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Denise Head

Claudy Pierre

Second Annual Transforming Women’s Health Symposium

Arnold’s Tea remains open

Pittsburgh Ques host party

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Metro A7

Lifestyles A8

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

Vol. 110 No. 40

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

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Jamila and Ashia Regan speak out 60 of 76

homicides Black lives

Feelings of ‘hurt, anger and fear’ after being attacked by gas station employees

6 of 9 September victims were Black

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

What a difference one week can make.

On Friday, Sept. 20, the Regan sisters, Jamila and Ashia, were simply trying to get gas for their vehicle at the Exxon on Brighton Road and Marshall Avenue.

Exactly one week later, Friday, Sept. 27, they were seated Downtown, in a room, facing television cameras.

They never thought that a simple trip to their neighborhood gas station would result in being attacked by multiple male employees of the gas station, all because of the employees reportedly not wanting to reimburse the Black women for gas that spilled onto the ground as a result of a faulty gas pump.

“I’m not sure which one word best describes the feeling of hurt, anger and fear. That’s how I felt at the time me and my sister were being targeted by these men,” Jamila Regan, 25, said in front of those television cameras, with sister Ashia, 27, and attorney Todd Hollis by her side.

“The moment I articulated our concerns, my credibility was dis-

JAMILA REGAN is comforted by attorney Todd Hollis as she speaks to reporters, Sept. 27. (Photos by Rob Taylor Jr.) credited. To face individuals who have no regard for you in the face of conflict is life-threatening. I was fearful for my life and that of my sister. The pain we had to endure and the memories will not soon dissipate. It will take time

‘Something that’s always going to be with us. Always.’

Ashia Regan, on gas station attack to heal.”

Jamila Regan said she felt an “extreme feeling” of being alone, “the feeling that no one cared about us,” after the attack occurred. The Regan sisters lost their mother to Huntington’s

THE REGAN SISTERS hug one another after the Sept. 27 press conference.

chorea, a disease that gradually kills brain cells, in 2011.

“My mom raised us to be strong Black women who always stick by each other no matter what before she got sick,” Ashia Regan said. “Losing our mom, that was traumatic for the both of us, but we had each other—still do, and always will. We are strong Black sisters who stick together. We are hard-working citizens who deserve to be respected. We are hard-working, taxpaying Americans…as customers we deserve to be treated with respect.

We are not thugs, we are

Of the three White homicide victims in Allegheny County last month, two were beaten to death by family members; only one was shot, accidentally by a friend. Of September’s six Black victims, one was strangled—five were shot, and none were accidents.

The carnage continues, and the New Pittsburgh Courier will continue to commemorate the vic-

tims until the genocide stops.

SEPT. 3—Margaret Sumney, a 67-year-old White female, was found beaten to death in her South Fayette Township home.

Her son David, 30, was arrested and charged with her death, Sept. 28. He is awaiting trial in the Allegheny County Jail.

SEPT. 7—Delores Burdick, an 80-year-old White female, was

SEE SPEAK OUT A7

SEE HOMICIDES A10

Ogletree Deakins law firm holds Workplace Diversity Discussion Series

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Having discussions about issues surrounding workplace diversity and inclusion can be difficult or uncomfortable. But Kimya Johnson, senior counsel and co-chair of Ogletree Deakins Diversity and Inclusion Practice Group from the law firm’s Philadelphia office, said at a Sept. 24 seminar on the North Side that those discussions are necessary to build camaraderie and make

KIMYA JOHNSON

employees feel valued, but also to head off repercussions—like lawsuits.

And there are ways to make such conversations more comfortable. Johnson demonstrated one such approach at the “Coming Together: Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Discussion Series” hosted by the firm’s Pittsburgh office at Alloy 26 in Nova Place.

First, she outlined the parameters: Keep the responses of others in confidence; promote a safe

place for expression—no interruption; seek to understand and not defend; focus on sharing and not persuading; listen to hear; remember that this is a “judgment-free zone;” speak only for yourself using “I” statements and presenting your experience versus that of others; and, respect versus react.

“Some of these are difficult,” Johnson said. “Especially for lawyers—we tend to interrupt, to ask questions. And the nature of our work is to persuade and de-

fend. That’s why doing this takes practice, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

She then handed the 40 or so participants a set of discussion questions and broke everyone into six groups led by facilitators.

Everyone was given three minutes—uninterrupted—to give their responses to the following: •What is your cultural background?

•How do you believe your culSEE DISCUSSION A7

New business resource center named for Sarah B. Campbell

by Rob Taylor Jr.

Sarah B. Campbell was all of the above.

“Sarah B. Campbell was a gift to this community,” state Rep. Ed Gainey said. “She did whatever she had to do to improve the quality of life inside Homewood-Brushton. Forever more,

Courier Staff Writer

They don’t name community centers just for anyone.

To have your name entrenched forever in history, you must have been a force in the communi-

A TRUE VISIONARY she’s going to be part of the legacy of history in this city.”

And moments later, the ribbon was cut, unveiling the new Sarah B. Campbell Enterprise Center, a 2,100-square foot community space and business resource center at 7800 Susquehanna St. in Homewood. The center’s

ty for decades. You must have been a visionary, a person people looked up to, a person people went to for advice, leadership, and life lessons. You must have sparked positive change for the community, whether it was in economic development or educational growth.

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

To subscribe, call 412-481-8302 ext. 134

THE RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY for the new Sarah B. Campbell Enterprise Center, located at 7800 Susquehanna St. in Homewood. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)

J. Pharoah Doss on

Gun control’s past victims Forum B6 Forum B6

development was led by Bridgeway Capital, a certified Community Development Financial Institution, which provides investment funding, solutions and assistance for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Campbell served on the board of Bridgeway Capital from 1993 to 2012—three of those years as board president.

The Sept. 21 event featured an array of speakers, many of whom had personal interactions with Campbell, who died last year at age 96.

City Councilman Rev. SEE CAMPBELL A11

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

NATIONAL

The Afro represents cultural change within Black Diaspora

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This Week In Black History

Week of October 2-8 October 2 1800—Nat Turner is born on this day in South Hampton, Va. The spiritually inspired Turner would organize

by Merdies Hayes and carry out one of the deadliest slave revolts in American history. His rebellion led to the deaths of 57 Whites Editor, Our Weekly News including men, women and children.

(NNPA)—“How ya doin’?

1937—Famed attorney Johnnie Cochran is born on Good to see ya. Have a seat.” this day in Shreveport, La. He was the lead-attorney O.D. Threatt makes way in the 1995 murder trial which for the barber chair. You resulted in the not guilty verdict feel at home as he affixes for football legend O.J. Simpson. the bib over your chest. He In addition to Simpson, Cochran NAT TURNER takes your glasses. He asks was involved in several other high the usual question: “Cut it profile cases. He died on March 29, 2005 at the age of 67. short?” He hasn’t needed to 1967—Thurgood Marshall is sworn in as the first Black boost the chair upward for justice on the United States Supreme Court. President Lyndon at least 50 years.

Johnson had nominated him in part because of his distin(ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCKPHOTO/NNPA) Between the chit-chat guished career in the NAACP fighting to desegregate American about the Dodgers or institutions. Marshall had been the lead attorney in the historLakers—there’s very little Luther King generation decided to take back their ic Brown v. Board of Education case which led to the desegregapolitical talk—the subject hair. This newfound accep- would have said the Afro tion of the nation’s schools. of the Afro (or “natural”) was a little too “in-yourtance was widely known 1986—The U.S. Senate imposJOHNNIE COCHRAN comes up, of which he is a face” and that it would do as the “Black Is Beautiful” es economic sanctions on the font of knowledge. O.D., by movement, which sprang more to instigate White then White minority government in South Africa. his estimate, has probably America rather than from the Black Power The sanctions were imposed only after the Senate overgiven 50,000 haircuts over movement. attracting them to the sub- rode a veto of the measure by President Ronald Reagan. the past 60 years. Of those, ject of Black equality.

With political activists Reagan had angered Blacks and progressive Whites by there’s a good chance that “The young people saw such as Davis, Huey P. favoring a policy he referred to as “constructive engagehalf have been Afros since Newton and Jesse Jackson it differently,” O.D. noted. ment” with the racist South African regime. Black mahis days at the legendary proudly rocking Afros while “This was their time to jority rule was not achieved in South Africa until 1994.

Upright Barber Shop at speak. It was their time of fighting oppression, the October 3 58th Street and Central self-expression. The Black THURGOOD MARSHALL hairstyle quickly emerged 1856—Journalist and fiery advocate for Black rights T. Avenue in South Los Ange- as a symbol of Black beau- teenagers wore the Afro Thomas Fortune is born in Marianna, Jackson County, Fla. He was an orator, jourles. Back then, in the late with pride and distinction ty, liberation and pride. nalist and militant civil rights advocate. He attended school at Howard University in 1960s, it was the place to because it was theirs…and Washington, D.C., but later moved to New York City where he founded the New York Black activists were go to wear that distinctive agitated by White suprem- no White person could take Age newspaper. Fortune died in Philadelphia at the age of 71 in 1928. style that marked a new it away from them.” acy and Jim Crow laws.

1935—The then-independent East African nation of Ethiopia is invaded by fascist era of Black social conCelebrating Black beauty As well, they wanted to Italy in an attempt to join other European nations which had used sciousness.

At the peak of its popshow an outward sign of military force to establish colonies in Africa and exploit its eco“I was thinking about their frustration toward Dr. ularity in the late 1960s nomic resources. Blacks throughout the world rallied to Ethiopia’s that just the other day,” he Martin Luther’s King Jr.’s and early 1970s, the Afro defense, in part, because the nation was viewed by many as the said. “You know, before the philosophy of nonviolence. epitomized the “Black is place on Earth where human life began. The U.S. effort was led by natural, Black teenagers Beautiful” movement. In The Afro would become prominent Harlem, N.Y., minister Adam Clayton Powell Sr. generally kept their hair Black beauty personified— those years, the style rep1949—One of the first Black-owned radio stations in America relatively short. That all resented a celebration of and done without White begins broadcasting in Atlanta, Ga. The principal organizing force changed with the natural. validation. The Afro did not Black beauty and repudiabehind WERD was businessman J.B. Blayton.

The kids wanted to make care about critics. It did not tion of Eurocentric beauty 1995—Former professional football great O.J. Simpson is a statement. They wanted standards. The Afro also care about disapproving found not guilty of the murders of O.J. SIMPSON a separate identity from looks. For many Black men, created a sense of comhis ex-wife Nicole and her friend White America.” monality among African it was about “cool pose” Ronald Goldman. The trial had been a national senThere was some early Americans who saw the and, to a degree, about sation. The verdict angered a majority of Whites. Polls blow-back resulting from style as a mark of a person showed that better than 80 percent of Whites surveyed hyper-masculinity in the the Afro. Beside the fact face of police brutality and who was willing to take felt Simpson got away with murder. that many Black parents a different stand against constant oppression.

October 4 then frowned on the new racial injustice.

What may be most 1864—What was to become the nation’s first Black daiexpression of Black pride— interesting about the Afro Even today, the natural ly newspaper began publishing on this day in New Orand often prohibiting state of Black hair causes is its cultural trajectory. leans, La. Amazingly, the New Orleans Tribune began younger children from don- In the 1970s, for instance, debate in the workforce. distribution while slavery still existed. It was founded by GWENDOLYN BROOKS ning this haircut—White Because certain African the Afro was perceived as Dr. Louis C. Reudanez. It began as a tri-weekly but soon society was uncertain what a major political statement hairstyles may leave White became a daily published in both French and English. to make of this outward employers baffled and that, beforehand, would 1969—Howard Lee and Charles Evers became the first and unapologetic show of confused, many workplaces have never appeared in Black mayors of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Fayette, Miss., respecAfrican American pride the pages of a mainstream still do not tolerate locks tively. Evers was the brother of civil rights legend Medgar and independence. or natural hair and require publication, or graced Evers who was murdered by Ku Klux Klan member Byron De “No, a good many parents the motion picture or that Black men and women La Beckwith on June 12, 1963. would not let their little adhere to a style more television screens. The 1988—The Martin Luther King Jr. federal building is kids have a natural,” O.D. suited with White fashion Afro originated in both a dedicated in Atlanta, Ga. It thus became the first federal buildexplained. “That was a norms. political and emotional ing to bear the name of the slain civil rights leader. little too daring—a little This debate has led to an climate. The style would October 5 too ‘militant’—for the genhistoric bill introduced by fit with a broader genera1867—The first Black mayor of any American city takes office. eration who moved from California State Sen. Holly tional rejection of artifice His name was Monroe Baker. The prominent businessman the South after World War J. Mitchell (30th District) but, more importantly, it was appointed mayor of St. Martin, La., two years after the end II. It was different for the expressed defiance of racist making California the first of slavery. teenagers. They saw people beauty norms, rejection of state in the country to ban October 6 CHARLES EVERS like James Brown, Angela racial discrimination based middle-class conventions 1847—The first National Black Convention takes place in Davis or the Black Panon natural hair. (much like the hippie Troy, N.Y. There were more than 100 delegates in attendance thers wearing a natural, History, to an extent, is movement of the midfrom at least nine states. Top items on the agenda included deand this expression was defined by a simple haircut termining ways to help end slavery and encouraging free Blacks 60s) and demonstrated part of new generation of not simply for one person, pride in Black beauty. The to refuse to purchase products produced by slave labor. Frederick kids who were exposed but for a generation who unstraightened hair of the Douglass frequently makes note of the convention because one more to their history going Afro was simultaneously came of age during the of its aims was to organize independent Black power and “not back to slavery and further a way to celebrate the culBlack Power Movement. depend on Whites and hope” to free Blacks. back to Africa.”

You see yourself in the tural and physical distinc1871—The now world famous Fisk Jubilee Singers begin In the 1960s, Black hand mirror, just to check tiveness of the Black race, their first national tour. The tours helped raise funds for Nashpeople said, essentially, “to and to fully reject practices if your look remains norville, Tenn.’s, predominately Black Fisk University as well as hell with that” and turned associated with any emula- mal for the times. Everygive the school an international reputation. the tables on the familiar thing checks out. tion of Whites.

1917—Activist Fannie Lou Hamer is born in Montgomery and unflattering tropes “Everything okay?” O.D. An ‘in-your-face’ style for County, Miss. She goes on to become one of the major female FANNIE LOU HAMER of “nappy,” “woolly” and asks. “Looks good O.D. Black youth figures in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Nevertheless, “unruly” hair in liberating Each time I stop in you “You didn’t see Black she remains one of the movement’s most effective unsung hethemselves from any and seem to trim more gray celebrities or athletes roes. As to why she became involved in the movement for Black everything originally asso- wearing the natural. Willie hair.” “That’s father time freedom, dignity and political rights, she would often say in refciated with White “accepfor ya,” he replied.

Mays didn’t have one. erence to injustice, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” tance.” After generations And with that, the bib is Neither did Jim Brown or 1971—The first legal interracial marriage takes place in of subjecting themselves to Muhammad Ali in their removed, and any remainNorth Carolina. A Black man, John Wilkinson, marries a European beauty staning hair is neatly brushed early days,” O.D. said. He White woman, Lorraine Mary Turner. The marriage came dards, African Americans away until next time. explained that the Martin a few years after the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Loving “Thanks O.D.” “Thank v. Virginia, that ruled legal barriers to interracial marriage, you,” he responds. “See ya which existed in most Southern states, were unconstitutional. next time.” said.

October 7 1821—One of the most prominent Blacks in the Underground Railroad, William Still, is born near Bedford, Mass. The “UnTHE derground Railroad” was the name given to a series of secret NEW PITTSBURGH ELIJAH MUHAMMAD trails and safe houses used to help Blacks escape from slavery COURIER in the South to freedom in the North.

PUBLISHING COMPANY 1897—The founder of the Nation of Islam Elijah Muhammad is born Elijah Poole in Sandersville, Ga., as one of 13 Muhammad would build his religious sect into the Publication No.: USPS 381940 children. largest independent Black separatist organization in America.

315 East Carson Street The group is currently headed by Min. Louis Farrakhan. Muhammad died in February 1975.

Pittsburgh, PA 15219 1934—Activist, writer and poet Imamu Baraka is born Phone: 412-481-8302 Everett LeRoi Jones in Newark, N.J. Baraka was one of the Fax: 412-481-1360 leading intellectual figures in the Black Power and Black Nationalist movements of the 1960s and early 1970s. A special The tribute honoring Baraka’s 75th birthday took place around this New Pittsburgh Courier time last year.

1967—Carl Stokes is elected the first is published weekly Black mayor of a major American city— IMAMU BARAKA Cleveland, Ohio. Interestingly, he won Periodicals by defeating Seth Taft—the grandson of a former United States paid at Pittsburgh, Pa. president—Howard Taft.

1993—Writer Toni Morrison is awarded the Nobel Prize in PRICE $1.00 Literature.

October 8 (Payable in advance) 1775—Slaves and free Blacks are officially barred by 6 Months—$25 the Council of Officers from joining the Continental army to help fight for American 1 Year—$45 independence from England.

