Home Blog Page 56

After Sexual Assault Lawsuit Settlement, ESPN Severs Its Relationship With Shannon Sharpe.

AJ Woodson
-
0
After Sexual Assault Lawsuit Settlement, ESPN Severs Its Relationship With Shannon Sharpe.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame member took time off from work earlier this year to battle the lawsuit, but vowed to be back on air.

While Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and media analyst Shannon Sharpe had previously vowed to return when he stepped away after a lawsuit was filed in April, it appears the Shannon Sharpe era is over at ESPN. According to The Athletic and the Associated Press, ESPN has formally dissolved its relationship with the former NFL player.

Less than two weeks have passed since Sharpe and his ex-girlfriend reached a $50 million settlement in their rape and sexual assault case. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The lawsuit originally sought compensatory and punitive damages of more than $50 million.

At the time of the settlement, the accuser’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, said, “Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship. After protracted and respectful negotiations, I’m pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed-upon resolution. All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice.”

Sharpe had initially strongly denied the allegations and stepped away from his role at ESPN, where he was featured on First Take.

“To my family, friends, supporters, and colleagues, I want to speak to you directly and from the heart,” Sharpe said in a video released on X in April. “This is a shakedown. I’m going to be open, transparent, and defend myself, because this isn’t right.”

Later that same week, Sharpe posted a statement on social media describing his relationship with the plaintiff as “100% consensual.”

“I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me,” he said in that April 24 statement, which additionally included him noting that he planned to return to ESPN at the start of NFL preseason.

In the suit filed in a Las Vegas district court, “Jane Doe” accused former NFL All-Pro of “manipulating and controlling” the plaintiff during a nearly two-year period that started in 2023 as a consensual relationship when the woman was 20 years old.

The civil complaint alleged Sharpe, 56, “violently sexually assaulted and anally raped Plaintiff,” in October 2024 and again in January of this year in Las Vegas, “blatantly ignoring her requests for him to stop.”

The suit stated: “After many months of manipulating and controlling Plaintiff — a woman more than thirty years younger than he — and repeatedly threatening to brutally choke and violently slap her, Sharpe refused to accept the answer no and raped Plaintiff, despite her sobbing and repeated screams of ‘no.’”

Sharpe, 57, initially joined “First Take” in the fall of 2023 after leaving FS1’s “Undisputed” with Skip Bayless earlier in the year. ESPN had signed a multi-year contract extension in 2024. The Pro Football Hall of Famer was going to see his role on First Take expand & extend to additional ESPN programming.

After winning three Super Bowls — two with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens — and earning eight Pro Bowl nods, Sharpe enjoyed stardom in the media industry as well. Following an eventual run on FS1’s “Undisputed,” during which he debated Skip Bayless, Sharpe made the move to ESPN, where he sparred verbally with Stephen A. Smith on “First Take.”

While Sharpe has been off the ESPN airwaves since April, Sharpe continues to host his popular podcasts, “Club Shay Shay,” and he’s remained active on the podcast “Nightcap,” co-hosted and former NFL wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.

The Athletic confirmed a report Wednesday from Front Office Sports that was published before the lawsuit went public and that stated Sharpe was approaching a podcast deal in the $100 million range.

The Athletic reported that criminal charges were not brought against Sharpe, stating that his accuser cannot resubmit the same allegation against him in the same Las Vegas court because the lawsuit was “dismissed with prejudice.”



How Black Podcasters Hijacked ‘Black Fatigue’ to Perform for White Comfort

DAMON K JONES
-
0
How Black Podcasters Hijacked ‘Black Fatigue’ to Perform for White Comfort

There’s a growing trend in digital media that deserves honest scrutiny—not outrage, but clarity. A number of prominent Black podcasters and YouTubers have built platforms that claim to promote accountability and real talk. But increasingly, they amplify what’s wrong with Black culture while refusing to acknowledge the systemic forces that created those conditions in the first place.

Instead of taking a holistic view—one that includes both personal responsibility and structural accountability—these voices often focus solely on individual behavior. Crime, poverty, family breakdown—these are real challenges, but when you discuss them in isolation, without context, you reinforce harmful stereotypes rather than address root causes.

Nowhere is this distortion more evident than in the misuse of the term Black fatigue.

Originally coined by author and diversity expert Mary-Frances Winters, Black fatigue describes the cumulative emotional, psychological, and physical toll that systemic racism inflicts on Black people. It is grounded in decades of data—on redlining, school segregation, mass incarceration, health disparities, and police brutality. The term was created to name the exhaustion that comes from generational struggle—not to be mocked or redefined for clicks.

Yet today, we see some Black voices co-opting the term—claiming they’re tired. Not tired from injustice, but tired of hearing about it. Tired of hearing Black people demand change. Tired of discussions about reparations, policing, and inequality.

This rhetorical sleight of hand serves a purpose. It makes white audiences more comfortable by minimizing the systemic nature of racial disparities. And it turns legitimate critique into content for monetization.

Take the case of William Macneil Jr., a Black man violently arrested, struck in the face while cuffed during a traffic stop. Later, a knife was reportedly found on the floorboard. But it was not visible, not wielded, and posed no threat at the time of the encounter. Yet some podcasters still rushed to justify the officer’s actions—ignoring the legal standards around use of force and due process.

