Black-Owned Restaurant Struggles To Pay More Than $100K In Damages Following Vandalism
Black woman-owned restaurant Winnie’s International Takeout is receiving no restitution for damages after a group of suspects described as “thugs” vandalized the location.
Twimonisha Mason, owner of the soul food restaurant in Massapequa, New York, has been hard at work trying to open the location since 2019, according to the GoFundMe page set up by Taisha Mason.
“For everyone wondering why we haven’t opened yet, we have been dealing with a few setbacks,” a statement read on Winnie’s Instagram page.
She has been unable to open because the restaurant was vandalized several times.
According to a GoFundMe page, the perpetrators left Twimonisha with over $100,000 in damages since she moved her business from its previous location in Long Island’s Amityville Village. To add to the issue, the store’s $2 million insurance policy only covered $5,000 worth of damages “due to a clause on page 87,” the fundraising page states. All other costs are coming out of the owner’s pocket.
Multiple videos have been posted to the restaurant’s social media page, including one that shows the young vandals’ parents, whose information was not released to Twimonisha by police.
“They refused to give us the parents’ information, so we couldn’t sue them either,” the fundraiser page included from the video’s Instagram caption.
The restaurant posted a video showing the dumpster crowded with debris from the vandalism at its Sunrise Highway location, including a tree stump allegedly dumped onto their property, another cost that had to be paid out of pocket. In the video, two young vandals are seen climbing from the restaurant’s roof.
The takeout restaurant has been hit before by intruders, which caused the owner to spend thousands of dollars on previous repairs.
“The fact that the first kids got off with just trespassing when they should have been charged with vandalism is the reason these thugs keep coming back time and time again,” the caption read.
Taisha launched the GoFundMe for Winnie’s International Takeout to collect funds for repairs and to keep the restaurant running as they work to “hire an attorney to fight Nassau County police department on the mishandling of the crimes against the store.”
The Mason family also claims members have been “stopped and harassed” by police over 15 times at the location. According to the Masons, they are beginning to feel like their lives are in danger but remain resilient in seeking justice.
ACLU Says Cop City Protesters Have Been Hit With Excessive RICO And Domestic Terrorism Charges
The American Civil Liberties Union is blasting Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr for hitting Cop City protesters with racketeering and state domestic terrorism charges.
Cop City, a $90 million Atlanta-area police training center being built by the state of Georgia, has been protested by residents since former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced its construction in 2021.
Atlanta residents believe the training center will lead to greater militarization of the police and that its construction will aggravate environmental damage in the majority-Black city. Activists and protesters have been fighting the Cop City effort for two years, and protests have led to violence and property damage.
Earlier this month, Carr obtained indictments against 61 protesters and charged them with the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law. Each protestor now faces up to 20 years in prison. Three bail fund organizers also face additional money laundering charges, and five protestors have been charged with state domestic terrorism charges.
The ACLU called the charges excessive, shocking, and unprecedented. The organization says RICO charges are intended to combat organized crime, not to punish protest, civil disobedience, and isolated crimes, adding Carr is trying to prosecute the protest movement as if it were a full-fledged criminal organization, even though the alleged conduct is much less severe.
The indictment’s list of alleged criminal conduct included people trying to occupy the forest where Cop City would be located and characterized as individuals attempting to join a “mob” to overwhelm the police. Even non-criminal acts, including buying food and distributing fliers, are being made out to be the cornerstone of a coordinated criminal scheme in the indictment.
This isn’t the first time Cop City protesters have been hit with excessive charges. In April, police arrested Caroline Hart Tennebaum, Abeeku Osei Vassall, and Julia Dupuis after they left a flier on mailboxes in Cartersville, Georgia, calling officer Jonathan Salcedo, who lived in the neighborhood a “murderer” for his part in the January shooting and killing of activist Manuel Paez Terán.
The three were charged with stalking and were later hit with felony intimidation of law enforcement. Language was added to the intimidation charge in 2012 to a statute on intimidating “any officer in or of any court.”
According to Dupuis’ mother, Caroline Verhagen, they were also placed in solitary confinement for four days.
“It raises serious First Amendment concerns,” the ACLU of Georgia wrote, according to The Guardian. “It is also part of a broader pattern of the state of Georgia weaponizing the criminal code to unconditionally protect law enforcement and to silence speech critical of the government.”
