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Vol. 110 No. 37

Two Sections

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019

Kelly Strayhorn Theater launches ‘Bridge To The Future’ campaign

FORGING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

by Rob Taylor Jr.

$1.00

Lyft offering discounted grocery trips to public housing residents

by Christian Morrow

Courier Staff Writer

It’s been 105 years since the Regent Theatre in East Liberty first opened its doors.

Its architecture held in the highest regard, as the likes of legendary silent film actors Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford would be seen at the Regent.

O v e r the generations, the Reg e n t experienced g r e a t t i m e s JANERA SOLOMON a n d bad times, and when the theater closed in October 1979 and hadn’t reopened for 20 years, those, say, of the Baby Boomers generation, wondered if the historic venue would ever reopen.

It did.

It’s been 16 years of sustained performances, concerts, films and events for the now-named Kelly Strayhorn Theater, and on Tuesday, Sept. 10, the organization announced it’s undergoing a financial campaign to keep the theater alive and well for future generations.

Dubbed the “Bridge To The Future” campaign, Kelly Strayhorn SEE KELLY STRAYHORN A5

Published Weekly

Courier Staff Writer

BLAYRE HOLMES DAVIS, a 2008 Ringgold High School graduate, is the new director of community relations for the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Brian Cook Sr.)

Blayre Holmes Davis named Steelers director of community relations

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Over the last decade, she has opened medical offices in Turtle Creek and by the Allegheny County Jail to serve vulnerable populations and provided leadership and educational training to hundreds of young girls throughout Allegheny County. Now Blayre Holmes Davis is putting her skills and vast reservoir of nonprofit contacts and relationships to work as the new director of community relations for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“You can’t be the director of community relations unless you’re in the community,” Davis told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview. “I wanted to make sure that coming from the nonprofit sector that we ask what are the needs, and what are those we can support. There are a lot of great organizations in Pittsburgh and we have to be aware of what they are doing.”

Davis, 30, grew up in Donora and Monessen, where her father, Robert Holmes, retired from Peoples Gas, and mother, Darla, SEE DAVIS A7

Thanks to a partnership arranged by 412 Food Rescue with its existing partners at the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Housing Authority and Giant Eagle, residents in the Hill District’s Bedford Dwellings public housing community and at Prospect Terrace in East Pittsburgh can now utilize Lyft, the national ride-sharing company, to get directly HACP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR to grocery CASTER BINION stores they (Photo by J.L. Martello) previously had limited access to.

Lyft announced the launch of its pilot Grocery Access Program Aug. 22 at the Bedford Hope Center in the Hill to enthusiastic responses.

“This is bigger than a big deal. This is wild. This makes you go ‘wow,’” said HACP Executive Director Caster Binion. “This program is an example of what you can do when you bring partners together. This is an opportunity for our young moms and seniors. Something as simple as going to the store for ice cream isn’t simple when SEE LYFT A5

‘Antwon didn’t have to die’

Michelle Kenney, others want current use of force laws changed

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Michelle Kenney visits a cemetery.

The parents of Michael Rosfeld get to have dinner with him.

As Kenney echoed those words during testimony at a hearing in Hawkins Village in Rankin, the crowd of about 75 collectively gasped and shook their heads in disgust.

“With proper training, I believe the outcome could have been different,” Kenney, the mother of Antwon Rose II, said during the Aug. 27 House Democratic Policy Committee hearing.

On June 19, 2018, Rose was shot three times while running away from former MICHELLE KENNEY, mother of Antwon Rose II, who was killed East Pittsburgh Officer Michael Rosfeld.

Rose later died from his injuries. He was by a police officer in June 2018. (Photos by Dayna Delgado) 17 years old.

Nine months later, a jury found Rosfeld NEW not guilty on criminal homicide charges.

“He left the courtroom before I did,” Kenney said at the hearing.

To subscribe, call Never to have Rose’s death be in vain,

Pittsburgh Courier 412-481-8302 ext. 134

SEE ANTWON A6

1 HOOD MEDIA CO-FOUNDER JASIRI X testifies during an Aug. 27 hearing about changing the current Pennsylvania use of force laws.

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019

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Despite U.S. Open loss, Serena This Week In Black History is still the Greatest of All-Time

by Stacy M. Brown

Doubles Grand Slam and land Garros doubles with the only pair to win a Ca- sister Venus, they became NNPA Newswire Correspondent reer Doubles Golden Slam. the first pair in the Open Serena Williams lost her At the 2001 U.S. Open, Era to complete the Career bid for what would have marked the first time in the Doubles Golden Slam twice been her sixth U.S. Open Singles title.

It was the second straight year that Williams lost in the finals.

But, with 23 Grand Slam tournament titles and a .850 career winning percentage, Williams legacy as the world’s greatest tennis player was solidified a long time ago.

“Serena WilSERENA WILLIAMS (Photo: Si.robi/Wikimedia Commons) liams’s legacy is sealed, whether or not she ever Open Era, and the second (2001 & 2003 Australian hits a tennis ball again,” time in 117 years that sis- Open, 1999 & 2010 Roland Tera W. Hunter, a profes- ters met in a Grand Slam Garros, 2000 & 2002 Wimbledon, 1999 & 2009 U.S. sor of history and African final (with Venus) At the 2002 Roland Garros Open, and 2000 & 2008 American studies at Princeton, wrote in an op-ed for final, she became the first Olympic gold medalists).

In 2012 Wimbledon, in her younger sister to defeat her the New York Times.

“It’s sad she didn’t beat older sister in a Grand Slam semifinal match against Azarenka, she hit a record Bianca Andreescu at the fi- singles tournament.

By winning the 2003 Aus- 24 aces in a match. nals of the U.S. Open ChamAt the 2012 Wimbledon pionships and match Mar- tralian Open, became the garet Court’s record of 24 fifth woman to hold all four Championships, she set a Grand Slam singles titles. Grand Slam singles titles record for most aces served in a tournament, hitting But her contributions to the simultaneously.

By winning the 2003 Aus- 102 aces in the tournament, game are much bigger than reaching another Grand tralian Open, became the which was the most of men Slam Final,” Hunter wrote. first African American to or women at the Championships that year.

Williams, 37, began play- win the championship.

In 2014, she won her 6th By winning the 2003 ing tennis at the age of 5 in Wimbledon ladies’ title, U.S. Open title, the most Compton, California.

Under the tutelage of her Williams became just the in the Open Era (tied with father, Richard Williams, fifth woman in the Open Evert) In 2017, she won her Serena and her sister Ve- Era to win back-to-back 7th Australian Open title, nus rose to stardom in the Wimbledon crowns.

By reaching the final of the the most in the Open Era 1990s.

The duo took the tennis 2003 Australian Open, she (stands alone).

Four-time Olympian world by storm with Ser- and sister Venus became ena Williams ultimately the first players to compete (2000, 2008, 2012, 2016); surpassing her sister and in 4 consecutive slam finals. Four-time Olympic medalBy winning the 2005 Aus- ist (4 golds) others as easily the best in Rio 2016 Olympic Games, tralian Open, became the the sport.

Serena Williams, who has only player in tennis histo- T-9th (singles); T-17th (douearned approximately $100 ry to win three Grand Slam bles) London 2012 Olympic million in her career, won singles titles (1999 U.S. her first Grand Slam title Open, 2002 Roland Gar- Games, gold (singles, douat the age of 17 and she ros) by beating the top two bles) Beijing 2008 Olympic ranked players. hasn’t looked back.

By winning the 2007 Aus- Games, gold (doubles), Here are just some of her tralian Open became the T-5th (singles) accomplishments: Sydney 2000 Olympic At the 1999 U.S. Open, first unseeded player since became the second African 1978 to win a slam; she was Games, gold (doubles) “She’s without quesAmerican woman to win ranked #81 in the world.

By winning the 2010 Ro- tion the embodiment of a Grand Slam title at 17 land Garros doubles with strength, character, and acyears old.

By winning the 2001 sister Venus, they became complishment,” said Julio Australian Open doubles the first pair since 1998 to C. Rodriguez, of Université championship with Venus hold the four doubles slams Paris-Sorbonne.

The Undefeated MagWilliams, became the fifth at the same time.

By winning the 2010 Ro- azine’s managing editor pair to complete a Career Raina Kelley summed up why Williams is the Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali of her sport.

“Serena Jameka Williams did not come just come to play—she came to slay. And you are alive to see it,” Kelley said.

“Is Serena the GOAT? She reinvented tennis. She invented #BlackGirlMagic.

She has all of the trophies ever, and she stands for equality of women around the globe. Is Serena the greatest athlete of all time?

Please,” Kelley said.

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Week of September 11-17 September 11 1740—Was he America’s first Black doctor and or dentist? It is unclear but on this day in 1740 the Philadelphia Gazette carries a report of a “Negro” named Simon who was skilled in the abilities to “bleed and draw teeth.”

During the colonial period, such a phrase was normally used in reference to doctors and dentists.

1851—In a fairly unusual development, a group of Blacks on this day in 1851 rout a group of slave catchers who had come to Christiana, Pa., to re-capture runaway slaves. One White was killed and a second one was seriously wounded.

JESSE OWENS September 12 1913—Track and field athletic legend Jesse Owens is born on this day in Oakville, Ala. Owens would achieve international fame when he won four gold medals at the 1936 summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. His feat helped undermine Adolph Hitler’s myth of Aryan or White superiority.

1977—One of the greatest unsung heroes of the struggle against then White-ruled South Africa’s system of racial suppression known as apartheid is murdered on this day by South African law enforcement officials. Steve Biko was a leader of the country’s Black Consciousness Movement. He believed that one of the most destructive attitudes undermining Black progress throughout the world was that Blacks were not truly proud to be Black.

1992—Dr. Mae Jemison becomes the first African-American woman in space when she was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on this day as part of a joint U.S.-Japanese mission.

DR. MAE JEMISON Since resigning from NASA, the multi-talented Jemison has started a company which aims to improve health care in Africa. In addition to her native English, Jemison speaks Russian, Japanese and the East African language of Swahili.

September 13 1663—The first documented slave rebellion in America is set to take place. The revolt in Gloucester County, Va., involved Black slaves and White indentured servants. However, it was betrayed by a White indentured servant.

1885—Alain L. Locke, philosopher and the first Black Rhodes scholar is born. He became a professor at Howard University and one of Black ALAIN LOCKE America’s leading intellectual figures.

1962—In an event which demonstrated the tenacity of racism, especially in the South, Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett pledged to defy the federal government and block the court ordered admission of a Black man— James Meredith—to the University of Mississippi. He made his declaration during a statewide television and radio address. Barnett said he would go to jail to prevent integration, arguing, “There is no case in history where the Caucasian race has survived social integration.”

Despite his talk, Barnett would eventually relent and JAMES MEREDITH Meredith (with the aid of U.S. Marshals) was allowed to attend the university.

1971—Approximately 1,500 state troopers are ordered by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller to storm New York’s Attica prison to break up a takeover of the prison by Black inmates demanding better conditions. When the dust settled, the storming of the prison resulted in the deaths of 32 inmates and 10 guards who had been held hostage.

1996—Pioneering rapper Tupac Shakur dies from his wounds after being shot in Las Vegas, Nev. He was only 25. Shakur has now become a near cult figure among rappers. His killers were never brought to justice.

September 14 1940—Blacks are allowed for the first time to enter all branches of the U.S. military when President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on this day, signs the Selective Service Act. TUPAC SHAKUR 1973—Nasir Jones, known simply as Nas, was born in Queensbridge, N.Y. Nas is well known for his 1994 debut album Illmatic, which many consider to be one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.

September 15 1830—The First National Negro Convention takes place in Philadelphia, Pa. Top on the agenda were the better organizing of anti-slave activities and whether or not free Blacks should return to Africa.

1881—Inventor Jan E. Matzeilger is born in Dutch Guyana.

He came to the United States in 1878 and by 1880 had patented a shoe lacing machine.

1889—One of Black America’s most outstanding poets, Claude McKay, is born. He would become a leading figure during the Black Cultural Revolution known as the Harlem Renaissance.

1928—Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Julian Edwin JAN MATZEILGER “Cannonball” Adderley born in Tampa, Fla. Adderley is remembered for his 1966 single “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.” He performed with Miles Davis, playing on the seminal Davis records “Milestones” and “Kind of Blue” before embarking on a successful solo career.

1963—In one of the most heartless terrorist attacks of the Civil Rights Movement, the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., is bombed by White supremacists and Ku Klux Klan members. Four little Black girls are killed. But instead of scaring African-Americans into backing away from their demands, the act actually inspired the Civil Rights Movement.

September 16 1848—The French abolish slavery in all their territories. It would take a Civil War and another 17 years before slavery is abolished in America.

1921—Singer Jon Hendricks born in Newark, Ohio.

He is considered one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and replaces many instruments with vocalists. He is also considered one of the best practitioners of scat singing.

1925—Blues great B.B. King is born Riley B. King on this day in Itta Benna, Miss. King was an American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He won a 1970 Grammy Award for the song “The Thrill Is Gone.” His version became a hit on both the pop and R&B charts.

He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. King died B.B. KING May 14, 2015 at the age of 89.

1933—“Emperor Jones” is released on this day by United Artists. It starred social activist Paul Robeson as Brutus Jones. It was the first Hollywood film with a Black leading man and a White supporting cast.

September 17 1787—The United States Constitution is approved but it includes three clauses allowing for the continuation of slavery even though it was supposed to be a document of freedom.

1861—Hampton Institute (now university) is founded. It has now become one of the nation’s leading predominately Black educational institutions.

1970—The “Flip Wilson Show” premieres on NBC television. It is the first variety show (in prime time) to star an African American male since the “Nat King Cole Show.” During “THE FLIP WILSON SHOW” its first two seasons, its Nielsen ratings made it the nation’s second most watched show. Wilson was most famous for creating the role of Geraldine Jones, a sassy, modern woman who had a boyfriend named Killer (who, when not in prison, was at the pool hall). Wilson popularized such catchphrases as “What you see is what you get” and “The Devil made me do it!”

