See January – June of the 2013 year in review here: amsterdamnews.com
July
- The City Council passes the Community Safety Act, lead by Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams. The act consists of bills aimed to increase oversight of the NYPD and reduce racial profiling. In contrast, Mayor Michael Bloomberg believes that not enough Black and Latinos are stopped.
- The city sees a spike in affordable housing scams that prey on desperate renters.
- The Rev. Al Sharpton holds weekly rallies in response to the closures of hospitals in Brooklyn.
- The Supreme Court votes 7–1 to send a case that questions affirmative action in college admission policies back to a lower court for review.
- The resentencing of political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal is contested in the Superior Court in Pennsylvania after he is resentenced without notification.
- The 42nd International African Arts Festival is held in Brooklyn.
- As the television season winds down, a number of Black actresses take leading roles, most notably Kerry Washington, who stars in the highly rated primetime drama “Scandal.”
- Disgraced former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announces his run for city comptroller, facing off against Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in the Democratic primary.
- Three Black teachers at the Pan American International High School in Queens allege they were denied tenure and fired because of their race.
- After a shooting in a Flatbush, Brooklyn, home, Councilman Williams proposes legislation to combat “house clubs.”
- The Fourth of July weekend sees a string of shootings in the city that produces 38 shootings and 62 victims.
- Singer Lauryn Hill reports to prison in New Jersey for a three-month sentence for not paying taxes.
- The MLB All-Star Game is held at Citi Field.
- Shock and anger reverberates around the world as George Zimmerman is found not guilty of killing Trayvon Martin. Rallies and protests take place across the nation in response to the verdict.
- Treasured murals by famed Black artist Hale Woodruff and from the historically Black Talladega College go on exhibit at New York University.
- Nelson Mandela celebrates his 95th birthday.
- Florida resident Marissa Alexander is sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot at her abusive husband after not being able to use the “Stand Your Ground” law.
- The NAACP hosts its national convention in Orlando, Fla. The city of Detroit officially files for bankruptcy, becoming the largest municipality in the nation to do so.
- As Anthony Weiner pushes forward with his mayoral campaign, information surfaces that he continued to send sexually explicit text messages to another woman after his 2011 scandal.
- Harlem Week kicks off.
- Black Broadway producer Ashton Springer dies.
- The Bronx district attorney’s office calls for a new grand jury process in the case of the fatal police shooting of Ramarley Graham.
- Sharpton turns his focus on violence in Chicago by moving to the Windy City for a few months.
- Queens City Councilman Leroy Comrie announces he is ceasing his campaign for Queens borough president and leaving public office.
August
- New York City’s first Common Core standardized test scores reveal that only 46.1 percent of Black students in grades three through eight passed the math portion and 37.2 percent passed the English score.
- Court papers reveal that the New York State Department of Health rejected and refused financial help to Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, and bankruptcy proceedings begin.
- Reports surface that Tawana Brawley’s wages are being garnished for $430,000 in damages from a defamation lawsuit.
- After being found not guilty, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announces he will pursue civil rights charges against George Zimmerman.
- The National Association of Black Journalists hosts its convention in Orlando, Fla.
- Keyboardist George Duke passes away at 67.
- Federal court Judge Shira Scheindlin rules that the NYPD’s practice of stop-and-frisk is unconstitutional and finds that the NYPD had violated New Yorkers’ Fourth Amendment rights.
- Famed political consultant Bill Lynch dies at age 72.
- Cory Booker wins the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in New Jersey.
- Carlos Alcis dies of a heart attack in Queens after the police raid his home.
- Three Black former doormen of an Upper East Side building owned by Eliot Spitzer’s father claim they were not getting due justice for being discriminated against.
- Mayor Michael Bloomberg suggests that New York City Housing Authority residents should be fingerprinted in order to make them safer.
- Jesse Jackson Jr., son of the civil rights leader, is sentenced to two and a half years in prison for misusing $750,000. His wife, Sandra Jackson, is sentenced to one year in prison.
- “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, hits theaters to much praise.
- Nearly 75 percent of the staff at Black-owned radio station WBAI is laid off.
- Thousands from around the world gather in Washington, D.C., for the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.
- Al Jazeera America launches.
September
- Tragedy strikes when 1-year-old Antiq Hennis is shot in his stroller during a shoot-out in Brooklyn.His father, Anthony Hennis, is the intended target.
- Hundreds of thousands of people line Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn for the West Indian Day Parade on Labor Day. Political candidates use the parade to reach out to Black voters.
- The city’s primary elections set the stage for the general elections. Bill de Blasio becomes the Democratic candidate in the mayoral race, facing Republican Joe Lhota.
- Letitia James wins the Democratic line for public advocate after a runoff with Daniel Squadron. Scott Stringer wins as the Democratic candidate for city comptroller.
- Eric Adams wins uncontested for Brooklyn borough president.
- Ken Thompson wins as the Democratic candidate for Brooklyn district attorney against Charles Hynes, who later runs as a Republican to regain his seat.
- After five years in the position, Ben Jealous announces that he is resigning as president and CEO of the NAACP. Lorraine C. Miller is named CEO of the NAACP during the search for Jealous’ replacement.
- After a one-year hiatus, the 41st annual Urban League Classic returns to MetLife Stadium. The Benedict College Tigers beat the Virginia State University Trojans 30-14.
- Tamika Mallory resigns as executive director of the National Action Network. Janaye Ingram is named as her replacement.
- Al-Shabaab Islamic militants allegedly attack the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least 62 civilians and wounding over 170.
- The African American Day Parade takes place in Harlem.
