> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # April In Review - URL: https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/april2021newsletter/ - Published: 2021-05-01T16:53:04.000Z - Updated: 2024-01-03T17:39:46.000Z - Author: Candy Mantilla - Tags: Newsletter In anticipation of the June 22 primary, last month was very politics-focused for PFT5: A District-49 City Council Candidates Forum, the battle to save the Graniteville Wetlands, and more. Below are our April publications # [**A Last Stand for The Wetlands**](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/a-last-stand-for-the-wetlands/) Written by [Jacqueline Caruso](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/author/jacqueline/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/97/f09718d4-935c-43ce-9d6d-e06dfcfa8cad/content/images/2021/04/Staten_Island_North_Shore_Wetlands_9.jpg)](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/a-last-stand-for-the-wetlands/) PC Paul Moakley for Plea For The Fifth *On March 24, 2021, a march to bring awareness to the effort to save the Graniteville Wetlands was hosted on the North Shore. Plans to build Wholesale Club store, gas station, and an 838-car parking lot at the site have faced strong opposition in recent years.* --- # [**A Year Later: How COVID-19 Has Changed Life at CSI**](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/covid-19-has-changed-life-at-csi/) Written by[ ](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/author/sean/)[Chad Small](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/author/chad/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/97/f09718d4-935c-43ce-9d6d-e06dfcfa8cad/content/images/2021/04/CUNY_CSI_COVID_01.jpg)](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/covid-19-has-changed-life-at-csi/) PC [Maria Rosas](https://mariarosas803.myportfolio.com/home?ref=pleaforthefifth.com) for Plea For The Fifth *Pandemic-led changes to higher education coupled with years of budget cuts and a tuition hikes across the CUNY system are poised to exacerbate longstanding problems for current and prospective students of the College of Staten Island.* --- # [**City Council D-49 Candidates Forum**](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/city-council-d-49-candidates-forum/) Written by[ Sean Ghazala](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/author/sean/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/97/f09718d4-935c-43ce-9d6d-e06dfcfa8cad/content/images/2021/04/City_Council_Web-1-1.png)](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/city-council-d-49-candidates-forum/) Illustration by [Xio](https://www.instagram.com/xprexions/?ref=pleaforthefifth.com) *PFT5 brought District 49 City Council candidates and voters together for policy discussion on the environment, the economy, policing, cannabis and more.* Watch the [forum ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL%5FwhVFiUjs&ab%5Fchannel=PleafortheFifth&ref=pleaforthefifth.com)now on our [YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX4tSsGcBWPSZnrIFQr0AHA?ref=pleaforthefifth.com)channel [LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & TELL A FRIEND!](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX4tSsGcBWPSZnrIFQr0AHA?ref=pleaforthefifth.com) --- # [**Follow the Money (D-51): Entry 1**](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/follow-the-money-d-51-entry-1/) Written by [Nicolette Suberska](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/author/nicolette/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/97/f09718d4-935c-43ce-9d6d-e06dfcfa8cad/content/images/2021/04/Money-map.png)](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/follow-the-money-d-51-entry-1/) Illustration by [Xio](https://www.instagram.com/xprexions/?ref=pleaforthefifth.com) *Entry 1 of our Follow the Money series for District 51 revealed how Republican incumbent Joe Borelli has outraised Democratic newcomer, Olivia Drabczyk by almost $10,000\. But Drabczyk has received approximately 70% more donations than Borelli.* --- # [**A Coalition of Muslim Staten Islanders Meet with Eric Adams and Other Mayoral Candidates**](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/a-coalition-of-muslim-staten-islanders-meet-with-eric-adams-and-other-mayoral-candidates-2/) Written by [Valeriana Dema](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/author/valeriana/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/97/f09718d4-935c-43ce-9d6d-e06dfcfa8cad/content/images/2021/04/Staten_Island_Muslim_Community_Smit_03-1.jpg)](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/a-coalition-of-muslim-staten-islanders-meet-with-eric-adams-and-other-mayoral-candidates-2/) *Brooklyn Borough President and retired NYPD captain, Eric Adams becomes the first of 2021 mayoral hopefuls to speak with the Staten Island's Muslim community during a virtual meeting in March 2021.* --- ### MORE FROM PFT5'S *FOLLOW THE MONEY SERIES* # [Follow the Money (D-49): Entry 1](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/follow-the-money-d-49-entry-1/) # [Follow the Money (D-49): Entry 2](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/follow-the-money-d-49-entry-2/) ## Both written by [Chad Small](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/author/chad/) --- ## Say Hello To [Xio](https://www.instagram.com/xprexions/?hl=en&ref=pleaforthefifth.com) My name is [Jovanny Guerrero](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/author/jovanny/), but I like to use xio because I want to separate my identity with the origin of my name. I was born in Port Richmond, went to Mexico and came back when I was 5, ever since I have been raised in Port Richmond and West Brighton. Through education of my own and several people I picked up Marxist ideology. I come from a working class family, and community. I'm currently organizing locally with [Shaolin Rising](https://www.instagram.com/shaolin%5Frising/?hl=en&ref=pleaforthefifth.com). I studied architecture in NYCCT. I am currently unemployed and free lancing through art gigs. Most of the [art](https://www.instagram.com/xprexions/?hl=en&ref=pleaforthefifth.com) I do for now is graphics. I am getting more into selling paintings and flower pots. I love soccer, although I no longer play it, I now just watch my favorite team or keep up with score boards. I appreciate Plea for giving me the space and platform to show some [illustrations](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/author/jovanny/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/97/f09718d4-935c-43ce-9d6d-e06dfcfa8cad/content/images/2021/05/signal-2021-05-01-105639-1.jpeg) --- # [**Write With Us!**](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/contribute/) We accept pitches for articles from freelance journalists and those that don’t have publishing experience, but are interested in pitching us a story or writing with us. We want to hear from those who believe they have an under-reported Staten Island story. Currently, we are accepting op-eds. You can find out more information about contributing to Plea For The Fifth [here](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/contribute/), or email us at [editor@pleaforthefifth.com](mailto:editor@pleaforthefifth.com). | [![Facebook icon](https://dim.mcusercontent.com/https/cdn-images.mailchimp.com%2Ficons%2Fsocial-block-v2%2Fcolor-facebook-48.png?w=44&dpr=2)](https://www.facebook.com/PleafortheFifth) | [![Instagram icon](https://dim.mcusercontent.com/https/cdn-images.mailchimp.com%2Ficons%2Fsocial-block-v2%2Fcolor-instagram-48.png?w=44&dpr=2)](https://www.instagram.com/pleaforthefifth/?ref=pleaforthefifth.com) | [![Twitter icon](https://dim.mcusercontent.com/https/cdn-images.mailchimp.com%2Ficons%2Fsocial-block-v2%2Fcolor-twitter-48.png?w=44&dpr=2)](https://twitter.com/pleaforthefifth?ref=pleaforthefifth.com) | [![Website icon](https://dim.mcusercontent.com/https/cdn-images.mailchimp.com%2Ficons%2Fsocial-block-v2%2Fcolor-link-48.png?w=44&dpr=2)](https://www.pleaforthefifth.com/) | [![Email icon](https://dim.mcusercontent.com/https/cdn-images.mailchimp.com%2Ficons%2Fsocial-block-v2%2Fcolor-email-48.png?w=44&dpr=2)](mailto:editor@pleaforthefifth.com) | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |