Love Fest focuses on fun, fellowship and worship SEE PAGE 2
EE FR
CHRIS B. BENNET: Profiting from the grief in Ferguson SEE PAGE 4
THE ART OF BARBECUING SEE PAGE 7
East Central Florida’s Black Voice AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
YEAR 39 NO. 35
www.daytonatimes.com
Black counselor makes history in DeLand
What a difference bodycams make
Davis defeats Brown for District 3 seat; recount in Volusia at large contest
Members of the Daytona Beach Police Department responded to a call on Sept. 25, 2013 around 2:45 a.m. in reference to a domestic dispute. The officers kicked down a door and saw 32-year-old Jermaine Green with a knife at his girlfriend’s throat. After instructing Green to release her, Green instead raised the knife in a motion that suggested to officers he was going to stab Katrina Johnson. The two officers shot Green several times, saving Johnson. The officers did not attempt to move Green while they waited
BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
Jessica Davis, a career counselor for at-risk teenagers, made local history Tuesday night when she was elected the first AfricanAmerican female to the DeLand City Commission’s District 3 seat. Davis handily won the seat with 72.69 percent of the vote against Krystal Brown, who claimed 27.31 percent. Both Davis and Brown are Black. Brown gained national recognition last after her ex-husband, Marlon Brown, died after being hit by a DeLand police officer’s cruiser. Davis provides GED instruction and work readiness skills for high school dropouts age 16-21. “I feel confident, I feel great, and I look forward to serving DeLand,” she said Tuesday night. In May, she told the Daytona Times that she was passionate about working with those that others wouldn’t take an interest in. “I want to make sure people have a voice. I want people to have adequate housing so they aren’t homeless and to work with those who others may say are at risk,” she stated.
Incidents in Daytona show importance of police officers using body cameras BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
for paramedics to arrive. They didn’t know if there was a weapon underneath his body. According to reports, angry residents gathered at the scene. Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood was quoted at the time as saying, “There’s at least 100 residents out screaming at me as I get out of my car that my officers gunned down a guy lying in bed.” Green and Johnson both survived the incident. A video recording with audio of the incident showed what really happened that morning, thanks to body cameras that Daytona Beach police officers wear. That video was uploaded to YouTube and viewed worldwide more than 100,000 times. “The video shows exactly what happened,” said DBPD spokesperson Jimmie Flynt. “He was about to stab her and officers had to take appropriate action to prevent death or serious bodily injury. There were people
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./DAYTONA TIMES
A bodycam is shown on the left shoulder of an officer with the Daytona Beach Police Department. complaining … once they saw the video, there was no question.” Unlike the recent event in Ferguson, Mo. where unarmed 18-year-old Mike Brown was
gunned down by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, there is no video of what took place during the final moments of Please see BODYCAMS, Page 6
CAMPBELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Too close to call Official numbers for the primary were not available by the Daytona Times’ Wednesday night deadline. A state-mandated recount for the hotly contested Volusia County Council AtLarge seat was under way. In a race that was too close to call, frontrunner Joyce Cusack, the incumbent at-large council member and former House of Representatives member, has been guaranteed a spot on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. Her contenders – longtime County Councilwoman Pat Northey and Deltona City Commissioner Webster Barnaby – were within a small margin of each other.
Hand recount
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ, SR./HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Celebrating ‘A Passion for Preparation’ Approximately 150 admirers celebrated the legacy of the administration, staff, and faculty of Campbell Elementary School, some of whom are pictured here, during a banquet at the Dickerson Center in Daytona Beach, the former site of the school. See a full page of pictures and a story next week.
Supervisor of Elections Ann Please see HISTORY, Page 2
Challenge accepted! College presidents complete ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Dr. Edison Jackson, president of BethuneCookman University accepts the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Fontaine Davis, B-CU’s Chief of Staff, did the honors. ASHLEY D. THOMAS/ DAYTONA TIMES
ALSO INSIDE
BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
Local university presidents have shown their support for a cause and have the video to prove it. Bethune-Cookman University president Dr. Edison O. Jackson accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) president Dr. John P. Johnson on Aug. 25 amid cheers from new and returning students and faculty. “This is a great opportunity to shine a bright light on research being done to find a cure for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” Jackson said. “And I
want to show the students that we can all participate. I am blessed that it’s still sunny and hot in Daytona Beach.” The ALS Association’s Ice Bucket Challenge has taken the Internet by storm appearing on many Facebook newsfeeds. The viral videos are distributed among a wide array of social media platforms starting in late July. It consists of recording the person who accepted the challenge have a bucket of ice water dumped on his or head. The unconventional activity is done to promote awareness of ALS.
$1,000 donation Before
Jackson
his turn, Johnson, along with Jason Glenn, Daytona Beach Campus Dean of Students at ERAU completed the ice bucket challenge. The pair was called out by former Student Government Association President James Scott and Banyan Air Services. “We decided to do this because it’s for a really great cause folks,” Johnson said in a video posted on the school’s YouTube account. “We’re donating a thousand dollars to the cause and that’s really just a start,” he continued. “Also I want to pass on this I challenge to three other college presidents in Daytona Beach – the president
had
COMMENTARY: DR. RON DANIELS: THE KILLING OF BLACK MEN CONTINUES | PAGE 4 EDUCATION: STUDENTS OF COLOR NOW MATCH WHITE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT | PAGE 5
Please see ALS, Page 2
R2
7 FOCUS
AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
Votran will have limited service on Labor Day
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY THOMAS/DAYTONA TIMES
Twins Jennifer “Jenesis” Austin and Amber stand in front of a table showcasing Amber’s artwork at the Love Fest event held on Aug. 23.
