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‘Life stands still’ when Black Daytona floods
BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
Daytona has large swaths of areas that flood particularly in the Black community, which is generally located on low-lying land. Residents in the Midtown area are very familiar with the flooding issues, especially on the south side of town. Many of the neighborhoods, housing developments, subdivisions and streets often flood during storms and heavy rains. This includes places like Pal-
FOR
VOTE
One of the major projects of the halfcent sales tax increase is to alleviate flooding that comes with heavy rains.
HALFPENNY SALES TAX
metto Park, Caroline Village, Daytona Gardens, Campbell Middle School, and the John H. Dickerson Center. Jessie, Magnolia, Verdell, School, Lockhart and other streets have their share of flood-
ing. So have areas near Pine Haven and the Midtown Cultural & Educational Center. Henry Butts Park, which sits between South Street and Bellevue Avenue, has a retention pond designed to help alleviate flooding in that area. Locals say it’s been overwhelmed with water during tropical storms and hurricanes that can dump water measured in feet, not inches.
Sales tax could help The proposed countywide sales tax increase being endorsed by the city could help the area by funding a multiple-phased project to strengthen the flood abatement system. The tax is designed to raise funds for improvement to roads, sidewalks, storm water projects, bridges and other infrastructure See FLOODS, Page 2
DAYTONA TIMES / 40TH ANNIVERSARY
BCR ends, HOPE VI progresses
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR. / HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
The Caroline Village neighborhood remained flooded for days after Hurricane Irma.
Racist sign taped to church a cause for concern BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
One historically Black church in Daytona Beach has had a bizarre week. Two separate incidents haven’t sparked fears but have raised questions and eyebrows. On Tuesday morning, a woman found a sign on the door of Mt. Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, 700 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
The note read: “Wake up you ‘Niggers’ God is trying to tell you something.” It was signed by “The Silent Preacher” in red ink. The rest was written in black ink.
Another incident Mt. Bethel has the distinction of being the city’s oldest Black church. On June 22, the church will turn 134 years old. See SIGN, Page 2
Mt. Bethel Baptist Institutional Church and law enforcement are taking precautions after a racist note was posted at the church. PAMELA MICHELLE/ FACEBOOK
Allen Chapel A.M.E.: Going strong in Daytona since 1910 Editor’s note: Volusia County is home to dozens of churches with predominantly Black congregations. Only a limited number can claim to have stood the test of time for 100 years or more. Mass Communication students at BethuneCookman University visited some of these churches to find out what makes them special. This is one in a series of stories about the iconic religious institutions.
Fourteen years ago in 2005, the Daytona Times reported on the brisk temperatures and a carjacking resulting in the death of a 20-year-old that reduced the numbers for Black College Reunion, as well as demolition projects making way for HOPE VI housing being built by the Daytona Beach Housing Authority.
ALSO INSIDE
BY DESMOND WALDEN AND CHRISTIAN PAYNE SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES
Fear of a bear led to the founding of Allen Chapel A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopal) Church more than a century ago in Daytona Beach’s Midtown community.
The church was founded in 1910, according to its history, by then members of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church after they encountered a bear on their way home. At the time, Mt. Zion was the only A.M.E. church in the city. Following that encounter, a committee was formed and plans were laid for starting a second church, closer to the members’ home. The presiding bishop granted the request and thus the groundwork was laid, church history states.
Barn to boulevard Allen Chapel was organized on March 8, 1910 under the leadership of the Rev. J.W. Allen, its first See CHURCH, Page 2
COMMUNITY NEWS: CHARLES W. CHERRY II DISCUSSES BLACK PRESS DURING LIBRARY PROGRAM | PAGE 3 SPORTS: DAYTONA STADIUM TO HOST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS THIS YEAR | PAGE 5
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APRIL 11 – APRIL 17, 2019
FLOODS
Church offering laughter therapy
from Page 1 The half-cent sales tax will not apply to purchases of gas, groceries or medicine. For example, it would add about two cents to a “Four for Four” meal at Wendy’s. For large purchases such as automobiles and boats, the tax would only be applied to the first $5,000 of the purchase because the tax is capped at $25 per purchase. There are plans, referred to as the Wilder Blvd. Outfall/ Midtown Stormwater Improvements Project, to address the flooding and storm water drainage with a substantial share of the tax money.
Been through the floods Residents took some time to share their experiences with flooding with the Times. Tiwanna Johnson, who lives in Caroline Village, commented, “It’s terrible. I wish they would do something to fix it. Water gets all into your house and messes up your clothes, furniture and rugs. I’ve seen a person have to use a tractor to get to their car because the street was flooded.” Michelle Stokes lives in the Palmetto Park public housing development, often referred to as “PPU” by locals. Stokes said, “When it floods over here, the drains fill up first, then the entire end of the street floods within minutes. Next, the front yard floods, followed by the back yard. It floods all the way up to our front and back doors. Then you know it’s a river on the street. “They redid the pipes and drains a few years ago, but they are just as worse as the old drains. It’s worst with the hurricanes. It floods with the rains and it stays flooded for days. In the summer, a heavy rainstorm floods the streets quickly.”
