LAWT-11-05-2009 by LA WATTSTIMES

November 5, 2009

SERVING LOS ANGELES COUNTY WITH NEWS YOU CAN USE

Vol. XXX, No. 1152

Mayor Picks Charlie Beck for Police Chief Post

FIRST COLUMN

Roy DeCarava, Photographer Who Recorded Harlem, Dies BY ULA ILNYTZKY AP WRITER

NEW YORK (AP) — Roy DeCarava, a photographer whose black-and-white images captured Harlem’s everyday life and the jazz greats who performed there, has died. He was 89. DeCarava died in Manhattan of natural causes on Oct. 27, said his daughter, Susan DeCarava. He had been teaching an advance photography course at Hunter College, where he joined the faculty in 1975. Born in Harlem, DeCarava was considered to be among the first to give serious photographic attention to the black experience in America. Trained as a painter, DeCarava relied on ambient light, infusing

Photo courtesy of the AFRICAN AMERICAN REGISTRY

Roy DeCarava

his images with shadows and shades of gray and black — a style that invited the viewer to look closer. “He photographed for himself, and ultimately produced a body of work that enshrined the social contradictions of the ‘50s, the explosion of improvisational jazz music in the ‘60s, the struggle for social equity, the bold faced stridency of the ‘70s and ‘80s, only to turn to even more contemplative realities during the later years of his life,” his wife, art historian Sherry Turner DeCarava, said in a statement. “His contribution to American photography and culture is manifold,” she added. Using a 35 mm camera, he chronicled black Americans doing ordinary things: A family watching the Harlem River; a couple dancing in their kitchen; a girl standing on a desolate street in a white graduation dress. DeCarava worked at a time of enormous creative energy in Harlem, whose many residents included prominent writers, artists and musicians. He spent years capturing candid shots of Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, and other jazz musicians — many taken in smoke-filled nightclubs. “The Sound I Saw,” published in 2001 and reprinted in 2003, is a collection of his jazz photography. See DECARAVA, page 2

THOMAS WATKINS AP WRITER

(AP) — A three-decade veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department who is credited with cleaning up the image of the scandal-plagued Rampart Division was selected by the mayor Nov. 3 to head the police force. Deputy Chief Charlie Beck said he was humbled that L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa selected him to succeed William Bratton, who decreased crime and improved race relations during his seven-year tenure. Beck would become the city’s 55th police chief if the City Council approves the mayor’s selection, as expected. “Chief Bratton did a tremendous job of building a team,” Beck said. “My team is not the same as his, but it is made of the same cloth, and it will achieve the same results.” Beck, 56, began his LAPD career as a reserve officer in 1975 and rose through the ranks to become deputy chief three years ago. He currently is in charge of detectives. Bratton left the department for a private consulting job three years before the expiration of his second term. He indicated he wanted a department insider to replace him. All three finalists fit the bill: Beck, First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell and Deputy Chief Michel Moore. Beck could be expected to continue two of Bratton’s priorities: community outreach and a crackdown on gangs. “Chief Beck has been the leader within the LAPD in chang-

U.N. Housing Official Visits L.A. For Mission BY THANDISIZWE CHIMURENGA ASSISTANT EDITOR

The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Raquel Rolnik, visited Los Angeles Nov. 2 on a two-day factfinding mission. Numerous community-based organizations collaborated in creating a tour of South and East Los

Angeles and Skid Row for the mission. During her trip, Rolnik toured Skid Row during the day and again at night. As part of the tour, presentations were made by several participating organizations during a town hall meeting convened the evening of Nov. 2 at The California Endowment in Los Angeles.

Photo by REBECCA TULL

HOUSING ADVOCATE — Raquel Rolnik, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, speaks with residents of La Villa Hermosa apartments in the Jefferson Park area of Los Angeles. Rolnik toured South Los Angeles, Skid Row and East Los Angeles to get a first-hand observation for a report to be released by the end of the year. Pictured (left to right): Rolnik, Maria Mejia, Rosa Nealy and Alfred Pierre.

The skits, slideshow presentations, and personal testimonies gave perspective not only to the effects of what some call Los Angeles’ housing crisis, but the organizing strategies being used to fight it. Los Angeles is considered by several to be the “homeless capital” of the United States, with an estimated 40,000 to 100,000 people who cannot afford any housing, according to the Los Angeles Community Action Network, citing statistics provided by Gary Blasi, a professor of law at the University of California, Los Angeles. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted Dec. 10, 1948, states that, among other things, “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being” of themselves and their family including housing. The U.N.’s rapporteur on housing “is an independent expert appointed by the (U.N.) Human Rights Council to examine and report” on the case of adequate housing throughout the world, See UNITED NATIONS, page 8

Photo by MARTY COTWRIGHT

TOP PICK — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, left, has nominated Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Charlie Beck to be the city’s 55th chief of police. Beck, who must be approved by the City Council, has been with the LAPD for more than 30 years and comes from a family of law enforcement officers.

ing our approach to the way we address gangs and youth violence,” Villaraigosa said. “He understands that you can’t solve the gang problem just by locking up every kid, that we must use a comprehensive approach that includes tough enforcement while getting at the root causes that drive youths to gangs in the first place.” However, Beck will face a challenge maintaining morale since the city’s financial crisis means officers are facing a contract that offers no pay raises. In 2003, Bratton appointed Beck captain of the Rampart Division, which was struggling with

fallout from a 1999 scandal that uncovered corruption in its antigang unit. Observers credited Beck with burnishing the division’s image, in part by pushing community outreach efforts. His appointment was welcomed by the police officers union. Beck is “a consummate professional” who is well-suited for the job, Los Angeles Police Protective League President Paul M. Weber said in a statement. “We’re confident that Chief Beck has the leadership skills to uphold the LAPD’s position as one of the nation’s premier law enforcement agencies.” See BECK, page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF THE SOUTHLAND MTA’s 100-Rail Car Deal Falls Apart (AP) — A deal to build 100 rail cars for Los Angeles County’s transit system has fallen through, costing the region an estimated $368 million in economic activity and hundreds of jobs. Italian manufacturer AnsaldoBreda was positioned to win the $300 million contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority but last-minute talks collapsed before the Oct. 30 deadline. MTA negotiators refused to agree to new concessions asked for by the company. L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa expressed disappointment, saying the deal would have included a $70 million local factory that would have created hundreds of jobs. AnsaldoBreda is three years behind schedule on an existing contract to deliver 50 rail cars to the MTA.

Judge Opposes Deal for Digitizing Billboards (AP) — A judge said Oct. 30 he would throw out a settlement allowing major outdoor advertising companies to convert more than 800 billboards in Los Angeles

into digital displays with blinking lights and moving images, an agreement that had galvanized critics of so-called billboard blight. Superior Court Judge Terry Green’s decision would nullify the city’s agreement with CBS Outdoor Inc. and Clear Channel Outdoor Inc. in 2006 that settled lawsuits by the companies challenging the fairness of a city billboard ban in place at the time. Green said he agreed with Summit Media LLC, a smaller billboard company that sued the city arguing that the deal selectively exempted the large firms from zoning laws. “The entire agreement is poison,” Green said, but added he had not yet decided whether to revoke permits already granted for about 100 digital billboards.

THE STATE Calif. Boosts Income Tax Collection 10 Percent SACRAMENTO (AP) — Californians will see a little less money in their paychecks as the result of a tax-withholding plan devised to help plug the state’s gaping budget deficit. Starting this week, employers

www.lawattstimes.com

See BRIEFS, page 6

Page 2

L.A. WATTS TIMES

November 5, 2009

OPINION EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON

Bernice King Should Publicly Renounce Her Anti-Gay Bigotry Bernice King can make history a second time. She made it first by becoming the first woman in the 52-year history of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to take the organization’s reins. Now she can make history in another way: She should renounce the anti-gay bigotry of her recent past. That bigotry was on shameful and insulting display in December 2004 when she and thousands of marchers stood at the gravesite of her father, Martin Luther King Jr., and denounced gay marriage. The implication was that King might well have stood with her and them in their protest against gay rights. Nothing could be further from the truth. King’s fight against bigotry and discrimination — all bigotry and discrimination — was relentless and uncompromising. If anything that day, King would have been across the street from his gravesite with the 100 or so other counter-demonstrators. They loudly shouted that what Bernice King and the marchers were doing at her father’s gravesite and in his name was a travesty and disgrace. King sullied her father’s name to show her enmity to gay marriage. She also sullied her mother’s, too. A few years before Bernice King’s gravesite antic, Coretta Scott King issued a public statement forcefully denouncing anti-gay bigotry and made it perfectly clear that her husband would be a champion of gay

rights if he were alive. Bernice King is an outspoken evangelical, and she and other black evangelicals have marched, protested, wrote letters and circulated petitions denouncing gay marriage. This is her belief, and she certainly has the right to express it. That is she has the right as a minister, evangelical, religious fundamentalist and private citizen. Her anti-gay bias swims forcefully in the main current of conservative evangelical belief, thought and expression. A significant number of blacks, and a majority of black evangelicals, like her also oppose gay marriage and even gay rights. They rail against the notion that the battle for gay marriage should in any way be called a civil rights fight. And certainly in King’s day gay rights was invisible on America’s public policy radarscope, and homosexuality, among blacks and whites, was hushed up. There’s not a word in any of his speeches or writings about homosexuality or whether he believed the civil rights struggle was inclusive of gays. That’s only because it was not a visible and compelling issue of discrimination then. It is today. And Bernice King now heads up the organization, with her father’s name and stamp all over it, that was founded to fight against discrimination. Ministers and many of the thousands who fervently believed in the ideals of the SCLC cheered Congress

for ending its years of stalls, dodges, and foot-drags to pass the Matthew Shepard/James Byrd Hate Crimes Bill. The bill adds gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity, to existing hate-crimes laws. President Barack Obama quickly signed it into law. Martin Luther King Jr. would have cheered loudly at its passage, too. In fact, the SCLC leadership, before Bernice King’s election as president, also lobbied for it and cheered its passage. King almost certainly would have vigorously denounced California’s anti-gay marriage amendment, Proposition 8, and all other similar initiatives and legislative acts that have encoded anti-gay marriage bans into law. He would have applauded court and state rulings that have upheld gay marriage. He would have pushed SCLC, including those doubting, wavering, and tradition-bound ministers in the organization, to do the same. This is not revisionism or speculation. King refused to buckle to FBI and White House pressure, and the pressure from conservatives inside SCLC, to dump his chief aide and the architect of the March on Washington, Bayard Rustin, who was avowedly gay. It took courage to resist their efforts to oust Rustin. But King deeply believed that embodied in the civil rights cause was a person’s right to be whom and