Delta Air Lines CEO Says Airline Went ‘Too Far’ With SkyMiles Crackdown, Vows Revisions
The CEO of Delta Air Lines admits the airline probably went too far with the changes it made to its frequent flier program, SkyMiles.
During a recent event at the Rotary Club of Atlanta, Ed Bastian announced more changes coming to the airline’s SkyMiles program and lounge access policy, CNN reports, but took accountability for the changes that caused an uproar on social media a few weeks ago.
“No question, we probably went too far in doing that,” Bastian said on Sept. 25. “Our team wanted to kind of rip the Band-Aid off and didn’t want to have to keep going through this every year with changes and nickel- and-diming and whatnot, and I think we moved too fast.”
In early September 2023, the company stamped changes that would take effect in 2025, making it more difficult for American Express cardholders to access Delta Sky Clubs and earn Medallion elite status. Fans weren’t too happy with the changes, and an uproar on social media ensued.
The way the airline awards Medallion elite status will also change in 2024, using only one metric: Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQD). It’s also eliminating the popular MQD waiver offered to Delta credit card holders.
Bastian finally explained why things changed, saying the jump in elite status holders was too much for Delta’s premium services to handle, including airport lounge access. The CEO said it got to a point where Delta couldn’t serve its members for basics like upgrade certificates and getting agents on special phone lines.
Shortly after Delta’s policy changes went viral, competing airlines decided to recruit new customers with their own. Alaska Airlines and JetBlue Airways jumped in, saying they would match their loyalty status in those carriers’ programs.
“Know someone who fell out of love with their airline loyalty program?” Alaska Airlines tweeted with a broken heart emoji. “We’ll match their status and more with the #1 Airline Loyalty Program in the U.S.”
Delta is now part of a long list of corporations, such as Best Buy, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Starbucks, to be attacked over their rewards program changes.
Jemele Hill Calls Out Offset’s Interview With Bobbi Althoff For ‘Erasing’ Hip-Hop Journalism
Offset sat down for an interview with rising TikTok podcaster Bobbi Althoff and some people are sounding off.
The former Migos rapper was the latest guest on Althoff’s The Really Good Podcast following her awkwardly-styled interviews with Drake, Lil Yachty, and Tyga. In a promotional clip posted to Instagram on Monday, Althoff claims the episode is expected to drop “Thursday, probably.”
The clip shows Offset and Althoff’s awkward and shady exchange after the rapper asks the podcaster what she does for a living.
“I interview people,” Althoff replies.
When Offset asks why she wanted to interview him, the sarcastic podcaster replies, “I didn’t.”
But Offset wasn’t having it and came back with his own snappy replies.
“Don’t cap, let’s not cap about that,” Offset jokingly said. “Flag on the play. Cap.”
Althoff then said: “I honestly don’t know how this came about, my team could have reached out to yours. I’m not gonna, I don’t wanna make you look back.”
When Offset told Althoff he had no idea who she was, she claimed she had no idea who he was and had to Google him. But Offset fired back telling Althoff that at least he could be Googled since he could only find Althoff on TikTok.
“I had to go on TikTok, I couldn’t even Google you,” Offset replied. “You’re not there yet. But you’ll be there. But you’re on TikTok.”
While many found humor in the exchange, there were many who criticized Althoff’s tone during the interview and critiqued Offset and other rappers who are seemingly helping the shady podcaster build her platform. One person who took offense is journalist Jemele Hill who believes interviews with social media personalities like Althoff do a disservice to actual journalists in the field.
“I don’t find these types of interviews particularly enjoyable or interesting. Instead it just sadly points out how real hip hop journalism has been practically erased,” Hill tweeted.
“Some of the media teams behind these artists aren’t interested in them sitting down with credible people who know how to tell stories and do quality interviews. Then they wonder why an artist’s real story goes untold, neglected or that artist is misunderstood.”
I don’t find these types of interviews particularly enjoyable or interesting. Instead it just sadly points out how real hip hop journalism has been practically erased. Some of the media teams behind these artists aren’t interested in them sitting down with credible people who… https://t.co/l1jaaWjj7R
When one person tried to explain why Offset might’ve decided to go on Althoff’s podcast because of its “reach,” Hill fired back and explained why the rapper has the power to be more intentional about who he does an interview with.
