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Bobbi Kristina Brown, dead at 22 City police VOL. 106, NO. 30
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JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
by Jonathan Landrum Jr. Associated Press Writer
DULUTH, Ga. (AP)—The brief, chaotic life of Bobbi Kristina Brown was never really her own. Born and raised in the shadow of fame and litigation, shattered by the loss of her mother, Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina Brown was overwhelmed by the achievements and demons of others before she could begin to figure out who she was. Her demise was the most awful inheritance of all.
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER—In this Feb. 12, 2011, file photo, singer Whitney Houston, left, and daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown arrive at an event in Beverly Hills, Calif. Brown, who was in hospice after months of receiving medical care, died on Sunday, July 26. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, File)
Bobbi Kristina Brown died on Sunday, July 26 at Peachtree Christian Hospice in Duluth, Ga., about six months after she was found face-down and unresponsive in a bathtub in the suburban Atlanta townhome she shared with Nick Gordon, the man she called her husband. She was 22years-old. “Bobbi Kristina Brown passed away July, 26 2015, surrounded by her family. She is finally at peace in the arms of God. We want to again thank everyone for their tremendous amount of love and support during these last few months,” Kristen Foster, a representative for the Houston family said July 26. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s SEE BOBBI A5
Is East End renewal really ‘Black removal?’
Courier Staff Writer
When the chief of police and the head of the police union actually agree on something, it’s probably news. They agree there is a looming staffing problem that could cost the city half its police personnel—it’s probably bad news. Speaking during city council post-agenda meeting two weeks ago, both Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1 President Howard McQuillan said the bureau should move to a continuous recruitment system to address the loss of retiring personnel.
Fatal barbershop shooting leaves intent unknown
Courier Staff Writer
SEE EAST A4
by Christian Morrow
SEE STAFFING A4
by Christian Morrow When the lower Hill was demolished to make way for a new urban center—but resulted in only the Civic Arena being built— thousands of Black residents were displaced. Not long afterwards, the city tried to turn East Liberty into an outdoor mall by creating Penn Circle, and destroyed what used to be called “little downtown.” Now, redevelopment is sweeping Pittsburgh’s East End, and private property owners who lived through the severe downturn of the last 40 years are seeking a return on their investments, either by selling to developers or by redeveloping properties themselves. But for renters, the 1960s axiom that “urban renewal means Negro removal” appears to be in play. The most visible example of this was highlighted two weeks ago when the owners of the Penn Plaza Apartments told remaining residents they had 90 days to leave because the property would be redeveloped. City, county and state political leaders convinced the Gumberg family, which owns the 7-acre property, to delay the eviction 60 days. But even if the owners modify their mixeduse, office, retail and residential redevelopment plan to include apartments for working class families, that will not entirely address the issue of re-gentrification in East Liberty because those who are not moved out by demolition can still be moved out by price. Much of the current development in East Liberty involves either vacant former office buildings or brand new construction. Walnut
staffing issue looms large
BUILDING A NEW LARIMER TOGETHER—Back row, from left: Keith B. Key, Ed Gainey and Emmitt Miles along with Brian Hudson and Nate Bowe, front row, are all smiles following the Larimer Pointe ribbon cutting. (Photo courtesy of Ed Gainey)
Police seek gunman by Ashley Johnson
Community celebrates Larimer Pointe opening by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer
Even as talk swirled about the possible loss of reasonably priced rental housing in East Liberty, state and local officials joined residents of nearby Larimer to celebrate the ribbon cutting for phase 1 of Larimer Pointe—a $13.4 million development built by KBK Enterprises comprised of 40 townhomes, all of them affordable. “This is what I’m talking about,” said state Rep. Ed Gainey, D-East Liberty. “We need more affordable housing, not less.
Courier Staff Writer
Tying in with the Larimer School senior housing project, this can be a catalyst for the entire neighborhood.” The development, which runs along Meadow Street and Larimer Avenue, occupies 3.6 acres and, with the added green space, aligns with the goals of the Larimer Vision Plan to create a green community and re-establish a “front porch culture.” Developer Keith B. Key said he was proud to have been asked to take on the
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are asking for the community’s help in the search of the gunman who entered a MarshallShadeland barbershop and fatally shot its owner on July 25. According to a release, 45-year-old Lamar Thomas, of Pittsburgh, was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head in his barbershop, L-S Connection Barber & Braids, in the 2600 block of Stayton Street in Marshall-Shadeland. Officers who were responding to a call of shots fired found Thomas shortly before 6 p.m. Thomas, a husband, father and grandfather, had just opened the establishment approximately two months earlier. While it appears that nothing had been taken, possibly ruling out a burglary, Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Sonya Toler said the intent of the actor or actors is still unknown.
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DHS gives food, the gift of reading by Ashley Johnson Courier Staff Writer
PICK A BOOK—Jace Bell and A’zeria Bates selecting books at the Rankin Christian Center on July 14. The books were collected through a Book Drive hosted by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. (Photo by Matthew Kruth)
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For several weeks now throughout the summer, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services has been providing children with free breakfast, lunch and recreational programming through its SummerFood Program. Now, with the help of community partners, those same children are being given the gift of reading. Earlier this month, the county DHS began distributing new and gently used books that were collected during its first ever Book Drive to some of the children at its
more than 80 SummerFood Program sites throughout the county. Thus far, children from 40 of its 82 sites have received books. “We are thankful to all those who helped in the donation of more than 4,500 books which were delivered to select SummerFood program sites,” said Marc Cherna, county DHS director, in a press release. “Every child should have a book they can call their own, and this drive helps in that effort.” Lynda Black, manager of the SummerFood Program, echoed Cherna’s sentiments and said, “I SEE DHS A4
Julianne Malveaux says
For centuries, Black lives did not matter Opinion A6
In Kenya, Obama blends blunt messages with warm reflections
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JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
by Darlene Superville and Julie Pace Associated Press Writers
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)— President Barack Obama nudged African nations Saturday to treat gays and lesbians equally under the law, a position that remains unpopular through much of the continent. Obama’s Kenyan counterpart responded by calling the matter a “non-issue” for his country. Obama tackled the sensitive matter on his first full day in Kenya, the country of his father’s birth. He drew on his own background as an African-American, noting the slavery and segregation of the U.S. past and saying he is “painfully aware of the history when people are treated differently under the law.” “That’s the path whereby freedoms begin to erode and bad things happen,” Obama added during a joint news conference with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. “When a government gets in the habit of treating people differently, those habits can spread.” Kenyatta was unmoved, saying gay rights “is not really an issue on the foremost mind of Kenyans. And that is a fact.” A number of Kenyan politicians and religious leaders had warned Obama in outspoken terms that any overtures on gay rights would not be welcomed in Kenya, where gay sex is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The Kenyan gay community also complains of sometimes violent harassment. Obama’s visit to Kenya — the first by a sitting U.S. president — has been long sought by this East African country where he is widely considered a son of the nation. Acknowledging that some Kenyans have been frustrated that it took him until the seventh year of his presidency to visit, Obama joked that he didn’t want the rest of Africa to think he was “playing favorites.” He will also visit Ethiopia on this trip. Still, he noted the U.S. had concerns about violence that erupted in Kenya after its 2007 election. Kenyatta faced charges related to that violence in the International Criminal Court, though those charges were
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HOMECOMING—President Barack Obama, left, and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta arrive for a news conference at State House, on Saturday, July 25, in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) later dropped. Deputy President William Ruto, however, still faces charges at the ICC. Obama said he was encouraged by statements Kenyatta has made about the need to root out corruption in the country, saying that’s one issue that could slow down Kenya’s economic growth and development. Much of Obama’s discussions with Kenyatta centered on counterterrorism cooperation. Kenya has been grappling with deadly attacks from extremists, most notably Somaliabased al-Shabab, a network linked to al-Qaida. Al-Shabab has conducted major attacks in Kenya, including the 2013 attack on Nairobi’s Westgate mall and an April attack in Garissa that killed nearly 150 people. “This is an existential fight for us,” Kenyatta said. The two leaders opened their day-long meetings with a joint appearance at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, a U.S.-sponsored business conference. Obama announced $1 billion in commitments from the U.S. government, as well as American banks, foundations and philanthropists. “Africa is on the move,” Obama declared. Obama’s election in 2008 was cheered in Africa, not just because of his family ties, but also because there was an expectation that he would devote significant attention to the continent. Those high hopes have been met with some disappointment, given that Obama’s foreign policy has instead
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focused heavily on boosting ties with Asia and dealing with conflict in the Middle East. The White House rejects that criticism, noting that Obama is making his fourth trip to Africa, more than any previous president. Officials are particularly sensitive to criticism that Obama’s Africa policies pale in comparison to his predecessor, George W. Bush, who launched a multi-billion dollar HIV/AIDS initiative. On Saturday, Obama said many of his African initiatives, including a program to vastly increase access to power, were intended to be years-long efforts. And he credited Bush’s health programs with saving millions of lives. “This isn’t a beauty contest between presidents,” he said. In addition to his official agenda, Obama’s visit to Kenya has been a reunion of sorts with his late father’s family. Shortly after arriving in Nairobi Friday night, Obama held a private dinner with three dozen family members, including his halfsister Auma Obama and step-grandmother Sarah Obama. “The people of Kenya will be familiar with the need to manage family politics sometimes,” he said. “There are cousins and uncles and aunties that show up that you didn’t know existed.” The president has written emotionally about his first visit to Kenya nearly 30 years ago, a trip aimed at learning about the father he barely knew. Obama’s father traveled to the U.S. as a student, but left when his son was 2 years old. They would only see each other once more before the elder Obama died in a car crash in 1982. Unlike on his original trip as a private citizen, security and logistical constraints prevented Obama from traveling to Kogelo, the rural village where his father lived and is buried. The president begged for forgiveness from his family and promised he would be back. “The next time I’m back, I may not be wearing a suit,” he added.
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For the Week of July 29-August 1 July 29 1870—Pioneering boxer George Dixon is born in Nova Scotia, Canada. Little is known today but Dixon had an absolutely amazing boxing career. He pioneered much of modern boxing including training techniques such as the suspended punching bag and shadow boxing. He was the first Black person to win a world boxing title. Dixon was known as “Little Chocolate” because he stood only 5’3” tall and weighed around 90 pounds. Despite his diminutive size he won 78 fights—30 by knock out. He was known for his lightning fast speed. Dixon died in New York in 1909. He is buried in Boston, Mass. July 30 1863—President Abraham Lincoln issues his famous “eye-for-an-eye” order. The order was basically a threat aimed at stopping the Confederate practice of killing GEORGE DIXON captured Black soldiers instead of imprisoning them. Lincoln threatened to kill one captured rebel soldier for every Black soldier killed by the Confederates. In addition, he pledged to condemn one captured rebel soldier to life in prison at hard labor for every captured Black soldier sold into slavery by the rebelling Southerners. The order did not stop the Confederate practice of killing captured Black soldiers, but it did have a restraining effect. 1945—Activist minister Adam Clayton Powell Jr. is elected to Congress from Harlem, N.Y., becoming one of only two Blacks in Congress. The other was William Dawson of Chicago. Powell, however, would become the first truly powerful Black political figure on Capitol Hill. By 1961, he headed the influential Education and Labor Committee in the House of Representatives. Powell would steer over 50 pieces of legislation through Congress. He also passed legislation making lynching a federal crime and bills to desegregate public schools and the military. In addition, he almost single handedly stopped Southern Congressmen from using the word “Nigger” during sessions of Congress. Despite his political influence, Powell constantly maintained that “Mass action is the most powerful force on ADAM CLAYTON POWELL JR. earth.” He died on April 4, 1972. July 31 1874—Father Patrick Francis Healy becomes the first Black president of a major White university when he is inaugurated on this day as president of Georgetown University. Healy was also the first African-American to earn a PhD. However, racial prejudice forced him to earn his degree in Europe not the United States. Healy was born in Macon, Ga., in 1834 to a Black slave woman and a White plantation owner who decided to acknowledge his five bi-racial children. They were all sent north to be educated. Although some felt he could have passed for White, Healy openly acknowledged his African ancestry. Healy died in 1910. 1960—Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad calls for an all-Black state in America during a speech in New York City. Muhammad was a fearless critic of American discrimination against and the mistreatment of Blacks and he also advocated independent, Black owned businesses, institutions and religion. 1961—Actor Lawrence Fishburn Jr. is born on this day in Augusta, Ga. He began his acting career at the age of 10. August 1 1619—This is possibly the day that the history of Blacks in America begins. However, no one knows for sure the exact day that the ship arrived in Jamestown, Va., carrying at least 20 Africans who were sold as indentured servants. There is some authority that the ship arrived in late August. All that appears certain is that the month was August and the year was 1619— the beginning of Black history in America. ELIJAH MUHAMMAD 1834—Slavery is officially abolished in all British territories. It would take another 31 years and a Civil War before it was abolished in America. 1920—The national convention of Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association begins at Liberty Hall in Harlem, N.Y. The next night Garvey addresses over 25,000 Blacks at Madison Square Garden. This period represented the height of the Garvey movement and the Black nationalism (non-integration with Whites) tendency within Black America. Garvey built the largest Black mass movement in history advocating Black pride, independent Black businesses and institutions as well as a strong and united Africa. He also brought motivation and showmanship unlike that of any other Black organization before or since. August 2 1924—A man who would grow up to become one of the most prolific and complex Black writers of the 20th Century is born on this day in New York City. James A. Baldwin was a novelist, short story writer and poet. His works frequently had racial and sexual themes. In addition, he penned powerful essays on the Civil Rights Movement. Baldwin’s homosexuality is believed by many to have been a result of being raised by a “hard and often brutal father” and a submissive mother. Among his best known works are “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Giovanni’s Room,” and “The Fire Next Time.” In that last book, he predicted major upheavals in America if proJAMES A. BALDWIN found efforts were not taken to resolve the nation’s racial problems. He wrote, “If we do not now dare everything, the fulfillment of that prophecy, recreated from the Bible in song by a slave, is upon us. God gave Noah the Rainbow sign, no more water, the fire next time.” Baldwin died in France on Nov. 30, 1987. 1966—The Charles R. Drew Post Graduate Medical School (now Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science) is chartered in Los Angeles, Calif. The school was named in honor of the foremost Black doctor and research scientist of the first half of the 20th Century. Drew did pioneering work in blood transfusions and in the development of blood plasma. Drew’s life was cut short on April 1, 1950 as a result of an automobile accident in North Carolina. 1980—Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns wins the WBA welterweight title. It was one of the titles he won in five different weight classes. Hearns was the first Black boxer to achieve that feat. August 3 1928—The Atlanta Daily World begins publication as the first Black daily newspaper in modern times. It was founded by William A. Scott III. Amazingly, the first Black daily newspaper in history—the New Orleans Tribune—was founded one year before the end of slavery in 1864. August 4 1901—Legendary Jazz trumpeter Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong is born in New Orleans, La. Abandoned by his desperately poor parents, he was for a while a ward of the state. But by 1922, he followed the migration of Blacks to the North and ended up in Chicago where his Jazz skills really began to develop. ArmTHOMAS HEARNS strong was frequently criticized for trying too hard to please his White audiences. Song stylist Billie Holliday once said of him, “Sure Satchmo toms but he toms from the heart.” Nevertheless, he would later become a major financial backer of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. In addition in 1957, he backed out of a State Department sponsored tour of the then Soviet Union declaring, “The way they are treating my people in the South, the government can go to hell!” Armstrong would die on July 6, 1971. 1931—Pioneering physician Dr. Daniel Hale Williams dies. The Pennsylvania born Williams was a principle founder of Chicago’s Provident Hospital and helped train many of the nation’s early Black doctors and nurses. But he is probably best known for performing America’s first successful open heart surgery. His patient—a young Black man named James Cornish— would live for another 20 years after the surgery. 1964—The bodies of three civil rights workers are found on a farm near Philadelphia, Miss. The three (one Black and two Whites) were participating in “Freedom Summer”—when thousands of people journeyed south to participate in the Civil Rights Movement and help Blacks register to vote. James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were kidnapped on June 21 and killed the same night. Eighteen White men, including several law enforcement officers were indicted for the killings but only seven were conDANIEL HALE WILLIAMS victed. One of the ringleaders, a local minister named Edgar Allen Killen, would not be found guilty until June 21, 2005 after the case had been re-opened. Ironically, Killen was found guilty of manslaughter 41 years to the day that the three civil rights workers were killed. The murders of Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner helped galvanize support for the Civil Rights Movement by turning much of the nation against the terrorist-type tactics being employed by those opposed to it. Ironically, Philadelphia, Miss., elected its first Black mayor in May 2009.
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JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
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On 50th anniversary, Medicare and Medicaid still vital by Jazelle Hunt For New Pittsburgh Courier
WASHINGTON (NNPA) —As Medicare and Medicaid turn 50 this week, the nation takes a look at the impact of two of the most significant government programs ever launched. Medicare serves roughly 52 million Americans as of 2013, about 10 percent of whom are Black. The program is part of the Social Security Act and was created to provide health insurance for seniors regardless of income or health status. Today, Medicare covers seniors, permanently disabled people of all ages, and people with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) or end-stage kidney disease. “Medicare in the African American community [has] been a lifesaver,” said Karyne Jones, president and CEO of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging. “Without it, a very large majority of Black seniors wouldn’t have any health care. As a result of … all of those institutional things that occurred, we didn’t have jobs in the ‘40s and ‘50s and even ‘60s that provided [retirement] health care programs or insurance programs. So it’s a blessing.” The wealth gap is one of the primary reasons Medicare is so instrumental for Black seniors. While most beneficiaries are White, and most have modest fixed incomes, Black beneficiaries often have little to no retirement funds compared to White people. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 95 percent of White beneficiaries had retirement savings, close to $90,000 on average. Meanwhile, the average amount
saved by the 81 percent of Black beneficiaries who had personal retirement funds was more than $10,000. Further, pensions have weakened over the last decade through state deficits and penny-pinching corporate policies. “There was a time when, if you worked for a place for a long, long time, after you retired you could still have some insurance with that company. Those days are gone,” Jones said. “You can imagine what it’s like to work all your life without coverage—as you get older, those chronic diseases start kicking in. And if you’ve not caught them early or been able to maintain them, they’re worse as you get older. And just think, you have no medical coverage, you have no health care? So your life expectancy and the dignity of your life is zero. This is a program that is crucial.” While policy analysts and politicians agree that Medicare has been one of the nation’s most effective public programs, the logistics of the program are very confusing for both beneficiaries and health care providers. There’s also the prevalent belief that the program is slowly spiraling out of control. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that the program’s $505 billion allotment was 14 percent of the last year’s federal budget. The program regularly overspends its limit, and will only get more expensive; the cost of health care rises each year, millions of Baby Boomers are retiring, and the smaller number of younger workers and payroll taxes from dwindling wages will not be enough to support the Boomers.
