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Women Break the Cycle of wi hot topics COMPILED BY WI EDITOR D. KEVIN MCNEIR AND WI STAFF WRITER JAMES Domestic Violence WRIGHT Mayor Bowser Hosts D.C. Region’s Black By Tia Carol Jones law enforcement. She said they threat,” she said. District’s National Maternal Restaurant Week Poised to WI Staff Writer had come together to bring a sense of uniformity in the way Among the programs Marlow wants to see implemented are & Infant Health Summit Showcase Culinary Delights
When L.Y. Marlow's 23-yeardomestic violence victims and stricter restraining order policies, old daughter told her the father survivors are treated. more rights for victim's families Black Restaurant Week, LLC, is making final preparaof her daughter threatened her “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a victions before hosting its inaugural campaign in the Greater life, and the life of their child, story, her own personal pain to tim, a domestic violence assessWashington, DC region. The national culinary and culshe knew something had to be push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further tural campaign celebrates the flavors of African-Ameridone. Out of her frustration said about Marlow. training for law enforcement can, African and Caribbean cuisine with a regional showwith law enforcement's handling Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life Proteccase from Baltimore with an extension to Virginia. Black of the situation, she decided to who reads Marlow's book will tion Act and mandatory counselRestaurant Week will also celebrate five years of service start the Saving Promise cam“get it.” She said she “puts the ing for batterers. which, since 2015, has developed its multi-city culinary paign. case in such a way, the average “If we are ever going to eradiexperiences in support of Black-owned businesses and
“It seems to be a vicious cycle person can get it.” She said at the cate domestic violence, we must talent within the food and beverage industries. The palthat won't turn my family end of the day, the book will look at both sides of the coin. ate-pleasing showcase for the Greater Washington, DC loose,” Marlow said. Marlow shared her story with the audience at the District Heights Domestic Violence Symposium on May 7 at the District Heights Municipal Center. The symposium was sponsored by the Family and Youth Services Center of the city of District Heights and the National HookUp of Black Women. Marlow has written a book, “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a story about four generations of domestic violence. The book is inspired by her own experiences, and those of her grandmother, her mother and her daughter. She said every time she reads excerpts from her book, she still can not believe the words came help people begin to have a dialogue about domestic violence. Also present at the event was Mildred Muhammad, the exwife of John Allen Muhammad, who was sentenced to six consecutive life terms without parole by a Maryland jury for his role in the Beltway Sniper attacks in 2002. Mildred Muhammad is the founder of After the Trauma, an organization that helps the survivors of domestic violence and their children. “I lived in fear for six years. Six years in fear is a long time. It is not an easy thing to come out of,” she said. Mildred Muhammad said people who want to help a domestic violence victim must We need to address both the victim and the batterer,” Marlow said. Marlow would also like to see programs designed to raise awareness among children in public and private schools. She feels children need to be educated about domestic violence. “We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence,” Marlow said. Marlow has worked to break the cycle of abuse in her family, and is confident the policies she is pushing for will start that process. “I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws,” Marlow said. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Mayor Muriel Bowser kicks off the District’s third annual National Maternal & Infant Health Summit – Rethinking Our Perspectives, Retooling Our Actions: A Life Course Approach to Improving Maternal and Infant Health. Bowser opened the summit with welcoming remarks and participatde in a panel discussion: What We’ve Learned from COVID-19: The Pandemic’s Impact on Perinatal Health and Our Next Steps. Two additional panel discussions include: Understanding the Root Causes: The Impact of Trauma on the Life Course; and In the Forefront: Moving the Needle on Perinatal Health through Youth Voice & Advocacy. The four-day Summit will be entirely virtual, featuring panel discussions, community-led workshops and a virtual resource expo dedicated to connecting District residents with local and national resources and supports needed to ensure that babies, their families and communities have what they need to thrive. The Summit continues with a series of daily breakregion runs from Fri., Sept. 18 – Sunday, Sept. 27. This year’s campaign will emphasize the importance of reviving and saving the Black restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The platform also serves as an educational tool to help show consumers the abundance of cultural cuisines in their local community and to dispel ethnic untruths. In a time of financial uncertainty and with the unfortunate escalation of racial injustice incidents, Black Restaurant Week [BRW] has waived the financial participation fee for all restaurants. “Supporting the entire culinary industry, from farm to table, is necessary for providing more opportunities for the whole community to thrive,” said BRW’s founder, Warren Luckett. “From the increased exposure for Blackowned restaurants on our new national website to the professional business guidance gained from the educational events, Black Restaurant Week helps businesses expand customer bases and receive resources for ongoing success.” from her. “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of how they go into “I will not stop until these poliout discussions from Wed., Sept. 16 – Fri., Sept. 18. To For more information about Black Restaurant Week, won the 2007 National “Best the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.” learn more about the Summit or to RSVP, visit dcmaits events and participating restaurants, visit blackrestauBooks” Award. ternalhealth.com. that she may be in “survival Tia Carol Jones can be reached rantweeks.com.
