New Pittsburgh Courier 6-19-19

America’s best weekly

Camille ClarkSmith

Pamela Golden Aurora Club to celebrate 125 years

Destiny Ministries community health fair

Derby Day at Savoy

Metro A7

Religion B7

Lifestyles A6

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

Vol. 110 No. 25

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Two Sections

Published Weekly

JUNE 19-25, 2019

$1.00

Black developer ‘hopeful’ he can purchase the Hill House E Properties has big visions for iconic building on Centre Avenue

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Imagine the famed Hill House Main building on Centre Avenue featuring an additional floor with a spacious balcony and amazing views of the neighborhood and Downtown, a new playground for the kids to

play outside, new benches outside for those to relax and congregate, colorful lighting, historical plaques outside, and new tenants and social services on the inside.

It could happen, if the Hill House Association—with approval of the courts— sells the Hill House Main

Rep. Wheatley petitions court against Hill House Association

by Rob Taylor Jr.

building and three of its other properties to E Properties and Development, an African American-owned company based in Lawrenceville.

Emeka Onwugbenu, founder and CEO of E Properties and Development, SEE E PROPERTIES A3

Courier Staff Writer

State Rep. Jake Wheatley told the New Pittsburgh Courier on June 18 that he filed a petition to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas against the Hill House Association for what Rep. Wheatley calls tactics of “deception” by the financially struggling organization.

The petition, also supported by Pittsburgh CounEMEKA ONWUGBENU

SEE WHEATLEY A4

Black business owners join forces Fudge Farm to open third location, in Bloomfield

by Briana L. White For New Pittsburgh Courier

Two Pittsburgh Black-owned businesses have become one, with the hopes of a “sweet” outcome financially, and for disadvantaged youth.

Wes Lyons and Amber Greene, co-owners of the former Cakery Square physical store location at the Waterfront in Homestead, recently decided to close the store and partner with Fudge Farm, which has two locations—on the South Side and at the Waterfront.

So, those cannoli cookies, cupcakes and brownies that customers came to enjoy at Cakery Square will now be available at the Fudge Farm locations.

On June 15, the South Side location (1503 E. Carson St.) held a Launch Party to celebrate the new partnership, new mission, and a new location. A third Fudge Farm location will open later this month in Bloomfield at 4615 Liberty Ave., between Bitter Ends Garden and Luncheonette and Lot 17. Husband-and-wife team Walt and Molly Rainey, who originally started Fudge Farm, now own half of the company, while Lyons and Greene own the other half. The name “Cakery Square” is not a part of the new arrangement.

Walt and Molly Rainey are looking forward to the partner-

A VIDEO STILL of the arrest of Rayquane J. Bowles-Wilds in Penn Hills.

Is this a proper way to arrest someone?

Penn Hills arrest yields excessive force complaints, investigation

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

JOINT OWNERSHIP—Amber Greene, far left, Walt Rainey, center, Wes Lyons, right, and Molly Rainey are the owners of Fudge Farm. Also pictured is Walt and Molly Rainey’s daughter, Braxlynn. (Photo by Briana L. White) ship with Lyons and Greene.

“We decided to partner with Wes and Amber, as we believe we all have different strengths, so as a whole, we will be a powerhouse,”

Molly Rainey told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “Wes has amazing marketing abilities and Amber has phenomenal SEE FUDGE FARM A4

Two weeks ago, 21-yearold Rayquane J. BowlesWilds made an illegal U-turn in a car with illegal, dark-tinted windows right in front of Penn Hills undercover police officers who were working with task force officers from the state attorney general’s office on street crime and drug interdiction. So, one of the Penn Hills officers pulled him over.

What happened in the

immediate aftermath is in dispute, but what was captured on video a few minutes afterward is not— several officers can be seen violently trying to get Bowles-Wilds handcuffed and restrained. At one point a police dog can be seen biting him on the leg, and the video also shows one of the task force officers kneeing him in the head.

The videos went viral, leading to calls for investigations into police brutality SEE ARREST A5

The State of Black Pittsburgh—Cautiously Optimistic Some progress being made, but still a long way to go

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Over the years, the format and venue for the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s “State of Black Pittsburgh” has changed, but the message, unfortunately, remains stubbornly similar: despite great progress, there is far to go.

This year’s forum, hosted by WQED on June 6, focused on equity, and the lack thereof. As Urban League President and CEO Esther Bush told moderator Chris Moore, equal opportunity is great if ev-

URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER PITTSBURGH PRESIDENT AND CEO ESTHER BUSH

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

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

eryone is starting from the same place, but the bulk of African Americans in Pittsburgh are starting well back of their White counterparts, economically and educationally, and need equitable assistance just to get to the same starting line.

“Blacks are left out of the (most livable) equation. I’m pushing for individuals to advocate for themselves.

I want to be part of the growth and development of Pittsburgh and African Americans are the population that can push us. But we need support, education, equal opportunity—we need

equity,” Bush said on the program.

Joining Bush, Moore and his co-host Lisa Washington were three sets of panelists representing local and state government, media, the arts, the nonprofit, human services and faith communities. These were interspersed with videos showing how people in various fields are working to improve the State of Black Pittsburgh.

Among these were model and FashionAFRICANA founder Demeatria Boccella on inspiring young Black girls to help diversify the fashion industry; Sustain-

Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick on

REV. PAUL ABERNATHY able Pittsburgh Director Joylette Portlock on how diversity and sustainability are inextricably entwined, and Tim Smith, director of the Center for Life in Hazelwood, which, in addition to operating educational, athletic and STEAM and wealth managing SEE BLACK PITTSBURGH A2

3 Presbyterian ministers personify leadership Forum B6

A2

JUNE 19-25, 2019

INTERNATIONAL/METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This Week In Black History

POSTER OF JULIUS MALEMA OF EFF

In a squeaker, ANC wins 57.5 percent of vote (TriceEdneyWire.com/GIN)­­—Frustrated with the failures of the ruling African National Congress, South Africans gave the ANC its lowest turnout since 2004 when it took a record 69 percent of the vote.

The ANC won a sixth straight term but with the worst ever electoral showing for the iconic party.

Voter turnout was low. Thousands of youth did not even bother to register.

After announcing the elections to be free and fair, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the party faithful: “Our people have spoken and spoken emphatically.

They have voted for a more equal society, free from poverty, hunger and want.”

He vowed to purge his party of “bad and deviant tendencies” as he prepares to appoint a new cabinet that will not work merely to fill their own pockets.

The party always knew this would be a tough election. Ramaphosa is leading a divided party, criticized for its slowness in delivering basic services Ramaphosa is also believed to be facing a revolt within the party by Zuma allies, one that could surface in the coming weeks as he de-

cides on the makeup of his new government.

Observers have said South Africa’s economy, the most developed in sub-Saharan Africa, would be further weakened if Ramaphosa is removed by his own party. He narrowly won the party leadership in late 2017, weeks before Zuma was pushed out.

Ramaphosa urged ANC leaders not to hang the party’s “dirty linen in public” and said the party must be renewed “so that we cleanse it of all the bad and deviant tendencies.”

Meanwhile, at least one political grouping was celebrating this week. South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) thanked voters for giving them more seats in the next National Assembly.

In its second presidential and parliamentary election, the party grossed 10.7 percent of the vote, up from 6.3 percent five years ago. EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi offered “deep and sincere gratitude” to the party’s supporters. “In each of the 9 provinces more people believe in the EFF than they did in 2016 and 2014. It is a sign that our revolution is on course and soon it shall be realized and accomplished,” he said.

The State of Black Pittsburgh— Cautiously Optimistic BLACK PITTSBURGH FROM A1

programs for youth, offered a unique insight: “In communities like Hazelwood, without a lot of resources, people have to be creative.”

Capturing and unleashing that creativity is key, as panelist and Duquesne University Associate Law Professor Jalila Jefferson-Bullock exemplified during a discussion on changing police “use of force” laws. If police can kill people, summarily, on the street, then they are imposing a death penalty.

“Current use of force laws might be judged unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment. You can look at a police officer (shooting) as a death penalty issue,” she said. “It’s not enough to say it’s wrong, you need concrete reasons.”

Panelist Rev. Paul Abernathy said police incidents like the Antwon Rose II shooting, and the incessant street violence in Pittsburgh’s Black neighborhoods, epitomize the equity problem because they scar whole communities with

generational trauma that White neighborhoods do not see or experience.

“In the African American community, we have been inundated with trauma from slavery, to Jim Crow, to what we’re facing with gun violence, evictions, and poverty,” he said. “It’s not that everybody lost a child to violence, but everyone knows someone who has.

Not everybody’s been evicted, not everybody’s been incarcerated—but everyone knows someone who has.”

Reverend Abernathy added: “When we look at veterans returning from war— and I’m a veteran who came back from war—when we see a vet with PTSD homeless on the street, we don’t blame that person, we ask how can we help that person. And that’s after spending one year at war like I spent for my nation—we have children who’re essentially spending their whole lives at war. I have talked to people who’ve seen the same thing I saw as a soldier on the battlefield in Iraq who

have not yet graduated from high school—and the question is, why do we have a different standard for some Americans than others?”

But, even in the face of this, there is hope, as Rev. John Wallace of Bible Center Church said in one of the video segments.

“The State of Black Pittsburgh is hopeful,” he said.

“Despite what we’ve been through, despite the challenges, despite the issues of race and class and all those issues, I feel that Pittsburgh is small enough, and the resources are great enough, and we have enough grit about us as a city that if we were serious about addressing our issues of race, class and other inequities, we could actually tackle and defeat these problems, and become ‘the most livable city in America’ for all of us.”

Bush agreed.

“When I look at the young talent here and about how positive they are, how realistic they are about providing leadership to make change and just stepping forward, yes it excites me,” she said. “And it should excite everyone—Black, White, young and old.”

THE NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER PUBLISHING COMPANY

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

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:

New Pittsburgh Courier 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Week of June 19-25 June 19 1865—The Juneteenth Celebration begins. June 19, 1865 marks the day that many Blacks actually became free, especially those in Texas. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation technically freed all slaves in 1863, slavery actually continued in Texas until the end of the Civil War. It was not until June 19, 1865 that many slaves learned they had been freed. They called the day of freedom “Juneteenth.” It is normally marked with picnics, barbecues and commemorations. In 1980, the day became an official holiday in Texas.

1918—Ebony and Jet magazines founder John H. Johnson is born in Arkansas City, Ark. He moved to Chicago to build his JOHN H. JOHNSON publishing empire. Johnson was the first African-American to appear on the Forbes magazine list of 400 richest Americans with an estimated wealth of $500 million. Johnson died in August 2005. However, both magazines are now in financial trouble.

2009—The U.S. Congress issues a formal apology to Black Americans for the slavery of their ancestors. The resolution acknowledged the “fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws” which followed slavery.

However, the resolution specificly rejected paying Blacks reparations for past, discrimination, mistreatment and brutality.

June 20 1871—The first anti-Ku Klux Klan trials begin in Oxford, Miss.

The trials were part of an effort begun by President Ulysses S. Grant to crush the Klan, which was populated by defeated ConfedKU KLUX KLAN erate soldiers from the Civil War and which was becoming increasingly powerful throughout the South. In Mississippi, White doctors, lawyers and even ministers were indicted for violating Black rights and conspiring against the U.S. government. More than 900 were indicted in Mississippi and 243 convicted. Similar trials took place throughout the South—most notably in South Carolina and North Carolina. Grant’s efforts succeeded in crushing the terrorist organization and it would not rise again until 1915.

1967—Boxing champion Muhammad Ali is convicted in a Houston, Texas, federal court of violating the Selective Service Act by refusing to be inducted into the armed services. He was fined $10,000 and given five years in prison. The United States Supreme Court would later overturn the conviction. Ali’s refusal to be inducted was based, in part, on his opposition to America’s war in Vietnam. He often said, “No Vietnamese ever called me N**ger.”

June 21 1832—Joseph Haynes Rainey, the first African American to serve in the United States House of Representatives, is born in MUHAMMAD ALI Georgetown, S.C. He was elected in 1870 from the state of South Carolina. He served five terms in Congress and died in 1887. In 2005, a portrait of Rainey was finally hung in the U.S. Capitol Building.

1859—Henry O. Tanner, the first African American painter to achieve international acclaim, is born in Pittsburgh, Pa, to a middle class Black family. His most notable work was “The Banjo Lesson,” which he painted in 1893. Tanner would later teach at Clark University in Atlanta, Ga. Tanner was considered a formalist—meaning his paintings tended to be beautiful depictions of reality. He died in May 1937.

1915—The United States Supreme Court declares in the Guinn v. United States case that “grandfather clauses” in many Southern state constitutions and laws were illegal. The case grew out of the practice, common in the South, of setting up stringent requirements in order to prevent Blacks (former slaves) from voting. But HENRY O. TANNER in order to ensure that Whites could vote, the laws exempted them from the difficult requirements by asserting that anyone (or his grandfather) who could vote prior to 1867 did not have to meet the tough standards. Since virtually no Blacks could vote prior to 1867, “grandfather clauses” had the effect of denying Blacks the right to vote.

