 DORCHESTER ROAD UNIT 2A BROOKLYN, NY 11226 Block: 5185 Lot: 1013 COUNTY OF KINGS Plaintiff designates KINGS as the place of trial situs of the real property INDEX NO. 513779/2016 CIT BANK, N.A, Plaintiff, vs. ANN MARIE MORGAN AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ALBERT MORGAN; DORCAS MORGAN AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ALBERT MORGAN; ANGELIEIK MORGAN AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ALBERT MORGAN, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA– INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity Notice of Qualification of 5540 - 409-421 14TH STREET BROOKLYN LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/21/17. Office location: Kings County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 11/13/17. Princ. office of LLC: 110 William St., Ste. 2402, NY, NY 10038. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process Mortgage to secure the sum of $420,000.00 and interest, recorded on September 15, 2008, at Instrument number 2008000364390, of the Public Records of KINGS County, New York, covering premises known as 2108 DORCHESTER ROAD UNIT 2A BROOKLYN, NY 11226. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. KINGS County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: November 11, 2016 RAS BORISKIN, LLC Attorney for Plaintiff BY: COREY ROBSON, ESQ. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 106 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF KINGS, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB DOING BUSINESS AS CHRISTIANA TRUST NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR BCAT 201513ATT, Plaintiff, vs. DIANA VILLARREAL A/K/A DIANA C. VILLARREAL A/K/A DIANA GUEVARA A/K/A DIANA C. GUEVARA, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly filed on August 17, 2017, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Court, Room 224, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY on January 25, 2018 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 166 Glen Street, Brooklyn, NY. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York, Block 4168 and Lot 22. Approximate amount of judgment is $398,425.96 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 503328/2013. Shmuel D. Taub, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Ste. 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: KINGS COUNTY WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO WACHOVIA MORTGAGE, FSB; Plaintiff(s) vs. CARMEN MARIA VALDEZ; et al; Defendant(s) Attorney (s)

to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. Of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Real estate. POLISHED SERVICES BY DEE LLC, Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 07/21/2017 Office Location: Kings County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC, c/o Deydra Bringas, 1809 Albemarle Road, LLC, Brooklyn, NY 11226. Purpose: to engage in any lawful act. Notice of Formation of Davis Row LLC for Plaintiff (s): ROSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 2 Summit Court, Suite 301, Fishkill, New York, 12524, 845.897.1600 Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on or about September 26, 2017, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder in Room 224 of Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201. On January 25, 2018 at 2:30 pm. Premises known as 3039 BRIGHTON 4TH ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11235 Block: 8674 Lot: 86 All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment $735,255.07 plus interest and costs. INDEX NO. 11853-2011 Leonard C. Aloi, Esq., Referee SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 2810 BATCHELDER STREET BROOKLYN, NY 11235 Block: 880 Lot: 182 COUNTY OF KINGS Plaintiff designates KINGS as the place of trial situs of the real property INDEX NO. 514830/2015 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR LEHMAN MORTGAGE TRUST MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005-2, Plaintiff, vs. JASON JACKSON, if living, and if he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; NICHOLAS SIMO; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; CITIMORTGAGE, INC.; JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO CHEMICAL BANK, “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. To the above named Defendants

VOL. 21 NO. 51 Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/24/2017. Office location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to The LLC, c/o United States Corporation Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of OLLIE NY 251 DEKALB LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/04/17. Office location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Andrew Bledsoe, 757 Third Ave., 17th Fl., NY, NY 10017. Purpose: Any lawful activity. YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $252,000.00 and interest, recorded on October 14, 2005, at Instrument number 2005000575205, of the Public Records of KINGS County, New York, covering premises known as 2810 BATCHELDER STREET BROOKLYN, NY 11235. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. KINGS County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: August 4, 2016 RAS BORISKIN, LLC Attorney for Plaintiff BY: SHANNON FUHRMAN, ESQ. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 106 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF KINGS NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Rachel Siony, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated August 09, 2017 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Room 224 of Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201, on January 18, 2018 at 2:30PM, premises known as 925 EAST 98TH STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11236. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, ➔➔ Continued from page 8

