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JULY 4-10, 2018

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38 of 52 homicides Black lives

CHARGES FILED

In June, nine of 10 victims were Black

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Zappala finds officer’s actions ‘intentional,’ charges Officer Michael Rosfeld with criminal homicide

Community unhappy officer granted house arrest

by Rob Taylor Jr. and Christian Morrow

Antwon Rose II. fleeing Black But the video teen that posed “You do not shoot some- no threat to the doesn’t lie. The video, which cer. body in the back if they are offi was taken by a “You do not nearby resident not a threat to you.” shoot somefrom above body in the STEPHEN ZAPPALA JR. back if they are street level, and that’s been Allegheny County not a threat to viewed millions Zappala District Attorney you,” of times nasaid. tionally, clearThus, crimly showed Officer Rosfeld firing inal homicide charges were inthree gunshots at an unarmed, deed filed against Officer Ros-

Courier Staff Writers

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said numerous times he felt no pressure from the community, no pressure from protesters in his decision to criminally charge or not charge East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld in the shooting death of 17-year-old

feld, which brought a sense of relief, happiness, and “guarded optimism,” in the words of Rose’s family according to family lawyer S. Lee Merritt.

“I found (Rosfeld’s) actions intentional,” Zappala said at a news conference, June 27. “He was not acting to prevent death or serious bodily injury…There was no weapon. We took a deposition and we have him on tape

With the continued public outrage over the officer-involved killing of Woodland Hills student Antwon Rose II, the fact that June also saw eight additional African American lives taken by gun violence—including popular rapper Jimmy Wopo—may have gone unnoticed by some.

It does not go unnoticed by the New Pittsburgh Courier. As

despicable as Rose being shot three times was, is the drive-by of a 19-year-old college student out with her friends on summer break any less so? The Courier supports “Justice for Antwon.”

It also supports “Justice for Jazmere,” and the other victims whose names appear below.

JUNE 1—Kevin R. Thompson, a 46-year-old White male, was allegedly beaten, stabbed multiple times, then dismembered by 42-year-old John Robert Dickson, who had been staying in Thompson’s Carrick home. Pitts-

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SEE HOMICIDES B7

‘Clean Slate’ Jenkins announces candidacy for District Attorney legislation becomes law

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Promising it will remove barriers to housing and employment for people who have been marginalized by a record of past minor criminal convictions, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has signed “Clean Slate” legislation into law.

During a June 28 press conference with both state House and Senate sponsors of the legislation, Wolf said he was proud to sign into law a bill that simultaneously addresses criminal justice reform and workforce barriers.

“I am proud to sign this legislation, which will make it easier for those who have interacted with the justice system to reduce the stigma they face when looking for employment and housing,” Gov. Wolf said. “Clean Slate passed in an overwhelmingly bi-partisan manner and I want to thank the

TURAHN L. JENKINS

Turahn L. Jenkins, Esq. has held many titles with the Allegheny County Public Defender’s office—he was a law clerk, assistant district attorney, deputy director of Pre-Trial Services, and chief deputy director.

Now, he wants another title, in another department: Allegheny County District

Attorney.

On Monday, July 2, at Freedom Corner in the Hill District, flanked by numerous elected officials and community representatives, Jenkins announced he will challenge current Democratic District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. in 2019 for the job.

Concurrently, he announced his resignation from the Allegheny County

Public Defender’s office as second-in-command.

“I’m running for District Attorney because I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines and watching as our criminal justice system destroys people’s lives, then doesn’t give them the tools or support they need to put them back together,” Jenkins said. “I try to teach my children to stand up and speak out when they

see something wrong, and now I have to put my money where my mouth is. I don’t want the next generation to inherit a system that locks people up who haven’t been convicted of a crime just because they can’t afford bail, that treats addiction as a crime rather than an illness, that sees a defendant as a staSEE JENKINS A7

Candi Castleberry Singleton returns to Pittsburgh for CEIR conference

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Though many of the speakers at the sixth annual Corporate Equity and Inclusion Roundtable conference at Duquesne University noted a somber atmosphere in the wake of the Antwon Rose II shooting, presenters nonetheless gave multiple examples of efforts being made to make solid progress over the last year in advancing efforts to place more African Americans in executive-level po-

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sitions throughout the region.

These initiatives are being implemented across a number of business sectors including law, education, skilled trades, healthcare, and the burgeoning petrochemical industry.

In one of the more passionate presentations, Stefani Pashman, CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Economic Development, said the region’s corporate community—including her organizaSEE CEIR A6

CANDI CASTLEBERRY SINGLETON receives an award from the Corporate Equity and Inclusion Roundtable conference, June 25. (Photo by J.L. Martello)

Our View — Editorial

Some local TV media ‘failed’ in reporting about Antwon Rose II Opinion B3

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JULY 4-10, 2018

INTERNATIONAL

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This Week In Black History

Week of July 4-10 July 4 1776—The United States formally becomes a nation with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The document was largely written by later President Thomas Jefferson. Amazingly, although he was a slave owner himself, Jefferson originally included a section in the Declaration denouncing slave traders and slave owners. But it was later deleted by Congress. The section said of the slave trader: “He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the THADDEUS STEVENS persons of a distant people who never offended him.”

1792—Thaddeus Stevens is born. Stevens would become one of the great White heroes of Black history. He was a leader of a group known as the “Radical Republicans” which fought tirelessly in Congress against slavery. It was Stevens who introduced the 14th Amendment to the Constitution which, in effect, made the former slaves full citizens of the United States. It also contains the due process and equal protection clauses of the Constitution. These clauses are now considered two of the most fundamental underpinnings of American law and were used extensively during the Civil Rights Movement to outlaw discrimination against Blacks.

1881—Booker T. Washington opens Tuskegee Institute (now university) in Alabama. It would become a leading GLOBAL AMBASSADOR—Actress Ashley Judd meets refugees in Juba, South Sudan, Thursday, June center for the education of Blacks.

28. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick) July 5 1975—Tennis star Arthur Ashe becomes the first Black man to win the men’s singles championship at Wimbledon defeating Jimmy Connors. Ashe was born and raised in BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Richmond, Va. During his prestigious career he had become active in several social causes including frequent protests against the system of racial oppression known as apartheid in then White-ruled South Africa. Ashe contracted AIDS as a result of blood transfusion in 1988. He died of AIDS complications on Feb. 6, 1993.

July 6 1853—The first novel written by an African-American is pubSixty-five percent of powerful,” said Dr. Alexanby Sam Mednick lished on this day. However, the novel had to be published in females in South Sudan der Dimiti, director general Associated Press Writer England because the author William Wells Brown was a fugiexperience physical or for reproductive health tive slave. The novel was entitled “Clotel” or “The President’s JUBA, South Sudan sexual abuse in their lifeat South Sudan’s health Daughter” and may have been partially inspired by the then (AP)—In her first visit to time, with violence against ministry. The only way to civil war-torn South Sudan, women twice the global bridge the gap between his rumored relationship between President Thomas Jefferson and the slave Sally Hemmings. actress Ashley Judd had average, according to a country and more outspo1862—One of the most pioneering and militant Black journala message for survivors of study released last year by ken ones like the United ists in Black American history is born. Ida B. Wells-Barnett sexual assault in a country the International Rescue States when it comes to came into the world on this day in Holly Springs, Miss. The legwhere rape is a widespread Committee and the Global accountability is through endary journalist was also a relentless anti-lynching crusader weapon. “I see you, I love Women’s Institute. There is education, he said. and a fighter for women’s right to vote. She even made a stand IDA B. WELLS-BARNETT you and I’m here for you,” In an attempt to combat against one of the more insulting laws of Jim Crow segregation she said in an interview gender-based violence, the 70 years before Rosa Parks. In 1884, she refused to give up her seat on a train with The Associated Press.

“Impunity of men U.N. Population Fund last nearly Seated on the floor and year launched an initiative to a White man and move to an already over-crowded smoking car. It took the conducabusing wom- to reduce practices like tor and two other men to drag her off the train. She was among the group of Blacks surrounded by women in and progressive Whites who helped establish the NAACP. When she was just 25 she a maternity hospital in a forced childhood marriage. en and girls must established her lifelong attitude towards women being submissive to men declaring, United Nations camp in In addition to creating “I will not begin at this late day by doing what my soul abhors: sugaring men, weak the capital, Juba, the global end, whether that awareness South Sudan deceitful creatures, with flattery to retain them as escorts …” ambassador for the U.N. “men champions,” be among citizens needs She died in Chicago in 1931.

Population Fund wiped said the agency’s country 1957—Althea Gibson becomes the first Black person (male or tears from her eyes and within South Sudan, representative, Mary Otiefemale) to win the singles championship at Wimbledon. Gibson told the mothers: “We’re all no. “(We need) men to come within the U.N. sys- up and tell other men that was born in Silver, S.C., and grew up in Harlem, N.Y. She died in women and we’re all the September 2003. She often said she was driven to success in life same.” this is wrong, this isn’t our tem or back home in by an attitude she developed during childhood. She summarized Judd was among the tradition, this isn’t our culthat attitude as “I always wanted to be somebody.” the USA.” first to come forward last ture and this is a violation 1971—Henry T. Sampson invents the “gamma electric cell.” year with allegations of ASHLEY JUDD of human rights and their His invention and other engineering accomplishments had sexual harassment against dignity.” wide-ranging applications, but he did not invent the cell phone ALTHEA GIBSON Hollywood mogul Harvey South Sudan isn’t the as some histories suggest. The gamma-electric cell converted Weinstein. Eight months no rule of law holding peronly country that needs nuclear radiation from reactors into electricity without going since speaking out she has petrators accountable, said men to speak out, Judd become a prominent face Nicole Behnam with the said. The world will change through the heat process.

July 7 of the #MeToo movement, IRC’s violence prevention when a perpetrator comes 1906—Baseball legend Satchel Paige is born in Mobile, helping women around the and response unit. forward and says, “I Ala. He was one of 15 children born to John and Lula Paige. world combat sexual abuse Sitting with Judd on screwed up.”

Paige first learned to pitch in a reform school where he had and hold their perpetrators Thursday as she discussed That’s not happening been sent at the age of 12 for shoplifting. He spent most of to account. a variety of reproducanywhere yet, the actress his career playing in the old Negro Baseball Leagues prior “The healing I’ve done tive health issues, Mary said. She told the head of to the integration of Major League Baseball. He is generally has very powerfully shaped Gatwiech clasped the acthe U.N. mission to South recognized as one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the my work. It’s made me tress’ hands before embrac- Sudan that the “impunity unafraid, it’s made me ining her. “We want to be free of men abusing women and game. Baseball great Joe DiMaggio once said Paige was “The best and fastest pitcher I ever faced.” Paige pitched his last credibly driven,” Judd told like you,” she said. girls must end, whether game in 1965 at the age of 60 throwing three shutout inthe AP on Thursday.

The 30-year-old South that be among citizens nings. The great Satchel Paige died on June 8, 1982.

While the #MeToo moveSudanese mother told the within South Sudan, withSATCHEL PAIGE July 8 ment has gained global AP that her friends who in the U.N. system or back 1805—On this day in 1805, Bill Richmond becomes the first African-American to momentum, however, many have been sexually ashome in the USA.” gain international fame as a boxer when he defeated Jack Holmes in a 26-round bout women in conflict-affected saulted want to “tell everyFor now, some in Africa in England. The son of escaped slaves from Georgia, Richmond was born in New York countries like South Sudan one what happened,” but are reaching out to South City in 1763. He did most of his fighting in Europe. Near the end of his boxing career, still suffer in silence. Five most fear that it will bring Sudan. A new movement he married a rich woman and retired. He died in London in December 1829. years of fighting have shame to their families or called #SAWASouthSudan 1914—Jazz great Billy Eckstine is born in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was raised in Washkilled tens of thousands that their husbands will held its first virtual sumington, D.C., where he began entering talent competitions and displaced millions. leave them. mit last month in Kenya to at the age of 7. Eckstine would become one of the dominant This year alone, moniSouth Sudan’s governhelp women be heard.

Jazz singers during the era of the big bands. He has been tors of the conflict have ment says it encourages “Those who have the described as “an exceptional singer who never failed to imreported the gang-rape survivors to speak out but loudest voice in the press.” Eckstine died of a heart attack in 1993. of a young girl fetching acknowledges the wide#MeToo movement must July 9 water from a river, and the spread taboo and fear of empower those who have 1863—Eight Black regiments play a major role as Union gang-rape by 17 soldiers of repercussions. no voice at all and show all troops capture Port Hudson in Louisiana. They had laid a woman who had tried to “Sometimes speaking out the women of Africa that it siege to the Confederate fortress since May 23. The victory, protect her teenage daugh- causes more harm to the stands with them in their along with the July 4 capture of Vicksburg, Miss., gave U.S. ter from a similar assault survivors because the perdarkest moments,” said forces control of the Mississippi River, cut the Confederate and failed. petrator might be someone Cormac Smith, research army in half and laid the foundation for ending the Civil and advocacy officer for the War. The Civil War would drag on for another two years but South Africa-based Souththe Confederate troops fighting to maintain slavery were ern African Liaison Office. never able to recover from the loss of Port Hudson.

BILLY ECKSTINE 1893—Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performs the first successful open-heart surgery in American history. He repaired a knife wound to the THE heart of one James Cornish. Cornish would go on to live for another 20 years. Williams NEW PITTSBURGH established himself as one of the foremost African-American surgeons in the history COURIER of this nation. In addition to the surgery, his achievements were many. Born in 1856 PUBLISHING COMPANY in Hollidaysburg, Pa., he was appointed surgeon general of Freedman’s (now Howard University) Hospital in Washington, D.C. He taught at Meharry Medical College in Publication No.: USPS 381940 Nashville, Tenn. He was a surgeon at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and he founded Provident Hospital in Chicago where he trained many of the nation’s early Black 315 East Carson Street doctors and nurses. Williams also co-founded the predominantly Black National MediPittsburgh, PA 15219 cal Association.

July 10 Phone: 412-481-8302 1775—Shortly after taking command of the troops fighting for Fax: 412-481-1360 American independence from Britain, Gen. George Washington (the nation’s first president) has his adjutant general issue an The order barring any further Blacks from joining the ContiNew Pittsburgh Courier nental Army. The decision would be confirmed by the Continental Congress in November of 1775. The fear was that Blacks who is published weekly fought for America’s independence would be justified in demanding an end to slavery. And slave owners, including Washington, did periodicals not want that. paid at Pittsburgh, Pa. 1927—David Dinkins, the first Black man elected mayor of PRICE $1.00 New York City, is born on this day in 1927. He was born in TrenDAVID DINKINS ton, N.J., and served as New York City mayor from 1989 to 1993.

1943—Tennis sensation Arthur Ashe was born on this day (Payable in advance) in Richmond, Va. He would become the first Black male to win 6 Months.....$25 the Wimbledon men’s singles championship by defeating Jimmy Connors in 1975. Ashe would receive a contaminated blood 1 Year....$45 transfusion and die of complications from AIDS in February 2 Years...$85 1993.

1972—The Democratic Party holds its presidential con9 Month School Rate $35 vention in Miami, Fla. New York Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first Black person to actively seek the party’s POSTMASTER: Send presidential nomination, received 151.95 votes on the first address changes to: ballot. Senator George McGovern would eventually be nominated. Chisholm had been the first Black woman elected to New Pittsburgh Courier the United States Congress, achieving the distinction in 1968.

She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to a Barbadian mother and a 315 East Carson Street Guyanese father. Chisholm’s signature phrase was “Un-bought Pittsburgh, PA 15219 ARTHUR ASHE and un-bossed.” She died in January 2005.

In South Sudan, actress Ashley Judd brings spirit of #MeToo

NATIONAL

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 4-10, 2018

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Police killings challenge mental health of Black Americans

by Frederick H. Lowe

the person questioned said his mental health suffered noticeably after learning (TriceEdneyWire.com)— of deadly police shooting of Police killings of unarmed an unarmed Black person in their city or state. Police African-Americans have kill more than 300 Blacks a deep psychological each year and at least a effect on the entire Black community, causing many quarter of them, or 75, are unarmed.The list of unwho weren’t in the line armed Black men killed by of fire to feel psychically police is long and continwounded, according to a ues to grow. These victims study published by The include Oscar Grant, Eric Lancet, a weekly peer-reGarner, Walter Scott, viewed general medical Freddie Gray and Stephon journal.