‘Life at a standstill’ Tyrone Benford lives in the Gardens of Daytona. Benford told the Times, “I live
“Are you stressed, sad or depressed? Do you want to add more laughter and joy to your life? A free laughter therapy program will be offered at Port Or-
SIGN from Page 1 Hurricanes and tropical storms make flooding in Black Daytona even worse. upstairs, so it’s not as bad. During floods, life is at a standstill. The elderly can’t get groceries, prescriptions or visit the doctor. One time water was waist-high, making commuting impossible for days. “The lack of food and resources make it difficult, especially for the kids and elderly. Tow trucks came and charged residents for rides. The fire department did help with free pharmaceuticals. No public officials or law enforcement came to help for three days. The Red Cross did serve hot dogs, chips and drinks. It was truly a horrible situation for many poor families.”
The project The Wilder Blvd. Outfall/ Midtown Stormwater Improvements Project will be a threephase project to improve storm water drainage in those areas. Each phase will cost $15 million, $13 million and $16 million, respectively. Phase 1 will construct a drainage conveyance system in Fairway Estates that takes water to a pond system on the city’s golf course. A new pump station will move stormwater to the Halifax River through a new Wilder Boulevard drain that will route water to the river. Phase 2 will construct a pump
station at Henry Butts Park and a large drainpipe from the park to Wilder Boulevard. Phase 3 will construct a control gate at Nova Canal with a square drainage pipe from that canal to the Butts Park pond to divert water from Nova Canal to the river. Drainage systems will be built throughout the project to ensure water gets where it’s supposed to go.
Millions per year If the half-cent sales tax passes, it is estimated to bring in $45 million per year countywide. Daytona Beach’s share is expected to about $3.7 million per year, estimated at $74 million during a 20-year span. The Volusia County Supervisor of Election Office will mail out a single-question ballot FOR or AGAINST the tax on May 1. It must be returned by May 21. Public meetings on the sales tax for information, questions and feedback are being held through the month of April every Tuesday and Thursday night around the city starting at 5:30 p.m. More information can be found on the city of Daytona Beach website at www.codb.us/ halfcent.
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church is located at 580 W. George Engram Blvd., Daytona Beach.
People stood in long lines to get samples of AfricanAmerican cuisine at the church’s Taste of Allen food festival on March 23.
pastor. The members held their first service in an old barn. Four years later, they laid a cornerstone for the church on then Second Avenue, near what was then Bethune-Cookman College. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of BethuneCookman was a member of the church from 1914 until 1923 when she transferred her membership to the United Methodist Church. According to the church’s website, her son, Albert Bethune Sr., now deceased, is a former member. Several of her grandchildren and great-grand children are active members.
The church doesn’t believe the first incident had any racial undertones, but they are staying “watching’’ out for anything suspicious relating to the derogatory note taped to the church. “We’ve checked into the incident with the sign on social media. We are aware. We didn’t see anything else or anything suspicious on the church property – neither did our church workers,” said Moore. He further stated, “I can’t speak for all churches but only Mt. Bethel. Accidents are accidents. The lady who hit the sign just was in an accident. The thing online we’re watching. We don’t know anything at this point.”
Strong foundation
Pastor’s path
from Page 1
‘We are aware’
ed to a wise man that I knew very close and he told me it was time…. and that’s when God began to open doors for me and my career,” he said.
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./ HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY. COM
CHURCH
Pamela Michelle Robinson told the Daytona Times that her nephew and his girlfriend were riding by the church and saw the sign posted outside on the church’s bulletin board. They showed it to her and she posted it online. “This is appalling,” Robinson said. She told the Times that she recently moved back to Daytona from Georgia and has attended the church in the past. A week earlier, someone ran a vehicle into the church’s marquee sign, completely destroying it. “A lady hit the church sign with their car last Monday morning. The police have a full report. The online social media post with the word, “Nigger,” about Mt. Bethel is all I know at this point,” said Andrew Moore, chairman of the church’s trustee board.
The Rev. Dr. Nathan Mugala, a native of Zambia in southern Africa, has been the pastor since 2007. Mugala came to the United States to attend college at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville. “Well, to be honest with you, I never intended on being a pastor. I move to Jacksonville and I majored in accounting with aspirations to create my own accounting firm,” said Mugala, who served at several churches in Florida before coming to Daytona Beach. “I kept running away from my calling, but I talk-
One of any pastor’s challenges when he goes to a new church, Mugala said, is getting the congregation to fall in line behind him while also being mindful of the rich history of the new church. For a church to be stable and strong, according to Mugala, it is important to have a strong religious foundation as well as the practice of social justice and equality. “In order for the church to stay solid and rooted in Jesus Christ, there has to be a strong religious foundation as well as attacking social justice and any adversity that comes,” he said.
The ‘right message’ Throughout the week, pastors or Christian leaders must find the “right message” to present to the congregation, which for Mugala, is simple. “As I prepare my messages throughout the week I always see and find out the problems that are happening with the people in the church,” he said.
ange Presbyterian Church, 4662 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Port Orange, the third Monday of every month. The next meeting is April 15 at 4 p.m. in the Gathering Place, Room D. No mats are needed. For more information, contact Alice Palmateer at pflgal@gmail. com or 386 898-8640.
