3.6.24 NPC

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that a ruling could be made on or before March 30 on whether fired Pittsburgh Police Officer Keith Edmonds will be eligible to get his job back. He is the officer who used a Taser multiple times on Jim Rogers during an altercation in Bloomfield in 2021.

Currently, there is a labor arbitration case occurring between the City of Pittsburgh and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1, the union that represents Pittsburgh Police officers. The FOP is arguing that Edmonds, who is Black, should be permitted to get his job back as a Pittsburgh Police officer, after he and numerous other officers were terminated by the City of Pittsburgh following the death of Rogers. There have been other officers who were fired who have since returned to the force, but not Edmonds, who is the officer that had the initial interaction with Rogers on Harriet Street in Bloomfield on Oct. 13, 2021. Officers were originally called to the area that day because of re-

ports that Rogers stole a bike. Turns out, the bike was left for someone, anyone, to take, but police were called anyway.

Edmonds' own police worn body camera showed the use of his Taser on Rogers numerous times as Edmonds was trying to get Rogers into custody. There was some resistance by Rogers, but ultimately the Taser took him to the ground. Rogers, who was unarmed, eventually was placed into a police cruiser after police backup arrived, but was not taken to a hospital for more than 30 minutes after he was in custody. Officers who were different from Edmonds drove Rogers through various city neighborhoods and then ultimately to UPMC Mercy Hospital in Uptown. However, those like attorney Todd Hollis, who represents the family of Rogers, said that Rogers could have easily been transported to

by Renee P. Aldrich

For New Pittsburgh Courier

Neither frigid temperatures nor a winter storm advisory kept the more than 400 celebrants from attending the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s 28th annual Ronald H. Brown Leadership Awards Gala on Friday, Feb. 16. The guests gathered at the Rivers Casino ballroom on the North Shore for a virtual "Who’s Who in Black Pittsburgh." Just some of the power brokers present were Pittsburgh’s Mayor, Ed Gainey; Dr. Kathy Humphrey, President of Carlow University, William Generett Jr., Esq., Vice President of Civic Engagement and External Relations at Duquesne University, and Demeatria Boccella, President of Fashion Africana. Additionally, two CEOs from other Urban League branches were in attendance; Darrin W. Anderson Sr., Ph.D., M.S., President and CEO, Urban League of Philadelphia, and Dr.

Erin R. Houston, Ph.D., President and CEO, the Shenango County Urban League Inc. This year's honorees were: Carmen Anderson (Vice President of Equity and Learning, The Heinz Endowments), Civic Leadership Award; Derrick Tillman (President, Bridging the Gap Development), Civic Leadership Award; Leah Lizarondo (CEO and co-founder of 412 Food Rescue), Community Leadership Award; and Alexandra Jones, Emerging Leadership Award. Pennsylvania's Second Lady, Blayre Holmes Davis, and Bryan Iams presented a joint welcome, after which, there was a video message from the Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, extending his personal congratulations to both the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and the honorees. Andrew Stockey, of WTAE-TV (4), served as

who changed the world

by the Black Informa- tion Network

The contributions of Black women who identify as LGBTQ are countless, and their sacrifices and relentless efforts that have impacted generations cannot be ignored. Though oftentimes their identity is swept under the rug or pushed out of the frame of their due recognition, Black LGBTQ+ trailblazers’ impact on history is undeniable.

Here, we recognize 9 Black LGBTQ+ history makers whose unwavering actions and ingenuity impacted multiple industries, led movements, and inspired trends for generations.

Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965)

Renowned playwright Lorraine Hansberry made history as the first Black woman author to have a play performed on a Broadway stage. Her most notable work, A Raisin in the Sun, was adapted into a movie in 1961 and 2008. She was active in the Civil Rights Movement and began a relationship with Dorothy Secules before her untimely death in 1965 at the age of 35.

Audre Lorde (19341992)

Audre Lorde described herself as a “Black lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.” Her words have made an incredible lasting impact on feminist, queer, and critical race theories. Some of her most notable works include Sister Outsider, the essay “The Master’s Tools Will Not Dismantle the Master’s House,” and The Black Unicorn, to name just a few. Lorde was also her native New York’s poet laureate from 1991-1992.

Barbara Jordan (1936-1996)

Rep. Barbara Jordan was the first African

American to be elected to the Texas Senate in 1966. In 1972, she was the first Black woman to be elected to the US House of Representatives. She is known also for her opening statements at the House Judiciary Committee hearings during the impeachment of Richard Nixon. Rep. Jordan was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 by then-president Bill Clinton.  Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992)

An activist for transgender rights, Marsha P. Johnson, is credited with being one of the leading figures at the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York. Together, with the help of fellow transgender activist Sylvia Rivera, the two established the Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization that helped get homeless queer youth housing and other resources. Johnson also was a performer in the drag performance dance troupe Hot Peaches from 1972 through the 1990s. During that time, she also was an AIDS activist working with the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP).  Bessie Smith (18941937)

Nicknamed the “Empress of the Blues,” Bessie Smith was a popular singer of the 1920s and 1930s. The Tennessee native made an everlasting impact on jazz music and became one of the highest-paid entertainers at the time. Three of her original recordings were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, evidence of her strong musical presence and influence.

Gertrude Pridgett “Ma” Rainey (18861939) Named the “Mother

• MARCH 6

of the Blues,” Ma Rainey was a musical pioneer of the early 1900s. She was the mentor of Bessie Smith and sang lyrics professing her love of women. The Netflix Original film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, adapted from August Wilson’s play, reimagines a recording session with Ma Rainey, showcasing her talent and sharp business savvy.

Octavia Butler (1947-2006)

Octavia Butler was a literary powerhouse who was also a pioneer in Black science fiction. She’s collected numerous awards over the span of her career, including a MacArthur Fellowship and multiple Nebula Awards. She died in 2006 at the age of 58.

Pauli Murray (19101985)

A true multi-faceted icon, Pauli Murray was considered a legal genius, laying the groundwork for monumental arguments that made it all the way to the Supreme Court. Murray was also the first Black woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest and was known as a strong advocate and activist for women’s rights.

Mabel Hampton (1902-1989)

A dancer and vocal lesbian activist during the Harlem Renaissance, Mabel Hampton was also a philanthropist for both Black and LGBT initiatives. She once took the stage with the famous Jackie “Moms” Mabley.

At the age of 82, she spoke at the NYC Pride parade in 1984 and said, “I, Mabel Hampton, have been a lesbian all my life, for 82 years, and I am proud of myself and my people. I would like all my people to be free in this country and all over the world, my gay people and my Black people.”

1857—Perhaps the most thoroughly racist decision ever rendered by a U.S. Supreme Court is released on this day—the Dred Scott decision. Scott and his wife, Harriet, had sued in St. Louis Circuit Court claiming they were free because their slave master had taken them from a slave state to the free territory of Missouri. However, in a majority opinion written by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney the court ruled: 1) Blacks, be they slave or free, were not and could not be U.S. citizens and thus were not entitled to file suit in U.S. courts, 2) Denied Congress the power to restrict slavery by declaring the 1820 Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, 3) Declared that where the Constitution said, “All men are created equal,” the phrase did not include Blacks, and 4) Told African Americans that they “had no rights the White man was bound to respect.” However, reflecting the law of unintended consequences, the Dred Scott decision was so harsh and so angered anti-slavery forces that it helped pave the way for the Civil War which ended all slavery in America.

• MARCH 7

1539—This is probably the day Estevanico—the first Black conquistador—was killed. Estevanico, a Black Moor from Morocco, was sold as a servant when he was only 10 but became friends with his owner Andres de Dorantes and joined a 1527 expedition of 300 men from Spain looking for riches in what would later become the U.S. state of Florida. All but four members of the expedition were wiped out by the Indians they tried to conquer. Estevanico was among those who survived. He was held captive for five years but became a “medicine man” and learned the languages of various tribes. He eventually escaped and in February of 1539 led an expedition to Culiacan, Mexico looking for one of the fabled lost city of gold—El Dorado. It was doing this expedition that he was killed.

1965—On this day in Black history, the first leg of the Selma-to-Montgomery march is completed as thousands joined Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in protesting racial injustice in Alabama. An earlier attempt to complete the march had been disrupted by a police attack. The Alabama National Guard was federalized and U.S. Army troops were called in to protect the marchers. It was shortly after this march that a White female supporter of the civil rights struggle, Viola Liuzzo, was shot and killed by Ku Klan Klan-style terrorists opposed to civil rights for Blacks.

1997 Former Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley dies. Manley is perhaps best known for his brand of democratic socialism and attempting to organize Caribbean and African nations into a bloc to press for better prices for their raw materials.

• MARCH 8 1977 Henry L. Marsh III is elected the first Black mayor of Richmond, Va. Before becoming mayor of the capital of the old confederacy, Marsh had made a name for himself confronting the city’s White power structure as a civil rights attorney. He also served in the state senate.

1993—Jazz great Billy Eckstine dies at 78 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Eckstine came to fame in the 1940’s and 1950’s as a singer and bandleader who worked with some of the greatest names of the era including Louis Armstrong and Lena Horne. He was one of the greatest influences upon modern Jazz and B-bop. Among his best known ballads were “Everything I Have Is Yours,” “Blue Moon,” “Caravan” and “That Old Black Magic.”

• MARCH 9

1841—The U.S. Supreme Court rules that Joseph Cinque and his fellow mutineers are free men. Along with several of his Mendi tribesmen, Cinque, son of an African king, had been captured and sold into slavery. But in 1839, he led a revolt on the Spanish slave ship Amistad, killed the captain and seized control of the ship. However, a U.S. military ship seized the Amistad off the coast of Long Island, New York. The seizure led to protracted court battles in which Cinque and his men were charged with murder. But in an unusual ruling for its day, the high court held, in effect, that the men had a human right to try to escape bondage and allowed them to return to Africa.

1871—Noted Black politician Oscar De Priest is born in Florence, Ala. After moving to Chicago, he becomes a major political force in the city serving on the board of commissioners and then on the city council (1915-1917). However, De Priest became a national political figure when he was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1928. Throughout his years of political service he was known as “a persuasive agent for the Black masses.” He died in 1951.

1931—Walter F. White is named executive secretary of the NAACP. The Atlanta, Georgia-born White was arguably the most devoted and determined person ever to head the civil rights organization and was easily one of the top Black leaders of the first half of the 20th century. The light-complexioned and blue-eyed White also became a legend in 1919 when he “passed for white” in order to investigate a race riot in Elaine, Ark., which had left over 100 Blacks dead. He barely escaped with his life when news leaked out as to who he was. A train conductor, thinking he was White, is said to

have joked with him saying, “You’re leaving too early. The fun is about to start. The boys are going to lynch a yellow Nigger passing for White.”

1997—Rap artist The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) is shot to death in Los Angeles, Calif., as a result of an alleged east-coast-west-coast dispute in the Rap music industry. The killing has never been solved criminally. But a civil suit in Los Angeles federal court accused two rouge Los Angeles police officers of arranging the drive-by shooting that led to his death.

• MARCH 10

1913—The “greatest conductor of the Underground Railroad” Harriet Tubman dies on this day in Auburn, N.Y. Born in slavery in Dorchester County, Md., in 1819 or 1820. Harriet was a person of strong wild and principle. For example, at age 12 she received a severe blow to the head from a White overseer when she refused to help tie up a slave who had tried to escape. Around age 30, fearing she was about to be sold into the Deep South, Tubman escaped to Canada. But she returned to Maryland on numerous occasions helping family members and over 300 other slaves escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad. She frequently threatened to shoot any slave who became frightened and wanted to turn back.

