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www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 115 No. 6 Two Sections
FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024
Dr. Ralph Proctor, famed historian, author, professor, passes
DR. RALPH PROCTOR PASSED AWAY ON FRIDAY MORNING, FEB. 2, ACCORDING TO HIS SON.
by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
In the "Something People Might Not Know About Me" section of the CCAC website that houses Ralph Proctor's bio, he said that "despite a very public life...I really
am quite introverted and rather shy." Well, that "introverted" and "rather shy" person met with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., participated in the civil rights movements of the '50s and '60s, wrote three books, hosted radio and television
programs like WQED's "Black Horizons," spent decades giving public speeches, created Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs and traveled extensively through Africa. And still, that doesn't seem like anywhere near enough to describe Ralph
Proctor, Ph.D., and his accomplishments. Dr. Proctor died on Friday morning, Feb. 2, according to his son. "Brother Proctor was the consummate fearless warrior for justice," said Ronald Saunders, President of the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie
Branch of ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History), in a statement to the New Pittsburgh Courier. "He would tackle Jim Crow and racism regardless of where it reared its ugly head, whether it was at the University of
Pittsburgh, the United States Military, WQED or any other venue. Brother Proctor had great love for Black people and traveled the African continent collecting art from various SEE PROCTOR A5
Dr. Kathi Elliott receives Steelers’ Changemaker Award—and tickets to the Super Bowl Gwen’s Girls CEO touts early success of new diversion program for Allegheny County youth by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Come this Sunday, Feb. 11, pretty much everyone is going to be watching the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. But Kathi Elliott, Ph.D., the CEO of inspirational nonprofit organization Gwen’s Girls, will have a much better vantage point of the game. She’ll actually be at the game. Surprised as “all getout” was Elliott when she was presented with two free tickets to Super Bowl LVIII (58) by the Pittsburgh Steelers, just after she was named the recipient of the team’s Inspire Change Changemaker Award. The annual award is presented to someone for their work in support of social justice in the region. The presentation was made to Elliott by former Steeler Will Allen
inside Acrisure Stadium, just before the Steelers’ final home game this past season against the Cincinnati Bengals, a 34-11 win, Dec. 23, 2023. The Steelers said the Changemaker Award is reserved for those making a difference in their community across Inspire Change’s four focus areas: education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform. The Steelers said Gwen’s Girls, which was founded by Elliott’s mother, Gwen, offers a “safe space where girls and young women can form relationships, build self-esteem and gain resiliency, directly making an impact under the Inspire Change education pillar,” according to the team’s release. In Pittsburgh’s African American community, Gwen’s Girls is well-known. SEE ELLIOTT A6
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DR. KATHI ELLIOTT, NOT SURPRISINGLY, IS DONATING THE $10,000 CHECK TO HER NONPROFIT, GWEN’S GIRLS.
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A2 FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024
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This Week In Black History
A Courier Staple •FEBRUARY 7
Remembering ‘The Black Eagle’:
Joe Madison’s legacy and fight for justice by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Tributes continued to pour in for Joe Madison, the talk show host, activist and philanthropist known as “The Black Eagle” who died Thursday, Feb. 1, at 74 after a lengthy bout with prostate cancer. Those familiar with the popular SiriusXM host and his legacy noted his death, fittingly, comes as America observes the start of Black History Month. “Whether it was a hunger strike for voting rights or his advocacy for anti-lynching legislation that I was proud to sign in 2022, Joe fought hard against injustice,” President Joe Biden said in a joint statement with Vice President Kamala Harris. “Madison aligned his platform with his purpose,” Harris added. “Through his decadeslong career in radio, he championed the fight for equity and justice. Our nation is better because of his voice.” “Pulling and praying for the family of Joe Madison,” popular news personality Tavis Smiley said in a statement. “He loved us so, and was dedicated to our freedom and liberation every day he cracked the mic. His voice will be sorely missed.” According to his official bio, the native of Dayton, Ohio, was an All-Conference running back at Washington University in St. Louis where he was also a baritone soloist in the university choir and a disc jockey at the campus
radio station. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology, becoming the first person in his family to graduate college. At age 24, he became the youngest executive director of the NAACP’s Detroit branch before being appointed the organization’s national political director and eventually being elected to the national board of directors where he served for 14 years. During his tenure at the NAACP, Madison led hundreds of volunteers on a series of successful voter registration marches, including a cross-country “March for Dignity” from Los Angeles to Baltimore. The marches garnered thousands of signatures for an anti-apartheid bill in Congress. Madison’s radio career began in 1980 at Detroit’s WXYZ. He continued his broadcast journey to WWDB in Philadelphia, WWRC and WOL in Washington, D.C. The popularity of his WOL program led to syndication on the Radio One Talk Network and its XM satellite channel which merged with Sirius to become SiriusXM in 2008. In 2023, Madison celebrated his 15th anniversary with SiriusXM. In 2015, Madison set the Guinness World Record for the longest onair broadcast, 52 hours. During the record-breaking show, he raised more than $250,000 for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Five months later, Madison made history again by broadcasting live from Cuba and becoming the
first American radio host to do so in more than 50 years. In 2021, Madison went on a 73-day hunger strike to encourage passage of voting rights bills. Unbeknownst to his listeners, he was fighting prostate cancer during his hunger strike. When asked if he understood the danger he was in, he replied, “I am willing to die.” His bio further noted that a few months after his hunger strike, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act passed in the Senate with the help of Madison’s continued push on the radio. His efforts were noticed by many, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who publicly thanked him for another fight for justice. Madison and his wife of more than 45 years, Sherry, lived in Washington, D.C. Their blended family includes four children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In a statement, Madison’s family invited fans and friends to send condolences: “Joe dedicated his life to fighting for all those who are undervalued, underestimated, and marginalized. On air he often posed the question, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ Although he is no longer with us, we hope you will join us in answering that call by continuing to be proactive in the fight against injustice. The outpouring of prayers and support over the last few months lifted Joe’s spirits and strengthened us as a family. We continue to ask for privacy as we gather together to support each other through this difficult time.”
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1871—Alcorn A&M College (later “University”) opens in Mississippi. The great Black legislator Hiram Revels resigns his seat in Congress to become the first president of the institution, which would grow to become one of the leading Black colleges in the nation. At first it was only open to men but began admitting women in 1895. 1883—Eubie Blake is born James Hubert Blake in Baltimore, Md. Along with Noble Sissle, he popularizes Ragtime music. The genre had its birth in Black bars and whore houses in Southern and Midwestern cities. But Sissle and Blake took it mainstream with hits ranging from the “Charleston Rag” to “I’m Just Wild about Harry” to “Shuffle Along.” Blake died when he was 100 years old on Feb. 12, 1983. 1967—Comedian-actor Chris Rock is born on this day in Andrews, S.C. He is the oldest of seven children.
•FEBRUARY 8
1894—Congress repeals the Enforcement Act and thus made it easier for states, especially in the South, to take away Black voting rights. Originally passed in 1870, the Act had established criminal penalties for interfering with a person’s right to vote. After its repeal, Southern states passed a host of measures including poll taxes, literacy tests and so-called vouchers of “good character”—all designed to block or limit the number of Blacks who could vote. 1925—Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the “Black Moses,” enters federal prison in Atlanta, Ga., after being convicted of what many Blacks felt were trumped up mail fraud charges. Garvey, a master of grandeur and showmanship, had built the largest Black mass movement in African American history by emphasizing racial pride, economic empowerment and the building of a Black empire in Africa. Born in Jamaica and having traveled throughout South America, Garvey had become distressed with the plights of Blacks throughout the world and organized the Universal Negro Improvement Association—UNIA—in 1914. He brought the UNIA to America in 1915 and its growth exploded. At its height, the UNIA had several hundred thousand members and owned businesses ranging from bakeries to shipping lines. Garvey’s rapid growth and increasing power on masses of Blacks are what attracted negative attention from the federal government. After his imprisonment, the organization never recovered. He died in London, England in 1940. 1968—In what became known as “The Orangeburg Massacre” police opened fire on protesting Black students on the campus of South Carolina State University. The officers responded to rock-throwing with a volley of shots, which left three students dead and 27 wounded. The students were protesting a segregated bowling alley near the school’s campus in Orangeburg, S.C. The students killed were Samuel Hammond, Delano Middleton and Henry Smith. 1978—Leon Spinks defeats Muhammad Ali and captures the heavyweight boxing championship. Ali regains the title in September of the same year becoming the first person to win the title three times.
George Gershwin Broadway production of “Porgy and Bess.” She became a sensation in Europe, signing contracts to sing in just about every European language. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City in 1961. 1989—Ron Brown was elected chairman of the Democratic Party, becoming the first African American to head one of the two major political parties. 1992—Renowned author Alex Haley dies. He was also a biographer and scriptwriter. Haley is perhaps best known for the novel “Roots,” which became a major television series, and for the “Autobiography of Malcolm X.” Haley was born Aug. 11, 1921, in Ithaca, N.Y. 1992—Heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was convicted in Indianapolis of the rape of beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington.
•FEBRUARY 11
1644—Eleven Blacks confront the ruling Council of New Netherlands (later New York) with a petition demanding their freedom. This was probably the first legal protest action by Blacks in American history. The petition is granted and the Blacks are freed because they had worked off the terms of their indentured servant contracts which were usually for seven years. But these Blacks had worked for up to 18 years. Shortly after this victory, however, no more Blacks were allowed such contracts but were instead treated as slaves for life. 1990—Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is released from prison on Robben Island after 27 years. He had been jailed for his militant activities against the then Whiteruled South African government and its system of rule known as Apartheid. Mandela would go on to become the first Black and first democratically elected president of South Africa (1994-1999). He enabled a peaceful transition to Black majority rule. Mandela was one of the most respected and admired men in the world. In South Africa, he was known as “Madiba”—an honorary title given to elders in his tribe.
•FEBRUARY 12
1944—Award winning novelist Alice Walker is born in Eatonton, Ga. She is known for “telling the Black woman’s story.” Perhaps her most famous novel was “The Color Purple.” 1995—Dr. Bernard Harris becomes the first African American to walk in space as part of a joint Russian and American mission. However, Harris was far from being the first Black person in space. That honor goes to a Black Cuban pilot who flew aboard the So
1793—Congress passes the first Fugitive Slave Law. The law made it easier for a slave owner to re-take control of a slave who had escaped to freedom. Blacks and their supporters were outraged because the 1793 law only required the “word” of a White man before a magistrate to declare any Black person a runaway slave and have him or her arrested and placed in bondage. Under the law, even Blacks who had earned their freedom or had never been slaves were placed in danger. 1900—Legendary poet James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) writes the lyrics to the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as part of a birthday tribute to Abraham Lincoln. In time, the song would become the Black National Anthem. 1909—The NAACP is formally founded by a group of 60 progressive Blacks and Whites in New York City. The organization, originally called the National Negro Committee, was the outgrowth of the Niagara Movement, which met in Niagara, N.Y., in 1905. The NAACP would go on to become, and remains, the nation’s largest civil rights organization. 1930—The infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment is funded. More than 400 Black men from rural parts of Georgia and Alabama are lured into the program with the promise that they would be treated for syphilis. But the program was actually designed to study the effects of untreated syphilis on the body. Thus, the men were given fake anti-syphilis medicines as their diseases advanced. The unethical “experiment” went on for 40 years as most of the men gradually died. A reporter exposed the study in 1972. Several government agencies, including the U.S. Public Health Service and Centers for Disease Control, were involved. On behalf of the nation, in 1997 President Bill Clinton apologized to Charlie Pollard and other surviving members of the racist experiment.
•FEBRUARY 10
•FEBRUARY 13
•FEBRUARY 9
1854—Educator Joseph Charles Price is born on this day in Elizabeth City, N.C. Largely unknown today, Price was a world-renowned scholar who founded North Carolina’s Livingstone University. He was also a powerful preacher and orator who raised funds to advance African American education throughout the nation. His basic educational theory was “educate the whole person”—hands, head and heart. 1927—Opera singer Leontyne Price is born Mary Violet Leontyne Price in Laurel, Miss. She first achieved international fame when she was selected to play “Bess” during the European tour of the
1635—The nation’s first public school is established in Boston, Mass. It was called the Boston Latin School. Blacks could not attend. 1907—Wendell P. Dabney establishes the groundbreaking Black newspaper known as The Union, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The paper’s motto was “For no people can become great without being united, for in union there is strength.”
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FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024 A3
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METRO
A4 FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Pittsburgh DJ Nick Nice honored by city with proclamation
NICK NICE, WITH KIMBERLY BOOTH AND JUDGE KIM BERKELEY CLARK. NICK NICE HAS BEEN A DJ IN PITTSBURGH FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AND WHEN HE ARRIVED IN THE WAMO STUDIOUS IN THE EARLY ‘90S, HE BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME. NICK NICE WAS A MAINSTAY ON WAMO FOR UPWARDS OF 30 YEARS. MAYOR ED GAINEY PROCLAIMED JANUARY 26, 2024, “NICK NICE DAY” IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. (PHOTOS BY MARLON MARTIN)
NICK NICE, WITH DAUGHTER NICOLE SCHILLING (FAR LEFT), DELANEE RAMSEY (RIGHT), AND GRANDCHILDREN BRYAN AND BRYCE PORTER. ALSO PICTURED IS MELVIN HUBBARD EL, WITH THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH.
NICK NICE, MAYOR ED GAINEY.
NICK NICE, WITH BROTHER MARLON MARTIN, JAMES CLARKE AND DION DUPREE.
METRO
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Dr. Ralph Proctor, famed historian, author, professor, passes
FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024
A5
The New Pittsburgh Courier is seeking nominations for the FAB 4O Under 40 Awards 2024
DR. RALPH PROCTOR CREATED THE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AT CCAC.
