STN Politics: The Day After Election For Congress

From Left-to-right: Joyce S. Johnson, Craig Schley, Charles B. Rangel, Clyde Williams and Adriano Espaillat.


By Ryan Ngala


[Harlem, New York]


Tuesday was the biggest election of the summer season, and the candidates who ran for congress were just getting warmed up. For many people getting their chance to vote and letting their voices be heard as they endeavored to pick the strongest candidates for congress, Tuesday’s primary was their opportunity to get things right for this important community in the heart of New York City.


As the polls opened for election from 6 am - 9 pm, many voters scrambled from schools and office buildings to vote in the neighborhoods where they live. For many residents, exercising their right to vote indicates their courage and willingness to do what is necessary and best for their community during these tough economic times. But what do they really want for the congressional candidates to do in order to fix things for the community? Usually, this community never expects to get this kind of media attention early in the week.


This was my first time voting in an election, ever!, I was among the first voters to arrive at my polling place at Ps. 175 located at 175 W. 134th Street; that location is just two stops from where I live on 132nd Street. As I entered into the building, I walked all the way to the back where they were doing the voting. As I stepped into the gymnasium, one of the poll workers at the front desk asked me for my address and I told her what it was. Then she pointed to the 25th District table where I was to stand in line and wait while many other people received their green and white ballot papers. 


The names of the five candidates were listed: Joyce S. Johnson, Craig Schley, Charles B. Rangel, Clyde Williams and Adriano Espaillat. Each voter then decided which candidate they wanted to vote for; they inserted the green and white ballot paper slip into the ballot scanner; as they inserted the ballot, the machine it read, “Thanks for voting.”


I walked out of the polling place and through the school building, I then walked across 125th Street and Lenox Avenue. I just wanted to see what was going on at Sylvia’s Restaurant; many news media had come there to cover the election story. News crews from NY1, CBS 2, and ABC 7 were amongst those gathered at Sylvia’s. Congressman Charles B. Rangel was expected to arrive soon; when he did, he was greeted by all of his supporters. They were happy for the opportunity to express their love and gratitude to him. He had promoted uplift and change, not only for Harlem, but also for the Bronx, and many people love Congressman Charles B. Rangel and call him “Charlie” as a nickname.


The number of votes that had been counted by then was just over 8,000, but soon the count was boosted high to more than 12,800 votes. The people were surprised at the miraculous results! It was a stunning victory that made him the projected winner of the 13th district. “Charlie, we love you!!!” a supporter shouted. At that point, Congressman Charles B. Rangel was being named “The Lion of Lenox Avenue!” His self – determination not only as a champion but also as a warrior has once again made him the trusted leader to the Harlem community.

10,000 people march to end racial profiling in a movement event

By Ryan Ngala

[New York] 

The people were on the streets of 110^th street and 5^th avenue to stop the massive police abuse of people of color and to end the city’s “Stop and Frisk” policy. It was a broad based movement with the support of the NAACP, Communities United for Police Reform and many other community leaders; they all marched to end needless loss the innocent lives of many people who are being victimized by the “Stop and Frisk” practice.  Their goal was, once and for all, to show their unity and support and to try to make a difference in the New York neighborhood.

The “End Stop and Frisk March” kicks off with many people holding their posters, banners, and signs high.  Some of the slogans that could be read were:“NYPD: Hands Off The Homeless!”, “NYPD: Hands Off Our Dads!”, “NYPD Keep Your Hands Off Me.”, There were also many others including the posters from the NAACP that read “Stop Racial Profiling End Stop & Frisk” at the front side of the banner, and in the back, the poster showed three well known faces of people who have been stopped and frisked by the NYPD police: their names were Trayvon Martin, Sean Bell and Amadou Diallo. 

As the protesters kept on walking, many had refreshments and bottled water just to cool themselves from the summer heat, It was a silent march, and as they started to walk on 5^th Avenue, there was reverence among the marchers.  So they started walking downtown and there was some talking going on here and there as they began to enjoy a wonderful time being out there for a good cause.

The march route covered 31 blocks; once and a while, the marchers stopped because of traffic ahead, but otherwise they continued to their destination. 

During that time they kept walking until they arrived at the block of 5^th Avenue and 80^th Street. At that point, some of marchers and onlookers began chanting, and they started to gather in the front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but some of the marchers and protesters signal to the chanters to hush because it was a silent march.  Soon all the marchers continued on their way.

AIDS WALK NY 2012: LIVE FROM CENTRAL PARK

By Ryan Ngala

[Central Park, New York] It's a beautiful gorgeous day in central park despite how the weather it is many people from different organizations of teams came here to join the biggest & most crowded event of a lifetime.

At the starting point of the process many of people gather the line to start registering for the event and started to pick and look for their teams while many people started walking I was starting to look for the Alpha Nu Omega Sorority, Inc.- New York Alumni Chapter team as I spotted and found Nina alongside with their friends who their names were Medjhy, Rhema and Cassandra they ate some almonds and drank a bottle of water we took some pictures as we headed our way to the starting line of the aids walk in central park we took plenty of walks as I started to stop for refreshments as some of the volunteers from the aids walk crew gave me two bananas, a bottle of water and a granola box.

