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APRIL 17-23, 2019

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Alicia B. Harvey–Smith becomes first Black female president of Pittsburgh Technical College

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

ALICIA B. HARVEY-SMITH, PhD

Since its founding more than 70 years ago as a single discipline career training school in one Downtown building, Pittsburgh Technical College has expanded its course offerings and its footprint with a 180-acre Oakdale campus.

Now, with the appointment of Alicia B. Harvey-Smith, PhD, it is expanding something else—the region’s C-suite diversity.

Harvey-Smith is the first African American female to serve as the college’s president.

“It’s a big deal and an exciting opportunity. But I’m driven by the passion of education and getting students connected to careers.”

ALICIA B. HARVEY-SMITH, PhD

In an April 10 press statement, PTC Presidential Search Committee Chair Eli Shorak said she was the board of trustees’ unanimous choice.

“Pittsburgh Technical College could not be more pleased to welcome Dr. Alicia B. Harvey-Smith. Throughout her career, Dr. Harvey-Smith has embraced the values that the foundation is built on—providing an immersive, career-focused education,” he said. “She is a deeply-engaged leader who has a demonstrated history of emphasizing skills-based, experiential edSEE HARVEY-SMITH A7

Changing the landscape for learning McKeesport students want to form Black Student for African American students Union—district opposes

Dr. Tyra Good overcame many obstacles, now gives back to community

Students file suit with ACLU

by Christian Morrow

by Renee P. Aldrich

Courier Staff Writer

For New Pittsburgh Courier

The office of Tyra Good, on the beautiful grounds of Chatham University, contains a plethora of items that keep her grounded in her mission. There is artwork, personal photos, photos of her and the Black and brown students she is so passionate about reaching sprinkled all around her office. “I want to look at these every day and be—not that I need to be—reminded of why I do what I do,” Dr. Good said. “I see my job as working to make sure these students are competitive in a world and system that is not necessarily designed for their success.”

Often referred to as “Dr. Good from the Hood” by many of her previous students, it’s a title she does not shirk from, even though some colleagues have warned her to be careful allowing herself to be typecast in such a way that could possibly cause her to miss out on potential consultancies from larger schools.

Her response? “I was not called to those places. I figure that as long as I know who I am, and who I’m called to, it isn’t an issue for me, and I don’t worry about the perspective of others.

DR. TYRA GOOD, pictured with one of the many students she’s helped through her words and teachings in the Pittsburgh area.

“The ‘hood’ concept for me is not wrapped in negative mental pictures often associated with reference to the ‘hood;’ it actually should stand for ‘Healing Our Offspring Daily.’ This way we take ownership of who we are and give it our definition—one

that does not say ‘hood’ equals drugs, crime, poverty, incarceration, and/or single-parent households—this way we are empowered to shift the language to words like power, influence, SEE GOOD A5

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, during the 20172018 school year, Black students in McKeesport accounted for 68 percent of total expulsions with only 26 percent issued to White students. The disparity was even greater for outof-school suspensions; 71 percent given to Blacks and just 20 percent to Whites, yet Blacks account for only 44 percent of the district’s population.

Against that backdrop, a group of students at McKeesport Area High School sought to form a Black Student Union where they could meet to discuss ways to eliminate those and other disparities. They say they were thwarted by the district for three months.

Now their patience is at an end.

In a federal lawsuit filed last week, 11 students charge the McKeesport Area School District and Superintendent Mark Holtzman with violating their constitutional rights

by repeatedly blocking their efforts to form a Black Student Union at the high school. The lawsuit, filed on their behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union, asks the court to order the district to allow the students to form the BSU. “Despite the existence of a federal law, the Equal Access Act, and a school district policy that allows such student groups to meet, the plaintiffs’ efforts have been stymied at every turn. The reason for the obstruction is the school district superintendent’s objection to the name of the group, the McKeesport Black Student Union (MBSU), and its focus—the cultural, social, and academic needs of Black and brown students attending McKeesport Area High School,” the lawsuit reads.

“The purpose of the Equal Access Act is to prevent the kind of discrimination against student groups that the school district has evinced here. When a school district allows at least one non-curriculum-related student group to meet, SEE McKEESPORT B5

Bloomsburg University students to participate in beautifying Homewood

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

RALPH GODBOLT

Before he received his bachelor’s degree from Clarion University and his master’s from Cheyney University, Ralph Godbolt was a Pittsburgh kid and a Westinghouse graduate.

Now as the director of Bloomsburg University’s Act 101 program, which provides academic and social supports for students who may be apt to struggle academically, Godbolt is bringing 30 Black university students to Homewood as part of his department’s “Out of the Classroom: Into the Community” initiative, which he hopes will be both an educationally and

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culturally informative experience, not just for the students but also for neighborhood youth.

“For me, there’s a certain number of high school students who don’t even have college on their radar. It’s a foreign entity,” Godbolt told the New Pittsburgh Courier during an advance visit, April 11.

“But here are 30 kids that look just like you who are doing it, why not you, too? Hopefully they’ll come to Bloomsburg. But even if they go to Slippery Rock or Clarion, that’s OK, too.”

While in Pittsburgh on April 19 and 20, Godbolt’s students will work with youth and staff of Operation Better Block and several community beautification and

clean-up projects centered around neighborhood parks.

“What I hope our students get from this is not just the community service element, which is important, but also a knowledge of how they can use the realities of urban life to inform their work,” he said. “We want to make connections between their academics and their experience: what are the challenges for low-income kids going to college? What is the impact of having something like Chadwick Park as a neighborhood’s only green space? Those are valid research topics.”

Godbolt admitted that there is a recruiting element to his trip also, especially since Bloomsburg—

Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick says

about 80 miles north of Harrisburg—gets the bulk of its students from central and eastern Pennsylvania. He said he has been working to build relationships with the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Pittsburgh Promise scholarship program.

University Media Relations Director Tom McGuire, who joined the conversation by phone, praised the initiative.

“We’re pleased that Ralph is bringing this initiative to our students. The service element is really great,” he said. “Typically, we don’t recruit in Western Pennsylvania—so anything we get west

I will vote on May 21. Will you?

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SEE BLOOMSBURG A7

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APRIL 17-23, 2019

INTERNATIONAL

Last-minute stay of deportation granted for Liberians in the U.S.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This Week In Black History

Week of April 17-23 April 17 1872—Activist and fiery journalist William Monroe Trotter is born on this day in Boston, Mass. A close friend of W.E.B. Du (TriceEdneyWire.com/ Bois, Trotter was one of the most militant Black leaders of the GIN)—Liberians living in late 1800s and early 1900s. He helped found the Niagara Movethe U.S. received a bit of ment, which led to the establishment of the NAACP but then good news from Washingrefused to join, claiming the group was too moderate and elitist. ton last month. Scheduled He was also a leading opponent of the accommodating policies Deferred Enforcement of Booker T. Washington. Trotter’s primary vehicle of expression Departure (DED) would was his newspaper—the Boston Guardian. be extended for one year, April 18 postponing the trauma and 1818—Military leader Andrew Jackson (later president) chaos of deportation schedleads the defeat of a force of Indians and Blacks at the Battle of uled for the end of March.

WILLIAM MONROE Suwanee, bringing an end to the First Seminole War. The SemThe threat of losing TROTTER inoles had been the target of a government military campaign protected status brought because they possessed lands, which Whites in Florida greatly desired, and because opposition and protests they had provided safe haven for escaped slaves. Indeed, Blacks such from several leading U.S. as John Horse would become major Seminole leaders. It would take lawmakers including Minat least two more major military campaigns before the Seminoles and nesota Attorney General their Black allies lost possession of those lands.

Keith Ellison, civil rights 1977—Alex Haley, author of “Roots,” is awarded the Pulitzer Prize. lawyers, human rights acApril 19 tivists and Liberians across LIBERIANS PROTESTING POSSIBLE DEPORTATION 1910—The National Urban League is formed in New York City.

America.

It was born out of a merger of the National An executive order signed League for the Protection of Colored Womhas the greatest number of and economic survival, last month by the Presien, National League on Urban Conditions Liberians—an estimated many Liberians came to dent stated that although among Negroes and remnants of the Niagara 8,285—among all counties the United States and conditions in Liberia “had ALEX HALEY Movement which had earlier help found the improved and did not war- in the nation. An estimated were granted a protected NAACP. Among the leading organizers were Ruth Standish 35,000 Liberians live in the immigration status called rant a further extension” Baldwin and George Edmund Haynes. The organization was Deferred Enforced Deparof the protected status, the state. founded in part to be more focused on economic issues affectThe Trump administrature. foreign policy interests of ing Blacks than the NAACP. Today, it is generally considered tion has already announced In a series of profiles by the U.S. warranted affordthe nation’s second most powerful civil rights organization plans to end two other the Minneapolis St Paul ing an orderly transition high-profile immigration magazine, the story of Lin- after the NAACP. period to Liberian benefi1971—Walter Fauntroy becomes the first elected Congresprograms, the Deferred Ac- da Clark stands out. After ciaries. sional representative from the predominantly Black District tion for Childhood Arrivals working in Liberia for an “The overall situation and Temporary Protected entire year without getting of Columbia since Reconstruction. However, Fauntroy did not in West Africa remains WALTER FAUNTROY have voting rights. Indeed, down to paid, she traveled to the concerning,” he wrote, “and Status for Salvadorans this day, the Congressional Representative from Washington, and Haitians, as well as for U.S., leaving behind a husLiberia is an important D.C., is still not allowed to vote on major legislation. This bar people from Nicaragua and band and 2 year old son. “I regional partner for the was once common among capital cities. But today, America Sudan. was coming with the idea United States. Reintegrastands virtually alone among major nations in barring the Liberians began to come of a better life for my famtion of the DED benefiresidents of its capitol city from having a voting represenin large waves beginning ily,” she recalled. “I want ciaries into Liberian civil tative in its national legislature. Critics argue that the bar in 1989, as the country my son to go to school. He’s and political life will be continues because the city is majority African-American. endured almost a decade20 years old and still in the a complex task, and an 1978—Max Robinson becomes the first African-American and-a-half of civil wars.

11th grade, losing a year to unsuccessful transition anchor of a major network television news program when These conflicts killed some the Ebola pandemic.” could strain U.S.-Liberian he begins co-anchoring ABC nightly news from Chicago. The 250,000 people, displaced Watching the children relations and undermine Richmond, Va., native died of AIDS in Washington, D.C., on more than a million more, of friends graduate, she Liberia’s post-civil war Dec. 20, 1988. and left the country with felt sad. “I’m happy for strides toward democracy April 20 failing infrastructure and them, but yeah. My son, he and political stability.”

MAX ROBINSON 1871—The Third Enforcement Act is enacted. The Act Hennepin County, Minne- 80 percent unemployment. could be the same way, you was designed to give the president greater powers to suppress Forced to flee for safety know?” sota, home to Minneapolis, the actions of terrorist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, as they attempted to stop Blacks from voting. In some instances, the racist groups used armed force to drive out integrated governments in several Southern cities. Under the Act, the president could declare such activities “rebellion against the government” and employ federal troops to restore order.

1899—Jazz great Edward “Duke” Ellington is born in Washington, D.C. Ellington was perhaps the greatest of the Jazz pioneers, popularizing Jazz with his performances, composing and his (TriceEdneyWire.com/ Minister Celso Correia up to $6.5 million in relief DUKE ELLINGTON role as a bandleader. Ellington died GIN)—Since Cyclone Idai said just before last weekfunds to provide logistics in 1974. roared into the Mozambiend. support for up to 10 days.

1909—Jazz great Lionel Hampton is born in Louiscan port city of Beira on But delays in the arrival Two Portuguese Airforce ville, Ky. Hampton was another of the great band leaders Mar. 14, devastating losses of assistance were fueling C130 transport planes of the Jazz era. He was also known for his skills on the are mounting exponenanger and desperation, were due to depart March vibraphone. He died in 2002. tially yet international aid acknowledged Connor 28 to the region. The first 1971—The United States Supreme Court rules unanhas been slow to reach all Hartnady, rescue operaone was taking 35 soldiers, imously that the busing of students from schools of survivors. tions task force leader for medical personnel and a predominantly one race to schools populated most by Severe flooding produced Rescue South Africa. disaster relief team from students of another race was a constitutionally accepted

by Idai’s strong winds and “There have been three the National Republican method for integrating the nation’s public schools. heavy rains caused the security incidents today, Guard.

April 21 LIONEL HAMPTON rivers Pungwe and Buzi all food related,” he told Mozambique is home to 1898—An official state of to break their banks. In his team, without giving thousands of nationals war is said to exist between Spain and the U.S. over Cuba. the district of Buzi, thoufurther details. from Portugal. Santos This Spanish American War was fought with major repsands clung for their lives The U.N. has made an Silva said that 30 of the resentation of Black soldiers from Alabama, North Carolion trees and rooftops, as emergency appeal for $282 country’s citizens had not na, Virginia, Illinois and Kansas. For imperialistic reasons their villages turned into million for the next three yet been contacted. of its own, the U.S. aided Cuban independence from Spain. an ocean. Even as rains months to help MozamU.N. humanitarian chief Cuba became independent in 1902. However, when the have subsided and the bique start rebuilding their Mark Lowcock said funds Black troops returned to America, their greetings ranged waters are receding, the communities. for cyclone victims are from parades and speeches in some cities to assaults and risk of flooding remains, as But help has been coming starting to come through, dams upstream reach full in dribs and drabs—esincluding 29 million dollars lynching in other cities.

2003—African-American song stylist Nina Simone, born capacity. pecially from those with from the United Kingdom, Eunice Kathleen Waymon, dies in Paris. She was an AmerAt least 656 people have the most resources. U.S. but this is far exceeded by ican singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and civil rights died across three countries, military personnel, for the need. activist. Over the length of her career Simone recorded according to local estiexample, were en route to Finally, ExxonMobil, more than 40 albums, mostly between 1958, when she NINA SIMONE mates.

Mozambique on March 25, which earned $6 billion made her debut with “Little Dire shortages of food, over a week after the cyin quarterly profits from Girl Blue,” and 1974. She was 70 years old. water and other necessities clone hit, to assess damage African oil, is donating April 22 were reported by the head and plan a relief mission $300,000 for disaster relief.

1692—The notorious “Salem Witch Trials” of Saof a South African rescue aided by U.S. Africa Com“The devastation has been lem, Mass., claim their first Black victim. Mary Black, operation. Around 15,000 mand (AFRICOM). widespread,” the company a slave, is accused of sorcery and jailed. The hysteria people are still missing, The Pentagon has autho- tweeted, “and this funding created by the trials would lead to the arrests of 141 Land and Environment rized AFRICOM to expend will help provide relief people (mostly women) and result in 19 of them being during a difficult time. Our put to death. Ironically, there is reason to believe that thoughts are with everythe witch trials were indirectly set in motion by the one affected.” voodoo stories of a Black slave. It seems that a minister SALEM WITCH TRIALS brought to Salem a slave from Barbados named Tituba.

He fascinated the minister’s daughters with stories about witchcraft in Africa and the THE Caribbean. The two daughters shared the stories with other young girls in the area NEW PITTSBURGH and soon imagination took the place of reality. The girls started acting strangely and COURIER claimed they were victims of witchcraft. Superstitious adults began pressuring them to PUBLISHING COMPANY name names and soon dozens of women were being jailed for practicing witchcraft. The trials, which were not limited to Massachusetts, but spread Publication No.: USPS 381940 throughout New England, are perhaps one of the greatest testimonies to how minds can be twisted to believe in the 315 East Carson Street ridiculous and hurt others of as result of false belief.

Pittsburgh, PA 15219 1922—Jazz great Charles Mingus is born. The virtuoso bass player was born on a military base in Nogales, Ariz.

Phone: 412-481-8302 April 23 Fax: 412-481-1360 1856—One of the greatest inventors in American history, Granville T. Woods, is born in Columbus, Ohio. During The his life he received 65 patents for electrical, mechanical New Pittsburgh Courier and communications devices. Among his inventions was an advanced telephone transmitter. The transmitter was so is published weekly advanced that the Alexander Graham Bell Company purchased the rights to it from Woods, both because it was supeperiodicals GRANVILLE T. WOODS rior to what Bell had invented and for fear that Woods might paid at Pittsburgh, Pa. become a major rival to the Bell Company. At his height, the Cincinnati, Ohio Catholic PRICE $1.00 Tribune (Jan. 14, 1886) wrote of Woods: “…the greatest colored inventor in the history of the race and equal, if not superior, to any inventor in the country…”

(Payable in advance) 1872—Charlotte E. Ray becomes the first Black 6 Months.....$25 female lawyer in American history. Born in New York City to a journalist father and a politically active mother, 1 Year....$45 Ray was a brilliant student who was teaching at Howard 2 Years...$85 University in Washington, D.C., by the time she was 19.

By age 22 she had her law degree and was admitted to 9 Month School Rate $35 the D.C. bar. However, sexual and racial discrimination forced her to abandon her law practice and return to New POSTMASTER: Send York to teach. She died Jan. 4, 1911. address changes to: 1971—Liberian President William Tubman dies. TubCHARLOTTE E. RAY man and his strong-man rule had kept the West African New Pittsburgh Courier nation founded by freed American slaves relatively stable but not necessarily democratic. His death laid the foundation for the anarchy and civil wars which would grip 315 East Carson Street the nation for the next 30 years. Tubman also headed a class of so-called Americo-LibePittsburgh, PA 15219 rians who often discriminated against the native African population.

Aid slow to come to the rescue of Mozambicans adrift since Idai

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Morehouse College to admit transgender men starting in 2020

by Errin Haines Whack Associated Press Writer

The country’s only all-male historically Black college will begin admitting transgender men next year, marking a major shift for the school at a time when higher education institutions around the nation are adopting more welcoming policies toward LGBT students.

Leaders of Morehouse College in Atlanta told The Associated Press that its board of trustees approved the policy on Saturday.

Transgender men will be allowed to enroll in the school for the first time in 2020.

Students who identify as women but were born male cannot enroll, however, and anyone who transitions from male to female will not be automatically eligible to receive a degree from the institution.

Morehouse officials hailed the move as an important step toward a more inclusive campus while affirming its mission to educate and develop men.

“I think Morehouse having the courage to speak to issues of masculinity in today’s environment is important,” Morehouse College President David Thomas told The Associated Press. “For 152 years, the world has, in some way, seen Morehouse as the West Point of Black male development.”

The policy also states that Morehouse “will continue to use masculine pronouns” which it calls “the language of brotherhood.”

Morehouse is an iconic college that counts Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., filmmaker Spike Lee and former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson as its alumni. It bills itself as the “college of choice for Black men” that has instilled leadership skills in generations of African American men.

More than 1,000 colleges and universities nationwide have adopted some form of a transgender policy, including about two dozen historically Black colleges. An increasing number of schools are updating admissions guidelines to ensure transgender students have a welcoming experience, said Human Rights Campaign spokeswoman Sarah McBride.

“Young people are incredibly supportive of LGBT equality, including transgender equality,” McBride said. “Schools are re-

BECOMING MORE INCLUSIVE—In this Friday, April 12, 2019 photo, people enter the campus of Morehouse College in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) sponding in kind. In many ways, our col- bat who he mistakenly thought was maklege campuses look like the country we’ll ing a sexual advance. have in 10 Gregory or 15 years.

Love’s skull “I think Morehouse having the was fracThere are a lot of reasons in the courage to speak to issues of tured for hope.” beating. AarMorehouse masculinity in today’s environ- on Price was becomes the found guilty first stand- ment is important. For 152 years, of assault alone all- the world has, in some way, seen and initially male college sentenced to in the coun- Morehouse as the West Point of 10 years in try to adopt prison.

Black male development.” a transgenThe inciDAVID THOMAS dent der policy. was Nationwide, MOREHOUSE COLLEGE PRESIDENT widely seen there are as reflective only two othof a larger er all-male colleges, Wabash College in and pervasive attitude toward the LGBT Indiana and Hampden-Sydney College in community among African Americans.

Virginia. Minnesota’s St. John’s UniversiThomas acknowledged that historically ty, which enrolls only men but shares a co- Black colleges and universities—mainly ed academic program with the College of established after the Civil War with the St. Benedict, also has a transgender policy. help of religious institutions like the BapMorehouse has had challenges around tist and Methodist churches—face added LGBT issues, most notably the 2002 at- challenges in addressing issues of gender tack of a 19-year-old student accused of and sexuality because of opposition in beating a fellow student with a baseball Black churches.

“I can’t speak for all HBCUs, but we know in the Black church there has largely been silence on this issue,” Thomas said. “I can imagine there may be people who would say, ‘Why would you even raise this?’ I say to those people we live in an era now where silence on these issues is actually not helpful. For us, as a school for men, it’s important for us to set clear expectations about what that means. That’s what we’re trying to do with this policy.”

In 2009, the college updated its dress code, in part to address a handful of students who were wearing women’s clothing on campus. The following year, Morehouse held its first Gay Pride. Morehouse offered its first LGBT course in 2013 and has a scholars program named for civil and gay rights icon Bayard Rustin.

Spelman College, an all-woman HBCU next door to Morehouse, adopted a transgender policy in 2017, and the first transgender woman graduated in 2018.

Other HBCUs with transgender policies include Tuskegee University, Howard University, Florida A&M University, Southern University in Louisiana, North Carolina Central University and Morgan State University in Maryland.

Titi Naomi Tukes—a 2017 graduate of Morehouse who enrolled as a cisgender man in 2013 but now identifies as transgender nonbinary and uses the pronouns they/them/their—said they disapproved of the policy, which they learned about in an alumni email on Saturday. Tukes said the policy is hostile and exclusionary toward transgender women and nonbinary students, and could put transitioning students in an unsafe environment if they have to leave the college.

“You can’t control how someone feels in their body,” said Tukes, now a management consultant working in New York who added they are willing to offer input on how the policy is implemented. “The college fails at addressing and understanding the gender journey that one undergoes during their college experience, spiritually, emotionally, physically and psychologically.”

(Whack is The Associated Press’ national writer on race and ethnicity. Follow her work on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/emarvelous.)

Georgetown students endorse slavery reparations fund in vote WASHINGTON (AP)—Georgetown University undergraduates have voted in favor of a referendum seeking the establishment of a fund benefiting the descendants of enslaved people sold to pay off the school’s debts.

The $27.20-per-semester fee would cre-

ate one of the first reparations funds at a major U.S. institution.

In an early Friday statement, university administrator Todd Olson didn’t commit to the fund’s establishment, but said Thursday’s non-binding vote provided “valuable insight into student perspec-

tives.”

The Georgetown University Student Association Elections Commission said 2,541 students voted for the “Reconciliation Contribution.”

That’s just over 66 percent of voters.

The fee was opposed by 1,304. Turnout

was 57.9 percent.

The student-led proposal aims to atone for the Jesuit-organized sale of 272 slaves in 1838. Fees would go toward projects in underprivileged communities where some descendants live, including Maringouin, La.

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APRIL 17-23, 2019

Tiger’s

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Return to Glory

TIGER WOODS reacts as he wins the Masters golf tournament Sunday, April 14, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Wins 2019 Masters in stunning fashion Why so many people thought Tiger Woods would never win another major golf tournament is puzzling. Sure, he’s had his ups and downs, his unfair share of injuries, etc., but people seem to forget that Tiger is arguably the greatest professional golfer ever. On April 14, 2019, he returned atop the golf world, winning the Masters tournament y one shot. t’s his fifth asters title, and his first ma or win in 11 years. He now has 15 career major titles, three behind the all-time leader, Jack Nicklaus.

TIGER WOODS wears his green jacket holding the winning trophy after the final round for the Masters golf tournament Sunday, April 14, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Tyra Good—Changing the landscape for learning for African American students GOOD FROM A1

resiliency, and perseverance. This is a shift that readjusts the mindset of what the students unconsciously take in. A changed mindset changes outcomes.”

A product of the Pittsburgh Public Schools system, Dr. Good currently serves as Assistant Professor of Education, Pittsburgh Urban Teaching Corps Liaison at Chatham University.

As a champion and advocate for equitable education for African American students, Dr. Good considers herself to be urban educator and social justice educator, which means working to eliminate injustices in the education system in grades K-12, and over the past four years, in higher education institutions, that disproportionately impact African American students. “Unfortunately I see the classroom/system as a battlefield. One where our children are in a daily fight for survival, as it relates to adequate preparation for their future—and to avoid the school-to-prison pipeline.”

Her commitment to this work is driven by her own experience as a student.

“I loved learning, studied hard and made good grades.

I was president of the National Honor Society, had almost perfect attendance, a high honor student who graduated number five in my class from Oliver High School.”

Dr. Good recalled only scoring an 800 on the SAT (the maximum score is 1600). “This threw me for a

loop and gave me invite of just how unprepared I was as a student,” she said.

Adding insult to injury, after being accepted at Howard University, she was required to take remedial reading and writing before taking the college course English 101.

Dr. Good told the New Pittsburgh Courier that she “felt stupid” and “embarrassed” by these events.

She felt that the Pittsburgh Public Schools at the time did not prepare her adequately for college.

“Because I was committed to my personal excellence, I did what I had to do to survive, taught myself to study, and managed to graduate summa cum laude,” Dr. Good said.

Trauma is something Dr. Good was not foreign to.

Education and school were ways she escaped from negative commentary in her neighborhood about her family. “Though Good was our name, good things did not always come out of our family. I believed some of the rumors, and just wanted to separate myself from that name as fast as I could.”

She had a cousin murdered in 1993 in Northview Heights—this enhanced her desire to leave Pittsburgh. Her goal was not to return to Pittsburgh. But the summer between her junior and senior year at Howard saw more tragedy for the Good family—her father attempted to kill her mother before turning the gun on himself, taking his own life.

The next several months

where basically a blur. She was not sure of anything.

The family buried her father, and then her mother’s recovery was questionable.

When she believed she needed to leave Howard, return home and enter Pitt, her extended family said, “No.” She was able to push through at Howard, graduate and get a job.

Ultimately, Dr. Good returned to Pittsburgh, as she longed to be with her mother who miraculously survived after being shot in the head by Dr. Good’s father.

Dr. Good, with a degree in business administration, found her first opportunity here in Pittsburgh to see education as the place where she could begin to make a difference.

She had taken a full-time job with UPMC, but was working part-time at an after-school program at YouthPlaces. After a few months, her time there grew because that she saw how the students were struggling and needed so much.

The work at YouthPlaces placed her on the trajectory to identify her passion and turn it into productivity. She changed from seeking her Master’s in Business Administration to enrolling in Chatham’s Master of Arts in Teaching program. YouthPlaces received a grant to hire her as full-time program manager in education—“I was at a place I belonged,” she said—serving over 6,000 students from Pittsburgh’s inner-city neighborhoods.

“I was at home, devel-

DR. TYRA GOOD (Photo by Courier photographer J.L. Martello) oped a culturally responsive curriculum—that is, a curriculum that developed themes which related to students and their culture, their community and the parents.”

Dr. Good received her master’s and came to understand that she did not want to be boxed in, but still wanted to be in education. She stayed at YouthPlaces where her role advanced to Director of Education Training Community Partnerships. The significant task was determining what after-school activities there could provide to students what they

may not have been getting in the classroom.

By now, Dr. Good found herself fully immersed into the community, so leaving Pittsburgh was no longer part of her life’s plan. She knew that getting even deeper into the education system would require a PhD. She entered a doctorate program that positioned her for her current role at Chatham. Four years ago, Chatham was starting an urban education program entitled Pittsburgh Urban Teaching Core, which was focused on developing teachers to become

social justice teachers.

They had no one on staff to develop that program and teach it.

Everything Dr. Good had done thus far prepared her for this opportunity.

“I just know there are many times I wanted to quit, could have quit,” Dr. Good told the Courier. “I’ve had traumatic experiences, my own mental weariness, a son, a relationship that broke while I was working on my master’s. If God had wanted me to quit, he would not have set me up to end up promoting the educational equality I felt so passionate about.”

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RELIGION

APRIL 17-23, 2019

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The Palm Sunday Unity Worship Service

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Mass Sunday 10:00 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 Prayer Service (Wed.) 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 http://www.quaker.org/legacy/pghpamm

REV. DR. RONALD PETERS

Grace Memorial Valley View Open Door Hot Metal Faith

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

DONNA ALLEN (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

Unite as one

at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

DR. DAVID ESTERLINE, President, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

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

Send info to:

VONCIL CAVER ELDER ALLEN PERRY

MT. CARMEL SEVEN LAST WORDS

APRIL 19—Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 90 Port Perry Rd., North Versailles, will hold “Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross,” at 6:30 p.m. at the church. It features eight pastors. Barbara A. Gunn is senior pastor.

For more information, call 412-824-4049.

New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219

FIRST BAPTIST SEVEN LAST WORDS

APRIL 19—First Baptist Church of Penn Hills, 7450 Chadwick St., is holding its Good Friday service, “ even ast ords.” even preachers will e preaching the seven last phrases of esus for five minutes each. Service begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

Church Circuit

TRIEDSTONE RESURRECTION PRAISE

APRIL 28—Triedstone Baptist Church in Rankin, 18 Harriet St., is holding its Resurrection Praise, “He is Risen,” at 3 p.m. Reverend Nathaniel Pennybaker is senior pastor. For more information, call 412-271-3000.

PENTECOSTAL MOTHER’S DAY PRAYER BREAKFAST

MAY 11—Pentecostal Temple COGIC will hold its Mother’s Day Prayer Breakfast, “Power of Prayer,” at 9 a.m. at the Wyndham University Center in Oakland. First Lady, Evangelist Barbara Mann will be the guest speaker. For more information, call 412-361-7000 or 412-371-6268.

BETHLEHEM BAPTIST USHER MINISTRY

MAY 18-19—The Bethlehem Baptist Church Usher Ministry, in McKeesport, will be celebrating their annual days on Saturday, May 18 at 2 p.m., where there will be a Hat Show & Luncheon. The Rev. Helen Jackson will be the commentator. The Hat Show & Luncheon is free to attend. Then, on Sunday, May 19, at 11 a.m., Rev. Beverly Jackson will be the guest preacher. The church is located at 716 Walnut St. Rev. Earlene Coleman is the host pastor. For more information, call 412-664-7272.

ANTIOCH WOMEN’S DAY

MAY 19—Antioch Baptist Church, 332, Elizabeth Street, Sewickley, will celebrate its annual Women’s Day at 10:45 a.m. Guest speaker will be Rev. Diane Wells of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Library. Dinner will be served after service. The theme this year is, “When Women Trust God,” taken from Esther 4:15–17.

All are welcome.

MINISTER APRIL ROEBUCK

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

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APRIL 17-23, 2019 A7

Alicia B. Harvey–Smith becomes first Black female president of Pittsburgh Technical College HARVEY-SMITH FROM A1

president of the River Valley Community College in Claremont, New Hampshire, from 2013 until she resigned to take her most recent position—executive

In that role she also served as the college’s accreditation liaison, which Shorak said would be a valuable asset to PTC and its Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation, which has “Pittsburgh Technical College could not overseen the college’s acaprogramming since be more pleased to welcome Dr. Alicia B. demic it transitioned from an emHarvey-Smith. Throughout her career, Dr. ployee-owned entity to a t in 2016.

Harvey-Smith has embraced the values that nonprofi Harvey-Smith earned her the foundation is built on—providing an im- Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State Univermersive, career-focused education. She is sity, her Master of Science Education degree from a deeply engaged leader who has a demon- in The Johns Hopkins Universtrated history of emphasizing skills-based, sity, and her PhD from the of Maryland Colexperiential education, the very tenets of University lege Park. She also earned a Certificate of Completion PTC.” from Harvard University’s ELI SHORAK Graduate School of EducaChair, PTC Presidental Search Committee tion Seminars for Presidential Leadership.

In addition to being a burgh, it’s not for Har- vice-chancellor of Lone Star skilled public speaker—she vey-Smith. She served as College in Houston. is currently giving a preucation, the very tenets of PTC.” While having a Black female college president is something new for Pitts-

All you Tiger haters, will you please shut up!

by Bill Neal For New Pittsburgh Courier

:10—Before I get to his greatness, let me begin by getting a message to the Tiger Woods haters. Will you please shut up!!! You holier-than-thou-never-didnothing-wrong-in-your-life, can’t-play-anything-butthe-radio so-and-so’s…Just let it go. Admit you called it wrong and must applaud one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.

Yes, he’s a flawed man, as we all are, but for goodness sakes, the man made mistakes 20 years ago and he’s

Overtime

BILL NEAL more than paid the price. I am sure if you stop at that mirror you never look in, you’ll see a bunch of mistakes you made…and got away with? :09—Here’s what you can’t argue with: 15 major championships, 81 PGA tour wins, 8 wins or more on a single course, 18 world championship victories, 12 wire-to-wire wins, over $115 million in career earnings, most weeks ranked #1 in the world—683, most wins by a player in his 20’s, player of the year a record 11 times, a record of 54-4 when holding at least a share of the lead after 54 holes, and that’s all we have room for right now.

C’mon Man! :08—A new reader has been found out there in the universe. Welcome to a good place “Ms. Joy.” You’re now in “The Locker Room”!

(It’s like the Twilight Zone but not as scary) :07—What you need to do after you get done reading this is dig deep in the CD vault and pull out your Isaac Hayes and Barry White music. And I do mean music…Good music when the two best voices in R&B music were doing battle. And they both won. “The Look of Love,” “By the Time I get to Phoenix,” “Soulsville,” “Do Your Thing” and of course “Shaft” just to name a few…mmmaaannn…That hot-buttered-soul!

But, the big man brought it too, “What Am I Gonna do with You,” “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me,”

“I’ve Got So Much to Give,” and of course, “Never, Never Gonna give you up.” I know, I know, now you want to go out dancin’…you’re welcome. :06—Let’s see…How do you say the Pens are done?

Oh, I know…The Pens are done! Here’s a fork, now stick it in um… :05—Right now, your Pirates are holding their own, thanks to really good pitching. If they can hold the Fort Jolly Roger until Gregory Polanco and Corey Dickerson get back, things could get interesting. :04—I know you haven’t done it yet like I asked you. Call or send in your letter to the good people at the Pitt ad office and ask… nicely…to get Sam Clancy’s basketball shirt retired and hung at the Petersen Events Center. Do it, just do it! :03—Speaking of stuff you need to do…and I was. You need to stop fooling around and get your New Pittsburgh Courier subscription.

What’s wrong with “You People???” :02—Oh, two more Tiger things. #1. Kevin Cameron called this Masters win a year ago. (Finally, right about something—Go Quipps!) #2. Best picture ever, on CBS when they showed Tiger hugging his dad in 1997 and then Tiger, 22 years later, hugging his own son and embracing his daughter. :01—Write this down. You know how you forgot everything. Thursday, April 25 at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sugar and Smoke Restaurant, 4428 Liberty Ave. in Bloomfield –412-251-0240. Meet the Legends of the game…its Steeler Legends Reunion III featuring four-time Su-

per Bowl champions, J.T. Thomas and Randy Grossman. Two-time champion Robin Cole, Super Bowl champion “Judge” Dwayne Woodruff and former rookie of the year and All-Pro Receiver Louis Lipps. $20 for Adults, $10 youth 12 and under, two signed items per person, two photos per person per player, cash bar, 50/50, open kitchen, street parking. Proceeds to benefit Achieving Greatness Inc. “Safe Summer” Youth Programs. Don’t-you-daremiss-it!!! :00—GAME OVER.

sentation at an educators conference in Orlando—she is also a researcher and author. Among her publications are Partnering for Success: How to Build Strong Internal Collaborations in Higher Education;

release.

Speaking to the New Pittsburgh Courier by phone from Florida, Harvey-Smith said she is excited to be coming to Pittsburgh and to PTC. “It’s a big deal and an

“I look forward to working with the College’s board, faculty, staff, students, alumni and community stakeholders to write the next chapter of the Pittsburgh Technical College story, to build upon its legacy of achievement and to position it as a college of first choice among associate- and bachelor-degree-granting institutions.”

ALICIA B. HARVEY-SMITH, PhD The Seventh Learning College Principle: A Framework for Transformational Change; Partnering for Success: How to Build Strong Internal Collaborations in Higher Education; and Eclectic Insights: A Composition of Poetry and Essays. Her latest manuscript, CARE—Compassion, Appreciation, Respect and Empowerment: Essential Leadership Standards, is being finalized for future

exciting opportunity. But I’m driven by the passion of education and getting students connected to careers,” she said. “One of the reasons I accepted the position is I see an opportunity for the college to reposition itself. Perhaps my visibility as the first Black female president can help with that. For instance it’s not well known, but PTC has a 96 percent in-field placement rate—other

community colleges and tech programs aren’t even close. So they are keeping their promise to their students. That is important to me.”

She told the Courier she also wants to expand articulation agreements with four-year institutions, make sure they have “stackable” curricula—so certificates relate to associate degrees, which related to four-year degrees. She also wants to align studies with “jobs of the future” including the energy and petrochemical industries. She is familiar with both from her time in Texas.

But first she has to wind up her duties in Houston and move here. This is where having a husband who’s a retired U.S. Army major, and retired U.S. Capitol police officer, who’s used to moving around, is a benefit.

“He’s been great and is as excited as I am.

We’re both Marylanders, so we’ll be a lot closer to home and family,” she said. “Plus my brother Dr. Rufus Lynch runs the Strong Families Commission over in Philadelphia.

So we hope to get settled in by August.”

Bloomsburg U. students to beautify Homewood BLOOMSBURG FROM A1

of State College is a bonus.

So, this could be the in for students wanting to come east.”

But being keenly aware of the old axiom of “all work and no play,” Godbolt’s students will also be having a bit of fun when they join youth from East

End Community Sports, and its director, Kedric Starkey, for a jazz concert at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center on April 19—Starkey gave a presentation on the value of community engagement and volunteerism at Bloomsburg in February.

“A lot of our kids have never seen a concert— let alone a concert of the uniquely African American genre of jazz. Nor have they seen anything like the August Wilson Center, dedicated solely to African American culture,” said Godbolt. “I think it’s going to be great.”

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

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APRIL 17-23, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report Why people wear black The title of this column should really be why people LOVE to wear black, because you know that we love wearing black outfits. Somewhere along the way we learned that black is sexy, black makes you look smaller and best of all it doesn’t show dirt.

I don’t know about that last one. Nothing looks worse than a black dirty outfit or a black dusty outfit.

Do you remember when your mother told you that you were not old enough to wear black? I do. When I was a teenager I wanted to wear a black dress and my mom told me that I was too young to wear black. I couldn’t wait to be on my own and wear black any time that I wanted. When I look at my wardrobe there is an awful lot of black; after all, it is a staple. It’s the color that goes with everything. I have black pants, black dresses, black turtlenecks and black sweaters. When I shop I am still drawn to black outfits but lately I have purchased more color. I even noticed that a friend of mine who is a stylist started a “don’t wear black challenge.”

She challenged women to wear more color instead of a steady diet of black. Ladies embraced the idea.

I was always surprised how many people wear black because they think they are too dark to wear bright colors and then when you see them in bright colors they look stunning. Another reason that people wear black is in an effort to disappear, perhaps if I’m wearing black no one will notice me. There is a young man that I see every day, as a matter fact there are two. Both wear black every day. Actually it looks like they sleep in these black outfits. They are wrinkled and on same days there seems to be pet hair on their clothes.

Pet hair really shows up on black clothes.

According to the internet, there are many reasons why some people choose to wear all black clothing. Black has been associated with power, fear, mystery, strength, authority, elegance, formality, death, evil, aggression, authority, rebellion, and sophistication. It is considered to be a visual representation of expressing grief.

At some point we hope the grief will diminish.

Numerous people say that the reason for all of the black is because it’s easy. You don’t have to think about, just pull out some black clothes and be on your way. Often black is associated with seriousness and drama.

It is the go-to color that most wear to funerals and is rarely the requested color for a party. It seems in the Black community we love to have white parties but as you can see from this page the Ques recently had a black party and I think people were so happy they did not have to wear white or shop for white but instead pull out their favorite black sexy outfit. It was fun, a huge success and I can’t wait to see the theme for next year.

(Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com.)

READY TO PARTY—Marsha and Paul Dorsey

WHO IS THAT MASKED MAN—George McDaniel

STYLISH COUPLE—Keith Plyes and Jabette Hill (Photos

by Debbie Norrell)

It was a ‘Black Owt’

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

It’s not a typo. “Black Owt” was the theme of the annual Omega Psi Phi Mardi Gras hosted by the Iota Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Say it out loud, “owt, owt, owt,” now do you get it? That famous Que bark was incorporated into the theme.

Guests were to don their black attire and make their way to the August Wilson African American Cultural Center on March 30 for a two-tiered night of fun. It was a sold out affair and more than 1,000 people attended.

MASKED AND READY—Jacquie Ruple, Helen Butler and Kelly Starver

In years past the Mardi Gras has been held at one of the largest venues in the area, the Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum in Homewood. That venue is no longer open. Darian Grant, current Omega Psi Phi president, said they were pleased with the new venue and enjoyed the central location.

Guests enjoyed three rooms of entertainment, the Bill Henry Band, DJ Nate the Phat Barber and DC’s finest DJ, Pop Rek in the VIP room.

The Omega Mardi Gras is the Ques’ largest fundraiser and supports their programs, scholarships and the Historically Black College Tour.

HEADING TO THE VIP—Danielle Hawkins and Jasmine Tymous

SHOWSTOPPER—Danielle Edmond

PARTYING WITH THE QUES—Karmen Pugh and Ebony Giles

HEADING TO THE PARTY ON THE NEXT LEVEL

DRESSED TO ENJOY—Louis Jenkins, Harold Gee and Vicki Betsill

BLACK LEATHER AND SPECTATORS—Geri Hoyle and Gene Robinson

FRIENDS HAVING FUN—Toni Martin, Jim Maddox and Jamie Opuku

SUPPORTERS—Joe Highgate, Michelle Graves and Maurice Graves

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

APRIL 17-23, 2019

IT WAS A ‘BLACK OWT’

OMEGA MEN—Paul Scott, Andre Patterson and President Darian Grant (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

PARTY IN FULL SWING—Larry Hutch, Raven Ford and Coilynn Buford

OMEGAS IN THE BUILDING—Bob Edison, Brandon Jennings and Doug Ransaw

EVENT CHAIR—Rahmon Hart and Nneka Hart

JUST TWO OF THE MARDI GRAS HOSTS—Carlton Heywood and Charles Orr

NATE THE PHAT BARBER

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

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J. Pharoah Doss says what’s worse...AOC’s ‘accent of color’ or code switch excuse?

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Rhonda L. Bolding named Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation local chapter board president The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Rhonda L. Bolding has been named board president of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Chapter. Bolding will provide support to the executive director in executing the foundation’s mission to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. Bolding’s focus will include working closely on the chapter’s communication plan, building the pipeline for board involvement, succes-

sion planning and she also serves as the team captain for her 2019 Take Steps walk team, The BOLD and the AKAs. Bolding has been connected to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Chapter for several years. She was first introduced to their Take Steps walk, a program that brings awareness to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively known as IBD). Her walk team, the BOLD and the AKAs have been one of the top fundraising teams each year. Over the past five

years they have raised nearly $37,000.

More than 80 percent of donations made to the foundation go directly back to fund the mission of finding cures.

Bolding has also been heavily involved with all of the chapter’s special events.

Last year she was the inaugural planning chair for the foundation’s fall fundraiser, Night of Steel, held at Heinz Field. Her involvement with the chapter exceeds all expectations that comes with being a SEE BOLDING B2

RHONDA L. BOLDING

Six personal finance trends that should worry all Americans

PARTICIPATING PAYS OFF—Bounce Marketing and Events president and CEO Fantasy Zellers participated in previous SHARE events.

Now she does business with the organizers. (Photos by Diane I. Daniels)

SHARE Pittsburgh means business

Annual event matches top corporations with minority business enterprises

by Diane I. Daniels For New Pittsburgh Courier

Several years ago, Fantasy Zellers, president/CEO of Bounce Marketing and Events, attended a SHARE supplier diversity event at Rivers Casino.

Come Thursday, April 18, it will be Zellers’ fourth time involved with the program. The first two years she participated as a certified MBE supplier looking for business. Taking advantage of opportunities presented and following up with contacts she made during the matchmaking component, the following year she returned as a certified MWDBE doing business, and this year will

EVENT CHAIRPERSON—Involved in SHARE since the beginning, Toni Silva, Director of Supplier Relations at UPMC, expects great results from the event each year. be no different. This year and in past years, Zellers has been responsible for producing the SHARE

event. She views SHARE as a valuable matchmaking and educational tool for certified minority and

women businesses.

An MWDBE supplier matchmaking invitational event, “SHARE 2019— Communication—Collaboration—Commerce,” according to the planning committee, is expected to be just as successful and eventful as previous years. “Throughout the years SHARE has grown tremendously,” said Toni Silva, director of supplier relations at UPMC. “Last year there were over 300 matchmaking sessions and more than 300 attendees.”

SHARE 2019 will be held again at Rivers Casino. It’s invitation-only, with registration beginning at 1 SEE SHARE B2

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—April is National Financial Literacy Month, which means it’s the perfect time for Americans to review their money situation and brush up on their financial education. Developing better money management skills makes it more likely that individuals will reach their financial goals. Unfortunately, nearly two-thirds of Americans (63 percent) can’t pass a basic financial literacy test.

To help Americans improve their financial lives, members of the American Institute of CPAs’ (AICPA) National CPA Financial Literacy Commission share the following tips. For members of the media, the AICPA has experts ready to assist with stories on the below areas and any other personal financial topic.

Credit card debt rising Stat: As of December 2018, total U.S. consumer credit card debt is $870 billion, the highest total ever, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Tip: Use Credit Cards Cautiously Quote: “Credit cards allow people to make large purchases without carrying large amounts of cash, track spending and even earn rewards. However, when you find you’re unable to pay your balance off in full each month, you’re paying interest charges. And if you’re unable to make the minimum payment, it can result in fees, higher interest rates and a negative impact on your credit score. If you’re having trouble managing your credit card debt, tools like a credit card payoff calculator can help you map out a plan to pay down your balances and get a fresh start so your credit cards can start working for you.”—Neal Stern, CPA member of the AICPA National CPA Financial Literacy Commission Retirement saving goals in limbo Stat: Less than half of non-retired Americans (46 percent) are confident they’ll reach their financial goals by retirement, according to an AICPA survey.

Tip: It’s Never Too Early to Start Saving Quote: “A 401(k) can be one of your best tools for building a secure retirement. They provide two key advantages. First, the amount you put into your 401(k) account lowers the taxable portion of your salary in the current year. This means all contributions to your 401(k) grow tax free—you’ll only pay tax when the money is withdrawn. Second, many employers provide matching 401(k) contributions. If your employer does this, try to at least contribute the amount that gets you the maximum match; otherwise you’re walking away from ‘free money.’

