Daytona Times - April 24, 2014

Former NBA player says he’s broke and homeless SEE PAGE 7

Florida Friends for Obama plans April 26 rally in Palm Coast

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

SEE PAGE 3

APRIL 24 - APRIL 30, 2014

YEAR 39 NO. 17

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RON BUSBY, SR: Paltry number of SBA loans to Black businesses See page 4

www.daytonatimes.com

A matter of life and death Nearly 35 percent of the more than 95,000 people on the national waiting list for a kidney transplant are African-American.

BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

Minnie Mayes, a frequent visitor to Daytona Beach, is a caregiver and licensed practical nurse (LPN). She has assisted hundreds of ill and elderly patients throughout her career but found herself

as a caregiver in a more personal sense when her brother John Blanks suffered kidney failure in the late 1980s.

Blanks, now 25, knew his kidneys were problematic from high school. He tried out for the school’s football team at age 15 and was told he could not play after receiving test results from a physical.

He received his first donated kidney at age 25. Blanks was diagnosed with acute renal failure and placed on a transplant list and began dialysis.

Donate life April is National Donate Life Month (NDLM) and Mayes wants residents to be aware of how important it is to register their organs.

NDLM was instituted by Donate Life America and its partnering orPlease see LIFE, Page 2

COURTESY OF MINDY MAYES

Blanks Siblings John, Eddie, Minnie (Mayes) and Steve encourage others to consider organ donation after John’s continued good health following two organ transplants.

B-CU VP named president of Missouri HBCU

Harold Lucas, Dwayne Murray, and Philipp Urasch watch as Pastor Melvin Dawson putts his golf ball at the Jimmy Huger Scholarship Golf Tournament.

BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

After a national search and community input, the Harris-Stowe State University Board of Regents has appointed BethuneCookman University senior vice president for administration and student services as the new president of the Missouri institution.

Dr. Dwuan Warmark will be come president of the university effective July 14.

Harris Stowe State University is a historically Black university located in St. Louis with historical connections dating back Dr. Dwuan to 1857 as a “Whites only” Warmack school.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Warmack to Harris-Stowe and believe his energy and vision will accelerate the university’s commitment to student success,” said Thelma V. Cook, chairwoman of the Harris-Stowe Board of Regents in a written statement. “His passion and long-range vision are just what the university needs at this time. We look forward to working with Dr. Warmack to build a strong future for Harris-Stowe.”

High hopes for Black males Warmark said he’s excited about helping Harris-Stowe “move forward confidently and vigorously.’’

He noted, “I am eager to work with the Harris-Stowe and St. Louis communities to strengthen recruitment and graduation rates, enhance alumni and community engagement, and position the university as a significant asset in a growing, thriving region.

“I have a special interest in improving the educational attainment of AfricanAmerican males, but I am also committed to Harris-Stowe being a beacon of opportunity for all students. ”

More than a golf tournament Event named for Huger raises thousands for area students

BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

O

Community input According to a press release, the search committee for the presidency was headed

by St. Louis civic and business leader Michael Holmes, president of Rx Outreach and a former top executive at Express Scripts and Edward Jones. The committee included representatives from the faculty, staff, student body, alumni and community leaders.

“The Board of Regents and search committee were impressed with Dr. Warmack’s strong record of collaboration and his ability to work with various

DUANE C. FERNANDEZ, SR./ HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Mario Davis prepares to swing at the tournament.

ver $12,000 was raised on Saturday at the third annual Jimmy Huger Scholarship Golf Tournament. The funds will go to area high school seniors in Volusia and Flagler counties.

The event, in honor of the wellknown 99-year-old community and civil rights leader, was held at the Daytona Beach Golf Club.

Paul Wetzel, Bob Jagger, Michael Stallworth and Tom Miller were the winning foursome and Wright Smith won both the longest drive and longest putt-hitting contests.

“Even though it rained the day before, it dried out in time for ev-

eryone to come out and have a good time,” John Leland Huger Sr., facilitator of the event, told the Daytona Times. “We had a field of over 80 golfers to participate – from north and south Florida.”

Scholarship deadline extended Although the deadline for the scholarship has technically passed, Huger says that seniors that get their application to him by April 26 can still be considered.

“The scholarship selection process has began, however applications received to me by Saturday can still be submitted.”

Seniors at all Flagler and Volusia County schools can find the guidelines for the scholarship in their guidance counselor’s or respective office at the school.

For more information on the scholarship, call 386-566-8393.

Please see WARMARK, Page 2

Henry trying to woo football fans to watch NAIA championship game in Daytona

BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

Daytona Beach will host the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) football championship game in December at Municipal Stadium and Mayor Derrick Henry already is promoting it to those interested in watching some good football.

He can be seen encouraging tourists to visit the area in a You-

ALSO INSIDE

Tube video posted by the Halifax Area Advertising Authority.

The authority is a volunteer board appointed by the Volusia County Council that spends millions on tourism advertising each year.

“Welcome to the world’s most famous beach where we are proud of our 23 miles of hard packed sand, which are ideal for biking, jogging and a little football,” the mayor says as he catches a football by the ocean’s edge.

“We hope to see you on Dec. 20 at the NAIA national football championship.”

Three-year contract Sixteen teams will qualify for the Football Championship Series with three rounds of competition played on campus sites prior to the national championship game.

“We are extremely excited to have our Football NationPlease see HENRY, Page 2

YOUTUBE/VISITDAYTONABEACH

COMMENTARY: RAYNARD JACKSON: AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS CAN’T BE DEFENDED | PAGE 4 HEALTH: ABLE ACT COULD HELP DISABLED SAVE MONEY | PAGE 5

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APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2014

AACS to meet April 26; schedules May 3 open house The African American Cultural Society will hold a regular membership meeting on Saturday, April 26 at 11 am at the Cultural Center, 4422 N. U.S. 1, Palm Coast.