1969—The man officially convicted of assassinating civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. pleads guilty to the crime on this day. However, James Earl Ray promptly tried to withdraw the plea suggesting that there had actually been a government conspiracy to assassinate King, which involved the Mafia and members of the right-wing Cuban exile community in Florida. Ray admitted buying the rifle and renting the room in the Memphis, Tenn., flophouse from where the deadly shot was fired. But he maintained he gave the rifle to a mysterious man named Raoul. The House Select Committee on Assassinations would later conclude that Ray fired the shot but was probably part of a broader conspiracy.

1972—The first modern National Black Political Convention began on this day in Gary, Ind. It drew over 3,000 delegates and 500 observers as well as participation from just about every major Black political and civil rights organization in the nation. However, some moderate civil rights groups, like the NAACP, withdrew after the convention adopted resolutions critical of busing and Israeli racism against the Palestinians.

•

MARCH 11

1874—Charles Sumner, one of the greatest White heroes of Black history, dies at age 63. Sumner became involved in politics as a powerful orator against slavery. For his efforts he was brutally beaten in the Capitol Building by a South Carolina Congressman in May 1856. But he was not deterred. It was Sumner who introduced the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery in America. He was also among those who proposed aiding the economic advancement of the former slaves by giving each Black “40 acres and a mule” through the use of government land and by seizing land from the former slave owners.

1959—Lorraine Hansberry’s play “A Raisin in the Sun” opens on Broadway at the Barrymore Theatre with Sidney Poitier and Claudia McNeil in the starring roles. With 530 performances, the play became the longest running African American-written play in Broadway history, and the first Broadway hit written by an African American woman. Hansberry’s promising career was cut short by cancer in 1965. She was only 34.

• MARCH 12

1773—This is the most probable date when Black explorer Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable begins building the settlement, which would eventually become the city of Chicago, Ill. The Haitian-born (c 1745) de Sable would over time become a man of considerable wealth, owning commercial buildings, docks, trading posts and a mansion. Du Sable was the product or a Frenchman and an African woman. He died Aug. 19, 1818.

1791—Pierre Charles L’Enfant was commissioned to design and lay out the nation’s capital city—Washington, D.C. However, a dispute with President George Washington forced his departure the very next year. Thus, the final design and layout fell to Black inventor and mathematician Benjamin Banneker. Although two White men were nominally in charge of the project, historical records show that it was Banneker’s mathematical skills and his memory of L’Enfant’s plans that enabled the project to be completed.

1955—One of the chief founders of modern jazz, Charlie “Yardbird” Parker, died on this day in New York City. Parker is widely considered “the greatest jazz saxophonist of all time.” His death at 35 was reportedly a result of pneumonia worsened by drug and alcohol abuse.

1964—Legendary Black leader Malcolm X formally separates from the Elijah Muhammad-led Nation of Islam although his initial statement of resignation was given March 8. The separation was triggered by growing differences over Islam and the proper role of religion in the Black liberation struggle as well as by Malcolm’s objections to Elijah Muhammad’s infidelities. Less than a year later, Malcolm was assassinated by men allegedly connected with a Nation of Islam mosque in New Jersey.

DIFFERING OPINIONS

Ruling imminent on whether Black police officer who used Taser on Jim Rogers gets his job back

Mayor, Ed Gainey, who was under pressure from some of Pittsburgh's Black community to speak out on Rogers' untimely death, announced in March 2022 that the city would move to terminate five officers following an internal investigation.

The City of Pittsburgh ultimately settled with the family of Rogers for $8 million in a civil wrongful death lawsuit in April 2023.

“Mr. Rogers deserved to live a life of joy. He deserved to live a long life. He didn’t deserve to lose his life at the hands of police officers. What his life could have been will stay with me as long as I am the mayor of this city," the mayor said.

But two months before the mayor's comments, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office, led at the time by Dr. Karl E. Williams, ruled that Rogers' death was an "accident," that he died from 'Acute Global Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury of the Brain'" due to a seizure disorder.

"The manner of death is the circumstance that led to the cause of death. It is based upon all available knowledge of a particular case including terminal events, scene investigation, police report, social, and medical background information. These are not criminal determinations, but medical ones," read a statement from the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office following the ruling.

The release said that Pennsylvania recognizes five manners of death; homicide, suicide, accident, natural and undetermined. While "homicide" is a death "caused at the hands of another," the medical examiner ruled accident, defined as death that "occurs as a result of an event with unintentional consequences."

The FOP has maintained that the findings of the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office, along with the hiring and opinions of its own medical expert, Dr. Benjamin D’Souza, should lead the arbitrator to rule that Edmonds should get his job back.

As expected, attorneys for the City of Pittsburgh fought back.

The city hired its own medical expert in the labor arbitration case —Dr. Bennet Omalu, the renowned forensic pathologist who's widely known as the doctor who discovered and published CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in American football players. Dr. Omalu was hired by the city to investigate the circumstances regarding Rogers' death. He was paid $10,000.

In the wrongful death lawsuit brought forth by Hollis, Dr. Omalu was retained as an expert witness. However, the report and/or commentary that Dr. Omalu provided in the wrongful death lawsuit was not used by the city in the labor arbitration case. Dr. Omalu produced a report specifically as it related to the labor arbitration case, which was sent to attorneys representing the City of Pittsburgh on Dec. 21, 2023, the Courier has learned exclusively.

Dr. Omalu's 32-page report for the city was also obtained exclusively by the New Pittsburgh Courier. Dr. Omalu wrote in his report that "Jim Rogers, a 54-year-old African-American male, died as a result of 'Global Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury' due to 'Restraint Asphyxiation' suffered in the hands of the police while he was in custody. The manner of his death is a homicide."

In other words, Dr. Omalu completely disagrees with the Allegheny County Medical Ex -

aminer's Office's ruling.

"It is ridiculous, laughable and ludicrous for anyone to determine the cause of death of Jim Rogers to be a Seizure Disorder," Dr. Omalu wrote in his report.

"There is no prevailing evidence whatsoever in the video and body camera clips I watched and, in the terminal, forensic scenario in this case to suggest or even insinuate that Jim Rogers died as a result of a Seizure Disorder. Given the generally accepted principles and common knowledge of medicine and science in 2021, and given the prevailing terminal forensic scenario in this case, it is an embarrassment. It is pertinent to note that the brain of Mr. Rogers revealed acute global hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (acute asphyxial brain injury), and not the selective vulnerability of neuronal excitotoxic injury associated with status epilepticus. Mr. Rogers did not suffer any status epilepticus whatsoever."

"Status Epilepticus" is defined by Johns Hopkins University as a seizure that lasts longer than five minutes, or having more than one seizure within a five-minute period, without returning to a normal level of consciousness between episodes.

THE COMMUNITY SPEAKS

On Jan. 31, Hollis showed to about 50 people inside the Community Empowerment Association in Homewood the body camera and police cruiser video that had been publicly released to the media two days prior. Hollis maintained he fought to get the videos released in the name of transparency, so that everyone, namely Pitts -

SEE OPINONS A4

"It is ridiculous, laughable and ludicrous for anyone to determine the cause of death of Jim Rogers to be a Seizure Disorder," Dr. Bennet Omalu wrote in his report. "There is no prevailing evidence whatsoever in the video and body camera clips I watched and, in the terminal, forensic scenario in this case to suggest or even insinuate that Jim Rogers died as a result of a Seizure Disorder."

Anita Drummond said either all the officers should be working or they should all not get their jobs back. But it's Keith Edmonds who still doesn't have his job back, when others do, she said. "We're all sitting here because Keith (Edmonds) came from this neighborhood, and we know a different side of him outside of what we've seen," Drummond said.

OPINIONS FROM A1

DR. BENNET OMALU

ANITA DRUMMOND

burgh's Black community, could see for themselves what happened on that fateful October 2021 day to Jim Rogers.

When Hollis opened the news conference to questions, media members, as well as community members, jumped

on the microphone. While about 70 percent of those community members in attendance seemed to show no support for Edmonds in his quest to get his job back, the other 30 percent showed some support for Edmonds. Among those supporting Edmonds was Anita

Drummond, leader of the annual Harambee Festival in Homewood.

"Everybody that played a part in this, did a wrongful thing," she said, reported by the Courier exclusively. "And so when the outcome comes out for all the police officers," Drummond said either

they should all be working or they should all not get their jobs back. But it's Edmonds who still doesn't have his job back, when others do, she said. "We're all sitting here because Keith (Edmonds) came from this neighborhood, and we know a different side of him outside of what we've seen," Drummond said.

Drummond continued: "One of my daughters, this is her brother (Keith Edmonds), the only one that did not get reinstated to the force. So yes, I have a stake in this, because I love this young man, and when you talk about African Americans and anyone, I have a good heart, I don't want anyone to die under the hands of the law, or under the hands of anybody."

Criminal charges have not been filed against any officers involved in the handling of Rogers on Oct. 13, 2021.

Billy Joe Jordan, an uncle of Rogers, told the Courier exclusively that if Rogers would have been White, he feels there definitely would have been criminal charges.

"We (Black people) know that if we attack a Black man, we know we can get away with it," voiced Jordan.

Jordan also said that if Rogers were White, nothing would have happened because no one would have called the police about a person stealing a bike in the first place.

Specifically about Edmonds, Jordan said: "Nine or 10 times he (Jim Rogers) was tased...that man (Edmonds) should know better than to tase somebody nine or 10 times...I think he should have been (criminally) charged."

“I believe the evidence will demonstrate that this was an unfortunate death and that the officers did not … contribute to (Rogers') death,” FOP Union President Robert Swartzwelder said, reported in December 2023 by WESA.

"With a reasonable degree of medical certainty therefore," Dr. Omalu's report countered, "we can conclude that if Jim Rogers did not encounter the police on October 13, 2021, he would not have died on October 14, 2021, and was not expected to die."

Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 6 p.m.

To Purchase Tickets, visit www.NewPittsburghCourier.com/FAB40 or Call Allison Palm at 412-481-8302 Ext. 134.

Individual Tickets $125/ VIP Tables $1,500

Taliya R. Allen Program Associate, The Pittsburgh Foundation Visibility Chair, Black Transformative Arts Network

Danai Battle Program Director ACH Clear Pathways

Tyrell A. Best-Savage Deputy District Director PA Congressional District 12

Chantal Braziel

Soprano Classical Singer

Lytia S. Brock

Founder Cloaked in Favor Outreach Ministries

Nathaniel Brown

Owner

Nate Brown Demolition, LLC and Brown Abatement, LLC

Fred Buckner

Senior Contract Specialist-Professional Services Pittsburgh Regional Transit

MacKaiya Cherry Communications Assistant/ Social Media Pittsburgh Steelers

Danielle V. Colquitt

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer General Manager / Coston Funeral Homes, Inc.

Tyler Coulverson

Branch Manager, Allegent Federal Credit Union Podcaster, Financial Literacy with TC!

Ashley R. Comans

School Board Director-Vice President, Wilkinsburg School District Media & Government Relations Manager, Healthy Start, Inc.

Daylon A. Davis

President NAACP Pittsburgh Branch

Pastor Michael Anthony Day

Founder & Senior Pastor, Legacy International Worship Center President, LCOP, Inc.