Police killings of unarmed Clark.

Most recently, Antwon Black Americans add 1 to Rose II, 17, was killed when 7 additional poor-mental health days per person per Michael Rosfeld, an East Pittsburgh police officer, year or 55 million excess shot him three times as he poor mental-health days ran from a traffic stop. In among Black Americans, 2017, 25 percent of people resulting in their sufferkilled by police were Black ing from depression and post-traumatic stress disor- although Blacks comprise der, according to the report only 13 percent of the nation’s population. Some titled, “Police killings and were armed and some were their spillover effects on the mental health of Black not.

There were only 17 days Americans: a populain 2017 when the police tion-based, quasi-experidid not kill someone. Folmental study.”

The report focused on the lowing the police murder of Michael Brown, which number of days in which NorthStarNewsToday.com

Cases in which police officers were charged in shootings (AP)—A White police officer, Michael Rosfeld, was charged June 27 with criminal homicide in the fatal shooting last week of an unarmed Black teenager who fled a traffic stop in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Some other high-profile cases in recent years in which police were charged with shootings of Black people: •Chicago: Marco Proano was sentenced to five years in prison for using excessive force after shooting at a stolen car in 2013, injuring two Black teenagers.

•North Charleston, S.C.: After killing 50-yearold Walter Scott in 2015, Officer Michael Slager pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 2017.

•Cincinnati: University of Cincinnati Police Officer Raymond Tensing was tried twice for murder after killing Samuel DuBose, whom he pulled over for driving without a front license plate in 2015. The jury was hung both times, and the charges were dismissed. Tensing received $350,000 from the University of Cincinnati when he agreed to resign.

•Milwaukee: Officer Dominique Heaggan-Brown was acquitted in June 2017 of first-degree reckless homicide after

shooting Sylville Smith, 23, during a foot chase in August 2016.

•Falcon Heights, Minn.: Officer Jeronimo Yanez was charged with second-degree manslaughter and other counts after shooting Philando Castile, 32, in 2016. He was acquitted on all charges in June 2017.

•Tulsa, Okla.: Officer Betty Shelby was acquitted of manslaughter after shooting a 40-year-old unarmed Black man, Terence Crutcher, in September 2016. A neighboring sheriff’s office then announced Shelby, who resigned from the Tulsa Police Department, would join his team.

•Miami: Prosecutors charged Officer Jonathan Aledda with four felonies and misdemeanors, including attempted manslaughter, after he shot an unarmed behavioral therapist, Charles Kinsey, in July 2016. Kinsey was supervising an patient with autism who was holding a silver toy truck, which a bystander mistook for a gun.

•Balch Springs, Texas: In April 2017, Officer Roy Oliver shot and killed 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, who was riding in a car with four other Black teenagers. Oliver was indicted on a murder charge and is awaiting trial, scheduled for August.

ROBERT YOUNG JR.

Former Black Harvard judge on list for Supreme Court nominees Robert Young Jr., a former Black conservative judge in Michigan who has a law degree from Harvard, is on President Trump’s list of 25 candidates that he will pick from to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Last month, Young began serving as Michigan State University’s new general counsel.

Young was a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court. He was appointed to the court by Republican Governor John Engler in 1999 and was elected in 2002. He was re-elected on Nov. 2, 2010, to an eightyear term that would have ended on Jan. 1, 2019. He retired from the court on April 17, 2017.

Young was a 2018 Re-

publican candidate who sought election to the U.S. Senate from Michigan. He withdrew from the race on Jan. 3, 2018, citing a lack of financial support.

In January 2011, he was voted chief justice by his peers. He was elected to a second two-year term as chief in January 2013 and to a third term in January 2015. He was succeeded as chief justice by Stephen Markman in January 2017.

On Sept. 23, 2016, Young was included in a second list of individuals Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump “would consider as potential replacements for Justice Scalia at the United States Supreme Court.”

(Reprinted from the Chicago Crusader)

set off days of civil unrest and demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri, where the shooting occurred, researchers said Blacks reported suffering from high rates of depression.

Dorian Johnson was walking with Brown when the teenager was shot to death

them in the newspapers, hear about them on the radio, watched television news reports or read news stories about the deadly shooting online.The study also did not report how deadly shootings affected Blacks when police are assigned to desk duty but

by Darren Wilson, a police officer.

Johnson said he suffered from depression following the shooting.The study did not address how deadly UNARMED—Antwon Rose II, 17, is the most recent high-profile police shooting in other victim of a police killing. He was shot three times by East Pittsburgh parts of the country affectpolice Officer Michael Rosfeld, June 19. Rose was unarmed. ed Blacks who read about

are later are acquitted of all the charges related to the killings.

The website Mapping Police Violence reported that in 2015, 99 percent of cases have not resulted in involved officers being convicted of a crime.

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The 4th Annual

DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE

WAYNE BURNAM, with Malon.

MICHAEL MCMAHON, with Morgan.

KEVIN ALTON, with daughter, Nyla, at the Daddy Daughter Dance, held June 23 in Brookline. (Photos by Briana L. White)

KEVIN ALTON, with Nyla.

EDDIE BANKS, with Janae.

LOUIS HELMS, with Jace.

AARON WADE, with Alana and Anea.

CHRISTOPHER MOSES, with daughter, NiZhaya and niece, Destiny.

The Courier is the VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

MARTEL “TIZZ” HEDGE, with Tyler. Hedge is the organizer of the annual Daddy Daughter Dance.

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 4-10, 2018

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PPS, City of Pittsburgh launch Youth Participatory Budget Council Deadline for students to apply online is July 6

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Pittsburgh Public Schools and the City of Pittsburgh are seeking 20 student representatives, across all nine city districts, to serve on the PPS Youth Participatory Budget Council (YPBC).

In a release provided to the Courier by PPS spokeswoman Ebony Pugh, the Youth Participatory Budget Council was spearheaded by Councilman Corey O’Connor in 2017, with a mission to provide youth an opportunity to vote for their preferred policies.

As part of the YBPC, members will learn about the inner workings of city government and the school district as they create a proposal for how to use funds on a capital project.

“When Councilman O’Connor approached me with yet another way to bring the voices of our students to the table, I was eager to build on the work we have already begun with our district-wide Student Advisory Council,” said Superintendent Anthony Hamlet, EdD, in the release. “In addition to providing students a chance to give input on governmental spending, participation on the PPS Youth Participatory Budget Council gives students an opportunity to advocate for a project that will benefit the larger Pittsburgh community.”

YBPC will bring together

students from Pittsburgh Public Schools with their peers who attend charter, private, and parochial schools. As a member of the YBPC, students will serve as liaisons to their community and city council, share the interest and concerns of families in their community, work on an advocacy project for a City Council

sponsor, and meet twice a month for open discussions about their ideas.

“I want to thank Pittsburgh Public Schools and Superintendent Hamlet for partnering with the city on the Youth Participatory Budget Council and for their investments in making sure that youth voices are heard,” said

PPS SUPERINTENDENT ANTHONY HAMLET, EdD

Go to www.pghschools.org/YPBC to apply.

Councilman O’Connor in the release. “We as a city need to find new and innovative ways to engage young people in our decision-making processes, and by working with PPS, we can take steps to ensure that youth voices are incorporated into the City of Pittsburgh’s budget.

Students interested in representing their community to try to make things happen are encouraged to apply to be a member of the council at https://www.pghschools.org/YPBC no later than July 6. Applicants must be available to attend the Summer Leadership Training taking place August 13-16. For additional information related to the application process, request an application or learn more about the council, contact Asia Mason with PPS, at (412) 529- 3560.

The statement provided to the Courier said the YPBC is just another way student-voice is informing decision-making throughout the District. To date, according to the release, the District has taken multiple steps to raise student voice, including: Appointing a Project Manager for Student Voice; Launching the district-wide Superintendent Student Advisory Council; Seeking student input on the District Code of Conduct, leading to the development of new codes that differentiate between PreK-5 and 6-12 age groups; Sponsoring student representatives to attend the 4th Annual Strength in Voices Conference held in Reno, Nevada this spring; and supporting the student-driven “Month of Non-violence,” a collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Port Authority, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and Juvenile Probation.

PITTSBURGH COUNCILMAN COREY O’CONNOR

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

CEIR conference brings Castleberry Singleton back to Pittsburgh CEIR FROM A1

tion—had failed in terms of making sure Blacks were part of the region’s success.

“Yeah, I’m going to get flack for this because it’s

CEIR founder Tim Stevens said it was sad to lose Candi Castleberry Singleton, when she left last year for Silicon Valley to take the position as vice president of

tionality. At Twitter we wear badges with our intersections because a lot of our programmers are introverts.”

Castleberry Singleton

“Each of you knows somebody who should be in this room, but isn’t,” she said.

“You are not hearing anything you haven’t heard before. I just hope you are

PITTSBURGH MAYOR BILL PEDUTO receives an award from Tim Stevens, organizer of the Corporate Equity and Inclusion Roundtable conference. Also pictured is Janet Manuel, director of human resources for the City of Pittsburgh. not inclusive enough, but we’re doubling down on African American households—this is where we have to focus,” she said.

“We have failed, and this is a barrier to employers seeking workers and those looking to locate here.”

Pashman, during her comments made during the June 25 conference, said even though some data tends to be sanitized by “rooms full of lawyers,” the conference would be collecting, tracking and publishing corporate numbers on Black contracting, hiring, and supply chain participation.

Pashman also hailed the state general assembly’s passing, and Gov. Tom Wolf ’s signing of “clean slate” legislation that would seal records for individuals convicted of minor, non-violent offenses, which has been an employment barrier—particularly for young African Americans.

“We can’t afford to lose another Antwon,” she said.

“We need them all.”

Intersectionality, Culture and Diversity for Twitter.

But he didn’t lose her for long. He thanked her for making the trip from California to Pittsburgh to deliver the conference’s keynote address.

“But I didn’t come from California, I came from Dubai, and after this I’m on a plane for Korea,” she said. “My staff was, like, ‘Do you really have to stop in Pittsburgh?’ I said, absolutely.”

Castleberry Singleton, who helped Stevens launch CEIR when she was the diversity director at UPMC, gave a presentation on the #GrowTogether initiative she has launched at Twitter, highlighting some of its inclusive aspects—like attention to language.

“If I say I’m a Black woman who works in diversity, that’s a lot of people in this room. But if I say I’m a programmer—yeah, you didn’t know that,” she said.

“That’s a whole different way to connect—that’s what I mean by intersec-

CANDI CASTLEBERRY SINGLETON returned to Pittsburgh for the said the Ryan Shazier hearing something that will Corporate Equity and Inclusion Roundtable conference, June 25.

Steelers gear she was wear- make you do something you Castleberry Singleton is now the VP of Diversity and Inclusion for Twitter. (Photos by J.L. Martello) ing—and the matching haven’t done before.” shoes—is part of her badge, and it allowed her to meet a young man in the cafeteria, who’d gone to school at Pitt.

She also noted something that isn’t obvious to those in the diversity field—especially those focused on Black inclusion here in Pittsburgh. You have to go big.

“I’ll never forget Wendell Freeland, God bless him, saying to me, ‘What are you doing for the Black community?’ I told him and Esther Bush—and she looked at me like I was cockeyed. I said I was about inclusion for everybody,” she said.

“The reason is if I say I’m about helping Black people, I get this much—and it never gets any bigger.

But if I’m for Blacks, Asian, Latinos, LGBQT, that’s a lot bigger pot—and I can allocate from that.”

But, as she always says, the key to diversity is making new friends.

Wolf signs ‘Clean Slate’ into law

CLEAN SLATE FROM A1

General Assembly and the many advocates and stakeholders who made this possible.”

State Rep. Ed Gainey told the New Pittsburgh Courier it is welcome news, but more should be done.

“I’m glad to see the governor sign this because we need to help people. We can’t keep hanging minor crimes on people and making it difficult for them to reenter society,” he said.

“I think it’s good news, it can uplift the Black community and should be celebrated. But

it is only a first step. I think that someone who’s served their time and been a model citizen for, say, five years, should have their records automatically expunged.”

As passed, the Clean Slate legislation allows individuals to petition the courts for their records to be sealed if a person has been free from conviction for 10 years for an offense that resulted in a year or more in prison and has paid all court-ordered financial debts.

The law also allows for the automatic sealing of records for second or third-de-

gree misdemeanor offenses that included a less-than two-year prison sentence, if a person has been free from convictions for 10 years and would seal criminal history records related to non-convictions.

“A lot of people make mistakes, and these mistakes that resulted in minor convictions should not follow them as they try to make themselves productive citizens,” said state Rep. Jake Wheatley. “We should be making it less of a burden for people who’ve paid their debt. So, yes, it’s a great first step.”

Clean Slate applies only to convictions for minor, non-violent crimes. Major crimes such as murder, arson, kidnapping, sexual assault, child endangerment, and any crimes involving a firearm are excluded.

“This bill is the latest step in my administration’s efforts to make our commonwealth and our society safer by helping those who have offended put their lives back together,” Gov. Wolf said. “Last year, we ‘banned the box,’ removing the criminal conviction question for job applications covered by the Office of Administration, which ensured that all candidates for employment are being evaluated on their merit, and on their willingness and ability to contribute to our commonwealth,” Gov. Wolf said in a news release.

“While Clean Slate and Ban the Box are great steps to removing the stigma of low-level convictions, we also know that we need to do more to reform our criminal justice system.”

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 4-10, 2018

A7

HOMICIDE CHARGES FILED AGAINST MICHAEL ROSFELD

But community, Black elected officials want officer’s bond revoked CHARGES FROM A1

saying at no time was there a weapon at play.”

Zappala said the homicide charge covers first-, secondand third-degree murder, as well as voluntary and involuntary manslaughter charges. First-degree murder requires premeditation.

The second degree—homicide while committing another crime—doesn’t apply.

“We have two witnesses and video that say Rose shows his (empty) hands and turns to run—neither (Rose nor the other passenger, 17-year-old Zaijuan Hester) had a weapon. So it supports a third-degree

charge, and we think we should be able to argue first-degree,” he said.

In going through the Criminal Complaint and Affidavit of Probable Cause, Zappala noted that video of the drive-by shooting in North Braddock—involving the car of which Rose was a front seat passenger, and which led to Officer Rosfeld stopping the car minutes later in East Pittsburgh— clearly showed the back seat passenger wearing a dark shirt as the shooter (Hester). Rose was in the front passenger seat and wore a white shirt.

“Hester was the shooter,”

he said. “By all accounts, Mr. Rose did nothing in furtherance of any crime in North Braddock.”

Zappala said he has also spoken to the FBI with regard to the U.S. Attorney’s office filing a civil rights charge against Officer Rosfeld.

Black Political Empowerment Project CEO Tim Stevens, who was among those calling for Zappala’s recusal, said he was gratified to see the charges filed.

“To me, what was said and done today is the first step toward justice for Antwon,” he said.

Protests have continued

in the Pittsburgh-area, particularly surrounding a decision by Senior District Judge Regis Welsh to set a $250,000 unsecured bond for Officer Rosfeld, meaning he is not in jail—he’s at home, wearing an electronic monitor. Officer Rosfeld was not considered a “flight risk” by the judge, even though unsecured bonds are extremely rare for individuals charged with homicide. This development has caused protesters to appear at Officer Rosfeld’s Penn Hills home, demanding that his bond be revoked.

Protests with the similar message have occurred along EAST PITTSBURGH OFFICER MICHAEL ROSFELD was granted house arrest after being charged with criminal homicide in the death of Antwon Rose II.

the Tri-Boro Expressway, and on July 1 at the intersection of N. Highland and Penn avenues in East Liberty.

Area chapters of the NAACP have held special meetings, including a Town Hall meeting, June 29, to give residents a chance to voice their concerns about the charges filed, and the subsequent house arrest granted to Officer Rosfeld.

