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INNER-CITY NEWS July 2016 August 02, 18, 2016 THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12,27, 2018 - - September 2018

Dallas cop who shot toadeath Bothamat Shem Jean has been identified Financial Justice Key Focus 2016 NAACP Convention New Haven, Bridgeport

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Volume 27 . No. 2298 Volume 21 No. 2194

DeLauro, Advocates Press For Resources Over Guns

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

Beaned & Booted

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO New

ribbon Wednesday.

Haven L.L. Bean Store Manager Susan Gardella cuts the

by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Five people got the boot at the new L.L. Bean store Tuesday. And they were glad about it. Each person won a pair of the classic duck boots, originally known as the Maine hunting shoe, that put the outdoor retailer and its founder Leon Leonwood Bean—L.L. Bean—on the map as part of an official “Welcome to New Haven” ribbon-cutting event Wednesday. The event was hosted by Yale University Properties and City of New Haven officials at L.L. Bean’s new two-story outpost at 272 Elm St, which had its grand opening during the first weekend of August. The New Haven location is only the second urban location for the retailer; the other urban location is in Boston. Lauren Zucker, Yale University associate vice president for New Haven Affairs and University Properties, said the university is committed to sustaining a vital downtown and promoting New Haven’s economic development. “Attracting exciting new tenants such as L.L. Bean into New Haven is one of the most important ways we do this,” she said. She pointed out L.L. Bean’s commitment to being part of the Yale and New Haven community, particularly through its free in-store activities. On Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. the store will offer an “Adventures with Your Dog” outdoor clinic. And on Tuesdays, parents can bring their little beans for “Tent Tales for Tykes,” an interactive activity that helps young children explore different outdoor na-

ture themes. “So from a single product, the Maine hunting shoe, to the creation of L.L. Bean in New Haven and over 20 New Haven jobs, it is proof that quality, commitment, and passion are a great blueprint for success,” she said. “Leon Leonwood Bean has indeed left big shoes to fill and we plan to fill at least five pairs of feet into his boots this afternoon.” References to the famous boots abound Wednesday, even Mayor Toni Harp got in on the act. “I hope no one minds the expression but I expect New Haven shoppers will take to this store like a duck boot to water,” Harp said, drawing chuckles. But on a more serious note, she said having a nationally recognized brand like L.L. Bean is a feather in New Haven’s cap. And so is having the new building that the store calls home, which adds a lot more charm to the streetscape than the previous parking lot. “It follows that other New Haven shops, restaurants, and attractions stand to benefit from the traffic into and throughout New Haven generated by L.L. Bean,” Harp said. “And as an aside, I believe it’s product line is tailor-made for New Haven with its ample city parks and nearby hiking trails and the beautiful fall season just around the corner to draw people outdoors.” Harp also applauded Yale for building graduate student housing above the store. “It underscores [Yale’s] commitment to providing adequate housing stock for accomplished students arriving literally from around the world,” she said.

DeLauro, Advocates Press For Resources Over Guns by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro is calling on educators, police officers, and student activists to help her stop U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos from allowing federal money to be spent arming teachers. DeLauro issued that call to action during a press conference at Wilbur Cross High School Monday urging people to contact members of Congress and ask that language be adopted in the final Fiscal 2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding measure to make it clear that states can’t use federal funds to put firearms in teachers’ hands. “There is zero good research on the efficacy of arming teachers as a solution to school shootings,” DeLauro said. “In fact, in June, when Secretary DeVos announced a federal commission on school safety she refused to examine the role of guns with regards to school shootings. How then can she claim that this is a solution?” DeLauro said using federal education money to purchase guns for school staff and to train teachers to use them would be unprecedented. She said the funding in question is normally used by states to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, reading readiness and for mental health services. But DeVos has signaled that she might allow state and local school officials to use funding provided by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, which was amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015, to purchase firearms and train school staff, specifically teachers, to use those weapons. Members of Congress are calling on the Department of Education to issue formal guidance prohibiting equipping and training teachers with handguns. But DeVos has declined to issue such guidance. “I think it’s outrageous that we would use taxpayer dollars for this dangerous plan,” DeLauro said. New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Carol Birks said she learned a lot of things before entering her first classroom in 1996 but how to use a gun was not one of them. And though there have been a number of mass shootings since 1996, the basic preparation for teachers hasn’t changed. “That we’re standing here today talking about arming a teacher with a gun rather than arming them to meet the needs of students ... is just unconscionable,” she said. She also noted that it sends a terrible message to students about whether the people who are responsible for helping them become productive members of society don’t trust and believe in them. Birks said if the federal government wants to give school district like New Haven more money for social-emotional supports like school psychologists and social workers, to help with STEM and reading, she’ll take it. But schools in Connecticut don’t need money for armed teachers. David Cicarella, president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, pointed out that New Haven city and school officials have actively tried to reduce gun violence.

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO Anti-gun violence advocates at Wilbur Cross High School Monday.

DeLauro wants educators, advocates to tell Congress not to arm teachers. He noted that New Haven has a gun buyback program, youth engagement programs, launched a program called Youth Stat to interrupt the cycle of gun violence among teens, and implemented the use of restorative practices. Cicarella said the school district had not lost one student to gun violence since Youth Stat started. “We have trained professional security officers and SROs equipped to deal with such an unfortunate situation should it ever occur,” Birks said. “I would never want teachers put in a situation to defend themselves in that way.” New Haven Police Chief Anthony Campbell echoed Birks’ sentiment suggesting that he wouldn’t want to put his officers in a position to have to distinguish armed teachers from a perpetrator in a school shooting. He said the police department has worked closely with other city officials and Birks on school safety in the last five to seven months. None of what they’ve considered involves arming teachers. He predicted that school districts that go down the path of arming school staff will have tragic results partly because teachers will not have the 80 hours of training that people in the police academy in Connecticut receive on how to use a weapon and how to keep it in their possession. “Who’s to say that a student wouldn’t disarm a teacher?” he said. “It’s just not a good idea.” After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut went on to pass some of the toughest gun reform

laws in the country instead of arming teachers. And Jeremy Stein, executive director of CT Against Gun Violence, said because of those actions the state now has some of the lowest gun death rates in the country. “We proved what study after study has proven, that strong gun laws save lives and we did it without arming a single teacher,” he said. “Why did we decide not to arm a single teacher? Because we looked at actual facts and evidence to support that decision. Studies show that guns don’t make us safer. If that were true the U.S. would be the safest place on the planet because we own more guns, by far than any other country in the world.” DeLauro said the members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation all are against arming teachers but she said DeVos has indicated that she believes it is up to Congress to specifically bar the use of federal education funding for such purposes and that current statute allows flexibility for states. “We don’t preclude localities from doing what they want to do but these are federal funds,” DeLauro said. “If she doesn’t understand it, and I’ll be flip—sometimes she doesn’t understand it. If she doesn’t understand it, let us make it perfectly clear to Secretary DeVos, what she can and cannot do. “She threw it in the hand of Congress,” DeLauro added, “well those of us who are elected officials are the Congress. Let’s stop it.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

Murphy Rallies Women’s Health Troops by ALLISON PARK

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

“Democracy is on the ballot” this November, and advocates for women’s health need to make their voices heard. Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy delivered that message Friday afternoon in a discussion with local women’s rights activists at mActivity Fitness Center on Nicoll Street. He and others argued that women’s health hangs in the balance of the current confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as well as in the general election. At stake: The erosion or dismantling of Roe v. Wade and Obamacare. As the weeks close leading up to the midterm elections, Murphy said the “best thing we can do” is to help people “understand the stakes” and convince friends who voted in the 2016 presidential election to show up to the midterm election as well. New Haven State Rep. Robyn Porter suggested that “disgruntled [Trump] voters” should also be targeted for the election this November. “Democracy is actually on the ballot,” said Murphy, who is running for reelection this year and is regularly mentioned a potential future Democratic presidential contender. There will be “some real practical consequences” in the midterm elections, Murphy said. He declared that he has faith that “voices are getting louder.” Murphy and NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut Executive Director Sarah Croucher opened up the floor to the 18 Connecticutbased women’s health advocates and health care providers in attendance. Murphy emphasized the importance of calling senators. “Washington is an ecosystem,” he said, “everybody hears what’s going on in

everybody else’s office.” In a shared office space with a front desk “within audible distance of” Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s front desk, Murphy said, he saw firsthand that during the repeal Affordable Care Act, the “volume level [of incoming phone calls] was just so big” that “they just couldn’t avoid it any longer.” NARAL’s Croucher called allowing women to purchase contraception without co-pays through the Affordable Care Act “a game changer.” She cited than the level of unintended pregnancies “dramatically decline[d]” because of the lowered financial barriers in accessing contraception. Croucher said that this policy change supporting women’s reproductive health allowed them to “better plan their lives” and have more “economic security.” State Rep. Porter made the point that a black women disproportionately face hardships when it comes to general and reproductive health. She noted that “243 percent more black women than white women are dying.” She spoke of how fake women’s health clinics covert pro-life organizations that encourage women against legal abortion “prey on women of color and immigrants.” “We can talk the truth to combat the rhetoric” and “bring humanity back into this argument,” Porter said. Among the younger women in attendance was Yale Law School student Kayla Morin. She connected Murphy’s words to her work at the Yale Law School Reproductive Rights and Justice Project. Morin said the clinic is a “mix of policy and litigation” that allows for “direct client work” and a “hands-on experience.”

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

The recent unauthorized use of a city credit card has prompted the Harp administration to use technology to keep a closer eye on who is charging what. Mayor Toni Harp was joined by her budget and finance team at City Hall Tuesday to announce that the city is now using real-time electronic monitoring of the credit cards issued to seven people in her administration. Three of those cardholders were present Tuesday: the mayor, City Controller Daryl Jones, and Purchasing Agent Michael Fumiatti. Other card holders include the mayoral deputy chief of staff, the human resources and benefits manager, the deputy information and technology director, and the carousel events coordinator for the parks and recreations department. A veteran government employee was fired last month after a routine audit of the monthly credit card statement revealed over $11,000 in unauthorized charges to a city credit card. Harp said Tuesday that the audit prompted an internal review of how cityissued credit cards are protected and billing statements reviewed. The unauthorized charges were discovered during a routine audit that showed that $11,088.15 in charges were made for room and board at a local

motel, mostly during the month of July. The charges were made on a card issued to Mayoral Deputy Chief of Staff Patti Lawlor, who was out on sick leave and could not have made the charges. Harp said she couldn’t discuss the incident because it remains under police investigation, but she emphasized that the unauthorized use was an “isolated occurrence” and that it was discovered in “a timely fashion using review procedures the city already has in place.” But it did prompt the city to begin using real-time monitoring of card usage and billing statements as “an extra layer of scrutiny to ensure that every single credit card charge is appropriately authorized and accurately audited,” she said. The credit cards are used as part of a statewide purchasing card, or P-Card, program provided by the state Department of Administrative Services and administered by J.P. Morgan Chase. The city is one of 21 participating municipalities in the program. New Haven has been part of the program since 2012, said Controller Jones. He noted that New Haven has the distinction of having spent the most through the program. In 2017, the city spent about $2 million, half of which was for one of the city’s print management programs, a bill that is over $1 million, he said.

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Advertising/Sales Team Trenda Lucky Keith Jackson Delores Alleyne John Thomas, III

Editorial Team Staff Writers

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ALLISON PARK PHOTO

Robyn Porter and Chris Murphy at mActivity.

Credit Card Charges To Get ‘Real-Time’ Review by MARKESHIA RICKS

John P. Thomas

But Jones was quick to point out that the program requires that the city pay its credit card bills in full every month so that it accrues no interest charges. There is a rebate component to the program, and the city has received about $90,000 back over the last four years, Jones said. He estimates that by the end of 2018, the city could earn at least another $20,000 in rebate money that will go directly to a miscellaneous line item in the current budget. Budget Director Michael Gormany said that the city isn’t using the credit cards to spend money it doesn’t have, but as a more streamlined way to pay for that which has already been budgeted. Jones added that the city accrues “soft dollar savings” by not issuing checks and generally being more efficient. Gormany said in addition to reducing the number of individual checks the city writes, the purchasing card program allows the city to avoid delayed payments to vendors and ensures that individual charges are applied to the appropriate city department and covered by the appropriate budget line for that department. “We are increasingly using the P-card account for big-ticket expenses like utilities and we’re increasingly eligible for rebates that amount to tens of thousands of dollars,” he said. “But there are no additional charges to the taxpayers. These are all charges al-

ready budgeted within the budget.” City Purchasing Agent Fumiatti said each of the aforementioned department heads is issued a card in their name and they are responsible for keeping it safe and secure. Lawlor’s original card was canceled and she has been issued a new one. What cardholders have now that they didn’t before is individual access to the J.P. Morgan website so that they can review their account status. Also, administration officials like Controller Jones and the city’s chief administrative officer have access and can review charges at any time. “We are actually going to utilize an even more robust program that is provided to us as one of the largest users in the state,” Fumiatti said. “The bills are secure and electronic and they come in a timely fashion so they can be reviewed and appropriately charged. With that said, all of the city’s procurement policies and procedures must be followed as if officials were buying anything else for any other means. “It’s meant to be more efficient, but not a shortcut,” Fumiatti added. Gormany said thanks to the fraud protection that comes with the program, the city has already recovered $9,000 of the $11,000 and Jones said the city expects to get the rest back.

_______________________

Contributors At-Large

Christine Stuart www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass New Haven Independent www.newhavenindependent.org

Memberships

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More School Closures Loom THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

that go down the path of arming Studies show that guns don’t make us school staff will have tragic results safer. If that were true the U.S. would partly because teachers will not have be the safest place on the planet bethe 80 hours of training that people cause we own more guns, by far than in the police academy in Connecticut any other country in the world.” DeLauro said the members of Conreceive on how to use a weapon and necticut’s congressional delegation how to keep it in their possession. “Who’s to say that a student wouldn’t all are against arming teachers but disarm a teacher?” he said. “It’s just she said DeVos has indicated that she believes it is up to Congress to specifinot a good idea.” After the Sandy Hook Elementary cally bar the use of federal education School shooting in Newtown, Con- funding for such purposes and that necticut went on to pass some of the current statute allows flexibility for toughest gun reform laws in the coun- states. try instead of arming teachers. And “We don’t preclude localities from Jeremy Stein, executive director of doing what they want to do but these CT Against Gun Violence, said be- are federal funds,” DeLauro said. “If cause of those actions the state now she doesn’t understand it, and I’ll be CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO Carol Birks and Jamell Cotto: Get ready for another budget has some of the lowest gun death rates flip—sometimes she doesn’t underdeficit. stand it. If she doesn’t understand it, in the country. ing about arming a teacher with a gun said the police department has worked “We proved what study after study let us make it perfectly clear to Secrerather than arming them to meet the closely with other city officials and has proven, that strong gun laws save tary DeVos, what she can and cannot needs of students ... is just unconscio- Birks on school safety in the last lives and we did it without arming a do. nable,” she said. She also noted that five to seven months. None of what single teacher,” he said. “Why did we “She threw it in the hand of Conit sends a terrible message to students they’ve considered involves arming decide not to arm a single teacher? gress,” DeLauro added, “well those about whether the people who are re- teachers. Because we looked at actual facts of us who are elected officials are the SCSU_GOH_InnerCity_5.472x5.1.qxp_Layout 1 9/6/18 11:36 Page 1 Congress. Let’s stop it.” sponsible for helping them become He predicted that school districts and evidence to support that AM decision. productive members of society don’t trust and believe in them. Birks said if the federal government wants to give school district like New Join us for an opportunity to meet Haven more money for social-emowith graduate faculty in more than tional supports like school psycholo40 areas of study in education, gists and social workers, to help with STEM and reading, she’ll take it. But business, health and human services, schools in Connecticut don’t need and the arts and sciences. Visit our money for armed teachers. campus and explore the possibilities David Cicarella, president of the New of graduate education at Southern. Haven Federation of Teachers, pointed out that New Haven city and school • Speak with faculty and officials have actively tried to reduce gun violence. admissions representatives He noted that New Haven has a gun • Engage with current graduate buy-back program, youth engagement students programs, launched a program called Thursday, • Explore financial aid Youth Stat to interrupt the cycle of October 4, 2018 gun violence among teens, and impleopportunities 3 - 7 PM mented the use of restorative prac• Take an optional tour Adanti Student tices. Cicarella said the school district of our campus had not lost one student to gun vioCenter lence since Youth Stat started. Ballroom “We have trained professional secuTo register, rity officers and SROs equipped to visit SouthernCT.edu/ deal with such an unfortunate situation should it ever occur,” Birks said. gradadmissions/open house “I would never want teachers put in a situation to defend themselves in that way.” New Haven Police Chief Anthony Campbell echoed Birks’ sentiment suggesting that he wouldn’t want to put his officers in a position to have to distinguish armed teachers from a perpetrator in a school shooting. He

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

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NEW HAVEN, CT — Libertarian lawyers have resumed their search for parents upset by the closure of one magnet high school in New Haven — in order to file a suit that could bring down the entire magnet program statewide. Attorneys for the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), a Sacramento-based firm that strategically litigates cases to reduce the size of government, showed up in New Haven again last week, trying to find plaintiffs who could overturn the state’s primary desegregation initiative. The attorneys held an information session at the main branch of New Haven’s Free Public Library to recruit parents who feel that racial bias motivated the closure of Cortlandt V.R. Creed Health & Sports Sciences High School this spring. In the basement of the Ives Library, PLF’s team of largely white attorneys described the technicalities of civil-rights law, while across the table, a group of black moms fumed about the limited educational opportunities the state offers to minority children. The event was hosted by the Connecticut Parents Union. Gwen Samuel, a former paraprofessional in New Haven’s Head Start program, said she put the event together with PLF’s attorneys to educate parents on the state’s desegregation program, which she said has resulted in some students being denied seats in magnet schools because of their race — an unintended consequence of efforts to increase those options. PLF has already filed a case in Hartford based on those claims. The lead plaintiff, LaShawn Robinson, said Thursday that her son was first on the waiting list for his top-choice school, but the district chose to leave the desk empty rather skew toward a racial imbalance. PLF argues that violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights to equal protection under the law. (The plaintiffs in Sheff also say they oppose leaving desks empty. “The state currently places a cap on the number of magnet school seats, which has led to empty seats at magnet schools and too many students on waiting lists,” said Martha Stone, executive director of the Center for Children’s Advocacy, who’s been fighting the case since the beginning. “The school lottery system is not the culprit, and the Robinson lawsuit is disingenuous and threatens to reverse the gains to address racial inequalities in Hartford. The parents and advocates behind Sheff oppose the empty seats and have repeatedly returned to the court to force the State to do more by expanding capacity at the magnet schools to meet student demand.”) The attorneys are now looking to see if they can mount another challenge outside Hartford, and Creed, a inter-district magnet school since 2013, appears to be their primary target. Connecticut largely built its inter-district magnet program in response to Sheff v. O’Neill, a landmark 1996 ruling by the state Supreme Court finding that racial isolation in Hartford-area schools prevented students

Gwen Samuel

from achieving a substantially equal educational opportunity. The state helped build new magnet schools like Creed to offer more opportunities for quality integration. But as in the case of Creed, that ended up meaning that sometimes white suburbanites got picked over black suburbanites to meet new racial quotas. The lawyers who originally filed Sheff, from the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Children’s Advocacy Center, said they agree the state still needs to do more. But they think the remedy should be toughening the state’s response to Sheff, rather than overturning the precedent it set. The inter-district magnet schools receive extra money from the state in the hopes that their new buildings and expanded curriculum will attract white kids from the suburbs to sit alongside black and brown kids from host cities. According to a law passed last year, Sheff’s benchmarks now apply statewide. All magnet schools across the state are now supposed to be at least 25 percent white, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American or some combination of those races by 2020. In May, New Haven’s Board of Education voted to close Creed. Faced with a massive $19.4 million budget deficit, Superintendent Carol Birks recommended shuttering the school because the State Department of Education (SDE) had threatened it with financial penalties for not making any substantive progress toward racial diversity. At the time of its closure, fewer than onetenth of the students were white. The SDE said it planned to deduct $121,000 from its payment this year and de-magnetize the school entirely if its demographics continued to slide. PLF started snooping around the school after the vote. One parent, Catherine Lawson, the mother of a biracial son, initially volunteered to be the face of a lawsuit, but she pulled out. (She did not return a phone