Medicaid—Medicare’s equivalent program for lowincome Americans—is even more contested in its 50th year. According to Samantha Artiga, policy analyst for the Kaiser Family Foundation, the racial disparities that make Black seniors reliant on Medicare are the same ones that make Medicaid so vital for Black families and individuals. She points out that Medicaid covers more than half of all Black children and Latino children, and that Black families are much less likely than Whites to have high wages or insurance through their employer. “Medicaid has really played a pivotal role in helping to fill this gap in coverage,” Artiga said. “And then also, when we’ve done focus groups or interviews with families, we really hear over and over about the raw impact Medicaid has on their lives, in terms
of providing a sense of financial security, feeling protected from high medical costs…and ability to focus on other areas of life.” Originally intended for children, pregnant women, parents on public assistance, the disabled, and impoverished seniors, the Affordable Care Act has further expanded the program to cover low-income people regardless of whether they have children. The ACA tried to require all states to cover these citizens and offered to fully fund the expansion with federal dollars, as states continued to administer the program. Instead, the Supreme Court ruled the expansion mandate unconstitutional, and made it optional for states. As it stands, 19 states have rejected the idea, including almost the entire South (except Arkansas, Kentucky, and West Virginia) the region with the highest con-
centration of Black Americans in the nation. More than half of all non-elderly Black people still without insurance as of March are Medicaid eligible under the new guidelines, but many live in non-expansion states and will likely remain uninsured because of it. “There still remains some significant gaps in coverage for low-income adults and these disproportionately impacted Black Americans,” Artiga said. “We’re seeing now, with recent data, declines in uninsured rates since implementation of the ACA, and those declines have been larger for Blacks and Hispanics relative to Whites, suggesting already a beginning of some narrowing of these coverage gaps. But they still remain more likely to be uninsured than Whites.” Lawmakers and experts assert that Medicaid and Medicare are becoming too inclusive and expensive to sus-
tain. Fraud, abuse, and waste have also become a real problem. These widespread scams charge for services that aren’t actually provided and pocket the federal funds; authorize unnecessary services, or bill necessary ones incorrectly; or administer services to someone other than the beneficiary—sometimes even after the person is deceased. The misuse consumes additional billions in taxpayer money each year. There are also concerns about insufficient access to specialty care through the program, and the alreadystrained availability of care providers particularly in rural areas. Both sides of the political aisle believe the systems need to change—progressives favor tighter security accountability on the current systems, while conservatives advocate a complete overhaul. Although the programs have both done a great deal to address health care access gaps, Artiga said that government-sponsored health coverage is not a cure-all for ending disparities. Still, the programs have achieved measurable positive outcomes over the past 50 years. “You don’t want to live in a country where you continue to see an increase of poor, unhealthy people. That drags on the entire system,” Jones said. “I can’t believe that this country still believes that your health should be only as much as you can afford. Medicare and Medicaid stand at the beginning of us at least acknowledging our own humanity. I’m hoping that not only do they expand the benefits, but that they recognize that a healthy America is a prosperous America.”
of nine people at a historic Black church in Charleston, but she warned that the act is only symbolic. “America’s long struggle with racism is far from finished,” the former secretary of state said before a mostly White audience at a Greenville technical college. Hours earlier, with a majority Black audience at a West Columbia church, she declared, “Anybody who says we don’t have more progress to make is blind.” At both stops, she added symbolism of her own, trumpeting the mantra “Black Lives Matter” that has become a rallying cry of and name for activists who organized protests in several cities amid high-profile cases of Black citizens being killed during encounters with police. “This is not just a slogan,” Clinton said. “This should
be a guiding principle.” The bold approach, which also includes previous addresses on voting rights and the criminal justice system, is a contrast to her 2008 campaign, when she didn’t talk so directly about race as she faced off against Obama, who would go on to become the nation’s first Black president. Instead, she ran as the battle-tested, experienced counter to the first-term U.S. senator from Illinois. Clinton doesn’t frame her unabashed commentary in a political context; aides repeatedly explain her strategy as “working to win every vote” and nothing more. Yet it’s clear that Clinton feels no constraints, as perhaps she did eight years ago. It’s also no surprise that she prominently features the strategy in South Carolina. African Americans make up about
28 percent of the population and a majority of the Democratic primary electorate, the first of the early-voting states to feature a significant bloc of Black voters. Obama trounced Clinton here in 2008, 56 percent to 27 percent, as many Black voters flocked to his candidacy once he demonstrated White support in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. That leaves Clinton to reverse a bitter primary defeat, while using South Carolina as a test run for a potential general election in which she would need strong Black support to reassemble Obama’s coalition in states like Virginia, Florida and Ohio. If Clinton’s approach is born of necessity, it also comes with potential pitfalls. Last month, she angered some activists by using the phrase “all lives matter” dur-
ing a speech a few miles from Ferguson, Mo., where Michael Brown died at the hands of a White police officer. Clinton used those words as part of an anecdote about her mother, whom she said taught her that “all lives matter,” but some activists thought it demeaned the significance of the “Black Lives Matter” effort. Her Democratic rivals Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders drew similar outrage at the recent Netroots Nation convention. O’Malley, the former Maryland governor, ended up apologizing after snapping at hecklers: “Black lives matter. White lives matter. All lives matter.” Clinton also faces questions about her advocacy for tougher sentencing laws that her husband signed as president. Bill Clinton recently expressed regret
over the laws, but his wife stopped short of calling the laws a mistake. “We were facing different problems in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” she told reporters, saying crime in cities “was causing an outcry across the nation,” including in minority neighborhoods. “I think now, 20 years on, we can say some things worked and some things didn’t work,” she continued. “One of the big problems that didn’t work is that we had too many people, particularly African American men, who were being incarcerated for minor offenses.” Former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers, a Clinton supporter who supported Obama in the 2008 primary, said Clinton has little choice but to dive head-long into the matter, because both her political fortunes and the nation’s policy needs demand it.
Photo credit: Cathy Yeulet
In a change from 2008, Clinton talking often about race
by Bill Barrow
Associated Press Writer
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) —In her second bid for the presidency, Hillary Rodham Clinton is discussing “systemic racism” and making the issue a hallmark of her campaign, as she looks to connect with the Black voters who supported rival Barack Obama in 2008. At multiple stops in South Carolina last week, Clinton bemoaned “mass incarceration,” an uneven economy, increasingly segregated public schools and poisoned relations between law enforcement and the Black community. She praised South Carolina leaders, including Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, for removing the Confederate battle flag from statehouse grounds after a White gunman’s massacre
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JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
METRO
City police staffing issue looms large CONTINUED FROM A1
McQuillan was more specific with the details of the pending problem, noting bureau personnel is already down to 838 from a budgeted 892 officers. Of those, 356 are eligible for retirement, including: •214 in the operations division; •90 in the investigations division; •26 in administrative services; •14 in professional standards; and •12 in the chief’s office. Additionally, all six assistant chiefs are eligible to retire. McQuillan said the force is losing members, and even recruits, to other departments because of money. “It’s not just the possible retirements,” he said. “We had 10 people resign to take other jobs—two of them were recruits who left the academy.” The starting salary for Pittsburgh officers is $42,500. By comparison, Allegheny County police start at $51,364 and Pennsylvania state troopers start at $57, 251. “We’re significantly behind the majority,” he said. Regardless of salary issues, McQuillan agreed with McLay that the city should go to a model of continuous recruiting, which means funding a police academy large enough to train multiple classes simultaneously. After the two resigna-
tions, there are 24 recruits in the current class. The bureau lost 49 officers to retirement and resignation in the past year, and the recruits will not graduate and go on assignment until December. But the personnel problem extends to training as well. Even if the city can run multiple recruiting classes, they don’t have the training officers to do so. Field training officers come from the zone stations, which are losing personnel to retirement and resignation. Thankfully, McQuillan said, the city has budgeted to hire three more classes through 2016 and received a grant to pay part of the recruits’ salaries. “So that’s positive, but morale is still low,” he said. “We’re working all this mandatory overtime, and if salary arbitration ruling goes against us, I expect more people to leave.” If there were a mass exodus, McQuillan said he does not know what contingency plans the city may have in place. An accelerated recruitment or selection process he said, and McLay noted at a different meeting, sacrifice needed training. “This didn’t just happen, previous administrations ignored the problem for budgetary reasons. It’s been going on for years,” said McQuillan. “This administration, though, can fix it.”
Is East End renewal really ‘Black removal?’ CONTINUED FROM A1
Capital’s Bakery Square 2.0 project is continuing and will eventually result in a total of 350 apartments and more than 450,000 square feet of office space. Likewise, Mosites is building 360 apartments in three buildings in the East Liberty core. Neither of these projects is directly displacing existing residents, but with new two-bedroom units in East Liberty averaging $1,200, middle- and lower-income working people will not be able to stay in the neighborhood. A two-bedroom at Penn Plaza rents for $850. To a certain extent, the same thing is happening with Public Housing. The tower high rises that once dominated the East Liberty skyline are gone, replaced by lower-density, mixed income communities. And though a certain number of these units are required, and subsidized, for low-income residents, the remaining units are for rent at the market rate. Fewer affordable units means hundreds of people have left the community and the city for places like Wilkinsburg, Penn Hills, and further down the Mon Valley like Clairton and McKeesport. Community Empowerment Association President and CEO Rashad Byrdsong said none of this is new, and it isn’t confined to East Liberty. “It’s all over the East End, Bloomfield, Garfield and pretty soon Larimer and Homewood,” he said. “People who are trying to make ends meet, can’t. Can they afford the rent at Bakery Square? No. We’re seeing poor people being removed
for development.” Kendall Pelling, director of land recycling for East Liberty Development Inc., called Penn Plaza a disaster. “The 312 units in Penn Plaza represents almost 10 percent of the 3,341 total rentable units in East Liberty—so if it goes it’s a disaster,” he said. “Currently, 26 percent of those units are long-term affordable units, meaning they’re subsidized. So even as the market improves, those will be maintained. Another 13 percent are Section 8 vouchers in private market rentals. The private owners are the issue. The city needs to look at a strategy to preserve more affordable housing.” A meeting was scheduled July 28 to discuss development on the Mellon Orchard site—where the detectives building used to be. “We’ll be meeting on what should go there—best interests of the neighborhood, its wants and needs,” said Pelling. “We’re pushing to make affordable housing a component of that development.” State Rep. Ed Gainey, DEast Liberty was more succinct. “We’ve built high-end housing for Google, we built some affordable replacement housing and nothing in the middle,” he said. “We have enough land in Belmar, Lincoln-Lemington and Homewood to build quite a lot. The Larimer School project could be a catalyst—and it’s still close to East Liberty. “The bottom line is those people in Penn Plaza need some housing to go to, and I’m not talking about out in Never-Never Land.”
COMMUNITY EVENT—Pastors, investors, developers, politicians, neighbors and friends, all join in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the first phase of the Larimer Pointe affordable housing plan.
Community celebrates Larimer Pointe opening CONTINUED FROM A1
project. His firm was selected in 2012, he said, not only for its demonstrated capacity and skill, but also for its commitment to MWBE contractor and supplier inclusion, and for its Section 3 employment of community residents. In addition to Key and Gainey, other community leaders attending including Mayor Bill Peduto’s Chief of Staff Kevin Acklin, Pentecostal Bishop Loren Mann, Kingsley Association Executive Director Malik Bankston, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Executive Director Brian Hudson, Urban Redevelopment Authority Housing Director Tom Cummings and Housing Authority Chief Development Officer Nate Bowe.
DHS gives food, the gift of reading CONTINUED FROM A1
thought it (the Book Drive) was exciting because like I tell my children and grandchildren, ‘learn to read and read to learn.’ It’s a good idea that children get to read a lot, because they learn by reading.” She also added that the event was special because it was an opportunity to do something extra with the children besides serving food and that she hopes the drive helps more children to get involved in reading and enjoy it. The Book Drive included donations from the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Library Association, the Pajama Program Pittsburgh and Western PA Chapter, and First Book Pittsburgh at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a host of individual donors. Together, approximately 4,500 books were collected. Of the books collected, a large amount, more than 1,500, came from the Children’s Museum. Museum Marketing Director Bill Schlageter said, “This was an opportunity to reach out to hundreds of children, which for us, as a Children’s Museum, is an important thing because reading, not only from a recreational standpoint but from a learning point of view, is so
Fatal barbershop shooting CONTINUED FROM A1
“As in all crimes, it is vital that anyone with information about what transpired share the information with investigators,” Toler said. Family, friends and concerned community members gathered just one day after the shooting to make a plea for the violence to end and for witnesses to come forward to give Thomas and his family some justice. This is just one in a rash of shooting incidents that have taken place in Pittsburgh’s North Side area during the month of July; and the second in that area to be fatal. Last week, in an article on the weekend’s recent shootings, it was reported that authorities believe many of the city’s shooting incidents have been retaliatory. The New Pittsburgh Courier took to Facebook to ask its readers for their opinions on the shootings and what needs to be done to end them; many were not shy.
PARTNERS—Ed Gainey, Bishop Loran Mann and Kevin Acklin pose after joining the celebratory July 23 ribbon cutting celebration for the Larimer Pointe affordable housing development. (Photos courtesy Ed Gainey)
Caprice Scott wrote, “We used to have community centers in your neighborhoods and mentoring programs….when you have nothing to do they start acting a fool..can’t have nothing nice cause ur afraid of ruining it for others..all youth arent bad!!!” Facebook friend Marvette Law-Hancock suggested, “Where are all these illegal guns coming from? Follow the money and find out where they are being transported from.” But it was the comment of Nicole Hutchinson that received some of the most “Likes.” She wrote, “The reason why these young men are acting like fools is because they have been raised immoral. With no values, ethics or proper upbringing? Parents need to pay more attention to their children when they are younger. Because now we have a lost generation coming along without any sense. I pray for them all.” Anyone with information on the shooting death of Thomas is asked to call 9-1-1.
STORY TIME—Davon Johnson reading the book he chose during the Allegheny County Department of Human Services’ distribution of books collected during its Book Drive. (Photo by Matthew Kruth) important to the development of a child’s skills as they move through the education system and life. “I hope (the children learn) the importance of a book and how it can be an enjoyable, learning experience.” Not only was Schlageter proud of the Drive’s success at his location, but also the team effort that was put forth. According to him, a young man from Sewickley took the Drive on as a special project and collected more than 500 books alone and brought them to the museum. He also said a Museum employee collected 300 books in her own time and donated them. Schlageter said the Museum decided to get involved in the Drive for a couple of reasons. One, it was around the time that they were building their new exhibit, “Very Eric Carle,” which celebrates the work of children’s book author and illustrator Eric Carle, and they wanted to help reinforce the notion of the importance of reading;
and two, they have successfully been collecting sweaters over the holidays for needy families, and wanted to assist in making this drive a success. Plus it was just a great project to support. And the Book Drive was a success. Black said she sees the Book Drive becoming an annual event and Schlageter said he would be more than happy to partner with the DHS again. On July 14, children from the Rankin Christian Center, one of the SummerFood Program sites, were just some of those fortunate to receive the books. The Center’s Youth Program Director Erin Brennan, said the kids were so excited to receive the books and said as soon as they picked them out they began to read them or share them with their friends. “We try to strive for a well rounded education here at the Rankin Christian Center. We try to incorporate STEM activities and information literacy. We have story time, journaling and a library here that does have
books,” said Brennan. “But a lot of the kids just want to take home books or don’t have books at home or they don’t have the books they want. So just being able to bring home books and say, ‘this is mine and I can keep it and I can read it whenever I want,’ that really means a lot to them.” Thirty-seven of the 48 kids Brennan has enrolled at her site were able to receive books; they each were able to take home two or three. “We try to emphasize how important it is to get into reading and not just school reading, but to read the books you want to read,” she said. “It’s one thing to have books at the library, it’s one thing to have books at the Center, it’s an entirely different thing to say, ‘hey, here’s a free book, you can have this.’ And that’s something they can keep with them forever.” (For more information on the SummerFood Program or its locations, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/fo od.aspx.)