Even a small contribution each paycheck can turn into a lot down the road. The AICPA’s 401(k) savings calculator can show you what starting today can do to support your retirement planning.”—Michael Eisenberg, CPA/ PFS member of the AICPA National CPA Financial Literacy Commission.

Car loan delinquencies increasing SEE TRENDS B2

NNPA names Claudette Perry executive admininstrator

by Stacy M. Brown For New Pittsburgh Courier

CLAUDETTE PERRY

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The nation’s largest trade association of African American-owned newspapers and media companies, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), recently announced Claudette Perry as its new Executive Administrator. NNPA’s member newspaper and media companies reach over 25 million readers each week in print and online.

“Claudette Perry brings decades of experience from roles in corporate America, the public sector and government.

She has been a member of the NNPA executive team for several years. However, her new role enables the NNPA to be better equipped to face new challenges and secure new opportunities,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., NNPA president and chief executive officer.

A multi-talented problem solver, Perry has worked with several organizations in the Nation’s Capital as well as regional, national and international corporations and institutions, including the White House, Capitol Hill, the Wash-

ington Urban League and Claudette’s competence is nouncement to the NNPA’s many others. She is proud- exceeded only by her com- board and membership est of the work she has done mitment to advance the in- during the organization’s annual Black Press Week conference late last month.

“Claudette Perry brings decades of expe- As for Perry, she expects her new role will betrience from roles in corporate America, the that ter position her to address public sector and government. She has been organizational change, ingrowth-related ada member of the NNPA executive team for cluding ministrative, technical and several years. However, her new role enables operational challenges. “The NNPA’s many stakeholders the NNPA to be better equipped to face new are demanding increasinghigher levels of service challenges and secure new opportunities.” ly quality, information and DR. BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS JR. support. We will meet those for change by imNNPA President,Chief Executive Officer demands proving the level of services and instituting new office procedures,” said Perry. that focuses on improving terests of NNPA’s members, “As with any organization, the quality of life for people partners and sponsors. This it’s critical that we continue new role became necessary to establish high standards of African descent.

“The Black Press of Amer- in order to better align our and maintain the accountica, which is celebrating organization and ensure a ability required to meet its 192nd year, has evolved higher level of service qual- those standards among the to meet the needs of the ity,” said Chavis.

SEE PERRY B2 changing world around us. Chavis made the an-

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APRIL 17-23, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Personal finance trends SHARE Pittsburgh means business TRENDS FROM B1

Stat: A record 7 million Americans are 3 months behind on their car payments, even more than during the wake of the financial crisis, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Tip: Plan Ahead & Read the Fine Print Quote: “When buying a car, it is important to remember that, regardless of any attachment you may have to a brand or model, you are incurring a significant financial obligation that you will have to pay back over time. Before agreeing to any financing arrangement, read the fine print to make sure you understand exactly what you are getting into and make sure it fits into your overall budget. Lastly, if there are viable public transportation options in your local area, it might make sense to explore those as you evaluate your transportation or automobile needs.”—Dr. Sean Stein Smith, CPA member of the AICPA National CPA Financial Literacy Commission Fewer Americans following a budget post-recession Stat: The percent of Americans who follow a monthly budget has declined since the recession (39 percent in 2018, compared to 58 percent in 2015), according to an AICPA survey. Further, one in four Americans admit they do not pay all their bills on time and nearly one in ten now have debts in collection, according to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Tip: Do a Financial Checkup Quote: “Knowing how much you have coming in compared to how much you’ve committed spend on things like rent, car payment, insurance and other bills is key to better understanding how much you actually have to spend on things like groceries, fun, and other financial goals like paying off debt faster. Making sure you keep enough set aside to at least pay the bills each month, then finding a way to keep the rest of your spending within what’s left over will help you avoid going into debt.

Americans who need help managing a monthly budget can use the AICPA’s budget analysis calculator to run a report that will show them where their money is going and identify areas for improvement.”—Kelley Long, CPA/PFS member of the AICPA Consumer Financial Education Advocates Americans lacking emergency preparedness Stat: If faced with an unexpected expense of $400, four in 10 adults would either not be able to cover it or would cover it by selling something or borrowing money, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Tip: Have A Backup Plan Quote: “What’s on your emergency preparedness checklist? If you’re like most people, it includes water, batteries, a first-aid kit and an emergency contact list. What about the money you’ll need to deal with the situation? Disasters often strike quickly and without warning. Plan ahead, by setting up a separate account to build a ‘rainy day’ fund.

Set a reasonable goal and start small, setting aside a manageable portion of each paycheck.

Watch the fund grow, and when you reach your initial goal, you can decide whether a larger amount would give you more peace of mind. Most importantly, make a mental note of what the money can be used for (storm damage, illness, unemployment, etc.), and don’t dip into the fund for any other reason.”—Margaret Poster, CPA member of the AICPA National CPA Financial Literacy Commission As student loan payments pile up, Americans cutting back Stat: Total U.S. student loan debt is $1.57 trillion. Eight in 10 U.S. adults with student loans (81 percent) make financial or personal sacrifices to meet their monthly payment, according to an AICPA survey.

Tip: Do Your Homework Quote: “When it comes to taking out a student loan, don’t take out more than you can reasonably expect to earn in your first year in the field of your major. Make sure you first exhaust every available source of ‘free’ money before getting any type of student loan.

Meet with a financial advisor at school to discuss available scholarships and also look for scholarships online. Finally, make sure you are aware of the difference in pay-off options between Federal and private student loans.”—Tracie Miller-Nobles, CPA member of the AICPA National CPA Financial Literacy Commission (The AICPA’s 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy Program is a nation-wide, volunteer grass-roots effort to help Americans develop a better understanding of money management and take control of their financial lives.)

SHARE FROM B1

p.m. The event is scheduled to end around 7 p.m.

Silva is one of the original event organizers. She said SHARE 2019, like the other years, seeks to bring together the region’s top corporations, institutions and MWDBEs to expand opportunities and increase growth among area MWDBEs. Along with the matchmaking sessions, the afternoon of activities will include the welcome and opening remarks by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, MBE Reflections by Charles “Chuck” Sanders, CEO of Urban Lending Solutions, and the keynote presentation by Bill Strickland, Executive Chairman of the Manchester Bidwell Corporation. All Purpose Cleaning, CPI and Koryak are MWDBEs highlighted in video presentations. Lynne Hayes-Freeland, CEO of LHF Communications and KDKA radio and television personality, will serve as emcee. SHARE 2019 will end with dinner and a reception.

Strickland, a Pittsburgh native, born and raised in Manchester, is recognized worldwide as a motivator, creative genius, speaker and author. His legacy in this area will be the development of the Manchester Bidwell Corporation, and the diverse programming it provides to create empowering educational environments for adults in transition as well as urban and at-risk youth.

The Manchester Bidwell Corporation is inclusive of its subsidiaries the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and Bidwell Training Center. His passion and insight are considered a national model for education, culture and hope. Besides Pittsburgh

BILL STRICKLAND he has also cultivated collaborative partnerships in Cincinnati, San Francisco, Boston, New Haven, Buffalo, Cleveland and Grand Rapids.

In his book, “Make the Impossible Possible,” Strickland’s belief is expressed that everyone has the potential for remarkable achievement and that everyone can accomplish the impossible in their lives if given the right inspiration and motivation. “SHARE 2019—Communication—Collaboration—Commerce,” operates on a similar premise by seeking to bring together the region’s top corporations, organizations, and MWDBE suppliers to expand opportunities and increase growth among area MWDBEs. The SHARE event, created

by UPMC, grew out of a 2013 effort to increase economic opportunities for minorities

by the Corporate Equity and Inclusion Roundtable, led by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Tim Stevens, president of the Black Political Empowerment Project. In 2014, UPMC followed with its own attempt to match its MWDBE vendors to other regional corporations that might need their services.

According to the SHARE website, the event was so successful that a collaborative planning committee, comprised of major corporations and organizations in the community, was formed to further promote the economic growth and development of MWDBE suppliers in the region. “This event continues to be a premier community collaboration in the City of Pittsburgh,” said Silva. “It has become an excellent medium for corporations to meet and partner with a pool of the region’s finest MWDBEs.” Zellers, whose Bounce Marketing and Events is described as a full-service minority certified marketing and event agency, said that entrepreneurs get involved in events such as SHARE and the Eastern Minority Supplier Diversity Council if they are serious about gaining business. Along with doing business with SHARE Pittsburgh, she also coordinates SHARE Harrisburg, which is in its second year. This year’s event in Harrisburg is scheduled for June 12.

Bolding named board president

BOLDING FROM B1

board member and the IBD and Pittsburgh community is grateful for her service and support.

Professionally, Bolding is the marketing manager at Strada where she manages firm-wide marketing and public relations activities to support the strategic goals and vision of the firm, and to enhance their competitive position. She is also a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM), emphasizing her commitment to professional excellence, career advancement, and an ongoing pursuit of knowledge.

“It has been a true pleasure working with Rhonda since joining the board, her dedication to the foundation is unsurpassed and she will be an outstanding president,” said Domenic Dozzi, 2018 Chapter Board President, in

a statement.

“Her involvement with the chapter far exceeds all expectations that come with being a board member, the IBD and Pittsburgh community is grateful for her service and support,” said Eric Hecker, Chapter Executive Director, in a statement.

Bolding is a long-standing member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and a life member of Optimist International. She has also shared her talents with several non-profit boards including the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Western PA/West VA Chapter, the Ivy Charitable Endowment (ICE) of Pittsburgh and is an active member of

the United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council and Tocqueville Society. Additionally, Bolding volunteers as a mentor through Communities in Schools of Pittsburgh and recently served as the Great Lakes Regional Communication Officer for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Great Lakes Region.

Bolding received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing with an emphasis in advertising and promotion from the Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University. A native of Detroit, she currently lives in Kennedy Township with her husband, Kevin, and daughter, Kira Alexandra.

Perry named executive administrator PERRY FROM B1

NNPA executive team and staff,” Perry continued. “The culture of the organization and publisher expectations will both be positively impacted,” Perry said.

Perry’s new role will keep her busy as she’ll be charged with managing the day-to-day oversight of office operations, coordinating and implementing procedures, programs, events and other staff-related functions of the NNPA. Foremost among her new responsibilities is enhancing the organization’s back office to include developing strategies that will enhance the trade association’s competitive stance and financial sustainability. She will also contribute to advertising sales efforts made by the NNPA on behalf of its member publications.

When Perry was asked why she accepted the new role, she replied, “Most of my life I have been an

advocate for change and involved in the Black conscious movement in one way or another, so it feels good to know I am in my preferred element.”

Herself a longtime civil rights advocate and humanitarian, Perry said, “I have known Dr. Chavis to be a true and sincere fighter for justice, so I know that I am in the right place at the right time.”

She remains thankful for Chavis’ confidence, and the confidence of many of the publishers as she steps into her expanded role. “Several of the publishers in the NNPA as well as the corporate partners and sponsors have expressed and shown their appreciation for my work,” Perry added.

Perry also respects and appreciates her fellow team members on NNPA’s staff.

“Like many organizations, the staff that makes the NNPA work is small in number but huge in accomplishments. Every employee does more than their fair share. We understand that the work we do is on behalf of the publishers, readers and advertisers of the Black Press. As the Voice of Black America, we strive each day to instill a level of comfort and confidence that demonstrates how much we care and lets them know that their inquiries and needs will be responded to professionally.”

“Our potential for success in the future is unlimited.”

Is now the time for a Roth conversion?

Have you ever considered converting a traditional individual retirement account to a Roth IRA, but you weren’t sure if it was the right step? This may be a good time to revisit the possibility of a switch, according to the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). Here are some of the issues you should consider as you decide on the best course for you.

How is a Roth different?

For both Roth and traditional IRAs, your money grows tax-free as long as it remains in the account.

With a traditional IRA, you may receive a tax deduction for qualified contributions to the account now, but you pay taxes on the qualified withdrawals you take later.

A Roth IRA works the other way around: there is no tax deduction now, but you

don’t pay taxes on qualified distributions (subject to certain conditions). In addition, with traditional IRAs there is an annual required minimum distribution (RMD) beginning at age 70?, and these distributions are taxable. Other tax-advantaged retirement accounts often have their own RMD rules. There is no RMD with a Roth IRA. Consult your CPA for more important details on the differences between these accounts.

What happens in a conversion?

When you withdraw money from an existing traditional IRA and move it into a Roth IRA, you must pay taxes on the withdrawal.

There is typically a 10 percent penalty for those who withdraw funds from a traditional IRA before age 59?, but this should not apply if the conversion to a Roth

IRA is handled properly.

When is conversion a good idea?

Why would you want to make the switch if you’re going to owe taxes on the money you move from a traditional to a Roth IRA? The first reason is low current tax rates. New federal tax laws reduced most individual tax rates, so if you want a Roth IRA it may be a good idea to do a conversion now in case tax rates rise in the future. You may also want to take advantage of today’s relatively low rates if you think you might move up into a higher tax bracket in retirement. Another incentive is flexibility in retirement. With a Roth IRA, you can take as much money as you need each year after age 59? and pay no taxes on it, as long as the IRA has been open for at least five years.

(Ask your CPA about other contrasts between quali-

fied and nonqualified Roth distributions.) The chance to minimize your potential taxes and simplify your tax planning in retirement may be worth the cost of a conversion today. A conversion may also be a good choice for taxpayers who can’t open a Roth IRA directly because their income exceeds a certain level.

What drawbacks should you consider?

A Roth IRA conversion isn’t right for everyone.

If you think your overall income will drop in retirement, that could mean that you’ll be in a lower tax bracket. In that case, the taxes you pay on a distribution from a traditional IRA in retirement may be lower than the taxes you’d pay today for a Roth IRA conversion. Consider, too, whether you have enough money to pay the taxes on a Roth conversion today. If

you will have to go into debt to cover them, or dip into your retirement savings, the conversion is probably not a sound step. Keep in mind that the money you withdraw will be included in your taxable income, which may push you into a higher tax bracket, another possibility that should be considered in making your decision.

Your CPA can help!

These are just some of the issues to review when making a Roth IRA conversion.

Still wondering if a Roth is right? The AICPA’s 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy website has more information on IRAs and other retirement savings tools. Be sure to consult your local CPA. He or she can offer expert advice on all your financial planning questions. To find a CPA in your area or for more financial tips, visit www.picpa.org/ moneyandlife.

BUSINESS CALENDAR Investor Psychology Class (1 of 2)

APRIL 20—Ken Kaszak will present the first of two free seminars on iases that affect our purchasing ha its and investment decisions at the arnegie i rary ill District ranch. to p.m. earn to recogni e these iases and how to counter them.

Workshop

AP 2 The Duquesne niversity mall Business Development enter will present irst tep Business tartup ssentials, 9: 0 a.m. to 12 p.m., 10 oc well all, 00 or es Avenue, Pittsurgh 1 2 2. The session covers: Business tructure and ormation ictitious ame egistration, mployee ssues nsurance inancing, and more. ost 2 . or more information, call 129 - 2 .

Annual Business Luncheon

AP 2 The African American ham er of ommerce of estern Pennsylvania will hold its Annual eeting and uncheon, 11 a.m. to 1: 0 p.m. at the mni illiam Penn. The eynote spea er will e arnegie ellon niversity President arnam ahanian. Tic ets are - 90.

P y April 19 at 12- 920 10.

Sales Tax Webinar

AP 2 The hatham enter for omen’s ntrepreneurship will present ales Tax After une 201 ame hanger, 12 to 1 p.m., online.