“I was just 16-years-old when mode”. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net my eye first blackened and my “Before you get to 'I'm going “ We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these lips bled,” Marlow said. Elaine Davis-Nickens, president of the National Hook-Up of Black Women, said there is no consistency in the way domestic violence issues are dealt with by to kill you,' it started as a verbal WI The D.C. Council officially ended its summer recess on Sept. 7 with the convening of various committee meetings. However, when the first legislative meeting kicks off on Tues., Sept. 22, members of the Council will begin to address a number of significant issues impacting the District and will continue their deliberations through Dec. 31 – the final day of the current two-year Council period. While the Council balanced the District’s $9 billion local budget which initially included an $800 million shortfall in late July, Councilmembers and the D.C. Council Returns from Recess to a Busy Fall Agenda policies to Congress and Mayor were notified on Aug. 5 that the 2020-2021 budget would have to be reduced by as much as $500 million due to the negative impact COVID-19 has had on the District. To keep the budget balanced as mandated by law, the Council
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM “ implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed. L.Y. Marlow will have to either initiate program and service cuts, tax increases or a combination therein. They’ll also probably consider if Councilmember Charles Allen’s (D-Ward 6) police reform legislation, voted on and approved during the summer on a temporary basis, should become permanent. Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) and Trayon White (D-Ward 8) have co-sponsored a bill that, if approved, would further strengthen the District’s rent control policies. And there’ll be a final vote on the proposal to build a new Howard University Hospital along with hearings that will feature discussions on revisions to the unemployment compensation process and procedural changes to the election process.
A Field of Hopefuls Seek District Board of Education At-Large Seat
By James Wright WI Staff Writer @JamesDCWrighter
The candidates trying to nail down an at large seat on the D.C. school board include a former Ward 8 advisory neighborhood commissioner, two Ward 7 residents who have worked in the District public schools, a Howard University scholar and a former board of education member representing the ward and a Ward 3 entrepreneur. They all have their own ideas about how to make D.C. schools better.
Jacque Patterson has been elected as an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Ward 8 for a few terms and has served as the president of the ward’s Democrat club. Patterson, who works as an executive with the KIPP charter school organization, said he wants to make sure educational concerns of residents east of the Anacostia River are heard.
“Neighborhoods east of the river have the most school-age children and the least amount of resources,” he said. “I want to change that. Also, communities east of the river have two representatives on the board, for Ward 7 and Ward 8. If I am elected, I will be the third. That doesn’t mean I won’t be sensitive to the needs of residents west of the river, I will represent all Washingtonians. I just want to make sure that there is equity in all of the schools.”
Like Patterson, the rest of the candidates said in interviews with the Informer they would be an at-large board of education member for all residents of the District. Candidate Troy Murphy could not be reached for an Informer interview. However, some candidates would like to see a fairer distribution of resources for east of the river schools.
“There is a situation here in D.C. where you have unequitable resources,” Ravi Perry, a political scientist at Howard University, said. “Unlike other cities who are presently facing serious budget deficits D.C. has the resources. The money is here. There needs to be an effort on the part of the leadership on the board and the D.C. Council to have the will to do it. As a member of the board, I will work to see Ward 7 and Ward 8 schools get their fair share and work for budget transparency.”
Mysiki Valentine, who also resides in Ward 7, has taught in the District’s public and charter schools. He said the city hasn’t done enough to make sure young people are educated well enough to be successful in school and life.
“Right now, there are many students who don’t have laptops even though the school year is virtual at this point,” Valentine said. “Even before the pandemic, there was the
Valentine said as a board member, he will work to help students perform better on standardized tests, address such issues as hunger among students and articulate the concerns of teachers.
digital divide.”
Valentine said as a board member, he will work to help students perform better on standardized tests, address such issues as hunger among students and articulate the concerns of teachers.
In 2008, Ward 7 voters elected Dorothy Douglas as their board of education representative. She served one four-year term. Douglas said she wants to return to the board to even the educational landscape in the city.
