Democratic Mayoral nominee, Eric Adams fl anked by New York Attorney
General, Letitia James (right) and Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair, Rodneyse
Hermelyn Bichotte. Brooklyn Democratic Party
Caribbean Life, AUG. 27-SEPT. 2, 2021 3
By Tangerine Clarke
Caribbean Life Impact Award
recipient, Michelle A. Nicholas, was
recently appointed senior vice president,
chief diversity officer and director
of community development, at
PCSB Bank.
The young professional will be
instrumental in strengthening efforts
to further elevate the institution’s
commitment to diversity, equity,
inclusion and access, from the bank’s
headquarters in Yorktown Heights,
NY. Chairman, President & CEO, PCSB
Bank, Joseph D. Roberto, welcomed
Nicholas, stating, “Having Michelle
A. Nicholas join our team is an exciting
opportunity to further elevate
our commitment to diversity, equity,
inclusion and access.”
“Her unparalleled dedication to
community outreach will enable us
to build on our core mission of offering
the highest level of service to our
customers as caring neighbors and
business partners,” he added.
Nicholas, is responsible for shaping
the bank’s diversity, equity and
inclusion (DEI) strategy, as well as
building relationships with key leaders,
communities and organizations
throughout its lower Hudson Valley
footprint.
“I get to meld my understanding of
the financial sector with these experiences
to create rounded, robust and
informed programming that builds
capacity on both sides, for the bank
and for our host communities as well.
Community banking is real at PCSB
Bank,” she added.
“We’ve seen the success of valuing
respect, inclusion and representation,
and I will continue working with the
communities throughout our footprint
to ensure that our efforts on
their behalf are driven by robust collaboration
and relationship building.”
By Nelson A. King
Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams
has called for the Independent
Redistricting Commission (IRC) to
draw district boundaries that ensure
“fair, accurate representation” in testimony
submitted as part the ongoing
redistricting process, particularly for
communities that have been marginalized
and underrepresented through the
process in the past.
Williams noted in his testimony that
delays in state funding had stunted the
process.
“Given the time-sensitive nature of
the redistricting process, it is unacceptable
that state funding was not disbursed
to the Independent Redistricting
Commission until very recently,”
he said. “To be clear, in Fiscal Years
2020 and 2021, the governor should
have taken steps to ensure that the
IRC was able to have the necessary
time and funds to hire staff, conduct
public outreach, and perform its core
functions.
“Because the governor failed to do
so, the IRC is now working on a compressed
timeline that has presented
understandable complications, the
added. “The commission must now
take swift action to ensure all necessary
work can occur before its first map
proposals are due. It must make significant
improvements to its operations.”
The public advocate also urged the
commission to engage the public transparently
and release its draft maps as
soon as possible in order that future
hearings can be informed and effective,
saying: “Public participation in
events such as this hearing is the only
way that the IRC will be able to identify
‘communities of interest’ groups with
shared policy concerns that would benefit
from being maintained together in
a single district.”
Williams said that “New Yorkers
should play their part in informing
their neighbors about this redistricting,
especially elected officials and
community-based organizations that
have strong and lasting relationships
with residents.”
By Nelson A. King
Two potential candidates for governor
of New York on Tuesday welcomed
the swearing-in of Kathy Hockul, as
outgoing Gov. Andrew Cuomo ended
his last day on Monday after resigning
in disgrace.
New York Attorney General, Letitia
James — whose scathing investigative
report on Cuomo about alleged sexual
assault on 11 women leading to his resignation
— and New York City Public
Advocate Jumaane Williams, the son of
Grenadian immigrants, said they were
ready to work with the new governor.
“Today is a historic day for New Yorkers
with the swearing-in of our first
female governor, Kathy Hochul,” said
James in a brief statement. “I congratulate
Gov. Hochul on this incredible
accomplishment and wish her well in
her new role building on the progress
of our great state.
“I look forward to continuing to
work with her and the entire incoming
administration,” she added.
Williams said “the historic weight
of inducting New York’s first female
governor today cannot go overlooked or
underappreciated.
“From our state’s founding, it has
been a position held by white men,
except when those men were confronted
with and faced consequences for
their own failure and wrongdoing,” he
said. “As we move forward from this latest
moment of scandal, I hope we can
end this pattern by realizing what the
full array of leadership can look like.
“Gov. Hochul’s success is our success;
and, with former Gov. Cuomo now
removed from the position of power
that he long abused, it’s my hope that
we can restore power to the people, and
center our objectives on achieving justice,
equity and advancement for New
Yorkers,” Williams added.
“There are immense challenges before
our city and state, but, as I expressed to
Gov. Hochul before she assumed her
new role, I’m ready to work together to
recover from this pandemic and renew
New York,” the public advocate continued.
“As she takes office, I wish her luck
and offer her support.”
After they met in New York City, on
Aug. 17, Williams and Hochul issued
a joint statement, stating that they
had “an important dialogue discussing
issues that are of vital and immediate
importance to New Yorkers, including
expanding and escalating COVID-
19 vaccination efforts, reframing how
we address public safety while reducing
gun violence, and expediting distribution
of relief funding for renters and
owners alike.
“We also discussed the need to
remove unnecessary barriers and fund
excluded workers – largely immigrants
– who have been blocked from federal
aid,” they added. “These must and will
be immediate priorities of this new
administration.
“We look forward to working together,
upstate and downstate, to help New
Yorkers recover from this pandemic and
renew New York City,” Williams and
Hochul continued.
James is regarded as a strong potential
candidate, though she has given no
indication that she intends to enter the
race, according to the New York Times.
It also said Williams is regarded as
another possible rival, and that he was
“actively exploring” a run for governor
in 2022.
Michelle Nicholas.
Potential candidates for governor
hail Kathy Hochul’s ascension
Williams calls for ‘fair, accurate’ redistricting representation
Michelle A.
Nicholas
appointed VP
at PCSB Bank