Love Fest focuses on fun, fellowship and worship Mind of Christ Ministries held its first Love Fest event featuring Christian musical artists performing hip-hop, traditional and gospel music for seven hours on Aug. 23 at Daisy Stocking Park. The Love Fest theme was “Breaking the Chain of Silence.” The group designed the event to “bring the community together for a day of “fun, fellowship and worship.” Information on suicide preven-
Hiphop artists performed at the Mind of Christ Ministries’ Love Fest.
tion, bullying, human trafficking and domestic violence were shared. Recording artist Jennifer “Jenesis” Austin was a performer at the event and her twin sister, Amber, had artwork on display. “We’ve always supported one another and doing what it takes to get the next one to the next level,” Jenesis said. Love Fest is scheduled to be an annual event.
Miller to appeal HISTORY judge’s ruling on Zone 3 residency
no phone service and no power,” said McFall. “We also always have an issue in New Smyrna with clear lines.” Percentages quoted in this article were accurate at the time of printing. Numbers may change following the recount.
BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES
Other results
from Page 1
Steve Miller, who was a candidate for the Zone 3 Daytona Beach City Commission seat, says he will appeal a ruling that takes him off the Nov. 4 ballot. Circuit Court Judge William Parson ruled Monday at a hearing that Miller had failed to prove that he has lived in the zone for six months. All candidates seeking an elected position must prove they have lived at their residence for six consecutive months before filing an intent to run for office. Parsons’ ruling means Commissioner Kelly White, the incumbent, automatically wins the race. Miller said he would appeal the decision to the 5th District Court of Appeal. “I have to get a copy of the transcript. I have a team of brothers that will help me get my appeal together,” Miller told the Daytona Times. “I learned about the case on the 12th of August. Normally you get 20 days to answer a complaint.” According to court records, the 20-day summons was sent out on Aug. 8. “But because people write emergency on it, it goes forward and I just get railroaded.”
Three addresses Miller gave three addresses during the process, including property listed as his homestead and a business address. The three addresses included Walnut Street, Pine Street and George Engram Boulevard. “I’m paying cable, electric and water at all of these,” Miller insisted. “The judge said that based on low water consumption, I could not have lived at my home. Am I on house arrest? Do I have to always be there? I have been taking care of a sick family member at their home. Do the snowbirds who leave during the summer months lose their residency due to not being at home for three months?” he queried.
‘I was bushwhacked’ Daytona Beach resident Bobby Hudson filed the complaint against Miller, stating that he didn’t live in Zone 3 for the required six months before filing to run for office. Miller said he should have been given time to prove his residency. “They should have given me until Sept. 2. That’s all I’m saying. Please give me my due process. The election isn’t until November. What was the emergency?” An upset Miller added, “A Black man can’t stand a chance in this court system, I was bushwhacked; it was a modern-day lynching that was it. It’s no justice. How can there be peace? I’m disappointed in the judicial system, and I have always believed in it. What kind of justice is that in America? God bless them.”
McFall announced plans for a machine recount and hand recount Wednesday because the margin is less than one quarter of one percent and the number of undervote, overvote and provisional ballots are less than that margin. Cusack led the race with 35 percent of the vote. Northey finished with 32.6 percent and Barnaby with 32.4 percent. Northey was leading Barnaby by 153 votes. Cusack will face whichever candidate of the two pulls ahead. Said Cusack upon the preliminary results, “I thank my supporters and I will continue to serve. We will see what happens.”
Some problems Polling problems surfaced Tuesday that were quickly corrected due to equipment and utility failures. “When we delivered our equipment yesterday, four of the 125 precincts had
ALS
from Page 1 of Daytona State College, the president of BethuneCookman and the president of Stetson University. I challenge you to take on the Ice Bucket challenge and finding a cure for ALS.” As the key to the challenge is to have video footage, chatter on Twitter soon emerged discussing how “cool” Jackson was for completing the challenge. He was doused with the icy water by Fontaine Davis, B-CU’s Chief of Staff and the entire ordeal can be seen on Bethune-Cookman University’s YouTube channel. Jackson, who also made a donation, called out Day-
Ruth Trager led the City of Daytona Beach Zone 1 Commission race with 47.46 percent of the vote against incumbent Carl Lentz IV, who came in second with 27.52 percent. He was trailed by Andrew Moore at 25.02 percent. Lentz will face Trager in November. John Mica won the Republican primary for U.S. Representative District 7. A Volusia County referendum extending a halfpenny sales tax passed with 64 percent of the vote. The 15-year tax is to finance school security and technology capital improvements and construction of other school capital projects, including construction, additions, renovations and replacements.
tona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry to complete the challenge as well. Henry was set to carry out the challenge following Wednesday night’s city commission meeting. There have been more than 1.5 million videos pertaining to the challenge that have been shared on Facebook between June 1 and Aug. 13 and mentioned over 2.5 million times on Twitter between the end of July and the middle of August. As of Wednesday, the ALS Association had received $94.3 million in donations compared to $2.7 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to Aug. 27). For more information about the ALS Association, visit www.alsa.org.
Votran will operate on a limited service schedule Monday, Sept. 1. Riders are encouraged to plan their travel in advance to avoid possible travel conflicts. • West Volusia routes 22, 24 and 60 will not operate. Connecting SunRail Routes 30, 31, 32 and 33 will not operate as there will be no SunRail service. • Route 20 will operate every two hours beginning with the 7:26 a.m. southbound trip at Wal-Mart, DeLand. Northbound trips will depart from the Marketplace Plaza, Orange City, every two hours from 8:32 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. • Routes 21 and 23 will operate on a Saturday schedule. • Eastside routes 1, 3, 4, 10, 15 and 17 will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Buses will operate out of the Intermodal Transfer Facility in DeLand, not the Transfer Plaza. • Routes 40 and 41 will operate every two hours. The first Route 40 southbound trip will depart from Dunlawton Avenue and U.S. 1 at 6:42 a.m. Northbound trips will depart from Canal Street and U.S. 1 every two hours from 7:44 a.m. through 5:44 p.m. Route 40 will not serve Swallowtail Drive and Village Trail. It will turn right on Dunlawton Avenue from Nova Road and will depart there at 11:08 a.m. It will meet Routes 4 and 17 at Dunlawton and Orange avenues to transfer passengers going north on U.S. 1 and A1A. The first Route 41 southbound trip will depart from Canal Street and U.S. 1 at 6:57 a.m. Regular trips depart every two hours from 8:47 a.m. through 4:47 p.m. The 2:47 p.m. trip departing from Canal Street and U.S.1 will be the only trip serving
Oak Hill. • All other routes and New Smyrna Beach Flex Service will not operate. • For Votran Gold service changes, contact a reservationist or Votran customer service. Votran riders are encouraged to visit votran.org and click the “subscribe” button at the bottom of the homepage to receive timely notices about bus service changes. The website also provides up-to-date alerts and real-time bus information.
Halifax HealthHospice to host ‘Hearts & Hooves’ retreats Halifax Health – Hospice BeginAgain Children’s Grief Center will present Hearts & Hooves retreats on Sept. 6 and Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at Artquest School of Art & Design, 571 Leeway Trail, Ormond Beach. One of Halifax Health – Hospice’s signature programs, Hearts & Hooves is a camp for families, young children and teens involving expression through art and horses. During the retreats, trained grief counselors will guide participants through artistic activities and allow them healing interaction with horses. These activities give children and teens, who have experienced the death of a loved one, a safe and peaceful outlet for their grief expression. The retreats are available for families with children and teens eight to 18 years of age. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31. To receive an application to register or for additional information, call 386-2585100.
ASHLEY D. THOMAS/DAYTONA TIMES
Jessica Davis easily wins the DeLand City Commission District 3 seat making her the first AfricanAmerican female to hold the position. She is pictured with her husband, Mario, on Tuesday at the elections office as precinct totals are tabulated. Joyce Cusack speaks to supporters Leslie and Jake Sachs following the primary on Tuesday. ASHLEY D. THOMAS/ DAYTONA TIMES
PHOTO CREDIT YOUTUBE.COM/EMBRYRIDDLEUNIV
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Assistant Director of Admissions James Scott (back left) and Lt. Col. Garret Messner, Army Department chair, douse Dr. John P. Johnson, president, and Jason Glenn, Dean of Students.
3 7
M AHEALTH YOR
AUGUSTDECEMBER 28 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 14 - 20, 2006
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
Vitamins and supplements to promote health FROM FAMILY FEATURES
Trends in women’s nutrition
W
From TV talk shows to the local nightly news programs, the public is never at a loss for nutritional information targeted toward women. Use this list of some of the popular vitamins and supplements that have recently made headlines to help you decide whether they fit into your health and wellness regimen.
ith so many different choices in the vitamin aisle, many women find it difficult to choose the right ones to fit their personal needs. As a woman, keeping your body healthy is an important task. Whether you are in your child-bearing years, taking folic acid for a healthy baby, or in your post-menopausal years, taking extra calcium for healthy bones, there are various vitamins for women to consider at every stage of life.
A daily regimen It’s no secret that the use of vitamins has become a common act for most people. In fact, a recent Gallup poll found that 54 percent of women take a vitamin on a daily basis. If your intention is to prevent disease, such as cancer or osteoporosis, or you just want to fill in nutrition gaps not covered in your daily diet, the reasons for taking vitamins and their many different forms are endless.
Giving back While having the means to obtain such essential nutrients is simple for most Americans, there are many people who aren’t as fortunate. In an effort to improve the everyday health of people everywhere, Walgreens is joining up with Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping atrisk populations gain access to lifesaving micronutrients. Customers can make a difference and help children and mothers at risk by purchasing select health and wellness supplements at Walgreens. With each purchase, the company will offer 1 percent of its vitamins sales to help provide 100 million at-risk children and mothers in the US and abroad with essential vitamins and minerals. “Walgreens’ mission is to help people get, stay and live well, and we are proud to support Vitamin Angels’ cause,” said Robert Tompkins, group vice president and general merchandise manager. “Through this program, our customers can make a difference in so many lives by simply continuing to fulfill their health and wellness needs at Walgreens.” For more information, visit www.vitaminangels.org and www.walgreens.com.