Free morning refreshments will be available to those who arrive early at 10:30 am. Visit www.aacspc.eventbrite.com for reasons to join AACS and to become a member. For information call 386-4477030 or email to aacspalmcoast@aol.com.

AACS also invites all adults to an open house on Saturday, May 3, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the 13-year-old Cultural Center building, 4422 N. U.S. 1, Palm Coast. A long with free refreshments, visitors will be able to enjoy music from Rob’s JazzExpress as they gain a casual introduction to the organization’s growth since 1991 and activities serving the community.

Visit www.aacspc.eventbrite.com or call 386-4477030 for information.

DUANE C. FERNANDEZ, SR./HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Revved up on Earth Day Approximately 30 NASCAR, International Speedway Corporation and Daytona International Speedway employees planted 35 trees at the Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Cultural and Educational Center on Tuesday in recognition of Earth Day. Over 250,000 trees have been planted to date offsetting racing emissions for the next 15 plus years.

Lower-income teens aren’t getting enough sleep, researchers say

BY MARY MACVEAN LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

African-American high school students and boys in low- to middle-income families reported short, fragmented sleep, and that could play a role in their health risks, researchers reported Monday.

Anyone who has ever lived with a teenager knows they often don’t get the eight to nine hours of sleep the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends.

Researchers writing in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics looked at one group of young people — those in a lower socioeconomic community.

A sample of 250 students from western Pennsylvania, ages 14 to 19, took part in the study over a week. Based on a diary and a monitor worn by the students, most of the students slept around six hours a night during the week. They reported more time, about 6.8 hours, in their diaries, but the researchers said that included time they tried to go to sleep.

Black males impacted The study evidence “suggests that Black male adolescents may be the

demographic subgroup most vulnerable to the negative consequences of inadequate sleep,” the study said.

Less sleep, the researchers said, “is associated with more negative cognitive, behavioral and functional measures among adolescents.”

Teenagers have a biological tendency to stay up late and sleep late in the mornings, when they can, the researchers wrote. But school schedules don’t generally accommodate that.

Different view They wrote that “a more optimistic view of adolescent sleep was recently published” from a nationally representative sample using diaries and showing that 14- to18-year-olds slept around nine hours a day. “No gender or racial or ethnic differences were observed,” they wrote.

But the researchers in the current study noted that teenagers in “disadvantaged communities or who are disadvantaged by virtue of their minority status are faced with challenges that may result in different sleep patterns.”

They called it “premature” to conclude that adolescents are getting enough sleep.

HENRY from Page 1

al Championship make its way to Florida,” Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO said in a release.

“We are confident that the City of Daytona Beach will continue to move the needle forward for this tremendous event and provide an outstanding experience for out student-athletes, coaches and fans.’’

The event will be held in Daytona Beach beginning in 2014 for three consecutive years. The first of the three title contests will be played on Dec. 20 with the 2015 game taking place on Dec. 19. The 2016 tourney starts Dec. 17.

Economic boost “We have an excellent football venue, and I’m excited to showcase our community to NAIA’s athletes, their families and fans,” Henry related.

“The annual Football National Championship will provide a positive economic boost for our community during one of our shoulder seasons.

I look forward to following NAIA’s 2014 season and watching the excitement build about traveling to Daytona Beach.”

Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium is the home field of NCAA Division I Bethune-Cookman University while also serving several local high schools.

BRIEFS

cators to provide attendees with new ideas and hands-on strategies. Interactive sessions will also address a variety of topics related to adult basic education, literacy, ESOL and family literacy.

Open Books, Open Minds’ conference coming to Daytona The 30th Annual Florida Literacy Conference will be held at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, May 7-9. Over 500 adult and family literacy practitioners, volunteers and adult learners will attend to network, develop new skills and share promising practices.

“The Florida Literacy Coalition is a strong advocate for adult learners and Daytona Beach is honored to be the backdrop for what is going to be a very educational and energizing conference,” said Sharon Mock, Interim Executive Director, Halifax Area Advertising Authority.

Keynote speakers include Byron Pitts, ABC News Chief National Correspondent and author, and Rob Shindler, author, tutor, and adult education advocate.

Pitts is a multiple Emmy Awardwinning journalist who was previously the chief national correspondent for “CBS Evening News” with Katie Couric. Shindler is author of “Hot Dogs & Hamburgers.’’

The Florida Literacy Coalition conference, themed “Open Books, Open Minds,” is a premier literacy event that gathers local, state and national edu-

LIFE

from Page 1 ganizations in 2003.

Celebrated in April each year, NDLM features an entire month of local, regional and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.

Too sick to eat From the viewpoint of a caregiver, Mayes explained that dealing with the anxiety and emotional trauma of the transplant was important.

“You have to be grounded in Jesus. You will have instances when the kidney isn’t functioning and you don’t know what that will create. Sometimes a person may feel like giving up, especially when they experience complications. You have moments when you are anxious because you don’t know what is going to happen.”

“He (Blanks) got so he could not eat, and would get nauseated,” Mayes shared. “He would basically eat fruit.”

Stewart Memorial schedules Women’s Day events Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church is hosting Women’s Day celebration activities at the church, 317 N. Dr. M.L. King, Jr. Blvd., Daytona Beach.

Carol Coffie will be the guest speaker at “Worship in the Yard,” which will include songs of praise, prayers, a brief spiritual message, food and fellowship. The event is May 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. All guests will be given “Stewart Dollars” to make purchases from “Attic Treasures & Antiques of Stewart” on display. Everything is free.

Mothers Day Prayer Brunch Dr. Gwendolyn Grant, columnist for Essence magazine, will be the May 10 guest speaker at an 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. brunch honoring mothers. The 2014 honorees are women who serve as role models and exemplify service, commitment, and faith.

Women’s Day Worship Service Daytona Beach City Commissioner Paula Reed will be the May 18 guest speaker at the 10:45 a.m. service. It will include the “Women of Faith Ecumenical Music Ensemble,’’ a melding

Another kidney Healthy kidneys clean your blood by removing excess fluid, minerals, and wastes. They also make hormones that keep your bones strong and your blood healthy.

Blanks was in need of a second kidney in January 1991 after his body slowly rejected the first transplant.

By year’s end, he had received another kidney. After that he received no dialysis and went back to work, Mayes said.

Before her brother received a transplant, Mayes was not an organ donor but has since changed. “If it were not for someone else who lovingly gave, he would not be here,” she told the Daytona Times.

The waiting list According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for example, African-Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics/Latinos are three times more likely than Whites to suffer from end-stage renal (kidney) disease, often as the result of high blood pressure and other conditions that can damage the kidneys.

Almost 35 percent of the more than 95,000 people on the national waiting list for

WARMARK from Page 1

university constituencies,” said Cook.

“We are confident he will build on the strong foundation at Harris-Stowe to create and achieve the excellence that our students and community deserve.”

of voices from the best choirs in the community. The ensemble will provide the music for our 2014 Women’s Day worship service. Women who serve as Volusia County elected officials will be honored.

For more information about the events, contact Shelia Jackson at 386255-7222.

Port Orange celebrates Founder’s Day on Friday The annual Founder’s Day Ceremony hosted by the Port Orange Historical Trust and the City of Port Orange is April 25. Starting at 2 p.m., the ceremony will be held at the Port Orange Historical Trust building, 3431 Ridgewood Ave. At the ceremony, the Port Orange Trust will showcase the two original Florida East Coast Train Depot “Port Orange” signs donated several years ago by the Nimmo family.

Port Orange was founded on April 26, 1867 at noon when the U.S. Postal Service recognized Port Orange as a community. Dr. John Milton Hawks and other Union Army officers selected this area as their base of operations for their Florida Land & Lumber Company. Right after the end of the U.S. Civil War, some 1,500 freed slaves came to Port Orange to fulfill their dreams of freedom and a new life.

FACTS ON ORGAN DONATION If you are sick or injured and admitted to a hospital, the No. 1 priority is to save your life.

African-Americans have higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure than Whites, increasing the risk of organ failure. African-Americans comprise 13 percent of the population, 34 percent of those waiting for a kidney and 22 percent of those waiting for a heart.

When matching donor organs to recipients, the computerized matching system considers issues such as the severity of illness, blood type, time spent waiting, other important medical information, and geographic location. The recipient’s financial or celebrity status or race does not figure in.

Federal law prohibits buying and selling organs in the U.S. Violators are punishable by prison sentences and fines.

There is no cost to donors or their families for organ or tissue donation.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

a kidney transplant are African-American.

Although organs are not matched according to race/ ethnicity, and people of different races frequently match one another, all individuals waiting for an organ transplant will have a better chance of receiving one if there are large numbers of donors from their racial/

In 2013, Harris Stowe was ranked No. 1 in the state in degree production of African-Americans in mathematics by the Missouri Department of Higher Education. The university, has been in existence for more than 150 years.

From Detroit to Daytona Originally from Detroit, Warmark has a doctor of education degree in

ethnic background.

This is because compatible blood types and tissue markers—critical qualities for donor/recipient matching—are more likely to be found among members of the same ethnicity. A greater diversity of donors may potentially increase access to transplantation for everyone.

educational leadership with specialization in higher education from Union University in Jackson, Tenn.

He earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.

He became the vice president for student affairs at Bethune-Cookman University in July 2010.

Warmark and his wife, LaKisha, have one daughter, Morgan.

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M A YNEWS OR

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2014 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

Florida Friends for Obama plans April 26 rally in Palm Coast Florida Friends for Obama is planning another rally come April 26, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., on Pine Lakes Parkway, off Belle Terre Parkway, in Palm Coast.

Florida Friends for Obama elected the president for two terms in office as Commander and Chief. They have shown continuous support and are determined to make their voices heard and clean house in the upcoming election.

The organization has come together, supporting the president’s Year of Action, involving equal pay for women, health care for all, giving America a raise, implementing gun control, immigration, and jobs. These are the issues at stake and the issues for the Florida Friends for Obama.

In addition, they are planning on celebrating the enrollments exceeding the expected goal of the Affordable Health Care Act. Loyce Nottage Allen founded Florida Friends for Obama in 2008.

She states, “We, the people of this great country, made our voices heard by voting to go forward, and not backward. We must carry our support and enthusiasm beyond Election Day. We will continue to work tirelessly in support of our president and vice president.

“We pledge to continue in our support of President Barack

Palm Coast giving away trees to those impacted by tornado

To assist residents who were directly impacted by the Dec. 14, 2013, tornado, the City of Palm Coast will have a free Starlight Tornado Tree Give-Away on Saturday, April 26, at two fire sta-

Society (AACS). Robinson thanks Robert Brooks, AACS Chairman of Black Studies, for bringing the drama.

“12 Years a Slave,” an unflinching account of slavery in American history, is the eye-catching movie by acclaimed director Steve McQueen, and actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o’s gripping performances.

They will star May 1, 2 p.m., at the AACS, 4422 North U.S. 1, Palm Coast. There will be no charge for the spellbinding masterpiece.

PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY

Obama by raising our expectations and aspirations for ourselves, families, and community.”

She encourages each one to come out and participate even if it is only for an hour. She says your presence will make a difference because “united we stand; divided we fall!”

Moreover, she requests that everyone brings a canned food for which the organization is planning to donate to a local food pantry. She says to tell family, friends, and neighbors about the rally in order to prepare for the August primary.

Holy Land tour Join Loyce and Company for a 10-day “Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus” tour of the Holy Land in Israel.

It will be exciting and an itinerary of sailing the Sea of Galilee, visiting the Garden of Gethsemane and Nazareth, the room where the Last Supper was held, and the little Town of Bethlehem.

Experience a baptism in the River Jordan, participate in communion at Calvary, and visit other tions in the affected areas.

This special event – open only to those residents whose homes were damaged by the Starlight Tornado – is in addition to the citywide Tree Give-Away held each year at Palm Coast’s Arbor Day Celebration.

The special Starlight Tornado Tree Give-Away will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Fire Station 23, 5750 Belle Terre Parkway, and from 1 to 3 p.m. at Fire

Junket to Hardrock

Loyce Nottage Allen and husband Thomas were featured in a journal on Jan. 21, 2013, in which Loyce honored President Obama at a Palm Coast Inaugural Ball.

Looking for somewhere to travel? Experience gaming fun in a turn-around junket at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, on April 26, departing 8 a.m. for Tampa in a luxury-chartered coach from Winn Dixie in Palm Coast, and returning 8 p.m.

The cost is $35 per person. The fun is open to everyone; the more the merrier!

You’ll be riding with the Palm Coast/Flagler County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Contact Dr. Barbara Holley for reservations and details at 571232-3401. The proceeds will benefit the educational development projects in Flagler, Putnam, and St. Johns counties.

••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.

sites along the journey.

Loyce and Company will depart Nov. 30 and return Dec. 9.

The total cost is $2,998 per person, based on double occupancy for round-trip airfare, departing from New York’s JFK to Tel Aviv.

The fare will include meals, hotel accommodations, and much more. The single supplement is $699. Travel arrangements are booked through Journeys Unlimited. Individuals and groups are welcome to join Loyce and Company.

Loyce reiterates that this is more than a vacation, but rather a life-changing experience that includes the Rev. Edwin Cof-

fie, pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, as the group’s spiritual leader on the journey.

A $350 fee per person is requested by April 30 for a reservation. Monthly installments of $156 will become payable. Moreover, for travel particulars, call tour leader Allen at 609-4123049.

Diana McKie Robinson, Cultural Center Administrator at the AACS, will bring popcorn to the movies, which will be featured at the African American Cultural

Birthday wishes to: Joan Bennett Walker, April 24; Roy A. Benjamin, April 25; Dorothy Robinson, Carolyn Bridges, April 26; and Jimmy Morrison, April 28.

Station 24, 1505 Palm Harbor Parkway.

“The city knows that it will take some time to recover from the tornado’s effect on landscaping and trees, and we want to help residents replace the trees they lost,” said City of Palm Coast Urban Forester Carol Mini. “With this special tree giveaway and our regular tree giveaway at the Arbor Day Celebration, we are taking steps toward restoring the beauty of our damaged neighborhoods.”

The city also will be giving away trees, while supplies last, at the annual Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, May 3, beginning at 9 a.m. at Central Park in Town Center. Trees will be given away at Arbor Day in exchange for a canned food or pet food item.

Anyone who has questions about the tree giveaways can call Urban Forester Carol Mini at 386986-3722.

Free seven-gallon tree Each residence that was damaged by the Starlight Tornado will receive a seven-gallon tree, free of charge, to help families restore the beauty of their yards.

Residents must show proof of address to pick up their tree. There will be one free tree given per household.

’12 Years A Slave’ at AACS

Celebrations

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7 EDITORIAL

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2014

Paltry number of SBA loans to Black businesses A recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) story detailed the inability of Black-owned businesses to be approved for SBA-backed loans made through America’s most prolific small business lenders.

And while it was satisfying – in a weird kind of way – to have confirmed what Black business owners have known for years, it was something of a gut punch to learn just how bad the situation has become.

“Black borrowers received 1.7% of the $23.09 billion in total SBA loans. The percentage is down sharply from 8.2% of overall SBA loan volume in fiscal 2008.

By number of loans, black-owned small businesses got 2.3% of the federal agency’s roughly 54,000 loans last year, down from 11% in 2008,” the newspaper reported.

According to the SBA, their average loan is $426,796, more than double the average of $192,919 in 2005. That’s a major problem for Black businesses because 80 percent of the loans Black business need are $150,000 or less.

Disturbing report As you might imagine, there are several reasons this latest report is so disturbing. In addition to Blackowned businesses being approved for 2.3 percent (only 1,242) of the 54,000 SBA-backed loans, Black businesses received just 1.7 percent of the dollar value of those loans – $325 million – at a time SBA lending spiked to $30.29 billion.

So get this straight: While the economy is relatively booming and the number of Black-owned

RON BUSBY, SR. NNPA COLUMNIST

businesses is skyrocketing (now about 7 percent of the total number), federally backed loans to support the growth and development of these businesses is not just shrinking, it’s practically disappearing. To be blunt, that’ shameful.

But we have not been idle in the face of these disturbing figures.

The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. has forged a relationship with the National Bankers Association that resulted in $5 million being deposited into Black-owned financial institutions. We also supported Maria Contreras-Sweet’s confirmation as the new administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

We believe that Administrator Contreras-Sweet, who founded ProAmerica Bank in Los Angeles, not only understands the challenges facing Black businesses.

Our conversations with her lead us to believe that the shrinking numbers of loans to African American businesses troubles her, too, and that she will immediately go to work to make improvements.

Force banks to cooperate During her recent confirmation speech, Administrator Contreras-Sweet declared that one of her top priorities would be to ensure that sufficient funding would

be granted to the hardworking minority businesses that need it the most. We support utilizing innovative, non-traditional avenues of lending money to minority firms to guarantee success.

Among our recommendations made to Contreras-Sweet: Enforce Section 342 of the Dodd-Frank Act. This provision of the Wall Street Reform Act, authored by California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, contains little used (and more rarely enforced) provisions governing the activities of financial institutions and the federal agencies that oversee their operations.

If enforced, Section 342 would fit the description “Community Reinvestment Act On Steroids.” In a nutshell, if a bank’s hiring practices, procurement policies and lending performance don’t demonstrate their commitment to a level playing field, (at least on paper) that bank can’t – or shouldn’t be allowed to – borrow money from the Federal Reserve.

If a bank can’t borrow money cheaply, it can’t lend money at a profit. If a bank doesn’t make a profit, it’s either declared insolvent and goes out of business, or it’s bought by another, bigger bank. Unfortunately, it seems some banks would rather face the prospect of insolvency or takeover than lend money to a Black-owned business.

Ron Busby, Sr. is president and CEO of U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. For more information about the U.S. Black Chambers, go to www.usblackchamber. org. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes.com.

Amnesty for illegals can’t be defended I am totally perplexed by Republicans who advocate amnesty for those who entered the U.S. illegally. We Republicans are supposed to be the party of law and order, a party that stands on clearly defined principles. Let’s cut through the pompous rhetoric: The issue of amnesty is only about cheap labor. All the other arguments are merely background noise.

With the national unemployment rate just under 8 percent, how can you argue that illegals are doing jobs that Americans refuse to do? With all the unemployed engineers (partly because of the shutdown of NASA’s Space Shuttle program), how do you justify increasing the number of H1B visas? The special visa allows companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations for up to six years. How can six years still be considered temporary?

How do you explain to a kid in Virginia that he or she has to pay out-of-state tuition to attend the University of Maryland while but a student in the country illegally is allowed to pay in-state tuition?

Why should someone in the country illegally be able to obtain a benefit that even an American citizen can’t have? Aren’t these Republicans supporting discrimination against American citizens

RAYNARD JACKSON NNPA COLUMNIST

in their lust of the Hispanic voter?

Inner city deprived Linking amnesty to winning the Hispanic vote is not a winning or sensible strategy. One has nothing to do with the other. There is no unanimity within the Hispanic community on the issue of amnesty, therefore why are some operatives linking this issue to the future of the Republican Party?

As if this weren’t bad enough, can someone please explain to me the logic of any Black person supporting amnesty when the Black unemployment rate is in double digits?

We can have honest disagreements on the issue of amnesty; but please don’t give me the perverted reasoning supporters of amnesty have been using: “it’s an act of love,” “they are only looking for a better life,” “it’s not their fault.”

But these same proponents who want to justify ignoring the law based on some irrational, emotional tick refuse to apply the

same empathy towards “Pookie” and “LaQueesha,” who represent inner city America.

When “Pookie” gets arrested for carrying a recreational amount of crack and is sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 20 years for a first time, non-violent offense, where are these Republican thespians advocating for an empathetic approach to law enforcement? When a Black woman in Florida fires a warning shot in the air to stop an abusive former husband from beating her and gets 20 years mandatory minimum, where are the Republican voices of empathy?

If we are going to claim to be a nation of laws, then we can’t allow emotion to cause the unequal distribution of justice to continue.

If your basis for giving amnesty to illegals is “their intent”—they only want to make a better life; then how can you not apply the same logic to “Pookie” and “LaQueesha?” Can you not make the same argument that they only want to make a better life for themselves and their families?

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a Washington, D.C.-based public relations/government affairs firm.

Write your own response at www.daytonatimes.com.

P&G patent litigation harms consumers Procter & Gamble enjoys a long, proud history as a major Cincinnati employer. Its history goes back more than 175 years.

My first corporate job was with this magnificent company. Its main strengths are research/development and marketing.

That’s why it’s all the more disappointing to see P&G take the low road of dubious patent litigation to compete in a marketplace where it has consistently prevailed with competitive products and the innovation needed to keep pace with changing consumer trends. Procter & Gamble has become a Patent Troll.

In the last few years, P&G appears to have shifted its competitive focus away from innovation and competitive product development and toward the courtroom. For example, the company has been aggressively pursuing makers of competing brands of toothpaste and teeth-whitening strips with questionable claims of patent infringement.

Big bully P&G used patent litigation to kick out Johnson & Johnson from the teeth whitening strip market in 2008. Since 2012, it has used the same tactics against BeWell Marketing, Hello Product

HARRY C. ALFORD NNPA COLUMNIST

LLC and Clio Inc., three companies that were supplying oral care products to retailers such as Target, CVS and Rite-Aid. It would be one thing if P&G had a case; every company has a right to defend its patents. But P&G’s claims are highly suspect.

Be-Well and Hello Product exited the market simply because they could not afford the legal costs to defend their position. Clio, however, requested a review from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trial and Appeal Board. This review upheld Clio’s petition for invalidation of P&G’s patents. In a further setback for P&G, the review board also found that P&G’s own patent claims might be invalid and concluded that Clio would likely prevail in the final USPTO ruling expected in this fall.

Rather than rethink its position, P&G decided to double down.

It has petitioned the U.S. District Court in Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, located in Cincinnati, placing it literally

on the company’s home court. It hopes to get a favorable ruling on its patent claim later this summer before the USPTO can invalidate its claim outright.

This is the wrong way to go because, in the end, everyone loses. In some respects, the damage has already been done. Generic brands often sell for half the price of name brands such as P&G’s competing Crest. When they disappear from store shelves, consumers lose. We can be thankful that the Ohio economy is slowly recovering, but many consumers are still economizing and store brands offer a real savings for households on a tight budget.

P&G’s shareowners and employees lose, too. Since it is looking doubtful P&G’s claims will stand up, the legal costs it is incurring to press the case will be wasted. This hurts doubly in light of P&G’s February announcement that it was shedding 5,700 nonmanufacturing jobs as part of a plan to reduce costs by $10 billion.

Harry C. Alford is the cofounder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes. com.

