Author: tourist_yp6g7u

For the fourth summer in a row, cases of COVID-19 are on the rise. According to the CDC, there was a 12.5% increase in COVID related hospitalizations in the United States between July 31, 2023, and August 7, 2023. Part of the rise may be due to the EG.5 variant circulating in the United States and China. In a recent YouTube video published this month, the American Medical Association’s Vice President of Science, Medicine, and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, spoke about the 2023 COVID cases increase. 

She said that “the amount of Coronavrius being detected in wastewater, the percentage of people testing positive for the virus, and the number of people who are seeking care for COVID in emergency departments, have all started increasing since early July. So these could definitely be indicators of a late summer wave. I think I would add to that the other metric that we continue to look at is hospital admissions and those also recently began ticking upwards for the first time in quite a while.”

Garcia’s comments regarding Coronavirus wastewater levels are supported by data from the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network, which also shows increases in coronarius levels over the past few weeks, with some areas experiencing as much as a 68% increase in levels as of August 3, 2023. 

According to the authors of a recent article in the journal Nature, “[b]ecause SARS-CoV-2 appears to be more transmissible than influenza and other seasonal respiratory viruses, it seems likely that year-round SARS-CoV-2 activity will remain elevated compared to other pathogens. COVID-19 continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality throughout the year, including outside of the traditional viral respiratory season.”

Each year we have seen an uptick in COVID cases starting in the late summer and peaking during winter so now is a great time to get fully vaccinated and boosted if you are not already and to begin testing before and after large gatherings. You can schedule a free PCR test in New York City by calling 212-COVID-19. Visit amsterdamnews.com/covid for more resources including where to get free masks and at home tests.

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released a statement earlier this month regarding the increase in COVID cases, saying “there is currently a slight increase in COVID-19 transmission in New York City. Both cases and hospitalizations started picking up in mid-July, but overall remain low. Right now, there is nothing to suggest that COVID-19 is more transmissible or more lethal, but of course, as we’ve learned over the last three years, things can change with this virus, and we are constantly monitoring the situation.” 

According to the DOHMH statement, “the good news is that we have the tools to keep New Yorkers safe. If you or anyone you know has symptoms that could be a sign of COVID-19 or if you or someone you know were recently exposed, get tested right away. And if you test positive, make sure to get treatment by calling your provider or 212-COVID-19. If you are an older New Yorker or immunocompromised, or live with someone who is, wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings can prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

In an interview with the AmNews, when asked about where we are with respect to COVID, Lisa Sanders, MD, FACP, Medical Director of Yale’s Long Covid Multidisciplinary Care Center said “It’s still a pandemic. . .lots of people die every year. More people die of COVID than the flu. It is still with us. It’s still there.”

Indeed COVID has disproportionately impacted communities of color, killing more than 20,000 Black New York city residents since 2020. If we are to live with COVID then we must continue to respect this dangerous affliction by taking care to protect ourselves and the most vulnerable among us.

For additional resources about COVID-19, visit www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/index.page or call 311. COVID-19 testing, masks, and vaccination resources can also be accessed on the AmNews’ COVID-19 page: www.amsterdamnews.com/covid/. For COVID-19 Express site: nyc.gov/covidexpress. At-home rapid test kits are available for pickup at: nyc.gov/covidtest.

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Following a festive, productive week, attention can be turned to the musical cousin of hip hop — music from the islands.  A few days prior to the annual West Indian Day Parade, an unforgettable night celebrating Caribbean music’s rich history spanning many generations will emanate from Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre on August 31 at 8 pm EST.  

Caribbean music has had a profound impact on the global music scene, influencing and inspiring countless artists across genres. From Reggae’s laid-back grooves to Soca’s infectious rhythms and Dancehall’s high-energy beats to Calypso’s storytelling melodies, the Caribbean has given birth to a rich tapestry of musical styles that have captivated audiences worldwide. Now, it’s the perfect time to honor and celebrate these immense contributions.  

