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Westchester Union Doctors Rally for a Fair Contract, Patient Care

AJ Woodson
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Westchester Union Doctors Rally for a Fair Contract, Patient Care

Overworked Resident Physicians Express Frustration with System Leadership

In contract negotiations with Westchester Medical Center (WMC) since January, about 90 physicians at the Hudson Valley’s only level-1 trauma center came out on Tuesday, May 13th, to voice their frustrations with hospital leadership. Unionized with the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), leaders among the about 480 WMC residents say that their level of work and financial stress is unsustainable, and that this threatens the system’s ability to keep attracting the best doctors. 

“Patients want their doctors focused on their care, not burdened with these other concerns,” said Dr. Garrett Smith. “We did not become physicians to talk about contracts, but for us to be the best residents we can be, we can’t ignore this situation anymore.” 

In a “unity break” action around 12pm on Tuesday, the young physicians noted the ever-climbing cost of living in Westchester, their reliance in some cases on subsidized housing, and their difficulty affording basics like groceries and child care. They say WMC leadership has failed to propose wage increases that even meet inflation, while rejecting proposals for housing stipends and adequate travel reimbursement for physicians who rotate to other sites in the course of their training. Low pay has led some physicians to take on second jobs.

“Enough is enough! About 90 of us were out in front of Westchester Medical Center (WMC) today because we are done putting up with disrespect from leadership at the bargaining table, as our salaries lag behind inflation and our peers in the region. We know what we need to be the best physicians we can be for the Hudson Valley, to care for our families, to stay well ourselves. We need a fair contract, and we won’t stop fighting! Thanks so much to everyone who supported us today, including all our fellow workers, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), IATSE Local 52, Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, and elected supporters: Christine Fils-Aimé, Westchester County Legislators Judah Holstein, Emiljana Ulaj, Jewel Williams Johnson, David Tubiolo, James Nolan, and NYS Senator Shelley B. Mayer,” The Committee of Interns & Residents (CIR/SEIU), the nation’s largest and oldest housestaff labor union, posted on their Instagram page.

WMC residents continue to appeal to new CEO Dr. David Lubarsky, who previously led the medical center at the University of California-Davis, to do the right thing and agree to wages on par with the physicians’ peers at other hospitals in the area. Their next bargaining session with WMC is Thursday, May 15. 

“From our perspective, this should be an easy call for management: If similar hospitals in the area can offer competitive contracts for their residents, then so can WMC,” said Dr. Smith. “We aren’t asking for their executive-level salaries, we’re just asking for the support we need to provide the best care we can for our community.”

The doctors were joined at their rally by WMC-NYSNA chapter president Merima Lynch and a number of elected officials, including County Legislators Judah Holstein, Emiljana Ulaj, Jewel Williams Johnson, David J. Tubiolo, and James M. Nolan, and Christine Fils-Aimé, the director of constituent services and community affairs for State Senator Shelley Mayer. 

“We have had a number of productive meetings with our medical residents, most recently on May 5, and remain actively engaged in negotiations with another bargaining session scheduled for this week. We look forward to continuing these conversations and reaching an agreement on a new contract that reflects the respect we have for our residents and the invaluable role they play in patient care,” the Westchester Medical Center Health Network said in a statement sent to Black Westchester.

The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) is the largest housestaff union in the United States. A local of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), representing over 40,000 resident physicians and fellows. Our members are dedicated to improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for our communities.

***Story updated Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 10:21 PM, to include statement from the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. ***

Dr. DaMia Harris Madden Will Receive Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree From Mercy University

AJ Woodson
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Dr. DaMia Harris Madden Will Receive Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree From Mercy University

Double Mercy University alumna Dr. DaMia Harris Madden, MBA, MSHRM, will receive the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and serve as the 2025 Commencement Speaker for the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences on Wednesday, May 21st at Westchester County Center. 

She is a leading voice in youth and family services. Recently appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul as Commissioner of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Harris-Madden now leads a multi-billion-dollar agency dedicated to protecting New York’s most vulnerable children and families. Under the leadership of Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousin, the New York State Senate confirmed the appointment on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, of Dr. Harris-Madden.

She brings more than two decades of experience in child welfare, juvenile justice, and human services to this vital statewide leadership role, most recently serving as executive director of the Westchester County Youth Bureau. There, she pioneered mental health services in after-school programs and developed cross-sector partnerships that expanded youth opportunities in health, tech, and prevention. Earlier in her career, she spent 14 years with the City of Mount Vernon, including as executive director of the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau, where her work significantly expanded services for young people. 

