“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Joselyn Martinez was only 9-years-old when her beloved father was murdered in front of the restaurant he owned on Dyckman and Nagle Ave. The year was 1986 and the family was planning to move back to the Dominican Republic to escape the violence and mayhem that was quickly engulfing the neighborhood. They never made it. The murderer, 16-year-old Justo Santos, however, did as he fled to the island to escape the reach of the law. The murder was filed away as a cold case and it may have remained there if not for the tenacity of the daughter who was determined to find her father’s killer.

In 2006, now an adult, Joselyn began a long and frustrating search to bring the assassin to justice. Just as her faith in ever finding the man who changed her life was beginning to waver, she was able to obtain a crucial piece of information that led to the arrest of Justos Santos after almost 30 years. But guess what? On Thursday, October 30th, 2015 Justice Robert M. Stolz of the State Supreme Court dismissed the murder charge against Justo Santos on a technicality. According to Justice Stolz, the Manhattan district attorney’s office waited too long to bring charges against Mr. Santos. Mr. Santos walked out of court a free man even though he had admitted to the murder of Jose Martinez in November of 1986.

Thank god that is not where the story ends. Shayna Jacobs of the NY Daily News reported that Mr. Martinez was just convicted of immigration fraud in connection with the shooting.

Check out: Man who killed Jose Martinez in 1986 Washington Heights shooting convicted of immigration fraud | NY Daily News

Did you catch our very own State Senator Adriano Espaillat speaking at the Democratic National Convention? Jillian Jorgensen of the Observer penned an informative article on his rise from being undocumented to the hallowed halls of congress.
 
Check out: From Undocumented to Congress: Adriano Espaillat Needles Trump at DNC | Observer

 
Rose Hackman of the Guardian wrote an excellent piece on one of the quintessential traditions of NYC summers, frolicking in open fire hydrants. Shout out to Devon Knight for the truly awesome pictures.
 
Check out:‘It’s always been there for us’: a love letter to New York’s fire hydrants | The Guardian

 
Alanna Schubach of Brick Underground told a tale of two neighborhoods in Inwood. Please check out this piece that is a follow up on the social media tsunami that followed a controversial NY Daily News Op-Ed.
 
Check out: A tale of two neighborhoods in Inwood | Brick Underground

 
New York State has unveiled a program that will cover the application fee for U.S. citizenship for an estimated 2,000 low-income immigrants, with winners to be selected by a lottery. The initiative, dubbed NaturalizeNY, is an effort to assist immigrants for whom the existing $680 fee for a citizenship application is a financial obstacle. Open until September 23, the lottery is aimed at immigrants with modest incomes that are not low enough to qualify for the federal fee waiver. Gregg McQueen of the Manhattan Times reported on the important initiative.
 
Check out: Drawing of Destiny | Manhattan Times

 
My first Sofar Sounds experience was everything I expected and more. The venue for my first, but definitely not my last, Sofar Sounds shindig was Our Saviour’s Atonement Lutheran Church (178 Bennett Ave). Our lineup for the evening was Arms, Kéren and Gracie & Rachel. To be truthful I had never heard of any of these artists before but I left that night a fan of all 3 acts as well as a believer in the power of Sofar Sounds.
 
Check out: My First Sofar Sounds Experience…

 
Oh snap Lexiglass is back with Mobb Phonics, the 2nd installment in the Cubetazo series. For those that don’t know, Lexiglass is all about that raw, instrumental Hip-Hop and this time around they are taking you on a musical journey to Queensbridge. If you had the pleasure of peeping their first project in the series, The Love Move, then you know how they get down.
 
Check out:  Mood Music: Lexiglass – Mobb Phonics – The Cubetazos Vol 2

 
Do you need to lose weight and get in shape but you feel like you’re out of options? Look no further! Introducing Hector Fuerte’s Dominican Juicing Recipes! Combining all of the nutrients you would find in a traditional meal, Hector’s recipes ease digestion to help you achieve the body you’ve always dreamed of! Sort of. Shout out to The Flama, Juan Bago and friends for the hilarious video.
 
Check out: Uptown Video: SMOOTHIE CHALLENGE! Dominican Edition

 
The Up Theater Company Presents Our Town @ The Dyckman Farmhouse on August 6th. UP being UP, unos pocos twists have been added–don’t worry, it will still be a family show. Suffice it to say that liberties will be taken with the meaning of the word “Our”, adding some parochial color to this Pulitzer Prize-winning American classic about Life, Love and Eternity. The event is free. Bring a blanket to sit on.  
 
Check out: 08/06/16: Up Theater Company Presents Our Town @ The Dyckman Farmhouse

 
Join Andrea Arroyo and Marjorie Elliot this Sunday for the closing reception of their Live Jazz and Live Art Experience. The event goes down at the venerable Morris Jumel Mansion (65 Jumel Terrace) at 1 pm.
 
Check out: https://www.facebook.com/events/1772773612939163/

 
Only a few shows left folks. The Classical Theatre of Harlem presents Uptown Shakespeare in the Park.
 
Check out: The Classical Theatre of Harlem presents Uptown Shakespeare in the Park

 
Our #InstagramUptown post comes to us from @jose_fresh.

By the way, please like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter & Instagram. Also please tell your people about us.

You know the motto, Spread Love It’s The Uptown Way!
 
Check out: #InstagramUptown: Un Verano En Nueva York

As always, check us out at www.uptowncollective.com. 

WHIN & Spread Love

Led Black
Editor-in-Chief
The Uptown Collective
 
The UC’s mission is to become “the” definitive,
transformative and community-based force
impacting the arts, culture, business and New York
City’s overall perception of Upper Manhattan.
Its objective is to reset, reboot and positively redefine
Uptown’s artistic, political, cultural and business spheres
via the online space as well the collective’s initiatives
and functions.