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 20153
METRO
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NEW LIFE AME ANNUAL PRAYER WALK —“We Need Justice Too” by New Life AME Church held tits Second Annual Prayer Walk entitled “We Need Justice Too” in Homewood July 11. Pastors, youth counselors, concerned family members and others walked the streets of Homewood praying for those they encountered and discussed community members’ concerns. Minister Charles Ragin led the march. Left photo Rev. Charles Ragin of the New Life AME Church leads his group on the Prayer Walk. Right photo from left: Amber Sloan, Rev. Charles Ragin, Malik Venson, Rev. Cornell Jones, Leonard Hammonds, Jeffrey Jenkins, and Drekir Scott pray. (Photos by Connor Mulvaney)
Houston, Brown daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown dead at 22
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Office confirmed her death Sunday night and will issue a news release on Monday. Police said she was found Jan. 31. A police report described it as a “drowning.” She was the only child between Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown. She was hospitalized for months in Atlanta, eventually being placed in hospice care after being found in a manner grimly similar to the way her megastar mother died three years earlier. Gordon said at the time it seemed Bobbi Kristina Brown wasn’t breathing and lacked a pulse before help arrived. Bobbi Kristina Brown the sole heir of her mother’s estate did have dreams. She identified herself on Twitter as “Daughter of Queen WH,” ‘’Entertainer/Actress” with William Morris & Co., and “LAST of a dying breed.” She told Oprah Winfrey shortly after her mother’s death in 2012 that she wanted to carry on her mother’s legacy by singing, acting and dancing. But her career never took off. Actor and producer Tyler Perry said she had a future as an actress after her debut on his TV show “For Better or Worse” in 2012, but she only appeared in one episode. Aside from two illfated reality TV shows and the occasional paparazzi video, her image mostly showed up in the “selfies” she posted online. She attended award shows and appeared on red carpets with her mother and father. She performed a
duet with her mother in 2009, singing “My Love Is Your Love” in New York’s Central Park. She became social media sensation, sending more than 11,000 tweets and attracting 164,000 followers. As the news of her death spread across social media, several celebrities tweeted their condolences. Grammy-winning performer Missy Elliot tweeted, “My heart is truly heavy. May u rest in peace with your mommy #BobbiKristina sending prayers 2 the Brown/Houston family.” “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson tweeted, “Rest in heaven.” “RIP #BobbiKristina My deepest sympathies 2 your father #BobbyBrown n your GrandMa #CissyHouston We will miss ya 4sho darling ;) Actress Vivica A. Fox said on Twitter. And Winfrey tweeted, “Peace at Last!” Whitney Houston, known as “America’s Sweetheart,” was an impossible act to follow. The late singer sold more than 50 million records in the United States alone during her career. Her voice, an ideal blend of power, grace and beauty, made classics out of songs like “Saving All My Love For You,” ‘’I Will Always Love You” and “The Greatest Love of All.” She earned six Grammys and starred in the films “The Bodyguard” “Waiting to Exhale” and “The Preacher’s Wife.” Bobby Brown, who had a bad-boy image, also became
a huge star, selling platinum records with New Edition and going solo before drugs and legal woes derailed his career. Bobbi Kristina Brown appeared alongside both parents in 2005 on the Bravo reality show “Being Bobby Brown,” which captured her parents fighting, swearing and appearing in court. The Hollywood Reporter said it revealed that Brown was “even more vulgar than the tabloids suggest,” and managed “to rob Houston of any last shreds of dignity.” Years earlier, as Houston was preparing to give birth to Bobbi Kristina Brown, she expressly left Bobby Brown out of her will, putting everything in a trust “for the benefit of her children and more remote descendants,” according to the Houstons’ 2012 petition. After their divorce in 2007, Houston kept custody of her daughter and raised her alongside Gordon, an orphan three years older than her daughter. Houston brought Gordon into her family, and while she never formally adopted him or included him in the will, both teenagers called her “mom.” The threesome’s tight bond was shattered when Houston’s assistant found the singer’s lifeless body face-down in a foot of water in her bathtub at the Beverly Hilton just before the Grammy Awards in 2012. Authorities found prescription drugs in the suite, and evidence of heart disease and cocaine in her body, but determined her death was
an accidental drowning. Bobbi Kristina Brown, then 18, was at the hotel and became so hysterical she had to be hospitalized. “She wasn’t only a mother, she was a best friend,” she told Winfrey. She and Gordon then went public with their romance, posting defiant messages online after the tabloids accused them of incest. The Houstons tolerated their relationship, appearing with them on television that year in Lifetime’s reality show “The Houstons: On Our Own.” But in one telling episode, the late singer’s relatives lectured the pair about drinking after they showed up in an obviously altered state, and accused Gordon of failing to take care of the grieving girl. Relations between Gordon and some other relatives continued to sour over the past year after Bobbi Kristina Brown was hospitalized. A protective order barred him from being within 200 feet of Pat Houston, Bobbi Kristina’s Brown’s aunt. A feud erupted over whether Gordon could visit Bobbi Kristina Brown while she stayed in the hospital. On June 24, Bobbi Kristina Brown’s court-appointed representative sued Gordon, accusing him of misrepresenting his relationship with her. The complaint accused him of being violent toward her and taking more than $11,000 from her account while she was in a medically induced coma after the Jan. 31
Community Calendar Basketball Camp JULY 29—P.R.O.M.I.S.E. will host the 5th Annual Jakim Donaldson Basketball Camp from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at Oliver High School, 2323 Brighton Rd., North Side. For three days, through July 31, boys and girls ages 8-18 are welcome to this free basketball camp to learn necessary basketball skills. Lunch will be provided and campers must bring active gear and shoes as well as provide proof of income. Registration is required. For more information, call 412-321-1019 or visit www.promiseonthemove.com.
Fashion Show/ Pool Party JULY 31— B. Marshall Productions will host Pittsburgh’s Fashion Show & Super MODELS Pool Party from 5-10 p.m. at Sherwood Event Center, 400 Sherwood Rd., Wilkinsburg. The event will include celebrity hosts Vanessa Doss and Miyoshi Anderson, a Charity Basketball Game, a Fashion Show displaying various designers and other entertainment. Proceeds will benefit Stop the Violence-Pittsburgh and the 2016 Juneteenth Festival in Market Square. For more information, call William Marshall at 724-205-9376.
Unity Day AUG. 1—Northside Old Timers will host its 9th Annual Unity Day Gathering at 11 a.m. at West Park, North Avenue, North Side. The two-day event, which runs through Aug. 2, will include a Children’s March Against Violence on Aug. 1 and a Praise in
the Park on Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. There will be an all day cookout on both days. Alcohol and open grills are not permitted in the park. A Cabaret will also take place on July 31 at 8 p.m. at the West View Banquet Hall. For more information, visit www.northsideoldtimers.com.
OASIS Tutor Training AUG. 4—OASIS will host its Intergenerational Tutor Training from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Macy’s Department Store, 11th floor, Fifth Avenue, Downtown. Free training will be given to mature adults who are 50 years old or more and would like to commit to tutoring youth for onehour, per week. All materials, books and supplies will be provided. There will also be a training class on Aug. 6. Registration is required. For more informa-
tion, call John Spehar at 412232-2021 or email jdspehar@oasis.net.
Black Family Reunion AUG. 8—Community Empowerment Association will host its annual Black Family Reunion & Cultural Arts Weekend at 11 a.m. at the CEA Cultural Arts Center, 7120 Kelly St., Homewood. The theme is “Developing an Action Plan: Educational, political, economic & social justice directions for the Black community.” The two-day event, which runs through Aug. 9, will include children’s activities, ethnic foods, health screenings, a town hall meeting and youth summit on educational reform, justice and equality, a Black family reunion block party and a celebrity basketball game. For more information, call 412-371-
7226 or visit www.ceapittsburgh.org.
Summer Enrichment Academy ONGOING—5A Elite Youth Empowerment will host a Summer Enrichment Academy from 68:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Community Center, 7300 Ridgeview Ave., Penn Hills. Every Friday through Aug. 28, youth ages 10-18 will participate in sports training, dance, peace building, personal awareness workshops and dinner. This is free and registration is required. For more information, call 412867-5889. (To have items listed on Community Calendar, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412-481-1360 or email: newsroom@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
tragedy. The lawsuit also accused Gordon of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unjust enrichment and conversion. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said he and his office are interested in reviewing the investigative file to determine whether any charges will be filed. Also on June 24, Pat Houston said Bobbi Kristina Brown had been placed in hospice care. She was fabulously wealthy for a teenager, but her money was in a spendthrift trust, designed to keep creditors and predators from taking advantage of people who can’t manage their money. Bobbi Kristina Brown’s grandmother, Cissy Houston, and aunt, Pat Houston, eventually took over control of the trust and then took her to court to protect the estate. The Houstons called Bobbi Kristina Brown “a highly visible target for those who would exercise undue influence over her inheritance and/or seek to benefit from (her) resources and celebrity,” and urged a judge to delay how quickly she could control the money. Bobbi Kristina Brown agreed to the delay, and the judge granted their request to seal the case. The size of Houston’s estate is a privately held secret. In May, a judge appointed Bobby Brown and Pat Houston as co-guardians of Bobbi Kristina Brown, giving them joint responsibility in decisions related to her care and medical needs. Lawyer Bedelia Hargrove was appointed conservator to oversee her assets, including her rights and legal claims. Houston signed a $100 million record deal in 2001, but failed to deliver, and
lost two homes to foreclosure toward the end of her life. But her untimely death revived a hunger for her music, and her name and likeness generated revenue that became part of Bobbi Kristina Brown’s inheritance. By January 2014, the young couple who grew up as brother and sister were sharing a townhome in Roswell, Ga, and calling themselves husband and wife. They posted images of their hands wearing wedding rings, with the caption “#HappilyMarried. So #InLove. If you didn’t get it the first time that is.” They got identical “WH” tattoos with flying doves on their wrists, and Gordon added a large portrait of Houston’s face on his arm. Their marriage announcement troubled Pat Houston, who obtained a restraining order against Gordon two months later. “Damn, lol, it’s incredible how the world will judge you 4ANY&EVERYthing,” Bobbi Kristina Brown tweeted at the time. By last September, Pat Houston said she was “very proud of Krissy.” “Young people today are up against so much with social media and everything else that presents itself to them,” Pat Houston told The Associated Press. “We try to be there for her, just to try to guide and direct her.” Judging from her postings online, Bobbi Kristina Brown was focused on the approaching anniversary of her mother’s death. In one of her last tweets, she said, “Littlelady&yourgrowing young man @nickdgordon miss you mommy ..:’) SOmuch.. loving you more every sec. #Anniversary!”
(Contributors include Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg, Florida; Kathleen Foody in Atlanta and Mesfin Fekadu in New York.)
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JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
OPINION
Will Obamacare be voted down?
Guest Editorial
Black Catholics may finally stand out when pope visits When Pope Francis comes to Philadelphia in September for a Mass on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, part of the crowd estimated to top 1 million believers will likely be a strong community of Black Catholics who have a documented history in this city for nearly 300 years. There have been documented Black Catholics in Philadelphia since 1733. Their community continued to grow after the Haitian revolution from 1791 to 1804. Birth, baptism and marriage records denoted “slave” or “negro” particularly for Old St. Joseph’s church, according to city Archdiocesan historians. Black Catholics started to gather as a unique community within the Catholic church near the end of the 19th Century. Newspapers published for Black Catholics have been documented by Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center. The Journal, a weekly Philadelphia newspaper published in 1892, lasted less than a year, but spoke to Philadelphia’s growing number of Black Catholics, according to the research center. “The top of the newspaper’s title page read ‘The Catholic Church is the only Liberator of the Negro,’” a research center article said. “The emergence of this community was largely due to the efforts of Daniel Rudd, the ‘leading Catholic representative of the Negro Race.’” “Rudd noted [his] paper would ‘give the great Catholic Church a hearing and show that it is worthy of at least a fair consideration at the hands of our race, being as it is the only place on this continent where rich and poor, white and Black, must drop prejudice at the threshold and go hand in hand to the altar.’” The St. Peter Claver school for Black children was established in 1859 on Lombard Street in what is now Center City. The St. Peter Claver Church was dedicated in 1892 at 12th and Lombard St., where it operated until it closed last year. It is still revered by Black Catholics as an important historical site. So, when the pope comes to town this fall, and the whole world is watching, Black Catholics in Philadelphia may standout as believers with history to back them up. (Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)
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Pittsburgh Courier NEW
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Rod Doss
Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher
Allison Palm
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Ulish Carter
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John H. Sengstacke Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)
The U. S. Senate will vote this week or next to fully repeal the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). The Democrats held a conference Sunday to discuss how repealing this law would have devastating affect on millions of people. So they will either try to stop the vote or reverse the flow by stopping Democrats from voting against ACA. There needs to be a vote, so I hope the Dems don’t block a vote. This way we know exactly where each Senator stands on this critical issue. My prediction is that even though Republicans are in the majority in the Senate, all will not vote against this law, which will allow the law to stand. And even if they do, President Obama will veto it and there is definitely not enough votes to over ride his veto. So once and for all the GOP will have to move on to other issues. Even though I think the ACA is a long way from being perfect, and is a long way from being affordable the Republicans are offering absolutely nothing in its place, which means we would go back to what we had. Nothing. Health care should be a right, not a privilege. Every American should have access to health care regardless of income. One’s health is more important than anything, including money. I’m still trying to understand how the general public and the major media as a whole are allowing the GOP to get away with not offering anything to replace ACA. Especially after 85 percent of the American people said there was a great need for health care reform well before President Obama ran for office with this as one of his key platforms. After the vote and the dust has cleared then maybe both sides will get down to the business of fixing the ACA so that it better serves the general public. *** Farewell to Helen Faison, teacher, principal, and the first Black Pittsburgh School Board Superintendent.
Ulish Carter
Just Sayin’
sult of a kidney transplant she had a few years back which almost took her out. But I couldn’t find any details on anything recent, so I will keep on looking. But it hasn’t affected her voice. Writer Aubrey Bruce said she was a Hurricane. Can’t get any stronger than that. *** Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay keeps laying it on the line. At the African American Chamber Breakfast he stated that the method of selecting Pittsburgh Police Officers, and probably all over the country, is antiquated. He wants the civil service hiring model for police updated to allow more flexibility in bringing on new personnel. “We have a 1907 civil service model driving our hiring,” he said during his Power Breakfast address. “We want to reconfigure it so we can screen and hire differently. There is an alternate model that is in place elsewhere.” He wants to hire from the top 100. “The old systems was intended to fight cronyism, but it doesn’t work, and it selects out the possibility of hiring for values,” McLay said. Former Police Chief Nate Harper said pretty much the same thing, his hands were tied, maybe McLay can get it done. I wonder what all the people are saying who fought and finally defeated the Affirmative Action because they said that the civil service method of hiring based on a test was better, and fairer. It wasn’t. Hopefully McLay will get his wish. But we as Blacks still have to watch and monitor very closely to make sure he, and whoever follows him, are hiring Blacks. The Pittsburgh Promise, which has been a great asset to Pittsburgh Public Schools, needs to allow individuals to donate, instead of just corporations. Every little bit helps. It could be the difference in a student finishing school or not.
She passed recently at the age of 91. She was one of the nicest and committed people you ever want to meet. *** People are still talking about the Who’s Who In Black Pittsburgh event. The people at the event as well as some who didn’t attend were very excited and said it was about time, even though some were disappointed at some of the people who didn’t make it. This was the first event of this kind in Pittsburgh so there were some problems that will hopefully be ironed out next year. My biggest concern, which also came from many other people, was the lack of a males among the Living Legends. I felt Livingstone and Justin Johnson are Living Legends and should have been selected. But there’s always next year. I don’t know why so many people were so late to respond this year. Maybe they didn’t think it was for real. I expect the event to double in attendance next year. *** It was great to see and hear musical icons coming to Pittsburgh recently. Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis and Natalie Cole. You can’t get any bigger than that. And Patti LaBelle will be at The Meadows Sept. 16. Wow. I really wish I could have seen Natalie; she’s my favorite female vocalist. Well, next to Aretha. There was some concern by some who said Natalie was wheeled to the (Ulish Carter is the managing editor of the stage in a wheelchair and was extremely thin. This is probably a re- New Pittsburgh Courier.)