1973—Illinois becomes the first state to honor Civil Rights Movement icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a state holiday.

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NATIONAL

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019

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‘Whatever the movement is going to be, I’m going to be part of it.’

by Rebecca Rivas

ST. LOUIS COMES TO GRIPS WITH GUN VIOLENCE

understands that desire St. Louis American Staff Writer to switch the ST. LOUIS—Going to the channel or football jamboree at Soldan go back to playing video High School on Friday, games, but he August 23 was a “reward” pled with the for eight-year-old Jurnee Thompson’s good behavior crowd not to during her first two weeks do so.

“When your at school. household “I got not one call from is affected the school and not one by it, it’s a bad report,” said Rasheed Thompson, Jurnee’s father. whole different thing,” “I asked my baby twice if Thompson she wanted to leave. She said, ‘Yea.’ She hugged me. said. “I still have to move She kissed me and told me, ‘Bye,’ not knowing that forward with my other two would be the last time I children, who would see my baby.” are seven Jurnee was shot and and 11, and killed by a stray bullet be there for while leaving the footthem.” ball game that night.

Marnee Thompson spoke at the Warren candlelight vigil held for CIRCLE OF MOTHERS—Rasheed Thompson, the father of 8-year old Jurnee Thompson, was comforted by a circle of attended the his daughter at her school vigil with her mothers during a vigil for murdered children in St. Louis at Herzog Elementary School where Jurnee went to school on Herzog Elementary on eight-year-old Aug. 28. Thompson was killed by a stray bullet on Aug. 23. (Photo by Wiley Price/St. Louis American) Wednesday, August 28. It son. was also a vigil for the 20 On Tuesday, Sept. 3, lead“There was discussion, ing U.S. Rep. Emanuel “I’m ready to work with children killed by gun viobut he seemed to be disCleaver II, D-Kansas City; ers of the Missouri Black people to make a change lence in St. Louis in 2019.

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Caucus met with Gov. Mike heartened about his sway because something has The event was organized and making gun control D-Massachusetts; and U.S. Parson but left without to happen,” she said. “It’s by radio stations 95.5 much hope for stricter gun an issue that we take over Rep. Alexandria Ocaoverwhelmingly heartThe Lou and Radio One control, St. Louis Public at a state level,” she told breaking to see that many sio-Cortez, D-New York.

Hot 104.1 and community St. Louis Public Radio. “He “We need Congress to act Radio reported. organization Better Family kids on the screen. And State Rep. Ashley Bland likes background checks, it’s not even the end of the now,” Clay said. “Congress Life Inc. Manlove (D-Kansas City) but he is concerned if he has the power to save Jurnee’s killer remains at year. We still have four said the governor did not can make other people American lives, and we months left. see legislative interest in move based on their Secshould be doing nothing That’s why we making changes. ond Amendment rights.” came. Whatev- less.” er the movement is going to be, I’m going to be part of it.”

The Warrens came with Pamela Ellis, who called on neighborhood churches to start hosting more activities for children.

She also wants to see more afterschool programs and community outreach.

“My husband tells me all the time, ‘You let those kids stay in that room GRIEVING MOTHER—Sharonda Edmondson, and play that the mother of of 8-year old Jurnee Thompson, game,’” Ellis was comforted by James Clark during a vigil said. “But if for murdered children in St. Louis. (Photo by they go outside, Wiley Price/St. Louis American) we worry about gunshots.”

While they both grew up large, and CrimeStoppers is offering $25,000 rewards riding their bikes freely in the neighborhoods, they until September 10 for don’t feel they can do that supplying information about her case and those of with their own children.

“If I’m not outside, he three other children. While can’t go outside,” Warren several others speakers said. Black leaders call for emphasized the need to “say something if you know action On the same night, the something,” Thompson’s St. Louis Board of Alderheart-wrenching words men’s black caucus and brought the hundreds in U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay (D-St. attendance to tears.

Louis) held a town hall “I think people got it meeting at Harris-Stowe confused between snitching and telling,” Thompson State University, where about 1,000 people attendsaid. “Snitching to me is ed. you go do a crime and one “We’re here tonight because our nation, and this community, have reached a tipping point,” Clay said. “We are in the midst of an epidemic of gun violence that is inflicting devastating carnage on our community because of the culture of easy access to guns, and the failure of some elected officials to stand up to the gun lobby.”

Clay spoke about his bill, the Local PubVIGIL—Gwenetta Wilson held her 10-year-old lic Health and granddaughter Marya Chapel close during a Safety Protecvigil for murdered children in St. Louis. (Photo tion Act (H.R.

by Wiley Price/St. Louis American) 3435). This bill would—for person gets caught and the first time via federal they bring up your name. legislation—prohibit any When a grown person or state that receives public teenager murders your safety grant funding from eight-year-old child and the U.S. Department of you don’t come forward, it’s Justice from restricting the heartbreaking.” ability of a local governBefore this happened ment to enact tougher to his family, Thompson gun regulations than the would see the murders current laws of that state. of other children and the Introduced in June, the police’s pleas for inforbill is co-sponsored by over mation on the news. He 20 congressmen, includ-

Among the initiatives suggested were allowing municipalities like St. Louis and Kansas City to be able to require permits to carry a concealed weapon or restricting the sale of ammunition to anyone under 21.

State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley (D-St. Louis) said it was a starting point.

“That’s what this meeting was about,” said Bosley, “to try to find those avenues where we can come together as a General Assembly, as the Black Caucus, as St. Louis city and Kansas City, to find functional things that work.”

Cure Violence St. Louis is in the process of negotiating a contract for an alternative violence prevention program. The Cure Violence model— which treats violence as an epidemic outbreak and therefore a public health issue—is active in more than 25 cities throughout the world. The idea is to employ local residents who have respect, often ex-convicts, on the streets to prevent gun violence by de-escalating potentially violent situations before they happen.

(St. Louis Public Radio contributed to this report.)

(Reprinted from the St. Louis American)

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Celebrating National Grandparents Day…with Elmo!

At the Homewood Salvation Army In celebration of National Grandparents Day (Sept.

8), UnitedHealthcare and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, teamed up on Saturday, Sept. 7 to bring grandparents and their families together for nutritious giveaways, healthy activities, and a visit from walkaround Elmo. The

“Growing Every Day, Every Way” event took place at the Homewood Salvation Army.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey reports that about 1.3 million grandparents in the labor force are responsible for most of the basic care of co-resident grandchildren under age 18.

AUDREY HOLMES, a proud grandparent, with Elmo from Sesame Street, at the Homewood Salvation Army, Sept. 7. (Photos by Courier photographer Rob Taylor Jr.)

CORENE DICKSON, left, a proud grandparent, along with kids that love Elmo!

MARCIA RAINES, a proud grandparent, with grandchildren Emanyi Raines-Wakefield, 7, left, and Elena Wakefield, 3, right, and Tina MALIHA REED, 6, with Elmo!

Booker, top left.

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019 A5

Kelly Strayhorn Theater launches Lyft offering discounted grocery trips to public housing residents ‘Bridge To The Future’ campaign KELLY STRAYHORN FROM A1

Theater executive director Janera Solomon announced to supporters that the organization has already raised 70 percent of its $500,000 goal for repairs and renovations. The organization is reaching out to the community—individuals, companies, foundations—to help raise the remaining 30 percent, or $150,000, by the end of the year.

“Left uncared for, spaces like the Kelly Strayhorn Theatre can disappear,” Solomon said in front of the building’s entrance, Sept.

10. “We’re here this morning to recommit to a bright future for this organization. We want to ensure that the Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s here for another hundred years.”

Solomon told the New Pittsburgh Courier exclusively that the funds are being used to make repairs to an aging roof and HVAC system. There are also improvements needed in the building lobby and the theater itself.

Solomon said replacing the seats inside the theater is also on the list of renovations list, but it’s not a priority.

“The future for this theater obviously would be a completely new renovation, but before we can get there, we have to take care of it as it is now,” Solomon told the Courier. “It hasn’t had any repairs in about 15 years, so it is important to do some of these items that are high-priority items so that we can position ourselves for a stronger future.”

How can people contribute?

“They can contribute online, they can send a check, they can come here and drop off a contribution, they can purchase a brick and engrave the brick (in front of the building),” Solomon said.

The Hillman Family Foundation and the Allegheny Regional Asset District have made a financial contribution to the campaign, and Solomon hopes other foundations and organizations will do the same to help the organization reach its $500,000 goal.

“This is a community gem,” Solomon said. “Now I know there are people in many communities that have old theaters and they think their theater is a community gem. I won’t argue with them. This one, we know for sure, is a gem, because of where it stands, right here at this corner of Penn and Highland.”

Dan Gilman, Mayor Bill Peduto’s chief of staff, said the mayor directed him to ensure the vibrancy of historic theaters like the Kelly Strayhorn. “Arts equals economic development,” Gilman told the crowd, Sept.

10. “When you talk about arts organizations, arts is not the extra, arts is the base. Arts is what brings people to a community, it’s what supports the small businesses around you.”

Gilman added: “When you have the plaque of where the theater stood, you have displacement. When

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you have the theater still standing, you have equity and inclusion, and that is the power of this theater.”

Solomon announced in August she was stepping down as executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater at the end of the year. She’s credited with increasing the theater’s annual operating budget from $300,000 to $1.35 million.

She also managed the successful merger of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater with the Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, expanding the theater’s programming and impact.

Kelly Strayhorn Theater board chair Yvonne Campos called Solomon “an outstanding visionary leader” in a statement to the media, Aug. 2.

Solomon is hopeful the community will band together and raise the additional funds needed to bridge the Kelly Strayhorn Theater into the future.

“We believe when the community has a place to gather for expression of art and creativity, we’re all stronger for it,” Solomon said to the crowd. “A Pittsburgh that stands against hate as the signs tell us, stands in love. And we love our theater.”

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you don’t have access.

Transportation is big. This is a ‘wow’ moment.”

The Grocery Access Program is part of Lyft City Works, a national initiative that looks to achieve the maximum impact by improving transportation access and equity. It has been successfully rolled out in more than a dozen cities across the country so far.

Lyft Pennsylvania General Manager Josh Huber told the New Pittsburgh Courier that the pilot program will run for six months through Feb. 1, but he fully expects it to run beyond that.

“It’s been successful in (Washington) D.C. and our other cities and we expect it will be here, too,” he said. “Success will be determined by the level of participation—but there’s no target number. As long as it’s growing, that’s success.”

The program will provide residents of the participating public housing communities with a $2.50 flatrate fare on eight rides per month, or one round trip per week, to and from nearby Giant Eagle stores. Lyft makes up the difference.

To take advantage of the program, residents must sign up through the housing authorities to get the discount, and they will need a smartphone to access the

Lyft app, which needs to be linked to a bank account.

Binion said about 33 percent of Bedford Dwellings residents have both smartphones and a bank account,

but the authority has programming and personnel to assist those who don’t.

Resident Gail Felton is not only among that 33 percent—she’s already signed up.

“I was told Access could take us to the store and it does. But it makes a lot of stops coming and going, and by the time you get back, that ice cream you bought is melted,” she said.

“Now, we can go shopping and be dropped off at our front door. I’m excited that the mayor is bringing all these things to the city, and I’m excited that we have it first—because then it will take off.”

Mayor Bill Peduto praised all the partners involved in rolling out this program.

“Forty-seven percent of people in the city don’t have a grocery, and 1 in 4 don’t have a car, they rely on public transportation, use

bikes or walk,” he said. “So if we can’t bring the store to the people, we’ll bring the people to the store. This kind of program breaks down barriers.”

But for decades there has been a service that chauffeurs residents from poor Black neighborhoods that taxis historically refused to serve and takes them on trips to doctors’ offices and groceries that are sometimes difficult or impossible to reach by bus: the jitneys.

Jitneys are unregulated and operate on a strictly cash basis. And every day, jitney drivers ferry people from the Hill District to the Giant Eagle on the South Side—and some of those passengers are from Bedford Dwellings.

How will the Lyft program affect the jitney drivers? The Courier asked a few jitneys located at the South Side Giant Eagle on Wharton Street if they felt the new program by Lyft would affect their business.

One jitney said he usually charges $7 or $8 for a ride from the Hill to the Giant Eagle, “so the cheaper ride (Lyft’s $2.50) could knock some guys down. But if it’s only in Bedford and only once a week, that shouldn’t hurt the guys.”

Another jitney told the Courier that “people will still catch rides to the Hill” via jitneys.

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019 A6

Proposed House Bill 1664 would amend Pa. use of force laws ANTWON FROM A1

state Reps. Summer Lee and Ed Gainey, with the support of many other legislators across the state, introduced House Bill 1664 to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. House Bill 1664 states that a peace officer is justified to use “reasonable” force deemed necessary to effectuate an arrest, “reasonable” force deemed necessary to defend himself or others from bodily harm, and using deadly force only when he “reasonably” believes that such force is necessary.

Currently, the word “reasonable” is not part of the use of force laws in Pennsylvania. The word “any” is used.

“Our legislation seeks to eliminate effectuating an arrest as a justification for the use of deadly force,” Reps. Lee and Gainey wrote in a memorandum to all House members, March 29, 2019. “Our proposal

would mandate that de-escalation and non-lethal force options be exhausted prior to lethal force being deployed and that lethal force only be used and justified to prevent imminent threat to life.”

“Antwon didn’t have to die,” Kenney, wearing a purple #JFA (Justice for Antwon) shirt, said to Reps.

Lee, Gainey and other legislators at the Aug. 27 hearing. “No matter what people may have thought that he did or did not do, my son did not have to and did not deserve to die. In that situation, had my son have committed any infraction, he should have been given the same opportunity that Officer Rosfeld was given, and he should have had a trial. He (Rose) didn’t have to die. And for him to die under the circumstances of being shot three times in the back is unbearable for me as his mother.”

Pennsylvania’s use of

(Photos by Courier photographer Dayna Delgado)

“It seems like these incidents keep going higher and higher and higher. Well, why? Because there is no accountability,” Jasiri X of 1 Hood Media testified during an Aug. 27 House Democratic Policy Committee hearing in Rankin. “Because if I can kill with impunity and not only be arrested, but sometimes be promoted, then I’m going to kill again. That’s part of my job.” force law states that a police officer is justified in using deadly force when “he believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to himself or such other person, or when he believes both that: (i) such force is necessary to prevent the arrest from being defeated by resistance or escape; and (ii) the person to be arrested has committed or attempted a forcible felony or is attempting to escape and possesses a deadly weapon, or otherwise indicates that he will endanger human life or inflict serious bodily injury unless arrested without delay.”

Jurors in the Rosfeld trial couldn’t render a guilty verdict with the law writ-

ten as such, because Rosfeld had stopped a car that was involved in a drive-by shooting just moments earlier and when Rose and Zaijuan Hester fled the vehicle, Rosfeld could have felt that his life was in danger, his lawyers argued.

It was later determined that Rose was unarmed when he fled the felony traffic stop, and he never fired a weapon during the drive-by shooting in nearby North Braddock moments before he was shot by Rosfeld (Hester was found guilty of shooting a man in the North Braddock incident).

“I just hope that everybody understands that the changes that are being proposed in this use of force bill (House Bill 1664) are not to harm the police or cause them any danger or put their lives in danger—it’s just to protect the people that they’re supposed to protect and

serve,” Kenney said. “I have nothing against the police.

I just want the language in that use of force bill to be changed so that no other mother has to sit in this seat and beg you to offer their child protections that should be guaranteed under the law anyway.”

Representative Lee, whose state House District includes Rankin, said during the hearing that police officers “should be held to the highest standard in our societies. These are folks who we rely on to serve our community and to protect us, and even as they are in dangerous situations we know that with a badge and a gun that they have the power of life or death over people in our communities.

We want to make sure that we are preserving life as often as possible.”

Millvale Police Chief Tim Komoroski was the lone police officer to testify in person at the hearing. He said

rently authorized to private citizens in defense of oneself.”

The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association submitted testimony stating it “cannot support the legislation (House Bill 1664) as written. We are concerned that completely eliminating the ability for an officer to use deadly force against a felon who is fleeing will have negative consequences both in terms of officer safety and in apprehending dangerous suspects.”

Jasiri X, co-founder of activist organization 1 Hood Media, disagreed with the written testimony of some of the agencies. “It seems like these incidents keep going higher and higher and higher. Well, why? Because there is no accountability,” Jasiri X testified.

“Because if I can kill with impunity and not only be arrested, but sometimes be promoted, then I’m going to kill again. That’s part of my

TIM STEVENS of the Black Political Empowerment Project testifies during an Aug. 27 House Democratic Policy Committee hearing in Rankin about amending Pennsylvania’s current use of force laws. he’s confident his officers are acting within the law and are trained to de-escalate situations. On Sept. 1, Millvale became just the second police department in the North Hills area to provide body cameras for each officer.

“I know my officers are doing the right thing, so I have no hesitation to put body cameras on them,” the chief said.

But overall, most law enforcement agencies aren’t on board with the proposed House Bill 1664. The Pennsylvania State Police prepared a written testimony to the legislators, saying it “does not believe House Bill 1664 will provide citizens with further protections. Instead, House Bill 1664 appears to be based on a flawed interpretation of the existing statute governing use of deadly force for peace officers and would limit an officer’s use of deadly force to that cur-

job.”

Brandi Fisher, CEO of the Alliance for Police Accountability, agreed with Jasiri X during the hearing.

“The use of force law as it is currently written, allows officers to get away with murder,” she said. “The use of force law as it is currently written, allows officers to shoot 17-year-old kids in the back.”

Fisher then directed her next statement at the state legislators who were present at the hearing, and those legislators who weren’t. “You have the opportunity and hopefully the will to amend this legislation not just because young Black kids are being murdered and officers are getting away with it, but because we have a world of young people who are growing, who should be afforded the opportunity to make mistakes, to overreact, to be human, and not lose their lives.”

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019 A7

Blayre Holmes Davis named Steelers director of community relations DAVIS FROM A1

retired from California University of Pa., run Christian Life Ministries. Davis attended Ringgold High School and is a 2012 graduate of Cal U. She met her husband, state Rep. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, nine years ago at an August Wilson Center event. They celebrated their second wedding anniversary, Sept. 2.

In addition to taking the pulse of the community, Davis is also tasked with supporting and promoting community and charitable initiatives coming from the team, the individual players and the NFL, addressing issues ranging from food security and student literacy rates to helping veterans and children’s health.

She said the balance is about 50-50 with initiatives coming from the community versus those coming from the team and the league—like its social justice initiative which looks to increase opportunities and make improvements in the areas of education and economic advancement, community-police relations, and criminal justice

reform.

“It’s funny timing. When I came in, the league had just launched NFL100 to encourage volunteerism, a great new initiative and competition,” she said. “I don’t like reinventing the wheel, so I can say to organizations that the league is launching this new initiative. So it lets us think about new and creative ways to encourage civic engagement for the team and individuals as well. The team with the most volunteer hours gets a grant from the NFL.” Davis said this year, for the first time, the Steelers will release a community report at the end of the season.

“It will showcase the work we’ve always done and look at where we want to go,” she said. And of course, we have a community calendar on our website. There’s Heroes at Heinz Field, where people can do activities with players, activities supporting vets, a mentoring partnership—a lot of great stuff. The Boys and Girls Club in McKeesport is doing renovations and we’ll have a player at the rib-

“We did a real thorough search, and her name kept coming up as someone we should talk to and she really impressed us. Her drive, the care she has for these issues, it felt right. She’s awesome. She’s done a great job in only a few months.”

Omar Khan Steelers vice president of football operations and business administration

BLAYRE HOLMES DAVIS, a 2008 Ringgold High School graduate, is the new director of community relations for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

(Photo by Courier photographer Brian Cook Sr.) bon-cutting, and of course, the Rock Steelers Style Fashion Show.”

Just yesterday, Sept. 10, a number of Steelers rookie players spent time at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, and “for the new moms and new babies, they (the players) gave them Steelers onesies and terrible towels,” Davis said.

Davis plays a vital role in making these types of community events happen.

Davis said the team—and her department—have a busy season already, but they are nimble enough to take advantage of opportunities that arise unexpectedly. Davis said after reading a recent study, she began working on partnerships and outreach related

to improving African American student literacy.

“We want to be outcome-focused,” she said.

“How can we be supportive and help these kids because literacy is key to going on to a better life. So we’re looking at having players come in and (have reading sessions) with kids, give them books to read at home, partnering with educators. How can we get to where we say, in five years, that this is how we’ve helped solve this problem.”

Davis said the Steelers are a great organization to work for, especially with the Rooney family’s long history of charitable work.

“When I first heard of the job I was with Adagio Health and wasn’t even

looking,” she said. “But some people recommended me, and I came in and we talked about the work they are doing, how to build capacity and the Rooney family history. So it felt like a good fit and I’ve received a very warm welcome. It just felt right.”

Davis’ boss, Omar Khan, vice president of football operations and business administration, said almost the same thing about Davis.

“We did a real thorough search, and her name kept coming up as someone we should talk to and she really impressed us,” Khan told the Courier. “Her drive, the care she has for these issues, it felt right. She’s awesome. She’s done a great job

in only a few months.”

Khan said whether players do their charity and community outreach through foundations they’ve set up or on their own, Davis is reaching out to them to see if and how the team can help. He said she is currently looking at helping Steelers player Maurkice Pouncey expand and improve his police-community relations events.

“We’ve been doing some great things,” Khan said.

“She’s brought in some new ideas and has taken an aggressive approach in looking at things for the organization to take part in, and in seeing how we can take the things we’ve always been involved in to the next level.”

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report In my travels: End of summer Have people stopped saying there is nothing to do in Pittsburgh? Let’s hope so because if they are still complaining they are wrong. Each weekend I am challenged with no less than three or more events to attend. Many of them I have a commitment to—some I want to attend just for me.

I just attended the Kem concert and had a great time. It was a “wear white” affair and people showed up and showed out in their white outfits.

I can’t wait to see how people turn out for the fifth edition of Diner en Blanc Pittsburgh. Watch this page for the coverage.

A few weeks before Kem I went to see Gladys Knight; another enjoyable evening. It doesn’t always have to be a concert, the ribfest just closed and there have been neighborhood events in Homewood, Larimer and the North Side. Just check Facebook or the New Pittsburgh Courier for things that are going on.

In many cases you don’t need someone to go with.

You can attend by yourself if that works for you.

It is always nice to have someone to say a word to but if no one wants to go, then make comments to others nearby; who knows, you may make new friends. Pittsburgh is the type of place where you always see someone that you know.

An interesting thing happened when I parked for the concert last weekend. When I pulled into the garage, I had to pay cash as I entered. I asked for a receipt just in case and the attendant gave me a ticket to get out.

When I finally left the garage I inserted the ticket and was asked to pay again. I tried three times and finally paid the fee again. The next business day I called the garage and was told that I should have pressed the help button. It was around midnight and I didn’t think anyone was around.

I was happy I had both paid receipts. The garage has promised to send me the overpayment. I hope they keep their word. It is always good to say something instead of just complaining to others. Most people will try to make things right.

I attended a class this summer that I thought was a photography class.

It actually was a class about photos. It was interesting but not what I was looking for. I made mention of it to a person in charge and they offered me a refund. I denied it but appreciated the gesture. I have to make sure I read the fine print in the future. But it confirms the old saying that “a closed mouth does not get fed.”

Now that I am semi-retired, I have a lot more time to attend events that I have always wanted to attend and yes, many of them I will be flying solo.

On a side note, if you are thinking about ordering prescription glasses online...I have done it and they turned out perfect.

Make sure you have your complete prescription.

(Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com)

SWP FASHION BLOGGER OF THE YEAR—Patrice McKenzie

SWP FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR— Bruce Cowart

SWP EMCEE—Mikey Hood

Style Week Pittsburgh 2019

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

SPONSOR—Donnella Drewery with SWP Founder Wadria Taylor

Style Week Pittsburgh returned for its sixth year Aug. 16-18 and kicked off with an awards ceremony at Hotel Indigo on Technology Drive.

On Aug. 16, leaders in fashion, business and the arts were recognized with awards for their achievements. The SWP award winners included: SWP 2019 Fashion Designer—Tereneh Idia; Salon of the Year—Mark Anthony Hair Salon; Fashion Photographer of the Year—Bruce Cowart; Blogger of the Year—Patrice McKenzie; Stylist of the Year—Rachel Vallozi; and the SWP People’s Choice Award chosen by online voting—Imani Jahaan. Guests mixed and mingled and enjoyed beautiful music from vocalist Jemiriye Adeniji.

The weekend concluded with a fashion show on Aug. 17, at the Union Project, where Pittsburgh-based designers ProBantu Style, RubyDawn International, Wille Gee, Lana Neumeyer, Celeta Hickman and Jensine Noir showcased their collections.

On Aug. 18, at Ascender in Downtown Pittsburgh, style and business experts led discussions and shared best practices on growing and launching a business.

Style Week Pittsburgh was founded in 2013 by Wadria Taylor to provide a platform for fashion focused brands to network, exhibit their talents and gain recognition. To date, over 2,000 people have attended a SWP event and more than 100 designers, artists and businesses have participated.

STYLE WEEK PITTSBURGH FOUNDER—Wadria Taylor

VOCALIST—Jemiriye Adeniji

PUTTING THE ‘STYLE’ IN STYLE WEEK—Irene Kreiser and Lydiah Wanyoike

SWP HAIR STYLIST OF THE YEAR—Anthony Jeffries

SWP DESIGNER OF THE YEAR—Tereneh Idia and Wadria Taylor

SWP PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD—Imani Jahaan

SWP STYLIST OF THE YEAR—Rachel Vallozi (Photos by Debbie Norrell)

RELIGION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The Ninth Annual Circle of Courage Awards

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019 A9

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

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

www.cathedralofhope.com

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

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

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

HONOREE PASTOR EARLENE COLEMAN The Ninth Annual Circle of Courage Awards, held Aug. 23 at the DoubleTree

by Hilton Hotel, Monroeville, honored those primarily in the faith community who continue to make a positive difference in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

The program also included a networking session, art auction, and music by Dr. James Johnson, co-founder of the Afro American

HONOREE JESSIE MCLEAN, with Rev. Aisha Tate and County Councilman Tom Baker, at the Circle of Courage Awards, Aug. 23, in Monroeville. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

Music Institute. Proceeds benefited BCC Ministries of Brown Chapel Church, where Rev. Aisha Tate is pastor. The Circle of Courage Awards was presented

by Bynums Marketing & Communications, with support from the Port Authority of Allegheny County, the law office of Frank, Gale, Bails, Murcko & Pocrass, P.C., Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network.

Curious about Quakerism?

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

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

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

AAMI—Pamela and Dr. James Johnson

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT!

HONOREE MAC BERNARD

HONOREE ANDREW COLEMAN III

HONOREE REV. THOMAS FANT

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

HONOREE AUDREY MURRELL, PHD

Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

Church Circuit ANTIOCH BAPTIST FALL REVIVAL

SEPTEMBER 4, 11, 18, 25—Antioch Baptist Church, 332 Elizabeth St., Sewickley, will hold its annual Fall Revival every Wednesday in September at 7 p.m. Guest speakers: Rev. Michael Peterson (Sept. 4), Mount Olive Baptist Church; Rev. Bryan Crawl (Sept. 11), Second Baptist Church, Rochester; Rev. Lisa Richbourg (Sept. 18), Pilgrim Baptist Church; Rev. Jonathan Wilson (Sept. 25), New Bethel Baptist Church. The theme is “Revived to Lift Him Up.” All are welcome to attend. For more information, call 412-741-7688 for details. Rev. Travis C. Coon, pastor.

SIXTH MOUNT ZION MISSIONARY DAY

SEPTEMBER 15—Sixth Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 6556 Shetland St., will hold its Missionary Day at the church. The theme is “Replanting the Seed.” The guest speaker will be Rev. David White of Shiloh Community Missionary Baptist Church. For more information, call 412-441-7839.

ST. PAUL BAPTIST WOMEN’S DAY

SEPTEMBER 15—St. Paul Baptist Church, 6701 Penn Ave. will hold its Women Of the Word (W.O.W.) ministry’s annual Women’s Day celebration during the 10 a.m. worship service.

The theme is “Walking in the Light.” Reverend Leola P. Cherry of St. Paul Baptist will deliver the morning sermon. All are welcome to attend. For more information contact the church at 412-3624932.

HONOREE REV. MOTHER MARY BEASLEY

HONOREE EVAN FRAZIER

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

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Homicide is illegal, and death is a penalty, says J. Pharoah Doss Forum B7

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Find what you need from jobs to cars to housing B5-B6

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PROPERTY IS POWER Buying an investment property

by Anthony O. Kellum For New Pittsburgh Courier

It’s easy to get caught up wondering what’s next and where do I go from here?

One way is to become a property investor. You may be thinking, “Come on man, that’s not even realistic.” But I’m here to tell you that it is and if others are doing it, then why not you? That’s the mentality you must adopt…if they can, I can too!

Is it going to be easy? Nope, but anything worth having is worth working for and you are worth it.

Here are a few things for you to consider. For the first-time investor buying and investment property can be intimidating but it is a great way to create a monthly stream of revenue. Keep in mind that it’s not for the timid, however once you have educated yourself about the process and the greatest way to get returns on your investment this could become your avenue to building wealth and the best way to leave your family financially secure.

If you are thinking you are too young to start, then I suggest getting out of your own head and think about this…the younger you start, the better. The reason being the longer you own the property, the better the investment becomes.

Consider this, after all the expenses and mortgage payment ANTHONY O. KELLUM are made, your monthly cash flow can be significant. A few more reasons to start investing when you are young is because the longer you wait, the more life happens; for example you may have less flexibility, your family obligations can also increase, but when you are younger you can take more risk. Not to say you can’t make this happen when you are older, it’s just a lot less complicated when you’re younger. Once you make the commitment to invest in rental property you have dramatically increased the opportunity to build your stream of cash flow. To be clear, cash flow is the money you make from rental properties every month after all the expenses are paid.

After you have decided to take the leap into property investments remember location, location, location. Where you decide to purchase is important especially for long-term equity growth, and residential rental property is a key component. Specific things you should look for are: school SEE PROPERTY B3

AGGRESSIVE PROGRAM—During NAREB’s annual “State of Black America” forum, the organization will announce an aggressive program to reach out and encourage Black millennials to consider, or re-consider, homeownership as a wealth-building tool. (Photo: iStockphoto/NNPA)

HOMEOWNERSHIP BUILDS WEALTH NAREB urges Black Americans not to defer their dream of homeownership (NNPA)—According to the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) wealth building usually begins with that first investment in owning your own home. Whether you purchase a first-time “starter” home or inherit a property or residence, you start down the road to building wealth. But something has changed in the Black community. The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest statistics indicate that the Black homeownership rate has dropped once again.

Now at 40.6 percent, the rate starkly signals a continual loss of wealth for Black Americans. By comparison, the non-Hispanic White homeownership rate for the same period was reported to be 73.1 percent, a nearly 30 percent difference. There’s a problem and NAREB is on point to stop the loss and return Black Americans to wealth building through homeownership of real estate investment.

NAREB is aware that the Black community, particularly its local and national leaders, may need a clear, strong wake-up call to reverse this daunting downward trend.

DONNELL WILLIAMS NAREB President What are the causes? But more importantly, what are the solutions?

What can the community of concern do to prompt home purchase and therefore, wealth building?

These and other questions are slated to be addressed at NAREB’s annual “State of Black America” forum to be convened at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 2019 Annual Legislative Conference, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Expert panelists, steeped in the issues, the disparities and likely solutions to raising Black homeownership are committed to working with NAREB on its mission to restore confidence in the real estate market, identify critical systemic blockages, and outline the concerted advocacy strategies that lawmakers at every level of government need to keep in mind to improve Black homeownership outcomes.

During the forum, Donnell Williams, the newly installed president of NAREB, will announce an aggressive program to reach out and encourage Black millennials to consider, or re-consider, homeownership as a wealth building tool.

“Statistics show that there are 1.7 SEE NAREB B3

DeVos hands for-profit colleges $11.1 billion over 10 years

by Charlene Crowell For New Pittsburgh Courier

Most consumers would likely agree that consumers should get what they pay for.

If a product or service fails to deliver its promises, refunds are in order.

That kind of thinking guided the Obama Administration’s decision to address false promises made to student loan borrowers.

A rule known as the “borrower defense to repayment” came on the heels of successive for-profit college closures that left thousands of students stranded educationally and financially. The federal rule provided a way for snookered students and borrowers to apply for and secure loan forgiveness. Its premise was that both borrowers and taxpayers were assured that the Department of Education was looking out for them.

But with a new administration and Education Secretary, rules that made sense and brought taxpayers financial fairness have been repealed and replaced with other rules that favor for-profit colleges, loan servicers, and other business interests.

Just as many people were about to begin their Labor Day holiday, the federal Department of Education announced it was changing a key rule that provided a pathway to federal loan forgiveness. Instead, a new rule puts in place a process that will be cumbersome, lengthy, and nearly impossible for consumers to successfully secure relief.

Commenting on the rule that will now apply to all federal student loans made on or after July 1, 2020, Secretary Betsy DeVos said, “We believe this final rule corrects the wrongs of the 2016 rule through

common sense and carefully crafted reforms that hold colleges and universities accountable and treat students and taxpayers fairly.”

Excuse me Secretary DeVos, the rule was promulgated due to the thousands of

ing to research by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL): •Only 21 percent of all for-profit students in four-year programs graduate within six years; •Four years after graduation, Black stu-

wrongs resulting from less than truthful recruitment practices, false advertising, and targeting of vulnerable populations: low-income, first-generation college students who were often people of color, and veterans seeking new skills in a return to civilian life. For-profit colleges largely remain financially solvent by their heavy dependence upon taxpayer-funded student loans.

For Black America, the effects of predatory student lending at for-profit colleges comes with severe consequences. Accord-

dents with a bachelor’s degree owe almost double the debt their White classmates owe; and •While for-profit college enrollment represents 8.6 percent of all college students, these schools generate over 34 percent of all students who default on their loans.

While this new rule may make sense to Secretary DeVos, education advocates had an opposite reaction, quickly and emphatically detailing how the rule change is as negative as it is costly.

“After the collapse of Corinthian College

and ITT Tech, two of the largest for-profit education companies in the country, the Obama Administration created the Borrower Defense rule to protect students and taxpayers from deceptive practices that could jeopardize the future of thousands of students and our economy,” said Ashley Harrington, a CRL Senior Policy Counsel, and a primary negotiator during the Education Department’s negotiated rule-making process.

With DeVos’ new rule, both the automatic discharge of federal loans that took effect after a school closed and another provision that allowed group claim relief are now eliminated. Anyone seeking redress on student loans must also bear the full burden of documenting their alleged “harm” before a claim can be reviewed.

The new rule also removes states from opportunities to defend their own constituents. State laws, many enacted before the 2016 Obama-era rule took effect, provided another route to legal redress. But with the new DeVos rule, no state-level claims can be pursued.

“That’s problematic for us,” added Harrington. “The federal standard should be the floor, not the ceiling, for relief.”

Over the next decade, the Education Department projects an $11 billion cost-savings from denying loan forgiveness. But for student loan borrowers, denying $11 billion in loan forgiveness adds an unwieldy and costly burden for an education, and earnings that were never realized.

“The new ‘borrower defense rule’ does anything but defend students,” said James Kvaal, president of The Institute SEE DeVOS B3

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

BUSINESS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

BUSINESS CALENDAR Cybersecurity Workshop

SEPT. 12—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present Cyberscurity: Must-Haves for Small Businesses, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. According to Forbes,43 percent of all breaches occurred at small businesses and ransomware attacks are on the rise. However, many business owners are not sure of the steps they need to take. This workshop can get you started. Albert Whale, president -chief security officer, T Security, nc will cover topics such as Data access authorization, Data back-up, Data storage, Identifying potential attacks, and Employee training. Cost: $35. For more information, call 412-396-5884.

Business Startup Workshop

SEPT. 19—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will host First Step: Business Essentials, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. This interactive workshop is designed to help new entrepreneurs and business startups to understand the first step of starting a new business. Topics covered include Business Structure and Formation, Fictitious Name Registration, Insurance, Environmental Concerns, Financing Options, Taxation Requirements, Major Components of the Business Plan, and Financial Statements & Projections. Cost: $25.

For more information, call 412-396-5884.

Chamber PowerBreakfast

SEPT. 20—The African American Chamber of Commerce returns from a two-month summer break with a presentation by California University of Pennsylvania President Geraldine Jones, 7:30 a.m. at the Rivers Club, Oxford Center, 301 Grant St., Pittsburgh 15219. Jones will give an overview of the university and of potential business opportunities for chamber members. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Call 412-392-0610 for more information.

Ready for web training?

SEPT. 26—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will host Building a Small Business Website: From A to Z, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. Building a website has now become an essential step for businesses to increase their sales. Chris Vendilli from ProFromGo will cover: Cost-effective tools to make a website stand out; Major factors in estimating costs and the timeline to building a website; Differences between agency, freelancer and online website builders; Factors that can improve the process while keeping costs down, and Recommended tools and resources. Cost $35. Call 412-396-5884 for more information.

Alternate Business Funding Workshop

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

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

Business Growth Seminar

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

E-commerce Workshop

OCT. 15—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present E-commerce: Ramping up in a competitive landscape, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282. The seminar will present the fundamentals on how to save time and money while establishing and growing sales via e-commerce. Among the topics: Ecommerce Platforms of Choice: Shopify and WooCommerce; Shipping & Drop Shipping; Taxes; Search Engine Optimization; Pay Per Click Marketing, and Social Media Marketing. Cost $35. Call 412-396-1633 for more information.

Certification Webinar

The Chatham University Women’s Business Center wi present Certification eyond The Advantages of Certification For our oman Owned usiness earn the basics of certification and its benefits for sma businesses The online session will be led by Joanne Peterson and Marian Neilson of Abator’s Get Diversity Certified The webinar is free, but registration is required. Call Mitra Saeidi at 412-365-1448 for more information.

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019

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The wage gap costs Black women nearly $1 million in their lifetimes

by Taryn Finley Huffington Post

Aug. 22 is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. It marks the point when Black women’s income finally caught up to earnings of White non-Hispanic men in the previous calendar year.

Despite efforts to raise awareness of the pay gap, this year’s Black Women’s Equal Pay Day comes more than two weeks later than last year’s.

On average, Black women in America make 61 cents to every dollar a White man makes. Regardless of socioeconomic or education level, Black women work decades longer than White men to match their earnings, according to a study released this month by the National Women’s Law Center.

The analysis shows Black women are losing out on $23,653 yearly. Over the course of a 40-year career, that totals $946,120.

In order to match the lifetime earnings of a 60-year-old White man, a Black woman would have to work until she’s 86 years old, if they both started working at age 20.

The gap is even greater for Black women born outside of the U.S., who make just half the earnings of foreign-born men in this country.

A nearly $1 million loss over a decades-long career is “unfathomable,” Jasmine Tucker, director of research at the National Women’s Law Center, told HuffPost.

It’s like “losing out on the American dream,” Tucker said. “A million dollars is child care, it’s health care, it’s a house, it’s economic stability. And that’s just straight earnings.”

It doesn’t stop there. The disparity widens depending on where you live. In Louisiana, Connecticut, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, Utah and Virginia, lifetime wage losses equate to more than $1 million. Washington, D.C., has the worst U.S. income inequality for Black women, where they earn 51 cents to every dollar for White men and accrue

a lifetime loss of $1.9 million, according to the study. Black women in D.C. would have to work until they are 98 to make up for those lost wages.

“This is the same old, tired story that’s

been going on for decades,” Tucker said.

“I think that the sort of interesting thing is that Black women are gaining political power right now. Black women are gonna continue to drive the movement forward and they’re gonna continue because they’re the one pushing this forward and there’s a mismatch between their growing political power and [them] falling behind terms of economic security and family security.”

Tina Sherman, the paid leave campaign director at MomsRising, and Alicia Garza, Black Lives Matter co-founder and creator of Black Futures Lab, know this old story well.

Sherman, a mother of four, is currently staring at what a lifetime’s work of pay disparity looks like numerically as she helps her mother prepare for retirement.

Garza recalled watching her single mother work multiple jobs to sustain her family while she followed her dreams at night.

But both are now fighting for pay equity for all Black women.

“It is shameful that in this day and age that Black women have to work 20 months to be paid what white men are paid in 12 months,” Sherman said. “It’s racist, it’s sexist and it harms me as a mom, my family and the economy at large. There’s absolutely no justification.”

With MomsRising, Sherman is pushing Congress to pass pay equity legislation, in-

cluding the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help protect more workers against pay discrimination.

Garza told HuffPost that as long there is racism within the U.S. economy, the wage and wealth gap will persist.

The Black Futures Lab has joined forces with Phenomenal Woman to launch Phenomenally Black, a campaign that celebrates Black women. On Thursday, celebrities and politicians will wear shirts that read “Phenomenally Black” to highlight Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. “Oftentimes, we hear things about the wage gap between White women and White men and that’s not necessarily the wage gap between women of color and White men and in particular Black women and White men,” Garza said. “I think for me, what’s so exciting about Phenomenally Black is the opportunity just to make that visible.