As far as the note taped to the church that was posted on Facebook, police have received nothing else related to it. “We have received no reports on this matter as of this time,” confirmed Sgt. Kelsey Harris of the Daytona Beach Police Department.
Recent targets The church leadership is aware of recent incidents in the country targeting Black churches. In Louisiana over a 10-day period, three historically Black Baptist churches were burned down in the St. Landry parish. The churches are all located in rural areas. St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre was destroyed in a fire on March 26. Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas burned down on April 2. Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, on Highway 182 south of Opelousas, burned down on April 4.
Taking it seriously The Daytona Beach church is taking precaution. “We are aware of the Black historical church burnings. We are always concerned about people’s well-being and safety. We are concerned. We hope it’s nothing serious or a racially motivated, violence-intended incident,” Moore noted. The Daytona Beach police spokesman said the department is taking precaution as well. “We are always concerned for public safety. We are always conducting patrols. We will look into any matter,” Harris said. “We ask people to always be observant and careful. We ask people if they see anything, say something.”
“I also rely on Methodist literature and scriptures to help mold the right message for the right people…. God has to be a priority in everything you do. Not when times are hard or your back is against the wall, but all times.”
Remembering the past Area resident Jeanette Merritt has been a member of Allen Chapel for most of her life. The 90-year-old said she attended the church faithfully except for a 10-yearperiod when she lived and worked in Bartow. Merritt grew up in the African Methodist Episcopal church. “I am AME and I am not a person to jump from church to church,” she related. Her father, the late Rev. L.M. Moore, served as pastor at Allen for several years starting in 1941 before he was eventually elevated to state superintendent of Sunday Schools for the A.M.E. church. Merritt, who was a child when her father moved the family here, said the church has survived more than a century because of the commitment of the people in the congregation to make sure it survives, come what may.
‘Growing and Glowing’ Allen Chapel stayed on Second Avenue for more than seven decades before relocating to its current site at 580 George W. Engram Blvd. Bethune-Cookman purchased the old 626 S. Second Ave. church edifice and property in 1993. Due to its long stability, the church has been able to impact countless lives. Its congregation numbers around 400 people. Its theme is “A Growing and Glowing Church Family.’’ “Allen Chapel has been my church home away from home, especially when things get hard at school. There is no better place to be on a Sunday to solve your problems,” said Lladro Taylor, a B-CU student.
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Another reflection The Rev. Janice Mallory, associate pastor of the church, said she has been a part of the Allen Chapel family for most of her life as well – from age 12. Mallory said her parents were living in Ocala during the time but she spent much of her summer break in Daytona Beach visiting an aunt. “My mother grew up in this church,” she said, noting that the church was formerly located on Second Avenue, now Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard. The space is now home to a parking lot. The family eventually moved back to Daytona Beach. Being that close to Bethune-Cookman had advantages, she said. As the college grew, so did the church. “We always had good pastors and always had good musicians,” she said.
Church services Sunday services are church school at 8:30 a.m. and morning worship at 9:45 a.m. There’s a noon Bible study on Wednesdays, prayer service at 6 p.m. and Bible study at 7 p.m. The church can be reached at 386-255-1195.
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APRIL 11 – APRIL 17, 2019 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
Cherry shares Black media impact and challenges during library event Charles W. Cherry II explored the landscape of “The BlackOwned Media in the 21st Century’’ during Black History month in February at the Ormond Beach Regional Library. He was the last speaker in a series produced by Linda Epps and Lawrence Green. Cherry is publisher of the Florida Courier, his familyowned, statewide African-American newspaper reaching over 300,000 readers weekly, and the Daytona Times, called the “East Central Florida’s Black Voice.” He’s an attorney, writer, radio broadcaster and strategic business planning consultant. The Daytona native is a 1978 Bachelor of Arts journalism alumnus of Morehouse College.
Toward Freedom’s Journal Cherry shared how Black people would communicate through drums in Africa, before the written word went global and the printing press was invented in 15th-century Europe. “Black people had stories that they were passing from generation to generation – just by memory – by continual stories that were told, literally over thousands of years,” he said. He acknowledged that as descendants, we are approaching the 400-year commemoration of enslaved Africans brought here against their will in 1619. The Black press provided the means to plead our cause and frustrations, as we stereotypically were perceived as the “happy, inferior slaves’’ because of our skin color. Cherry said the first Black newspaper came into existence in 1827, and was known as Freedom’s Journal. It was printed in New York by John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish and was widely distributed in the northern states and throughout Haiti and Europe. More than a century later, Pullman porters subsequently aided in the development of civil rights by transporting the Black newspapers to the major cities.
Family legacy Cherry’s dad, the late Charles W. Cherry Sr., started the Daytona Times newspaper and got everybody involved – his wife, Julia; and their children, Charles II, Glenn, and Cassandra.
PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY
Cherry Sr. was also a Morehouse alumnus, a local and state NAACP leader, and newspaper publisher. He also was a college professor, accountant, Realtor, union organizer, and a bail bondsman who bailed out his Morehouse College brother, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from a St. Augustine jail. Cherry, Sr., went on to become a Daytona Beach city commissioner. “There has always been a fight and Black media has always been part of that fight,” Cherry II said, referring to racism. “The history of Black people in this country is really the history of Black-owned media,” he said. “Black folks understood from an early perspective of how important it was for media to begin to tell our story, in our own way,” he continued. “As you look at all the historical events of America, the Black Press has always been there,” he affirmed, “and it has always been a different perspective, and I’m proud to be a part of that legacy.” Cherry, a former South Florida prosecutor, returned to journalism and newspaper publishing upon his father’s death in 2004.
Perils of ownership He’s the co-founder and former general counsel of Tama Broadcasting, Inc., formerly one of America’s largest, privately Black-owned radio groups, which owned and operated 11 affiliated radio stations from 2001 to 2007. Since 1990, Cherry has served in various capacities in radio stations in which he has ownership interests, from part-time deejay to general manager. Cherry said the company’s demise was a result of “resourcerobbing, scum-sucking, multinational corporations” who were buying up radio stations. And, if a small business owner did not want to be bought out, the owner was then left to compete against large, publicly-traded companies. Since no one was “watching the store’’ to protect these small businesses, the antitrust laws did not matter.
PHOTO COURTESY OF B-CU
Bethune-Cookman students and faculty are shown at the Florida Academy of Sciences conference.
B-CU students excel at Florida Academy of Sciences conference Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) students in the College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics earned four top awards at the Florida Academy of Sciences Annual Conference last month in Melbourne. The conference was hosted by the Florida Institute of Technology. Here are the submissions from B-CU students and faculty mentors. Outstanding Undergraduate Student Oral Presentation: “Effects of superbloom conditions on zooplankton density in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida’’; Student: Jonathan Johnson. Faculty mentor: Sarah Krejci Honorable Mention Undergraduate Student Oral Presentation: “Examining zooplankton density related to seasonal and water quality conditions in the Halifax River Lagoon, Florida”; Student: Lakean McGregor; Faculty
mentor: Sarah Krejci Outstanding Undergraduate Student Poster Presentation: “Determining spatial and temporal water quality changes in the Halifax River Lagoon, Florida”; Student: Jehmia Williams; Faculty mentors: Sarah Krejci and Juan Calderon Honorable Mention Undergraduate Student Poster Presentation; “Feeding Selectivity of juvenile seahorses on wild zooplankton during early development”; Students: Alyssa Stubbs and Vikash Bisram; Faculty mentor: Sarah Krejci
Volusia’s ECHO committee to meet April 23 Volusia County’s Environmental, Cultural, Historical and Outdoor Recreation (ECHO) Advisory Committee will meet at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, in Stetson University’s Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Environmental Learning Center, 219 E. Michigan Ave., DeLand.
PHOTO BY JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY/DAYTONA TIMES
Charles W. Cherry II, Esq. is the publisher of the Daytona Times and Florida Courier.
Vast opinions matter In the interest of his Courier readers and the community, Cherry shared that Black media owners had made the decision long ago of not printing “journalistic pornography.” Moreover, he tries to be evenhanded. He knows that folks get upset because in the Courier, a Black Republican may write “right-wing stuff and is published next to a Black Agenda Report commentator who is as anarchistic as he can be.” Cherry said that he trusts his readers to be wise; plus he prints a disclaimer that the writers’ opinions do not reflect the opinions of the newspaper or the publisher. One of the unintended consequences of desegregation, he asserted, was the destruction of the Black business class which helped destroy the cohesiveness of the Black communities. Because of the artificial barriers of racism, which left a limit on where Black folks could go, it’s now an uphill battle to get the best talented writers who are now aspiring to write for the Washington Post or the New York Times.
Daily digital updates Through the internet and smartphones, more people have been turning to social media for the news. “God willing,” he said, “we will be here, trying to do some things both from a business and a communications perspective to enlarge our footprint. “On the digital side, we finally got to the point where it’s costeffective to do daily updates on
Members will discuss the progress of open ECHO grants and requests for time extensions. In addition, the committee will consider a change of scope and budget request for ECHO Grant 1809 Timothy Pollard Memorial Park Renovations. The public is invited to attend and participate in the meeting. For more information, contact Carmen Hall at chall@ volusia.org or 386-736-5955, ext. 12044.
Animal Control board meets April 24 Volusia County’s Animal Control Advisory Board will meet from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, at the Emergency Operations Center, 3825 Tiger Bay Road, Daytona Beach. Animal Control Director Adam Leath will lead a discussion on changes for a newly proposed county ordinance. The public is invited to attend and participate in the meeting. The Animal Control Advisory Board is composed of community members and focuses on animal issues that relate to public health and safety. The board makes recommendations to the Volusia County Council for changes in ordinances; standards for procedures for the control, collection, care, custody and disposal of stray animals; and standards for maintenance of regulated facilities. For more information, contact Shari Williams at 386323-3522, ext. 11211.
both our websites on the Florida Courier and the Daytona Times,” he assured. “When we talk about getting a newspaper around statewide, it’s like a Pony Express actually. “You have a piece of ‘something’ in your hand that’s got to go from Port St. Lucie all the way to Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona, Fort Pierce, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa-St. Pete, and that’s a real thing. “But because we believe in our product, we know that we are still necessary, we know that we have to be able to give our perspective – we understand that it is difficult – but we are a mission-driven organization, and we are proud of the content we put out,” Cherry noted.
