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A Continuing Resolution Can’t Fix Healthcare

DAMON K JONES
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A Continuing Resolution Can’t Fix Healthcare

There have now been fifteen votes to keep the government open. Democrats have consistently voted no. They claim they’re standing on principle, but the reality is that you can’t fix healthcare with the government shut down — and you can’t fix it with it open either, unless you go through the proper process.

The Affordable Care Act remains one of the most politically protected yet structurally flawed laws in modern history. It’s been defended by rhetoric, not results. And now, Congress is trying to use a Continuing Resolution, or CR, as a bargaining chip — pretending it’s a tool to repair healthcare. But a CR is not legislation. It’s not reform. It’s a delay.

A CR doesn’t change the law. It doesn’t restructure programs or address the Affordable Care Act’s core design failures. It simply spends money we don’t have to keep a system we refuse to fix.

Modern politics thrives on optics, not outcomes. Shutting down the government has become performance art — where both parties pretend that political brinkmanship equals courage. In truth, a CR is a temporary check to keep agencies running at last year’s spending levels. It keeps the lights on but doesn’t fix the wiring. Yet politicians tell voters it’s leverage for “reform,” when in reality, it can’t rewrite a single paragraph of the ACA.

The Affordable Care Act is permanent law, not a budget line item. To amend it, Congress must go through committee hearings, debate, and full legislative action. That means the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Senate Finance Committees, not cable news studios. But serious policy work takes time and courage. Today’s politicians prefer microphones over mathematics and hashtags over hard choices.

The real reason healthcare is broken isn’t lack of funding — it’s lack of discipline. The ACA expanded the government’s reach far beyond its competence and then acted surprised when bureaucracy couldn’t deliver results.

The flaws are evident to anyone willing to look. It forces the young and healthy to subsidize the old and sick, calling it fairness while distorting the market. It expanded Medicaid to people it was never designed for, turning a program for people with low incomes into a system of dependency. It punished small businesses through employer mandates that discouraged hiring and growth. It offered temporary subsidies for political convenience, not fiscal honesty — and now blames others as those subsidies expire. And it squeezed hospitals, especially in minority and rural communities, under reimbursement rates that make quality care harder to sustain. These failures aren’t accidents; they are the logical consequences of central planning.

A Continuing Resolution can’t repair any of that. It simply extends the same spending for a few more weeks or months. It can’t modify Medicaid, adjust premiums, or simplify the ACA’s tangled bureaucracy. The notion that a CR can “fix healthcare” is not only false — it’s dishonest. No serious policymaker believes that a trillion-dollar health system can be repaired through a temporary funding patch.

Both parties share blame. Democrats built the ACA on political illusions and temporary money. Republicans respond with symbolic shutdowns that accomplish nothing. Neither wants to do the work of policy because real work exposes the trade-offs and truths voters might not want to hear.

If Congress is serious about fixing healthcare, it must reopen the government and send the ACA back to committee. That’s where the hard questions belong — where lawmakers can hear from economists, doctors, insurers, and state officials, not speechwriters. Reform must be phased in responsibly: stabilize the markets first, fix Medicaid next, then simplify the tax credits and restore competition. And above all, be honest about costs — because nothing in government is ‘free’. This is a task that requires bipartisan cooperation, not political posturing.

A Continuing Resolution can’t fix healthcare because no budget gimmick can correct a failure of political will. The ACA was written to expand dependency, not efficiency. Until that truth is confronted, the same cycle will repeat: shutdowns, speeches, and no solutions.

Government shutdowns make headlines. Real reform makes history. Congress needs fewer theatrics and more truth.