PROCTOR FROM A1
nations and tribes." Saunders told the Courier he grew up with Dr. Proctor in the Hill District, as they both attended Robert L. Vann Elementary School and Herron Hill Jr. High School. Dr. Proctor attended Schenley High School. Dr. Proctor earned a B.S. in Psychology in 1965 and his doctorate in History in 1979, both from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Proctor was a teacher and later, assistant dean in Pitt's School of Arts and Sciences from 1968 to 1973. Dr. Proctor was the host of WQED-TV's "Black Horizons" community affairs show from 19681971. He was the author of three books: "Racial Discrimination Against Black Teachers and Black Professionals in the Pittsburgh Public School System—1834-1973," "Voices From the Firing Line; A Personal Account of the Pittsburgh Civil Rights Movement," and "Song of The Hill; Life, Love, Legacy." Dr. Proctor also served as executive director of the Kingsley Association for a time (1978-1979). In 2001, Dr. Proctor became a professor in ethnic and diversity studies at CCAC (Community College of Allegheny County), later becoming chairman of the entire program at the school. But that wasn't all. He created the Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion at CCAC and served as its first vice president, under thenCCAC President Dr. Stewart Sutin. Dr. Proctor also said in his CCAC bio that he proposed to the CCAC Board of Trustees that the school construct a new science building on its main campus named after an African American icon, K. Leroy Irvis, the former Pa. Speaker of the House. The K. Leroy Irvis Science Center now sits on Ridge Avenue. Dr. Proctor also was a nationally-recognized collector of African art, of which he donated some of the collection to the University of Pittsburgh's African Heritage Classroom Committee in 2013. "Ralph Proctor represented an era in Black Pittsburgh that was emerging from the ashes of America’s racial oppression to the realization of its promise," expressed Samuel Black, Director of African American Program at the Heinz History Center, exclusively to the Courier, Feb. 6. "Ralph had a fire of determination and belief in equality that carried him into different areas of community and work. Typical of the Black leadership shown by Pittsburgh legends Martin Delany, Mal Goode, and
Cum Posey, Ralph Proctor excelled in several professions, all seemingly for the benefit of himself and the community. He was a Hill District vanguard, proud and honored with the badge of being from and living in the Hill." Born in 1938 and raised on Wylie Avenue, Dr. Proctor has said that so many publications or books have inaccurately portrayed the history of the Hill District. In an interview with the online publication Next Pittsburgh in 2023, Dr. Proctor said that the City of Pittsburgh "stigmatized" the entire Hill
I learned so much about Pittsburgh, The Hill, and Ralph Proctor." Dr. Stephen Wells, CCAC's Interim Chief Academic Officer, called Dr. Proctor an "incredible asset to the institution." Dr. Wells also told the Courier on Feb. 5 that Dr. Proctor was "my role model as a passionate voice for change at the institution. He was always willing to speak his mind, but at the same time, I think what stood out to me most was his humility. He never shied away from speaking his mind with passion, with conviction, and I al-
‘Ralph Proctor represented an era in Black Pittsburgh that was emerging from the ashes of America’s racial oppression to the realization of its promise. Ralph had a fire of determination and belief in equality that carried him into different areas of community and work. Typical of the Black leadership shown by Pittsburgh legends Martin Delany, Mal Goode, and Cum Posey, Ralph Proctor excelled in several professions, all seemingly for the benefit of himself and the community. He was a Hill District vanguard, proud and honored with the badge of being from and living in the Hill.’ - SAMUEL BLACK Director of African American Program Heinz History Center District to "justify urban renewal" such as building the Civic Arena in the Lower Hill and displacing thousands of residents. "There was a time when the Lower Hill, of course, had drunks. Had drug addicts. Had crime,” Dr. Proctor said in the Next Pittsburgh article. “But they didn’t talk about what else was going on in the Lower Hill, that it was essentially a United Nations where people of all colors, creeds, nationalities, got along beautifully.” He discussed his viewpoint of the Hill in his book, "Song of The Hill." Black conducted a series of oral histories with Dr. Proctor in the summer of 2022. "The two were inseparable—Ralph and the Hill," Black told the Courier. "He had a chance to not hold back, talk about the community and the Black struggle in Pittsburgh. We laughed at times but most times it was serious conversation. Through it all
ways admired that about him. And in the classroom, he always pushed his students to challenge their pre-conceived notions about the world, but none of it was ever about him; it was all about making his students better people, making the world a better place, making it a more accepting place to live." Dr. Wells told the Courier that while he was a member of the English department as a professor, he sat in on one of Dr. Proctor's classes. He said he noticed how Dr. Proctor was "passionate" about having his students "think critically and carefully about what they saw around them in the world, and not to simply accept the status quo as the way things needed to be."
The FAB 4O Under 4O Award celebrates local African American women and men who motivate and inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements and participation in community service. The selected honorees will join an exclusive society of professional women and men who have previously received this distinction.
CRITERIA: 1. The nominee must be a man or woman (Under 4O years of age) who resides in the Greater Pittsburgh area. 2. The nominee must be active in his or her career or profession. Career or profession is defined as paid employment in his or her field. Nominees must agree to have their photograph and biographical information published in the New Pittsburgh Courier. All nominees selected as a FAB 4O Under 4O will be featured in a 2O24 edition of the New Pittsburgh Courier. 3. Evaluations will be based on the quality of a nominee’s achievements rather than the quantity of information submitted. 4. Selections will be made by the New Pittsburgh Courier FAB 4O Under 4O Selection Committee based on the following criteria: • Local African American executive or business owner • Proven success in career/profession • Positive role model • Demonstrative community service
Nomination deadline is Friday, February 9, 2024, by 4 p.m. To submit nominations, visit: https://newpittsburghcourier.com/fab40nominations2024/
METRO
A6 FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Dr. Kathi Elliott receives Steelers’ Changemaker Award—and tickets to the Super Bowl Gwen’s Girls CEO touts early success of new diversion program for Allegheny County youth ELLIOTT FROM A1
Hundreds, maybe thousands of Black women today can say that they were positively impacted by either Gwendolyn J. Elliott or her daughter, Kathi Elliott, their teachings, advice, empathy, and the ability to connect them with those who can help them in the short- and longterm. Gwen Elliott, the first Black woman to become commander in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, was determined to start an agency that would give girls the programs and services they needed to stay out of the criminal justice system, many of whom were Black girls. In 2002, the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth, and Families funded the creation of Gwen’s Girls. Gwen’s Girls began direct service to the community in May 2002 under the fiduciary auspices of the Hill House Association, according to the organization’s website. Gwen Elliott died in 2007. “We are honored to present this award to Dr. Kathi Elliott for her groundbreaking work in providing a continuum of care and services to girls and families in our region who are facing poverty, racism, and violence,” said Blayre Holmes Davis, Director of Community Relations for the Steelers, in a release. “She continues to carry on the vision
and legacy of her mother and late founder, Pittsburgh Police Commander Gwen Elliott, by pushing for gender equitable policies and practices to ensure that all girls but specifically Black girls have enriching lives through providing them with all the tools to become the best versions of themselves. She is truly a treasure to our community.” Not surprisingly, Dr. Elliott, in an exclusive interview with the Courier about winning the award, spoke less about herself and more about her organization, Gwen’s Girls. First things first; the $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation, which is paid directly to a non-profit organization of Dr. Elliott’s choice, was paid to Gwen’s Girls. Second, Dr. Elliott touted the early success of the “Caring Connections for YOUth” program, led by Gwen’s Girls and the Black Girls Equity Alliance. It’s a program that began in December 2022 which allows parents, school officials, police officers and judges the opportunity to call “2-11” instead of “9-1-1” to provide girls and boys in Allegheny County with support services they may need. The Courier has learned exclusively that in the program’s first year of operation, 134 families were assisted by the service through Gwen’s Girls staff members, 90 percent of
whom were Black families. The majority of the calls to 2-1-1 were made by those affiliated with schools, as Dr. Elliott told the Courier that Gwen’s Girls officials had meetings with Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Walters and the majority of the principals, assistant principals and district social workers about the new program. There are other school districts that are aware of the program, too. Meetings were had with county judges and Pittsburgh police, as well, Dr. Elliott said. The overarching theme, Dr. Elliott said, was to “heighten the awareness of the number of young people who are referred to the juvenile justice system, and especially Black youth (disproportionately) for things that really aren’t crimes, and getting them to understand how we (the Caring Connections for YOUth program) can better serve them by referring them to community-based interventions and services.” As an example, Dr. Elliott said parents or schools call 2-1-1 to report parent-child conflicts, or that a child isn’t attending school regularly. A member of the Gwen’s Girls staff will get in contact with the child’s parent or guardian, and begin the process of determining how best the child can
be supported through a partner agency, such as the Boys and Girls Club. Dr. Elliott said Gwen’s Girls staff continues to build a relationship with the family throughout the year to make sure additional supports and services are provided, if needed. The Caring Connections for YOUth website said calls to 2-1-1 could also be made if a boy
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or girl up to age 18 has been involved in disorderly conduct, fighting, and minor drug possession. The 2-1-1 line is open 24/7. “We have a lot of supports and services on the front end,” Dr. Elliott told the Courier. “We don’t want to wait until (youth) have been arrested or being referred to the magistrate.” Dr. Elliott added: “If we
can prevent our young people from coming into the system or being exposed to the trajectory of the system, we are a lot better off; not only them as individuals, but also the community.”
METRO
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024
A7
Looking for a job? B-PEP announces new go-to website, b-pep.net/jobs by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
The phrase, "Do you know anybody that's hiring?" is a phrase you hear people saying all the time in the Pittsburgh region. Tim Stevens, Chairman and CEO of the Black Political Empowerment Project, is leading an effort to answer that question very succinctly. The answer is, "Yes." And he encourages African Americans in the region to go to www.b-pep. net/jobs as the new, centralized spot to find open jobs in the area. Stevens made the announcement at a press conference in the Hill District, Jan. 22. What makes the website unique is, many of the job opportunities are with local entities that have partnered with B-PEP specifically for the purpose of finding eligible African American candidates. Companies like Highmark, UPMC, PA Career Link, CCAC, Vibrant Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, City of Pittsburgh, and more. "Our hope is that this site will be the go-to site for African Americans seeking job and/or training opportunities in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and beyond. B-PEP and CEIR (Corporate Equity and Inclusion Roundtable) are making it simple," Stevens said at the press conference. "You're just a click away from opportu-
TIM STEVENS AT THE PODIUM, DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE, JAN. 22. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO) nities from every level to executive level." Stevens said that other partners like the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh
and Bidwell Training Center are in place to give people the necessary training needed in order to attain certain jobs.
"All businesses and employers" are encouraged to "become part of this new initiative," said B-PEP's Website Coordinator, Tyler Dague. "This is just the start." B-PEP Community Organizer Roy Blankenship said at the press conference that "families are suffering, and prices are
going up," and that "a family that's able to earn a better living wage is a family that's more empowered to sustain itself." "This is a new year, this is a new project that we're finally ready to launch," Stevens said. "We hope people will use it, get employed or get trained, and also that the violence will
subside within our community, because more of our folks are working and being promoted, and employed from a consistent, sustained level."
ROY BLANKENSHIP, B-PEP COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
SATU R DAY F E B R UARY 10 5:30 – 8:00PM TYLER DAGUE, WEBSITE COORDINATOR FOR B-PEP.
tickets at www.pittsburghkids.org | $2 admission
RELIGION
A8 FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024
Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 91 Crawford Street Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 11 AM
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Happy 102nd birthday, Natalie Green!
Rev. C. Matthew HawkinsAdministrator www.sbtmparishpgh.com
East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Patrice Fowler-Searcy and Rev. Heather Schoenewolf Pastors 412-441-3800
Worship in person or Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church Summer Worship Sundays............10:00 a.m. Taize -Wednesdays.........7:00 p.m.
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“No Man can serve two MASTERS: for either he will HATE one and LOVE the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other; Ye cannot serve GOD and MAMMON. Therefore, I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and body than raiment.” - St. Matthew 6:24-25 REV. WALKER SAYS: Choose you this day whom you will serve, SERVE THE LORD. Turn concerns over to the Lord, put your trust in Him.
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024
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The history of Black History Month by Ebony JJ Curry Michigan Chronicle Senior Reporter
It was summer of 1915 in Chicago when Carter G. Woodson, University of Chicago alumnus, arrived from Washington, D.C. to attend a state-sponsored Illinois celebration marking fifty years post-emancipation. Black people from across the country came to see exhibits showcasing progress since slavery’s end. Woodson, who had earned a Harvard doctorate three years prior, presented a Black history display among others at the Coliseum, site of the 1912 Republican convention. Despite the venue’s size, a crowd of six to twelve thousand waited outside to view the exhibits. Motivated by the event, Woodson, before leaving, decided to promote Black history’s scientific study. On September 9th, he and A. L. Jackson, Jesse E. Moorland a prominent minister, along with two others, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) at the Wabash YMCA. Woodson aimed to disseminate research findings through The Journal of Negro History, established in 1916, encouraging Black civic organizations and his Omega Psi Phi fraternity brothers to highlight these achievements. In 1924, the fraternity initiated Negro History and Literature Week, later called Negro
CARTER G. WOODSON Achievement Week, to further this cause. Woodson, seeking broader impact, underscored the importance of returning to and drawing inspiration from Black history for greater achievements. In 1925, he took it upon himself to both create and popularize knowledge about the Black past, announcing the inception of Negro History Week in February 1926. Choosing February aligned with traditions honoring Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, whose birthdays fall on the 12th and 14th, respectively. This choice
built upon existing commemorations within the Black community, extending the study of Black history beyond the celebration of two individuals to the recognition of a race’s contributions to human civilization. Woodson’s approach was to shift focus from individual greatness to collective achievements, emphasizing the role of the Black community in shaping history. The response to Negro History Week was immediate and widespread, reflecting the “New Negro” era’s racial pride and consciousness. The expansion
Amplifying artists of every age.
of Black middle-class, urbanization, and industrialization fueled participation in Black culture and history. Schools, Black history clubs, and even progressive Whites engaged in the celebrations, with ASNLH providing resources to support these initiatives. By 1937, Woodson launched the Negro History Bulletin to focus on annual themes, further embedding Black history in educational and public consciousness. Despite challenges from commercialization and trivialization, Woodson remained committed to promoting meaningful cel-
ebrations. He envisioned a shift from a week-long observance to a year-round recognition of Black history, anticipating a time when an annual celebration wouldn’t be necessary. This vision aligned with broader efforts to integrate Black history into educational curriculums and public celebrations, extending beyond Negro History Week. The Civil Rights Movement further integrated Black history into education, with Freedom Schools advancing social change through curriculum that included Black history.
The transition from Negro History Week to Black History Month began in the 1940s, gaining momentum in the 1960s as African American college students and cultural activists like Fredrick H. Hammaurabi in Chicago advocated for a month-long observance. By 1976, the ASNLH solidified this shift, and since then, every American president has endorsed the annual theme, continuing the legacy of serious study and thoughtful celebration of Black history—something was different.”
Nasha Thomas National Director, AileyCamp Master Teacher
Black History Month 2024 AARP celebrates artists over 50 of every form. Through our Brain Health work, we know that art keeps us mentally sharp, as it connects us and preserves our collective story. We’re uplifting these dynamic artists who have mastered their craft in the areas of costume design, dance and hip-hop music.
Doug E. Fresh Hip-Hop Legend Ruth E. Carter Award-Winning Costume Designer
Celebrate Black artists that make your community thrive this Black History Month and beyond.
Discover more today at AARP.org/BlackCommunity
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
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CONFEDERATE LEADERS Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Jefferson Davis are depicted in this carving on Stone Mountain, Ga. MPI/Getty Images
For 150 years, Black journalists have known what confederate monuments really stood for by Donovan Schaefer
University of Pennsylvania In October 2023, nearly seven years after the deadly Unite the Right White supremacist rally, the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia, was melted down. Since then, two more major Confederate monuments have been removed: the Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cem-
etery and the Monument to the Women of the Confederacy in Jacksonville, Florida. Defenders of Confederate monuments have argued that the statues should be left standing to educate future generations. One such defender is former President Donald Trump, the likely GOP presidential nominee in 2024. “Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal
of our beautiful statues and monuments,” Trump tweeted in 2017. “The beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced!” But since the end of the Civil War, journalists at Black newspapers have told a different story. Despite meager financing and constant threats, these newspapers represented the views of Black Americans and documented the nation’s
shortcomings in achieving racial equality. According to many of these writers, the statues were never designed to tell the truth about the Civil War. Instead, the monuments were built to enshrine the myth of the “Lost Cause,” the false claim that White Southerners nobly fought for states’ rights—and not to preserve slavery. In 1921, for instance, the Chicago Defender published an article under the headline “Tear the Spirit of the Confederacy from the South” and called for the removal of the statues from across the country because they “lend inspi-
ration to the heart of the lyncher.” ‘Lost Cause’ propaganda For the last several years, I’ve studied the history of Confederate monuments by poring over the letters and records of the organizations that campaigned for their construction. My research students and I have also reviewed countless reactions to the monuments published in real time in Black newspapers. What is clear is that from the late nineteenth century until today, Confederate monuments were part of a relentless propaganda campaign
to restore the South’s reputation at dedication ceremonies, parades, reunions and Memorial Day events. The dedication in Charlottesville of the Lee monument in 1924—100 years ago this May—was one such event. Timed to coincide with a reunion of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the speakers openly bragged about how they were sweeping Northern-authored textbooks out of Southern schools and replacing them with friendlier accounts of the Civil War. In the weeks leading up SEE JOURNALISTS A11
Feb. 1 to 29
All this month, displays at Hillman Library will feature artists with Pittsburgh ties, including August Wilson, John Edgar Wideman, Albert French, Damon Young, Billy Porter, Bill Nunn, Wiz Khalifa, Mary Lou Williams, Roy Eldridge, Vernell A. Lillie, and many others.