Yes, there are individuals within Black culture who have been misled or have internalized destructive behaviors—but that reality does not erase, excuse, or justify the policies and systems America imposed for over 400 years. To point and say, “See how they act, how they dress, how they treat each other,” as a reason to deny justice is both morally dishonest and historically blind. It ignores the fact that much of that dysfunction was shaped by centuries of intentional deprivation—slavery, segregation, broken education systems, targeted policing, and economic exclusion. Accountability cannot be selective. You don’t deny a community justice because of the harm it has inflicted. You repair the harm, then hold everyone to a standard. Justice is not a reward for perfection—it’s a responsibility of the state.

When the reflex is always to defend the system—never to question it—we have to ask: who is the message really for?

The same imbalance shows up in conversations about reparations.

Reparations are not about guilt—they’re about government accountability. The policies that harmed Black Americans weren’t imaginary or accidental. They were real, codified, and enforced by law: slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, exclusion from the GI Bill, the war on drugs—each one crafted, voted on, and implemented by elected officials. These decisions didn’t just hurt individuals—they crippled generations of Black families economically, socially, and politically. When critics frame reparations as “making white people pay,” they’re using slick emotional rhetoric to distract from the facts. This isn’t about blame—it’s about responsibility. A government that deliberately caused harm has a duty to repair it.

And there’s clear historical precedent.

After World War II, Germany paid billions in reparations to Holocaust survivors, including those living in the United States. The U.S. government, although not directly responsible for the Holocaust, actively supported and facilitated those reparations. In the 1990s and 2000s, under U.S. diplomatic and legal pressure, banks and insurance companies with ties to Nazi Germany were forced to pay restitution. This included a $1.25 billion settlement from Swiss banks, many of whose beneficiaries were Jewish Holocaust survivors residing in America. Congress even established support programs for aging Holocaust survivors.

So if reparations are inherently controversial, where was the outrage then?

Why haven’t these same podcasters demanded that Jewish Americans return that money?
Why hasn’t he recorded a podcast accusing Holocaust survivors of “playing the victim”?
Why hasn’t he challenged Germany’s repeated payments as “handouts” or “dependency”?

The answer is simple: the issue has never been reparations—it’s been reparations for Black Americans.

Reparations are fine when they’re politically safe.
They only become problematic when Black people demand them.

Many of these podcasters claim to be about “truth.” But truth requires nuance. You cannot claim to uplift the community while ignoring the historical and structural conditions that shaped it. You cannot fix what’s broken in Black culture without addressing the policies that broke it.

This isn’t about personal attacks—it’s about consistency.

Because real accountability doesn’t just scold behavior. It interrogates the systems that shaped it.

And real truth-telling doesn’t trade complexity for YouTube engagement.

Black fatigue was never meant to be a punchline or a punch-down. It was meant to affirm the emotional weariness that comes from being Black in a country that still hasn’t paid its debts.

The fatigue isn’t from hearing about racism.
It’s from watching people who look like us rewrite its impact—to protect platforms instead of people.

NYT-Bipartisan Survey Confirms: Democrats at Historic Low—And It’s No Mystery Why

DAMON K JONES
-
0
NYT-Bipartisan Survey Confirms: Democrats at Historic Low—And It’s No Mystery Why

A recent bipartisan poll conducted by The Wall Street Journal—highlighted in The New York Times—confirms what anyone paying attention could already see: the Democratic Party has reached its lowest favorability rating in over three decades. Just 33% of registered voters view the party favorably, while 63% hold an unfavorable opinion—a net rating of –30. But instead of asking why voters are turning away, Democratic leaders seem more interested in blaming misinformation, right-wing media, or voter apathy. In reality, the truth is far simpler: voters are reacting to outcomes, not rhetoric.

When people see their real wages shrink, their neighborhoods decline, and their values openly mocked by the very people seeking their votes, no amount of media spin or identity politics can restore credibility. This isn’t a mystery. It’s basic cause and effect.

Read: Democrats in Disarray: Infighting, Lack of Strategy, and the Looming Collapse of Party Leadership

For decades, the Democratic Party has operated under the assumption that good intentions are good enough. They champion “equity” policies, flood federal agencies with DEI mandates, and craft legislation wrapped in the language of compassion—but time and again, the actual results fall far short of the promises.

The Black community is a prime example. After generations of blind loyalty to Democratic candidates, what has it gotten in return? Rising crime in our cities. Failing public schools. Housing instability. Welfare dependency framed as empowerment. And now, an open hostility toward traditional family structures, masculinity, and religious values—values that once anchored Black communities through the worst periods in American history.

Voters are not rejecting the party because they’ve suddenly forgotten history. They’re rejecting the party because they remember recent history all too well—and they’re living with the consequences.

According to the poll, Black and Latino men are increasingly walking away from the Democratic Party. To the political consultant class, this is perplexing. But to those of us who live in the real world, it’s predictable.

For years, Democratic messaging has framed male leadership—especially Black male leadership—as suspect or dangerous unless neutered, intersectionalized, or “reimagined.” Fatherhood, discipline, responsibility, and strength have been rebranded as patriarchal or oppressive. But these traits are exactly what build strong communities. Instead of respecting men as protectors and providers, the party offers them lectures, re-education, or silence. Now they act surprised that men are tuning them out.

Read: CNN: Democrats’ Masculinity Problem, Messaging, Perception, and Voter Shifts

You cannot insult a man’s dignity, undermine his role in the home, and ignore his economic concerns—and then wonder why he won’t show up to vote.

Likewise, the erosion of Latino support is not some accidental slip in outreach. It’s the result of a party that treats Latinos as a single-issue demographic, assuming that pro-immigration talking points will override every other concern.