1964—Three civil rights workers (Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner) disappear near Philadelphia, Miss., and are later found murdered. Seven Ku Klux Klan members, opposed to a Black voting rights campaign, were indicted for the killings, but none served more than six years in prison. The incident became one of the major sparks to the then young Civil Rights Movement. Justice for the three was finally completed in June 2005 when the leader of the group of Klansmen—Edgar Ray “The Preacher” Killen— was convicted of their murders. Ironically, Killen was convicted on June 21, 2005—41 years to the day that Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner were killed. Even more ironic, in May 2009, Philadelphia, Miss., elected its first Black mayor.

June 22 1863—The War Department establishes the Bureau of ColANDREW GOODMAN, ored Troops and began to aggressively recruit Blacks for the JAMES CHANEY and Civil War. The Black troops would play a major role in turning MICHAEL SCHWERNER the tide of battle against the rebellious Southern slave states.

1959—Benjamin O. Davis Jr. becomes the first African American general in the U.S. Air Force. His father, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., had been the first Black general in the U.S. Army.

1966—Entertainer Bill Cosby becomes the first African American to receive an Emmy for Best Actor in a dramatic series—for his role in the 1960s television series “I Spy.” June 23 1921—“Shuffle Along”—the first of a succession of widely popular Black musicals performed for White audiences—opened at the 63rd Street Theatre in New York City, becoming the first African American Broadway musical. The musical comedy combined the talents of the legendary team of Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle. “Shuffle Along” produced a long list of hits including “Shuffle Along,” “I’m Just Wild about Harry,” “Gypsy Blues” and “Love Will Find A Way.” 1981—Legendary Reggae artist Bob Marley is given an official EUBIE BLAKE and state funeral in his homeland of Jamaica. He had died of cancer NOBLE SISSLE on May 11 in Miami. Marley and his band “The Wailers” had made Reggae popular worldwide with such hits as “Stir It Up” and “No Woman, No Cry.” He was considered the first third-world superstar and a prophet of the Rastafarian religion. He was only 36 when he died. His body now lies in a mausoleum in Jamaica.

June 24 1854—Anthony Burns, one of the most celebrated fugitive slaves in American history, is captured by deputy U.S. Marshals in Boston.

But at the time anti-slavery feeling was running high in Boston and it was one of the cities which had vowed not to obey the Fugitive Slave Act—a federal law that required even those opposed to slavery to help slave owners capture run-away slaves. For fear that Boston residents would help Burns escape to Canada, the U.S. government ANTHONY BURNS sent 2,000 troops to Boston to assist in returning Burns to Virginia.

Thousands lined the streets as Burns was marched to a ship on June 3 for a trip back South. However, a Black Boston church raised the money to purchase Burns and within a year of his capture, he was back in Boston a free man.

1856—The so-called Pottawatomie Massacre takes place. A force of men led by famed abolitionist John Brown attacks a pro-slavery settlement in Franklin County, Kan., leaving at least five men dead. The attack was part of a period known as “Bleeding Kansas” when pro and anti-slavery forces battled one another in a bid to determine whether Kansas would be a slave or free territory. The “Pottawatomie Massacre” was also one of the events which made the Civil War unavoidable.

1944—Legendary singer Patti LaBelle is born Patricia Louise Holte in Philadelphia, Pa. June 25 1773—Massachusetts slaves petition for their freedom. As a result of the petition, a bill ending slavery in the state was actually drawn up and passed by the legislature. But the governor refused to sign it and there were not enough votes to override his veto.

1941—President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues Executive Order #8802 banning racial discrimination in the nation’s war industries on the eve of America’s involvement in World War II. The order PATTI LaBELLE came as a result of pressure from Black labor leader A. Phillip Randolph who had threatened a massive “March on Washington” to protest discrimination by the military and the military industry.

1968—Lincoln Alexander becomes the first Black member of the Canadian parliament.

2009—Pop music superstar Michael Jackson dies of cardiac arrest in his Los Angeles home after reportedly being given a powerful sedative (Propofol) to help him sleep.

Jackson was 50 years old and was in the process of preparing a major comeback tour.

His doctor Conrad Murray was charged and found guilty of manslaughter in the case.

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JUNE 19-25, 2019

A3

E Properties has big visions for iconic Hill House building

E PROPERTIES FROM A1

told the New Pittsburgh Courier via phone on June 17 that “there’s nothing final yet,” but “I’m hopeful” about acquiring the four properties from the Hill House Association.

Onwugbenu was the only person or company to make a public bid for all four Hill House properties when the Urban Redevelopment Authority solicited proposals earlier this year.

The Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, headed by executive director Ernie Hogan, placed a bid for just one property, One Hope Square.

The Hill District Development Review Panel, combined with input from the community, gave E Properties’ proposal a

score of 88 percent, and said its proposal aligns with the Hill District Master Plan. The Master Plan includes preserving the historic status of the Hill as an African American hub, creating opportunities for Hill District youth and adults, and securing companies and organizations into the neighborhood that ultimately uplift African Americans in Pittsburgh in multiple ways.

The Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group proposal scored 74 percent, and did not align with the Master Plan, according to data provided by the Hill Community Development Corporation.

Onwugbenu, during a public Powerpoint presen-

tation made in the Hill District a few months ago, outlined his plans for Hill House Main—adding a third floor “to preserve the existing structure and respect the history of Hill House,” new MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) systems to assure proper building performance and comfort for tenants, new windows on the first floor “to better connect the building to Centre Avenue,” creating sitting/meeting areas in the courtyard outside, a new “signpost” along the courtyard to create “a past, present and future” heritage walk, and leasing additional space to community partners.

There would also be a more pronounced “grand

entrance” front door to Hill House Main and colorful lighting that would turn the building into a “communal lantern.”

E Properties and Development may not be a household name, but it’s no stranger to developing properties of African American interest in Pittsburgh—it was the developer and general contractor for the Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School in Larimer, a 38,000 square foot facility.

E Properties transformed the former McCleary Pittsburgh Public School in Lawrenceville into 25 new residences. The company also has developed single and multi-family homes around Lawrenceville.

For Hill House’s One Hope Square building next to Family Dollar on Centre, E Properties proposes partnering with Hill District artists to create a mural on the building’s left side, along with improving the building’s maintenance, security and cleaning process. Additional square footage to the building is also a consideration.

The Blakey Center’s primary function would be to support Hill District-based businesses, along with securing the “ideal tenant” to anchor the building.

E Properties would meet with Family Dollar, the tenant of the final building up for sale, and address the company’s needs, and add “accent lighting” to the

building.

According to the Powerpoint presentation by E Properties, physical building improvements would begin around April 2020.

The Hill House Association—the organization itself—is nearing its end.

Saddled with nearly $12 million in debt, the organization would pay down the debt load by selling the four buildings, and look to sell other properties at a later date.

Many of the Hill House’s social services are continuing via other agencies such as Macedonia FACE (Family and Community Enrichment Center), which will provide home-delivered meals and other services to seniors.

A4

METRO

JUNE 19-25, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Rep. Wheatley petitions court against Hill House Association WHEATLEY FROM A1

cilman R. Daniel Lavelle and County Councilman Dewitt Walton, outlines how many Hill District community partners, including the Hill Community Development Corporation and the POISE Foundation, stepped up to the plate and loaned the Hill House Association $500,000 earlier this year to stay afloat for four months. During that period, Rep. Wheatley and his team would work with the Hill House Board of Directors on a long-term plan for the Hill House’s future.

That’s not to mention the $1 million provided to the Hill House almost a decade ago to assist with the creation of the Shop ‘n Save grocery store in the Hill, Rep. Wheatley said during an exclusive interview with the Courier.

Ultimately, Shop ‘n Save franchise owner Jeff Ross decided to close the store on March 20, after it had been open for five years, but had lagging sales and foot traffic.

But a month after the Hill House Association received the $500,000 in funds from the Hill District Growth

Fund, the Hill House announced it was going to dissolve and sell the buildings as quickly as possible.

That came as a shock to Rep. Wheatley.

“We think the Hill House took the money with already an eye towards closing their doors,” he told the Courier exclusively. “Had they been honest and told us that even with this money, they were going to close, we wouldn’t have given them $500,000.”

Representative Wheatley added: “Our petition is one that stresses the fact that we entered into a communal understanding with the Hill House,” but it ultimately wasn’t honored, he said.

“We think we were basically duped, the community was led to believe that if we help get them through this transition,” the community would be part of the organization’s long-term plans and restructuring.

Instead, only a few developers came forward with bids on the four properties up for sale, one of which is close to acquiring the buildings. E Properties and Development, a Black-owned entity based in Lawrencev-

STATE REP. JAKE WHEATLEY ille with Emeka Onwugbenu as founder and CEO, has plans to revive the Hill House Main building, and make improvements to the Blakey Center, One Hope Square and the building that houses the Family Dollar on Centre Avenue.

While the Hill House Association was looking for at least $5 million for the

properties, the Courier has learned the bid from E Properties is in the $4.6 million range.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Michael McCarthy must approve the sale, which, the Courier has learned, could come as soon as Wednesday morning, June 19.

Only after the ruling on

the sale of the properties will Judge McCarthy entertain the petition filed by Rep. Wheatley and his cohorts. It’s entirely possible that Judge McCarthy could believe the actions that transpired were deceitful, but would have no legal authority to change anything.

Judge McCarthy could also believe that the petition filed by Rep. Wheatley has no merit.

Representative Wheatley said he welcomes news of a possible sale of the buildings. “We’re not necessarily objecting to a sale being made,” he said. “We certainly believe it’s better to sell these properties than to go into bankruptcy. We’re not challenging if E Properties is the right buyer. What we’re challenging is the agreement the Hill House had with the Growth Fund and MOU (memorandum of understanding) around monies that we gave in good faith.”

As part of the terms of the pending sale to E Properties, the Hill House Association wants to be provided leasing space inside the Hill House Main building, free of charge, for two years,

the Courier has learned.

Representative Wheatley told the Courier he has concerns about why the Hill House Association wants that stipulation, and if it’s connected to the organization possibly acquiring additional revenue from the Hill House Main building even after the sale is completed.

“The deal that we made with the Hill House is, if it is a $5 million or greater sale, the community would get its $500,000 back,” Rep. Wheatley said. “We know they didn’t hit the $5 million (E Properties reportedly bid $4.6 million), but the question is, did they take our money and deceive us?

Within a month (after receiving the $500,000 from the Hill District Growth Fund), they then notified us that they were closing their doors. It’s false pretense.

What’s the recourse of us being able to make sure the Hill House isn’t going to financially benefit from taking our money, dissolving themselves, and then benefiting from a sale that is ultimately due to mismanagement from the board of the Hill House?”

BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS JOIN FORCES Fudge Farm to open third location, in Bloomfield

TOGETHER AS ONE— Walt and Molly Rainey, Amber Greene, Wes Lyons.

FUDGE FARM FROM A1

organizational abilities along with the education needed to run a small business.”

The foursome is hoping to turn Fudge Farm into franchises that will expand throughout the U.S. Locations in Morgantown, W.Va. and Cincinnati have been discussed.

Fudge Farm’s menu favorites include the specialty milkshakes, and fudge- and chocolate-covered strawberries. In addition to the new menu items being added, the new Bloomfield location will host cake decorating classes for $35 a person and guests are welcome to bring wine. In addition, there will be cookie, candy and fruit bouquet decorating classes available. For special events, such as baby showers, and bridal parties, you can rent out a private room.

Fudge Farm will hire students that are involved in Lyons’ Pursuit Program, which was developed to prepare students, grades 7-12, for academic success by

developing their decision-making skills, improving their writing and communication skills and keeping them engaged and invested in learning.

“With multiple locations, we will have the chance to provide more opportunities to underprivileged youth within the community, which has always been our main focus,” Greene told the Courier.

Lyons, a North Braddock native and 2006 graduate of Woodland Hills High School, was signed by both the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers after playing football and graduating from West Virginia University with a degree in business.

He later penned a book, “The Pursuit With Patience,” which was the catalyst for his Pursuit Program.

Walt Rainey told the Courier in a June 17 interview that there’ll be roughly 20 students from the program employed between the three Fudge Farm locations. He said the students will also be used outside of the stores, as Fudge Farm participates in select trade shows and produces and delivers products for 1-800-Flowers.

“It feels good (to help the students) because I come from a similar background as some of these kids,” Walt Rainey told the Courier.

“It’s a no brainer for us. I know exactly what they need and I’m able to relate.

We (Walt Rainey and Lyons) can feel the appreciation from the kids because they look for us to give them the guidance, without them speaking those words.”

Walt Rainey is a Hill District native, who was raised in a single-parent household, but told the Courier he persevered, graduated from Schenley High School in 1993, and is now giving back.

“We just thought the mission should be geared towards what Wes has built with the Pursuit Program, and we just want to focus on that mission.”

(Rob Taylor Jr. contributed to this story.)

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR HOMEWOOD NORTH SPRINKLER FREEZE PROTECTION, AMP-20 IFB #600-21-19

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR ELEVATOR INSPECTIONS AUTHORITY WIDE IFB#300-27-19

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.

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 bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Elevator Inspections Authority Wide IFB#300-27-19 The documents will be available no later than June 17, 2019 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 1:00 P.M. on July 9, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, at which time they will be opened and read aloud.

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

HACP.org.