After that Nina and her group started walking all the way down to central park and 96th street then all the way down as we continue to walk some more as we listen to One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" and many others song on the radio as we got all the way to 110th Street and 7th Avenue.

When Nina and her friends left I decided to walk up the block as many people walk I ask 3 people to answer some questions starting with Tico Santigo, Mary Hidajat & Monica Johnson since it is their first time being in the aids walk I started to begin asking.

Ryan Ngala: Why Is It Important to prevent this kind of disease from happening in our body?

Tico Santigo: To stay alive & enjoy life more

Mary Hidajat: Because it's a type of a devasting disease that impacts many lives of people

Ryan Ngala: What should we not do to have the disease from attracting other people?

Tico Santigo: Safe Sex & Be cautious of what you do

Mary Hidajat: Practice Safe Sex

Ryan Ngala: Describe 3 words in what does the aids walk event mean to you?

Tico Santingo: Unity, everybody is together for one reason

Mary Hidajat: Awareness, Inspiring & Community

Monica Johnson: Important, Inspiring & Appreciation

Many people started to walk on the 7th Avenue side on 110th Street then on Manhattan Avenue, Columbus Avenue, Broadway as soon as they get all the way to 110th Street & Riverside Drive so we started walking to stop by and got some snacks once they did that we see some people wearing Aladdin costumes so that the people started to take some pictures with them then we walk back all the way up to 85th Street at Riverside Drive then at West End Av, going to broadway, Columbus Avenue, Amsterdam Avenue as we got back to the west side at Central Park & 85th Street we walk all the way to 72nd street but we was none done yet after all that walking I still felt like I wanted to go home all the aids walk volunteers kept on cheering and supporting for us no matter how much it takes for us to get into the finish line and there was still one more mile left to go after it was all said and done many people where back at the finish line as they completed a 10 kilometer mile once they deserve a certificate for their completion of the course.

After they finish they were some refreshment for Turkey Hill ice cream of Frozen Yogurt Fudge Ripple as some of the people had all headed home for the day this was a fun day event for me I should say as I went all around through central park and completed my certificate.

The "Good Friday" Service Praises At BGA

By Ryan Ngala

[Harlem, New York] The bethel gospel assembly are getting ready as they gear up for one of the biggest gospel service held in the church where they will be allot of singing, dancing and rejoicing for the Lord for an amazing and incredible performance ever to bring by the words of life and shining light junior choir here at bethel and also with the one accord dance ministry to bring the dancing steps to their feet as they celebrate their love for Jesus.

When the service has started Elder Mark Williams deliver an opening welcome to all visitors who came to bethel gospel assembly including an prayer as the Words of life choir sings "Lord, I Love You" that goes a little something like this "Lord I Love You (3x) More Than Anything, Lord I Need You (3x) More Than Anything" and so as they started singing that they did a round clap as they sit down. 

During the ending of the song the one accord dance ministry in the Donnie McClurkin's Song "Who Would've Thought" after the performance was over the Shining Light Junior Choir sing the song of "So Was I" and the lights had brighten on the young girl who had steal the show the song she did was so amazing so as many of the plays that where being acted during the show I saw the cross as it was being portrait to show how Jesus died for our sins but what was the best part of the service was that the words of life choir sing a song called "Marvelous" that can lift up our hearts whenever Jesus is there to guide us in every struggle we all are in. 

So the service that was being held in the church was so awesome as the event was being called "At The Cross" A Celebration of the passion of calvary as it was one of the best good Friday service that the people have ever been to.

ONLY 14 DAYS TIL "MYSTERY IN PERU”

By Ryan Ngala
RTN NEWS Digital Reporter

The clock is ticking & it's only 14 days till The Hit Nickelodeon® new movie True Jackson VP's "Mystery In Peru" premieres On Saturday August 20, 2011 @ 8/7c.

Check your local listings & show times to all you Nickelodeon Fans out there.

My Trip To Governor's Island

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During Our weekend trip to Governor's Island me & my family had a great time we had our very own pinic as we ate watermelon that my mom had cut for us and as the siblings who were having a great time they were climbing on the sculpture model and that i had to literally wait for Florence while she was standing on my shoulder and i had to hold her without her falling herself down, well it was a fun day for me

The Aids Walk New York 2011

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By Ryan Ngala

[Central Park-New York]

As many people gather together for the biggest event of the day as the aids walk begin @ 7:00 am - 3:00pm as it depends how many people could keep up the pace in time.

Many People had to sign up to get in, while as many people just started walking as many supporters has started to cheering them on it was a 6.2 mile as they started to walk west across 110th street as they cut across just to bring them right back on 86th or 83rd Street @ central park west.

While as many people had started to enjoy themselves with lots of chanting, lots of dancing & more excitement as many t-shirts where hanging out & especially cardboards.