10.19.22 NPC

Altercation leads to fight; fight leads to shooting; two mothers among the dead

Mayor Gainey is fed up with the gun violence plaguing Pittsburgh

by Rob Taylor Jr.

Courier Staff Writer

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey stood before the entire City of Pittsburgh on Monday, Oct. 17, and proclaimed that he could never fathom losing his mother to gun violence.

But two nights earlier, two Pittsburgh mothers did lose their lives to gun violence, an apparent senseless shooting that took place on the North Side, the mothers just in nocent bystanders waiting at the bus stop near the Giant Eagle and Sunoco.

Betty Averytt, 59, and Jacquelyn Mehalic, 33, were the two mothers killed as the 20 gunshots were fired from across the street near a park towards the gas station, and vice versa. Pittsburgh police said the shooting was due to an altercation at the Sunoco gas station just seconds earlier.

“I couldn’t imagine what that feels like,” Mayor Gainey said at the Oct.

17 news conference. “Four kids that don’t have a mom.” The mayor was speaking specifically of Mehalic, who had four chil dren. Averytt was a moth er and a grandmother.

“And there’s no reason that anybody should want those type of killers on the street. We don’t. We want to get them off the street as soon as possible, be cause anybody who would not take any value in a life is not someone that needs to be on our streets. We know that somebody knows something.”

Mayor Gainey pleaded with the community to call police with information on who was responsible for the shooting. A third per son who died in the shoot ing was a 20-year-old man, John Hornezes. Police are unsure if he had a role in the actual shooting. A fourth person was shot in the leg and was treated at Allegheny General Hospi tal, a few blocks away.

Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew named Top Diversity Leader for second year in a row

Dr. Pettigrew is SVP and Chief DEI officer for Highmark Health, AHN

For the second year in a row, Pittsburgh’s Mar garet Larkins-Pettigrew, M.D., has been selected by Modern Healthcare mag azine as one of the indus try’s Top Diversity Lead ers, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned.

Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew is the Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity, Eq uity and Inclusion Officer for Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Net work (AHN). A practicing obstetrician and gynecol ogist, Dr. Larkins-Petti grew has spent her career engaging marginalized communities and building programs that promote access and outcomes equi ty for vulnerable patients and mitigate socio-eco nomic barriers to care, particularly for women. She also is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecol ogy at Drexel University School of Medicine.

Modern Healthcare’s an nual “Top Diversity Lead ers” recognition celebrates

a distinguished group of executives and organiza tions that are identified by an expert panel to be the nation’s trailblazers in the areas of health care diver sity, equity, and inclusion.

These industry leaders influence policy and care delivery models across the country, while also nurturing and enhancing health care’s diversity and equity standards.

The 2022 individual awardees include leaders from health care institu tions, education, and gov ernment.

“Since the day she ar rived at AHN, Dr. Lar kins-Pettigrew has been a remarkable advocate for diversity and health care equity, and she has had an extraordinary impact on the people and communi ties we serve in the West ern Pennsylvania region,” said Cynthia Hundorfean, President and CEO, AHN, in a statement to the Cou rier, Oct. 17. “Her inclu sion on this list, for a sec

ond straight year, speaks not only to her own profes sional accomplishments, and the achievements of her team, but also to AHN and Highmark Health’s organizational progress toward creating a more equitable health care en vironment.”

“The honorees on Mod ern Healthcare’s 2022 lists of Top Diversity Leaders and Organiza tions demonstrate a will ingness to devote the resources necessary to execute meaningful diver sity, equity and inclusion initiatives,” said Mary Ellen Podmolik, Modern Healthcare’s editor, in a statement. “Their efforts to provide greater oppor tunities internally while advancing health equity initiatives in their com munities set a great ex ample for others to follow.”

At Highmark Health, Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew and the AHN Equitable Health Institute—which she established—are ad vancing a comprehensive internal and external strategy designed to pro mote a culture of equity and inclusion across every component of the health

thenewpittsburghcourier

INNOCENT BYSTANDERS JACQUELYN MEHALIC AND BETTY AVERYTT DIED AS A RESULT OF A SHOOTING ON THE NORTH SIDE, OCT. 15.

DR. MARGARET LARKINS-PETTIGREW

Rev. Leon H. Sullivan deserving of all honors on 100th birthday

by Irv Randolph, The Philadelphia Tribune

On Sunday, Oct. 16, the city officially honored the late Rev. Leon H. Sullivan, the human rights leader and founder of Opportu nities Industrialization Center and Progress Pla za, the nation’s first Blackowned shopping center.

There was a celebration for Sullivan at Zion Bap tist Church, where his international movement all began, on what would have been his 100th birth day.

Local, national and in ternational leaders and dignitaries gathered to honor Sullivan, the vision ary and builder, known af fectionately as “The Lion of Zion.”

In 1964, Sullivan found ed and led Zion members to open the Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, Inc. (OIC) with the first school in an abandoned Philadelphia jail.

The non-profit provided job and skills training and matched its graduates up with the employment needs of Philadelphia businesses and institu tions. The undertaking was so successful it was replicated in cities across the United States. In 1969, OIC Internation

REV. LEON H. SULLIVAN

al was created to create employment-training ser vices on a global scale.

In 1968, four years after building OIC, Sullivan ral lied his church members to build Progress Plaza, the first shopping center in America built, owned and managed by African Americans.

Congressman Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, recalled the importance of Progress Plaza during its 50th anniversary in 2018.

“At that time people were talking about ‘burn, baby, burn,’” said Evans. “He wrote a book called ‘Build, Brother, Build.’ That was the fundamen tal difference. I tried to model myself after him when I got elected to the state legislature in 1980 and duplicate what he did with Progress Plaza.”

Sullivan also led a group

of ministers to organize a boycott of various busi nesses that practiced job discrimination against Blacks in Philadelphia, which he referred to as “selective patronage.” The slogan was “Don’t buy where you don’t work” and the boycott was ex tremely effective. Sullivan estimated the boycott pro duced thousands of jobs for African Americans in a period of four years.

In addition to founding OIC and Progress Plaza, Sullivan was a longtime General Motors board member and anti-apart heid activist.

In 1977, Sullivan devel oped a code of conduct for companies operating in South Africa called the Sullivan Principles, as an alternative to complete disinvestment. As part of the board of directors at General Motors, Sullivan lobbied GM and other large corporations to vol untarily withdraw from doing business in South Africa while the system of apartheid was still in effect.

Sullivan was a practical visionary who impacted the lives of thousands of people in Philadelphia, the nation and the world. He has left an enduring legacy.

Overton stepping down as President of the Joint Center

by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

After nearly a decade leading the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Spencer Overton will step down next spring.

The organization an nounced that Overton, 54, would leave and rejoin the George Washington Uni versity Law School faculty.

“It has been one of the richest experiences of my life to lead the Joint Center during this criti cal period in its history,” Overton stated in a news release.

“When I started, we faced significant challeng es. It is gratifying to have worked together with so many great people to over come those obstacles and set the Joint Center on a trajectory toward a bright future.”

Overton helped to lead the Joint Center through what officials called an era of incredible transfor mation and growth.

Known for well-re searched reports expos

ing racial discrimination and inequities, the Joint Center has released such studies as the state of Black students in commu nity colleges, improving training evaluation data to brighten the future of Black workers, and racial diversity among Senate Committee top staff.

The center earned its reputation as “America’s Black think tank.”

Many have leaned upon the Joint Center for its compelling and actionable policy solutions to eradi cate persistent and evolv ing barriers to the “full freedom of Black people in America.”

Under Overton’s lead ership, the Joint Center regained fiscal health and eventually grew its to tal net assets to over $11 million, officials said in a news release.

Overton restructured the organization and built programs that focused on the future of Black com munities, including racial diversity in congressional staff and federal appoint ments, workforce policy,

economic policy, and tech policy.

“The Joint Center and Black communities will forever be indebted to Spencer Overton for his amazing leadership over the ten years he served on the board and then as President,” The Joint Cen ter’s Board of Directors Chairman Paul Thornell stated.

“He kept the doors open when shuttering the or ganization was definitely one option. Indeed, that was no small feat, and one performed with great hu mility, creativity, and per sistence over the years.”

Thornell said Overton had effectively been the founder of the new orga nization, one with a rich history and now—primar ily because of him—“an amazing future grounded in convening and content.”

“It also is critical to rec ognize the vital leadership of Barbara Johnson, who was the Board chair for most of Spencer’s time as president. They were fan tastic partners in charting a new path for the Joint Center.”

This Week In Black History A Courier Staple

• OCTOBER 19

1859—

Co-founder of West Virgin ia State College, Byrd Prillerman , is born. He became one of the state’s most prominent educators 1870— The first African Ameri cans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives came from South Carolina: Joseph H. Rainey, Robert C. Delarge, and Robert B. Elliott Rainey was actually seated first and thus became the first African American sworn in as a member of Congress. A portrait in his honor was finally placed in the U.S. Capi tol Building in 2006.

1894—Henry Ossawa Tanner wins the Medal of Honor at the Paris Expositions for his paintings. He was the first African-American painter to gain international ac claim for his works. Tanner was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. In fact, he eventually moved to Paris because of opposition to a Black artist in the United States. His most famous painting is “The Banjo Player.”

• OCTOBER 20

1898—The North Caro lina Mutual And Provi dent Insur ance Co. is founded by a group led by John Merrick. The company grows into the largest Black-owned insurance firm in America.

1904—Enolia P. McMillan is born. She becomes first female president of the NAACP.

• OCTOBER 21

1865— Jamai can national hero and in depen dence advo cate, George William Gor don , is unjustly arrested and sentenced to death for his struggle to free the Caribbe an island nation from White minori ty rule. The son of a White man and a Black slave woman, Gordon is considered one of Jamaica’s most significant national heroes.

1950—Earl Lloyd becomes first Black person to play in an NBA game.

1994— Dexter King youngest son of Dr. Mar tin Luther King Jr., is named head of SCLC—an organiza tion found ed by his slain father.

Ironically, Dexter’s sister Rev. Bernice King would later be named to head the civil rights group.

• OCTOBER 22

1906— Three thousand Blacks demonstrated and rioted in Phil adelphia to protest a theatrical production of Thomas Dixon’s racist play— “The Clansman.” The play essentially praised the Ku Klux Klan while demeaning Blacks.

1936— Black Panther Par ty co-found er Bobby Seale is born in Dal las, Texas.

1953— Clarence S. Green be comes the first African American certified as a neurologi cal surgeon.

2009— The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues a

devastating report showing the number of new HIV/AIDS infections was declining for all population groups—except homosexual males, which the CDC refers to as MSM— men who have sex with men.

Among MSMs, the highest infection rate was found among young Black males aged 13 to 24.

• OCTOBER 23

1775—The Continental Congress approves a resolution barring free Blacks from the army fight ing for American independence from England. The resolution came even though many free Blacks were already fighting in the war. The motive behind the resolution came from Southern slave colonies which feared that by fighting in the war for American independence, Blacks would also demand an end to slavery.

1911—The National Urban League is formed. Next only to the NAACP, it becomes the second oldest and second largest Black self-help or ganization in America. It grew out of the spontaneous 20th-Century Freedom Movement for freedom and opportunity that came to be called the Black Migrations. Central to the organization’s founding were two remarkable people: Mrs. Ruth Standish Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund Haynes, who would be come the Committee’s first execu tive secretary.

1947— The NAACP files an “Ap peal To The World” with the newly found United Nations concerning racial injustice in America. For its day, the filing was a bold move on the part of the NAACP and it angered many liberal and conser vative Whites.

• OCTOBER 24

1892—More than 25,000 Black workers are said to have joined a workers strike in New Orleans to protest working conditions, lynch ings and other social ills.

1935— Fascist Italy invades Ethi opia, at the time, one of only two independent countries in Africa. U.S. Blacks were among thousands protesting worldwide. Powerful Harlem, N.Y. Pastor Adam Clay ton Powell Sr . was among those seeking aid for Ethiopia. Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie spoke at his church.

1935—“Mulatto” opens on Broadway in New York City. The play, written by famed Black poet Langston Hughes, became the first long-run Black play on Broadway.

1948—Kweisi Mfume is born Frizzel Gray in Baltimore, Md. He became a congressman, head of the NAACP but later lost a bid for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

1964—The African nation of Zambia becomes independent from White colonial rule.

• OCTOBER 25

1940—The Black newspaper owners group—the NNPA (Nation al Newspaper Publishers Associa tion) is founded.

1940—Benjamin O. Davis Sr. be comes the first Black general in the U.S. Army.

1958— An estimated 10,000 students led by Jackie Robinson, Harry Belafonte, and labor leader A. Phillip Randolph, participate in a youth march for integrated schools in Washington, D.C.

1976—One-time racist Gov. George Wallace grants a full pardon to Clarence “Willie” Nor ris—the last known survivor of the nine “Scottsboro Boys.” The group had been framed in a 1931 convic tion for allegedly raping two White women.