Tom Ficklin / photo

call last week.) Altogether, Oliver Dunford, PLF’s attorney, said he’d nearly snagged 15 potential plaintiffs from Creed, but each one eventually changed their mind. “We are interested in bringing a lawsuit against that law, the statewide expansion,” Joshua Thompson, one of PLF’s attorneys, said on Thursday. “If you know mothers or families that want to their kids to attend magnet schools but they’re on a waitlist or for whatever reason they can’t get in, have them contact us.” Most of the women at the meeting were from other cities, like Hartford, Waterbury and Meriden; aside from two journalists, the only Elm City resident present was a former alder, Brenda Foskey-Hill. But while the meeting didn’t yield any clients immediately, the parents talked about why they feel the inter-district magnet program hurts their children, who are stuck in neighborhood schools. “There’s no pressure to integrate into the failing schools, right? And there’s no pressure to have a certain number of black children in the suburban schools, right?” asked Athena Wagner, a Waterbury mom. “So this whole thing is discriminatory, racially unbalanced to the core?” “Absolutely,” said Thompson. He said that Sheff’s proponents often point to the fact that about half of the students in Hartford now attend a magnet school, but he argued that leaves the neighborhood schools more racially isolated than ever before. Thompson said that PLF is hoping to bypass state precedent by bringing the case right to federal court. “Connecticut Supreme Court had their chance,” he said. “They’ve been litigating this for 30 years. It’s time to get a resolution under the [U.S.] Constitution.” The organizations who originally challenged the constitutionality Hartford’s school system said they too are disappointed with the state’s slow progress toward integration. The Sheff attorneys admit Con’t on page 08

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

Soulful Sydney Springs To Life by Lucy Gellman, Editor, The Arts Paper

Through the sun-soaked gates of the Gratitude Garden. By the Field of Forgiveness. Along the generous, lush edge of Camp Kindness. Never a moment to stop over in Belly Acres Farm, where things might go awry. Soulful Sydney and her new friend are on a roll. That’s the roadmap Mariam Azeez and Terry Murphy envisioned for Soulful Sydney Explores Diversity, the first story in a new series intended to teach diversity and inclusion to readers across both Connecticut and the United States. After releasing the book in May, the two are working to spread the word this summer, in the hope of breaking through a partisan divide with a buoyant, brightly illustrated tale of friendship. In the soulful world, the story opens on our bright-eyed, perpetually smiling heroine Sydney, her face pressed to the window as a new family moves in next door. She gets her first glimpses of them: a woman in a long red dress and headscarf, her daughter strolling through the front yard to check out the neighborhood. A tight purple scarf is fixed around her head and shoulders. Sydney bounds outside to meet them.

Her summer sundress flaps in the wind. But she has a problem: from the lawn, her dog Max turns angry, and growls. His fear of unfamiliar things, Sydney explains to the neighbor, sometimes gets the best of him. In an attempt to help, the neighbor begins to explain the headscarf. “A hijab can seem like something strange But talking about it helps people—and dogs!—to change!” For the duo, the story began in the real world with the birth of Murphy’s granddaughter Sydney, Mariam’s budding interest in poetry and writing, and a meeting of the minds at the Al Hedaya Islamic Center. While Murphy had had the character in mind for a while—she and a friend had dreamt up the “Soulful Forest” some time ago— it wasn’t until she met Miriam that she had a sense of where to go with the book, and who to write the prose with. An 11-year-old from Newton, Conn. Azeez is Muslim, and wears a tightfitting hijab and long-sleeved clothing for religious reasons. Murphy is resident of Southbury, who visited the center for the first time over a year

SCSU’S ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT CHIEF TO BE RECOGNIZED BY NAACP FOR ‘100 MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACKS IN CONN’ DISTINCTION

NEW HAVEN – , associate vice president for enrollment management at Southern Connecticut State University, was recently designated as one of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut by the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP Branches. Sass has more than 30 years of experience in public higher education. Before coming to SCSU three years ago, she served as the chief enrollment management official at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va. She previously held leadership positions in the area of institutional research at Norfolk State. “At Southern, we are dedicated to making higher education a reality for students from all backgrounds, thanks to a university-wide commitment to social justice,” Sass said. “With this recognition by the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP branches, I feel an even higher calling of responsibility to serve my students and my community.” Sass will be officially recognized at an awards reception on Sept. 22 at Foxwoods Resort Casino. She holds a Ph.D. in education (with a specialization in leadership for higher

Terricita Sass education) from Capella University in Minneapolis. She earned an M.A. degree in urban affairs at Norfolk State University, and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C. Sass also earned two post-master’s degree certificates in enrollment management, as well as having completed leadership training at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Center for Creative Leadership.

WNHH Radio Host Mubarakah Ibrahim with author Mariam Azeez.

Lucy Gellman Photo.www.newhavenarts.org

ago. Raised Catholic, she recalled a certain level of discomfort on that first visit, walking into a world she hadn’t known before. It melted away when she met Azeez’ mother, who runs programming at the center and offered to answer her questions. The two became fast friends, Murphy learning about Mariam’s interests in poetry as she got to know the family. Just months later, she and Mariam had become email pen pals, sending lines of prose back and forth during the coldest weeks of the year. For Mariam, who has been writing seriously since 2015, it led to a sort of satisfaction she hadn’t experienced before. “I believe children are not filtered the same way adults are,” she said of writing through a young girl’s lens. “Children don’t care what you look like. They just want to play with you.” They had a system: Mariam would send a few lines to Murphy, Murphy would ping her back, and Mariam would send a few more lines. When they felt like there was enough for a manuscript, they brought in Murphy’s sister Deborah Clarke, a teacher in Maryland, for editing help and feedback. While both consider the theme nonpartisan, Murphy said that exploring religious diversity seemed to fit, in part, because “Muslims are being beaten up” across the country, and barred from its borders on the basis of their faith. From a Muslim main character, she and Mariam also wrote in students at “Diversity University” of Jewish, Bahá’í, Buddhist and other backgrounds. From a societal point of view, I can’t stay quiet anymore,” she said by phone

in a recent interview. “Everyone has a way of saying their truth, and this is my truth as a Caucasian Christian woman with a certain level of privilege.” After gathering steam in January, the two finished a manuscript in April, and had the first copies in their hands by May. In an effort to spread its message, they have sent it to several politicians on both sides of the aisle, receiving recognition from U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal. Earlier this month, the two also gave copies of the book to March For Our Lives founding member Emma González, who visited Newtown in August as the last stop on a March For Our Lives tour. After watching González take a stand against gun violence in the wake of last year’s school shooting in Parkland, Flo., Mariam had written her into the book. She said that meeting her, which ended in a hug and photo session, has been one of the best experiences to come out of the book. Now, the two are working on a second book “about kindness” with Soulful Sydney and a young male protagonist who is Black and Latino. As a young woman of color, Mariam said that character comes from her own recognition that incidents of racism and discrimination, on the rise in this country, are “not just about Muslims—it’s about anybody that looks different.” Murphy said she’s also thinking about the real-life Sydney—and the example she wants to set for her. “I want to leave behind a world that’s better than I got here,” she said. “It’s important for me to leave behind a series … that my grandchildren are going to believe in equality, justice, and freedom.”

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Anti-Deseg

that the state’s magnet program does not help kids who are stuck in neighborhood schools, but they say that’s why they’re continuing to fight in court. “We’re still as angry as we were in 1989, when Sheff was filed, because we still fundamentally believe that the civil rights issue in all of these cases is the fact that black and Latino children continue to not have access to quality, integrated schools,” said Cara McClellan, a Skadden Fellow at NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund. “That’s what we’ve been fighting for 22 years at this point,” since the Supreme Court’s decision, “ creating more access and more remedies through Sheff for segregated schools. We’re not giving up on that.” Along with lawyers from the ACLU and the Center for Children’s Advocacy, McClellan will be returning to court over the next few months to defend Sheff’s original holding. Before a federal judge, they’ll argue that PLF’s lawsuit challenging Sheff’s remedies should be handled in state court, since the case is rooted in the state constitution’s guarantees of a substantially equal educational opportunity, not federal rights. And later this winter, before a state judge, they’ll continue the ongoing litigation in Sheff to ask the state to establish a longterm plan to set sustainable funding levels for the inter-district magnet schools in the cities and open choice slots in the suburbs, after repeated mid-year budget cuts to both programs. They’ll also echo the same complaints from the moms who met in New Haven about how to reach students in neighborhood schools. “The fact that 50 percent of black and Latino students [are now enrolled in magnet schools] is great,” McClellan added. “It’s a huge improvement, but we’re not done.” Other advocates said the most effective way to continue integrating schools is by expanding Sheff. “We are not fighting to keep seats open or to close schools. We are fighting to require the state of Connecticut to make available to all students the opportunity to attend high-quality, integrated schools,” said Dennis Parker, director of the ACLU’s racial justice program. “Closing schools and leaving seats empty is the result of policies that limit funding to schools or that fail to provide the resources necessary to create and maintain the highest quality schools for all students.” PLF’s attorneys have said that they don’t want to touch Sheff’s core ruling that a segregated education violates students rights;

they’ve said they just want to overturn the state’s way of remedies, its inter-district magnet school program and its racial isolation benchmarks. McClellan said that argument doesn’t make sense to her. “It doesn’t mean anything to me. There’s no right without a remedy. The case has no meaning without actual integration impacting kids,” she said. “This is not a theoretical case; it practically impacts over 22,000 children. Sheff is nothing without a remedy

that impacts kids.”

HBCU Millennials Energized to Vote THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

By Lauren Poteat, NNPA Newswire Washington Correspondent

During the contentious 2016 presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, voter turnout still proved to be at an all-time low among students who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). In a report released by Tufts University, 2016 voter turnout plummeted by more than 10 points at HBCUs — from 50.5 percent to 39.9 percent. Only two-years after the election of the very controversial and confrontational President Donald Trump, Kamau Marshall, Director of African American Media and Deputy National Press Secretary,Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), says that HBCU students are more active and energized to get their vote out and let their voices be heard than ever. Energizing this voting block will make a difference to the outcome of several very important contests this November. “With the Fall semester kicking off, there is a lot of momentum surrounding this very political climate,” Marshall said. “With November elections right around the corner, HBCU students are playing an active and important role when it comes to voting and voter registration.” Believing in hope and the possibility of change, many historically Black insti-

tutions across the nation are taking the reins when it comes to increasing voter awareness and registration among their student body. For example, Howard University, located in the heart of the nation’s capital, registered over 1,200 new voters during the month of August. “The more you get involved, the more your voice matters,” Amos Jackson III, president of the Howard Student Government Association (SGA) said. “That’s why it’s was so important for us to heavily promote voter registration. During our August Freshmen move-in day, we were able to register hundreds of new voters.” “There are a lot of issues up for debate, including higher education costs, gun reform and scholarship budgets, that directly affect millennials,” Jackson continued. “So, when people say that their vote doesn’t count, that’s definitely not true. Your vote matters.” Howard provides both new and returning students valuable information, including handouts on absentee ballots and voter choices. Howard students are also encouraged to sign up for a service known as “TurboVote,” an app that sends notifications about upcoming elections, an initiative whose success comes as no surprise to Marshall. “HBCU students are ready to support whoever has their best interest at heart,” Marshall said. “As an HBCU alum—

Photo Credit: ©Jenny Wallace / The American Prospect

The race will be one of the most closely watched contests this November, since DeSantis has tied himself to President Donald Trump and defeated other more establishment Republicans. However, Gillum, a firm believer in Medicare for all, has the backing of progressives like Bernie Sanders and the Black community, who were largely responsible for his upset win during the state’s Democratic primary. In the state of Georgia, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Channel 2 Action News pollshowed that Democrat Stacey

history shows that HBCU students have always been engaged when it comes to the political process. The difference is always with likable candidates.” In states like Florida and Georgia, HBCU participation is at an all-time high, as students and other citizens eagerly await the hopeful election of productive new governors. In the state of Florida, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Democratic, hopes to become the state’s first Black governor in his campaign against Republican Rep. Rob DeSantis.