Hoop Dreams Aren’t the Real Problem BY SCOTT BROOKS

Watching Kobe Bryant play basketball, I’m reminded of commentary about his skipping college to make his “hoop dreams” a reality (a hoop dream is the unrealistic hope and plan to become a professional basketball player, many times held by poor black males and their families). Some people think that college players who leave after only a year or two, or who have skipped college altogether, have their priorities misplaced. Some do. These young players are considered problematic for their supposed anti-education stance. Instead, they’re actually getting a degree in basketball and they’ve done a very American thing by jumping into the pros. Isn’t it American to have dreams of making it, impossible dreams against the odds? As a university professor, I am obviously a supporter of higher education and understand its potential value. From the same perspective, I understand that earning credentials is a game that divides people into the haves and have-nots, the educated and uneducated. Most folks’ educational goal is to get the degree necessary to get a good-paying job. So, if becoming a pro player is the desired job, who can blame a young man for entering the draft early to get their job? Many people generally warn young black men against hoop

dreaming because becoming a professional is highly unlikely. But do people rely upon statistics to choose a career? Is a dream job only good if the chances of getting it are good? Becoming an astronaut has to be even more rare; yet, who discourages kids from pursuing space flight? I’m not suggesting that kids choose. Kids of all races, ethnicities, and ages, female and male, should have the freedom to dream and pursue what they want. At the same time, we all need to push for greater equality in outcomes — education, pay and jobs. It’s not an either/or, and most parents understand and push for their kids to do both. Last, a discussion of hoop dreams as either good or bad is trite and does the proverbial “blaming the victim.” Hoop dreams are not the creation of black folks. Blacks’ access to playing collegiate and professional basketball can’t be taken for granted. For a long time, black athletes were only recruited to black colleges. White team owners, college administrators, and coaches gave opportunities to black athletes with at least two goals in mind: winning and increasing profit. The access to college and a high-paying job possibility opened up, creating the hoop dream. Black kids with big dreams are not wrong or misguided for wanting a piece of the pie. We don’t hear the same talk about diamond (baseball) dreams or

even Wimbledon (tennis) dreams, and the athletes in these sports often become pros at younger ages. Bryant has Scott Brooks won four NBA championships. He has spent countless hours in basketball gyms and corporate meetings. He has been inspired by Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan and aspires to be more than just a basketball player. In 13 years as a pro, he has ascended to the top of his profession and is arguably the best player in the world. Bryant has clearly gained a first-rate education through basketball, and while becoming a professional is unequivocally rare, there is much more that basketball offers and affords young men even if they don’t make it. Sport is not the savior or the curse; the real problem is the shortage of opportunity and options, the invisible and unknown paths to other desirable careers, and a the failure of state-run education and social inequality that maintains the unlevel playing field. Scott Brooks is an assistant professor of sociology at the University of California at Riverside and author of a new book, “Black Men Can’t Shoot.” For comments or inquiries contact him at scott. brooks@ucr.edu.

what he or she was. King may have even praised his daughter for having the courage and conviction to march for her beliefs, but that would not have changed his unyielding belief that bigotry is still bigotry, whether it’s racial or sexual preference, and must be uncompromisingly opposed. On its Web site, SCLC clearly says, “its mission is to challenge all people of good will, of every persuasion, who believe in the principles

espoused by Martin Luther King, Jr. to join us.” Presumably, that’s the mission of its new president. She can prove it is by publicly renouncing her anti-gay bigotry. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His weekly radio show, “The Hutchinson Report,” can be heard in Los Angeles, Fridays on KTYM Radio 1460 AM, and streamed live nationally on ktym.com.

DECARAVA Continued from page 1 In 1951, he became the first black photographer to win the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in the arts. In his scholarship application, he wrote: “I want to show the strength, the wisdom, the dignity of the Negro people. Not the famous and the well known, but the unknown and the unnamed, thus revealing the roots from which spring the greatness of all human beings. ... I do not want a documentary or sociological statement, I want a creative expression, the kind of penetrating insight and understanding of Negroes which I believe only a Negro photographer can interpret.” In 1955, he collaborated with poet Langston Hughes on the bestselling pictorial narrative on 20th century African American life titled “The Sweet Flypaper of Life.” Some of his works were featured in the 1950 New York exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, “The Family of Man,” that was curated by renowned photographer Edward Steichen. Jennifer J. Raab, president of Hunter College, called DeCarava a beloved colleague and teacher who “will long be remembered for his inspiring contributions to the arts and for enriching the lives of generations of students.” MoMA mounted a retrospective of DeCarava’s work in 1996. His works are in the collections of major museums, including the National Gallery of Art and the

National Portrait Gallery, in Washington, D.C.; the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York; and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. Beside his wife and daughter Susan, he is also survived by daughters Wendy and Laura DeCarava.

Facts Nov. 5, 1974 California State Sen. Mervyn M. Dymally is elected lieutenant governor of California, and Colorado State Sen. Georgia L. Brown is elected lieutenant governor of Colorado. They are the first two African Americans to ever hold the positions. Source: blackfacts.com

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L.A. WATTS TIMES

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BUSINESS A Financial Planning Toolkit to Get Debt Free

The theme for the 21st annual Positive Side Awards Dinner and Fundraiser is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Moving Onward and Upward in a Down Economy.â&#x20AC;? This event will be held Nov. 12 in the Continental Ballroom of the Culver Plaza Hotel LAX, 5985 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles. The reception will be held at 6 p.m. and dinner will be at 7. Honorees include Councilman Bernard Parks, actor Wren T. Brown, Pastor Frederick K. Price Jr. and others. Information: (310) 673-7777, www.rbdmedia.net.

iness Association officials will be on hand. Parking is $11. Chamber members can attend for free, but nonmember admission is $10. RSVP by Nov. 16. Information: (323) 292-1297, info@glaaacc.org.

EDD to Present â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Honor A Hero, Hire A Vetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Job Fair

The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce will present a forum about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Nov. 18, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., in the Community Conference Room, 5120 W. Goldleaf Circle, Los Angeles. City of Los Angeles, Internal Revenue Service and Small Bus-

The California Employment Development Department invites the public to its third annual â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honor a Hero, Hire a Vetâ&#x20AC;? career expo & job resource fair Nov. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott, 5855 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles. Participating in the fair will be 120 public and private employers, including Johnson & Johnson, Home Depot, L-3 Electron Technologies Inc., General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Care Ambulance Service, Southern California Edison, ABCO Technology and the State of California. Also exhibiting will be representatives from 12 state and local government agencies and private

Schwarz suggested in the Journal of Financial Planning that â&#x20AC;&#x153;you sit down and plan for a better-paying job or career once the economy recovers, and take time to look realistically at your current retire-

ment plans and set a new plan, even if it means retiring significantly later.â&#x20AC;? A financial planner can help you create a toolkit to help you get your debt under control. Find a

Black Chamber to Host Recovery Act Awareness Forum

service organizations that provide services to job seekers. Information: (310) 348-7600, ext. 3146, www.usvetsinc.org.

Calif. Utility Wants More Solar from Customers (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest utility plans to boost the amount of solar power it buys from homes and businesses. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. plans to ask state regulators to approve the change. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says the move should encourage more homeowners to install rooftop solar panels. More than 50,000 homes and businesses in the sunny state generate solar power. They can get credits against their electric use by providing any excess power they generate to utilities. The governor plans to push to end limits on the amount of solar power purchased by utilities from customers. Last year, solar power accounted for less than 1 percent of the electricity generated in California. financial planner whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right for you. This column is produced by the Financial Planning Association, a membership organization for the financial planning community.

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they will be better informed when they join the work force.â&#x20AC;? Consider Behavioral Training If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a handle on your spending, it might make sense to schedule an appointment with a local psychologist or psychiatrist who deals regularly with money issues. According to financial planners, you should develop an understanding of your relationship with money. Create a Backup for Mortgage Emergencies If you anticipate any difficulties paying your mortgage, consider assembling a list of local experts in lending, bankruptcy and estate issues. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what financial planners do for their clients. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have a network of mortgage experts in the real estate industry,â&#x20AC;? Gardner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since the meltdown in the housing industry, mortgage programs have been changing rapidly. My network allows me to reach out to mortgage specialists and obtain the best information for my clients when the need arises.â&#x20AC;? Another planner, quoted in the Journal of Financial Planning, suggests the following: If you anticipate that you might fall behind on your mortgage, consider renting out rooms in your residence to responsible people youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve screened, as a way to help manage those future payments. Understand the Tax Consequences of Tapping Various Assets Should you never deplete your emergency fund, financial planners say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth understanding the tax consequence of tapping certain assets in certain types of accounts versus others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essential to work with a planner to minimize both tax and investment loss,â&#x20AC;? Elisabeth C. Plax, Ph.D., said in the Journal of Financial Planning. Look for Simple Money-Making Opportunities When your debt is high, and income is not sufficient to cover your expenses, planners suggest you consider the benefits of taking on odd jobs, selling unwanted or unneeded home items, or perhaps taking on a second job to help bring your finances under control. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tell people to take on jobs in their immediate communities that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t involve a big investment in transportation, clothes, or other work-related expenses so they are able to keep more of what they make,â&#x20AC;? Louis J. Schwarz, said in the Journal of Financial Planning. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re concerned about their friends seeing them, perhaps they should find a way to work a job outside the neighborhood.â&#x20AC;? Be Ready to Reset Your Retirement Expectations Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite possible that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re concerned about your money lasting over your lifetime. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re retired, Gardner suggests you consider taking a part-time job to combat that concern. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The monies earned allow you to reduce, or even stop, the withdrawals from their retirement accounts,â&#x20AC;? he said. For those not yet retired,

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When it comes to getting out of debt, financial planners suggest that you need a financial planning toolkit. But what kind of tools belong in the kit? A recent article in the Journal of Financial Planning suggests the following: Create a Budget and Track Your Expenses When it comes to eliminating debt, the very first item on your todo list should be creating a budget, followed closely by tracking your expenses. As part of his due diligence, Richard S. Gardner, of Lionheart Financial Planning Inc., uses a fact finder that is very detailed in determining cash flow. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most clients are usually very surprised at the amount of money that they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t account for,â&#x20AC;? Gardner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I then ask them to write down every expense and purchase they make for a month by carrying a notepad with them. At the end of the month, they usually have a good idea how much money is being wasted at the local Starbucks or McDonalds and are willing and able to get their discretionary spending under control to help set funds aside for their more important goals.â&#x20AC;? Another planner, Roberta LeeDriscoll, suggests that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth tracking your spending on Quicken or some other tracking software or system. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People talk about budgeting, but you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t effectively budget until you get a handle on spending, so thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the first step,â&#x20AC;? she said. According to Lee-Driscoll, one way to get a handle on spending on non-essential items is to set aside a designated amount in cash in an envelope and use only that cash to pay for those items. Build an Emergency Fund â&#x20AC;&#x153;I require my clients have an emergency fund equal to at least six months, though 12 months is best in this environment, of non-discretionary expenses such as mortgage, loans, utilities, groceries, and insurance premiums before I will set up any kind of investment portfolio for them,â&#x20AC;? Gardner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This helps keep them out of credit trouble if things donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go as planned or someone loses a job and they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to resort to credit cards, loans, or tapping retirement accounts for funds.â&#x20AC;? Learn How to Save and Spend Gardner suggests the best way to learn how to save is to have funds deducted directly from your paycheck or deposit account and redirected to savings vehicles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the old â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;out of sight, out of mindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; adage,â&#x20AC;? he said. In addition, Gardner says learning to be money smart can start when children are young. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I also have good luck with the children of clients,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I routinely provide basic financial education to the children of clients. This education teaches them how to open and maintain a checking and savings account, track expenses and live within their means. I find that most kids, especially teenagers, are more receptive than we adults give them credit for and usually ask for additional information on investing so

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L.A. WATTS TIMES

November 5, 2009

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY MEETINGS, FORUMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Quilt Show Set for Weekend The Afro-American Quilters of Los Angeles has announced that its one-day Quilt Show will take place Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Carson Community Center, 3 Civic Plaza Drive, Carson. Over 100 quilts will be on exhibit, in addition to a doll show, a vendor mall, and quilting demonstrations. Entry to the show is $7 and tickets can be purchased at the door.

