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Women’s Month Spotlight: Shawyn Patterson-Howard – First Woman Elected Mayor In City Of Mount Vernon

AJ Woodson
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Women’s Month Spotlight: Shawyn Patterson-Howard – First Woman Elected Mayor In City Of Mount Vernon

Democratic nominee Shawyn Patterson-Howard (SPH) made history Tuesday, November 5, 2019, when she narrowly won the general election, becoming the First Female Mayor elected in the City of Mount Vernon. The City of Mount Vernon’s 28th Mayor.

As a fourth-generation Mount Vernonite, Patterson-Howard explained in her acceptance speech, “Mount Vernon is the community of my birth, my development, my education. It’s where I was nurtured and mentored by people of all ages and ethnicities, allowing me to become the adult and the leader that I am now.”

With her husband standing proudly behind her, Shawyn spoke of unifying the city and being an agent of change. She campaigned on a good government platform, pledging to end the dysfunction in City Hall.

As Executive Director for the Mount Vernon, New York, Family YMCA from 2004 through 2009, and the first woman and person of color appointed President and Chief Executive Officer for the Yonkers Family YMCA in New York. Mayor SPH focused on programs that highlighted “Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.” From afterschool programming, youth employment and training, college preparation, access and completion, adult education, water safety programs, senior services, and residential housing to gang intervention and violence prevention, prisoner reintegration, health and wellness, community nutrition and feeding programs, boxing, AmeriCorps, service-learning and video production, Mayor Patterson-Howard and her staff looked for new and innovative ways to develop partnerships to serve the community

As the Chief Executive Officer for the Yonkers Family YMCA, she also created programs to support the region’s growing community of immigrants and to address the needs of those reintegrating into the community after extended periods of incarceration.

Patterson-Howard shattered the glass ceiling as the first African American woman to be elected mayor in the history of Westchester County. Mayor SPH’s historic victory also gave the City of Mount Vernon an all-female Board of Estimates (Mayor, Council President, and Comptroller) for the first time in the city’s history.

A proud graduate of Mount Vernon High School, she also holds degrees from Howard University School of Social Work and a Master’s in Public Administration and Urban Development from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Mayor Patterson-Howard began her esteemed career in public service as a social worker at AIDS-Related Community Services and Director of the City of Mount Vernon Housing Opportunity for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA). 

Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard proudly continues her family’s century-long legacy of service to Mount Vernon with support from her husband of 38 years, Marvin Howard, and daughter Nia. She is the President Emeritus of the African American Mayors’ Association (AAMA), Trustee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Co-Chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) / U. S. Climate Mayors Board, and VP of the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM).

Mayor Patterson-Howard has served as a trailblazer in the not-for-profit and government sectors for 25-plus years, and she continues to blaze the trail for others to follow and shatter that proverbial glass ceiling at every level. Black Westchester celebrates Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard!

Excerpt from the book, “Black Westchester Celebrates Black Women Of Westchester,” available on Amazon or email BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com to purchase your autographed copies.

A $30 Minimum Wage in New York Will Lead to More Unemployment — Here’s Why

DAMON K JONES
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A $30 Minimum Wage in New York Will Lead to More Unemployment — Here’s Why

In politics, policies are often judged by their intentions. In economics, policies are judged by their outcomes.

That distinction matters as New York City Council members push a new bill—Int 0757-2026, sponsored by Councilmember Sandra Nurse—that would phase in a $30-per-hour minimum wage. For large employers (more than 500 workers), it starts at $20 per hour by 2027 and reaches $30 by 2030. Smaller businesses would follow a slightly slower path, hitting $30 around 2032. The current city minimum wage stands at $17 per hour (effective January 2026). Supporters argue this is essential to help workers afford the city’s skyrocketing cost of living. The intention sounds compassionate. But history and evidence show that when government mandates wages far above what many businesses can sustainably pay, employers adjust in ways politicians rarely discuss.

They hire fewer workers.

We are already seeing elements of this in California, where fast-food wages rose to $20 per hour in April 2024. Research reveals mixed but concerning results: wages climbed significantly (around 8–11% for covered workers in various studies), yet some analyses estimate thousands of relative job losses—around 18,000 in the fast-food sector according to NBER research—along with accelerated automation like self-order kiosks, AI drive-thru systems, and robotic kitchen tools. Menu prices rose too, with increases ranging from modest (about 2%, or roughly 8 cents on a $4 item in some UC Berkeley reports) to sharper (up to 14.5% in others). Businesses cut hours or staffing in certain cases to manage costs.