1994— Apparently believing it would be easy to frame a Black man for the crime, Susan Smith—a White woman from Union, S.C.— claims that a Black carjacker had driven off with her two sons. Her story became a national sensation but it later fell apart. She eventual ly confessed to drowning the chil dren and was convicted of murder.

THE BANJO by HENRY OSSAWA TANNER

GEORGE WILLIAM GORDON

DEXTER KING

BOBBY SEALE

THE COURIER ISN’T JUST A NEWSPAPER. IT’S BLACK HISTORY.

‘It’s a Natural Thang’

Tamiah Bridgett’s love for natural hair has grown into a popular ‘meet up’ event

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Tamiah Bridgett re calls 12 years ago, when there were about a doz en or so women who would meet in each other’s homes, discuss ing the importance of a Black woman’s natural hair and natural hair education.

Of course, the women had fun, too, discussing the ups and downs that life brings.

Today, the unique ly-titled “It’s a Natu ral Thang” hair meet up has outgrown those living rooms and dens, and on Aug. 7, the event was held at the spacious Heinz History Center.

Hundreds of people, including Black men, met with various Pitts

burgh-based vendors and heard from Bridgett on a number of topics, including information on how to get a U.S. pat ent. Bridgett holds a patent for a blow drying tool that’s specifically created for coily hair.

“Natural hair has not been demonstrated in the culture as being something worthy of celebration,” Bridgett told the New Pittsburgh Courier, “and so we started to do that out loud years ago, and this is just a carrying on of the tradition.”

Bridgett grew up in Garfield and attended Oliver High School’s law and public service magnet program. After graduating from Oliver, she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from

Carlow University, and a master’s degree in so cial work from the Uni versity of Pittsburgh. She’s been a licensed natural hair stylist for more than 20 years.

Bridgett said over the years, she’s been excited to see how some Black women returned to their natural hair “after nev er knowing it or not see ing it since they were little girls.”

And Black men have been in support of the movement, too, Bridgett said, as “locks” have be come more popular for them.

TAMIAH BRIDGETT, SECOND FROM LEFT. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

TAMIAH BRIDGETT TEACHES A CLASS ON NATURAL HAIR AT THE AUGUST 2022 EVENT.

VENDOR—TAMMY WASHINGTON FROM THE SMG LADY, LLC (SEA MOSS GEL)

Altercation leads to fight; fight leads to shooting; two mothers among the dead

Mayor Gainey said that there has been an in creased response from the community when it comes to providing suspect in formation to the police, and that there have been “many” suspects taken off the streets because of that information. But in this specific shooting case, the mayor said, “help us now. Help us now.”

The mayor added: “Let’s talk about the number of guns on our street. We have too many guns on our street. More of our young people can get guns quick er than you can get a bag of chips out of the grocery store.”

Mayor Gainey also seemed perturbed that the Shuman Juvenile Deten tion Center, which is now closed, was closed “without a plan B.”

Shuman is under the con trol of Allegheny County, and a few weeks ago, Al legheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said the county is looking at all par ties interested in running a juvenile detention center. So far, no takers.

The closure of Shuman means that juvenile of fenders who are arrested have no place to go. Pitts burgh Police leader of ma jor crimes, Commander Richard Ford, had anger in his eyes as he discussed the increasing number of juveniles who are back on the streets after Pittsburgh Police have arrested them for a crime.

“Something’s wrong with our system when have peo ple that continually can go outside and perpetuate more violent crimes,” he said.

Commander Ford added:

“Unfortunately, the police cannot do everything. We can’t control people’s ten dency to carry firearms. Conflict resolution that’s going to be resolved with gunfire is going to result in innocent victims, their lives cut short for absolutely no reason whatsoever. There needs to be accountability on all sides,” he said, in cluding the police, District Attorney’s office, judges, and Allegheny County.

For Mayor Gainey, much of his message as he cam paigned to become Pitts burgh’s first Black mayor was a stoppage of the gun violence that has been plaguing Pittsburgh’s Black communities for de cades. While no one expect ed all the violence to cease immediately just because he became mayor, the may or is more than disgusted that seemingly every day,

he’s waking up to news of another shooting, another killing. There have been just as many homicides in the City of Pittsburgh this year as in 2021, but 2022 still has two and a half

more months left. “We need us to come to gether,” Mayor Gainey said.

“The entire city must come together to deal with this violence. We need govern ment, community leaders,

non-profit leaders, business leaders, media leaders. We need everybody because it’s the only way we’re going to solve this.”

Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew named Top Diversity Leader for second year in a row

and wellness enterprise. That strategy includes evaluation of the organi zation’s recruitment, its employment and profes sional development prac tices, and the quality of care and services it pro vides to every patient and community.

In 2021, Dr. Larkins-Pet tigrew and her team fo

cused their efforts on eq uitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution, ensuring that historically under served communities and populations had equal access to the vaccine.

In 2022, the Equitable Health Institute expand ed its First Steps and Be yond program, a critical initiative established by AHN to reduce Black in fant and fetal mortality

and ensure that all babies born in the greater Pitts burgh region celebrate their first birthday.

Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew joined AHN in 2020 from University Hospitals/ Case Western Reserve University School of Med icine in Cleveland, where she served as Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecol ogy, Chair of Clinical Di versity and Inclusion and

Assistant Dean of Stu dents. She founded and continues to serve as CEO of the JustWondoor (Wom en and Neonates, Diversi ty, Outreach, Opportunity, Research) global health program; and in 2014, she was named the Universi ty’s Chair of Clinical Ex cellence and Diversity, an endowed position estab lished to promote diversi ty of academic faculty.

Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at the Univer sity of Pittsburgh, a mas ter’s degree in education from California State University, a master’s de gree in public policy from the University of Pitts burgh and her medical degree from the Univer sity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She served in the U.S. Navy for 13 years,

achieving the rank of lieu tenant commander and completing an OBGYN internship at Portsmouth Naval Hospital.

She also completed a res idency at Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, and practiced at Magee for eight years, while also serving as Magee’s Direc tor of Global Health Pro grams.

Homeless Children’s Education Fund

We recently had a con versation with Ardana ‘AJ’ Jefferson, the Exec utive Director of Home less Children’s Educa tion Fund (HCEF) on the organization’s YOU CAN campaign which raises awareness of the homeless youth crisis in Allegheny County.

What can you tell us about this campaign?

October is Homeless Children’s Awareness Month and our YOU CAN campaign is a com manding call to action. We are educating the community on the plight of the nearly 3,000 homeless youth in Al legheny County while continuing to advocate on their behalf.

ate from high school or earn their GED.

In fact, young people who experience home lessness while attend ing school are much less likely to graduate. Someone who does not graduate high school is 346% more likely to ex perience homelessness as a young adult, mak ing the lack of a high school diploma the sin gle greatest risk factor for adult homelessness.

How does HCEF make an impact battling this crisis?

keep students on a suc cessful track to gradu ation, post-secondary schooling, as well as successful careers. It is not easy work, but it is absolutely necessary to do whatever we can to level an extremely ineq uitable playing field.

You mentioned a call to action. How can peo ple help support this initiative?

AJ JEFFERSON

These homeless stu dents are invisible in plain sight and most live in inadequate housing, it is HCEF’s responsibil ity to ensure they have an educational foun dation. It is critical we provide the education al and emergency re sources needed to the more than 400 McKin ney-Vento students we support so they gradu

Our goal is to pro vide students experi encing homelessness with access to stable, high-quality education throughout their child hood so they can gradu ate on time and succeed in whatever they pursue. We provide after-school programming at shel ters, individualized tu toring, funding for emer gency needs, social and emotional health education, systemic ad vocacy, supplies and post-secondary schol arship funding. We pro vide whatever it takes to

Community members can help us decrease the number of students experiencing homeless ness by referring a child to HCEF, donating to ex pand our programs and services and advocating for systemic change.

HCEF fights to raise awareness of the is sues these youth face, spread information about student rights, reduce the stigma sur rounding youth home lessness and spur com munity action.

Homelessness is a condition, not an identi ty, and YOU CAN play a role in supporting those who experience it.

(Paid advertorial by the Home less Children’s Education Fund)

LARKINS-PETTIGREW

PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY

LEAVING FOR GHANA—THE FINAL COUNTDOWN TO FREEDOM

Pittsburgh resident Jay Donaldson is heading back to Ghana—for good

by “Papa J X”, Jay Donaldson

For New Pittsburgh Courier

It’s been over two years since I last left Ghana.

It was May 16, 2020, when I was able to get a flight back to the U.S. This was during the “Plan-Demic,” the borders were closed and there was a restriction on trav el within the country. I had gone to Ghana for a monthlong visit. It was my third time visiting the sovereign country.

The restrictions made it impossible for me to see what I had planned to see and visit in West Africa. I had recently obtained my results from my DNA probe from Ancestry.com. I was now aware of my her

itage and former nations which my foreparents came from. My results revealed that my family came from the sub-Saha ra regions which are said to be everything south of the Sahara desert. It was explained to me countries which carried my DNA were; Mali, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Cam eroon. All these countries are in the West African re gions. They also gave me the White side or other side of my DNA, which, of course, is why we all know about St. Patrick’s Day and other Pagan days in the U.S. I never felt good about the celebration, Saint Patty’s Day, nor the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag... “For lib erty and justice for ALL,”

obviously a huge lie that all people of color had to hear all our lives. Growing up in the Mon Valley in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, I saw it all, from the Civil Rights movement to present-day.

I knew this country had plenty issues that were not going away, but like a marriage, you work at it and it gets better. Instead, the U.S. wants to forget it!

Even teaching that slav ery was a walk in the park on a Sunday afternoon. We all know it wasn’t. So why lie? Or mislead the younger generation.

The biggest holiday, the 4th of July, we Blacks love to celebrate this day. Back in 1776 we were still slaves so what are we do ing having a good time and thinking we’re free.

We’re not!! We weren’t then and still not free.

To leave America at this time in my life is a good fortune and a true bless ing. Why? I am retired from work which I have been working since I was 14 years old. But I worked various jobs since I was 8 or 9. My social security has kicked in along with my government pension. I own property in Florida which I am in the process of renting out. So I have more than one stream of income. I built up equity in my mortgage and refi nanced to have yet anoth er stream of income to use for investments and home repairs and other expens es I may incur in Ghana or my property in Florida.

I FIRST WENT to Gha na in 2017, then in 2018 and again in 2020. The “year of return” was 2019, which I did not go to Gha na that year. Many did go back to visit Ghana for that purpose alone. My year of return is of my own making and not anyone else’s. The Ghanaian gov ernment took in a whop ping $3.3 billion from the “year of return.” It all came from African Ameri cans, Jamaicans, Blacks in the United Kingdom, and other Caribbean nations.

There are an estimated 5,000 African Americans now living permanently in Ghana. I have inter viewed many and spoke to many as well. I have met owners of restaurants, the owners of the African An cestor Wall, Guest House owners and a Rabbi from New York and many more while I was on the road traveling around. We all pass for African or Ghana ians until we speak. See, they know who we are when we open our mouths and talk. They even have a name for us, they call us “OB-RANI” meaning a foreigner. If you’re from another country or land you’re an “OB-RANI.”

And you thought since you were Black you could just fit in and be counted as a local; sorry, you don’t fit in, at least not right away. There’s a big differ ence in the way we dress

when we visit Ghana, also there’s a difference in the way we eat and which hand to use when inter acting with the locals in Ghana. Always use your “right hand” when shak ing someone’s hand while in Ghana, please. The left hand is considered “unclean.” Use your right hand to eat your meals, no forks and spoons are used unless you request them.

If you’re out in public you will see many Ghanaians eating off the same plate of food. This is very com mon in Ghana; in fact, it’s their way of life to share and they will invite you to come in eat with them saying, “You’re invited.”

PACKING FOR GHA

NA

You may want to ship a vehicle or a container to Ghana or somewhere in the West African regions. You can check the rates by getting in touch with the proper shipping agencies

online. You can also make traveling agreements on line months ahead of time to get a better ticket price. If you’re taking children across the waters with you, you will need to check for the latest shots due for you and your children. Animals are good to travel as well. An updated gov ernment passport is need ed and Ghana requires a yellow fever shot and the COVID shots. Also, I have a “Valid Entry Visa” that you’ll need as well. Aver age cost for a Visa is $100. Passports will run you about $125.

Everything is cheap er when you buy at the marketplaces, such as clothes. They will name a price, you can go back and forth until you settle on a fair price. Fair exchanges are usually settled. I vis ited an elder friend near Cape Coast, Brother Sim ba, from Columbus, Ohio.

ACCRA, GHANA. ACCRA IS THE LARGEST CITY IN GHANA.

JAY DONALDSON, ALSO KNOWN AS “PAPA J X”

LEAVING FOR GHANA — THE FINAL COUNTDOWN TO FREEDOM

He’s been in Ghana since the late ‘90s. He married a woman from Ghana and he has built a guest house for ex tra income to add to his streams of income. What I plan on doing is buying a property that I stayed in during the “Plan-Demic.” Turning it into “MURALS OF HEROES & LEGENDS,” it’s on the beach off the Atlantic Ocean. Making this a must-see spot for all who comes to Ghana for a visit.

worse than third-world countries. The rise of the very radical right wing groups that invad ed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was enough for me to say “Good Bye” to the U.S.

These right wing rad icals aren’t going away!

They have an agenda that’s to take control of the government and keep the borders closed to all people of color.

My safety comes first for me and my family.

The police killings of Black men and wom en have a big impact

they are not wanted and treated badly! For those who think it will get better, has it really in the past 50 years? I’ll be living in peace and building prosperity and generational wealth.

OH, AND ONE MORE THING...

What I really want to stress is how I felt when I first got off the plane and hit Ghana’s soil for the first time. I realized that in Ghana, I am not a Black man, I am a MAN. There’s a feeling of relief that one

IT’S HEATING UP in the U.S. for all the wrong reasons. Election time is here again. I’ve seen a divide over many things. Race, rising pric es, bad politics, gas, in flation, recent rulings over abortion, and that’s just the beginning of the problems. We are posing as a first-world coun try, but our leaders are

on my decisions. I have young sons, daughters and grandsons, even a great grandson. I want to live in a place where they can live in peace and harmony without being judged by their skin. Like Stevie Won der has said, he’s leav ing the U.S. for Ghana soon because he doesn’t want his grandchildren to live in a place where

can never quite explain. After years of knowing and living in the decay ing system in which we live in the U.S., it’s noth ing like that in Ghana. I can go into the shop ping malls and markets to buy things and not be harassed, or followed. I have gotten stopped by the local police during the “Plan-Demic,” but I wasn’t worried or feared

for my life in Ghana. I have a sense of owner ship in this land. I am a Ghanaian as long as I keep my mouth shut, no one will ever know I am a Black American. When you’re walking late at night and you see a pa trol car, you can rest as sure that they will pass you by and not stop to ask for an ID, or name, or, “Where are you going this time of night?” I feel alive in the land. Free of danger in every way. I never even wit nessed a fistfight or a loud argument in Gha na. I am sure there’s crime and wrongdoing in this sovereign and Republic land. Ghana only gained indepen dence on March 6, 1957. I was 7 years young then, and knew noth ing about Africa except Tarzan the Apeman. I found out about racism

before I was 10, when I couldn’t be a cub scout in the local West Home stead cub scout pact. I did what we all must do; start our own scout pack and organize it just like the White neighborhood scouts do.

A young Ghana nation has plenty of flaws. But, what makes me very delighted is when I see people there that look like me in charge of EV ERYTHING. Ghana is

improving every day by listening and engaging to us Black Americans and us becoming citi zens of Ghana. My goal is to build properties and businesses, own land, and having genera tions follow, making the full circle a reality, from where we came from... and the RETURN.

JAY DONALDSON, NEXT TO THE AFRICAN ANCESTORS WALL.

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate informa tion, call 412-4818302, ext. 128. We want to feature pos itive youth from our Pittsburgh church community. Please mail their bio and photo to:

Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or email us: religion@newpittsburghcourier.com

Harmony Club of Homestead, Pa., celebrates 122 years

“One generation shall praise Thy works to another and shall declare Thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honor of Thy majesty, of Thy won drous works.”

REV. WALKER SAYS: We have a responsibility to tell the next genera tion about the greatest of OUR GOD AND THEIRS. We have a generation that needs to LOVE one another and STOP THE KILLING.

CYNTHIA MCENHEIMER, A HARMONY CLUB MEMBER. THE HARMONY CLUB OF HOMESTEAD WAS ORGANIZED IN NOVEMBER 1899 BY THE LATE ANNA S. POSEY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DOING CHARITABLE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. THEIR MOTTO IS, “LIFTING AS WE CLIMB.”

ALANYS MCENHEIMER

ALIYAH MCENHEIMER

DONNA SAUNDERS

“THE

photo,

NYLE BEY, with sister, Nyla Bey.

A Steelers win, but still, nitpickers

Despite the defense of the Pittsburgh Steel ers looking more like a “MASH” unit than an NFL defensive unit, the team and the coaches pulled off a 20-18 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their starting QB common ly known as “GOD” but otherwise recognized by other non-worship ers and non-disciples as Tom Brady.

The nitpickers other wise commonly referred to as the s—t pickers took a deep dive down to the bottom of their “cesspool” of false anal ysis and disinforma

tion and basically put forth superficial win dow-dressing praise of the Steelers’ defensive coaching effort and showered most of their real praise on their two co-heroes, Kenny Pickett and his part ner-in-glory, co-starter Mitch Trubisky. In spite of the unex

pected victory on Oct. 16, in many circles the call for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s dis missal continues and may be more volatile and venomous than it’s ever been. The chat ter that doesn’t really matter was about Mitch Trubisky redeeming himself. He should not have been forced to re deem anything. Why wasn’t he performing well long before his “re lief pitching” victory over the Buccaneers? Why did it take Tru bisky being benched for him to perform?

The Steelers limped into the game on a fourgame losing streak with several vital perform ers of their defensive backfield sidelined be cause of injuries. De spite those challenges, the Steelers’ alternate secondary and defensive line pursued Tom Brady like they were starving polar bears on an island full of fat seals.

Tom Brady had a jour neyman’s sort of day with a QBR of 92.9 against a Steelers patchwork de fense. Meanwhile, the Steelers’ relief pitcher, Mitch Trubisky, sport ed a whopping 144.4 QBR, and the start ing QB for Pittsburgh, Kenny Pickett, had a slightly above-average 88.2 QBR. Let’s now get to the “Big Man On Campus,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and take a look at what his post-game analysis was.

“I can’t say enough about the secondary

group that we had out there today,” he said. “Man, it was it was a great opportunity for a lot of those guys. First opportunity in some in stances, redemption in some instances, guys getting an opportunity to get back in the fold. Guys that hadn’t been a part of us, like Josh Jackson, being one. Just can’t say enough about what they were able to do collectively. It’s a challenge when you play Tom Brady. I just thought they did a re ally good job of letting our disguises work. I didn’t have a big menu because we can’t have a big menu. We got some

young guys and inex perienced guys playing, so whatever we had, we had to dress it up. I thought they did a re ally good job dressing it up and fighting the fight down in and down out. Hopefully, we learn and grow in the right ways through the suc cess of this experience because that’s what the journey is about.”

Ryan Clark, ex-Steel ers defensive back, was ringing the death bell for the Black and Gold before the matchup with Tampa Bay, saying this after the Bills embar rassed the Steelers 38-3, on Oct. 9: “Mike Tomlin is my favorite football

coach. No matter what the roster looks like your team must be pre pared, be in proper po sitions to succeed, and dang, fight! The Steel ers did not fight today, and that goes back to the head coach. He gotta get ’em right.”

Clark wasn’t so critical when Mike Tomlin al lowed him to hang on for a few extra paychecks when Clark’s career was headed downhill. I have said it before, and I will repeat it over and over. When players execute the coach’s game plan, as long as they execute it correctly, chances are they will end up victori ous.

Welcome to Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers

(Editor’s Note: Bill Neal attended Sunday’s Steelers/Buccaneers game and wrote this in real-time as the game was happening...)

:10— Something new for you true Pittsburgh Steelers fans. I am gon na give you “Overtime”... in real time! I am at the Steelers/Tampa Bay Buccaneers game and I am going to take you through the game playby-play. Needless to say we’re the underdog, and for the first time in for ever, at a home game, a 10-point dog at that!

:09— That being said, and hear me loud and clear on this—I’ve shouted out loud and proud all week I’ve got the Steelers in an upset. If you don’t believe it, all you have to do is play back Soul Take/Cham pions Live, Tuesday, Oct. 11 episode to hear my prediction with my partners Kevin Camer on and NFL Super Bowl Champion Darnell Din kins. That, plus I expect to pick up some “Ben jamins” from the Presi dent and the Secretary of Defense of the Penn Hills Eat-n-Park Count er Crew. And they know who they are.

:08— From the start I can tell you this, a sta dium of any other name is still Heinz Field. And trust me the place is rockin’! The last man out of the tunnel was Kenny Pickett and the roof just blew off this joint!!!

:07— By the look of the opening drive I’ll be able to buy some gas and pick up some fish because Kenny Pickett has just picked up his first NFL touchdown

with the help of his fa vorite target, George “The Future” Pickens, Diontae “Hands of Stone 2” Johnson and Chase “Hold On I’m Coming” Claypool, along with Najee Harris and a re juvenated offensive line. Pickett is truly “The Ice man Cometh!”

:06— BTW, this just in:

Speaking of the O-Line, can someone please show Kevin Dotson the way to the Greyhound Bus Station? And I’ll pay for the ticket! He al most had more yardage in penalties than Harris had in rushing yards. C’mon man!?!

:05— By the looks of things as we close out the first half, Tom “We Only Cheated on Two or Three” Brady should have skipped the wed ding of ex-boss Robert (Can I Get a Massage) Kraft and gone to the team practice Friday be cause he’s not on point here. And be reminded I’ll take Terry Bradshaw over Brady 24/7/365 and that you can take to the bank! By the way, if you ever wondered what money can do for you, you only need to Goo gle a photo of the latest Mrs. Kraft. Wait, what?

:04— The opening kick off of the second half went off with a bang with a great 87-yard return by Steven Sims. I just hope his getting run down from behind

doesn’t come back to haunt us! And in case you’re wondering he only runs a 4.5 40-yard dash. (Sorry, but I had to Google it.)

:03—

One thing is crystal clear this after noon from inside the “War Zone”—the Steel ers defense is alive and well and they’re shut ting down everything but traffic. That being said, how many times does Leonard Fournette have to run over you to concede your manhood card and tackle him low already. The man is a truck in football cleats. :02— Pickett now out

with concussion pro tocol. Mitch Trubisky steps up like the cham pion he is to complete a few big 3rd Down con versions including a couple key runs/scram bles. Add to that Chase Claypool stepping up big time and bringing home several key “su perstar” receptions plus Chris Boswell nailing a field goal from 54 yards off the crossbar and the rest, as they say, is his tory. Steelers win! Steel ers win! Steelers win! :01— As I head towards the exit gate I had to eat some of that proverbi al crow that I am sure

you’ll also be digesting tonight. #1. I guess los ing to the Jets, Jets, Jets doesn’t look so bad now, does it? They just beat the Green Bay Packers, so maybe the Jets are for real this year. #2. Looks like we’ll be leaving Devin Bush alone now. He made that great play to break up the pass on Tampa’s two-point conversion try. #3. Con ner Heyward can really play... I’m just saying. #4. Maybe this should be the new D-backs group. Again, I’m just saying! That being said, now our good friend, former Super Bowl champion,

the Honorable Judge Dwayne Woodruff will not have to be pressed back into his cornerback position... rumor has it he’s loving retirement. But don’t get it twisted, I have no doubt whatso ever that he, J.T. Thom as and Mel “Superman” Blount can play tomor row morning if they want. #5 A tip of the cap to Head Coach Mike Tomlin. And now we know why Rick Murphy and I don’t get paid the big bucks to coach! Now, bring on the traffic!!!

KENNY PICKETT. WILL HE BE AVAILABLE FOR THE STEELERS AFTER HIS CONCUSSION?

GEORGE PICKENS, STEELERS ROOKIE RECEIVER

CONNER HEYWARD PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN THE STEELERS WIN OVER THE BUCCANEERS. (PHOTOS/PITTSBURGH STEELERS)

you saving for a mortgage down payment?

tips to help get you there faster

For most people, the idea of saving more mon ey each month is enough of a burden without hav ing to think about invest ing in a home. A down payment, however, will require a lot more sav ing know-how and a lot more in liquid assets in order to be able to buy. If you’re trying to find ways to save a bit more each month, here are some sure-fire tips for raising the extra funds.

Re-consider Your Commute

Outside of rent, there are few things that will cost as much money as owning your own vehicle, so instead of holding on to yours, you may want to consider putting it up for sale. While a vehicle costs a lot in gas, there are also costs for main tenance, insurance and parking that quickly add up. By foregoing this ex pense, you can easily save significantly!

Stick To Your Budget

It might sound like a silly tip, but actually sticking to your budget can make a big differ ence in how much you’ll save. While most people have a few rules to live by, writing down every receipt and monitoring the things you overspend on can make a marked impact on your surplus when all’s said and done.

Cut Down on Coffee & Lunch

With the hustle of ev eryday life, many people run out for coffee or lunch every day and forget that these costs add up over time. Instead of spending $5 or $10 here and there, take your coffee to go and make your lunches at the start of each week. It may not seem like much,

but this can easily add up to hundreds in just a short time.

Change Your Phone Plan

An effortless way to homeownership

ties is $484,350 for 2019.

ANTHONY O. KELLUM

Many people think that all of the conveniences that come along with a smart phone are a neces sity, but data can come at a high price and it may not be worth paying. In stead of eating a high monthly phone bill, talk to your provider about what deals they can of fer you and what you can cut back on. It may seem small at first, but it will add up to a lot by the year’s end. It can seem insurmountable to try and save up enough for a down payment, but the little things that you spend on each day can easily add up. If you’re currently on the mar ket for a home and are considering your saving options, contact your trusted mortgage pro fessionals for more infor mation.

Pay Yourself First This is really impor tance remembering to

by Jordan Woods For New Pittsburgh Courier

If you are thinking about buying a home, there are some things you should understand before start ing the process.

• Having a good cred it score dramatically in creases your chances of getting approved for a mortgage and securing a lower interest rate.

• Depending on your credit score and the loan you qualify for, expect your down payment to fall between 3-20 percent. Bigger down payments mean lower monthly pay ments and lower up-front fees.

The Buying Process

You’ll most likely fi nance your home through a mortgage. With almost every mortgage possibil ity, you are required to make a down payment that varies in amount de pending on what type of home loan you’re taking on.  Also, to secure certain types of home loans with a lower down payment you will have to pay for mortgage insurance. This

protects the lender due to the higher risk involved with lower down payment loans. Knowing the differ ence between the different loans will help you decid ed which loans fit your best criteria?

Conventional Mortgages

Conventional loans are not insured by the feder al government. There are two types of convention

2. Non-conforming loans: Loans that conform to guidelines set by Fan nie Mae or Freddie Mac.

• Interest rates tend to be higher on a non-con forming loan.

3. Jumbo Mortgages: A type of non-conforming loan with a loan amount that exceeds the maxi mum loan amount set by Fannie Mae and Freddie

Government-Insured Mortgages

The government backs loans offered by the Fed eral Housing Adminis tration (FHA loans), The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA loans), and the Department of Agri culture (USDA loans)

1. FHA loans:

• Low down payment re quirement of 3.5 percent

• Lower credit score re quirements makes quali fying easier

• Slight Flexibility with the income to debt ratio

2. VA loans: Provide low interest rate mortgages for both active duty and discharged members of the U.S. Military.

• 100 percent financing, $0 down payment

• VA loans do not require additional monthly mort gage insurance payments.

al loans: conforming and non-conforming.

1. Conforming loans:

• Loans where the max imum loan limits meet Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae guidelines.

• The maximum loan limit for one-unit proper

Mac ($484,350 for 2019)

• These loans often have higher credit score and down payment require ments

If you have good cred it and reliable income, a Conventional Loan may be a great option for you.

• An up-front funding fee is required to be paid and may be financed as part of your loan.

3. USDA loans: Assist borrowers in the middle class and lower tax brack ets buy a home in a rural

SEE HOMEOWNERSHIP

How ‘NOT’ to go broke gambling

I’m on a mission to help people make good decisions with their money. This includes budgeting, saving, spending, investing and selecting the best insur ance, investment, mortgage, and other financial products. In my opinion, gam bling of any form is considered to be a bad financial decision—that is…unless you win. Winning is highly unpredict able and highly unlikely. The odds are stacked against you. I grew up in a family who gambles all the time. I’d be telling a lie if I said that I’ve never gambled. I’ve been watching my family gamble my entire life. I’ve done my fair share of gambling. It’s fun—when you win! I’ve won a few jackpots. I’ve also loss my shirt a time or two. I’m a stu dent of money. I think I’ve figured this gambling thing out.

Listen up! I have insider information that will stack the deck in your favor. I’m going to teach you “a sure-fire way to leave the casino with a small fortune” and “the safest way to double your mon ey when gambling.” You don’t need a lucky rabbit foot. If a black cat passes you by, don’t fret, what I’m about to re veal is a sure-fire bet. You can take this advise to the bank!

What is gambling?

Gambling is a process of risking mon ey or valuables in hopes of winning more than you’re risking. What’s the difference between investing and gam bling? Investing is a process of saving money utilizing sound principles and acceptable levels of risk with the ex pectation to gain a reasonable return over a long period of time. Gambling is a game of chance subjecting money to high levels of risk based more on gut than skill with the expectation of huge returns in a brief period of time. Forms

of gambling include bingo, lottery, slot machines, casinos, poker, trunk, craps, betting, horse and dog-racing, ripoffs—I mean scratch offs, etc.

Why do people gamble?

Ask any gambler and they’ll tell you that you’re more likely to lose than you are to win. People know that the odds are stacked against them. Nonetheless, gambling remains one of the most pop ular pasttimes. The most common de fense given to justify going against the odds —“Somebody has to win, why not me?” Below are some common reasons why people gamble along with my comments:

Fun/entertain ment/recreation:

Some people feel that free drinks, good mu sic, nice crowds and a gambling game of their choice is a perfect environment to min gle, meet new people, cure boredom, and an opportunity to win big money. Let’s be honest. There’s absolutely nothing rec reational, entertaining or fun about los ing money. I have to give credit where credit is due—casino owners are smart.

Bob Stupack, former owner of Vegas World Casinos stated, “It’s our duty to extract as much money from their pock ets and send them home with a smile on their face.” Casino owners have de vised an atmosphere that while you’re giggling, drinking, mingling and carry ing on, they’re the ones stacking chips. Have you ever looked at the architec tural structure and the lavish decorat ing of various casinos? Who’s paying for this while continuing to turn profits for

casino owners? Losers! Casinos have an advantage known as “the house edge.” They have profit margins built in to ev ery game you play.

Money problems: Some people gam ble hoping that winning will be the quick fix they need to solve their mount ing money problems. Of those who gam bled in an attempt to solve their money problems, not one reported improve ment. In fact, many of those surveyed revealed that they ended up losing more money gambling than what they originally owed. In other words, they further devastated their money woes.

Win and be come rich: Some people believe that winning the lottery or hitting the jack pot is the only via ble way for them to become rich, quit their job, and start living the good life. We hear stories about big jackpots and big lottery winners. It makes interest ing news and it’s great publicity for the gaming institutions. What’s lost in the headlines is that for every big winner, there are 40 million or more losers. If I could convince 40 million people to give me one dollar I’d be more than happy to give one happy deserving winner one million dollars knowing it’d garner major media attention giving millions of other individual false hope that the next winner could be them. Sadly, of those who win thousands or millions of dollars, it’s not uncommon for them to gamble the entire winnings away chas ing more money. Of those who win mil

lions of dollars, the bankruptcy rate and divorce rate among them is staggering —upward of 60 percent.

I wooed you to read this column tell ing you that I was going to share ideas on how NOT to go broke gambling. The obvious answer is NOT to gamble at all. I know that you’re going to do what you want to do. Me too. Below is some ad vice I hope will help you:

• Cut your losses—You cannot con trol how much you win but you can control how much you lose. Set a maxi mum dollar amount that you’re going to gamble with and stick to it. If you don’t, you’ll more than likely experience this painful emotion called regret.

• Don’t gamble with the rent mon ey —You may be tempted to try your luck with money earmarked for bills in an attempt to win the bill money back and win some extra money for personal use. Don’t! There’s a 100 percent chance that the bill collector is coming for his money. There’s a slim chance that you’ll win. Don’t risk utilities being terminat ed, car being repossessed or you being evicted from your home.

• There’s only one sure-fire way to leave the casino with a small for tune —You have to go there with a large one

• The safest way to double your money gambling—is to fold it and put it in your pocket.

• Understand opportunity cost—If you were to invest $200 per month in stead of gambling over 30 years—you’ll have $452,097 each and every time.

Remember, the money you take to Ve gas, stays in Vegas!

(Money Coach Damon Carr can be reached @ 412-216-1013 or visit his website @ www.da monmoneycoach.com)

If you’re looking for a lending solution that allows for lower down payments and has less stringent credit and income re quirements, a government in sured mortgage may be for you.

Mark Anthony Thomas, president of the PRA departs for new role

(PITTSBURGH—Oct.

14, 2022)—The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Mark Anthony Thomas, President of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (PRA), an affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, announced he is stepping down in November as the leader of the region’s economic develop ment organization to assume the CEO position at the Greater Baltimore Com mittee (GBC). Thomas was selected for the top post of GBC—the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region on issues of inclusive economic growth and quality of life—following a national search.

Since joining the PRA in 2019, Thomas has spearheaded a comprehensive mod ernization of the organization’s economic development program—designing strat egies to pursue opportunities for busi ness investment and job creation in inno vation-driven growth sectors, launching a new regional brand—Pittsburgh Re gion. Next is Now. and transforming the region’s approach to welcoming and connecting talent. During his tenure, the PRA team played an important role in securing more than 100 business invest ment wins, representing nearly 8,090 jobs and $2 billion in capital investment

MARK ANTHONY THOMAS

and real estate development throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh Regional Alliance Chair Bill Demchak, Chairman, President and CEO of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. said in a staatement, “The Confer ence and the region have benefited from Mark’s leadership. He has played an

Jonnet Solomon joins the Pittsburgh Opera Board of Directors

Pittsburgh Opera is proud to announce that Jonnet Solomon has joined its Board of Di rectors.

Ms. Solomon is the Executive Director and a founding member of National Opera House (NOH), a nonprofit or ganization working to restore and maintain the historic headquar ters of the National Negro Opera Company (NNOC), the first Af rican American opera company in the United States.

The NNOC was found ed in Pittsburgh by Mary Cardwell Dawson in 1941 and operated until her death in 1962.

The NNOC headquar ters building, located in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, was placed on the National Trust for Historic Pres ervation’s 2020 list of America’s 11 Most En dangered Historic Plac es, and is the subject of a massive rehabilita tion effort.

“Jonnet joining our Board further solidi fies the partnership be tween Pittsburgh Op era and National Opera House,” says Pittsburgh Opera Board Chair Mi chele Fabrizi.

The partnership in cludes developing curricula and pro gramming in music education, artistic de velopment, and commu nity engagement. These curricula and program ming will take place throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area, includ ing at Pittsburgh Op

era’s Headquarters the Bitz Opera Factory and at the NNOC House as various stages of reno vation are completed, and beyond.

“Being on the Board of Pittsburgh Opera helps fulfill Mary Cardwell Dawson’s mission, and will help enable contin ual close partnership between National Op era House and Pitts burgh Opera”, says Ms. Solomon. “Together, we will ensure that our shared programming and vision truly serve the needs of the entire community. I see this as a significant symbol of reconciliation.”   Jonnet has an ac counting degree from Duquesne University and is the founder of JSA, LLC, an account ing firm focused on start-ups and small business accounting, consulting and advis ing. She is also an art ist and has been per forming and teaching for many years.

Mortgage down payment

pay yourself first. Set aside a dedicated saving account of 10 percent or 15 percent of your in

important role in repositioning and ele vating the profile of Pittsburgh to attract business investment and talent, and his efforts have solidified the PRA’s role in moving the region toward a more vibrant economic future.”

Thomas’ varied contributions also in clude playing a critical role in the region al response to the COVID-19 pandemic —from ensuring support for safe reopen ing of businesses and preventing delays in recovery, to defining a strategy to revi talize downtown Pittsburgh—work that continues today. In his service as chair of the Power of 32 Site Development Fund, a private, patient loan fund that closes critical infrastructure financing gaps, business sites with the potential for re gional impact are being readied across a multi-state region.

Allegheny Conference CEO Stefani Pashman said, “I am extremely proud of the progress made under Mark’s leader ship and I am grateful to have had the chance to work alongside him in efforts to make the region a vital, globally com petitive place where everyone can thrive. Mark has accomplished a great deal in a relatively short period of time, laying a critical foundation for our future eco nomic development and talent market

ing efforts. I wish Mark the best in his role as CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee and know his impact on placemaking and creating opportunity will continue.”

Reflecting on his presidency, Thomas said, “Representing the PRA has not only been a gift, but a time that I’ll forever cherish. My travels within the counties of southwestern Pennsylvania and glob ally on the Pittsburgh region’s behalf have made it clear that this community holds a special place for so many people. Serving this community has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life and it fundamentally changed my understanding of our country and eco nomic development. I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done and grateful for the partners, investors and colleagues who worked with the deepest sincerity to support the PRA during my presidency amidst a pandemic, economic uncertain ty and reckoning on racial equity.

“The region has never been better po sitioned to continue its storied transfor mation and continue to shine.”

The Allegheny Conference Board of Di rectors will lead a search to identify can didates for the position with a targeted completion in the first quarter of 2023.

Hack your finances with this fall money-saving guide

by Sherri Kolade Michigan Chronicle

The beginning of Fall, which officially starts on Thursday, September 22, marks new sepia-tinged memories in the making where hay rides, caramel apples and a looming winter greet soon-to-be-bundledup Pittsburghers who have recently tucked away their shorts and swimsuits, and said goodbye to summer.

This cherished, windswept season of new begin nings also represents a new opportunity for year-end budgets to be reviewed, re aligned and remade as the holiday season approaches along with new bills and a dwindling number of pay checks left until the end of the year.

“The holiday season is nipping at our heels. Peo ple who are paid bi-weekly have five to six paychecks before Christmas,” Sherise Steele, wealth advisor, LPL Financial, told the Michigan Chronicle previously about her savvy spending habits, particularly around the fall. “I tease my daughter that it is illegal to turn on the heat in September in Michigan.”    A LinkedIn article, Six Tips for Financial Fitness This Fall, hones in on the importance of staying finan cially fit:

1. Splurge a bit and sched ule some celebratory days to spend a certain amount of money on things you cher ish.

2. Take a fresh look at that budget and prioritize what should be saved and spent for a more realistic financial future. Also look for minor, unexplained charges, fees and more—remove what’s not needed.

3. Maintain that credit for a better credit score that is determined by you. From knowing credit limits to canceling credit cards – find financial help when needed and don’t be afraid to ask for it.

those less fortunate, espe cially around the holidays, within one’s budget. Think about giving to charities, or spending at small shops, restaurants, and other plac es that could use those wise ly-spent funds.     Steele previously added that the fall season is an im portant time to re-evaluate one’s finances during this time.

“Several Michigan coun ties experienced flooding this year. Homeowners may not realize the extent of those damages until they need their furnaces in a few weeks. The fall is a great time to complete delayed car repairs and maintenance. Replacing car tires isn’t cheap but it keeps all of us safer,” she said.

From flood protection for homes to buying homes— smart Fall finances are al ways a good idea.

GreenPath Financial Well ness, a national 60-year-old nonprofit financial counsel ing organization, stresses the need for home buyers to have a plan, which Green Path CEO Kristen Holt stat ed to the Michigan Chroni cle.

Interest rates have hit a 14-year high, and econo mists expect a continued climb. These factors, plus record-high home prices and limited inventory, create the perfect storm for home buy ers this season who feel they have the short end of the stick.

should take a holistic look at their finances and ex plore all financing options before making a commit ment,” Holt said, adding that typically when interest rates rise, home prices fall, as demand decreases with higher mortgage rates. “Un fortunately, that is not yet the case with the current housing market, which has seen record-high prices and record-low inventory since the start of the pandemic. With higher interest rates, the cost of borrowing money is increasing and these days, you will pay more to finance your home purchase.”

For example, according to Bankrate, the monthly principal and interest pay ment on a $300,000 home with 20 percent down and a loan term of 30 years at 5 percent interest is $1552. That same home with the same down payment and mortgage term at 3 percent interest (where rates were about a year ago) would be $1275. That is $277 increase in the monthly payment.

Consumers need to consider what is affordable in their monthly budget.    Holt added that under standing one’s credit history and learning ways to im prove their credit score goes a long way.

“Your financing options through different lenders may differ, depending on your credit score, employ ment history and debt-to-in come ratio. Research online and shop current rates and offers from lenders. Credit unions tend to have lower fees and better interest rates on loans,” she said.

Understanding your own budget affordability with monthly payments and see ing if it’s possible to increase the size of the down pay ment on a home is critical too, along with borrowing less.

“To offset the higher cost, consider financing a less expensive home or reducing the amount of your home equity loan to make sure the monthly payment fits into the budget, Holt said, adding that GreenPath is there to help as seasons change. “At GreenPath, we don’t look at debt in a vacuum. If a person has mortgage concerns, they may also have concerns with managing day-to-day ex penses, credit cards, or other debt. We look at the person’s entire financial picture and help identify the best path forward,” said Holt.    Steele said that it is never too late to get finances back together, especially in this season.

come before you pay bills, entertainment, and trav el. By doing this you are making a commitment to yourself and your goals.

4. Pay down high interest credit.

5. Spend time; look at spending time more than money. Spend time with loved ones, which can be free and fulfilling!

6. Work on giving back to

While summer is still around for a few more weeks, Holt explained that it’s typically “the hottest time of year for home buying and selling.”

“While the interest rate increase is intended to help combat overall inflation, home buyers will undoubt edly feel the strain. Buyers

“A good credit score is part of a path to get a favorable loan or line of credit,” she said, adding that websites like annualcreditreport. com can help a person ob tain their score from all three reporting bureaus. “If you already have access to your credit report, pay atten tion to your payment history, which is the biggest single factor used to calculate your credit score.”

Also learning different types of available financing helps.

“If you feel like you’re off track, begin tracking what you’re spending. I won’t say the ‘budget’ word because it’s like the word diet. Let’s define what on track means —spending less than you earn,” Steele said. “Most of us do not want to work forev er. … It takes about 30 years of savings to retire. Working for 30 years isn’t the same as saving while working for 30 years. I’ve been a financial advisor for over two decades. I’ve seen good retirements and some regrets.”

Consumers contemplat ing home financing should contact GreenPath at (866648-8122 or www.green path.org) or the 995HOPE hotline (888-995-4673, ww w.995hope.org) for help nav igating all phases of home ownership. GreenPath can revisit one’s budget, help cli ents understand their credit and the full costs of home ownership, make a plan and more.

An effortless way to homeownership

Fixed-rate mortgag es vs. Variable rate mortgages

• 100 percent financing, $0 down payment

• Property must be in an eligible rural area.

• Household income can not exceed limits set by USDA.

If you’re looking for a lend ing solution that allows for lower down payments and has less stringent credit and income requirements, a government insured mort gage may be for you.

• With fixed-rate loans you pay the same amount of interest over the life of the loan, while with variable (also called adjustable) rate mortgages, the interest rate fluctuates based on market conditions.

• Adjustable rate mort gages often save you mon ey with a lower locked in rate for the first few years, but you could end up mak ing higher mortgages pay

ments later on in the loan depending on the state of the market.

Securing the terms of your mortgage is the big gest piece of the puzzle but there are many other things to consider. One import ant thing to discuss is the subject of refinancing your home. Refinancing means replacing your current mortgage with a new mort gage. You can refinance to get a better interest rate or to cash-out on some of the equity in the home. Keep

in mind that there are costs involved with a refinance and you will want to ensure the transaction will benefit your situation.

There are costs of home ownership that go beyond just your mortgage pay ment. They include:

• Property taxes

• Repairs and mainte nance

• Utilities

• Homeowners Associa tion fees that go towards maintaining the properties in your area (if applicable)

In addition to these costs, when deciding whether to rent or own you may want to reflect on the following:

• Home-ownership is a long-term financial commit ment that will surely bene fit you in the long run.

• The down payment cost on a home purchase vs up front costs for a lease or rental home may be in the end very similar.

• Home values typically increase. The equity you build could provide a nestegg for your future.

• The potential tax ben efits that come along with having a mortgage are an add plus during tax season. When deciding between buying a home or renting, buying a home over the longer term is more benefi cial to you because you will build equity into the prop erty, all other things being equal.

(First Independence Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender)

JONNET SOLOMON

GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS CEO Kristen Holt, left, and LPL Financial Wealth Advisor and Financial Educator Specialist Sherise Steele, right.

Guest Editorial

What keeps Black people apart?

We are at a pivotal point in the history of the world, and consequently we are also at a pivotal position as a race. Black people have been talking about the need for unification for a long time, but if truth be told, the notion of real unity has not been achieved. As a result, the Black community is suffering from all kinds of adversity.

If there is a question as to what keeps driving a wedge between members of the Black community, the answer is embedded in the fabric of every aspect of our lives. We meet it at every turn; and this didn’t start with slavery…it started before we hit these shores.

The movie The Woman King has brought home the unpleasant notion that Black people played a signifi cant role in delivering Black people into bondage. The reality of this fact seems to be one of the motivating factors behind the opposition to that movie.

And once we reached these shores, Black people, after a time, were separated by skin color, which had its most obvious manifestation in the division be tween house and field slaves. The slaves who man aged to work in the big house were better situated and enjoyed a higher status than those who had to work in the fields.

This generated a different schism that is apparent even to this day, as evidenced by the phenomenon that a disproportionate number of high-profile Black men seem to value light- or white-skinned women over those of darker hues. To illustrate this point, con sider the attitude toward one of the most prominent families in America, and notably the most hated by Black women, the Kardashians. This family has come to represent an evil dynasty that has as its goals the destruction of Black men. Never mind that these men are choosing the Kardashians over Black women.

Needless to say, this is a bone of contention among Black women, who conveniently blame the Kar dashians. Deep in the subconscious of this opposi tion, it just might be found that it is the colorism, i.e., the idea that the Kardashians are being held up as the epitome of White womanhood who are preferred by Black men that is the seat of the issue.

Another thing that throws a wedge between Black people is popular culture. Most likely this is due to the venom that is spewed in gangsta rap that pits Black men against each other AND pits Black men against Black women. It is startling to look back on several decades of Black music and notice how drastically things have changed.

Once upon a time, most of the popular music was about love in its various forms. Today, the majority of the music aimed at the Black community expresses hatred and revenge.

There has been a recent spate of murders among gangsta rappers, and people are surprisingly per plexed as to why this is happening. Well, it shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to observe that a culture that focuses almost exclusively on hurting and killing each other will see real life consequences.

In the case of fratricide in the Black community, it is a matter of art manifesting in life! What’s so hard to understand about that?

All of these elements are reinforcing each other; we encourage Black people to buy Black, but many Black business owners disrespect Black customers. The high rate of crime in Black communities is evidence of the low respect there is for Black lives among Black people in spite of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) move ment. In fact, there is an apparent growing disdain for the BLM movement among Black people.

The result of the foregoing is that a lot of Black peo ple speak negatively against anything Black. They won’t validate Black culture unless it is given a stamp of approval by White culture.

And it’s ironic that most of the “successful” offer ings in popular culture are crafted around fighting and mutual disrespect. The “Real Housewives of…” franchises embrace this strategy, as does the rap cul ture mired in mutual “dissing.” You’d be hard pressed to find cultural offerings that focus on love.

Ironically, one of the most important and successful programs of this type was The Cosby Show, which has unfortunately been slightly tarnished due to the Bill Cosby debacle.

Considering what has been said, how can we not understand why Black people are divided? The previ ously mentioned cultural impediments guarantee cul tural failure. The Black community has a decision to make: either we recognize the institutional saboteurs that are dividing us as a people and change our be havior and attitudes, or go down together in despair. It’s up to us! A Luta Continua.

(Reprinted from the Chicago Crusader)

Time is the most valuable commodity

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Admit tedly, we live in an era when time is increasingly more ‘valuable.’  It is fleeting and, at one time or another, most of us are left wondering where it went.  Our days are shaped in its rush, and it is the key to access our personal and interpersonal interac tions.  Truly, it is the most valuable commodity in our lives.

According to Newsweek Magazine, President Biden revealed that Chi nese President Xi Jinping cautioned him that democracies are on the decline and that one day “autocracies will run the world.”  Ping said, “De mocracies cannot be sustained in the 21st century, autocracies will run the world. Why? Things are changing so rapidly. Democracies require consen sus, and it takes time, and you don’t have the time.”  Pragmatists may accept President Xi’s world view, but those of us who have lived in pursuit of democratic principles and who embrace the concept of the expression of free will within an orderly social structure do not.

Without argument, any definition of society must include provisions for orderly conduct.  I know of no society or culture that exists without such a system of laws and/or regu lations which dictate personal and institutional conduct.  In that way, democracies and autocracies are similar.  The question of the current/ future viability of democracies is a larger issue.  My personal focus is on the “democracy” in which I live and work, and the threat that I believe it must overcome.

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. Commentary

As a concept, Democracy supports respect for a multiplicity of ideas and beliefs.  It is based upon the ideal of majority rule in decisions of gover nance with tolerance and benevolence toward the minority opinion.  It is the opposite of what we see emerging from the “Republican reactionary right.”  Rather than discussing the repellant political positions of individ ual Republican candidates, I ask my readers to consider and contemplate the reasoning and justification for the positions they take.

My belief system as an ordained minister may be called into ques tion, but, as an attorney, I believe my understanding to be correct.  I understand the US Constitution to protect the right of religious free dom.  We do not have one officially recognized religion which must be observed in preference to another.  I also understand that our Constitution protects citizenry from religion.  We may believe, or not, as we choose.  I have received emails which ridic ulously state “What God told… “ (fill-in-the-blank).  Rather than a divinely inspired revelation, I believe that any candidate presenting from that position is asserting a narrowly construed, personal religious opinion

acceptable only to like-minded others, and which he/she wishes to impose upon the masses.

I am also concerned by the increase in the verbal dog-whistles used to disguise race, gender, religious, gender-identity hatred.  We used to have to listen carefully, but the nature of hate-speech is increasingly obvi ous.  The attribution of criminal and/ or deviant intent to a political oppo nent without substantive evidence is, in my mind, itself criminal. If nothing else, the events of the last seven years—from the vulgar coarsening of the political discourse to the January 6th assault on the seat of our governance—demonstrate the fragility of our democracy.  We have become witnesses to the rapid erosion and disregard of the rights we have presumed normal, and their substi tution with the dogmatic principles of a minority motivated by misguided religious principles, personal hatred and distrust, or the raw, brazen desire for power.