‘Excellence Without Excuse’ The former South Florida state prosecutor earned his juris doctor degree at the University of Florida, Holland Law Center, which is now the Frederick G. Levin College of Law. At the university in 1982, Cherry earned a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in law. As a prosecutor, he noticed that the demographics of young, Black men were disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, which now defines the new Jim Crow. Cherry discovered that in many cases, the stereotypes of broken homes, single-family households, and tough neighborhoods did not apply. He learned that these young brothers were unable to navigate
Embry-Riddle students earn global space ambassador slots SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES
Amy Ramos, a senior undergraduate student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and two accomplished graduate students – Karen Brun and Heidi Hammerstein – were selected to join a team of 13 talented female scientist-astronaut candidates who will serve as global ambassadors for space science and exploration. The Embry-Riddle trio was chosen by an astronautics research and education program called Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere). The PoSSUM 13 ambassadors – sonamed to honor the legacy of an earlier group of female astronaut trainees known as the Mercury 13 – will lead student teams participating in an International Microgravity Challenge. Female students between ages 13 and 17 are being invited to propose science experiments to be performed in microgravity this October, in concert with the National Research Council of Canada and Project PoSSUM.
Falcon-20 mission One representative from the winning team will fly as a mission specialist aboard the Falcon-20, an aircraft capable of flying steep maneuvers called parabolas, which allow researchers to experience repeated periods of weightlessness. In this environment, researchers can test equipment and perform tasks to simulate the effects of reduced gravity on people as well as machines. The PoSSUM space-flight training program is preparing astronaut candi-
through the educational system. And while the young men were smart, they did not know how to play the academic game. Cherry’s book, “Excellence Without Excuse, The Black Student’s Guide to Academic Excellence” focuses on “how the low expectations of Black students’ achievements can get them higher grades. The guide is packed with practical and insightful information for achieving success.” Another book, “Fighting Through the Fear, My Journey of Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse” was co-authored by Cherry and his former Morehouse roommate, C. David Moody, Jr. It recounts Moody’s victory over childhood sexual abuse. ••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted, the prodigal son, or daughter, and the bereaved.
Celebrations Belated birthdays to Delcena Samuels, Stephanie Robinson, April 7; Eugene Price and Patrice Straker, April 8. Belated anniversary to Bob and Lynne Williams, April 7. Birthday wishes to Carla Price, Julius Hicks, Joan Robinson, April 11; Irving Robinson Jr., April 12; Ron Smith, Louise Reid, St. Hellen Mitchell, April 13; Breadon Robinson, April 14; Jillian Glover, Frank Quarterman Sr., April 15; Christine Rooks, twins Nekosha and Porsha Jones, April 16; and Edmund G. Pinto Jr., April 17. Happy anniversary to Les and Pat Town, April 14.
dates for the day when commercial suborbital spacecraft begin traveling to low-Earth orbit. Already, Ramos, Hammerstein, Brun and others have joined Project PoSSUM in studying an icy layer Amy of space clouds called Ramos noctilucent clouds. Studies of noctilucent clouds could provide new clues to the planet’s changing climate.
`Keep yourself motivated’ A veteran of 18 parabolas in flight, Ramos described the experience as “a dream come true.” A first-generation college student who is planning a career as an astronaut, Ramos chose Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus to be near the Space Coast. As an ambassador for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, she has regularly met with high school student groups. What’s her advice to students? “Never let anyone tell you no,” she said. “I had a lot of doors closed in my face, and it can get discouraging. I didn’t get into every single school where I applied, but I got into the ones that I wanted. “In high school, I only knew how to code in one programming language. Now, I can code in about five languages. It’s important for students to find their support. As long as you keep yourself motivated, you can do it.” Ramos, who has been on EmbryRiddle’s Biomedical Systems track, part of the Mechanical Engineering program, is interested in graduate school to combine her interests in engineering, biomedicine, and human physiology in microgravity. Immediately after graduation in May, she will begin Officer Candidate School with the Navy. The only daughter among seven children, Ramos credits her parents with nurturing her love of science and engineering.