Harris-Madden has led transformative programs across New York, helping thousands of children and families access the resources they need to thrive. She will deliver the commencement address to the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences graduates and receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

For complete details about each of Mercy University’s Commencement ceremonies, including date, time, and location, and to watch the live stream, please visit https://www.mercy.edu/campus-life/commencement-2025.

Trump in the Middle East: A Return to Realpolitik—and a Signal for Black America’s Own Pivot

DAMON K JONES
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Trump in the Middle East: A Return to Realpolitik—and a Signal for Black America’s Own Pivot

Donald Trump’s recent address in Saudi Arabia was more than a diplomatic appearance—it was a declaration of strategic intent. Beneath the applause and formalities, Trump laid out a stark departure from the foreign policy dogma that has guided U.S. relations in the Middle East for nearly a century. The message was clear: it’s time to abandon the idealistic interventions of the past and return to sovereign partnerships grounded in mutual benefit, economic leverage, and unapologetic national interest.

Donald Trump uses Realpolitik because it aligns with his transactional, results-driven worldview that prioritizes national interest, economic gain, and strategic advantage over ideology or moral posturing. As a businessman-turned-president, Trump approached foreign policy and governance like deal-making—favoring direct negotiations, leveraging power, and discarding traditional alliances or humanitarian concerns when they didn’t serve America’s immediate goals. Whether engaging with authoritarian regimes, imposing tariffs, or withdrawing from multilateral agreements, Trump’s use of Realpolitik reflects a belief that strength, leverage, and outcomes matter more than global consensus or moral consistency. In his view, politics is not about virtue-signaling or idealism—it’s about winning.

It is a pivot—away from the failed globalist experiments of regime change and value exporting, toward a doctrine of practical realignment. He didn’t come to lecture Saudi Arabia on democracy or dictate reforms. He came to respect their sovereignty, honor their achievements, and offer economic and security partnerships rooted in shared self-interest. That alone signals a massive shift from the nation-building and “moral authority” mindset that led America into costly and endless entanglements from Kabul to Baghdad.

Trump made that pivot explicit. He called out the so-called “nation builders” and foreign policy elites who spent trillions in Iraq and Afghanistan with nothing to show for it but chaos. He contrasted that with Saudi Arabia’s own modernization efforts—skyscrapers, tech innovation, and economic diversification—that were achieved not through foreign intervention, but by national will. He offered the world a model: sovereignty over submission, strength over symbolism, and results over rhetoric.

This is not a small change. It is a rejection of the old order. Under this new posture, America asserts its interests not by lecturing other nations on how to live—but by building power at home, projecting strength abroad, and letting sovereign nations chart their own course.

And that message shouldn’t just resonate in Riyadh. It should resonate in Black America.

For too long, Black political strategy has mirrored the same flawed ideals that Trump repudiated—looking outward for validation, waiting on government programs, and tying our fate to moral arguments rather than power equations. Like America under past administrations, we have been caught in the illusion that aligning with elite values, symbolic diversity wins, or progressive rhetoric would yield material gains.

It hasn’t. Black America remains at the bottom of nearly every major economic and social index. We’ve traded sovereignty for symbolism. Representation without resources. Loyalty without leverage.

Trump’s pivot in foreign policy offers a mirror: if sovereignty-minded partnerships are the new model abroad, why not at home? If other nations are charting their destinies through hard infrastructure, national investment, and internal cohesion—shouldn’t we?

The transformation of Saudi Arabia was praised because it came from within. Black America must do the same—by building businesses, demanding transactional partnerships in politics, and focusing on measurable outcomes, not ideological alignment.

Trump’s emphasis on economic might, trade leverage, and domestic investment should be a wake-up call. He touted $1 trillion in new investment, 464,000 jobs created in weeks, and record military recruitment—not as political points, but as evidence of a nation moving on its own terms. Black America must ask: where is our version of that? Where are our economic zones, our supply chains, our independent institutions?

The old Black political model—march, vote, wait—no longer serves us. Like Trump’s rejection of the neocon playbook, we must reject outdated strategies that rely on pity, protest, or political symbolism. It’s time to pivot. From grievance to governance. From loyalty to leverage. From being a moral accessory to being a sovereign force.

Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia may have been delivered on foreign soil, but its implications are global. It marks the return of realpolitik in U.S. foreign relations—but it also presents a blueprint for communities who have waited too long for someone else’s plan to save them. The world is moving. Power is shifting. Black America must decide: will we pivot with it?

Westchester DA Announce Arrest Of Mount Vernon Coach Dwayne Murray

AJ Woodson
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Westchester DA Announce Arrest Of Mount Vernon Coach Dwayne Murray

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace will hold a press conference on Thursday announcing the arrest of a prominent member of Westchester’s youth sports community

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace will hold a press conference on Thursday, May 15, announcing the arrest of a prominent member of Westchester’s youth sports community, Coach Dwayne Murray. He was arrested on Wednesday and charged with Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree (NY Penal Law § 130.75), which is a class B Felony.

Murray, who is the Executive Director of The Mount Vernon Junior Knights and assistant coach of Mount Vernon High School Boys Valley Basketball, was arraigned by Judge Peter St. George Davis in Mount Vernon City Court at 9:30 am and was remanded without bail. He is currently being held in the Norwood E. Jackson Correctional Center in Valhalla (Westchester County Correctional facility) pending trial. Based on the charges in the complaint, Murray faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison if convicted.

As alleged in the felony complaint, between Oct. 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024, Murray engaged in two or more acts of sexual conduct against a child less than 13 years old, including at least one instance of oral sexual conduct.

DA Cacace will hold a press conference on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the Office of the Westchester County District Attorney, located at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fifth Floor, White Plains.

Murray’s next appearance in Mount Vernon City Court will be Wednesday, June 4th at 10 am.

The case is being investigated by the DA Office’s Hi-Tech Unit and the Special Prosecutions Division.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Charlotte Gudis of the Special Prosecutions Division

Black Westchester would like to remind everyone that a complaint is merely an allegation. Murray is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Stay tuned to Black Westchester on this developing story!

Mount Vernon City School District appoints Dr. Demario A. Strickland as Superintendent of Schools

AJ Woodson
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Mount Vernon City School District appoints Dr. Demario A. Strickland as Superintendent of Schools

The Mount Vernon Board of Education unanimously selected Dr. Demario A. Strickland as Mount Vernon City School District’s new Superintendent of Schools. The appointment, effective July 1, was made during the Board’s special meeting on Wednesday. 

Dr. Strickland is currently serving as the interim superintendent for the Rochester City School District (RCSD). Previously, he had served in the capacities of Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning and Chief of Schools (Innovation and School Reform) for the Rochester school district.

On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Dr. Demario Strickland, as part of the was part of the Conference of Big 5 School Districts, addressed the NYS Assembly Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the Executive Budget Proposal concerning elementary and secondary education in Hearing Room B, 2nd Floor, at 181 State Street in Albany, NY. The joint Senate-Assembly hearings on Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2025-2026 New York State budget included a review of the governor’s proposals for Elementary and Secondary Education.

He holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from D’Youville University, two master’s degrees from Fordham University in Administration & Supervision as well as Curriculum & Teaching, and brings almost 20 years of education experience as both an administrator and teacher. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree in School District Leadership from Canisius University and a certificate in School Business and Human Resource Management from the University at Buffalo.

Dr. Strickland began his career teaching in New York City and considers himself “the teaching and learning superintendent.” He entered the education field primarily to be a teacher, not thinking of administration, but after five years his role as an administrator began when he earned the position of dean of students.

“Teaching and learning are at the forefront of who I am,” said Dr. Strickland. “I’m very much about student outcomes. Are students safe? Are they feeling seen, affirmed, and valued when they come into our schools? Are teachers equipped with a guaranteed and viable curriculum that will help them be able to plan and educate our students to the greatest ability they can? I want to make sure that zip code doesn’t define what our students are capable of.”

His philosophy is that students need to be actively engaged in the classroom to achieve the best outcomes. Active engagement leads to strong relationships, which lead to improved student success. 

“Every child has potential. Our students are precious,” said Dr. Strickland. “The quality of the teaching will improve the quality of the learning, and we will support our teachers as they raise the expectations of students in the classroom.”

Dr. Strickland believes in lifting student voices by interacting and connecting with them regularly on school visits. In Rochester, he listened to students and used their input to help in his decision-making process. He plans to structure his schedule similarly, recognizing the importance of the superintendent regularly spending time in schools to understand what is happening at the ground level and ensure schools have what they need to be successful.

Dr. Strickland said he will also engage with families and teachers in the District to help guide his administration in meeting the needs of students. Throughout the school year, he will work with families as the primary support of the child, engaging them in understanding and learning the practices that are happening in the school buildings so that they are equipped to help their children.

He said transparency has guided his administrative experience. If there is important information that affects the community, he will ensure that it is shared openly – whether it is important initiatives, data, incidents in the District, or other communications.