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: ERIC HOLDER

BOB ENGLEHART, THE HARTFORD COURANT

Making strides for preschool New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ran on a campaign to fund full-day public preschool for all New York City children through a modest increased income tax on residents making more than $500,000 a year. Although Mayor de Blasio’s tax proposal was not approved by the state legislature or supported by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the legislature did approve statewide funding for pre-K that included a $300 million increase for New York City’s preschool program.

This means that for the first time fully funded full-day quality preschool will be available for all 4-year-olds in the city. New York City is moving forward for children – and it isn’t the only major city or school district making such progress.

The Boston Public Schools system (BPS) offers a full day of prekindergarten to any fouryear-old in the district regardless of income, although funding limitations prevent the district from serving all eligible children. BPS ensures the quality of its prekindergarten program through high-quality teachers, professional development delivered through individualized coaching sessions, and evidence-based curricula for early language and literacy and mathematics.

Prekindergarten teachers have the same requirements as K-12 teachers in BPS and are paid accordingly. And it’s working. A study conducted by researchers at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education examined the impact of one year of attendance in the BPS preschool program on children’s school readiness and found substantial positive effects on children’s literacy, language, mathematics, emotional development, and executive functioning.

Other cities offer programs Tulsa is another city making great strides. Oklahoma has offered universal preschool to 4-year-olds since 1998. In the 2011-2012 school year, threequarters of all 4-year-olds in the state were enrolled in the preschool program. High-quality

MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN NNPA COLUMNIST

year-round programs are also available to some at-risk Tulsa children from birth through age three through the Community Action Project (CAP) of Tulsa County, which combines public and private funds to provide comprehensive services for the youngest and most vulnerable children.

New Jersey has offered highquality state-funded preschool to 3- and 4-year-old children in 31 high-poverty communities since 1999 in response to a series of state Supreme Court rulings starting with Abbott v.

Burke that found poorer New Jersey public school students were receiving “inadequate” education funding.

Researchers at Rutgers University’s National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) have conducted a longitudinal analysis of the impacts of the Abbott preschool program on the cohort of children served in 2004-2005, and the fifth grade follow up shows participation has had a sustained significant effect on students’ achievement in language arts and literacy, math, and science and reduced grade retention and special education placement rates.

Studies have shown children enrolled in high-quality early childhood programs are more likely to graduate from high school, hold a job, and make more money and are less likely to commit a crime than their peers who do not participate.

High-quality preschool is a critical piece of the early childhood continuum — and we need to celebrate and support the cities, states, and political leaders who are successfully providing this experience for all children.

Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes. com.

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

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5 7

HEALTH MA YOR

APRIL 24 – 14 APRIL DECEMBER - 20, 30, 20062014

Security checks are receiving disability insurance.

The disability rate is highest among AfricanAmericans who tend to become disabled as a result of health issues, or lifelong work in labor-intensive jobs – 24.3 percent as of 2009, according to the Disability Funders Network.

Chronic illness also precludes many Black Americans from the workforce.

Until the Affordable Care Act, people with pre-existing and/or chronic conditions were usually denied insurance and were thus forced to pay for care outof-pocket. Now largely insured, they too are dealing with significant healthcare debt.

Limited finances

NDSS

Congressman Ander Crenshaw of Florida speaks at a press conference pushing the ABLE Act.

ABLE Act could help disabled save money

BY JAZELLE HUNT NNPA NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON – As of 2006, more than 2.4 million African-Americans receiving Social Security benefits are disabled or are the spouses or children of disabled, retired or deceased workers. A new piece of legislation is poised to help address the rising cost of

disability, without jeopardizing existing social service benefits.

If enacted, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013 would allow disabled Americans and their caregivers to set up secure, tax-free savings accounts or their disability-related expenses.

Currently, Social Security Disability Insurance re-

cipients cannot have more than $2,000 in assets or they will lose their benefits.

But savings up to $100,000 in an ABLE account will not be counted as income and assets against the disabled beneficiary and, therefore, will not damage eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, and other assistance.

If you think you can can spot a person with HIV, consider this: Did you even spot the error in the first six words of this headline?

ANYBODY CAN HAVE HIV. USE PROTECTION. Right now, AIDS is the leading cause of death among African - Americans aged 25 to 44. If you’re having unprotected sex, you’re at risk.

NDSS

Members of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) are supporting the Achieving A Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act.

Reintroduced by Crenshaw The ABLE Act was first introduced but did not pass in 2009. Rep. Crenshaw Ander Crenshaw (RFla.), author and co-sponsor of the bill, re-introduced it in February 2013.

Today the bill has received bipartisan support from 358 representatives across all 50 states, including both the Senate party leaders.

However, it still faces one hurdle: a financial assessment from the Congressional Budget Office to determine how the bill will affect the federal budget.

These state-based ABLE accounts are patterned after (and built as an extension of 529 college savings plans, state- and schoolbased tax-advantaged savings plans that allow people to make investments that will mature and be put toward tuition and/or room and board. The funds accrued in these ABLE accounts can be put toward

BRIEFS

Be smart: Use protection, and get tested. For a testing site near you, text your zip code to 477493.

Tobacco Free Partnership to meet April 28 The Tobacco Free Partnership is a Volusia County, locally organized group committed to saving lives and improving the overall health and well being of residents and visitors by reducing and/or eliminating the use of tobacco products.

The Partnership is comprised of community members who advocate policy changes and educate decision makers about

schooling for the beneficiary, housing expenses, transit expenses, financial services, and more.

“Other Americans enjoy financial-planning tools that allow them to save for college and retirement, yet our tax code does not provide people with disabilities with the same option,” said Crenshaw. “Enormous financial struggles that most of us cannot imagine face this population, and they deserve a level playing field when it comes to planning for education, housing, retirement, and more.”