For centuries, Black lives did not matter (NNPA)—It ought to be unnecessary for an activist movement to hinge on the principle of the equivalency of life. In the worlds of Democratic presidential candidates (don’t get me started on the Republicans), there is a compelling need to point out that Black Lives Matter and White lives matter. The problem with stating the obvious is that White lives have always mattered, and institutional racism has structured a lesser value for Black lives. Asserting that Black Lives Matter is to rebut the inherent supposition that Black lives do not matter. Black lives have been devalued since the development of our Constitution when it counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person. To proclaim that Black Lives Matter is to rebut this constitutional flaw. We still live with the legacy of enslavement, when Black folks were other people’s property. Black folks aren’t property now (unless they are the much-exploited convict laborers), but unequal treatment is not just historical — it still happens. That’s why the Black Lives Matter movement is so important. The Black Lives Matter Movement was a constructive outgrowth of the Trayvon Martin murder, furthered by the protests that happened in the wake of a Missouri grand jury’s failure to bring charges against Darren Wilson, the murderer of 18-year-old Michael Brown. As multiracial crowds proclaimed, “Black Lives Matter,” it seemed that, across the board, people were acknowledging the existence of institutional racism. Too bad Democratic presidential contenders can’t do the same. Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders, the two candidates whose entries into the race may have pushed Hilary Clinton to the left, faced protestors at the progressive Netroots Nation conference earlier this month. Instead of acknowledging the legitimacy of the Black Lives Matter movement, both candidates were prickly. Sanders threatened to leave the stage because the protester’s chants drowned him out. Candidate Hilary Clinton was not present, and some objected to that, but she either missed the opportunity to engage, or was spared embarrassment if she emulated O’Malley and Sanders stance. Both O’Malley and Sanders have scrambled to clean up their acts, backtracking and owning the “mistakes” they’ve made in dealing with the young activists that have taken the lead in protesting police brutality and asserting the
treated respectfully, it is likely that many voters will stay home. Young voters rushed to the polls in 2008, riveted by candidate Obama’s optimistic “Yes we can” mantra. Will they come out for White Democrats, no matter how progressive, who don’t respect their movements and their ideas? The video showing the brutality involved in the vicious arrest of Sanimportance of Black lives. To clean dra Bland, the Prairie View A&M up their acts, all of the candidates University alumnae who died in jail need to listen to leaders of the Black earlier this month, makes it clear Lives Matter Movement instead of that the Black Lives Matter movetalking at people the way politicians ment is much needed. Their presare most likely to do. sure to stop police brutality has If they listen they might hear the pushed police departments to use frustration that young folks feel video cameras, and made it possible when the police stop them for simfor us to see the repugnant behavior ply walking while Black. They might of State Trooper Brian T. Encinia, hear the despair some will share who roughed up Sandra Bland bewhen, even while fully prepared, cause she would not put out her they find few opportunities for emcigarette after being pulled over or ployment, and too many doors failure to signal a lane change. slammed in their faces. They might Don’t tell me that White lives matunderstand that Blacks have a difter. That’s not new information. ferent reality than Whites do, and it Whose faces are on our money? shows up in terms of economic, edu- Whose statues grace legislative cational, and social indicators. buildings? Who leads the overIn the wake of Michael Brown’s whelming majority of Fortune 500 massacre, Ferguson elected two new companies? Who dominates our legBlack members for the city council. islative bodies? Our African AmeriNow, Andre Anderson, an African can president, supposedly the most American man from Glendale, Aripowerful person in the world, is ill zona, has been appointed interim treated by Congress, often for racial police chief. Ferguson is under pres- reasons. We live in a racist and pasure to do better. What about the triarchal society where the value of rest of our country? Black life is too-often diminished. If Michael Brown’s killing was the That’s why, Martin O’Malley, there impetus for Ferguson voters to go to is a special need to assert that the polls, that’s a good thing, though Black Lives Matter. Those who it shouldn’t take that. If the Black would be president ought to emLives Matter Movement does the brace that concept, instead of denysame thing nationally, the Demoing it. (Julianne Malveaux is author and cratic nominee has a better chance of winning in November 2016. If the economist based in Washington, DC. She can Black Lives Matter movement is not be reached at www.juliannemalveaux.com)
Julianne Malveaux
Commentary
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
An answer for Confederate apologists (NNPA)—Someone identifying himself as Jimmy Oliver sent me an email objecting to a column I wrote under the headline, “Confederate Traitors Don’t Deserve to be Honored.” I presume he wrote to get a reply, so here it is, with Oliver’s words in italics. I do not appreciate you calling my ancestors traitors, Benedict Arnold or traitors. Well, I do not appreciate your ancestors enslaving my ancestors. I do not appreciate your White ancestors thinking they were superior to my ancestors solely because God created us a different color. I do not appreciate your ancestors forcing my ancestors to work long hours for free. I do not appreciate your ancestors treating mine like property, buying and selling them at will. I do not appreciate your ancestors breaking up African families whenever they wanted to and I do not appreciate your male ancestors raping my powerless female ancestors. And, yes, your ancestors were traitors. In fact, their photographs should be placed next to the word “traitor” in the dictionary. The definition of traitor is clearly spelled out in Article 3, Section 3 of U.S. Constitution: “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.” In case you missed it, the Confederacy leveled war against the United States from 1861-1865. The Civil War was fought, not because of slavery, but for southern states rights.
George E. Curry
Commentary Yes, it was fought because southern states wanted “states rights”—the right to maintain slavery. Slavery was not the most compelling issue of the Civil War. That’s pure nonsense. The states’ orders of secession prove otherwise. For example, “A Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of the State of Mississippi from the Federal Union” began: ”In the momentous step which our State has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course. “Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery — the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin.” Virginia cited, “the oppression of the Southern Slaveholding States.” And South Carolina, the first state to leave the Union, asserted, “…The right of property in slaves was recognized by giving to free persons distinct political rights, by giving them the right to represent, and burthening them with direct taxes for three-fifths of their slaves; by authorizing the importation of slaves for twenty years; and by stipulating for the rendition of fugitives from labor.” The Cornerstone Speech by Alexander Stephens is one man’s opinion. Stephens was not merely one man—he was vice president of the Confederate States of America. In the speech, he was very clear when he said, “the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery—subordination to the superior race—is his natural and normal condition.” Other Confederate leaders expressed similar sentiments. Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States, said, “My own convictions as to negro slavery are strong. It has its evils and abuses…We recognize the negro as God and God’s Book and God’s Laws, in nature, tell us to recognize him—our inferior, fitted expressly for servitude…You cannot transform the negro into anything one-tenth as useful or as good as what slavery enables them to be.” You say remove the monuments and tributes of the Civil War to whom my ancestors served and I consider to be a part of my Southern Heritage. Yes, that’s exactly what I am saying. Alabama Gov. Robert J. Bentley’s decision to remove four Confederate flags from the Capitol grounds in Montgomery and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s recommendation that a statue of Kentuckyborn Jefferson Davis be removed from the state Capitol are steps in the right correction. As the headline on my initial column stated, “Confederate Traitors Don’t Deserve to be Honored.” (George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National NNPA and BlackPressUSA.com. He can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com.)
JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
FORUM
Black power currently almost non-existing, why? If Black cititime frame when we zens of Alhad affairs the Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick legheny County White politicians don’t understand would call and rehow critical our quest an invitation. overall situation Today’s weaklings is then hopefully don’t have an affair this week’s colwithout extending umn will be enthe mayor or Allightening. legheny County ExLet’s focus on ecutive an invitawhat I believe is the most crucial probtion. lem. We have been, and are being, deI question if there is one Black person nied opportunities in business and jobs active in the current administration that afford us the ability to provide for that has the courage to tell the leaders a family. A stabile family minimizes the of the Democrat Party the truth about number of educational problems and the ways we are being mistreated. A strengthens the churches inclusion of White contractor invited me to lunch the neighborhoods. and asked me did I truly believe he and It is my personal conviction that illeothers should be mandated to hire gal drugs and alcoholism are over all Blacks? I responded so quickly he apolothe result of low or no self-esteem. gized. The answer was if you are using Allow me to simplify my explanation; our (taxpayer) money from city, county, legal, illegal drugs and alcohol are constate, or federal sources, you are comsumed to make you feel good. Neither pelled to hire Blacks. When they build a jail sentences nor the police can solve hotel on the August Wilson Center will these problems. These problems can there be a Black partner? If not why only be rectified when a person can look not? in the mirror and can feel good about What major professional service conthemselves without the use of anything tract has been awarded to any Black synthetic such as drugs or alcohol. Illebusiness by the City of Pittsburgh or gal drugs were allowed to infiltrate the Allegheny County? There are compainner cities because those who control nies pouring asphalt and concrete the police forces saw it as only somethroughout Bloomfield and East Libthing Blacks would consume. Too freerty every day. When you ride or drive quently those who lived outside the law through, see if you see someone that who drove expensive cars, had pockets looks like you. full of money, and lovely female companIn my previous columns I took an ions were perceived by too many young- elected official to task and when the colsters as someone that they wanted to umn was shown to a colored assistant. imitate. The assistant responded by saying, “It’s There are no super strong Blacks alright Massa, because nobody reads it across the county that have organized but Hop and possibly Bill Robinson.” our communities to the extent that we However when these weak persons have are able to deal with the elected officials an affair they don’t hesitate to call. from a position of power instead of ask- Every Sunday in my church I go in my ing Old Massa. There was a period of pocket and buy the New Pittsburgh time where ministers of all denominaCourier for senior citizens, what about tions that stood tall. There was a period you in your church? (Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a weekly contributor of time when there were powerful Black to the Forum Page.) ward chairmen who had access. In that
To Tell The Truth
Black Power’s legacy of discrimination In the 1960’s J. Pharoah Doss the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee formed to force desegregation. SNCC attracted likeminded White activists. Retaliation to SNCC activities highlighted by the murder of White volunteers forced federal intervention. After the 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed SNCC, and other civil rights groups, asked where do we go from here? In 1966 James Meredith was shot during a march he organized, immediately civil rights groups converged to continue Meredith’s march. Among them was Stokely Carmichael the new chairman of SNCC. During the march the Carmichael committee shouted—Black Power—the new slogan confused some, scared others, but everyone demanded an explanation. Carmichael stated: We are going to use the term “Black Power” and define it because Black Power speaks to us…We are going to build a movement based on the color of our skins…We have to be able to smash any political machine that oppresses us and bring it to its knees. We have to control the economics and politics of our community. But Carmichael’s generalizations specified nothing and left verbs like “smash” and “control” to fill the void. Encouraged by the rhetoric of smashing political machines riots swept the nation resulting in the 1967 Kerner Commission (Report on Civil Disorders), which didn’t refer to SNCC as a civil rights group but a militant anti-White organization. Why? After Carmichael’s “Black Power” speech he exercised his control and released all White workers. (Then advocated urban guerrilla warfare to achieve “Black Power”.) Fast forward—2015. The Netroots national conference hosted a presidential forum featuring democratic candidates. It was disrupted by demonstrators chanting: Black Lives Matter. Once on stage their spokesperson stated they wanted to acknowledge the lives lost in police related incidents. After the disruption candidate Martin O’Malley stated: Black lives matter, White lives matter, all lives matter. And the demonstrators booed. They believed he was minimizing the importance of Blacks killed by the police. Afterward O’Malley appeared on a digital show: This Week in Blackness. And he apologized for proclaiming other lives mattered. He said, “That was a mistake” and, “I meant no disrespect.” Of course he was responding to the host that asked if he understood the difference—Black death is not all-inclusive. The rejection of “White and all lives matter” is similar to Carmichael’s discriminatory display. If the Black Lives Matter Movement could be replaced by
Commentary
the SNCC founders the SNCC founders would have mobilized around data that read: 2012 140 Blacks killed by police, 386 Whites killed by the police. From 1999 - 2011 2,151 Whites killed by police, 1,130 Blacks. The SNCC founders would have attacked the root of the problem not its broken branches. They wouldn’t have alienated allies by “building a movement based on the color of skin”. They would have declared police fatalities a moral crisis and shamed the judicial system to abide by higher standards to secure convictions of cops who murdered citizens. (And not one Black community would have burned.) Instead a warning was issued to all presidential candidates by #BlackLivesMatter that they will shut down every debate. (Similar to Carmichael again.) After this poor display of identity politics an open letter to #BlackLivesMatter asked questions concerning its goals and stated, “Answering these questions will go a long way to defining what exactly is the #BlackLivesMatter movement.” But this small incident might have already defined them as heirs to the Carmichael committee. When civil rights leader Bayard Rustin was asked about “Black Power” after the Meredith march he stated: It lacks any real value and is positively harmful. SNCC was an organization that awakened the country. Now it shouts a slogan that may afford a momentary satisfaction but will destroy them and their movement. And “Black power” destroyed SNCC. Base on history maybe it’s not bad after all that the #BlackLivesMatter movement is just a slogan and posturing they’ll just disappear instead of selfdestructing. (J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New Pittsburgh Courier. He blogs at jpharoahdoss@blogspot.com)
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.
A7
Raynard Jackson
Commentary
Hypocrisy in the democracy After six years in office, I am amazed that Black folks continue to blindly follow the machinations of president Obama and his administration. In less than eight years, Obama has radically changed the fabric of America more than all the other 43 previous presidents combined. America is totally unrecognizable from the way it was eight years ago. Eight years ago, Blacks had more net worth than they do today; more Blacks were in university eight years ago; more Blacks had jobs eight years ago; Blacks owned more homes eight years ago than they do today. But Blacks did get the confederate flag taken down all across the country. Homosexual marriage is now the law of the land. Children are told they are no longer bound by the gender they were assigned at birth; but rather they can selfidentify and choose from moment to moment how they want to be viewed. George W. Bush did more for the Continent of Africa than the sum of all previous U.S. presidents only to have Obama reverse many of the programs Bush put in place. But, did I mention that the confederate flag is no longer flying in South Carolina? By every single metric, Blacks are far worse off now than we have been over the past fifty years. Even the former head of the NAACP, Ben Jealous, had to admit that Blacks are worse off under Obama than they were under Bush. But did I mention that “Black lives matter?” Obama’s foreign policies have weakened us as a nation. No one respects us internationally. Putin of Russia and Assad of Syria are current examples of foreign leaders who have no respect for America and Obama. They dared Obama to stop their brutality towards their own citizens or their annexation of sovereign countries. After six years of Obama, no one can define what it means to be American anymore. You have a significant part of the population who cannot even speak English; some are even citizens. How is that possible? But “Black lives matter.” Language is the DNA of a country. Without a unifying language, you have no country. States like California and Virginia print government documents in multiple languages because of those in the country who don’t speak English. That is pure insanity. Oh, but did I tell you “Black lives matter?” Not all lives, just Black lives. Black on Black crime is at epidemic levels in cities like Baltimore and Chicago and we are focusing on flags and slogans that mean absolutely nothing. If Black lives really matter, why are we putting so much energy and time on superfluous issues? What policies has this president promoted to prove that Black lives matter? What policies have the members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) passed to prove that Black lives matter? Not one member of the CBC has proposed any solutions to the pathologies of Baltimore or Chicago; but yet they spent a whole two weeks fighting over the confederate flag flying in South Carolina. So, what’s going to happen when groups start demanding the removal of statues of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because he was deemed too controversial? Blacks will scream bloody murder. You just can’t say remove everything related to the confederacy from government property because “we don’t like it;” but yet defend your right to put people that you respect on the same government property. King’s legacy is just as important as the legacy of the confederacy—they both are part of our history and the whole story must be told no matter how painful. America may never recover from the disastrous effects of the Obama presidency. He is not only the first “gay” president (according to Newsweek); but he is also the first president of the world because he has totally subjugated our sovereignty to that of international organizations and other countries via trade agreements. So, as opposed to devoting time and attention to things that don’t matter, just maybe all the civil rights groups should focus on promoting a better environment for entrepreneurs to flourish; provide more school choice and vouchers for low income parents; and restore a values based curriculum in our public schools as opposed to teaching about homosexuality. We have too many serious issues to deal with in America and within the Black community. Time out for the sophomoric games and time to focus on the tangible solutions to the problems facing us; but I am not optimistic. I guess it really is true that weak people take strong positons on weak issues. (Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC is an internationally recognized political consulting, government affairs, and PR firm based in Washington, DC.)
A8
JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
NATIONAL
MOURNERS ARRIVE——Loved ones arrive to mourn the death of Sandra Bland at the DuPage AME Church, Saturday, July 25, in Lisle, Ill. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee)
COMFORTING FAMILY—A mourner hugs Sandra Bland’s sister, Sharon Cooper, at the Mt. Glenwood Memorial Gardens West cemetery, Saturday, July 25, in Willow Springs, Ill. (AP Photo)
Hundreds gather to bid farewell to Sandra Bland LISLE, Ill. (AP)—Family and friends of an Illinois woman found dead in a Texas jail remembered her on July 25 as a “courageous voice” for social justice and promised to keep fighting for clarity on the circumstances surrounding her death.
The Harris County, Texas, medical examiner’s office determined through an autopsy that Bland hanged herself with a plastic bag. The 28-year-old woman’s family has questioned the finding, saying she was excited about starting a new
“I don’t know Sandra, and I don’t know what happened. But I do know she didn’t have to die. There’s an epidemic of police terror in this country, and people need to stand up.” HANK BROWN, OF CHICAGO Hundreds of people attended Sandra Bland’s funeral near the Chicago suburb where she grew up. They celebrated her life with words and songs of praise, and her mother danced in the church aisle with her arms raised. She and other mourners, though, said they were still struggling to understand how a traffic stop for failing to use a turn signal escalated into a physical confrontation and landed her in the cell where authorities say she killed herself three days later.
job and wouldn’t have taken her own life. “I’m going to find out what happened to my baby,” her mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, said in remarks that brought mourners to their feet. “My baby has spoken. She’s still speaking and no, she didn’t kill herself.” The traffic stop, which was captured on police dash cam video and on a bystander’s cellphone, and Bland’s death in custody have resonated on social media, with many grouping it with other prominent U.S. cases involv-
SANDRA BLAND (AP Photo/File) ing confrontations between the police and Blacks over the past year. Bland had spoken out about that issue and others in a series of videos she posted online this year with the hashtag “SandySpeaks.” Mourners at Saturday’s funeral wore T-shirts with the tag. One person had it scrawled across a car window. Some took to Twitter with the hashtag “SandySTILLSpeaks.” Crowds filed past her open casket to catch a last
glimpse of Bland, who was dressed in an all-white suit with roses on top of her. The July 10 traffic stop became heated when Bland refused the officer’s request to put out a cigarette and his subsequent order to get out of the car. He threatened to shoot Bland with a stun gun unless she obeyed his order and said she kicked him during the tussle. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
Texas prosecutor names committee to review Sandra Bland case
HEMPSTEAD, Texas (AP) —A committee of outside attorneys will assist the Texas district attorney investigating the death of Sandra Bland, the Black woman who was found dead in her jail cell three days after a controversial traffic stop by a White state trooper. Elton Mathis, the Waller County district attorney, announced Monday that the group of lawyers would help his office make decisions in the case based on “credible evidence and not rumors.” He did not specify how the committee would work with his office, but said he still planned to present the Bland case to a grand jury in August for possible criminal charges. Mathis also released an initial toxicology report on
DEMANDING JUSTICE—Margaret Hilaire bows her head in prayer during a demonstration calling for the firing and indictment of Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia, Sunday, July 26, in Katy, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) July 27 with findings that Bland had marijuana in her system at the time of her death. He declined to comment on the report, saying a final report was still being
prepared. Bland died in the county jail after the traffic stop for failing to use a turn signal escalated into a physical confrontation. Authorities
have said Bland hanged herself at the jail, a finding her family disputes. Sitting to the side of Mathis’ news conference July 27 was a single protester holding a sign that read, “What happened to Sandra Bland?” Mathis acknowledged the ongoing questions about Bland’s death and the intense attention it has received, calling on people to await the findings of his office and other agencies involved in the investigation rather than speculation on social media. The Texas Rangers and the FBI are both reviewing the case. “We want this county to be an open book, and for all the information to be shared with any agency that desires,” Mathis said.