Multivitamins While most of the nutrients contained within multivitamins can be found in food, taking one daily can fill in any missing gaps. A daily multivitamin can satisfy all of your daily nutrition needs. When shopping for the right product, note that not all multivitamins are created equal. Some varieties offer a different amount of nutrients targeted to a specific age group or function, such as Centrum Silver Women 50+ Multivitamin tablets, which provide additional support for breast and bone health.
Omega-3 supplements Perhaps one of the most talked about nutrition products on the market, omega-3 fish oil supplements have been praised by various health professionals for their heart health benefits. Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One product, Nature’s Bounty Odorless Fish Oil 1000 mg Dietary Supplement Softgels, provides a special coating to minimize the unfavorable aftertaste often associ ated with such pills.
Vitamin D While many people obtain vitamin D through exposure
to natural sunlight, it can also be found in small increments in fatty fishes and in fortified dairy and cereal products. Supplements of both vitamin D3 (at 700–800 IU/day) have been shown to reduce the risk of bone loss and fractures in elderly people aged 62–85 years. For those looking for a convenient way to get the vitamin D needed for optimal health, try the Finest Nutrition Vitamin 5000 IU Dietary Supplement.
Calcium To keep bones healthy and strong throughout life, your body requires calcium. This bone-strengthening nutrient reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis. To increase your calcium intake, try the Nature Made Calcium 600 mg with Vitamin D Dietary Supplement Liquid Softgels, which provide additional vitamin D to pro mote calcium absorption.
Folic acid A nutrient commonly taken by women who are pregnant or who wish to become pregnant, folic acid is known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida in babies. For those looking to improve their health and wellbeing, a general under standing of the many uses for vitamins and supple ments may just be their own personal key to longevity.
PREVENTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR WOMEN Invest in your future by taking advantage of health testing services at your local Walgreens pharmacy or Healthcare Clinic at select Walgreens. Some services offered include the following tests: • Cholesterol • Blood glucose
• Blood pressure • Body composition
Talk to your physician about your test results.
R4
7 EDITORIAL
AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
The killing of Black men continues When will it stop? The police killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager in the streets of Ferguson, Mo., coming on the heels of the killing of Eric Garner, an unarmed Black man by a policeman’s choke hold in Staten Island, N.Y. is yet another painful, traumatic reminder of the long history of occupation, torture, abuse and killing of Black people in America, particularly Black men. Indeed, within hours of the killing of Michael Brown, Ezell Ford, an unarmed Black man with a history of mental problems, was killed in Los Angeles under suspicious circumstances. It doesn’t matter that there is an AfricanAmerican president of the United States or that Blacks are mayors of major American cities, run Fortune 500 companies or are pace setters as high paid and adored hip hop moguls, entertainers and athletes, the killing of Black men continues.
Assault on protestors Once again legions of Black people and people of conscience and goodwill are in the streets in Ferguson, Mo. and in solidarity rallies across the country. But, to add insult to injury, in scenes reminiscent of the brutalizing of civil rights protesters in Birmingham and Selma in the 60s, St. Louis County Police units with sharpshooters, sniper squads, mine-resistant trucks and a “Bearcat armored truck” unleashed a ferocious assault on peaceful marchers, firing tear gas, stun bombs and rubber bullets into the ranks of terrorized protesters. The whole nation and the world witnessed this vicious onslaught against the First Amendment by highly militarized police that looked more like soldiers on the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan than the suburb of a major
DR. RON DANIELS TRICEEDNEYWIRE
American city. The question of the hour is, and has been for far too long: When will the killing of Black men and the occupation of Black communities stop? In a book edited by Jill Nelson in 2000, titled Police Brutality: An Anthology, I wrote, “The policy of more police and prisons has been used as a substitute for policies that promote social, economic, and racial justice for people of color. This formula of ill-conceived public policy and policing practices has produced a highly combustible situation in communities of color throughout the nation.” These words were written in the wake of the police torture of Abner Louima, the police slaughter of Amadou Diallo and the killing of a number of Black and Latino young men in the greater New York City area under suspicious circumstances. Nearly 15 years since the publication of Jill Nelson’s book, much has changed, but the killing of Black men continues. Black people must exercise political and economic muscle to demand greater civilian control and oversight of the police. In Ferguson, Blacks are 67 percent of the population but all the political structures are dominated by Whites. This must change. Blacks and their allies must march on ballot boxes to seize the reins of power as a major step towards changing policing policies and practices in Ferguson. However, simply replacing White faces with Black faces in the corridors of
power is not sufficient. Ultimately, there must be a change in the policies and practices of the police. We must demand an end to the militarization of the police, the utilization of military tactics as control mechanisms and the profiling/targeting of Black communities. We must also demand an end to the “broken windows” and “zero tolerance” strategies that insult the intelligence and infuriate Black people. Community-policing must become the centerpiece of a human-centered, holistic approach to crime prevention and public safety in Black communities. At the national level we must demand that the federal government stop providing funding for local police departments to purchase the kind of military hardware the nation and world witnessed being used in the assault on peaceful protesters in that night of infamy in Ferguson. Black people must also use economic sanctions/boycotts to complement protests and political action to achieve just and humane alternatives to police occupation and racially-biased policing practices. Economic sanctions campaigns should be coupled with demands for private and public sector investment in Black communities to create jobs and develop business/economic infrastructure. Ending bad policing is not enough. Black people must struggle to revitalize Black communities.