Not just the struggles that we have—but we also want to be able to highlight the ways in which we are persisting and resisting and enduring circumstances that are not ideal and we want to be able to fo that to encourage and motivate and activate people to take action.”

Garza emphasized the need to include all Black women in this fight, not just cisgender women. She revealed that the results from Black Futures Lab’s forthcoming Black Census Project show that Black trans women are severely impacted by the wage gap.

“What we found is that 85 percent of Black trans women who responded to our survey reported that they were making incomes less than $50,000 a year and 23 percent reported that they are making incomes less than $15,000 a year, and so you’ll note that there is incredible opportunity,” Garza said. “I mean imagine what would happen when Black cis women and black trans women got together to fight for better wages for all of us.”

(This article originally appeared in the Huffington Post.)

Should I pay for insurance on a rental car?

by Crossroad News For New Pittsburgh Courier

(BPT)—Maybe you’re signing the paperwork for a rental car, ready to zip up the West Coast for your end-of-summer vacation, when the agent asks if you’re also going to be adding rental insurance.

You pause. The agent starts talking about liability, and you see dollar signs piling up. You ask yourself: “Do I really need rental car insurance?”

“Whether it comes down to your personal auto coverage or purchasing coverage from the rental company is a personal choice,” says Sean Scaturro, Director of Insurance Advice and Certified Financial Planner practitioner for USAA. The truth is there is no clear-cut answer when it comes to purchasing insurance for your rental car, so it’s easy to understand why you’re hemming and hawing.

Most personal auto insurance policies have coverage that will transfer to the rental car, so technically, you’re covered while driving the rental. The choice is

whether you want to use the rental company coverage for their car so you don’t have to use your own policy.

If your insurance is covering the car, then your deductible comes with it. So if you’re liable for a fender bender while driving a rental car that causes $4,500 of damage, and your deductible is $1,000, you must fork over that amount—all for a car you don’t own.

The coverage offered by the rental car company is generally much more expensive than your personal auto policy coverage, so if you don’t get into any incidents while driving, you may have opted for an unnecessary expense.

“Knowing that your wallet is protected against something that happens when you’re in a rental car is a good feeling,” Scaturro says. “Consider if the value provided by the extra coverage is worth the expense.”

But what about credit cards covering rental car liability?

“Major credit card companies may offer rental car coverage if you use their credit card to rent the car,” Scaturro says. “It is important to understand the coverage

limitations and exclusions for how coverage applies, for example, it may cover things like towing, theft or damage to the car but may have limitations on how you are covered for damage that you cause.”

In short, credit cards don’t offer liability coverage while you’re driving the rental.

Some do, but most don’t.

“Relying solely on your credit card rental car coverage may not offer adequate liability protection for your financial situation,” Scaturro says.

Planning on renting a car anytime soon?

Visit USAA.com/rentalcar for more information.

Sean Scaturro is the Director of Insurance Advice for USAA and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(TM) practitioner.

With more than 15 years of experience in the financial services and insurance industry, Sean has a wealth of knowledge advising clients on risk management, asset allocation, retirement planning, portfolio construction and estate planning.

(This article originally appeared in Crossroads News.)

Buying an investment property PROPERTY FROM B1

district, neighborhood, public transportation, proximity to major roads and highways, property taxes, crime rate, and amenities and conveniences (grocery stores, restaurant, gyms, parks, etc.).

Typically, the best investment properties in Detroit for first time investors are single-family dwellings and condominiums.

Single-family homes attract longer-term renters and when considering condominiums, they are low maintenance because

the condo association takes care of external repairs. But keep in mind, condos tend to collect lower rent and appreciate more slowly than single-family homes.

It takes time and a lot of effort to learn the right market and finding the right rental property. Finding the right tenants and creating a lease can also take its toll, but when done correctly rental properties can be and amazing investment and will not only allow you to retire early but you can leave a legacy for your

family. If investment property is something you have been considering, now is the time. Stop thinking about it and make it happen.

It’s not meant to be easy. And if it were, everyone would be doing it. So, stay focused and positive, build the community, take pride and go get yours. When you help yourself, you also help everyone in your circle.

(Anthony O. Kellum, speaker, author and TV host.)

DeVos hands for-profit colleges $11.1 billion DEVOS FROM B1

for College Access & Success (TICAS). “In fact it makes it almost impossible for students who are lied to, defrauded, or otherwise abused by their colleges to get a fresh start. …By leaving students on the

hook for colleges’ illegal actions, today’s rule sends a clear message that there will be little or no consequences for returning to the misrepresentations and deceptions that characterized the for-profit college boom.”

Homeownership builds wealth NAREB FROM B1

million Black millennials making $100,000 or more and could improve their financial futures with homeownership or participation in real estate investment opportunities.

NAREB is determined to reach them with messages that rebut, yet improve, some of their current life-

style choices,” he says.

What’s more, he adds, homeownership is critical. “One clear message to millennials: Think about a house before you buy the car.”

As he explains, wealth building is all about smart choices. Dreams need not be deferred. Homeownership is possible and still

desirable as a wealth building tool. NAREB, with its nationwide network of predominantly Black American real estate professionals are here to help find the wealth building pathways that best suit lifestyles and incomes.

“Join me at NAREB’s Forum for the answers,” Williams concluded.

A similar reaction came from Abby Shafroth, an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center, and like Harrington, participated in the Department’s rulemaking meetings.

“There are over 170,000 pending applications with many borrowers held in limbo for years,” continued Shafroth. “The new rules reflect an ongoing shift to protect the multi-billion-dollar for-profit education industry at the expense of students and taxpayers and come amid concerns about conflicts of interest raised about the rule of former for-profit executives hired by the Department.”

Rather than saving taxpayer dollars, it seems that this new rule is guaranteeing a taxpayer-funded revenue stream for the benefit of for-profit colleges—not students.

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

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OPINION

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Attitudes about gun safety are changing, but Senate leadership is mired in the past

Guest Editorial

Retailers’ decision on guns can help “The status quo is unacceptable,” says Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon about the giant retailer’s decision to stop selling handgun and short-barrel rifle ammunition, while requesting that customers not openly carry firearms in its stores, even where state laws allow it.

This is a significant step in the right direction toward tighter gun control.

Walmart’s announcement comes just days after a mass shooting claimed seven lives in Odessa, Texas, and follows back-to-back shootings last month, including one by a gunman who entered a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, and killed 22 people using an AK-style rifle.

Walmart said last Tuesday it will discontinue sales of certain gun ammunition used in military-style weapons after it runs out of its current inventory.

The latest move allows it to focus on hunting rifles and related ammunition only.

“In a complex situation lacking a simple solution, we are trying to take constructive steps to reduce the risk that events like these will happen again,” according to a memo by McMillon circulated to employees Tuesday afternoon. “The status quo is unacceptable.”

The National Rifle Association posted a tweet unfairly attacking Walmart’s announcement.

“It is shameful to see Walmart succumb to the pressure of the anti-gun elites. Lines at Walmart will soon be replaced by lines at other retailers who are more supportive of America’s fundamental freedoms,” it said.

Whether Walmart’s decision will translate into fewer guns on the street remains an open question since most firearms sales are done through gun shops or gun shows.

Still, Walmart’s move should have an impact.

About half of the retailer’s more than 4,750 U.S. stores sell firearms, or around 2 percent of all U.S. firearms.

Walmart’s move is more evidence that companies are beginning to respond to public pressure to restrict gun and ammunition sales.

In March, Dick’s Sporting Goods announced it would stop selling firearms and ammunition at 125 of its 700-plus locations. Last year, Kroger announced it would stop selling firearms and ammunition at its Fred Meyer stores in the Pacific Northwest. On Tuesday, Kroger joined Walmart in asking customers not to openly carry their guns when they visit its stores.

Walmart is the nation’s largest retail chain. Because of its clout and size, its decision sends a strong message to Congress.

As Congress comes back to consider measures on gun violence, it should follow the example set

by Walmart and other retailers and enact measures aimed at background checks and tighter restrictions on gun sales, particularly on military-style weapons and ammunition.

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)

Founded 1910

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

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal itary-style assault weapons remains mired in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

One of the people who should have failed a background check to buy a handgun was Dylann Roof of Columbia, South Carolina. Because the check was not completed within three days, Roof was able to buy a gun.

A few months later, Roof shot and killed nine people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. One of the people who was prevented from buying a gun because he failed a background check in 2014 was Seth Ator of Odessa, Texas.

Ator had been committed to a psychiatric institution in 2006 because he was deemed a danger to himself and/or others. Because of a loophole in the law—a loophole that would be closed by the House-passed Bipartisan Background Checks Act—Ator was able to purchase an AR-15 style rifle through a private sale.

Ator used that rifle to shoot nearly 30 people in Odessa and Midland, Texas, on Saturday, killing seven and wounding 22.

There were six other mass shootings in the United States on Saturday, leaving five more dead and another 20 injured. There have been

287 mass shootings in of 2019—more than a shooting per day. There have been 10,018 deaths and 20,061 injuries from gun violence this year, and that’s not even including suicides by firearms, which claim about 23,000 lives each year.

Stopping gun violence is now the third-most important issue for voters, after health care and immigration, according to a recent poll.

The ongoing epidemic of gun violence prompted Walmart to stop selling stop selling handgun ammunition and “short-barrel rifle ammunition,” such as the .223 caliber and 5.56 caliber, that can also be used on assault-style weapons. Walmart and Kroger also have requested that customers not openly carry firearms in their stores.

These decisions mark a significant turning point in the effort to protect Americans from gun violence. Senate leaders have, instead, chosen to continue along the path of cowardice.

As the House passage of the background bill and the Walmart and Kroger decisions demonstrate, the firearm industry is losing its stranglehold on our political and legislative institutions. But not fast enough.

As long as Senate Leader Mitch McConnell refuses to consider the commonsense gun safety laws passed by the House, it’s clear his loyalties lie with the gun lobby and not with the American people.

We must do everything we can to urge the Senate to do its job. Call (202) 224-3121 to speak to your Senators and let them know they were elected to defend your safety and your family, not the profits of the gun industry.”

Healing the wounds (TriceEdneyWire.com)—The chaotic and catastrophic conditions we are seeing at an alarming rate across the world have even the most optimistic people around us very concerned.

Mass shootings appear to be ordinary now. Just recently, there was the tragedies in El Paso (Tex.), Dayton (Ohio) and Odessa (Tex.) in rapid succession before we had a chance to recover from the tragedy before the last one.

What just happened in the Bahamas is hard to imagine—and yet, tragedy of a monumental proportion just happened. Add to that the horrendous way #45 behaves daily both at home and abroad, and acts like none of it matters to him. As the song by Marvin Gaye goes, “It makes you want to holler and throw up your hand.” Unfortunately, that is not the solution.

In some way, we’ve all been wounded. Some us have been wounded by the circumstance of our ancestors’ enslavement. It’s too difficult for me to think about people like Harriet Tubman having to stand there and taking the lash of an evil system called slavery, of Fannie Lou Hamer having to leave her family and her home just because she wanted to vote, of Dr. Martin Luther King facing the threat of murder and ultimately being murdered, and about Malcolm, Evers, and many others being murdered for trying to do good.

Add to that all the mothers who’ve

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary

Foundation conference to begin the discussion of what we can do as a group of people who’ve been wounded in this country for over 400 years, and with the current occupants in the White House, it seems there is no hope and no hope of hope, so the healing falls on you and me collectively with the help of professionals who’ve offered us help. Keep your ears open for the names Dr. Linda Myers, Dr. Monica Clement and Dr. Jordan Argus. In the meantime, you may do one of 2 things: Go to www. wpfwfm.org. Click on Archives, scroll down to Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, 10 AM for my program called “Wake Up and Stay Woke.” Click on Play and you’ll be able to hear an interview with some of the leaders involved in the process called “Healing the Wounds of Circumstance.” I guarantee you’ll want to hear more about the program. It’s very promising!

In the meantime, there are things we can do to begin the process of healing. We can form healing circles, always do the right thing, look out for one another, refuse to meet hate with hate, anger with anger, jealousy with jealousy or fear with fear. Finally, never spend money where we’re not respected. Always “throw the ball in the right goal” lest we contribute to our own losses.

buried their children much too soon for senseless reasons. Our brains have been battered with mass shootings in churches and synagogues, and in schools where some children have become traumatized by the thought of going to schools. We’ve seen babies separated from their parents, and a recent report indicates how these children have been damaged—maybe even wounded for life unless we come up with a way to heal the wounds.

Can we afford to just let it go and hope that things will get better? I submit that we cannot. We must look for ways to heal our wounds. My eyes are always open to do just that.

On a recent trip to Columbus, Ohio, I met a group of wonderful people who’ve come up with ways to heal the wounds of our circumstances.

As President of the National Congress of Black Women, I’ve invited the principals of this process to come (Dr. E. Faye Williams is president of the Nato Washington, DC during the upcoming Congressional Black Caucus tional Congress of Black Women.)

Letter To The Editor

Standardized test scores offered a mixed message Dear Editor: For those of us invested in the achievement of students in Pittsburgh Public Schools, the recently released results of standardized test scores offered a mixed message. On one hand, we saw gains in student performance on the PSSA, particularly in science, over 2018. We were likewise encouraged to see the percent of African American students scoring proficient or advanced increased on 8 of 14 exams in 2019.

On the other hand, we also saw signals that show we clearly have more work to do. Following two years of steady performance, overall District performance on the Keystone Exams declined on all three exams, including performance by African American students. This is disappointing—as Superintendent, I share the opinion of parents, teachers, staff, and stakeholders that anything short of gains across all categories, for all students, is unacceptable.

To address these gaps, we need more information. Toward that end,

PPS is this year introducing the Northwest Evaluation Association’s Measures of Academic Progress system, known as MAP Growth. This tool offers more data from fewer assessments to create a more precise evaluation of student progress. It provides the data and supports that teachers need to make instructional decisions that can often be pivotal in determining the academic success of a child.

Through MAP Growth, the District will receive valuable data on student performance on Pennsylvania state standards, eligible content, Lexiles, and K-2 foundational skills. Additionally, MAP Growth will help identify students who may require additional diagnostic assessments and interventions.

By addressing these underlying factors behind this year’s declines, we intend to close these gaps and provide support to students exactly where they need it, while building on the successes and best practices that resulted in this year’s gains.

Addressing years of deficits is a daunting task; creating a culture shift that insists on excellence for all students is not a goal that can be achieved overnight, nor without obstacles. If it were that easy, the deficits would not exist in the first place. But to succeed, we must rededicate ourselves in the face of adversity, with our eyes fixed on the endpoint. As President Obama said: “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”

I am here to say that I am more than willing to keep walking. I am here for the duration. Our children deserve that commitment, and it is what I signed on to do when I accepted the position as Superintendent. I encourage you to join me in this journey, and I welcome the day when we may all celebrate what we achieve together.

Dr. Anthony Hamlet Pittsburgh, Pa. (Dr. Anthony Hamlet is Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools.)

Letters to the editor for publication

Allison Palm

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“The biggest movement and shift that we’ve seen in this culture is simply because of the victims. When victims and survivors are coming to the legislative bodies and they’re telling their stories and they’re appealing, we’ve seen movement. We’ve seen movement. And so it’s a matter of changing one mind and one heart at a time. You change the culture, and the policy change comes right on the heels of that.”

—Congresswoman Lucy McBath, mother of 17-year-old Jordan Davis, shot to death in an argument about loud music.

The facts on gun safety are clear.

Since 1994, background checks have blocked over 3.5 million gun sales to felons, domestic abusers, and other people who aren’t allowed to have guns under existing law.

About 90 percent of Americans support background checks for all firearms sales.

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refuses to allow the senate to vote on bills, passed by the House of Representatives, that would expand background checks to private sales and extend to at least 10 days the amount of time firearms dealers must wait for a response from the background check system before the sale can proceed.

A ban on military-style assault weapons effect from September 1994 through 2004 was associated with a 25 percent drop in gun massacres and a 40 percent drop in fatalities.

About two-thirds of American support a ban on military-style assault weapons.

But a bill to restrict the sale of mil-

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

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SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

MANAGER OF ACCESSIBILITY AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Responsible for forging relationships with accessibility partners, developing curriculum and facilitating engagement programs. Full description and to apply: https://bit.ly/2kuF9Jx COMPUTER/IT: Argo AI, LLC seeks Software Engineer II (multiple openings) to work in Pittsburgh, PA to architect & implement cutting edge algorithms & software for autonomous vehicle sensors, including cameras and LiDAR. Degree & commensurate exp. req’d. Apply online at www. argo.ai/join-us/#j1854010

POLICE OFFICER BOROUGH OF BELLEVUE

The Civil Service Commission of the Borough of Bellevue will offer competitive written and oral examinations for a certified ist of app icants for the position of police officer App ications for the position may be obtained at the Bellevue Borough Building located at 537 Bayne Avenue, Bellevue, Pennsylvania 15202 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Completed applications will be accepted by the Administrative Office at the e evue Borough Building beginning on Monday, September 16, 2019 and must be returned no later than 4:00 PM on Friday, October 11, 2019. ua ified app icants wi be notified by mail of the date, time and location of the written examination.

ASSISTANT MANAGER OF SPECIAL SERVICES / EVENTS AND DETOURS

Port Authority is seeking an Assistant Manager of Special Services / Events and Detours to provide assistance and support to the Manager of Special Services / Events and Detours while working with the Operations Department in the execution of daily operating activities. To develop, communicate and implement bus and rail detours for planned construction projects, emergency closures and as needed, special events and services.

Essential Functions: •Provides assistance to the Manager of Special Services / Events and Detours. Communicates with the Operations Command Center and their efforts to maintain and adjust service, improve on time performance and provide necessary detours to Operations and Communications Departments, including during major special events, service disruptions, natural or man-made emergencies, from the office or in the fie d •In conjunction with the Manager of Special Services / Events and Detours, maintain and support existing and new computerized detours a ong with stop notification systems (CIS).

•Work with Road Operations Supervisors Traffic ispatchers to convert repetitive detours through acquisition of further information into formal notices for staff and public use; report to Manager of Special Services / Events and Detours so that contractors and special event organi ers can be identified, contacted and corrected.

Job requirements include: •High School Diploma or GED. •Minimum of three (3) years’ experience as a Bus or Light Rail Vehicle Operator; or two (2) years experience in one of the following positions within Bus or Road Operations: Bus Route Foreman; Bus nstructor Traffic ispatcher * Willingness and ability to respond to 24-hour emergency calls. * Effective and professional communication (especially excellent writing) skills. * Thorough knowledge of Port Authority service area. * Thorough knowledge of Southwestern Pennsylvania highway, road and street networks. * Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows. * Customer focused. * Valid Commercial Driver’s Class B License with a “P” passenger endorsement. * This is a Safety Sensitive position subject to all testing provisions under the Drug and Alcohol Policy, including random drug and alcohol testing. The person selected for this position may be required to be tested prior to being awarded the job.

Preferred attributes: •Associates or Bachelor’s degree in Transportation, Business Administration, Public Administration or re ated fie d from an accredited co lege or university.

•Supervisory experience.

FIRE DEPARTMENT CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION ANNOUNCEMENT

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

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

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

•Must be a United States citizen.

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

•Must have a valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License.

• Must be a high school graduate or possess a GED equivalent. ust be physica y and menta y fit to perform the essential duties of a firefighter as determined by successfully completing the physical agility test and physical examination.

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

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

Completed applications must include: •Copy of valid Driver’s License Copy of irth Certificate or appropriate proof of age •Copy of Social Security Card or proof of U.S. Citizenship or Naturalization •Copy of High School Diploma or GED •Copy of DD214 (if applicable). Veteran’s Preference will be applied to the fina score of e igib e candidates otari ed erification Form •Signed General Consent Form •Check or Money Order in the amount of $25.00 made payable to the “City of Altoona” The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of MR. MARTIN R. SAVKA, Deceased, of 2008 Carey Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Estate No. 02-19-05232 Mr. Martin E. Savka, 820 Thompson Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA 15136, Administrator, c/o Max C. Fe dman, s uire and the aw Office of a C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

Estate of ANTHONY M. SALVI, Deceased, of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania No. 02-19-05013 Jodi L. Neel and Angela M. Kilbert, Co-Administrators, 1317 Patterson Avenue, McKeesport, PA 15132 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Attorney, BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of LOUIS W. MEASSICK, Deceased, of Cannonsburg. No. 04925 of 2019. PNC Bank, 300 Fifth Avenue, FL 31, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or to James J. Bowman, McKinley Bowman & Bowman Attorneys, 429 Washington Avenue, Suite 1, Bridgeville, PA 150172350.

Estate of MR. JOHN MCALLISTER a/k/a JOHN RODGERS MCALLISTER, Deceased, of 5 6 enfie d oad, Sewick ey, A 15143 Estate No. 02-19-05378 Ms. Patricia Moyles, 5 6 enfie d oad, Sewick ey, A 15143, Administrator, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the aw Office of a C Fe dman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

Estate of ADAM M. SCHAIBLE, Deceased, of Pittsburgh, No. 04311 of 2019, Molly Hyatt, Administrator, c/o Molly Hyatt, 4030 Deer Run Drive, Knoxville, TN 37912, or Judith Anderson, Esquire, POB 17497, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.

Estate of MARY LOIS GALLAGHER, Deceased, of Pittsburgh, NO. 021904715 OF 2019. Mary Eileen Gallagher Adm. Or to c/o Jacqueline H. Brangard, Esquire, Scolieri Law Group, P.C., 1207 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS

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

TOWN OF MCCANDLESS ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT

The Stadium Authority (SA) will receive sealed bids for Elevator Space Conditioning as identified be ow for the West General Robinson Street Garage (WGRSG). The contract for this work will be with the Stadium Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to the Stadium Authority 171 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attention: Bill Williams-E-mail: bwilliams@pgh-sea. com, Telephone: 412-325-3003. Bid Packages may be obtained after the date identified be ow through Accu-Copy at (724) 935-7055. Additional information on the project can also be found of Accu-Copy’s website at https://accu-copy.com/plan-room This Advertisement applies to the following Bid Package: Project: WGRSG Bid Package Name: Elevator Space Conditioning Bid Package Available: Sept. 4, 2019 Approximate Value: $90,000 Time/Date/Location for Pre-Bid Meeting: 2:00pm, Thurs., Sept. 12, 2019, WGRSG, 668 West General Robinson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Time/Date/Location for Bid: 2:00 PM, Tues., Sept. 24, 2019, Stadium Authority, 171 10th Street, Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

ALLIES & ROSS MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and Update for the Manchester Neighborhood Rebid ARMDC RFP #2019-28-REBID The Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation (ARMDC) hereby request proposals from ua ified Firms or ndividua s capable of providing the following service(s): Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and Update for the Manchester Neighborhood The documents will be available no later than September 3, 2019 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 11:00 a.m., September 27, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested may obtain information from: Mr. Kim Detrick – Procurement Director/ Chief Contracting Officer Housing Authority o the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 2nd Floor, Suite 200 100 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116, Option 1 or by visiting the Business Opportunities section of www.hacp.org A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, 2nd Floor, Conference Room Pittsburgh, PA 15219 September 12, 2019 11:00 A.M. The Allies & Ross Management and Development Corporation strongly encourage certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

ARMDC has revised their website.

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

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

NOTICE OF INCORPORATION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a corporation is to be or has been incorporated under the Business Corporation Law of 1988, approved December 21, 1988, P.L. 1444, No. 177, effective October 1,1989, as amended.

The name of the proposed corporation is: Fourth and Howard Inc. And has been delivered to the Secretary of State for fi ing The initia registered office of the corporation is located at: 604 Karrastyn Ct. Gibsonia, PA 15044 in Allegheny County.

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Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, e efie d ntrance obby, 341 South e efie d Avenue, ittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on October 1, 2019, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Pgh. Langley K-8 Corridor Ceilings and Lights, and Classroom Ceilings and Lights (Deduct Alternate) General, Electrical and Asbestos Abatement Primes Pgh. Greenfield K-8 Replace Electrical Distribution System General and Electrical Primes Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on September 3, 2019 at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

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

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on September 30, 2019 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527), for the following: Electronic Proposal Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) B19-08-57A Automatic Trip Stop Detecting Unit Antennas - LRV B19-08-58A Environmental Sampling, Testing & reporting B19-08-60A rock Salt - Bulk No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00am September 11, 2019 at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA). Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be subject to a financia assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies a bidders that it wi affirmative y insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

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

Sealed Proposals will be received

by The Town of McCandless at the Town Hall, located at 9955 Grubbs Road, Wexford, PA 15090 until 10:00 A.M., Friday, September 20th, 2019, for: Streambank restoration and stabilization on an unnamed tributary north of Patricia Drive and west of Brittany Place. Work included consists of the removal of vegetation, sediment, and other debris within the stream channel/embankment and the installation and implementation of various stream bank stabilization products. An existing Gabion Basket Wall located on the downstream end of the project failed and needs reconstructed. A small cast in place concrete endwall is also needed.

Project stabilization includes the seeding and mulching of all disturbed areas including all those areas disturbed for access to the various work areas in and around private residential properties.

Received bids will be publicly opened and read aloud immediately thereafter.

Bids shall be delivered in a sealed envelope and clearly marked on the outside with the name and address of the Bidder, the time and date of the bid opening and the words “BRITTANY PLACE DRIVE STREAMBANK RESTORATION PROJECT”. Bids that are mailed or delivered by a commercial service shall be placed in a sealed, properly marked envelope placed within a sealed, properly marked delivery envelope.

Copies of rawings, Specifications, and idding ocuments are on fi e and open to public inspection at the office of ngineering, C, Waterfront Corporate Park III, 2000 Georgetowne Drive, Suite 101, Sewickley, PA 15143, (724) 444-1100, where sets of said documents may be obtained upon payment of $75.00 per set. Bidding Documents will be mailed upon request after receipt of payment of $100.00 per set. No refund will be made for the return of any documents.

All Bidders must submit the non-colusion affidavit with their bid or the bid will be considered void.

Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds, along with Public Liability and Property Damage Certificates of nsurance in the amounts specified, as we as Certificates of orkman s Compensation must be fi ed with the e ecuted Agreement.

Pennsylvania Prevailing Wages shall be paid on this contract.

Proposals to receive consideration must be accompanied by a Certified Check or idder s ond from a Surety Company authorized to do business in Pennsylvania, made to the order of The Town of McCandless, in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the Proposal as a guarantee.

The Owner reserves the right to award the contract, or any portion included in the project area, within ninety (90) days from the date bids were opened.

The Owner hereby reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids submitted or any part thereof or item therein. The Owner also reserves the right to waive any defects, errors, omissions, irregularities, or informalities in bids received.

BY: Mr. Robert Grimm, Town Manager Town of McCandless

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

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INVITATION FOR BIDSTRASH COLLECTION

The Washington County Housing Authority will receive sealed bids for trash collection services for public housing sites in the City of Washington, no later than 9:30 a.m. September 18, 2019 at the Washington County Housing Authority, Central Office, 100 Crumrine Tower, Franklin Street, Washington, Pennsylvania, at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Bid award (s) will be based on individual contracts per site locations for a three (3) year term effective November 1, 2019 through October 31, 2022.

Specifications and a form of bid contract may be obtained from Denise Galuppo 724-228-6060 Ext. 107 or Ext. 121, (TDD 724-2286083) at the Authority offices during normal business hours.

A cashiers check or bank draft, payable to the Washington County Housing Authority, or a satisfactory Bid Bond executed by the bidder and acceptable sureties in the amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the bid amount shall be furnished with bid.

No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) days subsequent to the opening of the bid without the consent of the Washington County Housing Authority.

The Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informality in the bidding.

In accordance to the law--Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Executive Order 11246, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, subject to the Requirements of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended,-the Washington County Housing Authority does not discriminate in job employment, federal contracts or subcontracts, or housing programs due to race, color, religion, sex, handicap/disabled, national origin, or age.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER WASHINGTON COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY STEPHEN K. HALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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A loss to Seattle this Sunday, Sept. 15, and the Steelers could be in real trouble

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their season-opener Sunday night, Sept. 8, on the road to the New England Patriots by the score of 33-3. I, and most other pundits, thought they would fall short in Foxborough, but the way that they lost is alarming. Tom Brady carved up the Steelers defense that had to use former Alliance of American Football player Kameron Kelly at free safety (for the injured Sean Davis) and rookie Devin Bush at inside linebacker. He passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns.

That was not a surprise. However, an offense that returned six players selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018 scoring only three points is an embarrassment.

The Patriots usually take the opposing team’s best weapon out of the game by mixing up coverages, but Bill Belichick had his top corner, Stephon Gilmore, cover Steelers’ top receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in manto-man the entire game. JuJu could not win his matchups on a consistent basis and as a result, fellow Steelers Donte Moncrief, James Washington, Ryan Switzer and Vance McDonald could not win theirs. Another concerning issue that came out of Sunday’s game was how the Patriots dominated in the trenches, especially in short-yardage situations. The Steelers failed to convert on third down and 1 on three separate occasions and were stopped on a fourth and 1 opportunity. The Steelers only rushed for 32 yards on 12 rushes while Ben Roethlisberger threw the ball 47 times.

It seemed like the Steelers gave up on offense

Commentary

him swap places with Bud Dupree. The Patriots had two new starters along the offensive line and Butler did not try to blitz or pull stunts.

Sunday’s loss speaks to the aura of arrogance that still exists on this team.

Even without LeVeon Bell and Antonio Brown, some of the main elements of a potentially cancerous locker room are still in that organization. Do you trust that Roethlisberger is going to keep quiet in the media the entire season?

Does Mike Tomlin fully have the reigns of the locker room with an assortment of strong-headed personalities? I think that the Steelers have systemic internal flaws due to their past organizational success. I believe that Tomlin and General Manager Kevin Colbert think that how they have gone about business is still working and the team culture is fine, but could it be that this organization is failing and the only people who have not realized that fact yet are the Steelers’ braintrust?

As for moving forward to this Sunday, Sept.

15, the Steelers, this time at home, will face another future Hall of Fame quarterback in Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks who averted an upset bid from the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. The Steelers should have the advantage—a 1 p.m. kickoff, facing an opponent traveling from the West Coast.

A win this Sunday will be key for the rest of this season as they play in a competitive AFC North. A loss this Sunday, and the Steelers could be in real trouble.

Brandon Walker and waved the white flag on the game when they went for the field goal on fourth and goal from the 1-yard line on their only scoring drive.

As for the defense, they obviously did not play their best game, but I like the young talent that the team has drafted over the past few years. The main issue of this defense is defensive coordinator Keith Butler. Butler’s inability to use players to the best of their ability and his unwillingness to make in-game adjustments on the fly was on full display on Sunday night. For example, when the Steelers were playing man coverage, the Patriots countered using pick plays and option routes to get the matchups that they wanted and Butler did not adjust until the game was out of reach. Another example was when T.J. Watt was double- and triple-teamed the entire game and Butler didn’t make any changes. An idea would be to move him around the line, or maybe have

Do the Patriots acquire ex-Steelers just to play mind games?

There was a game played between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots this past Sunday, Sept. 8. I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the Patriots manhandled the Steelers, 33-3. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said: “We were humbled.”

The Steelers’ new wide receivers corps proved to be (at least for the moment) just a bit more hype than substance.

The Steelers offense hung the Steelers out to dry for just a bit too long.

Let’s get to the meat and potatoes. During the last decade and a half, the New England Patriots have been the principals in juicy scandals known by the names of; fumble-gate, spy-gate and deflate-gate.

Patriots head Coach, Bill Belichick, unlike the originator the “gate” series, former President of the United States the late Richard Milhous Nixon, was not forced to resign as head coach of the Patriots like Nixon was. What if Nixon was only forced to pay just a fine? May-

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be Nixon should have lost the Watergate tapes like New England lost the spy-gate tapes?

Without hard evidence against him, President Nixon may have never been impeached.

The latest Patriot venture into the dark-underbelly, back-alley, smokefilled room culture of professional sports can now be labeled as “tamper-gate” or “collusion-gate.” However, if you want to unify all of the titles of the latest foray of the “cheaters from the east,” just call their current misadventure, “Antonio-gate.”

On Sept. 7, the Patriots signed wide receiver Antonio Brown, the ex-Steeler and ex-Oakland Raider almost immediately after Brown had demanded to be released and his wish was granted by the Raiders. The Steelers had traded Brown, the consummate and problematic narcissist, to

gery from happening in the near future. If a team has a prohibited team trade-to list, should a player be required to sit out a year if he is released or traded and signs with a team that is on his former team’s no-trade list?

Being placed on waivers would be the exception to the rule.

It is not too farfetched to assume that this possible conspiracy has been under construction for a while now. Could it have been Antonio Brown’s intention to wind up with the Patriots all along? If not, why isn’t Antonio Brown demanding that he be able to wear his favorite special helmet? Did Brown maybe get an inside scoop about the Patriots modus operandi from former Steelers linebacker James Harrison when he signed with the Patriots on Dec. 17, 2017, just prior to the 2017 NFL postseason?

Inside Conditions

Aubrey Bruce the Raiders in March for two future draft picks.

Will Brinson posted this on cbssports.com after the deal with New England was finalized. In an article titled, “Patriots reportedly offered first-round pick for Antonio Brown trade, AB hired consultants to ‘accelerate’ release,” Brinton also wrote the following: “New England has always wanted Brown but couldn’t get him from the Steelers, until he was released by the Raiders.”

Maybe a rule could be legislated and enacted by the NFL to prevent some of this skulldug-

When Antonio Brown was traded to the Raiders, many of the talking heads said that was a cure all because there was no way that Jon Gruden was going to be weak and accommodating enough to be an enabler of Antonio Brown’s unprovoked nonsense. Jon Gruden dealt with Brown for seven months, Mike Tomlin dealt with Brown for seven years. Who’s the stronger coach?

There are times that I have to struggle to remain objective when covering certain teams that almost always seem to be on the precipice of illegitimacy.

The New England Patriots in particular seem to use downright illegal tactics as part of their standard operating procedures. Some of these tactics allegedly include regularly disabling the opposing team’s audio communications at Gillette Stadium along with using illegal or questionable offensive formations. Popeye the sailor once said, “I yam what I yam.” I say; “it tis, what it tis.” Can you dig it?

Here We Go, Steelers…Here We Go! :10—And go we will as I stand “PAT” on both of my pre-season predictions. I thought the Steelers would beat the Patriots, and beat ‘em by a lot. Turns out, The Patriots were the ones beating the Steelers by a lot. I still believe the Steelers will win the AFC North with a 12-4 record.

Take it to the bank! :09—Speaking of things I told you, for the few of you that enjoy emotional pain, I told you not to get happy feet too soon about your Cleveland Browns. Their 43 – 13 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 8 reminds you all that you can’t build a championship team overnight. It takes time, especially in the ultimate team sport! :08—Fear not, lovers of the racquet game. Serena Williams’ U.S. Open loss to Bianca Andreescu is just another small bump in the road for the woman that will very soon be crowned Queen of the Courts and the greatest of all-time. A combination of

Overtime

Bill Neal Serena being 37 years old and a little tired (no excuse) and the teen phenomenon sneaking up on her is the better part of the story. :07—You know the great Black female comic Moms Mabley once said in her raspy, Sergeant-fury voice…“If you can’t say something ‘Good’ when someone is ‘Gone,’ then don’t say nothin.’” Well, I’ll heed her words and say this—“Antonio Brown is gone…Good!!!” :06—I mean, seriously, you really have to be working overtime to pull off what this knuckle-

head has done in a week that would take any other player an entire career to do. All I can say is you wanted him, New England…You got him. But, be careful what you wish for!!! :05—A gentle reminder to all you parents and drivers out there. School is back in and football season is on. Please be mindful and careful to watch out for and protect the children. ON ALL LEVELS! :04—And the winner was…699.

No, I am not giving you his name.

All you need to know is there was

a winner…Now shut-up about it! :03—The Pittsburgh Pirates…….Hello, anybody, anybody at all? “Bueller”…”Bueller”…“Bueller”???? :02—You know my job is to help you. So, trust me when I tell you this is a “help ya” moment. Do yourself a favor, dig up your early Isaac Hayes LPs, (play ’em if you got ‘em). I am talking about “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Walk on By,” “Never Fall-In Love Again.” Oh, you’re going to thank me, no doubt about it. (And, by the way, turn the volume way up) :01—This is a shoutout to my friends…and I do mean “my friends” in the United Rays Corvette Club. Once again you were fantastic, and I sincerely thank you (you know!!!) :00—The man actually took a magic marker and drew the hurricane into Alabama. C’mon Man! Please, everybody, vote this man out. Get ready, the time is near!

GAME OVER.

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Hurricane Dorian prompts climate change and infrastructure issues (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Hurricane Dorian has drowned the Bahamas and devastated the coasts of North and South Carolina.

There are trillions of dollars worth of damages, and communities that it will take years to rebuild. The fury of this hurricane, some say, is unprecedented, with winds measured at 130 miles per hour at their fiercest. Dozens of lives have been lost—at least 30, as of this writing, in the Bahamas, and many others here in the United States. As the winds die down, the questions rise up. Could this hurricane, and its devastation have been prevented?

What role does climate change play in the destruction this hurricane has caused? Are extreme and unexpected weather patterns our new reality? What does it mean for our quality of life and our economy?

One doesn’t have to be a climate scientist to believe that climate change is affecting our weather.

But there is a large body of scientific research to prove it. The ferocity of Hurricane Dorian and the massive destruction it has left in its wake is at least partly due to climatic destabilization. This is why 195 nations signed the Paris Accord, the 2016 agreement to contain greenhouse gas emissions.

Many applauded President Barack Obama’s support of this accord. We have been dismayed that the cur-

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary rent “President” has indicated his intent to withdraw from the agreement, and has already supported public policy to undermine it.

The willingness of US leaders to ignore the scourge of climate change is challenging. It is also challenging to watch democratic presidential candidates flail around the issue, as they did in the recent CNN debates. To be sure, there was great rhetoric and good ideas, but from my perspective, no robust approach to better managing our environment.

Hurricane Dorian reminds us of the urgency of dealing with climate change policy. It also reminds us of the underinvestment our nation has made to our infrastructure.

Better infrastructure would mitigate some of the destruction of this hurricane, and our 45th President promised to address infrastructure.

He has not. It’s a bipartisan challenge since whether you are a Democrat or Republican, you ride on our nation’s highways and drive across vulnerable bridges. The American Society of Civil Engineers (asce. org) rates our infrastructure a D+, hardly a passing grade. It points to deficiencies on everything from our bridges and roads to our water supply, and daily headlines suggest their D+ grade may be generous.

Flint, Michigan has yet again made national news headlines after its water supply has been again polluted. It is easy to focus on Flint, but too many other municipalities also have water challenges, and the public health effects in Flint reverberate all over the country. We have long known of the adverse effects of lead paint on children, yet too many of our schools still are riddled with lead paint. And the beat goes on. The worst thing is that little has improved between 2013 and 2017 when the last report was released. The “President” knows it, but doesn’t care to use his political capital to spark a bipartisan agreement, but instead prefers to keep up the combative mess around immigration and jingoism.

Congress is just back from its six-week break. Perhaps they will approach our challenges with renewed enthusiasm. From my perspective, the three top things they must deal with are gun control, infrastructure, and climate change.

These need to be bipartisan issues, issues that the majority of the population will be positively impacted by. But the rudderless, leaderless Oval Office prefers to engage in a rhetorical sideshow that diverts from the flailing economy (even with low unemployment rates), the white supremacist gun crisis, and infrastructure ineffectuality.

Hurricane Dorian reminds us that legislative malfeasance is unacceptable. To ignore climate change, infrastructure, and gun control is to ignore the issues that are critical to the lives of our nation’s citizens. I’m not surprised that 45 ignores these issues, but what about the Congress, including those who represent areas that Dorian devastated?

(Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist.)

FORUM

Trump and the weather (NNPA)—Each week I swear that I will write Bill Fletcher Jr. something other than about Donald Trump. I cannot keep to that promise consistently, particularly when certain events unfold. This week is a prime example.

The Washington Post published a story on September 8th that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration backed Trump over its own scientists when Trump—incorrectly— stated and restated that Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama. Worse, the NOAA allegedly insisted that its staff stand by the President regardless of the inaccuracies he articulated.

This all happened after the National Weather Service contradicted Trump.

The evolution of this story started as near comedy. Trump, not known as a meteorologist, informed the public that Hurricane Dorian would be hitting the state of Alabama, among other places. Even when it was clear that this would not happen, he and his clique stood firm.

Thus, what began as a simple error, became an international embarrassment. But now it is much more.

There have been repeated stories of the repression of science under this administration.

Scientists have been informed not to use this word or that word. The suppression of scientific exploration and publication of new research on climate change. This is all being done under the cover of night. But now we have a sto-

Commentary

ry where it is quite public that this administration not only wants to dictate reality, but it wishes to suppress those who contradict them, irrespective of the truth.

The obvious question is where does this end?

There is no outcry from Republicans in Congress about this. I found myself thinking about what a scenario might have looked like had then President Obama told the NOAA that it was to support misinformation that he provided. Well, I think that you know what would have happened. But in the current situation, such idiocy is being tolerated by those in Congress.