Charges dismissed vs. White police supervisors over shooting by Mark Gillespie Associated Press Writer
CLEVELAND (AP)—A county judge on Friday agreed to dismiss misdemeanor charges against five White Cleveland police supervisors for failing to control a chase that ended with two Black people being killed in a 137-shot barrage of police gunfire. The decision could allow the case to be tried in the predominantly Black suburb where the chase ended and where defense attorneys say prosecutors stand a better chance of winning. Cuyahoga County prosecutors announced last month that the case would be moved to East Cleveland Municipal Court after patrolman Michael Brelo was found not guilty of manslaughter charges for firing the last 15 shots of the barrage. He was acquitted by the same judge, John P. O’Donnell, who issued Friday’s ruling. An East Cleveland prosecutor filed identical dereliction of duty
BULLET-RIDDLED—In this Nov. 30, 2012 file forensics photo released by the Office of the Ohio Attorney General, bullet holes are visible on the windshield and hood of a Chevy Malibu peppered by gunshots after a high-speed chase that ended in the deaths of two unarmed suspects. (AP Photo/Office of the Ohio Attorney General, File) charges against the supervisors on July 2. Defense attorneys have accused county prosecutor Tim McGinty of “forum shopping’’ by moving the case to East Cleveland because that city’s lone judge is Black and a jury pool would be drawn from a population that’s 93 percent
Black. They have also said they’re skeptical about claims by McGinty and his assistants that East Cleveland, a city on the brink of financial ruin, asked to try the case. McGinty has said the county prosecution team will continue to work on the case and will help the city with trial costs.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John P. O’Donnell wrote in his ruling that he agrees with defense attorneys’ assertions that prosecutors are more likely to win in East Cleveland, but said it wasn’t improper. Defense attorneys also have complained that the move to East Cleveland is a needless delay given that their clients were indicted in May 2014 and a trial had been scheduled to start before O’Donnell in county court on July 27. And they say most of the 22-mile-long chase on Nov. 29, 2012, occurred in Cleveland and only a small portion in East Cleveland, where Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams were each shot more than 20 times by police officers in a school parking lot. None of the supervisors fired their weapons that night. Defense attorney David Grant said Friday that he was disappointed with O’Donnell’s ruling and that it would likely be appealed.
The Rev. Theresa Dear told reporters outside the DuPage AME Church that Bland should be celebrated for standing up for herself. “She challenged and asked the question why, ‘Why should I put out the cigarette?”’ Dear said. “She asked 12 times, ‘Why am I being arrested?’ And so we celebrate that part of her personality.” And she said friends and family continue to doubt authorities, even after the release of documents supporting the official conclusion of suicide. “When you are about to
start a new job, when you know your family is about to bring the money for your release, when you are an activist and a fighter, you don’t take your own life,” she said. Bland’s story so moved people that her funeral even drew some who never met her. “I don’t know Sandra, and I don’t know what happened,” Hank Brown, of Chicago, told the Chicago Tribune. “But I do know she didn’t have to die. There’s an epidemic of police terror in this country, and people need to stand up.”
New Pittsburgh Courier
Pgh. Symphony: match made in heaven B4
Johnny Mathis,
LIFESTYLES JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
Pledge for Life
Gospel Idol B6
B
Debbie Norrell
Lifestyles Report
Dead men tell no tales “Do you have to go alone?” That was the question my mother always asked me when I would tell her that I was going on a road trip by myself. Sometimes it would be as close as Sewickley or as far away as North Carolina. She never wanted me to travel alone. I could hear my mom’s words playing in my head when I heard the Sandra Bland story, a young woman traveling from Chicago to Texas all alone. I wish someone could have made that trip with her. I’ve only been pulled over once; I think the silver Corvette attracted the attention of the officer or it could have been that I was exceeding the speed limit. I was driving back to Pittsburgh from Washington, D.C., and I was asked the usual questions, where was I coming from and where was I going and did I know how fast I was going? I answered the questions and gave the officer my license, registration and insurance card. All went well, I got a warning and off I went driving the speed limit all the way home. That is how the Bland story should have ended; with a warning and she could have driven to her destination. Last week, I was listening to the Joe Madison show on SiriusXM Radio. He told a story that I tell often, a story about driving down south with a picnic basket because you could not stop and eat at the restaurants along the way. I’ll never forget the time we forgot the picnic basket. We had gotten to Breezewood and we had to turn back and go get it. If we didn’t we wouldn’t have anything to eat. I tell this story to young White people that I work with and they look at me like I have two heads. Frankly, I don’t think the young Black people believe it either. Sometimes I would be afraid when we went down south. I would watch the news on television and see the stories of marches and protests. I saw the dogs attacking people that looked like me and attacks with fire hoses and batons. I would worry that this might happen to our family. But it never did. I’m glad the Sandra Bland story is being investigated. I too don’t think someone would take their life just because they were in a jail cell after a traffic violation. I would think her main focus would be getting out and getting to her new job. But as my mom used to also say “dead men tell no tales.” In all of these cases where Black people have lost their lives at the hands of the police we don’t get a chance to hear the other side. What was said, why did you run, what happened in your cell, what happened in the back of the police car? The attorney, the family and the media try to piece together a story that makes sense. If you get pulled over, comply, be polite and live. (Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)
CLAYTON ROBINSON—Leads with a smile
ENJOYING THE MALE CHORUS—Reverend Dr. William H. Curtis
THEY CALL ME POPS—Tony “Pops” Mitchell
A joyful noise
“I’M TOO CLOSE”
by Debbie Norrell
the Doubletree Hotel in Monroeville, nearly 450 attended and were touched by the male chorus as they presented their second Annual Concert and Dinner. Michelyn Hood-Tinor served as the host for the evening. Hood-Tinor is normally seen on the “big
screen” doing the announcements from The Courier Staff Writer Mount, on this evening she “Lord please use me as was live and in person. your instrument to touch The Mount Ararat Male others’ lives,” is what the Chorus was founded in Mount Ararat Baptist March 1974 under the diChurch Male Chorus rerection of Earl King. Eighpeats before they sing or teen years ago Tony practice. On June 14, at Mitchell took over the reins of the choir and with his writing and performance skills Mitchell taught the male chorus how to bring joy and the love of Christ to thousands over the years. Through Mitchell’s work in the Gospel Music Writers Association, the Male Chorus began attending and ministering at the Gospel Music Workshop of America’s Annual Convention. They attended their first convention in 2013, they learned as a choir and grew as brothers. Last year they attended the convention in Atlanta and knew before they left that they would head as group at the convention scheduled for July 26-31 of this year in New Orleans. PATRICK WILSON—Directs with passion. The Male chorus is privileged to serve under the pastorship of Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis, the leadership of Minister Dwayne Fulton and the directorship of Anthony “Pops” Mitchell. The Male Chorus sings in praise every second weekend during services at M o u n t EVENT HOST WITH AWARD SPONSOR—Reverend Marco Tinor and Michelyn Ararat BapHood-Tinor with Mona Murphy and Mayor Tom Murphy. tist Church.
“GOD’S GOT A BLESSING”
GUEST ARTIST—Gail Mitchell of Buffalo, N.Y., daughter of Tony “Pops” Mitchell. (Photos by Debbie Norrell)
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JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
WHO’S WHO
‘SELFIES’
‘SELFIES’
Who’s Who unveiling blows up Twitter
TWITTER—The unveiling of Who’s Who in Black Pittsburgh honored more than 200 and drew nearly 300 people. All in attendance were urged to Tweet. And they did. See more photos on page B3 and the story in July 22 edition of the New Pittsburgh Courier. Follow us on Twitter @WhoWhoPub or Like us on Facebook WhosWhoPub.
WHO’S WHO—From left: Fran Carter, Diane Daniels, Dianne Swan and Lezetta Cox.
THE LADIES OF THE AKA (Photos by J.L. Martello)
COMING TOGETHER—From left: Ernie Sullivan, Patricia Prattis Jennings and Rod Doss.
MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES LYNNE HAYES-FREELAND
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
WHO’S WHO
HIRAM JACKSON, CEO of Real Times Media Inc.
UNITED—Candi Castleberry Singleton, of UPMC, and Evan Frazier, of Highmark, were the key sponsors of the event.
JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
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ELISA AND CHUCK SANDERS
Who’s Who in Black Pittsburgh unveiling
PASTOR ROBERT TEDDER AND LES SCALES
NEXT GENERATION—Ernie Sullivan, on far left, and Rod Doss, on far right, with the next generation of Who’s Who.
STATE REP. JAKE WHEATLEY
THE BIG SCREEN SAYS IT ALL
CHUCK SANDERS, a sponsor, making a point.
PEOPLE PACKED THE RECEPTION (Photos by J.L. Martello)
KEZIA ELLIS AND WILLIAM SIMMONS
New Pittsburgh Courier
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ENTERTAINER JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
Johnny Mathis…
Cover To Cover
‘Only the Strong’ by Terri Schlichenmeyer For New Pittsburgh Courier
Never underestimate yourself. You can carry the weight of ten worlds on your shoulders, and still have time to do your job. You can lift spirits, move mountains, and haul out in a hot minute. You have more power deep inside you than you realize—but, as in the new novel, “Only the Strong” by Jabari Asim, you still have weaknesses. Lorenzo “Guts” Tolliver never had reason to show a soft side. Being soft, in fact, was detrimental to his life and his job as right-hand man for Ananias Goode, who more-or-less ran Gateway City. Softness wasn’t what you wanted a man to see as you broke his legs or killed him. Well over six feet tall and looking like a tank, Guts was deceptively fast of feet
and fists, and Goode something in Guts years ago that he liked. Through the decades, Goode learned to trust Guts, and he liked him—so when Guts asked to step back as Goode’s driver-body-guard-enforcer, Goode gave his blessing. It was, Goode knew, all about a woman. He knew because he, too, had a woman he wanted but really couldn’t have. Years ago, when she was just fifteen, Dr. Artinces Noel watched her Mama wither away from grief, and she promised herself that she’d never fall that in love with a man. She might have kept her promise to herself— work, charities, her clinic, saving black babies from death-by-being-poor, those were her life—but then Ananias Goode came around one night with a stab wound that he wanted quietly stitched. One thing led to another, led to a regular Wednesday session at a local motel, but they couldn’t let anyone know. Ananias Goode was still a married man. Deep inside his well-appointed home, amid whooshing respirators and the smell of antiseptic, the comatose Mrs. Goode lay curled in a fetal position, a victim of the war her husband had with another gang, a war that also left her infant son dead. Remembering that, knowing it, was something Ananias Goode lived with. And for the man watching him, it was also something Goode would die with… Wow. Well, here’s the thing: I almost never read a book twice, especially a novel. I’d definitely make an exception for this one. The most appealing thing about “Only the Strong,” I think, was that it seemed as though I lived inside the story itself, and finishing it felt like I’d been evicted. I felt unmoored. Author Jabari Asim does that: he draws a reader in with richly-worked characters who, though often despicable, are attention-grabbing; settings that you can almost step right into; and flashbacks that move the story forward at a perfect pace. (“Only the Strong” by Jabari Asim, c.2015, Bolden, $15/higher in Canada, 288 pages.)
Pgh Symphony Orchestra: match made in heaven by Genea L. Webb For New Pittsburgh Courier
Coming up on six decades in the music business, charismatic crooner Johnny Mathis has seen it all. “I sing. That’s what I do,” said Mathis, who turns 80 in September. That’s how I make my living. I can’t tap dance. I’m a pretty good golfer but I have one talent and that’s what I do. I’m fortunate to still be in show business.” His 60th anniversary as a recording artist will be next year. Throughout that time he has recorded 80 original albums and six original Christmas albums (not including compilations). He has had 50 hits on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts joining the likes of Barry Manilow, Elton John, Barbara Streisand, Elvis Presley and Elton John. Mathis was offered a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1955 during the same week he was invited to compete in the Olympic Game Trials. He chose music and signed a five-year contract with the company. He remains the longest running recording artist at the company with his first album, “Johnny Mathis,” being released in 1956. He has never stopped recording or touring since. “I’ve spent 52 years with Columbia. What you look for in a record company is distribution and they have the best in the world,” said Mathis. “I’m fortunate to have a good working relationship with them. Recording, singing and a lot of personal performing is what keeps an artist employed.” The prolific singer brought his “59th/60th Anniversary tour” recently to Heinz Hall and performed along with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as part of their
JOHNNY MATHIS Thursday Night Icons series. He will tour through mid-December. The orchestra accompanied him impeccably on all of the songs they performed. Mathis took the stage to a standing ovation, which he graciously accepted. Clad in a gray suit he enchanted the audience with many of his favorite songs including “Misty,” “Moon River,” “Chances Are,” “It’s Not for Me to Say” and the melancholy, “Yellow Roses on her Gown.” “Misty is one of my favorite songs,” Mathis said. “It’s at the top of my list because musically it’s a great song and it’s been featured a lot of places. People are taken by the strong melody. It’s something that hits you right away.” The song was featured in the ballroom dance scene in
the 2012 movie, “Silverlinings Playbook,” which starred Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, introducing another generation to the magical music of Mathis. It was also featured in Clint Eastwood’s 1971 thriller, “Play Misty for Me.” At the age when most men are playing mahjong and enjoying retirement, Mathis is still going strong. The Pittsburgh audience shook its head in amazement at his vocal range and stage presence. “I’ve been to more than 10 countries in the world and coming to this concert to see Johnny Mathis is the best night of my life,” said one enthusiastic concert goer. Mathis’ album, “Johnny’s Greatest Hits” went on to become one of the most popular albums of all time and spent an unprecedented
490 weeks—almost 10 years—on the Billboard Top Albums Chart. The record has been noted in the Guinness Book of World Records (It was knocked out by Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” but unlike Mathis’ album, their album’s record on Billboard was not continuous). Having sold millions and millions of records worldwide, the exercise hound has had a hit record in every decade of his career thanks to his song, “Sending You a Little Christmas” with Jim Brickman, which peaked at number four on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. He has been nominated for five Grammy Awards: “Misty” in 1960 for Best Male Vocal Performance (single record or track); “In a Sentimental Mood: Mathis Sings
Ellington: in 1992 for Best Traditional Pop Performance (Album); “Isn’t it Romantic” in 2006 for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album; and “Sending You A Little Christmas” in 2014 for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Ironically, he has never won a Grammy award. “It’s rare that someone like myself to be nominated,” Mathis laughed. “It’s just nice to be nominated.” Despite the Grammy Award snub, Mathis’ has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 and three of his songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame; “Chances Are” (1957 Columbia Single inducted in 1998; “Misty” (1959 Columbia Single-inducted in 2002; “It’s Not For Me to Say (1957 Columbia Single) inducted in 2008. In addition to recording, Mathis has dabbled in television as well. In May he portrayed gardener Bull-E on “The Simpsons.” During the episode, Bart gets bullied at a school dance and Marge convinces the town to pass anti-bullying legislation. “Playing on the ‘Simpsons’ was lots of fun. It is the longest-running show on TV. They told me about the character and I thought it was a good idea,” he said. But he always returns to his first love. Music. “It’s great to be able to still sing. My parents are why I’m here. They died at an early age but they did get the chance to hear some of my music.” He is currently selecting material to include on his new album, which will be produced by Clive Davis. “I’m excited about the new project,” Mathis said. “I think I’ve found at least four songs so I’m on my way.”
Re-united Dru Hill brings back memories by Genea L. Webb For New Pittsburgh Courier
Lifelong memories have been made to Dru Hill’s music: newly-married couples danced to “Share My World” during their wedding receptions while “5 Steps” was played in the bedroom where many babies were conceived. “I’ve listened to Dru Hill my whole adult life and my husband and I have built memories on them from our marriage and we love Dru Hill and we wanted to show up for them,” explained Errika Fearbery Jones who got the chance to take in the R & B crooners when they performed at the Homewood Coliseum as part of their Red, White & Dru Tour earlier this month. The group stated out as four high school friends singing for customers at a fudge shop in Baltimore’s inner harbor. Mark “Sisqo” Andrews and James “Woody Rock” Green met in middle school and became friends with Tamir “Nokio” Ruffin. By 1994, Larry “Jazz” Anthony joined the group. Which went through various names—Storm and then Legacy. Their repertoire consisted mostly of gospel music at the time and the boys would sing while customers waited for their orders. The boys caught the attention of local talent manager Kevin Peck and performed during Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater. The group officially became known as a gospel group after a recording deal with Elektra Records went bust. In 1995 the president of Island Black Music saw the foursome at a talent show and were flown to the big
DRU HILL apple to record the song “Tell Me” for the soundtrack for the movie, “Eddie,” starring Whoppi Goldberg. The song had been recorded by former BlackStreet member Dave Hollister who was trying to make waves as a solo performer, but when the record company president heard Legacy Hollister’s vocals were dumped and Legacy was signed that night. Once the group was signed to Island Records, it was suggested that its name be changed to Dru Hill to represent Druid Hill Park, which is located on Baltimore’s west side. A dragon is used to symbolize the group. Dru Hill’s self-titled debut album went platinum in 1996 and the group’s sophomore release, 1998’s “Enter the Dru” surpassed it and went double platinum. The group, which has seven top40 hits and has won various awards including the Soul Train Music Award for Best R & B/1Soul Album Group,
Band or Duo in 1998, helped launch the career of many new artists including Mya whose first two singles were co-written by Sisqo. The group broke up to focus on solo endeavors after releasing the commercially disappointing “Dru World Order.” In 2002, Dru Hill’s blondhaired front-man, Sisqo released his debut solo album, “Unleash the Dragon.” The record sold more than 51 million copies (more than any of Dru Hill’s records). James “Woody Rock” Green also branched out on his own, released a gospel album that attained moderate success on the gospel charts. Following the solo projects, Dru Hill reunited and added singer Rufus “Scola” Waller who took Woody Rock’s position in the group. Scola remained a member of Dru Hill from 2002-2008 sang lead on such Dru Hill songs as “I Should Be” and “I Love You.” Now the ’90s heartthrobs want to help their fans con-
tinue making memories. The quartet recently reunited and brought in new member Antwuan “Tao Soprano” Simpson in 2008. It was surreal for Simpson who grew up listening to Dru Hill’s music in high school to suddenly be a member of the group. “It’s a dream. You don’t expect it. I never really thought it would come to reality. It happened so fast. One night I was auditioning for them and the next night we were in Miami. Everything was a blur. I loved their music and I listened to it as a teen coming up so that was easy for me I didn’t have to learn anything new because I had all their albums. I’m having fun and I’m here now working hard,” said Tao who beat out 28 other hopefuls during the Dru Idol contest at the Belvedere Hotel to find the next Dru Hill member. “We blend well together. From day one we blended and
we’re having fun. This is like vocal acrobats. We’re all brothers. We have our good days and our bad days but we have a good time and we enjoy life.” “I could never fill Woody shoes he’s his own entity. I love the love that the Dru Hill fans have sent me in the beginning. A group of that stature fans don’t always accept you because they are used to one thing going on,” Tao continued. “When I came a lot of people would come out of the crowd and say we love you. I just brought my flavor and it just happened that the fans like it.” The group has performed in Germany, Japan and Africa to wide acclaim. When stateside, Dru Hill sometimes performs in the same city two or three times a year and their fans come out in full force to support them. “Who don’t like Dru Hill?” said Firecards.LLC promoter Paulishsa Hodges who helped Firecards. LLC owner Len Jordam bring the group to Pittsburgh. “They have a fan base and they have many, many albums. They have reunited and are coming back strong. You never lose that fan base.” “Dru Hill is part of my history,” said the West End’s Mira Praytor who got the chance to see them during the Pittsburgh stop. “I have always loved their music.” In 2010 Dru Hill released “in Drupendence Day,” the group’s first independently released record. It was released on Sisqo’s Dragon Records label. In addition to touring, Dru Hill is currently working on an album to commemorate its 20th anniversary.