But working-class Latino families—especially those who have been in this country for generations—care about the same things as everyone else: jobs, education, safe neighborhoods, and cultural respect. Many hold traditional views on family, faith, and gender roles—views increasingly treated with disdain by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. When the party prioritizes fringe cultural battles over basic governance, it alienates the very people it claims to represent.

Read: Democrat’s Political Suicide: Obsession with Trump, Fear Tactics, and the War on Free Thought

And let’s be clear: the sharp decline in support is not due to misinformation. It’s due to the experience of seeing one’s priorities ignored.

The Real Message Behind the Numbers

The Democratic Party has spent years building a political brand around victimhood, grievance, and symbolism. But real people don’t live in symbols. They live in neighborhoods where rent is too high, schools are too dangerous, and police are either overreaching or nowhere to be found. They see their cities decaying under policies championed by Democrats. They hear promises every election season, and see dysfunction every year in between.

Voters are not confused. They are making rational decisions. They are evaluating what the party has actually delivered—and increasingly, the answer is “not much.”

It is ironic that a party that claims to be the voice of the people seems so unable to listen to what the people are saying. But voters are no longer whispering. They are shouting—with poll numbers, with party-switching, and with disengagement.

And if Democrats still don’t get it, they may have to learn the hard way—at the ballot box.

📊 Polling Data & News Sources

  1. The Wall Street Journal Poll (July 16–20, 2025)
    • Conducted by John Anzalone (Democrat) and Tony Fabrizio (Republican)
    • Surveyed 1,500 registered voters, ±2.5% margin of error
    • Source: Wall Street Journal
  2. POLITICO – “Americans don’t approve of Trump. But they don’t like Democrats either”
  3. New York Post – “Democrats’ approval rating craters to 35-year low: WSJ poll”
  4. Washington Post – “Lucky for Democrats, they picked the least-worst time to be unpopular”
  5. The Liberal Patriot – “Why Is Democratic Favorability at a 30-Year Low?”
  6. G. Elliott Morris Substack – “Democratic Party favorability at its lowest in modern polling history”
    • Deep dive into partisan splits and historical favorability trends
    • Source: G. Elliott Morris
  7. New York Magazine – “Democrats don’t need to be popular — they just need to win”
    • Analysis of polling paradox between party favorability and electoral outcomes
    • Source: NYMag, July 2025

Yonkers City Hall TV Receives Two Prestigious New York EMMY Award Nominations

AJ Woodson
-
0
Yonkers City Hall TV Receives Two Prestigious New York EMMY Award Nominations

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced Yonkers City Hall TV received two prestigious New York Emmy Award nominations in the categories of Interactive Media and Public Affairs Series. It is the first time in the station’s more than 40-year history, it has been honored with a nomination from the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

“To be recognized by such a distinguished organization shows we remain relevant when it comes to communicating our important initiatives to the people of Yonkers,” said Mayor Spano. “I’m proud of the work our Communications Department produces every day and am pleased their creativity and skillsets  are being recognized amongst their peers and profession.”

In 2023, Yonkers’ Communication Department produced an interactive social media campaign during National Pizza Month, highlighting the top pizzerias in Yonkers and a weekly public affairs series, “Your Yonkers Now.” All productions can be viewed on Yonkers City Hall TV Optimum Channel 78, Verizon Channel 39, and the City of Yonkers’ social media platforms, along with Mayor Mike Spano’s YouTube channel.

The award ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in New York City.

The City of Yonkers is the third largest city in New York State and Westchester County’s largest city. Yonkers serves as the gateway to the Hudson Valley with more than 40 vibrant and diverse suburban neighborhoods. First settled as a small farm town in 1646 settled by Dutchman Adriaen Van Der Donck, Yonkers evolved into a major trading and industrial center. Today, Yonkers hosts the largest film production studios in the Northeast, claiming the title Hollywood on Hudson. Yonkers is one of the safest cities of its size in the nation and is home to a vibrant arts district along with more than 80 local parks.

Yonkers shines as the new ‘Hollywood on the Hudson’ 

Yonkers Is Hollywood On Hudson digital billboard on 43rd & Broadway in Times Square

The city of Yonkers has also celebrated the success of productions filmed there. Major productions filmed in Yonkers, such as “Severance” and “The Penguin,” received multiple Emmy nominations. Yonkers has become a popular filming location, with various productions using its streets and buildings, including the Hudson River Museum, Lawrence & Saratoga Streets, and Wells Avenue.

“Severance” received 27 nominations, and “The Penguin” received 24 nominations. These nominations highlight Yonkers’ role as a backdrop for high-profile television shows. Here’s a breakdown: 

  • “Severance”: (Apple TV+) received 27 nominations.
  • “The Penguin”: (HBO Max) received 24 nominations.
  • “The White Lotus”: (HBO Max) received 23 nominations.
  • “The Studio”: (Apple TV+) also filmed in Yonkers.
  • “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”: filmed at Wells Avenue in Yonkers, and was also nominated.

Several other productions that filmed in Yonkers, or Westchester County, have received Emmy nominations.

Reaction Of Local Elected Officials To The Midtown Manhattan Massacre

AJ Woodson
-
0
Reaction Of Local Elected Officials To The Midtown Manhattan Massacre

By now, I’m sure you have heard about Shane Devon Tamura, a 27-year-old Nevada resident wearing body armor and carrying an M4 assault rifle, who shot and killed four people, including an off-duty police officer in a Midtown Manhattan office building, on Monday evening before killing himself. He entered the lobby of the Midtown tower alone and immediately opened fire on an NYPD officer and sprayed the lobby with bullets. The deceased included NYPD officer Didarul Islam of the 47th Precinct in the Bronx, who came to the U.S. from Bangladesh.