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APRIL 11 – APRIL 17, 2019
Nipsey Hussle and why activism is tough work Being an activist is hard. Whether you’re fighting for justice reform, immigration or human and civil rights, you lose friends, sleep, you even lose your sanity sometimes. Constantly having to watch your back, never knowing who you can truly trust and even end up making sacrifices for the good of the movement. I pride myself on activism, demonstration and being a voice for the voiceless. On paper, it sounds perfect. A community leader who goes above and beyond for the benefit of his people. The awards are nice, the accolades are inspiring and the feeling I get when my people embrace me with hugs and stories in public is priceless. But what about behind the scenes? The threats? The tapped phone calls? The lack of funding and resources from those in the same vicinity as you? Eventually it gets to you, and you have to decide if being an activist is truly worth it. On March 31, Grammy-nominated rapper, community activist, father and entrepreneur Ermias Joseph Asghedom, aka Nipsey Hussle, was gunned down in front of his own Los Angeles store. Some hip-hop artists brag about the glamorous life of drugs,
RELL BLACK GUEST COLUMNIST
cars and clothes. While Nipsey Hussle may have dipped in his toe in those topics, he also spoke about something uncommon in hip-hop: long-term investment, African spirituality, and career development. The initiatives he’s launched for the youth including S.T.E.M. programs and with the amount of property he was buying up, he was on his way to changing the world, one community at a time. The impact he left is unparalleled, and has even caused the largest peace rally in the history of California. Now is the time for revolution, unity and community development. I’m often asked, why risk your life and put yourself out like that? It’s because I truly understand what my purpose and life are all about. I truly believe we all have a pre-determined destiny and it’s up to us to embrace it and not alter it. Here in Daytona, I always get
Fair housing still an unfinished journey Fifty-one years ago, this month, the Fair Housing Act (the Act) was enacted to ensure that housing discrimination was illegal. Yet, just days before the annual observance of Fair Housing Month began, headline news articles reminded the nation that housing discrimination still exists. For example, on March 19, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) fined Citibank $25 million for violations related to mortgage lending. At issue was Citibank’s “relationship pricing” program that afforded mortgage applicants either a credit on closing costs or a reduced interest rate. These cost breaks were intended to be offered to customers on the basis of their deposits and investment balances.
Racial discrimination According to OCC examination at Citibank, these ‘relationships” did not include all eligible customers – particularly people of color. The regulator’s conclusion was that the bank’s practices led to racial disparities. The settlement calls for all 24,000 con-
CHARLENE CROWELL NNPA COLUMNIST
sumers affected to receive $24 million in restitution. Days later on March 28, the federal department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) charged Facebook with violating the Act by enabling its advertisers to discriminate on its social media platform. According to the lawsuit, Facebook enabled advertisers to exclude people based on their neighborhood – a high-tech version of the historical redlining of neighborhoods where people of color lived. As April’s annual observance of Fair Housing Month began, the chair of the House Financial Services Committee used that leadership post to bring attention to the nagging challenges that deny fair housing for all. In her opening statement at the hearing held April 2, Chairwoman Maxine Waters set the tone and focus of
Betsy DeVos is unfit, unprepared, unworthy Betsy “Devoid” (of good sense), also known as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, is an aberration, an abomination, an abscess on the complexion of educational policy and equity. She has been so egregious that at least two members of Congress have called for her resignation because of her abject indifference to young people, especially those who are Black, Brown and poor.
Racial fear Instead of supporting our young people, DeVoid has attacked them. Black boys are three times as likely to be suspended as their White counterparts. More disturbingly, Black girls are 12 times more likely to be suspended than White girls. Why? Because Black girls have no girlhood, no
JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE
presumption of innocence. We are the recipients of “Afrophobia” – fear of Black people. President Obama didn’t do much for Black folks, but he did introduce Civil Rights Division protections for these overly suspended students. DeVoid would roll them back. She also wants to change the rules on campus enforcement of sexual harassment, giving the attacker the “presumption of innocence” and the right for a rapist to question the accuser.
a mixed response to any type of work I do. The older generation feels I’m just too radical and Black to get my point, so they usually snub me and my organization from important community discussions and have even gone out their way to ask elected officials to stop supporting us. On the opposite end, the young generation embraces me with open arms as if I were their big brother. From street cleanups to children’s outreach programs, the millennials, the Bethune Cookman students and those who truly love our community will do whatever it takes to make sure our goals are accomplished. So many people are confused on why I choose not to align myself with the elite and high-powered groups in town. Honestly, they never offered a seat at the table. So I’ll continue to fight for those who believe in me and for those who’d rather see me at the bottom of a lake. Being an activist is tough. It takes patience and a certain type of spirit to truly live out the dream. My heroes like Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Harriet Tubman and even recent leaders like Khalid Muhammed have always agreed that a life worth living is truly a life
the public forum. “According to the National Fair Housing Alliance, individuals filed 28,843 housing discrimination complaints in 2017,” said Waters. “Under the Trump administration, fair housing protections are under attack…. According to news reports, Secretary (Ben) Carson proposed taking the words ‘free from discrimination’ out of HUD’s mission statement.”
More issues Several committee members posed similar concerns and offered comments that echoed those of Waters. Additional issues raised during the hearing spoke to a lack of enforcement, data collection, gentrification, racial redlining, restrictive zoning, and disparate impact. A panel of housing experts provided substantive testimony that responded to many of these issues, while also acknowledging how many fair housing goals have not yet been achieved. Speaking on behalf of the Zillow Group, Director of Economic Research Dr. Skylar Olsen cited additional data that underscored racial disparities and problems that continue with access to credit. “Homeownership is a key tool for building wealth, and more than half the overall wealth held by American households is rep-
And he wants to protect forprofit colleges, while President Obama said that students should be protected against these predators. These for-profit colleges only exist to take people’s student loan money. They provide little in services and even less in educational support.
Lining their pockets But DeVoid – whose family seems to benefit from their involvement in the for-profit college space – is protecting her own interests. That’s not unusual in an administration where the presidential daughter has garnered patents with China, perhaps influencing our nation’s foreign policy. DeVoid’s ignorance was most recently exhibited when she attempted to defend budget cuts that would affect the differentlyabled, including cuts to the Special Olympics, our nation’s only deaf-focused university, Gallaudet, and to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Really?