This is not a situation to take lightly. There is no Grand Canyon between the suppression of science and the suppression of other ideas. If you happen to live in a district represented by Republicans, you might want to ask them why they don’t speak up.

In the meantime, just a reminder of what is at stake in 2020. A president who wishes to suppress reality is a president who will stop at nothing to get their own way. It reminds me of an episode starring Billy Mumy from the original Twilight Zone (https://www.imdb.com/ title/tt0734580/) but we’ll save that for another column…

(Bill Fletcher Jr. is the former president of TransAfrica Forum and the executive editor of www.globalafricanworker.com.)

Homicide is illegal and death is a penalty During my youth, I was inhumane. We don’t exopposed to capital punish- J. Pharoah Doss ecute them because we ment for two reasons. 1. don’t stoop, as a society, Blacks were 13 percent of to the level of committing the population, but a third a crime we abhor. We igof all executions. 2. People nore them and exacerbate who murdered Whites got their misery by reminding the death penalty more ofthem that they have no ten than people that murhope of release. The death dered Blacks. penalty is inhumane and One day a man wantshould be abolished.” ed to know my argument Once again this sounds against capital punishment if it wasn’t dis- logical and moral, but it’s not. criminatory. I didn’t understand. The man The columnist stated the death penalty rephrased and asked, would I support capital should be abolished because it’s inhumane, but punishment if it was applied equally. I said no. prefers a punishment for racist murderers that Again, he asked for my argument. Basically, he is both humane and inhumane. The columnist wanted to know why I thought the state had no wants society to remain humane by not comright to enforce its law and execute. mitting the same crime as the murderer. But But I couldn’t advance my argument beyond the death penalty is not a crime, it’s a legal systemic racism. execution for an illegal killing. The columnist I discovered I was opposed to systemic racism doesn’t make the distinction because another and capital punishment was a representation goal of social justice is to rehabilitate the sysof it. That allowed me to view Black death tem. The columnist also stated racist murderrow inmates as victims of racial injustice and ers deserve life in prison because it’s a “torture” ignore their actual victims. I realized I priori- beyond death. That argument actually makes tized social justice (ending systemic racism at life in prison inhumane and the death penalty all costs) over criminal justice (the punishment an act of mercy. should be proportional to the crime).

Recently, a Newsweek headline said: Tree of My arguments sounded logical and moral, Life congregations oppose death penalty for but they were weak and callous.

Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooter. A RabA couple months ago White supremacist John bi told the AP that the death penalty was an William King was executed for the murder of a “outmoded kind of punishment, like slavery, it Black man, James Byrd Jr., in Jasper, Texas in belongs to a different time and another place.”

1998. (King and two White supremacists beat In other words, our society is too advanced for Byrd, chained his ankles, attached the chain such barbarism. Then he said, “I can’t think of to the back of their pickup truck, and dragged any worse punishment for a criminal than to Byrd down the road for three miles. Byrd’s spend the rest of his life in a maximum-security right arm and head were severed.) A Black prison without parole.” Once again this sounds columnist wrote an opinion piece called: James good, but it’s not a good argument. First, slavByrd’s Killer didn’t deserve the death penalty. ery was outmoded by machinery. Life in prison So, what did the killer deserve? doesn’t make capital punishment outmoded.

The columnist wrote, “I happen to think there Life in prison is just an alternative. Second, are worse things that can happen to you than the Rabbi surrenders the moral high ground death…Death is salvation for him. Imagine by advocating for a worse punishment instead being relatively healthy with nothing to look of a punishment proportional to the crime. forward to? Just sitting there, in jail, surroundNow, I’m not advocating for capital punished by Black people your White supremacist self ment. I’m advocating for better arguments purports to hate. That might be torture worse against it.

(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New Pittsthan death…I would prefer a punishment for racist murderers that is both humane and burgh Courier.)

Check It Out

Letters To The Editor

African American inclusion is a priority Editor: I was recently quoted in a feature in the New Pittsburgh Courier about a new key member of our leadership team at the Allegheny Conference—“Mark A. Thomas ‘plans to be a champion for the region’ as president of Pittsburgh Regional Alliance.” Unfortunately, the article doesn’t provide the full context of my remarks regarding one of our regional diversity challenges. As such, I understand that my comments were offensive to some, and for that I’m very sorry.

The Allegheny Conference, under my leadership, has made African American inclusion a priority. We have devoted new resources, hired a Director of Diversity & Inclusion, established a board committee, and made progress on a

robust set of initiatives tackling the issues that were brought to us by listening to African American elected officials and community members. Understanding and addressing the complexity of our region’s inclusion challenges is a priority for me and the Conference.

I remain committed to being a champion, a partner and a friend as together we drive to create a next generation economy for all in the Pittsburgh region. I hope you can accept my apology and continue to help me deliver on our ambitious commitments.

Stefani Pashman CEO Allegheny Conference on Community Development Pittsburgh, Pa.

Done with the NFL

Dear Editor: Its ironic that one pro athlete can disrupt two teams with childish behavior on and off the field, be indignant to coaches and officials, and not spend one day unemployed. While another pro athlete is ostracized because he kneeled in protest of the treatment of his people in this so called United States Of America. He refused to pledge allegiance to a lie.

We turn a blind eye to this disrespect which points out our lack of power and unity. We may grumble but still tolerate this obvious racial indignity.

Gil Scott Heron said, “Whatever happened to the protest and the rage...” For me, I’m done with the NFL. Robert G. Holt Pittsburgh, Pa.

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

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019 B7

Raynard Jackson

Commentary

Liberals keep gunning for our freedoms As I constantly say, one of the central tenants of liberalism is “intent,” not results.

It goes a little something like this: “We created welfare in the sixties to help women with children, even though it mandated the removal of the father from the home. We didn’t know it would destroy the Black family. We wanted to help poor, Black babies.”

Liberals were very well aware that removing the father from the home would be the death nail of the Black community.

Similarly, after every mass gun shooting, liberals begin the drumbeat for “gun control.” They never define what gun control is or means; they simply want to restrict American’s ability to own guns.

The big push in this regard now is more expansive background checks on would be gun owners. You might be thinking what’s wrong with that? This seems to be a reasonable response to another mass shooting.

Ah, my friend, you have just fell into the liberal trap!

Remember, with liberalism, success is measured by “intent,” not by results. This view is central to every liberal policy coming out of the Democrat Party.

Every NFL coach is judged by how many wins and loses he gets during the season. No coach intends to lose a game. According to liberalism, every team should be invited to the playoffs simply because they participated in the game; thus, the proliferation of “participation trophies” in sports for kids.

Even liberals admit more background checks would not have prevented one of the recent mass shootings.

In the immortal words of soul singer, Michael McDonald of the famed Doobie Brothers, “What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away; because what seems to be is always better than nothing at all.”

So, after every mass shooting, the liberal’s predictable response is for more gun control, NOW. As though criminals are going to obtain their weapons through legal means. Guns are really not the issue.

It’s something a lot more fundamental.

We have allowed liberals to destroy the family unit, redefine the family unit, and finally marginalize the family unit.

Liberals destroyed the Black family in the sixties, not thinking that it would spill over into the white community and devastate them as well.

Then liberals came up with the ignorant notion that Johnny can have two daddies and Susie can have two mommies; neither of which is biologically possible.

And finally, liberals have convinced a lot of women that they don’t even need men or a family unit to have and raise children; simply get the man’s sperm without any relationship or commitment.

Do you think it is a mere coincidence that most of the perpetrators of mass shootings come from fatherless homes or homes where fathers were disengaged?

I hope conservatives will stand on their principles and not cave into the emotions that liberals will bring to this debate. Any time you legislate in a cloud of emotion, you will produce horrible legislation. It never fails.

People who are set on violence will always find a way to inflict their pain on society. Guns are outlawed in Japan; but most of their mass killings are done with regular knives. But there is no mass cry to ban knives in Japan.

Feminism from the sixties is the radical embodiment of this modern-day push to totally eradicate male influence from within our society, especially when it comes to their role in parenting.

According to this feminist liberalism, there is absolutely no differences between the sexes: physical, mental, or emotional. Girls should be able to join the Boy Scouts, girls should be able to play in the N.F.L., and girls should be able to serve on the front lines of a war.

So, as opposed to dealing with the root cause of mass shootings, the total decimation of the traditional family unit; liberals would much rather deal with issues that make the public “feel” like the Democrats are doing something to make them safer.

I guess what seems to be is always better than nothing at all.

(Raynard Jackson is a Pulitzer Award nominated columnist and founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF).

B8

SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The Sto-Rox Vikings are on the rise

THE STO-ROX VIKINGS storm onto the field prior to the start of their game against Union, Sept. 6. (Photos by Courier photographer Will McBride)

They’re undefeated, with a new home field and a high-flying offensive attack

by Smokin’ Jim Frazier For New Pittsburgh Courier

“The Greatest Show On Turf” was a nickname for the high-flying, record-breaking offense of the St. Louis Rams during the 1999, 2000 and 2001 NFL seasons, one of which culminating in a Super Bowl win.

The high-scoring Sto-Rox Vikings certainly qualifies for this nickname.

The Vikings led the WPIAL last year by averaging 41 points a game, but that was on a slow, natural grass home field.

To the surprise of some, the decision to replace the grass at Sto-Rox’s Memorial Stadium with artificial turf was met with little resistance.

With the help of the community, a group of alumni and the Pittsburgh Steelers, enough money was raised for the brand new synthetic playing surface.

The total cost of the new field was $720,000, raised

SMOKIN’ JIM FRAZIER ON HIGH SHOOOL FOOTBALL in about three years. What took the fundraising over the top was a $250,000 grant provided to the StoRox School District by the Steelers, approved in late February. The state of Pennsylvania also pitched in with $100,000 towards the new field, which hadn’t been resurfaced in more than 40 years.

“It’s more than just a field,” second-year Vikings head coach LaRoi Johnson told the New Pittsburgh

Courier. “It’s more than just some lines and some numbers on it. I think it represents hope to the community and where this community plans on going.”

Johnson was a former football and basketball star at Peabody High School and California University of Pennsylvania. A 2003 Peabody graduate, he had an eight-year professional football career in the Indoor/ Arena League. He is considered an offensive genius and a quarterback guru.

Prior to being named head coach at Sto-Rox on Feb. 22, 2018, Johnson was the impressive offensive coordinator at Imani Christian Academy in East Hills.

Johnson has coached and developed five different quarterbacks that all passed for over 2,000 yards in a single season: Akill Young, University Prep (2012); Ronald Brown, University Prep (2013-2014); Shawn Rutherford, University Prep (2015); Tawan Wesley Imani, Christian Academy (2017); Eric Wilson, Sto-Rox (2018).

To develop a team, Johnson says he relies on good assistant coaches, parents, community and a deep network that includes former Steeler and Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes.

“We brought Santonio in and he understands where the kids are coming from.

He speaks the language.

He can explain it in a way that’s advantageous for the kids,” Johnson said. “When you coach, it’s about trying to get guys opportunities and I say it all the time.

They don’t pay me to coach because coaching is easy; they pay me to get guys into college and that’s my number one goal.”

While recent history hasn’t been as successful, the Sto-Rox program has produced plenty of talented quarterbacks over the years, such as Chuck Fusina (Penn State); Jody Dickerson (Michigan State); Adam DiMichael (Temple); Paul Jones (Penn State);

and Lenny Williams (Temple).

Wilson was the first quarterback in WPIAL history to pass for more than 3,000 yards in the regular season when he threw for 3,003 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2018. He has as much potential as any player in the WPIAL. The senior quarterback earned a bevy of preseason acclaim.

“Coach Fran (LaRoi Johnson) came in last year and he built the foundation. He changed the culture around and got us to really believing in ourselves and got us to believe in his system,” Wilson told the Courier. “I took on the role to lead my team and now that we got it going in the right direction, so now there’s no excuses to go and win the WPIAL championship and the state championship.”

Amahd Pack has not been recruited heavily by major colleges, but you’ll have trouble finding a better high school player in the WPIAL. Despite being double-teamed frequently, he still caught 59 passes for 1,352 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. He and Wilson, the Sto-Rox quarterback, make for one of the best pass-catch combinations in the WPIAL. “I’m hoping to go to college, a good college and I have worked on getting bigger and faster,” Pack said.

“My mom has always been there for me. She don’t let me slack and makes sure I get up and go to practice.”

It’s only been three games so far this year, but Pack is emerging as a possible star on the Vikings football squad.

Heck, the entire Vikings team is on the rise. Sto-Rox finished the 2017 season at 3-8, and averaging 17 points per game, to Johnson’s arrival as head coach last season and boosting the team’s record to 6-4 and a WPIAL-best 41 points per contest. Thus far in 2019, the Vikings are undefeated (3-0), defeating South Side Beaver (32-21), Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (34-

6), and Union (43-8) in its most recent contest, Friday, Sept. 6.

Sto-Rox will play at Cornell this Friday, Sept. 13, then host Chartiers-Houston on Sept. 20. Their remaining opponents are Northgate, Rochester, Bishop Canevin, Laurel and Imani Christian on StoRox’s new home turf, Oct. 25.

Sto-Rox’s plethora of speedy returning players and early season success has the community thinking championship. Their seniors know too well how

difficult it is to make the playoffs and how challenging it is to stay there. “The change was different from last year to this year,” said up-and-coming player and senior Jaidon Berry. “New coach, new playbook, couple new players. But during the offseason, we got together and got some chemistry and took it a long way, we expect to be good this year.”

A dream WPIAL Class 1A championship matchup would be Sto-Rox vs. historic powerhouse Clairton.

Now that would be the “Greatest Show On Turf.”

DIONTAE GIVENS eludes would-be tacklers, as his Sto-Rox Vikings defeated Union, 43-8, Sept. 6.

THE STO-ROX CHEERLEADERS

AMAHD PACK is one of the standout players for Sto-Rox.

HEAD COACH LAROI JOHNSON

QUARTERBACK ERIC WILSON