Archives

Basement Renters Fear Tropical Storm Ida Repeat after City’s Nor’easter Advisory

By Jessica Easthope

It’s a scene fresh in the minds of New Yorkers – streets flooded, apartments destroyed and people left with nothing – and now fears are repeating.

Last month, Tropical Storm Ida swept through the area leaving behind a trail of damage. Thirteen people across the city died, 11 were Queens residents who drowned at home in illegally-converted basement apartments.

“People are very afraid, especially immigrants,” said Angel Diaz, a social justice and housing minister and advocate. “They don’t have the resources and many lost their belongings. They don’t have documentation. They need housing and many times they have large families.”

It’s estimated there are around 200,00 illegal basement apartments in New York City. Residents, often undocumented immigrants struggling to overcome skyrocketing rent and the city’s housing crisis are being driven below ground but as weather events become increasingly dangerous due to climate change they’re trapped.

“They have no choice, often paying exorbitant rent and help landlords legalize those apartments,” Angel said.

During this nor’easter, city officials advised residents of basement apartments to be ready “to move to a higher floor during periods of heavy rain” but social justice and housing advocates say it’s not that simple.

“It’s a last minute decision – where is a family supposed to go,” Angel asked.

And after Ida, the city began taking inventory.

“It is absolutely moving right now. It is a big undertaking. Our perfect world here is to catalog each and every basement apartment,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio, Tuesday, Oct. 26.

Mayor de Blasio said the count is expected to be finished in six to eight months – ahead of next hurricane season.

Police Stop Demonstrators in St. Peter’s Square Protesting Against Cuban Dictatorship

Currents News Staff

At the end of the Pope’s Angelus, a chant broke out among the crowd.

“Freedom, freedom, freedom…”

There were between 100 and 200 Cubans who had arrived from different countries in Europe to protest against the dictatorship, repression and political prisoners in Cuba.

Following protocol, the police did not allow the political protesters into St. Peter’s Square for the Pope’s Angelus.

And those who did make it into the Square had their flags confiscated.

The demonstrators lay on the ground in support of the more than 500 Cubans who were arrested following the protests in July.

The Vatican opposes violent repression and the suppression of freedom in Cuba and everywhere else, but it is nonetheless forbidden to use St. Peter’s Square for political protests.

The last time Pope Francis spoke about the situation in Cuba was in July, during the protests.

“I am also near to the dear Cuban people in these difficult moments, in particular to those families suffering the most,” said Pope Francis. “I pray that the Lord might help the nation build an increasingly just and fraternal society through peace, dialogue and solidarity.”

Since the end of August, groups of Cubans with Cuban flags have been attending some of the pontiff’s public events.

The Cuban people are dying because we lack freedom.

We come here every Wednesday and Sunday to ask for mercy and for him to intercede for the Cuban people.

“…Support, support for our people, who are dying.”

The Cuban opposition is rallying people on the island for another wave of protests on Nov. 15. But the Cuban government has prohibited them and called them illegal.

The Gut-Wrenching Story of a 15-Year-Old Haitian Kidnapping Victim

Currents News Staff

The entire country has fallen victim in some way. The economy is suffering, children fear walking to school and even to church. Everywhere people are worried that they could be next.

 A 15-year-old schoolgirl was kidnapped in September and released seven days later after an unimaginable ordeal.

“About three men were holding my hands and feet,” the young girl said. “They raped me. They took me somewhere. And I entered inside of the house. They tore off my clothes. They blindfolded my eyes and just left enough for me to see.”

Her mother says the kidnappers demanded $50,000 dollars.  The family banded together and sold everything they owned to get her back.

“They told me if I didn’t come to get her, they would kill her,” said the mother of the 15-year-old girl. “I didn’t have the money. I called my family from the countryside to help out. I negotiated with them for $20,000 Haitian dollars, but they rejected the offer. I then called my family; they sold what they had, and we settled on $30,000 Haitian dollars, and they told me they would release her.”

UNICEF says more than 100 Haitians have been abducted so far this year. The organization has provided victim’s counseling and relocation for this girl and her mom. They’ve been working with local NGO’s that cater to women in distress.

“Because we have received so many cases of kidnappings, the space has been reserved for 25 women,” said Coordinator Lamercie Charles Pierre.

Her NGO, Organization of Courageous Women in Action, is making space for more women.

“Now we have exceeded that number,” she said. “That’s why we have land. We will build a bigger center to welcome more women, more victims.”

Currents News Update for Monday, 10/25/21

Track star Sydney McLaughlin is also a graduate of Union Catholic High School and today they’re celebrating her in New Jersey.

From one celebration to another, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was on hand for the 100th anniversary of St. Ephrem’s Church in Dyker Heights.

Negotiations are dragging on between authorities in Haiti and the violent gang that kidnapped those 17 Christian missionaries more than a week ago.