Ron Daniels is president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century and Distinguished Lecturer at York College City University of New York. Write your own response at www. daytonatimes.com.
Profiting from the grief in Ferguson We are all outraged by the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. People all across the country have taken to the streets, social media and many other forms of protest to show their outrage. The one question that I have as I watch video accounts of what is happening on the ground in Ferguson is: Who is profiting from the tragic loss of life that has occurred in this community? While people are taking to the streets, tearing up their neighborhoods and destroying businesses in Ferguson, there are hundreds of visiting journalists who are staying in hotels, renting cars, buying gas and buying food (probably all outside of Ferguson). Some might say that this is a small price to pay in order to expose this tragedy to the world, but the fact that businesses, including many Black businesses, in Ferguson are suffering because a few people choose to riot and commit criminal acts should be of concern to many community leaders.
Gone too far The frustration that the people of Ferguson and the St. Louis region have with law enforcement and a legal system that perpetuates disparities in the arrest
CHRIS B. BENNETT SPECIAL TO THE NNPA
and incarceration rates of African-Americans is something that needs to be addressed. However, while protestors look to make the police and “the system” pay, the protestors who have taken their actions too far by looting, rioting and committing criminal acts just for the sake of doing so have done nothing more than provide “the system” and the officers in question with a greater opportunity to get paid. Police officers do not work for free, and when a state of emergency was called by the governor of Missouri, it provided a green light for state and local officials to utilize the necessary resources to get the situation in Ferguson “under control.” That means that in addition to the local police department having all hands on deck, re-enforcements from the state patrol and other police departments in the area will be on extended duty to support the public safety efforts until the sit-
uation in Ferguson is stabilized. All of the police officers involved in this effort will undoubtedly receive a significant number of over-time hours (at least time and a half ), which means that they too will financially benefit from the tragic death of Michael Brown.
Have a plan I’m not opposed to protesting, and I support the efforts of the protesters on the ground in Ferguson. However, I think that the leaders and protesters in Ferguson or any other city that feels the need to protest injustices need to have a specific agenda and a strategy for what they are doing. At the end of the day, we all want justice for Michael Brown. However, the last thing we want to see is police officers taking vacations, buying new cars and getting an unexpected payday on the back of an unarmed Black man that was unjustly gunned down by one of their fellow officers.
Chris B. Bennett is co-publisher of the Seattle Medium in Washington. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes. com.
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: POLITICAL ANIMALS
BILL DAY, CAGLE CARTOONS
Do’s and don’ts of charge-off debts With 19 of the nation’s banks annually selling $37 billion in charged-off debts, the absence of clear guidelines for banks and debt collectors has led to many consumers facing lawsuits, harassing telephone calls and threats over debts that they may not even owe. Even worse, debt collectors have coerced or sued the wrong people, overstated the amount, or even collected illegitimate debts. Now, thanks in part to the efforts of advocates, a federal regulator has taken an important first-step towards holding banks accountable for the businesses they sell debts to and the threshold information that must now accompany those sales. On August 4, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued guidelines that 1,729 national banks and federal savings associations must now observe. As of June 30, these institutions collectively held $7.76 trillion in assets.
Follow the law According to the OCC, “Banks that engage in debt sales should do so in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with applicable laws – including consumer protection laws. . . .Banks should be cognizant of the potential for fraud, human error, and systems failures when selling debt to debt buyers.” At the crux of OCC’s guidance is a trio of concerns: consumer protection, accountability and accuracy. Fair treatment of customers must now be part of the structure of debt-sales agreements. Banks must provide timely notification to customers when their past-due debts are being sold. And these notifications must clearly identify the dollar amount of the debt that has been sold, as well as the name and address of the debt buyer. At the time of sale, banks must provide accurate and increased information for each debt. “This guidance is one of the first actions taken by a federal regulator to address the way banks sell off their old debt,” said Lisa Stifler of the Center for Responsible Lending. “The agency sent a strong message to banks that they must no longer sell debts without proper due diligence, risk management, and attention to the fair treatment of consumers.”
A no-go for sales OCC also identified specific types of debt that are not appro-
CHARLENE CROWELL NNPA FINANCIAL WRITER
priate for sale. The list includes:
Deceased account holders; Borrowers that have sought or are seeking bankruptcy protection; Accounts lacking clear evidence of ownership; Account holders currently in litigation with the institution; Debt that has been otherwise settled or is in the process of settlement and Debt incurred as a result of fraudulent activity. By advising banks of the dos and don’ts of debt selling, the hope is that consumer harms stemming from these transactions will disappear. “For years, debt collectors have gotten away with flooding the courts with frivolous debt collection lawsuits and fraudulently obtaining judgments, when they have no proof that the debts are actually owed,” said Susan Shin of New Economy Project. “The OCC’s guidance should help stop this wrongful transfer of wealth from low-income people and communities to debt buyers.”