The session covers the upreme ourt ruling expanding states’ a ility to levy sales tax on out-of-state purchasers, and what that means for small usinesses. The session is free, ut registration is required. all Anne lynn chlicht at 12-1 for more information.

Sales Workshop

AP 2 The Duquesne niversity mall Business Development enter will present ales Boot amp, 9: 0 a.m. to : 0 p.m., 10 oc well all, 00 or es Ave., Pitts urgh 1 2 2. This full day training session presented y cot Teachout of Pea Performance covers: getting past gate eepers to decision ma ers presentations s ills cold calling getting the as ing price getting past o ections post-sale retention, and more. ost 99. or more information, call 12- 9 - 2 .

Investor Psychology Class (2 of 2)

AP 0 en as a will present the second of two free seminars on iases that affect our purchasing ha its and investment decisions at the arnegie i rary ill District ranch. to p.m. earn to recogni e these iases and how to counter them.

PR Networking & Breakfast Seminar

A 10 The hatham enter for omen’s ntrepreneurship will host Are ou eady for the potlight hat “P ” is hat it isn’t, : 0 to 9 a.m., at the ames aughlin usic enter, hatham niversity hadyside ampus. Brea fast will e followed y a panel discussion with aroline allaway, president and founder of Bolt Pu lic elations. Topics to e covered include: hat to do efore launching a P campaign ow to choose the right P partner Brand success stories and how to measure the effectiveness of a P strategy, and more. ost 2 .

Entrepreneurs Conference

The Duquesne niversity mall Business Development enter will host its 21st Annual ntrepreneurs rowth and etwor ing onference, : 0 a.m. to p.m. at the Duquesne nion, th oor, 00 or es Avenue, Pitts urgh, 1 2 2. The event features do ens of wor shops, a Business Building Tradeshow, and leaders in technology, mar eting, management and more. ost is 1 9 and includes rea fast and lunch. arly registrants can save 0. or more information call 12- 9 -1 .

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

APRIL 17-23, 2019

B3

We must not be afraid!

Guest Editorial

Arrest brings hope to victims of church fires The arrest of a suspect in the burnings of three historically Black churches in southern Louisiana in the past month is a positive development in a case that renewed fears of White supremacist terrorism of Black churches.

Police arrested Holden Matthews, the 21-year-old son of a Saint Landry Parish deputy sheriff Roy Matthews, last Wednesday. He was charged Thursday with three counts of simple arson of a religious building. The maximum penalty for each count is 15 years in prison.

Matthews lives in Saint Landry Parish, where the churches burned just a few miles apart. Police have not yet revealed a motive. However, law enforcement suggested that the suspect may have been influenced by “black metal” music and “its associated history with church burnings,” the state fire marshal said.

The fires were devastating to the Saint Landry Parish community and raised national concern.

The fires that destroyed the three churches occurred on March 26, April 2 and April 4 in Saint Landry Parish, north of Lafayette. The first was at St. Mary Baptist in Port Barre; the two others were at Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas, the Saint Landry Parish seat. Officials had said they found “suspicious elements” in each case.

“They burned down a building,” the Rev. Harry J. Richard of the Greater Union church said as he preached at a gathering on April 7 after the fire.

“They didn’t burn down our spirit.”

The churches were all more than 100 years old, with mostly African-American congregations. The churches were empty at the time of the fires, and no one was injured.

Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, who declared all three fires suspicious, said, “If you’re going to turn to a house of God, turn to it for resurrection.”

The investigation was joined by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and many people from state agencies in Louisiana.

Richard told the Advocate newspaper last week that he didn’t want people to panic or leap to conclusions while investigators were doing their work.

“I don’t know who’s doing it or why they’re doing it, but I don’t want to be the one to inject race into it,” he said.

The NAACP said before the arrest that the church burnings were “domestic terrorism,” targeting people because of their skin color and faith.

Historically, Black churches across the South have been the targets of racist attacks, from arson and bombing to armed assaults.

The arrest brings hope to the church fire victims.

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—My good friend, Dick Gregory, often talked about the power of the Black woman. In a joking manner, but a serious meaning, he said, “A Black woman is the only woman in the world who can cut a man’s tires to the rim with a butter knife!” He also said the two strongest forces in the nation are the Black church and the Black woman.

Despite all of our hardships, discrimination, disrespect by gangsta rappers and others, Black women have shown the strength and the know how to overcome whatever gets in our way. We jump through the hoops and accomplish what we set out to accomplish.

When White women received the right to vote with the support of Black women, some were okay leaving us out. It took another 40+ years through dangerous conditions, and numerous efforts for us to vote.

We’ve pushed our way to victory for not only Black women, but for those who offered to support our issues when Black women were not in the race. Sometimes we had to vote for the lesser of two evils. We always did what we had to do. Our efforts are beginning to pay off, but some are trying to diminish our strength.

In this last election, we played an important role in electing Black women in a larger number than ever, and played an important role in the

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)

Commentary victories of others. A Black woman is now facing threats on her life for saying far less damaging things than #45 says daily and he goes unpunished. I’ve faced my share of threats for speaking truth, but I’ve never backed down from saying what I believed to be right.

Now, we’re faced with threats against one of our sisters, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. A Trump supporter boldly threatened to “put a bullet” through her skull. We must not be afraid to stand up for her. We don’t have to agree with everything she says to defend her right to speak.

If we don’t stand with her, and other Black women when they speak up on issues with which others agree, but are afraid to say so, when they come in the morning, it could be for any one of us. It’s tragic that so many for whom Black women have done so much, leave the words of others unchallenged, but make only luke warm statements in support of Ms. Omar or

criticize her for what she says.

You don’t have to agree with everything she says, but, she is our sister and we must speak up for her rights.

The system tries to crush her today, but it could be any one of us tomorrow. Those of us who understand that are not afraid. Those of us who’ve been through similar treatment, know how lonely it can be when even our friends are afraid to protect our rights.

What’s happening with Ms. Omar is one more effort to silence Black women. Critics see the power we have.

20 Black women mayors in Louisiana—including the three largest cities, is an example of the power of Black women. We have Black women mayors in San Francisco, Washington, Baltimore, Rochester, Charlotte, Flint, Toledo, Atlanta and Chicago.

There’re others, but you get the point.

We have a Black woman running strongly for President of the United States. We have many new Black women in Congress, joining a strong group already there.

Think about what Sojourner, Harriet, Ida B, Fannie Lou, Shirley and others went through to bring us to where we are today. Let’s not lose the momentum by our silence that is interpreted as our consent when one of our sisters is attacked.

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

Meet the Candidates forums, Pittsburgh Black politics, and you How many Meet the Candidates forums have you attended over the years?

They are held every year. So, depending on your age, you may have been to so many by now that you have lost count.

In general, did the forums give you some important information about the candidates running for office? Did they help motivate you to go the polls and vote? They have the potential to do that.

Or, in general, were they dull, a waste of your time, and discouraged you from going to vote? A lot of them do just that. In general, you remember which ones did what.

The vast majority of candidates forums in Pittsburgh are not sponsored

by Black organizations and are not held in the Black community with the stated purpose of promoting Black political interests.

Most candidates forums in Pittsburgh are sponsored by a mixed bag of special interests groups, some White and some multiracial, to promote their particular political interests which are legitimate interests.

Here, we are not discussing them or their political interests. We leave that to them. We do not deny that the Black community shares some common vital interests with the non-African American community. We hear this argued in the national discussion on “intersectionality.” This means interests like health care and others that cross race, class, and gender lines. The late Julian Bond reminded us that while this is true, racism trumps class and gender in mainstream America. Donald Trump’s road to the White House and his time in White House has confirmed what Bond had charged.

Intersectionality means the Black community has to get its self-interest politics together to work cooperatively with its friends and to struggle to the upmost against its adversaries.

That said, we are talking about candidates forums that are sponsored by Black organizations in the Black community. Such forums have the potential to make major contributions to Black politics. They can, and should, bring together concerned community residents and sharpen their collective political savvy. They can, and should, provide a critical venue for the community to express its concerns to the candidates running for office. At times, candidate forums can have a direct impact on the election at hand.

The fact that candidates forums

Fred Logan

Commentary have not came even faintly close to any of these goals in Pittsburgh is the fault of the sponsors. The fault lies with the long time veteran organizations. It is not with those relatively new to Black politics.

Look in the 13th Ward, a majority Black political enclave in Pittsburgh’s Homewood and East Hills neighborhoods. By rough count, 29 Black elected officials (BEO’s) have been elected to serve the ward over the past 50 plus years. This includes the offices of Allegheny County district magistrate, Pittsburgh school board director, city council director, Pennsylvania state house legislature, and Allegheny County council director.

This does not include 13th Ward constables who hold public office. It also does not include 13th Ward Democratic and Republican committee members, because they do not hold public office in any branch of government. The ward has a whole lot of history with candidates forums.

Over the next few weeks, there is bound to be at least one 13th Ward forum for the three candidates running in the Democratic Party primaries for the 9th city council office, incumbent Ricky Burgess, veteran challenger Judith Ginyard, and first time challengers Kierran Young, and Cherylie Fuller.

Go to the forums. Take your note book and evaluate the forums along with the candidates. Here are some things to look for, and some questions to ask related to the forums.

What do you know about the sponsoring organization? Is it a non-profit origination that can’t endorse a political candidate for office? Or, is it a paper organization trying to sell political wolf tickets with a candidates forum or a sham Black Political Convention?

Has the sponsor did the bare minimum ground work and prepared just a one-page hand out with the basic demographic and political stats on the district in question?

Does the sponsor, the forum moder-

ator, or the panelists (if there are any) know the Black politics history of the community? Dose the moderator talk more than the candidates, rambling on and on?

On the format, do the candidates debate each other on critical issues? Or, does each candidate open with a pat intro campaign statement, then reply to questions from the moderator and panelists? This is a common forum agenda that is guaranteed to turn off the audience which has been sitting restless for well over an hour.

Nothing gives a forum in the Black community more political life and potency than when the people sitting in the audience, stand up during the Q&A session, state who they are in the microphone and ask their questions or make their comments to the candidates and to the world. This is lost when the audience must submit written questions and comments that are selected and read by the moderator.

At some events Black media people from local radio and television outlets are invited to the panel. They usually know very little about local Black politics, and are just passing briefly through town on their way, hopefully, to a in a larger more lucrative metropolitan job market. So, on average they do not make informed panelists.

You know all of this if you have been to a few candidates forums. These concerns are not unique to the 13th Ward or the 9th city council district. All of this is common to local Black politics.

The 13th ward and the 9th council district were cited for reference.

And while candidates forums can help to improve Black politics, they are not at their best, a panacea for all that afflict mainstream Black politics.

Black cynics bad-mouth Black politics and all struggle, because they don’t want to do any struggle. Reject that bogus line. To combat this Black defeatism, we must keep in mind, among other things, that with all of its contradictions, mainstream Black politics is today the unquestioned vanguard of anti-Trumpism in the United States. The Black community is united against Trump. White America is bitterly divided over Trump.

The Black community, that’s you, can improvise and push Black politics way beyond anything suggested here.

You can make candidates forums in the Black community live up to their full potential.

Tiger’s incredible, improbable comeback

by Stacy M. Brown

Founded 1910

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

(NNPA)—After 11 years, multiple surgeries and a myriad of personal drama, Tiger Woods won his fifth Masters Championship and his 15th career major on a sun-soaked Sunday at Augusta National.

It was the first time Woods had won at Augusta after he was trailing after 54 holes.

The victory also came following years of doubting whether he would ever be able to play at a high level.

“It’s overwhelming because of what has transpired,” Woods told reporters after he shot a -2 under 72 for -13 under overall to seal the victory. “It’s unreal for me to be experiencing this.

I’m kind of at a loss for words really,” he said.

The victory, one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, had social media abuzz.

“The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) congratu-

lates and salutes Tiger Woods as he wins the Masters Golf Tournament for the fifth time,” NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., tweeted.

Chavis also noted the tough road Woods had to take to re-emerge as Golf’s biggest star.

“Resilience is in our DNA,” Chavis said, referring to African American and other minorities and certainly acknowledging the challenges overcome by Woods.

Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry called Woods’ victory, “the greatest comeback story in sports. “Congrats Tiger Woods, let me hold one of those 5 jackets one time,” Curry wrote on Twitter.

Tennis great Serena Williams said the win moved her to tears. “I’m literally in tears watching Tiger Woods.

This is greatness like no other,” Williams Tweeted. “Knowing all you have been through physically to come back and do what you just did today?

Wow. Congrats a million times. I am so inspired. Thank you buddy,” Williams said.

Former President Barack Obama also offered his congratulations via Twitter.

“Tiger! To come back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit, and determination,” Obama said.

Fellow golfers like Phil Mickleson, Luke Donaldson, Gary Player and Bubba Watson also tweeted out their respects and congratulations to the 43-year-old Woods.

And, the “Golden Bear,” Jack Nicklaus also expressed his appreciation and awe of Woods. “A big ‘well done’ from me to Tiger Woods,” wrote Nicklaus, whose all-time record of 18 Major Championships is certainly within the reach of Woods, who now has 15.

“I am so happy for him and for the game of golf,” Nicklaus wrote on Twitter. “This is just fantastic.”

CLASSIFIED New Pittsburgh Courier

B4

APRIL 17-23, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

SEEKING A K-5 GRADE TEACHER AND A CO-TEACHER

Please send resume and Clearances to UAGPCS 437 Turrett Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206 NO PHONE CALLS

SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST

The Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA, seeks a Senior Research Scientist to work in the Center for Causal Discovery (CCD). Duties will include processing & analyzing next generation sequencing data from large number of cancer patients & developing & implementing novel causal inference methods to identify tumor/ patient specific cancer drivers (TD ) by integrating multiple large scale genomic data types using a Bayesian framework. Apply at join.pitt.edu, #19002507. EEO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled.

FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR

Children’s charity seeks full-time Fundraising Coordinator in Pittsburgh. Position requires working with donors and coordinating fundraising events to generate revenue for the organization. Excellent written and verbal communication s ills and computer proficiency required. ffice experience desired. on-profit experience a plus. rganization has an excellent benefits pac age and a rewarding wor environment. Send cover letter, resume, salary requirements and three professional references by May 9, 2019 to Make-A-Wish at resumes@greaterpawv.wish.org.

All items must be submitted in order to be considered. No calls please.

EOE.

PROGRAM MANAGER UNITED FOR FAMILIES United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Office

United Way of Southwestern PA is looking for a dynamic individual to assist with managing the United for Families investment and initiative portfolio. United for Families aims to help financially struggling families in our region get on the path to self-sufficiency y helping to prevent homelessness, hunger and employment challenges. The program manager will work with the Director, United for Families to cultivate key relationships across impact areas, with community partners and corporate and business leaders in the region to help families overcome an unexpected short-term financial crisis and move towards financial sta ility.

Three years of related work experience and a Bachelor’s degree in public administration, social work, or the equivalent. Strong oral and written communication skills and analytical skills a must.

Visit our website at https://uwswpa. org/careers/ to view job description and apply for this position. Submissions will only be accepted electronically.

The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity, serving Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette and Southern Armstrong Counties.

PROGRAM MANAGER, SCHOOL INITIATIVES United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Office

The Program Manager of School Initiatives manages all work related to school partnerships, including United Way’s Be There Campaign, Coaching Boys into Men, and any pilots or project directly relating to schools, including the Healthy Matters Texting and Dating Matters programs. As a part of these responsibilities and under the direction and guidance of the Director of School Initiatives and Partnerships, the program manager will be responsible for: the coordination of the Be There mini-grant program; the recruitment of coaches and school partners to the CBIM, Healthy Texting and Dating Matters work; and assistance in planning major events such as the Champions of Learning event. Overall, the Program Manager is responsible for implementing multiple programs and pilots with county partners to fulfill the goals of each program.