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: TRUMP SAYS ‘AMERICA IS FULL’
DAVE WHAMOND, CANADA, POLITICALCARTOONS.COM
worth fighting for. If we had no community activists, who would be there to speak up for the community when tragedy strikes? When the police murder citizens, who is the one who always demands action? The activist. When a local business owner disrespects a queen in our community, who leads the boycott and eventual shutdown? The activists. We don’t choose this life; it’s chosen for us. You just have to stand up and embrace your truth for what it is. Don’t call yourself an activist if you can’t see yourself
dying for a cause. It’s time we appreciate our community heroes and give them their flowers while they’re still alive. Stop shunning people who fight for you and your children when you’re too afraid to do so. Embrace the leaders, protect the activists and love us like your own family. And just like with Nipsey Hussle’s death, activists birth other activists. “We don’t die, we multiply.”
resented by their primary residence,” said Olsen. “But access to homeownership is not shared equally. In 1900, the gap between Black and White homeownership rate was 27.6 percentage points. Today it is 30.3 percentage points.”
are unequal because of a series of public and private institutionalized practices that orchestrated a system of American apartheid in our neighborhoods and communities, placing us in separate and unequal spaces.” Goldberg also stated that racial discrimination included consumers of color with varying incomes.
Higher rejection rates Further according to Olsen, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) shows that “Black borrowers are denied for conventional home loans 2.5 times more often than White borrowers.” Even among renters, Skylar noted racial disparities in major metro areas like Atlanta, Detroit, Houston and Oakland, adding, “local establishments and amenities including banks, health institutions and recreational facilities are less prevalent in communities of color than White communities.” Debby Goldberg, vice president of housing policy and special projects with the National Fair Housing Alliance was also a panelist. “Not all neighborhoods were created the same,” testified Goldberg. “The long history of housing discrimination and segregation in the U.S. has created neighborhoods that are unequal in their access to opportunities. They are not unequal because of the people who live there. They
She is doing the work she was sent to do – to dismantle public education in favor of publicly supported private education. If folks want to do private schooling, that’s their business, but should public schools suffer for elitism? And should someone whose biases are so publicly visible be in charge of this? I think not. Ms. DeVoid’s tepid response to aggressive questioning by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, among others, exhibited her unpreparedness and unfitness. We knew that DeVoid was unqualified when she narrowly squeaked past senatorial confirmation, only earning it because Vice President Mike Pence cast a historical tie-breaking vote for her.
Trump’s support critical Even Republicans find her out of order, out of line, unqualified, unprepared and unfit. She is entirely consistent with the cretin who appointed her, and young people are paying for her ignorance. She is fully supported by
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Fewer amenities “While many low-income communities, no matter their racial composition, suffer from disinvestment and lack of resources, even wealthier, high-earning communities of color have fewer bank branches, grocery stores, healthy environments, and affordable credit than poorer White areas. “How do we ensure that future generations of all backgrounds live in neighborhoods rich with opportunity?” said Goldberg. “Fair housing can ultimately dismantle the housing discrimination and segregation that caused these inequities in the first place.”
Charlene Crowell is the deputy communications director at the Center for Responsible Lending. Contact her at charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.
the man who has enabled her to wreak havoc on our educational system. The blessing is that she can, perhaps, motivate our activism at the local level. More progressive activists must run for school boards. More must reject how this administration is attacking education. We must be clear that failure didn’t start with this administration, but it is amplified and exacerbated by this administration. If we believe that education is a human right, we must resist this nonsense. DeVoid is on the frontline of a cultural war designed to sideline folks who don’t look or spend like her. Are we ready to fight back, resisting a woman who is unfit, unprepared, and unworthy of educational policy leadership?
Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. Her latest book, “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy,” is available at www.juliannemalveaux.com.
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APRIL 11 – APRIL 17, 2019
porting their student-athletes and we are thrilled both Visit Tallahassee and DME Marketing made this possible, said George Tomyn, FHSAA executive director.
‘A good thing’
COURTESY OF DAYTONA STADIUM
Daytona Stadium recently underwent $20 million in renovations, including a new field turf, remodeled locker rooms, an open-air VIP club, VIP space with theater seating and a completely redesigned expansive concourse area.
High School football championships are returning to Daytona BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) announced on April 5 that the high school football championships will be held in Daytona Beach for Classes 4A through 8A. The games in Daytona will be played at Daytona Stadium (formerly Municipal Stadium) from Dec. 11-14. This will be the first time championships games will be played in both Daytona and Daytona Stadium since the FHSAA last held them here from 19931996 and 1989-1990.
“We think that Daytona is the right place for these games. The city, county, CBE and everyone is behind it. We haven’t had it for decades. We have strength with everyone involved. Also, DME is a very strong marketing company. We thought that we could offer a better solution and a better product,” said Daytona Stadium Director Mike Panaggio.
30-year lease DME Sports Academy, which is an offshoot of DME, a local digital marketing company, took over operations of the stadium in February 2018. DME has a 30-year lease with the city on the stadium.