TONI MORRISON 2 Years—$85 Nevertheless, a significant number of Blacks had already become involved in the fight and would 9-Month School Rate $35 distinguish themselves in battle. Additional Blacks were barred out of fear, especially in the South, that they would POSTMASTER: Send demand freedom for themselves if White America became free address changes to: from Britain.

1941—National Black political leader and two-time candiNew Pittsburgh Courier date for president of the United States Rev. Jesse Jackson was born on this day in Greenville, S.C. After the 1968 as315 East Carson Street sassination of Civil Rights Movement icon Dr. Martin Luther Pittsburgh, PA 15219 King Jr., Jackson, who was one of his top aides, would become REV. JESSE JACKSON the nation’s most prominent and influential civil rights leader.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

“A powerful day of discussion, education, and action with a group of speakers who understand what it takes to make real progress on transforming women’s health.”

- Adagio Health President and CEO BJ Leber

HONORARY CHAIR AND MODERATOR—Dr. Loren Robinson and Moderator Lisa Washington

SUPPORTERS—India Renae Hunter and Jeanette South-Paul, MD

SUPPORTERS & SPEAKERS—Paula K. Davis, Crystal McCormick, Patricia Harris, Elizabeth Hughes and Janine Woods (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

Adagio Health’s Second Annual Transforming Women’s Health Symposium

by Debbie Norrell

former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, Lifestyles Editor Valerie Jarrett. The entire On Sept. 24, at the Omni day was dedicated to a conversation about womWilliam Penn Hotel, Downtown, Adagio Health en’s health today and going forward. Breakout held its Second Annual sessions included #MeTransforming Women’s Health Symposium. Adagio Too—Beyond The Hashtag, Health President and CEO The Maternal Health Crisis, and The Status of BJ Leber said she felt immense gratitude for the Sex Education Locally and Nationally. During lunch knowledge, expertise and the Transformation Award unyielding commitment was presented to the orgato better health outcomes nization Allies for Heath + for women that each one of the speakers brought to Wellbeing.

Adagio Heath operates the event. The speakers included the new president under the mission to provide health and wellness of the American Medical services to all women and Association, Dr. Patricia their families with a focus Harris, “healthcare glass ceiling crasher” Dr. Barba- on those in need. Rachel ra Ross-Lee (who happens Levine, MD, and Loren LUNCHEON SPEAKER AND FRIEND—Yvonne Cook and Denise to be sister to Diana Ross), Robinson, MD, served as Head LADIES FROM ADAGIO HEALTH—Alicia Schisler and BJ Leber honorary chairs. and the incomparable

AWARD WINNERS—Sean Young, Ashleigh Garcia, Alicia Romano and Melissa Curry

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

METRO

OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

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Corner of Frankstown and Bennett in Homewood home to new community flower garden The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that the City of Pittsburgh’s second ADA-accessible community flower garden opened in Homewood on Sept. 24.

It’s located at the corner of Frankstown Road and Bennett Street, as you enter Homewood.

The new Western Pennsylvania Conservancy community flower garden will expand gardening opportunities for people with disabilities or other physical limitations. The Conservancy’s first ADA-accessible flower garden opened in May 2018 at First United Methodist Church in Shadyside.

Students from The Day School at The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh placed mums within five raised

wheelchair-accessible flower beds, which are connected by crushed limestone rock pathways. An expansion of the existing community flower garden at this site, the new accessible flower garden will feature native perennials and annuals that will provide colorful blooms during growing seasons, according to a release from the conservancy. A $20,000 grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) funded the expansion to make the garden accessible.

As part of their outdoor classroom and nature curriculum, students from the institute will visit the garden regularly to assist the garden steward, Mary Savage, and members of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority with ongoing care, planting and weeding during the upcoming school years.

The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh CEO Wendy Pardee said the garden offers a wonderful opportunity for students to enjoy the beauty and satisfaction of gardening.

“The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh is once again delighted to partner with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy on their latest accessible garden,” Pardee said in the press release. “As an organization that supports children with disabilities, we strongly believe in

PITTSBURGH’S SECOND ADA-ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY FLOWER GARDEN opened in Homewood on Sept. 24. (Photos courtesy Western Pennsylvania Conservancy) an accessible community and this garden is something that can be enjoyed by everyone. We applaud the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for being intentional in creating a world that is just a little bit bigger for everyone.”

The existing garden, established by the conservancy in 1993, is financially supported by the RAD, the

City of Pittsburgh and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Grant funding also was used to purchase specialty gardening tools to help volunteers with disabilities, arthritis or other physical limitations. These tools are equipped with arm-support cuffs and easy-grip handles to make planting and accessing flower beds easier, convenient and safer. The

tools are available for use by volunteers with disabilities and physical challenges who want to participate in any Western Pennsylvania Conservancy garden planting or cleanup event in Allegheny County.

“This is the second ADA-accessible community garden in the City of Pittsburgh and we are thrilled to provide this wonderful

opportunity in Homewood,” said Tom Saunders, president and CEO of the conservancy, in the release.

“We are very appreciative of all of the project partners, but especially RAD for funding this garden, which eliminates barriers and provides tools to ensure that people of all abilities can experience community gardening.”

Award-winning playwright, director Layon Gray is back with ‘Cowboy’ Playing Oct. 18-20 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater

by Genea L. Webb For New Pittsburgh Courier

As a kid growing up, Layon Gray was always interested in cowboys. As he grew older, he asked himself if there were any Black cowboys, because he never saw any depicted in movies or television shows.

“Doing my research in the last year or so, I came across Bass Reeves and I was like, ‘wow!’ He was a Black marshal from the 1800s who no one really knows about and I said to myself, ‘there’s never been anything done about this guy especially on stage.’”

So, Gray did more research and put it on stage.

Written and directed by Gray, “Cowboy” tells the story of Bass Reeves, a freed slave who protected the Wild West as the first African American United States Deputy Marshal.

Bass is said to have arrested more than 3,000 outlaws without suffering a single gunshot wound. Many have said he inspired the popular Lone Ranger character.

Set in a saloon in Indian territory in 1888, a tornado is slowly approaching as Bass and his Indian partner find themselves stuck inside with a group of outlaws, for one of which Bass has a death warrant.

“Bass Reeves rode around on a white and gray horse, he had an Indian companion and he gave out silver dollars to all of the poor people and the Lone Ranger gave out silver bullets. So it was a striking resemblance to his character and it’s interesting to see the similarities between these two men,” Gray said. “It’s a very interesting and entertaining play.”

“There were Black cowboys—it didn’t begin with Wyatt Earp and all these guys. Our history is there.

These men were there and they had a big influence on the Wild West,” Gray said.

The play recently sold out all performances in two days at the 2019 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., in August.

“Cowboy” will serve as the opener for New Horizon Theater Inc.’s 28th season and will run for one weekend only: Oct. 18-20 at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty.

New Horizon Theater Inc. Chairwoman Joyce Meggerson-Moore said she’s excited to begin the 2019-2020 play season with another of Gray’s historical-based pro-

ductions. New Horizon Theater has presented several of Gray’s plays including “Girls of Summer,” “Black Sparta,” “Black Angels Over Tuskegee,” which the company presented twice, and “Kings of Harlem.”

Gray received the first-ever Broadway League Fellowship Award in 2016. In 2018, he earned Carbonell Awards for: best director, play; and best production of a play.

He has spent more than two decades writing, directing and developing stage plays and films that reflect a wide array of African American cultural movements.

“In the last few years Layon has brought four plays to

Pittsburgh by way of New Horizon Theater,” Meggerson-Moore said. “We know when we get Layon’s plays we will get a good product.

Many of Layon’s plays focus on live, historical people that a lot of people haven’t heard of. His stories are so good because people learn something about our history that we didn’t always know. A lot of the things we do get copied and we don’t get the credit.”

(Tickets prices for “Cowboy” are: $30 general admission; $25 for seniors ages 65 and over; $15 for students and $10 for students under 12 years of age. Tickets can be purchased by visiting Newhorizontheater.org. or kellystrayhorn.org.)

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HEALTH

OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Take charge of your health today. Be informed. Be involved.

Oral Health Disparities This month, the “Take Charge of Your Health Today” page focuses on oral health disparities. Erricka Hager and Bee Schindler, community engagement coordinators, University of Pittsburgh’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and Esther L. Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh spoke about this topic.

EB: I am excited that we’re revisiting the topic of oral health, Erricka, and Bee. Oral health disparities are extreme in the United States. Despite major improvements to oral health in the population as a whole, disparities still exist for many racial groups.

I am pleased that we are taking the conversation a step further to discuss these gaps. The last time we talked we encouraged our readers to take charge of their

ESTHER BUSH health by participating in research studies.

We should also make sure that parents understand the importance of starting healthy habits early in childhood.

EH: It is wonderful to talk with you, Ms. Bush, and to revisit a health topic that impacts every generation. It is good to know that progress has been made by increasing access to dental insurance for

black children. Differences still remain between black and white children. The Surgeon General has asked that everyone take action to maintain the oral health of all Americans and Mary Marazita, PhD, professor and vice chair in the Department of Oral Biology at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Dental Medicine is doing a lot of work around this.

EB: That’s a great point, Erricka! Dr. Marazita states that dental caries also known as cavities are the most common chronic disease in the United States.

Dental caries is also very preventable.

The Surgeon General wants to change the impression of oral health and disease by removing obstacles. The Surgeon General also wants to strengthen partnerships that enhance the oral health of minority communities.

BS: There are many obstacles individuals face when going to the dentist. The Center for Oral Health Research at the University of Pittsburgh addresses these obstacles and works to remove them.

Their current focus is on pregnant African American women. They are working to understand why children in Pittsburgh

and surrounding areas have more cavities than most other children. They have joined the West Virginia health department to increase access to dental hygienists. They also provide transportation and referrals to local dentists to help eliminate obstacles for participants.

EB: Wow! Dr. Marazita’s team is doing a great job of focusing on obstacles faced by minority communities accessing dental health services. We must continue to have these conversations about health topics impacting the black community. Our conversations keep the community engaged and spread awareness.

EH: Yes, Ms. Bush, our conversation is necessary for changing impressions about oral health in the black community. We are providing our readers with all the tools to positively impact their oral health.

BS: Thank you so much for having this conversation with us, Ms. Bush. It was so wonderful talking with you about oral health. Thank you for inspiring children, youth and adults to take charge of their health. I look forward to next month as we discuss the relationship between physical activity and diabetes.

Why do oral health care disparities continue to affect Black children?

Oral health may not be the first thing people associate with pregnancy. But researchers believe that pregnant women may have the key to better understanding the factors that can lead to cavities in children.

These factors include genetics, diet, general health, oral hygiene and mouth germs.

The University of Pittsburgh’s COHRA (Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia) study team is working to best address children’s oral health.

Through MARY MARAZITA, PhD the COHRA Smile Childhood Cavity Study, researchers are examining why young children in Appalachia have higher rates of cavities than children in other parts of the country. The study involves recruiting pregnant folks in order to track mouth health—even as the buds for a child’s teeth are developing.

Tracking mouth health starting in pregnancy allows for a long-term look at oral health over the lifespan.

Certain exposures during pregnancy could influence the development of teeth and health of the mouth, including the development of cavities.

Cavities are the most common chronic disease in the United States and worldwide. They are the most common reason for missing work or school because of the pain associated with them, says Mary Marazita, PhD, professor and vice chair in the Department of Oral Biology at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Dental Medicine.

For young people, having a toothache can lead to not being able to concentrate in school or on a task.

In 2000, the surgeon general’s report Oral Health in America stated that mouth diseases disproportionately affect people who are poor and members of racial and ethnic minority groups. The report outlines the importance of oral health and its relationship to overall health and well-being. Good mouth hygiene helps keep mouths clean and healthy. An unhealthy mouth can lead to other health problems like a heart attack or stroke.

Despite more people having dental insurance and public health programs aimed at combating tooth decay, health disparities exist for Black children. Why do oral health care disparities continue to affect Black children? Dr. Marazita says limited access to affordable and healthy foods, poor water quality and poverty are big barriers that prolong oral health disparities. The COHRA team is looking at these factors as clues on how to reduce disparities.

The COHRA team works to keep communities engaged throughout the entire research process. They ask for community input when writing grant applications and share data with minority-led community organizations. The group also works with organizations in the black community to make people aware of research findings.

Dr. Marazita invites people to participate in the COHRA Smile Childhood Cavity Study. People who identify as Black, are pregnant and in their second or third trimesters and are healthy enough to have a dental exam are welcome to apply.

The team will ask people who sign up to also bring in their child for at least two and a half years for follow-up study. To express interest in and learn more about the study, call Alicia at 412-648-1910.

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

OCTOBER 2-8, 2019 A7

‘Chef’ Claudy Pierre will continue operating Arnold’s Tea Building owner grants three-month stay of eviction, contingent on current rent payments

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

The bad news last month was that Arnold’s Tea, operated by “Chef” Claudy Pierre, was going to close because the landlords were going to terminate his lease. The good news this month, October, is that an online petition started by Leeann Younger to garner support for him and influence landlords appears to have worked—for now.

“The Northside is better

business and become a better tenant.”

“I’m glad people took an interest and signed the petition, and they should come over and patronize his place,” Burns said. “I like the guy. I hope it gives him the structure and an opportunity to create a new day with us. We’re rooting that he gets it together. We’re not trying to pick on him.

We’re trying to be helpful, but he does have to meet his obligations. A year of not paying rent on time is

“We’re going to be here for a very long time. These minor setbacks are an opportunity for us to grow and really learn from the things that have happened and really get better. We’re open with the fact that we’ve had challenges as a minority business, but we’ve worked hard to be a community asset.”

‘CHEF’ CLAUDY PIERRE

with Arnold’s as a part of the community and we’ve generated this petition to let the landlords know that we want to keep Arnold’s open!” the online petition read. And within five days it had 3,206 signatures.

The petition was presented to the board of the Historic Deutschtown Development Committee (HDDC) on Sept. 26 and has earned Arnold’s a reprieve. Pierre has 90 days to, as HDDC President Barbara Burns told the New Pittsburgh Courier, “strengthen his

not doing that.”

According to testimony at a Sept. 4 magistrate’s hearing, between taking over the business from its founder, Verna Arnold, in October 2018 and the beginning of September 2019, Pierre had been “delinquent in every month for a year, and was now more than three months delinquent on rent, late fees and water bills.”

At that hearing the HDDC was awarded two judgments—payment by Pierre of the past due rent and judgement of possession of

the space where Arnold’s Tea is located (502 E. Ohio St.).

On Sept. 11, all parties met and Pierre paid all the past due bills, and thus was allowed to stay open, provided he stayed current on the rent and also complied with strictures regarding the storage and disposal of trash.

Effectively, Pierre is on a “probation period” over the next 90 days, as Pierre described it to the New Pittsburgh Courier in an Oct. 1 interview.

“We’re not going to let anything stop us,” Pierre said. “The goal is to stay here. We’re a community asset and we would hope that there would be some leniency because (HDDC) is a community organization.”

Pierre, 34, who’s originally from Brooklyn, said he’s been an open book from the beginning—he’s had some problems paying the $2,800 monthly rent and water bills. But after paying thousands of dollars in mid-September to the landlord, Pierre feels he’s on the right track to paying the rent on time and staying in business at Arnold’s for the foreseeable future.

“We’re going to be here for a very long time,” Pierre told the Courier. “These minor setbacks are an opportunity for us to grow and really learn from the things that have happened and really get better. We’re open with the fact that we’ve had challenges as a minority business, but we’ve worked hard to be a community as-

set.”

Pierre said going forward, support from the community is as easy as frequenting Arnold’s Tea more and purchasing some of the popular items for sale. And, if you’re an organization looking to hold a meeting, have it at Arnold’s, with the group financially supporting the shop with purchases.

“We’re working, were not going to allow any of the negative thoughts to hurt us,” Pierre, now a Pittsburgh resident for 16 years, told the Courier.

Burns said the HDDC has assigned its residential property manager—who works with the tenants upstairs from Arnold’s—to work with Pierre as well.

She said Pierre is also working with Riverside Center for Innovation Executive Director Juan Garrett.

“That should be very helpful,” she said. “We will now have a professional property manager working with him. They can go through the lease thoroughly, so there is clarity about what his obligations are…if there is something he needs addressed.”

Pierre’s patrons were pleased to hear the business was not closing at this time. With its quiet, rustic atmosphere, popular sandwiches and 44 varieties of tea, it’s an island of calm on a busy East Ohio Street on the North Side, where people socialize, hold meetings and work outside the office.

“It’s laid back and conducive to the kind of work

CLAUDY PIERRE, operator of Arnold’s Tea on the North Side. we do,” said Solomon Armstead, a trainer for Adagio Health, who was working on an educational presentation with co-worker Tanisha Price.

“I heard about what was going on—and it seemed like bullying to me, like there might be someone ondeck to take over,” he said.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m here. I want to be supportive.”

Kay Shabbaz said she just started a job nearby, so has only recently started coming in—but knew about Arnold’s before that.

“I’m excited about it because I’m a tea drinker—I don’t do coffee. So this is

great,” she said.

Another patron, who said he’d prefer to remain anonymous due to the nature of his work, said he’s known Pierre for some time and was glad to hear the eviction had been staved off.