Significant health-care debt Blacks make up 19 percent of all disabled-worker beneficiaries, according to the National Academy of Social Insurance, a nonpartisan nonprofit. According to 2009 data from the Social Security Agency, 31 percent of AfricanAmericans receiving Social the impact of tobacco on all of our lives.

The partnership is further organized to advocate on the local, state and national level for: prevention of the initiation of tobacco use among youth; protection from secondhand smoke; and, promotion of tobacco cessation.

Interested? The April 28 meeting will be at 4 p.m. at the Volusia County Health Department, 1845 Holsonback Road, Daytona Beach.

For more information, call Kristen Mialki at 386274-0601.

Service animal class opening through disAbility Solutions DisAbility Solutions has a few openings in its service animal class. If you are a person with a disability that can benefit from the use of a service animal, the class is available at no cost.

The service is offered at a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition to having high disability rates, African-Americans tend to have the least financial flexibility. African-Americans, particularly women, also tend to work in lowwage jobs that do not offer benefits such as paid sick leave. Working- and middle-class Black families also tend to lack significant savings and wealth.

So, when health emergencies strike and result in disability, it is easy for Black Americans to drown in the tide of related care, medical bills, and lost wages. This results in significant health-care debt.

Those eligible for Medicaid may have less of a debt burden but also live on modest incomes. By Affordable Care Act standards, that’s a little more than $26,000 per year for a family of three.

African-Americans make up 20 percent of all nonelderly Medicaid recipients as of 2012, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The ABLE Act makes it possible to save money to address disability-related debts and expenses, without threatening eligibility for Medicaid or other government assistance.

Some stipulations Beneficiaries can also write off contributions to their own ABLE account though some stipulations are involved. Additionally, caregivers and dependents of the disabled can establish and use the account funds, as long as the beneficiary of the funds is qualified with a disability.

“Support for passage of the ABLE Act is stronger than ever with only six bills in Congress having as much backing,” Crenshaw said.

“Individuals with disabilities and their families deserve access to the same financial planning tools that other Americans use to map out their futures. A level playing field for them is something that we all can be proud of, and I’ll be continuing the fight for ABLE’s passage.”

Interested parties can contact Kristine at 386255-1812, ext. 304 or send an email to info@dsil.org.

Daytona library to host Alzheimer’s workshop April 30 The Alzheimer’s Association of Central and North Florida will present an Alzheimer’s/ dementia workshop for caregivers from 1 to 4 p.m. April 30 at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island.

The workshop will provide answers to questions that arise in the early and middle stages of these diseases. Participants will hear from those directly affected and learn what they need to know, what they need to plan for, and what they can do at each stage.

The free workshop is sponsored by the Friends of the Daytona Beach Library.

Reservations are required and may be made by calling the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-2723900.

7 CLASSIFIEDS

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APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2014

CABLE CONNECTION NOW HIRING PROFESSIONAL CABLE INSTALLERS IMMEDIATELY! Professional appearance, strong customer service skills, drug screen/background search & drivers license req.

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East Central Florida’s Black Voice Visit us online at daytonatimes.com

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M ASPORTS YOR

APRIL 24 – APRIL 2014 DECEMBER 14 - 20,30, 2006

something; he follows the New York Knicks.

“And all my choice words aren’t pretty right now,” he said.

He remembers the uproar online when his coach, Scott Shafer, called the city of Atlanta “softnosed” during an ice storm.

Other players do not understand.

Oregon defensive tackle Taylor Hart created his account six weeks before the combine. He has tweeted zero times, opting to live his life the old-fashioned way, face to face. But he thinks back to 2012 when Ducks kicker Alejandro Maldonado missed a 41-yard field goal in overtime against Stanford that wiped out national title hopes.

“Some people were saying some nasty stuff,” Hart said.

“That was just another reason why I never really had it. Those people don’t really matter.” At the heart of it, that’s the question.

Self-control a must

WILL VRAGOVIC/TAMPA BAY TIMES/MCT

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price (14) apologizes for his outburst on Twitter during a press conference on Oct. 7, 2013.

He lashed out against perceived critics after a loss against the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

Twitter an opponent some athletes find hard to handle

BY TYLER DUNNE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL/MCT

The moment a kick is missed, a pass is dropped, a tackle is whiffed is only the beginning. A football stadium is a safe haven.

Players don’t hear F-bombs from the student section. They can mute wrath from afar.

No, in 2014, blood boils when 21-, 22-year old athletes turn on their cell phone in the locker room. After sifting through all “keep your chin up” text messages from Moms and girlfriends, many inevitably tap open their Twitter accounts.

“Coaches say, don’t go on Twitter, don’t read it,” Florida cornerback Jaylen Watkins said at the NFL scouting combine, “but it’s like touching a hot stove when you’re little. You’re going to touch it.”

Again, social media and sports have collided. Not necessarily by what athletes tweet themselves, rather by what they read. The backlash, the aftershock. Through the pre-draft madness, everything is measured.

Speed. Power. Intellect. Ath-

leticism. The 300-plus draft prospects at the NFL combine in Indianapolis in February were lab rats. But there’s no stopwatch in existence that reveals how Prospect A will react to obscene and anonymous taunts.

‘Poisons’ minds Rick Pitino and Tom Izzo recharged the furor during the college basketball season. With fans blistering his players after games, Pitino said the site “poisons” minds. Izzo said Twitter is essentially a 24/7 opposing student section.

Then, days later, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery banned Twitter on his team. After air-balling a potential game-tying three-pointer, the Hawkeyes’ Zach McCabe absorbed fans’ rage and then tweeted: “The fact that I have iowa fans saying - - - - (to) me is insane. . .

You fans suck. . . Suck a fat one all of you.”

Most draft hopefuls in Indy vowed they’re above 140-character slurs. Some kids stay above the muck. Many don’t. Their mental fortitude is tested daily.

