New Pittsburgh Courier 11-27-19

America’s best weekly

Andrew C. Jones

Recipient of 2019 Police Community Service Award Metro A7

Shayla Foreman

Aims to create beauty empire in Pittsburgh

AAWSB celebrates 20 years

Business B1

Lifestyles A6

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

Vol. 110 No. 48

Two Sections

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Published Weekly

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

LIFE IS ‘LIKE A BRIDGE’

$1.00

PPS: Reducing the achievement gap between Black and White students is crucial District unveils new 97-page equity plan

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Three students want to watch a baseball game, but a fence is blocking their view.

Each student then stands on a box in an effort to see over the fence.

Student 1 can see over the fence, student 2 can also see over the fence, but student 3 still cannot see over the fence.

While students 1 and 2 are standing on one box that was placed on a level part

SWIN CASH, a McKeesport High School basketball star who won collegiate and professional basketball championships, at The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Clean Slate E3 benefit dinner, Oct. 30. (Photo by J.L. Martello)

Hometown hero Swin Cash tells youth to ‘fight to get over’ to the other side

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

When The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh set out to celebrate 21 years of its Clean Slate E3 nonprofit affiliate, including 10 years of the affiliate’s scholarship program, they wanted to have as the keynote speaker at their benefit dinner someone who’s a slam dunk. A sharpshooter. A winner on and off the court.

So, all they did was bring

back a person who is one of the most decorated high school basketball players of all-time in Western Pennsylvania (at McKeesport High School), won two national championships in college (at the University of Connecticut), and played 15 seasons (and won three championships) in the WNBA. Swin Cash, the pride of McKeesport, donned in a black dress, took her seat at Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at the Priory, Oct. 30. She

was greeted by old friends, supporters, and, after the attendees finished their dinner, delivered the keynote address.

Cash, expectantly, lauded the housing authority for its Clean Slate program, which it started in 1998 in an effort to inspire the housing authority’s younger adults and children to steer clear of the national drug epidemic and the gang-related crime that engulfed many American cities. Years later, Clean

Slate expanded into Clean Slate E3, which, among other initiatives, awards scholarships to HACP residents. In the past 10 years, Clean Slate E3 has provided almost 40 HACP residents with scholarships for post-secondary education, totaling more than $225,000.

Clean Slate E3 has managed its scholarship program in partSEE CASH A2

of the ground, student 3 is standing on one box that was placed on a much lower slope of the ground. Therefore, even with the one box, because student 3 is on a lower plane than the other students, that student still cannot see over the fence and enjoy the game.

This is precisely the example outlined in Pittsburgh Public Schools’ new student equity plan, dubbed “On Track to Equity: Integrating Equity Throughout SEE PPS B5

The accolades keep coming for Njaimeh Njie Artist, Schenley grad honored as Duquesne/August Wilson House Fellow

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Not that she’s complaining about it, but the accolades keep coming for Pittsburgh’s own Njaimeh Njie, regarded as one of the premier artists of the millennial generation.

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Njie, the award-winning photographer, filmmaker and multimedia producer, was recently selected as the fall 2019 Duquesne University/ August Wilson House FelSEE NJIE A4

NJAIMEH NJIE

URA to acquire plaza that housed the former Shop ‘n Save in Hill District

by Juliette Rihl

Centre Heldman Plaza for $1.6 million.

PublicSource The Urban RedevelopAfter approving the hir- ment Authority (URA) will ing of a new executive di- take over a loan from Dolrector, the Urban Redevel- lar Bank, which has held opment Authority board the 2.57-acre property in voted Thursday, Nov. 14, to receivership. URA senior acquire the former Shop ’n counsel Kate Wrenshall Save site and other retail said the move means the space in the Hill District’s URA can have a commu-

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

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

nity process regarding the property’s future, rather than it going to the highest bidder.

Opened in 2013, the Shop ’n Save was the Hill District’s only full-service grocery store. It closed in March as a result of low foot traffic and a dispute between the store’s owner and its landlord, Hill House Economic Development Corp. The shopping plaza was built with nearly $4 million in public money, including $1 million from the URA. Its loss comes amid the recent financial

collapse of the Hill House Association.

The property at 1850 Centre Ave. includes a 29,500-square-foot vacant grocery store and four vacant retail suites totaling 6,910 square feet. Next steps for the property are still being determined.

City Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle, who sits on the URA board and represents the Hill District, said there will be a “robust community process” for residents to say how they want the land to be used.

At the meeting, Hill Dis-

trict residents and community leaders expressed concerns about the lack of community involvement in URA decision making.

Marimba Milliones, president and CEO of the Hill Community Development Corporation (CDC), urged the board to reconsider the URA’s community process.

She explained that the process previously involved close coordination with community organizations.

“A lot of community process has happened without a community partner, and that’s a new thing,” Million-

es said.

E Properties and the Hill CDC purchased four buildings owned by the Hill House Association earlier this year for about $5 million. The Centre Heldman Plaza, another Hill House property, was not among them.

The URA board approved a motion for URA staff to create a work plan to develop a community engagement process that will include community organizations and residents of the SEE URA A2

A2

METRO

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Hometown hero Swin Cash tells youth to ‘fight to get over’ to the other side CASH FROM A1

nership with the local NEED (Negro Educational Emergency Drive) since 2012.

“Clean Slate E3 aims to assist the most deserving public housing residents to achieve self-sufficiency through educational advancement,” said HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion, who also serves as Clean Slate E3 president. “We have hundreds of exceptional students in our communities who depend on scholarship dollars to advance their education and

of estimated funds from the benefit dinner is the establishment of the Officer Calvin Hall Memorial Scholarship, in 2020. Binion said the scholarship will be provided to a resident of Northview Heights or Allegheny Dwellings, the housing authority communities Officer Hall served in the past year. Officer Hall was shot and killed in July after authorities determined he was attempting to defuse a situation on Monticello Street in Homewood.

Officer Hall’s family was

Liberty, the final team she played for in the WNBA before retiring in 2016.

Cash told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview that getting the position with the Pelicans “was a lot at once, but it was a beautiful experience. I had known (Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations) David Griffin from working with him at Turner (Broadcasting), and he had talked about this vision he had, and he sold me on it, and I had an opportunity to see the direction that I wanted

SWIN CASH

SWIN CASH, right, with The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Michelle Sandidge and Caster D. Binion. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello) we are extremely pleased to be able to contribute toward their growth.”

Binion also said the benefit dinner was anticipated to raise an additional $80,000, “which will be used exclusively for providing additional scholarships for HACP residents.”

Included in the $80,000

in attendance at the benefit dinner.

As for Cash, she’s busy these days as Vice President of Basketball Operations and Team Development for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. She previously was the director of franchise development for the WNBA’s New York

to go and pivot in. I think it was the right team, the right situation at the right time for me to pivot from what I was doing.”

It’s not lost on Cash the many people around here who consider her a true success story. For young Black women, Cash is someone they look up to.

As Cash spoke with the Courier, she recalled how, earlier in the day before the benefit dinner, she took a stroll over one of the Downtown bridges, and spotted Heinz Field and PNC Park as she thought and prayed. “One of the things that kept coming to my mind is that life is like a bridge,” Cash said. “You start out on one side, you never know what obstacles and things are on that side, but you’re always trying to push to get to the other side. And I think my life has been like that.”

Cash (whose legal last name is Canal after marrying Steve Canal in 2015) recalled her early days growing up in McKeesport; her mother, Cynthia, a former McKeesport hoops star as well, always by her side. “I dealt with a lot of situations a lot of kids deal with today—the crime rate, being slighted in certain ways where you don’t

have as many opportunities as other kids...”

That’s a primary reason why, in 2005, Cash started “Cash For Kids,” an organization designed to “motivate, educate and elevate kids,” according to its mission statement.

More than 2,000 kids across the country have been impacted by Cash’s organization.

“You’re always on one side trying to get to the other side, so what work are you putting in?” Cash said.

“Pittsburgh has so many bridges, so as I kept walking I kept thinking, you’re always going to come to a situation where there’s a bridge in your life and you can make the decision, either fight to get over it, or are you going to stay put?”

For Cash, her mentality was obviously to fight to get over it. “I was always a fighter,” she said. “I always used people’s negative, or motivation of why

I couldn’t achieve something, to do it.”

Cash tells youth to do what she did—find your “hustle.”

“Yeah, I was talented with basketball, but my hustle was everything else,” Cash told the Courier. “My goal (with basketball) wasn’t just to be in the WNBA or go to the Olympics, my goal was to get an education because I knew my education meant I’m going to make money.

“For kids, what’s your hustle?” Cash said. “Do you know how to do hair? Can you do hair and also get a scholarship and be able to balance that? Do you want to start getting into tech?

Do you want to be more innovative? Do you want to create games? Coding?

If you’re trying to get over that bridge, what’s your hustle? Find your hustle.

We all got a hustle. I used sports as my hustle. Sports didn’t use me.”

from Penn Plaza at the table, as we promised to bring people home,” Gainey said.

The board action included recommendations by the review committee includ-

ing requiring the developer to meet with the Carnegie Library, Duolingo and other local entities. The board also amended the proposal to include a stipulation to

work with displaced Penn Plaza residents as the project moves forward.

URA to acquire plaza that housed the former Shop ‘n Save in Hill District URA FROM A1

Hill District.

Regarding development in East Liberty, the board also voted to enter into exclusive negotiations with Beatty Street Development Team for the development of two mixed-use buildings.

The site is owned by public entities including the URA, City of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Parking Authority.

Plans for the six-story Beatty Square Apartment building at South Beatty and Eva streets include 220 residential units—66 of which would be affordable at 20 percent to 60 percent area median income (AMI)—and 12,000 square feet of commercial space.

Plans for Beatty Seniors Lofts, a six-story building proposed at South Beatty and Mignonette streets, in-

THE NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER PUBLISHING COMPANY

Publication No.: USPS 381940 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: 412-481-8302 Fax: 412-481-1360 The New Pittsburgh Courier is published weekly Periodicals paid at Pittsburgh, Pa. PRICE $1.00 (Payable in advance) 6 Months—$25 1 Year—$45 2 Years—$85 9-Month School Rate $35

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:

New Pittsburgh Courier 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

clude 40 units of affordable senior housing and 2,500 square feet of commercial space to be leased to East Liberty Development, Inc. for 99 years. Plans also include a 480-space parking garage.

While the URA has said the development will bring displaced Penn Plaza residents back into the neighborhood, some East Liberty residents and stakeholders brought up concerns, including a lack of Penn Plaza residents in the planning process and the potential for adverse effects for the nearby Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch.

“The advisory committee for this did not include any residents from Penn Plaza,” said Alethea Sims, president of the Coalition of Organized Residents of East Liberty.

Karlyn Voss, director of external and government relations for the Carnegie

Library of Pittsburgh, said the proposed development, particularly the planned 6-story parking garage, would “directly impact the visibility and access” to the library. She asked that the design be adapted to address these concerns.

Lori Moran, president of the East Liberty Quarter Chamber of Commerce board of directors, said she supports the project because it brings more parking and affordable housing to the neighborhood.

“Small businesses and all businesses are choking from a lack of parking,” Moran said.

URA board member state Rep. Ed Gainey, D-Pittsburgh, said he appreciated the amount of affordable housing in the plan but that he shared concerns raised about Penn Plaza residents and the library.