“Being transparent about what we are going through is going to be of optimal importance to build trusting relationships,” said Dr. Strickland. “I want families and community members to be an important part of the process of education, and that means keeping them up to date with what is happening in the District.” 

“Dr. Strickland’s experience in an urban setting, his emphasis on teaching and learning and connecting with students, staff, and the community, and his ability to create positive outcomes for students makes him uniquely qualified for the Mount Vernon City School District,” said Board of Education President Adriane Saunders. “Through the search process, we learned how much Dr. Strickland will be missed in Rochester, and the Board of Education is excited to welcome him as our new Superintendent of Schools.”

At RCSD, Dr. Strickland successfully stabilized the district after the abrupt departure of the previous superintendent. He has handled similar financial and oversight challenges to what the MVCSD currently faces. He has managed a school reconfiguration, where 11 schools were closed, and he oversaw the transfers of more than 11,000 students to new schools in Rochester. These changes required constant family and community engagement, leading to a successful reconfiguration.

Dr. Strickland has an extensive background in school district finance. At RCSD this year, he balanced a $1.1 billion with zero use of the fund balance. He is leaving RCSD with a $285 million fund balance, setting them up with a healthy reserve for emergencies and potential changes in the federal funding landscape. He believes in starting the work on the next budget as soon as the upcoming budget passes and has a firm commitment to frugality. Through preparation and strategic planning, he aims to develop spending plans that provide students with a large number of opportunities and programs while limiting expenses. 

He has worked with a state monitor for the past three years at the RCSD, reducing the district’s number of recommendations to the state from more than 140 to less than 100. He has led three schools out of NYSED school receivership and into good standing or Local School Improvement status, improving the academic quality at each school.

He has built strong relationships with the State Education Department through this work, including his relationships with New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa and New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Lester Young. He is also well-networked with superintendents across the state and other large school districts, including Yonkers.

“As the end of the school year approaches, I will be doing everything I can to ensure that there is a smooth transition in leadership for Dr. Strickland,” said Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith. “He has the experience and accomplishments to continue doing great work in Mount Vernon, and I am looking forward to collaborating with him to ensure that the District and community are in good hands.” 

His first step in the Mount Vernon City School District will be preparing all schools and students, including those changing schools and entering a new environment, to be ready for the 2025-2026 school year on September 3. 

He also intends to meet with and listen to all stakeholders in the District; analyze student data to inform decision-making; identify priorities, areas for growth that align with District goals; and begin implementing strategies that lead to measurable, sustainable improvements in student achievement and the overall success of the District. His plan serves to meet his three goals of building trusting relationships with stakeholders, conducting a comprehensive assessment of District operations, and establishing clear communication systems.

He plans to build connections within the community for the betterment of students. He will connect with faith-based organizations, neighborhood associations, higher education institutions, local government, and organizations to ensure that students have a wide variety of opportunities available to them. 

Dr. Strickland also believes that people should be able to laugh at work and strives for a welcoming work environment. He knows he is in Jets and Giants territory but he is an avid Buffalo Bills fan, and visitors to his office will be greeted by a Bills logo as soon as they enter. He also loves travel, bowling, and karaoke in his free time.

He is looking forward to starting in the Mount Vernon City School District and working to shape the District into one where students are prioritized and all stakeholders feel valued. 

“I know the District has a necessary 3.3% increase in the tax levy to maintain our programs for students and a $272.2 million budget on the ballot May 20,” said Dr. Strickland. “As the new superintendent, I would like to encourage everyone to come out to vote.”

Environmental Leaders of Color Shine During Earth Month with Award-Winning Initiatives

DAMON K JONES
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Environmental Leaders of Color Shine During Earth Month with Award-Winning Initiatives

The Environmental Leaders of Color (ELOC) student teams made a powerful and uplifting impact throughout Earth Month this April, bringing fresh energy and innovation to environmental advocacy in Westchester County and beyond. Their commitment to sustainability, community action, and creative problem-solving continues to set an inspiring example for youth leadership.

One of the standout moments of the month was the recognition of the “Don’t Strain Your Drain” team at the Westchester County Environmental Facilities’ Annual Awards Ceremony. Held at the scenic Boat House in Tibbetts Brook Park, Yonkers, on April 25, 2025, the team was honored with the prestigious 2025 ECO Award for their outstanding efforts in environmental education and advocacy. This well-earned achievement celebrates the students’ hard work in launching a campaign that encourages homes, businesses, and municipalities to properly recycle cooking oil—protecting plumbing systems and preventing pollution in local rivers and streams.