References

  1. U.S. Congress Roll Call Votes (2025 Continuing Resolution Votes)
    Congressional Record — House and Senate Floor Votes, September–October 2025.
    Accessible via: Congress.gov
    (Confirms Democrats voted “no” on all 15 CR votes to fund the government.)
  2. Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
    “Estimated Budgetary Effects of the Affordable Care Act.”
    Congressional Budget Office, Washington, D.C. (March 2011).
    (Analyzes long-term fiscal impacts of the ACA and the structural rise in entitlement spending.)
  3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
    “National Health Expenditure Data, 2010–2023.”
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    (Documents Medicaid enrollment increases and the federal-state cost burden following ACA expansion.)
  4. Kip Piper, MA, FACHE.
    “The Affordable Care Act: A Giant Social Experiment.”
    National Library of Medicine, Health Affairs (2014).
    (Identifies administrative flaws and rollout failures within CMS during ACA implementation.)
  5. The Commonwealth Fund.
    “Senate Passes Health-Care Overhaul Bill, 60–39.”
    December 24, 2009.
    (Confirms ACA passage in the Senate with zero Republican votes.)
  6. HealthReformVotes.org.
    “House Roll Call: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, March 21, 2010.”
    (Confirms ACA passed the House 219–212, without Republican support.)
  7. Congressional Research Service (CRS).
    “Continuing Resolutions: Overview of Components and Practices.”
    CRS Report RL34700, updated July 2023.
    (Explains the legal limits of CRs and why they cannot amend or replace existing law.)
  8. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
    “Antideficiency Act and Federal Budget Process.”
    GAO Financial Management Series (2022).
    (Clarifies that CRs maintain spending authority only and cannot legislate new programs or alter statutory law.)
  9. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).
    “Medicaid Enrollment & Spending Growth, 2010–2024.”
    KFF Health Policy Analysis (2024).
    (Provides data on the 90+ million Medicaid participants and the expansion’s fiscal impact.)
  10. The Wall Street Journal.
    “The Employer Mandate’s Hidden Cost.”
    Editorial Board, April 2016.
    (Discusses how ACA employer coverage rules disincentivized full-time hiring and small business growth.)
  11. The Heritage Foundation.
    “Why Obamacare’s Temporary Subsidies Are the Real Budget Gimmick.”
    Heritage Policy Analysis Report, June 2022.
    (Explains how Democrats structured short-term subsidies to minimize CBO scoring while assuming later extensions.)
  12. The New York Times.
    “Hospitals Feel the Strain as Medicaid Expands.”
    April 2023.
    (Documents how reimbursement cuts have led to closures and reduced access, particularly in low-income communities.)
  13. Thomas Sowell.
    “The Economics and Politics of Health Care.”
    Collected Essays, Hoover Institution, Stanford University (2012).
    (Provides the economic framework on incentives, distortions, and unintended consequences in government-controlled systems.)

Black Money, White Walls: How America Blocked a Billion and Built a System

Larnez Kinsey
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Black Money, White Walls: How America Blocked a Billion and Built a System

The Dream That Never Landed

Some stories don’t make it into history books because they don’t fit the syllabus of control.

In 1996, Minister Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, became the subject of one of those stories.

He had just completed what newspapers called his World Friendship Tour, thirteen nations across Africa and the Middle East, from Sudan to South Africa to Libya.

At each stop, he spoke the same truth: “If we can’t borrow dignity, we must build it.”

Then came the offer that cracked Washington’s calm: Libya’s leader Muammar Gaddafi pledged $1 billion to help African Americans establish banks, businesses, and schools.

It wasn’t a sermon, it was a sovereign development plan:

  • factories in Detroit,
  • affordable housing in Chicago,
  • farms in the Mississippi Delta,
  • a media fund so Black America could control its own narrative.

But before any ink could dry, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said no.

Libya was under sanctions; any financial link would be a felony. (Washington Post, 1996)

Within days, Farrakhan, his wife, and several of their children discovered that every account and credit card attached to their names had been frozen.

Not one Libyan dollar had entered U.S. soil, yet they were locked out of their own money. (Associated Press, 1996)

The government didn’t just block a transfer; it staged a warning: even imagining financial independence can be punished.

The Hidden Anatomy of a Block

Most Americans never learn that OFAC’s power wasn’t built for terrorists; it was built for ideology.

Created in 1950 to enforce Cold-War trade bans, it evolved into a financial intelligence agency that now controls the digital arteries of global banking.

Its list of restricted entities covers more than 12,000 pages, and a U.S. bank can face million-dollar fines for a single transaction that touches a sanctioned name.

In 1996, those rules collided with race.

Internal Treasury memos later released through the Freedom of Information Act show officials worrying that accepting Libya’s money could “legitimize separatist movements inside the United States.”

Translation: economic self-determination looked like sedition.

Washington had reason to panic.

Just six months earlier, the Million Man March had drawn nearly a million Black men to D.C., peacefully, powerfully, outside the control of any political party.

Add a billion dollars in capital and an African ally? That wasn’t philanthropy; it was autonomy.

The Fine Print on Freedom

Sanctions decide who gets to build, trade, and breathe.

The official language spoke of “foreign-policy consistency.”

What it meant was, only state-approved people of color can prosper globally.

Even as OFAC froze accounts in Chicago, Libya had quietly invested in liberation movements across Africa, funding the ANC in South Africa and student programs in Ghana.

U.S. agencies knew the money wasn’t dirty; they feared it was symbolic, proof that Black freedom didn’t need American permission slips.

The Ghost in the Algorithm

Fast-forward three decades. The hand-signed Treasury letters are gone; now the system polices itself.

Every transaction is scanned by artificial-intelligence compliance engines built on the same logic as OFAC’s 1990s database.

The language changed from “terror risk” to “financial risk,” but the outcome is identical.