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
July
Former Pittsburgh resident and former Courier writer/photographer C Nathaniel Brown makes a new statement with his 8th publication entitled Shift Happens Then You Live”. It’s a self help book that explores the unexpected and probable changes that occur in one’s life and gives perspective on how to view and handle them. C. Nathaniel Brown, now a 4 year Georgia resident, is an author and publisher who recently held a Book Sign-
Pittsburgh Improv Jam The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents its Pittsburgh Improv Jam at 10 p.m. at Cabaret at Theater Square, 655 Penn Ave., Cultural District. Every Thursday patrons can enjoy a night of spontaneous, comedic scenes inspired by audience suggestions and performed by experienced improvisers. This is a 21 and older event. For more information, call 412456-6666 or visit www.trustarts.org.
National Jazz Workshop
NICOLE NARCAEZ MANNS—She is wife, mother of two and vice president and manager at BNY Mellon.
Friday 31 Wall Paintings The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents “Wall Paintings” at SPACE, 812 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. Twelve artists created a large painting directly on walls of the gallery using standard latex paint. Artists include Alphonso Sloan, Ramon Riley and Steve Prince, just to name a few. The exhibit will run through Aug. 30. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 412-456-6666 or visit www.trustarts.org.
Saturday 1 Riverview Jazz Citiparks presents the Riverview Jazz Series from 78:30 p.m. at Riverview Park, North Side. Each Saturday, guests can beat the summer heat with the cool sounds of some of Pittsburgh’s best jazz musicians. The featured musician will be John Hall. The concerts are free. For more information, call 412-255-2493 or visit www.citiparks.net.
Sunday 2 Summer Soul Line Dancing Citiparks presents its Summer Soul Line Dancing from 79 p.m. at Highland Park, Highland and Reservoir Drives, Highland Park. Every Sunday in August following the Sunday Reservoir of Jazz concert series, instructor Roland Ford will incorporate R&B music in line dancing classes that begin with basic steps and finish with more advanced moves. The featured guest will be the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra. For more information, visit www.Citiparks.net.
Monday 3 Savoy Jazz Savoy Restaurant presents Savoy Jazz Mondays from 5-9 p.m. at 2623 Penn Ave., Strip District. Every Monday guests can enjoy live jazz in a sophisticated atmosphere by some of the city’s most talented jazz performers. The attire is business casual. For more information, call 412-281-0660 or visit www.savoypgh.com.
Tuesday 4 JazzLive The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents JazzLive at 5 p.m. at the Backstage Bar at Theater Square, 655 Penn Ave., Cultural District. Every Tuesday, guests can enjoy a free live jazz series that showcases some of the region’s finest jazz musicians. The evening’s musician will be Dwayne Dolphin. For more information, call 412456-6666 or visit www.trustarts.org.
Wednesday 5 Jazz Wednesdays City of Asylum presents “Jazz Wednesdays: Summer on Sampsonia” from 7-9 p.m. at the Alphabet City Tent, 318 Sampsonia Way, North Side. Every Wednesday, through Sept. 16, a series of free jazz concerts will be held featuring icon Roger Humphries and his band, RH Factor. Performances are free, open to the public and BYOB. Reservations are not required, but strongly encouraged. For more information, visit www.cityofasylum.org/events.
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Brown comes home for book release/signing
Thursday 30
Duquesne University presents the National Jazz Workshop. Through July 31, students and educators will enjoy information from and performances by some of the greatest jazz musicians. There will be an evening performance by the jazz band The Firm Roots at 7:30 p.m. at University, the Power Center Ballroom, 600 Forbes Ave., Uptown. There will be several concerts throughout the week. For more information, visit www.cmcpgh.org/njw.
JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
ARTS & CULTURE
FAMILY SUPPORT—C. Nathaniel Brown with family.
C. NATHANIEL BROWN WITH BOOK (Photos by Jackie McDonald)
ing Event at the Penn Hills Comfort Inn. Accompanying him was Nicole Narvaez Manns, a Penn Hills resident who presented her newly published book entitled “Here’s Your Script,” another self help book offering scenarios and appropriate dialog with management and superiors to achieve promotion, salary increase and a better inter-personal work relationship. The event was hosted by EX3 Books.
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JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
RELIGION
Praise & Worship HILLCREST SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 2340 Wylie Ave., Pgh., PA 15219 412-391-4334 412-566-8757
“Be Encouraged”
Elder Christopher C. Thompson Power Hour Sabbath..............8:15 A.M. Sabbath School.......................9:00 A.M. Divine Worship.....................11:00 A.M. AYS One Hour Before Sunset Prayer Meeting Wednesday....7:30 P.M.
ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Mass Sunday 9:00 A.M. & 11 A.M. Sunday (Gospel Choir Mass) 11:00 A.M. www.stbtmchurch.org
METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH 22 Sampsonia Street, Northside Pittsburgh., PA 15212 412-231-2554 FAX 412-231-6395 Rev. Lacy F. Richardson, Ph.D., Pastor
THE WINNERS—From left: first place and people’s choice winner Janina Simone, third place winner Jimyse Brown and second place winner Keith Claiborne. (Photos by J. L. Martello)
WELCOME—Lisa Strothers Upsher, MOTTEP program director and multicultural and faith based community outreach coordinator
Pledge for Life Gospel Idol contest
Church School.....................................9:30 A.M. Worship Service.....................8:00 & 10:45 A.M. Bible Study/ Prayer Wednesday.......................6:30/7:30 P.M. www.metropolitanbaptistchurchpgh.com metropolitanbaptist2224@gmail.com
SIXTH MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH 6556 Shetland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 441-7839 Church School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:15 a.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study 6:00 p.m.
East Liberty PresbyterianChurch Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800
ALISHA MURRAY Contestant
GESSYE GINELLE SAFOU-MAT Contestant
116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 www.cathedralofhope.org
Sanctuary Worship.........10 a.m.
Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext 40. We are looking to
DAVION TRAYLOR Contestant
JANINA SIMONE Contestant
ANGELIQUE STROTHERS Contestant The Center for Organ Recovery & Education and its Pittsburgh Multicultural Volunteer Task Force presented Pledge for Life Gospel Idol, a singing competition that features performances in the following categories: gospel singing, Christian rap, mime, spoken word and liturgical dance, on July 25 at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Bishop Loran Mann of Pentecostal Temple Church, in East Liberty, served as the Master of Ceremonies. The event was held in celebration of National Minority Organ Donor Awareness Week, Aug. 1-8. After combing through a number of ssubmissions, the top 10 finalists performs live at the event, where first, second, third place winners were selected by a panel of judges.
KELLY ROUSE Contestant
CORINTHIA RIGGS Contestant
KEITH CLAIBORNE Contestant
AARON CROUCH Contestant
Church Circuit Community Day JULY 29—Macedonia Baptist Church, 17 Cochran St., Duquesne, will host a Community Day at 7 p.m. This is an opportunity to come out and be blessed. For more information, call 412-4667422.
Kennywood Ticket Sale JULY 29—The Rachel Randall Education Department of Pentecostal Temple COGIC, 6300 E. Liberty Blvd., E. Liberty, will host the selling of Ride All Day tickets for Kennywood Park. Pentecostal
Temple Family Day will be held July 29. For more information, call 412-371-6268 or email gzusislove@comcast.net.
Youth Retreat AUG. 1—The Youth Department of Morningside COGIC, 5173 Dearborn St., Garfield,
will host a Youth Revival from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The theme is “It’s Your Time!” During the day there will be workshops designed for youth of all ages. They will consist of music, praise and worship, dance, mime and life skills. A continental breakfast will be served. For more information, call Sandra Tally at 412-361-9865.
Vacation Bible School
feature our positive youth in the church communities. You can e-mail, fax or mail their bios and photo to:
New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Fax: 412-481-1360 e-mail:
egaines@newpittsburghcourier.com
Ave., Homewood, will host its August Revival at 7 p.m. Every Wednesday in August Shiloh will worship with the theme “Revive Us Again Lord.” Guest preachers include Rev. Dr. Sedric Veal, Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis, Rev. Dr. Lance D. Watson and Bishop Randolph McKissick. All are welcome. For more information, call 412-441-8710 or visit www.scmbcpittsburgh.org.
Music on the Hill
AUG. 2—Beulah Presbyterian Church, 2500 McCrady Rd., Churchill, will host its Vacation Bible School from 6-8 p.m. The theme is “GForce, God’s Love in Action.” Children age 4 through 6th grade will participate in activities that include Bible stories, crafts, music, a mission project, snack and more. Registration is requested. For more information, call Carolyn Leah at 412-242-4570 ext. 17 or visit www.beulahpresby.org.
AUG. 8—Beulah Presbyterian Church, 2500 McCrady Rd., Churchill, will host “An Evening with Beulah’s Musicians” at 4 p.m. This is part of the church’s 5th season of the Music on the Hill series. Six talented members of the congregation and staff members will perform Christian contemporary music, worship classics and original songs. For more information, call 412-242-4570 or visit www.beulahpresby.org.
Vacation Bible School
Annual Women’s Conference
AUG. 3—Morningside COGIC, 5173 Dearborn St., Garfield, will host its Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The theme will be “Shinning Star: See the Jesus in me.” Breakfast and lunch will be served daily. Through Aug. 7, attendees will learn the stories of the Bible. Registration is requested on the day of the event. For more information, call Sandra Tally at 412-3619865.
August Revival AUG. 5—Shiloh Community Missionary Baptist Church, 6940 Frankstown
AUG. 14—King’s Daughters Ministry of Morning Star Baptist Church, 812 Oak St., West Mifflin, will host its Annual Women’s Conference. This three-day event, which runs through July 16, will offer women an opportunity to praise the Lord while enjoying fun and fellowship. For more information, call 412461-7861. (To have items listed on the Church Circuit, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412481-1360 or e-mail: newsroom@newpittsburghcourier. com.)
New Pittsburgh Courier
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Inside Conditions
BUSINESS JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
C
Urban League hosts Financial Literacy Education Symposium
FINANCIAL LITERACY SYMPOSIUM—Many people go to the experts to learn more about finance.
by Paige Mitchell
Find what you need from jobs to cars to housing C4-C5
Classifieds
For New Pittsburgh Courier
The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s Bank on Greater Pittsburgh, in partnership with Neighborhood Allies, held a free Financial Literacy Symposium from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Hosanna House in Wilkinsburg, on July 25. The event included a full agenda of informative sessions to aid people in managing their money. “I know money can be a sensitive topic for a lot of people, because people don’t like to discuss what’s in their pockets and bank accounts,” attendee Tonya Garrett said, “But this event was enjoyable, because it focused on providing us with useful tips and knowledge of how to manage our income better regardless your yearly salary.” The keynote speaker for the event was, Maura Attardi. Attardi is the Director of Education and Community Relations at Money Manage-
TAKING NOTES—Deroris Whitt of Homewood taking notes on some financial advise from one of the speakers.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY—Anthony Reynolds of the West End comes out to teach his kids about financial responsibility.
Attardi enjoys traveling the world sharing her expert opinion, in hopes to create a financial ease in relationships and families everywhere. “Longterm financial success is not determined by the amount of income earned, but how that income is spent,” Attardi said. Some of the topics and sessions discussed during the event was, “Emotional Spending,” “Financial Stress Busters,” “Get Started on Your Path to Financial Stability,” “Budgeting and Cost Cutting,” and more. A free lunch was provided to all attendees from Miss Jean’s Southern Cuisine. Prize drawings that included prizes such as; iPads, Kennywood Amusement Park tickets, movie tickets, and gift certificates. While guests were also entertained by a musical performance under the direction of, Trini Massie. The event was free and EMOTIONAL SPENDING—Tammy Thompson, proprietor of Thomas Real Estate Consulting Development, speaks about “emo- open to the public to attional spending.” tend.
ment International, currently the largest nonprofit full-service credit counseling agency in the nation. Attardi specializes in educating professional athletes including the Pittsburgh Steelers, NCAA, and WWE. Attardi has provided financial education to nearly 16,000 over the past five years. She is certified by the Credit Data Industry Association in the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Before joining MMI, she had a successful career serving both in the classroom and in leadership roles at a variety of nonprofit organizations throughout the state of New Jersey. It is her vast experience in both fields of education and finance that has positioned her as a notable presenter and educator within financial education literacy.
AMONG LISTENERS—Esther Bush and Howard Slaughter are among the many others listening to the speakers on finances. (Photos by J.L. Martello)
Despite stellar record, CFPB remains under attack (NNPA)—In everyday life, birthdays and anniversaries of many sorts are observed and celebrated. When it comes to consumer finance, there are two more anniversaries worth celebrating. Congress enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act on July 21, 2010 in response to the largest national economic challenge since the Great Depression. A key goal was and remains to protect the nation and its taxpayers from ever again bearing the financial burdens of risky deals by Wall Street and other private financial players. The following year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau opened its doors to serve the needs of America’s consumers. Before the CFPB, no single federal agency had consumers as its sole priority and focus. To date, the Bureau has benefited 17 million consumers through a total of $10.1 billion in financial relief. More than 650,000 consumers have chosen to use its flexible complaint system that includes the options of online, written and telephone complaints in multiple languages. On the enforcement side, CFPB’s actions have addressed multiple violations in different lending areas: In 2013 Chase Bank USA, N.A. and JP-
Morgan Chase Earlier this year, Bank, N.A. was or$480 million in debt Charlene Crowell dered to refund an relief to student estimated $309 loan borrowers who million to more were wronged by than 2.1 million the now-defunct customers for illeCorinthian Colgal credit card leges. practices. In recent days, the The following CFPB announced year, Flagstar Bank two additional enwas fined $37.5 million for violating the forcement actions involving illegal and CFPB’s mortgage servicing rules by illedeceptive credit card violations, and angally blocking 6,500 borrowers’ attempts other for illegal private student loan serto save their homes. vicing practices. As a result, Citigroup That same year, Colfax Capital Corpowas ordered to refund $700 million to 8.8 ration and Culver Capital, LLC, also col- million consumers and pay separate fines lectively known as “Rome Finance,” was totaling $35 million. Discover Bank and ordered to pay $92 million in debt relief its affiliates will refund $16 million to to 17,000 service members and other con- consumers, pay a $2.5 million penalty sumers for masking high-cost financing and improve its billing, student loan incharges on artificially-inflated costs for terest reporting and collection practices. goods and services. Additionally, 30 million consumers ACE Cash Express, operating over plagued by debt collectors now have the 1,500 storefront payday locations in 36 chance to be treated fairly because of states, was ordered in 2014 to pay $10 CFPB’s first-time ever supervision of million in restitution and penalties for its debt collection companies. The 12 million threats of criminal prosecution and inconsumers who borrow payday loans will timidating phone calls that “create a soon have more protection by a CFPB sense of urgency” when contacting delin- rule that addresses the myriad abuses quent borrowers. wrought by triple-digit interest rates.
Commentary
This and other abundant data suggest that America’s consumers are well-served by its four-year old consumer cop-on-thebeat. Despite CFPB’s productivity, its critics have remained steadfastly opposed. Dozens of bills have been introduced to undermine its independence, its rules to protect against unfair deceptive and discriminatory practices, and its authority to oversee financial services such as payday lenders and auto finance companies. When the Bureau took action against auto lenders who participated in pricing schemes that charged Black and Latino borrowers more for their loans, congressional critics organized threatening letters questioning their rationale and motives. And when the Bureau adopted new rules to rein in abuses in mortgage lending, those same critics rushed to file bills to weaken the rules and return to the very practices that lead up to the foreclosure crisis. Fortunately, none of the attacks have made it into law. At a July 8 Brookings forum that focused on the Wall Street reform law, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew was asked SEE RECORD C2
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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
BUSINESS
BUSINESS CALENDAR
What happened to government’s small biz loans?