Information: (323) 292-8519, www.easysite.com/aaqla.

Film Festival Extends Deadline The Pan African Film Festival has extended its deadline to Nov. 15. This is the final deadline to submit applications for films and videos for the 18th annual event to be held Feb. 10 to 15, 2010. Entries must be by and/or about people of African descent and should preferably depict positive and realistic images and can be of any genre.

Works in progress can be submitted, but films and videos must be completed no later than Dec. 15. Information: www.paff.org.

HHS Gives $50M to Help Low-Income Households with Energy Costs Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the release of $50,257,301 to the state of California to help low-income citi-

zens with their heating bills through the end of 2009. These funds represent grants to states, tribes and territories under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP helps eligible families pay the costs of heating and insulating their homes in the winter and cooling their homes in the summer. HHS is releasing such a large allocation of LIHEAP funds now in order to ensure that states have resources available to support their energy assistance programs as the weather turns colder. More information: www.acf.hhs. gov/programs/ocs/liheap/brochure/bro chure.html.

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Photo by MARTY COTWRIGHT

TARGET SUNDAY @ CAAM — “Giving Thanks” was the theme of the California African American Museum’s Target Sunday program on Nov. 1. Pictured: Bob Watt, far left, formerly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and some of his colleagues who performed music arranged for French horns.

YabaTV’s annual dinner, dance and festival will take place Nov. 7, 7 p.m. to midnight, at the Best Western Golden Sails Hotel, Crystal Ballroom, 6285 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach. The event will offer guests an introduction to the culture and traditions of Africans. There will be a live African band, dances, dinner, fashion show, awards and motivational speeches. Confirmed VIPs include Dr. Mathias A.L. Fobi, bariatric surgeon; Larry Grant, founder and president of the Kingdom Day Parade; and Ayuko Babu of Pan African Film and Arts Festival. The keynote speakers are Councilman Bernard Parks and Gary L. Clark, Battalion 11 commander for the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Proceeds from the benefit will go towards producing Black History Month programs, which

Facts Nov. 7, 1972 Barbara Jordan is elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1972. She becomes the first African American woman to represent a previously Confederate state in Congress. Source: blackfacts.com

will air on cable television beginning Feb. 7, 2010. Information: cs@yaba.tv, www. yaba.tv.

House of RA to Have Grand Opening The House of RA Grand Opening will take place Nov. 6, 7 p.m., at 7825 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles. The KRST Unity Center offers black gnostic studies, yoga and other programs and services. Information: (323) 759-7567, MeriKaRa@earthlink.net.

Rainbow PUSH Citizenship, Education Fund to Present Awards Dinner The 11th annual Rainbow PUSH and Citizenship Education Fund Awards Dinner will take place Nov. 13, with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception and a 7 p.m. dinner, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.’s 68th birthday will be celebrated. Honored guests will include Laura Ling, Al Bell, Euna Lee, Sir Elton John and others. Information: (626) 791-3847, events@personalservicesplus.com, www.rainbowpush.org.

Brotherhood Crusade to Honor Soledad O’Brien CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien will receive the Brotherhood Crusade Pioneer of African American Achievement Award for her humanitarian efforts Nov. 7, 7 p.m., at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. The Crusade selects one individual each year that best exemplifies the spirit of Crusade founder Walter Bremond. O’Brien has been selected for her leadership, humanitarian efforts, and highlighting the contributions of people of color to the world at large. Tickets and other information: (323) 846-1649, www.brotherhoodcrusade.org.

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November 5, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 5

COMMUNITY

WHAT’S GOING ON? Deadline for receipt of What’s Going On listings is Friday, 12 p.m., at least two weeks prior to activity. Fax to: (213) 251-5720, e-mail us at lawattsnus@aol.com or mail to: L.A. Watts Times, 3540 Wilshire Blvd., PH3, Los Angeles, CA 90010. HOMEWALK — The United Way is sponsoring a 5k walk to raise public awareness and fund solutions to end homelessness in Los Angeles County. All money raised will be distributed back into the community to fund rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing solutions for homeless Angelenos. This event will take place Nov. 7, 8:30 to 10:15 a.m., in Exposition Park, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. Information: (978) 463-0289, www.home walkla.org. ROUNDTABLE — The Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable will discuss the Three Strikes law and the case of community activist Najee Ali. Currently in a California medium-security prison, Ali was scheduled for release this month, but his release was rescinded by L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley under the Three Strikes law provision. Is this fair or unfair? The roundtable will take place Nov. 7, 10 a.m., at Leimert Park’s Lucy Florence Coffeehouse, 3351 W. 43rd St., Los Angeles. Information: (323) 383-6145.

PHYSICAL TO METAPHYSICAL — Purusha Hickson, founder and director of Stretch for Success Seminars, will lead an three-hour workshop on yoga practice, meditation, chanting and discussion of yoga postures from the physical to the metaphysical. This event will take place Nov. 14, 1 to 4 p.m., at Lotus on the Nile Wellness Center, 4307 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles. Admission to this event is $45 before Nov. 7 and $55 afterward. Information: (323) 295-6887. INGLEWOOD OPEN STUDIOS — This third annual event will showcase the unique art community. The event will take place Nov. 14 to 15, noon to 5 p.m., with a closing reception Nov. 15, 5 to 7 p.m. This event begins with a trolley car tour through Inglewood to visit a variety of emerging and established fine artists in their studios. Trolley cars depart from 703 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood. Information: (310) 6215416, http://inglewoodopenstudio. blogspot.com. CAPOEIRAANGOLA — The Ngolo Arts Preservation Society invites the community to an open Capoeira Angola roda honoring the lives and works of Rei Zumbi dos Palmares, guardian of the Quilombo Palmares, and Vicente Ferreira Pastinha, guardian of Capoeira de

Angola. There will be music, food and games of capoeira. The event will take place at Rodgers Park, 400 W. Beach Ave., Inglewood. Information: (424) 200-4968, ngolo.arts@gmail.com.

Photo by MARTY COTWRIGHT

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Mary and Joseph, the Visitation of Mary and Elizabeth, No Room at the Inn and more. These windows were created by the Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich, Germany, and date back to 1913. Forest Lawn-Glendale is at 1712 S. Glendale Ave. Admission is free. Information: (800) 204-3131, www.forestlawn. com.

ON THE LOOKOUT — Michael Richardson (left, at vehicle), father of Mitrice Richardson, who has been missing since Sept. 17, and many others passed out flyers and held signs on the corner of Manchester and Western avenues in Los Angeles Nov. 1. Some people claimed to have seen Mitrice Richardson in Los Angeles. Mitrice Richardson has been missing since leaving a Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff’s station. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information on Mitrice Richardson’s whereabouts. Anyone with information about where she is can call Michael Richardson at (310) 283-4717 or the Los Angeles Police Department at (213) 485-2155.

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GLASS HOLIDAY DISPLAY — Beginning Nov. 27, the “Light and Hope” stained glass window display at the Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale will mark the start of the holiday season. The “Light and Hope” display will depict the seven most significant events in the birth and the early life of Jesus Christ, including the Betrothal of

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As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure access to its programs, services and activities.

Page 6

L.A. WATTS TIMES

November 5, 2009

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Continued from page 1 must withhold 10 percent more in state income taxes — a move equivalent to taxpayers giving the state a $1.7 billion cash advance through next June, the end of the fiscal year. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature included the accelerated withholding as part of a budget deal reached in February. A single wage earner making $51,000 a year with no dependents will see a $4.06 increase in weekly state income tax withholdings. A couple earning $145,000 a year with no dependents will notice a $16.90 increase in weekly withholdings. The action is technically not a tax increase because the state is supposed to return the extra money after people file their tax returns, said Brenda Voet, a spokeswoman for the California Franchise Tax Board.

Obama Makes Port Chicago a National Park CONCORD, Calif. (AP) — The site of a World War II explosion that killed 320 people and started the desegregation of the military is now part of the national park system. President Barack Obama on Oct. 28 signed a bill by Rep. George Miller, giving the Park Service control of the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial and making it eligible for federal funding. On July 17, 1944, an explosion destroyed two munitions ships and

crippled Port Chicago in Suisun Bay, the main Pacific port during the war. More than 200 of the dead sailors were black. White sailors got a month off after the blast. The black seamen were ordered back to work and, when they defied orders, were imprisoned. Public outrage led to desegregation of the Navy in 1945. By 1948, President Truman issued an order desegregating all the Armed Forces.

THE NATION White House: Afghan Troop Decision Within Weeks WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is still weeks away from deciding whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, the White House said Nov. 1 amid pressure from lawmakers to settle on a war strategy despite muddled politics and concerns about corruption in Kabul. Obama’s painstaking review has been ongoing since early September. “I expect the president will make a decision within weeks,” senior Obama adviser David Axelrod said. “As you know, he has gone through a very rigorous process because the goal here is not just to make an arithmetic judgment about the number of troops, but to make sure that we have the right strategy.” Before Obama left the White House to campaign for Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in New Jersey on

Nov. 1, he spoke with his national security adviser by telephone. White House spokesman Ben LaBolt told reporters aboard Air Force One that Jim Jones updated Obama on the situation in Afghanistan and that Jones had spoken with the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry. About 68,000 American troops already have been ordered to report to Afghanistan by the end of the year.

Miss. Gov. Barbour Appoints His First Black Judge JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour on Oct. 26 named a black lawyer to a judicial post for the first time during his nearly six years of office, choosing an attorney who previously criticized the lack of diversity in the governor’s appointments. Barbour appointed Malcolm O. Harrison to serve the unexpired term of former Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter, who resigned July 30 after pleading guilty to federal charges stemming from a judicial bribery case. The four-year term for the Hinds County circuit judgeship ends Jan. 3, 2011. Harrison, 40, has been a Hinds County prosecuting attorney since 1999 and has a private law practice in Jackson. He is a past president of the Magnolia Bar Association. The black attorneys’ group has complained that none of the governor’s first 20 judicial appointees were black. See BRIEFS, page 7

TOWN HALL MEETING

CITY OF COMPTON

Guest speakers

Mayor Eric Perrodin City Manager Charles Evans City Attorney Craig Cornwell Compton Sheriff Department Captain Diane Walker Compton Fire Department Jon Thompson CRA Kofi Sefa-Boakye ICMS MLES Julius Davis El Camino Compton College Community Educational Center, Dr. Lawrence Cox, Provost/CEO

Hosted by Councilwoman Lillie Dobson

District 2 Saturday, Nov 7, 2009 9: 00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Lueders Park 1500 East Rosecrans Ave. Compton, CA 90221

Photo by PATRICK PREPETIT

“LOVE ‘N HAITI” — Supporters of the “Love ‘N Haiti” economic development program, which could bring dozens of new jobs to Haiti’s capital of Port-auPrince. Pictured (left to right): Martine Jean, attorney and film producer; Carine Fabius; actors Claudine Oriol, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Nadege August and Jimmy Jean-Louis; and Fred Smith, Operation Hope senior adviser.