VOL. 21 NO. 51

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

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A SALUTE TO DORIA RAGLAND ➔➔ Continued from page 6 who does not know she is Black. The whole picture is about covering up being Black. My mother stammered and welled up in tears as she tried to explain to me why it was bad to be Black. I never understood it, but I knew it was bad for my people and worse yet, bad for me. Now, this miracle has happened, a “light-skinned girl with good hair” is not rejecting her doting mother, rejoices in being Black and the prince knows she is Black and loves her even more because of it; moreover, he wants the world to know it. It is a testament to the racism of America that the very thought of this crumb of

equality makes me want to cry; weeping tears of happiness and completeness. Finally, it is good to be Black! As an American, I always pretended that I didn’t give a fig about royalty and privilege. I didn’t give a fig because I knew that it was a world that I would never be a part of. A world filled with elitism, raping, robbing, pillaging and destroying. After all, the English were responsible for many of the bad things in this world…need I mention the Middle East? Or the famous Churchill line about Gandhi being a half-naked fakir? Yet, they have done a lot of good things as well. Let us not forget, they freed their slaves 20 years before we freed ours, which is a whole generation of freedom which British Blacks

Call 718-599-6828 email: dbgmedia@ourtimepress.com

received before American blacks. Now that I could be the pretend mother of a princess, a real, honest-to-goodness princess, I am a lot more lenient about the negative side of “the Mother Country”. Harry is only five or seven steps away from being king. Any number of things could happen enabling Megan to spawn the Black King of England—”The Quadroon King”. I go to sleep every night with that dream. Oh, what a phony I was. This royalty thing is a magnet which attracts us commoners like Ulysses and the siren’s song. Both Prince Harry and Prince William are trying their darndest to act like “regular guys”. They know the charms of the common folk. They are aware of the traps of nobility; and that is why we love them all the more. So, what does this union mean for the

world? It means there is hope. It means that Harry was intelligent enough to follow his heart as well as his head. It means that Meghan is brave enough to embroil herself in a family that lives on the front pages of tabloids every day. She knows that every word she says will be recorded and judged. It means that neither one of them can have a tiff in public or a fight at home. The pain of keeping up the smile must be exhausting. Yet, it is a small price to pay for the greater good they are doing. We mothers who have sacrificed so much for our children are finally getting our due, thank you Doria, you are truly appreciated. On behalf of all the undervalued women from the Fort Greene Housing Projects, allow me to thank you for giving us enough material to dream about for a lifetime.

Interfaith's Wonderland Celebration

n Friday, December 15th, Interfaith Medical Center celebrated the holiday season with their 5th Annual Winter Wonderland Celebration. Children from surrounding schools and day care centers participated. Each child took a commemorative picture with Santa and received a gift. And on Tuesday, December 19th, Interfaith Medical Center celebrated their 5th Annual Secret Santa. 245 families received one-hundred-dollar American Express gift cards. “Winter Wonderland and Secret Santa have become holiday traditions for Interfaith,” said LaRay Brown, President and CEO of Interfaith Medical Center. “For many families, it’s not easy to provide gifts for their children, and what should be a joyous time can become stressful. Thanks to our sponsors and the Interfaith Auxiliary, we’re able to release some of that burden and bring joy to youngsters in our community during this season of giving.” “Families were chosen from our clinics,

community schools and organizations,” said Sharonnie Perry, Director of Community

and Government Relations. “These events started when IMC was in bankruptcy. This

was a way to show our appreciation to the community for their support.”