In short, the policy delivered higher pay for some workers while shrinking opportunities—and especially entry-level positions—for others.

A $30 minimum in New York City would not hit massive corporations hardest. The real pain would land on the small businesses that form the backbone of the city’s neighborhoods—the family-run restaurant, the corner bodega, the local barbershop, the independent boutique, the neighborhood bakery, and the small pharmacy. These aren’t Fortune 500 companies with deep pockets and global supply chains. They run on razor-thin margins, battling high rents, steep insurance, heavy regulations, and competition from big-box stores and online giants—all while paying some of the nation’s highest operating costs.

For many of these businesses, labor is already the largest single expense. A jump toward $30 per hour would force tough choices: raise prices (driving customers away), cut staff, shift more roles to part-time, reduce hiring, or—in the worst cases—close entirely if the numbers no longer add up.

Policymakers tout higher wages but seldom address the ripple effects:

  • Fewer employees per shift.
  • More part-time work replacing full-time jobs.
  • Higher prices for everyday goods and services.
  • Fewer independent businesses anchoring local communities.

This isn’t just economics—it’s a community issue. Small businesses create neighborhood jobs, buy from local suppliers, and serve as gathering spots that build social ties. When they struggle or vanish, the economic and cultural fabric frays.

Automation is already reshaping entry-level work in New York. Walk through any major avenue or rest-stop plaza: fast-casual spots and takeout places increasingly rely on self-service screens, integrated payment kiosks, and AI ordering. One or two workers now handle areas that once needed several. Technology doesn’t take sick days, demand overtime, or require benefits—and over time, it often costs less than a growing payroll.

The push to $30 would only intensify this shift. Not every job disappears, but the total number shrinks—particularly the entry-level roles that have long served as stepping stones for first-time workers building skills and experience.

The damage would fall hardest on youth, especially Black youth in New York City. Young people—teens and young adults just entering the workforce—rely heavily on these low-barrier, minimum-wage jobs in retail, hospitality, and fast food to gain experience, build resumes, and earn independence. Economic research consistently shows that minimum wage hikes reduce teen employment (often by 1–3% or more per 10% wage increase in many studies), with larger disemployment effects for Black and minority youth due to factors like limited experience, geographic concentration in affected sectors, and existing barriers. In New York City, youth unemployment already stands at troubling levels—13.2% overall for ages 16–24 in 2024 (3.6 points above 2019 pre-pandemic figures, per the New York State Comptroller)—with young Black workers facing the steepest rates at 23.8%, over nine points higher than in 2019. These are the communities where entry-level opportunities matter most for breaking cycles of disadvantage. Mandating wages that accelerate automation and hiring caution risks decimating these first rungs on the ladder, leaving more young people—disproportionately Black youth—idle, disconnected from work experience, and further behind in building long-term economic stability.

Yet the bigger workforce challenge politicians keep sidestepping isn’t wages—it’s skills.

The United States faces a deepening shortage of skilled labor in fields that already pay well above minimum wage. Construction, electrical work, plumbing, welding, HVAC, and infrastructure trades are desperate for workers. Recent projections from the Associated Builders and Contractors estimate the construction industry alone needs to attract nearly 349,000 net new workers in 2026 to keep pace with demand, with numbers potentially climbing higher in coming years. These jobs often pay $60,000 to $120,000 annually, many without requiring a four-year college degree.

Instead of pouring resources into trade schools, apprenticeships, vocational programs, and workforce training, policymakers keep chasing wage mandates. It’s politically simpler to pass a headline-grabbing law raising pay than to build a pipeline of skilled workers. One generates soundbites. The other delivers real, lasting economic mobility.

If New York City genuinely wants to expand opportunity and help working families thrive, the priority shouldn’t be mandating higher wages that risk fewer jobs, faster automation, and struggling small businesses. It should be equipping people for the high-demand, high-paying industries where opportunities already exist.

When policymakers try to fix a skills gap with blunt wage mandates, the result can be the opposite of what they intend: reduced employment, accelerated technology replacing people, and fewer neighborhood anchors left to sustain the communities they claim to help. Outcomes, not intentions, will tell the story.