 The Caribbean Music Awards is not just an awards ceremony; it’s a night for the entire Caribbean music and entertainment community to come together in a dazzling display of talent, creativity, and cultural richness. It is a time to recognize the artists, producers, and industry professionals who have significantly shaped and propelled the Caribbean music landscape to international acclaim. But the excitement doesn’t stop there, the Caribbean Music Awards has partnered with the global powerhouse YouTube to bring this extraordinary event to audiences worldwide. Through a live stream on YouTube, music enthusiasts from every corner of the globe will have the opportunity to join the festivities, immerse themselves in the energy of the Caribbean, and witness the magic unfold in real time. It’s a chance for fans, both near and far, to be part of a historical moment in music.

With an electrifying lineup of performances, presenters, and nominees, this extraordinary event will be a breathtaking celebration of Caribbean music and entertainment. With his unrivaled charisma and infectious energy, Grammy Award-winning artist Wyclef Jean will take center stage as the dynamic host for this historic occasion.

Along with a full range of thrilling performances, the night of celebration for Caribbean Music will see overall appearances from Spice, Baby Cham, Toni-Ann Singh, and electrifying performances from Alison Hinds, Jada Kingdom, Dexta Daps, Kranium, Lila Ike, Nailah Blackman, Ding Dong, Rupree and more. Reggae legend Beres Hammond will also be honored with an ‘Elite Icon Award.’ The esteemed award will commemorate Hammond for his contributions to elevating and enriching the face of Reggae music for several decades.  Trinidadian singer, record producer, and songwriter Machel Montano is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dazzling contributions as a leader of the sound and style of Soca music to the global music scene.  

 Leading the inaugural set of nominations in twenty-six categories across various genres, including Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Kompa, and Zouk is Kes, with five nominations. The Trinidadian soca group’s nominations include ‘Best Soca Artist of the Year,’ ‘Performer of the Year,’ ‘Collaboration of the Year,’ ‘Video of the Year,’ and ‘Artist of the Decade.’ Masicka, Ding Dong, Machel Montano, and Shenseea tie for the second-highest number of nominations with four nominations as Spice, Skeng, Dexta Daps, DJ Cheem, Kabaka Pyramid, Protoje, Nailah Blackman, & Dexta Daps earn the third-highest number of nominations with three nominations.

Before the final sentence, condolences to the family of Melvin Barcliff, also known as Magoo of the Timbaland and Magoo fame.  

Over and out.  Holla next week.  Until then, enjoy the nightlife!

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On the morning of Thursday, August 10, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver was escorted to the New Jersey State House Rotunda by the Honor Guard of the New Jersey State Police. A private viewing ceremony took place in the morning, in which hundreds of state officials, state lawmakers, members of Congress, and local officials waited in line to pay their respects at the foot of her casket.

Rev. Al Sharpton, President and Founder of the National Action Network (NAN), will deliver the eulogy for Oliver, at the request of her family, Saturday, August 12 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.

Oliver, Governor Phil Murphy announced the commissioning of her official portrait for display in the New Jersey State House. A portrait will also be commissioned for Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, who served as New Jersey’s first Lieutenant Governor.

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As baseball fans gear up for the home stretch, there are several division races that are starting to take shape. 

You have teams like Atlanta and Los Angeles in the National League who have bashed their way to large division leads. Meanwhile, no other division leader has built a lead larger than five games. 

With so many close races potentially coming down to the wire, there will be plenty of opportunities for MLBbros on every division-leading roster to have an impact on October. Up first, the American League. 

Baltimore Orioles

Typically, when we mention MLBbros and a battle for the AL East crown, we are talking about the Yankees. This season there’s a new bunch looking to claim the pennant, as Cedric Mullins and the Baltimore Orioles continue to hold firm atop the division. 

Mullins has provided more pop for an impressive Orioles lineup, slugging .609 with two homers and six RBI over his last seven games. 

Minnesota Twins

Over the past week Twins slugger Byron Buxton has looked like the All-Star Twins fans have grown to love. 

Buxton had a recent slash of .375/.444/.833 over his last seven with nine hits in 24 ABs including two homers, six RBI and six runs scored. 

Once the Cleveland Guardians decided not to be buyers at the deadline, this division was pretty much gift wrapped for Minnesota. Now they just have to see it through.

Texas Rangers

After being scoffed at for spending big on their middle infield, Marcus Semien and the Rangers get the last laugh as they head into one last Texas showdown with Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros.

