THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016
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Volume 27 . No. 2361 Volume 21 No. 2194
Nominations For New Q House Board
Malloy Malloy To To Dems: Dems:
“DMC” Lacys Get Their Wings
Color Struck?
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“Mistreatment of Black Immigrants is Another Byron Allen’s Court Case and the ‘Stain on America’” US Mis-Education of Our Community FOLLOW ON 1
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Chocolate Milk Back In School, For Now by CHRISTOPHER PEAK New Haven I ndependent
Chocolate milk, banned for the last decade, is making a return to the iceboxes of New Haven’s high school cafeterias. Twice a week. That reversal, which will make chocolate milk available on a limited basis for a six-month pilot, was narrowly approved at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. The 4-3 vote came a wide-ranging discussion about who’s ultimately responsible for children’s nutritional health: The kids who eventually need to decide for themselves? Or the adults who already know better? Board members Matt Wilcox, Larry Conaway, Toni Harp and Darnell Goldson all backed the pilot, along with Lihame Arouna, the board’s non-voting student representative. Tamiko JacksonMcArthur, Yesenia Rivera and Ed Joyner all opposed it. With Monday’s vote, chocolate milk can now be served, but only in high schools, only at lunchtime and only twice a week. In 2011, after seeing a study from the the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, district officials decided to rewrite its menu. They concluded like it didn’t make sense to keep serving chocolate milk, hot dogs and breaded cutlets with the spike in childhood obesity.
But kids have asked for chocolate milk almost incessantly since then. They’ve argued a lot of kids take the plain milk and trash it. At the very least, they’ve added, chocolate milk would be better than sodas that students might bring from home instead. Spencer Greene, a sophomore at Engineering & Science University Magnet School, tried to put some numbers to that. In a survey of roughly 200 students, 88 percent said that they’d grab a chocolate milk in the cafeteria, and 91 percent believed their classmates would drink it. Board members split on whether that increased consumption would be a good thing. Gail Sharry, the district’s food services director, explained that, in order to qualify for federal reimbursement, schools have to offer cartons of milk. Describing it as “a very important way” for students to get Vitamins A and D and calcium, she said only about one-third of kids currently take it at either breakfast or lunch. The chocolate milk, which Sharry hopes will boost the number of kids who pick it out, has eight additional grams of sugar, she said. Jackson-McArthur, a pediatrician and the school board’s secretary, said that there is a new understanding about how healthful milk is for kids — even without the sugar. She said that she now encour-
ages parents to pour a glass of water with their children’s meals, rather than milk. “The amount of milk that they’re given is not as nutritious as it is being promoted,” Jackson-McArthur said. “We’re trying to fight obesity and diabetes, but we’re pushing something that has more sugar. I don’t understand why we would want to do that.” Iline Tracey, the interim superintendent, said she had never give any of her seven kids any milk. “It’s for the baby cow, actually,” she said. “We can guide our young people into doing more research around that.” Other board members said that they don’t think chocolate milk was so unhealthy that they couldn’t leave the choice of what to drink up to students. Conaway, a recently retired principal, said that schools should use the reintroduction of chocolate milk to teach them about a healthy diet. Maybe on sugar and addiction in a science class, added Mayor Harp, who said that she has “struggled with weight issues” herself. Goldson, the school board’s president, said he’s personally not a lactose guy. He said he supported the proposal because it had been developed by students and he said he wanted to “support their engagement.” “These are our high school kids. You put them on the board, for Chrissake,”
CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO Students in the Coop High caf: Do they need more cow’s milk?
he said. “Let’s give them the ability to decide what kind of milk they want to drink.” Before the vote, Arouna told the board members that, for students, sipping chocolate milk with lunch might not be about the nutrition, just like the fruit juice they can pick out sometimes too. “This is something that can make them enjoy their lunch more, which is some-
thing that we often struggle with in New Haven Public Schools,” she said. While this 4-3 vote lacked the rancor the board’s past decisions that led to a threatened duel on Bowen Field, Joyner said he still had a challenge for Goldson after this one. Joyner said that he’ll be back with a gallon of chocolate milk at the next meeting. He dared Goldson to chug it in front of the board.
was one of many stories shared Thursday night, amid cake and, of course, the Lacys’ sweet and tangy chicken wings, at the city’s Small Business Resource Center on Dixwell Avenue. There the Lacys and some 20 others and their families and friends celebrated their graduation from the center’s 11week entrepreneur training program for small businesses, which is run through the city’s Economic Development department. The 23 who graduated from 30 who began the free course — from among hundreds who applied – are all New Haveners, and they range in age from young 20s to 60s, and all had to enter with a minimum credit score of 600. They are all also people people. Their passion for the various projects about to be launched – restaurants, real estate consulting firms, and even a mobile music listening lounge – was evident in both hoots and hollers for each other, along with a lot of networking and exchanging of business cards as certificates
were ceremonially handed out. Preparing those business cards along with that business plan were required for graduation. The keynote speaker, Mayor Toni Harp, hailed the graduates as one of the key engines of New Haven’s economy. “Small businesses drive the economy. They are more likely to hire locally and to get supplies locally,” she said in her charge. “You’ve got a dream and we are counting on your success.” She hailed also the resource center’s teachers, its director Cathy Graves along with Gerry Garcia and Ana Winn, and city economic development staffers. “If you’re having a problem, please call. Annoy them!” Chalyce Jacobs, whose OEO, LLC, stands for Organic Experiences Only mobile music listening lounge, may be driving through your neighborhood in the months and years to come. She was passionate about her idea, all the net-
Lacys Get Their Wings by ALLAN APPEL
New Haven I ndependent
Aspiring local restaurateurs Lachelle and Linwood Lacy had a productive Thursday: They graduated from the city’s small business academy, and they got word that the lease for their first restaurant, planned for Whalley Avenue near Ramsdell Street, had been signed. Result: Opening day for the new business, dubbed Woody’s Wings, is set for Dec. 9, and Linwood cried with joy. Over the last three years, the Lacys have been developing their cooking and catering skills, along with 40 different glazes for their chicken wings. They had persevered through parents’ deaths and other family crises with a dream to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant, but they had never studied cash flow issues or developed a formal business plan. Until they came to the city’s small business academy training program. That long, often deeply emotional journey to see a business dream fulfilled
The group graduation photo moment.
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Con’t on page 09
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
44 New Apartments Approved On Howe by THOMAS BREEN
New Haven I ndependent
The developer of a new six-story, 44unit market-rate apartment complex planned for a Howe Street parking lot has cleared his last regulatory hurdles for the project, and plans to start construction in March. At the most recent meeting of the City Plan Commission on the ground floor of 200 Orange St., commissioners granted unanimous site plan approval for Broadway Living LLC’s planned new multifamily apartment complex at 104 Howe St. Cambridge Realty Partners’ Nick Falker, who owns the Broadway Living holding company, told the commissioners at the meeting this past Wednesday night
that he had initially envisioned building a taller residential building with at least 60 units. But his company ultimately pulled back from that denser project because that would have required a zone change. “Is it all market rate?” City Plan Commissioner and Westville Alder Adam Marchand asked. “No thought of affordable?” “We did underwrite” that possibility for including affordable when “we were considering a larger project,” Falker said. But no more. He said his company plans to begin construction in March, with a 12 to 15-month construction timeline. The resulting 44-unit complex will contain a mix of studio apartments,
one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and fourbedrooms, he said. There will be 22 onsite parking spaces, for which the landlord previously won a special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals. The city’s zoning code would have otherwise required this project to have at least 40 on-site parking spaces. “The parking lot is currently very underutilized,” Falker said about the lot atop which this new apartment complex will be built. Falker’s company also owns the 84-unit apartment complex right next door at 100 Howe St. The surface parking lot is currently used by tenants of that building, he said, as well as by local businesses that reserve parking. “The occupancy for the lot is fairly low.”
The audience at Wednesday’s City Plan Commission meeting.
City Eyes Church For Dixwell Plan by THOMAS BREEN
New Haven I ndependent
The city is racing to buy and then redevelop a two-story church on Dixwell Avenue as a neighborhood daycare as part of a larger effort to buy up blighted properties on the block — before large private landlord groups scoop them up first. The property in question is 308 Dixwell Ave., a 6,750 square-foot lot located between Henry Street and Munson Street that is currently owned by the New Growth Praise Center, a church headed by New Haven Rising co-founder Rev. Scott Marks. Top officials from the city’s anti-blight and redevelopment department, the Livable City Initiative (LCI), pitched the city’s plans for the property—and its larger vision for the Dixwell corridor — at the most recent meetings of the city’s Property Acquisition and Disposition (PAD) Committee in the fifth floor library of the City Plan Department at City Hall and then City Plan Commission in the ground-floor meeting room at 200 Orange St. “This is a commercial property that the city is looking to acquire to add to its portfolio of other properties on Dixwell Avenue, which is part of a larger development that the city is looking to do along the corridor,” LCI Deputy Director Frank D’Amore said at the PAD Committee meeting this past Wednesday. The city is looking to purchase the property, which currently houses a two-story, 3,373 square-foot building, from the church for $190,000. At the subsequent Wednesday night City Plan Commission meeting, LCI Executive Director Serena Neal-Sanjurjo
THOMAS BREEN PHOTOS The Dixwell block that the city is looking to redevelop. Below: LCI chief
Serena Neal-Sanjurjo pitches plan.
LCI Deputy Frank D’Amore and Quinnipiac Meadows Alder Gerald Antunes.