Economic Project Gets Support of Haitians, Business Leader BY RICHARD LEE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A recycling plant co-op is offering jobs for dozens of families in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, and renewed hope in the city’s povertystricken, crime-ridden CarrefourFeuilles district. The Decheteries De Carrefour Feuilles facility recycles sawdust, paper and cardboard to produce and market cooking briquettes, while helping to reduce the city’s waste problem. Dubbed “Love ‘N Haiti,” the recycling project is among 12 finalists in the British Broadcasting Corp.’s World Challenge 2009 competition, in which three international projects that “show enterprise and innovation at a grassroots level” will be awarded next month. Funded jointly by the United Nations Development Programme

and South-South Cooperation (the governments of India, Brazil and South Africa), the project already has generated more than 350 jobs, according to Haitian native Martine Jean, a local attorney and film producer. Jean organized a recent news event to encourage online votes for the project. “As more plants are built throughout the country, that number will escalate and it is expected that this project will be a model for other countries to create jobs and make a positive impact (on) the global environment,” Jean said. Several Haitian Hollywood celebrities and at least one local business leader have voiced support for the Love ‘N Haiti project recently. Actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, formerly of the “Jamie Foxx Show,” See HAITIANS, page 16 WASTE NOT — This briquette, made from recycled sawdust, paper and cardboard, will be used to fire up many of Haiti’s stoves, while helping to reduce the country’s waste problem.

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November 5, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 7

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Continued from page 6

SCLC Elects MLKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Daughter as First Female President ATLANTA (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Rev. Bernice King embraced the legacy and leadership of her parents on Oct. 30 as she became the first woman to head the civil rights organization cofounded by her father. The youngest child of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King vowed to be a bridge between the civil rights generation and the hip-hop generation as the eighth president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Obama Hails Brooke as Congress Bestows High Honor WASHINGTON (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; President Barack Obama is hailing Edward Brooke, who made history 43 years ago as the first black man elected by popular vote to the U.S. Senate. The president on Oct. 28 was

Edward Brooke

on Capitol Hill as Brooke, now 90 years old, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The honor is Congressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; highest form of appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions to society. Obama said that many leaders â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including himself â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have followed the trail that Brooke blazed.

And Brooke sat and smiled as the president spoke. Brooke had grown up in an era of racial segregation in D.C. He won the first of his two Senate terms representing Massachusetts in 1966. Obama said Brooke trusted that people would judge him on his character and ideas. See BRIEFS, page 14

The Rev. Bernice King

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I stand before you as a daughter of the Civil Rights Movement calling forth the daughters and sons of the next generation of social change,â&#x20AC;? King said Oct. 30 at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where her father preached from 1960 until his death in 1968. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am a King, yet I am mindful that I am not the only one.â&#x20AC;? Interim President Byron Clay announced the decision of the board of directors and notified King of the results of the election on Oct. 30. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She is excited,â&#x20AC;? Clay told reporters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am excited. The nation will be excited.â&#x20AC;?

Emmett Till Traveling Exhibit On Display HERNANDO, Miss. (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Emmett Till Traveling Exhibit is on display at the DeSoto County Museum in Hernando through Nov. 9. The exhibit was developed by the Delta State University Archives & Museum and funded through the Mississippi Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Till was a black Chicago teenager who was murdered in 1955 by two half brothers in Money, Miss., for whistling at a white woman. Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam were charged but were acquitted by an all-white jury in Sumner. They confessed to the killing in a 1956 Look magazine article. Composed of newspaper headlines, articles, personal correspondences, family photographs, oral histories and other primary source materials, the exhibit takes visitors back to 1955 and to events during the trial.

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Facts Nov. 6, 1973 Thomas Bradley is elected mayor of Los Angeles at a time when blacks represent only 15 percent of the Los Angeles electorate, becoming one of the first two black mayors of city with more than 1 million citizens. Source: blackfacts.com

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Page 8

L.A. WATTS TIMES

November 5, 2009

ARTS & CULTURE SHORT TAKES lulling dance rhythms reminiscent of Cape Verde, Angola, Brazil and beyond. Tickets for this event are $30 general admission, $25 for Skirball members, and $20 for fulltime students. Information: (310) 440-4500, www.skirball.org. • World-renowned jazz pianist McCoy Tyner will perform at Royce Hall as part of UCLALive on

CONCERT • Sara Tavares, a Cape Verdean singer/songwriter and guitarist, will be in concert Nov. 5, 8 p.m., as part of the “Elles: Voices of Women” series at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Tavares will perform songs from her latest album, “Xinti” (Feel It). The self-penned and selfproduced 15-track CD was released in August on Four Quarters Entertainment. Tavares’ songs are a journey of multilingual wordplay and

Dwight Trible. Tickets for this event range from $38 to $65 and are $15 for UCLA students. Royce Hall is on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, 340 Royce Drive, Los Angeles. Information: (310) 825-2101, www.uclalive.org.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS • Chris Rock’s 2009 film “Good Hair” has reinvigorated a decades-old discussion among adults about African American hair.

She’s So ‘Precious’

McCoy Tyner

BY DARLENE DONLOE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Nov. 12, 8 p.m. A former pianist for jazz icon John Coltrane, Tyner will share the stage with locally based ensemble Build An Ark, a collective of 20 musicians including vocalist

See SHORT TAKES, page 11

“‘Precious’ leaves you moved like no film in years.

It has a spirit that soars!” Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

“You feel you’ve witnessed

nothing less than the birth of a soul.” Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

“Exhilarating!

“Unforgettable!

You can’t take your eyes off of it.”

A once in a blue moon experience.” Rex Reed, The New York Observer

TRUE GEMS — “Precious” and “Mary” (newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, left, and actress/comedienne Mo’Nique, right) portray a daughter and mother caught in a cycle of poverty and abuse in the Lionsgate film “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” The film begins a limited engagement in Los Angeles Nov. 6.

Scott Foundas, LA Weekly

“Mo’nique

“All hail newcomer

Gabourey Sidibe!”

is downright

electrifying!” A.O. Scott, At The Movies

Claireece “Precious” Jones is sick and tired of being sick and tired. At 16, she’s a single mother of one with another child on the way. Both pregnancies are the result of rapes perpetrated by her abusive father. She’s in the ninth grade getting good marks, but can’t read or write. She’s poor and taunted relentlessly for being overweight. If that were not enough, she’s about to get even more devastating news. How she puts one foot in front of the other while maneuvering through her tumultuous life is the subject matter of director Lee Daniels’ latest film, “Precious: Based On the Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire,” opening nationwide Nov. 6. The movie takes place in 1987. Precious, played impeccably by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, is living with her hell-on-wheels mother, Mary, flawlessly played with rawness, courage and grit by comedi-

enne and actress Mo’Nique. Mary, who has her daughter waiting on her hand and foot, is an unhappy soul on welfare who sits around her dark apartment brooding, smoking and watching game shows, all the while hating the world and spewing hatred toward her daughter. “You ain’t nothin’ and you ain’t never gon’ be nothin’ ” is her motherly, guaranteed low self-esteem mantra. To escape her horrid life, Precious often fantasizes about being someone other than herself. She longs to be skinny and light-skinned with long hair with a boyfriend who is also light-skinned. When she dreams, she’s adored by the throngs of fans who want not only her autograph, but her fabulous, glamorous life. This movie is disturbing, unforgettable, authentic and gripping. Precious is the manifestation of a segment of society that the rest of the See ‘PRECIOUS’, page 14

UNITED NATIONS Continued from page 1

Peter Howell, Toronto Star

“An inspirational marvel!”

“‘Precious’ simply

cannot be missed!” Mary Corliss, Time

London Daily Mail

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according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Web site. Rolnik, appointed to the threeyear post in May 2008, visited seven cities on her U.S. mission, including New Orleans and Los Angeles. Her priorities during the visit were to gain first-hand knowledge on the effects of foreclosures; public housing demolition; homelessness; and the conditions for residents of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Coalition Los Angeles, one of the 15 organizations that helped organize Rolnik’s tour, is a multicultural and multi-issue organization working on civic participation and electoral involvement. Bilal Ali, a Coalition L.A. organizer who works in the MacArthur Park and West Adams areas, says his group had to meet with Rolnik because it also believes housing is a human right. “We wanted her to observe the housing crisis here in the form of the lack of preservation of affordable housing, the lack of production of affordable housing, and the lack of a dedicated funding source for the housing trust fund in Los Angeles,” he said. “We hope that through our efforts she (Rolnik) will be able to identify not only slum housing conditions, but the lack of resources going into the production and preservation of affordable housing in her report,” he added.

Rolnik said she was unable to share her opinions of what she saw and heard during her two-day trip to Los Angeles, stating that, as a matter of protocol, she must first share with the government of the country she’s visiting. However, speaking at the The California Endowment, Rolnik acknowledged the work of various community organizations mobilizing around slum housing conditions, saying, “I have seen a lot of struggle, a lot of solidarity, and a lot of mobilizing, and I am thinking that this is the way, this is the hope.” Rolnik said she will release a preliminary two-page report by the end of this week. A fuller report will be sent by the end of November to the U.S. government and the U.N. Human Rights Council, and a final, comprehensive report is expected to be presented to the Geneva headquarters of the United Nations in early 2010. For more information, visit the Web site of the U.N.’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at www.ohchr.org.

Facts Nov. 5, 1974 Walter E. Washington becomes the first elected mayor of Washington, D.C., in the 20th century. Source: blackfacts.com

November 5, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 9

ARTS & CULTURE

Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe (“Precious”)

Media moguls Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey

The premiere of “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” was held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Nov. 1 in Hollywood. The film, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, tells the story of an abused 16-year-old, who takes control of her life and it has received critical acclaim. “Precious” begins a limited release in Los Angeles on Nov. 6

Actors Kwame Boateng, Hope Olaide Wilson and Kofi Siriboe

Sapphire, author of “Push” Actress and former Miss USA Kenya Moore

Sidney Poitier and daughter Sydney

Mariah Carey and husband Nick Cannon

Sidney Hicks and wife, actress/comedienne Mo’Nique

America I AM is a touring museum exhibition celebrating nearly 500 years of African American contributions to the nation through artifacts, documents, multimedia, photos and music. Twelve galleries will take visitors through a journey from struggle to triumph to celebration.

Star Jones

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700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037 californiasciencecenter.org

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Actor/producer Forest Whitaker and wife, Keisha

Actress Chyna Layne

Delve deeper with related exhibitions, programs, and films at the California African American Museum, California Science Center, and the Skirball Cultural Center.