Earlier this year, the team had the unique opportunity to present their initiative to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) in Albany. This milestone presentation was made possible by an invitation from Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, alongside other Westchester-based legislators. Adding to their growing list of accomplishments, the team was also honored during Black History Month with a Certificate of Merit from the Westchester County Board of Legislators, recognizing the impact of their environmental work.

On April 27, 2025, two ELOC student teams participated in the Bedford 2030 Greenlight Award competition, an exciting event that challenges high school students to create community-centered environmental solutions. Competing against students from schools across the region—including Rye Country Day, John Jay, Hastings, and Mamaroneck—the “Don’t Strain Your Drain” team once again impressed the judges, earning a strong third-place finish for the second year in a row. Their thoughtful presentation and steady support from family and community members highlighted their commitment to lasting change.

Joining them in the competition was the forward-thinking “Green Goose Solutions” team, who tackled the lesser-known yet impactful problem of excessive goose waste near New Rochelle High School and other public spaces. Their project explored sustainable solutions for repurposing the waste—transforming a challenge into a potential resource. Although they did not place this year, the team remains enthusiastic and is already planning to return with an even stronger proposal next year.

Together, these young leaders embody the spirit of environmental responsibility and grassroots activism. Their creativity, determination, and heart are proof that meaningful change often begins with youth.

Looking ahead, ELOC is excited to launch its Student Summer Energy & Environmental Program, a six-week initiative focused on Weather and Climate. The program will take place at various locations throughout Westchester County and is open to teens passionate about environmental justice and science. For program registration and information on cooking oil recycling drop-off, please visit www.eloc.earth.

The Yonkers NAACP Unit #2188 Returns with New Officers and Same Mission

AJ Woodson
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The Yonkers NAACP Unit #2188 Returns with New Officers and Same Mission

On Monday, May 12, 2025, the Officers and Executive Committee Members of the Yonkers Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) were sworn in at the Sarah Lawrence College Center for the Urban River at Beczak.  The ceremony was officiated by The Honorable Verris Shako, a Yonkers City Court Judge.  The national civil rights organization was established in 1909 and is America’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. The Yonkers NAACP Unit #2188 was formed in 1961 and is most known for the desegregation case entitled “United States and Yonkers Branch of the NAACP v. Yonkers Board of Education”.

The Officers and Committee Members are as follows: President-Kisha D. Skipper, Vice President-Karen Edmonson, Secretary-Nyla B. Green, Assistant Secretary-Eric A. Johnson, Treasurer-Christine Fils-Aime, Assistant Treasurer-Patricia Daugett, Executive Committee Members- Phillip Armstrong, Lydia E. Blakely, Rev. Frank E. Coleman, Jr., Rev. Margaret Fountain-Coleman, Reggie Crews, Tyrone Glover, Jeanette Harris, Steven Siebert, and Jacqueline White.

Branch President Kisha Skipper quoted the national organization’s message in expressing that “The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America…From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination.”  I look forward to working with the newly elected officers and executive committee members in the fight for racial equity and against any/all systems that negatively impact residents in and around the City of Yonkers.  The vision for the unit is to increase civic education and engagement, while continuing our advocacy and activism around housing, education, criminal justice, environmental and climate justice, and youth services.  I look forward to the reestablishment of our Youth Council and all efforts to ensure that Black people and all persons of color obtain equitable opportunities in our communities.

Past President and Vice President Karen Edmonson stated, “I felt compelled to serve especially during these unprecedented times in America. The Yonkers Branch has a long history of serving this community, having changed the educational and housing landscapes in extraordinary ways. We will continue our mission to address the gaps with hope that they will once again be narrowed.”

Immediate Past President Rev. Frank E. Coleman, Jr. added: “It is with great pleasure that the mantle can be passed to the new leadership of the Yonkers Branch.  Serving as President has been one of the most rewarding experiences since returning to New York, and I will remain committed to the mission of the organization and supportive of newly elected President Kisha Skipper and the entire Unit.

You may join this multigenerational network of activists dismantling structural racism by using your power to take action on the most pressing issues of our time. www.naacp.org.  The Yonkers NAACP will meet every 4th Monday at the Sarah Lawrence College Center for the Urban River at Beczak beginning at 7:00 PM. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Westchester County 2025 Annual Budget Vote & School Board Elections

AJ Woodson
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Westchester County 2025 Annual Budget Vote & School Board Elections

By New York State law, school board and budget elections, in all districts except the Big 5 (Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers), must be held on the third Tuesday in May. The annual Budget Vote and School Board Election will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. In some municipalities, May 20th is also Library Trustee Election. We contacted the District Clerks and attempted to compile a list of who is running, voting location(s), how many open seats, propositions, and any other pertinent information we could gather by press time! Several school districts responded after the newspaper was printed, so please keep checking this page for the most updated information. Thank you.