Ideal candidate for this position is a motivated project manager and relationship builder, highly detail oriented, able to speak publicly with ease, understands how to track, maintain, and effectively use data.

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred in public administration, social wor , related field, or equivalent. 3 years’ experience in project management and/or managing others. Past work with schools or students is a plus.?

Visit our website at https://uwswpa. org/careers/ to view job description and apply for this position. Submissions will only be accepted electronically.

The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity, serving Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette and Southern Armstrong Counties.

SONNY BOY

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The Avonworth School District is now accepting applications for the positions of Head Girls’ Basketball Coach, Assistant Football Coach and Assistant Girls’ Volleyball Coach for the 2019 – 2020 school year. Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, resume, and all clearances along with two references by May 1, 2019 to: Tim Giel, Athletic Director Avonworth High School, 304 Josephs Lane Pittsburgh PA 15237.

For further information call 412847-0942. EOE

CORPORATE RELATIONS MANAGER United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania Butler Office

The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania is recruiting for a Corporate Relations Manager for our Butler office. This individual will e responsible for developing and implementing fundraising strategies that create growth in donor engagement and investment. Will have an assigned portfolio of accounts to research, cultivate and grow.

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required, and three to five years of outside account management, sales presentations skill, and fundraising and volunteer management a must. Proficient with icrosoft ffice Products.

Visit our website at https://uwswpa. org/careers/ to view job description and apply for this position. Submissions will only be accepted electronically.

The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity, serving Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette and Southern Armstrong Counties.

DIRECTOR, OPTOMETRIC OPERATIONS

University of Pittsburgh Physicians seeks a Director, Optometric Operations to work in Pittsburgh & Wexford (Allegheny County), PA. Responsible for strategic decision making, policy development and policy implementation for optical retail operations, including developing market assessments and strategies for new locations in communities served by UPMC. Must have 5 years of experience directing or managing optical retail, optical services or rel. exper., incl. developing & expanding optometry facilities; conducting business & marketing analysis for establishing new sites for optometry locations; performing financial or cost analysis of pricing structures for services; establishing & implementing policies/standards related to optometric or ophthalmology practices; managing inventory, including procurement, acquisitions, order management, processing and inventory control; training staff on optometry operations, customer safety and service; evaluating & implementing practices for quality of patient or customer service. Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers.upmc. com and enter 190000CY in the “ earch eyword o D” field and click Go. EOE/Disability/Veteran.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings

MEETING

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s regular scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting for April 25, 2019, at 10:30 a.m.

200 Ross Street, 13th Floor Wherrett Room, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 is CANCELLED.

1 5 7

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Public Notice

Public Notice

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA FY 2019 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

Notice is hereby given that Allegheny County, Pennsylvania will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at 10:00 AM, in the Allegheny ounty conomic Development’s (A D) 9th oor onference oom located at One Chatham Center, Suite 900, 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, regarding the County’s Annual Action Plan for FY 2019.

One Chatham Center and the ACED 9th Floor Conference Room are accessible to persons with physical disabilities. If special arrangements, including physical accommodations or limited nglish proficiency ( P) accommodations, need to be made in order for citizens to participate in the public hearing, please call Mr. Bud Schubel, Manager of Operations, at (412) 350-1044 to make those arrangements.

The purpose of this public hearing is to present the FY 2019 Allegheny County Annual Action Plan. The FY 2019 Annual Action Plan lists the proposed projects for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funds. Allegheny County has not received its 2019 Federal allocation amounts from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), therefore the grants are estimates only based upon the 2018 allocations received: CDBG funds in the amount of $13,727,298, HOME funds in the amount of $2,213,429, and ESG funds in the amount of $1,122,864.

Proposed projects and funding may change should the 2019 Federal grant amounts be increased or decreased by HUD. The FY 2019 Annual Action Plan is scheduled to be submitted to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on or before May 15, 2019. The submission date may change based upon receiving HUD’s 2019 funding allocation notice.

In order to obtain the views of citizens, public agencies and other interested parties, Allegheny County will place the FY 2019 Annual Action Plan on display beginning April 3, 2019, at the following locations in Allegheny County: •Allegheny County Economic Development, One Chatham Center, Suite 900, 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Allegheny ounty anager’s ffice, ounty ourthouse, rant Street, Room 119, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Allegheny ounty ousing Authority ffices, 2 tanwix treet, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA. 15222 •Allegheny Valley North COG, 185 William Pitt Way, Pittsburgh PA 15238 •Char-West COG, One Veteran’s Way, Carnegie, PA 15106 •North Hills COG, 300 Wetzel Road, Suite 201, Glenshaw PA 15116 •Quaker Valley COG, 8306 Ohio River Boulevard, Pittsburgh PA 15202 •South Hills Area COG, 2600 Old Greentree Road, 2nd Floor, Carnegie, PA 15106 •Steel Rivers COG, 1705 Maple Street, Homestead PA 15120 •Turtle Creek Valley COG, 2700 Monroeville Boulevard, Monroeville, PA 15146 This document will be available to the public during normal hours of operation for a period of thirty (30) days until May 2, 2019, after which time the FY 2019 Annual Action Plan is scheduled to be submitted to HUD on or before May 15, 2019, for approval. The submission date may change based upon receiving HUD’s 2019 funding allocation notice.

The FY 2019 Annual Action Plan was prepared after conducting stakeholder outreach, surveys, and public hearings on community development, housing, human services, and economic development needs at ACED, the offices and other locations.

The FY 2019 Annual Action Plan is on public display on the County’s website. To view the CDBG, HOME, and ESG projects, go to http://www. alleghenycounty.us/economic-development/index.aspx.

All interested citizens are encouraged to attend this public hearing and they will be given the opportunity to present oral or written testimony concerning the proposed use of CDBG, HOME, and ESG funds under the FY 2019 Annual Action Plan. For any problems encountered at One Chatham enter with accessing the A D ffice to attend the ay 1, 2019 pu lic hearing, please call (412) 350-1000 for assistance. Written comments may also be addressed to Mr. Bud Schubel, Manager of Operations, One Chatham Center, Suite 900, 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, or by email at howard.schubel@alleghenycounty.us. Oral comments may be made by calling (412) 350-1044.

Bud Schubel ACED, Manager of Operations LEGAL ADVERTISING

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NOTICE OF TRUST TERMINATION

Advertising Trust Termination due to the death of Jean D McKenney on July 1, 2018.

Her address was 700 Bower Hill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15243.

The purpose of this notice is to Advertise the Trust established under the Fourth Restating Amendment dated 10/19/2011 of the Revocable Trust dated 4/18/2000. laims against said Trust may e filed as follows and sent to: PNC Bank, National Association Attn: Sharon L Whitney, VP 300 Fifth Ave, FL 31 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 And/or: Charles J Vater, Esq. Tucker Arensberg PC 1500 One PPG Place Pittsburgh, PA 15222

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you worked at Atlas Insulation, Carnegie, PA in the 1960s and 1970s, please contact Asbestos Investigator Sherry Day at (734) 878-5236 or email sherry@SLDinvestigations.com.

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Estate of MS. BERNICE S. MILLER, Deceased, of 4800 Shamrogue Court, Allison Park, PA 15101. Estate No. 021902064. Ms. Nancy Miller of 4800 Shamrogue Court, Allision Park, PA, 15101, Administrator c/o Max C. Feldman, Attorney At Law, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

Estate of Jack Howard Backus, Deceased of Pitcairn, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

No. 02-19-01950. Thomas J. Backus, Executor, 2971 Haberlein Rd., Gibsonia, PA 15044 or to Clayton S. Morrow, Atty; Morrow & Artim, P.C., 304 Ross St., 7th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Estate of RICHARD A. BUZZELL, SR. Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA No. 02038 of 2017.

Stephen M. Buzzell, Sr., Extr., c/o Robert C. Watson, Esq., 15604 Starlite St., Clermont, FL 34714 Estate of OWEN F. MEYER, Deceased of Borough of Bridgeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. 02-19-02250, Regina A. Barker, Administrator, 8800 Dorchester Road, Unit 1202, North Charleston, SC 29420 or to TODD A. FULLER, Atty;, BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

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

Propel Schools is now accepting bids for Interior School Buidling Painting at our Propel Homestead, Propel East, and Propel Hazelwood locations. Please visit www. propelschools.org and click on ‘Contact Us’ then ‘Contracting Opportunities’ for bid documents

PROPEL SCHOOLS CARPET REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

Propel Schools is now accepting bids for Carpet Removal and Installation at our Propel Andrew Street High School and Propel Pitcairn locations. Please visit www. propelschools.org and click on ‘Contact Us’ then ‘Contracting Opportunities’ for bid documents.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WEBSITE DESIGN/ DEVELOPMENT

The Allegheny County Airport Authority, hereinafter called “ACAA” is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide we site design and development services for ACAA, Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport.

More information can be found at http://www.flypittsburgh.com/ getattachment/Doing-Business/ Business-Opportunities/RFPfor-ACAA-Website-FINAL.PDF. aspx?lang=en-US

NOTICE OF ACTION TO QUIET TITLE

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Civil Division No. GD-19-003542 Impact Redevelopment LLC, Plaintiff v.

PENNWEST HOME EQUITY SERVICES CORPORATION and any other person or persons, corporations, partnerships or associations having or claiming to have any right, title or interest in and to the real estate herein described as an heir, legatee, executor, administrator, successor or assignee, Defendants.

A complaint has een filed to quiet title to the parcel known as 1807 Atkinson Place in Wilkinsburg PA, Parcel No. 296-R-90. All are notified to enter an appearance or file an Answer on or before May 8, 2019. If an appearance or Answer is filed, a earing will e held on May 15, 2019 at 11:00AM in Courtroom #711.

NOTICE If you wish to defend, you must enter a written appearance personally or y attorney and file your defenses or objections in writing with the court.

You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you without further notice for the relief requested by the plaintiff.

You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.

YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE. LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION 400 Koppers Bldg, 436 7th Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-261-5555 LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

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Sealed bid proposals are hereby solicited for the Community College of Allegheny County, 800 Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15233 (412.237.3020) on the following items: Bid 1042 – Dell Maintenance Renewal Bid 1043 – SentinelOne End Point Subscription Service Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 The CCAC Purchasing Department publishes all bids and RFPs via the CCAC website at https://www.ccac. edu/Bid-RFP_Opportunities.aspx It will be each vendor’s responsibility to monitor the bid activity within the given website (“Bid and RFP Opportunities”) and ensure compliance with all applicable bid documents inclusive of any issued addenda.

Failure to incorporate any applicable addenda in the final su mittal may result in the rejection of your bid.

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

The Community College of Allegheny ounty is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and encourages bids from Minority/Disadvantaged owned businesses.

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

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140

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ads@newpittsburghcourier.com Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday

noon preceding Wednesday publication

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NOTICE OF DIVORCE

In re: Manjiet Singh, plaintiff v. Harvinder Kaur, defendant.

No. FD-19-007481, Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

To Harvinder Kaur, Defendant in the above captioned divorce action.

A Complaint in Divorce raising the count of divorce and Plaintiff’s Affidavit under Section 3301(d) of the Divorce ode have een filed y your spouse, Manjiet Singh. A Notice of Intention to Request Entry of a Divorce Decree will also e filed

by Plaintiff, Manjiet Singh.

You have been sued in Court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you must take prompt action. You are warned that if you fail to do so, the case may proceed without you and a Decree of Divorce or Annulment may be entered against you by the court. A judgment may also be entered against you for any other claim or relief requested in these papers by the Plaintiff. You may lose money, property or other rights important to you, including custody or visitation of your children.

When the ground for the divorce is indignities or irretrievable breakdown of marriage, you may request marriage counseling. A list of marriage counselors is available in the office of the Department of Court Records, Allegheny County, 1st Floor City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. f you do not file a claim for alimony, division of property, lawyer’s fees or expenses before a divorce or annulment is granted, you may lose the right to claim any of them.

You should take this paper to your lawyer at once. If you do not have a lawyer, go to our telephone the office set forth elow. This office can provide you with information about hiring a lawyer.

If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, this office may e a le to provide you with information about agencies that may offer legal service to eligible persons at a reduced fee or no fee: LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE The Allegheny County Bar Association 11th Floor Koppers Building 436 Seventh Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412.261.5555 aw ffices of ax . eldman, Attorney for Plaintiff, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108, 412.262.6181.

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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKER FOR 100 ROSS ST REBID RFP #600-42-18-REBID

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified irms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Commercial Real Estate Broker for 100 Ross St Rebid RFP #600-42-18-REBID The documents will be available no later than April 8, 2019 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 11:00 a.m. on April 30, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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

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

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 April 18, 2019 11:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness 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.

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CARLYNTON SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE OF BIDS

The Carlynton School District will accept sealed bids for Athletic Supplies for the 2019-2020 school year. pecifications or id lists may e o tained at the Business ffice, Kings Highway, Carnegie, PA 15106 (412-429-2500 ext. 1107). Bids will be accepted until 9:00 AM on May 2, 2019 at the Business ffice and will be opened at 10:00 AM on May 2, 2019. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud after the specified closing time. Carlynton School District reserves the right to reject any and all bids, and to waive any bid irregularities as permitted under Pennsylvania law. The Carlynton School District provides service on an equal opportunity basis.

Chris Juzwick Board Secretary

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

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SONNY BOY

FORM OF ADVERTISEMENT

1. The Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh (“Authority”) shall accept sealed bids for the performance of the work described below (the “ or ”) at its office at 2 2 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222, until 2 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 9th, 2019.

2. DESCRIPTION OF WORK: The Project entails the demolition of an existing multi-story parking structure, located at 136 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

3. The Instructions to Bidders, including the Form of Bid, Form of Agreement, General Conditions, Plans and pecifications, will e made available after 3 p.m. local time on Tuesday, April 16th, 2019.

Bidders are required to REGISTER in order to bid the project as a Prime Contractor. Registered bidders will receive electronic access to PDF format files of the Bid Documents (drawings and specifications), notification of Addenda and project information updates, and obtain access to the project portal on the Tristate Reprographics website. Registration as a Prime Bidder is automatic upon payment of the registration fee, and a request on Bidders letterhead that includes the following: Company Name, Contact person, email address, and phone num er. otification of addenda and updates will be via e-mail and not through mail.

Addenda, question and responses and other update information will be posted on the Tristate Reprographics Plan Room Project Folder, which can be accessed at https://www. tsrplanroom.com/. Complete Bid Document sets may be purchased directly from Tristate Reprographics, 2934 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, 412-281-3538.

Questions pertaining to the content of the Bidding Documents shall be directed to Mr. Todd Baldwin, Project Manager: Massaro Construction Management Services, LLC, by email at tbaldwin@massarocms. com Questions must be submitted using the Pre-Bid RFI form available on the Tristate Reprographics Plan Room Project Folder. Phone calls will not be accepted.

4. A Mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at the Authority’s office at 2 2 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 at 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019. The purpose of the pre-bid conference is to provide additional detail regarding the Work. The information provided at the pre-bid conference will be essential in preparing a bid to perform the Work. Persons or entities that intend to submit bids to perform the Work are required to send to the pre-bid conference at least one representative who will understand the information presented at the pre-bid conference in a manner that allows such information to be incorporated in the preparation of the bid to perform the Work. It is expected that the representative who attends the pre-bid conference will be experienced in construction matters and employed by the bidder in a supervisory capacity. Prebid attendance is mandatory.

5. Sealed bids received prior to the deadline will be publicly opened and read at 2 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 9th, 2019.

6. Each bid submitted must be accompanied by a bid guaranty of ten percent (10%) of the proposed bid in the form of a id ond, certified cashier’s or treasurer’s check payable to the Authority.