Thankfully, we still have the means to reject this encroachment upon our rights.  How long it will remain useful is in question.  I fear that it has a limited life-span.  This means to our survival is our vote.  We must use it thoughtfully and intelligently.  Most importantly, we must use it.  WE MUST VOTE!  Hopefully, we will be in time!

(Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of the Dick Gregory Society, United Nations Peace Ambassador.  (drefayewilliams.com; the dickgregorysociety.org)

Calling out global anti-Blackness

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—In Los Angeles, City Council President Nury Martinez resigned both her Council Presidency and later her seat after someone leaked vile racist sentiments that she shared with members of a Latinx cabal that included other council members, Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo. Also present was the now-resigned President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Ron Herrera. As of this writing, de Leon and Cedillo retain their seats, but Martinez’s goose was cooked when President Joe Biden, Governor Gavin Newsom, and dozens of others condemned Martinez’s racist com ments and those who concurred with them with their silence.

While I am glad that Martinez is gone, I am not so sure that her resig nation is quite a victory. In resigning, she addressed “little Latina girls” and said, “I hope I’ve inspired you to dream beyond that which you can see.”  What did she hope to inspire them to become? Racists like herself?

If she is an inspiration, I am fearful. Disgraced politicians often go on to teach at universities, establish policy institutes or mentoring programs, or find lucrative jobs in private industry. While everyone deserves a second chance and nobody deserves to be outright canceled, apologies and resignations mean nothing if there is no honest accounting of what was wrong and if there is no remediation. Martinez seems to lack the capacity to recognize what she did wrong and to correct it. Thus, anyone who hires her, offers her an award, or lifts her up is as racist as she is until and unless she provides more than tepid apologies and self-justifying resigna

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary

tions.

Nury Martinez is Hydra, and Greek mythology describes Hydra as a many-headed serpent Hercules be headed only to have two more heads replace it. Nury and other racists can resign, but the tragedy of her hope that she “inspired” little Latina girls set the stage for other Hydras, some younger, some more subtle, to replace her. Hercules finally killed the Hydra snake by killing it with a burning torch. The same torch that killed the mythological snake must destroy the structures that support global an ti-Blackness. One or two, or even five or ten, resignations are not enough. Dismantling anti-Black structures is the only way to eliminate them.

Too many embrace anti-Blackness and anti-Black structures. Consider Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville (R), who shamefully described Dem ocrats as “pro-crime” because they support reparations. “They want rep aration because they think the people that do the crime are owed that.”  It is tempting to say that Tuberville, a former football coach, too often played his sport without a helmet. Was the entire Republican Party engaging in the same foolhardiness? Where are the Republicans of conscience (are there any) calling Tuberville on his foolishness?

In contrast, President Biden, per

haps risking some Latinx support, swiftly called Nury on her racism. As Biden’s press secretary, Karine JeanPierre, said, “Here is the difference between Democrats and Republicans. When a Democrat says something racist or antisemitic, we hold Dem ocrats accountable. When a MAGA Republican says something racist and or antisemitic, they are embraced by cheering crowds and become celebrat ed and sought after.”

One of the ways we combat global anti-Blackness is to name it, then claim it, then dismantle it. Too many White allies are reluctant to discuss anti-Blackness, much less work to dismantle it. Too many squirm when anti-Black racism is mentioned. It’s too much for some to discuss in “polite society” but not too much to practice.

One of the most uncomfortable conversations comes when our “allies,” the Latinx folks eager to tout “Black and Brown” coalitions when it strengthens their base are far less willing to combat the cracks in the foundation of the base. Our Latinx allies must condemn folks like Nury (and some have), whose spoken anti-Blackness (she called a Black child a monkey!) is only dwarfed by the things they do, not just the things they say.

Global anti-Blackness stops when people of conscience, regardless of political party, call people out. Until then, the Nurys of the world, whether in elective office or not, win because Hydra’s head will multiply unless it is burned off.

(Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA. Juliannemalveaux. com)

‘Dog whistle’ rhetoric is giving way to Tuberville and Greene’s overt racism

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“I’ve heard racists say all kinds of things.  I’ve heard them say that Black people are criminals, and I’ve heard them say that reparations are reverse racism. But it takes a true racism innovator to combine both ideas at the same time.”

– Trevor Noah

Until last Saturday, Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s most significant contri bution to racial justice was asking students and fans of the University of Mississippi, where he was a head football coach in 1997, to stop wav ing the Confederate flag at home sporting events.

Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal

and, coming from all over the world, they’re also replacing your culture. And that’s not great for America.”

ments for immigrants to become citizens (and thus voters.)  The Na tive American Party, better known as the Know-Nothings was founded in 1944 based wholly on hatred for Catholic immigrants.

Founded

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher

Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm Office Manager Ashley Johnson Sales Director Rob Taylor Jr. Managing Editor

H. Sengstacke

Lest anyone doubt, all these years later, that his request was motivated by principle rather than self-interest—public displays of racism made it difficult to recruit Black athletes—Tuberville has laid his cards on the table. At a Trump rally in Nevada on Saturday night, Sen. Tommy Tuberville explicitly referred to Black Americans as “the people that do the crime.”

Even in this era of heightened racial rhetoric, Tuberville’s undis guised bigotry was stunning.

The following day, at a Trump rally in Arizona, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, drew criticism for saying immigrants “are on the verge of replacing you, replacing your jobs and replacing your kids in school

Greene spoke earlier this year at a White nationalist conference and is barred from sitting on congres sional committees because of in cendiary social media posts—that her comments might not even have attracted much attention had they not followed on the heels of Tuber ville’s stunning outburst.

Greene’s notoriety and Tuberville’s comments signal the escalation of a menacing trend that Donald Trump revived when he launched his presi dential campaign in 2015 by calling immigrants criminals and rapists.

The exploitation of bigotry and racial resentment to win elections is a ploy nearly as old as the nation it self. As early as 1798, the two major parties – then the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans wran gled over the residency require

Post-Civil War, explicit anti-Black racism emerged as a primary issue in national elections. “Exaggerated stories of Black crime” and accusa tions of “miscegenation” were hall marks of the 1868 campaign.  “Fear of Blacks and the need to maintain White power was a dominant, primary theme, not a subtext,” political scientist Tali Mendelberg wrote in The Race Card: Campaign Strategy, Implicit Messages, and the Norm of Equality.

As late as 1968, presidential can didate George Wallace, the former governor of Alabama, campaigned in favor of racial segregation.  By 1980, however, overt racial appeals had given way to coded rhetoric such as the “welfare queen” stereotype employed by Ronald Reagan.

“Any way you look at it, race is coming on the back-burner,” political strategist Lee Atwater said in 1981.

Race-baiting politicians like Tu berville and Greene are putting it back on the front burner. It’s up to their colleagues to extinguish the flames.

Herschel Walker, Draymond Green— when star athletes act like losers

(BlackPressUSA)—In communities of color, athletes in the U.S. are practically royalty. They don’t call Lebron “King James” for nothing. Star athletes can do no wrong. Until they do.

Just ask O.J.

But when athletes steer clear of any of that, generally they are treated like gods who live above the rim. After all, they are our heroes be cause they’re winners. They may have started out regular, like the rest of us, but their god-giv en talents have made them rise above it all.

And that makes it difficult when they start to behave like mere mortals who do some pretty regrettable things.

Just look at Herschel Walker or Draymond Green.

Let’s take Walker first. If you’re a Bay Area guy like me, Georgia’s Walker is not the greatest running back ever. Give me Marcus Allen. Or even Texas’ Earl Campbell. Both of them would rather run over linebackers, not Democrats. Walker is different. We know that Walker denies giving money to pay for a former part ner’s abortion. But now the same female part ner claims Walker wanted her to have a second abortion, though she declined and had the child. Mind you, I’m choosing to skip all the accu sations about Walker’s general hypocrisy from his son, Christian. It’s important, but I’ll give Walker the benefit of the doubt considering his grandstanding son.

But the woman who claims Walker has con sulted her on abortion isn’t grandstanding. She’s provided proof to the news site, the Daily Beast, and appears credible.

All this shouldn’t even be political talk, but Walker is running as an anti-abortion, pro-life fundamentalist.

The truth is relevant if it makes Walker out to be a liar.

But maybe that’s good for a politician?

Coming to Walker’s defense is no less than Donald Trump, who told the NY Times’ Maggie Haberman about Walker’s abundant qualities.

“He was the best football player in the nation by far,” Trump said of Walker.

Emil Guillermo

Commentary

When asked about his “complicated personal history,” Trump was quick to dismiss any crit icism.

“Ten years ago would be a problem, twenty years ago a bigger problem. I don’t think it’s a problem today,” Trump said.

Haberman asked “why?” Because the world is changing.

In other words, outright liars are rewarded in today’s corrupt Republican politics led by God father Trump. Anything goes, as long as you win.

Trump’s blessing has opened the way for mil lions in political contributions and support from conservatives who shamelessly back the un qualified and truth-compromised Walker. But this is the kind of Black man Republicans want. Controllable. Who will do what they want. Run over Democrats with political athleticism! Doesn’t seem to stack up against the in cumbent Senator, Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat and the current preacher of MLK’s Ebenezer Baptist church.

If Walker wins, we will feel the impact in Cal ifornia. Democrats can rely on Kamala Harris to break a tie on upcoming legislation on key issues like gun control, immigration, voting rights, LGBTQ rights. Oh, and there’s abortion.

But there will be no heroics from Harris if Re publicans gain the majority and have Herschel Walker in their pocket.

He will do anything they say. He’s their star athlete. He can do no wrong.

At Least Draymond Green Doesn’t Want to Be Senator

Draymond Green says he’s going to take some time away from the Golden State Warriors. He’s already taken some of their credibility.

Of course, you’ve seen the video of Green punching his teammate Jordan Poole at a re cent Warriors practice. The Warriors are mostly upset that video of the punch found its way to the public.

But at least we got the truth. The punch was a clear battery, and chargeable. The Warriors pre ferred to keep it in house.

Keep it in house? That sounds like Jeffrey Dahmer.

The video shows undeniable workplace vio lence. Green, who is 6-ft-6-inches, 230 pounds, is punching the smaller Poole, who is two inches shorter and almost 40 pounds lighter.

Sports commentators downplay the punch, saying these are men playing an aggressive game, and it’s to be expected.

Not when the gym is your workplace. Punch your boss and you’ll get fired. Or sued. Is this the NBA’s message, that physical bullying is OK?

Two weeks ago, the NBA fined Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver $10 million and banned him from the game for one year for “workplace misconduct,” involving anti-Black racism, as well as misogynistic and sexual comments.

Is that worse than punching a teammate in practice?

Green has apologized and said he’s going to take time to “work on himself.”

But it’s going to take a lot more than using that meditation app LeBron James pushes.

For the NBA and the Golden State Warriors, the action that must be taken is clear. They must condemn workplace violence by athletes unequivocally.

Athletes shouldn’t be treated as winners when they act like losers.

(Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator.)

Moving to Ghana to escape America?

When Ghana’s President Jerry Rawlings visited the United States in 1999, he offered citizenship to all Black Americans that wished to live in Ghana.

Hundreds of Black Americans decid ed to relocate, and in 2001 the Wall Street Journal published an essay called: For African-Americans in Gha na, the grass isn’t always greener.

In Ghana, the essayist explained, Black Americans discovered malaria was rampant, electricity and water were often interrupted, and wages were meager by US standards. Black Americans also discovered they weren’t welcomed like Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings promised.

The Ghanaians called the Black Americas “obruni”, which means “white” or “foreigner” in the local language.

Black Americans that relocated to Ghana also wondered if they needed to start a civil rights movement to obtain equal and fair treatment. Gha na banned American residents from government jobs. Hospitals charged Americans higher fees. Americans could not vote in elections or partici pate in local politics.

In 2019, Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, announced “The Year of Return” to celebrate the 400-year an niversary of when the first enslaved Africans arrived in North America.

This was a call for all descendants from the African continent living abroad to return to Ghana and cel ebrate the “resilience of the African spirit”.

The next year, an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, was killed by a White police officer in Minneapolis,

J. Pharoah Doss Check It Out

Minnesota, which launched a worldwide protest against racial injustice and police brutality.

Ghana’s officials gave another invitation to Black Americans. This time, Ghana was promoted as a place of refuge.

By 2021, OMG Voice (social news for the Ghanaian Millennial) published a headline that said: Here’s why over 5,000 Black Americans have moved to Ghana since 2019. The consensus amongst this new group of Black Americans that relocated to Ghana was that the police killing of George Floyd proved that Black Americans were not safe in the United States.

DeNeen L. Brown recently pub lished an essay in the Washington Post called: The case for leaving America to escape racism. Brown de scribed when she was in Ghana and her driver was pulled over for making a U-turn.