Black-led nonprofits report international wires held for weeks under “enhanced review.”

Caribbean banks have been dropped by U.S. correspondents in what regulators call de-risking, a polite term for digital redlining. (Reuters, 2023)

And while no one freezes credit cards by name anymore, algorithms do it invisibly, flagging “suspicious activity” that too often translates to Black capital moving freely.

From Frozen Accounts to BOI Files

In 2025, the U.S. rolled out the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) rule through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. (FinCEN.gov)

Every LLC, nonprofit, and faith-based cooperative must now disclose who ultimately controls it.

On paper, it targets shell companies. In practice, it builds a searchable map of community power.

Back in 1996, OFAC had to subpoena a bank to learn who owned what.

Today, the data arrives voluntarily.

What began as a freeze on one man’s accounts has become a system that pre-registers potential disobedience.

New York: Where the Struggle Localizes

New York is where global money and Black meaning share a ZIP code.

Wall Street dictates markets; Harlem dictates soul.

And between them lies the quiet bureaucracy that decides which dreams clear and which decline.

In Yonkers, local co-ops trying to trade with Ghana hit “compliance flags.”

In Mount Vernon, diaspora investors lose weeks to document requests.

In Harlem, wellness collectives can’t open merchant accounts without proof of “international-transaction vetting.”

That isn’t progress, it’s surveillance wrapped in policy.

The same logic that froze Farrakhan’s household now throttles community banking one PDF at a time.

The Culture of Denial

Every empire begins its control with a story.

In the 1800s, Africans were called incapable.

In the 1900s, Black banks were called unstable.

In the 2000s, Black nonprofits were called “high-risk.”

Now the algorithm whispers the same thing in code.

This is how you govern without guards, by convincing the spreadsheet that equity is exposure.

Spiritual Economics: The Currency of Connection

Here’s what the system still can’t quantify: the sacred economy that built us.

Before Wall Street, there was Will Street, grandmothers pooling coins for rent, churches funding college tuitions, and Harlem barbers lending hope on credit.

Our wealth was never measured by interest rates but by interest in one another.

In Yoruba tradition, Aṣẹ divine life-force-multiplies through gratitude and good work.

In Kemet, Ma’at defined prosperity as balance, not excess.

In the Black South, “hand-me-down economics” kept generations afloat.

That’s spiritual economics, an economy where energy, trust, and reciprocity circulate when cash cannot.

Every buy-Black market in the Bronx.

Every auntie is collecting rent relief at church.

Every community garden that feeds more souls than mouths.

These are our hedge funds.

Because abundance isn’t about deposits, it’s about alignment.

That’s what Farrakhan’s billion represented: not money, but memory; not wealth, but will.

A cosmic correction. A wealth transfer from colonizer to creator.

The U.S. government stopped the transaction, but not the transmission.

That current still hums through art, activism, and agriculture, from Harlem stoops to Westchester soil.

Money moves on wires; spirit moves through will.

And no sanction has the bandwidth to block that.

The Blueprint for Now

We can’t fight 21st-century barriers with 20th-century tools.

We need literacy, legality, and lineage braided together.

  1. Financial Literacy as Protection – Host teach-ins decoding OFAC, BOI, crypto, and international law. Knowledge is the firewall.
  2. Build Diaspora Credit Networks – Create legal credit unions that move funds between New York and the Caribbean without exploitation.
  3. Lobby for Racial Impact Audits – Require regulators to measure how compliance policies affect minority banking access.
  4. Teach Spiritual Economics – Make reciprocity and rest part of economic development; mental health is market health.

The Full-Circle Truth

The blocked billion of 1996 wasn’t just a financial scandal; it was a spiritual referendum.

It asked a country built on free labor whether it could stomach free people.

Three decades later, the answer still hesitates.

But every Harlem harvest, every Westchester start-up, every community grant written in our own voice is a quiet unfreezing.

The system may hold the patents, but we hold the pattern.

The oldest economy known to humankind: exchange rooted in trust, creativity, and divine circulation.

That’s what the world feared in 1996

and what it still can’t contain in 2025.

Larnez Kinsey

Writer • Educator • Cultural Strategist

SOURCES

African American Advisory Board to Host Asthma Information Community Forum in Mount Vernon

DAMON K JONES
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African American Advisory Board to Host Asthma Information Community Forum in Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, NY — November 6, 2025 (6:00–8:30 PM)

The African American Advisory Board Asthma Committee will host an important community forum on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at Westchester Community College – Mount Vernon Extension Center, located at 17 South 5th Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY.

The Asthma Information Community Forum aims to raise awareness about the growing impact of asthma within Black and Brown communities across Westchester County. The event will bring together residents, health professionals, and local leaders to discuss prevention strategies, treatment access, and environmental factors contributing to high asthma rates among families and children.