Semien’s production has been a key component to victory all season for Texas, and he has consistently delivered. Over his last 30 games, Semien is slashing .307/.398/.544 with seven homers, 16 RBI, 17 walks and 26 runs. Dusty’s boys won’t be going anywhere, so Marcus will need to continue this pace if they want to hold on to that division.

National League:

Atlanta Braves

MLBBro.com has been all over Mike Harris since he made his debut last season, and this year has been more of the same. Michael has been spectacular for the Braves and has re-established himself as an elite left-handed hitter since a slow start. 

Harris has been so good that the Braves have moved him back up to No. 2 in the batting order to begin a three-game series with the New York Yankees at Truist. 

Milwaukee Brewers

Despite the hot start for Chicago Cubs injured hurler Marcus Stroman and the talented bunch of youngsters over in Cincinnati putting up numbers, Devin Williams and the Milwaukee Brewers once again find themselves poised to take the NL Central. 

Devin has continued to dominate, posting a 3-1 record with a 0.00 ERA, nine saves and 27 strikeouts over his last 14 innings pitched. His changeup is arguably the most devastating off-speed weapon in the game, so Brewers batters will need to do everything in their power to get the ball in his hands with a lead.

Los Angeles Dodgers

If not for his own teammate Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts would be getting the full Hollywood push for Most Valuable Player. 

Not only has Mookie taken on the added responsibility of playing the infield when needed, Betts is putting up one of his best offensive seasons ever. 

Mookie was hitting .287 with 31 homers, 80 RBI and an OPS+ of 156 when the Dodgers hosted the Brewers on Tuesday night, as they have overtaken the young Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. 

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The biggest change for the Houston Astros has been the return of their offense.

Since the All-Star break, Houston has been sending balls into orbit with regularity and sending runners around the basepaths. They lead the AL in runs and RBI, are second in home runs and walks, and rank third in batting average and OPS.

Guiding the team through all of this has been Dusty Baker. 

On May 1st, the Houston Astros were just 16-13, with the sixth-best record in the American League. One month later, the Astros were ten games above .500 but had fallen further behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West standings, trailing by 2.5 games.

June was brutal, as Houston suffered four-game and five-game losing skids, but they closed that month by winning four of their last five.

Houston Astros 5th In Standings On July 1 

The defending American League champs were still sitting fifth in the standings on July 1st. The World Series letdown talk was rampant.

However, since then, the Astros are 23-12. Over their last 20 games before Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels, Houston had been tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the best record in the AL with 13 wins during that stretch.

And yet, there are consistent calls and even petitions to have Baker fired. Those who want to see Dusty go can point to the team’s lackluster records in close games and overall losing record against winning teams.

Houston’s pitching staff has been mediocre at best, carried by the offense. 

Baker Has Achieved Unprecedented Success Since Joining Astros 

Still, since Baker took over as manager prior to the start of the 2020 season, the Astros have been to the American League Championship Series three times, advanced to the World Series twice, and won it all last year.

They’ve experienced only two months with a losing record under Baker and have won almost 61 percent of their regular season games in August, September, and October since the start of the 2021 season. 

In the postseason, the Astros are 28-14 with Baker in the dugout, posting an impressive .667 winning percentage. Both marks outpace his overall regular season (.591) standards and surpass his overall postseason percentage as well (.526).

Let’s not forget how Dusty single-handedly navigated the Astros through the aftereffects of the “cheating scandal” under former manager AJ Hinch. Dusty’s presence at the helm softened the venom from opposing fans and media because of the respect and reverence he’s acquired since he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 26th round of the 1967 MLB Draft.

Dusty Baker Has Houston Sitting Pretty 

A baseball season is a marathon. It is a battle of endurance. As the cliche says, “You want to be playing your best baseball at the end of the year.”

Looking at the American League landscape, Houston is where it wants to be. The schedule down the stretch isn’t easy, but the Astros only face four teams with winning records away from Minute Maid Park the rest of the way.

Perhaps the Astros haven’t reached their peak this season. But based on Baker’s record, any panic at this stage is unwarranted.

The Houston Astros are expected to be in the mix for another world championship come late October. 

But win or lose, Baker’s legacy is cemented.

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This weekend, the Gardiner Foundation will hold its 18th Annual Gardiner Memorial Basketball Classic at St. James Park, located on West 192nd Street and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx.