THE STATUE OF ROBERT E. LEE in Richmond, Va., in 1905. Library of Congress/Getty Images
See more events at pitt.ly/BHM2024
K. Leroy Irvis Celebration This Feb. 26, Pitt will celebrate the accomplishments of six people who have made contributions to the Pittsburgh artistic community and who have demonstrated their commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion: • Community/Campus Leader • Aspiring Ally • Creative Changemaker • Social Justice Advocate • Unsung Hero • Inspiring Leadership Please RSVP:
6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26
pitt.ly/Irvis2024
Connolly Ballroom, Alumni Hall 4227 Fifth Ave. (Oakland) Public Welcome • Admission Free
Office for Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
CCAC proudly celebrates
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Learn about CCAC’s efforts to create a more socially just and inclusive campus.
412.237.CCAC | information@ccac.edu | wildcatchat.ccac.edu
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Black journalists have known what confederate monuments stood for JOURNALISTS FROM A11
to the dedication, members of the Ku Klux Klan paraded down Charlottesville’s Main Street in daylight and burned crosses in the hills at night. The master of ceremonies of that unveiling was R.T.W. Duke, Jr., the son of a Confederate colonel who was a popular orator at events like these. A few years earlier, Duke made his own views of the Civil War plain. He told a crowd gathered at a Confederate cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, that he was “still a believer in the righteousness of what some of our own people now call the ‘rebellion.‘” Duke further said “that slavery was right and emancipation a violation of the Constitution, a wrong and a robbery.” A critical Black press Contrary to the claims of today’s defenders of Confederate monuments, a review of Black newspapers going back to the 1870s conducted by my research team shows that Black journalists’ criticism of these memorials had already begun by the late nineteenth century. The first truly national Confederate monument was the statue of Robert E. Lee in Richmond. It was unveiled before an audience of as many as 150,000 attendees on May 29, 1890, and provoked sharp alarm among Black commentators across the country. In a May 31, 1890, article, Richmond Planet
editor John Mitchell, Jr. pointed out that Confederate flags and emblems far outnumbered U.S. flags at the unveiling. “This glorification of States Rights Doctrine, the right of ‘secession’ and the honoring of men who represented that cause, fosters in this Republic the spirit of Rebellion and will ultimately result in handing down to generations unborn a legacy of treason and blood,” Mitchell wrote. Mitchell further detailed the enthusiasm of the crowd assembled in Richmond. “Cheer after cheer rang out upon the air as fair women waved handkerchiefs and screamed to do honor,” Mitchell wrote. But the South’s insistence on celebrating Lee “serves to retard its progress in the country and forges heavier chains with which to be bound.” By reprinting articles from other Black publications, the Planet in 1890 effectively created a forum for commentary on the Richmond Lee statue from around the country. An article republished from the National Home Protector, a Baltimore-based Black newspaper, also took aim at the statue. “When the unveiling of the monument is used as an opportunity to justify the southern people in rebelling against the U.S. government and to flaunt the Confederate flag in the faces of the loyal people of the nation the occasion calls for serious reflection,” the article said.
The editors of the newspaper accused White Southerners of trying to use the glorification of Lee to resurrect the “corpse of rebellion.” Writing truth to power No one knows what the Black-owned Charlottesville Messenger said about the unveiling of the Lee monument in its city in 1924. Only one copy of a single issue still exists. In fact, one of the only things known about the Messenger is that in
1921, the White-dominated Charlottesville Daily Progress reprinted a Messenger article that called for Black civil rights. The Black newspaper later retracted the story after receiving threats from White supremacists. But we do know what other Black newspapers of this period were saying about Confederate monuments. For many Black editors, the monuments had become symbols of the violent backlash against Black
citizenship by White Southerners. In 1925, the Pittsburgh Courier, criticized the Confederate carving on Stone Mountain in Georgia, the site of the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan. Taking square aim at the Lost Cause myth, the newspaper called Stone Mountain “a living monument of the cause to which White Southerners have dedicated their lives: human slavery and color selfishness.” The Confederate monu-
ment on the side of Stone Mountain still stands today. Telling the truth about American history requires transforming these memorials into true reflections of the seemingly never-ending battles initially fought during the the Civil War. (Donovan Schaefer, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania) (This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.)
KU KLUX KLAN members march under a burning cross near Washington in 1925.Bettmann Archive/Getty Im- JOHN MITCHELL JR. at the Richmond Planet in 1917. Encyclopedia Virginia ages
Celebrating Black History EACH YEAR, PITTSBURGH REGIONAL TRANSIT HONORS LOCAL HEROES WHO WERE TRUE PIONEERS IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. RECENTLY, WE HONORED THE LATE DR. REX L. CRAWLEY AND THE LATE JAMES F. HENRY, JR., WITH THE 2024 SPIRIT OF KING AWARD FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO PROTECT AND DEFEND EQUAL RIGHTS. PRT IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS AND ALL TRAILBLAZERS WHO HAVE HELPED PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHERS TO OVERCOME BARRIERS INCLUDING RACISM AND INEQUALITY SO THAT THEY, TOO, COULD REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
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Allegheny County Department of Equity & Inclusion Celebrates
Black History Month Business success is near – Let us assist you.
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CATHY NEDD
Cathy Nedd appointed Chair of Black Family Development Board by Ebony JJ Curry Senior Reporter
(Michigan Chronicle)— It’s a new dawn and it’s a new day as Cathy Nedd has stepped boldly into a pivotal role, ascending to the newly appointed Chair of Black Family Development, Inc. (BFDI)’s Board of Directors, a beacon of comprehensive family counseling based in Detroit. With unanimous support from the 15-member board, Nedd’s election is a testament to her formidable presence in the media and marketing arena, coupled with her deep-rooted commitment to community upliftment. Over her seven-year tenure with BFDI, Nedd has worn many hats, each showcasing her versatility and profound understanding of the organization’s core mission. Her journey to the helm is marked by a distinguished career, notably as the president of Real Times Media News Group, where she steers five iconic publications pivotal to the African American narrative. Her leadership extends beyond the newsroom, evident in her entrepreneurial venture, which revolutionizes how organizations communicate their stories. Nedd’s expertise in brand development and digital engagement makes her an invaluable ally for businesses aiming to make their mark. Her board roles with esteemed organizations like Franklin Wright Settlements
and WAVE reflect a lifelong dedication to fostering community growth, supported by her academic foundation in management and organizational development. BFDI, rooted in the principles set forth by the Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers in 1978, stands as a pillar for enriching the lives of Detroit and Wayne County’s children, youth, and families. The organization’s 45th anniversary last year, celebrated alongside its remarkable impact on 20,000 individuals, underscores its enduring commitment to its mission. Kenyatta Stephens, CEO of BFDI, welcomes Nedd with open arms, recognizing her vast experience and passion for community advancement as vital to the organization’s trajectory. “We welcome Cathy Nedd as the new Chair of our Board of Directors,” said Stephens. “Her experience and passion for community development are assets that will help further the vision of BFDI. We look forward to working with her to further our mission of providing comprehensive family counseling services.” Nedd, stepping into the role with humility and resolve, shared, “I am honored to serve as the Chair of the Board for Black Family Development, Inc. The Board is full of dedicated community leaders with a shared commitSEE NEDD B2
EARLY TAX PREPARATION can save money and reduce stress.
Essential tax prep tips to save money, reduce stress by Aswad Walker
For New Pittsburgh Courier (Defender Network)—Though it seems like the holiday season 2023 was just yesterday, we are already in the midst of tax season 2024, which officially began Jan. 29. And, sure, countless people wait until the last minute to file their taxes, with many even filing for extensions. However, it has been proven that early preparation can save you money and alleviate stress before the April filing deadline. Jassmine Francis, CAA, founder and CEO of Houston’s Platinum Tax Service, is one of those people who actively encourages individuals and businesses to take proactive steps now, while it’s still early in the tax prep game, to ensure a smoother and more cost-effective tax season. Francis, a seven-year tax expert, shares the following tips to help navigate the upcoming tax-filing season with ease, efficiency, and options to put a little more money in the bank: 1. Earned Income Credit (EIC) EIC changes went into effect on January 24, 2024. Filers should be aware of the maximum Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), investment income, and credit amounts for the tax year 2023. The following are the income thresholds based on the number of children or relatives claimed: Investment income limit: $11,000 or less Maximum Credit Amounts: 1. No qualifying children: $600 2. 1 qualifying child: $3,995 3. 2 qualifying children: $6,604 4. 3 or more qualifying children: $7,430
2. Self-Employment Expenses Self-employed and small business owners should start gathering and organizing necessary documents now, including bank statements, cash receipts, and canceled checks to claim expenses. 3. ROTH IRA Consider opening a ROTH IRA —a special individual retirement account where contributions are taxed, but future withdrawals are tax-free. This strategy allows money to grow with interest without incurring taxes upon withdrawal. Additionally, you have until Tax Day to make IRA contributions for the prior year, allowing you to contribute toward your 2023 tax year limit of $6,000 until April 15, 2024. 4. CD Savings Explore Certificate of Deposit (CD) accounts, offering higher interest rates compared to regular savings accounts. With CDs, interest is earned, and when funds are withdrawn after the term, no taxes are incurred. Rates can range from 4-6 percent depending on the bank and the term chosen. 5. Business Taxes Knowing the type of business you have can save you a lot of headaches, mistakes, and time. Everyone should know the difference between an LLC, S-corp, and C-corp. Limited Liability Company/ LLC: is a business entity created by filing articles allowed by the state statute in the U.S. and operated by members/owners that protects them from personal responsibility, debts, and liabilities. LLC can be filed as an S corporation or C corporation. S Corporation/ S Corp: Shareholders of S corporations report the
flow-through of income and losses on their personal tax returns and are assessed tax at their individual income tax rates. This allows S corporations to avoid double taxation on corporate income. C Corporation/C Corp: A corporate income tax is first paid by a C-corp with a federal return (Form 1120S) required by the IRS. Shareholders must then pay taxes on personal income at the individual level for any gains from dividends or stock sales. This arrangement is referred to as “double taxation” because of the taxes levied on dividends at both the corporate and individual levels. C-corp Shareholders cannot write off corporate losses to offset other income on personal income statements. Business taxpayers should not issue themselves a w2/w4 if they are not an S-corporation. All LLC/ C-corporations should pay themselves cash and claim business on their personal taxes. S-corporations should file a Form 1120S first and then personal taxes using Form 1120S. S-corporations can issue a w2/w4 form and pay themselves through the business. Francis also advises individuals to find a qualified tax preparer well before the April filing date to ensure they are comfortable with the preparer, understand potential fees, understand what documents they will need to gather, and validate the person they choose has a preparer tax identification number (PTIN) to ensure they are authorized to prepare federal income tax returns. (Source: Platinum Tax Service)
How much should you have saved for retirement at every age? There’s a popular meme floating around on social media that states, “I have enough money saved to live comfortably for the rest of my life. If I die by Thursday.” When I post this meme, it gets a lot of reactions and comments. Why? Because for the average person, the statement is funny with a dash of truth. Most people can relate. The average person is grossly undersaving for retirement. According to Vanguard’s “How Americans Save 2023” report, the average retirement savings in the U.S. by age are as follows: • Under age 25 - $5,236 • Ages 25-34 - $30,017 • Ages 35-44 - $76,354 • Ages 45-54 - $142,069 • Ages 55-64 - $207,874 • Ages 65+ - $232,710 Based on the average retirement saving figures stated above, are you below average or above average for your age? There’s another popular meme circulating on social media that states, “Work until your bank account balance looks like a phone number.” When I was growing up, a person’s phone number was 7 digits. We didn’t include the area code when calling local phone numbers. The bank account balance equivalent to 7 digits is $1 mil-
lion. Nowadays, when you call someone you have to include the area code with the phone number. That’s 10 digits. The bank balance equivalent to 10 digits is $1 billion. By using the phone number reference, the meme is essentially stating one should work until they’ve amassed anywhere from $1 million to $1 billion. Surely, if you save an amount that looks like a phone number, be it 7 digits or 10 digits, you’re going to have a comfortable retirement. So, when this one person responded to this post stating that his bank account balance looked like a phone number, I took notice. Then I burst out laughing. The phone number he was talking about is 911. His response had a double meaning. He was saying that his bank balance was 3 digits which is $100 or so dollars. 911 is the phone number you call when you need emergency help. If you’re an adult at any age and you have zero to less than $1,000 saved for retirement, surely you need to call for help! The amount you should have saved for
retirement at every age can vary depending on your individual circumstances, such as your retirement goals, lifestyle, expected expenses, and other sources of income. However, here are some general guidelines for retirement savings milestones: In your 20s: This is a great time to start building your savings habit. It’s generally recommended to save at least 10–20 percent of your income, if possible. Additionally, it’s a good idea to work towards building an emergency fund that can cover 3 to 6 months’ worth of living expenses. By age 30: Aim to have saved the equivalent of your annual salary in a retirement account. This can include contributions to employer-sponsored plans like 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts (IRAs). If you’re 30 years old, earning $45,000 per year, you’d want to have approximately $45,000 saved for retirement. By age 40: Aim to have three times your annual salary saved for retirement. This may include contributions to retirement accounts as well as other investments. If you’re 40 years old, earning $50,000 per
year, you’d want to have approximately $150,000 saved for retirement. ($50,000 x 3) By age 50: Aim to have six times your annual salary saved for retirement. Take advantage of catch-up contributions in retirement accounts if you are eligible. Catch-up contributions allow people age 50 and up to save over and above the standard threshold for retirement contributions in a given year. If you’re 50 years old, earning $55,000 per year, you’d want to have approximately $330,000 saved for retirement. ($55,000 x 6) By age 60: Aim to have eight to 10 times your annual salary saved for retirement. Evaluate your retirement plans and make any necessary adjustments to meet your retirement goals. Between ages 45 and 47, you’re within 20 years from retirement. When it comes to retirement planning, age 45-47 puts you in the red zone. At age 60, you can see the goal line. If you’re 60 years old, earning $65,000 per year, you’d want to have approximately $650,000 saved for retirement. ($65,000 x 10) In the end, you’d want to retire as a millionaire. Imagine retiring from work with a paid for house that’s free and clear of a SEE DAMON CARR B2
BUSINESS
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‘No cash accepted’ signs are bad news for millions of unbanked Americans by Jay L. Zagorsky Boston University
How many people don’t have a bank account? And just how difficult has it become to live without one? These questions are becoming increasingly important as more businesses refuse to take cash in cities across the U.S. People without bank accounts are shut out from stores and restaurants that refuse to accept cash. As it happens, a lot of people are still “unbanked”: roughly 6 million in the U.S., the latest data shows, which is about the population of Wisconsin. And outside of the U.S., more than a billion people don’t have a bank account. I am a business school professor who researches society’s transition from cash to electronic payments. I recently visited Seattle and was amazed by the mixed signals I saw in many storefronts. Numerous shops had one sign proudly proclaiming how welcoming and inclusive they were— next to another sign saying “No cash accepted.” This tells people without bank accounts that they aren’t welcome. Not far from Seattle, Mount Rainier National Park stopped accepting cash in May 2023. Why not have a bank account? Why would someone want to avoid using banks? Every two years, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation surveys households about their connections to the banking system and asks people without bank accounts why they don’t have one. People can respond with multiple answers. In 2021, the top reason—with over 40 percent of respondents choosing it—was that they didn’t have enough money to meet the minimum balance. This is consistent with data showing that poorer households are less likely to have bank accounts. About one-quarter of those earning less than $15,000 a
