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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

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September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

Child Poverty Stats Conflict; $ At Stake by CHRISTOPHER PEAK New Haven Independent

More New Haven families are sliding into poverty — at least according to a count of students that state officials are now second-guessing. A year ago, state and local officials tallied up 14,919 students within New Haven’s school system who are growing up in cash-strapped households. If those numbers are right, they would mean that, 2,997 local kids had recently fallen into poverty, qualifying them for a subsidized school lunch. That would mark a 25 percent increase in just one year, for a total of about 14,900 kids whose families are struggling to pay the bills. To reach that level, their parents would be earning less than 185 percent of the federal poverty guideline, currently set at $46,435 for a family of four. Often, the parents make severely less. Overall, “an increase of 26,000 [subsidized lunch]-eligible students is a five percentage point increase in the number of students identified as low-income,” said Michael Morton, a spokesperson for the CT School Finance Project. “An increase of this size would put the number of children identified as low-income at 16,000 higher than the highest [free & reduced price lunch participation] count in recent history at a period of declining enrollment statewide.” If the numbers were right, they would mean that New Haven could collect mil-

lions more in funding, due to a special bonus for poverty in the state’s Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula, the primary mechanism for redistributing school funds to poorer cities that increased New Haven’s share by $2.69 million this year despite a decline in total enrollment. If the numbers were right, they would also change the way New Haven is graded by the state, due to accountability metrics that award extra points based on the performance of high-needs students, including their scores on standardized tests, their chronic absenteeism and their six-year graduation rate. But the Connecticut State Department of Education has said that it believes that their statewide numbers might be inaccurate. In a legislative hearing earlier this year, Dianne Wentzell, the state’s former education commissioner, said that it’s hard to know exactly how many students are living in poverty. Currently, the primary measure is the number of students who qualify for a free or reduced school lunch, but Wentzell said there are lots of issues with using that total. “We have struggled for a long time to really try to find the best possible variable to represent need among our kids for the ECS formula,” she told state lawmakers in March. “The free and reduced [lunch] count had some inherent instabilities in it.”

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO State Rep. Toni Walker: Suspects school poverty counts. For starters, Wentzell said, most of the family incomes are self-reported. Some parents might not turn the paperwork in to prove their eligibility, or they might not update their incomes after a job loss midway through the school year. The state does, however, come up with some of the numbers on their own, which is how most of New Haven’s families are tallied. Any children whose parents receive

food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, as well as foster kids, homeless youth and Head Start participants can all be signed up directly. Last year, the state also started including the number of kids who receive health insurance through HUSKY. “We do believe that the direct certification is going to capture that more accu-

rately and especially over time,” Wentzell said. But officials said they weren’t expecting such a big jump right away, including spikes of 3,145 in Bridgeport, 2,997 in New Haven and 608 in Hartford. How did districts explain what was going on? “All of them, without fail actually, came back to us and said it was because now there were HUSKY kids

restaurants, but the word “grocery” was added to the definition at some point before the budget was approved. A preliminary analysis by the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis found the meals tax, as it’s been interpreted by DRS, will generate significant revenue beyond what was projected to be collected as part of the budget. If the state

followed the DRS guidance and taxed certain groceries that are currently tax exempt, it would increase revenues by $18.8 million in 2020 and $25 million in 2021. “We do not need the revenue that is expected to be generated by this proposal in this biennium,” Aresimowicz and House Majority Leader Matt Ritter wrote Monday. The Department of Revenue Services said they have received the letters and will respond. On Monday, just a few days after Republican lawmakers pointed out the increase in several popular grocery store items as part of a new 1% meals tax, Max Reiss, Lamont’s communications director, said the governor has instructed his Office of Policy and Management Secretary and Department of Revenue Services Commissioner to “review DRS’ interpretation of this law, and to do it in short order.” Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers say Democrats added the word “grocery” to the definition of the meals tax and then

passed the budget without any Republican input. Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, called it an “embarrassment.” “If Democrats are so ‘shocked’ about the state’s interpretation of the policy they voted ‘yes’ on, then they need to clean up their mess in a Special Session,” Fasano said.” They made the mess by voting ‘yes’ on the state budget. They created the confusion and the public uproar. Now, amazingly, they are ‘shocked’ and trying to blame the state tax department for their damaging policies.” House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, said Democrats can’t be shocked by a budget they passed and approved without Republican input. “I’ve never seen a group of people elected to do a job so surprised by everything they did,” Klarides said. “As soon as the public doesn’t like it then they don’t know about it.” She also pointed out that Jackson was nominated by Lamont to the position.

Con’t on page ‘9

Dems Question ‘Meals Tax’ Guidance by Christine Stuart

New Haven Independent

HARTFORD, CT — It took a few days, but Gov. Ned Lamont and Democratic legislative leaders are questioning the state Department of Revenue Services’ guidance on the new meals tax. Senate President Martin Looney, DNew Haven, and the entire Democratic caucus wrote a letter to DRS Commissioner Scott Jackson to tell him they “were shocked to see that DRS has somehow interpreted the language in the budget (PA. 19-117) to significantly broaden the base on what meals and beverages would be covered by the sales tax.” The DRS guidance says the higher 7.35% sales tax will apply on Oct. 1 to things sold in grocery stores such as rotisserie chickens, “lettuce or greensbased salads sold in containers of 8 ounces or less,” “hot dogs served on a bun or heated,” and fewer than five donuts, muffins, rolls, bagels, and pastries, to name a few.

House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz also wrote to Jackson to urge him to review the guidance his department issued. “The unilateral decision by the agency to expand the sales tax to additional food items is not consistent with the intent of the budget,” Aresimowicz said. The meals tax, according to lawmakers, was supposed to apply to food sold at

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

Bond Package Elusive As Lamont Seeks Guidance On ‘Meals Tax’ by Christine Stuart CT. News Junkie

HARTFORD, CT — The state Bond Commission approved $354.6 million in general obligation bonds Tuesday. Tuesday’s package included funding for school construction, $20 million for homeowners seeking help repairing their crumbling foundations, $15 million for bridge improvements, and $2 million to clean up a former housing project near the New London Pier. Since the beginning of the year the state has put about $1.22 billion on the state credit card for capital projects, which is far less than the $1.97 billion it borrowed in 2018 under former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. But Lamont has yet to negotiate a bond package for 2020. The legislative session adjourned on June 5th without a plan for 2020. They did return to approve a small school construction bond package in July, but the larger bond package has been left on the back-burner. Lamont said the state is on a debt diet, but it also has to think about how it’s going to fund transportation. “We’re going to prioritize that in the most thoughtful way possible,” Lamont said. “We’re going to know exactly how much more we can do in the next month or so when we figure out how we’re going to pay for our transportation.” He said if the state needs to dedicate $700 million more in borrowing for transportation then they have to figure what projects won’t get done as a result. Democratic lawmakers are at odds with Lamont over canceling borrowing. Democrats say Lamont controls the Bond Commission agenda and can decide

CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE Gov. Ned Lamont which projects move forward, so it’s an exercise in futility to take anything off their list. While Lamont is struggling to negotiate a bond package with his own party, the Republicans have been left out of negotiations. House Majority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, said Monday night that Lamont can’t call Republicans into the

room when he needs their votes like he tried to do with tolls after it was obvious he couldn’t get the votes. She said they need to be at the table from the beginning. Currently, Republican lawmakers are not at the table negotiating a 2020 bond package. If transportation spending is part of that bond package then Republican lawmakers argue they should be included in those discussions. Klarides said what happens with oneparty rule is what happened with the meals tax. Last week, the Department of Revenue Services issued guidance which says the higher 7.35% sales tax will apply on Oct. 1 to things sold in grocery stores such as rotisserie chickens, “lettuce or greens-based salads sold in containers of 8 ounces or less,” “hot dogs served on a bun or heated,” and fewer than five donuts, muffins, rolls, bagels, and pastries, to name a few. The meals tax, according to lawmakers, was supposed to apply to food sold at restaurants, but the word “grocery” was added to the definition at some point before the budget was approved. Democratic lawmakers said Monday that they were “shocked” to read the DRS guidance. “If Democrats no longer want to tax groceries, they need to go into special session and undo the law they passed,” Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said. “The legislation Democrats wrote very clearly states that the sales tax will be expanded to ‘grocery stores.’ Their intention in the legislation is clear as day.” Lamont called on DRS to review the

“I think that DRS too broadly interpreted what was the intention of the legislature,” Lamont said. Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw said DRS is reviewing the guidance and will have an answer shortly about how to proceed. “The legislation could have been written with greater specificity and that is what we intend to go back and to ensure what was negotiated in that room is reflected in the policy that is implemented,” McCaw said. Democrat lawmakers and Lamont own this new grocery tax, Fasano said. “They cannot blame anyone else for what is written in the budget and how it will be enforced. If they now regret their actions, they need to admit their mistakes and fix the legislation in a special session,” he added. Republicans don’t believe the language can be changed without a legislative session. “The only way to fix the Democrats’ grocery tax blunder is through a special legislative session. Words have meanings that survive the legislature,” Fasano said. “When a new governor comes in, a new legislature, a new DRS Commissioner, there’s no way to guarantee any side agreements will be honored. How will grocery stores be protected in future tax audits if the legislation is unclear? Changing the law is the only way to ensure the tax policy is clear not only today, but for all future years to come.”

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

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9/17/19 11:01 AM

DeLauro Demands E-Cig Ban THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

by THOMAS BREEN New Haven Independent

E-cigarettes are not regulated, not safe, and must be taken off the market immediately. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and a handful of medical professionals and public health advocates delivered that message at a Friday morning conference calling for a nationwide ban on all vaping products. The presser was held in the secondfloor auditorium of the Yale New Haven Hospital building at 55 Park St. at the heart of the city’s medical campus. DeLauro, an outspoken critic of the dangers that e-cigarettes and vaping pose to middle school kids, which companies like JUUL have been accused of marketing directly to, called on the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take all e-cigarette products off the market entirely. She accused the FDA of skirting the authority that Congress gave it in 2009 to require that manufacturers of new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, conduct “pre-market reviews” to prove that a product is safe before making it available for purchase. The FDA made a specific exemption for e-cigarettes, she said, citing “enforcement discretion,” and thereby allowing a vaping industry to boom in recent years without any kind of substantive scientific research into the ingredients of e-cigarette prod-

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ucts and their affects on public health. “E-cigarettes that are on the market today are on the market illegally,” she said. She was joined by YNHH Medical Director for the Pediatric Pulmonary Function Laboratory Pnina Weiss, state Department of Public Health Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell, Director of the Alliance for Prevention and Wellness Pamela Mautte The most immediate catalyst for Friday’s press conference appeared to be the announcement from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that, nationwide, six people have died and 450 have developed illnesses related to vaping or smoking e-cigarette products. Eleven of those vaping victims have fallen ill in Connecticut. [Late this week, the CDC subsequently revised down the number of vaping-related illness to 380, noting that the 450 number included cases possibly, and not just definitely, related to vaping.] President Donald Trump followed up on the release of those numbers by stating earlier this week that his administration is considering banning all flavored e-cigarettes. Such a ban would be a step in the right direction, DeLauro said. “But in my view, it is half the measure.” The safest route the FDA could take, she said, would be to pull all e-cigarette products from the market now, do the necessary

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September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

THOMAS BREEN PHOTO YNHH Medical Director for the Pediatric Pulmonary Function Laboratory Pnina Weiss, DPH Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell, Director of the Alliance for Prevention and Wellness Pamela Mautte, and U.S. Rep. Rosa DaLauro.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

Coliseum Developer Prepares For Year-Long Design by THOMAS BREEN New Haven Independent

A Norwalk-based developer kicked off an anticipated year-long community design process for the mix of residential, commercial, and office buildings that might soon fill the former Coliseum site by introducing the key dates, and key players, behind the project. That presentation took place Tuesday night at the regular monthly meeting of the Downtown-Wooster Square Community Management Team on the second floor of City Hall. Frank Caico, a vice president and the director of development for Spinnaker Real Estate, led a 15-minute update on the Norwalk developer’s latest, and most ambitious to date, planned project for the Elm City. That’s the urbanist mini-city they hope to build on the 5.5-acre surface parking lot that used to house the Coliseum on a parcel bounded by Orange Street, George Street, State Street, and Martin Luther King Boulevard. “It’s an iconic development site in downtown New Haven,” Caico said. “It’s got tremendous redevelopment potential. And obviously, right now, it’s kind of a blank slate.” In July, Spinnaker inherited the development project from the Montrealbased firm LiveWorkLearnPlay, which signed a development and land disposition agreement (DLDA) with the city in 2013 but was never able to get the project off the ground due to design and fundraising problems. Spinnaker is also the developer behind the new Audubon Square mixed-use apartment complex, as well as another proposed apartment building at the old Comcast building in Wooster Square, and a proposed hotel at the former Webster Bank property on Elm Street. Caico and project partner Greg Fieber, a principal at the New Canaan-based investment firm The Fieber Group, did not discuss any details of what might ultimately end up built at the former Coliseum site, Spinnaker CEO Clay Fowler said in a previous interview that the first phase of the current plan could include 16,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space (including co-working space aimed at companies that can grow onsite), 25,000 square feet of open space, and 200 rental apartments, 80 percent of them market rate (from the “high teens” to “high 20s” or upper range of $2,000 a month). Instead, Caico and city Deputy Economic Development Administrator Steve Fontana promoted two community design workshops that will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and Wednesday, Sept. 25 in the basement meeting room at the municipal office building at 200 Orange

St., where neighbors will be able to weigh in on what they would like to see come out of this project. “This is the beginning of the process,” Fontana said, “not the end of the process.” Caico said that, per the timeline laid out in the amended DLDA that Spinnaker signed with the city, his company plans to spend the year following next week’s design workshops meeting with community management teams and revising and refining the technical and design plans for the project. Spinnaker will seek to have final documents ready for regulatory review by the City Plan Commission in the Fall of 2020, he said. They then plan to begin construction on Phase 1 of the project in the Spring of 2021, and complete Phase 1 construction by the Spring of 2022. “We have a tremendous opportunity to create a place of value and a sense of place” with this project, he said. “We really want to turn it into a conversation.” Heather Wassell, an associate with the Norwalk-based Beinfield Architecture firm, said that her company’s expertise lies in transit-oriented development, mixed-use, and walkable designs. “You’ve got this big hole” in the middle of the city, she said. “We really want to make what goes there” fit both in an economic sense and in a “people sense.” Spinnaker, Fieber, and the investors KDP are the primary developers on the project, Caico said, while Beinfield Architecture and the local firm Newman Architects will take the lead on the design work. The Trumbull-based firm Fuss & O’Neill will be the civil engineering partners, while local land use attorney Carolyn Kone will be the legal lead. Does Spinnaker’s investment in the Coliseum project mean that it won’t be proceeding with the Comcast residential conversion project, Wooster Square filmmaker Steve Hamm asked, where Spinnaker has said it plans to build 200 luxury apartments? No, Caico replied. Spinnaker is still very much moving forward with that Chapel Street project, as well as with the Elm Street hotel and the rest of Audubon Square. Did the modified DLDA with Spinnaker ever have to go before the full Board of Alders for approval? asked New Haven Urban Design League President Anstress Farwell. No, Fieber said. “It was an administrative approval” granted by the city. The only changes to the DLDA originally granted to LiveWorkLearnPlay were in regard to the timeline. Everything else remained the same.

THOMAS BREEN PHOTOS Spinnaker Director of Development Frank Caico. Below: The empty for-

mer Coliseum site.

Farwell pressed Caico to reconsider demolishing the historic former Webster Bank building on Elm Street to make way for the hotel. If the Coliseum development will include a new hotel, she said, why not save the Elm Street historic structure for adaptive reuse? “It’s not in our current thinking” to include a hotel or conference center on the Coliseum site, Caico said. And, Fieber pointed out, there’s no hotel required in the DLDA. Fontana said that Spinnaker and Fieber plan to present at Wednesday night’s Hill South Community Management Team meeting with a similar update about the Coliseum site in advance of next week’s design workshops.

Jeffie Frazier Way Unveiled THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

by ALLAN APPEL New Haven Independent

A lot of high school kids have to perform community service in order to graduate. Now a legendary teacher, principal, and parent mentor proposes that parents of every kid in the New Haven Public Schools also be required to render volunteer service in their kids’ schools, the better to know what’s going on and to be their child’s advocate. That potential plan of action emerged Saturday as the retired longtime principal of the WexlerGrant School, Jeffie Frazier, stood among 50 admirers to see the unveiling of the corner sign “Jeffie Frazier Way.” The sign was created in her honor at Foote Street at the entry driveway to the school that Frazier led. “You made sure that parents everywhere took part in the education of children,” said Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison, who helped organize the event, along with Frazier’s sisters in the New Haven chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. The Dixwell community’s efforts to honor one of its significant elders began back in October with the gathering of hundreds of signatures—250 are required, with 166 coming from immediate neighbors. Money was also raised to pay for the sign, and approval granted by the Board of Alders in June. At the ceremony Morrison and other speakers hailed Frazier’s pioneering efforts to involve parents, especially dads, through mentoring programs in the lives of their children at school. “It’s not just the teachers and principals,” Morrison said. “You made sure education is outside the four walls of the school, and in the home, and the community.” With Dixwell Alder Jeannette Morrison. Morrison credited Frazier, a Louisiana native who migrated to the Elm City and started teaching in the public schools in 1966, with being critical to the development of her own son, now studying to be a social worker. Frazier became principal of the

ALLAN APPEL PHOTO With retired Sgt. Shafiq Abdusabbur at the unveiling.

With fellow sorors Shenae Draughn and Khalilah Brown-Dean.

Helene W. Grant School on Goffe Street and later the combined Wexler-Grant. Since retirement in 2008, Frazier has continued donating her time to the community and is well known for working with kids and families and corralling volunteers, especially men, to help out at Wexler-Grant and other schools. Other speakers hailed Frazier’s other contributions while helming Wexler-Grant. Those contributions include developing a policy to create dress codes that eliminate causes for jealousy and friction among children; taking groups of Wexler-Grant kids on trips to Senegal in Africa to see historical sites of the slave trade and other significant places ; and maintaining an open-door policy for parents, inviting them into the principal’s office and into the school in a welcoming way, no appointment necessary. Many of those approaches are now widespread in the schools. Frazier was credited with pioneering them, along with unswervingly high expectations for and a fierce dedication to her students. “If you don’t want to teach my kids,”

one younger colleague of Frazier’s recalled an encounter overheard, “I’ll give you a recommendation, but you have to leave my school.” James Harriott, a student at the Helene W. Grant School when Frazier was principal there, recalled that he had written a poem as part of a class assignment. Decades later he couldn’t remember much of it although it did contain the verse “Life is game and you’re holding the dice/ Don’t be a fool and take my advice.” His words caught Frazier’s attention. She brought Harriott into her office and singled him out for praise. Subsequently he won an award for the writing. “She knew every child’s name,” he recalled. Following the pulling of the cord and the falling away of the pink banner to reveal the corner sign, Frazier received a bouquet of flowers. Then in her remarks she did not miss an opportunity to continue to emphasize that the education of children takes place, importantly, also outside the walls of the school, and involves bringing the parents and the community within. “As citizens,” she said, “and I’m a citizen, not a senior citizen, it’s our job to get the community back into education. Let’s get these men to line up and to greet these students when they come to school. You don’t need a degree; you just need to stand tall. Our kids don’t know what’s right. You do. You need to show them. Get them a library card. Read with them. Sit at the computer with them.” Frazier said all schools in New Haven should be so good that families clamor to get into them. “You’re not too good to wash tables in the lunch room, to stand with a kid who’s acting up, and take them, with the principal’s permission, to their parents. It’s about helping each other,” Frazier concluded. One of the organizers of the event and a sorority sister of Frazier, Quinnipiac University political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean, called her an educational stalwart, whose formal sign now in front of Wexler-Grant will be “a reminder of this community and the power of working together.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019 Con’t from page

$ At Stake

included in [direct certification]. And I don’t think that that’s probably, necessarily the answer,” said Cathy Dempsy, the state department of education’s chief financial officer. “One of the things that we are doing right now is an audit of the districts that have the largest discrepancies, because 26,000 [more] students, it just doesn’t seem reasonable,” Dempsy went on. “Back at the office, that is something that they are working on right now to try and figure out what happened. Is it a matter of the fact that the districts didn’t understand the instructions?” But in recent months, a state spokesperson said the counts were right. “Ajit [Gopalakrishnan, the state’s chief performance officer] isn’t sure where you’re getting the info that the data isn’t accurate,” Peter Yazbak, an agency spokesperson, said in an email. “While the rules have changed compared to five years ago, we’re closer now to the accurate picture than we were in the past.” He did not respond to multiple followup emails asking how to square that with what Dempsy told lawmakers. District officials also did not answer questions sent by email earlier this month. New Haven State Rep. Toni Walker, who teaches at the city’s Adult & Continuing Education Center, said she worries that the state’s numbers are inaccurate too. But she said that’s because she thinks the state is still undercounting the childhood poverty rate. She said the state should ask families directly, rather than relying on who signs up for safety-net programs, which might have limited participation, especially from Spanish speakers. “I’m just concerned that we are not getting everybody,” Walker said. “Families that want their kids to have lunch and food while they’re in school, they tend to apply for that a lot faster than some of the other entities that you mention.” Experts agree that immigrants, in particular, might be missing from the counts. And it could be getting worse soon, as the Trump administration rolls out a new “public charge” rule, that could allow the federal government to deny permanent residency to those who’ve relied on welfare programs. Even though the rule creates exceptions that would allow kids to take advantage of some public-assistance programs, especially school-based Medicaid, parents might not know about those technicalities. Experts from the CT School Finance Project have suggested counting all English language learners as if they were also from low-income families for state funding formulas to err on the side of making sure undocumented students aren’t left out.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

COMMENTARY: NFL’s Depression-era Ban on Black Players Lingers On in the Owner’s Box

by Dr. Jesse Jackson The National Football League season opened last week with a full slate of games. On the field, extraordinary athletes of all races and backgrounds competed with the same set of rules. Yet, it is worth noting that this has not always been the case — and that the legacy of discrimination has yet to be redressed. In June, when the Chicago Bears announced that their “throwback jersey” for their 100th anniversary this year would come from 1936, they were honoring a jersey that was worn in the

COMMENTARY:

third season of the NFL’s 12-year ban on black players. In an extraordinary article for Windy City Gridiron, Chicago Sports historian Jack Silverstein detailed the story and background of the ban. Unlike baseball, the NFL allowed black players to play in its early years. Black players like All Pro halfback Fritz Pollard and tackle Duke Slater were among the most honored players of the day. “What makes the NFL so unique is that it’s a full-fledged league and it starts off integrated,” says professor, author and historian Louis Moore, whose work includes the podcast The Black Athlete. Yet, when the Great Depression deepened, black players were suddenly banned from the league. The owners — led by George Preston Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins and, Silverstein postulates,

likely George Halas, famed owner of the Chicago Bears — clearly enforced a ban on black players that lasted from 1933 to 1945. The argument apparently was that with the Depression, black players would be resented — the football version of last hired, first fired. The Washington owner, Marshall, writes Silverstein, was an “avowed, gleeful racist,” who generally bears the onus of pushing the ban. He hoped to market the Washington team as the team of the South. But other owners, including legends in the sport, were complicit or worse, including Chicago’s Halas, Curly Lambeau of the Packers, Tim Mara of the Giants and Art Rooney of the Steelers. Mara’s Giants didn’t have a black player until 1948, Halas’ Bears not until 1952, Lambeau’s Packers not until 1950. Marshall’s Redskins were the last to integrate, doing so only in

1962 when the federal government threatened to revoke the lease on the team’s stadium. Today, NFL rosters are integrated. But there’s still a dearth of blacks in the elite club of owners. Of the 32 teams in the NFL, only two principal owners are people of color — Shahid Khan of the Jaguars and Kim Pegula of the Buffalo Bills. (Of the 92 teams in baseball, basketball and football combined, there are only six majority owners that are people of color.) Ownership is a small club, and the club owners still tend to admit only people that look like them. The exclusion is also a legacy of the discrimination. When black players — and black owners — were banned, teams were affordable. As the league built up, many teams were inherited, gaining in value along the way. By being excluded at the start, black owners

have a far harder time getting in now. Today’s integrated teams on the field serve as positive examples. Fans cheer for favorites by the color of their jerseys, not the color of their skin. That players of all races and backgrounds play by the same set of rules exemplifies the equal justice under the law that we strive for. But equality on the field should parallel equality in management and ownership. The NFL should start by acknowledging the racial ban it enforced, recognizing black players and moving more of them into the Hall of Fame and taking concrete steps to ensure that the ownership, management and coaching of NFL teams reflect the diversity of the players on the field and the fans in the stands. This article originally appeared in the Jacksonville Free Press.

Why Would HUD Gut Its Own Disparate Impact Rule?

By Charlene Crowell, NNPA Newswire Columnist Whatever happened to the American Dream of owning a home and giving your children a better life than you experienced as a child? Is this ‘dream’ being deferred or denied? In 2019, these questions are as timely as they are timeless. Beyond rising housing costs for would-be buyers and renters alike, serious doubts are emerging about the nation’s commitment to the letter and spirit of fair housing laws, related enforcement, and regulations supporting both. Today’s Black homeownership rate is 41.1% — lower than it was when the 1970 census showed this same data point at 42%. Since 2013, the disparate impact rule has objectively examined the effects of business practices with lenders, landlords, insurers, and real estate professionals against the provisions of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. The rule required that first a plaintiff must establish a discriminatory effect in policies and/or practices, before the defendant(s) would bear the responsibility of proving their own practices were nondiscriminatory.

But in the August 19 Federal Register, HUD proposed a new rule that would expand the disparate impact rule into a five-step process that would shift the burden of proving discrimination nearly exclusively to plaintiffs. By proposing that third parties test practices against algorithms to determine fairness, defendants in fair housing cases could later move for dismissal and/or be shielded from liability. “Secretary Carson has proposed a rule that represents yet another egregious step by this Administration toward the dismantling of key civil rights protections in America,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters in reaction. The veteran lawmaker is also the Chair of the Housing Financial Services Committee. “The proposed rule would make it substantially more difficult for victims of housing discrimination, including persons with disabilities, families with children, and racial minorities, to prove their case in a court of law and thereby hold bad actors accountable for their actions.” New York Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney was even more direct in a Twitter post. “What is wrong with Ben Carson. You can’t expand housing rights by limiting civil protections. The ’D’ in HUD doesn’t stand for ‘Discrimination’.” During delivery of Capitol Hill testimony earlier this spring, Nikitra Bailey, an EVP with the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) also underscored the importance of disparate

impact in fair housing. “Disparate impact analysis encourages creative approaches that both increase effectiveness and inclusion,” testified Bailey. “This process and the value of disparate impact analysis was recently pointed out and endorsed by the largest personal loan company in the country, Lending Club.” Other organizations actively engaged in opposing HUD’s proposed rule reversal include the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and the National Fair Housing Alliance. Between now and October 18, concerned citizens, advocates, organizations and others have a brief opportunity to stand up and speak out against the Carson proposal. Once this 60-day public comment period concludes, HUD will have the green light to move forward as planned or modify its proposal. How long the remainder of the rulemaking process lasts will be a HUD decision. Before the Fair Housing Act’s enactment, local zoning laws across the country supported segregation along with redlining Black communities to exclude borrowers from mortgage and home improvement loans along with a litany of real estate practices that denied Blacks and other people of color opportunities to build family wealth. Particularly by omitting Black neighborhoods from multiple listing

services, door-to-door block-busting practices inflamed racial tensions with warnings of lost property values if integration was to occur. Additionally, many neighborhoods enforced restricted covenants that explicitly excluded families of color from ever buying property in designated areas. The irony is that despite more than 50 years of fair housing being federal law, not only does housing discrimination persist, the federal agency charged to defend it seems to have forgotten its own mission. “HUD is looking for a problem that does not need a fix,” added Bailey, speaking directly to the proposed

disparate impact revision. “Even the lending industry supports disparate impact and uses it as a tool to create fairer and more profitable lending.” So exactly whom is HUD serving? Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s communications deputy director. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org. Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s communications deputy director. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org. (Courtesy Photo)

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019 Con’t from page 08

E-Cig Ban

related illnesses, suffered from shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, Weiss said. At first, medical providers thought that she had pneumonia. But that should have gone away within 24 to 48 hours of receiving antibiotics, she said. Instead, the patient “deteriorated very quickly and ended up in the ICU.” A treatment consisting of both antibiotics and steroids rescured the patient from needing to be intubated, she said. The way that e-cigarettes work, Weiss said, is that a liquid that has chemicals in it is heated up and inhalted. Some of those chemicals include ethylene glycol, which is used in anti-freeze; propylene glycol, which is used in laser printers; and nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco cigarettes. One JUUL pod, she said, has as much nicotine as an entire pack of combustible cigarettes. “E-cigarette use is never safe for youth,” she said, “young adults, pregnant or breastfeeding women.” Coleman-Mitchell said that the state public health department is currently working with the CDC to investigate the exact health consequences of vaping. She said she is most concerned about the the way that e-cigarette companies market themselves to youth as safer alternatives to combustible smoking. “People should consider not to use ecigarettes or vaping products until we at least know what we are dealing with,” she said. DeLauro said that there is a simple explanation for why the FDA has so far failed to regulate e-cigarettes: Money. Billions of dollars, to be precise, that companies like JUUL are making every year with the help of potentially deceptive marketing campaigns. “It’s unconscionable,” she said. In a written statement sent to the Independent, JUUL spokesperson Austin Finan pushed back on the congresswoman’s call for a ban. “Full prohibition will drive former adult smokers who successfully switched to vapor products back to deadly cigarettes,”he wrote, “deny the opportunity to switch for current adult smokers, and create a thriving black market instead of addressing the actual causes of underage access and use. We strongly agree with the need for aggressive category-wide action on flavored products, which is why we have already taken the most aggressive actions in the industry to keep our products out of the hands of those underage and will fully comply with the final FDA policy when effective.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

Racial & Low-Income Family Healthcare Disparities Remain Louis Norris, BlackNews.com

is 405% of the poverty level, which is more than $104,000 in 2019 for a family of four. In Alabama, CHIP is available to kids in households with income up to 317% of the poverty level, which is more than $81,000 in income for a family of four.