“Offset could sit down with anybody and people will be watching. He doesn’t need to lean on someone else’s popularity,” she wrote.
Houston Police Searcing For Woman Caught On Video Robbing Rideshare Driver
A female passenger of a rideshare driver allegedly robbed him when he refused to take her through a fast-food restaurant drive-thru window earlier this month on Sept. 6 in Houston. Now, the police department is in search of that passenger.
Police officers are looking for the woman after she allegedly attacked the driver and stole his wallet when he wouldn’t comply with her request. The incident was caught on surveillance video.
The video from the Houston Police Department shows that the unidentified woman was picked up at the 5500 block of Griggs and taken to a fast food restaurant located at the 5900 block of Gulf Freeway. The robbery victim told police his passenger wanted him to take her through the drive-thru. When he refused, she got upset and struck him on the head. In turn, he told her to get out of the car, and when she declined his demand, he got out of the car and forced her out.
After getting her out of the car, she hit him in the face, maced him, and proceeded to reach into the car and grab his wallet before running away.
The Houston Police Robbery Division released a description of the woman. She has been described as a Black female, 20 years old, 5’5, gray shirt and green shorts. They ask if you know who she is or have any information about the incident, please contact Crime Stoppers of Houston. Info that leads to the suspect being arrested and charged could result in a cash payment of up to $5,000.
Click 2 Houston reported that the driver stated that this happened at a Chick-fil-A, and the woman got away with about $400, which was in the wallet. He also said some of his jewelry was stolen, alleging the woman used one of his credit cards after the incident.
Beyoncé Didn’t Bring Big Freedia Out At Renaissance New Orleans Stop And Twitter is Scratching Their Heads
There were rumors that Beyoncé would bring out Big Freedia as a surprise guest during the September 27 “Renaissance” tour stop in New Orleans. But after the Bounce queen was seemingly a no-show, fans are wondering why.
Not only is Big Freedia heard loud and clear on Beyoncé’s 2016 single “Formation,” but the New Orleans native is the voice bringing the upbeat vibes on Bey’s first single off her Renaissance album, “Break My Soul.”
Considering Megan Thee Stallion‘s recent guest appearance at the Houston stop to perform the “Savage” remix, and Kendrick Lamar‘s surprise appearance at the Los Angeles tour stop to perform the “Alien Superstar” remix, it was rumored that Big Freedia would also join Beyoncé on stage in her hometown.
However, once fans realized Big Freedia wouldn’t be performing alongside Beyoncé on Thursday night, many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to sound off.
“So Beyoncé didn’t bring out Big Freedia and they have two songs together,” one fan wrote.
“Yikes! I know NOLA was disappointed cause that’s crazy.”
So Beyoncé didn’t bring out Big Freedia and they have two songs together. Yikes! I know NOLA was disappointed cause that’s crazy. 😭#RenaissanceWorldTour
Ironically enough, Big Freedia was present for Beyoncé’s Thursday show, she just didn’t perform. A photo surfaced online showing the Bounce queen waving to fans in the crowd.
Dsanto Hoskin, 19, and Janae Snell, 18, were arrested on Sept. 26 after their baby was found in a rental property in Nashville with 15 pounds of marijuana and a loaded Glock pistol. The Metro Nashville Police Department were called to the Mint House on Rosa L. Parks Boulevard after a staff member found the child alone in the unit when they went to clean it. When officers arrived, there was a strong smell of marijuana, and they found large bags inside a closet.
Next, they found the loaded gun and more than $17,000 in cash. Officers reportedly said scales and packaging material were in plain sight. The baby was taken to Vanderbilt Hospital, where the Department of Children’s Services was reportedly called to make custody arrangements.
The parents were taken into custody after returning to the short-term rental. Hoskin allegedly told police the drugs, money, and related materials belonged to him and is being charged with child neglect, child endangerment, possession of marijuana for resale, gun possession in the commission of a dangerous felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains in Metro jail on a $62,500 bond.
Snell was charged with child neglect and endangerment and is being held on a $12,500 bond, according to Fox 17 Nashville.
