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OMAHA STAR
THE
Celebrating 80 Years
And still undefeated! Terence “Bud” Crawford
1938 2018
Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed
Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 80 - No. 21 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, October 19, 2018
Congratulations North O’s Own! 75 cents
AARP’s ‘Be the Difference. Vote.’ Stresses Importance of Voting in Midterms By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Next month’s fast-approaching midterm elections count as one of the most consequential in a lifetime, according to political scholar Norman Ornstein. The folks at AARP “wholeheartedly concur,” and not just in word, but also by actions. The organization, which was founded in 1958 on the principles of promoting independence, dignity and purpose for older adults, has launched a campaign titled, “Be the Difference. Vote.” AARP doesn’t endorse candidates or parties, they focus instead on policy that affects older adults. “‘Be the Difference. Vote.’ is a non-partisan campaign whose goal is mobilizing African Americans voters – and all voters 50 and older – to exercise their power and vote,” says Edna KaneWilliams, the senior vice president of Multicultural Leadership at AARP. “Critical issues like Medicare, Social Security, prescription drugs and family caregiving are on the line and older voters need to show up and protect what they’ve earned.” Launched in May, the “Be the Difference. Vote,” campaign relies on studies that show voters 50 and older are the most reliable. The multifaceted campaign seeks to encourage the largest possible turnout
of older voters to the polls during 66.6 percent in 2012, according to the In a colorful graphic for the the midterm election, Nov. 6. This Pew Research Center. magazine, AARP editors outlined election places issues like Medicare, “We are at a moment in which what’s at stake, including 35 of the Social Security, financial security important decisions need to be made 100 U.S. Senate seats; all 435 seats in and caregiving – topics of particular on matters key to the lives of older the U.S. House of Representatives; and interest to older voters – front and Americans,” AARP editors noted in 36 of 50 states will elect a governor. center. Nearly 300 state K a n e - Wi l l i a m s appellate judges, referenced U.S. including 71 state Census statistics that Supreme Court reveal that only 57 justices will be percent of all U.S. elected or appointed; citizens between 25 of America’s ages 25 and 44 voted largest cities will in the 2012 general elect mayors; and election, compared to 82 percent of state 68 percent of those legislator positions, between 45 and 64. totaling 6,070 seats Among African in 87 legislative Americans, 65 chambers, are up for percent of individuals grabs. between 25 and 44 AARP’s campaign voted, compared to is important, and the 72 percent who were Launched in May, the “Be the Difference. Vote” campaign relies on organization listed between the ages of studies that show voters 50 and older are the most reliable. 10 ways in which the 45 and 64. midterm elections (Photo: AARP) African Americans will affect older will be a deciding voting bloc in key the October 2018 AARP Bulletin. Americans: races across the country, especially “Some are obvious, like the future 1. Shoring up Social Security. in Pennsylvania, Florida, North funding and structure of Medicare and 2. Rising Drug Prices. Carolina, Virginia and other swing our health care system,” the editors 3. Medicare Funding. states, according to multiple political wrote. “At the same time, many states 4. Medicaid: Grow or slow it? experts. However, forecasters also are grappling with issues related to 5. The future of Health Insurance. predict potential Black voter dropout, worker discrimination, retirement 6. Bolstering Retirement Savings. a serious issue. savings, underfunded pensions, 7. Lower Retirement Taxes. In 2016, the Black voter turnout rate Medicaid, caregiving and more. Those 8. Fixing Pension Shortfalls. declined for the first time in 20 years in we put into office could shape the 9. More Help for Caregivers. a presidential election, falling to 59.6 resolutions of these issues for decades 10. Fraud Targets. percent after reaching a record high of to come.” Through the “Be the Difference.
Sen. Justin Wayne to Introduce Rental Housing Legislation
OPS uses Four Action Steps for Emergency Response
In a time of nationwide concern for student safety, Omaha Public Schools (OPS) has officially adopted the four action-based responses within the Nebraska Department of Education-approved Standard Response Protocol district-wide. Schools all well as after school program providers are being trained district-wide to ensure consistent use of the protocols at every OPS school. The Standard Response Protocol is used to address emergency situations related to weather events, fires, accidents and intruders. District officials emphasize that in the event a critical threat has reached school property, it is imperative that there is a proactive, uniform response to such threats in order to ensure a consistent response to the threat, and a consistent understanding of the protocols. The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is designed to help ensure the safety of students and staff in the school environment. Schools regularly conduct drills to practice the actions within the four steps, which call for Lockout, Lockdown, Evacuation, and Shelter. Below are the details of each action step and how they are implemented for both students and staff: * Lockout: “Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors” – This is the protocol used to safeguard students and staff within the building. Lockout is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building. STUDENTS: Return to inside of building • Do business as usual STAFF/TEACHERS: Recover students and staff from outside building • Increased situational awareness • Do business as usual • Take roll, account for students * Lockdown: “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.” The protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep students quiet and in place. Lockdown is called when there is a threat or hazard inside the school building. STUDENTS: Move away from sight • Maintain silence STAFF/TEACHERS: Lock classroom door • Lights out • Move away from sight • Maintain silence • Wait for First Responders to open door • Take roll, account for students * Evacuate: Always followed by a location, and is used to move students and staff from one location to a different location in or out of the building. Evacuate is called to move students and staff from one location to another. STUDENTS: Bring your phone • Leave your stuff behind • Form a single file line • Show your hands • Be prepared for alternatives during response. STAFF/TEACHERS: Grab roll sheet if possible • Lead students to Evacuation Location • Take roll, account for students * Shelter: Always followed by a type and a method and is the protocol for group and self-protection. Shelter is called when the need
See In the Village for voting registration deadlines.