year are unbanked, the FDIC found. Among those earning more than $75,000 a year, almost every person surveyed had some type of bank account. The second- and thirdmost common answers show that some people are skeptical of banks. Roughly one-third of survey respondents agreed that “Avoiding a bank gives more privacy,” while another onethird said they simply “don’t trust banks.” Rounding out the top five reasons were costs of dealing with a bank. More than one-quarter of respondents felt bank account fees were too high, and about the same proportion felt fees were too unpredictable. While many middle-class and wealthy people don’t pay directly for their bank accounts, fees can be costly for those who can’t maintain a minimum balance. A recent Bankrate survey shows basic monthly service fees range between $5 and $15. Beyond these steady fees, banks earn $4 to
$5 each time people withdraw cash from an ATM or need services like getting cashier’s checks. Unexpected bills can result in overdraft fees of about $25 each time an account is overdrawn. Being unbanked in America The FDIC calls people without a bank account “the unbanked.” People
erage household, this means there are over 15 million people living in a home with no connection to banks, and 48 million more in homes with only a tenuous connection to banks. Combining the two figures means roughly one out of every five people in the U.S. has little or no connection
The FDIC calls people without a bank account ‘the unbanked.’ People with a bank account but who primarily rely on alternative services such as check cashing outlets are called ‘the underbanked.’ with a bank account but who primarily rely on alternative services such as check cashing outlets are called “the underbanked.” The latest FDIC data shows almost 6 million unbanked and 19 million underbanked U.S. households. Given that 2.5 people live in the av-
to banks or other financial institutions. That can leave them shut out from stores, restaurants, transportation and medical providers that don’t take cash. The true number of unbanked people is likely higher than the FDIC estimates. The questions on being banked or un-
banked are supplemental questions added to a survey given to people at their homes. This means it misses homeless people, transients without a permanent address and undocumented immigrants. These people are likely unbanked because you need a verified address and a government-issued tax-identification number to get a bank account. Given roughly 2.5 million migrants crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2023 alone, there are millions more people in the cash-only economy than the FDIC estimates. How many people globally are unbanked? While the U.S. has relatively high rates of people with bank accounts, the picture is different in other parts of the world. The World Bank has created a database that shows the percentage of each country’s population that has access to financial services. The World Bank’s definition of being banked is broader than the FDIC’s, since it includes anyone
who uses a cellphone to send and receive money as having a bank account. Overall, the World Bank estimates about one-quarter of the world’s adults don’t have access to a bank or mobile-phone account. But that varies dramatically by region. In countries that use the Euro, almost everyone has a bank account, while in the Middle East and North Africa, only about half the population does. A more inclusive economy Many of us swipe our credit cards, tap our phones or insert a debit card to pay without thinking. However, there are at least 6 million people in the U.S. and almost 1.5 billion worldwide who are unbanked. When businesses stop accepting cash, the unbanked are forced to use payment methods like prepaid debit cards. However, these prepaid cards are costly. For example, Walmart, one of the largest U.S. retailers, offers a reloadable basic debit card. The card costs $1 to buy and charges $6 per month in fees, in addition to $3 each time someone wants to load the card with cash at Walmart’s registers. Paying a minimum of $10 just to set up a debit card for a few purchases is a steep price. The next time you see a sign in a shop or restaurant window stating “No cash accepted,” you’re really looking at a business excluding many unbanked and underbanked people. Insisting that all businesses accept cash is a simple way to ensure everyone is financially included in the modern economy. (Jay L. Zagorsky, Clinical Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law, Boston University)
How much should you have saved? DAMON CARR FROM B1
FEBRUARY Marketing Me For: Employment/Career Change Workshop
This workshop will cover many challenges in today’s job market from exploring many ways to market ourselves to assisting with searching out appropriate job training and/ educational opportunities.
mortgage and upwards of $500,000 saved for retirement. That’s my definition of Golden Years! These milestones are just general targets and may not apply to everyone. It’s important to assess your own financial situation, consider your retirement goals, and consult with a financial advisor to create a personalized retirement savings
plan. Additionally, factors like your desired lifestyle in retirement and other sources of income, such as social security or pensions, should be taken into account. It’s important that you start thinking about your desired lifestyle in retirement as early as possible. Ask yourself how much income will you need monthly to maintain your standard of living. Will you receive a pension? If so, how much? How much
can you expect from social security if you take social security at age 62, age 67, or age 70? Are there any other sources of income that you’ll receive during retirement? Tally up how much income you can expect from pension, social security, and other income monthly. Let’s assume that number is $2,500 per month. Let’s further assume that $5,000 is what you need monthly to maintain your desired stan-
February 16, 2024 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
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dard of living. You have a $2,500 monthly gap. In this scenario your retirement savings need to generate $2,500 per month for you to be comfortable and maintain your desired standard of living. In order to get an approximate of how much you need your retirement savings to be, multiply your monthly gap by 12 months. ($2,500 x 12 = $30,000) This is the amount you need to draw down from your retirement account yearly. Then take $30,000 (annual amount needed) x 25 ($30,000 x 25 = $750,000) In this scenario, $750,000 is how much should be saved for retirement to meet desired goals. How much should you save for retirement? Answer: As much as you can. Little to no funds in your retirement savings equal little to no fun for you during retirement.
Cathy Nedd appointed Board Chair NEDD FROM B1
ment to serving families. It is a privilege to join this esteemed organization and contribute to its vision of promoting safe, nurturing, and vibrant homes, schools, and communities. I am
committed to helping BFDI continue its important work and making a significant impact in the lives of children, youth, and families.” Nedd succeeds Rian English Barnhill, whose interim leadership followed
Charles Beckham’s departure. Beckham, a stalwart in Detroit’s civic landscape, left a legacy of service that spanned five decades, contributing significantly to the city’s resurgence. For Nedd, leading the Board of
Black Family Development, Inc. is more than an honor; it’s a call to action as her appointment heralds a new chapter for BFDI.
OPINION
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Guest Editorial U.S. must prevent wider war in Middle East Pressure is on President Joe Biden to order direct strikes on Iran in response to the killing of three American soldiers in a drone attack in Jordan near the Syrian border. Biden said on Sunday, Jan. 28 that the U.S. “shall respond” after three American troops were killed and dozens more were injured in an overnight drone strike in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border. The Pentagon identified those killed in the attack as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia. The three U.S. Army Reserve soldiers were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade in Fort Moore, Georgia. At press time, Biden may have ordered military action in response to the killing of American soldiers. Regardless of what action he takes, some will call for an even stronger response. Biden blamed Iran-backed militias for the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Some Republican senators have called for the U.S. to bomb Iran in response to the drone attack in Jordan. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, in a post on X, called for the Biden administration to “strike targets of significance inside Iran.” He added: “Hit Iran now. Hit them hard.” Biden blamed the attacks on “Iran-backed militants,” referring to Iraqi Shia militias, although the militias are known to act independently and Iran has denied involvement in the attack. But some hardliners in the Senate are pushing for a direct attack on Iran. “The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran’s terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East. Anything less will confirm Joe Biden as a coward unworthy of being commander-in-chief,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said in a statement. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) also took to X to call for war with Iran. “Target Tehran,” he wrote. The New York Times reported last week that Biden thought it was only a matter of time before an American soldier was killed in the region and that he might target Iran directly in response. Since mid-October, U.S. forces have come under attack in Iraq and Syria over 150 times. Since the attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, Republican hardliners as well as former and current officials in Israel have been pushing the U.S. to strike inside Iran. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Dec. 28 headlined, “The U.S. and Israel need to take Iran on directly.” The president must respond to the attack on American soldiers but avoid widening the conflict in the Middle East. (Reprinted from The Philadelphia Tribune)
FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024
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Black people in the military: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion TriceEdney—I’m a confirmed Peace Advocate, and I’ve been that all of my adult life; yet I respect all who give their lives for the benefit of all Americans. My heart aches for families of 3 American young people killed and 40 others injured, in a faraway war where many of them joined to fight for their country’s democracy. Others may have joined because the military had been the only way they could pay for college expenses. When the three young Black people were killed in the Middle East the other day, my thoughts were to wonder how much of America they had been blessed to enjoy before they died. I wondered how many racial slurs they’d been called in their hometowns. Who worked against their DEI? We may never know; yet they died in the service of what often is an ungrateful nation that’s not always been kind to them or their families. Sure, 3 were brought back home in dignity, but my thoughts immediately went to the kind of short lives they experienced before they voluntarily went off to fight for their country. I was also curious about the 40 who were injured in that same tragedy
Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
Commentary near the Syrian border. I’ve been there and I know the place. They were from Georgia, and they were in a far-away land to work for the defeat of an enemy who never personally harmed them or who they never knew. We need to at least know their names and honor them for whatever reason they went to the Middle East and despite whatever challenges they’d had before leaving and going away. They were Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett of Savannah, Georgia; Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Georgia and Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders of Waycross, Georgia. I mentioned their names because the next time you’re in Georgia, I want you to take note of how you’re treated when you’re in their towns in the state of Richard Russell. That will
give you some indication of how they were treated in those towns; yet, they went off to war to save those haters in those towns, too. I would say to those of all races in those towns, if you could do just one thing to make you a better person in remembrance of them and their sacrifice for you, think about what that would be and JUST DO IT! I would especially call on their Members of Congress to take the lead in righting wrongs because, Lord knows, too many current so-called leaders of Georgia, have and still vote against the interests of families from which these young men and women have come to fight for the rights of all of their constituents to remain free in a democracy. I especially pray that people like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene will read my message and take heed. To the rest of the guilty parties in the state, don’t forget to vote right to make Georgia a better state for all of Georgia’s citizens. Stop the racism! Vote in remembrance of Breonna, William, Kennedy and the sacrifices of all who died or were injured. (Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of The Dick Gregory Society.)
Will ‘The Party of No’ win in 2024? (TriceEdneyWire.com)—During Liz Cheney’s first two terms as the U.S. Representative from Wyoming, she was widely considered one of the nation’s most conservative politicians, voting with Donald Trump more than 92 percent of the time. As the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, she became an entrenched member of the GOP establishment. The Jan. 6 insurrection changed everything for her promising political career once she cast her first vote of impeachment for Trump while becoming the leading GOP critic of the former president. Due to her “disloyalty,” she was dismissed from her No. 3 leadership position in the House Republican Caucus and censured from the Wyoming Republican Party and the Republican National Committee. Ultimately, Cheney lost her reelection bid. An ancient proverb occasionally used in politics says, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” So, it was no surprise that Dr. Bernice King invited Cheney to speak at Ebenezer Baptist Church in commemoration of Martin Luther King. Cheney received a lengthy standing ovation as she talked about Dr. King’s legacy and the 2024 GOP primary. Her patriotic messages are consistently rejected by the MAGA crowd and the GOP establishment, but they are warmly received by those who work to continue Dr. King’s legacy. Cheney’s presence and speech at Dr. King’s church was a moment where patriotic unity overshadowed political ideology and division. There will always be political disagreements between conservatives and liberals, but one cannot be a true believer and supporter of Dr. King’s legacy while supporting the authoritarian movement associated with Donald Trump and his political base. During her last term in office, Cheney drifted closer to the political center by issuing a vote in support of gun control legislation. This is another sign that the lawmaker was evolving into becoming more independent
David W. Marshall
Commentary from the political party that proudly obstructs legislation on behalf of the NRA. One cannot be a true supporter of Dr. King’s legacy and support the methods used by “The Party of No.” Just as Democratic voters who grow frustrated year after year with the elected officials of their party cannot dismiss “The Party of No’s” tactics in which its main purpose is to stay in power by obstruction. Ask former president Barack Obama. The Republican plot to obstruct former President Obama was well underway before he was even sworn into office. Secret meetings led by House GOP Whip Eric Cantor in December 2008 and by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in early January 2009 were held to lay out an all-out resistance strategy to the popular president-elect when the nation was experiencing a second Great Depression. “If he was for it,” former Republican Sen. George Voinovich explained, “we had to be against it.” It was a conscious effort to politically weaken Obama and not work with the Democrats. Republican leaders did not want their fingerprints on the Obama agenda; as McConnell explained, if Americans thought Washington politicians were working together in bipartisanship, they would credit the president. If they believed Washington was a broken mess, as always, voters would blame the president, which they did. Republican lawmakers recognized that with Obama’s promises about bipartisanship, they could easily break them by simply refusing to cooperate. The obstruction strategy worked with relentless attacks on Obama, resulting in his approval ratings sinking from the high 60s to the 40s, where they
remained for most of his presidency. In his first two years in office, Obama and his Democratic majorities in Congress accomplished a lot. Despite the $800 billion Recovery Act (the emergency stimulus bill), Obamacare, sweeping Wall Street reforms, and bringing the troops home from Iraq, Obama was unable to convince the public to see through the obstructionism. The no-cooperation approach helped Republicans take back the House in 2010, the Senate in 2014, and the White House in 2016. It helped deliver a conservative majority on the Supreme Court when the Republicans refused to consider Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland. The divided government killed Obama’s legislative priorities. Obama’s unfinished agenda included a jobs bill, gun control measures, and immigration reform. Now that Joe Biden is president, he faces the same no-cooperation approach. The House just passed a bill to expand the child tax credit to assist parents earning $40,000 a year or less. In the 2022 General Social Survey, over two-thirds of people who fall into this category identified as Republicans or independents. Yet Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley exposed the plot to block a Democratic president at the detriment of his GOP constituents. Grassley said,” Passing a tax bill that makes the president look good—mailing out checks before the election means he could be reelected, and then we won’t extend the 2017 tax cuts.” Donald Trump is now pushing the GOP-controlled House to oppose any border deal so the issue and crisis can be used against President Biden. Since it is unlikely many of them will have the courage of Liz Cheney to stand up against the former president, will Democratic voters make House Republicans pay a price at the ballot for being obstructionists? (David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and author of the book “God Bless Our Divided America.”)
Congress can improve 340B by Ed Towns and Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.