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said the city hopes to eventually sell a redeveloped version of the property to a local daycare service that has been in the Dixwell neighborhood for 22 years. That daycare provider has been looking to expand and wants to stay in the area. So the city has been scouring the Dixwell corridor for potential relocation spots, and found this church on the market. After lengthy negotiations that started in the $500,000-plus range, she said, the church has finally agreed to a price that the city finds reasonable—in no small part because of a property value appraisal that the city commissioned this summer that pegged the property as worth $160,000. “If we don’t buy it,” she said, “it will go on the market and it will go for a much higher number.” LCI Neighborhood & Commercial Development Manager Arlevia Samuel said at the PAD Committee meeting that this proposed acquisition is not a one-off— but rather part of a larger neighborhoodwide strategy by the city’s property redevelopment wing. “It’s a part of the commercial corridor revitalization,” she said. “We’re trying to acquire the blighted properties that are available to redevelop as retail and office spaces on the corridor that hopefully will be sold back and incorporated back into the community as owned by small businesses.” The city has already acquired quite a few properties in the area, she said. According to the city assessor’s database, the city owns five properties on that same side of Dixwell Avenue, between Admiral Street and Munson Street. That includes 252 Dixwell (bought by the city in 2003), 256 Dixwell (2003),
294 Dixwell (2004), 306 Dixwell (2018), and 316 Dixwell (2019). On the other side of the street, the city also owns 321 Dixwell (2017) and 325 Dixwell (2015). Samuel and D’Amore said that the city is also in negotiations to purchase the old Walt Cleaner’s lot at 310 Dixwell. “We’re just trying to get site control over there,” D’Amore said about that stretch of Dixwell. “It’s all about getting site control now so that we can turn that block around.” City Deputy Director of Zoning Jenna Montesano added that the city’s planned commercial corridor rezoning initiative (which no longer include Dixwell, for now) is also geared towards spurring this type of commercial redevelopment, not just for properties owned by the city but also for projects like what ConnCORP has planned for Dixwell Plaza. Why does the city want to pay more than the appraisal? asked city Small Business Development Officer Clay Williams. Two reasons, Samuel said. The first is that the church’s initial asking price was so high. The city was only able to bring them down after getting a new appraisal done in July. The city assessor’s database lists the most recent appraisal of the property as $316,600, while this summer’s appraisal dropped the property’s market value to $160,000. The second reason is that the church warned the city that, if it didn’t buy, it would likely enter a bidding war with other private investors. “A couple of private developers were interested,” she said. “We didn’t want Ocean Management to buy it.” Con’t on page 06
THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Emerging Leader Guides Next Generation by PAUL BASS
New Haven I ndependent
Erick Russell had advice for an African-American woman from New Haven about to begin a legal career: You belong. “You’re right where you’re supposed to be,” Russell told the woman, fellow University of Connecticut Law School grad Ashley McWilliams. Russell spends a lot of time mentoring students and young lawyers of color like McWilliams, as well as young LGBT lawyers and young people getting involved in local and state politics. He knows what it’s like to feel you might not belong in the legal world after growing up in New Haven and how important it is to get past that feeling. Russell did. At 30, he specializes in government finance as an attorney with the firm of Pullman & Comley. He’s a rising star: In the past six months he has won four separate awards, from Super Lawyers Connecticut, the UConn Alumni Association, Fairfield County Business Journal, and the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association. The latter organization, named after New Haven government’s first AfricanAmerican corporation counsel and consisting of black lawyers, helped Russell navigate law school and the work world. “I was the first person in my family to go to college. I didn’t grow up around lawyers. I didn’t see other lawyers who looked like me,” he recalled during an appearance on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program. Russell is part of a generational changing of the guard in his hometown. A millennial campaign manager helped elect the city’s first post-Baby Boomer mayor on Nov. 5. Millennials and Gen Yers have taken leadership roles in the nonprofit and business development sectors. From promoting high-tech to advancing in law to assuming Democratic Party positions, Russell has emerged as one of the new leaders to watch. Russell had his eyes on a legal career since he began stocking shelves and running the register at 9 years old in his parents’ store, Fast Food Deli on Congress Avenue. He met a lot of cops there. He liked them. “I didn’t see many cops that looked like me,” Russell recalled. “I thought that might be a way I could contribute.” So he went to University of New Haven, intending to be a cop. Then-State Rep. Michael Lawlor took him to the state Capitol to watch a debate over banning the death penalty; that “sparked my interest in policy.” It didn’t occur to him he could be a lawyer. He decided to apply to law school anyway — one law school, UConn — and got in. It was only in law school that he came out as gay, he said. (Two years ago he
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Christian Lewis/Current Affairs Anthony Scott/Sports Arlene Davis-Rudd/Politics PAUL BASS PHOTO Erick Russell (center) with Mayor-Elect Justin Elicker and State Rep. Robyn Porter at a campaign event.
MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO State Rep. Porter and Russell greeting students with high-fives at an opening-day event at Lincoln Bassett School.
married Chris Lyddy.) He was one of only a handful of African-Americans at UConn law. So he knew what it was like to be an outsider. He also discovered that he belonged. He thrived at UConn. He interned for a summer in the state prosecutor’s office in Milford, seeing a possibility of following a similar path. It didn’t occur to him he would ever work at a private law firm. Didn’t seem he would fit in. Until a summer internship at Pullman & Comley. “All the concerns I had about being accepted and comfortable” vanished, he said. And the work intrigued him. So, with some helpful advice from mentors, he decided to make that plunge after graduation. He now represents municipal and state governments in issuing bonds, among other tasks. Ashley McWilliams navigated a similar path — with Russell’s help. Growing up, McWilliams knew his
family from the People’s Choice, the Dixwell Avenue convenience store they opened after running the one in the Hill. Like Russell, she graduated from Hillhouse and eventually ended up at UConn, then took a job with an established firm, in her case concentrating on insurance law. Russell connected with her through a UConn alumni mentoring network while she was still studying there. They remain in touch. Sometimes they meet in person over lunch. More often she calls or emails or texts him. He helped her deal with “culturally insensitive” moments in constitutional law class. He helped her work through what kind of law to practice, in what setting to practice it, questions about billable hours and client and partner interaction. She spoke of how, “often in certain spaces” she finds herself “having to question whether it was the proper place for me, be it my color, be it my gender.” Russell has reassured her, and has always
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offered “sound advice.” He continues to. Russell has devoted long hours not just to mentoring up-and-coming students, but to participating in policy and politics. He spent two terms chairing the state bar association’s LGBT section. When he lived in the City Point neighborhood (he has since moved to Upper Westville), he served as co-chair of the Democratic ward committee. Now he serves as vicechair of the state Democratic Party. He’s part of a group of younger people working hard to draw a new generation into the party. The national party has tapped him to serve as Eastern Region vicechair of the Association of State Democratic Committees. “These are the young people we’re looking for. We’re looking for diversity, professionalism, dedication to the community and to the state and to the nation,” said state Democratic Party Chair Nancy Wyman. “He’s going to inspire more and more young people to get involved. He’s showing that you can balance” a law career with public service. “Erick is a bright young lawyer with a keen sense of right and wrong,” said New Haven Democratic Town Chair Vincent Mauro Jr. “His contributions will only continue to make this city a more inclusive and compassionate place.” Russell’s name has already popped up as a potential future candidate, when it appeared in 2018 that Ned Lamont might invite Gary Winfield to run as his lieutenant governor candidate and Winfield’s state Senate seat might open. But Russell insisted pursuing elected office is not “my plan.” “I don’t have any plans to run for office. My thing has always been making contributions,” he said. “I don’t think that you need to be elected to contribute.” Whatever roads he ends up following, Russell is among the drivers at the helm of generational change in New Haven.