“I have nothing but love for that young man,” he said. “My take is that people over here are afraid of change—but Starbucks started like this. You don’t want to run out small businessmen, especially a young Black man who’s trying to do something positive for the neighborhood. And there’s a diverse crowd here—it’s good to see that.”

Jamila and Ashia Regan speak out

Feelings of ‘hurt, anger and fear’ after being attacked by gas station employees SPEAK OUT FROM A1

not animals; we are human beings.”

A review of all available video—including the cellphone video recorded by a person outside the gas sta-

been viewed all across the Pittsburgh region—and the country.

“These pictures that you see on the wall are representative of people who had no callousness, no

munity’s needs,” the statement read.

The move by LGP Realty Holdings LP was a step in the right direction, according to state Rep. Ed Gainey, D-Lincoln-Lemington. He,

Greater Pittsburgh of how people are seen. And I’m hoping that we can have a better day and that the right charges can be filed for the savage beating they put on these two sisters

ican community. She said it was proof that “we are not alone, and we have never been alone, and our mom continues to watch over us.”

Ashia Regan said that no matter how the criminal or civil cases pan out, the events that occurred at their neighborhood gas station on Sept. 27 will stick with the sisters forever.

“This is something we’re going to have to deal with probably for the rest of our lives, because we live right on the North Side, right close to the gas station, and we drive past there on our way to work, drive past there on our way home,” she said. “So that’s something that’s going to always be with us.

Always.”

Ogletree Deakins law firm holds Workplace Diversity Discussion Series DISCUSSION FROM A1

ATTORNEY TODD HOLLIS, center, said he “guarantees” that “every resource in my office will be devoted to making sure that the Regan sisters get justice. I don’t care if I spend every dime in my bank account, it will happen.” (Photo by Courier photographer Rob Taylor Jr.) tion, along with the surveillance video from inside the gas station—resulted in Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala charging Balkar “Bill” Singh, Sukhjinder “Simon” Sadhra, 35, and Scott Hill, 50, with simple assault, a second-grade misdemeanor.

A count of criminal conspiracy also was levied on Hill and Singh.

No charges were filed against the Regan sisters.

Hollis, who will file a civil lawsuit on behalf of the Regan sisters after the employees’ criminal case is resolved, directed the media’s attention to the conference room wall, which had enlarged photos of the men beating his clients outside the gas station from the cellphone video.

They are images that have

concern and who viciously acted to dehumanize a human being—a woman, a defenseless woman,” Hollis said at the Sept. 27 press conference. “And my office will never stand for that. And I feel a personal indictment as a man that I wasn’t there and I couldn’t protect them. But what I couldn’t do at that gasoline station, we will do in court.”

On Thursday, Sept. 26, LGP Realty Holdings LP, the owner of the land and assets of where the Exxon gas station is located (2501 Brighton Rd.), announced they had terminated the lease of the independent operator of the gas station. “We have immediately started working to find a new operator for the location who can serve the com-

along with state Rep. Jake Wheatley, whose district includes the North Side, said what should come next are stronger charges against the three men. City Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle and other Black elected leaders, are also calling on Zappala to upgrade the charges from simple assault to aggravated assault.

But so far, Zappala hasn’t budged.

“It makes no sense,” Rep. Gainey said after the Regan sisters spoke at the Sept. 27 press conference. “…What message does this continue to send our community? ...How many in here have daughters, sisters, mothers? Would you want yours to go through that, and (the attackers) be filed with simple assault? This is a message to

right here. The community will not stop until justice is served.”

Hollis said the men charged with the attack only saw women outside the gas station, and not the “Ed Gaineys, the Jake Wheatleys, the Todd Hollises” and other Black community leaders who would be standing beside the Regan sisters.

“One thing I will guarantee is that every resource in my office will be devoted to making sure that the Regan sisters get justice,” Hollis said. “I don’t care if I spend every dime in my bank account, it will happen.”

Jamila Regan acknowledged the immense support that she and her sister have received from Pittsburgh’s African Amer-

tural background impacts how you see the world and interact with people who are different from you?

•How do (or have) the current events and social, political, and cultural issues happening in our community and country impact you personally?

•How have these events and issues shaped your leadership style or impacted you as a team leader/ member in the workplace?

“And since I wouldn’t ask anyone to do anything I wasn’t willing to do, I’ll go first,” Johnson said, and she did.

By the time she got to the third question, she had revealed that, in addition to being a Black woman, an attorney, and mother of two, she was also a woman of faith and married to a pastor in the AME church.

“The shooting in Charleston, S.C., that was an AME church, and the AME church is headquartered

in Philadelphia,” she said.

“That was a very frantic time. We had all the leadership meetings, asking, do we need security? I thought of my husband— it could have happened here, of my children. But here’s the thing; at work, no one mentioned it. People who know I’m married to a pastor, a pastor in the AME church—they didn’t say a thing, didn’t ask if I was OK or how I was doing.”

It’s possible the breakout sessions led to similar expressions that otherwise would not have happened—and gave others in the various groups insight into their fellows they could not have had before.

That’s the idea, Johnson said.

All the participants will fill out surveys on the workshop, and Ogletree Deakins will use those responses to inform the next discussion, which will likely be scheduled in the first quarter of next year.

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

A8

OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report Spoiled rotten One of my daytime guilty pleasures is watching Dr. Phil and Judge Judy. I can’t understand why people who are not prepared go on Judge Judy or any judge show for that matter. They show up with no receipts or documents to prove their case, allowing the judge to make the decision based on whatever evidence is supplied or dismiss the case entirely.

It is actually funny.

Last week I was watching Dr. Phil and a 17-year-old young Black man was his guest along with his mother. The teen was the one who actually wrote the show asking for Dr. Phil to assist in getting his monthly allowance increased from $1,000 to $1,500. When I heard this being teased on the day before I knew I had to watch this episode. This child does not work and says he will not work. His mother has allowed him to move into the “master bedroom” because it has a large walk-in closet while she sleeps in the small room down the hall. In videos that were taken for the show this kid showed off his Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Louboutin’s and more.

He referred to his collection as his “drip.” Dr. Phil asked him what did “drip” mean and he could hardly explain it, as a matter of fact he wasn’t very intelligent or maybe he is since he has convinced his mother to “give” him $1,000 a month while he does nothing to earn it. There was never any mention of a father.

By the way, “drip” means you have swagger, you’re hot, you’re cool, and your look or style is extremely fashionable.

This boy wears a Rolex watch and thinks he is getting a Range Rover for a graduation present. His mother works 120 hours a week so she can afford his lavish lifestyle. She seemed overwhelmed; she also has a young daughter. Dr. Phil said he was going to give the mother some help in the form of advice. He offered some suggestions on air but this problem has been 17 years in the making.

The young son says he wants to be a YouTube star but it appears he doesn’t have any active videos on YouTube and has no idea of how money is made on YouTube.

Dr. Phil explained the video has to be watched at least 1 million times for a minimum of 30 seconds in order for YouTube to pay you $2,000.

Then YouTube takes 45 percent of the two grand and then you pay taxes on the rest.

The mom says she wants to buy a home— you guessed it, they are renting. Dr. Phil showed her that in her current neighborhood she could buy a home for $140,000 with about $9,000 down and have a mortgage of under $900. She could use that allowance she is handing out to start her savings. She seemed afraid to put her foot down. It was one of saddest episodes that I have seen. I hope she goes home, gains her confidence and sells her son’s stuff. I’ll help.

DRESSED TO IMPRESS—Robert Edison and Ashley Day

FRIENDS—Linda McGinnia and Rosie Moore

Pittsburgh Ques host End of Summer Party

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

One of the best end-of-summer parties was a three day event. The Iota Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. presented The Pittsburgh Ques Boatride Weekend during Labor Day weekend.

The party kicked off on Aug. 30 at BJ’s Event Center and Young Bros Bar, 1439 Woods Run Ave. On Saturday, Aug. 31, the crowd made their way to a stone soul picnic and

Omega Community BBQ in Monroeville Community Park. The party continued Saturday Night as the Ques hosted the Omega All-White Party at the Ace Hotel in East Liberty. Hundreds of guests enjoyed DJ Pop Rek from Washington, D.C. on the first floor and Teresa Hawthorne and Legacee Live Band on the second floor. It all wrapped up on Sunday, Sept. 1, with a Pre-Boarding Party at Rivers Casino in the Drum Bar. Then it was time for the main event, the Pitts-

FIRING UP THE GRILL—Joe Washington and Ryan Holland

BAR-B-QUE—In Monroeville, Garry Thomas and Dee Grant

ENJOYING THE WHITE PARTY—Karen and Dewayne Collins

burgh Omega Boat Ride on the Gateway Clipper Fleet Featuring DJ Nick Nice and live jazz on the top deck of the boat.

The famous w e e k e n d serves as a major fundraiser for their social action programs that include: HBCU Tour, Carter G. Woodson A c a d e m y, Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway, Christmas Toy Givea-away, etc.

GREAT PERFORMANCE—Theresa Hawthorne

MY TABLE MATES—Pam Heywood, Carlton Heywood and Crystal FASCINATING—Nadine Levitt in McCormick a beautiful fascinator HAVING A GREAT NIGHT—Art and Cheryl Carter

THE JAMES BROTHERS—Willie, Mike and Mitchell James

QUES IN THE HOUSE—Leon Williams, Jesse Jenkins and Ernie Grover

RELIGION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

OCTOBER 2-8, 2019 A9

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 10:30 A.M. www.stbtmchurch.org

East Liberty Presbyterian Church

FRESHWIND CONFERENCE 2019 Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh Sept. 13-15, 2019

Photos by Courier photographer Marlon Martin

Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206

www.cathedralofhope.com

Worship on Sunday: Journey Worship...........8:45 a.m.

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

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

Curious about Quakerism?

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

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

MACEDONIA CHURCH OF PITTSBURGH PASTOR BRIAN EDMONDS, at Freshwind Conference 2019.

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

A conference for leaders, entrepreneurs and influencers

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

GOSPEL MUSIC STAR TYE TRIBBETT

GOSPEL MUSIC STAR TYE TRIBBETT, at Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT! We want to place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar!

Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219

Church Circuit SECOND BAPTIST MALE CHORUS CONCERT

OCTOBER 13—The senior and junior usher boards at Second Baptist Church, 108 West 12th Ave., Homestead, invite all to come and fellowship with them at 4 p.m. at the church. The theme is: “Make a Joyful Noise Unto The Lord With Song and Dance,” featuring the Second Baptist Church Male Chorus in concert. For more information, call 412-461-8235.

MT. OLIVE 120TH CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

OCTOBER 13—All are Invited to come and celebrate Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Coraopolis’ 120th Church Anniversary. Mt. Olive is located at 1201 Hiland Ave. The theme is: “Celebrating Our Legacy—Embracing Our Destiny” (Luke 6:48). Guest preachers will be Rev. Dr. Winston C. Ridley Jr., Greater First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. (11 a.m.) and Rev. Derrick Knox, Covenant Heritage Bible Church, Wilmington, Del. (4 p.m.) There will also be a Pre-Anniversary Old-Time Religion Concert on Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. For more information, call 412-264-3125.

JERUSALEM WOMEN’S DAY WEEKEND

OCTOBER 19-20—The Jerusalem Baptist Church, 123 Steuben St., invites all to their Women’s Day weekend. Rev. Marie Kelly, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Hill District, will be the guest preacher for the women’s day luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. The guest preacher for the Women’s Day Worship service at 11 am on Sunday, Oct. 20, is Rev. Avis Williams of First Baptist Church, West Mifflin. The luncheon Donation is $15 on Oct. 19. For more information, call 412-921-0822.

To place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar, Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier, 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh PA 15219 or Email us! religion@newpittsburghcourier.com

Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

A10

METRO

OCTOBER 2-8, 2019 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

60 of 76 homicides Black lives…6 of 9 September victims were Black HOMICIDES FROM A1

killed by her 42-year-old son Kenneth, who beat her, kicked her and threw her down the basement steps and left her to die in her Shady Lane home in West Mifflin. He called police and confessed a day later. He is being held without bail in the county jail.

SEPT. 7—Emery Brice Heard-Ellis, a 21-yearold Black male, was killed during a shootout at a home on Gas Street in Rankin.

Police said Heard-Ellis and his companion, Marcus Carter, 29, drove to the house and opened fire on people who were sitting on the porch. One of them, who had a valid carry permit, returned fire, striking Heard-Ellis. Police arrived in time to see Heard-Ellis fall. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Carter faces several charges including aggravated assault and conspiracy.

SEPT. 9—Alexander Alman, a 16-year-old White male, was fatally shot while he and another teen were playing with a gun in his home on Fingal Street in Duquesne Heights. He died the next day at UPMC Mercy Hospital. The other teen, Michael Hardwick has been charged in Alman’s death.

SEPT. 10—Ted Evans, a 39-year-old Black male, was found by police shot to death between two homes on Danbury Street on the North Side. After a SWAT team was called to help search for the shooter, police charged 47-year-old Todd Griffin with receiving stolen property and illegal gun possession.

SEPT. 12—Tameka Dallas, a 43-year-old Black female, was found in McKeesport’s Renzie Park.

She had been strangled to death. Surveillance video captured her silver Chevrolet Impala arriving at the park entrance nearest to where her body was dumped. Clyde Cox, 27, of Pittsburgh, and Daron Parks, 26, of Bridgeville, were detained when they were found in possession of the car was in Westmoreland County. A third man wanted for questioning after fleeing the scene, Ramonta Yancy, 26, was arrested the following day.

SEPT 13—Sam Gantt, a 72-year-old Black male, was found shot to death in his Hill District home in the 3100 block of Centre Avenue by police who had been called to do a welfare check on him. Police initially thought he had died of natural causes, but the medical examiner determined he had been shot multiple times in the chest.

Police have not identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7800.

SEPT. 19—Shawn Stevens, a 49-year-old Black male, was fatally shot by officers who were trying to arrest him for a string of bank robberies. A task force of FBI agents and police from Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg were tipped that he was hiding in an apartment building on Center Street.

While speaking to a woman in one apartment, Stevens came from behind her and tried to slam the door, but an officer’s leg was in the way. When the officers went in, they said, Stevens threatened two women with a kitchen knife. When he lunged at one a second time, an FBI agent and a Pittsburgh detective both fired. The shooting is being investigated by Allegheny County police and the FBI. SEPT. 24—Dai’Shawn Akeem Grace, a 27-yearold Black male, was shot multiple times at the intersection of Maple Street and Ridge Way in Munhall as he walked home from work.

He died a short time later at the hospital. Allegheny County detectives said the motive was unclear and they have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-833-255-8477.

August Homicides (6) AUG. 1—Gregory Eason, a 33-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times in the head after getting into a fight outside a bar in

the 400 block of St. Clair Avenue in Clairton. A second man was shot in the foot. Police, as yet, have not identified a suspect. Anyone with information is urged to call the Allegheny County police Tip Line at 1-833-255-8477.

AUG. 6—Donald Babbit, a 49-year-old White male, was fatally shot by police outside his home on Spencer Grove Lane in Glenshaw.

Officers from multiple jurisdictions surrounded the house after receiving a domestic disturbance call from Babbit’s wife saying he was acting erratically. A neighbor said he emerged from the house wearing only underwear and a towel on his head. Police said he refused to put down a gun and get on the ground. When he pointed a gun at the officers, three officers opened fire. County police are investigating and will turn their findings over to the district attorney.

AUG. 8—Janice Purdue-Dance, a 61-year-old Black female from Erie, was fatally stabbed at the bus stop at Sixth Avenue and Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh in front of a police officer. The officer saw the victim lying at the bus stop; he went to render aid, and as he did, James Wyatt, 23 of McKeesport, reached over him to stab her. He turned and stabbed another nearby woman before the officer subdued him. The second woman was treated and released. Wyatt is in the county jail awaiting trial on homicide and assault charges.

AUG. 12—Curtiss Eugene Meeks Jr., a 48-year-old Black male, was found by police responding to a ShotSpotter alert in the 1200 of Blackadore Street in Penn Hills. He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. Allegheny County detectives said Meeks was a member of a motorcycle club and may have been targeted by a rival club. Anyone with information is urged to call the Allegheny County police Tip Line at 1-833-255-8477.

AUG. 15—Terrance Jerome Jones Jr., a 21-year-old Black male, was found lying in a ground floor hallway at the Bedford Dwellings housing complex in the 2500 block of Chauncey Dr. in the Hill District with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. He was transported to Mercy Hospital where he died a short time later. Police have yet to identify a suspect. Anyone with information is urged to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

AUG. 30—Susan E. Jeffries, a 54-year-old White male, was fatally stabbed in her Tarentum apartment. Police said Juan H. Hayden, 55, admitted to stabbing Jeffries.

He was charged with homicide and tampering with evidence.

July Homicides (11) JULY 1—Ricky Deon Moultrie, a 20-year-old Black male, was discovered in a car in East Hills. He had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

JULY 11—Christopher Lamont Lowman Jr., an 18-year-old Black male, was found in the 100 block of Millbridge Street in Allentown with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

JULY 11—Dauminique Ross, a 20-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times when he answered a knock at the door of his parents’ house on 16th Avenue in Homestead. He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. Police arrested 24-year-old Rahim Thomas after finding him hiding in a home on 8th Avenue the next day.