Inaccurate judgments Instead of debt buyers rushing to courts to sue consumers for debts owed, OCC’s guidelines and ongoing monitoring will stem – if not end — consumers having their paychecks surprisingly garnished, or a court finding in favor of a debt collector simply because the affected consumer never received a notice of the impending action. “The OCC guidance will help bring banks and debt collectors into compliance with federal and state consumer protection, as well as other laws,” said Rob Randhava of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 200 groups. For advocates, the hope is that this first step towards consumer protection in debt sales will not be the last.
Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.
The elephant in the room The recent incident in Ferguson, Missouri has once again brought the issue of race and police brutality to the forefront. It highlights the fear and devaluation of young Black men in America and what “profile” police have arbitrarily assigned to them animalistic and barbaric; thug, dumb, etc. Regardless of age, educational status or otherwise, this is what they perceive our young men to be. While the investigation into the events surrounding his death continues, the 18-year-old Brown was laid to rest today. Person after person stood before the crowded Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, and described “Mike, Mike” as a gentle soul, who believed one day the world would know his name.
All too common My heart breaks for the Brown Family and the countless other black families who have had the arduous task of burying their chil-
LINDA SMITH GUEST COLUMNIST
and badges and had no respect for the positon they should have been honored to hold.
The norm I know about police cover ups, evidence planting, and manufactured incident reports. It happens. To Black America, unfortunately, this is the norm. To White America, it seems unfathomable. When suspicious evidence and activities happen to our Black boys and Black Men, the masses cry out. When we do; however; we are quickly accused of playing the race card. When our leaders speak out, they are accused of inciting riots. Seems like we can’t win!! This is why it is imperative that we have the infamous “talk” with our children when they reach adolescence. I, for one, will continue to speak out on these injustices. Rest in Peace, Mike, Mike; today the world knows your name!!
dren as the result of race related police brutality. Unfortunately, it has become all too common in this country for men and women whose job is to protect and to serve, to hide behind a badge and claim “self-defense” when in actuality they have committed cold blooded murder. To some it may sound as if I am a police hater. I am not. In fact, my first job after college was Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police in an urban Michigan City where I interacted with police officers on a daily basis. I developed some lifelong friendships with some of the officers (Black, Whites, European descent); others I felt nothing but disdain beWrite your own response at cause they abused their uniforms www.daytonatimes.com.
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AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 3,142014 DECEMBER - 20, 2006EDUCATION
MAYOR
this student body shift have been brewing for years.
Latino growth
CHUCK BERMAN/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT
From left, Mark Bach (sixth grade), Gaby Chlebek (fourth grade), and Cole Salgado (fourth) see who their teachers will be Aug. 14 in Oak Park, Ill. Behind them is John Robertson and his children Jorie (fourth) and Jonathan (first). Anxious Washington Irving Elementary School students (and parents) checked the posted lists to see who their new teachers will be when school starts.
Students of color now match White school enrollment BY JAZELLE HUNT NNPA NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON – As the nation’s families head back to school, they may notice that for the first time, elementary and middle school students of color will equal the percentage of White students, according to Department of Education projections. White student enrollment has steadily declined, as have birth rates among White families. Hispanic-American students have, and will continue to have, the largest presence in public elementary and middle schools. Asian and multiracial student populations also have grown in that time although much more modestly. In recent years, Black public school enrollment has remained steady at around 17 percent or 18 percent of all students. It began to decline in 2006, falling to 15.3 percent of all K-8 public school students in 2011. That’s the most recent actual enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). However, the Department of Education predicts Black enrollment continued to decline in 2012 and 2013, will plateau for
“We want to recruit that next generation of talent into education. We also want to make sure that we’re not just bringing great talent, but bringing talent from a diversity of backgrounds.” Arne Duncan
Education Secretary the next few years, and will begin rising again in 2017.
Teacher training lags This year’s “majority-minority” demographic shift is speculation for now – the Department of Education won’t have the actual enrollment figures for fall 2014 until at least 2016. Still, it is a matter of when – not if – schools will be the first sector of society to reflect changing American demographics. But it doesn’t seem as though public education is in step with the nation’s steady transformation. “What’s concerning to me as a consultant is that we have an increasing student population of color and declining percentages of teachers of color,” said Jawanza Kunjufu, a Chicago-based education consultant and author. “Unfortunately, most school dis-
tricts have one to three days of training for teachers and most of that is not around multicultural training.” Less than 7 percent of the nation’s public school teachers are Black. Taken together, teachers of color are only 18 percent.
Curriculum ‘still Eurocentric’ Kunjufu says that some university education programs, particularly those in urban areas, are attempting to prepare incoming, mostly White teachers for classroom diversity. But this alone may not be enough to create effective schools that reflect their students. “We’re looking at 2014 when students are going to be 50 percent White and 50 percent nonWhite, but the curriculum is still Eurocentric. The learning styles
are still more left-brained. We still have tracking – the AP, honors, Gifted and Talented, and IB classes are still predominantly White and Asian,” he explained.