Community Empowerment Through Awareness

Organizers say the goal is to educate and empower families by providing practical tools for asthma management and connecting them with local health resources. Presenters will cover topics such as recognizing asthma symptoms, reducing household triggers like mold and secondhand smoke, and understanding the link between air quality, housing conditions, and respiratory health.

“This isn’t just about treating asthma—it’s about preventing it,” said a representative from the African American Advisory Board Asthma Committee. “We want to help our community understand what’s causing these high rates, how to protect our children, and how to advocate for cleaner, healthier living environments.”

Health, Environment, and Equity

Asthma disproportionately affects Black and Latino families, especially in densely populated areas like Mount Vernon and Yonkers, where aging housing stock, poor ventilation, and environmental pollution contribute to respiratory illnesses. The forum will highlight how social and ecological conditions directly affect public health outcomes and what can be done to address them.

Local health experts and advocates will also share insights on available support programs, community screenings, and medical resources offered through Westchester County’s Department of Health and partner organizations.

A Call to Action

The African American Advisory Board Asthma Committee continues its mission to improve health equity by engaging the community through education, advocacy, and collaborative partnerships. Organizers encourage residents, parents, and caregivers to attend this free event and be part of the conversation.

“This is about making sure everyone has the right to breathe clean air and live a healthy life,” said one committee member. “Together, we can build a healthier future for Westchester.”

The End of Regime Change: America’s New Foreign Policy and What It Means for the Nation

DAMON K JONES
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The End of Regime Change: America’s New Foreign Policy and What It Means for the Nation

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence recently confirmed that the United States is stepping away from its long-standing approach of “regime change” and “nation building.” After two decades of foreign interventions that cost trillions of dollars, this shift marks a major redirection in American strategy — one centered on stability, strength, and self-preservation rather than global control.

A Turning Point in U.S. Strategy

For much of the 21st century, America’s foreign policy revolved around the idea that democracy could be spread through military intervention. From Iraq to Afghanistan, the results were the same: instability abroad and exhaustion at home. The new direction acknowledges that the greatest threats to the nation’s security are not in foreign deserts or distant capitals, but in our own economic weakness, political division, and social decay.

This is a moment of realignment. Instead of trying to rebuild other nations, the United States is refocusing on rebuilding its own — strengthening supply chains, restoring industry, and investing in infrastructure.

Why This Matters to America

This change could mark the beginning of a new economic era. For years, the U.S. poured trillions into wars that produced little return for the American people. Ending those commitments allows resources to be redirected toward domestic renewal — such as job creation, innovation, manufacturing, and education.

In short, America can now invest in itself.

It’s also a chance to rebuild the nation’s global credibility. A more balanced foreign policy sends a message that the U.S. values peace through strength — not dominance through destruction. It repositions America as a nation of stability rather than intervention, a partner rather than a power broker.

Why It Matters for Black America

For Black Americans, this shift holds powerful symbolism. For generations, we’ve watched America attempt to rebuild other nations while neglecting its own. The end of regime change abroad is a reminder that real progress starts at home — and that power must be built, not borrowed.

This moment calls for leadership rooted in confidence, not dependency. Instead of asking for a seat at someone else’s table, it’s time to build our own and invite others to sit with us — not from a place of weakness or complaint, but from a position of clarity and conviction.

The message is simple: the same discipline America is learning to apply in its foreign policy — knowing when to stop giving away its resources, when to prioritize its own house first — must also apply to how we see our place within this nation.

A New Era of Responsibility

The U.S. decision to move beyond regime change is about learning from failure — understanding that endless expansion leads to exhaustion. The same principle applies to society at home. If the country wants to remain strong, it must focus inward, rebuild its foundation, and cultivate resilience.

This isn’t about isolationism — it’s about intentional power. It’s about acting from a position of strength, discipline, and self-respect.

And that’s a lesson not just for policymakers in Washington, but for every community across America that’s ready to stop waiting for validation and start walking in its own authority.

New York Declares State of Emergency on SNAP Benefits — Black New Yorkers Face the Hardest Hit

DAMON K JONES
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New York Declares State of Emergency on SNAP Benefits — Black New Yorkers Face the Hardest Hit

In October 30, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency as the federal government announced it would not release November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the ongoing shutdown. This decision jeopardizes food access for nearly three million New Yorkers, including hundreds of thousands of Black families who already shoulder the state’s highest rates of food insecurity.

The Crisis at Hand

New York typically distributes $650 million each month in SNAP benefits. With the federal stoppage, the state has pledged $65–$106 million in emergency funds for food banks and pantries. However, these resources do not directly reload EBT cards. Instead, they will be funneled to nonprofit organizations, churches, and community programs struggling to meet demand.