Over the past three decades, the tournament has grown into one of the most well-attended and impactful events on the New York City summer basketball landscape because of its social-emotional and educational objectives for youth. School supplies, bookbags, five college scholarships, the raffling of iPads, and the offering of free food will accentuate the two-day gathering. The basketball games will begin at noon Saturday and Sunday.

The Classic is founded and operated by Dexter Gardiner, who showcased his skills at SUNY-Canton and was a fixture in the 1980s and 90s at tournaments, such as the Entertainers Basketball Classic at Rucker Park and the Gun Hill Tournament in the Northeast Bronx, earning a reputation as a prolific backcourt scorer.

Similarly, a noted player, his twin brother Derrick was tragically killed in a horrific car accident in July of 2006 on the Bronx River Parkway. The crash claimed the lives of six members of the Gardiner family. Dexter, of Jamaican heritage, was subsequently compelled by his Christian faith to commit to a life of service, establishing the Gardiner Foundation as an attestive part of his legacy.

“Uplifting others and creating pathways and opportunities for the youth is deep in my spirit,” Gardiner said to this writer early this month. “When I see some of the kids who came through our foundation and witnessing the success they are having now as good students, having strong family values, and making a positive difference in their communities, it reinforces our mission.”

Based in the Northeast section of the Bronx, the foundation aids underprivileged families, providing them with food and monetary assistance, grants college scholarships to high school students, sponsors turkey giveaways during Thanksgiving, and organizes children’s toy drives during the Christmas holiday, among other initiatives.

With roots in the island of Jamaica, Dexter operates the foundation out of its base in the North Bronx, where he was raised and honed his hoop skills, leading him to SUNY-Canton. In the mid-80s, Dexter became the nation’s leading junior college in the school’s division. The symmetry of his eternal bond with Derrick is accentuated by the latter also leading the country in scoring for one season while attending Bronx Community College.  Dexter has used basketball as a vehicle to mentor numerous young men and women, teaching them the game but, more importantly, life skills. His efforts have helped spur a cadre of college players and high academic achievers who have leveraged athletic and academic scholarships into college degrees and successful careers in various fields.

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The long speculation ended on Monday when Dalvin Cook became a New York Jet. 

For weeks, the four-time Pro-Bowl running back seemingly had focused his options on the Jets and his hometown Miami Dolphins after spending his six-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings. The Jets reaffirmed their commitment to making a Super Bowl run this season by signing Cook to a one-year deal worth up to $8.6 million.
He now allows Breece Hall, who was arguably the leading candidate for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award last season before tearing his ACL and meniscus in his left knee on October 23 in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos, to gradually build his strength and endurance. 

Ultimately, Hall’s teammate, Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, was named Rookie of the Year.  

The combination of the 28-year-old Cook and Hall could eventually emerge as the best backfield tandem in the league. Hall, drafted 36th overall by the Jets out of Iowa State in 2022, returned to practice on Tuesday after being activated from the physically unable to perform list (PUP). He was well on his way to exceeding 1,000 yards rushing a season ago before his injury. The Omaha, Nebraska, native had 463 in seven games.  

Cook ran for 1,173 yards last season and had 39 catches for 295 yards receiving. The last time the Jets had a 1,000-yard rusher was Chris Ivory (1,070) in 2015. 

The Giants backfield will also be led by Saquon Barkley, like Cook, one of the elite performers at his position in football. But both the Jets and Giants are still endeavoring to shore up their respective offensive lines, critical to the success of both teams.  

Giants rookie John Michael Schmitz had a promising showing versus the Detroit Lions last Friday in his team’s 21-16 preseason opening road loss. A second-round pick (No. 57) from the University of Minnesota, Schmitz is expected to help stabilize an evolving front that is led by left tackle Andrew Thomas, the fourth overall pick by the Giants in 2020. Thomas was named Second-Team All-Pro after a stellar 2022 campaign. He was rewarded with a five-year, $117 million deal in July.  

The Giants hope right tackle Evan Neal has a comparable trajectory. The Alabama product, drafted No. 7 last season, possesses the necessities to be an elite tackle but struggled as a rookie. He was diagnosed with a concussion sustained at a Giants practice on August 4 and remained in concussion protocol at the start of this week’s practices. 