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NNPA NEWSWIRE—Congressman Mike Johnson, the new Speaker of the House has an opportunity to work in a bipartisan manner with Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries and follow the lead of a group of six U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), who formed a bi-partisan working group to find solutions that would provide stability and appropriate transparency to ensure the 340B program can continue to achieve its original intent of supporting entities serving eligible patients. Recently, the Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) released a report in which the senator called into question many of the practices we see today in the non-profit hospital industry. Referring to their tax-exempt status, the report observes that non-profit hospitals could play a significant role in delivering necessary care to Americans while also satisfying their charity care obligations. Instead, too often we learn that some of these hospitals are not directing these discounts to the patients they serve. It takes decades to get anything big done in Washington, DC. That’s not something politicians there like to admit, but it’s true—nowhere more than in the complicated field of healthcare policy. When I first became a congressman in the early 1980s, I worked with Ben Chavis on Health Care issues for example, we didn’t have a prescription
drug benefit for seniors. When I left the House a decade ago, seniors had access to lifesaving drugs, but the government lacked the power to negotiate prices with manufacturers. Last week the Biden Administration announced the first steps to setting up negotiations in Medicare made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. There is more that can be done, and Congress has an obligation to do more when it comes to making sure everyone has access to prescription medicines at affordable prices. Back in the early 1990s (with my support) Congress passed a law known as “340B” to do just that. Drug manufacturers are required by law to make medicines available to charity hospitals and pharmacies at a steep discount, with the idea that these healthcare centers would in turn make the medicines available to local patients for free or nearly for free (regardless of ability to pay). Believe it or not, Congress is still trying to make the 340B program work three decades later. Hospitals today are rarely stand-alone concerns. They are usually part of broad, corporately owned networks consisting of healthcare facilities in neighborhoods ranging from poor to rich, and from urban to rural. If one hospital qualifies to get discounted 340B drugs, this shouldn’t matter—the local patients are the intended beneficiaries. But that’s not how hospital networks are using 340B. As seen recently in Richmond VA, too often hospital networks are happy to use their branches in poor areas to get 340B drugs into the pipeline, but then re-route these medicines throughout the hospital network to be sold at full
price to patients of all income levels. As someone who voted for the original 340B law, I can assure you this was not Congressional intent. We wanted the drug companies to get affordable medicines to the patients who need them—we never intended for hospital networks to profit off this using clever redirection tactics. Maybe that’s why a bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently requested information from stakeholders about how the 340B program is working. I was pleased to see so many traditional civil rights, and other healthcare leaders weigh in on these and make health care disparities a key civil rights issue. We applaud leaders such as Rev. Al Sharpton, Delegate Kathy Tran, Virginia House of Delegates, Linda Goler Blount, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Kevin Kimble, Southern Christian Leadership Global Policy Initiative, Bishop Dean Nelson, Frederick Douglass Foundation, to name a few for their advocacy efforts on this issue. We want to improve the 340B program Democrats and Republicans agree that the program should work the way Congress intended it to. The Biden Administration should ensure that hospitals and other entities are using the savings they obtain from the 340B program to help the patients who are supposed to be helped. Fixing 340B is the next step in ensuring health equity regarding prescription medicines. (Ed Towns, a civil rights activist, and a former Member of Congress from New York who served on the Congressional Black Caucus. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is presently the CEO & President of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.)
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Today’s Black struggle is yesterday’s Black struggle and tomorrow’s It is very dangerous and very dumb when Black activists, Black elected officials, and other Black people counter pose today’s Black struggle with the epic struggles of yesterday. The Black Freedom Movement of today is one continuing historical struggle. It is not today’s “Black Lives Matter” struggle in competition with the grand epic 1960’s Civil Right Movement. Some Black people argue it is. And so do many “progressive” White folks, who most often do not, or claim not to, know anything about the reactionary politics of their own specific European American ethnic group in US history. Also, decades ago, it was hard-down argued that the generation of White American youth who joined in the massive struggles of the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-war Movement would not be status quo like their forebears. But that generation went on to elect Ronald Reagan, George Bush I, George Bush II, and Donald Trump to the White House. Never, never forget The Black Power advocates in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and other African Americans urged that generation of White youth to go back to the White community and fight against White racism there. The White progressive community at large did not. The current rise of MAGA-ism, Trump-ism, that is of White rightwing reaction is one direct result of this historical failure of the ‘progressive,” “White left.” And many of yesterday’s African American Civil Rights and Black Power warriors later became guardians of the status quo. Their politics changed from “Red, Black and Green” freedom fighters to right-wing Blue Dog Democrats—crooning with Satchmo “What Did I Do to be So Black and Blue?” Fanon teaches us that “Each generation must out of relative absurdity discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it.” If today’s youth become the anti-establishment generation that some people predict, it will only because they consciously made themselves so through relentless theory and practice. It will not be because of faith or some other inevitable forces, Martin Luther King Jr and many other Black people told the world the African American Freedom Movement of their era was “part and parcel” of the post-1945 global struggles of oppressed peoples against colonialism, racial economic and social exploitation, and other modes of White supremacy.
Fred Logan
Commentary These struggles against the decadent “British Empire where “the sun never set,” against French colonialism in Asia and Africa, against Portuguese colonialism in Africa, and against the United States’ self-proclaimed “sphere of influence” in the Western Hampshire are some of these epic peoples’ struggles. We often ask naively where are the African American leaders and masses today like those of yesterday? Well, today where the leaders worldwide that equal Africa’s Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Asia’s General Vo Nguven Giap, the leaders of the immediate 1945 era? The “times” make the leaders and make the mass struggles. The “times” means nothing more than the “motion of the masses,” the struggles of the people rising and receding, receding and rising, over and over but never standing still (See, “There is a River,” Vincent Harding). Today’s struggle is the product of yesterday, of history, but today is never a carbon copy duplication of yesterday. The Civil Rights struggle was perceived primary as a binary Black and White racial struggle in an era when the United States was rising to global dominance. It rose on the ashes that European imperialist countries had brought on themselves in their endless civil wars to be the Number One champion of White Power on the planet earth. That’s what so-called World War I and World War II were battles for global White power. See the book, “Paul Robeson Speaks,” and W.E.B. DuBois’ 1915 commentary, “The African Roots of War.” Today’s Black Activists, BEO’s, and BVIP’s must embrace the positive and negative lessons of Black struggle, if they don’t want to, then White America will joyfully claim it for itself. Whose struggle among the people who came voluntarily or involuntarily to what is now the United States, whose struggles for “justice,” “ peace,” and “equality” have produced the equal of the African American Freedom Movement, that is the for real progressive, ethical, political and cultural equal of Black History Month, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, the Juneteenth Nations Holiday, or the week-long Africa American holiday of Kwanzaa a Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture? Whose? Last year, I heard one Pittsburgh Black elected official proclaim publicly he has literally turned his back on Black History and is only working with young people. Because he claims the previous generation has not gained Black Freedom. That is obviously someone who does not even know the history of Pittsburgh Black politics over the past 60 years. Have the African American Christians who make this asinine argument also quit the Christian faith? The Christian religion has been in existence for over 2,000 years and “peace” still does not reign over the world. In 2025, the 1965 Voting Rights Act will be sixty years old. Will the Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition use this historical opportunity to examine the post-VRA era Allegheny County Black electoral politics? At this very moment Black voting rights are under relentless attack by the US White right. Back to our initial argument. Today, the world is gripped in turmoil. The greatest threat to the United States is from within. The era of US global dominance is eroding. It is very dangerous and very dumb when Black activists protesting in the streets see themselves competing with SNCC, or when some Black “leader” see himself or herself competing with Martin Luther King. These contemporary Black egomaniacs who see themselves competing with yesterday are without question competing with each other and doing historic damage to Black struggle in the precarious dangerous times we live in.
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Genocidal intent, uncertainty, and dereliction of duty Last month, Israel defended itself before the International Court of Justice against South Africa’s charges of genocide. South Africa maintained that Israel’s military response to the October 7 Hamas attack, which killed 1,200 people, was directed at all Palestinians in Gaza, not only Hamas terrorists. The level of casualties [in bombings] is so high that no place is secure, even if Israel tells residents to flee before striking. Israel argued that the term “genocide” was being weaponized against them to condemn their actions in a conflict they did not initiate or desire. The term genocide was established to distinguish and confront a malevolent crime of the most exceptional severity. Charging Israel with genocide would diminish the original meaning of the term and could have far-reaching consequences, as it may lead to the misinterpretation of self-defense as genocidal intent. The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take action to prevent genocide. (As Israel has done from the beginning.) However, the ICJ did not issue a call for an immediate ceasefire. (Which would be expected if a genocide were occurring.) One Ugandan judge voted against all of South Africa’s proposed measures against Israel. The Ugandan judge stated that the underlying dispute was political rather than legal and that there was no credible evidence of Israel’s genocidal intent. The ICJ decision was more confounding than clarifying. There appears to be a history of uncertainty surrounding what constitutes genocide. Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian writer, produced his final and most significant work in 2012. It was a personal account of Biafra and the Nigerian civil war. In 1967, the Eastern Region of Nigeria, dominated by the Igbo ethnic group, founded the Republic of Biafra and declared independence from Nigeria, because they could no longer cohabit with the Muslim tribes in the north.
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Check It Out Nigeria’s government rejected Biafra’s sovereignty, surrounded it with troops, and then enforced a blockade that restricted all food and medication for more than two and a half years. Starvation and malnutrition claimed the lives of millions of people, most of them women and children. There was a global debate about whether Nigeria’s blockade was an act of genocide. In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly declared genocide illegal. It was defined as activities intended to completely or partially destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. The UN General Assembly also adopted the Responsibility to Protect doctrine, which states that the international community has a duty to respond to and prevent genocide wherever it occurs. It’s worth noting that claims of genocide require proof of the perpetrator’s intent, and political or social groupings do not receive protection. When Nigeria blockaded Biafra, starvation was not a prohibited weapon of war under international law. The blockade forced Biafra to surrender, and Nigeria recovered control of the territory in 1970. The Biafra genocide debate ended after a United Kingdom fact-finding mission concluded that the Nigerian government did not coordinate a plot to exterminate all Igbos and that the millions of deaths were caused by political rather than racial persecution. In 1977, the Geneva Conventions were revised to outlaw starvation as a means of warfare and to reform blockade law
to protect civilians. Achebe’s 2012 book contradicted the United Kingdom’s report. Achebe states that the Biafrans accused the Nigerians of plotting to destroy the Igbo people due to the declaration of a holy jihad against them by Islamic extremists in the Nigerian army. However, the international community dismissed this as a non-threat because Muslims were not the majority in Nigeria’s administration and had a tiny presence in the military. In 1994, Rwanda’s Hutu ethnic majority planned to exterminate the Tutsi ethnic minority. In just 100 days, the Hutus murdered approximately 800,000 Tutsis. There was no need to establish the Hutus’ genocidal intent because they admitted it. However, the international community chose not to classify the Tutsi massacre as a genocide, which allowed the international community to ignore their duty to respond and prevent the killings. A decade later, strife in Sudan between ethnic groups claiming “Black/ African” descent and ethnic groups claiming “Arab” descent resulted in the Darfur war and the systematic murder of ethnic groups of “Black/African” origin. For the first time in history, the United States used the term genocide to describe the atrocities in Darfur. However, a 2005 UN assessment stated that there was no evidence that the Sudanese government committed genocide but that “crimes against humanity of an ethnic nature” had occurred. The international community would have been required to intervene if the UN investigation had concluded that genocide was taking place, but once again, the international community avoided their duty to respond and prevent genocide. At that time, people around the world were confused about how genocides were committed. And right now, it appears only Hamas and their allies aren’t confused about what actually constitutes genocide.
Setting the record straight on an important piece of Black history (TriceEdneyWire.com)—With the start of Black History Month, I brace myself for the mis-telling of Black History yet again. In schoolhouses and everywhere the stories are told, a persistent myth shows its ugly head: the ridiculous notion that great Black leaders are not just exceptional but exceptions. It is an idea rooted in the ahistorical and unnatural misperception that the most notable Black Americans were superhumans that sprung forth from collective misery. It discounts the many, many Black leaders who were—and are—the children and grandchildren of courageous leaders in their own right. Paul Robeson was a phenomenal actor, orator, singer, athlete, and activist. The family that produced him might be even more impressive. His father escaped enslavement to earn two college degrees and become a prominent minister. His mother was part of the Bustill family, who were famous abolitionists and included Grace Bustill Douglass, the crusading abolitionist and feminist. Kamala Harris’s path to the vice presidency began as a transformative district attorney. She refused to pursue the death penalty, and shifted her department’s punitive focus away from sex workers and squarely onto sex buyers and traffickers. She both provided a model for the movement to elect more Black and progressive district attorneys and spawned the national training institute for female candidates known as Emerge America. Vice President Harris would readily admit there is no explaining her uncommon courage without accounting for her civil rights activist parents and her education at the very university that produced Thurgood Marshall. Martin Luther King is perhaps Black America’s best-known leader. His grandfather was himself a crusading Black Baptist preacher and the first president of the Atlanta branch of the NAACP. Whitney Houston became an iconic
Ben Jealous
Commentary star of radio and the silver screen. Her first cousin was Dionne Warwick. Through Warwick, Houston had close, life-shaping relationships with other celebrated female singers and actors like her “honorary aunt” Aretha Franklin, godmother Darlene Love, and close friend Cicely Tyson. Malcolm X is America’s most famous Black nationalist. Before him, his father Earl Little was a Black nationalist Baptist preacher who organized for Marcus Garvey. Harassment by the Ku Klux Klan forced the Littles to relocate from Omaha, Nebraska to Lansing, Michigan, where Earl was murdered by a Klan-like White supremacist group. Stacey Abrams rose to become the first woman leader of a party in Georgia’s legislature and the most impactful voting rights activist of the 21st century. Her parents were courageous civil rights activists and her father was among the youngest leaders of the Hattiesburg boycott in Mississippi. Middle Tennessee claims a famous political father-son pair in former Congressman and Senator Albert Gore Sr. and former Senator and Vice President Al Gore. But western Tennessee saw its own confrontational and crusading former Congressman Harold Ford Sr. followed by the diplomatic, incisive, and consensus-building former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. From the time he started preaching at the age of four, Reverend Al Sharpton’s early years were shaped by the mentorship of Black leaders like Adam Clayton Powell Jr., James Brown, and the incomparable Jesse Jackson. But it was his mother Ada Sharpton’s work that inspired her
son’s founding of the National Action Network. Mrs. Sharpton rose from poverty to power as a prominent civil rights activist in New York City’s outer boroughs and became president of Mothers in Action. Fifteen years ago, I was named the youngest national president in the history of the NAACP. My grandmother Mamie Bland Todd trained future US Senator Barbara Mikulski as a social worker early in her career. In researching my latest book, I followed my own ancestry back to my grandmother’s grandfather. In the late 1800s, Edward David Bland led Black Republicans into coalition with former White Confederate soldiers to form a third party that took over the Virginia state government. Known as the Readjusters, the bipartisan political movement won all statewide elected offices and controlled the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1881-85. In that time, they abolished the poll tax and the whipping post; radically expanded Virginia Tech and created Virginia State University; and readjusted the terms of the Civil War debt to save the free public schools and take the state from a financial deficit into a surplus. Parentage and family connection are not and never should be a prerequisite for leadership in our country. But we can still recognize that one of the greatest traditions in Black leadership is Black leaders who raise Black leaders. Some of those leaders inspire with their art; others with their activism; many with both. The historical arc they help form—which sometimes wavers but ultimately bends towards justice—would not be possible without that tradition. So, if it occurs to you that you do not know enough about how your ancestors might have led, get curious and do some research. You might just find an interesting and inspiring piece of family history. (Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club.)