“I want the library at the table, and I want somebody

(Juliette Rihl is a reporter for PublicSource. She can be reached at juliette@publicsource.org)

This Week In Black History Week of Nov. 27-Dec. 3 November 27 1895—Novelist and playwright Alexandre Dumas dies in France. He was the son of the much more famous Alexandre Dumas [Sr.] who authored such works as “The Three Musketeers” and “The Count De Monte Cristo.” However, “junior” was also an accomplished novelist with his most famous work being “La Dame Aux Camelias.” When confronted with French racism, Dumas is frequently quoted as telling his detractors, “My father was a Creole, his father a Negro, and his father a monkey.

My family, it seems, begins where yours left off.”

1942—Rock musician Jimi Hendrix is born in Seattle, Wash. Hendrix is considered one of the greatest guitarists to have ever played. Unfortunately, he died of a drug overdose while on tour in Europe.

November 28 1753—Revolutionary War soldier James Robinson is born in Maryland. Historically, like “40 acres and a mule,” Robinson epitomizes the White man’s false promises to the Black man. Robinson, a slave, was promised his freedom for fighting in America’s War of Independence from Britain.

He fought so well that he won a medal for bravery at the Battle of Yorktown.

1961—Ernie Davis becomes the first Black man to win college football’s prestigious Heisman Trophy.

1997—Coleman Young, Detroit’s first Black mayor, dies at 79. He presided over his adopted city for an unprecedented five terms.

November 29

1780—After initial racist opposition, especially in the South, Blacks are welcomed into the Continental Army to help fight for American independence from Britain.

The move was also prompted by British actions. The Americans were losing to the British, the British had launched their Southern campaign and were promising Blacks freedom if they joined the British side.

Overall, an estimated 5,000 Blacks fought in America’s war for independence. However, some Blacks did fight for the British.

1919—Legendary dancer Pearl Primus is born in Trinidad, but she is raised in New York City. She blended African and Caribbean dance and music with Black American traditions of Blues, Jazz and the jitterbug to form a new vibrant dance form. She formed a dance troupe and she personally appeared in such early Broadway hits as “Showboat” and “Emperor Jones.” In 1991, the first President Bush awarded her the National Medal of Arts. She died Oct. 29, 1994.

1961—Freedom Riders are attacked by a White mob in McComb, Miss.

This was just one of numerous such attacks throughout the South. The Freedom Rides were part of a campaign against segregation in interstate travel following a 1960 Supreme Court decision declaring all such segregation on buses and in waiting rooms illegal.

November 30 1924—Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm is born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Chisholm became the leading Black female politician in America. She served in the New

York State Assembly, the United States Congress and ran for the Democratic Party nomination for president in 1972. Chisholm died on Jan. 1, 2005.

December 1 1641—U.S. (then British) colonies began legalizing slavery. On this day, Massachusetts became the first colony to do so. Other colonies followed suit. Ironically, Massachusetts was also the first state to outlaw slavery as a result of a 1783 State Supreme Court ruling.

1877—Judge Jonathan Jasper Wright resigns.

Wright had been the first Black state Supreme Court judge. However, he resigned on this day (out of possible fear for his life) as the Reconstruction era ended White racists were reasserting control over Southern politics and law. While on the South Carolina Supreme Court, Wright wrote 87 opinions which were noted for “clear thinking and a solid basis in common law.”

December 2 1884—Granville T. Woods (1856-1910) invents and on this day patents a major improvement to the telephone transmitter.

Woods received nearly 50 patents for inventions in the areas of transportation, electricity and communications. He was called “the Black Edison” after Thomas Alva Edison who is generally considered the most productive U.S. inventor.

December 3 1847—Frederick Douglas and Martin R. Delaney establish “The North Star” and it goes on to become a major anti-slavery newspaper.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

A3

A4

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The accolades keep coming for Njaimeh Njie Artist, Schenley grad honored as Duquesne/August Wilson House Fellow

NJAIMEH NJIE, center, with August Wilson House Executive Director Paul Ellis and Duquesne University President Ken Gormley. (Photos

by Courier photographer J.L. Martello) NJIE FROM A1

low.

The DU/AWH Fellowship provides opportunities for scholars and artists of color in varied media to engage in literary, cultural and artistic expression that advances their own work and serves the joint interests of Duquesne University and the community, according to the university’s website.

The Fellowship is designed to bring national and regional artists and scholars into a collaboration between the famed playwright’s Hill District and educational and artistic institutions.

August Wilson House Fellows at Duquesne serve as artists/scholars-in-residence, living in a Duquesne University apartment while developing their own creative work, engaging in research, teaching and participating in educational events both in the community and on campus.

The fellowship program furthers Duquesne’s signature partnership with the August Wilson House.

Fellows are invited to create work that can be showcased in Wilson’s childhood home and the Hill community. They also have access to Duquesne’s resources for scholarly research and public programs and conduct classroom presentations and programs that are hosted on and off campus.

Duquesne and the August Wilson House are piloting the fellowship program with two fellows per academic year for three years, with the goal of sustaining the program thereafter, according to the university.

During the Nov. 14 announcement at Duquesne’s Pappert Lecture Hall, university president Ken Gormley and

August Wilson House Executive Director Paul Ellis applauded Njie for her unwavering commitment to her craft and her focus on how African Americans perceive themselves and their experiences in the cities they call home.

Njie’s work centers on everyday people, narratives and landscapes.

At the event, Njie showcased some of her latest work, entitled “The Power of Preserving the Present,” which features photographs and interviews she conducted with university and Hill District community members.

Her recent public art project, “Homecoming: Hill District, USA,” has received wide acclaim (www. hillhomecoming.com). The project is a digital archive composed of oral histories and photos arranged to tell “a roughly 100-year history” of the Hill District, according to a release from Duquesne University.

Take a look at the steps of the Kaufmann Center in the Hill, and you’ll see a photo mural of legendary figures in Pittsburgh’s Black community. Njie created the mural, the final piece of the “Homecoming: Hill District, USA” project. Depicted on the steps are the likes of Dorothea Lee Parker (first Black female deputy sheriff in Allegheny County), longtime Ammon Recreation Center director Clarence Battle, community activist Tamanika Howze, Arthur Giles (as a child, with mother, Juanita Flanagan), and Louis C. Coles.

“My work focuses on the Black experience in particular because I believe there’s consistently a need for a diversity of narratives depicting our lives,” Njie

said in an artist statement on the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for African American Poetry & Poetics website. “I document the implicit and explicit ways we resist to acknowledge that waking up, working, laughing, struggling, loving, protesting, praying, and creating are all ways to survive and fight against oppression in this world.

Documenting these moments is something I feel humbled to do, and that I will continue to strive to do in an honest way.”

Njie is a 2006 Schenley High School graduate— but that’s not the entire story.

She was one of just 18 students to earn the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma from the program offered at Schenley. According to

a 2006 release from Pittsburgh Public Schools, the IB Diploma program is a two-year comprehensive and rigorous pre-university curriculum leading to an IB Diploma for highly motivated secondary school students ages 16 to 19.

Students such as Njie who earned the IB Diploma received passing grades in six IB subjects, wrote an independent research paper, fulfilled 150 hours of community service and demonstrated an understanding of the Theory of Knowledge.

Njie then headed to St. Louis, where she earned a B.A. in Film and Media Studies from Washington University in 2010, and later a M.Ed in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

NJAIMEH NJIE, second from right, with family.

NJAIMEH NJIE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

METRO

A new facility for Passport Academy

PASSPORT ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new facilities at 1835 Centre Ave. in the Hill District, Nov. 7. Mayor Bill Peduto was on hand, along with principal Jeff “Bo” Jackson and Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle. Passport Academy serves students between ages 17 to 21 who predominantly face circumstantial obstacles to receiving secondary-level education.

STUDENT AMBASSADORS—Tiana Ramsey, Santino Stackhouse, Nadira Pace and Joniah Stowers, with Mayor Peduto.

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

A5

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

A6

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report Desperate times

These times are very hard for a lot of people. Homelessness is on the rise and in my opinion integrity is at an all-time low. In my best Robin Harris voice, “keep your eyes on your luggage.” In short, keep your eyes on your stuff.

Not only your physical stuff but especially your online stuff as well.

Recently I got a few phone calls alerting me that people have been getting scam phone calls from my phone number. This kind of information can be very unsettling. What do you do? As far as the phone calls right now I am going to ignore it. I got three phone calls from the people who got the calls and told them to block my number. I also plan to add a disclaimer to my outgoing message letting people know that I did not call them.

It looks like the donot-call list has failed in a lot of respects. So many people are receiving scam calls daily.

These calls really cut into my time. You stop what you are doing, look at the phone and decide should I answer; do I know anyone in Utah or the United States?

Many people are getting phone calls from their own number. Reportedly it is best not to engage in conversation with these scammers, either don’t answer or if you do and you hear that it is a fake call, hang up.

Be careful what you get involved in as far as social media and dating sites. Don’t end up being “fried catfish.” That is my new term for women and men who are duped by prospective dates on the online dating sites. I have watched so many people on Dr. Phil and other shows who have sent their life savings to people they have never met in person. Their families are trying desperately to help them and explain to them these people are not real but there are a lot of lonely people out there and all they want is someone to love them. If you have older relatives pay attention to them and try to keep them and their money safe.

Speaking of your relative’s money, this does not mean you are to spend and pillage your parent’s hard-earned savings. Recently I read a story of a young woman who put her dad in the nursing home and then used all of his money to pay her bills and stopped paying his bills. This makes me cry. Yes, I was in tears.

I remember how hard I worked to keep all of my mother’s bills up to date after she could no longer manage her account. What kind of son or daughter would do that to their parents?

Now the woman who stole from her daddy is in jail.

Be careful out there, people; don’t carry a lot of cash or credit cards that you don’t need.

Invest in a good crossbody bag so you don’t have your handbag open on your wrist. Use valet parking when possible and keep your eyes on your luggage.

(Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com.)

PRAISE AND WORSHIP—Minister Brian Wright (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

TRAILBLAZERS HONORED—Yvonne Durham, Sharon Greene and Ebony Hughes

AAWSB celebrates 20 years

by Debbie Norrell

guson, RN MSN CNP, Yvonne Durham, Sheryl Bennett, RN and Ebony Hughes, RN. Durham and Hughes were on hand to accept their beautiful loving cups. Cheryl Evans was acknowledged as the longest surviving member. AAWSB donates all proceeds to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

AAWSB thanked their sponsors: Peg Rosenzweig, RN, Bob McCall, Jr., Allegheny Health Network and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. This year’s committee included: Sharon Greene, Cynthia Howard and Lagretta Bush-White.

(Email them at AAWSBbureau@

Lifestyles Editor

The mission of the African American Women Speakers Bureau (AAWSB) is to provide breast cancer education and community outreach to African American women in local and regional communities surrounding Pittsburgh. On Oct. 5, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Monroeville, AAWSB celebrated 20 years with their Annual Prayer Brunch with the theme, “We Have Come This Far by Faith.”

Over 350 guests enjoyed awesome vendors, a great brunch, smooth sounds

by Calvin Stemley on saxophone, dynamic soloist Sonya Carter, praise

DYNAMIC—Sonya Carter

ENJOYING A GREAT DAY...

gmail.com)

and worship conducted by Minister Brian Wright and keynote speaker Pastor Katrina Organ from Beulah Baptist Church.