And your School Board and Library Board Trustee candidates are….

Ardsley School Districts (2 seats open)
Hrishi Karthikeyan
Bart Grachan

Bedford Central School District (4 seats open)
Trustee candidates (in order as they appear on the ballot) are:
Gillian Klein
Prasad Krishnan
Blakeley Lowry
Amal Shady
Robert Mazurek
Eric Florio

Briarcliff Manor School District (2 seats open)
Kenneth Torosian
Michelle Woerner

Bronxville Union Free School District (3 seats open)
Bronxville School – BLUE GYM
Michael Brandes
Elizabeth Kiehner
Matthew Zloto
Sarah Sepe
Eddie Lemmon
Peter McSherry

Proposition 1: The 2025-2026 SCHOOL BUDGET is in the amount of $55,205,497:
Proposition 2: 2025 CAPITAL PROJECT at a cost not to exceed $20M, with $5M to be expended from the “Capital Reserve Fund 2011”

Chappaqua Central School District
Board of Education candidates (in ballot order)
Tim McNamara
Ryan Kelsey
Hilary Grasso
Allison Steinbauer

Library Board (one seat open)
Pam Moskowitz

Dobbs Ferry School District (3 seats open)
Dobbs Ferry High School 505 Broadway

Eastchester Union Free School District (3 open seats)
Laurie Giacobbe
Christine Civitano-Lombardi
Matthew Fanelli

Elmsford Union Free School District
David Hecht, incumbent
Suzanne Phillips, Ed.D., incumbent
Rita Azrelyant

Harrison Central School District (2 seats open)
Your neighborhood elementary school.
Gabrielle Elfand
Samantha Giberga

Hastings-on-Hudson Union Free School District
Cochran Gym – Hastings High School
Maureen Lennon-Santana
David Weinstein
Rochelle Nelson
Elizabeth Adinolfi

Irvington Union Free School District (2 seats open)
Main Street School Gymnasium
Steven Balet
Andrea Flynn

The budget appropriation amount to be voted upon is $79,576,400 and there will be a capital reserve proposition on the ballot as well to spend on various district-wide repairs in the amount of $3,950,000

Katonah-Lewisboro School District (3 seats open)
Arwen Thomas Belloni,
Jon Poffenberger,
Carolyn Snell

Mamaroneck Union Free School District
Athena Belsito-Maikish
Stacey D’arcy

The proposed budget of $169,191,992 is a 6.27% or $9,987,429 budget-to-budget increase. The tax levy increase to support this budget is $7,050,627, or 4.98%, over the current tax levy.

Mount Vernon City School District
School Board Candidates (three seats available)
1A – Adriane Saunders,
2A – Lorna Kirwan
3A – Orville Gayle
4A – Sakai Brown
5A – Chara Gladden
6A – Erica Peterson
7A – Randolf Scott

Public Library Board Candidates (two seats available)
1A -Cynthia Crenshaw
2A – Jonathan Davis
3A – Cynthia Dickerson
4A – Tamara Stewart
5A – Hudson Trader

Voting Locations
Lincoln School, 170 East Lincoln Ave. (ED # 1)
Cecil H. Parker School, 461 South 6th Ave. (ED # 4)
Hamilton School, 20 Oak St. (ED # 5)
Traphagen School, 72 Lexington Ave. (ED # 6)
Edward Williams School, 9 Union Lane (ED # 7)
Graham School, 421 East 5th St. (ED # 9)
Rebecca Turner Academy, 625 4th Ave. (ED # 14)
Pennington School, 20 Fairway (ED # 11)
Mount Vernon Honor Academy (Formerly Holmes School), 195 North
Columbus Ave. (ED # 17)
Grimes School, 58 South 10th Ave. (ED # 22)

City School District of New Rochelle
Two five-year terms beginning July 1, 2025, ending on June 30, 2030
The Board of Education candidates, as they will appear on the ballot, are:
Myriam Decime
Elana Jacob
Jessica Klein
Rosa Rivera-McCutchen
Keith Singletary

Library Board of Trustees candidate
Corey Galloway

Proposed budget: $359,468,597 – Proposed spending increase: $11,980,95 (3.45%) – Proposed tax levy increase: 3.95%

North Salem Central School District (3) seats open
Pequenakonck Elementary School
Deborah D’Agostino
Brandy Keenan
Frances Havard