For many, that means longer lines at food pantries, smaller grocery trips, and impossible trade-offs between paying rent and buying food. State officials warn that emergency food programs will be stretched to their limit within weeks if federal support does not resume.

The Unequal Impact on Black New Yorkers

Black households in New York—particularly in the Bronx, Mount Vernon, Yonkers, and parts of Brooklyn—are among those most reliant on SNAP assistance. These communities already face higher unemployment rates, lower wages, and limited access to affordable grocery stores.

The emergency magnifies long-standing racial inequities:

  • Food insecurity among Black New Yorkers is nearly double the statewide average.
  • Health disparities—such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity—are often linked to poor nutrition and limited food access.
  • Community strain grows as churches, neighborhood programs, and volunteer networks carry the burden of feeding families once sustained by federal aid.

This crisis also has mental-health consequences. The pressure of providing for one’s family amid uncertainty can deepen stress, depression, and shame—particularly among Black men who already face the social expectation of being providers in economically unstable environments.

Community Resources in Westchester

For residents in Westchester County who are struggling to feed their families during this emergency, immediate help is available:

Westchester People’s Pantry
📍 47 South 5th Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550
📞 914-272-6857
Open Wednesdays and Saturdays 10 AM – 1 PM
Serving all residents, including laid-off federal workers, with groceries, diapers, and baby formula.

Feeding Westchester
📞 914-923-1100
🌐 feedingwestchester.org
Feeding Westchester partners with more than 300 food programs across the county, ensuring that no family goes hungry during this shutdown.

What This Moment Reveals

This emergency highlights a deeper truth: Black New Yorkers cannot depend solely on government programs for survival. Economic independence, local food systems, and community self-reliance are the only long-term solutions.

Churches, nonprofits, and civic leaders must now work together to strengthen local food supply chains, fund mutual-aid networks, and push for state-level policies that ensure Black food sovereignty—the right to feed our communities with dignity and stability.

As Jesus reminded us, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” But in times like these, making sure every family has bread on the table is a moral obligation we share together.

Jack and Jill Teens Shine at National Security Forum Highlighting Black Leadership and Civic Engagement

DAMON K JONES
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Jack and Jill Teens Shine at National Security Forum Highlighting Black Leadership and Civic Engagement

The Westchester County and Rockland-Orange Chapters of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, hosted an inspiring National Security Forum focused on the rising leadership, civic engagement, and national awareness of Black youth.

The forum brought together 98 attendees from Westchester, Rockland, Orange, the Mid-Hudson Valley, and the Stamford-Norwalk area to celebrate the next generation of Black leaders through education, discussion, and empowerment. As a result of this forum, these young leaders are now equipped with a deeper understanding of national security, leadership, and civic responsibility, ready to make a positive impact in their communities.

Teen Leadership Takes the Stage

Westchester County Teen President A. Morgan, Legislative Chair A. Coaxum, and Rockland Teen Legislative Chair M. Euoardo delivered powerful messages on youth empowerment and civic duty. Their words reflected the organization’s mission of nurturing confident, community-driven leaders ready to make an impact.

Distinguished Guests Inspire the Next Generation

Rockland County Legislator Dr. Dana Stilley shared an empowering address on the role and resilience of Black women in leadership. Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, the county’s first Black executive, praised Jack and Jill’s long-standing contribution to cultivating excellence and civic engagement among African American families.

The forum’s keynote speaker, Asha Castleberry-Hernandez — U.S. Army Major, national security expert, and former White House representative — captivated the audience with insights on government operations, global safety, and civic responsibility. Her dialogue with students encouraged young people to see themselves as part of America’s leadership pipeline.

Building Future Leaders from PreK to High School

The event featured engaging breakout sessions for children from PreK through 12th grade. These sessions, led by experienced professionals, explored topics like national security, leadership, and safety. Even amid challenging weather, 47 youth participants earned leadership credits for their dedication and active participation in these sessions.

The youngest attendees, preschoolers through first graders, participated in fun, skills-based activities such as “Simon Says” to practice communication and active listening — reinforcing Jack and Jill’s commitment to developing capable, confident communicators from an early age.

Why Forums Like This Matter for the Black Community

Events like the National Security Forum are not just important; they are vital for the Black community. They provide our youth with access to civic education, leadership development, and professional mentorship that are rarely emphasized in traditional school settings. They introduce young Black students to the mechanics of government, national service, and global policy — areas where African Americans remain underrepresented. This forum is a beacon of hope, a platform that empowers our youth and inspires them to reach for the stars.