JULY 13—Delquay Lamont James, a 21-year-old Black male, was found shot multiple times near a vacant home on Beacon Street near Hazel Way in McKeesport.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Allegheny County detectives have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tip Line at 1-833255-8477.

JULY 14—Joshua A. Makhanda-Lopez, a 30-year-old Black male, was found by police in his car with a gunshot wound to the head in an apartment parking lot in Penn Hills. Witnesses told police two men fled the scene to a nearby house. Three people came out of the house, but police said Onaje Dickinson, a 20-year-old Black male, hid in the basement and fired at an officer when discovered. The officer returned fire, killing Dickinson. Allegheny County detectives have charged 15-year-old Myzle Ford as an adult in connection with the Makhanda-Lopez killing.

JULY 17—Calvin Hall, a 36-yearold Black male, died in the hospital three days after being shot in the back multiple times on Monticello Street in Homewood. The off-duty Pittsburgh police officer was walking away after trying to defuse an argument between neighbors and his cousin’s wife when he was shot. Christian Bey, 30, has been

charged with Hall’s murder.

JULY 22—Matthew Khoury, a 37-year-old White male, was fatally shot at a Garfield building he owned when an argument with one of his tenants over back rent escalated. The tenant, 49-year-old Michael Wolf, has been charged in the case.

JULY 23—Omari Ali Thompson, a 31-year-old Black male, was killed in a shootout with undercover officers from the state attorney general’s office during a drug buy/ bust in the Big Lots parking lot on McKnight Road in Ross Township.

One of the officers was wounded in the exchange but is expected to recover. The district attorney’s office is investigating.

JULY 27—Tareef DelTae McClellan, a 22-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot in the head inside the garage of a home in the 1500 block of Versailles Avenue in McKeesport. County police have not yet identified a suspect and are asking anyone with information to call the Tip Line at 1-833-255-8477.

JULY 27—Rev. Sheldon Stoudemire, a 57-year-old Black male, was fatally shot at the Northside Common Ministries shelter on Brighton Road on the North Side after he refused entrance to 19-year-old Gerald Adams because it was after admittance hours. Pittsburgh police said there is surveillance video showing Adams firing through a window at the side of the door. He was arrested after a brief foot chase and is now in the Allegheny County Jail.

JULY 29—Darius Savaughn Freeman a 26-year-old Black male, was found by police responding to a ShotSpotter alert in the 1200 Block of Faulkner Street in Sheraden. He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

June Homicides (13) JUNE 1—Jordan Emanuel Lewis, a 22-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times on the porch of a home in the 7500 block of Ellesmere Avenue in Swissvale. According to Allegheny County Police, Charlton Mitchell, 21, admitted to shooting the victim who, during a party earlier in the evening, had taken Mitchell’s gun from him and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t leave. Mitchell said he retrieved a semi-automatic rifle he’d placed in the bushes behind a nearby business, returned and shot Lewis. A 19-year-old female and a 24-year-old male were also injured by bullet fragments during the shooting. Mitchell is in the Allegheny County Jail.

JUNE 2—Ciquann Dudley Jr., a 17-year-old Black male was found in the 1300 block of Tube Works Alley in McKeesport with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. Allegheny County Police said in a press release they do not know yet why the victim was in such a remote location, nor do they have a motive.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

JUNE 3—David Herbin, a 49-year-old Black male was inside a home on Laketon Road in Wilkinsburg with a gunshot wound to the head. He died later at the hospital. Police have issued an arrest warrant for Tariq Price, 39, who was recently released from jail. Price faces robbery and homicide charges.

JUNE 11—Marion White, a 49-year-old Black male, was fatally shot after an argument escalated and Alonzo Terrel Glen, 27, shot him four times. Glen turned himself in to police a week later. He is now in the county jail.

JUNE 12—Tyrese Smith, a 20-year-old Black male, and Alexus N. Chester, a 17-year-old Black female who was celebrating her birthday, were both killed when an as yet unidentified person opened fire at a house rented for the party on McNeil Place in Pittsburgh’s Upper Hill neighborhood. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh Homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

JUNE 17—Whiney Maleeca Lyn Boyer, a 25-yer-old Black female, was discovered in the basement of a Maple Street house in East Pittsburgh, after 28-year-old Delrico McClinton confessed the crime to a counsellor at the Cambria County Prison.

JUNE 20—James Rust, a 49-year-old White male, was fatally shot following an argument with his neighbor at a duplex on Horning Road in Bethel Park. The neighbor has not been identified because no charges have yet been filed.

JUNE 21—Gerald Dwain Walker, a 41-year-old Black male, was discovered bleeding from multiple stab wounds at a home in the 2100 block of Perrysville Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Perry, he dies later at the hospital. Maneca Pressley, 29, was arrested less than a day later and charged in his death. According to the criminal complaint, the couple had been arguing all day. Pressley

told police Walker had assaulted her multiple times. The last time he lunged at her, she stabbed him then called 911. She is currently in the county jail.

JUNE 22—Kaine Williams, a 34-year-old Black male, was killed in the 1800 block of Sumac Street in McKeesport when Marcus Acie-Griffin, 26, got out of his white Acura with a shotgun and fired at Williams. Acie-Griffin was taken into custody after leading police on a chase through several communities before crashing over a hill in West Mifflin. He is now in the county jail.

JUNE 25—Corey Laguardia, a 22-year-old White male, was shot multiple times by a homeowner after he forced his way into a house in the 1000 block of Starr Road in Crescent Township. No charges have been filed.

JUNE 26—Christian St. John Jenkins, a 27-year-old Black male was found with multiple gunshot wounds lying in Truax Way in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Within minutes, police also responded to a second shooting a block away on Lowrie Street. That victim was last reported in critical but stable condition at a local hospital. Police have not said if the shootings are related, nor have they identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh Homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

JUNE 29—Octavia Stone, a 22-year-old Black Female, was found with multiple stab wound on Bessemer Way in East Pittsburgh.

She was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital. Though a suspect has not been named state police said Stone knew her killer. Anyone with information is urged to call the state police at 412-299-1607 May Homicides (16) MAY 1—Jakeem Booker, a 19-year-old Black male, was fatally shot while trying to force his way into a Franklin Avenue home in Wilkinsburg over a dispute with one of the occupants. Police found him on the porch with a gunshot wound to the head. Allegheny County detectives said a 17-yearold in the house feared for his family and fired one shot though the partially open door. No charges have yet been filed.

MAY 8—Bryan Jackson, a 31-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot in a home at 127 McKinne Ave. in Stowe Township after giving 25-year-old Terrence Murphy a tattoo. County police found and arrested Murphy at a house in Ambridge later that day. He is currently in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting trial.

MAY 8—Irvin Green, a 48-yearold Black male was fatally stabbed during an altercation in the 1200 block of Evans Avenue in McKeesport. Police have not identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 833255-8477.

MAY 9—James Dent Jr., an 85-year-old Black male, who was shot in the back in October inside a store next to a daycare on Jones Avenue in North Braddock, died of his injuries. Courde Daye, 20, was arrested for the shooting in December and will now face homicide charges.

MAY 9—Tre Valorie, a 26-yearold White male, was fatally shot in the head when his girlfriend’s obsessed ex, Matthew Lambert, allegedly carried out his threat to “kill anyone she was with” as the couple left Rumerz bar on Pittsburgh Northside. He is awaiting trial in the county jail.

MAY 11—Mary Kornick, a 62-year-old White female, died at Allegheny General Hospital after being shot on Route 365 in Buffalo Township in what police said was a murder-suicide. Her alleged killer Nicholas Domek, 72, killed himself at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Greenfield shortly thereafter.

MAY 12—Luke Connolly, a 51-year-old White male, was found fatally stabbed multiple times in an apartment on Third Avenue in Carnegie. A woman who was in the apartment was also stabbed before fleeing to get help. She remains hospitalized. Police arrested 58-year-old Richard Mickens at a home on Spikenard Street in Scott, where he allegedly assault someone else with a knife, May 15. He is charged with homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault, rape, and several other charges. He is in the county jail awaiting trial.

MAY 15—Ivan Walls, a 45-yearold Black male from Philadelphia, was discovered by police shot multiple times behind a house on Karl Avenue in Duquesne. He died later at the hospital. County detectives say the victim and another man had just arrived at the house when shots were fired. Police are searching for the second man and have not yet identified a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 833-255-8477.

MAY 19—Aris Payto Barclay Vann, a 22-year-old Black male, was found with multiple gunshot wounds on a porch of a home

in the 2200 block of Woodstock Avenue in Swissvale. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Allegheny County Homicide Inspector Andrew Schurman said the victim was there to visit friends and may have been the target of a robbery attempt. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 833-255-8417.

MAY 24—Morgan Dunston, a 17-year-old Black female, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community Church on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Police do not believe she was the intended target. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

MAY 24—Michael McDonald, a 51-year-old White male, was killed when he barged into the Robinson Township home of a man he allegedly owed money to. The homeowner fired his shotgun, hitting McDonald in the chest. As yet no charges have been filed.

MAY 26—Ernest Dixson, a 31-year-old Black Male, was fatally shot inside Shooters bar on Island Avenue in Stowe Township after getting into an argument with another patron. Police (have issued a warrant/arrested Omar Harris, 36.)

MAY 27—Isaac Harrison, a 34-year-old Black male, was fatally shot on Chauncy Drive in Pittsburgh’s Hill District after an argument escalated into gunfire. A 15-year-old girl was also wounded in the foot in the incident. Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

MAY 28—William Mosby, a 62-year-old Black male, was found with fatal gunshot wounds in a parking lot in the 1800 block of Homeville Road in West Mifflin.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 833-255-8417.

MAY 28—James Donovan Goodwine, a 29-year-old Black male, was found by police fatally shot in the head near the intersection of Forest Way and Collier Street in Homewood. Police have not identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

MAY 28—Richard Lee Greene, a 35-year-old Black male, was found by city police lying in Chartiers Avenue in Sheraden. He had been shot multiple times and died at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

April Homicides (6) APRIL 3—Vernon Lee Owens III, a 33-year-old Black male, was fatally shot by a 72-year-old jitney driver during a failed armed robbery in Duquesne. According to police, shortly after the driver picked up Owens and another passenger, he struck the driver with his gun and demanded money. When they both got out of the car, the driver shot Owens with his own gun. The other passenger fled. Police have determined that the driver legally owned the gun used in the shooting and had a valid concealed-carry permit. No charges will be filed.

APRIL 7—Alison Fritzius, a 55-year-old White female, was found fatally stabbed on the porch of a home in the 800 block of Broadway Boulevard in Pitcairn. Police charged her boyfriend Derrick Avant in her death. He is awaiting trial in the Allegheny County Jail.

APRIL 8—Mark Jackson, a 39-year-old Black male, was found shot in the face in a house in the 600 block of Winfield Street in Larimer. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have charged Robert Harper in the shooting.

Harper was already in the county jail on unrelated criminal charges.

APRIL 10—Brad Lee Lucier, a 23-year-old White male, was found by first responders shot multiple times at a house in the 1000 block of Dohrman Street in Stowe Township. He died at the hospital. On April 15, 18- year-old Tomichael Sherrell turned himself in after police issued a warrant charging Sherrell had shot Lucier during a robbery. Sherrell is now in the county Jail.

APRIL 13—Ameer Coleman, a 19-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot inside a house in the 200 block of Fern Street in Garfield. Police have not yet identified a suspect. The investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

APRIL 26—Armani Ford, a 23-year-old Black male was found by police fatally shot in a house in the 800 block of Vankirk Street in Clairton. County detectives have not yet identified a suspect and are asking anyone with information to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

March Homicides (5) MARCH 15—Leslie Robertson, a 72-year-old Black male, was killed when he was struck by a car driven

by Kakiia Williams, 33, outside the Harrison Village housing complex in McKeesport. Williams allegedly told police she was trying to run

down someone else and hit the wrong person. She is now in the Allegheny County Jail.

MARCH 18—Daniel Carpenter, a 42-year-old Black male died in the hospital one day after being shot while sitting in his car on Shetland Street in Larimer in the middle of the afternoon. Despite eye-witnesses and possible surveillance footage, Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is urged to call 412-323-7161.

MARCH 28—Calvin Walker, a 39-year-old Black male, was fatally shot when he and another man got into an argument over a parking space with Neil Chandler, 42, on West Oak Street in Homestead.

Police said Chandler shot both men during the altercation. Walker died late at the hospital the other man was treated and released. Chandler is in the Allegheny County Jail.

MARCH 30—Kenneth Baptiste Jr., a 27-year-old Black male, was found by Pittsburgh police and emergency responders with a gunshot wound to the chest in the 800 block of Murtland Avenue in Homewood. He was transported to UPMC Presbyterian but died from his wounds. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh Homicide at 412-323-7161.

MARCH 30—Andre Jordan, a 41-year-old Black male, was found

by Pittsburgh police and emergency responders with multiple gunshot wounds in a hallway of an apartment in the 3000 block of Cordell Place in Arlington. He was taken to UPMC Mercy where he died from his injuries. Police are asking anyone with information to call 412-323-7161.

February Homicides (4) FEB. 2—Tre-Quan Embry, a 22-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times in the head on East 17th Street in Homestead. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Allegheny County detectives have not yet identified a suspect and ask anyone with information to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

FEB. 4—Aaron Wade, an 18-year-old Black male from Munhall, was found lying in the front yard of a home on Plymouth Street in Duquesne Heights with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Pittsburgh homicide detectives have not yet identified a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7800.

FEB. 18—Norman Clarence Manuel, a 37-year-old Black male, was discovered by medics lying in the street in the 400 block of Enright Court in East Liberty with a gunshot wound to the chest.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7800.

FEB. 25—Wilbert Barber, a 58-year-old Black male, was fatally shot when answering the doorbell of a home in the 300 block of Fifth Avenue in Rankin. County police said the killers fired through the door, hitting him twice. They have not yet identified any suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

January Homicides (5) JAN. 9—Jonathan Freeman, a 16-year-old Black male, was fatally shot when bullets tore through the wall of a friend’s house in the 7300 block of Susquehanna Street in Homewood where he’d gone to play video games. Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7800.

JAN. 11––Josiah Battle-Davis, a 26-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot in an SUV parked in the 200 block of Glenwood Avenue in Hazelwood. Pittsburgh police have not identified a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7800.

JAN. 14—Tremaine Solomon, a 30-year-old Black male, was found

by Wilkinsburg police shot multiple times lying in the street in the 1500 block of Marlboro Avenue.

He died at the hospital three hours later. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Allegheny County police tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

JAN. 23––Heather Short, a 46-year-old White female, was allegedly strangled to death with an extension cord and dumped in a wooded area near Sutersville in Westmoreland County in November. Allegheny county police arrested Dale Cooper, 36, of West Mifflin after her remains were found.

Police said he admitted killing her because he feared she would tell a drug dealer he had robbed of $700 and an ounce of crack that it was him. Cooper is in the county jail awaiting trial.

JAN. 26—Paul McMillan, a 48-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times in the parking lot of The Lounge on Verona in Penn Hills after getting into a fight with another man inside the bar, according to Allegheny County police. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to the tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2019 A11

Alma Burgess…100 Years Blessed!

Birthday celebration held for longtime social worker, AME Church deaconess Alma Naomi Thomas Burgess. One hundred years young. One hundred years strong.

The New Pittsburgh Courier learned that hundreds congregated at the DoubleTree Hotel in Monroeville, Sept. 28, to celebrate Ms. Burgess’ 100th birthday.

Ms. Burgess moved to Duquesne, Pa., when she was 4 years old. Her father, a minister, worked in the steel mills. Ms. Burgess graduated from Duquesne High School in 1937. She then received her BA in Secondary Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She married John Wesley Burgess and had

two children.

Ms. Burgess was employed with the Department of Veterans Affairs for 38 years as a clinical psychiatric social worker. A marriage and family counselor and social work group leader, Ms. Burgess was a field instructor and associate professor for the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. She held a similar appointment at West Virginia University’s School of Social Work, where she was president of the Field Faculty Association.

Ms. Burgess is a lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal

Church, and calls St. James AME Church home.

She was consecrated a deaconess in the AME Church in 2003.

Ms. Burgess was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Iota Chapter, at Pitt in 1941, and has been an active member of the graduate chapter, Alpha Alpha Omega, for more than 70 years.

When asked what she would say to young African Americans today, Ms. Burgess said she feels lifted when she thinks about the opportunities available to young people now, unlike when she was younger, and the

only opportunities were to teach in the South or work for the Department of Public Assistance. Ms. Burgess recalled going to Kaufmann’s department store to get a job, and the only employment they would offer her, after earning a college degree, was a bathroom attendant position. She said that young people must understand the significance of the many opportunities available to them today.

Ms. Burgess is the proud mother of Jack Burgess and Janice Burgess. Christian and Wesley Samuel Burgess are her beloved grandchildren.