- The Million Youth March takes place in Harlem, bringing out hundreds of demonstrators who speak out against gun violence and racial profiling.
- Aaron Alexis is killed by police officers after opening fire at the Washington, D.C., Naval Yard, leaving 12 killed and 8 injured.
- The Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation opens its $20 million renovation and redesign of its plaza in Brooklyn.
- Federal prosecutors review the case of Ramarley Graham to determine whether his civil rights were violated.
- Former AmNews co-owner John L. Edmonds dies at age 87.
- Nina Davuluri, Miss New York 2013, wins the 93rd Miss America pageant.
- Demonstrators hit the streets after 37-year-old Kyam Livingston dies of illness while in police custody after being held for seven hours with no medical attention.
- Students at the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Macaulay Honors College protest against former disgraced CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus teaching a class at the college.
- The AmNews and Bill Lynch Associates host their annual Labor Breakfast.
- Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins releases his autobiography, “A Mayor’s Life: Governing New York’s Gorgeous Mosaic.”
- Gay Men’s Health Crisis Center Executive Director Marjorie Hill resigns.
October
- The U.S. federal government shuts down for 16 days after Congress fails to enact legislation appropriating funds for fiscal year 2014 or a continuing resolution for the interim authorization of appropriations for fiscal year 2014.
- The long-awaited Affordable Care Act, which gives access to health care to all Americans, takes effect. However, chaos ensues when those enrolling for the program experience widespread confusion along with technical issues with the program’s website.
- The National Association of Black Journalists hosts its Region I Conference and Media Institute in the city.
- The African Day Parade takes place in Harlem.
- Over 200 people, including Rep. Charlie Rangel, are arrested in Washington at a protest rally to put pressure on Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill.
- The city is put on alert when 14-year-old autistic, nonverbal Avonte Oquendo runs out of his school in Long Island, Queens. Police and hundreds of volunteers search the city looking the teen.
- Livonia Avenue between Barbey Street and Schenck Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn, is officially recognized as an African burial ground.
- Celebrated Brooklyn Rep. Major R. Owens passes at age 77.
- Newark Mayor Corey Booker is elected to the U.S. Senate seat for New Jersey.
- Students at CUNY’s City College protest the closing of the Guillermo Morales/Assata Shakur Center, an organizing space for students and activists.
- Vocalist Gloria Lynn dies at age 83.
- Reports surface of several Black shoppers being victims of “shop-and-frisk,” where shoppers are unfairly arrested and detained after making legitimate purchases at retailers, including Barneys and Macy’s.
- President Barack Obama speaks at Pathways in Technology Early College High School in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
- In the race for Brooklyn district attorney, Republican candidate and former District Attorney Charles Hynes in slammed for using a racial slur against Blacks in campaign material sent to Jewish voters.
- The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a federal judge’s decision ruling stop-and-frisk unconstitutional.
November
- The city’s political landscape makes a major change after the general elections: Bill de Blasio is elected the city’s first Democratic mayor in 20 years; Letitia James in elected public advocate, making her the first Black, female, citywide-elected official; and Ken Thompson is officially elected Brooklyn’s first new district attorney in nearly 30 years.
- Nationwide cuts to food stamps leave 47 million Americans with less money to buy food due to to the end of a temporary boost of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
- Pressure is put on Mayor-elect de Blasio to follow through on his promises to compensate the “Central Park Five.”
- Red Lobster opens in Harlem on 125th Street.
- Kim Royster is promoted to deputy chief, making her the third African-American woman to achieve the rank of chief in the NYPD’s history.
- Marissa Alexander, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a waring shot at her abusive husband, is released from prison on house arrest after she is granted a retrial.
- George Zimmerman is arrested in Florida after aiming a gun at his girlfriend.
- Civil rights leaders hold protests at retailers over shop-and-frisk, with many calling for boycotts.
- The New York City Commission on Human Rights requests information from several retailers over their security practices when it comes to stopping people.
- The release of the book “The Diary of Malcolm X” is put on hold after family members of the late civil rights leader and the publisher of the book land in court over unverified content in the book.
- The family of Kyam Livingston, who died in police custody after she fell ill, file a federal lawsuit.
December
- Disaster strikes when at least four are dead and 63 others injured following a Metro-North Railroad train derailment near Spuyten Duyvil in the Bronx.
- Preliminary reports by the National Transportation Safety Board determine that the train was traveling at 82 miles per hour rather than 30 miles per hour, which is the speed required on the section where the accident occurs.
- Students and Harlem community members march on City College to protest a string of actions taken by the college and CUNY to bring back the ROTC. Six students are arrested for protesting.
- Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio makes the first appointments to his administration. Among them are Anthony Shorris as deputy mayor, Dominic Williams as his chief of staff and Bill Bratton as NYPD commissioner.
- Former South African President and civil rights icon Nelson Mandela dies at age 95. As the world mourns the death of Mandela, all eyes are on South Africa, where his memorial takes place. President Barack Obama speaks at his memorial service.
- The FDNY graduates a record number of diverse firefighters.
- Black-owned radio station AM 1600 WWRL plans to switch to Spanish language, getting rid all of its Black and progressive programming.
- Dance icon Fred Benjamin dies at age 69.
- Interfaith Medical Center remains open after Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office decides to continue funding the hospital until March 2014.
- The Target Corporation and the United States Secret Service say that more than 40 million credit and debit cards used in Target stores may have been compromised due to a data breach.
- An unnamed gunman shoots three teenagers, two fatally, in a neighborhood near Interstate 78 in Newark, N.J., on Christmas Day.
- The shooting occurs shortly after three other men are killed and two more wounded by a shooting at a strip club in Irvington, N.J.