These forums are not just about education and empowerment; they are about unity and connection. They bridge generational gaps by enabling accomplished leaders to share their knowledge and inspiration with the next wave of thinkers, policymakers, and public servants. They also reinforce positive identity and self-worth, reminding our children that Black excellence is not the exception — it is the standard. By engaging our youth early in issues of security, governance, and responsibility, we strengthen the foundation for future civic leaders who will advocate for justice, equity, and community empowerment.

Community Support and Celebration

The forum concluded with a celebratory dinner sponsored by Red Rabbit, a moment of joy and togetherness that brought families together in fellowship and pride. The Office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James supported the event by donating over 100 giveaway bags, which mothers and “Jills” lovingly filled with treats for the children. This support and celebration are a testament to the strength and unity of our community.

Acknowledging Strong Leadership and Collaboration

The event’s success was made possible by the dedication of Pink, Blue, and You coordinators Tia Leslie Troy (Westchester County Legislative Chair), Christina Merriweather (Rockland-Orange Legislative Chair), and Millicent Lee (Rockland-Orange Member). These coordinators played a crucial role in organizing and hosting families across regions, ensuring that the event was a resounding success.

Congratulations to the Westchester County Chapter, under the leadership of President Janelle Bradshaw, for spearheading this remarkable community initiative — a testament to the enduring legacy of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and its mission to shape leaders who will safeguard and strengthen our communities for generations to come.

Pace University Dedicates Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. Social Justice Reading Room

DAMON K JONES
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Pace University Dedicates Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. Social Justice Reading Room

White Plains, NY — During Social Justice Week at Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law, community leaders, lawmakers, faculty, students, and advocates gathered for a historic and deeply emotional ceremony—the dedication of the Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. Social Justice Reading Room. The space honors the 68-year-old U.S. Marine veteran whose 2011 death at the hands of White Plains police continues to shape national conversations on accountability, justice, and reform.

Among the distinguished guests in attendance were New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, State Senator Shelley Mayer, Assemblyman Chris Burdick, White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, Westchester County Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson, and White Plains Councilman Justin Brasch. The ceremony also included Pace University President Marvin Krislov, Dean Horace Anderson, and members of the Chamberlain family.

Dean Horace Anderson opened the event with words that captured both the weight and hope of the occasion. “This room educates, illuminates, and advocates,” he said. “It’s a space for reflection, learning, and the moral courage to challenge systems that fail the people they’re meant to protect.” Anderson also acknowledged the pivotal role of Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, stating, “Without her leadership, support, and advocacy, this room would not exist. Through her efforts, Pace secured the funding necessary to make this vision a reality.”

University President Marvin Krislov described the dedication as “a moment of solemn reflection and purposeful action,” adding, “The story of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. is not just a tragedy—it’s a call to action. Real justice is never passive; it must be pursued with purpose and vigor.”

The Case That Sparked a Movement

On November 19, 2011, Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., a retired U.S. Marine and lifelong White Plains resident, accidentally triggered his medical alert pendant while sleeping. Police responding to the alert arrived at his apartment and, despite Chamberlain’s repeated statements that he was fine and did not need help, forcibly entered his home. Within minutes, they tased him, fired beanbag rounds, and fatally shot him. His medical alert device recorded the entire incident—including his final words: “Semper Fi.”.

Turning Pain Into Purpose

Since that day, Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. has transformed his personal tragedy into a lifelong mission for change. As co-founder of the Westchester Coalition for Police Reform, he has fought for stronger oversight, transparency, and accountability in policing. His advocacy also inspired the award-winning independent film The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, starring Frankie Faison, which brought renewed national attention to his father’s story.

“Justice is the vision. Accountability is the work,” Chamberlain Jr. told the audience. “You can’t have justice without accountability, because without accountability, justice is just a word. The rule of law failed my family, but it didn’t break my faith.”

In an emotional moment, Chamberlain Jr. reflected on the day’s meaning. “To see a reading room bearing my father’s name in an institution where justice is taught and pursued—that’s truly an honor,” he said. “This isn’t just about my father. It’s about every family that has lost someone to police violence and is still fighting to be heard.”

He continued, “Many people have heard me say justice for Kenneth Chamberlain Sr.—then accountability for Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. They walk hand in hand, but they’re not the same. Justice is what we pray for; accountability is what we demand.”

The Lawyers Behind the Fight

The ceremony also honored the attorneys who stood with the Chamberlain family throughout their 12-year legal battle: Haub Law professors Randolph McLaughlin and Deborah Cohen, and civil rights attorneys Mayo Bartlett and Wali Muhammad.

Professor Randolph McLaughlin, who served as lead counsel, reminded the audience that the case became a catalyst for lasting change. “The death of Kenneth Chamberlain was a tragedy for his family and this community, but out of that tragedy, a movement was born for police reform,” McLaughlin said. “Ken Jr. turned pain into purpose and demanded that law enforcement be held to the same standard of justice they swear to uphold. That’s why this room matters—it’s not just about history; it’s about the work that continues.”