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

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 June 26, 2019 1:00 P.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

ALLIES & ROSS MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and Update for the Manchester Neighborhood ARMDC RFP #2019-28

The Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation (ARMDC) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and Update for the Manchester Neighborhood The documents will be available no later than June 10, 2019 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 11:00 a.m., July 10, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested may obtain information from: Mr. Kim Detrick – Procurement Director/Chief Contracting Officer Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 2nd Floor, Suite 200 100 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116, Option 1 or by visiting the Business Opportunities section of www.hacp.org A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Conference Room Pittsburgh, PA 15219 June 20, 2019 11:00 A.M. The Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

Caster D. Binion, President & CEO Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation ARMDC & HACP conduct business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS

A5

Penn Hills arrest yields excessive force complaints, investigation ARREST FROM A1

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS…THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH will receive sealed bids for the Homewood North Sprinkler Freeze Protection, AMP-20 The construction work is estimated to begin in September of 2019.

Bid Documents will be available on or about Monday, June 17, 2019 and may be obtained from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s webpage, www.hacp. org. Bidders may register on the website and download the bid documents free of charge. Electronic versions of the Bid Documents, including bid forms, project manual, and drawings can be picked up in person, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Mr. Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement A Pre-Bid Conference and Site Visit will be held on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.: Homewood North 901 Albertice St., Pittsburgh, PA 15208 A site visit will be conducted thereafter. Bidders shall come prepared to review all aspects of the construction site necessary to prepare a bid.

Bids will be received at: HACP Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Attn: Mr. Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement until 2:00 p.m. July 15, 2019 at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

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

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

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

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

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH

JUNE 19-25, 2019

from the Alliance for Police Accountability and other community advocates.

Penn Hills police Chief Howard Burton maintains that while the videos may appear damning, they don’t show what led up to the arrest. He has body camera and dashboard camera video that does show what happened before the citizen’s camera began to roll, and he said in the totality of events, his officers acted appropriately. BowlesWilds was jailed with a $3,000 bond on charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and possession with intent to deliver, and assaulting a police dog, among other counts.

District Magistrate Anthony DeLuca, once the Penn Hills mayor, may or may not agree, but at BowlesWilds’ June 17 hearing, he threw out the charge of assaulting a police dog, saying it was a natural reaction to kick at the animal biting him. He also reduced his bond to “nominal,” meaning Bowles-Wilds could be released shortly.

Alliance for Police Accountability Executive Director Brandi Fisher attended the hearing and was pleased with DeLuca’s handling of the case.

“He had a very balanced nature, which was refreshing to see,” she said. “It was nice to see that happen, especially when the prosecutor wanted him to remain in jail.”

Fisher, who met with Chief Burton and staff from Attorney General

wide and nationally; how often and on whom they are used.

Chief Burton told the Tribune-Review last week that he would not be releasing the bodycam and dashcam video that “shows the whole story” of the arrest because it might be required as evidence should a lawsuit be filed against the municipality of the police.

He also said his officers would not be facing discipline because they did nothing wrong.

“From what I saw and PENN HILLS POLICE CHIEF what our own videos show, HOWARD BURTON I believe our officers acted appropriately and were reJosh Shapiro’s office right sponding to the action of the after the videos went pub- individual,” he told KDKA lic, said she was impressed Radio’s Lynne Hayes-Freewith his quick response, land. “I know that seems and his acceptance to the difficult for some people to invitation to meet with her understand from looking at those three videos, but personally in two weeks.

The only official response we have a totality to look from Shapiro’s office was a at of video what led up to press release saying, “We when they saw those three have no comment at this videos.”

Fisher does not agree. point on the traffic stop “Back when the chief first and arrest. We will continue reviewing and assessing became an officer, this kind all of the facts surrounding of training wasn’t even required,” she said. “He’s a the incident.”

“So, he’s acting, again good guy, but I think his that’s not the kind of re- thoughts on policing are sponse we get—especially antiquated. He accepts when his people are in- these barbaric acts because volved,” said Fisher. “We’d that’s what it was when like to see these tactics he started as a cop. We’re changed—especially the about bringing justice back use of dog. Dogs should not into the criminal legal sysbe used at all. It’s inhumane tem.”

The remainder of the not only for the victim, but also for the dog—being wea- charges against BowlesWilds were waived to Componized like that.”

Fisher said her organiza- mon Pleas Court. Not date tion is compiling data on has yet been set for his prethe use of police dogs state- liminary hearing.

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

A6

JUNE 19-25, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report Try out these hacks It has been a while since I told you about my calendar. The reason is the store that I purchased my yearly desk calendar went out of business in my building. You may be aware that all of the retail stores in Station Square besides one are gone. They were all forced to close to allow UPMC to move a new training facility into the building. There was a Bradley Bookstore in the building that I loved and I used to find the best daily desk calendars. I like ones that make me laugh or allow me to learn something each day. The one that I bought after the New Year is called “Life Hacks.”

There goes that word again, “hacks.” It has taken on a whole new meaning. There are a lot of meanings to the word hack. It could be a cab driver, a hacking cough or to hack something with a knife or sharp implement. Now a hack can be a way to solve a problem or a way to do something. I found some that I thought were pretty interesting and you know I like to share information.

I am always looking for ways to increase my metabolism; here are some foods that can help boost your metabolism: almonds, spinach, cold water, turkey, salmon, hot peppers, oatmeal, blueberries, coffee, ginger, yogurt and green tea.

Do you see a trend here?

So many diet pills include caffeine. If you have ever tried to lose weight this list should sound familiar, I have seen everything on this list recommended as acceptable when you are trying to shed a few pounds.

Another hack that I saved was this one: wrap a soft tortilla around a crunchy or hard taco shell to hold everything together. Now this sounds like a good idea. I don’t like soft taco shells but this combo sounds like a good solution. I get the crunch and hold in all the goodness at the same time.

Speaking of holding things together, have you ever wondered which glue or adhesive to use to try and glue something together? Check out the site, thistothat.com, it will show you the best adhesive to use when gluing two different materials together. Not only is green tea on the list to boost your metabolism it is also suggested to drop in five to 10 green tea bags when filling your bath. Soaking in this will detoxify your body, relax you and give your skin a bountiful amount of minerals. A brand of green tea was not suggested but I will give this a try and let you know how it works.

Here is something for your emotional health.

Sex has been proven to be good for you and can also unblock a stuffy nose, help combat asthma and relieve symptoms of hay fever. Brushing your teeth before sex is a good idea. Did you know if you brush with your non-dominant hand your brain will be forced to work differently? Things that make you go hmmmm.

(Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com.)

HANDSOME GENTS WITH GARY WHITE, far right.

Gary White Presents Derby Day

BEAUTIFUL—Ronya Mahaffey, Kimberly Randolph and Pamela Nichols

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

There was a time when the only thing happening on the first Saturday in May was in Kentucky or at one of the local parks in

Pittsburgh. Now you can attend the big hat party in the park and then head to “Gary White Presents Derby Day” at the Savoy. This is one of the ultimate day parties. Ladies and gentlemen put on their sharpest

FASHIONABLE IN WHITE—Angela Mike and state Rep. Jake Wheatley

HAVING A BALL

BEAUTIFUL TRIO

hats, beautiful dresses and of course, those beautiful hats and fascinators, which were over the top, seen on both floors of the Savoy restaurant. Guests enjoyed the sweet music of Kenny Blake on the first floor and Nate the Phat Barber on the second floor. Mint Julips were the libation of the day, tasty hors’ doeuvres

were served and the Derby was on the big screen for everyone to see.

If you checked out the social media comments from the many people that attended, a good time was had by those lucky enough

THE RUES—Adria and Michael

THAT DERBY LOOK—Tracie Tucker and Karen Williamson

SISTERS—Charlene Bell, Gloria Potter and Chandra Law

EXCITING HATS AND FASCINATORS

to attend. A portion of the proceeds was donated to Ozanam Inc. Those that missed it have already added the Derby Day Party to their calendars for 2020.

It’s the first Saturday in May every year.

STUNNING IN YELLOW

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The Aurora Reading Club of Pittsburgh to celebrate 125 years…but needs your help

AURORA READING CLUB MEMBERS—Donna Alexander, Bess Herndon, Margaret Burley and Indea Herndon, in this 2018 photo. (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

Safe to say, there’s a ton—125 years, to be exact—of history associated with The Aurora Reading Club of Pittsburgh.

Founded by six women in the Hill District in 1894, those women were determined that the organization pursue “a systematic course of study in a manner to be decided by a majority of the membership and shall be for the mutual improvement

of the membership in literature, art, science and matters relating to the vital interests of the day.”

In preparation for the 125th anniversary celebration, club members are updating their archives, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned. Aurora Curator Pamela Golden tells the Courier: “With the help of many people researching records, we’ve made great strides in

PAMELA GOLDEN, left, with The Aurora Reading Club of Pittsburgh, in this 2014 photo.

generating a comprehensive list, however, we are missing some details for some ladies. We are hoping that Courier readers will recognize the names of relatives and help us fill in the details.”

Information that will complete the Aurora records includes: the first names of both the member and the spouse, if applicable, and years in which they were born and died.

Do you have information on the following members…?

•Mrs. Alice (Carl) Brady, who joined Aurora in 1938 •Mrs. George Cain •Mrs. Rebecca Davis, who joined Aurora in 1912 •Mrs. Louis Hollis, who joined Aurora in 1901 •Mrs. Edward West Johnson, who joined Aurora in 1902 •Miss Ida Mary Lewis, who joined Aurora in 1901 •Virginia Markham •Mrs. Charles O’Donnell, who joined Aurora in 1895 •Mrs. Marie (George A.) Palmer, who joined Aurora in 1967 •Mrs. Caroline “Callie” (Frank A.) McGuire Wiley, who joined Aurora in 1987 If you do, E-mail: aurora pittsburgh@gmail.com

JUNE 19-25, 2019

A7

A8

METRO

JUNE 19-25, 2019

INDIA.ARIE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Soulful. Independent. Worthy.

Sometimes she shaves her legs and sometimes she won’t…

Sometimes she combs her hair and sometimes she won’t…

Depending on how the wind blows she might even paint her toes…

It really just depends on whatever feels good in her soul.

She’s not the average girl from your video.

Her worth is not determined by the price of her clothes.

No matter what she’s wearing she will always be…

INDIA.ARIE. The gracious R&B singer graced the Point State Park stage to open the 2019 Three Rivers Arts Festival, June 7.

INDIA.ARIE performed at the 2019 Three Rivers Arts Festival, June 7. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

INDIA.ARIE

INDIA.ARIE

at the 2019 Three Rivers Arts Festival

DANIELLE JACKSON from Garfield, and Chanell Rhoads from West Mifflin, enjoying the show.

FROM THE WEST END—Sheree Winston, with children Jasmine, Diamondique, and Joel.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

METRO

JUNE 19-25, 2019

A9

R&B ARTIST INDIA.ARIE — AT THE 2019 THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL

MARLA BOYD, TAMIKA THORNHILL, MELISSA BECKER, REECE BLACKWELL, SCOTT MARTIN (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

ERICA PERRAN from the South Side, Shirlene Brock from McKeesport, Detra Bollard from Braddock.

FROM EAST PITTSBURGH—Jewell Harris and Julian Harris.

POINT STATE PARK was packed for the India.Arie concert, which opened the 2019 Three Rivers Arts Festival, June 7.

CHERRY WAGNER from the Hill District, Landon Hall from Lincoln-Lemington.

DESHELLE TAYLOR from the North Side, Samantha Black from the Hill District, and 1-year-old Avaya Collins.

A10

JUNE 19-25, 2019

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

BASH awards scholarships to high school seniors

IN THE PHOTO THE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS—Front row, left to right: Cianni McGhee, Peters Township; Sarah Swift, Peters Township; Torri Finley, Washington; Carley Allen, Washington; Letha Gordon, Washington. Back row, left to right: Nayah Williams, Canon-McMillan; Cerena McBride, Canon-McMillan; Tavia Henderson-Gunn, Canon-McMillan; Justin Stewart, Chartiers Valley; Priya Ray, Canon-McMillan; Briana Thompson, Canon-McMillan; Tiarra Carter-Green, Washington. Not pictured: Reese Samuel, Upper St Clair; Tiger Burkes, Bethel Park. (Photo by Linda McCall) Forty-one years ago, the Black Association of South Hills for Women was formed by a group of African American women who were new to the South Hills and wanted to form relationships with other women of color in the area.

“They also noticed that qualified African American high school graduates were not getting scholarships, thus the implementation of our annual scholarship fundraisers,” said Lynnelle Goins, a member of the BASH Scholarship Committee.

Cianni McGhee, Nayah Williams, and Tiarra Carter-Green are just a few of the scholarship awardees for 2019, and they join a

long list of awardees over the years that have accomplished great feats in their careers.

This year’s reception, held June 9, bestowed 14 high school seniors with scholarships. Goins told the Courier that BASH’s target high schools include Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, South Park, Chartiers Valley, South Fayette, Peters Township, Washington, Trinity, Canon-McMillan, and Chartiers-Houston.

BASH currently has 25 members, Goins said, and women living in those school districts can find out how to join BASH by visiting www.bashforwomen. com.

NORA GREATHOUSE AND LORETTA WILLIAMSON are two of the founding members of BASH. (Photo by Debbie Norrell)

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

‘I value your paper and what I gain from it,’ says local 8th grader Opinion B3

JUNE 19-25, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Classifieds

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

B

Interesting facts and statistics about Black-owned businesses THE PANEL—A. Bruce Crawley, Kerry Kirkland, Doris Carson Williams and Judy McNeil. (Photo by Diane I. Daniels)

Minority business owners face barriers in doing business with the state, study confirms

Where are most Black businesses located?

Black-owned businesses accounted for about 28 percent of all businesses in Washington, DC, the highest ratio in the nation. Second, was the state of Georgia, where 20 percent of businesses were Black-owned, and the state of Maryland, with about 19 percent in Illinois.

The state of New York, however, has the most Blackowned firms at 204,093 but this only accounts for 10.6 percent of the businesses in the state. Second is the state of Georgia, third is the state of Florida, and fourth is the state of Texas with the most Black-owned businesses but not necessarily the highest ratios.

What types of businesses do African Americans own?

Well, it varies, but most offer some type of service, op-

Kerry Kirkland not surprised by findings

by Diane I. Daniels For New Pittsburgh Courier

Information, concerns and suggestions flowed openly during the June 6 Small and Diverse Business Forum hosted by Philadelphia-based AmeriHealth Caritas.

One of three in a series of small and diverse business town hall forums occurring throughout Pennsylvania, the aim was to address access to capital among other challenges for small and minority-owned businesses in the state and region.

Nearly 90 attendees were on hand at the University of Pittsburgh’s William Pitt Union during the two panels moderated

by A. Bruce Crawley, APR, MJ, president, CEO and principal owner of Millennium 3 Management Inc. Addressing the 2018 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Disparity Study and the array of available resources in the area, panelists on the first panel were Kerry Kirkland, deputy secretary for Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities, Pa. Department of General Services; Doris Carson Williams, president and CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania; and Judy McNeil, director of the Diversity Business Resource Center, Riverside Center for Innovation.

Undertaking legislative and financial issues were on the docket for the second panel, consisting of state Reps. Ed Gainey and Jake Wheatley, Professor John

posed to selling products. For instance, nearly 38 percent of Black businesses are in health care and social assistance, repair and maintenance, and personal and laundry services. Other categories include advertising firms, auto dealerships, consulting services, restaurants, beauty care (barbershops/beauty salons), and more.

How many people are employed by Black businesses?

Not very many. Of the 2 million Black businesses, only about 107,000 of them have actual employees. Such firms employ more than 920,000 people with a total annual payroll of $23.9 billion. The other 1.9 million businesses do not have paid employees.

Who are some of the top Black-owned businesses?

There are few Black-owned firm that generate billions of dollars in annual revenue, but many that generate millions. For instance, GlobalHue, an advertising agency in Detroit, Michigan, generated more than $480 million in revenue in 2007. RLJ McLarty Landers Automotive Group, a chain of car dealerships throughout the country, generated more than $540 million in 2007. And, World Wide Technology, a global technology consulting firm and the largest Black-owned business in the country, posted revenues of more than $2 billion.

Why are there so few Black businesses?

It’s true that the numbers should be higher. African Americans make up more than 13 percent of the U.S. population, but only own 7 percent of the businesses there.

The answer to this question will vary depending on whom you ask, but most agree that racism, discrimination and predatory lending are all factors because many aspirKERRY KIRKLAND

SEE BARRIERS B2

SEE FACTS B2

Cassotis talks business opportunities on new terminal project at PowerBreakfast

FLY UNITED—Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis tells the June 14 PowerBreakfast audience that multiple meetings are scheduled to connect Black businesses to the prime contractors for the $1 billion renovation of Pittsburgh International Airport.

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

In introducing Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christine Cassotis, African American Chamber of Commerce President

and CEO Doris Carson Williams said she makes a difference.

“She walks the walk,” said Williams. “She delivers.”

Cassotis then told the Chamber’s June 14 Pow-

erBreakfast audience that she is about to deliver a new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport, and to ensure a higher-than-targeted level of Black-owned business participation in the $1.1 billion project, she and the multiple prime contractors on the team will be meeting with the Chamber. But before that, they’ll go to Homewood, directly to the community.

“We have a (Disadvantaged Business Entity) goal of 14 percent—we look at that as a floor, not a ceiling. And our partners know it,” she said. “This is a really important issue to the team and one I pay attention to. I was just telling Doris we had an audit by the FAA on our DBE program, and I’m proud to say they left with three best practices that they’re taking back to Washington—from us.”

Cassotis said she and her team aren’t interested in “checking the box,” but getting people involved. That means more outreach.

“That means identifying new DBEs who haven’t done business with the air-

port before who may have been trying for 15 years.

I will give you all the access you need. The goal is to capacity-build. Go to our website, we’re going into the community in Home-

wood July 10 and will introduce folks to the prime contractors. We’re here at the Chamber on the 25th.

And on August 27, we’re hosting a vendor product fair at the convention cen-

ter. The goal of this event is to encourage participation from local companies, highlight locally made products.”

SEE CASSOTIS B2

CO-PILOTS—Christina Cassotis poses with African American Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Doris Carson Williams after announcing a special July 25 meeting with Chamber members and the prime contractors who will build the new International Airport terminal. (Photos by J.L. Martello)

B2

BUSINESS

JUNE 19-25, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Minority business owners face barriers, data shows BARRIERS FROM B1

Wallace Jr., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh; and Ron Baldwin, director, Supplier Management and Diversity, AmeriHealth Caritas.

Kirkland described the Disparity Study as one of the most comprehensive studies in the state and possibly the nation because of the inclusion of state and federal programs.

Kirkland said the findings of the study confirm that small, diverse businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community face barriers in their attempts to do business with the state. Kirkland admitted that he wasn’t surprised by the study’s findings.

The primary focus of the study looked at the disparities between the percentage of contract dollars that Department of General Services and PennDOT spent with different groups of SDBs, DBEs and DBs during the study period of July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016 and the percentage of contract dollars that those businesses would be expected to receive based on their availability to perform specific types and sizes of prime and subcontracts.

Williams and McNeil outlined services provided by their organizations.

The Chamber’s mission is to continuously improve

A. BRUCE CRAWLEY business and professional opportunities for African American business owners and professionals.

The Chamber seeks to advance economic parity for the African American business community by ensuring full participation in the public and private sectors throughout the region, guided by the core values of equity in opportunity, economic advancement, self-sufficiency and entrepreneurial excellence.

RCI is a provider of lowcost leasing and a wide variety of services like consulting, office support, technology training programs, aid in commercial real estate transactions and business plan preparation. The company’s mission is to engage in activities that cultivate a healthy environment for the region’s entrepreneurs and small businesses

STATE REPS. JAKE WHEATLEY, ED GAINEY to prosper.

Committed to improving conditions for MWDBEs in the commonwealth, Gainey and Wheatley agree that more than conversations must occur in order to create change. “It seems like there are time frames when we have these conversations about breaking open the doors for minority and disadvantaged businesses and contractors and we have these same ideas. But it’s not the ideas, it’s the implementation and follow through,” Wheatley said.

Wheatley invited entrepreneurs present in the room to attend the annual Small Business Minority and Women-owned “Lobby Day” that takes place in Harrisburg in February.

“We want this issue to stay in people’s minds,” he said.

Gainey pointed out that it is all about will and intent.

“First, the will has to be there in order for the intent to be met. It’s not always about the person but the system. I have learned that if you want to move things you have to move it through the system. The reality is, that the will comes from the top. So, the question is, how do we get there?”

To move things forward, Gainey suggested that business owners from all corners of the state meet on a quarterly basis with Governor Tom Wolf to discuss what is needed in the community to gain access to capital and to address other needs. “We need to have conversations with the leader so that the conversation does not flow up but the procedures flow down so some of the system can change based on what the leader wants from the top,” Gainey said.

America’s economy must better serve Black and Latino communities Anyone who works for a living knows that their money goes a lot quicker than the time it takes to earn it. And for low-to-moderate income workers, the costs of everyday living creep higher and quicker than pay raises or cost-ofliving adjustments.

These and other kitchen table finance concerns are part of why so many consumers turned to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for help.

Since 2011, CFPB returned $12 billion to more than 25 million consumers, remediating the harmful effects of unfair and deceptive practices, as well as discrimination in the financial services sector.

But with a change of administration and key personnel in 2017, CFPB’s monetary relief to consumers plummeted 96 percent. In real numbers, and according to the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), the leadership change went from an average restitution of $59.6 million per class action to $2.4 million on average per case.

CFA also found that in 2018, the number of CFPB enforcement actions declined to only 11, compared to 55 in 2015.

This kind of abdication of public duty hearkens back to the pre-foreclosure financial practices that chose high and risky short-term profits over more modest gains and long-term financial stability. Yet a major demographic shift predicted by the Census Bureau may yet change the minds of financial power houses in recognition of a new reality: By 2044, the nation will be a majority minority nation.

To put it another way, the profits of major financial institutions will be forced to recognize the untapped opportunities that accompany the growth of Black and Brown Americans.

A new research report, jointly published by UNIDOS US (formerly the National Council of La Raza) and PolicyLink, make the case for financial inclusion.

Entitled, The Future of Banking: Overcoming Barriers to Financial Inclusion for Communities of Color, depicts America’s demographic shift as a new, winwin situation.

“For our nation and its economy to thrive, communities of color must access the opportunities they need to live healthy, economical-

ly secure lives and reach their full potential,” states the report. “This is no longer just a moral imperative – it is now crucial to the future of the American economy.”

I heartily agree.

As people of color emerge as a new and more color-

include a range of predatory lending practices ranging from overdraft fees to payday loans.

If however, Blacks and Latinos were to redirect that same $173 billion spent on triple-digit interest and fees, imagine how family budgets could im-

Charlene Crowell

Commentary ful majority, the financial climate is ripe for an unprecedented level of access and opportunities for consumers. Corporate boards and CEOs alike must reckon with the future before them: just how much commerce they have historically ignored or underserved.

For example, according to the joint report, nearly 47 percent of Black households, and 43 percent of Latino households are either unbanked or underbanked.

Nationwide, 63 million adults are unbanked. More than half of the 96 million people whose household incomes are less than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines are also people Unbanked households are ones in which no one has a checking or savings account. Underbanked connotes that someone in the household has a checking are savings account; but still use high-cost alternative financial services like pawn shops, payday loans, car-title loans, and rent-toown stores.

There are also people whose employers do not offer direct deposit of their paychecks. If these workers do not have a checking account, they are forced to rely on fringe financial services.

“In 2017, the unbanked and underbanked low-to-moderate-income populations, and those with little or no credit history, spent more than $173 billion in fees and interest for alternative financial services,” states the report.

Anyone wondering how this huge sum of money could come from the pockets of the working poor and others, should remember the loan shark fees charged

prove, and levels of community economic revitalization would not only change, but be sustained.

Equally important, it is high time that communities of color began valuing the collective purchasing power already in our hands.

Marisabel Torres, Senior Policy Analyst for UnidosUS, would phrase it another way. “Barriers to financial inclusion prevent people from fully participating in the American economy, and the data shows that minority communities struggle to access traditional banking products and services.”

Chris Brown, Director of PolicyLink agreed, adding, “Our findings help illuminate the path forward to banks, fintechs, regulators

and others to collectively begin a race to the top—towards financial inclusion for all –by adequately serving the financial needs of the 63 million people who have been shoved to the sidelines of our economy.”

In order to develop a winwin economic climate, the UNICOS US-PolicyLink report offers several recommendations that include: •A credit rating system that works for all; •Increased products, accessibility and accountability for financial institutions to meet the needs of low-to-moderate income populations; and •Strengthened federal consumer protections for financial products.

“We are pleased to see this report call for stronger enforcement of existing federal consumer protections,” noted Nikitra Bailey, an EVP with the Center for Responsible Lending. “Coupling the proposed actions with more robust enforcement of fair lending laws would be a major change.

Additionally, state consumer protections must be preserved. Together these actions can create a more inclusive financial playing field that ends the disparate outcomes produced in today’s system.”

(Charlene Crowell is the Communications Deputy Director with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.)

Cassotis talks business opportunities to Chamber CASSOTIS FROM B1

The reasons for the project are legion, including: the current terminal was built for USAIR as a hub—before the TSA existed. Since they collapsed in 2007, the building is too big; Pittsburgh is now an origin and destination airport; the train from landside to airside costs $4 million a year; and security is terrible, consolidating airside and landside into one building will allow for more lanes for security checks and a smoother experience.

Cassotis also said the international airport would be building its own electrical microgrid—powered by the natural gas being

extracted below the property—so it can be self-sustaining in the event of broader grid power failures.

“Look, the Marcellus Shale is a big deal, part of the economic diversification of this community,” she said. “The energy industry is incredibly important, and at the airport it’s made a huge difference. That revenue is part of the reason we can do this. It’s been a game-changer for us. It’s one of the reasons I came here because it’s a revenue stream most chief executives don’t have.”

Construction on the new terminal will begin in the fall and is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

JOHN WALLACE

RON BALDWIN

Referring to the existing Pitt Community Engagement Center in Homewood and the upcoming one in the Hill District, Wallace suggested that universities should get more involved in city neighborhoods providing resources to strengthen communities.