Ossining Union Free School District (2) seats open
Ossining High School gymnasium 29 S Highland Ave
Board of Education candidates (in ballot order)
Melissa Banta
Christine Mangiamele

Ossining Public Library Board of Trustees Candidates (3 seats open)
Amanda Curley
Althema Goodson
Amanda Marsh
Laurence O’Connell

Peekskill City School District
Frank Robinson Jr.
Mary Angel Flores
Jillian Villon
Hilda Kinga Portik- Gumbs

Pelham Union Free School District (3 open seats)
Pelham Middle School Gymnasium 28 Franklin Place
Natalie Marrero
Will Treves
Jackie De Angeles

Budget: Total appropriations: $96,290,000,
Tax levy increase: 3.48% (complies with tax cap)

Pleasantville UFSD (one seat open)
Erin Ballard

The Pleasantville Union Free School District presents a budget of $62,981,688

Pocantico Hills Central School District
Pocantico Hills School Gymnasium
Two (2) members for a three (3) year term commencing on July 1, 2025, and expiring on June 30, 2028, and one (1) member for the unexpired term, effective upon taking the oath of office on May 22, 2025, and expiring on June 30, 2026.
Elena Riley
Scott Graves
Charlie Minton
Joseph McGrath

Port Chester School District (1 seat open)
Chrissie Onofrio
Budget for the 2025-2026 school year is for $154,467,000

Rye Neck School District (2 seats open)
Ruth Homberg
Alex Rainert
Elizabeth Yong

Tax levy falls at the cap at 2.37%; 14th consecutive year of a tax cap-compliant budget. Budget-to-budget increase of $1,421,188 or 2.78%.

Scarsdale Public School District (3 seats open)
Scarsdale Middle School 134 Mamaroneck Road
Suzie Hahn
Colleen Brown
Laura Ying Liu

Somers Central School District (3 seats open)
Michael Ritacco
Jozef Vala
Chadwick Olsen (incumbent)
Michael Rinaldi
Ifay Chang (incumbent
Rosalind Gallino
Amanda Kandel (incumbent)

Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns (3 open seats)
Washington Irving School Auditorium for eligible Tarrytown residents
W.L. Morse School Cafeteria for eligible Sleepy Hollow residents
BOE Trustee (in ballot order)
Alex Fletcher
Ida Michael
Amanda Wallwin
Liz Santillanes
North Landesman
Kristina O’Gorman-Murphy

Tuckahoe Union Free School District (2 seats open)
(in ballot order)
Louis Campana
Joel Abrams
Seth Miran

Yorktown Central School District (three seats open)
(in ballot order)
Lisa Rolle
Cheryl Reynolds
Reshmi Bose

Proposed Budget: $123,095,000
Budget-to-Budget Increase: $3,985,000, or 3.35%
Tax Levy Increase: 1.74% (the allowable levy cap was 2.67%)

White Plains Public Schools (2 seats open)
Julia Oliva
Charlie Norris
Mohammed S. Chowdhury
Sheryl Brady

Polling Locations:
#1 – El Centro Hispano
#2 – Church Street School
#3 – Rochambeau
#4 – Highlands
#5 – Mamaroneck Ave
#6 – Ridgeway School

Trump’s Drug Price Executive Order: What It Means for Black America When Logic Meets Reality

DAMON K JONES
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Trump’s Drug Price Executive Order: What It Means for Black America When Logic Meets Reality

President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to lower prescription drug prices through a “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) policy marks a defining moment in the battle over who truly benefits from American healthcare policy. While partisan pundits will scramble to frame this through the usual left-vs-right lens, Black America has far more practical questions to ask: Will this help us afford our medication? Will this reduce the number of people in our community dying from preventable diseases? Will this force a health care system that profits off our suffering to give us a break, finally?

Black America has long carried a disproportionate share of this nation’s chronic health burdens. Black adults are 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than white adults. Over half—56 percent—of Black adults suffer from high blood pressure, a silent killer that often goes unmanaged due to limited access to consistent care. When it comes to cancer, Black Americans face the highest death rates and the shortest survival times across nearly every type. And for Black children, the disparities are even more alarming—they are five times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma and seven times more likely to die from it than their white peers.

This harsh medical reality is only worsened by the economic one: Black Americans spend more than $35 billion annually on prescription drugs, despite often living in neighborhoods that both pharmacies and primary care providers underserve.

