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BREAKING BARRIERS

Kayla Portis becomes first Black member of Sharpsburg Borough Council Page A10

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 112 No. 11

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MARCH 17-23, 2021

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Kathy Humphrey named president of Carlow University An institution in higher education, Dr. Humphrey gets unanimous vote of approval by Carlow board

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Carlow University searched near and far for its next president, and turns out, the best candidate was literally a few blocks away.

Kathy W. Humphrey, Ph.D., was announced on March 12 by the univer-

sity as its next president, the 11th in school history, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned.

Dr. Humphrey will begin her tenure as Carlow president on July 1.

Dr. Humphrey comes to Carlow jam-packed with higher education experience, as she’s currently Senior Vice Chancellor for

Student Engagement and Secretary to the Board at the University of Pittsburgh. She also serves there as an Associate Professor of Education. Overall, Dr. Humphrey has 30 years of leadership experience in higher education.

Current Carlow PresSEE HUMPHREY A6

KATHY W. HUMPHREY, PH.D., will begin her presidency at Carlow University on July 1.

African Americans in Pittsburgh arrested six times as much as Whites in 2020 Professor, task force say need for city police reform is urgent

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Nearly 12 percent of Pittsburgh’s Black male population was arrested by Pittsburgh Police in 2020, a rate more than six times that of Pittsburgh’s White male population.

And the city’s Black fe-

RALPH BANGS, PH.D.

males were arrested more than four times as much as Pittsburgh’s White females last year.

These are just some of the findings that highlighted the latest set of reports from Ralph L. Bangs, Ph.D., former associate director of the Center on Race and Social Problems at the University of Pittsburgh, obtained exclusively by the New Pittsburgh Courier, Feb. 23.

Pittsburgh’s Black population seems to shrink with every passing year.

In 2000, U.S. Census data showed the city with 90,642 African Americans, or 27 percent. By 2010,

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the number decreased to 79,710 (26 percent). As of 2019, the number decreased further, to 69,065 (23 percent). Still, 3,883 Black males were arrested at least once in Pittsburgh in 2020, or 11.7 percent of Pittsburgh’s Black male

COURIER EXCLUSIVE population. White males greatly outnumber Black males in the city, but less than two percent of its population demographic were arrested in the city in 2020 (1,746), according to one of the reports.

Data also revealed that 1,220 Black females were arrested at least once in Pittsburgh last year, compared to 733 White females, although White fe-

males greatly outnumber Black females in town.

For decades, social scientists have documented the racial disparities that exist in the Pittsburgh region, backed up by the data. These disparities show up in everything from economics, education, and health, to youth and families and the criminal justice system. Dr. Bangs, who has been authoring research studies on race and its corresponding social problems that arise in Pittsburgh for more than 25 years, wrote in one of his latest reports, “Pittsburgh’s Deplorable Black Conditions,” that nothing much has changed since 1994, the year of one of his published reports while with Pitt.

“The overall conclusion is irrefutable: a large part SEE ARRESTS A2

QUINTIN BULLOCK, D.D.S., president of Community College of Allegheny County, was co-chair of a task force that gave the City of Pittsburgh recommendations on reforming its police force.

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African Americans in Pittsburgh arrested six times as much as Whites in 2020 ARRESTS FROM A1

of the Black population in the Pittsburgh area has had deplorable living conditions for many decades,” Dr. Bangs wrote in the report, “Blacks in the Pittsburgh area continue to be extremely disadvantaged.”

Of the 3,883 Black males in Pittsburgh that were arrested at least once in 2020, Black males ages 1929 were particularly affected, according to Dr. Bangs’ report, titled, “Black-White Disparities In Arrests In The City Of Pittsburgh.”

Almost 22 percent of Black males in this age range were arrested last year (1,574), meaning that 41 percent of all arrests of Black males in Pittsburgh in 2020 were between the ages of 19 and 29. White males in the city ages 1929 accounted for 29 percent of all White male arrests last year.

There are two primary reasons why Blacks have much higher rates of arrest than Whites in Pittsburgh and the country, according to Dr. Bangs: A much higher share of Blacks than Whites living in “extremely disadvantaged neighborhoods,” leading to higher Black crime and arrest rates, and; Blacks being arrested for drug-related offenses at much higher rates than Whites.

Last year, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto commissioned a 15-person task force to give the city recommendations on reforming the Pittsburgh Police force, “that will make Pittsburgh a safe and healthy place for all of our citizens, especially for members of our Black community,” he said.

In October 2020, the report was released. The report pulled no punches.

“Racial disparities pervade every aspect of routine police enforcement activity in Pittsburgh,” it read.

“The central data examined here, coming from the (Pittsburgh Bureau of Police) itself in its annual reports and the information the Bureau provides to the Department of Human Services, permits no other conclusion, and in most categories, these disparities are widening—that is, they are getting worse as time goes on, not better.”

Among the recommendations: Creating new and modifying existing programs to support a culture of community policing; Expanding partnerships to handle non-serious crime responses with the goal of moving as many of these responsibilities to others or through hybrid police-social service response models; Reforming hiring practices to ensure that law enforcement better reflects Pittsburgh demographics and promotes a “guardian mindset,” and; Instituting an office within the mayor’s administration to track, analyze, and present data, and use the data to inform police policy and reduce over-policing of minority communities.

Dr. Bangs’ data chart outlining Pittsburgh Police actions from 2019 was included in the task force’s October 2020 report, which revealed that Black males were “frisked during traffic stops” 9.9 times more than White males. In another category, “field search/warrantless search and seizure,” Black males were 9.2 times more likely to have it done to them

by Pittsburgh Police than White males.

“The conclusion seems inescapable: the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police’s routine activities show regular and substantial patterns of racial disparities across all of the Bureau’s measured and published dimensions.

No one tendered any explanation to the task force for these disparities,” the task force’s report read, which was obtained by the Courier. “That is not to say there are no explanations; rather, we can only say we received none. This leaves open the possibility—unrebutted at this point—that these disparities indicate the presence of discrimination based on race.”

Quintin B. Bullock, D.D.S., the president of Community College of Allegheny County, served as co-chair of the task force, told the Courier in an exclusive interview, March 1, that gathering even more data on the actions of the Pittsburgh Police is crucial, going forward. “I think we can better understand those different routines by looking at the data on

a regular, comprehensive format so that it helps to explain, make the necessary corrective actions and help address the sources of disparate outcomes,” Dr. Bullock, who is Black, said.

When higher percentages of African Americans are arrested, there becomes a higher possibility that Blacks will be charged with crimes (and convicted) at a higher rate. Studies have long shown how the disproportionate incarceration of African American males greatly impacts the Black community as a whole.

It creates, among other things, less two-income, two-parent households in Black communities, leading to a higher chance of a family living in poverty.

Last year, when the Center for Economic Development at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee released its study comparing racial inequality among the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas, it found that the Pittsburgh area was among the worst in the country for Black poverty rate (30 percent) and Black children in poverty (45 percent). Additionally, the study gave Pittsburgh low marks for Black median household income ($33,121), Blacks 25 and over with at least a fouryear college degree (20 percent), and Black youth ages 16-24 not employed and not in school (21 percent).

Dr. Bangs made it clear in his “Pittsburgh’s Deplorable Black Living Conditions” report that “massive reform of criminal justice in the Pittsburgh area is needed.” He added: “We need to end police targeting of African Americans for traffic stops, pedestrian stops, searches and arrests.

Ban all consent searches and minimize probable causes searches. End arrests for low-level offenses. Use social workers for mental health, drug addiction, homelessness and other behavioral problems.

End pretrial detention and cash bail. Reduce spending on police, jails and prisons, and other parts of the criminal justice system and invest the savings in the African American comSEE ARRESTS A3

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This Week In Black History A Courier Staple MARCH 17

1806—Norbert Rillieux, one of the earliest Black chemical engineers in America or Europe, was born on this day in 1806. The product of a wealthy French plantation owner in New Orleans and his Black mistress, Rillieux was given his freedom and sent to Paris, France, to be educated. He is best known for his invention of the “multiple evaporation process” which revolutionized the sugar and paper industries. It also saved the lives of many who had previously labored in extremely dangerous conditions. Rillieux returned to the U.S., but as conditions for free Blacks deteriorated prior to the Civil War, he went back to Paris and died there in 1894.

1999—Maurice Ashley, a Jamaican immigrant living in Brooklyn, becomes the first Black grandmaster in modern chess history.

MARCH 18

1933—The first Black woman elected mayor of a Mississippi town, Unita Blackwell, was born on this day in Lula, Miss. The former field worker with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee became mayor of Mayersville, Miss., in 1977.

1963—Singer-actress Vanessa Williams, was born on this day in Millwood, N.Y. In 1983, Williams became the first African American woman to win the title of Miss AmerVANESSA ica (Miss America WILLIAMS 1984). Williams was forced to resign a few weeks prior to the end of her reign on July 22, 1984, due to a scandal surrounding the publication of unauthorized nude photographs in Penthouse magazine. In 2015, 32 years after being crowned and during the Miss America 2016 pageant (where she was serving as head judge), Miss America CEO Sam Haskell apologized to Williams for what was said to her during the events of 1984.

1970—Actress and rapper Queen Latifah was born on this day in 1970.

MARCH 19

1620—The first Black child born in America, William Tucker, was probably born on this date in Jamestown, Va. However, some controversy surrounds the exact date. What we know for sure is that he was the son of two of the first Africans brought to America as indentured servants in August 1619—Anthony (Antonio) and Isabella. We also know he was baptized on Jan. 3, 1624. Further, there is debate as to whether his last name was actually “Tucker.” It seems that many historians simply assumed that the child was given the last name of the man on whose plantation his parents worked.

While this would later become the practice on many plantations, there is no documentation that Anthony and Isabella actually gave their son the last name of Tucker.

1919—Singer Nat King Cole is born in Montgomery, Ala. In addition to his considerable talents as a singer, Cole—the father of Natalie Cole—was the first Black American performer with his own syndicated radio program and later a network television variety show. The TV started at 15 minutes, expanded to a half-hour, but was then dropped due to lack of White advertiser support.

MARCH 20

1852—The leading Black nationalist of the 1800s Martin R. Delany publishes his manifesto entitled “The Condition, Elevation, Emigration and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States.”

Delany, who fought in the Civil War to end slavery, became frustrated with American racism and argued that Blacks were “a nation within a MARTIN R. nation” who should DELANY consider returning to their Africa homeland. Delany died in Wilberforce, Ohio, in 1885.

1852—“Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” a novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, is published in Boston and becomes a national bestseller. The novel was based in part on a real-life Maryland slave named Josiah Henson.

1883—Jan Matzeliger receives a

patent for the “shoe lasting” machine, which would revolutionize the shoe industry, significantly reduce the cost of shoes and make Lynn, Mass., the shoe-making capital of the world. Unfortunately, Matzeliger died at 37 before he was able to realize any of the enormous profits produced by his invention.

1957—Filmmaker JAN Spike Lee is born in MATZELIGER Brooklyn, N.Y.

MARCH 21

1955—Walter White dies. As head of the NAACP, White was perhaps the most prominent and powerful civil rights leader of the first half of the 20th century. The light complexioned, blue-eyed White became somewhat of a legend in 1919 when he “passed for White” in order to investigate the notorious Elaine, Ark., race riot when marauding bands of Whites killed more than WALTER WHITE 200 Blacks.

1960—The Sharpsville Massacre occurs, in then White-ruled South Africa, when police fired on Blacks protesting the country’s “pass laws,” which greatly restricted the movement of the majority African population. At least 67 demonstrators were killed and 186 injured or wounded.

SHARPSVILLE 1965—The hisMASSACRE toric Selma to Montgomery March calling for full voting rights for African Americans begins under federal protection.

Organizers, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., went to court to get confirmation of their Constitutional right to demonstrate. The court battle was won, SELMA TO MONTGOMERY and the march MARCH resumed under federal protection on March 21. Five months later President Lyndon Johnson signed the historic 1965 Voting Rights Act.

MARCH 22

1492—Alonzo Pietro sets sail with Christopher Columbus as he begins his famous journey to find a new trade route to China, but accidentally “discovers” the Americas.

Pietro was one of Columbus’ navigators. He was known as “il Negro”—The Black.

ALONZO PIETRO

MARCH 23

1916—Marcus Garvey arrives in the United States from Jamaica.

He would go on to build the largest Black nationalist and self-help organization in world history—the Universal Negro Improvement Association.

1942—Scholar and political activist Walter MARCUS GARVEY Rodney is born in Georgetown, Guyana. Rodney would become one of the leading intellectual forces behind the worldwide Black Nationalist and Pan-Africanist movements of the 1960s and ‘70s. He died in a car bombing in Guyana in 1980.

WALTER RODNEY

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MARCH 17-23, 2021 A3

African Americans arrested six times as much as Whites in Pittsburgh in 2020 Source: “Black-White Disparities In Arrests In The City Of Pittsburgh,” by Ralph Bangs, Ph.D., dated Feb. 23, 2021

Number of African American males arrested by Pittsburgh Police in 2020

Number of White males arrested by Pittsburgh Police in 2020

3,883

1,746

Number of African American females arrested by Pittsburgh Police in 2020

Number of White females arrested by Pittsburgh Police in 2020

1,220

733

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munity.”

Dr. Bangs also recommended that companies in Pittsburgh hire more African Americans for high-salary positions, create thousands of jobs for Black youth during the summer, and grant more money to Pittsburgh’s African American nonprofit organizations.

“If major changes aren’t made in 2021,” Dr. Bangs wrote in his report, “then all citizens and leaders

must ask themselves why African Americans should live here. There are many urban areas in America with better African American conditions. Why shouldn’t African American families, workers, and businesses leave? Why shouldn’t high school graduates from here find good jobs in other urban areas or go to college in areas with better post-graduation opportunities?”

OTHER KEY FINDINGS Black males were “frisked during traffic stops” 9.9 times more than White males by Pittsburgh Police in 2019.

In the category, “field search/warrantless search and seizure,” Black males were 9.2 times more likely to have it done to them by Pittsburgh Police than White males in 2019.

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Humphrey named 11th president of Carlow University HUMPHREY FROM A1

ident Suzanne K. Mellon, Ph.D., is retiring on June 30 after eight years as leader of the Catholic university nestled in Oakland. Dr. Mellon said in a release that Dr. Humphrey is the right person at the right time to lead Carlow forward. “She understands the important role Carlow plays in the Pittsburgh region and will continue to build upon this progressive, innovative institution rooted in the values of our founders,” Dr. Mellon said.

“After a robust national search, Dr. Humphrey emerged as an extraordinary leader who will propel Carlow into the future,” said Board Chair Dorothy A. Davis, J.D., in a release.

“Her dynamic vision will inspire and motivate Carlow students, faculty, and the larger university community with her coura-

geous voice, effective skills and engaged involvement.”

It was important for Carlow to select a president who has a strong allegiance to the university’s core Catholic Mercy values, especially regarding matters of social justice, equity and inclusion, according to a release. Dr. Humphrey, who is African American, has shown her commitment to equity and inclusion in a professional capacity for decades.

She came to Pitt in 2005 to serve as Vice Provost and Dean of Students, and over the past 16 years, she’s clearly left her mark.

Pitt’s Community Engagement Center in Homewood represents one of the major examples of Dr. Humphrey’s footprint.

“We knew the impact the university could have if we were willing to share our resources, share our

teaching that creates service in this community.

And we knew that this community center could possibly be another beacon in Homewood if indeed we would put the energy and the resources into making something great happen in this community,” Dr. Humphrey said in Oct. 2019, the one-year anniversary of the center’s opening, located on N. Homewood Ave. Outside of Pitt, Dr. Humphrey serves on the Board of Directors of Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, Leadership Pittsburgh Inc, Gwen’s Girls and the Blood Science Foundation. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the International Women’s Forum of Pittsburgh and is Chair of The Forbes Funds. In 2013, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation appointed

Dr. Humphrey to the Advisory Council for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, where she served four years, a release from Carlow said.

Dr. Humphrey is a past recipient of the Courier’s “Women of Excellence” award; the YWCA Tribute to Women Leadership Award; the Martin Luther King Jr. Creating A Just Community award; 2020 NABHI’s Lifetime Achievement Award; Chuck Cooper Foundation Leadership Award; 2018 Gwen’s Girls Equity Summit Honoree; 2016 Nellie Leadership Award; and the 2019 Onyx Woman Leadership Award for her contribution to the community and support of other women. She also earned the Pitt African American Alumni Council’s Sankofa Award, which honors community members who have

KATHY W. HUMPHREY, PH.D., was honored by the local organization Gwen’s Girls and The Black Girls Equity Alliance in 2018. offered outstanding education support to students.

Dr. Humphrey actually has an award named after her. The International Student Federation of Saint Louis University named the organization’s diversity award the “Kathy W. Humphrey Award for Diversity.” Dr. Humphrey served in many senior positions at Saint Louis University, including Vice President of Student Development and Associate Vice Provost and Director of Housing and Student Life.

Dr. Humphrey earned a Bachelor of Science at the University of Central Missouri, a Master of Arts at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a doctorate in educational leadership at Saint Louis University. Dr. Humphrey has also held positions at the University of Central Missouri and the University of Missouri.

Dr. Humphrey is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh, in the Hill District.

“I think Carlow is fortunate to have found such

an exceptional leader who will inspire and motivate our Carlow students, faculty, and larger community with her courageous voice, effective skills and engaged involvement in support of our Mercy mission of service,” Davis, the university’s board chair, added about Dr. Humphrey.

“She will ensure our legacy of academic excellence, particularly in the health sciences, while maintaining our foundation in the liberal arts, and providing a pipeline of exceptional graduates to the work force.”

“I am elated and honored to have been asked to lead an institution so committed to providing transformational learning opportunities for its students,” said Dr. Humphrey in a release.

“Carlow’s commitment to ensuring its students are career-ready and prepared to lead a merciful and just world is an inspiration, and that mission is among the primary reasons I chose to work in higher education.”

“I am elated and honored to have been asked to lead an institution so committed to providing transformational learning opportunities for its students. Carlow’s commitment to ensuring its students are career-ready and prepared to lead a merciful and just world is an inspiration, and that mission is among the primary reasons I chose to work in higher education.”

KATHY W. HUMPHREY, PH.D.

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RELIGION/METRO

MARCH 17-23, 2021

Praise & Worship

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Classic Events! presents its 10th annual

ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH

MOUNT ARARAT COMMUNITY CENTER

91 Crawford Street Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141

FEB. 27, 2021

Sunday Mass 10:30 A.M. www.sbtmparishpgh.com

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 Worship Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church Journey Worship...........8:45 a.m.

Sanctuary Worship...........11 a.m.

Taize -Wednesdays.........7 p.m.

Curious about Quakerism?

You Are Welcome at our Meetings for Worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Pittsburgh Friends Meeting 4836 Ellsworth Avenue www.quaker.org/pghpamm/

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

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For rate information, call 412-4818302, ext. 128. We want to feature positive youth from our Pittsburgh church community. Please mail their bio and photo to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or email us: religion@newpittsburghcourier. com

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The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast.”

-Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV REV. WALKER SAYS: This gift cannot be earned; we receive Eternal Life by accepting Jesus as our Savior knowing Jesus paid the cost for us with His Life.

(Rev. A. Marie Walker is servant pastor of St. John Baptist Church in Wilmerding.)

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Black History Celebration Heritage Dinner

MOTHER REVEREND BEASLEY doing the opening prayer.

K. CHASE PATTERSON, RALPH P. WATSON

MARIMBA MILLIONES

THE FUNKY FLY PROJECT BAND

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BREAKING BARRIERS Kayla Portis becomes first Black member of Sharpsburg Borough Council

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

In the estimation of Sharpsburg Borough Councilmember Joe Simbari, a longtime Sharpsburg resident named Anita Schaming was the “quintessential, absolute best candidate” to be appointed a Sharpsburg Councilmember.

“Not only is she a resident but a business owner, and she’s right in the heart of some of the decisions we’re going to be making about parking and traffic in the upper end of Main Street in Sharpsburg,” Councilman Simbari said of Schaming, who is White, during the borough’s monthly council meeting in February.

Then came the vote— Councilman Simbari voted in favor of Schaming. So did felllow Councilmembers Jonathan Jaso and Karen Pilarski-Pastor.

But then, out of nowhere came a fierce curveball that even Satchel Paige and Sandy Koufax would have been proud of.

Councilmembers Brittany Reno, Brad Truman and Adrianne Laing voted no to the motion of appointing Schaming for the vacant

council seat.

It was a 3-3 tie.

Sharpsburg Mayor Matthew Rudzki, Esq., had the tiebreaking vote. “We have three great candidates, but I think one candidate outshined all of the other candidates and has been an integral part of the community, so I’m voting no at this time,” he said.

Which candidate was Mayor Rudzki speaking of, who had outshined all the other candidates, if it wasn’t Schaming?

Meet Kayla Portis.

“Her leadership around organizing people and bringing people into the process has impressed me not just tonight...but for years at this point,” echoed Councilwoman Reno of Portis. “She’s been on the front lines of engaging people and helping them get involved and advocating for changes they want to see.”

Councilwoman Reno, who also is the council president, added: “As a borough, I don’t believe we’ve ever had a person of color on council and I think it’s beyond time for that to happen. I think we’re fortunate because Kayla happens to be the best-suited candi-

KAYLA PORTIS date for this position...I’m very excited about Kayla and what she brings to our table.”

And with that, Councilwoman Reno made a motion to appoint Portis to the council.

This time, all the Councilmembers voted yes, 6-0.

Moments later, during the council meeting, Portis was sworn-in, making her the first African American Councilmember of the borough of Sharpsburg, the small, tightly-knit town of 3,500 that sits just off the Highland Park Bridge, neighboring Etna. She will serve for the remainder of 2021, and will also run for the council seat in May’s Primary Election. A win for Portis in May basically assures her a four-year term beginning in 2022.

Portis, 35, has deep roots in Sharpsburg. Born and raised in the borough, she told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview, March 15, that “all my life, I’ve helped people.

My mother, she’s a social worker, I’m a health care worker...I just felt like I was born to do it.”

Portis is a fourth-generation Sharpsburg resident.

She knows the stories of her grandparents, Charles and Barbara Smith, who experienced discrimination as they raised their own children in Sharpsburg. Decades ago, Charles Smith wanted to become commander of the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) in Sharpsburg (Post 709), “but was told that he should go to a colored post,” Portis recalled. She said her grandfather replied: “Why should I go to a colored post? I live here.”

Charles Smith eventually

became the first Black commander of the VFW Post 709, and is a lifetime member of the Post 709. Charles Smith died in 2000.

Barbara Smith, who graduated from the old Sharpsburg High School in 1948, maintained an active presence in the Sharpsburg community up until her death in 2019. Her mural is emblazoned on the outside of the Linden Gym, on Clay Street, in Sharpsburg.

So why did it take so long for Sharpsburg to have a Black borough councilmember? Portis believes that African American residents in the past didn’t feel like their voices were being heard by fellow residents and borough officials.

Thus, there was no reason to run for a council seat.

Portis, though, said that for her, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Portis and Mayor Rutzki co-emceed a Black Lives Matter rally last June in O’Hara Township Community Park. From there, the idea of making a run for political office started to form. Portis then became president of the Fox Chapel Area Residents for Social Justice. Mix that with her titles as current vice president of the Kerr Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization and former treasurer of the borough’s Baseball/Softball Association, and Portis seemingly was on a one-way route to a seat on the borough council.

“I have a lot of respect for Kayla, I have a lot of respect for what she’s trying to accomplish.

Her heart is definitely in the right place,” Mayor Rutzki told the Courier in an exclusive interview, March 15.

“Kayla has been an incredible advocate for both racial justice issues, which are hugely important in our community and beyond, and for other issues of equity,” added Coun-

cilwoman Reno, in a statement to the Courier, March 12. “...Kayla has been an incredible advocate for both racial justice issues, which are hugely important in our community and beyond.”

Prior to the council’s appointment of Portis, she told the Councilmembers that her goal was to “build a better Sharpsburg, economically and socially, as far as businesses and our residents.”

Portis also told Councilmembers she wanted to see more “equity within our borough,” in the form of “diverse housing options and employment opportunities. I would like to see diversity in our police department, wheelchair-accessible playgrounds,” and improvements to Sharpsburg’s parks. Portis told the Courier she can’t ever remember seeing an African American on Sharpsburg’s police force.

Portis also said she was concerned about the borough’s air quality, the parking issues on its narrow streets, and of course, the flooding problem.

When Portis was visiting her parents after her freshman year of college, she said the flooding was so bad in their home, that “my mother and I were trapped.

We had to be rescued. The house was submerged in eight feet of water. Being a flood victim is such a traumatic experience, especially when it’s experienced multiple times. I definitely aspire to continue to work together to make this community an even better place to live,” she said.

Portis is a 2003 Fox Chapel Area High School graduate. She earned a B.S. in Liberal Studies from Clarion University in 2008.

Portis told the Courier that for years, she’s been helping people in Sharpsburg, in more of a “behind-the-scenes” role. But these days, she’s breaking barriers, looking to effect change in a public-facing, governmental role.

“It just brings me so much joy,” Portis said, reflecting on her status as the first African American Councilmember in Sharpsburg, which is about 8 percent Black. “I never realized how many people looked up to me until now. It feels so good to be able to actually make a difference.”

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PREPARING FOR A FINANCIAL EMERGENCY 5 tips for building (or rebuilding) your emergency savings (Family Features)—The new year provides an opportunity to re-evaluate different aspects of your life, and that includes your budget and savings habits. Planning for emergencies by building—or rebuilding if the COVID-19 pandemic required making a withdrawal—a savings account to withstand the unforeseen can increase confidence in your overall financial health and reduce worry that a significant life event will negatively impact your finances.

“Our research shows having emergency savings is the foundation for long-term financial health,” said Chandni Ohri, program lead in savings and financial health with BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative. “The start of a new year is a good time to make a savings plan, which can consist of putting a little bit of money away regularly.”

Even before the pandemic began, 4 out of 10 Americans had a hard time finding even $400 to cover an emergency, according to a report from the United States Federal Reserve. However, if you don’t think you have money to save, consider the majority of people who were able to save for an emergency for the first time in 2020 earned less than$60,000, according to research from BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative, a group of nonprofit experts, corporate partners, and providers. Changes in spending due to the pandemic plus government stimulus packages helped many individuals create much-needed cash buffers.

Consider these tips to build your emergency savings account and create a buffer of cash for when emergency strikes.

Start a Savings Habit While it’s less important to have a specific dollar amount in mind, getting into the habit of putting some money in savings with each paycheck can help protect you should an emergency arise. While one good rule of thumb is to set aside enough to cover roughly six weeks of living expenses—housing, food, transportation—take a look at what it would cost to cover unexpected issues with your car, a trip to the hospital, a leak in your home or the replacement of a major appliance and start there.

Even a small amount, such as $50 in your savings account when it’s the day before payday and you’re running on fumes, can save you from an overdraft fee, having to resort to using a credit card, borrowing from a loved one or taking out a loan. However, research from the AARP Public Policy Institute found having a cash buffer of approximately $2,500 can help prevent financial hardship over the longer term. If you lose your job, for example, your emergency account could help pay for necessities while you find a new position, or the funds could supplement any unemployment benefits you may receive.

Automate Your Savings Because an emergency can strike at any time, it’s important to have easy access to your funds. However, the account should also be separate from your checking account so you’re not tempted to dip into your reserves. Pick a free savings account with no minimum balance requirements and link it to your everyday account to quickly move money over if you need it.

Look for ways you can automatically save

such as enabling roundups from your checking account to be transferred to your savings with each purchase or having your employer split your paycheck and automatically deposit a portion into savings each payday.

If you’re planning to stash funds away for months or years that can serve as both an emergency fund and long-term savings, consider a high-yield savings account.

Look for Ways to Cut Back While you may have already made changes to your spending habits amid the pandemic, periodically shopping for competitive rates of recurring bills, such as cable and internet, cell phones insurance policies and other utilities, can be a simple way to save some money each month. Start by asking your current providers about any special rates and promotions that may be available to loyal customers then check with alternative providers to see if they can provide the same or better offerings at a reduced cost. Sometimes returning to your current provider with a more competitive rate from elsewhere can be extra incentive to work out a deal to keep a longtime customer.

Also look at any subscription services you use, or potentially don’t but still pay for, and see if they offer a cheaper plan that still meets your needs or if you’re able to cancel subscriptions you no longer use frequently.

Other expenses such as dining out or buying new clothing and accessories could also be scaled back if you find you’re splurging too much. Avoid completely cutting spending for leisure activities from your budget but look for reasonable tweaks that can allow you to set more money aside for unforeseen expenses.

Take Advantage of One-Time Opportunities to Save Assuming you expect to receive a tax refund, this provides an easy way to boost your emergency fund if circumstances allow you to save all or a portion of the return. If you’re able, consider having your refund directly deposited in your emergency account.

The same strategies can be applied to any government aid checks you may receive, such as a second round of stimulus money that could be distributed to eligible citizens in 2021 to help reinvigorate the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

There may also be other times throughout the year when you receive one or more cash gifts, like your birthday or holidays, that can help provide a nice cushion to your emergency fund if you can avoid the temptation to spend it.

Replenish What You Use Remember to review and adjust your savings plan as needed, whether you’re able to contribute over a longer period of time without dipping into the account or if an expensive life event pops up that requires using all or a portion of the funds.

Should you need to dip into the savings, do your best to make replenishing the account to a level you’re comfortable with a primary goal in case any additional unexpected expenses arise. Alternatively, if your saving is going well, consider increasing the amount you’re saving each paycheck so you’re better protected against any major life changes or able to finance a large-scale purchase down the road.

Find more information and tips for building your savings at savingsproject.org.

Think before you Ink! In the world of business we often say the deal was “inked” when expressing that a contract was signed and executed. The various documents we sign for leases, credit cards, loans, partnerships, agents, employment, and in marriage are binding contractual documents. In regards to loans, we pledge that we are willing and able to pay back the loan.

Oftentimes we pledge collateral to secure the loan in the event we default on payments.

I have talked about living below your means with a purpose and using credit only when absolutely necessary in various articles. For many, the concept of living below your means creates images of people who dress in unfashionable clothing, drive beatup hoopties and live in humble housing. In actuality, people who live below their means understand how to manage the money they make. They are intentional. They are proactive. They prioritize their goals. They are living their life in the moment while at the same time, planning and preparing for their future. They understand that the decisions they make today have long-term consequences. They “Think before they Ink.” They comprehend before they spend.

Before signing short-term or long-term credit obligations, they evaluate whether or not the newly created bill interferes with the big picture. They want to know if this new obligation will restrict their ability to obtain and do other things they enjoy having and doing. For example: A young couple may ask themselves, if I were to purchase this second car making payments of $525 per month for five years, would it interfere with our plans of having a child in two years? Can we afford

this car note and cover the expenses that our new child will create? They begin to prioritize. Should we postpone having the baby or purchase a more affordable car? From there a decision is made.

In my view, living below your means is about taking control of your finances and understanding what you can and cannot afford.

It forces you to think outside the box and find other ways to enjoy the luxuries of life. Depending on the priority of certain items, many people who live below their means drive fancy cars, live in nice homes, take extravagant vacations and wear designer clothes.

I have several friends who practice living below their means and use credit only when absolutely necessary. For the sake of anonymity I will create names for them.

People often wonder how “Skinny Penny” is able to take two extravagant vacations per year, wear fine jewelry and designer clothes.

People think that she is making tons of money. What they fail to realize is Skinny Penny is a young lady who “Thinks before she Inks.”

Skinny Penny knows that she likes to travel and wear nice clothing. Therefore when she bought her first home, she bought a four-unit property. She occupies one of the units. The rent payment from the other units covers the mortgage and creates extra income for her.

Before she purchased her home she paid her

car off in full. Therefore she has no car payment, her tenants pay her mortgage, and she has a surplus from the rental income. The average car payment is $400 per month and the average rent payment is $700 per month.

Payments that she doesn’t have. That’s like getting a raise in her income for a total of an extra $1,100 per month. She didn’t stop there. She took out a 15-year mortgage and she makes extra payments on her mortgage to pay it off early.

Imagine that, a fourunit property fully occupied with no mortgage payments. Cha-ching.

NICE!!

Another friend of mine, “Nickel-less,” recently purchased a Lexus. This car has all the toys, leather interior, banging stereo system, blue-tooth, built-in navigation system and more. It even came with a First Aid kit, clothed in a Lexus pouch. She also helps out her elderly aunt and uncle with money for their necessities. People think she makes tons of money. What they fail to realize is Nickel-less “Thinks before she Inks.”

Nickel-less accepted a modest apartment in comparison to what she can afford. It freed up money for her to save for a down payment on her home. Her goal is to put 20 percent down. Nickel-less purchased a 3-year-old Lexus. The original owner took the bait and paid the invoice price for the brand new car.

Nickel-less waited for the car to depreciate 40-60 percent. The car looks new with only

30,000 miles at the time of purchase. She negotiated the price to an acceptable level.

She put a decent amount down. She ended up with a three-year car note that she plans to pay off early. Automobiles can drive you to the poor house! Especially when you take out car loans longer than three years. Nickel-less was smart. She understood that car loans longer than three years would create a negative equity position, better known in the car business as upside down. She plans to drive this car until the wheels fall off. Her goal is to keep the car for 10 years minimum.

That’s seven years with no car payment!

Just think, with no car payment, she should be able to save up and pay cash for her next car. That’s what I call a whip!!

I have another friend who purchased a home far less than what the bank approved him for so that his wife who is a registered nurse can stay home and raise the children.

I have another friend who told me that she does not have any high-priced designer bags in her closets. In her next breath, she tells me she has a retirement portfolio worth $60,000.

She is only 31. I personally was able to create a business with a dollar and a dream—no grant money and no loans. I made sacrifices in other areas of my life in order to do so. I may not have grown as fast as I would like but having no debt on my business ensures that I will have longevity in this business.

In closing, “Think before you Ink.” “Comprehend before you spend.” The cost of daily living is too expensive to do otherwise.

(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached @ 412216-1013 or visit his website @ www.damonmoneycoach.com)

New Pittsburgh Courier

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MARCH 17-23, 2021

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS LIAISON Port Authority is seeking a Government Affairs Liaison to represent Port Authority’s interests at the federal, state, and local levels of government to support legislative actions, policies and programs for public transportation.

Essential Functions: •Serves as primary liaison between the Authority and elected officials and their staff for constituent issues relative to Port Authority and public transportation, engaging other Port Authority divisions and departments as necessary, working closely with the Chief Communications Officer, and using organizational data and messaging.

•Monitors, reports, and analyzes proposed legislation and government activities for the purpose of advising the Authority on matters relevant to the Authority and public transportation.

•Coordinates and directs Authority-contracted government relations consultants.

•Conducts and develops analyses, reports and recommendations on relevant matters as needed and for the purpose of informing, advising and guiding Authority management.

Job requirements include: •Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school.

•Minimum of four years of experience with local, state or federal government.

•Effective and professional communication skills.

•Demonstrated ability to work effectively with elected officials.

•Effective interpersonal skills.

•Effective oral and written communication skills.

•Demonstrated project and time management skills.

•Valid PA driver’s license.

Preferred attributes: •Master’s Degree in public policy, communications, law or similar area from an accredited institution.

•Direct experience working with Federal, State and/or Local legislative bodies.

•Transit experience.

DEPUTY CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER - MAINTENANCE Port Authority is seeking a Deputy Chief Operations Officer – Maintenance to be responsible for the Authority’s bus and rail vehicle maintenance and staff. Oversees and implements bus and rail preventative maintenance policies, procedures, and performance standards, and programs to ensure safe and efficient operations of bus and rail fleet.

Essential Functions: •In collaboration with the COO-M participates in the development of the vision and direction for long and short-range maintenance operations of all Port Authority services.

•Participates in the development and oversees the implementation and management of a comprehensive maintenance program for the preventive and corrective repair of all bus, and rail vehicles. Develops and measures key operating performance indicators (KPI’s) for areas of responsibility.

•Participates in the development and oversees the implementation of procedures and policies related to effective maintenance operations.

Develops and monitors performance standards. Evaluates works methods and operations, division policies, procedures, and services to determine effectiveness. Review statistical data reports relating to performance indicators.

Job requirements include: •High School Diploma or GED. •BA/BS degree in Transportation Management, Business & Public Administration, Engineering or related field. Education may be substituted for education on a yearfor-year basis.

•Ten (10) years of progressively responsible diversified experience in all facets of bus maintenance operations, including considerable experience in inspection, maintenance and repair of bus, rail or related vehicular fleet.

•Five (5) supervisory experience.

•Knowledge of safety, state and FTA regulations and quality assurance functions as it relates to bus, rail a n d n o n -re v enue vehi cl e maintenance operations.

•Knowledge of development and oversight of capital and operating budgets.

•Knowledge of development and oversight of technical training programs and curriculum.

•Knowledge of union policies and procedures with the ability to effectively and equitable deal with labor relations problems.

•Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with those encountered in the course of work.

•Must possess a valid driver’s license and safe driving record.

•Familiarity with federal, state, local laws and regulations related to areas of responsibility.

•Must be available during an emergency or disaster and as such, maybe be asked to work during these emergencies or disasters.

Preferred attributes: •Master’s degree in Automotive, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Business Administration or related field.

•Transit/Transportation experience.

•Experience in a union environment.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Danielle Jacobson Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 DJacobson@portauthority.org EOE PRODUCT DESIGNER/ APPLICATION SOFTWARE DESIGNER, INTERNATIONAL GROWTH Duolingo, Inc. has multiple openings for Product Designer/Application Software Designer, International Growth in Pittsburgh, PA. Duties include: Brainstorm, collaborate, & share designs w/other designers & product team members to develop innovative & human-centered mocks, interfaces, & apps.; Implement product design & work with product mgrs. to develop mocks & usability studies to determine product tradeoffs; Analyze product metrics to develop short/long term strategy; Design functional interfaces for applications & software to shape user exp.; Apply user research, feedback, user data metrics, & interaction design principles to improve existing designs; Develop application software features by investigating user needs & contributing to team product strategies from human-centered design perspective.

Requirements: Master’s degree in H u m a n - C o m p u t e r Interaction or related field. Must have knowledge of following: (1) Web design or application design; (2) User Experience design; (3) Interactive protot ypes; (4) Principle or Adobe After Effects or other time-based media or animation tool; & (5) Sketch or Adobe Illustrator.

Email resume to jobs@duolingo. com with Job No. ProdDsgrIG2021 & title “Product Designer/Application Software Designer, IG” in subject line.

POLICE OFFICERS, FULL-TIME & HOUSEKEEPING POSITIONS OPEN Pittsburgh Technical College is seeking qualified applicants for the following positions: • Police Officers, Must have Act 120 & 235 (available for all shifts) • Housekeeping (available for all shifts) Must pass criminal background check. Immediate opening at our North Fayette campus near Robinson Towne Center. Apply to www.ptcollege.edu (Employment with PTC) or www.workforptcollege.com .

EOE M/F

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Robyn Taylor Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 RTaylor@portauthority.org EOE SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org Deadline 4:00 PM March 18, 2021 EOE

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Port Authority is seeking a Chief Strategy Officer to work with the CEO charting the agency’s course for the next 25 years. This includes long range financial and capital planning across various funding scenarios; support for over 20 years of fleet and facility plans; stewardship of asset management policies; responsive, dynamic, and inclusive financial policies to include communityand project-focused procurement and investment; strategic planning; and ensuring that the agency’s outlooks builds and boost equity as an employer, business partner, and transit agency.

This division includes Finance, Procurement/Purchasing, Strategic Planning, and Project Management.

Essential Functions: •With the CEO, C-Suite, community partners, and the Board of Directors develops the agency’s long-range plans to include financial, service, and capital projections, to steer the growth of excellent, equitable transportation in Allegheny County.

•Develops, monitors, and sustains strategies and policies pertaining to review, adjustment, and implementation of short- and long-term plans.

Addresses strategic issues and establish direction for areas such as Procurement.

•Adjusts those strategic plans to meet unexpected situations, new developments, and changes in the business environment; prepares for emergencies; anticipates events; understand the factors and conditions affecting the organization and responds appropriately to ensure strategic, capital, and fiscal responsibility.

•Plans and implements investment opportunities and financial strategies to improve Port Authority’s financial stability and cash position. Establishes and effectively maintains strategic relationships with local, state, and federal agencies, investment bankers, credit analysts, commercial bankers, and other members of the financial community.

Job requirements include: •Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.

•Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible accounting or finance experience that includes five (5) years of experience in the administration of complex financial departments or projects in a large public or private organization.

Demonstrated success in strategic planning and execution.

•Minimum of five (5) years supervisory experience.

•Effective and professional communication skills.

•Valid PA driver’s license.

•Availability for overnight traveling.

•Ability to coordinate various complex work assignments on short notice.

•Ability to function in a rapidly changing work environment.

•Ability to interpret, analyze and create complex federal and state funding formulas.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, and Microsoft Word and Excel. Proficient in the use of enterprise-wide Financial Programs.

Preferred attributes: •MBA •CPA •Familiarity with transit or transportation system activities and functions is highly desirable.

MANAGER OF PROJECT CONTROLS AND ASSET PLANNING Port Authority is seeking a Manager of Project Controls and Asset Planning to manage and coordinate the project control and project planning activities of the Planning and Development Division.

Performs a full range of program management and control functions for projects of various scope, size, complexity; manages the development and implementation of cost and scheduling tools and methods for establishing, measuring, monitoring, controlling, and reporting progress and performance of capital projects; manages the Transit Asset Management program, serves as technical advisor to assigned project managers related to project controls systems and procedures to help achieve on-time and on-budget goals.

Essential Functions: •Manages project controls and support activities with regard to administration and management of capital and operating budgets including the supervision of the Budget/Project Controls Analysts. Manages activities related to the budgeting, accounting, tracking, reporting and verification of all costs associated with division operating and capital budgets, i.e. variances, professional service contracts, construction/ procurement contracts, force account activities.

•Leads team in performing liaison activities related to grant applications, requests of funding, project controls and audits by internal and external groups.

•Responsible for the administration and procedures required to effectively monitor design work, procurement activities, contracts, and project budgets for the division. Assists project managers in planning, programming, budgeting, scheduling, reviewing and reporting of activities for capital projects.

Job requirements include: •BS Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Engineering or related field.

•Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in project controls, asset management, accounting, or budget administration of projects.

•Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory/management experience.

•Professional and effective communication skills.

•Excellent interpersonal skills.

•Valid PA driver’s license.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows suite of products, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Preferred attributes: •Direct experience in Asset Management.

•PMP Certification.

MATERIAL CONTROLS SPECIALIST Port Authority is seeking a Material Controls Specialist to research and expedite the ordering of bus parts and materials especially those which are unavailable within the general marketplace from qualified vendors. Ensure the availability of parts and materials to support Port Authority’s bus operations. Coordinate the testing of new or replacement parts and materials with Operations and the Fleet Coordination Section to determine the reliability and compatibility with existing bus systems and equipment.

Essential Functions: •Approves the stocking of new items including establishing stock levels, creation and assignment of new stock numbers and entry into the computerized inventory system.

Recommends the deletion of stock numbers and the removal of obsolete material.

•Interchanges original equipment manufacturer’s and vendors’ part numbers to eliminate multiple stocking of identical parts.

•Searches for qualified vendors committed to meet parts/material needs of Port Authority; maintains vendor communications for problem resolution.

•Assist Fleet maintenance personnel in identifying stock items needed for bus maintenance.

Job requirements include: •High School Diploma or GED. •Associates Degree in Business or Technical/Vocational Certification in automotive/diesel repair. Fleet Maintenance experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

•Ability to read/interpret technical drawings and manuals, understand technical terminology for engines, transmissions, electrical components and systems, and the use of measuring practices and devices.

•Minimum of three (3) years experience in Materials control/Inventory, Fleet Maintenance or Automotive/ Diesel Repair •Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Microsoft Word, and Excel.

•Valid Driver’s License.

•Customer focused, well organized, results oriented and a team player with a participative management style.

•Demonstrated Ability to work with little supervision.

Effective and professional communications skills.

Preferred attributes: •Minimum of five (5) years experience in Materials Control/Inventory, Fleet Maintenance or Automotive/ Diesel Repair.

•Experience with PeopleSoft or other ERP systems.

•Automotive, truck or bus parts inventory experience.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Amy Giammanco Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 AGiammanco@portauthority.org EOE

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: K&A Attn: Gregg Moser 7101 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 1210 Bethesda, MD 20814 gmoser@kapartners.com 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: Deborah Slocum Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 DSlocum@portauthority.org EOE

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted

PRODUCT DESIGN ENGINEER, INTERNATIONAL GROWTH/ APPLICATION SOFTWARE DESIGNER Duolingo, Inc. has multiple openings for Product Design Engineer, International Growth/Application Software Designer in Pittsburgh, PA. Duties include: Develop application software features by investigating user needs & contribute to team product strategies by applying a user-centered approach; Develop functional interfaces for applications & software to enhance user exp.; Build innovative & relevant information architecture & interaction patterns that center on user exp. from conception until launch; Generate & review ideas for product changes that improve key product metrics; Identify, develop, &/or employ adequate data structures, algorithms, & software design patterns to prototype product initiatives; Monitor key metrics for unexpected effects on usage patterns & anomalies; Collaborate & work cross-functionally to understand the interplay of roles & responsibilities that take software product through a full life cycle.

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field.

Must have knowledge of following: (1) Text processing algorithms; (2) Interface design; (3) Computational vision; (4) Software architecture; (5) Operating systems; (6) I/O architectures; & (7) Programming languages, including Java, C, & C++. Email resume to jobs@duolingo.com with Job No. PDEIntlGrow2021 & title “Product Design Engineer, IG/ Application Software Designer” in subject line.

CONTROLLER Catalyst Connection, an established, economic development organization focused on improving the performance of local manufacturers, is seeking a Controller to join our accounting team that supports our compliance with federal and other government contracting requirements. Your primary responsibilities will be to direct and coordinate the accounting and subrecipient monitoring functions of Catalyst Connection. This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer.

Your background must demonstrate a successful track record of government contract compliance, accurate accounting and reporting experience, experience in building electronic processes and systems to support accounting and reporting, and experience in communicating effectively at all levels. This position will support managing grant initiatives & accounting reporting including: •Develop, analyze, and interpret statistical and accounting information to report on performance and the operating soundness and effectiveness of the organization.

Perform closing functions including data entry, reconciliations, and review accuracy of recording.

•Proficiency in Accounting and Project Management Software.

•Conduct compliance activities with government contracts, manage reporting on government portals, research and plan government contract requirements and implement systems for compliance, monitoring, and reporting. Conduct subrecipient monitoring in accordance with Uniform Guidance and company policy.

•Coordinate audit and tax functions •Propose internal control and process improvements, including new software and internet tools and provide education for meeting government compliance.

•Work in a collaborative team environment to meet deliverables and deadlines of grantors.

The ideal candidate will possess a CPA with 6+ years’ experience managing the financial function of a complex multi-grant, multi-discipline business environment, experience in a federal contracts environment (federal uniform guidance).

Include résumé, cover letter, accounting systems experience, and salary requirement to: careers@catalystconnection.org EOE

LEGAL ADVERTISING Change of Name

CHANGE OF NAME

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD 21-1368; In re:Petition of William Edward Burgess III, for change of name to William Burgess Applegate. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed for April 26, 2021 at 9:30am, as the time and the Motions Room, City County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, and the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for. Max Feldman, Esquire, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108, 412-262-6181

LEGAL ADVERTISING Fictitious Name

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the provisions of the Fictitious Names Act of Pennsylvania that an application for Registration of a FICTITIOUS NAME (was) filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the conduct of a business under the fictitious name of WAYWARD SAILOR FILMS with its principal office or place of business at 913 INDUSTRY ST. PITTSBURGH, PA 15210. The names and addresses, including street and number, if any, of all persons who are parties to the registration are: JOHN POPE LLC, 913 INDUSTRY ST. PITTSBURGH, PA 15210

MARCH 17-23, 2021

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LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of GLENN E. COLE, SR. A/K/A GLENN E. COLE., Deceased of Scott Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-21-01637, Executor: Bonnie Handerhan, 22 Forsythe Road Presto, PA 15412, or to Robin L. Rarie, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of SCHOR, MARY ALICE A/K/A SCHOR MARY A. A/K/A SCHOR MARY, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, Estate No. 01338 of 2021, Executrix: Trisha L. Tolmer, 2129 Pococen Drive, Coraopolis, PA 15108, or to Thomas J. Dempsey, Esq. Jones, Gregg, Creehan & Gerace 411 7th Avenue, Suite 1200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Estate of STEWART JOAN, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, Estate No. 0071 of 2021, Executor: Michael J. Stewart 792 Bower Hill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15243 or to Lloyd A. Welling, Esq. American Wills & Estates, 2100 Wharton Street, Suite 302, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 Estate of MOGUSH, WILLIAM A. A/K/A MOGUSH, WILLIAM, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA, Estate No. 05807 of 2021, Administratrix: Doris Folco, 3512 McElroy Drive, Murrysville, PA 15668 or to Lloyd A. Welling, Esq. American Wills & Estates, 2100 Wharton Street, Suite 302, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 Estate of MICHAEL LEE MCKIERNAN, Deceased of Bethel Park, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-21-01480, Timothy Lee McKiernan, Executor, 1005 Harrison Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15234 or to Aubrey H. Glover, A t t y ; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Wa s h i n g t o n Av e n u e B r i d g e v i l l e , PA 1 5 0 1 7 Estate of D.GRACE WYATT, Deceased of Pittsburgh,PA, Estate No. 0682 of 2021, McKinley Lancaster III, Executor, 2806 Kipling Avenue, N.W., Massillon, OH 44646 or to Thelma C. Spells, Esquire, Atty; 1533 Bidwell Street, Pittburgh, PA 15233 Estate of NELSON LOPINTO, Deceased of South Fayette Township,Allegheny County Pennsylvania, Estate No. 02-21-01298, Mary Jo Cannon, Executor, 1803 Atkisson Road Joppa, MD 21085 or to Robin L. Rarie, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue Bridgeville, PA 15017

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR MOBILITY COUNSELING RFP#250-11-21 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Mobility Counseling The documents will be available no later than March 15, 2021 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 9:00 AM on April 6, 2021. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on April 6, 2021 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Proposals may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. uestions or inquires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on March 29, 2021 at 10:00 AM. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 934 2874 6216 Passcode: 454585 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS…THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MARCH 15, 2021 The Office of the County Controller of Allegheny County, Room 104, Court House, Pittsburgh, PA., will receive separate and sealed Bids until 11:00 A.M. prevailing local time, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, and a representative of the Department of Public Works will open and read the Proposals in the Conference Room 1, Court House, Pittsburgh, PA., one-half hour later, 11:30 A.M., for the following: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 2021B CAPITAL BRIDGE REPAIR CONTRACT VARIOUS BRIDGES WITHIN VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES COUNTY PROJECT NO. AA00-2021B As a prospective bidder please note the following general Project information regarding Pre Bid Information, Bidding Requirements, and Contract Conditions. See the Project Manual for detailed information, responsibilities and instructions.

PRE-BID INFORMATION: View the Proposal, Specifications and Drawings at the Office of the Contract Manager, Room 504, County Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA. The non-refundable charge for the Proposal and a disc containing the Specifications and Drawings is $107.00 including sales tax. The Contract Manager will accept only check or money order to the “COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY” in that amount and WILL NOT ACCEPT CASH OR EXTEND CREDIT. Prospective bidders may request to have bid documents mailed. An additional fee of $16.05 including tax, for handling costs for each requested proposal must be paid in advance. The fee must be received at the Office of the Contract Manager prior to the mailing of any documents.

Interested bidders planning to purchase bid documents or attend the public bid opening are advised to follow Self-Monitoring and Social Distancing guidelines when entering the Allegheny County Courthouse or County Office Building. Interested bidders should also be aware that when entering either the Allegheny County Courthouse or County Office Building, a face mask meeting the guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, must be worn at all times.

BIDDING REQUIREMENTS: The County requires prequalification 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. 1, Effective October 2, 2020 on this project.

Submit Proposal on the supplied form in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders and Specifications; include the following documents with the Bid Form, ALONG WITH ONE COMPLETE PHOTOCOPIED SET OF THE 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 , County Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

•Bidder Certification of Pre- ualification, 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 informality 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 engineering and technical questions related to construction of the project, contact Rich Connors, Division Manager, at 412-350-6671. For bidding and contract related questions, contact the Contract Department at 412-350-5924.

Project completion is to occur by September 22, 2023.

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.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR PROFESSIONAL ADA/UFAS THIRD PARTY CERTIFICATION SERVICES RFP#750-14-21 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Professional ADA/UFAS Third Party Certification Services The documents will be available no later than March 15, 2021 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 9:00 AM on April 6, 2021. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on April 6, 2021 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. uestions or inquires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on March 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 917 8650 0599 Passcode: 652550 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

Chelsa Wagner Controller County of Allegheny

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To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129

America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Classifieds 412-481-8302

E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com Deadline/Closing/ Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

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B4

CLASSIFIEDS

MARCH 17-23, 2021

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

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ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY LETTERS-OF-INTEREST FOR PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES MARCH 17, 2021 Letters-of-Interest (LOI) with current Form SF330, for professional architectural services, will be received through the platform Submittable at www.acaacapitalprograms.submittable.com. The Letter of Interest (LOI) must be uploaded to Submittable by 12:00 PM (Noon) on April 23, 2021 (late submissions will not be accepted), for the following: Professional Architectural Services: The ACAA will typically utilize a professional architectural firm on the projects listed below at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and Allegheny County Airport (AGC) which requires architectural services. Specific responsibilities will include all aspects of design required for new construction, rehabilitation, repairs, remodeling, maintenance, and permitting of mechanical, electrical, structural, plumbing, fire protection, roof replacements, and other architectural related projects for the ACAA. Architectural firms will be required to provide, but not limited to, design, geotechnical investigations, surveying, permitting, preparation of bidding documents, construction administration, construction cost estimating, value engineering, and maintain all records as required by the FAA, Findlay, Moon, and/or West Mif in Townships, the ACAA, or other entities as required.

1.Building Rehabilitation, Repair, Remodeling, and Replacement Work may consist of, but not be limited to, miscellaneous mechanical, electrical, or structural repairs; rehabilitation, remodeling or historical restoration; roof replacement, brick work, plumbing, fire protection, painting, flooring, finishes, and signage on the Landside and Airside Buildings, and other miscellaneous buildings, as required.

2.Lease Building and Hangar Improvements Work may consist of miscellaneous improvements to several of the airport’s leased facilities that are in need of upgrades, repairs, rehabilitation, remodeling, historical restoration, or reconfigured due to age or reuse requirements of the facility.

If interested in providing any of the aforementioned services, architectural firms are required to submit a Letter-of-Interest (LOI) and current Form SF330. The ACAA encourages responses from small, minority, and women owned firms, as well as firms that have not previously worked for the ACAA. The ACAA will use Form SF330 to evaluate and prequalify firms to be part of a highly qualified short-list, which will then be requested to submit comprehensive proposals. Comprehensive proposals will include the following at a minimum: Project understanding, project experience, project team identification, organization chart and resumes; approach to major tasks such as scope and schedule management, techniques for cost control, approach to capital cost estimating, scope creep and change order management, and identification of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Firms with description and quantity of work they will perform to meet or exceed FAA and ACAA DBE requirements, which is currently 14%. Note: Do not include company brochures and limit the LOI to no more than three typewritten pages (8.5” x 11”, 11 pt. font) in addition to Standard Form 330. A link to obtain SF330 can be found by going to the following website: Standard Form (SF330) https://www.gsa.gov/Forms/TrackForm/32994 Submissions will be received in PDF format as one complete file only through the platform Submittable at www.acaacapitalprograms.submittable.com. Do NOT mail, email, or deliver hard copies as they will be considered rejected and will be returned to the respondent unopened. Please note that Submittable does not support Internet Explorer . Submittable recommends the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari.

Submissions should be made to: Mr. eff Bezek, P.E. Director, Engineering Allegheny County Airport Authority Pittsburgh International Airport Landside Terminal, 4th Floor Mezz.

PO Box Pittsburgh, PA uestions should be directed to Mr. eff Bezek, P.E. at 412-472-3852 or email to jbe ek@ ypittsburgh.com Final professional architect selections (following short-listing, proposal evaluation, and interviews) will be based on, but not limited to, the following criteria: Staff qualifications, experience and local office bench strength; demonstrated interest in the projects; organization, clarity, cohesiveness, quality and completeness of both the written proposal and oral presentation; sensitivity to ACAA requirements and project constraints; indicated ability to manage projects, produce required results, meeting project schedule and controlling costs; demonstrated knowledge of FAA, local, and ACAA applicable standards and requirements; capital cost estimating expertise, value engineering, construction procedures and scheduling methods; monitoring DBE goals, mentoring DBE firms, impacts to airport operations and other areas of professional architecture.

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 21-02 Port Authority of Allegheny County (Authority) is requesting proposals for the performance of the following service (“Contract Services”): PROPERTY AND CASUALTY RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES Authority is requesting proposals to provide consulting services to support Authority’s property and casualty risk management programs (Contract Services), including, but not limited to: the design and marketing of operational insurance coverages, evaluation of insurance proposals, placement of insurance coverages, advising on insurance requirements for Authority and Authority’s contractors and vendors, and will support the Authority’s ongoing risk management activities continuously throughout the term of the Agreement. All Contract Services will be authorized by Work Orders negotiated by Authority and the selected proposer (Contractor) and approved to proceed by Authority. The Agreement will be for an initial period of three (3) years, with the option to extend up to two (2) additional years at Authority’s sole discretion.

A copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be available on or after March 8, 2021 and can be obtained by registering at the Port Authority ebusiness website: http://ebusiness.portauthority.org and following the directions listed on the website. Please note that Proposers must register under the ebusiness category(ies) of PROFESSIONAL – Professional Services and PSIRM – Pro Insurance/OCIP/Risk Mgmt for this RFP. Proposers may also register in other categories for any future RFPs issued by Port Authority.

If you have specific questions regarding this RFP, please contact Fred Buckner at (412) 566-5467 or via email fbuckner@portauthority.org.

An Information Meeting for interested parties will be held at 9:30 a.m., prevailing time, March 25, 2021 via Microsoft Teams video conference and/or conference call to answer any questions regarding this RFP. To join by Microsoft Team video conference: • http://bit.ly/3kj5XHg To join by Microsoft Teams call-in number: • +1 412-927-0245, 641948284# United States, Pittsburgh (Toll) • Conference ID: 641 948 284# Electronic proposals must be both received, and time stamped by a representative of the Purchasing and Materials Management Department through Authority’s Ebusiness website at or before 2:00 p.m., prevailing time, April 9, 2021, at http://ebusiness.portauthority.org. Proposals received or time stamped by a Purchasing and Materials Management Department representative through Authority’s Ebusiness website after the advertised time for the submission of proposals shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligible for award. Each Proposer shall be solely responsible for assuring that its proposal is timely received and time stamped in accordance with the requirements herein.

This Contract Services may be funded, in part, by, and subject to certain requirements of, the County of Allegheny and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The proposal process and the performance of the requested services will be in accordance with guidelines and regulations of the FTA “Third Party Contracting Guidelines”, FTA Circular 4220.1F, as amended, and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Port Authority of Allegheny County, in compliance with 49 C.F.R., Part 26, as amended, implements positive affirmative action procedures to ensure that all Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (“DBEs”) have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts financed, in whole or in part, with federal funds, if any, provided under or for the proposed Agreement. In this regard, all recipients or contractors shall take all necessary and reasonable steps in accordance with 49 C.F.R., Part 26, to ensure that DBEs have the maximum opportunity to compete for, and perform contracts and subcontracts for, the Contract Services.

Port Authority of Allegheny County, in compliance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, as may be amended, also requires that certified Diverse Businesses, (“DBs”) have the maximum opportunity to compete for, and perform contracts and subcontract for, the Contract Services. In this regard, all Proposers, and the Contractor, shall make good faith efforts, in accordance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, to ensure that DBs have the maximum opportunity to compete for, and perform contracts and subcontracts for, the Contract Services.

Further, proposers and the Contractor shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, sex, sexual origin, gender identity or status as a parent in the award and performance of contracts or subcontracts for these Contract Services Port Authority of Allegheny County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA The Office of the County Controller of Allegheny County, Room , Court House, Pittsburgh, PA, will receive separate and sealed Bids on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00PM and FROM 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. prevailing local time, Wednesday, April 7, 2021, and a representative of the Department of Public Works will open and read the Bids in the Conference Room 1, County Court House, Pittsburgh, PA, one half hour later, 11:30 o’clock A.M., for the following: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 2021 CAPITAL ROADS RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM VARIOUS ROADWAYS VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES COUNTY PROJECT No. 7A00-2101 As a prospective bidder please note the following general Project information regarding: Pre Bid Information, Bidding Requirements, and Contract Conditions. See the Project Manual for detailed information, responsibilities and instructions.

PRE BID INFORMATION: Purchase and/or view the Project Manual and Drawings at the Office of the Contract Manager, Room , County Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA. The non refundable charge for the Proposal and a disk containing the Specifications and Drawings is $107.00 including sales tax. The Contract Manager will accept only check or money order to the “COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY” in that amount and WILL NOT ACCEPT CASH OR EXTEND CREDIT. Prospective bidders may request to have bid documents mailed. An additional fee of $16.05 including tax, for handling costs for each requested proposal must be paid in advance. The fee must be received at the Office of the Contract Manager prior to the mailing of any documents.

Interested bidders planning to purchase bid documents or attend the public bid opening are advised to follow Self-Monitoring and Social Distancing guidelines when entering the Allegheny County Courthouse or County Office Building. Interested bidders should also be aware that when entering either the Allegheny County Courthouse or County Office Building, a face mask meeting the guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, must be worn at all times.

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. 1, Effective October 2, 2020 on this project.

Submit Proposal on the supplied form in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders and Specifications; include the following documents with the Bid Form, ALONG WITH ONE COMPLETE PHOTOCOPIED SET OF THE 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 , County Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA .

•Bidder Certification of Pre- ualification, Classification and Work Capacity •List of Subcontractors •Statement of Joint Venture Participation •MBE And WBE Goals Attainment Certification (ONLY NECESSARY IF YOU CANNOT MEET THE SPECIFIED MBE AND WBE GOALS.) •MBE/WBE Subcontractor and Supplier Commitment and Solicitation Sheets •Work Sheet Required Amount Performed By Contractor (Non-Federal Projects) 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 informality 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.

The anticipated notice to proceed is May 10, 2021. The project completion date is October 31, 2021.

The County of Allegheny 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 in response to this advertisement and the County will not discriminate against minority and women business enterprises 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 and women business enterprises [MBE/WBE] procedures set forth in the project manual/contract documents.

For contracting questions contact the Contracts Division, at 412-350-5924.

For technical questions contact Ron Sander, P.E., Project Manager, at 412-350-5585.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR AUTHORITY-WIDE REPROGRAPHIC SCANNING SERVICES RFP #600-17-21 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Authority-Wide Reprographic Scanning Services The documents will be available no later than March 15, 2021 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 9:00 A.M. on April 6, 2021. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on April 6, 2021 in the lobby of Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA .

Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site; the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at Ross Street nd Floor, Suite , Pittsburgh, PA .

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Doing Business section of www.hacp.org.

Questions or inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department Ross Street nd Floor, Suite Pittsburgh, PA A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on March 29, 2021 at 09:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 929 6612 5810 Passcode: 450987 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section of the Rehabilitation Act of , the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

Chelsa Wagner Controller County of Allegheny ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1741 The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is soliciting Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1741 FURNISH AND DELIVER HYDROCHLORIC ACID. Bids will be received until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at the office of the Authority, Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA . The Bids will then be publicly opened and read.

ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Proposals or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to the successful bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority or women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all Bids, to waive any informality in any Bid and to accept any Bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so. Bid Security in the amount $1,000.00 is required with each Bid submitted.

The Successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a Performance Bond in the amount of $10,000.00.

Documents pertaining to the submission of Bids are available at the Engineering Office of the Authority, Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA . Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed to Benjamin .

Heilman, Contract Supervisor at ( ) or Benjamin.Heilman@alcosan.org.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Benjamin J. Heilman Contract Supervisor

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BOROUGH OF HOMESTEAD PENSION FUND INVESTMENT MANAGER PITTSBURGH, PA The Borough of Homestead, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is inviting firms to submit a proposal for investment management for its pension investment funds.

Responding firms must have at least $100 million in assets under management, firm or Principal must have 10 years in institutional asset management experience and firm must advise a minimum of 10 defined benefit plans, 6 of which must be Pennsylvania governmental defined benefit plans. The Borough prefers client composite GIPs verified results.

Copies of the RFP, including information relating to submitting a proposal and specific requirements are available from the Borough of Homestead at information@homesteadborough. com or 412-461-1340. Proposals (one (1) original and 9 copies and two (2) electronic versions), must be received at the Borough of Homestead, East th Avenue, Homestead, PA no later than March 31, 2021, 4:00 p.m. Any contact for additional information should be made to the above listed email.

The Borough reserves the right to request additional information from any and all respondents, to waive any defect or abnormality, to award or not award all or any portion of the work described herein, to issue modifications to the RFP or otherwise to move forward in the best interest of the Borough.

VANESSA MCCARTHY-JOHNSON, BOROUGH MANAGER

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The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140 E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and

cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

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OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

MARCH 17-23, 2021

B5

Rescue

Guest Editorial

Urge senators to pass voting rights bill In the wake of Donald Trump’s repeated false claims of a stolen 2020 election, Republican-controlled statehouses across the country have imposed new restrictions on voting.

Spurred on by lies by Trump and his allies, state lawmakers across the U.S. have filed more than 200 bills in 43 states that would limit ballot access, according to a tally kept by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.

In response to this assault on voting rights, House Democrats passed sweeping voting legislation over unanimous Republican opposition on March 3.

The bill advancing to the Senate would be the largest overhaul of the U.S. election law in at least a generation.

House Resolution 1, the For the People Act of 2021, would restrict partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, strike down hurdles to voting and bring transparency to a questionable campaign finance system that allows wealthy donors to anonymously bankroll political causes.

The bill is an urgently needed counter to voting rights restrictions advanced by Republicans. Yet it faces an uncertain fate in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it has little chance of passing without changes to procedural rules that currently allow Republicans to block it.

This bill “will put a stop at the voter suppression that we’re seeing debated right now,” said Rep. Nikema Williams, who represents the Georgia district that deceased voting rights champion John Lewis held for years. “This bill is the ‘Good Trouble’ he fought for his entire life.”

In a statement, Biden said he looked forward to refining the measure and hoped to sign it into law, calling it “landmark legislation” that is much needed “to repair and strengthen our democracy.”

Instead of working to win the hearts and minds of potential voters, Republicans have focused on eliminating rules and policies that result in higher turnout, most notably among minorities.

The measure has taken on added urgency in the wake of Trump’s false claims, which incited the deadly storming of the U.S. Capitol in January.

Republicans have taken several actions to restrict voting.

For example, in Iowa, the legislature voted to cut absentee and in-person early voting, while preventing local election officials from setting up additional locations to make early voting easier. In Georgia, the House voted for legislation requiring identification to vote by mail that would also allow counties to cancel early in-person voting on Sundays, when many Black voters cast ballots after church.

On March 2, the Supreme Court appeared ready to uphold voting restrictions in Arizona, which could make it harder to challenge state election laws in the future.

Some Republicans are blunt about their intentions. When asked why proponents sought to uphold the Arizona laws, which limit who can turn in absentee ballots and enable ballots to be thrown out if they are cast in the wrong precinct, a lawyer for the state’s Republican Party was stunningly clear.

“Because it puts us at a competitive disadvantage relative to Democrats,” said attorney Michael Carvin. “Politics is a zero-sum game.”

Republicans “are not even being coy about it.

They are saying the ‘quiet parts’ out loud,” said Tiffany Muller, the president of End Citizens United, a group that aims to curtail the influence of corporate money in politics. Her organization has launched a $10 million effort supporting the House bill. “For them, this isn’t about protecting our democracy or protecting our elections. This is about pure partisan political gain.”

Voters must urge lawmakers to pass legislation removing new restrictions on voting.

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)

Founded 1910

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—I know there are some who remember the film shorts called “Cliffhangers.” They were serial shorts designed to lure viewers back into theaters for each weekly episode. These serials had common characters: a hero, a heroine, the hero’s loyal sidekick, a villain, minions to the villain, and a seemingly impossible challenge(s) the hero must overcome. Facing the ongoing challenge, the hero would experience episodic, insurmountable doom, surely leading to death. The episode would end leaving the viewer to wonder how the hero would get out of the fix he was in—the Cliffhanger.

Entertaining and suspenseful, in retrospect, these Cliffhangers were sexist, misogynistic, racist, and contained an inaccurate multitude of cultural stereotypes. Those attributes were consistent with the then contemporary standards of filmmaking. One could argue that a change to those standards has only occurred within the past few years, but that’s a discussion for another time.

Passage of the COVID Rescue bill and its subsequent signing into law

by President Biden was reminiscent of one of those old Cliffhangers. As I made that mental comparison, I realized there were lessons to be learned from the genre. Similarly disposed characters exist in the legislative process and the weekly serial.

In this instance, the financial rescue of millions of Americans could be considered the impossible challenge. Because they live “where the rubber meets the road” and are most

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary dramatically impacted by the COVID disaster, 70 percent of Americans who were polled favored its enactment. Although long-overdue and insufficient in direct support to most citizens, it is as welcomed as a sip of water to someone stuck in Death Valley. Few will benefit from all elements of the new law, but it is certain that those who do will breathe a temporary sigh of relief.

If divided by the 365 days of the declared pandemic, the total $3200 awarded to a single adult in both COVID disbursements yields roughly $8.80 per day. This amount is less than anemic, but long-awaited nonetheless. In addition, the plan includes unemployment aid, tax credit expansions, mortgage/rent relief, eviction moratoria, funds to facilitate school openings, vaccine distribution funds and state and local government relief, among a range of other provisions. This was a weighty challenge for our hero.

Our hero is imbodied by both President Biden and VP Harris. The loyal sidekick is embodied by the Democratic members of the House and Senate. If you’re following my

analogy, you know that the villain and his minions are embodied by McConnell, McCarthy, and republicans in the Senate and House. Analogies generally oversimplify, but, in this case, I doubt it.

Rather than being dismissive of the analogy, how else can we characterize legislators like McConnell, Graham, Cruz, Hawley, Rubio, McCarthy, Scalise, Greene, and the 250+ republicans in both houses who cared so little for the American public that they unanimously voted against this “Rescue Legislation.”

They have shown that their lust for power and allegiance to the trump/ republican line exceeds their commitment to the people they serve. They have distorted the legislative process into a serve the rich and winner take all competition. In the midst of a viral pandemic, an economy in meltdown, and a social/cultural disruption unlike any in the history of this country or the world, republicans who are constitutionally bound to the provide and protect the general welfare have abrogated their responsibility. Their actions contradict their words. They claim loyalty to the American people yet allow immeasurable suffering through their benign neglect.

We have come to the end of one episode and, again, the hero still prevails. How long can he succeed? We must remember this episode and that, in the future, our votes can eliminate the number of villains our hero must face.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the National Congress of Black Women.)

Fight for women of color who fight for us (TriceEdneyWire.com)—President Joe Biden has nominated extraordinary women of color to high-level jobs in the Biden-Harris administration. Many of them are being attacked and smeared by the far right.

That’s why People For the American Way has launched the #HerFightOurFight campaign.

We cannot let far-right forces silence and smear these trailblazing women who are eager to advance the progressive values that Americans voted for when we put Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House.

Our first ad tells the story of Vanita Gupta, who has been nominated for associate attorney general.

Gupta was a young civil rights lawyer in her first job after law school when she heard about a gross injustice in the small town of Tulia, Texas. Almost 40 people—nearly all of them Black—had been wrongly arrested, convicted by all-White juries, and jailed on bogus drug charges. It was a big percentage of the Black community in that town.

It was devastating to the individuals and their families. And they saw little chance to get justice.

But then Gupta, who was working for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, took up their cause. She exposed the injustice and won their freedom.

She even got them pardons from a Republican governor.

Gupta has been fighting for equal justice ever since. She led the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division for part of the Obama administration. And for the last few years she

Ben Jealous

Commentary has led the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

But right-wing groups are running a more than million-dollar ad campaign to smear her. And unprincipled politicians like Ted Cruz are attacking her over her civil rights work in the Obama administration.

Our #HerFightOurFight ad is narrated by Shirley Sherrod, a former government official who lived through a dishonest smear campaign that twisted and distorted her words to try to destroy her career.

She sees the same thing happening to Gupta and other brilliant women of color, and she’s speaking out.

It is important to defend women like Vanita Gupta who are being unfairly attacked. But this campaign is about more than these specific women. It is about all of us.

These women are ready to make change happen—the change we voted for. They represent the kind of inclusive multiracial and multiethnic society we are building together—and the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to building one of the most diverse governing teams in our nation’s history.

I am sad to say it is not surprising that many of Biden’s nominees are being attacked by people who see that vision of our future as a threat.

It is not surprising that the descendants of the Jim Crow south whose power is threatened by people of color turning out to vote are passing new laws to try to stop us. It is not surprising to see racism and sexism used as a political weapon.

We know that progress is often met with backlash. Our long march toward justice has sometimes been beaten back temporarily—on the blood-stained Edmund Pettus Bridge, in courtrooms where whiteness trumped justice, in state legislatures where the Constitution’s promise of equal justice was repeatedly betrayed, and in the U.S. Senate, where the filibuster was used to delay passage of civil rights laws.

Time and again, we have overcome, often led by courageous Black women and other women of color whose leadership was frequently overlooked and overshadowed.

Today, we fight for Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke, a brilliant Black woman nominated to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and other brilliant women who are ready to help President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris fight for a country that comes closer to meeting our ideals of freedom, equality, justice, and opportunity for all. #HerFightOurFight.

(Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation.)

Poll: Majority of Blacks want COVID vaccine (TriceEdneyWire.com)—“They’ve read all this stuff online, from different news sources, which is confusing.

But then they meet me, as someone who has had the shot, and I can give them some real answers.”— Armando Mateos of Working Partnerships USA, a Silicon Valley-based community organization working to help dispel misinformation about the pandemic and vaccines A strong majority of Black and Americans are confident in the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine and are ready to take it, according to a new poll commissioned by the National Urban League and The Alliance of National Psychological Associations for Racial and Ethnic Equity.

These findings run counter to a “blame-the-victim” media narrative that pins the appalling racial disparity in vaccination rates on Black hesitancy to take the vaccine.

Only 14 percent of Black Americans polled said they “definitely” would not get the vaccine, and 15 percent said they “probably” would not. Yet the Black share of the vaccinated population is lower than the Black general population in every state that has reported demographic data. According to an analysis by The New York Times, the Black vaccination rate is half the White rate.

Access, not hesitancy, is the reason for this disparity, as U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, psychologist and professor

Marc Morial

Commentary Cheryl Grills and I discussed in an op-ed published this week in the Washington Post.

Among those who are hesitant, however, information is key: Overall, more than a fifth of Blacks said they have heard, seen or read something that made them less likely to take the vaccine. Among those who said they definitely or probably would not take the vaccine, 55 percent had consumed negative information about it.

Negative information about the vaccine mostly centered on safety concerns, side effects, and skepticism about how quickly the vaccine was developed and approved.

This corresponds with recent reporting that Black and Hispanic communities are confronting vaccine conspiracy theories, rumors and misleading news reports on social media. YouTube revealed this week it has taken down more than 30,000 videos that made misleading or false claims about COVID-19 vaccines over the last six months.

Our poll found that concerns about the safety of the vaccine, are the primary barrier among Blacks who don’t intend to vaccinate. Of that group, nearly 60 percent agreed that “the vaccine is too new, I want to wait and see how it works for others.” More than a third agreed that “I am worried that people of color are being used as test subjects.”

Our challenge, then, is to employ trusted messengers such as public health professionals, community leaders and friends and neighbors to address those concerns attesting to the vaccine’s safety. I was proud to join a group of trusted clergy in my own community who received the vaccine publicly in an effort to build trust.

These efforts are working. Hairstylist Katrina Randolph is part of the Health In-Reach and Research Initiative—or HAIR—a network of barbershops and beauty salons working with the Maryland Center for Health Equity at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

“At first, 75 percent of my clients were saying, ‘I’m not going to get the vaccination.’ But as we had these conversations and I told them things that I was being educated about, they began to do research and then they felt more comfortable with the vaccination,” Randolph said. “Now I hear from 90 percent of my clients, ‘I can’t wait to get vaccinated.’”

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MARCH 17-23, 2021

They don’t want our Souls at polls (TriceEdneyWire.com)—The Souls to the Polls movement encourages African American church attendees to get out and vote. The churches that promote this movement cannot, because of their 501-c-3 status, endorse candidates. They can, however, emphasize the gospel of social and economic justice and preach the gospel of civic participation.

People heard the message and got to vote in 2020 and Georgia, 2021.

When Rev. Raphael Warnock decided to challenge appointed Senator Kelly Loeffler, he galvanized people to support him. So in the past few months, the Georgia legislature has crafted a bill to attack how churches, civic organizations, and others get the vote out.

The Georgia legislation seems primarily focused on the ways civic organizations got voters to the polls. They want to eliminate drop boxes, restrict voter hours, and even limit absentee voting to disabled or prove they are out of town. They have surgically gone into the voter turnout playbook and attacked it step by step.

We aren’t surprised. Our nation’s so-called “law and order” crew have always attempted to suppress the Black vote with absurd conditions for participation. I’ll never forget my great-aunt, Annie Mae Randall, learning the Latin passages she needed to translate to

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary qualify to vote. Latin in 1960s Mississippi? The idiots who imposed this requirement perhaps could not read or write English, much less Latin. Proof?

My mom’s race on her birth certificate is “collard” as in the greens, not “colored” as she was designated. Educated-deprived White people could only assert their “superiority” by putting Black people in our place.

It is not especially startling, then, that not a single House Republican voted for the For the People Act, also known as HR 1. It is more confusing than Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson (D) voted against the legislation. He had his reasons, which hold no water with me, but he had his reasons. Thompson was a cosponsor of HR1, but he flipped “in the interests of his constituents.” Is he attempting to curry favor with White Mississippi voters, or is this a vote on principle?

Here is the tension. Republicans keep talking about “voter integrity,” while Democrats and activists (not always the same thing) highlight voter suppression. The incidence of “voter fraud” is a hundredth of a percentage point, but Republicans refuse to acknowledge their voter suppression acts. Thus there are more than 200 actions in 43 states that will keep people from the polls. They don’t want our souls at the polls.

However, our voter activity has always been blocked by the conservative forces that want to limit the right to vote. They offer a “reasonable” argument. Many hit the airwaves speaking of “voter integrity” and limiting voting opportunities is “reasonable.”

These Republicans are exploiting the racist, predatory capitalist origins of this nation. While our founders talked about democracy and one person, one vote, but they excluded those who did not have property from the vote. They excluded women, Black folks, and others from the vote. From my perspective, the most enduring evidence of elitism is the way the United States Senate has evolved. Initially, the governor or legislative body appointed Senators, usually of their race and class. Then, the Senatorial formula is intrinsically unequal. Why should population-dense California have the same voice as Vermont, New Hampshire, and Montana in Senate votes?

This was never meant to be a democracy. It was designed to preserve the interests of capitalist oligarchs.

The ruling class has protected their interests by giving Senators a six-year term. Their missteps are likely to be forgotten before their terms are over.

Our former president, who should only be known as “former,” encouraged Republicans in their intransigence.

The Capitol insurrection of January 6 was an attempt for the unholy alliance between the wealthy Republican elites and the people they have been able to incite.

The Georgia legislation suggests that some don’t want our souls at the polls.

The Republican opposition to HR1 suggests the same thing. But Black folks have learned Latin, counted jelly beans in a jar, stood in line for hours, and managed oppression. We brought the souls to the polls in 2020, and we will do it again in 2022. Nobody is “sud’in” Republican oppression.

(Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist and author. www.juliannemalveaux.com.)

FORUM

Reply to a reader concerning historical myths and White slaves A reader—initials “GJ”— The equivalent J. Pharoah Doss responded to a column I of White slaves wrote last month. I stated is seen in the the first Black historians prison system. glorified African history to There are White give Black people dignity, prisoners, but but Afrocentric scholarship what you all in the 1980s created myths. don’t see is the Then I highlighted two placement of Black historians who wrote them. In the about Black slave owners federal system, and White slaves. most are in minimum-security camps, Here’s most of the letter with my replies. no violence, no rape. The majority in low GJ: I understand you’re playing devil’s security are charged with sex crimes against advocate in “check it out.” But, as you noted, children. Most Black men in federal prison many works published were in response to are charged with non-violent drug charges works degrading us. And each was written and are sent to high and medium security based on the time we were facing. In the prison where violence and rape is prevalent.

‘80s, we were at our lowest in a long time JPD: Since I mentioned Black slave with the introduction of crack and depletion owners and White slaves, it sounds like you of morals. In this drastic time, you stated think I’m implying the historical horror was our historians created “mythologies.” They balanced. I never compared the treatment of were directing the response to us because we Black and White slaves. Your prison analogy were our own enemy and were lost. … If you would have been a perfect rebuttal if I had. watch the documentary, “Egypt on the PotoIn the column, I stated that history that inmac” and read the book of the same, we see stills dignity will always be important, but it things taken from Africa … Greek scholars can’t dominate the discourse because other admit what they learned and gained from lessons of history, which are just as vital, African nations. won’t get learned. I had a young person JPD: When you say “our historians” tell me White slavery was a myth because you’re combining two concepts I distinguish Europeans had a law that Whites could not —African Centered Education and Afrocenenslave other Whites. That conversation led tric Scholarship. The former was a response to my column. to the “drastic times” you described and my GJ: So, the ‘80s were roughly 40 years ago. “mythology” comment was directed at the In 40 years how will people speak on prison latter. You said Greek scholars admitted reform? Slavery was roughly 150 years ago, they learned from Africa—if that’s the case, and you think “in fairness” we haven’t come to grips with the legacy of slavery, either. In then the information the Greeks retained 150 years will our historians say the crimdoesn’t fit the definition of stolen. Therefore, inal justice system was unjust, as much to the Afrocentric claim that Western Civilization is Africa’s “stolen legacy” is a myth. But, Whites, as well?

JPD: You said I think “we” haven’t come to my understanding, you’re not refuting the to grips with the legacy of slavery. I wasn’t Afrocentric myth, you’re justifying its utility. generalizing. I said activists who claim I’m reminded of the philosopher that said: “America hasn’t come to grips with the Religion is a noble lie to prevent mankind legacy of slavery” haven’t come to grips with from nihilism. Your version would go: it, either. My point was Black people don’t Afrocentricity is a noble lie to prevent Black self-destruction. There’s one problem. Those have a monopoly on historical injustice.

Slavery has ravaged humanity from antiqthat find utility in noble lies are normally uity to present-day Africa. Now, will “our” ashamed of the facts. future historians say the criminal justice GJ: To your point of Black slave owners system was unjust to Whites like it was for and White slaves, true, it’s a fact. But the Blacks? bigger agenda was what happened to us No. and how laws were always made to keep us, But will future Afrocentric myths claim you and I, from freedom and in second-class prison reform was stolen from Egypt? status; Black codes, pig laws, redlining…

Check It Out

Chauvin had many willing accomplices in Floyd slaying The instant the video prosecuted for their flashed globally of former multiple acts of terEarl Ofari Hutchinson Minneapolis police officer ror under the color Derek Chauvin choking of law. A follow-up George Floyd to death the report two years president of the national later found that Fraternal Order of Ponearly all of these lice, Patrick Yoes, issued “problem officers” an indignant statement were still on the job. condemning Chauvin’s act.

Now nearly thirty Yoes loudly insisted that years later we come Chauvin’s action in no way to Chauvin, and a represents what good cops near rerun of how routinely do day in day out. Yoes expressed bad cops stay in uniform with the tacit comdeep concern that Chauvin’s brutal act plicity of higher ups. Chauvin had nearly would further diminish how the public 20 complaints of abuse, beatings, shootings, viewed police officer’s conduct. Yoes was and reckless car chases. The complaints praised for his forthright condemnation of spanned a decade on the Minneapolis police Chauvin. force. Successive Minneapolis mayors, police But a year earlier in April 2019 Yoes sung chiefs, members of the police commission, a far different tune in an interview with and Hennepin County prosecutors, including NPR. The issue this time was the firing by for a time U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, read the New York’s police commissioner of officer the file on Chauvin, scrutinized the reports, Daniel Pantaleo. Pantaleo was the officer examined the complaints, and investigated caught on a video choking Eric Garner on his trail of violence. Yet, they did nothing. the ground on a New York sidewalk. There Their inaction was a tacit, if not open, stamp was a choke, a shout from Garner “I can’t of approval of his violent acts. breathe”, officers piling on Garner, a crowd The officers who worked with Chauvin and a video that captured the death agony of almost certainly were not blind to his Garner. This was an eerie, almost identical actions. In that fateful moment Floyd lay repeat of what happened to Floyd years lathelplessly on the ground fighting for his life er. Yet, Yoes this time was in full combative with Chauvin’s knee slowing choking the life mode. He bristled at the firing of Pantaleo out of him, other officers either stood around and repeatedly claimed that his action did doing nothing to assist Floyd, or worse, piled not violate any standard of conduct especial- on Floyd to subdue a man that was already ly when it came to the use of deadly force. laying helplessly on the ground near death.

The union vehemently opposed any attempt Four Minneapolis officers will be prosecuted to prosecute Pantaleo for wanton use of as accessories, but the FOP did not utter a deadly force. word of condemnation of their inaction.

Yoe’s defense of Pantaleo in a case that In the months since the Floyd killing, was a virtual precursor to Chauvin’s choke stacks of police reform measures have been of Floyd was not simply a case of selective introduced in state legislatures including the memory or a union top cat defending one Minnesota legislature. The measures deal in of his own. It tells much why Chauvin was one way or another with the use of force and caught with his knee on Floyd’s neck on that punishment of officers who overuse deadly fateful day and why many other officers force. The measures have been killed outsuch as Chauvin who have repeatedly been right or gutted of their toughest prohibitions caught overusing deadly force are vigorously on punishment. In every case, police unions defended when they do. such as the FOP have massaged, cajoled, Let’s go back nearly three decades on and hectored state legislators to kill or water cops such as Chauvin and their defenders. down the measures.

In 1991, the Christopher Commission was When a Chauvin obliterates the line on charged with investigating the causes of the use of force and then remains on the the riots that rocked the nation after the force to continue to obliterate that line, the acquittal of the four LAPD cops that beat inevitable happens. In his case, it was the Black motorist Rodney King. In a blistering hideous murder of a Floyd. Then the wrath report it identified hundreds of officers who of the nation slams down on Chauvin and had been the targets of citizen complaints Chauvin alone. Police and city officials and of excessive force, in nearly all cases against prosecutors quickly scramble and issue Blacks and Latinos. pious, self-serving statements about their Some of the officers had six complaints or shock, the horror of it. They promise swift more against them for using improper tacaction. Nothing is said, though, about their tics in dealing with suspects. It tactfully larole in creating the hideous pieces that made beled them “potential problem officers.” The a Chauvin. officers were accused of beating suspects, Chauvin will face that wrath alone. But kicking them and, in some cases, shooting the truth is that he had many willing accomthem. Not one of the officers was fired. Not plices who deserve that wrath too.

(Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political one of the officers received anything more analyst.) than hand slap disciplinary punishment.

And, most importantly, not one of them was

Commentary

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Glenn Ellis

Commentary COVID-19 vaccines and how we’ll get there (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Even though the speed of the COVID -19 vaccination campaign has improved somewhat lately, there are still millions and millions more doses yet to be administered if we are to ever get past COVID-19.

According to the CDC The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only 37.1 million people, out of 328 million in this country, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; including about 13.1 million people who have been fully vaccinated. The 48.9 million doses administered, nationally to date, represent only 11 percent of the total population. As you can see, we’ve got a long way to go to get to herd immunity.

What is this herd immunity, and why is it important? Well, measles is a good example. Measles is a highly contagious infectious, viral disease for which we have very effective vaccines. If 93-95 percent of the population is immune to measles, with the available vaccine, then that will protect the entire population. That’s herd immunity.

The COVID-19 vaccines are designed to offer the same public health protection. That’s why folks are so anxious for as many of us to get the vaccine as possible.

Sure, of course you’re going to get individual protection for yourself with a vaccine; but you gotta understand that you are never safe from infection as long as the virus is circulating. Viruses, especially this particular coronavirus, have only two purposes: to survive and to replicate. Nothing else matters. However, there is only one requirement; they must have a host to “conduct” their business. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, we’re the host. All that being said, if they have no host, they don’t live. So now you see why herd immunity is so important to this whole fight to stop COVID. Vaccines cause the immune system to develop little soldiers (antibodies) that will be on guard, prepared to attack and destroy the COIVD-19 virus if it ever shows its’ ugly face anywhere inside your body. Without the antibodies, the odds of the virus winning the battle of getting inside your body and infecting you are greatly increased.

With the vaccine, those odds are diminished; in the case of Pfizer and Moderna, as much as 95 percent.

Public health experts have estimated that herd immunity would require around 80-90 percdent of the population to have COVID-19 immunity, either through prior infection or vaccination. This means that it’s going to take a combination of those of us who have been already infected with COIVD-19 (having formed antibodies) and those who receive the vaccine. If the two groups make up 80-90 percent of the population, then the entire population would be protected.

This is because the protection from the antibodies has cut off any opportunity for the virus to find a “host”. No host, no survival or replication for the virus. It truly dies a natural death. There’s no two ways about it, unless, and /or until, the virus tires or “burns” itself out, herd immunity is the only light at the end of the tunnel that’s not a train coming.

Many of us are only stuck on making their decision on getting a vaccine on the confusion around the number of vaccines available. Based on the best estimates from the available data, more than 60 vaccines are still going through a three-stage clinical trial. We already have several currently available, including Pfizer; Moderna; Astra-Zeneca; Johnson & Johnson, among others. The Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines require two shots. After the initial vaccine dose, a second shot is given 3 to 4 weeks later.

You need both COVID-19 vaccine doses to reach full immunity; the level of protection increases dramatically (from 52 percent to 95 percent) after the second shot. Researchers are also unclear whether the lower level of immunity from just one shot would last long. Bottom line…all vaccines work by exposing the human body to substances that trigger an immune response, creating protection from future infection.

Regardless of which vaccine you get, you won’t get the full protection until two weeks after your second or final dose. That’s about how long it takes your immune system to mount an antibody response to the vaccine.

Oh, a word for those who think getting a vaccination is a ticket to freedom from “COVID-19 jail”.

Whether you’re vaccinated or not, your life won’t change right now. To protect the people around you, it is important to continue the same safety precautions such as mask-wearing and avoiding gatherings for a little while longer. While we know that the vaccines are expected to be great at protecting the person who received them from getting COVID-19, we don’t know how good they are at preventing that person from contracting and passing the virus. The vaccine is a really important tool, but it’s just one of a combination of tools needed to control and end the pandemic.

A final note to those 5-20 percent of you who will benefit from herd immunity because the other 8095 percent of everyone else gets the vaccination.

Obviously, you’re right - you don’t have to get the vaccine to get the protection and benefit of herd immunity; but at least be honest with yourself about the real reason you aren’t getting a vaccine.

As always, “Information is the best medicine”…

Remember, I’m not a doctor. I just sound like one!

Take good care of yourself and live the best life possible!

(The information included in this column is for educational purposes only. I do not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a replacement form of treatment for physical, mental or medical problems by your doctor either directly or indirectly. Glenn Ellis, MPH is a Visiting Scholar at The National Bioethics Center at Tuskegee University and a Harvard Medical School Bioethics Fellow.)

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

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MARCH 17-23, 2021

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Fortress Minneapolis: City ‘violence baits’ community ahead of Derek Chauvin trial

by Mel Reeves Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

(Editor’s note: Former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin is scheduled to stand trial for the second-degree murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. A threejudge appeals panel of the Minnesota Court of Appeals has ordered a Minnesota judge to consider charging Chauvin with third-degree murder—a charge which was previously dismissed by Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill in October—in addition to his other charges.)

“It’s upsetting to see all the wire and barricades,” said Mary Moriarty, former Hennepin County Chief Public Defender, in reference to the city’s preparations for the trial of Derek Chauvin. “I think many members of our community view it as some kind of a reflection on them. Some perceive it as a message on how they [the city] think the verdict is going to come out.

I wonder what message they are trying to send when the majority of the public protest was peaceful.”

The middle of downtown Minneapolis looks like a war zone.

In the run-up to the Chauvin trial, it appears the city has prepared for every possible contingency. Preparations include barricades, barbed wire, moats filled with razor wire, fences, concrete barriers, and boarded-up offices and storefronts.

The city has also enlisted the help of over 1,000 fully armed law enforcement personnel from dozens of nearby agencies, 2,000 national guardsmen, dozens of grief counselors, trauma counselors and it is offering $175,000 contracts from the Office of Violence Prevention to qualified applicants.

The downtown federal building, Minneapolis City Hall and the Hennepin County Government Center have been completely fenced off. People have to enter through gates to get to the Government Center for services. Downtown Sixth Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues is completely shut down.

‘Violence baiting’ Some see the over-preparedness as a kind of “violence baiting.” Violence baiting is like red-baiting in that its intent is to discredit the validity of a political opponent and the opponent’s logical argument

by accusing or inferring that an individual or group is violent or sympathetic to violence.

The city’s preparations in anticipation of violence can serve to infer or imply that the community— specifically the Black community—and those who protest against police violence do not have a legitimate cause, but rather are prone to violence and intend to use the trial as an excuse to be violent.

Much like how those who opposed Jim Crow were Red baited in an attempt to discredit the validity of their opposition to racism and segregation, violence baiting is used to discredit the movement against police violence.

It is highly disturbing that city, county and state officials would go to such extreme lengths to limit our right to peaceably assemble outside of the Hennepin County Government Center,” said Nekima Levy Armstrong of the Racial Justice Network, in an interview with the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder.

Levy Armstrong last week took part in a press conference along with other anti-police violence activists groups denouncing the city’s draconian preparations in anticipation of protests surrounding Chauvin’s trial for the second-degree murder of George Floyd last Memorial Day. They also criticize what they see as the city’s continued failure to hold its police accountable.

“It is outlandish that they are encircling themselves in barbed wire, in fences,” said Michelle Gross of Communities United Against Police Brutality at the press conference. “They are more afraid and concerned with the people than they are with police violence.

“They want to make it seem like the protesters are violent and that they are the problem, not the police violence that led

to the protest. What they should do is put this razor wire around the precinct so they can keep the cops inside who are brutalizing us,” said Gross.

Levy Armstrong said the preparations did not make her feel safer. “We do not believe the police will be here to protect the people.

White Supremacists flooded the Twin Cities. They terrorized people in North Minneapolis, shot at and shot Black people, and they were not held accountable.”

She pointed out that it was the police who were violent with those peacefully pro-

testing.

“This is not how you demonstrate care for a city traumatized by police violence,” tweeted Minneapolis Fifth Ward Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison. He added that the city council “did not approve this plan, and I certainly don’t personally approve of it.”

Activists added that while the city was trying to intimidate them, they were concerned that the city was not doing all it could to prevent another George Floyd.

Nor they say has it come up with a plan to discipline wayward cops who are reported for misconduct.

“I am hearing people talk about how expensive all this is and how that could be used for people who are in economic crisis,” said Moriarty. The state of Minnesota has allotted $35 million for security during the trial.