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

LEGAL NOTICES ➔➔ Continued from page 8 City and State of New York, BLOCK 8148, LOT 16. Approximate amount of judgment $444,855.39 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment for Index# 503720/2013. Helene E. Blank, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC Attorney for Plaintiff 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 50064 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: KINGS COUNTY FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION; Plaintiff(s) vs. MOHAMMAD S. ALAM; MOHAMMED NAZMUZZAMAN; MASUD RAHMAN; et al; Defendant(s) Attorney (s) for Plaintiff (s): ROSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 2 Summit Court, Suite 301, Fishkill, New York, 12524, 845.897.1600 Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on or about November 9, 2015, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder in Room 224 at the Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. On January 25, 2018 at 2:30 pm. Premises known as 352 WARWICK STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11207 Block: 3982 Lot: 25 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in that part of the City of Brooklyn which was formerly East New York in the County of Kings and State of New York, which on a map filed in the Office of the Register of said County of Kings, entitled “Map of 270 lots at East New York belonging to Jacob L. Sackmann and Andrew Barbey”, is known and designated as and by the number Twenty (20) on Block No. 49 (forty-nine) As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment $633,352.13 plus interest and costs. INDEX NO. 17444/09 Helene Blank, Esq., Referee SURROGATE’S COURT CITATION KINGS COUNTY FILE No. 2017-563 The People of the State of New York By the Grace of God Free and Independent, To: JUSTIN FONER if living and if dead, to his heirs at law, next of kin and distributees whose name and places of residence are unknown and if he died subsequent to the decedent herein, to his executors, administrators, legatees, devisees, assignees and successors in interest whose names and places of residence are unknown and to all other heirs at law, next of kin and distributees of HENRY FONER the decedent herein, whose names and places of residence are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry, be ascertained. A petition having been filed by ERIC FONER who is domiciled at 606 W 116th Street, Apt. 61 New York, New York 10027. YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Kings County at the Courthouse, 2 Johnson Street, in room 319, Brooklyn, New York, on January 23, 2018, at 9:30 o’ clock in the fore noon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of HENRY FONER, lately domiciled at 918 Avenue P, Brooklyn, NY 11223, United States, Admitting to probate a Will dated January 19, 2012 (and Codicil(s), if any, dated a copy of which is attached as the Will of Henry Foner deceased, relating to real property, and directing that: Letters of Testamentary issue to Eric Foner. Dated, Attested and Sealed, December 7th, 2017 Hon. Margarita Lopez-Torres, Surrogate and Doreen A. Quinn, Chief Clerk. Law Offices of Clifford A. Meirowitz, 450 Seventh Avenue, suite 1908, New York, New York 10123 (212) 764-1261. [NOTE: this citation as required by law. You are not required to appear in person. If you fail to appear, it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you.]

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF KINGS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND NOTICE Index No. 507210/2017 Date Filed: 11/27/2017 U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage PassThrough Certificates, Series 2006-3, Plaintiff, -against- Sekou Reaves a/k/a Sekou Toure Reaves, if he be living or dead, his spouse, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; Courtney Lewis; Charles Young; Jacqueline Young; Henry Young, if he be living or dead, his spouse, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; Mildred Pierce; Denise Hawkins; Reginald Brathwaite; James Reaves; Sheila Bryan; Keandra Jones, if she be living or dead, her spouse, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; Karen Young; Erika Young; Angela Edmond; Derek Reaves; Grady Reaves a/k/a Grady Reaves, Jr.; Any unknown heirs, devisees, distributees or successors in interest of the late Mildred Reaves, Gregory Young, and Grady Reaves, if they be living or, if they be dead, their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the Plaintiff; Discover Bank; City of New York Environmental Control Board; City of New York Parking Violations Bureau; City of New York Transit Adjudication Bureau; New York State Department of Taxation & Finance; State of New York; and “JOHN DOE”, said name being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, and any parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming an interest or lien upon the mortgaged premises, Defendants. PROPERTY ADDRESS: 162 Madison Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or a notice of appearance on the attorneys for the Plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Noach Dear, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Kings County, entered November 22, 2017 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Kings County Clerk’s Office.NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Consolidation and/or Modified Mortgage (hereinafter ‘the Mortgage”) to secure $278,512.33 and interest, covering premises known as 162 Madison Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216 a/k/a Block 1822, Lot 26. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Kings County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is situated. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE

YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: September 21, 2017 Frank M. Cassara, Esq. Senior Associate Attorney Attorneys for Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (585) 247-9000 Fax: (585) 247-7380 Our File No. 15-047193 #93620 NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court Kings County BH EMMENS LLC (Plaintiff) v. IRINA SHELIKHOVA et. al. (Defendants) Index No.: 7491/2013. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 2, 2017, as amended, I will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Courthouse located at 360 Adams Street, Room 224, Brooklyn, NY 11201 on January 11, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., the Units known as 3149 Emmons Avenue, Unit 1, Unit 2 and Commercial Unit, Brooklyn, New York 11235, in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York (Block 8804, and Lot 1301, 1302, 1303). Approximate amount of Judgment is $1,515,928.69 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Joel Abramson, Esq., Referee. Roberts & Fidler, P.C, attorney for Plaintiff, 26 Court Street, 11th Floor, Brooklyn, New York. 347-721-9022. NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: KINGS COUNTY FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION; Plaintiff(s) vs. STEWART GRAY; et al; Defendant(s) Attorney (s) for Plaintiff (s): ROSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 2 Summit Court, Suite 301, Fishkill, New York, 12524, 845.897.1600 Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on or about October 16, 2017, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder in Room 224 of Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201. On January 18, 2018 at 2:30 pm. Premises known as 126 EAST 54TH STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11203 Block: 4640 Lot: 18 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment $667,139.70 plus interest and costs. INDEX NO. 10655-13 Helene Blank, Esq., Referee SUPREME COURT – COUNTY OF KINGS HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TRUSTEE FOR DEUTSCHE ALT-A SECURITIES, INC. MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007-AR1 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATE, Plaintiff against JESSENIA N. INSUASTE A/K/A JESSENIA INSUASTE A/K/A JESSENIA PEREA, VICTOR PEREA, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on October 17, 2017. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 224 of the Kings County Courthouse, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. on the 18th day of January, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. premises described as follows: All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of New York, 26th Ward of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York. Said premises known