A part of AmeriHealth Caritas for over a decade, Baldwin is credited for developing the organization’s diversity program from the ground up. His biography states that he developed strategies and metrics to grow and improve the program which rose diversity spending from three percent of total spending in 2010 to 10 percent in 2016.

Baldwin discussed AmeriHealth Caritas’ Mentor Protégé Program. The program provides minori-

ty-owned businesses with the tools and guidance needed to grow and become stronger, more vibrant partners.

AmeriHealth Caritas labels its organization as one of the nation’s leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 11 states and the District of Columbia, it serves more than five million Medicaid, Medicare, and Children’s Health Insurance Program members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services, and behavioral health services. The company is a mission-driven organization with more than 35 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations.

Interesting facts and statistics about Black-owned businesses FACTS FROM B1

ing Black business owners have been unfairly turned down by banks when applying for small business loans.

Another factor is that there is a lack of economic and business resources in African American communities. This leads to a lack of education on how to properly start and manage a successful business.

Are there resources available to help?

Yes, there are many programs available to assist African Americans and other minorities. Banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America have special lend-

ing programs that make sure that African American business owners are getting the loans they need.

Many non-profit organizations give grants and free training via workshops to minorities. In addition, many Black business events (conferences, workshops, etc) offer unique opportunities for African American professionals to network with key decision makers and others who can be of assistance.

Finally, there are many publications that offer weekly or monthly news and advice for Black and minority business owners.

BUSINESS CALENDAR Duquesne Workshop

JUNE 20—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center presents First Step: Business Start-up Essentials, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15282. The workshop covers several topics, including: Business structure and formation; Fictitious name registration; insurance; employee relations; financing options; taxation requirements and more.

Cost: $25. For more information call 412-396-1633.

Cyber Security Workshop

JUNE 20—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western PA will host a Cyber Security Workshop, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Koppers Building, lower level, conference center room 4, 436 Seventh Ave., Pittsburgh, 15219. Highmark VP and Chief Information Security Officer Omar Khawaja will make a presentation on the latest in protecting against cyberattacks.

Duquesne Workshop

JUNE 26—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center presents QuickBooks Online, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15282.

The session, led by Alicia Davis of Dennis Piper & Associates will cover: product overview; setting up files; navigating; recording transactions; generating reports, and more. Cost: $35. For more information call 412-396-1633.

QuickBooks Advanced Workshop

JULY 10 and JULY 17—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present a two-day QuickBooks Advanced workshop, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. both days, 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15282. These sessions are for QuickBooks PC users experienced with the software who would like to learn advanced functions such as setting up payroll, managing sales tax, and more. The cost for both sessions is $90. For more information, call 412-396-1633.

Chatham Workshop

AUG. 10—Chatham’s Women Business Center in partnership with SCORE Pittsburgh will present a Build Your Business Workshop for women interested in starting or expanding their business, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Eastside Campus, 6585 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh 15206. Business experts and seasoned entrepreneurs will discuss the following topics: business planning, marketing and sales, financing, legal issues and business lessons learned. A continental breakfast will be provided.

Cost: $10. For more information, call Anne Flynn Schlicht at 412-365-1448.

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JUNE 19-25, 2019 B3

Donald Trump confuses bluster with strength on trade

Guest Editorial

A troubling report on nursing homes The idea of choosing a nursing home for a loved one is something that many families don’t even want to consider at first, and once they decide to go forward, choosing a home that offers the best care can be difficult.

Families need all the information they can get to make the right decision during this emotional time. While there are many good nursing homes that offer quality care, families need information on which nursing homes to avoid.

That’s why a report released June 3 on nursing homes is so important.

Following an inquiry by Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey into under-performing nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) handed over an unreleased list of facilities with documented patterns of poor care.

The report reveals that the federal government for years has kept secret the names of hundreds of nursing homes around the country found by inspectors to have serious ongoing health, safety or sanitary problems.

Nearly 400 facilities nationwide had a “persistent record of poor care” as of April, according to the report.

Those problem nursing homes account for about 3% of the nursing homes caring for about 1.3 million Americans nationwide.

Casey and Toomey said secrecy undermines the federal commitment to ensure transparency for families struggling to find nursing homes for loved ones and raises questions about why the names of some homes are not disclosed while others are publicly identified.

“We’ve got to make sure any family member or any potential resident of a nursing home can get this information, not only ahead of time but on an ongoing basis,” Casey said.

“When a family makes the hard decision to seek nursing home services for a loved one, they deserve to know if a facility under consideration suffers from systemic shortcomings,” Toomey said.

In a letter last month to Casey, CMS Administrator Seema Verma singled out federal budget problems as a factor.

“The total number of (special focus) slots and total number of (special focus) candidates nationally are based on the availability of federal resources,” Verma wrote. She added that as recently as 2010, there was room for 167 nursing homes in the special focus program and 835 candidates. That’s now down to as many as 88 special focus slots and up to 440 candidates.

She said federal budget cuts in 2014 reduced the number of available slots.

The Trump administration has asked Congress for more money for health care inspections, but the final amount and how it will distributed remain unclear.

CMS said its starred ratings on the Nursing Home Compare website are already the best yardstick “for consumers to understand and use.” About 2,900 nursing homes have the lowest one-star overall rating.

Casey, a Democrat, and Toomey, a Republican, should be commended for working in a bipartisan effort to call into question the government’s commitment to families going through the difficult process of finding a nursing home for a loved one and increasing transparency and accountability of nursing homes.

While the report was deeply troubling, it is important and necessary information. The senators have provided an important public service.

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)

Founded 1910

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

to respect a treaty that ensures Iran cannot revive a nuclear weapons program. His bellicose bluster and military maneuvers against Iran have earned the rebuke of European allies warning against the threat of hostilities.

Instead of removing us from the endless “stupid wars” that he campaigned against, he’s gone all in with Saudi Arabia, sustaining troops in Afghanistan, Syria, escalating tensions with Iran, and vetoing the bipartisan congressional resolution seeking an end to our shameful complicity in the Saudi assault on Yemen. His solo act on North Korea blew up in his face in the failed summit leaving South Korea to pick up the pieces, if that’s possible.

He’s ratcheted up the economic sanctions against Venezuela, adding to the miseries of the people there, while the regime-change efforts orchestrated by his aides violate both decency and international law.

The United States is a powerful nation. Our economy represents about one fourth of the global GDP. Our military is the strongest in the world. Our network of alliances is unrivaled.

Our culture—movies, language, currency—spread across the world.

But we are not an indispensable nation or all powerful. Acting sensibly with allies, we can have immense influence. Acting erratically alone, we make ourselves weaker, not stronger.

Bluster is not strength. Isolation is not freedom. Lawless impulse is not strategy. Trump’s posturing is making us weaker, not stronger.

Jesse Jackson Sr.

Commentary Yet instead of enlisting allies in challenging the Chinese practices, Trump slapped tariffs on Canada and Mexico, on Europe, Japan and South Korea. He’s on the verge of alienating Australia, which has been a staunch ally in relation to China. Instead of isolating China, he’s isolating the United States. Now the Europeans are ignoring U.S. warnings about the Chinese hightech company Huawei’s 5G system.

Trump trumpeted his NAFTA 2.0 agreement with Mexico and Canada as a great success.

Yet, he suddenly threatened to slap escalating tariffs on Mexican imports unless that country cracks down on the people traveling from Central America to seek asylum in the U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, warns this could torpedo any possibility of passing the treaty.

Trump isn’t just isolating the U.S., he’s isolating himself. Trump moved to take the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord that includes virtually every country in the world.

He’s repudiated the Iran Nuclear Deal, spurning the pleas of our allies

A moral agenda (TriceEdneyWire.com)—A few days ago, I had the opportunity to participate in the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Along with Jerry Paris (GM of WPFW-FM 89.3) and Rev. Graylan Hagler, I was invited to co-anchor the program carried by WPFW-FM radio. The campaign is based on fundamental rights that all human beings should enjoy. Rev. Dr. William Barber is the leader with the moral authority to conduct this action. At the meeting and March to the White House, Rev. Barber spoke to a large, enthusiastic and diverse crowd at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. Prior the meeting in Washington, the campaign had reached out to more than 30 states, meeting with thousands of people, witnessing the strength of their moral courage. The group collected testimonies from hundreds of poor people and chronicled their demands for a better society.

They’ve witnessed the struggles of the poor and dispossessed.

It has been documented how the group came to the current point.

Documentation reveals the evils of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, and the war economy and militarism that are persistent, pervasive and perpetuated by a distorted moral narrative that must be challenged. It indicates that those who refuse to see these injustices and acknowledge the human and economic costs of inequality must be challenged. The action in Washington was a great step toward challenging these conditions.

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary

together and allows us all to build thriving communities in the country we call home.

6. Particular attention be paid to data concerning First Nations, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, LGBTQIA and disabled people regarding poverty.

7. Change in the current poverty standards to get an accurate assessment of who is poor—based on access to decent and adequate housing, education, health care, water, sanitation and public utilities, childcare, as well as income, savings and debt, and social welfare—and that’s made widely available to all.

Fifty years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign declared “Silence is betrayal” the group’s message is “We are coming together to break the silence about the interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and our distorted moral narrative…if silence was betrayal in 1968, revival is necessary today. We’ve come to remind our nation what truths we hold to be self-evident and what values we hold dear. We draw on the histories of resistance… and the power of the blood that has been shed through generations of struggle. We loudly proclaim that we will move forward together, not one step back!” These declarations are something about which all of us should care about and want to be involved. (See https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/demands for more information.)

A moral agenda was issued and I will share just a sampling of the demands the group has adopted.

1. Full restoration and expansion of the Voting Rights Act, an end to racist gerrymandering and redistricting, early registration at age 17, automatic voting registration at the age of 18, early voting in every state, same-day registration, enactment of Election Day as a holiday with a verifiable paper record, as well the right to vote for currently and formerly incarcerated.

2. Statehood, voting rights and representation for the more than 690,000 people in Washington D.C. 3. Implementation of federal and state living wage laws that are commensurate for the 21st century economy, guaranteed annual incomes, full employment, right for all workers to form and join unions, end to anti-union and anti-workers’ rights laws in states, equal pay wage and relief from wealth inequality.

4. End inequalities for Back, brown and poor White people within the criminal justice system.

5. An immigration system that, instead of criminalizing people for try(Dr. E. Faye Williams is president of the Naing to raise their families, prioritizes family reunification, keeps families tional Congress of Black Women.)

Letter To The Editor

‘I value your paper and what I gain from it’ Dear Editor: My name is Owen Chaffin. I am 14 years old and live in Bethel Park. I am just finishing 8th grade and am homeschooled by my mom, Mary Alice Chaffin.

As part of my 8th grade curriculum, we subscribed to your newspaper, the New Pittsburgh Courier, to read during the school year. Our objectives were to 1. Support local journalism. 2.

Learn to consume news from a physical newspaper rather than on-line and TV media sources. 3. To learn more about people and communities that may be different than my own.

My mom and I both agree that we not only met those goals but have surpassed them.

This year I have read and learned a lot about our Pittsburgh community thanks to reporters like Christian Morrow and Rob Taylor Jr. I look for their bylines and have confidence in their reporting, especially their cov-

erage concerning Antwon Rose Jr. I especially like the “This Week in Black History” feature where I have a chance to learn interesting facts that I was not aware of. Some of them have inspired me to research more about a person or event. Probably the most thoughtful part of your paper for me has been the Forum section. It’s really opened my eyes to other opinions and ways of looking at things. I especially look forward to J. Pharoah Doss and Dr. E. Faye Williams’ pieces. I may not always agree with the commentaries in the Courier but it definitely helps me think harder and smarter about subjects that I don’t have experience with. I like the business section, the voter guides, learning about the Pittsburgh Women and Men of Excellence and the ongoing coverage about things like the countywide citizen review board and the McKeesport Black Student Union. I’ve also attended events that I learned about in the paper.

Technically, this homeschool newspaper unit is over for me now. But I am renewing our subscription because I value your paper and what I gain from it. In our house we have a saying or motto, “Learn not for school, but for life.”

As a White kid from the suburbs, it’s important to me that I keep learning about current events in the African American community that I maybe wouldn’t understand or learn about without help from the Courier. This is learning that will help me beyond just school and well into life.

Thank you to you and your staff for the hard work it takes to put out a quality publication that brings us weekly local Pittsburgh news and continues to carry out your historical mission. We appreciate you.

Owen Chaffin Bethel Park PS: More Pirates coverage, please!

Let’s Go Bucs!

Letters to the editor for publication

Allison Palm

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—For Donald Trump, America First is increasingly translating into America alone. He apparently believes that the United States is so dominant that it needs no friends. Trump prefers to act alone, often on impulse, in conflicts across the globe. He views allies as a burden, international law as an affront. He claims that America is back, more respected than ever. In fact, it is becoming more isolated than ever.

The New York Times reports that Trump was ready to impose tariffs on Australia recently, to counter a surge of aluminum imports to the United States, to all of 6 percent of total U.S. imports. Fierce opposition from the military and State Department led the White House to reconsider. Trump has launched a long overdue challenge to our trading relationship with China.

Our trade deficits with China have been the largest between two countries in recorded history.

The Chinese have been masterful mercantilists, manipulating their currency and conditions to capture jobs, expand exports and build their industries. The U.S.—with our trade policies defined by global corporations and banks—has been willing to allow U.S. companies to ship jobs abroad to take advantage of suppressed labor and lax environmental and consumer standards, and then ship goods back to the U.S. Profit margins and CEO pay soared; workers and communities in the U.S took it on the chin. The relationship had to change.

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

CLASSIFIED New Pittsburgh Courier

B4

JUNE 19-25, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Help Wanted

Public Notice

MORNING RADIO NEWS EDITOR/PRODUCER

PUBLIC NOTICE OPENING OF WAITING LISTS

Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting is an independent, locally owned, community-supported public media organization and is Pittsburgh’s NPR News station, 90.5 WESA and 91.3 WYEP, Pittsburgh’s Adult Alternative Music. PCBC is seeking a Morning Radio News Editor/Producer to join its team.

This position will produce Morning Edition on WESA and is full-time, exempt. For complete job description and to apply, go to: pittsburgh communitybroadcasting.org/ and follow the employment link. Please no phone calls. PCBC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively seeks diversity in its workforce.

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.’s Pittsburgh, PA, office seeks Manager Site Performance and Latency to establish & administer a standardized view of how its digital sites & services perform in terms of speed, availability & security in comparison w/ industry standards. Send CV w/ cover letter, references, & salary requirements to: American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., Attn: Sarah Lauterbach, Re: Manager Site Performance and Latency, 77 Hot Metal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

HELP WANTED

TITLE: PBIS Manager & Coach REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer SALARY RANGE: $42,000 $45,000 JOB FUNCTION: To maintain an effective school-wide PBIS system, the PBIS Manager & Coach will be responsible for the overall management of the Urban Academy’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program including providing training, coaching, and technical assistance to school faculty and staff, support personnel and families.

MORE INFORMATION: Please send a resume and letter of interest to jobs@urbanacademypgh.org to receive the complete job description.

PEDIATRIC HEPATOLOGIST, DIRECTOR

University of Pittsburgh Physicians seeks a Pediatric Hepatologist, Director to serve as Medical Director and lead administrator for hepatology within the Department of Pediatrics and the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, including oversight of 5 physicians, 1 nurse practitioner and 3 specialists; provide care and advice for children following liver transplantation and intestinal transplant surgery; lead an active research program with ongoing participation in clinical research studies including those for fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis and biliary atresia. Apply expertise to ensure that clinical best practices are employed throughout the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, to include overseeing the clinical protocols used, assessment of those protocols for improvements, quality assurance, inpatient and outpatient consult protocols and implementation of any changes necessary to the division’s services to ensure our patients receive the highest degree of care. Requirements: medical degree; 5 years of experience as a pediatric hepatologist, including at least 2 years of clinical management of a hospital’s pediatric liver transplantation unit.

Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers.upmc.com and enter 190000KO in the “Search Keyword/Job ID” field and click Go. EOE/Disability/Veteran.

Effective at the start of the business day Friday, June 14, 2019, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) will open the waiting lists for the Project Based Voucher Site Based Community: •Miller Street Apartments – (one (1) and two (2) bedroom only) – 328 Miller Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Not all households will be eligible for a one (1) or two (2) bedroom unit, as the age, gender and relationships of household members affect the number of bedrooms for which a household is eligible. Income and eligibility restrictions of the Housing Choice Voucher Program apply.

Not all units at this location are served by these waiting lists; additional units with different requirements may be available directly from the location’s management office.

Pre-applications can be submitted in person to the HACP Occupancy Department between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., mailed to the address below, or faxed to 412456-5182. For information about obtaining a pre-application for Miller Street Apartments, please contact the Occupancy Department at 412-456-5030.

Position on the waiting list will be determined based upon the date and time stamp received once the completed pre-application is submitted to the Occupancy Department.

As six (6) of the units available meet the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), persons/ families that require the features of a wheelchair accessible unit are highly encouraged to apply. Please be advised that part of HACP’s eligibility determination process includes the provisions of its reasonable accommodation policy, requiring persons/families to request an accommodation to qualify a person/family for a wheelchair accessible unit. For more information on HACP’s reasonable accommodation policy and qualification for a wheelchair accessible unit, please contact the Disability Compliance Office at 412-456-5282.

Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations to submit a pre-application can contact the HACP’s Disability Compliance Office at 412-456-5282. For those that are deaf or hard of hearing, you can also contact HACP at TDD: 412-201-5384.

This event is for Project Based Vouchers for Miller Street Apartments ONLY and is completely separate from the HACP Housing Choice Voucher and Low Income Public Housing Programs.

CLOSING OF WAITING LISTS Effective Monday, June 24, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., the HACP will close the following Project Based Voucher Program waiting lists: •Sandstone Quarry Apartments (one (1), two (2) and three (3) bedroom).

No pre-applications will be accepted for these waiting lists after the closing date and time. Public Notice will be provided when the HACP determines to re-open these waiting lists.

The Housing Authority of the City Of Pittsburgh Occupancy Department 100 Ross Street – 4th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice

ELEVATIONS BOUTIQUE SCHEDULED TO OPEN OCTOBER 1, 2019 10 DUFF ROAD, STE. 102 PENN HILLS, PA 15235 LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of AMY ELIZABETH STAIGER, Deceased of Carnegie, Allegheny County Pennsylvania No. 02-19-03487. Robert R. Staiger, Administrator, 669 Little Sewickley Creek Road, Sewickley, PA 15143 or to Robin L. Rarie, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of ANNA MAE MUFFI, Deceased of Pittsburgh. No. 021903728 of 2019. Benita Muffi, Administrator or to c/o Jacqueline H. Brangard, Esquire, Scolieri Law Group, P.C. Atty; 1207 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, Pitsburgh, PA 15219 Estate of ALBERT J. CARLES, Deceased, of Pittsburgh, No. 021903736 of 2019 Anthony M. Carles Extr. Or to c/o Jacqueline H. Brangard, Esquire, Scolieri Law Group, P.C., 1207 Fifthe Avenue, Suite 200, Pttsburgh,PA 15219

Estate of RICHARD E. FERRI A/K/A RICHARD FERRI, Deceased of Borough of Carnegie, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. No. 02-1903672 Dolores G. Zuppello, Executor, 1300 Bower Hill Road, Apt. 1120, Pittsburgh, PA 15243 or to TODD A. FULLER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of MR. MARK W. GRIMM, Deceased of 2115 Montour Street Extension, Moon Township, PA 15108. Estate No. 02-19-03709 Ms. Catherine Anne Grimm, 2115 Montour Street Extention, Moon Township, PA 15108, Administrator, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108

Estate of WILLIAM L. BANN, Deceased, of Shaler Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. No. 02-19-03874 William M. Bann Executor, 1814 Hartford Path, The Villages, FL 32162 or to Aubrey H. Glover, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017.

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of ROSALIE CIBULA, Deceased, case No. 2860 of 2019: Notice is hereby given that on April 30, 2019, a petition was filed by Lynn Cibula, to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Rosalie Cibula, deceaded, in the real estate located at 4548 Gates Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15120, and determine that fee simple title is in Lynn Cibula. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within 30 days, Lynn Bibula will seek and Order adjudging that Rosalie Cibula’s title is in Lynn Cibula.

SONNY BOY

4 9 5

0 3 2

1 8 7

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Bids/Proposals

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

June 19, 2019 City of Pittsburgh-Office of Management and Budget 200 Ross Street 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 412-255-2211 This notice shall satisfy procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Pittsburgh.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or about July 8, 2019 the City of Pittsburgh will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to release federal funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as amended for a real estate project. The structure located at 147 Winslow Street will be demolished to clear the site for a future mixed-income mixed-use development. The building is described as a two-family home that contains approximately 1,539 square feet. The 147 Winslow Street site is needed for a future development that includes a school building located at 540 Larimer Avenue with an adjacent auditorium and gymnasium. The school building will be developed into 35 mixed-income housing units. The gymnasium and auditorium will be White Boxed for future commercial development spaces. Each commercial space is approximately 3,000 square feet.

The 147 Winslow Street site will be used for parking for the development.

The development also includes seven (7) townhouse units to be built on Winslow Street. There will be a total of 45 parking spaces. Twenty-seven (27) parking spaces will be designated for the housing units and 18 parking spaces will be designated for the commercial development.

The developer will be a Limited Partnership to be formed by McCormack Baron Salazar as managing general partner with majority ownership and Allies and Ross Management Development Corporation as party to the general partner. The Federal funding source to be used to demolish 147 Winslow Street will be Community Development Block Grant funds. The proposed CDBG funding year is 2018. The projected cost of the demolition is $80,000.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The City of Pittsburgh has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at 200 Ross Street, 2ND Floor Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 and may be examined or copied weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to: Gerald Cafardi City of Pittsburgh, 200 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 255-2211 All comments received by July 5, 2019, will be considered by the City of Pittsburgh prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of Pittsburgh certifies to HUD that William Peduto in his capacity as Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Urban Redevelopment Authority to use development funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Pittsburgh certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Pittsburgh; (b) the City of Pittsburgh has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Planning and Development Division The Moorhead Federal Building 1000 Liberty Ave.-10th floor Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222 Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

William Peduto Mayor City of Pittsburgh LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed bids will be received in the Bellefield Avenue Lobby, Administration Building, 341 South Bellefield Avenue until 11:00 A.M. prevailing time June 25, 2019 and will be opened at the same hour for the purchase of the following equipment and supplies: Custodial Small Equipment Custodial Paper Products Custodial Chemicals/Soaps Window Cleaning General Information regarding bids may be obtained at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Service Center, 1305 Muriel Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. The bid documents are available on the School District’s Purchasing web site at: www.pgh schools.org Click on Our Community; Bid Opportunities; Purchasing - under Quick Links.

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

We are an equal rights and opportunity school district

ADVERTISEMENT

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: RFP – 3116 Budgeting Software Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Tuesday, July 2, 2019 The CCAC Purchasing Department publishes all bids and RFPs via the CCAC website at https:// www.ccac.edu/Bid-RFP_Oppor tunities.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 submittal 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 County is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and encourages bids from Minority/Disadvantaged owned businesses.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR ARLINGTON HEIGHTS DRAINAGE II, AMP-04 IFB #600-18-19

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH will receive sealed bids for the Arlington Heights Drainage II, AMP-04.

The construction work is estimated to begin in September of 2019.

Bid Documents will be available on or about Monday, June 17, 2019 and may be obtained from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s webpage, www.hacp. org. Bidders may register on the website and download the bid documents free of charge. Electronic versions of the Bid Documents, including bid forms, project manual, and drawings can be picked up in person, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Mr. Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement/ Chief Contracting Officer A Pre-Bid Conference and Site Visit will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.: Arlington Heights 3123 Cordell Place Pittsburgh, PA 15210 A site visit will be conducted thereafter. Bidders shall come prepared to review all aspects of the construction site necessary to prepare a bid.

Bids will be received at: HACP Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Attn: Mr. Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement/ Chief Contracting Officer until 2:00 p.m. July 22, 2019 at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITAY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1715 G-E

The Sports & Exhibition Authority will receive sealed bids for Wastewater Treatment Plant- Fire Alarm Panel Replacement as identified below for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The contract for this work will be with the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to the Sports & Exhibition Authority 171 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attention: Ryan Buries- E-mail: rburies@ pittsburghcc.com, Telephone: 412325-6179. Bid Packages may be obtained after the date identified below through Accu-Copy at (724) 935-7055. Additional information on the project can also be found of Accu-Copy’s website at https:// accu-copy.com/plan-room This Advertisement applies to the following Bid Package: Project: David L Lawrence Convention Center Bid Package Name: DLCC- Fire Alarm Panel Replacement Bid Package Available: June 12, 2019 Approximate Value: $100,000 Time/Date/Location for Pre-Bid Meeting*: 11:00am, Wednesday, June 19, 2019, David Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Time/Date/Location for Bid: 1:30 PM, Thursday, June 27, 201 David Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

SEPARATE and SEALED BIDS for the following solicitation, will be received by the Office of Procurement, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 1200 Penn Ave., Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, until 2:00 PM Prevailing Time July 16, 2019.

INVITATIONS FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR THE WOODS RUN STREAM REMOVAL PHASE 1 – RIVERVIEW AVENUE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PWSA PROJECT NO. 2017-424-108-0 Work under this contract includes the installation of an integrated green infrastructure (GI) system comprising of a bio-swale, and above-ground and subsurface infiltration BMPs as shown on the design drawings. This includes excavation work, protecting existing utilities, installation of storm conveyance piping, installation of BMP storage layers (#57 aggregate or modular storage), cored connections into catch basins, and plantings of trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials. The work will include the installation of new catch basins, and associated connections to existing surface drainage and PWSA collection systems.

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation that can be obtained by sending an e-mail to procurement@pgh2o.com. There will be no charge for the solicitation, as it will be sent via e-mail.

All questions relating to the solicitation itself shall be to Thoryn Simpson, Sr. Contract Specialist, via email: tsimpson@pgh2o.com, no later than July 9, 2019.