Pastor Organ was beautiful in pink and delivered a strong message on “keeping the faith.”

Four members were recognized for being trailblazers with the organization: Derietra Neal Fer- KEEP THE FAITH—Pastor Katrina Organ

DAUGHTER & MOM—Toni Rumble and Shirley Lucas

AAWSB MEMBERS—Edith Smith and Gloria Mungin

AAWSB MEMBERS—Dolores Farley and Valerie Myles

CHECKING OUT THE VENDORS—Edith Smith, Helen Wilkins, Cheryl Evans and Toni Roberts

SOULFUL SAX—Calvin Stemley

AAWSB MEMBERS—Lagretta Bush, Peggy Tate-president and Cynthia White-Howard

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

METRO

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

A7

‘A.C.’—Recipient of 2019 Police Community Service Award

PITTSBURGH POLICE MASTER PATROL OFFICER ANDREW C. JONES, better known as “A.C.,” was honored by state Rep. Ed Gainey with his annual Police Community Service Award, during a presentation at Pittsburgh Police headquarters, Nov. 15. In the above photos, Officer Jones is surrounded by family and supporters. Officer Jones has been lauded for his personable nature, and ability to de-escalate situations. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

REP. ED GAINEY, ANDREW C. JONES

PITTSBURGH POLICE MASTER PATROL OFFICER ANDREW C. JONES

A coming of age tale of trial and triumph.

This book details how a high school football team was gripped by violence and psychological terror amid a dynamic tenure of athletic dominance.

Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh’s Homewood community established itself as an amazing and legendary bastion of champions while its players endured hardships in order to become a part of its glorious history.

For sale on Amazon.com $12.95

RELIGION

A8 NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Sunday Services at New Evangelistic Ministries

Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 10:30 A.M. www.stbtmchurch.org

East Liberty Presbyterian Church 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

PATTY LOWDEN

NEW EVANGELISTIC MINISTRIES is moving temporarily from Wilkinsburg to Homewood at House of Manna. These photos are from their Sunday services, Nov. 24. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

www.quaker.org/pghpamm/

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

REGINA WILLIAMS

MR. HOWARD, in prayer.

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

Send info to:

CAMERON MITCHELL

THE YOUTH OF NEW EVANGELISTIC MINISTRIES

New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219 Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

BRENDA FULLER

REV. DOROTHY STUBBS

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

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

A9

Survey: Nearly all U.S. consumers plan majority of holiday shopping online Three quarters are “excited” when brands send deals in emails

SAN FRANCISCO— Leanplum, the leading multi-channel engagement platform, today announced the results of a new study* that shows consumers are shunning brick-and-mortar stores this holiday season with over 95 percent choosing to buy half or more of their gifts online.

Younger Americans (Millennials and Gen Zs) are leading the online shopping trend and over 16 percent are “only” shopping online this holiday season.

As shopping online and via mobile devices quickly becomes the new norm, personalized communication becomes even more crucial to brand success.

With 80 percent of respondents reporting that they shop on their mobile phones, brands need solutions that enable them to reach their customers at appropriate touchpoints.

Brands must successfully connect the right way and at the right time with their customers.

Three-quarters of shoppers find it helpful to receive emails from retailers regarding deals and promotions. Interestingly, 74 percent of those surveyed said they were “excited” to receive notifications from retailers about offers/sales.

After receiving a notification from a brand about a deal, almost 70 percent said they would check out the offer and probably purchase the item.

However, 75 percent of respondents said generic messages from retailers annoy or bother them.

three percent.

Consumers had opinions about how brands communicate with them as well.

Sweden’s H&M handily beat out other brands with 19 percent of the vote. Urban Outfitters (12 percent), Asos (four percent), Zara (four percent) and Brandy Melville (two percent) rounded out the top five best brands at communicating with consumers.

“As shopping habits shift online and away from brick-and-mortar stores, brands must adjust to communicate with their customers via mobile,” said Momchil Kyurkchiev, CEO and co-founder of Leanplum. “Through our research, we see that it’s important that brands provide a personalized experience for each customer.

At Leanplum, our core mission is to enable our customers to consistently deliver relevant, timely and personalized communications to their end users.”

Other interesting statisGONE ARE THE DAYS OF COUPON CLIPPING. Instead, consumers prefer to receive discounts and deals from brands via email. In fact, tics include: two-thirds of respondents reported they open emails from brands they believed contained product deals or sales. (Photo: iStockphoto / •Nearly half (46 percent) NNPA) of respondents said that they’ve bought a product Consumers have a prefcation is the cornerstone of as the primary reason they reported they open emails because it was shown in an erence for when and how everything we do at Afteropened notifications from from brands they believed app or sent in an email they would like to receive pay,” said Frazer Adnam, brands and retailers. Surcontained product deals or •Over half (52 percent) messages from retailers.

CRM marketing director prisingly, even respondents sales. of Millennials and Gen It is imperative retailers at Afterpay, a Leanplum who earn $150,000 or more When asked about Zs will shop on Cyber communicate with their customer. “Christmas is annually, stated they are favorite shopping apps, Monday and Black Friday consumers regularly a key trading period for most excited to receive the Amazon app domicompared to just over a regarding topics that are Afterpay and the retail push notifications from nated with 82 percent of third of Gen Xers and Baby useful to them and in the sector, so it’s imperative retailers regarding sales. the vote. Walmart was a Boomers form that they are most we deliver a world-class Gone are the days of very distant second with •About two-thirds of comfortable engaging with, personalization experience coupon clipping, instead five percent of the vote, respondents that make to ensure consumer satisto our customers and make consumers prefer to receive followed by second-hand $150,000 or more annually faction and retention. trading seamless.” discounts and deals from marketplaces (eBay/ plan to do most of their “Personalizing customer Across all income levels, brands via email. In fact, Poshmark/ThredUp) at holiday shopping online experience and communiconsumers reported sales two-thirds of respondents four percent and Target at this year

The perfect holiday gift solutions for small business owners (BPT)—As a small business owner, the holiday season is often your most profitable—and busiest—time of the year. With a third of all retailers making 50 percent of their profits during the holidays1, keeping up with the customer demand alone can be a challenge. Now add that to going to holiday parties, finding gifts for family, friends, clients and colleagues and taking time off to actually relax and enjoy the seasonal festivities—“the most wonderful time of the year” quickly becomes “the most stressful time of the year.”

So, what’s the solution when looking to take advantage of the busy shopping season AND trying to enjoy some time with your friends and family? The answer is to combine small business and personal holiday tasks as much as you can.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy this time of year with less stress, thanks to the services and products at Office Depot and OfficeMax. 1. Do as much one-stop shopping as you can Time is valuable. Find places to shop that carry a variety of items that not only make great gifts for family and friends, but also for clients, bosses and co-workers.

At Office Depot, you can find essential supplies and services, and great gifts for everyone on your list, including yourself. One example is the TUL® Wireless Charging Notebook. A perfect gift for a student, business pro or busy mom on-the-go, this professional-looking leather-discbound notebook now has a built-in wireless charging spot on the cover that is compatible with any Qi-certified Android or Apple smart phone. This notebook can also be tailored to meet your unique style and functionality needs.

Punch in business cards and photos or accessorize with a variety of add-ons like a task pad or ruler—you can make it yours. Complete the gift with the TUL® Fine Writing Solid Metal Barrel Ballpoint Pens, which are precision engineered and beautifully crafted, with a professional and luxurious look.

2. Tap into the latest technology With a hectic holiday season and new year ahead, invest in some new tech for your business. Buy products that are multi-functional and long-lasting to keep you and your business efficient at all times.

The HP Pavilion Convertible 2-In-1 Laptop is a great example. You can take both work and play to the next level with this 2-in-1 laptop, which allows you to touch, tap and glide through its intuitive interface while enjoying versatile typing and viewing positions thanks to the 360-degree hinge. You can surf the Internet with ease with this laptop, and its superior solid-state drive holds plenty of songs, photos, documents and other files. The HP Wide Vision HD webcam allows you to video conference with crisp, clear audio performance, and the dual speakers with HP Audio Boost help bring music and video to life.

3. Get practical Give the gift of an improved, ergonomic work station.

If you’re like most people, you’ve tried everything to make your daily work position more comfortable. The VARIDESK (TM) ProPlus Manual Standing Desk Converter does just that. The sturdy base sits on top of an existing desk, and the upper deck acts as the display surface for monitors. The easily adjustable design offers 11 different height settings, so you can experiment with different levels to find optimal comfort, and to vary your posture while working.

So, you have the desk, now what? No one wants to waste time during the holidays putting furniture together. Office Depot and OfficeMax offer a complete service solution that’s equipped to handle customers’ business and home office furniture needs.

Your friends, family, business partners and colleagues— especially fellow small business owners—will all appreciate the practical gift solutions and services you can find either online or in-store at Office Depot and OfficeMax. This holiday season, you can even take advantage of free next business-day shipping on qualifying orders of $45 or more. Don’t let the holidays stress you out this year. By shopping smart, small business owners can take advantage of a profitable holiday season and conquer their to-do lists so that this holiday season can be the best one yet.

The joy of giving: 6 ways to gift and give back (BPT)—The holiday season is here—it’s time to break out the decorations, turn up the festive tunes and of course, find the perfect gifts for everyone on your shopping list. From the pressure to pick the most thoughtful present to the stress of going over budget, it’s easy to lose sight of the holiday spirit.

In fact, according to a 2018 study by CompareCards. com, two-thirds of Americans think that shopping is the most stressful part of the holiday season. But checking off your shopping list doesn’t have to be a hassle. From holiday gift guides to easy ways to give back, Amazon has everything you need to make holiday shopping a breeze.

Consider these tips to save your time and sanity this season.

Make a plan. Let’s face it, holiday shopping is overwhelming; but you can alleviate some of that stress by planning ahead. Be sure to keep an eye on big holiday deal days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday to get the lowest prices. Check out the “Watch a Deal” function on the free Amazon App to receive notifications when deals are about to go live—that way, you’ll

never miss a deal!

Start with gift guides: Finding great gifts for everyone on your list without breaking the bank can be tricky. Luckily, Amazon’s holiday gift guides offer something for everyone.

This year, Amazon released curated gift guides across Toys, Electronics, Luxury Beauty and more. Each gift guide is chock full of best-selling products and the latest trends. You can even filter by price point as you search, making it easy to stay within budget.

Shop from anywhere.

Make holiday preparation a breeze by shopping from your mobile device. In fact, more and more consumers are making the jump to mobile shopping. According to a February 2019 survey by digital marketing firm AdLucent, 64 percent of shoppers said they placed online orders on a smartphone during the previous holiday season. Spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying the holidays!

Shop with purpose.

There’s no time like the holiday season to give back to a cause that’s close to your heart. Amazon is making it easy for customers to join its commitment

to deliver smiles all year.

AmazonSmile is a simple way to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same Amazon experience—low prices, vast selection, fast and free delivery options and more, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price of eligible purchases to a charity of your choice.