The Giants host the Carolina Panthers tomorrow at MetLife Stadium in the second of their three scheduled preseason games. The Jets will be at MetLife on Saturday to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Anthony Joshua is trying to make the climb back to the heavyweight mountaintop.

The former two-time unified heavyweight world champion (26-3, 23 KOs) landed a powerful right hand that sent opponent Robert Helenius down, and referee Victor Loughlin quickly stopped the fight Saturday at the O2 Arena in London. It is the second brutal knockout Helenius (32-5, 21 KOs) has suffered in the past 10 months. He was floored even more viciously by former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder last October. A Joshua vs. Wilder fight finally seems destined, and is rumored to be in the works for early next year.

In an action-packed Saturday fight day, Emanuel Navarrete (38-1, 31 KOs) retained his WBO junior lightweight world title with a unanimous victory (116-112, 118-110, and 119-109) over fellow Mexican pugilist Oscar Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) in Glendale, Arizona.
On yet another boxing card, Emmanuel Rodriguez became a two-time IBF bantamweight champion on Saturday evening with a unanimous victory over Melvin Lopez at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland. Rodriguez (22-2, 13 KOs) dominated the fight, dropping Lopez (29-2, 19 KOs) three times in the final round to earn 120-105 on each scorecard.
Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez and undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo stared each other down for the first time on Tuesday at the Palladium in Times Square in Midtown Manhattan on the first leg of a two-city press conference tour before their upcoming clash on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, to be aired on Showtime PPV.

Many think Canelo is not the same dominant fighter he was in rising to become an all-time great (sentiments shared by this writer), in large part because of punishment suffered in his loss to Dmitry Bivol and his first two battles with Gennady Golovkin. In addressing that speculation, Canelo said, “It’s good that people are saying I’ve lost a step. It’s fine. I know why I didn’t look as good in my last two fights. I know why and I’m different now. I’m preparing now for a different type of fighter.”

Charlo discussed not only why he took the fight, but what will motivate him to defeat the Mexican legend. “I just want to quiet my haters and doubters, and turn non-believers into believers,” he asserted. “I’ve watched a lot of great people in the sport of boxing and now I think this is the best moment for me to leave my mark. With two great fighters in there, you get nothing but fireworks. When this fight presented itself, it was a no-brainer to make this happen.”

Charlo certainly would quiet his haters if he jumps two divisions, adds up to 14 pounds, and defeats Canelo.

Aljamain Sterling, who defeated Henry Cejudo to retain his UFC bantamweight title at UFC 288 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, will return to the Octagon to defend his title against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 on Saturday at the TD Garden in Boston. The prelims will air on ESPN+ and ESPN, while the main card will air on ESPN+ PPV.

Finally, the PFL Playoffs will take place at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Aug. 18, when the men’s heavyweights and women’s featherweights will battle, and Wednesday, Aug. 23, when the lightweights and welterweights will compete. PFL will air on ESPN and ESPN+.

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Over the past week, the New York Liberty has won three games, clinched a spot in the WNBA playoffs with a month still remaining in regular season play, and set several franchise landmarks. This includes a stunning 82-63 win over the Las Vegas Aces in the Commissioner’s Cup, showing that a long-elusive WNBA Championship may actually come to fruition.

While the in-season Commissioner’s Cup tournament games are not included in the standings, it was a significant event for the players, with notably each of the Liberty earning a $30,000 winner’s share. 

“Things have been coming better and better for us after the All-Star [break],” said Sandy Brondello, now in her second season as the Liberty’s head coach. “We knew we were going to be a good team. We knew it would take some time to get the chemistry together.”

In defeating the Indiana Fever 100–89 this past Sunday, the Liberty established a new franchise record with its 24th win of the season. The victory also marked the Liberty’s fifth 100-point game and set a franchise record road winning streak of seven consecutive games.

“I was getting some good looks, they were switching a lot, just continuing to read what the defense gave me, and that just kind of continued throughout,” said Breanna Stewart, who is making a strong case for MVP with her third 40-point performance in the win over the Fever. “I’m really happy with how we all played in general.”

Jonquel Jones described Stewart as a leader on the team. 

“We look to her to talk to us and share her insights…You see where we started as a team and the way the season has been going for us. She’s never wavered in what she’s brought to this team and her professionalism and her belief in what we’ve brought together. Definitely our MVP, and hopefully at the end of the season, we can be where we need to be because I think she definitely deserves it,” said Jones.