Discrimination continues Discrimination also remains a problem despite increased diversity. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice stepped in to issue a set of school disciplinary policy guidelines in line with civil rights law. The guidelines were in response to widespread suspensions of Black students of all ages, and also in response to increased law enforcement in school settings. Underqualified teachers often end up in Black and brown schools, the same schools that are often underfunded. And there aren’t enough teachers to go around for English-language-learning (ELL) students. In 2012 there were 4.4 million public school students enrolled in ELL programs, or 9.2 percent of all kids. There are only 51,000 ESL/bilingual elementary school teachers – or, a national ratio of one bilingual teacher for every 86 ELL students. The demographic changes that are now colliding to create
According to the Pew Research Center, Latinos have been the largest non-White population since 2002, and have continued to increase by 36 percent since then. At the same time, Asians are on par with Latino in terms of growth rate. Between 2012 and 2013, 61 percent of the growth in Asian population was attributed to immigration. In recent years, the growth in Latino population has been from births, not immigration; there have been 9.6 million births from 2000 to 2010, and first-generation Latino-Americans are now becoming adults. Additionally, public school closures in Black and brown communities are a factor. As student populations are merged across differing communities, the demographics at these schools are significantly altered. These closures have given rise to charter schools. Since the 2001-2002 school year, the number of charter schools has nearly tripled, according to NCES data. It is worth noting, however, that public charters are only 5.7 percent of all public schools and 4.2 percent of all public school enrollment, as of 2012. On a related note, the student body at private schools remains largely White at nearly 72 percent in 2011 (although pre-K through eighth grade private school enrollment has been on a slow decline since 2002, for all races).
Diverse talent sought The Department of Education has a few efforts to recruit more teachers of color, particularly through public-private partnerships. It has also taken steps to create state-based teacher training program evaluations. “We want to recruit that next generation of talent into education…. We also want to make sure that we’re not just bringing great talent, but bringing talent from a diversity of backgrounds,” said Education Secretary Arne Duncan in a February video address. “Increasingly our teachers and administrators don’t reflect the great diversity of our nation’s public schools. And we’re working very hard to bring more Black and Latino teachers – particularly men – into the profession.”
Not prepared Kunjufu says that in his experience, efforts to insensitive and recruit teachers on the basis of race are often blocked by unions even though unions often support these tactics for teachers who specialize. In lieu of this aggressive recruiting, Kunjufu’s book, “Black Students: Middle Class Teachers’’ advises schools to compensate for the cultural gap through professional development workshops on bonding, raising expectations, and using culturally relevant tools and methods. “It’s frustrating for me because I’m primarily working with White, middle class, female teachers who did not grow up in communities of color, have not taken and multicultural courses, and are now teaching our children,” he said. “And it’s frustrating for them as well because they’re not being prepared. Yet, there seems to be resistance to making education more multicultural.”
ACT study: More students aspire to attend college BY DOROTHY ROWLEY NNPA NEWS SERVICE
American College Testing Inc., which offers college admissions assessments for high school students through standardized tests, says a new study finds interest in higher education to be increasing among high school graduates. Whether that interest means more graduates are enrolling in colleges and universities remains to be seen — particularly since many of them might not be ready for post-secondary studies, said Paul Weeks, an ACT vice president for client relations. “For over 20 years, ACT has been putting out an annual report on the condition of college and career-readiness,” Weeks told the Wall Street Journal. “The population now represents about 57 percent of the graduates nationwide. … It’s important for us to keep a gauge on how students are doing in terms of preparedness.”
Unprepared for college Weeks added that while access to college has increased and aspirations are high, too many students are unprepared. “When we looked at [results from last year], well over 80 percent [of students] indicated that they wanted to go into higher education, but only 69 percent actually enrolled,” he said. Weeks said that in 2013, ACT officials saw minor increases in overall average test scores that highlighted increases in English, reading and science. “But I think most concerning, is that we still see a large percentage of students — over 30 percent — who our research indicates aren’t ready for any of the corresponding college courses in English, math, reading and science,” he said.
This story is special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer.
LUI KIT WONG/TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE/MCT
Basheera Agyeman talks to teacher Penny Bullock in the IB Senior literature class at Thomas Jefferson High School in Federal Way, Wash., on May 6. Four years ago, the district decided to get more low-income and minority students to take its most challenging high school classes. Instead of waiting to see who opted in, it automatically enrolled all students whose results on standardized tests showed they could handle the courses.
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BODYCAMS from Page 1
Brown’s life. “Eventually the chief would like to have every police officer with the Daytona Beach Police Department equipped with a body camera. Now is that going to happen? We don’t know, but we would love to have that,” Flynt continued. Funding for the “bodycams” come from drug money that is seized. The funds can go toward these cameras or other technology. Flynt says that opposition to the bodycams has been minimal. “Some people say it’s big brother watching you, but the cameras aren’t on all the time. If the officer is out eating lunch, the camera isn’t on. He’s not recording anyone’s conversation or anything like that.”