AmazonSmile’s Charity Lists offer yet another way to give back. AmazonSmile Charity Lists give charitable organizations an easy way to create wish lists of products needed, while providing customers a convenient way to donate directly to these causes with the reassurance the list is managed directly by the charity. Shop thousands of AmazonSmile Charity Lists by visiting smile.amazon.com/charitylists, with new charities joining all the time. If you’re interested in making a monetary donation, it’s as easy as saying “Alexa, I want to make a donation.”

Save the surprise.

Shopping for a member of your household and don’t want to spoil the surprise?

Try Amazon Day for your holiday purchases. Rather than receiving each order individually, you can have all your orders arrive together on the day of your choice, making it easy to save gifting surprises for friends, family and roommates. Amazon Day not only makes receiving orders more predictable, it groups multiple purchases together in fewer boxes whenever possible. Amazon Day is free to Prime members and available on most items that are eligible for Prime delivery and shipped by Amazon. Learn more at amazon.com/amazonday and select your personalized delivery day at checkout.

When in doubt, give a gift card. Still can’t find that perfect gift for a loved one?

Don’t sweat it: with a gift card, your friends or family members can select exactly what they want. Visit amazon.com/giftcards and audible.com/giftcenter for a wide variety of delightful designs, including boxes, tins and greeting cards with free one-day shipping (where available). Need it right now? Choose from options you can print at home, send by email or even text.

A10

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

The Hill District Rebels are champs!

Sports B7

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Classifieds

Find what you need from jobs to cars to housing B4-B5

B

Desiree Rogers buys Fashion Fair out of bankruptcy Chicago Crusader Staff Report Former Johnson Publishing Company big wigs Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack have bought their former employer’s iconic Fashion Fair cosmetics line out of Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The two executives along with the hedge fund Magnetar, bought the cosmetics line on November 7 for $1.85 million.

“Fashion Fair is just too valuable for our community to lose,” Rogers said in an emailed statement. “We plan to modernize the brand and products, but will remain true to the company’s roots, which was to create prestige products focused on women of color.”

Fashion Fair was created in 1973 out of the traveling fashion show Ebony Fashion Fair, once believed to be the largest traveling fashion show in the world.

While producing fashion shows, Johnson Publishing C o m p a ny founder John H. Johnson and wife Eunice struggled to find makeup to match the darker skin tones of their models.

When the two started Fashion Fair, they were turned down several times before they finally persuaded department stores such as Marshall Fields and Macy’s to carry makeup for women of color.

Fashion Fair at one point was the largest Black-owned cosmetics DESIREE ROGERS company in the world and sold skin, hair and fragrance products in department stores and online.

Fashion Fair over the years experienced a decline before the brand expanded into stores in Europe in recent years.

Rogers tried to revive the struggling Fashion Fair brand with new colors and a fresh marketing campaign. Still, Fashion Fair struggled to keep its items stocked in department stores.

In April, Johnson Publishing Chairman Linda Johnson Rice filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy and sold its prized photo archive collection for $30 million to a group of foundations.

In 2016, Johnson Publishing sold its iconic Ebony magazine and Jet online publications for an undisclosed price to Clear View Group, a Texas-based private equity firm.

Rogers, a former White House social secretary under President Obama, was hired as Johnson Publishing CEO in 2010. As problems mounted for Fashion Fair, Rogers left Johnson Publishing to work for the city tourism agency Choose Chicago.

Mayberry McKissack, who once served as Chief Operating Officer for Johnson Publishing, also owns Black Opal, another beauty line specifically for women of color, which was started in 1994.

S-SPA OF PGH SALON OWNER SHAYLA FOREMAN, right, in her salon with Indyah Dawkins, left, and Marcus Jones, center.

(Photos by Diane I. Daniels)

Shayla Foreman, Robyn Greer aiming to create a beauty empire in Pittsburgh

by Diane I. Daniels For New Pittsburgh Courier

Labeled as an entrepreneur, educator, artist and mentor, Shayla Foreman is a boss lady setting trends in the hair and beauty industry. Wednesday through Saturday, her location at 4237 Murray Ave. in Squirrel Hill is filled with longtime clients and professionals inclusive of entrepreneurs, business executives and television personalities experiencing her masterful skills and creativity.

Building on a 20-year career, Foreman is excited about what the future holds not only for her, but for her staff, business partners and clients. Working as a team, the owner of S-Spa of PGH, a multi-cultural upscale salon and spa, is aiming to be a powerful force in the region and beyond.

“I’ve loved doing hair since I was a child,” Foreman said.

Her first work experience was at age 13 was serving as an assistant at Hair 1st

Class owned by Michelle Davenport as an assistant.

“Throughout the eight years before embarking upon my mission of ownership I had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best salon owners in Pittsburgh,” Foreman said.

She credits Fletcher and Shenita Jones, owners of Sittin Pretty in the Hill District, for teaching her the business side of the industry. Izear and Geri Mataya at Spa Uptown, she says, helped define her purpose by demonstrating innovative ways to run a business and set new trends.

In addition to gaining work experience from the best in Pittsburgh, Foreman gained her education from the Cosmetology Votech Program at Penn Hills High School, completing 90 percent of the cosmetology hours needed for her license. Motivated to become a hair designer, she then enrolled in Pittsburgh Beauty Academy, graduating in 1997. Turning her dream into a goal, her goal

into reality and following renamed the business and her mission, in 2011 Fore- relocated to the Murray Avman opened her first shop, enue location. Along with Beautiqology, in Shadyside.

SEE EMPIRE B2 In 2014 she rebranded,

CHARLOTTE WILSON, left, is just one of many of Shayla Foreman’s longtime customers.

Tax tips for starting a business

by Constant Watson III For New Pittsburgh Courier

Understanding your tax obligation is one key to business success. When you start a business, you need to know about income taxes, payroll taxes and much more. Here are some IRS tax tips that can help you get your business off to a good start: Business Structure.

An early choice you need to make is to decide on the type of structure for your business. The most common types are sole proprietor, partnership and corporation. The type of business you choose will determine which tax forms you file.

Business Taxes.

There are four general types of business taxes. They are income tax, self-employment tax, employment tax and excise tax. In most cases, the types of tax your business pays depends on the type of business structure you set up. You may need to make estimated tax payments. If you do, you can use IRS Direct Pay to make them. It’s the fast, easy and secure way to pay from your checking or savings account.

Employer Identification Number (EIN).

You may need to get an EIN for federal tax purposes. Search “do you need an EIN” on IRS.gov to find out if you need this number.

Accounting method.

An accounting method is a set of rules that you use to determine when to report income and expenses. You must use a consistent method. The two that are most common are the cash and accrual methods. Under the cash method, you normally report income and deduct expenses in the year that you earn or incur them.

This is true even if you get the income or pay the expense in a later year.

Do not comingle your personal account with your business checking account. Deposit all your business income, including cash receipts in the business checking account. Also pay all your bills by checks and/or your business checking account debit card. Make sure you keep all receipts for any payments made with cash.

It is also very important to have some type of bookkeeping/software program for your business.

As a business owner, you need to keep track of your income and expenses to monitor your profitability.

BASIC INFORMATION—Get all the basics of starting a business on IRS.gov at the Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center.

Remember, you must give an independent contractor Form 1099-Misc by Jan. 31 of the following tax year. This rule applies if the total amount you pay them is $600 and more.

Get all the basics of starting a

business on IRS.gov at the Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center. If you are delinquent in your filings, make sure you contact a professional to help you get compliant. Remember, for every tax problem, there’s a solu-

tion.

(Constant W. Watson III, CPA, CTRS, is both a Certified Public Accountant and one of only ten Certified Tax Resolution Specialists in the State of Illinois.

For more information, visit WatsonOnTaxes.com or call (708) 206-9900.)

B2

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

BUSINESS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Aiming to create a beauty empire Housing discrimination complaints reach a 24-year high, while HUD rolls back fair housing rules

EMPIRE FROM B1

providing all the traditional hair care services she and her staff specialize in for natural hair care, there are extension experts and hair colorists on staff as well. Aiming to be innovative and to offer her clients a variety of options, Foreman also conducts eyebrow microblading, a semi-permanent tattoo technique used to create the illusion of fuller brows. She has traveled to Las Vegas to become a certified educator in microblading and is writing a microblading training curriculum to teach licensed cosmetologists and master stylists the process.

Tooth gems are also offered to S-Spa clients. A popular trend of celebrities and models, tooth gems are tiny jewels applied to a tooth.

In the fall of last year, Foreman and Robyn Greer, known for her North Side Shop on East Ohio Street, combined forces and opened Bloom Salon Trevor James and S-Spa in the North Hills. Considered an upscale salon, they often hosted workshops and health awareness activities for their customers. Cosmetology services included caring for their client’s hair and skin needs.

The duo, considered serial entrepreneurs, are focused on expanding the business and aiming to develop a cosmetology empire in the region. They recently relocated the North Hills shop to the lower Hill District and have combined services with the Ebony Element Experience Salon at 1509 Fifth Ave. The Shop is called E3 and Bloom Salon.

“We are looking to make a mark in this region when it comes to the beauty industry,” said Foreman. Looking forward to 2020, she said they are exploring the possibility to expand into the

READY FOR THE FUTURE—Ebony Hatcher, one of Robyn Greer’s first clients at E3 and Bloom Salon.

Society Barber Shop and Salon on Herron Avenue and are in negotiations with a shop in Duquesne.

The couple is most excited about an opportunity being offered to them as part of a project being developed

by Christy Porter, the wife of former Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker Joey Porter.

According to Greer, Porter has purchased buildings in Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood for the use of a school for children with disabilities. Fifteen thousand feet of the building is being provided to her and Foreman to utilize as a salon as well as a cosmetology educational center. The goal is to have Bloom Salon Trevor James and S-Spa Salon operating in the space by the spring of 2020.

“This definitely fits into my plan and assists me in following my dreams,” Foreman confessed.

The mother of five says her goal is to be a full-time educator. Aside from teach-

ing her clients how to maintain healthy hair, she teaches entrepreneur classes to youth and has traveled and trained shop owners in numerous cities, most recently in Charlotte. She is looking forward to teaching the microblading certification training to cosmetologists, estheticians, nail techs and tattoo artists worldwide.

Foreman has been priming her staff to take over some of her tasks. Her assistant, Marcus Jones, who she considers her righthand person, has been working with her for over four years and her daughter Indyah, a recent Penn Hills High School graduate, is furthering her education.

Excited about the future of the S-Spa, Jones said his tenure at the salon has been rewarding. “Shayla has been more than a boss.

She’s a mentor that makes you feel like a partner. She pushes me and has me striving to be the best Marcus that I can be.”