Although the percentage of Americans without health insurance is far below what it was a decade ago, it’s been rising since the end of 2016. And significant racial health disparities remain: Native Americans and Hispanics are significantly more likely to be uninsured than Whites, as are African Americans and Hawaii Natives. Although racial health disparities have narrowed since the Affordable Care Act was implemented, a lack of health coverage continues to be associated with poorer health outcomes. In addition to people of color, lowerincome Americans are also much more likely to be uninsured: More than eight out of ten uninsured Americans have income below 400% of the poverty level.

Cost-sharing reductions

Uninsured often unaware of the benefits the ACA provides An estimated 45% of the uninsured population is not eligible for financial assistance under the ACA (Download ACA Guide), due to the refusal of some states to expand Medicaid, lack of adequate immigration documentation, or an income that makes them ineligible for subsidized premiums in the exchange. But while the other 55% could potentially obtain affordable insurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act, there is often a lack of understanding about average medical insurance costs and the ACA benefits that are available to them. Matthew Goldfuss, Director of New Business Development for TrueCoverage, has personally enrolled over 5,000 people in health coverage. Based on his experience helping people enroll, Goldfuss notes “you’d be surprised how many people are still not aware of all the benefits of the ACA this many years into it. Many of our enrollees are shocked to hear that they can get plans as cheap and benefit-rich as that is available.” Talk to Matthew Goldfuss to know more The direct financial benefits provided by the ACA extend well into the middle class and apply to a wide range of applicants. If you’re uninsured (or covered by a non-ACA-compliant plan) and on the fence about signing up for coverage for 2020, consider these benefits, many of which are still widely misunderstood: Premium subsidies keep coverage affordable For starters, the ACA includes fairly generous premium tax credits (also referred to as premium subsidies) that are designed to keep premiums affordable. A common misconception is that the subsidies are designed for people who need low-income health insurance, but subsidy-eligibility actually extends well

into the middle class. For a family of five purchasing coverage for 2020, premium subsidies are available with a household income of over $120,000 (that’s four times the poverty level). A single individual will qualify for premium subsidies with an income of almost $50,000, and the government takes a fairly generous approach to calculate income when it comes to subsidy eligibility: Contributions to pretax retirement accounts and/or a health savings account are subtracted from your income, making it possible for people who earn even more than these limits to qualify for premium subsidies. For people on the lower end of the income spectrum, premium subsidies tend to be quite large, resulting in very lowcost insurance. Some enrollees are finding that their premium subsidies are so large that some of the available health plans are actually free after the subsidy is applied. Call to find our right subsidy for you. This is because of the way insurers have dealt with the lack of federal funding for cost-sharing reductions: In most areas, they’ve added it to the premiums for silver-level plans, resulting in much higher silver plan rates. Since premium subsidies are based on the cost of a silver plan, the subsidies are much larger than they used to be. Those subsidies can be used to buy plans at any metal level, and in some areas, they’re large enough to completely cover the cost of a bronze plan—or sometimes

even a gold plan. According to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 4.2 million people who were uninsured in 2018 were eligible for free bronze plans in 2019—but many of them likely didn’t know that and didn’t enroll. Plenty has been written about the nuances of all this, but the short story is that premium subsidies are huge: In the states that use the federally-run exchange (that’s most of the country), they average $539/month in 2019, and 87 percent of enrollees are receiving them. Pre-existing conditions are covered Prior to 2014, in most states, people buying their own health insurance had to contend with medical underwriting. Preexisting conditions were often excluded or the basis for coverage offered with a higher-than-standard rate. And some applicants were rejected altogether. Short-term health insurance still uses medical underwriting, but ACA-compliant plans do not (this includes plans purchased in the exchange or outside the exchange). Medical history is no longer a factor in premiums or eligibility, and pre-existing conditions are covered as soon as the policy takes effect. Although pre-existing conditions are covered on all ACA-compliant plans, people with pre-existing conditions do need to pay attention to provider networks and covered drug lists, to make sure that their current treatments will be covered under the new plan.

Enhanced coverage for Native Americans Native Americans with income up to 300% of the poverty level (that’s more than $36,000 for a single person) can enroll in health plans through the exchange that don’t have any out-of-pocket costs. So no deductibles, copays, etc. Native Americans can also enroll year-round, without having to wait for open enrollment. This provision was intended to help reduce racial health disparities for Native Americans. The uninsured rate among Native Americans has declined as a result of the ACA, but it remains much higher than the overall uninsured rate in the U.S. Medicaid expansion and CHIP Thanks to Medicaid expansion under the ACA, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)benefits that pre-date the ACA, many lowincome families find that they qualify for free or greatly reduced-cost health coverage. The majority of the states have expanded Medicaid, which has played a key role in reducing racial health disparities and low-income health disparities. CHIP benefits are available in every state, with eligibility guidelines that vary from state to state and aren’t necessarily what people might consider “lowincome”. For example, CHIP is available to kids in New York whose household income

Cost-sharing reductions (CSR) are available to people with income up to 250% of the poverty level. For a household of two, that’s a little more than $41,000. And CSR benefits are particularly strong for those with income up to 200% of the poverty level (a little under $33,000 for a household of two). The purpose of CSR is to make coverage for lower-income enrollees more robust than it would otherwise be, with lower deductibles and lower out-ofpocket costs. Half of all exchange enrollees nationwide are receiving CSR benefits, which has also played a role in reducing low-income and racial health disparities. In order to receive CSR benefits, applicants have to select a silver plan. But the CSR benefits make the plan much richer than a normal silver plan—in some cases, the plan becomes almost as robust as a platinum plan. Bronze plans tend to be less expensive than silver plans, which sometimes leaves applicants having to decide between cheap health insurance (sometimes even free) and coverage that costs more but also has much lower out-ofpocket costs. There’s no one-size-fits-all in terms of the right answer here, but it’s important for applicants to carefully consider all of their options before picking a plan. Premium subsidies + CSR = Substantial benefits Let’s take a look at some examples of how substantial the benefits are, particularly when it comes to low-income health insurance. We’ll use a 40-year-old earning $23,000/year for these scenarios, and look at health insurance options in different areas of the country: • In Cheyenne, Wyoming, this person can choose from among three free bronze plans in 2019. Free is obviously fantastic, but these plans have high deductibles ($4,500+) and maximum outof-pocket costs of $7,900. There is also a free gold plan available to this applicant, with a deductible of $2,000, and a couple of gold plans that cost around $10/month and have even lower deductibles—but their out-ofpocket maximums are still $7,900. However, thanks to CSR benefits, there are several silver plans available with Con’t on page 16

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

Why Athletes and Entertainers Like Jay-Z Can’t Solve Our Problems BlackNews.com

Nationwide — The big controversy about Jay Z and the NFL is a perfect example of why we can’t rely on our athletes and entertainers to solve the major problems in our community. Athletes and entertainers are just that, athletes and entertainers. They’ve spent their productive lives perfecting their skills, in order to be the best at what they do. They’re not as conscious as we think. We expect them to come together and pool their resources together, in order to create opportunities for our community. Unfortunately they don’t have a mindset like that. For one thing, they get their money from people outside our community, which causes them to have a self-preservation mindset. They will only go so far in trying to support our community. This is what makes what Kaepernick did so significant. How many of the Black players supported him on the field. You can only do so much when you’re afraid of losing your job or endorsements. This is what I mean by not having a Black conscious. The NFL is 70% Black and higher than that, if you count the top positions in the league. Yet how many players supported Kap on the field? If only they knew their value, by working together, they could have really made a difference for our community. But they

are a microcosm of our community. As a community, unfortunately we do the same thing, which is why our community isn’t achieving on the level it should be. We don’t know our value either, but everybody else does. We’re also not as conscious as we think we are. So if we don’t support our community in a significant way, how do we expect our athletes and entertainers to do what we aren’t willing to do? The problem is we don’t support the conscious Black organizations and businesses that can make a difference in our community. This should be the focus for our athletes and entertainers and our community as a whole. Until we start supporting organizations and businesses that are serious about solving the major problems in our community, that have a simple but well thought out live active plan, we will continue to have them. There are some organizations out there who are trying to solve the major problems in our community, but aren’t getting the support from our athletes, entertainers, or our community. The solution is not relying on a few people who are a success financially, the solution is for us as a community to work with and support the people who are really trying to help our community become the best it can be. It would be great if these organizations and businesses received the support from our

athletes and entertainers, which would give them a great start, but we can only go so far doing it this way. But if the community got behind them as well, this is where major progress will be made, because we’d be able create our own institutions, which would allow more people to participate in solving the major problems in our community. So until we start supporting the conscious Black organizations and businesses, we can’t

expect our athletes and entertainers to. We really don’t need them to support the community, but we as a community have no choice but to support the ones who are trying to solve the major problems in our community. Guess what, when we as a community start doing this, so will they. For more information on how we can get ourselves out of the cycle of problems, watch the short video called “The Real Solution”.

Terrance Amen is founder and CEO of 3Ufirst FPC, created to end the major problems in the African American community, by bringing some of the trillion dollars we spend every year, outside our community, back to our community, in order to fund our for and nonprofits. Based on his book, “Black Unity: The Total Solution to Financial Independence and Happiness”. For more information, go to www.3ufirst.com.

ing us to break through barriers and realize that diversity is our strength. I’m proud to join my colleagues in taking steps toward building a more diverse media landscape.” Congresswoman González-Colón, considered the fact that some racial and ethnic groups are unknown to others because of their lack of presence in the media. “Our nation is comprised of people who represent a plethora of thoughts, heritage and upbringing that is not always represented in the media, making some of these groups invisible to others. The media should be a reflection of the society they serve, which is not homogeneous,” González-Colón said in a statement. The Puerto Rican Congresswoman emphasized the possibility of cultural exchange when adding further different kinds of people and coverage in the media, and the important impact such variety can have to the fabric of

this country. “Learning about other experiences, listening to different opinions, and getting to know other’s backgrounds strengthens our nation and leads to inclusion. As a Latino woman, I take great pride in being a part of this bipartisan initiative that seeks to eliminate barriers that prevent media diversity,” she said. Demings introduced the legislation, just a day before the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation kicks off its Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 11, where many of the conversations will be focused on diversity, the importance of messaging in the press and the dissemination of news before the 2020 election. This article originally appeared in The Afro.

importance of the resolution, particu-

larly focusing on local media. “Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of working with local media outlets across the state of Florida,” said Rubio, according to a statement. “These outlets are ingrained in our communities, offering unique and important insight. We must continue to support small, diverse media outlets that are instrumental in preserving local culture, and serve as an invaluable resource for our communities.” Senator Rosen discussed the need for variety in newsrooms and coverage when considering the impact of diverse media and what Americans receive as news. “We must make an effort to ensure that our newsrooms and media companies are reflective of America, both in terms of ideas and of media figures. This is critical now, more than ever,” Rosen said. “This resolution engenders these very real sentiments, allow-

Congress Calls for Media Diversity By Micha Green

On Sept. 10, Congresswoman Val Demings (D- FL) introduced a bipartisan and bicameral resolution, along with Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) and Sens. Marco Rubio (RFL) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), in hopes of promoting more diversity in media, ultimately, having a more informed electorate. “I am glad to join with Representative González-Colón, Senator Rosen, and Senator Rubio to introduce this legislation,” Demings said. “It is invaluable for our children and our democracy to have a cross-section of perspectives that reflect various cultures and voices, in news and entertainment. America is at its best when every American can read, listen, and watch vibrant media that reflects the diversity of our great country.” Senator Rubio weighed in on the

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

In One Section of Queens, Gun Violence Has Left Activists with Plenty of Work to Do By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent

Erica Ford, Tamika Mallory and Russell Simmons Offer Comfort to Families The latest shooting spree in the New York City borough of Queens has rocked the foundation of the community – the parents and grandparents of both the victims and the perpetrators. It has also nearly broken a dedicated and longtime activist, who said her organization desperately needs help. “I’m hurting,” said Erica Ford, the founder and CEO of Life Camp, Inc., a mobile trauma unit that brings trauma recovery services to African American communities. As of September 4, the Jamaica, Queens neighborhood where Ford grew up and now serves, has seen 12 people shot and nine of them killed over a 13-day period. On September 4, Ford, hip-hop and business mogul Russell Simmons, civil rights activist and Women’s March on Washington Co-Chair Tamika Mallory, and others attended a wake for a 22-yearold victim. Mourners packed a local church as at least a dozen New York City Police officers stood outside. Ford, Simmons, and Mallory offered some of the victim’s family members and friends, comfort. “We’ve had nine deaths in Southeast Queens,” said Ford, who was selected in 2012 to join a gun-violence task force established by then-President Barack Obama. “Among the victims are a 13-year-old and all of these deaths were preventable,” said Ford, whose work has led to global recognition with features by Oprah Winfrey and Essence Magazine among others. The level of violence in Queens is

shocking and previously unseen since Ford founded Life Camp nearly 20 years ago. The gun violence occurred as Ford continued her cry for help. While the city provided funding for the mobile trauma units, Ford hasn’t gained enough help with other needs. “We need to expand. We can’t do it alone, and nobody is reaching out,” Ford said.

It isn’t as if Ford’s organization hasn’t been successful in combating violence. Over the last three years, the crisis management system that was co-created by Life Camp has contributed to a 15 percent decline in shootings in the 17 precincts with the most violence. With the motto, “making peace a lifestyle,” Life Camp provides youth and families impacted by violence, the valuable tools needed to stay in school and out of the criminal justice system. The organization provides programs and other holistic approaches to reinforce self-esteem and respect for life among young ones. Life Camp also connects and mobilize youth to prevent and heal from violence in New York’s most underserved communities. Life Camp supplies job training and resume development for community members. Organization members travel to crime scenes and hospitals to try and avert retaliation after a shooting has occurred. “If young people who have experienced gun violence receive wraparound supports to empower them to fulfill their basic needs and sustain mental, physical, and economic health and wellness, they

will lead healthier lives,” Ford said. “They will also be less likely to resolve conflicts with violence,” she said. Ford said her team is always busy. Life Camp is comprised mostly of working mothers who have lost their children. They offer therapeutic and healing services and funeral and security preparation. The Life Camp team canvasses affected neighborhoods to help de-escalate tensions and to provide intervention and mediation to help stop the violence. Ford said the organization needs the support to hire credible community messengers and for its neighborhood communication campaign. They’d also like to purchase uniforms and supplies for team members and extend the hours of its mobile crisis unit. “We want to create safe corridors for our

kids and for our staff to get to and from school and work safely,” Ford said. The program “is a shining example of how much better and effective local interventions are than the police who, in many cases are disconnected, not trusted, brutal and too often fatal,” said Simmons, who has sponsored an annual dinner for the parents of gun violence victims in Queens. “Violence cannot be contained. It has to be prevented by trusted and effective community-based programs,” Simmons said. Simmons hosted the September 4 dinner at “The Door” restaurant in Queens where dozens of mourners and Life Camp staff members gathered after the wake. “Unfortunately, we had this planned [before] we had 12 people shot in queens in last two weeks,” Ford said. “It’s usually just for the mothers, but

my staff is here. I see my staff every day. But, as a shell. I don’t’ see people inside of them because they are broken, they’re in pain because when you lose nine people in one community in two weeks … this ain’t right,” she said. “We want to bring us together because we’ve got work to do. We’re glad Russell snatched up Tamika and Hasaun [Simmons’ aide] and brought them here because we’ve got work to do. This is our community, and when they talk about gun violence in New York City, they’re talking about us.” “We want to break bread, and we want to smile and relieve some of that pain that’s heavy on our hearts. We have a funeral tomorrow, and we have another funeral next week. We still have work to do to make sure nobody else gets killed,” Ford said. To donate to Life Camp, visit https://7days7shootings.funraise.org

Rosa Parks to Be Honored With Her Very Own Barbie Doll BlackNews.com

Nationwide — Rosa Parks, known as the Mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement, is being honored with a Barbie doll that resembles her. Children can now play with a toy that will truly inspire them, but the doll is also expected to be popular with collectors. Mattel, the makers of Barbie, is recognizing the achievements of many historical women including Rosa Parks who “made the world better for future generations of girls.” “By celebrating their achievements with dolls made in their likeness, we hope girls will be inspired to pursue their dreams,” a spokesperson for Mattel told CNN. The Barbie doll will feature Parks’ au-

thentic clothing and accessories as well as educational material about her contributions to society. The launch of the new dolls comes as part of the brand’s Inspiring Women Series which aims to honor historical role models who paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger. Moreover, Mattel stated that research found that girls from the age of 5 are more likely than boys to experience the “Dream Gap” wherein they could feel like their own gender isn’t smart and competent enough. To address that, showing girls more role models and telling their stories could be beneficial. Other women who are part of the new collection are Katherine Johnson, Frida Kahlo, Amelia Earhart, and Sally Ride.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

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September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

Repeal The Damn Second Amendment By Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead

It’s 4:20a.m.: it is quiet outside, and this is my daily soul check time. I slowly open my eyes, without getting up, and ask myself the same question: do I remember who I used to be before I became the person that I am now? I remind myself to be still, to breathe, and to remember how I got over. I tell myself that I am a descendant of people who chose to survive. I get up slowly and make my way to the mirror. I stand in front of it and remind myself that I am the hope and the dream of women who fought to, both, have dreams and keep their hope alive. I sigh deeply as I think about how my grandmother used to lift me up on her shoulders so that I could see all of her land. She was a proud Black woman who taught me to lift my head, never to look over my shoulder, and, in the face of weapons and racism, not to blink or turn away. I think about her every morning, and even though she taught me to brave, the reality is that today, I am a coward. I live in fear and what scares me, what keeps me up at night, is the growing sense that at any moment, on any day, in any given space, my sons could be shot and killed. We live in a country that has more guns than people. It is a place where we average a mass shooting each day, while our politicians do not seem to have the testicular fortitude needed to repeal the

damn Second Amendment. It is clear, as Dr. King once said, that we are all tied together in an inescapable network of mutuality and responsibility, so we are all plagued and haunted by the same demons, some real and some imagined. Every morning as I look into my mirror, I see myself through a very narrow lens: I am a Black mother who has chosen to live and raise my sons in Baltimore City. Every day, my demons and nightmares play out in the lives and stories of women all around me. When I read the stories of children and women being shot, my heart aches and my breath slows down. This is a moment where the brokendown souls of heavy-laden mothers rarely get a chance to mourn. In this country, we are more likely to die from gun violence than from many leading causes of death combined, with some 11,000 people in the US killed in firearm assaults each year. As of September 3, according to data from the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive, there has been 283 mass shootings this year, in this country alone. Here in Baltimore City, where we regularly deal with reports of quadruple and triple shootings and homicides, 218 people have been shot and killed. This represents a 25 percent increase in shootings and sets us on a pace to exceed 300 murders for the fifth year in a row. It is exhausting because there has been too many bodies, too many bullets, too many marches, and too many hashtags to properly mourn, so we bury them some-

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Family

much richer benefits. Their deductibles are only a few hundred dollars, and they cap out-of-pocket costs at $2,600. The trade-off is that these plans are more expensive: About $110-$120/month, after subsidies. But without subsidies, they’d be around $800/month for this applicant.

where inside of ourselves, and then we rise, again. Less than two weeks ago, as I drove my youngest son to fencing practice, I turned onto a side street and rode past three men, two White and one Asian. They were laughing and playing with a rifle, and when we rode by them, the Asian man raised the gun and pointed it at my car. Since they were standing on my son’s side, I put my arm across him. Although I knew, somewhere in the back of my brain, my arm would not save him, I could not stop myself. I felt helpless as if I was drowning in my own nightmares. All I could do was grit my teeth,

with tears in my eyes, and keep moving forward. I was not angry, though that happened later, I was scared. I felt alone. I felt like no one was coming to save me or coming to save us. I reached out to a therapist friend who told me that during those moments when I feel most afraid, I should say to myself things like, “I am safe. He is safe. We are safe.” Unfortunately, every time I do so, the realist in me whispers the words, “For now” because unless we repeal the damn Second Amendment and get rid of our obsession with guns, we will never be safe.

Congressional Black Caucus Slams the Trump Administration for Refusing Temporary Status to Bahamians

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The Trump Administration has announced it will not provide temporary protected status to Bahamians who fled Hurricane Dorian. If granted, this status would have let Bahamians work and live in the United States until it is deemed safe to return to their home. Congresswoman Karen Bass, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement in response: “There are thousands of Bahamian families who deserve the full unquestioning and unwavering support of the United States government during this difficult time,” said Chairwoman Bass. “Once again, this lawless President is relenting our role on the global stage by refusing to assist those hardest hit by Hurricane Dorian. By granting temporary status to those displaced by the hurricane, those individuals would be allowed to work and live in the U.S. until it is deemed safe to return to their home. This is the same status currently granted to over 300,000 people living in the U.S. from

10 countries, including victims of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake. This is a matter of life or death and this President is failing to lead.” This article originally appeared in The Los Angeles Sentinel. Congresswoman Karen Bass (File Photo)

So whichever option the person chooses—free health insurance, cheap health insurance or robust benefits with a higher premium—the ACA is providing a substantial benefit. • In Charlottesville, Virginia, this applicant can choose from among five free bronze plans, as well as a couple of other bronze plans that are less than $2/month. There is also a gold plan for $62/month, but all of these options have maximum out-of-pocket limits of $7,900, which means the person would be on the hook for up to that amount if they had a serious medical condition during the year. But this applicant can get a silver plan for about $62/month, and thanks to CSR benefits, it has deductible of just $625 and caps out-of-pocket spending at $2,100. Those are only two examples, and the bargains vary from one place to another—not all areas of the country have free bronze plans available for low-income enrollees, and free gold plans are fairly rare. But CSR benefits are available everywhere, and so are premium subsidies that are designed to keep premiums at an affordable level based on the applicant’s income. People who are uninsured or covered by plans sold outside the exchange have nothing to lose—and potentially a lot to gain—by checking to see what sort of benefits they could get in the exchange. The exchange website will help them to determine whether they or their kids might qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, and can also help to identify other potential benefits, such as the zero-cost-sharing benefits for some Native Americans, premium subsidies, and CSR benefits on silver plans for some applicants. Louise is the co-owner of Insurance Shoppers, Inc., a health insurance brokerage in Colorado. She writes about health insurance and health care reform for healthinsurance.org, medicareresources.org, Verywell, HSA Store, and Anthem’s Benefits Guide. Her work has also appeared in Health Affairs and she was a panelist for a Brookings Institution event in 2018 that focused on health care reform at the state level. This post was previously published on www.truecoverage.com and is republished here with permission from the author.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

COMMENTARY:

September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

DeVos Hands For-Profit Colleges $11.1 Billion Over 10 Years

By Charlene Crowell, NNPA Newswire Contributor

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Over the next decade, the Education Department projects an $11 billion cost-savings from denying loan forgiveness. But for student loan borrowers, denying $11 billion in loan forgiveness adds an unwieldy and costly burden for an education, and earnings that were never realized.” Most consumers would likely agree that consumers should get what they pay for. If a product or service fails to deliver its promises, refunds are in order. That kind of thinking guided the Obama Administration’s decision to address false promises made to student loan borrowers. A rule known as the “borrower defense to repayment,” came on the heels of successive for-profit college closures that left thousands of students stranded educationally and financially. The federal rule provided a way for snookered students and borrowers to apply for and secure loan forgiveness. Its premise was that both borrowers and taxpayers were assured that the Department of Education was looking out for them. But with a new administration and Education Secretary, rules that made sense and brought taxpayers financial fairness have been repealed and replaced with other rules that favor for-profit colleges, loan servicers, and other business interests. Just as many people were about to begin their Labor Day holiday, the federal Department of Education announced it was changing a key rule that provided a pathway to federal loan forgiveness. Instead, a new rule puts in place a process that will be cumbersome, lengthy, and

nearly impossible for consumers to successfully secure relief. Commenting on the rule that will now apply to all federal student loans made on or after July 1, 2020, Secretary Betsy DeVos said, “We believe this final rule corrects the wrongs of the 2016 rule through common sense and carefully crafted reforms that hold colleges and universities accountable and treat students and taxpayers fairly.” Excuse me Secretary DeVos, the rule was promulgated due to the thousands of wrongs resulting from less than truthful recruitment practices, false advertising, and targeting of vulnerable populations: low-income, first-generation college students who were often people of color, and veterans seeking new skills in a return to civilian life. For-profit colleges largely remain financially solvent by their heavy dependence upon taxpayerfunded student loans. For Black America, the effects of predatory student lending at for-profit colleges comes with severe consequences. Ac-

cording to research by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL): • Only 21% of all for-profit students in four-year programs graduate within six years • Four years after graduation, Black students with a bachelor’s degree owe almost double the debt their white classmates owe; and • While for-profit college enrollment represents 8.6% of all college students, these schools generate over 34% of all students who default on their loans. While this new rule may make sense to Secretary DeVos, education advocates had an opposite reaction, quickly and emphatically detailing how the rule change is as negative as it is costly. “After the collapse of Corinthian College and ITT Tech, two of the largest forprofit education companies in the country, the Obama Administration created the Borrower Defense rule to protect students and taxpayers from deceptive practices that could jeopardize the future of thousands of students and our econ-

omy,” said Ashley Harrington, a CRL Senior Policy Counsel, and a primary negotiator during the Education Department’s negotiated rule-making process. With DeVos’ new rule, both the automatic discharge of federal loans that took effect after a school closed and another provision that allowed group claim relief are now eliminated. Anyone seeking redress on student loans must also bear the full burden of documenting their alleged “harm” before a claim can be reviewed. The new rule also removes states from opportunities to defend their own constituents. State laws, many enacted before the 2016 Obama-era rule took effect, provided another route to legal redress. But with the new DeVos rule, no state-level claims can be pursued. “That’s problematic for us,” added Harrington. “The federal standard should be the floor, not the ceiling, for relief.” Over the next decade, the Education Department projects an $11 billion costsavings from denying loan forgiveness. But for student loan borrowers, denying

$11 billion in loan forgiveness adds an unwieldy and costly burden for an education, and earnings that were never realized. “The new ‘borrower defense rule’ does anything but defend students,” said James Kvaal, president of The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS). “In fact, it makes it almost impossible for students who are lied to, defrauded, or otherwise abused by their colleges to get a fresh start. …By leaving students on the hook for colleges’ illegal actions, today’s rule sends a clear message that there will be little or no consequences for returning to the misrepresentations and deceptions that characterized the for-profit college boom.” A similar reaction came from Abby Shafroth, an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center, and like Harrington, participated in the Department’s rulemaking meetings. “There are over 170,000 pending applications with many borrowers held in limbo for years,” continued Shafroth. “The new rules reflect an ongoing shift to protect the multi-billion-dollar forprofit education industry at the expense of students and taxpayers and come amid concerns about conflicts of interest raised about the rule of former for-profit executives hired by the Department.” Rather than saving taxpayer dollars, it seems that this new rule is guaranteeing a taxpayer-funded revenue stream for the benefit of for-profit colleges — not students. Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s Communications Deputy Director. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending. org.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

Black Press of America Awards Courageous Leaders

The 2019 honorees are the Honorable Karen Bass, U.S. Representative (D-CA); the Honorable Elijah E. Cummings, U.S. Representative (D-MD); the Honorable Bobby Scott, U.S. Representative (D-VA); the Honorable Bennie Thompson, U.S. Representative (D-MS); Ray Curry, SecretaryTreasurer of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agriculture (UAW); Shani W. Hosten, Vice President Multicultural Leadership, AARP; Dr. Kim Smith-Whitley, Clinical Director of Hematology and Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP); and Crystal Windham, Director, Cadillac Interior Design, General Motors. With a lively and capacity crowd inside the Renaissance DC Downtown Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Sept. 12, National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., and NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards presented the annual National Leadership Awards. Each of the recipients joined NNPA corporate partners and sponsors to reflect on the importance of the Black Press. “I’d like to particularly thank the Black Press for keeping sickle cell disease in the light,” said Dr. Kim Smith Whitley, the clinical director of Hematology and Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Whitley praised the Black Press for helping to shed light on the fact that one in 12 African Americans have the sickle cell trait, and the blood disorder disproportionately affects black people. Another award recipient, Crystal Windham, also applauded the Black Press for its work. Windham, the director of Cadillac Interior Design, and the first African American woman director in General Motors Design history said it was remarkable that the Black Press of America will celebrate 192 years.