Several local elected officials have issued statements on the Midtown Manhattan Shooting.

NYS Senator Shelley B. Mayer of the District 37 that covers a swath of Westchester County, including some or all of Bedford, Eastchester, Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, North Castle, Port Chester, Rye, Rye Brook, White Plains, and Yonkers issued the following statement.

“I am deeply saddened by yesterday’s fatal shooting in Manhattan that took the lives of four people, including NYPD officer Didarul Islam, and severely injured another, before ending with the gunman taking his own life. Officer Islam was a hero, and I am deeply grieved by his loss. My heartfelt condolences go out to all the families and loved ones of the victims, and to everyone impacted by this senseless act of violence. I extend my sincere appreciation to the NYPD and all the first responders for their swift action. To those grieving today, please know that you are not alone. I am with you and will continue to support efforts to heal, protect, and strengthen our communities in the wake of this tragedy,” Sen. Mayer shared in a statement to Black Westchester.

“We will always remember the sacrifice Officer Islam, a husband, a son, and father, made for all of us,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday. “To the other victims — people just trying to make a living, do their jobs — our hearts are broken, and we, too, grieve with your families.”

Congressman George Latimer (Congressional District 16 – Southern Westchester and Northern Bronx) also issued the following statement: “Last night, a horrible shooting took place in Midtown Manhattan, with four innocent people killed, including a brave NYPD officer,” Latimer wrote. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam and the other victims.”

Rep. Ritchie Torres of the Bronx (District 15) said Monday’s shooting demonstrated how New York “has to live with the consequences of the lax gun laws from other states. It’s unfair. It feels like we’ve been stripped of control of our own destiny,” he said, arguing it is time for federal gun reforms. 

Congressman Mike Lawler (District 17- includes all or parts of Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties) expressed condolences on social media. “I’m devastated by the senseless killing of an NYPD officer and innocent civilians in Midtown,” he wrote. “Praying for their families and loved ones.”

Westchester County District Attorney, Susan Cacace, took to social media to offer a statement as well, “On behalf of everyone at the Office, DA Cacace wishes to express her condolences to the family of Officer Islam and to our NYPD colleagues, who are mourning the loss of a true hero and dedicated public servant,” the post read. Her post closed with, “the families of the three civilians who were killed remain in our thoughts as we all begin to process this senseless tragedy.”

“Tonight, my heart goes out to the six victims of the tragic shooting in Manhattan. It’s deeply saddening to know that among those affected were two brave members of the NYPD, and we must mourn the loss of them all. Events like this are a stark reminder of the urgent need for change in our society. We must come together to foster a safer and more compassionate world. Please keep these victims and their families close in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” Westchester County Legislator James Nolan (District 15 – Yonkers, Bronxville, Eastchester) posted on social media.

Legislator Catherine Parker (District 7 – Mamaroneck, Rye, Larchmont, part of New Rochelle, part of Harrison) feels that more than statements need to be made by elected officials; she suggests they should urge Congress to pass an assault weapons ban in the slain officer’s name.

“To my Republican friends, a Police Officer’s life is worth more than your thoughts and prayers. Tell Congress to pass the Didarul Islam Assault Weapons Ban in his honor and before his third child is born. That would be worthy of his life and service,” she shared on Facebook, Tuesday.

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano’s statement on the killing of an off-duty NYPD officer and the deaths of two other innocent people.

Assemblyman Matt Slater, who represents Putnam County, also mourned the loss of Officer Islam, “Yesterday’s horrific shooting claimed the life of hero Police Officer Didarul Islam among the victims. He leaves behind a young family with his third child due any day,” he wrote.

“We are deeply saddened to learn that NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, who was fatally shot in yesterday’s incident, was a member of our beloved Parkchester community. He was not only a public servant, but a neighbor – someone who dedicated his life to protecting others and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. This act of violence has shaken families and communities across our city. As the investigation continues, my thoughts are with all those affected- the families grieving, the loved ones seeking answers, and everyone feeling the weight of this tragedy,” New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías shared in a statement on Tuesday.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recalled her conversation with the widow of New York Police Officer Didarul Islam, who is expecting her third child, “I spoke to the young widow, a mother of two, expecting her third child. I tried to convey, again, that sense of compassion all of us as human beings feel,” Hochul said during a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting. “I said, ‘Is there anything we can do for you?’ And in her broken English, she just said: ‘Pray for us.’”

Six People Including NYPD Officer And The Gunman Dead In Midtown Manhattan Office Bldg Shooting

AJ Woodson
-
0
Six People Including NYPD Officer And The Gunman Dead In Midtown Manhattan Office Bldg Shooting

A police officer and three civilians were killed, officials said. The suspected gunman acted alone and died from a self-inflicted gunshot, authorities said.

Shane Devon Tamura, a 27-year-old Nevada resident wearing body armor and carrying an M4 assault rifle, shot and killed four people, including an off-duty police officer in a Midtown Manhattan office building, Monday evening before killing himself, officials said. He entered the lobby of the Midtown tower alone and immediately opened fire on an NYPD officer and sprayed the lobby with bullets. The deceased included NYPD officer Didarul Islam of the 47th Precinct in the Bronx, who came to the U.S. from Bangladesh and who Mayor Eric Adams said had been on the force for almost four years. He was working security in the building while off duty.