This Day In Black History – March 11th Lorraine Hansberry Makes History As 1st Black Woman To Produce A Broadway Play

AJ Woodson
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This Day In Black History – March 11th Lorraine Hansberry Makes History As 1st Black Woman To Produce A Broadway Play

A Raisin in the Sun, the first Broadway play produced by a Black woman, Lorraine Hansberry, debuted at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on March 11, 1959.

On March 11, 1959, Lorraine Hansberry, a Croton-On-Hudson resident, made history on Broadway with the opening of her play, A Raisin in the Sun. A story about a Black working-class family living in Chicago, the play was the first on Broadway to be written and produced by an African American woman.

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, the first Broadway play written by a Black woman, opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York on March 11, 1959.

Taking its title from the Langston Hughes poem “Harlem,” Hansberry’s story follows a working-class Black family from the South Side of Chicago hoping to improve their lives. Raised herself on Chicago’s South Side, Hansberry’s parents were racial justice activists, and A Raisin in the Sun was inspired by her life.

It was also the first Broadway show to feature a Black director, Lloyd Richards, and its stars included Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia McNeil, and Louis Gossett.

Scene from the play. Ruby Dee as Ruth, Claudia McNeil as Lena, Glynn Turman as Travis, Sidney Poitier as Walter, and John Fiedler as Karl Lindner.

The New York Drama Critics Circle Award named “Raisin” the best American play in 1959, and it received four Tony Award nominations for best play, best direction, and best performances for Poitier and McNeil. It ran for 530 performances until it closed in 1960 and was adapted for the big screen in 1961, with Hansberry writing the script. Broadway revivals took place in 2004 and 2014, and the play is credited with bringing Black audiences to the stage.

“Never before, in the entire history of the American theater, had so much of the truth of black people’s lives been seen on the stage,” James Baldwin later wrote of the production. “Black people had ignored the theater because the theater had always ignored them.”

March 11, 1874 – Frederick Douglass named president of The Freedmen’s Savings and Trust Company, commonly referred to as The Freedmen’s Bank. It was created by the United States Congress along with the Freedmen’s Bureau to aid the freedmen in their transition from slavery to freedom.

March 11, 1926 – Civil Rights Activist and Baptist Minister Ralph David Abernathy was born in Linden, Alabama. He was ordained in the Baptist tradition in 1948. Being the leader of the civil rights movement, he was a close friend and mentor of Martin Luther King Jr. He collaborated with King and E. D. Nixon to create the Montgomery Improvement Association, which led to the Montgomery bus boycott and co-created and was an executive board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He became president of the SCLC following the assassination of King in 1968; he led the Poor People’s Campaign in Washington, D.C., as well as other marches and demonstrations for disenfranchised Americans. He also served as an advisory committee member of the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE).

March 11, 1950 – Grammy Award winning Singer Bobby McFerrin, most well known for his #1 hit “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, born in the UK.

March 11, 1957 – Singer Cheryl Lynn, most well known for her 1979 disco classic “Got to Be Real,” was born in Los Angeles, California. Got To Be Real became a staple for DJs to cut up as emcees spit rhymes over in the early days of Hip-Hop and has been sampled over 151 times, including on early Hip-Hop classic “Rappin and Rocking the House” by Funk Four Plus One More, released on Enjoy Records in 1979. Other Hip-Hop artists who sampled Got To Be Real include Full Force, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, NWA, Eric B & Rakim, Nate Dogg featuring Fabolous & Lil Mo, 2 Live Crew, Grand Master Flash, Too Short, Too Poetic, and many more. Yonkers native Mary J. Blige made her background vocal debut on Father MC’s song “I’ll Do 4 U” in 1990, the second single from Father MC’s debut album, Father’s Day. MJB also appeared in the music video for the song.

Dr. Betty Campbell Breaks Barriers As First Black Commissioner of Jurors In NYS

AJ Woodson
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Dr. Betty Campbell Breaks Barriers As First Black Commissioner of Jurors In NYS

Dr. Betty Campbell, an adjunct professor of criminal and social justice and the Commissioner of Jurors for Westchester County, is the first African-American woman to attain this position in New York State. The Iona College graduate has 25 years of experience in criminal justice and law, including nearly a decade at the Manhattan DA’s Office in its Witness Aid Service Unit, Alternative to Incarceration Unit, and Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison Program.