As a candidate, President Donald particular HUD rule, disparate impact, Trump promised if elected that deregu- is at severe risk. This long-standing lation of the federal government would legal tool has helped root out discrimbe an administration priority. Soon afinatory practices and policies in both ter taking the oath of office, he issued housing and lending. In 2013 and an executive order requiring that all under the Obama Administration, departments and agencies to eliminate HUD set up safeguards that assured two existing regulations for every one consumers could pursue related claims new regulation proposed. In some caswhile businesses were protected es, rules that were adopted prior to his against claims without merit. term office but had not yet taken effect With disparate impact, both commuwere either suspended or delayed. nity banks and FDIC-insured instituFor example, the long-awaited paytions have achieved net growth profits. day rule at the Consumer Financial The rule has proven to create lending Protection Bureau (CFPB) was one that is fairer and profits that investors important consumer protection that desire. was delayed. Similarly, at the DepartEven a 2015 landmark fair housing ment of Education, two rules providing case that made its way to the U.S. Suprotections for student loans were also preme Court upheld disparate impact delayed. More as a cognizable recently, this claim under the Charlene Crowell column shared Fair Housing Act. how Housing and In Texas DepartUrban Develment of Housing opment (HUD) and Community Secretary Ben Affairs v. The Carson claimed Inclusive Comthat regulation munities Project, was the reason Inc., the nation’s for homelessness, highest court not affordable found the dispahousing. rate impact rule to be an important Now new research by the National fair housing tool to move towards a Fair Housing Alliance finds that as fair more integrated society. lending laws have not been aggresSo why would Secretary Carson try to sively enforced, a corresponding rise roll back a rule that should be settled in hate crimes and fair housing comlaw? plaints have emerged.

In joint comments filed by the Center Defending Against Unprecedented At- for Responsible Lending, Self-Help tacks on Fair Housing: 2019 Fair Hous- Credit Union, and Self-Help Federal ing Trends Report, recently released Credit Union, the organizations adby the DC-based National Fair Housvised Secretary Carson. ing Alliance (NFHA), tallied 31,202 “Instead of creating barriers for discriminatory housing complaints claimants, HUD should honor its misfiled in just one year – 2018. Moreover, sion and work to ensure that African this data point is the highest numAmerican, Latino, and other commuber ever reported since the National nities harmed by housing and lending Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) began discrimination have every tool to stop collecting data 24 years ago. America’s it so that all Americans have an opporhate crimes jumped 14.7 percent last tunity to thrive,” wrote the organizayear as well. tions.

Even when it comes to enforcing For the Cooperative Baptist Fellowand defending legal breaches, NFHA’s ship, the National Baptist Convention report documents how few government USA, Inc., the Rainbow Push Coalioffices are upholding laws. Some 75 tion, and scores of other local, state percent of last year’s fair housing comand regional faith members, HUD plaints were pursued by private, nonwas reminded of the immorality of its profit organizations across the country. proposed rule.

Only 25 percent of such cases were the “Everyday Americans are now strugresult of combined government actions gling to keep and/or find homes they can by state, local and federal agencies. afford,” wrote the clergy. “As housing “All the tools and resources we have prices rise faster than incomes, an inbeen afforded by the passage of our creasing number of people grapple with Fair Housing Act and fair lending challenges of how hard it is to keep their laws are either under attack or being loved ones safe. When the additional gutted,” noted Lisa Rice, President and and illegal burden of housing discrimiCEO of NFHA. “[W]e must concern nation emerges, the lives of many people ourselves with policies pushed by our worsen.” federal, state, and local governments Here’s hoping that within governthat are steeped in hatred and dement there are still public servants signed to inflict pain.” that support improving peoples’ lives.

(Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Instead of strengthening federal fair Lending’s communications deputy director. She housing guarantees, HUD is a prime can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiexample of how regulations are trying blelending.org.) to reverse decades of progress. One

Commentary

BUSINESS CALENDAR Annual Business Luncheon

DEC. 5—The African American Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Business Luncheon featuring Jerry MacCleary, Chairman and CEO, Covestro, LLC., at the OMNI William Penn Hotel, 530 Wm. Penn Place at 12 Noon. Tickets are $80.00 for members and $90.00 for Non-Members. Reply requested by Nov. 27, 2019. Call 412392-0610.

Two-Day QuickBooks Advanced Tutorial

DEC. 11 & DEC. 18— The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present QuickBooks Advanced for desktop software users, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. This workshop is tailored to QuickBooks Desktop users that are interested in learning indepth topics like money management, expense billing, and reconcile bank statements. Day one topics include: Inventory; Time and Billing; Company file setup and preferences, and Adjustments and year-end procedures.

Day two topics: Sales tax payable; Payroll set up, and Payroll processing.

Cost: $49. Call 412-3961633 for more information.

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

B3

The rent is too high— and the presidential candidates aren’t saying enough about it

Guest Editorial

Trump should fire Stephen Miller now Representative Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., was criticized by conservatives earlier this year for calling White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller a “White nationalist.”

A huge trove of emails obtained and reported recently by the Southern Poverty Law Center shows that she was right to be suspicious of Miller.

While many conservatives are skeptical of the Southern Poverty Law Center, what the center has uncovered in emails appears to be strong evidence against Miller.

In the emails, Miller recommend links to White supremacist websites VDARE and American Renaissance to former Breitbart editor Katie McHugh, who corresponded with Miller between 2015 and 2016. In the correspondence, Miller urged Breitbart’s increased coverage of crimes

by Hispanic and nonwhite people.

McHugh was fired from Breitbart in 2017 for tweets she later admitted were racist. McHugh has since disavowed her career at Breitbart and its far-right politics.

“You have to own up to what you did and then forcefully reject this and explain to people and tell your story and say, ‘Get out while you can,’” she told BuzzFeed News in May. Miller consistently pushed links to McHugh that heavily trafficked in the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, which argues that White people are intentionally being “replaced” in America by other nonwhite people.

The White House has not denied any of the information reported by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It has focused its response on attacking the center and critics of Miller but has not directly addressed the disturbing allegations in the report. Miller has not refuted the report.

This is unacceptable. Miller’s behavior should not be normalized or given a pass because of the unorthodoxy of the Trump administration.

Miller was appointed senior policy adviser to the Trump campaign in January 2016 and later joined President Donald Trump’s transition team. He currently advises the president on immigration policy and is credited with spearheading Trump’s hard-line efforts on border security.

There must be zero tolerance for someone in the administration of the president of the United States to be associated with white nationalism.

Miller is either a White nationalist himself, an advocate for White nationalist views or someone who is willing to promote such views for political purpose.

Trump should fire Stephen Miller immediately.

(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)—“Across the nation, families are struggling with homelessness and housing insecurity.

We need to treat the affordable housing shortage like the crisis that it is.

Housing is a fundamental human right. It’s time we as a nation acted like it and end the housing crisis once and for all.”—U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, introducing the Homes for All Act, which expands public housing stock i and guarantees housing as a human right.

A pivotal moment in the 2020 Democratic primary race that happened on Wednesday may have escaped notice by much of the country. For the first time since the debates began—a total of six nights of debates—the candidates finally were asked a question about the housing crisis.

I was so concerned about the lack of public discussion around this critical issue facing the nation that I sent a letter to the candidates, urging them to share their plans.

“Gentrification is driving families from their homes,” I wrote. “A minimum-wage worker needs 2.5 fulltime jobs to afford a one-bedroom apartment in most of the United States. 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.

“Simply put, the rent is too damn high. Mortgages are unattainable.

What is your plan?”

We didn’t get to hear from every candidate, and none of those who responded were able to share much detail about their plans. But simply

Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal having the issue raised was an important first step.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, for example, cited noted the shortage of affordable housing— the federal government has stopped building new housing, and private developers prefer to serve the upper-income market. Significantly, she said: “Housing is how we build wealth in America,” she said. “The federal government has subsidized housing for decades for white people and has said for Black people you’re cut out of the deal. That was known as redlining.”

The impact of redlining on Black household wealth cannot be overstated. In the mid-20th Century, the federal government color-coded neighborhoods throughout the nation as green for “best,” blue for “still desirable,” yellow for “definitely declining” and red for “hazardous.”

Lenders would not finance homeownership in redlined Black neighborhoods, which exacerbated a Blackwhite wealth gap that persists to this day. More than 80 years after those color-coed maps were drawn, three out of four redlined neighborhoods continue to struggle economically.

White families today have nearly 10 times the net worth of Black families.

Meanwhile home prices are rising at twice the rate of wage growth and nearly half of all renters spend 30 percent or more of their income on rent. About 11 million Americans spend more than half their income on rent.

The average renter’s hourly wage is $5.39 less than the national two-bedroom Housing Wage—the wage needed to afford an apartment at fair market rent without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing —and $1.08 less than the one-bedroom Housing Wage, according to the NLIHC. Black and Hispanic households are more likely than White households 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 as this crisis grows, the Trump Administration yet again has proposed drastic cuts to affordable housing programs that would drive up rents for the poorest residents of subsidized housing and wipe out resources for maintaining and improving public housing buildings.

A few minutes on a nationally-televised debate may be a start but it is nowhere near enough to address the magnitude of the affordable housing crisis. Those candidates who do have detailed plans need to talk about them much more often. And those candidates without detailed plans need to develop them, immediately.

Reparations: America’s unfinished business (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Whenever Black people bring up the subject of White Americans acting to cure years of discriminatory acts against Black people when our ancestors were forced to work without compensation, they usually pivot to the term “reverse discrimination” or they question whether reparations would be constitutional.

My good friend, Gloria Dulan Wilson, responded to the constitutional argument by saying, “It was once constitutional to beat, lynch, rape, enslave, torture Black men, women and children with impunity. I don’t think we have to concern ourselves with what is or is not constitutional— our main responsibility is to push for, stand for and demand reparations on OUR OWN TERMS—not concerned with what they want—They damned sure weren’t concerned about what we wanted when they were making us work for them for free and traumatizing our families.”

After the constitutional question, they also pivot to questions like “Why should I pay or I didn’t discriminate against anybody.” They never respond with, “You’re right. I have benefitted from discrimination against you” even though the answer is obvious.

They just don’t get it or they have selective memory.

Recently the United Nations addressed the subject of reparations.

Because I serve on the Reparations Commission with Dr. Ron Daniels, I naturally perked up to hear exactly what the United Nations was saying.

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary

nyers worked for years to resolve the reparations’ issue. He said, “I’m not giving up…Slavery is a blemish on this nation’s history, and until it’s formally addressed, our country’s story will remain marked by this blight.”

He repeatedly introduced HR 40—a bill that would establish a commission to examine the institution of slavery and recommend appropriate remedies.

Since the late Congressman has been out of Congress, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has picked up the lead on this issue. She’s spearheaded a Congressional hearing which calls for a commission to study and develop reparations proposals for African Americans, and consider a national apology by the government. She reminds us of the role of the federal government in supporting the slavery and subsequent discrimination. She calls for formal acknowledgment.

Our government has apologized for many things, but slavery is not on the list. Several years ago, the late Dick Gregory, Mark Planning, Janet Langhart-Cohen and I spent many days walking the halls of the Senate seeking an apology for never having apologized to African Americans for lynching. After many months for something as simple as that, the Senate finally apologized.

No reparations were involved for that horrendous practice, but the time has come for reparations for those hundreds of years of slavery.

I read that the United Nations panel says the U.S. owes reparations to African Americans and gave as a reason the reparations are owed for slavery.

For those who still benefit from slavery, you should read the report of the United Nations’ working group of experts on People of an African Descent affiliated group. The group spelled out that the compensation is necessary to combat the disadvantages caused by more than 200 years of slavery and legally allowing the sale of human beings based on the color of their skin.

The resulting article was written by Eugene Mason.

Today’s polluted and continuing atmosphere of racism against not only African Americans, but of people of Hispanic and Native American heritage. We see no indication of America resolving this problem even if an individual group, such as Georgetown University, has recognized its duty to resolve its debt.