7. The Authority reserves the right to in its sole discretion, (i) change, at any time prior to the bid deadline at 2 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 9th, 2019 the Contract Documents; (ii) waive any defect, irregularities, or informality in any or all submitted bids; and (iii) reject any or all submitted bids.

David G. Onorato Executive Director

APRIL 17-23, 2019

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INVITATION FOR BIDS

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR SITE EROSION ABATEMENT AT ALL HACP COMMUNITIES REBID IFB#300-04-19-REBID

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR PLUMBING REPAIR SERVICES AUTHORITY WIDE IFB#300-01-19

The URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY of Pittsburgh will receive ids from qualified contractors for a three year period for the operation and maintenance of an irrigated, 0.64-acre landscape area on Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAAC) property at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Shady Avenue in the East Liberty neighborhood in the City of Pittsburgh, and all work incidental thereto required to complete East Liberty Transit Center (ELTC) Landscape Operations and Maintenance Contract No. 2, until 11:30 a.m. prevailing time on Thursday, the.2nd day of May, 2019, at its office, 11th oor, 200 oss treet, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, at which time all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud in the Conference oom on the 11th oor.

Contract documents will be available on Thursday, April 18, 2019, in the Engineering and Construction Department, 11th Floor, 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, upon a non-refundable payment of TWENTY-FIVE ($25.00) DOLLARS made payable to the URA of Pittsburgh.

CHECK OR MONEY ORDER ONLY. Contract documents will not be mailed.

A pre-bid meeting will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 2:00pm.

Interested parties shall meet at the corner of Penn and Shady Avenues.

A certified chec or an draft payable to the order of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, negotiable U.S. Government Bonds (at par value), or a satisfactory bid bond, executed by the Bidder and an acceptable surety in a dollar amount equal to 5% of the total bid, shall be submitted.

Each bid submittal must include the Bid, on-collusion Affidavit of Prime Bidder, Bid Bond, Statement of Bidders ualifications, and ertification of inority and omen’s Participation with Exhibits.

Wages paid on this project shall not be less than the minimum wages determined by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry as set forth in the contract documents.

The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements. The Contractor must assure that applicants and employees are not discriminated against based on race, color, religion, disability, ancestry, national origin, age or sexual preference, gender identity, gender expression, political and/or union affiliation.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh requires that all bidders complete and submit Certification of inority and omen’s Participation with Exhibits.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informality in the bidding.

Bids may be held by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days from the date of opening of bids for the purpose of reviewing the bids prior to awarding the Contract.

URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF PITTSBURGH Robert Rubinstein Executive Director

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

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

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests ids from qualified irms or ndividuals capable of providing the following service(s): Site Erosion Abatement at All HACP Communities Rebid IFB#300-04-19-REBID The documents will be available no later than April 8, 2019 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 A.M. on April 30, 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: 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 April 18, 2019 10:00 AM The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness 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.

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request ids from qualified irms or ndividuals capable of providing the following service(s): PLUMBING REPAIR SERVICES AUTHORITY WIDE IFB#300-01-19 The documents will be available no later than April 8, 2019 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 12:00 P.M. on April 30, 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: Kim Detrick Housing Authority o 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 15213 April 18, 2019 12:00 P.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority usiness 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.

McKeesport students want to form Black Student Union—district opposes McKEESPORT FROM A1

as the McKeesport Area School District (MASD) has done, the Equal Access Act and First Amendment compel it to allow all non-curriculum-related student groups uniform access to school facilities.”

The lawsuit notes nine other non-curricular student clubs that make use of district facilities.

The suit also alleges that Holtzman recruited nine White students and six Black students, only three of whom belonged to the BSU, to form a replacement club—the McKeesport Student Union.

Prior to the lawsuit filing, Holtzman had said that the BSU didn’t meet the criterion of being a student-formed group, alleging that it was formed by Take Action Mon Valley co-founder Fawn Walker-Montgomery for political reasons. Walker-Montgomery is running for mayor of McKeesport and one of the student plaintiffs is her daughter.

In an April 3 email to the New Pittsburgh Courier, Walker-Montgomery said the idea came from kids last August who wanted to address the lack of culturally relevant teaching and the district retaining teachers who have made racially insensitive remarks to Black students and who have been physically confrontational.

Additionally, she said, as for groups having to be student-formed, neither is Holtz-

man’s.

“Last week, the administration hand-picked a group of students (six Black and nine White) and told them that they were identified as leaders who would form a club. This process was not inclusive and the students were selected by administration,” said Walker-Montgomery. “Furthermore, the fact that one of the kids is my daughter does not mean that her concerns should go ignored. This issue is about supporting the kids and making sure they feel heard. The kids should truly be the focus here and we will continue to support them.”

Though groups like the BSU are usually formed at colleges and universities, having such groups in high schools is not unprecedented. In fact, students at Woodland Hills High School started one earlier this year, and Principal Phillip Woods said it’s been an asset.

“They just formed it in September, and they meet regularly.

Some of them performed in our Black History programming and some are going with us to Harrisburg next month as part of a violence reduction initiative,” he said. “Our suspensions are down over 50 percent. Now we have a lot of Restorative Justice initiatives in place so I can’t pinpoint this, but it been a collaborative and positive relationship. The idea was to provide the students a voice, and it has.”

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APRIL 17-23, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Don’t mess with I will vote on May 21. Will you? Jesse Jackson Sr. Maxine Waters: Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick Commentary Mnuchin madness To Tell The Truth The politics behind Donald Trump’s empty threats on Mexico border (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Who does Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin think he is? Simmering in his putrid privilege, he seemed to think that he was in charge of the House Financial Services Committee. He was rude and rogue when he snapped back at Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the committee chair, because she checked him on his nonsense.

The hapless Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, forgot his place and was publicly and unacceptably disrespectful to Congresswoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the chair of the House Financial Services Committee.

Waters compelled his presence to testify and then summarily dismissed him (“you can leave if you want”) when he got testy and disrespectful with her.

Mnuchin is really above his Peter Principle as Treasury Secretary in any administration but 45’s. And those birds of a feather stick together because they share values and shady self-serving morals. Mr. Mnuchin boldly requested government planes to facilitate his honeymoon, is taking his cues from the man who has turned the Presidency into a profit center, operating government on a “pay-toplay” basis with possibly Russians, Saudis and who knows who else. No wonder Mnuchin won’t release 45’s taxes. No wonder he could not answer the direct questions of a congressional committee. No wonder he whined about being the “worst treated” Treasury secretary in history. Was that comment supposed to impress someone?

It surely didn’t impress Maxine Waters who handled Mnuchin the same way one might treat a bag of dog poop abandoned by its careless owner. You wouldn’t put your hands on it.

You might not even kick it. But you’d sniff at it and turn away. That’s just what Congresswoman Maxine Waters did when she told him that he could leave the hearing he’d commit-

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary ted to participate in. Then, she icily told him not to presume to instruct her on how to hold a hearing, and how to use a gavel (he said gravel—inarticulate). Maxine Waters took the hapless Mnuchin to Liberation School, but since he graduated from the Klux Academy of White Supremacy, he will probably have to subject himself to further detoxification from his racist behavior.

Mnuchin’s behavior toward Congresswoman Waters was his exercise in White supremacy, pure and simple. White supremacy is the belief that the White race is inherently superior to other races, and that White people should have control over people of different races, especially people of African descent. White supremacy manifests itself in public policy that allows White so-called “law and order” officers to kill unarmed Black people because they think they are superior and call tell the lie that they are in fear for their lives. White supremacy manifests itself in the ways that African Americans earn unequal pay for the same work and the ways that supremacists justify it. White supremacy occurs when colonizers come into predominately Black communities and then insist that others play by their rules and kowtow to their desires. They want someone to turn down the go-go music, but readily accept other loud noise. Because they are loud noise. Loud, myopic, uncompromising noise. And Munchkin Mnuchin was the noisiest of all when he presumed to instruct an African American icon on how to use a gavel after she has spent nearly 30 years in Congress.

Mnuchin’s performance was a tribute to the racist capitalist patriarchy that is the foundation of White supremacy. He would not have even slightly presumed to tell a White man, or a Black one for that matter, how to close a hearing. He might have told a White woman, possibly adding the term “honey” in to soften or sharpen the bow. But the only person he’d dare get huffy with, just based on the White supremacist belief of his privilege, was a Black woman. Maxine Waters was the wrong Black woman. Excuse my Ebonics, but Max don’t play. She takes no tea for the fever. She takes back her time, stands up for her rights, and was not about to have a pathetic 45 lackey disrespect her.

The House Judiciary Committee held hearings around the same time the House Financial Services Committee was. So while the Treasury Secretary was disrespecting Congresswoman Waters, the House Judiciary Committee was holding a hearing about the dangers of White supremacy. White supremacy was displayed at its most privileged, when an elected member of Congress is inappropriately chided by a Cabinet member, who does not have peer status.

White supremacy attempts to reinforce the egregious nature of the Dred Scott decision in which the Supreme Court of these United States declared that the Black man had “no rights that a White man is bound to respect.”

For Steven Mnuchin, Congresswoman Maxine Waters had no rights he was bound to respect.

For Mnuchin, and too many others in the 45 circle, the Dred Scott decision still stands.

Mnuchin may have simmered in his faux White superiority for much of his life, but his simmer turned into a boil when he tangled with the House Judiciary Committee, and his boil was on the hot seat. He learned, I hope, not to mess with Max. I hope he also learned that his White supremacy will not protect him from a band of tenacious Democrats who will continue pushing him for both truths and tax returns.

(Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist.)

I have never missed voting in any election in my lifetime. There was a period of time that there were only White candidates. Then came a change— colored persons were on the ballot.

The tragedy was that too frequently, we were not able to make a distinction between the colored and White candidates, except for color of skin.

However, we have been afforded the opportunities to vote and elect some Black candidates who have campaigned with and without the endorsement. Their opening remarks would be, “We as Blacks must stick together, I need your support, the party is not supporting me but WE can win without their support.” Or, “I don’t have the support of the party but elect me and I will be the people’s candidate, your candidate.”

We have heard this message from Black persons when they campaign from committee persons to Congress.

However, when these voices of liberation or independence are victorious, they change instantly as soon as they are sworn to into office. Yes, how fast they forget.

Time marches on and now another independent candidate surfaces and seeks the support of those who were

victorious, but they are rebuffed. Those who professed to be so concerned about the people now champion the party.

They say, with no hesitation, “I must support the party first.” “If I am to do anything for those who elected me, I must vote straight down the line for the party.” I have always disputed that weak argument, because the most effective politicians in history built their own power bases and they were extremely effective helping their people because they dealt from a position of strength.

If I lived in the Hill District, I would vote for the current District Justice, Oscar Petite Jr. Justice Petite has the experience by being elected to that position for 23 years. He has proven to be fair, professional, knowledgeable and in my estimation, respectable of all who appear before him. I have had the opportunity to be in a number of district justices over the course of my life and have witnessed Justice Petite in his courtroom on a number of occasions, and I have always left with the belief and conviction that Judge Oscar Petite Jr. is the epitome of HONESTY and INTEGRITY, and he definitely would get my vote.

(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a contributor to the New Pittsburgh Courier.)

What was worse...AOC’s ‘accent of color’ or her code switch excuse?

Congresswoman ing wrong with Alexandria Ocaworking retail, J. Pharoah Doss sio-Cortez (AOC) folding clothes came onto the for other people national scene by to buy. There’s winning a Demonothing wrong cratic primary in with preparing 2018, upsetting the food that your a 20-year incumneighbors will eat. bent. Politically, There’s noththat’s impressive, ing wrong with but what intrigued driving the buses the media about AOC were three visithat take your family to work. There’s bility factors and one factor of origin. nothing wrong with being a workAOC is a young, Latin, woman from ing-class person in the United States the Bronx. of America.”

AOC stated that women like her AOC made these statements mimaren’t supposed to be elected to icking a Black southern drawl. Critics Congress because she doesn’t belong compared AOC’s “accent of color” to to a New York political dynasty and Hillary Clinton’s infamous 2007 “Black comes from a borough where nearly voice” performance at a Black church half the neighborhoods are considered in Selma, Alabama. Clinton mimicked, high poverty areas. But AOC’s mother “I don’t feel no ways tired. I come too told The New York Times AOC was 5 far from where I started from. Nobody years old when the family moved from told me that the road would be easy. I the Bronx to Yorktown. AOC’s mother don’t believe he brought me this far to said the move was made so AOC could leave me.” attend better schools.

But there’s a slight difference beAOC didn’t return to the Bronx until tween the two. after she graduated college.

Clinton was sermonizing in a stereoWhen the newly-elected Congresstypical fashion. Her fake religiosity woman arrived in Washington, she was blasphemous but not belittling. gave an interview. She was asked why AOC told an affluent Black audience she was perceived as a threat by the (many of them are more accomplished right wing. than the 29-year-old congresswoman) AOC said, “Because I fight back…I there’s nothing wrong with folding don’t think they see that they’re losing clothes, making food, and being workthe war…Because they’re playing old ing class. school politics.” Then AOC said, “(ReAOC defended herself and said, “Folks publicans are like), ‘We’re going to take talking about my voice can step right her down.’ Dude, you’re out of bullets, off…Any kid who grew up in a distinct you’re out of bombs…I’m six days into linguistic culture and had to learn to the term, and you already used all your navigate class enviros at school and ammo. So, enjoy being exhausted for work knows what’s up.” the next two years while we run train So, AOC’s “accent of color” was a code on the progressive agenda.” switch to navigate a different class As expected, AOC was ridiculed for environment? “talking tough” and her odd use of But the problem is this progressive slang. promoter of upward mobility navigated Recently, AOC was ridiculed again by down, not up, because in progressive her detractors, but this time, it wasn’t identity politics, “Black” is categorized for her word choice, it was for how as double blue, Democratic and blue she chose to speak to a predominately collar, and to add insult to her double Black audience. AOC was a featured down, AOC said, “As much as the right speaker at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National wants to distort and deflect, I am from Action Network conference. AOC told the Bronx. I act and talk like it.” an audience of affluent Black people In politics the cover up is always that she was proud to be a bartender. worse than the scandal. Here the exThen added, “Aint nothing wrong cuse was worse than the accent.

(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New with that.”

Pittsburgh Courier.)

AOC continued, “There’s noth-

Check It Out

Killing whales…again?

by Bill Fletcher Jr.

possibly be thinking that would justify moving against another species? We have seen the impact of the conscious human destruction of various species— the buffalo being a profound example—and we know that once a species is gone, there is no bringing it back.

There is no “…oops…sorry…” moment.

The people of the world cannot sit back and view this as a matter of Japanese sovereignty. The stakes are too high to allow any country to fly its flag while plunging a spear into the side of a mighty whale. There need to be consequences and those consequences need to be substantial in punishing Japanese capitalism for embarking— once again, and after repeated violations of international agreements—in this direction.

The arguments have been made. The issues are clear. If Japan pursues this course, then a strategic response needs to be offered, if not by cowardly governments, then by courageous global citizens.

(NNPA)—It was announced this past weekend that Japan will resume the killing and harvesting of whales. The only qualification, which, apparently, is supposed to make the world feel better, is that this will take place in Japanese territorial waters.

One can, perhaps, argue that at a point in human history prior to the awareness that whales are the second most intelligent animals on Planet Earth, the killing of whales for oil and blubber was understandable. I am not saying that someone need agree that it was a good idea, but one could at least understand a decision made based upon profound ignorance.

There is no excuse today. We know that humans hunted whales nearly to extinction. We know that whales remain in a fragile environment both due to their numbers and due to the impact of the current and growing environmental catastrophe.