Dr. Campbell served as Director of the 9th Judicial Problem-Solving Courts, which she spearheaded, and is also a trauma-informed response trainer. A lifelong resident of New Rochelle, she seeks to apply her “extensive research on leadership in policing and experience working with diverse communities to create positive change.”

Dr. Betty Campbell was a single mother just out of high school, who was raising her child, working full-time, and pursuing an associate degree at night. After earning her associate degree, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. That led to a job in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. She spent a decade in the Witness Aid Service Unit, the Alternative to Incarceration Unit, and the Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison Program, which she spearheaded. While working in the DA’s office, Betty earned a master’s in public administration from New York University. She came to work for the court system in 2002, planning and overseeing 35 problem-solving courts in the Ninth Judicial District, which encompasses Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, and Orange counties. In 2011, Betty earned her doctorate in education.

In August of 2017, the Westchester County Jury Board unanimously appointed Campbell the first commissioner of jurors of color ever in Westchester, and the first female jury commissioner of color in the entire state.

She learned that justice takes on many different forms. In the District Attorney’s office, she worked first with crime victims and the Witness Aid Service unit, and then defendants in the Alternative Sentencing Unit, and then predicate felons in the DTAP Program. She realized that everyone had different needs and different outcomes. In the DA’s office, she was introduced to the practice of restorative justice, especially in the Alternative Sentencing Unit and the DTAP Program, because those units’ response to criminal behavior focused on restoring harmony between the offender and society. The Alternative to Sentencing Unit was a unit that was responsible for assigning individuals to various community service projects. If you had a case and your disposition was community service, the Alternative to Sentencing Unit actually assigned people to various community service.

The historical significance of Campbell’s role is not lost on her. Community outreach and education are integral to her mission of educating people about the lesser-known aspects of the jury process, such as the option of volunteering for service before receiving a questionnaire in the mail.

Dr. Campbell tells Black Westchester that she feels like a trailblazer in her position and hopes young African American kids will be inspired by her achievement.

“My job is to ensure that we have a diverse pool of qualified jurors from a cross-section of the county. The ability to participate in the jury process is a privilege; therefore, I’d like prospective jurors to think of their summons as an invitation to participate in something great—our justice system.”

Black Westchester celebrates Dr. Betty Campbell!

Excerpt from the book, “Black Westchester Celebrates Black Women Of Westchester,” available on Amazon or email BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com to purchase your autographed copies.

Greenburgh Town Clerk Hosts Fireside Chat with Greenburgh’s Own Troy Millings & Rashad Bilal, Founders of Earn Your Leisure

AJ Woodson
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Greenburgh Town Clerk Hosts Fireside Chat with Greenburgh’s Own Troy Millings & Rashad Bilal, Founders of Earn Your Leisure

The Town Clerk of Greenburgh, Lisa Maria Nero, MPA, will host a special fireside chat featuring Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal, co-founders of the Earn Your Leisure Network. The event will take place at Greenburgh Town Hall, Saturday, March 21, 2026, and will honor Greenburgh natives & New York Times bestselling authors who have helped inspire financial education and investment literacy nationwide and internationally.

This fireside chat aligns with Greenburgh’s mission to foster financial literacy, support local authors, and provide meaningful cultural events for residents.

The event is free with registration. Attendees receive a complimentary autographed book upon registration, with opportunities for Q&A in the registration link.

You must RSVP by Friday, March 20th, to ensure seating and book allocations. 

Event Details 

Date & Time: Saturday, March 21, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM (doors open at 11:30 AM) Location: Greenburgh Town Hall (177 Hillside Ave., Greenburgh, NY 10607) Admission: Free with registration 

Registration Perks: A copy of the NYT Best-selling book, “You Deserve to Be Rich.” 

Refreshments: Light refreshments will be served 

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/EqLMpS1v4tuVuiFy6 

What to Expect: Fireside Conversation: Insightful discussion with Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal of Earn Your Leisure about wealth-building strategies, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. 

Community Spotlight: Recognition of Greenburgh natives for their contributions to the community, as  well as financial literacy and education. 