In the case of Georgetown University, the school has offered free tuition for descendants of the slaves sold by that (Dr. E. Faye Williams is national president of University in 1838 to “pay its bills.”

The late Congressman John Co- the National Congress of Black Women, Inc.)

Becoming numb to mass shootings (NNPA)--Each time we experience a mass shooting, we repeat the pattern—a point I have made in previous columns. Shock, grief, prayer, throwing up our hands, and proponents of unlimited gun ownership arguing that this is not the time to discuss sensible gun control; instead we should restrict ourselves to prayer.

And then nothing ever happens.

Except for one thing. We become increasingly numb to the impact of gun violence which, I have come to conclude, right-wing gun fanatics wish to encourage. When we no longer see mass or just random killings as outrageous and uncivilized, the demand for sensible gun regulations diminishes in importance. Gun fanatics would like us to accept that this violence will happen and that the best that we can do is to further arm US society, e.g., arm teachers in schools.

There is no easy way to avoid becoming numb to mass shootings and random violence. When you read about it or hear about it or witness it nearly every day and you conclude that it will not change, your mind searches for safety. That “safety” plays itself out

Bill Fletcher Jr.

Commentary

ty of death. Death is not an action video game. Nor should it be the immediate recourse when someone feels emotionally injured. Thus, the victims—including families—of gun violence need to be at the center of discussions about the ramifications of gun violence.

A second route is the establishment of legitimate gun clubs. This may sound strange but hear me out, and this is especially important in African American communities. Guns are not going away so there needs to be training and discipline associated with the use of firearms. Just as with the martial arts, the younger members of our communities must understand when, where and how to utilize firearms, and when not to.

Platitudes and prayer are nearly meaningless when one is up against a combination of a multi-million-dollar gun industry linked directly with a fanatical, right-wing movement opposed to sensible gun ownership.

At the end of the day, the barbarians must be outorganized.

in our becoming less shocked and—to be blunt—more accepting of the reality that our children may get killed at school or that our family or friends may get shot at a parking lot or by an outraged former employee at any number of facilities. The mind says to us that we cannot exist on a permanent level of tension and anxiety.

Except we do harbor that tension and anxiety. It is just that we may not display it. Rather, it eats away at us in our insides.

Is there any way around this, in addition to legislation? Yes. First and foremost, it necessitates community orga(Bill Fletcher Jr. is the executive editor of nizing and community organization. As simplistic as it may sound, our youth globalafricanworker.com and the former need to be forced to confront the finali- president of TransAfrica Forum.)

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

CLASSIFIED New Pittsburgh Courier

B4

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

MULTI IT RELATED POSITIONS (National Placement out of Allegheny County, PA).

For Senior Positions Candidate must have a Degree & exp Comps, Eng’g, Info Tech (IT), Info Sys’s or Business related field & foegn educ equiv acceptable. Candidates may qualify for either job listed below: Senior Business Intelligence Analyst (MicroStrategy): Mini of Bach’s degree & 5Yrs exp or Mast’s degree & 1Yr exp.

Will produce financial & market intelligence by querying data repositories & generating reports identify data patterns & trends available in data sources using MicroStrategy Tools: MicroStrategy Desktop; MicroStrategy Web & MicroStrategy Intelligent Server. Salary $93,954/ yr. Ref# BIM-1017 IY Information Security Analyst: Min of Mast’s degree. Will plan, implement, upgrade or monitor security measurers for protection of comp networks & info. eng’g, business, & other data processing problems to implement & improve comp sys. Although no prior exp is req’d must have coursework in the following: Data Security; SCADA Architecture; RFID Systems; Operating Systems & Comp SystSecurity. Salary $99,653/yr. Ref# ISA–1017 IY Must be able to travel/relocate to different client sites as needed. 9-5,FT Use Ref# & send resumes to Infoyuga Technologies, Inc., 280B Moon Clinton Road, Moon Township, PA 15108 or hr@infoyuga. com. Infoyuga is an EOE M/F/V/D.

MATERIAL CONTROLS SPECIALIST

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

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

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

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

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

Job requirements include: •High School Diploma or GED. •Successful completion and certification from a technical/vocational program in automotive/diesel mechanical repair; or apprenticeship program in heavy vehicle maintenance. Auto/diesel mechanical repair or fleet maintenance experience may substitute for the education on a year-for-year basis.

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

•Minimum of three (3) years experience in automotive/diesel mechanical repair or fleet maintenance experience.

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

•Valid Driver’s License.

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

•Effective and professional communications skills.

Preferred attributes: •Minimum of five (5) years experience in automotive/diesel mechanical repair or fleet maintenance.

•Experience with PeopleSoft or Inventory software.

•Automotive, truck or bus parts inventory experience.

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

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

SONNY BOY

SENIOR PLANNER

Port Authority is seeking a Senior Planner to assist in the coordination and implementation of planning projects. Activities include but are not limited to outreach, coordination, research and analysis, project planning, project management, and other similar functions.

Essential Functions: •Coordinates activities to advance transit-supportive infrastructure in the public realm in the agency’s service area. Ensures that relevant internal stakeholders and project partners are aware of various street and other development projects that affect the public realm and that design for said projects is in concert with best practices for supporting transit, including, but not limited to: safety, ADA compliance, transit operations, reliability, customer experience, and general best practices for universal design.

•Directly coordinates with Manager of Transit-Oriented Communities to ensure alignment of needs and designs of transit supportive infrastructure in the public realm surrounding transit stations.

Job requirements include: •BS/BA in Business Management, Communications, Urban Planning, Economics, Public Administration, Public Policy, Engineering, Architecture, or directly related field.

•Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in transportation planning, public outreach, working with/for community organizations, economic or community development, and/ or urban planning. (Directly related experience and further education may be substituted on a year-foryear basis.)

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

•Must be willing to take on duties outside of regular business hours for purposes such as attending community and/or PAAC meetings.

Preferred attributes: •Experience in community outreach, public policy, community development, urban planning.

•Experience with street design and/ or transit planning.

•Graduate degree in Business Management, Communications, Urban Planning, Economics, Public Administration, Engineering, Architecture, or directly related field.

•Ability to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software.

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

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of Rose M. Gibbons, deceased, Case No. 021906562 of 2019: Notice is hereby given that on October 23, 2019 a Petition was filed

by Richard Gibbons to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Rose M. Gibbons, deceased, in the real estate located at 2307 Eccles Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15210, and determine that fee simple title is in Richard Gibbons. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 30 days, Richard Gibbons will seek an Order adjudging that Rose M. Gibbons’ title is in Richard Gibbons.

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, PA, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of Barbara Gecan, deceased, Case No. 6274 of 2019: Notice is hereby given that on October 9, 2019, a Petition was filed by Kimberly Holmes, to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Barbara Gecan, deceased, in the real estate located at, 737 Shadyside Drive, West Mifflin, PA 15122, and determine that fee simple title is in Kimberly Holmes. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 30 days, Kimberly Holmes will seek an Order adjudging that Decedent’s title is in herself.

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

Classifieds

1 2 6

4 7 8

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Legal Notices

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

In Re: The Condemnation by the County of Allegheny of Three Parcels of Land, located in Stowe Township, of Violet W. West, of Alexander Nichol and of Anna C. Nichol and Helen Nichol, required to stabilize the slope supporting McCoy Road north of Dunn Street.

GD 19-015696 (“Condemnee”), Violet W. West, tax parcel identification number 73-L-126, 1,097 square feet of Substitute Utility Easement, Plans - Miscellaneous Volume 178, Page 43, estimated just compensation: $1,300.00.

GD 19-015695 (“Condemnee”), Alexander Nichol, tax parcel identification number 73-L-128, 1,077 square feet of Substitute Utility Easement, Plans - Miscellaneous Volume 178, Page 43, estimated just compensation: $1,300.00.

GD 19-15173 (“Condemnee”), Anna C. Nichol and Helen Nichol, tax parcel identification number 73L-130, 1,088 square feet of Substitute Utility Easement, Plans - Miscellaneous Volume 178, Page 43, estimated just compensation: $1,300.00.

TO: Violet W. West, to Alexander Nichol and to Anna C. Nichol and Helen Nichol, their heirs, personal representatives, successors or assigns: Take notice that Declarations of Taking were filed November 8, 2019 at the above referenced general docket number.

Name and Address of Condemnor: Allegheny County, (“County”) 101 Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Authorizing Statute(s): Article IV, Sec. 2 and Sec. 6 of the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter, Article VII, Sections 701.02 and 703.07 of the Allegheny County Administrative Code and the Act of 1953 July 28, P.L. 723, Art. XXVI, Section 5601, et seq.

Authorizing Ordinance: Ordinance No. 11-19-OR, enacted May 7, 2019. The Ordinance may be examined at the Offices of Condemnor, noted above.

Condemnation Description: The purpose of this condemnation is to acquire property for the purpose to stabilize slope supporting McCoy Road north of Dunn Street in Stowe Township.

Statement of the Condemnation: Condemnee’s property identified on the Viewers’ Plan marked as Exhibit “B” to the respective Declaration of Taking, filed at the above referenced general docket number, has been condemned as of November 8, 2019. The title acquired by the County is an easement interest, including all interests of every record owner thereof or any party claiming an interest therein, in the area labeled “Substitute Utility Easement” area on Exhibit “B”. Plans showing the property condemned may be inspected in Condemnor’s offices noted above and are also lodged of record in the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate, at the above referenced Plans - Miscellaneous volume and page number. Just compensation for the condemnation is secured by the County’s power of taxation, which is deemed pledged as security of the payment of damages as, shall be determined by law.

Challenging the Condemnation: If Condemnee wishes to challenge the power or the right of County to appropriate the condemned property, the sufficiency of the security, the procedures followed by County or the Declaration of Taking, the Condemnee must file preliminary objections within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice.

Howard M. Louik, Attorney for Condemnor

To place a

412-481-8302 Ext. 140

display ad in the

E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com

New Pittsburgh

Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

0 9 3

Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on December 17, 2019, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Pgh. Beechwood PreK-8 Floor Replacement General and Asbestos Abatement Primes Pgh. Langley K-8 Pneumatic Tubing Replacement Mechanical Prime Pgh. Sterrett 6-8 Exterior Door Replacement General and Asbestos Abatement Primes Pgh. Milliones 6-12 Unit Ventilator Replacement Mechanical Prime Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on November 18, 2019 at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable.

Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

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 4:00 PM Prevailing Time January 8, 2020.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR 2019/2020 Small Diameter Water Main Replacement Project Construction Management/ Construction Inspection PWSA PROJECT NO. 2019-325-101-0 / 2019-325-102-1 / 2019325-102-2 Work under this contract includes construction management/construction (field) inspection, GPS Survey, and as-built documents as part of the Small Diameter Water Main Replacement Program.

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 Nicole Dickun, Procurement Manager, via e-mail: ndick un@pgh2o.com, no later than December 19, 2019.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on December 3, 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.

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 Supplier Diversity Program.

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!

Sealed bids will be received in the Bellefield Avenue Lobby, Administration Building, 341 South Bellefield Avenue until 11:00 A.M. prevailing time December 3, 2019 and will be opened at the same hour for the purchase of the following equipment and supplies: Automotive EquipmentService Center General Information regarding bids may be obtained at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Service Center, 1305 Muriel Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. The bid documents are available on the School District’s Purchasing web site at: www.pgh schools.org Click on Our Community; Bid Opportunities; Purchasing - under Quick Links.