VOL. 21 NO. 51 as 670 Elton Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11208. (Block: 4313, Lot: 14). Approximate amount of lien $ 647,637.60 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 509886-15. Leonard C. Spector, Esq., Referee. McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, P.C. Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 145 Huguenot Street – Suite 210 New Rochelle, New York 10801 (914) 636-8900 SUPREME COURT – COUNTY OF KINGS FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff against PATSY QUOW, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on October 17, 2017. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in Room 224 of the Kings County Courthouse, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. on the 18th day of January, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. premises described as follows: All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with eth buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn and County of Kings, City and State of New York. Said premises known as 299 East 39th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11203. (Block: 4893, Lot: 43). Approximate amount of lien $ 580,499.92 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 508955-15. Gregory T. Cerchione, Esq., Referee. Fein, Such & Crane, LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800 Rochester, N.Y. 14614 (585) 232-7400 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF KINGS, CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, vs. DWAYNE N. MCKAY, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly filed on April 13, 2016, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Court, Room 224, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY on January 18, 2018 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 966 Madison Street, Brooklyn, NY. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York, Block 3366 and Lot 19. Approximate amount of judgment is $779,050.85 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 507058/2013. William D. Bowman, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Ste. 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF KINGS HOMEBRIDGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., Plaintiff, Against GEORGETTE GIVENS, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered on 8/10/2017, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, in Room 224 of Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 on 1/11/2018 at 2:30 pm, premises known as 464 Van Siclen Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11207, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York, and designated on the tax maps of the Kings County Treasurer as Block 4057 and Lot 33. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $130,858.23 plus interest and costs. The premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 20385/2013. Leo Salzman, Esq., Referee. SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 Dated: 11/15/2017 File Number: 30902 MNB ➔➔ Continued on page 11

VOL. 21 NO. 51

Aaron Freeman, Vice President at Sugar Hill Restaurant, demonstrates the chair lift to the 2nd floor restaurant, bar and stage at this iconic neighborhood institution. Photo: Mark Stewart

LEGAL NOTICES ➔➔ Continued from page 10 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF KINGS SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND NOTICE Index No. 507210/2017 Date Filed: 11/27/2017 U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage PassThrough Certificates, Series 2006-3, Plaintiff, -against- Sekou Reaves a/k/a Sekou Toure Reaves, if he be living or dead, his spouse, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; Courtney Lewis; Charles Young; Jacqueline Young; Henry Young, if he be living or dead, his spouse, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; Mildred Pierce; Denise Hawkins; Reginald Brathwaite; James Reaves; Sheila Bryan; Keandra Jones, if she be living or dead, her spouse, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; Karen Young; Erika Young; Angela Edmond; Derek Reaves; Grady Reaves a/k/a Grady Reaves, Jr.; Any unknown heirs, devisees, distributees or successors in interest of the late Mildred Reaves, Gregory Young, and Grady Reaves, if they be living or, if they be dead, their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the Plaintiff; Discover Bank; City of New York Environmental Control Board; City of New York Parking Violations Bureau; City of New York Transit Adjudication Bureau; New York State Department of Taxation & Finance; State of New York; and “JOHN DOE”, said name being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, and any parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming an interest or lien upon the mortgaged premises, Defendants. PROPERTY ADDRESS: 162 Madison Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or a notice of appearance on the attorneys for the Plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Noach Dear, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Kings County, entered November 22, 2017 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Kings County Clerk’s Office. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Consolidation and/or Modified Mortgage (hereinafter ‘the Mortgage”) to secure $278,512.33 and interest, covering premises known as 162 Madison Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216 a/k/a Block 1822, Lot 26. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Kings County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is situated. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: September 21, 2017 Frank M. Cassara, Esq. Senior Associate Attorney Attorneys for Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (585) 247-9000 Fax: (585) 247-7380 Our File No. 15-047193 #93620