Page 10

L.A. WATTS TIMES

November 5, 2009

ARTS & CULTURE ‘This Is It’ and ‘It’ is Good BY DARLENE DONLOE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Sitting in a theater on the Sony Studios lot, I had mixed emotions about seeing “This Is It,” the concert film documenting Michael Jackson’s rehearsals for his now ill-fated

50 “comeback” shows at London’s O2 Arena. I didn’t quite know what to expect, but I had a lot of hope. Having worked with MJ on his last successful tour (The HIStory Tour), I hoped his brilliance had

THE MOVIE CELEBRATED AROUND THE WORLD! “

# # # #” , Roger Ebert

“...beautiful... dazzling... a tribute to the power of Jackson’s body and voice...”

“‘This Is It’ is a movie to be savored.” - Jim Farber

THE KING ON HIS COURT — “This Is It,” the filmed record of Michael Jackson’s rehearsals for his series of 50 “comeback” concerts in London, opened Oct. 27.

- Ann Powers

“...raw and endearing

“...highly charged, personal and captivating...”

...the music pours out of him like sunlight.” - Owen Gleiberman

- Bradley Jacobs

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weathered his years-long absence from the stage. I hoped he still had the magic. I hoped I wouldn’t feel melancholy. I wanted very much for Jackson, who died June 25, to succeed. I wanted the world to gain insight into his sometimes insanely intense work ethic — all for the love of his craft and his fans. I wanted everyone to know for him it was about the music, to understand that after 40 years, MJ was still very much in the game. After viewing the 1-hour, 51minute film, if there is one thing that it showed, it’s that the King of Pop was in rare form and ready to reclaim his throne. The film is getting rave reviews and is setting box office records along the way. In its first week, the film grossed nearly $22 million in the United States, with an astounding $100 million take worldwide. The film is so successful Sony has extended the run through the Thanksgiving weekend. I wasn’t sad at all. This show was hot. In fact, I bopped my way through the movie reminiscing about standing in the wings years ago and

watching a master at work. It all came rushing back like it was yesterday. There he stood on the stage at 50 years old, still wowing even his own band members and backup dancers and singers with his incredible stage presence and mystifying talent. The show opens with emotional testimony by the dancers who, out of the 5,000 who auditioned, won a coveted spot in Jackson’s crew. They are choked up as they talk about what it was like growing up listening to Jackson’s music and now getting the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dance on the same stage with him. A vibrant, clear, focused Michael Jackson was in full command. With precision and classic Jackson style, he was orchestrating his re-entry into the all-too-familiar world of live performance. With only three weeks from show time, Jackson, show director Kenny Ortega and assistant director Travis Payne and the rest of the crew were putting the final touches on a show that was primed to be the show of shows. His vocal coach and backup singer, Dorian Holley, who has writ-

ten a song (“Just One Dance”) about MJ that appears on his latest CD (“Independent Film”), said Jackson was “on fire” and ready to rock and roll. After watching “This Is It,” I have to admit, Holley was on the mark. The film, full of behind-thescenes raw footage taken from more than 100 hours of rehearsals, is a touching tribute to an entertainer who set the bar high for neophyte and veteran performers alike. Even as he went through the motions during rehearsals, Jackson was still dancing and singing circles around his several-decades-younger backup dancers. Let’s face it, when he was in full effect, no one on the planet could touch him. The show was going to be BIG. The show included aerialists, a brilliant and elaborate 3D “Thriller” number, not to be outdone by a “Smooth Criminal” production, which featured MJ inserted into vintage Hollywood films including, “In a Lonely Place” and “Gilda,” reportedly two of his favorite films. The footage would show MJ playing opposite Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson. What a kick! For “Earth Song,” there is a video highlighting man’s atrocities on the planet – ending with Jackson standing defiantly in front of a fullsize army tank (ala Tiananmen Square), which is rolled out center stage. And, of course there were plenty of Jackson’s signature hits such as “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” a luscious “Human Nature,” “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Black or White” and more. There were also classic Jackson 5 hits like “I Want You Back,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There.” What a triumph. “This Is It” could not have really been “it.” “It” would have been just the beginning. “This Is It,” rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for some suggestive choreography and scary images, is now in theaters worldwide. On the Donloe Scale, D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (Outstanding) and E (excellent), “This Is It” gets an E (Excellent).

November 5, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 11

ARTS & CULTURE Continued from page 8 Parents who want to explain “good hair” to their children may be interested in the Judson Press book “Jordan’s Hair” by Ed and Sonya Spruill and illustrated by Stephen Mercer Peringer. According to the book, “Little Jordan has a problem. He loves to be with his friends at school, but his skin color and hair texture is different from theirs. Jordan thinks God doesn’t love him because he looks different.” The 16page hardcover book retails for $8 and is recommended for children age 4 to 8. Information: www.judsonpress.com. • “Coretta Scott” is a collection of poetry by Ntozake Shange dedicated to Coretta Scott King. This picture book also features large paintings by Kadir Nelson.

The book details King and her life in the segregated South, and also tells how she began work with Martin Luther King Jr. and launched the idea of nonviolent protest. The poetry explains the beautiful life and journey of Coretta Scott King to achieve freedom for everyone during the Civil Rights Movement. Shange, most well known for her choreopoem “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf,” is the author of many children’s books, including “Ellington Was Not a Street,” the winner of the Coretta Scott King Award. The 32-page hardcover book is recommended for children age 9 through 12 and retails for about $18. Information: www.harpercollins.com.

BOOKS • “The Black Book” was created in 1974 under the leadership of Toni Morrison. Part scrapbook, photo album, treasure chest and time capsule, “The Black Book” is an undated history of black life and culture in America with more than

500 archival documents, articles, and photographs chronicling the black experience in America from the first Africans’ arrival on colonial shores through the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. The 35th anniversary edition of “The Black Book” will be reissued on Nov. 10 by Random House with a new foreword by Morrison and an introduction by Bill Cosby. The 224-page

hardcover book retails for $35. Information: www.randomhouse.com. • “Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy” was published Oct. 28. The book covers all style aspects of Michelle Obama’s influence as first lady, including the presidential campaign, fundraisers, television appearances, magazine spreads, the inauguration, her first state dinner, and trips abroad including humanitarian efforts and diplomatic dinners. The book boasts exclusive photos and interviews with Michelle Obama’s designers as well as other important voices in the world of fashion. The 248-page hardback book, authored by Mary Tomer, retails for about $26. Information: www. hachettebookgroup.com. • Dec. 4 will mark the 40th anniversary of Fred Hampton’s murder. “The Assassination of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther” was released by Lawrence Hill Books on Nov. 1. The book provides the first account of the legal and political struggle to uncover the government’s planned assassination of Fred Hampton.

interplay of music, song and dance, will take place Nov. 13 and 14, 8 p.m., and Nov. 15, 6 p.m., at The Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice. Brazilian choreographer Rosangela Silvestre and locally based international dance star Kimberly Miguel Mullen will preside with Silvestre as Essence and Mullen as Sensibility. Music for this event, composed by Dexter Story, will be performed by Mark Lamson, Fausto Cuevas, Luca Brandoli and Joe Addington. The performance concludes with an open forum Qand-A session. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students with ID, children and seniors, and can be purchased at www. brownpapertickets.com. More information: www.kimberlymiguel mullen.com.

Movie Roundup BY DARLENE DONLOE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The following selections of movie picks include a story about a boy superhero, a revealing look at a popular female aviator, love vignettes set in New York, an overthe-top violent thriller and a drama set in South Africa. “Skin” – If this were not a true story, it would be unbelievable. This riveting drama, set in 1950s South Africa, stars Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo, Sam Neill and Alice

Krige. “Skin,” based on true events, focuses on Sandra Laing (Okonedo), who was born black to white Afrikaner parents in South Africa. See MOVIE ROUNDUP, page 14

BASED ON AN EXTRAORDINARY TRUE STORY

“ENORMOUSLY MOVING!” Ella Taylor, The Village Voice

READING

“POWERFUL! OSCAR -WORTHY!” ®

Still Waters will present an evening with author, playwright, poet and organizer Amiri Baraka, who will read from his works of poetry and music history Nov. 13, 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., at The Dream Center, 901 E. Victoria St., Carson. Baraka is the author of more than 40 books of essays, poems, drama, and music history and criticism, and is the poet laureate of the state of New Jersey. Baraka will be joined on stage by Professor Griff of Public Enemy and locally based artist Sadiki Bakari. Tickets for this event are $10. More information: (323) 875-2314, www.amiribaraka.com.

Leonard Maltin

NEVER GIVE UP.

Sophie Okonedo Sam Neill Alice Krige

ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE ®

WINNER!

AUDIENCE AND JURY FAVORITE AWARDS

PAN AFRICAN FEST LOS ANGELES

L WEST LOS ANGELES The LANDMARK at W. Pico & Westwood (310) 281-8233 Free Parking www.landmarktheatres.com

F COSTA MESA Regency South Coast Village (714) 557-5701

G ENCINO Laemmle’s Town Center 5 (818) 981-9811

L PASADENA Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 Cinemas (626) 844-6500 Tickets available @ laemmle.com

SORRY, NO PASSES ACCEPTED FOR THIS ENGAGEMENT

Author Jeffery Haas, an attorney for the plaintiffs in the federal civil suit Hampton v. Hanrahan, the Illinois State Attorney who authorized the police raid that led to Hampton’s death, provides an uncensored account of why he believes Hampton was summarily executed by the government in the late 1960s and the extensive and criminal attempts to delay justice in the highly publicized and groundbreaking civil rights trial. The 434-page hardback book retails for $26.95. Information: www. ipgbook.com.

CDs • Gospel artist Byron Cage’s latest offering, “Faithful To Believe,” was released by Verity Records on Oct. 27. Recorded live at Detroit’s Second Ebenezer Baptist Church and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Aaron Lindsey, the 11-track CD features praise anthems and worship ballads, along with performances by Tye Tribbett and Marvin Winans. The CD retails for about $12. • Also released by Verity Records on Oct. 27 is “Free,” the third CD from gospel duo Rizen. Comprised of Adriann and Aundrea Lewis, the CD is produced by Aaron Lindsey and is a 10-track combination of traditional and contemporary gospel with infusions of R&B and even rock. The CD retails for about $12. Information: www.verity records.com.

DANCE • “Essensibility,” a journey through the African Diaspora evoking the forces of nature through the

DECK HALL THE

SHORT TAKES

HOLIDAY CONCERTS AT WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL

Sweet Sweeet Honey In The Rock R ck® Ro Preservation PPrese Preser Pre reservat eservation ervat vation ionn H Ha Hall alll Jazz Jaz Ja azzzz Band Band

Satt D DEC EC C 19 9 11:30a 11:30am 30am m & 2:30p 2:30pm 30pm

Tue

DEC 22 8pm

Holiday Sing-Along

Perfect for the whole family!

David Prather, host • Angeles Chorale The jolliest holiday sing-along in town features “Rudolph,” “Frosty,” “Jingle Bells,” and more with organ, choir, band, and a very merry special guest!

Holidays with Sweet Honey In The Rock®

This Grammy-winning a cappella group will spread the joy of the holiday season as they interweave the rhythmic stories of their African ancestors with rich vocal harmonies. This concert will be sign-interpreted. Wed

DEC 23 8pm

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: A Creole Christmas Enjoy the festive spirit with the rousing New Orleans jazz sounds of Preservation Hall. Stomp, clap, hoot, and holler, as they take on Christmas favorites and Creole classics in their inimitable style.

