Daily Challenge 8-25-11

QUAKE BOLSTERS CALLS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY WIRELESS NETWORK - PG. 2 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

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NEWARK MAYOR CORY BOOKER ANGERED BY DONATION LAWSUIT

A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) seeking greater transparency over Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million donation to Newark schools set off a firestorm, drawing a rare angry response from Mayor Cory

Booker. Photo: Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker, left, introduces Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg to 11th grade math students at the KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy, in Newark, NJ. SEE PAGE 2.

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DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

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N EW S BR IE F S STATE’S TOP COURT TO REVISIT ‘93 WTC BOMBING CASE The state’s top court will once again hear arguments over alleged negligence in connection with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Victims of the bombing maintain the Port Authority, which managed the buildings, failed to deter terrorists from bombing its parking garage, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000 people.

A jury found the Port Authority was partly responsible, but the agency asked the state appellate court to throw out the decision.

The five-judge panel could not reach the necessary four-judge consensus after arguments in June.

The Port Authority continues to claim government immunity and says reasonable security measures were taken.

DOE OUTLINES LAYOFFS AHEAD OF NEW SCHOOL YEAR With only weeks before school starts, hundreds of employees with the city Department of Education are set to lose their jobs.

The DOE says budget cuts are forcing it to slash 777 jobs by October.

It’s the largest single agency layoff since Mayor Michael Bloomberg took office.

A number of the pink slips will be given to school aides, many of whom are part of District Council 37.

The budget for schools was cut about 2.4 percent this year.

Since 2007, school budgets have been cut by about 13.7 percent.

Teacher retirements are also on the rise.

About 2,500 teachers retired this summer — an increase of about 23 percent from last year.

9/11 FAMILIES DISCUSS PHONE HACKING PROBE IN DC About a half dozen relatives of September 11th victims are meeting with United State Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss concerns that reporters hacked their phones.

The family members and their attorney left from Penn Station this morning.

This follows the “News of the World” scandal that rocked the United Kingdom.

Journalists from the now closed Rupert Murdoch newspaper reportedly tried to retrieve private phone records of September 11th victims.

Family members say they want an investigation to find out if anyone violated their privacy.

“The severe loss of my son was bad enough but to know that certain information is out there we recovered body parts and I was talking to the medical examiner after 9/11,” said Jim Riches, whose son was lost in the attacks.

“We’re pleased that the AG has decided to meet with the 9/11 family members, and we will look him in the eye and determine whether or not this is real or not,” said Attorney Norman Siegel.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker angered by ACLU’s lawsuit over Facebook founder’s $100M donation to city schools

By DAVID GIAMBUSSO NEWARK — A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) seeking greater transparency over Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million donation to Newark schools set off a firestorm Tuesday, drawing a rare angry response from Mayor Cory Booker.

The ACLU said it was suing Newark after the city denied an Open Public Records Act request from a parent advocacy group seeking all correspondence between Booker, Zuckerberg and Gov. Chris Christie surrounding the young billionaire’s September 2010 donation and its potential uses.

But Booker said Tuesday there are no documents, that the group set up to administer Facebook funds has been completely transparent and that the ACLU of New Jersey was using the issue as a publicity stunt.

“The ACLU has not gone after the Prudential Foundation which gives tens of millions of dollars. They’ve not gone after the Victoria Foundation which gives tens of millions of dollars,” Booker said, referring to two philanthropic organizations that give to a variety of causes in Newark, including education. “They’re using Mark Zuckerberg and me to attract publicity to themselves.”

Responding to Booker’s comments, Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the ACLU’s state chapter, said, “We’re not seeking publicity, we’re seeking transparency.”

In a suit filed just after noon Tuesday in Superior Court in Newark, the

Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg ACLU — which recently kick-started a federal investigation into the Newark Police Department — accused the city of violating numerous OPRA regulations when it denied the April 5 request for correspondence.

“As parents, as taxpayers and as citizens, we have a need and right to know how the money pledged to Newark’s public schools will ultimately serve Newark’s public school students,” said Laura Baker, the grandmother of a Newark public school student who filed the initial OPRA request on behalf of the Secondary Parents Council, a 30-year-old group of Newark parents and grandparents.

The city denied the request, saying it was overly broad, that Booker was not acting in his capacity as mayor when he solicited the contribution and that even if he was, his correspondence would be protected by executive privilege.

Tuesday, an exasperated Booker

tossed out those legal arguments, insisting there were no documents to be had.

“There are no e-mails that I have that have gone back and forth between Mark Zuckerberg and there’s nothing substantive in our conversations that I haven’t talked about publicly,” he said. “These documents that they’re asking for do not exist.”

Jacobs said that seemed unlikely based on the mayor’s reputation as a prolific texter, e-mailer and tweeter as well as the city’s initial response to the request.

Last September, Zuckerberg announced the $100 million grant after a series of in-person meetings with Booker. Meant to bolster reforms in Newark’s struggling school district, the money ignited suspicions about Booker’s intentions, specifically in the area of charter schools. So far, close to $2 million has been spent on an outreach effort, consultants and startup money for four new public high schools.

Quake bolsters calls for public safety wireless network

By JASMIN MELVIN WASHINGTON — Disruption of cell phone service by a rare East Coast earthquake on Tuesday prompted renewed calls for Congress and regulators to provide a dedicated wireless network for emergency workers.

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia shut federal government agencies some 90 miles away and sent office workers into the streets as tremors were felt as far as Canada.

The Federal Communications Commission said it is assessing a significant disruption to cell service due to the quake and will be looking at ways to improve communications during emergencies.

Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc., Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile USA and Frontier Communications Corp. all reported higher call volumes and network congestion in affected areas, making it difficult to reach out to family and friends after the quake over cell phones.

“We were unable to get cell phone access for a period of about an hour immediately after the quake,” said Dennis Martinez, chief technology officer for the RF Communications Division of Harris Corp.

The large percentage of first

responders who rely on cellular data networks for some of their services would have experienced the same outage, Martinez said.

Creating a nationwide mobile broadband network for emergency services is a key 9/11 Commission recommendation that has yet to be put into action as the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks by hijacked airliners approaches.

The wireless network would allow firemen, police and other first responders to easily communicate, but lawmakers and regulators have yet to reach a consensus on how to build, maintain and fund the network.

Of particular contention is whether to allocate a highly sought after segment of the 700 megahertz band of airwaves called the D Block directly to public safety groups, or to auction it to commercial carriers who will be mandated to share it with first responders.

Public safety groups have pushed for control of the D Block, which the FCC is currently under instruction from Congress to auction off, and used the earthquake to strengthen their case.

“In the wake of the earthquake, cell service went dark,” said Public Safety Alliance spokesman Sean Kirkendall.

“It’s a perfect illustration why public safety needs nationwide, mission crit-

ical broadband capability of its own.”

Ongoing discussions among lawmakers on debt reduction could help sway the fight for the D Block in public safety’s favor.

Harris’ Martinez said auctioning spectrum to generate revenue has caught the eye of lawmakers, and there is broad support to use a portion of the auction proceeds to fund the public safety network.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless also have supported giving the D Block to public safety. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Plc, while AT&T is awaiting regulatory approval for a $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom AG. But smaller carriers hoping to acquire more spectrum to better compete with industry powerhouses have favored a shared commercial and public safety network.

A study commissioned by Sprint and T-Mobile said there were no technical barriers standing in the way of first responders having priority access on a network shared with commercial carriers.

Still, a previous effort to auction the D block for shared commercial use with public safety groups failed.

“There’s no reason to believe it would succeed on a second goaround,” Martinez said.

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

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Black lawmakers target high urban unemployment

By CHRISTINE ARMARIO MIAMI — Taking the microphone at a church in a predominantly Black neighborhood of Miami, the Rev. Jesse Jackson asked how many in the crowd knew someone looking for a job.

Most of the several hundred people in the televised town hall gathering stood up. How many knew someone facing foreclosure? Student loan debt? In jail? Considered suicide?

Crowds of people stood up in answer to each of his questions.

“This is a state of emergency,” the civil rights leader and one-time Democratic presidential candidate declared.

The Congressional Black Caucus organized a town hall gathering in Miami to address Black unemployment rates this week, one of five taking place in August in distressed communities across the country. At issue is the stubbornly high unemployment rate in the Black community, now at 16.8 percent nationwide, more than double that for whites and a figure that doesn’t even include those who’ve stopped looking for work.

U.S Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. and the caucus chairman, said representatives are frustrated at being unable to advance bills in Congress aimed at encouraging job growth.

Caucus members have introduced more than 40 such bills since January and none of them have passed.

Republicans took control of the House nearly nine months ago.

Now, the lawmakers are taking to the road to ensure angry constituents that they are doing all in their power to help, while offering a job fair in each city as assistance. In Atlanta, Cleveland and Detroit, the events have drawn thousands, and more than 1,000 people streamed into a downtown convention center Tuesday morning for the Miami job fair. Another will be held in Los Angeles at the end of the month.

“We left the complaint counter and that’s why we’re on this tour,” Cleaver said.

The mounting frustration over jobs is beginning to have political repercussions in the Black community.

“Unemployment in South Florida,

Coca-Cola employee Farrah Deonarine of Weston, Fla., right, passes out forms at a jobs fair hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus. especially in the Black community, is no longer a crisis,” U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., said before the event. “It’s an epidemic.”

The job fairs come amid a growing debate within the Black community about the Obama administration’s urban agenda. While Black lawmakers have been reluctant to criticize the country’s first Black president, some are beginning to voice concern about the administration’s focus on deficit reduction at a time of high joblessness and poverty in urban areas.

“I think our politicians need to step up and do a better job of helping people,” said Lavern Eli, the executive director of Curley’s House of Style in Miami’s Model City neighborhood. “It’s really like they’re playing games with people’s lives because people are hurting. The community is hurting. People are so desperate, just trying to survive.”

Cleaver said he shares the community’s frustration.

“I’m frustrated with the president, but I’m frustrated with me,” Cleaver said in an interview Monday. “I’m frustrated with the tea party. Maybe I should have used my communications skills better to try to convince some of them to work with us. I’m frustrated with the Democratic leadership. The Republican leadership.

The president. I think all of us bear

U.S. releases plan to cut red tape WASHINGTON — The Obama administration introduced a plan for U.S. regulatory reform that officials say would save $10 billion in the next five years.

Among the 500 changes proposed are easing the visa application process, speeding up payment to Defense Department contractors and eliminating 100 regulations in the Department of Transportation, The Washington Post reported. Cass Sunstein, administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, estimated the savings at $10 billion.

“But numbers do not tell the whole story,” he told reporters on a

morning conference call. “There are a number of initiatives that are finished or well under way or contemplated that will make a difference to people.”

Sunstein said the administration’s goal is also to make the regulatory process more open and flexible.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., who described the plan as “underwhelming,” said President Barack Obama remains unwilling to tackle regulation.

“The House will continue our jobs focus and pursue a legislative agenda that boosts economic growth through reducing the regulatory and tax burden,” he said.

some responsibility, some more than others, however.”

At the town hall on Monday, congressional leaders, a White House representative, Jackson and a church leader fielded questions from an MSNBC moderator about what they’ve done to create jobs, reduce unemployment, push for another stimulus, and address the influence of tea party Republican legislators.

Don Graves, executive director of the president’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, told representatives and constituents that President Barack Obama is focused on every community in the nation, but acknowledged some have bit hit harder than others.

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., told him to be more specific: the Black community.

“We’ve got to target where the greatest need is,” she said.

Wilson said the job fair on Tuesday is expected to offer up to 3,000 jobs, from custodians to janitors, and draw upward of 5,000 people. She said unemployment in her district is about 17 percent, and as high as 40 percent for Black males.

“I think the president is doing as

much as he can, and I’m anxious to hear his proposal when we go back in September,” Wilson said, referring to the president’s job creation plan.

“But if it includes any funding, we’re going to have to fight. Because the tea party will stop him.”

As the economy has struggled to recover, minorities have been disproportionately affected. An analysis of Census data released in July found that wealth gaps between whites and minorities have grown to their widest levels in a quarter-century, with whites on average having 20 times the net worth of Blacks and 18 times that of Hispanics.

Algernon Austin, director of the race, ethnicity and economy program at the Economic Policy Institute, said a number of factors are pushing up the Black unemployment rate, including a somewhat younger labor force, less-educated workers and discrimination. He pointed to several studies in which Black and white workers presented the same qualifications to prospective employers. The Black candidate consistently received less favorable responses.

“Even in good economic times, African American communities experience very high levels of unemployment,” Austin said.

Tracey Turner, 40, of North Miami, came to Monday’s event hoping to get some information on jobs.

She has been out of work for nearly two years, after being laid off from her job as an accountant for WalMart in September 2010.

Turner’s unemployment benefits have expired and she is supporting four children. She has been working temp jobs but hasn’t had any the last four months.

“It’s killing me,” she said.

Jaron Taylor, an 18-year-old Miami resident, said Tuesday he is desperately looking for work to help pay for college. Among the booths he visited was one set up by Starbucks.

“I have a good feeling,” Taylor said. “The energy in this room is something. There’s a good vibe. People are addressing the issue. They are making sure something will be done.”

A third say race relations have improved PRINCETON, N.J. — A third of Americans say race relations have improved under President Obama but a plurality say they haven’t changed, a Gallup-USA Today poll indicated.

Thirty-five percent said they think race relations improved while 23 percent said relations got worse, results released yesterday indicated. Fortyone percent said they thought race relations hadn’t change because of Obama’s presidency.

The latest results aren’t as broad as a Gallup survey in October 2009 when 41 percent said relations had improved and 22 percent said they worsened.

Before Obama’s election, in JuneJuly 2008, 56 percent of Americans said race relations would get better if Obama were elected, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.

The poll also found a decline in

perceptions Obama’s election was one of the most important advances for U.S. Blacks in the last 100 years — 42 percent expressed this view now, less than the 58 percent who said so in 2009.

Gallup said the decline was evident largely among whites, falling nearly 20 percentage points from 56 percent in 2009 to 37 percent in the latest survey. Among blacks, the decline was from 71 percent in 2009 to 65 percent in the latest poll.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews conducted with 1,319 adults Aug. 4-7. The overall margin of error is 4 percentage points. Results based on the sample of 376 non-Hispanic Blacks have a margin of error of 6 percentage points. Results based on the sample of 796 non-Hispanic whites have a margin of error of 5 percentage points.

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DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

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Back to school call to action for Black parents

By DR. BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS, JR.

THOMAS H. WATKINS

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As parents, families and communities are preparing for “Back to School” sales and special programs, it is critically urgent once again to raise the question about the quality of the education of Black children in America, as well as the quality of education for all children.

No disrespect is intended to anyone, but the sheer reality that Black children have the highest school drop rates and the lowest scores on various national and regional standardized academic achievement tests demands that Black parents and others speak out, mobilize and take a stronger stance concerning establishing more effective educational options that will provide the highest quality education for Black children.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s classic book, The Mis-Education of the Negro, first published in 1933 has particular relevance for more than 45 million Black Americans across the United States today in 2011. Dr. Woodson was very critical of the educational system in the United States because it systematically denied Black children a quality education inclusive of a truthful and accurate history of Black people in America and throughout the world. If Dr. Woodson were alive today, he would be even more angry and disgusted with the severe puni-

tive magnitude and gross disservice that the current traditional school system has done to Black students and families.

Black parents especially today have to move to the forefront to demand more options and alternatives to the many failed school systems across the nation.

Black people have not failed the school systems of today.

But it is an irrefutable fact that the majority of the current traditional school systems have failed Black Americans. Black parental responsibility first and foremost is to establish and secure the highest quality education for Black children. Without apology Black parents cannot afford to permit the education interests of our children to be triage by those who have become complacent and implicated in this massive education crisis. This is the civil rights issue that should be at the top of the agenda of all our national, regional and local organizations. Simply put, there is nothing more important than the education of our children.

The following are two organizations that are providing a clear delineation of viable options for Black parents and others concerning how to establish, fund and maintain a more effective educational experience for school children. The mission the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) is to increase access to high-quality educational options for Black children by actively supporting

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parental choice policies and programs that empower lowincome and working-class Black families. The mission of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement for all students by fostering a strong charter sector. Both BAEO and the NAPCS are committed to advance the public and legislative awareness and support for providing real opportunities for parents who want the best educational experience for their children.

The good news is that African American awareness that charter schools are in fact “public” schools is on an increase nationwide thanks to the efforts of BAEO and NAPCS. A recent poll by Gallup revealed that seven out of 10 Americans now support public charter schools. Not all charter schools are equal. The important issue here is that there are some high achieving public charter schools in the nation that are doing and excellent job in educating Black children.

Those are the types of public charter schools that need to be replicated and established across the nation. The Black community needs success models that provide accountable solutions to the educational crisis concerning Black and other under-served communities.

Black legislators in numerous states are now proposing

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U.S. says Irene could be ‘big threat’ to northeast

By NEIL HARTNELL Powerful Hurricane Irene could pose a “big threat” to the densely populated northeast United States, including New York, as it swings up the eastern seaboard from Saturday on its current forecast track, the top U.S. government hurricane forecaster said yesterday.

National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read gave the warning as Irene, now a major Category 3 storm with winds of 115 miles per hour, roared through the Bahamas on a path that will take it to the U.S. East Coast by the weekend.

As it swept over the southeastern Bahamas, its winds tore off roofs and knocked out power, authorities reported.

Some tourists fled Nassau and other resorts in the low-lying Atlantic archipelago, while others hunkered down in hotels, and cruise lines canceled their Bahamas stops for the next few days.

Forecasters see the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season, turning north from today to miss Florida and Georgia and clip North Carolina’s Outer Banks region on

Hurricane Irene moving over the Caribbean in a photo taken by astronaut Ron Garan from the International Space Station.

Saturday afternoon. Irene is then seen taking a coast-hugging track up the U.S. mid-Atlantic and New England coastline.

States from the Carolinas northward were on alert and evacuations were already underway in some of North Carolina’s most exposed Outer Banks barrier islands, such as Ocracoke.

“The exact center of the storm may actually stay pretty close to the coastline during the day on Saturday and then become a big threat for New England and perhaps Long Island toward 96-100 hours out on Sunday,” Read said.

“And be advised, it’s going to be a very large circulation as it moves north of the Carolinas,” he added on

a conference call with U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate. yesterday, Irene Earlier strengthened over the Bahamas to a major Category 3 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale, posing a high risk of injury and death from flying and falling debris.

Even if the center of the storm stays offshore as it tracks up the mid-Atlantic coast, the hurricane could lash cities including Washington and New York with winds and rain and cause coastal flooding and power outages.

“Irene will be a large storm, impacting areas far from the storm center track,” hurricane expert Jeff Masters of private forecaster Weather Underground wrote in his blog.

As forecasts of more than four days can have a margin of error of up to 200 miles, U.S. emergency officials have warned the entire eastern U.S. coast to be on the alert East Coast residents were already jittery after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake rattled Washington and cities from the Carolinas to Canada on Tuesday.

New Orleans struggles to overcome mistrust of police

By KATHY FINN NEW ORLEANS — Sylvia McKenzie has seen it all in her New Orleans neighborhood where she was once held up at gunpoint on her front step: Drug deals, shootings and even prostitution on a nearby street.

What she has not seen much of, she says, are police officers who she believes could clean up the area she has lived in for 40 years if they so chose but who face an uphill battle gaining residents’ trust after a series of missteps.

“Those streets have been bad for years and nothing has changed,” she said in her eastern New Orleans neighborhood, damaged in Hurricane

Katrina, where she complained blighted homes and overgrown lots were inviting crime. “You’re taking a chance every time you come out your door.”

Like many New Orleans residents who doubted police involved in killing two civilians in the 2005 aftermath of Hurricane Katrina would ever be held accountable, McKenzie is heartened by guilty verdicts returned in the case earlier this month.

But relations between police and New Orleans residents, especially those in long-neglected crime-ridden neighborhoods, remain fraught, and the jury is still out on whether public confidence in the police will now improve.

It took a federal civil rights trial to

Back to school call Continued from page 4 public charter school laws in response to this civil rights education issue. We need remedies and solutions that have a proven track record of academic success and progress. It is encouraging to witness a growing movement that is gaining momentum for parental choice. The effectiveness of the Civil Rights Movement going forward will continue to be contingent on a strong grass roots base. Black parents are increasingly taking the lead in renewing this movement for educational change.

The call to action is to ignite a massive grass roots effort and move-

ment to demand the highest quality education for all children, but in particular for Black children who have suffered the most from the failures of the traditional school systems. Let’s decide that we all will become involved. Let’s put the interests of our children’s education first.

Now is the time to rise up and make a difference. Let’s act together and work harder because our children deserve the best education.

— Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Is Senior Advisor to the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and President of Educational Online Services Corporation.

bring justice for the pair who died, one a teenager, gunned down by police on New Orleans’ Danziger Bridge days after the storm as police responded to a call about gunfire.

A jury deemed the deaths of Ronald Madison and James Brissette were the result of police willfully violating their civil rights, but stopped short of calling them murder. The four officers convicted in the killing will be sentenced in December and could face life in prison.

A fifth officer was convicted in a years-long cover-up of the crimes.

“Everybody is well aware that the local police department and local justice system didn’t resolve this matter.

It was resolved by the federal government’s legal intervention,” said Rev. Willie Gable Jr., president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of New Orleans.

The federal government began mounting its case over the shootings in 2008, shortly after state indictments were quashed due to errors by the district attorney’s office.

Gable said the guilty-on-all-counts verdict was beneficial for the community, but said ongoing police misbehavior pointed to “systemic issues in the police department that still need to be eradicated.”

Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas, on the job just over a year, has vowed to fight violent crime and clean up his 1,370-member force in a city that boasts the country’s highest murder rate.

“We will continue to recognize that we must take the first steps to heal our relationship with the people of New Orleans. Our commitment is unwaver-

ing,” Serpas said after the verdict.

The Danziger Bridge case was the largest of several recent police incidents in New Orleans to be investigated by the U.S. Justice Department under civil rights statutes.

A jury in December convicted three officers of killing a man and burning his body, although one of the officers was later granted a new trial based on fresh evidence.

Two officers were later found guilty in April in a separate beating death of a civilian, and several other federal probes into New Orleans police activity remain open.

Serpas has fired 36 officers and suspended 200 others since his tenure began, the department says. But his department may soon be placed under federal oversight and ordered to correct problems the Justice Department has identified.

The Justice Department, in a report compiled after Mayor Mitch Landrieu requested federal help to reform the police system and staunch crime, found police too often used excessive force and conducted illegal stops and arrests.

The report, released in March, also found “a troubling racial disparity” in the use of force, with African Americans in the majority-Black city being targets in all instances of officers intentionally firing at people in a 16month study.

That was not news to Doris Dillon, an African American resident who said she was once mistreated by officers, who were also Black, following a car accident. “I think they do target Blacks more, and I really don’t understand it,” she said.

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DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

Strauss-Kahn lawyer says sex with maid was consensual

By NOELEEN WALDER Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn had consensual sex with the hotel maid who accused him of sexual assault, his defense lawyer said on Tuesday, adding that their comparative sizes would have ruled out a forcible encounter “This encounter was quick, it was consensual and she was a willing participant,” defense attorney Benjamin Brafman told Reuters in an interview.

A New York judge on Tuesday dismissed criminal sexual assault

charges against Strauss-Kahn, 62, after prosecutors said they had lost faith in the credibility of his accuser, Nafissatou Diallo, a 32year-old hotel maid from Guinea.

Diallo accused him of forcing her to have oral sex when she went into his $3,000-a-day suite in New York’s Sofitel Hotel to clean it and he emerged naked to attack her.

Strauss-Kahn denied her allegations.

Prosecutors gave up on the case because of contradictions in Diallo’s account of what happened immedifollowing the sexual ately encounter on May 14 and because of

lies about her past.

Brafman said he found her story implausible largely because “she towers over him.”

“In a one-on-one she would probably win if this turned into a fist fight. She is not a small person,” Brafman said.

Kenneth Thompson, a lawyer for Diallo, objected to Brafman’s characterization. “I will not dignify Mr. Brafman’s disgraceful comments about Ms. Diallo,” Thompson said.

Diallo never claimed StraussKahn threatened her, Brafman said, making it hard to believe that a silver-haired politician 30 years her

senior could have physically overpowered a taller woman with a job that requires physical endurance.

The defense lawyer estimated Diallo is 5-foot-11 — taller than Strauss-Kahn at 5-foot-7.

“The fact that he doesn’t have a mark on him, the fact that she does not have any trauma of any kind makes it impossible for this to have happened the way she claimed it happened,” Brafman said.

“There’s not a mark on him and she is a very capable woman physically of being able ... to resist a forcible advance of someone like him,” he said.

Unplanned pregnancies rising among poor U.S. women

By JAMES B. KELLEHER CHICAGO — Unintended pregnancies, which make up nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States, are increasingly concentrated among low-income women, a study showed yesterday.

Unplanned pregnancies have skyrocketed among poor women in recent years even as such pregnancies among their affluent peers have dropped, according to the study, to be published in the online edition of the journal Contraception.

Researchers from the Guttmacher Institute found the unintended pregnancy rate among women with incomes below the federal poverty line jumped by 50 percent between 1994 and 2006, the latest date available, from 88 per 1,000 to 132.

Meanwhile, the unplanned preg-

nancy rate among women with incomes at least 200 percent above the poverty line fell 29 percent from 34 per 1,000 to 24, the researchers found, using data from the federal National Survey of Family Growth.

Of the 6.7 million pregnancies tracked in 2006, some 49 percent were unintended, up from 47 percent in 1994, according to the women themselves.

The authors did not hypothesize why the disparity between poor and better-off women has grown but one of its authors, Lawrence Finer, the director of domestic research at the Guttmacher Institute, said the gap was consistent with broader incomebased disparities in health care outcomes nationally.

The Guttmacher Institute works to prevent unintended pregnancy through support for the use of contraceptives and other forms of birth control, including abortion.

Alabama funeral home accused of losing woman’s body

By ALEX DOBUZINSKIS and VERNA GATES BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The daughters of an Alabama woman who died in 2010 sued the funeral home on Tuesday that handled her burial, saying it lost the body and couldn’t find it even after digging up several graves.

The three daughters of Jimmie Lee Scott said in their lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County that after their mother died, her body was handed over to RossClayton Funeral Home Inc. The firm oversaw an April 2010 funeral service for Scott and her casket was taken to the Oakwood Cemetery Annex in Montgomery for burial, the lawsuit states.

The daughters and others in attendance left after a graveside service, where the casket was positioned over the plot where Scott was to be interred, court papers indicate.

Later, daughter Dakota Scott went to take flowers to her mother’s grave, but found the tombstone was far away from where she remembered the service being held, the lawsuit said. Nevertheless, the funeral home is said to have assured her the site was correct.

A representative of the funeral home later contacted Scott and told her the funeral home would have to move her mother’s casket and body, because another family owned the plot, the lawsuit states.

But when workers dug up the grave, no casket or body was found in the plot where Jimmie Lee Scott’s headstone had been placed, the court papers said.

The same day, other graves were dug up in a vain search for Jimmie Lee Scott’s body, which has still not been found, the lawsuit said.

“The plaintiffs have been forced to relive some of the saddest days of

their lives — the death and burial of their mother — whom they deeply love and for whom they desire a peaceful and certain resting place,” attorneys for the three women wrote in the lawsuit.

David Ross, the head of the funeral home, declined to comment on the suit when reached by phone on Tuesday night.

The lawsuit does not say how old Jimmie Lee Scott was when she died.

Also named as a defendant in the suit were the representative from the funeral home who is said to have handled the arrangements, and Forest Hills Memorial Park LLC, a cemetery company the plaintiffs say was contacted by the funeral home to deal with the burial.

Forest Hills had “a long history of problems, some of which are similar to the complaint in this case,” the lawsuit said. A representative for Forest Hills could not be reached for comment.

Jimmie Lee Scott’s daughters were seeking at least $2 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages.

DAILY D CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

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Vann, City Council Ask Mayor to Review Proposed Reforms in city’s Subsidized Child Care System

By C. ZAWADI MORRIS City Councilman Al Vann, along with 41 other members of the City Council sent a letter last week to Mayor Michael Bloomberg regarding concerns it had over the city’s for Administration Children’s Services’ (ACS) EarlyLearn NYC Request for Proposals (RFP).

The letter, which was circulated by Council Member Annabel Palma, Chair of the Council’s General Welfare Committee, and signed by 42 members, asks the mayor to address a number of concerns before moving forward with

the RFP, specifically as it regards the funding model.

“While EarlyLearn’s goal to improve the quality of child care is commendable, there are significant outstanding concerns with the RFP and its anticipated impact,” said Council Member Al Vann. “As evidenced by the number of council members who signed onto this letter, the concerns raised span the city’s different communities, although the number of eligible children within Bed-Stuy outpaces most other neighborhoods across the city.”

Released in May 2011, the RFP lays out an ambitious series of reforms that would over-

haul how the City operates its subsidized child care system. While the council members praised the vision of EarlyLearn, they point out that the rate structure is insufficient for the providers to be able to meet the requirements as outlined, without running very large deficits at a time when many nonprofits are already struggling.

The flaws in the rate structure are created in part by the City’s changes in how child care facilities and health insurance costs for child care workers would be paid for. council members also expressed concerend over the RFP’s efforts to cut approximately 10,000 subsi-

dized child care slots, claiming it could simultaneously reduce system capacity.

“This summer, the City Council joined parents and advocates from around New York City to protest against the mayor’s proposal to eliminate more than 16,000 child care slots in this year’s City budget,” said General Welfare Chairwoman Annabel Palma.

“The Mayor, to his credit, heard the public outcry and came to the negotiating table with the City Council to work out a common sense solution that restored many of these slots.

Quite frankly, it is disheartening that only two months later, we’re once

again being faced with a series of devastating cuts to child care, this time nicely packaged in an RFP meant to strengthen the very system it would gut.”

Council members also expressed concerns that the current structure may actually undermine the stated goals. The council members have committed to working with the administration to protect the City’s subsidized child care system while creating a foundation for comprehensive early childhood education.

The RFP deadline for the BID is September 12.

The four-year contracts, with options to renew for an additional two years, are scheduled to

begin on October 1, 2012. Although these dates already reflect a delay in the rollout, Council Members asked the Mayor to further delay until all concerns are addressed.

“We must make sure that in the city’s efforts to improve the system, that we maintain the capacity for the number of children currently served, preserve our high-quality community-based providers who have been serving our communities for years, and ensure a circumstance whereby contracted child care providers can maintain stability while also providing fair benefits to their employees,” said Vann.

Great leaders inspire us to do great things Wells Fargo celebrates the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial You know it when it happens. An idea turns into a spark that ignites the spirit of a nation. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had that kind of idea. It was a dream of equality, service and progress for all people. Wells Fargo is proud to share these values. That’s why we’re committed to working with you and our community through national and local sponsorships, grants for nonprofit organizations and financial education programs. Because our goal is to always empower and improve our community.

wellsfargo.com © 2011 Wells Fargo Bank N.A. All rights reserved.

AFRICAN SCENE

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DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

AFRICAN SCENE

US group: 8 mass graves now seen in Sudan region

By JASON STRAZIUSO

Burkina Faso sentences 3 cops for student’s death OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso - A Burkina Faso judge has sentenced three policemen to prison over a student’s death that sparked months of protests that left at least six dead.

Two policemen on Tuesday were sentenced to 10 years in prison and the other to eight years over the February death of Justin Zongo.

Zongo’s family said they agreed with the verdict.

Uprisings began in the impoverished West African nation in late February when students protested over accusations that Zongo was mistreated while in custody. The government said he had meningitis.

The unrest spread across Burkina Faso. Soldiers started a mutiny that threatened President Blaise Compaore’s 24-year rule. Compaore tried to stem the unrest by dissolving the government and removing the country’s security chiefs.

5 more people die in north Nigerian floods MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - Local authorities say floods have killed five people in the country’s north bringing the flood-related death toll to 15 over the past week.

Local official Muhammad Baba said yesterday that a river in the town of Numan overflowed during a five-hour rainstorm Tuesday.

Baba said two children drowned in the floods and an 85-year-old man died after his mud house caved in.

Authorities say 10 other people died in floods that ravaged other parts of Nigeria’s north over the last week.

Nigeria’s emergency agency has warned that rains will be heavier this year than last year when some 500,000 people were displaced nationwide.

Nigeria’s rainy season lasts roughly from June to September.

Zimbabwe VP questions husband’s death HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe’s vice president is questioning how her power-brokering husband died - fueling suspicions the former army chief may have been killed.

The state-run Herald newspaper yesterday quotes Vice President Joice Mujuru as saying she wants “satisfactory answers” from an investigation into last week’s death of Gen. Solomon Mujuru in a house fire.

She asks why he was unable to escape through bedroom windows so large and low “you don’t have to jump out, you just lift your leg.”

Newsday newspaper said she found the death “unbelievable” and that it “raised a lot of questions.”

The death has intensified infighting in the party of ailing President Robert Mugabe, where the general was a powerful figure who used his military, political and business connections to promote his wife’s battle for supremacy.

Gen. Mujuru, 66, a former guerrilla leader and military chief after independence in 1980, was burned beyond recognition in the fire at his farm 60 kilometers (35 miles) southwest of Harare.

Police say they have questioned 23 witnesses who saw the general on the day of the fire, including patrons of a bar he visited on his way to the farm and the three police officers detailed to guard the property.

NAIROBI, Kenya - A U.S. monitoring group said yesterday that satellite imagery had revealed the existence of two more mass graves in a contested region of Sudan, bringing the total number of mass graves sited there to eight.

The Satellite Sentinel Project, a group backed by actor and Sudan activist George Clooney, said that witnesses told the group that a backhoe was used to dig some of the graves at sites in Kadugli, South Kordofan.

Workers with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society were present during some of the burials, the group said.

The U.S. group has not made any estimates of the number of bodies it believes have been buried in the graves, saying that onsite research would need to be carried out.

South Kordofan lies just across the border from newly independent South Sudan and has been the site of clashes between government troops from Sudan’s Arab north and black tribesmen aligned with the south’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. Many

inhabitants of South Kordofan fought for the south during the country’s two decades-plus civil war against the north and are ethnically linked to the south.

A report released this month by the U.N. human rights office in Geneva said Sudanese security forces allegedly carried out indiscriminate aerial bombardments in South Kordofan that killed civilians in the weeks before South Sudan became independent on July 9. It also alleged that Sudanese forces executed prisoners accused of belonging to the south’s Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement before burying them in mass graves.

“The evidence against the Sudanese government continues to compound and has now become impossible to dismiss. It is time for the international community to take serious action and execute its responsibility to protect innocent lives in Sudan,” said John Prendergast, co-founder of the activist group the Enough Project.

The Sudanese Red Crescent Society has said that it buried 59 bodies in marked burial sites in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan state, between midJune and mid-July.

The International Committee

of the Red Cross says it supplied body bags, rubber boots and cameras to SRCS teams tasked with the management of dead bodies, according to spokeswoman Anna Schaaf. The ICRC is not on the ground in South Kordofan.

The satellite group in July reported the first three mass graves as excavated areas measuring about 26 meters (yards) by 5 meters (yards) visible near a school in the town of Kadugli.

The group said that an eyewitness reported seeing 100 bodies or more put into one of the pits on June 8.

Sudan said last week that it will allow six U.N. agencies to take part in a governmentorganized mission to South Kordofan, where the U.N. human rights office has called for a probe into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Khartoum’s U.N. Ambassador Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman said the joint mission will be sent to South Kordofan “to assess the situation of human rights there and the humanitarian needs.”

Sudan President Omar alBashir on Tuesday announced a two-week cease-fire in South Kordofan.

Shell warns on Nigerian exports after damage to pipelines Oil giant Shell on Tuesday warned it may not meet contractual obligations on certain exports from Nigeria after sabotage caused damage to two pipelines in the country’s main oilproducing region.

Shell’s Nigerian joint venture “has declared force majeure on Bonny Light exports for the remainder of August as well as September and October,” the company said in a statement.

Force majeure is a legal term releasing a company from contractual obligations due to circumstances beyond their control. Bonny Light is a type of crude.

Shell has reported six oil spills this month on the OkordiaRumuekpe trunk line

at Ikarama in Bayelsa state in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, “all from hacksaw cuts by unknown persons.”

“On August 21, another three hacksaw cuts were reported on the nearby Adibawa delivery line,” the Anglo-Dutch firm said.

“Some production is shut in while (Shell’s joint venture) repairs the line.”

Nigeria is Africa’s

largest oil producer and the continent’s most populous nation.

Pipeline damage and associated spills are common in the Niger Delta region as a result of oil theft to feed the lucrative black market.

Militants claiming to be fighting for a fairer distribution of oil revenue have also regularly blown up pipelines, though such attacks have decreased since a

2009 amnesty deal.

Shell has said that more than 75 percent of all oil spills and more than 70 percent of oil spilled from its Nigerian joint venture facilities in the Niger Delta from 2006-2010 were caused by sabotage and crude theft.

Activists say oil firms such as Shell have not done enough to prevent such incidents.

Anzhi seal marquee signing of Eto’o By ALEXANDER FEDORETS Anzhi Makhachkala confirmed on Tuesday that they have agreed to terms for the transfer of four-time African player of the year Samuel Eto’o

from Inter Milan in the highest-profile signing ever by a Russian side.

“Today Anzhi and Inter reached agreement on the transfer of Samuel Eto’o,” read a statement on Anzhi’s official site.

“The transfer sum suited

both sides,” it added, without giving financial details.

It said that Cameroon star Eto’o underwent a medical yesterday and will then sign a three-year contract before starting training with the squad on Thursday.

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

Crime up 16 percent in Bahamas

By JUAN MCCARTNEY N A S S A U , — Bahamas of Minister National Security Tommy Turnquest on Monday night released new crime statistics that show that in the first seven months of 2011, crime overall was up 16 percent in The Bahamas compared to the previous year.

Turnquest released the numbers in

response to a Nassau Guardian headline story on Monday, detailing the police commissioner’s failure to make the statistics public weeks after repeated requests from The Guardian.

The numbers show that cases of murder, rape, attempted rape, armed robbery, robbery, housebreaking, stealing, stealing from vehicles and stolen vehicles all increased significantly from January 1 to July 31.

Murder was up 57 percent, according to the numbers.

There were 85 murders committed during

President declares emergency for Puerto Rico WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama issued an emergency disaster declaration for Puerto Rico on Tuesday night and federal aid has now been made available to supplement commonwealth and local response efforts in the area struck by Hurricane Irene.

According to local reports, 17 percent of households in Puerto Rico are without power and about 81,000 households are without water. Agricultural losses have been estimated at over $16 million but, with continuing heavy rain, more damage is expected. Thirty-one roads are currently closed.

Several dozen people were made homeless and hundreds more families were expected to seek shelter on Tuesday night. There were no classes yesterday as schools are being used as shelters.

Government offices were also closed.

Local police will be making extra patrols in areas where there is no power in order to keep criminal activity under control. The National Guard is also active and will remain so for the time being.

A total of 17.43 inches of rainfall in 48 hours was a 50-year record and, with rains continuing, many areas will experience a record accumulation of 20 inches.

The Red Cross has started a campaign for funds.

The president’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all 78 municipalities in Puerto Rico.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

that period compared to the 54 murders committed in the first seven months of 2010.

Reported rapes grew by 26 percent, with 67 rapes occurring in the first seven months, compared to the 53 rapes reported during the same period in 2010.

There were 11 percent more attempted rapes — 21 compared to 19. robberies Armed increased by 14 percent.

There were 522 armed robberies in the first seven months of this year compared to 459 in the same period last year.

Robberies increased by 19 percent — from 175 to 208.

There were 22 attempted robberies committed during the first seven months of the year, an increase of 38 percent over the same period last year.

There were 1,908 housebreakings committed during the first seven months of the year, an increase of 12 percent over the same period last year.

There were 1,170 incidents of stealing reported during the first seven months of the year, an increase of 12 percent.

Stealing from vehicles saw the most dramatic increase of any major crime during

the first seven months of the year, with police reporting a 97 percent spike in that category.

There were 1,386 incidents of stealing from vehicles reported during the first seven months of the year, compared to 705 cases during the same period last year.

There were 732 stolen vehicles reported during the first seven months of this year, an increase of seven percent.

There were also some categories of major crimes where decreases occurred.

Attempted murder was down 14 percent.

There were no instances of manslaughter during the first seven months of this year, compared to the single incident recorded during the first seven months of last year.

There were 101 incidents of unlawful sexual intercourse recorded between January and July, a decrease of 33 percent.

There were 193 burglaries, a decrease of nine percent.

There was a 23 percent decrease in the number of shopbreakings.

There were 577 reports of shopbreaking in the first seven months of 2011, compared to 748 incidents reported during the

same period last year.

Monday On evening, Turnquest acknowledged that it had been some time since the crime statistics were last released.

He said he does not believe in the suppression of public information.

“The one thing that I take exception to is (the suggestion) that my ministry is covering up crime statistics,” said Turnquest.

“That’s the last thing I will be a party to. It is what it is, and much of it is a result of many of the social ills in the society that we have to deal with collectively.”

The minister also said he believes that crime statistics should be released in a regular and timely manner.

Speaking about the rise in most categories of violent crime during the first seven months of the year, Turnquest said the numbers indicate the severity of the problem.

“These are still preliminary figures. But they are useful in terms of providing a comparison in terms of the level of crime in The Bahamas today.

And there are far too many serious crimes being committed wantonly by persons in The Bahamas today,” he said.

On how well police are responding to the rise in crime, Turnquest said that police “continue to do a good job” in that regard.

“They continue to apprehend many suspects (and) put them in front of the courts.

And many of those suspects are given bail and are repeat offenders and that’s something that we have to continue to deal with,” he said, adding that the government is looking at legislative remedies to the problem.

Turnquest also said the gun court established earlier this year, has helped keep some prolific offenders behind bars.

“While that’s just magistrate’s court and can only [give sentences of up to] two years, at least we’re getting them off the streets for two years or so,” he remarked.

“We’ve (also) had some success with regards to electronic monitoring and that’s going well.”

Turnquest said he hoped the closed circuit television monitoring program the government is preparing to launch in areas throughout New Providence, will be a useful tool in the fight against crime.

Churches support Belize constitutional amendment BELMOPAN, Belize — Arising out of meetings held on Monday and last Friday, the government of Belize has announced that it has secured the full support of both the Evangelical Association of Churches and the Belize Council of Churches for the Ninth C o n s t i t u t i o n Amendment Bill.

“The decision of the churches came after frank discussions in which government clarified the Bill’s intentions and agreed to certain changes in order to allay publicly expressed fears and

misconceptions,” the government said in a press statement.

The changes will see the removal, before the Bill is brought back for passage through Parliament, of the specific language barring court enquiry into the validity of any law passed to alter the Constitution.

Both church bodies were reportedly satisfied that the primary objective of the Ninth Amendment is to put into the Constitution and make unassailable government’s ownership of the essential utility services in elec-

tricity telecommunications and water.

And both bodies were also said to be satisfied that this objective is entirely in the national interest and a fundamental and proper expression of Belizean sovereignty.

The church leaders were convinced that the agreed trimming of the language in Sections 69(9) and 145(1) and (2) of the Bill, should put an end to any public disquiet over the Bill’s purpose and effect.

For its part, the government has assured the leaders that the Bill

in its new form retained all the essential provisions. Therefore, it would still guarantee the impregnability of the utilities’ nationalization.

The government pointed out that the official public consultation process is still ongoing and called on the people of Belize to come out in support of the Ninth Amendment Bill. It also reiterated that additional changes to further safeguard the Bill may still be made, depending on the outcome of the consultation process.

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

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NEW JERSEY

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

Earthquake a new experience for N.J. residents The earth shook, floors bucked, walls quivered, trees swayed and people wondered if they really just felt what they thought they felt.

California came to the East Coast Tuesday, with a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in central Virginia that was felt in New Jersey and beyond.

“I’m looking in my rear-view mirror to see if someone is jumping on my truck,” said Newark animal control officer Arthur Skinner, who felt his vehicle totter just before 2 p.m. and thought someone was playing a practical joke.

“The whole truck started shaking from side to side.”

Then he saw people from nearby businesses run into the street.

Though small earthquakes occur frequently in New Jersey, experts said today’s shaking - which lasted 20 to 30 seconds - was highly unusual.

“It’s probably the largest one people have felt in New Jersey in decades,” said Martha Withjack, professor of geological sciences at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

The quake was felt all along the East Coast because of the nature of the area’s rocks, she said.

Unlike the West Coast, where underlying rocks are broken from frequent quakes, the older rocks beneath New Jersey are long and solid, making the transfer of energy easier to accomplish across a wide swath of states.

From Washington, D.C., to Canada, people were asking each other the same question: “Didja feel it?!”

“The energy all the way from Virginia got transferred to us,” Withjack said.

Office workers in cities across the East Coast went outside upon feeling the tremors - after posting updates to their Facebook and Twitter pages, of course.

A rumor the Washington Monument was tilting into an

Newark Mayor Cory Booker promises an employee returning to work that Newark City Hall is safe after it was determined that the building was stable. A 5.8 magniturde earthquake , with its epicenter in Virginia, affected many parts of the East coast, including Newark.

Photo/Aristide Economopoulos For people in New American version of the n’t have to tell anybody happen within a few D’Elia said, who works Jersey, the size of Leaning Tower of Pisa to get out, that’s for days, but chances were on the top floor.

“It went on for a Tuesday’s earthquake sure,” said Jerry small. was later debunked.

Gov. Chris Christie’s minute and I kind of was enough, thank The U.S. Geological Johnson of upstate New you.

Survey is expected to York, who was visiting office said there were got seasick,” he said.

At Jimbo’s bar and “That was pretty release official intensity Lavallette with his no injuries or fatalities and no reports of dam- good, huh? I was grill in Seaside Heights, numbers to document brother, Rich. said patrons saw and heard “I tell you what, it age to the state’s roads, impressed,” how strong the shaking was at various points gave us a pretty good bridges, dams, reser- Alexander Gates, chair- bottles shaking on the shake,” Jerry Johnson voirs, power grids, man of earth and envi- wall for a few moments. along the East Coast.

Jason Vargas, 29, of transit systems and ronmental sciences at On the Mercalli said of the quake.

Rutgers-Newark and Toms River, wondered The seismic activity nuclear power plants. intensity scale of 1 to PSE&G reported no an earthquake expert. aloud if his libations 12, with 12 being the triggered an “unusual “You don’t get earth- had gotten the best of highest, New Jersey event” alert at the power outages.

State employees in quakes like that so him. was likely at a 3, with a Salem/Hope Creek and “I thought I had one vibration similar to the Oyster Creek nuclear the Department of often on the East too many or somepassing of a truck, and plants in South Jersey, Agriculture and the Coast.”

The quake’s frequen- thing,” he said with a felt quite noticeably by which was later lifted Department of Health people on upper floors after there were no and Senior Services cy hit the geology of the laugh.

Former Middletown were allowed to leave region just right, like a of buildings, Withjack reports of damage.

On the 1-to-12 inten- work early after their tuning fork, and rever- resident Phillip Steiner said.

“California wouldn’t sity scale, Virginia like- building was evacuated, berated outward, Gates got a much closer view of the quake than he even blink about this,” ly had between 7 and 9, but Christie spokesman said.

He said long-overdue would have liked. meaning buildings Michael Drewniak said, she said.

The 57-year-old Still, local phone net- might be damaged, said “We don’t believe an New Jersey can expect works were jammed, Jonathan Husch, chair early dismissal was an earthquake like optometrist lives in tremors set off fire of the department of warranted or neces- Virginia’s trembler at Falls Church, Va. He any time, likely in the had just finished seeing environ- sary.” alarms in buildings, geological, a patient and was fillNJ Transit was oper- next two decades. flights were delayed at mental and marine sciGates said the seis- ing out paperwork at Rider ating its trains, buses Newark Liberty and ences in and light rail and hon- mic areas of New Jersey when he felt the office JFK airports so run- University oring all tickets from are similar to those of move. ways could be inspect- Lawrenceville.

“We felt like the Much closer to the customers, regardless Virginia, and the last ed, the Holland Tunnel closed for a half-hour epicenter than New of which mode of trans- major earthquake in building was going to and officials in New Jersey, the Washington portation the ticket was the Garden State was a collapse,” Steiner said.

5.5 magnitude rumbler “It was about 20 secJersey cities evacuated National Cathedral sus- for initially.

Union County’s six- in 1884 off the coast of onds and the whole high-rises and inspect- tained damage to a story administration Sandy Hook that pulled office started shaking. tower and spires. ed bridges.

(Eyeglass) frames startWithjack said the building in Elizabeth homes off foundations.

Beach-goers feared a “We’re overdue for ed coming off the potential tsunami; no earthquake could have “shook a little bit like Signs were been a precursor to a spaghetti,” said county one about that size board. warning was issued. falling off.”

“The lifeguards did- larger quake that will spokesman Sebastian right here,” he said.

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

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“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of georgia, sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr. August 28, 1963, Washington, D.C.

On the anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech, history will once again be made on the National Mall. The Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial will be unveiled as the first and only tribute to a man of peace and to a person of color. This August 28 th, why just read about history when you can be a part of it? Come to Washington, D.C. and celebrate what will forever stand as a testament to his timeless ideals and legacy of peace.

Awaken his spirit in all of us Chevrolet is honored to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

NEW JERSEY

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

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Anticipated layoffs weigh heavy on Trenton police force

By ALEX ZDAN TRENTON - Kevin and Maria Starkey have been married for two years. They have been on the Trenton Police force for seven and six years, respectively. And on Sept. 16, they will both lose their jobs.

Barring an 11thhour injection of new funding, the Starkeys will be two of the 108 city police officers slated to be terminated under a mass layoff plan that’s already been approved by the state.

As part of the move to cut costs and balance the city’s budget, nearly 30 superior officers will be demoted along with them.

The Starkey’s situation is unusual in that both husband and wife will be laid off, but dozens of local families who count Trenton police officers among their loved ones are going through the same fears and concerns they are.

“We have a high mortgage, we moved out of the city because we wanted to have a family,” Maria Starkey said Tuesday. “We want to have kids, that’s going to be put on hold.”

“Our income just covers our bills now; that’s two incomes,” she said.

“Now if he gets laid off we might as well turn over the keys to the insurance company.”

The couple live in Hamilton.

Even though she had not been served with a

Trenton Police respond to a call at E. State Street and Hampton Street in Trenton.

Photo/Andrew Miller formal layoff notice, patrol officer Maria Starkey already knew on Tuesday she was among those whose jobs were being axed.

But at the time, she and her husband thought his job as a detective was safe.

Only 79 police officer positions are being eliminated outright, but because of Civil Service bumping rules, the 29 captains, lieutenants and sergeants being demoted one rank will trickle down the ladder, and result in an equal number of officers going out the door.

Kevin Starkey is one of those officers, the couple found out late Tuesday. But both consistently took the focus away from themselves and back to their fellow officers, along with the

city residents they say will suffer from less police presence.

“I just don’t feel bad for me and my wife, I feel bad for all of us,” Kevin Starkey said.

“I just feel that the city’s in a lot of trouble, the city’s in a lot of trouble; there’s not going to be enough cops to handle the call volume,” his wife said.

Since Friday, department administrators have handed out both the general layoff memo and the personalized notice officers have to sign for. Other than the inclusion of an individual’s name and position, the two letters read mostly the same.

“Pursuant to the provisions of NJSA 11A:81, this is to notify all employees that for reasons of economy and

efficiency, it is possible that they will be laid off or demoted from their permanent or probationary positions,” reads a copy obtained

by The Times. “If your position is subject to layoff, you may have the right to displace employees in other positions.”

The notice is signed by city business administrator Eric Berry under “signature of appointing authority or authorized agent.”

Lt. Peter Weremijenko, who commands the South and East Districts, says the layoffs are a constant topic of discussion.

“It hurts morale, you know,” Weremijenko said.

“Fortunately, looking at the statistics from my officers, they’re still working,

still doing the job they were doing the month before, but you can tell from their faces they’re hurting.”

Weremijenko, who took command of the combined districts when the South and East commanders were demoted last fall, is expecting to be demoted to a street sergeant this time around.

“It’s gonna hurt me taking a big pay cut, but it’s really going to hurt the guys who are not going to be getting a paycheck,” he said.

The department is trying to find ways to lessen the impact of the layoffs. The remaining money in a federal grant that brought on 19 new recruits two years ago is available for police hires, but it will likely bring back only six to eight officers due to the more senior members’ higher salaries, acting Police Director Joseph Juniak said.

Retirements between now and Sept. 16, which likely will include Juniak’s, could bring back an additional three officers when the savings are processed. But union officials say the department is already down manpower, since 40 members have retired since the last recruits came on in 2009.

“We also have approximately 13 vacancies they’re just going to wipe off the roster, which brings it up to 121 positions that are being eliminated

because of the layoff plan,” Juniak said.

The number of working officers left in the current 353-strong force will diminish further when those who are suspended, on light duty for injuries, or on long-term sick leave are factored in, he said.

“If that’s the number we have to go with, we’ll do the best we can insuring enough manpower is given to emergency calls and calls for service,” Juniak said.

“Unfortunately, the other cities who have done this have seen a rise in crime and they have brought back officers over time.”

Maria Starkey says blame partially rests with state officials who decreased aid to Trenton, including Gov. Chris Christie. She called his office recently to leave an invitation for the governor or his staff to join her on the street.

“I asked them to ride in the car with me so they could see,” she said. “They have no idea, no idea what it is.”

“Everybody thinks, ‘oh it’s only seven square miles,’ but there’s a lot of crime,” she added.

And the public nature of the layoffs means that criminals know, too.

“The cops have to gain control of the streets with these layoffs coming and these guys knowing, it’s going to be suicide,” she said.

Delay in state aid numbers burdens already cash-strapped N.J. towns

By RICHARD KHAVKINE It’s become an annual rite of summer.

Municipalities throughout New Jersey are again having to contend with late notifications of state aid numbers, delaying tax collections from residents, slowing cash flow sometimes to a trickle and, in many cases, further burdening already depleted budgets.

Although state lawmakers and Gov. Chris

Christie met their constitutionally imposed July 1 budget deadline, a lastminute allocation of aid to school districts meant it took the state’s number-crunchers several weeks to determine which towns would receive how much.

“We did not know until July 21,” said William Dressel, executive director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. “It’s a domino effect that creates major problems at the local level.”

Because of the delay, many towns have just mailed out tax bills for the third and fourth quarters of this year and the first half of next several weeks after the June 14 mandated deadline.

Treasury officials did not return calls for comment.

With property taxes accounting for anywhere from 48 percent to 55 percent of a municipality’s revenue, according to East Brunswick Finance Director L.

Mason Neely, local officials are sweating it out as the due dates of two of their biggest outlays - to school districts and their county - approach.

“If you lose 50 percent of your revenue, your cash flow for a month, it’s a lot of money,” Neely said.

He criticized lawmakers in Trenton for their indifference to towns which, he said, are sometimes obliged to estimate tax bills to keep from going cash dry. In East Brunswick, that

estimated bill went out in May. That means the township must now mail out reconciliation tax bills at the end of the year, which Neely said was a redundant expense.

“In our case, that’s an extra $6,000,” he said.

“Take that and multiply it times 560 municipalities around the state.

That’s astronomical.

They’re costing towns millions of dollars just in extra mailing costs because they don’t give information out.”

Michael Campbell, the tax collector in Jackson Township, said his town used to regularly meet the June 14 deadline for mailing out tax bills.

But because of the state’s extended budget process, those mailings have been delayed in recent years. Like many municipalities, Jackson didn’t send out this year’s third and fourth quarter bills until this week. A grace period will give Jackson residents until Aug. 26 to pay their bills.

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

15

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

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New MSNBC host Al Sharpton speaks out about new gig

By LUCAS SHAW LOS ANGELES — When MSNBC CEO Phil Griffin announced Tuesday that Al Sharpton would be taking over the 6 p.m. slot with the new show “Politics Nation,” he spoke about the decade-long relationship he has developed with the minister and civil rights activist.

For Sharpton, what seems to have truly cemented that relationship was working with Griffin on “A Stronger America: The Black Agenda,” a special MSNBC aired last year that grabbed headlines for a debate between Sharpton and professor/author/activist Cornel West.

Sharpton talked to TheWrap shortly after the announcement about extending his civil rights endeavors to television, seeking a bigger audience for his message and giving MSNBC another opinionated voice to tee up its primetime line-up.

Have you always wanted to go into TV full-time?

It’s a natural fit for what I’m doing.

I clearly understand that in the 21st century of policy America, you’ve got to deal with talk TV and talk radio.

The Tea Party didn’t come out of anywhere. If it weren’t for Fox TV and Fox radio, the right wing would not have had traction. I knew the battleground would not just be on the streets but the studio as well. It worked for where I felt the movement had to go in the 21st century.

Why is MSNBC the right fit for your efforts?

One, we have had a working relationship with MSNBC. The last two

years of my civil rights movement (the National Action Network), we’ve had the “Black Agenda” special — the infamous debate with Cornel West and President Obama was that special. But secondly, the shows after 5 p.m. are opinionated shows like Fox. The other cable stations are more just news down the middle. I’m not a news-down-the-middle journalist. I’m an opinionated person.

The show debuts August 29; will it be any different from what you have been doing filling in for Cenk Uygur at 6 p.m. over the summer?

It will not be different in terms of the focus — dealing with issues in an opinionated way, my expressing my views and others giving their views.

But we will do some stuff that will be my signature segments. The focus will be from another point of view, and I will be dealing with those that

disagree.

Do you have certain topics or any regular guests in mind?

I certainly want to deal with the issue of the economic disparities in this country, deal with what’s going on in the political season of 2012. I know politics. I ran in 2004. Just like a Huckabee knows on Fox, I know it on here. I’m the only one on this station that has run for President and knows what it is to go through a primary and presidential debate. It’s just like why Roger Ailes hired Huckabee.

Have you ruled out any more election campaigns? No, I’m not ruling anything out, but I wanna be focused on making this as wide an audience as I can. I have arguments that we want the American audience to hear, not just one side. We have been inundated with one side for straight news.

When MSNBC a few years ago started to try to give the other side of America, other people started to watch it.

Do you have a favorite MSNBC primetime host?

I watch the night shows a lot, and that’s why I love Ed a lot. I love Rachel Maddow — I think she’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever seen. And I think Lawrence O’Donnell, who was never in talk radio or a journalist, has been exceptional.

Even in the morning. I watch “Morning Joe” every morning. Don’t tell him, ‘cause I don’t agree with his politics. He gets me so angry that I don’t even calm down for 18 hours.

You brought up Ed Schultz.

Uygur, his initial replacement at 6, had a rather acrimonious departure from the network. He said MSNBC tried to limit what you could say.

Have you experienced that?

Nobody has told me what I couldn’t say on the air. We haven’t even had that discussion.

You’ve talked about MSNBC being a counterweight to Fox in opinionated primetime programing. Do you worry about the media furthering ideological polarization?

People relate to people who give them information they feel they can’t get elsewhere. The reason I watch MSNBC is because if I watch Rachel, she almost always brings an issue and item that I just didn’t see somewhere else. It’s not just opinion or information. It makes Americans cheap to say everyone goes with what they agree with.

If Rachel brings in ideas you did not see or think of, what unique perspective will you be bringing?

It’s multi-dimensional. I’ve run for president, I lead a civil rights group.

But I have also dealt with a lot of the issues on the ground. A lot of people on talk TV and talk radio have never had to walk the walk. I’ve led the marches and spent months in jail for protest, so I know what a lot of people are talking about. I’ve been there, done that, still do that. I can talk about what I know is in the minds of people.

Will a full-time TV job affect your other activities or interests?

First of all, I’m trying to fulfill and continue civil rights and put a spotlight on: What is activism? Put a spotlight on injustices and unfairness. To go from just asking people to shine a spotlight here to someone putting the spotlight in your hand … how can that hurt?

Jackson concert organizers reach out to unhappy fans

By JILL SERJEANT LOS ANGELES — The organizers of a controversial Michael Jackson Tribute concert said on Tuesday they were going ahead with the event, but they offered disgruntled fans the chance to air their concerns in a global conference call.

“We are 100 percent going ahead.

We will continue to announce names for the line-up. We are moving forward and now we will try to address issues that have been raised by fans,” Juliette Harris, a spokeswoman for Global Events Live told Reuters.

Harris said members of verified Jackson fan clubs will be invited to take part in a conference call on Tuesday, August 30, in which promoters of the October 8 tribute in Wales will try to allay their concerns.

Some 35 Jackson fans clubs have called for the tribute concert to the “Thriller” singer to be called off, saying it is “doomed to fail.” They are unhappy with confusion over charitable donations from ticket revenue, the timing of the concert during the

involuntary manslaughter trial in Los Angeles of Jackson’s doctor, and the invitation (now withdrawn) to rock band Kiss.

Kiss frontman Gene Simmons has in the past called Jackson a child molester. The pop singer, who died in Los Angeles in June 2009 at age 50, was acquitted of all charges in a 2005 child sex abuse trial.

Attorneys for Jackson’s estate have also expressed concerns about

the tribute, which is supported by the singer’s mother Katherine and several of her children, but not by Jackson brothers Jermaine and Randy Jackson.

Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Smokey Robinson, as well as several British acts will perform Jackson songs along with their own material at the tribute. Beyonce will also beam in a cover version of one Jackson hit by satellite.

Harris said many more performers would be announced shortly. She said she had not seen the open letter from the fan clubs but organizers want to respond in next week’s conference call to some of the issues that have surfaced.

Tickets for the show at the 75,000seat Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, range from 55 pounds to 240 pounds (about $90-$390) and went on general sale yesterday.

Old Spice Guy Isaiah Mustafa added to ABC’s ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Former “Old Spice” guy Isaiah Mustafa will be part of ABCs update of “Charlie’s Angels.”

The actor has been cast as Ray Goodson, a detective who used to be engaged to Annie Ilonzeh’s character Kate Prince, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

As first reported by TV Line, Mustafa will recur on the series as the detective whom former Miami cop Kate turns to when she’s in a pinch.

Executive producers Al Gough and Miles Millar said earlier this month that the back stories of the Angels (Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly and Rachael Taylor) – and Bosley (Ramon Rodriguez) – will be among the reboot’s key differences.

Mustafa’s credits, in addition to the Old Spice commercials, include “Horrible Bosses,” “Madea’s Big Happy Family” and a role in the upcoming feature adaptation of The Three Stooges. He’s repped by UTA.

“Charlie’s Angels” premieres Thursday, Sept. 22 on ABC.

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

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Nick Ashford remembered by Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz

By JOCELYN VENA The death of Nick Ashford on Monday has Hollywood remembering the musical contributions of one-half of Motown’s Ashford & Simpson songwriting team.

The creative force behind “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” and “I’m Every Woman” wrote hits for Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and Chaka Khan in the ‘60s and ‘70s, along with wife Valerie Simpson, before finding fame as performers with songs like “Solid.”

Many celebrities took to Twitter to express their condolences. “I’m so sad that he’s gone.....So many of the greatest are going to a greater

place....what a legacy of infectious music... man!” Alicia Keys tweeted.

Lenny Kravitz wrote, “Left rehearsal. Heard Nick Ashford passed. A legend. My heart goes out to Valerie. My Lord, ain’t no mountain high enough. Solid as a rock.”

“R.I.P Nick Ashford one of the most Soulful & Amazing Singer/Songwriters Timeless Classic Music,” Ashanti wrote on the socialnetworking site. “Many Prayers & Blessings to his Family.”

Russell Simmons commented on Ashford’s legacy, tweeting, “R.I.P. Nick Ashford has left his body Most cannot see his everlasting spirit, but the eyes behind the eyes remain w/us.”

MC Hammer’s tweet mirrored Simmons’: “Nick Ashford (RIP) your

songs and melodies touched millions of lives and will never fade. We #Salute your Life.”

Ashford & Simpson contemporaries Earth, Wind & Fire kept their tweet simple: “REST IN PEACE TO A TRUE LEGEND: NICK ASHFORD.” The weight of the performer’s loss stretched outside the music community, with Hollywood heavyweights also expressing their feelings on his passing. “Sad Morning.We lost another Giant yesterday,The Great NICK ASHFORD.Nick,along with his Wife Valerie Simpson wrote amazing Songs,” Spike Lee wrote.

Ashford died in New York City at age 70 of throat cancer. He leaves behind his wife and musical partner, Valerie Simpson, and two daughters, Nicole and Asia.

Diahann Carroll, Obba Babatunde, Pamela Browner-White, and Raven Symone to be honored at 21st NAACP Theatre Awards HOLLYWOOD, CA — The Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP branch announce the complete list of honorees for the 21st Annual NAACP Theatre Awards. The newly married “Dancing With The Stars” actress Niecy Nash is set to host this year’s award show.

The night will also feature a special performance tribute to Diahann Carroll from singer Freda Payne and Def Jam artist Abraham McDonald singing Phantom Of The Opera’s ‘Music Of the Night’. Several presenters appearing in the show include Vanessa L. Williams (ABC’s ‘Desperate Housewives’), Isaiah Washington (NBC’s ‘Law & Order: LA’), Harry Lennix (The Matrix Revolutions), Loretta Devine (Grey’s Anatomy), Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars), Stacey Dash (VH1’s ‘Single Ladies’), Brandy Norwood (R&B Singer) Meagan Good (Jumping the Broom), Laz Alonso (Jumping The Broom), George Wallace (Mr. Vegas), Jurnee Smollett (Friday Night Lights), Orlando Jones (Fences), and many more on Monday, August 29, 2011, 7 P.M., at the Director’s Guild of America in Los Angeles.

The following distinguished individuals will be honored with special awards at this year’s ceremony: Diahann Carroll (above) – The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual who whose theatrical contributions have been revolutionary, and whose efforts have “made a historic difference” in the entertainment profession. Carroll, who is currently on USA Network’s series White Collar as June, is a Tony Award winner, an Emmy and Grammy Nominee, a Golden Globe winner and a Best Actress Oscar-Award nominee. Her television nominations go back to 1963, and in 1968 Diahann Carroll became the first Black actress in television history to star in her own

series, “Julia” for NBC, which soared to the top of the Nielsen ratings and received an Emmy nomination in its first year on the air. She is an awardwinning actress, a successful entrepreneur, and a devoted humanitarian.

Obba Babatundé – The Trailblazer Award is presented to an individual whose pioneering theatrical contributions have been outstanding and unique, and whose efforts have “blazed a trail” in the entertainment profession. This year’s honoree goes to an American actor of stage and screen known for his Emmy-nominated performance in the television movie Miss Evers’ Boys, a NAACP Image Awardnominated performance in the TV movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, and a Tony Award-nominated role for his performance as C.C. White in the original cast of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Other unforgettable stage performances include Harold Prince’s Grind and he originated the role of the legendary jazz artist “Ferdinand ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton” in the world premiere of Jelly’s Last Jam.

Raven-Symoné – The Spirit Award is presented to an individual who brings energy, tenacity, innovation, commitment, talent, and of course, spirit, to the theater scene. Actress, producer, Raven-Symoné is one of Hollywood’s most talented young stars. Most recently, Raven is starring in the ABC family new comedy series’ “The Great State of Georgia.” Best known for her role in the Emmy nominated comedy series “That’s So Raven” for the Disney Channel. Her role as ‘Raven’ garnered three NAACP Image Awards and two primetime Emmy Awards. Raven has been seen at The 24 Hour Plays: Los Angeles at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Participating in the play “Father’s Day” as the daughter of Rosie Perez and Andre Royo from HBO’s The Wire. She has also performed on Broadway, singing with the ‘Boys Choir of Harlem’ as part of their 25th Anniversary celebration.

Plus in 2009, Raven co-starred in ‘A Mother’s Pray’ a traveling gospel play.

Pamela Browner White – The President’s Award is presented to a corporation or an executive who has made a commitment to promote diversity and advancement of minorities in the community. This year’s honoree Pamela Browner White is known for serving as senior vice president, public affairs and government relations for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). During her tenure with the franchise she acted as the official spokesperson, managed day-to-day football and general media operations, community outreach, government relations and sponsorship programs for the team. Pamela Browner White also serves at the Chairperson of The Marian Anderson Award, which honors artists whose leadership on behalf of a humanitarian cause(s) or issue benefits society.

Previous recipients include Bill Cosby, Maya Angelou, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier, Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, Elizabeth Taylor and many others.

Dwayne Johnson and Jerry Bruckheimer team with NBC

By TIM KENNEALLY LOS ANGELES — NBC can smell what the Rock — and Jerry Bruckheimer — are cooking.

Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” producer Jerry Bruckheimer are teaming up to create a drama for the network centered around wrestling in the 1980s, the pair confirmed on their Twitter accounts.

“Look forward to teaming up with

@THEROCK on exciting new wrestling project,” Bruckheimer wrote. After which, a slightly less subdued Johnson chimed in, “Kickin’ Ass! Excited to partner up w @BruckheimerJB & @NBC to create 1980’s wrestling TV drama.”

“Scorpion King” actor Johnson served full-time as a wrestler on the World Wrestling Federation (later World Wrestling Entertainment) circuit from 1996 until 2003, appearing part-time after that, only to ramp his involvement back up as the host of WrestleMania XXVII.

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

18

Verizon Wireless customers lose in court

By JONATHAN STEMPEL Reversing its view from a year ago, a federal appeals court said Verizon Wireless customers must resolve disputes over alleged fraudulent cellphone charges individually through arbitration rather than as a class.

The ruling by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia came four months after a divided U.S. Supreme Court, in a case involving AT&T Inc., gave businesses a big victory in upholding individual arbitrations to resolve customer disputes.

Some consumer advocates say arbitra-

tion favors companies by making it too costly for consumers to bring small claims.

Verizon Wireless

customers had claimed that a 2006 New Jersey Supreme Court decision made it “unconscionable” to enforce a

clause in their service contracts requiring them to arbitrate small administrative charges they deemed unfair.

A three-judge panel of the 3rd Circuit, which includes New Jersey, had ruled in their favor in May 2010.

But on Wednesday, the same panel said the U.S. Supreme Court’s April 27 decision in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion, by a 5-4 vote, now requires it to rule the other way.

As a result, the panel reinstated a 2008 decision by U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson in Trenton. She said the Federal Arbitration Act “establishes a strong federal policy” favoring arbitration, and takes precedence over the New Jersey case.

The Concepcion holding is “broad and clear: a state law that seeks to impose class arbitration

despite a contractual agreement for individualized arbitration is inconsistent with, and therefore preempted by, the FAA, irrespective of whether class arbitration is desirable for unrelated reasons,” Judge Kent Jordan wrote for the 3rd Circuit panel.

Verizon Wireless is the largest U.S. mobile service provider. It is based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and is a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. and Britain’s Vodafone Group Plc. Lawyers for the plaintiffs Keith Litman and Robert Wachtel did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Verizon had no immediate comment.

Strong durable goods data ease recession fears

By LUCIA MUTIKANI WASHINGTON — New orders for longlasting U.S. manufactured goods rose in July, offering hope the ailing economy could dodge a second recession, even though a gauge of business spending fell.

Durable goods orders jumped 4 percent, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday as demand for autos and airplanes surged, more than erasing June’s 1.3

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percent drop. The rise was double economists’ expectations.

“This report offers some encouragement that overall manufacturing production may not have fallen entirely out of bed,” said Millan Mulraine, a senior macro strategist at TD Securities in New York.

“The economy will likely avoid a recession, barring any outside shock.”

But non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending, fell 1.5 percent after rising 0.6

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percent.

Economists noted this so-called core capital goods category tends to be weak in the first month of a quarter and were encouraged that shipments of these goods, which go into the calculation of gross domestic product, had risen.

Since July, however, stock prices have dropped sharply and consumer confidence has taken a hit, suggesting the report on durable goods — items from toasters to aircraft meant to last three years or more — could be offering a rosier view of the economy than currently warranted.

In Germany, business confidence posted its steepest drop this month since the aftermath of the Lehman Brothers collapse in late 2008, raising fresh doubts about the broader European economy as it grapples with a crippling debt crisis.

Similar concerns hold in the United States.

“There is legitimate fear that businesses will shelve expansion plans and signs of such behavior are evident in the August business surveys,” said Aaron Smith a senior economist at Moody’s Analyt-

ics in West Chester Pennsylvania.

U.S. stocks rose in choppy trade on the durable goods data, while prices for Treasury debt fell. The dollar was marginally weaker against a basket of currencies.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is expected nod to the stock market turmoil and weak confidence in a speech at an annual central bank conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Friday.

He is unlikely to offer plans for a new round of bond purchases, but he may hint at a possible tweaking of the U.S. central bank’s balance sheet to put further downward pressure on medium- and long-term interest rates.

Regional manufacturing surveys so far for August have shown a sharp drop in activity, raising the risk the nation’s factory sector may have stalled this month.

The Institute for Supply Management’s index of national manufacturing activity stood at 50.9 in July. Economists said it would likely fall below 50 in August, indicating a contraction.

The index has been steadily declining since March, but that weakness had been blamed mainly on supply chain disruptions from Japan. The August survey will be published on September 1.

Durable goods orders last month were buoyed by a 14.6 percent jump in bookings for transportation equipment, which was the largest increase since January.

That reflected a 43.4 percent surge in aircraft orders and an 11.5 percent spike in motor vehicle booking. The increase in auto orders was the largest since January 2003 and indicated disruptions wrought by the Japan earthquake were fading.

Economists expect motor vehicle production to support growth both in the third and fourth quarters, and help the economy avoid a recession.

“The automotive sector will be a positive for GDP in the third and fourth quarter,” said Michael Montgomery, a U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts.

“We are sort of skirting along the edge.”

Boeing received 115 aircraft orders, 100 of those from American

Airlines, according to information posted on the plane maker’s website. That was up from 48 in June.

Excluding transportation, orders rose 0.7 percent after gaining 0.6 percent in June.

Manufacturing has been a key pillar of the U.S. economy’s recovery and an erosion of that support would be particularly bad given that housing, which has shouldered previous recoveries continues to struggle.

Demand for loans to purchase homes slumped to a nearly 15year low last week, blamed largely on the stock market turmoil.

A separate report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency showed home prices rose 0.9 percent in June from May. However, they were down 4.3 percent from a year ago, and other reports have shown prices slipped in July.

Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers Inc on Wednesday reported tepid growth in orders in the third quarter and a rise in cancellations. It said stock market volatility and economic uncertainty continued to weigh on home buyer confidence.

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

Apple wins ban on some Samsung smartphone sales

By GREG ROUMELIOTIS and GILBERT KREIJGER AMSTERDAM — Apple won an injunction in a Dutch court on Wednesday to stop Samsung Electronics from marketing three smartphone models in some European countries after alleging a breach of patents.

Apple and Samsung are locked in a bruising patent fight in the United States, Europe and Asia, as they jostle for the top spot in the smartphone market after Nokia, the market leader for a decade, was ousted in the second

quarter.

Apple, which has conquered the high end of the phone market with its iPhone, argued that Samsung had infringed on three of its patents. The court ruled that Samsung smartphones Galaxy S, S II and Ace breached just one of Apple’s patents.

The Apple patent allows for a certain method of scrolling or browsing through photos in some Samsung smartphones, the court added.

“It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the

packaging,” Apple said in a statement.

The court dismissed all other demands by Apple, saying there were no violations of two other Apple patents, no violations for Samsung’s tablet computers Galaxy Tab, and no violations of model rights. And there was no “slavish style copying,” the court added.

The patent violation could be solved by making technical changes in the smartphones, the court said in its ruling.

This would then allow the sale of the smartphones.

The injunction applies in the Netherlands and other European countries where

the patent is registered and is effective seven weeks and one day after Samsung acknowledges it — therefore not before October 13 — a spokeswoman for the court in The Hague said.

Samsung said in a statement that its affiliates in the Netherlands were not allowed to sell the smartphones in the Netherlands, Britain, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Sweden and Switzerland until the patent violation was resolved.

However, it said the ruling was not expected to affect sales in European markets other than the Netherlands.

“With regard to the single infringement cited in the ruling, we will take all possible measures including legal action to ensure that there is no disruption in the availability

U.S. budget improves, economy weighs

By ANDY SULLIVAN WASHINGTON — A sweeping U.S. budget deal has brightened the country’s fiscal outlook but unemployment will remain high over the near term, nonpartisan congressional forecasters said on Wednesday.

The report by the Congressional Budget Office is likely to add fuel to the debate over jobs and the economy that is set to dominate Washington through the 2012 elections.

The recent budget deal, passed earlier this month after months of acrimonious debate, will help slash projected budget deficits nearly in half over the next 10 years, CBO said.

But economic growth will remain sluggish through 2012, CBO said. It said the unemployment rate, currently at 9.1 percent, will only fall to 8.5 percent by the time voters head to the polls in November 2012.

The economic picture is probably even worse as grimmer data has emerged since the office completed its work in early July, CBO Director Doug Elmendorf said.

“The pace of the

recovery has been slow, and the economy remains in a severe slump,” Elmendorf wrote in a blog post.

That could complicate President Barack Obama’s re-election hopes and give more ammunition to Republican rivals who have criticized his economic policies.

Obama plans to unveil a job-creation package next month to help boost an economy that threatens to slide back into recession. At the same time, lawmakers on a special congressional committee will try to squeeze more budget savings from the tax code and popular benefit programs like Medicare.

Policymakers will have to balance austerity and stimulus efforts over the coming months, Obama’s fellow Democrats said.

The report “underscores the need for the Joint Committee to propose a plan to help put America back to work, coupled with a blueprint to reduce the long term deficit,” said Democratic Representative Chris Van Hollen, one of 12 lawmakers named to the bipartisan panel.

Republicans said the report showed that Obama’s efforts to boost the

economy in the wake of the 2008-2009 financial crisis have not borne fruit.

“A slight decrease in the projected deficit is nothing to celebrate, particularly when it is accompanied by the grim news that CBO expects the national unemployment rate to continue to exceed 8 percent well past next year,” House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said in a statement. “The president’s policies were supposed to keep that from happening.”

The United States will rack up $3.487 trillion in cumulative deficits over 10 years, some $3.3 trillion below its previous projection, CBO said.

Nearly two-thirds of that savings is due to the deficit-reduction deal, which passed earlier this month as part of a package to raise the national debt limit.

Another one-fifth is attributable to lower projected interest rates during the coming decade, CBO said.

Stocks rose as much as 1 percent and Treasury bond prices fell as the figures revealed a stronger fiscal outlook than previously

thought. Both markets later flattened out as other factors overtook early enthusiasm about the CBO data.

The economic picture could worsen considerably if Congress extends temporary tax cuts that were passed under President George W. Bush.

CBO’s budget projections assume that those cuts will expire at the end of 2012. Democrats want to extend them for middle and low income taxpayers, while Republicans want to extend the tax cuts for the wealthiest households as well.

An aging population and rising healthcare costs will force Congress to raise taxes or pursue further spending cuts if it wants to keep deficits and debt under control, Elmendorf wrote.

In the current fiscal year, which ends on September 30, the government will spend $1.284 trillion more than it collects, according to CBO’s latest estimate. That is a $115 billion improvement over its last estimate in March.

Gross domestic product will grow by an annual rate of 2.4 percent this year and 2.6 percent next year, CBO said.

19

of our Galaxy smartphones to Dutch consumers,” the Korean company said.

Wednesday’s decision is a preliminary ruling and “has no bearing whatsoever on proceeding on the merits of the case,” the court said. The injunction itself has no time limit and cannot be challenged, the court spokeswoman added.

However, Samsung can — and already has — challenged the ruling behind the injunction, although no date for a hearing has been set yet, the spokeswoman added.

Samsung unveiled four new smartphone models under its Galaxy line on Wednesday, expanding its flagship product line to cheaper phones to tap growth in emerging markets.

Its quest for more market share in the lucrative high-end electronics market has

sparked several legal rows with Apple. Last week a German court lifted most of an injunction it had imposed on a rival to Apple’s iPad being sold by Samsung.

Apple and others have moved aggressively to defend their intellectual property in maturing markets, especially against Google’s Android software platform, on which the new Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablet is built.

Android, a latecomer to the mobile market, has become a target by rapidly turning into the world’s most popular smartphone platform.

Google is relatively defenseless because it owns few wireless patents, in contrast to older rivals.

Samsung launched its first flagship Galaxy phone in June 2010 and its follow-up Galaxy S II, launched in April this year, has sold more than 5 million units.

Contractors will be required to comply with EEO, D/M/WBE and other federal and state procurement laws, regulations and Executive Orders.

MTA NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT (NYCT) RFQ #: 8038, Due Date: 9/22/11 Title: Repair and Return of B500 Transmission Sub-Components for NYC Transit Department of Buses RFQ #: 9072, Due Date: 9/20/11 Title: Rental of Aerial & Construction Equipment RFQ#: 8530, Due Date: 9/21/11 Title: 5 Year Metals Testing and Failure Analysis RFQ#: 10645, Due Date: 9/16/11 Title: Repair of Chillers at the Rail Control Center and Power Control Center BIDS: Opening Date: 9/13/11, #12298, Chain assy; #11222, Manitou material handler; #12152, Grating; #12228, Mineral spirits; #12291, Rail, track; #12380, Capacitor. Opening Date: 9/14/11, #11876, Switch proximity; sensor assy; #11877, Covering flr; insulation,seat; module-diagonistic, CRT; #11909, Valve; ammeter; adapter kit; equalizer-battery; #12518, Shock absorber; #12572, Shoe beam bracket; #10256, Lockers; #11654, AED’s. Opening Date: 9/15/11, #11624, Wheel lug; brake shoe & bushing assy; brake shoe assy. Opening Date: 10/20/11, #12364, Aerial truck. For more detailed info & the MTA-NYCT contact for the above solicitations, visit our web: www.mta.info/nyct/procure/nyctproc.htm

MTA- NYCT SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT (S)

NYCT intends to purchase the following item(s) without competitive bidding from the only known source(s). Any other firm may assert its potential to supply the item(s) by notifying the designated NYCT Contact in writing within 5 business days of this notice. Contract #: R000YH401, Desc: 18-429019-QPL- R32 Brake Cylinder Bodies Machined and Relined Mfg/Supplier Part #: Hafco HF- 4232 NYCT Contact: D. Levy, MTA –NYCT, 2 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004, Ph: (646) 2524632 Earliest Award Date: 9/12/11

MTA BRIDGES AND TUNNELS (B&T) Sealed Bids/Proposals for the below solicitations must be received by B & T at the Bid Suite, 3 Stone Street, New York, NY 10004. Sealed Bids will be publicly opened at the above address on the dates/times indicated.

Bid #: 11-ISD-2888 – Armed Guard Services. Bid Due Date: 9/13/11 at 3:00 PM. The project description can be found at www.mta.info/bandt/procure/rfppage.html Bid #: 10-MNT-2864X – Maintenance and Repair of Impact Attenuators at Various Authority Locations. Bid Due Date: 9/15/11 at 3:00 PM. The project description can be found at www.mta.info/bandt/procure/rfppage.html Proposal #: PSC-11-2896 – Request for Expressions of Interest For Design and Construction Support Services for Project MP-21, Rehabilitation of the Rockaway Point Boulevard and Jacob Riis Overpasses at the Marine Parkway Gil-Hodges Memorial Bridge (MPB) Due Date: 9/7/11 at 3:30PM. The project description can be found at www.mta.info/bandt/procure/preactcon.html Proposal #: PSC-11-2897 – Request for Expression of Interest For Design and Construction Support Services for Project TN-49, Roadway Deck Rehabilitation/Replacement of the Suspended Spans at the Throgs Neck Bridge. Due Date: 9/13/11 at 3:30PM. The project description can be found at www.mta.info/bandt/procure/preactcon.htm Proposal #: PSC-11-2898 – Request for Expression of Interest For Independent Safety Monitoring Services for Ongoing Authority Construction Projects. Due Date: 9/15/11 at 3:30PM. The project description can be found at www.mta.info/bandt/procure/preactcon.htm

MTA METRO-NORTH RAILROAD (MNR) MNR will receive sealed bids for the following. Bids must be submitted on inquiry forms provided by MNR by the specified date and time. Bid documents are available at the Procurement & Material Management Department, 347 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10017, 212-340-3223. INQUIRY #, DESCRIPTION, (DUE DATE, TIME, CONTACT): INQ#: 5510, Plastibeton Cable Trays Old Castle, Pomona, CA, (9/23/11, 12 PM, J. Walker, 212-340-3259); INQ#: 1000005859, On-Call ADA Consulting Services, (9/21/11, 3:00 PM, Damon Chan); INQ#: 8704-A, Brake Shoes, (9/13/11, 2:30 PM, Theresa Valentine); INQ#: 8705-A, 12" Brake Shoes, (9/14/11, 2:30 PM, Theresa Valentine); INQ#: 1000007132, Glove-Cut, Abrasion And Puncture Resistant, (9/1/11, 11:00 AM, Brian Spiegel).

20

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011 ! !

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DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

DAILY CHALLENGE

SPORTS

21

Justin Gatlin arrives at worlds with frostbite

By CHRIS LEHOURITES DAEGU, South Korea - Blistered and scarred, American sprinter Justin Gatlin arrived at the world championships with frostbite on both feet.

The 2004 Olympic champion, who last year made his return to competition after serving a four-year doping ban, said yesterday he got frostbite about two weeks ago after going into a cryogenic chamber with wet socks. He didn’t lose any toes and will still run in Daegu, but his wounds are not completely healed.

“You wake up at 9 o’clock in the morning in Orlando and it’s already 90 degrees,” said the 29-year-old Gatlin, who lives and trains in Florida. “So we’re already hot,

drenched with sweat.

Get in the booth, socks were wet, socks froze to me instantly.

“Before I even came here it was like walking on fiery pins and needles,” Gatlin added in an interview with The Associated Press.

Athletes use cryogenic chambers to cool their muscles after a hard workout. Instead of ice packs, the chamber works faster and covers the entire body.

Gatlin is using the setback as inspiration heading into a possible showdown with worldrecord holder Usain Bolt in the 100 meters.

“Honestly, it’s just the universe telling me, ‘How much do you really want this? If you really want this, then I’m going to put these obstacles in your way and see how man enough you’re going to be to overcome them,’” he said.

Gatlin said the pain from the frostbite had

subsided and the injury hadn’t affected his stride. But it is still bothersome because the wounds on his heels are near the level where his socks sit and where the back of his running spikes touch.

“It’s better than it was. It was all pussed up and blistered. It bubbled up and it stayed bubbled up for a good four or five days,” Gatlin said, lifting up his sweat pants to reveal the scabby scars that resemble big blisters. “This is the best it’s looked, the best it’s felt.

“The confidence in me is rising. I’m getting ready to get out there and burn the track.”

Asafa Powell has the fastest time this year at 9.78. Bolt holds the world record at 9.58 but hasn’t been at his best since a back injury last year. Gatlin ran 9.95 to finish second at the U.S. Championships.

Before Bolt first

broke the 100-meter world record in 2008, the sprint world was all about Gatlin and Powell. Gatlin won Olympic gold at the 2004 Athens Games.

At worlds in Helsinki a year later, he won both the 100 and 200.

And in 2007, he equaled the then-world record of 9.77 seconds set by Powell.

Gatlin maintains his positive doping test from 2006 was the result of some testosterone-like cream that was massaged into his legs. His first chance to get back on top will start Saturday in Daegu in the 100 heats.

The final is set for Sunday.

“I wouldn’t say (Bolt) is a goal. He’s more of a competition standard,” Gatlin said. “He has a lot to lose, while everyone else has a lot to gain.

“I have the visual of running him to the line.”

US sprinter Justin Gatlin points to a frostbite scar on his leg during an interview with the Associated Press in Daegu, South Korea, yesterday. The World Athletics Championships run Aug. 27 through Sept. 4, 2011 in Daegu.

Photo/David J. Phillip

Patriots’ Haynesworth returns to practice 49ers’ Hunter can’t afford to rest

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

New England’s Albert Haynesworth returned to practice Tuesday, one day after he pleaded no contest to a charge of simple assault.

Haynesworth was in pads and participated in drills at the beginning of the afternoon practice. The defensive lineman is one piece of the Patriots’ rebuilt defense.

Haynesworth last practiced on Aug. 4, and was in pads but did not practice on Saturday. Coach Bill Belichick had been d e s c r i b i n g Haynesworth’s situation as “day to day” for two weeks.

The no-contest plea Monday resolved the case in which he was accused of touching a waitress’ breast while

having drinks with friends at a Washington hotel. He must stay out of trouble during the next 18 months and complete 160 hours of community service.

“It helps every player to be out there in practice,” Belichick said Tuesday before practice when asked about Haynesworth, calling the legal situation a “personal matter” he wouldn’t comment on.

He also declined to speculate on whether the NFL might take any action against him.

“Whatever the league does, they’ll announce,” Belichick said.

All-Pro linebacker Jerod Mayo was looking forward to Haynesworth’s return.

“When we come in here, it’s all about football,” Mayo said. “We don’t even talk about it.

He’s a great player and I’m sure when he’s

healthy, he’ll get out there and make some plays.”

The defense - especially the completely revamped defensive line - have been strong in the Patriots’ preseason wins, even without several key players.

Mayo wreaked havoc on the Tampa Bay offense in the 31-14 preseason win Thursday over Tampa Bay. He had five tackles and two sacks early in the game, setting the tone for the defense.

“We did a good job executing the game plan coach Belichick had,” said Mayo, who said teams will have a hard time predicting how the Patriots will line up along the defensive front. “We’re a very multiple defense. One week we may come out with pressure, the next week we may come out kicking back in coverage. You never know,

and I think that’s a good quality of this defense.”

Mayo is expected to be one of the main beneficiaries of the revamped defensive line, freeing him to rush the passer.

“Those guys (the defensive line) have played excellent the whole training camp,” he said. “Those guys eat up a lot of those blockers and allow me to move around.”

Veteran defensive lineman Shaun Ellis practiced again Tuesday and should make his preseason debut Saturday against the Detroit Lions. He is also expecting big things from the defense.

“There are a lot of guys who are playmakers and are good at what they do,” he said.

“We just have to gel and we’ll see what happens.”

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Kendall Hunter’s phone wasn’t blowing up with messages the night the rookie running back scored the 49ers’ first touchdown of the preseason on a dazzling play in the third quarter.

Outside of a brief chat with his mother shortly after the game, Hunter didn’t receive many congratulatory calls or text messages at all.

“And she didn’t see the game, she just saw the stats,” Hunter said before practice Tuesday. “I didn’t talk to too many other people.”

That’s exactly how the 49ers’ fourth-round pick prefers it.

With more than two weeks left before the start of the regular season, the last thing the soft-spoken Hunter wants to do is get comfortable. Pats on the back can wait until Sept. 3 when final roster cuts are made.

Until then the smallest player on San Francisco’s roster won’t relax - even if many people are already penciling him as a key member of the 49ers backfield.

“He’s definitely a guy who brings his lunch bucket to work,” fellow running back Anthony Dixon said. “It’s a long season and if we’ve got a guy like Kendall who can help us, take some of the practice reps off us and help us in games, that’s big because we’re going to need him. I just hope the coaches put it all in play.”

22

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

DAILY CHALLENGE

SPORTS

Jets’ air game even more formidable with Burress

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. NEW YORK - After watching Plaxico Burress’ spectacular debut, Santonio Holmes thought about how dangerous the New York Jets’ passing offense can be.

So dominant, he thinks, that he almost feels sorry for the Jets’ opponents.

“Oh,” Holmes said, “it’s going to be a long season for whatever defense comes out to play us.”

That’s because teams are going to have to deal with covering Burress, Holmes and Derrick Mason - not to mention rookie wide receiver Jeremy Kerley, tight end Dustin Keller and LaDainian Tomlinson coming out of the backfield.

“I think the sky’s the limit for this group,” quarterback Mark Sanchez said. “I know they’ll go as I’ll go, and it’s a matter of me getting completions and being efficient, getting the ball on them” After a three-catch performance, including a terrific touchdown grab in the Jets’ 27-7 preseason win over Cincinnati on Sunday night, Burress’ presence clearly makes New York’s offense more formidable. He gives Sanchez a tall - he’s 6-

foot-5 - and sure-handed red-zone threat who has made plenty of big catches throughout his career.

“It’s a nice bit of insurance there, having a big player like that, and a big body, somebody who knows how to use his body, and get completions to a guy like that,” Sanchez said.

“He’s a great target. I think he’s just a great complement for Santonio and Dustin and Derrick. We get all them rolling at the same time, then we’ll be pretty efficient, I think.”

Mason missed the game with a sore knee, but Rex Ryan said he would’ve played if it had been a regular-season game. Mason will fill the slot role that Jerricho Cotchery once did, while Burress replaces Braylon Edwards. Mason and Burress have been careful to not disrespect the guys they’ve replaced, but others have said they think the new guys might be upgrades.

“It’s my job to make it work,” Sanchez said.

If there was a concern, it was the Jets’ inefficiency on third down, with the starting offense going 2 for 8 in the first half. They also managed just 16 yards rushing, but starting running back Shonn

Greene missed the game while recovering from a skin infection on his right foot.

It was only one game, and in preseason at that, but Burress proved he is healthy and motivated - and still a solid receiver, even if he’s a bit rusty after such a long layoff.

Burress had seven balls thrown his way, and he made a few expected mistakes. But Sanchez got him in the mix immediately, connecting with Burress on a 20-yard pass on the Jets’ first offensive play. They had another 20-yard hookup in the second quarter.

And, if there were still any doubters, he changed their minds with his over-the-shoulder TD grab.

Burress took off down the left side, drew separation from defensive back Fred Bennett in one-on-one coverage and hauled in the pass as he fell into the end zone to put New York up 17-7 just before halftime.

“When teams come out and run cover zero, an all-out blitz with no safety help, those are the plays you have to make on that coverage,” Burress said. “It’s one of the most disrespectful coverages in football.”

Burress got up and bowed a few times to

the rain-drenched crowd, which had seen him make similar plays for years with the Steelers and Giants.

The athletic catch gave the Jets a 17-7 lead and left his teammates pretty impressed.

“On a scale of 1-10, I’d probably give it a 15,” Holmes said. “The way he had to track the ball and catch it over his shoulder in the rain and never giving up on the ball, I think that just shows the sign of a great wide receiver.”

Burress completed his comeback to the NFL with three catches for 66 yards. His last game was Nov. 23, 2008, at Arizona while with the Giants; a few days later, he accidentally shot himself in the leg in a Manhattan nightclub. He served 20 months in prison, dreaming of getting back on to the field the entire time.

“It just felt good to get back into the flow, to get into the game and get live competition,” said Burress, signed by the Jets on July 31. “To get hit, catch the ball, just get the gist of it again.”

He had been hobbled for the first few weeks of training camp by a sprained ankle, but put together a few days of full practices and felt good when he came out of the game at halftime

with the rest of the starting offense.

“For me and Mark to go out there and make some of the plays that we have, I’ve only been practicing for three days,” Burress said.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement. ... I think this offense can be really special.”

NOTES The Jets announced that a limited number of individual upperlevel game tickets will go on sale to the general public next Monday.

Prices range from $105-$135 with a fourticket maximum. Fans can also sign up on the team’s site for a presale, which begins Thursday. ... Tomlinson has teamed with The

American Heartworm Society on a public service announcement that educates pet owners about the dangers of heartworm disease. The 60-second PSA, which can be seen at www.heartwormsociety .org, was funded through an educational partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital, the world’s largest veterinary practice, and is being distributed to television and radio stations nationwide.

Tomlinson said he did the PSA “to help bring greater awareness to this topic and encourage pet parents to take the necessary steps to protect their pets from this terrible disease.”

P a y t h e L it t l e Le a g u e Wo r ld S er i es p l a y er s

By DAN WETZEL Night after long summer night, here comes the beaming visions of Americana at its most wholesome big corporate profits and the unpaid workers who deliver them.

Actually, it’s the Little League World Series and, like nearly everyone else, I find little wrong with the Little League World Series.

Who doesn’t like watching a bunch of 12-year-

olds play their hearts out and enjoy a fleeting bit of recognition?

They’ve been staging the event since 1947, Norman Rockwell stuff.

Except that Little League became Big Business a long time ago, and while the concept is sure to shock and outrage (it has when I’ve written it in the past), the truth is it’s long past time for a simple change.

The players should be paid.

Not every Little

Leaguer, just the ones who play on television, where their innocence is packaged into a commodity. And, no, they shouldn’t make millions or even hundreds of thousands.

They should get something, maybe several hundred per television appearance. If it made people more comfortable that the money went to a college savings fund or maybe into a trust that becomes available when they’re 18 or 21, so be it.

Whatever it is, they deserve it because while the kids aren’t making any money, everyone else associated with this booming, expanding event is.

What started humbly in bucolic South Williamsport, Pa., is now a marriage between the $38.1-billion Walt Disney Company (ESPN) and the “not-for-profit” Little League Baseball Inc. ($72.9 million in assets in fiscal 2009).

The two first master-

fully figured out how to sell America on the purity of a game being played by unpaid kids.

Then they sold a lot of advertising.

The concept of amateurism only survives because they properly marketed this event as something it isn’t completely about. Yes, players’ passion, joy and youthful excitement drive it. That doesn’t matter to the suits in the corner office, though. They aren’t doing this out of the

goodness of their hearts.

LLB did $22.1 million in total revenue in fiscal 2009, according to the most recently available federal tax form. It brought in $5.6 million from the World Series and an additional $3.7 million in “broadcast rights fees.” ESPN continues to increase the hours it televises, up to 56 total games including regional finals and semifinals. The ratings are strong. This thing is a summer cash cow.

DAILY CHALLENGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

DAILY CHALLENGE

23

SPORTS

Agent: Terrelle Pryor won’t appeal ban Terrelle Pryor’s agent says the Oakland Raiders’ new quarterback will not appeal the five-game suspension handed down by the NFL last week.

Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN’s Colleen Dominguez on Tuesday that despite conflicting comments from Pryor and his attorney over the past week, there will be no appeal.

Pryor had said at his pro day Saturday in Greenburg, Pa., that he would not appeal his suspension. However, on Monday night in a live phone interview during the second half of “Monday Night Football” on ESPN, Pryor said that he would appeal the ban if that’s what Raiders owner Al Davis wanted him to do.

Pryor can’t practice until he’s under contract, and he had yet to even travel to the West Coast by the time the team ended practice in the evening.

New coach Hue

Jackson was optimistic that Oakland would reach a deal by the end of the week with Pryor, whom the team selected in the third round of the NFL’s supplemental draft on Monday.

Messages were left by The Associated Press seeking comment from Rosenhaus.

While they wait for their potential quarterback of the future, the Raiders welcomed back their quarterback of the present.

Starter Jason Campbell returned to the practice field Tuesday. Campbell took a knee to the helmet during Saturday’s 17-3 exhibition loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He was tested for a possible concussion and didn’t practice Monday.

Campbell, though, is as eager as anybody to find out more about Pryor and how the Raiders plan to use the former Ohio State quarterback.

“You don’t know what we’re really going to do with him yet,” said Campbell. “He’s definitely a big, fast

guy. There are different things you can do with him. He’s a teammate now. We welcome him.

We just go out here and do what we can to help the team win.”

Even Oakland’s starting quarterback had no idea his team would draft Pryor.

Campbell said he was sitting in a meeting room Monday when a few teammates poked inside to tell him the news. He hasn’t had a chance to speak with Pryor yet, and Campbell said he’s going to welcome the new quarterback when he arrives — the same way veterans Mark Brunell and Todd Collins did with him in Washington.

Just don’t expect him to concede his job.

“People forget, I’m still a young guy, too,” said Campbell, who’s 29. “So I’m trying to go out and get things right for this team and be the future for this team.”

Pryor will have plenty of catching up to do whenever he arrives.

He has missed three weeks of training camp,

two preseason games and countless meetings. Pryor gave up his final season with the Buckeyes after an investigation into the team’s memorabilia-forcash scandal cost coach Jim Tressel his job.

When he was allowed to enter the supplemental draft, he was handed a five-game suspension by commissioner Roger Goodell — the same number of games he would have sat out had he returned to Ohio

State.

Pryor will be able to practice immediately after signing and play in the remaining two exhibition games. But he will not be eligible to practice with or play for Oakland during the regular season until the team’s sixth game.

“He’s already missed pretty much all of training camp,” Campbell said. “So there’s a lot of important information he’s missed out on.”

NOTES

Jackson said LB Travis Goethel is likely out for the season after tearing a ligament in his knee. He is expected to have surgery. ...

Temperatures soared into the upper 90s in Napa and a fan passed out briefly while watching practice on the sideline. Jackson and team trainers came over in the middle of practice to check on the woman.

She was smiling and joking after a few minutes.

Kindle’s recovery from many woes pleases Ravens

By LES CARPENTER OWINGS MILLS, Md. - He has made mistakes.

Lord knows Sergio Kindle has made mistakes. And they piled like trouble around him before last year’s NFL draft, with stories of college fights at the University of Texas, a DUI and an accident in which he crashed his car into an apartment while texting.

These things kept him from being a firstround pick, and

they all occurred before he tumbled down the stairs of an apartment in Austin last summer - cracking open his skull and ending his rookie season with the Baltimore Ravens hours before he was to leave for his first training camp.

And that was before the next DUI arrest, last December, leaving a lament around the Ravens which spills into this summer: Will he ever get it right?

But there is also something so endearing, so sweet, so moving about the Ravens linebacker which belies the

sometimes ferocious player on the field and the one who confounds off it. A lot of people want to believe in him because they see an honest man who has done wrong when all he wants to do is right.

They use words like “special” and “good” and “sincere.” And it makes him perhaps the most intriguing player in the NFL right now: a linebacker with the size and speed to be dominant, the desire to be a star and the hope that trouble won’t find him again.

“He’s made a lot of bad decisions,” said Florida coach Will Muschamp, who became a mentor to Kindle as the Texas defensive coordinator. “But he has

a great heart. He’s a really good-hearted young man.”

Kindle sat, the other day, in the office of a team executive doing an interview he probably would rather not have done. He is not comfortable in front of the media and it is especially hard when the questions are about his troubles and an injury that until recently held back his future. His hearing is almost gone in his left ear - a result of the fall down the stairs - and he has trouble understanding questions. But he is happy to be playing again after a year away and it doesn’t seem like he wants to disappoint the writer who has come to talk to him.

“What surprised me was how much an injury like that can affect so much of your body, so much of your ability,” he said. “You think a head injury, OK, you might have some headaches or some ringing in my head or something or be nauseous, but you lose your hearing, your balance, your coordination. I never would have thought that.”

Eventually the balance came back, first at a rehabilitation facility near his home in Dallas and then in workouts at the Ravens’ headquarters, where he sat in meetings, changed in the locker room and watched drills - everything but putting on a

helmet since the doctors would not clear him to play.

He glanced out a window, toward the practice fields now empty.

“I have been playing football every year since I was 4 years old, and taking a year off was hard,” he said. “In my life, eight months of the year for the past 18 was football, and it’s different without it. You feel like some plays out there I could have made it, but you’re not out there.”

Then he smiled.

“I had prove to myself first and foremost,” he said. “Basically I had to show I could [make it back] because if I don’t prove to myself, how am I going to show all of you and the doubters?”

DAILY CHALLENGE

S SP PO OR RT TS S THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

JETS’ AIR GAME EVEN MORE FORMIDABLE WITH BURRESS

S EE PA GE 22

TERR ELL E P RY OR WON’T APPEAL BAN S EE PA GE 23