for personal protection is necessary. Hazardous examples include Tornado or Hazmat SAMPLE SAFETY STRATEGIES: Evacuate to shelter area • Seal the room STUDENTS: Appropriate hazards and safety strategies STAFF/TEACHERS: Appropriate hazards and safety strategies • Take roll, account for students Lockout versus Lockdown The differentiation between Lockout and Lockdown is a critical element in SRP. A Lockout recovers all students from outside the building, secures the building perimeter and locks all outside doors. This would be implemented when there is a threat or hazard outside of the building. While the Lockout response encourages greater staff situational awareness, it allows for educational practices to continue with little classroom interruption or distraction. Lockdown is a classroom-based protocol that requires locking the classroom door, turning off the lights and placing students out of sight of any corridor windows. Student action during Lockdown is to remain quiet. In some cases, locking outside doors inhibits entry of first responders and increases risk as responders attempt to breach doors. OPS’s intended impact by enforcing these four actions are to help prepare staff and families through practice and drills. Student and staff safety is a top priority for the school district. Over the years, OPS has worked diligently with the Omaha Police and Fire Departments to implement and practice these four emergency response safety drills. Each action has a corresponding response that is communicated to local law enforcement agencies and emergency responders. These drills have provided ongoing opportunities for school leadership, staff and students to practice and be adequately prepared in the event of a real incident. More than 200 school districts in the state use SRP and OPS has adopted the recommendation from Nebraska’s Department of Education requesting that all schools in Nebraska use the SRP. For a detail of the SRP as it relates to a national scope, please visit: iloveuguys.org/srp.html.
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See Stacey Adams continued on page 2
Phone 402-312-2891
Vote.” campaign, AARP has used its website as a one-stop portal for voters to get information about the election, including issue briefings, polling results and voter guides. AARP has pledged to conduct polls of 50-plus voters across the country and in battleground states, tracking voter sentiment on key issues. Throughout the initiative, the organization has delivered information on issues and election news, and has notified members of local events, teletown halls and candidate forums. Candidates are pressured to address issues of vital importance to older Americans in campaign speeches, literature and advertising messages, based upon the input received from AARP tracking polls and member communications. AARP has also applied advanced data analytics to target turnout of 50-plus voters in major races across the country, while reaching out to African American and Latino voters – especially in races where they represent a key or deciding voting bloc. “AARP encourages all voters, regardless of their ages, to take part in the ‘Be the Difference. Vote.’ campaign by signing AARP’s pledge to vote, using the voting tool to ensure they have the information they need to vote, and learning where the candidates stand on issues that matter to them and their families,” Kane-Williams said. Voters can sign the pledge and get more information at aarp.org/vote.
LINCOLN – Nebraska State Senator Justin Wayne (District 13, Omaha) has announced plans to introduce legislation addressing unsafe and unsanitary conditions in Omaha’s rental housing when the Nebraska Legislature convenes in January. Poor conditions in some Omaha rental properties recently came to light with the city’s inspection and evacuation of the Yale Park apartment complex at 34th Avenue and Lake Street last month, which uncovered nearly 2,000 building code violations, including gas leaks, faulty wiring, leaky roofs, and pest infestations. “Poor housing conditions perpetuated by certain landlords have been a long-standing problem in North Omaha and throughout the city, and the Yale Park situation demonstrates the need for a new approach to address code violations in rental properties,” said Wayne, who serves as Chairman of the Legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee. Like most Nebraska municipalities, the City of Omaha’s current code enforcement system works solely on a complaint basis. Under the proposed legislation, the city would be required to conduct regular inspections of all residential rental properties within city limits and maintain a registry of landlords in the city. The inspection program could provide for annual registration fees, fines for failure to comply with registration requirements, and inspection fees for any re-inspections required in addition to a regular inspection. While several members of the Omaha City Council and the City Planning Department have begun discussions on the possibility of adopting a rental inspection ordinance, Wayne said that the issues brought to light by the Yale Park situation are part of a growing public health and safety crisis that needed to be addressed at both the local and state level. “Regardless of whether the city moves forward with adopting a rental inspection program on its own, the root causes of this crisis should be examined as part of the Urban Affairs Committee’s ongoing discussions surrounding state and local building code enforcement,” said Wayne. “Rather than leaving the existence of an inspection program up to future city councils, I believe the severity of the living conditions found at Yale Park warrants consideration to mandate a local rental inspection program in state law, similar to Iowa.” Iowa state law currently requires that all cities with a population of more than 15,000 people, including Council Bluffs, maintain a rental housing inspection program. In addition, the City of La Vista has a similar inspection program. As proposed, Wayne’s legislation would only apply to cities of the metropolitan class, which have a population of more than 300,000 people. The City of Omaha is currently the state’s only city of the metropolitan class.
Community shredding for Oct. 27 has been cancelled.