Get Your Tickets Today! LAPhil.com/DeckTheHall • 323.850.2000 Box Office (Tue-Sun, 12-6pm) • Groups (10+) 323.850.2050 TTY 323.850.2040 • Programs, artists, prices and dates subject to change.

Page 12

L.A. WATTS TIMES

November 5, 2009

EDUCATION NOTEBOOK First Lady Launches White House Mentoring Program WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Michelle Obama is launching a mentoring program for local high school girls to have access to women at the White House.

World Report’s rankings of U.S. research universities since 1991. Sample was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease eight years ago. He says the illness was not a major factor in his decision. Sample says he simply wants to quit while he’s ahead and enjoy life.

Compton Community College District Board to Meet

First lady Michelle Obama

Thirteen girls joined the first lady and 18 White House staffers in the State Dining Room on Nov. 2 to kick off the program. The program is designed inspire 10th- and 11th-grade girls from public and private schools in Washington, Maryland and Virginia by giving them access to accomplished women. The program will expand slightly in the coming weeks. Mrs. Obama said creating the program is one of her top goals as first lady. The White House says a program to mentor boys will be launched soon.

USC President Says He’ll Leave Post Next Year (AP) — University of Southern California President Steven Sample says he’ll step down next August after almost 19 years in the post. Sample told the Los Angeles Times of his plans for a story published Nov 1. The university scheduled a formal announcement Nov. 2. The 68-year-old Sample worked to boost USC’s academic prestige, financial resources, and civic engagement as the university’s leader. The 34,000-student school near downtown Los Angeles has climbed from 51st to 26th in U.S. News &

The next meeting of the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees is scheduled for Nov. 17, 6 p.m., in the Board Room at Compton Center, 1111 E. Artesia Blvd., Compton. Closed session begins at 4 p.m. The board agenda is posted 72 hours in advance of the meeting on the district Web site, www.district.compton.edu. All regular session board meetings are open to the public.

Inglewood School District Breaks Ground at New K-8 School The Inglewood Unified School District hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 29 at the future site of a K-8 school facility to celebrate the onset of construction with the community. LaTijera School Principal Steve Donahue, Interim Superintendent Dr. Joice C.B. Lewis, Chief Operations Officer Robert Guillen, State Sen. Rod Wright, Councilwoman Judy Dunlap and other community stakeholders took part in the event. The LaTijera School Project will be the largest new construction project under the Inglewood/Ladera Heights voter-approved Measure K program. Located at 1415 N. LaTijera Blvd., the LaTijera K-8 School project will feature a two-story, five-building complex containing classrooms, science and art labs, a gymnasium with locker rooms and showers, a multimedia library center, an administration building, a cafeteria-style kitchen, an outdoor amphitheater, new furnishings, and more.

For more information regarding Measure K projects, contact (310) 419-2793.

Obama Community College Proposal May Not Be Enough INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — President Barack Obama wants to invest $12 billion in community colleges so that an additional 5 million students graduate by 2020 — even though many schools are already bursting at the seams. Education officials are concerned that the initiative for more students to graduate will not provide enough cash to sustain community college programs. Especially since the American Association of Community Colleges estimates a 10 percent increase in enrollment over 2008. Some schools have reported increases of 25 to 30 percent. Debra Bragg, a professor and director of the Forum on the Future of Public Education at the University of Illinois, says the system needs “increased funding at the federal, state and local level.”

College Enrollment Up, Largely At 2-Year Schools (AP) — More young Americans than ever are in college — especially two-year institutions, according to a new report. A study of Census data by the Pew Research Center, released Oct. 29, shows the share of Americans age 18 to 24 attending college hit a record high in October 2008 at just under 40 percent. But enrollment in four-year colleges was flat; virtually all of the increase of 300,000 students nationally over the previous year came at two-year schools. The study’s authors say the economy is pushing more students to choose two-year community colleges, which are usually less expensive. There are also more students graduating from high school. Community colleges almost certainly saw large increases again this year, though final figures are not yet available.

Facts

Choices Information Online: eChoices.lausd.net

CHOICES ON TELEVISION

Be sure to watch this special television program about the various integration programs offered to residents of the Los Angeles Unified School District. AIR TIMES - KLCS-Channel 58

Asegúrese de ver este programa especial de televisión sobre los varios programas de integración del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Angeles. HORARIOS DE EMISION KLCS Canal 58

CHOICES 2010

OPCIONES 2010

November 08, 2009 • 7:30 a.m. November 10, 2009 • 10:30 a.m. November 14, 2009 • 9:30 a.m. November 15, 2009 • 8:00 a.m. November 19, 2009 • 12:00 p.m. November 22, 2009 • 7:30 a.m. November 24, 2009 • 10:30 a.m. November 26, 2009 • 4:30 p.m. November 28, 2009 • 9:30 a.m. November 29, 2009 • 8:00 a.m. December 03, 2009 • 12:00 p.m. December 08, 2009 • 10:30 a.m. December 12, 2009 • 9:30 a.m. December 17, 2009 • 12:00 p.m.

08 de nov. de 2009 • 8:00 a.m. 12 de nov. de 2009 • 12:00 p.m. 15 de nov. de 2009 • 7:30 a.m. 17 de nov. de 2009 • 10:30 a.m. 21 de nov. de 2009 • 9:30 a.m. 22 de nov. de 2009 • 8:00 a.m. 26 de nov. de 2009 • 12:00 p.m. 27 de nov. de 2009 • 4:30 p.m. 29 de nov. de 2009 • 7:30 a.m. 01 de dic. de 2009 • 10:30 a.m. 05 de dic. de 2009 • 9:30 a.m. 10 de dic. de 2009 • 12:00 p.m. 15 de dic. de 2009 • 10:30 a.m. 19 de dic. de 2009 • 12:00 p.m.

Nov. 6, 1990 Sharon Pratt Kelly, (known as Dixon at the time), a lawyer and public utility executive, is elected mayor of Washington, D.C. She is the first African American woman to be elected mayor of a major American city. Nov. 8, 1938 Crystal Bird Fauset becomes the 1st African American woman elected to a state legislature in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Source: blackfacts.com

STUDENT INPUT — State Sen. Gloria Romero (at podium), chair of the Senate Education Committee, requested Locke High School students Aubrey Ross, 16, and Renee Lloyd, 18, share with legislators their observations of changes at the school since Green Dot Public Schools took over the campus. The students spoke before the committee on Nov. 2. Pictured: (top photo) Aubrey Ross, far right; (right photo) Renee Lloyd.

Photos by LORIE SHELLEY, SENATE PHOTOGRAPHER

Obama Coaxes States to Change With School Dollars BY LIBBY QUAID THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Using stimulus dollars as bait, President Barack Obama is coaxing states to rewrite education laws and cut deals with unions as they compete for $5 billion in school reform grants, the most money a president has ever had for overhauling schools. And it may end up going to only a few states. In Wisconsin, where Obama was expected to visit Nov. 4, lawmakers are poised to change a law to boost their state’s chances. Nine other states have taken similar steps. And states can't even apply for the money yet. “There is an appetite out there for change,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in an interview with The Associated Press. “There’s been really dramatic movement in a number of states,” said Duncan, who was expected to travel to Madison, Wis., with the president. “This was the goal, but we didn't know if anyone was going to respond.” Respond they have. Wisconsin lawmakers planned

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to vote Nov. 5 to lift a ban on using student test scores to judge teachers. That helps clear the way for an Obama priority, teacher pay tied to student performance. California lifted a similar ban last month. And before that, charter school restrictions or budget cuts were eased in eight states — Louisiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Delaware, Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Duncan had repeatedly warned that such restrictions would hurt a state’s chances at the money. The administration can’t really tell states and schools what to do, since education has been largely a state and local responsibility throughout the history of the United States. But Obama has considerable leverage in his nearly $5 billion competitive grant fund, dubbed the “Race to the Top,” that was set aside in the economic stimulus law. “If you put a very large, $5 billion program in front of the entire country, everyone eyes that as an opportunity,” said Wisconsin state Sen. John Lehman, a Democrat who chairs the state’s Senate Education Committee and a former high school teacher. No president has ever had that much money for schools at his discretion. Only Duncan — not Congress — has control over who gets it. And only some states, perhaps 10 to 20, will actually get the money. Obama will use the trip to Wisconsin to call attention to the See SCHOOL DOLLARS, page 15

November 5, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 13

HEALTH THE PULSE Billionaire Pledges $100M Guaranty for King-Drew

Woman Convicted of Selling Human Growth Hormone

(AP) — A pharmaceutical billionaire is offering to provide University of California regents with a $100 million guaranty in support of the county’s proposal to reopen Martin Luther King Jr.Harbor Hospital in South Los Angeles. Former UCLA surgeon Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong sent a letter to UC President Mark G. Yudof on Oct. 21 detailing his plan, saying the unjust situation compelled him to get involved. Built to serve one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, KingHarbor partially closed in August 2007 after years of negligence that resulted in patient deaths. County officials had to secure a $100 million letter of credit to ensure the $63 million a year it will cost them to operate the hospital. The county plan aims to reopen King-Harbor by 2012.

(AP) — A Los Angeles-area woman has been convicted for smuggling human growth hormone into the United States, then selling it over the Internet to doctors and spas across the country. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which led the probe, said Oct. 30 that 61-year-old Rana J. Hunter, of Marina del Rey, had been convicted in U.S. District Court on eight criminal counts, including smuggling goods into the United States, knowingly distributing growth hormone for a use unauthorized by law, and identity theft. Prosecutors say Hunter’s business also claimed to offer Botox. Samples tested turned out to be fake. Hunter, who has been imprisoned since her July 2008 arrest, faces a maximum penalty of 39 years in federal prison.

Celebrities Team Up with Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program Dr. Bill J. Releford, founder of the Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation, will launch the Los Angeles initiative of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program in 100 barbershops throughout the Los Angeles area Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the program will offer free diabetes and high blood pressure screenings to African American men who normally visit their local barbers just anticipating the usual haircut. In addition, participants will be provided education about healthy lifestyle alternatives along with peripheral artery disease screenings and PEP Talk; the Prostate Education Project will address the issue of prostate cancer by distributing culturally appropriate educational materials as well. The Whispers, Kim Coles, Tommy Davidson, T.C. Carson, Yo Yo and Montell Jordan are some of the celebrities slated to visit local barbershops. Ultimately, the program’s goal is to screen more than 500,000 African American men by 2012. The program has already tested close to 10,000 African American men in 23 cities. For more information and to view a list of participating barbershops, visit www.blackbarbershop. org.