“Early tonight, I met with the officer’s family. I told them that he was a hero, and we admire him for putting his life on the line,” Adams said at press conference, joined by Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney; and an array of high-ranking officials from the Police Department, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Kaz Daughtry, the deputy mayor for public safety, Patrick Hendry, the head of the police officers’ union, as well as a white-coated hospital doctor. “He was doing what he does best, and all members of the police department carry out. He was saving lives. He was protecting New Yorkers.”

“He put himself in harm’s way. He made the ultimate sacrifice — shot in cold blood, wearing a uniform that stood for the promise that he made to this city,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

Security video shows the gunman got out of a double-parked car with an M4 rifle and entered the building’s lobby, where he “immediately opened fire” on an NYPD officer, who was killed, the police commissioner said. “He then shoots a woman who took cover behind a pillar and proceeds through the lobby, spraying it with gunfire,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. The gunman shot a security guard at the elevator bank as the guard was taking cover behind a security desk. The shooter called the elevator to the lobby, a woman got out, and the gunman allowed her to exit unharmed. The shooter went up to the 33rd floor and “begins to walk the floor, firing rounds as he traveled,” Tisch said. One person was shot and killed on that floor, she said. “He then proceeds down a hallway and shoots himself in the chest,” she said.

Islam was married with two young boys, and his wife was pregnant with a third child. The officer and the surviving male civilian were taken to New York Presbyterian, where the civilian is in critical but stable condition. Two other civilians, one male and one female, both killed in the shooting, were taken to Bellevue Hospital. Police say another female was the victim found dead on the 33rd floor. The shooting occurred just before 6:30 p.m. in an office building at 345 Park Ave. at East 52nd Street, which contains the headquarters for the investment company Blackstone and the National Football League.  

KPMG, an accounting firm that also has offices in the building, released a statement after the shooting, saying, “Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific act and their families. We are incredibly grateful for the bravery of building security and law enforcement,” the company said.

A National Football League employee was seriously injured in the shooting, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a memo to employees.

“One of our employees was seriously injured in this attack. He is currently in the hospital and in stable condition,” Goodell wrote in the memo, which was obtained by ABC News. “NFL staff are at the hospital and we are supporting his family. We believe that all of our employees are otherwise safe and accounted for, and the building has nearly been cleared.”

Goodell said in the memo that there would be “increased security presence” at the league’s offices “in the days and weeks to come.” He said employees based in New York should work remotely on Tuesday or could take the day off. “Every one of you is a valued member of the NFL family,” Goodell wrote. “We will get through this together.”

NFL employees were told to shelter in place at the time, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported. The NFL offices are on floors five through eight of the 44-story building.

Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader and a Brooklynite, issued a statement calling for stricter gun laws: “Mass shootings are a plague. The gun violence epidemic continues to afflict our country and has now shattered lives in our great City. The time has come for decisive action.”

New York’s senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, posted on social media that they were praying for those affected by the shooting. “We must do more to stop gun violence in America,” Schumer wrote.

Candidates for New York City mayor responded to the shooting on social media. “Grateful to our first responders who run toward danger to keep us safe,” Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa wrote. “I’m grateful for the courage of our NYPD and first responders, and my prayers are with the victims and their families,” former governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, posted.

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City who has been visiting family in Uganda, posted on social media that he was “heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting.” He said: “I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer in critical condition in my thoughts. Grateful for all of our first responders on the ground.”

Tamura was the owner of the BMW that the shooter arrived in. Commissioner Tisch stated that the police discovered a backpack, Tamura’s prescription medication, a loaded handgun, ammo, magazines, and a rifle case with shots inside the vehicle. No explosives were present. He drove across the country in recent days, arriving in New York City today. Tamura was licensed to carry a gun in Nevada, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference tonight.

The assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office promised the “full force” of the agency in the investigation into today’s shooting.

“You have the full force of FBI New York and full force of FBI to get to the bottom of the answers,” said Chris Raia, the assistant director in charge of the office.

The investigation into the gunman’s motives and the shooting is ongoing. Raia said that “initial checks of our internal systems have not revealed any information about the subject.”

“We are deeply saddened to learn that NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, who was fatally shot in yesterday’s incident, was a member of our beloved Parkchester community. He was not only a public servant, but a neighbor – someone who dedicated his life to protecting others and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. This act of violence has shaken families and communities across our city. As the investigation continues, my thoughts are with all those affected- the families grieving, the loved ones seeking answers, and everyone feeling the weight of this tragedy,” New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías shared in a statement on Tuesday.

Stay tuned to Black Westchester for more on this developing story!

Butch Thomas Files Chapter 7 Bankruptcy After Losing Defamation Lawsuit by Lesly Zamor

AJ Woodson
-
0
Butch Thomas Files Chapter 7 Bankruptcy After Losing Defamation Lawsuit by Lesly Zamor

Steven “Butch” Thomas, brother of former Mount Vernon Mayor Richard W. Thomas, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy on July 3, 2025, after losing a defamation lawsuit in June 2023, filed against him by former Mount Vernon City School Board President Lesly Zamor.

“It’s very unfortunate that it had to come down to this with Butch. I had considered Butch a friend. He did work for me at my house and for my clients. However, I think the influence of Joe Spezio was overwhelming, as he and his brother, Richie, were receiving money from Spezio, and they both lost their better judgment, specifically Butch, when he decided to collaborate with Spezio to write these false and defamatory stories about me. The era of people writing baseless and defamatory statements against each other needs to stop. It’s very difficult to hide behind fake internet and social media accounts nowadays, and you will be found out. This judgment against Butch in my favor proves just that. Just don’t do it. We can agree to disagree, but there’s never a reason to make personal attacks that are baseless and can damage people’s reputations. I hope that we can all be on the same team for a better and more prosperous Mount Vernon,” Zamor shared with Black Westchester.

In June 2018, Lesly Zamor filed a summons and complaint in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Westchester, against Thomas, alleging defamation and libel per se, and seeking at least $1,000,000 in damages, stemming from an online smear campaign that began in 2017.

The complaint specifically references an email sent on June 30, 2017, by an anonymous person under the name “MV Ed” Citizens for a Better Board, which allegedly contained defamatory statements about Zamor. This email is presented as an example of the alleged smear campaign.

On June 13, 2023, by a preponderance of the evidence, the jury unanimously returned a verdict holding Thomas liable for circulating defamatory statements about Zamor and, by clear and convincing evidence, concluded that statements by Butch Thomas, a 2017 Republican candidate for the Mount Vernon City Council were false and that, when he circulated or allowed the circulation of these statements through his Mail Chimps’ account, plaintiff knew the statements were false or acted in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the statements.

The jury unanimously awarded Zamor $35,000 in compensatory damages. Five jurors determined that Thomas was liable for punitive damages, and after the court charged the jury with respect to punitive damages, the jury unanimously awarded Zamor $10,000 in punitive damages. Ordering Thomas to pay $45,000 within 20 days following the judgment on June 29, 2023, plus $700 in costs according to CPLR section 8201 (1-3) for a total of $45,700. After July 19, 2023, if not paid 9% interest commenced.

Zamor previously served as a trustee and president of the Mount Vernon City School Board, as well as a commissioner on the City of Mount Vernon’s Planning Board. The lawsuit claims the smear campaign was intended to defame him, damage his reputation, and undermine his leadership.

Claressa Shields: Dominance, History, and the Crown of Boxing Greatness

DAMON K JONES
-
0
Claressa Shields: Dominance, History, and the Crown of Boxing Greatness

On July 26, 2025, under the bright lights of Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, Claressa Shields once again proved why she’s not just in the conversation of greatness—she is the conversation. In a dominant, calculated performance against New Zealand’s Lani Daniels, Shields successfully defended her undisputed heavyweight world championship, adding another chapter to her already historic career.

This wasn’t just a win—it was a masterclass.

From the opening bell, Shields controlled every inch of the ring. She dictated the pace, angles, and rhythm with a confidence born of preparation and precision. Daniels came to fight, but she never had a chance to breathe. In Rounds 1 and 2, Daniels didn’t land a single punch. That’s not just defense—that’s domination.

By the end of the night, the punch statistics told the whole story: Shields landed 167 punches to Daniels’ 41. That’s more than 4 to 1 in clean connects. The judges had it 100–90, 99–91, and 99–91. And frankly, those numbers were generous to Daniels.

This wasn’t a competitive bout—it was a coronation.

But the victory wasn’t just about this one fight. It was about what it represented. With this defense, *Claressa Shields cements her place in history as the only boxer—male or female—in the four-belt era to become undisputed champion in three different weight classes: 154 (super welterweight), 160 (middleweight), and now heavyweight.

Let that sink in.

Canelo hasn’t done it. Crawford just reached two. Even legends like Ali and Tyson never had to navigate the modern politics of four major sanctioning bodies. Claressa did. Three times.

She’s 17–0. She’s been undisputed in every weight class she’s entered since going pro. And she’s done it all while being unapologetically Black, bold, and vocal.

She’s not asking for respect—she’s taking it.

This is a woman who grew up in Flint, Michigan. A city neglected, poisoned, and forgotten by the system. But Shields didn’t let that define her. She fought her way out. She didn’t wait for the establishment to recognize her greatness. She forced them to. Not with marketing hype—but with results.

And while the mainstream media continues to hype influencer boxing and novelty fights, Shields is out here rewriting boxing history—quietly, powerfully, and consistently.

After the fight, she hinted at dropping back down to 154 for more challenges. Mikaela Mayer’s name came up. Whether that happens or not, one thing is clear—Shields is running out of worthy opponents. Not because the sport lacks talent, but because she is simply that far ahead of the pack.

Her nickname is GWOAT—Greatest Woman of All Time. But at this point, we need to remove “woman” from the equation. Because Claressa Shields isn’t just the GWOAT.

She’s making the case as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Period.

At Black Westchester, we don’t just celebrate the wins. We celebrate what they represent. Shields is a symbol of resilience, excellence, and unshakable self-belief. She’s what happens when you combine purpose with preparation. She’s the blueprint for what greatness looks like when you bet on yourself—and deliver every time.

History is watching. And it’s writing her name in bold.

Trump’s EU Tariff Deal Is a Wake-Up Call for Black America to Stop Chasing Inclusion and Start Chasing Industry

DAMON K JONES
-
0
Trump’s EU Tariff Deal Is a Wake-Up Call for Black America to Stop Chasing Inclusion and Start Chasing Industry

While cable news is obsessed with personalities, indictments, and distractions, something transformational just happened in international economics—something Black America can’t afford to ignore. Donald Trump’s newly announced trade deal with the European Union is being called one of the most aggressive and economically strategic tariff agreements in U.S. history. And for good reason.

It didn’t just threaten tariffs—it extracted results.

Announced on July 27, 2025, the Trump–EU tariff deal avoided a full-scale trade war by leveraging America’s consumer market in exchange for investment and reciprocity. Under the agreement, the United States will impose a 15% baseline tariff on most EU imports—far lower than the previously threatened 30%—but still firm enough to rebalance unfair trade terms.

In return, the EU agreed to the following:

  • $750 billion in U.S. energy purchases—a massive win for American oil, natural gas, and renewables.
  • $600 billion in investment across sectors including defense, infrastructure, aviation, and advanced manufacturing.
  • Zero-for-zero reciprocal tariffs on key sectors like semiconductors, aircraft parts, chemicals, and certain agricultural products.
  • Steel and aluminum tariffs remain at 50%, protecting U.S. producers in critical industries.

This isn’t just a “deal”—it’s a redirection of global capital. And if Black America isn’t positioned to intercept any of it, then our political and economic leadership has failed.

The Missed Opportunity Narrative Is Getting Old

Let’s be clear: Black communities are always on the receiving end of “equity conversations” but rarely at the table when capital changes hands. This deal moves over $1.3 trillion in commitments—yet no national Black leader has issued a statement, no civil rights group has laid out an access strategy, and no member of the Congressional Black Caucus has proposed a trade-linked workforce plan.

We chase diversity while others chase the contract.

We rally for board seats while others negotiate billion-dollar energy investments.

We demand police reform while ignoring the trillions redirected through tariffs, trade, and manufacturing.

The question isn’t whether Trump’s deal helps Black America—it’s whether Black America is prepared to help itself by aligning with it.

Energy, Manufacturing, and Strategic Goods: Where Are We?

The EU deal centers around strategic sectors—sectors that Black America has been systemically locked out of, but not irreversibly. Manufacturing, logistics, defense, and energy are the lifeblood of this agreement. And the question is: where are Black businesses in these fields?

  • Energy: With $750 billion flowing into U.S. energy, will Black-owned firms in renewables, infrastructure, or fuel logistics get a piece? Or will we keep talking about food deserts while ignoring the energy deserts in our own neighborhoods?
  • Manufacturing: With reciprocal tariff reductions on aircraft parts and semiconductors, will we keep marching for “inclusion” in tech, or will we invest in the machinery that makes tech possible?
  • Workforce Access: Will we demand union jobs in these fields—or sit back while they go to politically connected firms that don’t hire from our communities?

You Don’t Have to Like Trump to Learn From the Strategy

This isn’t about being a Trump supporter. It’s about seeing the strategy and positioning ourselves to respond with logic, not emotion. Trump’s deal didn’t promise anyone equality. It delivered incentive-based outcomes that benefit those who are prepared.

That’s the hard truth: capital doesn’t care about hashtags. It flows where the structure exists to receive it.

DEI Never Promised You a Factory

While the elite Black class is still busy applauding DEI hires and university fellowships, this tariff deal bypassed the corporate culture wars entirely and focused on leverage, reciprocity, and industry. There is no budget line in this deal for diversity consultants or symbolic partnerships.

But there’s plenty of space for welders, coders, engineers, machine operators, agri-tech builders, and logistics managers—fields where Black talent has historically been underrepresented, underfunded, and underestimated.

The Path Forward: Build Institutions, Not Talking Points

Here’s what must happen next if Black America wants to benefit from this deal:

  1. Black chambers of commerce must publish sector-specific response plans for energy, defense, and logistics.
  2. HBCUs must build industrial trade and export readiness programs—not just business school panels.
  3. Faith-based institutions and nonprofits must pivot from food giveaways to workforce pipelines.
  4. Local Black elected officials must identify federal trade zones, ports, and infrastructure projects tied to this deal and demand Black participation in procurement and contracting.

Because here’s the reality: if we don’t build the institutions to receive these blessings, they will pass us by.

Final Thought: Tariffs Are Not Racist—They’re Relentless

Donald Trump didn’t rewrite trade law for Black America. He leveraged it for national advantage. Now it’s our turn to leverage this moment for community advantage.

But the window won’t stay open forever.

The question isn’t “Did Trump help us?” The question is: Are we willing to help ourselves now that the money is moving?

Until we treat economics with the urgency we give to politics and protest, we’ll stay spectators in a game we could be winning.

Emotional Politics — Logical Failure is the book you need.

In this bold and unfiltered work, Damon K. Jones delivers the hard truths many are afraid to say out loud: Black America has been loyal to a system that has failed to deliver. We’ve mastered symbolism but forfeited strategy. We show up to vote, but not to fund. We speak out, but rarely build. And the result? Speeches instead of solutions. Visibility instead of victory.

This book is not about left or right. It’s about logic over emotion. Power over performance. It’s a call to wake up, re-strategize, and use our political currency with purpose.

If you’re tired of being used, overlooked, and sold out—this book is your blueprint for change. Your voice is powerful. Your vote is valuable. But your money, your mindset, and your political clarity are what will make the difference.

Read the book. Share the message. Challenge the tradition. And let’s finally start getting what we pay for.

The Universal Fraud: How Policies for Black Americans Became Programs for Everyone Else

DAMON K JONES
-
0
The Universal Fraud: How Policies for Black Americans Became Programs for Everyone Else

One of the great political deceptions of modern America is the use of universal language to sell policies that were demanded, justified, and paid for—almost exclusively—by Black suffering. The result is a long line of laws and reforms that, while claimed as victories for Black Americans, disproportionately benefit everyone except Black Americans.