According to the CDC, Black adults are 60% more likely than white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes, yet are less likely to afford the insulin they need. This is not due to a lack of will, but a lack of access. High drug costs act as a de facto gatekeeper, separating the insured from the cured. If Trump’s MFN rule holds and Medicare only pays what other wealthy countries pay for the same drugs, then for the first time in decades, American citizens—Black Americans especially—won’t be penalized at the pharmacy counter simply for living in the U.S.

The Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act took modest steps in drug price negotiations for a select group of drugs. Trump’s executive order takes a more aggressive stance. If the pharmaceutical industry’s panic is any indication, that means it could work—and they know it.

At a press conference supporting the executive order, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. laid bare why such a policy has never been passed before:

“There’s at least one pharmaceutical lobbyist for every congressman, every senator on Capitol Hill, and every member of the Supreme Court… The pharmaceutical industry spends three times more on lobbying than the next largest lobbying group. This was an issue nobody wanted to touch because it was radioactive… Now we have a president who can’t be bought, unlike most politicians in this country, and he is standing here for the American people.”

Dr. Mehmet Oz, now leading Medicare and Medicaid services, underscored the insanity of the current pricing system that has bled working-class Americans dry for decades:

“That means that we are paying in America four times more than the drug costs in other countries. Again, 100% is the baseline. It’s 289% above that baseline. It goes all the way down to when we’re paying 50% more than any other country. That’s the range. As pointed out by President Trump, half the time we’re paying three times more than other countries spend. It doesn’t make any sense for the system.

This is not just about Trump—it’s about someone finally doing what establishment politics refused to do. For decades, Black America has backed candidates who made healthcare reform central to their campaigns, yet prescription drug prices kept rising, while corporate profits soared. This executive order represents a departure from the status quo, and the industry’s response underscores that fact.

Who Gets Hurt?

Big Pharma’s claim that lower drug prices will “stifle innovation” should be seen for what it is: a scare tactic. Profit margins, not compassion, drive their innovation. When Sowell analyzed similar claims in housing or education, he noted that the people making these arguments are rarely the ones who suffer the consequences of policy failure. Likewise, it’s not CEOs who ration insulin or split pills in half—it’s everyday people, many of them Black and working-class.

Even if there is some impact on research budgets, the short-term benefit of saving lives today outweighs the speculative fear of what drugs might be developed decades from now. If the current pricing model keeps people from affording life-saving treatment now, what good is a miracle cure they’ll never live to see?

This executive order also forces a sobering question: Why haven’t Black elected officials championed such aggressive measures before? For decades, we’ve seen performative politics—marches, press conferences, hashtags—but very little structural change in how the healthcare system operates. Black communities have largely backed one party for generations, yet saw drug prices continue to climb, hospitals in our neighborhoods close, and access to care shrink.

Suppose a Republican president can do more in one stroke of a pen to lower medication costs than decades of Democratic health policy. In that case, it’s time to reassess whether loyalty is being repaid with results.

For Black America, the path forward is simple, if not easy. We must become issue-focused, not party-loyal. If Trump’s drug pricing order is upheld and enforced, we should not only support it—we should demand more of it. We should call out those who try to block it in the courts. We should pressure our elected leaders, regardless of party, to expand their reach and protect it from being repealed.

And if it fails or stalls, we must ask why—and who profits from our continued pain.

BW May 2025 Issue

AJ Woodson
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BW May 2025 Issue

Welcome to our May 2025 issue, the second-to-last issue before the June 24th Democratic Primary. This month, on Tuesday, May 20th, throughout the county, there will be elections for School Board and Library Board Trustees and votes for the 2025-2026 budgets. You can see a complete list of candidates on page 10. As you can see from the front cover, this issue is dedicated to celebrating the Life & Legacy of Malcolm X on pages 14-15. He would have turned 100 on May 19th. I also wrote an editorial celebrating the legacy of faith and activism (page 24). This month, our Black 2 Business spotlight is Jasmine Clarke, founder of So Jazzed Esthetics (page 12). May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and Publisher Damon K Jones penned an article, “Recognizing Black Minds Must Matter” (page 25). Andrew Wang and Dr. José Valentino Ruiz composed a powerful article on how “Beatboxing is a Therapeutic Tool for Speech Impediments (pages 20-21). And as always, we filled the pages of this issue with many other informative articles and the News With The Black Point Of View.”

As always, we would like to take this time to thank all the readers, listeners, supporters, sponsors, contributors, and advertisers for their support in our effort to deliver the “News With The Black Point Of View,” since 2014. We are always looking for writers, photographers, and interns, email BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com to inquire.

Send us your feedback, let us know what you think of this issue. Let us know subjects/topics you would like to see us cover in the future, and send your letters to the editor to BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com.

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