Letter to the Editor Race for Peace mission to revitalize community Dear Editor: Our organization Race for Peace Committee would like to make Pittsburgh residents aware of our efforts throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. The Race for Peace Committee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2016 to enrich the lives of people through programs, resources, activities, and events, for the family that help us reach an understanding between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The main goals are having ongoing and continuous dialogue with communities and the police; mentoring youth; working with police and seniors; developing
incentive programs to help promote peace; annually visiting prisons; ending violence and bringing peace to all communities; creating peace and harmonious relations between police and members of communities; and promoting excellence in police officer training. The vision for the committee is to educate about, circumvent and eradicate racism, violence and discrimination globally. The mission for Race for Peace is to revitalize the community through enrichment and outreach programs in every community and to maintain a collective voice and sharing of ideas—creating an atmosphere of peace that
encourages good citizenship. The committee strives to create enthusiasm in community members—seeing through their eyes, understanding their needs and delivering more than they expect. It does this by delivering reachable goals and solutions that support peace through the community. For more information visit website raceforpeace.org and Facebook page @RFPCSocialMedia. Alim Howell Race for Peace Committee Activist/Advocate
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ROB ZAHORCHAK BOROUGH MANAGER
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NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF PETITION REQUESTING ORDER FOR POSSESSION IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Estate of LAURA A. WILLIAMS A/K/A LAURA ANN WILLIAMS, Case No. 02-24-08198. Edward L. Thomas, 539 Palm Street, McKeesport, PA 15132 appointed Administrator by Order dated January 22, 2024. Peter B. Lewis, Counsel., Neighborhood Legal Services, 928 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Estate of MRS. CONSTANCE ANN VALENTI, Decased of 130 Fifth Street, Aspinwall, PA 15215. Estate No. 02-23-04155, Mr. Jerome Valenti, Executor, 130 Fifth Street, Aspinwall, PA 15215, Executor, c/o Anthony J. Valenti, Esquire, 405 1/2 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 Estate of CATHERINE F. ALLEN, Decased of Upper Saint Clair, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, No. 02-24-00533, Elizabeth A. Pellicano, Executor, 449 Marietta Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of DEBORAH A. SONBERGER A/K/A DEBORAH ANN SONBERGER, Decased of 739 S. Braddock Avenue #2, Pittsburgh, PA 15221, Estate No. 02-24-00402, Kathy Boueck, 435 Creekshire Drive, Roswell, GA 30075, Executor, or to William C. Price Jr., Price & Associates, P.C., 2005 Noble Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 Estate of CUNNINGHAM RICHARD L AKA CUNNINGHAM RICHARD LEE, Deceased of Pittsburgh, Estate No. 00108 of 2024, Exec, Ryan Steele Cunningham, 2417 Orlando Pl, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 or to Michael J. Saldamarco, Esq., Ste. 100, 908 Perry Hwy., Pittsburgh, PA 15229 Estate of DWAYNE TILLMAN, Tailja Tillman, Adm’x, appointed October 23, 2023, Case No. 022307269, 11505 Joan Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15235. Peter B. Lewis, , Counsel, Neighborhood Legal Services, 928 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Orphan’s Court Division, Case No. 020902970, Petition for Determination of Title filed December 18, 2023 by Eather Lynn Johnson to terminate the interest Gladys Odessa Grace in 2411 Glen Mawr Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15204. Peter B. Lewis, Attorney, 928 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, (412) 586-6153. Estate of MICHAEL R. TERPACK, JR. , Decased of Greencille, Mercer, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-24-00730, Michele Bresnay, Administrator, 106 Cottonwood Drive, Oakdale, PA 15071 or to Ruth E. Carlin, Administrator, 890 Methodist Road, Greenville, PA 16125 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of CERNIAWSKI WILLIAM, deceased of Whitaker, PA, Estate No. 022306075 of 2023, William S. Cerniawski, Admr, 103 Union Street, Munhall, PA 15120
ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings
NOTICE On February 12, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., at 10 Community Park Dr., Baldwin Township’s Civil Service Commission shall hold a public meeting to reorganize and conduct any other business that may lawfully come before it. Michael A. Palombo, CSC Solicitor NOTICE On February 15, 2024, at 6 p.m., in Council Chambers, 537 Bayne Ave., Bellevue, PA, Bellevue Borough’s Zoning Hearing Board shall hold a reorganization meeting, and a Public Hearing re: Application of Bolea, seeking Special Exception approval, per Tri-Borough Zoning Ord. §2000-405 & Ord. No. 18-05, to use the property at 166 ½ N. Sprague Ave. as a Short-term Rental unit. The Application may be viewed during normal business hours at the Borough Offices. Thomas P. McDermott, Solicitor Bellevue Borough ZHB LEGAL AD NOTICE IS HEREBY given the Emsworth Zoning Hearing Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 7 p.m., prevailing time, at the Emsworth Borough Building, 171 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15202, regarding the application from Kelsi Hodgeson for property at 204 Superior Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202, seeking a Variance from Emsworth Borough Ord. No. 1008, Section 1, requesting residential home to be short term rental. All those interested in the above hearing should be present at the above time and place and you will have an opportunity to be heard. CATHY JONES Borough Secretary
IN RE: THE CONDEMNATION BY THE COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY OF A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN EAST DEER TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA REQUIRED TO RECONSTRUCT A WALL ON BAILEYS RUN ROAD (COUNTY ROAD 3093-00) CONDEMNEE: ORRIS FUEL, INC, AS ITS INTEREST MAY APPEAR Civil Division - GD 23-13649 Estimated Just Compensation: $1,600.00 Name of Condemnee: ORRIS FUEL, INC., address unknown. Name & Address of Condemnor: Allegheny County, (“County”) 101 Courthouse, 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Identification of Parcel of Land: Portions of Block & Lot No. 1087-P310 consisting of 2,545 square feet as “Temporary Construction Easement” as depicted in Plans HWY, Volume 194 at Page 59. TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Sections 307 and 522 of the Pennsylvania Eminent Domain Code, 26 Pa. C.S.A §§ 307 and 522, the County of Allegheny will, on March 14, 2024 at 9:30 a.m., present to the Motions Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Civil Division, a Petition Requesting Order for Possession Upon Condemnor’s Tender of Estimated Just Compensation to the Department of Court Records. The identity of the Motions Judge then presiding can be ascertained in the City County Building located at 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 on the date of presentation either in the Department of Court Records/ Civil Family Division located on the 1st floor or in the Assignment Room located on the 7th floor. At the time of presentation, the County will request the Court to authorize the payment into Court of the County’s estimate of just compensation, as identified above, and the entry of an Order granting the County possession of the subject property. The County’s Petition including a proposed schedule of distribution and proposed Court Order may be viewed in the Department of Court Records/Civil Family Division prior to the date of presentation. Any moneys which the Court may direct be paid into Court will be held by the Department of Court Records/Civil Family Division until further Order directing payment of said amounts to the Condemnees and/or persons entitled thereto pursuant to 26 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 521 and 522. Rosalyn Guy-McCorkle County Solicitor NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF PETITION REQUESTING ORDER FOR POSSESSION IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IN RE: THE CONDEMNATION BY THE COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY OF A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA REQUIRED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF DOUGLASS RUN BRIDGE NO. 19 LOCATED ON ROUND HILL ROAD (COUNTY ROAD 4269-01) CONDEMNEES: HEIRS OF JOHN FRICKANISCE AND ANNA FRICKANISCE, HUSBAND AND WIFE, AS THEIR INTEREST MAY APPEAR
Name of Condemnees: Heirs of John Frickanisce and Anna Frickanisce, addresses unknown. Name & Address of Condemnor: Allegheny County, (“County”) 101 Courthouse, 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Identification of Parcel of Land: Portions of Block & Lot No. 1570-N323 consisting of 1,386 square feet as “Required Right-of-Way, and 806 square feet as “Temporary Construction Easement” as depicted in Plans HWY, Volume 194 at Page 46. TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Sections 307 and 522 of the Pennsylvania Eminent Domain Code, 26 Pa. C.S.A §§ 307 and 522, the County of Allegheny will, on March 14, 2024 at 9:30 a.m., present to the Motions Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Civil Division, a Petition Requesting Order for Possession Upon Condemnor’s Tender of Estimated Just Compensation to the Department of Court Records. The identity of the Motions Judge then presiding can be ascertained in the City County Building located at 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 on the date of presentation either in the Department of Court Records/Civil Family Division located on the 1st floor or in the Assignment Room located on the 7th floor. At the time of presentation, the County will request the Court to authorize the payment into Court of the County’s estimate of just compensation, as identified above, and the entry of an Order granting the County possession of the subject property. The County’s Petition including a proposed schedule of distribution and proposed Court Order may be viewed in the Department of Court Records/Civil Family Division prior to the date of presentation. Any moneys which the Court may direct be paid into Court will be held by the Department of Court Records/Civil Family Division until further Order directing payment of said amounts to the Condemnees and/or persons entitled thereto pursuant to 26 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 521 and 522. Rosalyn Guy-McCorkle County Solicitor
Development/ Grant Management Firms Qualifications relative to the following should be discussed: redevelopment planning and financial acquisition strategies, managing reporting for public programs, managing consulting teams, packaging other incentive programs, seeking community input, personnel available for this assignment, assistance in securing women and minority participation, and the me th o d a n d h o u rl y rates of compensation. RFQ is due March 7, 2023 and s h o u l d b e ma i l e d to: Young Preservationists Association, 700 River Avenue, Suite 318, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Notice
Public Notice
NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS February 7, 2024 City of Pittsburgh – Office of Management and Budget 414 Grant Street Room 501 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-255-2667 This notice shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Pittsburgh. REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS (1) – HOME PROJECT On or about February 26, 2024, the City of Pittsburgh (City) will authorize the Urban Redevelopment of Pittsburgh (URA) to submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to release Federal funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as amended, to undertake the Project known as Uptown Flats located at 1400-1406 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh (Project). The Project involves demolition of existing buildings and new construction. The proposed result will be 33,923 square feet of mixed-use community service facility space and residential housing. The ground floor will be used for office space, common areas and residential apartments, with the remaining floors as solely residential apartments. There will be thirty-four (34) affordable Project Based Voucher housing units targeted to individuals earning less than 60% of Area Media Income (AMI), with eleven (11) efficiency apartments, sixteen (16) 1-bedroom apartments and seven (7) 2-bedroom apartments. Included in those units will be six (6) Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard (UFAS) units consisting of one (1) efficiency mobility unit, one (1) efficiency hearing/visual unit, two (2) 1-bedroom mobility units, one (1) 1-bedroom hearing/visual unit and one (1) 2-bedroom mobility unit. Funding for the Project will consist of URA funding of a FHLBank AHP Loan of $736,744; a PHFA Penn Homes Loan of $537,606; a PHFA PHARE Loan of $662,394; Reinvested Developer Fee of $225,00; an Allegheny Economic Development Loan of $540,000; $1,394,199 in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity, and an additional $325,000 anticipated in State Housing Tax Credit equity. The URA’s Rental Gap Program loan of $1,250,000 will be sourced with $3,000 in FY2021 HOME funds and $1,247,000 in City of Pittsburgh’s Housing Opportunity Fund. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will provide PBV subsidies for thirty-four (34) units for the Project. The estimated total Project cost is $18,435,242. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (2) – HOME PROJECT The City of Pittsburgh has determined that the Project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional Project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR). The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by U.S. mail. Please submit your request by U.S. mail to City of Pittsburgh, Office of Management and Budget, 414 Grant St, City County Building Room 501, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or by email to OMBEnvironmental@pittsburghpa.gov. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to:
Civil Division - GD 23-13656 Estimated Just Compensation: $300.00
PROFESSIONAL Historic preservation and Economic development organization is requesting qualifications from:
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PROFESSIONAL Historic preservation and Economic development organization is requesting qualifications from: General Contractor - to manage and oversee fabrication and installation of historic baseball plaques for Three Rivers Stadium Memorial. Qualifications should include experience with Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage requirements, working in a team environment, personnel available for this assignment, and the method and rates of compensation. RFQ is due February 29, 2023 and should be mailed to: Young Preservationists Association, 700 River Avenue, Suite 318, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!
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Kelly Russell City of Pittsburgh, 414 Grant Street, Room 501 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 255-2667 OR OMBEnvironmental@pittsburghpa.gov All comments received by Thursday, February 22, 2024, will be considered by the City of Pittsburgh prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice (Request for Release of Funds 1 or Finding of No Significant Impact 2) they are addressing. ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of Pittsburgh certifies to HUD that Ed Gainey in his capacity as Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh to use development funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Pittsburgh certification for a period of fifteen (15) days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Pittsburgh; (b) the City of Pittsburgh has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the Project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted via email in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to the HUD Field Office of Community Planning and Development in Pittsburgh at PGHCPDObjections@hud.gov/ (412)-644-5846 regarding HUD HOME funds. Potential objectors should contact the HUD Field Office of Community Planning and Development in Pittsburgh via email or phone as given above to verify the actual last day of the objection period. Ed Gainey Mayor City of Pittsburgh LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) intends to make an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for a Water Quality Management Permit for the discharge of industrial wastes in a manner which meet DEP requirements, from a facility located in South Park Township, Allegheny County. This is a new discharge of an intermittent nature, to McElheny Run for the treatment of impacted groundwater and surface water during construction phase remediation at the site located at 626 Cochran Mill Road in Pittsburgh. This application is made under the provisions of the Clean Streams Law, the Act of June 22, 1937, P.L. 1987, as amended. Persons desiring additional information, or who wish to provide comment concerning this permit application should contact the Company as indicated above, or DEP at the follow address: Regional Water Quality Manager, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA , 15222 (412)442-4000 January 24, 2024.
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FEBRUARY 7-13, 2024
LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA January 29, 2024 Office of the County Controller of Allegheny County, Room 104, Court House, Pittsburgh, PA., will receive separate and closed Bids until 11:30 A.M. prevailing local time, Wednesday February 28, 2024 through the proprietary platform of the third party vendor Bonfire eProcurement Solution, and a representative of the Department of Public Works will open and read the Proposals in the Conference Room 505A, County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA., 15219, at 11:30 A.M., for the following: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS LITTLE SEWICKLEY CREEK SOUTH BRANCH BRIDGE NO. 1 REPLACEMENT COUNTY PROJECT NO: SS01-0111 SEWICKLEY HEIGHTS As a prospective bidder please note the following general Project information regarding Pre-Bid Information, Bidding Requirements, and Contract Conditions. See the Project Manual and Drawings for detailed information, responsibilities, and instructions. PRE-BID INFORMATION: View the Proposal, Specifications and Drawings on Bonfire eProcurement’s website https://alleghenycountydpw.bonfirehub.com/projects/118890/details. The Proposal, Specifications and Drawings may also be viewed at the Office of the Contract Manager, Room 504, County Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA. Please adhere to all COVID-19 safety procedures. BIDDING REQUIREMENTS: The County requires pre-qualification of bidders, including subcontractors, as specified in Section 102.01 of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Specifications, Publication No.408, 2020 Edition, Change No. 7, Effective October 6, 2023, on this project. Submit bid on the supplied Bid Forms in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders and General and Supplementary Conditions; include the following documents with the Bid Form, PROPOSAL: • Bid Security - certified check or surety company bond on County’s form to the order of/or running to the County of Allegheny in the amount of five (5%) percent of the Bid as evidence that you, the Bidder, will accept and carry out the conditions of the Contract in case of award. The County will accept only bonds written by Surety Companies acceptable on Federal Bonds per the current Federal Register Circular 570. Federal Register Circular 570 is available for inspection in the Contract Office, Room 504, County Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. • Bidder Certification of Pre-Qualification, Classification and Work Capacity. • List of Subcontractors • Statement of Joint Venture Participation • MBE and WBE Goals Attainment Certification - (ONLY NECESSARY IF YOU CAN NOT MEET THE SPECIFIED MBE AND WBE GOALS) • Work Sheet Required Amount Performed by Contractor (Non-Federal Project) • MBE/WBE Subcontractor and Supplier Solicitation Sheet • MBE/WBE Subcontractor and Supplier Commitment Sheet THE COUNTY WILL REJECT BIDS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE THE EXECUTED DOCUMENTS SPECIFIED ABOVE WITH THE BID FORM. You may not withdraw your bid for a period of Sixty (60) days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. The County Manager reserves the right to reject any and all bids or waive any informalities in the bidding. CONTRACT CONDITIONS: In accordance with the provisions of the “Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act” of August 15, 1961, P.L. 987, as Department of Labor and Industry, the prevailing minimum wage predetermination requirements as set forth in the Attachments apply to this Project. For questions about logging in and using the Bonfire platform, visit https://vendorsupport.gobonfire.com/hc/en-us, or call 1-800-354-8010. For questions about the project or contract, submit them on the Bonfire platform at https://alleghenycountydpw.bonfirehub.com/projects/118890/ details. Project completion is to occur by November 25, 2024. The County of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises / women business enterprises [MBE/WBE] will be afforded the full opportunity to submit bids on the grounds of race, sex, color or national origin in consideration for an award. It is a condition of the bidding process/contract that all responsive bidders/ contractors shall follow the minority business enterprises/women’s business enterprises [MBE/WBE] procedures set forth in the project manual/contract documents. Corey O’Connor Controller County of Allegheny NOTICE TO BIDDERS BOROUGH OF BRENTWOOD, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Sealed Proposals will be received by Brentwood Borough, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania for its 2024 Sidewalk & Curbing Program. The project consists of the following: • Replacement of a minimum of 3000 S.F. of 4” thick existing concrete sidewalk. • Replacement of a minimum of 300 S.F. of 6” thick existing concrete driveway aprons. • Replacement of a minimum of 2000 L.F. of existing deep-set concrete curb. Construction will take place within existing municipal rights-of-way. Project boundaries will include, but will not be limited to, Bellanca Avenue, Kaplan Avenue, and Kestner Avenue. Bidder is responsible for traffic control and restoration of disturbed areas. Expenses associated with such activities shall be incorporated into the unit cost of construction. Copies of drawings, specifications, instructions to bidders, general conditions, forms of proposal, and forms of agreement are available electronically at pennbid.procureware.com. Interested vendors must complete a no cost registration process to utilize this service. Paper copies these documents will not be made available. All proposals must be submitted electronically at pennbid.procureware.com by 10AM EST on March 8, 2024, and the same will be publicly opened and read immediately thereafter. Bidder shall be required to maintain a performance bond, labor & materials payment bond, public liability insurance, property damage insurance, and worker’s compensation insurance in the amount specified in the proposal documents, and certificates associated with the same shall be filed with the Borough at the time that an agreement is executed with the selected bidder. All proposals shall additionally comply with Pennsylvania prevailing wage regulations. In order to receive consideration, bidders must electronically accompany with the proposal a Bid Bond from a Surety Company in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the Proposal as a guarantee that, if the Proposal is accepted, the successful Bidder will enter into an Agreement within 15 days after a Notice of Award is issued by the Borough. The responses provided in the proposal must remain valid for a period of no less than sixty (60) days from the date of the bidding opening. No Bidder may withdraw a Proposal during the sixty (60) day period without forfeiting the bid bond amount. The Borough reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or any part thereof, for any reason, and also reserves the right to waive any informality therein. Questions regarding this project shall only be accepted electronically via the ‘Clarifications’ section on pennbid.procureware.com. George Zboyovsky, P.E. Borough Manager
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SONNY BOY LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
ACHA-1708, APPLIANCE SUPPLY PROGRAM Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA) is seeking Bids from qualified vendors to retain a contractor to furnish appliance to ACHA properties, on an as-needed basis, per specifications in the IFB. ACHA is now conducting all competitive solicitation on an internet -based eProcurement Housing Marketplace. ACHA is paying for all costs for the use of the Marketplace so, there will be no additional charges for your company to use the Marketplace to download documents or submit responses to ACHA. AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Guy Phillips, Purchasing Manager Telephone: (412) 402-2435, E-mail: gphillips@achsng.com. H O W TO O B TA I N T H E I F B DOCUMENTS ON THE EPROCUREMENT MARKETPLACE: 1. Access ha.internationaleprocurement. com (no “www”). 2. Click on the “Login” button in the upper left side. 3. Follow the listed directions. 4. If you have any problems in accessing or registering on the eProcurement Marketplace, please call customer support at (866)526-9266. PRE-BID CONFERENCE: THERE WILL NOT BE A PRE-BID CONFERENCE SCHEDULED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS IFB If you have any questions regarding this IFB or any of the documents, use the “Question and Answer area in the eProcurement Housing Marketplace Website. QUESTION SUBMITTAL DEADLINE Friday, February 16, 2024, 12:00 PM ET HOW TO FULLY RESPOND TO THIS IFB BY SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL: 1. As directed within Section 3.2.1 of the IFB document, submit proposed pricing, where provided for, within the eProcurement Marketplace. 2. As instructed within Section 3.0 of the IFB document, submit One (1) Original copy of your “hard copy” Bid to the Agency Administrative Office. BID SUBMITTAL RETURN & DEADLINE *Friday, February 23, 2024, 10:00 AM ET 301 Chartiers Ave, McKees Rocks, PA 15136 (The proposed costs must be entered within the aforementioned eProcurement Marketplace and the “hard copy” documentation must be received in-hand and time-stamped by the Agency by no later than 10:00 AM ET on this date). The Public Bid Opening will be at 10:30 AM at the address mentioned above. The Authority encourages responses from §3 business concerns, small firms, minority firms and firms that have not previously performed work for the ACHA. The Allegheny County Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any and all submissions. ALLEGHENY COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY FRANK AGGAZIO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted
SR SFTWR ENGINEER, MOBILE APPS Duolingo, Inc. seeks a Sr Sftwr Engineer, Mobile Apps (Pittsburgh, PA) to identify, dvlp & employ data strctrs, algorithms & sftwr design patterns to prototype prdcts for large-scale systm design for iOS & Android mobile apps. Requires Bachelor’s dgr in Comp Sci, Sftwr Eng’g, Electrical Eng’g, Mechatronics Eng’g, or rltd & 5 yrs of exp srvng in a sr. sftwr eng’g position. Must have 5 yrs of exp in: collaborating on sftwr prjcts with prdct dsgn & bcknd aspcts; dvlpng, rleasng, & maintainng Android app features; & mdrn Android dsgn pttrns such as MVVM/MVI, reactive prgrmmng, dpndncy injction, modularization. Must have knwldg of the fllwng: systms dsgn & eng’g; data strg & compute tchnlgies (RDS); CI/ CD pipelines; prgrmmng lngs: Python, Java & Kotlin; & Data Strctrs Algrthms. Lcl telecmmtng prmtd up to 2 dys/wk. Email resumes to jobs@duolingo.com, ref code 920.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS BRENTWOOD BOROUGH OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Sealed Proposals will be received by the Brentwood Borough, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania for: 2024 Road Paving Program 18-439-619. Project Description: Project consists of: The project requires the preparation and resurfacing of approximately 12,200 S.Y. of various existing roads throughout the Borough. The base bid includes approximately 12,200 S.Y. of roto-milling and profiling; Keyways approximately 380 L.F., base repairs, if necessary, approximately 200 S.Y., placing approximately 1,300 tons of 19mm Superpave Binder, placing approximately 12,000 S.Y. of 9.5mm Superpave Fine Graded 0 to 0.3 million ESAL’s Wearing Surface; traffic control; lawn restoration; and other items incidental to the project. Mobilization, Bonding, and Insurances shall be considered incidental to the work performed under the scope of the Contract and shall not be considered additional pay items to the Contractor. All Proposals must be submitted electronically on Pennbid.com before 10:00 A.M., prevailing time on Friday, March 08, 2024. Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds, along with Public Liability and Property Damage Certificates of Insurance in the amounts specified, as well as Certificates of Workman’s Compensation must be filed with the executed Agreement. Pennsylvania Prevailing Wages are required to be paid on this project. All bidders must be PennDOT pre-qualified as a prime contractor and meet the work classification codes of E, F, and F1. All bids submitted must have the contractor’s valid pre-qualification certification attached to the outside of the bid or it will be rejected. Proposals to receive consideration must be accompanied with a Bidder’s Bond from a Surety Company authorized to do business in Pennsylvania, made to the order of the Brentwood Borough in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the Proposal as a guarantee that, if the Proposal is accepted, the successful Bidder will enter into an Agreement within 15 days after Notice of the Award of the Contract. The Proposals must be made to the Brentwood Borough, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and shall remain firm for a period of sixty (60) days. No Bidder may withdraw his Proposal during the sixty (60) day period without forfeiting his Bid guarantee. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals, or any part thereof, for any reason, and also reserves the right to waive any informality therein. George Zboyovsky, PE, ICMA-CM Borough Manager JOB OPPORTUNITIES
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Branding Brand Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA has work-athome Senior Analytics Consultant position (w/ability to telecommute w/approp. telecommuting sys.) to be responsible for: (i) owning analytics deliveries & leading dvlpmnt of analytic capabilities, (ii) analyzing business performance using statistical analysis, (iii) generating reports & dashboards using data visualization tools, and (iv) building data forecasting models to conduct projections. Apply at:brandingbrand.com/careers.
POLICE OFFICER Qualified persons are invited to apply to the Borough of Munhall Civil Service Commission to take competitive examinations leading to eligibility for appointment as Full-Time Patrol Officer in the Borough of Munhall Police Department. An application can be obtained beginning February 1, 2024 at the Borough Building, first floor, 1 Raymond Bodnar Way, Munhall, PA 15120 between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday. Completed applications must be returned by 3:30 pm, on Friday, February 16, 2024 along with a $50.00 non-refundable application fee payable to the Borough of Munhall. No applications will be accepted after this date REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen, be a minimum of 21 years of age, must have successfully completed or in the process of completing Pennsylvania Act 120 Certification, have a high school diploma or GED, possess a valid Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Driver’s license, and be physically and mentally fit to perform the full duties of a police officer as determined by the physical and psychological testing. Successful applicants must meet all other Civil Service requirements. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Starting salary for 2024 is $60,286 (2024 top Patrolmen base salary is $89,586) with an excellent fringe benefit package including 2 weeks of paid vacation after 1 year of service maxing out at 5 weeks’ vacation, 12 sick days per year, 2 personal days after 1 year maxing out at 4 days, comprehensive Health Care package, Uniform allowance of $900.00 a year, longevity and holiday pay, DROP pension, and minimum staffing of 2 Officers per shift. TESTING DATE AND TIME: Candidates will be notified of the testing time and date at least 2 weeks prior to the examinations.
LAWRENCEVILLE FARMERS MARKET ASSISTANT MANAGER Seeking someone passionate about food access to support social media and in-person operations for the 2024 Lawrenceville Farmers Market. Seasonal (Apr-Dec), part-time (10 hrs/wk) position. $18.57/hr. More info at bit.ly/LFMAssistant or 412-802-7220. Apply by 3/1. MT. LEBANON, PA POLICE OFFICER TESTING MT. LEBANON POLICE DEPARTMENT will be conducting a physical agility and written exam for POLICE OFFICER on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Starting salary of $75,894 annually ($59,670 for police academy cadet). Must be a U.S. citizen; 21 years of age at hire; bachelor’s degree from accredited college/university at hire; pass physical, written, oral exams plus a comprehensive background investigation. Full test requirements, description and application may be obtained at https://mtlebanon.org/departments/ human-resources/. Deadline ending no later than 4:00 pm, March 8, 2024. Mt. Lebanon provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment based on competence, merit, performance, and business needs. We are committed to valuing the diversity of all individuals without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other classification protected by law. Reasonable accommodations for the needs of otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities will be made upon request to the Human Resource Office at 412-343-3625 or jaquino@mtlebanon.org.
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An Equal Opportunity Employer ENTRY LEVEL POLICE OFFICER The City of Altoona is now accepting applications for Entry Level Police Officers. Information and applications are available online at www.altoonapa.gov and in the Human Resources Department of City Hall at 1301 12th Street, Suite 400, Altoona, PA. Applications and applicable supporting documentation must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by Noon on Friday, March 15, 2024. The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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HOSPITALIST Regional Health Services, Inc. located at U. S. Steel Tower, 57th Floor, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, seeks a Hospitalist for 201 State Street, Erie, PA 16550 to manage all aspects of medical care for each patient assigned to the hospitalist program during the course of the workday, work in conjunction with the emergency department and the transfer center to accept all admissions and referrals to the hospitalist program, provide medical consultations to other services as requested, work in cooperation with other hospitalists to provide the very best quality seamless care for each patient of the hospitalist program, rapid response team first responder during assigned shift, provide inpatient hospitalist services for select primary care physicians and/or practices as the hospitalist program develops, undertake teaching duties for Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, or other medical students as necessary at Hamot or other hospital to which physician agrees to provide services, work in conjunction with emergency room and primary care physicians to provide high quality seamless care for patients assigned to the hospitalist program, develop and adhere to quality standards of care and protocols for patient care in conjunction with other hospitalists, participate in a process improvement co m mi tte e as needed, s h a re equitably in a work schedule that preserves the continuity of patient care while preserving a healthy physician lifestyle, and the Hospitalist will treat only adult patients. Position requires a Medical Degree or Doctor of Osteopathy or its equivalent or its foreign equivalent. A foreign medical degree is acceptable. Applicant must have completed a three (3) year U. S. ACGME or AOA approved residency in Family or Internal Medicine, must be board certified or board eligible in either the field of Internal Medicine or Family Medicine. If Board eligible the physician is expected to be qualified to take the certification examination within one (1) year of the commencement of employment with the employer, and shall take and pass such examination within that time, and must have a valid unrestricted Pennsylvania Medical license and ACLS certification. Apply by following these steps; visit http:// careers.upmc.com and enter 240000CZ in the “Search Keyword/ Job ID” field and click Go. EOE/Disability/Veteran.
DEPUTY CHIEF EQUITY & INCLUSION OFFICER Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Deputy Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer (DCEIO) who will report directly to the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a/ Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) The DCEIO will also interact and communicate with the Chief Executive Officer and other members of PRT’s senior management team. The DCEIO will be the executive responsible for working with their team and the PRT employees to advance, foster and cultivate a culture within the organization that promotes inclusion, diversity, equity and access for employees, customers, vendors, contractors, and diverse communities. The DCEIO, under the direction of the CHRO, will be responsible for developing and implementing the vision, leadership, and direction of PRT’s diversity and equity programs including its Diversity Equity and Belonging (DEB) strategy. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs, and other similarly focused efforts that further PRT’s commitment to create a more trusting and culturally competent environment that better aligns positive employee, customer, and community experience for all PRT stakeholders. The DCEIO is responsible for providing strategic counsel to PRT;s senior management team and may also have interaction with PRT’s Board on DEB strategy, DBE programs and similar strategies and programs. The DCEIO will monitor and report, either directly or via staff reporting to the CHRO, on PRT-wide equal opportunity compliance and equityrelated statistics to PRT’s Board senior management team and employees as well as relevant outside regulatory agencies and other stakeholders. Essential Functions: • Participates in the development of policies throughout the department and interpret such policies throughout the department. • Develops objectives, policies, and procedures for their activity for the approval of immediate manager. • Interprets and administers programs and procedures in accordance with approved policies to ensure compliance and mitigate liability. • Performs special assignments for immediate manager, as requested. • Develops and maintains reporting systems, which enable management to measure program performance, identify and analyze trends and determine future needs. Job requirements include: • BA/BS from an accredited college or university in Business, Economics, Human Resources or related field and extensive experience including a minimum of ten (10) years’ of experience in directing and managing diversity, disadvantaged business enterprise and equity programs, plans and initiatives required. • Must have a minimum of five (5) years’ of supervisory/leadership experience. • Strong knowledge of Federal, State, city and local laws governing nondiscrimination of employees, applicants, and contractors and mitigation of disproportionate impact/ burden to communities. • Proven experience with DEB analytics, including how to drive impact in business and employee centered metrics. • Must have strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills. • Ability to effectively present information to senior management, board of directors and/or public groups required. • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, all levels of management required Preferred attributes: • An Advanced Degree in Business, Economics, Marketing, or Law ( J.D.) or a related field is preferred. • Experience in developing, managing and/or implementing DEB, DBE or similar equity-based programs and systems at a government agency and/or private transportation company.
SENIOR INTERNAL AUDITOR Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Senior Internal Auditor to conduct and document complex audit projects independently for Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). Completes final reports of audit findings with recommendations for correction of unsatisfactory conditions, improving operations, reducing costs, and increasing revenue. Performs surveys of functions and activities in assigned areas and identifies key control points in the system under review. Determines the direction, and audit theory for audits, develops comprehensive audit programs and sampling plans, and proposes staff and time requirements for performance of audits. Essential Functions: • Plans and executes complex audit assignments, conducts reviews of portions of extensive audit assignments in accordance with recognized professional standards. Performs surveys of functions and activities in assigned areas and identifies key control points in the system under review. Determines the direction, and audit theory for audits, develops comprehensive audit programs and sampling plans, and proposes staff and time requirements for performance of audits. • Makes oral or written presentations to management. Discusses deficiencies and recommends remedial action. Appraises the adequacy of remedial action taken to improve deficient conditions and reports on the results of the follow-ups. Maintains effective working relationships with PRT staff. • Directs, counsels, and instructs subordinate auditors assigned to the audit and reviews their working papers for adequacy and accuracy. • Directly supervises the performance of an audit in accordance with an approved audit program. • Prepares formal written reports for the review and approval of the Supervisor and/or Director of Internal Audit for issuance to appropriate PRT management. Job requirements include: • Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration or related field from an accredited college or university. • Minimum of three (3) years’ experience. N o certi fi cati ons or l i censes required. • Must have the ability to travel to various PRT locations, out of town overnight travel and occasional evenings and weekends as needed to perform audits. • Planning, executing and conducting complex audit assignments in accordance with recognized professional standards. • Developing comprehensive audit programs. • Developing sampling plans and proposing staff and time requirements for performance of audits. • Preparing formal written reports for the review and approval of management. • Directing, counseling, and instructing subordinate auditors assigned to the audit and review of their working papers for adequacy and accuracy. • E ffecti ve and professi onal communication skills. • Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Microsoft Word, and Excel. Preferred attributes: • Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in Internal Auditing. • Knowledge of Government Auditing Standards (GAS). • CIA, CFE, CPA or other related professional certification programs that would enhance the performance of their internal auditor duties. • Experience using audit software. • Experience with business process improvement (BPI).
SENIOR PROJECT ARCHITECT Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Senior Project Architect to provide architectural and construction support for Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). Perform field inspections, review field design changes, resolve technical problems and methods regarding building codes, structural codes, permit procedures, and municipal construction requirements as applied to the ongoing m aint enance, facility modification, and repair or reconstruction. Communicates/ meets with those outside the organization, including government and community representatives, contractors, engineers, and private concerns, to coordinate planning, design and construction activities and represents the PRT’s interests. Prepares contract scope of work for and manages activities of outside architects, engineers and contractors hired by PRT. Provides cost estimating for projected work activities. Understands various work rules, union trade requirements, and company policies on outside work Essential Functions: • Performs all project management functions necessary to implement the design, construction, and closeout of funded capital projects within established scope, schedule, budget, and quality metrics. Provides guidance and assistance to PRT personnel on facilities design issues and activities pertaining to all capital projects and provides subject matter expertise regarding building code compliance and ADA access requirements as required. Provides support for state of good repair programs related to buildings, light rail systems, busways, park, and ride lots, patron facilities and related infrastructure. • Responsible for reviewing drawings, specifications, and contract provisions for compliance with Authority and outside agency requirements and standards in the preparation of construction and procurement documents. Reviews and coordinates drawings and specifications of facilities projects in consideration of the impacts related to operational facilities, systems, and infrastructure. Job requirements include: • Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from an accredited school. • Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in managing projects, including design and construction of job-related work. • P r o f e s s i o n a l a n d e ff e c t i v e communication skills. • Valid driver’s license in any state or commonwealth with ability to obtain PA driver’s license within sixty (60) days of employment. • Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Preferred attributes: • Registered Architect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the ability to obtain such registration through reciprocity within one year of appointment Experience in construction and construction management.
DIRECTOR, SYSTEMWIDE ACCESSIBILITY Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Director, Systemwide Accessibility to report directly to the Deputy Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer. This position is responsible for developing and managing programs to ensure and improve the accessibility for passengers with disabilities and senior citizens as part of Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s (PRT) service provisions in compliance with the Department of Transportation regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II. This position serves as the community liaison for persons with disabilities and senior citizens and the technical advisor for the Board-appointed Access Advisory Committee. This position oversees accessibility and universal access as an in-house advisor and consultant to PRT departments on all accessibility -related issues and regulations, providing recommendations and updates to policies and activities as needed. Essential Functions: • Responsible for compliance of all PRT’s activities to comply with the Department of Transportation regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). • Determine and implement short and long-term strategies to support accessibility goals and plans. • Serve as a representative on accessibility issues to various state and federal agencies/commissions. • Advise, consult, and coordinate with senior management and various stakeholders on legislative and regulatory matters related to accessibility. • Provide oversight of service providers to ensure compliance with ADA regulations, standards, and best practices. Job requirements include: • Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or related field. Related experience may substitute for educational requirements on a year for year basis up to four (4) years. • Seven (7) years’ experience working with management and oversight of programs for persons with disabilities, senior citizens or working for ADA advocacy in the community. • Three (3) years’ experience supervising staff in accessibility management. • Four (4) years’ of progressively responsible experience in dealing with community relations, including researching, and drafting responses to the public. • Experience in interpreting and applying federal and state transportation and accessibility regulations. • Knowledge of the ADA laws and regulations as well as interaction with labor laws to ensure compliance. Preferred attributes: • Experience with transportation programs preferred. • Experience with government agency ADA compliance and oversight preferred.
PEDIATRIC HOSPITALIST University of Pittsburgh Physicians located at U. S. Steel Tower, 57th Floor, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, seeks a Pediatric Hospitalist to examine, diagnose, treat and/or refer patients, prescribe pharmaceuticals, other medications, and treatment regimens as appropriate to assessed medical conditions, maintain a health record for each patient seen in accordance with Health Information Management policies and procedures, refer clients for appropriate specialty care services, lab and x-ray and any other ancillary services that are appropriate for patient’s management and care, provide excellent internal /external customer service via telephone, fax or face-to-face contact to assist patients with their health care needs, teach students, residents and fellows, follow established policies, procedures, and objectives, continuous quality improvement objectives and safety, environmental and/or infection control standards, perform in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors, and perform other duties as assigned at 111 S. Front St., Harrisburg PA 17101, 300 Highland Ave., Hanover PA 17331, 361 Alexander Springs Rd., Carlisle PA 17015, 1500 Highlands Dr., Lititz PA 17543 and 1701 Innovation Dr., York PA 17408. Position requires a Medical Degree or Doctor of Osteopathy or its equivalent or its foreign equivalent. Applicant must have completed a residency in Pediatrics or Internal Medicine, must be board certified or board eligible in Pediatrics or Internal Medicine, must maintain proficiency in ACLS and airway management, must have a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration Certificate, must have clearances in ACT 33, ACT 34, ACT 73, FBI Clearance, ACT 31 Child Abuse Reporting, and must have a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Position requires travel to worksites within 40 miles. Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers.upmc.com and enter 240000CY in the “Search Keyword/ Job ID” field and click Go. EOE/Disability/Veteran.
We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Alex Kumnik Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 AKumnik@RidePRT.org EOE
Inez Colon Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 IColon@RidePRT.org EOE
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We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:
Missy Ramsey Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 MRamsey@RidePRT.org EOE
Inez Colon Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 IColon@RidePRT.org EOE
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Pitt getting better as season progresses Will Pitt make it to the NCAA Tournament, as they did last year? There’s about a month left in the regular season, and prior to their game at N.C. State, Feb. 7, the team was 5-6 in the ACC, 14-8 overall. The team had won their last two games in the ACC as of
Courier press deadline, late Feb. 6—a 70-60 win over Notre Dame (Feb. 3), and a 77-72 win against Wake Forest (Jan. 31). Pitt has its standouts in Bub Carrington, Ishmael Leggett and Blake Hinson, but it’s starting to get more production from freshman Jaland Lowe.
The next home games for the Panthers are Feb. 17 against Louisville, and Feb. 24 against Virginia Tech. Both are Saturday early evening games. - Rob Taylor Jr.
PITT’S BLAKE HINSON DRIVES ON A WAKE FOREST PLAYER, JAN. 31. AND IN THE PHOTO AT RIGHT, ISHMAEL LEGGETT ATTEMPTS A BUCKET. THE PANTHERS WON, 77-72. (PHOTOS BY MARLON MARTIN)
CREATION OF THE COLOR LINE Mahomes' own father says that Montana and Brady are better??? Black History Month is now in full swing. We are again celebrating athletes and citizens who crossed various color lines but were never able to reach the finish line of equality. This is a shallow celebration period for me because color lines should have never existed in the first place! As heirs of a racebased system, the owners of sports leagues and franchises in the past and present must thank their forefathers for creating a biased and unequal generational code based upon Eurocentric principles and the ideology of domination created and also based on the skin color of an individual or group of people. Miriam-Webster defines Eurocentric as “focusing on European culture or history to the exclusion of a wider view of the world; implicitly regarding European culture as preeminent.” Miriam-Webster also uses the statement, “The classical, Eurocentric view of how mathematics developed,” as a flawed and questionable example of the usage of the word, Eurocentric. Why? Well, because thought.com posted the following: “According to the book, ‘Mathematical Thought from Ancient to Modern Times,’ mathematics as an organized science did not exist until the classical Greek
period from 600 to 300 B.C.” Yet history.com says that: “The peak of pyramid building in Egypt began with the late third dynasty and continued until roughly the sixth (c. 2325 B.C.)” People of color built structures and pyramids using mathematical equations thousands of years before European culture could comprehend the concept of mathematics. History.com also tells us that: “In late August 1619, the White Lion, an English privateer commanded by John Jope, sailed into Point Comfort and dropped an anchor in the James River. Virginia colonist John Rolfe documented the arrival of the ship and ‘20 and odd’ Africans on board. His journal entry is immortalized in textbooks, with 1619 often used as a reference point for teaching the origins of slavery in America.” In the recent past, a few NFL and MLB owners have falsely been hailed as heroes by many Americans for staunchly preserving the poisonous, divisive ideology of their sports based on “racial purity.” But America, please don’t get it twisted. Refuse to be misled because the original doctrine of the racial domination that has affected and continues to infect American society be-
gan in August of 1619, when John Jope sailed into Point Comfort and dropped an anchor in the James River. I am only using this event as a historical point of reference. In the twentieth and
twenty-first centuries, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Huey Newton, H. Rap Brown, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, George Floyd, Colin Kaepernick, Fritz Pollard, Willie Thrower, Chuck Cooper, Frank Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Jim Brown, Jim Thorpe and many other Black heroes alive and deceased, have been forced to cross the “red line of racism” created at Jamestown in 1919 and continues today. Regardless of the shallow and ineffective political, anti-bias legislation and laws created to promote “social wellness,” and the “internal measures” adopted by sports leagues, the “floodlight of racism” is as bright as ever and in many cases, shines brighter now than it has
for the past 400 years. The consistency of racism has also genuinely poisoned the psyche and dampened the spirits of the people of color who have pursued careers as athletes, administrators, coaches and owners in the world of sports. Significant numbers of people of color are not just drinking the KoolAid; they are making it! Chantz Martin recently posted an article on foxnews.com titled: “Patrick Mahomes’ father says Chiefs QB ‘has a long ways to go’ before he surpasses Tom Brady’s greatness.” The article makes the argument that, “While Brady is widely considered the greatest player in NFL history, others argue that Mahomes has already reached the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s level of greatness. But, Mahomes’ father, Pat Mahomes Sr., is not quite ready to give his son the greatest of all-time title.” The article directly quotes Pat Mahomes Sr. as saying, “That’s still to be determined. He still has a ways to go. I have mad respect for Tom Brady and I grew up as a Joe Montana fan.” The article continues by pointing out that, “Mahomes Sr. did acknowledge that his son is heading in the right direction, but at this point, he would still give
Brady and Montana the edge.” I must issue a painful reminder to Pat Mahomes Sr. as a father and a Black man. We must always remember that we often cannot rely on the media of the majority to accurately record the victories and accomplishments achieved by people of color in the sports world and beyond. There was an article posted on usprisonculture.com dated, October 7, 2012, titled: “A Word to the Black Man… A Reminder.” The article reprinted an editorial initially published in the Los Angeles Times on July 6, 1910. The editorial was created after a series of riots left over 25 Black people dead after Jack Johnson won a highly promoted fight against a White, undefeated former heavyweight champion named James K. Jeffries. Jack Johnson, an unrepentant Black man, had defeated America’s “Great White Hope.” An excerpt from that editorial was titled: “A word to the Black man.” The editorial warned men of color: “Do not point your nose too high. Do not swell your chest too much. Do not boast too loudly. Remember, you have done nothing at all. You are just the same member of society today that you were last week.”
Pat Mahomes Sr., you must not be afraid to celebrate the “legitimate” victories of your son because simultaneously, the world defies the misdeeds of a cheater and falsely crowned champion, Tom Brady. I’ll bet all of you my last bottle of Jack Daniels that Tom Brady’s father would never rate the performance of your son above his, regardless of the numbers. Statements such as these corroborate the fact that many people of color have been browbeaten and brainwashed to the point of being terrified that an outward appearance of accepting our greatness might be misconstrued as being egotistical or arrogant. It leads me to question if Pat Mahomes Sr. has become disoriented because of the ingestion of a toxic amount of KoolAid. When Jack Johnson defeated Jim Jeffries for the boxing heavyweight championship, the acceptance and celebration of that victory resulted in the torture, maiming, and killing of many Black folks and people of color. I now offer you a word from the wise. Dump the KoolAid down the drain, because we should never be able to add enough sugar to swallow it.