Lunch and Learn Series JULY 30— The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host its Lunch & Learn Series at 12:15 p.m. at the Downtown & Business Branch, 612 Smithfield St., Downtown. The topic will be “Small Business Research.” Attendees will learn how the library’s access to comprehensive print materials, e-resources and services for small business startups can help them open their business. For more information, call 412-281-7141 or visit www.carnegielibrary.org.
by Joyce M. Rosenberg AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP)—The government’s biggest small business loan program is on hold after running out of money. The Small Business Administration’s 7(a) loan reached the limit set by Congress on the amount of money it can guarantee in a fiscal year. With more than two months to go in the current year, businesses will have to wait for loan approvals until lawmakers raise the program’s $18.75 billion ceiling. The Senate passed a bill late Thursday night, but the program remains on hold until the House acts. What you need to know about what’s happening with the 7(a) loan program: *** WHY DID THE SBA STOP APPROVING LOANS? Business owners are increasingly upbeat about the economy and their companies, and that’s making them apply for more bank loans, including those backed by the SBA. Because of that surge in borrowing, the SBA at midday Thursday reached the $18.75 billion limit set by Congress on the amount of 7(a) loans it can guarantee in a fiscal year. There are a little more than two months to go before the fiscal year ends Sept. 30; Congress must raise the 7(a) ceiling for the money to flow again. There is some good news in what’s happening at the SBA. The limit was reached early because owners are willing to take on risks including loans after hunkering down during the recession and its aftermath. Last year, the SBA didn’t approach the 7(a) limit until September, but Congress raised the ceiling before it was reached. *** CAN BUSINESSES STILL APPLY FOR LOANS? AND WHAT HAPPENS TO LOANS ALREADY SUBMITTED TO THE SBA? Yes, banks will continue to process applications and send them to the SBA. And SBA staffers will review the applications. What they can’t do is approve loans—they’ll be putting the applications into a queue, and when lending authority is restored, approvals will resume, SBA Associate Administrator Ben Chang said. Loans that were being processed before the ceiling was reached won’t be affected; their approvals won’t have to wait for Congress to act, according to SBA Press Secretary Miguel Ayala. *** WHICH SBA LOANS ARE AFFECTED? The 7(a) program, which guarantees loans for starting or buying a company, purchasing or improving property or equipment or running a company’s day-to-day operations. The SBA Express program, which promises a quick approval, and Veterans Advantage loans, designed for veterans and their spouses, are also on hold because they are part of the 7(a) program. The SBA’s 504 loan program, which backs loans to buy or develop property including real estate, is not affected. Nor are the SBA Microloan Program, which provides loans up to $50,000, or SBA disaster loans. Funding for those loans is separate from the 7(a) program. *** DID THIS COME AS A SURPRISE? No. SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet warned several members of Congress in June that the 7(a) program had reached 75 percent of its lending authority in the first three quarters of the fiscal year, and that the fourth quarter tends to be the program‘s busiest time. *** WHAT IS CONGRESS DOING? The Senate passed a bill to raise the ceiling to $23.5 billion. Now it’s up to the House to act.
Final Fridays
50 CENT
Black America’s wealth illusion: 50 Cent and the presentation of Black celebrity For New Pittsburgh Courier
50 CENT ways undercutting the far reaching truth that is not the case. Now the question that must be asked is larger than whether 50 Cent has money in the bank, but rather whether the Horatio Alger bootstrap story he has been part of selling to Black America holds truth. As stated by 50 Cent during testimony, “I take the jewelry and the cars back to the stores, … It’s like music videos, they say action and you see all these fancy cars but everything goes back to the dealership”, essentially admitting part of his business is to portray an illusion of wealth. Unlike traditional forms of wealth that are highly measurable through resource measuring. Land transfer records, publicly traded corporate financials and other recording tools. Many Black celebrities make money on shows, album sales, licensing and appearances. They are then presented to us as far wealthier on paper, then they are in reality. 50 Cent’s admission should lead us to wonder what is the true measure of Black wealth in America? Bob Lord wrote an explosive piece framing the context of the national African American financial situation stating, “The net worth of just 400
billionaires, a group that could fit into a high school gym, is on par with the collective wealth of the more than 14 million AfricanAmerican households…” If we were to then analyze just a small sample of these wealthy billionaires businesses, few if any include performing for anyone. In the top ten of the list we have Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Larry Ellison, The Walmart Family, the Koch Brothers and Michael Bloomberg. The Harvard Business Review gave a backdrop to this analysis at a more economically visual level for the everyday Black family. “If you’re white and have a net worth of about $356,000, that’s good enough to put you in the 72nd percentile of white families. If you’re black, it’s good enough to catapult you into the 95th percentile.” Meaning only 700,000 of the over 14 million Black households have more than 356,000.00 in total assets. In contrast, of the nearly 83 million White households, over 23 million have more than $356,000 dollars in net assets. So with 50 Cent’s wealth holdings not holding up to task, this should leave us all to wonder about the true state of Black America’s financial state overall.
Despite record, CFPB remains under attack CONTINUED FROM C1
by a reporter about the effort to abolish CFPB. “I will say, for all of the concerns that a lot of people had early in its history, as they’ve taken action there’s been broad, overwhelming support for the fact that they’ve done things in a careful and sensible way, listening to all sides,” said Secretary Lew. “So I think if you kind of step away from the debate that took place before the CFPB was created and look at the track record, it should put to rest a lot of that controversy.” Others who agree with Treasury Secretary have
also spoken up in its defense. “The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has built an unprecedented record of success protecting our nation’s consumers and service members who have been victimized by unscrupulous corporations and financial institutions, noted Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the Ranking Member on the House Financial Services Committee and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. “The CFPB has been, and continues to be, party to a wide array of enforcement actions related to practices that disproportionately af-
fect communities of color, including deceptive marketing, unlawful debt collection, discrimination, unlawful fees and fraudulent mortgage relief schemes,” continued Waters. A recent consumer survey by the Center for Responsible Lending and Americans for Financial Reform found that although anger at banks and other financial services companies has moderated over their role in the housing crisis, broad and bipartisan support for CFPB remains. When consumers self-identified as likely 2016 voters were asked to choose between more and less reg-
Resume Assistance AUG. 1—The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host its Job & Career: Resume Assistant by Appointment from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Downtown & Business Branch, 612 Smithfield St., Downtown. Qualified volunteers and staff are available to help one develop a strong resume and cover letter so that they can land that all-important interview. Appointments must be scheduled. For more information, call 412-281-7141 or visit www.carnegielibrary.org.
Business Succession Planning
by Antonio Moore Rapper 50 Cent recently admitted under oath that he is insolvent, filings show he is in debt to creditors to the tune of over $28 million dollars, and not worth the reported $155 million dollars Forbes had him pegged at earlier this year. Many have stated he is lying, pointing to purported business practices used to hide assets in bankruptcy. But I believe in the essence of the quote by Maya Angelou, “When someone shows you who they are believe them…” Or in this case when someone tells you under oath what they have, believe them. This presentation versus reality brings to the forefront a poignant example of the illusion of Black wealth that has set upon America’s modern racial story. I wrote about this last year in a Huffington Post piece entitled the “Decadent Veil,” in which I described how America veils the struggles of the large mass of Black America financially, with the success of a few Black celebrities. Despite a large section of the 14 million Black households drowning in poverty and debt the stories of a few are told as if they represent those of millions, not thousands. It is this new veil of economics that has allowed for a broad swath of America to become not just desensitized to Black poverty, but also hypnotized by Black celebrity. How could we not? Our channels from ESPN to VH1 are filled with presentations of Black Americans being paid a king’s ransom to entertain. As Black celebrity has been shown to millions of people, millions of times, the story of real lives has also been lost, and with it the engine that thrust forward the demand for social justice by the masses. Yet, 50 Cent’s admission adds a new twist, by challenging whether the presentation of Black celebrity’s wealth holdings across media is in and of itself real. In the paradigm of believed Black wealth, in people’s minds he along with Jay Z, Dr Dre, Michael Jordan and Sean Combs balanced out the massive amount of economic failure we see with young Black males as a whole, by being an example that with limited education and no family resource you could still be immensely wealthy in this country. In many
JULY 31—The Hill Community Development Corp. will host its Final Fridays Happy Hour at 5:30 p.m. at Savoy Lounge, 2623 Penn Ave., Strip District. The last Friday of every month through August, the Hill CDC will welcome guests to learn more about their programs and the Hill District community. For more information, call 412-765-1820.
ulation of financial companies 71 percent side with more, and 20 percent with less. Additionally, 64 percent of these voters saw a need for an agency charged with protecting consumers against dangerous financial products. So it seems that public sentiment sides with CFPB continuing its important work to protect consumer credit and finances. “I’m truly proud of the CFPB’s outstanding success on behalf of our nation’s active-duty military, restoring tens of millions to service members. And I applaud the
Bureau for the work it’s doing to rein in payday lenders that have turned a business intended to help hard working consumers stay out of financial trouble into one that often creates trouble instead,” added Congresswoman Waters. “I am hopeful that soon, the CFPB will eventually yield a strong and simple rule that protects our lowincome and minority communities from unaffordable rates and unfair terms,” she concluded. (Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at 919-3138523.)
AUG. 4—The University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence will host “Getting Your Business Ready for Succession Planning” from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at 535 Smithfield St., #1300, Downtown. Business succession planning is crucial to assure that any business, especially a family business, passes to the owner’s designated successor with minimal disruption to the business. Attorneys Meyer, Unkovic and Scott will give their 10 ups to ensuring a smooth and effective succession and to go over the legal side of succession, such as reviewing contracts and policies, and pay practices for legal confidence. This is an informative session for any business owner wanting to learn more about how to successfully transition one’s business. Registration is required. For more information, email Rachel LaMarco at rlamarco@innovation.pitt.edu.
Resume Assistance AUG. 4—The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host its Job & Career: Resume Assistant by Appointment from 6-8 p.m. at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh East Liberty Branch, 130 S. Whitfield ST., East Liberty. Qualified volunteers and staff are available to help one develop a strong resume and cover letter so that they can land that all-important interview. Appointments must be scheduled. For more information, call 412-363-8232 or email eastliberty@carnegielibrary.org.
First Step AUG. 7—The Small Business Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh will host its “The First Step: The Mechanics of Starting a Small Business” from 7:30-10 a.m. at the University of Pittsburgh, Mervis Hall, Roberto Clemente Drive, Oakland. This session is designed for new business startups and entrepreneurs. Attendees will learn about business structure and formation, insurance, government, procurement, financing options, major components of the business plan, taxation, requirements and more. Registration is required. For more information, call 412-648-1544 or visit www.entrepreneur.pitt.edu.
Small Business Basics Workshop AUG. 8—Chatham University’s Women’s Entrepreneurship and SCORE Pittsburgh will host a Small Business Basics Workshop from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Chatham University, Woodland Road, Shadyside. This is a workshop for women interested in starting a business or expanding their current one. Industry experts will discuss business planning, financing, bookkeeping, marketing and legal issues pertaining to small business. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. Registration is required. For more information, visit www.chatham.edu/cwe. (To have information on Business Calendar, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412-481-1360 or e-mail: newsroom@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
New Pittsburgh Courier
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The Quilt of History by Aubrey Bruce For New Pittsburgh Courier
[fab-rik] /?fæb r?k/ noun: 1. a cloth made by weaving, knitting, or felting fibers. 2. The texture of the woven, knitted, or felted material. 3 The method of construction. [kwilt] /kw?lt/ noun: 1. a coverlet for a bed, made of two layers of fabric with some soft substance, as wool or down, between them and stitched in patterns or tufted through all thick-
Upon its completion a finished quilt was usually a piece of living breathing art. St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA has been the “basic” training camp for the Steelers athletes/gladiators to prepare for the NFL season. During the preceding 49 years that veterans and rookies alike spent at Latrobe, there were many players, writers, and photographers of many shapes, sizes and colors that inhab-
Inside Conditions nesses in order to prevent the filling from shifting. Most people who are 55 and younger may or may not remember when a few grandmothers, aunts, cousins and great aunts would get together and throw quilting parties. The ladies would bring an assortment of old clothes, fabrics and even rags that were about to be discarded and cut the cloth into many shapes and sizes, turning useless pieces of cloth into a “rainbow of comfort” commonly known as a quilt.
ited the playing field hoping to leave training camp on the Steelers team bus as opposed to a Greyhound or Trailway’s vehicle. Also many aspiring sports writers, (myself included) patrolled the sacred grounds looking for that breaking story or that timeless quote, while simultaneously trying to monitor the actions of “the turk,” the messenger of doom for the late Steelers coaching legend Chuck Noll. From what I can tell, “the turk” mirrored the personality of his boss, few words for
50th ANNIVERSARY MEDIA PHOTO the departing and sometimes even less verbiage for those who may have been fortunate enough to make the team. Art Rooney II, talked about his training camp exploits as a ball boy along with Bill (Bubby) Nunn III; “stealing Joe Greene’s car one night” after hours when both teenagers should have been fast asleep as opposed
to out joyriding in the “borrowed” vehicle of the man that many people considered the meanest player in all of professional football, “mean” Joe Greene. Joe Greene who at that time in the eyes of many trained observers, may or may not have been missing a few bricks from the wagon. Although Greene was born and raised in
Texas, I seriously doubt that he was given that such a fearsome nickname as the result of sitting on the porch in the scorching Texas sun, sipping mint juleps and whistling Dixie. In lieu of that fact, after Art Rooney II, spoke about that incident I would surmise that from this point forward that his bravery should probably never be
questioned. Fifty years of covering the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp at St. Vincent College. My, my, my, my: time truly travels at warp speed when you’re having fun. (Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412-583-6741. He is also a contributing columnist with urbanmediatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter@ultrascribe.)
Stallions allows athletes to run at their own pace by Smokin’ Jim Frazier For New Pittsburgh Courier
A lot of very good organizations or clubs have been introduced by very few can stand the test of time. In 2007, The Stallions Track Club had a membership of only 15 youth athletes. In 2015, the club has grown to nearly 70 athletes from various school districts. The Stallions Track Club wants to provide each athlete the opportunity to reach his/her full potential by developing endurance, strength, self-esteem, discipline, personal accountability and goal achievement. The club seeks to encourage positive attitude, good sportsmanship and respect. The goal is to develop wellrounded individuals who will learn the fundamentals of athletic training along with the importance of education, community service and leadership skills. The Stallions Track Club is a non-profit organization and the kids practice at Robert Morris University and promotes youth between the ages of 8–18 improve their track and field skills and who aspire to be a champion. Head Coach and Founder
STALLIONS JR. OLYMPIC TEAM (Photo supplied by Stallions) Terry Fisher formed the Stallions in 2002. His vision was a family-oriented team to provide children with a fun and worthwhile activity. The Stallions have runners from all over the Beaver Valley, Moon, Sewickley areas, among others, taking part in competitions. Fisher’s track career ended when he was 14, because he wanted to concentrate on playing high school and college football. Who is Terry Fisher? He is
the man responsible for guiding the careers of hundreds of runners since the turn of the century. In the winter, kids, in the summer more kids. Fisher is forever surrounded by kids. The current roster includes nearly 70 youngsters between the ages of 8 to 18. The notable exception is his coaching assistants and volunteer parents. “My oldest son showed at a very early age that he had
special track and field talents and I wanted to get involved to help him to reach his full potential, so in 2002 we started the track club,” said coach Fisher. “My brother Tyrone Fisher, is the co-founder, and one of our coaches along with Coach Bruce Thomas and Coach Ron Newton and some others over the years. We have a great group of parents who volunteer and help with the fundraising.”
The Club’s vision is to provide a program that embraces all children regardless of cultural or socioeconomic backgrounds. As a result of their mission and vision they are required to obtain funding through direct corporate and individual donors to absorb the operational cost associated with maintaining the club. The Stallion Track Club is an associated club of the USATF Three Rivers Asso-
ciation. The Stallions compete in every developmental meet sponsored by the Three Rivers Association, as well as Regional and National competitions for athletes who quality. Twenty members of the Stallions Track Club will travel to Norfolk, VA this year to participate in the AAU Jr. Olympics from August 2-8. The Club is looking for help in raising money to assist the athletes with travel expenses and participation fees. “My son Gavin is only 10years-old and he has qualified for Jr. Olympics in the Javelin,” said Maria Eshenbaugh. “We are in the Quaker Valley school district, but we have runners from all over the area. Coach Terry Fisher gets respect from all the kids.” In addition over 20 past and present Stallions Track Club runners have earned both academic and athletic scholarships to colleges and universities to pursue their competitive and academic dreams. (If you wish to obtain more information about the Stallion Track Club, please use the contact the coach tab located on their website at: www.stallionstrackclub.com.)