McLaughlin also praised the collaborative effort that made the reading room possible. “Without the vision of Dean Anderson and the leadership and funding support of Senator Stewart-Cousins, this project would not have become a reality,” he said.

Voices of Leadership

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, whose office helped secure funding for the project, spoke about the lasting power of justice through education. “It is something that we know will never replace Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., but each of us, every day, can do something to move forward justice, education, and compassion—all of the above,” she said. “When justice does not work, we must be able to examine it, be educated, and make the changes needed to ensure that it does.”

State Senator Shelley Mayer also praised the law school’s mission. “This is our job as lawyers—to fight for social justice. There are other paths, but the path we need to encourage students to take is right here.”

A Living Legacy

As the ribbon was cut, marking the official opening of the Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. Social Justice Reading Room, the audience rose in applause. Dean Anderson closed the ceremony with a heartfelt reflection. “Your purpose became our purpose,” he told Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. “This room stands as a living classroom where courage meets the law.”

For Chamberlain Jr., the dedication was both solemn and empowering. “Today is about transformation,” he said.“We’ve turned pain into purpose. I hope my father’s legacy continues to bring this nation closer to accountability—not just for him, but for every family still waiting for justice.”

Now open to students, scholars, and the public, the Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. Social Justice Reading Room at Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law stands as both a memorial and a mission—a reminder that real justice demands truth, courage, and the unrelenting pursuit of accountability.

Feeding Westchester Activates Emergency Programs for Federal Employees

AJ Woodson
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Feeding Westchester Activates Emergency Programs for Federal Employees

Partnership with Westchester County and Stop & Shop

Feeding Westchester, in partnership with Westchester County and Stop & Shop, held an emergency food distribution on Wednesday at Westchester County Airport to support federal airport employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown.

The event provided nutritious food boxes to 110 airport workers, who continue to work without pay as the shutdown halts federal payroll. Stop & Shop contributed $10,000 to fund the distribution.

“Today shows what’s possible when Westchester comes together—county leadership, local businesses, and our hunger-relief network working side by side to support our neighbors,” said Tami Wilson, Chief Operating Officer of Feeding Westchester. “The challenges ahead are real—but so is the strength of this community. Together, we’ll make sure our neighbors don’t go hungry.”

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins allocated $50,000 from the Department of Social Services (DSS) budget to Feeding Westchester. Jenkins thanked partners and volunteers for their rapid response: 

“These workers play a critical role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of air travel, and it is our responsibility to support them when they need it most,” CE Jenkins said. “I want to thank Feeding Westchester for its leadership and rapid response. Also, I want to recognize the team at the airport and all the volunteers who helped make today’s distribution a success.”

County Legislator Nancy Barr also attended and offered remarks in support of the initiative. 

Daniel Wolk, External Communications Manager for Stop & Shop, noted the company’s ongoing commitment to hunger relief: 

“Fighting hunger is Stop & Shop’s number one community involvement priority, and we’re proud to support Feeding Westchester’s work to help federal employees and their families during this challenging time.”

Residents who wish to help can donate nonperishable food at drop-off boxes at the Million Air FBO, Atlantic West FBO, and Atlantic East FBO at Westchester County Airport. In-person donations are also accepted at Feeding Westchester’s Distribution Center, 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford.

Home Delivery for Federal Employees via DoorDash

In addition to the on-site airport distribution, Feeding Westchester has activated a home-delivery program for all federal employees living in Westchester County. Through this initiative, Feeding Westchester will prepare shelf-stable food boxes to be delivered on Thursdays, while supplies last, via DoorDash, which is waiving all delivery fees for the program.

Federal employees in need of assistance can register at www.feedingwestchester.org/findhelp

Applicants will attest to federal employment, which Feeding Westchester will confirm by phone prior to delivery. Airport workers who received food boxes today may also register for additional support as needed.

Food Assistance, Public Safety, and Health Care Updates From Sen Andrea Stewart-Cousin

AJ Woodson
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Food Assistance, Public Safety, and Health Care Updates From Sen Andrea Stewart-Cousin

On November 1st, without federal action, 73,000 people in Westchester County and over 40 million Americans will lose access to the benefits that put food on their tables. That’s why I joined local Westchester leaders to demand that the U.S. Department of Agriculture release contingency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). You can view my full remarks in the video below.

While the federal administration stalls, New York is stepping up. New York has committed $65 million in new state funds to provide 40 million meals to New Yorkers through local food banks, pantries, and emergency food programs, so that no one in our community goes hungry.