A Voluntary Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on June 26, 2019, 10:00 a.m. prevailing Time in the Authority’s conference room located at 1200 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. The purpose of this meeting is to give an overview of the contract requirements and to allow Bidders to ask questions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

JUNE 19-25, 2019

Sealed Bids for CONTRACT 1715G: Temporary Sodium Hypochlorite Storage and Feed System-General, Contract 1715-E: Temporary Sodium Hypochlorite Storage and Feed System-Electrical shall be received at the office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233, until 1:30 P.M., Prevailing Time, Thursday, July 25, 2019 and then shall be publicly opened and read.

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

A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held at the Authority’s Plant on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. Prevailing Time. Prospective bidders are encouraged to attend the PreBid Conference.

Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the office of the Authority. A non-refundable fee of $100.00 (no cash credit cards will be accepted) will be charged for each set of contracts Documents received. Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Bid Price.

Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be submitted in writing to Jeffrey S. Mazza, P.E., Mechanical Engineer at jeffrey. mazza@alcosan.org.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Kimberly Kennedy, P.E. Director of Engineering and Construction

INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

SEPARATE and SEALED BIDS for the following solicitation, will be received by the Office of Procurement, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 1200 Penn Ave., Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, until 2:00 PM Prevailing Time July 12, 2019.

INVITATIONS FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR THE 2019 SAW MILL RUN STREAMBANK RESTORATION PROJECT PWSA PROJECT NO. 2018-GI-107-0 Work under this contract includes repairing eroding sections of Saw Mill Run’s streambanks at two different locations in order to restore several Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) outfalls that discharge directly into Saw Mill Run. All bids must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation that can be obtained by sending an e-mail to procurement@pgh2o. com. There will be no charge for the solicitation, as it will be sent via e-mail. All questions relating to the solicitation itself shall be to Thoryn Simpson, Senior Contract Specialist, via e-mail: tsimpson@pgh2o. com, no later than June 28, 2019.

A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on June 26, 2019, 11:00 a.m. prevailing Time in the Authority’s conference room located at 1200 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. The purpose of this meeting is to give an overview of the contract requirements and to allow Bidders to ask questions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

B5

SONNY BOY

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1708

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1711

Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1708 – Furnish and Install ERF Air Compressors shall be received at the of Engineering Department office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 until 2:00 P.M., Prevailing Time Thursday, July 18, 2019 and then publicly opened and read aloud.

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

Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the office of the Authority for $100.00 (nonrefundable and no cash or credit cards will be accepted). Bid Security shall be furnished by Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Bid Price.

A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held at the ALCOSAN New O&M Auditorium, located at 3300 Preble Avenue, on Thursday, June 26, 2019 at 1:30 P.M., Prevailing Time.

Bidders are encouraged to attend, however they are not required to have a qualified representative attend the Prebid meeting to be eligible to bid on this contract.

Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed, in writing, to Mr. Dustin Copenhaver, Project Engineer I, by email to Dustin.Copenhaver@alcosan. org, or by phone to (412) 732-8012, or fax to (412) 7348716.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Kimberly Kennedy, P.E. Director, Engineering and Construction

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR LAUNDRY MACHINE SERVICES FOR HACP COMMUNITIES RFP #250-11-19

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): LAUNDRY MACHINE SERVICES FOR ALL HACP COMMUNITIES RFP #250-11-19 The documents will be available no later than June 17, 2019 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 11:00 a.m. on July 12, 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 15219 June 28, 2019 11:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1711 – ANNUAL INTERCEPTOR CLEANING CONTRACT shall be received at the Engineering Department office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 11:00 a.m., Prevailing Time, Wednesday, July 3, 2019, and then publicly opened and read aloud. A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held at the Authority’s O&M Building, Conference Room 106, on Monday, June 24, 2019 at 10:00 a.m., Prevailing Time. Attendance at this meeting is mandatory.

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

Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the office of the Authority. A non- refundable fee of $100 (no cash will be accepted) will be charged for each set of Contract Documents. Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Bid Price.

Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed to Mr. Shawn McWilliams, Civil Engineer by email to shawn. mcwilliams@alcosan.org, by fax to (412)734-6209 or by phone at (412)732-8053.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Jan M. Oliver Director, Regional Conveyance

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR INSPECTION, TESTING, AND MAINTENANCE OF FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS AUTHORITY WIDE IFB#300-25-19

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Fire Sprinkler Systems Authority Wide IFB#300-25-19 The documents will be available no later than June 17, 2019 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 11:00 A.M. on July 9, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, at which time they will be opened and read aloud.

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

HACP.org.

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

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 June 26, 2019 11:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS

ADVERTISEMENT

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 Proposal No. 1053 – ASPHALT AND CONCRETE REPAIRS ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 The CCAC Purchasing Department publishes all bids and RFPs via the CCAC website at https:// www.ccac.edu/Bid-RFP_Oppor tunities.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 submittal 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 County is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and encourages bids from Minority/Disadvantaged owned businesses.

INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

SEPARATE and SEALED BIDS for the following solicitation, will be received by the Office of Procurement, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 1200 Penn Ave., Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, until 2:00 PM Prevailing Time July 17, 2019.

INVITATIONS FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR THE STORMWATER CCTV AND INVESTIGATIVE WORK PWSA PROJECT NO. 2019-OPS-113-0 Work under this contract includes the NASSCO PACP and LACP-compliant pipe inspection and assessment using CCTV, NASSCO MACP-compliant Level 1 manhole inspection and assessment, and source investigation of dry weather flows in the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority public storm sewer system including public storm pipes, storm inlets, catch basins, and laterals as required or directed.

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation that can be obtained by sending an e-mail to procurement@pgh2o.com. There will be no charge for the solicitation, as it will be sent viae-mail. All questions relating to the solicitation itself shall be to Thoryn Simpson, Sr. Contract Specialist, via e-mail: tsimpson@pgh2o.com, no later than July 10, 2019.

A voluntary Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on June 27, 2019, 11:00 a.m. prevailing time in the Authority’s conference room located at 1200 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. The purpose of this meeting is to give an overview of the contract requirements and to allow Bidders to ask questions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

B6

FORUM

JUNE 19-25, 2019 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

A tale of two graduations (TriceEdneyWire.com)—I love graduations! I thoroughly enjoy the sense of achievement and possibility that permeates the air. Graduations signify an ending, but the term “commencement” is used to signify beginnings since they are not only an opportunity to mark completion, but also to mark the beginning of a new chapter of life. In some ways, commencements, regardless of the college or university, with the pomp and circumstance, the ritual robes, the rousing speeches, the tearful families. The two commencements I attended during this graduation season shared those characteristics, but in many ways, they could not have been more different.

I attended the commencement at the University of the District of Columbia because my dear friend and fearless leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson received an honorary degree. Congresswoman Maxine Waters also received an honorary degree and delivered the commencement address. Nearly a month later, I attended the commencement ceremony at Dartmouth College, where my beloved godson, Matthew Elijah Brown, earned his undergraduate degree.

Dartmouth is located in bucolic Hanover, New Hampshire, miles away from anything that resembles an urban space (Boston is more than two hours away).

Its student body is overwhelmingly White, with nonwhite students (which includes African American, Latin, Asian American, Native American, and others) representing less than 15 percent of the population. The cost of attendance at Dartmouth exceeds $60,000. UDC an urban, land-grant HBCU, has several campuses, including a flagship campus in upper Northwest, DC and a community college not too far from Union Sta-

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary tion. Its student body is predominately minority. Tuition at the flagship campus is a bit over $5000. Most UDC students are part-time students; most Dartmouth students attend full-time. The UDC student body is predominately female, while Dartmouth didn’t admit its first women to the college until 1973.

While Congresswoman Waters was the commencement speaker at UDC, the cellist Yo-Yo Ma was the commencement speaker at Dartmouth. I’m not sure what my expectations were of the cellist, but he exceeded them! He delivered provocative and challenging remarks in a still, soothing voice, reminding students that they have a power that should never be abused. He challenged students to be human beings before they are professionals or careerists. Most interestingly, he urged stillness. He said, “Learn to listen to the voice in the wilderness. Learn to be the voice in the wilderness.” What a message to give a group of young people who will easily earn six figures upon graduation, many headed to Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and the venture capital world! If I didn’t know any better, the gentle Yo-Yo Ma could have been delivering a rebuke to the current inhabitant of the House that Enslaved People Built and the many other conformists who do not embrace the value of humanity.

“Practice your humanity daily,” the cellist said. He offered solid and stirring advice in an extremely graceless age.

And then he played the cello.

While Yo-Yo Ma didn’t mention the name of the cretin in the House that Enslaved People Built, Maxine Waters, calling for activism certainly did. Like YoYo Ma, she encouraged students to find their voices. The fiery Congresswoman urged them to activism. She took on hypocrisy in tones far more strident than Yo Yo Ma’s, but she was equally inspirational. And while Yo Yo Ma didn’t tackle public policy much, Waters did, focusing on the oppressive legislation that has been characteristic of this administration.

The similarity in the two commencement addresses lay in the call for self-awareness, disruption, humanity, and focus. While many students don’t remember their commencement speaker, it is unlikely that students at either UDC or Dartmouth will forget the speakers they experienced. And while the students may are demographically different, one can hope that the call to “practice humanity” is one that will be heeded. It is, perhaps a sign of the times, that graduates have to be urged to practice humanity, but so much of our world is inhumane, placing profits over people, that the admonition is appropriate.

There are more than 4000 four-year colleges and universities in our nation.

The students graduating from Dartmouth and UDC represent a small fraction of the total. The UDC students, many nontraditional, are more likely to shoulder student debt than the Dartmouth students. But both sets of students will face challenges, and both have the responsibility, as Maxine Waters urged, to find a cause and tackle it.

And, in the words of Yo-Yo Ma, to “practice humanity.”

(Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist.)

Three Presbyterian ministers personify genuine leadership There exists est and most powerful throughout Alleghemen in America, but Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick ny County an unbecause daddy had believable number prepared me, I was of churches, which never intimidated or consist of a multitude in awe of any of them. of denominations.

I have always known It came to mind one who I was and truly day that three of the knew that I served most involved minisan all-powerful God. ters, were out front, I truly understand particularly during the heights of the civil that as I write about my father, there rights movement, they were Rev. Leroy exists untold numbers of readers who can Patrick, Rev. Jimmie Joe Robinson and identify with my situation. I recollect a Rev. Johnnie Monroe. All three were of the number of years ago we were in a meetPresbyterian faith. ing and the question arose, who was the These three men come to mind because most influential man in our lives, and it is a weekly occurrence that there are the names of the national and internalists of persons who are referred to as tional figures surfaced—Malcolm X, Dr. leaders. How do we make the determiMartin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, nation who qualifies as a leader, what Paul Robeson, Congressman Rev. Adam makes a man or woman a leader? We Clayton Powell. They all deserved to be often refer to sports figures, politicians, referred to as great, but I was the only self-appointed or appointed by outsiders, one to state my daddy. as leaders. We should pay homage to The telephone rang at 7 a.m. Sunthose persons who truly made a differday, Father’s Day, and it was my oldest ence and we are proud to stand on their nephew calling from Detroit to wish shoulders. This column was written this me a happy Father’s Day, and over the past Sunday, on Father’s Day, and I can’t course of the day, my daughters, nieces, think of a more significant day to write nephews, grandchildren, great grandit on. children called as well. Over the course Daddy was truly my leader and instilled of my life I have done the best that I in me the importance of self-worth and can, because I have always wanted my the absolute belief in myself that I was family to love and respect me as I did somebody, no better than anyone else, but my father.

(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a contributor to the New just as good. As I was introduced into politics, I was introduced to some of the rich- Pittsburgh Courier.)

To Tell The Truth

Baltimore: Guns down, gloves up?

Here are two difBaltimore’s mayferent responses to or, Jack Young, said, J. Pharoah Doss weekend violence.

“Gun violence has The first response was been plaguing the considered insensicity for the last 10 tive and the second years. The murder response has been rate in this city and viewed as innovative. non-fatal shootings Chicago have increased. I’m Between 3 p.m. Frinot happy with it.” In response to a consenday, Aug. 3, 2018 and sus for new methods 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 6, 2018, 12 people were killed and 63 peo- to reduce gun violence, Mayor Young has ple were wounded. At the resulting news proposed boxing matches. The mayor said, “We can have them in the civic cenconference, Chicago’s then-mayor Rahm ter, put a boxing ring up and let them box Emanuel warned the press his comit out…the best man wins and the beef ments “may not be politically correct,” should be over.” then stated, “we can’t shy away from a “Guns Down, Gloves Up” is trending on full discussion about the importance of Twitter. family and faith helping to develop and One enthusiastic supporter said, “That is nurture character, self-respect, and a the best idea ever, because right now these value system and a moral compass that kids don’t even know how to fight!” This allows kids to know good from bad and supporter doesn’t realize the mayor is not right from wrong.” Mayor Emanuel also starting a boxing program where kids will urged local residents to “be a neighbor,” learn the sport. The mayor is just providto “speak up,” and help law enforcement ing a place where disputes can be settled pursue gang members, drug dealers, and without guns in order to bring down the killers. homicide statistics.

But some Black leaders were offended.

