NYC Mayor Eric Adams Claps Back At A White Woman, Comparing Her To A Plantation Owner A Over Rent Question
New York City’s mayor Eric Adams is working hard in the fight against rising rent, but he doesn’t take too kindly to threats.
During a community conversation event at Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics in Washington Heights, Adams got into a showdown with a white woman who interrupted him with a rent question, the New York Post reports. Adams reiterated that he “does not control the Rent Guidelines Board” after the board voted last week that they will allow rent hikes of up to 6% on the city’s one million rent-stabilized apartments. The woman continued her rant into a microphone saying, “You said that before and after that, you supported those rent increases!”
.@NYCMayor went off on a woman during his town hall tonight: “I’m the mayor of this city and treat me with the respect that would deserve to be treated. I’m speaking to you as an adult. Don’t stand in front like you treated someone that’s on the plantation that you own.” pic.twitter.com/Qwn8TgYFD1
As the woman stood up and pointed her finger at the Democratic mayor, Adams said he felt “disrespected.” “I’m the mayor of this city and treat me with the respect that would deserve to be treated. I’m speaking to you as an adult,’ Adams said. “Don’t stand in front like you treated someone that’s on the plantation that you own.”
His response was met with loud applause, prompting him to keep going. “I’m a grown man. I walked into this room as a grown man and I’ll walk out of this room as a grown man,” he continued. “I answered your question – go to the next table.
With the video circulating across social media, New Yorkers are weighing on whose side they are on, more so on the woman who was identified on Twitter as the co-founder of the Riverside Edgecombe Neighborhood Association. One Twitter user said, “Grown men don’t state that they are grown men. He has the thin skin of an awkward teenage… boy. Grow up, Mr. Mayor.” Another posted, agreeing with the woman who questioned Adams, saying, “She was 100% correct and he deflected. Adams don’t care about us. He’s got to go.”
Affirmative Action Is Dead: Supreme Court Shuts Down A Pathway To Equity In Higher Ed
With one ruling, the Supreme Court has reversed decades of efforts to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and to increase the representation ofminorities in higher education—aka affirmative action.
On June 29, the Supreme Court decided that the race-conscious admissions systems of Harvard College and the University of North Carolina (UNC) are unconstitutional. This marks the end of affirmative action admission policies at colleges and universities.
According to CNBC, Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the majority opinion with the help of concurrent options of all five of his fellow conservative justices, including Black Justice Clarence Thomas. Eight months after the initial argument, Roberts wrote that Harvard’s and UNC’s highly selective admissions process “unavoidably employ race in a negative manner, involve racial stereotyping, and lack meaningful endpoints.” As a result, the decision indicated that these policies “cannot be reconciled by the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause” in the 14th Amendment.
“Many universities have for too long wrongly concluded that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenged bested, skills built, or lessons learned, but the color of their skin. This Nation’s constitutional history does not tolerate that choice,” Roberts wrote.
Liberal Justice KentanjiBrown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the top U.S. judicial body, was one of three justices who filed a dissenting opinion. Though she recused herself from Harvard’s case last year, Brown Jackson gave weight to America’s legacy of slavery.
“With let-them-eat-cake obliviousness, today, the majority pulls the ripcord and announces ‘colorblindness for all.’ But deeming race irrelevant in law does now make it so in life,” Brown Jackson wrote.
She added: “No one benefits from ignorance. Although formal race-linked legal barriers are gone, race still matters to the lived experience of all Americans in innumerable ways, and today’s ruling makes things worse, not better,” Jackson wrote.
Similarly, fellow liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor hit back hard against the majority’s decision. She implied that it is “entrenching racial inequality in education” and “rolls back decades of precedent and momentous progress.”
However, Thomas, who in 1991 became the second Black person to sit on the bench in the nation’s highest court, blasted Brown Jackson in his concurring opinion. He has acknowledged that he made it to Yale Law School due to affirmative action but claimed that Jackson’s arguments “lock blacks into a seemingly perpetual inferior caste.”
In the aftermath of the decision, BLACK ENTERPRISE obtained a statement from the office of Barack and Michele Obama. The former first lady recalled her experience in college as one of the few Black students on her campus. Though she felt a sense of belonging, she always wondered if students were “granted special consideration for admissions” through affirmative action.
“My heart breaks for any young person out there who’s wondering what their future holds — and what kinds of chances will be open to them. Today is a reminder that we’ve got to do the work not just to enact policies that reflect our values of equity and fairness, but to truly make those values real in all of our schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods,” she wrote.