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Abrams, who is African American, and Republican Brian Kemp are deadlocked in their race at 45 percent each. Contests like those in Florida and Georgia are ammunition to Michelle Obama’s “When We All Vote,” campaign, which recently announced a series of upcoming “When We All Vote” rallies, targeting students at three HBCUs: Clark Atlanta, Morehouse and Spelman. “There is no time more important than now to be civically engaged and to exercise our right to vote,” Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman said in a statement. “Spelman students have been registering their classmates to vote since August—signing up more than one third of our first-year class as soon as they stepped on campus. We are excited about the energy and advocacy ‘When We All Vote’ will bring to the Atlanta University Center.” Though off-year elections are often seen as less important than those held during Presidential election cycles, Marshall insists that voting during this time November is just as important, particularly for Black millennials. Voting impacts people’s everyday lives, including the cost of healthcare, investments in job-creation and community issues like gun violence prevention,” Marshall said. “It’s critical to vote now—in particular—because it’s clear that Republican-controlled Washington is not on the side of regular people, and we need a check and balance.” “It’s not just the president that can impact issues you care about, it’s also Congress,” Marshall continued. “No one can take anything for granted and we need everyone to turn out on November 6th.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

CBCF Prepares for 48th Legislative Conference in DC By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Contributor

Two senators: Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sen. Kamala Harris of California will serve as honorary co-chairs for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc.’s 48th Annual Legislative Conference scheduled Sept. 12 through Sept. 16 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C. It will mark the first time that co-chairs will come from the Senate. Historically, members of the U.S. House of Representatives have served that role. The premier conference, which annually attracts nearly 10,000 people from across the world and is the only event of its kind in the United States, will have the theme, “The Dream Still Demands Courage, Resilience, Leadership and Legislation.” The five-day conference offers more than 90 forums on public policy issues affecting Black Americans. “For more than 40 years, the Annual Legislative Conference has provided an extraordinary platform for people – domestic and abroad – to come together and discuss vital issues related to social justice, leadership, economic prosperity, entrepreneurship and much more,” Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the chair of the CBCF board of directors, said in a statement. “As we continue to grow and expand the conference, we know that we must be unwavering in our approach to have the difficult conversations, elevate debates about the state of Black America, and also define new and innovative solutions.”

The impact of civil and social movements over the last 50 years has played a major role in changing the trajectory of American history, CBCF officials said. This year’s theme focuses on the influence and legacy of these moments, while uplifting present-day champions in the fight for racial equality, justice and freedom. “As we approach the 48th year of hosting the Annual Legislative Conference, we find ourselves in a critical time where, now more than ever, diverse voices are imperative to the future of this nation,” said A. Shuanise Washington, president and CEO of the CBCF. “We must rise to meet the demands of the moment and capitalize on actionable outcomes that will advance black Americans and move this country forward.” During the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to delve into important conversations with industry leaders from across the globe on public health, gender equality, social mobility, LGBTQ rights and environmental sustainability, among many other topics. The conference provides a safe haven for Black Americans to contribute their experiences, knowledge, and opinions to a larger, national dialogue, Washington said. “The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference is among the most important annual gatherings for Black Americans, and I am honored to lead its 48th convening with Senator Harris,” Booker said. “The Conference theme, ‘The Dream Still Demands,’ presents an important opportu-

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sen. Kamala Harris of California nity for our community to lead the national dialogue on so many pressing issues, from fixing our broken criminal justice system to creating economic opportunities for communities of color,” he said. “We have so many urgent challenges that must be addressed, and I’m looking forward to hearing from all of the incredible leaders who will be participating in the conference.” The Annual Legislative Conference is also a time to network and enjoy connecting with a diverse group of individuals, officials said.

Networking and special events include the Exhibit Showcase with an on-site employment fair and free health screenings; the Prayer Breakfast; National Town Hall; Gospel Extravaganza; the Annual Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts, which honors the contributions of individuals in the performing and visual arts who have influenced our history and inspired generations; and the culminating event, the Phoenix Awards Dinner, which supports the CBCF’s mission-critical programs including education, economic development, health and research.

“The Annual Legislative Conference, over nearly five decades, has brought together some of the country’s greatest leaders, innovators, and job creators to address the most pressing issues facing black America,” Harris said. “This year is no exception. The conference will provide a platform to advocate for the voiceless, the vulnerable, and all who believe in fulfilling the American promise of equality and justice for all. I look forward to confronting these issues head on and working to create solutions that will lead to lasting change.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

Cicely Tyson becomes first Black woman to receive Honorary Oscar By Defender News Service

Cicely Tyson is finally bringing home the gold. The 93-year-old actress was named this week as the recipient of an honorary Oscar, making her the first black woman to gain that distinction, according to Essence and People. Tyson has won a Tony, two Emmys and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, but an Academy Award had escaped the performer in a legendary career. She lost the only time she was nominated for best actress, in 1973 for the sharecropper drama “Sounder.” But she has won plenty of acclaim elsewhere, such as for TV productions like “Roots” and “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.”

Some of her notable big-screen credits include “The River Niger,” “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” “The Help,” “Alex Cross” and “Last Flag Flying.” Tyson began as a model and stage actress and got her big feature-film break in 1968’s “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.” Fifty years later, she is getting some overdue recognition by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oscar winner Viola Davis, with whom Tyson co-starred in “The Help” and on TV’s “How to Get Away With Murder,” spoke for many when she wrote on Instagram, “Beyond deserved!!!”

Black Wealth Still Plummeting

by Charlene Crowell, Featured, Financial Management, Precinct Reporter Group For years, and particularly in recent months, major news outlets have heralded the nation’s robust economic recovery. From rising corporate profits, to lower unemployment, or rising stock prices on Wall Street, many consumers might conclude that financial stability not only returned after the Great Recession but continues to climb. But for people of color, and specifically Black America, the state of the economy has not recovered. Instead of low unemployment, many who were laid off during the foreclosure crisis today are under-employed and cope with paychecks that that lead to more month than money. Recent college graduates remain living with their parents, often due to burdensome student debt that delays them setting up their own households. And according to a recent report by the Federal Reserve, a single $400 unexpected expense led to borrowing, selling something or not being able to pay for four in 10 adults last year. These seldom unacknowledged financial disparities emerged during testimony at a Capitol Hill hearing on August 21. A subcommittee of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions heard and learned about how a history of economic exclusion, combined with a more recent wealth shift to the top 10 percent of income earners, leads to a bleak financial future for people of color. Scott Astrada, Federal Advocacy Director for the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), testified to the “fear, anxiety and despair facing millions of Americans as they look toward a financial future plagued with uncertainty and loss.” Citing data from multiple and recent research reports, Astrada noted a stillgrowing economic divide that has worsened since the Great Recession. Today, the wealthiest 10 percent now own 76 percent of the nation’s wealth, and the median net worth of Blacks and Latinx are respectively $11,000 and $14,000. Further, the May 2018 Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2017, found that fewer than 40 percent of adults feel they are on track to retire with adequate savings, and 25 percent have no retirement savings at all. “For households of color, the Great Recession erased the economic progress made over the past three decades in their entirety,” said Astrada. “If current trends continue, it will take 228 years for the average Black family to reach the level of wealth White families own today. For the average Latinx family, matching the wealth of White families will take 84 years.” “Ultimately,” Astrada continued, “if current

trends continue Black household wealth is on the path to hit zero by 2053.” Two long-standing federal policies were cited as key components to today’s financial disparities: government-backed mortgages and Social Security. Both federal programs, according to Astrada, have a sordid history of discrimination that brought long-lasting and significantly diminished and deliberate federal efforts to diminish the financial well-being of Black Americans. In 1935, the year that Social Security began as a financial safety net for older Americans, the New Deal program excluded domestic and farm workers. Representing nearly a third of the nation’s workforce in the 1930s, these Americans were also largely people of color. A 2017 publication jointly released by Prosperity Now and the Institute for Policy Studies, The Road to Zero Wealth, tallied that long-time economic exclusion to be approximately $143 billion in 2016 dollars. Fast forward to 2018, and generations of lower wages and benefits translates into nearly a third of Black retirees relying solely upon Social Security as the sole source of retirement income for more than half of retirees for all races. Similarly from 1934 to 1968, widespread redlining in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) low-down payment, government-backed mortgages denied Blacks and other people of color opportunities to build and transfer wealth from one generation to another. During this 34-year span, only two percent of FHA mortgages were available to people of color. In just one city, Chicago, this three-decade exclusion shortchanged Black Chicagoans by $3 billion in 2017 dollars.” “The harm of homeownership disparities,” added Astrada, “is especially clear when considering that two-thirds of the net wealth that is held by the middle 60 percent of families is in the form of home equity, resulting from, among other factors, invested wealth and appreciation.” The lack of convenient access to fullservice banking was identified by Astrada is a third factor diminishing Black wealth. Communities of color, particularly those with low-incomes, frequently lack access to traditional banking. Often these same communities are where high-cost, alternative financial services offering checkcashing, money orders, or payday loans sell their predatory products. “Individuals cannot simply save and borrow as necessary to smooth dips and spikes without access to affordable and wealth building credit,” said Astrada. “Predatory lending ensnares families already in emergency situations.” Since the onset of the Trump Administration, multiple federal agencies such as the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have emphasized the need for more consumer information. Although a 2017 report by Prudential Financial, Inc. entitled, The Financial Wellness of America, found that a majority of Con’t on page 14

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

New Miss America glad she didn’t have to don swimsuit to win By Defender News Service

Miss New York Nia Franklin reacts after being named Miss America 2019, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) The first woman to win the Miss America crown without having to don a swimsuit says she’s glad she didn’t have to. Nia Imani Franklin, who won the title Sunday night in Atlantic City while competing as Miss New York, said the changes in the 98-year-old are a welcome modernization. Meeting reporters soon after winning the crown, Franklin said she’s glad there was no swimsuit competition because it enabled her to eat a little more. “These changes, I think, will be great for our organization,” she said. “I’ve already seen so many young women reaching out to me personally as Miss New York asking how they can get involved because I think they feel more empowered that they don’t have to do things such as walk in a swimsuit for a scholarship. “And I’m happy that I didn’t have to do so to win this title tonight because I’m more than just that,” Franklin said. “And all these women onstage are more than just that.” Her victory Sunday night resurrected a string of successes the Empire State has had in the pageant in recent years. Mallory Hagan, Nina Davuluri and Kira Kazantsev won the title from 2013 to 2015 competing as Miss New York.

A classical vocalist whose pageant platform is “advocating for the arts,” Franklin sang an operatic selection from the opera La Boheme on Sunday night. She wrote her first song at age 5. It went “Love, love, love, love, is the only thing that matters to me, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.” At the prompting of an Associated Press reporter, she sang the song at her post-victory press conference as audience members snapped their fingers. Franklin won a $50,000 scholarship along with the crown in the first Miss America pageant to be held without a swimsuit competition. She said during her onstage interview that she was one of only a small number of minority students in school growing up, but used her love for music and the arts to grow and fit in. The fourth runner up was Miss Massachusetts Gabriela Taveras; third runner up was Miss Florida Taylor Tyson; second runner up was Miss Louisiana Holli’ Conway, and the first runner up was Miss Connecticut Bridget Oei. The judges narrowed the field of 51 candidates during the pageant Sunday night from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. The decision to drop the swimsuit competition created a good deal of controversy and criticism of current Miss America leadership. Minutes before the nationally televised broadcast began, a comedian warming up the crowd mentioned

that there would be no swimsuit competition this year, and was met with loud boos in the hall. The swimsuits were replaced by onstage interviews, which have generated attention-grabbing remarks from contestants regarding President Trump, and NFL player protests, among other topics. Behind the scenes, a revolt is underway among most of the Miss America state organizations who demand that national chairwoman Gretchen Carlson and CEO Regina Hopper resign. The former Miss America, Cara Mund, says the two have bullied and silenced her, claims that the women deny. Upon taking over at the helm of the Miss America Organization last winter following an email scandal in which former top leaders denigrated the appearance, intellect and sex lives of former Miss Americas, Carlson and Hopper set out to transform the organization, dubbing it “Miss America 2.0.” Unhappy with how the swimsuit decision was reached, as well as with other aspects of Carlson and Hopper’s performance, 46 of the 51 state pageant organizations (the District of Columbia is included) have called on the two to resign. Mund only appeared at the very end of the pageant before the next winner was crowned. She was not allowed to speak live; instead a 30-second taped segment of her speaking was broadcast.

Compromising VS Settling In A Relationship–What’s The Difference? Jasmine Turner, black love advocate, professional matchmaker, and founder of Black Match Made.

decision in the middle, there are three sure ways to know if you’re compromising or settling.

By Jasmine Turner All relationships require constant compromise. In fact, the most consistent relationship advice I’ve received from older women is “Choose your battles.” In other words, learn to compromise. We know long-term relationships require hard work. Anytime two unique people from different backgrounds decide to become one, both will have to give and take. The day to day compromises like choosing a TV show or deciding dinner usually won’t lead to an argument. Those decisions are easy. We also know what settling looks like in the extreme. For example, we wouldn’t consider staying in an abusive relationship a compromise. We know that’s settling. The challenge comes with the decisions in the middle where it’s not a day to day compromise or an extreme version of settling. And, it varies from person to person. A woman who really desires kids would be settling if she married a man who refuses to have children. On the other hand, a woman unsure about kids could find happiness with the same man. If you’re struggling with a

A compromise is in line with your belief system. Settling contradicts your beliefs. You had your own moral code before the relationship. You had your idea of right and wrong. You had your own ideologies and practices. These beliefs are at the core of your being and have made you the person you are. In a compromise, you’re not asked to go against your own value system. You’re not asked to accept behaviors or participate in activities you believe are morally wrong. If a relationship makes you feel convicted by your own beliefs, you’re probably settling. You might compromise with your partner on the place of worship you’ll attend. However, you’d be settling if your partner asked you not to attend worship at all. When you settle and go against your own belief system, you’ll eventually lose yourself. A compromise moves forward. Settling is giving up. In a compromise, both you and your partner should be heard. The goal is to come to an agreement that is beneficial to each other. You’re moving forward together with the best intentions for each other.

When you settle, you’re giving up. You know you deserve more and are being taken advantage of. You know you could do better but you accept whatever you can get because you no longer want to put in the effort to get your desired results. So, you give up. You settle. In time, you’ll regret this decision. When you settle for less than you deserve, you give up the opportunity to be your best

self. The relationship becomes routine and you’re there for time served. In reality, relationships should help you pursue your best. Compromise is mutual. Settling is onesided. Think of a traditional business deal. Both parties sit at the table to negotiate a deal where everybody wins. Neither would ac-

cept a deal only beneficial to the other party. It would even be an insult to propose a deal only beneficial to your own business. Compromise in a relationship should work the same. If you’re in a relationship with someone who always takes and never gives, you’re settling. Your relationship is one-sided. Healthy relationships are like good business deals; both partners win. Here’s the truth, everyone has settled at some point. It’s a decision made out of fear. Some women accept certain behaviors because they’re unsure they’ll meet someone else in the time frame they have in mind. Some men settle because of the time they’ve invested into a relationship. We assume something is better than nothing. That’s so far from the truth. When one partner settles, no one wins. Even when settling seems to work in the beginning, it usually ends with resentment. Compromise helps relationships grow. Settling is a sign that it’s time for a new relationship. Jasmine Turner is a black love advocate, professional matchmaker, and founder of Black Match Made, a nationwide matchmaking service. She’s a mix of southern charm and Chicago grit. Find her @ jasloveslove

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

Dallas cop who shot to death Botham Shem Jean has been identified by BlackmansStreet. Botham Shem Jean

The same cop was involved in a shooting last year in which a man was wounded The off-duty Dallas police officer who mistakenly walked into the wrong apartment, believing that was where she lived before shooting and killing Botham Shem Jean, the tenant, has been identified as Amber Guyger, the Dallas Morning News and social media are reporting. The Dallas Police Department has not officially identified Guyger, arrested or charged her with Jean’s murder, which occurred Thursday night. Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall said the Texas Rangers are in charge of the investigation, and they have asked the DPD to refrain from charging Guyger until they finish questioning her. The Dallas Police Department wants to charge her with manslaughter. Guyger, a four-year veteran of the police

department, was wearing her police uniform after having completed her shift. She went to the wrong apartment and attempted to open the door, which would not open. The 26-year-old Jean heard the commotion and opened the door. Guyger, believing he was a burglar, shot him. It is not known if any words were exchanged between the two or if Guyger just had a visceral reaction when she saw a black-male face staring back at her. Allison Jean, Botham’s mother, wondered if race played a role in the deadly shooting. “If he had been a white man, would things have turned out differently?”she asked. It was only after emergency medical technicians arrived that Guyger realized she was in the wrong apartment. Jean was pronounced dead at Baylor Medical Center. Social media said Guyger and Jean knew each other. A photograph of Jean with several women is posted on Facebook, but

Jean’s family lawyer said that none of the women is Guyger. The two did not know each other, he said. Police also confirmed the two weren’t acquainted. The Dallas Morning News reported that Guyger was involved in an earlier on-duty shooting incident when she shot Uvaldo Perez, 47, in 2017 after he wrestled away her taser. He was shot in the stomach and survived. Jean, a native of St. Lucia, had been working as an intern in risk assurance for accounting at Pricewaterhouse Coopers, an international accounting and consulting firm with offices in Dallas. He was a 2016 graduate of Harding University, a private Christian liberal arts university in Searcy, Arkansas. He earned degrees in accounting and business systems. Jean was also a member of the school’s campus ministry. Dallas West Church of Christ will hold funeral services for Jean on Thursday.

Botham Shem Jean, the tenant, has been identified as Amber

Amber Guyger

Dallas leaders’ proactive stance helps tamp down protest By Defender News Service

Dallas police swiftly admitted that a white officer who shot a black man in his own apartment last week had made a mistake. They expressed contrition, turned the case over to independent investigators and reached out to the victim’s family. That proactive approach appeared to tamp down anger in the community in the first few days after the killing on Sept. 6. There have been protests but not large-scale unrest since the death of Botham Jean, a native of the Caribbean island of St. Lucia who went to a Christian university in Arkansas and worked in Dallas for accounting firm PwC. The killing by officer Amber Guyger — who told officers she believed the victim’s apartment was her own could have led to an “explosive situation” on the streets, said Frederick Haynes, pastor of a Baptist church in Dallas and vice president of the African-American Pastors Coalition. Haynes praised the actions of Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall, who has been in her job only a year. “She has gone out of her way to communicate not only to the family but also to community leaders,” he said, “and as a consequence that has helped keep calm.” Killings of black men in recent years have prompted protests and sometimes violence in cities from Ferguson, Missouri, to Chi-

Protesters in the shooting death of Botham Jean, gather at the Jack Evans Police Headquarters, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018 in Dallas. Jean was shot Thursday by off-duty Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, who says she mistook his apartment for hers. (Shaban Athuman /The Dallas Morning News via AP) cago and Baltimore. Police departments across the country have scrutinized how others have reacted to learn how to manage in such times of crisis. University of Texas-Dallas criminologist and professor John Worrall said Dallas police officials have taken steps to keep their

work and data open to the public. “As big departments go throughout the country, I’ve been really surprised at how open they’ve been with their data,” Worrall said Tuesday. The shooting of Jean happened about 10 p.m. Thursday. Within seven hours, police

released a statement that the officer erred by entering Jean’s apartment. Hall then held a press conference early Friday afternoon during which she acknowledged that “there are more questions than we have answers,” but also said authorities were seeking to arrest Guyger for manslaughter. She said the officer’s blood was drawn at the scene to be tested for alcohol and drugs, and that the Texas Rangers would conduct an independent investigation. She added that she had spoken to Jean’s sister to express condolences to the family. Police released Guyger’s name on Saturday after local media began reporting it, and she was charged with manslaughter Sunday. By Monday, four days after the shooting, Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson gathered at a news conference with members of Jean’s family. “My commitment is that there’s always going to be equal justice in this county,” Johnson told reporters. She said a grand jury would hear the case and could decide on more serious charges. Not everyone is pleased with the response in Dallas. Lee Merritt, an attorney for the Jean family, said Guyger should have been arrested the night of the shooting and she should have left the apartment complex in handcuffs. Guyger was free until her arrest on Sunday. She posted bond and was released. Alex Piquero, professor of criminology

at the University of Texas at Dallas, said investigations can be a lengthy, laborious process that may not bring an immediate arrest. “Whether they charge the person five minutes after it happened, five hours or five days, the outcome is still the same, the charge happened,” Piquero told The Associated Press. The balance between police and the community is a delicate matter in Dallas, where five police officers were killed in 2016 by a gunman who was seeking revenge for police shootings elsewhere that killed or wounded black men. The shootings of the officers galvanized support for law enforcement. Dallas County also prosecuted former Balch Springs officer Roy Oliver, who was sentenced last month to 15 years in prison in the shooting death of a black teenager. Oliver, a white officer who responded to a house party last year, fired into a car filled with 15-year-old Jordan Edwards and other teens. Oliver had said he feared the car was moving toward and endangering his partner, prompting him to fire. Edwards, who was in the front passenger seat, was shot. Haynes, the Dallas pastor, said the Oliver case was an important step to instilling the notion that there’s equal justice in Dallas County, but he remains cautious. “I do believe we’re finally moving in a positive direction.”

NAACP On Kavanaugh’s Troubling Civil Rights Record “This Senate hearing on Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination should not go forward. The President is in personal legal jeopardy and only a fraction of Kavanaugh’s record has been produced. To proceed now threatens the legitimacy of the Senate’s constitutional review and the Supreme Court

itself. What we do know of Judge Kavanaugh’s civil rights record is deeply troubling. His views on voting rights, affirmative action, equal employment, fair housing, and criminal justice could shut the courthouse door on justice for a generation. Senators need to

fight this nomination with everything they have. There is simply too much at stake.” Read findings on Kavanaugh’s Civil Rights record Learn more about NAACP’s fight for fair judicial appointments

Watch President Johnson speak out on the importance of fair courts Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

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Housing Not Jails Breaks Through The Stigma by Lucy Gellman, Editor, The Arts Paper/ Blog www.newhavenarts.org

The market could be anywhere. A shiny white sign advertises the goods inside: milk and groceries, fried chicken and fish, cigarettes and lotto tickets. There are breakfast sandwiches still steaming somewhere past the counter. Big, bright posters of food wink out from the window, inviting the viewer closer. But something stops you from wanting to enter, unsure if everyone is welcome here. “NO LOITERING,” a sign above the doorway reads. “POLICE TAKE NOTICE.” The photograph, a close up of Dux Market in New Haven’s Dwight neighborhood, comes out of “The True Untold Stories of New Haven,” a new collection of photographs, poetry and short plays by Housing Not Jails, a collective of currently and formerly homeless New Haveners. Friday night, members of the grassroots group gathered for an exhibition and performance at Bregamos Community Theater in Fair Haven. Over 100 attended the event. The evening, billed as both an exhibition and fundraiser, was organized by the Connecticut Bail Fund with support from Planned Parenthood Of Southern New England (PPSNE), Via Arts, and artist Arvia Walker’s initiative Zora: The Coming Of The Sun. It raised $984 over the course of the evening, said Bail Fund Co-Founder and Co-Director Brett Davidson. He added that the group will be deciding together how to use that amount in a meeting this Thursday. Bail Fund Co-Founder and Co-Director Ana María Rivera-Forastieri said the event was a “long time in the making,” with discussions that began after a rally and march for housing and jobs in November of last year. In weekly support groups and general meetings that followed that rally, members honed in on a model of participatory defense, intended to empower individuals and families to know and better fight their cases. Members, some of whom have pending court cases, started talking about the city’s criminalization of poverty. Then in February or March of this year, they expressed interest in making art that told those stories. Their stories. In the spring, Housing Not Jails brought in Via Arts Director Kristianna Smith and Walker to help with photography, distributing disposable cameras and later developing the film. The group also branched out to theater, after members expressed interest

Photos by Lucy Gellman: Kevin Dasilva with one of his photographs, depicting Dux Market on Chapel Street, in New Haven’s Dwight neighborhood.

Melissa Wilson, one of the participants, said that her art is helping her cope with the death of two children and a subsequent relapse, from which she has since been in recovery. She said she is surviving, and making art, in part for her 16-year-old daughter. “I just wanna help people,” she said. “I think people don’t understand what it is to be homeless.”

Housing Not Jails collective member Winston Echols, a poet. At 56, he said he has

in showing audiences what homelessness looked like in New Haven and Connecticut, and how many forms it could take. Friday, performances included vignettes of “a day in the life,” alongside poetry and song that drew cheers and applause from the audience for almost an hour. (There is a video of the entire performance, including a discussion of policing houselessness at the New Haven Free Public Library, below). “How do we use these stories to advance a bigger agenda, which is ending homelessness in New Haven?” Rivera-Forastieri asked aloud after the performances had ended. She added that it’s a question the group is still working through as it thinks about future, larger-scale art projects and performances. As applause subsided and audience members mingled, several artists showed off their work, bright drawings dangling at the back of the room as photographs winked out from the walls. In one corner, Kevin Dasilva walked viewers through his work, a series of greyscale portraits depicting struggles with, as well as institutional reactions to, homelessness in New Haven. Born and raised in Bridgeport, Dasilva said he has experienced bouts of homelessness in Bridgeport, New Haven and Waterbury on and off for 27 years. He is currently living in an apartment with his wife, housing they secured after “I realized what I was missing was help.” He said they have been living there, settling into a new place, since late January. The images aren’t easy to stomach; Dasilva said he doesn’t intend for them to be. In one, a homeless man sleeps on a bench at a train station, cables criss-crossing high above him. In the foreground, his pillow—or is it his head?—is a shock of white. A plastic bottle, nearly empty, sits below. It’s not clear what season it is, but something about the ground looks cold and unforgiving. In another set also by Dasilva, a grainy, greyscale photograph of black, rolling suitcases sits atop a portrait of the library’s baggage policy, framed and installed in its entryways downtown. One rule reminds visitors that large baggage, bedrolls, and luggage carts are not allowed. Another reads that “A person’s belongings must fit under his/her chair.” For him, Dasilva said, it’s a sign that homeless people aren’t welcome inside. “I’m sending a message to the world, and to the community, to let them know that they’re not forgotten about,” he said. “A lot of people, they see these photos and they’re

Five Common Budgeting Errors and How to Avoid Them By the Atlanta Tribune

When it comes to creating a budget, it’s essential to estimate your spending as realistically as possible. Here are five budgetrelated errors commonly made by small business runners and some tips for avoiding them. Not Setting Goals. It’s almost impossible to set spending priorities without clear goals for the coming year. It’s important to identify, in detail, your business and financial goals and what you want or need to achieve in your business.

Underestimating Costs. Every business has ancillary or incidental costs that don’t always make it into the budget–for whatever reason. A good example of this is buying a new piece of equipment or software. While you probably accounted for the cost of the equipment in your budget, you might not have remembered to budget time and money needed to train staff or for equipment maintenance. Forgetting about Tax Obligations. While your financial statements may seem adequate, don’t forget to set aside enough money for tax (e.g., sales and use tax, pay-

roll tax) owed to state, local, and federal entities. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is “money in the bank” and use it to pay for expenses you can’t really afford or worse, including it in next year’s budget and later finding out that you don’t have the cash to pay for your tax obligations. Assuming Revenue Equals Positive Cash Flow. Revenue on the books doesn’t always equate to cash in hand. Just because you’ve closed the deal, it may be a long time before you are paid for your services and the money is in your bank account. Easier said than done, perhaps, but don’t

spend money that you don’t have. Failing to Adjust Your Budget. Don’t be afraid to update your forecasted expenditures whenever new circumstances affect your business. Several times a year you should set aside time to compare budget estimates against the amount you actually spent, and then adjust your budget accordingly. This article originally appeared in the Atlanta Tribune.

captivated by it, because you don’t see shots like this.” “Being homeless, most people say ‘you put yourself there’ or ‘this is what happens when you don’t do what’s right,’” he continued. “No. It’s not that. Sometimes you lose a piece of yourself that brings you down. And once you’re down, it’s hard to get back up. You have to start from the bottom before you get to the top.” Across the theater, his wife Keesa looked over her photographs, eyes fixed on one of a dining room table loaded with food. Between two red candles, there’s a dish of cornbread, still hot from the oven. Plates orbit it like planets: macaroni salad, potato salad, collard greens. She said it remains her favorite, a testament to the power of her cooking in a new home. Around her, photos of her new house and neighborhood looked out, as if to say hello to passers-by. There was a sloping red section of roof, below which her door sits. A friendly brown dog, doing his dog-smile through a locked gate. The center where she and her husband go for support. An evolving ecosystem, in progress. “It felt awesome,” she said of making the art. “I’ve known Brett and Ana María for a year and a half now, and then when everyone else started working with us, it made it more stronger. Our unity became close, because we worked together as a team. We’re perfect as a team.” been homeless for the last six years and is working “to get back on my feet.”

Con’t from page 10

Black Wealth

working Americans suffer from financial stress due to struggles to pay monthly bills, and/or saving for the future, the corporation’s representative at the hearing representative attributed this financial angst to “the evolution of retirement and healthcare benefit offerings.” Vishal Jain, a vice president with Prudential Financial, Inc.’s Workplace Solutions Group testified, “Today’s workers are having to assume increased responsibility for their financial security. When coupled with day-to-day financial obligations, such as mortgages and student loan debt, it is easy to understand why employees may be experiencing higher levels of stress about their financial situation. None of the other persons testifying in the hearing spoke to the continuing discrimination that people of color encounter despite federal and state laws calling for equal treatment. But Astrada did. “For the purposes of this hearing, I want to underscore that financial literacy cannot, by any means, solve everything…Furthermore, the limits of financial literacy, in the context of discussion, require that strong regulators and sound consumer protection policy remain at the root for retirement readiness,” concluded Astrada. Charlene Crowell is the Communica-

RP inner city news 5.471 x 5.1. sept final.qxp_Layout 1 8/28/18 2:56 PM Page 1

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

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INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 -- August 02, 2016 THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 September 18, 2018

JOB FAIR

Dispatcher

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

NOTICE Invitation for Bid Pest Control and Preventative Maintenance Services

Galasso Materials is seeking a motivated, organized, detail-oriented candidate to join its truck dispatch office. Responsibilities include order entry and truck ticketing in a fast paced materials manufacturing and contracting company. You will have daily interaction with employees and customers The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven as numerous truckloads of material cross our scales daily. We are willing d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids to train the right individual that has a great attitude. NO PHONE CALLS for PestINC, Control and Preventative Maintenance PLEASE.Authority, Reply to Hiring Manager, PO Box 1776, East Granby, CT 06026. HOME on behalf of Columbus House and theServices. New Haven Housing A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from EOE/M/F/D/V.

CONSTRUCTION POSITIONS

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develElm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal opment located at 108 Frank Street, New https://newhavenHaven. Maximum income limitations aphousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y Monday, 6, 2018 at 9:00AM.(approximately 100) have 25,beginning 2016 andon ending whenAugust sufficient pre-applications been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon rePart quest by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed pre-Time Delivery Needed Common Ground is hiring a part timeoffices Grants As-Orange Street, Third applications must be returned to HOME INC’s at 171 One/Two Day a Week, sociate. ForHaven, a complete job description and directions Floor, New CT 06510.

DELIVERY PERSON

on how to apply, please visit http://commongroundct. org/2018/07/common-ground-seeks-part-time-grantsNOTICIA associate

Must Have your Own Vehicle

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

If Interested call

(203) 435-1387

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está Request for Proposals aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio enThe esteCommunity desarrollo Foundation for Greater New Haven Program Management Services Consultant ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos is seeking to fill the position of Director of Gift Planning. máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 Please refer to our website for details: http://www.cfgnh.org/ The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) About/ContactUs/EmploymentOpportunities.aspx. EOE. Communities is currently seeking Bids las oficinas de HOMEServices INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas Electronic submissions only. No phone calls forenProgram Management Consultant. A complete copy of por correo a petición a HOME al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse thellamando requirement mayINC be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collabo. a las oficinas HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510KMK ration Portal de https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/ Insulation Inc. gateway beginning on Monday, August 27, 2018 at 3:00PM.

1907 Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473

Mechanical Insulator position.

The Town of East Haven

is currently accepting applications from qualified candidates for the position of Mechanic. The starting salary is $46,608 per year and the town offers an excellent benefit package. Only candidates with at least 6 years of experience in motor-mechanic work, a High School Diploma or GED supplemented by trade school training and a CDL, class 2 will be considered. Applications are available online at http:// www.townofeasthavenct.org/civiltest.shtml or the Mayor’s Office, 250 Main Street, East Haven CT. The deadline for submission is September 18, 2018.

Insulation company offering good pay and benefits. Please mail resume to above address.. MAIL ONLY This company is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer.

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The Town of East Haven is committed to building a workforce of diverse All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to individuals. Minorities, Females, near bus stop to & apply. shopping center Handicappedhighways, and Veterans are encouraged

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Invitation to Bid: Town of Bloomfield 2nd Notice Part Time Foster Care Family Support Worker

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ments. Working knowledge of Haz. Waste Regs., & Manifests. DOT Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer ato Deacon’s New Construction, & CT. OSHA certification a +. Forward resumes RED Technologies, APPLY NOW! Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, CastCertificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates LLC Fax 860-218-2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com RED in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. Technologies, LLC is an EOE. Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Pre-employment Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. drug testing. AA/EOE St. New Haven, CT Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT The Glendower Group, Inc

Request for Proposals Traffic Study for Westville Master Planning

Full Time Building Official $78,100 to $120,552

For details and to apply go to www.bloomfieldct.org This contract is subject to state set-aside and contracthow compliance requirements.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Property Company is seeking a Resident Services CoorBid Extended, Due Date: AugustManagement 5, 2016 dinator in New Haven, CT. Part time- 16 hrs/wk. Must have experience The Glendower Group, Inc an affiliate of Housing Authority City of Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 The Glendower Group, Inc working w/ senior and disabled community. Social Services background Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking proProject documents available via ftp link below: preferred. Please call (860) 951-9411 x238 for inquiries. posals Traffic for Westville Master2,Planning. untilfor3:00 pmStudy on Tuesday, August 2016 at Aitscomplete office at 28 Smith Street, http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage copy of the requirement obtainedSidewalk from Elm Repairs City’s Vendor Request for Qualifications Seymour, CT 06483may for be Concrete and Replacement at the Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesysResponsible for the sampling and laboratory analysis of domestic and industrial Co-Developer For Farnam Courts Phase II Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living September Facility, 26 Seymour. tems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, 10,Smith 2018 Street at Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

water and wastewater. Requires an A.S. degree in biology, chemistry or related

3:00PM

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE Certified Businesses field and &2 Section years 3experience in laboratory analysis. Experience and training may Construction Company, Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith The Glendower Group, Inc an affiliate ofHaynes Housing Authority City 32 Progress be substituted on a year for year basis. Must have a valid State of CT driver’s Common Ground is looking for an Assistant Manager of Fa- of New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking AA/EEO EMPLOYER Street atthe 10:00 am, on with Wednesday, July and 20, 2016. license. $26.96 to $32.41 hourly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apcilities andSeymour, Grounds to CT assist Site Manager the care, upkeep proposals for Co-Developer For Farnam Courts Phase II. A commaintenance of Common Ground’s site and facilities in order to ensure ply: Human Resources Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, plete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s they effectively meet all of Common Ground’s programmatic needs. Wallingford, CT 06492, (203) 294-2080, Fax #: (203) 294-2084 The closing Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority OfVendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobbleClick here for a full job descrtipion and how to apply: http://commondate will be that date the 50th application form/resume is received, or September stonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Tuesday, September 4, groundct.org/2018/07/common-ground-is-seeking-an-assistant-managfice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. 11, 2018, whichever occurs first. EOE 2018 at 9:00AM er-of-facilities-and-grounds/

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any

INNER-CITY July 2016 -- August THE INNER-CITY NEWS - NEWS September 1227, , 2018 September 18, 2018 02, 2016

NOTICE ! VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

JOB FAIR

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apRecruiting for part/full-time retail program ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AMand TO 5PM beginningpositions! Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have Where: 432 Washington Ave., North Haven, CT been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preWhen: Thursday, September 13, 2018 applications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Floor, New Haven, CT 06510. Please visit our website for all available positions: www.goodwillsne.org   EOE/AA – M/F/D/V

NOTICIA

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 SIDING AND GUTTER REPLACEMENT AT 25 UNITS (FAIRFIELD RIDGE) julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) IFBpre-solicitudes No. B18002serán enviadas por correo a petición en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse The of Danbury receive bids ,on before a lasHousing oficinas Authority de HOME of INCtheenCity 171 Orange Street,will tercer piso, sealed New Haven CTor06510 .

INVITATION FOR BID

10:00 am, Tuesday, October 11, 2018 at the office of said Authority located at 2 Mill Ridge Road, Danbury CT 06811, and said bids will be publicly opened and read aloud immediately thereafter. Bids will be received for furnishing all labor, materials, tools, services, and equipment necessary to complete the “Siding and Gutter Replacement at 25 Units (Fairfield Ridge).”

NEW HAVEN

242-258 Ave including specificaContractors may request proposed formsFairmont of contract documents, tions as prepared by the Housing Authority of the City of Danbury on September 11, 2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA 2018 via email to dmarra@hacdct.org. All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center A non-mandatory pre-bid walkthrough will be held at 10:00am on Thursday, October 4, 2018. interested parties Interested can meet atparties 78 Fairfi eld Ridge, CT. PetAll under 40lb allowed. contact Maria Danbury, @ 860-985-8258

A satisfactory Bid Bond, in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the base bid, shall be submitted with the isbud submission. The Bid Bond shall be made payable to CT. Unified Deacon’s Association pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a of 10 month program designed toand assist in thebe intellectual formation of Candidates the Housing Authority the City of Danbury shall properly executed by the in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:30Bidder. A 100% Performance, and B.S. Material Bond is also required. All sureties 3:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J.Labor Davis, M.S., (203) 996-4517 General Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor must be listedHost, on the mostBishop recent IRS circular 570.of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT

Attention of bidders is directed to certain requirements of this contract which require payment of Davis-Bacon wages, and compliance with certain local, state and federal requirements.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

The Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids and/or waive any Sealed bids invited bysuch the action Housing Authority of Seymour informality in are bidding, when is deemed to beofinthe theTown best interest of the until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Housing Authority.

Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Housing Authority the City Danbury Smithfield Gardens Assisted LivingofFacility, 26ofSmith Street Seymour. Mary C. Sistrunk, Executive Director

A pre-bid An conference will Action/Equal be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Affirmative Opportunity Employer Street Seymour,Minority/Women CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Business Enterprise and Section 3 Designated Enterprises are encouraged to submit

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any

Field Engineer

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for an Information Technology Analyst 1 position, a Municipal Assessment Professional position and a Research Analyst position.

BA/BS in Civil Engineering or Construction Management. 2-5 yrs. experience. OSHA Certified. Proficient in reading contract plans and specifications. Resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 10 Northwood Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002; Fax 860.218.2433; Email resumes to info@redtechllc.com. RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

Project Manager Environmental Remediation Division

For information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions, please visit https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT and click on:

3-5 years exp. and Bachelor’s Degree, 40-Hr. Hazwoper Training Req. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC,

Information Technology Analyst 1 (40 Hour) Recruitment #180815-7603FD-001

RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

Municipal Assessment Professional Recruitment #180817-5864AR-001 Research Analyst Recruitment #180822-6855AR-001 The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

FENCE ERECTING CONTRACTORS

10 Northwood Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002;

Fax 860.218.2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc

seeks: Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact: Dan Peterson Phone: 860- 243-2300 email: dpeterson@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Large CT Fence & Guardrail Contractor is looking for Fence Installer foreman and helpers. Foreman must have at least 5 years’ experience. Helpers-no experience required, will train the right person. Work available 10-12 months per year. Valid Ct. Driver’s license required and must be able to get a DOT Medical Card. All necessary equipment provided. Medical, vacation & other benefits included. Must be able to pass a physical and drug test. Foreman rates from $22 to $28.10/hour plus benefits, helper rates from $16 Invitation Bid: to $18.10/hour plus benefits. OSHA 10 trainingtorequired. Please nd Notice email resume to pking@atlasoutdoor.com2 AA/EOE

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc

seeks: Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300 Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

CDL Driver with 3 years min. exp. HAZMAT Endorsed. Old Saybrook, CT (Tractor/Triaxle/Roll-off)

(4 Buildings, 17 Units) FAX resumes to RED Technologies, at 860.342-1042; Email: HR@redtechllc.com Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project Mail or in person: 173 Pickering Street, Portland, CT 06480. RED Technologies, LLC is EOE/AA.

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Union Company seeks:

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition,Tractor Site-work,Trailer Cast- Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVER (F/T) clean driving record, capable of operating heavy Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, equipment; be willing to travel throughout the Perform routine driving (in state)/inspection of transported goods Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. and material handling duties for retail operations. Valid CDL A & Thismed contract is subject to HS stateDiploma/GED set-aside andw/1-3 contract requirements. Northeast & NY. current examiner’s card. yrs.compliance exp. Pay rate $19.21/hr. (DOE) plus benefits. Apply in person: 432 Washington Ave, North Bid Haven/hr@goodwillsne.org/fax:203-495Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 6108 EOE/AA – M/F/D/V

We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact Dana at 860-243-2300. Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Project documents via ftp link Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer Common Ground is looking for an available Assistant Manager of below: Facilitieshttp://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage and Grounds to assist the Site Manager with the care, upkeep and maintenance of Common Ground’s site and facilities in order to ensure they effectively meet all of Common Ground’s programmatic or Email Questions & Bids Dawn Lang and @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com needs.FaxClick here for a full jobto: descrtipion how to apply: http:// HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses commongroundct.org/2018/07/common-ground-is-seeking-an-assisHaynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 tant-manager-of-facilities-and-grounds/ Large CT Fence

FENCE ERECTING SUBCONTRACTORS

AA/EEO EMPLOYER

EXP, welder for structural steel, misc. metals shop Send resume: hherbert@gwfabrication.com 17

& Guardrail Contractor is looking for experienced, responsible commercial and residential fence erectors and installers on a subcontractor basis. Earn from $750 to $2,000 per day. Email resume to pking@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE

NFL: Extreme Optimism or Panic? THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

by Anthony Scott, ICN Sports Correspondent

Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books, so everyone’s emotional has turned from anticipation to either extreme optimism or panic. Overreacting to week one is commonplace; I experienced it myself as a 49ers fan. The scores this week were: Eagles over Falcons 18-12, Ravens over Bills 47-3, Patriots over Texans 27-20, Steelers and Browns tie 21-21, Panthers over Cowboys 16-8, Bengals over Colts 34-23, Buccaneers over Saints 48-40, Vikings over 49ers 24-16, Jaguars over Giants 20-15, Chiefs over Chargers 38-28, Redskins over Cardinals 24-6, Jets over Lions 48-17, Rams over Raiders 33-13. The Super Bowl champion Eagles won the season opener, the Browns came oh so close to pulling out a rare win. Khalil Mack immediately justified his trade value/new contract, and Aaron Rodgers returned to form after an injury scare in the second quarter. Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bucs looked outstanding, Kirk Cousins did enough to win in his Vikings debut, and Jimmy Garoppolo looked human for the first time. Most of the great defenses from last year picked up where they left off, and the mediocre ones looked the same as well. Jon Gruden also made his return to coaching with the Raiders. In what was a classic shootout, the week’s biggest surprise was the performance of old journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bucs’ QB was filling in for the suspended Jameis Winston, and Fitzy went 21-28 for yards, four touchdowns and no picks. The Saints are known for their high flying offense, and they still may have won if not for a couple costly mistakes. Alvin Kamara took the league by storm last year, and he looked no different this week. His workload was higher than usual due to Mark Ingram being suspended, and he took advantage. He had a 35 yard catch on his first touch of the game, and he had a TD run to end the drive. He had 29 rushing yards on eight carries, but he really impressed in the passing game. He had nine receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown. Fitz looked stellar, but remember how we overreact? His first TD came on the opening possession, where he completed a 58-yard touchdown to a wide open DeSean Jackson. He lined up it the slot on the play, which he rarely does, so it was a great play call regardless. OC Monken aided HC Dirk Koetter in coming up with a game plan for Fitz, although Koetter always calls the plays. Koetter did allow Monken to call the plays come game time, and it looks genius now. Time will tell how big Monken’s impact is for the whole season. If the creativity level of this offense is really that much better, Jameis’ days in Tampa, and possibly the league,

Photo: Eagles, Philadelphia Tribune.

may be numbered. This offseason, many wondered if the Chiefs has made the right decision to go with Patrick Mahomes over Alex Smith. Albeit just one week, but it seems to be paying off. Much like when Colin Kaepernick took Smith’s job in San Francisco, Mahomes has the “it” factor and big play ability that Smith does not. Mahomes may have the strongest throwing arm in the league. This is not only evident on deep throws, but also in the way he zips the ball on short routes. His ability to throw receivers open is key for this offense which is packed with playmakers, most notably Tyreek Hill. Hill has been electric since he’s been in the league regardless, but the ceiling is so much higher now. He looked totally unstoppable week 1. Packers-Bears was arguably the most exciting game of week 1, considering all of its ups and downs. The Bears got off to a great start on defense, and showed a new philosophy on offense. First year coach Matt Nagy displayed his unique offense on the first drive of the game. A series of misdirections and crazy formations led to confusion, and a touchdown. The offense stalled a bit as the first half wore on, but Mitchell Trubisky didn’t make costly mistakes. A controversial number two overall pick a year ago, Trubisky looked very good in this game, but not necessarily enough to justify the pick yet. The Bears defense played inspired early, clearly aided by the addition of megastar Khalil Mack. His presence was obvious all game, and he even pushed LT back into Rodgers on his first play of the game. Towards the end of the first half, he had an unreal strip sack, where he literally snatched the ball from Kizer’s hands after totally disposing of two blockers. He also got a pick 6 right before halftime. He wears #52 like Ray Lewis and Patrick

Willis, and he plays just as feverishly. Others like Akeem Hicks and Floyd held their weight as well. The Packers offense did look way crisper in the third, and things started to click when Rodgers came back in. Although he was far from one hundred percent, he led his team to a comeback win. He utilized the quickness of Devante Adams and Randall Cobb, and the offense in general made the necessary plays in the second half. Green Bay did not have much of a running game, which could be costly moving forward. But as long as Rodgers is healthy, the entire team is that much scarier. The Bengals have struggled to find consistent skill players on offense since the Chad Johnson/TJ Houshmanzadeh days, but that may have a nice nucleus now. Joe Mixon had a very impressive game, finishing with 95 yards on 17carries, and also added 54 receiving yards on 5 catches. John Ross, who is arguably the fastest receiver in the league, caught his first career TD pass after missing most of last season. On defense, Cincy’s front seven absolutely dominated the Colts up front, so Andrew Luck had zero chance of finding any rhythm. He was getting smacked all game, and the running game never got going. Maybe they should have kept Frank Gore, who had a solid debut with the Dolphins this week. The Colts fifth overall pick in the draft this year, left guard Quinton Nelson, looked unimpressive in his debut. He displayed very little athleticism, especially when attempting to block upfield. Edge rushers Carlos Dunlap, Margus Hunt and Kemoko Turay had great performances for the Bengals. Hunt got two sacks, and Turay’s athleticism shone through as he consistently set the edge on the other side. Bengals safety Clayton Fejedelem made a key play leading to the game sealing fumble at the end, despite struggling to cover the middle of the field all day. Ultimately, there is not a

bunch to take away from this game, other than how bad the Colts’ offensive line is. If that problem is not addressed quickly, that ship could sink fast. Two new thirty million quarterbacks faced off on the Vikings-49ers game, and only one looked the part. Although Kirk Cousins did not wow me, he the consistent play he exhibited in Washington. He made very good decisions throughout, which is not easy being his first game as a Viking. Receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen picked up where they left off, still looking like possibly the best duo in the league. Coach Zimmer looks like a smart man today, because the offense didn’t miss a beat after losing OC Pat Shurmur. The 49ers looked bad on the surface, but maybe it’s just the normal growing pains they somehow avoided last year. Jimmy Garropolo threw three picks for the first time in his career. Marquise Goodwin got hurt, and Austin Pettis was really the only receiver that stepped up. The Jerick McKinnon injury was evident, though Matt Breida and Alfred Morris did a decent job in his place. It’s fair to chalk up how bad week 1 was to the Vikings great defense, but Garoppolo will need to basically carry this team to victories. The Niner defense looked bad. For both teams, it kind of felt like they will look better as the season progresses. Sam Darnold made his much anticipated debut Monday night against the Lions, and he got off to the worst start possible. He threw a pick 6 on his very first play from scrimmage. Brett Favre’s first career attempt was also a pick, so it could possibly be an omen. The story of the first quarter was the dominance of the Jets defense. The Lions only had 4 rushing yards in the first quarter. Darnold threw his first TD pass down the sideline to Robby Anderson at the end of the first quarter. Though

it took him awhile to get going, his third down efficiency was stellar. He definitely showed his upside, which is huge considering he only started playing QB his last year of high school (he played linebacker before). He finished 16 for 21 for 198 yards with two TD and one interception. Matt Stafford and the Lions looked awful, so let’s not overreact to one win by the Jets just yet. On Carolina’s first drive, I started thinking running backs could wear #1 now. Cam Newton played his typical ball, great running and average throwing, but the runs had something extra. Unfortunately Christian McCaffrey fumbled in the red zone, stopping the drive. Carolina won in the end due to unimpressive play by Dak Prescott. Both of these teams need to show improvement moving forward. Carolina looked exciting during many of their drives, but they seemed to stall in due to lack of attention to detail. It could just due new OC Norv Turner’s complex offense, so time will tell if everything clicks for Cam. He looked more comfortable throwing shord and medium passes, even if he wasn’t completing everything. Newton finished 17-26 for 161 yards, 0 TD and an interception. He also added 58 rush yards on 13 attempts, and a rushing TD. The Seahawks had a long run atop the NFC west division, but they have clearly declined since. They had an offseason where Richard Sherman went to the hated 49ers, Earl Thomas held out, and Kam Chancellor was placed on the IR. The Eddie Lacy experiment didn’t work last year, leaving the team still searching for Marshawn Lynch’s replacement. With that said, however, they looked impressive with a bunch of no name skill guys. Wilson finished 19-33 for 298 yards with 3 TD and 2 picks. No one thought someone named Dissly would finish with three receptions for 105 yards and one TD. Although they lost, Seattle showed some life considering how much roster turnover they had. There is some potential there, they just need to capitalize on opportunities a little bit more. Not every game this week. The EaglesFalcons game was sloppy and boring to watch until the very end. The Giants felt optimistic about how their new acquisitions against Jacksonville, but Eli Manning did not look very impressive. The Dolphins against the Titans was a decent game, but it felt tainted by the thunderstorm delays that ultimately made the game last more than seven hours. Although the Patriots Texans game was close in terms of score, it never really felt in doubt. So there you have it. Week one is now in the books, so us fans finally have something to latch on to. But remember, it is a marathon, not a sprint.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018 Con’t from page 18

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 12, 2018 - September 18, 2018

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