Contributing Writers David Asbery Tanisha Asbery Jerry Craft/Cartoons Barbara Fair
Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur Michelle Turner Smita Shrestha William Spivey Kam Williams Rev. Samuel T. Ross-Lee
_______________________
Contributors At-Large
Christine Stuart www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass New Haven Independent www.newhavenindependent.org
Memberships
National Association of Black Journalist National Newspapers Publishers Association Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Greater New Haven Business & Professional Association Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Racially Discriminatory Legislation and Policies Must Be Stopped The Unintended Consequences of a Menthol Cigarette Ban to Black America From pro-slavery laws to Jim Crow, to Prohibition, to racial profiling, to Stop-and-Frisk, history is clear: racist laws and discriminatory bans have been devastating for Black America. Today, Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) and National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) have joined together with other African-American law enforcement executives to call on you - our readers in Black communities across the nation - to see the warning signs of yet another proposed racially discriminatory law: the menthol cigarette ban. It is a well-known fact that over 85 percent of African Americans who smoke prefer menthol cigarettes. There is no factual basis to assert that a menthol cigarette ban will stop African Americans from smoking. In fact, the unintended consequences of such a racially-discriminatory ban will set the stage for more negative and more likely counterproductive interactions between law enforcement and African Americans. While proponents argue that a menthol cigarette ban could encourage menthol cigarette smokers to quit smoking coldturkey, another possible outcome could be extremely dangerous—the creation of an illicit market. If this happens, illegal sales of menthol cigarettes will likely be concentrated in communities of color, leading to a greater police presence, citations, fines, and arrests for selling a product that for the past 50 years has been legal. Possible bans on menthol cigarettes are now being considered throughout the United States as add-ons to e-cigarette bans. It must be said that while FDA has deemed teen vaping an “epidemic,” there is no teen menthol cigarette epidemic. The fact is teen cigarette use has steadily been on the decline over the past decade. Recently in New York, the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner courageously issued a public statement warning against the consequences of a proposed menthol cigarette ban. Sybrina Fulton and Gwendolyn Carr stated, “When you ban a product sold mostly in Black communities, you must consider the reality of what will happen to that very same over-represented community in the criminal justice system.” Law enforcement leaders like Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Grand Council of Guardians, and National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers (NABLEO) have stated countless times that a ban on menthol cigarettes will have unintended negative consequences, especially for African Americans. Over the past 30 years, we have reduced tobacco consumption overall across this country by about 40 percent. And we did not do that with the criminal justice community. We did that with education, we did it with treatment, we did it from a health and educational perspective. Let’s continue with that. Let’s not do something that’s going to end up with these unintended consequences of increasing interaction between police and community members. Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP): “I dedicated 34 years of my life to public safety, enforcing the laws that our legislators placed before me. That’s what cops do, and we trust that those laws are well thought out, studied and based upon sound data and evidence. As we begin to mirror the days of alcohol prohibition with tobacco bans, expect the violence and corruption that comes with the illicit market and add something else, the over criminalization of the black community.” Jiles Ship, President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives – New Jersey (NOBLE): “Banning menthol cigarettes would be a 21st Century attempt at Prohibition, a past failure of government to restrict a previously legal product. As we learned with Prohibition, every time the government tries to ban something, it seems to cause other problems. And unfortunately, a menthol cigarette ban would be another example of government action that disproportionately disrupts the Black community.” Charles Billips, National Chair Person of Grand Council of Guardians, “The first question I asked is how are they going to implement this ban on menthol cigarettes, knowing that a large number of Black and Brown people smoke menthol cigarettes? It would be best to educate the communities on the affect it has on our health instead of a ban enforced through Law Enforcement.” As The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once prophetically said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” And the right thing to do for our families and communities and for all who stand for freedom, justice and equality is to speak out against all forms of racial discrimination and disproportionate law enforcement, as well as the systems, laws, bans and policies that perpetuate them. Speak out against racism. Stand up against discrimination. Let your voices be heard.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Atticus-Chabaso Torch Passed by PAUL BASS
New Haven I ndependent
Charles Negaro Sr. prepared to eat lunch at Atticus Bookstore & Cafe this week now as a customer, not the boss. Charles Jr. would worry about making sure the place was running. From here on in. This week marked the end of one of New Haven’s retail success stories of the past 40 years: Charlie Sr.‘s founding of the Chapel Street bookstore and its evolution into a coffeehouse and then restaurant; and the development of the related Chabaso Bakery on James Street, where the ciabatta is baked not just for Atticus, but for venues throughout the Northeast. The businesses are strong as ever. And they will remain in the family. After 16 years learning the ropes at both operations and gradually assuming authority, 36-year-old Charlie Jr. this week officially took over as the boss. And at 78, Charlie Sr. retired, knowing the businesses are continuing in good hands to evolve with the times. At a time of creative destruction, popup stores, and internet commercial dominance, this week’s torch-passing marks an inspiring counter-example of longterm old-fashioned brick-and-mortar retail success. In a joint interview on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven,” the two Charlies reflected on their years building up the businesses and on future plans. Charlie Sr. in particular downplayed his own success — attributing it to luck — while stressing how different his son is, how better prepared for the task. But as they spoke, the similarities between the two Negaros’ paths were unmistakable. Beginning with their determination not to follow in their fathers’ footsteps. Charlie Sr. once vowed never to go into retail. He decided that in high school, while working at his father’s grocery, the Handy Dandy Market in Waterbury. So he went to law school. He practiced for five years ... then decided to ditch the law to open a bookstore in downtown New Haven. “I love retail,” Charlie Sr. realized. He said he’s not as much a lover of books. “He crushes books,” Charlie Jr. interjected, setting off a discussion of the tomes his dad had devoured just in recent weeks. “It was 1976 ...” Charlie Sr. recalled of when he opened Atticus. ” ... ‘75,” Charlie Jr. corrected. New Haven’s downtown was pretty dead at the time. People went to Dunkin’ Donuts when they wanted fancy coffee. Negaro started Atticus just as a bookstore. Then he decided he needed to diversify his revenue streams to survive.
PAUL BASS PHOTOS Fresh loaves, fresh joe at Atticus.
MONIQUE SOURINHO PHOTO
Top baker Peter Abrams and Homa Assadi of Sanctuary Kitchen inside Chabaso.
A friend operated a coffee shop in a D.C. bookstore. So Charlie Sr. thought he’d try it too. He picked up some Kitchen 8 coffee grinders. Learned how to make espresso. The place filled up immediately. Students, and others, loved having a hangout to drink coffee or tea, and read or socialize. “It was a mob scene,” Charlie Sr. recalled. “It was a bar that wasn’t a bar
where single women could come” without worries about drunkards harassing them. Eventually Charlie Sr. arranged to have bread baked in a Crown Street kitchen. That worked too. People liked the bread. Meanwhile, chains like Barnes & Noble were dominating the book business. More coffee shops were popping up in town; a veritable scene was developing. So Charlie Sr.
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needed to grow the business again. He decided baking more bread, and selling it other places, might be the answer. So he opened the Chabaso bakery on James Street in 1995. It became one of Fair Haven’s more stable mid-sized employers, and a partner to community organizations like New Haven Farms (which started in a garden on the premises) and Fair Haven Health Center. Today the bakery’s 135 employees turn out 30,000 loaves of bread a day to distribute throughout New England. Charlie Jr. worked at Chabaso a bit while growing up in the East Rock neighborhood. But mostly “I grew up trying to avoid it as much as possible.” Like his dad, he was determined not to enter the family food business. After high school he worked fixing and rebuilding cars. He worked in auto-body shops in Chicago, then back home in New Haven. By 22, he decided the work might be fun, but it wasn’t a career. He found himself back in the James Street bakery — and decided he enjoyed the “opportunity to put pieces together” in a new way. He stayed. “I was a punk,” Charlie Jr. recalled. “You weren’t a punk,” interjected Charlie Sr. “I came in on week 2 and said, ‘I can do it better than you.’” Charlie Sr. concluded that, in fact, his son could do some of the work better. Three and a half years ago, Charlie Jr. moved over to Atticus and helped his dad figure out how to update that business. The store expanded to sell more gifts. The menu expanded beyond staples like black bean soup to include locally sourced specialties like koginut squashes grown from seeds marketed by a local grower, Matt Wick. Charlie Jr. understood the increased sophistication of customers’ paletes, as well as a growing desire for more sustainably grown and tastier foods. “I always though soup was something made by plumbers,” remarked Charlie Sr. Charlie Jr.: “Don’t underestimate plumbers.” Charlie Jr. brought on “pros” who improved recipes and began baking specialty breads for Atticus in a new section of Chabaso on James Street. He also worked collaboratively with staffers rather than expecting people simply to run with the boss’s ideas, Charlie Sr. said. Look for more new ideas to rise from the Atticus/Chabaso ovens. For instance: Atticus goes through 200 pounds of dough a day. It used to be all white flour. Gradually it has moved to incorporating more whole grains. The goal, according to Charlie Jr., is have all breads and pastries made from whole-grain flour in
2020. He has also helped organize a new coalition of New England growers and retailers to promote a regional “grain economy” similar to ones launched in California and Arizona based on nutritious wheat, rye, and oats grown by local “dirt farmers” who avoid spraying insecticides. “The past year, we were able to source or grow 20,000 pounds of wheat from Connecticut,” Charlie Jr. reported. Moving long-running local businesses into the future and deepening ties to the regional economy: just a couple of many topics to make for a lively conversation at the tables on Chapel Street. Con’t from page 03
City Eyes Church
As the city looks to buy up blighted properties on Dixwell Avenue for redevelopment purposes, D’Amore said, it’s found itself more and more facing off against private landlords with deeper pockets. Williams offered a theory as to why some of the larger players have gone on recent buying sprees in that area of Dixwell and Newhallville: To take advantage of new capital gains tax breaks for landlords who buy up properties in federally-sanctioned, state-selected “Opportunity Zones.” “We have heard that a lot of these developers are buying up properties in the Opportunity Zones,” Williams said, “because they are creating their own qualified opportunity funding sources to attract some of that capital gains money. “We’re seeing a whole lot of properties suddenly purchased in Dixwell and Newhallville and the Hill, and we think it’s because folks are taking advantage of the Opportunity Zones.” Samuel said that the city has found itself in competition with landlords paying double the price of what a property is actually worth. Neal-Sanjurjo stressed that same point later that night at the City Plan Commission meeting. City Plan Commission Chair Ed Mattison urged his colleagues to support the city’s bid to purchase 308 Dixwell. “I think allowing a random builder to get it is not in conformity with what we want to accomplish” on that corridor, he said. Both the PAD Committee and the City Plan Commission gave unanimous recommendations of approval for the city’s bid to acquire 308 Dixwell. That proposed purchase now goes to the LCI Board of Directors, and then over to the Board of Alders for a potential committee public hearing and final vote.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Wanted: Nominations For New Q House Board by ALLAN APPEL
New Haven I ndependent
Organizers of the under-construction Dixwell Community Q House are not wasting any time. With the foundation already in the ground before winter and an expected ribbon cutting as soon as the end of 2020, they’ve set a deadline for the submission of nominations for an executive board. Monday night a group of neighbors at the Wexler-Grant School auditorium, organized by the Building Committee for the Dixwell Community House, heard one of its co-chairs, Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison, describe the prospective 19-member board. Its main job: oversee the long-awaited new version of the iconic Dixwell neighborhood anchoring institution, both as it comes into being and when it is fully operational. That’s an important job, as the community seeks to avoid a rerun of the Q’s 2003 closing amid financial woes. The planned 54,000 square-foot, twostory new Q will house the Stetson Library, the Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, the Dixwell Senior Center, and a new basketball court and recording studio. It being built just a few feet over from the school at the corner of Dixwell Avenue and Foote Street. In the spring the mayor signed an agreement with the project’s construction contractor, A. Secondino & Son, to over-
see construction on the $16.697 million mostly state-funded venture. Foundations are being poured, with workers racing against the cold weather, toward a finishing date for the building either at the end of 2020 or early in 2021. Morrison said nominations for the board can be sent in by any New Havener to the mayor’s legislative liaison Esther Armmand here. Due date: Nov. 29. Why such a short window to send in names? That’s precisely what Dottie Green asked. She ran programming from 1987 to 1990 at the previous Q House. “Will enough people be aware of the board if the deadline is Nov. 29?” she asked. “The time frame is concerning.”
Morrison said Monday night’s gathering is the first of three public forums and updates on the emerging Q House. Morrison described that the rushed deadline as a nod of gratitude and respect to Mayor Toni Harp who, Morrison said, has been one of the indispensable backers of the new Q House from as far back as when she was a state senator. Harp has only five weeks left in office. “Our mayor should be part of the process of selecting people for the board,” said Morrison. After the review of recommended board members, the mayor passes her choices to the Board of Alders, which holds its own review and then a vote.
With only two meetings of the alders left during the Harp administration, submission of names by Nov. 29 is required to give time for Mayor Harp to be part of the process, Morrison said. “I want the mayor to have a say, which she deserves,” said Morrison. most of the board’s 19 members will be representatives proposed from the four constituent institutions, along with representatives from alders, the city’s youth and elderly services departments, and the neighboring Dixwell Congregational Church. Morrison said she considers the church an informal fifth constituent of the Q House likely to share spaces and services. The Q’s board will pick an executive director to oversee operational uses of shared spaces and programs, explained Dr. Dakibu Muley. He’s the director of the city’s Community Services Administration (CSA), to whom the Q House’s future executive director will ultimately report. The board will also write bylaws and policies; the job description of the executive director; and a strategic plan for the long-term financial health of the new Q House, so the operational money woes that beset its predecessor can be avoided. The basic plan is for the library, elderly services, and Cornell Scott-Hill Health to in effect pay rent monthly rent to the Q House, which will cover part of the
ALLAN APPEL PHOTO Jackie Bracey, a founder of the Concerned Citizens for the Greater New Haven
Dixwell Community House, and the Building Committee Co-Chair Curlena Mcdonald.
estimated $ million operating expenses. The board will also continue fundraising efforts such as an ongoing buy-a-brickleave-a-legacy campaign to build up an endowment “This group is going to have a heavy lift,” Muley added. He urged audience members to spread the word of nominations, that representatives should have not only expertise but also the dedication
and ability to attend work sessions. In construction news that emerged from the meeting, Morrison said that about a quarter of the $16.7 million job — specifically the building of the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center component — is to be broken out into smaller pieces. The purpose: To allow smaller, local, and minority-owned companies to take on those jobs.
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working and the friends she had made during the course’s run. The group graduation photo moment. Access to city staff and resources, to the various bankers, successful business owners, and marketers who addressed the two-hour per week classes, were also among Chalyce Jacobs’ big takeaways from the twice-a-year course, now in its fifth cohort. Paula Walker, who worked for ten years for a company that sells Medicare plans, finally decided to go out on her own. She’ll be her own consultant now, with business cards and a big idea, although an office is farther in the future. She said her husband’s support will carry her through the transition. “I wish I’d taken the course sooner.” This reporter was struck by not only the enthusiasm and camaraderie of the graduates but how they are all so personable and passionate. You’ve got to be that way, said Graves, who took over helming the center in 2017 and has been tweaking the curriculum ever since, making the current cohort the strongest yet. The participants learn about financial readiness to open a business, the legalities involved, and finance, and marketing all within the first four weeks, and that material is repeated as needed. All along they are developing the business plan, which teachers review and help revise throughout the course. Rashad Cruthird, who wants to start a real estate acquisition and management company, said he came across the course by perusing the city’s website. Through the course, his idea, which had been just a dream, he said, is now taking shape: “The plan, the profit and loss statements, a formula that will work. Learning how to structure it. That was big. Just an idea and dream, but then you realize the steps to get there.” Graves said those interested to be part of the next small business training can contact the center via the city’s website, tabbing over to small business under economic development, or visit her on the sixth floor at city hall. On tap in the near future is also a rolling out of an online management training program for mature small businesses, those that have been going on for three years and have at least three employees. This year’s 23 graduates had among them three people re-entering society after incarceration. Further down the road – this is one of Cathy Graves’s dreams, a dream dependent on funding – is to have the small business academy course, which is free to all participants, have one cohort designed specifically for ex-offenders who want to become small business people.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Shocked By Family Drama Every Year? Here’s How To Prepare…
by Dr. Nicole Washington is a boardcertified psychiatrist, and contributor to BlackDoctor.org
Let’s face it, for some of us, the holidays are more like a horror film than a Hallmark movie. Our families don’t always get along and every dinner doesn’t end on a happy note. Patients often come back to me after the holidays with terrible stories of holiday gatherings gone wrong that have led to some sort of worsening of depression or anxiety. Every time, I ask if this was the first time this has happened and the answer is always “no”. Each person is able to admit that they could have predicted this level of holiday drama but they are always hopeful that this time will be different. While we want to believe that people can change, we have to remember that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior and plan our holidays with that in mind. Don’t be so hard on yourself –The behavior of those who disrupt our gatherings has everything to do with them and
very little, if anything, to do with us. It is not uncommon for those present to think they could have done something different to prevent this from happening and take the events very personal. They may find themselves planning annually to try to prevent the drama, only to find themselves disappointed due to the behavior of others. You are not responsible for the behavior of others. You can put forth the best holiday spread imaginable and provide the warmest environment, but that may not be enough to stop people from acting out. 1. Give Yourself Permission to “Check Out” if Necessary There is no written rule that you need to be at every family function from start until finish. As a matter of fact, to preserve your mental health you may have to find ways to step away. Going late, leaving early, or finding moments to take breaks for relaxation and deep breathing can be lifesavers for moments like these. 2. Set Firm Boundaries
If you have a repeat offender relative who tends to be the primary disrupter on the holidays, set boundaries with that person before the event. It helps if you have the support of other relatives. Being firm with that individual about what behavior is problematic, how it affects everyone else, and what you all plan to do if the person doesn’t respect the boundaries being set can help with creating a more peaceful day. The best boundaries are clear and concise with no room for misunderstanding. Boundaries that are too loose don’t typically stop the behavior. Boundaries that are too firm and rigid, tend to be unrealistic and set the person up for failure. As difficult as it sounds, practice makes perfect! Taking the time to prepare for the drama we know is likely coming is the best way to deal with family drama. We can’t pick our family and we can’t prevent all the drama. With some planning on our part and setting realistic expectations we can decrease our level of surprise and disappointment when it comes our way.
Dr. Nicole Washington is a board-certified psychiatrist, speaker, author and host of The C-Suite Confidant, a biweekly podcast covering topics pertinent to
mental wellness for the high performer. She enjoys discussing and providing education on all things mental wellness in hopes of decreasing the stigma associated with mental health issues.
Shop Black Week Is Projected to Set Historical Numbers for Black-Owned Businesses
Currently, an estimated 200 organizations now unite to ensure the success of the national Shop Black Week (SBW) campaign that starts this Friday, Nov. 22, through Black Friday, Nov. 29. That number is three times more than the initial grassroot effort. The growing collective represents more than 1.5 million members — from coast to coast — sharing information via their social media accounts requesting subscribers and followers to #shopblackweek and #SBW2019 and relay their
purchases, business names, locations and dates. Media serving Black communities and households across the country have spread the news about SBW with overwhelming response. Churches with primarily an African American congregations and Black media are among them. Local newspapers and magazine giants such as Ebony and Black Enterprise covered the movement. However supporters have crossed ethnic and racial lines displaying diversity
for the seven-day SBW event. Coordinators noted they have not found another time in recent history when such organizations have come together for a single cause. “We had no idea that so many different people from different backgrounds would want to get involved with this timely and important movement,” said Aysha Jackson, VP of Operations for The Nubian Network the lead in coordinating Shop Black Week activities. This historical coalition garnered an
extensive amount of press from national and local news, radio, magazines, blog postings and other publications. Coverage included every major television entity such as ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, and NBC as well as many other independent television outlets. In addition, Latino television, magazines, radio and news outlets such as Telemundo and Latin Business Today reported on SBW. The most unexpected press included international coverage from African and European nations, and Canada. Sur-
prisingly, support has come from many Country and Western radio stations, talk radio, sports radio and some unique blogs that have joined our efforts. “I’ve been in promotions for over 20 years, and being a part of a campaign that commands this volume of media attention has surprised even me,” said Rochelle Williams, Show Black Week’s PR Representative. Visit www.ShopBlackWeek.org for information to participate as a business, individual or organization.
3 Benefits To Using Online Therapy Services by Bryana Holcomb, BlackDoctor.org
Although many are still uncomfortable talking about it, mental illness is the reason why many relationships have failed, dreams are crushed, and suicide and homicide cases are on the rise. You may even know of a friend or relative who has been unlike themselves. Maybe they’ve been isolating themselves from crowds, become aggressive, or having unpredictable behavioral and mood changes. These are just some of the signs of depression and other forms of mental illnesses, but luckily, there is an easy way to help them get over these overwhelming feelings. Although psychotherapy is a relatively new form of treatment, therapy on a broader scale has always been the most
sought method of treating mental illness. Unfortunately, many people cannot afford treatment. One session can cost up to $200, which can be too high, especially for low and middle-class individuals. Since not all insurances cover therapy many individuals have opted for other options. Technology has made things better by bringing on the rise of online therapy. Since online therapy has come into existence thousands of individuals have begun using these services. Here are some of the benefits to online therapy: Assists in breaking stigmas One of the reasons why a lot of individuals fail to seek mental illness support and medication is due to stigma. Half of people diagnosed with severe mental
illness don’t seek treatment. People still view mental health as a controversial topic making patients afraid that they’ll be judged. Some will even drive to the therapist’s office but upon getting there, feel shame sink in and won’t get out of the car. Online therapy has come to break this cycle, and patients can receive mental care without feeling like anyone is judging them. Pricing Online therapy is much cheaper compared to traditional therapy. With this, many individuals find it affordable, and this is why it keeps winning over the conventional method. Confidentiality As mentioned, a lot of individuals are
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battling mental health stigma. They do not want anyone judging them, and
online therapy helps them achieve this pretty easily. While nothing in life is completely devoid of risk, the platforms are confidential and safe, and if it’s your wish, then nobody will be able to learn about your sessions. Online therapy is an excellent option for patients seeking mental health support It has also proven to enhance accessibility for those with mobility limitations, and it is super convenient for individuals with busy schedules. Outcomes may vary from one person to the next– what works for you might not work for the other person, but having the option to try something new with mental health treatment plans makes it easier to get what you need and brings us another step closer to closing the gap on stigma and disparities.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick Joins Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker in White House Race By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor
As doubts grow about the candidacy of former Vice President Joe Biden, other candidates have entered the race for the White House in 2020. In a surprise announcement on November 14, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, 63, tossed his hat in the ring. Only days before, former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg announced he would also join the crowded field of Democrats competing to take on President Donald Trump. Former Governor Patrick’s late entry onto the presidential stage means that for the first time in history, three African Americans are running for President from one of the two major political parties. They are Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and now Patrick. The late arrivals have reignited a debate about “electability” and who can actually win in 2020. Biden’s poll numbers falling in Iowa started the debate.
The diversity of the field and Patrick’s late run only 80 days before the Iowa Caucuses have many insiders on team blue worried that a protracted primary fight may hurt the party’s chances of beating Trump. Concerns from Wall Street and the “one percent” about Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s “wealth tax” ideas have many Democrats who are more corporation friendly, such as Patrick, re-thinking their chances to compete. Billionaire Bloomberg joined billionaire Tom Steyer, who literally bought his way onto the debate stage, are trying to ignite interest with the moderate wing of the Democratic Party. To add to the challenge, white candidates in the field must build the diverse Obama coalition of voters and ensure excitement in the most reliable sectors of the Democratic base while minority candidates must thread the needle of attracting white support. The share of white voters supporting the Democratic Party decreases two or three percent each year.
“We have women in this race, we have an openly gay person in this race, we have (a) biracial person in this race, African-Americans in this race,” Patrick said on November 15 to the Associated Press. “It is an incredible moment in American history that our field is so diverse and that voters have such qualified folks to choose from.” It remains to be seen whether Patrick can quality for the debate stage next month. It also remains to be seen as to whether he can raise the millions needed to mount a serious effort for the White House. But with the current field in flux because of Biden’s faltering in the polls, Deval Patrick may have a chance compete in a crowded field. Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist for NNPA and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is also a political strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke
Former Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Congressional Black Caucus Members Visit U.S.-Mexico Border:
“Mistreatment of Black Immigrants is Another ‘Stain on America’”
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
Chairwoman Rep. Karen Bass (DCalif.) led a delegation of Congressional Black Caucus members to the U.S.Mexico border on Friday in San Ysidro, California, where they said they witnessed first-hand the deplorable treatment and plight of Black immigrants. Bass, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY), each said they wanted to examine the treatment – and call attention to the mistreatment – of African immigrants at the border, including the October 1 death of 37-year-old Cameroon immigrant Nebane Abienwi. Attorney Nana Gyamfi, the executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, joined the group at the border. “It was a very frustrating experience today,” Bass said from the border during an exclusive conference call with publishers, editors, and writers for the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the trade association that represents the newspaper and media companies that comprise the Black Press of America. “We crossed the border into Tijuana, Mexico, and we met with a group of Black immigrants from Cameroon, Sierra Leone, and other African countries. Some who have made unbelievable
COMMENTARY:
journeys,” Bass stated. The CBC Chair and her colleagues blasted the Trump administration and its policies toward immigrants, particularly those from countries that consist predominately of people of color. Bass described the sobering plight of a Black migrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “The first child separated from her mother was from a family from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The child was sent to Illinois while the mother, who spoke French, was detained at the border,” Bass stated. “This happens as our country grapples with [a president] who makes it clear that he welcomes immigrants from places like Norway, but not ‘sh-thole’ countries. He’s breaking the law. International law states that if you are from a country that’s experiencing distress, you can request asylum. Trump has done everything he can to block that and to make the United States not compliant with international law,” Bass noted. In the case of Abienwi, the Cameroonian died in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after experiencing a hypertensive event at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego. Reportedly, he was unresponsive and appeared paralyzed on his left side when he arrived at the hospital. After undergoing treatment for a brain hemorrhage,
Bass said Abienwi was taken off life support against his family’s wishes and died. Doctors listed his official cause of death as brain death due to a brain hemorrhage. “Thousands of African and Caribbean
immigrants who immigrate to the United States of America are treated as if they are invisible,” Bass stated. “Many arrived in South America and then walked north, all to be dehumanized and mistreated at our southern border. We [went] to the border to hear what
they have been through. They are an important piece of this story,” Bass said. In a statement, officials at ICE said they’re still in the process of reviewing Abienwi’s death. According to various published reports, the Department of Homeland Security records had revealed that Abienwi applied for admission into the country at the San Ysidro Port of Entry without proper paperwork on September 5. He was taken into custody by ICE on September 19, 2019. Bass said his death remains a mystery and is cause for concern. CBC members also pointed to a recent Pew Research Center study that revealed that there are more than 4.2 million Black immigrants in the United States, with Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America making positive contributions to the United States. However, those immigrants are at a higher risk for arrest, detention, and abuse because of racial profiling and racial bias, according to the Pew report. “We need to shed some light on what is taking place here as it relates to Black immigrants from the Caribbean and Africa,” stated Lee, the chair and majority leader of the House Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity. “They came here fleeing from violence in their own countries, getting to a place Con’t on page 16
What Do the 2019 Elections Mean for 2020?
By Dr. Julianne Malveaux, NNPA Newswire Contributor If the 2019 elections are any indication, Republicans need to worry about their viability come 2020. In Virginia, Democrats have majorities in both its upper and lower houses. With a Democratic governor, Virginia has an unprecedented opportunity to shape public policy, especially around gun control, a key concern for many. In West Virginia, the candidate backed by 45 lost. Many will say it is because of the Republican governor, Matt Bevin, was extremely unpopular. If so why was 45 propping him up? He must have thought he had a prayer. 45 notwithstanding, Bevin’s Democratic opponent, Attorney General Andy Beshear, scored a very narrow victory,
getting 49.2 percent of the vote, compared to Bevin’s 48.8. Just five thousand votes separate the two men, but a narrow win is still a victory, and 45 has egg on his face. Usually, when 45 shows up and takes it over the line, the base is supposed to get fired up. Not this time. While Democrats scored some gains, the Mississippi governor’s mansion is still in Republican hands. Mississippi has the largest concentration of Black people – 39 percent – of any state, but African Americans remain underrepresented among elected officials in Mississippi. Is it voter turnout? An inability to forge a progressive coalition? Or, are race matters so hardwired in Mississippi that Republicans will always prevail? Speaking of other race matters, the affirmative action ballot measure that appeared on the Washington state ballot failed, which is disappointing news for those who think that we have not yet met diversity goals. Washington state was one of the first to ban affirmative action in 1998 (California’s
anti-affirmative action Proposition 209 also passed that year). After California and Washington, other states followed, including Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma. Although the affirmative action measure – Referendum 88 – lost very narrowly, it still failed. That means that state agencies can’t openly recruit diverse candidates, and contracting agencies can’t make special efforts to reach out to those who are underrepresented. And since the anti-affirmative action measure passed in 1998, the numbers of minority and women-owned businesses have dropped in the state. That’s a step backward! One of the reasons Referendum 88 failed was because a group of Chinese immigrants was among those who campaigned to defeat the affirmative action measure. Former governor Gary Locke, an Asian American man who describes himself as a product of affirmative action, fought for the referendum. But the majority of voters rejected the measure. So much for the “people of color” co-
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alition. Still, it is interesting that a recent Gallup poll showed that a majority of white people in this country narrowly favor affirmative action, with 65 percent advocating affirmative action for women and 61 percent supporting affirmative action for minorities. These levels of support are the highest since Gallup began polling on this issue. Perhaps the recent focus on the wealth gap has sensitized some people to inequality. In any case, as positive as the poll was, it didn’t translate to the vote. The affirmative action loss is bad news because it may signal other states to avoid pro-affirmative action referenda. Further, the loss confirms that many are satisfied with the lack of diversity that is commonplace in politics, the workplace, and elsewhere. And, given the composition of this Supreme Court, challenges to affirmative action that come before them are likely to weaken efforts to encourage diversity in employment, contracting, and education. Several of the justices have already openly opined that
race should matter less. Their overturning of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is evidence of their race myopia. It is as if these judges are oblivious to the persistence of racism. It is as if they ignore the headlines about the police shootings of Black men. It is as if the wealth gap means nothing to them. So, what do we learn from the last elections? Democrats have a chance to defeat some Republicans and may yet prevail in the 2020 elections. But race remains a divisive factor in our country. And unfortunately, we have a President who will use race divisiveness to his advantage. Count on the 2020 election to be as contentious as the 2016 election was, but hopefully with different results. Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, media contributor and educator. Her latest project MALVEAUX! On UDCTV is available on youtube.com. For booking, wholesale inquiries or for more info visit www.juliannemalveaux. com
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
How to help a caregiver during National Family Caregivers Month November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. The Alzheimer’s Association is recognizing and honoring the more than 15 million people across the U.S. who are currently caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s, including the 588,000 Alzheimer’s caregivers here in Illinois. According to a recent Alzheimer’s Association survey, people overwhelmingly agree (91 percent) that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia should be a group effort among family or close friends, yet one out of three caregivers are not engaging others in caregiving tasks. More than four in five caregivers would have liked more support in providing care for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, especially from their family. With 15 million Alzheimer’s caregivers across the country, that leaves a lot of people in need of support. This November during National Family Caregivers Month, the Alzheimer’s Association is encouraging people to lend a hand to caregivers with these tips: Learn: Educate yourself about Alzheimer’s disease – its symptoms, its progression and the common challenges facing caregivers. The more you know, the easier it will be to find ways to help. The Alzheimer’s Association has a vast
amount of resources and information available at www.alz.org. Build a Team: The Alzheimer’s Association Care Team Calendar is a free, personalized online tool to organize family and friends who want to help with caregiving. This service makes it easy to share activities and information within the person’s care team. Helpers can sign up for specific tasks, such as preparing meals, providing rides or running errands. Users can post items for which assistance is needed. Give a Break: Make a standing appointment to give the caregiver a break. Spend time with the person with dementia and allow the caregiver a chance to run errands, go to their own doctor’s appointment, participate in a support group or engage in an activity that helps them recharge. Even one hour could make a big difference in providing the caregiver some relief. Check-In: Almost two out of every three caregivers said that feeling isolated or alone was a significant challenge in providing care for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. What’s more, half of all caregivers felt like they couldn’t talk to anyone in social settings or work about what they were going through. So start the conversation: a phone call to check-in, sending a note, or stopping
by for a visit can make a big difference in a caregiver’s day and help them feel supported. Tackle the To-Do List: Ask for a list of errands that need to be run, pick up groceries, dry cleaning or even offer to
We Care. We understand the value of providing high-quality water service and what it means to our customers on a daily basis. Unfortunately, some individuals and families are having difficulty paying their water bill. For customers who need aid, the RWA’s Residential Water Assistance Program can help. To see if you qualify, contact the RWA’s program administrator, the Dollar Energy Fund at 1-888-282-6816, or the RWA at 203-562-4020.
To learn more, please visit rwater.com
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shuttle kids to and from activities. It can be hard for a caregiver to find time to complete these simple tasks outside of the home that we often take for granted. Be Specific and Be Flexible: Open ended offers of support (“call me if you need
anything” or “let me know if I can help”) may be well-intended but are often dismissed. Try making your offer of help or support more specific (“I’m going to the store, what do you need?” or “I have free time this weekend, let me stop over for a couple of hours so you can do what you need to do.”) Don’t get frustrated if your offer of support is not immediately accepted. The family may need time to assess its needs. Continue to let the caregiver know that you are there and ready to help. Help for the Holidays: Holiday celebrations are often joyous occasions, but they can be challenging and stressful for families living with Alzheimer’s. Help around the holidays by offering to help with cooking, cleaning or gift shopping. If a caregiver has traditionally hosted family celebrations, offer your home instead. Join the Fight: Honor a person living with the disease and their caregiver by joining the fight against Alzheimer’s. Visit Alzheimers awareness.com for more information. November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) This article originally appeared in The Chicago Crusader.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Male Birth Control Passes Clinical Trials: Here’s What You Should Know! Jasmine Danielle is the Associate Editor of BlackDoctor.org.
Is this the moment that us ladies have been waiting for? It surely has been a long time coming, but at last, a male contraceptive has successfully completed clinical trials and could be available to the public as early as 2020. This new contraception will be injectable and is said to be 97% effective. This is big news, but what does it mean for us? What Is It? It’s a shot that is made up of a compound called Styrene Maleic Anhydride. How Does it Work? The compound will be injected into the vas deferens, which is the duct that carries sperm from the testicles to the urethra. This will effectively block sperm from leaving the testicles. This could be the first non-surgical alternative to vasectomy. “Non-surgical procedures are always preferred over surgical procedures because they will be safer and less invasive,” said Dr. Anup Kumar, head of urology and renal transplant department, Safdarjung Hospital. “More men are likely to opt for it.” What’s the Catch?
The drug was developed in India, where the clinical trials also took place, and because of this the manufacture, sale, and distribution of new medical innovation in India requires approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). This is expected to take about six to seven months. In addition to the approval timeline, this injection is designed to last approximately 13 years, after which the polymer solution loses its potency. Depending on how you look at it, this is either a bonus or a bust. “It’s the first in the world from India so we have to be extra careful about approval. We are looking at all aspects, especially the good manufacturing practice (GMP) certification that won’t raise any
questions about its quality,” said V.G. Somani, the drug controller general of India. India is currently at the forefront of male contraception research, but the U.S. is not far behind as researchers have been working on a similar contraceptive, called Vasalgel, but it’s still under development. In all, the future looks bright for male contraception. Share this with the man in your life! Jasmine Danielle is the Associate Editor of BlackDoctor.org. She received her BFA in Dance Education & Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has since done work as a certified fitness & wellness educator, blogger, dancer, and designer.
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"DIRECTCITY" TO AddTEXT a little bit of body text
THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
New Mobile Gaming App is One of the First Dedicated to Black Movie Trivia Nostalgia
Con’t from page 12
Ohio Tech entrepreneur, Lamar Harris, creates Black Movie Guess Quiz app to celebrate Black success in film Cincinnati, OH — An Ohio tech entrepreneur has launched a new mobile gaming app that is one of the first dedicated to Black movie trivia nostalgia. Lamar Harris, the game’s creator, says Black Movie Guess Quiz, is an interactive, mobile gaming app that tests your knowledge on how well you know Black movies. “This game is special because it’s entertaining, but it also celebrates Black movies, directors, and actors,” said Harris, a tech entrepreneur and Black movie buff who was frustrated that there was no game like this available. “I’m setting out to help promote Black filmmakers
where they thought they could be treated humanely,” Lee stated. “It’s been the opposite. They are dehumanized, treated in a racist fashion, and then stuck at a border town. “I hope the Black community understands that this is another example of Trump’s racist policies to make America White again. We see that every step of the way in this process.
BlackNews.com
and actors who don’t always have access equal budgets or salaries in Hollywood. Also, our game creates new mobile game players! It is a fact that Black viewers gravitate more towards content that reflects their images and storylines so shouldn’t gaming be the same.” Black Movie Guess Quiz allows players to guess famous Vlack movies. The app stands out with its creative, colorful artistic drawings of movie scenes. Players can guess the movie based on a simplified drawing of a scene. To earn points, you see a famous face and have to guess the film by first chance. If you are a black movie maniac and like movie trivia, this is a game for you. The game is also challenging because there are multiple levels that players can test your skills on. Black Movie Guess Quiz is proven to bring nostalgia and joy to new users ev-
“Black America has to rise up. This has got to stop.” Photo: Lamar Harris, founder of the Black Movie Guess Quiz app
erywhere. Interested players can now download an Android version of the game on Google Play Development is underway for the
IOS version in 2020. Also, follow Black Movie Quiz on social media – Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.
Byron Allen’s Court Case and the Mis-Education of Our Community Terrance Amen is founder and CEO of 3Ufirst FPC, BlackNews.com
Nationwide — For those of you who haven’t heard about this case, Byron Allen, CEO of Entertainment Studios is suing Comcast for $20 billion, for not fairly giving contracts to Black content providers like himself, based on the 1866 civil rights bill that gave Black people the right to fairly be given contracts, both commercial and with the government. The miseducation part falls under the fact that, Byron Allen and others have to cite a 150 plus year old law, in order to receive fair treatment to do business with commercial and government entities. Had we focused on building our own everything, like every other group does, we’d have our own distribution networks in place and this case and cases like this would have never come up. The other miseducation part is how we continue to listen to so called leaders who for decades, have told us to wait and fight for diversity and inclusion. These people have been miseducating and misdirecting us so we spend the majority of our time on protesting, boycotting, and complaining why we don’t have anything. The solution has always been there, but we continue to listen to the wrong people. Whenever I hear so called leaders and miseducated members of our community talk about diversity and inclusion, that’s code for keeping everything the same and not fighting to change our situation through doing for self. These people don’t have our best interest at heart. They have their best interest at heart, which is why we haven’t made any significant progress as a community for the past 50-60 years, and counting. A sign of insanity is doing the same thing, but expecting a different result. Unfortunately
as a community, we have this down pat. The other part of the miseducation is the fact that, we have no clue of our value, but everyone outside our community does. As long as we continue to devalue ourselves, we will continue to struggle. What do I mean? Let’s talk about a perfect example that’s occurring right now with this Popeye’s chicken phenomenon. It’s a fact that we love and eat a lot of chicken and have been for a long, long time. It’s inexpensive and the way we make it, taste good. This leads me to the question, why in all this time we have no national chicken franchises? Now some will say we don’t have the money to create one. Yet we’re creating billions a year for these chicken franchises all across the country and probably created their recipes. This is just one example of not knowing our value. We are great consumers when it comes to buying outside our community, but when it comes
Black Immigrants
to creating, owning and supporting our own businesses, we have a very serious problem with that. We will come up with every excuse in the world for why we can’t support our own. This is the most serious form of miseducation because it keeps us stuck as consumers rather than owners, which is why we continue to have to rely on people outside our community for almost everything. It would not be right to talk about the problems without giving a solid solution for these problems. But there are people out there who make a good living talking about our problems. You know who they are. I’m not one of them, so here’s the solution that is simple, accountable, realistic, affordable, and inclusive, meaning the whole community will benefit, not just the people at the top. 3UFirst was created specifically to solve the major problems in our community, by funding our for profits and nonprofits, using the money we’re already spending.
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The accountability is built in. We can’t just buy from Black businesses and although they’re creating jobs for our community, they have to do a lot more. Otherwise we’re just replacing one business for another and we’re way too behind to do this. I’m talking about doing what we did before, what I call, the integration experiment. Creating and supporting our own Afrocentric schools, hospitals and clinics, Banks, food and distribution services, tv, and movie studios, and anything else we need to become self-reliant. This is and will always be the solution for our community. But we have to think outside the box. As long as we continue to listen to people who say we have to wait for people outside our community to diversify and include us in their businesses, we will never solve the major problems in our community. Those who don’t tell you this are not being honest with you, period. If you’re looking for real solutions for our community, listen to people who first tell us we need to collectively do for self, not individually and have a solid realistic, affordable, accountable active plan, (not just in a book) that includes all our people, not just those at the top. Byron Allen did do us a favor by outing some of these so called leaders. The proof is in his interview with Roland Martin. 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.
Lee added that she’s putting out a call to Black professionals, be it psychiatrists, social workers, and others that their help is needed to help people of color at the border. “They desperately need our help. Certainly, some Black professionals can provide services that are needed to help them,” Lee stated. “A lot of them will get very sick, a lot are traumatized and already unhealthy. They will need to be able to survive – they’re barely surviving now. I’m issuing the call. This is yet another stain on America.” Clarke, the chair of the House Task Force on Immigration for the CBC, said it’s tough to fathom what Black immigrants face at the border. “These people are resilient, they have gone through quite a few things in their homeland that drove them to try and get to the land of the free and the home of the brave,” Clarke stated. “We have to speak for them. They don’t have a voice. These are people who will be persecuted if they return to their homeland where there is genocide, other hardships, and violence,” she stated. “We have to be their voices. The Trump policies are totally illegal.” Gyamfi, of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, said she was moved by what she witnessed. “You can look in their eyes. They had a sense that finally, they’re looking at people who look like us, and who actually care,” Gyamfi stated. “They heard the voices of our leadership. But they see the anti-Blackness throughout the entire system. This is a humanitarian crisis where human rights violations are happening daily.” Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) (center), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) (fourth from left), and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) (far left), along with local Congressman, Rep. Juan Vargas (second from left), visited a shelter for African asylum-seekers in Tijuana November 22, 2019. Attorney Nana Gyamfi, the executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (far right), joined the group at the border. (Photo: Screen capture KPBS / YouTube)
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Arkansas Police Arrest Black Mother Who Was Grieving Her 4-Year Old Daughter’s Death
West Memphis, AR — Police in Arkansas are being accused of violently arrested Shawnda Brookshire, a grieving African American mother whose 4-year old daughter had just died. Brookshire was outside crying in a hotel parking lot when police approached her, and she refused to identify herself. A dashcam video of the incident shows the police approaching Brookshire in the parking lot of a La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel. The police ask for her identification while she can be seen telling them that she has to get her ID from her hotel room. Brookshire was also trying to contact her family to help her when the police started arresting her. When her brother Richard Brookshire, arrived, she was already handcuffed on the ground with
COMMENTARY:
a police officer pushing her on her back with his knee. Richard Brookshire shared the incident on Twitter. He said his sister was taking some calls outside about the funeral arrangements for her daughter who just died from a tragic accident. In fact, she was talking to the girl’s father when the police approached her. Meanwhile, Assistant Chief Robert Langston said that officers went to check the parking lot because there have been reported break-ins in the area. “I understand she was under a great deal of stress and I have never been in the situation that she’s in. I can’t speak for her,” Langston told WREG. “I can understand the stress that she was dealing with, and that the family was dealing with, but our officers don’t know that.
They don’t know what the family is going through. We’re there to really to protect their property.” However, when Brookshire asked the hotel staff about it, they found out that there have been no break-ins for over a month. They were disappointed that the police immediately put her on handcuffs and did not verify with the front desk first. The mother was eventually released with no charges and the police officers will not face any disciplinary action. Her family has since filed a complaint against the officers and was demanding an apology. The family has also set up a GoFundMe for the funeral arrangements of Brookshire’s late daughter. It has so far raised over $26,000.
Becoming numb to mass shootings And then nothing ever happens.
By Bill Fletcher, Jr., NNPA Newswire Contributor Each time we experience a mass shooting, we repeat the pattern—a point I have made in previous columns. Shock, grief, prayer, throwing up our hands, and proponents of unlimited gun ownership arguing that this is not the time to discuss sensible gun control; instead we should restrict ourselves to prayer.
Except for one thing. We become increasingly numb to the impact of gun violence which, I have come to conclude, right-wing gun fanatics wish to encourage. When we no longer see mass or just random killings as outrageous and uncivilized, the demand for sensible gun regulations diminishes in importance. Gun fanatics would like us to accept that this violence will happen and that the best that we can do is to further arm US society, e.g., arm teachers in schools. There is no easy way to avoid becoming numb to mass shootings and random
violence. When you read about it or hear about it or witness it nearly every day and you conclude that it will not change, your mind searches for safety. That “safety” plays itself out in our becoming less shocked and—to be blunt—more accepting of the reality that our children may get killed at school or that our family or friends may get shot at a parking lot or by an outraged former employee at any number of facilities. The mind says to us that we cannot exist on a permanent level of tension and anxiety. Except we do harbor that tension and anxiety. It is just that we may not display it. Rather, it eats away at us in our insides.
Is there any way around this, in addition to legislation? Yes. First and foremost, it necessitates community organizing and community organization. As simplistic as it may sound, our youth need to be forced to confront the finality of death. Death is not an action video game. Nor should it be the immediate recourse when someone feels emotionally injured. Thus, the victims—including families— of gun violence need to be at the center of discussions about the ramifications of gun violence. A second route is the establishment of legitimate gun clubs. This may sound strange but hear me out, and this is especially important in African American
communities. Guns are not going away so there needs to be training and discipline associated with the use of firearms. Just as with the martial arts, the younger members of our communities must understand when, where and how to utilize firearms, and when not to. Platitudes and prayer are nearly meaningless when one is up against a combination of a multi-million-dollar gun industry linked directly with a fanatical, right-wing movement opposed to sensible gun ownership. At the end of the day, the barbarians must be outorganized. Bill Fletcher, Jr. is the executive editor of globalafricanworker.com and the former president of TransAfrica Forum.
arrests of an overwhelming number of Black and Latino men. Again, the response was lukewarm and the balcony, which earlier rocked when the gospel singers lifted their voices, was now calm. The listeners attentive. The press was given a handout showing a 39 percent reduction in incarceration during Bloomberg’s mayoralty; that murders were cut by 50 percent, while the national average only experienced an 11 percent reduction; and as he noted during his brief speech, racial and ethnic minorities became the majority of the NYPD. While Bloomberg admitted that his first term in 2002 was terrible, he didn’t mention that there were more than 92,000 stops and that by 2011 there were more than 685,000 stops, the ma-
jority of whom were Black and Latino, and 90 percent of them innocent of any wrongdoing. His critics viewed these tactics as a form of terrorism, a fear factor that played well to those opposed to his measures of gun violence. And after his apology, he returned to the theme of gun violence which was at the top of his comments. According to the handout he is among the nation’s leading advocates on gun control. He said his Young Men’s Initiative to reduce violence, prompted President Obama to create his My Brother’s Keeper program. “So that’s why the press was here,” one of the church members seated nearby observed.”
Bloomberg: ‘I apologize!’ By Herb Boyd, New York Amsterdam News
Was it Trump? Was it Obama? Nope. The surprise visitor last Sunday to the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn was former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Not until the mega church’s Senior Pastor, the Rev. A. R. Bernard, introduced him to the crowded pews, was anyone aware it would be Bloomberg. “I hope you don’t mind that a good friend of mind has stopped by this morning,” Rev. Bernard said to his congregation and then announced Bloomberg’s presence. Many of those in the front pews of the church knew he was there but the press lodged in the balcony had no idea he was there. Bloomberg mounted the stage, greeted the audience, and
moved quickly into his remarks after accepting rather polite applause. He said that this wasn’t the first time he had been to the church, “in fact, and my mother didn’t know this, I spent more time in church than the temple.” But Bloomberg’s purpose, as his candidacy for president becomes more and more a reality, was to clear up some missteps in the past during his three terms as mayor. “We didn’t get everything right,” he admitted after citing various achievements during his administrations and warming to the central topic of stop-and-frisk. He said he could have acted faster on stop-and-frisk. “I was wrong, and I am sorry.” He said he was too “focused on saving lives…and hindsight is twenty/twenty” and that he gradually began to halt the
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Water Treatment
HELP WANTED: Large CT guardrail company
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 December 16, 2019 whichever occurs first. EOE
Equipment Operator
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY MAINTENANCE MECHANIC. FT. Bristol Housing Authority is seeking an energetic individual who has experience maintaining properties. Skills in the areas of building repair incl. plumbing, electricity, HVAC, carpentry and mechanical equipment repair helpful. Wage for this position is determined by the Bargaining Unit Contract. Excellent benefits. Send resume and references by December 6, 2019 to Mitzy Rowe, Chief Executive Officer, Bristol Housing Authority, 164 Jerome Avenue, Bristol, CT 06010. The Bristol Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer.
The Glendower Group, Inc Invitation for Bid Snow Removal Services – 3rd Party Sites The Glendower Group, Inc an affiliate of Housing Authority City of New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking bids for Snow Removal Services at Third Party Sites. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 3:00PM
ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Request for Proposals Development of Single Family Homeownership Housing The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Proposals for Development of Single Family Homeownership Housing. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 3:00PM.
ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bid Lead Abatement & Interim Control Measures in 4 Developments The Housing Authority City of New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking bids for Lead Abatement & Interim Control Measures in 4 Developments. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, November 25 at 3:00PM 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 HELP WANTED:
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
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**********
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
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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.