(Bill Fletcher Jr. is the former president of Therefore, what is the Japanese whaling industry thinking? What could they TransAfrica Forum.)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Donald Trump’s flailing on immigration and the Mexican border continue to spiral into chaos. First, he threatened to close the border with Mexico. One week later, he walked that back.

He declares a national emergency about the “invasion” of people seeking asylum from Central American countries, and then says he’s stopped all aid to those countries, which can only worsen the conditions that cause people to leave. He says he’s already building a wall. That isn’t true. He torpedoes bipartisan measures that might begin to make things better.

It’s increasingly clear Trump wants a crisis that he can use politically, not a solution that can ease human suffering. Two weeks ago, Trump’s threat was clear: “If Mexico doesn’t immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States through [sic] our Southern Border,” he tweeted, “I will be CLOSING…the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week.”

His aides said he was deadly serious.

Trump’s leading mouthpiece, Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, told ABC News that it would take “something dramatic” to stop him from doing it. Less than a week later, Trump reversed himself. He suddenly praised Mexico as being “very nice,” claiming that Mexico had changed its policy toward the asylum seekers, which a befuddled Mexican government quickly denied.

He retreated by issuing new bluster: “We’re going to give them a one-year warning, and if the drugs don’t stop, or largely stop, we’re going to put tariffs on Mexico and products, in particular cars.

And if that doesn’t work, we’re going to close the border. You know I will do it. I don’t play games,” Trump warned, playing games with his threats. What was the “something dramatic” that convinced the president to take back his threat? He was mugged by reality. Closing our 2,000-mile border with Mexico would be an economic catastrophe, a moral blight, inconceivably inane and literally impossible. A combined 15 million people live along the border.

Some $1.7 billion of two-way trade and hundreds of thousands of legal travelers cross the border each day. Mexico is the second-largest market for U.S.-made products (Canada is first). It is our third-largest trading partner (after Canada and China).

It is the fourth-largest supplier of foreign crude oil to the United States. It is the top destination for U.S. travelers.

Trump lives in a universe that he shares only with rabid Fox News commentators, but, in this case, he was forcibly reminded of reality by Republican business leaders and by the conservative U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which warned that closing the border would “inflict severe economic harm on American families.” Even Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who usually wags his tail at whatever the president tweets, warned of “potentially catastrophic economic damage.”

Trump’s threats are just posturing, but his policy is a chaotic calamity. He declares a national emergency to claim money for his wall (largely from the military) against the will of the bipartisan majority in both houses of Congress. He rails about the import of drugs, ignoring the reality that virtually all of the hard drugs come in through legal ports of entry that his “wall” won’t address. He describes the rising number of people seeking asylum as “an invasion,” scorning both international and U.S. law and basic morals, then directs his State Department to cut off $450 million in aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, which will surely worsen the conditions that are driving people to seek asylum.

He traveled to the California border to celebrate the building of a new section of his promised border wall, when no new building had taken place, only a routine upgrade of old fencing. He cut off protections for the Dreamers, young people who have grown up in the U.S., and torpedoed the bipartisan agreement that would have protected them and added to border security after he said he’d sign it. He scaled back protections for asylum seekers, helping to create the backlog at the border. Then his administration cruelly separated parents and children at the border, creating a shameful human horror that continues to this day. Clearly Trump wants an issue to run on politically, not a solution to a humanitarian tragedy.

Steve Bannon, Trump’s 2016 campaign strategist, argued that as long as the debate is over immigrants, Trump benefits.

Trump uses attacks on immigrants as the centerpiece of his white nationalist appeal. His railing about the crimes of Latin American gang members is simply the updated version of the Willie Horton ad that George Bush used against Mike Dukakis.

So don’t worry about Trump closing the border. Even his administration won’t be that self-destructive. And don’t expect him to make progress with the humanitarian crisis at the border. Trump is fanning the flames, not putting out the fires. A sensible border policy and humane and effective immigration reform will have to wait for the next president.

SPORTS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

APRIL 17-23, 2019

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MIKE PELAIA’S 2019 NFL DRAFT PREVIEW

Steelers should do whatever it takes to get White or Bush Inside Linebacker, Cornerback are biggest needs in 2019 NFL Draft

by Mike Pelaia For New Pittsburgh Courier

The 2019 NFL Draft is just around the corner and it’s that time of year where every team has hope. Every team plans to grab the next set of guys that will loft them from pretender to contender, from playoff-bound to Super Bowlbound and from Super Bowl-bound to Super Bowl champs.

The Steelers are no different. Last season, the Steelers went from a surefire playoff team to needing a win and help from

MIKE PELAIA the Cleveland Browns just to make it in. Only one of those two things happened and the rest is history. No playoffs for the Steelers.

Le’Veon Bell officially

left the mix, as expected, but then, the Antonio Brown implosion occurred and he’s now gone, too.

Addition by subtraction?

Perhaps, but a hole that needs to be addressed at some point in this upcoming draft.

Yet, with or without Brown, the Steelers knew the first line of business needed to be gaining an inside linebacker to finally replace Ryan Shazier and to find a second cornerback to complement Joe Haden.

They addressed these needs, to a degree, via free agency. They signed linebacker Mark Barron away from the Rams and cornerback Steven Nelson from the Chiefs. They also addressed the Brown loss by signing Donte Moncrief away from the Jaguars.

Had the Black and Gold not signed Moncrief, I may have stated that replacing Brown would have been a top two priority, but I believe they can wait until the third or even fourth round to try to grab a receiver. With JuJu Smith-Schuster clearly the number one receiver, last year’s third-round pick

James Washington ready to step up, Eli Rogers returning, Ryan Switzer as a decent slot guy and Moncrief, the Steelers have a decent start at receiver.

They can address the need on day three of the draft (April 27) if necessary.

Despite the signing of Barron, the Steelers’ number one need in this draft is still to find a replacement for Shazier. His loss was a devastating blow to a defense that was on the rise and hasn’t been able to fully recover since his injury in late 2017. They need to find that playmaker up the middle, the guy who can stop the run, cover DEVIN BUSH of Michigan could be the Steelers’ first-round pick on April 25. (AP PHOTO) the pass and be an overall leader for a defense that 20 and will most certainly the pending free agency of desperately needs one. all. He stands 6-feet-2 and have an opportunity for Haden after the season, it’s weighs 190 pounds. He has There are two guys in Wilson. But remember, he’s an area that must be adthis draft that stand out the big-game experience dressed early in this draft. and playmaking ability. above the rest that fit that a caliber below the other two.

There is some depth at category. They are Devin Coming out of the ACC, I I believe the Steelers corner this year and the White of LSU and Devin believe he has the expeshould use some of their Steelers should have an Bush of Michigan. Then rience to step in and be a draft capital and move opportunity at a quality there is a second-tier guy, guy who can help in 2019 up a few spots to secure player when they draft in my mind, out of Alabut really step into his own Bush and if they were able 52nd overall. While I bama, Mack Wilson. in 2020 and beyond. to land him, the defense would love for the Steelers I don’t believe the SteelNo matter how the draft to nab Greedy Williams ers have a chance at White would change overnight. slices, the Steelers must He’s a playmaker that can out of LSU, a guy they but they could potentially grab an inside linebacker be paired with T.J. Watt on could think about in the see Bush when they draft and a cornerback in the the outside and one that first round if Bush is gone, first two rounds. They in the first round at No. will impact this team from I think they’ll more likely cannot ignore their most day one. As I write this, it have their choice of Amani glaring needs. From there, is my belief the Steelers Oruwariye of Penn State, in some form, they need will find a way to get Bush, Justin Layne of Michigan to address wide receiver, whether they move up or State, Trayvon Mullen of defensive line, safety, add they are lucky enough to Clemson or Julian Love of offensive line depth, look see him fall to 20.

Notre Dame. at adding a third runIn the second round, even They need a guy who can ning back and potentially with the addition of Nelplay physical football, a another playmaking tight son, the Steelers have to guy with size and a guy end. with football intelligence. I With 10 draft choices this running back Le’Veon Bell) address cornerback. It’s a position that takes a little believe Mullen is the man year, it will be a busy April the team will probably be 25-27 for the Steelers. more successful. However, time to grow into and with they will select 52nd overregardless of the athletic talent that the team acLEGAL ADVERTISING LEGAL ADVERTISING quires, the petty in-house Bids/Proposals Bids/Proposals bickering that has recently plagued the team is almost PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY always simultaneous with ADVERTISEMENT losing.

Separate sealed Bids for the Work as listed hereinafter will be received at There are many young the Purchasing and Materials Management Department of Port Authority men that are lined up, waitof Allegheny County (Authority) Heinz 57 Center, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third ing, hoping and just flat Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-2527 until 1:30 p.m. on May 10, out praying to be chosen to 2019 and will be publicly opened and read at 2:00 p.m. on May 10, 2019 compete in the NFL. Howat the same address. Each Bidder shall be solely responsible for assuring ever, playing in Pittsburgh that its Bid is both received and time stamped by a representative of the can be a daunting task for Purchasing and Materials Management Department at or before the admany players. It can also vertised time for submission of Bids. Bids received or time stamped in the Purchasing and Materials Management Department after the advertised be worrisome for coaches time for the submission of Bids shall be non-responsive and therefore inand sometimes ownership. eligible for Award.

As far as the Steelers ownWOOD ST. AND STEEL PLAZA STATIONS SIDEWALK AND ership and coaches are conSTAIRWAY REHABILITATION cerned, the upcoming draft CONTRACT NO. SYS-19-03 REBID presents just as much hope The Work of this Project includes, but is not limited to, the furnishing of all for the future success of labor and material to rehabilitate the existing sidewalk, curbs, pavers and their franchise as it does for stairs at Wood St. and Steel Plaza Stations and Maintenance and Protection of Traffic and Pedestrians. the personal and financial Bid Documents will be available for public inspection and may be obtained prosperity of their players. on or after April 10, 2019 at Authority’s offices at the following address: These are high stakes Port Authority of Allegheny County times for the Pittsburgh Purchasing and Materials Management Department Steelers and all of the reHeinz 57 Center maining NFL franchises.

345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Gone are the days of indenPittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527 tured servitude. Gone are Bid Documents are available for purchase as follows: Bid Documents are the days of, “do as I say do, available in an electronic form on compact disk upon payment of $15 per CD. Payment shall be by check or money order (NO CASH), payable to not as I do.” Gone are the “Port Authority of Allegheny County.” No refunds of payment will be made. days of the infantry being Upon request, Bid Documents can be mailed upon receipt of payment in sacrificed as foot soldiers full. Should the purchaser wish to have the Bid Documents delivered via on the front line. The ownspecial delivery, such as UPS or Federal Express, the purchaser shall proers, coaches and players are vide its appropriate account numbers for such special delivery methods. all charging toward the hill This Project may be funded, in part, by, and subject to certain requirements of excellence; fully realizing of, the County of Allegheny and/or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. that they must be almost Authority, in compliance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, as may be amended, retotally synergized for their quire that certified Diverse Businesses (“DBs”) have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts for team to even have a remote this Project. In this regard, all Bidders shall make good faith efforts in chance for success. The foraccordance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, to ensure that DBs have the maximula for success must be mum opportunity to compete for and perform contracts. Bidders shall also discovered and implementnot discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, ed far sooner….than later. national origin, sexual origin, gender identity or status as a parent in the “The NFL Draft is now, award and performance of contracts for this Project. If aid is required to there’s really no time to involve DBs in the Work, Bidders are to contact Authority’s Director of Embow. You can’t be late, no ployee Relations and OEO at (412) 566-5262. time to debate. The NFL The Bidder’s attention is directed to the following contacts for Bidder’s questions: Draft is now.”

‘The NFL Draft is now…can’t be late, no time to debate’

by Aubrey Bruce For New Pittsburgh Courier

AUBREY BRUCE errors that also cost them dearly in regards to not qualifying for the 2018 NFL postseason. Much has been made about the Steelers’ few defensive collapses but it was a combination of defensive and offensive “lapses” that caused the Steelers to be couch potatoes during the playoffs.

There was much hoopla on the field as well as off the field that became part of the Steelers’ chemistry in 2018. One of the prime factors of the team’s shortcomings was well publicized—“personality and character” conflicts between players, coaches and ownership. If it’s possible, maybe a “personality and character” draft should be considered as a part of future draft classes?

Any trained observer can see that once the Steelers field a more dynamic defense to coincide with an offense that is already pretty good, (even minus wide receiver Antonio Brown and

MIKE TOMLIN, Steelers head coach. The Steelers have 10 picks in this year’s NFL Draft.

Procedural Questions Regarding Bidding: Cindy Denner - Authority (412) 566-5117 All other questions relating to the Bid Documents must be submitted by mail or email to: Port Authority of Allegheny County Heinz 57 Center 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 Attn: Cindy Denner Email: cdenner@portauthority.org In addition, the Bidder’s attention is directed to the following schedule of activities for preparation of its Bid: 9:00 AM Pre-Bid Conference April 24th, 2019 Port Authority of Allegheny County Heinz 57 Center Neal Holmes Conference Room 345 Sixth Avenue, Fifth Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 (Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended) Pre-Bid Site Tour of Vault Area under Sidewalks immediately following the Pre-Bid Conference.

Participants shall wear a safety vest and shoes.

1:30 p.m.

Bids Due May 10, 2019 Purchasing and Materials Management Department Authority reserves the right to reject any or all Bids

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS…THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

“We’re in the Army now; we’re not behind a plow.

We’ll never get rich diggin’ a ditch. We’re in the Army now.” (A song written by Isham Jones) Throughout the past century young men were drafted to honorably serve America and her allies to preserve and maintain our democracy. There were also many men that “dodged” the call in order not to be forced to fight and risk their lives on foreign soil with their healthy and happy return to America being far from guaranteed. However, there is another draft that many young men crave and even craft the majority of their athletic lives around: the NFL Draft. No single event is more important to these young men than being chosen to be a soldier in the NFL “Army.” You can bet your last “ruble” that not one of these perspective “draftees” will attempt to “dodge” or evade the private workouts, pro days or any other event designed to spotlight their individual talents for scouts, general managers and coaches.

According to espn.com, the 2018 Pittsburgh Steelers were ranked the No. 10 passing defense in the NFL. They were ranked No. 6 against the rush, and overall were ranked sixth in total defense. Let’s switch gears for a moment.

The offense of the Steelers was ranked No. 4 overall but like their defensive colleagues, the offense also committed a few crucial

Inside Conditions

B8

METRO

APRIL 17-23, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

‘REWEAVING THE FABRIC OF COMMUNITY’

Operation Better Block’s Annual Gala There seems to be an orange barrel, a crane, all types of construction happening in Pittsburgh.

Operation Better Block is on the front lines making sure that the Homewood community is not only part of the new developments, but also making sure African Americans are part of the building process.

Operation Better Block goes even deeper than that. It fosters youth development through self-awareness, career exploration programs and community vol-

unteer opportunities, encourages and supports public and private investments to stimulate economic development in Homewood, and builds cooperative partnerships with others to promote community sustainability.

Ultimately, Operation Better Block aims to see Homewood as a stable, economically viable, safe, and attractive neighborhood.

Operation Better Block’s Annual Gala was held, April 5, at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

OBB ANNUAL GALA—Amira Jackson, Jahi Jackson, Carlosa Jackson, Jerome Jackson, Tamari Brooks, at Operation Better Block’s Annual Gala, April 5. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

AYODEJI YOUNG, ROLAND FORD, RICHARD GARLAND SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS—Willie Knight, Diamond Moss, Dana Morris

JEROME JACKSON, executive director of Operation Better Block.

CO-CHAIRS DAREN ELLERBEE, JESSE MCLEAN JR.

WILLIE KNIGHT

DIAMOND MOSS

DANA MORRIS