Brandy Daye Principal UNITED at Twin Rivers Elementary

Deanna D. Dias CEO

Daressia Industries, LLC and Bangolz Boutique, LLC

Dorin Dickerson Host, 93.7 The Fan Morning Show Audacy

Jhason Dixon Controller Sports & Exhibition Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County

Camille L. Edmonds

Founder & Owner Her Salon, LLC

Jesse I. Exilus Deputy City Solicitor City of Pittsburgh

Sydni Goldman

Host/Producer of The Glory Hour with Sydni Goldman Cornerstone Television Network

Dorien Goodnight-Giddens Senior Vice President, Principal for Enterprise-Wide Functions Compliance Bank of NY Mellon

Erikka B. Grayson

Project Manager, Early Excellence Project CEO/Founder, Bomb Moms, LLC

Dr. Sylvester C. Hanner

School Counselor, Pittsburgh Public Schools Mental Health Educator, SCH Counseling and Consulting

Asraiel Harewood

Director of Enrollment Operations & Strategy Carnegie Mellon University

Rashawd Hatten

Supervisor, IT Governance, Risk and Compliance, Duquesne Light Head Basketball Coach, Clairton High School

Tempestt Henderson-Sutton

Assistant Executive Director, Greater Valley Community Services, Inc. Owner, Varie-T

Miracle Jones

Director of Policy and Advocacy 1Hood Media

Talia D. Kirkland Reporter WPXI-TV

Yasmeen Manyisha Safety Press Officer

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Joan Owhe Ojo, Esq. Deputy Attorney General

Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General

Danica Phillips

Principal and Founder, Sienna Dawn Media Integrated Marketing Agency Assistant Director of Communications, Bridgeway Capital

Brooke Rawls, Ph.D., LCSW

CWEB Academic Coordinator and Clinical Assistant Professor University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work

Audia Robinson, MBA, Ph.D. Candidate Community Investment Operations Analyst, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh Founder/CEO, DeSylvia Investments, LLC

Shana Smith

Assistant Principal Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School

Tiffany Stanley Public & Community Relations Manager, AAA East Central

John A. Ukenye, J.D. Advocacy and Policy Officer Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh

Lawrence Uradu, MD

Associate Chief, Division of Emergency Radiology, UPMC Owner & CEO, Alfred Group, LLC

Danielle Commodore Walker

Assistant General Manager, M&J Wilkow

Licensed R.E. Salesperson, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Darius Wallace

Administrative and Project Coordinator, Mayor’s Office City of Pittsburgh

Orlando Watson

Senior Director of Programming The August Wilson African American Cultural Center

More

URBAN

the emcee and facilitated receiving the honorees to the podium.

Anderson, who specifically oversees The Heinz Endowments' funding that serves women and children, spoke of what civic leadership means to her, and the importance of providing the means that pour into the children.

“Our dreams cannot become reality for more than a few until we collectively have the will and determination to use our power to challenge injustice and oppression, to challenge hate in all its forms, and to stand in the gap for our children," Anderson said after receiving her award. "They deserve a world where they can live to their potential. Civic leadership, to me, is more than just about leading; it’s about listening, learning and creating meaningful change. It's about planting seeds for the future... This award serves as a reminder that leadership is not a position or title, but an example and action, and challenges us to always seek out ways to serve others before ourselves."

Tillman said he first gave all honor to God "for giving me intellectual ability, work ethic and strength. I am reminded that I cannot be here on my own—the Word says your gifts will make room for you and bring you before great men, and as I look around this room, I see nothing but great men and women.”

Tillman, who, among other projects, is behind the Fifth & Dinwiddie development in Uptown, thanked his mother, his mentor, Greg Spencer, and his wife, Nykia.

"My wife never stopped keeping me encouraged, pushing me, and being my number 1 fan," he said.

Tillman continued:

“Rosa Parks once said each of us possesses the power to become agents of change. Now I believe this for myself. I grew up in poverty, I expe -

rienced firsthand just how traumatic this can be and how poverty impacts every area of our lives and every decision of our lives. Bridging the Gap Development works to bridge gaps of opportunity, and bridge gaps in development for this region and beyond. Behind the scenes I give my time by sitting on boards, commissions and councils working to level the playing field to open up significant doors of opportunities for other minority enterprises and Black developers across the commonwealth. Our focus has been to impact the economic agenda for our people in this region and beyond. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, 'What good is it to be able to go into a restau -

Type 1 Diabetes Research Study

Looking for adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for at least 1 year who are living with a spouse or another adult.

Monetary compensation provided to eligible participants (ages 18+).

Call 412-268-1793

This study is being conducted by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University.

MARK JONES, JACKIE DIXON, MONICA MALIK, MARK LEWIS (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

ERICA WALTON, BRANDY MARSHALL, ASHLEY JOHNSON

rant when you can’t afford the menu?’ I’ll add to that by saying, what good is it to get the degree, purchase a home, or start the business, if you are constantly struggling to keep it.

If you are not thriving, then we face the question of what your quality of life is. We must remember, Superman is not coming; God sent us! We are the ones we have been waiting for."

Lizarondo shared her thanks for the award and stated that 412 Rescue "is about everyone in this room, that is the real magic of it. There are many faces in here who have been part of this bold, grassroots movement that Pittsburgh has introduced to the world. 412 Food Rescue's homegrown technology is now being used all over the United States—they all want the movement we have created here. This truly exemplifies to me the true meaning of community. This is a technology, and I’m grateful to the foundations who listened to me when I said I had an app. I am grateful to the nonprofits in the room who, when asked if we’d bring food, would they give it to the people they serve, and there are 20,000 Pittsburghers who have downloaded the app and are getting notices every day.

The 412 Food Rescue app gives its volunteers the ability to get food that otherwise would have gone to waste into the hands of those who need it.

As for Jones, the recipient of the Emerging Leaders Award implemented by new Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh President and CEO Carlos Carter, said she's the type of person to get her hands dirty and "do the work necessary to get the job done. When I am asked to help, and I know I am able to, and it is for the greater good, I’ll figure it out—from community service chair of the Urban League Young Professionals, to volunteering at the diaper bank and ending up their first employee—I say yes. Starting Aliquippa Green was about educating and empowering the community by teaching youth and young adults about urban agriculture, technology and home restoration."

A significant highlight of the evening was a successful fundraising effort which not only included a silent auction of high-end items, but also a live action of a painting done by acclaimed Pittsburgh-based artist Kyle Holbrook. It was auctioned off for $1,700, which was added to the total of $400,000 raised for the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh overall.

Carter, now in his third year as the leader of the local Urban League (he took over for the retired Esther L. Bush), discussed to the crowd the importance of the Urban League and the organi -

zation's goals, which is working to "change the landscape" for people of color in Pittsburgh.

ESTHER BUSH, DAVID ANDERSON, CARMEN ANDERSON

AMBER BENJAMIN, CANDRA STROTHERS, JACI ROBINSON, CHRISTINA BELL (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

TONI WESTON, DR. MARGARET LARKINS-PETTIGREW, AGNUS CURRY

The 2024 Whitney M. Young Service Awards

“Then said Jesus, Father FORGIVE THEM; for they know not what they DO. And they parted His raiment and cast lots. And the

ROD DOSS, PICTURED WITH BOY SCOUTS MEMBERS. DOSS WAS AMONG THOSE WHO RECEIVED WHITNEY M. YOUNG SERVICE AWARDS, FEB. 22. THE WHITNEY M. YOUNG SERVICE AWARDS DINNER IS AN ANNUAL EVENT DEDICATED TO RECOGNIZING INDIVIDUALS WHO EXEMPLIFY THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THIS EVENT, THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA LAUREL HIGHLANDS COUNCIL HONORS THE LEGACY OF WHITNEY M. YOUNG JR., A PROMINENT CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE. YOUNG DIED IN 1971. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

ROD DOSS, SHAKING HANDS WITH A BOY SCOUT AWARDEES—ROD DOSS, TRACEY MCCANTS LEWIS, DR. WAYNE WALTERS

THE EMCEE, WTAE-TV’S CHANDI CHAPMAN

TRACEY MCCANTS LEWIS

DR. CHARLES STEELE

RON LAWRENCE

CLEAN SWEEP

Allderdice takes home 2024 City League championships for boys and girls hoops

THE ALLDERDICE BOYS DEFEATED OBAMA ACADEMY, 44-37, TO CLAIM ANOTHER CITY LEAGUE TITLE, FEB. 18.

THE ALLDERDICE GIRLS DEFEATED OBAMA ACADEMY, 62-39, FOR THEIR CITY LEAGUE TITLE, FEB. 18, AT UPMC COOPER FIELDHOUSE. (PHOTOS BY MARLON MARTIN)

How anxious are Americans about their finances?

(NewsUSA)—A new poll paints a troubling picture of how anxious Americans are about their finances.

Nearly half of respondents said they didn’t feel “financially stable,” according to the survey from financial services firm Edward Jones and Morning Consult, and 29 percent admitted to having less than $500 in their emergency savings fund.

That’s right, less than $500.

Anyone who’s been to the supermarket lately—the price of a dozen eggs in January was up 70 percent from the same time last year—can guess one of the main reasons for that low savings rate.

“People have been facing turbulent times,” said Meagan Dow, senior strategist at Edward Jones.  “Understandably, inflation is forcing consumers to spend more on necessities, like housing and groceries, while market conditions are startling investors, so savings are falling low on the priority list.”

How to take control when so much seems out of our control?  If, like most respondents, you measure “financial wellness” as being free of debt and worries over monthly bills, and having enough money to care for your family, read on for ways to move forward:

• Build three to six months’ worth of living expenses in savings to cover emergencies.  Keep in mind that even a few hundred dollars can help improve your financial stability, so start small and celebrate your progress. The specific amount to ultimately target depends on variables like whether your car is on its last leg, or your house is in an area prone to natural disasters.  “There’s also your risk of temporary loss of income to consider, especially if you’re a single earner or have job insecurity,” said Dow. “The higher your risks, the more you’ll want to save.”

• Save enough for your unique retirement needs. This year the average senior can count on only $21,924 from Social Security, with the maximum benefit for those retiring in 2023 and claiming at age 70 being $54,660. Most people won’t want to solely rely on Social Security for their retirement income.

Which means, if at all possible, you’ll want to be saving money now. At a minimum, you should contribute enough to take full advantage of any employer match for a 401(k) or other employer plan. A match is essentially free money, and generally a 50 percent or 100 percent return on your contributions. Then look to increase your savings over time, ideally at least annually or whenever you get a raise. “Many plans offer a feature to automatically increase your contributions, making it easier than ever to boost your savings,” said Dow.

And if you’re working but don’t have access to an employer plan or have maxed out your contributions? You may be able to save in an IRA. For 2023, you can contribute up to $6,500 if you have taxable compensation, or $7,500 you’re age 50 or older. Although a Roth IRA has income limitations that may prevent you from contributing the full amount, a backdoor Roth strategy allows you to contribute to a Roth IRA even if you exceed those income limitations. A financial advisor can

Black women lead the charge in homeownership surge

by The Washington Informer and Stacy M. Brown

A report released on Feb. 17 by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) revealed that African American women have emerged as trailblazers in Black homebuying, collectively making significant strides in education, employment, and entrepreneurship.

The NAREB’s 2023 Women Investing in Real Estate (WIRE) report revealed a 5.6 percent increase in homeownership among Black women between 1990 and 2019. During the pandemic, Black women aged 45–54 and those over 75 experienced the most significant growth, with a 2.9 percent increase. Even in the initial stages of the pandemic, when homebuying slowed, Black women outperformed their male counterparts.