Concurrently, members of the Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition issued a statement, June 29, officially requesting that President Judge Jeffrey A. Manning revoke the house arrest granted to Officer Rosfeld by Judge Welsh.

“While we recognize that it is in the purview of District Magistrate Judge Regis Welsh to take such REV. GLENN GRAYSON holds a sign during a June 21 protest in front of DA Stephen Zappala’s office, Downtown. Protesters had called action, we feel that in the for Zappala to file charges against Officer Michael Rosfeld, which Zappala eventually filed, June 27. (Photo by J.L. Martello) circumstances surround-

APPREHENDED After a weeklong search, Pittsburgh police located and charged Gregory Wagner, 58, of Sewickley, with driving through a crowd of protesters near PNC Park on June 22. He faces three charges of reckless endangerment, one charge of driving the wrong way and one charge of careless driving.

Jenkins announces candidacy JENKINS FROM A1

tistic rather than as a person. Tackling these injustices requires leadership from the DA’s Office, and I hope to offer that kind of leadership if elected.”

In the weeks since the shooting death of Antwon Rose II by East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld, protests have been held in front of the Allegheny County Courthouse, with people urging—better yet, demanding—Zappala to charge Officer Rosfeld in the ordeal. Protesters, for the most part, didn’t have total confidence in Zappala to file criminal charges against a police officer in the county, and Tim Stevens, president of the Black Political Empowerment Project, asked for Pennsylvania State Attorney General Josh Shapiro to take over the case.

Zappala ended up filing

criminal homicide charges against Officer Rosfeld, saying during a June 27 press conference he didn’t feel “pressured” from outside forces, such as protesters or media coverage.

Leon Ford, who was shot five times by a Pittsburgh police officer in 2012, said during a recent rally at the Courthouse that if Zappala did not press charges against Officer Rosfeld, Ford would want someone to run against Zappala.

The charges were filed, and there is still someone running against him.

Jenkins grew up in Monroeville and is a graduate of Gateway High School.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. According to his biography on the Allegheny County Public Defender website, Jenkins

earned a Juris Doctorate at the Duquesne University School of Law. While in law school, he completed judicial externships with the Honorable Ralph Cindrich in the U.S. District Court of Western Pennsylvania and with the Honorable Maureen Lally-Green in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Additionally, he studied abroad at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing.

Jenkins also has spent time in private practice as a sole practitioner, focusing primarily on Criminal Defense.

In February 2013, Jenkins rejoined the Public Defender’s office as the Deputy of Pre-Trial Division for the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender. In January of 2016, he was promoted to Chief Deputy Public Defender.

ing Officer Rosfeld’s case, the more appropriate action would be to incarcerate him until his trial. The message that the house arrest portrays to the greater Allegheny County community is that the taking of a young man’s life is not a serious enough infraction as to warrant serious, immediate repercussions,” the release said. “Based on the terrible nature and character of this offense, it is imperative that Officer Rosfeld be refused bail. The strength of the evidence as outlined to date is another factor that supports revoking the officer’s bail.

Further, the safety of the community at large would be greater served by its members knowing that the defendant could not pose an additional threat to any other individuals.”

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JULY 4-10, 2018

RELIGION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Mass Sunday 9:00 A.M. & 11:00 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

Summer Worship Hour.....10:00 a.m.

Curious about Quakerism?

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

Pittsburgh Friends Meeting 4836 Ellsworth Avenue 412-683-2669

BETHEL AME CHURCH

Presents ‘Fresh Anointing’

New Destiny CME Church 114 North Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412-231-7882 Rev. Kornelus Neal, pastor The Rt. Rev. Marvin Thomas Sr., presiding bishop Sunday School....................................9 A.M. Morning Worship Service............11:00 A.M.

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

REV. DENISE WALKER, founder and director of the Bethel AME Church Senior Usher Board. On June 24, the usher board presented “Fresh Anointing,” a group of psalmists throughout the Pittsburgh area, proclaiming God’s good news. (Photos by Marlon Martin)

CAROLYN WILLIAMS

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

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

Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219 Or Email us!

religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

JOHNNIE MIOTT

MARTHA MIOTT

PEOPLE

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 4-10, 2018

A9

Students get an intro to IT spycraft and defense at Cybersecurity Boot Camp

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

After two days of learning how to hide data in other computer files such as “jpeg” images or “wav” sound files—and how to detect such hidden files—20 minority students attending the Cybersecurity Boot Camp at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church got to use their newfound knowledge, when half the class waged a cyber-attack on the other, and then tried to repel such an attack when the roles were reversed.

The two-day boot camp

Microsoft liked the idea so much that it provided new workstations for the class to use, and which the students could take home after completing the camp.

They also got T-shirts from sponsor A2U, a local IT firm.

Other sponsors included the International Consortium of Minority Cybersecurity Professionals, Excalibur Insurance and Mt. Carmel.

Madison Portis, an eighth-grader at East Allegheny Middle School, said she hadn’t even considered cyber security as an interest, let alone a career.

“It’s, like, completely new

appreciation for coding, cyber-bullying, cyber-ethics, safety, and the dangers presented by social media.

But for those that do want to go further, he said the “war game” they played is good practice—because professionals do that all the time.

“Yeah, we do that stuff in the real world,” he said.

“We call it ‘capture the flag.’

I just took part in a competition over at the Rivers Casino. If I get enough interest, I’m hoping to expand this into a regular two nights a week, after-school class during the school year

DAVID ODOM assists students during the Cybersecurity Youth Boot Camp, held June 28.

was the brainchild of David Odom, chief information security officer at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory in West Mifflin, who said he wants to expose young people, especially Black youth, to a growing, lucrative field.

“Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing fields out there, but there’s a serious lack of talent in the field and even fewer minorities.

There are two jobs for every applicant—so there is zero unemployment,” said Odom. “So, what I’m trying to do is provide a forum for individuals from underserved populations to learn and become proficient in the area.”

to me,” she said. “It was actually my mom’s idea that I come when she heard about it. But, it’s actually fun.”

Her friend Alauna Carter, who is in seventh grade at East Allegheny, said attending was her mother’s idea, too.

“My mom told me yesterday I was going with Madison—that’s it,” she said.

“I was mad (at the workstation) at first because I couldn’t get it to start, but it’s cool now.”

Odom said even if most of the 12- to 17-year-olds in the boot camp decide not to further their interest in cybersecurity, they will still come away with a greater

and put together a team to compete at some of these national events—hey, winners get cash prizes and scholarships.”

But for that, Odom will likely have to drum up more sponsors. Thanks to his position on the Plum Council, the 2017 New Pittsburgh Courier Men of Excellence awardee will have a little help. The Public Access channel for Plum was on hand recording a video for later broadcast—and Microsoft is still interested.

“Yeah, we’re going to set up something with some of their people, so the kids can go meet them,” he said. “It’ll be fun.”

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

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JULY 4-10, 2018

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report There is always a camera Doesn’t there always seem to be a camera somewhere? In some cases in areas where you would least suspect it there is a camera or someone with a phone with a camera.

You can’t escape it. With that in mind wouldn’t you think people would begin to behave themselves?

But it seems exactly the opposite. If a camera isn’t getting people in trouble it’s social media. Let’s take a look at some very recent incidents.

The first one is the lady who came out of her apartment to shut down the 8-year-old selling water. Her complaint was the child was being too loud and did not have a permit to sell water on “her property.” The lady acted as if she was calling the police; the little girl’s mother was nearby and yes, she had her phone equipped with a camera. The whole thing went viral and long story short, the lady who complained resigned from her job as CEO of a cannabis company and was publicly shamed. The good news; a Good Samaritan bought the little girl 4 tickets for Disney. Wow! Look how that worked out.

How about a few local stories. Did you hear the one about the police officer who was complaining about the people protesting? Allegedly he made some disparaging remarks about the protesters on his Facebook page.

You might be thinking, what about freedom of speech? Yes, you are absolutely right about freedom of speech but if you are employed by a company or entity with a “code of ethics” you have to abide by that and your company can call you on your words, deeds or actions. That officer is now on desk duty and his comments are being researched. So be careful what you say and where you say it unless you are self-employed.

Oops, your business can be shut down and put in the spotlight in a negative fashion.

Now let’s move on to the mayor of Arnold, Pa. Reportedly she went on social media and said that powerful water hoses should be used on the group protesting the murder of Antwon Rose II. She also said that none of the protestors have jobs and that is why they have time to protest. All of a sudden Mayor Peconi is not available, her Facebook page has been shut down. She is being asked to resign by some while others are hoping she will apologize.

Why would you want an insincere apology? She appeared to mean what she said on social media. I sure wish someone would stand behind their remarks. Make a statement and then stand up with your chest poked out in your best Robin Harris voice and say, “Yeah I said it.” Own it! Don’t turn tail and run, admit it.

In short, people, there are cameras everywhere and thank goodness there was one in the location where the North Braddock shooting took place.

If that camera had not have been there this case would still be open or the outcome might be very different. Smile! You’re on Candid Camera.

(Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com.)

NELLIE LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT—Marsha Jones with NELLIE LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT—Peggy Harris, Chauncey Smith and TiAnda and Mel Blount Rod Jones

Three Rivers Youth Bridge to Hope

by Debbie Norrell

cy have given for her of the work they do evmany years to a ery day is building bridges.

Lifestyles Editor deserving student Harris said, “The bridges from Three Rivers The Nellie Leadership we build are not made of Youth. Client reAwards Gala is never steel beams, reinforced conflections were prewithout a theme. In years crete or bricks. Instead they sented by Jason past guests have taken the are made of human hands, Peterson, a Three A-train, jetted off to Par- hearts and minds that we Rivers Youth cliis and cruised the ocean fashion around individuals ent who shared his blue. This year’s Nellie facing obstacles in life too story of how Three Leadership Awards Gala enormous to bridge on their Rivers Youth was was inspired by the view own.” instrumental in On May 18, more than 200 from the ballroom of the his life.

Wyndham Grand Pitts- joined Three Rivers Youth This year’s honas they recognized the orary co-chairs work of three amazing were Jamy Rankin bridge builders: Mel and and Roseanne TiAnda Blount of the Wholey.

Mel Blount Youth Home, The evening endMarsha Ellis Jones, Exed with a wonderecutive Vice President ful dessert and and Chief Diversity Officer for the PNC Fi- NELLIE LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT—Peggy Harris, Chauncey Smith dancing to the Tubby Daniels nancial Services Group and Evan Frazier Dance Band. and Highmark Health.

Evan Frazier, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs accepted for Highmark Health. Each received the beautiful Nellie Award uniquely created by artist Saihou Njie.

With KDKA’s Lynne Hayes Freeland as mistress of ceremonies guests enjoyed a fabulous meal, a beautiful view and unique décor.

Bridges made of glass vases and flowers were the centerpiece of the room.

The Nellie Leadership Awards were presented by Peggy Harris and Chauncey Smith, Three Rivers Youth STUNNING IN LIGHT BLUE—Peggy Chair, Board of Directors.

Harris and Sebastian Lacy This year the Charles and Nancy Adreon Scholarship was presented burgh Hotel. Peggy Har- to Kevin Dawkins who will attend the ADREON SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT—Peggy Harris with Kevin Dawkins (Photos by ris, President and CEO of University of California. The Adreon Debbie Norrell) Three Rivers Youth said Scholarship she was inspired by the is something view of the Fort Pitt Bridge that Charles Nanand the bridge reminded and

NELLIE AWARD ARTIST—Saihou Njie and Evan Frazer

GALA PLANNING COMMITTEE—Roseanne Wholey, Charlene Hill Coleman, Roxanne Epperson, Aaron Mickens, Winifred Torbert and Kristin Walker

HONORARY CO-CHAIR WITH FAMILY—Mark, Roseanne and Lauren Wholey

CHAUNCEY SMITH AND LAJUANA FULLER

LIFESTYLES

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 4-10, 2018

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FASHION SHOW GUEST WITH MODELS—Yvonne Brown, Mr. Smooth, Elizabeth Hillard and Richard Warren (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

Butterfly Wishes Ninth Annual Fashion Show

DAPPER IN BLUE WINDOWPANE

FASHION SHOW GUEST—Jackie Henderson

BUTTERFLY WISHES FOUNDER—Denise Raiford

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

With a new location and several new models, Butterfly Wishes held their Ninth Annual Fashion Show and dinner at the Olympia Banquet Hall on May 19. The theme was, “A Change Has Come.” Butterfly Wishes founder, Denise Raiford, says change is good and she doesn’t want her events to become stale. The Butterfly Wishes journey began when Raiford lost her mother, Arlene B. Keith, and wanted to reach out to others who had lost their mothers. The fashion show has always taken place close to Mother’s Day. This year nearly 300 enjoyed the gospel sounds of Fresh Anointing, DJ Nick Nice, Assignment Mime Group, commentator Lesely Crawford, show-stopping fashions and “get in line twice” food.

Raiford is already making plans for the 10-year celebration and says it will be a big celebration. In past years Butterfly Wishes has been able to contribute a portion of their proceeds to community organizations that have made a difference.

The list includes: Gwen’s Girls, Bethlehem Haven, St. James Education & Food Service Ministries and Promise Youth Summer Camp.

Butterfly Wishes would like to thank: Portabella of New York, Panhill of New York, Remos–Pittsburgh and her faithful audience and models.

BUTTERFLY WISHES MODELS—Hazel Jackson and LaShawn Youngblood

FROM THE MOTHERLAND

COMMENTATOR—Lesely Crawford

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JULY 4-10, 2018

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

Pirates need some fireworks on the field, says Aubrey Bruce Sports B8

Classifieds

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

JULY 4-10, 2018

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

B

Credit card payments evolve beyond the mobile wallet

by Melissa Lambarena NerdWallet

JAY MORRISON

Morrison makes history with IPO

by Sergie Willoughby For New Pittsburgh Courier

Black communities are often excluded from the economic revitalization needed to spark successful businesses that keep residents thriving. It’s happened in Detroit and in countless other cities across the nation.

There have been many efforts to counteract the injustice, and real estate mogul Jay Morrison is one of the many people who have made it their business to uplift urban communities.

Earlier this month, he made history with the initial public offering (IPO) launch of the Tulsa Real Estate Fund, the first African American owned Regulation A+ Tier II crowdfund designed to re-

Raises $9.6 million

vitalize urban communities across the U.S. “Tulsa Real Estate Fund was created for the sole purpose of the revitalization of urban communities across America, as well as a means for working class people to own shares and equity in a portfolio of real estate assets that will combat gentrification,” Morrison, CEO and manager of the Tulsa Real Estate Fund, said in a recent statement.

According to the Fund, the company’s mission is to perform comprehensive redevelopment of both people

and real estate in key urban areas.

Although based in Atlanta, the Fund is named after the business men and women of the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma that, in 1921, inhabited more than 2,000 Black-owned homes and businesses that thrived in the self-sustaining community known as “Black Wall Street” before they were destroyed by an angry White mob and hundreds of African Americans were killed in the worst armed race riots in U.S. history.

“Tulsa Real Estate Fund

is the perfect economic vehicle for the urban community to collectively pool its more than $1.3 trillion in spending power to effectively control and revitalize our neighborhoods,” said Morrison. “With the current tone in Washington, D.C., urban neighborhoods across the country will not have control of their dollars, real estate or small businesses for the foreseeable future.

As a result, urban neighborhoods across the country are being redeveloped by individuals who do not have the best interests of the community in mind, which often leads to the displacement of longtime residents due to increased SEE MORRISON B2

Don’t fall victim to predatory lending practices Could a simple mortgage loan do significant damage to your financial situation?

It could if you’re the victim of predatory lending tactics.

That phrase is generally used to describe loans structured in a way that makes them more costly or difficult to pay down than other borrowings. People who are saddled with these loans could damage their credit rating or even lose their homes.

Predatory loans are often marketed to people who are older, have lower incomes or bad credit, or who may not

be familiar with financial terms and practices. The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) advises to watch out for these warning signs.