Women’s Month Spotlight: Rev. Margaret D. Fountain-Coleman – 1st Black Woman Elected Village of Tuckahoe Trustee

AJ Woodson
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Women’s Month Spotlight: Rev. Margaret D. Fountain-Coleman – 1st Black Woman Elected Village of Tuckahoe Trustee

While living in Tuckahoe, New York, Rev. Coleman served as an elected Trustee for the Village of Tuckahoe. In 2008, Rev. Coleman is notably the first African American woman to hold that position in the village’s political history. After several years in Tuckahoe, Rev. Coleman relocated to South Boston, Virginia, where she was employed with the Halifax County Public School system. She also served as an elected Councilperson for the Town of South Boston, Virginia.

Rev. Coleman served as a Program Planner/Grant-writer for the Tri-County Community Action Program in South Boston, Virginia. She relocated to Durham, North Carolina, where she was employed with the Durham Public Defender’s Office as Senior Investigator. She also held a position with the Food Bank of North Carolina as Faith-Based Congregation Coordinator in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

She is presently employed with the Yonkers Public Schools as a Special Education teacher. She held office as a member of the Yonkers Women’s Advisory Board, as well as serving currently as the Vice-President of the Westchester Women’s Advisory Board under the leadership of County Executive George Latimer. She has a life membership in the NAACP. She also holds a life membership in the National Council of Negro Women. Rev. Coleman was named the 2018 Woman of Distinction for Yonkers by the city administration for her service in her church and community.   

Rev. Coleman received ordination in April 2002 under the East Cedar Grove Association affiliate of the National Baptist Convention. In May 2005, Rev. Coleman co-founded Made in His Image Ministries, Inc., which continues to thrive to this present day. Reverend Coleman is presently an Associate Minister at the Messiah Baptist Church in Yonkers. She serves as the Christian Education Pastor. She is co- founder of the New Covenant Prayer Ministry. She is the founder of Rev. Margaret’s Moments and Brand Yourself Ministries, LLC, an inspirational ministry that brings dialogue, encouragement, and consultation to women via social media, teaching, and empowerment conferences. She is a published author with Covenant Books, Inc.- “Mind, Body, and Soul: A Moment with God.” In 2021, she released her new Podcast “Rev. Margaret’s Monday Moments!” 

Reverend Coleman resides in Yonkers, New York. She is committed to her call to Christian ministry and the preaching of the Gospel. She is dedicated to the ministry of those who are disenfranchised and marginalized. Her commitment to God and God’s people is led and directed by the Holy Spirit. She is known as a woman of faith and a sojourner for justice.

In March 2022, for Women’s History Month, the Westchester Women’s Advisory Board honored 17 women from across the county who exemplify strength, community service, and leadership. Rev Coleman, as Co-Chair of the Board, said,

“We are excited to look within our own communities and tap the strength of women who are the unsung of our communities. Many women go unrecognized because they work behind the scenes, making our community stronger and better. I salute and honor all of you in your districts for your tireless work and commitment. We salute all the women being honored for your hard work and dedication in making Westchester stronger.”

I end with her words because they sum up Black Westchester’s Women’s History Month coverage. I salute all the women who have shattered the proverbial glass ceiling, for their tireless work and commitment, including Rev. Margaret D. Fountain Coleman, who exemplifies these words.

Excerpt from the book, “Black Westchester Celebrates Black Women Of Westchester,” available on Amazon or email BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com to purchase your autographed copies.

Women’s Month Spotlight: Ruth Hassell-Thompson Made Her-story As First Black Councilwoman In City Of Mount Vernon

AJ Woodson
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Women’s Month Spotlight: Ruth Hassell-Thompson Made Her-story As First Black Councilwoman In City Of Mount Vernon

In 1993, The Honorable Ruth Hassell-Thompson made history when she was elected as the city of Mount Vernon’s first Councilwoman, and again as the first African American Woman Council President and Acting Mayor. In this position, she was Vice chairperson of the Urban Renewal Board; a voting member of the Board of Estimate; Vice chairperson of the Real Estate Board, and Chairperson of the Capital Projects Board. Among her other committee responsibilities was oversight of all Council committees, which included Legislation and Public Works; Human Resources; Finance and Planning; Public Safety and Codes.

Former State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson and AJ Woodson at Black Women Of Westchester book launch at Greenburgh Library, Saturday, March 4, 2023 [Black Westchester]

Elected to the New York State Senate in 2000, Ms. Ruth Hassell-Thompson brings years of public service and community involvement to her post as the Senator of the 36th Senatorial District, which includes Bronx neighborhoods of Norwood, Bedford Park, Williamsbridge, Co-op City, Wakefield, and Baychester, and the City of Mount Vernon in Westchester County.  