“With the rise of Black women buying homes, there is hope for the future. Homeownership is a testament to the resilience and strength of Black women, contributing to closing the racial wealth gap and creating paths toward long-term financial stability and a legacy for their families,” Dr. Courtney Johnson

Rose, president of NAREB, expressed in a news release.

“The upward trajectory of Black female homeownership embodies the resilience and determination to overcome historical challenges and pave the way for social and economic progress,” Dr. Rose added.

the accomplishments of Black women during its 2024 MidWinter Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Feb. 28 to March 2. On March 1, Dr. Rose, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, and Wells Fargo EVP Georgette Dixon will participate in “A Fireside Chat with Women of Impact”

“The upward trajectory of Black female homeownership embodies the resilience and determination to overcome historical challenges and pave the way for social and economic progress.”

— Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose President of NAREB

Further highlighting the positive trend, the WIRE report shows Black female homebuyers rebounding faster and consistently outpacing their male counterparts during the economic recovery from the pandemic.

The data underscores Black women’s growing status and strength in American society.

NAREB plans to celebrate

As I was thinking of a title for this article, MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” song started playing in my head. So I ran with it. The IRS is known for taxing all sources of income and all profits made from the sale of all consumer goods and services including profits made from the sale of stolen goods. You read that correctly! Tax laws require individuals to report all income, regardless of its source, including income obtained through illegal means.

In this article, I wanted to delve into a few income sources and benefits the IRS can’t touch. I use the expression “can’t touch” loosely because the IRS can update tax laws at any given time, making non-taxable income taxable. Below I’ve isolated various incomes that fall outside the tax purview of the IRS. Understanding these exceptions is crucial for individuals navigating the complex landscape of taxation. Here we delve into the intricacies of income that the IRS doesn’t tax. Certain Social Security Benefits: Depending on your income level and filing status, a portion of your social security benefits may be tax-free. Generally, if social security benefits are your only source of income, they are not subject to federal income tax. However, if you have other substantial income in addition to social security, a portion of your benefits may be taxable.

Child Support Payments: In the eyes of the IRS, child support payments are considered non-taxable income for both

the recipient (the custodial parent) and the payer (the non-custodial parent). This means that the parent receiving child support does not have to report these payments as income, and the parent making the payments cannot claim a deduction for child support on their tax return.

Life Insurance Payouts: Proceeds from a life insurance policy received upon the death of the insured are typically not considered taxable income. These payouts are intended to provide financial support to beneficiaries and are therefore excluded from

at the Marriott Charlotte City Center. “I’m looking forward to sharing my story, the triumphs and challenges, as well as hearing from my esteemed colleagues as we go on to discuss what’s next for women leaders and entrepreneurs,” Dixon said. “Wells Fargo is excited to be a leader in this space of supporting

women’s empowerment with a variety of programming through organizations like NAREB and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).”

The WIRE report documents the economic gains that have laid the foundation for Black women’s success, representing women of the nation’s population, 52 percent of the nation’s American population, and 12.5 percent of all women. Furthermore, statistics reveal that 63.4 percent of African American women over 16 are active in the labor force, with 89.3 percent having graduated high school or its equivalent.

In entrepreneurship, Black women have made remarkable strides, with businesses owned by Black women growing by 50 percent between 2014 and 2019. In 2021, 17 percent of Black women were starting a new business, surpassing White women and men.

The real estate industry is also witnessing a positive trend toward diversity, with an increasing number of Black women carving a niche for themselves. Dr. Rose emphasized the ongoing need for mentorship programs and targeted educational

AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN have emerged as trailblazers in Black homebuying, collectively making significant strides in education, employment, and entrepreneurship.

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Emerson Trustee Doug Holloway ’76, president and founder of Homewood Media, was recently named to the 32nd Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame.

The induction will take place on September 26, 2024, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York. A portion of the net proceeds from the Hall of Fame gala will be donated to The Broadcaster Foundation of America.

Holloway was previously inducted into the 26th Annual Cable Hall of Fame by the The Cable Center in April 2023. In 2021, Holloway developed and launched two multicultural family channels by and for people of color: UKW Media and Urbn-TV.

Holloway, cable television and broadcast veteran and former president of multi-channel distribution at ION media networks, NBC Universal and, one of the founders of the SyFy Channel. The Pittsburgh native and co-producer of the award-winning album Theolonious Monk/Palo Alto, envisioned the creation

by Black Information Network

Many successful Black women have net worths in the millions of dollars, but very few have the rare distinction of being billionaires. Sheila Crump Johnson made history as America’s first Black female billionaire after co-founding Black Entertainment Television (BET) alongside her husband in 1980. After breaking the racial barrier and carving out a career as a successful multimillion-dollar entrepreneur in the sports space and hotel industry, her achievement made way for more Black women to gain recognition for running impactful businesses.

Here are the incredible stories behind how these billionaire ladies made their money, including Black women in the United States and abroad:

Oprah Winfrey

Net Worth: $2.7 billion (Forbes, 2024)

Oprah Winfrey established herself as a household name thanks to her illustrious career in the entertainment industry, especially as a television personality. The decorated journalist-turned-media mogul’s production studio, Harpo Productions, not only facilitated her show but also had a hand in the original The Color Purple back in the 1980s. She

of an all-multicultural channel for eight years. Now, he and Judy Kim, co-founder and COO of UKW Media, have made this vision a reality. The launch of UKW Media and Urbn-TV comes to bridge the gap

also launched a successful cable channel with Warner Bros. Discovery in 2011, and the brand provided a variety of Black American programming. Forbes also credits her incredible wealth to her stake in Weight Watchers and her massive real estate portfolio, which includes over a dozen homes in California and Hawaii.

Rihanna Net Worth: $1.4 billion (Forbes, 2024)

Rihanna‘s journey toward a billion-dollar empire began with her award-winning, critically acclaimed music at a very young age. After years in the music industry, the pop star made a huge money-making move in 2017 by partnering with French luxury conglomerate LVMH to launch Fenty Beauty. Many business experts cite this trendsetting brand as the reason why the “We Found Love” singer became the youngest self-made female billionaire in 2022.

Fenty Beauty bucked the trends of most makeup brands by providing a wide range of inclusive skin tones, forcing competitors to add more shades to keep up with the cosmetics company’s meteoric rise. A 2023 report from Cosmetifyrevealed Fenty Beauty is the world’s most successful celebrity cosmetics brand, valued at billions

of diversity in entertainment.

“We understand the power of images in the media. We want kids to grow up seeing people who look like them on the screen. We intend to present a robust line-up of primarily independent multicultural programming that evokes a lifestyle of wellness and productive outcomes,” Urbn-TV and UKW Media founder and CEO, Douglas, stated. “Our comprehensive line-up of fresh content will deliver a brand of broadcast excellence that will exemplify our best cultural attributes and help reshape the narrative amid the vast constellation of programming along the multicultural entertainment spectrum,” Holloway continued.

Along with Holloway, the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees are Janice Arouh, president, network distribution, Allen Media Group; Bob Bakish, president and CEO, Paramount Global; Karen Dougherty Buchholz, executive VP, administration, Comcast Corporation; Mario J. Gabelli, chief investment officer, Gabelli Funds; Marianne Gambelli, president of ad-

of dollars.

Rihanna also has a 30 percent stake in the Savage X Fenty lingerie line,

help determine if this strategy makes sense for

DAMON CARR FROM B1

which hit a $1 billion valuation in February 2021, according to Forbes. She’s since stepped down

you. • Pay down debt.  Start with high-interest, non-deductible debt. The

vertising sales, marketing and brand partnerships, Fox Corp.; Scott Herman, chairman, Broadcasters Foundation of America; Steve Lanzano, president and CEO, TVB; Debra OConnell, president, networks & TV business operations, Disney Entertainment Television; Valari Dobson Staab, chairman, NBCUniversal Local; George Stephanopoulos, coanchor, Good Morning America, anchor, This Week with George Stephanopoulos, ABC News; and Arthur Wagner, executive chairman of the board and co-founder, Active International. and co-founder, Active International.

“Our gala event shines a much-deserved spotlight on the pioneers and groundbreakers who have changed our industry forever and have had a leading role in and shaping it into what it is today,” said Bill McGorry, B+C Hall of Fame chairman.

as CEO.

Folorunsho Alakija

Net Worth: $1 billion (Forbes, 2020) The Nigerian businesswoman found herself on numerous Forbes African Billionaires list thanks to her massive indigenous oil exploration company. Folorunsho Alakija is the co-founder and vicechair of Famfa Oil, which is a longtime operator in the Agbami Oil Field in Nigeria. Forbes said the business, which is partnered with Chevron, also owns a $50 million stake in Oil Mining License (OML), one of Nigeria’s most prolific oil blocs. Her business ventures include

most common form of this is credit card debt, but any high-interest debt is likely to cost you more in interest than you can expect to earn on your investments. Take a look at the “Minimum Payment Warning” box on your statement to see how paying extra can save you in interest payments, and significantly shorten how long it will take you to pay off your balance.

Then you can focus on paying down other debt, starting with the highest after-tax interest rate.

“Target a debt-to-income ratio (DTI) of 35 percent or lower if you have a

banking, a prolific career as a fashion designer, a printing and monogramming company, and a luxury real estate development company. Even though Alakija lost her status as a billionaire, at least by Forbes’s standards, she remains one of Africa’s wealthiest and most influential people. Alakija also founded the Rose of Sharon Foundation, a Christian charity dedicated to helping widows and orphans across Nigeria.

mortgage, and 20 percent or lower if you don’t,” said Dow. To calculate your DTI, divide your monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income.

Interestingly, the survey also found that those who said they used a financial advisor, instead of trying a do-it-yourself approach, were twice as likely to feel confident about their present and future financial situations. A trusted local advisor at Edward Jones can help you create a roadmap to work toward your own financial wellness.

unable to perform activities of daily living independently.

(Money Coach Damon Carr can be reached at 412-216-1013 or visit his website @ www.damonmoneycoach.com.)

OPRAH WINFREY

RIHANNA

FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA

Urge cease-fire in Gaza now

More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israel-Hamas war nearly five months ago, according to Gaza health officials.

The surge in Palestinian deaths comes after witnesses said Israel forces fired at a crowd of people waiting for aid in Gaza City on Thursday, killing at least 104 people and wounding about 760.

Israeli officials acknowledged that troops opened fire on a large crowd of Palestinians who had converged on an aid convoy as it entered northern Gaza. Officials said troops opened fire after the crowd approached the soldiers in a threatening way.

World leaders are right to condemn the Israeli forces attack on civilians seeking aid.

“It is a heinous crime to target peaceful civilians who are rushing to get their share of humanitarian aid,” read a statement released by Egypt’s foreign ministry.

“It is a flagrant violation of the international law and the international humanitarian law, and also shows disregard to the sanctity of human lives,” the Egyptian statement added.

The Associated Press reports: “The war has driven 80 percent of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million Palestinians from their homes, and U.N. officials say a quarter of the population is starving.

“The World Health Organization warns that poor sanitation, the lack of access to clean water, and the over-crowdedness of settlements where displaced Gazans have relocated, could lead to further infectious disease outbreaks and ultimately more deaths.”

The war began after Hamas militants stormed across southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 250 others hostage including men, women, children and older adults.