The pattern is as old as Reconstruction. The 14th Amendment, passed in 1868, was clearly a response to the treatment of freed slaves who had no citizenship protections under the law. Yet rather than crafting legislation to specifically protect those who had been enslaved and their descendants, Congress instead applied sweeping language: “All persons born in the United States…” That one phrase opened the door to a legal doctrine of birthright citizenship that now benefits every immigrant group, legal or illegal, while Black Americans remain economically and politically stagnant in the very country they helped build.

This isn’t a historical fluke—it’s a recurring strategy.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, passed only after fire hoses, assassinations, and national embarrassment, was sold as a correction to racial injustice. But once the ink dried, it became a tool of generalized “equality.” And who benefited most? White women, who used gender-based clauses of the law to advance in corporate America, often at the direct expense of the very Black workers whose protests made the law possible.

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 followed the same script. It outlawed housing discrimination, but offered no mechanism to correct generations of redlining, displacement, or stolen land. Black families didn’t receive restitution—they received fair warning that future discrimination might be politely discouraged. Meanwhile, suburbs flourished, banks were bailed out, and property wealth continued to accumulate in white hands.

Then came affirmative action—originally conceived as a limited, targeted tool to remedy institutionalized discrimination against Black Americans. Yet over time, it evolved into a universal diversity initiative that grouped together every non-white or non-male individual under one umbrella, no matter how recent their arrival or how indirect their suffering. So while elite universities checked their diversity boxes, Black American students—especially those from poor, urban communities—remained underrepresented and under-resourced.

Now we have DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)—the latest corporate trend designed to appear socially conscious while avoiding any meaningful confrontation with actual injustice. Predictably, white women have once again become the primary beneficiaries. They lead DEI departments. They are promoted in the name of “equity.” And they enjoy the economic mobility that these programs pretend to offer to the marginalized. If DEI were judged by outcomes—not by intentions—its record would show more advancement for privileged women than for the people it claims to help.

Worse still, many Black politicians and public figures either fail to see this or deliberately ignore it. Some are too politically compromised to speak up. Others are simply content to chase proximity to power rather than advocate for targeted results. Either way, they serve as loyal spokespeople for programs that—time and again—fail to produce measurable change in the communities they claim to represent.

The lesson is simple, but inconvenient: When a law meant for Black people is written to apply to everyone, it ends up serving everyone but Black people. When benefits are distributed based on abstract categories like “diversity,” “equity,” or “underrepresented,” the group that led the struggle becomes just another line on a grant application. That’s not progress. That’s a bait and switch.

In economics, incentives matter. In politics, outcomes matter. And in history, intent means little when results fail to match the sacrifice.

Until Black Americans demand policy based on injury, not just identity—specific remedies for specific harm—we will continue to be used as the moral foundation for reforms that enrich everyone but us.

:

📚 References

  1. U.S. Constitution – 14th Amendment
    Legal text and historical context.
    National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/amendments-11-27
  2. United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898)
    Supreme Court case affirming birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens.
    Justia: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/169/649/
  3. Civil Rights Act of 1964
    Legislative summary and implications.
    U.S. Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/crt/fcs/titlevi-overview
  4. EEOC Affirmative Action Statistics
    Data showing white women as primary beneficiaries of affirmative action.
    U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: https://www.eeoc.gov/statistics/employment
  5. Fair Housing Act of 1968
    Overview and enforcement history.
    U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/progdesc/title8
  6. McKinsey & Company – Women in the Workplace Reports (2020–2023)
    Documents the rise of white women in leadership roles through DEI.
    https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace
  7. “Why White Women Benefit Most from DEI” – LEVEL Magazine
    https://www.levelman.com/why-white-women-benefitted-the-most-from-dei-programs/
  8. “Affirmative Action’s Real Beneficiaries” – The Atlantic
    https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/06/affirmative-action-white-women-benefit/674428/
  9. “The Economic State of Black America in 2023” – Brookings Institution
    https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-state-of-black-america-2023/
  10. “How Black Americans Were Excluded from New Deal Housing Programs” – NPR
    https://www.npr.org/2020/05/17/858368691/a-legacy-of-housing-discrimination
  11. Thomas Sowell – Discrimination and Disparities
    Examines the fallacies behind race-based policy outcomes.
    Basic Books, 2018.
  12. Dr. Claud Anderson – PowerNomics: The National Plan to Empower Black America
    Argues for group-based, targeted solutions to economic exclusion.
    Harvest Institute, 2001.

Emotional Politics — Logical Failure is the book you need.

In this bold and unfiltered work, Damon K. Jones delivers the hard truths many are afraid to say out loud: Black America has been loyal to a system that has failed to deliver. We’ve mastered symbolism but forfeited strategy. We show up to vote, but not to fund. We speak out, but rarely build. And the result? Speeches instead of solutions. Visibility instead of victory.

This book is not about left or right. It’s about logic over emotion. Power over performance. It’s a call to wake up, re-strategize, and use our political currency with purpose.

If you’re tired of being used, overlooked, and sold out—this book is your blueprint for change. Your voice is powerful. Your vote is valuable. But your money, your mindset, and your political clarity are what will make the difference.

Read the book. Share the message. Challenge the tradition. And let’s finally start getting what we pay for.

1...555657...173Page 56 of 173