“My stomach dropped. It was the middle of the night, and I was terri fied. I watched as the driver got out of the car and walked toward the officer standing on the side of the road. The driver motioned to the officer and explained he was lost and apologized for making the U-turn. The officer lis tened. After a pause, the officer said, ‘I forgive you. Go about your way’.”

Based on this police encounter, Brown concluded, “I want this kind of freedom: to live in a country where traffic stops end peacefully. I want the ability to move amongst people who look like me … I know no place is per fect. But I want to live in a country where racism is not a constant threat. Which is why I have decided to even tually leave America.”

Once again, the grass isn’t greener in Ghana.

The year before the police killing of George Floyd, the academic journal The Conversation published a report about policing in Ghana.

The report stated that a police force is considered professional when there is a code of ethics that governs law enforcement, and there are credible structures of accountability that en sure integrity and quality of service.

These features are underdeveloped in Ghana.

The police have a reputation for intimidation, violence, and corruption. Police officers routinely treat citizens unfairly and brutalize citizens with out provocation. The police officers are also trigger-happy.

In 2021, a Ghanaian security ana lyst reacted to the guilty verdict of the ex-police officer that murdered George Floyd. The security analyst said, “There is a need for Ghana to adopt a system that effectively han dles and delivers justice to Ghanaians who become victims of police brutal ity.”

There are probably many good rea sons to move to Ghana, but escaping America to no longer be in fear of the police isn’t one of them.

Separating fact from fiction

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Finding a fact-based reason to distrust the government as an institution is not difficult. When referring to conspira cies, the Tuskegee Experiment, which started in 1932 in rural Alabama, was a secret plan by the U.S. government to medically harm its own people. The Tuskegee syphilis study is considered the most egregious abuse of authority by medical researchers, and it was all based on a lie. As part of its study of the long-term effects of syphilis, the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) denied treatment to 399 African American men who suffered from the effects of the disease. The study aimed to observe the natural history of untreated syphilis in Black populations.

But the study’s participants were unaware of this and were simply told they were receiving treatments for “bad blood”—a generic term often used to describe a variety of ailments. They received no treatment at all— even with penicillin being discov ered as a safe and reliable cure. The USPHS chose to thwart all efforts the men made to receive treatment from other sources. The experiment didn’t end until 1972 when a whistleblower leaked information about the study to The New York Times. It led to mass public outrage, which resulted in the NAACP filing a class action lawsuit against the USPHS. Over the years, Tuskegee has served as the barom eter for African Americans’ distrust of government institutions. When we separate fact from fiction, the mistrust over Tuskegee was justified while based on facts rather than po litically motivated theories.

Conspiracy theories have always been a part of the American fabric. It is the deep-seated belief that the federal government is keeping a

David W. Marshall Commentary

secret of great importance from the public. Some people still question the findings of the Warren Commission, which concluded that Lee Harvey Os wald acted alone in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. People still be lieve alternate theories surrounding the assassination. As a result, a 2003 ABC News poll found that 70 percent of Americans believe Kennedy’s death resulted from a broader conspiracy.

With the current polarized politics of our nation as a backdrop, today’s mistrust of American institutions is partly by design. Conspiracy theories and “alternative facts” which per petuate the erosion of trust in our governmental, economic, religious, educational, and judicial institutions has been in the making for decades. The large number of people who are easily drawn and susceptible to any type of conspiracy theory are prime targets for manipulation by those with political agendas. With the amount of accessible information at our fingertips, there should be no rea son why any objective person is left confused between fact and fiction. Yet, more than two-thirds of Republicans seeking office this November have cast doubt on the results of the 2020 election. The denial that there is no evidence to support these views is no longer a surprise since it represents the new normal for the Republican Party. It is surprising what we are learning concerning the attitudes and sympathizers within the FBI.

A “sizable percentage” of FBI em ployees felt sympathy toward the Jan. 6 insurrectionists and considered the riot at the U.S. Capitol “no different than the BLM protests,” according to a warning email sent to a top FBI official. The writer of the email continued, “I literally had to explain to an agent from a ‘blue state’ office the difference between opportunists burning and looting during protests that stemmed legitimate grievance to police brutality vs. an insurgent mob whose purpose was to prevent the execution of democratic processes at the behest of a sitting president,” the email states. “One is a smattering of criminals, the other is an organized group of domestic terrorists.”

The Jan. 6 Congressional hearing is beginning to reveal how the Secret Service was fully aware of the threat of violence before it happened but chose to downplay the danger, includ ing the potential harm to the vice president. It shows that being a police officer, FBI agent, or even a member of the Secret Service does not auto matically shield a person from the influence of conspirators such as Alex Jones. These are the type of corrupt law enforcement agents who gives us legitimate and justified reasons for not trusting our government. The bad apples have always been there. They will always be mixed in with those who maintain ethics and integrity, those who are willing to be the whis tleblower when needed. But this is different. The bad apples, in this case, include a former president surround ed by Secret Service agents protecting his life and his corruption.

(David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization, TRB: The Recon ciled Body, and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America. He can be reached at www.davidwmarshallauthor.com.)

Who said, ‘Never say never?’

(BlackPressUSA)—Who said never say never? Who claimed it was wise to never say never? Never is a powerful term. Never precludes the oppor tunity or possibility of a particular thing taking place at present, or more importantly, in the near or distant future. Never, say never? The inability to affirm or to swear never is an indi cation of an inability to, or prediction of, failure to honor an oath, pledge or promise to others or to oneself. An oath is by definition a promise, commitment, vow, or a pledge. Doesn’t “I pledge alle giance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands—one Nation, (Under God), indivisible, with liberty and jus tice for all,” assert, I will never betray my country?

Consider the irony of this police officers’ oath. He or she pledges to never betray their integrity. “On my honor, I will never betray my integri ty, my character, or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always maintain the highest ethical standards and uphold the values of my community, and the agency I serve.” One could argue that Donald Trump betrayed his country

Miles Jaye

Commentary

and should have never been elected President. The dystopia brought on by the Trump kleptocracy is at best inexcusable and at worst, irreversible. The damage inflicted on this already struggling Democracy by him, his fami ly and his criminal miscreant cronies is immeasurable.

The setbacks to human and civil rights are beyond any analytic diagnos tic. It should have never happened. He should have never happened to us. He should never have been given keys to the White House. One could argue that President Donald Trump revealed the true nature and depths of ignorance, prejudice, xenophobia, institutional ized racism, and systemic stupidity camouflaged as heritage and Ameri can tradition. I would argue, the true danger in Trumpism is that it reveals, promotes, and endorses the true nature and depth of ignorance, prejudice, xenophobia, institutionalized racism,

and systemic stupidity camouflaged as heritage and American tradition.

Trumpism continues to provide agen cy and legitimacy to the likes of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Trump’s bigotry supplies encouragement and imparts permission to the passionate, and far too prevalent, violent racists among us. He fuels the engine of fear of a browning America and the frustra tion brought on by a diminishing White middle-class and the White privilege it engenders. Why continue to write about Donald Trump?

Because it should give rise to a public outcry—never again. Trump exposed America’s vulnerability to greed, conspiracy and criminal enterprise and he hasn’t gone away. His movement remains alive and well. Unprotected by the Constitution, a common sense of decency, and absent a spirit of equity as outlined by the Declaration of Indepen dence, we were caught with our skirt up with a trail of toilet tissue hanging from our rear—our behind exposed to the world. He was openly mocked; we were openly mocked, so let’s say it loud and say it together… NEVER AGAIN! That’s what’s on my mind!

(Reprinted from the Texas Metro News & Garland Journal)

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Wanted

SAP MANAGER – ORDER TO CASH / CUSTOMER SERVICE

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC’s Pittsburgh, PA, office seeks an SAP Manager – Order to Cash/ Customer Service to be responsible to drive the business requirements, cross functional design, user test planning/execution and training in support of the SAP program within SD, Contracts, Service orders and supply chain processes. Apply at https://careers.evoqua.com, #32382.

FOCUS ON RENEWAL, MCKEES ROCKS, PA, HAS IMMEDIATE OPENINGS DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Our Director of Finance oversees all financial aspects of the business and drives financial strategy and planning.

This leader must have a broad knowledge of accounting and financial/business principles; be a strategic thinker and effective leader; and will be responsible for the financial viability of the organization.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; CPA preferred

• Minimum of five years of managerial accounting and financial management experience

• Knowledge of GAAP accounting

• Proficient in the use of QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel and Word

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

• Act 33 and Act 34 clearances

• Vaccinated against Covid-19 virus

Apply for Director of Finance at: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/ recruiting/jobs/Details/1271277/ Focus-on-Renewal/Director-ofFinance

Our Director of Development is responsible for directing, leading and managing all development activities:

major gifts, corporate relations, donor relations, fundraising events, new business opportunities, grant writing/management, etc. S/he will develop and implement fundraising goals and direct associated activities; measure results; and evaluate program performance. Of paramount importance is the development and implementation of a communications plan that delivers key messages using all media.

Qualifications include:

• Master’s degree; Bachelor’s degree with five years of related experience considered

• Comprehensive knowledge in notfor-profit fundraising and marketing

• Proven project management and coordination experience

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to prioritize and meet deadlines

• Excellent oral and written communications skills; highly developed interpersonal skills

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

• Act 33 and Act 34 clearances

• Vaccinated against Covid-19 virus

Apply for Director of Development at: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/ recruiting/jobs/Details/1280655/ Focus-on-Renewal/Director -of-Development

GROW PITTSBURGH POSITIONS

Grow Pittsburgh is currently seeking a Community Gardens Project Manager to serve as the primary point of contact for community garden groups currently participating in our programs. This position is full time, exempt with a salary range of $37,000-$46,350 annually.

Applicants can review the full details of the job description and apply to this position via our hiring portal with their resume and cover letter by October 28, 2022. Anticipated start date of January 9, 2023 Link: https://growpittsburgh. bamboohr.com/careers/23?

source=aWQ9MTI%3D

We are also seeking a Director of Urban Agriculture and Programming to provide leadership and management of direct reports and seasonal staff along with other responsibilities. This position is full time exempt with a salary range for this position is $53,000 - $68,000. Applicants can review the full details of the job description and submit their resume and cover letter via our hiring portal. There is a priority deadline of Nov 4 , but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Link: https://growpittsburgh.bamboohr. com/ careers/24?source=aWQ9Mz

TI%3D

Grow Pittsburgh benefits package includes health, vision and dental coverage; 401k plan with employer match; mileage reimbursement; professional development budget; paid birthday and paid time off; and partial cell phone bill reimbursement.

SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a HIGH SCHOOL MAIN OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Complete job description is available at: www.southfayette.org Deadline 4:00 PM, October 25, 2022, or until position is filled EOE

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT –

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE SPECIALIST

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking an Accounting Assistant

– Accounts Payable Specialist to Audit and process vouchers for checks to be printed.

Essential Functions:

• Utilizes PeopleSoft accounts payable, procurement and inventory systems to perform the following:

• Matches and audit invoices with purchase orders and receivers, and settles discrepancies.

• Audits and enters coded invoices and settles discrepancies.

• Sets up new vendors.

• Verifies vouchers with computer printout, and corrects errors.

• Registers and distributes invoices for approval.

• Files vouchered invoices in future pay date files to be pulled when check is printed.

Job requirements include:

• High school diploma or G.E.D., supplemented by twelve (12) credits in accounting from an accredited college or business school.

• Minimum of two (2) years accounting

/ finance experience.

• Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Word, Windows and Excel.

• Professional and effective communications skills.

• Ability to use a calculator.

Preferred attributes:

• Familiarity with account classification.

• Experience using PeopleSoft Financials 9.2.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny, Orphan’s Court Division, Estate of DORIS LOUISE WORTHY, deceased, Case No. 4994 of 2022: Notice is hereby given that on August 1, 2022 a Petition was filed by Michelle R. Worthy to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of Doris Louise Worthy in the real estate located at 1311 Grotto Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206 and determine that fee simple title is vested in Michelle R. Worthy. Attorney Peter B. Lewis, 928 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, (412) 586-6153.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BOROUGH OF THORNBURGNOTICE

The Council of the Borough of Thornburg will hold a public meeting to consider adopting an ordinance to increase the discount amount available to eligible taxpayers under the Thornburg Borough property tax relief program, said meeting to be held on November 7, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Borough Building, 545 Hamilton Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The title and summary of the proposed Ordinance are as follows:

TITLE

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF THORNBURG AMENDING CHAPTER 24, TAXATION, SPECIAL, PART 5, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, SECTION 24-502 OF THE BOROUGH CODE OF ORDINANCES, INCREASING THE REAL ESTATE TAX DISCOUNT PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAM AND PERMITTING FUTURE INCREASES IN THE REAL ESTATE TAX DISCOUNTAMOUNT BYRESOLUTION

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:

Glenn Huetter Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 GHuetter@RidePRT.org EOE

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE POSITION OF FIREFIGHTER FOR THE ALTOONA FIRE DEPARTMENT

Applications for Firefighter for the City of Altoona can be obtained from the Human Resources Office in City Hall at 1301 12th Street, Suite 400, Altoona, PA 16601; between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. For additional information and requirements, please visit www.altoonapa.gov/employment Completed applications must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than NOON ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022.