About 100 were freed about 50 days into their captivity and roughly 130 hostages remain.

Israel had every right to a strong military response to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack in protection of its citizens. No government would allow such a brutal attack without punishing its attackers.

However, U.N. experts say Israeli strikes on Gaza amount to collective punishment of Palestinians.

While condemning the “horrific crimes committed by Hamas,” a group of independent United Nation experts has previously said that Israel has resorted to “indiscriminate military attacks” against Palestinians in Gaza.

Given the scale of death and devastation in Gaza, the United States must now take a more active role in seeking to end the humanitarian catastrophe the war has created.

Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s head for the Eastern Mediterranean, is right in saying that “concrete steps” toward peace are desperately needed.

“The 30,000 are not mere statistics, they are human lives,” Balkhy wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “As a doctor and humanitarian, I will keep advocating for the right of all people to life and health. I call on all leaders to join.”

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described Gaza as “a death zone” and has called repeatedly for a cessation of hostilities.

Leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the country’s oldest and most prominent Black Christian denominations, and other faith leaders across denominations are right to call for a cease-fire as the death toll rises in Gaza.

Failure to end the conflict will result in an escalation in the deaths of innocent civilians and the risk of war spreading across the region.

The U.S. should join with other world leaders to push for an urgent cease-fire in Gaza. (Reprinted from The Philadelphia Tribune)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Like African Americans, women have not yet achieved equality.  We’re still trying to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).  Not until the 1970’s women’s history was virtually unknown as to the contributions women continue to make to the world.  When women did get some recognition, it was for only one week. We’ve finally, like African Americans, graduated up to a month, but as much as women do to make this a better world, I submit to you women should be honored in some way every day. I doubt that many people haven’t even thought about the fact that while we have numerous men honored with a federal holiday (without deserving one), there is not a single woman with such an honor!

It is time for us to enlist some of those men to support women by working for a federal holiday in the name of Rosa Parks for her bravery in sitting on that bus on December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama. She did it without fear of what would happen to her. Her courage was significant not just for women, but for all of us. On that day, the Whites in charge wanted to keep pushing her to the back of the bus but she refused. We’re at a point in our country where many in charge of creating our laws are still trying to push women back by eliminating Roe v. Wade, and more recently ruling that frozen embryos are children! Imme-

When you’re a first-time parent, you worry about everything—is the baby eating enough? Is the baby eating too much? What kind of diapers are best? Will this laundry detergent give the baby a rash? Is this car seat safe enough?

As a new dad of a five-month-old, I admit it’s a lot. But there’s one thing no new parent in Pennsylvania should have to worry about: health coverage for your family.

That’s because Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace— Pennie—can help you find affordable, high-quality health coverage. During the recent open enrollment period, almost 435,000 Pennsylvanians got covered through our state’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. That represents a 17 percent increase over last year’s figure and a record-high number of enrollees in the Commonwealth.

Across the country, the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering on their pledge to lower health care costs for seniors and families, and now a record-breaking 21.3 million Americans are signed up for a 2024 health plan through the ACA Marketplace. This is more than 9 million more than when President Biden took office.

Thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress, millions of Americans are getting quality health care. Eighty percent of enrollees have found coverage through the Marketplace for $10 or less per month.

This was made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act,

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Whoever would have thought fossil fuel industry front groups would make whales and other marine species a cultural wedge issue? However, thanks to a deception campaign targeting wind energy that’s exactly where we find ourselves.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in New Jersey rescues and rehabilitates live beached animals and performs necropsies on the remains of dead ones to pinpoint their causes of death. Sheila Dean, one of the group’s founders, describes how the rampant misinformation connecting whale deaths to sonar used in surveying the seafloor for offshore wind farms is making her job more difficult. And it is distracting people from what is really killing the whales: vessel strikes, climate change, plastic pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear and marine debris.

“I’ve been doing this for 47 years. We had a lot of whale deaths in 2023 but there have been years we’ve had more. In 2013 we had a lot of whales and dolphins washing up. Our necropsy data show a wide variety of possible causes of death, including blunt force trauma from suspected vessel strikes. If the sonar from mapping was killing marine life, our shores likely would have been littered with hundreds, if not thousands of dead and dying marine mammals.”

The frenzy that has been whipped up against offshore wind energy has thrust Dean’s organization into the storm. Anti-wind activists and the people they have duped are demanding close examination of whale’s ears to show signs of damage from sonar. But most beached whale remains are in an advanced state of decomposition, making that impossible. Where there have been beached animals that have not been too decomposed, mostly dolphins, the MMSC and its partners have

diately after that decision, one of the leading anti-women’s rights promoters, Thomas Hawley Tubberville of Alabama, proclaimed “We need more kids!”    He had not even read the decision but he had his answer on the case ready.  I guess reading, analyzing, and taking a position in favor of women and children is not something the Senator of Alabama is not required to do!  I pray that men like him don’t have daughters or granddaughters who could be negatively impacted by his votes. Wouldn’t it be great if their votes turned out to negatively impact his return to the Senate when he faces the voters? What is it that gives men like him (and a lot of others in his party) the right to control the bodies of women?)

No matter how hard you try, you will not find a single thing he has done since he’s been in Washington, DC to help that would take care of the least of these—not women, not children.

On another subject, many American women, salute Yulia Navalny’s cour-

age during Women’s History Month for her announcement that she’ll carry on her late husband’s work, and we honor Yulia. She no longer has to be called the 1st Lady of Russian Opposition because she is now the Leader of Russian Opposition! Those of us who are activists in America, love Alexi Navalny and we thank Yulia and Alexi’s mother, Lyndmila, for upholding the name of Alexi Navalny.

The crowds of people who showed up for Navalny’s celebration of life is the strongest evidence of the love of the Russian people for Navalny. What just happened in Russia should show us how important it is to vote for our democratic leaders and have those votes count. For the man in America who wants to be President again and has shown us he likes authoritarians like Putin, it’s obvious he wants to become one. Take note of what these people do when they’re not subject to democracy and its rules.  Please don’t fall for the gold sneakers with the T on them. The sneakers aren’t going to help you if you have a man in the White House who already identifies you with crime. Honor your mothers during Women’s History Month by promising them you won’t vote for a self-declared dictator! (Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of The Dick Gregory Society.)

which lowered health care premiums for people who buy coverage on their own. The Biden administration also invested in outreach and education to help people enroll, with a particular focus on communities of color.

The Biden-Harris Administration increased Black enrollment in health coverage through the ACA by 49 percent from 2020 to 2022, helping more Black families gain health insurance than ever before. They also capped the cost of insulin at $35 a month for folks on Medicare and expanded postpartum coverage from 60 days to one year for new mothers in 43 states, including Pennsylvania, through Medicaid. Ensuring new moms can stay covered is vitally important for dealing with our Black maternal mortality crisis.

While millions of people are now enjoying the peace of mind and access to care that comes with coverage, Donald Trump, who has all but secured the Republican nomination, is vowing to terminate the ACA if he is elected. We’ve seen this playbook before. President Trump and his MAGA allies are resurfacing a battle they lost in 2017 when they tried to repeal the ACA and its protections for people

gone the extra mile and incurred great cost for CT scans and lab analysis. The results? No evidence of auditory trauma. Scientists have been clear. Disruptions in the whales’ feeding patterns, water salinity, and currents are likely the result of climate change. Dean points out the whales are following their food source, which is what brings them into the shipping lanes.  Finding no evidence that sonar mapping for offshore wind farms is connected to the whale deaths, groups like Dean’s are being targeted as if they are part of some cover up fueled by the wind industry. Dean is clear that her organization takes no money from the wind industry.

Meanwhile, the real problems behind the increase in whale deaths go unaddressed. And with climate change perhaps the largest overriding problem, and our transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy the solution… well, it is not hard to see how this is by design.

Lies and deceit have always been the stock-in-trade of the fossil fuel industry’s public relations and lobbying efforts. Back in 2009 when I was national president of the NAACP, the lobbying firm for a major coal industry group faked a letter to Congress from our Albemarle-Charlottesville chapter in Virginia to stop a climate bill. The letter even used NAACP letterhead and declared opposition to the American Clean Energy and Security Act, a bill we actually supported! So let us follow the money behind the rising tide of local front groups opposing offshore wind development. The organizing efforts and litigation come from organizations with benign names like the American Coalition for Ocean Protection and Save Right Whales. Those organizations link back to dark money groups like the Texas Public Policy

with pre-existing conditions. Repealing the ACA would touch nearly every household in the country. In addition to over 40 million Americans losing affordable coverage, more than 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions would lose critical protections, and 50 million seniors would have to pay more for prescription drugs.

Donald Trump and his MAGA Republican allies in Congress are also fighting to repeal the health care measures of the Inflation Reduction Act, which not only lowered premium costs for millions of families, but lowered prescription drug costs for seniors. Despite the fact that more Americans are relying on the ACA than ever before, Trump and his GOP lapdogs in Congress can’t wait to gut the health care law and kick millions off their coverage—all to please their Big Pharma and insurance industry donors.

Many of us remember what it was like before the Affordable Care Act, when insurance companies could kick you off your coverage for having a pre-existing condition like asthma or diabetes, when they could charge you more simply for being a woman. That’s the world Donald Trump wants to take us back to—a place where families have to worry about whether their health coverage will be there for them when they need it. Don’t Pennsylvania parents have enough to worry about? We’re already dealing with too little sleep and too much caffeine.

Foundation, the Caesar Rodney Institute, and the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. And those groups are funded by fossil fuel interests like ExxonMobil and the Charles Koch Foundation. Major players include operatives who have been on the forefront of climate denial for years and involved in previous political smear jobs like the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth.

These groups opposing wind energy are not just screaming their lies into the wind. They are shifting public opinion. A Monmouth poll shows public support for New Jersey’s offshore wind projects has dropped from 76 percent to 54 percent in the wake of the disinformation campaign around whale deaths.

The Northeast as a region has been among the most forward-thinking when it comes to the use and development of renewable energy. If these groups are successful in blocking the development of renewable energy adoption and production in the Northeast, it does not bode well for the rest of the country. And the fossil fuel industry knows it.

We are already seeing Big Oil and Gas target solar with blatant misinformation targeted at communities across the country. A recent NPR report detailed how one group connected to polluters and climate deniers, the so-called Citizens for Responsible Solar, “has helped local groups fighting solar projects in at least 10 states including Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.”

So if it has not already, misleading campaigns of the fossil fuel industry could be coming to a town near you. Remember if you see a group opposing clean energy, it is usually a good idea to follow the money behind the message.

(Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.)

The world is watching

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Our European allies are seeing what many of us in America have seen since Donald Trump came onto the political scene. With concerns about what a second Trump presidency may bring, Europe is now Trump-proofing itself in preparation for the worst. During his four years in office, former President Trump shocked America’s closest allies in Europe by upending the transatlantic balance on which the post-World War II Western world was built. From the solid alliance between America and Europe, the United States became the respected and dependable leader of the free world.

Today, Europe’s main concern is that a re-elected Trump will pick up where he left off by halting aid to Ukraine and reneging on America’s promise to defend its NATO partners, thus leaving Europe vulnerable to attack by Russia and Vladimir Putin, Trump’s true ally. The former president has falsely suggested our allies owe unpaid balances and has often criticized their defense spending. In recent years, the European nations have increased their defense spending in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But Trump’s blunt ultimatum to NATO—pay more or we won’t protect you—is troubling and has a bigger agenda behind it.