Serving for eight terms, Hassell-Thompson was instrumental in the passage of New York’s marriage equality legislation. She also chaired the Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee and was a ranking minority member on the Consumer Protection and Judiciary committees.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Friday, April 22, 2016, that Sen. Hassell-Thompson will serve as a Special Advisor for Policy and Community Affairs of State Homes and Community Renewal. Her 36th Senate District runs through the City of Mount Vernon into the Northeast Bronx.

Gov. Cuomo praised Sen. Hassell-Thompson’s experience and track record in and out of office in a statement announcing her appointment.

“As a nurse, an advocate and a member of the New York State Legislature, Senator Hassell-Thompson has spent her entire career fighting to improve lives and build communities,” Cuomo said in a statement. “I am proud to have her continue this work as a member of my administration and look forward to working with her to build a stronger, fairer, and more prosperous New York for all.”

Since Cuomo resigned, Hassell-Thompson, who remained in her post to help New York’s first female elected Governor, Kathy Hochul, advance her affordable housing plan, has also taken a leading role in racial equity and drug policy. In June 2022, she was named a member of the state Cannabis Advisory Board, which will help regulate the marketplace and decide how the state spends its recreational marijuana tax revenue.


In 1963, Hassell-Thompson began working as a pediatric nurse and substance abuse counselor at Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital in Mount Vernon, New York, where she worked for thirty-six years. Between 1971 and 1980, she worked for the Westchester Community Opportunity Program (WestCOP), serving in a number of positions, including director of an infant daycare center and assistant to the executive director. Then, from 1980 to 1987, Hassell-Thompson served as executive director of the Westchester Minority Contractors Association.

In addition to her political career, Hassell-Thompson served as president and CEO of Whart Development Company, Inc. and The Gathering, a women’s center in Mount Vernon. She also served as a health educator at the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center and as a consultant to Automotive Consultant, Inc. Hassell-Thompson received two honorary degrees from Mercy College and the Eastern Theological Consortium. In 2007, she was appointed by the Akwamu Traditional Council in the Eastern Region of Ghana as their Mpuntuhemaa, or Queenmother for Development. Hassell-Thompson also received the Joseph P. Gavrin Memorial Award.

Excerpt from the book, “Black Westchester Celebrates Black Women Of Westchester,” available on Amazon or email BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com to purchase your autographed copies.

The Dr. Traci Gardner Women’s History Month Interview

AJ Woodson
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The Dr. Traci Gardner Women’s History Month Interview

On International Women’s Day, Sunday, March 8, 2026, Traci Furbert-Gardner, MD, joined Damon K. Jones, AJ Woodson & Larnez Kinsey on the People Before Politics Radio Show to discuss making history as the first woman and African American Chief Medical Officer/Medical Director of Children’s Village‘s 175-year history, what it means to be the first, her journey, her days as a DJ and much more.

Black Westchester celebrates Dr. Traci Furbert-Gardner for making her-story and shattering the glass ceiling, stepping into a demanding role when she became medical director and chief medical officer of The Children’s Village in March of 2019.

Dr. Traci Gardner also appears in the book, “Black Westchester Celebrates Black Women Of Westchester,” available on Amazon or email BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com to purchase your autographed copies.

Join Damon K. Jones, AJ Woodson, and Larnez Kinsey tonight as we bring you not just news, but context, accountability, and community-centered analysis you can’t get anywhere else.

LIVE from 6 PM to 8 PM on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X, powered by Black Westchester Magazine.

As always, you can follow Black Westchester on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn 

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If you want to support Black Westchester Magazine and People Before Politics Radio, you can always donate https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=9DT5P8R82NAHW

Congress Votes to Keep Sexual Misconduct Complaints Secret — Here’s How Your New York Congressmen and Congresswomen Voted for it

DAMON K JONES
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Congress Votes to Keep Sexual Misconduct Complaints Secret — Here’s How Your New York Congressmen and Congresswomen Voted for it

This week, the United States House of Representatives quietly held a vote that most Americans will likely never hear about.

The question before Congress was simple: Should the public have access to records of sexual misconduct investigations involving members of Congress?