The Board of Public Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or select a single item from any bid.

We are an equal rights and opportunity school district

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

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

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on December 17, 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) B191076A Brake Drums - Coach B191077A Upholstery Fabric B191079A Reman/Exchange Fuel Injectors - Cummins Engines B191081A Printer Supplies Parts Maintenance & Repairs B191083A Refresh Kits for Engergy Storage B191084A Cleaning Solvent Service B191085A Coach Replacement Parts - Cooling B190322AR Asbestos Free Brake Blocks Assembled on Shoes B191183A Unleaded Gasoline 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 December 4, 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.

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

CLASSIFIEDS/METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR TUB CUTS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION AUTHORITY WIDE IFB#300-43-19

SALE OF SURPLUS EQUIPMENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Tub Cuts for Reasonable Accommodation Authority Wide The documents will be available no later than November 25, 2019 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 A.M. on December 20, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, at which time they will be opened and read aloud.

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.

HACP.org.

Questions or inquires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116 Opt 1 A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 December 12, 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.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR ELEVATOR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE AUTHORITY WIDE IFB#300-44-19

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Elevator Repair and Maintenance Authority Wide The documents will be available no later than November 18, 2019 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 11:00 A.M. on December 20, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, at which time they will be opened and read aloud. =Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP. org.

Questions or inquires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116 Opt 1 A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 December 5, 2019 11:00 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 login, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

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

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

The following surplus equipment will be offered for sale to the highest bidder(s): REQUEST FOR QUOTATION 120419 SALE OF SURPLUS COMPUTERS, MONITORS, PROJECTORS, PRINTERS, PHONES, CLASSROOM TAB ARM DESK/CHAIRS, ETC. Bids are due in to the CCAC Purchasing Department no later than 2:00 PM on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.

For more information, contact Mike Cvetic at mcvetic@ccac.edu.

Community College of Allegheny County Purchasing Department 800 Allegheny Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15233

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFBs) FOR NORTHVIEW HEIGHTS BUILDING #74 UPGRADES, AMP-09 HACP CONTRACT NO. 600-42-19

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH will receive sealed bids for the Northview Heights Building #74 Upgrades, AMP-09 The construction work is estimated to begin in March of 2020.

Bid Documents will be available on or about Monday, November 25, 2019 and may be obtained from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s webpage, www.hacp.org.

Bidders may register on the website and download the bid documents free of charge. Electronic versions of the Bid Documents, including bid forms, project manual, and drawings can be picked up in person, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement A Pre-Bid Conference and Site Visit will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.: Northview High Rise Community Room, 533 Mt. Pleasant Road, Pittsburgh PA 15214 A site visit will be conducted thereafter. Bidders shall come prepared to review all aspects of the construction site necessary to prepare a bid.

Bids will be received at: HACP Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Attn: Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement until 2:00 p.m. December 30, 2019 at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH reserves the right to waive any informality in, or reject any and all bids.

No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to the opening of bids without the consent of the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements for Federally Assisted Construction Contracts. The Contractor must ensure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sexual preference, handicap or national origin.

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

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH STRONGLY ENCOURAGES CERTIFIED MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO RESPOND TO THE SOLICITATION. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement at (412) 456-5116 Opt 1.

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.

B5

SONNY BOY

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFBs) FOR Partial Modernization at Northview Heights, AMP-09, Group 1: G-E-P at Penfort St. 125, 127, 161, 181, 322.

HACP IFB NO. 600-40-19 G-E-P

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH will receive sealed bids for the Partial Modernization at Northview Heights, AMP-09, Group 1: G-E-P at Penfort St. 125, 127, 161, 181, and 322.

The construction work is estimated to begin on February 18th of 2020.

Bid Documents will be available on or about Monday, November 25, 2019 and may be obtained from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s webpage, www.hacp.org.

Bidders may register on the website and download the bid documents free of charge. Electronic versions of the Bid Documents, including bid forms and project manual can be picked up in person, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement A Pre-Bid Conference and Site Visit will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.: At Northview Heights Site Management’s office at 525 Mt Pleasant Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15214 A site visit will be conducted thereafter. Bidders shall come prepared to review all aspects of the construction site necessary to prepare a bid.

Bids will be received at: HACP Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Attn: Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement until 2:00 p.m. on December 30, 2019 at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH reserves the right to waive any informality in, or reject any and all bids.

No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to the opening of bids without the consent of the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements for Federally Assisted Construction Contracts. The Contractor must ensure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sexual preference, handicap or national origin.

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

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH STRONGLY ENCOURAGES CERTIFIED MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO RESPOND TO THE SOLICITATION. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement at (412) 456-5116 Opt 1.

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

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS

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

PPS: Reducing the achievement gap between Black and White students is crucial PPS FROM A1

PPS.” Many African American students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools system are not starting on the same level playing field as their White counterparts. Thus, what a school district may provide as support to a White student may not be enough for a Black student.

There may need to be additional efforts and supports in place to give many Black students a better chance of academic success.

In the aforementioned example, for student 3, the African American or underserved student, to see over the fence like the other students, the student will need three boxes on which to stand.

The boxes represent access and function to provide students equal opportunity. Seeing over the fence represents the barriers finally being removed for a student to eye a successful path in life.

PPS says that with the “On Track to Equity” plan, they are committed to reducing racial disparities throughout the district and elevating the achievement levels of Black students.

“Recognizing that all students are deserving of a quality, culturally relevant public education, this plan represents the next milestone in our efforts to improve outcomes for all students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools,” PPS Superintendent Anthony Hamlet, EdD, said in a Nov. 6 release provided to the New Pittsburgh Courier.

“We began this journey with the implementation of our strategic plan, ‘Expect Great Things.’ But that was only the beginning—a gap that has been gradually widening across generations cannot be closed without a deliberate, research-based strategic approach.

With the finalization of this implementation plan, we have set forth a road map for how we intend to continue on this journey, and we double down on our commitment to ensuring the best possible education for all children.”

That road map is 97 jam-packed pages of information that details 27 key action steps to reach the district’s goals; those 27 steps placed in an umbrella of seven primary categories: Board support; Instructional support; Equity in discipline; Reducing the achievement gap; Equity in Special Education and Special Program access; Monitoring; and Administrative support.

The action steps are to be instilled over a three-year period, “to ensure sufficient staff capacity, strong implementation planning and continuous monitoring,” according to the equity plan.

One of the action steps inside the “Instructional support” category is to provide “culturally responsive instructional materials.”

PPS will continue to offer Ethnic Studies under the Social Studies curriculum, along with continuing its two college-level courses dedicated to examining African American history. One of the courses, labeled African American Literature, is a one-credit twelfth-grade course available to PPS students as an alternative to English 4.

“Fifty-three percent of the students who attend Pittsburgh Public Schools are African American and another 14 percent identify as non-White, but some curricular resources are still outdated and do not consistently reflect the aforementioned representation making it difficult to engage all groups in

equitable learning experiences.

The Social Studies curriculum is one specific resource that must be updated to ensure people of African, Latin, Asian and Native descent are represented, yielding a timely opportunity to build a course of studies that meaningfully engages and centers voices from the margins,” the equity plan read.

Inside the “Equity in discipline” category, PPS reinforces its commitment to lessening student suspensions—more specifically, reducing the suspension rate gap between Black and White students. While suspension rates among Black students have decreased from 22.8 percent in 201516 to 15.9 percent in 2017-18, the number is more than three times as high as the White student suspension rate in 2017-18 (4.8 percent).

The “Reducing the achievement gap” category, well, speaks for itself. The district wants to raise Black student proficiency levels in ELA (English, Language, Arts), Algebra and Math. As an example, the district’s target proficiency level for Math for Black students by the end of the 2020-21 school year is 27. But district data shows that in 2017-18, the Math proficiency level for Black males in grades 3-8 was just 16.3, and for Black females in grades 3-8, just 16.4.

The district also wants both African American graduation rates to improve from 77.4 percent to 80.3 percent and Black student participation in advanced classes to increase from 38.2 percent to 46 percent by the end of the 2020-21 school year.

Inside the “Equity in Special Education and Special Program access” category, the district wants to place an even stronger emphasis on early childhood education, of which the district’s Early Childhood Program is 69 percent African American.

The equity plan states that while there’s no achievement gap at the end of preschool, there is an achievement gap that increases between Black and White students from Kindergarten to third grade.

“Pittsburgh Public Schools is committed to providing students (birth through 8 years of age) with the social, emotional and academic foundational skills that are necessary for success throughout their educational career and life,” the equity plan read.

The equity plan is part of an objective to achieve items listed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PPS and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, with the goal of reaching the MOU’s desired outcomes for students.

“This Equity Plan illustrates our commitment to the continued monitoring of our progress in eliminating these disparities,” Dr. Hamlet said in a signed letter on page four of the “On Track to Equity” plan.

“Education lays the groundwork that will guide our city toward an equitable future,” Dr. Hamlet added in a Nov. 6 statement provided to the Courier. “It is our greatest weapon in the fight against poverty, discrimination, ignorance, and other root causes of these disparities. Closing these gaps will not be an easy undertaking—but it is one that we are committed to achieving. Our city’s future depends on it.”

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.

B6

FORUM

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Women rock in latest Democratic debate (TriceEdneyWire.com)—The Nov. 20 Democratic presidential debate took on a much different tone than the previous debates. I’m not sure if it was because the panel of moderators was all women—NBC’s Andrea Mitchell and Kristen Welker, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, and the Washington Post’s Ashley Parker. Or perhaps it was because the candidates finally got over attacking each other (mostly) and instead decided to be themselves and embrace their identities. Maybe they hoped to engage more viewers with a substantive focus on the issues. And since the impeachment hearings loom large (closing only minutes before the debate began), each of the candidates had an opportunity to opine on impeachment.

Hillary Clinton broke the glass ceiling in both 2008 and 2016, first as a strong competitor to President Barack Obama in the 2008 primaries, then as the first woman to gain the nomination of a major party. Now, there are four women–Senators Kamala Harris (Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) along with Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. And the women highlighted their gender in their remarks, with Kamala Harris remind-

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary ing people that Black women are a backbone of the Democratic Party, and Black women are all too often ignored. Amy Klobuchar got an amusing one-liner off when she said, “If you think a woman can’t beat Trump, Nancy Pelosi does it every day.” Her point about the double standard women face in politics was an important point to make. Hillary faced it, and all of the Democratic women running for President face it. The double standard is especially acute because the current President of the United States has no problem denigrating women, especially Black women. To be sure, 45 denigrates anyone who disagrees with him, but women take the brunt of his attacks.

Andrea Mitchell, NBC’s Foreign Affairs correspondent, was the right one to ask the candidates about foreign policy, and here is where Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard shone. Citing her background as a veteran, she was knowledgeable both about foreign policy and environmental justice. But Gabbard seems to enjoy playing the role of attack dog against her fellow Democrats, including Kamala Harris. Bernie Sanders had it right when he said, “We cannot simply be consumed by Donald Trump because if we are, you know what? We’re going to lose the election.” Most of the other candidates concurred, and they attacked 45 more than they attacked each other.

While this column focuses on women, the men had their moments as well.