The paradox is that many critics condemn Trump’s divisive tactics and rhetoric but agree with his central point: Europe has depended on the United States for far too long. Presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama have urged Europe to increase its military spending, but no other president has come close to Trump’s offensive threats. Ironically, Trump is threatening NATO allies about “paying their bills” while he has a history of reneging on his own bills—many times at the expense of small businesses.

As a piano dealer, Michael Diehl was a small businessman who won a bid in 1989 to supply

David W. Marshall

$100,000 worth of grand pianos to Trump’s Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City. Diehl was still waiting to be paid months after the delivery was made. Despite having a contract, he was told that the gambling mecca ran into financial difficulties and could only give him 70 cents on the dollar. Diehl was forced to take the discounted payment and lose $30,000. The piano dealer was not alone. A USA Today analysis uncovered 60 lawsuits by individuals who say Trump and his businesses failed to pay them for their work.

The list includes plumbers, painters, waiters, bartenders, real estate brokers, and even law firms that helped him defend such suits. Records released by casino regulators in 1990 show that 253 subcontractors on a single project were not paid in full or on time. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Trump had a handshake agreement where Giuliani and his team would get paid by the Trump political operation for their post-election work. According to campaign finance records, Giuliani’s companies were only reimbursed for travel and not paid for the $20,000 a day he requested. Trump is self-serving when he consistently fails to honor his financial obligations, even to his closest ally, Giuliani. Therefore, when Trump complains about European allies who are “delinquent” with their 2 percent GDP contributions, he is guilty of the same accusation he is implying to them. So, what is his true motive? In many ways, Putin and Trump are one and the same.

We know that Vladimir Putin hates NATO and all that it represents—unity. He hates the common bond and the strength in numbers associated with the group of aligned nations. NATO is unity. Its unity keeps Putin in check, which he does not like. Its unity is fueled by separate parts working together and joining to form one cohesive body. NATO is a unified body that Russia cannot destroy externally.

For it to be effectively weakened, the alliance must be undermined and divided internally, which is why NATO must become Trump-proof. Putin also hates democracy; therefore, American democracy must be Trump-proof as well. The internal attempts to destroy American democracy by those with a faithful allegiance to Trump are getting bolder by the day. In a speech at a recent CPAC meeting, a well-known rightwing influencer, Jack Posobiec, spoke about how important it is for conservatives to band together to end democracy in America and presumably replace it with Christofascism like in Russia. “Welcome to the end of democracy,” he declared.

American democracy is unity. Its unity is represented through political bipartisanship and by allowing all people to have an equal voice with equal political authority. The same people who maintain and who seek to end democracy are accomplishing their goal of internally dividing and destroying what was once the Republican Party. The GOP was never Trump-proof and is no longer a political party committed to governing in the best interests of the overall nation or our democratic allies. The white evangelical church was never Trump-proof. Christians and non-Christians continue to be turned off and baffled by White evangelicals’ worship of the criminally charged Trump. Trump has gotten away with so much his entire life. From not paying his workers and contractors to being indicted for overturning a presidential election. Why should we expect him to stop? The remaining question we now face is with the Supreme Court. Is it Trump-proof? Decisions before the Supreme Court could directly impact Trump’s legal and political future. The world is waiting and watching in disbelief.

(David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization, TRB: The Reconciled Body, and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America)

The congresswoman, CAIR, and the benefit of the doubt

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack from Gaza on Israel. Hamas terrorists massacred 1,200 people and took 250 hostages.

A month later, Nihad Awad, the Council on America-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) executive director and co-founder, spoke at the American Muslims for Palestine’s (AMP) annual convention. That same month, Virginia’s Attorney General announced that his office would investigate allegations that AMP may have utilized funds received to support terrorist organizations.

Awad told AMP that he was happy to witness the Palestinians breaking their shackles and freely walking into their land, a place they were previously forbidden to enter. He also stated that the people of Gaza have the right to defend themselves, but Israel, as an occupying power, does not have the right to self-defense.

CAIR was heavily criticized for Awad’s speech.

Awad issued a statement to clarify his comments. He stated that he did not condone Hamas’s strike. He merely praised “the average Palestinian who briefly walked out of Gaza and set foot on their ethnically cleansed land in a symbolic act of defiance.”

Many didn’t believe Awad because of CAIR’s history.

In 2004, when Al-Jazeera asked Awad about the US government’s designation of Hamas and Hezbollah as foreign terrorist organizations, he responded, “We do not and will not condemn any liberation movement inside Palestine or Lebanon.” He also remarked that if the United States wants CAIR to condemn liberation movements, the United States must condemn Israel.

In January 2009, Fox News reported, “The FBI is severing its once-close ties with the nation’s largest Muslim advocacy group, CAIR, amid mounting evidence that it has links to a support network for Hamas. All local chapters of CAIR have been shunned in the wake of a 15-year FBI investigation that culminated with the conviction of Hamas fundraisers at a trial where CAIR itself was listed as an

J. Pharoah Doss Check It Out

unindicted co-conspirator.”

CAIR denounced the FBI’s action, claiming that “the true losers under this unfortunate policy are those FBI officials who will have their access to the mainstream American Muslim community restricted.” CAIR also stated that the Bush administration targeted them in a purely political move to prevent them from defending the civil rights of American Muslims, and CAIR looked forward to better relations with the Obama administration.

CAIR requested that their name be removed from the list of unindicted co-conspirators (which included 250 others) because the evidence the government presented of CAIR’s associations with the Holy Land Foundation, the Islamic Association for Palestine, and Hamas was before the government labeled them terrorist organizations, but the judge denied their request because the government provided “ample evidence” to link CAIR with those organizations.

It is possible that CAIR has been targeted by right-wing bigots within the government and has been unjustly accused of being affiliated with terrorist organizations.  However, in 2014, CAIR did appear on the United Arab Emirates’s list of designated terrorist organizations.

For the majority of Americans, the negative press CAIR receives reads like a conspiracy theory. That always worked in CAIR’s favor until their executive director made those remarks regarding October 7 last year; now the organization has lost the benefit of the doubt.

Rayan Mauro, the investigative reporter for Capital Research Center, wrote, “CAIR will likely now be seen as too toxic for politicians, too anti-Semitic to be

accepted into interfaith outreaches, too extreme for the media to treat as the authority on Muslim American issues, too indefensible for think tanks and public figures to align with, and too deceptive for virtually anyone to trust.”

Despite having given CAIR the benefit of the doubt since the Obama administration, the Biden White House removed CAIR from its list of organizations participating in its U.S. National Strategy to Prevent Antisemitism.

Fortunately for CAIR, not all politicians distanced themselves from the organization.

Summer Lee (D-PA), a progressive congresswoman whose seat is under threat from primary challenger Bhavini Patel, was slated to appear this month at CAIR’s Philadelphia chapter’s annual fundraising banquet.

Patel and other Democrats speculated that Congresswoman Lee, despite the controversy surrounding CAIR, continued to support the organization by strategically choosing to participate in the CAIR fundraiser. Patel and other Democrats chastised Congresswoman Lee for being scheduled alongside speakers who made antisemitic and inflammatory remarks about the Israel-Hamas conflict and LGBTQ+ concerns.

Congresswoman Lee canceled her presentation in Philadelphia because the backlash was damaging her reputation right before the primary election. That’s understandable; however, Congresswoman Lee pretended to be uninformed and stated that she only recently learned of the past statements made by the other scheduled speakers, which is why she chose not to attend the fundraiser.

Does that mean Congresswoman Lee and her staff were fully aware that CAIR has been under suspicion for generating funds for organizations like Hamas but chose to speak anyway, or does that mean Congresswoman Lee and her staff were uninformed and recently learned about CAIR’s alleged connection to terror organizations?

Out of the two, it’s hard to decide which is worse.

State Of Black America 2024 evaluates the Biden-Harris commitment to racial equity

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“We’re building an America where we recognize the inherent dignity of every single person, and where every American has the chance to live a life of purpose and meaning. This is my vision for the future.”  President Joe Biden, 2024 State of Black America

Before he was elected President of the United States, Joe Biden made history by becoming the first major-party general election candidate to develop an agenda for Black America: Lift Every Voice, On his first day in office, he made history again by signing Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities, which declared “Equal opportunity is the bedrock of American democracy, and our diversity is one of our country’s greatest strengths.” Acknowledging “the unbearable human costs of systemic racism,” the order made an unprecedented commitment to tackle inequality: “Affirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our Government.”

More than three years into his presidency, as he asks voters to elect him to another term, the National Urban League developed a special section of the 2024 State of Black America®, “Evaluation for Progress: Report on the Biden Harris Administration.”

In doing so, we honor the legacy of the man who originated The State of Black America, Vernon Jordan, who passed away three years ago this week. The 1976 report was a scathing response to President Gerald Ford’s State of The Union Address, which failed to make a single mention of the plight of African Americans.

“The slow but steady decline in racial cooperation and in the black condition

Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal

became, in 1975, a headlong rush into the deep pit of depression and hardship,” Jordan wrote. “The condition of Black Americans, once the benchmark of America’s commitment to equality in justice, is now the object of malign neglect and hostile disregard.”

In contrast, President Biden placed racial equity at the center of his Administration, committing that it would shape the legislation, regulations, federal investments, and agency actions his Administration championed.  As our report makes clear, that commitment has resulted in meaningful policy changes for Black Americans across economic opportunity, education, health care, criminal justice, housing, the environment, and civil rights protections. Candidate Biden promised to invest in Black America and improve the economy. When President Biden took office, the unemployment rate was 6.3 percent. Today, it’s 3.7 percent. The Black unemployment rate was 9.2 percent. Today, it’s 5.3 percent. Candidate Biden promised a cabinet and senior staff that reflects the soul of America. The Biden White House is the most diverse in American history, with nearly 50 percent of current appointees identifying as people of color.  Most notably, his Vice President is the first Black

woman in history to hold the office, and he appointed—as promised—the first Black woman Supreme Court Justice. Candidate Biden promised to expand health care access. Under the Biden Administration, the Affordable Care Act has flourished. In the most recent enrollment period, more than 20 million Americans have signed up for plans, a record-breaking eight million more enrollments than previously recorded.

Parts of President Biden’s equity agenda, unfortunately, have been blocked by Congress and an ultra-conservative Supreme Court. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would have restored anti-discrimination protections in the Voting Rights Act that were gutted by the Supreme Court. The Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded opportunities to register to vote and cast a ballot, and it would have prevented voter suppression through partisan gerrymandering and unlawful voter purges. President Biden gave a landmark address in January 2022 in Georgia, ground zero for voting rights, where he called for an end to the Senate filibuster to prevent a minority of Senators from blocking these bills. Filibuster reform can be accomplished by a simple majority in the Senate, which Democrats had. Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona refused to change the filibuster rule for voting rights, however, blocking both bills.

Please visit StateOfBlackAmerica.org to read the full evaluation of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to racial justice, and follow our livestream on Tuesday, March 5, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time for a presentation of the entire report.

Rustin: The man behind the man

by Dwight Brown

NNPA Film Critic

NNPA NEWSWIRE—He was the man behind the man. Martin Luther King’s chief lieutenant. Why is he only getting attention now?

Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) was gay at a time in the ‘60s when he was shunned by MLK’s other associates. He regained his stature in the civil rights leader’s camp when he imagined, developed and completed a March on Washington. Rustin: “Do this Dr. King. Own your power.”