In an accompanying statement, the former president posed a call to action: “Now it’s up to all of us to give young people the opportunities they deserve — and help students everywhere benefit from new perspectives.”
Black ‘Bachelorette’ Charity Lawson Had To ‘Advocate’ For Her Hair and Glam Team
A new season of “The Bachelorette” is underway and the show’s lead Charity Lawson is carrying on the torch as the fourth Black woman to star on the popular dating competition show.
“The Bachelor” franchise has a long history of controversy stemming from issues involving race and alleged racism. Lawson already knew what she was getting herself into after she was selected to star in Season 20 and have 25 male singles compete for her love.
Coming out of her standout role on season 27 of “The Bachelor,” Lawson became a fan favorite with her natural confidence, compassion for others, and magnetic smile. But the family and child therapist faced new battles once the spotlight was on her.
Starring as only the second monoracial Black Bachelorette to lead the series, Lawson knew the show was making “strides,” but still had a long way to go, she told Insider.
The Columbia, Georgia native opened up about the advocating she was doing behind the scenes to make sure she was represented properly.
“With the people that work on the show and everything… I had to have moments where I advocated for things,” she explained.
“Just speak[ing] up about certain things that they were — I don’t wanna say oblivious to — but maybe just not on their radar, because they don’t necessarily have to think about these things.”
Some of the things she advocated for included securing a hairstylist “who can treat African-American hair,” and “makeup artists, all those things that we’re just not really always aware of that are needed differently when it comes to women of color.”
It also included “having important conversations regarding race on the show,” where Lawson made sure the men on the show were “aware” of the challenges she faced as a Black woman.
Lawson follows Rachel Lindsay who made franchise history as the show’s first Black Bachelorette in 2017. Michelle Young took the lead in season 18, and Tayshia Adams replaced Clare Crawley on “The Bachelorette” midway through season 16.
Ex Marine Charged With Jordan Neely’s Death Released After Pleading Not Guilty & Bailing Out For $100k
Daniel Penny, the former marine who placed Jordan Neely in a chokehold that led to the 30-year-old’s death while on an NYC subway train, has pled not guilty to charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.
According to ABC News, the 24-year-old Penny has been released after paying the $100,000 bail. He’s next scheduled to appear in court on October 25, 2023.
Court documents reveal that Neely, who was homeless, entered the subway at the 2nd Avenue station. After getting on the F train, he allegedly threatened several people, but no one in particular. As seen in several videos capturing the incident, Penny placed Neely in a chokehold for several minutes, even after the homeless man went limp.
Penny said to police officers after the incident, “He came on, and he threw s—, he’s like ‘I don’t give a s—, I’m going to go to prison for life’ and stuff, so I just came up behind him and put him in a chokehold. He was threatening everybody.”
Police officers allowed Penny to leave the scene and did not make an arrest until two weeks later. Critics blasted police officials for allowing Penny, a white man, not to be detained for killing Neely, a homeless Black man. The incident made headlines nationwide, and Penny wasn’t immediately questioned or taken into custody despite the outrage.
Penny’s attorney, Thomas Keniff, is confident his client will walk away a free man. “We are a long way off from trial, but all the evidence we’ve seen is that our client acted under the law.”
Meanwhile, family members of Neely were seated in the courtroom. Seated behind them were family members of Penny.
“Daniel Penny did not have the courage to look Mr. Jordan’s father in the eye,” Dante Mills, Neely’s family attorney, said.
Penny faces five to 15 years in prison if convicted of the second-degree manslaughter charge.
Beyoncé & Kelly Rowland Say ‘No, No, No’ To Homelessness In H-Town With $8.4M Housing Project
We stan Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Kelly Rowland’s new initiative to help tackle homelessness in Houston.
On June 27, 2023, Harris County announced its partnership with the two former Destiny’s Child members to create 31 housing units for people experiencing homelessness in Houston.
According to theHouston Chronicle, the Knowles-Rowland House will offer permanent resources for future residents. The paper reported that county records indicate the housing project will provide transportation, mental health resources, and health services. Additionally, case managers and peer specialists will be available.
“We just did the homeless count again, so it’s initiatives like this one I certainly will be supportive of it no matter who’s behind it, but it’s especially interesting, I think, because there are these names of Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland, who, of course, have been supportive of the community for a very long time,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in a press conference.
The project will be located at the Bread of Life gymnasium, the Houston Chronicle reported. Rudy Rasmus, executive director at Bread of Life, noted the Knowles-Rowland project began years back. According to Rasmus, Destiny’s Child members built a youth center with funds from their hit song “No, No, No.”
The American Rescue Plan will contribute $7.2 million toward the housing project Architectural Digest reported. Other entities will fund the remaining $1.2 million.
The $8.4 million project will roll out another bigger launch during two of the last few stops on Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour. The Chronicle reported another announcement would be made when Queen Bey is in the city on September 23 and September 24, 2023.
There’s no denying Beyoncé’s impact will be felt in her hometown of Houston. The superstar’s presence has already caused a stir in Stockholm, Sweden. Economists said the singer-songwriter has increased inflation in the European country by 0.2%. AfroTech reported hotels and restaurants bumped up their prices by about 3.3% as a result of Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour.
10-Year-Old Black Girl Cries, ‘I’m Scared Mommy’ As Police Officers Place Her In Handcuffs, A Civil Rights Violation
According to CBS News Sacramento, a recent audit revealed multiple civil rights violations in California’s capital, including one where police officers handcuffed a 10-year-old Black girl.
City officials admitted that someone so young should not have had to experience an ordeal. The video showed the girl crying for her mother as she was being placed in cuffs. It was one of several that showed the racial bias and misconduct that Sacramento police officers many sadly consider standard operating procedure. .
“I wish I could say ‘shocked,'” said Meg White, the co-founder of Justice Unites Individuals and Communities Everywhere. “Unfortunately, Sacramento has a history of being very brutal, specifically with Black residents.”
The audit, compiled by The Sacramento Office of Public Safety, includes more than 100 complaints filed against the Sacramento Police Department over two years.
According to Inside Edition, Police Chief Kathy Lester admitted the young girl should never have been handcuffed, telling council members “there is no circumstance where it’s OK to handcuff a 10-year-old, regardless of race.”
The video shows several police officers, all white males, screaming at people to open the doors while shaking the front security door. They alleged that the resident had weapons, a stolen car, and was a “known gang member,” according to police officials.
“Come outside right now,” an officer yells. “You don’t get to go and hide and turn off the lights. That’s not how this works.” The young girl comes out crying and tells the police officer, “I’m scared, I’m scared, mommy,” she cries. “I’m scared I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do.”
She was immediately handcuffed following this incident.
“She should not have been handcuffed even for a second,” City Inspector General Dwight White said. “If this girl was another race, she likely wouldn’t have been handcuffed.” Lester said the department does not have a policy about handcuffing children but will work to develop one.
Fried Chicken And Hennessey Event Led This Black Firefighter To File A Lawsuit For Racist Undertone
Jerrod Jones, a Black firefighter, has filed a lawsuit against the central New York fire department where he is employed.
According to NBC News, Jones is suing the Rochester Fire Department, which he joined in 2008, after alleging his supervisor, Jeffrey Krywy, told him to attend a party with racist undertones. Jones also said that since he publicly revealed what took place at that party in 2022, he and his family have been harassed.
Details from the lawsuit state the harassment started after Jones and his attorney held a news conference in August 2022 describing the party Jones was urged to attend. He said the event featured a sizable cutout of former president Donald Trump and photos of local Democratic politicians’ heads situated on stakes.
He also alleged that the party had buckets of fried chicken and party favor bags that included Juneteenth-themed cups and bottles of Hennessy. Jones stayed for approximately 40 minutes and was told by his supervisor that he wasn’t allowed to take pictures.
“I went to the bunk room about three hours earlier than I normally do because I was just that angry inside,” Jones said, “and I was still kind of processing what was happening. I just went, and I just laid in the bed and just prayed that I didn’t have to go anywhere that night because I wasn’t in the right frame of mind—and I was driving [the firetruck], so that’s a huge, huge responsibility.”
Eventually, Jones took a medical leave of absence for emotional distress after attending the party. He has yet to return to the job. Krywy retired in 2022 “before termination proceedings” could begin following an investigation with the city.
In an email statement to NBC News, a spokesperson for the city of Rochester and the Fire Department wrote that “the City does not comment on pending litigation.”
Louisiana Police Department Under Fire After Viral Video Shows White Officers Dragging ‘Unconscious’ Black Woman’ Across A Field
The Shreveport Police Department in Louisiana is under fire after a viral video showed them dragging a Black woman across a field.
The video was posted on TikTok on June 27 by a user named twentyeightgrams28 and showed several white police officers dragging a Black woman, who looked to be unconscious. Captions claimed the officers beat her unconscious as the crowd confronted them, wondering what happened. Members of the crowd approached the woman to check on her as officers pushed back with assault weapons. As some became unruly, one crowd member allegedly threw something at one of the officers.
There isn’t much information about what happened before or after the event. According to Newsone, there was a second video, now seemingly deleted, that allegedly shows a white officer punching the woman while at least one of her hands was behind her back. TikTok users claimed another woman was on the ground in front of her.