ALMA BURGESS

New business resource center named for Sarah B. Campbell CAMPBELL FROM A1

wood from 1952-2013. She and her late husband, David F. Campbell, raised four children in the neighborhood. She was an employment specialist and social worker for what’s now called the Department of Human Services.

Campbell helped found the organization Operation Better Block and served on the board of the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh for 50 years.

“So often we would see her walking through the community at various events,” said Bethany Baptist Church Pastor Dr. William R. Glaze in prayer at the event.

“Lord, we pray that her spirit, even though she’s not here, that LAURENCE CAMPBELL, left, son of Sarah B. her spirit Campbell, with Bridgeway Capital President T.J. will continue Bogdewic. to be in this communivelopment. I knew Sarah, ty through the presence of I loved Sarah, we were those will serve and seek to friends, she was a mentor, make a difference.” she was a visionary, and The center features two she loved this community computer rooms, a kitchen like none other.” area, and an open space Campbell lived in Home- available for business meetRicky Burgess, whose district includes Homewood, told the outdoor crowd of 100 that as he once sat in Campbell’s Idlewild Street home, “she made me promise that the two things I would work on as a member of council was public safety and economic de-

ings or community events.

Many family members of Campbell were in attendance at the Sept. 21 ceremony. Speaking for the family, Campbell’s son, Laurence F. Campbell, said that his mother “took a stand for what was right. She stood up for justice, and she took a stand for that which is true. We are here because she stood.”

For all of the progression that Sarah B. Campbell spearheaded for Homewood, Laurence F. Campbell told the Courier his mother’s crowning achievement was her children and grandchildren. “She raised four children—none of us A PHOTO OF SARAH B. CAMPBELL and her late husband, David F. Campbell. Sarah B. Campbell died went to jail, all of us are suc- in 2018 at age 96. (Photos by Courier photographer Rob Taylor Jr.) cessful in one or another,” Laurence F. Campbell said.

“The crowning achievement is the grandchildren knew our history. She was very big on history.”

“I tell people all the time, there’s a way of just mourning and there’s a way of honoring,” state Rep. Gainey told the crowd. “We could have mourned, but today, when you will name a building forever etched in this community’s history, and the City of Pittsburgh’s history, Sarah B. Campbell the building, this is the way you honor the community.

This is the way you show our young people that they could grow up to be great, with acknowledgement of the giants that came before them.”

SARAH B. CAMPELL, a life-long champion for racial justice and social change.

IN THIS 2012 PHOTO, Sarah B. Campbell is seen, at left, with then-Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl and current City Councilman Ricky Burgess, after the city demolished blighted buildings on Collier Street.

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

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Ralph P. Watson celebrates 100 TV shows of empowering local entrepreneurs

CLASSIC EVENTS! FOUNDER RALPH P. WATSON has given local entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their business or product on his PCTV-21 television show for years. On Thursday, Sept. 26, Watson celebrated his 100th show with many supporters and friends at the North Side studios. At right, it’s Watson with State Farm Insurance Agent Danielle Howard. (Photos by Rob Taylor Jr.)

JACKIE DIXON with the Regional Asset District gives Ralph P. Watson a present during the show’s 100th taping.

REV. B. CHARLES PLEASANT gives a present to Ralph P. Watson.

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

Bill Neal says the Steelers have their hands full in the AFC North Division Sports B5

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

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INSPIRED—Thiah Veona, right, created the Raising Black Millionaires flash cards after being inspired by Robert F. Smith’s generous donation to pay off Morehouse graduates’ student loan debt.

Entrepreneur creates flash cards that teach children about Black millionaires and billionaires

by The Chicago Defender For New Pittsburgh Courier

(BlackPressUSA)—New Orleans, La.—New Orleans-based media company, Raising Black Millionaires, has just released the first volume in their series of Raising Black Millionaires flash cards, to empower parents and educators of Black children with an effective and easy tool that builds self-confidence, high self-esteem, and limitless earning potential for all ages. The once blog turned media company produces infotainment products and resources to help raise Black

children to be wealthy and maintain wealth, and they’re causing huge mental shifts for Black families and classrooms across the nation.

When asked what the motivation behind creating these cards was, Founder, Thiah Veona Muhammad said, “When Robert F. Smith announced that he was paying off the student loans for those graduates from Morehouse, everyone raced to google him and find out who this man was…this Black man, at that… who could even do something so big; and what in the world does he do to make all of that money?

I think it’s imperative that we, as Black people, know who our millionaires and billionaires are, more specifically those who are in business and are non-entertainers/athletes. Showing them real examples of people who look like them, making millions in various industries will not only help them to identify themselves as people of greatness, but it will introduce them to industries that they likely have never been exposed to before, giving them more career choices.”

With a weekly podcast and upcoming television show that familiarizes the world with some

of our community’s business giants, RBM foresaw that these flashcards could provide a roadmap for helping our youth discover their own greatness and build self-confidence through the discovery of that in others who are living in their greatness today. Each deck is composed of 52 cards that features today’s Black Millionaires and Billionaires who have made their millions in various industries, through business and enterprise. Designed to introduce children to a new millionaire each week, the cards’ front features the picture of a Black millionaire, along with

their social media handles and website; and the back shares information about their background, education, honors, organizations/boards, and any books or products they’ve created from which children, parents and teachers may benefit.

Thiah continues, “We wanted to create a flash card that sparks an exploration into our giants in business who are making some remarkable moves and accomplishments, most of which our community has no knowledge.

We feel that this is essential to SEE FLASH CARDS B2

Research finds homelessness is a national crisis For more than a decade, economists, lawmakers, and others have heralded the nation’s economy. Often citing how unemployment has declined as new jobs have been created, or Wall Street trading and major bank profits rising, some might be led to believe that all is well in America.

But as Sportin’ Life in the folk opera Porgy and Bess sang, “It ain’t necessarily so.”

On September 16, California Gov. Gavin Newsom joined by state officials representing cities and counties wrote a letter that urged President Donald

Trump to recognize homelessness as a “national crisis decades in the making that demands action at every level of government”.

“Mr. President—shelter solves sleep,” wrote the California officials, “but only housing solves homelessness.”

Governor Newsom and company were absolutely correct. State and local officials across the country also reckon with limited resources to house the nation’s half million homeless and its accompanying persistent poverty. Whether eastward

Charlene Crowell

Commentary from Washington, DC to Baltimore, New York, and Boston, or westward from Los Angeles, to San Francisco, and Seattle, or even other locales—America’s homeless are a visible presence that

not everyone has been a part of an economic recovery.

In 2018, 67 percent of America’s homeless people were individuals. The remaining 33 percent were families with dependent

children, according to a re- tween 2013-2017, Black port by the National Alli- and Native American chilance to End Homelessness. dren were the most likely Further, according to a new to live in concentrated pov2019 report by the Annie E. erty. For example, half of Casey Foundation, “Our na- Michigan’s Black children tion is currently in the midst live in high poverty. Other of a long period of economic states where child poverty expansion. Yet stagnant wag- runs the risk of homelesses, rising housing costs and ness are Mississippi (43 inaccessible job opportunities percent), Ohio, (43 percent), keep many children and fam- Pennsylvania (42 percent) ilies trapped in impoverished and Wisconsin (44 percent). communities. And despite Yet despite the availabilieconomic growth, we have ty of homeless and poverty not seen significant reduction research, HUD Secretary in poverty.”

Ben Carson sent Governor The Casey Foundation SEE HOMELESSNESS B2 report also found that be-

Morgan A. Owens spills the tea on how to build a business from the ground up in her new book

by Arri Henry For New Pittsburgh Courier

(BlackPressUSA)—Morgan A. Owens had a lot to smile about during her exclusive interview with The Westside Gazette.

She’s celebrating the 5th year anniversary of her first business, Curvy Cardio, and she’s launching her 2nd book.

“Curvy Cardio is a fitness brand empowering women to love themselves from the inside out,” Owens describes. She hosts weekly workouts, national pop-ups and afterschool care workshops that promote self-love, self-esteem and healthy body image.

Professional Pretty, her other business is gaining steam. “It’s under that brand that I host/hold my big conference every year,”” she says confidently.

Owens started the conference in 2018 with 200 attendees. That number grew to 300 this year, leading her brand to speaking opportunities at this year’s Essence Festival and a social media takeover for Dr. Miracle’s Instagram account.

In her newest book, How to Be Professional Pretty: A Guide to Bloom Your Business, Owens walks budding entre-

MORGAN A. OWENS preneurs through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Oh and there’s worksheets to aid the process.

She admits to doing the most. “My overall goal for the Morgan A. Owens brand is to empower women to be their best self and to help them navigate through their

own barriers, which is usually ourselves.”

Owens recognizes that there are many outside forces and obstacles that keep us from achieving our true potential: (1) Women don’t always have to seat at a table and (2) There are a lack of resources and women are overlooked.

“But yet, we get the job done,” she emphasizes. Morgan’s business journey started in corporate; she used what she learned there to chart her own course in entrepreneurship.

Boosting the confidence of women and girls has become her life’s work. In her first book, Finding My Sparkle, Morgan A. Owens walks readers through her own journey to loving herself—the struggles and triumphs.

During the interview, she describes not being nominated for an award she thought she deserved. “I shed a tear, then bossed back up!”

This powerhouse brand is full steam ahead in fulfilling the purpose God has put into her heart. She expects 400-500 women for the third annual Professional Pretty Conference in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio May 22-24, 2020.

South Florida will have a unique opportunity to share an intimate moment with Morgan A. Owens. Her Finding My Sparkle Book Tour and Fireside Chat has a stop in Miami this January.

Discover more by visiting www.MorganAOwens.com and follow her on Instagram.

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BUSINESS

OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

BUSINESS CALENDAR Alternate Business Funding Workshop

OCT. 2—The Chatham University Women’s Business Center, The Diversity Business Resource Center and the Women’s Business Enterprise Council PA-DE-sNJ will host Think Beyond The Bank—Alternative Funding For Your Small Business, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at CoLab18, 100 South Commons, Pittsburgh, 15212. Hear presentations from and network with representatives of funders including Kiva Pittsburgh, Urban Redevelopment Authority, The Progress Fund, Bridgeway Capital, Honeycomb Credit, Idea Foundry, and the Hebrew Free Loan Association Pittsburgh. Light refreshments will be served.

The event is free, but registration—which does not open until mid-September—is required. Call Kate Booker at 412-365-1448 for more information.

Business Growth Seminar

OCT. 10—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will host Proven Strategies for Business Growth, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. Local businesses that have grown using these marketing and finance tools to enter new markets and expand in current ones. Learn how to finance your growth and increase sales through exporting, government procurement, and digital marketing including social media. Speakers include: Andreas Beck, Beyond Spots & Dots; Jim Boltz, North Allegheny Chamber of Commerce; Ryan Lockhart, The 504 Company; Rich Longo, Duquesne University SBDC; Ed Nemeth, Southwestern PA Commission; David Pinkosky, Pittsburgh District Office, US SBA; Johnna Pro, Department of Community & Economic Development; Brent Rondon, Duquesne University SBDC; Heather Thomas, Huntington Bank, and Art Tintori, Catalyst Connection. The workshop is free. Call 412-396-5884 for more information.

E-commerce Workshop

OCT. 15—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present E-commerce: Ramping up in a competitive landscape, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. The seminar will present the fundamentals on how to save time and money while establishing and growing sales via e-commerce.

Among the topics: Ecommerce Platforms of Choice: Shopify and WooCommerce; Shipping & Drop Shipping; Taxes; Search Engine Optimization; Pay Per Click Marketing, and Social Media Marketing. Cost $35. Call 412-396-1633 for more information.

PowerBreakfast Meeting

OCT. 18—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pa will host its second Powerbreakfast meeting of the season, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Rivers Club, One Oxford Centre, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. with guest speaker Cain Hayes, president and CEO of Gateway Health, who will share his strategic vision for Gateway Health and explore collaboration opportunities with the local business community. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Call 412-392-0610 for more information

Global Growth Seminar

OCT 21—The Chatham University Women’s Business Center will present Thinking Bigger: How to take a business global in five years—The success Story of Snapology, a Pittsburgh S.T.E.A.M. Education Franchise Company, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Chatham Eastside, 6585 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15206. Hear about the growth process, the decision to license and then the pivot to a franchise model, international expansion and the valuable lessons learned along the way.

Cost $10. Registration opens soon. Call Mitra Saeidi at 412-365-2779 for more information.

Start-up Training Event

OCT. 22—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present First Step: Business Essentials, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. The workshop will cover the basic needs for starting entrepreneurs, including: business structure and formation; insurance; environmental concerns; taxation requirements and more. Cost $25. Call412-396-1633 for more information.

Business Accounting Workshop

OCT. 29—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present First Step: Get Behind The Number, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282.

This hands-on workshop takes a step-by-step approach to explain two important financial statements: Profit and Loss Statement and Balance Sheet. The session will be led by representatives from Wilke & Associates, CPAs & Business Advisors. Cost: $25. Call 412-396-1633 for more information.

Certification Webinar

The Chatham University Women’s Business Center will present Certification & Beyond—The Advantages of Certification For Your Woman Owned Business. Learn the basics of certification and its benefits for small businesses. The online session will be led by Joanne Peterson and Marian Neilson of Abator’s Get Diversity Certified. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Call Mitra Saeidi at 412-365-1448 for more information.

ROBERT F. SMITH

Meet the Black billionaire who Adobe just paid another $3 billion for his cloud software Back in 2016, African American billionaire Robert F. Smith, founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, made a big bet when he paid $1.8 billion for the cloud-service company, Marketo. Well, that bet has significantly paid off...because he just sold Marketo to Adobe Systems, Inc. for $4.75 billion, which has earned him a profit of just about $3 billion—the largest acquired profit from a single company in the last 20 years.

A former Goldman Sachs investment banker who was the first to focus on billion-dollar technology mergers and acquisitions, Smith ventured into his own equity firm called Vista Equity Partners in 2000 to invest exclusively in software companies.

Many have been skeptical about his idea, saying that at that time it was impossible to succeed in that field because

target companies had no assets to lend against. Smith, however, continued with his business. Since then, people saw Vista becoming a very successful private equity firm and Smith becoming the wealthiest African American along the way.

In May 2016, Vista closed a deal to buy Marketo for $1.8 billion. It was a relatively richly priced acquisition, noting that Marketo, a marketing automation software company, was then failing to grow and was losing a lot of money. But under Smith’s leadership, Marketo’s revenue grew to over $100 million within only three years.

Adobe, a leading provider of graphics and video software and services, became very much interested in Marketo. Last month, Adobe announced that they will incorporate Marketo into its Adobe Experience Cloud platform.

The acquisition will enable Adobe to “offer an unrivaled set of solutions for delivering transformative customer experiences across industries and companies of all sizes,” according to a press release.

The recent acquisition is just one of the many deals made by Vista’s founder, chairman, and CEO Robert F. Smith.

Moreover, the 61-year-old businessman was ranked by Forbes as the 226th richest person in America in 2017, 668th on Forbes 2016 list of world’s billionaires, with a net worth of $4.4 billion.

He was also named by Forbes as one of the 100 greatest living business minds and was declared as the wealthiest African American in a 2018 cover story of Forbes.

(For more details about Robert F. Smith’s company, visit www.vistaequitypartners.com or his personal website at www.robertfsmith.org.)

Beware of false Social Security or Medicare advertisements

by Tom Winschel

For New Pittsburgh Courier

Scammers have become more aggressive and sophisticated in the digital age. With millions of people relying on Social Security and Medicare, scammers target audiences who are looking for legitimate program and benefit information. Scammers sometimes try to scare people into giving out their personal information. Never give someone who called you any personal information unless you absolutely know who they are.

The law that addresses misleading Social Security and Medicare advertising prohibits people or non-government businesses from using words or emblems that mislead others. Their advertising can’t claim that they represent, are somehow affiliated with, or are endorsed or approved by So-

cial Security or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Medicare).

People are often misled by advertisers who use the terms “Social Security” or “Medicare.” Often, these companies offer Social Security services for a fee, even though Social Security offers the same services free of charge. These services include getting: •A corrected Social Security card showing a person’s married name; •A Social Security card to replace a lost card; •A Social Security Statement; and •A Social Security number for a child.

If you receive misleading information about Social Security, send the complete ad, including the envelope (if applicable), to: Office of the Inspector General Fraud Hotline

Social Security Administration P.O. Box 17768 Baltimore, MD 21235 You can learn more about how we combat fraudulent advertisers by reading our publication What You Need to Know About Misleading Advertising at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10005.pdf.

You can also view and share our anti-fraud information at www.socialsecurity.gov/antifraudfacts as well as this YouTube video www.youtube.com/ watch?v=8N96ORODZm8.

Remember, our information is easy to email and post on social media. Please let your loved ones know about these types of scams. Sharing this article with friends and family can save them from financial and emotional hardship.

(Tom Winschel is Social Security District Manager in Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Entrepreneur creates flash cards that teach FLASH CARDS FROM B1

do, because our children need to see Black people who acquired wealth through means other than entertainment and sports; so that their worlds of opportunity could be broadened, and any existing self-limiting/self-defeating images could be combated by them seeing people who have wealth and look just like them. With that in mind, the cards were designed for them to learn about one new person each week, by starting with the card then looking the person up on Google, following them on social media, and viewing their speeches or interviews on YouTube or podcasts.”