This case made headlines just one week after a 1-year-old boy died on Sept. 22 in New York after being exposed to fentanyl at a daycare in the Bronx, BE reported. Three other children were hospitalized after police officers said they found a trap floor with drugs in it. Officials said they searched the Divino Niño daycare center on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 and found a large amount of fentanyl, other drugs, and drug paraphernalia.
According to court records, a kilo of fentanyl was found earlier stored on play mats along with a device that’s used to press drugs into bricks for sale.
Chad Johnson On Refusing His Fiancee’s Request For A Prenup: ‘The Roles Are Reversed Now’
Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson is proudly explaining why he refused his fiancee’s request for a prenuptial agreement. According to the NFL alumnus, “the roles are reversed,” and he’s enjoying being a stay-at-home dad.
Johnson recently appeared on Shannon Sharpe’s Nightcap podcast where he was asked about his decision not to sign a prenup with Sharelle Rosado. While it’s common for professional athletes to demand prenups on their spouses, Johnson is breaking the mold by refusing his wife-to-be’s attempt to protect her assets.
“She talking about we getting married next year and had the nerve to bring me papers to make me sign a prenup,” Johnson told Sharpe.
When Sharpe told Johnson “You’re supposed to,” the former wide receiver explained why he was adamant about not signing the papers.
For Johnson, now that he’s dating a woman who’s the breadwinner in the relationship, he sees firsthand why many have been reluctant to sign a prenup when dating a wealthy spouse.
“I see that feeling women have because this woman has provided me with the ability to be a stay-at-home dad,” Johnson explained.
“I ain’t got to do nothing, but take care of the kids. I get to play video games all day. I ain’t got to go to work. Do you know what that feels like? To have somebody like that.”
“The roles are reversed now,” he continued.
“So I see how women be feeling when they be going crazy over dudes when dudes got money. I get it now you get to chill and you ain’t got to do nothing.”
Sharpe attempted to offer his own advice to Johnson and recommended signing a prenup if you don’t have any money.
“Because if you leave you leave with all of your nothing and not half of it,” Sharpe said.
Maryland’s Office Of Social Equity Speaks On Its Mission To Open Cannabis Industry To Diverse Entrepreneurs
Cannabis is a growing industry nationwide. However, as the venture has been predominantly white, people of color have had to combat discrimination, the unjust history between people of color using and distributing weed, and the heavy criminalization that stemmed from it.
However, Maryland’s Office of Social Equity seeks to do its part in remedying the past by supporting diverse cannabis brand owners for the future. Established out of the Cannabis Reform Act in 2023, the independent government agency’s Executive Director, Audrey Johnson, spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE to elaborate on the hopes for the program and why all applicable people should utilize its wide-ranging services.
For those interested in cannabis’ potential but lack the capital and means to explore their entrepreneurial ambitions, the Office of Social Equity seeks to level that playing field.
Johnson spoke about why the state established this agency, touching on the overdue desire to uplift certain demographics in this field.
“We wanted to ensure the promotion of systemic economic opportunity and equity in Maryland and the cannabis market. The prioritization was to rectify harm and the economic imbalances that exist in this industry,” Johnson told BE. “Creating this programming and outreach will help drive awareness and participation from communities that have been disproportionately impacted by [the] criminalization of marijuana. Through this, we are aiming for a positive impact.”
The eligibility criteria for participation in this pioneering program are designed to precisely identify and address individuals affected in diverse ways. Factors such as zip code affiliation, school attendance, and the proportion of Pell Grant recipients at higher education institutions are considered. Johnson is optimistic that the aid provided will be especially advantageous for marginalized people in this context.
The program will also offer legal services and has “lessened or aided in certain fees, offer reimbursement funding to applicants, and even costs associated with preparing the application,” she offered.
Johnson also notes the dangers that still lurk in the cannabis industry, including exploitative companies that take advantage of unknowing business owners.
“It’s a very challenging process because it’s only legalized on a state-by-state basis,” she explained. “So when you think about banking, how to approach investors and partnerships, because of the huge economic opportunity, there are also a lot of predatory practices. So, in our sessions, we make sure to highlight those so people are not taken advantage of. “
Of the policies and programming, The OSE prides itself on being the inaugural body to solely cater to social equity applicants in its pooling. Johnson also shares that this initial step is a game-changer for achieving equity in the cannabis space.