The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer

THE PREVENTABLE STUDY

The University of Pittsburgh is studying if taking a statin might help to prevent dementia, disability, & heart disease. Who may qualify:

• Age 75 or older.

• NOT taking a statin.

• No history of heart disease or dementia. Compensation provided. All study visits can be completed from your home. If interested, call 412-841-1415 or email PATHCDRN@pitt.edu.

CUSTODIAL SUPPORT STAFF at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. See full job description and application information at https://cathedralofhope.org/careers/.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

SUMMARY

The proposed ordinance increases the Borough real estate tax discount amount for eligible taxpayers from 15% to 25% and authorizes Borough Council to provide for higher discount amounts via resolution. A copy of the proposed Ordinance may be examined in the office of the Borough Secretary, without charge, during regular business hours.

BOROUGH OF THORNBURG Dorothy Falk, Secretary

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT AND PUBLIC HEARING HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH 2023 ADMISSIONS AND CONTINUED OCCUPANCY POLICY

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) is revising the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP).

The proposed revisions for both the ACOP and Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan will be available for review from October 21, 2022 to November 21, 2022, on the HACP website: www.hacp.org.

Written comments on the proposed revisions must be addressed to “Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy.” ACOP changes can be sent to Asset Management, 225 Ross St. #501, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

For questions regarding the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy” please contact Devin Shirey at 412-456-5000 ext. 3164. Written comments must be received by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on November 21, 2022

A public hearing to receive public comments on the revised 2023 HACP Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 via Zoom.

10:00 am. Via zoom: Meeting ID: 843 7226 0679 Password: 871775

Via phone: 1-301-715-8592

ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice

Public Notice

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS October 19, 2022

City of Pittsburgh – Office of Management and Budget 414 Grant Street Room 501 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-255-2211

This notice shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Pittsburgh.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS (1) –MTW, SECTION 8 PBV & CDBG PROJECT

On or about Tuesday, November 8, 2022, the City of Pittsburgh will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to release Federal funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as amended for the real estate project described below. Letsche is a mixed-income housing development that involves the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the former Letsche Elementary School into forty-two (42) new residential units, along with the new construction of four (4) townhouses. The former Letsche Elementary School and the new townhouses are located at 1530 and 1521 Cliff Street in the Crawford-Roberts Neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh, PA, 15219. The units are income and rent restricted as follows: five (5) units affordable at or below 20% Area Median Income (AMI), twenty (20) units affordable at or below 50% AMI, thirteen (13) at or below 60% AMI, and eight (8) unrestricted, market rate units. Letsche LLC is the Developer of this project. Funding sources include the following approximate amounts: $971,082.00 first mortgage from Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, $2,250,000.00 second mortgage gap financing loan from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP), $953,650.00 third mortgage Rental Gap Program (RGP) loan from the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA), $11,871,438.00 Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity, $2,554,732.00 Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HTC) equity, and $509,677 in developer equity. The URA’s RGP loan will be sourced with $953,650 from CDBG 2021 HACP’s $2,250,000 gap financing loan will be sourced with Moving to Work (MTW) funds under the 1937 Act as modified by the 1996 and 1999 Consolidated Appropriations Act in addition to providing twenty-five (25) Section 8 Project Based Vouchers (PBV) as part of the Section 8 PBV program under the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 as modified by the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 to support the units’ affordability. The total estimated cost of the development is $19,110,578

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (2) – MTW, SECTION 8 PBV & CDBG PROJECT

The City of Pittsburgh has determined that the project will hav e no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR). The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by U.S. mail. Please submit your request by U.S. mail to City of Pittsburgh, Office of Management and Budget, 414 Grant St, City County Building Room 501, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or by email to Whitney.Finnstrom@pittsburghpa.gov.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to: Whitney Finnstrom City of Pittsburgh, 414 Grant Street, Room 501 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 255-2211 OR Whitney.Finnstrom@pittsburghpa.gov

All comments received by Friday, November 4, 2022 will be considered by the City of Pittsburgh prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice (Request for Release of Funds 1 or Finding of No Significant Impact 2) they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The City of Pittsburgh certifies to HUD that Ed Gainey in his capacity as Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh to use development funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

Estate of MR. ROBERT CORADI, Deceased of 220 Sonni Lane, McKees Rocks, PA 15136, Estate No.: 02-22-06606, Ms. Kristin Coradi, Administrator, c/o Max C. Feldman, Esquire and the Law Office of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, Pa 15108

Estate of ROBERT V. LAMANNA, Deceased of McCandless Township, Pennsylvania, No.: 02-22-06353, Gina L. Kilpela, Executrix or to Ryan W. Brode, Atty, 6 Clairton Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15236

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny, Orphan’s Court Division, Estate of JAMES M. VEATCH, deceased, Case No. 6696 of 2022: Notice is hereby given that on October 14, 2022 a Petition was filed by Cheryl M. Veatch to terminate the interests of the heirs and devisees of James M. Veatch, Sr. in the real estate located at 240 Kirk Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15227 and determine that fee simple title is vested in Cheryl M. Veatch. Attorney Peter B. Lewis, 928 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, (412) 586-6153.

https://www.google.com/ url?q=https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/84372260679?pwd%3DYm 41SmJuZndvZ0R6MGNFNEFjd\ kx2UT09&sa=D&source=calen dar &ust=1665868758975339&usg =AOvVaw1TQ2izqqoK5oBZeCk fghls

5:00 p.m. Via zoom: Meeting ID: 839 2402 1896 Passcode: 412183 Via phone: 1-301-715-8592

https://www.google.com/ url?q=https://us06web.zoom.us /j/83924021896?pwd%3DL0Jp OUpJY2Q4MmNsaVJuTmY2YX B6QT09&sa=D&source=calendar &ust=1665868859765534&usg= AOvVaw15Bv71o684mt1jMlC52Y R0

Persons with disabilities requiring assistance or alternative formats, or wishing to submit comments in alternative formats, can contact the Disability Compliance Office at 412-456-5282, ext. 4; TTY 412456-5282.

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Pittsburgh certification for a period of fifteen (15) days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Pittsburgh; (b) the City of Pittsburgh has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to the HUD Field Office of Public Housing in Pittsburgh at PittsburghPIH.ER@hud.gov regarding MTW and Section 8 PBV funds or to the HUD Field Office of Community Planning and Development in Pittsburgh at Phillip.E.McKeough@hud.gov /(412) 644-5846 regarding HUD CDBG funds.

Potential objectors should contact the HUD Field Office of Public Housing in Pittsburgh via email or Community Planning and Development in Pittsburgh via email or phone as given above to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Ed Gainey Mayor City of Pittsburgh

TSA EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS INTEGRATION PACKAGE AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

ELECTRONIC BIDS & BID OPENING PROCEDURE:

Electronic Bids will be received by the Allegheny County Airport Authority until 1:00 P.M. prevailing local time, January 4, 2023. Due to the COVID precautions, the ACAA is modifying its typical bid opening process; the formal bid opening procedure will be conducted virtually –any/all firms submitting a Bid to the ACAA will be given special access to view the opening event. Once bidding is closed, any/all firms submitting a bid will be issued an Invitation (via email) to access the formal bid opening event via a live webcast. Bidders will also be notified of the results via an email within (24) hours of the Bid Opening event.

ACCESS TO BID PACKAGE DOCUMENTS:

ALL BIDDERS shall be required to provide a completed formal Bid Document Request application in order to acquire bidding documents for any/all of the above listed Project Numbers. No bidding documents will be issued prior to the Authority’s Construction Manager having a copy of a fully completed Request Application. Bid Document Request Applications can be obtained by sending a Request to the following email address: TMPBids@flypittsburgh.com

On the Subject Line, include the following: “Bid Documents Request –TSA Equipment Systems Integration Package”

Once a bidder’s request has been received, provided it is complete, the CM will provide access for the bidder to access and download the bid documents through Building Connected, a web-based bid management platform.

A PREBID CONFERENCE –October 26, 2022 – 1:00 PM

The meeting will be a Microsoft Teams Meeting. To join the meeting the following number can be called (877) 286-5733 - United States (Toll-Free) – Conference ID 368 525 198#. Please email TMPBids@flypittsburgh.com to receive the link to join by computer.

A site visit will be conducted. Details regarding the site visit will be provided at the Pre-Bid meeting. Note that no questions can be asked during this Prebid Meeting. Any/all questions must be issued to the CM as an “RFI”

REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION (RFIs)

Any/all questions related to this project must be made in writing to the CM. RFIs are to be sent to the CM via email to TMPBids@flypittsburgh.com

BID SUBMISSION

Proposals must be made on the Authority’s forms and in accordance with the Plans and Specifications and the “Instructions to Bidders”’.

Due to Covid precautions, ACAA will not be accepting any hard copy bids for this Project. Accordingly, Electronic Bids are the only form that the ACAA will accept. While the Instructions to Bidders will provide more details, for an Electronic Bid to be accepted in must be sent through Building Connected and it must be received by no later than the established Bid Date and time deadline.

OTHER ISSUES

Attention is called to the fact that not less than the minimum salaries and wages as determined by the General Wage Determinations issued under the Davis-Bacon and related Acts must be paid on these projects. This project has DBE participation goals; DBE firms must be certified with the Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program) (PAUCP). Firms must be certified prior to award of contract. A searchable database of DBE firms can be found on the PAUCP web site: https://paucp.dbesystem.com/

The Airport Authority reserves the right to reject any and all bids or waive any informalities in the bidding.

No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of one hundred twenty [120] days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids.

To view a complete advertisement, which is also included in the bidding documents visit www.flypittsburgh.com under “Business Opportunities”.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

The Sports & Exhibition Authority will receive proposals for Routine Inspection Services for Glass Wall Curtain System at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center as identified below. The contracts for this work will be with the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. The Request for Proposals may be obtained after the date identified below from Spencer Girman, Facility Manager, email: sgirman@pittsburghcc.com, Telephone: 412-325-6137.

This

BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTBURGH

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on November 1, 2022, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:

Pgh. Schiller 6-8

Finish Floor Replacement and Miscellaneous Work General and Asbestos Abatement Primes

Pgh. King PreK-8

Replace EM (Emergency) Generator General and Electrical Primes

Pgh. Allegheny PreK-5 and Allegheny 6-8

Replace EM (Emergency) Generator General and Electrical Primes

Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on October 10, 2022, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable.

Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

for

AM, Thursday,

20, 2022 (non-mandatory) David L. Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15222

2:00 PM, Thursday, October 27, 2022 David L. Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Sgirman@pittsburghcc.com

315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

412-481-8302 Ext. 134 E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com

Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

LEGAL ADVERTISING Pub;ic Notice

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH PUBLIC NOTICE OF REVISED FLAT RENT SCHEDULE 2023

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) , in accordance with federal law and regulation, is proposing revisions to its Low Income Public Housing Flat Rent Schedule.

The revised 2023 HACP Flat Rent Schedule is available for review and comment from October 21, 2022 to November 21, 2022 on the HACP Web Site: www.hacp.org.

Copies of the 2023 Flat Rent Schedule can be obtained by contacting the HACP Asset Management office at 412-643-3164.

A Public Hearing to receive public comments on the revised 2023 HACP Flat Rent Schedule will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. via Zoom:

11:00 a.m. via zoom: Meeting

ID: 864 0478 1468 Passcode: 350874 (US) 1-301-715-8592

Passcode: 350874

https://www.google.com/ url?q=https://us06web.zoom. us/j/86404781468?pwd%3DYm VGTU5teldRNzZHYWVkd1dhVn h0dz09&sa=D&source=calendar &ust=1665867331694289&usg= AOvVaw2ZzkD3NOUnW3bnk53 sG-GL

5:30 p.m. via zoom: Meeting ID: 883 3598 7126 Passcode: 236078 (US) 1-301-715-8592 Passcode: 236078

https://www.google.com/ url?q=https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/88335987126?pwd%3DR2R2S C9lYys5OHFLVERiMFU5M1RP Zz09&sa=D&source=calendar& ust=1665867744748134&usg= AOvVaw1PvYd0XPls3D29hvFE1 Rj2

Written comments on the HACP Flat Rent Schedule must be addressed to 2023 HACP Flat Rent Schedule. Comments must be received by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on November 21, 2022 and sent to the following e-mail address: michelle.ralston@hacp.org or call 412-643-2851. Once approved, the final revised HACP Flat Rent Schedule will be effective January 1, 2023.

Persons with disabilities requiring assistance or alternative formats, or wishing to submit comments in alternative formats, can contact the HACP ADA/504 Coordinator at 412-456-5020, Extension 2504; TTY 412-201-5384. All other questions should be addressed to the Asset Management Office at 412-6433164.

East

Street,

412-481-8302 Ext.

ads@newpittsburghcourier.com

Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!