“Our children, particularly those in Wards 7 and 8 are being left behind,” she said. “Our kids are failing. Many of them cannot read and write at their grade level. What is needed in the school system are quality resources for our children, dedicated teachers who are concerned about them and new, up-todate materials. As the at-large member, I will also engage the parents. The parents are the key to children being successful in school.”
Christopher Martin lives in Ward 3 and is self-employed. Martin said he entered the race to provide a better future for the city’s children, including his three young ones.
“I want to be the voice of equity on the board,” he said. “The entire school system needs to be revisited, not just certain wards. One of the problems is the lack of engagement and I will work on the board as a conduit to improve relations between it and the Office of the State Superintendent and the mayor. I want to create as many opportuni
WI
5 Jacque Patterson is a candidate for an at-large seat on the D.C. State Board of Education. (Photo courtesy/Facebook grab)
ties possible for our kids.”
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black facts
SEPT 17 - 23, 2020
SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB
SEPT. 17 1973 – Illinois becomes the first state to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday as a holiday. 1983 – Vanessa Williams becomes the first African American to be crowned Miss America.
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MBE/DBE Certi ed | Woman-Owned Business SEPT. 18 1850 – The Fugitive Slave Act, which required that all escaped slaves be returned to their masters upon capture, is passed by the U.S. Congress. 1895 – Booker T. Washington delivers the Atlanta Compromise speech. The compromise was a deal struck between Southern Blacks and whites that Blacks would work and submit to white political rule in exchange for basic education and due process in law. 1951 – Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon and former presidential candidate, is born in Detroit. 1970 – Rock icon Jimi Hendrix is found dead in a London apartment at age 27. 1980 – Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez, a Cuban Air Force pilot, becomes the first Hispanic and first person of African ancestry to travel in outer space.
SEPT. 19 1893 – Black inventor Elbert R. Robinson receives patent for the electric highway trolley.
1931 – Singer Brook Benton of “Rainy Night in Georgia” fame is born in Camden, South Carolina.
SEPT. 20
1958 – Martin Luther
King, Jr. is stabbed during a Harlem book signing by Izola Ware Curry, an African American woman later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. 1984 – “The Cosby Show” debuts on NBC, beginning an eight-year run as one of television’s all-time most beloved and successful shows.
SEPT. 21 1872 – John H. Conyers becomes the first African American admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. 1989 – Colin Powell is confirmed by the Senate as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first African American to hold the position.
SEPT. 22 1828 – Shaka Zulu, monarch of Africa’s Zulu Kingdom, is assassinated. 1862 – President Abraham Lincoln issues a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which sets a date for the freedom of more than three million Black slaves in the United States. 1950 – Civil rights icon Ralph Bunche becomes the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
VANESSA WILLIAMS
SEPT. 23 1863 – NAACP charter member Mary Church Terrell (above), who was the first African American woman appointed to a school board of a major U.S. city as a member of the D.C. board of education, is born in Memphis. 1926 – Pioneering jazz saxophonist John Coltrane is born in Hamlet, North Carolina. 1930 – Music legend Ray Charles (top) is born in Albany, Georgia. 1998 – President Clinton presents Nelson Mandela with the Congressional Gold Medal for his anti-apartheid efforts. WI
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AURORA, COLORADO This country is filled with people who lack simple compassion and human kindness. No wonder it is sinking fast.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. Understanding anything in this country is not his responsibility — unemployment, health care, education, police brutality, and justice for all. Why is he president? Self-gain, greed and ego trip.
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COVID-19: The Thief Who Stole My Greatest Treasure – Hugs from My Grandsons
Last December, I traveled back to my hometown of Detroit, eager to join the rest of my family as we cel- ebrated the achievement of my firstborn child, my daughter Jasmine, as she received a master’s degree in her chosen field of education. I could hardly wait for the family reunion – the first time for us since my moth- er’s death on July 4th one year ago.
I was forced to face disappoint- ment even before my plane had landed in Motown. Unforeseen circumstances arose which prevent- ed my oldest grandson, now a high school senior who lives in Atlanta, from joining us.
But my precocious youngest grandson who started school this fall and lives in Detroit with his parents – my daughter and her husband – was more than willing to soak up the spotlight, relishing the fact that he didn’t have to share it with his older brother. And while the ages of my two man-cubs place them at op- posite ends of the K-12 educational spectrum, I shower both of them with equal amounts of love and affection.
Sure, I express that love in different ways, sometimes. However, I have no qualms with grabbing either of them, wrapping my arms around them, kissing them on their fore- heads and telling them, “I love you” – as often as possible. So, shortly after returning home to the DMV, I began planning my travel itinerary for 2020. Being the proud grand- father, at the top of my list were a
few visits to Atlanta to see Jordon, 18, star on his high school football and basketball teams and to later witness his commencement ceremo- ny. In addition, I looked forward to several weekend trips to Detroit to see Jackson, 6, head off to first grade, to see him all aglow while opening his gifts on Christmas and for any other reasons that I could find and which would justify another trip to the Wolverine State.
Then, the world turned top- sy-turvy as life ground to an unex- pected halt after a mysterious sickness, now known as coronavirus, began to appear. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.
There’s no need to rehash how COVID-19 has changed the Amer- ican landscape in every facet of life. But I have fond memories to hold on to until some semblance of nor- mal can be found: class trips to the apple orchid in northern Michigan with the other first graders; hayrides, haunted houses and marshmallow roasts enjoyed during an outing for the freshman class during my first year at U of D High; and talent shows hosted by the graduating class at Louis Pasteur Elementary when I was in the sixth grade.
Those experiences, and so many more, will forever mark my forma- tive years, leaving with me unfor- gettable, precious memories. But I cannot help but wonder, will my grandsons have the chance to form and hold on to similar memories which have long been the magical moments of youth? Will there be proms, homecoming football games, college visits, that first kiss, snowball fights, campouts and sleepovers?
Both of my grandsons seem to be adapting amazingly well with the “virtual thing” – much better than I believe I would if I were in their shoes. Even as the family patriarch, I’m still struggling, especially as it relates to my two man-cubs who I miss so much.
I don’t want to learn how to be- come a “virtual grandfather.” I don’t’ know how to be a “virtual grand- father.” I don’t like being a “virtual grandfather.” I have grown weary of Zoom, text messages and Facebook live.
The Beatles said, “I wanna hold your hand.” I want and need more than that. I want to look into my grandsons’ eyes as they share their joys and fears or recount recent events that they can’t stop thinking or talking about.
I want to hug them tightly, kiss them all over and tell them that in all seasons, at all times and no matter what they may or may not do, I will always love them.
Officer, I want to report a rob- bery. I know the name of the thief: COVID-19. It’s already taken the lives of some of my friends and fam- ily. Now it wants to steal my joy – a joy that comes with being a grandfa- ther. Can you, or anyone, help me?
WI
Metro Board Members Suggest Shutting Down Metrorail System to Improve Operations
By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
Due to rampant problems at Metro’s Rail Operations Control Center, two board members proposed for one of the nation’s largest transit agencies to shut down its Metrorail system.
The idea from David Horner came two days after the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission released an audit with 21 recommendations for the agency to improve the operations center in Landover known as the ROCC. Some of the noted failures include emergency communications, lack of training, harassment among staff and other outdated procedures.
It would mark the second time since the system went down for one day in March 2016 to inspect cables that caught fire. A few months later, Metro began its “Safe Track” maintenance program.
“I urge you to take radical action to fix the ROCC,” Horner, a Metro board member who represents the federal government, said Thursday, Sept. 10. “Now that the dysfunction of the ROCC has been laid before the public, you would receive robust support from many quarters for decisive action.”
Another reason for the shutdown is stubbornly low ridership during the coronavirus pandemic, which Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said has fallen 88 percent and remained that way for the last six months.
Michael Goldman, who chairs Metro board of director’s Safety and Operations Committee, agreed with Horner.
“Cultural change is essential to maintaining safety for the riders. Treat this as a crisis,” said Goldman of Montgomery County, Md.
Unfortunately, Metro’s livestream went out while Jayme Johnson, director of change management for the ROCC since July 7, began to respond to Horner’s comments.
The ROCC located in the Carmen Turner Facility in Landover is a 24-hour operation and seen as the nucleus to Metrorail’s oper
5 Commuters prepare to board a Green Line at Branch Avenue Metro station. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
ation. It is the hub for emergency responses, announces on the loudspeaker for commuters and directs all trains throughout each of the 91 Metrorail stations in Northern Virginia, the District and Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in Maryland.
The audit at https://bit.ly/3m0DYfR shows the commission conducted interviews with 21 out of 26 controllers employed as of March 1.
Some controllers voiced frustration with ROCC management threats to workers of “arrest or termination” for following procedures or asking questions.
Widefield said Thursday the agency will continue to scrutinize allegations of sexual and racial comments from ROCC staff.
“Any type of harassment is unacceptable,” he said. “We are going to find out what happened there first before we take any action on those. We want to get to the root of it.”
Joe Leader, chief operation officer for Metro, said one problem at the ROCC stems from lack of experience with tthe average length of service for controllers currently 2½ years.