Johnson pointed out, “One of the most exciting aspects of our initiative is the development of this sole cannabis licensing round on social equity applicants. We’re the first to do that in all the licensing categories. We see it as really leveling the playing field for marginalized entrepreneurs. We anticipate by diversifying our pool that, we will have a positive impact in terms of the economic empowerment that is happening, but also in reducing some of the disparities.”
According to the director, the root of these disparities lies in the financial resources.
As Johnson noted, “It goes down to capital. If you don’t have a level of wealth or cash available, it’s really challenging to get started. It’s hard enough when you are starting a bakery and as minorities to get access to capital; it’s even harder with this. From a federal perspective, it’s still illegal, so a lot of banks are not available to give loans. Those traditional ways of acquiring funding don’t apply, which in itself blocks out whole communities.”
However, Johnson hopes to rectify this problem by establishing a supportive relationship with these entrepreneurs as they build their businesses. The OSE’s mission is not to leave these emerging brands once their licenses are approved, spending a year and a half providing support and guidance as they navigate this relatively new venture. The agency intends to expand its programming by enlisting HBCUs into its outreach, helping young students of color possibly dive into this space.
“Past the whole licensing process, we really hope to spend the next 18 months helping these businesses develop, creating programs around mentorship, and working with HBCUs to create pathways to this industry. How we can look further down the line to support a pipeline is part of our mission?” Johnson asked.
Regarding its legislative advocacy, the agency will continue to amplify policies that align with its values of allowing accessibility to all who wish to venture out into cannabis despite the monetary obstacles that could impede this process.
“Future legislative goals would be continuing to advocate for policies that further promote diversity and inclusion within this market,” stated Johnson. “One of the major challenges and barriers is the investing capital. There’s a lot [of] work being done at a national level around safe banking; what we can do at a state level to support that is a priority. But really, our goal is promoting diversity and inclusion in that we’re allowing access for folks to participate.”
Overall, Maryland’s OSE is determined to amplify the needs and accessibility of those interested in entering the cannabis industry, as the lucrative possibilities are one they refuse to let people of color be blocked from.
“The trend is all around economic opportunity and job creation. It’s wealth-building. We’re excited about being in the front of social equity in cannabis, opening the door, and doing what we can. It’s really to recognize that access and equity need to be what we create this industry and encourage those interested to explore the various resources and support available. Our office was put in place just for that purpose as this sector continues to grow,” Johnson expressed.
Applications for the agency’s inaugural licensing round are set to begin this fall, with potential applicants encouraged to inquire about their eligibility to be part of this groundbreaking initiative.
The 21-year-old disappeared after going to Memphis to celebrate her birthday with friends on Sept. 9. The Memphis Police Department released a statement on Sept 12, saying her friends didn’t see Taylor once the boat returned to the dock.
“Miss Taylor boarded the Island Queen Booze Cruise at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, September 9, 2023, but was not seen by her companions after the boat returned to the dock and everyone offloaded,” the statement read.
“There were two exits on the boat for patrons to offload at the conclusion of the ride.”
Her mother drove to Memphis to file a missing persons report after she failed to get in touch with her. MPD released another statement on Sept. 23 after a body was “recovered on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River.”
Her body was positively identified on Sept. 27.
The owner of the boat, Memphis Riverboats, said in a statement said it had “no reason to believe she could have gone overboard” and has video footage to prove it.
“We can confirm from video footage circling around that she was last seen on the boat as the boat was pulling into the Harbor, where we dock our boats,” the company wrote.
“We hope she is found safe and returns home.”
Black women in Memphis have gone missing at alarming rates. In early 2023, Jacqulyn Vail, 33, and Tanna Stevenson, 63, had missing persons reports filed.
Stevenson was found dead in February, according to ABC 24. However, the Dock Ellis Foundation is working to make sure their names aren’t forgotten. The organization’s mission is to locate missing women and raise awareness about missing minorities, including Taylor.
“When we go missing, we go missing usually from our neighborhoods,” CEO Jasmine Ellis said. “We are usually with our friends. We are usually with people that we feel comfortable around, or we are out doing things most normal people do.”