Scientists Decode DNA of Pig, a Research Favorite CHICAGO (AP) — An international group of scientists has decoded the DNA of the domestic pig, research that may one day prove useful in finding new treatments for both pigs and people, and perhaps aid in efforts for a new swine flu vaccine for pigs. Pigs and humans are similar in size and makeup, and scientists say they rely on pigs to study everything from obesity and heart disease to skin disorders in humans. “The pig is the ideal animal to look at lifestyle and health issues in the United States,” said Larry Schook, a University of Illinois in Champaign biomedical science professor who led the DNA sequencing project. Researchers announced the results of their work Oct. 26 at a meeting at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton, Britain, one of the organizations involved in the research. One way researchers could use the new information is by developing a swine flu vaccine for pigs to protect them from the new H1N1 virus that is spreading among people. The U.S. Agriculture Department recently announced that six pigs from the Minnesota State Fair contracted the new H1N1 virus over the summer, the first report of pigs catching the virus in the United States. The hogs likely got it from fairgoers, officials said. The swine flu is spreading easily among people but not by handling or eating pork products.

BECK Continued from page 1 Beck comes from a law enforcement family. His father, George Beck, is a retired deputy chief. His daughter, Brandi Scimone, is a patrol officer in the Hollywood area; his son, Martin, is in the Police Academy; and his wife, Cindy Beck is a retired Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy. During Bratton’s tenure, the LAPD hired more officers; got a

new headquarters; enacted courtordered reforms and saw the end of eight years of federal oversight; and at least partially healed a breach with the city’s black community stemming from decades of perceived police racism. The force has increased by more than 800 officers since 2002 to its highest-ever level of about 10,000.

TO THE RESCUE? — Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, left, speaks with Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark RidleyThomas and State Assemblyperson Karen Bass. Soon-Shiong offered “to provide a $100 million guaranty in support of the county’s proposal to reopen Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital in South Los Angeles,” The Associated Press reported.

Study: 1 in 5 Kids Get Little Vitamin D BY LINDSEY TANNER AP MEDICAL WRITER

CHICAGO (AP) — At least one in five U.S. children aged 1 to 11 don’t get enough vitamin D and could be at risk for a variety of health problems including weak bones, the most recent national analysis suggests. By a looser measure, almost 90 percent of black children that age and 80 percent of Hispanic kids could be vitamin D deficient — “astounding numbers” that should serve as a call to action, said Dr. Jonathan Mansbach, lead author of the new analysis and a researcher at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital in Boston. The findings add to mounting evidence about vitamin D deficiency in children, teens and adults, a concern because of recent studies suggesting the vitamin might help prevent serious diseases, including infections, diabetes and even some cancers. While hard evidence showing that low levels of vitamin D lead to disease or that high levels prevent it is lacking, it’s a burgeoning area of research. Exactly how much vitamin D children and adults should get, and defining when they are deficient, is under debate. Doctors use different definitions, and many are waiting for guidance expected in an Institute of Medicine report on vitamin D due next year. The institute is a government advisory group that sets dietary standards. The new analysis, released online Oct. 26 by the journal Pediatrics, is the first assessment of varying vitamin D levels in children aged 1 through 11. Previous studies in the journal this year found low levels were prevalent in U.S. teens, and also showed kids with low levels had higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and were more likely to be overweight.

The new analysis uses data from a 2001-06 government health survey of nearly 3,000 children. They had blood tests measuring vitamin D levels. Using the American Academy of Pediatrics’ cutoff for healthy vitamin D levels, 6.4 million children — about 20 percent of kids that age — have blood levels that are too low. Applying a less strict, higher cutoff, two-thirds of children that age, including 90 percent of black kids and 80 percent of Hispanics, are deficient in vitamin D. A Pediatrics editorial says the strongest evidence about effects of vitamin D deficiency in kids involves rickets, a bone disease common a century ago but that continues to occur. Rickets can be treated and prevented with 400 units daily of vita-

min D, the editorial says. The pediatricians’ group recently recommended that amount for all children, saying that most need vitamin supplements. Mansbach says his study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, supports that recommendation. Children can get 400 units daily by drinking four cups of fortified milk, or eating lots of fish, but many don’t do that. The body also makes vitamin D when sunlight hits the skin, but many children don’t spend enough time outdoors. That’s one reason why lower vitamin D levels are found in children living in colder climates and those with darker skin, which absorbs less sunlight. On the Net: Pediatrics: www. pediatrics.org.

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Page 14

L.A. WATTS TIMES

November 5, 2009

SPORTS BRAD PYE JR.

SPORTS BEAT Notes, quotes and things picked up on the run from coast-to-coast and all the stops in between and beyond. The Oregon Ducks (6-1) slaughtered the University of Southern California Trojans, 47-20, on Oct. 31. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James in particular ran over the Trojans. Whoever said Masoli canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pass lied. Masoli completed 19 of 33 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown. He ran for 164 yards and one TD. Standouts for Troy were QB Matt Barkley (21 of 38 for 187 yards and two TDs), wide receiver Damian Williams (9 for 82 yards

(3-5) at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 7. Unlike the UCLA Bruins, there is hope for the Trojans, and there should be another victory for them before the 2009 season is history. After losing their fifth straight game of the season to the Oregon State Beavers, 26-19, on Halloween, there doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem another victory in sight for the pitiful Bruins. And the beat continuesâ&#x20AC;Ś Going into the World Series Oct. 28, the Yankees and the Phillies had a combined 468 homeruns. To boot, 20 All-Stars and three MVP winners were featured in the 2009 World Series. They are Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard from the Phillies and Alex Rodriguez, who

Damian Williams

Alex Rodriguez

and a TD), and Joe McKnight (15 for 95 yards). Next up for the Trojans is the Arizona State Sun Devils (4-4) in Tempe on Nov. 7. The University of California at Los Angeles hosts Washington

won the MVP award twice with the Yankees. The PA announcer at the New York Yankees World Series home games was Paul Olden, a Dorsey High graduate and play-by-play announcer for the Angels, Cleveland Indians and UCLA football and basketball games. Olden also served as PA announcer for several Super Bowl games. And the beat continuesâ&#x20AC;Ś Tiger Woods tees up again Dec. 2 to 6 at the Sherwood County Club in the Chevron World Chal-

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PRECIOUSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Continued from page 8 world pretends doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist. Daniels has created a scathing portrayal of a soul overlooked and ignored. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as if Precious is walking through her life invisible. That is until her principal suggests she attend an â&#x20AC;&#x153;alternativeâ&#x20AC;? school called Each One Teach One, helmed by Ms. Rain (Paula Patton). Not knowing what an â&#x20AC;&#x153;alternativeâ&#x20AC;? school is, Precious gives it a shot. What she finds there saves her from a broken life. This is a welldirected, well-written, produced and acted film. There isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a weak link in the cast whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a principal player or an ancillary actor. Moâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Nique transforms and fills the screen with her bitter portrayal. Her character is played with such intensity you can feel her pain through the screen. Newcomer Sidibe is equally impressive and a ray of sunshine â&#x20AC;&#x201D; giving a brave performance. Paula Patton as a literacy teacher, Sherri Shepherd as a worker at the alternative school, Lenny Kravitz as a

rebounds), Lamar Odom (16 points and 13 rebounds), and Andrew Bynum (26 points and 13 rebounds) prevailed 99-92. Many former Lakers, including Kareem AbdulJabbar, Magic Johnson, A.C. Green, James Worthy, Robert Horry and Jerry West, showed up to participate in the Lakers championship ring ceremony. The rings, shaped like Staples Center, are worth $10,000. Each player had an

image of his face on the side of the ring â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a first. And the beat continuesâ&#x20AC;Ś Coach Robert Garrettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unbeaten Crenshaw High Cougars (7-0) were listed as No. 25 in the USA Today Super 25 high school poll on Oct. 26. Crenshaw hosts Dorsey Nov. 6. And the beat ends. Brad Pye Jr. can be reached at switchreel@aol.com.

MOVIE ROUNDUP Continued from page 11

Vijay Singh

lenge for the benefit of the Tiger Woods Foundation. Vijay Singh, Camilo Villegas, Anthony Kim, Jim Furyk and Padraig Harrington are some of the entries. And the beat continuesâ&#x20AC;Ś The Cleveland Cavaliersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; LeBron James calls Shaquille Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal his new right-hand man. James and Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal opened the 200910 season against the Boston Celtics. In the opener against Boston, James led all scorers with 38

LeBron James

points, four rebounds and eight assists. In the end, though, the Celtics defeated the Cavs 95-89. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal had only 10 in his debut with the Cavs. In its opener against the L.A. Clippers, the L.A. Lakers with Kobe Bryant (33 points and eight

concerned nurseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aide and Mariah Carey as a social worker, all turn in solid performances, buttressing Danielsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; powerful story. Daniels directs this survival story with such abandon, he takes the audience in unchartered territory â&#x20AC;&#x201D; up close and personal behind our neighborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s door. The disquieting voyeuristic view is palpable. This is a murky and ominous story that, surprisingly, will leave the audience uplifted. Kudos to Daniels, the cast and crew. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Preciousâ&#x20AC;? is a gem. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Preciousâ&#x20AC;? (Lionsgate) directed by Daniels with a screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher, is executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Lisa Cortes and Tom Heller. The movie is rated R (for child abuse, including sexual assault, and pervasive language). Running time: 109 minutes. On the Donloe Scale, D (donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (Outstanding) and E (excellent), â&#x20AC;&#x153;Preciousâ&#x20AC;? gets an E (Excellent).

The movie, directed by Anthony Fabian, serves as a stirring metaphor for birthrights and the affirmation of a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s individuality in the face of tyranny. After Sandra is declared black by the legal system, her parents fight to get her reclassified as white â&#x20AC;&#x201D; taking the case all the way to the Supreme Court. Okonedo is authentic and mesmerizing. The story is incredible and heartbreaking. Living in her â&#x20AC;&#x153;Skinâ&#x20AC;? requires a fierce amount of fortitude. This film is truly a winner and should not be missed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Skin,â&#x20AC;? which opened in Los Angeles Oct. 30, gets an E (excellent). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ameliaâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The mystery behind what happened to Amelia Earhart remains a mystery. However, we learn more about her private life in the drama that chronicles her meteoric rise to fame, record-setting flights, and fiery spunk. Although we all know how this story ends, it still leaves you an emotional wreck. Hilary Swank is brilliant as the famous aviator. Richard Gere plays her husband, George Putnam. The movie also stars Ewan McGregor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Amelia,â&#x20AC;? currently in theaters, is rated PG. It gets an O (OK). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Law Abiding Citizenâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Jamie Foxx stars in and F. Gary Gray directs this high-octane thriller about a vigilante family man (Gerard Butler) who, by mysterious means, implements his own brand of justice after his wife and daughter are brutally murdered. Foxx plays an assistant district attorney determined to

reign in the violent perpetrator. The story is a bit campy and contrived. The violence is over the top. The film also stars Viola Davis and Bruce McGill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Law Abiding Citizenâ&#x20AC;? is Rated R for strong, bloody, brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language. Now in theaters, the movie gets an L (Likeable). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where the Wild Things Areâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; This is a scrumptious, feel-good movie for the whole family. If you loved the book by Maurice Sendak, chances are youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll love the movie. The film tells the story of Max (Max Records), a disruptive, lonely 9year-old boy who loses it one night and goes off on his mom, played by Catherine Keener. Max then ventures into a desolate wilderness inhabited by strange, unruly and emotionally multifaceted creatures. Before you know it, he is their king. You will smile from ear to ear. Spike Jonze directs, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper, Lauren Ambrose and James Gandolfini voice the characters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where The Wild Things Are,â&#x20AC;? currently in theaters, gets an E (excellent). â&#x20AC;&#x153;New York, I Love Youâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Intertwined vignettes make up this pleasant and entertaining romp. Topics of the vignettes range from sex, love, romance to understanding. Of course, the city of New York is also a prominently featured character. Love comes in some of the funniest, weirdest, heartbreaking, surprising ways. Two of the segments are straight up hilarious! The film stars Julie Christie, Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Ethan Hawke, Eli Wallach, Cloris Leachman and Shia LaBeouf. â&#x20AC;&#x153;New York, I Love You,â&#x20AC;? currently in theaters, gets an O (OK). The DONLOE Scale: D (donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (OK) and E (excellent).

