“LIVING IN THE DICHOTOMY!”

People /

“LIVING IN THE DICHOTOMY!” In honor of National Police Enforcement Week, I recognize Cariol Horne of Cariol’s Law. A resolution voted in by the Buffalo Common Council (8-1) on September 29, 2020, was signed into law by Mayor Byron Brown 30 days later.  I had the privilege to be a witness to the votes as they came in. To state that the energy in her home was at an all-time high as the votes came in is a gross understatement. As family and close friends gathered around a computer in her East Side home – listening and rooting as one elected official after another stated their reason in support of the resolution… then a short executive session. The interruption broug ht questions to everyone in the room, and tensions were as high as they may have been in that session. Chris Scanlon, who voted against this resolution, did not want the law to recognize the Author – “Cariol.” But with 8 Yays, the Law was secured. Regardless of the Mayor’s eventual position, whose signature was a mere formality. The People’s Elected Representatives had spoken. Cariol’s Law requires law enforcement officials to intervene in excessive and sometimes deadly force situations. But it’s more than a ‘duty to intervene in those police departments across the United States might have. She’s been to many cities across the country, speaking on her experience and how this law will help prevent deaths in the future. The six sections are: 1: Duty to Intervene when Officers Pose Imminent Threat to Citizens 2: Accountability for Officers Neglecting to Intervene 3: Protection for Officers who Intervene 4: Accountability for Falsifying Reports 5: Impacts Policy Regarding Termination and Department Funding is 6: Restorative Justice for Retaliation of Whistleblowers. Most people in Buffalo have heard of Cariol; they have seen her on TV doing interviews about the life she saved. If not for her intervention, an interaction that may have cost Neil Mack’s life! Neal Mack has been quoted as saying because of Cariol Horne – “I Can Breathe Now.”  But stepping in and doing the right thing came with a price. A price she doesn’t want other good law enforcement officers to have to pay. This experience cost her livelihood and lifestyle. And not just for hers but for the five children she was raising. Living in the Dichotomy of Doing the Right Thing & Repeatedly Witnessing the Wrong was no longer an option. This catapulted her into her new mission in life as a Community Activist. She has received awards in major cities in the past two years. She’s making it known that there is a way to end police brutality. These cities are looking to adopt similar laws/amendments to police contracts to adopt some or all the earlier components.  Senator James Sanders, NY-D, has proposed Bill S1619A. The community is being asked to write, call, and email your elected officials to urge them to make Cariol’s Law a reality for Our ENTIRE State. Follow Cariol’s Law on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Read More From This Writer All Post Food Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development People “LIVING IN THE DICHOTOMY!” May 13, 2022/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More JUWERIA DAHIR April 13, 2022/No Comments JUWERIA DAHIR The complexities of interwoven communities like Buffalo, NY might give some pause as people struggle to maintain their Read More MISS BUFFALO on the MARCH! March 13, 2022/No Comments MISS BUFFALO on the MARCH! It’s not very often when we have a striking connection with someone, and you not Read More Load More End of Content.

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UKRAINE

Peace /

While the war is raging on in Ukraine, Russia is suffering significant defeats on the Northern Front and is being pushed back as a part of Ukraine’s “strategy.” We should be aware of the possible future scenarios that can affect our livelihoods here in the United States. Those who have been investing and following the markets saw that effect last month. I have had the unfortunate experience of studying the behaviors of autocratic regimes firsthand, and the way I foresee the war going, as far as the west is concerned, are these scenarios from most likely to least likely: Putin goes out with a whimper, and things return to somewhat normal: The most likely something I see happening, the way the war is going, is Russia getting pushed back to their original borders, potentially including Crimea, and then a long defensive skirmish on the Ukrainian border while Putin hopes Russian citizens get used to the new normal and the new Iron Curtain. Finland and Sweden will join NATO without much fanfare, and eventually, war will die down years down the line. The Russian media admitted to the government’s faults when it could no longer hurt the government’s image.   Sanctions Work and Russian Government Capitulates: Despite its iron grip on the population, there will be a public disorder if food stops coming. Naturally, such regimes prioritize paying and supporting their armed forces to remain in power a lot like a warlord. A brief time of discontent can put the government on the defensive and make them negotiate ways of saving face and reaching a compromise. Instead of annexing those regions, as Russia originally wanted, the local populace could gain some degree of autonomy. Those regions can return to the way they used to be before the Meydan Protests. Still live and speak Russian but am politically part of Ukraine. It would be likely that Ukraine would join NATO and possibly the EU, while Russia would start a long rebuild of its international relations. Escalation due to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, losses in Ukraine: If Russia fails to hold its currently declared goals, it is very likely “The Special Operation” will be escalated into a full-blown war. This is important since this will allow the Russian government to start drafts and justify more extreme measures to continue the fight. It is also possible, with this newfound workforce (but lacking in materials that have not stopped the red army before), that Russia will make incursions into Finland to prevent them from joining NATO. However, I do not foresee this escalating into nuclear war for various reasons; even any escalation is unlikely, given the current circumstances. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports RISH TAKING AND CAPITAL December 13, 2022/No Comments You may have heard recently how Elon Musk has been firing, at times illegally depending on region and contract, people Read More HOW TO CONSUME MEDIA WHILE AVOIDING PROPAGANDA October 13, 2022/No Comments HOW TO CONSUME MEDIA WHILE AVOIDING PROPAGANDA Let’s start by stating the obvious, corporate media not only lies but also Read More EMBRACE STREAMING September 13, 2022/No Comments EMBRACE STREAMING “Change your perspective and reality changes” — Aristoteles Last month we talked about one of the biggest questions Read More Load More End of Content.