He attributed it to the agency not having a plan at least dating back to 2012 to replace an “exodus” of experienced workers.
Metro officials have 45 days to respond to the commission’s audit. In the meantime, a two-year plan has been launched to develop short, medium and long-term solutions ranging from better training and recruitment to conducting a nationwide search for a new ROCC director by December.
The audit also noted how some ROCC controllers worked 20 straight days without a day off.
“It’s utterly unacceptable that our
METRO Page 11
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District to Vote on Initiative 81
By James Wright WI Staff Writer @JamesDCWrighter
In addition to race for the D.C. Council, D.C. State Board of Education and advisory neighborhood commissioner, District voters will be asked to approve Initiative 81 on Nov. 3 which would decriminalize the possession and distribution of entheogenic plants and fungus—some known as “magic mushrooms”—in the city and alter the penalties.
On Aug. 5, the D.C. Board of Election approved Initiative 81 for the November general election ballot. The initiative, if the voters approve, would advance “The Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020,” a measure to decriminalize the use of entheogens, such as psilocybin and ayahuasca. If enacted, under the law the District’s Metropolitan Police Department will make investigation and arrest of non-commercial planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing and possessing the lowest enforcement priority and issues a non-binding call for the D.C. attorney general and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia to cease prosecution of city residents for these activities.
District resident Melissa Lavasani, who serves as the chairwoman of Decriminalize Nature DC, the organization that led the Initiative 81 effort, said her personal experience with psychological problems led her to use small doses employees were working that number of successive days,” said Theresa Impastato, chief safety officer for Metro.
She said the agency and unions are working on a new policy to combat fatigue that is to be submitted to the safety commission “in the coming months.”
The coronavirus caused some staffing shortages at the operations center, which the report highlights about 30 controllers employed there in July. However, another 20 controllers are needed for a total of 50 to run all four control desks.
Leader said two groups are curof psychedelic plants.
“After the birth of my second child, I had a battle with depression and suicidal thoughts,” Lavasani told the Informer. “I tried to heal with therapy and prescription drugs but that didn’t work for me. Fortunately, I am in a place of privilege and had plenty of sick leave and an understanding supervisor at my job with the D.C. Department of Energy and the Environment and a supportive husband. A friend recommended I try psilocybin and I did. I began to feel much better.”
Lavasani said if natural plantbased medicine worked for her, it should be an option for all District residents.
“D.C. residents from all parts of the city should have access to entheogens,” she said. “This city is in a mental health crisis and that was the case even before the coronavirus pandemic came here.”
Lavasani stressed Initiative 81 won’t legalize psychedelic plants for medicinal purposes, saying they are still listed by federal law as Schedule I drugs that are illegal. Nevertheless, she said, a growing body of evidence suggests psychedelic plants are a remedy for mental health problems and “it would be silly for D.C. not to have this.” She points out Johns Hopkins University has a center studying natural plant-based drugs to treat some mental illnesses.
“I would encourage people to read the science,” Lavasani said.
However, Dr. LaQuandra Nesrently undergoing controller training that should be completed by next year.
In other business, the board’s Finance and Capital Committee reviewed a grim financial outlook that includes a $212 million shortfall for fiscal year 2021.
Without federal assistance, there could be service cuts to close Metrorail stations by 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The stations currently close at 11 p.m.
Another proposal would be to push back the Silver Line extension to open in Northern Virginia to July 1, 2021. The line has been scheduled for operation in the spring. WI bitt, the director of the D.C. Department of Health, views psychedelic plants to treat mental illnesses with skepticism.
“It is my understanding that plant-based medicines haven’t been broadly studied and there could be health effects consequences,” Nesbitt said at a news conference on Sept. 9. “I also understand plantbased medicines could be averse to people of certain age groups. There seems to be a misconception that anything that is plant based is good for you but that’s not true. Opioids come from the earth and tobacco comes from the earth and they are not good for anyone. Plant-based medicines are not better medications. They could turn out to be toxic to your system.”
At the Sept. 9 news conference, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed ambivalence about Initiative 81.
“I haven’t given that much thought,” Bowser said. “This is
5 Entheogenic plants are being used to ease mental problems. (Courtesy photo)
not a burning issue for D.C. residents.”
Lavasani said District residents, even African Americans, should support Initiative 81.
“We are all experiencing trauma in the community,” she said. “That is why you have Black Lives Matter which is not only a political movement but a movement for humanity and it is based on trauma. Issues such as affordable housing and education have their basis in trauma at some level and it needs to be addressed. Entheogens may be one way to do that because if trauma isn’t addressed, nothing
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