English Español Carey Gabay Fellowship Applications Open Legal program honors late community activist and attorney Carey Gabay. “Rare, unique, assiduous.” Born in the Bronx in 1972, Carey Watson Gabay was an early student of politics and civic engagement. Long before he earned a full undergraduate scholarship to Harvard University, the budding political scholar studied Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan during their presidential debates and took long form notes in his composition books while growing up in Co-op City. His family and friends described him as an extraordinary young man – “rare, u ..read more

English Español In death, no dignity Lawsuit against R.G. Ortiz Funeral Homes alleges “appalling” exploitation of grieving families By Debralee Santos A new lawsuit alleges egregious and deceptive services by R.G. Ortiz Funeral Homes, Inc. When Krystal González’s grandmother passed away, she arranged for the funeral home to care for the matriarch’s remains, including hair and makeup. The services were part of the contractual package between the family and the funeral home, R.G. Ortiz. But as grieving family and friends prepared to pay their last respects on the day of the viewing, González ..read more

English Español Pointed, political, poignant How Northern Manhattan artists confront the issues By Sherry Mazzocchi Image courtesy Felipe Galindo. Trump has no sense of irony. Cartoonist Felipe Galindo had long suspected the former president also lacked a sense of humor. Galindo warned his collaborator Henry Kaufman that one of their cartoons might not land as intended. Sure enough, when the cartoon of Trump surrounded by photos of Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orbán and Kim Jong Un appeared with the caption “Heroes, each one of them. A great country needs a strong man ..read more

English Español Consumer alert issued on discriminatory practices ahead of Passover “New York has zero tolerance for antisemitism and discrimination of any kind,” said Attorney General Letitia James (center), here at an April 2nd event with the non-profit Met Council. Holiday alert. New Yorkers are being urged to be careful of potential discriminatory pricing practices at car washes and with other cleaning services in the days leading up to Passover. This year, Passover starts before sundown on Monday, April 22, and concludes after nightfall on April 30. The eight-day holiday is ..read more

English Español Wash and Wear New play focuses on the trials of laundry and migration By Sherry Mazzocchi Photos: Mikiodo The new play Lost Sock Laundry centers on three women: Irene, Micaela, and Dina. After a friend told playwright Ivan Faute his Astoria laundromat was the perfect setting for a play, he paid a visit. Soon after, he had a 10-minute play. Over time, it evolved into the current full-length production presented by UP Theater, Lost Sock Laundry, premiering April 10. The play, directed by Madelyn Chapman, includes three free Spanish language translation performances ..read more

English Español “He loved so hard” Community mourns and celebrates Jerry Christal By Sherry Mazzocchi Local Inwood resident and entrepreneur Jerome Michael Christal-Gattanella passed away in February 2024. It was Jerry Christal’s smile and the photos of him cuddling with his cat Poppins that made Alia Hodge respond to him on a dating app. They clicked immediately. And soon after, the actress and the Inwood-based businessman knew they had a future together. They had a lot in common—a love of animals and of goofy TV shows like The Nanny and Seinfeld. But it was Jerome Michael ..read more

English Español Celestial Safety Get ready to gaze. Be solar safe. New Yorkers are being urged to take precautions ahead of the once-in-a-generation celestial event ahead – the Total Solar Eclipse – on Monday, April 8. On April 8, a total solar eclipse, which is when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, will encompass the western and northern parts of New York State with the roughly 100-mile-wide path of totality entering in the southwestern part of the state at just after 3:15 p.m. and departing northern New York just before 3:30 p.m. The total eclipse is a once-i ..read more

English Español Building a City of Opportunity By Eric Adams  Photos: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office As I often say, we live in a city of 8.3 million people — and 35 million opinions. But one thing all New Yorkers can agree on is that people come to our city to make it.  They come here to work, build lives, and fulfill the American Dream. And the Adams administration is committed to creating the conditions for that dream to flourish. This means doing everything we can to protect public safety, rebuild our economy, and make all five boroughs more livable for all New Yo ..read more

English Español Quitting for good Help is available. Crystal G. started smoking menthol cigarettes at 11. It was just a few at first. But by 14, her smoking had increased to a pack a day. She wasn’t alone. Both her parents smoked, and her babysitter even taught her how to make O-shapes when exhaling. But the 63-year-old retiree recently celebrated 18 entire months without a smoke. She had tried to quit before but had not been successful. An unfortunate accident at home prompted a new turn of events – an incident that Crystal now terms “a blessing in disguise.” “In June of 2022, I fell in m ..read more

English Español Holiday Haul Over $27 Million in Unused Gift Cards Recovered in 2023 Cash in your cards. Fresh off the holiday season, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers to keep track of the gift cards they received during the holidays – and to use them. In 2023, the Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF) recovered over $27 million from gift cards. Unused gift card balances can be turned over to the OUF after five years of inactivity. “Many people don’t realize that after 5 years, unused gift card balances are turned over to the Comptroller’s Office ..read more