The answer from the House was equally clear.

No.

By a vote of 357–65, the House voted to send a resolution back to the Ethics Committee rather than force the public release of sexual misconduct reports involving members of Congress. In Washington procedure, sending a measure back to the committee is often the polite way of killing it.

In other words, Congress voted to keep the information inside the institution rather than in the hands of the public.

The resolution, introduced by Nancy Mace, would have required the House Ethics Committee to preserve and publicly release records related to investigations involving sexual harassment, unwelcome sexual advances, and sexual assault by members of Congress.

Instead, the House chose institutional protection.

The $17 Million Question

The vote is particularly striking given what is already known about the cost of misconduct inside Congress.

According to House records cited by Thomas Massie, members of Congress have spent roughly $17 million in taxpayer money to settle sexual harassment claims over the years.

The exact number of cases remains unclear because many of the settlements were handled through congressional administrative processes that shielded the identities of both the complainants and the lawmakers involved.

For critics, the issue is simple: if taxpayer money was used to settle these cases, taxpayers should know who the accusations involved and how Congress handled them.

That is precisely what the Mace resolution attempted to address.

The Number That Is Getting Attention

Among the members voting to block the release were 78 female members of Congress, a number that has drawn attention online because many lawmakers have built their political messaging around workplace accountability and protecting employees from harassment.

The vote itself was not strictly partisan or gender-based. The majority coalition that kept the records sealed included Democrats and Republicans, men and women alike.

Still, the optics are striking.

At a time when political messaging frequently centers around accountability and protecting employees from harassment, Congress voted overwhelmingly to keep its own disciplinary records confidential.

Washington’s Favorite Move: The Procedural Kill

To understand what happened, it helps to understand how Congress often avoids politically damaging votes.

Members rarely vote directly against transparency. Instead, they rely on procedural maneuvers.

That is exactly what happened here.

By voting to send the resolution back to committee rather than voting directly on releasing the records, lawmakers avoided a simple yes-or-no vote that could later be used in campaign ads.

Technically, members can now say they did not vote against transparency.

But in practical terms, the outcome is identical.

The reports remain sealed.

How New York’s Congressional Delegation Voted

According to the official House roll call vote, members of New York’s congressional delegation were largely aligned with the majority that voted to keep the records from being publicly released.

The motion passed 357–65, sending the transparency resolution back to committee and effectively blocking the release of misconduct investigation records.

New York members who voted “Yea” on the motion to refer — meaning they supported sending the resolution back to committee rather than releasing the records — included:

  • Yvette Clarke
  • Adriano Espaillat
  • Andrew Garbarino
  • Laura Gillen
  • Dan Goldman
  • Hakeem Jeffries
  • Tim Kennedy
  • Nick LaLota
  • George Latimer
  • Mike Lawler
  • Nicole Malliotakis
  • John Mannion
  • Gregory Meeks
  • Grace Meng
  • Joe Morelle
  • Jerrold Nadler
  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
  • Tom Suozzi
  • Claudia Tenney
  • Paul Tonko
  • Ritchie Torres
  • Nydia Velázquez

Only four members of New York’s delegation voted against sending the resolution to committee, meaning they supported allowing the measure to move forward toward releasing the records:

  • Nick Langworthy
  • Josh Riley
  • Pat Ryan
  • Elise Stefanik

Accountability for Everyone — Except Congress?

In nearly every other sector of American life, transparency has become the expectation.

Corporate executives lose their jobs over misconduct.
University leaders face public investigations.
Media organizations report aggressively on allegations involving powerful figures.

But when it comes to the legislative branch, the rules appear to change.

Congress writes the laws that govern the country, yet it often maintains its own internal system for handling ethical violations behind closed doors.

And when an effort is made to open those records to the public, the institution closes ranks.

The Real Question

The debate now is not simply about one vote.

The larger question is whether the public should have access to records involving allegations of misconduct by the very officials responsible for writing the laws that govern everyone else.

Because transparency in government is not just a slogan.

It is a test.

And this week, Congress decided that test would remain sealed.

Our Students Can’t Read at Competitive Levels — Yet We’re Arguing About Everything Else

DAMON K JONES
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Our Students Can’t Read at Competitive Levels — Yet We’re Arguing About Everything Else

America Is Preparing for the AI Economy — But Many of Our Schools Are Not Even Preparing Students for Today

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming the next major industrial expansion in the United States. Massive data centers, power plants, and electrical infrastructure are being planned across the country to support the computing power required for AI.