“When Robert F. Smith announced that he was paying off the student loans for those graduates from Morehouse, my first

thought was that this man is one of a handful of ‘our’ billionaires in this country. All Black people in America should know who he is, and we wanted to provide a resource that would make knowing easier. We’re certain that these cards will give parents and teachers tools that will help them to help our children to identify themselves as people of greatness and introduce them to industries that they likely have never been exposed to before, giving them more career choices.”

While the flash cards are a new release, Raising Black Millionaires has been creating fun educational content for several years. They have a blog that provides parents with easy-to-use tips on how to develop children’s financial literacy, business knowledge, wealth mindset, and

much more. After the successful release of their first book How To Raise Your Black Child To Be A Millionaire: Child-rearing Secrets of the Black Elite in 2015, the company started the Raising Black Millionaires Podcast where Mrs. Muhammad interviews Black Millionaires to find out the childrearing techniques and strategies their parents used to get them to their various levels of success; and which of those same techniques they’ve used in rearing their children to continue their legacies. The company is on schedule to begin filming their television show this Fall.

For more information, visit RaisingBlackMillionaires.com.

(This article originally appeared in the Chicago Defender.)

Research finds homelessness is a national crisis HOMELESSNESS FROM B1

HOMELESSNESS is a national crisis.

Newsom a stark rejection of California’s appeal for federal financial assistance to alleviate California’s homeless.

Secretary Carson’s September 18 reply said in part, “California cannot spend its way out of this problem using Federal funds…More vouchers are clearly not the solution the State needs. To address this crisis, California must reduce its regulatory burdens on housing.”

Advocates for homeless and low-income people strongly disagreed with Secretary Carson’s assessment.

“We know that the number one cause of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing,” said Megan Hustings, managing director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.

“Consumers are already struggling with crushing debt from student loans and medical expenses, or facing triple-digit interest rates when they attempt to access small dollar loans,” noted Marisabel Tor-

res, Director of California Policy with the Center for Responsible Lending, “When they also have to pay some of the highest housing costs in the nation, it is unfortunately unsurprising that there are such large numbers of homeless people in many of California’s large cities.”

“California’s homeless may be the largest by state,” continued Torres, “but the problem is a national one that deserves to be recognized and acted upon.”

In 1987 there was an expression of national will to respond to America’s homeless through enactment of the McKinney Homeless Act. That statute created the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness dedicating the ongoing support of 19 federal agencies to prevent and end homelessness. HUD is one of the participating agencies. The Council on Homelessness even has a written plan, Home, Together, that lays out federal remedies over the fiscal years of 2018-2022.

According to the 2018 report by the

Council on Homelessness, “Crisis services are the critical front line of communities’ responses to homelessness, helping people meet basic survival needs while also helping them swiftly secure permanent housing opportunities.”

Someone should give Secretary Carson a copy. And if that takes a while, here’s what Congresswoman Maxine Waters advised the leadership of the House Appropriations Committee this past June: “In the richest country in the world, it is simply unconscionable that this many of our neighbors across the country are living without a place to call home,” said Waters. “Several communities have experienced severe increases in their homeless populations, further illuminating that homelessness is a crisis. The federal government must recognize the national crisis at hand and support communities and local service providers who are on the streets helping.”

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

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Memo to candidates: We need a plan for the affordable housing crisis

Guest Editorial

Trump is making a mockery of democracy President Donald Trump now admits that he ordered his staff to freeze nearly $400 million in aid to Ukraine a few days before a phone call in which he pressured the Eastern European nation’s leader to investigate the family of political rival Joe Biden.

The revelation is critical to national security and U.S. democracy.

Trump reportedly had a summer phone call with Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskiy, in which Trump is said to have pushed for investigations into Biden. In the days before that call, Trump ordered the aid to Ukraine frozen.

Trump is not credible when he denies that any requests for help in procuring damaging information about Biden were tied to the aid freeze.

In 2014, the United States began providing military aid to the government of Ukraine shortly after Russia illegally annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula. With Ukraine’s new president facing opposition from separatist rebels, the aid was viewed as a demonstration of U.S. determination to push back against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump’s call to the foreign leader, and his subsequent comments about the conversation, raise questions about whether the president improperly used his office to pressure another country as a way of helping his own re-election prospects.

“These allegations are stunning, both in the national security threat they pose and the potential corruption they represent,” wrote seven freshmen in Congress, who include a former Navy pilot, soldiers, officers and intelligence analysts.

“We do not arrive at this conclusion lightly,” the lawmakers wrote in a Washington Post op-ed. The lawmakers include Reps. Gil Cisneros of California, Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Elaine Luria of Virginia, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia.

“These new allegations are a threat to all we have sworn to protect. We must preserve the checks and balances envisioned by the Founders and restore the trust of the American people in our government. And that is what we intend to do.”

Trump denied telling the Ukraine president that his country would only get U.S. aid if it investigated Biden’s son. “I didn’t do it,” he said. But the latest revelations make the president’s denial hard to believe. He did not have to issue a direct threat.

By withholding aid he was sending a clear message.

The new allegations come as more Democrats move toward impeachment proceedings.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday launched a formal impeachment inquiry on Trump because of reports that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son.

Pelosi had been understandably reluctant to pursue impeachment proceedings, believing that the Republican-controlled Senate would oppose it. Pelosi had previously resisted calls for impeachment and insisted that Congress must not start formal proceedings unless the American public demands it.

It’s time that Americans tell Congress that the president’s repeated lawlessness can no longer be tolerated.

Trump has gotten away with wrongdoing including being implicated in several instances of obstruction of justice involving the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and impeding an investigation into foreign interference in a U.S. election. More than 700 former federal prosecutors (nearly half of whom joined the Department of Justice under a Republican president), issued a statement saying that Trump would have been indicted for obstruction of justice if he were an ordinary citizen, based on the contents of the Mueller report. Trump has also gone around Congress to fund border wall construction with money already appropriated for other purposes.

The new allegations that he demanded that a foreign leader investigate the family of his political rival show that the president clearly believes he can act with impunity and that no one will stop him.

So far he has been right.

It’s time for citizens to speak out and lawmakers to act.

It’s time to stop Trump from mocking our democracy.

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)

Founded 1910

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

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“The lack of affordable housing is perhaps the greatest challenge to successfully ending homelessness and lifting millions of people out of poverty … This administration’s callous attempts to rollback funding for affordable housing and homelessness assistance programs has left more than half a million people without shelter on any given night. So long as there is a national housing shortage, the American Dream remains largely deferred.”

—U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley Housing affordability in the United States is undeniably a crisis.

Home prices are rising at twice the rate of wage growth. According to the most recent statistics, nearly half of renters are considered cost-burdened, meaning they spend 30 percent or more of their income on rent.

About 11 million Americans spend more than half their income on rent.

Yet the candidates for President are largely silent on the issue of affordable housing. During the most recent Democratic debate, not one of the candidates shared a plan for addressing this crisis.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s “National Housing Wage” for 2019 is $22.96 for a modest two-bedroom home and $18.65 for a modest one-bedroom home. That’s how much a full-time worker must earn to afford a rental home at fair market rent without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing.

Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal The average renter’s hourly wage is $5.39 less than the national two-bedroom Housing Wage and $1.08 less than the one-bedroom Housing Wage, according to the NLIHC. The problem is even worse for Black and Hispanic households, who are much more likely to be both cost-burdened and low-income. Twenty percent of black households and 16 percent of Hispanic households are extremely low-income renters, compared to just 6 percent of White households.

Even households who are not low-income are affected by the affordable housing shortage. The foreclosure crisis of 2008 exacerbated the shortage of affordable housing, forcing families out of the homes they lost and into the already-tight rental market. Those families who have recovered from foreclosure are competing for affordable homes to buy. And fewer of those homes are available because members of the older generation are living independently in their homes much longer than previ-

ous generations.

Confronted with a crisis of this magnitude, it is nothing short of astonishing that the Trump Administration—for the fourth year in a row —has proposed drastic cuts to affordable housing programs.

The poorest renters who live in subsidized housing would see rent hikes.

The Community Development Block Grants program would evaporate, as would the Public Housing Capital Fund, which is used to maintain and improve public housing buildings, HOME Investment Partnerships, the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, and the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity program. Communities depend upon these vital programs for community development funds.

These policies are destructive, for American families and for the American economy, and countering them should be a top priority for the candidates vying to oppose President Trump next year. Yet the public debate has virtually ignored the fundamental issue of affordable housing.

The National Urban League has championed safe, decent and affordable housing for more than a century, but without a comprehensive plan to address the crisis, our work is at risk. We call upon every candidate to elevate the issue during these important debates and over the coming months. Housing is a fundamental right, and our political process must recognize that right.

The answer is obvious!

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Is there one rational person who honestly still questions whether Donald Trump should be impeached by the House, convicted by the Senate and removed immediately from the people’s house?

The answer is obvious to everyone except crooks who operate in the same way as Trump operates. When my good friend Dick Gregory was still here with us and Donald Trump and those around him had begun the really crazy stuff, Mr. Gregory knowing my curiosity about nearly everything told me all of the Trump craziness was White folks’ business and I should stay out of it. I really tried to do that, but as things got more chaotic, it became impossible for me not to at least comment on the chaos. Surely Mr. Gregory would forgive me for not taking his advice just this one time.

The lawyer part of me kept reminding me that silence gives consent!

Donald Trump ran a reckless campaign for president, and he has become even more reckless since he used Russian and whatever other unsavory help he could muster. Hardly a day has ever gone by when Donald Trump didn’t give the American people great cause for concern about what he might do to bring more shame on our country. Trump’s behavior has become increasingly dangerous to our national security.

I closely watched his twisting and turning and observed his crude behav-

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary

be a 20th century paper shredder.”

She concluded her brilliant remarks by saying, “Has the President committed offenses, and planned, and directed and acquiesced in a course of conduct which the Constitution will not tolerate? That is the question. We know that.

We know the question. We should now forthwith proceed to answer the question. It is reason, and not passion, which must guide our deliberations, guide our debate, and guide our decision.”

We’ve seen the misconduct over and over again. We, the people, are exhausted by the repeated and unpunished conduct. One presidential election has been stolen. Black people, Brown people, Native people, Muslims, women, Democrats, Africans, the disabled and so many of us have been denigrated so many times by Trump and his kind that we do not need a lot more investigations to show massive wrongdoing.

We, the people are ready for a decision.

We need someone like Rep. Jordan today, but we’re grateful that Speaker Nancy Pelosi came to the conclusion that the time for impeachment is now.

More than one half of the Members of the House of Representatives agree.

As the days go by, Republicans who love the country more than they fear the scoundrel in the White House will find the courage to vote in favor of impeachment!

ior at the United Nations a few days ago. Aside from being bored, it was painful to listen to him as he denigrated leaders of nations and spoke like a middle school bully. It’s hard to believe that a man who stood before the world three years ago and swore to defend and protect our country and without shame has done so much to destroy everything we stand for. How do the people of any nation allow such abuse of the power of the office of president to repeat itself time after time without taking action to say “Enough is enough?”

If Trump is not the epitome of a traitor to our country, then as Congresswoman Barbara Jordan once said of another Republican president who decided to resign rather than face certain impeachment, “A president is impeachable if he attempts to subvert the Constitution. If the impeachment provision in the Constitution of the United States will not reach the of(Dr. E. Faye Williams is national president fenses charged here, then perhaps that 18th century Constitution should of the National Congress of Black Women.)

Congress must act to address gun violence (NNPA)—It seems like every few months, our nation is rocked by another mass shooting. El Paso and Dayton are only the latest of a list of tragedies that stretches from Parkland to Pittsburgh, Charleston to Columbine, San Bernardino to Sandy Hook, and to Las Vegas.

And while these high-profile mass shootings dominate headlines, they are only the tip of the iceberg. Every day, communities across the country are ripped apart by gun violence. This reality is especially harrowing for Black Americans. Consider these statistics from the gun rights advocacy group Everytown: •Nearly 7,500 Black Americans die by gun homicide every year, a rate 10 times higher than that of White Americans.

•Black children are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized from gun violence than other children, and are 14 times more likely to die from their injuries.

•Within the 50 cities with the highest murder rates, Black Americans are 81 percent of the victims, despite making up only 38 percent of the population.

The conclusions are clear: Black Americans face a greater risk of being victims of gun violence compared to their peers. The only question that remains is what will be done about it.

It is obvious that our current laws

Sen. Chuck Schumer

Commentary are not doing enough to prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands.

Now, more than ever, we must do more to protect our children from the scourge of gun violence.

And the simplest, best place to start is for the Senate to have a vote on H.R. 8, the House-passed bipartisan bill to close the loopholes in our federal background check system. For years, Democrats have argued that we must close these loopholes because the rest of our gun safety laws will continue to be undermined if this problem isn’t fixed. In the minds of almost all Americans, it’s not remotely controversial: over 90 percent of Americans support this idea—including a majority of Republicans and a majority of gun owners.

The only roadblocks remaining are President Trump and Senate Republicans, led by Senator Mitch McConnell, whose fealty to the gun lobby has stymied any progress.

Astonishingly, the unthinkable vio-

lence that has plagued our communities for years has done little to push Senate Majority Leader McConnell and President Trump into action.

They have repeatedly refused to join Democrats in taking meaningful, lifesaving action on commonsense gun safety legislation.

But we are not giving up, and neither are the American people. Every day, people are raising their voices and making this issue impossible for Republicans to ignore. The activism we see—from students who have lost friends or classmates and fear they may be next and from parents who have lost their children to gun violence or fear they may one day face that unthinkable reality—has brought an unprecedented level of attention to this struggle. They are not giving up the fight to end our nation’s gun violence epidemic and neither will Senate Democrats.

In moments like this, we cannot settle for half measures or lip service. We are calling on Senate Republicans to honor the lives lost to gun violence by bringing the House-passed bipartisan universal background checks bill to the floor of the Senate for a vote.

It is our solemn duty to the victims of gun violence to cure this terrible plague that claims tens of thousands of lives every single year. They cannot speak for themselves, but their memory calls down to us for justice.

Letters to the editor for publication The New Pittsburgh Courier welcomes all responsible viewpoints for publication. All letters should be typewritten and contain writer’s address and phone number for verification. All letters will be edited for clarity and length. Address all letters to: Letters to the Editor, New Pittsburgh Courier 315 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 You may fax your letter to 412-481-1360, or via e-mail to letters@newpittsburghcourier.com

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WPXI IS HIRING Sr. News Photographer Videographer

Hiring for a full-time motived TV news photographer. Looking for experienced and passionate visual storytellers, problem solvers and team players. A degree in photography, journalism or related field is preferred. Practical working experience will be considered in lieu of education. Must be willing to work all shifts.

Qualified candidates should apply online: jobs.coxmediagroup.com WPXI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. seeks a Chief Information Officer in Pittsburgh, PA. Specific duties include: (i) direct and lead Information Technology (IT) functions, services, and governance specific to PNC Retail Technology’s transformation; (ii) establish and drive the digital transformation strategy, plan, vision, and culture to support and advance business goals to differentiate PNC’s customer experience and reinvest how PNC interacts with and serves customers; (iii) establish and drive the core platform transformation and rationalization strategy, as well as planning and execution to replace legacy systems/infrastructure enabling the bank’s ability to respond to the dynamic nature of the current economy and customer expectations and rapidly evolving cyber security landscape; (iv) manage, coordinate and facilitate the implementation of latest technologies, methodologies, and best practices, while also instilling a discipline around Return on Investment and next generation solutions; (v) develop and administer IT policies and procedures, ensuring the delivery of quality services and alignment with regulatory compliance; (vi) manage the bank’s risk profile and its responsiveness to existing and emerging threats; and (vii) manage the performance digital transformation functions and services, participating in team management and team building. Very limited domestic travel (5-10%) for business meetings is required.

Position requires a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or Business Administration, plus ten (10) years of experience in an information technology management position, in or for a retail financial services company, including experience with technology transformation, operations, and risk management (including both operational and cyber). Must have experience with the following: (i) five (5) years of information technology management experience over multiple geographic locations; (ii) three (3) years of experience with software development, network and cyber security, information technology operations, and regulatory experience; (iii) experience with software development including the following: programming languages, including Java, C/C++, or .Net; internet languages, including HTML, CSS, and XSL; application server experience, including WebSphere, Jboss, or Tomcat; database experience, including Oracle and SQL Server; Cloud experience, including Cloud platforms (Bluemix, AWS, Azure or GCP); and architecture, design and implementation of n-tier enterprise architectures; (iv) network and cyber security experience, including CISCO switches, intrusion detection and prevention (IDS and IPS), Proxy (BlueCoat), Firewall design (Fortinet, Palo Alto, or Check Point), and application and network monitoring (Riverbed, CISCO, or Splunk); (v) information technology operations experience, including enterprise scheduling (Tidal) and Information Technology service management (ServiceNow); (vi) regulatory experience, including implementation of BASEL II, PSD2, and AML; (vii) strategic consultation experience within a retail financial services technology and infrastructure, including CRM, core banking implementation and upgrades; and digital transformations, including setup of Greenfield operations; and (viii) experience with strategy, execution and operations of systems development life cycle, including Agile and Devops, cyber security – secure coding, threat assessment and testing, and testing and quality assurance with a focus on automation and repeatability.