As stellar as Stewart’s play has been, the Liberty’s success has been a collective effort. Jones had a double-double—15 points and 12 rebounds—against the Fever. Sabrina Ionescu continues to put on an offensive show, and Betnijah Laney has also been outstanding. Stefanie Dolson has returned from injury and put up 7 points versus Indiana.

“We’re playing at the right pace, and we understand where we all need to be and how the other team is obviously defending us,” said Brondello. “[Low turnovers] means we’re playing really selfless and finding the best shots possible and we’re making them.”

The Liberty are on the road this week and next week, facing the Phoenix Mercury tomorrow, the Connecticut Sun next Thursday, and the Minnesota Lynx on August 26. They return to the Barclays Center for a rematch with the Aces on August 28.

The post The formidable Liberty Aces in WNBA Commissioner’s Cup appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Harlem’s Food Bank for New York City’s Community Kitchen and Pantry held its second annual block party and food giveaway in celebration of Harlem Week this past Sunday.

The Food Bank (116th St and Frederick Douglass Boulevard) has been a lifeline for Harlem residents since 1984. A food bank distributes emergency free meals. In the New York City area, there are about 800 food programs across the city that serve 1.8 million New Yorkers facing food insecurity on an annual basis. 

It was sunny and hot for the 2023 block party, with music playing to entertain people as they sought refuge in the shade with weighted-down plates of food. Community members lined up in front of the triple-plated outdoor grill or the fresh produce stand, waiting eagerly for their turn. Kids played with chalk in a sectioned-off activity station. 

Chef Sheri Jefferson, a 59-year-old Bronxite, has led the Food Bank’s culinary team for the last seven years. She and her crew were poised over the hot grills for hours, preparing cole slaw and cooking hamburgers, franks, barbequed chicken, and baked beans for anyone who wanted a treat. Jefferson, smiling widely while surrounded by wafts of smoke and soaked in sweat, said that was where she was meant to be.

“I believe [in] everything we do here every day,” said Jefferson. “Food is life.”

She was happy that the vision for the event had come to fruition and was quite ecstatic about this year’s turnout.

“We want people to know that the community kitchen is here for them and we have services for them,” said Food Bank Director Sultana Ocasio. 

Ocasio, who was at the block party with her young daughter, said Food Bank also runs a pantry with free groceries, helps with anti-hunger solutions and budgeting ideas, prepares hot meals, and assists residents with applying for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at their Harlem site. For the block party, Ocasio estimated that they distributed about 400 meals with the donated produce and food.

“It means for [a family] that they are not alone and uncared for,” said Ocasio. “When you have a food program that is open to the public that is easily accessible, you’re acknowledging the humanity in the next person. You’re human, I’m human. I have to eat, you have to eat.”

The Food Bank has helped the city weather numerous crises, said Ocasio. During the COVID pandemic, there was an allotment increase for SNAP benefits nationwide to address the sharp rise in food insecurity. For almost three years since then, families of all class backgrounds came to rely on benefits or supplemental groceries from food pantries to get by. The allotment ended in March 2023, decreasing as food prices inflated. Ocasio said the end of the allotment affected a lot of residents and the emergency food network as a whole.

“Folks [who] had those benefits, they were dropped, so we immediately saw our numbers spike,” said Ocasio. The numbers are not like the height of COVID, but the Food Bank is still seeing a need for its services, she said.

Ocasio said in disadvantaged communities and even in objectively “wealthy” neighborhoods in the city, there are residents who live in pockets that lack access to food, especially with the onslaught of the migrant crisis that began last year. According to recent city numbers, there are more than 57,000 asylum seekers in the city, in addition to the homeless population, who need shelter, food, and services currently. The Food Bank is already a crisis management agency when it comes to food, so it was able to adapt to support food programs that saw more migrants, said Ocasio.

“I know that we have seen migrants come to the community kitchen, and there were times in the winter when [although] we don’t typically take donations of clothing, some Venezuelan migrants had come in literally in flip-flops and T-shirts. They were unprepared for the weather and it was very frigid,” said Ocasio. “Luckily, we had some new coats from a partner…realizing that it was a crisis situation.”

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

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