That assembly of like minds became the largest civil rights gathering ever. On August 28th, 1963, 250,000 people, who had a heightened sense of social consciousness, descended on D.C. and changed the course of history. Rustin: “A demonstration made up of angelic troublemakers.”

The script by Julian Breece (When They See Us) and Dustin Lance Black (Milk) gives and in-depth portrait of the man who endured continuous hazing, yet prevailed. Lovers, adversaries, arrests,

achievements. It’s all on screen, manifested in a stunning performance by Domingo. Meticulous research has been turned into an energizing screenplay. All the characters are in place. Yet, too often their dialogue seems more suited for a modern novel than the way everyday folks talked back then.

The most stirring drama is featured in scenes played by veteran actors who embody strong-willed civil rights icons in the heat of verbal battles: Glynn Turman (A. Phillip Randolph), CCH Pounder (Dr. Anna Hedgeman), Maxwell Whittington-Cooper (John Lewis), Aml Ameen (MLK). Jeffrey Wright as the vindictive Adam Clayton Powell commands the screen and steers the proceedings to high-pitch levels. Chris Rock as the condescending NAACP leader Roy Wilkinson seems woefully miscast: “The hell with Bayard Rustin. His attention-grabbing antics make him an easy target. And let’s not mention the unmentionable.”

Director George C. Wolfe (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) gets many things right. The assemblage of historical figures is as magical as the one in One Night in

Miami, when Sam Cooke, Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali and Malcom X gathered. He makes Rustin’s coalition building feat (Black activists, college kids, union members) seem miraculous. And Wolfe builds the tension and preparation to an exhilarating peak, getting solid performances from the very talented cast. Yet nothing distinguishes Rustin from other bio/ history films, minus the milestone crowd shots at the Washington Monument. Some will wish the film had steered towards authenticity and wasn’t so polished. Tobias A. Schliessler’s cinematography glistens. Toni-Leslie James’ costumes look like they were just bought at SAKS. It’s hard to believe you’ve gone back in time when everything looks so neat and tidy. That’s the rub. Fortunately, the sheer gravitas of this historical accounting outweighs any imperfections. Domingo, the screenwriters and supporting cast finally give the enigmatic Bayard Rustin his props, in the most respectful way. He’s no longer the man behind the scenes. He’s the man. (Dwight Brown is Film Critic for DwightBrownInk.com and NNPA Newswire)

Commentary

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Meetings

NOTICE

On March 14, 2024, at 6 p.m., in Council Chambers, 537 Bayne Ave., Bellevue Borough’s Zoning Hearing Board shall hold Public Hearings re: (1) Application of Franklin Square, LP t/d/b Kuhn’s Market, seeking Approval by Special Exception, per Tri-Borough Zoning Ord. §2000-405 & §2000-631, to operate a “Grocery Store” at 629 Lincoln Ave. (Parcel 160-F-180); and (2) Application of BB Keystone Real Estate Partners, LLC, seeking Special Exception approval, per Tri-Borough Zoning Ord. §2000-405 & Ord. No. 18-05, to use the property at 531 Teece Ave. as a Short-term Rental unit. The Applications may be viewed during normal business hours at the Borough Offices.

Thomas P. McDermott, Solicitor Bellevue Borough ZHB

NOTICE

-

TOWNSHIP

OF KILBUCK

The Board of Supervisors of Kilbuck Township will hold a public hearing and public meeting to consider an amendment to the Township Zoning Ordinance establishing that beekeeping shall be a permitted accessory use in the R-1, R-2, R-3, PK and CON Zoning Districts and establishing certain other requirements pertaining to such use, said hearing and meeting to be held on March 26, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Kilbuck Township Municipal Building, 343 Eicher Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.

SUMMARY

The proposed Ordinance would establish new definitions, allow beekeeping as a permitted accessory use in the R-1, R-2, R-3, PK and CON Zoning Districts, and impose general and specific regulations for beekeeping in each Zoning District. A copy of the proposed ordinance may be examined in the office of the Township Secretary, without charge, during regular business hours.

TOWNSHIP OF KILBUCK

Andrew Wright, Township Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

ALLEGHENY COUNTY

SANITARY AUTHORITY

The Green Committee of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority will hold a special meeting for general purposes on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. prevailing time in the Trefz Board Room at its offices located at 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233. Official action on the Committee’s recommendations will take place at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors at a later date. The public may view the meeting via livestream by visiting www.alcosan.org

PUBLIC NOTICE

ALLEGHENY COUNTY

SANITARY AUTHORITY

The Professional Services Committee of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority will hold a special meeting for general purposes on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. prevailing time, in the Trefz Board Room at its offices located at 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233. Official action on the Committee’s recommendations will take place at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors at a later date. The public may view the meeting via livestream by visiting www.alcosan.org.

PROFESSIONAL

Historic preservation and Economic development organization is requesting qualifications from:

Development/ Grant Management FirmsQualifications relative to the following should be discussed: redevelopment planning and financial acquisition strategies, managing reporting for public programs, managing consulting teams, packaging other incentive programs, seeking community input, personnel available for this assignment, assistance in securing women and minority participation, and the method and hourly rates of compensation. RFQ is due March 7, 2023 and should be mailed to: Young Preservationists Association, 700 River Avenue, Suite 318, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

RE: DCP-HN-2023-01248

City Council will hold a public hearing on DCP-HN-2023-01248, the historic nomination of the Sal’s Barber Shop, located at 712 Brookline Boulevard.

City Council Bill 2024-0169.

The documents submitted as part of this application will be available online on the Department of City Planning’s Notices website: https://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/upcoming by typing “Israel” or “Frick”.

Email questions regarding this nomination to historicreview@pittsburghpa.gov.

The public hearing will be held in Council Chambers, located on the Fifth Floor of the City-County Building, 414 Grant Street. Please use the Grant Street elevators to access the 5th Floor. All meetings are livestreamed on the on the City’s YouTube channel. The public hearing date is:

Tuesday, March 26th, 2024 at 2:00 PM

To register to speak, please complete the online Speaker form at: https://pittsburghpa.gov/clerk/council-meetings

You may also call the City Clerk’s office to register at (412) 255-2138.

Sign up is required by 11:30 am on Tuesday, March 26th, 2024. After you’ve registered, you’ll be given the telephone number and access code to join the hearing. You may also submit written statements by emailing the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerksoffice@pittsburghpa.gov. Please note that written statements are not read live during hearings, but are forwarded to all Council Members.

During the hearing, the live stream is available on the City’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CityChannelPittsburgh You may also access the past meetings videos online here: https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

The hearing will be replayed on the City Channel Pittsburgh. Please check your local listings for channel information.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

The Sports & Exhibition Authority will receive sealed bids for the 2nd and 3rd Floor North Roof Terrace Replacement as identified below for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The contracts for this work will be issued by the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and assigned to Albert M. Higley Company prior to the start of construction. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to Albert M. Higley Company; 285 Kappa Drive, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15238; to the following contact:

Stephen McAfee E-mail: stephen.mcafee@amhigley.com, Telephone: (646-904-0590).

The

Bid packages may be obtained via Accu-copy Reprographics, (724) 935-7055, www.accu-copy.com beginning on February 27, 2024.

All prime bids are due on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 2pm

This Advertisement applies to the following Bid Packages:

Project: DLLCC 2nd and 3rd Floor North Roof Terrace Replacement

Bid Packages:

Bid Package #1 General Trades

Bid Package #2 Roofing

Bid Package #3 Plumbing

Package #4 Electrical

Package #5 Landscaping

Bid

2nd floor Council Chambers at the Bellevue Borough Municipal Building, 537 Bayne Avenue, Bellevue, PA 15202.

James E. Kelly

Director of Administrative Services

621 586 340

Passcode: 5U37P5

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone

No

Join

Meeting

Passcode:HkRmoJ

917 335

250 700 585 089

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 670 925 065

Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the PRT within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond

Electronic

will be received online at PRT’s

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on March 27, 2024 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following:

Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

1

To join the

No

HOUSING

IFB# 250-06-24

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or

Grass Cutting of Vacant Lots in the Middle Hill and Hamilton Larimer District IFB# 250-06-24

The documents will be available no later than February 26, 2024 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 9:00 a.m. on March 21, 2024.

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 a.m. until the closing time of 9:00 a.m. on March 21, 2024 in the lobby of 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Bids may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site; the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor, 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.

Questions or inquiries should be directed to:

Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 412 Boulevard of the Allies 6th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832

A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting on March 12, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Please see meeting information below:

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 873 8613 3409

Passcode: 794811 +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 has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion,

will be held on each of the above items at 10:00

on March 14, 2024, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Meeting ID: 237 620 962 991

Passcode: nPFY4w

Or call in (audio only)

412-927-0245

Phone Conference ID: 607 521 346#

Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged.

Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the PRT within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT and the United States

Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of PRT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY D.B.A. PRT

Electronic Proposals will be received online at PRT’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on April 2, 2024 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing for the following:

Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held via Microsoft Virtual Teams Meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 10:00 A.M., Prevailing Time. An Invitation will be required to access this meeting. If interested in obtaining a Invitation to the Pre-Bid Meeting, contact Kathleen P. Uniatowski via email at Kathleen.uniatowski@alcosan.org . ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Contracts or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to successful Bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority and women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible.

Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the Engineering office of the Authority. A non-refundable fee of One hundred dollars ($100) (no cash or credit cards will be accepted) will be charged for each set of Contract Documents received. Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Bid Price. Contract documents must be purchased directly from ALCOSAN to qualify as an eligible bidder.

Any questions regarding the Technical Specifications should be directed to Zachary Hughes, Project Engineer I, ALCOSAN, via email at zachary.hughes@alcosan.org

Any questions regarding the Purchase of Contract Documents should be directed to Kathleen P. Uniatowski, ALCOSAN, via email at contract.clerks@alcosan.org.

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.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Michael Lichte P.E. Director of Regional Conveyance

PART TIME Administrator Assistant for Sole Proprietor Entrepreneur 412-281-2700 barry@blsestate.com

The

accepting applications for the position of an Official Court

with an official duty station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Our Court Reporters maintain the courtroom record and produce transcripts of court proceedings according to strict standards. Highly accurate records and transcripts of court proceedings are critical to the administration of justice. Preference will be given to those applicants that are certified realtime. Visit the court’s website at https://www.pawd.uscourts.gov/ employment for complete employment information and how to apply through the court’s online application tracking system. Open until filled. Preference will be given to those applications received by March 17, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in the workplace.

TEACHING POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Falk School, a coeducational K-8 school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is seeking full-time teachers for the following positions for the next academic year, beginning in the fall of 2024.

Middle School Language Arts (6-8)

Academic Interventionist (K-8)

Director of Student Services (K-8)

For full, detailed position announcements and consideration for any of these positions, please go to https://www.join.pitt.edu under faculty positions and upload your materials. Review of applications will continue through March 22, 2024, or until the position is filled.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and diversity.