BRIEFS Continued from page 7

Detectives Tearing Down Walls of Rapistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home CLEVELAND (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Investigators in Cleveland began tearing apart walls inside a convicted rapistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house Nov. 4 where 10 bodies have been found. Authorities say theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to go â&#x20AC;&#x153;bit by bit, piece by pieceâ&#x20AC;? as they look for more evidence or bodies in the case of Anthony Sowell. Sowell was ordered held without bond. A prosecutor called Sowell â&#x20AC;&#x153;an incredibly dangerous threat to the publicâ&#x20AC;? and said he could face the death penalty if convicted of five aggravated murder counts. He also faces charges of rape, felonious

assault and kidnapping for an alleged attack on a woman at his home. The remains of four more people were unearthed from the backyard of Sowellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home Nov. 3, raising to 10 the number of bodies found in and near the house, as police also searched boarded-up homes in the neighborhood where residents complained for years of a stench.

Charles County NAACP Calls for Shooting Investigation PISAGH, Md. (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The NAACP chapter in Charles County is asking for an independent investigation into a fatal police shooting. On Oct. 30, chapter president See BRIEFS, page 15

November 5, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Page 15

CAREERS

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (Metro) INVITATION FOR BIDS Metro will receive bids for IFB No. OP33402480 for the Metro Red Line Civic Center Station Escalator Replacement per specifications on file at the Office of Procurement & Material Mgmt, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. (12th Floor) This is a design-build project that requires a Two-Step procurement process. In Step-one technical bids must be submitted on forms furnished by Metro, and must be filed at the reception desk of the Office of Proc. & Mat. Mgmt. on or before 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Time), January 11, 2010. In Step-two sealed price bids will be requested at a later date, at which time bids will be opened and publicly read. Technical bids received later than the above date and time will be rejected and returned to the bidder unopened. Each technical and sealed price bid must be sealed and marked Bid No. OP33402480. A Pre-Bid conference will be held on November 23, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Time), Imperial Conf. Room, 12th floor located at the address above. You may obtain bid specifications, or further information, by faxing Samira Baghdikian at (213) 922-1005. INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) NO. 1687 THE RESTORATION OF EXISTING TWELVE (12) UNITS OF APARTMENTS AT RANCHO SAN PEDRO AND NICKERSON GARDENS The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) invites vendors to submit bids for The Restoration Of Existing Twelve (12) Units Of Apartments At Rancho San Pedro And Nickerson GardensHousing Developments located at 103-117 W. Santa Cruz Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 and 1360-1366 One Hundred Fourteenth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059. Copies of the IFB may be obtained at the HACLA's General Services Department, 2600 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 3100, Los Angeles, CA 90057. Copies of the IFB may also be downloaded from the internet at www.HACLA.org/cgs. Bids will be accepted at the same location until 2:00 p.m. (local time), November 30, 2009. 11/5, 11/12/09 CNS-1726819# WATTS TIMES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. 20091527268 The following person is doing business as: House of Venusian 1608 Centinela Ave., Suite 11 Inglewood, CA 90302 Stewart Clemons 1608 Centinela Ave., Suite 11 Inglewood, CA 90302 This business is conducted by an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct (The registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) is Stewart Clemons. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on October 7 , 2009. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. NOTICE: This Fictitious Name Statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the Los Angeles County Clerk. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (See Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). First Filing: 10/15/09, 10/22/09, 10/29/09, 11/5/09 LAWT 390

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. LS019294 Superior Court of the State of California, for the County of Los Angeles. In the Matter of the Application of Sahar Victoria Mortiane, Ory Reuven Mortiane and Ron Moshe Mortiane for change of names. The application of Sahar Victoria Mortiane, Ory Reuven Mortiane and Ron Moshe Mortiane for change of names having been filed in Court and it is appearing from said application that has Sahar Victoria Mortiane, Ory Reuven Mortiane and Ron Moshe Mortiane filed an application proposing that the names be changed to Sahar Victoria Moore, Ory Reuven Moore and Ron Moshe Moore. Now, therefore, it is hereby ordered and directed, that all persons interested in said matter did appear before this court located at 6230 Sylmar Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91401 on the 8th day of October, 2009, of said day to show cause why such application for change of name should not be granted. It is further ordered that a copy of this Order to Show Cause be published in a newspaper of general circulation, printed in said county, at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the day of said hearing at 8:30 am, Dept A on November 30, 2009. Richard H. Kirschner Judge of the Superior Court. Published Runs 10/22/09, 10/29/09, 11/05/09, 11/12/09 NC-LAWT-14 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. 20091529178 The following person is doing business as: Golden West Maintenance 509 So. Chester Ave. Compton, CA 90221 William Tatum 509 So. Chester Ave. Compton, CA 90221 This business is conducted by an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct (The registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) is William Tatum. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on October 7, 2009. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. NOTICE: This Fictitious Name Statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the Los Angeles County Clerk. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (See Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). First Filing: 10/29/09, 11/5/09, 11/12/09, 11/19/09 LAWT 391

DBA’s and Legal Notices, Call (213) 251-5700

BRIEFS Continued from page 14 William Braxton called the shooting of 44-year-old Cornelius Warren unwarranted. The Indian Head man was shot and killed in a struggle with two sheriff’s deputies on Oct 2. Authorities have said the deputies made a traffic stop and found marijuana in Warren’s vehicle. Braxton says he’s seen video from a deputy’s dashboard camera. He says the footage raises questions about the deputy’s conduct and shows the use of force was unnecessary.

THE DIASPORA South Sudan Leader Calls for Southern Secession KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) —

The leader of southern Sudan called on his people to vote for secession in an upcoming referendum if they do not want to end up as second class citizens, as voter registration began Nov. 1 for elections across the country. Salva Kiir’s first-ever call for the mostly Christian, oil-rich south to split off from the Muslim north could increase tension with the Arab-led northern government, and further strain the fragile 2005 peace agreement that ended the more than 20-year-long northsouth civil war and left more than 2 million dead. The north-south war is separate from Sudan’s other ongoing conflict, a rebellion in the arid western region of Darfur.

DBA’s and Legal Notices, Call (213) 251-5700

SCHOOL DOLLARS Continued from page 12 actions states are taking, one year after his election, to put his vision of reform in place, Melody Barnes, Obama’s domestic policy director, told reporters Nov. 3 on a conference call. Obama sees the test score data and charter schools, which are publicly funded but independent of local school boards, as solutions to the problems that plague public education. The national teachers’ unions disagree. They say student achievement is much more than a score on a standardized test and that it’s a mistake to rely so heavily on charter schools. “Despite growing evidence to the contrary, it appears the administration has decided that charter schools are the only answer to what ails America's public schools,” the National Education Association, the largest teachers’ union, said in comments submitted to the Education Department. The NEA added: “We should not continue the unhealthy focus on standardized tests as the primary evidence of student success.” At the state level, unions have made deals with lawmakers on test scores. In Wisconsin, the state teachers’ union agreed that test scores could be used to evaluate teachers — as long as they couldn’t be used to fire or discipline teachers. Teachers’ unions are an influential segment of Obama’s Democratic base. Obama is encouraging states to get their support; the Education

Department says a state can win extra points in the “Race to the Top” if unions support their efforts. A state will have to meet a series of conditions to earn points

and boost its chances. Applications will be available this month, and the first round of grants will be awarded early next year. Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis., contributed to this report.

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November 5, 2009

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FREE MONEY U.S. Government Grants To Buy Homes Call Joe (310) 674-8822 HAITIANS Continued from page 6 actress and documentary producer Claudine Oriol, and Operation Hope Senior Adviser Fred D. Smith, are among them. They believe the project has far-reaching implications. A glance at the country’s recent past partly reveals why: Haiti has had significant deforestation, political turmoil, and recent natural and ecological disasters that have further devastated the country as well. Last year, in one of the Caribbean’s worst disasters of recent years, four storms struck the nation of 9 million people, one after another, in the space of 30 days. “It (the Love ‘N Haiti project) represents a new solution to the country’s economic and social problems and an alternative to people cutting down trees for fuel,” Jean said.

Actress Beauvais-Nilon, also of Haitian descent, has hopes for the project. “We need to help Haiti regain its potential,” she said. “I am raising two half-Haitian children. It is important for me to take them to Haiti one day and be proud.” “Turning common paper products into cooking briquettes is a fantastic recycling project,” she added. Port-au-Prince residents already use the recycled briquettes for cooking as well as heating, according to Smith of Operation Hope, who recently visited the facility. They are made from ordinary paper and newspaper materials that come from residents and businesses, he said, adding the cardboard comes from boxes in which items have been shipped. Smith added that paper items used in the process are suitable for cooking food since they do not come

from contamination sources such as dumps or landfills. The idea is to keep these materials away from landfills, he said. However, Dr. Roger A. Clemens, of the USC School of Pharmacy, an expert in nutrition, the food industry, food toxicology and other areas, offers another perspective. “The concept of the fuel briquettes is a good idea,” said the professor of pharmaceutical sciences and associate director of the Regulatory Science Program. “One of the many challenges with the use of these local, unprocessed, and apparently unclean products, is food safety.” Clemens said that the potential of unburned components and smoke entering the food supply and conceivably contaminating the food is a significant concern. Contaminates including heavy metals and unburned substances in

the fuel briquettes could lead to greater public health problem in poverty-stricken communities throughout the country, according to Clemens. “Bottom line, the concept of developing these briquettes to improve recycling of potential waste and to provide employment for Haitians is good for the people and the environment,” he said. However, he added, “The unintended personal and public health consequences of the production and burning of these waste-laden briquettes deserve considerable attention.” Attracting considerable attention from international investors through the BBC world competition is what proponents hope to achieve for the project and the country. A major boost came in August when former President Bill Clinton brought 250 potential investors to the Haitian Diaspora Unity Congress in Miami to stimulate interest.

“Being selected as a finalist is in this world competition is extremely valuable to Haiti,” Smith said. “Even if Haiti does not finish in first place, participating will give the country credibility with international investors. It tells the international banking world that Haiti is trying to improve the environment.” BBC world competition winners will be announced on Dec. 5 in an awards ceremony at The Hague, the de facto judicial capital of the United Nations. Finalists with the most online votes will receive a $20,000 grant to invest in its project. Two grants of $10,000 will be awarded to runners-up. “If Haiti wins or even places the grant money will be implemented immediately or soon thereafter,” Jean said. Online voting ends on Nov. 13. On the Net: www.theworldchallenge. co.uk.