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INTERVIEW #18: FEATURING STEHANNIE ALCAZAR

Interviews, People /

I don’t think I ever fully believed in myself until I started writing this column. Honestly, I’ve spent most of my life scared of nothing. By writing, I have gotten to know myself and my dreams again.  As I started to follow another plan of forming my LLC (Limited Liability Corporation), I reflected on the commonalities in my experience and the experiences shared by some of the Latina HerStory alumni. It seemed – like life- being in business was more complicated – just because I was Latina. I remember searching for Latina-owned businesses to work with for Latina Herstory, and it was hard. I realized what I was looking for didn’t exist: (1). a centralized listing of Latina owned businesses (that was inclusive of a home or small niche business that are characteristic of our core economies of our community); and (2). a group of women that I shared common values and life experiences with that I could talk to about business. So late one night, on our Latina Herstory page, I added a tab that reads “Latina Business Directory.” It turns out; It’s the only one in New York. It’s the only page exclusively dedicated to Latina businesses in New York, accompanied by an accessible private community. Its history, ironically, one  month in or so, we had a gathering, we had  15 seats, sold 19 tickets, and we outsold. We started a community digitally, which has grown into 40 plus Latina women and our allies. One of the women in attendance’s name was Stephannie Alcazar (two n’s on purpose), a woman who brought the spirit of the city of lions (a nickname for Ponce) to the table. Stephanie is the woman who will marry my two projects, who embodies the values that have propelled me forward, and a work ethic incomprehensible to even some of the most brutal moms I know. Thus, our Latina HerStory features will be businesswomen listed on our directory each month. Each month we will marry our column with a podcast broadcasted on Facebook that will bring our communities together and encourage others to learn about independent Latino-owned papers and local journalism. We will ultimately form a fund to build a giving circle and issue microloans to our members. Big dreams and I need big help, so again, Stephannie. In 200 words or so, she dares to believe in people more than themselves. Ella de Ponce, Fuerte is elegant, intelligent, sensitive, and easily one of the most generous people I have ever met. Spoiler alert, there’s a lot more to this amazing woman who also happens to be the proud Latina owner of “Wonderland’s Soothing Creations.” She will be everywhere in May. Look for her interview in print in our papers. If you want to catch a glimpse of her life, join our Latina HerStory or LatinasinBusinessNY communities and view the first episode of our podcast. The reason I chose to write about Stephannie is not that she’s donating 40% of her profits to LatinasinBusinessNY and granting 10% off on her entire shop for the month of May for any purchases using the Promo Code: LIBNY716 or because she makes me feel like I can take over the world. When you open yourself up to God’s love in the form of people, it can be a mighty blessing. Even her “formation story” (the story of why you started your business) is inspirational. Stephanie’s motivation to start her business centers on her love for her special needs son and his sensitivity to harsh indigents. She started making soap as a mom (her favorite job). One of her greatest assets (admittingly) is her partner in life and business, Joseph Santiago; he suggested they start a business after Stephannie lost her job during Covid, and she hasn’t looked back since. Stephannie wakes at 5 am and makes a LatinaHerstory every day- support her like you do our column. THE INTERVIEW What advice do you have for other Latinx people who want their voices to be heard in their community? I would tell them not to give up fighting for what they want to achieve; it’s not about winning. It’s about not giving up What is your theory on human potential?  The limit is the sky, and people have already made it to the moon. I believe that everyone has potential, but to use that potential, they need to figure out what they want to do and what they want to achieve. What experience do you have as a businessperson?  As a businessperson, some of the best experiences I’ve had so far are that I’ve grown as a person, and I never stop learning. Also, now I make plans- I try to be more organized, and I get to be more creative at the same time. I’ve learned to be more open-minded, and I’ve learned to manage my time better.   How would you define a businessperson?  I believe a businessperson must be committed, decided, and can create their path: a person willing to take the risk and the chance to achieve their goals. 5. Is there a local business person you look up to? I look up to those local businesses still standing even when they’ve struggled to stay up and run but didn’t give up. I look up to those business owners that day who fight hard for what they want and don’t give up, and if they fall, they get up and come back stronger even if I don’t know them personally; I know they are out there in this region. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics INTERVIEW #31: MARIA CRUZ July 4, 2023/No Comments On June 2, 2007, I posted my first Facebook photo. I made identity-affirming Latina-centered student content before it was seen Read More INTERVIEW #30: CASSANDRA BOCANEGRA PONCE June 4, 2023/No Comments My son is a six-year-old CEO. We started

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