Olympic Gold Medalist Sydney McLaughlin Inspires Through Faith at Union Catholic High School

By Jessica Easthope

She’s heard the roar of packed stadiums and most recently she’s felt the tremor of the crowd in Tokyo but for Sydney McLaughlin – nothing beats getting cheers from her fellow Vikings at Union Catholic High School.

Union Catholic welcomed the Olympian and 2017 graduate back, Monday, Oct. 25, with a humble homecoming. The gold medalist zooms down the track and over hurdles – but she was slow to move through the crowd of students and her former teachers and coaches.

“It’s not just me out there, it really hundreds of thousands of people behind me supporting me and I’m really grateful for everyone in this community,” Sydney said.

Mclaughlin is the current world record holder in the women’s 400 Meter Hurdles and was the first woman to break 52 seconds in the event – but she says her athletic accomplishments are nothing without God.

“Everything I’ve been given is a gift from God and it’s not my own,” she said. “Track and medals are just a byproduct of being obedient to Him.”

“She’s a wonderful role model enabling our students to grow their gifts and talents and they can be whatever God calls them to be, they can do it,” said Sister Percylee Hart, principal of the school.

During her talk to students instead of telling them to give it all on the track, she told them to give it all to their relationship with Christ and students left inspired.

“Track isn’t everything. She talks about her faith and how close she is with God and I feel like that’s an important part to being a great runner,” said Union Catholic senior Myles Plummer.

She’s an athlete who’s had all the glory on the world stage – but Sydney McLaughlin continues to give all glory to God.

COVID Vaccine for Children 5 and Up Could Be Available in November

Currents News Staff

In less than two weeks, millions of kids in the U.S. could be eligible to roll up their sleeves for a COVID-19 vaccine.

“How are we going to end the pandemic?” said National Institute of Health’s Director, Dr. Francis Collins. “The best way to do so is to have a maximum number of individuals immune, and that’s what vaccines offer you and if that includes kids, that’s all the more reason to send this virus packing.”

Pfizer is already packing, ready and waiting to ship out its COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11. It will consist of two doses, three weeks apart and each a third of a normal dose.

Pfizer says it’s about 90-percent effective against symptomatic infection.

The FDA’s vaccine advisers are scheduled to meet tomorrow, Oct. 26, to make their recommendation to the FDA, which has already said the benefits outweigh the risks.

So if and when the FDA formally makes the emergency use authorization, Pfizer is ready to get shipping.

“So it will be available for use once there’s hopefully a positive vote from the CDC,” said former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb. “So it could be as early as Nov. 4 and 5 that you can go into some locations and get your child vaccinated.”

The nation’s 28 million kids in that age group could get their first COVID-19 vaccine in just about a week and a half.

But ultimately, it’s up to parents.

“Parents ought to look at that discussion, see what the experts are saying,” said Dr. Collins. “I don’t want to get ahead of the CDC’s and FDA’s advisory process. Let’s see what they say, but the data preliminarily looks very good. I think it could make a huge difference. It would be pivotal.”

Pivotal to ending this pandemic.

Currents News Update for Thursday, 10/21/21

One Catholic chaplain’s quest to open a religious chapel at Laguardia airport has fallen short.

The Ohio-based group, Christian Aid Ministries, held a day of fasting and prayer Thursday for its 17 members, kidnapped by a violent gang in Haiti.

After COVID got in the way, the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner returns in all its glory.

Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner Celebrates Diamond Anniversary at Javits Center

By Jessica Easthope

It’s a New York staple and after the pandemic forced it to go virtual last year, the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner is back and will be hosted at the Jacob Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan Thursday.

The dinner named for former New York Governor Alfred Smith, the first Catholic to be nominated for president by a major party, has raised tens of millions of dollars over 76 years for vulnerable children and their families in the Archdiocese.

Though this year isn’t exactly a milestone – the dinner will commemorate its 75th diamond anniversary with Condoleezza Rice as the keynote speaker. Rice is the former Secretary of State and the first black woman to hold the title.

Last year the foundation made its mission COVID-19 relief. It awarded four million dollars to the Inner-City Scholarship Fund’s Emergency Tuition Assistance Program and the Archdiocese for its health services in the most hard-hit areas. Another four million dollars was given to 16 different nonprofits serving families with much needed health care.

“With that funding families were fed, mortgages were paid and children were able to participate in school,” said Condoleezza Rica.

This year both Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will attend the dinner. It will be Bishop DiMarzio’s last before his retirement.

“This is one of the events where people come together in a friendly, humorous way sometimes and just celebrate and raise some money for charity,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

In order to ensure safety during the pandemic everyone attending is required to be vaccinated and wear a mask at the dinner.

Former Priest Held Captive by ‘400 Mawozo’ Describes His Experience

The recent kidnapping of 17 missionaries by a gang in Haiti is one of many similar incidents in the country. Father Michel Briand is a French priest who was previously kidnapped by the very same gang. He recounts his experience being held hostage for three weeks as well as the gang’s tactics.