Author

Andrea Sears

Andrea Sears has been a radio journalist for 30 years participating mostly at WBAI-Pacifica Radio in NYC as an editor, anchor and reporter for more than two decades. Sears contributes to a variety of publications through involvement in the New York News Connection, a Bureau of the Public News Service.

Business

Calls to Put People Over Profits in Next Stimulus Bill

Andrea Sears May 14, 2020

Environmental groups say the next economic stimulus bill from Congress is an opportunity to establish new priorities. But will Congress agree? Photo credit: DisobeyArt, Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - Climate activists are pleased with much of…

Business

Farm Labor: The Forgotten “Essential Workers”

Andrea Sears May 12, 2020

The COVID pandemic has raised public awareness of the essential role that undocumented workers play in the U.S. agricultural industry. Photo credit: David A. Litman / Shutterstock.com, licensed. NEW YORK -- Undocumented New York farm…

Finance

Plan Offers Relief for Hungry Children

Andrea Sears May 11, 2020

While the Pandemic-EBT program was not created to be ongoing federal assistance, Berg noted the need is greater than Congress originally anticipated. Photo credit: KIRYAKOVA ANNA / Shutterstock.com NEW YORK -- Families with children who…

Health

Vigils Demand Clemency for Those Threatened by COVID in Prisons

Andrea Sears May 10, 2020

Families and advocates demand testing of all incarcerated people and clemency for those most at risk of COVID-19. Photo credit: Walter Hergt, North Star Fund. NEW YORK -- Formerly incarcerated people and the families and communities of…

Health

Upstate COVID Nurse Corps: Deploying Nurses Where They’re Most Needed

Andrea Sears May 7, 2020

More than 120 nurses have volunteered to participate in the Upstate COVID Nurse Corps, a new program is bringing nurses on furlough from upstate hospitals to New York City to help out at understaffed hospitals in the epicenter of the…

Health

HHS Asked to Rescind End-of-Life Directive Waiver

Andrea Sears Apr 30, 2020

Advance directives let patients decide if they want invasive medical treatment. Photo credit Shutterstock licensed. NEW YORK - Advocates for end-of-life care options have written a letter asking the federal Health and Human…

Business

Pandemic Presents Extra Perils for People with Disabilities

Andrea Sears Apr 28, 2020

People with disabilities loaded hundreds of pallets of provisions on the USNS Comfort (Mercy-class hospital ship) for its trip to New York. Photo credit U.S. Navy. NEW YORK -- Skyrocketing unemployment in the COVID-19 pandemic poses an…

Crime

Fewer Youths in Juvenile Detention Amid Pandemic

Andrea Sears Apr 27, 2020

According to Vincent Schiraldi, co-director of the Columbia Justice Lab at Columbia University, the pandemic has raised the kinds of questions about detention that always should have been asked. File photo: Pixabay. NEW YORK -- A recent…

Crime

Report: Jails Could Add 100K COVID-19 Deaths

Andrea Sears Apr 23, 2020

A one-week delay in reducing jail populations could mean 18,000 lives lost to COVID-19, according to a new report. There are almost 740,000 people in American jails where social distancing and other preventive measures are difficult if not…

Environment

Challenges and Lessons for 50th Earth Day

Andrea Sears Apr 20, 2020

Earth Day 50 will focus on the importance of continuing investment in the health of the planet. Photo credit: lovelyday12/Adobe Stock. NEW YORK -- Wednesday is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. And to mark the occasion,…

Health

Veterans Stepping Up to Fight COVID-19

Andrea Sears Apr 20, 2020

The Ryan Larkin New York-Presbyterian Field Hospital can treat more than 216 patients. Photo credit: Frederick Wellman. NEW YORK -- Since Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued executive orders allowing people with varying degrees of training to help…

Business

NYC Shelter Security Officers Claim They’re Denied Sick Leave

Andrea Sears Apr 15, 2020

According to Denis Johnston, vice president of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, the employers either delayed or withheld sick pay, required doctors' notes for one- or two-day absences, and retaliated against those…

Business

Stocking Up On Tainted Tuna? Report Alleges Problems with Fishing Practices, Working Conditions at…

Andrea Sears Apr 13, 2020

Sleeping quarters on a Taiwanese company-owned vessel fishing for tuna in the mid-Atlantic. Photo credit: Greenpeace. NEW YORK -- As households try to stock up on shelf-stable foods, a Greenpeace investigation has found potential links…

Crime

As COVID-19 Surges, So Does Domestic Violence

Andrea Sears Apr 9, 2020

The lack of privacy during stay-at-home orders can make accessing domestic violence services more difficult for the people who need them. Shutterstock.com licensed. NEW YORK - While stay-at-home measures appear to be slowing the spread…

Economy

New York Budget Bill Advances Clean Energy

Andrea Sears Apr 2, 2020

Expediting renewable energy development could help New York's economy after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Image by Sebastian Ganso. ALBANY, N.Y. - Clean energy advocates in New York say the budget passed by the Legislature this…

Health

Rights Advocates Say State Budget Abandons Immigrants

Andrea Sears Apr 1, 2020

Rights advocates say immigrants removed from their families are being put at risk of exposure to COVID-19 in federal detention facilities. Photo credit: vivalapenler / Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - Immigrant rights advocates say New York must…

Business

Making Sure All New York Kids Are Counted

Andrea Sears Mar 25, 2020

Young black and Hispanic children are missed by the census at twice the rate of white children. Photo credit: Monkey Business / Adobe Stock. NEW YORK -- Children under five are the largest age group to be missed in the U.S. Census, so …

Health

Nurses Petition Congress for COVID-19 Protection

Andrea Sears Mar 23, 2020

A 3M Respirator #8210 or N95 mask, disposable particulate respirator designed to help provide reliable respiratory protection of at least 95 percent filtration efficiency against certain non-oil based particles and helps reduce inhalation…

Health

Hunger Advocates: White House Reneged on SNAP Boost

Andrea Sears Mar 23, 2020

With businesses shutting down across the country to stop the spread of the coronavirus, millions of people are losing their jobs, and senior centers and school meal programs have shut down. Photo credit: PixelRobot / Adobe Stock / Pixbay…

Education

Helping Fill the Coronavirus Learning Gap

Andrea Sears Mar 19, 2020

The toolkit has tips and resources to help keep children engaged, active and learning while schools are closed. Photo credit: Flamingo Images/Adobe Stock. ALBANY, N.Y. - With schools closing around the country to help slow the spread…

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