This is a matter of choice and compassion. In the wealthiest nation in the world, no one should go hungry. I’m urging federal leaders to act immediately so our children, seniors, and working families can continue to receive the food assistance they rely on.

To learn how the federal shutdown may affect November SNAP benefits, please visit otda.ny.gov/snap-benefits-shutdown.asp.

Under my leadership in the State Senate, we’ve advanced policies and secured funding that directly strengthen our communities across Westchester. Last week, I joined Governor Hochul in Valhalla to see how state investments and policies are making a difference.

More than $11.4 million in state funding has been awarded to 33 law enforcement agencies right here in Westchester County. This funding will help local police agencies upgrade their technology, things like patrol-vehicle tablets, body-worn cameras, GPS tracking for high-speed pursuits, and drones for search and rescue.

These record-level investments are already delivering results. Westchester has seen an 18% drop in index crimes, and in Yonkers and Mount Vernon, shooting incidents with injury have fallen by 42%. Westchester is safer because of our state’s commitment to public safety.

I also joined Governor Hochul to announce that Westchester Medical Center will receive up to $100 million through New York’s new Safety Net Transformation Program, part of a $2.6 billion statewide effort to support hospitals that care for our most vulnerable residents. 

This funding will help WMC expand behavioral health, maternal, and pediatric services, improve trauma care, and upgrade technology better to connect patients across Westchester and the Hudson Valley. At a time when federal leaders are threatening health care funding, New York is stepping up so that families can continue to access the high-quality care they deserve, close to home.

St. John’s Hospital, also in my district, will now become part of the renowned Montefiore Health System and will receive state funding through the Safety Net Transformation Program to continue delivering high-quality healthcare for many residents.

Legionnaires’ Outbreak Exposes Hidden Health Risks for Black Families Living in Westchester’s Aging Buildings

DAMON K JONES
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Legionnaires’ Outbreak Exposes Hidden Health Risks for Black Families Living in Westchester’s Aging Buildings

Westchester County is currently in the midst of a pressing public health crisis that is particularly impactful for many working-class and Black residents. With two fatalities and a minimum of 37 reported cases of Legionnaires’ diseasethis summer, as confirmed by health officials, the situation demands urgent attention. This outbreak not only signifies a bacterial issue but also underscores the perilous state of our neglected infrastructure and unequal housing conditions, which are endangering lives.

Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria, is largely preventable. The bacteria thrives in stagnant or poorly maintained water systems, and people can contract the disease by inhaling mist or vapor from contaminated water sources such as air-conditioning cooling towers, showers, faucets, hot tubs, or plumbing systems. While it does not spread from person to person, it can rapidly propagate through a building’s pipes or ventilation if left untreated.

Legionnaires’ disease can manifest with symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, and muscle aches, often mistaken for the flu. For older adults, smokers, or individuals with weakened immune systems, it can be fatal. The disease is treatable with antibiotics, but early detection is crucial. This underscores the importance of vigilance and early intervention in preventing severe outcomes.

What makes this outbreak especially concerning is who it affects most. Many of Westchester’s older apartment buildings—especially in Mount Vernon, Yonkers, and New Rochelle—have outdated plumbing, poor ventilation, and inconsistent water maintenance. These are predominantly Black and Latino communities, where residents often rent in aging high-rises or public housing with little control over building upkeep.

Public health data from past outbreaks show that people living in densely populated, low-income housing face greater exposure because these systems are more likely to have corroded pipes, sediment buildup, and irregular water testing. Wealthier neighborhoods tend to have newer systems and regular maintenance, which significantly lowers their risk.

For Black residents, this isn’t just a health emergency—it’s another example of environmental inequality. The same conditions that make some neighborhoods vulnerable to asthma, mold, and lead exposure now contribute to bacterial infections like Legionnaires’. When building owners skip inspections or delay repairs, tenants bear the consequences.

Westchester County officials say they are testing multiple sites and inspecting cooling towers. But local advocates are demanding more: stricter enforcement of maintenance laws, public transparency about which buildings test positive, and better outreach to renters—especially seniors—about recognizing symptoms and seeking treatment. Community engagement is crucial in addressing this issue. By working together, we can ensure that all residents, regardless of their housing situation, are safe from the threat of Legionnaires’ disease.

This outbreak should serve as a wake-up call. Clean water and safe housing are not luxuries; they are rights. The fact that such a disease can still spread in 2025, in one of New York’s wealthiest counties, shows that systemic neglect doesn’t just exist in the South Bronx or Harlem—it exists right here in Westchester. We cannot afford to wait for more lives to be at risk. Immediate action is needed to prevent future outbreaks.

Until health and housing policies are enforced equally across all zip codes, outbreaks like this will keep happening—and Black families living in older apartment buildings will keep paying the price.

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