EEO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled

COMMUNITY NATURE EDUCATOR

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is hiring a full-time Community Nature Educator. This position serves as a member of the Education team by leading the development and delivery of high-quality education programs that advance people’s understanding of and commitment to the natural and cultural resources found in Pittsburgh’s public parks. This position builds and sustains partnerships with community -based organizations, implementing nature-based learning experiences for school age children and learners of all ages. Programming and outreach efforts are focused on, but not limited to, the neighborhoods of Homewood, Hazelwood, the Hilltop, and the Hill District. The compensation for this position is between $40,000 - $46,000. For more details, please visit www.pittsburghparks.org/ about/job-openings/

analysis, entry preparation and account reconciliation for accurate processing of activities such as general ledger. Maintains ledgers and spreadsheets in Excel. Documents and creates accounting-related procedures and reports as required. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting required. Minimum of 3-5 years accounting experience; experience in non-profit accounting strongly preferred. Experience with fund accounting software preferred. Send Resume with cover letter and salary requirements to resumes@manchesterbidwell.org EOE

ENTRY LEVEL POLICE OFFICER

The City of Altoona is now accepting applications for Entry Level Police Officers. Information and applications are available online at www.altoonapa.gov and in the Human Resources Department of City Hall at 1301 12th Street, Suite 400, Altoona, PA. Applications and applicable

documentation must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by Noon on Friday, March 15, 2024.

The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer

BOROUGH OF BELLEVUE

FIREFIGHTER/LIEUTENANT

The Civil Service Commission of the Borough of Bellevue will offer competitive written and oral examinations for a certified list of applicants for the position of Firefighter/ Lieutenant. Applications for the position may be obtained at the Bellevue Borough Building located at 537 Bayne Avenue, Bellevue, Pennsylvania 15202 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, except holidays. Completed applications will be accepted in person (no postal or e-mail submissions) by the Administration Office at the Bellevue Borough Building beginning Monday, March 11, 2024, and must be returned no later than Friday, April 12, 2024. Qualified applicants will be notified by USPS of the date, time, and location of the written examination. No late applications will be accepted.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER, SENIOR

– UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside in Allegheny County seeks a Software Engineer, Senior. Serve as part of UPMC Enterprises to support the development and overall maintenance of UPMC’s Core Transactional/ Payor System. Be responsible for the design, integration, security, documentation, and maintenance of several application development systems, SDLC projects and test environments with the support of junior software engineers. Master’s degree, or equivalent, in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field plus two (2) years of Software Engineering, Application Development, or related experience: building new and maintaining existing web application features; developing enhancements to existing software from requirements; validating and scoping data models in the database; performing regression testing, user acceptance testing, and functional testing; using synchronization techniques to perform multithreaded programming; completing database migrations; performing production implementation validation; creating and modifying database migrations; working in all phases of SDLC from requirement analysis to debugging production issues; and utilizing Angular 9, CSS3, HTML5/ARIA, HTTP/S, Git, and JavaScript. In Lieu of Master’s degree plus two (2) years of experience, will accept Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field plus five (5) years of progressive Software Engineering, Application Development, or related experience in the specific experience as specified above. Telecommuting permissible. Any suitable combination of education, training, or experience is acceptable as set forth above. Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers.upmc.com and enter 240000OU in the “Search Keyword/Job ID” field and click Go. EOE/Disability/Veteran.

MANAGER OF SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Manager of Service Development to manage for the Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) Planning and Service Development Department the procedures surrounding the interpretation of data from various sources as it relates to providing transit services to the public and planning for future changes to those services. Manages the service development staff and prioritizes service changes three times per year for the Scheduling Department to ensure changes are prioritized and the community is engaged on major changes. Supports projects from other programs in the department such as corridor planning and station area planning.

Advises Director of Planning & Service Development on the evaluation of transit services and opportunities for continued growth and innovation regarding agency goals and objectives. Assists the Director of Planning & Service Development with Departmental tasks, presentations, and strategic direction.

Essential Functions:

• Manages the daily functions of service planning staff to prioritize work efforts in conjunction with the long-range plan, strategic plan, and annual departmental work plan goals. Sets goals and objectives, monitors performance, and looks for opportunities for growth of direct reports.

• Assists the Director of Planning & Service Development with Departmental tasks, presentations, and strategic direction

• Works with Planning and Service Development Management team to ensure collaboration across teams within and beyond the Department and looks for opportunities for efficiency of work efforts

• Collaborates directly with the Director of Transit Scheduling to ensure coordinated efforts towards the prioritization of triannual service changes

Job requirements include:

• BA/BS degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Planning, Business Administration, Information Systems Management, or related field.

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in data analysis, urban planning, or transportation/service planning/ scheduling. (Experience may be substituted by advanced education on a year for year basis.)

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

• Demonstrated ability to gather, analyze, and interpret complex data through understanding sampling methodologies, data integrity and data cleansing methods.

• Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Microsoft Word and Excel and PowerPoint.

• Effective and professional communication skills.

Preferred attributes:

• Demonstrated experience in visualization of data for presentation and exploration purposes, from both a conceptual visualization ability and use of tools (Tableau, PowerBI or similar).

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Transportation Planning, Business Administration, Analytics, Information Systems Management, or related field.

• Demonstrated ability in the understanding of the benefits of and skills needed for staff to use SQL or other database coding language(s) to modify existing and create new queries against established datasets.

• Experience at a transit agency or private corporation supporting transit agencies.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:

Missy Ramsey Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 MRamsey@RidePRT.org EOE

MANAGER - COMPENSATION

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Manager – Compensation to be responsible for all aspects of compensation and performance management administration including data analysis, job evaluation and classifications; position management; and data processing and all other compensation functions for Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). Serves as primary point-ofcontact for compensation related data analysis and ensures that compensation is compliant with federal, state and local regulations. Leads major compensation initiatives and acts as subject expert regarding compensation trends and laws; ensures compliance in compensation activities. Serves as liaison between Human Resources and other departments. Makes compensation recommendations to senior staff.

Manage and direct Compensation

Analyst. Essential Functions:

• Develop and maintain training program for the transfer of knowledge to Compensation Analyst

• Develop, execute, and utilize audit reports and controls for compensation processes striving for zero errors and mitigate process corrections

• Utilizes PeopleSoft HRMS to oversee and, at times, perform the following:

• Develop, modify, and run queries and reports to generate data for compensation planning and audits.

• Assist in the review, testing and implementation of HRMS upgrades. Collaborates with functional and technical staff to coordinate application of upgrade or fix. Document processes.

• Audit HRMS set-up tables.

• Coordinates related system modifications related to new provisions within PRT policies or collective bargaining agreements.

• Provides overall support by researching and resolving most complex compensation related issues

• Maintain and process employee compensation, transfer, job title, bids, and other changes.

• Creates and maintains job code and position information. Job requirements include:

• High School diploma or GED.

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources management, business administration or related field from an accredited college or university. Directly related experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in the planning and administration of compensation programs. No certifications or licenses required.

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

•Advanced knowledge and understanding of state and federal wage, salary, and hour laws.

• Advanced experience in compensation analysis, job evaluation, and salary survey participation.

• Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, and Microsoft Word, and Excel.

• Professional and effective communication skills.

Preferred attributes:

• Master’s degree in business administration, human resources management, industrial relations, or directly related field from an accredited college or university.

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation and/or professional certification (SHRM, etc.)

• Training and experience in PeopleSoft Human Resources Management System (HRMS).

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:

Missy Ramsey Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 MRamsey@RidePRT.org EOE

DEPUTY

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Deputy Chief Operations Officer - Rail to be responsible for overall management for the Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) light rail passenger operations including functional areas of light rail service delivery, right-of-way, LRT systems and power, equipment maintenance, and other rail operations duties. Oversight of day-to-day operation of RTO. Investigate service delivery problems and initiate corrective and preventive actions.

Essential Functions:

• Plans, directs, and manages all phases of day-to-day light rail service delivery, LRT Systems & Power, Way, and the administrative activities of the Rail Departments. Leads the development and implementation of strategic and departmental goals and objectives for PRT’s light rail system operations and maintenance to include traction power, signals, track, bridges, and rail structures. Ensures that all projects, programs, and strategic plans are within established deadlines to facilitate the accomplishment of PRT’s strategic mission.

• Oversight of day-to-day operations of RTO.

• Manages department matters relating to hiring, promotions, transfers, evaluations, and other personnel actions and monitors standardized PRT programs, such as health and safety, drug and alcohol, attendance, workers’ compensation, and safety as they relate to rail operations. Mentor and develop staff to improve accountability and results.

Job requirements include:

• High school diploma or GED.

• Bachelor’s degree in transportation, business administration, public administration, or related field from an accredited college or university. Related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-foryear basis.

• Minimum of nine (9) years of progressively responsible diversified experience in all facets of light rail operations, including street operations, power & signal, and/or right-of-way maintenance.

• Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory/management experience.

• Experience overseeing multi-milliondollar capital projects.

• Experience working with FTA and state safety oversight agencies.

• Extensive knowledge of FTA regulations, including relevant new legislation affecting railroad operations.

• Effective and professional communication skills.

• Customer focused, well organized and results oriented.

Preferred attributes:

• Master’s degree in automotive, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Business Administration, or related field.

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of rail transit systems operations.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:

Missy Ramsey Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527

MRamsey@RidePRT.org

EOE

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Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Transportation Technology Specialist to provide day-to-day support of Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT)’s Transportation Technology systems and services from a device and software level, focusing on data management, data integrity, reporting, system integrations, and customer support. Supports Transportation Technology software systems and services, with cross-support for other related applications also included. Works with PRT and vendor personnel to identify any technology or datacentric related issues with the systems and services and then follows through until conclusion. Works with data within systems to ensure integrity, building reports and data visualizations for effective understanding and presentation of information.

Essential Functions:

· Serve as technical analyst supporting systems, services, and software of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), including on-board tracking systems, electronic wayfinding signage, vehicle headsigns, Transit Signal Priority (TSP), Scheduling software, Maintenance and Operations management:

· Support data management of ITS applications, including integrity, entry, and import/export

· Serve as data-centric support for reports, information sharing, and data visualization

· Serve as customer support for software usage: Guide users with functional support and assist with navigating software. Resolve help desk tickets related to application software. Provide system end-user instruction for report generation and system functionality and also assist in the design of user documentation. Job requirements include

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· No experience required. No certifications or licenses required.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

· Exemplary attention to detail.

· Experience with complex deployments of enterprise-level applications, especially within the transportation industry.

· Experience working with multiple interrelated applications concurrently.

· Proven experience managing data, especially in ensuring integrity.

· Experience in monitoring and adhering to procedures and policies.

Help Wanted MANAGER OF ROAD OPERATIONS

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Manager of Road Operations to oversee all Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) revenue service in an effort to ensure safety, reliability, and on-time performance. Directs and supervises the Assistant Managers of Road Operations, Road Operations Supervisors, Movement Directors, and Traffic Dispatchers ensuring that these groups have all the resources required to perform their daily job duties

Essential Functions:

• Direct and supervise the Assistant Managers of Road Operations, Road Operations Supervisors, Movement Directors, and Traffic Dispatchers.

• Develops and implements On-Time Performance (OTP) strategies in an effort to meet the OTP goals of the Tactical Plan

• In the Directors absence, chairs the Right of Way Allocation Meeting and prepares and distributes all necessary reports and Operating Orders as required for said meeting.

• Ensures that all Road Operations personnel are proficient in using Clever CAD and can make the necessary service adjustments that allow for revenue service to remain on schedule.

• Directs and supervise the overall Road Operations reporting processes, including but not limited to; the Daily Bus DOR, IQ Software, D&A Reports, etc.

Job requirements include:

• High school diploma or GED.

• Bachelor’s degree in transportation, business administration, public administration or related field from an accredited college or university. Related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year

useful manner

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:

Taylor McBride

Employment Department

345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527

TMcbride@RidePRT.org EOE