The NNPA observes its 80th anniversary in

We are delighted to celebrate this year’s honorees,” said NNPA Chair and Houston Forward Times Publisher Karen Carter Richards (center). Pictured with NNPA President and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. (left) and Cuban Ambassador to the United States, José Ramón Cabañas (right) 2020. “Do not stop doing what you do,” she said, before encouraging others to follow her historical path. “I owe it to the individuals that paved the way for me. I’m just an ordinary girl from Detroit,” Windham said. “If I can do it, you can do it too.” The UAW’s Ray Curry addressed attendees, applauding the Black Press and reminding the audience of the role that unions have played in America’s civil rights struggles. He also shared some of his own history as a beneficiary of benefits gained through the labor negotiation process. An NNPA and UAW resolution reads, “Whether it was hosting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as he wrote his historic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in Solidarity House, or providing bail for Dr. King’s 1963 release from Birmingham City Jail, the women and

men of the UAW have and continue to play a historic role in our nation’s civil rights movement. “I’m truly honored and humbled to be recognized with such a distinguished award,” said Shani W. Hosten, Vice President Multicultural Leadership with AARP. “I also want to recognize the outstanding legacy of the Black Press; I grew up reading the Richmond Free Press and the Richmond Afro; they were staples in our home, around our community, and in our church. Those stories told our stories, and I thank the Black Press for the continued partnership with AARP, and for 192 years of telling our story in our community which is so critical now more than ever,” Hosten said. The festive gathering also included appearances by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, NAACP President, and CEO Derrick Johnson, NAACP Chairman Leon Russell, Cu-

ban Ambassador to the United States José Ramón Cabañas, and famed film producer and MIT Media Lab research scholar Topper Carew. The awards honor individuals who are national leaders in their specific fields and whose actions have helped to improve the quality of life for African Americans and others. The NNPA, the trade organization representing African American-owned newspapers and media companies throughout the country, began the Leadership Awards in 2014 when it was decided that the optimal time to host such an event would be during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) a week-long gathering that’s held each September. The CBCF ALC is the largest annual gathering in the United States. The shared

objective of the conference and the NNPA National Leadership Awards is to network, collaborate, and strategize collectively for the advancement and empowerment of Black America. “We are delighted to celebrate this year’s honorees,” said NNPA Chair and Houston Forward Times Publisher Karen Carter Richards. “We salute them for the leadership they have displayed in the Black community and for their overall support of the Black Press,” Richards said. “The Black Press is needed now more than ever. We are the daily recorders of our history. We are, and forever will be, The Original Black Press of America,” Richards said. NNPA’s corporate partners include General Motors; RAI Services Company; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and Pfizer, Inc. NNPA corporate sponsors include Toyota; Ford Motor Co.; AARP; Northrop Grumman; Eli Lilly; Wells Fargo; Volkswagen; UAW; API; Walt Disney World Parks & Resorts; Comcast; U.S. Census; CBCF; Koch Industries; Ascension; and AmeriHealth. Scott, who accepted the award for his national leadership in education, thanked Dr. Chavis and Carter Richards for their guidance of the Black Press. “The Black Press tells news that needs to be told,” Scott said. Bass said, “We look to [The Black Press] for news. America knows the work you do, and we look to you to help tell our story,” she said. The ceremony also served as a reminder of the all-important 2020 Census count. Tasha Boone, a long-time public servant who now serves as a senior advisor to the Deputy Director at the U.S. Census, addressed the audience. “We are working tirelessly with partners like the Black Press to get the word out,” Boone said. “2020 is a big year for us. It’s an election year and, just as important is the Census. In March, you will all get an opportunity to participate in the Census. Fill out the survey either online, by mail or by telephone. It’s extremely important, and it’s safe,” Boone said.

Are Your Favorite Foods Causing Inflammation? by Keisha Davis M.D. BlackDoctor.org

Our immune system is an imperative part of keeping us healthy. Whenever there is injury, disease, or illness our inflammatory cells come to the rescue. However, there are many times when inflammation can stay in our bodies when it’s not needed. Chronic inflammation can cause havoc on the body and also contribute to chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. What most of us don’t know is that a lot of the foods that we eat can aggravate the inflammation in our body. Sug-

ary foods and those with high fructose corn syrup can incite inflammation. Also, foods containing artificial trans fat (partially hydrogenated oil) contribute to inflammation and may affect levels of

our “good” HDL cholesterol. Processed meats are also associated with increased risk for disease including heart disease and colon cancer. So if we start by eliminating the bad foods that are causing inflammation, we still need to make sure that we are eating foods that are healthy and anti-inflammatory in nature. The Mediterranean diet is one of the popular anti-inflammatory diets that are high in fruits and vegetables, olive oil and whole grains. The main thing to remember is to eat whole foods. Fruit such as blueberries, and apples and leafy green vegetables are known to contain natural antioxidants. Tomatoes,

olive oil, and nuts such as almonds and walnuts are known to reduce inflammation. Fatty fish such as salmon and tuna are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which fight inflammation. Spices such as turmeric and curry also contain anti-inflammatory properties. So balance is key. Please make sure that you are eating a well-rounded diet with fresh produce and decreasing the amount of sugar, processed foods, and trans fat. Keisha Davis M.D. is a triple boardcertified pathologist with the American Board of Pathology. As an unconventional pathologist, Dr. Davis has set herself as an outgoing diagnostician who wants both patients and clinicians to un-

derstand more about the practice of pathology and how diseases are diagnosed. She founded AskPath, LLCtodo just that. In her free time, Dr. Davis teaches West African dance and group fitness and enjoys spending time with her family. Sources 1.”Anti-Inflammatory Diet:Road toGood health?” https ://www.webmd. com/diet/anti-inflammatory-diet-roadto-good-health 2.“Foods that Fight Inflammation “https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation

for Bids

Scattered Sites East and West- Furnace & Hot Water Conversion/ Replacement

The Housing Authority of the City of New Havend/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids for Scattered Sites East and West- Furnace & Hot Water Conversion/ Replacement. A complete copy of the requirements may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems. com/gateway beginning on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 3:00PM

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bids Interior and External Door Installations and Repairs The Housing Authority of the City of New Havend/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids for Interior and External Door Installations and Repairs. A complete copy of the requirements may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Wednesday, September 4, 2019at 3:00PM.

HELP WANTED: Large CT guardrail company looking for Laborer/

Driver with valid CT CDL Class A license and able to get a medical card. Must be able to pass a drug test and physical. Compensation based on experience. Email resume to dmastracchio@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE M-F

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Invitation for Bid (IFB) Trumbull Gardens Children Splash Pad Solicitation Number: 132-PD-19-S The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC) is requesting sealed bids for Trumbull Gardens Children Splash Pad. A complete set of the plans and technical specifications will be available on September 16, 2019. To obtain a copy of the solicitation you must send your request to bids@parkcitycommunities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A MANDATORY pre-bid conference will be held at 715 Trumbull Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606 on October 1, 2019 @ 10:00 a.m., submitting a bid for the project without attending conference is not in the best interest of the Offeror. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org no later than October 9, 2019 @ 3:00 p.m. Answers to all the questions will be posted on PCC’s Website: www.parkcitycommunities.org. All bids must be received by mailed or hand delivered by October 16, 2019 @ 2:00 PM, to Ms. Caroline Sanchez, Director of Procurement, 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. No bids will be accepted after the designated time.

Water Treatment Water Treatment Pumping Operator I - The Town of Wallingford’s Water Division is seeking qualified candidates to maintain and operate the water treatment plants, pump stations, and well facilities. Must process a High School Diploma or G.E.D with one (1) year of experience involving the operation or maintenance of equipment of the type predominant in the water treatment industry. Ability to obtain within one (1) year, State of Connecticut DPH Class I Water Treatment Plant Operator’s Certificate, Class I Water Distribution System Operator Certification and successful completion of an approved water treatment plant operator’s certificate program. $25.96 - $31.55 hourly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. The closing date will be the date the 50th application/resume is received, or October 7, 2019 whichever occurs first. EOE

September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

HELP WANTED: Large CT guardrail company

looking for Laborer/Driver with valid CT CDL Class A license and able to get a medical card. Must be able to pass a drug test and physical. Compensation based on experience. Email resume to dmastracchio@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE M-F

Equipment Operator Help Wanted: Immediate opening for Equipment Operator for Heavy and Highway Construction. 10 hour OSHA certificate required. CDL license a plus but not required. Please call PJF Construction Corp.@ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.

Laborer Help Wanted: Immediate opening for Construction Laborer for Heavy and Highway Construction. 10 hour OSHA certificate required. Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.

CDL Driver Help Wanted: Immediate opening for CDL Driver for Heavy and Highway Construction. 10 hour OSHA certificate and clean CDL license required. Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.

Project Manager/Project Supervisor Help Wanted: Immediate opening for a Project Manager/Project Supervisor for Heavy and Highway Construction. Previous experience on CTDOT projects required. Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F

Listing: Accounting

Accounting Department has an immediate opening in Ac-

counts Payable. This full time position in a fast-paced office environment could be an excellent entry to an Accounting career. Requires good computer and organizational skills, attention to detail, and multi-tasking. Benefits include health, dental & LTD insurance plus 401(k). Send resume to: Human Resource Dept. P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437.

********An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**********

Town of Bloomfield Vehicle Mechanic Technician Full Time - Benefited $30.49 hourly Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website – www.bloomfieldct.org

Civil Engineer

Diversified Technology Consultants (DTC) is a multi-disciple engineering and environmental consulting firm. DTC is a leader in servicing governmental clients for four decades. DTC prides itself as having worked on a wide variety of project types. From schools and senior centers to town halls and universities, our diverse portfolio provides extensive experience to our communities. As DTC enters its forth decade, we are seeking an energetic, organized and proactive professional in our Civil Engineering Department. The successful candidate(s) will work closely with our technical staff in support of DTC’s strategic goals and objectives. This is an entry level position located in our Hamden, Connecticut office.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in the preparation of plans, specifications, supporting documents, and permit applications for private and municipal projects. • Assist in preparation of calculations such as storm drainage, water supply & wastewater collection, cost estimates, and earthwork quantities. • Perform design and drafting using AutoCAD Civil 3D. MicroStation experience is beneficial but not required.

Qualifications:

• Graduate from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. • Engineer in training certificate preferred. For Further information or to apply send resumes to ellen.nelson@teamdtc.com DTC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. DTC is a Drug Free Work Place.

Individuals with Disabilities, Minorities and Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply.

POLICE OFFICER City of Bristol $63,934 - $77,714

Required testing,

Registration info & apply at www.bristolct.gov DEADLINE: 11-22-19 EOE

Recording Secretary The Town of Wallingford is seeking reliable individuals to record and prepare minutes for regular and special meetings that are held throughout the year for a variety of Boards and Commissions. Meetings are typically held in the evening and last between 2 to 5 hours. Must have access to a PC with email capability and be proficient in Microsoft Word. If necessary, must be able to do minutes remotely without attending meetings either by listening or watching YouTube recordings of meetings. All minutes must be completed within a legally required timeline. Recording equipment will be provided by the Town. The hourly rate for this position is $15.00 to $18.00 depending on experience. To apply, please send your resume and a letter of application to: James Hutt, Human Resources Director, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

CITY OF MILFORD

Seeking qualified condidates to fill numerous vacancies to include,Benefits & Pension Coordinator, Clerk A,Truck Driver/Laborer, Electrician and more For information and detailed application instructions, visit WWW.ci.milford.ct.us Click on SERVICES, JOBS and JOB TITLE.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

APPLY NOW! Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers.

Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST - (P/T)

Assist individuals receiving services in identifying and making choices about their social, vocation and personal goals. Duties include case management, job development/placement/retention services and job support as needed. Requires use of personal vehicle. B.A. in a related field; plus 2 yrs’ related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Pay rate $16.61/hr. Apply to: GWSNE, 432 Washington Ave., North Haven, CT 06473/ Fax (203) 495-6108/hr@goodwillsne.org EOE/AA - M/F/D/V

SURVEYING

DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED

Boundaries LLC is a full-service Land Surveying Firm located in Griswold, CT. We are recruiting for these positions and accepting resumes for: Survey Field Technicians, Survey Computer Technicians, Licensed Land Surveyors, Civil Engineers, From 9/12/2019 through 12/31/2019. Interested parties can contact us at 860-376-2009 or submit your resume to jfaulise@boundariesllc.net

Part Time Delivery Needed

is requesting proposals for Legal Services. Request for Proposal documents can be viewed and printed at www.norwalkha.org under the Business section RFP’s/RFQ’s Norwalk Housing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director.

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: Tom Dunay Phone: 860- 243-2300 Email: Tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

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

Union Company seeks:

Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, clean driving record, capable of operating heavy equipment; be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact Dana at 860-243-2300. Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

If Interested call

The Housing Authority of the City of New Havend/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Proposals for Pay Per Use Laundry Services. A complete copy of the requirements may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at 3:00PM.

Listing: Accounting

Accounting Department has two immediate openings for full time Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable professionals in a fast-paced office environment. Must be highly organized, possess good computer skills, be detail oriented, and able to manage multiple projects. Benefits include health, dental & LTD insurance plus 401(k). Send resume to: Human Resource Dept. P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

Request for Proposals Pay Per Use Laundry Services

(203) 387-0354

The Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk, CT

Housing Authority City of New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking Proposals for Information Technology Consulting Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtainedfrom Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https:// newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at 9:00AM

One/Two Day a Week,

Must Have your Own Vehicle

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Request for Proposals Information Technology Consulting Services

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

APPLY NOW! Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay.

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

********An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**********

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Large CT. Fence Company is looking for an individual for our stock yard. Warehouse shipping and receiving and Forklift experience a must. Must have a minimum of 3 years’ material handling experience. Must be able to read and write English, and read a tape measure. Duties will include: Loading and unloading trucks, pulling orders for installation and retail counter sales, keeping the yard clean and organized at all times and inventory control. Individual will also make deliveries of fence panels and products, must be able to lift at least 70lbs. Required to pass a Physical and Drug test, have a valid CT. Driver’s License and be able to obtain a Drivers Medical Card. CDL B & A drivers a plus. Send resume to pking@atlasourdoor.com AA/EOE/MF

KMK Insulation Inc. 1907 Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473

Mechanical Insulator position. Insulation company offering good pay and benefits. Please mail resume to above address.

MAIL ONLY

This company is an Affirmative Action/

PRE-BID INVITE

MATTHEW RUOPPOLO MANOR/FAIRMONT HEIGHTS RENOVATIONS

DATE: September 25th, 2019 TIME: 9:00 am to 10:00 am

LOCATION: Ruoppolo Community Room, 480 Ferry St, New Haven Kitchen & Bathroom Renovations, Flooring, Painting, Limited Mechanical and Electrical system upgrades (3 Buildings, 177 Units) This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Bid Due Date: October 18, 2019 3:00 pm Project documents available via ftp link below: Ruoppolo Manor: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=ruoppolo Fairmont Heights: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=fairmontheights Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dlang@haynesct.com HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

COMMENTARY:

September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

Biden’s Words on Racial Equality Ring Hollow

By Zachary R. Wood

“I think the Democratic Party could stand a liberal George Wallace — someone who’s not afraid to stand up and offend people, someone who wouldn’t pander, but would say what the American people know in their gut is right.” Former Vice President Joe Biden uttered these words in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1975. But before we proceed, I have to ask: Are you surprised? Perhaps Biden’s humor is lost on me, but I have a hard time understanding how any American leader could make a statement like that and truly believe in racial equality. At first glance, I thought to myself: If Biden wants the support of African American voters, he is going to have to recant this opinion, and apologize for the anger and distrust his words have unjustly ignited. On second thought, I am not sure if it would be a good idea for Biden to address this horrendous comment because I fear that if he tried, he might only succeed in making some aggravated potential threat to our public safety somewhere think that statements like this are in the ballpark of being “OK.” Instead of discussing the reasonable

expectation that Biden fumble around and flub a partial apology, here I want to make the case briefly as to why I believe Joe Biden does not deserve the support of the African American community. My thesis: Biden’s 36-year Senate history scarcely reflects a strong, honest commitment to fighting for racial justice. To start, as many journalists, and even two presidential candidates have contended, Biden fiercely and persistently opposed busing as a mechanism for desegregation. In his own words, “no issue has consumed more of my time and energy.” This battle in which Biden was an outspoken crusader put him in cahoots with unapologetic white segregationists such as Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond. Making matters worse, his commentary on the issue was flagrantly foul. In one interview, Biden called busing efforts to integrate schools “asinine” because it would “stunt the intellectual growth” of the “children of good citizens who are not racist” and “fill them with hatred” for being sent to “inferior schools.” I prefer not to unpack this one. On top of that, Biden advocated ruthlessly for mass incarceration. He even attacked George H.W. Bush, a Republican president, for not being aggressive enough on crime. His language

again was on many occasions shocking and recklessly offensive. What is more, Biden willfully authored several of the most harmful policies undergirding the

war on drugs. He wrote legislation increasing policing and the number of prisons, maximizing prison sentences for drug offenses, devising racially disparate

attack by large corporations and their political allies. President Trump and his Republican congressional allies are doing all that they can to undercut the wages and workplace protections of working families, including many of the same Americans who voted for them in 2016 and 2018.

and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott [DVA-3], as we passed and sent to the Senate the Raise the Wage Act [H.R. 582] that would raise the national minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. Sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Bernie Sanders with 31 co-sponsors including Maryland Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, the Raise the Wage Act would be a major step toward raising wages for up to 33 million American workers, would lift 1.3 million Americans out of poverty, and would stimulate economic growth for everyone, especially those who live in communities that are struggling. Along with Chairman Scott, we Democrats also recognize, however, that our nation’s working families will continue to struggle and the disparities in income will continue to worsen unless we take strong remedial action to strengthen workers’ right to organize themselves into unions. This is why I was deeply gratified to be able to join more than 190 of my Democratic colleagues in co-sponsoring H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act [S. 1306 in the Senate]. A recent analysis by the National Bureau of Economic Research confirmed that unions have consistently provided workers with a 10-20 percent wage boost

punishment for crack cocaine. Less often discussed are some of the detrimental neoliberal economic policies Biden has fought hard for that have particularly disadvantaged AfricanAmericans. In 2005, Biden championed a bankruptcy bill that made it harder for individuals facing overwhelming financial challenges to file for bankruptcy and get out of debt. This bill also made it much more difficult for low-income and first-generation college graduates to discharge their student debt. Similarly, Biden has pushed for welfare cuts that constrained the life chances of many families struggling to make ends meet. While I certainly appreciate Biden’s loyal service as Barack Obama’s vice president, I have a hard time reconciling some of his more recent positions on racial equality with his long history of fueling rhetoric and spearheading legislation that have severely hurt AfricanAmerican communities. Zachary R. Wood is an assistant curator at TED and the author of “Uncensored: My Life and Uncomfortable Conversations at the Intersection of Black and White America.” This post originally appeared in The Washington Informer.

In A Truly Fair America, Every Day Would Be Labor Day By Congressman Elijah Cummings

On our national Labor Day just passed, I paused to recall how, for my family, like so many others, our struggles for civil rights and economic rights have always been intertwined. We must remember and never hesitate to speak this truth. Labor Day must be about more than the momentary pleasures of fireworks or a parade. Labor Day must be both a remembrance of our past hardships and progress and a collective recommitment to our continuing struggles today. The Lessons of our History Our history is clear. Only when working people of every racial background have joined together in common cause and fought for greater fairness, in both our civic lives and our livelihoods, have we been able to make progress toward that “more perfect Union” promised to us by our national creed.

We also must never forget, however, that rights gained can be eroded and even taken away. Working Americans gained a vote in our workplaces through legally-protected collective bargaining that complemented and reinforced our political voices at the ballot box. Even as our nation’s unions stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans of color in our fight for voting rights, nondiscrimination, and other civil rights, it was largely through our labor unions that we gained a fuller measure of the economic American Dream. President Franklin Roosevelt and other New Deal reformers called this balance of labor power and political influence “industrial democracy;” and tens of millions of American families, including my own, were empowered as a result. More recently, however, this “industrial democracy” has been under sustained attack by corporate interests and their political allies – attacks that emanate today from the White House, the Republicans in Congress and even from some of our courts. Paradoxically, even as public support for the labor unions that are fighting for “industrial democracy” is reaching record highs, union rights and power, and the American workers these unions represent, continue to be under relentless

Standing Up for Democracy Confronted by this reactionary onslaught, Americans of every racial background would be well advised to understand that strong support for workers’ rights benefits us all, as well as our country. This is why, when I was privileged to chair the Democratic Party’s 2016 Platform Drafting Committee, we made our party’s commitment to “raising incomes and restoring economic security for the middle class” our first priority [https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/ party-platform/]. Today, in the United States Senate and House of Representatives, Democrats are doing everything within our power to make good on that commitment to strengthen and restore the “industrial democracy” that is so central to our prosperity. For example, I was proud to join my colleague and friend, House Education

over their non-union counterparts. As wage inequality continues to leave workers and middle-class families behind, our proposed legislation would strengthen protections for workers’ right to organize unions and bargain for higher wages, better benefits and safer working conditions. The Road Ahead I wish that I could believe that the current President and Republicans in Congress would see the wisdom in the reforms that we Democrats are proposing. Yet, for all of their platitudes about the value of working Americans, they remain hostile to the very reforms that could make a real difference in so many lives. Still, if the American People vote with us next year, these reforms will become law and we truly will be able to proclaim that, in our America, every day is Labor Day. Congressman Elijah Cummings represents Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Afro-American Newspapers.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -

September 18, 2019 - September 24, 2019

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