Rob Fields Announced as New President and Executive Director, Weeksville Heritage Center Executive Director

he Board of Trustees of Weeksville Heritage Center is pleased to announce the promotion of Rob Fields from Interim President & Executive Director to President & Executive Director. Rob joined Weeksville in September from marketing industry trade organization the Association of National Advertisers, where he was Marketing Director. “In just a few short months, Rob has earned the confidence of the board for the dynamic vision he’s laid out for Weeksville’s

future,” says Tim Simons, Chair of the Board of Trustees. It’s an exciting moment for Weeksville. 2018 marks the 50th Anniversary of its “rediscovery” in 1968, when the historic Hunterfly Road Houses were almost demolished and lost to history. In the coming weeks, expect a slate of new initiatives and programming to celebrate how far Weeksville has come over the last 50 years and the bright future it has ahead of it.

Rob Fields

Bloomberg: Tax Bill Is a Trillion-Dollar Blunder ➔➔ Continued from page 1 It takes money away from schools and students. It restricts our ability to invest in infrastructure. It does nothing to boost real wages while making health insurance more expensive. It makes it harder to control the costs of Medicare and Social Security without cutting defense and other spending -- or further exploding the deficit. To what end? To hand corporations big tax cuts they don’t need, while lowering the tax rate paid by those of us in the top bracket, and allowing the wealthy to shelter more of their estates. To be clear: I’m in favor of reducing the 35 percent corporate tax rate as part of a revenue-neutral tax reform effort. Right now, the corporate code is so convoluted, and rates so high relative to other nations (thereby creating

an incentive to keep profits offshore), that the real rates companies pay can be wildly divergent. This is neither fair nor efficient. Eliminating loopholes and reining in the offshoring of profits can and should be done in a revenue-neutral overhaul of the tax code. Republicans in Congress will have to take responsibility for the bill’s harmful effects, but blame also falls on its cheerleader-in-chief, President Trump. A president’s job is to get the two parties in Congress to work together. Yet Trump is making the same mistake that Barack Obama made in his first two years in office -- believing that his party’s congressional majority gives him license to govern without the other side. The tax bill is an economically indefensible blunder that will harm our future. The Republicans in Congress who must surely know it -- and who have bucked party leaders before -- should vote no. www.bloomberg.com

I Support Omarosa in Solidarity! ➔➔ Continued from page 6 her, white men like the Ryan Seacrest’s of the world embraced her and gave her a huge reality show to make sure she was good!! When white women like Anna Nicole Smith are strippers and filthy-rich old white men like Howard Marshall take her off the poll, the white community gives her cheers, not jeers. Omarosa wasn’t “hoeing”! Omarosa wasn’t stripping! Omarosa wasn’t drugging! Omarosa wasn’t stealing! So, I am very disappointed that many Blacks, especially Black men, have the nerve to treat Omarosa like a stepchild when she simply took a job as the Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison for the Trump Administration. Don’t get me wrong, I can certainly understand how Omarosa can rub some insecure people the wrong way. However, is her confident, larger-than-life personality

a crime?? Rachel Maddow is as brash and crass as they come, and yet, instead of the white community being embarrassed by her, they gave her a big show!! Simply put, when the smoke clears, life is about self-preservation. And as Omarosa said in her “Good Morning America” interview with Michael Strahan, “When you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu”. My melanin friends, that powerless position ain’t cute! Omarosa’s book deal is being inked as we speak, and I can’t wait to get an advanced copy; she will be spilling the Lipton Tea!! Lisa Durden, TV personality and subject matter expert in the areas of pop culture, politics and social issues, who’s an “A-Plus Panel” Contributor at My9’s “Chasing News. She also makes appearances on Dr. Oz, Pix11 Morning News, CT Style & Fox News Channel. Lisa’s voice is her activism! Twitter: @lisardurden

OUR TIME PRESS December 21 – 27, 2017

DENTISTRY

Charles Grannum DMD

A Charming private dental office with a warm, friendly and professional environment located in Brooklyn’s historic Clinton Hill. Where explaining and discussing treatment is as essential as the quality and long term commitment you receive, and if you thought dentistry had to be painful, you may be pleasantly surprised at how painless dentistry can be at the hands of knowledgeable and caring professionals.

• Complete & Partial Dentures • Fixed Crowns/Bridges • Dental Implants

• Cosmetic Dentistry • ConsuItations • Preventive Dental Care

136 St. James Place (btwn Gates & Greene) Near Pratt Inst.

718.783.6228

www.clintonhilldental.com

VOL. 21 NO. 51