40 hours/week, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Interested individuals apply online at www.pnc.com using keyword R011171. PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law.

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FIRE DEPARTMENT CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION ANNOUNCEMENT

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE POSITION OF FIREFIGHTER FOR THE ALTOONA FIRE DEPARTMENT Applications for Firefighter for the City of Altoona can be obtained from the Human Resources Office in City Hall between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, or by visiting www.altoonapa.gov, beginning Tuesday, September 3, 2019. Completed applications must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than NOON ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2019: Human Resources Department – Altoona City Hall 1301 12th Street, Suite 301 Altoona, PA 16601-3491 Individuals on the previous eligibility list must reapply to be considered for employment; as previous applications and eligibility lists are void.

REQUIREMENTS: •Must pass a Physical Agility Test to be held in Altoona on Saturday, October 26, 2019 and Sunday, October 27, 2019.

•Must pass a Written Civil Service Test to be held in Altoona on Saturday, November 2, 2019, with a score of 70% or better.

•Must be a United States citizen.

•Must be at least 18 years of age at time of application.

•Must have a valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License.

• Must be a high school graduate or possess a GED equivalent.

•Must be physically and mentally fit to perform the essential duties of a firefighter as determined by successfully completing the physical agility test and physical examination.

•Must become a resident of the City of Altoona within six (6) months of date of employment and must remain a resident of the City during the tenure of employment.

Applications must be complete, written legibly, signed and notarized.

Completed applications must include: •Copy of valid Driver’s License •Copy of Birth Certificate or appropriate proof of age •Copy of Social Security Card or proof of U.S. Citizenship or Naturalization •Copy of High School Diploma or GED •Copy of DD214 (if applicable). Veteran’s Preference will be applied to the final score of eligible candidates •Notarized Verification Form •Signed General Consent Form •Check or Money Order in the amount of $25.00 made payable to the “City of Altoona” The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer RENTAL SERVICE Unfurnished Apartments

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Estate of MR. RAMON MUNDY, Deceased, of 1401 Sherman Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Estate No. 02-19-05762 Ms. Jeanine Bacon, 1414 Hamlin Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233, Administrator, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 Estate of MS. HELEN D. ROSE, Deceased of 45 Eichelberger Drive, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

Estate No. 02-19-05843 Ms. Linda D’Amico, 2016 Cutter Drive, McKees Rocks, PA 15136, Executrix, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

Estate of GLENICE D. PRICE, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA No. 05862 of 2019. Jannie Dean, Administratrix, 2015 Calistoga Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 or to Thelma C. Spells, Esquire, Atty., 1533 Bidwell Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233.

Estate of MS. JULIE HERMANN, Deceased of 2115 Forest Grove Road, Coraopolis, PA 15108. Estate No. 02-19-05915. Ms. Marilyn J. Langman, 211 Sewickley Heights Drive, Sewickley, PA 15143, Executrix, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

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No. 02-19-04280, Administratrix. Stacy A. Kearns, 4760 Norma Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15236 or to American Wills & Estates, Lloyd A. Welling, Esquire, 2100 Wharton Street, Suite 302, Birmingham Towers, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

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SOFTWARE DEVELOPER SENIOR

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT N0. 1721

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. seeks a Software Developer Senior in Pittsburgh, PA to participate in all aspects of PNC’s C&IB Testing Center of Excellence activities. Specific duties include: (i) provide detailed technical design and development of software solutions using existing and emerging technology platforms; (ii) propose and design software solutions to address complex business needs; (iii) write code, test and deploy software; (iv) prepare technical and procedural documentation required for software; (v) maintain and debug software; (vi) application testing and delivery; (vii) technical troubleshooting; (viii) software development lifecycle; (ix) work with various testing teams in close collaboration to learn and validate the business user scenarios for functional, systems integrated and user acceptance testing; (x) work with the performance testing team to ensure all aspects, user interfaces, integrations and user scenarios of the developed applications can be performance and load tested before actual implementation; and (xi) collaborate with process architects to document and create test plans.

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering plus 3 years of experience in a software development position requiring Agile methodologies, Software Testing, System Integration, Quality Assurance, and Payments Processing is required. Must have experience with: (i) Payments Applications (GPP) and end to end business process for FED and SWIFT payment; (ii) Agile development methodology and Version One/JIRA tools; (iii) Test Automation (UFT and Selenium) using TestNG and cucumber framework; (iv) Java and JavaScript development skills; (v) test management tool (HP ALM); (vi) Microsoft Project (test plan management), Visio (process mapping), and Share Point (maintenance of knowledge management repository); (vii) CMMI, Six Sigma, and ISO 9000; (viii) integration standards including Web Services REST and SOAP US; (ix) test estimation and planning; (x) WebSphere Application Server; (xi) web based UI technologies; and (xii) platform Best Practices and their application.

40 hours/week, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Interested individuals apply online at www.pnc.com using keyword R011208. PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law.

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Estate of NORMAN E. SMILNYAK, Deceased of Oakdale, Alllegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. 02-19-05551. Laurie Lee Corrigan, Executrix, 2303 Elm Drive, Oakdale, PA 15071 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty., BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017.

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Legal Notices

FICTITIOUS NAME

Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of the Fictitious Names Act of Pennsylvania that an application for registration of a fictitious name was filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the conduct of a business under the fictitious name of Alder Partners, with its principal office or place of business at 338 Morrow Ave., Carnegie, PA 15106. The names and addresses of all persons who are parties to the registration are: Tyler Collins - 215 Morris Dr., Montgomery, WV 25136; Jonathan Blanton - 338 Morrow Ave., Carnegie, PA 15106; Miles Craft - 196 W. McClung Rd. Lot 64, LaPorte, IN 46350.

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

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

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is soliciting Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1721 ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE SERVICE, for which Proposals will be received until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Thursday, October 17, 2019 at the office of the Authority.

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

A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held at the Authority’s Plant, on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. Prevailing Time.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals, to waive any informality in any Proposal and to accept any Proposal should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so. Bid Security in the Amount of $ 2,000.00 is required.

Documents pertaining to the submission of Bids are available at the office of the Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Any questions regarding this contract document should be directed to Benjamin J. Heilman, Contract Supervisor at 412- 734-6204.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Benjamin J. Heilman Contract Supervisor

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR PROJECT BASED VOUCHER PROGRAM 2019 RFP #125-26-19

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Project Based Voucher Program 2019 RFP #125-26-19 The documents will be available no later than September 23, 2019 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 10:00 A.M., October 11, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested may obtain information from: Mr. Kim Detrick – Procurement Director/Chief Contracting Officer Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 2nd Floor, Suite 200 100 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116, Option 1 or by visiting the Business Opportunities section of www.hacp.org A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room Pittsburgh, PA 15219 October 3, 2019 10:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

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

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed bids will be received by the Town of McCandless, in the Town Hall Building, 9955 Grubbs Road Wexford, PA 15090 until 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 15th 2019, for the following project: Project No. 2019.152 HVAC RENOVATIONS At MCCANDLESS TOWNSHIP TOWN HALL Separate Bids will be received for General Construction, HVAC Construction, Electrical Construction and Fire Protection Construction.

Bidding documents for Project No. 2019.152 may be obtained for a refundable deposit of $175.00 at Printscape Imaging & Graphics, 760 Vista Park Drive #7 Pittsburgh, PA 15205. http://myprintscape.com.

A Pre-bid Conference will be held at the Town Hall Building – 9955 Grubbs Road Wexford, PA 15090, on Wednesday October 9th, at 2:00 PM. Bids must be accompanied by a certified check, or a bid bond, payable to the Town of McCandless, in an amount not less than ten percent of the bid.

The Town of McCandless reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on October 24, 2019 and will be read at 11:15 AM, the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527), for the following: Electronic Proposal Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) B190427AR Reman/Exchange/ New Cummins Turbocharges B190859AR Bicycle Racks - Coach B190964A Snow removal Services - P&R Lots B190965A EGR Coolers - Cummins Engines B190974A Landscaping & Trash Removal Services for P&R Lots No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00am October 9, 2019 at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA). Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority 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 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 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 Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

CLASSIFIEDS/SPORTS

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

Separate and sealed Proposals will be received at the Allegheny County Airport Authority, Pittsburgh International Airport, Landside Terminal, 4th Floor Mezz, P.O. Box 12370, Pittsburgh, PA 15231-0370 until 1:00 P.M. prevailing local time, OCTOBER 30, 2019, and bids will be publicly opened and read by the Airport Authority in Conference Room E, Pittsburgh International Airport, Landside Terminal, 4th Floor Mezz, P.O. Box 12370, Pittsburgh, PA 15231-0370, one half hour later, for the following: PROJECT NUMBER 59G1-18- REBID (GENERAL) PROJECT NUMBER 59E1-18- REBID (ELECTRICAL) EDS RECAP AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ELECTRICAL PROJECT 59E1-18-REBID – The Electrical bidder shall be required to request an application to purchase bidding documents. No Electrical bidding documents will be sold without a completed and Authority approved application. The application must be obtained by calling 412472-3543 or 412-472-3677 or 412-472-3779 or by e-mail to: msimmeth@ flypittsburgh.com or amcwreath@flypittsburgh.com or vculbreath@ flypittsburgh.com and requesting an application. The Electrical bidding documents must be purchased in person and under the terms set forth in the application package. NO MAIL REQUESTS FOR ELECTRICAL BIDDING DOCUMENTS WILL BE HONORED. The Allegheny County Airport Authority reserves the right to refuse sale of the Electrical Bid Documents until it receives an acceptable application for purchase. The Electrical Bidding Documents will not be made available to advertisers.

A PRE-BID CONFERENCE will be held in Conference Room E, Fourth Floor, in the Landside Building, Pittsburgh International Airport, at 1:30 p.m., on OCTOBER 10, 2019.

Plans, specifications and bid documents for the above referenced project will be available for purchase on OCTOBER 10, 2019 at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Attention is called to the fact that not less than the minimum salaries and wages as determined by the General Wage Determinations issued under the Davis-Bacon and related Acts must be paid on these projects.

Proposals must be made on the Authority’s form and in accordance with the Plans and Specifications and the “Instructions to Bidders”’.

The non-refundable charge for the Bid Documents and a Disk containing the Plans and Specifications is $150.00; mailing (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL BIDDERS) can be arranged for an additional $75.00 charge.

This project has DBE participation goals; DBE firms must be certified with the Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program) (PAUCP). Firms must be certified prior to award of contract. A searchable database of DBE firms can be found on the PAUCP web site: http://www.paucp.com The Airport Authority reserves the right to reject any and all bids or waive any informalities in the bidding.

No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of sixty [60] days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids.

To view a complete advertisement, which is also included in the bidding documents visit www.flypittsburgh.com under doing business with us – business opportunities or call 412-472-3543 or 412-472-3677 or 412-472-3779.

Christina A. Cassotis Chief Executive Officer ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Workers Compensation Insurance The documents will be available no later than September 30, 2019 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 2:00 P.M., October 22, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested may obtain information from: Mr. Kim Detrick – Procurement Director/Chief Contracting Officer Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 2nd Floor, Suite 200 100 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116, Option 1 or by visiting the Business Opportunities section of www.hacp.org A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh 200 Ross Street 9th Floor Conference Room Pittsburgh, PA 15219 October 10, 2019 9:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

Support the publication that is ALWAYS focused on Pittsburgh’s African American community.

Subscribe to the Courier today by calling 412-481-8302, ext. 134

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SONNY BOY

DOCUMENT 00030-AA ADVERTISEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE RFP #650-35-19

OCTOBER 2-8, 2019

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

ARTICLE 1 – ADVERTISEMENT PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT

Separate sealed Bids for the Work as listed hereinafter will be received at the Purchasing and Materials Management Department of Port Authority of Allegheny County (Authority) Heinz 57 Center, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-2527 until 1:30 p.m. on October 30th, 2019 and will be publicly opened and read immediately thereafter at the same address. Each Bidder shall be solely responsible for assuring that its Bid is both received and time stamped by a representative of the Purchasing and Materials Management Department at or before the advertised time for submission of Bids. Bids received or time stamped in the Purchasing and Materials Management Department after the advertised time for the submission of Bids shall be non-responsive and therefore ineligible for Award.

MT.WASHINGTON TUNNEL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT NO. SYS-19-07 The Work of this Project includes, but is not limited to, the furnishing of all material, equipment, and labor for the demolition of existing electrical equipment and installation of proposed electrical systems. These systems include Tunnel LED lighting, Tunnel Emergency Marking Lights, Telecommunications system, fan ventilation power/control/heater circuitry, optical fiber system, and modifications to the Programmable Logic Center. This Work includes all necessary conduit, conductor, support racks, temporarily systems, anchorages and hardware, lighting control cabinets and contactors, and necessary optical fiber hardware. A Bid Option is included for the Portal Building Redundant Power System Demolition and Installation.

Bid Documents will be available for public inspection and may be obtained on or after September 26th, 2019 at Authority’s offices at the following address: Port Authority of Allegheny County Purchasing and Materials Management Department Heinz 57 Center 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527 Bid Documents are available for purchase as follows: Bid Documents are available in an electronic form on compact disk upon payment of $15.00 per CD. Payment shall be by check or money order (NO CASH), payable to “Port Authority of Allegheny County.” No refunds of payment will be made.

Upon request, Bid Documents can be mailed upon receipt of payment in full. Should the purchaser wish to have the Bid Documents delivered via special delivery, such as UPS or Federal Express, the purchaser shall provide its appropriate account numbers for such special delivery methods.

This Project may be funded, in part, by, and subject to certain requirements of, the County of Allegheny and/or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Authority, in compliance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, as may be amended, require that certified Diverse Businesses (“DBs”) have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts for this Project. In this regard, all Bidders shall make good faith efforts in accordance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, to ensure that DBs have the maximum opportunity to compete for and perform contracts. Bidders shall also not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, sexual origin, gender identity or status as a parent in the award and performance of contracts for this Project. If aid is required to involve DBs in the Work, Bidders are to contact Authority’s DBE Representative, Susanna Broadus at (412) 566-5257.

The Bidder’s attention is directed to the following contacts for Bidder’s questions: Procedural Questions Regarding Bidding: David A. Hart - Authority (412) 566-5415 All other questions relating to the Bid Documents must be submitted by mail or email to: Port Authority of Allegheny County Heinz 57 Center 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 Attn: David A. Hart Email: DHart@portauthority.org In addition, the Bidder’s attention is directed to the following schedule of activities for preparation of its Bid: 9:00 am Pre-Bid Conference October 15, 2019 Port Authority of Allegheny County

Heinz 57 Center

5th Floor, Neal Holmes Board Room

345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor

Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527

(Attendance is not mandatory,

but strongly recommended) 1:30 am Pre-Bid Site Tour October 16, 2019 M-Loop, at South Hills Junction Train stop.

1:30 p.m.

Bids Due October 30, 2019 Purchasing and Materials Management Department Authority reserves the right to reject any or all Bids ARTICLE 2 – PRE-BID CONFERENCE A Pre-Bid Conference may be held with prospective Bidders to review the Bid Documents and generally discuss the Project. The time and place will be specified in the Advertisement. All Bidders are encouraged to submit their questions in writing to the respective individuals listed in the Advertisement prior to the time specified in the Advertisement for the Pre-Bid Conference. A response may be provided during the Pre-Bid Conference or by Addendum thereafter.

ARTICLE 3 – PRE-BID TOUR If a site tour is to be conducted covering the area(s) of the Work, it will be held at the date and time indicated in the Advertisement.

ARTICLE 4 – PUBLIC OPENING OF BIDS Bids will be publicly opened and announced at the advertised time and place set for such Bid opening.

INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

SEPARATE and SEALED BIDS for the following solicitation, will be received by the Office of Procurement, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 1200 Penn Ave., Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, until 2:00 PM Prevailing Time October 29, 2019.

INVITATIONS FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR THE 2019 SMALL DIAMETER SEWER REHABILITATION CONTRACT NO. 1 PWSA PROJECT NO. 2019-424-100-0 Work under this contract includes trenchless rehabilitation of sewer mains 8-inch to 15-inch in diameter to restore structural integrity, reduce root intrusion and reduce infiltration and inflow. Also includes installation of manholes, raising manholes and point excavation requires required to complete lining.

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation that can be obtained by sending an e-mail to procurement@pgh2o. com. There will be no charge for the solicitation, as it will be sent via e-mail. All questions relating to the solicitation itself shall be to Susan Kemery, Sr. Contract Specialist, via e-mail: skemery@pgh2o. com, no later than October 22, 2019.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on October 15, 2019, 10:00 a.m. prevailing Time in the Authority’s conference room located at 1200 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. The purpose of this meeting is to give an overview of the contract requirements and to allow Bidders to ask questions.

Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Bond in the amount of Ten Percent (10%) of the bid for the project under construction. Said Bond shall be duly and legally executed with a Surety or Trust Company which has complied with City Ordinances/Resolutions relating thereto. A Performance Bond and Labor and Material Bond in the amount of 100% of the contract value for each awarded project will be required after award.