Panaggio is both a co-founder and co-owner of DME and DME Sports Academy. It was also announced that championship games for Classes 1A through 3A will be held at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee from Dec. 5-7. In recent years, the FHSAA football championships were played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. “After listening to feedback from our membership, we felt having two locations stretched out over two weeks made the most sense. This new schedule gives families and fans the most flexibility when it comes to sup-
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SPORTS
The last time multiple venues hosted the FHSAA championships was in 2005 when then Dolphin Stadium in Miami hosted Classes 3A-6A and Florida International University (FIU) Community Stadium in Miami had Classes 1A-2A. Local businesses also see these events as a positive and welcome a chance for an economic boost. “Of course it’s a good thing. They were here years ago and now they are coming back, which is good for our hotels and restaurants. It’s not just the players and coaches coming but also their family and friends,” stated Bob Davis, president and CEO of the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County.
Doing it big Another goal is to create a special type of atmosphere for the players, coaches, teams, schools, media, fans and community. “We plan to partner with the FHSAA to promote these events. We plan to partner with every school participated. We want to make these feel like a BCS Bowl. We will have tents everywhere and even a special area for the media,” Panaggio noted. “We plan to do this at a high level. We plan to do a great job and make it classy. We are going to do it big. We want to make this something everyone could be proud of in Daytona Beach.’’
$20-million renovation Daytona Stadium has a capacity of just under 10,000. It recently underwent $20 million in renovations, including a new field turf, remodeled locker rooms, an open-air VIP club, VIP space with theater seating and a completely redesigned expansive concourse area. Daytona Stadium is also home for three local football teams – Bethune-Cookman University, which plays at the NCAA Division I Football Champion Se-
ries level – and local high schools Mainland and Seabreeze, who play at the 6A FHSAA classification. Cox Stadium in Tallahassee has a capacity of 6,500. It last hosted a championship in 1986 Class 3A state championship between Tallahassee Godby and Clewiston. It also recently had $800,000 in renovations, including a new field turf and a pair of high definition video boards.
Around the sports world Orlando Magic: The Orlando Magic won the southeast division title and made it to the NBA playoffs after beating the Boston Celtics on 116-108 on April 7. The Magic return to the postseason for the first time since the 2011-2012 season. Local collegians in March Madness: Bethune-Cookman University senior forward Chasimmee Brown and her twin brother University of Central Flroida senior forward Chad Brown both played in the NCAA tournament for the first time this season. Both were high school standouts at Deltona High. B-CU (21-11) won the MEAC tournament and fell to NCAA tournament runner-up Notre Dame in the opening round. UCF (24-9) lost to Duke in the second round after beating Virginia Commonwealth University in the first round. Youth baseball: Despite the struggles to attract kids and field teams, youth baseball is going on in the city of Daytona Beach. TBall thrives at Derbyshire Sports Complex and Baseball is played at Bethune Point Park. The program fields a team playing Machine Pitch (ages 7-8), Minors (ages 9-10) and Majors (ages11-12). Hats off to the players, parents, coaches and sponsors. Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning began the NHL playoffs on Wednesday. Tampa Bay has put a remarkable season and are one of the favorites to hoist the Stanley Cup. The Lightning went 62-16-4 during the regular season. Their 62 wins tied an NHL record with the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings.
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7APRIL 11 – APRIL 17, 2019
YOUR VOTE COUNTS, BUT YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED VOTER! Call or visit the Department of Elections at 386-254-4690 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., MondayFriday to obtain a voter registration application. Visit any Volusia County library or city hall to obtain a voter registration application.
VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: APRIL 22, 2019
FOR our roads FOR our waterways FOR our community
An extra half-penny means approximately $45 MILLION EVERY YEAR, for 20 years, to fix Volusia County’s roads, bridges, sidewalks, and flood-prone areas.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HALF-CENT INFRASTRUCTURE TAX Daytona Beach’s share is expected to be about $3.7 MILLION EVERY YEAR, for 20 years. ALL of it will go to improving local streets, creating new sidewalks, and improving the city’s flood-prone neighborhoods like Woodcliff Estates and Fairway Estates. Future phases address the larger areas like Orange Avenue, Keech Street, South Street and Beville Road including “Soul City,” Palmetto Park and Caroline Village.
TOURISTS AND VISITORS PAY THEIR SHARE. Much of the sales tax will be paid by visitors and tourists, which means everyone who uses our roads, sidewalks, beaches and rivers will help fix and maintain them, not just residents and property owners. If these improvements were made through property taxes, only local property owners would carry the burden.
IT WON’T APPLY TO ALL PURCHASES! You pay NO additional tax on gas, groceries or medicine.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THE TAX MONEY ISN’T WASTED? FOUR WAYS: • A local citizens oversight committee will monitor progress. • Florida law requires that money can be used only for projects listed. • A city ordinance clearly defines where the money goes and how it is spent. • City commissioners, not state or federal politicians, will make decisions.
MORE QUESTIONS? Attend these city meetings: Tuesday, April 16: Allen Chapel AME Church, 580 George Engram Blvd. Thursday, April 18: Daytona Beach Fire Station #7, 2545 LPGA Blvd.
EVEN MORE QUESTIONS? CALL 386-671-8400 On the Web: HTTP://CODB.US/HALFCENT