Warning Sign #1: High Initial Fees If you’re asked to hand over hundreds of dollars up front for an application fee or other charges, it’s a good idea to step back and shop around to see if you can find a better deal. Ask for a disclosure of all fees associated with the mortgage, including fees called points.

Even if you’re getting a subprime loan designed for people with poor credit or other financial issues, aim to pay no more than two points on your mortgage.

Also, be sure to get a thorough understanding of all fees by questioning anything you’re unsure of.

Warning Sign #2: Exorbitant Interest Rates Interest rates vary based on the lender, loan type, and loan terms, but steep interest rates are another red flag. It’s true that you’ll likely have to pay a higher inter-

est rate on your mortgage if you have a low credit rating, but know what interest rate is reasonable for your situation. Get a reality check by consulting a local CPA. Then shop around with lenders to make sure you’re getting the best rate possible.

Warning Sign #3: Low, Low Payments Lenders may emphasize low monthly payments, but if the deal seems too good to be true, make sure you read the fine print. A loan

Mobile wallets can make paying by credit or debit card seamless: Tap your phone at checkout and you’re on your way. But mobile wallets are just the beginning. Payment networks and manufacturers are building payment functions into more devices—expanding your options as well as freeing up your hands.

You could find yourself buying gas from the dashboard of your car, groceries from your refrigerator door or dinner by flashing a smile. And you won’t even need your phone with you to make purchases on the go.

MORE DEVICES ADD PAYMENT CAPABILITY Payment options already available or on the horizon include: •Wearables. Connected “smart” accessories such as watches, bands and rings travel lighter than a phone. To use, the wearer holds a wrist or hand up to a contactless payment terminal. Visa tested these devices at the 2016 Rio Olympics to demonstrate possibilities, says Mark Jamison, global head of innovation and design at Visa.

The market will determine, he says, if fashion designers want to “embed payments into a ring or any other device.” One company privately testing similar tech is Token, whose smart ring -- which performs a variety of functions, from opening doors to paying for purchases -has a waiting list.

In 2017, payment capabilities branched out from Apple and Android smartwatches to some Fitbit and Garmin fitness devices, meaning more people could leave their phone behind while working out.

By the end of this year, Visa expects merchants to have tap-to-pay capability at 50 percent of U.S. locations where face-to-face transactions take place.

•Virtual assistants. When voice payments are enabled on virtual assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home, you can multitask and take care of “errands” in the moment with verbal commands.

CONNECTED DEVICES WILL BE THE NORM Consider the number of mobile applications with saved payment information on your mobile device. In the future, you could free up some data and save a little battery life by using other connected devices: -- Cars. Visa and Mastercard are working with manufacturers to embed options in car models. Manufacturers are also testing ways to pay for gas, groceries, takeout, metered parking and other things from screens on vehicle dashboards.

“It’s still early, but we are focused on bringing that to life this year, to have the ability for you, as the driver, to not just order from one type of merchant,” says Stephane Wyper, senior vice president of new commerce partnerships and commercialization at Mastercard.

•Appliances. Appliances will get smarter in the future. A glimpse of what’s possible: Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator, which lets you order groceries from the Groceries

by Mastercard app; Whirlpool’s Smart Dishwasher, which, when synced with an Amazon account, can estimate when you’re low on detergent and order it automatically.

•Your body. Going totally device-free could also become an option. Biometric payments make it possible to pay by voice, face, iris scan or fingerprint. It’s not a big stretch

SEE VICTIM B2

SEE CREDIT B2

Alexa, I can trust you with my checkbook, right?

by Ken Sweet AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—Hey Alexa, what’s my bank account balance?

Big banks and financial companies have started to offer banking through virtual assistants—Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google’s Assistant—in a way that will allow customers to check their balances, pay bills and, in the near future, send money just with their voice. And with the rapid adoption of Zelle, a bank-to-bank transfer system, it soon could be possible to send money to friends or family instantly with voice commands.

But the potential to do such sensitive tasks through a smart speaker raises security concerns. Virtual assistants and smart speakers are still relatively new technologies, and potentially susceptible to being exploited by cyber criminals.

Regional banking giant U.S. Bank is the first bank to be on all three services—Alexa, Siri and Assistant. The company did a soft launch of its Siri and Assistant services in early March and this month started marketing the option to customers.

Other financial companies have set up virtual assistant features. Credit card companies Capital One and American Express both have Alexa skills that allow customers to check their balances and pay bills. There are other smaller banks and credit unions that have set up Google As-

sistant or Alexa as well.

“We want to be there for our customers in any possible way that we can,” said Gareth Gaston, executive vice president for omnichannel banking at U.S. Bank.

For now, U.S. Bank is keeping the features available through bank-by-voice fairly restrictive. Customers will be able to check bank balances, pay U.S. Bank credit cards and mortgages, ask Alexa or Google the due dates on bills, and other basic functions. Money cannot be transferred from a U.S. Bank account using

voice yet, Gaston said, but the bank is considering the option.

Asking Google, Alexa or Siri for the weather or to tell a joke is one thing, but it’s a whole other issue when these assistants access and share sensitive personal information. These apps will typically announce a person’s available balance over the speaker, which has the potential to create awkward situations at parties.

In the case of Google and Alexa, users must create a secure connection between their bank and the assistant through Al-

exa’s Skills or Google’s Actions. All banks require the use of a four-digit PIN before they will provide balance and bank account info over these speakers, and suggest making those PINs different from the one on a customer’s ATM card.

Apple’s Siri is the most restrictive of the three virtual assistants, only showing a user a bank account balance on a screen, and not allowing other features like paying bills. Banks can integrate Siri into their iPhone and iPad apps, but Apple’s HomePod smart speaker that launched earlier this year does not currently accept banking commands. A company spokeswoman declined to say whether that feature was coming.

Google Assistant has the capability to do individual voice recognition, providing one additional level of security on that platform, but that is not implemented on U.S. Bank’s Action yet. Security experts say that additional level of security could be foiled, however.

“Users’ voices can be recorded, manipulated, and replayed to the assistants,” said Kurt Baumgartner, a security researcher with Kaspersky Lab. “Also, with access to banking accounts and abilities to transfer and pay out money, remote financial fraud may be within the reach of cybercriminal groups soon.”

(Ken Sweet covers banks and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for The Associated Press. Follow or message him on Twitter at www. twitter.com/kensweet.)

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BUSINESS

JULY 4-10, 2018

Morrison makes history with IPO MORRISON FROM B1

property values, thus making the cost of housing in our communities unaffordable.

We believe Tulsa Real Estate Fund is the solution to this rapidly growing problem.”

Morrison describes the IPO launch as a big win for urban entrepreneurs. “It opens the door for access to capital,” he says, adding that it’s also a win for investors “since more people will have access to investment opportunities.”

Morrison also notes that non-accredited investors, who are historically “left on the sidelines” when it comes to IPOs and venture capital, will benefit from his IPO launch. “Regulation A+ opens the door to these investment opportunities, which will in effect allow Black Wall Street to thrive once again, but in more urban communities around the country,” he shares.

The Tulsa Real Estate Fund builds on Project Rebuild, President Barack Obama’s $15 billion proposal to invest in a national effort that leverages private capital and expertise to rehabilitate hundreds of thousands of communities across the country. Building on the successful ideas developed during the implementation of the Neighborhood Stabilization Project, Project Rebuild provides funding to purchase, rehabilitate, and/or redevelop foreclosed, abandoned, demolished, or vacant properties. Funding also helps grantees establish and operate land banks and create jobs maintaining properties to avoid community blight.

The Fund comes on the heels of several reports of younger people investing in real estate. Here, check out our interview with Lisa Puerto who, in 2017, wrote “Real Estate 100: The Teen and Millennial Investment Blueprint,” to empower millenials to invest in real estate.

Credit card payments evolve beyond the mobile wallet CREDIT FROM B1

from the biometric authentication currently used by some phones or applications.

“The technology itself has been around for a while, but consumers were skeptical of it,” Jamison says. They’ve since become accustomed to authenticating using a fingerprint via phone, and their preference has shifted from user ID and password to biometrics, he says.

In January 2018, CaliBurger restaurants launched a pay-by-face pilot program in Pasadena, California. Customers pay for their order by smiling for the camera and entering the three-digit number from the back of a credit card.

MORE OPTIONS, FEWER PASSWORDS Current devices, apps and websites generally each require a separate profile with payment details. In the future, you could keep payment information in one place and sync it to all devices.

In 2017, Mastercard launched Consumer Control to offer consumers a central view of their cards across different channels. With access through their issuer, cardholders can add their cards to their favorite shopping sites and devices from one location.

The forecast for the future includes more convenient payment options. Visa estimates that 50 billion smart devices will be connected to the internet by 2020.

Merchants won’t begin accepting payments from everything overnight; for certain devices it may take a few years. For now, you can start exploring the options outside of your mobile wallet.

(This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.

Melissa Lambarena is a writer at NerdWallet.)

Don’t fall victim to predatory lending practices VICTIIM FROM B1

may have small monthly payments because you’re only paying interest on the debt or because you’ll be required to make large lump-sum payments later in the loan term. In either case, the deal is likely to cost you more money and inconvenience in the end. Even worse, it could jeopardize your home if the lump sum payments can’t be met. Low monthly payments also mean the loan will take extra time to pay off, saddling you with debt for a longer period of time. Often, low initial payments turn out to be no bargain at all.

Warning Sign #4: Prepayment Penalties There are many reasons why you may want to pay off your mortgage before the loan term is over. You may want to refinance to get a better rate, or you may choose to sell your house for a number of reasons. That’s why it’s important to ensure that there isn’t a penalty if you pay off your loan early.

Contact Your CPA Whether you’re worried about getting a good deal on a mortgage, or just planning for your financial future, your local CPA can help. Turn to him or her with all your financial concerns. To find a CPA in your area or for more financial tips, visit www. picpa.org/moneyandlife.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

ACLU veteran Laura Murphy leads Facebook’s discrimination audit

by Freddie Allen

Diversity Certification Workshop

LAURA MURPHY he suffered a spinal injury in police custody sparked outrage and protests nationwide; the 25-year-old had been arrested for what many called “running while Black.” Billy Murphy was seen as a calming force in the Black community and helped Gray’s family reach a million-dollar settlement with the city.

Meanwhile, Laura Murphy sees her recent work with technology companies as a continuation of her family’s commitment to civil rights.

“It’s kind of in my DNA to try to make things right,” Murphy said.

According to Murphy, companies like Facebook have a business imperative to fight discrimination on their platforms.

“This audit is a sign that Facebook is taking the criticism it has received very seriously,” Murphy said. “If they are interested in their own survival in worldwide markets…those markets are going to be predominately people of color.”

Murphy said that Facebook users want to know that the ubiquitous social media platform is operating in a way that respects civil rights and civil liber-

ties.

That’s especially true for Black Facebook users, who often spend more time on social media platforms than their White peers.

According to the Pew Research Center, 69 percent of Black adults use at least one social media site, compared to 68 percent of White adults. Seventy percent of Black adults use Facebook, compared to 67 percent of White adults use Facebook. Forty-three percent of Black adults use Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, compared to 32 percent of Whites that use the picture and video-sharing social network.

“Facebook has an added responsibility, because of their size and reach, to ensure that the platform isn’t being used to discriminate; that it isn’t fomenting misinformation,” Murphy said.

“Given that employers and real estate companies are involved, a key part of the audit will include looking at what the company can do to eliminate discrimination in housing.”

(Freddie Allen is the Editor-in-Chief of the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com.

Follow Freddie on Twitter @freddieallenjr.)

June is National Homeownership Month

by Christopher G. Cox For New Pittsburgh Courier

(NNPA)—If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, there might be no better time than June, which is annually recognized by such organizations as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) as National Homeownership Month.

These entities work with lending institutions, realtors, housing counseling agencies, community organizations and many others to make individuals aware of programs that will assist them in the quest to become homeowners.

“One of the many opportunities potential home buyers can take advantage of is free counseling,” said Coleen Baumert, the director of homeownership programs for the Harrisburg, Pa.-based Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), “We believe that financial education is a key component to purchasing a home, so we work with a network of counseling agencies to provide one-on-one, group and online counseling.”

Baumert noted that counseling is mandatory for anyone with a FICO score of 680 or lower.

“We want buyers to be able to maintain and sustain their decision to enter the housing market,” she added.

Baumert’s emphasis on coun-

Special Breakfast Meeting

JULY 9—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania will host a special breakfast meeting, 8 a.m. at the Rivers Club, One Oxford Center, 301 Grant St., Pittsburgh, 15219. The speaker will be U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. Call 412-392-0610 for more information.

For New Pittsburgh Courier

(NNPA)—Civil rights beacon and ACLU veteran Laura Murphy laughed when she said that one of her co-workers called her, “The Olivia Pope of the Tech World.”

Even though she finds the moniker amusing, it’s an accurate characterization that comes from a combination of her work in civil rights, crisis management, consulting and a track record for ultimately getting her clients to do the right thing at the end of the day, Murphy said.

In 2016, facing allegations of rampant discrimination on their home-sharing platform, that sparked outrage among their users and birthed the #AirbnbWhileBlack hashtag, Airbnb executives tasked Murphy with leading “their effort to fight discrimination and bias.”

In an effort to address their own problems with bias and discrimination on their platform, Facebook recently called on Murphy to lead their own civil rights audit.

The NAACP recently criticized Facebook for the data collection breach that affected 87 million Facebook users and its impact on African American users of the platform.

In March, The New York Times reported that the “National Fair Housing Alliance and affiliated groups in New York, San Antonio and Miami” sued Facebook in U.S. District Court in Manhattan alleging that, “Facebook’s advertising platform ‘continues to enable landlords and real estate brokers to bar families with children, women and others from receiving rental and sales ads for housing.”

Murphy detailed the actions that Airbnb took to address the concerns of their users in a commentary published on BlackPressUSA.com. Murphy said that the home-sharing platform called on former Attorney General Eric Holder, Harvard professor Dr. Robert Livingston to make recommendations. Murphy also worked with more than 20 civil rights organizations who have explored the intersection between the advancement of civil rights and the sharing economy.

Airbnb also developed an “Open Doors” policy to assist guests who report discrimination on the platform and offered new training to help hosts learn to fight bias.

Murphy was the first woman and the first African American to head the Washington office of the 300,000-member American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), according to her biography. Her parents were civil rights leaders and her brother, the famed Baltimore attorney Billy Murphy, represented Freddie Gray’s family in a civil suit against the city; Gray’s death after

BUSINESS CALENDAR

Christopher Cox

Commentary seling is reinforced by research from HUD. According to independent research, HUD reported that, “…delinquency, default and foreclosure rates for borrowers who have received counseling from a HUD-approved housing counseling agency are 30 percent lower than uncounseled borrowers.”

In addition to free financial counseling programs, Baumert points out that PHFA can assist qualified buyers to obtain mortgage loans at rates below prevailing mortgage interest rates obtained by most buyers.

“Even a quarter of a percent reduction in a mortgage interest rate can help potential buyers to obtain more home for their money,” Baumert said.

Baumert noted that PHFA works with first-time buyers, buyers who are moving up to larger homes and single buyers, as well as families that own a larger home and have decided to downsize. PHFA also helps buyers to find affordable financing for different types of mortgage loans: conventional, FHA, rural development and VA. Charaka Cook, the Region V vice president of NAREB, noted

that her organization hosted a number of community events around the country in June in recognition of National Homeownership Month. She pointed out that the goal of the NAREB is to increase homeownership among African Americans by 2 million over the next 5 years.

“Homeownership is the cornerstone of the American dream,” Cook said. “Creating awareness of this fact is particularly important in the African-American community where homeownership has slipped from 49 percent to 41 percent since the housing crisis of 2007.

Cook noted that homeownership among non-Hispanic Whites by contrast is about 71 percent.

Cook observed that NAREB works with real estate professionals who can help potential home buyers to overcome past financial mistakes and low credit scores.

“There are many ways to help people get back on the right track,” she said. “We want everyone to understand the many benefits of home ownership.”

Cook continued: “Among other things homeowners are less likely to move so family stability is enhanced, and more importantly you’re creating a lasting legacy that can be handed down to future generations. Overtime this will help to close the generational wealth gap that exists in much of the African-American community.”

(Christopher G. Cox is the publisher/managing editor of Realesavvy. com.)

JULY 11—The Chatham University Women’s Business Center presents Is My Business ertifiable, to a.m. at Colab18 @ Nova Place (Former Allegheny Center Mall), 100 South Commons, Pittsburgh, 15212. The interactive workshop will allow attendees to learn about the different types of diversity certification programs for Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, including DBE, WOSB, EDWOSB, VOSB, MBE, WBE, MWBE, SBA 8(a) or SBA HUBZone, and is designed to help business owners determine if they should consider diversity certification, then assist in strategizing and selecting which program might best fit. The session is free, but registration is required.

For more information, call 412365-1448.

Diversity Golf Outing and Fundraiser

JULY 23—The Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council will host its Youth Entrepreneurship Golf Invitational, a.m. to p.m. at Fox Chapel Golf Club, 426 Fox Chapel Rd, Pittsburgh, 15238. The event provides certified M s and corporate representatives the opportunity to network, build relationships, and develop partnerships, and also supports the council’s activities, programs and scholarships. The event includes breakfast, golf or a clinic and seminar, cocktails and networking and an awards dinner. Registration for Sponsorship opportunities closes July 13, for participants July 19. Visit www.EMSDgolf.org for more information.

Start-up Financing Workshop

AUG. 2—The Chatham University Women’s Business Center presents Financing our usiness, to p.m. at olab Nova Place (Former Allegheny Center Mall), 100 South Commons, Pittsburgh, 15212.

The workshop will look at various new business financing options and is presented in collaboration with PNC Foundation, the Diversity Business Resource Center, Urban Innovation21, Riverside Center for Innovation, and Colab18. Programming will be facilitated

by Jonnet Solomon, Founder & CEO of J. Solomon and Associates, LLC. The workshop is free, but registration is required. For more information, call 412-365-1448.

Training Event

AUG. 20—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center presents irst Step usiness Start-up ssentials, to p.m., Rockwell Hall, Rm. 505, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh.

Topics include usiness Structure and Formation, Fictitious Name Registration, Employee Issues, Insurance, Government Procurement, Environmental Concerns, Financing Options, Taxation Requirements and Major Components of the Business Plan. ost , for more information, call 412-396-1633.

Financial Management Workshop

AUG. 30—The Chatham University Women’s Business Center presents Managing the Financial Operations of your usiness, to p.m. at Colab18 @ Nova Place (Former Allegheny Center Mall), 100 South Commons, Pittsburgh, 15212. Programming will be facilitated by Jonnet Solomon, Founder & CEO of J. Solomon and Associates, LLC. The workshop is free, but registration is required. For more information, call 412-365-1448.

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 4-10, 2018

B3

Our View — Editorial

Some local TV media ‘failed’ in reporting about Antwon Rose II Both KDKA-TV (2) and WPXI-TV (11) have been feeling the heat on social media, and it’s not because they gave the wrong high temperature for your 4th of July holiday.

It was an error that’s just a little bigger —reporting over the air to an entire market of nearly two million people that Antwon Rose II was seen in a video firing a gun during the North Braddock shooting, June 19, and that there was gun residue on Rose’s hands.

As we all know now, that report was 100 percent false.

It never should have been reported in the first place.

Talk about Fake News.

As a news organization, The New Pittsburgh Courier knows that the coverage and competition to “get the story first” was running rampant in Pittsburgh. After all, the June 19 shooting of an unarmed 17-year-old Black teenager by a White police officer in the back brought the big boys here—CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and probably Telemundo and Al Jazeera (The Courier cannot confirm that Telemundo and Al Jazeera were actually in Pittsburgh... so if this is Fake News, we apologize in advance...)

A few days later, Friday, June 22, WPXI thought they had the scoop of all scoops— “High-level police sources,” WPXI’s David Johnson said on air, “told Channel 11 news today that there is video that appears to show Antwon Rose firing a gun in North Braddock minutes before he was shot and killed. Our police sources also told Channel 11 that gunshot residue was found on Rose’s hands.”

Later in the day, KDKA jumped in on the “Let’s tell our mainstream viewers what they really want to hear bandwagon,” and reported via a Jon Delano package that “sources did tell KDKA that surveillance video showed Rose firing a gun.”

WTAE-TV (4) did not report the false information.

Before the day was over, both Channel 2 and 11 did report that Allegheny County Police Superintendent Coleman McDonough reiterated, “While ACPD does have a video showing the North Braddock incident, that video does NOT show Antwon Rose firing a gun. The information about gunshot residue is also false.”

McDonough, in that statement issued to all local media on June 22, also said that, “We caution the media about providing irresponsible information from sources that are not verified.”

KDKA seemed to back off. But WPXI was adamant about their original report, sticking to their guns (The Courier cannot confirm that WPXI has guns...so if this is Fake News, we apologize in advance...)

“To be transparent, here at Channel 11 news, we have multiple sources telling multiple journalists in our newsroom the information we reported today. We circled back with our sources after that statement from the superintendent (McDonough)... veteran law enforcement officials tell Channel 11 news the test for the gunshot residue can be done very quickly, and initial results can be known immediately... also that information is something investigators would want to know as soon as possible.”

As you may know, on the morning of June

Guest Commentary

We must make the immigration debate our fight

by Christina Greer, PhD Many of us have been horrified watching the news these past few weeks and seeing innocent children who have been ripped away from their parents’ arms. We have been mortified to learn that our government has taken children as young as 9 months, kept them in cages or shipped them across the country without their parents’ knowledge or consent. This atrocity is America in 2018. This atrocity is what America has always been, a nation that takes children away from their families to a life of the unknown. It was done to our Native-American brothers and sisters and it was done for centuries of Blacks to keep the institution of chattel slavery alive and thriving in the U.S. What is happening to immigrant families at our southern borders (and cities and suburbs across the U.S.) is not new, but it should concern us and push us to act. We cannot stand by and be complicit while this white supremacist administration replicates the atrocities of the past. In far too many communities across the country, elected officials have sought to pit Black communities against Latino communities and other immigrant groups. It is a powerful tactic that can work when framing these debates as a competition for resources and whether one group is “entitled” or not. We cannot fall for these shortsighted racist tactics. They have worked in the past and the only winners are white supremacy.

We must be aware that this administration is now conflating “illegal” immigrants with almost all immigrants. They will not stop until they curb the tide of “undesirables” from nonwhite nations. We cannot be fooled by any of the rhetoric about the dangers of immigrants. What we are witnessing is a widespread project to promote whiteness—and fear. If we choose to remain silent, we must live with the fact that this same administration will soon set its sights on several other communities in the forms of draconian policies that will affect our health, education and overall freedom. We have already seen the foundation of this agenda by the likes of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Housing Secretary Ben Carson.

As the president and his administration seek to make America white again, many people are left asking themselves, “What can we do to assist immigrants while fighting these devastating sweeping turn of events?” First, we can donate to local organizations that are providing legal assistance to immigrant families.

Second, if you have language skills, you can volunteer to help translate for immigrants who need to speak to social service providers or lawyers. Third, we can stay vigilant and put pressure on our elected officials to provide more than lip service.

We are in this together and we cannot turn our backs on the immigrant communities among us.

(Christina Greer, Ph.D., is the 2018 NYU McSilver Institute Fellow and an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream.”

Founded 1910

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

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

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John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

27, before Allegheny County DA Stephen Zappala Jr. announced homicide charges against Officer Michael Rosfeld in the shooting death of Rose, DA spokesman Mike Manko took local television media to task, saying, “When we tried to correct the record Friday (June 22), in a very detailed statement about what was wrong with what was reported, that information was met with such defiance and arrogance that it was deeply offensive and bitterly disappointing.”

Manko did not mention any specific television station, but later said in front of all cameras: “You failed. You continuously fed (the community) information that was wrong.”

Later in the day (June 27) during its 6 p.m. newscast, KDKA-TV did not sugarcoat their mess up. Stacy Smith said the retraction: “On Friday, based on information given to us by sources, we reported that Antwon Rose Jr. fired a gun in a shooting in North Braddock prior to being shot

by East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld. In light of DA Stephen Zappala’s findings revealed today, our sources proved to be incorrect, and we regret the error.”

KDKA owned up to their mistake.

WPXI took a different approach.

Later on its June 27 newscasts, WPXI never apologized for having its facts wrong; instead, taking to our TV screens to inform viewers they did not “intentionally report false information. Our job as journalists is to not take any information without questioning it, and that includes information from government officials.”

After sleeping on it overnight (along with some on social media calling WPXI’s

statement a “half a__ apology”), Channel 11 finally came to their senses and provided a written statement on its website, dated June 28. It read, in part: “Unfortunately, one week ago we reported that sources told us a video appeared to show Rose firing a gun in a drive-by shooting.

As we told you Wednesday, that video does *not* appear to show Rose firing a gun. We want to be clear, we apologize for any pain this report caused Antwon’s family and the community.”

The Courier feels left out...the “high-level police sources” that WPXI had never called us first to say that there’s video of Antwon Rose II firing a gun in North Braddock.

Hmm, wonder why we were never called...

It’s probably because, in the words of WPXI, “our job as journalists is to not take any information without questioning it,” and the New Pittsburgh Courier surely would have questioned this report. Where is that alleged video? Can we have a copy of that video? And most importantly...as a “high-level police source,” are you in any way connected to Officer Rosfeld, the East Pittsburgh police force, or do you have any vested interest in shaping a narrative that paints the victim (Rose) in a more negative light, and the officer (Rosfeld) in a more positive light?

Will Pittsburgh’s Black community accept the two stations’ apologies?

That’s up to each individual. But one thing is certain: there is simply too much talent at KDKA and WPXI to let such an erroneous report hit the air.

The New Pittsburgh Courier agrees with Manko’s assertion that some local TV stations, in this particular instance, “failed.”

It’s been a rough week!

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—I don’t usually complain about a rough week or any rough times. My mantra is “It is through our struggles that we gain our victories.” Unfortunately, I’m having a tough time trying to count any victories during the past week. #45 continued his ranting, blaming President Barack Obama and the Democrats for everything. He even blamed them for his horrendous policies with regard to babies being torn from the arms of their parents. To top it off, his Secretary of Homeland Security told us with a straight face that she didn’t know where the girls and the babies were located when asked about them. She showed no concern about rushing to find an answer for the distraught children and parents.

We had Atty. General Jeff Sessions justify what the Administration was doing by quoting the Bible! Many of 45’s other Administration officials showed extreme confusion about how to explain what was going on and whose fault it was.

Well, I’d grown accustomed to the incompetence of #45 and his Administration, but it was taken to a new level last week. In the midst of the immigration confusion, Melania Trump wore a coat in 80+ degree weather with the words scrawled over her back saying “I really don’t care. Do U?” No one has satisfactorily explained that—especially after she’d just joined other First Ladies pretty much denouncing her hus-

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary band’s actions that imprisoned babies in cages while deporting some of their parents and leaving the children at some unknown place in the United States!

Then along came the wrath of the U.S. Supreme Court via its shocking decisions that would set us back by many years. First, they approved the Muslim ban, making it impossible for some families to visit their relatives in this country. So much for family values! Then came the decision forbidding unions from collecting fees from non-members for work on their behalf. As soon as Justice Anthony Kennedy voted for those horrendous decisions, came his unexpected announcement that he was out of here as of July 31st! It was almost like he was punishing us for his ever having voted on the right side of issues such as Roe v. Wade and for his vote on LGBTQ rights. By the end of the week, we could only ask, “Whatever can happen next?”

If we’re not all out registering potential voters and educating them on the

real issues such as the almost certain possibility of having laws that have made our lives better such as a woman’s right to choose, the ability of labor unions to be sufficiently funded to negotiate fair wages and benefits for all workers, people’s right to love and/ or marry whomever they choose, the opportunity to practice the religion of their choice, to be kind to those seeking asylum in our country and more, then we are traitors to our nation.

Our silence gives consent.

America has become a scary place, and things are getting worse. Like some Democrats have been saying lately, “We had better get ready to play hardball.” #45 has done so much damage to the image of America, that we may not be able to recover for many years. Mitch McConnell and he are trying to put together a U.S. Supreme Court that leaves us without any appeal.

It’s time for all of us to be worried; but being worried is not enough. All of us must become activists who’re ready to fight to preserve what is good about America and come up with solutions that’ll prevent people like #45 from ever being able to tear down everything we’ve ever built for the greater good.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. is National President/CEO/General Counsel for the National Congress of Black Women and host of “Wake Up and Stay Woke” on WPFW—FM Radio 89.3. 202/678-6788. www.nationalcongressbw.org.)

‘What kind of country do we want to be?’

For President Trump, the campaign never ends.

He is on the stump, in full campaign mode now. He is intent on nationalizing this fall’s congressional elections.

As Steve Bannon put it, “Donald Trump will be on every ballot.” The choice will be for Trump or against.

Trump is even prepared to scar thousands of toddlers and infants— many of them permanently—by separating them from their parents at the border in order to frame that choice.

The question this fall won’t be simply about who controls the House or the Senate or the statehouses. It will be a choice of what kind of country, what kind of people we are.

Trump has and will put the question directly, brutally and inescapably. He isn’t really interested in policy. His lack of knowledge and attention is infamous, even among his own aides.

He isn’t really interested in forging a majority in Congress and actually passing reforms.

After creating the human horror at our border, he said only Congress could change it. When it became apparent that Americans couldn’t abide torturing children, he changed it overnight, and told Congress they were wasting their time trying to deal with immigration policy before the next election. He wants immigration to be a threat, an issue, a club for the election, not something addressed by a bipartisan compromise.

Immigration flows into this country are down. The record long economic recovery that began under President Barack Obama has driven down unemployment. It is hard to argue that immigration is still about the threat of those people taking our jobs.

Trump uses immigration to rouse racial fear; immigrants “infest” our coun-

Jesse Jackson Sr.

Commentary try, he charges. They are criminals, rapists, murderers and gang members.

Democrats, he slanders, want open borders. Nancy Pelosi wants to open the country to MS-13 gang members.

That these are lies and libels is irrelevant. Trump is using the same scurrilous tactics made famous in the Jim Crow South—paint “those people,” the other, as a fearsome threat to rouse fears and gain support. It was ugly then and it is grotesque now.

It was effective in the old South; it remains to be seen if it will work again in today’s America. But that’s the gamble that Trump is making, and he will stick to it. Trump will ensure that this will be one of the most vile and poisonous election campaigns in memory.

Trump is on a rampage on immigration and posturing on trade to reinforce his biggest con, that he somehow is a populist champion for working people. The reality, of course, is much different. He’s provided the bumptious cover for the traditional Republican agenda for corporations and the rich. His administration’s major accomplishment—the tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the rich and the corporations—is already unpopular.

Dismay will spread as Republicans use the deficits the tax cut exploded to justify cuts in basic security programs— Medicare and Medicaid, health care,

food stamps, investments in schools, and more. Meanwhile, the administration’s claim to be cleaning out the swamp turns out to mean allowing lobbyists to savage protections for workers, consumers and the environment. This isn’t a “populist agenda.” It is a plutocrat’s agenda, with a populist sales pitch and Trump as the lead huckster.

Most of this is about turnout in what are traditionally low-turnout, off-year elections. Trump wants to rouse his base. He believes that the politics of fear, featuring poisonous, racially charged libels and slanders directed at immigrants will turn more supporters out than off. The tax cuts consolidate support among the affluent that tend to vote; the venom rouses and distracts those whose interests are being trampled.

Trump does make the stakes this fall clear. If Republicans—almost universally cowed into echoing the president—sustain their majorities, we’ll get more of the same: action that serves the rich; rhetoric that divides the rest. If instead Trump’s foul politics rouse more opposition than support, the rebuke will attest to what kind of country we are.

All of us are complex. We have our better angels, our ideals and aspirations; we harbor fears and anxieties.

Good leaders can appeal to our better angels, bring the country together and unleash energy. Dark leaders can evoke horrors, drive the country apart and unleash hatred.

Trump has chosen the latter, over and over, in greater and greater extremes. In the fall, citizens will have to choose: Is that the kind of leader we want? Is that the kind of nation we are?

Donald Trump may find out that we are a better people than he assumes.

CLASSIFIED New Pittsburgh Courier

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JULY 4-10, 2018

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Help Wanted

Legal Notices

DV LEGAL ADVOCATE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY PUBLIC NOTICE

FT, Legal Advocacy Dept. of local non-profit agency. esponsible for counseling victims of domestic violence and court accompaniment.

Knowledge of domestic violence issues. Min. BS or equiv. plus one year crisis exper. Must have Act 33/34 & FBI clearances. Salary high ’s plus exc. enefits.

Send resume, cover letter, and salary requirements by 7/13/2018 to: halereedj@wcspittsburgh.org EOE LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Orphans’ Court Division, Estate of Aquilla Hairston, deceased, Case No. 021803497 of 2018: Notice is hereby given that on May 18th, 2018, a Petition was filed to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Aquilla Hairston, deceased, in the real estate located at 496 Park Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15221, and determine that fee simple title is in Ronald Hairston. If no exceptions to the Petition are filed within days, Petitioner will seek an Order adjudging that Aquilla Hairston’s title is in himself.

FICTITIOUS NAME REGISTRATION

Michael J. Saldamarco, Esq., Attorney(s) Ste. 100, 908 Perry HWY., Pittsburgh, PA 15229.

Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of the Fictitious Name Act of Pennsylvania that an application for registration of a fictitious name was filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the conduct of a business under the fictitious name of H with its principal office or place of busines at 1341 PARKWAY RD., PITTSBURGH, PA 15237. The name and address, including sreet and number, if any, of all entities who are parties to the registration are HUEGAH, INC., 1341 PARKWAY RD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15237

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

Business Corporation

Michael J. Saldamarco, Esq., Attorney(s) Ste. 100, 908 Perry HWY., Pittsburgh, PA 15229.

Notice is hereby given that Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a business Corporation which has been incorporated under the provision of the Business Corporation Law of 1988. The name of he corporation is Huegah, Inc.

FICTITIOUS NAME REGISTRATION

Michael J. Saldamarco, Esq., Attorney(s) Ste. 100, 908 Perry HWY., Pittsburgh, PA 152291120 412-367-0446. Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of the Fictitious Name Act of Pennsylvania that an application for registration of a fictitious name was filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the conduct of a business under the fictitious name of with its principal office or place of busines at 1341 PARKWAY RD., PITTSBURGH, PA 15237. The name and address, including street and number, if any, of all entities who are parties to the registration are HUEGAH, INC., 1341 PARKWAY RD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15237

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE) PART 26 GOALS FISCAL YEARS 2019 THROUGH 2021

The Allegheny County Airport Authority hereby announces its fiscal years 2019 through 2021 goal of 14% for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) airport construction contracts. The proposed goals and rationale are available for inspection between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday for 30 days from July 1, 2018 to July , , at the office of enee liver, Business Diversity & Outreach Manager, Allegheny County Airport Authority (address listed below).

Comments on the DBE goal will be accepted for 30 days from the date of this publication and can be sent to the following: Jenee Oliver Business Diversity & Outreach Manager Allegheny County Airport Authority Pittsburgh International Airport Landside Terminal, 4th Floor Mezzanine P.O. Box 12370 Pittsburgh, PA 15231-0370 oliver ypittsburgh.com LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of BRAY DOROTHY A. a/k/a BRAY DOROTHY ANNA, Deceased of Shaler Township No. 02749 of 2018 Michael J. Saldamarco, ESQ., STE. 100, 908 Perry HWY., Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Admin. or to Michael J. Saldamarco, ESQ., STE. 100, 908 Perry HWY., Pittsburgh, PA 15229.

Estate of GARY NATHAN PARKER, Deceased of Pittsburgh, PA No. 03576 of 2018 Administratrix Diana James, 2376 E. 37th Street, Cleveland, OH 44115 or to Thelma C. Spells, Esquire, Atty., 1533 Bidwell Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233.

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) is accepting Letters of Interest and Statements of ualifications from firms ualified to provide professional services for the following: 2019 - 2020 WASTEWATER FLOW MONITORING AND FLOW ISOLATION STUDY PROGRAM CAPITAL PROJECT S447 June 2018 nterested firms shall submit six hard bound paper copies and one electronic copy formatted as a PDF on a Compact Disc (CD) in a sealed envelope plainly marked: Statement o ualifications or 2019 - 2020 WASTEWATER FLOW MONITORING AND FLOW ISOLATION STUDY PROGRAM Allegheny County Sanitary Authority 3300 Preble Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Attention: Suzanne Thomas All questions should be submitted, in writing, to Suzanne Thomas at Suzanne.thomas@alcosan.org.

ALCOSAN intends to award the services to one lead firm to perform all of the services. All submittals must be received no later than 2:00 PM on July 20, 2018 at the ALCOSAN Contracts Department. Please allow time to process through security. If the documents are sent via courier, it is Consultant’s responsibility to ensure the documents have been received. Late submittals will not be considered and will be returned unopened. Additional information and instructions may be obtained by visiting: http://www. alcosan.org/BusinessOpportunities/RFQsRFPs/tabid/182/Default.aspx ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities, disadvantaged and women’s business enterprises to submit ualification statements or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to the selected Firm. The Firm selected shall be required to utilize minority, disadvantaged, and women’s business enterprises to the fullest extent possible. The goals of the ALCOSAN’s Minority and Women Business Policy are listed on the ALCOSAN website at www. alcosan.org.

Director of Regional Conveyance LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR FIRE ALARM SENSITIVITY TESTING REBID IFB# 300-18-18REBID

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from ualified irms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): FIRE ALARM SENSITIVITY TESTING REBID IFB# 300-18-18REBID The documents will be available no later than July 2, 2018 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 a.m. on August 3, 2018 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 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 bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 July 25, 2018 10:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

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NOTICE OF PROGRAM AVAILABILITY

Allegheny County, through its Department of Economic Development, wishes to announce that applications are available for the Allegheny Housing Development Fund (AHDF) 2018 Program Year (July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019). The Allegheny Housing Development Fund may provide project funds from one or more of the following sources: 1. HOME Investment Partnerships Program 2. Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) 3. Affordable Housing Trust Funds (Act 137) 4. Other Funds, as available Note that this application is required if you are proposing housing and CDBG is the sole source of funds you are requesting.

AHDF provides funding for projects that may include the following: 1. New construction of low/moderate income multi-family or senior rental housing.

2. Conversion of existing properties into low/moderate income multi-family or senior rental housing, such as old schools, warehouses, and municipal buildings.

3. Rehabilitation of vacant, existing multi-family rental housing developments for rent to low/moderate income tenants, either families or seniors.

4. New construction of single-family units (detached) or townhomes (attached) for purchase by low/moderate income buyers.

5. Rehabilitation of existing single-family or townhome units for purchase by low/moderate income buyers.

6. Projects with multiple funding sources, such as Low Income Housing Tax Credits, HUD mortgage loans or other funds from a non-County of Allegheny source.

Applicants need to complete the AHDF application whether or not state or other funds are also being pursued, and other applications may not be substituted for the AHDF application.

Projects considered for funds under this program are intended to stabilize neighborhoods whose viability have been and continue to be damaged by the economic effects of properties that have experienced or are continuing to experience disinvestment; or to locate housing in areas of opportunity that provide low/moderate income persons with improved access to transportation options and enhanced school and/or employment opportunities.

Funds awarded will be secured by a mortgage (or mortgages) placed on the property for a period of five to forty years. unds are not provided in the form of grants. Affordability provisions run concurrently with the term of the mortgage(s).

Applicants are encouraged to identify all members of their development team in the application, such as architects, engineers, attorneys, marketers and general contractors. Team members that are not identified via this application’s procurement process will be required to be procured via the Allegheny County procurement process, including public advertisement for professional or construction contracts of $30,000 or more.

Recipients of AHDF funds will be bound by Federal, State and County regulations including, but not limited to, those related to fair housing, equal employment opportunity, prevailing wage law, relocation and property acquisition, lead-based paint, provision of opportunities to Minority-, Women- and Disadvantaged-owned business enterprises (M/W/DBE) and to Veterans Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Section 3 opportunities.

The majority of the funds utilized require that households with incomes of no more than 80% of the Area Median Income be served. AHDF funds should be leveraged with other development dollars secured by applicants. HOME funds for rental projects require that tenants have incomes below 60% of AMI. To receive an application, contact Nathan Wetzel, Allegheny County Economic Development at (412) 350-3724 or by e-mail @ nathan.wetzel@ county.allegheny.pa.us.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Submission of an application in no way guarantees an award of funds.

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:

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed bids will be received in the ffice f The hief perations fficer, oom , dministration uilding, South ellefield venue until 11:00 A.M. prevailing time July 17, 2018 and will be opened at the same hour for the purchase of the following equipment and supplies: Window Cleaning Calculators General Information regarding bids may be obtained at the ffice 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: http://www.pghboe.net/pps/site/ default.asp Click on Bid Opportunities 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.

M. Jordan Purchasing Agent We are an equal rights and opportunity school district

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND CLEANUP RFP #300-28-18

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from ualified irms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND CLEANUP RFP #300-28-18 The documents will be available no later than June 25, 2018 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 9:00 a.m. on July 27, 2018 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 inquiries should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116 Opt 1 A pre-submission meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 July 19, 2018 9:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

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

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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR WALK IN-ROLL IN SHOWER INSTALLATION IFB# 300-26-18

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from ualified irms or ndividuals capable of providing the following service s WALK IN-ROLL IN SHOWER INSTALLATION IFB# 300-26-18 The documents will be available no later than uly , and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 9:00 a.m. on August 3, 2018 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at oss Street nd loor, Suite , Pittsburgh, P , 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 usiness Opportunities page of www.HACP. org. uestions or in uiries 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 pre bid meeting will be held Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 July 25, 2018 9:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh H P conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title , the air Housing ct, Section of the ehabilitation ct of , the mericans with Disabilities ct, The P Human elations ct, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR COMBUSTION AND HOT WATER HEATER SERVICES REBID IFB# 300-21-18REBID

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from ualified irms or ndividuals capable of providing the following service s COMBUSTION AND HOT WATER HEATER SERVICES REBID IFB# 300-21-18REBID The documents will be available no later than une , and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 a.m. on July 27, 2018 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at oss Street nd loor, Suite , Pittsburgh, P , 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 usiness Opportunities page of www.HACP. org. uestions or in uiries 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 pre bid meeting will be held Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 July 19, 2018 10:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh H P conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title , the air Housing ct, Section of the ehabilitation ct of , the mericans with Disabilities ct, The P Human elations ct, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

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

JULY 4-10, 2018

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A wake-up call for Democrats

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—I’ve never met Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year old New York activist, but I am surely looking forward to it. This giant-slayer of an organizer (she worked for Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2016 campaign) was out-spent, but certainly not out-worked, by her opponent, Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY).

Crowley had served in Congress for ten terms and was the fourth-highest ranking Democrat in Congress, one who had openly coveted Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s position as Minority Leader in Congress. He spent $1.5 million in his first primary race since 2004, while Ocasio-Cortez spent just a fraction of that.

Congresswoman-elect Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (wow! It feels good to type that, and she is a shoo-in because the district is mostly Democratic) won because, despite fewer funds and less name recognition, she had a ground game that did not quit. The day after her election, she told CNN that her team “knocked on doors that had never been knocked on, reaching voters who had been dismissed.” Lacking money for the television ads Crowley spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on, Ocasio-Cortez used social media to get the word about her candidacy out.

She didn’t mind being sharply critical of Crowley, highlighting his disconnection from the New York district that includes parts of the Bronx and Queens, and focusing on the demographic mismatch between a 50 plus White man representing a district that is majority minority. Ocasio-Cortez’s hard work paid off—she had more than 57 percent of the vote, hardly a nail-biter.

In some ways, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez sounds something like Stacey Abrams, the Democratic powerhouse who made history when she became the first-African American woman to win a primary party nomination for governor and in the South, at that. When Abrams first declared her candidacy she was

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary met with skepticism, and especially from some in the Democratic Party establishment. But she had been registering some of the voters that the party had ignored, and if she can get about 100,000 more registered and voting, she has an excellent chance of being elected governor.

Unfortunately, the national Democratic Party and some state parties have done a poor job of dealing with the nation’s shifting demographics, and with the demand from younger, browner, and more focused voters to dispense with business as usual. In Washington State, for example, Tirzah Idahosa is a candidate for the 30th Senate District.

The union member, volunteer lobbyist, former correctional officer and foster parent is a founder of Democrats for Diversity and Inclusion and a precinct captain. In a primary race with another Democrat, she tells me that she has been advised to “wait her turn” or to run for something “lesser” like the school board. Don’t these mainstream Democrats get that advising folks to “wait their turn” is what is turning so many away from the polls? President Barack Obama didn’t wait his turn when he was advised to, and he beat Hilary Clinton soundly and out of turn!

Mainstream Democrats didn’t get the Bernie memo, but Sen. Bernie Sanders had a good night on Tuesday, June 25. Not only did he have the Ocasio-Cortez victory to savor, but another of his acolytes, former NAACP President Ben Jealous, won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Maryland. His opponent, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, was in many ways both the superior candidate and the one better poised to beat Republican governor Larry Hogan.

But Jealous had the Bernie machine and the enthusiasm of younger people who saw Baker as “business as usual.”

In Boston, City Councilor Ayanna Pressley has challenged incumbent Rep. Mike Capuano, D-Ma., for his congressional seat.

Capuano has used the power of his incumbency to persuade members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis, to support him, a colleague, instead of Councilor Pressley. If some of the CBC representatives spent time with Ayanna Pressley, they’d like her and wish they had someone with her passion as a colleague. But Capuano thinks his seniority (he has only been in office 5 years) should be persuasive and dismissed Pressley’s candidacy by telling the Boston Globe “if we decide to send junior people, good luck.”

His rank will yield his a key subcommittee chairmanship in Congress if Democrats can take the House back. Or, if Democrats can win the house, it will put Pressley in line to be a committee chair just a few years from now. Capuano forgets that demographics have shifted in his Congressional district, which is now majority-minority. He also ignores that fact that not so long ago he, too, was a junior person in Congress.

Younger, more progressive Democrats like Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley aren’t trying to “wait their turn,” they are trying to turn our country around. The Democratic Party ought to look at these candidacies as a second wake-up call. The first happened when Senator Bernie Sanders nearly beat Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and lit a fire among young change agents that won’t be contained by the power of incumbency or the condescending rhetoric that folks should “wait their turn.”

(Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist.)

FORUM

Crawford Grill #2—Institute of Jazz & Knowledge Life is complex, customers were a and often there Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick cross-section of the are a number of entire Allegheny people, places and County, and it was things that help my introduction to formulate how enhance my knowlwe live it. I was edge of people and blessed to have things, the beginmy parents, who ning of the kind of introduced me to schooling that, if religion and God, you pay attention, helped me to understand the impor- you can earn a PhD in Social Realities. tance of respect and earning of respect It would not be possible or fair for me to and that education could be the key to attempt to list all of those who unwittingyour future. One of the most important ly played the roles of professors, because I lessons they instilled into our family was would omit too many deserving persons. I that richness was not materialism, but am compelled to list the chancellor of the living out God’s greatest commandment, institution, because he was the owner, Mr. LOVE and health and happiness. They Joseph Robinson, not only was he an astute also instilled in us that “can’t” was not businessman, he was intelligent—a numacceptable in our lives of vocabulary, and ber of persons are smart, even educated, we were no better than anyone, but just but not intelligent. There were a number of as good. There are some periods of time us who qualified to be regulars in the corthat I often reflect on the built-in advan- ner of the Crawford Grill, but the Angel of tages I had as I began to become a part of Death has called all of them home, but mythe communities around me. self and the son of the owner of the CrawI was a typical student in school, played ford Grill, William “Buzzy” Robinson. Buzzy football, paid attention to the teachers, is an example of what we were exposed to never late or absent. (Parents did not al- in the Crawford Grill, because he is a world low that.) In January 1949 I graduated traveler—he was able to describe to us and from Fifth Avenue High School, and that particularly to those who had only read and same year out of curiosity (or maybe con- saw foreign countries in movies about some cern) became involved in politics. Although of the places and things he was able to see I was only 17 years of age, it was instantly and participate in, and he lived for years in apparent to me that the political process “The Big Apple.” was just another form of slavery. All politThe town, so nice, they named it twice— ical positions were occupied by Whites but New York, New York. one, and he was the kind of colored man The Crawford Grill is where I got to who would say, “we tired, boss.” meet and know THE Mal Goode, Mr. As a teenager I took an active part in ev- William “Bill” Nunn Sr., editor of the ery political campaign until I was drafted Pittsburgh Courier, Mr. William Young, into the U.S. Army in 1952. In 1953 I regis- first Black to be appointed to the Govtered to vote, honorably discharged in 1954 ernor of Pennsylvania’s cabinet as Secand was actively involved in every political retary of Labor, all of the Black judges, campaign until 2016 (over 60 years). As I all BLACK CANDIDATES. Everybody became more involved in politics I began who believed he was somebody frequentto frequent the Crawford Grill #2 located ed the Crawford Grill. There were those at Wylie Avenue and Elmore St., and that persons I met, respected, learned from, became further maturity of my growth as listened to, and paid attention to. There it related to improving the overall quality were those persons who had traveled the of life for Black people. My original expec- entire country, been to the great 500 autation on my introduction to the grill was tomobile race, 25 consecutive Kentucky music. One of my first lessons was being Derbys, world championship fights, Joe made aware of the fact that the Crawford Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jack JohnGrill was the only music house between son, etc. There were those who had met New York and Chicago that exclusively and known Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, played Jazz. The surroundings grew on me Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, and as the entire business was Black-owned they would tell how they would use their and a first-class operation, the likes I had personal funds to finance Black organinever seen. The class emanated from the zations and candidates (something we owner, Mr. Joseph Robinson, to the total don’t do today). operation of the business, first-class dining All of these men of yesterday are defacility where you would be more comfort- ceased, and CRAWFORD GRILL #2 IS able taking your family. The entire staff CLOSED. (Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a contributor to the were professionals and it was more than an institute of Jazz, especially to me, the New Pittsburgh Courier.)

To Tell The Truth

Is President Trump’s human rights hiatus legitimate or based on myths?

President George before the Republican W. Bush’s first ad- J. Pharaoh Doss return to the presiministration boydency, Ted Piccone, a cotted the United senior fellow at the Nations Commission Brookings Institute, on Human Rights. testified before the Bush’s advisors beTom Lantos Human lieved the CommisRights Commission sion was ineffective, on the status of the bias, obsessed with UNHRC ten years afIsrael, and tolerant ter its founding. of too many blatant human rights offendPiccone’s testimony covered several ers. myths about the United Nations Human In 2006 the United Nations General Rights Council. These are the myths that Assembly scrapped the Commission on contradict the Trump Administration’s Human Rights and replaced it with the official reasons for withdrawing from the current United Nations Human Rights UNHRC. Council. While the General Assem1). Regarding the UNHRC’s memberbly drafted rules for the newly-formed ship, some members do not represent UNHRC, the Bush Administration de- “the shining stars” of the human rights manded that the General Assembly cre- universe, but from 2007-2015, over 74 ate standards for UNHRC membership. percent of the UNHRC’s members met The General Assembly rejected the no- the freedom house standards for free and tion of “American approval” of UNHRC partly free countries, so it’s not the case members, and the Bush Administration that the majority of the UNHRC’s memdeclined to make the United States a bers are authoritarian. (Freedom House member of the UNHRC. is a non-governmental organization dediIn 2009, President Barack Obama re- cated to the expansion of freedom and deversed the Bush Administration’s decision mocracy across the world. It was foundand the United States joined the UNHRC ed in 1941.) And states with the most with the intentions of taking a leading notorious human rights records either role. But last month, in 2018, the Trump failed in their campaigns to win a seat or Administration announced the United withdrawn after facing heavy opposition.

States was pulling out of the UNHRC. 2). Regarding the UNHRC’s bias treatNikki Haley, United States ambassador ment of Israel, it’s a known fact Israel’s to the United Nations, stated the U.S. gave human rights record in the occupied the UNHRC “opportunity after opportu- Palestinian territories is the only counnity” to make changes. She also chastised try-specific, permanent item, on the the UNHRC for having human rights vi- UNHRC’s agenda, but that was a result olators like China, Cuba, Venezuela, and of bad bargaining in the early years of the the Democratic Republic of the Congo as UNHRC when the United States refused members. (Critics said Haley’s list was to participate. Since the United States loaded with left-wing regimes that are joined the body only two such sessions hostile to the United States and her list have been called; a similar decrease in excluded autocratic U.S. allies also known the number of country resolutions devotfor human rights abuses.) Two weeks be- ed to Israel occurred, along with a corfore the announcement Haley publicly responding increase in attention to dire complained about the Council’s “relent- cases like Iran, North Korea, and Syria. less, pathological campaign” against Isra3). Regarding the leadership of the Unitel. Haley pointed out the UNHRC adopted ed States at the UNHRC, some argue five resolutions condemning Israel and that the UNHRC is politically poisoned only one resolution, each, against North and the United States is morally obligatKorea, Iran and Syria, and since the Coun- ed to withdraw. But this approach would cil’s creation it has passed more than 70 abandon the field to those who remain deresolutions targeting Israel and just seven termined to block any international scruon Iran. Haley also said the United States tiny or condemnation of human rights took this step because our commitment to violations around the world. The evidence human rights does not allow us to remain against U.S. withdrawal is already availa part of a hypocritical and self-serving able—its absence from the Council’s table organization that makes a mockery of its during the first two years of its existence official charge. led to setbacks on multiple fronts, includHaley’s comments echoed her Republi- ing the preponderant focus on Israel.

(J. Pharaoh Doss is a contributor to the New can predecessors before their party’s hiatus from the Oval Office, but, in 2016, right Pittsburgh Courier.)

Check It Out

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Derrick Johnson

Commentary

NAACP: Trump’s war against Civil Rights (NNPA)—BALTIMORE—Recently, the NAACP, alongside members of the Congressional Black Caucus, gathered on the steps of Capitol Hill to demand a halt of the Trump administration’s continued attempts to force Thomas Farr—a known racist with ties to the late segregationist Senator Jesse Helms—into the federal judgeship of North Carolina.

Located in eastern North Carolina, this federal district under this judgeship has one of the highest densities of African American voters than any other part of the state, making Farr one of the worst possible candidates that could be considered. Sadly, instead of representing an anomaly, Farr instead represents the archetype for federal judge nominees put forth by the Trump Administration. Whether it’s nominees that refuse to publicly support the Brown v.

Board decision that desegregated our public schools or individuals with ties to known racist organizations, what we are seeing are people whose attitudes reflect norms more associated with the era of Jim Crow than our time.

It cannot be ignored that Trump’s White House is engaged in none other than a war against civil rights. Though this is a battle we had hoped to have ended by now, it is not a fight we are afraid of nor is it one we will lose. We have waged war against the foes of civil rights for over 109 years. We fought hard against the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions to the office of Attorney General and we will continue to fight against Trump’s nearly all-white and mostly male federal judge nominees. Mr. Sessions’ redirection of the Department of Justice (DOJ) away from its civil rights commitment under the Obama Administration to an agency that condones police brutality and other racially based injustices is hardly surprising. We knew he would push the DOJ to withdraw its support for our legal cases against voter suppression and he did. The simple point is that these moves against civil rights cannot be divorced from his boss—President Trump.

Over the past few months, the NAACP has sued the Trump administration on its failure to properly prepare for Census2020. This failure to prepare for the Census means that communities of color, including wealthy communities like Prince Georges County, Maryland, our partner in the lawsuit, will likely be once again undercounted. When this happens, our communities lose out on political representation, federal dollars, and resources that are rightfully ours. We’ve also taken the fight to this administration on the decision by Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos and the Department of Education to basically throw civil rights under the bus and arbitrarily determine that the department no longer has to investigate complaints of discrimination in our schools. We are also committed to ensuring that DeVos plans for privatization, plans that would destroy our public-school system, never come to completion.

There is a direct correlation between the racism emanating from the White House and the expansion of attacks on the humanity of persons of color. This is clear not only from Trump’s poisonous rhetoric that disparages people, cultures, and nations, but also in the policies that emanate from his office.

The infection of blatant racist speech and behavior began the day after Trump was elected and it has continued to spread, giving inspiration to closet bigots and encouraging implicit and explicit racial biases that pervade from the golf course to the coffee shop and every space in between.

During our 109th Annual Convention July 14-18 in San Antonio, Texas, the NAACP will bring together some of our nation’s most brilliant minds, activists, and legislators, as well as powerful voices from the hip-hop community to map out the agenda for moving forward. Our goal is to unite our voices into a powerful symphony that resonates with communities of color and inspires them to join us in standing against government-sponsored hate. This year’s theme is simply “Defeat Hate—Vote.”

We’ve extended an invitation to President Trump to attend our convention and once again he has declined. His refusal to address the nation’s premier civil rights organization and its hundreds of thousands of advocates is, by default, a refusal to speak to the entirety of the Black Community. Regardless, we remain “unshook” and “woke,” in terms of the challenges we face and must overcome in this administration and we’re up for the fight.

All we ask of you is to join us to “Make Democracy Work.” Pledge to vote by texting NAACP to 40649.

(Derrick Johnson is the President and CEO of the NAACP. Follow him and the NAACP on Twitter at @DerrickNAACP and @NAACP.)

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

JULY 4-10, 2018

B7

38 of 52 homicides Black lives...In June, nine of 10 victims were Black HOMICIDES FROM A1

burgh police said Dickson admitted the killing to two witnesses and also wrote a confession in a notebook.

Dickson is in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting trial.

JUNE 2—Mujahid Hanif, a 28-year-old Black male, was allegedly shot three times by 29-year-old James Glenn following a dispute over a dirt bike, according to Pittsburgh Police who found Hanif ’s body stuffed under the rear steps to his home in the 600 block of Hillsboro Street in Sheraden. Police said Glenn admitted to the killing during questioning and is now in the Allegheny County Jail.

JUNE 14—Major Troutman, a 3-year-old Black male who died at UPMC Children’s Hospital in February, was killed by blunt force trauma to the head, according to the county medical examiner. Jamal Williams, 21, who had been in jail on unrelated charges since Feb.22, has been charged with homicide.

JUNE 14—De’von Dozier, a 23-year-old Black male, was found with a gunshot wound to the leg at a home on Woodlow Street in Crafton Heights. He was hospitalized but died of his injury. Rashem Littleberry, 28, of Chartiers City was arrested and charged in the shooting, June 20.

JUNE 16—Daevion Raines, a 15-year-old Black male, was fatally shot when the stolen car he was driving was riddled with bullets near the intersection of Smoker and Newford alleys in Duquesne. A second, 17-year-old teen, who had been in the car and was wounded, was found nearby. Allegheny County detectives said the car was hit more than 15 times. The investigation is ongoing.

Police urge anyone with information to call the police tipline at 833-255-8477.

JUNE 18—Travon Smart, a 21-year-old Black male who went by the stage name Jimmy Wopo, was shot multiple times in a daylight, drive-by shooting on Wylie Avenue in the Hill District.

Another passenger in the car was also hit but survived. No arrest has been made. Pittsburgh Police ask anyone with information to contact them at 412-323-7800.

JUNE 19—Antwon Rose II, a 17-year-old Black male, was shot three times as he fled from a traffic stop in East Pittsburgh.

East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld has been charged with criminal homicide in the case.

Despite objections, Officer Rosfeld was granted bail and is under house arrest.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Senior Judge Jeffrey Manning has been asked by multiple political and community members to revoke the bail.

JUNE 19—Deandre Bratcher, a 28-year-old Black male, was found suffering from a fatal gunshot wound in the passenger seat of a vehicle near the intersection of Hunter Street and Glenn Avenue in Wilkinsburg. He died later at the hospital. County police are looking for a silver SUV in connection with the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call the police tipline at 833-255-8477.

JUNE 20—Leryal Matthews, a 21-year-old Black male, was found by police in a Braddock apartment in the 500 block of Talbot Street suffering from multiple fatal gunshot wounds.

No arrests have been made.

The investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call the police tipline at 833-255-8477.

JUNE 22—Jazmere Brianna Custis, a 19-year-old Black female, was killed in a drive-by shooting as she and three friends sat in a car in the 1300 block of Margaret Street in Munhall. Police say Custis had pulled over to drop off one of the passengers when another car pulled up and gunfire erupted. County police are asking anyone with information to call the police tipline at 833-255-8477.

JUNE 30—Jomarcus Fuller, and 18-year-old

Black male was found by police lying in the road in the 2200 block of East Hills Drive having sustained multiple gunshots wounds to the head. Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect and are asking anyone with information to contact them at 412-3237800.

May Homicides (7) MAY 2—Dwayne Lamar Tolbert-McGhee, a 29-year-old Black male, was fatally wounded outside the Muhammad Mosque 22 in Wilkinsburg and died about three hours later at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital—but not before he and a witness who heard the shooting while in the mosque identified the shooter. Delvante Thompson, 30, of Penn Hills was arrested May 26 and charged with homicide. He awaits trial in the Allegheny County jail.

MAY 5—Stephen Drake Jr., a 47-year-old Black male, was fatally shot as he was driving his motorcycle on Fifth Avenue in Shadyside. Drake was a veteran anti-violence advocate, working with Richard Garland at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health’s Violence Prevention Initiative. The investigation into his death continues. Anyone with information is urged to call Pittsburgh Homicide detectives at 412-323-7800.

MAY 7—Chad Rock, a 34-yearold White male, was fatally shot during a home invasion at his house on Terrace Drive in McKees Rocks. Allegheny County detectives said they are looking for three Black males who bound Rock’s two children and a female with zip ties and demanded money and drugs. A second male occupant was also shot in the robbery. Detectives hope Rock’s surveillance cameras will help identify the killers. Anyone with information is urged to call the Allegheny County tip line at 1-833-255-8477.

MAY 9—Taeshaun Caldwell, an 18-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot lying between two homes in the 500 block of Lowell Street near Shetland Avenue in Larimer. Police have not yet identified a suspect. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call 412-323-7800.

MAY 9—Lawrence Brown, a 26-year-old Black male, was gunned down in an apparent drive-by shooting on Bedford Avenue in the Hill District that left several cars riddled with bullet holes. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Police are asking anyone with information to call 412323-7800.

MAY 25—Matthew Anthony Zinnermon, a 32-year-old Black male from Chesapeake, Va., was shot multiple times on Park Hill Drive in East Hills. Police have arrested and charged 24-year-old Leonard Bernard Hill of Sheraden with the shooting. He awaits trial in the Allegheny County Jail.

MAY 27—Darrell Williams, a 48-year-old Black male, was found shot multiple times inside his home in the 500 Block of Farnsworth Avenue in Clairton. He died later at Jefferson Memorial

Hospital. Police have no motive and are asking anyone with information to call the county tip line at 1-833-255-8477.

April Homicides (7) APRIL 1—Meliek Rashad Hemmingway, a 22-year-old Black male, was found by Pittsburgh police lying in Conemaugh in East Hills Easter morning with a gunshot wound to the chest.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have since released surveillance video of a man riding a bicycle away from the scene and are asking for help identify the individual, who they are calling a person of interest. Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 412-323-7800.

APRIL 4—James Clayton Westover, a 56-year-old White male, was fatally shot in the driveway of his home by one-time friend, 62-year-old Lex Miller.

Ohio Township police responding to call of shots fired, encountered Miller at the scene. After a brief exchange of gunfire, Miller shot himself in the head. The Allegheny County Coroner has ruled it a murder-suicide.

APRIL 7—Aaron David James, a 29-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot in an alley behind the 1300 block of Franklin Street in Wilkinsburg. As yet, police have not identified a suspect or motive. Anyone with information is asked to all county detectives at 1-833-255-8477.