By the numbers The United States Census 2010 showed that Daytona Beach’s population includes 40,513 Whites (approximately 65 percent of the population); 17,300 Blacks (27.7 percent,) 3,346 Hispanics (5.5 percent) and
AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
1,690 Asians (2.71) percent with the remaining belonging to the other category. In Daytona Beach, the mayor is Black as are two city commissioners; there are three White commissioners. There is a Black councilwoman serving on the Volusia County Council and five Whites, as well as a Black school board member. Additionally a Black official in the Florida House of Representatives represents the area. According to Flynt, as of today, there are 212 sworn active officers on the force. The breakdown is as follows: 1 Asian male, 24 Black males, 10 Hispanic males, 133 White males, 4 Black females, 3 Hispanic females, 1 two or more races female and 36 White females. In contrast, Blacks are almost 70 percent of Ferguson’s population. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are 14,297 Blacks and 6,206 Whites; 22 percent live in poverty; the mayor is White; there is only one Black on a 6-member city council (.096 percent); three Blacks out of 53 policemen (5.6 percent); and the St. Louis suburb is the sixth most segregated city in the U.S. In this year’s elections, only 12.3 percent of eligible voters actually voted (17 percent White, 6 percent Black); 11.7 percent in 2013; and 8.9 percent in 2012.
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
4.25"
This is the watch Stephen Hollingshead, Jr. was wearing when he encountered a drunk driver. Time of death 6:55pm.
Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.
Photo by Michael Mazzeo
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AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 2014 DECEMBER 14 3, - 20, 2006
LIFESTYLE MAYOR
THE ART OF BARBECUING
PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
FROM FAMILY FEATURES
Americans love barbecuing. There’s something great about inviting friends and family over, firing up the grill, sitting back and eating a juicy burger with veggies in the backyard. In fact, nearly six out of 10 Americans plan to grill more than 15 times this summer, according to a survey conducted by Bank of America. A large majority — 90 percent — equate barbecuing with entertaining. This summer, celebrity chef Michael Symon from the Food Network and ABC’s “The Chew,” is partnering with Bank of America to share tips for hosting a stress-free barbeque.
Party prepping According to Symon, kitchen prep is the secret to a successful barbeque. A Bank of America survey found that seven out of 10 Americans will invite five to 15 guests to their summer gatherings so it’s easy to get bogged down in hosting duties and miss out on the fun. “Hosting a barbeque is about being outside with your friends and shouldn’t be stressful, that’s why it’s important to do as much food and party prep in advance as possible. The more you can prepare before your guests arrive, the more you can enjoy your party.” For instance, Symon advises that hosts pre-mix a batch of their favorite cocktail so guests can serve themselves throughout the day and hosts can focus on getting food on the grill. Symon also encourages hosts to plan ahead to find ways to make their budgets go further on groceries, such as using a rewards card to get cash back. “To get rewarded for the purchases you make the most, consider using a credit card like the BankAmericard Cash Rewards Credit Card. Customers earn 2 percent back on grocery store purchases for barbeques,” said Symon.
What’s for dinner? Hamburgers are the most popular barbeque entree for Americans (45 percent), followed by steaks (26 percent). If you’re looking to get more creative with these common entrees or want to branch out and try something new, check out the website SeriousEats.com that will send you in the right culinary direction. With a web community of more than 100 online contributors, SeriousEats caters to every level of foodie. For instance, the site has an impressive catalog of recipes to spice up your grilling to create the ultimate Sriracha burger, master barbequed meatballs or try your hand at watermelon on the grill. Once your guests are wowed, but before the plate is bare, show off your culinary masterpieces to Symon on SeriousEats by using the hashtag #123BBQ on your social media posts. Get inspired by viewing what other Americans have already cooked and visit http://www.SeriousEats.com/123BBQ.
Be a good guest Every good guest knows to bring something to the party, whether it’s a bottle
of wine or dessert. However one out of 10 guests admits they are very likely to bring a store-bought dish to a barbeque and claim it’s homemade. Instead of fibbing, find a simple recipe online or help out with refreshments instead.
Mastering the budget Half of Americans think that the hardest part of planning a barbeque is staying within budget. That’s why planning and prioritizing play an important role in keeping costs down. Consider the following ways some people are trimming costs, without sacrificing quality and flavor: • Buy in bulk (cited by 53 percent of respondents) • Use coupons (cited by 45 percent of respondents) • Ask guests to bring items (39 percent of respondents) • Buying generic or sale brands (29 percent of respondents) Other ways to manage costs include writing a grocery list before going to the store to avoid overbuying and creating your own rubs and sauces. An insider’s tip known to chefs and regular cooks is to befriend your butcher. This is the most effective way to learn about different cuts of meat and make savings as your butcher will let you know when your favorite cuts will be on sale. Saving with the right rewards credit card Half of those surveyed expect to spend $10 to $20 per guest. One of the easiest ways to help offset costs can be using a card that gives you cash back on your purchases. More than four out of 10 people surveyed say they use a reward credit card when paying for groceries. Since the average family of four spends $12,400 a year on groceries, using a card like the BankAmericard Cash Rewards, which gives you 2 percent cash back on grocery story purchases, can have a considerable impact towards the budget for regular summer hosts. Plus you get 3 percent cash back on gas purchases and 1 percent on all other purchases. Grocery store and gas bonus rewards apply to the first $1,500 in combined purchases in these categories each quarter. For more details, visit w w w. b a n k o f a m e r i c a . com/creditcard. To see Michael Symon in action, watch his summer BBQ videos at www.youtube.com/user/ SeriousEats.
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Weekly ad in hand. Coupons in pocket. BOGO-vision on. It’s time to save. publix.com/save