The Contractor must assure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sexual preference, sex, or national origin.

The bidders will be required to submit the package of certifications included with the contract documents relating to Equal Employment Opportunity.

The Authority reserves the right to withhold the award of the Contract for a period of 60 days after the opening of the bids.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to waive any informality or minor irregularity in any bid or bids. The Authority also retains the right to investigate the qualifications of bidders prior to any award and to award contracts only to contractors who, in the sole judgment of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, are qualified and equipped to properly execute the specified work.

ROBERT A. WEIMAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

Cleveland Browns…Maybe that ‘Dawg’ can hunt!?!

by Bill Neal For New Pittsburgh Courier

:10—The teachable moment here, boys and girls, is that unlike some other people who co-host with me on “Soul Take–Champions Live”…who will remain nameless (Kevin Cameron), I am able to admit when I am wrong. Rare as it may be. But it looks like the “Dawg Pound” that is the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League does have as much bite as they do bark. Beating the Ravens in Baltimore this past Sunday, Sept. 29, was no small task. I admit it. I thought they would need at least a year to mesh into a team unit. Well, they meshed real good, slapping the dirty birds with a 40-25 tarring to go with those feathers. :09—While you’re already down in the dumps let me throw more salt in you wounded heart. Your Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have a tough time beating either one of them. I am just sayin’! :08—A belated and tremendous heartfelt outreach to the family of the late-great-great Sam Davis. The former Pittsburgh Steeler, four-time Super Bowl champion, passed

away two weeks ago. “Mr. Davis” was the guard that anchored the offensive line of the Steeler dynasty of the ‘70s.

Blessings to his beautiful wife Tammy and their children. :07—“Rambo”…It may not be the most artistic movie you’ll see this year and the musical score probably won’t receive any votes and the only connection it will have with an “Oscar” is Sly Stallone’s cousin Oscar Stallone…

But, I can promise you this—you will have more fun at this movie than you did on your first real date! (smile) I am talking about stand up and cheer for the good guy fun.

And, that’s what I did. Four Basketballs for Rambo. And trust me, he’ll be back! :06—This just in…The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball season is over. Thank goodness. :05—We are happy and proud to announce that World Track Masters Champion, Charles “Buddy” Allie, will be the keynote speaker at the Sixth Annual Pittsburgh City League High School Hall of Fame Inductions on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. :04—You can wake up now. The nightmare is over. And, it wasn’t just a bad dream. Kevin Durant did go down

and Golden State did not win the NBA title. The Toronto Raptors took home the Gold. But the good news is the NBA season has started. Let the fun begin. Check your local listings. :03—So you say you miss real heavyweight boxing and the glitz and glamour that went with it? Do what I did last weekend. Dig up your Ali-Frazier trifecta and enjoy the lost art of the sweet science. Mannnn, that was so good stuff. :02—No time to stop now, you’re doing a great job. Stay tuned into your high school football teams, support the schools and the players, let the kids play and you, please stop pretending you’re still “The Man” and most especially follow all the action down the stretch in the New Pittsburgh Courier. The only place in town to get the update on City league action. (Clearly no other sports outlet in town does…I am just sayin’!) :01—After last week if you still need a reason to vote Trump out of office you truly have to request more time on the couch with your therapist. Vote…Him…Out!!! :00—GAME OVER.

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OCTOBER 2-8, 2019 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

High student debt threatens our nation’s future (TriceEdneyWire.com)—The student debt crisis in our country is worsening.

If nothing is done, its size threatens our nation’s future. Young people saddled with student debt often postpone adult decisions, like purchasing homes or getting married, hoping to start “real life” with a clean slate. When these folks delay buying homes, they also postpone the purchase of everything that goes with home ownership—furniture, appliances, and more. Millions boomerang home, living with their parents into their late twenties, or even longer. Some default on their loans, ruining their credit, and impeding other purchasing.

How bad is it? Student debt in our country totals almost $1.6 trillion in 2018, $521 billion more than credit card debt. More than two-thirds of all students take out student loans, with an average debt of $29,800. A total of nearly 45 million Americans have student loan debt. And if it is bad for the overall population, it’s worse for African American students, who recently graduated with $37,000 in debt, more than $7,000 more than the overall average. According to Ashley Harrington, of the Center for Responsible Lending, 85 percent of all African American graduates carried student loan debt in 2016, compared to

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary the 2016 overall average of 68 percent.

“Black students take out more loans and often take longer to pay them back”, she said. The result? A decade after college graduation, African Americans who had student loan debt owe twice as much as their white counterparts.

This is not at all surprising. African American median incomes are lower than White incomes. African American wealth is less a small fraction of White wealth. African American unemployment rates are higher than White rates, even for college graduates. On average, African Americans are stuck at the economic periphery, with every indicator showing Black folks lagging others in our economy.

And while the student loan crisis hits the Black community hard, it so profoundly affects our national economy that Democratic Presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are getting major traction from their plans to reduce or eliminate student loan debt. Indeed, Sanders gets more support among those in the 18-34 age group than any of his competitors (Biden gets little support from younger people, and Warren garners a healthy 25 percent from young people in recent polls), partly because he has been extraordinarily vocal in addressing student loan debt.

The presidential candidates have not been the only ones, who have expressed concern about the heavy burden of student loan debt. Congress implemented the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. After paying a percentage of their income for 120 consecutive months, public servants like teachers and firefighters, and people who work for nonprofit organizations, could qualify to have the remainder of their loan forgiven. From the legislation, the first to receive loan forgiveness would get it in 2017. By March of 2019, however, fewer than one thousand people (of 55,000 that applied) were granted loan forgiveness.

This is mostly attributable to sloppy administration of the program by the current Department of Education. Indeed, the current administration has proposed eliminating the forgiveness program. Congressman Robert “Bobby” Scott, the Virginia Democrat who chairs the House Education and Labor Committee, held hearings on this matter.

Witnesses cited conflicting information that they received, payments that were not credited so that the loan relief that they expected has not been forthcoming.

The heavy student loan debt that Black students carry broadens an already wide wealth gap. Besides race, it also broadens the class inequities that exist in our society. Access to affordable higher education is one of the ways to narrow gaps, but the keyword is affordability. Both the federal and state governments have decreased their investments in higher education. The maximum Pell grant amount, at $6195, does not cover the cost of tuition at a four year college, not to mention the cost of attendance (tuition, room, and board).

While high student loan debt may be debilitating for the individuals who incur it, it is essential also to note that this debt has an impact on our nation’s economic futures. If we think that education is critical, then we must take steps to make it more affordable. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders get rousing cheers when they talk about forgiving student loan debt. It’s time to turn talk into action.

(Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist.)

Workers are asking, whose side are you on?

(TriceEdneyWire. cuts. com)—More than Jesse Jackson Sr. Teachers sick of 2,200 nurses at the futile negotiations University of Chicawith local school go Medical Center boards walked off went out on strike the job and took last week, but they their case directly are not alone. Amerto the legislatures. ican workers are They demanded waking up and walknot only higher ing out. On Sept. 15, salaries, but in 46,000 hourly General Motors’ United many cases, smaller classes, and greatAuto Workers employees went on strike, er spending on their students. They got the first time in 12 years. Striking Brit- massive support from parents and the ish Airway pilots grounded 1,700 planes. community. In each case, right-wing In Republican states like Oklahoma state legislators were forced to respond and West Virginia, teachers shut down by increasing spending, although not to schools to demand that state legisla- the levels sought by the striking teachtures reverse the deep cuts exacted from ers. The wave of strikes is increasingly public education. Marriott hotels were propelled by younger workers. Fight for hit with the largest hotel strike in U.S. $15, the movement to raise the minhistory, a walkout of 6,000 hotel workers imum wage to $15 an hour, was led by in four states. young workers in fast-food restaurants The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports and other service industries. that a soaring number of workers went on Young people, often burdened with strike or stopped work in 2018—485,000— college debt, entering workplaces charthe most since 1986. The rising number of acterized by wages and benefits that strikes reflect the reality of Trump’s econo- don’t keep up with costs, are particularmy: Despite all his boasting about the “eco- ly aware of how the economy has been nomic miracle,” most workers aren’t expe- rigged against them. Large majorities riencing it. Corporate profits have soared, think CEOs are greedy and irresponsibut workers haven’t shared the benefit. ble. Large majorities think politicians Trump’s tax scam went largely to the have been corrupted by entrenched inrich and the corporations. Corporate terests and big money. They are driving promises of wage and investment hikes the demand for change. Smart business were largely discarded, with CEOs us- leaders are waking up to the fact that ing the tax breaks mostly to buy back they are losing the support of Ameristocks, boosting their stock bonuses and cans, particularly the young. shafting their workers. Gilded age inThe Business Roundtable, a gathering equality is combined with rising insecu- of some of the most powerful CEOs in the rity for working people. country, recently called on corporations to Even now, wages have finally begun to move beyond a single focus on “shareholdrise, but still are not catching up to soar- er value,” but also invest in their workers, ing costs in basics like health care and protect the environment and deal ethicaleducation. Just 22 percent of workers ly with suppliers and customers. Whether have a pension plan of any kind at work. this is anything beyond a public relations 40 percent of Americans say they would gambit remains to be seen, but the mere be forced to borrow or sell something to fact that the CEOs thought it necessary cover a $400 emergency. One in five say to publicly release that statement likely they know someone addicted to opioids suggests that they know they have gone or painkillers. The GM strike comes af- too far. These stirrings are beginning to be ter workers sacrificed big-time to help reflected in our politics.

GM out of bankruptcy during the Great Trump, for all his populist posturing, Recession. Now GM’s profits are up, CEO remains oblivious, wedded to the conbonuses are up, but workers who shared servative Republican agenda, opposed the pain haven’t shared in the gain. to unions, to raising the minimum wage, They are striking for decency, for high- to investing in teachers, education and er wages, for strong health care plans, getting health care costs under control. for turning more temporary workers— But every leading Democratic contender who get no benefits—into permanent for president champions worker power, workers with pensions, health care and calling for reforms to make it easier to vacations. The strike wave last year was organize, for lifting the minimum wage, led by teachers in deep red states. In for making vital public investments, and each state, Republican legislatures had for cracking down on the entrenched slashed spending on education during interests that have rigged the economy the Great Recession and cut taxes on against working people. The words of the the wealthy. When the economy turned old union ballad “Which Side Are You around, they didn’t restore the spending On?” once more echo across the country.

Commentary

Gun control’s past victims The last Demostates that formed cratic presidential J. Pharoah Doss after the Revoludebate took place tionary War, racially discriminain Houston, hosted tory gun laws were

by Texas Southern the norm. Whites University, a historfeared Black uprisically Black college. ings and lawmakSix weeks prior, a ers passed statutes White nationalist barring slaves from targeted Hispanics possessing firearms and killed 22 people in El Paso, Texas, the hometown of and other weapons. The ban also applied to free Blacks to prevent them from aspresidential candidate Beto O’Rourke.

During the debate O’Rourke made sisting any slave revolt that occurred.

Restrictions were lifted during the Civstatements he thought he should make on a Black college campus like, “Racism il War. (Desperate times, desperate meain America is endemic,” and, “We can sures.)

After the war the South was determark the creation of this country, not at the 4th of July 1776 but August 20th, mined to take all guns from Blacks 1619 when the first kidnapped African to restore their previous order. Black was brought here against his will.” O’Ro- codes were passed to restrict former urke believes American history should be slaves from possessing a firearm. Most Blacks didn’t comply. Blacks didn’t need told from the perspective of its victims.

When the debate moderator asked to understand the original intent of the about gun control, O’Rourke announced second amendment to know bearing to the nation: We are going to take your arms were needed to defend themselves AR-15s and your AK-47s. We’re not go- against government tyranny. The KKK ing to allow them to be used against fel- and other groups raided Black homes low Americans anymore. Of course, sec- and seized every weapon they could find.

Fast forward to the 1960s, there was ond amendment supporters condemned O’Rourke for promoting gun confisca- civil unrest, church bombings and riots, tion and stressed that the founding fa- but it wasn’t until Blacks started shoutthers wrote the second amendment for ing Black power and the Black Panther Party for self-defense formed that frightdefense against government tyranny.

O’Rourke addressed this argument re- ened enough lawmakers in Congress for them to pass the gun control act of 1968. cently at Ohio State University.

O’Rourke is aware of this history, he He stated there’s an honest debate that the second amendment is meant for de- just believes it’s irrelevant because it fense against a tyrannical government, has nothing to do with present-day vicbut his reading of the U.S. constitution, tims of gun violence, but that’s a huge the second amendment, and U.S. histo- intellectual inconsistency from a canry is that argument should have been didate who prides himself on narrating decided in a courthouse in Appomattox, American history from the perspective Virginia (This reference is to the end of of its victims.

(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New the Civil War). O’Rourke’s answer only makes sense when American history is Pittsburgh Courier.) viewed through its victims. He seems to be suggesting since the Confederacy took up arms against the United States to preserve slavery, the “defense against government tyranny” can be dismissed as a racist argument.

Maybe, but there’s an intellectual inconsistency here.

O’Rourke doesn’t view gun control through the same historical perspective of the victim that he views everything else, because gun control was the most effective policy in order to maintain White supremacy.

In the colonies and the

Check It Out

‘Let the record show’

by The Field Negro

America, you asked for this guy, and now you are in the middle of a real s*&* show.

You are watching in real time how a mob boss operates. It just so happens that this one is your president.

Mr. trump lies so easily and without shame, that you have to wonder about his mental makeup.

He held a press conference yesterday, and told lie after lie without shame and hesitation. For a minute there I actually felt bad for the guy. He looked medicated and defeated. trumpbots, if you took a really close look, you would have noticed that your emperor was naked.

That minute of me feeling bad for this guy didn’t last long, though, especially after reading the following post from John Pavlovitz.

“Let the record show that I did not consent to this.

Let it show that I did not vote for this man, that he did not represent me, that I did not believe he was deserving of being here, that I grieved his ascension, that I resisted his ugliness.

Let History record my objection to him, to the ways he humiliated women and vilified Muslims and threatened protestors and disregarded people of color.

Let it record my repulsion at his tremendous cruelty, his lack of compassion, his contempt for dissension, his absence of simple decency.

Let witnesses mark down my disgust at the way he boasted of infidelity, at how he ridiculed a disabled reporter, at the way he attacked female opponents for their appearance, at the way he marginalized immigrants.

Let it be remembered that I did not look the other way when women accused him of assault, when the reality of his Russian alliances came to light, when he refused to share his tax records—though large portions of the American media and its people chose to.

Let it be remembered that I did not buy into the fear that he perpetuated of those with brown skin or hijabs or foreign birthplaces.

Let the record show that I looked on with disbelief as he spent countless early morning and middle-of-the-night hours following the election on social media, broadcasting a steady stream of petulant, insecure, incoherent messages instead of preparing to do a job he was ill-equipped for and seemingly not all that interested in.

Let the record show that I watched him assemble a Cabinet of billionaires and bigots, of people woefully unqualified to steward our children, our safety, our healthcare, our financial stability—and that I was horrified by it all.

Let it be remembered that my faith would not allow me to fall in line behind this man while so many professed religious people did; that I saw nothing resembling Jesus in him, and that to declare him Christian would have been to toss aside everything I grew up believing faith in Christ manifested in a life.

Let History record my grieving at the racism and bigotry and homophobia that characterized his campaign, marked his supporters, and is evident in his assembling Administration.

Let it be known that I was one of the more than 65 million people who voted for Hillary Clinton; who understood that though not perfect, she was an intelligent, experienced, passionate public servant with the temperament, commitment, and qualifications to lead and lead well.

Let the record show that I greatly lamented the day of his inauguration, and that I promised to join together with other good people to loudly resist and oppose every unscrupulous, dangerous, unjust and dishonest act this new Administration engages in.

History has been littered with horrible people who did terrible things with power, because too many good people remained silent. And since my fear is that we are surely entering one of those periods in our story, I wanted to make sure that I was recorded for posterity: I do not believe this man’s actions are normal.

I do not believe he is emotionally stable.

I do not believe he cares about the full, beautiful diversity of America.

I do not believe he respects women.

I do not believe he is pro-life other than his own.

I do not believe the sick and the poor and the hurting matter to him in the slightest.

I do not believe he is a man of faith or integrity or nobility.

I do not believe his concern is for anything outside his reflection in the mirror.

I believe he is a danger to our children.

I believe he is a threat to our safety.

I believe he is careless with our people.

I believe he is reckless with his power.

I believe America is less secure, less diverse, less compassionate, and less decent under his leadership. And if I prove to be wrong, it will be one of the most joyful errors of my life. I will own these words and if necessary, willingly and gladly admit my misjudgment because it will mean that America is a better and stronger nation, and the world a more peaceful place.

But right now I don’t see that happening.

Right now I am worried for my country, concerned for our planet, scared for the future of my children, and greatly saddened that 62 million Americans seem okay with all of this.

Let the record show that I was not okay with it.

Not at all.”

Hat tip to you sir. I want the record and history to be clear where I stand as it relates to this man as well.