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Artist-writer Randy Gener receives award for ‘meritorious community service’
Randy Gener, the prominent editor-writer-artist, who has been published in The New York Times, Village Voice, and American Theatre magazine, has earned a New York’s Nubian Union Legend Award at a “Chasing Stars” Holiday Gala in Greenwich Village. The Nubian Union Legend award was presented to Gener and other honorees for “outstanding leadership and meritorious […]
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Trans women, activists ridicule homicide conviction of Jennifer Laude killer
“Hand over Pemberton! No special treatment!” This is the clear message of Anakbayan-USA, a youth and student organization, in response to press reports that U.S. authorities are refusing to turn over U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton to Philippine custody after being convicted of homicide. Pemberton, who is from New Bedford, Massachusetts, was found […]
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Josie Natori lends support against domestic violence, human trafficking
By Maribelle Biscocho-Omar The New York Asian Women’s Center celebrated 33 years of unifying and empowering women in combating domestic violence. The organization presented the Phoenix Awards to fashion designer and CEO Josie Natori of The Natori Company at a gala event on October 6. “Asian women really end up getting the short end of […]
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The artist and the businessman: A present-day parable
By Cristina DC Pastor An obscure painter and a wealthy businessman met initially through an act of kindness. Their story would develop into a tale of exploitation, shame, and crime that now has New York State law enforcers and the Philippine Consulate involved. The businessman offered to shelter the artist in his Upstate New York […]
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Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler warns landlords vs illegal, multiple bedspacers
By Cristina DC Pastor The Elmhurst, Queens apartment where housekeeper Wilma de Jesus lives looks like a maze for lab rats. The living room is creatively partitioned using book shelves, wall dividers, and bamboo screens. Each space has a futon or a sleeping bag a tenant calls her bedspace. Wilma shares this apartment with a […]
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8 years in jail for ex-consular official in N.Y.? ‘Too harsh,’ say some in community
By Cristina DC Pastor The conviction of a former Philippine consular official to New York has thrust civil service ethics into the brew of political discussion: ‘She did her job well’ versus ‘She was dishonest’ is now being debated before the court of Social Media. Diplomat Ma. Lourdes Ramiro-Lopez was found by the Office of […]
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NJ Judge Carlia Brady pleads ‘not guilty’ for hiding fugitive boyfriend in her home
Suspended New Jersey Judge Carlia Magpantay Brady pleaded not guilty for harboring her fugitive boyfriend who was wanted in an armed robbery in 2013. Brady faces a possible jail time of five to 10 years for a charge Gov. Chris Christie has called “deplorable and frankly, stupid.” The plea was entered on July 15 at […]
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Commissioner Bill Bratton assures NYPD will ‘actively pursue’ investigation into death of Queens man
Police Commissioner William ‘Bill’ Bratton has given his assurance that “cases involving Filipinos will remain a high priority” for the NYPD. Bratton made this statement in a July 6 meeting with Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. at the commissioner’s office in downtown Manhattan. De Leon called on Bratton as a diplomatic courtesy and also […]
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Brooklyn DA Kenneth Thompson: ‘No political ambitions, no issues with women’
By Cristina DC Pastor Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson will always be remembered for the 2011 Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexual assault, where he represented the accuser Nafissatou Diallo. He rose to prominence for his rousing defense of Diallo, the immigrant hotel housekeeper who accused Strauss-Kahn of attempted rape, and was eventually elected in 2013. That case, […]