But the mayor overlooked one fact; the The former president of Chicago’s winner of the boxing match may have Urban league stated she won’t accept “the victims of racist policies and bigoted been wrong in the initial dispute. In that scenario, how does the best man win, when practices being shamed by anyone who says they can do better.” And an Illinois the winner takes all in boxing? This would promote the immoral concept that “might Democratic state senator stated the makes right” and create more retaliatory mayor’s generalizations about the comresponses. (The Baltimore police departmunity were outright wrong, and curbment had no comment about the mayor’s ing Chicago’s crime rate isn’t a matter boxing suggestion.) of neighbors “ratting out one another” During National Gun Violence Awarebecause “we have communities that have ness Day, City State’s Attorney Marilyn not been invested in…where mental Mosby addressed the state of violence in health services have been depleted… the city. She said, “It’s going to take all combined with the closing of schools... of us to change what’s happening and we what does one expect?” can’t just count on the police…we can’t Conclusion look to leadership in City Hall. The biggest Unless there’s community investment, and most important stakeholder in all of Chicago residents can’t be expected to this is the community.” discuss values.

Conclusion Baltimore Baltimore residents can’t look for leaderOver the first weekend of June 2019 the ship from City Hall. police responded to a deadly stabbing and (J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New eight shootings, 11 people were injured Pittsburgh Courier.) and two men were killed.

Check It Out

Number 45 is not an aberration (TriceEdneyWire. com)—The AmeriA. Peter Bailey can news media is deceiving the world when it consistently describes Number 45 as an aberration in the history of the United States presidency. Equally deceiving is its describing and romanticizing the American voting public as some kind of godly people who are devoted to liberty and justice for all citizens of this country.

Rather than being an aberration, Number 45 is a direct descendant of the presidents, including Saint George Washington and Saint Thomas Jefferson, who bought, sold, owned and exploited African men, women and children. He’s also a direct descendant of those presidents who did absolutely nothing from the Reconstruction Era through the 1960’s as leaders in the former Confederate States of America economically and politically oppressed Black people, including those who fought in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars respectively.

Number 45 is also a direct descendant of those presidents who sat by passively as thousands of Black folks were lynched and otherwise murdered by White supremacists/racists mostly in the former Confederate States of America. Their victims

included Black combat veterans.

Therefore, Number 45, a draft dodger, is by no definition an aberration.

As for the American voting public, through the years the overwhelming majority of them looked on, often with relish, as atrocities were committed against Black people. They voted for politicians who did little, if anything, to stop or punish the White supremacist/racist terrorists.

It was overwhelmingly White American men and women who put Number 45 into the White House. Not one of them can say that he or she was deceived by him. He made it very clear in the Republican primary campaigns and in the general election campaign who and what he was and is. In fact, that’s one positive thing that can be said about him.

Number 45 is the personification of most White males in this country and, unfortunately, a sizable number of Black men for whom I have coined the name “Blawhis” i-e black-whites.

When, if ever, is the American media going to tell it like it is? Number 45 is not an aberration, and the White American voting public is not composed of bamboozled innocents.

Commentary

Harry C. Alford & Kay DeBow

Beyond the Rhetoric

When they take our Black boys Growing up in America can be a very risky business for Black males. Too many—perhaps a majority—of young Black males get mentally “scared” from a court system that targets them for eternal struggle. It’s called the United States Penal System. It can be a very evil system designed to target Blacks and keep them under control. Why? Perhaps it is a method of keeping economic control of a population. People with criminal records normally cannot find economic success in our society. A criminal record equates to designed failure and poverty.

As we evolve America has been improving in how it treats its minority population. President Trump has taken a leadership position in Penal Reform. This is a very big “game changer” in the social arena of our culture. We should embrace it and allow it to flourish and succeed. A prosecution process that leads to no cure or rehabilitation is perpetual hell for offenders. They are doomed to fail at rehabilitation and become “lost” in a societal “wilderness.”

A great book about this is written by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu and is entitled “Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys.” We highly recommend this book for all parents. It is important for Black parents to be alert to the fact that one of the components of early Black slavery was to break up the family unit.

The system did this by attacking the male component of any Black family or group. The effects of this multi-century old practice still linger on in American society. In fact, not just America but wherever people of color live in a society that is majority White—Brazil, Columbia, Puerto Rico, England, Italy, wherever. Times are improving. We are getting closer to justice but still have a long way to go.

One of the best things Harry’s mother, Christine Brown Alford, ever did for him was to have him feel the evilness of segregation. She would send him to Jim Crow Louisiana to spend summer with his relatives. She wanted him to know his “roots” and to be able to compare the opportunities afforded by integration versus the “roadblocks erected in the name of segregation. They were two of the best summers a young Black boy could have.

My cousins and friends were genuine people with good hearts. Despite the segregated facilities and “evil White people” who despised the appearance of us within their environment, life was good.

We just had to stay away from “them”.

The friendships that were made were meant to last a normal lifetime. Unbeknownst to us, many of us would not live a normal lifetime. The summers of skinny dipping, jug fishing, snake hunting, horseback riding, etc. are fond memories now—never to return.

Decades later, his parents retired and left California to return to lovely rural Bossier Parish, Louisiana. During one visit Harry sat with his cousin and asked for an update on what the “fellas” were now doing. “How is John Roy”, he asked. His reply: “He stole a car and got into a car chase with the state police. He ran the car into a tree and was killed.” Next question: “What is ‘Po (Napoleon) doing?” His reply: “Po got into a fight in a Ft. Worth bar and was shot dead.” Next question: “What about Linnell?” His reply: “Linnell tried to rob a drug store and was shot dead by the police.” One more time: “we hear Webster (world class sprinter for Southern University) was now with the Los Angeles Police Department.” His reply: “You heard about that Ramparts dirty cops’ scandal?” “Well, Webster was caught up in it. He is now sitting in the wrong side of a police cell.”

It went on and on. 90 percent of Harry’s male Southern childhood friends had ill-fated futures waiting for them.

That racist, Jim Crow society was there to catch them. It seems the big difference between them and Harry was a father looking over him demanding discipline. Without a loving father, a Black male has a slim chance for success. Without a loving male figure, a Black boy is prey for a system that is designed to catch him and scar him for life. It is a matter of economic domination. According to the Census Bureau, “The percentage of White children under 18 who live with both parents almost doubles that of Black children, according to the data. While 74.3 percent of all White children below the age of 18 live with both parents, only 38.7 percent of Black minors can say the same. A father’s absence leads to anti-social behavior.

As an example, the state of California has built more prisons in the last 30 years than colleges. Those prisons are predominantly filled with Blacks and Hispanics.

It doesn’t take “rocket science” to figure this game out. Success is so hard to attain without a strong family unit. Don’t let them take your Black boys.

(Harry Alford is the co-founder, president/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce ®.

Kay DeBow is the co-founder, executive vice president of the Chamber.)

RELIGION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Destiny International Ministries

JUNE 19-25, 2019

B7

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: Summer Worship Hour...10 a.m.

Taize Prayer Service (Wed.) 7 p.m.

Curious about Quakerism?

DR. CAMILLE CLARK-SMITH, first lady of Destiny International DEBORAH TAYLOR gets a blood pressure screening from Angela Jones of UPMC. (Photos by Courier Ministries, at the church’s community walk and health fair, May 25. photographer J.L. Martello)

Lincoln-Lemington Community Walk and Health Fair

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

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT!

THE LINE DANCE KING—Roland Ford

We want to place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar!

Send info to: CAMRYN HILL-ANDERSON

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER circulation consultant Jeff Marion, left, with Shawn Moorefield Sr. and Shawn Moorefield Jr.

Church Circuit UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL DAY

JUNE 23—The Missionary Ministry of Unity Baptist Church is celebrating its Annual Day at 3:30 p.m. at the church, 420 Fifth St., Braddock. The guest speaker is the renowned Rev. Dr. William Zachery, Pastor of the Tabernacle Cosmopolitan Baptist Church of Pittsburgh. He will be accompanied by his congregation and choir. The theme for the service is “His Harvest…Our Mission—Get Ready, Get Set, and Go!” Missionaries are asked to wear white and arrive by 3:10 p.m. to participate in the processional. However, this is not mandatory. For further information, call 412-969-4683.

J.D. MISSION MISSIONARY ANNUAL DAY

JUNE 30—The J.D. Morton Missionary, Second Baptist Church, 108 West 12th Ave., Homestead, invites all to come and be blessed on its Annual Day at 4 p.m., with Rev. Marie Kelley, Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Pittsburgh. The theme: “What’s On Your Mind?” Philippians 4:7-8. For more information, call 412461-8235.

DANIELLE GREEN, RICHARD REED

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

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

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

B8

SPORTS

JUNE 19-25, 2019 NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Charles ‘Buddy’ Allie, still The Greatest of All-Time!!!

by Bill Neal

outdoor, owns the world New York this past March. record for the 100m indoor Evidence that he’s human. and outdoor. And, for the Allie, at age 70, was beat :10—Charles “Buddy” Al- record, owns two corvettes at the wire and just barelie, the greatest of all-time! and they’re fast, too. ly. That’s not the remarkA young Black man from humble beginnings…an even more h u m b l e personality (until it’s showtime), a wanting and willingness to help others…and most importantly a desire to be the greatest. :09—Here then is the greatness we speak of. Recently voted the Athlete of the Year in CHARLES “BUDDY” ALLIE the USA :05—And, here’s this, in able part to the story—the World Masters Track and Field competition. By the case you’re still not sure fact that the guy that beat way, did I mention Mr. of the magnitude of which him needed all he had to Allie is 70 years old! (and I speak. He has competed win. Turns out the man remember, it’s a title he’s across the United States, that beat him by a step held four previous times!) as well as Spain, Italy, En- was only 25 years old… :08—OK. Stop…Hold it gland, France, Puerto Rico Holler!!! right there before you do and Australia…just to :02—Needless to say, the what you do. If you’re 70 name a few places in the unprecedented and hisor 17, the statistical com- world his fast feet have tak- torical success Charles puterized facts are that all en him.

Allie enjoys is combined :04—Need more? Man, with the blessing of good things being relative, the times for Masters athletes this is a tough crowd. How health, no injuries, continare highly comparable and about this. Allie is a mem- uous training, healthy eatsurprisingly close to cur- ber of the USATF Masters ing and without question a Hall of Fame. That, boys God-given talent second to rent runners. :07—That being said and girls, are the world’s none. Nothing else to say and given that “you” can’t “Best of the Best.” So much but “Run Buddy Run!” outrun your own shadow, greatness in that circle that :01—Charles “Buddy” Alshut up and pay atten- Buddy was once recognized lie will be the guest speaker tion!! This, my friends, is and honored by the great at this year’s 45th Annual the stuff legends are made world champion Usain Willie “Pops” Stargell PittsBolt! of. burgh MVP Awards—June :03—While we have a 22 at Sugar and Smoke :06—Here’s the facts: Allie owns the 400m world re- moment here, allow me to Restaurant in Bloomfield, cord, owns the world record recount an event that hap- at noon. for the 200m indoor and pened at a track meet in :00—GAME OVER. For New Pittsburgh Courier

McCutchen suffered season-ending injury that should never be applauded

by Aubrey Bruce For New Pittsburgh Courier

There are a few things that totally reside at the opposite ends of the spectrum.

For example, the north and south poles, old faithful and the Arctic Circle, the Pacific Ocean and the Sahara Desert. Science tells us that there have been times that all of these elements have been more closely aligned than we could ever imagine.

One is Mojo Karma, otherwise known as, “the magic of getting even.” I am convinced that even the Gods of competition like to occasionally see little men win big prizes in the world of sports.

Earlier this month, former Pittsburgh Pirate, San Francisco Giant, New York Yankee and current Philadelphia Phillie, Andrew McCutchen, suffered a season-ending knee injury. At the time of the injury McCutchen was hitting .256 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI and was well above average defensively in center field during the first two months of the season. He had also inked a $50 million, three-year deal with

the ballclub after the 2018 season ended.

A few weeks ago I was riding home with a friend that decided to put on some sports radio, and boy… you wouldn’t believe what I heard. The first talking head, or should I say “talking dead,” represented a new definition for the term “knucklehead.”

“What bad things do you have to say about the ownership of the Pirates now?” he gushed. “Everyone was griping about them allowing McCutchen to get away.

He went to San Fran, they got rid of him. Shipped him off to the Yankees, they sent him on his way.

He landed on the Phillies’ doorstep and they invited him to come to work for $50 million. Man, how stupid could the Phillies’ owners have been? He was getting old when he left Pittsburgh.

He had never really suffered a serious injury with the Pirates, so you know he was due.”

OK, that might be partially true, but with McCutchen being an almost-everyday player and avoiding serious injuries while he was here, maybe the law of

averages did dictate that it was now his turn to face the “grim reaper” of the injury world. But for this moron to almost relish the fact that it was good that the Pirates were better off that the injury occurred after McCutchen had left them was sheer lunacy.

There is a curse lingering in the air. Come with me to the dark alleys in the New Orleans French Quarter.

Ex-Pirate Barry Bonds was always pretty close to at least competing for a ring in Pittsburgh but Bonds, like many Pirates of the past, exited the Steel City, stage left for more paper.

After Cutch landed in San Fran, he was peddled off to the Yankees on Aug. 31, 2018 when the Yankees were chasing the American League pennant.

The Phillies snatched up McCutchen because they were also were trying to win. The Pirates allowed him to exit because they wanted to get paid, too, just like Bonds.

There’s some bad karma in the air. Grab hold of your rabbit’s foot and your horseshoes. Things are about to get crazy.