“In the nine months since George Floyd was killed, not one thing has changed,” said Gross. “They do not want to change the underlying cause of our complaints.

City Hall has done nothing to address the problem of police violence.

“Last summer many people were harmed by police in response to the uprising. Five

people lost eyes and others lost limbs and broken ribs. And we are the problem? I don’t recall any of us firing projectiles at the cops.

“Their (police) violence is the core of the problem,” Gross continued,” and this city and this state have not addressed the conditions that led to George Floyd being killed, which tells us that we will surely have another George Floyd.”

Social media influencers The city had planned to pay what they called social media influencers to broadcast information to the various BIPOC communities during the trial. But after public outcry the idea was pulled earlier this week.

Minneapolis officials had said they wanted to make sure that “we get the word out about what’s happening with the trials and what the options are for community to engage.” But activists and others complained that it felt like the city was using social media influencers to do just that, attempt to influence the public’s perception of the trial.

Trial to be livestreamed People will get to see the proceedings themselves as Court TV will live-stream the trial. The city has also mobilized legal professionals to help the community better understand the process. Moriarty said people would need little help figuring out the process: “At the end of the day, people know right from wrong.

“I remember thinking the Government Center is a public building. I remember feeling terribly we are there to help the public, and downtown is sending the message that the public is dangerous,” said the former public defender.

“We will be out here protesting to ensure that the city knows it has an obligation and the responsibility to end police violence,” promised Gross.

“He (Chauvin) deserves to spend time in prison for lynching a Black man in broad daylight under the guise of law and order,” said Levy Armstrong. “Likewise, the same officials who ordered the fences, barbed wire and barricades should also be held responsible for looking the other way while Minneapolis police were beating and killing people all of these years.”

(Mel Reeves is Editor of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.)

Derek Chauvin murder trial will be long and drawn out

by Roz Edward For New Pittsburgh Courier

Following ther March 12 announcement that the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to award George Floyd’s family a record $27 million to settle their wrongful death civil lawsuit, Derek Chauvin, the officer charged with killing Floyd, and his defense lawyer Eric Nelson are asking for a delay, implying that the timing of the settlement is “suspicious.”

Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, among other charges, after the former Minneapolis police officer

knelt on Floyd neck for nearly nine minutes—until the unarmed Black man was dead.

To add salt to the wound, Nelson has also requested that the court call back jurors who have already been selected for the trial to determine if news of the settlement has compromised their impartiality.

Jury selection has been an arduous process as the case has received so much national and worldwide attention. The judge in the case, Peter Cahill, has agreed and is recalling the seven jurors, which have been selected.

“It’s amazing to me, they had a press

conference on Friday (March 12), where the mayor of Minneapolis, on stage with City Council, and they’re using very, what I would say, very well-designed terminology. ‘The unanimous decision of the City Council,’ for example. It just goes straight to the heart of the dangers of pretrial publicity,” Nelson said.

Nelson is also asking that the trial be moved out of Hennepin County, Minnesota, an option that the presiding judge had floated last year when he warned attorneys in the case to refrain from making public comments that could prejudice a jury. Cahill has yet to rule on this request.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joined the Floyd family and their attorney, Ben Crump, at a press conference on March 12 to announce the historic settlement from the city. The $27 million is the largest payout for police misconduct Minneapolis has ever made.

Chauvin is facing charges of second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder in the death of Floyd. The trial of three other former Minneapolis officers—J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas K. Lane and Tou Thao—is scheduled to take place in August, for their role in Floyd’s death.

COVID scams on the rise amid chaotic vaccine rollout and distribution delays

by Nina Mohan For New Pittsburgh Courier

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Scammers are taking advantage of the confusion surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and using it as an opportunity to prey on consumers anxious to get their shots.

Because distribution varies state by state and changes are announced almost daily, there’s not a lot of clarity on when and how people can get vaccinated, explained Karen S. Hobbs, Assistant Director, Division of Consumer & Business Education at the Federal Trade Commission.

“Officials are doing what they can, the best they can, but no state is immune to confusion and scammers are ready to take advantage,” she said.

“This is one of those schemes that, like the pandemic, is affecting literally everyone, everywhere,” she added.

Hobbs said the FTC has received numerous reports of vaccine scams, though none so far have involved large numbers of people. The complaints involve scammers posing as federal and local officials, as well as hospital staff, clinic workers and healthcare providers.

“People are pretending to be someone you can trust in order to get money or information,” she said, adding that victims have reported being asked to provide sensitive information like social security numbers, medical information and driver’s license numbers.

On its website, the County of Merced reported that scammers posing as clinic workers contacted Merced residents and offered them COVID-19 vaccines for an upfront $100.00 fee. After the money was paid, the victims were referred to a vac-

cine site where they did not have appointments.

Prepaid schemes have also appeared in Ventura County, and in Skagit County, WA., local news outlets GoSkagit.com and KGMI.com have reported that scammers claiming to be Skagit County representatives called residents and offered them vaccine appointments and then asked for personal information such as a mother’s maiden name or social security numbers to confirm the appointment.

“The general message people are hearing [about vaccines] is scarcity and the logistical hurdle of delivery, and that feeds into this confusion and makes people pay attention when they get a call,” explained Hobbs.

The FTC website offers tips on how to recognize a vaccine scam. First, you should never pay for a vaccine and anyone asking for money, whether to get you an appointment, put you on a list or reserve a spot in line, is a scammer. Other signs of a scam include: • Advertisements to buy the vaccine. You can’t buy it anywhere, it’s only available at federal- and state-approved locations.

• Requests for personal, financial, or health information. No one from a vaccine distribution site, healthcare provider’s office, pharmacy, or your insurance company or Medicare will ask for personal information or your Social Security, credit card, driver’s license or bank account number to sign you up to get the vaccine.

• Unexpected or unusual texts and emails containing links about the COVID vaccine. Do not click on links or open attachments from sources you don’t recognize as you could download dangerous malware onto your device.

“Our advice to people is that you should contact a trusted source, so you’ll be checking with state and local health departments to learn when and how to get the vaccine and you can also talk to your healthcare providers directly,” Hobbs said.

Hobbs also encouraged people to sign up for FTC consumer alerts for the latest information on a variety of consumer issues, including COVID-related scams, and noted that if you have been scammed, it’s important to contact authorities right away.

“Getting money back from scammers is a challenge because scammers ask people to use certain payments and these methods have certain characteristics: quick, anonymous, difficult to reverse,” she explained.

One popular method involves instructing victims to buy gift cards and then asking them for the numbers on the back. Scammers also ask for payments via cash-reload cards and money transfers such as Western Union and MoneyGram.

“They choose these methods because they’re like cash—once the money is gone, it’s gone. That’s why it’s important to act quickly. It’s the only way to increase your chances of getting your money back.”

Reporting scams to the FTC also helps the FTC and law enforcement prevent future fraud, Hobbs noted.

“When victims report scams, the information goes into a database that our 3000 law enforcement partners read too,” she explained. “The information helps the agency spot trends, alert communities about potential scams, and informs the FTC’s education, messaging and policy priorities.”

“We’ve redesigned our report intake system to be really easy, and we also have a version of the site in Spanish,” which,

Hobbs noted, is important for many communities served by EMS. “We want to hear from these communities, we really want outreach to them and part of the way to do that is through the reports they file.”

People can file anonymously, she said, adding that the FTC does not ask or care about immigration status. “There is no required information [to file a report], people can tell us as little or as much as they like,” she said.

For more information on how to avoid scams, or what to do if you have been a victim of fraud, please visit FTC.gov. or click on the links below.

• What to do if you have been scammed: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/ articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed • Three ways to avoid COVID-19 vaccine scams: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ attachments/coronavirus-advice-consumers/three_ways_to_avoid_covid-19_vaccine_scams_508_2.pdf • Information on COVID-related topics for consumers: ftc.gov/coronavirus • Report fraud, scams and bad business practices, and get actionable Next Steps to help you recover: ReportFraud.ftc.gov • Report identity theft: www.identitytheft.gov For information on how to get the COVID-19 vaccine, please speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist, or contact your state and local health department.

• Contact your local health department: https://www.naccho.org/membership/lhd-directory • Contact your state health department: https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html

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MARCH 17-23, 2021

OLDER PEOPLE WITH ACTIVE LIFESTYLES

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Your COVID-19 vaccination questions, answered (BPT)—With COVID-19 vaccination underway in the United States, many Americans are preparing to get the vaccine to protect themselves and help slow the spread of COVID-19. If you’re able to get the vaccine, you probably have a lot of questions. Knowing what to expect and how to properly prepare for your appointment can help put your mind at ease.

COVID-19 vaccine basics COVID-19 vaccines are now available in the U.S., and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-

tion (CDC), the vaccines approved in the U.S. do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19 and therefore you cannot contract COVID-19 from them. The CDC states these vaccines have been carefully evaluated in clinical trials and are deemed safe and effective by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) with a full advisory committee meeting review for all vaccines.

Preparing for the COVID-19 vaccine Getting a vaccine not only protects you, but also the people around you, especially those who are unable to get vaccinated. The CDC offers guidance summarized below to help you prepare for your vaccination, whether it’s your first or second dose: 1) If you’re approved to get a vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider ahead of time. You may be going to a vaccination clinic where your healthcare provider is not directly administering the injection, so if you have questions, speak with them before your appointment.

2) Do not schedule any other vacci-

nations within two weeks before your COVID-19 vaccination. If you feel ill before your appointment, call the vaccination clinic and ask if you should still come in or reschedule.

3) Get good rest the days prior to the appointment, especially the night before. Eat a light meal or snack before your appointment and stay hydrated.

Rest and good nutrition help prepare your immune system for the vaccination.

4) Ask about side effects. While some people have no symptoms, others may experience headache, muscle/joint pain, chills, fever and fatigue that generally subside after 48 hours. Plan for several low-key days following your vaccination.

5) Plan ahead for post-vaccination care by having the essentials on hand in your medicine cabinet. According to the CDC, over-the-counter medications (like Advil) can reduce pain, fever or discomfort associated with post-COVID-19 vaccine, including mild aches or arm soreness. According to Dr. Jeffrey Fudin, B.S., Pharm.D., FCCP, FASHP, FFSMB, “Aches and fever are common side effects of coronavirus vaccination, and can easily be treated with a pain reliever like Advil.”

6) If your vaccine requires two doses, consult with your vaccination clinic or pharmacy to schedule your second dose.

While millions in the U.S. have received the COVID-19 vaccine, availability is currently limited and you may not be able to get it right away.

Continue to take smart safety measures such as washing your hands frequently with soap and water, wearing a mask when out in public, avoiding large crowds, and appropriate social distancing. When it is time to get your COVID-19 vaccination, these preparatory steps will help you feel empowered as you take an important step to end the pandemic. For more information about how to prepare for the COVID-19 vaccine visit www.cdc.gov, and visit www.Advil.com for more information on Advil.

How to choose the best facemask (BPT)—Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, you have probably wondered what kind of face mask provides the most effective protection but is also easy and comfortable. You have probably also heard that double masking provides better protection against the more easily transmissible variants of COVID-19 that have been spreading recently. So how can you know what kind of mask to use?

The main purpose of masks is to help prevent the spread of respiratory droplets from you to others, in case you might be infected with COVID-19 but not exhibiting any symptoms (asymptomatic) or if you are not yet exhibiting symptoms (pre-symptomatic).

What can help reduce your risk (and risk for others) is keeping physically distant (the CDC recommending 6 feet or more), and wearing a tightly woven mask that has multiple layers, and fits tightly around the face.

Here is a quick guide to masks available today, and the level of protection and comfort they offer.

Homemade masks Many people have relied on homemade cloth masks, as well as face covers such as bandanas and neck gaiters.

But how effective are they?

Because respiratory droplets and the airborne coronavirus particles they might contain are extremely small, it is still possible for someone wearing a cloth mask to be exposed to COVID-19 if they are close to someone who is infected. Loose-fitting cloth masks, single-layer masks, or wearing them incorrectly (such as exposing your nose) are far less effective in offering any protection from COVID-19 or other viruses. For these reasons, bandanas and neck gaiters are examples of some of the least protective cloth masks.

If you prefer homemade cloth masks, creating masks with several layers (including insertable filters, such as from a HEPA vacuum cleaner bag) offers better protection than a makeshift bandana or other cloth. You should also wash masks frequently in soap and water to keep them as clean as possible.

Surgical masks Surgical masks are meant to be single-use only and are disposable, and they are not tight-fitting. While they offer some protection for those people around the wearer, surgical masks are of limited use for protecting the wearer from airborne particles. They can be most effective when they are worn underneath an additional, tighter-fitting cloth mask.

N95 respiratory masks Worn by healthcare professionals in contact with infected patients, N95 respiratory masks are designed to catch particles as small as 0.3 microns when properly fitted to form an airtight seal covering the wearer’s nose and mouth.

While many assume (incorrectly) that N95 masks operate like strainers, allowing only particles small enough to pass through, these masks actually operate more like a spider’s web, using electrostatic force to “trap” particles.

While N95 masks prevent coronavirus particles from being inhaled, these particles then remain on the mask itself - and can be transferred to the wearer’s mouth and nose if not careful.

It is crucial that wearers know how to correctly use them. These masks are primarily needed by first responders and healthcare providers and the general public should avoid wearing them to prevent shortages.

Medicevo Graphene Masks After months of research, the medical manufacturer Medicevo has created a reusable face mask using graphene technology, making masks that combine cutting-edge technology with comfort. The Medicevo Graphene Mask features an internal graphene netting, along with three other layers. The graphene netting inside the mask creates microscopic sharp edges that slice through the cellular walls of viruses like COVID-19 and H1N1. This netting can be compared to a thorny rosebush through which the coronavirus, in the form of water balloons, are thrown.

Want to learn more?

Visit Medicevo.com.