‘Overtime’…Terrell Pryor may be changing positions by Bill Neal For New Pittsburgh Courier
:10—Alright, we gotta get right to it today. I don’t have much time to play with y’all. On my way to Steelers training camp right now, so here’s the Overtime you know and love…short and sweet. (Well, I know it’s how Ulish Carter likes it.) :09—Hey, wrapping up the Terrell Pryor story, I got sidetracked with the Pryor family cookout in my home town of Donora, Pa. Word in the locker room says Terrell may be thinking about converting to wide receiver and was spotted working out with NFL legend Randy Moss. I hope it’s true. I think “T.P.” would be unstoppable at that, but like I said before, it’s his call. His life. I just wish him the best. (I can also wish that he’s in black and gold lined up opposite Antonio Holmes. Now that’s music I can dance to!) (By the way people, I suppose you know that if Terrell Pryor wanted to play in the NBA, he could join a team in the Developmental League tomorrow and be playing in the NBA inside of a year…he’s that great of an athlete :08—The Annual Armon Gilliam Memorial “Hard Work” basketball camp com-
BILL NEAL ing to the Penn Hills YMCA, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15 and 16, 9a.m. – 4 p.m., each day for boys and girls ages 8-16 years. Only $25 for the weekend, includes supervision from former college and pro players and coaches, t-shirt, lunch both days, skills and drills and plenty of games. Parents are welcome to stay and watch. Special guests include Myron Brown, Minnesota Timberwolves, Gerald “Scoot” Warwick of the Harlem Wizards, B.B. Flenory, Boston Celtics and Camp Director Warren Wilson, Connie Hawkins League MVP and European League. Call 412-628-4856 for information right away. Only 100 spots available. :07—Special note, this year’s Armon Gilliam camp will feature very special guests Marcus Robinson and the Pitts-
burgh Bullets and will be sponsored by Chuck Sanders Charities, KBK Enterprises, Highmark, Penn Avenue McDonald’s, Attorneys William and Jack Goodrich, the Office of Chief Executive of Allegheny County and the Office of District Attorney Stephen Zappala. :06—Just be happy the Pirates will finish in second Place. St. Louis is not going to lose enough games for the Pirates to catch them. Well, they could if the Pirates could stop losing…know what I mean? Oh forget it! :05—I’ll make it easy for ya…movie time! Southpaw, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, was fantastic. Everything you could want in a movie and more. 4 basketballs. C’mon, you know 5 are hard to come by. :04—And if you don’t know by now, Pittsburgh’s own world champion Rayco “War” Saunders has a great role in the movie and does a great job. Way to go champ! :03—Men’s USA soccer team lost. It’s over. That’s all I can tell ya!!! :02—Congratulations to owner/player/coach Teresa Conn and the Pittsburgh Passion. They won a second national title…they are back-toback pro-football champions. :01—Final Call! ATTEN-
TION…ATTENTION…ATT ENTION…“It’s Summer Madness Monday” All City League folks, players, coaches, teachers, the next Old School Par-Tay is coming up Monday, Aug. 17, at the fabulous Blue Line Grille Uptown, VIP upper level – amazing outside deck – the old school sounds of special guest D.J. – free hors D’oeuvres early on – cash bar
– cash kitchen - 50/50 – prizes and surprises – valet parking – street and garage parking – line dancing with the line dance king Roland Ford and Bill Ford and the ballroom dancers and a chance to kick it with Old City League friends - get your tickets early, first come/first seat. Last month was standing room only. For information, call 412-628-
4856 or see the City League Legends for your tickets. Chuck Franklin 412- 9018495 – Vince Neal 412-3525304 – Fred Lucas 412-9997664. Proceeds benefit the Pittsburgh City League AllSports Hall of Fame and Achieving Greatness Safe Summer Programs. Cost for the event is $10 in advance, $15 at the door. ~ GAME OVER ~
New Pittsburgh Courier
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JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
PRODUCTION SPECIALIST WPXI-TV
This person will work behind the scenes on news and local programs, performing teleprompter operation, robotic camera operation, voice captioning and other studio and remote functions. Education and experience in broadcast operations preferred. EOE Contact: http://tinyurl.com/kusek4q
AIRPORT COMMUCINCATIONS SPECIALIST
The Allegheny County Airport Authority has a position opening for an Airport Communications Specialist at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Complete information about this position is available at http://www.flypittsburgh.com/ ACAA_employment The advertisement period ends on August 5, 2015. EOE / M / F / D / V
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
The 5th Judicial District of PA, Allegheny County, is seeking candidates for HR Manager. This statelevel management position is responsible for providing guidance to court management staff and assistance to employees in the HR area. Responsibilities include identifying, developing and implementing HR programs, policies and procedures to maintain the effectiveness of court operations. Minimum requirements: Bachelorʼs degree in Business or Public Administration and three years of experience in HR management. Five years of progressive experience in HR management preferred. Thorough knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations required. Visit our website at www.pacourts.us for additional information and to apply. AOPC – HR, PO Box 61260, Harrisburg, PA 17106. EOE
SALES ASSISTANT
WPXI is searching for a Full-Time Sales Assistant. Applicant must be an energetic self-starter who pays close attention to accuracy and details. This job will require you to perform multiple tasks simultaneously while maintaining a positive attitude. This entry level position requires a Monday through Friday 40 hour work week. Heavy computer experience using Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint is required and will be tested prior to hire. Wide Orbit traffic knowledge is a plus. The ability to manage heavy phone responsibilities and the ability to learn quickly are also essential. Send resumes to: Heather Calderone Traffic, Operations and Sales Support Manager WPXI-TV 4145 Evergreen Road Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Please No Phone Calls.
FLEET MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR
Port Authority is seeking an experienced Fleet Maintenance Coordinator to coordinate all support level maintenance and overall maintenance management for Port Authorityʼs revenue vehicle bus fleet under the general directions of the Manager of Bus Maintenance Support. Job requirements include: •High School Diploma or GED. •Two-year Technical Degree or Associate Degree in Business or related field from an accredited school. Related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-foryear basis. •Minimum of three (3) years of maintenance experience with bus fleets and/or heavy automotive vehicles. •Valid Commercial Driverʼs License, Class B with Passenger Endorsement and Air Brake Restriction removed or must possess a valid driverʼs license and acquire a Commercial Driverʼs License as described above within 90 days of appointment to the position. •Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows. •Effective and professional communication skills. •Customer-focused, well organized and results-oriented. •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: •BA/BS Degree in Business or directly related field from an accredited school. •Experience in managing maintenance of bus fleets or other fleets of heavy automotive vehicles and equipment. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Inez Colon Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 IColon@portauthority.org EOE
9-1-1 TELECOMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, PART-TIME ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Allegheny County is accepting applications for 9-1-1 Telecommunications Officer, Part-Time in the Department of Emergency Services. For application requirements and job description check our website at www.alleghenycounty.us/jobs or complete an application at our office at 102 County Office Building, 542 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA.
MAINTENANCE/JANITOR
P/T maintenance/janitor person. Some electrical and plumbing knowledge helpful. Must have driverʼs license. Submit resume to St. Benedict the Moor Church 91 Crawford Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 No telephone calls.
DUQUESNE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Duquesne City School District is seeking the following Substitutes: PK-6 Regular & Special Education, Long Term Substitute Teachers. Requirements include a valid PA teaching certificate. ALL candidates must have current Act 151/34/114 clearances. Additional information can be found on the Districtʼs website www.dukecitysd.org. Please send resume and cover letter to Duquesne City School District, 300 Kennedy Avenue, Duquesne, Pa 15110, ATTN: Human Resources/PR. EOE
DIRECTOR OF WAIVER SERVICES
F/T position avail. Pgh. area. Bachelorʼs Deg. in Human Svcs. reqd., Masterʼs deg. pref. & a min. of 5 yrs. progressive mgmt. resp. in a social svc. agency. Extensive exp. in delivery of home & community based waivers. Understanding/commitment to consumer control & IL philos. Exc. oral, written & interpersonal skills. Exp. with grant writing & prog. dev. pref., must be able to prepare budgets & analysis. Supervises various progs., contracts & creates/prepares all reqd. reporting, implements consumer svc. work plans, monitors & implements quality & effectiveness of consumer svcs., resp. for all SC staff supervision, assists with prof. dev. of staff & contract compliance, assists with quality improvement in all prog. activities, insures development, implementation & monitoring of job specific training of prog. staff, establish performance plans for staff, resp. for meeting/exceeding audit standards, timely adherence to contract requirements, & reps. the Ctr. to outside agencies. Interacts with consumers, staff & the general public, assists ED with planning, research & evaluation, new program dev., grants and contracts. Participates in community outreach & marketing. Must have personal means of transportation and be able to travel extensively. Personal experience with a disability preferred. Salary is $50,000 annually. Full bene. pkg. EOE/ADA. Submit resume by 8/7/15 to: lwilson@trcil.org or by fax: 412- 371-9430. ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings
MEETING
Port Authority of Allegheny County, as required by the Title VI of the Civil Right Act of 1964 is required to provide Public Transportation Services without regards to race, color or gender. As an amendment to its Title VI program, Port Authority proposes to implement a Disparate Impact and Disproportionate Burden Analysis policy for Major Service or Fare Changes and will provide the policy for public comment. Public Comment meetings have been scheduled on the following dates at the listed location: Friday July 31, 2015 9:00 am – 11:00 am, Monday, August 3, 2015 12pm – 2pm and Wednesday, August 5, 2015 3pm – 5pm Port Authority of Allegheny County Heinz 57 Center Boardroom, 5th Floor 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices
Estate Notices
Letters have been granted on the estate of each of the following decedents to the personal representative named who request all persons having claims against the estate of the decedent to make known the same in writing to him or his attorney, and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment to him without delay:
Estate of PALKAY, ANNA P. a/k/a PALKAY, ANNE P., deceased of Richland Township, No 03556 of 2015, Arlene Palkay Exec., 17171 Roscoe Blvd., Apt. 108A, Northridge, CA 91325 or to Michael J. Saldamarco, Esq., 908 Perry Highway, Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15229.
Estate of RICHTER, ROSALIND, deceased, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, No. 02-15-02988, Barbara Helmrich and Kenneth M. Richter, CoExecutors c/o Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, PC, One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or to Nancy L. Rackoff, Esquire, Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, PC, One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
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LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Legal Notices
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
Estate Notices
Letters have been granted on the estate of each of the following decedents to the personal representative named who request all persons having claims against the estate of the decedent to make known the same in writing to him or his attorney, and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment to him without delay:
Estate of LOJEWSKI, THOMAS L., deceased of Pittsburgh, PA., No. 02-15-03633, Lawrence J. Ryan, Executor, c/o Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, P.C., One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or to Nancy L. Rackoff, Esquire, Tener, Van Kirk, Wolf & Moore, P.C., One Oxford Centre, Suite 2100, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals
ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY LEGAL NOTICE CONTRACT NO. 1641-A
Sealed Bids for CONTRACT NO. 1641-A – FURNISH AND DELIVER NEW BARGE & BARGEMOUNTED CRANE shall be received at the office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 2:00 P.M., Prevailing Time, Tuesday, September 15, 2015 and then shall be publicly opened and read. ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Contracts or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to successful Bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority and womenʼs businesses to the fullest extent possible. A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held at the Authorityʼs Plant, on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time. Attendance at this meeting is strongly suggested. Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the office of the Authority. A non-refundable fee of $50 (no cash will be accepted) will be charged for each set of Contract Documents received. Bid Security shall be furnished with the Bid in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the bid. Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed in writing to Jeffrey S. Mazza, P.E. at jeffrey.mazza@alcosan.org, or faxed to 412-734-8716. The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so. ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY David W. Borneman, P.E. Director of Engineering and Construction
PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny Countyʼs Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). The submission date for all proposals is 11:00 AM on August 18, 2015 and read at 11:15 AM., the same day, in Port Authorityʼs Public Meeting Room, 345 Sixth Avenue, Fifth Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) B141198R Wheel Assembly LRV B150428R Pantograph Assemblies B150533AR Dell Compellent Hardware Support Services B150636ACoach Replacement Parts--Cooling B150637A Coach Replacement Parts--Suspension 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 9:00am on July 29, 2015 in the Port Authorityʼs Public Meeting Room at 345 Sixth Avenue, Fifth Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527. 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 48 hours of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidderʼs proposal pricing. Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH 3 QUOTE BID VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT DISPOSITION
The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request quote from qualified Firms or Individuals interested in purchasing the following: 3 QUOTE BID VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT DISPOSITION The documents will be available no later than July 26, 2015 and signed, sealed quotes will be accepted until 2:00 P.M., August 7, 2015 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the 3 quote bid form from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. Questions or inquires should be directed to: Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 2nd Floor, Suite 200 100 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116 Opt 1 A Inspection Visit will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Northview Heights Property Maintenance Area 533 Mt. Pleasant Road Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Thursday, July 30, 2015 9:00 - 11:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACPʼs has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation. Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh
HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.
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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
CLASSIFIEDS
LEGAL ADVERTISING
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Bids/Proposals
Bids/Proposals
ARTICLE 1 – ADVERTISEMENT PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT
Separate sealed Bids for the Work as listed hereinafter will be received at the Purchasing and Materials Management Department of Port Authority of Allegheny County (Authority) Heinz 57 Center, 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-2527 until 1:30 p.m. on August 31, 2015 and will be publicly opened and read immediately thereafter at the same address. WEST MIFFLIN GARAGE EXPANSION GENERAL CONTRACT NO. WM-15-02-G HVAC CONTRACT NO. WM-15-02-H PLUMBING CONTRACT NO. WM-15-02-P ELECTRICAL CONTRACT NO. WM-15-02-E The Work of this Project includes, but is not limited to, the furnishing of all labor, materials, equipment, tools, supervision, and incidental items to perform the expansion of the site with a new retaining wall, concrete paving, the installation of a solids separator, the replacement of scissor and platform lift systems, and the expansion of the vehicle maintenance area including, but not necessarily limited to, selective demolition, building foundation systems, concrete slabs, masonry unit enclosures, steel structural systems, miscellaneous metal fabrications, roofing system, metal wall panels, insulation, doors and hardware/overhead sectional doors/fire shutters, interior finishes, relocation of existing HVAC/plumbing/electrical fixtures and systems, new make-up air system, CO2 sensing systems, gas meter relocation, new lift/engine wash/trench drainage systems, roof drainage systems, fire suppression systems, new lighting, and a bid option for a radiant floor system. Bid Documents will be available for public inspection and may be obtained on or after July 29, 2015 at Authorityʼs offices at the following address: Port Authority of Allegheny County Purchasing and Materials Management Department Heinz 57 Center 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527 Bid Documents are available for purchase as follows: Bid Documents are available in an electronic form on compact disk upon payment of ($15.00) per CD. Payment shall be by check or money order (NO CASH), payable to “Port Authority of Allegheny County.” No refunds of payment will be made. Upon request, Bid Documents can be mailed upon receipt of payment in full. Should the purchaser wish to have the Bid Documents delivered via special delivery, such as UPS or Federal Express, the purchaser shall provide its appropriate account numbers for such special delivery methods. This Project may be funded, in part, by, and subject to certain requirements of, the County of Allegheny and/or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Authority, in compliance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, as may be amended, require that certified Diverse Businesses (“DBs”) have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts for this Project. In this regard, all Bidders shall make good faith efforts in accordance with 74 Pa.C.S. § 303, to ensure that DBs have the maximum opportunity to compete for and perform contracts. Bidders shall also not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, sexual origin, gender identity, or status as a parent in the award and performance of contracts for this Project. If aid is required to involve DBs in the Work, Bidders are to contact Authorityʼs DB Representative Cameil Williams at (412) 566-5257. The Bidderʼs attention is directed to the following contacts for Bidderʼs questions: Procedural Questions Regarding Bidding: Jim Happ - Authority (412) 566-5117 All other questions relating to the Bid Documents must be submitted by mail or facsimile to: Port Authority of Allegheny County Heinz 57 Center 345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 Attn: Jim Happ Fax: (412) 566-5117 In addition, the Bidderʼs attention is directed to the following schedule of activities for preparation of its Bid: 9:00 a.m. Pre-Bid Conference August 12, 2015 Port Authority of Allegheny County Heinz 57 Center Neal Holmes Board Room, 5th Floor 345 Sixth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 (Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended) 9:00 a.m. August 13, 2015
Pre-Bid Site Tour Port Authority West Mifflin Bus Garage 1011 Lebanon Road West Mifflin, PA 15122 Meet at building main entrance. Attendees shall bring own safety vest.
1:30 p.m. Bids Due August 31, 2015 Purchasing and Materials Management Department Authority reserves the right to reject any or all Bids
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To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129
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JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2015
NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
PEOPLE
ANNIVERSARY CAKE
Moores celebrate 40 years of marriage The year 2015 marks a special year for the Moores. Joyce Meggerson-Moore returned to her hometown of Hope, Ark., with her husband, Christopher T. Moore, to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.
More than 100 local and out-of-state family and friends attended the event. The best man Therman Scott, groomsman Danny Brown, bridesmaid Ann Y. Mitchell Mattison, flower girl Victoria Carrigan and
Carrye Hebron Brown, were among many others who attended the original marriage. The special event occurred July 5 at the exact same day and hour as the original wedding. A lavish din-
CHRIS MOORE AND JOYCE MEGGERSON-MOORE (Photos by Tyrone Dodson) ner celebration, program and music for dancing also occurred where it all started. “I was a child bride,” Meggerson-Moore was quick to add. Meggerson-Moore is chairperson of the Board of Directors of the New Horizon Theater in which she produces a series of plays and musical events focused on the African American heritage. Moore, a Vietnam Veteran, a graduate of Grambling State University, an Emmy award-winning veteran television and radio talk show host, produced a video outlining their lives and careers that was shown as a part of the program and was enjoyed by all in attendance. Meggerson-Moore was dressed in a stunning ruby red dress, the color marking the anniversary year, while Moore accessorized his suit in the ruby red colors. The couple has plenty to be thankful for as they reached this milestone, even though many from the original ocassion has passed away the event still was packed with people who attended the first wedding as well as new family and friends. Meggerson-Moore said she believes that they all would be pleased that this celebration was held.
ANN MITCHELL MATTISON, an original bridesmaid, with Joyce Meggerson-Moore.
BEST MAN—Therman Scott, seated, from Little Rock, Ark., with Mary Scott, Joyce MeggersonMoore and Chris Moore.
Helping protect America DANNY AND MAPLE BROWN, from Huntsville, Ala., with Joyce Meggerson-Moore and Chris Moore.
USDA Fresh Boneless-Skinless CHICKEN BREAST
Lowest Price of the Year! Live MAINE LOBSTERS
$1.98/lb.
$5.98/lb. 1-1.25 lb. Avg.
Raised in the USA Family Pack Save $1 lb.
Save $5 lb. Wild Caught No Limit For You! Free ice with any purchase
FREE PARKING! While shopping at Wholey’s
(MEDITERRANEAN SEA)—Ensign Brian Williams, from Pittsburgh, stands watch on the bridge of the USS Laboon (DDG 58), July 4. Laboon, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, homeported in Norfolk, Va. The ship is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. Williams is from Monroeville, but currently lives in Penn Hills. He attended Gateway High School and from there went on to the Naval Academy. He’s 24 years old and has two siblings. (U.S. Navy photo provided by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Desmond Parks.)
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