But while policymakers and technology companies are preparing for the next economic era, many school systems—particularly in Black communities—are struggling to prepare students even for the current one.

A recent comparison of high schools across Westchester County illustrates the problem clearly. The data compares graduation rates, SAT scores, college readiness, class sizes, and economic disadvantage across dozens of school districts. HIGH-SCHOOLS_Public

The numbers reveal two completely different educational realities operating only a few miles apart.

In some districts, students graduate from high schools with SAT scores that place them among the most competitive in the country. Schools such as Scarsdale report SAT averages around 697 in reading and 716 in math. Edgemont reports averages near 700 reading and 720 math, while Bronxville averages approximately 690 reading and 690 math. 

These scores reflect school systems where college readiness is the expectation, not the exception.

But the picture changes dramatically when looking at several urban districts.

Mount Vernon High School reports average SAT scores of 520 in reading and 500 in math, with a college readiness index of just 17.8 percent.

Several Yonkers schools report even lower outcomes. Schools such as Gorton, Lincoln, and Riverside show SAT averages around 465 in reading and 435 in math. 

That represents a gap of more than 200 points compared to some of the county’s top-performing districts.

This is not simply an academic difference. It is a difference in preparation for the future economy.

Students graduating from schools where average SAT scores fall in the mid-400s are entering a labor market that increasingly demands technical literacy, problem-solving skills, and specialized training.

Yet many of these same schools offer limited exposure to the skilled trades that could provide viable economic alternatives.

At the same time, another uncomfortable reality must be addressed.

In many Black communities, public conversations often focus on national political drama, celebrity scandals, and controversies dominating the headlines. Recently, many people have spent days debating the release of the Epstein files and what they might reveal.

But a difficult question must be asked.

How concerned should we be about documents and political scandals when many of our own children are graduating from school without the reading and comprehension skills necessary to fully understand what those files even say?

We are debating national intrigue while a growing number of students in our own communities are leaving school functionally below grade level.

This is not simply a policy failure. It is a priority failure.

For decades, the national conversation around educational disparities has often focused on racism as the primary explanation. But in 2026, that explanation alone does not fully address what the data is showing.

The more immediate problem is that many school systems serving Black communities are operating under an outdated educational model that has failed to adapt to the needs of the students they serve.

The economy has changed dramatically over the past twenty years.

Industries today demand technical skills, mechanical knowledge, electrical expertise, and specialized training in fields that did not exist a generation ago. The expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure will require electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, welders, network technicians, and power plant operators.

Yet many urban school systems continue to focus almost exclusively on pushing students toward four-year college degrees.

The result is predictable.

Students who struggle academically are often left without viable alternatives. Trade programs that once provided pathways into skilled professions have disappeared from many school districts. Career and technical education programs remain limited, underfunded, or disconnected from the industries that are actually growing.

In other words, students are being prepared for a labor market that no longer exists.

Artificial intelligence may dominate the headlines, but the infrastructure required to support it will depend on skilled workers. Data centers require cooling systems, electrical networks, ventilation systems, and constant maintenance.

These are not temporary jobs. They are stable industries that can provide middle-class incomes without requiring a four-year college degree.

But those opportunities will only benefit communities that prepare their students to participate.

If schools in Black communities continue operating under outdated educational assumptions while the economy moves in a different direction, the results will be predictable.

The AI economy will still grow. The infrastructure will still be built. The jobs will still exist.

But once again, the communities that need these opportunities the most risk watching the economic transformation from the sidelines.

How many times will the Black community find itself at the end of the curve when the economy changes?

Throughout American history, every major industrial shift—from manufacturing to technology to the digital economy—has created new opportunities. Yet too often, Black communities arrive after the systems, training pipelines, and ownership structures have already been established.

The result is predictable. By the time many students are prepared to enter the field, the most valuable positions and economic advantages have already been taken.

If our schools are always preparing students for yesterday’s economy, then our communities will always be chasing tomorrow’s opportunities instead of leading them.

Education policy, like any public policy, must ultimately be judged by outcomes.

And the outcomes reflected in these numbers should concern anyone who believes education is the foundation of economic opportunity.

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