APRIL 11—Dolores Williams, a 39-year-old Black female, was found fatally shot in the head in her Stowe Township home. Her teen daughter was also shot but was stabilized at a local hospital. Police immediately began searching for 42-year-old Jamar Allen, who was also wanted for the home-invasion assault of a minor in March. He was found later the same day in his car in Homewood, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot.

APRIL 11—The skeletal remains of Zackery Sheets, a 20-year-old White male missing for more than a year, were found by a hiker walking through the woods off Milltown Road in Penn Hills. The coroner’s office ruled the death a homicide based on information gleaned from the investigation into his disappearance, but it has not released an official cause of death. Anyone with information about Sheets’ death or disappearance is asked to call 1-833-255-8477.

APRIL 14—Shawn William Dillard, a 27-year-old Black male from Erie, was fatally shot in the head in the Hill District. City police found him in the 1800 block of Cliff Street. He was taken to Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police have yet to identify a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7800.

APRIL 26—Phillip Daniel Pryor, a 27-yeqr-old Black male, was gunned down after leaving his girlfriend’s house in Homestead en route to his grandmother’s house. Police said, as yet, they have no motive or suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-833-255-8477.

March Homicides (6) MARCH 11—Brenda Kay Zel-

enski, a 59-year-old White female, died in a Pittsburgh hospital as the result of knife wounds she received during an altercation with her husband, also dead, in Indiana County, March 3.

MARCH 16—Juan Green, a 31-year-old Black male, was fatally shot after getting into an argument outside Becker’s Café on Olivia Street in the McKees Rocks Bottoms. Police arrested 33-yearold Tyree Davis less than a day later at a home in Sheraden. Davis is awaiting trial in the Allegheny County Jail.

MARCH 18—Tyrone Noaks, a 28-year-old Black male, died as a result of wounds he received when he was shot in McKees Rocks, Feb. 3. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Allegheny County Homicide Detectives at 412-473-1300.

MARCH 19—Shawn Brandon, a 22-year-old White male, was fatally shot at the corner of Eccles Street and Marengo Street on the South Side Slopes. Witnesses said he was leaning into the driver’s side window of a car when he was shot. He identified his killer as 21-year-old Amasa Camp.

Police arrested Camp three days later. He is awaiting trial in the Allegheny County Jail.

MARCH 24—Walter Smith, an 83-year-old White male, died after a tenant he was trying to evict from his West Homestead property struck him in the head and shoved him down a flight of stairs.

Dominic Anicola, 57, was arrested and awaits trial in the Allegheny County Jail.

MARCH 26—Hasan Ishmael Abdul-Rabb, a 24-year-old Black male, was fatally shot in the 3200 block of Ward Street in Oakland in an apparent drug deal turned robbery. Shayne Craighead, 22, and Velmon Dowling, 21, were arrested after leading police on a chase in the victim’s rented car. Both are in the Allegheny County Jail.

February Homicides (8) FEB. 4—Joseph Secora, a 39-year-old White male who allegedly had mental health issues, was fatally shot while trying to break into his sister’s house in Springdale. The victim’s nephew, 21-year-old James Cain, shot Secora once. He fled across Butler Road and collapsed between some houses. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No charges will be filed.

FEB. 7—Lewis Dunning, a 64-year-old Black male from Uniontown, was found by Pittsburgh police lying in the middle of Paulsen Street in Lincoln-Larimer. He had been shot once in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. A second individual, who police have not identified, was also found at the scene suffering multiple gunshot wounds.

He was taken to the hospital and last listed in stable condition. The investigation continues. Police are asking anyone with information to call 412-323-7800. Callers may remain anonymous.

FEB. 10—Denard A. Burton, a 29-year-old Black male, was discovered by Pittsburgh police lying on the snow-covered sidewalk of the 7200 block of Stranahan Street in Homewood shot multiple

times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not yet identified a suspect. The investigation is ongoing. Police are asking anyone with information to call 412-323-7800. Callers may remain anonymous.

FEB. 11—Mark Daniels, a 39-year-old Black male, was fatally shot by Pittsburgh police Gino A. Macioce and an unnamed recruit during a foot chase in which the officers said he fired at them twice. Allegheny County police said a .40 caliber handgun was recovered at the scene and is being tested. Daniels’ family said he didn’t own or carry a gun. They have called for the release of surveillance video and Shotspotter records that police said shows some of the pursuit. Neither officer was wearing a body camera.

FEB. 16—Andre Lee, a 20-year-old Black male, was found by McKees Rocks police after they received a call about a shooting on Ella Street. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he died from multiple gunshot wounds. Allegheny County police are investigating.

Anyone with information may anonymously call the toll-free Police Tipline at 833-255-8477.

FEB. 22—Keiauna Lynette Davis, a 27-year-old Black female, was fatally shot while walking home along Laketon Road in Wilkinsburg when a co-worker and two accomplices robbed her for her tax refund. Dane James Taylor and Laya Alana Whitley, both 21, and Kaijin Xavier Scott, 23, are in custody awaiting trial.

FEB. 26—Steven Pariser, a 71-year-old White male, and John Robert Van Dyke, a 54-year-old White male, were both allegedly killed by 58-year-old Vincent Smith after an argument over marijuana led to a fight. Smith then set fire to the Swissvale building where the killings took place. He was rescued by firefighters and arrested. He awaits trial in the Allegheny County jail.

FEB. 28—Mia Green, a 27-yearold Black female, was found by Pittsburgh police behind a home in the 7300 block of Hamilton Avenue in Homewood shot multiple times. She was pronounced dead at UPMC Presbyterian a short time later. Green had no children and no criminal record. Police are asking anyone with information to call 412-323-7800. Callers may remain anonymous.

January Homicides (11) JAN. 9—Diron Lamonn Hopwood, a 25-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot by police after they received multiple 911 calls, lying in the 1400 block of N. Murtland Street in Homewood.

He had been struck several times. Police have not identified a suspect. The investigation continues.

JAN. 12—Shevall Davidson, a 24-year-old Black male, was fatally shot multiple times shortly after he left the J & S Food Mart on Seventh Street in Duquesne.

Pittsburgh Crime Stoppers has offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Callers may remain anonymous, 412-255-8477.

JAN. 17—Louise Lewis, a 73-year-old White female, was

found fatally shot on the porch of her Clairton home in what Allegheny County detectives said was a murder-suicide. Her 72-year-old husband Robert was found inside the home with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head.

JAN. 17—Tiffany Korbelic, a 36-year-old White female, was found fatally shot in a home in on West Elizabeth Street in Hazelwood along with 55-year-old Raymond Furlong, in what county detective also said was also a murder-suicide. Furlong, they said shot her then turned the gun on himself.

JAN. 18—Anthony Bullock-Fields, a 29-year-old Black male, was shot and then run over at the intersection of Jucunda and Amanda Streets in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood. Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect. The investigation continues.

JAN. 20—Albert Boxley, a 30-year-old Black male, was found shot multiple times at the intersection of Mullins and Dickson Streets on Pittsburgh’s North Side. The shooting was captured on surveillance video, and with the help of an eye-witness, police arrested and charged 27-year-old Louis Campbell with the killing.

He is currently in the Allegheny County Jail.

JAN. 22—Shayne Henderson, a 21-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot in the basement of an apartment building on Everton Street in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood. Henderson’s was the third fatal shooting on Everton in as many months. Police have not named a suspect. The investigation continues JAN. 28—Craig Rhodes-Mitchell, a 24-year-old Black male, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in a home in the 1300 block of Centennial Street in McKeesport. County detectives have yet to identify a suspect and are asking anyone with information to call the toll-free county Tipline at 833-255-8477.

JAN. 28—Robert Monti, a 42-year-old White male, was found by police shot multiple in the 1200 block of Broadway Avenue in Stowe Township. He died a short time later at Ohio Valley Hospital. County detectives have yet to identify a suspect and are asking anyone with information to call the toll-free county Tipline at 833-255-8477.

JAN. 28—Devlen Prosdocimo, a 24-year-old White male, was shot multiple times, after being lured into a drug deal robbery on Wilner Drive in East Hills.

Video shows, 17-year-old Malik “Lil Chief Keif” Johnson shooting Prosdocimo several times after he attempted to flee the robbery.

Johnson is in the Allegheny County Jail.

JAN. 29—Tyqueon Goins, a 20-year-old Black male, was found shot multiple times in a car on Meadows Street in Larimer. Though Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Alicia George said initial reports indicated the shooting “may be gang related.” police have not yet identified a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 412323-7800.

The Courier is The VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

SPORTS New Pittsburgh Courier

B8

JULY 4-10, 2018

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Forget Fireworks Nights—The Pirates need more fireworks on the field

by Aubrey Bruce For New Pittsburgh Courier

Hey, boys and girls, I sorta, kinda feel as if I am conducting a “symphony” with an orchestra pit full of emp-

Inside Conditions

AUBREY BRUCE ty chairs trying to please an audience that may possibly be tone deaf—but such is the risk of being a sportswriter. There are now rumors floating about that Pirates infielder Josh Harrison and the often injured, but gritty starting catcher of the Buccos, Francisco Cervelli, are being considered as “trade bait.”

What does a player have to do to elicit loyalty from the Pirates’ fan base as well as the ownership group? Well, folks, I was in New York recently and I sat down and chatted with a few of my “scribe” friends and I am going to tell “yinz” that the conversation was as actor “Arte” Johnson’s character used to say on television’s Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-

In, “very interesting.”

“Aubrey,” my one colleague said, “it’s not how many people live in a market that determines its size, it is the disposable income available to that particular demographic and where they spend those dollars.”

That was just a small part of the conversation. An April 5, 2016 an article penned by Elyssa Kirkham of GOBankingRates and published on www.cbsnews.com said this: “Some MLB stadiums cater to baseball fans with affordable tickets and great food, but others play hardball with fans’ wallets. The average cost of spending the day at the ballpark is $77.92 for two people, according to a GOBankingRates study of MLB stadium prices.

This total includes the following costs: Two tickets, $41.41, two hot dogs, $8.73, two beers, $11.89, parking, $15.89.”

The article also points out that PNC Park, the home of the Pirates, is the sixth least expensive ballpark to take in a game with “fans paying an average total price of $62.43 per game for: two tickets $29.93, two hot dogs, $3.25 ,two beers: $11, parking: $15.”

From a marketing perspective the article goes on to say that: “Pittsburgh Pirates fans are gearing up to build on the franchise’s rich history, which includes notable baseball players such as early baseball legend Honus Wagner, pitcher Willie Stargell, and the first Latin American National Baseball Hall of Famer, Roberto Clemente.

JOSH BELL had 26 home runs in 2017. This year, the long ball is not there for Bell, as he’s hit just five home runs as of July 1. (AP PHOTO) Fans attending games at PNC Park can get cheaper season tickets that average just under $15 a game, and beer and hot dogs are also relatively inexpensive.”

Now hear this. When the present and future performances as well as the marketing of any sports franchise is based mostly on past achievements, the chance for present and future success may be in

jeopardy, especially when the majority of the fan base rebels almost any time that there is a significant increase in prices.

The Pirates have had enough bobblehead, T-shirt, backpack giveaways and fireworks nights. There needs to be some fireworks on the field, ya think? Suicide squeezes, hit-andruns, stuff like that. When a runner is trying to steal

a base, the batter should swing through the ball on almost every occasion to try at the very least to provide a covert distraction so that the attempt at a stolen base would have a higher percentage of success, just basic stuff. Leaving men on base with an anemic run production rate is the result of today’s Pirates. The “rich” history of the Pirates is not going to help the

starting and relief pitching of the current ball club.

Let’s face it. If the fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates want to see the team retain some of their young future stars, they are going to have to dig deep…into their pockets...or continue buying those Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski jerseys so that they can feel good about Pirates baseball.

Miss ya, Rod Scott! And Jameis Winston did what??

by Bill Neal For New Pittsburgh Courier

:10—It’s been said that the measure of your life can best be identified by those who recognize you in death.

That in fact was the case as many of Pittsburgh’s best

Overtime

BILL NEAL and brightest said goodbye to Roderick Wheeler “Rod” Scott Jr., a great basketball player at Duquesne University during the last glory run with the likes of BB Flenory, Bruce Atkins, Andy Sisinni, Jeff Baldwin, John Moore, Fred Moon and Barnett Harris. On this day, and as was always the case, Rod would have the last shot—an inspiration to all via the words delivered in a very spiritual final letter and a fabulous farewell

TAMPA BAY BUCS QB JAMEIS WINSTON will be suspended for the first three games of the 2018 regular season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. (AP PHOTO) presented by his accomplished daughter Shayla and son Tyler, and a near perfect salute from teammate Barnett Harris... the need to debate, the quality of the man and the misdirected last shot! When we lose one of ours it’s always too early, but as we all know, when it’s God’s call it’s always on time. May God bless you, Rod, and take pride in knowing that you won the last argument. :09—I’ve been resist-

ing the need to say this about the Pirates, I really have, but now it has to be shouted out loud because “the fat lady” is warming up her pipes. No pitching = No World Series... No pitching = No World Series...No pitching = No World Series!!! Of course the bats matter and there’s no chance at all without defense. But if you can’t outpitch the other team the end is near. Unless, of course, someone takes out

the fat lady! :08—The real good news following that sobering information is that your Pittsburgh Steelers go to training camp July 25, and Thursday, August 9 is the first preseason game at the Eagles. :07—I am all about second chances. For that matter if you’re really serious about getting your life together I’ll throw you a third bone.

But if Jameis Winston is found guilty of groping an

Uber driver as alleged, that needs to be his last hoorah. Turns out, while he wasn’t necessarily found “guilty” in a courtroom, he was suspended for the first three regular season games by the NFL for violating its “personal conduct policy.”

He’s lucky it wasn’t more games, or prosecuted in the legal system. One of those games is when the Buccaneers play the Steelers. :06—Former Heisman Trophy winner and pain to the sports world Johnny Manziel made his preseason debut in the Canadian Football League, completing 9 of 11 for 80 yards. He remains the back-up to starting QB Jeremiah Masoli... but that’s the third bone I was talking about. :05—Trust me, I went in with eyes wide open and I told my old school partner Mike Booker that I would give the “Superfly” reboot all the consideration possible. But here’s why I can only give it two basketballs (and if it weren’t for the Lexus and the shower scene it would only get one!). Here’s what’s not “Fly”...#1—Wearing fur coats in Atlanta. #2—The snow boys in all white— just silly. #3—Eddie’s sellout. Not gonna happen. #4 —Soundtrack not even close. Curtis Mayfield can rest in peace. #5—You want me to believe a mom is tak-

SAVE THE DATE: JULY 25 The Steelers’ 2018 training camp opens July 25, when players will report to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. The first practice open to the public is 2:55 p.m., July 26. The first practice in pads is July 28.

The Courier will give you the best Steelers coverage all season, with reporters and photographers at camp, and at all Steelers games.

ANTONIO BROWN

ing her son out like that???

C’mon, man. :04—Here’s a thing you can do for you. Pull up Hearns vs. Hagler and Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard. You’re welcome. :03—Speaking of something you can do for you…

Don’t miss the #1 sport in the world —Girl watching!

It’s “Hott Fun in the Summertime” Fashion Show and Event Saturday, July 7 at the Racquet Club in Monroeville. Doors open at 7 p.m. It’s your last chance to see the “Truly Yours” models and “Sensation” models together again. Tickets are only $20 and will benefit Achieving Greatness Inc. Safe Summer Program.

Call 412-628-4856 for information. :02—The latest argument on the table is an easy one to handle. My man Zik and my old man say they’ll take Earl Campbell over Franco Harris. I need you to tell them they’re crazy. Text your pick to 412-628-4856...

The count begins now. :01—The Phoenix Suns took DeAndre Ayton No. 1 in the 2018 NBA Draft. I give you that for info sake but it was an ironic reminder for me of Connie Hawkins being the No. 1 pick by the Suns in 1969 after all his historical moves. Miss ya Hawk, look out for Rod and Chip Harris! :00—GAME OVER.