Construction Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 621-1720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce
Autoridad de Vivienda de Branford, Parkside Village II Aceptar solo solicitudes para apartamentos de eficiencia Parkside Village II/ no Utilities A partir de $592 mensuales, Max. Ingresos Límite: 1 persona $52,850, Contacto: Merit Properties, Inc., 1224 Mill St., Bldg. A Berlín Oriental CT 06023, correo electrónico: info@ merit-properties.net, 860-828-0531 ext. 204
Branford Housing Authority, Parkside Village II
Accepting Applications for Efficiency Apartments Only Elderly 62+/Disabled 18+ Community Parkside Village II/no Utilities Starting at $592 a month, Max. Income Limit: 1 person $52,850, Contact: Merit Properties, Inc., 1224 Mill St., Bldg. A #102, East Berlin CT 06023, e-mail: info@merit-properties.net, 860-828-0531 ext.204
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:
Water Treatment Pumping Operators
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
The Town of Wallingford’s Water Division is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy involved in the treatment of the water system. Candidates must have a H.S. diploma and a water treatment plant operator’s school diploma/ certification acceptable to the Town with 3 years of actual experience in a water treatment plant with 1 year of supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education & qualifying experience. Candidates must have or be eligible within six months of the probationary period for the certifications required for the position indicated in the job posting. Wages: $27.47 - $33.34 hourly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Applications/resumes will be accepted until December 9, 2019, at the following address: Human Resources Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main St., Wallingford, CT 06492, (203) 294-2080. Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE
Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks: Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300 Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com 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
DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED Part Time Delivery Needed One/Two Day a Week,
Must Have your Own Vehicle
If Interested call
(203) 387-0354
Property Management Company is seeking a Resident Services Coordinator in New Haven, CT. Part time- 16 hrs/wk. Must have experience working w/ senior and disabled community. Social Services background preferred. Please call (860) 951-9411 x238 for inquiries. ELM CITY COMMUNITIES
Invitation for Bids
Window, Screen and Glass Replacement and Repair Services The Housing Authority of the City of New Havend/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids for Window, Screen and Glass Replacement and Repairs Services. A complete copy of the requirementsmay be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems. com/gateway beginning on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 3:00PM.
NEW HAVEN POLICE NOW HIRING
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.
********An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**********
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS HACD Corp. Supportive Housing Program RFP No. P19008
Apply online at Policeapp.com Or Visit our Social Media Pages For More Information
SCOPE:
HACD Corp. is seeking proposals for a structured independent living environment for low/very low-income individuals who may or may not be experiencing homelessness.
CONTACT PERSON:
Ms. Devin Marra, Director of Procurement Telephone: 203-744-2500 x141 E-Mail: dmarra@hacdct.org
HOW TO OBTAIN THE RFP DOCUMENTS:
Contact Ms. Devin Marra, via e-mail.
PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE:
98 Elm Street, Danbury, CT 06811 December 11, 2019 at 2:00 PM (EST)
PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL RETURN:
HACD Corp. 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Envelope Must be Marked: RFP No. P19008 Supportive Housing Program
PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL DEADLINE
December 20, 2019 at 2:00PM (EST)
[Minority- and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to respond]
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New Haven Police Department Recruitment Team
Nhpdrecruitment
NHPDrecruitment
CONSTRUCTION HELP WANTED LaRosa Building Group is looking for people interested in construction for a project in New Haven.
New Haven and Section 3 residents are encouraged to apply. For applications: Visit the job site at 300 Wilmot Rd, New Haven CT., or join us on Thursday, November 14th, at 6:00 PM
or
Email: HR@larosabg.com
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
82-Year-Old Bodybuilder: “Intruder Picked the Wrong House” by Derrick Lane, BlackDoctor.org Don’t mess with Grandma. That’s what one intruder who was breaking and entering into 82-year-old Willie Murphy’s home. Little did he know that Murphy is a award-winning weightlifter and bodybuilder who can bench press probably more than him! Willie Murphy says she was getting ready for bed Thursday night, just after 11 p.m., when a man began pounding on her door. “He was outside and saying, ‘Please call an ambulance,’ saying, ‘I’m sick, I’m sick,’” she told ABC 13 – WHAM. She called the police, but wouldn’t let him inside. That, she says, is when he became angry. “I hear a loud noise,” she said. “I’m thinking, ‘What the heck was that? The young man is in my home. He broke the door.” What the suspect likely didn’t realize is Murphy is an award-winning bodybuilder who works out at the YMCA almost every day. “He picked the wrong house to break into,” she said. Murphy says it was dark, so she was able to hide as the suspect walked through her house. She acted quickly and grabbed the closest thing she could find. “I picked up the table, and I went to
work on him,” she said. ‘The table broke.” “And when he’s down,” she continued, “I’m jumping on him.” She says, once the suspect was injured, she ran and grabbed a bottle of shampoo – and started pouring it on him. “I grabbed the shampoo,” she said. “Guess what? He’s still on the ground. In his face, all of it, the whole thing.”
“I got the broom,” she continued. “He’s pulling the broom. I’m hitting him with the broom.” Finally, officers arrived. The man was sent to the hospital and Murphy was applauded by first responders. “The officers that came wanted to go on my front porch and take selfies with me,” she said. all started with a weight-lifting competition at her local YMCA in Roches-
ter, New York, a few years ago. After an employee told her she could compete — “Go for it, granny” — Murphy began lifting 5-pound weights. Now she’s taking home trophies. She holds the national records in the bench for reps, the strict curl, and Ironmaiden categories. Murphy was named the WNPF Lifter of the Year in 2014. And she now holds New York state records and national records
across multiple WNPF age brackets. She recently took first place in her division in the deadlift, power curl, bench press, and bench press repetition competitions at the WNPF World Championships. There aren’t any women close to Murphy’s age for her to train with. In fact, Murphy got into the sport by picking up tips and techniques while watching men lift at the YMCA. She has never worked with a trainer. “I was surprised that people were thinking that it was strange of me to be in the gym with mostly men at that particular time,” Murphy said. “But I kept getting stronger and stronger and I don’t wear any belts, I don’t use chalk and I don’t use the ammonia like other people when they compete in a competition. It just happened. I guess I’m just one of those things that nature has taken good care of me.” Back at her local gym, other people who exercise have started asking to feel her biceps. One woman even called Murphy… … her idol. “They see I’m old and I’m not being pushed around in a wheelchair,” she told USA Today. “I wanted to become better, to have a little edge in life, so I started the weight training,” admitted Murphy. “Little by little I became stronger and stronger.”
17-Year Old Makes History, Becomes Licensed Pilot Before Graduating High School BlackNews.com
Clinton, MD — At the age of 17, William Moore, Jr. is a licensed private pilot. Even though he hasn’t graduated from high school yet, he is already ready to pursue his instrument rating. ver the past three years, he attended the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Aerospace Career Education (ACE) Academy located in Northern Virginia (NOVA). This Academy provides middle and high school youth with exposure to opportunities in aerospace and aviation through weeklong summer camps. The program is endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), OBAP has served a leading role in establishing ACE Academies nationwide to introduce, educate and guide diverse students towards careers in aviation. Earlier this year, he interviewed for a scholarship through the East Coast Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) Youth in Aviation Program (YIAP). He was accepted to attend ground school
and completed in the top 5% of his class. The ECCTAI YIAP covered many of his hours towards dual flight instruction and over the summer he flew at Potomac Airfield through HJ Aviation, LLC. He was honored to learn that his flight school was named after Herbert H. Jones Jr., an original Tuskegee Airman. He had the privilege of meeting Mr. Jones and he encouraged him to remain focused and stay on the path to aviation. He started his first flight lesson on April 28, 2019, completed his first solo on June 28, 2019 and received his private pilot’s license (PPL) on October 15, 2019 (his birthday). He was selected and awarded a scholarship from Delta Air Lines to attend the National Flight Academy for a 2019 Summer Deployment 19-06. He learned so much and looks forward to attending again. “We are so proud of our son. He set goals, was determined to pass his FAA exam the first time and also spoke into existence that he would achieve his PPL on his birthday,” said his mother, Kamesha Moore and father William Moore, Sr.
He plans to give back by sharing his experience with his peers in hopes of inspiring them that their dream of becoming a PPL can be achieved through hard work. For example, he is the first to complete the program and was invited and will participate with the incoming class of students. On October 24, 2019, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson introduced audiences at the National Business Aviation Association to William Moore Jr. He said, “Last week William celebrated his 17th birthday by passing the oral portion of the exam for his private pilot’s license and by taking a flight with his instructor. We need more like Moore.” His future goal is to become a commercial airline pilot and/or a cargo pilot. In addition, he is also interested in serving his country as a military C-5/C-17/C-130 pilot Moore will join a small group of African American male pilots. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, figures from last year show less than 3% of US commercial pilots are African American.
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Clinton, MD — At the age of 17, William Moore, Jr. is a licensed private pilot. Even though he hasn’t graduated from high school yet, he is already ready to pursue his instrument rating.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
Bethel A.M.E. Church Music Department Presents
December 7 - 2pm December 8 - 4pm
Bethel A.M.E. Church 255 Goffe Street New Haven, CT
blacknativityct.brownpapertickets.com or https://blacknativityct.bpt.me or Call 203-747-8985
Featuring Elder Howard Taylor & The Vernon Jones Singers
Your regional non-profit home for the performing arts, film & education
This Holiday Season...
ARTS FUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURAL VITALITY GRANT
call 203-946-7172 for info
KEB’ MO’
JINGLE BELL JAMBOREE
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019 • 8:00 PM This fall, Keb’ Mo’ will embark on a holiday tour, Jingle Bell Jamboree, which will feature the four-time Grammy-award winning contemporary Blues and Americana artist performing songs off of Moonlight, Mistletoe, And You. Keb’s opener is the young R&B/ Soul artist and star of America’s Got Talent, Alicia Michilli.
ATLANTIC BROADBAND 2020 WINTER CINEMA SERIES PASSES ON SALE NOW!
grant DEADLINES Letter of Intent: November 20 | Application: December 18 INFORMATION SESSIONS Oct. 21 - Wilson Library @ 5:00pm Oct. 24 - Fair Haven Library @ 5:30pm Oct. 29 - Mitchell Library@ 5:00pm
2020
grant writing @ stetson library Nov. 6, 13, 20 6:00pm-8:00pm Nov. 23 10:00am-4:00pm
CITY OF NEW HAVEN, TONI. N. HARP, MAYOR
WWW.GARDEARTS.ORG | 860.444.7373 X1 | 325 STATE STREET | NEW LONDON, CT 23
THE INNER-CITY NEWS -
November 27, 2019 - December 03, 2019
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