Comments under the 28-second video allege there was a flight between two women, including the one being dragged. The video creator said, “her and her cousin got into a fight multiple times and she was trying to leave but her cousin wouldn’t give her her keys.” Another user with the handle @pillowsxworld blamed the police and said “they were breaking up the girls. The police officer punch her and knocked her out.”
The Shreveport Police have had the light on them for some time regarding accusations of severe police brutality. Former officer Alexander Tyler was charged earlier this year with negligent homicide in the murder of a Black man named Alonzo Bagley, CNN reported. Tyler, 23, was called to Bagley’s home over a domestic dispute. Bagley began to run and after a short chase, Tyler shot Bagley, who was unarmed.
Zillow’s Tips for Buying Your First Home In Today’s Evolving Market
Buying a home is one of the largest investments most people will ever make to help build wealth for themselves and their families. Investing in the American Dream can simultaneously be an exciting and daunting experience.
Navigating today’s unpredictable real estate conditions, the mortgage financing process, and housing affordability issues can, at times, be exasperating.
So, perhaps the big question potential buyers are asking is: “Should I buy now or wait?” For prospective homebuyers, coming up with a definitive answer to that question can be difficult. Yet, there are some points to consider:
Buying offers a wealth-building event impossible to achieve as a renter.
In some markets, home prices are dropping now or rising less rapidly than during the pandemic, which could make it a little easier to plan your home purchase and manage your money. This trend is expected to continue through late this year.
Orphe Divounguy, a senior economist at Zillow, says the decision about when to buy a home is deeply personal, and a unique, individual need drives each prospective homebuyer.
“A good reason to buy is to want a home to call your own because you’re in the right place personally and financially,” said Divounguy.
Zillow’s experts point out what first-time buyers should consider amid today’s volatile mortgage rates and housing affordability concerns. These moves can potentially help many buyers get a home regardless of market conditions.
Understand what you can afford.
Although mortgage rates—a key driver for housing affordability—are beginning to stabilize, Divounguy maintains affordability is still the toughest challenge in today’s market, with mortgage payments on a new loan having doubled since May 2019.
You should start with an online mortgage calculator and affordability tools to understand what you can realistically afford and how home prices and mortgage rates translate into monthly payments.
Get Financing first.
Get pre-approved—not just pre-qualified—for a mortgage first. You should shop around for a lender to make sure you’re getting the best rate and find a knowledgeable loan officer to partner in the buying process and help explain options so you can make an educated decision.
A recent survey from Zillow Home Loans shows many homebuyers don’t shop around for their mortgage, potentially costing them hundreds of dollars each month.
Mortgage giant Fannie Mae projects that rates on 30-year home loans will average 6.4% this year and decline to 5.9% in 2024. That difference could mean huge monthly savings.
Homebuyers can start that process without impacting their credit score through Zillow Home Loans. And it makes an eventual offer much stronger in the eyes of a seller.
Buying points on a mortgage is also an option to essentially pre-pay interest upfront in exchange for a lower rate and monthly payment. A break-even calculator can help buyers determine if paying more now to buy points could save them money in the long run.
Discovering ways to get help with your down payment.
Among the biggest challenges for first-time homebuyers is coming up with the down payment. For many homebuyers, that can appear to be an impossible effort. But it doesn’t have to be. You can explore down payment assistance programs available on every Zillow listing, including federal or local programs that offer cash grants to buy homes and interest-rate subsidies. On average, eligible buyers receiving down payment assistance get approximately $17,000 to help with their purchase.
Hire the right real estate agent.
With the market’s shift, you want to hire an expert who’s been there before and has a pulse on all the changes happening in your desired neighborhood.
Zillow estimates nearly 90% of buyers work with a professional real estate agent at some point during the process. The major task for the buyer’s agent is to look out for your best interest in negotiations, helping you gain a price that works best for you.
Real estate agents’ expert knowledge of local neighborhoods, property values, and market trends enables them to help buyers make informed decisions, navigate the process confidently and win the home that best meets their preferences and investment goals. Connect with a local agent here.
There is a range of factors to consider when searching for a home, from setting a budget to understanding home-buying incidentals like property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and closing costs. To help make that review easier, start your quest with Zillow’s Home Buyers Guide.
The information in the guide can prove vital in helping homebuyers save money to purchase a house, find first-time homebuyer programs, and learn how much a house is worth. It also includes other tips to make you a savvier buyer, like discovering the ups and downs of buying a new home versus an existing one, determining which party pays for home inspections, and more.