It was poignant when Senator Corey Booker (N.J.) shouted out Congressman John Lewis (Ga.) and acknowledged his service to the nation. Candidate Tom Steyer talked about the role of money in politics, and also spoke about a “climate crisis.” Biden was Biden, and Bernie was Bernie, delivering performances that were similar to their performances in the other debates. I am intrigued by Andrew Yang, whose unlikely candidacy has shown more sticking power than the campaigns of folk like New York Mayor Bill de Blassio and former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke. He has also qualified for the debate stage in November while former HUD Secretary Julian Castro (Tex.) has not.

A generation ago, both Presidential debates and Congressional hearings would be dominated by grey-suit wearing White men. Now, the fifth debate was not only moderated by a coterie of women, but there were four women, nearly half of those who qualified, on the stage. Similarly, during the impeachment hearings, women witnesses, especially former US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, Jennifer Williams, and Fiona Hill, held their own in the face of hostile questioning. Their extremely competent performance was as striking as their presence. Again, a generation ago, foreign policy was the purview of white men. While the foreign policy arena (or presidential races) are hardly equal, the presence of women foreign policy experts represents progress.

Women showed up and showed out both during the impeachment hearings and in the most recent Presidential debate. This last debate was wide-ranging, and it included “kitchen table” issues like paid family leave, Medicare for All (or for all who want it), and more. The inclusion of issues like family leave in a Presidential debate is probably attributable to the fact that women were both moderators and candidates. It would be fantastic and also meaningful, however, if one of the debates could focus on income inequality and poverty.

(Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, media contributor and educator.)

The right to vote should not fall victim to partisan battles (TriceEdneyWire. com)—The right to Jesse Jackson vote is fundamental to any democracy. Protecting that right—and making it easier to exercise it—ought to be a priority across partisan lines. Instead, in states across the country—particularly in the five years since the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act—it has become a pitched battle.

The basic reality is clear: Republicans, increasingly a party of older, White voters, have chosen not to reach out to Hispanics, African Americans or the young, but instead seek ways to make it harder for them to vote—or for their votes to count.

Backed by right-wing think tanks, Republican state legislators and governors push a slew of measures to suppress the vote of targeted populations.

These are increasingly challenged in courts and protested on the streets. Alabama, for example, is a state that is over one-fourth African American. Yet it has had all White appellate court justices for a quarter-century. This was locked in by requiring at-large statewide elections for both appellate and Supreme Court judges instead of district elections where African American candidates would have a good chance of being elected in some areas.

This practice—followed in Texas against Hispanic voters—is now being challenged in a lawsuit filed by the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP. At-large elections are only one of the tactics tried by the Republican power structure in Alabama. Since the Supreme Court’s Shelby decision that ended federal pre-approval of voting rights changes, Alabama has passed measures to require a photo ID to vote while seeking to close driver’s license offices disproportionately in black areas.

They sought to impose a “proof of citizenship” mandate to register to vote in state and local elections.

Dozens of polling places were closed, disproportionately in areas with large African American populations. Get-out-thevote efforts were made more difficult with the passage of a ban on financial transfers from one PAC to another, an act aimed at the leading organizations working on Af-

rican American turnout, which got much of their revenue from other political entities. Alabama has also begun the process of purging the voting rolls. When the state legislature passed a measure giving felons who had served their sentences the right to vote, the state government refused to do anything to inform people that their rights had been restored. Some of these measures have been stalled by judicial decisions, but the effort to constrict the vote continues.

Across the country, instead of making voter registration automatic and adopting same-day registration, Republican-led states are making registration harder.

Instead of expanding days to vote, they are limiting them. Instead of encouraging voter registration drives, they are adopting various measures to criminalize the activities of voter registration groups.

Partisan gerrymandering gets ever more sophisticated. Hackable voting machines pose a true threat of even getting an honest count. Closing polling stations forces some—again, disproportionately those from minority or poor districts—to travel longer and wait in long lines to vote.

The only way to counter these measures is massive citizen mobilization—and to elect leaders who will make the right to vote a priority. In 2018, efforts to restrict the right to vote overwhelmed a voter turnout that was the highest since 1914.

In 2020, with the fundamental direction of the country at stake, another record turnout is vital. Upon gaining the majority in the House of Representatives in 2018, Democrats immediately passed HR 1, the most extensive election and democracy reform bill since the Voting Rights Act. Among other things, it would adopt same-day voter registration, limit the role of big money in elections, curb political gerrymanders and much more. That bill sits on the desk of Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who won’t even allow it to come to a vote. If voters overcome the tricks and traps designed to make voting difficult and vote in large numbers in 2020, fundamental democratic reform is teed up to move.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Commentary

Sr.

Commentary

Is Universal Basic Income similar to sharecropping?

Democratic presimargins.

Without dential candidate An- J. Pharoah Doss owning assets of sigdrew Yang has sepanificance, people will rated himself from a remain bystanders.” crowded primary field Hamilton is correct by proposing Unithat UBI won’t lead to versal Basic Income ownership or econom(UBI). Under Yang’s ic advancement. The UBI plan every Amerproblem is he’s arguican Adult will receive ing against a point no a “Freedom Dividend” proponent of UBI has of $1,000 a month. made. Sharecropping This is a pro-active plan to deal with the was designed to prevent upward mobility, threat of automation to America’s work- but UBI is intended to strengthen the social force. Yang sells his proposal by telling safety net by preventing people from falling audiences that civil rights leader Martin underneath the poverty line.

Luther King Jr. advocated for UBI right Now, any policy that begins with “unibefore his death. MLK stated that since versal” will be associated with the left, but capitalism can’t eliminate poverty, the icons on the right such as economists F. A. government has a moral obligation to pro- Hayek and Milton Friedman advocated for vide work or an income, and the simplest UBI and political scientist Charles Murway to abolish poverty is for the govern- ray suggested a universal annual income ment to guarantee an income. of $10,000 per citizen. The rights mantra Yang’s use of MLK’s endorsement sug- is “limited government,” therefore it’s not gests that UBI is an extension of MLK’s the government’s moral obligation to abol“dream.” This is a brilliant campaign tac- ish poverty like MLK preached and it’s not tic because it makes it difficult to dismiss the government’s responsibility to keep UBI on principle. people from falling under a certain level of Brian Hamilton, founder of the program living like Yang proposes. The right wants Inmates To Entrepreneurs, overcame that to reduce the size of government, and difficulty when he called UBI sharecrop- Right-wing advocates of UBI believe it ping by another name. Hamilton wrote, will decrease the cost of the “welfare state” “In the sharecropping system, a person and liberate individuals from the stigma would rent land from an owner and farm of public assistance. that plot. A ‘share’ of the profits was also If Yang abandoned his campaign tactic provided to the landlord/owner. Rents and promoted UBI from a “limited governwere set to make economic profit impos- ment” standpoint, it wouldn’t sound like a sible…As a result, people never became gimmick and he could actually build a left/ owners, which is a basic tenet of econom- right coalition on this single issue. ic advancement…Today’s proposal for Unfortunately, seeking the DemocratUBI is similarly flawed, specifically since ic nomination for president is a one-way it will not result in more ownership. My street with no right turns.

(J. Pharoah is a contributor to the New Pittsfear is that, rather than helping, UBI will create a permanent class of people on the burgh Courier.)

Check It Out

The jury is still way out on a Socialist in the White House National polls show two things that are cause for joy and concern for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, and probably Elizabeth Warren too. One poll shows Sanders in a virtual dead heat for the party nomination with Joe Biden, with Warren not too far behind. The other poll, really many polls, have been remarkably consistent on one issue. That is that a majority of Americans, exclusive of millennials, don’t want a socialist in the White House. In fact, in the pecking order of traits that most Americans list as the ones that would most turn them off, being a socialist rank at rock bottom.

Trump and the GOP, and Fox News certainly don’t need any polls to energize their flock and terrorize Americans with the supposed horror of having a socialist in the Oval office. That didn’t start with the emergence of Sanders and Warren as viable presidential contenders. The tar of a Democrat as a Red was in full swing with Obama. The twin hits on him were first he was a closet Muslim terrorist, and close behind, a pinko.

There were millions of references, quotes, quips, comments, and notations on Google tarring Obama as a socialist.

Just enough voters bought the lie and slander about Obama’s alleged red taint to make him and the Democrats squirm.

The difference though is there was absolutely nothing in Obama’s modest, moderate and very centrist pro-business economic policy to make anyone with an ounce of a brain cell believe there was any truth to the lie.

With Sanders and Warren have not only not brushed off the socialist hits on them but in Sanders case have proudly embraced it. In Warren’s case, she’s piled on policy after policy that smacks of a frontal attack on the dominance of wealth, bankers and corporations.

That has prompted a worried Obama to tactfully without mentioning them by name gravely warn that the Democrats could blow it all in 2020 with stuff that’s perceived as far far left by the general electorate.

So, that brings it back to Sanders, and whether it really is the non-starter that polls say socialism is and just why, if true, that is still the old red herring for so many Americans who don’t wear the GOP party label?

“Socialist” is a loaded term that has always touched a raw nerve with many Americans who have been in a fog on what socialism is and how it works as a system. The old Cold War image for decades of a socialist drilled home images of Lenin and Joe Stalin, bloody dictators, gulags, and totalitarianism.

This has been more than enough to put a deathly scare in most Americans.

To many, a socialist is someone who is pro-union, pro-increased government spending on health and education programs, and pro-civil liberties and especially civil rights. This always drew fire from the right. During the 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was routinely smeared as a communist and socialist.

The mildest criticism of big business and the wealthy insure a slap on of the socialist tag. The American economic sacred cow is that laissez-faire wealth is tantamount to a divine right of kings, and any attempt to touch it is economic heresy. Politicians have long known that it’s the kiss of death to be seen as an advocate for tax and income fairness.

That invites being plastered with the socialist tag.

Any talk of putting more wealth into the hands of the non-wealthy in the way of tax cuts, a Social Security tax increase on upper-income wage earners, capital gain increases, and closing tax shelter loopholes is plainly regarded as wealth redistribution downward. During the 2008 presidential campaign, GOP presidential contender John McCain grabbed at the formula that GOP contenders traditionally use and hit Obama with it. In 2012, GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney doubled down on pretty much the same theme when he fired up a coterie of his rich donors with the slur that Democrats get “47 percent” of the vote because they give away free stuff meaning a slew of government entitlement and welfare giveaways. He didn’t need to utter the word “socialist” to get his meaning across.

Hurling the damaging socialist label at Sanders and Warren is more than just a calculated political ploy to smear and taint them. It taps into the deeply held belief—and even fear—that they will actually mug the rich and by extension those who fantasize about being rich.

Sanders and Warren have done much to drive home that there’s much truth to that fear. The test for Sanders and Warren will be whether that alleged fear will doom them with many Americans when faced with the actual prospect of a socialist in the White House.

(Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.)

SPORTS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

B7

THE HILL REBELS ARE THE 2019 MIGHTY MITE CHAMPIONS!

THE HILL DISTRICT REBELS defeated the Lincoln Rams to claim the 2019 Mighty Mite Championship at Sto-Rox High School, Nov. 9. In fact, the Rebels won all five games in their respective age groups! The Hill Rebels are part of the Western Pennsylvania Youth Athletic Association. (Photos by Courier photographer Marlon Martin)

B8

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER