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| From the Village of Brooklyn | OOURUR TTIMEIME PPRESSRESS THE LOCAL PAPER WITH THE GLOBAL VIEW | VOL. 21 NO. 16 Since 1996 April 20 – 26, 2017 | View From Here PUBLIC ADVOCATE JAMES STANDS UP, Trump Nears O'REILLY DOWN... and OUT 100 Days ■ By David Mark Greaves hat have you got to lose?” Trump asked the black community as a candidate.W And we knew in our bones the answer now confirmed: The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Yes, a very busy first hundred days. Only 1,360 more to go. We are close to nuclear war says Kim Jong un, Supreme Leader of North Korea. North Korea must “Behave,” says President Trump. Crazy meets crazy at the Korean Peninsula and millions of lives are at risk. Not even 100 days into this man’s presiden- cy and we are unbelievably a hairsbreadth away from a nuclear exchange. To think of the “what ifs” that are possible is to have the mind rebel at the thoughts. What if Kim Jong un conducts another nuclear test. And what if Trump responds with a preemptive Fox News has just confirmed that they have fired Bill O’Reilly following multiple explosive allegations of sexual strike on North Korean missile targets and harassment, racial discrimination, and outrageous conduct. To be clear: I welcome this development and O’Reilly Kim responds with a nuclear attack on the will not be missed. But it is important to remember that this decision by Fox News is long overdue. The network aircraft carrier Carl Vincent strike force, tolerated his behavior for years, keeping the accusations under wraps and continuing to profit from a flood of killing military personnel and destroying advertising dollars. It was only under enormous pressure from the public—and from advertisers responding to the military assets, does the U.S. have a nuclear public’s demands—that the network finally took steps it should have taken years ago. Continued on Page 3 response that would avoid civilian casual- ties? Do civilian lives matter, even in this instance? Is he willing to sacrifice the lives of the people of South Korea and Japan now RestorationArt -- New Initiative of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration in order to stave off a possible attack on the U.S. mainland in the future? Would there Corporation Currently Celebrating its 50th Year – Restores be anyone in the Situation Room willing to reject Trump’s next order and say, “No Mr. Central Brooklyn as Epicenter of Black Culture in America President, we must stand down?” What’s Newly Renovated Billie Holiday Theatre Poised for Unveiling on May 9 a president to do? st On the other hand, assuming the Establishes Landmark Venue as 21 Century Creative Complex Apocalypse is not upon us, we can fret Committed to Revolutionary Storytelling over how we have to send an envelope * * * with economic solutions, health and fitness, “The Billie Holiday Theatre was an with check enclosed to the IRS, while the and our work with local entrepreneurs and important stepping stone for so many of us ulitzer, Tony, MacArthur president, who bragged about not having to the community, we are witnessing the true young Black actors back in the day, honing Winners will be among the pay taxes and who refuses to make public transformative impact of the arts on people’s our acting chops,” said acclaimed actor and celebrants of Spring Launch his returns, gets to “reform” the tax code lives.” film producer, Samuel L. Jackson. “I am initiatives; Among the participants: by getting rid of the estate tax which only P “RestorationArt is both a call and a re- thrilled to know that it is being preserved Lynn Nottage, Ruben Santiago, Leslie impacts the top 2% of taxpayers and the sponse to artists and audiences alike to join for the next generation of actors and theater Uggams, Jason Moran, Sonia Sanchez, Alternative Minimum Tax, which forces us to explore, as well as to tackle, issues artists.” Simone Missick, Ronald K. Brown, Bran- billionaires like those in Trump’s cabinet of inequality that are real and persistent RestorationArt also opens newly-convert- don Dirden, Roslyn Duff, Dominique to pay something for the riches the nation in Central Brooklyn and in communities ed ground floor rehearsal studios to complete Morriseau and 50 Women Writers from has provided them. across the nation,” said Dr. Indira Etwaroo, an ecosystem of diverse creative expression, all walks of life There is a growing realization among Executive Director of RestorationArt and providing its programs, artists and arts insti- Republican lawmakers that their constitu- Forged in the kiln of the Civil Rights the Billie Holiday Theatre. RestorationArt tutions-in-residence state-of-the-art spaces to ents are more interested in seeing Trump’s Movement and birthed during Central launches with the full force of our 50-year develop new works and engage the commu- taxes than they were led to believe and Brooklyn’s “urban decline,” Bedford commitment to serve on the front lines of nity in unique and meaningful ways. now they find they want to see them as Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation social justice. The critical need for a creative Restoration’s 50th anniversary year, 2017, well. The president flatly refuses, which (Restoration), founded in 1967, launches complex of both artistry and equity at this began marked by uncertainty and an emerg- only makes the clamor grow louder. What celebrations of its 50th anniversary, with moment in our nation’s history is not lost ing national agenda that has left society’s could possibly be in Donald J. Trump’s tax the establishment of a dynamic 21st century on any of us.” most vulnerable--from youth, women, and returns that would make him know he could creative complex: RestorationArt and the un- The heart of this creative complex, immigrants to people of color, Muslims survive anything but their release? veiling of the newly-renovated Billie Holiday the AUDELCO and Obie Award-winning and the LGBTQ community– anxious And now the dossier on Donald Trump Theatre on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. Billie Holiday Theatre, founded in 1972 about deepening injustices and inequities. compiled by a former British agent and in- “The Billie Holiday Theatre founded by by Restoration, has just completed its first RestorationArt launches with bold, inspi- evitably described as “explosive” and con- Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation major renovation in 45 years and is opening rational and necessary programming that taining “salacious” content, has been given shares our belief in the power of dreams its doors on May 9, 2017. The Billie Holiday spotlights, often marginalized communities added credibility as FBI Director James and the power of dreamers,” stated Kevin Theatre has been a significant platform and stories, providing a platform for the un- Comey has now said it was among the evi- Chavers, Chairman, Restoration Board of for many Black theater artists, including realized aspirations of thousands in Brooklyn dence needed by the FBI to obtain a FISA Directors. “The arts have always been a Samuel L. Jackson, Ruby Dee, Debbie Allen, and beyond. critical pillar in Restoration’s 50-year nar- Wendell Pierce, John Amos, Sonia Sanchez ➔ Continued on page 3 rative, and as we combine arts and culture and more. (See Launch Schedule, P. 2) 2 OUR TIME PRESS April 20 – 26, 2017 VOL. 21 NO. 16 Magnolia Center’s The Board of Directors of the Magnolia Tree Earth Center of Bedford Stuyvesant, Inc. Planting Seeds Invite you to for the Community’s A Spring Oldies but Goodies Sustainable Future Fundraising Dance oard-hosted Events Planned for school’s new tree, acquired by Magnolia May 5 and May 19 Board Vice President Nancy Wolf. To Benefit April through June historically On Friday, May 19, the Board is host- The Magnolia Tree Earth Center Bis Tree Season for the Magnolia Tree Earth ing a dance and fundraiser at the Historic Center of Bedford Stuyvesant, It kicks off Brooklyn Masonic Temple at Lafayette of Bedford Stuyvesant, Inc. with a memorializing of Hattie Carthan Avenue and Cleremont St. It will include the neighborhood’s famous Tree Lady and a Silent Auction offering selected artwork At the the Center’s founder who passed April 24, and a quilt donated by the family of the late 1983. Marcia Goldman, President emeritus of the The spring events usually include a Board. Ms. Goldman passed in August. tree planting with children and a variety An ongoing effort of the Board will Historic Brooklyn Masonic Temple of arbor-related activities involving local be Ms. Goldman’s idea of a co-naming of 317 Clermont Ave. schools and area residents. It all culminates Lafayette Avenue, between Nostrand and Brooklyn NY 11205 in the blooming around the third week in Marcus Garvey as The Hattie Carthan Way. June of the rare, City landmarked Magnolia The three-block strip includes three church- grandiflora which Ms. Carthan saved from es, two elementary schools, a basketball Friday May 19, 2017 Model Cities wrecking balls in the 1960’s. court and the Herbert Von King Park. Board The tree, located in the front yard of the member chair David Mark Greaves, also 7:00pm- Midnight Center’s headquarters on Lafayette Avenue publisher of this newspaper, informs that Tickets $50 across the street from Herbert Von King the proposed “way” is important to the Mrs. Light Buffet Served Park, is the nexus of what has been called Carthan’s legacy: “Community heroes such by a former parks manager, as the largest as Mrs. Carthan need to be remembered and greenspace in Bedford Stuyvesant proper. their stories told to encourage others to do Saluting: This year the Board celebrates Spring, trees what some call impossible.” Prof.