Watkins’ first exposure to this

came his sophomore year. Florida lost to Georgia, 24-20, and he was the goat. The corner was burned for a touchdown on a crucial fourth-and-6 play.

No rules He said fans ripped him, relentlessly, for a week.

“They tweet at you when you’re winning,” Watkins said. “But the same one that said ‘Congrats’ will come back at you when you’re losing. If I have a chance to read what they say, I’ll block them. It’s rough sometimes.”

This is a cyber student section without rules. It’s a Texas Tech fan shouting to Marcus Smart.

Four- and five-star recruits have been doused in praise through high school. Coddled, not crucified. One gaffe in the spotlight — like McCabe’s miss — triggers a foreign response.

So, as Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk said last year, players take criticism two ways.

They can mute it all entirely. Or they can hunt it down, create “Google Alerts” for themselves and read every tweet.

A new start for Josh Freeman: Quarterback signs with Giants ASSOCIATED PRESS – Josh Freeman signed with the New York Giants on Monday to be a backup quarterback to Eli Manning.

Freeman was released by Tampa Bay early last season and spent the rest of 2013 with Minnesota. His one start for the Vikings was in a 23-7 loss to the Giants in which he struggled, going 20 of 53 for 190 yards with an interception.

Freeman is the 15th veteran the Giants have added in free agency. He joins Manning, Curtis Painter and Ryan Nassib as quarterbacks on the roster. New York is expected to keep either two or three quarterbacks next season.

Move on USC safety Dion Bailey touches the stove. He reads every mention and isn’t afraid to egg on others. After Stanford scored a touchdown against Michigan State in the Rose Bowl, he ripped the Big Ten. Through the Trojans’ losses to Notre Dame and UCLA, he said it got ugly. Same deal when Lane Kiffin was fired.

“Some guys can’t handle the audacity that some fans have,” Bailey said. “Because they can say things, but they know we’re not going to say anything back because we have something to lose and they don’t. They take advantage of it a little bit. But it’s all fun to me. I keep smiling and just move on with my life.

“All kinds of things. It got crazy with the Kiffin situation.”

Some nasty comments Some players understand fans’ angst. They feel angst themselves. After all, this is a tool many 18-35 year-olds tend to daily. Syracuse defensive tackle Jay Bromley says everyone is a fan of

Former NBA player says he’s broke and homeless EURWEB.COM

Former NBA player Eric Williams, who appeared with his ex Jennifer on VH1’s “Basketball Wives,” says he is now homeless and destitute, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ Sports.

Williams, who spent 12 season in the league, made the

Why should any athlete care what the knucklehead with 13 followers even thinks? Why sweat it?

Seattle’s Richard Sherman is the league’s premier shutdown cornerback. He has his own “Beats by Dre” commercial that finishes with him ignoring reporters. Yet following his nowinfamous rant to Erin Andrews, there he was interacting instead of ignoring.

San Jose State cornerback Bene Benwikere read every tweet, every response through that weeklong furor. People called Sherman “an ignorant ape,” a “jungle monkey” and the n-word multiple times, said he “deserved to get shot in the (expletive) head” and that he needs to be “introduced” to George Zimmerman.

The reaction was abominable, but not abnormal. Benwikere doesn’t see the point in feeding the fire.

As he walked through the Lucas Oil Stadium lobby, he had a few words of wisdom for all prospects.

“You’ve got to have self-control,” Benwikere said. “To be a football player, you have to have to self-control. You have to be strong and realize that most of these guys have probably never even played the game. Even if they have played the game, they haven’t been in that moment, that situation.”

“How Richard responded, how people came at him, for me, if I’m in that situation, it’s more, ‘Let them be them. You’re entitled to your opinion.’ ” There’s no policing social media. It’s transparency at warp speed. A Wild West of interaction.

Pro days and combines and interviews accomplish plenty.

In 2014 and beyond, teams are must determine the thickness of a prospect’s skin, too.

That noise on Twitter will only get louder.

“You can’t stop everybody,” Benwikere said. “You can’t please everybody. You can’t stop everybody.” statements in a letter he wrote to a Colorado court recently explaining why he could not attend a child support hearing earlier this month.

Among the reasons, Williams says a “court-ordered citation for me to appear was not delivered to my home address as I have no home.”

Williams, who owes more than $24,000 in support to the mother of his 13-year-old son, also says his financial situation is so dire, he can’t afford airfare and has no money to pay a lawyer.

In his letter, Williams says he is currently a volunteer at an unnamed non-profit organization. “I’m in the rebuilding stages of my life,” he stated.

Messy split Tampa Bay cut Freeman in a messy split last year. He was the Buccaneers’ first-round draft pick in 2009 out of Kansas State.

He became a starter in November of that year and started 60 games for Tampa Bay. Freeman’s quarterbacks coach in Minnesota was Craig Johnson, now the Giants’ running backs coach.

“I’m definitely excited about being a part of this great organization,’’ the 26-year-old Freeman said during the team’s first day of offseason conditioning. “Obviously, it’s a chance to go play

DANIEL WALLACE/TAMPA BAY TIMES/MCT

Then Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) walks off the field after the team’s 23-3 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Sept. 22, 2013. quality football, learn from some great coaches, learn from a great quarterback in Eli. ... Yeah, I’m definitely looking forward to it.’’

Freeman went 0-3 as a starter in 2013 with the Buccaneers before being cut on Oct. 3. He signed with the Vikings five days

later, but other than his start against the Giants, he was a nonfactor in Minnesota.

“Last year was rough all around, but I’m happy to get a new start here and have an opportunity to be there for the Giants and see where it goes,’’ he said.

EURWEB.COM

Jennifer and Eric Williams are shown at Sean “Puffy” Combs’ birthday bash in New York City on Nov. 5, 2008.

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7APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2014